Hong Kong: Final register of rural voters released The final register for the 2023 Rural Representative Election (RRE), which includes the particulars of registered electors, was released today. Registered electors may visit the RRE Voter Registration Information Enquiry System, or call the election hotline at 2152 1521 during business hours, to check their registration particulars. A full copy of the final register is available at the office of the Electoral Registration Officer, which is located at the Home Affairs Department on 30/F, Southorn Centre, in Wan Chai. Copies of the final register relating to specific rural committees are placed at Assistant Electoral Registration Officers offices at the corresponding New Territories district offices. In accordance with section 30 of the Electoral Affairs Commission (Registration of Electors) (Rural Representative Election) Regulation, validly nominated candidates may inspect the final register of electors for purposes relating to the election. The final register is also open for inspection by those who have subscribed to the Government News & Media Information System maintained by Director of Information Services, bodies and organisations meeting the specified requirements under the abovementioned regulation, the Heung Yee Kuk, rural committees for the relevant rural areas, indigenous inhabitants of indigenous villages and composite indigenous villages, and residents of existing villages or market towns. Statistical information about the final register is available on the election website. This story has been published on: 2023-10-20. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. 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 The Austrian Parliament on Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the ethnic cleansing carried out by Azerbaijan against the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, informs the Armenian Embassy in Austria. Armenian Ambassador to Austria Armen Papikyan participated in the respective session of the National Council of Austria as an honored guest. Many MPs gave speeches condemning Azerbaijan, calling on the federal government of Austria to support Armenia and the forcibly displaced people of Nagorno-Karabakh. The resolution, supported by all five factions in the Austrian legislature, calls on the federal government to "condemn in all international platforms and bilateral discussions Azerbaijan's military actions that have led to the mass exodus of more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh." The resolution emphasizes the importance of the protection of the rights of ethnic Armenians remaining in Nagorno-Karabakh and those who wish to return to Nagorno-Karabakh, and the implementation of the decisions of the International Court of Justice regarding free movement through the Lachin corridor. Also, the federal government of Austria is called upon to engage in ensuring free, unimpeded, and long-term access of international humanitarian organizations to Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as the comprehensive protection of Nagorno-Karabakh's cultural assets and churches. In addition, the resolution advocates providing necessary funds to Armenia, as a priority country of Austrian development cooperation, for the further stabilization of the humanitarian situation. A month since the escalation of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh which forced almost the entire ethnic Armenian population to flee, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) calls on the sustained support for the over 100,000 displaced, the IRC stated in a press release it issued Thursday. It added as follows: According to reports, as few as 50 to 1,000 ethnic Armenians are now left in the region. Armenia, a nation with a population of 2.8 million and over 25% poverty rate, could encounter substantial difficulties in meeting the needs of the displaced individuals as winter approaches. After meeting with displaced Armenians and local NGOs in Goris and Yerevan, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) will support four local partners in distributing essential winter items and ensuring the safety of women and girls. Kathryn Sokol, IRCs Emergency Unit, said: Tens of thousands of people who fled Nagorno-Karabakh are currently being hosted in Armenian homes and collective shelters. The efforts from the government, local civil society, and neighbours has been astounding, but the displaced population will still need support to meet their immediate needs in the coming months. Most people fled very quickly, leaving everything behind. As the temperatures start to plummet, they now urgently need warm clothes for their children, bedding, means to heat their homes and to cook. Having experienced the emotional trauma of sudden displacement, they also require support to recover from the impact of the conflict. During our visit, we encountered a family of six staying in a rented apartment, relying on a single small electric heater that was insufficient to warm even one room in mid-October. In another shelter, seven people shared a single room equipped with only three twin-sized beds. The facility had only two showers and toilets to accommodate nearly seventy people, illustrative of the challenging living conditions faced by the displaced population. The IRC is working with local partners to meet the needs of 1,700 people who have fled, providing people in need with blankets, warm clothes, heaters, and bedding to ensure they can keep warm, as well as creating safe spaces for women in collective shelters. Our partners will also distribute dignity kits and offer initial psychological and legal assistance. Armenia FM on Palestinian-Israeli conflict: We call not to target civilians During question on sanctions against Azerbaijan, Germany FM starts talking about Yerevan-Baku peace Dollar down, euro up in Armenia 3 persons forcibly displaced from Karabakh to Armenia still in critical, 11 others in severe condition Germany FM visits Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan Economy minister: Largest source of foreign direct investment in Armenia is UAE for first time FMs discussing Armenia-Germany agenda, regional issues (PHOTOS) HSBC Armenias Head Office and STATUS services are moving to new address (PHOTOS) Russia deputy PM: Azerbaijan already started highway construction via Iran, bypassing Armenia Economy ministry: Armenian cognac to be sold in European market under Armenian brandy brand name Germany FM arrives in Armenia What political message Russia sends by opening consulate in Syunik Province? Armenia deputy FM comments Armenia deputy FM responds to Russia MFA spox: Such assessment does not correspond to reality Mirzoyan on Armenia's Crossroads of Peace project: We realize what we have proposed Armenia FM: 3+3 platform is conversation between equal countries Armenia's Mirzoyan to opposition MP: Will you say what you know about Iran that we haven't done? FM to parliament opposition: Let experts analyze during whose rule there was loss of Armenia sovereignty 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 Armenia's Mirzoyan: Current year was not, is not going at all the way we were trying to 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 The authorities of Azerbaijan had prepared in detail for the military aggression against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) on September 19-20. Arman Tatoyan, director of the Tatoyan Foundation Center for Law and Justice, and the former Human Rights Defender (ombudsman) of Armenia, stated this during a press conference Friday. "The data are based on the results of monitoring and fact-finding. The Foundation's groups worked in Kornidzor [village] and Goris [city of Armenia], closely cooperated with experts, the Artsakh ombudsman, and monitored the public policy of the Azerbaijani leadership. "One of the goals of the attack was to cut off the populated areas of Artsakh from each other: Martakert, Askeran, Martuni, and Stepanakert. At the same time, the civilian population was continuously shelled. At the same time, in order to increase the panic of the population, the connection between the military and the settlements was stopped. In many cases, the population did not know what was happening, and people fled with their clothes on. "Besides, the attack started in the afternoon when children and students were in class. It was preceded by a nine-month blockade [of Artsakh]. Families were separated, parents did not know where their children were. This was also a deliberate act to cause additional suffering and increase the state of chaos," Tatoyan emphasized, showing the aforementioned on the map. "The attack on Martakert was from four sides. Roads and communications were cut off," Tatoyan enumerated. The maps clearly show the movement of the Azerbaijani forces and the movement routes of the fleeing Armenian population. Tatoyan called Azerbaijan's assurances about the "voluntary migration" of Artsakh Armenians the height of cynicism. "If someone did not manage to flee, was killed or captured; there are cases of killing of civilians in Getavan [village]," Tatoyan stressed. According to him, the local Armenian population had only half an hour to an hour to flee, and the general picture shows that the Azerbaijani troops simply drove the population to a corner and pushed them to "depart" from the area. "What kind of voluntary exodus can we talk about under such conditions?" Tatoyan asked. He said the situation was similar in Martuni and Askeran, too. "Everyone remembers the terrible images of the crowd of refugees at the [Artsakh capital Stepanakert] airport," recalled Tatoyan. In Sarnaghbyur village of this region, five Armenian civilians were killed, three of them were children, and two of them were from the same family. The children were killed at school, Arman Tatoyan emphasized. I have a lot to tell you. But what I have to tell you contains great dangers for the future fate of both Armenia and Artsakh. The President of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), Samvel Shahramanyan, told this to the forcibly displaced Artsakh residents who are staging a protest outside the Artsakh representation in Armenia Friday. "We are all in a very difficult, extremely dire situation, and what is happening here makes our situation even worse. I have no enemies here, our enemy is but one, and we all know it. I am accountable, before all of you and all of your families, for all the steps I have taken. Different remarks are heard here. (). "We have another homeland, the Republic of Armenia, and we have no right to endanger the fate of Armenia. I am ready to meet with everyone and discuss what you accuse me of, or what issues you want to discuss," said the Artsakh president. He suggested meeting next week, but this caused the dissatisfaction of the protesters. "Please choose 20-30 people from among you, lets have a quiet conversation in the hall," the Artsakh president suggested as an option. The second option is to arrange a meeting early next week. However, the situation does not calm down, those assembled did not allow the President of Artsakh to finish his words, and they angrily ask various questions. Earlier we reported that the situation at the building of Artsakh representation in Armenia was tense. And a group of forcibly displaced Artsakh residents, who were protesting in the courtyard of the building, had stormed into the building. The UN mission's statement on the results of its visit to Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) is surprising, to put it mildly. Arman Tatoyan, director of the Tatoyan Foundation Center for Law and Justice, and the former Human Rights Defender (ombudsman) of Armenia, stated this during a press conference Friday. "As a result of the mission, it was announced that the members of the mission did not witness [Armenian] ethnic cleansing [by Azerbaijan]. Meanwhile, first of all, the UN should have prevented what happened. Secondly, the mission should have come to Kornidzor [village] and Goris [city of Armenia] and talked with the refugees, then should have gone to Artsakh and seen everything, instead of acting on Baku's order," Tatoyan said. According to him, there is an impression that the nice words of the international organizations related to the Armenian nation are just words, and the international human rights organizations act with political motives. This applies not only to Artsakh, but also to Armenia, explained Tatoyan, adding that such an approach undermines the entire international legal system. There are facts on torture and barbarism carried out by the Azerbaijani military during the last aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh on September 19-20. Arman Tatoyan, director of the Tatoyan Foundation Center for Law and Justice, and the former Human Rights Defender (ombudsman) of Armenia, stated this during a press conference Friday. "Now the authorities of Azerbaijan are taking advantage of the fact that the [Armenian] population [of Karabakh] was in a panic, the phones that could be used to take pictures of what was happening could not be charged, and claim that there were no crimes. We are currently preparing an additional report, there are many evidences of crimes, torture, barbarism [by Azerbaijan]. It is too early to talk about the number and extent of crimes, but there are facts, and we are collecting them," Tatoyan said. According to him, the Azerbaijani authorities are trying to use also the interviews of the Karabakh Armenians crossing the Hakari bridge to the Azerbaijani media. Fearing that they will not be released, these people gave the answers demanded by Azerbaijani news reporters. But there are many proofs that behind the cameras, people were scared and their crosses were taken away. There were cases when cars that looked like military ones were taken away, even though these cars were private. All this shows the real goals of Azerbaijan, said Arman Tatoyan. The meeting between Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) President Samvel Shahramanyan and a group of displaced Artsakh residents ended a little while ago at the Artsakh representation in Armenia. "The main questions have been answered. Most of the questions were social questions, related to work, related to placement. All questions have been answered to the best of our authorization. We are also ready to inventorize your questions and submit [them] to the appropriate place. Not everything depends on us," said Artsakh President Samvel Shahramanyan after the meeting, addressing the displaced Artsakh citizens protesting outside the Artsakh representation in Armenia. He noted that two rooms will be provided to the displaced Artsakh residents in the building of the Artsakh representation in Armenia, and those who want to inventorize the issues on a voluntary basis will have that opportunity. Shahramanyan said, however, that there are matters that he does not want to speak about because they may contain great dangers. "Please, let's be satisfied with this, our doors are open, we will try to solve your daily problems," he added. The President of Artsakh called on the displaced people of Artsakh to be clear-headed and not to resort to provocations. "This is not typical for us. We do not have the right to manifest such practice among ourselves. Please go, deal with your daily concerns, you will get answers to your questions. We are in a difficult situation, we only need unity. We must do everything not to jeopardize Armenia and the future fate of Artsakh," emphasized Samvel Shahramanyan. As reported earlier, a protest started outside the building of the Artsakh representation in Armenia Friday morning, after which the situation became tense and a group of demonstrators stormed into the building, demanding a meeting with Samvel Shahramanyan. The President of Artsakh agreed to come out of the building and answer the questions of those gathered outside. Shahramanyan told them that he cannot talk about many issues there because by doing so, he will endanger the interests of Armenia and Artsakh. Also, he stated that no one can dissolve the Artsakh Republic created by the people. But since the protesters kept interrupting, Samvel Shahramanyan suggested meeting with several dozen displaced Artsakh residents inside the building. The special police units are guarding the building of the Artsakh representation in Armenia and not allowing persons to enter it. Nevertheless, a group of displaced Artsakh residents entered and had a meeting with President Samvel Shahramanyan. A little while ago, a clash took place between a group of displaced Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) residents protesting in front of the Artsakh representation in Armenia and former Artsakh official Karen Shahramanyan. A scuffle began, during which the protesters tore Shahramanyans jacket and tore off his tie. Many police officers arrived at the scene. After long negotiations, the situation calm down a little, but some people were detained. From 2010 to 2020 Karen Shahramanyan held the position of Minister of Urban Development of Artsakh, then headed the Cadastre and State Property Management Committee of Artsakh, and in 2021, he was appointed the head of staff of the Artsakh president. As reported earlier, a protest started outside the building of the Artsakh representation in Armenia Friday morning, after which the situation became tense and a group of demonstrators stormed into the building, demanding a meeting with Samvel Shahramanyan. The President of Artsakh agreed to come out of the building and answer the questions of those gathered outside. Shahramanyan told them that he cannot talk about many issues there because by doing so, he will endanger the interests of Armenia and Artsakh. Also, he stated that no one can dissolve the Artsakh Republic created by the people. But since the protesters kept interrupting, Samvel Shahramanyan suggested meeting with several dozen displaced Artsakh residents inside the building. After that, Shahramanyan had a closed meeting with dozens of displaced Artsakh residents. The recognition of each other's territorial integrity by Armenia and Azerbaijan should in no way had violated the process of guaranteeing the security and rights of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, which was undermined by Azerbaijan's use of military aggression. Vahan Kostanyan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, stated this in a briefing with reporters Friday. He stressed that the aforesaid military aggression cannot and should not be justified in any way and by any side. To the question of what will happen if several thousand Armenians decide to return to Nagorno-Karabakh, and whether this will be beneficial for the Armenian side or for foreigners, for example Russia, whether it will be a basis for the presence of peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh, and will give Azerbaijan an opportunity to claim to the world that there is no Armenian ethnic cleansing in Karabakh, Kostanyan replied: "It is obvious that clear security and rights guarantees are necessary for the return of Armenians to Nagorno-Karabakh because there is a question: why did people leave their homes, their homeland? They left as a result of the [military] aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan and, in fact, [Armenian] ethnic cleansing took place in Nagorno-Karabakh." Kostanyan stressed that ensuring the right of return of Armenians to Nagorno-Karabakh should be in the obligations of not only the government of Armenia, but also the international community in general and, in particular, the UN Security Council. Attempts by Azerbaijan to constantly change the formats of the peace talks with Armenia raise doubts on the Armenian side as to whether Baku is at all interested in completing the peace process. Armenia's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vahan Kostanyan, told this to reporters Friday in the National Assembly, addressing the question of whether Azerbaijan renounces the Western format off the peace talks; they also announced that they are ready to hold talks in Georgia. "Actually, the constant change of formats raises serious doubts among us whether official Baku is interested in completing the peace process at all, or whether they are simply trying to switch from one format to another and thus avoid reaching concrete arrangements," said Kostanyan. Regarding the matter of holding talks in Georgian capital Tbilisi, the Armenian deputy FM assured that there was no such arrangement at the moment. The Armenian side is ready to participate in the meeting planned in Brussels in late October, he added. According to Kostanyan, Armenia wants to normalize relations with its neighbors. And to the question whether on the Western or Russian platforms, Kostanyan responded that the platform cannot be an end in itself. "It is important for us [Armenia] that we can normalize relations. And after that normalization, the agreements reached and specified in writing should be respected, and the partners should guarantee that the Azerbaijani side will not violate [them]," he said. There is so much yet to learn from the members of the Muscogee Nation. And the fruits of the relationship between the Muscogee Nation and Emory are being expressed in a number of meaningful ways, including a second teach-in that will take place on the Atlanta campus Oct. 27. Last fall, the first teach-in delighted a crowd of about 200 who had gathered on the Quad. This years event will be held in the Emory Student Center. Programming will include: Opening remarks from Barbara Krauthamer, dean of Emory College of Arts and Sciences; Carol Henderson, vice provost for diversity and inclusion; and student Tre Harp III 25C (Muscogee/Choctaw) Hymn singing Storytelling led by Mvhayv (or teacher) Jordan Squire and Mvhayv Carolyn McNac , along with Elizabeth Rowland , language revitalization project manager , from the Mvskoke Language Program along with Elizabeth Rowland language revitalization project manager from the Mvskoke Language Program A conversation with Muscogee artist Johnnie Diacon A stomp dance led by Rev. and Mekko (or traditional leader) Chebon Kernell Activities will get underway in the student centers Multipurpose Rooms at 2:30 and run until 5:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. Registration is required. The teach-in is sponsored by Native American and Indigenous Studies, Office of the Provost, Emory College of Arts and Sciences, James Weldon Johnson Institute and Office of Spiritual and Religious Life. Using art to heal: The work of Johnnie Diacon During his visit to Emory, artist Johnnie Diacon will discuss depicting Muscogee culture in his pieces why he shares these images and considers it important to educate the public about the world they invoke. Diacon will select several pieces from his portfolio and highlight the creative process behind them. Among Diacons most well-known pieces is the Trail of Tears mural, completed in 2021, for the Museum of Native American History in Bentonville, Arkansas. Each individual depicted has a blanket of a different color or pattern representing the different personal family stories that each person who made the journey carries with them. About the mural, Diacon says: Its a memorial when we do these pieces. Its our ancestors, our relatives, and its an honor and a tribute to them. Diacon began entering Native American art competitions as a self-taught artist. I never won a prize, but I never took anything home; my art sold, he recalls. Eventually, seeking formal training, Diacon mastered what is known as the Traditional, Flat or Bacone School style of Native American painting. He went on to study at the famed Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Following the death of two of his children, Diacon took a 14-year break from art. But in 2014, while observing the eagles of Grey Snow Eagle House, an eagle-rehabilitation program, he received what he believed to be a sacred message from them: No matter how bad one has been hurt, we are still what the Creator has made us and with faith and the help of many, we continue to do as He wishes using the gifts that He has bestowed on each of us. A deepening relationship with the College of the Muscogee Nation This marks the third year that members of the College of the Muscogee Nation (CMN) have visited Emory; in addition to last years teach-in, in 2021 they were involved in presentations or as speakers for the In the Wake of Slavery and Dispossession symposium. In February 2023, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation awarded Emory and the CMN in Oklahoma a $2.4 million grant to develop collaborative and independent programs advancing Native and Indigenous Studies and the preservation of the Muscogee language in a unique partnership between the two schools. A new Center for Native American and Indigenous Studies, launched at the start of the semester, will put into action the goals associated with the Mellon grant. The center already has welcomed Emory Colleges first Distinguished Fellow in Indigenous Knowledge, Laura Harjo, a Muscogee scholar and an associate professor at the University of Oklahoma who teaches Indigenous planning, community development and Indigenous feminism. Malinda Maynor Lowery, Cahoon Family Professor of American History and a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, is leading the center with support from Emorys James Weldon Johnson Institute. Lowery also is part of the planning for the teach-in, about which she says: The partnership and sense of exchange trust building and shared learning is growing between Emory and the Muscogee Nation. The teach-in adds a dimension of responsibility and relationship that builds on Emorys Land Acknowledgment Statement. The teach-in will not only edify; it will heal. We are in need of the healing that this return of the Muscogee people to their homelands facilitates, Lowery says. The Nation is leading us in the way that they use education as a healing force. Emorys Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES), the only national data collection tool that connects pre-hospital cardiac arrest data with hospital outcomes, will receive $23.85 million in grant funding over the next five years from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC CARES Expansion and Modernization Grant, which went into effect Oct. 1, marks a return to public funding for the CARES performance and quality improvement program, which equips communities with crucial data to compare patient populations, interventions, and outcomes related to sudden cardiac arrest. Originally founded by Emory and CDC back in 2004 and led by Executive Director Bryan McNally, MD, and a staff of 11 from Emorys Atlanta campus, the registry has operated through private funding since 2013, largely through user fees and philanthropic support. The new funding channel was made possible through recent legislation that was signed into law at the end of last year. The Cardiovascular Advances in Research and Opportunities Legacy (CAROL) Act was introduced in 2021 by Congressman Andy Barr, in honor of his late wife, Carol Leavell Barr, who died from sudden cardiac death. CDC is committed to preventing deaths and disability from the nations leading killer, cardiovascular disease, said Janet S. Wright, MD, FACC, director, CDCs Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention. By investing in CARES, CDC is making timely, practical, quality-enhancing data available to communities and health systems across the country. These insights can help identify and eliminate disparities and lead to longer, healthier lives for all. Funding from the CDC will fortify CARES ongoing efforts in several ways. First, CARES will be able to invest in quality improvement efforts and much-needed technological updates and advancements to ensure faster and more streamlined data collection, analysis, and dissemination. Using state-of-the-art software, CARES will be able to relay essential information to healthcare professionals more efficiently, aiding in more informed decision-making and improving patient outcomes. Second, the grant will provide more resources toward CARES' longstanding goal of expanding its coverage to include all 50 states (currently 33 participate). By establishing a nationwide presence, CARES aims to gather comprehensive and inclusive data on cardiac arrest incidents, interventions, and outcomes across diverse populations, said McNally. This expansion will facilitate a deeper understanding of disparities that exist in various communities, enabling locally tailored interventions to bridge the gaps. CARES currently covers 178 million people or 53% of the U.S. population. Making sure to reach that remaining 47% of Americans, McNally points out, aligns with the 2015 National Academy of Science Reports A Time to Act recommendation to create a national cardiac arrest registry. Measurement is an essential first step in the quality improvement process to help improve out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival, McNally adds. As CARES continues to grow, the program will continue to leverage tremendous support from its longstanding partners, the American Heart Association, and the American Red Cross, both of which will continue to play a vital role in training local workforces to implement CARES locally and ensure data quality. As a continuing partner, the American Red Cross will continue to provide strategic support. The American Red Cross is proud to continue to work with the CARES program. The data that the CARES program provides is helpful in identifying the areas where training and programs are needed, said President of Red Cross Training Services Jack McMaster. The Red Cross has been a long-time supporter of the CARES program and this investment by the CDC further validates the commitment and need for this program. The American Heart Association (AHA), another longstanding partner of the program, will continue its long-standing work with CARES through advocacy, which has been instrumental in establishing governmental funding for CARES, said Comilla Sasson, MD, PhD, practicing emergency medicine physician and vice president for health science at AHA. CARES data remains very important for our work in quality care improvement which is always a priority of ours. Additionally, the partnership between AHA and CARES will continue to provide support for communities to host Resuscitation Academies, bring key stakeholders together to improve out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival and fortify public health efforts through our Nation of Lifesavers educational campaign to drive large-scale education and awareness about CPR and AED use, Sasson said. Finally, this funding will bolster the programs ongoing commitment to addressing health disparities through robust research and bridge-building with the communities it serves. Cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death among adults in the United States, and the chance of survival increases dramatically when a nearby person can immediately call 911 and begin CPR. Unfortunately, access to these life-saving interventions can differ dramatically according to race, gender, income, and other factors. Last year, CARES published a major study that found that Black and Hispanic persons were less likely than white persons to receive potentially lifesaving bystander CPR at home and in public locations, regardless of the racial or ethnic makeup or income level of the neighborhood where the cardiac arrest occurred. CARES role in data collection is a key part of identifying where these kinds of disparities exist, helping to figure out how and why they happen, and then helping local partners create a plan for how to intervene. Intervention strategies can include providing CPR training, building up access to AEDs, reducing risk factors, conducting bias training, or helping districts determine where they need to allocate more resources toward emergency medical services in under-resourced neighborhoods. This public-private partnership will allow more communities to measure their outcomes, benchmark their performance and make local changes that will impact cardiac arrest care and save more lives nationally, McNally said. (Above) This concept art shows what the Tedrick Welcome Center could look like once constructed. (Provided by Hafer Architects) Below: Roger and Sally Tedrick are both alumni of SIU Carbondale and have long been supporters of the university. (Provided by Roger and Sally Tedrick) Tedricks make historic $6M donation, naming SIU Carbondale welcome center by Jeff Wilson CARBONDALE, Ill. With a $6 million donation, Roger and Sally Tedrick are leaving yet another indelible mark on the Southern Illinois University Carbondale campus. In honor of their donation, a planned new building on campus will be named the Tedrick Welcome Center. The proposed building was presented to the SIU Board of Trustees architecture and design committee in April, and approval of its construction will be on the boards Feb. 8 agenda. This university is moving forward in an exciting way, imagining a future with more students and prolific success, Roger Tedrick said. Sally and I knew we wanted to be part of something that would make a tremendous impact, and this welcome center is just that. It will be the launching point for thousands of Saluki journeys. SIU Admissions will begin open houses, orientations and host groups of students at the welcome center, which will be located just off U.S. Highway 51, near the previous location of McAndrew Stadium. Roger and Sally Tedrick are visionaries. They believe in our mission, and this gift exemplifies their remarkable dedication to this university and all Southern Illinois, said Chancellor Austin Lane. Roger Tedrick, a 1970 graduate of SIU Carbondales College of Liberal Arts, is a member of the SIU Board of Trustees and the SIU Foundation Board of Directors. He is the owner and CEO of Tedrick Group Risk Management Solutions, based in Mount Vernon. Raised in Carbondale, he attended University High School on SIUs campus. Sally Tedrick is a 1973 graduate of the SIU Carbondale School of Education. The Tedricks have a rich tradition of supporting the university. Their many contributions have included creating an endowed fund to enhance university excellence, making a lead donation toward the construction of the Saluki Alumni Plaza, sponsoring the inaugural Saluki Ball and supporting numerous causes across campus. This is an incredibly exciting time in SIU history, said Matt Kupec, vice chancellor for development and alumni relations and the CEO of the SIU Foundation. This gift makes a statement about where this university is going. The Tedrick Welcome Center will provide students, faculty and staff with a place to gather and celebrate what it means to be a Saluki. The state-of-the-art building will also house the philanthropy center, which will include SIU Foundation offices. It is more important than ever to support an institution as historic and impactful as SIU, Roger Tedrick said. We believe in the mission of the university and its leadership, and we hope this gift inspires generations of philanthropic Salukis. SIUs School of Accountancy is sponsoring the Student Tax Night in St. Louis, to give students an up-close look at opportunities in the tax field. The school offers students numerous hands-on learning opportunities, including the popular Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Photo by Russell Bailey. SIU Carbondale invites all university students, tax professionals to Student Tax Night in St. Louis by Christi Mathis CARBONDALE, Ill. Southern Illinois University Carbondales College of Business and Analytics and its School of Accountancy dont just educate students in the classroom about the ins and outs of accounting they help students connect with professionals. The accounting school is sponsoring Student Tax Night in St. Louis on Nov. 2 to introduce students to the diverse and interesting opportunities in the tax field, as presented by professionals in the industry. The event takes place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Bank of America Building, 800 Market St., St. Louis. Media Advisory Reporters, photographers and news crews are welcome to cover the Student Tax Night, 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Nov. 2 at the Bank of America Building, 800 Market St., St. Louis. The evening will begin with networking and the panel discussion is set for 6-7 p.m. followed by additional networking time. For additional information or questions, contact Timothy Hurley, clinical assistant professor at SIU, at timothy.hurley@siu.edu. Opportunities await The evening will benefit the accounting profession and university students, said Benna Williams, CPA program coordinator and associate lecturer, and Timothy Hurley, clinical assistant professor, in the SIU School of Accountancy. Were very excited about Student Tax Night, Hurley said. Its a unique event to educate students about the broad array of opportunities and career paths available to them in the field of accounting and to connect them with recruiters and professionals in the field. Its also a way to showcase the talent and expertise our students have to these accounting professionals and highlight our program to them and students from other universities. The event includes a question-and-answer session with a panel of five tax professionals who have distinctive backgrounds in tax innovation and automation, state and local tax, international tax, institutional investor tax and exempt organizations, and federal income tax. In addition, already a dozen firms have committed to attend and bring recruiters and tax professionals to speak with the students. Already about 100 students from SIU and more than 20 other Midwest universities, along with tax professionals and accounting professors, have signed up to attend. More participants welcome SIU has expanded the scope of the event to welcome additional participants and professionals. Students from any college or university can still sign up to attend as can tax professionals who are interested in networking with the students. Sign up online at https://forms.office.com/r/84Gj8xfXCr no later than 4 p.m. Oct. 31. Anders CPAs + Advisors is graciously hosting the event at its firm office. The theme of the evening is What a Tax Career Could Look Like, and the university anticipates making the tax night an annual event with a different theme each year. All-star lineup Panelists include: Beth Mueller, partner and tax analytics insights leader with Deloitte Tax LLP in Chicago. Jeff Schuetz, partner, RubinBrown State and Local Tax Services Group in St. Louis. Jennifer Richter, EY (Ernst & Young) LLP, managing director, institutional investor tax services leader and exempt organization tax services in St. Louis. Joshua Snyder, Anders CPAS + Advisors, senior manager tax innovation and automation in St. Louis. Kathleen Berry, Reinsurance Group of America Inc (RGA), executive director, global tax in St. Louis. Accounting and business firms that have committed to send recruiters and/or tax professionals include: Anders CPAS + Advisors Armanino LLP Deloitte Tax LLP EY US (Ernst & Young) Grant Thornton LLP HKA KPMG PwC Reinsurance Group of America (RGA) RSM US LLP RubinBrown Wipfli LLP In addition to a large group from SIU, students from these institutions have already registered to attend: Greenville University Harris-Stowe State University. Kaskaskia College. Lindenwood University. Maryville University. Saint Louis University. Southeast Missouri State University. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. University of Missouri St. Louis. For more information about the Student Tax Night, contact Hurley at timothy.hurley@siu.edu. Learn more about SIUs bachelors degree in accounting by visiting the website. Award-winning stained-glass artist Judith Schaechter will present a lecture as part of the SIU Carbondale School of Art and Designs Visiting Artist Program on March 23. (Photo provided) SIU School of Art and Design to present visiting glass artist on Oct. 26 CARBONDALE, Ill. Award-winning stained glass artist Judith Schaechter will present a lecture at Southern Illinois University Carbondale on Thursday, Oct. 26. Schaechters presentation is at 7 p.m. in Wham Educational Building, Room 105. Part of the School of Art and Designs Visiting Artist Program, the lecture is free and open to the public. Schaechter, whose work is widely exhibited throughout the world, is an adjunct professor in the School of Art at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. In her artists statement, Schaechter notes that she initially went to art school to study painting but knew almost instantly when I tried stained glass that it was what I wanted to pursue for the rest of my life. She notes stained glass reached its peak in the 12th century, and its been downhill since then but that she finds it altogether irresistible. Unlike most raw materials, glass is extremely attractive before the artist ever touches it, she said. I found I like to really manipulate it, stretch it, and transform and distort it in unnatural ways. I like to see what possibilities lie in mating difficult emotional ideas with sensuous but cruel materials. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design Glass Program. During the inaugural session of the Kautilya Economic Conclave 2023, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman expressed her concerns about the declining effectiveness of global multilateral institutions. The Kautilya Economic Conclave 2023 also features the participation of Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das, for insightful discussions and strategies to navigate the evolving global economic landscape. Sitharaman said, "Globally, we don't need to hesitate any longer to say that the multilateral institutions... whether it is the UN, Security Council or the WHO, WTO are less than effective from where they were made into institutions. The level of effectiveness of their intervention that they were to bring into the global scenario is today at less than an ideal position". "Because they have become less effective, what we took for granted is no longer to be taken for granted. We thought if there was a disruption somewhere, the WTO would come into play, if there is a huge pandemic, the WHO would come into play. Similarly, in the developmental agenda of different countries at different levels of development, there would be timely and periodic interventions with which you would see some change with the spirit of inclusiveness so that less developed countries achieve their aspirations, but we find that less effective in all these institutions", she added. Speaking to an audience of economists, scholars, and policymakers, Sitharaman emphasized the pressing need to address the diminishing impact of institutions like the United Nations (UN), the Security Council, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Trade Organization (WTO). Sitharaman stated, "we are meeting today at a time when not one churn but several churns are simultaneously happening." "You're sitting in India talking about specific things that India at this afternoon, keeping the future generations in mind particularly with the comfort that there is a government which is receptive to inputs coming from different experts, scholars observers of economy and so, a government which is ready to listen within India, but globally because the challenges are having spillover across the world" the Finance Minister said. Addressing the attendees, she highlighted the importance of discussing specific issues concerning India while keeping future generations in mind. She reassured the audience that the Indian government was open to inputs from various experts, scholars, and observers of the economy, both within the country and globally, to effectively tackle the challenges with a receptive approach. As experts and policymakers convene, the focus remains on finding innovative solutions to bolster the effectiveness of these institutions and address the pressing challenges facing the global economy. (ANI) PRNewswire Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], October 20: In a historic event that promises to reshape the landscape of rural India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially inaugurated 511 Pramod Mahajan Grameen Kaushalya Vikas Kendras across Maharashtra via an online platform on the 19th of October. This innovative initiative aims to provide the youth of the state with employment opportunities while fostering the development of rural areas. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently prioritized employment and self-reliance for the youth in rural areas, the inauguration of this concept in Maharashtra is a source of immense pride for the state. Recognizing the significance of this occasion, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde directed his team to ensure that the programme reaches as many people as possible. The Art of Living Social Projects will be an integral part of this remarkable initiative A total of 25 skill development centers across the picturesque regions of Akola, Amravati, Jalna, and Nagpur have been granted to The Art of Living's Vyakti Vikas Kendra India (VVKI) and Sri Sri Rural Development Program (SSRDP). By providing free training for a variety of occupations, these centers are poised to play a pivotal role in further enhancing the state's commitment to empowering its youth. Here's a glimpse of some of the courses that will be available at The Art of Living's Sri Sri Kaushal Vikas Kendra centers: Assistant Electrician: Training for individuals seeking to excel in the field of electrical work.Account Executive: A program designed to equip students with financial management skills.Field Technician (Other Home Appliances): Training in the repair and maintenance of various home appliances.Mobile Phone Hardware Repair Technician: A course for individuals interested in the intricacies of mobile phone repair.Solar Panel Installation Technician: Training for those interested in the sustainable energy sector.Mason Tiling: Preparing individuals for the field of masonry and tiling. The benefits of enrolling in these programs are substantial. Graduates will receive government-approved certification, making them more marketable to employers. The centers will offer placement assistance, helping graduates secure employment in their chosen fields. Additionally, these programmes will provide opportunities for entrepreneurship, equipping individuals with the skills to start their own businesses. By participating in these courses, students can improve their standard of living and receive a Skill India card, which can open doors to a brighter future. Chief Minister Shinde expressed the paramount importance of these centers in providing employment opportunities for the youth and driving the development of rural areas. He lauded the Prime Minister for his unwavering support and commitment to the initiative. With the aim of ensuring that the programme garners national attention,Shinde emphasized the need for impeccable coordination between skill development, industry, revenue, and rural development departments. He encouraged colleges and universities to participate actively, noting that this marks just the beginning, and the number of such centers will increase in the future. He also stressed the importance of engaging the citizens of surrounding villages, people's representatives, and various stakeholders. Armed with a wealth of experience and the invaluable vision and guidance of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, The Art of Living will contribute significantly to this noble endeavour Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to preventing rural-to-urban migration for employment underscores the vital role of these skill centers. In fact many of The Art of Living's social projects are committed to the very same effort. Deep within rural India The Art of Living is harnessing the reservoir of untapped rural talent, particularly among marginalized youth and women. Through skill development and entrepreneurship initiatives, the organisation offers a life-altering blend of ethical leadership, essential life skills, and technical proficiency, charting a course toward lasting and sustainable livelihoods. 8 skill development initiatives are being developed to close the skill gap in rural India. A wide range of issues from cleanliness campaigns and sanitation improvements to the creation of model villages (Adarsh Gaon) and the promotion of good governance is also dealt with along with critical areas such as Water Conservation, Afforestation, Natural Farming, Waste Management and Gaudhan. The Art of Living is ready to hit the ground running and realize the full potential of these skill development centers. About The Art of Living - Social Projects The Art of Living is a non-profit, educational, and humanitarian organisation founded in 1981 by the world-renowned humanitarian and spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Through its social projects, The Art of Living aims to reach remote corners of rural India and empower everybody with skills to earn sustainable livelihoods. Follow us at: https://www.instagram.com/artofliving.sp/Like us at: https://www.facebook.com/artoflivingsocialprojectsTweet us at: https://twitter.com/artofliving_spZMessage us at: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/artofliving-sp Media Contact Shamika Gandhi+919986557389 shamika.gandhi@projects.artofliving.org Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2252220/511_Rural_Skill_Development_Centres.jpgLogo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1979631/AOLSP_logo_Logo.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) According to a media release, Banas Farmers Producer Company (FPC) and Chorad Farmer Producer Company were honoured with CII FPO Excellence Awards for their outstanding performance. Chorad FPC was recognized for Membership Engagement, while Banas FPC received the award for Market Linkage. Reliance Foundation, under its mentorship program, supports FPOs by enhancing their access to supply chains, markets, technology, credit, finance, and building the capacities of their functionaries to operate and grow as enterprises. The foundation also provides timely advisories on weather, prices, pest and disease control, and inputs. To date, Reliance Foundation has mentored over 100 FPOs, empowering farmers and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. The CII FPO Summit, a prestigious national-level event, brings together stakeholders from across India working in the FPO ecosystem. The CII FPO Excellence Awards aim to recognize and encourage FPOs that are making significant contributions to farmers' welfare through self-sustaining business models, enhancing profitability, value addition, and fostering entrepreneurship. Banas and Chorad FPCs were selected for the awards following a rigorous multi-round selection process. Banas FPC, established in 2016 by farmers in Radhanpur of Patan district in Gujarat, has demonstrated remarkable growth. The FPO's revenue surged from Rs. 16 lakhs (2016-17) to a Rs 7.2 crore in 2022-23, marking a 43-fold increase. By focusing on increasing farm productivity, mechanizing farm operations, reducing input costs, and improving income, Banas FPC has significantly enhanced the livelihoods of its member farmers. With a membership base of over 1,600 farmers, Banas FPC stands as a beacon of success in rural empowerment. Promoted by Banas FPC, Chorad FPC serves farmers in 24 villages of Santalpur taluka, a remote and underdeveloped area in Gujarat's Patan district. Through its business interventions and fair practices in agricultural input supply and aggregate marketing, Chorad FPC has enabled its members to achieve better price realization and higher incomes. The FPO actively engages in online trading through National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange Limited (NCDEX), an endeavour that was recently recognized by NCDEX, further highlighting its commitment to serving farmers. Chorad FPC's annual turnover witnessed a remarkable 15-fold increase, reaching Rs. 3.46 crore in 2022-23 from Rs. 23 lakhs in 2020-21. (ANI) ThePRTree Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], October 20: Bookbots India is proud to announce the release of the highly anticipated "The Nigerian Mafia: Mumbai," a thrilling and gripping crime novel written by prolific Nigerian author, filmmaker and academic Onyeka Nwelue. The prestigious Abibiman Publishing UK publishes this exciting literary masterpiece. "The Nigerian Mafia: Mumbai" takes readers on an exciting journey into the heart of crime and intrigue. Nwelue's latest work promises to be a must-read for fans of the genre and other creators, thanks to its compelling narrative and vivid storytelling. This compelling release marks a significant moment for both the author and the publishing world. Onyeka Nwelue is known for his quirky storytelling, bringing his unique perspective to the world of crime fiction, and creating a story that leaves a lasting impression on readers. Bookbots India invites all literary enthusiasts and lovers of thrilling storytelling to delve into "The Nigerian Mafia: Mumbai." Destined to be a literary sensation, the novel captivates readers with its accessibility, offering a glimpse into Mumbai's criminal underworld through the eyes of a master storyteller. It has been longlisted for the 2023 Ana Chinhua Achebe Prize and also shortlisted for the 2023 Ana Prose Prize. The Nigerian Mafia Mumbai is being developed for film by Indian filmmaker, Ramesh Raparthy. The Nigerian Mafia Series: A Global Journey The Nigerian Mafia: Mumbai launches an immersive 10-book series inspired by Nwelue's extensive travels around the world. In his thirties, Onyeka Nwelue became a prominent figure in African literature. He founded major literary awards, including the James Currey Award for African Literature and the Earl Lovelace Award for Short Fiction. Nwelue wears many hats as he owns the Abibiman publishing house which spans the UK, USA, Nigeria, South Africa and India. Onyeka Nwelue owns La Cave Musik in Paris, runs a bookstore called Hattus Bookshop in Johannesburg, and co-owns the Canadian film company Blues and Hills Canada. His dynamic career also includes founding the James Currey Society at Oxford University's Center for African Studies, where he serves as a visiting scholar. The writer's humanitarian work and contribution to education earned him an honorary doctorate from the University of Queensland in Haiti. Synopsis of The Nigerian Mafia: Mumbai Nollywood actor Uche Mbadiegwu departs his Surulere neighbourhood in Lagos to pursue stardom in Bandra, Mumbai, in the hopes of landing exceptional roles in Bollywood. However, his life takes a dramatic turn when Periwinkle appears, altering his destiny forever. Efemena, tired of a squalid existence, yearns for independence in the bustling city of Mumbai. But life for a Nigerian in Mumbai is far from straightforward. It's a constant battle, an unending escape from the Indian police and narcotics agents. The Nigerian Mafia: Mumbai is an unapologetic exploration of themes like violence, drugs, human trafficking, murder, and sex, all set against the backdrop of an ever-evolving and dynamic Mumbai. Inspiration for the Series Nwelue shares that the series was inspired by his Academic Advisor at the University of Oxford. "He was really kind to me," Nwelue explains. "We had dinner, and I shared the idea with him, and he thought it would be a blast. So, I kicked it off." The author's commitment to his craft is undeniable, having immersed himself in the worlds of criminals, prisoners, scammers, and investigative journalists to ensure the authenticity of his writing. About Abibiman Publishing Abibiman Publishing is a publishing venture, specializing in African literature, registered in the US, UK, Nigeria, and India, whose CEO in India is the 27-year-old Dinesh Chakravarthy. It publishes writers like Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, Onyeka Nwelue, Uzor Maxim Uzoatu, Ever Obi, Ikenna Okeh, and many more. Abibiman Publishing has published writings from other languages, translated into English, like Ivan Srven's Harmattan, translated from Croatian to English, a novel about Nigerian women in a German prison. About the Author Onyeka Nwelue is a multifaceted talent, known for his work as a filmmaker, publisher, talk-show host, bookseller, and academic. He currently holds the esteemed position of Academic Visitor and is the founder of the James Currey Society at the African Studies Centre, University of Oxford. Nwelue has also served as a visiting scholar at the Centre of African Studies at the University of Cambridge. His previous crime novel, The Strangers of Braamfontein, not only secured the coveted 2021 ANA Prize for Fiction but also clinched the Best Indie Novel award at the Crime Fiction Lover Awards in 2021. Praise for Onyeka Nwelue Described by Sri P. T. Narendra Menon as "one of Africa's youngest writers," Onyeka Nwelue's unique writing style and brilliance have earned him critical acclaim. With over 20 award-winning books to his name, Nwelue stands as one of Africa's most prolific and promising writers. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by ThePRTree. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) NewsVoir Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], October 20: Imagine a world in which you could stay in a luxurious but economical 3 star plus and, 2-star plus, good-quality hotel while being aware that your comfort comes with a commitment to sustainability. Eco Hotels and Resorts Ltd., a subsidiary of Eco Hotels UK PLC, is on a mission to transform the hospitality landscape in India with a keen focus on sustainability, innovative construction technology, and ambitious expansion strategies. With a core focus of operating and managing carbon net-zero hotels of its kind across India and operating 5000 rooms within the next five years, Eco Hotels and Resorts Ltd. is making significant strides toward its goal. VK Tripathi, Executive Chairman of Eco Hotels India, mentioned, "Our cutting-edge EBOT (Enterprise-Build-Operate-Transfer) model, which leverages state-of-the-art 3D Volumetric construction technology, is set to take off by the middle of the upcoming year." It's a groundbreaking innovation set to revolutionize the way hotels are constructed in the country. Tripathi added, "The company has embarked on discussions with various hotel owners to secure hotels on lease, and the responses we've received are nothing short of encouraging. This approach allows us to swiftly expand our presence." In parallel, Eco Hotels is strategically pursuing inorganic growth by actively engaging in discussions with hotel management companies that have approximately 1000 to 1,500 + hotel rooms under their operations. The primary aim is to secure full or substantial acquisitions of these companies and subsequently remodel the hotels under their management to match them with the renowned brands operating in the mid segment. This strategic move positions the hotels to compete effectively with established mid-segment hotel brands operating in India. Eco Hotels is dedicated to introducing a new brand in three star plus and two-star plus segment, underscoring their robust loyalty to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. But Eco Hotels doesn't stop at the lease model and brand transformation. Tripathi said, "We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of UP under the Invest UP scheme. This collaboration aims us to construct and operate 10 hotels in various cities of UP within the next five years, with construction work expected to commence by the end of the upcoming year." Leveraging their technological prowess, Eco Hotels can construct a hundred-room hotel within one year, as opposed to the three to four years required by conventional construction technologies. This innovative approach not only promises better returns on investment for stakeholders but also reduces the need for extensive repairs and maintenance. It's noteworthy that the new built Eco Hotels to be operated under EBOT model associated with the development of 3D volumetric construction technology in India, a groundbreaking innovation set to revolutionize the way hotels are constructed in the country. With their commitment to sustainability, cutting-edge construction methods, and ambitious expansion plans in partnership with the Government of UP, Eco Hotels and Resorts Ltd. is well on its way to redefining the hospitality industry in India, offering guests a greener, more sustainable, and luxurious experience. VK Tripathi and his team are trailblazers, are set to redefine the industry's future. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) Mumbai (Maharashtra)/Manipal (Karnataka) [India], October 20: The prestigious Merck Foundation of Germany, dedicated to advancing global health and wellbeing through science and technology, has officially designated the Clinical Embryology Centre at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal (KMC Manipal) as its "Centre of Excellence". The Merck Foundation is passionately committed to enhancing healthcare access in underserved communities. Their flagship initiative, 'Merck More Than a Mother', created in partnership with several African governments, is a testament to this commitment. It addresses the pivotal need for improved fertility care in regions that lack adequate resources. Since 2017, the Clinical Embryology centre at KMC Manipal has been a crucial global collaborator in these capacity-building projects. Through the joint efforts of the Merck Foundation and KMC Manipal, approximately 100 clinicians and scientists spanning 27 countries have undergone top-tier embryology training in Manipal. These trained professionals are now at the forefront of infertility care in their respective nations. The recognition was conferred during the Merck-Africa-Asia-luminary conference on October 18, 2023, in Mumbai. Distinguished attendees included Senator Dr Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, Prof. Dr Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Executive Board of E. Merck KG, and first ladies from fourteen African nations. Dr Sharath Rao, Pro Vice Chancellor, MAHE, and Dr Satish Adiga, Head of Clinical Embryology programs at KMC Manipal, proudly received the accolade. Regarded as one of the premier IVF-Embryology training hubs in Asia, KMC Manipal's program boasts a notable record. It has equipped hundreds of doctors and scientists with the skills to assist infertile couples worldwide. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) Actor Shilpa Shetty attended an event of Hunar Online Courses as she liked the idea behind it on Friday. During the event, Shilpa said she gets inspired by her mother and wants her children to learn the work ethic. She told ANI, "I have been inspired by my mother who herself has been a strong woman and has worked all her life. I have grown up watching her. I approach her with respect because I have learned my work ethic from her." She said, "I still work for my children. I am financially independent. I want my children to see that their mother goes to work and has a work ethic. I want my daughter to also be independent. So I practise what I preach and my children will." While sharing her thoughts on doing something for the women who don't get opportunities, she added, "Nutrition is as important for women as it is for a child, so I feel we underestimate the importance of being self-reliant. Many ladies want to do something for themselves but perhaps they do not get support. There is no time after marriage. Why is there this restriction on achievements when you can do anything in life? It is important to have heart and skills." Meanwhile, on the work front, Shilpa was last seen in the family entertainer film 'Sukhee' which was released in theatres on September 22. Apart from this, Shilpa will be seen in Rohit Shetty's OTT debut 'Indian Police Force', which also stars Sidharth Malhotra and Vivek Oberoi. The series will stream on the OTT platform Amazon Prime. She will also act in 'KD-The Devil' as Satyavati alongside V Ravichandran, and Sanjay Dutt. The pan-India multilingual will be released in Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Hindi. (ANI) Taking to Instagram, Jackie shared a picture on his stories and wrote, "Your journey from Mimi to Ganapath is Ek Number! Such diversity in the characters you played. Hats off! You looked awesome! God bless!" Kriti re-shared the story and thanked Jackie Shroff for his golden words. The 'Mimi' actor wrote, "Thankkkk You sir! Means a lot coming from you! You are the best and kindest." Meanwhile, Kriti''s latest release 'Ganapath: A Hero Is Born' in which she starred opposite Tiger Shroff received a decent response from the fans. Helmed by Vikas Bahl the film also starred Amitabh Bachchan in the lead roles. Jackie Shroff's son Tiger and Kriti made their Bollywood debut with the film 'Heropanti' which was released in the year 2014. Kriti also recently received the Best Actor Award from President Droupadi Murmu at a ceremony in Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. She jointly won the Best Actor Award with Alia Bhatt, who won it for her performance in the film 'Gangubai Kathiawadi'. She will also be seen in 'The Crew' alongside Kareena Kapoor Khan, Tabu and Diljit Dosanjh. It is a story of three women and is touted as a laugh-riot, set against the backdrop of the struggling airline industry. However, their destinies lead to some unwarranted situations and they get caught in a web of lies. Actor Kapil Sharma will also be seen in a special cameo role in 'The Crew'. Makers recently announced the release date. 'The Crew' is all set to hit the theatres on March 22, 2024. Apart from that, she also has 'Do Patti' alongside Kajol in her kitty. (ANI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday slammed the K. Chandrashekar Rao government in Telangana accusing it of being the most corrupt in the country and being controlled by one family. "When you dreamed about Telangana state, you thought people's rule would happen in the state. But it is now evident that the rule of one family is happening in Telangana. The whole control of Telangana state is in the hands of one family and corruption in the state is the highest in the country," Rahul Gandhi said in Bhupalpally while addressing congress workers during his 'Vijayabheri Yatra'. Rahul Gandhi also alleged a secret alliance of BJP, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and AIMIM against Congress in Telangana. "Look at BJP-BRS-AIMIM, these three parties attack the Congress party," said Congress Rahul Gandhi. He said that K Chandrashekar Rao is going to lose the upcoming Assembly election in the state. "KCR is going to lose this election. This election is between Raja and Praja(people). You dreamed about a Telangana where people's rule will happen. But for the last ten years, the distance between people and KCR has been widening," Rahul Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi arrived in Telangana for a three-day visit as part of Congress' election campaign in the state which will go to the assembly polls on November 30. During his three-day visit, Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to have a series of public meetings and connect with labourers, farmers, and party members. This visit by both leaders is expected to provide a significant boost to the Telangana Congress. Telangana is set to witness a triangular contest between the BJP, the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi, and the Congress in the upcoming assembly election. In the previous Assembly election held in 2018, BRS managed to win 88 seats out of 119 and had a dominant vote share of 47.4 per cent. Congress came in a distant second with 19 seats. Its vote share was 28.7 per cent. Rahul Gandhi and AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra offered prayers at Ramappa Temple in Mulugu district in Telangana on Wednesday. The brother-sister duo arrived at Ramappa Temple in Telangana's Mulugu as part of their Vijayabheri yatra. (ANI) According to officials, the seizure was made in the Medchal-Malkajgiri district of Telangana, and 430 Kgs of dry Ganja, one vehicle, and four mobile phones with a total estimated worth of Rs 1,11,00,000 were recovered from their possession. As per the official release, the accused were caught transporting the drugs from Odisha to Hyderabad. "On October 19, 2023, credible information, the sleuths of Special Operations Team, Malkajgiri Zone along with Keesara police apprehended three persons who were indulging in transportation of Contraband Ganja from Odisha State to Old City, Hyderabad to gain illegal money and seized 430 Kgs of Dry Ganja, Ashok Leyland Dost Vehicle and 04 Mobile Phones all worth Rs. 1,11,00,000. (Approx.)," a spokesman with Rachakonda Police Commissionerate said. Meanwhile, a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) has been registered. Earlier this month, the sleuths of the Special Operations Team (SOT), Maheshwaram Zone team along with Choutuppal Police, Rachakonda busted an interstate drug syndicate and arrested two drug peddlers. About 200 kgs of Ganja and a vehicle all worth Rs 70 lakhs were seized. (ANI) He was speaking to reporters on Thursday when he made the remark. "My party has to decide," the Karnataka Congress chief said when a media person asked him when will he be "the king" as wanted by his supporters. After the Congress achieved a grand victory in Karnataka assembly polls earlier this year, the top leadership of the grand old party brainstormed for days on the face of the Chief Ministerial face. The party came up with Siddaramiah as the Chief Minister. However, reports claimed that Shivakumar was "promised" half of the tenure of the Chief Minister, "depending upon" his performance in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in 2024. Siddaramiah was sworn in as the Karnataka Chief Minister, given his wide administrative experience and that he had already served as the state CM. He has also served as the finance minister during the tenure of CM HD Deve Gowda. The Congress bagged 135 seats in the 224-member Karnataka assembly pushing BJP to 66 seats in the results declared in May this year. (ANI) InIT Solutions Pvt Ltd under Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) clinched two prestigious awards in a week's time, boosting its profile fuelled by three years of ground-breaking 'BookSeva', a release said on Thursday. InIT Solutions was honoured with the 'Emerging Startup of the Year 2023 Award', followed by another at the Emerging Startup of the Year 2023 AwardEmerging Startup of the Year 2023 Award(EC2023) earlier this month, as per a press release from the InIT Solutions Pvt Ltd pr agency. The company primarily connects devotees with temples through a cost-free CRM solution. "The InIT, which was founded in 2011 and whose CRM solution is tailored specifically for temple administration, won the first of the two honours on September 30 at the HSX2.0 event hosted by Headstart at SAP Labs Bangalore. The second came at the October 7-8 EC2023, organised by the World Konkani Centre, Saraswath Chamber, and UK & Co," as per the press release. InIT won the 'Emerging Startup' recognition at a competition between 1,000 startups from across the country. The company emerged as a standout among the 70 startups shortlisted, earning it a spotlight at the Bharath Pitchathon 2.0. "As for the EC2023 honour, the event recognised InIT Solutions Pvt Ltd as one of the 'Top 5 Startups' that had excelled in the SharkTank Pitching competition. This was held before experts such as Infosys former Director Mohandas Pai and Jyothi Labs ex-CEO Ullas Kamath, as well as 300-plus visionary entrepreneurs, investors, and corporate representatives from across India. Each of these top startups, including InIT, won a prize of Rs 5 lakh," the release stated. Besides 'BookSeva', InIT assists temples in streamlining their day-to-day operations by implementing an ERP (enterprise resource planning) system. Notable Kerala temple administrations associating with InIT are Guruvayur, those under the Cochin Devaswom Board, and Attukal in Thiruvananthapuram district. "InIT Solutions, which is based in Vennala, is working towards expanding its services to temple management across India. KSUM is the Kerala government's nodal agency established in 2006 for entrepreneurship development and incubation activities," it stated. (ANI) The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Thursday extended support to Palestine in the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel. While attending the meeting organized by the CPI(M) in support of Palestine, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said, "Palestine has been reduced to a minuscule. There are more Palestinians living outside Palestine than there are inside Palestine. Egypt has correctly said that we have no problem providing refuge to Palestinians, but once Israel succeeds in pushing them into the Sinai Peninsula, they will never allow Palestinians to go back." "The whole of the land will be taken by Israel. That is the conspiracy," he said. Yechury also condemned the attacks and counter-attacks in the ongoing Israel-Palestine war. "Condemn these attacks & counter-attacks. UN must enforce a stop to this. UN must ensure the legitimate rights of the Palestinians, withdrawal of all Israeli illegal settlements & occupation of Palestinian lands & implement the 2 Nation State solution", he said in a post on X. CPI(M) State Secretary M V Govindan also expressed concern for the Palestinians. "Illegal immigration of Jews into Palestinian land is still happening. The Palestinians now hold only 13 per cent of the land which was earlier divided into a 60:40 ratio. This is being done with the full support of the Israeli government," he said. Earlier, on Friday, the ruling CPI(M) in Kerala expressed solidarity with the people of Palestine, seeking peace for the strife-torn West Asian region. Earlier today, Prime Minister Modi also reaffirmed India's commitment to provide the Palestinian people with humanitarian assistance while reiterating India's long-standing principled position on the Israel-Palestine issue. "Spoke to the President of the Palestinian Authority H.E. Mahmoud Abbas. Conveyed my condolences at the loss of civilian lives at the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza. We will continue to send humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people," posted PM Modi on X. As the Israel-Hamas war enters its 13th day, global protests over deadly strike at Gaza hospital continue with arrests of Jewish anti-war demonstrators reported inside US Congress, according to CNN. The Palestinian Mission to the UN in Geneva has denounced Israeli disinformation and propaganda after the deadly Gaza hospital explosion. At least 3,785 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since Hamas's October 7 attack inside Israel, which killed more than 1,400 people, CNN reported. (ANI) Veteran CPIM leader and former Chief Minister of Kerala VS Achuthanandan turned 100 on Friday. Achuthanandan lives with his family in Thiruvananthapuram. VS Achuthanandan, a senior leader of CPIM in India, entered politics through trade union activities. He was a member of the Kerala Assembly seven times and the 11th Chief Minister of Kerala. He was the opposition leader three times, served as CPIM party secretary three times, and was a CPI (M) political bureau member for long periods. VS Achuthanandan was keen on upholding communist principles while holding various positions as Chief Minister, legislature, or opposition leader. He started a mission to remove land encroachments in Munnar in the Idukki district, even though he was criticised by his party when he was the chief minister. The common-party workers had offered him support for his actions. The party workers of CPIM are celebrating Achuthanandan's 100th birthday across the state by distributing sweets and cutting cakes. However, due to his health condition, the workers may not be allowed to meet him. Kerala governor Arif Muhammad Khan, CM Pinarayi Vijayan, opposition leader VD Satheesan, ministers, MLAs, and others also extended their birthday wishes to VS Achuthanandan. "Hearty greetings and best wishes to former Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan on his 100th birthday. I join the people of Kerala in wishing the beloved and respected people's leader good health and happiness", Governor Khan posted on X. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also extended his wishes and said that the role played by the former chief minister in transforming Kerala is undeniable. "Comrade VS Achuthanandan's life has travelled along with the history of modern Kerala. The role played by leaders, including VS in transforming Kerala into today's Kerala is undeniable. He has stood with the lower classes throughout his life. Therefore, the centenary of VS is an occasion of joy and pride not only for the labour movements, progressive movements, and the Communist Party but also for the entire country. Happy birthday to Comrade VS", the Chief Minister said. (ANI) The union minister extended greetings on the occasion of Navratri and termed Ram Leela as an integral part of India's culture adding that he'll be visiting Ayodha in January. Speaking to ANI, Union Minister Puri on Wednesday said, "We have ancient civilization and culture. I will go to Ayodhya with all of you in January, and we will take our yatra forward." With excitement in the air, the nine-day Sharad Navratri celebrations started on October 15 and numerous customs are observed around the country during this period. The 9-day-long festival of Shardiya Navratri is intended for worshipping Maa Durga and her nine avatars, known as Navdurga. Navratri means 'nine nights' in Sanskrit. Hindus observe a total of four Navratris throughout the year. From Ashwin Shukla Paksha's Navami until the Pratipada, Shardiya Navratri is observed. While it is celebrated with great fanfare across the nation, distinct traditions are more commonly practised in different states. In India, Navratri is celebrated in a wide range of ways. Ram Leela, a celebration in which scenes from the Ramayana are performed and is organised in various parts of the country. The burning of King Ravana's effigies marks the story's conclusion on Vijayadashami. (ANI) As Prime Minister Narendra Modi is inaugurating the priority section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor here later today, the local residents are excited and said that the initiative will give better travel connectivity and experience. A local, who arrived at the venue of the event in Sahibabad, Shubhank Agarwal told ANI, "This will be very important. This will be very convenient for all passengers going from Delhi to Meerut. Right now, it takes a lot of time to reach Meerut. When RRTS Corridor becomes operational commuting will become easy. Daily passengers of the route will find it convenient" Rishita Agarwal, a 10-year-old girl, who came early with her father to attend the inauguration event said: "I am very excited to see our Prime Minister. I love him. He is a very nice person" Another Ghaziabad resident Rakesh Sharma said that he is very excited. "The crowd in East Zone is dense and commuting is difficult. This network will reduce the travel time to Meerut and help people," he said. Shikha Sharma who stays in Ghaziabad told ANI "There were a few problems (in commuting to Meerut) ...This will make the travel to Meerut easier." we are very happy that our PM is coming today to flag off Rapidx train. RapidX, the country's first semi-high-speed regional rail service, has been renamed NaMo Bharat. PM Modi will flag off the RapidX train connecting Sahibabad to Duhai Depot, marking the launch of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) in India. At around 12 Noon, the Prime Minister will preside over a public programme in Sahibabad where he will address the gathering on the occasion of the launch of RRTS in the country. Further, he will also dedicate to the nation two stretches of east east-west corridor of Bengaluru Metro. The 17 Km priority section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor that will be inaugurated, will connect Sahibabad to 'Duhai Depot' with stations at Ghaziabad, Guldhar and Duhai on the way. The foundation stone for the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor was laid by the Prime Minister on 8th March 2019. In line with the Prime Minister's vision to transform regional connectivity in the country through the construction of new world-class transport infrastructure, the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) project is being developed, said officials. RRTS is a new rail-based, semi-high-speed, high-frequency commuter transit system. With a design speed of 180 Kmph, RRTS is a transformational, regional development initiative, which is designed to provide high-speed trains for intercity commuting every 15 minutes, which can go up to a frequency of every 5 minutes as per requirement. (ANI) In view of the two-day session of the Punjab Assembly starting today, state Health Minister Balbir Singh said that this session is organised to discuss the issues being faced by the public in Punjab. The session has been called by the AAP government amid a political row over the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal following the October 4 Supreme Court order asking the Centre to look into the mediation process. "This session is to discuss the issues being faced by the public in Punjab. The people want to know what the government is doing and working on. This Governor (of Punjab) has written more letters than all governors put together," Balbir Singh said. Meanwhile, Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said that the government has not informed them about the topics to be discussed in the assembly session. "The list of businesses has not been given to us. The government has not told us what it wants to discuss. We will hold a CLP meeting shortly and take a decision. The governor has called this session unconstitutional," Amarinder Singh said. Earlier on Thursday, the Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Legislative Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa asked CM Bhagwant Mann to make a statement in the Punjab assembly session on 37,100 government jobs provided to youth. "A comprehensive breakdown of job openings, categorised by department, with clarification on whether these positions were pre-existing or newly sanctioned after the AAP government assumed power," he stated. He further said that a clear delineation of the exact date on which the recruitment process for these positions was formally initiated. "An unambiguous identification of the agency responsible for overseeing this process, whether it is the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC), the Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board (PSSSB), or an alternative administrative mechanism," he stated. (ANI) The Supreme Court on Friday made 'absolute' its earlier order granting interim anticipatory bail to the Indian Youth Congress president Srinivas BV, in an alleged harassment case filed against him. A bench of Justices BR Gavai, Aravind Kumar, and Prashant Kumar Mishra made its earlier order 'absolute' of granting interim anticipatory bail to Srinivas after being apprised that he had cooperated with the investigation. On May 17, the top court had granted him interim anticipatory bail. "By order dated May 17, we had granted ad-interim bail. The Additional Advocate General of the State of Assam vehemently opposes the anticipatory bail application. However, taking into consideration that the petitioner has cooperated with the investigation, we are entitled to allow the application and the earlier order is made absolute," the bench ordered. Srinivas has challenged a Gauhati High Court order rejecting his anticipatory bail plea in an alleged harassment case filed against him. The apex court had granted interim anticipatory bail to Srinivas several times. Srinivas challenged the Gauhati High Court order rejecting his anticipatory bail plea. On May 5, the Gauhati High Court rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Srinivas in a case lodged by a former colleague and the ex-president of Assam Youth Congress accusing him of causing mental agony to her. High Court had also refused to quash the FIR. In her complaint, the woman alleged that Srinivas persistently harassed her mentally by way of sexist remarks and slang words. On her complaint, an FIR was registered booking Srinivas under Sections 352 (assault or criminal force), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 354A (1)(iv) (sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code. The woman had claimed that Srinivas had heckled her, held her arm, pushed and pulled her and used slang words during the party's recent plenary session in Raipur. He had also threatened to ruin her career in the party if she complained against him, she alleged. The alleged offence had occurred in Raipur in Chhattisgarh which was beyond the territorial jurisdiction of the Dispur police station, where the case was filed and Assam police had no jurisdiction to investigate or register an FIR for an offence that allegedly took place in Chhattisgarh, Srinivas said. The Congress had issued show cause notice to the woman and later expelled her from the primary membership of the party for six years for anti-party activities. (ANI) After Samajwadi Party (SP) President Akhilesh Yadav lashed out at Congress for not sharing seats in Assembly polls, Madhya Pradesh BJP President VD Sharma on Friday hit out at the grand old party and INDI alliance and said that Akhilesh Yadav has exposed INDI Alliance that Congress has no status in Madhya Pradesh. VD Sharma says, "Akhilesh Yadav has exposed the INDI Alliance. He said that Congress has no status in Madhya Pradesh. He also said that he doesn't want to talk to the '2 kaudi ke netaon' (worthless leader) of Congress. This is the condition of the people of the Madhya Pradesh Congress and INDI alliance." Earlier, Yadav, upset over Congress "turning its back" on seat-sharing in Madhya Pradesh, said, "I want to tell the Congress, don't talk about our party through your 'chirkut' leaders'" referring to Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai. "Congress list has 140 candidates who are booked under criminal cases. Recorded habitual offenders, who are carrying rewards, have been made candidates. Congress has collapsed badly, there is an ongoing infighting among them. This is unfortunate." added Sharma. Meanwhile, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate said that the tussle over tickets is a natural thing among coalition partners. Congress leader Supriya Shrinate said, "When elections are held, tussle over tickets is a natural thing. Everyone feels that the ticket should be given to the strongest contestant. I think Akhilesh Yadav is one of the most important parts of the INDIA alliance and many from our party are in touch with him, there is nothing which cannot solved after having a discussion on it..." Earlier, Akhilesh Yadav responded fiercely when reporters asked him about his reaction to Congress Uttar Pradesh chief Ajay Rai's statement that if Congress had fought Ghosi, they (SP) might have lost the seat. "The state chief has no authority. He was not there in the meeting held at Patna, Mumbai. What does he know about the INDIA alliance?... These people from Congress are siding or involved with the BJP," the SP leader said while talking to reporters in Sitapur. SP chief further said that he would not have trusted them if he had known that people from Congress would betray us. "If I had known that the alliance is not on the state level then I would not have sent SP leaders to Digvijaya Singh...I would not have trusted them if I had known that people from Congress would betray us," he added. The Congress's UP unit chief Ajay Rai has asked the SP to withdraw from MP in favour of the grand old party as the Akhilesh Yadav-led party, he said, did not have any base there. On Tuesday, while speaking to reporters about the allocation of seats in the INDIA alliance in Madhya Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav said that the Congress party should clarify who will get how many seats in the alliance and whether the alliance will be at a national level or on a state level. Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party (SP) has released its second list of candidates for the upcoming Madhya Pradesh assembly polls, according to an official statement issued by the party on Wednesday.The party has declared the names of a total of 22 candidates in the second list. Madhya Pradesh is one of the five states set to hold elections this year. The state is scheduled to vote on November 17, with the vote count taking place on December 3. Voters will choose legislators from 230 Assembly constituencies. The Kamal Nath government collapsed in March 2021 when 22 sitting Congress MLAs resigned under the leadership of Jyotiraditya Scindia and joined the BJP. Subsequently, the BJP formed the government in the state, with Shivraj Singh Chouhan taking office as Chief Minister. (ANI) The Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed a plea moved by Aam Aadmi Party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh challenging his remand and arrest in the alleged liquor 'scam' case. Sanjay Singh through plea had stated that he is neither a suspect nor an accused and despite one main charge sheet and two supplementary charge sheets having been filed for the last more than one year, there is absolutely no involvement of the petitioner at all to date. The bench of Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma passed the order and stated that the court did not find any reason to interfere with the order of remand or the arrest. The petition is premature at this stage and the investigation is still to take place, stated the Court. On the last date of the hearing, appearing for ED, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju submitted that Singh had been arrested in the interest of investigation after following the due process of law. "During the investigation, it is revealed that Sanjay Singh is also a part of a conspiracy of the Delhi Liquor Scam and is closely related to Dinesh Arora and Amit Arora. He has been part of collecting kickback and has received proceeds of crime to the tune of 2 crore," the ED's counsel submitted. "The trial court which passed the order has perused the case paper that reasons have been recorded in writing and thus it is in compliance with section 19. Facts stated nowhere show that his arrest is unwarranted or unreasonable. Even his contention regarding remand application mechanically without considering is wrong and misleading. General submissions are made off the cuff. The remand is not mechanical and there is total application of mind," he said. Earlier, appearing for Sanjay Singh, Senior Advocate Vikram Chaudhari argued that the action of arresting a reputed person in the country had taken place without following procedures. For more than one year, untill now, I was never called by the Enforcement Directorate, the lawyer said. "Suddenly on October 4, they came to my house, carried out a search, took my mobile phone, and some papers and later in the evening arrested me. Dinesh Arora gives different answers to the same question, he eventually starts speaking what the agency wants him to say," Singh's lawyer argued. The trial Court last week sent Sanjay Singh to Judicial Custody till October 27, 2023. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) recently arrested Sanjay Singh after a day-long questioning by the ED officials at his Delhi residence. Sanjay Singh's party colleague and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia of Delhi was also arrested in the same liquor policy scam case in March month this year. ED claimed that Singh and his associates played a part in the Delhi government's decision to give licenses to alcohol shops and merchants in 2020, causing losses to the state exchequer and violating anti-corruption laws. ED has previously searched a number of locations including the homes and offices of Sanjay Singh's close associate Ajit Tyagi and other contractors and businessmen who allegedly benefited from the policy. In its nearly 270-page supplementary charge sheet, the ED has called Sisodia a key conspirator in the case. The Delhi liquor scam case or the excise policy case pertains to allegations that the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22 allowed cartelisation and favoured certain dealers who had allegedly paid bribes for it, a charge that has been strongly refuted by the AAP. ED, last year filed its first chargesheet in the case. The agency said it has so far undertaken over 200 search operations in this case after filing an FIR after taking cognisance of a CBI case which was registered on the recommendation of the Delhi lieutenant governor. The CBI inquiry was recommended on the findings of the Delhi chief secretary's report filed in July showing prima facie violations of the GNCTD Act 1991, Transaction of Business Rules (ToBR)-1993, Delhi Excise Act-2009, and Delhi Excise Rules-2010. The ED and the CBI had alleged that irregularities were committed while modifying the Excise Policy, undue favours were extended to licence holders, the licence fee was waived or reduced and the L-1 licence was extended without the competent authority's approval. The beneficiaries diverted "illegal" gains to the accused officials and made false entries in their books of account to evade detection. (ANI) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis accused the Uddhav Thackeray government of helping drug kingpin Lalit Patil who was arrested on Tuesday after his escape on October 2 from Pune's Sassoon General Hospital. Fadnavis alleged that when Uddhav Thackeray's government was in power the public prosecutor did not oppose Lalit Patil's stay in hospital. He also said that Lalit Patil was made Nashik District Chief of Shiv Sena by Uddhav Thackeray. "Shivsena of Uddhav Thackeray had made him(Lalit Patil) Nashik city president. When he was arrested his Police custody was sought. When he was sent to Police custody, he was admitted to Sassoon Hospital and the prosecutor of that time didn't even oppose his Hospital stay. And after 14 days he was sent to judicial custody. So when he was arrested, he was not even interrogated by police. How will the case proceed?" Fadnavis asked. Lalit Patil was behind the multi-crore mephedrone racket that was busted by the Pimpri-Chinchwad police in 2020. He was arrested from Chennai on Tuesday night. Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said that the arrest of Lalit Patil by the Mumbai police will reveal "a big nexus" in the State. Pune Police arrested two women from Nashik on Thursday in connection with the Lalit Patil drug mafia case and produced them before the Pune Sessions Court which sent them to police custody till October 23. Police detained both the female accused on Wednesday evening and presented them before the court on Thursday. As per defence lawyer Tejas Punekar, Pune Police informed the court that the two arrested accused identified as Archana Nikam and Pragya Kamble, were close associates of the main accused Lalit Patil. When Lalit Patil absconded from Sassoon Hospital, Archana gave financial help to Lalit Patil with Rs 25 lakh and the duo helped Patil to hide. Police custody of both the accused has been obtained by the police from court and further investigation has been started to find out what and how much role they played in this whole matter. The same defence lawyer Advocate Tejas Punekar, who was arguing for Archana Nikam in court, said that the police had completed the search at Archana's house and had also called her for questioning several times, and his client is cooperating with police in the investigation. Hence there is no need for custodial interrogation, the court heard the arguments of both the parties and sent both the accused to police remand till 23rd October. (ANI) As All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) celebrated its sixth foundation day on Friday, Union Minister of Ayush Sarbananda Sonowal said that India should come forward to take global leadership with a holistic healthcare approach while congratulating AIIA for its academic achievements. Investors across the globe are enthusiastic about investing in the Ayush sector and we should work to tap that opportunity, he said on the occasion. The Minister said that the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has allotted 12 Acres of land for the expansion of the All India Institute of Ayurveda. "This support will encourage the efforts made by AIIA to upgrade services for Holistic Healthcare," he added. On this occasion, six MoUs have been signed between AIIA and different well-known institutions like Hindustan Salt, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Heartfulness Institute. The institute has a new molecular biology lab for advanced research, a Manuscript Unit and a Center of Excellence Dakshya that will create a new path of success in the research advancement of AIIA. MoUs have been signed with a vision to bring new dimensions to the working culture and generate systematic evidence. Minister of State for Ayush Munjapara Mahendrabhai Kalubhai said, "Over the last six years, the AIIA has evolved as a symbol of excellence, innovation, and a bridge between our old traditions and the demands of modern healthcare. It has consistently pushed the limits of Ayurvedic research, teaching, and practice." "In the same context, new additions have been made in the form of a Molecular biology laboratory and skill labs by the institute. With the inauguration of AIIA in 2017, the dream of former Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee has come true," he added. On celebrating the sixth year, AIIA director Tanuja Nesari called it a remarkable milestone and expressed gratitude to the 'AIIA family' for their hard work. We all have together built this institute and we are extremely proud of our journey so far, she added. "It's a remarkable milestone that wouldn't have been possible without the unwavering support of our PM Modi Ji, Ministry of Ayush and our Ministers. We want to thank the AIIA family for their hard work. Together, we've built something memorable and I am immensely proud of our journey so far. Celebrating sixth year foundation day symbolizes our commitment to preserving and promoting the traditional science of healing while embracing modern research and innovations," Tanuja Nesari said. The highlight of this momentous occasion was the unveiling of the statue of the late Padma Vibhushan Vaidya Brihaspati Dev Triguna by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal at the newly christened "Vaidya Brihaspati Dev Triguna Auditorium". Vaidya Brihaspati Dev Triguna was a legendary figure in the world of Ayurveda. His lifelong dedication to the practice and promotion of Ayurveda made him earn the prestigious Padma Vibhushan award, one of the highest civilian honours in India. AIIA was established on Oct 17, 2017, for the promotion and advancement of the knowledge and practice of Ayurveda, an ancient Indian system of medicine. Over the past six years, the institution has made tremendous strides in this field, becoming a hub for Ayurvedic education and research not only in India but on global scale. Very recently, the institute is accredited with an A++ grade by NAAC, which is the first institute under the Ministry of Ayush to achieve such heights in the first cycle. On this occasion, Minister Shri Sarbanand Sonowal handed over the A++ certificate of NAAC to the director of the institute Tanuja Nesari. Various technical documents have been released at this moment. The President of Heartfulness Institute (fondly called Daaji) gave a virtual key note address and emphasised the importance of meditation and its relevance in the field of Ayurveda. He expressed his desire to open centre of Ayurveda with AIIA at Kanha Shantivanam, Hyderabad. AIIA also honoured two senior most teachers on this occasion. Sarbananda Sonowal was the Chief Guest for the programme. Padma Bhushan Vaidya Devendra Triguna President, Governing Body, RAV, Secretary of Ministry of Ayush Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha and Joint Secretary of Ministry of Ayush BK Singh were the Guest of Honour for the event. (ANI) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said on Friday that the massive investment made by the prestigious Tata group in the state will herald a new era of industrial development in the state. The Chief Minister, while addressing the gathering after performing the groundbreaking ceremony of the Green Steel Plant coming up at a cost of Rs 2,600 crore, said, "Tata is a renowned company across the globe and the huge investment made by it in the state will inspire other companies to follow suit. This is the second-largest plant by the Tata Group in the country after Jamshedpur. This is the company of patriots, who have played a pivotal role in national freedom struggle." Bhagwant Singh Mann said that besides opening new avenues of employment for the youth, this project will act as a catalyst in giving a fillip to the industrial development of the state. The Chief Minister said, "This whopping investment is a slap in the face of those forces that defame the state on the law and order front. Such investments come only in peaceful states, and this investment has proved that Punjab is today the most peaceful state in the country." Bhagwant Singh Mann announced that the state government will construct the road leading to the site of the plant from the National Highway. Terming that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is obsolete in the state now, the Chief Minister said, "The state government is currently signing MoDS (Memorandum of Dil Se) with the industrialists to give fillip to industrial development in the state. This agreement is totally based on mutual trust and zeal to make Punjab a front-runner state in the industrial sector." The Chief Minister said, "Punjab is known for its spirit of enterprise, which is bolstered by the warm and welcoming people of the state. He said that this spirit of dynamism has allowed Punjab to become the most preferred investment destination in the country. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that due to strenuous efforts of the state government Punjab is today the first choice for investment of many global giants." "Due to massive efforts made by the state government, Punjab has so far received investments to the tune of Rs 56,796 crores since mid-March 2022, and generated employment opportunities for 2.98 lakh youth. In recent last 18 months, some of the biggest companies like Tata Steel, Sanathan Textiles, Toppan, and Freudenberg Group are making a beeline to invest in the state." he added. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that as promised by his government they had taken a path-breaking initiative of organizing the 'Sarkar Sanatkar Milnis' to facilitate the industrialists. "In February 2023, mini conclaves were hosted in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mohali, and Pathankot providing a platform to interact with local industry stakeholders and gather suggestions. To further enhance engagement, a WhatsApp Number and Email was launched for getting the suggestions of industrialists in July 2023. Based on the feedback received during the mini conclaves as well as pursuant to the toll-free helpline, the government formulated policy reforms which were announced during the Sarkar Santkar Milnis. The Chief Minister said that the state government has taken some unique initiatives like colour-coded stamp paper thereby introducing 'Green Colour Stamp Paper for Registration of Sale Deed along with Inbuilt CLU'. In addition to this, he said that Punjab recently launched Industrial policy 2022 which offers a host of attractive incentives. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Invest Punjab has emerged as 'Top State Investment Promotion Agency', which serves as the single point of contact for any investor. "Invest Punjab has been instrumental in providing momentous support in facilitating Tata Steel's entry and other marquee into Punjab. Punjab is among 'Top Achievers' in the Ease of Business Ranking released by the Government of India in June 2022. The state government has also introduced provisions for Deemed Approvals and Auto Renewals of clearances, simplifying the process for businesses. "Punjab is well-connected to both the Eastern and Western Freight Corridors, with multiple logistics facilities, international and domestic airports, and excellent rail and road connectivity. He said that Punjab has a peaceful labor environment, with no labor unrest faced by any industrial units over three decades. Bhagwant Singh Mann further said that Punjab is one of the safest states with one of the lowest rates of cognizable crime among major industrial states in India. "Punjab is also home to prestigious educational institutions such as IIT, IIM, ISB, and more which are helping in providing a pool of skilled manpower to the industrialists. He said that investments by Tata Steel, Nestle, Freudenberg, Claas, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Cargill and others demonstrate Punjab's commitment to fostering a conducive business environment." Mann said. Lauding Tata Steel Limited for believing in Punjab and setting up this recycled steel plant, the Chief Minister said that the state is excited about the positive impact of this project on Punjab's economy and the community. He assured fulsome support and cooperation to Tata Steel Limited in Punjab for times to come. Bhagwant Singh Mann wished a bright future for Tata Steel in the state and described it as the dawn of a new era. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday extended his birthday greeting to former Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan and wished him to lead a long and healthy life. "Greetings to former Kerala CM VS Achuthanandan Ji on the special occasion of his 100th birthday. He has been working for the people of Kerala for decades. I recall my interactions with him, particularly when we both were serving as Chief Ministers of our respective states. May he lead a long and healthy life," PM Modi posted on X (Formerly Twitter). Achuthanandan lives with his family in Thiruvananthapuram. VS Achuthanandan, a senior leader of CPI (M )in India, entered politics through trade union activities. He was a member of the Kerala Assembly seven times and the 11th Chief Minister of Kerala. He was the opposition leader three times, served as CPI (M) party secretary three times, and was a political bureau member for long periods. VS Achuthanandan was keen on upholding communist principles while holding various positions as Chief Minister, legislature, or opposition leader. He started a mission to remove land encroachments in Munnar in the Idukki district, even though he was criticised by his party when he was the chief minister. The common-party workers had offered him support for his actions. The party workers of CPIM are celebrating Achuthanandan's 100th birthday across the state by distributing sweets and cutting cakes. However, due to his health condition, the workers may not be allowed to meet him. Kerala governor Arif Muhammad Khan, CM Pinarayi Vijayan, opposition leader VD Satheesan, ministers, MLAs, and others also extended their birthday wishes to VS Achuthanandan. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also extended his wishes and said that the role played by the former chief minister in transforming Kerala is undeniable. (ANI) Hitting out at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's statement on having "family ties" with Telangana, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K Kavitha on Friday said that the relationship Gandhi family has with the state is of betrayal. While addressing party workers' meeting in Nizamabad, Kavitha said, "Today Rahul Gandhi came to Jagital and talked big words. He said that he has a relationship with Telangana since his grandmother's time and father's time. I totally agree with him (Rahul Gandhi) that he has family ties with Telangana." She added, "It was Jawaharlal Nehru who forcefully merged us into Andhra Pradesh and killed our aspirations. In 1969, when we demanded a separate state, 369 students were shot by Indira Gandhi. Later, Rajiv Gandhi hurt Telangana's self-respect. Sonia Gandhi promised to give Telangana in 2009 but took it back and many Telangana children died. You have a hand in it." She further slammed Rahul Gandhi for not speaking in support of the state in the last 10 years. "It was Rajiv Gandhi who insulted our Chief Minister who was from the OBC community. In the last 10 years, Rahul Gandhi never spoke in support of Telangana. He never stood with us. Yes, you surely have a relationship with Telangana to continuously betray Telangana. The people of Telangana will definitely show this to you in the elections," she added. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is on 'Vijayabheri Yatra' in the poll-bound state, while addressing a rally at Jagtial took aim at Telangana CM and BRS chief, K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), and said, "You (the people) thought that the 'Janata' would rule in the state of Telangana but when the state was formed, the rule of one single family was established." He went on to say, "The entire resources of the state, whether it's land, sand, or alcohol, are all under the control of one single family." Rahul Gandhi is campaigning in Telangana for a third day. The Election Commission of India (ECI) on October 9 announced that the Telangana Assembly polls are scheduled to be held on November 30. The counting of votes will be done on December 3. Telangana is set to witness a triangular contest between the BJP, the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi, and the Congress in the upcoming assembly election. In the previous Assembly election held in 2018, BRS managed to win 88 seats out of 119 and had a dominant vote share of 47.4 per cent. Congress came in a distant second with 19 seats. Its vote share was 28.7 per cent. (ANI) People are in a mood to change the corrupt and anti-tribal Bhupesh Baghel government and form a BJP government in Chhattisgarh, said Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya here on Friday. The Health Minister paid a visit to the Shri Danteshwari Temple in the Dantewada district on Friday and offered prayers to the revered Mother Goddess, seeking blessings for the prosperity and well-being of the people of the state. Speaking to the media after his temple visit, Mandaviya said, "I had the darshan of Shri Danteshwari Mata here in Dantewada. I met the people here. People here are in the mood for a change, people are angry towards Bupesh Baghel's corrupt and anti-tribal government." "People want change, and looking at the feelings of the people, I can definitely say that this time BJP will form the government in Chattissgarh with a majority. Along with Prime Minister Modiji's engine of development, the engine of development here will also continue. A double-engine government will be formed and Chhattisgarh will move ahead in the path of development in the coming days," he said. Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Friday said that the public in Chhattisgarh is fed up with the alleged scams of the Bhupesh Baghel government and people are not going to tolerate the state becoming the ATM of the Congress party. Speaking to reporters in Raipur, Anurag Thakur said," Congress is looting the resources of Chhattisgarh and pushing the state backwards. Congress will be defeated in the upcoming elections. The public is ready for it as they are not going to tolerate the state becoming the ATM of the Congress party." Thakur further stated that the wind of Assembly elections has been in the favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP. "PM Modi has ensured several schemes for the state. Many projects are being completed and many more were inaugurated under his visionary leadership. The wind is going in favour of Prime Minister Modi and BJP," he said. Earlier, the BJP on Thursday released the list of 40-star campaigners for the first phase of the Chhattisgarh Assembly elections, scheduled to be held in November. The list also includes party national president JP Nadda, Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, Mansukh Mandaviya, Dharmendra Pradhan, Smriti Irani, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and others. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced 85 candidates for the 90-seat Assembly, fielding former chief minister Raman Singh from Rajnandgaon constituency. Moreover, the Congress has so far released 83 candidates' list. Polling for 20 seats in the 90-member Chhattisgarh Assembly will be held on November 7 while votes for the remaining 70 seats will be cast in the second phase on November 17. The counting of votes in Chhattisgarh, along with those in four other poll-bound states, has been scheduled for December 3. The Model Code of Conduct has already come into effect in Chhattisgarh. In the last assembly polls in 2018, the Congress recorded a landslide mandate, winning 68 seats of the 90 seats while the BJP finished a distant second at just 15 seats. (ANI) Justice S Ravindra Bhat of the Supreme Court retired from service on Friday after a tenure of over four years at the top court. Justice Bhat was elevated as a judge of the Supreme Court on September 23, 2019. He received the customary farewell in court and from the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on his last working day. In his speech at the SCBA farewell, Justice Bhat began by expressing his deep gratitude for the privilege of serving as a member of the bench of the Supreme Court. He said, "I count myself to be among the lucky people to have ended my career here, as a member of the bench of the highest court of the country." During the ceremonial bench earlier in the day, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said that Justice Bhat is very precise and succinct in his judgements and has taken up very difficult issues. Justice Kaul praised Justice Bhat for contributing tremendously to the judiciary. Heading a ceremonial bench to bid farewell to Justice Bhat on his last working day as an apex court judge, Justice Kaul said, "He (Justice Bhat) has been a person who has contributed tremendously to this court, to each court where he has gone." Justice Bhat said his career as an advocate and later as a judge has been extremely rewarding. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta also highlighted Justice Bhat's immense contribution to the judiciary and wished him on his last working day. During his over-four-year tenure, Justice Bhat was part of several landmark verdicts, including the five-judge Constitution bench that recently refused to grant legal recognition to same-sex marriages. He was also part of a five-judge Constitution bench that last year upheld the 10 per cent reservation introduced in 2019 for economically weaker sections (EWS) in admissions and government jobs that excluded the poor among the SC, ST, and OBC categories. Justice Bhat was born on October 21, 1958, in Mysuru, and obtained his LL.B. degree from the Campus Law Centre, University of Delhi, in 1982. He enrolled as an advocate with the Delhi Bar Council in 1982. He was appointed as an additional judge of the Delhi High Court on July 16, 2004, and as a permanent judge on February 20, 2006. He was appointed as the Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court on May 5, 2019, before moving to the apex court. (ANI) Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has announced the release of funds for the comprehensive development and renovation of temples in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand. According to an official statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), "CM Dhami has announced Rs 1 crore for the beautification of Harju Temple, Nileshwar Temple and Chandika Devi Temple of Bageshwar Assembly Constituency. The fund will also be used for Dangleshwar Mahadev Temple near Satpuli under Chaubattakhal Assembly Constituency of Pauri District." The Chief Minister also announced Rs 88.17 lakh for the level development of the bathhouse and temple of Dehradun and Rs 82.67 lakh for the beautification of Hedimba Devi temple in village Halduwasahu of Jaspur assembly constituency, said the statement. Additionally, CM Dhami announced Rs 82.67 lakh for the construction of an auditorium and room in Shri Raghunath Mandir Gurudwara Colony, Clement Town, Dehradun, assembly constituency. The Chief Minister also allocated Rs 73.30 lakh for the beautification of the historical Ladhondhura fair site of Champawat assembly constituency, Rs 48.51 lakh for the beautification of Kodiya, Siddhabali Temple, Chillarkhal, Pakhraun, the entrance gate of Kotdwar assembly constituency, it said. Pithoragarh district's Dharchula assembly constituency received a donation from Dhami of Rs 48.51 lakh for the beautification of the Panchkoti Dev temple. Alakhnath Temple, Kilpara, Bajyan Temple and the Dhai Ijar of Kapkot Assembly Constituency of Bageshwar District. Chief Minister Dhami held a meeting with representatives of various industry groups on Tuesday in Dubai for the Uttarakhand Global Investor Summit 2023. In the presence of the Chief Minister, investment MoUs worth Rs 1,1925 crore were signed with various industry groups on the first day in Dubai. Uttarakhand Minister Dhan Singh Rawat was also present on the occasion. Investment agreements were signed with groups related to tourism, education, infra, real estate, health, spices, aroma etc. MoUs worth Rs 5,450 crore were signed in the first session while MoUs worth Rs 6,475 crore were signed in the second session. CM Dhami has invited all the investors present in the program to the Uttarakhand Global Investors Summit 2023' to be held in Dehradun in the month of December, according to the official statement. CM Dhami also invited all the industrial houses to the summit to be organized in Dehradun on the 8th and 9th of December. (ANI) The Union Minister visited a total of 5 Durga Puja pandals, which include Tala Barawari Pandal, Wellington Nagarik Kalyan Samity Pandal, Santosh Mitra Square Pandal, Krishna Cinema Hall Durga Puja Pandal and 45 Ward Durga Puja Pandal. The Hindu festival of Durga Puja, also known as Durgotsava or Sharodotsava, is a yearly celebration that honours the Hindu goddess Durga and commemorates her victory over Mahishasur. This festival is primarily celebrated in West Bengal, Kolkata, Bihar, Jharkhand, Tripura, and Assam. Hindu mythology holds that the goddess comes to her earthly abode at this time to bless her devotees. The significance of Durga Puja goes beyond religion and is revered as the celebration of compassion, brotherhood, humanity, art, and culture. From the reverberation of 'dhaak' and new clothes to delicious food, there remains a merry mood during these days. In other parts of the country, 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. During these nine days, people observe ritualistic fasts, recite shlokas dedicated to each goddess, wear new clothing, offer bhog, and clean their homes. In their prayers, they ask the goddess for her favour in order to have prosperous, joyous, and fulfilled lives. (ANI) Jaishankar is on an official visit to Indonesia from October 19 to 20. "Chaired the regional conference of our ASEAN and East Asia Ambassadors today in Singapore. Our deliberations took stock of developments in the region and assessed their implications for India. Insights offered by our Ambassadors are valuable inputs into policy-making," Jaishankar posted on X (formerly Twitter). https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1714961166458622003?s=20 The EAM also met the Indonesian Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen in Indonesia. "Good to meet my friend Defense Minister @Ng_Eng_Hen today.Thank him for addressing our Ambassadors conference. Always appreciate his strategic reading and assessments," he stated. India and Singapore enjoy a historical relationship that was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2015. Previously, Jaishankar was an official visit to Vietnam from October 15 to 18 at the invitation of Vietnam's Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son. Earlier on Wednesday, Jaishankar hailed India-Vietnam strategic ties and called it a "source of security, stability and progress in the region," while reaffirming the long maritime tradition between the two nations. During his visit, EAM Jaishankar called on Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and also held discussions with the Chairman of the External Relations Commission of the Communist Party of Vietnam Le Hoai Trung. The two Ministers co-chaired the 18th India-Vietnam Joint Commission Meeting on economic, trade, scientific and technological cooperation and reviewed progress on India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership including bilateral cooperation in various fields. (ANI) The United Nations Assistance Mission (UNAMA) has called on the Taliban to stop arbitrarily detaining journalists in Afghanistan, according to Khaama Press. Concerning trends have emerged over the past two years regarding the regular detention of journalists by Taliban officials in several areas. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, or UNAMA, vehemently denounces this practice, citing it as capricious and posing a serious risk to press freedom in the Taliban-ruled country. The essential function of a free and independent media in any democratic society is undermined by these detentions, which also violate the fundamental rights of journalists, the mission has time and again, reiterated, according to Khaama Press. French-Afghan journalist Mortaza Behboudi was, recently released from prison on October 18 after 284 days in Taliban custody. Since his imprisonment, two days after he entered Afghanistan in January 2023, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has never stopped defending him from the Taliban authorities. According to Khaama Press, Behboudi was freed from Pul-e-Charkhi prison. He was captured in January of this year. According to Reporters Without Borders, Behboudi has been cleared of all allegations, including "espionage," "unlawful support for foreigners," and aiding people in escaping borders, by the Taliban government. Earlier in April, journalists in Afghanistan once again denounced the lack of access to information under the Taliban regime in the country and said that it results in their loss of timely coverage. They also said that the de-facto authorities are not cooperating with them in any manner.Lack of access to information has been one of the main challenges for journalists in Afghanistan since the Taliban took control of the country in August 2021. The ever-increasing restrictions against media in Afghanistan have also drawn widespread criticism globally with the United Nations (UN) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) decrying the arrests, demanding the Taliban stop harassing local journalists and stifling freedom of speech through continued detentions and threats. Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan in mid-August last year, it rolled back women's rights advances and media freedom revoking the efforts on gender equality and freedom of speech in the country. (ANI) Canada Foreign Minister Melanie Joly announced on Thursday (local time) that Canada has removed 41 diplomats and their 42 family members, from India over the ongoing row between the two countries. "As of now, I can confirm that India has formally conveyed its plan to unethically remove diplomatic immunities for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents in Delhi by tomorrow, October 20. This means 41 Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents were in danger of having immunity stripped on an arbitrary date. And this would put their personal safety at risk," Joly said, as she confirmed the departure of Canadian diplomats. This comes after India suspended visa operations to Canada and called for a reduction in Canadian diplomats in India, calling for 'parity', owing to the ongoing diplomatic row between the two nations. Canadian Foreign Minister said, "...we have facilitated their safe departure from India. This means that our diplomats and their families have now left diplomatic immunities. Keep diplomats safe, no matter where they're from and where they're sent to. Immunities allow diplomats to do their work without fear of reprisal or arrests from the country they're in." "They are a fundamental principle of diplomacy and this is a two-way street. They only work if every country abides by the rules. A unilateral revocation of diplomatic privilege and immunities is contrary to international law. It is a clear violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and threatening to do so is unreasonable and escalatory. If we allow the norm of diplomatic immunity to be broken no diplomats anywhere on the planet would be safe," she said, adding that Canada "will not reciprocate," she said, according to CTV news. Along with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Marc Miller, the minister made the announcement about the development "on the situation with India" and how it will affect the level of service delivery Canada can offer following the withdrawal of diplomats. She said, "There's no question that India's decision will impact the levels of services to citizens in both countries. Unfortunately, we have to put a pause on all in-person services in our continents in Chandigarh, Mumbai and in Bangalore." "Canadians who need consular assistance can still visit our High Commission in Delhi. And you can still also do that in person by phone and by email," she added. This comes after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was questioned on Thursday about the situation with the Indian government's deadline of October 10 for Ottawa to considerably reduce its diplomatic presence. Joly would have more to say later, Trudeau said, declining to directly respond to the query, according to CTV News. "We have been continually engaged in diplomacy and in dialogue with the Indian government," Trudeau said, adding "This is a serious matter that we are taking extremely seriously," CTV News reported. Stating that India's focus is achieving 'parity' in terms of diplomatic presence, the Ministry of External Affairs had called for a reduction in Canadian diplomats in India citing their continued "interference" in New Delhi's "internal matters". Addressing the press briefing earlier, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "Given the much higher presence of diplomats or diplomatic presence here...and their continued interference in our internal matters, we have sought parity in our respective diplomatic presence. Discussions are ongoing on the modalities of achieving this". "Given that Canadian diplomatic presence is higher, we would assume that there would be a reduction," he added. On being asked if the reduction in the number of Canadian diplomats could see a decrease in the number of visas issued by the Canadian High Commission in India, Bagchi said, "It's up to the Canadian side, who they choose to staff the High Commission with...our concerns are related to ensuring parity in diplomatic presence". He further added that India's primary focus is on two things; having an atmosphere in Canada, where Indian diplomats can work properly and in achieving parity in terms of diplomatic strength. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently alleged that the Indian government was behind the fatal shooting of Nijjar. Trudeau, during a debate in the Canadian Parliament, claimed his country's national security officials had reasons to believe that "agents of the Indian government" carried out the killing of the Canadian citizen, who also served as the president of Surrey's Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara. However, India has outrightly rejected the claims, calling it 'absurd' and 'motivated'. Notably, Canada has yet to provide any public evidence to support the claim about the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar, who was a designated terrorist in India, was gunned down outside a Gurdwara, in a parking area in Canada's Surrey, British Columbia on June 18. (ANI) United States President Joe Biden has called for a massive new aid package for Israel and Ukraine and at the same time, has strongly denounced a rise in anti-semitism and Islamophobia in the US. Biden addressed the nation in prime time on Thursday (local time), fresh off a wartime visit to Israel. Speaking from the Oval Office starting at 8 p.m.(local time), Biden made the case to Americans that it's vital to both global and US national security to assist Israel as it responds to terror attacks by Hamas as well as to continue help for Ukraine as it fends off Russian invaders. "That's why tomorrow I'm going to send to Congress an urgent budget request to fund America's national security needs - needs to support our critical partners, including Israel and Ukraine. It's a smart investment that's gonna pay dividends for American security for generations," Biden said. "We must, without equivocation, denounce anti-semitism," Biden said. "We must also without equivocation, denounce Islamophobia. To all of you hurting, those of you hurting, I want you to know: I see you. You belong. And I want to say this to you: You're all American. You're all American," Biden asserted. Biden also linked the Israeli and Ukrainian war to American national security. He said that support for both countries Israel as it fights terrorist group Hamas, and Ukraine as it battles Russia will be a "smart investment that's going to pay dividends for American security for generations, help us keep American troops out of harm's way, help us build a world that is safer, more peaceful, more prosperous for our children and grandchildren." "Hamas and Putin, the two represent different threads but they share this in common: They both want to completely annihilate a neighbouring democracy," Biden said, referring to the extremists and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Biden said he knows the conflicts can seem distant and Americans might be asking why it's vital to US security interests that Israel and Ukraine succeed. "History has taught us that when terrorists don't pay a price for their terror, when dictators don't pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and debt and more destruction," Biden said. "They keep going -- and the cost and the threats to America and the world keep rising," he said. In Tel Aviv earlier this week, Biden pledged unwavering support to Israel but also successfully made the case to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet to allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. The national address comes as Biden's team prepares to send a large foreign aid package to Capitol Hill. But the request will fall on a paralyzed Congress, with the House without a speaker since the historic ouster of Kevin McCarthy more than two weeks ago. Republicans have, so far, been unable to come to a consensus on a successor, leaving the chamber in chaos. (ANI) US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden have spoken with the family of a Palestinian-American boy killed in a hate crime outside of Chicago this week, according to a statement released by the White House. Joe Biden and Jill Biden offered condolences to the family of Wadea Alfayoumi and prayed for the full recovery of Wadea's mother. He spoke to Alfayoumi's family right after delivering an address to the nation on Thursday (local time). White House in a statement said, "Following the President's Oval Office address to the nation this evening, the President and First Lady spoke tonight to the father of Wadea Alfayoumi, as well as Wadea's uncle." "The President and First Lady expressed their deepest condolences to the Alfayoumi family as they mourn; their prayers that Wadea's mother, Hannan Shahin, makes a full recovery; and their commitment to keep speaking out against anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab, and anti-Muslim hate and violence," it added. In the press release, the Will County Sheriff's Office said that Joseph M Czuba, a native of Plainfield, Ill., was charged with first-degree murder. He was also charged with attempted first-degree murder; two counts of a hate crime; and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Biden spoke about the attack in his Oval Office address to the nation on Thursday. He reiterated US support for Israel amid its counter-offensive against terrorist group Hamas and denounced both antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate. In his address to the nation, Biden said, "Today, Jewish families worried about being targeted in school wearing symbols of their face walking down the street or going out about their daily lives you I know many of you in the Muslim American Community the Arab American Community, the Palestinian American community and so many others are outraged and hurting saying to yourselves here we go again with islamophobia and distrust we saw after 9/11." "Just last week a mother was brutally stabbed, a little boy here in the United States, a little boy who just turned six years old was murdered in their home outside of Chicago his name was Wadea, a proud American a proud Palestinian American family we can't stand by and stand silent when this happens," he added. On Sunday, six-year-old boy Wadea Alfayoumi was stabbed to death when his landlord broke into his residence and attacked him and his mother, The Hill reported. In the news release, the Will County Sheriff's Office said that Joseph M Czuba was charged with First-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, hate crime (2 counts), and aggravated battery with a deadly Weapon. The sheriff's office said, "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." In his address to the nation, Biden has called for a massive new aid package for Israel and Ukraine and at the same time, has strongly denounced a rise in anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in the US. Biden made the case to Americans that it's vital to both global and US national security to assist Israel as it responds to terror attacks by Hamas as well as to continue help for Ukraine as it fends off Russian invaders. "That's why tomorrow I'm going to send to Congress an urgent budget request to fund America's national security needs - needs to support our critical partners, including Israel and Ukraine. It's a smart investment that's gonna pay dividends for American security for generations," Biden said. (ANI) US President Joe Biden said on Friday that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hamas wanted to completely "annihilate" their neighbouring democracies. "We've not forgotten the mass graves, the bodies found bearing signs of torture, rape used as a weapon by the Russians, and thousands and thousands of Ukrainian children forcibly taken into Russia, stolen from their parents. It's sick. Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common. They both want to completely annihilate a neighbouring democracy," Biden said. In a primetime television address on Thursday (local time), fresh off a wartime visit to Israel, Biden asserted that Hamas uses civilians as human shields against Israeli forces. He further said, "Hamas stated purpose for existing is a destruction of the state of Israel and the murder of Jewish people. Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people. Hamas uses Palestinian civilians as human shields. And innocent Palestinian families are suffering greatly because of them." Taking to X, Biden reiterated, "The terror and tyranny of Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they both want to completely annihilate a neighbouring democracy." Additionally, United States President Joe Biden has called for a massive new aid package for Israel and Ukraine and at the same time, has strongly denounced a rise in anti-semitism and Islamophobia in the US. Speaking from the Oval Office starting at 8 pm (local time), Biden made the case to Americans that it's vital to both global and US national security to assist Israel as it responds to terror attacks by Hamas as well as to continue help for Ukraine as it fends off Russian invaders. "That's why tomorrow I'm going to send to Congress an urgent budget request to fund America's national security needs - needs to support our critical partners, including Israel and Ukraine. It's a smart investment that's gonna pay dividends for American security for generations," Biden said. "We must, without equivocation, denounce anti-semitism," Biden said. "We must also without equivocation, denounce Islamophobia. To all of you hurting, those of you hurting, I want you to know: I see you. You belong. And I want to say this to you: You're all American. You're all American," Biden asserted. Biden also linked the Israeli and Ukrainian war to American national security. He said that support for both countries Israel as it fights terrorist group Hamas, and Ukraine as it battles Russia will be a "smart investment that's going to pay dividends for American security for generations, help us keep American troops out of harm's way, help us build a world that is safer, more peaceful, more prosperous for our children and grandchildren." "Hamas and Putin, the two represent different threads but they share this in common: They both want to completely annihilate a neighbouring democracy," Biden said, referring to the extremists and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Biden said he knows the conflicts can seem distant and Americans might be asking why it's vital to US security interests that Israel and Ukraine succeed. "History has taught us that when terrorists don't pay a price for their terror, when dictators don't pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and debt and more destruction," Biden said. "They keep going -- and the cost and the threats to America and the world keep rising," he said. In Tel Aviv earlier this week, Biden pledged unwavering support to Israel but also successfully made the case to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet to allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. The national address comes as Biden's team prepares to send a large foreign aid package to Capitol Hill. But the request will fall on a paralyzed Congress, with the House without a Speaker since the historic ouster of Kevin McCarthy more than two weeks ago. Republicans have, so far, been unable to come to a consensus on a successor, leaving the chamber in chaos. (ANI) Senior Israeli officials have spoken about the prospect of an imminent large-scale ground offensive of the Gaza Strip to eliminate the terrorist group Hamas on Thursday. Israel Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told soldiers near Gaza that the order to enter the Palestinian enclave would be given "soon," The Times of Israel reported. "You now see Gaza from afar, soon you will see it from the inside," Gallant told troops of the Givati Brigade. He further said, "The order will come." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also visited the frontlines, rallying a group of Golani soldiers near the Gaza border and telling them Israel was on its way to a major victory. "We are going to win with all our might," Netanyahu told the group of soldiers. He said, "All of Israel is behind you, and we are going to heavily strike our enemies so that we can achieve victory," according to The Times of Israel report. The head of the Israeli Defence Forces Southern Command Major General Yaron Finkelman said the expected ground offensive will be "long and intense." Finkelman told troops near the Gaza border, "This war was forced on us, with a cruel enemy that harmed us greatly. But we stopped them... we are striking them heavily." He said, "Now, the manoeuvre is going to move the fighting to their territory. We are going to beat them in their territory." He stressed that it is going to be "difficult, long and intense," The Times of Israel reported. Meanwhile, Israel's Ministry of Defence and the Israeli Defence Forces announced the evacuation of the northern city of Kiryat Shimona's residents to state-subsidized guesthouses. The implementation of the evacuation was approved by Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. Taking to X, Israel's Ministry of Defence stated, "The Ministry of Defense & the IDF announce the evacuation of the northern city of Kiryat Shmona's residents to state-subsidized guesthouses. The implementation of the evacuation program was approved by DM Yoav Gallant. The IDF notified the mayor of Kiryat Shmona a short while ago." For the past week, Israel has urged all residents of northern Gaza to evacuate to the centre and south of the Gaza Strip as it prepares to intensify operations in the enclave's northern part. Hundreds of thousands of people have relocated from their homes despite Hamas urging them not to leave their homes. Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet, a body that needs to approve a ground incursion met on Thursday, which is another sign the start of the ground offensive may be looming. Notably, the conflict between Israel and Hamas started the latter launched an attack against the former on October 7. Following the Hamas attack, Israel called up 360,000 reservists and vowed to eliminate Hamas. With tanks and weapons seen near the Gaza border, reports have indicated that the military is awaiting an order from the political leadership, according to The Times of Israel report. National Unity party chair Benny Gantz and fellow party member Gadi Eisenkot, who entered the coalition last week to form an emergency wartime cabinet, have called for the setting up of a Gaza exit strategy and have asked a committee to devise one, The Times of Israel reported citing an Israeli official's statement last week. Israeli airstrikes on Gaza continued on Thursday, along with intense rocket fire by terrorists towards Israeli cities and towns. On Thursday, rockets were fired towards cities including Holon, Rishon Lezion, Beersheba, Sderot, Ashdod, Ashkelon and Gaza border communities. Two rockets landed in Sderot which led to damages. Three senior officials in Gazan terror groups were killed on Thursday. The IDF said an airstrike in Rafah city of Gaza had killed Rafat Abu Hilal, the head of the military wing of Gaza's Popular Resistance Committees terror group. (ANI) Saudi Arabia Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and noted that the targeting of civilians in Gaza was a "heinous crime and a brutal attack", Arab News reported citing Saudi Press Agency. In the meeting which was held between two leaders on Thursday, both the leaders agreed on the need to avoid any further escalation of the Israel-Hamas war in the Middle East, Sunak's Downing Street office said. According to Arab News, "The Prime Minister encouraged the Crown Prince to use Saudi's leadership in the region to support stability, both now and in the long-term." Taking to X, PM Sunak spoke about the meeting saying, "I had an important and productive meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. We agreed on coordinated action to prevent further escalation in the region, provide vital humanitarian aid in Gaza and support stability, both now and in the long-term." British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrived in Riyadh on Thursday and held talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. On arrival, Sunak was received by the deputy Emir of Riyadh region, Saudi Press Agency reported. United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak went to meet the Saudi Prince in Riyadh after he held a private meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday. Sunak on Thursday also met Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Herzog said that during such difficult days, we see clearly who are Israel's true friends. "Thank you Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak for coming to Israel and for your support and firm stand by the Israeli people. It is time to express a clear moral voice - this is a battle for the values of all humanity. The world needs to understand that if we do not prevent Hamas and other terrorist organizations from carrying out murderous and criminal attacks - they will not stop with Israel," he wrote on 'X'. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday said the UK supports Israel's right to defend itself is in line with international law and to fight against Hamas after the terror group launched attack on Tel Aviv on October 7. "I want to share the deep condolences of the British people and stress that we absolutely support Israel's right to defend itself in line with international law, to go after Hamas...We also recognise that the Palestinian people are victims of Hamas too," the British PM said while delivering a joint statement alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu post their private meeting at the prime minister's office in Jerusalem. Sunak said he was "sorry" to visit Israel in "such terrible circumstances". He said: "In the last two weeks, this country has gone through something that no country, no people should have to endure, least of all Israel..." He further said he welcomes Israel's decision to ensure that routes into Gaza will be opened for humanitarian aid to enter. "I am glad that you made that decision. We will support it...We also want you to win," Sunak said. Israeli PM Netanyahu said: "This is not merely our battle but it is a battle of the entire civilised world...This is our darkest hour; it is the world's darkest hour. We need to stand together and win...." (ANI) Russia has delivered 27 tonnes of food supplies for civilians in the Gaza Strip set to be transferred from Egypt, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday. Taking to X, Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "27 tonnes of food supplies delivered by Russia's EMERCOM and transferred to the Egyptian Red Crescent for distribution among the people of the Gaza Strip in need. Every bit helps." Russia's Deputy Minister Ilya Denisov in a statement said, "A special plane has taken off from the airport at Ramenskoye near Moscow for El-Arish in Egypt. The Russian humanitarian aid will be handed over to the Egyptian Red Crescent to be sent to the Gaza Strip." He added the aid comprised "wheat, sugar, rice (and) pasta." Earlier on Tuesday, the office of Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared details of his telephonic conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying that the former briefed him on the ongoing counter-offensive against Hamas, following the October 7 terror attacks. It posted further that Israeli PM Netanyahu told the Russian President that the Israeli forces won't relent till they "eliminate Hamas". "The Prime Minister made it clear that Israel had been attacked by brutal and abhorrent murderers, had gone to war determined and united, and would not stop until it had destroyed Hamas's military and governing capabilities," the Israeli PM's office posted further. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, during their telephone conversation, Putin highlighted the measures Russia is taking to stop the bloodshed in the Gaza Strip from escalating further."President of Russia Vladimir #Putin spoke with Prime Minister of the State of Israel @netanyahu over the phone," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia posted on X. "President Putin laid out the steps being taken by Russia to prevent the further escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip," it added. Moscow said the conversation was centred on "the crisis situation resulting from the brutal escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict"." The Israeli side was in particular informed of the essential points of telephone correspondences that took place today with the leaders of Palestine, Egypt, Iran and Syria," the Kremlin said in a statement. The Russian President also expressed "his sincere condolences to the families and friends of the deceased Israelis", the Kremlin said. Along with that, he informed the Israeli leader of the measures taken by Russia to "promote the normalisation of the situation, prevent a further escalation of violence, and prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip". Meanwhile, Israel's Minister of Foreign Affairs Eli Cohen and 22 ambassadors and diplomats from countries whose citizens have been abducted have called for the immediate release of the abductees and to permit visits by the International Red Cross. Cohen said the release of the abductees is Israel's "foremost priority." Cohen held a meeting with dozens of foreign ambassadors whose citizens have been held by Hamas in Gaza and asked to pressurise Hamas to ensure their smooth release. Taking to X, Cohen reposted Israel Hebrew's statement on X stating, "We demand that the international organizations and the Red Cross reach out to the abductees in order to verify their condition and the conditions in which they are being held." "The Minister of Foreign Affairs @elicoh1 together with 22 ambassadors and diplomats from countries that have abductees, calling for the immediate release of the abductees and to allow visits by the Red Cross. The meeting was attended by ambassadors from Tanzania, Russia, Romania, Portugal, Peru, Serbia, Colombia, Austria, Ethiopia, Argentina, Philippines, Georgia, Sri Lanka, France, Mexico, Denmark, Hungary, Italy, Thailand, Canada, the Netherlands, Poland and the European Union," he added. (ANI) The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said no international norms were violated in India seeking parity in the mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa. Canada had accused India of violating the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations Foreign Minister Melanie Joly on Thursday that Canada has removed 41 diplomats and their 42 dependants from India amid the ongoing row between the two countries. "We reject any attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms," the external affairs ministry said. The MEA statement noted that the state of the ties between India and Canada as well as Ottawa's continued presence in India's internal affairs warrant a "parity" in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa. "We have seen the Statement by the Government of Canada on October 19 regarding Canadian diplomatic presence in India," the ministry statement read. "The state of our bilateral relations, the much higher number of Canadian diplomats in India, and their continued interference in our internal affairs warrant a parity in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa," it said. India has engaged with Canada over the past month in order to work out the details and modalities of its implementation, the MEA statement read, adding that India's actions in implementing the parity are fully consistent with Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic ties. "Our actions in implementing this parity are fully consistent with Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which states the following: In the absence of specific agreement as to the size of the mission, the receiving State may require that the size of a mission be kept within limits considered by it to be reasonable and normal, having regard to circumstances and conditions in the receiving State and to the needs of the particular mission."On October 19, Melanie Joly said India has conveyed its plan to remove diplomatic immunities for 41 Canadian diplomats and their families. "As of now, I can confirm that India has formally conveyed its plan to unethically remove diplomatic immunities for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents in Delhi by tomorrow, October 20. This means 41 Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents were in danger of having immunity stripped on an arbitrary date. And this would put their personal safety at risk," Joly said, as she confirmed the departure of Canadian diplomats. The Canadian Foreign Minister said, "...we have facilitated their safe departure from India. This means that our diplomats and their families have now left diplomatic immunities. Keep diplomats safe, no matter where they're from and where they're sent to. Immunities allow diplomats to do their work without fear of reprisal or arrests from the country they're in.""They are a fundamental principle of diplomacy and this is a two-way street. They only work if every country abides by the rules. A unilateral revocation of diplomatic privilege and immunities is contrary to international law. It is a clear violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and threatening to do so is unreasonable and escalatory. If we allow the norm of diplomatic immunity to be broken no diplomats anywhere on the planet would be safe," she said, adding that Canada "will not reciprocate," according to CTV news. Earlier this month, the Ministry of External Affairs had called for a reduction in Canadian diplomats in India citing their continued "interference" in New Delhi's "internal matters".While addressing the press briefing on October 5, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "Given the much higher presence of diplomats or diplomatic presence here...and their continued interference in our internal matters, we have sought parity in our respective diplomatic presence. Discussions are ongoing on the modalities of achieving this". "Given that Canadian diplomatic presence is higher, we would assume that there would be a reduction," he added. On being asked if the reduction in the number of Canadian diplomats could see a decrease in the number of visas issued by the Canadian High Commission in India, Bagchi said, "It's up to the Canadian side, who they choose to staff the High Commission with...our concerns are related to ensuring parity in diplomatic presence". He further added that India's primary focus is on two things; having an atmosphere in Canada, where Indian diplomats can work properly and in achieving parity in terms of diplomatic strength. Notably, the ties between India and Canada have been strained after Canadian PM Justin Trudeau in September alleged that the Indian government was behind the fatal shooting of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has out rightly rejected the claims, calling it 'absurd' and 'motivated'. Notably, Canada has yet to provide any public evidence to support the claim about the killing of Nijjar. (ANI) Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Friday gave permission to a special plane booked to carry Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif to land in the country upon its arrival, ARY News reported. ARY News is a Pakistani news channel. The CAA Director of Transport issued a notification in this regard. PML-N Party leaders contacted a private aviation company to hire a private jet to bring Nawaz Sharif to Pakistan on October 21. The political party sought chartered plane services from the company from Dubai to Islamabad. The PML-N has also acquired a private company's services to shower flower petals at the party's rally at the Minar-e-Pakistan following Sharif's return, as per ARY News. The Cessna plane would be used for showering flower petals on the PML-N's rally venue and other parts of the city. The CAA also issued a notification for using the private jet for showering petals in the city at 3:30 pm. Nawaz Sharif on Thursday reached Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), ahead of his return to Pakistan. Nawaz, who has been in self-imposed exile since 2019, left for London in the middle of his seven-year jail term on medical grounds. He will leave for Pakistan via Dubai on October 21. Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has granted protective bail to Nawaz in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia cases until October 24, Dawn reported. In July 2018, the ousted Nawaz Sharif was handed ten years in jail in the Avenfield properties corruption reference for owning assets beyond known income and one year for not cooperating with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), which was to be served concurrently, according to Dawn. His daughter and PML-N Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz, had also been sentenced to seven years in jail in the case but was acquitted in September 2022 along with her husband retired Captain Safdar. The Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference pertains to the case in which he was sentenced to seven years in jail on Dec 24, 2018, and then taken to Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail, from where he was shifted to Lahore's Kot Lakhpat jail next day. He was also fined Pakistani Rupees (PKR) 1.5 billion and USD 25 million in the case, Dawn reported. Nawaz was released from jail in March 2019, following which he left for London in November 2019 after the LHC allowed him to do so. The IHC declared him a proclaimed offender in both cases in December 2020. PML-N lawyers moved the IHC on Wednesday seeking protective bail for Nawaz in these two cases, with NAB Special Prosecutor Afzal Qureshi saying that the accountability watchdog did not object to pleas moved by the elder Sharif. IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb took up the pleas on Thursday. Nawaz's counsels, including former law minister Azam Nazir Tarar and Amjad Pervaiz, appeared before the court while NAB prosecutors Rana Maqsood, Qureshi and Naeem Sanghera were also present. Subsequently, the IHC accepted the former prime minister's pleas, granting him protective bail and restraining the police from arresting him upon his arrival in the country on October 21, Dawn reported. Dawn reported citing the court order that since the respondent had "accorded its consent and decided not to contest the petition, let the petitioner appear before this court on October 24". "Meanwhile, he shall not be arrested on his arrival in Pakistan until he surrenders before this court," the order stated. (ANI) Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that eligible Israeli citizens and nationals can now travel to the United States for up to 90 days without requiring a visa, CNN reported. This update accelerates the implementation of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) for Israeli travellers, which was initially scheduled to begin on November 30. Last month, the Biden administration confirmed Israel's inclusion in the VWP, allowing qualified travellers to enter the US without a visa. However, the latest announcement states that the US is now accepting applications ahead of schedule, according to CNN. To take advantage of this opportunity, eligible travellers must apply online for authorisation through the US Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). To qualify, travellers must possess a biometrically enabled passport and plan to stay in the US for no more than 90 days. It's worth noting that travellers with "non-biometric, temporary, or emergency travel documents, or travel documents from a non-Visa Waiver Program designated country" are not eligible and should apply for a US visa instead, as per the guidelines set by the DHS. The DHS has stated, "Traveling on a visa may still be the best option for some travellers, such as those who plan to stay in the United States longer than 90 days or anticipate the need to extend their stay or change their status once in the United States." While the application is currently available only in English, the DHS plans to offer it in other languages no later than November 1, CNN reported. As the raging Israel-Hamas war entered its 14th day, the US has made clear that the aid in Gaza must reach civilians and not Gaza, adding that it will monitor "very carefully" how the aid is delivered in the region, US Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Thursday (local time). While addressing a press briefing, Miller said that the Israeli government has concerns that the aid that goes into Gaza will be diverted as there is no presence of Israeli military force and United Nations peacekeeping force in Gaza. Meanwhile, the Israeli Defence Ministry said on Friday that a cargo plane landed at the Ramon Airport in southern Israel this morning, carrying military ambulances and medical equipment for the Israel Defense Forces, The Times of Israel reported. The ministry said it is the 45th plane carrying equipment for the IDF to arrive in Israel since the war began on October 7. So far, some 1,000 tons of armaments have arrived in Israel, which are "designed to bolster the IDF's offensive plans," The Times of Israel reported citing the ministry statement. The Biden administration is poised to request USD 105 billion in funding from Congress Friday to deliver aid and resources to Ukraine and Israel as both countries are embroiled in domestic wars, according to CNN. The request includes USD 14 billion to Israel, which officials say reflects requests Biden received while travelling to Israel on Wednesday. (ANI) India's Minister of State (MoS) for Foreign Affairs and Education, Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, led a high-level delegation visit to the Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI) with a strong focus to develop partnerships and mutual cooperation across various key areas. The visit by the Minister assumes significance as this is the first Ministerial level visit from India to the Marshall Islands in the last five years. Relations between India and the Marshall Islands have expanded over the years both bilaterally and under the aegis of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC). Rajkumar Ranjan Singh met Irooj Jimata Kabua, Chairman, Council of Irooj/Traditional Chief of Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI) and dscussed development projects and celebration of 30 years of diplomatic relations in 2025. Underscoring the growing importance of the bilateral ties between the two countries, Minister of State (MoS) for Foreign Affairs and Education, Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, led a delegation to the Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI) on October 19-20, 2023. Upon his arrival at the Marshall Islands, he was welcomed by Acting Foreign Secretary, Tamera Heine. "Grateful for the warm welcomed and received by Acting Foreign Secretary, Ms Tamera Heine, Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI). India and RMI have warm and cordial diplomatic relations since April 1995, and India has undertaken a number of development assistance projects in RMI," posted MoS Singh on X on Thursday. The MoS paid a courtesy call on Irooj Jimata Kabua, Chairman of the Council of Irooj (Council of traditional chiefs/elders). "A warm and friendly meeting with Hon'ble Irooj Jimata Kabua, Chairman, Council of Irooj/Traditional Chief of RMI. Discussed traditions and cultural exchanges, development projects, Yoga, health and well-being and celebration of 30 years of diplomatic relations in 2025," the MoS said in another post on X. He also called on Wilbur Heine, Acting President of the Marshall Islands, during which he also met other Cabinet Ministers of Marshall Islands, including Foreign Affairs and Trade, Culture and Internal Affairs, Transportation, Communication and Information Technology, Justice, Immigration and Labour, and Works, Infrastructure and Utilities. "Glad to call on H.E. Mr. Wilbur Heine, Acting President of the Marshall Islands in Majuro. Discussed on further strengthening bilateral relations and explored opportunities of cooperaion and development partnership, including in areas of climate change, renewable energy," Singh posted on X. He also held bilateral discussions with Jack Ading, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, during which both sides reviewed the entire range of bilateral relations, including development partnership, the release added. "Happy to have an excellent discussions with Hon'ble Minister for Foreign Affairs, Jack J. Ading on all areas of mutual interest and relations between India and Marshall Islands. Also discussed all possible cooperation on FIPIC related projects including utilizing ITEC courses in India," he said in another post on X. MoS Singh also met Kudo Kabua, Mayor of Wotho Atoll, where a community development project is currently being implemented. "Called on the Mayor of Wotho Atoll, H.E. Kudo Kabua and discussed implementation of the grant-in-aid projects in the legislative districts of the Ralik Chain of the Marshall Islands," posted MoS Singh following the meeting between two. He also visited the Women's Clam and Coral Farm Project and the Alele Museum and Public Library which serves as the national archives of RMI. He also participated in a Yoga Session with local yoga enthusiasts. Since 2005, India has undertaken twelve development projects in Marshall Islands in areas such as solar energy, communication equipment, export strategy, disaster relief, community development, water and sanitation,the Ministry of External Affairs said in an official release. India and the RMI are working together in various areas of mutual interest such as climate change, environment conservation, health and education, capacity building including through ITEC courses. RMI is also a member of the International Solar Alliance, according to MEA. (ANI) Travis King, the US Army private who fled to North Korea in July, has been charged by the US Army with a total of eight crimes including desertion, CNN reported on Friday citing charging documents. King, who was released from North Korean custody and returned to the US last month, was charged with a series of other alleged offences, including possession of child pornography, assaulting fellow soldiers, and disobeying a superior officer, according to the document, according to CNN. King (23) was detained on Wednesday at Ft. Bliss, Texas, and is being held in pre-trial detention, CNN reported citing sources. Claudine Gates, the mother of Travis King said in a statement that she is "extremely concerned about his mental health." "As his mother, I ask that my son be afforded the presumption of innocence," Gates said. "A mother knows her son, and I believe something happened to mine while he was deployed. The Army promised to investigate what happened at Camp Humphries, and I await the results," CNN quoted her as saying Meanwhile, King returned to US soil in late September after US officials said he "willfully and without authorization" crossed into North Korea in July. Shortly before fleeing, King had been released from detention in South Korea related to an October 2022 incident in which he allegedly pushed and punched a victim in the face at a club in Seoul, according to court documents, CNN reported. King was supposed to board a flight to Texas where he was to face disciplinary procedures, but when he was released at a security checkpoint at the airport in Seoul, King left and the next day joined a tour of the Joint Security Area in the demilitarized zone, from which he fled across the demarcation line into North Korea. (ANI) ARY News is a Pakistani news channel. The IMF suggested that Pakistan's caretaker government should allocate funds for ongoing projects, especially those near completion, instead of starting new ones, as per ARY News. The relevant authorities are now considering halting funds for new development projects in the country. The relevant authorities are now supposed to redefine the priorities of their development projects. Sources also indicate that the international money lender expressed no objections to providing funds for the rehabilitation of districts affected by the floods in Pakistan. Prior to this, the IMF asked Pakistan to 'immediately raise' gas tariffs. The IMF is seeking a 100 per cent 'rise' in the gas tariff to minimize the losses and circular debt in Pakistan's gas sector. The source claimed that the international lender showed concerns about not increasing the gas tariff from July 1 during a virtual meeting with the Pakistan finance ministry officials, and demanded the caretaker government of Pakistan to immediately approve the hike in gas tariff, the source claimed. The IMF asked the Pakistan finance ministry that denying the increase in gas tariff is a 'violation' of the Standby Agreement. IMF has suggested for recovery of Rs 46 billion loss of gas companies from July to September. During the talks, the IMF officials were informed that caretaker Finance Minister Dr Shamshad Akhtar is in China, as per ARY News. The minister will return to Pakistan today, the sources said. In this context, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) meeting has been summoned on Monday to give a nod for increasing the gas rates. (ANI) United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived at the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza in northern Sinai in Egypt on Friday, CNN reported citing the office of the UN spokesperson. This comes as the UN focuses on efforts to push humanitarian aid across the Egyptian border into Gaza. "For nearly two weeks, Gaza has gone without any shipments of fuel, food, water and medicine. The UN is focusing all its efforts for a sustained operation to deliver critical humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza," the UN spokesperson said in a post on social media. Guterres told the reporters that the large convoy loaded with food and medicine was "the difference between life and death for the people," as per UN News. "We absolutely need to have these trucks moving as quickly as possible and as many as necessary but for that there must be a sustained effort," the UN chief said. He added, "There needed to be trucks entering every day to provide enough support for the Gaza people". Before landing in Egypt, Guterres had called for humanitarian support to civilians in Gaza including core services and supplies. "I am in Egypt on a humanitarian mission and to witness @UN preparations to deliver massive support to civilians in Gaza. Humanitarians need to be able to get the aid in - and they need to be able to distribute it safely," Guterres posted on X (formerly Twitter) He added in a subsequent post, "Civilians in Gaza desperately need core services and supplies. We need rapid, unimpeded humanitarian access. We need food, water, medicine and fuel now. We need it at scale and we need it to be sustained". Meanwhile, several trucks from the Egyptian Red Crescent and the World Food Programme (WFP) arrived at Rafah crossing on Friday morning, CNN reported. The trucks -- filled with essential medicines, food supplies and specialized nutrition for children -- are currently parked on the Egyptian side waiting to enter Gaza. The repair work is ongoing at the Rafah crossing to pave the way for humanitarian assistance into Gaza. A video posted by the Sinai Foundation for Human Rights on X (formerly Twitter) showed "repair work and paving the road between the Egyptian and Palestinian sides" at the Rafah crossing into Gaza, CNN reported. World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said that "more delays will result in more suffering and more deaths" in Gaza. Earlier in the day, the Israel Defense Ministry said that a cargo plane landed at the Ramon Airport in southern Israel this morning, ferrying military ambulances and medical equipment for the Israel Defence Forces, Times of Israel reported. The Ministry stated that it is the 45th plane carrying equipment for the IDF to arrive in Israel since the war began on October 7. Around 1,000 tons of armaments have arrived in Israel, which are "designed to bolster the IDF's offensive plans," the ministry added. (ANI) Dozens of activists, including former Nepali Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai on Friday marched in Kathmandu in solidarity with Palestine. They called for a ceasefire and halt to the ongoing attack. The group of people affiliated with "Brihat Nagarik Aandolan", a social activist movement in Nepal marched towards the Israeli Embassy property where they were stopped a few metres away by police personnel. The group of people affiliated with "Brihat Nagarik Aandolan", a social activist movement in Nepal marched towards the Israeli Embassy property where they were stopped a few meters away by the police personnel. Participants of the march organized in solidarity with Palestine raised slogans against the ongoing military operation by Israel. They displayed and chanted slogans "Palestine is not alone", "Support the movement of Palestine", "Free Palestine", "Stop Bombing Palestine", "Save Gaza from Genocide", and "Ceasefire now" amongst others. "During the ongoing conflict, the basic international norms that need to be followed have been breached- hospitals are being attacked, children are being targeted, heavy shelling of the areas to wipe out the residences- these are all against the rule of war and is a war crime. That's why it should end soon and there should be a ceasefire," former PM Bhattarai told ANI. On Thursday, the Nepal government expressed deep shock at the killing of innocent civilians in a hospital in Gaza. "We condemn this attack against the hospital, medical personnel, patients, and civilians and convey our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families," said a press release issued by Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Thursday, adding that the Nepal government offers prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured people. The press release further stated that the Nepal government is seriously concerned over the attack against civilians. "We call for the protection of civilian people in all circumstances. We believe in peace and urge for a peaceful and negotiated settlement of the dispute," the release read. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday and expressed his condolences at the loss of lives at the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza. PM Modi also reaffirmed India's commitment to provide the Palestinian people with humanitarian assistance while reiterating India's long-standing principled position on the Israel-Palestine issue. "Spoke to the President of the Palestinian Authority H.E. Mahmoud Abbas. Conveyed my condolences for the loss of civilian lives at the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza. We will continue to send humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people," PM Modi posted on X. PM Modi in his conversation with Abbas also expressed his concern at terrorism and violence amid the ongoing war and also reiterated India's position on the issue. "Shared our deep concern at the terrorism, violence and deteriorating security situation in the region. Reiterated India's long-standing principled position on the Israel-Palestine issue," PM Modi's post added. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi has said that India's position concerning the Palestine issue has been "longstanding and consistent". "India has always advocated the resumption of direct negotiations towards establishing a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine living within secure and recognised borders side by side at peace with Israel. That position remains the same," he said. Recently, Pakistan's top military brass Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) extended "diplomatic, moral and political support of the Pakistani nation" to Palestinians, reported The Express Tribune. They further expressed deep concern about the latest developments in the Gaza-Israel conflict as human cost has been imposed on innocent civilians due to Israel's attack. (ANI) Iran has warned the United States against sending weapons to Israel amid the ongoing war with the Hamas terror group, stating that it will further "complicate" the situation, Iran-based IRNA News Agency reported citing the country's top military official. Major General Mohammad Bagheri, the Chief of Staff at Iranian Armed Forces had a phone conversation with Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Gule. During this, Bagheri emphasized that the recent actions of the "Zionist regime" intensifies the pressures and boldness and desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Palestinians. He said that serious action should be taken to prevent the continuation of the Zionist regime's brutal attacks on civilians in the Gaza Strip and to provide civilians with humanitarian aid, including food and medicine, warning against the possible consequences. "The widespread support of the US including sending weapons and ammunition to the Zionist regime is considered as participation by the American government in the crimes of the Zionist regime. It further complicates the situation in Gaza," CNN quoted Major General Mohammad Bagheri as saying. Earlier, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Hossein Amir-Abdollahian warned that "any preemptive measure" by resistance leaders against Israel is "possible in the coming hours", adding that Israel will not be allowed to take any action it wants in the region. Amir-Abdollahian had even warned that fighting against Israel might open on "other fronts" if Israel continues its bombardment of Gaza. 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. 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. As per the latest updates, the death toll in Israel after the Hamas attack has crossed 1400 while at least 3,785 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli counteroffensive in Gaza, CNN reported. (ANI) Residents at the Tullwood Apartments in north Bellingham are asking the city and law enforcement for help due to growing concerns about the large homeless encampment located next to their housing complex. The encampment, located on about 20 acres of thick woods behind Bellinghams Walmart at East Stuart and Deemer roads, has become one of largest homeless encampments in the city, with hundreds of people living in it and many documented instances of violence, crime, drug use and even deaths. Now residents at Tullwood say the living conditions have gotten too dangerous to ignore and they fear for their safety. Theres trash everywhere. Theres drugs on the sidewalk everywhere, said Tullwood resident Shelli Tench in an interview with The Bellingham Herald. Its just getting worse. Tench has been living in Tullwood for about three years. She recently started speaking out at City Council meetings to raise awareness about the situation and put pressure on the city to find solutions. I pay $1,800 a month to live in hell, Tench said at a council meeting on Monday, Sept. 25. I had a man that stood between me and that gate with a hatchet trying to hit my car and break my car window out. I didnt know this man. Somebody in that building had to come out and run [him] off. A sign is posted at a school bus stop to promote safety in front of Tullwood Apartments on Oct. 17, 2023, in Bellingham, Wash. The apartments are located next to one of Bellinghams largest homeless encampments. Rachel Showalter/The Bellingham Herald Tench and other residents say they hear gunshots on a daily basis and fighting and yelling all night. Fires are frequently set in the woods that create huge clouds of smoke that make it dangerous for residents to open their windows or use their decks. Residents say they are afraid to walk to the bus stop or to Walmart just a block away because theyre concerned about being harassed, assaulted or robbed. Residents also told The Herald a man pointed a gun at their children while they were playing on the playground. They threaten to kill us all the time, Tench said. Safety is a top priority Landmark Real Estate Management, which manages Tullwood Apartments, told The Bellingham Herald it is doing everything it can to keep residents safe. Management installed gates and fencing about a year ago to keep non-residents from entering the apartments. They also are working to install new security cameras, according to on-site manager Dan Wilson. The Tullwood Apartments are located next to Bellinghams Walmart and adjacent to one of the citys largest homeless encampments. Residents are speaking out about their experience with violence and crime in the area. Rachel Showalter/The Bellingham Herald Its consuming my life basically these days, Wilson told The Herald. Wilson became the property manager at Tullwood about three months ago and lives in the apartments with his two kids. He said inside the gates, the residents are safe. But in just a few months since hes taken this job, he has noticed people living in the encampment have gotten bolder and more dangerous. Wilson said he worries every day about the safety of the residents. Its a matter of time. Somebody is going to get hurt. Somebody is going to get assaulted, Wilson said. Residents say they feel supported by Landmark but there is only so much the management company can do. Residents say they want action from city leaders now. I want people to be held accountable. I want them to step up. I want them to stop giving me excuses, Tench said. A call to action for city leadership Mayor Seth Fleetwood addressed the growing concerns about the encampment at a City Council meeting on Monday, Oct. 16, saying he met with a group of residents at Tullwood Apartments. It was illuminating. It was informative. I got a very clear sense of the distress that theyre experiencing. Clearly, they are deserving of help and relief not just to them but also the people that work in the area as well, Fleetwood said. He said city actions are limited when encampments are located on private property but the city was actively taking the necessary legal steps to eventually clear it like what was done with the former encampment behind Winco on Deemer Road. Tents and temporary shelters occupy the property at 4049 Deemer Road near WinCo Foods on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022, in Bellingham, Wash. The city of Bellingham sued the property owner for allegedly causing a public nuisance by not clearing the encampment on the property. Rachel Showalter/The Bellingham Herald We cant go into private property, by law. Cleanup is the obligation of the property owner. We can assist but the actual cleanup is the requirement of a private property owner, Fleetwood said at the council meeting. The homeless encampment has existed for at least 11 years. Fleetwood said steps to contact the property owner, who lives in Taiwan, have been unsuccessful. In the process of the work involved in (clearing the Deemer Road encampment), we learned a great deal about the complexity and about the organizational requirements involved in organizing improvements at places like this, the mayor said. City Attorney Alan Marriner addressed the legal challenges the city faces when working to clear encampments on private property. He told council members that clearing the encampment behind Walmart would take much longer than it took to clear the encampment on Deemer Road, although no concrete timeline was determined. The Tullwood Apartments are located just one block away from Bellinghams Walmart and adjacent to one of the citys largest homeless encampments. Residents say they are afraid to walk to Walmart due to concerns about violence and crime in the area. Rachel Showalter/The Bellingham Herald Its wooded. Its much larger much, much larger than the Deemer Road (encampment) and that took us six to eight months, so thats the scope of what were dealing with, Marriner said. Fleetwood said the city is in contact with adjacent property owners and jurisdictional partners, including Lummi Nation Chairman Anthony Hillaire, who want to collaborate in the effort to clear the property. Fleetwood also addressed the systemic issues that contribute to growing homelessness within the city, such as a lack of mental health resources. He noted the need for more jail beds and a fully staffed police department, too. A lack of resources Local homeless advocate, Markis Stidham told The Herald that clearing the encampment without the proper resources will just cause the homeless to relocate without solving the problem. We will see them scattered all over the city, going to new locations into areas of greenways and forests, Stidham said. Currently were dealing with more opiate use, less shelter availability and extreme scarcity of social workers, Stidham said. We need to bolster all of that. Stidham said without policy change and government action, the crisis of homelessness will continue. Our responses are only punitive, Stidham said. What have we done to bring hope? Stidham was the co-author of a plan released in July called The Big Lift that he believes could be the solution to drastically reducing homelessness in Whatcom County. He is working with local legislative candidates who he hopes will adopt and fund it. A history of crime and violence Bellingham Police have responded to numerous reports of theft, assault, domestic disturbances, trespasses, possession of stolen property, parking violations, overdoses, death investigations, weapons violations, and drug sales and use at the encampment, according to Bellingham Police spokeswoman Lt. Claudia Murphy. A man was found dead in the encampment as recently as last weekend, police told The Herald. Another man was murdered in the encampment in 2021, according to previous reporting by The Herald. A man was arrested with enough fentanyl to kill everyone in Bellingham. Courtesy to The Bellingham Herald. A drug distribution network operating out of the encampment was busted in August after the man running the network was arrested carrying about 70,000 suspected fentanyl-laced pills enough to kill the entire population of Bellingham, police said. A search warrant related to that arrest was executed on the compound in the encampment and four firearms were found, including an AR-15 assault-style rifle; an illegal, sawed-off shotgun; a reported stolen .22 caliber pistol, and a 12-gauge shotgun; a small amount of suspected fentanyl powder, drug packaging material and other drug paraphernalia, and $5,876 in cash. Thirteen dogs, including 11 puppies, were also located at the encampment and taken to the Whatcom Humane Society. Murphy told The Herald that residents living near the encampment should take all possible safety precautions when out in public. We also recommend calling 911 when observing or hearing criminal activity occurring in the encampment, Murphy said in an email to The Herald. As with most criminal activity, we rely heavily on witness information. One person was killed and another was critically wounded in a Thursday evening shooting in Kansas Citys Mount Hope neighborhood, according to police. Around 7 p.m., police received a report of shots fired near East 31st Street and Woodland Avenue, said Capt. Corey Carlisle, a department spokesman. Officers near that location responded and found a vehicle with a man inside who was suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. As they were providing medical aid to the man, Carlisle said, a person directed them to a second gunshot victim who was on the ground on 31st Street. That gunshot victim, described by police as a male, was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives were working to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting, which were not immediately known, Carlisle said. No one was in custody Thursday night. Police had no reason to believe that there was an immediate risk to the general public, Carlisle said. The shooting, which unfolded a few blocks east of Troost Park, drew a large police presence Thursday night as 31st Street was blocked off to vehicular traffic between Wayne and Michigan avenues. The killing Thursday marked the third this week in Kansas City, which has now seen 152 homicides in 2023, according to data maintained by The Star. Kansas City police were asking anyone with information to contact homicide detectives at 816-234-5043 or the anonymous TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS. MEMPHIS, Tenn. Memphis Police are looking for two men who broke into a South Memphis hair store and stole $13,000 worth of merchandise. MPD says officers responded to a burglary at Angel Beauty Supply in the 300 block of East E.H. Crump Blvd a little after 2 a.m. Sign up for WREG newsletters and have the latest top stories sent right to your inbox. Download the WREG App today and stay up to date with breaking news and weather. See more breaking news, local news and weather from WREG.com for Memphis and the Mid South. The business owner gave police video footage which showed a white Cadillac SUV pull up to the store. One of the suspects pulled a chain from the trunk and tied it to the door. The other suspect reportedly put the SUV in drive and ripped the front door off. Together, the suspects used bolt cutters to cut the remaining locks off the door. They then entered the store and grabbed multiple hair products, reports state. The owner said the front door damage cost $7,000. He also claimed the men stole bundles of hair, totaling $13,000, and his Sony laptop, worth $2,300. Whats left of the front double doors was propped open Friday afternoon welcoming customers back in for a 70% closeout sale. The owner says after years in business, hes done with the location and done with Memphis crime. The store is set to close next month. According to MPD, the suspects fled the scene in an unknown direction. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. A 16-year-old boy was among three people wounded Friday morning on the North Side in the Uptown neighborhood, Chicago police said. About 10:30 a.m., two 18-year-old men and a boy, 16, were inside of a parked vehicle in the 4400 block of North Sheridan Road when a vehicle approached and someone inside opened fire, police said. One of the older victims suffered a wound to the foot, and the other man suffered a graze wound to the head. The boy was shot in both thighs, police said. The victims drove to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where their conditions were stabilized. The gunman fled the scene in an unknown direction and no one was in custody. Detectives were investigating. SAN DIEGO (Border Report) State and federal officials appear to be at odds when it comes to the number of missing persons cases in Baja California. According to Renata Demichelis Avila, director of Mexicos Human Rights Organization, 17,306 missing persons cases are active in the border state. The figure is heavily disputed by Bajas Attorney Generals Office, which claims there are only 2,300 missing people in the state. Nevertheless, Demichelis Avila calls it a crisis throughout Mexico, not only in Baja. Construction begins on forensic cemetery in Tijuana We have come to realize the Attorney Generals Office does not send information to the national registry and thats why you have discrepancies in the number of cases, she said, adding that the actual number of missing persons in Baja has doubled since 2011. During a forum on Wednesday night called Missing in Baja California, Demichelis Avila said that 274 clandestine graves have been found around the state with almost 2,000 human remains in them. 18 bodies found in Bajas Narco Cemetery And she also stated that most of the missing cases involve girls and women between the ages of 12 and 18, and men aged 26 to 35. At the forum, many women involved with the searches for missing people claimed they look for everyone, not just their loved ones. Theres a lot of indifference and a lot of bureaucracy on the part of authorities, said Milagros Galaviz, who is part of the Ensenada-based search group called Following Your Steps. Others who attended the forum, like Angelica Garcia, who is from the small town of San Quintin, about 150 miles south of the border, say investigators rarely respond or follow up when someone goes missing. Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border Garcia said police dispatch officers once a month to gather information about missing people. In her case, her son has been missing since March of last year. We go searching every Sunday for our children, she said. We go to hillsides, landfills, the beach, places we never imagined wed check out we traded our Sundays with our families for shovels and digging bars to go search because authorities dont do anything. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. An 18-year-old has been arrested in connection to a shooting in McKeesport in March. RELATED COVERAGE >> 3 people dead after 2 separate shootings in McKeesport; all victims identified Police said Sanchez Spence shot Robert Joyner, 47, outside of the Family Dollar on Versailles Avenue on March 1. Joyner died at the hospital. Police said Spence dropped his phone at the scene, which helped officers identify him. Spence is charged with criminal homicide. He is now in the Allegheny County Jail. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Man found shot and killed in car in Penn Hills Trump attorney Sidney Powell pleads guilty in Georgia election interference case 9 local Rite Aid stores set to close after company files bankruptcy VIDEO: Fire breaks out in Westmoreland County house DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts A Marine who died Wednesday after getting shot in the barracks on a North Carolina base has been identified by the Corps as a 19-year-old lance corporal. Lance Cpl. Austin B. Schwenk was an electro-optical ordnance repairer with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, 1st Lt. Olivia Giarrizzo said Friday in a statement to Marine Corps Times. The Marine Corps stated in previous days that Schwenk had died from being shot in an on-base barracks room at the North Carolina base as part of an isolated incident. Another Marine who has not been identified was apprehended late Wednesday night for alleged involvement with Schwenks death. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is investigating the incident. Out of respect for the investigative process, NCIS will not comment further while the investigation remains ongoing, spokesman Jeff Houston told Marine Corps Times on Friday. Schwenk enlisted in the Marine Corps in June 2022 and attended boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, according to Giarrizzo. His awards include the National Defense Service Medal. He was born in Onslow County, North Carolina the same county that is home to Camp Lejeune, where he served. Our deepest condolences go out to the Marines family and friends at this time, Giarrizzo said in the statement. Marine Corps Times reached out to Schwenks family on Friday for comment and had not yet heard back by time of publication. Three people were charged after a fight at Henry Clay High School Friday that ended with school police using pepper spray, according to Fayette County Public Schools. FCPS said the altercation involved two female students, both of whom were arrested by the Lexington Police Department after the fight. At least one male was also involved, according to the school district. The Henry Clay school resource officer tried to break up the fight but determined pepper spray was needed to bring the incident to an end, FCPS spokesperson Dia Davidson-Smith said. Fifteen students witnessed the fight, Davidson-Smith said. They were treated by EMTs as necessary. Major Derek Roberts from the Lexington Fire Department said medics responded to the scene for treatment, and three people were treated but none needed to be taken to a hospital. Classes resumed once the scene was cleared, Davidson-Smith said. This is a developing story and will be updated. Two Chemung County men face decades in prison following their arrest on child sex abuse charges stemming from a month-long investigation by New York State Police at Horseheads. State police charged Edward F. Wheaton, 68, of Elmira, with predatory sexual assault against a child, a felony that carries a possible maximum sentence of life in prison. Wheaton was arrested on the warrant by members of the Gaston County, North Carolina Sheriffs Office. He was charged as a fugitive from justice and is being held in the Gaston County Jail while awaiting extradition back to New York state. State police also charged Joseph D. Storch, 33, of Veteran, with sex trafficking of a child, a felony punishable by up to 25 years in prison. Politics Will NY congressional lines move again? Top court takes up case that looms over 2024 races Storch was arraigned in Town of Veteran Court and committed to the Chemung County Jail in lieu of $500,000 cash bail or $1,000,000 property bond pending future court proceedings. State police were assisted in the investigation by Chemung County Child Protective Services and the Chemung County Child Advocacy Center. The investigation is continuing, and state police anticipate additional charges. Anyone with information about the case or the two suspects is asked to contact the New York State Police at 585398-4100. Follow Jeff Murray on Twitter @SGJeffMurray. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Elmira area men charged with child sex assault, trafficking Two people were injured Friday morning in a collision involving a Burleson school bus and an SUV, officials said. No children were on the bus at the time of the accident, according to police. Burleson police said in a social media post around 8:20 a.m. that they were working a major crash involving a school bus at the intersection of NW Summercrest and SW Wilshire Boulevard. Police Chief Billy Cordell told the Cleburne Times-Review that the bus driver was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, and the driver of the SUV was was transported to a hospital via CareFlite. The condition of both drivers was unknown. The cause of the accident is under investigation, according to the Cleburne Times-Review. Today's top stories: Texas Rangers didn't lose because of a roof, or an ump Popular Tex-Mex restaurant announces new west side location Huh? What do these TX constitutional amendments mean? Get free alerts when news breaks. Two men are recovering after officials say they were shot during an armed robbery. Atlanta police said on Thursday at 2:08 p.m., officers received reports of a person shot at a store on Martin Luther King Junior Drive NW. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] When officers arrived, they found a 25-year-old man and a 45-year-old man who had been shot. Both men were taken to the hospital in stable condition. The identities of the victims have not been released. According to the investigation, the victims were trying to save their co-worker, who was the victim of an armed robbery, when the suspects shot them. TRENDING STORIES: Its unclear how many suspects there were. Police said the suspects left the scene before officers arrived. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Authorities have not provided any information regarding if anyone has been taken into custody. The case remains under investigation. IN OTHER NEWS: Two Texas Republicans are considering a run for U.S. House speaker, hoping to fill a power vacuum left open after Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio dropped out of the race Friday. U.S. Reps. Jodey Arrington of Lubbock and Roger Williams of Willow Park both said Friday they were considering a go for it, but would take the weekend to consult with their families. Both said they had not yet made definitive decisions. Both had previously backed Jordans bid for speaker. Arrington chairs the House Budget Committee and Williams chairs the House Small Business Committee. Both expressed their interest after the House Republican Conference voted in a closed door meeting to drop Jordan as their nominee for speaker after he lost his third floor vote. Only members were allowed in the meeting, but Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Sherman, said the vote was 112 to 86 against Jordan. Jordan afterward said he would drop out of the race. Today's top stories: Texas Rangers didn't lose because of a roof, or an ump Popular Tex-Mex restaurant announces new west side location Huh? What do these TX constitutional amendments mean? Get free alerts when news breaks. Jordans loss leaves no frontrunner candidate to unite the fractured Republican conference. Whoever does put their name up will need to convince a wide ideological spectrum of often antithetical viewpoints at a candidate forum at 6:30 Eastern time Monday. Arrington appeared clear-eyed about the challenges. The House has gone without a speaker for over two weeks, paralyzing any legislation. Jordan was the second Republican nominee to drop out of the race after House Majority Leader Steve Scalise failed to secure enough votes last week. Why would somebody run when weve witnessed this seemingly tragic process play out, Arrington said. But, you know, somebodys got to run. We have to coalesce around somebody or were going to squander this historic opportunity. When asked if that person was him, Arrington said, Could be. Arrington said he has his familys support, but needs to talk as a Texas family with the rest of the states Republicans. Texas sends more Republicans to Congress than any other state, and the unified support of the states delegation would be a major boost to any candidate. Scalise and Jordan failed to win the support of the entire delegation. Williams said Friday he would take a look at running. He has been in the House for over 10 years and is well liked in the chamber. It would have to be the right circumstance for me with my family and my business and so forth, Williams said. Both Williams and Arrington stressed the need to find a speaker, even if its not them, quickly. Both Texans voted against ousting former Speaker Kevin McCarthy earlier this month and voted to support Jim Jordan in all three floor votes. Federal funding runs out in less than a month and both Israel and Ukraine are requesting major defense aid packages. None of those priorities can move without a speaker. We need a speaker for crying out loud. Weve got so much happening in the world, Williams said. Municipal elections across North Carolina will be Nov. 7, and early voting started Oct. 19. All voters in Mecklenburg County will be able to participate in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools record $2.5 billion bond referendum, which would pay for 30 projects across the district, and the school board at large race, which features candidates 14 candidates competing for three spots. Two of three incumbents Jennifer De La Jara and Elyse Dashew chose not to run for reelection. Otherwise, voters can cast a ballot in city council or town board elections for the municipality where they live. People who do not live in a citys official limits wont have a city or town board election on their ballots. When and where to vote As of 9:30 a.m. the Berewick Recreational Center, in district 4, had only seen 24 people walk through the door to vote for the 2023 City Council primary on Tuesday, September 12, 2023 in Charlotte, NC. Early voting started Oct. 19 at the Hal Marshall Annex, 618 N. College St. in Charlotte, and it will be open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on weekdays until Oct. 25. On Oct. 26, 18 more sites will open for voters across the county. All 19 sites will be open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Oct 26 through Nov 3. And every site will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 29. This embedded content is not available in your region. The 18 additional sites include: Allegra Westbrooks Library - 2412 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte Former Rite Aid - 15221 John J. Delaney Drive, Charlotte Cornelius Town Hall - 21445 Catawba Ave., Cornelius Davidson Town Hall and Community Center - 251 South St, Davidson Eastway Recreation Center - 3150 Eastway Park Dr., Charlotte Hornets Nest Park - 6301 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte Independence Library - 6000 Conference Dr., Charlotte Marion Diehl Recreation Center - 2219 Tyvola Road, Charlotte Matthews Library - 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews Mint Hill Library - 6840 Matthews-Mint Hill Road, Mint Hill North County Library - 16500 Holly Crest Lane, Huntersville Pineville Library - 505 Main St., Pineville South County Library - 5801 Rea Road, Charlotte SouthPark Library - 7015 Carnegie Blvd., Charlotte Steele Creek Martial Arts - 10720 South Tryon St., Charlotte Former Kohls - 9315 N. Tryon St., Charlotte Overstreet Mall - 101 S, Tryon St., Suite 10, Charlotte West Boulevard Library - 2157 West Blvd., Charlotte While voters can cast ballots at any early voting location, they must cast a ballot at their polling location on Election Day. Election Day is Nov. 7, and precincts across the county will open then for voters. Find your polling location by using the N.C. State Board of Elections search tool at vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup. The Mecklenburg County Board of Elections also provides a full list of Election Day voting locations here. Go here for more information about requesting a mail-in ballot to vote absentee. How to register to vote The voter registration deadline for the Nov. 7 election was Oct. 13, but same-day voter registration is available during early voting. To register at an early voting site, youll need to fill out the North Carolina voter registration application and provide proof of residency. Acceptable documentation proving your name and address includes: A North Carolina drivers license Other photo ID issued by a government agency, if it includes your current name and address A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document showing the voters name and address College students can prove residency using a document from an educational institution with the students name and on-campus housing address. Colleges and universities can also provide the county board of elections a list of students residing in particular campus housing, which will suffice if a student living in campus housing shows a valid student photo identification card, the State Board of Elections says. Most voters are not eligible for same-day registration on Election Day. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools bond vote Principal Glenn L. Starnes sits on the stage in the auditorium at Harding University High School in Charlotte, N.C., on Wednesday, October 5, 2023. Go here for a full list of projects included in the $2.5 billion bond referendum. Projects range from building entirely new schools to adding or replacing individual buildings. The largest portion of the 30 projects are in the CMS Board of Educations District 2, which is mostly in west Charlotte. One of the biggest projects would give Harding University High School a new, three-story building that will connect to some others already on campus. Principal Glen Starnes said the replacement is long-desired and that students often ask him, Mr. Starnes, why dont we have what xyz school has. His typical answer: we will one day. Go here to read more about how the bonds approval would tell Harding students they are worth it. Members of the African American Faith Alliance and African American Clergy Coalition are advocating for people to vote no on the bond referendum. They say recent Mecklenburg property revaluations resulted in tax hikes that disproportionately impacted Black and brown communities in the crescent of lower-income communities in the north, east and west of the city. The bonds approval would increase the tax burden on already stressed taxpayers, they say. But their proposed alternative isnt quite right, according to Mecklenburg Countys chief financial officer. Read more about that here. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education Click on the links below to read answers to The Charlotte Observers candidate questionnaire for school board. Voters will be able to pick up to three candidates on their ballot. The Observer wasnt able to reach or hasnt received a response from three candidates. Annette Albright | Peggy A. Capehart | Claire Covington | Bill Fountain | Juanrique Hall | Omar Harris | Shamaiye Haynes | Michael Johnson | Brian Kasher | Tigress Sydney Acute McDaniel | Liz Monterrey | Lenora Shipp (incumbent) | Clara Kennedy Witherspoon | Monty Witherspoon Charlotte City Council All voters in Charlotte can vote for a mayoral candidate and four at-large City Council candidates. There are also City Council races in Districts 3 and 6. City Council incumbents in Districts 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7 are unopposed in the general election. The most-closely watched City Council race on the general election ballot is in District 6. Read more here about six differences between the two District 6 candidates locked in a rematch. Click on the links below to view answers from candidates whove responded to the Observers survey. Charlotte mayor: Misun Kim (R) | Vi Lyles (D, incumbent) | Rob Yates (L) At-large seats: Dimple Ajmera (D, incumbent) | Steven J. DiFiore II (L) | James Smuggie Mitchell (D, incumbent) | LaWana Slack-Mayfield (D, incumbent) | Victoria Watlington (D) District 3: James H. Bowers (R) | Tiawana Brown (D) District 6: Tariq Bokhari (R, incumbent) | Stephanie Hand (D) Huntersville Board of Commissioners, mayor Huntersville voters can pick one person for mayor and up to four people for Board of Commissioners seats. Commissioner candidate Amber Kovacs did not respond to the Observers survey. Commissioner candidate Mike DeVoney could not be reached for comment. Huntersville mayor: Dan Boone | Christy Clark | Derek Partee Huntersville commissioner: Alisia Bergsman | Amanda Dumas | Frank Gammon | Jennifer Hunt | Matt Jones | Rob Kidwell | Justin Moore | John ONeill | Edwin Quarles | LaToya Rivers | Eric Rowell | Anna Rubin | Nick Walsh | Jamie Wideman Voters in Huntersville will also decide whether to approve $50 million in bonds for transportation projects and $8 million for parks and recreation. Candidates for Cornelius Board of Commissioners, mayor Cornelius voters can pick one person for mayor and up to five people for Board of Commissioners. Voters in Cornelius can also have their say on extending commissioners and mayoral terms from two to four years. Click on the links below to view answers from candidates whove responded to the Observers survey. Cornelius mayor: Denis Bilodeau | Woody Washam (incumbent) Cornelius commissioner: Robert Carney, Jr. | Colin Furcht (incumbent) | Scott Higgins | Susan Johnson | Bob Menzel | Michael Miltich | Charmaine Nephew | Michael Osborne (incumbent) | Thurman Ross, Jr. | Todd Sansbury (incumbent) Matthews Board of Commissioners, mayor There are 12 candidates seeking 6 seats on the Board of Commissioners. Incumbent commissioner Larry Whitley is not seeking reelection. Mayor John F. Higdon is seeking reelection and doesnt have any competition on the ballot. Click on the links below to view answers from candidates whove responded to the Observers survey. Matthews commissioner: Jonathan Clayton | David Gaertner | Renee Garner (incumbent) | Gina Hoover (incumbent) | Ken McCool (incumbent) | Jeff Miller | Sebastian Sadovsky | Leon Threatt | Mark Tofano (incumbent) | John R. Urban (incumbent) | David Wieser | George Young Pineville Town Council, mayor Voters can pick one person for mayor and two people for town council. Click on the links below to view answers from candidates who responded to the Observers survey. Pineville mayor: David Phillips | Ed Samaha Town council: Eric Fransen | Les Gladden | Danielle A. Moore | Amelia Stinson-Wesley Mint Hill Board of Commissioners, mayor Voters in Mint Hill will have their choice of five commissioners candidates for four seats on the ballot this year. The mayors race is not competitive, with incumbent Brad Simmons seeking reelection. Commissioners candidates include: Dale Dalton, Twanna Handerson, Patrick Holton, Tony Long and Matthew Schwoebel. The candidates did not respond to the Observers election survey. The Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly published a story Oct. 16 from a candidate forum where commissioners candidates talked about a range of issues. Read that story here. Davidson Board of Commissioners, mayor In the town of Davidson, Mayor Rusty Knox is running for reelection without declared competition, and exactly five candidates are running for the five commissioners seats on the ballot. The commissioners candidates include Matthew Dellinger, Ryan Fay, Steven G. Steve Justus, Tracy Mattison Brandon and Autumn Rierson Michael. Justus is the only candidate whos not an incumbent. Also on Davidson ballots: a question asking voters whether theyre OK with changing commissioners term lengths from two to four years and staggering them. Want more coverage of Charlotte-area government and politics? Subscribe here for free to the Observers weekly CLT Politics newsletter and never miss a story The Israel-Gaza war has killed at least 21 journalists since Hamas' unprecedented Oct. 7 attack and Israel's ensuing declaration of war, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported on Oct. 19. CPJ's investigation confirmed that 21 journalists have been killed in the fighting, while eight have been reported missing and another three missing or detained. Of those confirmed victims, 17 are Palestinian, three Israeli, and one Lebanese. [J]ournalists are civilians doing important work during times of crisis and must not be targeted by warring parties, said Sherif Mansour, CPJs regional program coordinator. Journalists across the region are making great sacrifices to cover this heartbreaking conflict. All parties must take steps to ensure their safety. Read also: Ukrainians trapped in besieged Gaza: We are constantly bombed The CPJ report noted that it was not clear whether all the confirmed victims were actively engaged in reporting at the time of their deaths. Additional unconfirmed accounts of journalists being killed, detained, or wounded are currently under investigation. "Journalists in Gaza face particularly high risks as they try to cover the conflict in the face of a ground assault by Israeli troops, devastating Israeli airstrikes, disrupted communications, and extensive power outages," the CPJ report said. One of the 21 victims, Issam Abdallah, a Lebanese videographer working for Reuters, was killed in an Israeli airstrike while reporting on the war from southern Lebanon. Previously, Abdallah covered Russia's war against Ukraine, for which he and his team won the 2022 Reuters Video Journalist of the year award. "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," Abdallah wrote to his editors about his work in Ukraine. Read also: Our readers questions about the war, answered. Vol. 4 Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. PUEBLO, Colo. (KDVR) Both directions of Interstate 25 near Pueblo were reopened on Thursday afternoon after a train derailment shut down a stretch of the highway for days. The southbound lanes of I-25 affected by the Sunday deadly train derailment north of Pueblo reopened Wednesday afternoon, hours after Gov. Jared Polis visited the site. The northbound lanes were expected to reopen Thursday afternoon, according to Polis. The area was being repaved in advance of reopening. According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, there may be a need to reopen only one lane northbound prior to reopening the whole roadway. Polis was in Pueblo on Wednesday to view the deadly train derailment site, which killed a 60-year-old Californian truck driver when his semi-trailer was crushed under the bridge. Federal investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board released preliminary findings on Tuesday, showing that a broken rail likely caused the crash. Our top priority is to get the highway back open so that people can continue traveling safely between Colorado Springs and Pueblo, and the rest of the state, said Polis. Though the investigation is still ongoing, it remains clear that investments in rail are needed now more than ever and Colorado has been working for months to take advantage of historic safety and rail funding from the federal government. BNSF, the rail company operating the train, told reporters the railway was inspected earlier on Sunday, before the derailment. Specific to this area, BNSF conducted a combination of rail detection testing, advanced track infrastructure testing and visual inspections within the last three months, including the most recent inspection that occurred on Sunday, October 15 prior to the derailment, said Lena Kent, BNSF general director of public affairs. The closure of I-25 has forced drivers to detour through the town of Penrose, almost 30 miles west of Pueblo. A 9-mile stretch of the highway has been closed as crews work to remove debris. We appreciate the all hands on deck approach to getting this work done quickly, and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway taking the lead on rebuilding the bridge safely and efficiently, said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. Motorists should expect the area to be rough and slightly reduced speed limits will be enacted, as cleanup and reconstruction continue. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) A second suspect has been arrested in connection to the shooting death of Jackson State University (JSU) student Jaylen Burns. JSU officials said members of the JSU Department of Public Safety, the U.S. Marshall Task Force, and the Columbia Police Department arrested Jamison Kelly, Jr., of Columbia, Mississippi. He will be taken to the Hinds County Detention Center. Kelly was charged with accessory after the fact to murder. Jamison Kelly, Jr. (Courtesy: Hinds County Sheriffs Office) The first suspect, 19-year-old Joshua Brown, appeared in court on Friday, October 20. He was denied bond. Its not going to bring Jaylen back: Father of slain JSU student speaks after arrest Brown was charged with murder in connection to the death of Burns. He was also charged with illegal possession of a firearm on school property. According to Jones College, campus police executed a bench warrant for Brown on Wednesday, October 18. He was arrested without incident and turned over to the JSU Police Department. He was booked into the Hinds County Detention Center on Thursday, October 19. Investigators said the fatal shooting happened at the University Pointe Apartment Complex on JSUs campus on Sunday, October 15. Joshua Brown (Courtesy: Hinds County Sheriffs Office) Jaylen Burns (Courtesy: Burns Family) Jaylen Burns (Courtesy: Burns Family) Jaylen Burns (Courtesy: Burns Family) According to Burns father, his son was trying to stop a fight when his life was cut short. Burns was an industrial technology major from Chicago, Illinois. A preliminary hearing date for Brown has not been set. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. [Source] A $3.4 million grant is set to fund a groundbreaking study aimed at exploring the relationship between discrimination, social support and the risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias among older Asian Americans. About the project: The National Institute on Aging is providing the grant to the research led by epidemiology and biostatistics associate professor Thu Nguyen and her team at the University of Maryland, in collaboration with the University of California, San Francisco professor Van Ta Park, whose primary research interest is in racial and ethnic minority health and healthcare disparities. The project, titled Asian Americans & Racism: Individual and Structural Experiences (ARISE), will involve a cohort of 500 Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese Americans. The grant will sustain the project for one year. How it works: The research will assess daily experiences of individual and structural discrimination through surveys in participants' native languages and through the collection of blood samples and basic health information. Using these data will allow researchers to examine changes in cognitive performance and biomarker levels associated with Alzheimer's and related dementias. Trending on NextShark: Watch: Bali monkey negotiates for food in exchange for woman's stolen iPhone The researchers will also investigate how support from families and religious communities, coupled with risk factors like depression, can either mitigate or exacerbate the effects of discrimination. To do this, the project will implement innovative machine learning models to gauge the racial climate in participants' neighborhoods, examining factors such as sentiment in social media posts referencing minority groups. Why it matters: According to a 2021 study, 20% of Asian Americans cited discrimination as a barrier to receiving quality Alzheimer's care in the U.S. Hailing from over 50 countries and speaking over 100 languages, the community has diverse cultural norms that can affect how they handle life-changing conditions like Alzheimer's. While the Asian American community constitutes 22.4 million individuals in the U.S. (as of 2019), they represent less than 3% of participants in national Alzheimer's research databases, revealing a significant underrepresentation in critical studies. Trending on NextShark: Filipina Bianca Bustamante makes history as 1st female driver signed by McLaren Comprehensive approach: According to Nguyen, in addition to having a better understanding of Alzheimer's risks among older Asian Americans, the project also aims to contribute to the diversification of Alzheimer's research and the improvement of health disparities related to aging within diverse populations. With this study, we're looking at participants' individual, social and demographic characteristics; the physical environment; and neighborhood socioeconomic status, as well as measures of prejudice where they reside, Nguyen said. It's much more comprehensive than what is usually assessed. Trending on NextShark: Watch: Chinese woman quits full-time job so she can try 100 different jobs More on NextShark: Sriracha buyers say new Huy Fong Foods bottles taste different 'Wheel of Time' star Daniel Henney marries fellow actor, model Ru Kumagai EXETER, N.H. Many candidates in the Republican presidential field are calling for a new generation of leaders in Washington. Former Vice President Mike Pence isnt one of them. Its not a time for on-the-job training, he told a crowd of New Hampshire voters at a town hall sponsored by the USA TODAY Network last week, repeating an argument hes made time and again on the 2024 campaign trail. Im running for president because, and I do say this with all humility, Im the most qualified, tested and ready conservative seeking the Republican nomination Pence has pitched a more traditional brand of conservatism than other candidates in the race that's focused on Republican values, fiscal responsibility and a strong U.S. military presence. Once deputy to former President Donald Trump, Pence also has offered strong rebukes of his ex-running mate's populist style, arguing it is "unmoored to conservative principles. But that argument doesnt appear to be resonating with voters in the Granite State, or across the country. A recent Suffolk University survey, conducted in partnership with The Boston Globe and USA TODAY, showed Pence at just 1% in New Hampshire. At the national level, Pence is doing slightly better. A Morning Consult survey on the race, fielded between Oct. 13 and 15, showed Pence at 6% over 40 points behind Trump. He's also trailing GOP contenders like former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. So, how is Pence attempting to win over voters? Heres a look at the priorities he outlined in New Hampshire that would impact Americans coast to coast if the former vice president is elected to the White House. Reforming Social Security When it comes to balancing the federal budget and reducing the national debt, Pence has called for reforming mandatory spending programs like Social Security and Medicare at least for some Americans. Republican presidential candidate Mike Pence speaks during the Seacoast Media Group and USA TODAY Network 2024 Republican Presidential Candidate Town Hall Forum held in the historic Exeter Town Hall in Exeter, New Hampshire. Id say to everybody thats got hair the same color as me, this doesnt affect you ... were not going to make changes to the deal, the one-time talk radio host told voters in New Hampshire. For Americans under age 40, however, Pence said he would opt to privatize Social Security by allowing young workers to invest their payroll taxes into savings accounts. He insisted that the plan would give American workers twice what they earn from Social Security. The idea has been floated before by members of the Republican Party, most prominently during former President George W. Bush's administration. But it has never garnered enough support in Congress to become a reality for Americans. Aiding Israel As the war between Israel and Hamas rages on, Pence in New Hampshire pledged to unequivocally support Israel, calling the country our most cherished ally. Well make it clear to Hezbollah and Lebanon, to Iran and any other powers in the region, that everybody needs to stand down, Pence said. Were going to defend Israel. Republican presidential candidate Mike Pence speaks during the Seacoast Media Group and USA TODAY Network 2024 Republican Presidential Candidate Town Hall Forum held in the historic Exeter Town Hall in Exeter, New Hampshire. During the Trump administration, Pence helped negotiate the Abraham Accords, a bilateral agreement signed by Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain in 2020 to normalize relations. However, at the town hall, Pence noted that facilitating further peace talks likely wouldnt be a priority under his administration, given the ongoing war. It feels to me like real progress is going to have to take a second chair to Israel doing what it needs to do, he said. Countering China Pence offered similarly strong words on other issues of U.S. national security, including ongoing efforts to bolster Ukraine in its war against Russia. When asked about his views on allocating U.S. taxpayer dollars to aid foreign conflicts, he argued that its among the most powerful ways America can stave off future aggression by countries like China. China has made no secret of the fact that they would like to grab Taiwan, Pence said. The Chinese government views the East Asian island as an extension of its territory and in recent years has ramped up military activity around its shores. Mike Pence says Trump isn't 'running on the agenda we governed on' Describing the growing superpower as the greatest economic and strategic threat facing the U.S., Pence told New Hampshire voters that, as president, he would push to implement tariffs on Chinese goods and expand U.S. military presence in the South China Sea to defend American interests in the region. The way we deal with China is not by diminishing our commitment to the Asia-Pacific. Its by increasing our commitment, Pence argued. A strong defense strategy would pave the way toward a peaceful future with China and progress for the Chinese people, he said. This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Mike Pence courts crucial NH voters with pitches on China, Israel Stolen paleontological resources are pictured in a photo that is on display during a press conference to announce charges in a stolen dinosaur bones case at the U.S. Attorneys Office in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. Four people are charged with allegedly purchasing and selling over $1M in paleontological resources that were removed illegally from from federal and state lands. | BLM Two Utahns, an Oregon man and a California man have been accused of stealing more than $1 million worth of paleontological resources and selling some illegally to buyers in China. A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City indicted Vint Wade, 65, and Donna Wade, 67, of Moab; Steven Willing, 67, of Los Angeles, California; and Jordan Willing, 40 of Ashland, Oregon, on charges of causing $3 million in damages by stealing more than $1 million in paleontological resources, which included dinosaur bones, from federal land and selling some for profit. About 150,000 pounds of paleontological resources, including dinosaur bones, were illegally removed from federal and state lands in southeastern Utah, a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Utah said. Prosecutors say between March 2018 and March 2023, the four accused individuals purchased, transported and exported the dinosaur bones, and then conspired to conceal and retain the stolen property. According to court documents, two "unindicted coconspirators," who are collectors of dinosaur bones, excavated, removed, transported and sold paleontological resources collected from federal lands to the Wades. The Wades are also dinosaur bone collectors and own Wade's Rocks in Moab. The Wades converted some of the dinosaur bones for their own use to sell at gem and mineral shows, then sold some of the dinosaur bones to the Willings through the Willings' company JMW Sales, the indictment says. Jordan Willing is associated with a foreign corporation, which assists with trafficking dinosaur bones into China, court documents allege. In total, the Wades sold approximately $1.4 million in paleontological resources to the Willings, equating to about 28,000 pounds of dinosaur bones including "cabs, jewelry, knives, beads and carvings, as well as a list of buyers and contact information for purchasers of two dinosaur spheres," prosecutors allege. "The parties then exported the dinosaur bones to China, mislabeling the dinosaur bones and vastly deflating their value so government agents would not suspect the shipments contained illegally obtained, sold and transported paleontological resources, each aiding and abetting the other in the same," the indictment says. "On at least four occasions, the parties shipped containers of dinosaur bones to China to make commercial products including dinosaur dig kits and carved figurines," the indictment says. Trevis Guy, Bureau of Land Management acting special agent in charge for Region 3, speaks during a press conference to announce charges in a stolen dinosaur bones case at the U.S. Attorneys Office in Salt Lake City on Thursday. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News The indictment alleges the four individuals caused more than $3 million in damages to the commercial value of the resource, the scientific value of the resource and the cost of restoration and repair. U.S. District Attorney Trina Higgins said during a press conference Thursday that because the bones were removed from their original location and further processed, it destroyed the bones' scientific value. "Whatever value we could gain by knowing the location they are at, what other bones were near, the type of soil they were found in all of that scientific value was lost when they were removed," Higgins said. She said it is a loss to all future hikers on federal lands who would have been able to see the bones in their original location. "So although dinosaur bones and all of the paleontological resources have a value on some markets, the true loss of removing these items from public lands cannot be monetarily measured. It is invaluable," Higgins said. These alleged actions violated the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act, which protects fossilized remains or traces of organisms found in the earth's crust that provide information on the history of life on Earth. Higgins said it is rare for cases to be charged under the act, and it is especially rare for a violation to have included so many pounds of paleontological resources. A man holds up cases of jewelry and carvings made from dinosaur bones that were allegedly stolen from federal land. | U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Utah As part of the investigation, agents and scientists tested over 1,000 dinosaur bone samples to prove the bones were found on federal land, according to a detention memo. Bureau of Land Management special agent Trevis Guy said during the press conference anyone who comes across dinosaur bones or any fossilized remains should leave them there. He said the resources should be documented through a photo and then reported to a BLM ranger or office with the grid coordinates if possible. "Southeastern Utah is a well-known destination for visitors to experience paleontology on the landscape. The public deserves the opportunity to benefit from and appreciate prehistoric resources on the lands," said BLM Utah state director Gregory Sheehan. The Wades face charges of conspiracy against the U.S., violating the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act, theft of U.S. property, attempted smuggling, providing false export information and money laundering. Donna Wade also is accused of false labeling of paleontological resources and false declaration to federal agents. The Willings face alleged charges of conspiracy against the U.S., violating the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act and theft of U.S. property. Jordan Willing is also accused of false labeling of paleontological resources, attempted smuggling and providing false export information. An image shows a paleontological resource that is being used as evidence in the case. Bureau of Land Management 4 people are accused of stealing paleontological items worth over $1 million from Utah's public land. Some of the items, which include dinosaur bones, were illegally sold to China, the DOJ said. They mislabeled shipments as stones to avoid suspicion, according to the indictment. Four people are accused of conspiring together to steal $1 million worth of dinosaur bones from public land in Utah and then selling them to China, the Department of Justice announced on Thursday. Vint Wade, 65, Donna Wade, 67, Steven Willing, 67, and Jordan Willing, 40, are charged with violating the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (PRPA), a press release by the US Attorney's Office in the District of Utah said. The indictment alleges that the group worked together to purchase, transport, and export dinosaur bones taken from federal lands from March 2018 until at least March 2023. The public lands in question hold bones, fossils, and other paleontological resources dating back to the Jurassic period, it said. In addition to the PRPA violations, the defendants are also charged with conspiracy against the US, and theft of property of the US, among other charges, as outlined in an indictment. The Wades, who are the owners of a rock store in Moab, paid cash and checks to known individuals and third parties to extract the ancient materials, according to the indictment. They stockpiled the items with the intention of selling them at gem and mineral shows, and to traffic some illegally to China, it said. An image shows evidence of seized paleontological resources from Utah's federal land. Bureau of Land Management The Willings bought over $1 million of dinosaur bones and other items, and shipped them to China, according to the indictment. The defendants tried to avoid the suspicions of federal agents by labeling them as wood, rocks, and stones, and also by deflating their value, it said. The indictment added that the alleged conspiracy resulted in more than $3 million in damages, encompassing the commercial and scientific worth of these resources, in addition to the restoration costs. The Wades are from Moab in Southeastern Utah. In a statement, Interior Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Utah State Director Gregory Sheehan said the area is a "well-known destination for visitors to experience paleontology on the landscape." He added: "The public deserves the opportunity to benefit from and appreciate prehistoric resources on the lands." According to the indictment, the defendants were scheduled for their first court appearance on October 19. The US Attorney's Office in the District of Utah did not immediately respond to a request for comment, sent out of business hours. Read the original article on Insider A 5-car collision blocked multiple lanes of traffic on Interstate 90 near North Bend Thursday afternoon, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation. At about 4:40 p.m., WSDOT said there was a collision blocking the two right lanes of westbound I-90 near milepost 27, which partially blocked the on-ramp from North Bend Way. According to Eastside Fire & Rescue, crews from the Seattle Fire Department were coming back from the Washington State Fire Training Academy and stopped to assist. One person was transported to Harborview Medical Center and another was treated at the scene. Update 1: On westbound I-90 just east of SR 18 there is a collision blocking the 2 right lanes and the on-ramp to WB I-90 from North Bend Way. State Patrol and incident response are on the scene. https://t.co/1rUmdOA0UP pic.twitter.com/uJIygK2deE WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) October 19, 2023 (NEXSTAR) Student loan payments are due once again, marking the first time in over three years many have had to pay up for their college education. If youre among those, you may be even more aware of the payoff large or small of attending college and getting your degree. Overall, the U.S. Census Bureau found Americans with bachelors degrees earned, on average, $74,154 in 2022, roughly $600 below the national average of all earners, regardless of their education. Two new restaurants moving into Kansas City Power & Light District There are, however, degree-holders earning much more and much less than that. According to data released by the Census Bureau this week, roughly 37% of Americans between the ages of 25 and 64 have a bachelors degree. While many degrees were categorized individually by the Census Bureau, there are catch-all other categories for science and engineering, business, education, and simply, other. Those were, in many cases, considered the most popular field of degrees across the metro areas. Outside of those expansive categories, the most common bachelors degree in the U.S., held by 6% of the population, is in business management and administration. That was followed by psychology (4.8%), nursing (4.4%), and general business (4.4%). While popular, they arent the highest-paying in the U.S. Two men charged in $1M scheme involving KCNSC nuclear weapon parts Instead, its those with degrees in electrical engineering that earn the most, reporting a median income of $121,600 last year. The five highest-paying degrees in the U.S. in 2022 were: Electrical engineering: $121,600 Computer science: $108,500 Mechanical engineering: $106,200 Economics: $101,400 Engineering: $100,600 Alternatively, the five lowest-paying degrees were: Family and consumer sciences: $52,850 Fine arts: $53,450 Elementary education: $54,900 Social work: $55,060 General education: $58,000 While low, the median pay of the five fields above all exceeded that of those with less than a bachelors degree, who reported an average income of $40,540 last year. Overall, the Census Bureau found someone with a bachelors degree in electrical engineering living in the San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley area earned the most last year the median pay there was $182,100. The Bay Area ranked as the highest-paying metros across many of the fields. Regions in the south, especially Florida and Texas, had some of the lowest median earnings. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. LAKELAND The Polk County Sheriff's Office has arrested and charged six people a 17-year-old and five adults with burglarizing at least 38 cars in South Lakeland with the intention of stealing firearms for criminal gang activity. Polk County Sheriff Grad Judd said a team of detectives began an investigation March 11 into a series of a vehicular burglaries resulting in the theft of seven firearms over three nights in four neighborhoods: 13 burglaries on March 11 in Reflections West; 11 burglaries May 26 in Christina Oaks; and 14 burglaries May 28 in Highlands Crossing and Mission Hills. "They would bypass valuables because they were looking for guns," Judd said. "They would actually leave valuables or credit cards they could be tracked with because they were after guns. They were incredibly organized." The group targeted vehicles that had window or bumper stickers indicating the owner was Conservative, supported 2nd Amendment rights or may own guns, according to Judd. Many of the vehicles burglarized had unlocked doors, and the suspects broke windows to gain access in others. Polk County deputies have recovered two of the seven reported stolen firearms so far, Judd said, as they were used in committing other crimes. There are five guns unaccounted for. In some cases, Judd said vehicle owners called Crime Stoppers upon discovering their vehicle was being burglarized instead of dialing 911. This left deputies unaware of the crimes until several hours later. The leader of the group was a 17-year-old boy from Bartow, whose name is not being published in accordance with The Ledger's crime reporting policies. The 17-year-old faces a total of 75 criminal charges, including enhanced charges for gang membership. His charges include directing criminal gang activity, two counts of armed burglary and possession of a machine gun. He will be prosecuted as an adult on all charges by the State Attorney's Office. Judd said one of the firearms found in the 17-year-old's possession was a handgun fitted with a switch that would allow it to fire as a fully automatic weapon. Eldred Kellum Jr., 23, of Lakeland was arrested and faces 63 criminal charges, including the first-degree felony of directing activities of a criminal gang, two counts grand theft of a firearm and several gang enhancements. Kellum helped coordinate the burglaries with the teen leader and carried out the Christina Oaks burglaries, according to the Sheriff's Office. Taurean Sumrall, 22, of Bartow faces eight criminal charges, including directing activities of a criminal gang, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and grand theft. Deputies said Sumrall's primary role was to coordinate selling the stolen firearms. He reported making up to $300 per a handgun sold on the street, according to Judd. Javien Sterling, 19, of Lakeland faces 40 criminal charges, including 11 counts of burglary with conveyance and 10 counts attempted burglary with gang enhancements. Sterling was recruited to be the driver for the group during burglaries at Highlands Crossing and Mission Hills, Judd said. De'Andre Guildford, 22, of Bartow was arrested by Bartow Police Department. He faces a charge of carrying a concealed firearm and was served with an unrelated arrest warrant. Campaign comments Judicial panel suggests 30-day suspension, reprimand for Polk County Judge John Flynn Eric Denson, 18, of Riverview was charged with a third-degree felony of carrying a concealed weapon and two misdemeanor drug-related charges. While in jail, Denson was found to be in possession of a knife-like weapon known as a shiv, Judd said, for which he was additionally charged with a felony count of introducing contraband to the jail. The Sheriff's Office shared a video found on Denson's cell phone in which the 17-year-old suspect aims the green laser site on a Glock handgun at three children, one as young as 17-months old. The gun was modified to be an automatic and had an extended magazine inserted in the video, according to deputies. Florida gun owners are not required to report a firearm as stolen, according to PSCO spokesman Brian Bruchey, though it is suggested gun owners know their weapon's make, model and serial number so it can be reported to law enforcement if stolen to be entered into a database. Information provided by owners' of the outstanding five firearms will remain on file, Bruchey said. When a law enforcement officer comes into contact with gun, it can be checked against the database to see if its was reported as stolen or missing. Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545. Follow on X @SaraWalshFl. This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Polk sheriff: Gang members arrested in rash of gun thefts in Lakeland Aug. 28 marked the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, a day when around 250,000 people gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. to protest against the racial and economic inequalities of African Americans. The event, which is simply referred to as the March on Washington, was also the day when Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous I Have a Dream speech. According to the National Archives, his speech, which resonated deeply with many Americans of that time, helped to influence the federal government to take more direct actions toward racial equity. On the anniversary, Netflix paid homage to this monumental moment in history by releasing the first trailer for "Rustin," a film about Bayard Rustin , the openly gay Black civil rights leader who was one of the driving forces behind the March on Washington. On Oct. 19, they released a new promo, showing more of what went into organizing the historic day. Directed by Tony Award-winning director George C. Wolfe and starring Chris Rock, Glynn Turman and Jeffrey Wright, among others, the film is scheduled to hit select theaters on Nov. 3 before releasing on Netflix Nov. 17. As the nation celebrated the special day, here's what to know about the March on Washington and those who spearheaded the important event. What led to the March on Washington? The March on Washington was propelled by the lack of civil and economic rights for African Americans. In the 1940s, Black soldiers were excluded from World World II defense jobs and New Deal programs that were supposed to provide employment opportunities and relief to Americans, according to History.com. While President Franklin D. Roosevelt agreed to issue an executive order forbidding discrimination against workers in defense industries and government, Congress didn't exactly see eye-to-eye with Roosevelt's plans. In the mid '40s, Congress cut off funding for the Fair Employment Practice Committee that Roosevelt funded, which was supposed to ban discriminatory practices in the workplace. In light of this, and many other disparities that Black Americans were facing during that time, labor leader A. Philip Randolph , NAACP executive secretary Roy Wilkins and his chief aide, Bayard Rustin, worked together to organize a mass march on Washington. What happened at the March on Washington? The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was 20 years in the making, according to the NAACP. It was a collective effort between the leaders of the six prominent civil rights groups who agreed that it would be better to combine two major causes into one mega-march on Washington. Marchers. (Library of Congress; Getty Images) The participating groups included various civil right leaders such as Randolph, the leader of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters; Wilkins, executive secretary of the NAACP; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., chairman of the SCLC; James Farmer, founder of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE); John Lewis, president of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC); and Whitney Young, executive director of the National Urban League. Though President John F. Kennedy eventually supported the march, History.com reports that he had initially wanted the leaders to postpone the event, telling them that their march was ill-timed. Still, the March on Washington proceeded as planned with Randolph kicking off the event with an inspiring speech. We here today are only the first wave," he said in part. "When we leave, it will be to carry the civil rights revolution home with us into every nook and cranny of the land, and we shall return again and again to Washington in ever-growing numbers until total freedom is ours." Some of the other main speakers included Lewis, Arkansas NAACP President Daisy Bates, and Young with Rabbi Joachim Prinz and even dancer-actor Josephine Baker making smaller speeches. Then, in what was supposed to be a four-minute speech to address economic and employment inequalities, Dr. King, who was the last speaker of the day, gave his riveting 16-minute "I Have a Dream" speech. King's heartfelt message, according to History.com, was historic, becoming the "most famous orations of the civil rights movementand of human history." Martin Luther King Jr. waves to supporters on the Mall. (AFP via Getty Images) "I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood," he said. And when this happenswe will be able to speed up that day when all Gods children, Black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last! What happened after the March on Washington? The March on Washington helped to push through two major pieces of legislation. It's been credited with helping to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin. It was also pivotal in getting President Lyndon B. Johnson to sign the National Voting Rights Act in 1965, which prohibited discriminatory voting practices and allowed Black Americans a clear path to the polls. Together the two bills worked to legally end discriminatory practices in public places, employment and voting. This article was originally published on TODAY.com The fourth evacuation flight with 79 Ukrainian citizens on board left Israel for Romania on 19 October. Source: Ukrainian Embassy in Israel Quote: "The fourth evacuation flight carrying 79 Ukrainian citizens took off from Ben Gurion Airport (Tel Aviv) on a charter flight to Bucharest (Romania) at 22:30 local time." Details: The embassy reported providing consular assistance to Ukrainians during registration, passport, and customs procedures. Background: On 14 October, the first evacuation flight from Israel with 207 Ukrainian citizens on board left Tel Aviv for Bucharest. On the morning of 16 October, the second evacuation flight took off with 155 Ukrainians on board. On the evening of 16 October, the third evacuation flight with Ukrainian citizens departed from Israel. Support UP or become our patron! A woman in front of the memorial to the Russian occupiers in Yevpatoriya Between 500,000 and 800,000 Russians citizens have illegally settled in Crimea since the peninsula was occupied and annexed in 2014, the Ukrainian president's representative in Crimea, Tamila Tasheva, said in an interview with NV on Oct. 19. Read also: Russia keeps pulling its navy out of Crimea Ukrainian intelligence At the very least, half a million civilians [have settled in Crimea], said Tasheva. This is what can be confirmed via occupation [regime] sources. We are constantly monitoring all data. This is shown by the Sevastopol occupation administration. This is what is shown in Crimea. She added that official Russian reports most likely do not reflect all Russians who have moved to the peninsula. Accordingly, some experts are saying it may even reach 800,000 people, she gave another estimate. Answering a question about the fate of Russian civilians after Crimea is liberated, Tasheva stated: "They have to leave the territory of Crimea. Of course, there may be certain individual approaches. The key is that we will not violate international law, which prohibits the collective expulsion of people. Accordingly, there will be no collective expulsion." Read also: Russian fleet retreating from Crimea, Ukraine advancing on two fronts ISW She expressed the opinion that most Russian civilians will leave Crimea before Ukrainian security and defense forces enter the peninsula. Read also: Russia installs barriers at entrance to Sevastopol Bay in Crimea satellite imagery They will abandon their property and leave, the official said. Read also: Explosions reported near Sevastopol in occupied Crimea That's why we are communicating this at all levels now from the president [Volodymyr Zelenskyy] to the lowest official those Russian citizens who illegally entered the territory of Ukraine, a sovereign state, must leave. This will be handled by Ukrainian migration authorities. Once they have left, they can apply for the right to live in Crimea, and Ukraine will decide to accept them or not. 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 Julia Means, a community outreach nurse with Ascension Wisconsin, hatched the idea for the Blanket of Love program nearly 20 years ago. She cuts the cake Thursday at an event celebrating the 13th "Strong Baby Sabbath" event. Too many babies in Milwaukee don't live to their first birthdays. Of the 10,000 babies, on average, born in the city annually, roughly 100 die before celebrating that milestone, according to the state Department of Health Services, the city and Ascension Wisconsin. That's a dire statistic that Julia Means has been working to change for nearly 20 years. Means, a community health nurse with Ascension Wisconsin, remembers attending a public health conference in Milwaukee in 2004. She recalls hearing a speaker say that a child born in a third world country had a better chance of reaching its first birthday than a child born in Milwaukee. "I went home and I couldn't sleep," said Means, who has worked for Ascension since 1986. "African American babies were dying. I knew we had to put a stop to it." That same year, she started the Blanket of Love program. Like a blanket swaddles a newborn, the Ascension Wisconsin's Blanket of Love program swaddles the entire family. If the mother is homeless, permanent housing is found for her. If the mother is in an abusive relationship, she is taken to a safe place. If the family needs health care, transportation or is suffering from food insecurity, the Blanket of Love program meets those needs. The program has grown from having a presence at one Milwaukee congregation to 36 participating "sanctuary" churches and each of Ascension Wisconsin's three Milwaukee hospitals. It is supported by the Milwaukee Health Department, March of Dimes, and the Milwaukee Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy Families and UW-Milwaukee's Maternal and Child Health Pipeline Training Program. On Thursday, roughly 100 community members, including Ascension Wisconsin's top executives, Means, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and dozens of members of faith-based congregations, gathered at Story Hill Firehouse on the city's west side, to raise awareness on the most preventable causes of infant death in Milwaukee premature births and unsafe sleeping environments. The event also celebrated the 36 churches participating as Ascension Wisconsin's Blanket of Love Sanctuaries in advance of the Strong Baby Sabbath on Sunday. Leaders of churches and faith communities across Milwaukee were encouraged to use the Strong Baby Sabbath to alert congregation members to the infant mortality statistics and to share information on how to help more infants celebrate their first birthdays. "Churches have to let pregnant women know that there is no judgment," Means said. "We love you and we love that baby." Angela Stinson is a volunteer with St. Matthew Christian Methodist Church, a Blanket of Love Sanctuary Church in Milwaukee. As a volunteer, she develops lasting relationships with women and families to improve infant mortality rates in the city. Means said there was a time not too long ago when many of the deaths were caused by parents co-sleeping with infants. "Pre-term births are the crux of the problem now," Means said. "That means low-birth weights and not enough moms making it to nine months. That has a lot to do with poverty." According to the city's 2017 Fetal Infant Mortality Review Report (the most recent available). Nearly 56% of Milwaukees infant deaths are due mainly to prematurity (when a baby is born more than three weeks early). Infants born prematurely have a greater risk of medical complications, long-term disabilities and death. Over 20% of Milwaukees infant deaths are due to congenital abnormalities. Over 15% of Milwaukees infant deaths are attributable to a combination of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy and unsafe sleep environments. The stillbirth and infant mortality rates were two to three times higher among non-Hispanic Blacks than non-Hispanic Whites and Hispanics. Brenda Hoskins, the program's social worker, said many of the women she helps are homeless or couch-surfing. Hoskins said she is often providing car seats and pack-and-plays to the mothers. Trauma is also an issue. "Domestic violence is a huge problem," Hoskins said, adding she helps women, many of whom have several children, find shelter at Sojourner Family Peace Center. Rosa Ceballos, a community health navigator with Ascension Wisconsin, works with Spanish-speaking expectant mothers on Milwaukee's south side. She said their needs go beyond finding and communicating with a doctor. "They are from different countries. They don't know how to navigate in the community," Ceballos said. Outreach to this population began virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Blanket of Love program now meets in-person once a month and virtually other weeks at Ascension St. Francis. The hospital did close its labor and delivery unit at the end of 2022, a decision that drew outcry from residents in the area and Milwaukee's elected officials, but Ascension Columbia St. Mary's and Ascension Southeast Wisconsin Hospital St. Joseph Campus have labor and delivery units. Milwaukee resident Angela Stinson volunteers with Blankets of Love through her congregation, St. Matthew Christian Methodist on North 9th Street. St. Matthew is among the churches participating in Sunday's Strong Baby Sabbath event. A retired school teacher and veteran, Stinson works with expectant mothers and families in a number of ways. On Wednesday night, she hosted a Zoom meeting with four mothers. She always opens with a prayer and then reads a Bible scripture. Two of the mothers have been meeting with her since before they gave birth seven years ago. When the babies turn 1 year old, Stinson said she does not cut-off contact. "As you work with the families and the children, you develop close relationships with them, like a family," she said. Stinson said she has grown close to one mother in particular. The woman asked if she could call Stinson "Auntie." As their relationship continued to grow, she started to call her "Auntie-mom." "Then one time she just asked me if she could call me mom. I said sure," Stinson said. "It was touching. It brought tears to my eyes." For more information on Ascension Wisconsin's Blanket of Love program, email communityservices@ascension.org or call 414-465-4587 Jessica Van Egeren is the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's enterprise health reporter. She can be reached at jvanegeren@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Too many Milwaukee babies still don't make it to first birthday [Source] Artificial intelligence is backing the accuracy of the ancient Chinese medical practice of looking at a patients tongue to diagnose diseases, a new study shows. What the ancient Chinese did: Chinese herbalists dating back to 2,000 years ago examined peoples tongues for signs of disease. They believed that the tongues color, shape and thickness can indicate various medical conditions. A yellow tongue is reportedly typically seen in diabetics, while a purple tongue with a thick, greasy coating is often seen in cancer patients. Those with a red, crooked tongue likely suffer from acute stroke. What the study found: Using a computer and USB web camera, researchers from Middle Technical University (MTU) in Baghdad and the University of South Australia (UniSA) captured images of the tongues of 50 patients with conditions such as anemia, diabetes and renal failure and compared them with a database of 9,000 tongue photos. Then, using image processing techniques, the researchers managed to diagnose 94% of the patients diseases accurately. Trending on NextShark: Watch: Australian influencer mistaken for Ryan Reynolds swarmed by fans in Taiwan Whats next: The resulting high accuracy suggests the efficiency of the ancient Chinese practice. Researchers say there is potential for further refinement. It is possible to diagnose with 80% accuracy more than 10 diseases that cause a visible change in tongue colour. In our study we achieved a 94% accuracy with three diseases, so the potential is there to fine tune this research even further, said MTU and UniSA Adjunct Associate Professor Ali Al-Naji. Modern technologies can also expedite the communication of diagnostic results. In the study, a voicemail was sent to the patients or their nominated health providers specifying the tongue color and the associated disease. Trending on NextShark: Watch: Bali monkey negotiates for food in exchange for woman's stolen iPhone The study was published Sept. 8 in the journal AIP Conference Proceedings. Trending on NextShark: Watch: Chinese woman quits full-time job so she can try 100 different jobs More on NextShark: Sriracha buyers say new Huy Fong Foods bottles taste different Interview: K-pop legend Rain to perform US concerts for 1st time in 15 years An Israeli Merkava tank drives past a fence near Kibbutz Beeri, close to the border with Gaza on October 20, 2023, in the aftermath of an attack by Palestinian militants on October 7 (RONALDO SCHEMIDT) Hamas released two American hostages held in Gaza on Friday, offering a "sliver of hope" to desperate families, as Israel pounded the densely-populated territory where millions are still awaiting promised aid deliveries. The Islamist group took more than 200 people hostage when it stormed into Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7, and killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated or burnt to death on the first day of the raid, according to Israeli officials. The fate of the hostages has been shrouded in uncertainty, so the release of mother and daughter Judith Tai Raanan and Natalie Shoshana Raanan offered a rare "sliver of hope", said Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross. US President Joe Biden said he was "overjoyed" by the release, which comes days after he visited Israel to express solidarity with the wounded country and press for humanitarian aid into Gaza. There was little progress on that front however, with trucks carrying relief the United Nations calls a "lifeline" still stuck on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing into Gaza. There had been hope aid would begin to trickle across Friday, but Biden said he now expected movement to begin in the "next 24 to 48 hours." Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas, and says around 1,500 of the group's fighters were killed in clashes before its army regained control of the area under attack on October 7. Its military campaign has so far levelled entire city blocks in Gaza, killing 4,137 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Israeli troops have massed on the border with Gaza ahead of an expected ground invasion that officials have pledged will begin "soon." But a full-blown land offensive offers a multitude of challenges, including the risk posed to hostages from Israel and around the world held by Hamas. - 'Overwhelming sense of joy' - The mother-and-daughter pair released Friday were abducted from the Nahal Oz kibbutz near the border almost two weeks ago. There were no immediate details on their condition, but Biden said he had spoken to them and promised US support "as they recover from this terrible ordeal." He thanked Qatar, which hosts Hamas' political bureau, for its mediation in securing the release, and said he was working "around the clock" to win the return of other Americans being held. Natalie Raanan's half-brother Ben told the BBC he felt an "overwhelming sense of joy" at the release after "the most horrible of ordeals." Hamas said Egypt and Qatar had negotiated the release "for humanitarian reasons," adding that it was "working with all mediators to implement the movement's decision to close the civilian (hostage) file if appropriate security conditions allow". There has been little information on those taken hostage, with Israel's military saying Friday "the majority" were still alive. Agonised families have demanded more action. "Absolutely nothing has been done," Assaf Shem Tov, whose nephew was abducted from a music festival, said Friday. "We ask humanity to interfere and bring back all those young boys, young girls, mothers, babies. All the people, they should be released immediately." On the ground in Gaza, Israeli jets continued a relentless bombing campaign, with the military saying it hit more than 100 Hamas targets overnight. AFP reporters heard loud explosions and saw plumes of smoke billowing from the northern Gaza Strip, which Israel has demanded Palestinian civilians leave for their own safety. - 'Life and death' aid - Some 2.4 million Palestinians live in the densely populated enclave, and almost half have been displaced, according to the UN. Israel has cut off supplies of water, electricity, fuel and food to the long-blockaded territory. UN chief Antonio Guterres warned Friday that humanitarian relief stuck in Egypt was "the difference between life and death for so many people in Gaza." And World Health Organization emergencies director Michael Ryan said Biden's deal for an initial 20 truck-delivery was "a drop in the ocean of need" and that 2,000 trucks were required. At least 30 percent of all housing in Gaza has been destroyed or damaged, the UN says, citing local authorities, and thousands have taken refuge in a tent city set up in southern Gaza's Khan Yunis. Fadwa al-Najjar said she and her seven children walked for 10 hours to reach the camp, at some points breaking into a run as air strikes descended around them. "We saw bodies and limbs torn off and we just started praying, thinking we were going to die," she told AFP. "I would have preferred not to leave, to have stayed at home and died there," her daughter Malak added. Israel's operation will take not "a day, nor a week, nor a month," the country's defence minister Yoav Gallant warned Friday. After hitting "pockets of resistance", the defence minister foresaw "the end of Israel's responsibilities in the Gaza Strip". An Israeli foreign ministry source, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said Israel envisaged "handing over the keys" to neighbouring Egypt, which has strongly rejected attempts to place Gaza's residents under its responsibility. - Peace summit - "I'm afraid that the current destruction is part of a clear plan for people to have no place left to live," said Omar Ashour, a retired general in Gaza. "This will cause a second Nakba," he added, referring to the 760,000 Palestinians who were expelled from or fled their homes when Israel was created. Israel has received strong international backing from allies including the United States, Britain and the European Union. On Friday, Biden requested $14 billion in emergency military aid for Israel as part of a massive security spending package that will face a tough battle in the paralysed US Congress. He argued the money would help secure US interests in the region, where there are fears the Israel-Hamas conflict could touch off a wider conflagration. The United States has moved two aircraft carriers into the eastern Mediterranean to deter Iran or Lebanon's Hezbollah, both Hamas allies, from getting involved. French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday Paris has also sent messages to Hezbollah warning them against intervening. Israel on Friday ordered the 25,000 residents of the northern town of Kiryat Shmona to leave over fears after repeated cross-border exchanges of fire. The conflict has inflamed tensions across the region, with demonstrations across the Middle East and the leaders of Egypt and Jordan condemning Israel's "collective punishment" of Palestinians. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will host a peace summit on Saturday attended by regional and some Western leaders. burs-sah/sn The Great British Bake Off contestants faced sweltering conditions inside the tent during Wednesday (18 October) nights episode. As often seems to be the case, the bakers took on Chocolate Week during heatwave temperatures with the series being filmed in Berkshire during the height of summer. Rowan excelled in the Signature challenge, which tasked bakers with putting their own spin on a chocolate torte. However, during the Technical, which saw contestants attempt to create eight cheesecakes complete with a blackcurrant compote and white chocolate topping, Tasha fell ill. The 27-year-old, who is the series first-ever deaf contestant, is heard saying, Its so hot, I think I need some air, before dropping to the floor. A medic then comes over and tells Tasha to breathe slowly before escorting her out of the tent. She was then comforted outside by host Alison Hammond as it was confirmed that she would have to withdraw from that episode. Health first. Always. We can confirm that Tasha has had to withdraw from Chocolate Week on Bake Off for medical reasons and will return in next weeks show. We cant wait to see her back in the Tent and feeling much better. #GBBO pic.twitter.com/lkvW9o3jeb British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) October 18, 2023 The official Bake Off Twitter/X account shared: Health first. Always. We can confirm that Tasha has had to withdraw from Chocolate Week on Bake Off for medical reasons and will return in next weeks show. We cant wait to see her back in the Tent and feeling much better. A participation officer from Bristol, Tasha is joined on the show by Daryl, her sign language interpreter. As a result of Tasha leaving, judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith announced their decision to suspend eliminations until next week; however, two bakers will be sent home in that episode. On X, fans complained about the decision to hold Chocolate Week during hot weather. Youve got to give it to the #GBBO producers for always managing to schedule chocolate week during the hottest week of the year. 10/10 they never miss, one fan wrote. After years of heat in the tent maybe the daft producers could invest in aircon? another posited. Isnt it just uncanny how filming chocolate week in #GBBO always coincides with the hottest day of the year? In a tent, a third wrote. Disaster by design. I love this show, but I wish they wouldnt do this. Better to see what the bakers can do in normal conditions. Meanwhile, Hammond, who replaced Matt Lucas as presenter this year, was praised for supporting Tasha. Alison is a good egg, one person wrote. As a migraine sufferer, I feel very sorry for Tasha! Aww, poor Tasha. Love how caring Alison is, said another. Bake Off arrived on Channel 4 a day late this week due to Tuesday nights 2024 Euro qualifier match between England and Italy, which England won 3-1. The baking show returns to its regular slot at 8pm on Tuesday next week. Sixty nine prisoners have been released early as part of the Governments attempt to ease the overcrowding crisis, the Telegraph can reveal. The criminals were freed this week 18 days before their scheduled release date under a scheme announced just five days ago by Alex Chalk, the Justice Secretary. It is the first time in 16 years that the Government has been forced into such a move because of the lack of space in prisons in England and Wales. It was last done under Labour in 2007 when they ran out of places in jails. The move has eased some of the pressure as figures released by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) on Friday showed that the number of spare places has increased in a week from 557 last Friday to 764. The overall prison population is also down after hitting a historic high last week. The early release scheme has been used in 25 prisons with the worst overcrowding. Nearly half of them were technically 100 per cent full with fewer than 10 places. They included prisons such as Leeds, Durham, Wormwood Scrubs in south London, Lincoln, Coldingley in Woking and Berwyn in Wales. Under the scheme, anyone serving a life sentence, extended determinate sentence, or jailed for a serious violent, terror or sexual offence will be excluded. But some violent offenders could be released early if they are serving less than four years in jail. Convicts will remain on licence The MoJ has refused to say how many will be released or how long the temporary scheme will continue but, unlike the Labour scheme, they will remain on licence. This could include requirements to wear an electronic tag, restrictions on contacting named individuals, living at a prescribed address, attending appointments and conditions on entering certain postcode areas. Breach of the conditions could lead to the offender being recalled to custody for the full second half of their sentence. The early release scheme comes on top of plans for 800 more rapid deployment cells, the fast-track refurbishment of empty cells and delayed maintenance on others to keep them operational. Mr Chalk also announced plans to slash the number of offenders jailed for under a year by establishing a legal presumption that they should be punished in the community through voluntary work to compensate for their crimes. However, this will only take effect after legislation in the Kings Speech. It has also emerged that the MoJ has spent more than 1million reserving prison cells without ever using them to take criminals from over-full jails. Operation Safeguard Last November, in the face of the overcrowding crisis in prisons, the Government triggered Operation Safeguard. This arrangement permits prisoners to be housed in police cells when local jails are full. Between February and June, police cells were used to house prisoners on 871 occasions. Mostly it happened in the north of England including 209 times in Greater Manchester, 125 in Lancashire, 98 in Northumbria and 77 in West Yorkshire. However, the figures also showed that the Government paid Essex police 219,003, the Avon and Somerset force more than 250,000, and South Wales police 690,639 to provide cells. None of the three forces were sent any prisoners during the period covered by the figures. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. A man has died after being swept away by flood waters in Shropshire, as Storm Babet wreaks havoc across England. The man, who in his 60s, was submerged shortly before 10:40 BST when a brook breached a road in Cleobury Mortimer. He is the third person to die in the UK. A 56-year-old man and a woman, 67, were killed in separate incidents in Scotland. Homes have been flooded, schools closed and motorways and railway lines submerged as the storm batters England. An amber warning for persistent heavy rain is in place until 06:00 on Saturday. Up to 60mm of rain is likely, with the potential for up to 120mm on higher ground, the Met Office said. People have been warned of fast-flowing or deep floodwater, causing danger to life. The storm is causing disruption across the country, including: Flooding has blocked all railway lines running through Swindon, as well as several routes across northern England and the Midlands A driver had a "lucky escape" after his car was pushed 30 metres down a fast-flowing river in Birmingham. After it got stuck, he managed to climb out and use a tree branch to make his way to the embankment Residents in Suffolk have been urged to only travel if essential as a major incident has been declared Twenty residents have been rescued from their flooded homes in Chesterfield, Derbyshire amid "significant flooding" Parts of the M606 in West Yorkshire have been closed due to floodwater. The M54 in Shropshire was shut in both directions at J6-J7 but has now reopened The British Broadcasting Corporation In the East Midlands, heavy rain is causing disruption, with roads blocked by flooding and fallen trees, and across the West Midlands schools are shut and several roads are impassable. The East Midlands has also had reports of cars being stranded in deep water, including in Ashbourne, Derbyshire. Schools have been shut in the West Midlands, Wiltshire, and Gloucestershire, in many cases due to flooding on nearby roads. The British Broadcasting Corporation There has been flooding in parts of the east of England, with residents in Hemsby in Norfolk nervously watching high tide. The village has been ravaged by coastal erosion and residents fear more land could be lost, along with properties. However, there were reports the village had avoided the worst at high tide at 11:21. BBC Radio Norfolk reporter Andrew Turner, who is at the site, said the sea was still rough, but had receded after high tide. "I have seen lumps of sand and marram grass coming down from the cliff and going across the beach into the water," he said. "There has been some erosion but I haven't heard of anything that has had an effect on property." Train services between Bristol and London have been cancelled or delayed due to flooding in Swindon, and there are also no trains are running between Derby and Sheffield or Nottingham, Walsall and Rugeley Trent Valley, and Shrewsbury and Hereford or Wolverhampton. Services between Hereford and Birmingham New Street, Chester and Crewe, and Wrexham Central and Bidston, have also been suspended. Parts of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire have also been hit with transport disruption, with Rotherham Central Station closed and several railway lines blocked by floodwater. National Highways said the M606 northbound exit slip road at junction three in Bradford had also been shut and tram services have been diverted in Sheffield. Storm Babet has already caused damage across the country, including a beach bar being swept into the sea in Torquay, Devon. On Thursday, a woman and a four-year-old girl had to be rescued from a car stuck in floodwater near Carlisle. The amber warning of rain joins a yellow warning of wind for Friday, which covers the East Midlands, East, north-east England, and Yorkshire and the Humber. It started at midday and ends at 12:00 on Saturday. Are you in a region affected by the storm? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways: If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission. A stolen painting was returned to Germany after going missing for more than 78 years. The FBI recovered the painting after a company enlisted their help in retrieving it from a Chicago resident. Someone had previously tried to sell the painting in the Chicago art market in 2011. A stolen painting belonging to Germany made an unusual journey home on Thursday after going missing for more than 78 years, according to the FBI. The FBI returned the painting to a representative of the Alte Pinakothek museum at the German consulate in Chicago. The artwork was first reported as stolen from the Bavarian State Paintings Collections in Munich in 1945. It turned out to be the "Landscape of Italian Character" a painting by the Vienna-born artist Johann Franz Nepomuk Lauterer. The Art Newspaper reported that the painting was created in the early 18th century, making it more than 300 years old now. The artwork's value has not been publicly evaluated by experts. Art Recovery International, based in Italy, helped recover the item after a Chicago resident informed the company their uncle owned a stolen painting, the company's founder, Christopher Marinello, told Insider. The resident's uncle, who has since died, obtained the artwork after serving in World War II, Marinello said. The person, who has not been identified in reports, tipped off Marinello in December 2022, The Art Newspaper reported. Marinello told Insider the person asked his company for a "finder's fee" in exchange for the artwork. "We do not pay money to possessors of stolen art to do the right thing, especially given the circumstances of how this artwork came into the family's possession," Marinello said. He then enlisted the FBI's art-crime team for help retrieving the painting. Marinello told Insider an individual whom he believed was the same person who tipped him off about the stolen painting had previously tried to sell it in the Chicago art market in 2011. "When told it was stolen property, he withdrew and disappeared," Marinello said. Insider could not independently verify this information. Alte Pinakothek and researchers at Art Recovery International verified the painting as being Lauterer's original artwork in 2022, Marinello told Insider. The museum said in a press release it would be displayed at the Alte Pinakothek alongside another painting by Lauterer featuring similar motifs of the Italian countryside. It's not the first time a stolen painting has been recovered from US soldiers who served in World War II. In 2015, the FBI recovered three artworks stolen by US soldiers from a German museum in Dessau, a city in central Germany. The FBI did not immediately respond to requests for comment sent outside regular office hours. Read the original article on Business Insider The heart of Amsterdam is furnished with photographic backdrops at almost every turn (Getty/iStock) Youll know when youve arrived in Amsterdam. The constant ring-ring of bicycle bells, the wonderfully oddball Dutch humour, its mighty museums filled with eclectic treasures, cute-as-a-button canals and the occasional waft of legal marijuana single it out as a special destination within Europe. It's a brilliantly walkable city, delightful when just strolling past the gabled buildings similar to something out of a Wes Anderson film but also heavy with green spaces. Plump for barbecues in Rembrandtpark and open-air theatre within Vondelpark. Eating spots creatively span traditional to super-modern, whether you're after snacks or fine dining, and there's no shortage of places for drinks, from cocktails to local beers. Amsterdam is one of Europe's most popular city break destinations, and a little extra planning goes a long way so heres our guide to getting the most out of a visit. What to do Museums, galleries and exhibitions Its rare to turn a corner in central Amsterdam without hitting what might be the main attraction in lesser cities. The most famous trio are the Heineken Experience, the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House, as suggested by the impossibly large queues at peak times. Niche offerings stretch to a museum dedicated to hidden attic churches with the delightful Ons Lieve Heer op Solder, and even an interactive microbe exhibition, Micropia. At the bigger attractions, including the Rijksmuseum (adjacent to Van Gogh), booking timed tickets in advance is a must. Discover the work of Vincent van Gogh and his contemporaries at his namesake museum (Getty) Read more on Netherlands travel: Lounge around at Adam Toren A free ferry ride away from Centraal Station is the Adam Toren, a music-themed 22-storey multi-use building in which to eat, drink, party and sleep. Its for daredevils too: the rooftop bar, which often features live DJs, features a swing that propels you off the building. Smoke up For those who choose to, Amsterdam is the place in Europe to imbibe cannabis legally. As the longest-running coffee shop, The Bulldog is a popular hangout, as is the Grey Area: the Amsterdam coffeeshop of choice for Snoop Dogg, Woody Harrelson and Willie Nelson. Owners are accustomed to novice smokers, so seek a few words of advice before getting stuck in (and opt for a pre-rolled joint rather than attempting it yourself). The Bulldog is the most famous coffeeshop in the city (Getty) Hang out at NDSM Very much the Shoreditch of the Dutch capital, NDSM is a reclaimed industrial wasteland now filled with street art, cafes, event spaces and even a beach because hipsters need to catch the sun, too. Explore the canals The classic excursion for seeing the waterways is to go on a canal boat tour again, booking in advance will help preserve your sanity but if you prefer to feel in control, opt for hiring a pedalo instead and take yourself on a self-guided tour. The junction of the Leidsegracht and Keizersgracht canals on Amsterdams historic canal ring (Getty/ iStock) Where to stay A decently priced option is The Albus, a budget design hotel thats well-located and offers great service, including a welcome drink. Rooms are functional for a short break, especially with triple-glazed windows blocking out any traffic noise. Ecomama is a funky hostel that looks like a members club on entering. In addition to private rooms and basic but functional dorms, those used to festival life can crash in the teepee or sleep pods, just off the reception area. These individual suites are dotted around the city (Sweets Hotel Amsterdam) For something uniquely Amsterdam-esque, Sweets Hotel is a city-wide series of 28 transformed bridge houses, where staff once manually controlled the canals. Now, guests use a passcode to electronically enter their unique suite, with beautiful canal views and modern amenities. Or swap the convenient location for a better price at Volkshotel. With dedicated workspaces, a raft of social goings-on and a rooftop hot tub and sauna, its one for those looking for a temporary community. An outstanding premium option is The Dylan, in the 9 Streets area. Its a homely 40-room boutique hotel with impressive attention to detail; the inviting open-fire lounge and Michelin-starred restaurant are appealing enough to delay guests from exploring the city outside (at least temporarily). Where to eat Bakers & Roasters is the go-to place for breakfast. They dont take reservations, but show up, get your place in the queue, and wander around for an hour or two while checking the website to see your progress. Once inside the cramped space, dishes are generous and contemporary. Alternatively, try Dignita, which has a number of locations around the city and whose all-day menu includes their version of brunch classics. Pancakes Amsterdam is close enough to Centraal Station to be disregarded, but its prime location on the banks of the IJ and unending range of pancakes try the apple and cheese toppings for the traditional Dutch style are a treat. De Kas is a former municipal greenhouse that now serves a daily fine dining set menu of divine dishes. A daytime visit highlights the airy, glass-encased space. Need a nibble? For the sweet-toothed, Van Wonderen serves top-quality Stroopwafel, freshly caramelised while you wait, with chunky toppings like mixed nuts, Oreos and speculaas. For savoury munchies, nearby Vlaams Friteshuis Vleminckx offers a premium style of chips with an extra-long list of toppings. For dinner, Harmsen is great for modern European cuisine, while the countrys colonial history means Indonesian restaurants are popular, and the rijsttafel (small bowls of curries served with rice) is a must-try while in Amsterdam. At Blue Pepper, owner and chef Sonja Pererias modern takes include excellent vegan and vegetarian options; occasionally, the kitchen moves into a canal boat for a dinner cruise an efficient use of time for the weekend visitor. Where to drink On a cold day, a takeaway hot chocolate from Urban Cacao hits the spot they use 15g of chocolate drops in each cup, and the choice of 60 per cent, 70 per cent or milk cocoa is yours. Die-hards can take a tour of the factory too. Excellent tea options are found at Ts. Its out of the way in the De Baarsjes suburb, but cant be beaten for lovingly prepared brews for supping on site, or bags of loose-leaf tea for enjoying later. Beer aficionados will adore the In De Wildeman, which offers hundreds of Dutch, Belgian and international beers by the bottle and a good selection on draft. If you take a shine to craft beer brand Walhalla, the taproom in Amsterdam Noord offers tasting flights of four brews. The Flying Dutchman is an always-popular diminutive drinking den that hits the holy trinity of impressive service, innovative cocktails and great atmosphere. A stylish alternative is Satchmo, a hotspot found in the depths of a former tobacco HQ dating from 1647. Forgo the restaurant upstairs in favour of drinks and bites at the cocktail bar, where their signature espresso martini including Patron and white chocolate liqueur is just one of the well-balanced concoctions made to order. For drinks with a view, the W Lounge is a pricier but sophisticated rooftop bar with 360-degree views of Dam Square and beyond. Where to shop Visitors who get a kick out of browsing supermarket shelves should make a beeline to one of the many Albert Heijns around. Otherwise, the first place to check out is the 9 Streets, an area between the central canals with a range of independent and boutique stalls that sell everything from locally made gifts to elaborate hosiery (the latter is Nic Nic). De Hallen is another cluster of independent traders, this time under the shared roof of a former tram depot. The cafes outside catch the morning light perfectly, so enjoy a coffee before wandering through the stalls selling black garlic, handmade jewellery, funky stationery and wall art. At lunch, the Foodhallen is a mix of street food stalls circling a bar this is the place to get burritos and bao. Find independent shops on the 9 Streets (Getty) Nearby, Ten Katemarkt is an outdoor street market selling foods and nick-nacks. Its less touristy than the Albert Cuyp Markt but just as captivating. On a rainy day, Magna Plaza is a decent mall in a stunning building that was Amsterdams former main post office. Browse international brands like Lacoste and Mango alongside specialist fashion and gift shops. Open until 7pm daily, or 9pm on Thursdays. For designer shopping, don those Louboutins and take a walk along PC Hooftstraat, home of labels like Dolce & Gabbana, Tiffany, Rolex and Gucci. Architectural highlight Unending rows of super cute canal houses tall and narrow from the outside, steep staired from the inside, and occasionally sunken on one side are the hallmark of Amsterdam. Find out their history and unique features at the Het Grachtenhuis Canal House Museum, open 10am-5pm. Amsterdam is renowned for its colourful canal houses (Getty) FAQs What currency do I need? Euros. What language do they speak? Dutch, but English is widely spoken. Should I tip? Service charges might already be included. If not, a 1015 per cent tip is appreciated but not necessary. How should I get around? Much of central Amsterdam is walkable, but if not, the tram network is easy to navigate, especially with apps like Citymapper on hand. If youre confident enough, rent a bike and travel as the locals do. Whats the best view? Madam is ADam Torens panoramic bar, and features information about the city, plus a great view of Centraal Station. Read our guide to the best hotels in Amsterdam By Yew Lun Tian, Laurie Chen and Michael Martina BEIJING/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - With anger building across the Middle East over Israel's strikes in Gaza, China and Russia are finding common cause with countries across the region in support of the Palestinians. For Moscow and Beijing, Israel's bombardment of Gaza following the Hamas attacks that killed 1,400 Israelis presents an opportunity to burnish their credentials as the champions of the developing world, in contrast with the United States, which has put its support squarely behind ally Israel. China has consistently called for restraint and a ceasefire but has also sharpened its criticism of Israel. "Israels actions have gone beyond the scope of self-defense," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said this week, called on it to stop its "collective punishment" of Gaza residents, Chinese state media reported. Russia has expressed sympathy for the Palestinians while blaming the U.S. "I think that many people will agree with me that this is a vivid example of the failure of United States policy in the Middle East," Russian President Vladimir Putin said this week. Both Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have sought to deepen ties to the global south, seeing economic opportunities and possibly a way to counterbalance the diplomatic influence of the U.S. and its allies. That was on display this week as China hosted a summit for Xi's signature Belt and Road Initiative, which has lent hundreds of billions of dollars for infrastructure projects across the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Asia. Putin attended and met Xi for three hours of talks that included "an in-depth exchange of views on the Palestinian-Israeli situation", China said. "China and Russia still see (the crisis) more in terms of the United States than in terms of either Palestine or Israel," said Jon Alterman, director of the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. "If the United States can effectively rally the world, its bad for them. If the U.S. and its allies grow increasingly isolated, they see that as good for them." SUPPORT FOR PALESTINE While the strategies of Russia and China in the Middle East are not fully aligned they have much in common. Russia is sharply critical of the U.S. but China has mostly avoided criticising it, a contrast to early in the Ukraine war, when China's support of Russia turned an unwelcome spotlight on its diplomatic position. China signalled its growing influence in the Middle East this year when it announced a surprise deal on the restoration of ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Russia too has been improving ties with Iran, which has included supplies of Iranian drones and common cause in backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Both China and Russia share a history of support for the Palestinians - and are critical of what they say is the marginalisation of them by the United States. "Theres clearly a shared interest in emphasizing the negative role of the U.S. in the conflict," said Jean-Loup Samaan, senior research fellow at the Middle East Institute of the National University of Singapore. "And that fits within their broader narrative on the need to build an alternative world order to the U.S." Russia's state media has said it was sending humanitarian aid to Gaza and China has sent its Middle East envoy to the region, where he met Russia's special representative. Russia said on Thursday it was coordinating Middle East policy with China. While Chinese media covered the Hamas attacks on Oct. 7, since then reports have carried images of Palestinian suffering, with some prominently citing Palestinian sources as saying Israel was responsible. "None of the reality that shocked much of the world on Oct. 7 is in Chinese news. Instead, the news features Israeli bombing of Gaza without explaining that the target is only Hamas infrastructure," Carice Witte, director of the SIGNAL Group, a Sino-Israel relations think tank based in Tel Aviv. SEEKING ALLIES Russia's war in Ukraine gives it an added incentive to align itself with the Palestinian cause. The United States has been trying, with limited success, to persuade the global south to rally behind Ukraine. Portraying the U.S. as a driver of the conflict helps blunt that effort. Alterman sees a similar motivation for China, which regards the U.S. as its chief geopolitical rival. "China is trying to play the global south card, irrespective of its close ties to Israel. More than actually supporting Hamas, it is quietly helping build resistance to U.S. efforts to build international support for Israel," said Alterman. Ma Xiaolin, a Middle East expert and professor at Zhejiang International Studies University, said China was being even-handed between the Palestinians and Israel but if pushed, would side with its Arab partners. "If Israel, with the support of the United States, expands the scale and scope of the war and causes more humanitarian casualties, China will definitely tilt the balance in favour of the Palestinians," said Ma. (Additional reporting by James Pomfret in Hong Kong and Guy Faulconbridge; writing by Don Durfee; editing by Robert Birsel) Customers shop at the Des Moines Fairgrounds Gun Show at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa Customers shop at the Des Moines Fairgrounds Gun Show at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa By Gram Slattery WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Fentanyl producers in Mexico should be killed. So too should human traffickers and drug smugglers on the U.S.-Mexico border. Shoplifters should be shot. Drug dealers and rapists? Executed. Some Republican contenders for their party's 2024 presidential nomination have turned to a blunt policy proposal to tamp down on crime: killing criminals. Legal experts say some of the proposals the candidates have put forward are likely illegal and their efficacy is questionable, raising doubts about whether they would be put into practice. The death penalty is generally unconstitutional for offenses that do not cause the death of the victim, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled. Legal scholars and security officials with experience on the border have affirmed that shooting smugglers on the border is illegal. The rhetoric isn't entirely novel. In 2020, then-President Donald Trump tweeted that when the "looting starts the shooting starts," after violent protests in Minneapolis against the murder of George Floyd, a Black man, by a white police officer. Twitter tagged the tweet for "glorifying violence." Trump is now the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican nomination to challenge President Joe Biden , a Democrat. Republican strategists involved in previous campaigns and experts in political rhetoric say that calls to shoot, kill or otherwise injure criminals appear to be more common during this Republican primary race than they have been in previous years. Crime is a greater concern for voters than it has been in recent elections, even as crime trends are mixed. Some 88% of respondents in a September Reuters/Ipsos poll said crime would be an important issue for determining who gets their vote in the November 2024 general election. Violent crimes, including rape and murder, declined in the United States in 2022 from the previous year, according to a report released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation this week. At the same time, property crime and aggravated assault were up, while the 21,156 murders reported in 2022 were well above pre-pandemic level. With Trump nearly 40 percentage points ahead of his nearest rival in the Republican race, his opponents are also incentivized to try to break through by putting forward attention-grabbing policy proposals, even those that appear to advocate state violence. 'SOMETHING MORE OUTRAGEOUS ALL THE TIME' Such rhetoric can be dangerous, as it gives constituents and law enforcement the impression that violence is condoned and tolerated at the highest levels, said Thomas Zeitzoff, a politics professor at American University in Washington. "In a primary where it is becoming increasingly difficult to break through the noise, the incentive is to say something more outrageous all the time," said David Kochel, a Republican consultant who is not aligned with any candidate. During a September speech in California, Trump made headlines for saying, "If you rob a store, you can fully expect to be shot as you are leaving that store. Shot!" He did not say whether store owners or police would be doing the shooting. Then this week, a Florida store employee was charged with manslaughter after shooting dead a fleeing shoplifter who at no time threatened the employee or displayed any type of weapon, police said in a statement on Wednesday. James Densley, a criminologist and professor at Metro State University in St. Paul, Minnesota, said Trump's message is reckless. "Looters and shoplifters is code for people of color. If you're having political figures endorse violence, the risk is the targets will be people of color." The former president has reiterated previous calls for drug dealers to receive the death penalty, despite legal scholars questioning its constitutionality. Criminal justice reform advocates have long fought against an expansion of the death penalty, citing its disparate toll on communities of color. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, a nonprofit that analyzes capital punishment, Black Americans are overrepresented among death row populations across the nation. A recent analysis from earlier this year found Black people represent about 41% of inmates, yet are 13% of the U.S. population. "Tough-on-crime policies only amplify systemic racial biases present in the justice system," Densley said. By lowering the threshold for the death penalty, increasing numbers of minority groups will be "caught up in that widening dragnet," he said. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Trump's top challenger, has said repeatedly he would authorize deadly force against suspected smugglers crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, leaving them "stone-cold dead." DeSantis has signaled he is open to firing missiles into Mexico to kill narcotics kingpins involved in the trade of the synthetic opioid fentanyl that is fueling a deadly drug crisis in America. He and several other contenders have signaled they are also open to sending special forces into Mexico, the top U.S. trade partner, to kill suspects involved in the drug trade. During the spring state legislative session in Florida, DeSantis signed a bill expanding the use of the death penalty by, among other measures, allowing its use in cases of child rape, which has not occurred in the U.S. since 1964. At the most recent primary debate in California in September, former Vice President Mike Pence said he would seek to accelerate executions of people involved in mass shootings. Trump and Pence did not respond to requests for comment, while DeSantis' campaign defended his statements. "Unlike the other candidates' mere talk, Ron DeSantis has delivered results on law and order issues," said DeSantis campaign press secretary Bryan Griffin. DeSantis' campaign noted that he has also sought to increase the number of police officers in Florida by offering them signing bonuses. Pence has said he supports tough-on-crime measures paired with criminal justice reform, indicating he still supports a measure he signed as the governor of Indiana in 2015 to reduce the population of low-level offenders in state prisons. (Reporting by Gram Slattery, additional reporting by Nathan Layne in Wilton, Connecticut and Tim Reid in Los Angeles, editing by Ross Colvin and Howard Goller) Name: Annette Albright Age as of Nov. 7, 2023: 57 Campaign website: www.cmsunity.com Occupation: Judicial services coordinator Education: Associate of science in corrections and juvenile services; bachelors degree in criminal justice; masters degree in organizational management and leadership development. Have you run for elected office before? Yes. In 2017, I ran for the board of education District 2 seat. I placed second behind incumbent Rhonda Cheek, who won the seat. In 2019, I ran for BOE at-large. I placed six out of 12 candidates. Please list your highlights of civic involvement I have worked on several campaigns in different capacities over the years. I have been a vocal advocate over the years for safe schools. In 2018, I was invited to the White House to share my experience of being assaulted by students in a Charlotte high school. My input led to the repel of federal mandates that made schools unsafe. Locally, I have worked to keep parents informed and engaged in their local government and the governance of Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools. What are your ideas for improving student performance if elected to the CMS board? The first thing we must do is to ensure that we have a competent leader in place that can navigate the complexities of this district. Immediately, we must begin the task of ensuring all CMS schools are safe havens for learning. Educators cannot teach in unsafe environments and students cannot learn in unsafe environments. Families will not send their children to unsafe environments; CMS cant hire qualified teachers to work in unsafe environments. School safety will be a top priority. The best educators cant improve student performance in unsafe environments. Will you support the $2.5 billion bond that will be on the November ballot for school projects? Why or why not? I will personally support the bond because I understand that some of our facilities are in dire shape and others need to be totally replaced. I also understand the apprehension of the public to support this bond as CMS has not been good stewards of tax dollars, and maintenance and upkeep on many facilities has been lacking which has led to expensive costs and repairs. I am also concerned about how projects are prioritized. As a board member, I will ensure that all bond dollars are being spent as they should be and in an equitable manner. The public will be kept informed of where we are with projects, and schools with dire needs will receive priority. Whats your opinion on school book bans or decisions to limit the audience for particular titles. And how would you approach the problem if a parent brought a book to your attention? First, we must be very clear on what is book banning and what is ensuring that materials in public schools are 1) adding to the academic learning environment. 2) age appropriate. If a parent approached me with an issue about specific books being on a public-school shelf, these are the first questions I would ask. I also would not mind a rating system for books that are placed on shelves in high schools that may contain more explicit language, thoughts and ideology. How will you prioritize projects if the bond referendum is approved in November? And how would you approach deciding on major construction needs more broadly? Seeing that I wasnt at the table when that project list was built and I have the same information that the rest of public has, I cannot answer that question. I can say that bond money should be used as voted upon by the taxpayers. If elected, my approach to project needs would be simple. We have students being educated in trailers and schools that dont have proper ventilation systems. I worked in a CMS where we had to place buckets in the hall to catch rainwater. Those type of projects would be at the top of any bond I worked on. What are your ideas for CMS to foster good relationships with towns and different communities across Mecklenburg County? In order for CMS to foster good relationships with towns and different communities across Mecklenburg County, they have to be true to what they say they are going to do. Honesty, transparency, and accountability is what the public has demanded from CMS for years but has not gotten. What separates you from you opponents and makes you the best choice on Novembers ballot? What separates me from opponents and makes me the best choice on Novembers ballot is simple. First, I am the only candidate that has worked the infamous coined school-to-prison pipeline. I understand what that looks like and what the true challenges are, and I know what it will take to derail that pipeline. I have been working in Charlotte advocating for changes to the public education system since 2016 after working within the system for 3.5 years and witnessing firsthand how and why the public school system is failing students. I know that education is the best and most readily available resource we have to breaking the cycle of poverty, hopelessness, and despair for so many of our youth. Lastly, I am a person of integrity, I am true to my word, and I am committed to improving the public education system for all students. The walls keep closing in around Donald Trump in Atlanta, where a third person involved in his 2020 coup efforts flipped on his former boss on Fridaythis time, an attorney for the former president who outlined a plan to recruit fake electors to hijack the nations voting system. The last-minute guilty plea by Kenneth Chesebro came just as his trialthe first in Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis overarching mob takedown casewas about to get underway with jury selection. Chesebro authored several legal memos laying out how Republicans would ultimately create an alternate slate of electors who would override Georgia voters decision to go with now-President Joe Biden. Willis charged Chesebro with seven criminal counts, including violation of the states racketeering laws, conspiracy to commit impersonating a public officer, and conspiracy to commit forgery. In an Atlanta courtroom on Friday, he agreed to plead guilty to just one felonyconspiracy to file false documentsin exchange for having his remaining charges dropped. Under the plea deal, he also avoided jail time and was instead ordered to serve five years of probation, pay $5,000 in restitution, complete 100 hours of community service, and submit an apology letter to the people of Georgia. He must also testify truthfully at future court proceedings against the remaining co-defendants in the case. Sidney Powells Plea Deal Is Terrible News for Trump Chesebro already wrote the apology letter, which was turned over to the judge. And he came clean during a recorded tell-all session with prosecutors called a proffer earlier on Friday morning. He promised to turn over all other damning emails and texts that would incriminate his fellow MAGA associates who took part in the overall plot to keep Trump in the White House after losing the presidential election. Chesebro, who had suffered a string of legal losses in the early stages of his case, appeared relieved as he spoke to the judge midday Friday. I just want to thank you for the way youve handled these proceedings, he said. "Well, I appreciate that, Mr. Chesebro, but were not done yet. Ive still got some special conditions, Judge Scott McAfee responded, listing all the rules the disgraced attorney must abide by. On Thursday, fellow Trump attorney Sidney Powell, who was set to go to trial with Chesebro on Friday, took a similar plea deal and agreed to testify against her co-defendants. Bail bondsman Scott Hall, who was involved in a breach of voting machines in rural Coffee County, also pleaded guilty earlier this month. The Untold Story of One Indicted Fake Trump Elector in Georgia Chesebros decision to wait until the day of a trial before joining the DAs side hints at how effectively Willis has managed to turn Trumps own lieutenants against him. Three of the 19 defendants accused of essentially running a criminal enterprise have now promised to become state witnesses, and prosecutors will use their testimony to detail exactly how the election coup efforts proceeded. The nation got something of a preview during the dozen or so House Jan. 6 Committee hearings last year, a political inquiry that portrayed Trump as a wannabe despot during his final days in officebut one that lacked criminal punishment and mostly relied on insiders weighed down by their heavy consciences. By contrast, Willis has managed to use the threat of significant prison time to turn other insiders into willing participants in Trumps legal demise. And Chesebros involvement went all the way to the top. The indictment claimed that Chesebro worked alongside Trump and some of the brains behind the attempted coup: ex-Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, who spread conspiracy theories in official state proceedings; John Eastman, a conservative lawyer who engineered the plan to have loyal Republicans halt congressional certification of Bidens win; and Michael Roman, a political operative accused of hooking up the Trump campaign with state legislators to run a parallel and illegitimate electoral college vote. Chesebro had asserted that he was simply suggesting legal options to the Trump campaign but a Wednesday report from The New York Times revealed that he admitted in emails that his plan was politically useful in giving Americans the impression that the courts lacked the courage to fairly and timely consider these complaints, and justifying a political argument on Jan. 6 that none of the electoral votes from the states with regard to which the judicial process has failed should be counted. Until Friday, he was ready to proceed alone by breaking off his case from that of his fellow co-defendantsa huge gamble that could have revealed any weaknesses in the DAs case and given Trump and other high-level officials a roadmap for a better defense. However, now that this trial is no more, the American public is in for a potentially long wait. Although the DA has said she wants to put Trump and his remaining associates on trial as soon as possiblewhich could be just a few months awaythe sheer size of the case might delay any trial until late next year, or even past the 2024 election. Then again, the extra time could incentivize others in Trumps circle to flip as well. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. By Andrew Goudsward (Reuters) -A second lawyer who represented Donald Trump 's 2020 presidential campaign, Kenneth Chesebro, pleaded guilty on Friday to illegal efforts to reverse the former U.S. presidents defeat in the state of Georgia, just days before he was about to go on trial. Chesebro pleaded guilty in a Fulton County court to conspiracy to commit filing of false documents, one day after another former lawyer for Trump, Sidney Powell , also pleaded guilty. The two had been scheduled to be tried together beginning on Monday. Chesebro agreed to testify against Trump and the other 15 co-defendants in the sprawling racketeering case brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. The plea agreement calls for Chesebro to be sentenced to five years of probation and pay $5,000 in restitution. Georgia prosecutors have now gained the cooperation of two members of Trumps legal team who played significant roles in Trumps attempts to overturn his defeat to Democrat Joe Biden. The deals with Chesebro and Powell mean that the first scheduled trial in the case, which was set to give Trump and other co-defendants a preview of the states case, will not happen. The Georgia case is one of four state or federal criminal cases that Trump is facing and one of two specifically focused on his attempts to overturn his election defeat. Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, has pleaded not guilty and continues to falsely claim his loss was the result of fraud. Chesebro initially was charged with racketeering and conspiring to make false statements and commit forgery. Prosecutors alleged he crafted the legal strategy for Trumps plan to create fraudulent slates of electors pledged to vote for Trump in states where Biden won the popular vote. Chesebros lawyers unsuccessfully sought to dismiss the charges by arguing that he was only providing advice as a lawyer on unsettled legal issues. His lawyers previously vowed that Chesebro would not accept a guilty plea. (Reporting by Andrew Goudsward and Doina Chiacu; writing by Susan Heavey; Editing by Doina Chiacu) Muslim women wave Palestinian and Indonesian flags during a rally supporting the Palestinians in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) Oct. 13-19, 2023 Rallies supporting the Palestinians were held in Indonesia, Philippines and Australia. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin with other foreign leaders attend the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, and people row a long boat in a procession carrying Buddha images to a monastery during the pagoda festival in Myanmar. This photo gallery highlights some of the most compelling images in Asia made or published by The Associated Press in the past week. The selection was curated by AP photo editor Masayo Yoshida in Tokyo. Follow AP visual journalism: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews AP Images on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AP_Images AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.com Federal prosecutors on Friday narrowly avoided an appeals court ruling that could have upended their criminal prosecution of Donald Trump , but the legal battle will continue over a federal obstruction statute that has become a cornerstone of cases stemming from the storming of the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. A divided panel of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a long-awaited opinion, ruled that there are numerous ways for the government to prove that Jan. 6 defendants acted corruptly when seeking to obstruct Congress proceedings. The decision is a bullet dodged for special counsel Jack Smith, because a D.C. Circuit ruling that narrowly construed the meaning of corruptly could have derailed Smiths prosecution of Trump on an obstruction charge. The judges ruled, 2-1, that efforts by some Jan. 6 defendants to sharply limit the conduct covered by the federal obstruction law were misguided. The ruling, which upheld a jury conviction for former Virginia police officer Thomas Robertson, concluded that efforts to install the losing presidential candidate could be enough to support an obstruction conviction. The opinion is likely to be appealed to the full bench of the D.C. Circuit or to the Supreme Court. But it nevertheless is an important milestone with repercussions for hundreds of Jan. 6 prosecutions, including Trumps. The judges have labored for months to navigate the complexities of the federal obstruction of an official proceeding statute, a felony with a 20-year maximum sentence that was passed in the wake of the Enron scandal. Prosecutors have routinely used the statute as the leading charge for those who breached the Capitol intending to disrupt Congress session to certify the 2020 election results. Defendants who have challenged the law say they were not acting corruptly because they believed Trump genuinely won the election and therefore didnt intend a corrupt outcome. Complicating the issue is the murky nature of what it means to obstruct Congress. All three judges on the case appeared to agree that lobbyists and peaceful protesters often attempt to influence the outcome of congressional policy debates but should not be subject to 20-year felonies for constitutionally protected actions. The majority opinion Friday was written by D.C. Circuit Judge Florence Pan, who was appointed by President Joe Biden, and joined by Judge Cornelia Pillard, an appointee of President Barack Obama. They concluded that most forms of lobbying and peaceful protest wouldnt meet the corrupt requirement they laid out, but Judge Karen LeCraft Henderson, an appointee of President George H.W. Bush, dissented, arguing that such actions might be swept into the definition her colleagues adopted. Some judges have expressed concern that too broad a definition of corruptly could cover not only minor infractions at ordinary protests but even lobbying or the stalling tactics that are a routine part of lawmaking at the Capitol. But precisely what conduct does meet that standard is fairly broad, the judges ruled. For example, the ruling Friday concludes that defendants who committed other felonies on Jan. 6 can be convicted of the obstruction of Congress charge and subject to its 20-year maximum sentence without prosecutors proving that they knew specifics about that days congressional proceedings. Special counsel Jack Smith has charged Trump with three conspiracies connected to his effort to subvert the 2020 election, including one to obstruct Congress proceedings that day, the same charge faced by Robertson and more than 300 Jan. 6 rioters. The majority opinion Friday also held that interfering with or impeding the electoral-vote certification on Jan. 6 in a bid to get Trump declared the victor of the 2020 election would be enough to sustain a conviction for obstruction of Congress. "That evidence was plainly sufficient to support a finding that Robertson intended to secure the unlawful benefit of installing the loser of the presidential election, Donald J. Trump, as its winner, Pan wrote. Robertson was one of the first Jan. 6 defendants convicted by a jury of obstructing the proceedings that day. He carried a large stick with him on Capitol grounds and made physical contact with an outnumbered platoon of riot police making their way to the building, video of which led the jury to convict Robertson of assaulting an officer while wielding a dangerous weapon. A judge sentenced him to 87 months in prison. In dissent, Henderson said a conviction under the obstruction statute should be allowed only when a defendant is seeking to obtain a financial or professional benefit or to improperly escape justice either for himself or another person. Henderson also provocatively insisted that Pan misunderstood her own opinion from April in another obstruction-related challenge from a Jan. 6 defendant, with Henderson declaring that Pans description of her own ruling cannot be right. Henderson said that splintered April ruling effectively agreed on the narrow definition of corruptly she endorsed Friday, but Pan and Pillard disagreed. Pan also said the effort to get Trump certified as the winner when he was not could qualify as the kind of professional benefit Henderson argued could be used to involve the obstruction statute. The D.C. Circuit rarely accepts cases for review en banc, which effectively wipes out the three-judge panel ruling and leads to reargument of the case before all 11 of the appeals courts active judges. Taking a case en banc ordinarily requires six of those judges to vote in favor of that step. Its unclear whether the court will do so here if Robertsons lawyers ask for it, but in addition to Henderson, Judges Greg Katsas and Justin Walker both appointed by Trump have expressed concerns about the breadth of the use of the obstruction statute. A federal appeals court has upheld the Justice Departments ability to prosecute January 6, 2021, rioters with an obstruction charge, in a new opinion that is likely to bolster prosecutors criminal case against former President Donald Trump on the same charge. The decision, issued Friday, means prosecutors can use the law that criminalizes obstructing an official proceeding as they seek to bring to justice rioters who disrupted the congressional certification of the 2020 presidential election. The three-judge panel of the DC Circuit Court of Appeals split 2-1 in the decision. Trump is scheduled to go to trial in his federal election subversion case in March. His attorneys are arguing to have the case against him dismissed. The appeals court ruled in the case of Thomas Robertson, a former police sergeant from southern Virginia who was convicted for taking part in the US Capitol riot. Robertson had asked the courts to examine the use of the obstruction law in relation to the riot. Robertson went into the Capitol after then-President Trumps speech on the Ellipse, and he hit a police officer with a stick. Robertson was later found guilty of obstruction. The mob violence at the Capitol complex prompted Congress to evacuate the House and Senate chambers, pausing their certification of Joe Bidens Electoral College win a development that is a key factor of the DOJs obstruction cases against rioters. Robertson argued in court that he shouldnt face the obstruction charge because he hadnt been acting corruptly, as the law requires. He also argued the law was too vague and was unconstitutional. But the Friday ruling solidifies that his conviction and others like it can stand. In Robertsons case, the court found he had broken the law in multiple ways, making it clear he acted corruptly. Where a defendant acts feloniously to obstruct a proceeding before the Congress, with no evidence or argument that he was merely engaged in peaceful expression, his culpability i.e., the corruptness of his actions is not difficult to discern, Judge Florence Pan of the DC Circuit wrote in the opinion. Judge Nina Pillard agreed with the decision, while Judge Karen Henderson dissented. Trump is separately charged under the same obstruction law and has pleaded not guilty. Trump is not personally accused of violence, as many rioters like Robertson were, and instead is accused of exploiting the Capitol riot as to derail the presidential transfer of power. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com US comedian Jon Stewart became a household name as the host of Comedy Central's long-running 'The Daily Show' before launching Apple TV+ series 'The Problem With Jon Stewart' (ANGELA WEISS) US comedian Jon Stewart's talk show on Apple TV+ has reportedly been canceled after just two series due to clashes between its host and the company over topics such as China and artificial intelligence. Stewart told staff that executives from Apple -- which has vast commercial interests in China and AI -- had expressed concern over proposed new content for "The Problem with Jon Stewart," The New York Times said. Apple did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment. Stewart became a household name in the United States as the host of Comedy Central's long-running "The Daily Show," before stepping down to pursue other interests in 2015. Streaming platform Apple TV+ launched "The Problem with Jon Stewart" as a flagship current affairs show in 2021. The show takes a satirical look at a different topical issue each week. Episodes in the most recent season included "Globalization: Made In America" and "Searching for Allies." Since Apple first established a presence in China in 1993, the US tech giant has grown into a major provider of smartphones, laptops and consumer electronics in the country. Apple chief Tim Cook made a surprise visit to China this month, and he has previously spoken of his company's "symbiotic" relationship with the nation. In an earnings call in August, Cook said Apple views AI and machine learning as "core fundamental technologies that are integral to virtually every product that we build." amz/hg/sst Photo: The Canadian Press Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada remains committed to a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians in the Middle East. Trudeau participates in a town hall discussion in Toronto, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada remains "firm and steadfast" in its commitment to a two-state solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. He says the Middle East, and the world, needs both a Palestinian state and Israel to exist alongside each other in peace, safety and prosperity. Canada has long called for a negotiated two-state solution in the region, and considers the West Bank and East Jerusalem to be occupied territories. Trudeau is reiterating this position in the context of the latest Israel-Hamas war, which began after militants from Hamas, which Canada considers a terrorist organization, killed 1,400 Israelis in a brazen attack on Oct. 7. Israel retaliated with airstrikes in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, where it has also cut off the Palestinian territory's access to water, food and electricity. Trudeau, who says Israel has the "full right to defend itself in accordance with international law," is not saying what plan Canada would like to see for Gaza once Israel finishes its operations. "We will of course continue to deal with things as they come up and we will have those conversations when the time comes," Trudeau said Friday in Brampton, Ont. "But Canada remains firm and steadfast in our commitment to a two-state solution. The world and the region needs a peaceful, safe, prosperous, viable Palestinian state alongside a peaceful, prosperous, democratic, safe Israeli state Israel," he said. The war in Israel has reached its 14th day, and The Associated Press reports that Israeli airstrikes are hitting southern Gaza, an area full of civilians who fled there from the north of the territory at the direction of Israeli officials. The United Nations secretary-general is at the border crossing between Egypt and Gaza, to try to find a way to get badly needed aid into the enclave. Israel is evacuating a sizable town near the Lebanese border, out of fears of clashes in the country's north. Police officials have identified who they say was the killer of two young siblings murdered 42 years ago in Arkansas and it was their father. Weldon Alexander is believed to be responsible for the deaths of his two children, Texarkana Police Chief Michael Kramm said at a news conference Thursday morning. The suspect died in 2014, police said. On April 8, 1981, Gordon and Karen Alexander were found stabbed in their home by police officers. Gordon was found dead in the kitchen, police said, and his sister Karen was found alive on her bed near the living room area. Karen Alexander was 14 and her brother 13, according to a press report from the time. Karen was rushed to the hospital, where she died from her injuries shortly afterward, police said. Detectives knew that the young girl had been raped. There was no forced entry, police said, and at the time of the murders the mother was a mental health patient at Wadley Hospital, and the father left for work the evening before at 12:00 p.m. Detectives interviewed persons of interest and gathered information but didn't have enough information for an arrest. In 1983, serial killer Henry Lee Lucas confessed to the Alexander sibling killings, but since there was no evidence backing that, the case went cold. In 2022, the Alexander case was reopened, with Capt. Calvin Seward heading the investigation. When the murders happened, Seward, then a patrol officer, was assigned to interview persons of interest. His dedication to solving the murders stayed because his "daughter went to school with Karen," said Seward. Over the course of the next 18 months, Seward identified and interviewed people linked to the original investigation. DNA was extracted from fingernail tissue from the siblings for testing, said Dr. Todd Steffy, a forensic criminologist who worked with Texarkana police on the case. The test determined that Weldon Alexander's semen was discovered on Karen's bedding. Seward said he "was surprised" by the investigation's conclusion, as detectives had earlier thought the time of death was later in the morning. They later found out that was wrong and that the brother's body was cold when detectives arrived, leading them to conclude he had been dead for hours. Seward said he believes the father attacked his daughter to rape her, and then the brother tried to defend his sister. The father then stabbed the daughter and son. "It feels like a load has been taken off my shoulders," Seward said. Kramm said the case could not have been solved without the dogged determination of Seward. "The level of dedication I witness every day here is impressive," Kramm said. Kramm said police are confident the "investigation is completed." "I can't issue warrants for an individual that's deceased," said Miller County prosecuting attorney Connie Mitchell at the news conference. "Unfortunately there will be no avenue for the prosecutor's office to take against Mr. Alexander." What does Sidney Powell's guilty plea mean for Trump? Grisly details of Natalee Holloway's murder revealed in Joran van der Sloot confession Key takeaways from Biden's second Oval Office address FILE - A portrait of Army Pvt. Travis King is displayed as his grandfather, Carl Gates, talks about his grandson on July 19, 2023, in Kenosha, Wis. King, who fled to North Korea before being returned home to the United States has been detained by the U.S. military, two officials said Oct 19, and is facing charges including desertion and possessing sexual images of a child. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) WASHINGTON (AP) An Army private who fled to North Korea before being returned home to the United States last month has been detained by the U.S. military, two officials said Thursday night, and is facing charges including desertion and possessing sexual images of a child. The eight counts against Pvt. Travis King are detailed in a charging document seen by The Associated Press. The officials who confirmed King's confinement spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the charges have not been publicly announced. King's mother, Claudine Gates, said in a statement that she loved her son unconditionally and was extremely concerned about his mental health. As his mother, I ask that my son be afforded the presumption of innocence, she said. Desertion is a very serious charge and can result in imprisonment for as much as three years. King is also accused of kicking and punching other officers last year, unlawfully possessing alcohol, making a false statement and possessing a video of a child engaged in sexual activity. That allegation dates to July 10, the same day he was released from a South Korean prison where he had served nearly two months on assault charges. One week later, King, 23, ran across the heavily fortified border from South Korea and became the first American detained in North Korea in nearly five years. He was set to be sent to Fort Bliss, Texas, where he could have faced potential additional disciplinary actions and discharge. Officials said King was taken to the airport and escorted as far as customs. But instead of getting on the plane, he left and later joined a civilian tour of the Korean border village of Panmunjom. He ran across the border, which is lined with guards and often crowded with tourists, in the afternoon. After about two months, Pyongyang abruptly announced that it would expel him. He was flown on Sept. 28 to an Air Force base in Texas. His release from North Korea was aided by Swedish officials who took King to the Chinese border, where he was met by U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, the Swedish ambassador to China and at least one U.S. Defense Department official. He was then flown to a U.S. military base in South Korea before heading to the U.S. Once back in the U.S., King was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston outside San Antonio. He went through what the military describes as a reintegration process that included medical exams, psychological assessments and debriefings. And he was also allowed to meet with family. Because he had willingly run into enemy hands, he legally was kept in military custody throughout that process. At the time, officials said they did not know exactly why North Korea decided to let King go, but suspected Pyongyang determined that as a low-ranking serviceman he had no real value in terms of either leverage or information. King joined the Army in January 2021, and served as a cavalry scout. While he was gone, Army leaders declared him absent without leave, opting to not consider him a deserter, which is far more serious. By declaring King a deserter, the Army would have to conclude that King left and intended to stay away permanently. In times of war, desertion can carry the death penalty. Service members can go AWOL for several days, but may return voluntarily. The punishment can include confinement in the brig, forfeiture of pay or dishonorable discharge and it is largely based on how long they were away and whether they were apprehended or returned on their own. The charging document does not provide significant detail on any of the allegations, though it does accuse King of knowingly possessing a video of a child engaging in sexual conduct last July 10 and says that he solicited a user of Snapchat, a social media platform, to produce images of underage sexual activity. Sean Timmons, an attorney who specializes in military law at the Tully Rinckey law firm and who reviewed the charging document, said all the transactions that occurred on Snapchat were not secure or private and were accessible by the government. He probably reasonably believed his illegal conduct would have no evidentiary trail, but Snapchat actually saves everything, Timmons said. ___ Associated Press writer Tara Copp in Washington contributed to this report. Editors note: This article was updated on Oct. 20, 2023 at 9:13am EST with additional reporting from The Associated Press. An Army private who fled to North Korea before being returned home to the United States last month has been detained by the U.S. military, two officials said Thursday night, and is facing charges including desertion and possessing sexual images of a child. The eight counts against Pvt. Travis King are detailed in a charging document seen by The Associated Press. The officials who confirmed Kings confinement spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the charges have not been publicly announced. Kings mother, Claudine Gates, said in a statement that she loved her son unconditionally and was extremely concerned about his mental health. As his mother, I ask that my son be afforded the presumption of innocence, she said. Desertion is a very serious charge and can result in imprisonment for as much as three years. King is also accused of kicking and punching other officers last year, unlawfully possessing alcohol, making a false statement and possessing a video of a child engaged in sexual activity. That allegation dates to July 10, the same day he was released from a South Korean prison where he had served nearly two months on assault charges. One week later, King, 23, ran across the heavily fortified border from South Korea and became the first American detained in North Korea in nearly five years. He was set to be sent to Fort Bliss, Texas, where he could have faced potential additional disciplinary actions and discharge. Officials said King was taken to the airport and escorted as far as customs. But instead of getting on the plane, he left and later joined a civilian tour of the Korean border village of Panmunjom. He ran across the border, which is lined with guards and often crowded with tourists, in the afternoon. After about two months, Pyongyang abruptly announced that it would expel him. He was flown on Sept. 28 to an Air Force base in Texas. His release from North Korea was aided by Swedish officials who took King to the Chinese border, where he was met by U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, the Swedish ambassador to China and at least one U.S. Defense Department official. He was then flown to a U.S. military base in South Korea before heading to the U.S. Once back in the U.S., King was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston outside San Antonio. He went through what the military describes as a reintegration process that included medical exams, psychological assessments and debriefings. And he was also allowed to meet with family. Because he had willingly run into enemy hands, he legally was kept in military custody throughout that process. At the time, officials said they did not know exactly why North Korea decided to let King go, but suspected Pyongyang determined that as a low-ranking service member, he had no real value in terms of either leverage or information. King joined the Army in January 2021, and served as a cavalry scout. While he was gone, Army leaders declared him absent without leave, opting to not consider him a deserter, which is far more serious. By declaring King a deserter, the Army would have to conclude that King left and intended to stay away permanently. In times of war, desertion can carry the death penalty. Service members can go AWOL for several days, but may return voluntarily. The punishment can include confinement in the brig, forfeiture of pay, or a dishonorable discharge and it is largely based on how long they were away and whether they were apprehended or returned on their own. The charging document does not provide significant detail on any of the allegations, though it does accuse King of knowingly possessing a video of a child engaging in sexual conduct last July 10 and says that he solicited a user of Snapchat, a social media platform, to produce images of underage sexual activity. Sean Timmons, an attorney who specializes in military law at the Tully Rinckey law firm and who reviewed the charging document, said all the transactions that occurred on Snapchat were not secure or private and were accessible by the government. He probably reasonably believed his illegal conduct would have no evidentiary trail, but Snapchat actually saves everything, Timmons said. Associated Press writer Tara Copp in Washington contributed to this report. SAN DIEGO A man suspected of arson was arrested on Friday after the outside awnings of a Hillcrest LGBTQ+ bar caught fire overnight. Around 12:30 a.m., San Diego Fire-Rescue crews were alerted to the fire at Gossip Grill, located at 1220 University Ave. The nightclub is the sole bar in the county that puts queer and transgender women at the center of its business. According to SDFD, firefighters were able to knock down the flames in about nine minutes, confining the damage to the exterior structures. The interior of the restaurant and surrounding businesses were unimpacted by the blaze. The damage of the fire caused $10,000 in damage, Lt. Adam Sharki with the San Diego Police Department said in an email to FOX 5 Friday night. Ocean Beach Pier closed due to high surf No injuries were reported to staff, patrons or fire crews as a result of the incident, SDFD said. We were extremely lucky. San Diego Fire was here in a heartbeat, owner and manager of Gossip, Moe Girton, told FOX 5. The awnings are fire-resistant, they didnt burn all that fast. Girton, who was notified of the fire by a neighboring bar, said that fire crews initially believed the fire to have been caused by an electrical issue. However, she was suspicious about how the fire started, given that it had impacted the edges of both of the bars front patio awnings that are not connected to each other by any wiring and the power to both had been cut before flames broke out. After a review of the nightclubs security camera footage, Girton said they were able to determine that it had been arson. I was devastated, Girton said of her reaction after the fire broke out. We are one of the only queer womens bars left in the country. Were one of maybe 27 right now and the only one in San Diego. I hate to feel like someone is out to burn down our queer-safe bar, she continued. Around 1:45 p.m., a SDPD Metro Arson Strike Team investigator was on the scene collecting security video when the suspect, identified as 38-year-old Ryan Habrel, was spotted nearby and taken into custody. He was booked into jail on suspicion of arson to a commercial structure and the use of an accelerant, Sharki said. Authorities say it is not believed to be a hate crime at this time. The fire remains under investigation by SDPD, authorities said. No additional details about the incident were immediately available. Bodycam video shows San Diego woman before she went missing (Im) very happy to know that this is not a hate crime, just a one off, Girton said. While the exterior structures near the building sustained minor damage, Girton said rebuilding is not anticipated to hinder their normal business operations. The nightclub opened as usual on Friday at 2 p.m. Were pretty resilient, she explained. Weve been through a lot and were pretty good at navigating situations as they come up. Its just a different look for Halloween, Girton laughed. Anyone with information regarding the incident is encouraged to call SDPD at 619-236-6815 or to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers at 619-235-8477. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. (Update: An arrest has been made in the case. Read more about the suspect here.) The front patios at San Diegos Gossip Grill, one of the few remaining lesbian-focused bars in the nation, were set on fire in an apparent arson attack about 12:30 a.m. Friday. Damage was limited to the two patios, and no one was injured, Gossip Grill staffers said in social media posts. But the incident was extremely distressing, they said. It was intentional and was arson, they wrote on Instagram and Facebook, adding, Gossip Grill is one of the last remaining Queer Womens bars in the country. It breaks my heart knowing that someone intentionally tried to burn it down. Related: An Epic Journey to America's Last Lesbian Bars They thanked the San Diego Fire Department for its quick response and said anyone with information should reach out to the fire department and Gossip Grill. The departments non-emergency number is (619) 531-2000. It is investigating the cause. "Everyone is OK and damage was contained to the front patios. We do have cameras and am working with SDPD to find out who lit our Queer Home on fire," they wrote. www.instagram.com San Diego Pride posted on Facebook, We are devastated that San Diego's own Gossip Grill, one of our last remaining Queer Womens bars in the US, was targeted in an apparent arson attack last night, shortly after midnight. The group asked for the community to show support for LGBTQ+ businesses such as Gossip Grill, which will be open its regular hours Friday, 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. We hope you will stop by for a meal or a round of drinks to show the staff your support, the Pride group added. There has been an outpouring of support for the bar. Our hearts go out to the Gossip staff & all our community feeling the weight of what can only be seen as a hate crime against our community as a whole, San Diego resident Celeste Barbier wrote on Facebook. Story developing A rendering of the future headquarters of ASU Health, an initiative that includes a new medical school and public health technologies school. The schools will both be located in downtown Phoenix, officials say. Arizona State University's new medical school will be located in downtown Phoenix, officials say. The medical school, announced in June, is part of a broader effort by the state's public university system to fill gaps in Arizona's health care workforce. ASU will also create a new school focused on public health technology and launch a research initiative called the Arizona Health Observatory to spot and tackle health trends in the state. ASU President Michael Crow called downtown Phoenix "the right place to advance that work." "Phoenix will leap to the leading edge of physician development, physician-oriented research and public health-oriented research," he said. The new schools will join a bustling downtown Phoenix campus that already houses the university's nursing and health solutions colleges. The campus was launched as part of a municipal bond election in 2006. Since then, it has brought 12,000 students into Phoenix's urban center and has dramatically transformed the city. "At a time when the Phoenix bioscience industry is booming, and when the need for highly trained medical professionals is at an all-time high, it's a big deal that ASU has chosen downtown Phoenix for their newest venture," said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. ASU's medical school, however, will not be the first in the area. The University of Arizona also has a medical college near the intersection of 7th Street and Fillmore Street. That university is also home to the oldest medical school in the state, located in Tucson. Sasha Hupka covers higher education for The Arizona Republic. Do you have a tip on Arizona's universities, community colleges or trade schools? Reach her at sasha.hupka@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @SashaHupka. Follow her on Instagram or Threads: @sashahupkasnaps. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona State University medical school will be in downtown Phoenix An Athens man had already given away $40,000 to a stranger who drove to his home and was planning to give away even more until an employee at his bank became suspicious and called police. The 74-year-old man fell victim to a scam on Oct. 17 after he received a telephone call from a man pretending to be from the technology giant Amazon, according to Athens-Clarke police. The con artist, who spoke with an accent, had the bad news that the mans Social Security number was used in ways that makes it look like he was involved in criminal activity including drug trafficking and money laundering, according to the report. The caller inquired as to how much money the man had in his bank. About $117,000, the Athens man replied. As part of the company's investigation, the man would have to withdraw his money. They told him that to make it not suspicious, he can take out small amounts, the report reads. He was also told not tell anyone and if the bank questioned him, tell them its a personal matter. The caller told him to take out $40,000, put it in a box, write his name on it, and to put it in the back seat of vehicle they were sending to his home. Mystery: Dead homeless man's background remains mystery Fraud: CNBC feature details former Athens resident James 'Jimmy' Zhong's $3 billion crypto fraud The man went to his bank on Barnett Shoals Road and withdrew $40,000 cash, then took it home and put it in a box. Later, a gray-blue older Honda car with a New Jersey tag stopped on the street. The man reported he walked to the car driven by a man about 20 to 30 years old, put the box of money in the backseat, and the car left. The next day, the con artist called his victim again, telling him to withdraw the rest of the money except for $2,000 so as to keep the account active, according to the report. The man when to the Synovus Bank in downtown Athens, where an employee began questioning him about the withdrawal and made a decision to call 911. Officer Ger Xiong reported that as he questioned the victim the con artist called again. The officer got on the line and reported he believed the caller's accent was Indian as he had experience dealing with people with a Hindi accent. During their exchange, the con artist hung up on the officer. Having someone visit a home while perpetrating a scam is not uncommon, according to police Lt. Jody Thompson. Scammers use courier services like Uber and Lyft to retrieve packages from victims. Sometimes, the courier is a victim of a different scam (and) is used to ship packages from others, he said. Scammers often utilize numerous scams to manipulate victims to fulfill parts of the tasks needed to get the money, Thompson explained. Police are providing patrol house checks for the Athens man, as the suspects now know where he lives. This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Athens man loses $40K in scam; bank intercedes to stop more loss TechCrunch The world is watching the humanitarian crisis in Gaza unfold in real time through firsthand accounts documented on, of all places, Snapchat. Israel has retaliated against Hamas October 7 attack with unprecedented force against the Palestinian territory, claiming over 9,000 Palestinian lives according to Gaza Health Ministry numbers reported by the Associated Press. The Committee to Protect Journalists reports that at least 30 journalists have been killed since Israels bombardment and total blockade of the region began, and journalists in Gaza say that without consistent access to food, water and power, its becoming impossible to continue reporting. UK Defence Intelligence believes that Russia's loss of combat helicopters as a result of Ukraine's first use of ATACMS at an airfield in Berdiansk will significantly affect the capabilities of Russian forces on this part of the front. Source: UK Defence Intelligence review on Twitter (X) on 20 October, as reported by European Pravda. Details: UK Defence Intelligence reiterates that on 17 October, after strikes on Russian military airfields in occupied cities of Berdiansk and Luhansk, "several" helicopters and air defence systems were likely destroyed. "Although the extent of damage is currently unconfirmed, it is likely nine Russian military helicopters at Berdiansk and five at Luhansk were destroyed, with Ukraine claiming to have used the US-provided long-range army tactical missiles (ATACMS) for the first time," the review notes. Analysts write that until now, the participation of fixed-wing aircraft in air support of the Russian forces has been very insignificant, and Russian defence has relied more and more on helicopters. The airfield in Berdiansk was used by the Russians as a forward base on the southern part of the front for both logistics and offensive and defensive capabilities. "If confirmed, it is highly likely these losses will have an impact on Russia's ability both to defend and conduct further offensive activity on this axis. Given the current strain on Russian military production, the confirmed loss of any air frames will be difficult to replace in the short to medium term," the intelligence agency notes. The analysts suggest that this also means an even greater strain on Russian aircraft and pilots that are still combat-ready, while the personnel and aircraft are almost certainly worn out from intensive flying. "There is a realistic possibility this strike will compel Russia to once again relocate its operating bases and command and control nodes farther from the front lines, increasing the burden on logistics chains," the intelligence agency adds. In a previous review, it was said that the Kerch Bridge, although repaired by the Russian Federation after damage, will only provide limited Russian transport to occupied Crimea and will also require significant Russian resources to protect it against new attacks. Background: On the night of 16-17 October, the Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked an airfield base near the occupied cities of Berdiansk and Luhansk. Zelenskyy confirms use of ATACMS missiles by Ukraine's forces. US secretly supplied Ukraine with ATACMS it used to strike air bases The Special Operations Forces (SOF) of Ukraine reported that the runways at the air bases, nine helicopters, special equipment, an air defence launcher and an ammunition depot were damaged. Satellite images from October 18 have emerged online showing the damage sites at the airfield near occupied Berdyansk Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's Foreign Minister, stated that the US would supply long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine on a permanent basis. Support UP or become our patron! Social-emotional learning, or SEL, is nothing new in schools. Social-emotional learning, or SEL, is nothing new in schools. Amid the attacks on critical race theory and legislation banning classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity, a seemingly more innocuous aspect of education has come under fire from politically conservative factions: social-emotional learning. Social-emotional learning, or SEL, is nothing new in schools. But after a mostly controversy-free existence as part of curriculums for decades, it seems to have become another buzzword in the educational culture wars. Parents and legislators have called to ban SEL programming, leading to fiery school board meetings and much frustration from educators. But what exactly is SEL? Where did it come from? And why the backlash today? Heres what you need to know. What is social-emotional learning? Social-emotional learning is essentially a process one that helps humans communicate effectively, connect with others and make those all-important decisions for their future, said Andrea Lovanhill, CEO of the SEL-focused nonprofit Committee for Children. Think of SEL as a power-packed tool kit filled with essential skills for life and learning. Basically, SEL describes the way people cultivate life skills like problem-solving, managing difficult emotions, showing empathy, being assertive and staying motivated. As such, it plays a big role in education and development. These skills apply to all parts of our lives and help us achieve our goals, succeed in schools and workplaces, build healthy relationships, and contribute to our communities, said Aaliyah Samuel, a senior fellow at Harvard University who also serves as president and CEO of the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning. She noted that social and emotional skills, along with caring relationships and supportive environments, offer protection against mental health risks like anxiety and depression. Although you can find SEL in many contexts, its present in schools through educational practices, frameworks and programs aimed at helping kids navigate challenges and thrive in and out of the classroom. If a child doesnt have strong problem-solving skills, they will likely struggle when it comes to solving a math problem or figuring out a complex science equation, Lovanhill explained. But the struggle doesnt always end there. If kids dont develop these skills in their youth, think about the difficulties this may create for them as adults. We dont even have to look much further than the traumatic events of the last few years in this country, and across the globe, to see we can all do better by strengthening our social and emotional skills. Where did SEL come from? In many ways, social and emotional learning has been around since the very first classrooms, Samuel said. She emphasized SELs role in supporting certain fundamentals of education, which include caring relationships between teachers and students as well as collaborative partnerships with families and communities. Educators have always focused on students emotions and socialization because those aspects of growing up are vital to teaching and learning, Lovanhill said. We know that students dont learn well when they are emotionally distressed, or when they are struggling with family dynamics at home, or if theyre dealing with bullying or other traumatic events at school. About three decades ago, experts accumulated enough rigorous research around these aspects of childhood that it was given a name: social-emotional learning. While educators can trace the framework of SEL back to Platos The Republic, many point to research at the Yale School of Medicine in the 1960s as the root of modern SEL. Professor James Comer piloted his Comer School Development Program at elementary schools in New Haven, Connecticut, and he found that fostering students social and personal development helped improve their educational experience and academic performance. By the 1990s, the term social-emotional learning started entering the lexicon, and researchers were working with child advocates, educators and other experts to formalize the field. Establishing an actual term for this approach has helped educators be able to search and draw from decades of research, have a shared vocabulary and a way to focus on the subject matter in order to drive excellent teaching and learning based on evidence and best practices, Lovanhill explained. And it has become a bedrock of academic programs throughout the country. Many of SELs core principles have long been part of education in the U.S., but attached to terms like character development, workforce readiness, noncognitive skills, whole-child development and more. Today, Lovanhill added, its hard to find any school not doing some sort of SEL teaching or learning whether deliberate or otherwise. Although the implementation of SEL varies across different schools, theres a generally consistent goal to make this educational model an essential part of the curriculum, rather than an addition to it. Some programs focus on improving students academic-readiness skills like communication and critical thinking, Lovanhill explained. Others focus on providing tools to reduce violence and bullying, and to protect against abuse. Others may concentrate on character-building life skills that prepare students for college and the workforce. Still others have a mix of all of those goals. Advocates for SEL point to research linking this educational model to improved academic performance, relationships, mental well-being and more. Advocates for SEL point to research linking this educational model to improved academic performance, relationships, mental well-being and more. What are the benefits? Are there drawbacks? Advocates for SEL point to studies that have linked this approach to improvedacademicperformance and engagement, with higher attendance and graduation rates. Samuel noted that other benefits for students include better mental well-being and healthy behaviors, like decreased emotional distress, reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression, and less bullying and fewer discipline problems. She also referenced positive impacts on overall school culture. Students participating in SEL report an increased sense of safety and support, better relationships with teachers, and stronger feelings of belonging and inclusiveness in schools, Samuel said. A 2015 study from educators and economists at Columbia University found that for every $1 invested in SEL programs, theres a return of at least $11 due to increased productivity, decreased incarceration rates, better health outcomes and more. Many experts also point to the role of SEL in preventing school violence, which helps free up teachers time so they can focus on academics rather than disruptions and discipline. Basically, when students feel like they belong in their school community, theyre more likely to be engaged with learning and behave in an upstanding way. And students who know how to express and cope with their emotions in healthy ways are less likely to act out which helps their teachers succeed and increases teacher retention. Everyone needs social and emotional skills to be successful whether its learning how to be a good friend, partner, sibling, or a colleague, Lovanhill said. And lets be honest, having strong social-emotional skills just makes people kinder. We all could use a lot more kindness in this world. Not all SEL programs are created equal, however. In terms of drawbacks, SEL like any subject area can be done poorly, said Jordan Posamentier, vice president of policy and advocacy at Committee for Children. Over the last half-decade, weve seen a proliferation of well-intentioned but underinformed offerings. Its important to ensure the SEL curriculum youre investing in is intentionally designed, rigorously tested and based on the most current evidence and research. Id advise you to look at the research, analyze the data and be scrutinous! Remember that high-quality, research-backed SEL programs evolve based on real-life contexts and feedback from students, teachers and parents as well. Why is SEL under attack? Although SEL has been a relatively uncontroversial aspect of education for decades, the term started making headlines in recent years as part of the culture wars around schooling in the U.S. Some conservative parent groups and politicians are waging anti-SEL campaigns, characterizing the educational model as liberal indoctrination and linking it to the academic framework of critical race theory. Lawmakers have even introduced legislation to ban SEL from schools. Just this week, the Missouri State Board of Education vacated its plans to implement SEL standards for all K-12 students, instead offering guidelines as an optional resource for schools. This decision came after much pushback from SEL opponents as well as debate among parents and community members. In 2022, NPR identified disputes over the framework in at least 25 states. This year, bills aimed at banning or limiting SEL were introduced in Iowa, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Maine. In some areas of the country, due to more recent headlines, some parents arent seeing the value of SEL skills, Posamentier said, adding that the term has been smeared and maligned to confuse, scare and push people away from what it has meant for decades. Indeed, theres much confusion and misunderstanding around SEL among its opponents. Tom Horne, Arizonas superintendent of public instruction, appeared to struggle to explain SEL when asked by Vox earlier this year. Yet he vowed to remove it from Arizona school curriculums. I hope that anyone who is making such a strong or declarative statement against something that has shown such an incredible benefit for kids, and has been thoroughly researched for decades, would take the time to really investigate the claims that they or others around them are making, Lovanhill said. Its imperative for all parents to see social-emotional learning for what it is: the development and strengthening of the most important skills their children will ever need to learn. Put simply, SEL is based on the idea that emotional intelligence is necessary to do well in school, connect with others and otherwise thrive in the world. When you put the term SEL aside, there is overwhelming support for the underlying concepts across varying geographies, demographics and, notably, party lines, Lovanhill noted. It turns out most people want kids to be self-confident, to communicate well and build healthy relationships. Those skills need time, attention and resources. That is also why most people want these skills reinforced in school. Recent polling indicates broader parental support for the tenets of SEL than headlines might have you believe. A 2022 Pew Research Center report showed that 93% of parents, including a majority of both Republican and Democratic parents, say it is at least somewhat important to them that their childrens schools teach them to develop social and emotional skills. The National Parent Teacher Association released a survey in June of this year indicating that 90% of parents support the idea of schools providing resources and services to support their childrens emotional and mental health, and 92% believe schools should make sure all students feel seen, heard and included at school. According to a 2023 survey from the National Parents Union, 81% of parents believe public schools should provide teaching and discussion around the concepts of kindness, empathy, cooperation and collaboration. While there are a few loud voices trying to turn SEL into a political sound bite, there are many more educators, parents and students who understand the importance of social and emotional learning especially now, Samuel said. It has historically had and continues to have bipartisan support because it reflects shared goals: We all want children to have healthy relationships, to have the skills they need to achieve their life and career goals, and to be caring and responsible members of their communities. Although the bills to ban these sorts of programs have mostly failed thus far, the anti-SEL movement continues. Posamentier warned of the potential consequences if such bills were to become law. If any policymaking body actually banned SEL, it would mean educators would not be able to help students resolve fights on the playground, help students calm down to take their math test, set a goal for applying to colleges, he said. I would encourage parents concerned about SEL being taught in schools to follow the research and understand the connection between academic achievement and social and emotional competence. Lovanhill also encouraged parents to continue paying attention to whats going on with their childrens education and to support their development at home in partnership with their teachers efforts at school. They might ask questions about how the school plans to attend to students social skills and emotional management. Some detractors insist we get back to basics, and we agree, Lovanhill said. SEL is basic because all learning takes place in a social setting, with emotions as an integral part of the learning equation. Banning it means subtracting from the basic tasks of teaching and learning. At the end of the day, she added, SEL is about positive impact, not political agenda. Related... As a realtor in Kelowna, I have been very vocal about the need for our province and city to work to create affordable home ownership for people capable of aspiring to and working to that goal. I also support our government creating affordable rentals for working people. (Social and low-income housing falls outside of my scope but of course that is equally important). However, creating rental and ownership opportunities by attacking the real estate of those who purchased in good faith and operate within city bylaws is unjust. That is exactly what the B.C. government is doing with changes to the short-term rental rules in Kelowna and other cities. Ill explain the difference between an illegal short-term rental and a legal short-term rental because in many news stories in recent days, media outlets are painting some real estate owners as the villain when in fact it is the government in that role. There are many, many situations where owners of homes and condos in residential zones have been operating short-term rentals against city bylaws. Those should be targeted by this legislation. However, in the city of Kelowna there are buildings built under C7 zoning that legally permitted primary hotel or short-term rental use. Under recent Kelowna OCP changes, those buildings were rezoned to UC1 zoning that does not allow short-term rental as the primary use. To address the change in zoning, and to continue to allow these buildings short-term rental useas was the purpose when they were built and soldthese buildings were grandfathered by the city so they could continue to operate as originally planned when purchased. Included in the new provincial legislation targeting (truly) illegal short-term rentals, the province, acting in typical NDP fashion, went after the equity and real estate of people who bought legal short-term rental properties. It did this by including in the legislation the provision that grandfathered properties would no longer be allowed to operate as short-term rental. Think about this, people invested in real estate in good faith under the zoning of the day for a single purpose. In most, if not all, cases they wouldnt have purchased at all because they had no interest in being a traditional landlord. People paid a premium price for these properties because of the ability to short-term rent. People spent thousands of dollars furnishing the properties as a short-term rentals. The city sells these owners business licenses every year to operate their legally purchased short-term rental units. Every time these properties sold, the federal government collects GST because it is logically considered a business. The legislation coming into effect May 1, 2024 will no longer allow owners to use the property for its legally intended purpose when purchased. This is all under the guise of creating more rental housing. The provincial government isnt creating anything, it is stealing real estate from its citizens. The properties affected by this legislation will not be converted into long-term rentals. They will be sold because the owners do not want to be landlords, they never did. These properties will be devalued greatly. This legislation targets legitimate short-term rentals that operated legally and has the real potential to seriously damage the overall condo market because it will cause the inventory to skyrocket when these units are placed for sale. But, if we are being honest, perhaps destroying the real estate market was the end game of the NDP all along. I expect this from an NDP government that is bent on crippling the ability of people who work hard to get ahead. What surprises and disappoints me is that the City of Kelowna is on the government of B.C. website applauding this attack on taxpayers who purchased real estate in good faith under the zoning of the day. Recently, our city outlined a new action plan that sees squatters on Weddel have an outline drawn around their tent to protect their piece of real estate. While the squatters didnt pay for the real estate and they dont pay taxes on it annually, I personally think there is some logic to the plan. However, I hope our city would also treat taxpaying residents with the same consideration and honour the ability to short-term rent these units under the zoning when purchased. I ask that our city speaks up to the province on behalf of these taxpayers. I further ask that the city withdraws its plan to change municipal bylaws that attack these legal short-term rental properties. Be leaders and fix the housing crisis. Don't cripple investors to make yourselves look like heroes to tenants. Blake Roberts Channel 2 Action News has learned that former President Donald Trump s attorney Kenneth Chesebro has taken a plea deal in the Georgia election interference case. According to the deal, Chesebro pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit filing false documents. Chesebro agreed to five years of probation, pay $5,000 in restitution, community service hours and to write an apology letter to the citizens of Georgia. He will also have to truthfully testify and cannot have contact with witnesses or other co-defendants. Kenneth Chesebro accepts a plea deal in front of Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, at the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta. Chesebro, who was was charged alongside former President Donald Trump and 17 others with violating the state's anti-racketeering law in efforts to overturn Trump's loss in the 2020 election in Georgia, pleaded guilty to a felony just as jury selection was getting underway in his trial. Alyssa Pointer/Pool Photo via AP) Lawyer Kenneth Chesebro is sworn in during a plea deal hearing, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, at the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta. Chesebro, who was was charged alongside former President Donald Trump and 17 others with violating the state's anti-racketeering law in efforts to overturn Trump's loss in the 2020 election in Georgia, pleaded guilty to a felony just as jury selection was getting underway in his trial. (Alyssa Pointer/Pool Photo via AP) Attorney Scott Grubman, right, stands with his client, Kenneth Chesebro as Chesebro is sworn in during a plea deal hearing, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, at the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta. Chesebro, who was was charged alongside former President Donald Trump and 17 others with violating the state's anti-racketeering law in efforts to overturn Trump's loss in the 2020 election in Georgia, pleaded guilty to a felony just as jury selection was getting underway in his trial. (Alyssa Pointer/Pool Photo via AP) Fulton County District Attorney Special Prosecutor Nathan Wade, left, Executive District Attorney Daysha Young and Attorney Alex Bernice, listen as Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee addresses potential jurors during jury selection for lawyer Kenneth Chesebro's trial, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, at the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta. Jury selection began Friday for Chesebro, the first defendant to go to trial in the Georgia case that accuses former President Donald Trump and others of illegally scheming to overturn the 2020 election in the state. (Alyssa Pointer/Pool Photo via AP) Fulton Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee addresses potential jurors during jury selection for lawyer Kenneth Chesebro's trial, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, at the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta. Jury selection began Friday for Chesebro, the first defendant to go to trial in the Georgia case that accuses former President Donald Trump and others of illegally scheming to overturn the 2020 election in the state. (Alyssa Pointer/Pool Photo via AP) Fulton Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee, center, receives information during jury selection for lawyer Kenneth Chesebro's trial, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, at the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta. Jury selection began Friday for Chesebro, the first defendant to go to trial in the Georgia case that accuses former President Donald Trump and others of illegally scheming to overturn the 2020 election in the state. (Alyssa Pointer/Pool Photo via AP) Attorneys Scott Grubman and Serreen Meki, both representing lawyer Kenneth Chesebro, confer in the courtroom of Fulton Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, at the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta, Georgia. Jury selection is set to begin Friday for Chesebro, the first defendant to go to trial in the Georgia case that accuses former President Donald Trump and others of illegally scheming to overturn the 2020 election in the state. (Alyssa Pointer/Pool Photo via AP) Fulton Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee addresses potential jurors during jury selection for lawyer Kenneth Chesebro's trial, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, at the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta. Jury selection began Friday for Chesebro, the first defendant to go to trial in the Georgia case that accuses former President Donald Trump and others of illegally scheming to overturn the 2020 election in the state. (Alyssa Pointer/Pool Photo via AP) Fulton Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee addresses potential jurors during jury selection for lawyer Kenneth Chesebro's trial, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, at the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta. Jury selection began Friday for Chesebro, the first defendant to go to trial in the Georgia case that accuses former President Donald Trump and others of illegally scheming to overturn the 2020 election in the state. (Alyssa Pointer/Pool Photo via AP) According to ABC News, Chesebro had previously rejected a plea deal from the Fulton County District Attorneys Office. That deal would have forced him to testify against his co-defendants, including former Pres. Trump, in exchange for three years probation and a $10,000 fine. The terms of the deal also included a written letter of apology. Chesebro is now the third co-defendant in the case to take a plea deal in the case, following Scott Hall and Sidney Powell . RELATED STORIES: The Jan. 6 Committee said Chesebro was one of the architects of the fake elector scheme not only here in Georgia, but in at least six other swing states across the country. Chesebro was set to go to trial on Monday alongside Powell, who took a plea deal on Thursday. As part of her agreement, Powell was sentenced to six years probation, a $6,000 fine and will have to pay $2,700 in restitution to the Georgia Secretary of States Office. She will also have to testify truthfully against the other co-defendants in the case and cannot have any contact with witnesses or other co-defendants. Following Chesebros plea, that leaves 16 others still facing charges in the case, including former President Donald Trump. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Richard Allen, the man charged in the 2017 killings of two teenage girls in Delphi, Indiana, no longer has legal representation, Judge Frances C. Gull said during a Thursday hearing. Allen, who is accused of killing Liberty Libby German, 14, and Abigail Abby Williams, 13, was being represented by defense attorneys Brad Rozzi and Andrew Baldwin. The attorneys withdrew their representation of Allen on Thursday in an unexpected turn of events, according to Gull. Mr. Baldwin made an oral motion to withdraw, the judge said during the hearing, which lasted only a few minutes. I granted that oral motion to withdraw, and Mr. Rozzi will be submitting a written motion to withdraw, Im assuming, within the next couple of days. Gull said she would reach out to public defenders to appoint new counsel for Allen, who was arrested last October after a five-and-a-half-year nationwide search. Liberty German and Abigail Williams were found dead in Indiana in February 2017. The bodies of the teenage girls were found in a wooded area near a trail in February 2017. The two girls had gone for a hike during a day off from school on February 13 and failed to show up to meet Libbys father, according to police. Their bodies were discovered the next day, authorities said. A hearing set for October 31 in Carroll County Circuit Court remains scheduled, and new dates will be set for the trial and a suppression hearing filed by the now-former counsel, according to Gull. The judge ordered all discovery to be provided back to the State of Indiana until it can be turned over to the successor counsel. She said the attorneys have indicated they will cooperate with the successor counsel. Gull ordered Allen to be transported back to the Indiana Department of Correction. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Kevin D. Donnellan, right, pleads guilty to manslaughter in Worcester Superior Court on Friday. Richard J. Farrel Jr., left, was his lawyer. WORCESTER An Auburn man who called 911 to report a death at a house in Millbury has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the killing of Ryan C. Anderson, described by authorities as the suspect's boyfriend. Kevin D. Donnellan, 35, of Auburn, was sentenced to 18 to 20 years in state prison. Donnellan was originally charged with murder but Judge Janet Kenton-Walker allowed the charge to be reduced Friday in Worcester Superior Court. Donnellan was arrested Oct. 1, 2022 at the home on 303 Millbury Ave., where police found Anderson's body. Anderson had significant knife wounds and authorities pronounced him dead at the scene. Anderson, 29, graduated from Millbury Memorial High School in 2011. Authorities said Donnellan and Anderson had been in a dating relationship on and off for a year. Assistant District Attorney Tiffany A. Scanlon said Donnellan had a fight with Anderson, during which the victims neck was slashed. It was Donnellan who called authorities about 3:15 p.m. to report a death, according to the police report. The report gives the following account, beginning with the call to the police station: "Donnellan stated that he would be outside on the back stairs and continued to speak with Millbury Police dispatch until police arrival on scene. Donnellan was questioned by Millbury Police dispatch if the victim had fallen or hurt themself, to which he stated no. Donnellan advised that the victim was last seen alive about 6 hours ago and that his neck was slashed. Donnellan confirmed that he and the victim had been fighting and that the victim was downstairs." Donnellan had stab wounds that he said were self-inflicted, Scanlon said. Donnellan, who had a 0.32 blood alcohol level when he was taken into custody, said to authorities Just let me die, There is no God, and that he was Satans spawn and a monster, Scanlon said. Investigators later obtained text correspondence from Anderson to his mother, saying he was scared for his life and had locked himself in a room because of Donnellans violent behavior, Scanlon said in court. Scanlon said the victims family and the Massachusetts State Police were in agreement that 18 to 20 years in state prison was the appropriate sentence for Donnellan. He was credited 384 days awaiting trial. Although the victims family was in the courtroom, they did not wish to address the court. Scanlon did provide Judge Kenton-Walker with a family impact statement. Richard J. Farrell Jr., attorney for the defense, said his client was truly remorseful for his actions. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Kevin Donnellan pleads guilty to manslaughter in Ryan Anderson death CANBERRA, Australia The Australian government announced Friday it has decided not to cancel a Chinese companys 99-year lease on the strategically important Darwin Port, despite U.S. concerns that the foreign control could be used to spy on its military forces. The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet said it decided after an investigation of the 8-year-old lease that current monitoring and regulation measures are sufficient to manage security risks for critical infrastructure, such as the port in the northern garrison city of Darwin. Australians can have confidence that their safety will not be compromised while ensuring that Australia remains a competitive destination for foreign investment, it said in a statement. Landbridge Industry Australia, a subsidiary of Rizhao-based Shandong Landbridge Group, signed the lease with the debt-laden Northern Territory government in 2015. That was three years after U.S. Marines began annual rotations through Darwin as part of the U.S. pivot to Asia. The United States has raised concerns that Chinese port access in Darwin would enhance intelligence gathering on nearby U.S. and Australian military forces. Landbridge said in a statement it hopes the decision will end security concerns. Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses center-left Labor Party was in opposition at the time, and he had argued the lease should never have been allowed due to security concerns. After Labor won elections last year, Albanese directed his department to investigate whether the lease should be changed or canceled. The Australian decision comes before Albanese flies to Washington, D.C., next week to meet President Joe Biden. Albanese also plans to soon become the first Australian prime minister to visit China in seven years. Neil James, executive director of the Australia Defence Association think tank, said regulation cannot solve the security risk posed by Chinese control of the port. Our problem is going to be if theres ever any increased strategic tension with China and if we have to do something, even if its regulatory, its going to be escalatory and make the tension worse, James said. The only way to avoid this problem is not to have the lease in the first place, and they should bite the bullet and get rid of it. Landbridge far outbid 32 other potential private investors with a AU$506 million (U.S. $320 million) offer for the aging infrastructure, the provincial government based in Darwin said at the time. A month after the deal was announced, then-U.S. President Barack Obama chided then-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull during a meeting in the Philippines over a lack of consultation with the United States. Obama told Turnbull that Washington should have been given a heads up about these sorts of things, the Australian Financial Review newspaper reported, citing unidentified sources. Let us know next time, Obama was quoted as saying. Turnbull told reporters the ports privatization had not been a secret. The fact that Chinese investors were interested in investing in infrastructure in Australia is also hardly a secret, Turnbull said. And under our legislation, the Department of Defence or this federal government can step in and take control of infrastructure like this in circumstances where its deemed necessary for purposes of defense. The Defence Department and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, the main domestic spy agency, have since publicly supported the contract, which was signed a year after Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Australia in a highwater mark in bilateral relations. Relations have plummeted since, although there have been signs of stabilization since the current Australian governments election. A parliamentary committee recommended in 2021 that the government at the time consider restoring Australian control of the port if the lease is contrary to the national interest. The government responded by holding a review that found no grounds for ending the lease. But the federal regulator of foreign ownership, the Foreign Investment Review Board, gained new powers to block similar deals in the future. The board could not intervene in the Darwin Port deal because the asset was owned by the government rather than a private entity, and was leased rather than sold. Laser beams illuminate the sails of the Sydney Opera House during celebrations to mark its 50th anniversary (Saeed KHAN) Australians celebrated on Friday the 50th anniversary of the Sydney Opera House by lighting up the sails of a harbourside "masterpiece" that has become an international icon. Fifty years to the day since Queen Elizabeth II opened the world's most recognisable concert hall, people lined the water's edge at night to see a spectacular laser show illuminate its exterior. Besides the party, the Opera House, which lures about 11 million visitors a year, has been hosting events recalling its complex history. The Opera House's Danish architect, Jorn Utzon, never set foot in the building that he designed after beating 232 others in a 1956 competition offering a prize of 5,000 Australian pounds -- a decade before dollars were introduced. Utzon moved to Australia with his family the following year to embark on the project. But in 1966, Utzon quit the building -- with its shells nearly finished -- and left Australia over disagreements with a state public works minister about his vision, budget and the financing. Other architects finished the work, making drastic changes to his plans for the interior. Utzon never returned to Australia. He died in Copenhagen in 2008, a year after the Opera House had been listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO, which praised it as a "masterpiece of 20th century architecture". - 'So magic' - A few days before the 50th anniversary party, two of Utzon's children told an Opera House audience about the enduring impact the building has had on their family and the lives of others. His daughter Lin recalled that she was "terribly, terribly unhappy" to leave Australia as a little girl when her father's contract came to an abrupt end. His architect son Jan had to stop, near tears, as he described how one woman wrote a letter to his father about how she had taken a ferry across Sydney Harbour with the intention of taking her life. Overcome with emotion, Jan asked his sister Lin to finish the story. "She saw the image of the Opera House and decided if somebody could overcome all those difficulties and build something so magic and so uplifting, who is she to take her own life? And so she didn't," she said. Construction of the innovative building took 14 years and the cost -- first estimated at Aus$7 million -- grew to Aus$102 million by completion, largely paid for by state lotteries. The interlocking vaulted sails -- covered with more than one million Swedish-made tiles -- shelter two main performance halls and a restaurant, all resting on a vast concrete platform. The result is a "great urban sculpture" UNESCO says, hailing it as a "daring and visionary experiment that has had an enduring influence on the emergent architecture of the late 20th century". As well as serious architectural credentials, the Opera House has had its lighter moments. In the 1980s a net was installed above the orchestra pit in the Joan Sutherland Theatre after a chicken featuring in an opera performance walked off the stage and landed on top of a cellist. djw/pbt The Rains County Sheriffs Office canceled an Amber Alert that had been issued for a 2-year-old boy on Friday afternoon. Authorities were looking for Ethan Donnelly. He was described as a white male with curly brown hair, brown eyes, weighs 35 pounds, and is 2 feet tall. The Rains County Sheriffs Office is looking for Sylvia Lopez, 36, in connection to 2-year-old Ethan Donnellys abduction Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. Authorities were also looking for a suspect, 36-year-old Sylvia Lopez, in connection to Donnellys abduction. She was described as a white female with brown hair, brown eyes, is 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs 200 pounds. Sylvia Lopez is a suspect wanted in connection to 2-year-old Ethan Donnellys abduction. She drives a blue 2010 Volkswagen Jetta with the Texas license plate SBL1628 and was last seen in Point, Texas. Lopez was last seen in Point, Texas. Point is about two hours east of Fort Worth. The local authority released an artist impression of how the scheme could look Land on a former industrial site has been "decontaminated" ahead of the planned construction of 214 homes. Westmorland and Furness Council said the first six hectares (15 acres) of the Marina Village site in Barrow-in-Furness had been cleaned up. The local authority said it had to prepare a "key piece of land" before properties could be built. Buildings across the site, off Salthouse Road, have also been demolished as part of the project. Work to clean the land belonging to the first phase of the former industrial zone started last year. However, funding will need to be agreed before other parts of the 26 hectare (64 acre) site are also cleaned up. Jonathan Brook, Westmorland and Furness Council leader and Brilliant Barrow Town Deal Board member, said the clean-up had been a "complex and sizeable" undertaking. "This remediation work helps unlock this former industrial land, so that it can be transformed into a thriving residential community in the centre of Barrow, near to shops, places of work and education and transport links. "I particularly want to thank residents in the area, who have been extremely patient and understanding throughout this phase of work." The project has received 5.5m from the Getting Building Fund through the Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), which helps administer local funding. Further phases of the project, which are yet to be decided, are being funded by the government's Towns Fund. Jo Lappin, chief executive of Cumbria LEP, said: "We look forward to seeing attractive new homes being built on the site to meet the needs of our residents, both now and in the future." Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. Law enforcement agencies are renewing a call for the publics assistance in locating a South Carolina mother and son who have now been missing for four months. The request came Friday, on the eve of Sophia Van Dams 21st birthday. Van Dam and Matteo, her 2-year-old son, mysteriously disappeared June 24 and have not been heard from since. But Theresa Van Dam, Sophias mother, and law enforcement officials said they are holding out hope. We love her and Matteo very much, and were waiting to celebrate her birthday in style when she comes home, her mother, Theresa Van Dam, said in a news release from the FBI in Columbia. Van Dam was in Beaufort and staying at her parents home when she was last seen. She was planning to return to her residence in Sumter. Her vehicle was found at her Sumter home but there was no sign of Van Dam or Matteo when police checked after being contacted by her family. The Sumter Police Department, the Beaufort County Sheriffs Office, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and the FBI continue to work tirelessly to find them, the FBI said. On Sept. 1, law enforcement agencies announced that they would be conducting various law enforcement activities at different locations in Beaufort County in search of Sophia and Matteo. As part of those efforts, law enforcement agencies searched a property at a residence on Rerock Road in Burton. They would not comment on why they were at that residence. Tonyia McGirt, a spokesperson with Sumter police, said Friday that no additional details about the investigation would be released at this time. Van Dam describes her daughter, the youngest of five children, as a leader who loves to take charge of things and likes to make people laugh. Her grandson Matteo, she said, is full of energy, fun, into everything and loves to be outside. He just always had a spark in his eye, she said, later adding that she misses watching him grow. Theres an empty hole there. Investigators hope Van Dams milestone 21st birthday will encourage anyone with information about her whereabouts to come forward. I still have hope, Van Dam said. I want them found. I want my family brought back to me. Call in tips Tips can be called into Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-888-CRIME-SC, online at P3tips.com or by using the P3tips app for Apple or Android. Tipsters may also submit online tips to SLED at tips@sled.sc.gov. Lukashenko meets with Irans first vice president in Minsk to lament Western sanctions amid the countries continued support for Russias war against Ukraine. Lukashenko attends the CIS summit in Kyrgyzstan to mark Putins first trip abroad since his international arrest warrant was issued. The Belarusian parliament approves the first reading of an amended law that would place stifling restrictions on religious organizations across the country. A teenager commits suicide after serving a prison sentence for merely insulting Lukashenko. Oct. 18 marks one year since Darya Losik, the wife of jailed RFE/RL journalist Ihar Losik, was imprisoned on politically motivated charges. background background Subscribe to newsletter Belarus Weekly Lukashenko: Belarus, Iran should work closely to counter attacks from West Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko met with Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber on Oct. 17 in Minsk to lament about Western sanctions and discuss the situation unfolding in the Middle East. You know the situation in Belarus. It is about the same (as) your country has, Lukashenko told Mokhber. The pressure exerted on our states is unprecedented, but you have already learned to resist it to some extent, and your experience is valuable for us. Lukashenko also accused so-called unfriendly countries, like the U.S. and other Western states, of using the unfolding crisis between Israel and Hamas to stoke tensions with Iran. You (Iran) can feel it better, Lukashenko said. Our answer is as follows: We must cooperate more closely with each other in order to be able to counter these attacks (by the West). Mokhber in turn urged Lukashenko to show his support for Palestine amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Lukashenko has thus far refrained from expressing his position on the situation. After Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, Minsk expressed grave concern, but kept its statement neutral. Mokhbers request that Lukashenko supports Palestine was omitted from Belarusian state media reports of their meeting. During a meeting with Belarusian House of Representatives Speaker Vladimir Andreichenko and Council of the Republic Speaker Natalya Kochanova, Mokhber noted that sanctions against Belarus and Iran should be turned into opportunities. We are two countries that are subject to illegal, oppressive sanctions by the United States, Mokhber claimed. But the Islamic Republic of Iran has been able to use the sanctions, turning them into an opportunity. Tehran and Minsk have a longstanding diplomatic relationship. Back in March, Lukashenko traveled to Iran to meet with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, after which the two leaders signed an agreement on comprehensive cooperation for 2023-2026. Both Iran and Belarus have been condemned by Ukraine and the West for their support of Russia amid its ongoing war against Ukraine. Both Tehran and Minsk provided Moscow with military support used to attack Ukrainian civilian targets and advised the Kremlin on how to circumvent international sanctions. Read also: Russia, China and North Korea have new dynamics. And its bad for Ukraine Lukashenko travels to Kyrgyzstan for CIS summit Lukashenko traveled to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, for the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit on Oct. 13, according to the dictators press release. The CIS was originally formulated in 1991 as an informal successor organization for the now-defunct Soviet Union. However, only Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Russia, and Uzbekistan are current members. The West keeps attempting to shake us (CIS) loose, to weaken us, and to subjugate us, Lukashenko said. Georgia was the first country to withdraw from our association. Ukraine is de facto no longer with us. There are big problems with Moldova. Regretfully, Armenia doesnt always act in the spirit of partnership. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian declined to participate in the summit a week prior. Lukashenko also remarked that those who were born and raised during the Soviet Union should take the lead in forwarding the CIS interests. We have knowledge and experience. It is unlikely that todays young people will be up to the task. Most of them already dont understand many values and advantages, which united us and still unite us for now, he said. Russian President Vladimir Putin also attended the summit in Bishkek, marking the first time he has traveled abroad since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for his role in forcibly transferring children from Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine. Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko (L) embraces Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov (R) during the Commonwealth of Independent States summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Oct. 12, 2023. (Contributor/Getty Images) Belarus places new restrictions on religious organizations The House of Representatives, the lower chamber of Belarus parliament, approved the first reading on amendments to a law related to religious organizations in Belarus on Oct. 11. If passed, amendments to the law titled On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations would expand the reasons for which a religious organization may be dissolved. Among the reasons listed are actions that do not comply with Belarus domestic and foreign policy or civil harmony, activities aimed at discrediting the state, so-called extremist activities, and humiliating national honor and dignity, which includes insulting officials. The amendments also ban religious institutions from using any non-religious symbols at places of worship, engaging in political activities, or engaging with political parties. Only citizens permanently residing in Belarus are permitted to lead religious organizations. Individuals listed as so-called terrorists by the state, a term often used by Belarusian authorities to refer to those who do not support Lukashenkos regime, are prohibited from holding leadership positions. The proposed amendments still need to be approved by the Belarusian parliaments upper chamber and Lukashenko. If the law comes into force, all religious organizations in Belarus would have to re-register with the state or risk being dissolved. Lukashenkos regime cracked down on religious figures in Belarus in the aftermath of the fraudulent 2020 Belarusian presidential election, which saw Lukashenko illegitimately tighten his grip on the country. Religious leadership who condemned Belarusian authorities response to the protests that followed the elections were targeted. For example, Belarusian authorities banned the then-Archbishop of Minsk-Mahiliou, Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, from entering Belarus after he expressed doubts over the legitimacy of the election results in August 2020. At the time, Lukashenko claimed Kondrusiewicz had gone to Poland to receive advice on how to destroy our country. Kondrusiewicz was then forced to resign. According to Christian Vision, an interfaith Christian group, around 60 religious leaders have been targeted by the state. Twenty-two religious leaders have undergone legal or criminal proceedings. Read also: Is Russia involved in Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel? Teenager commits suicide after incarceration for politically motivated charges Kiryl Shchahlou, a 19-year-old boy from Hrodno, committed suicide after serving a politically motivated jail sentence, according to Belarusian human activists. Shchahlou was initially sentenced to 1.5 years of house arrest alongside two other people, one of whom was 16 years old, for insulting the President of the Republic of Belarus. Shchahlou, then only 18 years old, was later sentenced to three months in prison and labeled a so-called extremist. After his release from prison in February, Shchahlou committed suicide. The information was only made public eight months after his death. Wife of jailed journalist marks year in prison for politically motivated charges Oct. 18 marked one year since Belarusian authorities imprisoned Darya Losik, the wife of jailed Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) journalist Ihar Losik, for politically motivated charges. Ihar Losik was a freelance writer for RFE/RL and the author of a Telegram channel that was the mouthpiece for protests in Belarus after the fraudulent 2020 presidential election. Belarusian authorities sentenced him to 15 years in prison in December 2021 on several charges, including organizing mass riots and the incitement of social hatred. Ihars relatives have reportedly not had contact with him since mid-February. The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has deemed Belarus jailing of Ihar Losik a violation of international human rights law, saying his arrest was based solely on his journalistic activity and his exercise of the freedoms of expression and association. Darya was detained on the morning of Oct. 18, 2022, after she gave an interview during which she said her husband was illegally convicted. Belarusian authorities accused her of facilitating alleged extremist activity, and rejected her appeal against her prison sentence in March. Belarusian authorities claimed Darya falsely positioned herself as the wife of a political prisoner, gave a personal negative assessment to the state bodies whose competence includes the implementation of criminal prosecution and justice, informed that her husband did not commit criminal acts and was convicted illegally, and urged the relatives of other convicts to follow her example. Darya was sentenced to two years in prison. If they wanted to punish me, I would accept it with pride. But alongside myself, they have punished my family, including my little daughter, Darya said prior to the announcement of her verdict. Ihar and Daryas four-year-old daughter is reportedly being looked after by the couples parents. Read also: Kyiv, Moscows opposing attitudes toward Soviet past shape two different futures Capital punishment in Belarus The Spotlight segment provides readers with the historical context of contemporary events in Belarus. Observed annually on Oct. 10, World Day Against the Death Penalty calls on members of the international community to abolish capital punishment. While, according to Amnesty International, 112 countries have abolished the death penalty by the end of 2022, Belarus not only remains the last country in Europe to have capital punishment but continues to expand its use. Capital punishment has been a part of Belarus legal system since the countrys independence in 1991. Executions are carried out with a single shot to the back of the head. Given the difficulty of obtaining precise numbers, its unclear how many people have been given the death penalty to date. A referendum put forward by Lukashenko in 1996, which was deemed neither free nor fair, cemented Belarus use of the death penalty. Previously, capital punishment was applied to those who committed terrorist acts that resulted in casualties and murder. Fast forward to May 2022 and Minsk approved applying the death penalty to acts of attempted terrorism. The move was significant for two reasons. First, the amendment expanded the ways Belarusian authorities could crack down on dissent. Terrorist and extremist are terms often used by Belarusian authorities to describe people who oppose Lukashenkos regime. Second, by expanding the death penalty to include mere attempted acts of terror, the threshold to target such individuals is lowered and makes accusations easier to falsify. Nearly a year later, in March 2023, Lukashenko approved a law extending the death penalty even further civil servants and military personnel convicted of high treason can also face capital punishment. Belarusian authorities claimed the law bolsters the states fight against so-called crimes of an extremist and anti-state orientation. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Happy Friday! The House is set to hold yet another vote for speaker later this morning. Some less-sophisticated publications have labeled the process a dumpster fire. We, however, have chosen to call it a Wednesday afternoon in South Haven, Michigan. Quick Hits: Todays Top Stories Putting the Limits in No-Limits Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin prepare for a group photo with other leaders at the Third Belt and Road Forum on October 18, 2023 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Suo Takekuma-Pool/Getty Images) We heard friendship bracelets are all the rage this year, so maybe its time Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin made their constant declarations of eternal affection official with an exchange of homemade jewelry. The two leaders definitely werent short on displays of admiration this week when Putin arrived in Beijing to a warm welcome from Xi. The trip marked only the second venture outside of Russia for Putin since this past March, when the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest over alleged war crimes committed during Russias war with Ukraine. Putin, increasingly isolated from the West, was seeking additional support from his no-limits partner in Xiwho has, in fact, put some significant limits on the extent to which he is willing to help Russias war effort. Even as the relationship remains strong, the friendly reception belied some of the daylight between the two leaderson the invasion of Ukraine and each nations stake in the Israel-Hamas war. Their meeting came as the Ukrainian counteroffensive, now several months old, still looks for a breakthrough in the dug-in Russian defensive line. The Ukrainian military has notched a few victories, retaking villages around Bakhmut and Orikhiv, south of Zaporizhzhia, in particular. This week, Kyivs forces used U.S.-supplied Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS)a long-range missile system that has been at the top of Ukraines wishlist since Russias initial invasion in February 2022to strike Russian assets in occupied territory. But even with the addition of such weapons, Ukrainian forces seem unlikely to achieve their goal of reaching the Sea of Azov before the fall and winter weather sets in, potentially stalling any further progress. While that may be beneficial for Russia in the short termas the Ukraine-skeptical position gains strength in the U.S. and Europe, and the prospect of a more Russia-friendly Republican returning to the White House growsits not an unalloyed good for Putin, said Mark Cozad, a senior international defense researcher at RAND Corporation. This trip to Beijing follows a meeting last month with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, which seems to have resulted in shipments of weapons from Pyongyang to Moscow, likely with strings attached. I dont just take that for granted, that [the protracted conflict] is a Russian strength, Cozad told TMD. Obviously going to the North Koreans, the Russians are almost surely going to have to give something up. The North Koreans are not going to give large amounts of weapons without some kind of quid pro quo there. But even as Putin forges a stronger relationship with Xis neighbor, his best friend is still the Chinese president. Putin joined more than 100 representatives from countries across the globe this week in descending on Beijing to mark the tenth anniversary of Chinas Belt and Road InitiativeXis global infrastructure-as-diplomacy program that has been a key part of Beijings foreign policy, and has provided mixed results for its beneficiaries. Even with all those people to greet, Xi still spent three hours Wednesday in a one-on-one meeting with his dear friend Putin and offered the Russian president the speech immediately following his keynote address to the forum. (Several European officials present at the event walked out when Putin began speaking.) Hes spending one-eighth of his total day with his good friend Vlad, who he refers to as my dear friend, as wella term he reserves for only a very select few in the world, Jeremy Chan, a China and geopolitics analyst at the Eurasia Group, told TMD. So clearly, [there are] signals in both directions that the relationship is on the rails, that these guys are getting along. While signaling a warm relationship between the two leaders is a diplomatic end in itself, Putin also came to Beijing with some requests, almost certainly including lethal aid for the fight in Ukrainesomething his Chinese counterpart has so far been unwilling to provide despite their no-limits declaration just prior to the full-scale invasion. There was no evidence Xis position changed after their meeting. While Putin, in a solo press conference following the meeting, said hed informed Chairman [Xi] about the situation that is developing on the Ukrainian track, the official Chinese readout didnt mention Ukraine specifically at all. China supports [the] people of Russia in following their choice of path to national rejuvenation and in safeguarding sovereignty, security, and development interests of the country, read the Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement, in the standard vague language of Chinese foreign policy. The language was probably somewhat disappointing to Moscow. I think Putin is definitely wanting more than what Xi is willing to provide, Cozad told TMD. But I also think the sort of political theater this provides, the political messaging this provides for Putin is also very important. For China, offering weapons or a full-throated endorsement of Russias invasion could attract the further ire of the U.S. and its allies at a time when tensions are already high. Just this week, the Defense Department published declassified images and video showing more than a dozen instances of coercive and risky maneuvers by Chinese aircraft since 2022, some of which depicted Peoples Liberation Army jets coming within 20 feet of American military planes. In an unprecedented statement on Wednesday, the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliancecomposed of the U.S., United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealandjointly condemned Chinese intellectual property theft and spying efforts that went beyond traditional espionage. One day later, some dozen Chinese jets entered Taiwans air defense identification zone, the latest in a string of now-common provocations against the island that China claims as its territory. But just because China wont risk sanctions itself doesnt mean Xi is leaving his friend out in the cold. Economic ties between Beijing and the heavily sanctioned and deeply isolated Russia were front-and-center in both leaders statements, and have been crucial for Moscow since it invaded Ukraine. In terms of Chinas willingness to buy Russian energy and raw materials, and the economic trade thats going back between the twothats really propping up the Russian economy, Cozad told TMD. We cant understate that. That is definitely what is allowing the Russian war machine to continue. As Putin was meeting Xi, President Joe Biden was in Tel Aviv, offering support to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Hamas October 7 attack on Israel was met with tepid reactions from Moscow and Beijing, both of which urged restraint, backed a ceasefire resolution at the United Nations Security Council, and refused to explicitly condemn Hamas. All these external factors are common threats, and they strengthen Russian-Chinese cooperation, Putin said Wednesday, confirming he and Xi had discussed the situation in Israel. He also indicated hed be ordering patrols of Russian military jets over the Black Sea in an effort to monitor U.S. military action in the Mediterraneanwhich is meant to support Israel and to deter Iran from entering the war, either itself or by proxy. This American-Iranian conflict directly affects Russia, which has been receiving drones from Iran to prosecute its war in Ukraine. Putin may be hoping the war pulls global attention away from his ongoing invasion, but for Chinas part, per Chan of the Eurasia Group, theres real trepidation among academics and some of the rank and file bureaucracy about the Middle East conflict, particularly in a region where China had made diplomatic efforts to assert itself. China brokered a deal earlier this year for the Shiite Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia to normalize relations, which Beijing hailed as a significant achievement. Within six months this conflagration blows up in Israel, and it really shows the limits of Chinas Global Security Initiative and Chinas broader kind of foreign policy tilt where its telling both sides, Hey stop fighting, respect each others sovereignty, and let us know when you want to trade some more with us, Chan said. Of course thats not a complete offer. Thats not going to resolve this issue here. Worth Your Time Congressional Republicans drawn-out, public feud over their next speaker for many has become an exercise in futilityconfrontation for confrontations sake. In a piece for The Atlantic, Philip Wallach of the American Enterprise Institute recalls how Newt Gingrich, as speaker, utilized confrontation as a force for good. Gingrichs catechism of confrontation has become an embedded tradition among House Republicans, he writes. But as it has been passed down, it has become hollowed out and fetishized. Gingrichs clashes were in service of a party and a positive program. His descendants often seem to want confrontation for its own sake, even as it is ripping their party asunder and pushing policy away from their preferences. If House Republicans want to find their way back to being a functional partyand that is not a giventhey will have to master their urge to fight. Presented Without Comment New York Post: White House PostsThen DeletesPhoto Outing Special Operators Working to Free Hamas Hostages As soon as this was brought to our attention, we immediately deleted the photo, a White House spokesperson said. We regret the error and any issues this may have caused. Pleased to Meet You A big thank you to everyone who joined us at Franklin Hall in Washington, D.C., last night. We had a blast, and hope you did too! (via Ryan Brown of The Dispatch) Toeing the Company Line The Skiff ( ), a one-stop destination for all of our bonus podcast content, is officially live! Available for paying Dispatch members only, this feed will host audio versions of Dispatch Live , the Dispatch Book Club , High Steaks , Q&As with Jonah, extended debates between hosts, and a whole lot more. Click here for more informationincluding a how-to video from Jonah, the most tech-savvy person on staffabout how to add The Skiff to your podcast player of choice. In the newsletters: Mike and Sarah analyzed Sidney Powells plea deal, and Nick extracted a few lessons from Jim Jordans humiliation. On the podcasts: Sarah, Steve, Chris, and David French discussed the latest from the war in Israel and Western medias coverage of it. On a second episode of The Dispatch Podcast , Adaam speaks with Adva, whose sister was at the Nova music festival in southern Israel and is still missing after Hamas attack, about her efforts to get more information, the shock, and life after the horror. On the site: Paul Miller asks whether Israel is the exception to the argument against nationalism, Haley talks with GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy about a recent bipartisan delegation to China, and Jeryl Bier tracked all the New York Times missteps in its coverage of the Gaza hospital explosion. Let Us Know Do you think there are actually realistic limits to the China-Russia partnership? Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. The nation's top energy regulator authorized a major energy developer to move forward with a natural gas expansion project in the Pacific Northwest. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a certificate Thursday for the so-called Gas Transmission Northwest XPress Project (GTNXP), which will upgrade three existing compressor stations and increase capacity on an existing system that has transported natural gas for decades. GTNXP developer TC Energy; GOP lawmakers in Oregon, Idaho and Washington; and labor unions have all called on FERC to issue the certificate. "The GTN XPress project will play a critical role in keeping energy affordable and reliable for consumers in California and the Pacific Northwest," TC Energy spokesperson Michael Tadeo told Fox News Digital. "We appreciate FERCs bipartisan action today to approve the project and will work diligently to place it into service as soon as possible." According to TC Energy's application filed with FERC in October 2021, the $75 million project will leverage existing infrastructure to increase GTN's incremental mainline capacity by 150,000 dekatherms per day enough to power roughly 500,000 additional homes in the region. The operational GTN pipeline travels through Idaho, Washington and Oregon and serves California customers. BIDEN ADMIN HAMMERED BY DEMS, GOP ALIKE AFTER LATEST CRACKDOWN ON OIL PRODUCTION Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Willie Phillips. The project, which mainly consists of software and other upgrades to TC Energy's existing infrastructure, comes as demand for natural gas transportation on the GTN pipeline system has increased 26% in recent years while nearby natural gas production has dwindled. The pipeline feeds key gas supplies to utility companies which, in turn, provide energy to residential, commercial and industrial customers. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "After I led a bicameral group of my colleagues in urging FERC to act, Im glad the commission is finally allowing this much-needed energy project to move forward," Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Ore., told Fox News Digital in a statement. "It will support domestic energy production and boost our energy security while also helping lower utility bills for families. Although its overdue, this is the right decision." INSPECTOR GENERAL WARNS BIDEN ADMIN'S $400 BILLION GREEN ENERGY LOAN PROGRAM IS RIPE FOR ABUSE Earlier this month, Chavez-DeRemer, fellow Oregon GOP Rep. Cliff Bentz, four other House Republicans and Idaho GOP Sens. Mike Crapo and James Risch penned a letter to FERC leadership, urging it to immediately approve the pipeline expansion project that they said would benefit their constituents, help achieve climate goals and provide "energy certainty" for the region. The letter came after FERC, which is chaired by Willie Phillips, a Democrat appointed by President Biden, opted to delay approval for the project multiple times without offering an explanation amid pressure from Democrats and environmental groups to reject its application. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Ore. In July, FERC removed the project from its open-meeting agenda without explanation. One day before the meeting, Democrat Oregon Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden wrote to the regulator, imploring it to reject the project and arguing that states through which the pipeline travels are "moving away from fossil fuels." The commission again opted against discussing the proposal during its following meeting on Sept. 21, which earned a pointed rebuke from TC Energy. "The Commission's continued inaction has almost certainly exposed GTN's customers, who serve residential and commercial natural gas and electricity users, to more expensive supply sources to meet their load demands this winter," Stanley Chapman III, TC Energy's executive vice president and chief operating officer of natural gas pipelines division, wrote in a letter to FERC commissioners after the September meeting. "As experience in California and elsewhere shows, delaying natural gas infrastructure projects hurts energy reliability and affordability and burdens families, small businesses, and other energy users," Chapman added. "These types of delays in Commission action also erode the kind of certainty and predictability that gas infrastructure developers rely on for planning, financing, and constructing projects that are in the public's interest." Original article source: Biden admin OKs major Pacific Northwest gas pipeline in blow to environmentalists, Dems The Biden administration's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) sent Congress an emergency supplemental funding package request to aid Ukraine, Israel and to increase security at the southern border on Friday morning. "Over the coming weeks, the Administration looks forward to continued engagement with members of both parties to reach a comprehensive, bipartisan agreement to fund the Government and invest in critical national priorities," director of OMB Shalanda Young said in the letter to Congress. "As part of that process, the Congress has an opportunity and obligation to advance our national security by addressing critical needs that should earn Bipartisan support." The administration is asking for a $105 billion in total, according to sources familiar. The funding proposal includes $61.4 billion for Ukraine, $14.3 billion for Israel (with $10.6 billion allocated for military aid), $13.6 billion for border protection (including measures to combat the flow of fentanyl), and significant investments in Indo-Pacific security assistance, totaling around $7.4 billion. Additionally, there's $9 billion earmarked for humanitarian aid in Ukraine, Israel, and Gaza. SENATE PREPARES FOR BIDEN TO SEND SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING REQUEST WITH ISRAEL, UKRAINE AID President Joe Biden arrives to board Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, on August 15, 2023. The request includes aid for Ukraine against Russia's invasion, aid to Israel in response to terrorist attacks by Hamas, and investment in 1,300 more border security agents to stop the flow of fentanyl as well as 1,600 more asylum officers to speed up asylum processing. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Israels funding will be used to bolster its air and missile defense systems such as the Iron Dome and development of the Iron Beam, a high energy laser weapon used in air defense. The request also requests funds to "cutting-edge" detection technology at the Southwest border and "investigative capabilities to prevent cartels from trafficking fentanyl into the United States." WHITE HOUSE NEGOTIATES COMBINED AID TO ISRAEL AND UKRAINE WITH SENATE A view shows smoke in the Gaza Strip as seen from Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel October 18, 2023. REUTERS/Amir Cohen Humanitarian assistance for innocent civilians in Gaza and support for Israeli defense, along with aid for Palestinian refugees in the West Bank and surrounding areas, is also outlined. "At the same time, we are also requesting support to provide lifesaving humanitarian assistance for civilians impacted by the war in Gaza, who have nothing to do with Hamas and are suffering greatly as well," National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on a press call Friday morning. "This budget request will also help the administration enhance embassy security in Israel and for neighboring embassies as we stay vigilant against threats to our personnel who serve our country every day overseas." The letter stated that the U.S. has gathered a coalition of more than 50 countries providing aid to Ukraine, and that funding for the Eastern European nation which was left out of the previous temporary spending package passed by Congress in September cannot run out. Funding for Ukraine would go toward air defense systems, munitions, ground units, and other crucial resources that have been instrumental in Ukraine's successes, according to the request. Ongoing support will encompass military, intelligence, and defense assistance, investments in defense industries, transportation costs, and an increased U.S. troop presence in Europe. Economic and civilian aid will be extended, including budget support, infrastructure investments, police backing, and removing explosive mines in recently reclaimed territories. GOP SENATORS RAMP UP PUSH TO REFREEZE $6B IN IRANIAN FUNDS: HAMAS IS JUST THE PUPPET "As Ukrainians wage a tough counteroffensive and as winter fast approaches, the world is watching what the Congress does next. It is important that we continue to do everything we can to help Ukraine succeed on the battlefield and protect its people," Young wrote. "As the President said, we cannot under any circumstances allow Americas support for Ukraine to be interruptedwe are the indispensable Nation in the world, lets act like it." Biden announced he would be sending Congress the request Thursday night in a foreign policy speech to the nation. However, negotiations began last week with the Senate about what would be included in the package. In a call last week, the White House floated adding border security in the emergency package, but some Republican lawmakers are skeptical it will include what they want much stricter border policies to quell the influx of migrants at the border. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Tuesday during the first Senate GOP press conference since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7 that the White House will need to draft a "broad" spending bill for aid to Israel that includes "credible" solutions to the border crisis. "When the Senate receives this request, we spring into action and move it as soon as we can," Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. said on the floor Thursday morning. But some lawmakers in the upper chamber, who are more skeptical of aid to Ukraine but supportive of Israel, want the funding packages to be split up and voted on separately. "There is an immediate responsibility on Congress to make sure Israel has what it needs to defend itself, and to hold that aid hostage by linking it with a myriad of other issues including bailout for sanctuary cities and more money for Ukraine is irresponsible. These separate funding requests should be considered as such," Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., told Fox News Digital in a statement. In a letter sent to Schumer and McConnell on Friday, a handful of GOP senators wrote: "These are two separate conflicts and it would be wrong to leverage support of aid to Israel in attempt to get additional aid for Ukraine across the finish line." Sens. Roger Marshall, Mike Lee, Ron Johnson, Rick Scott, Cynthia Lummis, Mike Braun, J.D. Vance, Josh Hawley and Blackburn signed the letter. This is a breaking story. Check back for updates. Original article source: Biden admin urges major funding increases for aid to Ukraine, Israel and Gaza civilians WASHINGTON President Joe Biden addressed the nation in a rare prime-time address Thursday explaining why he believes its crucial for Israel and Ukraine to win the respective wars theyre fighting, as he looks to build support for a hefty aid package aimed at strengthening both countries. The terrorist group Hamas unleashed pure unadulterated evil in the world. But sadly, the Jewish people know perhaps better than anyone that there is no limit to the depravity of people when they want to inflict pain on others, Biden said. Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people, he added. Follow here for Israel-Hamas war live updates Bidens Oval Office speech followed a quick visit to Tel Aviv on Wednesday, where he met with Israeli leaders and discussed the next phase of a counterattack in Gaza that began with an aerial bombardment and may now shift to a risky ground incursion. As with his trip to Ukraine in February, Biden ventured to an active war zone to show his solidarity with a U.S. ally battling an enemy that wants to wipe it out of existence. One of Bidens aims was to explain to Americans how the two foreign conflicts connect to our lives back here, Jonathan Finer, a White House deputy national security adviser, said in an appearance Thursday on MSNBCs Morning Joe. He wanted to use the address to lay out how support from the American people and the Congress, frankly, is essential to maintaining this national leadership the United States is showing, to steer these conflicts in the best possible direction. Bidens remarks looked to put pressure on Congress to approve a supplemental funding package that his administration plans to submit as early as Friday. Biden may request $60 billion in aid to Ukraine and a total of $40 billion for Israel, Taiwan and the U.S.-Mexico border, people familiar with the matter told NBC News. Biden is in a weakened posture as he tries to shape public opinion toward the wars. A CNBC poll taken this month showed that only 31 percent of Americans approved of Bidens handling of foreign policy, compared to 60 percent who disapproved. He spoke to Americans who appear to be tiring of the war in Ukraine that started in February 2022 with Russias invasion. A Reuters/Ipsos poll earlier this month showed that 41 percent agreed with the statement that the U.S. should provide weapons to Ukraine down from 46 percent in May. The U.S. has sent about $44 billion in security aid to Ukraine since Russia first rolled its tanks toward Kyiv, according to the State Department. Ahead of the speech, Biden spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about the status of the war with Russia, according to a White House readout of the conversation. President Biden underscored the continued strong bipartisan support in the United States for Ukraines defense of its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and democratic future, according to the White House. At home, Israels counterattack has already triggered angry demonstrations from protesters demanding a cease-fire. On Capitol Hill, about 300 protesters were arrested after massing inside a House office building Wednesday in a demonstration calling for an end to hostilities. Rabbis were among those who joined in the protest. Some of the demonstrators wore T-shirts reading: Jews say ceasefire now. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Democratic congresswoman from Michigan, wrote on X this week that it is Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinkens job to protect Palestinian Americans. They are failing, she wrote. A State Department official working in a bureau overseeing U.S. arms sales resigned in protest this week, citing Americas continued indeed, expanded and expedited supply of weapons to Israel as it conducts its counterattack. Josh Paul, director of congressional and public affairs in the bureau, wrote in a resignation letter: I believe to the core of my soul that the response Israel is taking, and with it the American support both for that response, and for the status quo of the occupation, will only lead to more and deeper suffering for both the Israeli and the Palestinian people. Pauls resignation was first reported by HuffPost. An Oval Office address is a powerful forum that presidents typically reserve for national crises or messages of overriding importance. Its the stage John F. Kennedy selected to explain the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the one that George W. Bush chose to reassure a frightened nation the night of the 9/11 attack. In Bidens case, he is signaling that Americas foreign policy interests are tethered to two distant wars. Ukraines defeat would embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin and do away with an independent democratic country on NATOs doorstep, Biden has argued. And the Middle East conflict presents a painful dilemma with no guarantee about what comes next even if Israel chases Hamas out of Gaza. An Israeli ground assault in Gaza puts Palestinian civilians in a crossfire with nowhere to escape. The densely populated coastal enclave amounts to an open air prison, as Aaron David Miller, a former State Department official specializing in the Middle East, put it in an interview. Flying home from Israel on Wednesday night, Biden told reporters that he had spoken by phone to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sissi, who had agreed to open a border crossing into Gaza that will permit humanitarian aid to go through and assist the civilian population. But if Hamas confiscates the aid, Biden added, the flow will stop. Biden also made an oblique suggestion that he is pressing Israel to find an alternative to a ground attack that could result in large numbers of civilian casualties. Asked if Israel might forgo a ground incursion, Biden said: We had a long talk about that and what alternatives there are. This article was originally published on TODAY.com WASHINGTON President Joe Biden on Thursday appealed to Congress to pass a massive defense spending package that would include tens of billions of dollars in additional weapons for Israel and Ukraine. Biden called the package an unprecedented commitment to Israels security that will sharpen Israels qualitative military edge in a prime time address to the oval office fresh off a trip to Tel Aviv. We will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like [Russian President Vladimir] Putin win, said Biden. I refuse to let that happen. Biden did not mention heightened tensions throughout the broader Middle East, with Iran threatening to retaliate should Israel proceed with a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip. Mere hours before the presidents speech, U.S. officials said the Navy shot down missiles fired by the Iran-backed Houthis off of Yemens coast. U.S. forces stationed in Iraq and Syria both of which are home to a multitude of Iran-backed militias have also come under attack Meanwhile, the House cannot pass any legislation without a new speaker as protests against U.S. support for Israel spread from Capitol Hill to the State Department to U.S. embassies in the Middle East. On top of that, the Biden administration is nearly out of funds to continue arming Ukraine against Russias invasion. Congress is expecting the White Houses defense supplemental spending request to come in around $100 billion, with the lions share going to Ukraine and a smaller portion allocated for Israel alongside more funding for weapons to Taiwan and security for the southern border. Israel has asked the U.S. for additional precision-guided munitions, which Israel is using to bomb the Gaza Strip, as well as more Iron Dome interceptors used to strike down Hamas rocket attacks. After the Hamas attacks last week, the Biden administration sent Israel Joint Direct Attack Munitions, or JDAMS, small diameter bombs, 155 millimeter artillery rounds and ammunition from U.S. stockpiles, according to the Pentagon. The Israeli Defense Ministry announced Thursday that it has also received armored vehicles from the U.S. as it prepares for a possible ground invasion of Gaza. And Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said Thursday the U.S. will send Israel additional Iron Dome interceptors in the days ahead. Israel is also using direct commercial sales with U.S. defense contractors to stock its arsenals ahead of a possible ground invasion of Gaza. Some 1,800 JDAM kits, which convert dumb bombs into precision weapons, have been rushed to Israel through this path, a U.S. official said on condition of anonymity to discuss the transfers. Israel has also said that it has dropped at least 6,000 bombs on the Gaza Strip during the first six days of its campaign, more than the U.S.-led coalition dropped in any month of its counter-Islamic State campaign. Israels bombing campaign has killed some 3,500 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The initial Hamas attacks that sparked the war killed roughly 1,400 Israelis. The emphasis is on damage, not accuracy, Israel Defense Forces spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told Haaretz last week. Josh Paul, the director of the congressional affairs at the State Departments Political-Military Affairs bureau, resigned in protest on Wednesday over the continued transfer of weapons to Israel. His resignation letter posted on LinkedIn called the transfers shortsighted, destructive, unjust and contradictory to the very values we publicly espouse. In an interview with National Public Radio on Thursday, he called on the Biden administration to adhere to its new conventional arms transfer policy. That policy says the State Department will not authorize an arms transfer it is more likely than not the recipient country will use the weapons to commit or facilitate the commission of actions such as genocide, crimes against humanity, breaches of the Geneva Conventions or serious violations of international law. Air-to-ground bombs, and any explosive weapons in urban areas, pose some of the greatest harm to civilians in warfare, John Chappell, a legal fellow at the Center for Civilians in Conflict, told Defense News. Given the high likelihood that such weapons could contribute to civilian harm or even international law violations in light of what weve seen so far in both public statements form Israeli officials and actual harm to civilians I think its reasonable for the administration and Congress to approach this with significant concern when it comes to political will to avoid civilian harm. The U.S. provides Israel with an annual $3.8 billion in military aid per year. Capitol Hill police arrested some 300 protesters on Wednesday demonstrating against additional Israel in the Cannon House Office Building, organized by Jewish Voice for Peace. While a minority of progressive Democrats have called for a ceasefire, the majority of Republican and Democrats on Capitol Hill support another Israel aid package. The Ukraine aid package also enjoys robust bipartisan support but nearly half the House Republican caucus now opposes additional aid to Kyiv. And thats all moot if the House fails to empower a new speaker following the ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., from the role earlier this month. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, failed two consecutive votes this week to become speaker. Ukraine House Republicans removed $6 billion in Ukraine aid when Congress passed a stopgap funding bill needed to avoid a government shutdown earlier this month. The Pentagon has less than $5.5 billion to continue transferring weapons to Ukraine. The Senate intends to move ahead with the White Houses supplemental request with bipartisan support, and the Biden administration hopes including funds for the southern border can help sway Republicans. But in the House, many Republicans oppose lumping Israel and Ukraine aid together despite their failure to elect a new speaker. The White House hopes its Ukraine request will last through the presidential elections next year, with Republican frontrunner former President Donald Trump opposed to more aid for Kyiv. Additionally, Axios reported on Thursday that the U.S. is sending Israel two spare Iron Dome batteries in the Armys inventory, which some lawmakers had previously sought to send to Ukraine prior to the Hamas attacks. Stacie Pettyjohn, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, told Defense News that there more overlap now, particularly on the air defense side, potentially. But its still not tremendous. She noted that the U.S. defense industry can surge stockpiles of the air-to-ground weapons Israel seeks to a certain extent even though the Air Force has reduced purchased of those weapons since the end of the Afghanistan War and counter-Islamic State campaign. Those are systems where there is excess capacity because we boosted it during Operation Inherent Resolve against ISIS, said Pettyjohn. More broadly, the defense-industrial base has struggled to keep pace with efforts to backfill weapons sent to Ukraine from U.S. stockpiles and arm Taiwan. Taipei has frequently complained about a roughly $19 billion arms sales backlog in weapons it has purchased from the U.S. WASHINGTON The White House has asked Congress to pass a $105 billion supplemental spending package with most of the money allocated for a diffuse array of the Biden administrations defense priorities, ranging from Ukraine to Israel to the Indo-Pacific region. Much of the money, announced Friday, is allocated to the defense-industrial base as the administration continues to send weapons to Ukraine and Israel from U.S. stockpiles before backfilling that equipment. The package also includes funds to bolster the submarine-industrial base to get the U.S. Navy on track to meet its production goals for the nuclear-powered submarines it needs to procure for AUKUS, the trilateral submarine-sharing agreement with Australia and Britain. This supplemental request invests over $50 billion in the American defense industrial base ensuring our military continues to be the most ready, capable, and best equipped fighting force the world has ever seen, Shalanda Young, the White Houses Office of Management and Budget director, wrote in a letter to Congress. The funding will expand production lines, strengthening the American economy and creating new American jobs. President Joe Biden made his case for the package to the U.S. public during a prime-time address from the White House on Thursday night, shortly after returning from a trip to Israel. The White House is continuing to make the case for the funding request by comparing Hamas attacks on Israel this month to Russian President Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine. We cannot and will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win. I refuse to let that happen, Biden said. Ukraine Ukrainian soldiers prepare a U.S.-supplied M777 howitzer to fire at Russian positions in the Kherson region if Ukraine on Jan. 9, 2023. (Libkos/AP) More than half of the money in the proposed package would go to Ukraine, and the bulk of that includes $44.4 billion to continue arming the nation. Of that, $30 billion would be designated to replenish U.S. stockpiles of weapons already sent Ukraine. The Biden administration hopes these funds will last through the U.S. elections next year. Numerous Republican presidential candidates, including the front-runner, former President Donald Trump, oppose additional aid to Ukraine. The Biden administration has less than $5.5 billion to continue transferring weapons to Ukraine and cannot backfill U.S. equipment already sent Kyiv without a new package. House Republicans removed $6 billion in Ukraine aid when Congress passed a stopgap funding bill needed to avoid a government shutdown earlier this month. The Senate intends to move forward with the Biden administrations request in one package, but several House Republicans have demanded separate votes on Ukraine and Israel aid. However, House Republicans have failed multiple times this week to elect a new speaker, grinding business in the lower chamber to a halt for more than two weeks. The House cannot pass anything without a new speaker. Israel Journalists observe Palestinians inspecting the rubble of a building after it was struck by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Oct. 8, 2023. (Fatima Shbair/AP) The request also includes $14.3 billion in more military aid for Israel. That includes $10.6 billion for air and missile defense support as well as replenishment funds to backfill U.S. stocks of weapons the Biden administration has already sent Israel. Hamas initial attack on Israel killed about 1,400 people, according to the Israel Defense Forces. Israel retaliated by bombarding the Gaza Strip in a campaign that has killed approximately 3,785 Palestinians, according to the local Health Ministry. Iran has also threatened to retaliate if Israel proceeds with a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip. U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria came under attack Wednesday, and U.S. officials said the Navy shot down a missile fired by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels off the coast of Yemen that same day. The Biden administration has already sent Israel about 1,800 Joint Direct Attack Munition kits, small diameter bombs, 155mm artillery rounds and ammunition from U.S. stockpiles, according to the Pentagon. It also continues to send Iron Dome interceptors to strike down Hamas rocket attacks. The Israeli Defense Ministry announced Thursday it also received armored vehicles from the U.S. as it prepares for a possible ground invasion of Gaza. The munitions for Israel have raised concerns about civilian casualties in the densely populated Gaza Strip, with humanitarian groups like Doctors Without Borders noting strikes on health facilities and ambulances as well as first responder deaths. The president has been clear from the earliest days following the heinous terrorist attacks and assault by Hamas that the United States and Israel, as fellow democracies, have a commitment to the rule of law and the law of war, national security adviser Jake Sullivan told Defense News. All of our arms transfers, including arms transfers to Israel, are rooted in the basic proposition that they will be used consistent with the law of armed conflict. There is no exception here. Additionally, the package includes $3.7 billion for Israel through the Foreign Military Financing program and in the form of embassy support. That U.S. State Department program provides grants and loans to allies and partners to buy U.S. weapons. Israel receives an annual $3.8 billion in U.S. military aid, including $3.3 billion through Foreign Military Financing and $500 million in missile defense. Taiwan and AUKUS (Ktsimage/Getty Images) The package also asks Congress for $2 billion in Foreign Military Financing funds for allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region. Congress last year authorized up to $2 billion per year in Foreign Military Financing grants for Taiwan with the aim of deterring a potential Chinese attack, but appropriators did not fund that amount. Sullivan said the Biden administration intends to use the $2 billion request for partners across the region, not just Taiwan. Additionally, the package asks Congress for $3.4 billion to bolster the submarine-industrial base with an eye toward AUKUS implementation. The U.S. Navy is already behind on its goal of producing two Virginia-class attack submarines per year and will have to slightly increase that goal to transfer at least three and as many as five of those vessels to Australia in the 2030s. Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, has held up two key AUKUS authorizations, demanding the Biden administration and Congress invest more funds in the submarine-industrial base. The Arab world is erupting in anger over the war between Hamas and Israel, and President Bidens visit to Tel Aviv this week appears to have only amplified resentment over Americas role in the region. Tensions burst wide open this week after an explosion at a Gaza hospital killed hundreds of people, overshadowing Bidens trip to Tel Aviv. Arab nations were quick to criticize Israel for carrying out a strike on the hospital, though U.S. and Israeli officials have shared evidence indicating the explosion was likely caused by a misfired Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket. But the statements have done little to quell anger across the Middle East. Steve Simon, a former adviser to the White House on Middle East affairs, echoed the phrase that truth is the first casualty of war. Regardless of who perpetrated it, its tremendously angering for Arabs and useful for Hamas, said Simon. The truth in a way doesnt matter, its just how a particular event can be used for narrative and mobilizing purposes. Bidens visit was meant to underline Americas ironclad support for Israel as it responds to an unprecedented attack that left some 1,400 people dead and that Israels government has compared to Americas 9/11 and even the holocaust. But it also came as Israel pummels the Gaza Strip with airstrikes, which have killed hundreds of civilians, and threatens to launch a ground invasion into the coastal enclave. Biden has also drawn criticism for what some called a tone-deaf statement when he said the other team was responsible for the hospital blast. Phyllis Bennis, who focuses on the Middle East and the U.S. military at the progressive think tank Institute for Policy Studies, criticized Biden for playing it out as teams in a time of war. In Israel, the kind of bear hug diplomacy that hes engaged in, Bennis said, is certainly angering an awful lot of people. Bennis said the ongoing Israel war is a stark reminder of the aftermath of 9/11, when the U.S. launched its global war on terrorism. When the U.S. was the target of a horrific attack with most of the victims being civilians, there was a massive level of support, she said. That was completely destroyed when [former President George W. Bush] announced just days later that his answer to this horrific crime would be to take the world to war. And then simply the world was not so happy about that. Biden warned Israel not to repeat the mistakes U.S. forces made in the Middle East after the deadly plane attacks killed nearly 3,000 Americans in 2001. He has also warned Israel that any attempt to occupy Gaza could backfire. The Palestinian cause has long been a rallying point for the Arab world, as the 1948 displacement of the Palestinian people to make way for the Jewish state has yet to be resolved. The longer the Israel-Hamas war goes on, the more likely it could strengthen support for Palestine and weaken the U.S.-Israel standing, said Harun Kucuk, director of the Middle East Center at the University of Pennsylvania. It looks like theres not going to be a cease-fire, theres going to be [a] very prolonged land operation in Gaza, he said, and thats not going to help anything. Its just going to make people angrier. Kucuk said the Biden administration should take every step towards looking more like a mediator and less like a party to the war or risk losing credibility in the international community. But Jonathan Lord, director of the Middle East security program at the Center for a New American Security, said it was important for the U.S. to stand by its ally after the horrific Hamas assaults. The leadership of Arab nations are looking at that close relationship, Lord said, to see if they themselves could enjoy that type of support from America and that feeling of reassurance if and when they ever face a crisis of this magnitude. Lord said the odds were incredibly stacked against Biden after he stepped into Israel because of the hospital bombing, but the presidents superpower is empathy, and he delivered that to the Israeli people. I believe the U.S. will be well positioned when the dust settles to work to restore normal ties between Israel and its neighbors, he added. For now, Israels neighbors are communicating calls for an immediate end to the war and are outright accusing the country of war crimes. The Arab Group, a regional league of 22 members representing the Middle East and North Africa, held an emergency session Thursday, where the organization called for a cease-fire and condemned the Israeli occupation against defenseless civilians. Underscoring the weight of the tensions, Jordan and Egypt, which canceled a major summit with Biden this week after the hospital explosion, have also been critical of Israels operations and are fearful that Palestinians will suffer another catastrophe of displacement. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said in remarks with Secretary of State Antony Blinken this week that it was critical to stop the violence, which he said is erupting now as a tidal wave that is a direct consequence of the crisis and its accumulated symptoms. We need to understand that this is the result of accumulated fury and hatred over four decades, where the Palestinians had no hope to find a solution, the Egyptian leader said. The U.S. has many crucial partners in the Middle East, both for economic and security reasons, including allies like Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Protesters across the Arab world this week demanded a cease-fire and an end to Israels bombing of civilians in Gaza, including demonstrations outside the U.S. Embassy in Beirut. While analysts say the protests are somewhat tempered now, the public outcry is significant because it could pressure Arab leaders to enforce a harder line on where they stand with the U.S. and Israel. But Hussain Abdul-Hussain, a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, cautioned that the Arab community is not a monolithic block of opinions and that public opinion on the issue is varied. You have two messages that are clashing all the time, he said of rhetoric from Hamas and Israel. And at face value, they look as if theyre similar because theyre both trying to show themselves as defenders of civilians. A looming ground offensive from Israel into Gaza, home to 2.3 million people, could mean years of war and strained relations between U.S. and Arab nations. Abdul-Hussain said Biden was absolutely doing the right thing by supporting Israel in defeating Hamas. He said it was clear the goal, after Hamas, is to get back to the negotiation table. We all know that the solution at the end of the day would be a negotiated solution, he said. People will have to talk to one another. And the Gulf countries understand that. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. President Joe Biden on Thursday said he was asking Congress to approve an urgent budget request including essential defence aid to Ukraine and Israel, casting both countries respective wars against Hamas and Russia as part of a struggle against enemies of democracy who will be emboldened if the US withdraws support. American leadership is what holds the world together. American alliances are what keep us America safe. American values are what make us a partner other nations want to work with, he said in remarks delivered as part of just the second prime-time Oval Office address of his presidency. To put all that at risk if we walk away from Ukraine, if we turn our backs on Israel, it's just not worth it, he said. The president called the expected $100 billion arms package a smart investment that would pay dividends for American security for generations, help keep American troops out of harms way, and help build a world that is safer, more peaceful and more prosperous for our children and grandchildren. Speaking from behind the iconic desk made from timbers hewed from the hulk of HMS Resolute and gifted to then-president Rutherford Hayes by Queen Victoria, Mr Biden explicitly compared the adversaries facing Israel and Ukraine Russia and Hamas as two sides of the same genocidal coin. He noted that the Hamas which is being financially supported by Iran has a charter which calls for the complete destruction of the State of Israel, and pointed out that Russian President Vladimir Putin has long maintained that Ukraine is not and has never been a real nation deserving of sovereignty. He also noted how Iran, in addition to financially supporting Hamas campaign of terror against Israel, is aiding Russias war effort in Ukraine by providing Moscow with low-cost drones and other weapons for use against Ukrainian defence forces. Mr Biden then continued to make the case that US aid to both Israel and Ukraine was necessary to prevent Iran and Russia from stoking further chaos across the world, starting with the Middle East. He warned that failing to help each of the American allies win their respective wars would have long-lasting consequences for the United States and the world. History has taught us that when terrorists don't pay a price for their terror, when dictators don't pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos, and death, and more destruction. They keep going, and the cost and the threat to America and the world keep rising, he said. The presidents emphatic and heartfelt remarks, delivered less than 24 hours after he returned from a trip to Israel his second visit to an active war zone this year after brokering an agreement between Egypt and Israel for much-needed humanitarian aid to reach the Gaza Strip through the Rafah checkpoint on the Egyptian-Gaza border. Mr Biden described how in his discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, hed stressed what he described as the critical need for Israel to operate by the laws of war by protecting civilians as best as they can as the Israeli Defence Forces mount a ground assault on Hamas positions within the heavily urbanised Gaza Strip. He said the initial aid shipments, provided that they were not diverted or stolen by Hamas, would provide an opening for sustained delivery of life saving humanitarian assistance for the Palestinians. And while the president has taken criticism from activists on the leftward flank of his Democratic Party whove bristled at his steadfast support for Israel, he strongly reiterated the US commitment to end the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict with the establishment of a Palestinian state to exist alongside Israel. As hard as is, we cannot give up on peace we cannot give up on a two state solution, he said, adding that both Israelis and Palestinians equally deserve to live in safety, dignity and peace. The presidents call for aid to Ukraine and Israel comes just over two weeks after Congress staved off a government shutdown with a stopgap funding bill that omitted the aid to Kyiv which Mr Biden has been pressing for in the face of increasing opposition from Republicans who see cutting off support for Ukraines defence as a way to undermine one of the presidents foreign policy accomplishments as he heads into an election season. While aid to Ukraine once had broad bipartisan support, more and more Republicans have voiced opposition to further assistance at the behest of former president Donald Trump, who once attempted to withhold military aid to Ukraine in order to blackmail Ukraines president into announcing sham investigations into Mr Biden and his son. By linking aid to Ukraine and Israel in a single package, Mr Biden would make it much more difficult for Republicans to oppose the combined funding bill, which would likely receive bipartisan support in both the House and Senate. Yet its not clear whether the American Congress is capable of enacting any legislation at all, as the House of Representatives still lacks a speaker following the ouster of the previous one, Representative Kevin McCarthy, after he allowed the government to remain open by letting the stopgap funding bill pass the House last month. That legislation expires in less than a month, and until the House elects a new speaker, it cannot take up legislation to fund the federal government or to fund defence aid for Ukraine and Israel. Mr Biden said innocents in both nations have been able to have hope because of US support for their respective countries defence. Those people, he said, are desperate not to be forgotten by us and are waiting for us. But he warned that time was of the essence and urged Republicans and Democrats to move past their disagreements to enact his funding package for Israel and Ukraine. We can't let petty, partisan, angry politics get in the way of our responsibility as a great nation, he said. We cannot and will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win I refuse to let that happen. In moments like these, we have to remember who we are: We are the United States of America ... and there is nothing, nothing beyond our capacity if we do it together. The Biden campaign on Friday seized on infighting among House Republicans that has left the chamber rudderless to draw a contrast with President Bidens focus on foreign policy in Israel and Ukraine. MAGA House Republicans self-inflicted chaos and chronic inability to govern stands in stark contrast to President Bidens strong and steady leadership at this critical moment for global security, Biden campaign spokesperson Ammar Moussa said in a statement. It is embarrassing that MAGA House Republicans continue to let the petty sniping and infighting in their own party prevent them from working with the president on bipartisan national security priorities, Moussa added. Voters will remember how when world events called for American leadership, President Biden stepped up and MAGA House Republicans humiliated themselves and failed the American people. The House has been without a Speaker for more than two weeks since Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was ousted from the role when eight Republicans, led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), joined with Democrats to remove McCarthy. Reps. Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) have since both been nominated as Speaker by the conference and failed to rally enough support to win the gavel. Several Republicans in the House are now running for the position, with a forum scheduled for early next week to determine the conferences next choice for the job. Top Stories from The Hill Biden and his aides have largely stayed out of the chaos playing out in the House, declining to weigh in on the scramble over who will be the next Speaker and deferring to lawmakers about what comes next. But White House and campaign aides have in recent days been increasingly willing to draw attention to the dysfunction of House Republicans, arguing voters will ultimately reward Biden for focusing on the publics priorities while the opposing party squabbles. Biden traveled to Israel on Wednesday in the aftermath of terrorist attacks there, and on Thursday he delivered a primetime speech making the case for continued U.S. support of Israel and Ukraine amid their respective conflicts with Hamas and Russia. House Republicans need to end their chaotic infighting and their competitions to out-extreme one another, and instead join President Biden in working on urgent priorities for American families shared by both parties in Congress, White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said Friday. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. President Biden on Thursday used an Oval Office address to condemn Islamophobia and antisemitism in the aftermath of the killing of a Palestinian-American boy and amid broader concerns about rising violence after terrorist attacks in Israel. Biden spoke in primetime about the Israel-Hamas conflict and Ukraines ongoing war against Russia, making the argument that supporting both the Israelis and Ukrainians is in Americas interest. But he also spoke about the fear that has seeped into Muslim and Jewish communities in the wake of Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel. Today, Jewish families worried about being targeted in school, wearing symbols of their faith walking down the street or going out about their daily lives, Biden said. And I know many of you in the Muslim-American community, the Arab-American community, the Palestinian-American community, and so many others, are outraged, saying to yourself, here we go again with Islamophobia and distrust we saw after 9/11, he added. The president spoke specifically to the killing of Wadea Al-Fayoume, a 6-year-old in Illinois who was stabbed to death over the weekend. Prosecutors have said the landlord of the boys parents killed Wadea in an attack motivated by hatred of Muslims amid the fighting in Israel and Gaza. We must without equivocation denounce antisemitism. We must also without equivocation denounce Islamophobia, Biden said. And to all of you hurting I want you to know I see you. You belong. And I want to say this to you. Youre all America. Following his address, the White House said in a statement the president and the first lady spoke with Al-Fayoumes father and uncle. The President and First Lady expressed their deepest condolences to the Alfayoumi family as they mourn; their prayers that Wadeas mother, Hannan Shahin, makes a full recovery; and their commitment to keep speaking out against anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab, and anti-Muslim hate and violence, the statement read. Bidens primetime address came one day after a whirlwind trip to Israel, during which he met with Israeli government officials and survivors of the Hamas attacks and delivered remarks announcing humanitarian aid to Gaza while offering steadfast U.S. support for the Jewish state as it prepares an offensive. More than 1,400 Israelis died in terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza, and thousands of Palestinians have died in ensuing Israeli strikes targeting Hamas in the Strip. Updated 9:26 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. In an address to the nation Thursday night, President Joe Biden called out a recent spate of homegrown hate attacks spurred by the war between Israel and the militant group Hamasspecifically highlighting the fatal stabbing of a six-year-old Palestinian-American boy last week in a Chicago suburb. The act was allegedly carried out by a paranoid man who was in part fueled by conservative talk radio. About midway through his Oval Office address, Biden acknowledged the perils of both antisemitism and Islamophobia. Just last week a mother was brutally stabbed, he said, referring to the boys mother, Hanaan Shaheen, who is expected to survive after being hospitalized with more than a dozen stab wounds. A little boywho had just turned 6 years old was murdered in their home outside of Chicago. His name was Wadea. A proud American. A proud Palestinian-American family, the president continued. Wadea Al-Fayoumes father, Oday El-Fayoume, told The Daily Beast that his ex-wife and son had a good relationship with the suspect, who was their landlord. My ex-wife and son knew him, and they had a good relationship. It is hard to picture this man holding a knife about to stab my son. I keep thinking that my son was probably running towards him before getting stabbed, trying to give him a hug, he said. Bidens Israel Trip Was a Gamble Thats Already Paying Off According to local community leaders, 71-year-old Joseph Czuba yelled out anti-Muslim slurs during the stabbings. In addition to the hate crime charges, he was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and aggravated battery. Biden urged Americans to not stand by when such tragic events happen. We must, without equivocation, denounce antisemitism. We also, without equivocation, must denounce Islamophobia, he said. To all those of you hurting, I want you to know: I see you. You belong. I want to say this to you: You are all American. In his high-stakes, primetime address, Biden also linked the outcomes of Israels war against Hamas and Ukraines war against Russia as vital for Americas national security. I know these conflicts seem far away, he said, before outlining an aid package for each nation he intends on submitting to Congress. The funding request will include $105 billion over the next yearincluding $60 billion for Ukraine and $14 billion in aid for Israel, according to the Associated Press. Other priorities included in the package include $14 billion to manage the growing tide of migrants crossing the southern U.S. border and $10 billion for humanitarian efforts across the world. History has taught us that when terrorists dont pay a price for their terror, when dictators dont pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction. They keep going. And the constant threats to America in the world keep rising. So if we dont stop Putins appetite for power and control in Ukraine, he wont limit himself just to the Ukraine, the president warned. The risk of conflict and chaos could spread in other parts of the world, he continued, noting the Middle East in particular. The aid package, Biden added, will help avoid having American troops on the ground in either war-torn country. It will also, he said, help us build a world that is safer, more peaceful, and more prosperous for our children and grandchildren. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. The $650 million Facebook biometric privacy settlement is proving to be the class-action lawsuit that keeps on giving for Illinois social media users. A third and final payment of $7.20 was issued this week, the icing on the cake for more than 1 million Illinois Facebook users participating in the record settlement. Previously, a $30.61 payment was sent out in February, following an initial $397 check last year. Advertisement Those who successfully process all three payments will have received about $435 each in the groundbreaking privacy settlement. The 8 -year legal odyssey has been more than just a windfall for Illinois Facebook users. The case has led to challenges of privacy practices at companies nationwide. Advertisement In April 2015, Chicago attorney Jay Edelson filed the lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court on behalf of plaintiff Carlo Licata, alleging the social media giants use of facial tagging features without consent was not allowed under Illinois privacy law. The case was moved to federal court in Chicago and then California federal court, where it attained class-action status. The settlement class included about 7 million Facebook users in Illinois for whom the social network created and stored a face template after June 7, 2011. More than 1 in 5 eligible Illinois Facebook users filed a claim by the November 2020 deadline. A California federal judge issued final approval of the $650 million settlement in February 2021, but the payout was delayed by more than a year during an unsuccessful appeal filed on behalf of two Illinois class members, who objected to the $97.5 million in attorneys fees, as well as $5,000 incentive awards to the named plaintiffs. In May 2022, the settlement fund distributed nearly $550 million the total after legal expenses to 1.38 million Illinois Facebook users who filed valid claims. The $397 payments were made by check and electronic transfer. But nearly 110,000 claimants never cashed the first check, leaving $43 million in undistributed proceeds. The second check for $30.61 and this weeks $7.20 payment ostensibly complete the distribution. There was still about $8.4 million left in the settlement fund after more than 275,000 claimants didnt process the second payment, according to court filings. The third payment is going to 1,002,582 settlement class members who cashed the second check. On its website, the Facebook settlement administrator said the third and final payment went out beginning Tuesday, and it will take about two weeks to finish mailing the checks and processing the electronic payments. Those expecting the third check who dont receive it are being asked to wait until early December before making an inquiry. Any money remaining in the settlement account after the third payment will be donated to the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, according to court filings. Advertisement The Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act, passed in 2008, is considered the strictest in the U.S. and requires companies to get permission before using technologies such as facial recognition and fingerprint scans to identify customers or employees. In February, the Illinois Supreme Court opened the door to significantly higher damages in a case involving a Chicago White Castle manager when it ruled that biometric privacy claims accrue every time information is gathered without consent. Under the law, plaintiffs can be awarded $1,000 for negligent violations and $5,000 for intentional violations. Last month, a Chicago federal judge ruled Samsung must pay more than $4 million in filing fees to begin a mass arbitration case brought by 50,000 petitioners alleging their Galaxy devices violated the Illinois law by using facial recognition technology without consent. rchannick@chicagotribune.com The United States is supporting Israel in its war against the Palestinian militant group Hamas, but a video in which President Joe Biden appears to announce a military draft was fabricated using artificial intelligence (AI) . The deepfake first appeared with a disclaimer in February 2023, and both the White House and the National Security Council say the conscription claims are false. "NO WAY. The draft," says text over an October 14, 2023 TikTok video. The post has since been deleted, but the video appears in other clips across the platform and other sites, including Facebook and YouTube. In the video, Biden appears to say he has decided to "invoke the Selective Service Act, as is my authority as president." "Remember, you're not sending your sons and daughters to war," he says. "You're sending them to freedom." Screenshot from Facebook taken October 20, 2023 The posts took off more than a week after Hamas fighters stormed into Israel from the Gaza Strip and killed at least 1,400 people -- mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated or burned to death on the first day of the raid, according to Israeli officials. At least 4,137 Palestinians, mainly civilians, have been killed across the Gaza Strip in relentless Israeli bombardments in retaliation for the attacks by the Islamist militant group, according to the latest toll from the Hamas health ministry in Gaza. Biden promised "rock solid and unwavering" support for Israel the day of Hamas's bloody attack, ordering US ships and warplanes closer to the country in a sign of solidarity. On October 19, the president made an impassioned case for approval of a White House request seeking a massive $106 billion national security package, which would include $14 billion for Israel in addition to aid for Ukraine. The Defense Department has also ordered 2,000 troops to prepare for deployment to the Middle East. But the video of Biden announcing a draft is a fake -- and as of October 20, there was no military conscription in the United States. Months-old deepfake Conservative activist Jack Posobiec and the Post Millennial, a Canadian website, first shared the AI-generated Biden clip in February 2023. Both have previously amplified misinformation, including about Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Post Millennial's February 27 post sharing the video on X, formerly known as Twitter, says it is fabricated. "AI imagines what would happen if Biden declares and activates the Selective Service Act and begins drafting 20 years old (sic) to war," the post says. Screenshot from X, formerly known as Twitter, taken October 20, 2023 Posobiec appears on screen after the clip to say it is a scripted, AI-generated "pre-creation" showing "what could happen if President Biden were to declare and activate the Selective Service Act." The longer deepfake also depicts Biden saying General Mark Milley, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, provided guidance on the decision to authorize a draft. Milley retired from the position in September. The clip appears to add fabricated audio to footage from a December 7, 2021 speech Biden delivered on insulin prices (archived here). The president's tie and gestures, as well as the background and camera angles, appear to match. No US conscription The Selective Service Act, reinstated in 1980, requires almost all American men ages 18 to 25 to add their names to a list from which the government can draw in the event of a national emergency requiring a rapid expansion of the military beyond its volunteer forces. There has not been a draft since 1973 -- and the Selective Service System says on its website that there is "no draft at present" (archived here). The process would require congressional and presidential authorization. Andrew Bates, deputy press secretary for the White House, told AFP in an October 20 email that claims Biden has initiated a draft are "false." Sean Savett, deputy spokesperson for the National Security Council, also said the conscription rumors are "not accurate." AFP has debunked other misinformation about the Israel-Hamas war here. Joe Biden U.S. President Joe Biden delivered a rare address to the nation from the Oval Office on Oct. 19, emphasizing the critical importance of supporting Ukraine and Israel in their respective conflicts. Let me share with you why making sure Israel and Ukraine succeed is vital for Americas national security, said Biden. Read also: Senior Israeli politician warns Russia it will pay the price for supporting HAMAS You know, history has taught us that when terrorists dont pay a price for their terror, when dictators dont pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction. The presidents recent visit to Tel Aviv, where he expressed unwavering support for Israel, played a crucial role in his message to the American public. He secured an agreement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza while urging restraint in Israels ground operations. Read also: What does the war in Israel change for Ukraine The president laid the groundwork for a substantial foreign aid proposal to be sent to Congress in support of Ukraine and Israel. The aid package, still in development, could amount to approximately $100 billion, including a significant allocation for Ukraine. Biden framed this aid as a smart investment that would pay dividends for American security, keeping U.S. troops out of harms way and contributing to a safer and more prosperous world for future generations. However, the request faces challenges in a divided and paralyzed Congress, where the House remains without a speaker, adding a sense of urgency given the recent attacks in Israel. Read also: Brussels has changed a lot. What does this mean for Ukraine Biden finished his speech by urging unity, and emphasizing the importance of American leadership, alliances, and values in maintaining global stability and security, adding the US cannot afford to give in to terrorists and tyrants. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine President Biden on Thursday used a primetime Oval Office address to argue U.S. support for Israel and Ukraine in their respective wars is vital to American national security, drawing parallels between the two conflicts ahead of a request for congressional aid. Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common: They both want to annihilate a neighboring democracy, Biden said, while adding that countries like Iran back both the U.S.-designated terrorist group and the Kremlin. I know these conflicts can seem far away and its natural to ask, why does this matter to America? he added. The president sought to make the case that America is the essential nation that can simultaneously support its allies, deter adversaries and rally other nations behind the cause of global democracies. American leadership is what holds the world together. Americas alliances are what keep us safe, Biden said. American values are what make us a partner that other nations want to work with. To put all of that at risk if we walk away from Ukraine and turn our backs on Israelits just not worth it. Biden further sought to impress on the public how allowing Ukraine or Israel to come under siege would represent a grave threat to democracies around the globe and would embolden Americas enemies. History has taught us that when terrorists dont pay a price for their terror, when dictators dont pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death, and more destruction, Biden said. They keep going, and the cost and the threats to America and the world keep rising. He also delivered a warning to Hamas over humanitarian aid leaders agreed to allow into Gaza after such aid was not allowed in over the last 10 days as food and water ran out, saying it was imperative that it reaches Palestinians in need. If Hamas does not divert or steal these shipments, were going to provide an opening for sustained delivery of lifesaving humanitarian assistance for the Palestinians, the president said. The president said he would send Congress a supplemental funding request on Friday that would include an unprecedented commitment to Israels security. The package, which will reportedly total $100 billion, will also include money for Ukraine, as well as allies in the Indo-Pacific and humanitarian aid. Biden delivered just his second primetime address since taking office in the wake of terrorist attacks in Israel carried out by Hamas, a militant group that controls Gaza, that killed more than 1,400 Israelis and has left thousands of Palestinians dead or injured in subsequent strikes on Gaza. Bidens address came one day after a whirlwind trip to Israel, during which he met with Israeli government officials and survivors of the Hamas attacks and delivered remarks announcing humanitarian aid to Gaza while offering steadfast U.S. support for the Jewish state as it prepares an offensive. The visit to Tel Aviv was the second time this year Biden has traveled to a war zone. The first came in February, when he made a covert trip to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky one year after Russia first launched its invasion in February 2022. While there is bipartisan support in Congress for supporting both Israel and Ukraine, a small minority of House Republicans have grown increasingly opposed to providing additional aid to the Ukrainians, suggesting it is not in the interests of the United States. That opposition would make it difficult for Biden and his team to push through an aid package that provides funding for both allies over the next year. Further complicating matters, the House has been without a Speaker for more than two weeks since the ouster of Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.). Without a Speaker in place, the House would be unable to pass legislation. The White House previously sent a supplemental funding request in August that included a total of $24 billion in military, financial and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine. That same request also sought roughly $4 billion total in supplemental funding for border and migration efforts. Biden is facing additional criticism from a small group of progressive Democrats who have called for the president to insist on a ceasefire that would halt the Israeli airstrikes on Gaza to protect Palestinian civilians. Biden has held back on this move, with administration officials saying Israel is acting in its self-defense to degrade Hamass military infrastructure, and go after its leadership in the Strip. Biden in his speech sought to address that criticism saying, the United States remains committed to the Palestinians right to dignity and self determination. The actions of Hamas terrorists dont take that right away. White House officials believe the conflicts abroad have allowed Biden to lean into foreign policy, an area where he is particularly comfortable given his decades in the Senate and eight years as vice president. But it is also a politically challenging matter given divisions in the Democratic Party and the uncertainty engulfing Congress. Polling has also shown a gradual decline over time in public support for Ukraine aid, and initial surveys have suggested not all Americans are pleased with Bidens approach to the Israel-Hamas conflict. A CBS News poll published hours before Biden spoke found 44 percent of Americans approve of Bidens handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict, while 56 percent disapprove. The poll found 61 percent of independents disapproved of Bidens approach. The poll found 44 percent of Americans believe Biden has shown Israel the right amount of support, compared to 32 percent who said he had not shown enough support. Twenty-four percent said Biden had shown the Jewish state too much support. Updated 9:06 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WASHINGTON (NewsNation) President Joe Biden told the nation Thursday night it is vital for Americas national security to provide aid to Israel and Ukraine for their wars to stand up to dictators and promote stability across the world. Drawing parallels between the two conflicts, Biden said if international aggression goes unchecked, the risk of conflict and chaos could spread in other parts of the world. Hamas and Putin represent different threats, Biden said in an Oval Office address. But they share this in common: They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy. Israel continues to pound the Gaza Strip with airstrikes, including in the south where Palestinians were told to take refuge. The long-expected ground invasion has not yet happened, but the countrys defense minister has told troops to be ready to invade. Palestinian militants fired rockets into Israel on Thursday from Gaza and Lebanon, and tensions flared in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Jim Jordan to support empowering temporary speaker Patrick McHenry: source Biden said he would send an urgent funding request to Congress, which is expected to be $105 billion for the next year. The proposal, which will be unveiled Friday, includes $60 billion for Ukraine, much of which is for replenishing U.S. weapons stockpiles that have already been provided. Theres $14 billion for Israel, $10 billion for humanitarian efforts, $14 billion for managing the U.S.-Mexico border and fighting fentanyl trafficking and $7 billion for the Indo-Pacific region, which includes Taiwan. The proposal was described by three people familiar with the details who insisted on anonymity before the official announcement. Its a smart investment thats going to pay dividends for American security for generations, Biden said. Were going to make sure other hostile actors in the region know that Israel is stronger than ever and prevent this conflict from spreading. The Gaza Health Ministry said 3,785 people have been killed in Gaza since the war between Israel and Hamas began, the majority of them women, children and older adults. Nearly 12,500 others were injured, and another 1,300 people were believed buried under the rubble, health authorities said. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly civilians slain during Hamas deadly incursion on Oct. 7. Roughly 200 others were abducted. The Israeli military said Thursday it had notified the families of 203 captives. Biden approval rating near record low in new poll With regards to the war further east, the White House has warned that time is running out to prevent Ukraine, which recently struggled to make progress in a grueling counteroffensive, from losing ground to Russia because of dwindling supplies of weapons. A Russian missile attack killed two civilians in an apartment building in southern Ukraine on Wednesday, local authorities said, as President Vladimir Putin dismissed the importance of a new U.S.-supplied weapon that Kyiv used to execute one of the most damaging attacks on the Kremlins air assets since the start of the war. Putin told reporters that Russia will be able to repel further attacks by the U.S.-made Army Tactical Missile System, known as ATACMS. Biden warned that failure to back Ukraine would enable Putin to take more aggressive actions in the region. If we dont stop Putins appetite for power and control in Ukraine, he wont limit himself just to Ukraine, Biden said. If we walk away and let Putin erase Ukraines independence, would-be aggressors around the world would be emboldened to try the same. Biden hopes that combining both of these issues into one piece of legislation will create the necessary political coalition for congressional approval. But it wont be easy. Divisions emerge between 2024 Republicans over Israeli-Palestinian conflict Biden faces an array of steep challenges as he tries to secure the money. The House remains in chaos because the Republican majority has been unable to select a speaker to replace Rep. Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted more than two weeks ago. Discussions on giving interim House Speaker Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., the authority to manage legislative affairs and conduct floor votes an unprecedented move have intensified as the House is without a permanent leader at a critical time for Congress. Bidens previous prime-time addresses to the nation included when the U.S. narrowly avoided a national debt default and the anniversary of coronavirus lockdowns. His first was to address the conviction of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who was found guilty of murdering George Floyd. The Associated Press contributed to this report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com. Negotiations were expected to continue regarding tariffs on steel and aluminum products. Photo by Al Drago/UPI Oct. 20 (UPI) -- President Joe Biden and European Union leaders Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen pledged Friday to put up a "united front" as they seek to support Ukraine and Israel in their respective wars, among other key issues. The three leaders met Friday afternoon at the White House Cabinet Room as the war in the Middle East approached its second full week. It was the second time European Council President Michel and European Commission chief von der Leyen have had a summit at the White House since Biden took office in 2021. "We stood together to support the brave people of Ukraine in the face of Putin aggression," Biden said as he welcomed his counterparts in the Cabinet Room. "And we stood together to tackle economic challenges, established standards to guide our relationship with China, and we're standing together now to support Israel in the wake of Hamas' appalling terrorist attack." Ahead of the meeting, Michel said the EU and the United States would preset "a united front to tackle all these challenges head on." Von der Leyen agreed, adding that the bloc would have "rock solid support" for Ukraine. Central to the meeting was Biden's address to the nation Thursday night from the Oval Office in which he announced his plan to ask Congress for tens of billions of dollars in new assistance to help both Ukraine and Israel. European Council President Charles Michel (2nd-L) talks with the U.S. delegation led by President Joe Biden (not pictured) during a U.S.-EU summit. At left is European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Photo by Al Drago/UPI Ukraine is seeking new funding for the war after the U.S. Congress passed a stopgap spending bill that omitted any further assistance to Ukraine due to stout opposition from Republican hardliners. Meanwhile, the U.S. House is stalled after multiple unsuccessful rounds of voting to elect a new speaker, and that has to happen before any business can be accomplished in the chamber. The leaders planned to discuss ways to expand their cooperation on clean energy, global supply chains, economic and digital security and artificial intelligence, but the talks were expected to primarily focus on how to boost support for Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian invasion. President Joe Biden speaks during a U.S.-EU summit in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Friday. At left is European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel. Photo by Al Drago/UPI On Oct. 2, foreign ministers from the European Union gathered in Kyiv to discuss how the bloc could provide more military assistance to Ukraine while seeking inroads with U.S. lawmakers to continue supporting Ukraine's defense, which Biden called critical to the future of democracy worldwide. The meeting took place the same week as the surprise attack on Israel by the militant group Hamas, triggering another major global conflict that put pressure on the White House to show support for two key allies. President Joe Biden smiles during a U.S.-EU summit in the Cabinet Room. Photo by Al Drago/UPI "History has taught us that when terrorists don't pay a price for their terror, when dictators don't pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction," Biden said while seated at the Resolute Desk. "They keep going. And the cost and the threats to America and the world keep rising." At the last transatlantic conference in June 2021, the leaders endorsed an outline for EU-U.S. cooperation in the post-pandemic era. President Joe Biden met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in the Oval Office on March 10. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI CAPTION CORRECTION CORRECTS AGE: In this undated photo provided by Rabbi Meir Hecht on behalf of the Raanan family is Judith Raanan, left, and her daughter Natalie, 17, after Natalie's recent high school graduation. On Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, Israel announced the two American women held by Hamas militants were released. Judith and Natalie went missing while visiting relatives in Nahal Oz for Simchat Torah, a festive Jewish holiday that marks the conclusion of the annual reading of the Torah. (Raanan Family via AP) EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) The father of freed American teen hostage Natalie Raanan said Friday shes doing well following two weeks in captivity after she and her mother were abducted in Israel by Hamas and held in Gaza. Uri Raanan of Illinois told The Associated Press that he spoke to his daughter Friday by telephone. Shes doing good. Shes doing very good, said Uri Raanan, who lives in the Chicago suburbs. Im in tears, and I feel very, very good. The 71-year-old said he saw on the news earlier Friday that an American mother and daughter would be released by Hamas, and he spent the day hoping that meant his daughter and her mother, Judith Raanan. Knowing Natalie may be able to celebrate her 18th birthday next week at home with family and friends feels wonderful. The best news, her father said. Ben Raanan, Natalie's brother, said before her abduction he and his sister had spoken of getting matching tattoos to mark her birthday. Instead, he got a tattoo this week in her honor, incorporating their names along with their brother's name. The family's text message chain sharing updates on Friday moved from tentative hope to outright celebration, tempered by an awareness than other families still are living in fear for their loved ones, Ben Raanan told The Associated Press at his home in Denver. When I see her again, I think there aren't going to be words to express what's going on," he said. It's just going to be like this intense hug that is bigger than words and bigger than what we could actually communicate verbally. Uri Raanan said he believes Natalie and Judith to be in transit to Tel Aviv to reunite with relatives, and that both will be back in the U.S. early next week. An Israeli army spokesperson said the two Americans were out of the Gaza Strip and with the Israeli military. Hamas said Friday it released them for humanitarian reasons in an agreement with the Qatari government. They were the first hostages to be released since Hamas militants, according to Israel, abducted roughly 200 people during their Oct. 7 rampage. President Joe Biden was among the many celebrating the news that the Raanans had been freed. I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been wracked with fear, Biden said in Washington. The president spoke Friday with Judith and Natalie and "relayed that they will have the full support of the U.S. government as they recover from this terrible ordeal, the White House said. In the telephone conversation, Biden told the women that he was glad you're out. Were going to get them all out, God willing, he said of the remaining hostages in a video showing excerpts of the conversation that was posted by the White House Saturday on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter. I just wanted to say thank you for your services to Israel, Natalie told the president. Judith told him they were in good health. Uri Raanan said late Friday in a short news conference that he spoke with his daughter for only a few emotional minutes and that they didn't talk about what she and her mother experienced in the past two weeks. He said Judith has a minor injury he described as a little scratch on her hand. They look good and sound good, he said, adding that when he sees his daughter he plans to hug her and kiss her. It's going to be the best day of my life. He also said he didn't know why they were chosen for release. The International Committee of the Red Cross, which transported the freed Americans from Gaza to Israel, said their release offered "a sliver of hope for those still being held. Judith, 59, and Natalie, who both have dual Israeli-American citizenship, had been on a trip from their home in the Chicago suburb of Evanston to Israel to celebrate Judith's mother's birthday and the Jewish holidays, family members said. Natalie was born in the U.S., moved to Israel with Judith until she was around 10 and then returned, her father said. Natalie always spoke of her home very dearly, 19-year-old stepsister Frida Alonso said, referring to Israel. She missed it very, very dearly. Every day she missed her grandma, she missed her home. Just the feeling of being there. So I bet this hurts a lot for her. Mother and daughter were in Nahal Oz, near the Gaza border, on Oct. 7 when Hamas militants stormed into southern Israeli towns, killing hundreds of people and abducting others. Their family had heard nothing from them since the attack and were later told by U.S. and Israeli officials that they were being held in Gaza, Natalies brother has said. The news that Judith and Natalie have been released from the hands of Hamas is overwhelming. It brings us a tremendous amount of gratitude to the Almighty, to God, for this incredible miracle, Meir Hecht, Judith's rabbi, said at a news conference outside his home in Evanston on Friday afternoon. At the same time we hold our pain very deep, said Hecht, who called for the other hostages to be released as soon as possible. We need to continue besieging whoever we can and however we can, and praying for their release. Judith came regularly to Meirs congregation and felt like part of our family, the rabbi said. Qatar said it would continue its dialogue with Israel and Hamas in hopes of winning the release of all hostages with the ultimate aim of de-escalating the current crisis and restoring peace. Israeli military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Israel was continuing to work to return hostages and find the missing, and its goals had not changed. We are continuing the war against Hamas and ready for the next stage of the war, he said. The release comes amid growing expectations of a ground offensive that Israel says is aimed at rooting out Hamas militants who rule Gaza. ___ Associated Press reporter Thomas Peipert reported from Denver. Perez Winder reported from Evanston, Savage reported from Chicago and Baumann from Bellingham, Washington. WASHINGTON (NewsNation) President Joe Biden told the nation Thursday night it is vital for Americas national security to provide aid to Israel and Ukraine for their wars to stand up to dictators and promote stability across the world. Drawing parallels between the two conflicts, Biden said if international aggression goes unchecked, the risk of conflict and chaos could spread in other parts of the world. Hamas and Putin represent different threats, Biden said in an Oval Office address. But they share this in common: They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy. Israel continues to pound the Gaza Strip with airstrikes, including in the south where Palestinians were told to take refuge. The long-expected ground invasion has not yet happened, but the countrys defense minister has told troops to be ready to invade. Palestinian militants fired rockets into Israel on Thursday from Gaza and Lebanon, and tensions flared in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Jim Jordan to support empowering temporary speaker Patrick McHenry: source Biden said he would send an urgent funding request to Congress, which is expected to be $105 billion for the next year. The proposal, which will be unveiled Friday, includes $60 billion for Ukraine, much of which is for replenishing U.S. weapons stockpiles that have already been provided. Theres $14 billion for Israel, $10 billion for humanitarian efforts, $14 billion for managing the U.S.-Mexico border and fighting fentanyl trafficking and $7 billion for the Indo-Pacific region, which includes Taiwan. The proposal was described by three people familiar with the details who insisted on anonymity before the official announcement. Its a smart investment thats going to pay dividends for American security for generations, Biden said. Were going to make sure other hostile actors in the region know that Israel is stronger than ever and prevent this conflict from spreading. The Gaza Health Ministry said 3,785 people have been killed in Gaza since the war between Israel and Hamas began, the majority of them women, children and older adults. Nearly 12,500 others were injured, and another 1,300 people were believed buried under the rubble, health authorities said. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly civilians slain during Hamas deadly incursion on Oct. 7. Roughly 200 others were abducted. The Israeli military said Thursday it had notified the families of 203 captives. Biden approval rating near record low in new poll With regards to the war further east, the White House has warned that time is running out to prevent Ukraine, which recently struggled to make progress in a grueling counteroffensive, from losing ground to Russia because of dwindling supplies of weapons. A Russian missile attack killed two civilians in an apartment building in southern Ukraine on Wednesday, local authorities said, as President Vladimir Putin dismissed the importance of a new U.S.-supplied weapon that Kyiv used to execute one of the most damaging attacks on the Kremlins air assets since the start of the war. Putin told reporters that Russia will be able to repel further attacks by the U.S.-made Army Tactical Missile System, known as ATACMS. Biden warned that failure to back Ukraine would enable Putin to take more aggressive actions in the region. If we dont stop Putins appetite for power and control in Ukraine, he wont limit himself just to Ukraine, Biden said. If we walk away and let Putin erase Ukraines independence, would-be aggressors around the world would be emboldened to try the same. Biden hopes that combining both of these issues into one piece of legislation will create the necessary political coalition for congressional approval. But it wont be easy. Divisions emerge between 2024 Republicans over Israeli-Palestinian conflict Biden faces an array of steep challenges as he tries to secure the money. The House remains in chaos because the Republican majority has been unable to select a speaker to replace Rep. Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted more than two weeks ago. Discussions on giving interim House Speaker Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., the authority to manage legislative affairs and conduct floor votes an unprecedented move have intensified as the House is without a permanent leader at a critical time for Congress. Bidens previous prime-time addresses to the nation included when the U.S. narrowly avoided a national debt default and the anniversary of coronavirus lockdowns. His first was to address the conviction of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who was found guilty of murdering George Floyd. The Associated Press contributed to this report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. President Biden on Friday predicted trucks carrying humanitarian aid will enter Gaza within the next 48 hours amid concerns that the assistance has been blocked from crossing the border there. I got a commitment from the Israelis and the president of Egypt that the crossing will be open, Biden told reporters during a meeting with European Union leaders. The highway had to be repaved, it was in very bad shape, and I believe that within the next 24 to 48 hours, the first 20 trucks will come across with aid. Biden announced Wednesday while in Israel that he had secured a commitment from the Israelis to allow humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza through a border crossing with Egypt, based on understanding that there will be inspections, and aid should go to civilians, not to Hamas. While en route back to Washington, Biden spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who agreed to allow up to 20 trucks of humanitarian aid into Gaza at the Rafah border crossing. In a readout of the call, the White House said the two leaders agreed to work together to encourage an urgent and robust international response to the unfolding humanitarian crisis. But as of Friday, no aid had crossed the border into Gaza, where scores of Palestinians lack access to food, water and medicine, spurring fears of a humanitarian crisis. Gaza has been pummeled by Israeli strikes in recent days in response to terrorist attacks against Israel carried out by Hamas, which controls Gaza. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was at the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza on Friday to sound the alarm about the need for aid. We absolutely need to have these trucks moving as quickly as possible and as many as necessary, he said, per the U.N. We are not looking for a win. We are looking for convoys to be authorized in meaningful numbers [and for] trucks to go every day into Gaza to provide enough support to the Gazan people. In addition to the deal brokered with Egypt and the Israelis, Biden this week announced $100 million in U.S. funding that would support more than 1 million displaced and conflict-affected Palestinians, including by filling emergency needs in Gaza. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. President Joe Biden argued in an impassioned Oval Office speech that the huge sums of aid for Ukraine and Israel would secure US interests for generations (JONATHAN ERNST) President Joe Biden requested urgent military aid for Ukraine and Israel in a massive $106 billion security package Friday, but he faces a tough battle to get it through a paralyzed US Congress. Biden's demand came a day after he drew a direct link between the Hamas attack on Israel and Russian President Vladimir Putin 's invasion of Ukraine to convince Americans that the United States must show global leadership. The 80-year-old Democrat argued in an impassioned Oval Office speech that the huge sums involved -- a total of $105.85 billion, including $61 billion in military aid for Ukraine and $14 billion for Israel -- would secure US interests for generations. But Biden's request comes as the US House of Representatives remains in chaos, with Republicans, who hold a narrow majority, in their worst meltdown in decades and unable to elect a speaker for the past 17 days. "The world is watching and the American people rightly expect their leaders to come together and deliver on these priorities," White House Office of Management and Budget director Shalanda Young said in a letter to Congress. "I urge Congress to address them as part of a comprehensive, bipartisan agreement in the weeks ahead." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who visited Washington in September to seek more military aid against Russia, said he was "grateful" to Biden for proposing the aid. "We are counting on both parties in Congress to bend the arch of history toward good," Zelensky said on X, formerly Twitter. Biden's mega aid package throws an olive branch to Republicans in the form of $14 billion in funding for the migration crisis at the southern border with Mexico, including $6.4 billion for security -- a central concern for the right-wing party. - 'Chaos' - The package also includes $7 billion for countering China and strengthening allies in the Asia-Pacific region, and over $9 billion for humanitarian assistance for Gaza, Ukraine and Israel. Most importantly, however, the huge funding ask is an attempt to bolster waning support for Ukraine by linking it with funding for Israel -- which does have widespread bipartisan backing. Whether Republicans can set aside their squabbling and choose a speaker so that Biden's request can even get a hearing remains unclear. Republicans dropped hardliner Jim Jordan as their latest candidate on Friday after he failed to secure victory on his third attempt. An earlier request for aid for Ukraine was stalled when Republican House speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted in a rebellion in September. A growing number of Republicans -- and US voters in general -- oppose adding to the $43.9 billion in security assistance that the United States has committed to Ukraine since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. But considerable support remains in Congress, including among prominent Republicans in the Senate, where the Democrats hold the majority. Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer promised quick action in the upper chamber and urged Republicans to sort themselves out. "This legislation is too important to wait for the House to settle their chaos," he said in a statement. Biden's speech on Thursday drew the link between the wars in Ukraine and Israel as part of a vision of the US as a "beacon to the world" confronting "terrorists" like Hamas and "tyrants" like Putin. It was Biden's bid to remind Americans of the decades-long US geopolitical stance as leader of the Western democracies. The Kremlin on Friday denounced Biden's comments. "We do not accept such a tone in relation to the Russian Federation, in relation to our president," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Biden, meanwhile, welcomed European Union leaders Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen for a summit at the White House on Friday, where they delivered a message of unity on the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine. dk/acb The White House asked the US Congress on Friday, 20 October, for nearly US$105 billion to fund assistance for Ukraine, Israel, and US border security. Source: European Pravda with reference to CNBC Details: President Joe Biden 's largest request in this package more than US$61 billion is for Ukraine. Biden also called for an additional US$14.3 billion for Israel, another US$2 billion for Taiwan and Indo-Pacific security, and just over US$9 billion for humanitarian aid. Background: On 19 October, US President Joe Biden delivered a special speech to the nation in prime time at 20:00 Washington time, explaining why support for Ukraine and Israel is important to US national security. It is worth noting that the US House of Representatives has not yet elected a speaker, so it is unable to vote on any bills, including those for Ukraine. Read also: Crisis that must be averted: how Europe is preparing for a possible cut in US military aid Support UP or become our patron! Bartenders Christine Jennings and Patrick Conehand help customers at Metropolitan Brewing in Avondale on Oct. 18, 2023. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) Citing tepid retail sales, unsustainable debt and a yearslong rent dispute at its custom-designed taproom and brewery overlooking the Chicago River, Metropolitan Brewing has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Without reworking its debt, including more than $1 million owed in back rent and fees, the pioneering 15-year-old craft brewer said it will not survive the long Chicago winter ahead. Advertisement The brewery will not be able to make it through the winter without a comprehensive restructuring or sale, Metropolitan said in its Oct. 3 bankruptcy filing. One of Chicagos oldest craft breweries, Metropolitan launched in 2008 out of a Ravenswood warehouse, building a following for its German-style lagers. In 2017, Metropolitan moved to a more expansive home, leasing space at Rockwell on the River, a commercial redevelopment near Belmont and Elston avenues in Avondale. Advertisement But Metropolitan, known for its flagship Krankshaft Kolsch brew and its picturesque patio views along the river, has been drowning in debt and struggling financially since making the move. Founded and still run by now ex-spouses Doug and Tracy Hurst, Metropolitan owes more than $1 million to North Carolina-based Live Oak Bank for an equipment loan. Other large creditors include the Small Business Administration, which is owed more than $386,000 for an Economic Impact Disaster Loan made during the pandemic in 2020. Another large financial hole was dug with its landlord. Metropolitan owes Rockwell Properties more than $1 million in back rent and fees after halting payments in December 2019 over a dispute about the amount of space leased. The bankruptcy is being filed because while the Debtor can pay market rent for the brewery space going forward there is no way the Debtor can ever repay the amount of back rent the landlord is seeking, according to the Chapter 11 filing. Patrons drink at Metropolitan Brewing in Avondale on Oct. 18, 2023. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) Metropolitan signed a 15-year lease in October 2015, investing $955,000 of its own money in a custom buildout of the space. But the owners say they unwittingly committed to a 33,000-square-foot space 9,000 square feet more than they agreed to during negotiations, according to the bankruptcy filing. The lease, obtained by the Tribune, shows 33,094 square feet starting at a rate of $8.50 per square foot, and escalating annually. The base monthly rent started at about $23,000 in the first year and rose to nearly $29,000 by year three. The square footage discrepancy was discovered in 2019, when the Hursts did a detailed review of the lease with bankers and accountants amid ongoing financial woes. Metropolitan stopped writing checks to Rockwell in December 2019, believing it overpaid the rent by $130,000 during the previous two years. Then the pandemic hit, disrupting business for restaurants and bars across the country. Advertisement In October 2020, flush with federal Paycheck Protection Program money used for pandemic relief, Metropolitan paid Rockwell a lump sum of $55,000. One month later, Rockwell filed an eviction complaint in Cook County Circuit Court against Metropolitan, alleging it owed nearly $818,000 in unpaid rent and other expenses. The legal battle escalated in January 2021, when Metropolitan filed a countersuit against Rockwell, alleging the landlord fraudulently inflated the square footage in the lease. In June 2022, Metropolitan agreed to pay Rockwell about $24,900 per month for use and occupancy of the space while continuing to pursue its court case. A Cook County judge dismissed the brewerys fraud claim in February, leaving the eviction order and the companys solvency as the only matters to resolve. If we wanted to evict them, frankly, we could have proceeded at any point in time, Jason Metnick, a Chicago attorney representing Rockwell Properties, said Thursday. But the landlord has been trying to work things out for a really long time. Last year, the brewery, which has eight full-time and 14 part-time employees, generated $2.16 million in gross revenue through distribution, taproom sales and contract beer it produces for a smaller Chicago-based brewery. Metropolitan expects to generate similar revenue this year, which with restructuring of the lease and debt, would be sufficient to operate the brewery profitably, according to the bankruptcy filing. Jeremy Dop, right, speaks to head brewer Doug Hurst while brewing a seasonal Doppelbock beer at Metropolitan Brewing in Avondale on Oct. 18, 2023. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) Without it, a sale or liquidation may be the only options. Advertisement Were optimistic that moving forward, if we can reach some agreements with the landlord and creditors, we will be able to be profitable, said Doug Hurst, 54, who serves as head brewer. But Metropolitan is facing other headwinds as well. While taproom sales have been stable, distribution numbers sales of canned Metropolitan beers at retail locations have been decreasing, Hurst said. That is reflective of broader sales trends in the craft brewing industry, which has yet to fully recover from the pandemic. Craft beer volume sales dropped 10% in 2020, were up 8% in 2021, flat in 2022 and are down 2% this year, according to Bart Watson, chief economist for the Brewers Association, a Colorado-based trade group representing craft brewers. While craft beer production has grown to 13.2% of the declining U.S. beer market, there are more breweries slicing up the segment, which has made it financially challenging for many operators, Watson said. Leases are often the tipping point for struggling breweries. Many of the closures in the past few years have come from breweries who have their lease up and they cant make the numbers work at the new level, Watson said in an email Thursday. Advertisement If Metropolitan liquidates its assets, which include the brewing equipment, furniture and a company vehicle, it will generate about $837,000, leaving creditors substantially short of what they are owed, according to the bankruptcy filing. The company has not yet explored selling the brewery to another operator, focusing instead on finding a way to keep producing the best-tasting lager in Chicago, Hurst said. Metropolitan is hoping to restructure its debts and renegotiate its lease in the coming weeks, which would include a rent close to the use and occupancy rate it is paying now. Getting Rockwell to forgive some or all of the $1 million in back rent owed is a crucial part of that bankruptcy restructuring plan, Hurst said. Weve been trying to negotiate that since we filed the eviction, Metnick said. Everythings been on the table since day one. rchannick@chicagotribune.com President Biden is sending Congress an urgent budget request for military assistance for Ukraine and Israel, he said in a prime-time speech Thursday night laying out the stakes for American leadership on the world stage. The president refrained from giving a dollar number, but the request is expected to be about $100 billion, with the bulk of the funds expected to be for Ukraine but also to include a significant amount for Israel. Biden laid out the argument to the American people that supporting Ukraine and Israel funds Americas national security needs. Its a smart investment thats going to pay dividends for American security for generations, the president said. Help us keep American troops out of harms way. Help us build a world that is safer, more peaceful and more prosperous for our children and grandchildren. The U.S. has so far provided $113 billion in military and economic assistance for Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022. From the outset, Ive said I will not send American troops to fight in Ukraine. All Ukrainians asked me for is help for the weapons munitions, the capacity, the capability to push invading Russian forces off their land, the air defense system to shutdown Russian missiles before they destroy Ukrainian cities. Republicans critical of sending more assistance to Ukraine have thwarted efforts in the House to pass more aid and have said that America cant afford to send money overseas. The budget request for Ukraine is reportedly $60 billion. Biden spoke to those criticisms, saying that money requested for Ukraine goes into replenishing American stocks with weapons made in America When we use the money allocated by Congress, we use it to replenish our own stores, our own stockpile with new equipment, the president said. Equipment that defends America and is made in America. Patriot missiles for air defense batteries, made in Arizona. Artillery shells manufactured in 12 states across the country; Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas. Theres so much more. And on Israel, Biden is expected to announce around $10 billion in new assistance, which he described as an unprecedented commitment to Israels security that will sharpen Israels qualitative military edge which weve committed to. The U.S. in 2008 passed into law an American commitment to make sure Israel sustains a qualitative military edge, a promise that its military holds an advantage against credible military threat and aggression. Were going to make sure Iron Dome continues to guard the skies over Israel, Biden said, referring to the missile defense system that the U.S. has helped replenish. Were going to make sure other hostile actors in the region know that Israel is stronger than ever and prevent this conflict from spreading. Bidens budget request for Israel comes on top of long-term and robust American-military funding for Israel, which is the largest cumulative recipient of U.S. foreign assistance since World War II, according to the Congressional Research Service. The U.S. provides about $3.8 billion to Israel per year, part of a 10-year memorandum of understanding that amounts to $38 billion total, with $33 billion in foreign military assistance and $5 billion in missile defense, including for the Iron Dome system. In March 2022, Congress approved $1 billion to replenish Israels Iron Dome system following a 10-day war with Hamas that occurred in 2021, in addition to the annual military assistance. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have expressed support for passing a broad aid package that includes funding for Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan and addressing security needs at the southern border. The president did not address these needs specifically but underscored that the importance of American commitment to partners and allies across the world is to counter and deter would-be aggressors from spreading conflict and chaos. We know that our allies and maybe most important our adversaries and competitors are watching, he said. The risk of conflict and chaos could spread in other parts of the world, in the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East. Especially the Middle East, he added. Iran is supporting Russia in Ukraine, and is supporting Hamas and other terrorist groups in the region, and well continue to hold them accountable, I might add. Updated at 9:30 p.m. ET For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. US President Joe Biden will send an "urgent budget request" to Congress on Friday, 20 October, to support Israel and Ukraine. Source: Bidens address to the American people Details: Biden said he would send an "urgent budget request" to Congress on Friday to "fund Americas national security needs to support our critical partners including Israel and Ukraine". Quote from Biden: "It is a smart investment thats going to pay dividends for American security for generations. It will help us keep American troops out of harms way. Help us build a world that is safer, more peaceful, more prosperous for our children and grandchildren." Background: On 18 October, the NBC News with references to sources reported that US President Joe Biden expects that US$60 billion for Ukraine and aid for Israel will be allocated in his US$100 billion funding request. Support UP or become our patron! WASHINGTON President Joe Biden Friday sent Congress a detailed request to spend $106 billion in the coming year to help Ukraine and Israel defend themselves, help war victims in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip, counter China in the western Pacific and improve security at the Mexican border. We expect them to act and to act swiftly, Shalanda Young , director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, told reporters Friday morning. How quickly Congress realistically can act is an open question, given the lack of a speaker in the GOP-run House. Indeed, Youngs letter to the House is addressed to Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry, even though under that chambers rules it is unclear whether the North Carolina Republican has the authority to move legislation. Young said the White House was not trying to get involved in that question. That is a matter for the House to work out, she said. Young and national security adviser Jake Sullivan provided dollar figures behind the announcement Biden made in a rare Oval Office address Thursday night that he would submit an urgent budget request to meet U.S. national security needs. Of the total, more than half $61.4 billion would go for military assistance to Ukraine as it attempts to repel Russian dictator Vladimir Putin s year-and-half-old invasion. Another $14.3 billion is earmarked for military help to Israel, including improved air and missile defense systems, while $9.2 billion would go to humanitarian assistance for war victims in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip. President Joe Biden walks from the Oval Office towards Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Oct. 13. President Joe Biden walks from the Oval Office towards Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Oct. 13. A total of $4 billion is dedicated to countering Chinas influence in the Indo-Pacific region, with half of that for military aid to Taiwan and others, with another $3.4 billion dedicated to boosting the United States submarine capacity. Another $13.6 billion would go for addressing the surge of migrants at the southern border with Mexico, enough for 1,300 more border patrol agents, 1,000 more law enforcement officers, 1,600 more asylum officers and 375 more immigration judge teams. Young said Republicans who have been complaining about the border again have an opportunity to do something about it, just as they did after the White House asked for $4 billion previously. We will not be lectured by those who refuse to act, she said. Young said how much of the money dedicated to humanitarian assistance would go specifically to Gaza whose 2 million residents now are under siege and daily bombardment by Israel as it seeks to root out and kill Hamas operatives is not specified in the budget request. Humanitarian is always flexible. Things happen that we need to be able to respond to, she said. Youve already seen a commitment from this administration in making sure humanitarian aid gets to those in Gaza, so that aid will continue robustly. In describing the military assistance to Ukraine which many Republicans have come to oppose over the past year Sullivan pointed to Bidens argument from his remarks Thursday that weapons going to Ukraine are coming from existing U.S. stockpiles, so that new spending is actually staying in the American economy and helping American workers. Beyond that, Sullivan said the United States has an interest in stopping aggression to deter others from starting wars of expansion. We have to send the unmistakable message that in the 21st century, a dictator cannot be allowed to conquer or carve up his neighbor, Sullivan said. Putin is betting that the United States will walk away from defending a democratic partner in Ukraine, walk away from the coalition of countries that it built over the last 18 months, and Joe Biden and the American people are going to prove Vladimir Putin wrong. President Biden spoke by phone Friday with two Americans who were released by Hamas after being taken hostage during the recent attacks against Israel. The White House said Biden spoke with Judith Raanan and her daughter, 18-year-old Natalie Raanan. He also spoke by phone with the family of the two women following their release. He relayed that they will have the full support of the U.S. government as they recover from this terrible ordeal, the White House said. Judith and Natalie Raanan were among the Americans taken hostage by Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza, during terrorist attacks against Israel on Oct. 7 that left more than 1,400 Israelis dead. Thousands of Palestinians have been killed or injured during subsequent Israeli strikes on Gaza. Top Stories from The Hill More than two dozen Americans have been killed in the conflict. There are 10 Americans who remain unaccounted for after Hamass initial attack, while the terror group is believed to be holding 200 people hostage. Biden said Qatar and Israel secured the release of the Americans on Friday, adding that U.S. officials have been working around-the-clock to free American citizens who were taken hostage by Hamas, and we have not ceased our efforts to secure the release of those who are still being held. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden spoke to the family of Wadea Al-Fayoume, the six-year-old Palestinian-American boy who was stabbed to death in Illinois amid escalating tensions over the Middle Eastern conflict. The call followed the presidents address to the nation on Thursday. According to the White House, the Bidens expressed their deepest condolences and said they were praying for the recovery of Wadeas mother, Hannan Shahin, who was also injured in the vicious attack. On Monday, 71-year-old Joseph Czuba, the familys landlord, made his first court appearance on murder, attempted murder and hate crime charges. He is accused of stabbing the youngster 26 times and his mother a dozen times. In his Thursday speech, Mr Biden made reference to the Al-Fayoumes as a proud Palestinian-American family and said the US must without equivocation denounce both antisemitism and Islamophobia. We cannot stand by and stand silent, he said. The president used his Oval Office address, which came less than a day after returning from a visit to Israel, to discuss our response to Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel and Russias ongoing brutal war against Ukraine. I know many of you in the Muslim-American community, the Arab-American community, the Palestinian-American community and so many others are outraged and hardy, saying to yourself here we go again, with the Islamophobia and distrust we saw after 9/11, he said. Just last week, a mother was brutally stabbed. A little boy here in the United States, a little boy who just turned six-years-old was murdered in their home outside of Chicago. His name was Wadea a proud American, a proud Palestinian-American family. We cant stand by and stand silent when this happens. We must, without equivocation, denounce antisemitism. We must also, without equivocation, denounce Islamophobia. And all you hurting, I want you to know I see you, you belong. And I want to say this to you. Youre all American. In a statement following the speech, the White House said the Bidens had spoken to Wadeas father and uncle. The President and First Lady expressed their deepest condolences to the Al-Fayoume family as they mourn; their prayers that Wadeas mother, Hannan Shahin, makes a full recovery; and their commitment to keep speaking out against anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab, and anti-Muslim hate and violence. the statement read. Mourners in the heavily Palestinian Chicago suburb of Bridgeview (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Crowds of mourners in the heavily Palestinian Chicago suburb of Bridgeview paid respects Monday as Wadea was buried. A Tuesday evening vigil was planned at a community center in a nearby suburb. During funeral services, family and friends remembered Wadea as an energetic boy who loved playing games. The child, who recently celebrated his sixth birthday, was also seen as another innocent casualty in the escalating war. Wadeas mother told investigators into the incident that she rented two rooms on the first floor of the Plainfield home while Czuba and his wife lived on the second floor. She fought Czuba off and went into a bathroom where she stayed until police arrived. Wadea, meanwhile, was in his own room, according to a court filing from Assistant States Attorney Michael Fitzgerald. The boys killing prompted fresh concerns in Muslim circles about Islamophobia and being forgotten in war coverage. At a news conference before Wadeas funeral, speakers called for politicians and media to be responsible with their comments and coverage of the war. In recent days, Jewish and Muslim groups have reported an increase of hateful rhetoric in the wake of the war. Several cities have stepped up police patrols. PLAINFIELD, Ill. - In a primetime address on Thursday night, President Joe Biden appealed to Americans for additional aid to Ukraine and Israel, emphasizing that U.S. leadership "holds the world together." President Biden highlighted the importance of making sure that terrorists and dictators face consequences for their actions to prevent further chaos and destruction. "History has taught us that when terrorists don't pay a price for their terror, when dictators don't pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction. They keep going, and the costs and threats to America and the world keep rising," he said. The President called for Congress to approve $10 billion in aid for Israel, which has seen 32 Americans killed in the Israel-Hamas conflict. He also stressed the need for additional aid to Ukraine, which has already received $130 billion in aid. President Biden acknowledged that Hamas and Russia represent different threats but noted that they both aim to undermine neighboring democracies. He also reflected on a recent attack on a Palestinian American family in the Chicago suburb of Plainfield. "Just last week, a mother was brutally stabbed here in the United States, and a little boy who had just turned 6 years old was murdered in their home outside of Chicago. We can't stand by and stand silent when this happens," he said. The President called on Americans to denounce Islamophobia and anti-Semitism, emphasizing that America is a beacon to the world. President Joe Biden used a rare Oval Office address Thursday night to forcefully advocate for aiding both Israel and Ukraine. And he laid out a dark vision of what would happen should that aid, along with Americas larger commitment to defending democracy, not be delivered. History has taught us, when terrorists dont pay a price for their terror, when dictators dont pay a price for aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction. They keep going, and the cost and the threats to America and the world keep rising, Biden said. Bidens speech came a day after he returned from a whirlwind trip to Israel to stand in solidarity with its longtime ally. Ahead of what could be an escalation of violence in the Middle East, Biden laid out the stakes in clear terms, saying that while Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hamas represent different threats, they both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy. The president spoke quickly at first, reading from a teleprompter, before slowing his rhetoric as his address drifted toward more somber points. He coughed at times, and pointed his finger down on the desk at others. More generally, he offered a tone of sobriety, describing a world with a number of serious fires in desperate need of being put out. Biden linked the fresh fight in Israel to the invasion of Ukraine, trying to revive fading support for a war that has dragged on for more than a year and a half. He used the primetime moment to make the broad case to the public as to why a pair of conflicts on the other side of the globe were so vital to American national security. And he did so by stressing the need to combat the rise of authoritarianism. Biden is poised to make a massive $100 billion spending request on Friday, which would include assistance for Ukraine and Israel. He called it an urgent budget request that would provide an unprecedented commitment to Israels security. Its a smart investment thats going to pay dividends for American security for generations. Help us keep American troops out of harms way. Help us build a world that is safer, more peaceful, more prosperous for our children and grandchildren, Biden said. The president will have to navigate a series of ideological differences if he seeks all of the aid in a single congressional vote. While there is wide support for funding Israel, a small number of vocal Republicans have begun balking at sending more aid to Ukraine. All funding could end up being complicated by the political paralysis that has gripped Congress. The Republican-controlled House of Representatives has been without a speaker now for weeks, making it impossible to pass any legislation, including the aid that Israel has said it urgently needs. Republicans on Thursday ditched a plan to temporarily empower Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) as interim speaker amid ongoing divides in the caucus, once again placing the House at an impasse. Biden on Thursday also mourned the lost Palestinian lives, two days after a rocket exploded at a hospital in Gaza, reportedly killing hundreds of civilians. He stated, definitively, that Israel was not responsible for the explosion. But he also noted that people in Gaza were in desperate need of food, water and medicine. His recognition of the magnitude of tragedy also striking Palestinians among the strongest since the beginning of the conflict comes amid criticism from top Arab American and Muslim leaders about the White Houses posture during the crisis. The president also named Wadea Al-Fayoume, the 6-year-old Palestinian American boy who authorities say was stabbed to death because he was Muslim. We cant stand by and stand silent when this happens, Biden said. We must without equivocation denounce antisemitism. We must also without equivocation denounce Islamophobia. And to all you hurting, I want you to know I see you. You belong. And I want to say this to you: Youre all American. Underscoring the importance of the moment, the address was only the second time Biden has delivered formal remarks from the Oval Office since becoming president. In June, he spoke from behind the Resolute Desk about a bipartisan agreement to avoid defaulting on the nations debt. Biden has earned kudos among Israels defenders for standing firmly with the country. But his trip to the country was marred by conflict in the region. A summit scheduled for Amman featuring Jordanian, Palestinian and Egyptian leaders was canceled after the explosion at a hospital in Gaza. And while Biden was still on the ground in Tel Aviv, protests across the region dramatically escalated, including demonstrations at the American embassy in Beirut, Lebanons capital. U.S. officials have expressed deep private concert that the unrest in the region could explode once Israel begins its seemingly imminent ground operation into Gaza. In many ways, Bidens overarching message Thursday night was an illustration of the lofty themes he has hit throughout his presidency: reframing the century ahead as a battle between democracies and autocracies. American leadership is what holds the world together, he said. Our alliances are what keep us safe, and our values are what make us a partner that other nations want to work with. President Joe Biden flew into multiple headwinds on his risky trip to show solidarity with Israel on Wednesday. Even before his plane landed at Ben Gurion Airport, several allied Arab leaders announced they would not see him. He won a limited agreement from Israel to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip but secured no promises that Israel would follow his urgent request to respond to the terrorist attack by Hamas with deliberate care and concern for the preservation of civilian life, rather than rage. He offered a small aid package for residents of Gaza and the West Bank but cant do much more until Congress functions again. Rocket and shell fire from Gaza and Lebanon resumed within two hours after his plane left Israel. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times But the trip was still worth making, as much for what went unspoken as for any tangible goals that were achieved. The presidents decision to enter a war zone, in a country full of destruction and rage and the smoke of explosives, made it clear that the United States still has a vital role to play in defusing international crises and protecting democracies. And thats especially true, given the dysfunction on display back in Washington during his visit. While Biden met with Israeli emergency workers and the families of victims of Hamas, Republicans in the House were distinguishing themselves by not electing a speaker, by not doing their jobs in passing spending bills and military aid packages, and by not demonstrating that the legislative branch of government has its act together. In the Senate, a single Republican member, seething about abortion, is preventing the promotion of hundreds of military officers at a time when American military expertise could be extremely useful around the world. Jack Lew, as strong a supporter of Israel as anyone ever nominated for the position of ambassador to that country, faced a torrent of opposition on Wednesday to his nomination from a group of Republican senators still annoyed that he helped put in effect the Obama administration deal that required Iran to limit its uranium enrichment. The contrast could not be more clear. An increasingly isolationist Republican Party is nursing old ideological grievances and trying to disengage from the world, pulling back on our commitment to protect Ukraine from Russian aggression while Donald Trump calls Hezbollah very smart and refers to Vladimir Putin as a genius. The disorder caused by a few right-wing rebels in the House could prevent or delay the approval of a large military aid package to Ukraine and Israel, even as Biden offered $100 million in humanitarian aid on Wednesday. Almost immediately, Sen. Rick Scott of Florida and several other Republicans introduced a bill to prevent that aid from going to Gaza until Hamas hostages are released, which is another way of making sure it will never be delivered. This is why Robert Gates, the secretary of defense under George W. Bush and Barack Obama, referred to the United States as the dysfunctional superpower in a much-discussed article in the latest issue of Foreign Affairs magazine. China and Russia firmly believe the United States is in irreversible decline, he wrote, as made evident by its growing isolationism, political polarization and domestic disarray. He added, Dysfunction has made American power erratic and unreliable, practically inviting risk-prone autocrats to place dangerous bets with potentially catastrophic effects. Biden has devoted his life to the opposite vision of Americas role and took some risk on Wednesday in demonstrating that vision in person. Its kind of extraordinary to put a president in this position, Dennis Wilder, a national security assistant to Bush and a former deputy assistant director for the CIA, told me in an interview. I was very perplexed by this one. But Air Force One landing anywhere in the world is a big deal. It still carries with it an understanding of tremendous power and reach. It shows, in other words, that Biden still believes in an interventionist foreign policy, if that intervention is intended to thwart aggression and terrorism and violence. He might even have made that case face to face with the leaders of Jordan, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority, if those leaders hadnt immediately taken at face value Hamas claims that Israel destroyed a hospital in Gaza on Tuesday at a cost of hundreds of lives. Israel and the United States say they now have preliminary forensic evidence that the hospital explosion was really the result of an errant rocket fired by a militia in Gaza. That dispute will go on for a while, but the unshakable belief in the Arab world that it was Israels fault will be a setback for the diplomacy of Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. But Israel wont soon forget that Biden showed up in person. His reelection campaign may hope that voters remember the presidents physical steadiness and comforting words when he is accused over the next year of being too decrepit to lead. The more important audience, for the moment at least, may be that of other countries that wondered whether the United States could still be counted on, after Trump trampled on long-standing alliances and promises. As Wilder noted, China and Russia have taken advantage of that uncertainty and are trying to persuade nonaligned nations that the American model is worn out and rotting from the inside. In that effort, they are getting enormous encouragement from the Republican Party and its unwillingness to govern. If Biden has to put himself in harms way to show that there is another path forward, it is a risk worth taking. And Air Force One may have to encounter a lot more turbulence before the air is clear. c.2023 The New York Times Company President Biden used a rare Oval Office address Thursday to urge Americans to support more military funding for Israel in the wake of a deadly Hamas attack and more aid for Ukraine in its protracted war against Russia, warning that both conflicts pose a threat to U.S. national security. "Our alliances are what keep us safe. And our values are what make us a partner that other nations want to work with," Biden said in only his second address from behind the Resolute Desk. "We put all of that at risk if we walk away from Ukraine or turn our back on Israel." Biden said he planned to send an emergency funding request to Congress that would provide more assistance for U.S. allies. The request, which the White House is expected to unveil Friday, totals more than $100 billion. The proposal also includes money for Taiwan and for security along the U.S. border with Mexico. Biden said that although these conflicts can feel "far away," Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin pose a threat to democratic stability around the world. "Hamas and Putin represent different threats," he said. "But they share this in common: They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy completely." Biden traveled this week to Tel Aviv, where he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss Israel's military campaign against Hamas and push for more humanitarian assistance for civilians trapped in the crossfire in the Gaza Strip. Failing to aid Israel and Ukraine would only embolden their foes, Biden warned. "When terrorists don't pay a price for their terror, when dictators don't pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death, and more destruction," he said. "They keep going, and the costs and the threats to America and the world keep rising." But he faces an uphill battle in Congress, where progressive Democrats have spoken out against sending more weapons to Israel and right-wing Republicans have questioned continued military assistance for Ukraine. In August, the White House asked for $24 billion in aid for Ukraine as part of a supplemental funding request, but the provision was left out of a short-term spending measure despite an appearance by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the U.S. Capitol. Before the speech, Biden spoke with Zelensky to underscore "continued strong bipartisan support" for Kyiv, according to a White House readout of the phone call. But U.S. public support for supplying Ukraine with weapons has waned, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released Oct. 5. The survey found 41% of respondents agreed Washington should supply weapons to Ukraine, compared with 35% who disagreed. In May, 46% of respondents said the U.S. should send weapons to Ukraine, compared with 29% who were opposed. The U.S. has so far provided more than $75 billion in military, humanitarian and financial aid to Ukraine, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. House Republicans' failure to elect a new speaker to replace ousted Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) has also halted Congress, limiting the lower chamber's ability to act on any request made by the president. Biden arrived in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, hours after a massive blast at a Gaza Strip hospital killed hundreds of people, prompting Israel and the Hamas-run Health Ministry to blame the opposing side for the devastating attack. The president reiterated in his Oval Office address that he agrees with Israel's version of events. Biden had initially planned to travel Amman, Jordan, to meet leaders from Israel, Jordan, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority, which has no ruling position in Gaza but oversees the larger West Bank. The meeting was scrapped before Biden's plane left Washington. During his trip to Israel, Biden vowed to help restore the beleaguered country as a "safe place for the Jewish people." "And I promise you: We're going to do everything in our power to make sure that it will be," he said in a speech after meeting Netanyahu and his war Cabinet. But Biden warned Israelis not to be "consumed by rage," using the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the U.S. as a cautionary tale, noting that while the United States sought and found justice, it also made mistakes. More than 1,400 people have been killed in Israel and 3,400 in Gaza since the conflict began Oct. 7 with Hamas' surprise incursion of the Israeli border. "Tonight, there are innocent people all over the world who hope because of us, who believe in a better life because of us, who are desperate not to be forgotten by us and are waiting for us," Biden said. "But time is of the essence. I know we have our divisions at home. We have to get past them. We can't let petty, partisan, angry politics get in the way our responsibility as a great nation." In Biden's only other Oval Office speech, in June, he delivered remarks after reaching an agreement with then-Speaker McCarthy to avoid defaulting on the nation's debt, a deal that was scrapped months later by House Republicans. Get the best of the Los Angeles Times politics coverage with the Essential Politics newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. One day after he visited Israel, which is in the midst of grieving and responding to the horrific Oct. 7 attack by the militant group Hamas, President Biden delivered a rare Oval Office address, in which he said American leadership was necessary to keep freedom alive in both the Middle East and Eastern Europe. The speech comes as Biden prepares to ask Congress on Friday for $14 billion in aid to Israel and $60 billion to Ukraine. Below are the key points from Thursday evenings address. Recommended reading American leadership is what holds the world together President Biden delivers a primetime address from the Oval Office on Thursday. (Jonathan Ernst/Pool/Reuters) (Jonathan Ernst / reuters) Biden has always expressed an old-fashioned faith in the ability of the United States to act as the peacemaker and moral arbiter of the world an image that was damaged in good part by the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. On Thursday evening, he tied Israels fight against Hamas to Ukraines effort to expel invading Russian forces from its sovereign lands, describing the struggles as inherently related. Hamas and [Russian President Vladimir] Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common: They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy, Biden said. The speech came as Republicans have struggled to elect a House speaker in Washington, and as pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations have broken out across the country. I know we have our divisions at home, Biden said. He also urged an end to petty, partisan, angry politics, in a seeming reference to the ongoing House drama that could make it impossible to allocate more funding for Israel or Ukraine not to mention the U.S. government, which faces a looming mid-November shutdown. Recommended reading Were not withdrawing Biden arrives at Joint Base Andrews on Thursday following his visit to Israel. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters) (Evelyn Hockstein / reuters) The counteroffensive launched by Ukraine over the summer did not result in the kind of gains many allies in the West had foreseen. Although Russian defensive lines have been breached in some places, the 700-mile front is too heavily mined and fortified to allow for a significant rout, especially since Ukraines military is much smaller than Russias. Still, Biden made clear that even as the war enters its third year, the United States would continue to supply Ukraine with the armaments it needs to wage war. He also warned Putin that if he had designs on the Baltic nations or Poland, the United States would defend every inch of NATO territory. At the same time, he stressed that he had no intention of sending American forces to Ukraine. Recommended reading Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people An Israeli national flag is seen in the kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel on Thursday. (Amir Cohen/Reuters) (Amir Cohen / reuters) The militant group Hamas, based in the Gaza Strip, broke through Israeli border defenses in its Oct. 7 attack and has killed at least 1,300 people, including many women and children. It is said to have committed horrific atrocities, including rape, torture and beheadings. Yet in both the United States and across the world, some have celebrated the incursion as an oppressed peoples cry for freedom. Pro-Palestinian demonstrations, which some U.S. lawmakers have said were ill-timed to begin with, have sometimes devolved into displays of antisemitism and glorifications of violence. Biden made clear Thursday that he rejected any attempt to justify the atrocities Hamas has committed, for the most part against civilians. The terrorist group Hamas unleashed pure, unadulterated evil in the world, he said. At the same time, he pointed out that Hamas which calls for the complete elimination of Israel does not represent the entirety of the Palestinian people, many of whom favor a two-state solution. Biden remains committed to that possibility as well. The United States remains committed to the Palestinian peoples right to dignity and to self-determination, he said. The actions of Hamas terrorists dont take that right away. Significantly, Biden added that Tuesdays deadly bombing of a Gaza hospital which U.S. intelligence has determined was not the result of an Israeli airstrike, though many, in particular in the Arab world, remain unconvinced was not done by the Israelis. Recommended reading "Explanation for Everything," directed by Gabor Reisz, is 2023's top prize winner at the Chicago International Film Festival. It tells a blackly humorous tale of a high school student's stumble in a political nightmare. (Cinema/Chicago/HANDOUT) In a year marking a neighborhood shift in its primary screening venue, the AMC NewCity 14 in the gray area known as sort of Goose Island, sort of Old Town, the Chicago International Film Festival awarded top prize in the international feature juried competition to the Hungarian-Slovak coproduction Explanation for Everything. Director/co-writer Gabor Reiszs Budapest-set comedy of errors concerns a student who get embroiled in romantic and political complications somewhat beyond his control. It won the festivals Gold Hugo award. Advertisement The Silver Hugo (aka second prize) in this category went to Rodrigo Morenos The Delinquents, a Buenos Aires-set tale of a bank treasurer who steals from his own bank in order to featherbed his retirement years. From Yemen, the drama "The Burdened" won the New Directors competition in this year's Chicago International Film Festival. (Courtesy of Cinema/ Chicago) Overall, 46 films in this years festival competed for prizes in several categories. The New Directors Competition winner was The Burdened, from Yemen. The Roger Ebert Award went to Goodbye Julia, from director Mohamed Kordofani. The Chicago Award for Illinois-based work went to We Grown Now, the Cabrini-Green coming-of-age drama by writer-director Minhal Baig. Advertisement The International Documentary award winners were The Echo from Mexico, and in second place, the Polish-Ukrainian production In the Rearview. The festival continues at festival venues through Oct. 22. The late-breaking lineup for Sundays closing-day best of the fest roster will go public 10 a.m. Oct. 21, more at chicagofilmfestival.com. Michael Phillips is a Tribune critic. mjphillips@chicagotribune.com Twitter @phillipstribune President Biden on Thursday warned Hamas against diverting humanitarian shipments to the Gaza Strip, saying its sustained delivery was dependent on goods reaching Palestinian civilians. If Hamas does not divert or steal these shipments, were going to provide an opening for sustained delivery of lifesaving humanitarian assistance for the Palestinians, the president said in a rare prime-time address. Biden, who returned Thursday from a one-day trip to Israel, said an agreement to begin shipments of humanitarian supplies into besieged Gaza was secured following talks he held with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and after a phone call with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Biden had earlier committed $100 million in humanitarian support for Palestinians and spoke to civilian casualties amid the outbreak of war, including an explosion at a hospital in Gaza that was treating patients and housing people seeking shelter, saying Israel was not responsible for an event that has further inflamed the Arab world. Like so many others, Im heartbroken by the tragic loss of Palestinian life including the explosion at the hospital in Gaza, which was not done by the Israelis. We mourn every innocent life lost and cant ignore the humanity of innocent Palestinians who only want to live in peace and have an opportunity. I also spoke with [ President Mahmoud Abbas ] of the Palestinian Authority and reiterated that the United States remains committed to the Palestinian peoples right to dignity and to self determination. The actions of Hamas terrorists dont take that right away. The presidents remarks were the first details provided on how the aid shipments would begin, which are reportedly to start Friday. Palestinians in the claustrophobic Gaza Strip are suffering under intense Israeli aerial bombardment that Israel says it is carrying out against Hamas military infrastructure and targeting its leaders. Hamas has controlled the Strip since seizing power in a bloody takeover in 2007. It continues to fire rockets into Israel. Theres little place for Palestinian civilians to flee to safety in the densely packed enclave, and shipments of food, fuel and medicine had ceased with the outbreak of war and Egypts closing of its Rafah land border crossing. Israel declared war on Hamas after the U.S.-designated terror group launched an unprecedented attack into Israel on Oct. 7 massacring more than 1,400 people and taking nearly 200 people hostage into the Gaza strip. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had earlier said the U.S. was concerned that Hamas would seize or destroy aid entering Gaza or prevent it from reaching civilians, and he said the U.S. would condemn the act and work to prevent it from happening again. Updated 9:53 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (The Hill) President Biden on Thursday warned Hamas against diverting humanitarian shipments to the Gaza Strip, saying its sustained delivery was dependent on goods reaching Palestinian civilians. If Hamas does not divert or steal these shipments, were going to provide an opening for sustained delivery of lifesaving humanitarian assistance for the Palestinians, the president said in a rare prime-time address. Biden, who returned Thursday from a one-day trip to Israel, said an agreement to begin shipments of humanitarian supplies into besieged Gaza was secured following talks he held with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and after a phone call with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Biden draws parallels between Putin, Hamas in Oval Office address Biden had earlier committed $100 million in humanitarian support for Palestinians and spoke to civilian casualties amid the outbreak of war, including an explosion at a hospital in Gaza that was treating patients and housing people seeking shelter. Like so many others, Im heartbroken by the tragic loss of Palestinian life including the explosion at the hospital in Gaza, which was not done by the Israelis. We mourn every innocent life lost and cant ignore the humanity of innocent Palestinians who only want to live in peace and have an opportunity. I also spoke with [President Mahmoud Abbas] of the Palestinian Authority and reiterated that the United States remains committed to the Palestinian peoples right to dignity and to self determination. The actions of Hamas terrorists dont take that right away. Warner: No one would ever trust us again if US halts Ukraine aid The presidents remarks were the first details provided on how the aid shipments would begin, which are reportedly to start Friday. Palestinians in the claustrophobic Gaza Strip are suffering under intense Israeli aerial bombardment that Israel says it is carrying out against Hamas military infrastructure and targeting its leaders. Hamas continues to fire rockets into Israel. Theres little place for Palestinian civilians to flee to safety in the densely packed enclave, and shipments of food, fuel and medicine had ceased with the outbreak of war and Egypts closing of its Rafah land border crossing. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had earlier said the U.S. was concerned that Hamas would seize or destroy aid entering Gaza or prevent it from reaching civilians, and he said the U.S. would condemn the act and work to prevent it from happening again. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. President Joe Biden showed strength in some areas In a televised Oval Office address Thursday night on the war in Israel, condemning Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin . But he spent a lot of time warning Americans against Islamophobia, demonstrating a lack of empathy for the devastating reality in Israel. Today, Jewish families worried about being targeted in school, wearing symbols of their faith walking down the street or going out about their daily lives, Biden said in a rare primetime address from the Oval Office. And I know many of you in the Muslim-American community, the Arab-American community, the Palestinian-American community, and so many others, are outraged, saying to yourself, here we go again with Islamophobia and distrust we saw after 9/11. Of course, its important that Americans beware of and call out any bigotry, including Islamophobia and blatant xenophobia, but thats not largely whats circulating in the U.S. right now. Anti-Israeli sentiment and, in many cases, downright antisemitism are the bigger problems. More groups on college campuses have refused to condemn terrorists, more donors are pulling their funding from reputable universities propping up antisemitism, and theres been more marches supporting Palestine, with people chanting From the river to the sea Palestine will be free than there have been the reverse groups denouncing the blatant antisemitism on display through Hamas. America and the world just watched as Hamas, self-dubbed jihadists, systematically raped Israeli women, beheaded Israeli babies, abducted Israeli children and burned Israeli homes. The death toll is now at 1,400 Israelis. At least 13 Americans are hostages in the Gaza Strip. Americans are right to condemn this, and doing so should not be confused with Islamophobia. Israel just experienced its own 9/11, many times over in fact, when accounting for its much smaller population. Imagine people telling Americans after 9/11 that after more than a dozen or so jihadists targeted the World Trade Center towers, the White House, and the Pentagon, they shouldnt seek to go after those responsible. Of course, only the deranged wanted to target innocent Muslims, but Americans were rightfully angry with the Taliban and al-Qaeda. That wrath was rooted not in bigotry but righteous indignation. And so it is with the people of Israel. Theres nothing wrong with encouraging Americans to be mindful of bigotry and to respect other peoples beliefs, but a few days after Israels worst terrorist attack since the Holocaust, that should be the focus. Politicians are often masters of the art of appeasement, but this effort made Biden look like a man trying to serve two masters. Its especially surprising given that Biden condemned Hamas within 24 hours of the attack. As Ecclesiastes says, there is a time for everything under the sun: Now isnt the time to scold Americans for wanting to condemn antisemitism and terrorism. Do you have an opinion on this topic? Tell us! We love to hear from Texans with opinions on the news and to publish those views in the Opinion section. Letters should be no more than 150 words. Writers should submit letters only once every 30 days. Include your name, address (including city of residence), phone number and email address, so we can contact you if we have questions. You can submit a letter to the editor two ways: Email letters@star-telegram.com (preferred). Fill out this online form. Please note: Letters will be edited for style and clarity. Publication is not guaranteed. The best letters are focused on one topic. President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden have spoken with the family of a Palestinian-American boy killed in a hate crime outside of Chicago this week, the White House said, amid rising anti-Muslim tensions due to U.S. support for Israels war against Hamas in Gaza. Six-year-old Wadea Alfayoumi was stabbed to death Sunday when his landlord broke into his apartment and attacked him and his mother. Police said the attack was motivated by the landlords hate for Palestinians after the militant group Hamas killed over 1,300 Israelis in a surprise attack earlier this month, launching a war. The President and First Lady expressed their deepest condolences to the Alfayoumi family as they mourn; their prayers that Wadeas mother, Hannan Shahin, makes a full recovery; and their commitment to keep speaking out against anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab, and anti-Muslim hate and violence, the White House said in a statement Thursday. Biden mentioned the attack in his Oval Office address to the nation Thursday evening, in which he reiterated U.S. support for Israel in the conflict as well as denounced both antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate. Today, Jewish families worried about being targeted in school, wearing symbols of their faith walking down the street or going out about their daily lives, Biden said. And I know many of you in the Muslim-American community, the Arab-American community, the Palestinian-American community, and so many others, are outraged, saying to yourself, here we go again with Islamophobia and distrust we saw after 9/11, he added. Biden and the first lady called Alfayoumis father and uncle right after the address, the White House said. We must without equivocation denounce antisemitism. We must also without equivocation denounce Islamophobia, Biden said. And to all of you hurting I want you to know I see you. You belong. And I want to say this to you. Youre all America. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Black founders raised 0.13% of all capital allocated to U.S. startups in Q3, according to Crunchbase. Thats about $39.7 million out of $29.9 billion. This number is a massive year-over-year drop. In Q3 2022, Black founders raised $1 billion out of around $81.7 billion in venture dollars, around 1.2%. Actually, $39.7 million is a massive quarter-over-quarter drop. Just in Q2, Black founders raised $212 million out of $29 billion, and in Q1, they raised $352 million out of $45 billion. There seems to have been an overall dip in venture capital funding this Q3, but, as weve covered, funding to Black founders has been consistently declining since 2020. "Unfortunately, the venture industry is moving in the wrong direction here, Gene Teare, the senior data editor at Crunchbase, told TechCrunch. It may be tempting to blame a larger market correction, but the data tells a different story. She pointed out that it's not just the dollars to Black founders that are down, but also the overall percentage of funding remains low, dropping to some of its lowest levels. Despite the valiant efforts of many firms and organizations, it's clear that more work needs to be done to overcome biases in the ecosystem, she continued. Data visualization by Miranda Halpern, created with Flourish To many Black founders, the dip in funding was expected. A lot of the diversity, equity and inclusion promises made after 2020 were broken, and conservative activists have started attacking grant programs that seek to help marginalized communities. Given that context, Teare said she wondered if there is now an abundance of caution in the ecosystem that is preventing investors from taking chances on first-time founders who are more likely to be diverse. We'll be watching to see if the new California law sparks any changes, but it'll be quite some time before it's implemented and even longer before we get any answers, she said. On the ground, Black founders are also feeling the dip. Yves Perez, the co-founder of Workbnb, called 2023 the year of smoke and mirrors for Black founders raising. He cited the broken commitments, along with other stories he heard of how difficult it was for him and his peers. I watched several Black founders suddenly adopt AI to help them raise or drop their valuations significantly so they could get fundraising over with, he said. Arian Long, the founder of the period care company Femly, said although access to capital was often impossible this year, she and her company circumvented that by doubling down on profitability, staying lean, leveraging grants and pitching competitions. Black founders have also spoken more and more of simply leaning into their own networks rather than seeking capital from the old guard players who have become more obvious in not supporting them. There are more emerging funds and a split in the ecosystem, where although numbers are dismal, there are indeed people passionate about backing diverse talent. Perez and Tinia Pina, the founder of agtech company Re-Nuble, said she was able to find support in their respective networks. I am more connected and in touch with investors that are mission and impact-aligned, Pina said. It's a very conscious community of investors that try to be aware of and eliminate biases such as this. One Black law student who recently had a job offer rescinded due to their support of Palestinian people. Ryna Workman, a New York University law student body president who is nonbinary and goes by they/them pronouns, penned a letter to their classmates revealing their unwavering and absolute solidarity with Palestinians in their resistance against oppression toward liberation and self-determination, according to The Intercept. Workman concluded the message by stating, Israel bears full responsibility for this tremendous loss of life. Workmans controversial letter led to their removal as president of the Student Bar Association. They received criticism online for refusing to condemn Hamas actions in the attacks on Oct. 7 that left about 1,300 Israeli people dead. The law firm Winston & Strawn withdrew their post-graduate job offer to Workman due to their support for Palestinians. Since then, Workman has received online death threats, and the university is launching a full investigation into them. In their first interview with the media, Workman told The Intercept that their message was to shed light on Israels 75-year violent regime over Palestine and advocate for basic human rights. They also admired the resilience of the people of Gaza, who continued to use their voice to garner global support. Whats been driving me is the resilience of Palestinians in this moment, Workman told to The Intercept. The fact that they are still using their voice, that they are still standing strong, that they are still here, and that they are asking us to continue to speak out and show up for them through this and to not let this be their end. They continued: And so for me, I will continue to speak out for them and ask for these demands of an immediate ceasefire and this provision of this humanitarian assistance in a safe, secure and timely fashion to the people of Gaza. An NYU spokesperson released a statement responding to Workmans remarks in the newsletter. The statement issued by the president of the Student Bar Association does not in any way reflect the point of view of NYU, which condemns the terrorist attack on Israel. Acts of terrorism are immoral. The indiscriminate killing of civilians and hostage-taking, including children and the elderly, is reprehensible. Blaming victims of terrorism for their own deaths is wrong, the statement read. On Monday, Workman released a statement and explained how they didnt intend their message to come across as insensitive to the Israeli nation. Ive been getting a lot of backlash for the message I sent to my fellow NYU Law students where I voiced my support for the human rights of Palestinians, they said in the letter. My message came across as insensitive to the suffering of Israelis during a time of crisis and that is not what I intended. What I wrote was inspired by, and in line with, what many Jewish peace activists and Israelis, including the editorial board of Israels largest newspaper, have voiced over the past week in response to the violence. According to reports, Workman is not the only college student facing backlash for supporting Palestinians. The Intercept reported that students across the country, especially at Harvard, were condemned for addressing Israels treatment toward the Palestinians. Research from Palestine Legal, an advocacy group, shows 1,707 incidents have occurred between 2014 and 2020. This is an unprecedented moment of anxiety and fear for everyone speaking out publicly in support of Palestinians, who are compelled to do so to stop an unfolding genocide in Gaza, Dima Khalidi, director of Palestine Legal, told The Intercept. There has always been a concerted effort to shut down the movement for Palestinian rights through censorship, legal bullying, doxxing, and more, as Palestine Legal has been documenting for years. Now that attack has been magnified by 100. Recently, Harvard students held several protests as they addressed the importance of free speech rights. Harvard students are upholding their stance in support of Palestine despite constant doxxing and attacks in the media. A right-wing group rented a truck showing their faces around campus and theyre being put on employment blacklists. Theres a petition:https://t.co/hecsBSIY0Y pic.twitter.com/H0KiZUXb36 BreakThrough News (@BTnewsroom) October 19, 2023 Secretary of State Antony Blinken told his staffers Thursday night that he knew many were shaken professionally and personally by the Israel-Hamas war a message he sent amid unhappiness among some Muslim and Arab employees over how the U.S. is approaching the crisis. Blinkens note to staff wasnt a response to reports of the frustrations , a person familiar with the issue said. He had planned to write to department employees about the Middle East crisis but wanted to wait until he returned from a visit to the region, said the person, who was granted anonymity to discuss a sensitive issue. Blinkens note described his trip, which was repeatedly extended and saw him visit Israel and several Arab countries, some of them multiple times. The secretary applauded staffers for moving quickly to deal with logistics and other aspects of the trip and overall crisis. I know that, for many of you, this time has not only been challenging professionally, but personally, he added. Some of our colleagues in the region, especially among our locally employed staff, have been directly affected by the violence, including by losing loved ones and friends. He went on to note that even in the United States, there have been ripples of fear and bigotry against Arab Americans, Muslims and Jews. He insisted, however, that the administrations approach to the crisis has been balanced. President [Joe] Biden has made clear from the beginning of the crisis as I underscored across the region that while we fully support Israels right to defend itself, how it does so matters. That means acting in a way that respects the rule of law and international humanitarian standards, and taking every possible precaution to protect civilian life, he wrote. The Biden administrations initial reaction to Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel was to offer unqualified support to the Israelis, insisting they had the right to defend themselves against the militant group. That jarred many State Department employees who worried it gave Israel a green light to take measures that would unfairly punish ordinary Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, where Hamas is based. Due to an Israeli siege, water, electricity and fuel are in short supply now in the territory. The Biden administrations approach has especially upset Muslim and Arab staffers but not only them who felt the language was not nuanced and deaf to longstanding Palestinian concerns. Some worried it would also lead to bad policy outcomes and more long-term violence in the Middle East. In more recent days, Biden, Blinken and others have adjusted their language. They are more likely now to urge Israel to avoid hurting civilians and to more openly acknowledge the suffering of the Palestinians. They also have promised to send millions in aid to Palestinians in Gaza. Amid the tumult, some Arab and Muslim staffers have considered quitting, but they also weigh the possibility that they might be able to do more good if they stay at the department. That keeps some people going, one State Department employee said. But when youre talked over or ignored enough times, it can cause folks to break. Blinken appeared to nod to some of these concerns in his note, writing, "And let us also be sure to sustain and expand the space for debate and dissent that makes our policies and our institution better." At least one department employee has quit over the Biden administrations approach to the conflict. A manhunt continues for Sean Williams after officials said he escaped during a prison transport from Kentucky to Tennessee. Williams escaped at around 7:30 a.m. Oct. 18, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and federal agencies have been looking for him since. He is facing 21 charges of sex crimes against children, according to TBI. As of the afternoon of Oct. 20, the 51-year-old man from Johnson City, Tennessee, has not been located, and officials have not shared additional updates on his possible whereabouts. The escape Williams escaped the custody of officers in Greeneville, Tennessee, while being transported to the U.S. district courthouse there, according to the TBI. His escape came after an 130-mile drive from a jail in Laurel County, Kentucky. Williams used some part of the vans headrest to remove his restraints, Jamie Mosley, a jailer at the Laurel County Correctional Center involved in the transport, said in a statement. Williams was able to pry the protective screening and force the side window out of the rear of the transport vehicle, Mosley said. Then Williams climbed out through the window, the official said. He was spotted moments later covered with blood, Mosley said. The charges Williams is wanted on charges including two counts of rape of a child, 16 counts of especially aggravated sex exploitation of a minor and three counts of aggravated sexual battery (under 13), according to the TBI. He was indicted on three counts of producing child pornography in September, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office in the Eastern District of Tennessee. His trial was set for January in Greeneville. Each of those three counts carries a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years in prison if he is found guilty, officials said. Following Williams escape, investigators offered a $2,500 reward for information, but the amount was upped to $7,500 after the search stretched on for days. Williams is also wanted on a drug-related charge, according to U.S. Marshals. Williams had previously been accused of other sex crimes dating back to as early as 2018, but no charges were filed against him at the time, the Johnson City Press reported. A former special assistant U.S. attorney sued Johnson City, saying she lost her job after she tried to press charges against a man, later identified as Williams, according to the Tennessee Lookout. A group of woman also filed a lawsuit against Johnson City, saying the city failed to investigate reports that Williams had repeatedly drugged and raped women, the Tennessee Lookout reported. A city audit completed in July found the police departments investigations into the reports were inconsistent, ineffective and incomplete, according to a news release from Johnson City. TBI shared that Williams will also now face a federal escape charge. Identifying Williams Williams is 511 and weighs about 170 pounds, the Greene County Sheriffs Office shared. At the time of his escape in downtown Greenville, he was wearing light tan jail-type clothes and has a shaved head, deputies said. TBI also shared photos of three tattoos on his left arm and hand. This isnt Williams first time trying to escape either, according to officials. Williams is desperate to escape custody and has attempted previously, U.S. Marshals said. Anyone who sees Williams is urged to use caution and call 911 immediately. Greeneville is in Northeast Tennessee about 70 miles northeast of Knoxville. Doctor kidnaps woman, drugs her at his ketamine clinic and assaults her, lawsuit says Man vanishes after trying to help mom and child escape sinking SUV, California cops say Dangerous convicted sex offender found after escaping hospital, Missouri cops say A former staff member of a boarding school who sexually abused five boys there has been jailed for 25 years. Maurice Lambell was sentenced after failing to turn up to a 3 October hearing where his co-accused Keith Figes was jailed for 27 years. Lambell, an ex-pupil of Berrow Wood School in Worcestershire, returned as an employee in 1970 when he was a teen. Jailing him at Worcester Crown Court, Judge Martin Jackson said "brutality and sadism reigned supreme" there. Berrow Wood in Pendock, between Tewkesbury and Malvern, opened in 1966 for "maladjusted" boys, who were sent there by social services from areas across England, sometimes more than 100 miles from home. One man who was sexually abused by Lambell said he now avoided Pendock "like the plague". Lambell, 69, of Wigan, who carried out his abuse between 1970 and 1974, had denied 30 historical offences but was found guilty by a jury. He was aged between 16 and 19 during the period in question, according to his defence team, which told the court Lambell had himself been abused while a pupil there. The school shut in 1992. Lambell had failed to turn up to an earlier sentencing hearing Warning - Some readers may find details in this article upsetting When Lambell returned as a staff member, he began work in the laundry room. He then adopted the unofficial title of "housefather" - a pastoral position that he and Figes both abused for their own sexual gratification by grooming boys as young as 10, the court heard. Much of Lambell's offending happened in a caravan in which he stayed onsite. One attack happened in the school's boot room during which the victim was tied up and made to stand on a stall. "Clearly he was damaged by the school, behaviour seemed to have become normalised, somewhat like 'monkey sees monkey does'," Lambell's barrister said. When sentencing, Judge Jackson said he had to take into account Lambell's age at the time of the offences. But he added the crimes still took a great deal of planning and had caused "physiological harm that no one deserves". The court learned that one victim found the abuse he suffered was constantly on his mind, while others had had a life of addiction, imprisonment and self harm. "I hate myself," one victim said. Berrow Wood School shut in 1992 The court heard how Lambell left Berrow Wood three times after questions were raised about his behaviour, yet he was able to continuously return. After his time at the school ended, he continued to have a life of crime and went to prison for theft, however, his defence said in mitigation, unlike Lambell's co-accused Figes, he was never convicted for crimes of a sexual nature, despite "unfortunate material" being found on his laptop in 2000. Judge Jackson said such material showed how Lambell still had an "unhealthy interest in young boys". Lambell, originally from Plymouth, said he had not turned up for his original sentencing hearing on 3 October due to an episode of self harm. He had been granted bail prior to that hearing date to get his affairs in order but was arrested after breaking his conditions. At least two of Lambell's victims were also abused by Figes, the court heard. The jailed pair are the eighth and ninth staff members to be convicted of abuse at Berrow Wood School. In 1993, six men were convicted of physical abuse against boys at the school, while Barry Hastings was jailed for sexual abuse in 2019. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk A family was enjoying a relaxing boat ride in Hawaii when they spotted something unusual in the water, video posted to Instagram shows. At first the Mellor family couldnt tell what it was. It looked like an obscure black shape in the water, June Mellor told McClatchy News in a text message. When they got closer, it looked more like a log floating by until they saw it move. They figured maybe it was a dog that had fallen off someones boat, so they headed toward it slowly and realized it wasnt a dog at all. It looked like a pig, though theyve since learned it was a boar. We were stunned, Mellor said. We wondered where it came from and how long it had been out there in the water. One things for sure, we knew we had to help. Mellor posted video of the chance encounter to the familys Instagram account on Oct. 17. Imagine taking a nice boat ride out in (Kaneohe Bay) and coming across a pig or boar swimming out in the ocean! she wrote in the posts caption. We saved this sweet little soul! The video shows the moment they first spotted the all-black boar swimming a pretty good distance from shore off Oahu. We couldnt believe our eyes! A pig or boar out here in the middle of the ocean! a caption on the video reads. Eventually, the video shows the desperate boar swim toward their boat. Mellor said they were praying she would trust us and let us help her. Its eyes were pleading for help, June Mellor told KHON2. Mellors husband and son tried multiple times to get a rope around the boar to hoist it up into the boat, Mellor said. Eventually, her son was able to reach down and hold onto it enough to get a rope around its belly. They didnt know how the boar might react to being in the boat with them, and they worried it might be afraid of them. But the minute she was on the deck she just collapsed from exhaustion, Mellor said. Mellor covered the boars sunburned skin with her sarong and stood over it as the creature recovered to keep the sun off its face. She tried offering the boar fresh water and tangerines, but it was only interested in sleep, Mellor said. Mellor kept watch over the boar while the family stopped at a sandbar. By this time I had named her Miracle because it was a miracle she survived for who knows how long and a miracle that we saw her and could help, she said. Miracle even snored a bit on the boat, and Mellor took a peek inside her open mouth and couldnt see any teeth, but noticed two tiny little tusks poking out on either side of the boars mouth. Mellor said she started to worry when Miracle wouldnt wake up to eat or drink anything. They took her to shore and released her in a wooded area leading up to the mountains, and as soon as her feet touched the grass, she perked up. She suddenly was alert and sniffing all around. We watched her sniff the ground and leaves, and saw her tail move swiftly. I took it to mean she was comfortable, Mellor said. She didnt run, she just slowly walked into the wilderness and that was it. Mellor included a photo of Miracle meandering into the woods in the Instagram video. Shes safe back on land and in the wilderness where she belongs, she wrote in the video. Some in the comments described how terrible boar are for ecosystems, but said they understood wanting to help an animal in need. Many also praised the family for their compassion. Way to go saving a life! That poor thing mustve been so tired! someone said. The kindness shown to this creature by these people is refreshing, another said. The world needs more like them. Others shared their knowledge about boars swimming skills. Pigs are actually really good swimmers and if youre in the Bahamas theres an island of pigs that will just swim with you, but yea she was definitely a little ways from her next destination, someone said. Some simply questioned how the boar got there in the first place, the same way the Mellor family did. Youve heard of why did the chicken cross the road, but never why did the pig (swim) the ocean, someone joked. Daring deer swim miles from shore then hitch a ride from troopers, Alaska video shows Boaters spot injured bird trying to swim to their boat. A pool noodle saves the day Deer discovered swimming off North Carolinas coast, police say. See the odd video This photo shows the 18th century painting titled "Landscape of Italian Character" by Vienna-born artist Johann Franz Nepomuk Lauterer on Oct. 19, 2023 in Chicago. (Claire Savage/AP) After a stopover in the U.S. that lasted the better part of a century, a baroque landscape painting that went missing during World War II was returned to Germany on Thursday. The FBI handed over the artwork by 18th century Austrian artist Johann Franz Nepomuk Lauterer to a German museum representative in a brief ceremony at the German Consulate in Chicago, where the pastoral piece showing an Italian countryside was on display. Advertisement Art Recovery International, a company focused on locating and recovering stolen and looted art, tracked down the elusive painting after a person in Chicago reached out last year claiming to possess a stolen or looted painting that their uncle brought back to the U.S. after serving in World War II. The painting has been missing since 1945 and was first reported stolen from the Bavarian State Painting Collections in Munich, Germany. It was added to the database of the German Lost Art Foundation in 2012, according to a statement from the art recovery company. Advertisement FBI Special Agent David White, left, and Bernd Ebert, head curator at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, sign documents returning the 18th century painting titled "Landscape of Italian Character" by Vienna-born artist Johann Franz Nepomuk Lauterer on Oct. 19, 2023 in Chicago. (Claire Savage/AP) The crux of our work at Art Recovery International is the research and restitution of artworks looted by Nazis and discovered in public or private collections. On occasion, we come across cases, such as this, where allied soldiers may have taken objects home as souvenirs or as trophies of wars, said Christopher Marinello, founder of Art Recovery International. Being on the winning side doesnt make it right, he added. The identity of the Chicago resident who had the painting was not shared. The person initially asked Marinello to be paid for the artwork. I explained our policy of not paying for stolen artwork and that the request was inappropriate, Marinello said. We also know that someone tried to sell the painting in the Chicago art market in 2011 and disappeared when the museum put forth their claim. But with the help of the FBI Art Crime Team, attorneys, and the museum, Marinello negotiated an unconditional surrender of the artwork. The painting, titled Landscape of Italian Character, will now reunite with its counterpart, which shares similar motifs and imagery, according to the museum. The two paintings together form a panoramic scene featuring shepherds and travelers with their goats, cows, donkeys and sheep at a ford in a river. Advertisement The pair will soon be displayed together for the first time since World War II at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, according to Bernd Ebert, the museums chief curator of Dutch and German baroque paintings. Retrieving a long-lost painting is actually a very rare moment for us, Ebert said. Its exciting. The Vienna-born artist, Lauterer, lived from 1700 to 1733. When war broke out in 1939, many Bavarian museum collections were evacuated to safe locations in the region, but the Lauterer painting has been missing since the beginning of the war, suggesting the possibility that it had been looted, according to the museum. The Bavarian State Painting Collections first started searching for the painting between 1965 and 1973, but no clues about its location emerged until decades later. Ebert, who flew from Munich to Chicago to retrieve the painting, will carefully bubble-wrap the centuries-old landscape to take it back home, where it will be touched up and restored after an eventful several decades. Advertisement Luckily, Ebert said, it should fit in his suitcase. Janita Gigi Hayes first started using hair straighteners as a child because it made her feel prettier. As she got older, Hayes, who is Black, continued to turn to them because she felt employers perceived her as more professional when her hair was straight. Now, Hayes is one of thousands of women who blame hair straightening products for damaging her reproductive health and is among those suing their manufacturers. She said she believes long-term use of the products caused her to develop uterine fibroids, a condition that forced her to undergo a hysterectomy. I never realized that long term use would affect me like this ... my body is changed forever," said Hayes, 41, of Birmingham, Alabama. "I no longer have the parts that I was born with. The confidence that I had as a woman is no longer there. This week, the Food and Drug Administration said it will investigate the products, which research has connected to an increased risk of some types of cancer. Danielle Ward Mason, Hayes lawyer, said the FDAs decision to turn its attention towards the products is a huge deal." It's about time that someone, a regulatory body, is looking at the dangers of these products, she said. Janita Hayes, 41, underwent a hysterectomy after developing fibroids she says were caused by use of hair straighteners. The FDA proposed a rule that would ban formaldehyde and other formaldehyde-releasing chemicals from being used in hair-smoothing and straightening products sold in the United States. The products have been used most extensively by Black women. On hair treatments, the ingredients show up as formaldehyde, formalin, or methylene glycol, according to the FDA, and are found in some hair relaxers and keratin treatment products. Using the chemicals has been linked to long-term health concerns, such as increased risks of cancer, and can cause short-term risks such as breathing problems, the agency said. Cancer concerns: FDA proposes ban on hair-straightening, smoothing products over cancer-causing chemicals What are the FDA's next steps on hair straightening and relaxing products? The FDA is soliciting public comment about the proposal, but it could be months before anything is decided. The comment period typically lasts at least 60 days, though some have been as short as 10 days or as long as nine months. If the agency issues a final rule, it is published in the Federal Register along with an explanation of regulatory requirements, the industrial impact of those requirements and any response to public comments. The regulatory requirements also are published under Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Former FDA associate commissioner Peter Pitts said federal law grants the agency oversight of some cosmetic products. If the administration moves forward with its proposal, Pitts said the products could be removed from shelves within days, though it could take much longer. It all depends on how aggressive the new rule is, he said. Janita Hayes is one of thousands of plaintiffs suing companies that manufacture certain hair straightening products. Hair-straightening products linked to certain cancers Links between hair dye and chemical straighteners and an increased risk of breast cancer were made in a 2019 study published in the International Journal of Cancer. In 2022, the National Institutes of Health published a study that found women who used hair-straightening chemicals had a higher risk of developing uterine cancer, and that Black women may be more affected because they use the products at a higher rate. Earlier this year, U.S. Reps. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., and Shontel Brown, D-Ohio, wrote a letter to FDA Commissioner Robert Califf asking the agency to investigate the matter. "We urge the FDA to investigate the potential health threat posed by chemical hair straightening products," the letter said. "Consumers need to be reassured that the cosmetic products they use do not threaten their health. It is critical that the agency act quickly to address these legitimate concerns." Pressley called the FDA's proposed rule a win for public health "especially the health of Black women, who are disproportionately put at risk by these products as a result of systemic racism and anti-Black hair sentiment. U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., participates in a House Financial Services Committee Hearing at the Rayburn House Office Building on May 17 in Washington, D.C. Proposal comes as some Black women ditch relaxers Over time, some women who once felt reliant on hair relaxers and straightening products gave them up, said Sam Ennon, 79, of San Mateo, California, in part, because they can cause breakage and bald spots, and, in part, because society became somewhat more accepting of Black womens natural hair. Ennon, the founder and president of the Black-owned Beauty Supply Association, said hes been working in the cosmetics industry for 20 years, including stints at Clairol and Worlds of Curls. He said hair straightening tools, such as an electronic flat iron or hot combs, can achieve similar looks, though they dont last as long as relaxers do. After she had uterine fibroids surgically removed, Brown, the congresswoman from Ohio, said she no longer relaxes her hair and wears wigs or braids instead. We are, as Black women, under a lot of pressure to wear our hair a certain way, she said. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, gets a hug from Ohio Rep. Shontel Brown. Proposed federal legislation called the CROWN Act, versions of which have been adopted by several states, would prohibit discriminating against a person for their hair or hairstyle based on race or national origin. A federal bill, sponsored by Rep. Bonnie Coleman, D-N.J., passed in the House in 2022 but has not been reintroduced this session of Congress. Brown was among the bills sponsors. I wear my hair in braids, she said. That was something important for me to put on display because of the public pressure many Black women receive to wear their hair. Keke Palmer, Gabrielle Union: Celebs share Black hair discrimination stories in PSA Contributing: Emily DeLetter, Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Black women lead charge for FDA ban of chemical hair straighteners Body camera footage has shown the moments leading up to the fatal police shooting of a man who was previously released from prison after serving 16 years for a wrongful conviction. The footage, released by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), shows 53-year-old Leonard Cure being stopped by a Camden County deputy for speeding, before being tasered, struck with a baton, and then shot. Cure had only been released from prison in 2020 after his case was taken up by the Innocence Project of Florida, a nonprofit legal organisation that helps exonerate people who have been wrongfully convicted. The shooting unfolded at around 7.30am local time on Monday morning. Officials claim that Cure exited his car at the request of the deputy, who has not been publicly identified, and initially complied with the officer until he learned that he would be arrested. In the newly-released footage, Cure is heard questioning why he was being arrested for allegedly driving at 100mph, telling the officer that he should just be given a speeding ticket. After being told that he is going to jail for speeding, which the officer says is a criminal offence in Georgia, Cure raises his left hand to the sky. At that point, the officer tasers him and the deputy shouts for Cure to put his hands behind his back. Bodycam footage from Leonard Cure incident (GBI) Instead, Cure flails his arms and approaches the deputy before the two tussle. Cure is then struck with a police baton while he grabs the officers face and pushes his head back, saying yeah b****. He is then shot from close range and falls to the floor, with the officer shouting at him not to get up. Police back-up is then called. Cure was placed into an ambulance at the scene but was later pronunced dead. The bodycam footage shows the deputy crying in the aftermath of the shooting. On Wednesday, prior to the public release of the footage, Cures mother and siblings attended the Georgia Bureau of Investigations local office with their attorney, civil rights lawyer Benjamin Crump, to view the video. I dont feel, no matter what happened, that he should have been killed, Mary Cure said as she grasped a large, framed portrait of her slain son. Thats the bottom line. His life should not have been taken. Cure was wrongfully convicted of armed robbery in 2004 and spent 16 years in a Florida prison before he was released three years ago. Leonard Cure died in an officer involved shooting on Monday (Innocence Project of Florida) The Innocence Project of Florida persuaded a case review unit of the Broward County prosecutors office to take a look at his case. That unit examined an ATM receipt and other evidence that Cure was miles away from the crime scene at the time of the robbery. A judge vacated his conviction in 2020. Leonard Cure in court (Innocence Project of Florida) On Wednesday, Seth Miller, executive director of the Innocence of Project of Florida, said many people wrongfully sent to prison live in fear of being arrested and incarcerated again long after they are freed. Mr Miller said that may have played a role in what happened during Cures traffic stop. Its hard for us to understand how he could not be subdued without taking lethal force, Mr Miller said. We look forward to seeing the video and making our own judgments then. The Independent has reached out to Mr Miller via The Innocence Project for further comment. EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) Two House members representing El Paso in the U.S. Congress on Thursday called for action in response to the armed conflict in Israel and the Gaza Strip. U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives calling on President Joe Biden to revoke the visas of foreign nationals who endorse or support activity by Hamas and other terrorist organizations. U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas. Hamas attacks have claimed 30 American lives and more of our own are missing, Gonzales said. Any foreign national supporting Hamas or other terrorist organizations should have their visa terminated. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio , R-Florida, filed a similar resolution in the Senate. It is a blessing to live in America and any individual that is promoting Hamas should have that privilege revoked. Gaza-based Hamas fired at least 3,000 rockets into Israel on Oct. 7 while its operatives came across the border to murder hundreds and abduct an estimated 200 people, including children, women and the elderly. U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar , D-Texas, emphasized that almost two weeks after the attack there is a need for calm and called for a cease-fire. It is important for me to say I unequivocally condemn the horrific attack by Hamas against innocent civilians in Israel, Escobar said in a Zoom call with reporters. It was not just Israelis who were slaughtered and kidnapped, but people from other parts of the world as well who were in Israel on holiday or because they had dual citizenship. Israel responded to the attack with widespread air strikes that have leveled buildings and prompted thousands to flee farther south into Gaza. Thats a humanitarian crisis that needs to be addressed, Escobar said. The stories that have been coming out of Israel, in the aftermath of this horrific (Oct. 7) attack have been so profoundly heartbreaking. I cannot imagine the trauma, the pain and the misery that has been left in the wake of that horrific attack, she said. I also want to say my heart breaks for the loss of innocent Palestinian lives in Gaza as well. Escobar said Israel has a right to defend itself and is a key partner for the U.S. in the Middle East. We stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel as a Democracy in a very difficult part of the world for Democracy to thrive and succeed. But I have been very deeply concerned by the humanitarian crisis within Gaza, she said. Escobar said she received a briefing from the administration about the lack of water, the lack of medicine and the lack of electricity in Gaza and found it disturbing, particularly because of the children, women and elderly affected. Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border The El Paso Democrat said she was in Israel earlier this year and relayed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu her support for a two-state solution for the Palestinian conflict. The challenge we have going forward is that the bombing and pending ground posture by Israel is going to create more humanitarian catastrophe, she said. We have to make sure the American public knows the Palestinians are not the same thing as Hamas. But the Palestinians are paying the price right now. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. Boston police are investigating after a dog was shot to death in Jamaica Plain. According to police, officers responded to a shots fired call at 279 Centre Street around 4:37 p.m. Upon arrival, officers observed ballistics in the hallway of the 5th Floor as well as a dog unresponsive suffering from what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds. When officers arrived the victim led officers into her apartment and told officers that her dog got out of the elevator and was walking down the stairs to her apartment when she heard a loud bang. Her dog began to run down the stairs when she heard two more loud bangs. The victim said she then grabbed her dog and made her way into her apartment only then realizing her dog had been shot. The victim told police she did not observe any suspect and could not provide any other information. Detectives recovered 3-380 caliber shell casings and 2 ballistic fragments from the apartment. Officers identified three juveniles in the home at the time of the incident. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW US President Joe Biden condemned the actions of both Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin in a speech in the Oval Office on Thursday evening, saying that the attacks on Israel and the invasion of Ukraine have common motives. Source: Bidens address Quote from Biden: "Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common: they both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy, completely annihilate it." Details: Biden said that when terrorists do not pay for terror and when dictators do not pay for aggression, they bring even more chaos, death and aggression: "They keep going. And the cost and the threats to America and the world keep rising. So if we dont stop Putins appetite for power and control in Ukraine, he wont limit himself to just Ukraine." In his address, Biden also said he would send an urgent budget request to the Congress to help support Israel and Ukraine. Background: On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russian jets equipped with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles would constantly patrol the airspace over the Black Sea. Support UP or become our patron! Just north of Bothells Westhill Elementary School on 88th Avenue Northeast, new speed cameras have been installed by the city. That means if you go through the area over the 20 mile an hour speed limit marked on signs, youll probably get a ticket in the mail. We saw the effect of this during drop-off at school on Friday morning. Paulo Freitas is a parent in Bothell and was dropping his children at an early learning center Friday Morning. He says traffic is an issue in the area of the schools on 88th Ave Northeast. Yeah sometimes very fast, he told us. Thats very scary. On Friday morning, however, there was a slow crawl in front of West Hill Elementary and Sorensen Early Learning Center, where even pedestrians were moving faster than cars. That could very well be thanks to the newly installed speed cameras. Bothells cameras are legal by Washington state law, as long as they are enacted by the counties. These cameras have become especially common across the Puget Sound region according to Mark McKechnie with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. Within the state statute they can authorize them for use in school walk zones, park zones, hospital zones, and depending on the size of the city, theres an allowance to use them in problem areas, he described. Jane Zng traversed the busy roadway this morning to get her children to the bus stop. She says speed limits need to be obeyed, cameras or not. They need to keep the speed at 20, she said. Tacoma law firm Garguile DUI and Traffic Lawyers states on its website that you can dispute the traffic camera tickets. A driver can request a contested hearing, and in Washington state, a judge can even decide to lower the fine on most traffic infractions. That said, judges are not allowed to reduce a fine when the camera ticket is for speeding in a school zone or passing a stopped school bus. Under Washington law, a traffic infraction detected through a camera is presumed to have been committed by the registered owner of the vehicle. But, you can testify in a written statement that you were not behind the wheel and the responsibility can be passed on to the person who was actually driving. McKechnie did clarify one key thing drivers should know. The fines for these citations are limited also, and they do not count the same on the drivers record, he said. It doesnt go into the drivers record the same way an officer issued citation would. A Bradenton woman shot and killed another person before turning the gun on herself at a Sarasota veterinary office Wednesday, the Sarasota County Sheriffs Office said. Gunshots at KindVet of Sarasota Urgent Care were reported to Sarasota County dispatchers in a 911 call Wednesday evening around 5:11 p.m. When deputies responded to the business at the 3900 block of Clark Road, they said they found a woman and one other person shot inside the business. The sheriffs office did not publicly identify the victim. Investigators announced in a news release Thursday evening that they have identified one of those women, 38-year-old Morgan Dana Kronstadt, as the shooter. Kronstadt, a former employee of the business, entered through the front door and locked it from the inside before locating and shooting the victim, investigators said. When deputies arrived, they say they found a locked front door and forced their way into the business, where they discovered both the victim and Kronstadt. Two killed in Sarasota murder-suicide The victim was transported to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead, according to a release, which also said Kronstadt was pronounced dead at the scene. In the wake of the murder-suicide shooting, KindVet of Sarasota Urgent Care closed temporarily, according to a statement on the offices website. We are absolutely devastated at the loss of life that occurred at our clinic this week. Our hearts go out to the families impacted by this tragedy, KindVet of Sarasota wrote. We are not able to comment on the details of the event and leave this matter in the hands of law enforcement. Please respect the privacy and well-being of our staff while we grieve the loss of life. The sheriffs office said three other people were present at the time of the shooting but escaped out the back of the building uninjured before calling 911. Dana Judge, a spokesperson for the Sarasota County Sheriffs Office, would not say whether the other people present during the shooting were customers or staff, citing Marsys Law, a Florida law that keeps the victims of a crime anonymous. Deputies investigate mysterious Facebook post A message reportedly from Kronstadt to the vet offices Facebook page posted the same day as the shooting appeared to reference bullying, as well as personal and professional issues. This career is just so ridiculously hard to begin with. Then add having to deal with disrespectful clients and bullying from the people that are supposed to be your team. Please think twice before pushing someone so far, the post read. The sheriffs office said they are still investigating whether the message was posted by Kronstadt and could not confirm whether the shooting and the Facebook post are related. The post has since been deleted, the sheriffs office confirmed. If you or someone you know is thinking about self-harm, call the toll-free National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988. Its available 24/7. SAO PAULO (Reuters) -French President Emmanuel Macron has accepted an invitation from Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and will visit the South American country in the first half of 2024, Brazil's government said on Friday. The leaders discussed the crisis in the Middle East by phone earlier in the day, agreeing that they will continue to search for ways to promote peace, Brazil's presidential office said in a statement. "The two presidents agreed on the need for Hamas to immediately release hostages and on the terrible toll inflicted by the conflict on Palestinian and Israeli children," the statement said. "They expressed concern about the risks of an escalation." France earlier this week voted for a Brazilian-drafted resolution at the United Nations Security Council that would have called for humanitarian pauses in the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. The United States vetoed the resolution. The leaders also discussed the deal reached between Venezuela's government and opposition parties for the 2024 election, which led the U.S. to broadly ease sanctions on Venezuela's oil sector. "Both presidents indicated satisfaction with the agreement," the statement said. Lula and Macron met in July in Brussels with the Venezuelan government and the opposition to discuss the country's upcoming election. The presidents of Argentina and Colombia also participated. (Reporting by Gabriel Araujo; Editing by Steven Grattan and Rod Nickel) An aerial view of deforestation of the native Cerrado savanna is seen in Sao Desiderio, west Bahia state, Brazil (Florence GOISNARD) Splashed across the middle of Brazil, the "Cerrado" may be the most important place most people have never heard of, a vast tropical savanna experts say is crucial to the planet's health but quickly disappearing. Here are some fast facts. - Little-known giant - Less famous than the Amazon rainforest above it, the Cerrado is one of Earth's three great savannas, along with Africa's and Australia's. Spanning two million square kilometers (770,000 square miles), with its western edges extending into Bolivia and Paraguay, the region is the size of France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom combined. - 'Cradle of waters' - According to UNESCO, the Cerrado is the world's most biodiverse savanna, home to more than 11,000 plant species and hundreds of animal species, including jaguars, maned wolves and giant anteaters. Nicknamed the "cradle of waters," it feeds eight of South America's major river systems and three key aquifers. - Amazon link - Scientists say the Cerrado and Amazon are intricately linked. The savanna depends on the rainforest to generate the precipitation that fills its rivers and aquifers. The rainforest in turn depends on the savanna to feed the waterways that crisscross its southern half. Both play a crucial role in containing climate change by absorbing carbon from the atmosphere. Conversely, both could accelerate global warming if they are pushed past a "tipping point," when their vegetation would die off and release its carbon stores, scientists say. - From wilderness to farmland - In recent decades, the Cerrado has become an agricultural heartland, propelling Brazil past the United States to become the world's top exporter of soybeans and, this year, corn, as well as a top cotton producer. Half the Cerrado has now been converted to farmland, according to research group MapBiomas. - Collateral damage - But the boom, a major growth driver for Latin America's biggest economy, has a cost. According to calculations by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), converting savanna to farmland in the Cerrado generates 230 million metric tons of carbon a year, equivalent to the annual emissions of 50 million cars. In a region conservationists say is being dried out by deforestation, over-irrigation and climate change, satellite monitoring by Brazilian space agency INPE has recorded nearly 40,000 fire outbreaks this year. They have burned an area nearly the size of Switzerland, according to MapBiomas. Studies have also found the Cerrado's water supplies are contaminated by pesticides and weedkillers. jhb/tmo/caw/tjj Newly elected Labour MP Sarah Edwards with party leader Keir Starmer at Tamworth Football Club, in Tamworth, England, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. Britains main opposition Labour Party has decisively won two special elections. They snatched seats in Parliament that were long rock-solid bastions of the governing Conservatives. (Jacob King/PA via AP) LONDON (AP) Britain's main opposition Labour Party decisively won two special elections Friday, snatching seats in Parliament that long were rock-solid bastions of the governing Conservatives. Voters in Tamworth, central England, and Mid-Bedfordshire, located north of London, switched from the Conservative Party to Labour in almost unprecedented numbers. The outcome solidified Labour's status as front-runner ahead of a national election next year and piled more pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to turn his party's fortunes around. Labour leader Keir Starmer claimed his party was redrawing the political map. People are fed up to the back teeth after 13 years of decline under this government. They want a fresh start," Starmer said as he visited Tamworth to congratulate winning Labour candidate Sarah Edwards. Along with Edwards' victory in Tamworth, where the Conservatives won by almost 20,000 votes in 2019, Labour candidate Alistair Strathern took Mid-Bedfordshire by overturning a 25,000-vote Tory margin. John Curtice, a polling expert at the University of Strathclyde, said the exceptional swings to Labour could be compared to the collapse in Conservative support that took place under Prime Minister John Major in the 1990s. And we all know how that ended," Curtice said in a landslide 1997 election victory for Labour under Tony Blair. Others cautioned that turnout in Thursday's voting was low,, with turnout at 36% in Tamworth and 44% in Mid-Bedfordshire, and the elections were unusual because they were held to replace lawmakers who both resigned under a cloud. Chris Pincher, who represented Tamworth, quit after Parliaments standards watchdog recommended his suspension for completely inappropriate behavior. Pincher was accused of groping two men at a London private members club. Then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson s reluctance to sanction the Conservative legislator when the allegations emerged helped trigger Johnsons ouster at the hands of his own party last year. Mid-Bedfordshire member of Parliament Nadine Dorries resigned over the treatment of Johnson and her own failure to be appointed to Parliaments upper chamber, the House of Lords. Dorries is a strong ally of Johnson who has blamed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for helping to topple the former leader. Conservative Party chairman Greg Hands blamed the losses on legacy issues and said people were happy with the job Rishi Sunak is doing as prime minister. The results add to pressure on the governing party, which has lost several byelections since Sunak took office just under a year ago. He replaced Liz Truss, who announced her resignation a year ago Friday after her plan for unfunded tax cuts sent financial markets into turmoil and rocked the economy. Truss spent just seven weeks in office after winning a party leadership contest to replace Boris Johnson, who quit after three years in office when scandals over money and ethics turned party lawmakers against him. Sunak steadied the economy but has not managed to boost the partys rating in opinion polls, where it consistently lags between 10 and 20 points behind Labour. A national election must be called by the end of 2024. The Conservatives have been in power nationally since 2010, years that saw austerity following the world banking crisis, Britains divisive decision to leave the European Union, a global pandemic and a war in Ukraine that has triggered the worst cost-of-living crisis in decades. Sunak has tried to rally support by arguing he has a long-term vision and is prepared to make tough decisions to change Britain. But Friday's results confirmed polls showing the Conservatives losing support across the country, from affluent southern voters turned off by Brexit to working-class northern towns where voters switched from Labour in 2019 after Johnson promised to spread prosperity to long-neglected areas. Starmer, who has moved his social democratic party toward the political center since becoming leader in 2020, said former Conservative voters had put their trust and their confidence in us. We we accept this victory humbly, knowing that we have to earn the votes of voters across the whole of the country, and we do that by putting our positive case to the country," he said. Betrayal fascinates me, says David Cornwell, better known as the prolific British spy novelist who wrote under the name John le Carre. Ironically, it is filmmaker Errol Morris who betrays his own probing instincts in his documentary about Cornwells life, The Pigeon Tunnel. The Oscar-winning director of The Fog of War, Morris has rightfully earned a reputation as a seasoned and canny interviewer. You would never describe him as guileless. And yet its almost as if hes allowed himself to be seduced by Cornwell. Despite it all, the end result is an often funny and endlessly watchable film a master storytellers final bow flaws and all. Advertisement Early in their back-and-forth, Cornwell suggests that an interview is maybe just another word for interrogation. And yet he is never set back on his heels by Morris or lost in uncomfortable contemplation, but always in control. Is that because he knows his legacy is assured? (The films interviews were conducted in 2020, a year before his death at 89.) Or is it because Morris takes a deferential approach to their conversations? Its an act of performance art to sit in front of a camera and talk about ones life. Cornwell says as much. He is nothing if not self-aware and he will only go so far. Morris employs all kinds of interesting visuals, including an expensive-looking room that is empty except for eggshells covering the entire floor. Theres no overt explanation for that image, but it implies a certain amount of cautiousness, even if Morris didnt intend for it to represent his own feelings. How much of this matters? Very little! Cornwell has great, exuberant eyebrows and he is a first-rate raconteur, parsing through his memories and hindsight realizations. He offers morsels of vulnerability, while carefully avoiding anything that cuts too close to the bone. Like too many celebrity documentaries, it is an exercise in image management. It just happens to be done with more wit and style than most. Advertisement Morris includes an old television interview that may give us some clues about this side of Cornwells self-mythologizing. A writer is an illusionist, he says. And if people are constantly trying to look up his sleeve, then hes going to spoil his trick. Cornwell is intent on not spoiling his trick, even to the end. Morris doesnt seem curious enough to wonder what that even means. David Cornwell (aka John le Carre) and filmmaker Errol Morris, behind the scenes of the documentary The Pigeon Tunnel. (Apple TV+ ) On the other hand, Cornwell has plenty to say about his father, Reggie, who was a philanderer and confidence trickster. Life was a stage where pretense was everything. Being offstage was boring. And risk was attractive. But above all, what was attractive was the imprint of personality. Of truth, we didnt speak. Of conviction, we didnt speak. So you felt like a dupe, Morris asks? No, I joined. You polished your act, learned to tell funny stories, show off. You discover early there is no center to a human being. I wasnt a dupe, I was invited to dupe other people. His mother abandoned them when he was five, and his childhood was a destabilizing if colorful experience. A teenage trip accompanying his father to a Monte Carlo casino would give him the title of his memoir and this film. Pigeons were bred on site and then sent through a tunnel, where they emerged into the sky only to be shot out of the air for sport. The ones that survived would fly back, unaware they would be repeating the cycle the next day. Morris thinks of this as a Sisyphean metaphor about life, but it also works as another way to think about betrayal, and the way we can be trapped by systems we dont even understand. Capturing that was always one of Cornwells strengths as a writer. And he had such a clear understanding of the way privilege can warp a persons behavior. But that upbringing of being one thing (a con mans son) and trying to outwardly adopt the customs of another (he was educated at the poshest schools) perhaps made him ideal pickings for espionage work. He washed out as a spy fairly quickly, by his own choice, and instead used those experiences to write about, and critique really, Britains intelligence services during the Cold War in The Spy Who Came in From the Cold and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, among others. He glosses over just how he launched his writing career (did he submit manuscripts all over town or did he have the right connections?) and you never get the sense that he had doubts about what he was writing or whether he could succeed long term. Advertisement Also missing is anything about his two marriages or his children. Its telling that with all his deeply thought-out ideas about who Reggie was as a parent, Cornwell has nothing to say about what fatherhood meant to him once his sons came into the world. Late in the film, Morris tells him: I keep hearing again and again and again that I have not pressed you hard enough about betrayal. Who is Morris referring to? My guess is he means the movies producers: Cornwells two sons, Simon and Stephen. I feel that you got the last drop out of the sponge on that subject, Cornwell replies. But Ill answer any question you wish me to answer as truthfully as I can. Morris: Do they want you to break down and sob? David Cornwell in the Errol Morris documentary The Pigeon Tunnel. But then Cornwell brings up a topic that has gone previously unmentioned: Im not going to talk about my sex life, any more than I trust you would. It seems to be an intensely private matter. My love life has been a very difficult passage, as you would imagine, but its resolved itself wonderfully and thats enough on that subject. Advertisement Heres what hes not saying. There were infidelities. Many, many infidelities. According to Cornwells biographer Adam Sisman, the cheating served as an ersatz form of spycraft, the excitement of adultery and the risk of exposure a substitute for real operations in the field, as it were. They required considerable tradecraft, with codes, dead letter boxes, and safe houses where he would go and supposedly write undisturbed, in reality places where he could take women without fear of discovery. The Pigeon Tunnel streams on Apple TV+ (its release Oct. 20 comes a day after what would have been Cornwells 92nd birthday) which is fitting, as the streamer is also home to Slow Horses, the espionage series that is an obvious nod to le Carre's novels. Maybe the best reason to watch The Pigeon Tunnel, though, is that it is a reminder of what documentaries can be when theyre made by a real filmmaker with sophisticated and cinematic ambitions. Audiences have been inundated with slapdash, paint-by-numbers nonfiction streaming efforts that are relatively fast and inexpensive to make, a Wikipedia page brought to life featuring the inevitable drone shots throughout. Morris has more of an artists eye, using mirrors to create a fractured image that oh-so-slightly leaves you wondering what youre looking at, exactly. That feels right. There are also dramatized vignettes, with actors recreating different moments from Cornwells memories, and they play like clips from an expensive, high-end Masterpiece series about his life. God was a big pal of his, he says of his father, a smile playing around his lips. Whether he believed in God is mysterious, but he was certain God believed in him. What an incisive observation. Of course he became a writer. To be a cunning storyteller on the page is one thing. Not as many authors are such winning company on screen. Cornwell offers up this last performance to Morris and, by extension, to us as the gift that it is. Advertisement The Pigeon Tunnel 3.5 stars (out of 4) Where to watch: Apple TV+ (it also screens at the Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St., through Oct. 26) Nina Metz is a Tribune critic. nmetz@chicagotribune.com The captain and co-pilot of a British Airways flight were both taken ill in the cockpit after reporting a foul odour while flying at 30,000ft. The pair had been flying a BA Shuttle 13C between Newcastle and London on the morning of 19 October when the incident occurred, landing at Heathrow at around 9.14am. Emergency services met the aircraft upon arrival. The pair arrived at BAs Crew Report Centre before being assessed by medical staff, and were then taken to hospital by hazardous response experts after suffering from smoke inhalation, reports The Sun. A source told The Sun: This was a shocking incident. The immediate concern is obviously for the two pilots. But also striking is the worry about what could have happened had these two cockpit crew been intoxicated when they were still at the controls of a crowded jet at 25,000ft. It doesnt bear thinking about. Investigations have started into this alarming incident. Speaking to The Independent, a BA spokesperson said: The flight landed safely and customers disembarked normally following a minor technical issue with the aircraft. The safety of our customers and colleagues remains our highest priority. The London Ambulance Service said in a statement: We were called at 10.39am on 19 October to reports of an incident at Terminal 5 Heathrow Airport, Hounslow. We sent an ambulance crew, an incident response officer and members of our hazardous area response team to the scene. We treated two patients at the scene for smoke inhalation and took them to a local hospital. This is not the first event of its kind this year, with a BA flight evacuated at Heathrow on 9 October after passengers fell ill due to fumes in the cabin. In July, a flight from Johannesburg to London turned back after just 35 minutes when the cabin became filled with a burning smell. Just two weeks after fleeing his home with barely more than the clothes on his back and the phone in his pocket, 23-year-old Ashot Gabrielyan is at a tech conference promoting one of the last things he has left: his startup. He is one of more than 100,000 ethnic Armenian refugees who were forced out of Nagorno-Karabakh in late September when Azerbaijani forces retook control of the breakaway enclave. Alongside his two brothers who evacuated in a single car with their parents and a grandparent on 28 September Gabrielyan is now attempting to start a new life from temporary accommodation in Armenias capital of Yerevan. We lost our property, but we also lost ourselves, he says. We have lost our previous lives. We are starting everything from scratch. His online marketing startup, Brothers in Business (BIB), was offered a last-minute stand at the DigiTec Expo, with organisers hoping that technology will help offer a solution for the country. As a landlocked nation lacking the natural resources of its historically hostile neighbours, Armenias nascent tech industry is seen as a way to achieve sovereignty and future stability in the long term, while also assisting with the humanitarian crisis in the short term. The country was once a tech hub in the region one of the worlds first computers was built in Armenia but much of Armenias talent left following the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s. A new scene emerged when emigres returned to the country after finding success in Silicon Valley, establishing the countrys internet network and providing a foundation for startups to emerge. There are now an estimated 300 pre-seed-stage startups in Armenia, and around 100 seed-stage startups, in fields ranging from quantum computing to electric bikes. We have this vision: Tech is the ultimate direction that will help Armenia to succeed, says Narek Vardanyan, CEO of Prelaunch.com, whose company acts as a platform to help local startups establish themselves on the market. We are landlocked, we have no natural resources. All we have is talent. And our only way we can develop is technology, he says. We dont have a backup plan. There is no Plan B. We are betting everything on technology. Armenias most successful startup so far is Picsart, an online photo editor that has grown to become the countrys only unicorn a company with a valuation north of $1 billion. Picsart is among those offering their resources to help refugees, fast-tracking the launch of an educational program that will be offered for free to refugees and war veterans, training and reskilling them in everything from machine learning to graphic design. Hayk Sahakyan, a creative director at Picsart, says there has been a huge number of people interested so far, including children. This idea of building up Armenias tech industry through education can be found through two privately funded initiatives that are providing free courses in STEM subjects to tens of thousands of young people throughout the country. The first is TUMO, which provides free supplemental education to 12-18 year olds in creative technologies, ranging from game development to music. Since the first TUMO centre opened in Yerevan in 2011, dozens of centres have sprung up throughout Armenia and the rest of the world, including hubs in Berlin, Paris and Los Angeles. One of its six core centres and three smaller Box centres had to be abandoned during the Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh last month. External circumstances can literally kill us. But whenever anyone asks me whether Armenia has a future, its here, says Zara Budaghyan, head of communications at TUMO. Technology has the potential to provide a more stable economy, but also better lives. International support has been lacking. We need to rebuild by ourselves. We are broken. But this gives us something to believe in. The second educational initiative is a network of technology, science and engineering laboratories set up in rural communities, offering children from 10-18 free after school classes. Established by UATE a business association that also runs the DigiTec Expo several of the labs in Nagorno-Karabakh also had to be shut down in September. UATE chief executive Sargis Karapetyan, who grew up in the region, says around 200 of his relatives were among the refugees. Karapetyan considered cancelling the DigiTec conference, saying there is still a deep distrust of Azerbaijan. There are fears that the annex was only part one. The next stage, which US Secretary of State Antony Blinken believes could happen within weeks, could be an invasion to establish a land corridor between the two parts of Azerbaijan. When asked what prompted the decision to persevere with the tech conference despite personal tragedy and the threat of further chaos, Karapetyan replies: "Technology will save the world. A cop-hating Bronx gunman was slapped Friday with a sentence of 23 years to life for shooting a pair of NYPD officers just 12 hours apart in a 2020 rampage, with the judge ripping the unapologetic defendant as a persistent violent felony offender. Would-be assassin Robert Williams, 48, was hit with the concurrent terms on his two guilty pleas to first-degree attempted murder inside a courtroom packed with some 30 uniformed police officers, with one of the targeted cops addressing the court about the unprovoked Feb. 8 shooting that preceded the defendants armed assault one day later inside the 41st Precinct stationhouse. I hope you suffer every day that youre locked up, said Officer Brian Hanlon, whose partner was ambushed and wounded alongside him inside a marked NYPD van. It brings me joy knowing your life is miserable for the next 20 years. Your joy is over I hope for everybodys sake you dont live very long. Hanlon offered his recollections of the random attack that he survived after getting shot in the neck and chin, with the bullets narrowly missing the carotid artery. One coward walking up to the car and opening fire, he told the court. Someone Ive never met. It felt like it was happening in slow motion, but in reality it only lasted a minute or two. All I could hear was my partner saying, I got hit. I got hit I felt like I failed that night. The coward got away. The unrepentant gunman then stormed inside the Bronx precinct on the morning of Feb. 9, 2020 and opened fire, wounding a police lieutenant and emptying his weapon before falling to the floor in surrender, police said. In between the two shootings, the callous shooter stopped by a nearby Chinese restaurant for a meal of chicken wings and fried rice. Once arrested, prosecutors said, he threatened to target NYPD officers again. I aim to shoot one of you when I get out, he told a cop inside St. Barnabas Hospital, prosecutors said. His words sealed the deal, said Bronx Acting Supreme Court Justice Ralph Fabrizio. His statement was that he hates police officers These are premeditated, horrific attacks that no one could have stopped. They dont go away from your mind, hearts. And they linger. The arrest of Williams, who took a plea deal this past August, was the latest on a long rap sheet beginning at age 17, with the defendant first arrested for a stabbing during a Bronx robbery in 1992 and again nine years later for possession of a machine gun. In 2002, he was convicted of attempted murder after shooting a victim during a robbery and making his getaway inside a stolen car with its female driver still inside. Thats my grandson, his grandmother Mary Williams said Friday. He was raised up in church and everything. I dont know what happened. The suspect, who served 14 years in the attempted murder case before his parole in 2017, briefly addressed the court in an odd statement before he was led away. Im not a coward, he said. They beat me and tased me. They violated me and swept it under the rug. Freedom of speech is dead. Saudia Harris and Makayla Thompkins joined My Sisters Keeper last year to find a space where they could grow as young women, explore career opportunities and talk with others about their mental health. But most importantly, they sought a feeling of community. Harris is the president of My Sisters Keeper (MSK) at Southwest High School and Thompkins is the vice president. The program has about 30 participants at Southwest High School. Harris and Thompkins say My Sisters Keeper provides a welcoming environment for young women from all walks of life, no matter their race. Its a place where they can let their guard down and feel they are not alone with their emotions or experiences, they said. I think girls need that community and that safe space where they can feel welcomed, Thompkins said. And I feel like MSK does that a lot, you automatically feel welcome. You can be brand new, and we want to welcome you. We want to make sure that youre feeling safe and just someone to talk to, someone to really talk to and hear you. At a school board meeting in August, some Fort Worth ISD school board members questioned the value of the program across the district, which includes a My Brothers Keeper track for young men. They questioned the transparency of goals around how the program benefits students and whether to continue the program. School board member Kevin Lynch wanted to see data on the trends of students achievements before, during and after their involvement in the program. The information provided by the program focused on data at a single time and not how student achievement improved or decreased over a period of time. To spend this large sum of money, especially as we talk about some of these populations and us not moving the needle, Lynch said. I just want to make sure were spending the money where it needs to be spent to move student outcome goals. Program focuses on mentoring, college prep and more Students in Fort Worth ISDs My Brothers Keeper and My Sisters Keeper programs attend weekly mentoring and check-in sessions where they learn about college preparation, career choices, community involvement, cultural awareness, personal growth, and leadership development. Students have also participated in activities such as Opals Walk for Freedom and Autism Awareness Day, MLK Day Community Service, read to elementary school students and volunteered during events at AT&T Stadium. My Brothers Keeper and My Sisters Keeper had 19 chapters last school year in Fort Worth high schools, 15 My Brothers Keeper and four My Sisters Keeper chapters. It served 273 students 177 males and 96 females. The schools with the most students participating are Southwest High School with 53 students, R.L. Paschal High School with 27 students, and Polytechnic High School with 23 students. Fort Worth is a majority minority district when it comes to enrollment so most students who participate in the programs are students of color. A motion to table action on extending funding for My Brothers Keeper and My Sisters Keeper failed 6-3 at the board meeting in August. The school board then voted 7-2, with Kevin Lynch and Michael Ryan voting no, to extend the programs $255,000 contract for the 2023-24 school year. The school board asked the staff members to issue quarterly reports on student performance, including test scores, grades, and graduation rates. Board member says My Brothers Keeper saves lives Board member Quinton Phillips agreed the program needed better data to show its impact, but said it saves lives. He recounted students saying to him how being part of the program was why they came to school, how they received shoes, uniforms, or had something to eat. You have these programs that are making the difference, and they dont have the language or the metrics to be able to showcase how fabulous theyre doing, theyre doing the work, Phillips said. My Brothers Keeper began in 2014 under the administration of President Barack Obama to address persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color and ensure that all young people can reach their full potential, according to Obamas White House website. A July 2015 report from the White House Council of Economic Advisers explored the barriers that disadvantaged youth, particularly young men of color, face and quantified the costs this poses to the U.S. economy. It stated that if young men of color between the ages of 16-54 participated in the workforce at the same rates as non-Hispanic white men their age, the GDP would rise 2 percent or an estimated $350 billion. It concluded how disparities in education, the criminal justice system, and employment increases the barriers for youth unless there are strategies implemented to improve their outcomes. Prior to starting the My Brothers Keeper program, Fort Worth ISD joined with other school districts to improve the academic and social outcomes for students of color. In 2015, according to the FWISD My Brothers Keeper web page, 76% of African American students and 80% of Hispanic students in FWISD were economically disadvantaged as compared to 31% of white students; 41% of African American students and 55% of Hispanic students were successful in state assessments compared to 75% of white students. Students gain a sense of connection and community My Brothers Keeper, and eventually My Sisters Keeper, was brought into FWISD in 2018 to address opportunity gaps that are faced by young men and women to ensure that theyre able to reach their potential. The program is available for anyone regardless of skin color. This is a program that gives the students a sense of connection and community and a trusted adult that they know has their back and is checking up on them, Christina Galanis, director of secondary student engagement, said in an interview with the Star-Telegram. They have that relationship with that person and thats getting them to schools and thats a win because thats going to translate to better attendance, better achievement, its going to translate to improve post secondary outcomes. Galanis says the immediate objective of the program is to have students be involved with mentors, community service, and volunteering and to have a sense of community, which can lead to increased academic achievement. The Counseling Services Department will meet with the organization to address the data tracking concerns raised by the board, Galanis said. The department will start to track trend data to correlate the impact of the program on students behavior, achievement and attendance over time. In Southwest High School, the My Sisters Keeper program meets every Thursday in the morning, with food provided. Students discuss at length how they are feeling that day, as well as a topic related to mental health. They experiment with different techniques for improving their mental health. Southwest High School students who are in the My Sisters Keeper program enjoy pizza at one of their weekly meetings. Courtesy/Southwest High School My Sister's Keeper One week, students took turns standing in the middle of the group and talking about what they were letting go from their past to move on as a person. Another week, they wrote letters to themselves about how they were feeling. The letters were collected and will be given back to them in May to see their growth. They go on field trips that have included a visit to American Airlines headquarters, to explore possible career paths. And they take trips to colleges, including HBCUs. Harris said she is excited about the rest of the school year and the safe space My Sisters Keeper offers for her and her friends. Im excited to see growth in me, since this is my senior year, and just see how I have overcome these past four years and just letting go, seeing myself mature more, she said. And theres some stuff I am upset about but Im just trying to heal from that. [Source] A new study found that health-related posts that feature K-pop stars, most notably BTS, attract more responses from the general public and have a higher chance of going viral than those that do not. Key details: Published in Online Social Networks and Media in September, the study, led by Herbert Chang, an assistant professor of quantitative social science at Dartmouth College, looked into how K-pop stars helped further spread health-related messages to the public during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 to 2021. Joining Chang in the study is Emilio Ferrara, a professor of computer science and communication at the University of Southern California, and Becky Pham, a USC doctoral candidate. Their study: During the study, Chang and his co-authors analyzed around 7 million posts related to mask-wearing and K-pop posted by X users, formerly Twitter, between March 2020 and December 2021. Those 7 million posts were extracted from a massive dataset of 3.5 billion posts using natural language processing methods. Trending on NextShark: Watch: Bali monkey negotiates for food in exchange for woman's stolen iPhone How they did it: Through a selection of keywords, the group refined the dataset into subsets that were specific to their study, such as posts with the #WearAMask hashtag, posts from important institutions and figures like World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and posts containing K-pop hashtags like #BTS and #BTSArmy. Besides BTS, Chang and the group also examined posts about BLACKPINK and Twice, noting in the study that they are the three most prominent K-pop groups on Twitter. Their findings: The group discovered that health-related posts featuring K-pop stars received more responses from countries often underserved by Western-based health organizations, such as South America, Central America and Southeast Asia, than posts that did not contain K-pop keywords. Trending on NextShark: Watch: Australian influencer mistaken for Ryan Reynolds swarmed by fans in Taiwan In one of the graphs in the study, the group highlighted that posts with "K-pop" and "Dr. Tedros" as keywords were more popular in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines, with 7.3%, 2.63% and 12.9% virality, respectively. Meanwhile, South Korea and Vietnam saw a much higher virality at 31.9% and 38.4%, respectively, in those two keywords. Going viral: An example of the phenomenon includes when Dr. Tedros congratulated BTS for the release of their song Dynamite on X on Aug. 21, 2020, and thanked them for encouraging their fans, widely known as ARMY, to wear masks. The post amassed over 86,000 likes and 38,600 reposts. Similar analysis: Changs group findings go in line with the similar analysis X released in January 2022, showing that the majority of the top 20 countries posting about K-pop were from South America and Southeast Asia, such as Mexico, Brazil, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines, to name a few. Trending on NextShark: Sriracha buyers say new Huy Fong Foods bottles taste different Inside the U.S.: Meanwhile, the group also found that interior states like South and North Dakota (52% and 41%), Mississippi (39%), Missouri (39%), Utah (37%), Louisiana (37%), Wisconsin (36%) and Nebraska (33%) saw the biggest viral boosts in posts referencing K-pop, BTS and COVID-19 on X. The road ahead: In a statement, Chang noted that the results of their study shows that we can use this as a strategy for targeted interventions. It begs the question, Chang added, in addition to mask wearing, can we use this to potentially increase vaccine uptake or even other health prevention practices? Trending on NextShark: Interview: K-pop legend Rain to perform US concerts for 1st time in 15 years A school bus on its way to a disabilities learning center rolled off a ramp and crashed in New York, officials said. Five students were injured in the Friday, Oct. 20, bus crash, in addition to an aide receiving serious injuries, according to an Amherst Police Department news release. All six injured people were sent to the hospital for treatment. The school bus was on its way to Beyond Support Network, previously known as the Cantalician Center for Learning, when it crashed at 7:42 a.m., police said. The students were on a First Student bus, which is a school transportation solutions provider, according to its website. The Beyond Support Network works with students with disabilities on a variety of skills, including improving communication skills, personal hygiene, healthy lifestyles, safety, making the right choices, self-advocacy, community travel, vocational skills and self-improvement, according to its website. In the lead-up to the crash, a pick-up truck tried to merge into interstate traffic when the driver lost control and hit the school bus, police told WKBW 7 Buffalo. The bus then flipped off the ramp into a ditch, according to police. A traffic alert on X, formerly known as Twitter, was issued by Amherst police at 8:24 a.m. for I-290, a nearly 10-mile interstate that bypasses Buffalo and leads to Niagara Falls in Canada. Officials said to avoid the area, warning drivers of road closures and severe traffic backups. [AMHERST POLICE, NY] -- TRAFFIC ALERT: I-290 E/B at Sheridan/Harlem. Avoid this area as emergency crews are on location. There will be road closures and severe traffic backups on the I-290 E/B.#AmherstNYTraffic pic.twitter.com/GjVHGMzHVw Amherst Police NY (@amherstpoliceny) October 20, 2023 The five injured students were sent to Oisheis Childrens Hospital for evaluation, police said. Officials did not release the names and ages of the children. A school aide who was also on the bus was seriously injured, and after receiving onsite aid, was taken to Erie County Medical Center, according to police. The center released a statement on Facebook about the crash, saying that families were notified. The organization was relieved to hear the students had non-life-threatening injuries. Both drivers of the bus and the pick-up truck were checked by medical professionals, but they were not sent to the hospital for further treatment, police said. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul addressed the incident on X, noting she spoke with Erie County executive Mark Poloncarz about this tragic accident. I've spoken with @ErieCountyNY Executive Poloncarz about this tragic accident. State agencies are responding and assisting local officials in the response. Our hearts are with Erie County, and with those injured and their families. https://t.co/9kheVrKjhS Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) October 20, 2023 Amherst is about 10 miles northeast of Buffalo. Former student who lost legs in accident makes incredible return to Tennessee school Childrens program bus driver took photos of toddler to trade for child porn, feds say 6 elementary students sent to hospital when school bus slams into building, NC cops say Heres a real estate deal not often seen a private airport with a 2,240-foot asphalt runway on 40 acres for sale in Abbeville. Asking price: $1,497,50. Known as SC81 by the Federal Aviation Administration, the airport once was home to a flight school run by Michele Keilman. She and her husband Ken decided to sell because they were spending most of their time in the Tampa, Florida, area where Mrs. Keilman has run other flight schools. Realtor Todd Harper of Wilson Kibler said the airport, located at 82 Hanger Road about 2 miles south of historic downtown Abbeville, was developed in the 1950s and served for a time as Abbevilles community airport. Kielman bought it about 20 years ago, he said. The property includes 8 acres zoned for residential. The rest is zoned commercial. There is a single family home on the property that the Keilmans recently renovated. The runway is not long enough to handle jets, but there is room for expansion, Harper said. Typically, small jets can land on 6,000-foot runways. Harper envisions the property as a home for a wealthy aviation enthusiast with plenty of room for a large house, a group of fliers or as a flight school or other aviation-related business. Its very rare to get an asphalt runway, he said. And rare too to find an airport for sale. In his research hes found fewer than five. There is a 5,000-square-foot hangar, five outdoor covered pushback hangars, five outdoor tie downs for general aviation planes and multiple entry points for the vacant land surrounding it, which is largely wooded. Another use for the property is for aviation groups that do camp outs. It is a beautiful area, Harper said. State parks, natural forest, the Savannah River in the middle of South Carolina. The threatened Florida Scrub-Jay would replace the Northern Mockingbird as Floridas official state bird if a new bill filed in the legislature becomes law. Sen. Tina Polsky, a Democrat from Boca Raton, filed SB 162 earlier this month in her attempt to elevate the Florida Scrub-Jay. It would remove the Mockingbird, which has been the Sunshine States official bird since 1927. Polskys bill noted that the Scrub-Jay is the only bird species that lives exclusively in Florida. It can found be in small habitats of low-growing scrub oak and sandy soils across Central Florida, from the Ocala National Forest south to near Lake Okeechobee. The Northern Mockingbird, meanwhile, can be found in every state across the continental U.S. in addition to most of Mexico and parts of the Caribbean. Protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the Florida Scrub-Jay is also protected as a threatened species by the federal Endangered Species Act and as a federally designated threatened species by the Florida Endangered and Threatened Species rule, Polskys bill explained. Polsky filed a similar bill last year that failed, but it did garner the support of a group of Seminole High School students who were advocating for the Florida Scrub-Jay. Since the Scrub-Jay is found only in Florida, it should be chosen as the state bird without a doubt, Navya Sharma, a senior at Seminole High, told the Sentinel in December 2022. She said she hoped the states designation would bring attention to preserving the threatened birds natural scrub habitat. While the legislature didnt adopt the Scrub-Jay measure last year, the students were able to get Seminole County commissioners make it the countys official feathered creature. Yolanda Gibbs, the 56-year-old cafeteria worker killed outside an elementary school in Forest Hill before classes started Oct. 11, was remembered at a vigil Thursday night by friends and family as a happy person who went out of her way to put others in a good mood. Around 300 people showed up to share stories, hear others talk about her impacts on David K. Sellars Elementary and the community and release pink and blue balloons, chosen because those were her favorite colors. Authorities in Forest Hill said Gibbs was shot and killed by 58-year-old Anthony Harris, who she was dating. Harris was found dead Oct. 13. on a public sidewalk in the 1200 block of East Rosedale Street, according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiners website. The manner and cause of his death has not been released. Police respond Wednesday morning, Oct. 11, 2023, to David Sellars Elementary School in Forest Hill, where school officials say a staff member was fatally shot in the back parking lot. The school is part of the Fort Worth Independent School District. But Thursday nights vigil wasnt about Gibbs death. It was about how she lived her life. Speakers shared details about her work at the school, like how she had a smile on her face, and wanted to make sure everyone she worked with did, too, no matter how hard the day was, or how she would randomly decide to buy cookies or ice cream for all the students. Today's top stories: Texas Rangers didn't lose because of a roof, or an ump Popular Tex-Mex restaurant announces new west side location Huh? What do these TX constitutional amendments mean? Get free alerts when news breaks. On Oct. 13, an ice cream truck came to the school to hand out free ice cream to students in her memory, because she used to do that. Karen Buckley, a friend of Gibbs for more than 40 years, said she and Gibbs were like Laverne and Shirley. (Gibbs was Laverne, she said.) Buckleys kids called Gibbs their aunt, and Gibbs children did the same with Buckley. Buckley said Gibbs was the best organizer and the best cleaner she knew, but more impressive than that was her ability to find bargains and sales. She would even go out of her way to find things on sale she could give to other people, especially if she knew someone had a need. A memorial outside of David K. Sellars Elementary School in Forest Hill, Texas honors Yolanda Gibbs, who was fatally shot in the schools back parking lot on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. Buckley told Gibbs family, especially her grandchildren, that they should work hard to remember who she was and how she acted and responded to situations. That way, any time they feel in need of guidance they can ask themselves what Gibbs would do and look at the answer as the advice she would give in that situation. Mary Clay, a teacher at Sellars Elementary, said she hadnt known Gibbs for long. But the short time she had to become acquainted was enough to know that Gibbs was always in a cheery mood. She recalled the first time she met Gibbs, she asked what her name was. You can call me Miss Lovely, Clay remembers Gibbs telling her. From that day on, Clay would tell her students to say hi to Miss Lovely whenever they went to lunch. She might be gone, but she is not forgotten because she is still alive in you, Clay told the family. Eric Paul, a local pastor and friend of Gibbs since they were in school together, said Gibbs had a servants heart. Her legacy is an inheritance shes left to her family, Paul said. After speakers shared stories and Paul prayed for Gibbs family and everybody who knew her, the group released the pink and blue balloons. Most of them stuck around afterward to swap stories about Gibbs and catch up. In almost every instance someone shared a memory of Gibbs, it ended with laughter from everybody gathered around to hear it. FOREST HILL, Texas - On Thursday night, the community came out in force to honor a Fort Worth ISD cafeteria worker who was killed outside her school last week. Yolanda Gibbs was found shot several times outside David K. Sellars Elementary on Oct. 11. Yolanda Gibbs (Source: Forest Hill Police) Many students, colleagues and longtime friends attended the vigil to share how Gibbs impacted their lives. "There will be a huge void here at David K. Sellars Elementary," said Karen Buckley, Gibbs' longtime friend. The community gathered on the hillside at sunset to mourn. "It was just something about that day, when I kept calling her and she didnt answer," said Buckley. Police responded to the school last Wednesday morning before the start of class for a report of a shooting. They found Gibbs shot multiple times. She was later pronounced dead at a hospital. Two days later, police announced a "person of interest" in the investigation was found dead. The Forest Hill Police Department identified that man Thursday as Anthony Harris. Investigators say evidence confirmed Harris as the suspect in the shooting. Police say Harris and Gibbs had been dating for about two years. Forest Hill Police say that Harris has an extensive criminal history and was on parole at the time of the shooting. Thursday night, the focus was not on what happened, but on the woman they lost. "When I first got here I asked, Well, what is your name? and she said Just call me lovely I said okay, Ill call you lovely,'" said teacher Mary Clay. Gibbs spent decades at Sellars Elementary, interacting with students in her work in the school cafeteria. Colleagues and friends remembered her for a big heart and her personality. "Yolanda was a mess, yall know she was. She was a whole piece of work. If you met her, you didnt meet nobody else like her," said PTA president Keisha Braziel. So as the many who gathered outside Sellars Thursday released balloons in Gibbs' honor, they remembered how she touched those she came across. "Many times we forget that first person that sees our kids, if it's handing them the milk or handing them the juice or whatever, how much that impacts their life," said Wallace Bridges, a Fort Worth ISD trustee. Police say they are continuing their investigation. The gun from the shooting still has not been recovered. A child pushed in a stroller watches as contractors working at the Inn of Chicago migrant shelter unload supplies and transport them into the shelter on Oct. 3, 2023. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) When a security guard clocked out of a Streeterville migrant shelter one Friday in March, hed just logged his 84th hour at work that week. His bosses told the city it was at least his 56th day in a row working a 12-hour shift, according to invoices they filed with the city invoices whose sizable overtime helped contribute to tens of millions in city payments to the firm staffing the citys migrant shelters. The security guard was employed by Favorite Healthcare Staffing, a national employment firm that has become the citys biggest contractor to handle the growing migrant crisis. Under the deal, the city hired the firm to provide case workers, security guards, janitors and many other employees for the migrant shelters at initial base rates ranging from $60 to $150 an hour. Invoices reviewed by the Tribune show that hundreds of Favorite Staffing workers logged 84-hour workweeks with the overtime, paid at a 50% premium, helping balloon bills that topped at least $56 million. At a Woodlawn shelter in early February, for example, two-thirds of the 50 staffers logged working at least 12 hours a day, seven days a week. At the Streeterville site one week in March, roughly 8 in 10 workers logged the same hours. The detailed invoices help explain how costs to shelter migrants have swelled this year amid a growing debate about how well the city has managed the crisis. Exactly what happens inside Chicagos nearly two dozen migrant shelters has largely been a mystery to the public because the city has chosen to keep the media and even volunteers out. Yet whats becoming more clear from a Tribune investigation of city records is how costly the arrangement has been, in a system staffed by an outside firm hired by city officials under pressure to act quickly and allowed to operate largely out of public view. The Favorite Staffing invoices are filled with rows of employee names showing the dates, shifts, pay rates and number of hours they worked, including overtime. A Tribune review of those invoices offers a window into how Favorite Staffings revenue grew under the deal. [ Tension between city and state over migrant crisis on the rise as are cost estimates ] Just how much remains unclear because the city has not released most invoices filed by the vendor, including the most recent four months worth. It comes at a time when the city is pushing both the state and federal governments to help cover a larger share of the growing costs of migrant care. A contractor from the migrant shelter in the former Inn of Chicago cleans the sidewalk outside the shelter on Oct. 18, 2023. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Although the city has not released complete records of payments, the $56 million billed by Favorite Staffing from September 2022 as migrants had begun arriving in Chicago through June reflected roughly two-thirds of all funds the city spent on all migrant services, records show. As city officials still grapple with how to respond to the expanding 14-month-old crisis, the revelations in Favorite Staffings invoices sparked complaints and outrage about how two mayoral administrations have managed the arrangement much of it funded by the state. Ald. Brendan Reilly, 42nd, who represents the downtown ward where the security guard worked at the Inn of Chicago shelter, said the fees being charged there have been insanity. The conditions that exist there are deplorable, he said, so the fact that were paying so much to get so little in return is very frustrating. [ Illinois leaders tepid about more quick funding for Chicagos migrant crisis ] A former aide to Mayor Lori Lightfoot described the amount of hours billed as not surprising given the scope and urgency of the services, while Gov. J.B. Pritzkers spokeswoman defended the payments as a frustrating byproduct of a nationwide worker shortage at a time staffers are most needed to help open and run shelters. A humanitarian crisis that requires 24/7 staff at multiple sites throughout the city unfortunately will result in staff working overtime, Pritzker spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh said in a written response to questions. Mayor Brandon Johnsons representatives did not address questions on the volume of overtime the city has paid out, but did note the city has twice renegotiated the deal to lower rates, including a push to hire local workers that includes even steeper discounts on fees. Favorite Healthcare Staffing, a 42-year-old firm based out of suburban Kansas City with 30,000 employees across the country, is not new to Chicago or Illinois. It has received contracts from both the city and state going back years and been paid more than $1 billion for work at state veterans homes and to assist with the COVID-19 pandemic, city and state records show. The Favorite Healthcare Staffing office sits along the 5500 block of North Cumberland Avenue in Chicago. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) The firm declined to make a representative available for an interview. In an emailed response to questions from the Tribune, the firm didnt address questions about the overtime it billed the city. A senior vice president at the firm, Keenan Driver, said in the statement that the firm charges fair and market-based prices that also cover overhead costs beyond the checks it cuts to its workers. Driver also said city officials manage the sites and that Favorite Staffing treats employees and migrants fairly. We have developed a world class staffing model that provides speed and flexibility but also focuses on employee safety and satisfaction, he said, later adding: Favorite is committed to working to continue to provide high quality services to assist the City of Chicago in navigating this crisis. A quickly signed deal The company part of an international group owned by private equity firms became the citys key vendor in September 2022, less than a month into the crisis after a cobbled-together collection of nonprofits and volunteers struggled to keep up with the hundreds of migrants sent by bus from the southern border. In a sign of how rushed the deal was, Lightfoots administration piggybacked off a state emergency contract with Favorite Staffing for pandemic workers. The state deal listed specific positions and hourly rates. The city contract simply changed the names of jobs and kept the same pay rates. So a certified nursing assistant during the pandemic paid $75 per hour by the state became a resident aide for migrant services in the city contract. A pandemic healthcare worker paid $100 an hour by the state became shelter security. [ A year in, Chicagos migrant crisis exacerbated by City Hall and state delays, hefty contracts and questionable decisions ] When asked why, a former Lightfoot administration official, Nubia Willman, recalled that the city was pressed for time to staff a shelter system largely built from scratch. And the state had already vetted Favorite Staffing for the pandemic deal, she said, so the city didnt have to follow the normal, cumbersome bidding process. We did not want to disrupt services, and we couldnt afford to disrupt services, because we needed to maintain that stability as we continued to build the shelter operations and continued to figure out our long-term plans, said Willman, the former director of the Office of New Americans. That shortcut came with a price. For anyone working more than 40 hours a week, the city paid Favorite Staffing an extra 50% per hour, or time-and-a-half. So if a security guard with a $100-an-hour fee logged 84 hours a week, for example, that last 44 hours was paid at $150 an hour. That scenario played out for scores of workers, week after week, in invoice after invoice reviewed by the Tribune. In one week in early February, the city was billed nearly $460,000 for 50 Favorite Staffing workers at one shelter: a former elementary school in Woodlawn. Of the 50 staffers, 36 listed they worked all seven days that week and 12 hours each day. A security guard walks toward the former Wadsworth Elementary School on Oct. 18, 2023. The building, in the 6400 block of South University Avenue, became one of nearly two dozen migrant shelters in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) A third of that shelters workers were listed as security guards. Every one of those 13 guards logged at least 20 hours of overtime that week. Most logged 44 hours of overtime, on top of the regular 40 hours that week. That meant the city spent roughly $18,000 a day for security at the shelter about $11,000 of it just for overtime. It wasnt unheard of for Favorite Staffing-supplied workers to put in that much time, on occasion, in contracts with Illinois government either. [ Mayor Brandon Johnson reverses course, will not join trip to southern US border ] Favorite Staffings pandemic deal with the state included an expectation that health care staff would work 72 hours per week in health care facilities to help battle COVID-19. After migrants began arriving on buses late last summer, the state turned to Favorite Staffing to help staff hotels where some of the new arrivals were given shelter. A Tribune analysis of state records shows that in early January, near the height of the operation, 1 in 5 workers logged at least 84 hours in one week. But the city-administered contract as it moved into late winter and early spring 2023 saw even higher rates of overtime, the Tribune found. View an invoice from Favorite Staffing below: When asked why so many of its employees worked overtime in Chicagos shelters, Favorite Staffing officials did not offer a direct response. Nor did it answer why it didnt dispatch more people to Chicago to cover more shifts that would limit overtime. For sure, Favorite Staffing didnt profit from all the money collected in overtime fees. Like any staffing company, the firm must pay its employees from the fees it collects, and it is obligated to pay overtime to employees who work more than 40 hours per week. Still, its unclear how much of the total fees it collected from the city was passed onto its workers as pay, how much was left to cover the firms overhead, and how much was profit. Favorite Staffing declined to discuss those details. Favorite Staffing operates in an industry that saw revenues surge in recent years, and that level of overtime could have been particularly lucrative for the firm, experts said. Such firms typically have overhead costs for things like recruiting, insuring and housing workers, which can come out of the difference they charge employers versus what they pay their staff. If the firm has a smaller number of staffers but works them more hours, the overhead can be limited while the staffing firm profits more from overtime fees. Theres just far more incentive to work fewer people a ton of overtime, said Bob Bruno, a University of Illinois professor of labor and employment relations. A city-provided spreadsheet of payment records, covering invoices submitted through late June, doesnt break out how much was paid in overtime fees. But those records show that, overall, in February, the firm invoiced the city $7.5 million. The next month, the firm nearly doubled what it billed the city. In mid-March, available invoices show Favorite Staffing had dispatched more than 300 employees across Chicago, staffing at least 11 shelters. The week ending March 10, all but six were logged as working some overtime with more than 200 staffers logged as working at least 84 hours. In essence, Favorite Staffing told the city, roughly 2 out of 3 of its workers put in at least an average of 12-hour days, all seven days. When asked about the amount of overtime, Willman, the top Lightfoot aide on the migrant crisis, was not critical of what was billed. For many, emergency staffing is their career and the workload is not surprising, she said in a statement. It sounds shocking to a lay person, but this is difficult, time-consuming, nonstop work. But Bruno said hes never heard of so many people in such a contract working so many hours, comparing it to hours people typically worked in the late 19th century. He said the level of hours reported certainly does seem extraordinary. And that worries Annie Gomberg, a volunteer who helps migrants at the Austin District police station. Gomberg said no one working with migrants can be at their best when they are exhausted, working over-80-hour weeks: These are human beings, not machines. Eight weeks in a row The Tribune requested records from the Johnson administration detailing Favorite Staffings shelter work. The city responded with a breakdown of costs billed through June that totaled $56 million but said it was too burdensome to provide all of the invoices that detail those payments. Instead, the city handed over only invoices for February, March and May of 2023, which it said it had already provided to two other media outlets. One of them, NBC-5, reported Tuesday about those Favorite Staffing invoices. While invoices showed regular 84-hour workweeks for some employees, others worked even more hours. One worker was logged as pulling five 12-hour shifts, a 14-hour shift and a 16-hour shift that week in mid-March. For his work alone that week, the city was billed $15,525. [ Chicago expecting even higher pace of migrant arrivals as mayor, governor press White House for more help ] That person worked at the citys most populated shelter: Inn of Chicago, at Ohio and St. Clair streets. The employee worked at the same shelter as the security guard who was logged as working 12-hour shifts at least 56 days in a row for the Inn of Chicago site and another shelter. The city didnt provide invoices for the weeks before or after that 56-day stretch, so its unclear if he logged working an even longer string of days this winter and spring. The guard, when reached by phone, told the Tribune he began working for Favorite Staffing in November, but said that hes not working at a Chicago shelter anymore. I dont have time for those kind of questions. Im really busy right now, he said. Then he hung up. Other Favorite Staffing employees approached by the Tribune declined to speak, and Favorite Staffing did not respond to a request to make employees available for interviews. The guard was among 83 people who worked at the Inn of Chicago during a period this spring in which the Tribune had invoices to examine. Of them, 38 logged working at least three weeks in a row without a day off. The guard was among nine who logged at least four weeks in a row without a day off. Another way to look at it: In every week that could be studied, at least 1 in 3 workers said they worked at least 84 hours a week. At most, 8 in 10 workers logged that many hours a week. Its unclear to what extent the city audited the invoices, which is allowed under the contract. Ald. Maria Hadden, 49th, says audits are needed. Somebody needs to be really going through this with a fine-toothed comb and making sure in real time, before were cutting these checks, that the monthly amounts that theyre billing us actually equate to the work that theyre performing, she said. [ Mayor Brandon Johnson quietly signs $29 million deal with private security firm for asylum-seeker base camps ] The invoices came just after the General Assembly tightened the states law forbidding employers from making people work seven days in a row in Illinois. The law requires at least 24 consecutive hours off every seven days, with some exceptions. Firms seeking exemptions can ask the state for waivers. The state Department of Labor said it has no record of receiving waiver requests from Favorite Staffing, nor complaints the firm broke the law. It noted some exemptions that might apply, such as for security guards, supervisors, those in a bona fide executive, administrative, or professional capacity or those needed in the breakdown of machinery or equipment or other emergency. Regardless of the legality, the amount of hours logged by employees raises questions of worker productivity and safety. Researchers say that people working long hours are more prone to poor health, while being less productive with poorer cognitive performance the more overtime they work. Jose Mendoza, 19, of Venezuela, serves food to other migrants from the back of a car outside the migrant shelter at Inn of Chicago downtown on Oct. 3, 2023. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) When youre really fatigued, you have less ability to concentrate and stay engaged in the response at hand, said Kirsten Almberg, who directs the University of Illinois at Chicagos Center for Healthy Work. Reilly, the downtown alderman, in a letter to constituents earlier this month called for the Inn of Chicago shelter to be shut down, citing safety concerns such as public intoxication and narcotics sales, and said the city should absolutely not do more business with Favorite Staffing. (Look) at their billing practices alone and their failure to maintain security and cleanliness in their facilities, period, Reilly said in an interview with the Tribune. And the fact that this administration is slow to release these invoices and these records only in dribs and drabs is concerning to me. It tells me that theyre hiding a much bigger problem, which is we are hemorrhaging money. Migrants have told the Tribune that, while some staff inside shelters are helpful, others are dismissive, disrespectful and slow to respond to their needs for diapers, food and other resources. Mayele Marin, 37, from Venezuela found herself at the shelter in the Broadway Armory Park in Edgewater in August. She said the lights stayed on all night. One staffer blatantly ignored her when she asked for help getting food and resources. She didnt know where to look for work and spent most of the day begging for food, because the shelter-provided cereal and pasta wasnt enough. She pointed to a carton of Coca-Cola on the sidewalk she got from a volunteer, and said she wasnt allowed to bring it inside. She had most recently been sleeping on the floor of a police station, waiting for placement inside the city-run shelters. She said she wished shed stayed. What purpose does the government have with us? We dont know, she said in Spanish, sitting along North Broadway Street as pedestrians walked by in business clothes. What is going to happen to us? I wonder what theyre hiding Favorite Staffing told the Tribune that the citys Department of Family and Support Services leads the management of all sites, while the firm places on-site lead workers at every shelter and embeds staff with the citys Emergency Operations Center. Johnsons Office of Emergency Management and Communications spokesperson, Mary May, said city teams monitor shelters for a variety of things, including general operations, safety, and security. The city has said it keeps everyone out of the shelters other than migrants and workers to protect migrants privacy. That bothers some volunteers. [ Mayor Brandon Johnson discusses moving migrants from police stations to base camps, warns of sacrifices to balance costs ] I wonder what theyre hiding, Ruth Lamour, a volunteer for migrants at the Austin police station, said about the shelters. You wouldnt send your child to a day care that you couldnt go inside. You wouldnt send your children to a school that you couldnt have access to. Vehicles are positioned in a way that obscures from public view migrants arriving at a new shelter near the intersection of South Halsted Street and West Cermak Road on Oct. 3, 2023, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Favorite Staffing workers even tried to shut out a City Council member, according to that alderman. Ald. Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez, 33rd, told the Tribune she stopped by a few days after the Brands Park shelter opened in her ward during the last weeks of the Lightfoot administration. One Favorite Staffing worker stopped her and said she needed to schedule visits in advance. They couldnt keep me out, Rodriguez Sanchez said. I still went through the door, and I said, No, Im not leaving. After forcing the issue, which she attributed to the corporate mindset within such private sector companies, she was able to work with Favorite Staffing employees to improve conditions, Rodriguez Sanchez said. A go-to contractor Favorite Staffings contract with the city for migrant services is only the latest in a string of deals with the city and state government. In 2017, then-Gov. Bruce Rauner brought the firm in to help staff a state-run veterans home in Quincy that was the site of multiple deadly outbreaks of Legionnaires disease. When the pandemic hit, Pritzkers administration hired the firm for a host of needs, from staffing a short-lived field hospital at McCormick Place to dispatching nurses to understaffed hospitals. Workers staffed vaccination clinics too, a task from which controversy emerged. [ Mayor Brandon Johnson exploring backup plan to tent cities for migrants as Gov. J.B. Pritzker says more state funding unlikely ] In late 2021, a former Favorite Staffing nurse filed a lawsuit alleging she was unfairly suspended for warning local and state authorities that the vaccination site she was helping run, in Des Plaines, was being overstaffed. In her whistleblower lawsuit, she alleged one Favorite Staffing representative admonished her and told her: What happens in Favorite stays in Favorite. That pending lawsuit joined others filed by ex-workers in four additional states. The other lawsuits alleged Favorite Staffing either unfairly fired or underpaid workers. In fall 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor pushed the firm to pay an additional $3 million to 1,677 workers whod done COVID-19 testing in Florida. When asked about the lawsuits and federal action, Driver, the Favorite Staffing executive, responded: To the extent that workplace issues arise, we pride ourselves on taking swift and proactive steps to address them thoroughly. None of the controversies stopped Favorite Staffing from keeping and getting more deals with the state and city through complex rules that allow government entities to bypass some competitive bidding requirements in a crisis. The state used a formal bidding process late in 2020, when Favorite Staffing was chosen from seven bidders in a competitive process for a new master contract for emergency staffing the one the city eventually piggybacked on to staff migrant shelters. Frequent mayoral critic Ald. Anthony Beale, 9th, said such expensive contracts should require input from the City Council and questioned whether Favorite Staffings high invoices were a cash grab. When you have crises like were dealing with right now, youre going to get people who take advantage of the situation, Beale said. Theres a whole (adage) called, Haste makes waste. When youre in a hurry to do something, youre going to be wasteful, and thats what you see right now. In a statement, Johnsons administration said the city renegotiated a rate drop in April and another that started Oct. 1. Under the new terms, a security guards regular hourly rate, for instance, eventually dropped from $100 an hour to $68. If the guard was a local resident and didnt need a hotel room, the rate would drop to $48 an hour, the city said. The state contract is expiring Nov. 16, meaning the city can no longer piggyback off it. City officials did not answer if they would continue to use Favorite Staffing. A person looks out a window from the second floor of the Inn of Chicago migrant shelter on Oct. 18, 2023. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) If Favorite Staffing continues to staff Chicago shelters, it would join another firm, GardaWorld Federal Services, which the city hired last month under a nearly $30 million deal to put up migrant yurt base camps across the city to house some of the 18,700 migrants whove arrived on more than 400 buses from Texas as well as planes and other transportation modes since August 2022. In the meantime, as of Friday, shelters staffed by Favorite Staffing housed nearly 11,300 migrants. Another 650-plus stay in a section at OHare International Airport. More than 3,000 sleep in police station lobbies or outside, while city officials struggle with how best to pay to house them. Whatever is decided, Ald. Walter Burnett, 27th, said he hopes the city can learn lessons from its rushed contract with Favorite Staffing. And hopefully, we can start saving some money, he said. A state judge ordered the Chino Valley Unified School District not to enact its policy of outing transgender students to their parents while a legal challenge to the regulation is pending. San Bernardino Superior Court Judge Michael Sachs issued his preliminary injunction Thursday. The decision was hailed by advocates, including Kristi Hirst, co-founder of Our Schools USA, who said in a statement that the ruling is a win for students, parents and teachers. Its embarrassing that this school board chooses to ignore the harm they are causing in Chino and in communities throughout California in order to pursue a political crusade, Hirst said. Chino Valley was the first California school district to adopt a policy that forces teachers and other school staff to inform parents if a child is transgender or gender-nonconforming. The proposal was modeled after a California bill that would have imposed such a policy on every school in the state. That bill died in the Legislature. Since Chino Valley first considered the proposal last summer, several other school districts with conservative-controlled boards have enacted similar policies, including Rocklin Unified School District. California Attorney General Rob Bonta sued Chino Valley in August, after warning the district not to proceed with adopting the policy. Bontas office did not respond to The Bees request for comment by deadline. According to Courthouse News Service, at a hearing Thursday Sachs questioned the districts statement that its policy is intended to create a supportive environment. On the one hand, you have this policy that is expressed ... as to bring the family, the school, the students together so that the students and parents have an avenue to address the mental health concerns and other concerns regarding their children, Sachs said, On the other hand, are board members at an open meeting voicing their opinions that seem to counter the stated purpose of the policy. The judge said that while some transgender youths feel safe discussing their gender identity with their parents, others do not, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. My job as a judge is to have their backs, he said, according to the Chronicle. Chino Valley Unified School District Board President Sonja Shaw, who has championed the policy across the state, did not respond to The Bees request for comment by deadline. A California man is behind bars after officials say he tried to scam an elderly Georgian couple out of thousands of dollars. Perry police officials said after conducting a covert operation, they arrested Gurdev Singh of California and a citizen of India. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] According to the investigation, Singh attempted to steal over $180,000 from an elderly Perry couple. Authorities did not specify how Singh attempted to scam the victims. Singh was charged with a criminal attempt to commit theft by deception and exploitation of elder persons. He is being held at the Houston County Detention Center. TRENDING STORIES: Anyone with information regarding this case or similar incidents is asked to contact Detective Ike Wilcox at 478-944-2848. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: (NEXSTAR) The California exodus continues, new Census data released Thursday shows. In 2022, more than 817,000 people left the Golden State for somewhere else in the U.S. About 475,000 people decided to move to California last year, meaning California suffered a net loss of around 342,000 to other U.S. states. As in years prior, Texas was the No. 1 target for people fleeing California. About 102,000 ex-Californians sought greener or more likely, cheaper pastures in Texas last year. Thats a modest drop from 2021. Other popular destinations for Californians to move were Arizona (74,157 people), Florida (50,701), Washington (49,968), Nevada (48,836) and Oregon (36,429). Young and wealthy Californians leaving the region for other states, study says We are losing younger folks, and I think we will see people continuing to migrate where housing costs are lower, Manuel Pastor, a professor of sociology and American Studies & Ethnicity at the University of Southern California, said in an interview with the Associated Press. There are good jobs in California, but housing is incredibly expensive. It hurts young families, and it hurts immigrant families. The least likely destination for someone leaving California last year was Delaware. Only about 600 people are estimated to have made that move. Even when you consider births, deaths and international immigration, California still shrunk a bit last year, by about 113,000 residents. That being said, its still home to almost 39 million people and easily the most populous state. The new data comes the U.S. Census Bureaus annual American Community Survey. The survey happens more frequently than the official Census and gives people a better idea of changes happening in their community year to year. The Associated Press contributed to this report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Contact a qualified medical professional before engaging in any physical activity, or making any changes to your diet, medication or lifestyle. McMaster University's Giulia Muraca explained why Canada needs to start taking data on maternal trauma seriously. (Submitted; Canva) A new data analysis has found Canada has the highest rates of injuries from forceps and vacuum delivery among high-income countries. These injuries have been "documented for over a decade without efforts to address them," according to a release from McMaster University. The paper titled "Maternal and neonatal trauma during forceps and vacuum delivery must not be overlooked," published in the BMJ, calls for transparency and action in Canada. This research came about when obstetrics organizations in North America put forward documentation on efforts to reduce the number of cesarean deliveries in complications during birthing. "The recommendations were instead of having a cesarean delivery in that situation, perhaps we can increase our use of these instruments forceps and vacuum delivery," lead author Giulia Muraca explained to Yahoo Canada. At the time, she thought it was a "sensible" recommendation, before beginning to question whether these tools were actually safer that a C-section. Years later, data showed "extremely high rates" of maternal trauma from these instruments, something that hasn't been acknowledged before. "The moral of the story there was that all of these options have their own sets of risks and benefits and there's no real winner," Muraca claimed. But what exactly are the risks, and why are injury rates so high in Canada? Read on for everything you need to know. What is maternal trauma? Maternal trauma during childbirth includes severe injuries to the pelvis and pelvic organs. (Getty) (Nora Carol Photography via Getty Images) According to Muraca, maternal trauma during childbirth includes severe injuries to the pelvis and pelvic organs, particularly focusing on anal sphincter injuries from severe perineal lacerations (vaginal tears). These occur during instrumental deliveries, such as forceps or vacuum-assisted deliveries. The consequences of such injuries are anal and fecal incontinence in years following delivery, or in plain language: involuntary pooping. "It's not something anyone likes to talk about," she claimed, adding the injuries can destroy a person's quality of life. "People can no longer run anymore, they have sexual dysfunction and their sex lives are decimated, they lose their jobs, they their relationships fall apart, and their sense of self goes out the window." There's a great deal of of mental illness that stems from having these injuries.Giulia Muraca Laura Ralph is one patients that suffered a pelvic floor injury during her son's delivery due to the use of forceps. In an email release, Ralph said she wasn't told about the potential risks. "I remember a cesarean delivery being discussed, but I don't recall whether one was offered to me. I was also completely uninformed of the risks of cesarean versus forceps delivery," Ralph said. Her delivery has suffered long-term complications. According to the release, "she had to use a pessary a device inserted into the birth canal to provide support after pelvic prolapse." Ralph now fears having any more children because of that trauma. "I often think of that conversation about cesarean delivery and wish someone had taken a few minutes to explain the pros and cons of each potential outcome with me." What the data shows Canada has the highest rate of maternal injuries from forceps or vacuum deliveries, at 16.3 per cent. (Getty) (www.shutterstock.com/g/Senkumar+Alfred?rid=216281135&utm_medium=email&utm_source=ctrbreferral-link via Getty Images) Muraca's research found more than 35,000 babies are born each year in Canada with the use of these instruments. Compared with other high-income countries, data from 2019 shows Canada has the highest rate of maternal injuries, at 16.3 per cent a number Muraca called "alarming." "One in four people sustain these injuries following forceps deliveries (25.3 per cent) and one in eight with vacuum deliveries (13.2 per cent)," the release read. While mother bare the brunt of the injuries, about 650 infants in Canada annually (one per cent) also suffer injuries that lead to longterm disability. Why does Canada have such high rates? Several factors contribute to Canada's high rates of maternal injuries, according to Muraca. Some of these include: High rates of forceps usage Compared to countries like Norway (three per cent), the United States (five per cent) or the Netherlands (zero per cent), Canada uses forceps more frequently in six per cent of deliveries. Lack of episiotomy practice Canada lags behind in the use of mediolateral episiotomies (a controlled incision), which are used more frequently in countries like the United Kingdom and Australia. Insufficient training There is less training in instrumental deliveries as they are becoming less common. However, Muraca pointed out "if we're seeing these high rates of trauma happening for 10 years, who do we have to instruct people on how to do this safely? The entire training paradigm needs to be revisited." Insufficient effort Unlike countries like the U.K. and Australia, Canada has yet to establish a national strategy for addressing maternal trauma. Acknowledging the problem and dedicating resources to this is "overdue." We haven't cared about it enough to create a strategy to reduce these injuries.Giulia Muraca What can be done to improve outcomes of birthing people? The study's findings should be a wake-up call to healthcare professionals, policymakers and expectant people. Muraca's recommendations now are recognition, transparency and action. "We need to recognize that this is an issue that merits and that warrants a concerted effort," she claimed. She said the risks of instrumental deliveries need to be openly talked about, and expectant people need to be warned. "I don't want to receive any more emails from people saying 'I didn't know, I thought I was the only one no one ever told me,'" Muraca said. "This needs to be communicated to pregnant people." When the options are a cesarian or instrumental delivery, pregnant people should be able to make an informed decision on what suits them best. "There's no real hierarchy of what's safer, and what's less safe. But there are different sets of risks and benefits." The study's findings should be a wake-up call to healthcare professionals and policymakers. (Getty) (SerrNovik via Getty Images) Muraca wants this to be a written protocol that there must be informed consent before a pregnant person is in labour. She also wants these findings to trigger a national response to lower the rate of these injuries. "They do not have to be this high; they are not unavoidable; we can do a much, much better job." Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. OTTAWA (Reuters) -Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday the Indian government's crackdown on Canadian diplomats was making normal life difficult for millions of people in both countries. Trudeau spoke a day after Canada said it had withdrawn 41 diplomats following an Indian threat to unilaterally revoke their status. New Delhi is angry that Trudeau last month suggested Indian agents might have been involved in the June murder of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada. India denies the allegation. "The Indian government is making it unbelievably difficult for life as usual to continue for millions of people in India and in Canada. And they're doing it by contravening a very basic principle of diplomacy," Trudeau said. "It's something that has me very concerned for the wellbeing and happiness of millions of Canadians who trace their origins to the Indian subcontinent," he told reporters at a televised press conference in Brampton, Ontario. Trudeau said the expulsion of some of Canada's diplomats will hamper travel and trade and pose difficulties for Indians studying in Canada. Around two million Canadians, 5% of the overall population, have Indian heritage. India is by far Canada's largest source of global students, making up for roughly 40% of study permit holders. The Indian foreign ministry earlier rejected the idea it had violated the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations. "The state of our bilateral relations, the much higher number of Canadian diplomats in India, and their continued interference in our internal affairs warrant a parity in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa," it said in a statement. Canada now has 21 diplomats remaining in India. The U.S State Department on Friday backed Canada in the dispute over diplomats. "We have urged the Indian government not to insist upon a reduction in Canadas diplomatic presence and to cooperate in the ongoing Canadian investigation," said spokesperson Matthew Miller. (Reporting by David Ljunggren; additional reporting by Costas Pitas; Editing by Rod Nickel) India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) shakes hands with Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ahead of the G20 Leaders' Summit in New Delhi (Evan Vucci) Canada said Thursday it had withdrawn 41 diplomats from India as a result of the fallout from a bitter dispute over the killing of a Sikh separatist on Canadian soil. New Delhi planned to revoke diplomatic immunity for all but 21 of Canada's diplomats and their families by Friday, forcing Ottawa to pull out the others, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said. "We have facilitated their safe departure from India," Joly added. "This means that our diplomats and their families have now left." Relations between India and Canada have plunged since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last month publicly linked Indian intelligence to the killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, allegations New Delhi has called "absurd". Nijjar, who advocated for a separate Sikh state carved out of India, was wanted by Indian authorities for alleged terrorism and conspiracy to commit murder. "Revoking the diplomatic immunity of 41 diplomats is not only unprecedented, but also contrary to international law," Joly said Wednesday, but added Canada did not plan to retaliate in kind, so as to not "aggravate the situation." "Canada will continue to defend international law, which applies to all nations and will continue to engage with India," she said. India's foreign ministry said in a statement that the government's pressing for a reduction in Canada's diplomatic presence was within "international norms". "The state of our bilateral relations, the much higher number of Canadian diplomats in India, and their continued interference in our internal affairs warrant a parity in mutual diplomatic presence," it added. Canada has called for India to cooperate in the investigation but New Delhi has rejected the allegations and taken countermeasures, such as shutting down visa services for Canadians. Ottawa also expelled an Indian diplomat over the affair. - 'Badgering the Canadians' - Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said last month in New York that his country would be willing to examine any evidence presented by Canada. "We have actually been badgering the Canadians. We've given them loads of information about organized crime leadership which operates out of Canada," Jaishankar said, referring to Sikh separatists. "We have a situation where actually our diplomats are threatened, our consulates have been attacked," he added. The Indian government has called the accusations over the killing "absurd" and advised its nationals not to travel to parts of Canada "given the increase in anti-Indian activities." New Delhi also temporarily stopped processing visa applications in Canada. Nijjar, who immigrated to Canada in 1997 and became a Canadian citizen in 2015, was shot dead by two masked assailants in the parking lot of a Sikh temple near Vancouver in June. Canada is home to some 770,000 Sikhs, who make up about two percent of the country's population, with a vocal minority calling for creating a separate state of Khalistan. The Sikh separatist movement is largely finished within India, where security forces used deadly force to put down an insurgency in the state of Punjab in the 1980s. Hundreds of Sikh protesters rallied outside Indian diplomatic missions in Canada last month, burning flags and trampling on pictures of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Tensions between Ottawa and New Delhi have created a delicate situation for close Canadian ally Washington, which is seeking closer ties with India in a bid to limit Chinese influence in the region. tib-caw-gle/ssy Canada has recalled 41 diplomats from India after Delhi threatened to strip diplomatic immunity of its staff, Ottawa said amid an escalating diplomatic row. Canadian foreign minister Melanie Joly said Indias demand to withdraw diplomats was unreasonable and in violation of international law on diplomatic relations, a criticism rejected by India. Relations between India and Canada have torpedoed to their worst in their recent history after prime minister Justin Trudeau said there were credible allegations of the Indian states involvement in the murder of Canadian-Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has rejected the allegations, calling them absurd. It comes after the Indian foreign ministry asked Canada to withdraw 41 of its 62 diplomats in New Delhi by 10 October, citing parity in an attempt to downsize the countrys diplomatic presence. It was widely seen as one of the retaliatory moves as India also suspended visa services in all categories for all Canadian nationals, citing security threats to its consulates. Ms Joly on Thursday confirmed that 41 diplomats in India have been removed, along with their dependents. A photograph of late temple president Hardeep Singh Nijjar is seen on a banner outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Sahib in Surrey, British Columbia She added exceptions have been made for 21 Canadian diplomats who will remain in India, criticising India for their request. Ms Joly said removing diplomatic immunity of diplomats is not only unprecedented but contrary to international law. A unilateral revocation of diplomatic privileges and immunities is contrary to international law, including the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, she said in the press conference. This action taken by India is completely unreasonable and escalatory. She said Canada will not reciprocate as continues to defend international law, which applies equally to all states. Canada will continue to engage India and remains committed to dialogue as we move forward, she said. Trudeau held a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the G20 Summit in New Delhi Indian foreign minister on Friday criticised Ottawa for their allegations and accused Canadian diplomats of interference in internal affairs of Delhi. We reject any attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms, a statement by the foreign ministry said. The state of our bilateral relations, the much higher number of Canadian diplomats in India, and their continued interference in our internal affairs warrant a parity in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa, it said. The statement said their request for parity was consistent with Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations which says the host country can demand reasonable and normal limits to the size of the mission in the absence of prior agreements. Canada on Friday said it was temporarily halting all in-person operations in consulates in several Indian cities and warned of visa processing delays due to the withdrawal of staff. An Indian flag is laid on the street as protesters wave a Canadian and Khalistan flags during a protest outside the Indian Consulate in Vancouver Services will be paused in consulates in Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai. The decision is expected to affect Indian citizens, including international students looking to study in Canada, amid a high number of applications from India. In 2022, the majority of applicants for both temporary and permanent residency in Canada were Indian nationals. Separately, India is not planning to impose any measures to curb imports or investments from Canada despite the dispute, Indian government sources told Reuters. The ongoing tensions will not spill into a trade dispute or impact investment, two senior Indian government sources said. Following Mr Trudeaus allegation, Canada and India expelled their top diplomats in a tit-for-tat move. Candian officials said they had privately briefed Indian officials about the investigation and sought assistance before they went public. Intelligence on the slaying of the Sikh Canadian includes exchanges from Indian officials and diplomats in Canada and some of it was provided by a member of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance, Officials had said. The alliance includes the United States, Britain, Australia and New Zealand, in addition to Canada. Meanwhile, the UK, the US and Australia have urged India to assist Canada in investigating the killing. Nijjar, a Sikh separatist leader, was murdered in Vancouver on 18 June by two masked men, who fired an estimated 30 to 50 shots at him. He was a leader in what remains of a once-strong movement to create an independent Sikh homeland, known as Khalistan. IPEX, a Canadian manufacturer of thermoplastic piping systems, is continuing to expand its presence in North Carolina with a new 200,000-square-foot facility in Pineville. The companys building is its U.S. flagship for manufacturing. And with a cost of $200 million, its the largest investment for IPEX so far. The molding facility also is bringing 150 jobs to the town in southern Mecklenburg County. CEO Alex Mestres said in a news release that the facility is important for IPEXs growth strategy for North America, which includes expanding in the U.S. The work in Pineville will increase production fittings for plumbing, electrical, industrial and municipal locations. IPEX, a maker of thermoplastic piping, recently opened a $200 million plant in Pineville that will bring with it 150 jobs. About IPEX IPEX officials said it has been in the Pineville area for more than 20 years. The company started with an extrusion plant and distribution facility in the town, then added the new molding facility. A grand opening was held this month for the facility, with Mestres, company employees and local officials on hand. The company was awarded a $345,500 grant from the state for training programs at Central Piedmont Community College. Some of the areas for training include safety, engineering and computers. IPEX is part of Aliaxis, a Belgium-based company that makes plastic pipes for building, infrastructure, industrial and agriculture. Aliaxis employs more than 15,000 people in over 40 countries. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Two new positions on the Clark County School Board were filled this week, giving local governments a bigger voice but not the power of a vote. The City of Henderson appointed Ramona Esparza-Stoffregan, and the City of North Las Vegas named Councilman Isaac Barron to the positions created in the spring by Assembly Bill 175. The City of Las Vegas appointed former charter school leader Adam Johnson on Oct. 4. The last remaining seat will be appointed by the Clark County Commission, expected on Nov. 7. Esparza-Stoffgren is a former teacher and former principal at Valley High School. She currently serves as president of the Leadership Institute of Nevada. As a former teacher and school administrator, Ramona is a respected community leader, and she will be an excellent voice for the interests of our community. We are proud of our Henderson schools and will continue to seek ways to support our educators, students and families, Henderson Mayor Michelle Romero said. Barron is a history teacher at Rancho High School. Johnson was executive director of Democracy Prep Public Schools from 2017 to 2022, and is currently senior director for the western region for the College Board, which oversees SAT testing and Advanced Placement programs. The terms for non-voting members begin on Jan. 2 and are for four years. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. HOUSTON - Charges have been upgraded for the father arrested for the death of his son in Chambers County. Cobin Rocio is now charged with murder after his son's, 29-year-old Romeo Jimerson, body was found at the 807-mile marker near Interstate 10 on Oct. 13 around 9 a.m. SUGGESTED: Body found near I-10 in Chambers County, victim's father charged An investigation was launched when Jimerson's body was found by Chambers County law enforcement after evidence strongly indicated foul play. Cobin Rocio (Photo courtesy of Chambers County Sheriff's Office) Rocio was initially charged with Tampering with Evidence - Human Corpse along with Melvin Carraway, an acquaintance and a father himself. FOX 26 Houston is now on the FOX LOCAL app available through Apple TV, Amazon FireTV, Roku and Google Android TV! It has not been confirmed by officials if charges were upgraded for Carraway. Both have bonds set to $750,000 and are currently booked in Chambers County Jail. Chicago police issued a community alert Friday afternoon warning of several armed robberies tied to phony listings on Facebook Marketplace in the same South Side neighborhood. Police said the robberies happened in October in Grand Crossing when victims each made arrangements to buy items being sold through the social media app. Advertisement Upon arriving to retrieve items, the victims were approached by three to five armed robbers who demanded their property. In one incident the robbers battered the victim with their hands and feet, police said. The robbers then followed the victim back to his vehicle to take more property. Other armed robberies this month tied to Marketplace in the Grand Crossing neighborhood, in the 7200 block of South Langley Avenue, happened at: about 9:30 p.m. Oct. 12; about 7 p.m. Oct. 13; about 10:45 a.m. Oct. 15; and about 1:35 p.m. Oct. 16. Advertisement The robbers were described by police as three to five males and one female between 13 to 15 years of age. The culprits used a stolen 2018 Red Hyundai with license plate AY63039. Anyone with information about the armed robberies should contact police. Weeks after police officers in Tallahassee, Florida, arrested an elderly Black woman in the middle of the night for voter fraud, the state attorney has dropped the charges against her. The case highlights the crackdown on ineligible voting in The Sunshine State that critics call a policy of voter intimidation. Bodycam footage of Martha Ervins early morning arrest in September made national news. Police awakened the 69-year-old at nearly 3 a.m., handcuffed and detained her on charges of fraud. The confused woman, taken to jail in her pajamas, eventually learned she was charged with voter fraud for registering and voting while still on probation after a 2016 conviction for aggravated neglect of an elderly person. Ervin was among dozens of Floridians arrested on similar voter fraud charges in a statewide crackdown against unlawful registration or voting. On Tuesday, State Attorney Jack Campbell filed a motion to dismiss the charges against Ervin. The court document does not paint Ervins arrest as a mistake, stating, While there was sufficient probable cause for an arrest, subsequent information has compromised the States ability to proceed further. The motion details how documents and testimony from multiple sources, including Ervins probation officer and her countys supervisor of elections, demonstrate Ervin believed she was eligible to vote and had registered as an honest mistake. Though Ervins case has been resolved, critics of Floridas policies fear that many other people are still being targeted under the states harsh laws and aggressive enforcement. Ervins arrest by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement was made based on information provided by the states Office of Election Crimes and Security. This agency, created in 2022 at the behest of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis , has the stated purpose to improve election integrity in Florida based on the idea that voter fraud is a significant problem in the state. Critics argue the new agency is intended to intimidate voters and is yet another step in the states long-held strategy of disenfranchising people with felony convictions. For example, even though Florida voters approved a measure to restore voting rights to people with felony convictions who had completed their sentences, the state government led by DeSantis carved out a loophole to continue disenfranchising thousands of people who could not pay court fees or restitution related to their convictions. Such moves, which disproportionately impact people of color in the state, are seen as part of a pattern to restrict voting and criminalize honest mistakes. As DeSantis continues to run a presidential campaign based on his image as an aggressively conservative governor, these crackdowns will likely continue. Meanwhile, Floridians who make honest mistakes while trying to vote in good faith after serving felony sentences will have to be even more careful about their eligibility if these policies remain in place. CHEBOYGAN The City of Cheboygan was recently awarded $871,000 to help create universal access to the Cheboygan River and Children's Trail as part of the Department of Natural Resource's Spark Grant funding. Spark Grants help local communities create, renovate and redevelop public recreation opportunities, according to the State of Michigan. The program is designed to address community need and to help redevelop areas specifically where high numbers of households are struggling financially, have physical and mental disparities or have a lack of public recreation activities. A total of $21,975,463 in state funding was granted to 31 communities. Projects were allotted between $200,000 and $1 million in funding. Fourteen regional councils of government also received funding for technical assistance, totaling $845,637 in funding. Subscribe: Get unlimited access to our local coverage Its gratifying to know that even more Michigan communities will see tangible benefits from this unparalleled federal funding opportunity to expand outdoor recreation, DNR Director Scott Bowen said in a release. Michiganders of all ages deserve the chance to discover the outdoors, enjoy new recreation experiences and relax with family and friends. These Spark Grants will help make that possible by funding a variety of public recreation projects across our state. Cheboygan City Manager Dan Sabolsky could not be reached for comment at time of publication. Contact reporter Karly Graham at kgraham@petoskeynews.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KarlyGrahamJRN. This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Cheboygan receives grant to help with river, Children's Trail access A student at Cashmere High School was arrested Wednesday after he made threats about shooting up the school, according to the Chelan County Sheriffs Office. During the evening of Oct. 18, a student reported to the Principal that a 17-year-old male student told her he was going to shoot up the school, starting with her. Detectives with the Chelan County Sheriffs Office investigated the threat, determining the 17-year-old gave specific details to how he would do it. After a search warrant was served, the 17-year-olds home was searched in Cashmere. He was arrested and booked into the Chelan County Juvenile Justice Center on charges of harassment with threats to kill and threats to bomb or injure property. The Sheriffs Office believes there are no other additional threats to the public or students. Chesebro becomes second Trump lawyer to plead guilty in Georgia Kenneth Chesebro, an attorney who wrote a series of memos devising the Trump campaigns alternate electors strategy in 2020, pleaded guilty to one felony Friday after reaching a deal with Georgia prosecutors in their election interference case. Chesebro, 62, was set to go to trial Monday and would have become the first defendant in the case to do so. He has now avoided that prospect at the last minute by pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit filing false documents during a brief proceeding before Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee. His guilty plea comes one day after Sidney Powell a former Trump campaign lawyer who was set to be tried next week alongside him accepted a plea deal with Georgia prosecutors. Powell pleaded guilty to six misdemeanor counts and was sentenced to six years of probation. A third defendant, former bail bondsman Scott Hall, pleaded guilty last month to five misdemeanor counts. Top Stories from The Hill Like his two co-defendants who previously took plea deals, Chesebro agreed to testify truthfully in any future case proceedings and write a letter of apology to Georgia citizens, which Chesebro and prosecutors both said was already written. Fulton County prosecutor Daysha Young told the court that if the case had gone to trial, the state would have shown that Chesebro along with former President Trump, Rudy Giuliani and other co-defendants entered a criminal conspiracy to cause other co-conspirators to falsely hold themselves out as the duly elected and qualified electors for the president and vice president from Georgia following the Nov. 3, 2020, presidential election. Young also said that Chesebro was present at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, when an inflamed pro-Trump mob stormed the building while the certification of the presidential election was underway. Are you pleading guilty because you agree that theres a factual basis that supports this remaining charge? McAfee asked Chesebro. Yes, this charge, Chesebro replied. McAfee accepted the agreement. 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 Evening Report newsletter Chesebro was also sentenced to five years of probation, 100 hours of community service and ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution. However, with good behavior, his probation would terminate after three years, Chesebro attorney Scott Grubman said. Chesebro entered McAfees courtroom Friday afternoon flanked by his legal team after some 450 prospective jurors spent the morning filling out a lengthy questionnaire ahead of the expected trial. He was originally charged with seven felony counts linked to the alternate electors scheme, for which he drafted multiple memos detailing strategies for how slates of pro-Trump individuals could falsely claim to be their states valid electors. Under the plea agreement, Chesebro will only be charged with one of those counts, conspiracy to commit filing false documents. Sign up for the latest from The Hill here The two Trump-aligned lawyers, Chesebro and Powell, became tied after they each invoked their right to a speedy trial, effectively severing their cases from the other 17 defendants and significantly hastening the timeline. Chesebro had originally hoped to get his charges tossed through various pre-trial motions. But the judge in recent days had rejected those efforts on a rolling basis, denying Chesebros final dismissal attempt Wednesday evening. Updated at 12:48 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Lawyer Kenneth Chesebro appears before Judge Scott MacAfee during a motions hearing on Oct. 10, 2023, in Atlanta. Chesebro has pleaded guilty to a felony just as jury selection was getting underway in his trial on charges accusing him of participating in efforts to overturn Donald Trumps loss in Georgias 2020 election. | Alyssa Pointer, Associated Press Kenneth Chesebro, an attorney formerly aligned with former President Donald Trump, pleaded guilty Friday morning to a felony count of conspiracy to commit filing false documents, per NPR. Prosecutors had claimed he devised a plan to use alternate electors to subvert the 2020 presidential election, per the Fulton County DAs indictment. Three defendants of the 19 involved in the Georgia case have pleaded guilty, including Sidney Powell, who pleaded guilty to six misdemeanors related to election interference Thursday morning, and Scott Hall, who pleaded guilty to five counts of conspiracy involving election duty interference on Sept. 29. Chesebro is the first co-defendant to plead guilty to a felony charge. Related Atlanta News First reported that Chesebro received five years of probation, a $5,000 fine and 100 hours of community service as part of his plea deal. He also agreed to write a public apology letter and comply with any future trials, providing any necessary documents or evidence to the state. Chesebro was originally charged with seven crimes, including violating the Georgia RICO act, conspiracy to commit impersonating a public officer, two counts of conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree, two counts of conspiracy to commit false statements and writings, and conspiracy to commit filing false documents, according to PBS. Related The Fulton County indictment includes a memo Chesebro wrote, which provides detailed, state-specific instructions for how Trump presidential elector nominees in Georgia, Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin would meet and cast electoral votes, NPR reported. Trial dates for other co-defendants, including Trump, have not yet been set, according to NPR. CHICAGO - Chicago police are looking for a woman who they say pretended to be a substitute teacher for a high school and tried to sexually abuse a 15-year-old student. The incident occurred shortly after 7 a.m. on Oct. 10. According to police, the woman picked the male student up from a bus stop at 111th and Wentworth after asking for directions to Cottage Grove, claiming to be a substitute teacher heading to Butler High School. The victim told the woman he was a student at Corliss High School, which is at the same location as Butler. Police say the woman offered the boy a ride and he accepted. During the trip, the woman made multiple sexual comments and advances toward the boy, and attempted to unzip the victim's pants. She then dropped the boy off at Corliss High School and drove away. Vehicle suspected in attempted sexual abuse of Chicago student | CPD The suspect was described as a Black woman, around 40 years old, heavy set, wearing a tiger/animal print bonnet. She was driving a black Merecedez Benz four-door with silver trimming. Anyone with information is urged to contact CPD detectives at 312-492-3810. The brutal Hamas invasion of Israel and the resulting conflict in Gaza have opened the floodgates for hate incidents both in real life and online, targeting Jewish people and Muslims alike over the last two weeks. In Chicago, a man fatally attacked a 6-year-old boy and wounded his mother on Saturday because they were Muslims, police say. Americas synagogues and Jewish community centers are on high alert, while Jewish targets have been attacked in several countries across the world. Its the week in extremism. Mourners hold candles at a vigil for Wadea Al Fayoume at Prairie Activity and Recreation center in Plainfield, Ill., Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. An Illinois landlord accused of fatally stabbing the 6-year-old Muslim boy and seriously wounding his mother was charged with a hate crime after police and relatives said he singled out the victims because of their faith and as a response to the war between Israel and Hamas. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) Apparent hate crime stabbing in Chicago The Justice Department has opened a federal hate crime investigation into the fatal stabbing of 6-year-old Wadea Al Fayoume in Chicago last Saturday. Wadea and his mother, Hanaan Shahin, who was also seriously injured, were attacked by 71-year-old Joseph Czuba, who stabbed them dozens of times with a military style knife, according to Attorney General Merrick Garland. Investigators with the Will County Sheriffs Office determined that Czuba stabbed the mother and child "due to them being Muslim and the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict involving Hamas and the Israelis. Czubas wife told investigators her husband was incensed by the violence in the Middle East and was concerned that Shahin was going to call over her Palestinian friends or family to harm them, according to a court filing. The childs Palestinian Muslim family came to America seeking what we all seek a refuge to live, learn, and pray in peace, President Joe Biden said in a statement. This horrific act of hate has no place in America. As USA TODAY reported this week, bigotry and violence against Palestinian Americans is also reportedly spiking across the country. Threats have been made against Palestinian American communities in Dearborn, Michigan, Los Angeles, New York and Portland, among other cities. U.S. Rep. Brandon Williams (R-NY) holds an Israeli flag as protesters stage a demonstration supporting a cease-fire against the Palestinians in Gaza in Cannon House Office Building on Oct. 18, 2023 in Washington, DC. Members of the Jewish Voice for Peace and the IfNotNow movement staged a rally to call for a cease-fire in the IsraelHamas war. Violence against Jewish communities across the world The Anti-Defamation League is keeping a running tally of incidents of anti-Semitism and violence against Jewish communities across the globe. Also this week, a study finds widespread antisemitic views and support for political violence in the U.S.. The tally of antisemitic incidents since the Hamas invasion includes the burning down of a synagogue in Tunisia and multiple acts of vandalism at Jewish places of worship and businesses. The ADL is also keeping track of antisemitism in the United States, and recorded 153 antisemitic incidents from Oct. 7-18, 67 of which were Israel-related, according to an ADL spokesperson. During the same period last year, the ADL recorded 99 antisemitic incidents, 9 of which were Israel-related. An ADL/University of Chicago study, a national poll of nearly 8,000 US adults, establishes a clear relationship between antisemitism, political violence and antidemocratic conspiracy theories on both ends of the political spectrum, according to its authors. The study found that highly antisemitic Americans are two to three times more likely to support political violence to achieve other far-right goals. Among the polls other findings: Compared to the general population, highly antisemitic Americans who accept multiple anti-Jewish tropes are three times more likely to support political violence to restore Donald Trump to the presidency. Hate continues to surge online as Middle East conflict worsens Last week, USA TODAY reported on a surge in online hatred directed at both Jews and Muslims. A new study from the Global Project on Hate and Extremism found that hate is also spiking on the largely unregulated messageboard 4Chan and other platforms. Researchers at GPAHE discovered an increase of almost 500 percent in hate and violent content on 4chan within 48 hours of the Hamas invasion. According to the report: The use of explicit antisemitic and anti-Muslim slurs, along with calls to kill both groups, increased from 511 to 2,959 instances between October 6 and October 8, a staggering 479 percent increase. The researchers also looked at other sites popular with extremists, including Gab, BitChute and Odysee. Across the four platforms, hateful posts increased 461%. The amount of online hate spreading in the wake of the unspeakable loss of families, friends, and homes is deplorable, and unfortunately reflects the rising tide of extremism the world is facing, GPAHE founders Heidi Beirich and Wendy Via wrote in a statement. Statistic of the week: 11,634 Thats how many hate crime incidents were reported in 2022, according to the FBIs deeply flawed Uniform Crime Reports. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Child stabbed; antisemitic events: How Mideast war fuels U.S. hate The U.S. military is concerned that China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) may be looking to develop and field a conventionally armed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). This could offer Chinese forces a means to strike targets across the continental United States, as well as Hawaii and Alaska, without having to resort to nuclear weapons . Key aims here would be to field an important conventional deterrent capability that could hold targets across the United States at risk while also reducing the likelihood of nuclear retaliation. This capability would also create new worrisome strategic ambiguity and uncertainty to contend with that could be to China's benefit, as well as be potentially dangerously destabilizing. The Pentagon highlighted that the PLA may be exploring a conventional ICBM in its latest annual report to Congress on Chinese defense and security developments, an unclassified version of which it released today . The report also provides new information about the Chinese military's ongoing efforts to significantly expand its nuclear deterrent capabilities. Part of a DF-5B, one of China's existing nuclear-armed ICBMs, on parade. IceUnshattered/Wikimedia Commons The U.S. military now estimates China has at least 500 nuclear warheads, up from 400 last year. It could be on track to have as many as 1,500 by 2035. It also states that its nuclear weapons production levels look to exceed previous assessments. U.S. officials increasingly view China's expansion of its nuclear arsenal as an effort to move closer to direct parity with the United States, if not eclipse it in certain regards . The PLA has a number of new and improved nuclear-armed ICBMs in various stages of development and/or fielding, including the DF-5C , which the Pentagon says could be armed with large warheads with multi-megaton yields. Existing DF-31 ICBMs may now also be loaded into some of the large number of silos that the Chinese have been building in recent years . Satellite imagery included in the Pentagon's last annual China report showing what appears to be the completion of work, at least externally, on a new ICBM silo in a field in northwestern China. DOD Another satellite image included in the new U.S. military China report showing a garrison within the new silo fields in Guazhou. This is another indication that these fields are closer to becoming operational, at least to some degree, if they aren't already. DOD The PLA may now be looking to deploy ICBMs with conventional warheads. "I think what I would say is just to put it in a little bit of broader context, you know, the PLA rocket corps when it introduced conventional missile capabilities, now more than 20 years ago, started with short-range ballistic missiles," a senior U.S. defense official told The War Zone and other outlets during a press briefing ahead of the report's release yesterday. "They expanded over time to include medium and intermediate-range ballistic missiles and their conventional force. And now we see them kind of continuing to follow that progression and we see now possible interest in development of a conventional ICBM." It should be pointed out that, while the senior U.S. defense official specifically discussed the possibility of a conventionally-armed Chinese ICBM, the Pentagon report that was released today talks more generally about "conventionally-armed intercontinental range missile systems." Though an ICBM-type design would be the most obvious missile system for carrying out strikes at these ranges, there are other options. China has, for instance, demonstrated a fractional orbital bombardment system with a worldwide range that utilizes a hypersonic boost-glide vehicle launched via an ICBM-sized rocket booster, which you can read more about here . This system, which the U.S. has said in the past represents a viable operational capability , could be armed with a conventional payload. Long March 2C space launch rockets, like the one seen here, have reportedly been used in at least two test launches of China's fractional orbital bombardment system. The Long March 2C is notably derived from the DF-5 ICBM. CCTV News A nuclear-powered, but conventionally armed cruise missile, akin to the nuclear-tipped Burevestnik that Russia claims to have successfully tested recently , is another 'exotic' possibility. Regardless, "what we would highlight about that is it would give them a conventional capability to strike the U.S. for the first time for the PLA Rocket Force [PLARF], and to, you know, of course, to threaten targets in the continental U.S., Hawaii, and Alaska," the senior U.S. defense official added yesterday. "And I think, you know, as we see them maybe exploring the development of those conventionally-armed ICBMs, it raises some questions about risks to strategic stability." It's also worth highlighting here that the PLA Air Force (PLAAF) also currently lacks the ability to strike the contiguous United States. This speaks directly to the continued limits of its current bomber force , which only gained an air-to-air refuelable nuclear-capable type with the fielding of the H-6N in 2019. The H-20 stealth bomber that is understood to be in development now, paired with a very long-range survivable cruise missile, may change this calculus. However, it is unclear when that aircraft might actually enter service. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiiUtZDp9ME\u0026t=2s The PLA Navy is similarly still in the process of establishing a truly robust capacity to deploy larger surface warships and missile-armed submarines well away from the mainland on a constant basis that can launch conventional strikes deep ashore. This all puts further emphasis on the PLA Rocket Force (PLARF) as a key means for carrying out strikes of any kind on targets, especially time-sensitive ones, on the opposite side of the world from China. A map showing the range at which China can strike from its territory using existing ground-launched conventional cruise and ballistic missiles, as well as air-launched conventionally-armed cruise missiles. A conventional ICBM would significantly expand its capability in this regard. DOD The senior U.S. defense official did not elaborate yesterday on what the risks associated with this development of a strategic-focused, but conventionally-armed ICBM might be, but there are a number of obvious worrisome implications. A likely goal of developing such a system for the PLA would be to have a weapon that puts strategic targets, such as air bases, ports, major command and control nodes, and seats of government, as well as symbolic ones, anywhere in the United States (or really anywhere in the world) at risk without having to escalate to the use of nuclear weapons. This could offer a powerful deterrent to non-nuclear strikes against the Chinese mainland. In addition, the hope could be that if these conventional ICBMs ever had to be used the U.S. government, or any other potential nuclear-armed adversary , would be significantly less likely to retaliate with nuclear weapons. At the same time, there could be a risk of this significantly lowering the threshold for the PLA to be willing to conduct a non-nuclear strategic strike if it believes it can escape a nuclear response. This could be doubly risky since the U.S. government has an explicit deterrence policy wherein it reserves the right to respond to non-nuclear strikes of sufficient severity with nuclear weapons. In addition, depending on the design of any future conventional ICBM, the U.S. government may not know whether or not an incoming one is nuclear-armed or not, and would have very limited time in which to decide how to react no matter what. This is called launch on warning and a retaliation could occur before the warhead arrives on target to find out if it is conventional or not. It is worth noting that China has long made active use of this kind of ambiguity and uncertainty as part of its deterrence strategy, typically with regard to shorter-range ballistic missiles. The DF-26 intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), which is understood to have a "hot swappable" warhead section that allows it to be readily configured as a conventional or nuclear weapon as required, is a prime example. DF-26 intermediate-range ballistic missiles on parade. Imaginechina via AP Historically, China has done this, in part, to help offset the relatively small size of its nuclear stockpile, something that, as already noted, is now rapidly growing. That ambiguity has also long led the U.S. government to question the Chinese government's commitment to its stated no-first-use (NFU) policy when it comes to nuclear weapons. "The PRC's [People's Republic of China's] commingling of some of its conventional and nuclear missile forces during peacetime and ambiguities in its NFU conditions could complicate deterrence and escalation management during a conflict," the Pentagon's new China report says. "If a comingled PRC missile launch is not readily identifiable as a conventional missile or nuclear missile, it may not be clear what the PRC launched until it detonates." Adding a conventionally armed ICBM to this mix can only further raise the risk of misinterpretations and miscalculations on both sides. Any increased willingness on the part of the PLA to strike at the United States with this added conventional capability could be especially dangerous. The Chinese government has already pushed back on the new Pentagon report, as a whole. "We firmly opposes [sic] the US side hyping up various versions of the 'China threat' narrative and making groundless allegations and smears towards China" Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., said, according to VOA's Jeff Seldin. "[China] is committed to a defensive nuclear strategy, keeps its nuclear capabilities at the minimum level required by national security and does not target any country ... [honors] our pledge to 'no first use' of nuclear weapons at any time." https://twitter.com/jseldin/status/1715050702861467934?s=20 https://twitter.com/jseldin/status/1715050706674020855?s=20 However, at least when it comes to the idea of the PLA developing and fielding a conventional ICBM, this is not the first time this possibility has come up. "The PLAs 'Science of Second Artillery Campaigns' is a military publication dating from 2004 that broadly discusses how the Chinese military envisions employing its strategic missile forces in wartime," a story published by The Diplomat in 2021 notes. "Although the document is extremely dated at this point, it still serves as one of the few publicly available sources that provides a window into how the PLA views nuclear and conventional missile strikes." "In the section of this publication that discusses the PLA then-Second Artillery Corps (now the PLA Rocket Force) participation in joint operations to resist against intervention from the Powerful Enemy, authors state: carefully select long range or intercontinental missiles armed with conventional warheads to target the enemy territory and their will to fight, and at the right moment, conduct a long-range warning strike. This will cause the enemy to be unwilling to suffer unbearable attacks and limit its intervention operations." "The Powerful Enemy" references here is understood to be the United States. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ee4Nf2p5o4 "To be clear, the discussed evidence is entirely circumstantial and does not explicitly tie the growth in Chinas ICBM force to a conventional strike mission," the piece from The Diplomat two years ago notes. "However, there is sufficient evidence to warrant greater consideration of the possibility that China is currently or could in the future consider the use of land-based ICBMs or other strategic launch systems in a conventional role." This is also in line with the senior U.S. defense official's discussion yesterday about the PLA's trend toward ever longer-range conventional ballistic missile capabilities over the past few decades. The U.S. military has also considered fielding conventionally-armed submarine-launched Trident ballistic missiles in the past, but ultimately abandoned the project. The Conventional Trident Missile (CTM) "was later canceled by lawmakers because of concerns that an adversary seeing a CTM launch might think the United States was launching a nuclear-armed Trident missile and might respond with a nuclear attack of its own," according to a January 2023 report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). "To avoid such confusion, the United States has generally maintained different types of missiles to carry nuclear warheads and conventional warheads." The Ohio class nuclear ballistic missile submarine USS Rhode Island fires a Trident II during a routine test in 2019. USN Since the CTM's cancellation, the focus has shifted to conventionally-armed sea-launched hypersonic missiles for the U.S. Navy. The U.S. military's stated intention to field various conventional hypersonic weapons primarily for use in strategic-level strikes against major adversaries, such as China, may well also help explain renewed interest within the PLA in the idea of a conventional ICBM, at least in part. All of this also comes amid concerns that thresholds worldwide for the use of nuclear weapons may be lowering and new questions about the future of long-standing nuclear arms control arrangements. This includes criticisms about the deployment of U.S. Navy Ohio class ballistic missile submarines with Trident II missiles with lower-yield warheads and continued pressure from certain members of Congress to pursue the development of a new sea-launched nuclear-armed cruise missile . The official logo for the W76-2 lower yield warhead program. A portion of the Navy's Trident II missiles are now armed with these warheads. NNSA In addition, the Russian government has suspended its participation in the New Strategic Arms Reductions Treaty (New START) with the U.S. government in response to its support for Ukraine. Just this week, Russian lawmakers approved the country's de-ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, or CTBT, which could open the door to the resumption of live nuclear weapon testing. The U.S. government has been advocating for all-new strategic arms control agreements that would include China, as well as Russia . So far, the Chinese government has rebuffed those proposals. There is a broader concern within the U.S. military about the potential for a major conflict with China , especially over Taiwan , before the end of the decade. The prospective risks that a Chinese conventional ICBM capability would introduce on top of everything else, "I think, highlights the importance of having clear and direct conversations between the U.S. and the PRC [People's Republic of China] on these topics, which we'll continue to pursue," the senior U.S. defense official said yesterday during the briefing on the Pentagon's new report. All told, it remains to be seen whether the PLA will develop and field a conventionally-armed ICBM, or any other conventional missile system with intercontinental range. At the same time, this would be well in line with what has been seen from the Chinese military in the past, as well as other current strategic trends globally, despite the clear risks it presents. Contact the author: joe@thedrive.com Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican, was among a bipartisan group of senators to visit China and South Korea last week. It was the first congressional delegation to China since 2019 and came amid strained relations between Washington and Beijing. During the trip, the senators met with Chinese President Xi Jinping . Cassidy spoke with The Dispatch about it this week, and the interview has been edited for length and clarity. The Dispatch: What stood out to you during the trip? Sen. Bill Cassidy: On the positive, it was the dynamism of Asia. Somebody once told me you can measure the prosperity of a city by the number of cranes in the skyline. And you go to Shanghai or to Seoul, and theyre just all over the place. Theyre building new buildings in places where they already have lots of large buildings. The second thing, on the negative, when speaking to members of the business community or those in South Korea who do business in China, is the great uncertainty of doing business in China. Theres a fear of capriciousness. As one person told me, in the United States, you compete against the best companies in the world. In China, you do the same, but you also compete against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Youre never quite sure if the CCP is going to favor you. And it can be unclear as to why they dont like you if they dont like you. Related to that isjust my assessmentthe reason the Chinese were pleased to see us and gave us access to President Xi, for example, is they want more foreign direct investment. I dont know this, but Id like to think they want to deescalate the tension between our two countries. But they certainly want more investment. And Im not quite sure they comprehended that their actions which have created this uncertainty in the business community are the reason theyre not getting the foreign direct investment. The Dispatch: You met with Xi, the leader of a country the United States has said is committing genocide. How central were human rights to that conversation? Cassidy: What we principally focused on most directly was fentanyl coming to our country, and the uneven trade practices that they denied but we alleged in which companies are favored in China and our American companies dont get equal access, as Chinese companies do in the United States. Now, there was indirect conversation about other things, but not as elevated. For example, Taiwan, of course, they would bring up, but it wasnt the centerpiece. When we talked about fentanyl, there is a Chinese agency the Trump administration sanctioned, and which the Biden administration continued to sanction because of their role with the Uyghurs. So wed speak about fentanyl, and they would say, well, youve got this agency targeted by your government, and youd have to remove the sanctions on them before we could begin to discuss more about fentanyl, because this is the agency which would be in charge of the operation, should we cooperate. In that way, it kind of indirectly came up. We were very frank with Xi and his foreign minister. They have a perspective, and they did not shrink from their perspective. But on the other handmy goshthere have been tensions rising between our two countries. We dont want to have war, and the way you hopefully prevent war is by first developing some line of communication. And I think we successfully, at least for the moment, did that. The Dispatch: So to be clear, did any of the senators directly raise Xinjiang or the Uyghurs with President Xi? Cassidy: We raised itI cant recall if we raised it directly. Because fentanyl is what we really pounded on, and trade relations. And you can only talk about so many things. The Dispatch: What would you say to human rights activists who will read this interview and may feel demoralized that human rights werent at the forefront of these conversations? Cassidy: I cant tell you that we did not talk about it. I dont have my notes with me. But we have 60,000 to 100,000 Americans dying annually from fentanyl. Everybody there felt compelled to address, in some way, the fentanyl issue. And the fact that every one of us felt compelled to address it drove it home. Theres only so many issues you can pound upon. I care deeply about human rights. I strongly support those issues that weve attempted to address with the Uyghurs. But weve got 100,000 Americans dying every year from drugs that seem to mostly be coming in from China through Mexico. We had to address that. The Dispatch: This was your first time meeting Xi in person. What was your impression of him? Cassidy: Oh, he was in command. People around him looked to him for directions. Occasionally, when wed have a separate meeting, they would use a quote that he had used previously, and that he used again with us. I think with President Biden, Xi once said theres a thousand reasons for us to get along, and theres no reasons for us not to, or something like that. His foreign minister used the same quote, and Xi used it again with us. Theres a thousand reasons to meet, and theres no reasons not to meet. He kind of sets the tone, sets the lead. Ive heard different things, that maybe he has health problems. When youre in the room with him, you dont get any sense that hes infirm or anything like that. The Dispatch: Did you feel safe in China? Cassidy: You know theyre spying on you. You presume they have cameras in every place, including your bathroom, including your hotel room. Every meeting, you assume theres somebody there. I sometimes felt like some of the business leaders were careful in what they said, with the presumption that we were being monitored. But physically, I didnt feel in danger. The Dispatch: Did Xi talk about any other American policies or laws, beyond sanctions? Cassidy: There was a lot of conversation about export controls. We pointed out that they also have export controls on us, and he goes, Yes we do. They were very realistic about it: We have some, you have some. On several occasions, we had this meta-conversation: I would say, for example, that the United States has things in which we are competing with China on, and theres some things we frankly are going to confront each other on. But we dont want competition to merge into confrontation when it doesnt have to. The Dispatch: Did anything about the trip lead you to change your views on China policy? Cassidy: Lets just say Chinas not going away. China is a huge country with very talented people, and they have a social order in which they are going to accomplish things. You go there, and you understand it that much more. They have a business community that wants to work with the West. The average Chinese is as best I can tell, not hostile to the United States. Their government may try to whip up hostility, but as a rule, the Chinese people we met with in the business community want to have a productive relationship. The Dispatch: Do you feel more optimistic or more pessimistic now about Americas relationship with China? Cassidy: We need steely-eyed realism. We cannot assume anything we told them will come to pass. We do know their economy is slowing down, and they have an incentive to address things. Im optimistic we can come up with policies that level the playing field economically and increase the possibility of cooperation through competition, while decreasing the risk of confrontation. Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. BEIJING (Reuters) - China's defence ministry said on Friday that a U.S. Department of Defense statement accusing its military of "risky and coercive" aerial intercepts was a premeditated smear on China with ulterior political motives. "China is firmly opposed to it and has lodged stern representations to the U.S. side," the ministry said in a statement. The U.S. Department of Defense said on Tuesday that Chinese fighter jets had been increasingly engaging in coercive and risky operational behavior in the Indo-Pacific since 2021. It added that: "The unsafe interceptions of U.S. and allied aircraft in international airspace is a centralized and concerted campaign by Chinese officials to coerce a change in lawful U.S. operational activity". The Chinese defence ministry said in response that the U.S. had been hyping up a "Chinese military threat" that it said was non-existent. "The root cause of the maritime and air military security issues between China and the U.S. lies in the fact that U.S. warships and planes come to China's doorstep from afar to cause trouble and provocation," the ministry said. It urged the U.S. to stop what it called provocative actions, avoid "misunderstandings and misjudgment" and prevent maritime and air accidents. (Reporting by Ethan Wang and Ryan Woo; Editing by Hugh Lawson) President Joe Biden speaks from the Oval Office of the White House Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, in Washington, about the wars in Israel and Ukraine. (Jonathan Ernst/AP) After using a prime-time speech Thursday night to condemn antisemitic and Islamophobic violence in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war, President Joe Biden spoke to the father of Wadea Al-Fayoume, the 6-year-old Will County boy stabbed to death in a hate crime attack against the Muslim boy and his mother. In a statement following the national address, the White House said Biden and first lady Jill Biden spoke to Al-Fayoumes father and uncle and expressed their deepest condolences to the family and their prayers that Wadeas mother, Hannan Shahin, makes a full recovery. Advertisement Biden and his wife also expressed their commitment to keep speaking out against anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab, and anti-Muslim hate and violence, the White House statement said. Biden invoked the childs death and the serious wounding of his mother during the speech, in which he sought to explain the strategic need to combat terrorism in both Israel by Hamas and in Ukraine orchestrated by Russia. Advertisement [ Plainfield man charged with hate crime in stabbing 6-year-old Palestinian boy to death, wounding mother over Mideast conflict, police say ] His name was Wadea, Biden said during the speech from the Oval Office. Wadea, a proud American, a proud Palestinian-American family. We cant stand by and stand silent when this happens. Wadeas mother, Hanaan Shahin, 32, was seriously injured in the same attack that killed her son in their home in unincorporated Plainfield Township. The suspect, 71-year-old Joseph Czuba, was the familys landlord. Will County prosecutors said Monday that Czuba had attacked the pair after growing heavily interested in the Israel-Hamas conflict through conservative talk radio. He is charged with multiple criminal offenses, including two counts of hate crimes. Wadeas death and Shahins injuries drew condemnations from politicians throughout Illinois and the U.S. as droves of people attended the boys funeral and a subsequent vigil honoring his life. Biden described the stabbings as brutal and called for compassion in his Thursday address. 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) When fear and suspicion, anger and rage run hard, we have to work harder than ever to hold onto the values who make us who we are, he said. I know many of you in the Muslim American community, the Arab American community, the Palestinian American community and so many others are outraged and hurting and saying here we go again with the Islamophobia and distrust we saw after 9/11. [ Hundreds attend funeral of Palestinian boy as his accused attacker ordered detained on murder, hate crime charges ] Since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas in Israel that left about 1,400 Israelis dead and almost 200 taken hostage, religious and community leaders have sought calm, fearing a rise of attacks targeting Muslims and Jewish people. In DuPage County, a judge on Thursday ordered a Lombard man charged with two counts of hate crime detained pending trial after authorities accused him of threatening to shoot two Muslim men outside his suburban apartment building. ckubzansky@chicagotribune.com Advertisement rap30@aol.com In this photo provided by the Chinese Embassy in Qatar via Xinhua News Agency, Zhai Jun, left, special envoy of the Chinese government on the Middle East issue, meets with Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov in Doha, Qatar, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. (Chinese Embassy in Qatar/Xinhua via AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) BEIJING (AP) China and Russia share the same position on the Palestinian issue and plan to try to work together to cool the situation and help establish a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians, a top Chinese envoy said Friday. Zhai Jun, Chinas special envoy to the Middle East, spoke after a meeting Thursday in Qatar with Mikhail Bogdanov, the Russian presidents special representative for the Middle East and Africa. The fundamental reason for the current situation of the Palestine-Israel conflict is that the Palestinian peoples lawful national rights have not been guaranteed, Zhai said, according to a statement released on Friday by the Chinese foreign ministry. China and Russia have the same position on the Palestine question, and China is ready to maintain communication and coordination with Russia to promote de-escalation of the situation, Zhai said. The two countries want to play a positive role in resuming talks for peace between Palestine and Israel, truly implementing the two-state solution, and promoting a comprehensive, just and enduring solution to the Palestinian question at an early date, Zhai said. China sent Zhai to the Middle East to push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in the latest sign of its ambition to play a larger role in the region. The two sides confirmed their unwavering focus on closely coordinating efforts for the political settlement of this and other crises in the Middle East and North Africa region, Russias Foreign Ministry said, according to the countrys Tass state news agency. China, which sees the U.S. as too pro-Israel, has said it opposes attacks on civilians, but hasn't condemned the initial Hamas attack that started the latest war. Instead, it has called for an immediate cease-fire to protect civilians as Israel bombards Gaza before a possible ground invasion. We believe that when dealing with hot spot issues in the international community, major powers should be objective and impartial, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Friday. In his meeting with Bogdanov, Zhai said Beijing was saddened by a great number of civilian casualties caused by the Palestine-Israel conflict and the sharp deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Palestine." Beijing describes Hamas as a resistance movement," not as a terrorist group as Israel and other countries do. Analysts say that China wants to position itself as a mediator and exert its influence in the region as the U.S. shifts its global attention elsewhere. But the latest Gaza war has drawn the U.S. back in, with President Joe Biden visiting Israel this week. Zhai also met with Qatars minister of state for foreign affairs, Mohammed Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi, the Chinese foreign ministry said. Mao, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said that Zhai would travel to other Middle Eastern countries, but she didn't give any further details. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly told Chinese leader Xi Jinping this week that Egypt and other Arab countries highly appreciate Chinas consistent and just position on the Palestinian question and expect China to play a bigger role in solving the current crisis, according to a Chinese statement on their meeting. Xi told Madbouly, who was in Beijing to attend a forum on Chinas Belt and Road infrastructure-building initiative, that the top priority is to stop the fighting and prevent it from causing a severe humanitarian crisis. He said China stands ready to strengthen coordination with Egypt and other Arab countries to work for a comprehensive, just and enduring solution to the Palestinian question, the Chinese statement said. Xi Jinping has ordered his defence chiefs to develop a "world-class" military by 2049 China has significantly expanded its nuclear stockpile over the past year and is now holding some 500 operational warheads, the US has said. An annual report released by the Pentagon also said Beijing hoped to double its arsenal to over 1,000 warheads by 2030. But it said China remained committed to a "no-first-strike" nuclear policy. While the report said the rise exceeded projections, China's stockpile is still dwarfed by those of Russia and the US. Russia has a nuclear arsenal of some 5,889 warheads and the US can field 5,244, according to the independent Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. In 2021 the US Department of Defense estimated China had around 400 warheads. "We're not trying to suggest a very large departure from where they [China] looked to be headed... but we are suggesting that they're on track to exceed those previous projections," a senior Pentagon official told reporters on Thursday, adding that the issue raised "a lot of concerns" for the US. President Xi Jinping has declared China will field a "world-class military" by 2049. Since he came to power in 2012, he has sought to modernise the country's armed forces. Thursday's Pentagon report said that China's drive to boost its nuclear arsenal was set to "dwarf previous attempts in both scale and complexity". US officials said Beijing had probably completed the construction of three new clusters of missile sites in 2022. These fields include at least 300 new Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBMs) silos, the report said. ICBMs are ballistic missiles with a range greater than 5,500km (3,400 miles). China's People's Liberation Army has also been seeking to develop ICBMs that would allow it "to threaten conventional strikes against targets in the continental US, Hawaii and Alaska", the US report found. The analysis said that despite the growth of its nuclear stockpile, China remained "committed to a policy of 'deterrence' of an enemy first strike and 'counterstrike' when deterrence fails". In a press briefing on Friday, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the US report "is full of prejudice and spreads the theory of the threat posed by China". Ms Mao added that China had "always maintained our nuclear forces at the lowest level required for national security, and we have no intention of engaging in a nuclear arms race with any country". Henry Boyd of the International Institute for Strategic Studies told the BBC the reported rate of increase did not look "hugely exceptional". He also conceded that China was "moving slightly faster than estimated" towards its stated goal of 1,000 warheads. Lyle Morris, a senior fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute, told the BBC that developments such as hypersonic missiles were making China reconsider its second-strike policy, forcing the expansion of its stockpile. Thursday's Pentagon report also noted that Beijing has "amplified diplomatic, political, and military pressure" against Taiwan over recent months. This embedded content is not available in your region. Mr Xi has reportedly ordered his defence chiefs to develop the military capability to forcibly re-take the island by 2027. A series of ballistic missile overflights of Taiwan, increased flights into its airspace and a series of military exercises around its waters have been ordered to destabilise the island, the Pentagon report added. The findings come amid a low point in China-US diplomatic relations. On Wednesday, Washington accused Chinese air force pilots of conducting hundreds of "coercive and risky" manoeuvres against US military planes in international air space over the Pacific. The Pentagon - which also released videos and photos of the manoeuvres - said there had been 180 incidents since autumn 2021. It's become increasingly evident that two parallel AI universes are forming between the U.S. and China. While the U.S. has spawned notable players like OpenAI and Anthropic, China has its own emerging candidates. One of these foundation model developers, Zhipu AI, announced today that it has raised 2.5 billion yuan ($340 million) in total financing to date this year. Founded in 2019, Zhipu was spun out of China's prestigious Tsinghua University and is led by Tang Jie, a professor in the universitys Department of Computer Science and Technology. The announcement has come at a delicate time. This week, the Biden administration imposed additional restrictions on the export of Nvidia AI chips to China, further impeding its rival's ability to train large language models. In anticipation of semiconductor bans from Washington, China's deep-pocketed AI companies have been stockpiling semiconductors, spending hundreds of millions of dollars on these much-coveted chips. To sustain its participation in such a costly AI race, Zhipu is keeping its coffer full by raising from local investors. The $340 million investment came from yuan-denominated funds, marking a shift from a two-decade trend where USD funds were the preferred source of financing until geopolitical tensions created a tech divide. In August, President Joe Biden signed an executive order barring U.S. investments in critical tech sectors of China, including AI, semiconductors and quantum computing. The goal is to curb China's military build-up, but the order also sent a chill through China-focused American VCs, which are now avoiding investments in sensitive areas. Some have sought a solution to continue operating in the market by separating their China units, such as Sequoia Capital China, which was renamed to HongShan, and GGV Capital. HongShan, alongside other prominent VCs like Shunwei Capital and Hillhouse Capital, as well as a state fund managed by Legend Capital, invested in Zhipu. The AI startup also raised capital from an impressive roster of Chinese internet behemoths, uniting even archrivals like Alibaba and Tencent that rarely co-invest together. The lineup includes Ant Group, Alibaba, Tencent, Xiaomi, Meituan, Kingsoft, TAL Education Group and Boss Zhipin. Zhipu recently open sourced its bilingual (Chinese and English) conversational AI model ChatGLM-6B, which is trained on six billion parameters and claims to be able to carry out inferences on a single consumer-grade graphics card. It also has an open sourced foundation model trained on 130 billion parameters, the GLM-130B. FILE PHOTO: Opening ceremony of the Belt and Road Forum (BRF) in Beijing BEIJING (Reuters) -China is willing to offer assistance to Sri Lanka without political conditions and buy more of its exports, President Xi Jinping told his Sri Lankan counterpart on Friday in Beijing, state media said. The assurances came a week after the crisis-hit island nation said it had reached agreement with the Export-Import Bank of China on $4.2 billion of debt, a fraction of the roughly $7 billion it owes Chinese lenders, both bilateral and commercial. "The two sides should make every effort to promote Colombo port city and Hambantota," Xi told Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe , a summary of their meeting showed, referring to major projects China has backed in its 'Belt and Road' effort. Wickremesinghe was in the Chinese capital for the Belt and Road Forum that ended on Wednesday as well as talks on restructuring debt. "China is willing to continue to provide assistance to Sri Lanka without attaching political conditions, to help it cope with the difficulties it faces," Xi added. Last May Sri Lanka defaulted on its foreign debt as dollar reserves fell to a point where it was unable to pay for essential imports such as fuel and medicine. "China is willing to expand the import of Sri Lanka's ... products and will encourage Chinese enterprises to invest," Xi said. (Reporting by Joe Cash and Beijing newsroom; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) A man raises a Chinese flag next to a Vietnamese flag before a meeting between China's FM Wang and Vietnam's DPM and FM Minh at the Government Office in Hanoi BEIJING (Reuters) -Chinese leader Xi Jinping told Vietnam's second-highest ranking official on Friday that both countries must not forget the "original intention" of their traditional friendship. China and the United States have been jostling for influence among Southeast Asian nations including Vietnam, which in September elevated its ties with Washington to a comprehensive strategic partnership, putting its one-time enemy on par with Beijing and Moscow. China has traditionally strong ties with Vietnam since diplomatic relations were established in 1950, despite a brief war in 1979. Beijing had backed Hanoi's fight against former colonial ruler France, and later, against Saigon and the United States during the Vietnam War. "Faced with the ever-changing international situation and arduous domestic development tasks, the two countries must not forget the original intention of their traditional friendship," Xi told visiting Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong. Thuong, Vietnam's No.2 after its Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, held talks with Xi after attending Beijing's Belt and Road Forum. "The two sides should adhere to the principle of joint consultation," Xi told Thuong, adding that China and Vietnam should capitalise on their geographical proximity and complementing industries. In early October, Reuters reported that Vietnamese and Chinese officials were preparing for a possible trip by Xi to Hanoi either at the end of October or in early November, with work under way on a joint statement to be issued during the visit. Three Hanoi-based diplomats subsequently said the visit was likely to be postponed to December, with one saying talks on what specifically might be announced at the meeting had not sufficiently progressed. There was no mention of any Xi visit in the Chinese state media summary of his meeting with Thuong. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said she had no detailed information, when asked at a regular news conference if Vietnam had invited Xi to visit. On Wednesday, Vietnamese state media reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin had accepted an invitation from Thuong to visit Vietnam soon, when the two men met on the sidelines of the Belt and Road Forum. In September, U.S. President Joe Biden visited Hanoi. (Reporting by Ryan Woo and Joe Cash; Additional reporting by Francesco Guarascio in Hanoi; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Tomasz Janowski) FRESNO, Calif. (KGPE) A Chinese citizen is facing federal charges following his arrest in connection with the illegal lab discovered in Reedley, which was uncovered earlier this year. According to federal prosecutors, 62-year-old Jia Bei Zhu (also known as Jesse Zhu, Qiang He, David He) was arrested on Thursday. The 62-year-old, who used to live in Clovis, is accused of distributing misbranded medical devices and making false statements to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 62-year-old Jia Bei Zhu (image provided by the U.S. Department of Justice) Federal prosecutors say Zhu changed his name, his companies names, and their locations in order to stay hidden. The disarray at the Reedley lab led to the glare of publicity he was trying to avoid, and the ensuing investigation unraveled his efforts to circumvent the requirements that are designed to ensure that medical devices are safe and effective, said U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert. According to court documents, between December 2020 and March 2023, Zhu and others manufactured, imported, sold, and distributed hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 test kits. They also distributed test kits for HIV, pregnancy, clinical urinalysis, and other conditions in the United States and China. The criminal complaint can be viewed below: Criminal complaint against-Chinese national arrested in connection with Reedley labDownload The defendant is due to make his first appearance in federal court in Fresno on Friday. If convicted of all charges, federal prosecutors say Zhu faces a maximum statutory penalty of three years in prison for the misbranding of medical devices charge and five more years in prison for the false statements charge. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com. CONCORD, N.H. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is ramping up his pledge to confront former President Donald Trump on the Republican presidential campaign trail, though he doesn't want to share his plans just yet. "Get ready. Thats all Im going to tell you," Christie told Fox News on Thursday after he filed to place his name on the presidential primary ballot in New Hampshire, which holds the second contest in the 2024 GOP nominating calendar. "Because if I give [Trump] and the Secret Service a tip as to where Im going to be, it will be a lot harder for me to get to him. Remember, hes the only guy walking around with Secret Service protection. So, that makes all of this a little more complicated. But I also was in law enforcement, so hang with me," Christie said. For months, Christie, who's making his second White House run, has vowed to take down Trump on the debate stage. CHRISTIE PLACES ALL HIS 2024 CHIPS ON THIS KEY PRIMARY STATE Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a 2024 Republican presidential candidate, files to place his name on New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation GOP presidential primary ballot in Concord, N.H., on Thursday. Christie, who like Trump is a master of in-your-face politics, repeatedly touted that he's got the debate chops to target Trump. The former president remains the commanding front-runner for the Republican nomination as he makes his third straight White House run, even while juggling an historic four criminal indictments, including two for his alleged attempt to overturn his 2020 election loss to President Biden. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP But with Trump skipping the first two GOP presidential debates and saying he won't take the stage at next month's third debate, Christie pledged early last month that he'd find another way to make sure that the former president is not the Republican Party's 2024 nominee. CHRISTIE VOWS TO CONFRONT TRUMP IF FORMER PRESIDENT DOESN'T DEBATE "Weve got 100-plus days until the primary. Donald Trump and I will come face-to-face, whether its on a debate stage or whether its when hes walking out of a building somewhere," Christie said. Christie placed all his chips in his campaign for president eight years ago in the Granite State. However, his campaign crashed and burned after a disappointing and distant sixth-place finish in New Hampshire, far behind Trump. Trump crushed the competition in the primary, boosting him toward the nomination and, eventually, the White House. Christie became the first among the other GOP 2016 contenders to endorse Trump and for years was a top outside adviser to the president, chairing Trumps high-profile commission on opioids. However, the two had a falling out after Trumps unsuccessful attempts to overturn his 2020 election loss to President Biden. In the past two and a half years, Christie has become one of the harshest Trump critics in the Republican Party. TRUMP'S THE COMMANDING FRONTRUNNER, BUT CHECK OUT WHO'S ON THE RISE IN THE LATEST POLL IN NEW HAMPSHIRE Christie kept up his verbal attacks on Trump as he took questions from reporters. "Hes completely full of cr--, and he makes it up as he goes along," Christie charged. Christie also argued that the former president is "a soulless human being. He cares about no one but himself. And any New Hampshire voter who thinks he gives a d--- about you, your life, your family, youre kidding yourself. He doesnt. So, if you think this race has been interesting up until now, I havent got my tank full of gas yet. Hes in for it." And Christie emphasized that "guys from New Jersey are used to dealing with obnoxious blowhards from New York our whole life, so we have no problem dealing with them in a presidential race." Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung, responding to Christie's broadsides, told Fox News, "What a sad, pathetic parasite. He should really drop this fake tough guy act because everybody knows he's a b----." Christie has been the most vocal Trump critic in the still relatively large field of Republican presidential contenders. The former governor, considered one of the most effective communicators in the GOP, and the rest of his rivals remain far behind Trump. Christie also took aim at some of his other rivals, in particular Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, charging them with what he called the "pathetic act of trying to be like him [Trump] but not be like him." But he saved most of his venom for multimillionaire biotech entrepreneur and first-time candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who is Trump's biggest supporter in the 2024 field. Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, a Republican presidential candidate, files to place his name on the New Hampshire GOP presidential primary ballot at the Statehouse in Concord, N.H., on Wednesday. Ramaswamy, who came under repeated attack from Christie, Haley, former Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina at the first two debates, said he may skip next month's debate in Miami. "Im considering my options," he told Fox News on Wednesday after filing for the New Hampshire primary. TRUMP MAY NOT BE THE ONLY GOP PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDER TO SKIP THE THIRD DEBATE Asked by Fox News about Ramaswamy's comments, Christie said, "I dont think he liked that treatment up there. I dont think he was used to getting pushed back on. Hes used to just shooting his mouth off and have nobody interrupt and nobody tell him hes wrong. ... If he doesnt want to show up, I dont think anybody will miss him." Christie also slammed Ramaswamy for his rival's suggestion Thursday that the U.S. build a wall not only on the nation's southern border with Mexico but on the northern border with Canada. After Republican Gov. Chris Sununu of New Hampshire announced a new task force to help make the state's border with Canada more secure, Ramaswamy took to social media to write, "Its not "Build-the-Wall" anymore. Its Build *Both* Walls. I visited the Northern & Southern Borders this month. This isnt a technical challenge, the country that put a man on the moon can fix this. Its a question of political will." Christie said it was "another dumb idea" from Ramaswamy and called his rival a "joker." "If he really wants to be considered a serious candidate in this race with these dumb ideas he's putting forward, how about you guys start pressing him on it," Christie told reporters. Ramaswamy, responding, told Fox News, "Wake up from your slumber, Chris. This is how a bipartisan establishment created our border crisis in the first place. The number of illegal crossings at our northern border this year surpasses the last 10 years combined. Once we seal the southern border, the northern border is the next frontier, and I refuse to play from behind." Ramaswamy campaign spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News, "I will avoid making jokes about beaches or bridges, but the gentleman from New Jersey sure talks a big game for someone who can't even qualify for the debate stage." Christie has yet to reach all the polling and donor thresholds the Republican National Committee is mandating the presidential candidates meet to qualify for the third debate. But a confident Christie told Fox News, "I will qualify, and I will be there." Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub. Original article source: Christie pledges to confront Trump 'face-to-face' as GOP presidential long shot targets frontrunner Taylor Swift has earned the praise of legendary Hollywood director Christopher Nolan for proving the value of cinemas with her Eras tour film. Last Friday (13 October), the big-screen adaptation of Swifts career-spanning live show hit 8,500 cinemas in 100 countries in the US and around the world. The Eras Tour quickly became the highest-grossing concert film in history, and now the director behind another of the years biggest releases, Oppenheimer, has heaped praise on Swift for her impact on the global box office. Speaking at a City University New York event ahead of the films release, Nolan commended Swift for side-stepping streaming services and studios and releasing the film directly with AMC Cinemas. Her last concert documentary film, 2020s Miss Americana, was released on Netflix. Taylor Swift is about to show the studios, because her concert film is not being distributed by the studios, its being distributed by a theatre owner, AMC, and its going to make an enormous amount of money, Nolan said (via Variety). And this is the thing. [Theatrical exhibition is] a format and a way of seeing things and sharing stories, or sharing experiences, thats incredibly valuable. And if [the studios] dont want it, somebody else will. So thats just the truth of it. The Eras Tour film earned over $100m (82m) in advance ticket sales alone. Its opening took $123.5m (101m) globally, making it the second highest-grossing October opening for a film ever. Swift on stage at the Eras Tour (Getty Images for TAS Rights Mana) As well as getting people back into the cinemas a feat achieved earlier this summer following the release of Greta Gerwigs Barbie movie Swifts film has also reignited debate about cinema etiquette. Clips on TikTok showed screenings turning into a full-blown Taylor Swift concert, with fans standing on seats, singing along and filming the screen during the movie. But while many fans said that they had loved yelling the lyrics and dancing along with their fellow Swifties, others were less impressed. I think its great theyre having fun but doing this at the cinema is so weird because theres other people watching other movies and probably couldnt even enjoy their own movie because of the screaming, one fan wrote. Another echoed: Theres having fun and theres acting like any rules of society dont exist because you bought a 20 cinema ticket. They should be respectful towards others and their experience. Swifts Eras tour live show recently wrapped its first leg of US dates. It will continue across the globe in November and into 2024, before arriving in the UK in June and August. Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour is in cinemas now. While the Childs Play franchise started out with just subtextual queer themes, trailblazing queer director and creator of Chucky Don Mancini has managed to fill his fan-favorite TV series with more LGBTQ+ characters and plot lines than we ever could have hoped for. In season three of Chucky, the gang has left the Catholic reform school behind for Washington D.C. where Chucky has taken up residence at the White House as the favorite toy of the Presidents son and our main characters Jake (Zackary Arthur), Devon (Bjorgvin Arnarson), and Lexi (Alyvia Alyn Lind) plot to stop him. By the end of episode three, multiple charactersand guest starshave been killed off in bloody fashion, but despite the violence and mayhem surrounding them, Jake and Devons queer romance has only grown stronger and now the teens have sex on the brain. For Mancini, it was important to normalize gay sex and give his characters the same room for sexual exploration that every show out there allows straight characters to haveincluding the awkward moments that pop up during sex. We wanted to normalize it. I mean you see this sort of thing with straight 17-year-old couples all the time on television shows and a lot of time with much more than the sort of PG-13 treatment we give it, Mancini told PRIDE. But at the same time, I wanted it to have some reality about it. When youre a 17-year-old boy you are thinking about that and you do talk like that with your partner and it is sort of, like, awkward, but great and fumbling, all of that stuff. Watch PRIDE's full interview with Don Mancini below. Chucky Creator Don Mancini On Young Queer Love And Found Family In Jake and Devons relationship is at the heart of the show and Mancini hopes the new generation of horror fans watching the series can relate to them. It was important to us to give gay teen horror fans a point of identification, thats what Jake and Devon have always been, he said. When the iconic gay horror director was growing up there was almost no LGBTQ+ representation in pop culture so its meaningful to him to be able to provide that to his young audience now. I would have loved to have seen a young gay couple and its just normalized and the parental figure is saying, I support you, he explained. In the first season of the show, the Chucky creator decided to have the pair kiss for the first time specifically to give queer fans something he didnt have growing up. Its like, thats the first kiss that I wished Id had, he said. And thats why I felt that scene was important is that we wanted young gay teenagers to see that and feel like that was the first that they could have. When season 3 begins, Jake, Devon, and Lexi have become a family unit after spending multiple seasons fighting side-by-side against the titular killer doll hellbent on destroying their lives. Creating a family when the one you were born into isnt supportiveor has been killed by Chuckyis a theme that will resonate with queer audiences. Sometimes, you know, found family is the one you have to rely on...we love dealing with all of that through a slightly metaphoric, horror-genre lens, Mancini said. Devon Bjorgvin Arnarson, Zackary Arthur, and Alyvia Alyn Lind in Chucky season 3. Courtesy of SYFY His queer identity snuck its way into the original Childs Play trilogy, but it wasnt until the campy Bride of Chucky in 1998 that it could be much more than subtext. Now hes made an unapologetically queer show full of gay relationships, nonbinary characters like Glen and Glendanonbinary actor Lachlan Watson plays the characters, who are now back in doll form as Gigiand last season even featured an odd love triangle between Nica (Fiona Dourif), Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly) and Chucky (Brad Dourif). Its so wonderful that the world has turned to the point where we can do it and were not the only ones doing it now, which is awesome, the 60-year-old director said of creating a show with so much queer representation. Where before it was subtext then it just started becoming text with Bride of Chucky and increasingly so. But its wonderful to be able to do that. We like being the gay horror franchise. I think gay teenage horror fans deserve that. Its unclear yet whether Chucky will be renewed for a fourth season, but we really hope we get a lot more of this radically queer horror series! New episodes of Chucky season 3 air on SYFY and USA Network at 9 p.m. ET/PT and land on Peacock the next day. youtu.be Chucky Season 3 Official Trailer | Chucky Official A Greek Orthodox church sheltering civilians in Gaza City was hit by an Israeli airstrike, killing 16 people, the Hamas-controlled Gaza government said Friday. The Israeli military said a strike on an adjacent military target collapsed a wall of the church, which was being used by hundreds of people seeking refuge from Israeli airstrikes. The overnight strike was part of a bombardment campaign on Gaza ahead of Israels expected ground operation. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchy of Jerusalem condemned the attack and said it would not abandon its religious and humanitarian duty to provide assistance to people in Gaza. The Patriarchate emphasizes that targeting churches and their institutions, along with the shelters they provide to protect innocent citizens, especially children and women who have lost their homes due to Israeli airstrikes on residential areas over the past thirteen days, constitutes a war crime that cannot be ignored, it said in a statement. The war between Israel and Hamas began nearly two weeks ago, when Hamas killed more than 1,400 Israelis in a surprise attack on farms, villages and military outposts that largely targeted civilians. Hamas, recognized as a terrorist group by the U.S. and European Union, also took hundreds of hostages back to Gaza, including some Americans. The Israeli military has responded with frequent airstrikes on Gaza that have killed more than 4,100 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Ministry of Healths Friday update. Updated at 9:29 a.m. ET For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A banking analyst who was sacked after claiming two sandwiches on his expenses has lost his legal battle for unfair dismissal. Szabolcs Fekete was fired by international firm Citibank after claiming to have eaten two sandwiches, two coffees and two pasta dishes on a work trip to Amsterdam. Mr Fekete, a financial crime expert working in London, denied buying the items for his partner. He said he bought two coffees because they were small and that the second sandwich was intended to serve as his dinner after eating the first one for lunch. But the bank didnt believe his explanation and launched an investigation. Mr Fekete noted that the amounts were well within the banks 100 euro (87) daily expense limit and said: I dont think I have to justify my eating habits to this extent. The analyst later admitted that his partner, who didnt work for Citibank, had traveled with him but continued to claim he ate all the food himself. Fekete later claimed he had been undergoing personal problems after the death of his grandmother, was on medical leave from work and was on medication while he was answering emailed questions about his expenses claim. Szabolcs Fekete denied buying the items for his partner (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Following a hearing in September, employment judge Caroline Illing ruled in favor of the employer, saying the issue was not the sums of money involved, but about Mr Feketes failure to make a full and frank disclosure. The judge said Citibank requires a commitment to honesty from its employees. I have accepted that the expense report may have been submitted in error, the judge said. However, I am satisfied that a dismissal in relation to the misrepresentation allegation alone would fall within the band of a reasonable response by a reasonable employer. The judgment was dated 19 Sept but first reported by the Financial Times on Monday. Additional reporting by agencies There is a thing that happens in cities that we think happens in cities when people with lots of different ideas bump into each other on the sidewalk, or at the bar or the grocery store or the gym. (Yann Kebbi/The New York Times) There is a thing that happens in cities that we think happens in cities when people with lots of different ideas bump into each other on the sidewalk, or at the bar or the grocery store or the gym. Together, they think up things that would never come out of a conference room or the kind of coffee meeting that has a calendar invite. Weird new ideas take root. Innovation follows. The urbanist icon Jane Jacobs identified these collisions as central to what makes cities dynamic. Her followers think of them as the product of serendipity. Economists have their own name for the almost-magical benefit these connections create: knowledge spillovers. The chance encounters facilitated by cities, economist Edward Glaeser has written, are the stuff of human progress. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Remote work has, well, blurred this picture. Can you have serendipity two days a week? Where do people bump into one another when the downtown coffee shops are closed? How do workers spill their knowledge when theyve moved to Montana, or the exurbs? Does that even matter anymore? Its a trying time, certainly, for my view of the world, said Enrico Moretti , a Berkeley economist who has written extensively about why its good for workers, companies and the economy when people cluster in particular cities. The clustering itself is a thing that matters, economists have argued, because it helps people trade ideas, land better jobs and find others doing highly specialized things. And those benefits of what economists call agglomeration have theoretically grown more important as America has shifted over decades to an economy built on ideas. The question today isnt just whether white-collar workers can be more productive sitting alongside their colleagues in the office. Its whether it matters for them to be alongside their colleagues and near workers at other companies, and other industries, and other people who may be distant acquaintances or simply familiar faces who think about totally different things. During the pandemic, plenty of companies got by just fine with their workers scattered at home. Many of those workers concluded, Im just as productive, too! And people generally did the opposite of clustering: They moved farther out into the suburbs, and in growing numbers, college-educated workers left the very places economists say are the most productive, including the Bay Area and New York. Moretti concedes that it may be years before we understand the effects of remote work. But he suspects it will become increasingly clear that weve lost something valuable. Yes, maybe youre just as capable of doing your daily work tasks at home. But what about the idea you dont realize you dont have because you never ran into a friend-of-a-colleague at the bus stop? I still strongly believe in the economic forces that were at play before COVID, the forces that have created agglomeration in cities and communities for the past 2,000 years, Moretti said. I dont think theyre gone. Maybe, though, we should think about them differently? Agglomerations in space still matter but agglomeration in time maybe we got wrong, said Karen Chapple, who directs the School of Cities at the University of Toronto. Maybe you dont need to agglomerate every day. She has used location data from cellphones to track the return of people downtown across North American cities. Many places didnt shut down for long and have relatively little remote work today. But downtown activity levels the stuff of serendipity have particularly lagged in cities central to the innovation economy, including Seattle and San Francisco. During the pandemic, we argued to ourselves that we didnt need to have this much in-person collaboration, said Alexander Quinn, the senior director for research in Northern California for the real estate firm JLL. He had his own crisis of faith in agglomeration during the pandemic. But he believes its value is becoming clear again. Meaningful innovation, he said, occurs in person. But could it occur, say, two days a week? That sounds like almost planned serendipity, and I dont know how you achieve that. Thats an oxymoron, he said. Lets do that serendipitous creation on Tuesdays and Wednesdays! New AI companies, seemingly all in one area San Francisco, for all its vacant offices and heavily remote tech companies, also offers some of the best evidence that agglomeration still matters. Nascent artificial intelligence companies have been signing new leases in remarkable proximity to one another. Real estate brokers have already branded the cluster Area AI. Artificial intelligence is a perfect example of an industry that should benefit from agglomeration. Its young and rapidly evolving. Its funding is concentrated in the Bay Area, too. The people working on it are highly specialized. Their ideas are the definition of cutting-edge. For all of us who have been in tech for a little while, this is the fastest feeling of change and advancement and real-life magic that I think weve ever felt, said Barry McCardel, the co-founder and CEO of a company, Hex, building AI-powered tools for analyzing data. Thats a feeling tied to a specific place (where Hex has just doubled its office space). The industry certainly has remote workers, too. But for many, its no substitute to be a plane ride or Zoom connection away. These ideas are so illegible, said Kanjun Qiu, who co-founded the AI company Imbue. Theyre big and complex ideas its hard to Slack them, or email them, or put them in a white paper. Qiu, who was moved by Jane Jacobs in college, believes that her company had far fewer of those illegible ideas during the pandemic lockdown years. That didnt become clear to her until the AI community came back to life in person (and her employees back to the office five days a week). Now Imbue hosts regular Thursday nights in AI, events where people across the industry mix. Qiu recalled a recent one where another entrepreneur pulled out his phone to show her challenges with an app. To have a Zoom meeting talking about that I would just not take that Zoom call, she said. Exactly how these in-person collisions work how they turn into ideas, then innovation, then human progress is still a bit mysterious. Tom Wolfe observed 40 years ago that workers in the Silicon Valley semiconductor industry met after-hours at the same bars to trade stories of their progress (Qiu and several others in AI today lived and socialized before the pandemic in the same San Francisco group house). The economists David Atkin, M. Keith Chen and Anton Popov have more recently tried to identify these effects by using geolocated cellphone pings to track where workers from different firms bump into one another in the Valley. When two firms are in places where workers tend to cross paths more often including workers with seemingly little business connection to each other more patent citations between those firms follow. The mechanism we have in mind is not, Im in the line at Starbucks, I strike up a conversation with a stranger, and Im spilling the beans on my firms latest technology three minutes later, Atkin said. Rather, he said, think of Silicon Valley as having an underlying social network of friends-of-friends, former college classmates, onetime co-workers and the like. People running into one another at the bar or supermarket activate links on that network and begin to chat. The whole point is that these are not planned meetings between people who believed ahead of time that they had something in common they needed to talk about. Now a physicist and an engineer are chatting about AI. A software developer and an architect are staring at an app together. But this does require all of them to leave the house. Popping some internet bubbles The question, then, is how often? If white-collar workers choose two, three days a week, that affects everyone else potentially colliding downtown, too: restaurant servers, bartenders, dental hygienists, small business owners. Coffee shops that were afloat five days a week cant survive on two. Then other collisions that might have happened in the past disappear, too. Glenn Kelman, the CEO of Seattle-based Redfin, worries not just about innovation, but civil society. Remote work makes it easy to inhabit internet bubbles, he said; the physical world forces people who are different together. Kelman had embraced remote work during the pandemic, but earlier this year he changed his mind, calling his employees in two days a week. I just think tech people have talked ourselves into this idea that people arent social creatures, Kelman said, that we dont get this energy from being around one another. It is hard, though, to ask workers to give up flexibility with child care, or more affordable housing in another city, in the name of agglomeration and innovation. Maybe that trade-off isnt worth it. Some cities may eventually evolve with an answer. Downtown could have fewer offices, more residents and attractions, and other kinds of collisions not so dependent on daily office culture. But for now, what kind of place is a city that creates serendipity just a few days a week? c.2023 The New York Times Company The city of San Marcos, Texas, settled a lawsuit this week filed by four supporters of Joe Biden who said local police failed to protect them from harassment in 2020 as they rode in a Biden campaign bus. The intimidation we experienced on the highway that day and the threat to our safety, simply for engaging in the political process and supporting the candidate of our choosing, should never happen in this country, said former Texas state Sen. Wendy Davis, one of the plaintiffs. In a settlement revealed Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023, city of San Marcos, Texas, officials agreed to pay $175,000 to former Texas state Sen. Wendy Davis and three others who were harassed by supporters of former president Donald Trump while campaigning for President Joe Biden in 2020, according to a legal settlement. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File) - Tony Gutierrez/AP Video footage that Davis provided to CNN showed vehicles with Trump flags surrounding their bus, cutting in front of it and abruptly braking as the vehicle was traveling from San Antonio to Austin on Interstate 35. There have been no criminal charges in the incident. Davis and co-plaintiffs Eric Cervini, David Gins and Timothy Holloway alleged that police failed to live up to their responsibilities under a federal law called the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871. Under the settlement, whose terms were shared with CNN by the plaintiffs, San Marcos is required to issue a public apology, pay a total of $175,000 to the plaintiffs and provide mandatory police training on how to properly respond to voter intimidation. While the City of San Marcos continues to deny many of the allegations in the lawsuit, the City of San Marcos Police Departments response did not reflect the Departments high standards for conduct and attention to duty, the city said in a statement to CNN. Noting that its police department has committed to improving its operations, San Marcos also said it regrets that Mr. Cervini, Ms. Davis, Mr. Gins, and Mr. Holloway had this unfortunate experience. The settlement does not affect a separate lawsuit filed by the same four plaintiffs against eight people they allege were responsible for the harassment. Federal court records show that case has not been resolved. Unfortunately, this incident is just one example of a worrying trend of political violence thats threatening the freeness and fairness of our elections, said John Paredes, an attorney with Protect Democracy, one of the groups that provided legal counsel for the lawsuit. In the event we see more of it around the 2024 election, it is critical that law enforcement understand that they have a role to play in preventing political violence, and that they can be held accountable if they fail in this duty. This story has been updated with a statement from the city of San Marcos. CNNs Piper Hudspeth Blackburn contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com FILE The Emperor as Philosopher," a Roman-era statue, thought to represent Marcus Aurelius, stands in a gallery at the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland, Ohio, June 25, 2010. The Cleveland Museum of Art has sued New York City authorities, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, over their seizure of a headless bronze statue. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) CLEVELAND (AP) The Cleveland Museum of Art has sued New York City authorities over their seizure of a headless bronze statue believed to depict the Roman emperor and philosopher Marcus Aurelius . A warrant signed by a judge in Manhattan on Aug. 14 ordered the seizure of the statue, which the museum acquired in 1986 and had been a highlight of its collection of ancient Roman art. The museum argues in its suit that the statue was lawfully obtained and that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg s office has no legal authority to seize it. The warrant was secured as part of an ongoing investigation into a smuggling network involving antiquities looted from Bubon in southwestern Turkey and trafficked through Manhattan, a spokesperson for Bragg has said. The 76-inch (1.9-meter) statue dates from A.D. 180 to 200 and is worth $20 million, according to the district attorneys office. The suit filed Thursday asks a judge to declare that the museum is the rightful owner of the statue, which it calls one of the most significant works in the (museums) collection of some 61,000 objects. Museum officials have repeatedly told the district attorney that their evidence is insufficient and suggested other investigative avenues, according to the suit, but all have been refused. The museum said it also has consulted experts who cast significant doubt on the identification of the statue as Marcus Aurelius, noting the experts believe its more likely a statue of another Greek philosopher. A spokesman for Bragg said the office is reviewing the lawsuit and will respond in court papers. He also noted the office has successfully recovered more than 4,600 illegally traffic antiquities. Museum spokesman Todd Mesek said it does not discuss ongoing litigation but noted the museum takes provenance issues very seriously. The statue was removed from view earlier this year, and the museum changed the description of the piece on its website, where it calls the statue a Draped Male Figure" instead of indicating a connection to Marcus Aurelius. Turkey first made claims about the statue in 2012 when it released a list of nearly two dozen objects in the Cleveland museums collection that it said had been looted from Bubon and other locations. Museum officials said at the time that Turkey had provided no hard evidence of looting. The Manhattan district attorneys office has worked in recent years to repatriate hundreds of objects looted from countries including Turkey, Greece, Israel and Italy. It was unclear who might be targeted in the investigation of the statue seized in Cleveland. Marcus Aurelius ruled as Roman emperor from A.D. 161 to 180 and was a Stoic philosopher whose Meditations have been studied over the centuries. The seized statue shows a man in flowing robes holding one hand in front of him in a regal pose. Qatar is one of the worlds largest liquefied natural gas exporters. Amid the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel, social media users in Africa shared a video they claim shows the emir of Qatar threatening to cut off the worlds natural gas supply if Israel does not stop bombing Gaza. But this is false: the Qatar leader said no such thing in the original clip which has been online for more than six years. An official of the Qatari government also told AFP Fact Check that the country has not threatened to cut off gas exports in response to the war. The Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim ibn Hamad Al Thani threatens to cause a global gas supply shortage (sic), wrote a social media user who posted the video on X (formerly Twitter) on October 13, 2023. Screenshot showing the false post, taken on October 18, 2023 The video shows Qatars ruling emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, addressing the media. The Palestinian cause began as a cause of a people uprooted from their land, he says in Arabic. In the footage, also shared on Facebook, the logo of the Al Jazeera news organisation can be seen on the lower right side of the screen. Qatar is one of the world's largest exporters of natural gas, according to a 2021 report by the US Energy Information Administration (archived here). Hamas-Israel conflict Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, triggering a deadly war. The conflict has also sparked protests across the Middle East against Israel and its Western allies (archived here). However, the claim that the video shows Qatars emir making gas supply threats is false. Old clip from 2017 AFP Fact Check first debunked the claim in French. Using a reverse image search on a screenshot from the video, we found a longer version on Al Jazeeras YouTube channel. It was uploaded more than six years ago (archived here). According to the caption, the clip was filmed at the 17th Doha Forum held in May 2017 (archived here). It shows the Qatari emir talking about Palestinian refugees. "The refugee crisis is the result of regional conflicts, civil wars, and displacement operations based on racial, ethnic, sectarian, or other backgrounds. Some of them go back decades, such as the displacement of Palestinian refugees in 1948 in the Palestinian Nakba, which is mentioned these days, he says. Then follows the full quote containing the short phrase shared in the misleading social media clip: It is correct to say that the Palestinian issue began as the issue of a people uprooted from their lands. Their land and displacement from this homeland, including what is relatively recent, such as the case of Iraqi immigrants fleeing the siege." AFP Fact Check also found no credible news reports that al-Thani threatened to cut off gas supplies. No statements to that effect have been published on the websites of the Qatari government (archived here) or the state-run news agency (archived here). A Qatari official also confirmed to AFP on October 16, 2023, that this is another case of online disinformation against Qatar such a statement has never been made and never will be. Qatar does not politicise its LNG supplies or any economic investments. Find AFP Fact Checks disinformation coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict here. When a security guard clocked out of a Streeterville migrant shelter one Friday in March, hed just logged his 84th hour at work that week. His bosses told the city it was at least his 56th day in a row working a 12-hour shift, according to invoices they filed with the city invoices whose sizable overtime helped contribute to tens of millions in city payments to the firm staffing the citys migrant shelters. The security guard was employed by Favorite Healthcare Staffing, a national employment firm that has become the citys biggest contractor to handle the growing migrant crisis. Under the deal, the city hired the firm to provide case workers, security guards, janitors and many other employees for the migrant shelters at initial base rates ranging from $60 to $150 an hour. Invoices reviewed by the Tribune show that hundreds of Favorite Staffing workers logged 84-hour workweeks with the overtime, paid at a 50% premium, helping balloon bills that topped at least $56 million. At a Woodlawn shelter in early February, for example, two-thirds of the 50 staffers logged working at least 12 hours a day, seven days a week. At the Streeterville site one week in March, roughly 8 in 10 workers logged the same hours. The detailed invoices help explain how costs to shelter migrants have swelled this year amid a growing debate about how well the city has managed the crisis. Exactly what happens inside Chicagos nearly two dozen migrant shelters has largely been a mystery to the public because the city has chosen to keep the media and even volunteers out. Yet whats becoming more clear from a Tribune investigation of city records is how costly the arrangement has been, in a system staffed by an outside firm hired by city officials under pressure to act quickly and allowed to operate largely out of public view. The Favorite Staffing invoices are filled with rows of employee names showing the dates, shifts, pay rates and number of hours they worked, including overtime. A Tribune review of those invoices offers a window into how Favorite Staffings revenue grew under the deal. Just how much remains unclear because the city has not released most invoices filed by the vendor, including the most recent four months worth. It comes at a time when the city is pushing both the state and federal governments to help cover a larger share of the growing costs of migrant care. Although the city has not released complete records of payments, the $56 million billed by Favorite Staffing from September 2022 as migrants had begun arriving in Chicago through June reflected roughly two-thirds of all funds the city spent on all migrant services, records show. As city officials still grapple with how to respond to the expanding 14-month-old crisis, the revelations in Favorite Staffings invoices sparked complaints and outrage about how two mayoral administrations have managed the arrangement much of it funded by the state. Ald. Brendan Reilly, 42nd, who represents the downtown ward where the security guard worked at the Inn of Chicago shelter, said the fees being charged there have been insanity. The conditions that exist there are deplorable, he said, so the fact that were paying so much to get so little in return is very frustrating. A former aide to Mayor Lori Lightfoot described the amount of hours billed as not surprising given the scope and urgency of the services, while Gov. J.B. Pritzkers spokeswoman defended the payments as a frustrating byproduct of a nationwide worker shortage at a time staffers are most needed to help open and run shelters. A humanitarian crisis that requires 24/7 staff at multiple sites throughout the city unfortunately will result in staff working overtime, Pritzker spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh said in a written response to questions. Mayor Brandon Johnsons representatives did not address questions on the volume of overtime the city has paid out, but did note the city has twice renegotiated the deal to lower rates, including a push to hire local workers that includes even steeper discounts on fees. Favorite Healthcare Staffing, a 42-year-old firm based out of suburban Kansas City with 30,000 employees across the country, is not new to Chicago or Illinois. It has received contracts from both the city and state going back years and been paid more than $1 billion for work at state veterans homes and to assist with the COVID-19 pandemic, city and state records show. The firm declined to make a representative available for an interview. In an emailed response to questions from the Tribune, the firm didnt address questions about the overtime it billed the city. A senior vice president at the firm, Keenan Driver, said in the statement that the firm charges fair and market-based prices that also cover overhead costs beyond the checks it cuts to its workers. Driver also said city officials manage the sites and that Favorite Staffing treats employees and migrants fairly. We have developed a world class staffing model that provides speed and flexibility but also focuses on employee safety and satisfaction, he said, later adding: Favorite is committed to working to continue to provide high quality services to assist the City of Chicago in navigating this crisis. A quickly signed deal The company part of an international group owned by private equity firms became the citys key vendor in September 2022, less than a month into the crisis after a cobbled-together collection of nonprofits and volunteers struggled to keep up with the hundreds of migrants sent by bus from the southern border. In a sign of how rushed the deal was, Lightfoots administration piggybacked off a state emergency contract with Favorite Staffing for pandemic workers. The state deal listed specific positions and hourly rates. The city contract simply changed the names of jobs and kept the same pay rates. So a certified nursing assistant during the pandemic paid $75 per hour by the state became a resident aide for migrant services in the city contract. A pandemic healthcare worker paid $100 an hour by the state became shelter security. When asked why, a former Lightfoot administration official, Nubia Willman, recalled that the city was pressed for time to staff a shelter system largely built from scratch. And the state had already vetted Favorite Staffing for the pandemic deal, she said, so the city didnt have to follow the normal, cumbersome bidding process. We did not want to disrupt services, and we couldnt afford to disrupt services, because we needed to maintain that stability as we continued to build the shelter operations and continued to figure out our long-term plans, said Willman, the former director of the Office of New Americans. That shortcut came with a price. For anyone working more than 40 hours a week, the city paid Favorite Staffing an extra 50% per hour, or time-and-a-half. So if a security guard with a $100-an-hour fee logged 84 hours a week, for example, that last 44 hours was paid at $150 an hour. That scenario played out for scores of workers, week after week, in invoice after invoice reviewed by the Tribune. In one week in early February, the city was billed nearly $460,000 for 50 Favorite Staffing workers at one shelter: a former elementary school in Woodlawn. Of the 50 staffers, 36 listed they worked all seven days that week and 12 hours each day. A third of that shelters workers were listed as security guards. Every one of those 13 guards logged at least 20 hours of overtime that week. Most logged 44 hours of overtime, on top of the regular 40 hours that week. That meant the city spent roughly $18,000 a day for security at the shelter about $11,000 of it just for overtime. It wasnt unheard of for Favorite Staffing-supplied workers to put in that much time, on occasion, in contracts with Illinois government either. Favorite Staffings pandemic deal with the state included an expectation that health care staff would work 72 hours per week in health care facilities to help battle COVID-19. After migrants began arriving on buses late last summer, the state turned to Favorite Staffing to help staff hotels where some of the new arrivals were given shelter. A Tribune analysis of state records shows that in early January, near the height of the operation, 1 in 5 workers logged at least 84 hours in one week. But the city-administered contract as it moved into late winter and early spring 2023 saw even higher rates of overtime, the Tribune found. View an invoice from Favorite Staffing below: When asked why so many of its employees worked overtime in Chicagos shelters, Favorite Staffing officials did not offer a direct response. Nor did it answer why it didnt dispatch more people to Chicago to cover more shifts that would limit overtime. For sure, Favorite Staffing didnt profit from all the money collected in overtime fees. Like any staffing company, the firm must pay its employees from the fees it collects, and it is obligated to pay overtime to employees who work more than 40 hours per week. Still, its unclear how much of the total fees it collected from the city was passed onto its workers as pay, how much was left to cover the firms overhead, and how much was profit. Favorite Staffing declined to discuss those details. Favorite Staffing operates in an industry that saw revenues surge in recent years, and that level of overtime could have been particularly lucrative for the firm, experts said. Such firms typically have overhead costs for things like recruiting, insuring and housing workers, which can come out of the difference they charge employers versus what they pay their staff. If the firm has a smaller number of staffers but works them more hours, the overhead can be limited while the staffing firm profits more from overtime fees. Theres just far more incentive to work fewer people a ton of overtime, said Bob Bruno, a University of Illinois professor of labor and employment relations. A city-provided spreadsheet of payment records, covering invoices submitted through late June, doesnt break out how much was paid in overtime fees. But those records show that, overall, in February, the firm invoiced the city $7.5 million. The next month, the firm nearly doubled what it billed the city. In mid-March, available invoices show Favorite Staffing had dispatched more than 300 employees across Chicago, staffing at least 11 shelters. The week ending March 10, all but six were logged as working some overtime with more than 200 staffers logged as working at least 84 hours. In essence, Favorite Staffing told the city, roughly 2 out of 3 of its workers put in at least an average of 12-hour days, all seven days. When asked about the amount of overtime, Willman, the top Lightfoot aide on the migrant crisis, was not critical of what was billed. For many, emergency staffing is their career and the workload is not surprising, she said in a statement. It sounds shocking to a lay person, but this is difficult, time-consuming, nonstop work. But Bruno said hes never heard of so many people in such a contract working so many hours, comparing it to hours people typically worked in the late 19th century. He said the level of hours reported certainly does seem extraordinary. And that worries Annie Gomberg, a volunteer who helps migrants at the Austin District police station. Gomberg said no one working with migrants can be at their best when they are exhausted, working over-80-hour weeks: These are human beings, not machines. Eight weeks in a row The Tribune requested records from the Johnson administration detailing Favorite Staffings shelter work. The city responded with a breakdown of costs billed through June that totaled $56 million but said it was too burdensome to provide all of the invoices that detail those payments. Instead, the city handed over only invoices for February, March and May of 2023, which it said it had already provided to two other media outlets. One of them, NBC-5, reported Tuesday about those Favorite Staffing invoices. While invoices showed regular 84-hour workweeks for some employees, others worked even more hours. One worker was logged as pulling five 12-hour shifts, a 14-hour shift and a 16-hour shift that week in mid-March. For his work alone that week, the city was billed $15,525. That person worked at the citys most populated shelter: Inn of Chicago, at Ohio and St. Clair streets. The employee worked at the same shelter as the security guard who was logged as working 12-hour shifts at least 56 days in a row for the Inn of Chicago site and another shelter. The city didnt provide invoices for the weeks before or after that 56-day stretch, so its unclear if he logged working an even longer string of days this winter and spring. The guard, when reached by phone, told the Tribune he began working for Favorite Staffing in November, but said that hes not working at a Chicago shelter anymore. I dont have time for those kind of questions. Im really busy right now, he said. Then he hung up. Other Favorite Staffing employees approached by the Tribune declined to speak, and Favorite Staffing did not respond to a request to make employees available for interviews. The guard was among 83 people who worked at the Inn of Chicago during a period this spring in which the Tribune had invoices to examine. Of them, 38 logged working at least three weeks in a row without a day off. The guard was among nine who logged at least four weeks in a row without a day off. Another way to look at it: In every week that could be studied, at least 1 in 3 workers said they worked at least 84 hours a week. At most, 8 in 10 workers logged that many hours a week. Its unclear to what extent the city audited the invoices, which is allowed under the contract. Ald. Maria Hadden, 49th, says audits are needed. Somebody needs to be really going through this with a fine-toothed comb and making sure in real time, before were cutting these checks, that the monthly amounts that theyre billing us actually equate to the work that theyre performing, she said. The invoices came just after the General Assembly tightened the states law forbidding employers from making people work seven days in a row in Illinois. The law requires at least 24 consecutive hours off every seven days, with some exceptions. Firms seeking exemptions can ask the state for waivers. The state Department of Labor said it has no record of receiving waiver requests from Favorite Staffing, nor complaints the firm broke the law. It noted some exemptions that might apply, such as for security guards, supervisors, those in a bona fide executive, administrative, or professional capacity or those needed in the breakdown of machinery or equipment or other emergency. Regardless of the legality, the amount of hours logged by employees raises questions of worker productivity and safety. Researchers say that people working long hours are more prone to poor health, while being less productive with poorer cognitive performance the more overtime they work. When youre really fatigued, you have less ability to concentrate and stay engaged in the response at hand, said Kirsten Almberg, who directs the University of Illinois at Chicagos Center for Healthy Work. Reilly, the downtown alderman, in a letter to constituents earlier this month called for the Inn of Chicago shelter to be shut down, citing safety concerns such as public intoxication and narcotics sales, and said the city should absolutely not do more business with Favorite Staffing. (Look) at their billing practices alone and their failure to maintain security and cleanliness in their facilities, period, Reilly said in an interview with the Tribune. And the fact that this administration is slow to release these invoices and these records only in dribs and drabs is concerning to me. It tells me that theyre hiding a much bigger problem, which is we are hemorrhaging money. Migrants have told the Tribune that, while some staff inside shelters are helpful, others are dismissive, disrespectful and slow to respond to their needs for diapers, food and other resources. Mayele Marin, 37, from Venezuela found herself at the shelter in the Broadway Armory Park in Edgewater in August. She said the lights stayed on all night. One staffer blatantly ignored her when she asked for help getting food and resources. She didnt know where to look for work and spent most of the day begging for food, because the shelter-provided cereal and pasta wasnt enough. She pointed to a carton of Coca-Cola on the sidewalk she got from a volunteer, and said she wasnt allowed to bring it inside. She had most recently been sleeping on the floor of a police station, waiting for placement inside the city-run shelters. She said she wished shed stayed. What purpose does the government have with us? We dont know, she said in Spanish, sitting along North Broadway Street as pedestrians walked by in business clothes. What is going to happen to us? I wonder what theyre hiding Favorite Staffing told the Tribune that the citys Department of Family and Support Services leads the management of all sites, while the firm places on-site lead workers at every shelter and embeds staff with the citys Emergency Operations Center. Johnsons Office of Emergency Management and Communications spokesperson, Mary May, said city teams monitor shelters for a variety of things, including general operations, safety, and security. The city has said it keeps everyone out of the shelters other than migrants and workers to protect migrants privacy. That bothers some volunteers. I wonder what theyre hiding, Ruth Lamour, a volunteer for migrants at the Austin police station, said about the shelters. You wouldnt send your child to a day care that you couldnt go inside. You wouldnt send your children to a school that you couldnt have access to. Favorite Staffing workers even tried to shut out a City Council member, according to that alderman. Ald. Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez, 33rd, told the Tribune she stopped by a few days after the Brands Park shelter opened in her ward during the last weeks of the Lightfoot administration. One Favorite Staffing worker stopped her and said she needed to schedule visits in advance. They couldnt keep me out, Rodriguez Sanchez said. I still went through the door, and I said, No, Im not leaving. After forcing the issue, which she attributed to the corporate mindset within such private sector companies, she was able to work with Favorite Staffing employees to improve conditions, Rodriguez Sanchez said. A go-to contractor Favorite Staffings contract with the city for migrant services is only the latest in a string of deals with the city and state government. In 2017, then-Gov. Bruce Rauner brought the firm in to help staff a state-run veterans home in Quincy that was the site of multiple deadly outbreaks of Legionnaires disease. When the pandemic hit, Pritzkers administration hired the firm for a host of needs, from staffing a short-lived field hospital at McCormick Place to dispatching nurses to understaffed hospitals. Workers staffed vaccination clinics too, a task from which controversy emerged. In late 2021, a former Favorite Staffing nurse filed a lawsuit alleging she was unfairly suspended for warning local and state authorities that the vaccination site she was helping run, in Des Plaines, was being overstaffed. In her whistleblower lawsuit, she alleged one Favorite Staffing representative admonished her and told her: What happens in Favorite stays in Favorite. That pending lawsuit joined others filed by ex-workers in four additional states. The other lawsuits alleged Favorite Staffing either unfairly fired or underpaid workers. In fall 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor pushed the firm to pay an additional $3 million to 1,677 workers whod done COVID-19 testing in Florida. When asked about the lawsuits and federal action, Driver, the Favorite Staffing executive, responded: To the extent that workplace issues arise, we pride ourselves on taking swift and proactive steps to address them thoroughly. None of the controversies stopped Favorite Staffing from keeping and getting more deals with the state and city through complex rules that allow government entities to bypass some competitive bidding requirements in a crisis. The state used a formal bidding process late in 2020, when Favorite Staffing was chosen from seven bidders in a competitive process for a new master contract for emergency staffing the one the city eventually piggybacked on to staff migrant shelters. Frequent mayoral critic Ald. Anthony Beale, 9th, said such expensive contracts should require input from the City Council and questioned whether Favorite Staffings high invoices were a cash grab. When you have crises like were dealing with right now, youre going to get people who take advantage of the situation, Beale said. Theres a whole (adage) called, Haste makes waste. When youre in a hurry to do something, youre going to be wasteful, and thats what you see right now. In a statement, Johnsons administration said the city renegotiated a rate drop in April and another that started Oct. 1. Under the new terms, a security guards regular hourly rate, for instance, eventually dropped from $100 an hour to $68. If the guard was a local resident and didnt need a hotel room, the rate would drop to $48 an hour, the city said. The state contract is expiring Nov. 16, meaning the city can no longer piggyback off it. City officials did not answer if they would continue to use Favorite Staffing. If Favorite Staffing continues to staff Chicago shelters, it would join another firm, GardaWorld Federal Services, which the city hired last month under a nearly $30 million deal to put up migrant yurt base camps across the city to house some of the 18,700 migrants whove arrived on more than 400 buses from Texas as well as planes and other transportation modes since August 2022. In the meantime, as of Friday, shelters staffed by Favorite Staffing housed nearly 11,300 migrants. Another 650-plus stay in a section at OHare International Airport. More than 3,000 sleep in police station lobbies or outside, while city officials struggle with how best to pay to house them. Whatever is decided, Ald. Walter Burnett, 27th, said he hopes the city can learn lessons from its rushed contract with Favorite Staffing. And hopefully, we can start saving some money, he said. Next week, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department will welcome its largest recruiting class ever. As weve reported, like many police departments around the country, its been a challenge for CMPD to hire officers. In the 1990s, a wave of federal money funded a mass hiring of officers. Now, the majority of them are retiring, and fewer people than ever are signing up. PREVIOUS: CMPD faces recruiting challenges, pushes to hire more women to force Back in January, the department had about 300 open positions. But on Monday, 82 recruits will start their journey to get their badges. Recruitment has been a priority for Chief Johnny Jennings since he became the leading officer. CMPD said theyve also seen an 18% increase in applications. (WATCH BELOW: CMPD pledged to increase the number of women in its ranks) The United States Coast Guard is asking for help looking for a missing 31-foot fishing boat. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< The coast guard states the boat has 3 people on board and was about 80 miles off shore in Brunswick Georgia. The boat went missing on Friday, October 20. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] The @USCG is searching for an overdue 31-foot fishing vessel, Friday, with 3 people aboard 80 miles offshore #Brunswick, Georgia. Anyone with information that may assist search efforts should call Sector #Charleston at 843-740-7050. More details here: https://t.co/G2qswnGjlq pic.twitter.com/BefJ2GpjOp USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) October 20, 2023 [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Georgia announced a Cobb man was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for producing child pornography. Officials said Billy Calhoun, 32 of Acworth, pretended to be a teenage boy, then convinced multiple minor girls he met online to send him sexually explicit videos and images. The Department of Justice said an investigation into Calhoun started in 2020, after the Cobb County Police Department got a call from a middle school, alleging a teenage student was being exploited. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan said it came out in court that Calhoun had brought lunch to a 14-year-old girl at the school. The student told school administrators that he was her boyfriends uncle and said she had a 16-year-old boyfriend named Zack, whom shed met on Instagram months earlier, according to USDOJ. Investigators said shed never actually met or seen Zack, but that she had sent him nude photos using a cell phone, and that she had received gifts from him including a phone and two laptops. Several weeks after initially speaking with the 14-year-old girl, CCPD found out Calhoun tried to pick her up from school without her mothers permission and he was arrested on state charges. TRENDING STORIES: Our detectives work tirelessly to make sure the most vulnerable are given a voice and those who would do them harm are brought to justice, Cobb County Police Chief Stuart VanHoozer said. We are proud of our working relationship with our local and federal partners to ensure the full weight of the justice system is brought to bear on those who would victimize our communities children. Justice Department officials said that Calhoun admitted to being the 16-year-old Zack during a post-arrest interview with detectives from CCPD. Calhoun told them he pretended to be 16 after learning the girl was 14 years old, and that hed received sexually explicit videos from her. Police served several search warrants on his cell phones and at his home. FBI agents later identified three other minor girls who Calhoun had met online and who had sent him sexually explicit videos and photos. The investigation also revealed Calhoun had hundreds of other images and videos of child pornography, if not more. On March 17, Calhoun pled guilty to one count of producing child pornography and was sentenced to 20 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Hell also have to register as a sex offender. Calhoun took advantage of the anonymity the Internet provides to target and victimize young girls, Buchanan said. While social media can provide a forum for young people to safely connect with family and friends, this case should serve as a reminder to parents that vigilance of their childrens online activity is critical. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Sen. Ted Cruz , R-Texas, called out Coca-Cola on his podcast this week for supporting Black Lives Matter after the organization's Chicago chapter posted in a now-deleted X post a picture of a paraglider with the text "I stand with Palestine" a reference to Hamas terrorists who paraglided into an Israeli music festival and slaughtered hundreds of attendees. After the October 18 episode of The Verdict with Ted Cruz, Coca-Cola which owns Sprite deleted its language on its website the following morning. "Earlier this month, Sprite announced a $500,000 contribution to the Black Lives Matter Global Network in a social post committing action in the fight for racial justice. On June 28, the brand debuted a new TV commercial during the 2020 BET Awards telecast showcasing Black Americas resilience, excellence and optimism. The 60-second spot titled Dreams Realized emphasizes Sprites commitment to making young Black creators dreams a reality and to inspire the next generation to do more and dream bigger," a web archive version of the website reads. The current version omits that paragraph. BLACK FORMER MISS ISRAEL TEARS INTO BLM FOR BACKING PALESTINIANS: HOW COULD YOU SUPPORT THIS EVIL? Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, attends a Senate Judiciary Committee markup in Hart Building on Thursday, May 11, 2023. Fortune 500 companies like Amazon, Coca-Cola, Sprite, DoorDash, DropBox, Warner Brothers and Microsoft have donated to BLM. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "On Verdict, we name names and blast corporate America for standing with Marxists who celebrated Hamas's mass murder of Israelis," Cruz said in a post on X on Thursday. ISRAELI SURVIVORS OF HAMAS TERROR ATTACK RECOUNT HARROWING BRUTALITY, HEROISM "For every corporate donor who sent millions to BLMincluding Amazon, Apple, BlackRock & Bank of Americado you regret supporting such a virulently antisemitic organization?" Cruz said on Wednesday's episode of the podcast. "Do you support Black Lives Matters Marxist agenda supporting Hamas? Are you antisemites? Do you support that we need to end Israel?" he questioned. REMEMBERING US VICTIMS KILLED AND MISSING IN THE ISRAELI-HAMAS WAR Black Lives Matter and Coca-Cola did not respond to Fox News' Digital request for comment on Friday. On October 11, in response to backlash over its post, BLM Chicago said in a statement: "Yesterday we sent out mss [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." Original article source: Coca-Cola quietly deletes language supporting BLM after Ted Cruz calls out pro-Hamas post People attend a vigil coined "Palestine Lives," to show support for the Palestinians in the latest Israel-Hamas war, in Bogota, Colombia, Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia) BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) Escalating tensions between Colombia and Israel over the Gaza war could undo decades of close military ties between them and hamper Colombias ability to fight drug traffickers and rebels, security analysts say. Israel has been one of Colombias main suppliers of war planes, surveillance equipment and assault rifles since the 1990s. But on Sunday its foreign ministry announced a suspension of defense exports to Colombia, after President Gustavo Petro refused to condemn Hamas attack on Israel and compared Israel's actions in Gaza to those of Nazi Germany. Analysts in Bogota say that the suspension could jeopardize several contracts, including a $5 million deal between Colombias Defense Ministry and Israeli company IAI to maintain Colombias ageing fleet of Kfir fighter jets. Colombias government also recently hired an Israeli company to outfit two Boeing 737s with electronic warfare equipment and intelligence tools that can help the military jam communications of the nations remaining rebel groups and monitor their movements. Israels embassy in Bogota declined to answer questions about the export ban and whether it applies to contracts that have already been signed. Security analysts in Bogota said that if the ban is sustained, it could seriously affect Colombias armed forces due to their reliance on Israeli hardware and technology. It will be debilitating and extremely costly, said Jorge Restrepo, the director of CERAC, a security think tank in Bogota. It can take months or years to find new providers and to train personnel to use and trust new equipment. Colombia deepened its military ties with Israel in the late 80s by purchasing a group of Kfir fighter jets. The war planes, whose name translates to young lion, are able to launch laser-guided bombs. They were used by Colombias air force in numerous attacks on remote guerrilla camps that debilitated the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and helped push the group into peace talks that resulted in its disarmament in 2016. But as Colombias fleet of 22 Kfir fighter jets becomes older it also relies more frequently on maintenance from its Israeli manufacturers, said Erich Saumeth Cadavid, a Colombian defense analyst. Cadavid noted that one potential result of the export ban could be less sorties for the Kfir planes, which are Colombias only fighter jets and also the only planes in the nations arsenal that are capable of launching bombs with precision. Colombian officials have been slow to replace the fleet despite offers from manufacturers in France, Sweden and the United States, as Petros administration prioritizes spending in other areas. Israels military export ban comes as Colombias government continues to face the threat of rebel groups that did not join the 2016 peace deal with the FARC, and have grown stronger in some rural parts of the country following the FARCs withdrawal from these areas. Petros administration recently signed cease-fires with two of these groups the ELN and the EMC -- that will expire early next year, while it is fighting against the drug trafficking group known as the Gulf Clan, which is the nations second largest armed group. Wilder Alejandro Sanchez, a military analyst and president of Second Floor Strategies, a consulting firm based in Washington, said that the effects of Israels export ban will take some months to be felt by Colombias armed forces. He said that while Colombia has a diverse set of weapons in its arsenal, including Brazilian made Super Tucano planes that can attack enemies on the ground, the nation relies heavily on Israel for the maintenance of surveillance equipment, including drones. Colombia continues to face a plethora of internal security challenges, and they need a strong military with various capabilities Sanchez said. So this ban, if it really does come through, comes at a really bad time. Another contract that could be jeopardized by the ban, Sanchez said, is a license through which Colombias state owned military factory, Indumil, produces Israeli designed Galil assault rifles, which have become the principal weapon used on the ground by Colombian troops. Following Israels announcement of its intent to suspend military exports, Colombia's leftist president threatened to cut diplomatic relations with Israel and blamed the country for the growth of paramilitary groups in Colombia, though he didn't provide evidence for that claim. If we must suspend relations with Israel, then that is what we will do, Petro wrote on the social media platform X. From the people of Israel I demand help for the construction of peace in Colombia, in Palestine and in the world. Petro, who was once a member of a left-wing rebel group that made peace with Colombia's government in the 1990s, has written dozens of messages on X about the war in Gaza since the conflict began on October 7. In some, he has compared the conditions in the Gaza strip to those of a concentration camp, and in other messages he has written that Israels bombardment of Gaza is equivalent to genocide. But the president has refused to condemn Hamas' attack on Israel, despite numerous calls by Colombian politicians and intellectuals for him to do so. While Petros supporters commend him for speaking forcefully about the plight of Palestinians, critics are worried that his brand of online diplomacy could eventually lead to a complete rupture of relations with Israel, and undermine Colombia's relations with other countries. By not condemning the terrorist attack, he is drifting away from Colombia's strategic allies and putting Colombia next to the nations that support terrorism, said Diego Molano, a former Colombian defense minister. Petro is impulsive and he sees in the Palestinian cause something that he can become a vocal supporter of that aligns with his ideology and his passion for anti-colonialism, said Sergio Guzman, a political risk analyst in Bogota. But he is not taking Colombias interests into consideration, and it puts Colombia in a difficult position. On Thursday afternoon Petro held separate meetings with the ambassadors of Israel and Palestine and posted photos on X. He announced Colombia would send humanitarian aid to the residents of the Gaza strip and wrote on his account that he had told both ambassadors about his desire to help set up an international peace conference that opens the path for two free and independent states. ____ Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Please, from the bottom of my heart, prioritize tribal water rights and infrastructure, Bridget Dorsey wrote. Dorsey was asking the U.S. government to honor commitments to Native Americans as it puts together a plan to manage the Colorado River. Her simple request is among the 268 pages of messages that have been indexed and filed as part of the Scoping Report for Post-2026 Colorado River Reservoir Operations. Its a 390-page document. More than 15 tribes submitted comments that ranged from stern reminders of their right to govern themselves, reverence to nature and customs, and the need to be more involved in the decisions about the river. Low water levels at Wahweap Bay at Lake Powell along the Upper Colorado River Basin are shown, June 9, 2021, at the Utah and Arizona border at Wahweap, Ariz. The Biden administration announced Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, that 15 Native American tribes will get a total of $580 million in federal money this year for water rights settlements. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File) Messages like Dorseys arent lost in the mountains of legalese and governmentspeak. Selfless personal pleas rise above the hundreds of other messages with more negative tones or piles of form letters meant to guide the U.S. Bureau of Reclamations decision on the river. Form letters accounted for nearly 90% of the 24,290 messages submitted during a 60-day comment period. Timeline for Colorado River decisions released; millions already set aside for water projects Tribes have been underrepresented in past Colorado River decisions particularly the 2007 agreement thats expiring in 2026. They dont want it to happen again, and 16 tribal organizations are participating in the effort this time: Colorado River Indian Tribes Gila River Indian Community Havasupai Tribe Hopi Tribe Hualapai Indian Tribe Jicarilla Apache Nation Navajo Nation Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah Pascua Yaqui Tribe Quechan Indian Tribe San Luis Rey Indian Wather Authority Southern Ute Indian Tribe Tohono Oodham Nation Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Ute Indian Tribe Yavapai-Apache nation As indigenous people, we recognize the inextricable connection to the land and water, which brings a profound sense of balance and responsibility, wrote Edward Velarde of the Jicarilla Apache Nation. We eagerly anticipate working collaboratively in the months and years ahead to protect the Colorado River system, honor the ancestral ties, and uphold the rights and well-being of the people, plants, and species that depend on the Colorado River, he wrote. Acknowledging the historical exclusion of tribes from river management decisions, we emphasize the paramount importance of forging a partnership built on mutual respect, active engagement, and a genuine understanding of the indigenous perspective. By embracing this holistic approach, we can address the challenges at hand, develop sustainable solutions, and ensure the long-term vitality of the Colorado River for ourselves and for future generations to come, Velarde wrote. Heres what 7 states say about solving the Wests water crisis The federal government and organizations including the Southern Nevada Water Authority and the National Audubon Society echoed the need for closer involvement with tribes. Lake Powell near Page, Ariz., on July 31, 2021. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File) There is a critical need for infrastructure to allow tribes to fully and efficiently use their water resources, Velarde added. While many tribes have Colorado River water rights, many lack access to the water. Tribes need infrastructure in order to provide clean drinking water, adequate sanitation, clean energy and economic opportunities to their members. That means construction of pipelines, canals and reservoirs, as well as modernization of old water systems. Tribes reminded the Bureau of Reclamation of its responsibility to ensure the water rights of the Basin Tribes are protected in the plans to manage the river. Many comments suggested that Reclamation consider subtracting tribal water allocations before determining future allocations or diversions. A comment from several tribes including the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe suggested that water could be left in the system to improve river and reservoir supplies in exchange for economic compensation. But tribes want assurances that its tracked accurately. An agreement reached this spring by the Gila River Indian Community might have laid the groundwork for other tribes to follow. The tribe will get up to $233 million to pay for water infrastructure that will bring 20,000 acre-feet of reclaimed water for agriculture. The deal includes $50 million payments to the tribe over the next three years to allow an extra 2 feet of water storage in Lake Mead. An aerial view of Lake Powell on the Colorado River is seen along the Arizona-Utah border on Sept. 11, 2019. (AP Photo/John Antczak, FIle ) Melvin Baker of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe argues that talk of development caps in the Southwest shouldnt apply to tribes that havent even had the opportunity because of fights over water rights. This is a direct attack on tribal sovereignty. There are many tribes that need to provide clean piped drinking water to their tribal members; to develop agriculture to provide food for their tribal members; to develop their economies to provide jobs to their tribal members; and to use for many other purposes. Until tribes can benefit from their fully developed water resources in a manner that is equal to the rest of the Basin communities, the United States should not consider any suggestions for development caps, Baker wrote. Colorado River problems: Glen Canyon Dam, desalination and a city that could run dry Water is LIFE to the people of Hopi, a message from Timothy Nuvangyaoma of the Hopi Tribe said. The Grand Canyon River corridor is a place of paramount sanctimony and sacredness. It is the place of emergence and where Hopi return when they pass on. It is the place where we made our covenant to be stewards of the land, including the land encompassing the Grand Canyon. Being stewards is the most important core value of Hopi. Involvement in managing this precious resource allows us to be stewards on behalf of our ancestral lands and allows us to fulfill our sacred covenant. FILE Water from the Colorado River diverted through the Central Arizona Project fills an irrigation canal, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022, in Maricopa, Ariz. A Native American tribe in Arizona has reached a deal with the U.S. government not to use some of its Colorado River water rights in return for $150 million and funding for a pipeline project. (AP Photo/Matt York, File) Tribal culture in the region has been connected to the river. A statement from the Colorado River Indian Tribes said, The Mohave and Chemehuevi people have lived along the banks of the River in what is now the Lower Basin since time immemorial. Our Ancestors lived through droughts and floods while living and farming sustainably in this region for innumerable generations. When Lake Powell rose 65 feet this year on the strength of a wet winter, 30,000 acres along the shores and canyons of Lake Powell was submerged. Concern for archaeological sites that dried out and then were redrowned was included in comments from conservationists. The Glen Canyon landscape has cultural, social, and historical significance to multiple Colorado River Basin indigenous tribes, early Mormon settlers, and to many early explorers and river runners, according to groups including the Glen Canyon Institute, the Great Basin Water Network, the Utah Rivers Council, the Returning Rapids Project and the National Parks Conservation Association. The future management of these resources should include a different approach than was used in the late 1950s and early 1960s when the Department of the Interior only focused on recovery of artifacts. The Post-2026 Guidelines need to include active and consistent tribal input on the management of reservoir operations to protect all resources, not just the water. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. The footage from the ceremony quieted from routine clapping for the graduates crossing the stage at Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans as the university president and everyone else in the auditorium spotted Aiyana Jones arriving in a wheelchair. The crowd at the historically Black Catholic university's Convocation Center rose to its feet for the 22-year-old graduating with a biology degree and a Spanish minor. The white frill on Jones' mortarboard cap shared a simple reminder in white-on-gold lettering: I believed I could so I did! Jones' presence on that stage in May was a compelling testimonial to her determination amid the daunting obstacles she'd faced during the two years leading up to that moment. What began as a headache while she was studying, on her path to becoming a doctor, turned into brain swelling and led to her being in a coma. Since last spring, Jones has defined her recovery as she sought to combat an autoimmune disease that she learned after the fact ran in her family. Photo Jun 14 2023, 1 21 04 PM (1).jpg In the summer of 2021, Aiyana Jones was studying at home for an organic chemistry final when her headaches returned. She would end up in a coma, caused by a severe form of lupus. Two years later, she returned to college to graduate. Understanding the brain: A new map of the human brain offers insights, clues to future treatments. A headache turns into a coma In the summer of 2021, Jones was visiting home in Houston, taking summer school courses so she could graduate early and get a head start on her career. She had been on a pre-med track at her HBCU, planning to attend medical school and become an anesthesiologist. That summer she started having excruciating headaches and a rash broke out on her face, she said in email responses to USA TODAY. She went to the hospital twice to seek a diagnosis, and both times staff there sent her home without one. On June 21, 2021, she was studying for an organic chemistry final when the headache returned. She decided to take a nap. She told her mom that shed lie down in her room upstairs, and her mother said to let her know when shed be ready to eat. Hours passed. Jones didnt respond to her mom calling from downstairs. When Jones' father got home from work, her mother asked him to check on Jones. When he went upstairs to her bedroom, his daughter's words were slurred, and, he later told a doctor, she wasn't making sense. Her parents called for an ambulance. Thats when Jones started drifting in and out of consciousness. After a couple of days in the intensive care unit at Memorial Hermann in Houston, she was placed in a medically induced coma on a ventilator to determine the cause of her brain swelling. Doctors determined it was encephalitis caused by systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE, a rare disease in which her immune system was attacking her body and causing her brain to become inflamed. The swelling caused her to lose most of the functions controlled by the brain, including the ability to breathe and swallow. New research: Monkey kept alive for 2 years with pig kidney offers hope for humans awaiting transplants A partial skyline of Texas Medical Center's 59 institutions, including Memorial Hermann Hospital, looms with downtown Houston in the distance. What is lupus? Lupus, a lifelong condition, is more common in women than men, three times more common among Black women than white women and more pronounced in younger ages, the Lupus Foundation of America estimates. About 200,000 Americans have lupus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms include rash, fatigue, unusual hair loss and memory problems. With lupus, the immune system cant tell the difference between pathogens and healthy cells, so the body begins attacking itself. Its unclear what causes lupus, though its not contagious. The CDC says that genetics play a part, but research is ongoing into possible environmental and hormonal factors, as well as triggers in the immune system. SLE, the more serious form of lupus and the one Jones was diagnosed with, has higher rates of mortality among Black people. The Lupus Foundation said Black patients tend to have more disease damage and a higher rate of comorbidities. Jones remained in a coma at Memorial Hermanns trauma center for weeks. Based on the doctor's suggestion, the family prepared for the worst, said her aunt Paulette Jones, 67. Visits were limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so family members rotated sitting with Jones. Her cousin Ashley Jordan, 37, worked at the hospital and had seen families like her own struggle with relatives whose lives were in limbo. Jordan checked on her cousin during her shifts throughout Jones' stay. You see how just one injury can change a person's life forever and you witness the miracles, Jordan said of her work. "The support system that you have makes all the difference. Road to recovery On Aug. 5, 2021, doctors pronounced that Jones was in a persistent vegetative state and transferred her for further treatment at TIRR Memorial Hermanns Brain Injury and Stroke Program. She appeared to be awake but had no signs of awareness of what was going on around her. She did not talk or move, and she could not swallow, said Dr. Jean Woo, an attending physician specializing in brain injury rehabilitation at TIRR Memorial Hermann who began working with Jones upon her arrival. Woo said Jones was unable to interact with staff. Jones recalled over email that she was conscious when she arrived at the facility, but she couldnt move her body when asked. The goal of the consciousness center is to properly diagnose cases that may not be understood in the ICU, which is meant to keep someone safe and alive. It was Woos first time seeing a patient experience encephalitis, or brain swelling, from lupus. She ordered clinical tests to understand what was ailing Jones. She also continued tracking for signs of movement and whether Jones could respond to commands, which would mean her brain had comprehension and access to language. Soon after her arrival on the unit, Jones began to move her left arm on command. Hospital staff later found Jones could move her head on command. This began with yes or no questions, with a head nod for yes, and head shake for no. The next phase of Jones' recovery involved the staff asking egocentric questions about Jones. They'd use her nickname and ask if her name was Yani. They'd also try questions that might lead her to share false information, for example, if her name was Sarah to validate the quality of her responses. Five days after she was admitted, on Aug. 10, doctors wrote in her charts that Jones was fully conscious based on standardized testing. It's alarming to family members to hear about a radical turnaround such as this, but Woo said the misdiagnosis that a person is in a vegetative state is regrettably very common. Caretakers at the hospital hooked Jones up to a laser that she could use to communicate by spelling words. The laser, like a cat pointer, was attached to Jones head. Staff directed her to aim it at a letter board on the wall; they asked her to spell words using her head. The board gives patients more opportunities to communicate beyond a simple yes or no, Woo said. Jones didnt like the laser, Woo said, so hospital staff moved the letterboard closer to her. Staff would point to a row of letters to spell a word that Jones would affirm was what she wanted to spell. It took time, but it was a big step, Woo said. Jones proceeded with physical therapy and occupational therapy, learning to sit up and move her body. She's still working on improving the function in her right arm, Woo said. With ongoing therapy, Jones typed on a large keyboard with a stylus and she now types on her cellphone and tablet. Jones didnt learn that lupus ran in her family until after the coma. Using her iPad in the hospital, Jones asked her aunt if she knew that her grandmother had, had lupus. I told her we did, but we didnt realize the magnitude of it, her aunt said. Jones grandmother, on her fathers side, died in her early 50s from the disease. Jones' aunts and mother, Charlene, worked with her during her recovery, helping her progress to moving with a wheelchair. She hadn't conquered conversation yet, but she messaged over a tablet or her cellphone using her left arm, writing to her family members that she wanted to complete her degree at Xavier. Aiyana Jones poses for a photo at Xavier University of Louisiana, in New Orleans, on her graduation day, on May 27, 2023. Back to school Her aunt Paulette, a retired educator, began making calls to Xavier, getting in touch with the disability department to facilitate Jones education. She wouldnt be returning to New Orleans; instead, with their permission, she'd study remotely from her home in Houston. Michelle Boissiere, the head of the biology department at Xavier, received a message from Paulette that Aiyana wanted to complete her degree. She was three-fourths done, Boissiere said. Half a year after she was placed in a coma, Jones returned to her studies for the spring 2022 semester. She didnt find online coursework difficult amid the pandemic. She's already adjusted to learning from home during her sophomore year of college. There would be compromises. Jones learned she would have to switch her biology degree from a Bachelor of Science to Bachelor of Arts because she was unable to do laboratory work. One class had to be created for her because she ran out of online courses available that would let her complete her degree, Paulette Jones said. Whatever I needed from them to help her, it was done, the aunt said. Boissiere initially worried about Jones being unable to have verbal communication with her teachers. But faculty told the department head that Jones not only submitted her coursework, she was passing. She is a highly intelligent young woman, Boissiere said. And it is a testament to the fact that she was determined to do the work to complete her education. Aiyana Jones' mortarboard cap at had a simple message that attested to her sheer determination she could graduate from Xavier University of Louisiana after she'd been placed in a coma from a severe form of lupus. Another challenge Just a week before graduation, Jones older sister Shanna, 37, died of lung cancer in Delaware. Jones' first inclination was to skip the ceremony. She and her family were in deep mourning. Several family members had left town to attend her sisters funeral. But family members convinced her to celebrate her achievement at Xavier in New Orleans. Her aunt Paulette helped make her cap stand out. Jones is still recovering, doing physical therapy to gain function in her right arm and working on recovering her ability to speak. Woo recently referred Jones to driving rehabilitation, to assess whether she can drive with a modified vehicle. Jones has new goals on the horizon. Shes pursuing a master's in health informatics from Xavier. Her goal, she wrote, is to work with people to manage their autoimmune diseases. It's a journey she knows better than anyone. Eduardo Cuevas covers health and breaking news for USA TODAY. He can be reached at EMCuevas1@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: After nearly dying from lupus, this Texas woman graduated from college A drug user preparing a syringe of cocaine mixed with xylazine, or tranq, in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia on Dec. 13, 2022. (Hilary Swift/The New York Times) PHILADELPHIA Quetcy Lozada , a first-term Philadelphia City Council member, stood on a September evening near an elementary school just off Kensington Avenue, the epicenter of a sprawling fentanyl market in a city that saw a record 1,413 drug overdose deaths last year. Just a block away, the street and sidewalks were dotted with used syringes and their discarded orange caps. Kids have to go through this every day, Lozada said, her voice rising. Children are so impacted that they dont want to come to school. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Public health experts have long endorsed a controversial strategy to blunt the opioid epidemic that has been sweeping cities like Philadelphia: supervised drug consumption sites, in which people are allowed to take illicit drugs under professional supervision. The sites employ medical and social workers who guard against overdoses by supplying oxygen and naloxone, the overdose-reversing drug, and by distributing clean needles and other resources to opioid users. New York City has two sites, the only ones operating openly in the nation. Safe drug consumption facilities have reversed thousands of overdoses in the United States and abroad, helping people who use potent synthetic opioids like fentanyl avoid the worst consequences of a volatile drug supply. In the United States, the sites represent a novel form of harm reduction, which aims not to make drug users sober or abstinent but to prevent disease, overdose and death. President Joe Biden is the first president to endorse the idea. But critics argue that the sites encourage a culture of permissiveness around illegal drugs, formally sanctioning opioid use in neighborhoods already struggling with high overdose rates. And they say that the groups working to open the sites, however well intentioned, should not encroach on communities that might be hostile to the strategy. Hours earlier, Lozada had shepherded a measure through City Council that restricted where drug consumption sites could operate in the city. The legislation, which passed 13-1, survived a veto from Mayor Jim Kenney, who supports opening the facilities. Lozada and her allies have cast their effort not as a rejection of drug consumption sites, per se, but as a way for Philadelphia residents to choose whether one may operate in their neighborhoods. Kensington Avenue, which sits in Lozadas district, is seen as one of the most obvious locations for such a facility. Lozada said that her constituents did not want to accept living around open drug use, that it discouraged the use of local libraries and parks and drove away local businesses. People in the political world just became afraid of: What do we do? How do we do it? Lets not do anything, she said of the state of her neighborhood. Lozada has another idea: She supports involuntary roundups of opioid users, using the courts to route them to treatment facilities, a strategy that some public health experts have said is punitive and unproductive. As much as any city, Philadelphia showcases the seesawing tensions and legal battles around supervised drug use. The city encapsulates a broader struggle among state and federal health officials searching for new methods to curtail the roughly 110,000 annual fatal drug overdoses in the United States. The sites operate in a legal gray area. A federal law passed in 1986 prohibits people from keeping property where controlled substances are ingested, a measure that defenders called the crack house statute. Some cities and states have moved to open the facilities despite the risk of federal reprisals, as research has shown that supervised consumption sites in Canada, Australia and European countries have saved lives and led people to treatment. Yet even liberal elected officials and communities, like those in Philadelphia, continue to question what they consider more lenient approaches to opioid use. In May, Pennsylvania state senators passed legislation banning the sites. San Francisco is on track for a record number of overdose deaths this year, yet the citys lone facility closed last December. Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, a prominent Democrat, has vetoed legislation that would have allowed some cities in the state to open them. This summer, the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan threatened the group operating the New York sites, saying they were running afoul of the law. And in Washington, the Biden administration has taken steps to limit their use even after key officials signaled openness to the strategy. The Justice Department asked a judge in Philadelphia this summer to dismiss a lawsuit brought by Safehouse, a nonprofit group working to open a supervised drug use site in the city. The Trump administration sued the organization in 2019, halting its plans. The Biden administration and Safehouse have yet to agree on a settlement. Ronda Goldfein, the groups vice president, said a decision from a federal judge could come any day. For groups with licenses to open sites, progress has been slow. After lawmakers in Rhode Island legalized drug consumption sites in 2021, the first state to do so, lease negotiations, construction delays and supply chain problems stalled the opening. Theres layers of bureaucracy, said Colleen Daley Ndoye, executive director of Project Weber/RENEW, a group working to open the facility. Fears have not been borne out by research: Supervised consumption sites have not led to upticks in neighborhood crime or community drug use, studies have found. And they can save lives. In New York, the group operating the two sites said in August that workers had reversed 1,000 overdoses since opening. In San Francisco, medical workers reversed more than 300 overdoses in nearly a year at a drug consumption site in the citys Tenderloin neighborhood. Minnesota, the second state to legalize the sites after Rhode Island, plans to spend around $26 million on harm reduction services in the coming years, with some of the funds potentially going toward supervised consumption sites. The states human services department is putting together potential plans to open the facilities, said Jeremy Drucker, Minnesotas director of addiction and recovery. People cant recover if theyre dead, he said. In Philadelphia, the issue has captivated the city, pitting elected officials, residents and public health advocates against one another and exposing divisions in their approaches to the raging epidemic. The same has been true of state and congressional leaders. Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, a rising Democratic star, has long opposed the drug consumption sites, while Sen. John Fetterman, a popular Democrat, has supported them. But at the recent City Council meeting, there was just one vote against legislation restricting where the sites might be opened. I know that this is a fight that Im not going to win, Kendra Brooks, a council member at large, said in an interview before the meeting. It cant be a radical idea providing folks who are in a medical crisis with the support they need to live, she added. Michael Driscoll, a City Council member who opposes the sites, said that even if drug consumption facility were to offer people temporary protection against overdosing, as they drift to other parts of their lives and stay dependent on these bad drugs, were going to lose that life as a productive citizen. Kenney, the Philadelphia mayor, watched the vote from his office below the Council chambers in City Hall. I was a little depressed, he said in an interview after the meeting concluded. Its not just the people on Kensington Avenue. Its people in every neighborhood, their sons and daughters in the basement or in the bathroom. If theyre by themselves, how do you get them better? Kenney said that a site in Kensington would draw people from the street who have nowhere else to go, reducing drug-related litter and offering services far beyond the supervision of drug use. He criticized City Council members for deferring to constituents who balked at the idea. If we put that standard on every public issue, our schools would still be segregated because people in the community, back in the day when we were desegregating schools, said no, and a court had to tell them to do it, he said. Treatment alone is not always the answer, some public health experts say. Some substance users are unwilling to take medication, or cycle in and out of treatment programs. If people arent ready, they arent ready, said Susan Sherman, a drug policy expert at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health who has studied supervised drug consumption. There are also major obstacles for anyone seeking treatment, including the resources available. One effective opioid addiction medication, methadone, is heavily regulated and often difficult to obtain. Another effective treatment, buprenorphine, is underprescribed. A site in Philadelphia would likely offer services far beyond medical supervision of drug use. Workers could distribute fentanyl test strips and clean needles, direct drug users to treatment once they are willing, and help them find housing or food. And staff could provide wound care, a vital service in a city besieged by xylazine, an addictive animal tranquilizer that causes horrific lesions. We walk around all day looking at folks who are in the street, who need services, who are overdosing, who are losing their kids, Moses Santana, a supporter of supervised consumption sites, told Council members at City Hall. We have to look at these folks as if were looking at ourselves. c.2023 The New York Times Company House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said his panel has uncovered evidence that Joe Biden , in 2018, received a "$200,000 direct payment" from his brother James Biden and sister-in-law Sara Biden, and is demanding the president answer questions about "financial arrangements" with members of his family. Comer, R-Ky., has been leading an investigation into the Biden familys business dealings since January and whether President Biden was involved in those ventures or "personally benefited" from them. COMER DEMANDS ANSWERS ON WHETHER BIDEN CLASSIFIED RECORDS MENTION COUNTRIES RELATED TO FAMILY BUSINESS DEALS Comer, in September, issued three subpoenas for the personal and business bank records belonging to both Hunter Biden and James Biden. Comer, in a video posted to "X," formerly known as Twitter, detailing his committees latest findings. Comer said the check was written by James Biden to President Biden as a "loan repayment," but questioned the timing. "Bank records obtained by the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability have revealed a $200,000 direct payment from James and Sara Biden to Joe Biden in the form of a personal check," Comer states. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Comer explains that in 2018, James Biden "received $600,000 in loans from Americore a financially distressed and failing rural hospital operator." Chairman James Comer, R-Ky. "According to bankruptcy court documents, James Biden received these loans based upon representations that his last name Biden, could open doors; and that he could obtain a large investment from the Middle East based on his political connections," Comer said. "On March 1, 2018, Americore wired a $200,000 loan into James and Sara Bidens personal bank accountnot their business bank account," he continued. "And then, on the very same day, James Biden wrote a $200,000 check from this same personal bank account to Joe Biden." Comer said James Biden "wrote this check to Joe Biden as a loan repayment." "Americorea distressed companyloaned money to James Biden who then sent it to Joe Biden," Comer said. But Comer said even if the payment was "a personal loan repayment, its still troubling that Joe Bidens ability to be paid back by his brother depended on the success of his familys shady financial dealings." "Some immediate questions President Biden must answer for the American people: Does he have documents proving he lent such a large sum of money to his brother and what were the terms of such financial arrangement?" Comer asked. "Did he have similar financial arrangements with other family members that led them to make similar large payments to him?" Comer also demanded Biden answer whether he knew that the same day he received the $200,000 check, "James Biden had just received a loan for the exact same amount from business dealings with a company that was in financial distress and failing." U.S. President Joe Biden boards Air Force One for travel to Alabama from Delaware Air National Guard Base in New Castle, Delaware, U.S. March 5, 2023. DOJ ORDERED HUNTER BIDEN INVESTIGATORS TO 'REMOVE ANY REFERENCE' TO JOE BIDEN IN FARA PROBE WARRANT: HOUSE GOP "The House Oversight Committee will soon announce our next investigative actions and continue to follow the money," he said. "The bank records dont end here. There is more to come." But White House spokesperson for oversight and investigations Ian Sams told Fox News Digital that the committee has "turned up zero evidence of wrongdoing by President Biden--and that's because there is none." "As even some House Republicans themselves have said, this is failure theater that is intended to be a shiny object to distract people from how they are incapable of doing the basics of governing," Sams said. "Its no coincidence they rushed out a new distraction mere minutes after yet another failed Speaker vote." "Instead of getting their act together and doing the work of the American people, they are pushing out more false smears against President Biden despite their own evidence yet again debunking their false claims. After rummaging through thousands of pages of a private citizens bank records, they have again turned up zero evidence of wrongdoing by President Biden and thats because there is none," Sams continued. "President Biden didnt do anything wrong." President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden joined by Hunter Biden and Ashley Biden attend their granddaughter Maisy Biden's graduation from the University of Pennsylvania at Franklin Field on May 15, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Sams said that the investigation "has become a self-debunking wild goose chase thats only turning up evidence that President Biden did nothing wrong." "House Republicans need to look in the mirror, realize there are real issues that need to be addressed in this country, elect a Speaker, get to work for the American people and stop these silly political stunts," he said. Ultimately, the White House said, the committee found that as a private citizen, the president loaned his brother his own money when his brother needed it, and after reviewing bank records, there is record that he was repaid. Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin, D-Md., blasted Comer and the GOP investigation. "As everyone knows, Committee Republicans have uncovered no evidence of wrongdoing by President Biden, and, last month, even their hand-picked witnesses at their first impeachment hearing testified that they saw no evidence of a crime, much less an impeachable one," Raskin said. "Nothing has changed. The more than 1,400 pages of additional bank records just show what these witnesses and thousands of prior pages of records have already established: that the President was not involved in and did not profit from his family members business ventures. These records actually show that President Biden was the one who stepped in to help family members when they needed support, including by providing short term loans to his brother. "Committee Republicans most recent subpoenas are comically abusive in their breadth and scope, blindly seeking a decades worth of private citizens financial records. While not a single transaction shows any wrongdoing by the President, they do reveal personal transactions of the Presidents family members that have no relevance to any legitimate congressional inquiry, including payments for things like groceries, vet visits, and plumbing repairs, and include multiple college savings accounts and one youth bank account for grandchildren of the President. Its time to end this embarrassing and privacy-violating wild goose chase." Comer's claims come amid his months-long investigation. Comer, alongside House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and House Ways & Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., is leading the House impeachment inquiry against Biden. So far, during his committee's investigation, Comer said he has found that Biden family members, their business associates and their "related companies" received "significant payments from individuals and companies in China, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Romania." Comer said the House Oversight Committee has learned throughout its investigation that the Biden family and their business associates brought in more than $24 million between 2014 and 2019 by "selling Joe Biden as the brand around the world." Original article source: Comer raises questions about $200k 'direct payment' from James Biden to Joe Biden in 2018 The Scoop A crackdown on greenwashing is coming. Global regulators are increasingly turning their attention to allegations of misleading climate advertising, and warn action is imminent. Top officials in both the U.K. and Australia separately told Semafor that they were readying new legal frameworks and punishments for companies found guilty of greenwashing. The head of investigations at Britains advertising watchdog said his office was holding live discussions with the government and the countrys antitrust regulator to outline rules defining how businesses could use terms such as and in their advertising and corporate statements. The U.K.s Advertising Standards Authority will also make a focus on climate change a multi-year priority in a new strategy to be published next month, Miles Lockwood added. Australias joint antitrust and advertising watchdog, meanwhile, plans to issue its first enforcement action against companies for greenwashing violations in early 2024, Gina Cass-Gottlieb, the chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said, though she did not say what that action would entail. There is a lot of very valuable engagement between the consumer protection enforcement agencies worldwide, Cass-Gottlieb said. There is a very close focus on this. Prashants view The core question over greenwashing is one of language. What does it mean to be carbon neutral or to have a net zero plan aside from making time to read this newsletter? Even greenwashing doesnt have a precise definition. In recent conversations with analysts, officials, and sources, Ive often had to pause interviews to clearly outline what we each understand by the terms were discussing. Not all of them have universally agreed-upon definitions, even within broad climate circles, and those that do often come with caveats or require additional explanation. Can you only be net zero, for example, if your carbon emissions are, in fact, zero? What if you maintain your carbon emissions at their current level, but purchase an equivalent value of carbon-removal credits or offsets? What if youre somewhere in between? If those in the climate-focused business, journalistic, and governmental community cannot agree, how can everyday consumers be expected to understand the terms? Enter the regulators. Multiple surveys indicate both that consumers lack a deep understanding of the terminology companies use in their advertising, and that businesses make green claims they cannot back up: A European Commission study in 2020 found that more than half of all examined environmental claims were vague, misleading, or unfounded. Across the rich world, watchdogs are taking notice, and beginning to police the precise language companies use to describe their emissions-cutting and environmental efforts. And in this case, the words being used or misused have a real-world impact: research published in Harvard Business Review last year examining more than 200 publicly traded large U.S. companies found that firms perceived by their customers to be greenwashing have markedly lower customer-satisfaction scores, and were linked to lower earnings per share and reduced return on investment. (Interestingly, this applied less to companies with products perceived to be of higher quality.) Quotable Were calling time on this idea that you can just go out there and just make any old nonsense green claim about your products or services with impunity, because we do need to enforce the level playing field here. Miles Lockwood, Director of Complaints and Investigations, U.K. Advertising Standards Authority Know More To some extent, this is merely the latest stage in a long-running and wide-ranging battle being fought by regulators around the world, including in the U.K. and Australia. Lockwood pointed out to me that in 2007, the oil and gas giant Shell was barred by the ASA from running a press ad that showed refinery chimneys emitting flowers, describing it as conceptual and fanciful. British lawmakers are considering a new law that would fine companies up to 10% of their global revenue for green claims that breach consumer rules, while the countrys financial-markets regulator is mulling regulations targeting greenwashing in investment documents. Australias securities watchdog ASIC has also been policing greenwashing, announcing in November 2022 that it would make it an enforcement priority and launching its first legal action in February this year. We must maintain high standards of governance and disclosure today, and ASIC will not overlook current misconduct including greenwashing, its chair said in a June speech. The View From The EU The European Union often described as a regulatory superpower is also flexing its muscles when it comes to clamping down on greenwashing. Last month, it agreed new rules, to come into effect by 2026, that ban sweeping environmental claims such as climate neutral or which use the prefix eco, unless they are supported by substantial evidence. The U.S., meanwhile, is taking its own steps, with the Securities and Exchange Commission adopting rules last month taking aim at misleading climate marketing practices by investment funds. Room for Disagreement The growing regulatory push has triggered a backlash, particularly among conservative politicians in Europe who argue that rules are unnecessarily burdensome, particularly for small businesses which lack the legal wherewithal to ensure they are in the clear before making environmental claims. The issue is likely to become even more prominent as European Parliament elections due in June near. Cass-Gottlieb herself acknowledged that the ACCC was trying to offer plenty of guidance to businesses before taking legal action because she didnt want small- and medium-sized businesses to be reluctant to make claims because our underlying objective is that the companies and businesses that are making genuine investments in improving their production and distribution processes are able to have confidence to make genuine claims. Notable Countries worldwide are policing greenwashing in different ways. In a research note published last month, the law firm Gowling WLG outlined how businesses and regulators are approaching the issue in China, Canada, France, and Singapore. During the mens soccer World Cup last year, Semafor dug into Qatars claim that the tournament was carbon neutral. Climate experts were skeptical. Australia withdrew a government carbon-neutral certification for a British tobacco company this week, after health officials complained that it aided greenwashing and gave a misleading impression that the companys cigarettes were less harmful. STAUNTON The owner of a Harrisonburg company pleaded guilty Friday to two felony counts of construction fraud in Augusta County Circuit Court in a case where two families saw projects go unfinished. Paul G. Norrell, 32, of Harrisonburg, who ran Rocktown Remodeling, will have to pay back tens of thousands of dollars in restitution. However, he is still facing charges in Staunton and Page County, according to court records. In a plea agreement, Norrell's guilty pleas will be taken under advisement for five years while he pays restitution in the Augusta County case. If he makes the payments and stays out of legal trouble, the felony charges will be dismissed. Augusta County Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Kyle Powers said Norrell entered into a contract in 2021 for a remodeling job and addition. However, the family lost contact with Norrell and he never completed the job, Powers said. In 2022, Norrell collected $38,880 for a remodeling project in the county, Powers said, but he abandoned that deal as well. The restitution amount in the 2021 case is still unresolved but a final figure is expected to be decided on at a scheduled Jan. 4 sentencing hearing for Norrell, who is being represented by Trey Raines of the Staunton Public Defender's Office. The two guilty pleas prompted the cancellation of a scheduled jury trial for Oct. 27. Norrell still faces felony charges of construction fraud and obtaining money by false pretenses in Staunton, along with a misdemeanor charge of contracting without a license, court records show. Earlier this year, Sgt. Butch Shifflett, a spokesperson for the Staunton Police Department, said Norrell contracted with a city resident to put an addition on their home. According to Shifflett, $29,000 worth of work allegedly was not completed. Norrell is also facing a charge of construction fraud in Page County, court records show. He remains at the Central Virginia Regional Jail in Orange. FCCLA social for seniors; new Wilson soccer coach, Dawbarn winners honored: The Chalkboard Staunton's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission holding public hearing Oct. 25 Staunton man facing bestiality, child porn charges Brad Zinn is the cops, courts and breaking news reporter at The News Leader. Have a news tip? Or something that needs investigating? You can email reporter Brad Zinn (he/him) at bzinn@newsleader.com. You can also follow him on Twitter. This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Contractor pleads guilty to construction fraud in Augusta County EDINBURG, Texas (Border Report) Texas lawmakers on Thursday considered strict immigration-related legislation that would allow peace officers to send migrants who enter the state illegally back across the border. The Texas House State Affairs Committee held a day-long public hearing on two measures, including HB 4, which would create new state criminal charges for migrants who enter Texas illegally. Immigration agencies struggle with mismatched laws, policy whiplash They also considered a proposed resolution, HCR 1, calling for an investigation into the Colony Ridge subdivision, east of Houston, where Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton alleged in a letter to federal officials on Thursday that the subdivision is full of undocumented migrants, as well as drug traffickers and rampant with violent crime. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has called lawmakers back to Austin for a third Special Session this year. The Special Session began Oct. 9 and lawmakers were at first preoccupied with measures dealing with school vouchers and education. But Abbott also has put border security, Colony Ridge, and ending COVID-19 restrictions on this special session for the 88th Legislature. The House State Affairs Committee on Thursday afternoon passed HB4 out of committee, by a vote of eight to three, without any changes But the measure still must be scheduled for a full House vote. The vote came after hours of testimony by local leaders, state officials, migrant advocates and citizens. HB4 was proposed by Republican state Rep. David Spiller, who represents several counties near the Oklahoma state line north of Dallas, and he testified that the measure would allow law enforcement the option to take migrants to the border and deposit them at the ports of entry. Also, first-time offenders would be given the option to comply. But if they dont, they face charges and possible jail time. This ranges from six months to 20 years depending if they have other outstanding charges or are repeat offenders. We have a crisis at our southern border that includes terrorists, Spiller told the committee. Texans know the Biden administration has failed to enforce our borders. Its a landmark bill that allows Texans to protect Texans and to send illegal aliens back, he said. Our cries for help and enforcement of immigration laws have been ignored by President Biden. Weve had enough. The measure is similar to SB11, which passed the Senate on Oct. 12, but still needs a final vote. State Sen. Juan Chuy Hinojosa, a Democrat from McAllen, voted against SB11. On Thursday he told Border Report that he doesnt believe SB11 or HB4 are constitutional. Texas State Sen. Juan Chuy Hinojosa, D-McAllen, opposes SB11 and HB4 immigration bills pending in the 3rd Special Session. (Sandra Sanchez/Border Report) I dont think either one of them is constitutional. Federal law preempts state law. And Im certain that the state is looking for a way to challenge part of the authority of the federal government and preempt state law because of the immigration challenges we face along the border, Hinojosa said from his Edinburg law office. Hinojosa is vice chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. He said that in the past 11 months, 1.1 million migrants have crossed into Texas from Mexico from Brownsville to El Paso. If they were all to be incarcerated at a cost of $77 per day he said it would cost the state up to $2 billion for a biennium, or two-year period. We dont have the capacity to incarcerate so many people, Hinojosa said. He added that law enforcement would be profiling and that would put many of our community at risk. He said Mexico also has not agreed to take back migrants, many whom arent Mexican nationals. What if Mexico refuses to take people from Venezuela, El Salvador, South America, people from Africa or Asia? Its a big issue. What happens then? We go and arrest them? he said. Nonprofits urge president to cancel Starr County border wall construction The State Affairs Committee also voted Thursday to pass SB4, a Senate measure that would increase the jail time for those who smuggle migrants or store them in stash houses or other unsafe conditions. The bill needs to be scheduled for a vote of the full House. A row of mobile home is shown in the Colony Ridge development Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023, in Cleveland, Texas. For weeks in Texas, conservative media and GOP activists have been pushing unsubstantiated claims that Colony Ridge has become a magnet for immigrants living in the U.S. illegally and that cartels control pockets of the neighborhood. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) No vote was taken Thursday on HCR 1, the resolution proposed regarding an investigation into Colony Ridge, and at one point during Thursdays hearing, state Rep. Jay Dean, a Republican from Longview, said Why are we even here doing this? Locals push back as a Texas neighborhood becomes target of the right over immigration Over 50,000 people live in Colony Ridge, Liberty County Sheriff Bobby Rader testified. As far as I can find out. there have been no cartel arrests for crimes in Liberty County in the past three years, Rader said. Paxtons letter sent to 25 members of Congress and top state officials said The scale of the Colony Ridge development has proved unmanageable for effective law enforcement and other key standards of acceptable governance. Violent crime, drug trafficking, environmental deterioration, public disturbances, infrastructure overuse, and other problems have plagued the area and nearby towns. Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw testified there is not a community in Texas not impacted by Mexican cartels, and gangs. Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@BorderReport.com. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. The United Kingdom is moving toward a ban on conversion therapy. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will include legislation proposing the ban in King Charles IIIs speech to the nation next month, British media are reporting. Former Prime Minister Theresa May first promised such a ban in 2018, and her immediate successor, Boris Johnson , went back and forth on the issue. The Conservative Party, of which Sunak is a member, had been divided on a ban, but now the party has advised the prime minister to go ahead. If he does not do so, Conservative leaders fear the party could lose members and LGBTQ+ votes, The Guardian reports. The proposal will include a ban on efforts to change gender identity as well as sexual orientation. LGBTQ+ advocates had urged that any bill be transgender-inclusive. While legislation in American states mostly bans subjecting young people to the practice, it appears the U.K. bill will address it both for youth and adults. Related: New British Prime Minister Has Questionable LGBTQ+ Rights History Pro-equality politicians and activists welcomed the move. Member of Parliament Caroline Nokes, who chairs the Women and Equalities Committee in the House of Commons, called it excellent news, according to The Guardian. Conversion therapy is abhorrent, and we must move to stop people suffering from horrendous practices, which simply cannot ever be described as therapy, she added. News that the bill will be introduced comes after some leading U.K. politicians, including Sunak, have made antigay or anti-transgender statements. In a speech at the Conservative Partys recent annual convention, the prime minister said, We shouldnt get bullied into believing that people can be any sex they want to be. They cant. A man is a man and a woman is a woman thats just common sense. Belgiums deputy prime minister, Petra De Sutter, the first trans person in Europe to attain such a position, posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Sunaks comments were hurtful and very disappointing. She continued, These words are fueling transphobia and endangering the lives of many people around the world. Trans women are women. And in no way a threat to others. Don't join the real bullies, @RishiSunak. (@) At the same conference, U.K. Home Secretary Suella Braverman criticized gender ideology. Andrew Boff, a gay man whos a member of the London Assembly, the citys governing body, was ejected from the meeting after complaining quietly that theres no such thing as gender ideology. He told reporters later that the term is simply a signal to people who dont like people who are LGBT+ people, The Guardian reports. Also at the convention, Braverman claimed some people seeking asylum in the U.K. are pretending to be gay in order to gain admission. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A federal grand jury indicted a Cookeville man, charging him with two counts of bank robbery related to crimes that occurred in Brentwood several months ago, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Friday. According to the indictment and prior media reports, Antonio Peebles entered the Pinnacle Bank on Franklin Road in Brentwood on May 24, placed a bag on the counter, and demanded money. The bank tellers reportedly gave Peebles the money from their drawers before Peebles ran off. Police searching for man following Belle Meade bank robbery Then, on June 12, Peebles is accused of robbing Wilson Bank & Trust on Harpeth Drive in a similar manner. However, Brentwood officers arrested Peebles the same day, officials said. If Peebles is convicted, the DOJ said he faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each count of bank robbery. 1 arrested, 6 sought for stealing from high end retail stores in Green Hills The FBI and the Brentwood Police Department reportedly investigated the case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Juliet Aldridge. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Chicago police issued an alert Friday warning residents on the Northwest Side about a rash of armed robberies where the victims were battered. In a few of the robberies, the victims were injured, police said. Police said the victims were approached by the armed robbers who exited a vehicle with weapons demanding property. Police said the robbers threaten the victims with violence before taking their property. All of the robberies occurred in the early morning hours of Oct. 19. About 5 a.m. in the 1400 block of North Leamington Avenue About 5:10 a.m. in the 3800 block of West George Street About 5:25 a.m. in the 3300 block of West Armitage Avenue About 5:27 a.m. in the 3500 block of West Medill Street About 5:30 a.m. in the 3200 block of West Cortland Street About 5:31 a.m. in the 3800 block of West Altgeld Street About 5:50 a.m. in the 1800 block of North Humboldt Park Boulevard Police described the robbers as two males between the ages of 18 to 25, 5-foot-9 to 6 feet, with slender builds and weighing 140 to 170 pounds. They were last seen wearing black ski masks wiith black jogging pants or black jeans and black hoodies. Anyone with information about the robberies should contact detectives at 312-746-7394. Independent presidential candidate Cornel West said Friday he returned a controversial donation from Harlan Crow the billionaire with controversial links to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas . How sad that perceptions so quickly triumph over truth in our decadent culture, West said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. This holds in our major catastrophe in the Middle East where the rich humanity of Palestinians is rendered invisible. It also holds at home in the minor scandal about Harlan Crows donation to my campaign. He is a staunch anti-Trump Republican who has Never Forget collections of tyrants (Stalin, Mao, Hitler, and many others) and patriotic collections of Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln, West continued. Does this disqualify him from contributing to my campaign? Most people holler yes, I say no. Still, he said, he decided to return the money. Top Stories from The Hill The news comes after West received a $3,300 donation from the Republican megadonor in August, according to Federal Election Commission filings. The funds came in just weeks before West switched from the Green Party to an independent bid. West defended his acceptance of the contribution, despite criticism. As an independent candidate and a free Black man, I accept donations within the limits of no PACs or corporate interest groups that have strings attached, West said in a Thursday post on X. I am unbought and unbossed. Despite my deep political differences with brother Harlan Crow (who is an anti-Trump Republican), Ive known him in a non-political setting for some years and I pray for his precious family, Wests post continued. I find it hypocritical for those who highlight his $3300 donation to my campaign but cant say a mumbling word about the PAC-driven billion dollars to support the genocidal attack in Gaza sponsored by their candidate! Crow also donated to former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christies 2024 campaign. The billionaire has been in the spotlight most recently for providing flights and gifts to Thomas, which were undisclosed until a ProPublica report made it public. Crow also paid for a house in Georgia for the justices mother. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), a key ally of Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), declared Friday that President Bidens $100 billion foreign aid and national security funding request is dead on arrival on Capitol Hill. President Bidens slush fund proposal is dead on arrival, just like his budgets, Cotton said in a statement. We will not spend, for example, $3.5 billion to address the potential needs of Gazans, he added, arguing that humanitarian assistance to Gaza could inadvertently fund a resupply line for Hamas terrorists. Cotton balked at spending $11.8 billion to fund Ukraines nonmilitary needs, such as retirement pensions for Ukrainian government employees. Nor will we spend $4.7 billion for housing, transportation, and services for illegal aliens in the United States rather than deporting them, he warned. Cottons tough talk signals a difficult negotiation ahead on Bidens request for emergency funding for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan. Top Stories from The Hill Senate Republicans say that any new money for the war in Ukraine must be paired with changes to immigration and asylum policy to slow the flow of migrants across the U.S.-Mexico border. The Biden proposal is going nowhere, and Senate Republicans will take the lead on crafting a funding bill that protects Americans and their interests, Cotton said. Senate Republicans see Bidens request for Ukraine as leverage to get their long-desired changes to U.S. asylum policies. A group of GOP senators have discussed raising the standard for migrants requesting asylum to require them to show a reasonable fear that they would likely be persecuted if they remain in their home counties. Under current law, they must show a credible fear of prosecution. 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 Defense and National Security newsletter Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) praised Bidens request for sending a clear message to friends and allies that we have your back. This package demonstrates Americas commitment to supporting democracies across the world and above all ensuring that Americas families are safe here at home, he said. He reiterated that the Senate would move first on an emergency spending package because of the ongoing fight over electing a Speaker. This legislation is too important for the House to settle their chaos, he said. Biden has requested $61 billion for Ukraine, $14 billion for military aid to Israel and another $14 billion to address the migration surge at the U.S.-Mexico border. The president has also asked for $10 billion in humanitarian assistance and $2 billion for Indo-Pacific security. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Humanitarian aid still hasn't arrived: Yesterday on the Reason Livestream, I cast doubt on the assumption that the humanitarian aid from the deal that President Joe Biden brokered between Egypt and Israel would actually reach Gazans quickly. The two countries had been at loggerheads earlier this week over the question of how the aid ought to be screened for weapons, and it wasn't clear whether that disagreement had actually been resolved. Indeed. Trucks full of water purifiers, food, fuel, and medicine are waiting in Egypt near the Rafah border crossing. But authorities there are not allowing them in, despite Biden's assurances. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is on the ground trying to get the aid into Gaza, and various officials from his organization have said it will likely be delivered in the next day or two. More than 200 trucks are assembled, with more nearby in El-Arish, 30 miles from the border. "Our children drink salt water," one Palestinian told France 24. (Water desalination plants are not operational right now.) The United Nations says there are two or three days' worth of food left in Gaza's markets. A fifth major Gaza hospital has closed, because it doesn't have any more fuel for its power generators. (Here is some good reporting from The Washington Post on the collapse of Gaza's health care system.) Money grows on trees? Biden will reportedly request more aid for both Israel (to the tune of $14 billion) and Ukraine (to the tune of $60 billion) to assist in their ongoing war efforts against Hamas and Russia, respectively. That's not the only U.S. involvement in the Israel-Hamas conflict: "A U.S. Navy destroyer on Thursday shot down missiles from Yemen that appeared headed toward Israel," reports Axios. And "U.S. troops were fired on this week by drones in Syria and Iraq." "The missiles and drones were launched by pro-Iranian Houthi rebels in Yemen amid a flurry of drone attacks against American troops in Iraq and Syria over the past three days," a Pentagon spokesperson told The New York Times. Meanwhile in the Senate, "There is an emerging effortto lump Israel aid together with Ukraine aid, border money and aid to Taiwan," reports Politico. "But Ukraine aid is an issue that splits Republicansand deals on the border or immigration are the white whale of Congress." Hospital attack follow-up: American intelligence officials now report that somewhere between 100 and 300 people were killed in the Al-Ahli Arab hospital blast earlier this week. The blast did not come from the Israeli military, as was initially reported by media outlets running with Hamas' account of events, but rather from the accidental explosion of a Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket. The American news media got this horribly wrong, but don't expect to see mea culpas. Instead, headlines were stealth-edited to be less credulous toward Hamas; reporters took to Twitter/X to kvetch about the difficulty of doing their jobs (it's all Elon Musk's fault, apparently); and nobody appears to have been fired for, say, illustrating a hospital-blast headline with an image from a wholly different city (Khan Younis). OK. Scenes from New York: Me, upon moving from Brooklyn to Queens earlier this week: nyc grocery shoppers when exposed to normal american grocery store selection and prices https://t.co/Z2zy9CSI6f pic.twitter.com/EO9OsfV5kS Chris (@carlcicahn1) October 18, 2023 (I still wrote Roundup for you good people, despite being surrounded by piles of moving boxes! I live to serve.) QUICK HITS After the hospital attack story fell apart, Rep. Rashida Tlaib (DMich.) was breaking down in tears and telling a rally, "I continue to watch people think it's OK to bomb a hospital with children." This was after it was clearly established that the hospital was not bombed, making this a massive lie for which Tlaib will face no consequences. "Kill the difficult ones," says Hamas' hostage-taking handbook, according to The Atlantic's Graeme Wood. The hostage count has been upped to 203. Yael Bar tur shares a picture of a Shabbat table with 203 empty place settings to represent those who have been taken by Hamas, outside the Tel Aviv Museum. "Terrorists, rogue nations, drug traffickers and other criminals are using cryptocurrency to endanger our allies and U.S. national security," write Sens. Elizabeth Warren (DMass.) and Roger Marshall (RKansas) in a piece titled "Cryptocurrency Feeds Hamas's Terrorism." The myths that cryptocurrency is only desired by criminals, and that encryption is only really desired by bad people with something to hide, refuse to die. RFK Jr. loves reparations now? Very awkward when you dox your own soldiers. I'll give you my menthols when you pry them from my cold, dead hands. On Sunday, Argentines will vote in their presidential election. After winning the most votes in the primary held in August, the self-declared anarcho-capitalist Javier Milei is the favorite to win. But polls suggest that he "will fall short of the votes needed to avoid a November runoff," reports the Associated Press. "When Henry was 18, he had sex with a 16-year-old he met on a dating app who said they were 18 too. The 16-year-old's parents found out, summoned the cops, and Henry was charged with a sex offense. He took a plea: no jail time, and seven years on the sex offense registry," writes Reason 's Lenore Skenazy. What happens if Israel's Iron Dome gets overstretched? Good thread on how bad "Buy American" industrial policy made sugar artificially expensive and corn artificially cheap. Ok serious question though Nobody elected these people. Why should anyone care what they think? https://t.co/Sc5iiviyxl Jon Levine (@LevineJonathan) October 20, 2023 The post Crisis at the Border appeared first on Reason.com. In response to Israels war against Hamas, President Joe Biden and the now criminally indicted leading Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump have demonstrated very different models of leadership. The stark differences between the two leaders are another example of how Americas democracy crisis is not just a political problem: It is a moral and cultural sickness that is far greater than any one political leader, political party, or political movement. President Biden has given a series of speeches and interviews where he condemned Hamas barbarism, reinforced Americas commitment to Israel, emphasized the need to find a long-term solution to peace in the region, attempted to calm worries that the war could spiral into a larger regional conflict, cautioned against the temptations of antisemitism and hatred in their various forms, and spoke directly about the need to protect the human rights of the people of Gaza, the majority of whom have no connection to Hamas. President Biden traveled to Israel on Wednesday to signal Americas support for the war against Hamas. While there, he also announced humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza. Ultimately, whatever one may think about Americas foreign policy as it relates to the Middle East and Israel, Bidens leadership style and demeanor in this time of crisis are most certainly presidential." By comparison, how have Donald Trump and the other leading Republican fascists and members of the right-wing movement behaved in response to the horrible events of October 7? Their reactions and behavior have, for the most part, been partisan, tribal, petty, egomaniacal, narcissistic, conspiratorial, dishonest, irresponsible, hateful, willfully ignorant, and more generally contrary to the principles of responsible governance. In a time not too long ago, Americas mainstream political leaders, on both sides of the partisan divide, followed an informal rule that politics and partisanship stopped at the ocean. In the Age of Trump and ascendant neofascism, that rule has been jettisoned by the right wing because getting political power at any cost with the goal of ending Americas multiracial pluralistic democracy is more important than standing in unity in a time of crisis. On the same weekend that Israel was attacked by Hamas, Donald Trump wallowed in his malignant narcissism and megalomania. He attacked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for supposedly not taking his advice while president, praised Hamas as very smart," and suggested that the group would not have dared to attack Israel if Trump were still president. Trump even managed to connect the Big Lie about the 2020 election and how it was stolen from him and his MAGA movement to the crisis. Taking their cues from Trump, leading Republicans, and other right-wing propagandists and influential, used the October 7 terrorist attacks as an opportunity to tell lies like the Democrats "hate Israel and support Hamas via Iran. In an especially loathsome example of this behavior, Sen. Tim Scott went so far as to accuse President Biden of having blood on his hands, because he is somehow responsible for Hamas terror attack on Israel. Not to be outdone in the amount of vitriol he can spout, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, told NBC's "Meet the Press" last Sunday that Palestinians are all antisemitic to argue against allowing refugees from Gaza into the United States. Donald Trump and the other Republican fascists and members of the white right are also using October 7 as a chance to amplify their white supremacist paranoia and conspiracy theories about invaders and terrorists (in this iteration Hamas) who have supposedly infiltrated the Southern Border and are operating in secret terrorist cells, waiting for their moment to attack (White) America. Of course, this is a lie. Nonetheless, a large percentage, if not majority, of Trump and Republican voters (and right-wing independents) believe such fictions, which are reflections of the larger white supremacist great replacement conspiracy theory. Last Thursday, the Washington Post editorial board summarized the contrasting leadership styles and behavior of President Biden and Donald Trump in the following way: At a time when the United States, and the world, desperately need decency and moral clarity, President Biden has provided both. His words regarding the wanton atrocities Hamas has committed against hundreds of Israeli civilians, as well as many Americans and citizens of other countries, in the past week have been unequivocal. In remarks to a gathering of American Jewish leaders Wednesday, he described the mass murder as sheer evil and likened it to the worst atrocities of ISIS. In condemning the terrorism, and offering support to Israels military response, the president also reminded the new emergency war government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of its responsibilities under the law of war. These measured statements put the United States in just the right place: supportive of Israel but positioned, if need be, to influence and temper its response. Mr. Biden has so far met the elementary test of political leadership amid crisis, as those who placed their trust in him at the ballot box three years ago hoped he could. In a recent interview with Salon, David Rothkopf was much more pointed and direct: They're just not comparable. Joe Biden is a good man, a dedicated and effective public servant who's trying to do a good job, who believes in our institutions, who believes in our values, who believes in alliances, who believes people are fundamentally good, and who is the kind of person that Donald Trump thinks is a sucker. Donald Trump is a bad man; he is all about himself. He doesn't care. He has no moral code whatsoever. He doesn't believe in the rule of law. He doesn't believe in the Constitution. He doesn't believe in American values. How can those Republicans and others on the right say that they stand with Israel while they support Donald Trump who is an antisemite. Via email, Rick Wilson, who is cofounder of the pro-democracy group The Lincoln Project said this about the profound differences between Trump and Biden as reinforced by their reactions to the terrorist attacks on Israel by Hamas: President Biden has demonstrated great moral leadership and resolve in supporting Israel in the fight against terrorism and hatred. He understands that freedom and individual rights must be supported through strength, deterrence, international alliances, and, when necessary, force. Stopping authoritarianism abroad helps to prevent it from gaining ground here in the United States. Trump on the other hand, is a transactional actor only concerned about how he can exploit this movement for his own personal benefit. He cares nothing about human rights and renewing democracy. There is a feedback loop between the public and their leaders in a democratic society. Leaders take cues and directives from the public because they need their support to remain in power. Those same leaders also shape and influence the beliefs and values of their supporters and the public more generally. As such, what does the irresponsible, hateful, and morally compromised behavior of Donald Trump and other leading members of the right wing in response to the Israel Hamas war further reveal about their supporters? In the most basic sense, they have normalized deviance and embraced antisocial and other anti-democratic values and beliefs as a function of what psychologists have described as malignant normality. A series of recent public opinion polls offer support for this conclusion. A 2018 Gallup poll shows that in the Age of Trump, Republicans now believe that presidential moral leadership is increasingly unimportant: "Republicans are much less likely now than they were during the Bill Clinton years to say it is very important for the president to provide moral leadership for the U.S. Democrats, on the other hand, are more likely to believe moral leadership is important now, with Donald Trump in office, than they were under Clinton. Gallup continues: By 59% to 40%, Americans believe Trump provides weak rather than strong moral leadership. Republicans and Democrats diverge greatly on this question, with 77% of Republicans believing Trump provides strong moral leadership and 91% of Democrats saying he provides weak leadership. Seventy-eight percent of Democrats believe his moral leadership is "very weak." Independents are much more negative than positive about Trump's leadership on morals. A August 2023 Harris X poll for the Deseret News asked, which of the presidential candidates for 2024 would do a good job providing moral leadership as president? Here are some of the key findings: Roughly two-fifths of voters said former President Donald Trump would do a good job while nearly half said he was doing a poor job and 11% said they didnt know. Out of GOP voters, 7 in 10 approved of his moral leadership, while only 14% of Democrats said the same. Meanwhile, roughly 36% of independent voters said he did a good job. Chris Karpowitz, the co-director of the Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy and a professor of political science at Brigham Young University, also said the results of the poll showcase partisan cheerleading. The survey coincided with news of Trumps third indictment, to which he pleaded not guilty on Thursday. The court documents allege that the former president was determined to remain in power after losing the 2020 presidential election to President Joe Biden, and he repeated and widely disseminated false claims about the elections legitimacy, as Deseret News reported. These numbers are particularly striking, given that Donald Trump has now been indicted three times and was recently found liable for sexual abuse in a civil trial, said Karpowitz. A September 2023 poll, also by HarrisX for Deseret News, found that a majority of Republican registered voters believe that Donald Trump is a person of faith this is a higher percentage than for Mike Pence, who is an evangelical Christian. The Hill offers this context: His personal history is also one that would seem, at a glance, to be potentially troubling for Christian conservatives. Trump has been divorced twice and is in the middle of a lawsuit surrounding his alleged paying of hush money to a former adult film star to stay quiet about an alleged affair. Hes also been accused of cheating on his wife with a former Playboy model. But Trump has consistently won the support of social conservatives, and the results of the poll could provide some insight into how people see him. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. Whatever one may think about the specific content and morality of the type of White Christianity that is practiced by Michael Pence, it is clear that he is more religious and a person of faith than Donald Trump, a man who has repeatedly demonstrated his discomfort with, if not outright disinterest and contempt for, the religiously minded. It Trump is in any way religious, it is transactional as a way for him to get votes from the Christian Right. Racism, white racial resentment, hostile sexism, and other forms of prejudice and hatred in the form of social dominance behavior and authoritarianism have also played a powerful role in why Republicans and other conservatives have embraced the moral corruption of Trumpism and American neofascism. This is channeled through a yearning for a return to the good old days and traditional values and Making America Great Again. On this, the PRRI 2022 American values survey is particularly illuminating: Approximately three-quarters of Americans agree that the country is heading in the wrong direction, but there is considerable division over whether the country needs to move backward toward an idealized, homogeneous past or forward, toward a more diverse future. Though most Americans favor moving forward, a sizable minority yearn for a country reminiscent of the 1950s, embrace the idea that God created America to be a new promised land for European Christians, view newcomers as a threat to American culture, and believe that society has become too soft and feminine. This minority is composed primarily of self-identified Republicans, white evangelical Protestants, and white Americans without a college degree. With their embrace of Trumpism, American neofascism, and hostility to real democracy more broadly, have the MAGA people and other members of the right-wing just forgotten basic standards of human decency, morality, and good leadership? Or have they instead actively chosen Donald Trump and what he represents knowing how destructive and evil such forces are because the power is intoxicating and a way to get what they want in an America they feel increasingly hostile to and alienated from even if that means ending democracy? Which of the two scenarios is worse? I am not sure. In the end, how and if American can escape the Trumpocene and this time of democracy crisis in the long-term will greatly depend on the answer to these questions. Mi-8 Croatia has confirmed that it has handed over all of its Mi-8 helicopters to Ukraine, according to the transcript of a meeting between US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Croatian counterpart Mario Banozic at the Pentagon on Oct. 19. Austin thanked Croatia for its support for Ukraine and emphasized the importance of the countrys contributions, noting that it had provided more equipment besides the helicopters. Read also: US to supply Ukraine with ATACMS on a regular basis FM Kuleba We appreciate Croatia's steadfast commitment to help Ukraine, and we can see that in your numerous military equipment donations, including all of your Mi-8 helicopters and the forward deployment of your forces to NATO battle groups in Poland, Lithuania, and Hungary, Austin said. Read also: Croatia to send Ukraine $33 million in military aid, PM says [Croatia has made] impressive progress over the last 30 years, moving from the ravages of war in the 1990s to becoming a fully integrated member of NATO and the European Union." For his part, Banozic added that supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression shows Croatias determination to look to the future. Your personal leadership, most visible in joint efforts to assist Ukraine, represents our ability to build a better role for us and our nation for generations to come, Banozic said. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine When Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose called into a local radio show this month, the host grilled the Republican Senate hopeful over his past disdain for former President Donald Trump like how he positioned himself as "Never Trump" before the 2016 election and how he described Trump's 2019 social media tirade against Black members of Congress as racist. LaRose was ready with excuses for Bob Frantz, one of the states most influential right-wing voices. He said he had been fooled by the states anti-Trump former governor, John Kasich. He claimed to be the victim of a false narrative from a GOP primary rival. And he insisted he had never accused Trump of racism, offering a cleaned-up answer that didnt match the quote that The Cincinnati Enquirer had printed after an editorial board interview. For good measure, LaRose mentioned that he and Trump had dined together recently: My Trump credentials are golden, rock-solid, said LaRose, who has endorsed Trumps 2024 campaign. It doesnt mean that Ive agreed with him on everything. But Im a strong supporter. LaRose is among the many Republican Senate contenders over the past eight years and among a crop of newer candidates who have emerged since Trump left office who have struggled to reconcile their political brand with the former presidents. Their efforts to explain past criticism, often from before Trump's brand and the GOP's merged, have become fodder for opponents, even those with their own inconvenient Trump-bashing records. Few Republicans can totally ace the Trump purity test. But many go to great lengths to be graded ahead of the curve. Who wasnt a skeptic of Trump in 2015, 2016? We have to always remember that, said Jai Chabria, a GOP strategist and former top Kasich aide who helped JD Vance who after renouncing years of Trump criticism landed Trump's endorsement win Ohios other Senate seat last year. It was pretty much the entire party. The dynamic is again notable in races that will determine which party controls the Senate after the 2024 election. Republicans need to flip two seats, and their top targets are Democratic incumbents in states Trump won twice: Sens. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Jon Tester of Montana. Several swing states that backed President Joe Biden in 2020, including Michigan, Nevada and Pennsylvania, are also competitive. Some candidates like LaRose and primary rival Bernie Moreno, who previously called Trump a lunatic and maniac were on record trashing Trump in 2016. Some, like Dave McCormick in Pennsylvania, voiced disapproval after Trump refused to concede the 2020 election and riled up supporters who stormed the Capitol. Others have yet to endorse him in 2024, even as polls show he's the GOP front-runner. If you do believe there was value to what Trump did, you have to own up to the mistakes you made and what you said before, because even most voters were against him at the beginning, said Chabria, who is not involved with any of the Senate campaigns. They can understand that. Theres room for forgiveness. A source close to Trump, who was not authorized to speak on the record, told NBC News that it has not been lost on the Trump team that candidates like Frank LaRose have not defended President Trump or embraced his claims about the 2020 election. Thatll be a big inflection point throughout the election, the source added. Justice prevails with Trump endorsement Trump has not yet waded into 2024 Senate races with the same zeal he did in 2022, when several of his preferred candidates won primaries but lost general elections. An exception came Wednesday night, when he endorsed West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice over Rep. Alex Mooney in that states closely watched contest. Both Justice and Mooney have endorsed Trump in 2024, and Trump endorsed Mooney in a tough House primary last year. But a friendly relationship with Trump, who fondly calls him Big Jim, gave Justice the inside track for the Senate endorsement. None of this, however, is stopping Mooney from portraying Justice as insufficiently loyal. Justice was elected as a Democrat in 2016, the same year Trump won the White House, but switched parties and embraced Trump the next year. Justice expressed mild disapproval in Trumps behavior after the 2020 election and in one interview with CNN even said, We should celebrate our new president, President Biden, coming in. But as he prepared for his Senate bid, Justice reinforced his support for Trump. In a letter he released after Trumps March indictment in New York, Justice offered a shoutout for his huntin buddies, Don Jr. and Eric, and a word of encouragement for their father: Pour it on CHAMP! His campaign also has called attention to Mooneys support from Club for Growth, a conservative advocacy group that launched an anti-Trump offensive this year. Gov. Jim Justice strongly supports, endorses, and looks forward to campaigning with President Donald Trump, Justice's campaign manager Roman Stauffer wrote in an email to NBC News. West Virginia voters know Gov. Justice is with President Trump and Alex Mooney and his out-of-state campaign funders are not. Mooney's campaign manager John Findlay fired back: Congressman Mooney is the only pro-Trump candidate with a proven conservative record. [Justice] is nothing but a Democrat in sheeps clothing. Reluctance in Montana and Nevada In other key states, GOP Senate prospects are getting pressed on their reluctance to endorse Trump. Rep. Matt Rosendale, who is considering entering a primary against aerospace executive Tim Sheehy in Montana, seemed to suggest this week in an interview with a local radio station that he was doing Trump a favor by not endorsing him. Me and President Trump are we are in communication, and what I say is that I want to make sure that I dont do anything thats going to negatively impact anybody elses race, Rosendale told Aaron Flint of Montanas KBUL. And quite frankly, while theres a lot of people across the state of Montana that continue to cheer for me, its not always in everybodys best interest to have Matt Rosendale tagline on there, unfortunately. In Nevada, retired Army Capt. Sam Brown, who lost a Senate primary last year against a Trump-backed candidate, also has declined to endorse Trump. Two of Browns 2024 primary rivals former Trump ambassador to Iceland Jeff Gunter and Jim Marchant, a 2020 election denier who lost a race for secretary of state last year have emphasized their endorsements of Trump. Under Joe Biden, were experiencing the American nightmare of unaffordable housing; high food and energy prices; wide open borders; failing schools; and a weak American economy, Brown said in a statement emailed by his campaign that stopped short of an endorsement for the Republican nomination. Its clear that Americans would do much better under the leadership of President Trump and the America First policies that made the United States stronger and safer. A workaround: Praising Trump policies Republican voters in two states that were key to Trumps 2016 win but flipped to Biden in 2020 also will consider Trump skeptics as they choose Senate candidates. In Michigan, former Rep. Mike Rogers launched his bid after first weighing whether to run against Trump in the presidential primary. Trumps time has passed, he told The Washington Post last November. But as a Senate hopeful, Rogers has praised Trump for his comments on the United Auto Workers strike and talked of a broken system of justice a phrase that resonates with those who believe Trump is being prosecuted unfairly. Rogers has not endorsed Trump, but his main GOP rival, former Detroit police chief James Craig, has. (Craig was more ambivalent about Trump in the early stages of a short-lived run for governor last year.) And in Pennsylvania, Dave McCormick has done little to distance himself from criticism that cost him Trumps endorsement in the states 2022 Senate race. In his March book, Superpower in Peril, McCormick describes meeting with Trump to encourage him not to endorse Mehmet Oz, the celebrity doctor who narrowly won the GOP Senate nomination last year but lost the general election. Trump was still sore over comments McCormick had made about the former president bearing responsibility for the Capitol riot and told him he could never win unless he said the 2020 election was stolen. The former hedge fund CEO praises Trump policies elsewhere in the book, but concludes with an unsubtle contrast. Reflecting on his concession to Oz, McCormick writes about losing with honor and grace and refusing to fall prey to the politics of grievance and victimhood. McCormick might not have to defend those words in a primary. At the moment, he does not face a serious challenge or the threat of one from a Trumpier alternative. LaRose is not as lucky in Ohio. Trump has encouraged, but not endorsed, Morenos candidacy despite the candidates past disparaging comments, which surfaced during his brief run in the states 2022 Senate primary. Moreno, who initially supported Marco Rubio and donated to Kasich in the 2016 presidential race, has since grown closer with Trump a relationship fostered by his daughter, who worked for Trump, and by Vance, who has endorsed Moreno. A third GOP contender in Ohio, state Sen. Matt Dolan, also ran in 2022 and is sticking with a message that largely ignores Trump while showing little interest in courting the former president. So far, LaRose's campaign has had the hallmarks of a candidate worried about alienating Trump. His team attempted to clarify his remarks after an August interview in which LaRose spoke supportively of former Vice President Mike Pence's role in certifying the 2020 election results. LaRose also recently fired the press secretary in his state office over personal tweets that made fun of Trump. Then there was the interview on Frantzs show this month, where after blaming Kasich for his early antipathy toward Trump, LaRose said he voted for Trump in 2016. But in the final days of the 2016 race, after the old Access Hollywood footage of Trump bragging about sexual assault leaked, LaRose told The Akron Beacon Journal he would not vote for Trump. (As for the Kasich point, LaRose hired several veterans of the former governor's administration after being elected secretary of state in 2018.) LaRose spokesperson Ben Kindel did not answer questions about LaRoses vote in 2016 or his evolution from Trump hater to Trump backer, though Kindel noted that the former president endorsed LaRose's re-election campaign for secretary of state last year. Frank LaRose supports and endorses President Trump because he knows hes the best leader to reverse the calamitous failures of the Biden administration, Kindel wrote in an email. Weve seen a strong economy, strong national defense, and strong border security under President Trump, and nothing but weakness from President Biden. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A Cross Creek High School student was found with a weapon Thursday, according to a letter sent to parents. The student entered the building and a Richmond County School System police officer smelled a strong odor as the student walked by, according to the letter. While searching the student, the officer found a weapon. The school said the incident will be addressed by the code of conduct and did not announce any criminal charges. Overdoses in Augusta: Nearly 450 overdose calls in Augusta in a year, firefighters save about 100 lives with Narcan This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Cross Creek High School student disciplined for bringing in weapon DENVER (KDVR) Its been more than two weeks without a speaker of the House, and the lack of leadership is preventing Congress from passing crucial measures. Top of mind for a lot of lawmakers is humanitarian aid for victims of the Israel-Hamas war, aid for Ukraine and passing a long-term government funding measure. Buck says hes being evicted from Windsor office after voting against Jordan But House Republicans cant agree on who should lead the party. That includes Colorado Republicans, who are split on supporting U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan for the spot. An option to allow Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry to oversee the House until January was denied by House Republicans on Thursday. That move would have likely gotten some Democratic support. U.S. Rep. Jason Crow discussed the speakership debate this week on Colorado Point of View. (Democrats) are looking seriously at an agreement to empower Patrick McHenry and give him very limited powers between now and the end of the year to oversee national security, Crow said. But U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert said on social media: I will not sit back and watch a complete betrayal of the GOP base. The representative from Colorados 3rd Congressional District added: I ran because I was sick and tired of politicians coming up here and cutting deals and releasing holier than thou statements about why we just had to accept it. Still, a lot of lawmakers are looking tired of playing politics and want to get back to work. We cant sit around and wait for Republicans to resolve their civil war over the next couple of weeks, because were almost out of time right now, Crow said. Thats because the government is less than a month away from another possible government shutdown if funding measures cant pass through Congress. Watch Crow on Colorado Point of View this Sunday at 7:30 a.m. on Colorados Very Own Channel 2. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com. Some of the cold and allergy medications that CVS will no longer sell include Benadryl Allergy Plus Congestion, Vicks Sinex, and Sudafed PE. As cold and flu season approaches, pharmacy chain CVS announced that they are removing some over-the-counter allergy and cold medicines from their shelves since their active ingredient has been deemed ineffective as a decongestant when taken orally. The removed medications include Vicks Dayquill, Benadryl Allergy Plus Congestion, Sudafed PE, Vicks Sinex, and others that contain a decongestant called phenylephrine. [Related: Why adult cold medicine is not good for children .] A CVS spokesperson told CNBC that other oral cold medications that do not contain phenylephrine as the only active ingredient will remain on CVS shelves. Medications that contain phenylephrine account for about $1.8 billion in annual sales , according to the Food and Drug Administration. In September , an independent advisory committee to the FDA declared that phenylephrine is ineffective as a decongestant when taken in pill form. The panel refused to certify the effectiveness of these medications, adding that further trials to prove otherwise were required. "Modern studies, when well conducted, are not showing any improvement in congestion with phenylephrine," Mark Dykewicz, an allergy specialist at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine, told CBS News last month . In 2006 , phenylephrine began to be substituted for an ingredient called pseudoephedrine in many non-prescription cold and allergy medicines. Pseudoephedrine was restricted amid reports of it being used to make the illegal drug methamphetamine . Phenylephrine cannot be used to make meth and was considered a suitable replacement. These medications with pseudoephedrine are still considered safe and can be bought without a prescription, but are now behind the pharmacy counter and require a photo ID . Allergies and respiratory infections alert the body to send white blood cells to the sinuses, nose, and throat , which causes the creation of mucus and swelling in the nasal membranes. Phenylephrine temporarily reduces the swelling in the blood vessels in the nasal passages when it is administered in the nose. Some experts say that when taken in a pill form, phenylephrine gets absorbed by the gut and metabolized so well that only a small amount of the decongestant will make it to the bloodstream. According to a 2015 citizen petition asking the FDA to remove drugs with phenylephrine , the amount that gets into the bloodstream is not enough to actually reach the nose and work to clear congestion. Citizen petitions like this one are a way for consumer groups, industry groups, or individuals to call on the FDA to change regulations or take other administrative action. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology supported this citizen petition . [Related: Why we still dont have a vaccine for the common cold. ] Consumers should consult a medical professional to best determine what decongestant to take, but can look for those that contain pseudoephedrine or antihistamines like Claratin or Zyrtec . Nasal sprays that contain phenylephrine are also still considered effective, in addition to those that contain another ingredient called oxymetazoline. In September, director of endoscopic skull base surgery and a professor of otolaryngology at Stanford Medicine Zara Patel, told CNN that seeing a medication removed from store shelves like this should not be a reason to distrust regulatory agencies. This is how science works. As we gain more information, recommendations may change, and thats not a bad thing. Thats the wonderful thing about science. We can use new information and change our perspective, said Patel . She is not affiliated with the FDA committee. Other national pharmacy chains including Walgreens and Rite Aid have not yet announced if they are pulling these medications as well. The driver in a crash on the campus of UMass-Dartmouth that left a student dead earlier this year has been charged with homicide, law enforcement officials announced Friday. Danasia Sampson, 22, of Mattapan, is slated to be arraigned on Nov. 7 in New Bedford District Court on a charge of motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation in the death of 19-year-old Frank A. Petillo Jr., according to District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III. Campus police officers responding to a report of a pedestrian struck on campus around 5:30 p.m. on April 6 found Petillo, a student from New Jersey, lying in the middle of Ring Road with significant injuries, Quinns office said. Petillo, a freshman bioengineering student, was transported to St Lukes Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Sampson, also a student, was found at the scene in a gray Honda Accord. The Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to Quinns office led an investigation into the crash. At the conclusion of that investigation last month, a trooper filed a criminal citation against Sampson. In a statement, Quinns Office said, Due to the nature of the alleged crime, the defendant had a right to a clerk magistrate hearing at New Bedford District Court before an official criminal charge could be issued. That hearing was held yesterday, at which point the clerk magistrate determined probable cause did exist to formally charge the defendant. At the time of the crash, UMass-Dartmouth Chancellor Mark A. Fuller said, This has been a very difficult week for the Corsair community. We feel a collective pain even if we do not personally know those who have passed. We sit in class together. We work together. We pass each other in the halls. We are often more connected than we realize. If you need support, please reach out to someone. There were no additional details immediately available. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW TULARE, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) A woman from Tulare was found guilty at trial of first-degree murder on Thursday for the murder of her husband in 2022, according to Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward. In March 2022, Pennie Henson Ince, 54, was arrested for the murder of her 65-year-old husband. Tulare homicide suspect arrested at Fresno motel, deputies say The District Attorneys office says on the day of the murder, Ince called the victims daughter, telling her that he needed an ambulance, and hung up. His daughter wasnt able to keep in touch with either Ince or her father, so later in the day she went to their residence with a family friend and found her fathers body in the entryway along with a shotgun in the living room. Ince fled the area and evidence showed that she used the victims ATM card to withdraw $900 from an ATM after the murder. Ince was located on March 8, 2022, and arrested at a motel where she surrendered to authorities. DA: Woman accused of killing a Tulare man charged with first-degree murder The district Attorneys office says further investigation revealed that she had made statements about harming her husband on the day of the murder. Additionally, at trial, Ince was found guilty of first-degree murder with the special circumstance of lying in wait and that she personally used a firearm causing death. She faces life in prison without the possibility of parole at sentencing on November 15, 2023. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com. A second woman has accused Danny Elfman of sexual assault, alleging in a lawsuit filed this week that the composer abused her while she was a young, aspiring film composer. The suit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Thursday and obtained by The Times, accuses Elfman of using "his clear power as a successful public figure in the film and music industry, as a form of control," during the alleged instances of sexual abuse, such as exposing his genitals to her and masturbating in front of her while she slept. The events allegedly took place between 1997 and 2002. Elfman's company, Musica de la Muerte, was also named as a defendant in the complaint, which demanded a jury trial. The woman, identified in the complaint only as Jane Doe XX, said she was inspired to come forward with her allegations after reading a Rolling Stone report from July. The report brought to light prior accusations from Nomi Abadi , a 35-year-old musician and composer, who alleged Elfman had assaulted her between 2015 and 2016. Read more: Suit against Danny Elfman raises previous sexual misconduct allegations, quiet settlement Elfman did not immediately respond to The Times' requests for comment but has denied allegations from both women in statements provided to other outlets. The allegations of misconduct made against Mr. Elfman are baseless and absurd," a spokesman for Elfman told the Hollywood Reporter. "His legal team is assessing all options and he will vigorously defend these claims in court. Jane Doe XX was a 21-year-old film student at the New York Film Academy when she first met Elfman, who at the time was 47, in 1997 at the home of a mutual friend. By then, Elfman had already led a storied career, having found prominence as the leader of the popular new wave band Oingo Boingo and composed film scores for Tim Burton classics "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" and "The Nightmare Before Christmas." He also composed the iconic, enduring theme song for long-running animated sitcom "The Simpsons." Read more: How can an accompanying advocate help a sexual assault survivor? Elfman and Doe immediately connected over their shared interest in film and music, the complaint said. She was eager to get help to "make it" in the music and film industry. Over the next several years, their relationship grew and Elfman began to treat the woman as a "consultant and protege," and would often ask her for input when scoring films such as 1999's "The Mummy," according to court documents. He also would invite Doe out to Hollywood outings, such as cast-and-crew events for "Good Will Hunting." She would later view these instances as "grooming" and emotional manipulation in order to "sexually abuse and exploit" her, the suit said. During one of her visits with Elfman, as the pair were spending time in the Oscar-nominated composer's hotel room at the Mercer Hotel in New York, the complaint alleges that Elfman had suddenly taken off his clothes and exposed his genitals in front of Doe. He then walked over to a window where he stood naked and asked Doe to take off her clothes and join him, the suit said. She complied but felt uncomfortable being naked in front of Elfman and put her clothes back on, while he remained nude in front of the window for another five minutes, according to the suit. The next time the pair saw each other, Elfman stripped nude and started taking a bath, Doe alleges in the suit. He allegedly asked her to join him and watch him bathe. Each time the two worked with each other afterward, the lawsuit said that Elfman would strip naked in front of Doe, saying it was "the only way he could work, be creative, and successful." In one other instance, Doe alleged in the lawsuit that Elfman had "coerced her" to also strip naked, to which she agreed. Read more: After sexual assault: A guide to the exams, your rights and your choices Doe said in the court document that she was uncomfortable but did not speak up for fear of losing her relationship with Elfman, referring to him as "a mentor and a friend," adding that she felt "very lucky" to be in this position. The lawsuit described the "imbalance of power" between them as playing a factor in her silence and compliance to Elfman's demands. When Doe would visit Elfman in his hotel rooms, or at his home in Topanga, where she stayed with him for several weeks as she prepared to move from New York to Los Angeles, the pair would sleep together in the same bed. Still, Doe would remain fully clothed and often would remain above the covers, the complaint said. However, sometime in 2002, Elfman revealed to her, "Every time you have ever slept next to me, I would masturbate next to you," the lawsuit alleged. He further explained that a part of his fetish was that she had to be asleep; Doe said in the complaint that she did not consent to this act. She also wondered whether Elfman had physically touched her during those instances. Doe said in the court filing that she ended her friendship with Elfman after that revelation. Read more: Kevin Spacey found not guilty in sexual assault case in London and is 'humbled' by acquittal For years, Doe never reported the alleged abuse after sharing the incidents with her colleagues, who told her there was no point in speaking up because of "who he is" in the industry. In July 2023, Doe read a Rolling Stone expose that included accusations that Elfman allegedly exposed himself to Abadi and masturbated in front of her without her consent on several occasions. The report included descriptions that mirrored Doe's own alleged experiences. She said she realized she wasn't alone and filed the suit, she said in the complaint. The allegations surfaced after Abadi sued Elfman in July, accusing him of not paying out a full settlement as part of a nondisclosure agreement between them. The July lawsuit against Elfman said the composer had failed to pay Abadi $85,000 of a total of $830,000 to settle an "underlying dispute." The suit, which was reviewed by The Times, did not specify what the dispute related to. The Rolling Stone report cited a 2017 police report in which Abadi alleged Elfman had sexually assaulted her several times between 2015 and 2016, and had allegedly leveraged his power and exploited Abadi's desire to further her career in the music and film industry. Doe's complaint said Elfman and his company had engaged in "coverups" of the alleged sexual assaults of both women. Times researcher Scott Wilson and staff writer Emily St. Martin contributed to this report. Sign up for L.A. Goes Out, a weekly newsletter about exploring and experiencing Los Angeles from the L.A. Times. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Israeli Strike Kills Hundreds in Hospital, Palestinians Say, the New York Times banner headline screamed on Tuesday afternoon. The leadership of the Hamas terrorist organization could hardly have dreamed of better framing as news of the explosion and fire at Gazas Al-Ahli Ar hospital began to trickle out. That framing included a photograph of devastating carnage that Times readers likely believed depicted damage to the hospital in question. But not only was the Times story topped with a headline framed entirely around the word of the Hamas-controlled Palestinian authorities in Gaza, the accompanying photo was not even of the hospital, but rather of a building in a city some 15 miles to the south. That, however, was only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the New York Times journalistic malpractice this week. The Headlines While the Times led with Israeli Strike Kills Hundreds in Hospital, Palestinians Say, that initial headlineas is often the case with online mediadidnt last long. Israeli was dropped from the next versionAt Least 500 Dead in Strike on Gaza Hospital, Palestinians Sayperhaps due to the Israeli Defense Forces cautious but firm pushback on the accusations. That 500 figure was changed to hundreds in subsequent headlines, and while yet unconfirmed, a report on Thursday citing a European Union official suggested the true number of fatalities is between 10 and 50. Strike was the next word to get the ax, as visitors to the Times website were greeted with Hundreds Dead in Blast at Gaza Hospital, Palestinians Say. Eventually, the banner headline received the passive-voice treatment: Biden Heads to Israel as Hospital Explosion Convulses Region. Although the Times had run a separate story by that point conceding that the cause of the blast and the precise death toll remained unclear, a tweaked version of the original headlineHundreds Killed in Gaza Blast, Palestinians Sayremained lower on the home page for several hours on Wednesday. The Photo While the explosion took place at the Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, the caption beneath the photo on the home page early on [shown above] read, Israeli forces again bombarded Gaza with airstrikes on Tuesday, including in the southern cities of Khan Younis, above, and Rafah. The headline immediately above the photo, however, referenced the hospital airstrike, without mentioning a location. Unless readers knew the Al-Ahli Hospital was not in Khan Younis, they likely assumed they were looking at the damage of the airstrike referenced. Given the rapid developments and fog of war, one might be inclined to overlook this unfortunate juxtaposition of the (already bad) headline and photo on the website. The problem, however, is that the Times engaged in the same egregious conduct in the print edition of the paper published the following morning. By the time that version hit newsstands, the headline of the hospital story had been updated to BLAST KILLS HUNDREDS AT GAZA HOSPITAL: Palestinians and Israelis Blame Each Other Ahead of Bidens Arrival, and the main photo depicted actual victims from the explosion. But the secondary photo, below the story , was the one from Khan Younis that had been on the website the previous afternoon. The Map The Times Hamas-friendly framing of the story extended beyond the headlines and photographs; early coverage of the explosion also included a map created by the Times that was labeled Location of Hospital Airstrike and purported to show the location of the incident. The Times quickly changed the map and the title, replacing airstrike with explosion, but editors failed to include a note or any mention of a correction. The Details While dozens of Times reporters have undoubtedly spent a great amount of time tracking down and sifting through information about this tragic event, the papers coverage of the story has lent far too much credence to a Hamas-driven narrative. One article entitled Bloody Blankets and Lots of Bodies at a Devastated Gaza Hospital included quotes from videos that witnesses posted to social media, the Palestinian Red Crescent, Palestinian officials (Hamas-controlled), and the Health Ministry in Gaza (Hamas-controlled). When reporters coverage of a war relies on sources as dubious as some of theseand fails to include any on-the-record quotes from the other side of the conflictit is difficult to distinguish it from opinion. A few years ago, the Times solicited an essay from Sirajuddin Haqqanideputy leader of the Taliban in Afghanistan and a wanted terroristentitled, What We, the Taliban, Want. At least in that case, the Times could fall back on the claim that its just his opinion. The news side of the paper doesnt have that luxury. It remains to be seen if the Times will accept responsibility for how badly it covered this incident. An update to the Times live coverage Wednesday afternoon noted: As anger rises across the Middle East, President Biden appeared to endorse Israels denial of responsibility for the deadly blast at a Gaza hospital. That anger has begun to manifest itself already in a number of disturbing ways, including stormed embassies and destroyed synagogues. Its impossible to objectively assign a certain degree of culpability for stoking tensions to any one media outlet. At the same time, Tuesday was a dark day not just for the Middle Eastbut for the New York Times as well. Click here for more coverage of the war in Israel. Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. The Davis Police Department is searching for a suspect or a number of suspects in connection to multiple indecent exposure incidents over the last few weeks. Its unclear how many suspects may be involved and how many incidents happened. Lt. Dan Beckwith, a spokesman for the Davis Police Department, did not return a request for comment. We also urge residents in these areas to call 911 if they see a person matching the description and to always be aware of their surroundings, a news release said. The suspect is a man, white or Hispanic, whos around 25 years old. 5-foot-3 and between 125 and 130 pounds with medium-length dark curly hair, police said. A person has approached women when they are jogging or walking around West Covell Boulevard and Anderson Road, the news release said. Theyve typically been wearing a gator-style mask or a ski mask covering their face, police added. Anyone with information is asked to call the Davis Police Department at 530-747-5400 or policeweb@cityofdavis.org. Jamie Pierce met her best friend on the first day of seventh grade at Madeira Beach Middle School. Danielle Tobin was wild, adventurous and driven, she said. Pierce clicked with her immediately. After high school, the pair moved in together while they worked and saved money. Their families were close and often spent holidays together. Pierce, 30, now has a 7-year-old son who also called Tobin his best friend. Breaking the news of Tobins death to him was one of the hardest parts of losing her, Pierce said. Her son refuses to return to the restaurant where the family often visited Tobin at work. In April 2022, Tobin died at 29 of a fentanyl overdose while struggling through a relapse. Its funny, like, I was the pothead and was always late, and she always had her s--- together, Pierce said. Always had savings and was bailing me out. Under clear skies in Largo Central Park on Thursday evening, Pierce hung a photo of Tobin on a wall crowded with hundreds of other faces of people lost to overdoses in Pinellas County. At the annual candlelight vigil held by the Pinellas County Sheriffs Office and Narcotics Overdose Prevention & Education of Pinellas, or NOPE, a nonprofit that educates students about substance abuse, community members gathered to remember their loved ones. Last year, 1,583 people died of drug-related deaths in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties, more than double the fatalities compared to five years ago. Officials, addiction counselors and advocates say Tampa Bays numbers are alarming and worse than national and statewide figures. Florida ranks second in the nation in drug overdose deaths, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The state reported more than 7,800 deaths in 2021. Last year, opioid overdose rates were down statewide by 2.6% from 2021, the first decline in four years, according to preliminary data from the federal agency. But Tampa Bay counties are still seeing death tolls climb. Pasco County experienced a 13% increase in overdose deaths from 2021 to 2022. Hillsborough and Pinellas counties also bucked statewide trends and reported slight upticks in overdoses last year, said Jennifer Webb , a former state representative and the director of Live Tampa Bay, a nonprofit that works to reduce opioid deaths in the area. Pinellas County continues to have one of the highest overdose rates in the state, Webb said. The county had nearly 600 drug-related deaths last year, according to the Pinellas-Pasco Medical Examiners office. Webb said decades of inadequate state funding is partly to blame for some Florida counties lagging behind. What happens when you dont have enough money for 30 years is you dont have enough workforce, because youve been underpaying your workforce for forever, Webb said. We are at a critical shortage when it comes to psychiatrists, social workers, psychiatric nurses all of that. But a recent influx of cash to local municipalities could bring much-need resources to counties across the state. Florida began receiving its $3.2 billion in opioid settlement funds this summer. Pinellas Countys share accounts to $14.4 million this year, with $110 million more to be spread out over the next 18 years. County commissions across the state are responsible for distributing these funds which were won in a legal battle last year against opioid manufacturers to combat the ongoing epidemic. Webb said community members who lost loved ones to overdoses should be at the center of discussions about how this blood money will be spent. People died for us to get this money, she said. In June, the Pinellas County Commission approved a priority list from its opioid funding advisory board on how to spend its first $1 million. This included proposals to expand medication-assisted treatment involving drugs like methadone combined with counseling, and expanding treatment for uninsured mothers with addiction. Increased funding to community-based organizations, with an emphasis on long-term behavioral treatment, is likely to be the most beneficial to those struggling with addiction, Webb said. We honor people by showing up and sharing their stories at events like the one thats being produced by NOPE tonight and the sheriffs office, she said. But we also honor people by making sure that we are doing everything we can to ensure that not another family loses a loved one to the opioid crisis, and definitely involving their loved ones in the decision-making process is important. Edie Patrick, 38, showed up to the Largo vigil in a shirt that said, Fk fentanyl dealers. She lost her fiance in 2022 to an overdose. Its been really hard, Patrick said. Our daughter was 6 months old when he died and he was in recovery and then relapsed. Then he took something that was laced with fentanyl. Three weeks before the vigil, a friend of Patricks died in the same manner. She said having a space for the community to get together has helped her grieve. Talking about them helps, she said. And just letting people know that its OK if youre struggling. Rep. Dean Phillips has begun signaling to fellow House members that he plans to launch a challenge to President Joe Biden . Two people familiar with the discussions said that the Minnesota Democrat has told some colleagues of his intent to run, though a third person who has talked to Phillips recently said he had demurred when asked. That person said Phillips was clearly considering it but when asked point blank whether he was running, replied: Well see. Phillips has frequently called for Biden to face a primary challenger, citing the presidents age and arguing that he has a sense that the country is begging for alternatives. And he has taken several steps in recent weeks toward launching a presidential run, including calling New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley last week and reaching out to several potential staffers about working in New Hampshire. Among those hes approached are Steve Schmidt, a former Republican consultant, and Bill Fletcher, a Tennessee-based Democratic consultant, according to a person familiar with the nascent campaign. Schmidt and Fletcher did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Messenger first reported Phillips outreach to Schmidt. Phillips and a spokesperson also did not respond to a request for comment. A Phillips bid would face steep challenges. Hes a three-term congressman squaring off against Biden, who is sitting on more than $91 million in cash and supported by the entire party machinery. And the Democratic National Committee reordered the presidential nominating calendar last year, eliminating Iowa and New Hampshire from the top of the process and elevating South Carolina a state that rocketed Biden to the nomination in 2020. Phillips, a millionaire businessman who co-founded the gelato company Talenti Gelato, could self-fund much of his own campaign. But hes struggled to hire staffers. Bill Burton, a longtime Democratic consultant and Barack Obama campaign veteran, said on X that someone approached him for a conversation about Phillips, but it was not something I took seriously even for a second. Should Phillips go through with announcing, he will need to quickly get himself on the ballot in key states. Hes already missed the deadline to appear on the ballot in Nevada, the second presidential nominating state for Democrats. South Carolina, the first nominating state in the new calendar, has a balloting deadline of Nov. 10. But Phillips may opt to skip the new calendar, focusing instead on New Hampshire, which is expected to hold its own unsanctioned primary after losing its first-in-the-nation status. A strong showing there would not net Phillips substantial delegates but it could prove a major embarrassment for Biden. As such, top New Hampshire Democratic strategists plan to lead a write-in campaign for the president, who is expected to not formally appear on the ballot. Due to his repeated flirtation with a presidential primary bid, Phillips is already facing a potential primary challenge at home from Ron Harris, a Democratic National Committee executive member. Its unclear whether hed vacate the seat to run for president. Locally-celebrated meteorologist and U.S. Army veteran Frank Faulconer has died, according to WKYT, the Herald-Leaders reporting partner. Faulconer died Thursday at 100 years old. He was WKYTs first weatherman and worked for other local TV and radio stations during his illustrious career. WKYT said he worked alongside Nick Clooney and others during the formative days of Lexington television. Faulconer served in the Army after graduating from Lafayette High School in 1943, according to WKYT. He fought in World War II and retired from the Army reserves in 1974 as a lieutenant colonel. In 2016, Faulconer was recognized by Rep. Andy Barr on his 93rd birthday. Faulconer was Barrs great uncle, Barr said. Barr, speaking on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, said he was proud of Faulconers accomplishments as a soldier and weatherman. Faulconers 93rd birthday, the same day Barr made the remarks, was declared by the city of Lexington as Frank Faulconer Day. He has truly helped keep millions of Americans safe both at home and abroad, Barr said. We recognize his service to our country, this true patriot and inspiration to us all. Barr said Faulconer served in France and Germany during his World War II deployment and won five bronze stars and the Distinguished Service Award for his service in Normandy, northern France, Rhineland, central Europe and Ardenne. Faulconer enrolled at the University of Kentucky in 1946 and earned a degree in oratory, according to WKYT. After completing his degree at UK, Faulconer accepted a part-time job with WKLX, a radio station where he was the official announcer of broadcasting the big bands, according to Barr. He went on to work with WKYT and WTVQ and radio station WKQQ, where he was known as fearless Frank Faulconer. One of Faulconers former colleagues, Barry Peel, said Faulconer was given the nickname by WKQQs younger audience. Peel said he was never afraid to give a weather forecast based on his projections. They loved him, Peel said. ... It was a teenage, youth market station, and Frank had a brand new audience and they loved him. Peel worked with Faulconer at WTVQ from the mid 1970s to the 80s. He considered him one of his best friends and described him as a broadcast legend. Frank respected and was concerned about his audience, Peel said. His integrity in that regard was unparalleled. Faulconer would often tell Peel and his co-workers they were being invited into peoples homes through the television and they needed to be respectful towards their audience, Peel said. If you dont, youre one click away on the remote from being dis-invited, Peel said. Frank was never dis-invited. Faulconer retired in 2001 and won various national and local awards, Barr said. He developed a reputation for having a melodious baritone voice with a colorful and entertaining style in delivering the daily weather forecast, Barr said. WKYT Chief Meteorologist Chris Bailey said he was sad to learn about Faulconers death, who lived to be 100. Sad to learn of the passing of Fearless Frank Faulconer. The legendary weather man passed away this morning at 100 years old. He was the first ever weatherman for WKYT and went on to work at other local TV and radio stations. pic.twitter.com/1ZX4JPPedo Chris Bailey (@Kentuckyweather) October 19, 2023 Defense attorneys for a man accused of killing two Delphi, Indiana, girls in 2017 abruptly resigned from the case Thursday after photographs of the gruesome crime scene were leaked. Minutes into a much-anticipated hearing expected to address the leak, the judge said that court-appointed attorneys Bradley Rozzi and Andrew Baldwin, who had represented Richard Allen since his 2022 arrest in connection with the deaths of eighth graders Abby Williams and Libby German, had withdrawn. The announcement came just hours after David Hennessy, an attorney representing Baldwin, had argued in a court filing that disqualifying either Baldwin or Rozziwould greatly prejudice Allens rights to counsel and a timely trial. His trial, currently scheduled for January, will most likely be postponed, the judge said, so that Allens new representation can review the voluminous case files. Allen has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and kidnapping in the case. Abby Williams, 13, and Libby German, 14, were found dead near an abandoned railroad bridge that they had been hiking across in 2017. Abby Williams, 13, and Libby German, 14, were found dead near an abandoned railroad bridge that they had been hiking across in 2017. The stunning development comes on the heels of an explosive and bizarre 136-page memorandum filed by Rozzi and Baldwin in September alleging that Abby, 13, and Libby, 14, were killed in a ritual sacrifice by Odinist cult members who painted a tree with one victims blood. That memo in which the attorneys argued that Allen had been arrested based on an illegal search warrant claimed to reveal shocking and previously undisclosed details about the crime scene that strict gag orders had prevented others from divulging. Details outlined by Allens now-former attorneys including that the girls throats were cut and one body was nude have not been corroborated. After the September filing, previously unreleased photos of what people believed to be the crime scene began circulating via tabloids and social media, including of the tree that Allens attorneys said had been painted with blood. Then Murder Sheet podcasters Aine Cain and Kevin Greenlee, who have closely followed the case, said that on Oct. 5, they received graphic crime scene photos of the Delphi case and immediately contacted authorities. They declined to share any more details about the images, citing their respect for the families and the case. Hennessy, in his court filing hours before Thursdays hearing, said that evidence had been taken from Baldwin but said that Baldwin had been betrayed by a friend not someone in his staff or office who surreptitiously [purloined] ... information and disseminated it without his permission or knowledge. Three people unrelated to Allens defense, Hennessy said, had shared the evidence, adding that one of them killed himself after authorities began investigating the leak. As he argued for Baldwin and Rozzi to remain on the job, Hennessy said that the leaked evidence could have been revealed as soon as January if the trial had gone forward as scheduled. It should be considered that nothing has been disclosed that wont be disclosed at trial or hearings, Hennessy said. It should also be considered that there have been volumes of information disseminated by law enforcement and/or others not at all linked to the defense team. Officers escort Richard Allen out of a courthouse following a hearing on Nov. 22, 2022, in Delphi, Indiana. Officers escort Richard Allen out of a courthouse following a hearing on Nov. 22, 2022, in Delphi, Indiana. Authorities have revealed few details about the circumstances of Abby and Libbys killings since first announcing that their bodies had been found in February 2017, saying they dont want to jeopardize the prosecution. The girls cause of death has never been officially released, and law enforcement officials have not given any potential motive for the killings. Over the five years leading up to Allens arrest, the case gained notoriety as authorities sought the publics help in identifying the killer, who was believed to have been captured in a video filmed by Libby just before she died. The video shows a man approaching the girls on an abandoned railroad bridge and ordering them to go down the hill. One of the girls can be heard saying he had a gun. Their bodies were found the next day about half a mile from the bridge. Later, in a heavily redacted probable cause affidavit for Allens arrest, authorities claimed that Allen placed himself at the scene of the girls kidnapping in a statement to a law enforcement officer in 2017, and that an unspent bullet found between the girls bodies matched a gun he owned. For Thursdays hearing in Fort Wayne, Allen was transported more than 100 miles from the maximum security prison where he is being held, but he did not appear in the courtroom because he no longer has representation, NBC affiliate WTHR reported. His defense had previously sought to have him transferred to another facility, claiming that his physical and mental health were deteriorating and likening his conditions to those of a prisoner of war. Prosecutors have said that Allen confessed to the killings no less than 5 times in calls he made to his wife and mother from prison. Allens now-former attorneys acknowledged that he made incriminating statements but countered that they were unreliable because of his mental health issues. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for Oct. 31 exactly one year after authorities announced Allens arrest. Related... A Democratic senator blocked a resolution condemning antisemitic speech on college campuses proposed by Sen. Josh Hawley , R-Mo., Thursday. The resolution, for which Hawley sought unanimous consent, comes as pro-Palestinian protests have erupted on college campuses after the deadly surprise attack on Israel carried out by Hamas terrorists that killed and wounded thousands in Israel Oct. 7. "Students at Ohio State praised the heroic resistance in Gaza," Hawley said on the floor. "Heroic it's now heroic to massacre Jews in cold blood. It's now heroic to try and carry out a genocide against Jewish people. "Students at the University of North Carolina said it is our moral obligation to be in solidarity no matter the pathway to liberation, their word that they choose. This includes violence. TIM SCOTT WANTS TO DEFUND COLLEGES OVER ANTI-ISRAEL STATEMENTS: HITS THEM WHERE IT HURTS Sen. Josh Hawley in Washington, D.C., Feb. 28 "Calling for the death of Jewish people is not just another opinion. Calling for the genocide and celebrating the genocide of Jewish babies is not just another opinion." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., blocked the unanimous consent resolution, noting most of the protests were not violent, "as repugnant as some of them were in terms of the words." He said the resolution would "smear all of the students who engage in these protests," potentially violating First Amendment rights. HUNDREDS OF HARVARD FACULTY SIGN LETTER REBUKING UNIVERSITY LEADERS' TEPID RESPONSE TO HAMAS 'WAR CRIMES' "I would stand with my colleagues in standing up to hateful rhetoric, condemning antisemitism," Van Hollen said. "But what this resolution does is not that." Hawley called it a "failure of moral nerve." "What's happened today is one senator has blocked this body from condemning the attacks against Jewish people in Israel, Jewish Americans in this nation, and pretend that there's some moral equivalency here between this and what the threat of the State of Israel is under," Hawley said. "We have students in this country who are specifically calling for and celebrating the killing of Jews, and we can't condemn that on the floor of the Senate." GOP CHAIRMAN FED UP WITH STUDENTS' ANTI-ISRAEL STANCE WANTS TO MAKE COLLEGES PAY: 'DISGUSTED' Meanwhile, the Senate adopted a bipartisan resolution co-signed by 99 lawmakers to support Israel in its defense Thursday afternoon. Earlier this week, Hawley also called on the Department of Justice to probe far-left pro-Palestinian student organizations on university campuses involved in the protests to investigate whether they receive third-party funding from Hamas. Demonstrators attend an "emergency rally for Gaza" outside of the Israeli Consulate in New York City, Oct. 9, 2023. Those universities include Harvard, UCLA, Columbia University and the University of Virginia. Harvard alone had 34 student groups write in a letter the "Israeli regime" was "entirely responsible" for the "unfolding violence" in Israel. The Harvard student organizations' statement, released on the day of the Hamas attacks, also said the events did not occur "in a vacuum." Columbia University closed its campus to the public after an Israeli student was attacked by an alleged pro-Palestinian student. The University of Virginia chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine also announced the attacks on Israel were "a step towards a free Palestine." "National Students for Justice in Palestine has zero financial or political ties to Hamas or any other institution within Palestine," Students for Justice in Palestine told Fox News Digital previously in a statement. Original article source: Democrat blocks Hawley's resolution to condemn antisemitism on college campuses Plans for Dean Phillips to launch a presidential campaign on Oct. 27 in Concord, N.H., are underway, according to two people directly familiar with the event. But one source cautioned that Phillips could still opt not to do it. Democratic consulting firm Fletcher Ridge, led by Bill Fletcher, obtained a permit for the State House Plaza from 8 a.m. to noon next Friday, according to a spokesperson for the Concord Department of Administrative Services. Fletcher, a Tennessee-based consultant, has been approached to work with Phillips, according to a source familiar with the campaign. Such a move would be a dramatic leap into the national spotlight for the three-term congressman from Minnesota, who stepped down from his House leadership position over his 2024 flirtation, sparking tension within the caucus. Phillips has been vocal about his objections to the president, who he says would need to be "15-20 years younger" to earn a forceful endorsement. Phillips has taken several steps toward solidifying a run of his own in recent weeks, including outreach to potential staffers and top New Hampshire Democrats. Hes also told fellow House members that he plans to launch a challenge to Biden. Phillips and his spokesperson did not respond to immediate requests for comment. But his potential run is already stirring anger and frustration among Democrats in Washington and New Hampshire, who argue that such a challenge unnecessarily weakens Biden as he turns to a difficult reelection battle. Rep. Annie Kuster (D-N.H.) and Phillips discussed his possible primary challenge, and Kuster shared her concerns with the lawmaker, according to sources familiar with the conversations. Fellow members of his Minnesota delegation seemed resigned to the possibility. Dean's going to do what he wants to do, said Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), who added that she told Phillips she was supporting Biden. It's a free country, and if that's where his heart is and he wants to do it, then he should." An event next Friday coincides with the deadline to file for a presidential run in the state, but the deadline has already passed to compete in the primary in Nevada, another early nominating state. Phillips decision comes at a particularly fraught moment for New Hampshire, which was stripped of its first-in-the-nation primary status by the Democratic National Committee. Last month, the DNC voted New Hampshire as non-compliant in its plans to move forward with an unsanctioned primary ahead of South Carolina, which was elevated to the first-place slot by the DNC last year. That move, some New Hampshire Democrats acknowledge privately, could leave an opening for a primary challenger, like Phillips, to win the first presidential contest even if it comes with no DNC delegates. New Hampshire voters are not going to cut off their nose to spite their face, said Terry Shumaker, a former ambassador and veteran of multiple Democratic presidential campaigns in New Hampshire. New Hampshire Democrats and Independents recognize that Biden has done a really good job. Phillips can try [to exploit the calendar], but he shouldve started six months ago," Shumaker added. "Frankly, I think its too late. Top Democrats in New Hampshire expect a write-in campaign to kick off on behalf of Biden, who is currently not expected to appear on the ballot. Some Democrats who were staunch Biden supporters expressed exasperation at the idea that Biden has attracted so many challengers. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) said he was alarmed by the Biden challengers and the possibility that a third-party spoiler could run in the general election. If they run in the general election, they're going to do enormous damage to the likelihood that Biden can win, which means Trump wins, he said. I dont understand those who feel the need to challenge a successful president. Others thought Biden would shrug off a possible Phillips launch just like he did with Marianne Williamson and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who recently left the Democratic Party. The more the merrier, quipped Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), a close Biden ally. Democrats on Capitol Hill are furious over Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaibs refusal to retract or add new context to her statements blaming Israel for the deadly blast that devastated a Gaza hospital, killing hundreds of people and setting off a regional backlash against the US and Israel. Tlaibs initial social media posts reflected the early Hamas-sourced reports out of Gaza. But those reports are now at odds with initial American intelligence, which subsequently concluded that the Israel Defense Forces were not responsible for the explosion. The dispute has laid bare long-standing and increasingly passionate disagreements among congressional Democrats over the partys relationship with Israel and, now, how to position the party as the deadly conflict in Israel and Gaza escalates. Mainstream Democrats, led by President Joe Biden, continue to insist on staunch support for Israel, while some progressive House members are becoming more insistent that the US aggressively push for a ceasefire and hold Israel accountable for alleged war crimes against Palestinians. And within the progressive bloc too, high-profile members such as New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have occasionally diverged, at least rhetorically, from their ideological allies and have spoken in more cautious, conciliatory tones. The political director for Rep. Ro Khanna, another influential progressive, resigned because the California Democrat did not sign a resolution calling for a ceasefire. Tlaib, a Palestinian American and a longtime advocate for Palestinian rights, has been the most outspoken critic of Israel in Congress since her election in 2018. Her insistence on blaming Israel for the blast, which the US believes was struck by an errant rocket launched by extremist group Islamic Jihad, has roiled colleagues determined to present a united front at a harrowing time. Thats a vile position to take, Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz told CNN, suggesting that Tlaib should review intelligence made available to House members. She should at least pull those tweets down, instead of remaining entrenched in a position that is dangerous and unacceptable. Democrats have mostly been measured in their public comments about Tlaib, expressing frustration with her unyielding position in light of the conflicting reports and new evidence that Israel was not responsible for the hospital blast while also blaming the media over its coverage of the tragedy. When Israel makes statements, they have to show satellite imagery and all sorts of video. But when Hamas says something, the entire media world ran with it. Florida Rep. Jared Moskowitz said. It caused riots in all sorts of countries. It caused meetings to be canceled for the president. And so everyone has to be careful before they just react, and wait for things to be confirmed. But the effort to project unity could soon become untenable and the divisions are becoming more personal. According to a source with knowledge of the complaints, some Jewish Democrats have privately complained to Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries team about comments from Tlaib and Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar , who initially echoed reports blaming Israel for the hospital attack before posting additional context about the hospital explosion and acknowledging the US intelligence assessment. (Jeffries has embraced the US and Israeli intelligence conclusions and a spokesperson said in a statement that Jeffries, like Biden, backs Israels unequivocal right to defend itself against Hamas under the established rules of war and strongly disagrees with any effort to blame President Joe Biden or the policies of his administration.) Tlaibs office did not respond to a request for comment on the matter, but the Michigan Democrat appeared at a Wednesday rally on Capitol Hill and continued to blame Israel. Thats whats been really painful just continue to watch people think its OK to bomb a hospital, where children, Tlaib said. Whats so hard sometimes is watching those videos and the people telling the kids, Dont cry. But like, let them cry. And theyre shaking, and somebody you know this they keep telling them not to cry in Arabic. They can cry, I can cry, we all can cry. If were not crying, something is wrong. People are furious, one House Democrat told CNN about the reaction to Tlaibs comments. The intelligence that weve received is clear. Do you believe Hamas intel or do you believe the United States intelligence? Theres now a push among some House Democrats to convince Tlaib to get an intelligence briefing on the hospital strike, according to the source. Another House Democrat felt that Tlaibs comments were frustrating but not entirely unexpected and that her colleagues are taking different approaches to addressing them. Some have been speaking out publicly while others are giving Tlaib space to walk back her comments. Some Democrats pointed to a social media post by Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman as summing up the way a lot of them are feeling right now. Its truly disturbing that Members of Congress rushed to blame Israel for the hospital tragedy in Gaza, Fetterman wrote. Who would take the word of a group that just massacred innocent Israeli citizens over our key ally? Another Democratic aide, though, argued that the pushback against Tlaib and Omar undermined the Democratic Partys brand. Part of being a diversity party and a big tent party includes bringing new voices who have been marginalized into the party, the aide said. And Muslim Americans have been some of the most marginalized people in American life for the past two decades. No one in Congress is denying the horror of Hamas or the horror of the thousands of Israelis killed and the largest attack on Jews since the Holocaust, the aide said, adding that the frustration among Muslim Americans and some Jewish Americans lies in one side with very little political power receiving all of the outrage. Former House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat, downplayed the discord in the caucus. Name me more than four people, Hoyer told CNN, in an apparent reference to the original squad of Tlaib, Omar, Ocasio Cortez and Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley. Do we have some people that have a different view? We do. But its not the position of the party. But the ranks of the dissenters have grown since then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi first offered a similarly dismissive assessment of the squad members in 2019. Progressives now make up a growing share of the House Democratic Caucus. More than a dozen Democratic members have so far publicly called for a ceasefire, including those who signed a proposed resolution by Missouri Rep. Cori Bush, a newer squad member. I am grieving for every Palestinian, Israeli, and American life lost to this violence, and my heart breaks for all those who will be forever traumatized because of it, Bush said in an accompanying statement. War and retaliatory violence doesnt achieve accountability or justice; it only leads to more death and human suffering. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) delivered the nominating speech for Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) to be the next Speaker, but Democrats laughed at the California lawmaker when he called Jordan an effective legislator. Jim Jordan is an effective legislator, he said. To legislate is about more than the name on the bill. Its about reaching a compromise and working long hours behind the scenes to get the job done. Democrats have derided Jordan in recent days over his scant legislative record. Over his 16 years in office, Congress has never passed a bill that Jordan wrote. Jordan failed his third vote to be Speaker Friday, with 25 Republicans against him. Opposition continues to build, after 22 Republicans voted against him Wednesday and 20 on Tuesday. McCarthy instead went after Democratic leaders, specifically Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.). He derided Aguilar for only passing a single bill of his in Congress, a post office resolution. Apparently thats good enough for caucus chair, he said. Democrats are attacking Jim because they dont want the American people to remember they voted against securing and keeping a wide open border. Top Stories from The Hill McCarthy held up Jordan as an exemplar of what a Speaker should be, while acknowledging their clashes in the past. The pair faced off against each other to become the GOP majority leader in 2018, a fight McCarthy won. Members I know with the most bills to their name are the most selfish. Jim Jordan, on the other hand, is one of the most selfless members I know, he said. He is straightforward, honest and reliable. That is who Jim Jordan is and that is what being Speaker is about. 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 Evening Report newsletter The House has been without a Speaker for more than two weeks after a group of eight Republicans voted with Democrats to oust McCarthy from the role. Trust me, being Speaker is not an easy job, especially in this conference, McCarthy said. But Ive seen Jim spend his entire career fighting for freedom no matter what, no matter the odds. And I know hes ready for the job. After the vote Friday, McCarthy declined to say whether Jordan should continue attempts to take the Speakership. I think thats a question for him, he said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Presidential candidate Ron DeSantis denounced President Biden over his support for Israel, saying the president is floundering amid Israels war against Hamas in Gaza. Hes not doing what it takes to stand by Israel, DeSantis said during a forum at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina Thursday evening. Blake Burman, host of The Hill on NewsNation, moderated the event. The Biden administration has backed Israel in the conflict, which began earlier this month after Hamas militants left more than 1,300 Israelis dead in a surprise attack on towns and military bases near the Gaza border. That support includes $10 billion in aid, which is expected to be announced Friday as part of a $100 billion budget request. Biden also announced a $100 million humanitarian aid package Wednesday for civilians in Gaza impacted by the conflict. The Florida governor said the humanitarian aid consisting mostly of water, food and medical supplies will be commandeered by Hamas. He also said that the U.S. should not accept refugees from Gaza displaced by the conflict, and called students in the U.S. protesting against American support for Israel a disgrace, adding that they should be punished. I can tell you this, If those students that are foreign that are here on a visa, if theyre doing Hamas bidding, when I become president Im canceling their visa and Im sending them home, he said. The Biden administration has not announced any plans to accept or reject Palestinian refugees from the conflict. Biden visited Israel on Wednesday to meet with the countrys leaders and reiterated U.S. support for the country. I come to Israel with a single message: You are not alone, Biden said while in Israel, adding that he would soon request support for Israel from Congress. Biden outlined the specifics of the planned U.S. support for Israel during a Thursday evening address from the Oval Office. During the address, Biden said he would send Congress a supplemental funding request Friday that would include unprecedented commitment to Israels security. The package will reportedly total $100 billion dollars and include money for Ukraine and allies in the Indo-Pacific, as well as humanitarian aid. DeSantis said Biden needs to be tougher on Iran because of the conflict in Israel, claiming that Iran encouraged Hamas to attack the country. Iran has financially backed Hamas and other anti-Israel militant groups for years. [Biden] needs to shut off the oil money to Iran, take back the $6 billion, put them in a box so that they cant fund Hamas and Hezbollah anymore. They did it because of his policies. Thats why this happened to begin with, he said. Last month, the Biden administration unfroze $6 billion in Iranian funds held in South Korean banks due to U.S. sanctions. That money was never accessed by Iran and could not have funded Hamas or other militant groups, the administration said, fighting back against claims from Republicans attacking the president. DeSantis also perpetuated theories with no known evidence to support them that Americas enemies, including China, Russia and Iran, have sent agents into the U.S. illegally via the southern border for the last two and a half to three years. There will be a terrorist attack in this country, unfortunately, that will be able to trace back to the southern border. So we need to protect our own people, he said. The Hill show on NewsNation airs Monday to Friday at 5 p.m. EST. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis criticized former President Trump for being too focused on the past and cast himself as the only GOP presidential candidate with the kind of positive campaign that could defeat President Biden in a general election. You also need a nominee who can win. And I think the way you win is to focus the election on Bidens failures. And our positive vision for the future, DeSantis said Thursday during a forum at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., at an event hosted by Blake Burman of The Hill on NewsNation. He said even if Trump managed to get elected, he wouldnt be able to get much done in one term. If the election is about all these other issues, then its going to give the Democrats a huge advantage, he added. Its going to give the media and ability to drive that in, and they will do that, theyll change their tune on all this, you watch, if the former president is the nominee. So we want it to be an election on Biden and us as the positive just like it was for Reagan versus Carter in 1980, he continued. DeSantis also doubted Trumps ability to attract a strong bureaucracy, saying he threw people under the bus as president, and he had a poor track record previously. I think you want somebody who has the track record of delivering on the promises, he said. Hes promising the same stuff this time except the special counsels for Biden. So its like OK, well, wait a minute, youre running on the same stuff. You didnt do it the first time, youd be a lame duck if you could even get elected and all that. Why not give somebody a chance who is going to spit nails from day one, who is going to be energetic, is going to be forceful, disciplined, focused and deliver for you? Its not about me, its about you, he said. DeSantis is well behind Trump in polls in the GOP primary, garnering an average of 13 percent support to Trumps 57 percent in the FiveThirtyEight average of polls. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Republican Presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called lawmakers back to the state Capitol in Tallahassee for a special session to impose additional sanctions on Iran. DeSantis said he is calling the session because Iran supported Hamas in its surprise attack against Israel two weeks ago. The Iranian government, however, rejected allegations that it assisted Hamas with its preparations for the attack. U.S. officials have acknowledged that Iranians are indirectly complicity in training, funding and support of the group. Hamas and Iran have publicly acknowledged a partnership in the decades-long conflict with Jerusalem, with Hamas seeking an end to Israeli occupation of Palestine and Iran seeking greater regional influence and the destruction of Israel. The details, including the date and scope, are being worked out between legislative leadership and our office. We look forward to working with the legislature to show Floridas continued support for Israel, DeSantis spokesperson Jeremy Redfern said in an email to The Associated Press. Top Stories from The Hill The state Legislature is set to begin its annual session in January. DeSantis announcement comes more than a week after he increased the states sanctions on Iran after the country celebrated the Hamas attacks. The proposed legislation would be introduced in the next session and would increase sanctions on Iran. It would also block Iranian businesses in the state of Florida, building on a bill DeSantis signed in May that restricts property ownership for citizens from China, Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, Russia, North Korea and Iran. 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 Evening Report newsletter The announcement also comes after DeSantis made efforts to bring Floridians home from Israel, declared a state of emergency, sent airplanes loaded with supplies to Israel and been outspoken in support of Israels war with Hamas. Democratic House Leader Fentrice Driskell questioned DeSantis motives for calling the special session, The AP reported. This looks like yet another case of Ron DeSantis using the Legislature to try to help his failing presidential campaign, Driskell said in a news release. We will be watching closely to make sure Floridians tax dollars arent wasted trying to impress out of state GOP primary voters. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Gov. Ron DeSantis will call state lawmakers back to Tallahassee next month to pass further sanctions against Iran in the wake of Hamas attack on Israel. Florida will pass the strongest sanctions against Iran by any state in the nation, DeSantis Press Secretary Jeremy Redfern said in a statement Friday. But what those penalties might look like wasnt divulged on Friday. The federal government has had sanctions in place against Iran since 1979. On Friday afternoon, state lawmakers announced the special session will be the week of Nov. 6, when lawmakers were already scheduled to be in Tallahassee for committee meetings, and two days before DeSantis takes the stage in the third GOP presidential primary debate in Miami. House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, notified lawmakers Friday that they will consider how to impose additional sanctions on Iran, Hamas and other terrorist organizations, will formally express support for the State of Israel to exist and will provide additional security at places subject to hate crimes, such as Jewish day schools. But those items are part of a broader agenda that week, he and Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, told lawmakers in an email. They will also look to: Provide relief for hurricane-hit areas Provide more money for a Florida school voucher program that helps students with disabilities Address the backlog of more than 19,000 people who signed up for a new home-hardening program Passidomo wrote senators that the program has helped homeowners reduce their premiums, which continue to rise despite several years of legislative reforms. Lawmakers have repeatedly said that the states homeowners insurance crisis is their top constituent issue. I understand the frustration, I share it, and I am always talking with stakeholders and trying to find new solutions, Passidomo wrote senators. Israel the focus for DeSantis Florida lawmakers from both parties expressed horror over this months attack, in which Hamas murdered and kidnapped civilians in Israeli cities and towns near the Gaza Strip. Iran is a longtime ally of Hamas, supplying the organization with military support, but the countrys role in the Oct. 7 attack is unclear. Officials in Tehran have denied involvement in the attack, but have praised Hamas. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said the United States has so far found no evidence Iran was directly involved. In the last week, Florida has partnered with Project Dynamo, a Tampa-based nonprofit that specializes in bringing U.S. citizens home from conflict zones around the world, to fly hundreds of Americans from Israel to Tampa. Project Dynamo co-founder Bryan Stern told reporters earlier this week that the nonprofit has been in charge of most of the logistics on the ground and that Florida has helped by covering the cost of air travel. On Friday, however, the Orlando Sentinel reported that Stern was frustrated with the contractors hired by the DeSantis administration. In their rush to score political points for the governors presidential campaign, the contractors stranded nearly two dozen Americans in Cyprus and caused confusion during Project Dynamos rescue efforts, Stern told the paper. The DeSantis administration has been mum about the total cost of the taxpayer-funded operation, which is estimated to cost millions of dollars. It is also unclear how the administration vetted the organization, which has been criticized by U.S. government officials for being too willing to take risks that other nonprofits would not. Iran is already one of seven countries of concern designated by Florida officials, which prohibits the state from investing in companies linked to those nations and places limits on foreign nationals owning land. The other countries are China, Cuba, North Korea, Russia, Syria and Venezuela. DeSantis has already signed into law legislation that prohibits state and local governments from contracting with Iran and other countries of concern. Colleges and universities are barred from accepting gifts or grants or reaching agreements with schools in those countries without permission from the Board of Governors. I would be impressed if his team came up with proposals with much impact, said Patrick Clawson, director of the Viterbi Program on Iran and U.S. Policy at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. State Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, a first generation Iranian-American, said in a post on X that she was opposed to a legislative session. She said she despised the Iranian government but opposed DeSantis wasting Floridian taxpayer money for his failing Presidential bid. DeSantis is apparently fundraising off of the rescue flights from Israel, the New York Post reported Thursday. His presidential campaign website is selling $28 T-shirts with a DeSantis Airways logo, purchases of which are considered a political contribution. A spokesperson for his campaign did not respond to a request for comment about the shirt. State lawmakers can only pass laws when theyre in session in Tallahassee. The annual 60-day session is set to begin in January, but governors and legislative leaders can call special sessions outside of that window. Special sessions are typically reserved for state emergencies or pressing issues. Lawmakers met for special sessions twice last year to address the states property insurance crisis, for example. But DeSantis has broken with past governors to call special sessions on topics tied to his political agenda. In February, a month before the annual session began, DeSantis called lawmakers back to Tallahassee to assign another $10 million to his migrant flights program and to fix flawed legislation dealing with his takeover of Disneys special taxing district and his voter fraud unit. In November 2021, less than two months before the annual session was set to begin, he called a special session to outlaw vaccine mandates and to assign money to study whether the state should remove itself from the direct federal oversight of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. McClatchy D.C. reporter Michael A. Wilner and Times political editor Emily L. Mahoney contributed to this report. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said on Friday he has turned down suggestions to travel to Israel, drawing a distinction between himself and blue state Democrats such as New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and California Gov. Gavin Newsom . During an interview with conservative media outlet Newsmax, the Republican presidential candidate said its not productive for American politicians to visit Israel in the middle of its ongoing war with Hamas. His comments came days after President Joe Biden traveled to Israel and pledged ongoing American support for the country. I've been requested to, kind of, go over there. I know Biden went, DeSantis said. I'm not going to go over there at this time. I think that to have politicians going over there and trying to get I think you're just getting in the way of what's going on. They've got a job to do. Our job here in the United States is to support them. DeSantis noted that other governors had traveled to Israel, although he did not mention either Hochul or Newsom by name. Newsom added a Friday visit to Israel ahead of a planned trip next week to China. Hochul, who visited the country earlier this week, called her trip a solidarity mission that she said would show that New York will stand with Israel, today, tomorrow and forever. Florida has one of the largest Jewish populations in the United States. DeSantis has been a staunch defender of Israel during his time as governor and has already twice visited the nation during the past five years. He met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a week-long international trade mission that took him across the globe. DeSantis has called for increased sanctions against Iran in the wake of the Hamas attacks, and state legislators will enact the governors proposal in a special session that will be held in early November. DeSantis also last week declared a state of emergency due to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, a move that allowed him to tap into a state emergency fund that has been used to pay for charter flights from Israel. So far, chartered flights DeSantis helped organize transported more than 500 Americans back to the United States and more flights are expected over the weekend. DeSantis has tried to draw a contrast between his efforts and those by the Biden administration, criticizing the State Department for shipping some Americans to Greece and requiring people to reimburse the federal government. His presidential campaign has even started selling t-shirts that say DeSantis Airways on them. The Orlando Sentinel, however, reported on Friday that nearly two dozen Americans that Florida tried to evacuate were briefly stranded for a few days in Cyprus. Bryan Stern, CEO of Project Dynamo, put the blame on a vendor hired by Florida which was in a rush to get a flight loaded and off the ground. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis attempt to rescue Americans trying to leave Israel ran into trouble this week with two dozen people stuck in Cyprus for days before they finally arrived in Florida on Wednesday. Bryan Stern, CEO of Project Dynamo, a nonprofit that teamed up with the governor on the project, accused the DeSantis administration of organizing a hasty operation to boost his 2024 presidential campaign. That is why the state people were in a rush to get a flight loaded and off the ground, Stern told The Orlando Sentinel. A passenger named Stuart Zins agreed with Sterns assessment, saying that contractors hired by Florida caused the delays. We thought we were going to fly out of Cyprus the same day, he said, adding that it was three or four days later. Zins group of 23 Americans was delayed on Saturday because their plane had mechanical problems. Floridas contractors had a different jet ready for Wednesday that would be stopping in Athens earlier to pick up more people, but the plane ended up being nearly empty. On Thursday, DeSantis posted a clip on social media boasting of his accomplishments, writing, While the federal government drags its feet, we are delivering results. Another flight bringing more than 200 Americans home from Israel landed in Florida early this morning. While the federal government drags its feet, we are delivering results. pic.twitter.com/PRs144h2Or Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) October 19, 2023 Read it at Orlando Sentinel Read more at The Daily Beast. Detectives have arrested two Camarillo residents after they found more than 2 pounds of fentanyl, an AR-15 assault rifle, a pistol and methamphetamine, according to the Ventura County Sheriffs Office. A deputy reported that Alexia Topete was selling drugs in Camarillo, and on Thursday, authorities served a search warrant at an apartment in the 700 block of Mobil Avenue in Camarillo and at a storage unit in the 700 block of Arcturus Avenue in Oxnard, according to a VCSO news release. At the apartment, detectives found Topete, 32, and 39-year-old Jess Ortiz, both of whom were arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance, authorities said. During a search of Topetes person, detectives located methamphetamine and fentanyl that she attempted to conceal, the release added. At the storage unit, detectives found more than 2 pounds of fentanyl, 144 grams of methamphetamine, an unregistered assault rifle and an unlawfully transferred handgun, according to the VCSO. In addition to a count of being under the influence of a controlled substance, Topete has been charged with four felonies: two counts of possession of a controlled substance for sale, one count of possession of an assault weapon and one count of unlawful transfer of a firearm. She is being held at the Todd Road Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail, and she is due to appear in Ventura County Superior Court on Monday. Ortiz only faces the charge of being under the influence of a controlled substance. He was cited and released, and he is due to appear in Ventura County Superior Court on Dec. 15. In the release, the VCSO stressed the dangers of fentanyl, which is highly addictive and extremely deadly when used in its illicit forms. According to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl is 2 milligrams, meaning what the VCSO seized is over 455,500 times the lethal dose amount of 2 milligrams, authorities said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. A former Kansas City police officer whose conviction in the shooting death of a Black man was upheld this week is to be taken to prison while a court decides whether to release him again while he pursues a second appeal, according to state law. Eric J. DeValkenaere, who is white, was being held under protective custody Friday in the Platte County jail, where he has been since he surrendered to authorities Tuesday. An arrest warrant had been issued for him that day after the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, upheld his conviction in the 2019 killing of 26-year-old Cameron Lamb. In a rare decision by a Jackson County judge, DeValkenaere had been allowed to remain free on bond for nearly two years while he appealed his 2021 conviction on charges of involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action. DeValkenaere, 44, is the first Kansas City police officer to be convicted in the shooting death of a Black man. On Wednesday, after one day in jail, he sought through a new court filing to be released on bond again while pursuing an appeal to the Missouri Supreme Court. Former Kansas City police detective Eric DeValkenaere and his legal team hear his sentence at the the conclusion of his sentencing hearing Friday, May 4, 2022. It should take about a week for the Court of Appeals to take up the question of whether to grant DeValkenaeres motion to be released on bond again, according to a court official who answered the phone this week. The official said they are responsible for answering questions from news organizations but declined to give their name. The decision will be made by the same panel of judges who ruled on DeValkenaeres appeal: W. Douglas Thomson, Janet Sutton and Thomas N. Chapman. No hearings will be scheduled on the motion unless the court orders it. The judges are not expected to make a decision before Oct. 26, about five business days after the motion was filed. DeValkenaere motion to reinstate bond by Ian Cummings on Scribd This embedded content is not available in your region. Missouri attorney general has not opposed bond In the court filing seeking to have DeValkenaere released again, attorney Jonathan Laurans wrote that the former officer had not violated any of the conditions of the previous bond set down by the Jackson County court in February 2022. He is not a flight risk and Missouri Attorney General Andrew Baileys office has no objection to their motion, Laurans said. Madeline Sieren, a spokesperson for the Missouri attorney generals office, declined to comment on the effort to have DeValkenaere released. The attorney general had not filed a motion in the case as of Friday. In DeValkenaeres previous appeal, Bailey, whose office is tasked with arguing on behalf of the state, instead sided with DeValkenaere and said the involuntary manslaughter conviction should be overturned. DeValkenaere ruling by Ian Cummings on Scribd This embedded content is not available in your region. Devalkenaere to be taken to prison When he is taken to prison, DeValkenaere could be assigned to one of the the Missouri Department of Corrections three reception and diagnostic facilities for men in St. Joseph, Bonne Terre or Fulton, according to state officials. Garry Brix, a spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Corrections, said he did not know when that would happen. Aquil Bey, the stepfather of Cameron Lamb, spoke during a press conference in front the Western District Court of Appeals in Kansas City. There is no scheduled day for prisoners to be taken from the Platte County Detention Center to a state prison, said Maj. Erik Holland of the Platte County Sheriffs Office, the agency that oversees the county jail. When we get the sentence and judgment paperwork from the sentencing court we coordinate with the Department of Corrections, Holland said. We do not notify the inmate, their family or the public of the transfer date or the destination facility before we transport anyone to the facility designated by DOC due to security reasons. Israeli soldiers take position at the southern Israeli town of Ofakim on Sunday, Oct.8, 2023. Hamas militants stormed over the border fence Saturday, killing hundreds of Israelis in surrounding communities. The burning car was used by the gunmen and set on fire by the residents. (AP Photo/Ilan Assayag) JERUSALEM (AP) Theres a saying among us videojournalists: May the news stay far from your home. But on Saturday, Oct. 7, it came terrifyingly close to my hometown. While I live in Jerusalem, where I work as a cameraman for The Associated Press, I was raised in Ofakim, a city a half-hour drive from the border with Gaza. My mother, parents-in-law and siblings still call it home. I met my wife there. It was a tight-knit and safe community, made up of some 13,000 working-class Jews of North African descent. Everybody knew everybody. When hundreds of militants poured over the border from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel that Saturday, I was staying with my wifes parents, marking the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, a jubilant festival that will from now on be remembered as the countrys darkest day. We were awakened by air raid sirens at 6:30 a.m. The smell of hamin, a traditional slow-cooked Jewish meat and bean stew, had begun to fill the house. My wife, her parents and I rushed to the protected room, not thinking too much of it. Ofakim, like many other communities in southern Israel, has for the last two decades been the target of rocket attacks from Gaza. This all felt routine. Many of the older houses in the community do not have a safe room it used to be that whenever the sirens sounded, you would run to the communal shelter. Luckily, my wife's parents had built their own safe room five years ago, roughly 3 by 4 meters (10 feet by 13 feet). We had no food or water in it just a double bed, a mattress, and a TV. But as the morning wore on, we realized it was anything but a normal day. As we scrolled our phones endlessly from the safe room, we started grasping what awaited Ofakim. Militants had overrun the front-line kibbutzim, or farming villages, along the border, shooting people in their homes and setting some on fire and taking dozens captive. By noon, I decided to step outside for a moment. But I heard gunfire from terrifyingly close and headed back for the safe room. We waited anxiously inside the protected room for hours. When we got hungry, we snuck out cautiously to the kitchen to bring in bowls of hamin. Uncertainty reigned and our only source of information were the accounts of the horror from countless residents coming in through Israeli media, which stoked our fear of what might happen to our community. We passed the time watching TV, reading the news on our phone, communicating with loved ones on WhatsApp chat groups. Stuck in a small room together, we began to argue about politics why hadn't the government protected us? I wanted to leave, to check on my mother, my daughter. But my wife's father told me that if I dared step out of the house, into the area where the militants roamed, he would tie me to the bed. We didnt yet understand the bigger picture. Like other Israelis, we were caught off guard, disoriented by the total lack of information about what was going on outside our door and terrorized by the fog of the unknown. By the afternoon, I learned how truly personal the attack had become. Yaniv Zohar, a former AP cameraman I had worked alongside for years, was killed in his home in Nahal Oz, a communal settlement along the Gaza border, along with his wife and two daughters, aged 18 and 20. I have since learned that yet another friend and cameraman, Roy Edan, was killed in Kfar Azza, also along the Gaza border. Edan's wife was also killed, and his 3-year-old daughter was taken hostage by Hamas. I couldnt bear sitting inside anymore. My mothers home was a few hundred meters (yards) from the battle with militants and I needed to check in on her. My 15-year-old daughter was staying at my brothers house and other relatives, among them a 4-month-old baby, were also near the fighting. So I set out, traveling nearly a kilometer (a little more than half a mile) to see my mother. I had been in communication with her through text, but I needed to make sure she was safe. I also couldnt stay away from the news, no matter how much my family urged me to. By late afternoon, I ventured out with my camera and found the aftermath of a battlefield: white jeeps driven in by the militants on the side of the road, and terrified residents whose homes were pocked with bullet holes. My coverage felt incredibly personal. The jeeps were left in a spot where Ofakim residents usually gather to watch the sunset. People Ive known since my teens let me film their bullet-ridden homes. A good friend of my mothers is in shock after militants shot dead her next-door neighbors. These were the images of my once sleepy hometown hours after the assault. The military had been nowhere for much of that day. Local police and firefighters were left to use their scant means to fight the militants who marauded through the city and are believed to have killed at least 50 people before they were routed or killed. Our lives have in many ways been upended. In the aftermath of the violence, my sister left to the U.S. with her visiting daughter, son-in-law and baby granddaughter. My adult daughter, who lives in southern Israel, fled from the non-stop barrage of rockets to the remote Israeli city of Eilat. I returned to Jerusalem the morning after the attack, my mother and in-laws now staying at my home indefinitely. Since then, Ive covered an endless stream of funerals and watched as my former colleague Yaniv was laid to rest. I dont have a foreign citizenship. I am Israeli and like everyone else in this country, I am left to pick up the pieces of the vast destruction, confront the national trauma inflicted by the attack and conjure up ways to keep moving forward. My hometown will never be the same. ___ Associated Press writer Tia Goldenberg contributed to this report. Gov. Gavin Newsom had to confront more than 1,000 bills this month that were approved by the Legislature and sent to him for signature. Of those, Newsom signed nearly 900 into law. Newsom backed liberal ideas for abortion access, gun control and environmental protection. But, in a move hard to understand, he vetoed a bill that would have provided financial assistance to one of the states most vulnerable groups foster youth. The governor said he turned down Assembly Bill 1512 for budget reasons. In his veto message, Newsom said the measure would have generated costs outside of the budget process and thus were not properly planned. Those expenses involve room and board for foster youth. According to an analysis by Assembly staff, would have been in the ballpark of millions to tens of millions of dollars. That may seem a lot, but not in the context of the overall state budget, which is more than $300 billion. Yet those monies would have made a real difference for certain foster youth who were due to get those payments, but now wont. Redirecting payments AB 1512 was sponsored by the Assemblys Democratic majority leader, Issac Bryan of Culver City, himself a former foster child. The legislation would have stopped the way counties now collect payments meant to benefit foster youth, but which the counties instead capture and use to pay for the childrens food and lodging. Instead, the bill would have directed counties to conserve payments from the federal government to foster youth in accounts that the young people could then take over once they aged out of foster care. In Los Angeles County, the Department of Child and Family Services collected about $5.4 million in revenue in 2021 that was meant for foster youth, Bryan said. In explaining the significance of the money to foster children, Bryan said For youth with disabilities or youth who have lost a parent, this money could be the difference between going to college or going to prison. Californias foster youth His quote may seem overly dramatic, but statistics about foster youth are bleak. According to the state: Close to 31% of transition-age foster youth experience homelessness. 25% come into contact with the justice system within two years of aging out of foster care. 20% report having a health condition or disability that limits daily activities. Only 50% complete their high school education, and less than 10% attain a college degree. There are more than 60,000 children in foster care in California. Fresno County has about 2,000; Sacramento Countys total is just below 2,000. In Stanislaus County, about 660 children are in foster care; in San Luis Obispo-Santa Barbara counties, about 900 are foster children. According to the Childrens Law Center, half of all foster youth have experienced four or more adverse childhood experiences, such as abuse, neglect, a parent who died or is incarcerated, or substance abuse in the home. The budget challenges faced by the state today are real: California is confronting a $30 billion deficit. But one cause of that is the states over-dependence on high earners and their income taxes. If the top earners make less, they pay less in taxes, and the state budget suffers. The real issue Newsom and the Legislature should wrestle with is putting tax revenues on a more stable footing. That would likely mean hurting certain special interests with lobbying power to stop any such reforms. Until then, governors and state lawmakers make painful cuts. Sadly, that harms the very people Sacramento Democrats profess to care so much about the marginalized and vulnerable, like foster youth. The move across the nation, in both Republican and Democrat-led states, is to funnel Social Security Administration payments into funds for foster children and not use those monies for daily care. Newsom loves to brag about California leading the nation on the next big thing. This is one time he failed to simply follow the best practice. Thomas Broadway didnt expect to get attached to Zeus, his 100-pound German shepherd, but over the years the two became inseparable. He basically ended up becoming my best friend, Broadway said. But Zeus was more than that, he was Broadways lifeline. Broadway is a veteran, who served in Kuwait and now suffers from PTSD. I get panic attacks, he said. Its hard and it can be hard on me. Read: Its been a trigger: Veterans with PTSD say holiday fireworks pose challenge But three and a half months ago, Zeus died unexpectedly, leaving more than a hole is Broadways heart. He was basically my security, he said. With him around I felt comfortable going out in public. I didnt realize what all he did for me until he passed away. So he started his search for another German shepherd. He bought one from K-9 Candidates in Geneva for $500, but Tom said when he brought Fred, his new pup, home, the dog needed medical attention that cost $600. Watch: Orange County Fire speaks out on why it fired firefighter with PTSD But that wasnt the biggest issue, Broadway said the dog just wasnt a good fit for him and his PTSD. So after calls to K-9 candidates, he returned the dog and he said the owners agreed to give him another dog from the next litter and that puppies were expected by the end of the year, but he cant get an answer about a possible new pup, because he said the owners stopped answering his questions about when a new dog may be coming. Channel 9 went to the location to ask the owners some questions, but there is gate at the end of the driveway with warning signs about security and dogs; preventing entry, so we reached out and this week we did get an email saying, Upon speaking to Mr. Broadway a couple of weeks ago, it was confirmed that this is an active contract that will be fulfilled upon availability. Read: Orange County firefighter with PTSD fighting to get his job back after being terminated twice Channel 9 asked if a dog would be available by the end of December, but so far theres been no response. There were no Better Business Bureau reviews on the site and we could not find a business matching that name on SunBiz. Meanwhile, Broadway said he has left multiple messages with the business since our interview, asking for a reimbursement of the vet bill. He said he just wants his money back so he can buy another dog. Read: If they knew what we saw: Whats being done to reduce number of suicides among firefighters He filed a complaint with the Department of Agriculture, and we are waiting for a response from the state about that. Florida does have a lemon law for dogs. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. A still image taken from a dashcam video released by Columbus police shows one of three suspects standing outside a stolen Porsche SUV in the middle of Interstate 70 east near West Mound Street during a July 6 police chase following an armed bank robbery. Two gunshots are heard as the two officers inside get out of the vehicle, but the redacted video released by police ends there without showing the shootout. The Columbus Dispatch filed a complaint with the Ohio Supreme Court against the Columbus Division of Police for not releasing the identities of officers involved in deadly shootings or other uses of force this year. The Dispatch filed the complaint Thursday asking the court to make the department comply with state public records laws. Columbus police have denied The Dispatch's requests for records, including body camera footage, multiple times this year by citing Marsy's Law. The law, intended to protect the privacy of crime victims, took effect this year, and police assert their officers were victims in these incidents. The newspaper's complaint specifically points out police declined to release the identity of eight officers involved in a shootout on July 6 on Interstate 70 that left a suspected bank robber dead and an officer injured. The department also refused to release body camera footage. Via its attorney, Jack Greiner, The Dispatch argues that the public has a right to records identifying officers involved in use-of-force incidents. "We absolutely support the idea of victims' rights and, in fact, have policies to keep private, in most cases, the names of juveniles and victims of sexual assault," said Beryl Love, regional editor for the USA TODAY Network Ohio. "But what we've encountered here is overreach, resulting in a big step backward for open records and transparency." From the editor: Ohio's enactment of Marsy's Law muddies the water for public records The Columbus Division of Police said via a spokesperson they do not comment on pending litigation and deferred to the City Attorney's Office, which will represent the police. A spokesperson for City Attorney Zach Klein's office sent the following statement: We understand the frustration from the media and the public about shielding the names of officers involved in certain use-of-force situations where they are the victim of a crime. We share in that frustration. This issue was a concern the City Attorneys Office shared with the legislature as they were crafting this latest version of Marsys Law, but lawmakers ultimately decided not to make any exceptions for disclosure within the plain language of the law. We welcome the opportunity for the Court to weigh in on this issue to give further guidance to all Ohio law enforcement agencies as they navigate their responsibility to be responsive and transparent with the media and the public while also upholding their constitutional duty to follow the law. April 28, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Deputy Chief Gregory Bodker, City Attorney Zach Klein, Columbus Chief of Police Elaine Bryant wait for a press conference to begin at the Columbus Police Academy on Friday. Mandatory Credit: Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch Advocates for Marsy's Law told The Dispatch law enforcement is misapplying the legislation. A spokesperson for Marsy's Law for Ohio sent the following statement: When reviewing the conduct of an on-duty law enforcement officer who has used physical force, the right to privacy of their name must quickly yield to the publics right to know. In addition to the Interstate 70 shootout, Columbus police and other law enforcement agencies have used Marsy's Law this year to refuse other records requests. Police and the Franklin County Sheriff's Office declined to release footage or names after four officers and a deputy were involved in a July 8 shooting that left 45-year-old Antwan Lindsey dead. Blendon Township Police has not released the names of officers involved in the shooting of 21-year-old Ta'Kiya Young on Aug. 24 as she drove toward an officer. Columbus police have released body camera footage in some cases like of an April 29 incident during which someone shot at Columbus officers and video from a shooting in the Short North that showed shots being fired, along with the names of the officers who shot back. jlaird@dispatch.com @LairdWrites This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Dispatch seeking records from police, files court complaint Russian author Sergei Lebedev's novel "Untraceable", about an undetectable toxin used to target Kremlin critics, was released a few years ago but has taken on added resonance as alleged poisonings have multiplied. Now the dissident writer is warning that the Russian exile community in Europe faces an ever greater threat amid heightened tensions over the Ukraine war. "This emigre community in Europe is now one of the most important targets for the Russian security (services)," the 42-year-old, now based in Germany, told AFP in an interview at the Frankfurt Book Fair this week. "There will be attempts to infiltrate, to get informants... Of course, there will be some assassination attempts." In Germany -- which Lebedev describes as a "hub" for overseas Russians -- there have been a growing number of suspected cases of Kremlin critics being targeted. In May, German police said they were investigating the possible poisoning of exiled Russians after an activist, Natalia Arno, reported health problems following a Berlin meeting of dissidents. Meanwhile, Berlin-based Russian journalist Elena Kostyuchenko wrote in a Guardian article last month about how she fell ill last year after visiting Munich, and poisoning was suspected. Inside Russia, the most high-profile case in recent years of a Kremlin critic allegedly being poisoned was that of opposition politician Alexei Navalny . Moscow has repeatedly dismissed allegations that it has targeted critics in this way. But Western governments say evidence points to the contrary and for Lebedev, Russians in Europe are not taking the threat seriously enough. - 'Very eerie' - "They are not very much concerned with security," he said. "They do not understand the principles of how the security services work." "Untraceable", which tells the story of an ageing scientist who creates a highly toxic, undetectable poison, was inspired by the 2018 poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, England. And it was around the time that the book was published in Russia that opposition politician Navalny was allegedly poisoned -- a development that Lebedev said he found "very eerie". While he has been vocal about his opposition to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, he does not believe he faces a threat himself. He has not found himself in the crosshairs of the authorities and feels he does not run the same level of risk as others, such as critical journalists, particularly those still trying to report from inside Russia. Still, Lebedev -- who moved to Germany five years ago with his wife -- said he has been taking extra precautions, particularly when it comes to exchanging sensitive information. Before becoming a full-time writer, Lebedev worked as a geologist and later as a journalist. He was motivated to write a novel after discovering his grandmother's second husband had been the commander of a Soviet labour camp. He was shaken by the revelation and faced the question of how to "deal with this personally -- with the fact that in your family (there) was a murderer". "I realised that the way out was to write a novel." - 'Shocked' at Ukraine war - The result was the book "Oblivion", about the legacy of the Soviet prison camp system, which was released about a decade ago and launched his literary career. He has since written several books and his latest is a collection of short stories, "A Present Past: Titan and Other Chronicles". It reflects what he believes is Russia's tortured relationship with the Soviet era -- and society's failure to come to terms with the past -- as well as aspects of its problematic present. Lebedev, who lives in Potsdam outside Berlin, did not flee his homeland. He first moved to Germany for professional reasons. But he has not returned since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, fearing it is not safe to do so. He said he was "shocked" when Moscow sent its forces into Ukraine. "I was the same idiot as many of us were, thinking that Putin is a... modern autocratic, modern dictator and not the blood-thirsty maniac that he is." He sees no swift end to the conflict. "The most difficult and problematic thing is that Russians are getting used to the fact that they are at war but still life is sustainable," he said. sr/hmn/gil House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said Friday that he believes his opponents among the House's GOP can still be converted to supporters ahead of what will likely be another losing vote for his speaker bid. Look, theres been multiple rounds of votes for speaker before. We all know that. I just know that we need to get a speaker as soon as possible so we can get to work for the American people, Jordan told reporters at a Friday morning press conference, referencing former Speaker Kevin McCarthy's, R-Calif., 15-vote series to secure the speaker's gavel in January. We stayed the same. We picked up a few, we lost a few. I think the ones we lost can come back, Jordan added. Later in the press conference, Jordan was asked whether the 2020 election was stolen from former President Donald Trump. "Yeah, there were all kinds of problems with the 2020 election," Jordan said. House Republicans, who have repeatedly failed to unite behind Jordan, don't appear to have been moved by the press conference. In fact, both supporters and opponents of the Ohio Republican were "completely befuddled" by it, Punchbowl News' Jake Sherman reports, adding that he received a number of "what-is-he-doing-calls" after the event. House Republicans Jordan supporters and opponents are completely befuddled by that press conference. Ive gotten a number of what-is-he-doing calls in the last 20 minutes. Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 20, 2023 "Fox & Friends'" Lawrence Jones told his co-hosts after it concluded he wasn't "sure what the purpose of the press conference was." twitter.com/atrupar/status/1715341153053155832 During the Friday edition of "CNN This Morning" host Poppy Harlow asked, according to RawStory, "What was the goal there? Did he say anything different than he has been saying?" Shortly after, panelist and former GOP congressman Charlie Dent asserted that Jordan's morning effort to garner support fell flat as many of those Republicans voting against him are "immovable objects" on the matter. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. Asked whether he was able to sway any holdouts at a caucus meeting on Thursday, Jordan claimed that he had good conversations with the group. But sources told Politico's Olivia Beavers that the meeting was "brutal" and holdouts urged Jordan to drop out and "do the right thing and that they won't be backing down." twitter.com/Olivia_Beavers/status/1715351198855778572 A source similarly told Sherman that it was a "direct, precise meeting in which Jordan was told he will never be speaker. This group doesn't want anything. They want Jordan to understand he will not be speaker." A source describes the Jordan meeting with the holdouts like this: A direct, precise meeting in which JORDAN was told he will never be speaker. This group doesn't want anything. They want Jordan to understand he will not be speaker. Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 20, 2023 Federal prosecutors Thursday urged the court to disregard former President Donald Trump's request to have election interference charges filed against him be thrown out due to alleged presidential immunity. Pool Photo by Jeenah Moon/UPI Oct. 20 (UPI) -- The Justice Department is asking the judge overseeing Donald Trump's election interference case to reject his request to throw it out over alleged presidential immunity, arguing that the former president is "not about the law." The filing from federal prosecutors on Thursday comes in response to Trump's ask of the court earlier this month to dismiss special counsel Jack Smith's federal election interference case against him on the grounds that he has presidential immunity as the charges are related his efforts to "ensure election integrity." The federal prosecutors countered that while Trump's argument of claiming immunity to circumvent the established legal principle that no man is above the law is novel, he is, in fact, not above it. "He is subject to the federal criminal laws like more than 330 million other Americans, including members of Congress, federal judges and everyday citizens," the Department of Justice said in its 54-page filing. "None of the sources the defendant points to in his motion -- the Constitution's text and structure, history and tradition, or Supreme Court precedent -- supports the absolute immunity he asks the Court to create for him." Trump is facing four counts accusing him of conspiracy to overthrow the 2020 presidential election. The president, who is facing three other indictments, is trying to have this one thrown out, and in his filing earlier this month, claimed he is shielded from criminal prosecution for official presidential conduct. Prosecutors not only argue against Trump's claim of immunity but that he wrongly frames the allegations in the indictment. They also wrote that a president enjoys two forms of immunity, but that neither the temporary immunity from criminal liability nor the absolute immunity from civil liability protects them absolutely. "To the contrary, the existence of both immunities is premised on the availability of criminal liability once a former president is out of office," the Justice Department said. "The defendants motion to dis miss should be denied on the ground that a former president cannot claim any immunity from federal criminal prosecution." FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) A Fresno hairstylist pleaded guilty on Thursday to nine felonies charges for defrauding a physician out of more than $2.7 million before his death and attempting to defraud his estate out of over $20 million, the United States Department of Justice announced. According to the DOJ, 47-year-old Anthony David Flores, a.k.a. Anton David, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, two counts of wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud, one count of conspiracy to engage in money laundering, two counts of money laundering, and one count of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity. DOJ: Fresno hairstylist, actress charged in caregiver fraud The DOJ says his co-defendant and former girlfriend, 40-year-old Anna Rene Moore, an actress and former yoga studio owner who lived in Monterrey, Mexico, at the time of her arrest, pleaded guilty on August 28 to seven felonies in this case: one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, two counts of mail fraud, one count of conspiracy to engage in money laundering, two counts of money laundering, and one count of engaging in a monetary transaction in property derived from specified unlawful activity. According to Flores plea agreement, beginning in June 2017, Flores used false promises and representation to befriend the victim, who was a physician and successful investor worth more than $60 million, but who suffered from a mental illness and lost the ability to care for himself. The DOJ says within days of meeting the victim, Flores and Moore moved into the victims beachfront Malibu home rent-free and slowly took control of his life by pretending to be his new best friends and caregivers. In September 2017, federal prosecutors say the victim suffered a severe mental breakdown resulting in his arrest and detention in Los Angeles County jail, Flores fraudulently induced the victim to sign powers of attorney granting Flores control over the victims finances. The DOJ says he says he would only use these powers to access the victims finances to post bail for release, and that the victim could immediately rescind them once the victim was free from jail. But after the victim was released from custody, the powers of attorney were never rescinded. Within days, prosecutors say Flores used these powers to open bank accounts in the victims name with Flores listed as the power of attorney, giving himself and Moore access to the victims wealth. From September 2017 to May 2018, the DOJ says Flores and Moore lived with the victim, diverted the victims funds to their own bank accounts, isolated the victim from his family and longtime friends, and provided the victim with drugs, including marijuana and LSD. In the final days of the victims life in May 2018, the DOJ says Flores and Moore gave the victim LSD, causing his mental state to severely deteriorate. While under the influence, Flores caused the two-step authentication feature on the victims 60-million online brokerage account to be changed after previously having changed the phone number listed on the account. According to the DOJ, Flores initiated two $1 million wires from the victims brokerage account without his knowledge or consent to Flores personal account, and then the couple left the victim, who was in mental distress by this time. They remotely watched the victims deteriorating mental condition on the video cameras installed throughout the Malibu house from a luxury hotel paid with the victims funds. The victim died in May 2018 in his Malibu home at 57 years old. After his death, the DOJ says they moved back into the victims Malibu home and withdrew large sums of money from his accounts, as well as concealed information about the victims finances from their family in Florida, which prompted them to initiate the lawsuit. In the ensuing lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court, the DOJ says Flores and Moore violated multiple court orders ordering them to result in the funds stolen from the victim. They attempted to launder the fraudulent proceeds by funneling the money through multiple different accounts to thwart the victims estate and court-appointed receiver from recouping the money. Six months after the victims death, the DOJ says Flores and Moore falsely claimed that the victim had promised them one-third of his estate and his Malibu beach house and that the victim was on the verge of changing his will to name both Flores and Moore before his death. The DOJ says after extensive litigation with the victims estate, the lawsuit was settled with Flores and Moore withdrawing their false creditors claims and agreeing to repay the victims estate $1 million, but they have failed to do so. United States District Judge Percy Anderson scheduled a Feb. 26, 2024 sentencing hearing, at which time the DOJ says Flores will face a statute maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each fraud count, up to 20 years on the conspiracy to commit money laundering and laundering of monetary instruments counts, and up to 10 years on transactional money laundering count. According to federal officials, Moores sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 22, 2024. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com. Donald Trump has attacked Joe Bidens deadly combination of incompetence, radicalism and weakness ahead of the presidents address to the nation to discuss the US response to the Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel and the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. A scathing statement put out by the Trump campaign on Thursday said that Mr Biden was responsible for the horrific catastrophes taking place around the world, and said his credibility was shot. The presidents speech comes less than a day after he visited Tel Aviv, where he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet 10 days after terror attacks by Hamas left more than 1,000 Israelis dead and hundreds of hostages taken captive by the militant group. Mr Biden has rarely used the Oval Office to make speeches during his time as president. The horrific catastrophes taking place in Israel as well as the chaos on our Southern Border and in hotspot after hotspot around the world, all have one thing in common: they were caused by Crooked Joe Bidens deadly combination of incompetence, radicalism, and weakness, The Trump campaign statement said. When Biden gives his Oval Office address tonight, he is desperately hoping Americans will forget that its Biden himself who is responsible for these disasters. As America stumbles ever closer to World War III, Joe Biden is Neville Chamberlain trying to pose as Winston Churchill. He is an arsonist promising to rescue us from the world he set on fire. Europe and the Middle East are ablaze because of Crooked Joe Bidens failed presidency. His credibility is shot, and our enemies and allies alike regard him as a pathetic joke. The statement called for a return to Trump policies of defunding enemies of Israel, including Hamas and its terrorist sponsor, Iran. Trump attacks Biden ahead of presidential address (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) It added that Mr Trump had repeatedly called for 100 per cent support for Israel which it described as one of our closest and most cherished allies against the evil terrorist attacks. If Bidens speech does not include absolute commitments to economically isolate the Iranian regime and support the Israelis in defeating, dismantling, and permanently destroying the terrorist group Hamas, then Joe Biden does not stand with Israel, the statement said. He funds and finances the barbarians who slaughter Israeli men, women, children, and infants, and he supports those who are committed to eradicating the Jewish state from the face of the earth. This is no time for weakness and neutrality. Joe Bidens appeasement of Iran and Hamas must end. In his speech, Mr Biden argued that US support for Ukraine and Israel are linked to a wider goal of protecting democracies around the world from aggression. He said Hamass threats against Israel are similar to the Russian threat against Ukraine because they share an authoritarian character. They both want to completely annihilate a neighbouring democracy, the president said. If we walk away and let Putin erase Ukraines independence, would-be aggressors around the world would be embolded to try the same, Mr Biden continued, arguing that regional powers like Iran could take similar actions in the Middle East. He added that freeing Israeli and American hostages in Hamas custody was a top priority, and that the US was pursuing every avenue to bring loved ones home. As president there is no higher priority for me than the safety of Americans held hostage, Mr Biden said. Today, were saying GAY louder than ever! The disgraced legislator who wrote Floridas dont say gay law will now serve four months in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor sentenced former Florida Rep. Joe Harding Thursday, nearly seven months after the Republican politician pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements to investigators. The judge ordered Harding to serve four months in federal prison followed by two years of probation. Harding resigned from the Florida legislature after he was indicted for defrauding federal loan programs intended to help business owners impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Prosecutors say he obtained $150,000 in loans from the Small Business Administration for companies that no longer operated and applied some of the money directly toward credit card debt or transferred it into personal accounts. www.youtube.com Florida Rep. Joe Harding resigns after federal indictment The theft of any amount of taxpayer funds is inexcusable, U.S. Attorney Jason Coody said in a press release. However, the defendants deceptive acts of diverting emergency financial assistance from small businesses during the pandemic is simply beyond the pale. Todays sentence both punishes the defendants criminal conduct and should serve as a significant deterrent to others who would selfishly steal from their fellow citizens to unlawfully enrich themselves. With our law enforcement partners, we remain committed to investigating and prosecuting those who engage in acts of COVID-19-related fraud. Harding drew national attention after he authored the much-maligned dont say gay law in Florida, which initially forbade public school teachers from teaching about gender identity or sexual orientation in kindergarten through third grade. Since Harding left the legislature, the Florida Board of Education extended the ban through high school, and the legislature grew the statutory ban through eighth grade. Investigators said it was important that Hardings sentence serve as an example to others who consider defrauding government programs intended to help those in dire situations. "Mr. Harding egregiously betrayed the public trust by stealing from COVID relief funds meant to help the very people who elected him., said Special Agent in Charge Brian J. Payne, IRS Criminal Investigation, Tampa Field Office. Greed and public service should never meet, but when they do, we stand ready to ensure bad actors are held responsible for their actions. This is another big victory against conservatives trying to push anti-LGBTQ+ legislation that actively hurts our community. A DoorDash driver is accused of sexually assaulting a customer as he brought food to her apartment, Missouri cops say. St. Louis County Police said charges were issued Wednesday, Oct. 18, to 23-year-old Travaye Gaines. Gaines, a delivery driver for DoorDash, forced his way into a womans apartment as he delivered an order, police said. He is accused of removing her towel and groping her. Police said the customer escaped from Gaines and ran to a neighbors home for help. Free from Gaines, the woman then received a FaceTime call from an unknown number, police said. When she answered, she saw Gaines masturbating. Officers tracked down Gaines through communication with DoorDash and attempted to detain him, police said. He was put in handcuffs, but officers said he broke free and tried to escape in his vehicle. Gaines, of Decatur, Illinois, was eventually detained and charged with burglary, attempted rape, sexual misconduct and resisting arrest, police said. We are horrified by this appalling and disturbing incident, a DoorDash spokesperson said in a statement to KMOV. This is something that no one should ever have to endure, and we are here to support this survivor however we can. Our team continues to cooperate fully with law enforcement and we hope the perpetrator is fully held accountable for this heinous behavior. Gaines is being held in the St. Louis County Jail on a $250,000 cash bond, police said. Man shoots three after food order is delivered to wrong house, Michigan officials say Uber driver killed when woman mistakenly thought she was being kidnapped, Texas cops say NEW YORK (AP) Dove Cameron 's latest single starts with the sound of maniacal laughter and then a piano riff that could have been swiped from The Phantom of the Opera. She's just getting started. Lethal Woman is a club banger about a woman sharp as a knife under the table that includes sounds of banging on a door, a gun being cocked and heavy production elements. The lyrics include the playful rhyme: Game recognizes game/By the way, whats your name? We threw everything including the kitchen sink into that song, Cameron tells The Associated Press ahead of its release, the latest track from her debut album due Dec. 1, Alchemical: Volume 1. I think my favorite thing about the song actually is that we switch keys like six times and you hardly really notice, she says, laughing. It just adds this kind of unhinged quality that to me just really takes us over the top. Alchemical: Volume 1 contains six new songs and two previous hits, Boyfriend and Breakfast. The second volume could come as early as the top of next year. The title is inspired by the transformation of matter. In this first half, its very much about exploring all the different sort of versions and avenues of yourself as youre growing and changing and transmuting into something else, she says. Lethal Woman may be a bit unhinged but it's the sound of a young artist enjoying herself, embracing naughtiness, adding a sprinkle of her beloved Broadway and strutting away with a switchblade on her hip. Music should be always like an ever-changing grand adventure. Youre doing it because youre having way too much fun or because its scratching some emotional itch, she says. Its like when youre a kid," she adds. "What would I do if I just had no rules? And thats kind of like what a lot of the album ended up sounding like. Cameron has had a heady few years, winning new artist of the year honors at the 2022 American Music Awards and being named Best New Artist at the 2022 VMAs. She also was s scene-stealer in season two of Schmigadoon! playing a parody of Sally Bowles in Cabaret. The album breaks Cameron's rule about ballads. She has hated them for herself and wasn't willing yet to go to any vulnerable places. If she heard a sad song, her day was over. I wake up in the morning and I listen to the most loud, aggressive, someones-working-in-a-car-body-shop that youve ever heard, she says. If I dont feel like Im being thrust out of a cannon, I just wont get out of bed. But as she's matured, that stance on ballads has shifted. On the new album is "Sand, a slow-burning, wistful track about an ex that contains the lovely lines: You have more pieces of me than the desert has sand/And I have less pieces of you than I can hold in my hand. Ive sort of learned to reclaim what actually has happened and learn how to be able to talk about it in a way that feels vulnerable and that feels more honest. A lot of the album started going in that direction, she says. Cameron first gained fame on Disneys children's show Liv and Maddie from 2013 to 2017, which earned her a Daytime Emmy Award in 2018. She also starred on Disneys Descendants: Wicked World from 2015 to 2017, while juggling the launch of her music career. Cameron debated about whether or not to include her queer anthem Boyfriend, which reached No. 16 on Billboards Hot 100 in the summer of 2022. She added it because it is such an important song for her, a milestone in her evolution. I always knew I was queer, but thats a challenging thing to talk about, even in your own small social sphere, your family, she says. When Boyfriend came about, it was one of those things that had been boiling, bubbling up in me that felt like something I needed to address and express. Boyfriend with the sly, witty lyrics Up all night, I wont quit/Thinking Im gonna steal you from him/I could be such a gentleman/Plus all my clothes would fit was the announcement of Cameron's real self. She says she had until then felt the need to be small, chaste and palatable. I wasnt taking up any space. And in my own life I was really diminishing myself because it felt like the right thing to do as someone who had never done anything different, she says. It really did feel like I stepped into a new reality where I was actually allowed to be myself because I allowed it. ___ Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits Khoisan protesters surround King Willem Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands at the Iziko Slave Lodge museum in Cape Town during their state visit to South Africa Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. The king and queen of the Netherlands were confronted by angry protesters in South Africa on a visit Friday to a monument that traces part of their country's involvement in slavery as a colonial power 300 years ago. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht) CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) Angry protesters in Cape Town confronted the king and queen of the Netherlands on Friday as they visited a museum that traces part of their countrys 150-year involvement in slavery in South Africa. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima were leaving the Slave Lodge building in central Cape Town when a small group of protesters representing South Africa's First Nations groups -- the earliest inhabitants of the region around Cape Town -- surrounded the royal couple and shouted slogans about Dutch colonizers stealing land from their ancestors. The king and queen were put into a car by security personnel and quickly driven away as some of the protesters, who were wearing traditional animal-skin dress, jostled with police. The Dutch colonized the southwestern part of South Africa in 1652 through the Dutch East India trading company. They controlled the Dutch Cape Colony for more than 150 years before British occupation. Modern-day South Africa still reflects that complicated Dutch history, most notably in the Afrikaans language, which is derived from Dutch and is widely spoken as an official language of the country, including by First Nations descendants. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima made no speeches during their visit to the Slave Lodge but spent time walking through rooms where slaves were kept under Dutch colonial rule. The Slave Lodge was built in 1679, making it one of the oldest buildings in Cape Town. It was used to keep slaves -- men, women and children -- until 1811. Slavery in South Africa was abolished by the English colonizers in 1834. Garth Erasmus, a First Nations representative who accompanied the king and queen on their walk through the Slave Lodge, said their visit should serve to exorcise some ghosts. The Dutch East India Company established Cape Town as a settlement for trading ships to pick up supplies on their way to and from Asia. Slaves were brought to work at the colony from Asian and other African countries, but First Nations inhabitants of South Africa were also enslaved and forced off their land. Historians estimate there were nearly 40,000 slaves in the Cape Colony when slavery ended. First Nations groups have often lobbied the South African government to recognize their historic oppression. They say their story has largely been forgotten in South Africa, which instead is often defined by the apartheid era of brutal forced racial segregation that was in place between 1948 and 1994. First Nations people have a different ethnic background from South Africa's Black majority. ___ AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa A pair of jaguars discovered in a cage on a ranch exposed a cruel new fashion among Ecuador's drug lords. In the style of Colombian cocaine baron Pablo Escobar, they are erecting private, illegal zoos as a status symbol. In May, police came upon the sorry sight of the two endangered felines perched on a log surrounded by iron bars. They were held on a property owned by Wilder Sanchez Farfan alias "Gato" (The Cat) a suspected drug lord with ties to Mexico's Jalisco New Generation cartel and wanted in the United States. Farfan was arrested in Colombia in February, and the U.S. Treasury Department called him "one of the most significant drug traffickers in the world." Along with the jaguars, police have also found parrots, parakeets and other exotic birds Farfan is believed to have imported from China and South Korea. A margay, a small spotted cat, is seen at the TUERI Wildlife Hospital, created by the San Francisco University of San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), in Quito on October 2, 2023, after it was seized in a rural area of the Ecuadorean capital by the Environment Ministry and taken to this center for evaluation. / Credit: GALO PAGUAY/AFP via Getty Images The "narco zoo" phenomenon is a relatively new one that coincides with the rise of an underground drug industry in Ecuador in the last few years, said Darwin Robles, head of the police's Environmental Protection Unit (UPMA). "Where there is drug trafficking, you can be sure that there will be... wildlife trafficking," he told AFP. The purpose? "To demonstrate their power, their purchasing power, their economic capacity," said Robles. Police seized more than 6,800 wild animals in 2022 and nearly 6,000 in 2021 in Ecuador, one of the world's most biodiverse countries. The South American country, wedged between major cocaine producers Colombia and Peru, recently went from being a mere transit stop to a drug trafficking hub in its own right, with a correlated explosion in violent crime. The jaguars and birds found at Farfan's property were taken to rehabilitation centers to receive medical and other attention. But in most cases, a return to their natural habitat has been impossible. Police have also found turtles, snakes, furs and animal heads on other drug kingpins' properties. "Having an animal is a status symbol... It demonstrates an individual's rank within a network" of organized crime, an official for the US-based Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) told AFP. The official asked not to be named for fear of reprisal from trafficking groups. Owning a spotted cat, for example, is a start, but having a jaguar is much more prestigious -- just like expansive properties, luxury cars, works of art or jewelry, the official explained. In Ecuador, wildlife trafficking is punishable by up to three years in prison -- much less than in many of its neighbors. After Escobar was gunned down by police in 1993, his private collection of flamingos, giraffes, zebras and kangaroos were placed in zoos. But a herd of hippopotamuses -- dubbed "cocaine hippos" -- was left to fend for itself, reproducing unchecked and now posing a major headache for environmental authorities. Independent journalist Audrey Huse, who has lived in Colombia for eight years, told CBS News that in the 1980s, Escobar imported just four hippos. The hippo numbers exploded and there are now about 160 of the two-ton beasts wandering freely around this part of northwestern Colombia. "Because they have no natural predators here, as they would in Africa, the population is booming an it's affecting the local ecosystem," Huse said. "Because they are such large animals, they consume considerable amounts of grassland and produce significant waste, which then poisons the rivers." There are fears Ecuador's drug lords will leave a similarly negative environmental footprint. At the Tueri wildlife hospital in Quito, wild cats, monkeys, porcupines, parrots and owls receive treatment after falling victim to trafficking. Many arrive underfed or injured. A Central American squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus), is seen at the TUERI Wildlife Hospital, created by the San Francisco University of San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), in Quito on October 2, 2023, after it was seized in the northern area of the Ecuadorean capital by the Environment Ministry and taken to this center for evaluation. / Credit: GALO PAGUAY/AFP via Getty Images Only about one in five recover sufficiently to return to their natural home, say clinic staff. Many don't survive the ordeal. Others will live out their days in shelters as they no longer know how to live in the wild. Traffickers do not understand the harm they are wreaking, said the WCS official. "To have a monkey at your house, it means you caused a hunter to kill its family," explained the official. Last year, a monkey in a "bullet-proof" vest was found dead after a bloody cartel shootout in Mexico One of the shelters that receives animals that cannot be rewilded, is the Jardin Alado Ilalo in Quito. "We have animals that arrive with their wings amputated, their claws amputated and a fundamental damage that is psychological damage," said Cecilia Guana, who takes care of parrots and other birds at the center. "These birds no longer identify themselves as animals in their natural state... and have to stay in places like these." What does Sidney Powell's guilty plea mean for Trump? Grisly details of Natalee Holloway's murder revealed in Joran van der Sloot confession Key takeaways from Biden's second Oval Office address There should be no debate over the language we use to describe Hamas and its depraved Oct. 7 attack on Israel. Hamas is a terrorist organization, and the acts of its agents on Oct. 7, when they crossed the border into Israel with the express intent of killing and kidnapping civilians, were terrorism. That makes them terrorists. While some have suggested Hamas political role in Gaza means it is not a terrorist organization, it is clearly targeting civilians for political ends, which is the very definition of terrorism. The danger in using euphemisms such as militants to describe terrorists is that it normalizes heinous acts of terrorism and implies that the deliberate targeting of civilians is a military act and that Hamas at large has some other, less despicable objective. But lets be clear: Hamas stated goal in its founding charter calls for the obliteration of the state of Israel. The United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and Canada have all formally designated Hamas a terrorist organization. It should not be confused with Palestine or the innocent Palestinians now suffering in Gaza. Hamas terror attack on Israel is clear and indisputable proof that Hamas continues to be committed to its original goal, despite its 2017 charter revisions. The grisly details that have emerged in the days since the attack leave no doubt. Terrorists stormed Israeli towns, killing and kidnapping anyone they encountered. They recorded the atrocities on body cameras and posted the video to social media sites. Footage compiled by the Israeli government shows civilians shot in bedrooms, bathrooms and yards. At a music festival celebrating friends, love and infinite freedom, terrorists gunned down 260 revelers and took an unknown number of hostages. Authorities also released photographs of slain babies, their bodies shot and burnt. In Beeri, more than 100 are known to have been killed and others were taken hostage. News reports describe homes riddled with bullet holes and cars reduced to burnt husks. In kibbutz Nir Oz, at least 20 people were murdered and upwards of 80 were kidnapped. In response to all of this, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin described the atrocities committed by Hamas as worse than what I saw with ISIS. Hamas currently holds more than 200 hostages from their Oct. 7 attack on Israel and has promised to begin executing them if Israel retaliates. There is a word to describe the intentional targeting of civilians to political ends, and that word is terrorism. Those who commit acts of terrorism are terrorists. To call these acts or their perpetrators anything other than terrorism and terrorists is not only intellectually disingenuous, it also risks normalizing such acts by obfuscating the essential truth of their nature. ____ This editorial is also being published by Daily News affiliated newspapers in Tribune Publishing and Media News Group. ___ News, or shall we say news, of a horrid attack spread faster than you can say IDF: Israel had bombed a hospital in Gaza, killing hundreds. Without bothering to verify the claim, which had been initially propagated by Hamas, anti-Israel members of Congress shared it with thousands upon thousands denouncing it as the latest supposed proof of Israeli inhumanity toward Palestinians. The Associated Press wrote a credulous account stating that A massive blast rocked a Gaza City hospital packed with wounded and other Palestinians seeking shelter Tuesday, killing hundreds of people, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said. The New York Times stuck to he said, she said language: Israelis and Palestinians Blame Each Other for Blast at Gaza Hospital That Killed Hundreds. Turns out, based on everything we now know, it was not an Israeli bomb but a misfired Islamic Jihad rocket that hit the hospital or, perhaps more accurately, the parking lot adjacent to the hospital. Israel denied responsibility and circulated audio of Hamas operatives admitting as much. President Joe Biden concurred, saying The data I was shown by my Defense Department confirmed Israels account. That was better late than never, but late indeed, as millions of people around the world already ingested and believed and grew furious based on what they read or heard. Since the dawn of time, reports from war zones have been shrouded in heavy fog, as governments spread propaganda thats invariably at odds with accounts on the ground. But now the fog is thicker, faster-moving and more poisonous than ever before, as ideologues find the supposed facts needed to support their hardened presuppositions and pass them around before the actual truth can conceivably catch up. Hilariously, contrary to popular belief it probably wasnt Mark Twain who coined a lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes; it was Jonathan Swift who said something similar. But the aphorism has stuck for good reason. Lies now travel at the speed of electrons, or light. Rigorous, independent, shoe-leather reporting, which is often the only thing that can clear the fog, takes much more time than that. If given a bit of time, serious journalists who care about the truth many of whom still exist, nevermind the best efforts of men like Donald Trump, who seek to cast the entire news media as dishonest have more tools than ever to suss out what really happened. The U.S. government is using open-source tools and satellite imagery to document war crimes in Ukraine. Last year, the New York Times and Washington Post relied on such advanced forensic tools, including geocoded video and photographs, to challenge an Israeli account about the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in the West Bank a month earlier. But the forces of disinformation are growing ever more sophisticated, too. Its not just that propaganda without evidentiary support is readily amplified by countless useful idiots. Deepfake technology is giving ever more people and organizations, no matter how dishonest, the tools to fabricate seemingly credible evidence. If cancerous cynicism metastasizes, with sympathizers only ever believing what they wish to believe and writing off as fake all inconvenient facts, we will be truly lost. Hope and pray were not already there. ___ John Eplee Rural schools did right by me. I grew up in Fredonia, Kansas, and Fredonia High School instilled in me the core values and the academic foundation that allowed me to return to rural Kansas as a doctor. It was at Fredonia High School where I learned basic biology and bedside manner, the two most fundamental skills in medicine. Rural kids and the rural schools they attend do not grab headlines, but they deserve every bit as much attention and respect as big urban school districts. They deserve the same tutoring, the same local resources, and the same enrichment opportunities as their big city counterparts. Under the Kansas Educational Enrichment Program (KEEP) which gives eligible students $1,000 for educational opportunities, from tutoring to laptops rural students are getting exactly those resources. It is because of my commitment to rural education that I will work to solidify and expand programs like KEEP in the coming legislative session. This is about our students today just as much as it is about the future of America. After all, rural Kansas schools have produced the likes of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Jack Kilby and Bob Dole (not to mention a doctor or two). There is no doubt that many such future leaders are walking the halls of Kansas schools right now. KEEP is helping to build the next generation. Already tens of thousands of students, representing all of Kansas' 105 (mostly rural) counties, have received extra help. Yet this is not just about additional financial resources study after study has found intensive tutoring to be one of the most effective tools to make up for gaps in reading, writing and critical thinking. There are ancillary benefits for rural economies, too. Those administering the KEEP program made the insightful decision to prioritize local education providers. Students can get face-to-face tutoring, where they learn social skills in real life, not just online, and real-life interactions are far more effective for children. The KEEP program has also fostered development of a burgeoning educational support community in rural towns. Rural Kansas did not lack for smart people capable of tutoring. It lacked for students who could afford it. Thanks to KEEP, local jobs can develop to serve as a resource for rural students. This program has done too much good to not preserve or even expand it in the next legislative session. It is too important for students, for parents, for local communities, and most critically, for the future of Kansas. We must build on KEEPs success and continue to grow resources that support rural Kansas students. John Eplee represents Kansas 63rd District in the Statehouse and lives in Atchison, where he has practiced family medicine for 42 years. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: KEEP benefits rural Kansas schools and our future leaders A dispute over whether a Michigan petition billed as an effort to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour was mistakenly drafted to lower the wage for many workers kept the proposal from going to the Democratically-controlled state Legislature for now. The state's elections panel deadlocked along party lines on a vote on whether organizers behind the petition collected enough voter signatures. Both Democratic members voted to certify the petition while the GOP members voted against certification. In response to the impasse, Raise the Wage plans to challenge the board's vote in court to ensure lawmakers can take up their proposal. The Raise the Wage petition proposes increasing Michigan's minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2027. But the petition language would change the definition of employer in Michigan law from a person, firm or corporation employing two or more employees to employing 21 or more employees. The original petition submitted to the Bureau of Elections proposed modifying the current definition of an employer as one "who employs 2 or more employees" by striking out the "2" and replacing it with "1." But organizers circulated a petition that removed that strike-through. The revision to the employer definition would exempt small businesses, which could pay the lower federal minimum wage. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, lower than Michigan's current $10.10 an hour minimum wage. About 18% of Michigan employees worked at firms employing fewer than 21 workers, according to the most recent data from the Michigan Center for Data Analytics. So while the Raise the Wage proposal would increase the minimum wage for nearly 82% of Michigan workers, it could open the door to small businesses paying the federal minimum wage. Saru Jayaraman, president of One Fair Wage backing the petition, said she hopes the proposal doesn't do that and said she would need to do a legal analysis. But she said that the Raise the Wage petition was modified to create an exemption for small businesses because the campaign was "dealing with a very hostile Legislature." Republicans controlled the Legislature when Raise the Wage submitted its first petition and began circulating its revised petition to collect voter signatures. Mark Brewer, an attorney representing Raise the Wage, told canvassers the change wasn't a mistake. But he subsequently told members of the Board of State Canvassers that regardless of whether the proposed update to the employer definition was an error or intentional, the canvassers had a legal duty to certify the petition because organizers had collected enough signatures. Republican canvassers pushed back. GOP canvasser Tony Daunt called it an "absolutely egregious error." GOP canvasser Richard Houskamp said he found it hard to believe organizers trying to raise the minimum wage intended to lower it for some Michigan workers. "Common sense would indicate you had an error and it just didn't get caught," Houskamp told Brewer. "It's not for this body to decide whether it was a mistake," Brewer said. Democratic canvassers took a different position than their GOP colleagues. Democratic canvasser Mary Ellen Gurewitz described the dispute as a fight over the substance of the petition and outside of the board's purview. The Bureau of Elections found that organizers obtained enough voter signatures and recommended certifying the petition to advance the proposal to the state Legislature. Michigan Opportunity a coalition of state business organizations accused Raise the Wage of deceiving voters who signed the petition assuming it would increase the minimum wage for workers across the board when it could potentially decrease wages for workers at small businesses. "We commend the decision by the Board of Canvassers not to place this error-riddled and misleading effort on the ballot," said Michigan Opportunity spokesperson John Sellek. But during the canvassers' meeting, Brewer told Andrea Hansen, a lawyer for Michigan Opportunity, that the group should have embraced rather than rejected the petition. "I think many of Ms. Hansen's clients would love this proposal, so I'm mystified why she opposes it here this morning," he said. After the deadlock, Gurewitz said she expects Raise the Wage to file a lawsuit and the court to tell the board they must certify the petition. Trump lawyers: Michigan officials can't keep him off 2024 presidential ballot When the Board of State Canvassers determines a piece of voter-initiated legislation like the Raise the Wage petition receives enough support, the proposal heads to the state lawmakers for consideration. Lawmakers can approve the measure or send it directly to voters with the proposal appearing on the 2024 ballot. Legislators could also propose an alternate proposal and let voters decide between the two. In theory, if the board certifies the Raise the Wage proposal, the Democratically-controlled Legislature could scrap the proposed update to the employer definition so it would raise the minimum wage for all workers, giving voters the option to decide between a proposal that would boost wages and one that would reduce them for some workers. Lawmakers could also mimic what Republicans did with the most recent initiative to increase the minimum wage though that could create legal risks. In 2018, GOP lawmakers essentially watered down an initiative on wages and paid sick leave, prompting a lawsuit currently before the Michigan Supreme Court. Justices could soon decide whether lawmakers have the authority to adopt and amend voter-initiated legislation in the same session. Jayaraman sees a third option. She wants lawmakers to adopt the Raise the Wage proposal as is and pass a second measure to apply to those employed at small businesses to ensure an across-the-board minimum wage increase for all workers. "We want it to be universal," she said. Contact Clara Hendrickson: chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743. Follow her on X, previously called Twitter, @clarajanehen. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan elections panel deadlocks on minimum wage proposal The Rafah border crossing wait continues, despite multiple parties involved signaling a potential Friday border opening to deliver aid to civilians in Gaza. According to Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, the spokesperson for Egypts Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Egypt is not responsible for the border crossing closure, and Israel is the country at fault for stopping the aid. Targeting [Egypt] in Western media is clear in the current crisis, Zeid said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Promoting displacement scenario, holding [Egypt] responsible for the Crossing closure despite [Israels] targeted attacks & refusal of aid entry & recently insinuating [Egyptian] responsibility for obstructing third-country nationals exit. President Biden on Friday predicted trucks carrying humanitarian aid will enter Gaza within the next 48 hours amid concerns the assistance had been blocked from crossing the border there. I got a commitment from the Israelis and the president of Egypt that the crossing will be open, Biden said. Biden previously spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who agreed to allow up to 20 trucks of humanitarian aid into Gaza at the Rafah border crossing. He said the road at the crossing was in very bad shape and had to be repaved. The United Nations secretary general spoke at the Rafah crossing Friday, saying the aid is a difference of life and death for civilians in Gaza and calling for more truckloads crossing into Gaza. The aid comes from a $100 million humanitarian aid package for civilians in Gaza, announced by Biden on Wednesday when he was visiting Israel. The aid will include food, water and medicine as civilians have struggled with dwindling supplies since Hamas, which controls Gaza, began the war with Israel nearly two weeks ago. The conflict has killed more than 1,400 Israelis, mostly in the Oct. 7 surprise attack by Hamas that began the war, while 3,800 Palestinians have been killed in Israels counteroffensive, the Hamas-led Health ministry in Gaza announced. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. FILE PHOTO: 78th UNGA General Debate at UN HQ in New YorK SAN LUIS DE LA REINA, El Salvador (Reuters) - Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said on Thursday he expects to reach an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over a new financing program after next year's general elections, which end in March. "I would expect the deal to come after the elections," Bukele told reporters at a press conference, adding that the negotiations with the lender have been "very productive." Last week, a senior IMF official characterized the talks in the same way. Rodrigo Valdes, director of the IMF's Western Hemisphere Department, described a recent mission to El Salvador as "a first step" toward reaching an agreement, but suggested that disagreements remain. At the time, Valdez did not specify a time-frame for reaching a deal. El Salvador's presidential and legislative elections are scheduled for next February, with local elections set for the following month. (Reporting by Nelson Renteria; Editing by Kylie Madry) X owner Elon Musk said Friday the company plans to launch two new subscription tiers with different prices, one for a subscription with ads and one without ads. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Elon Musk said Friday that X will soon launch two new premium subscription tiers as the social media company seeks to make up financial losses incurred under his leadership. Musk announced the new subscription plans in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, but did not provide specific details about cost or when they would become available. "One is lower cost with all features, but no reduction in ads, and the other is more expensive but has no ads," he wrote. The plan comes as X on Wednesday began testing a $1 annual fee for new users in New Zealand and the Philippines to create their own posts and use other features of the platform. The so-called "Not A Bot" fee allows users who refuse to pay the toll to take only "Read Only" actions such as reading posts, watching videos and following accounts. The company said the fee was implemented to defend against automated accounts and "spammers who attempt to manipulate the platform and disrupt the experience of X users." Musk said in July that X has "a heavy debt load" with negative cash flow and had experienced a 50% drop in revenue. In an early effort to draw revenue to the company, Musk launched an $8 monthly "verified" subscription -- originally priced at $19.99 per month -- that grants users a blue checkmark badge on their profile and elevates the visibility of their posts. Last month, X announced that it would collect biometric and employment information from verified subscribers to provide further proof of identity and facilitate a planned expansion of job-finding features on the platform. A new report called "Pay To Play" from U.S.-based watchdog organization NewsGuard Friday said verified accounts on X are responsible for spreading the bulk of misinformation about the Israel-Hamas war. The changes to the verification system have been blamed for increased difficulty in regards to identifying legitimate businesses, public figures or news organizations, which then forced the platform to implement grey and gold checkmark badges for certain high-profile accounts. However, earlier this week, X reportedly removed the gold badge from the main account belonging to The New York Times without notice. X is also battling a disinformation problem after cutting half the staff in North America working to block disinformation under Musk and faces an investigation from the European Union over its response to disinformation surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict. Another evacuation plane with 79 Ukrainian citizens on board left Israel for Romania late on Oct. 19, Ukraine's Embassy in Israel reported on Oct. 20. This is the fourth evacuation flight organized by the embassy since the fighting in Israel and Gaza broke out on Oct. 7, bringing the total number of rescued Ukrainians to over 500. The embassy has provided consular assistance for Ukrainian citizens during registration, passport control, and customs procedures. Meanwhile, over 300 people are on the evacuation list from the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian enclave besieged by the Israeli military, and their number is constantly increasing, Ukraine's Ambassador in Israel Yevhen Korniichuk said on Oct. 19. Read also: Ukrainians trapped in besieged Gaza: We are constantly bombed The militant group Hamas, which governs Gaza, launched unprecedented attacks on Israeli settlements on Oct. 7. Tel Aviv responded by retaliatory airstrikes against Gaza and a total blockade of the enclave. Thousands of people, mostly civilians, have been killed on both sides so far. The hostilities claimed the lives of a Ukrainian woman in the Gaza Strip and 18 more Ukrainians in Israel, which is reportedly the second highest number of foreigners killed in the conflict, right behind the U.S. There is a large Ukrainian community in Israel, estimated by the Foreign Ministry as being around 500,000, most of whom left Ukraine after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Most of them are Jews from Ukraine, but there are also tens of thousands of ethnic Ukrainians. Read also: A wave of terror: Hamas attack brings back haunting memories of war for Ukrainians in Israel Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Nearly 30 years ago, in 1996, Columbia University hosted a conference called The Fight for Americas Future: A Teach-in With the Labor Movement. Speakers included the feminist activist Betty Friedan, historian Robin Kelley, and scholar Cornel West. John Sweeney, who had recently been elected president of the AFL-CIO, was also in attendance. Sweeneys election was seen as a watershed moment for organized labor; per The New York Times, it signaled a sharp turn toward militancy and moving women and minorities into the policy-making ranks. Rosslyn Wuchinich, now the president of Unite Here Local 274 in Philadelphia, was there. She described it as the start of a new moment, one in which those interested in racial, economic, and gender justice were seeing the labor movement as a place that you could go for real change. The conferences goal was to reinvigorate organized labor by uniting with various social movements behind a shared progressive agenda. Could a new labor movementone not built or seen as the exclusive province of working-class white menreclaim power for workers across the board? Given overlapping climate, health, and social crises and the threat of another Trump presidency, this question has taken on new urgency today. Union density has fallen sharply in the last 40 years, from 20.1 percent in 1983 to 10.1 percent in 2022. At the same time, the last several years have seen an upsurge in labor militancy that few would have predicted in 1996. Members of the 150,000-member United Auto Workers are, as of this writing and for the first time in the unions 88-year history, on strike at all of the Big Three automakers. President Joe Biden , who calls himself the most pro-union president in history, recently joined them; it was the first time a sitting U.S. president has ever joined workers on a picket line. The Writers Guild of America, which had been on strike since May, recently won a contract that met much of its demands. Union negotiators knew a less than exceptional deal was not going to fly with a younger, more active, possibly more radical membership, a TV writer told The New York Times. SAG-AFTRA, which represents approximately 160,000 actors and performers, has been striking since mid-July. A UPS strike was narrowly averted in August; the credible threat of one yielded substantial gains for workers. Kaiser Permanente health care workers won what amounted to 21 percent in wage increases over the next four years in early October, after more than 75,000 of them staged a three-day strike in four states. New organizing campaigns at Starbucks and Amazon have also generated a great deal of excitement. Since a store in Buffalo, New York, became the first U.S. Starbucks to unionize in 2021, more than 350 stores across the country have followed suit. But the company has steadfastly refused to negotiate, and, two years after the first store voted to unionize, no Starbucks location is operating under a union contract. Unionization efforts at Amazon have hit similar stumbling blocks. Staten Island warehouse workers led the first successful union drive at a U.S. Amazon location in 2022. In the face of a multimillion-dollar union-busting campaign, and initially without the support of larger, more established unions, they won what The New York Times called one of the biggest victories for organized labor in a generation. More than a year after that vote, Amazon is still refusing to negotiate a contract. In the last eight years, a new U.S. leftone that is distinct from and more progressive than the Democratic Party, but which often works to elect candidates running on the Democratic linehas emerged. This left has driven and benefited from the upsurge in labor organizing. Nikhil Goyal, a former Bernie Sanders senior policy adviser and author of Live to See the Day, said at a recent book event that revitalizing the labor movement was crucial to making progress on any other fronta common theme on the left since 2015, thanks in large part to Sanderss presidential campaigns and supporters, whove gone on to found organizations like Sunrise, the climate justice group that helped popularize the Green New Deal and link the labor movement with the cause of climate justice. The Democratic Socialists of America, of which I am a member, has also made inroads with organized labor since 2016. But the organization is still relatively new to having and wielding power, and some in labor still view it with suspicion. In New York City, its really tough, said Zyad Hammad, who organizes with NYC-DSAs labor branch, because the connection between the Democratic Party and major unions is so strong here that DSA is seen as a threat to the Democratic Party machine and their power structure and the way things are done in New York politics. Large labor organizations still tend to back Democratsincluding centrists with dubious track records on laborand union households still tend to vote Democratic. But Democrats share of those votes has mostly shrunk in the last 20 years. The fraying relationship between organized labor and the Democratic Party, coupled with the rise of new groups and voting blocs to the left of the party, have prompted some in labor to consider whether its better to maintain ties with established but unreliable partners or join newly emboldened groups in carving out alternative paths to power. New Yorks ex-Governor Andrew Cuomo spent years recruiting labor leaders to join his vendetta against the left-leaning Working Families Party. He persuaded a number of unions to withdraw from the New York WFP in 2014, when the party considered backing his primary challenger Zephyr Teachout. The WFP ultimately backed Cuomo, who promptly reneged on every promise he made to secure its endorsement. When the party backed Cynthia Nixon over Cuomo in the 2018 primary, more unions left. Asked about the divide those departures revealed, Sandra Oxford, the former executive director of the Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation, said that, speaking only as a WFP state officer, she wouldnt call it a divide: Its been more of a marriage, and it has not always been a harmonious marriage. Ultimately these schisms freed the WFP to grow into a more unified and disciplined organization that has survived Cuomos attacks, helped put progressives like New York state Attorney General Letitia James in powerful positions, and moved left. But the question remains: Now that labor and the left are thriving anew on parallel paths, will they come together to maximize their power? This used to be a simpler question to answer. Many of Americas most effective labor leaders were socialists, from Mother Jones to Eugene Debs to A. Philip Randolph. But in the first half of the twentieth century, red scares drove leftists out of labor leadership, rendering it less confrontational and more transactional. Labor movements across the world have succeeded generally when theyve had strong unions in alliance with strong working-class political parties, said Eric Blanc, author and assistant professor of labor studies at Rutgers University. The trouble in the United States, he added, is that theres never been a mass working-class party, which helps explain divisions within the working class. Driving leadership to the right helped feed a stereotype of union members as blue-collar, hard-working Americans, white Americans whose values, interests, and experiences are at odds with those of people of color, women, and LGBTQ folks. But the U.S. labor movement has always been diverse. Today it includes many more workers in female-dominated sectors like teaching, health care, flight staff, retail, and hospitality work. Black workers are more likely to belong to unions than white, Asian, or Hispanic workers. Women in unions experience smaller gender-based pay gaps than their nonunion counterparts. Immigrants have led, powered, and gained from efforts to organize the multiracial working class. The narrow wokeness of academic and corporate culture can and often does alienate working-class people regardless of race and gender. And as conditions for workers of all stripes continue to deteriorate, the appeal of broadsides against corporate greed and demands for economic and social justice has grown. The diversity of Americas working class is a strength, but its also an opportunity for exploitation. Divisions among workersreal, perceived, and imposedhave made segments of labor vulnerable to the right. Todays Republicans have three main strategies: pit union members against leadership, workers against climate activists, and the U.S. against China. As GOP Senator Josh Hawley recently wrote on X, Auto workers deserve a raiseand they deserve to have their jobs protected from Joe Bidens stupid climate mandates that are destroying the US auto industry and making China rich. In Ohio, Senator J.D. Vance said hes rooting for the auto workers across our country demanding higher wages and an end to political leaderships green war on their industry. Trump told NBCs Meet the Press that autoworkers were being sold down the river by their leadership. Corporate executives have also sought to paint union demands as incompatible with progressive climate policy. While Wuchinich dismissed the notion that workers and climate activists have competing interests, she offered that it was imperative to put real thought into efforts to bring climate and other progressive activists into deeper alignment with labor. In the broader environmental movement, she said, there can be lip service paid to the people who are doing the work and the need for a just transition, as opposed to the kind of true engagement thats required. When groups like Sunrise talk about a just transition, the phrase rings hollow to many union members. When workers hear that were going to have a just transition, they know that means theyre going to get fucked, Philadelphia organizer Amanda McIllmurray told me in 2020. Structural differences between unions and nonprofits drive some of these tensions. Unions have a mandate to serve their members, and, unlike left-leaning nonprofits, their members often have a variety of political views, making it difficult to take potentially controversial stands without alienating some of them. Some unions are more democratically run than others, but union members elect their officers, whereas nonprofits are run by unelected boards and executives. People join leftist organizations out of ideological conviction. They typically join unions to secure better pay, benefits, and working conditions. One key to bringing these groups back into alignment is to bring class consciousness back to the labor movement. Labor actions provide organic opportunities for an understanding of class and solidarity to take root. I wanted dental insurance; I wanted to earn more than just $30,000; but most of all, I wanted a workplace where I wasnt treated like shit, Aparna Gopalan wrote in a recent Jewish Currents newsletter, describing what motivated her to go on strike for the first time as a graduate instructor. On the picket line, she found that she and her co-workers had all come out for the same reasonsto win better pay, benefits, and harassment protections. But as the strike wore on, something changed. They had initially walked off the job for practical reasons, but they stayed on the line for more ineffable ones. When feelings of solidarity, agency, and collective power begin to emerge, they can break down political divides. The wave of teachers strikes that erupted in Republican-controlled states in 2018 drew thousands of participants and supporters, including many who were not leftists, unionists, or Democrats. A survey conducted by Columbia University sociologists in the six states where teachers walked out in 2018 found that the strikes changed attitudes, particularly among conservatives, Republicans, and those without personal experience with unions. Not only did they appear to establish a greater sense of common fate between parents and teachers; they also increased peoples interest in labor action, if not necessarily traditional union membership. The concrete manifestation [of unity] for the left and for labor is trying to unite those who sell their labor against those who own the companies, said Blanc. Striking displays of left-labor unity erupted during Bill Clintons second term and Obamas first, political eras in which both constituencies were marginalized. Clinton angered unions by punting on efforts to strengthen labor laws and dismissing their concerns about Nafta. With the notable exception of Occupy, the Obama years followed this path. Obama allowed card-check legislation to languish after campaigning on passing it, failed to intervene when then-Governor Scott Walker declared war on unions in Wisconsin, and subjected union health plans to new taxes and mandates under Obamacare. He wasnt much friendlier to the left, bemoaning its excesses and accusing progressives of want[ing] to take their ball and go home. Obamas indifference spurred unions to seek ways to build power outside of Washington. Unions provided key logistical support to Occupy Wall Street in 2011 and the Seattle antiWorld Trade Organization protests in 1999. During Occupy, Teamsters marched alongside activists who disrupted Sothebys auctions in solidarity with the art handlers union the company locked out. Leaders in both camps say the relationship is sensitive, The Washington Post reported at the time, adding that Occupy activists had vowed to reject any efforts by union officials to draw the new movement into the get-out-the-vote efforts that labor wages in election campaigns. A decade earlier, the Los Angeles Times ran a story (Teamsters and Turtles: Theyre Together at Last) that described tens of thousands of demonstratorshusky red-jacketed steelworkers marching alongside costumed sea turtle impersonators, environmentalists and miners, human rights activists and family farmers against the WTO. The left and labor are, in many ways, stronger today. The vast majority of people in this country know that they are getting the short end of the economic stick and are angry about it, said Wuchinich. In 2022, the largest percentage of Americans since 1965 approved of labor unions. Large majorities of Democrats and sizable proportions of Republicans supported the recent strike wave. Campaigns at Starbucks, as well as at media outlets, museums, and large public universitieswhat the writer Alissa Quart calls black turtleneck strikeshave brought youth, energy, and militancy back to the labor movement. People in certain more highly educated, professionalized groups, for whom there are higher economic expectations, who have graduated college expecting a particular career and a particular income are, Wuchinich said, now realizing they are also getting screwed. And recent campaigns have forged new bonds between blue collars and black turtlenecks, uniting them around a shared identity as union members and breaking down some of the hierarchical divisions that can undermine solidarity. In recent years, weve seen parents support striking teachers, teachers and students fight side by side, and writers and janitors join forces. Organized labor and left-leaning groups have won key victories for workers by electing Democratic majorities in states with large concentrations of union members. As part of a coalition of community, labor, and civil rights groups, unions helped Democrats win back control of the Michigan legislature in 2022. Michigan subsequently became the first state in 58 years to repeal an anti-union right-to-work law. Minnesota Democrats recently passed one of the most pro-worker legislative packages in decades, guaranteeing paid family and medical leave, barring companies from holding mandatory anti-union meetings, and strengthening protections for meatpacking and Amazon warehouse workers. In Pennsylvania, Democrats have passed bills in the state House to raise the minimum wage and enshrine the right to collective bargaining in the state constitution. They were able to do so in part because DSA and the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO joined forces to elect legislators like Representative Elizabeth Fiedler; unions, teachers, and pro-choice groups also came together to back Representative Lindsay Powell. What Maurice Mitchell, national director of the WFP, called the broader movement left and labor also united to elect Brandon Johnson mayor of Chicago and send Greg Casar of Texas to Congress in 2022. Alexa Aviles, a New York City councilmember in Brooklyn, won her 2021 race with strong support from unions, the WFP, and DSAthanks, she said, to a shared focus on prioritizing the needs of people over profit. The language left-leaning groups use todaypeople over profits, workers over bosses, ordinary or working people over eliteshas clear antecedents in left-wing movements like Occupy and political campaigns like Bernie Sanderss presidential runs. Now a number of prominent labor leaders have adopted this language as well, signaling a return to labors radical roots. The UAWs Shawn Fain has described the autoworkers strike as a struggle between the billionaire class and the working class; Stacy Davis Gates, who heads the Chicago Teachers Union, or CTU, recently vowed to prioritize the voices of the many by fighting tooth and nail to ensure that supporters of school choice and privatization do not infect Chicagos board of education with fascism and racism; and Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO, spoke in 2021 about the transformative power of having the legal standing, via a union, to make capital have to respond to working people. Thanks to the renewed vigor of each, the left and labor are now on the cusp of forging a more durable alliance. Olivia Killingsworth, a DSA organizer and SAG-AFTRA member, said its been heartening to see how coordinated and supportive of each others campaigns New York City unions have been, from the bottom to the top. More tempered in his read of the landscape was Jesse Sharkey, former president of the CTU. He acknowledged some bright spots but said that overall, he doesnt see the kind of risk taking and confrontation with capital that were going to need in order to win. Meanwhile, Wuchinich believes that labors biggest opportunity to build power lies in bringing more people into the movement. We build real power when people make the decision to stand up and fight their bosses, she said, and when they expect more from themselves than the rest of the world has been expecting from them. In September, I joined a WGA/SAG-AFTRA picket in midtown Manhattan. It was pouring rain, but the dozen or so people whod shown up anyway were in good spirits. Killingsworth, who was one of the organizers, spotted an older man across the street. Murray! she shouted, beckoning him over. As he came into view, I realized he was the actor F. Murray Abraham. When he heard I was writing about labor, he turned his intense gaze on me. Without unions, he intoned, there is no middle class. And without a middle class, there is no democracy. These are long-standing, time-tested sentiments; whats new is the once-in-a-generation opportunity to unite different groups around our fundamental shared interests. The Ohio Renaissance Festival wants to detach its grounds from the village of Harveysburg, in part to avoid an admissions tax on tickets. Happy Friday! Im Erin Glynn, covering Butler, Warren and Clermont counties. It seems like most elections in the last few years included a village that no longer wants to exist. Moscow in Clermont County survived a dissolution vote in May. Owensville survived one in 2021. We said goodbye to Amelia and Newtonsville in 2019. Now Harveysburg, home to the Ohio Renaissance Festival, is facing a dissolution vote from residents who are unhappy with their mayor and current council. Harveysburg is a small village (550 people) and residents like it that way. I spoke to the current mayor and residents on both sides of the vote and looked at what the end of Harveysburg would mean for the festival and the surrounding area. Click or tap here to see what I found out. What else you need to know Friday, Oct. 20 Weather: High of 59. Mostly cloudy with showers. Is Ohio in the Midwest? Not all Ohioans thinks so, according to new study. Downtown Cincinnati: 'Irresistible spaces,' affordable housing: City Council candidates on plans. Reds: Nick Krall on roster entering 2024: 'How can we upgrade our club this offseason?' Fall make you thirsty? 4 buzzy autumn drinks from New Riff that'll warm you right up. Before you go: Make your weekend plans now! Click or tap here for a spooky list of the top 13 things to do in Cincinnati this weekend. (Yes, Bigfoot is involved.) New here? Subscribe to the Daily Briefing today Today's Top Stories As part of the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project, Cincinnati city leaders want a new street east of I-75 and a new intersection at Gest Street. City wants new street, new intersection as part of Brent Spence project An Eastern diamondback rattlesnake poised to strike while it rattles a warning. Person bitten by rattlesnake at Cincinnati Zoo, fire department says Barrels of bourbon sit and age in the rickhouse, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023, at Boone County Distilling Company near Florence, Ky. Boone County Distilling Company says its bourbon is 'Made by Ghosts' Sharae Moultrie appears in the leading role of Marianne in the North American Tour of Girl From the North Country, directed by Conor McPherson. Review: Riveting performance saves Broadway in Cincinnati's Bob Dylan musical Cincinnati Reds General Manager Nick Krall answer questions during Redsfest, Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, at Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati. Cincinnati Reds president Nick Krall stands by trade deadline plan despite playoff results This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: End of Harveysburg? Is Ohio in the Midwest? | Daily Briefing The European Commission and EU countries have broken a pause on discussions regarding the 12th package of sanctions against Russia and will begin consultations on the details this weekend. Source: Radio Liberty correspondent Rikard Jozwiak on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda Details: It is reported that the process for the 12th package is expected to be completed in November-December. So-called confessionals between the European Commission and EU ambassadors on the 12th package of sanctions on #Russia starts this weekend with a view to reach agreement in Nov though Dec might be more likely. #Ukraine Rikard Jozwiak (@RikardJozwiak) October 20, 2023 Agreements are expected to be reached in November, but it is more likely that this will happen in December. Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraines Minister of Foreign Affairs, has previously expressed the wish that this package should include measures against the circumvention of existing sanctions, as well as new sanctions against the Russian defence industry. According to media reports, the package may include earlier restrictions on trade in Russian diamonds which the countries of the "Group of Seven" are planning to impose, as well as new steps to combat the circumvention of sanctions through third countries. Some EU countries propose strengthening sanctions against Russian liquefied gas and IT services, as well as to impose restrictions on Russias nuclear sector. There is also speculation that the EU will try to approve a proposal to use the proceeds from the frozen assets of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation to help rebuild Ukraine. Reminder: On 2 October, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the pause since the EUs adoption of its latest package of sanctions against the Russian Federation had been too long, and pauses like this extended the Russian aggression. Support UP or become our patron! The European Union (EU) sent formal requests to Meta and TikTok on Thursday for details about their handling of disinformation and illegal content, as the bloc ramps up pressure on social media companies to comply with its new online regulations. Both companies received warning letters from EU Commissioner Thierry Breton last week, following the outbreak of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas and a resulting deluge of misinformation and graphic content online. Neither company responded to a request for comment Friday. The formal request marks a more aggressive step by the EU, which noted in Thursdays announcement that it could decide to open formal proceedings against Meta or TikTok depending on their responses. Meta and TikTok have until Wednesday to respond with more information about their crisis response and until Nov. 8 to respond to separate concerns about protecting election integrity and minor safety. While the request to TikTok doesnt specifically mention the Israel-Hamas conflict, it does ask about the platforms efforts to stop the spread of terrorist and violent content, hate speech, and disinformation. X, formerly known as Twitter, received a similar request last week, shortly after responding to a warning letter from Breton. The commissioner said in a post on X that the formal request signified the first step in our investigation into the platforms compliance with the EUs Digital Services Act. The platform has been a particular hotbed of misinformation amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, with old and unrelated photos and videos, and even video game footage, being misrepresented as current and genuine. While misinformation often spreads online during conflicts, experts have warned that the numerous changes Elon Musk has made to X since buying the social media company last fall could be exacerbating the issue. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Eight-year-old Gemma May covers her head after crawling under her desk with fellow third graders during an earthquake drill at McCornack Elementary School in Eugene on Oct. 19. Several Lane County schools and institutions participated in the annual Great Oregon ShakeOut, when millions of people worldwide practice earthquake safety. Organized by the Oregon Department of Emergency Management, the drill promotes earthquake preparedness. Every year at 10:19 a.m. on Oct. 19, a one minute drill commences, where participants "drop, cover and hold on" for at least one minute. Different entities across the state participate, such as government agencies, schools, businesses, clubs and even families. All Oregonians can receive earthquake early warning alerts on cellphones via three different methods: Wireless emergency alerts, which are sent out automatically to all smartphones unless a user has specifically opted out in their settings. Android OS alerts, which are sent out automatically to all Androids. ShakeAlert-powered apps, such as MyShake, which is free to download and personalize by location in Oregon. Eugene 4J ShakeOut In Eugene, students in Kate Wagoner's third grade class at McCornack Elementary School went over the steps for earthquake safety before Thursday's ShakeOut, knowing the drill was coming and to: Stop what you're doing. Drop to the ground. Cover your head and neck with your arms. Hold on to nearby furniture or sturdy objects when available. Wagoner said this is not a new method students are learning. Every year, students practice all safety drills during the first week of school, including lockdown, evacuation and earthquake drills. She said several earthquake drills are held during the school year. After an announcement came over the loudspeaker that the drill was starting, students quickly and quietly went under their desks and held their position until a second announcement came to let them know the drill was ending. Students in Kate Wagoner's third-grade class practice drop, cover and hold on earthquake safety at McCornack Elementary School during the Great Oregon ShakeOut on Oct. 19 in Eugene. The students then completed an evacuation, which is a big part of earthquake safety as buildings may become compromised in the case of severe earthquakes. McCornack third-grader Jo Lacar said the drills can be pretty fun, especially getting under the desk in class. Lacar said she has a younger sister in kindergarten, and earlier this week they talked about the ShakeOut and she gave her sister some tips since it was her first time. Lacar said she played with her sister last year, creating their own ShakeOut drill at home. Her advice to other students: "Just listen to your teacher. When they say, 'stop, drop and cover,' you listen to them. Then you've got to cover head and neck when you're under the table. And then just wait for someone to say it's all clear." McCornack third-grader Emery Lawrence said he has done about a dozen earthquake drills and is used to the flow of things. Lawrence said he feels confident after practicing the drills, and they can be fun, too. "I like practicing stuff before it actually happens," Lawrence said. "(In a real earthquake) I would feel kind of good. I would know I'm okay. I've practiced." Students at McCornack Elementary School evacuate their classrooms after an earthquake drill for the Great Oregon ShakeOut on Oct. 19 in Eugene. McCornack Principal Dana Brummett said the ShakeOut drills have been successful the last several years. "The more we practice, the more kids and our students and staff feel comfortable with the procedures and the process and the language," Brummett said. "That's really important in an emergency, because ... they're more calm, they can listen to directions." Brummett added the drills even help with her confidence in case of emergency situations by practicing reading the scripts and going over the procedures. If school leaders are calm and collected, the students will see that and be more relaxed as well, Brummett said. She said the predictability of these drills are something kids can rely on in the case of an actual emergency. The ShakeOut at McCornack went smoothly, with all students following directions. "(It) is super comforting, because obviously, student safety and staff safety and school safety is a constant weight on my mind and an enormous part of my responsibility," Brummett said. "It's something that I think we all need to be taking incredibly seriously, but we don't have to be freaking out about it. We can just be prepared." University of Oregon earthquake preparedness The University of Oregon held its ShakeOut drill at 2:19 p.m. Thursday. UO sent out a notification through their UO Alerts system to students and employees. On Wednesday, UO held an informational meeting about earthquake safety and how to prepare. Vicki Strand, UOs continuity and emergency manager in Safety and Risk Services, said now is the time to prepare in Oregon for a potentially massive Cascadia earthquake and coastal tsunami. Scientists estimate there is a 37% likelihood of a 7.0 magnitude or higher earthquake in the next 50 years, while there is a 14% chance of a 9.0 magnitude or higher earthquake in the same time frame. Strand said these may seem like good odds, but preparedness is key so that such an event isn't devastating for the Pacific Northwest. ShakeAlert, managed by the U.S. Geological Survey, detects significant earthquakes quickly enough so that alerts can be sent out to the public. ShakeAlert sensors detects an initial wave called a "P wave," which is a primary wave or pressure wave, and is not felt by humans. P waves travel faster than the big shaking that is felt during an earthquake, called the "S wave," which is a secondary wave or shear wave. Kelly Missett, ShakeAlert regional coordinator, gives a presentation on ShakeAlert and goes over earthquake safety at the University of Oregon on Oct. 18. Kelly Missett, the ShakeAlert regional coordinator, said it's important to immediately respond to emergency alerts for earthquakes, even if you don't yet feel shaking. ShakeAlert may provide 10 to 30 seconds of notice, which is not the time to try to gather belongings or pets. Drop, cover and hold on and remain still until shaking stops. Once shaking stops, exit the building you are in and do not reenter as aftershocks can be as powerful or more powerful than the first wave. Missett added people should be aware of their surroundings, in case of emergencies. If you are driving when an earthquake starts, pull off the road and put your emergency brake on. However, if you are on a bridge that could collapse in an earthquake, stopping in the middle of it might not be the safest procedure. In buildings, stay away from windows and seek heavy furniture to shield you. Earthquake, tsunami and hazard resources For more information on how to prepare for earthquakes, tsunamis and other hazards, check out these local, state and national resources: Miranda Cyr reports on education for The Register-Guard. You can contact her at mcyr@registerguard.com or find her on Twitter @mirandabcyr. This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: University of Oregon, Eugene schools practice earthquake safety EVANSVILLE Its like when you buy a Volkswagen. You never noticed them much on the road before. But now that you have one of your own, it seems like theyre everywhere. That was the analogy Vanderburgh County Sheriff Noah Robinson offered about the spate of high-profile out-of-state fugitives who have been caught in the Evansville area recently. Since last May, five people on the run two convicted killers, an accused murderer, a safecracker and a former corrections officer snared in a jailhouse romance have landed in the Tri-State. Theyve come from as far away as South Carolina and from as close as Ohio. Two of them attracted way more attention than the others. In spring 2022, murderer Casey White escaped Lauderdale County jail in Alabama with the help of corrections officer Vicky White. While authorities combed the nation for any sign of them and true crime shows brayed about their relationship, they holed up in Motel 41 just outside Evansville for 11 days. U.S. Marshals and local law enforcement eventually found them. And on May 9, after a short chase up U.S. 41, Vicky shot and killed herself and Casey was arrested. The saga sparked slews of coverage not to mention a Lifetime original movie. Since then, a pair of fugitives from Ohio convicted killer Bradley Gillespie and burglar James Marion Lee were found in Henderson, Kentucky. And earlier this month, a man from South Carolina named Johnathan Torrell Kelly wanted on a felony murder charge was arrested at a residence on Pollack Avenue after dodging authorities for weeks. Theres been no spike or increase in these arrests occurring. I just think its kind of on peoples radar right now, kind of like when you buy a Volkswagen and suddenly you start seeing a bunch of other Volkswagens on the road, Robinson said. People are now attuned to look for it because of the national attention the Casey White case brought to Evansville. He also said he's strived to better publicize the arrests when they happen. Still, he acknowledged that the arrest of out-of-town fugitives here is not a unique occurrence. The Courier & Press archives back him up. They're stuffed with stories of jail escapees and violent criminals coming blowing the area. It all raises a question: is Evansville a hub for this kind of thing? Sure, more fugitives are caught in much bigger cities, but do we field more than our fair share of fugitives compared to other locales? And if so, why? Former Vanderburgh Sheriff Dave Wedding displays a booking shot of Casey White during a press conference to discuss the capture of fugitives Casey White and Vicky White, no relation, during a vehicle chase along Hwy 41 the day before at the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office Tuesday morning, May 10, 2022. Vicky White reportedly died after shooting herself after their Cadillac sedan was stopped near Anchor Industries. Evansville: A hub of intersecting highways Thats an interesting question. Thats how Dave Oney, a spokesman for the U.S. Marshals, and Kevin Gray, an associate professor of criminal justice and sociology at the University of Evansville, both responded when the Courier & Press reached out to them. It is not something our agency has the data to answer as its not something we monitor or report on, Oney said. He suggested asking the Department of Justices Bureau of Justice Statistics. After this story was initially published, a spokesperson there said "BJS does not produce statistics on fugitives arrested in localities." As for Gray, he offered a few guesses. The only thing that I can think of is that Evansville is centrally located and close to major highways and the interstate, he said. Maybe the people dont want to be in an especially large city thinking there would be more police? As far as the former, Evansville sits in a hotspot of intersecting highways and interstates. I-69 cuts right through the city, while I-64 runs just a few miles north. Then theres U.S. 41, which slices a straight line from the tip of Florida to the Canadian border. Its where the Whites were eventually caught, and its served as the scene of other notorious Evansville crimes. Its also where Gillespie and Lee were discovered a little more than a year later. Gillespie had been sentenced to two 15-years-to-life sentences for the murders of Hannah Fischer and Frank Tracy Jr. in Paulding County, Ohio. Lee, meanwhile, was serving time after being convicted of burglary and breaking and entering. On May 23, the pair reportedly sprang from the Allen/Oakwood Correction Institution in Lima, Ohio, after hiding in a dumpster. A day later, they were spotted driving a stolen Mercury Capri just south of the Twin Bridges. A car chase ensued, sending the pair crashing through a fence and into a backyard on Camaro Court. Lee was arrested, but Gillespie managed to scamper away. That launched what Henderson Police Chief Sean McKinney later called the longest five days of my career. Authorities went door-to-door in Henderson neighborhoods, searching for any sign of Gillespie. Finally, on May 28, a boater spotted a body floating in the Ohio River. It was the fugitive. Law enforcement officers walk a mantrailing dog down Sunset Lane as they search for escaped Ohio inmate 50-year-old Bradley Gillespie after an early-morning car chase reportedly led to the capture of the escapee's partner Henderson, Ky., Wednesday, May 24, 2023. If Gray is right, and fugitives assume a medium-sized city such as Evansville or even a smaller one like Henderson will have fewer law enforcement officials at their disposal, then the Gillespie/Lee saga blows a hole in their theory. The manhunt involved 16 local, state and federal agencies, tallying more than 1,600 manhours. And Evansville has a U.S. Marshals Task Force that includes a slew of local and federal officials. Sometimes the reasons are easier to explain. According to Robinson, South Carolina fugitive Kelly had known associates in the area, which could have drawn him to the city. He's accused in the Aug. 13 slaying of Ronnie Crawford of Varnville, South Carolina. Famous fugitives from the past in Evansville Over the years, fugitives have come into town for several reasons. In 1899, an 18-year-old kid named Forrest Baker ran away from his home in Texas. He planned on seeing the world, but stopped in Evansville first to visit an aunt he never met. On the orders of his father, he was arrested at a train station. Twenty-five years later, a man accused of killing two people was caught here after a nationwide search and spirited off to Louisville before an angry mob could reach him. In 1966, a 25-year-old fugitive from Virginia named James Clemons was nabbed drinking at a bar after slipping away from the Owensboro jail. And of course theres prohibition-era gangster Alvin Karpis, who visited the city twice while the FBI was hot on his heels. He briefly stopped here in 1934 when his plane to Cuba ran out of gas and forced an emergency landing. A year later, after getting bored with liquor, gambling and sex workers in Hot Springs, Arkansas, he high-tailed it to Ohio to rob a train for fun. On the way back he visited an area outside Evansville, author Bryan Burroughs wrote in his book Public Enemies. And if Esther Stephens is correct, John Dillinger was here too way after the FBI claimed he died. In 2021, the Warrick County shop owner and former quick-draw champion told the Courier & Press she bought a .32-caliber Colt pocket gun from a handsome older gentleman in a three-piece suit back in 1985. The 32 caliber Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless serial #14359 bearing the inscription John Dillinger 4 12 1929. After they completed the paperwork, he plopped in a chair and talked to Stephens for hours. He kept saying, I really ought to go and get out of your hair. But he kept talking, she said. I think he was wanting me to look and see what was on the gun. When he left, she finally did just that. And there, inscribed just above the trigger, was the name John Dillinger. Theories that Dillinger lived past his supposed death outside the Biograph in 1934 have circulated for years. Dillingers own family has even asked to exhume his body to make sure its him in the grave. But Stephens story tops all that. She believes Dillinger gave authorities one last slip and secretly lived out the final decades of his life in Warrick County that he escaped Crown Point jail with a friend who grew up in the Evansville area and ultimately moved down here. If it happened that way, Dillinger was never caught like the five others who have come to the city in the past few months. Given Evansvilles history, more will likely follow just like they do in cities across the country. It doesnt necessarily mean the city is a target for that kind of thing, Robinson said. I think its only natural for us to look for patterns, he said. Its how we make sense of the world. Contact Jon Webb at jon.webb@courierpress.com This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: After recent high-profile arrests, is Evansville a hub for fugitives? This is a preview of our pop culture newsletter The Daily Beasts Obsessed, written by editor Kevin Fallon. To receive the full newsletter in your inbox each week, sign up for it here. This week: A truly spectacular acting performance. Eight minutes of heartwarming joy. The most charming celebrity interview. Millie Bobby Brown said what? Martin Scorsese speaks for the people. Finally, a Nice Thing! I think that if Hercules were around today, one of his labors would be dont be cynical for 15 minutes, and he would just shrug those bulging, muscular shoulders and be like, You know what, Eurystheus? It was a good run. Slaying the lion was one thing. This one I cant make miracles happen. Well bless my soul, because I guess ol Herc pulled it off. He is one of over 100 Disney characters who appear together in the new Disney short film Once Upon a Studio, which was released this week on Disney+ to commemorate the studios 100-year anniversary. Theres been several reasons to roll my eyes over this occasion; in addition to nostalgia and celebration, Disney capitalized on the occasion by raising prices for its streaming service and theme park. But then I watched Once Upon a Studio, and my frozen heart melted. (I always did love that power lesbian Elsa.) The short has a wonderfully simple premise. The halls of the Roy E. Disney Animation building are lined with production cels from the studios movies. Legendary Disney animator Burny Mattinson is leaving the office for the day and says, If these walls could talk When hes gone, the characters burst from their frames and race through the halls as Mickey exasperatingly tries to corral them all for a 100th anniversary photo. Moana surfaces from the ocean, and catches Flounder when he emerges. Merlin, Cogsworth, and the Mad Hatter are chatting at the coffee bar, while Mrs. Potts pours a spot of tea. Chicken Little, Gaston, Prince John, Doc the Dwarf, Thomas OMalley, and the Brooklyn twink from Atlantis: The Lost Empire (edit: apparently his name Milo) are in the mens bathroom, where the Cheshire Cat pranks them. Donald Duck gets peeved about having to hold the elevator door for the slow-moving DMV sloth from Zootopia. Because the short uses archival recordings in addition to new material from iconic voice actors, Robin Williams Genie and Josh Gads Olaf get to pal around, too. I havent seen a fall like that since Rome, Genie quips after startling Olaf, confirming that even the Genie regularly thinks about the Roman Empire. Its just all so nice. A singalong to When You Wish Upon a Star is so corny that it works, especially when the final title card flashes across the screen at the end: To all who have imagined with us, laughed with us, and dreamed with us, thank you. No, you cried. Can I Be Their Friend? Im aware that what Im about to say sounds like an exaggeration, but thats how much I mean it: Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez, and Daniel Radcliffes Lie Detector video for Vanity Fair is the most charming celebrity interview I have ever seen. I will not be revealing how many times Ive watched it. The three actors are currently starring in the Broadway revival of Merrily We Roll Along, which I hear is sensational and have (very expensive) tickets to see next week. The gimmick of the Lie Detector video is that they each take a turn in the hot seat while the other two ask lightly embarrassing questions like, Do you ever Google yourself? and Have you ever looked at your fan accounts? Its silly and innocuous, and should be boring. But these three are so clearly great friends who genuinely enjoy each others company, and they turn the segment into a laugh riot. Screenshot/Instagram Undeniably, the best bit is when Groff is asked about his propensity for spitting while singing, and cant stop beginning his answer with the unintentionally vulgar, I get wet Trying to describe why its so funny doesnt do it justice, so just watch it yourself and smile for a few minutes. (Watch it here.) I Didnt See That Coming Sometimes I think that modern celebrities are so self-conscious about their image and afraid of being canceled, and are so guarded by their publicists and teams, that they never say anything interesting in interviews anymore. (Unless theyre being interviewed by me, of course. Then never in the history of Hollywood has anyone said anything more fascinating.) I was proved wrong this week by Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown. In an interview with Glamour, she was asked about her journey as a feminist. I wouldnt expect that to be surprising. However, I was alerted to this by a tweet reporting what she said on the topic, and I promise you I could never have imagined how the sentence would end when I began reading it. Millie Bobby Brown reveals to Glamour that she credits her feminist awakening to a visit to a psychic, who informed her that she was, in fact, a feminist. pic.twitter.com/4YXXnQseul Pop Base (@PopBase) October 16, 2023 I Stand With Marty In an interview with the Associated Press, Martin Scorsese spoke about how his creative process involves steering clear of computers and shared his thoughts on emails: Emails, they scare me. It says CC and there are a thousand names. Who are these people? Sir, I see you. Seriously, WHO ARE THEY? giphy What to watch this week: The Persian Version: Fair warning: This Sundance hit will make you want to call your mom. (Now in theaters) Killers of the Flower Moon: Its long. Its good but its long. (Now in theaters) The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills: Bravos hour-long Ozempic commercial is finally back! (Wed. on Bravo) What to skip this week Old Dads: A comedian complaining about wokeness. Truly groundbreaking. (Now on Netflix) Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump, lost a third bid to become Speaker of the House. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) WASHINGTON A deeply divided House Republican conference returned to square one in its struggle to find a leader Friday afternoon after Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan withdrew from the speaker's race, having failed for over a week to pull his party together. Jordan's decision to step aside followed a secret ballot vote from the conference in which a majority of his conference indicated he should be removed as speaker-designee. Earlier in the day, Jordan fell short in his third attempt to win the job on the House floor publicly losing the support of 25 of his Republican colleagues. "I think everybody's pretty frustrated," Wisconsin Rep. Bryan Steil told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel as he left the closed-door vote Friday afternoon. "I think what it really shows is the error in judgement of the eight Republicans" who with Democrats successfully moved to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy from the post on Oct. 3. "They moved forward with no plan in a period of time (of) significant national and international issues," Steil said. House Republicans were scheduled to reconvene Monday evening to restart the nominating process for speaker. Friday's developments mean the House will remain leaderless for at least three more days as a bitterly-divided House Republican conference has been unable to come to a consensus on who should lead Congress' lower chamber. The day's events prolong a two-week period in which the House has been unable to move legislation while wars rage in both Israel and Ukraine and Congress stares down a Nov. 17 government funding deadline. Wisconsin's Republican members of the House of Representatives. Top, from left, Reps. Bryan Steil, Mike Gallagher and Glenn Grothman. Bottom, from left, Reps. Scott Fitzgerald, Derrick Van Orden and Tom Tiffany. Wisconsin's Republicans have largely remained united behind their party's speaker nominee first Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise and then Jordan throughout the month. But some members began to question their conference's path forward this week as Jordan continued to lose support on the House floor. "I don't think we really have a choice," Wisconsin Rep. Glenn Grothman told the Journal Sentinel when asked about starting the effort to pick a leader from square one. "I like Jim, but he was losing votes every time. And I think people felt collectively that if he took more votes, he'd keep losing votes.'' Earlier in the day, Grothman told the Journal Sentinel he thought the conference was soon "going to have to look for someone else." Those words came true an hour later. In the minutes after Jordan's withdrawal, a number of Republicans were mentioned as potential new nominees. Oklahoma Rep. Kevin Hern announced he will run for the post, and others like Minnesota's Tom Emmer, Michigan's Jack Bergman, Mike Johnson of Louisiana and Austin Scott of Georgia, who ran against Jordan, also showed interest. Wisconsin Rep. Mike Gallagher's name had been floated by some Republicans as a potential consensus candidate. But Gallagher told the Journal Sentinel he was not interested in the position. Its not something Im pursuing," Gallagher said. "I have the job I want. On Thursday, Gallagher said Republicans would need to "go back to the drawing board" if Jordan lost his third floor vote, as he did Friday. He declined to answer questions as he walked out of the GOP conference meeting shortly after Jordan's withdrawal. With the House recessing for the weekend, the conference appears farther than ever from electing a leader. Wisconsin U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who had said he'd vote for Jordan "no matter how many votes it takes," left the conference meeting Friday saying Republicans are going to try to find a speaker next week. "It is what it is," he said. "What most of America doesn't know Jim Jordan is a first class person and he's doing what he believes is the best for our conference but more importantly for our country," Tiffany said. "So we move on." While all six Wisconsin Republicans backed Jordan in his bid for speaker, only five were present to support him during his third vote on the floor. Freshman Rep. Derrick Van Orden left Capitol Hill for Israel Thursday evening for what he described as a fact-finding mission leaving Jordan with an even slimmer margin of error in his quest to win the necessary House majority to assume the speakership. His absence Friday, however, was insignificant as Jordan came nowhere near clinching the job. Van Orden could miss subsequent speaker votes next week. Asked who he would like to see step forward in the speaker race next week, Steil declined to name names but rather repeated a line he's uttered frequently over the past two weeks: "Somebody that could unify the conference." But just who that is could be another point of contention. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, a strong Jordan supporter, told the Journal Sentinel he was "disappointed" with his conference's decision to remove Jordan as speaker-designee. "I think he is the best person to unite the conference," Fitzgerald said. "We'll see what next week brings." THANK YOU: Subscribers' support makes this work possible. Help us share the knowledge by buying a gift subscription. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin GOP delegation accepts return to square one in speaker vote A federal judge on Thursday sentenced Joe Harding, a former Florida state representative made infamous by his authorship of the so-called Dont Say Gay bill, to four months behind bars after he pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining a $150,000 COVID-19 relief loan. Harding, 36, will also be subject to two years of supervised release and a $300 fine following his prison sentence. The theft of any amount of taxpayer funds is inexcusable, Jason Coody, the United States attorney for the Northern District of Florida, said in a press release. However, the defendants deceptive acts of diverting emergency financial assistance from small businesses during the pandemic is simply beyond the pale. Harding resigned from the state Legislature in December, shortly after he was indicted on charges of wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements. Having just begun his second term, hed already gained national notoriety as the sponsor of the Parental Rights in Education Act, dubbed by critics as the Dont Say Gay bill, which prohibits the discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in grade school classrooms. Read it at Politico Read more at The Daily Beast. A former Florida state representative who sponsored a controversial Dont Say Gay bill in his state has been sentenced to four months in federal prison after pleading guilty to fraudulently acquiring $150,000 in COVID-19 relief funds. Joe Harding , a 36-year-old Republican who resigned from office following his indictment in December, received the sentence Thursday for wire fraud, money laundering and making false statements related to the federal funds. He is set to surrender to authorities on Jan. 29, according to court records. He will have two years of supervision following his release. Todays sentence both punishes the defendants criminal conduct and should serve as a significant deterrent to others who would selfishly steal from their fellow citizens to unlawfully enrich themselves, said U.S. Attorney Jason Coody of the Northern District of Florida, who announced the sentence in a press release. Former Florida state Rep. Joe Harding, seen in early 2022, was sentenced for wire fraud, money laundering and making false statements. Former Florida state Rep. Joe Harding, seen in early 2022, was sentenced for wire fraud, money laundering and making false statements. John Lauro , Hardings attorney, told HuffPost that the former lawmaker repaid the money, with interest, and took full responsibility for his actions. The loan was paid back in its entirety under the terms of the loan agreement. It was paid back in full before any charges were brought, Lauro said in a phone interview Friday. Joe operated fully with the authorities in connection with describing and disclosing what had happened. Lauro is also defending former President Donald Trump against charges related to his alleged role in the 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol and his attempts to overturn the 2020 election. Harding fraudulently obtained a coronavirus-related small-business loan during the pandemic and then deposited some of the money into his personal bank account and into a third-party business bank account, authorities said. He also paid off some credit card debt, they added. Prosecutors argued in court that although Harding ultimately repaid the money, his actions still had a harmful effect on the government relief program and diminished the assistance available to small businesses with legitimate needs. When an unqualified recipient fraudulently acquires such funds, it erodes the mission and purpose of the government benefit program in that the number of qualified recipients who can obtain such benefits is reduced, Coody said in a court document. Harding had suggested it was all a misunderstanding in a statement following his indictment late last year, but said he would resign so he wasnt a distraction in state government. He pleaded guilty to the charges in March, at which point he faced up to 35 years in prison. Harding was elected to the Florida Legislature in 2020. He became known the following year for sponsoring a House version of legislation that forbids public school students, from kindergarten through third grade, from learning about sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom. Related... A former NBC journalist became visibly emotional as he revealed that two members of his wifes family had been taken hostage by Hamas while visiting their grandmother for birthday celebrations in Israel. Martin Fletcher, who has previously worked as the networks Middle East correspondent, said he had just found out today that his relatives were among those captured saying that the hostages were being used as psychological warfare. In his presidential address to the nation on Thursday, Joe Biden said that freeing Israeli and American hostages in Hamas custody was a top priority, and that the US was pursuing every avenue to bring loved ones home. As president there is no higher priority for me than the safety of Americans held hostage, Mr Biden said. Speaking to MSNBC on Friday, Mr Fletcher said that the recovery of hostages was, for Israel, the number two priority and that it was trumped by the destruction of Hamas. The bottom line is that Hamas is using the hostages for psychological warfare, and its working, he said. I just found out today that two of my wifes family are among the hostages. So we know that from what weve found out about Hamas they were told to kill the difficult ones and to use the rest as human shields. His voice breaking slightly, Mr Fletcher continued: So this is a very personal thing Im sorry to have to bring this on you, but I only just found out. They were visiting their grandmother for 85th birthday and they were last seen with their hands tied being dragged away by the Hamas terrorists. So its personal, its real. And nobody is really confident that its possible to get them back alive. Of course, everybodys hoping in the United States that theyre doing everything they can with intelligence resources, whatever other resources they can bring to bear. Longtime NBC correspondent Martin Fletcher just told @SRuhle that two members of his wife's family members are hostages in Gaza. @MSNBC pic.twitter.com/5sPhzA5Cnt 11th Hour (@11thHour) October 20, 2023 Israel says hostages are number one priority, but actually, the bottom line probably is that theyre the number two priority. The number one priority is to go into Gaza, as Prime Minister Netanyahu said, to kill the Hamas leadership and to destroy Hamas but the hostages are in the way. So you know, this is a really rather than unheard of situation. The Israeli military says that around 200 people have been taken hostage by Hamas, including 20 children and several people aged over 60. SAN DIEGO (Border Report) Mario Martinez, who was Tijuanas chief of police under the previous mayoral administration, was shot and killed last week during a visit to the city. He was currently working as the head of public safety and security for the small coastal city of San Quintin, located about 150 miles south of border. According to Tijuanas Mayor Montserrat Caballero, Martinez had traveled to her city without his security detail. The only information we have is that he came here without his bodyguards, said Caballero. He didnt request any from us, he made the choice to be unprotected. Tijuana mayor says shes still getting death threats, continues to live in army facility The Baja California Attorney Generals Office is handling the investigation. It says Martinez was killed around 8:30 p.m. last Friday while driving a gray Nissan Pathfinder. According to the preliminary investigation, he was found dead in the drivers seat and had been shot multiple times through the window on the front-right passenger door. No other information related to Martinezs murder has been released. Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border He was Tijuanas chief of police from 2017 to 2019. We are united in grief with his family and friends hoping they soon find closure over such a painful and irreparable loss, read a statement issued by the city of San Quintin. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. By Phil Stewart (Reuters) -The U.S. Army has charged Private Travis King with crimes ranging from desertion for running into North Korea in July to assault against fellow soldiers and solicitation of child pornography, according to documents obtained by Reuters. The Army's case against King, which has not been previously reported, includes eight distinct charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, setting up a substantial legal battle for the 23-year-old soldier after his release from North Korean custody in September. The Army did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In a statement provided by a family spokesperson, King's mother, Claudine Gates, expressed her unconditional love and asked that her son "be afforded the presumption of innocence." "The man I raised, the man I dropped off at boot camp, the man who spent the holidays with me before deploying did not drink," Gates said. "A mother knows her son, and I believe something happened to mine while he was deployed. The Army promised to investigate what happened at Camp Humphreys, and I await the results." For weeks, the U.S. Army has deferred questions about whether King would face disciplinary action, saying its priority has been on ensuring the soldier received the proper care after being held for two months by North Korea. His release by North Korea in September followed weeks of behind-the-scenes negotiations that led the Swedish government to retrieve King in North Korea and bring him across the border into China for a handoff to the U.S. ambassador. King was flown to a military hospital in Texas on Sept. 28 for medical evaluations, including for his mental health. Details are still scarce about King's treatment in North Korean custody and the soldier has not publicly explained why he fled to one of the world's most reclusive nations on July 19. But the Army's charge sheet accuses him of broad misconduct before that incident, including an attempted escape from U.S. military custody on October 2022. King was accused of soliciting a Snapchat user in July 2023 to "knowingly and willingly produce child pornography." He was also accused of possession of child pornography. He was also charged with insubordination for leaving his base after curfew and drinking alcohol in violation of Army regulations. King's family has hired a legal team to defend him that includes Franklin Rosenblatt, who served as lead military defense counsel during the court martial proceedings against Bowe Bergdahl, family spokesperson Jonathan Franks said in a statement. Bergdahl was an Army sergeant who was held for five years by the Taliban after walking off his post in Afghanistan in 2009. "I am grateful for the extraordinary legal team representing my son, and I look forward to my son having his day in court," King's mother, Claudine Gates, said in her statement. King, who joined the Army in January 2021, had faced two allegations of assault in South Korea. He pleaded guilty to assault and destroying public property for damaging a police car during a profanity-laced tirade against Koreans, according to court documents. Instead of paying a fine, King opted for more than a month in South Korean detention. King had already been due to face disciplinary action in the United States after his release from South Korean detention. He was on his way home when he slipped away from Seoul's international airport and made his way to a civilian tour of the border area between North and South Korea. Then King sprinted across the border into North Korea. He was immediately taken into North Korean custody. The third charge against King was desertion. The Army said King left the Army in South Korea with the intention of staying away permanently "and did remain so absent in desertion until on or about 27 September 2023." (Reporting by Phil Stewart. Editing by Gerry Doyle) Editors note: This story is available as a result of a content partnership between WFTV and the Orlando Business Journal. A restaurant property on the east side of Orlando has sold to a construction company executive with a prolific portfolio of hotel and hospitality projects. Orange County records show LMG Development LLC, an entity registered to Lisa and Marco Garavelo, paid $1.35 million to Wise Old Owl LLC for the property at 11425 Lake Underhill Drive on Oct. 12. The 1.3-acre property includes a 4,250-square-foot restaurant building near UCF, within the Waterford Lakes region of east Orange County. It was formerly home to Danketsu Orlando, an Asian fusion and sushi restaurant that closed its brick-and-mortar location in late June and is now a food truck, per its Facebook page. See: Slow down and celebrate International Sloth Day Click here to read the full story on the Orlando Business Journals website. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Ukrainian partisans in occupied Melitopol blew up a car with Russian occupiers, who regularly robbed empty apartments in the city, Melitopol's exiled Mayor Ivan Fedorov said on Oct. 20. "They were regularly singling out and looting empty apartments in the city. This time, our resistance was tracking them," Fedorov wrote on his Telegram channel. "The explosion happened during one of their 'hunts' in the Aviamistechko district while they were loading looted goods into the car." Russian media based in Melitopol reported that the explosion occurred in Hvardiiska Street and was caused by a "short circuit" in the vehicle, which allegedly ignited the fuel. The fire was promptly extinguished, and there were no casualties, the Russian news portal Lenta Novostey Melitopolya claimed. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has been accompanied by widespread looting of civilian property by Russian troops. This has been documented by Ukrainian authorities and human rights organizations. Melitopol, a city with a pre-war population of about 150,000 people, has been occupied since March 2022. The Ukrainian resistance has been active here since then, detonating a train carrying fuel and arms for the Russian military earlier this month. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. In 2014, Michael Bailey, an army veteran, found himself homeless after getting into drugs and alcohol. He left a construction job in North Florida and moved to Central Florida where he didnt know anyone. He ended up at a homeless shelter in St.Cloud where he met someone who referred him to the Coalition for the Homeless in Orlando. After just a few months of entering the coalitions program, he was able to get an apartment and later a job working at the coalition. Bailey, now the guest services manager, has worked nine years at the homeless shelter that took him in. His favorite part of working there is getting to see others get out of homelessness like he did. Thats one of the biggest gifts, is that I get paid but to get to see somebody thats coming through and get a set of keys and move on, Bailey said. Another part about it is just being at Wawa or 7-Eleven and somebody come up and they shake your hand and they say I want to thank you for what you all did for me. Baileys story is not unique. In Osceola County, homelessness has rapidly increased as pathways to housing are harder to find. Converting motels into affordable housing, a signature program used by some nonprofits, developers and even the city of Kissimmee, is not working because rents return to market rate as demand for the units increase. And, those who work to keep people sheltered say they cant keep up with the demand for housing. The data bares this out. Homelessness has increased by 67% in the last five years in Osceola, a rate faster than any other county in Central Florida, according to statistics from the regions homeless database. In 2023, the number of unsheltered homeless, or homeless and not staying at a shelter, is 182. Those who are homeless but sheltered numbered 176. Those numbers jumped from last years count of 156 sheltered and 143 unsheltered, up even more than 2021s count of 134 sheltered and 39 unsheltered. The increasing trend in homelessness can be seen throughout the region. Orange County still leads the pack with the number of homeless but Osceola County is rapidly catching up, despite having the smallest population in the Orange-Kissimmee-Sanford region. The Coalition for the Homeless shelters 550 individuals 20% of whom are children across its campus from all over Central Florida, said Trinette Nation, the coalitions director of development. The coalition also serves 350 individuals through its outreach program. Typical stays average 100 days per family or individual, Nation said. We always end up having people that we have to turn away on a daily basis, Nation said. Were in the middle of an affordable housing crisis so a lot of those stays have extended. Jessica Guzman, development manager and spokesperson at the coalition, said people often have misconceptions about who is actually homeless. A lot of our guests are still employed; they just are not making enough money, Guzman said. Its not always what you think. The individuals we serve, theyre able to maybe, you know, get their own meals or pay a portion of their bills but its not enough to sustain a stable lifestyle especially if they have children. Amy Donley, an assistant professor in the Sociology department at the University of Central Florida who researches homelessness and the director of the Institute for Social and Behavioral Sciences at UCF, said the lack of affordable housing is one of the main reasons for an increase in homelessness. Donley also said the number of homeless might be even higher because its difficult to get an accurate count of the unsheltered. Were interested in that distinction [between unsheltered and shelterd] because its more challenging to assist those that are unsheltered, Donley said. Its harder to know how many there are at any given time and more difficult to kind of bring them into services. Donley said what makes Osceola County unique when it comes to homelessness is the large number of people living at extended-stay motels. People stay in extended-stay motels, right, they will stay there for a fair amount of time but again those are pretty expensive and so theyll run out of money and end up homeless as well, Donley said. You can get into an extended-stay motel without first, last credit, its affordable a little bit, but if your hours are cut or you lose your job or you just run out of money [then] the rents are more expensive than people realize. Many of those extended-stay motels are being turned into affordable housing within the county. Some of the conversions charge too much for those struggling with homelessness to afford and those already living at the motels are sometimes forced to find another motel. Maingate Village, an affordable apartment complex built by T2 Capital Management off Iro Bronson Highway, charges between $1,000 and $1,300 for each of its 357 apartments that were renovated from a Red Lion motel. Those prices were hiked up from $800 in 2020 when the complex opened, T2 CEO Jeff Brown said. Its just demand, Brown said. As weve run out of units and been able to bring a few more online with resident turnover, weve been able to raise the price but it is just a byproduct of demand. Donley said thats not affordable for those living in homeless shelters but it points to a larger problem of not enough housing for those at all income levels, which causes congestion in the market. She said if the county and city dont act fast, homelessness is only going to increase along with the bureaucracy of zoning for affordable housing. We need more housing thats affordable for all groups in Central Florida. We need to look at our entire housing structure, Donley said. So, we need more, what are colloquially known as starter homes, like those affordable homes that people can get into. When they move into homes, that frees up more of the rental stock. While motel conversions are a step in the right direction, Donley said Osceola County more than the rest of the region needs more efficiency-style homes that charge only $400-$500 a month. Based on the numbers I review, Osceola would need a higher percentage of that than the other counties, Donley said. In an effort to address the congested rental stock the countys Affordable Housing Advisory Committee in 2022 recommended more housing diversity to increase the missing middle housing availability in the county. The report was submitted to county commissioners but recommendations were not implemented, said Danicka Ransom, assistant director of the Housing and Community Services Department. The county, city of Kissimmee and local nonprofits have invested millions in many motel conversion projects but many wont open until 2025 or later. At Tuesdays Kissimmee City Commission meeting, the newest edition of motel conversion, Haven on Vine was discussed. The project is set to open in 2025 and directly aims to help the homeless in the city and add to affordable housing in the city and county. Deputy city manager Desiree Matthews pointed out that traditional motel conversions are not helping. Weve continued to see an increase in the number of families that are currently unsheltered because many of our older hotels serve as respite for those families to continue to pay their own way as they were precariously housed, said Matthews. As those motel-hotel units transition to multifamily, many of them are converting to market rate, making it more difficult for families to even have that as an opportunity for housing. Fears over a wider regional conflict stemming from the Israel-Hamas war are growing, with Western leaders warning about the risk of a potential spillover." Israel has evacuated a town near its border with Lebanon as it trades fire with the Hezbollah militant group, which has suggested it might join the conflict if Israel tries to destroy Hamas. Meanwhile the U.S. said drones targeted its bases in Iraq and Syria, and one of its warships intercepted cruise missiles apparently launched at Israel by Houthi forces in Yemen. On Thursday the U.S. issued a rare Worldwide Caution" alert to Americans living abroad, warning of an increased potential for violence, terrorist attacks, and demonstrations against U.S. citizens. The Israel-Hamas war is a geopolitical game-changer, wrote Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen, director of the Israel, The Palestinian Territories, and the Region program at the U.S. Institute of Peace. Regional relationships that have been forged in recent years are likely to fray, she noted, while progress on Arab-Israeli normalization will stall. We cannot dismiss the prospect that the conflict could now metastasize throughout and beyond the immediate region, resulting in a multi-front war. One expert warned that Hamas may have stronger capabilities than expected. The militant group is known to stockpile missiles, and it has developed new weapons including mines and roadside bombs. Drawing Israel into a protracted conflict may be a goal for Hamas, Fabian Hinz, a defense analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, told The Washington Post: The idea is to get to a higher level of escalation, he said, and then pull the rabbit out of the hat. This weeks deadly Gaza hospital blast has potentially increased the likelihood of a regional fallout. Initially, the threat of a spillover was low, wrote Dalia Dassa Kaye in Foreign Affairs: Iran was likely eager to avoid conflict with the U.S., and neighboring states were keen to avoid the economic pressures of a war. But the arguments favoring containment became much less intuitive after the hospital explosion, she said, making regional escalation more likely, noting also that the risk of confrontation between Iran and Israel is particularly acute. Ivan Fedorov, the legally elected mayor of the temporarily occupied city of Melitopol in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, has reported that several explosions have occurred on the city's outskirts. Source: Fedorov on Telegram Quote from Fedorov: "It's been a restless night for the occupiers of Melitopol. After midnight, several explosions were heard outside the city." Details: He added that the loudest one was in the area of Aviamistechko district, where the Russians had set up their military base at the seized airfield. Fedorov said that the residents also heard the sound of vehicles moving. Details are being clarified. Support UP or become our patron! Injuries caused by exposures to e-cigarette devices or vapes, including liquid nicotine, are disproportionately affecting Ohio children ages 5 and younger, the director of the Ohio Department of Health said Thursday. >> Dayton native and metallurgist is receiving a national honor this month I want to raise the alarm that the liquids in e-cigarettes or vaping devices are proving to be an increasing risk to our young children, Bruce Vanderhoff, M.D., MBA, said during a virtual press conference. This liquid can contain nicotine, and also THC, CBD, flavors, or some combination of those. Young children can be poisoned by swallowing the liquid, taking a puff if they have seen someone else use it -- or even from absorbing it through their skin or eyes. Since 2015, the number of vape liquid exposures reported to Ohio Poison Centers has nearly tripled -- 130 in 2015 to 360 in 2022. Data collected so far in 2023 signals yet another likely increase, with 328 exposures reported through September, according to ODH. Of the 1,762 total exposures reported in the same time period (since 2015), more than 70 percent -- 1,301 -- have been reported among children ages 5 years and younger, ODH reports. According to ODH, Liquid nicotine is rapidly absorbed when swallowed or spilled on the skin and can result in symptoms in just minutes. Symptoms of a small exposure are nausea and vomiting. Large exposures can affect heart rate, blood pressure, and even cause seizures. Young children may need to be evaluated in a health care facility or need emergency medical care for these exposures. Nicotine, in whatever form it is delivered, is dangerous, Dr. Vanderhoff said, noting that it doesnt matter if it is by cigarette or a vape pen, it is harmful and can lead to addiction. ODH has worked hard over the years, through numerous programs, to bring down Ohios smoking rate and in more recent years, to combat a rise in youth vaping, the doctor said. Since taking office in 2019, Gov. Mike DeWine has been a leader in this effort, working to pass legislation such as the Tobacco 21 law in October 2019 that made selling any type of tobacco or nicotine products to Ohioans under age 21 a criminal offense, the state health department said. >> Lawmakers working to make Medicare more accessible to senior citizens Ohios adult smoking rate fell from 25.5% in 2011 to 18% percent in 2021, according to state health department data. In terms of youth, ODH officials said they have seen promising trends in the Ohio Youth Risk Behavior Survey the department conducts every other year to monitor health risk behaviors in Ohio. According to the 2021 data, the most recent available, vaping use dropped substantially between 2019 and 2021. >> What to do with disposable e-cigarettes? The number of students who reported currently using a vape product fell among middle schoolers (grades 6-8) from 11.9% to 9.0% and for high schoolers (grades 9-12), those who reported current use fell from 29.8% to 20.0%. Dr. Vanderhoff said there is much work to done. Ohios adult smoking rate, while improving, remains above the national average. The rise in injuries caused by vape liquids is the latest manifestation of this fight. I think many Ohioans have simply been unaware of these very real risks, he said, and I want people who have vaping supplies in their home to become more aware of the risks these devices can pose to children. If an exposure does occur, ODH suggests people call the Poison Control Hotline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 800-222-1222 to speak with specialists. Death threats. Intimidation. Family members called out by strangers. A number of House Republicans who refuse to support right-wing Rep. Jim Jordan for House speaker are suddenly learning the true language of Donald Trump s MAGA movement, a movement they have either tolerated or nurtured for years. While MAGA fury is usually directed at liberals, this time it's hitting them like unfriendly fire. Rep. Nick LaLota of New York, after voting against Jordan, said he received an email that read: Go f--- yourself and die if I see your face, I will whip all the hair out of your f---ing head you f---ing scumbag. Some Republicans are learning how it feels when MAGA attacks Rep. Drew Ferguson of Georgia said in a statement that after voting against Jordan, his family started receiving death threats: "That is simply unacceptable, unforgivable, and will never be tolerated. Axios reported that Ferguson told other House Republicans in a Thursday meeting that hes had to have a sheriff stationed at his daughters school over death threats from the far right. Also one at his house. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb. The New York Times reported that the wife of Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska "has begun sleeping with a loaded gun after receiving increasingly menacing anonymous calls and texts. Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado said Thursday: I've had four death threats. I've been evicted from my office in Colorado because the landlord is mad with my voting record on the speaker issue, and everybody in the conference is getting this. ... Family members have been approached and threatened. With Trump, 'violence is his political project now' This behavior is horrible and unacceptable. Its also entirely predictable to anyone who has paid attention to a political movement forged in violent rhetoric and seemingly driven by the destruction of social and political norms. Just recently, Trump has suggested that a top U.S. general be executed, mocked the violent hammer attack on a Democratic lawmakers husband and talked about shooting shoplifters. Election conspiracy theorist flips: Sidney Powell pleads guilty to election interference, releasing the Kraken on Donald Trump In March, he railed against Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs hush money investigation on Truth Social, warning of potential death & destruction if he is charged and calling Bragg a degenerate psychopath. Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a New York University historian, told The Associated Press: Violence is his political project now. It is the thing, besides his own victimhood, that he brings up the most. Folks who identify as MAGA often parrot Trump's violent rhetoric Like their avatar, Trump loyalists often lean into bullying and threats, enamored with flexing a faux toughness that comes easy when anonymous emails and social media accounts protect them from consequences. When Jordan became a House speaker candidate, he quickly got Trumps blessing and the extended MAGA universe rose up, excited to see one of their own get a shot at running the show. U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, leaves a meeting with House leadership at the Rayburn House Office Building on October 19, 2023 in Washington, DC. Steve Bannon, a former Trump White House adviser and human embodiment of the phrase all hat, no cattle, ordered his Trump-obsessed podcast listeners to go after Republican holdouts: Call them and get in their grill. Let them know what you think Email, call their local office, all of it, burn it down. That's right. Get up in their face. And so they did. And it backfired, because these Republicans finally got a close look at the kind of folks theyve been pandering to and thought, Yikes, these people are scary. I dont want to support this! That's to their credit. Fear of the MAGA base is a big reason so many Republican lawmakers have remained loyal to Trump through an insurrection and a slew of indictments. Bucking that trend, in today's chaotic and unraveling Republican Party, is downright courageous. Jim Jordan fails again. GOP should consider using this House speaker job post on LinkedIn. MAGA enthusiasts tend to be bullies who run at the first sign of consequences Jordan responded to the threats by putting out a statement on social media Wednesday saying, We condemn all threats against our colleagues. No American should accost another for their beliefs. We condemn all threats against our colleagues and it is imperative that we come together. Stop. Its abhorrent. Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) October 18, 2023 But that has always been Trump and the broader MAGA movements game. Say outrageous things and then, when those statements spark chaos or violent threats, pretend that was never the point. Of course its the point. It has always been the point, ever since Trump first bullied his way onto the political scene and cowed so-called normal Republicans with veiled threats and truckloads of red meat to throw at a base right-wing talk radio and television spent years priming for violence. We saw it all culminate at the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. Republicans of all stripes created this MAGA monster, now they have to deal with it Plenty of folks critical of Trump have dealt with threats and bullying over the years, and I wouldnt wish it on anyone, Republican, Democrat or otherwise. But it seems a bit remarkable that so-called moderate Republicans whove watched all this happen, whove offered either full-throated or tacit support for Trump because it was in their own political interest, now need a fainting couch because the MAGA monster is attacking them. Rioters are pictured storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. This is your monster, Republicans. You brought this beast to life by tolerating an unmoored narcissist. You let it grow and gave it permission to lash out in all directions. And I bet if the presidential election were tomorrow and I asked you who youre supporting, youd utter these two ridiculous words: Donald Trump. Some never learn. If you put up with a dog that bites strangers, you cant be surprised when it sinks its teeth into you. Rex Huppke Follow USA TODAY columnist Rex Huppke on X, formerly Twitter, @RexHuppke and Facebook facebook.com/RexIsAJerk You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MAGA wants Jim Jordan as House speaker and GOP holdouts get threats Claim: A viral photograph authentically provides a macro close-up look at the human eye. Rating: Rating: True A close-up photograph of what appears to be a light-brown human eyeball shows the organ's expansive, cavernous depths surrounding a seemingly bottomless, black pit that, together, mimics the intricate landscape of a volcanic caldera. Social media posts that include the "eyeball" pic have circulated online since at least 2016. One such iteration shared to Reddit in 2018 in the subreddit r/Damnthatsinteresting claimed to show a Macro shot of an eye: The photograph has also appeared on social media platforms in the years since, including X, Facebook, and Imgur. Through a reverse-image search using Google Lens, Snopes found the image originally accompanied a 2017 article published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature, which credited the photo to Suren Manvelyan. Snopes found the photo featured in the social media posts above published in Malvelyans online gallery. This claim is therefore true. According to his bio, Suren Malvelyan is an Armenian photographer with an interest in macro photos. His series of close-ups of the human eye, including the image above, was created as part of the photography project Your beautiful eyes." Malvelyan's work has been published in a number of publications, including Daily Mail, Wired, Huffington Post, and The Guardian, among others. Though the photograph technically does show the cornea, its the iris that makes up the eyes brown coloration. In the human eye, the cornea is the clear, dome-shaped portion located at the front of the eye that is responsible for focusing light, according to the American Academy of Opthalmalogy (AAO). Located behind the cornea is the iris, which is the colored part of the eye that controls the size of the dark hole in the middle called the pupil. The pupil allows light to enter the eye. (AAO) Snopes contacted Malyvelyan for more information about the photograph and will update this article should we receive a response. Sources: Bio. Suren Manvelyan Photography, 16 May 2012, https://www.surenmanvelyan.com/bio/. Cornea. American Academy of Ophthalmology, 28 Mar. 2016, https://www.aao.org/eye-health/anatomy/cornea-103. Daily. The Incredible Pictures That Reveal How the Human Eye Looks like the Rugged Craters on Mars. Mail Online, 29 Dec. 2010, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1342468/Eye-catching-Incredible-pictures-time-reveal-human-eye-glory.html. Dapcevich, Madison. Snopes Tips: Why Care If Research Is Peer-Reviewed? Snopes, 30 Mar. 2022, https://www.snopes.com/news/2022/03/30/snopes-tips-why-care-if-research-is-peer-reviewed/. Draaisma, Douwe. Perception: Our Useful Inability to See Reality. Nature, vol. 544, no. 7650, Apr. 2017, pp. 296296. www.nature.com, https://doi.org/10.1038/544296a. Evon, Dan. Snopes Tips: A Guide To Performing Reverse Image Searches. Snopes, 22 Mar. 2022, https://www.snopes.com/articles/400681/how-to-perform-reverse-image-searches/. Eye Anatomy: Parts of the Eye and How We See. American Academy of Ophthalmology, 29 Apr. 2023, https://www.aao.org/eye-health/anatomy/parts-of-eye. First Thing I Thought of Was the Westworld Intro. R/Hostworld, 2 Feb. 2019, www.reddit.com/r/Hostworld/comments/amb6mm/first_thing_i_thought_of_was_the_westworld_intro/. Google Lens. https://lens.google.com/search?p=AbrfA8oY5jJOIXFLPFvZQUNEiEsetgRYFJwD2SNykbqguHpVfEeimRr4y5Vy-XMMtODQU5q-fIshYSZ0GEdhSI3NkJR7wSuwK5owYibxnWVoul-0bonfhopjPyBOGwYcnzlLVzdXA1aU66LGrPXHPyyqJc_KExto36n3SwGR4vaKAZaZS0GjRkOR8ZQWoTXXLZy68I7_-W4yMYw4kEKEhKEXKSvkO0CQnO0ERvPW4R5Q2CQ55UczXf9symBzyDN0Zp3E9dWll-Dx3X56FK1EdeFqGkv_OaOizlxPYgCpUTjZdJRe5iIpIVpkVQ5G_fo-tOCU_eULPRFArQp8&plm=ChAIDxIMCJqLvKkGEJjup8wDChAIFxIMCJqLvKkGEJjiq8wDCg4IGBIKCJuLvKkGEMCXDQoOCC0SCgibi7ypBhDYjA4KDwguEgsIm4u8qQYQ2OD0KAoPCBASCwibi7ypBhDoyJMqCg8IGRILCJuLvKkGEPDjlyoKDwgaEgsIm4u8qQYQ6JWkKg%3D%3D&pli=1#lns=W251bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLG51bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLG51bGwsIkVrY0tKRE5tWlRreE9XRmpMV1JrWkRjdE5ETTNNUzA0WlRnM0xXWTFPV05oWkdZME5tWmpNUklmYnpKeE9WOXBSR1pSYmxWV1NVVXhUR3gwZUVKVlRISTBSUzFJTm5ONFp3PT0iXQ==. Accessed 18 Oct. 2023. Https://Twitter.Com/AntonioParis/Status/811006124308643840. X (Formerly Twitter), https://twitter.com/AntonioParis/status/811006124308643840. Accessed 18 Oct. 2023. Imgur. Eye ... Magnified by pro Camera. Imgur, https://imgur.com/gallery/jsQlhH9. Accessed 18 Oct. 2023. Incredible Close-Up Images Of Eyes. HuffPost, 12 Dec. 2012, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/human-eye-photographs-by-suren-manvelyan_n_2284826. Iris. American Academy of Ophthalmology, 28 Mar. 2016, https://www.aao.org/eye-health/anatomy/iris-2. Jones, Jonathan. Eyeballed: Suren Manvelyans Eerie Animal Close-Ups Are Judging You. The Guardian, 9 Sept. 2014. The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2014/sep/09/suren-manvelyan-animal-eyes. Pupil. American Academy of Ophthalmology, 26 May 2023, https://www.aao.org/eye-health/anatomy/pupil. Schiller, Jakob. Macro Eye Photos Zoom in on Natures Complexity. Wired. www.wired.com, https://www.wired.com/2013/05/suren-manvelyan-animal-eyes/. Accessed 18 Oct. 2023. Your Beautiful Eyes. Suren Manvelyan Photography, 25 June 2012, https://www.surenmanvelyan.com/eyes/your-beautiful-eyes/. The News South Carolina Republicans were worried. In early 2015, the Obama administration was looking to place thousands of people fleeing war-torn Syria; a refugee resettlement group had just opened an office in Spartanburg County. Gov. Nikki Haley , newly re-elected by 14 points, wrote county GOP officials a letter, to allay their fears. South Carolina, along with 48 other states, has proudly welcomed refugees from around the world, Haley wrote. She would ask the State Department for greater transparency in how it screened refugees; if they passed vetting, Americans couldnt allow fear to erode Americas place in the world as accepting of immigrants who chose to come legally and contribute as citizens. Seven months later, Haley reversed course, urging the government not to resettle any Syrian refugees in her state, explaining that the vetting wouldnt catch potential terrorists. And this week, after Ron DeSantis falsely claimed that Haley saw Gazans as potential refugees, she told Fox News that she didnt. Ive always said we shouldnt take any Gazan refugees in the U.S., Haley said. I said it when I was at the U.N. that we shouldnt take Syrian refugees [in] the U.S. The brief, bitter exchange over a non-existent refugee issue was a sideshow in the Israel-Gaza conflict; Israels Arab neighbors have refused to take in anyone fleeing the region. But it demonstrated just how much the Republicans who want to beat Donald Trump have adopted his politics and how DeSantis, now trailing Haley in some early primary states, sees any deviation from it as a weakness to exploit. It shows an instinct on her behalf [to] try to cater to elite opinion, DeSantis told Megyn Kelly this week. Shes still suffering under the illusions, which should have been wiped away after dealing with Iraq and Afghanistan, that somehow people in that part of the world just yearn to live in American-style democracy and freedom. Haleys critics on the right were glad to see her drawn out on the issue. Lee Bright, a former state senator from Spartanburg County, recalled how Haley had opposed the local conservatives who rallied against bringing Syrian refugees, even throttling a bill that would have made aid groups liable if refugees ended up committing crimes in America. She was for it initially, and then she flipped, said Bright, who also opposed Haley when she took the Confederate flag down from its place near the state capitol. If Nicky Haley and Nancy Mace arent connected through political DNA, I would be amazed. They are both on every side of every issue. Evangelicals who supported refugee resettlement saw 2015 as a political turning point. Dr. Russell Moore, then a leader of the Southern Baptist Convention, said that Haley had been a voice of reason, and not cruel and vindictive, at a moment when some right-wing activists were advancing refugee conspiracy theories. Ive heard it from presidential candidates, but almost nothing from regular people, Moore said. There was a lot of grassroots angst about Syrian refugees, for a long time, and governors responded to that. But the response from candidates was not surprising, given the atmosphere right now. Davids view The remarkable fact about this fight is that Haley never suggested that America take refugees from Gaza. Not once. The Florida governor based his attack on comments shed made to CNN, after she was asked about his assessment that all of Gazas residents are anti-Semitic. She disagreed: Half of Gazans, she said, didnt support Hamas, and Americas always been sympathetic to the fact that you can separate civilians from terrorists. DeSantis had said that in the context of promising not to let refugees into America a point that CNNs Jake Tapper didnt ask Haley about. DeSantiss campaign pushed the issue with clips of Haley, in her 2017 confirmation hearing, saying that the state always welcomed the refugee program, cutting it before she explained why she rejected Syrian refugees. But there was a real, year-long argument among Republicans about whether the country could vet and accept refugees from Syria. Trump himself even floated the idea of accepting some refugees on a humanitarian basis. The fight wasnt settled until a terrorist attack in Paris in November 2015, and the revelation that three attackers had arrived in Europe from Syria. Days later, Haley said that her state would take no refugees; weeks later, at a rally near Charleston, Trump first proposed a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering America. Haley criticized that at the time, saying that it defies everything that this country was based on. Now, DeSantis was getting to Trumps right on the issue, Haley was bringing her position in line, and the former president was reminding voters of who said it first. We arent bringing in anyone from Gaza, Syria, Somalia, Yemen or Libya or anywhere else that threatens our security, Trump said in the western Des Moines suburbs on Wednesday. I banned refugees from Syria, I banned refugees from Somalia very dangerous places and from all of the most dangerous places all over the world, I banned them. In my second term, were going to expand each and every one of those bans. The View From The Rest of the GOP Field DeSantiss persistence got other Republicans on record on the refugee question, none of them departing from post-Trump orthodoxy. In an interview with the Associated Press at Georgetown University, Tim Scott quibbled with the idea that every Gazan was anti-semitic, but added that they shouldnt be coming to America. Were not bringing anyone no refugees in from Gaza, period, Scott told reporter Meg Kinnard. I think thats the right decision. Not because I think theyre all anti-semitic, but I cant tell the difference. And I do know that the majority of the Palestinians support Hamas based on all the latest polling that Ive seen, since 2021. In an Iowa town hall, hosted by Newsmax, Mike Pence said that nations in the region, with reasonable concerns about terrorism in their own country, should take refugees, and America could play a role while not open[ing] the spigot to refugees coming to the United States of America. I dont want to upend our refugee program, Pence added. There are many church organizations across the country that work with refugees on a regular basis. But in this moment of war, we ought to be calling on Egypt, we ought to be calling on Jordan, to open the way. The View From Immigration Advocates Alex Nowrasteh, a vice president at the libertarian Cato Institute, said any proposal, real or make believe, to admit refugees, is toxic to the Republican caucus though it was far more contested before Trump won the 2016 primary. His own research has found that, since 1975, just four Americans had been killed in terror attacks by refugees. The annual chance of being killed in a normal homicide is about 240,000-times greater. Notable In RealClearPolitics, Philip Wegmann credits DeSantis with forging a new orthodoxy on how the Biden administration should respond to Palestinian refugees. In the Daily Signal, Heritage Foundation border security scholar Lora Ries argues that pro-Hamas demonstrations in the U.S. in the past week have shown us that the Palestinian population has no interest in assimilating into American culture and governance. Former Michigan Rep. Justin Amash, a Palestinian-American known for his right-libertarian politics, urged the think tank to delete a xenophobic post featuring Riess take. The claim: The Wall Street Journal reported American-made MK-84 bomb caused Gaza hospital explosion An Oct. 18 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) claims a major news outlet reported an American weapon was used in a fatal blast at a Gaza hospital on Oct. 17. The Wall Street Journal: The bomb dropped on the hospital was an American MK-84 bomb, reads part of the post. It was shared more than 800 times in two days. Other versions of the claim were shared widely on Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter. Fact check roundup: Israel-Hamas war sparks many misleading claims online. Here's what's true and false. Follow us on Facebook! Like our page to get updates throughout the day on our latest debunks Our rating: False There is no reference to an MK-84 bomb in the Wall Street Journals reporting on the hospital blast. A company spokesperson said the claim is false. No reference to American bomb in reporting on hospital explosion The outlet told USA TODAY the claim is false. The Wall Street Journal has not reported that an American MK-84 was deployed in the Gaza hospital blast Tuesday, a company spokesperson said. The outlets various stories on the incident make no mention of an American MK-84 bomb being used. Rather, they highlight the dueling narratives from Israel and Hamas, each assigning blame to the other party. Fact check: Photo of deceased children is from Syria in 2013, not Israel-Hamas war Palestinian and Arab officials claimed an Israeli airstrike caused the fatal explosion, while Israel blamed it on a misfired rocket launched by the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad, according to the outlet. The U.S. government has also said preliminary evidence suggests Israel was not behind the explosion. The U.S. has sent munitions to Israel since Hamas' surprise attack on Oct. 7. They include small-diameter bombs, interceptor missiles for Israel's Iron Dome defense system and artillery shells, according to the Department of Defense and the Associated Press. USA TODAY has debunked an array of false claims surrounding the Israel-Hamas war, including that Hamas surrendered and Gaza now belongs to Israel, that video shows President Joe Biden announcing the reinstatement of the draft, and that University of Pennsylvania students chanted We want Jewish genocide at a pro-Palestinian protest. Relatives mourn over the bodies of Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes on the Ahli Arab hospital in central Gaza after they were transported to Al-Shifa hopsital, on Oct. 17, 2023. The Associated Press and PolitiFact also debunked the claim. USA TODAY reached out to users who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response. Our fact-check sources: Wall Street Journal spokesperson, Oct. 20, Email exchange with USA TODAY Wall Street Journal, Oct. 19, What We Know About the Gaza Hospital Blast Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or e-newspaper here. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: False claim outlet reported US bomb used in Gaza attack | Fact check An Atlanta Journal-Constitution analysis reported more than 60 inmates died at the Fulton County Jail between 2009 and 2022, the most of any Georgia facility during that time. The families of two Black men plan to sue a Georgia county after their loved ones died in jail within days of each other. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Dayvion Blakes family gathered in front of the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta on Wednesday to announce their intention to launch a lawsuit against the county, a news conference held the day after Samuel Lawrences grieving kin revealed similar plans. The pair of families are demanding answers and justice following the deaths of their loved ones, who are among 10 inmates who have died in Fulton County Jail this year. A sign points to the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta. The families of two Black men who died at the jail in August within days of each other plan to sue the county. (Photo: Megan Varner/Getty Images) We are sick and tired of coming out here almost every month talking about another death at the jail, said Blake family attorney Michael Harper. Mr. Blake had not been convicted of any crime. He really was just waiting for his day in court. The Fulton County Sheriffs Office said Blake died on Aug. 31 amid a dispute between a group of inmates that ended with multiple stabbings around the facility. Four others were injured. Harper said rival inmates stabbed Blake on a cellblock where the locks dont work. The defense lawyer alleged the sheriffs office knew inmates were going after Blake, citing a March incident report in which he told a detention officer he feared for his life and asked to relocate to another area. Blake was arrested on Jan. 25 and faced charges including cocaine possession and battery. Court documents show he was denied bond on Jan. 26 but granted a $15,500 bond on June 20. Sheriffs office reports show several incidents involving Blake after his arrest, including three other stabbings. Detention officers occasionally observed Blakes mental state and requested his transfer to the mental health unit for assessment. Lawrence was found unresponsive in his cell on Aug. 26, only days after filing a civil rights complaint against the facility. Six people face murder charges in his death. A stabbing in the jails lockdown zone on July 5 revealed to detention staff that prisoners could unlock and close cell doors by manipulating a manual override mechanism. The incident report notes that inmates are no longer protected from other inmates due to the security breach, which gives criminals easy access to open the cell doors. The AJC reported that over 60 Fulton inmates died between 2009 and October 2022, the most of any Georgia jail during that period. State and federal officials are now investigating the facility. In July, the Justice Department initiated a civil rights inquiry into conditions there. A Georgia Senate committee formed earlier this month will investigate congestion, a backlog of cases and unsafe conditions. Since entering office in 2021, Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat has petitioned commissioners for a new jail, claiming the present detention complex, located in northwest Atlanta, has been overcrowded since its 1989 opening. The sheriffs office is now seeking to fill 30 detention officer positions, a job requiring a high school diploma or GED, and offering a salary between $54,000 and $70,828 annually, plus medical, dental and vision benefits and a 401(k) plan. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Families of Dayvion Blake and Samuel Lawrence, who both died in jail, to sue county amid growing inmate casualties appeared first on TheGrio. In November 2020, Ronald Roldan had almost finished a prison sentence for a nearly fatal assault on a girlfriend when a warrant for his arrest was issued in the death of Bethany Decker. Although authorities in Virginia had long suspected Roldan in the death of Decker, 21 who was pregnant with her second child when she vanished on Jan. 29, 2011 her body hadnt been found, and Roldan was never charged. Then, this year, he confessed to the killing. The admission, which came in a roughly four-hour interview in January with a prosecutor and the lead detective, was a key part of a plea agreement Roldan had made with authorities two months before: In exchange for his account of Deckers death, he was allowed to plead guilty to second-degree murder and be sentenced to 12 years. Deckers mother supported the deal, believing the interview would reveal the truth about what happened to her daughter. But in recent interviews, authorities told NBCs Dateline that they believe Roldan lied when he confessed that Deckers death was accidental. Video of Roldans interview, first reported by Dateline, shows the lead detective challenging Roldan, telling him that his account didnt add up and that it appeared he tried to cover up the killing by posing as Decker on Facebook and elsewhere and sending messages after she vanished. Its disappointing to not get the truth, Loudoun County Sheriffs Detective Mark Bush told Dateline. What I got from him was I got an admission that he did it. Roldan who at times talked so quietly that authorities repeatedly told him to speak up said he didnt remember anything about the messages. He stood by his account of Deckers death and apologized to her relatives. "What happened was an accident, he said. Im sorry. I feel bad. Deckers mother, Kim Nelson, also doubted Roldans account and told Dateline she didnt believe her daughters death was accidental. "It was very hard to hear the disregard for human life, she said of the confession. Panic after a physical fight In the video, Roldan said he and Decker a waitress enrolled at George Mason University whom her mother recalled as an inquisitive, adventurous and natural parent got into an argument about whether shed work that January day at Carrabbas, the restaurant where they met and both worked. At the time, Roldan said, he and Decker were in the living room of the apartment they shared in Ashburn, Virginia, roughly 30 miles northwest of Washington. Roldan said he lightly shoved Decker. She tripped over her feet, he said, hitting her head on a windowsill as she tumbled to the ground. She wasnt bleeding, Roldan said, but he felt no breath when he placed two fingers beneath her nose. Roldan told officials he couldnt recall how long he spent trying to figure out whether Decker was dead. He said he provided no lifesaving measures and didnt call authorities, who he feared would not believe what I had to say. In a state of panic, Roldan said, he grabbed a Christmas tree removal bag from the kitchen and shoved Deckers body into it. That afternoon, he dumped the bag in the apartment buildings trash compactor, he told officials in the interview. In the video, Bush, the detective, said investigators found no marks or scrapings on the windowsill to corroborate Deckers account. "Ive never seen a single case where someone hits their head on the corner of a windowsill and ends up dead within a couple of minutes, he said. Bush added that Roldans own description of the push I didnt put all my power into it made the account seem even less plausible. "I think its more likely that you choked her out, and thats the reason why she died, Bush said in the interview. Did you ever put your hands on her throat? "No, Roldan responded. When Bush asked whether there was anything he wanted to change about his account, Roldan declined. The prosecutor in the case, Loudoun County Chief Deputy Commonwealths Attorney Shaniqua Clark Nelson, also doubted parts of Roldans account. But some of it seemed true, she told Dateline. She believed that there had most likely been an argument but that it wasnt about whether Decker had planned to work that day. Just before her death, Decker had gone to Hawaii with her husband, a National Guardsman who was the father of her son, in an effort to repair their relationship and get her away from Roldan, whod become increasingly controlling, threatening and abusive, Kim Nelson said. She said the family had reached out to domestic abuse hotlines for Decker and had tried to develop a plan for her to escape the relationship. (In the video, Roldan denied that he was abusive to Decker.) Roldan didnt know Decker was on a trip with her husband, Nelson said; he learned about it upon her return, and she disappeared shortly after. (Roldan said during the interview that Hawaii wasnt the source of the argument and that he felt no hostility or resentment over the trip.) Bush, the detective, also believed parts of Roldans account. He told Dateline that Roldans description of how he disposed of Deckers body was far more specific and matter-of-fact than his recollection of the killing. A forensic search of the dumpster revealed no evidence, however, Bush said. And although authorities believe they know the possible location of her remains in a nearby landfill, Bush said, they are just not retrievable. Who sent the Facebook messages? Bush also pointed to messages that he said Roldan sent to Deckers family and friends as evidence that the killing was more sinister than Roldan portrayed. The messages, many of which were sent on Facebook in the weeks after Deckers disappearance, all had what Bush described as the "same tone Bethany screwed up, Bethany lied and that Ronald was the best thing that ever happened to Bethany, Bush told Dateline. Bethany was going to take some time alone and be away and that she couldnt tell anybody where she was. Briefly, Deckers family found the messages somewhat comforting, her mother said, noting that she thought theyd been her daughters way of reaching out. But that comfort turned to anxiety because the messages didnt sound like they were from Decker, she said. Another point of concern was Deckers car: It was parked crookedly in her buildings lot, with a flat tire and covered in dust, Nelson said. When the family realized that no one had actually seen Decker since late January, they reported her missing. That was three days after the messages began on Feb. 16, 2011. Authorities had long been suspicious of the messages, Bush said, but investigators had never been able to prove Roldan sent them. In earlier interviews with authorities, he denied having had anything to do with Deckers disappearance, and there wasnt enough evidence to link him to what authorities had come to believe was a homicide, Bush said. Law enforcement had also interviewed Deckers husband and considered him a person of interest, Bush said. Although his name appeared in media reports, he had a solid alibi, and the case languished, even after Roldan pleaded guilty in 2016 to felony assault in the shooting of another woman, Vickey Willoughby. As hed done with Decker, Roldan moved in with Willoughby after they worked together at a Virginia restaurant. In 2016, Roldan choked Willoughby so badly that he broke a vertebra in her neck, said Bush, who sat in on a law enforcement interview with her. She shot him in self-defense, striking him twice, but he grabbed the gun and shot her in the face, hitting her right eye, Bush said. Willoughby survived but lost her eye, he said. In 2020, after the detective who had been handling Deckers case was promoted, Bush took it over and noticed something. When the messages were sent from Deckers Facebook account beginning Feb. 16, they came from a device that used the same IP address as the device that was checking Roldans email account and Facebook page. "It was an aha moment, Bush said, describing the records as a direct link between Roldan and Deckers disappearance. "At that point, hes either got to be hiding her disappearance because he knows where she is or [hes] hiding the fact that he killed her because hes trying to cover his tracks, Bush said. That evidence was further strengthened when investigators found web browser data showing that the messages came from Roldans laptop, said Clark Nelson, the prosecutor. In the confession video, Roldan told authorities that no one else would have used his laptop to send messages as Decker and that he hadnt shared her password with anyone. As Clark Nelson showed him what was sent to Deckers husband and others, Roldan said: You can show me every single message that was sent. I really dont remember. A chance to get to the truth Just before Roldans sentence for assaulting Willoughby was up, authorities in Loudoun County issued an arrest warrant accusing him of abduction in Deckers killing. He was transferred to the county jail and indicted later on a second-degree murder charge. As authorities prepared for trial, they talked with Deckers family about the possibility of taking a different path of skipping what Kim Nelson described as the big burden of a lengthy, uncertain court case and getting something that Deckers family had longed for since she vanished: the truth. The family agreed, and authorities eventually reached a deal with Roldans lawyers, Clark Nelson said. Roldan would serve 12 years in prison and submit to a debrief a post-conviction interview in which he would lay out what happened and Deckers family could provide her with questions for him. Many of the questions revolved around whether Decker suffered and what happened to her body, the prosecutor said. But there was a catch. Authorities would have to accept the account Roldan put forward, Bush said. Theyd be allowed to challenge it, he said, but they wouldnt be allowed to verify it as a condition of the agreement. Lawyers for Roldan didnt respond to requests for comment. Even though there were doubts about Roldans claims and even though his sentence was far lower than the 40-year term he could have faced at trial Clark Nelson said the outcome was positive. Deckers husband was exonerated in a way that he hadnt previously been prosecutors provided a letter to the court clearing him and her family got answers about what Roldan did with her body, the prosecutor said. Roldan will be deported to his native Bolivia when his term ends. "Sometimes, justice isnt black and white, Clark Nelson said. Its not an easy formula. But it really is a compilation of weighing everything that you have and figuring out the right path to bring as much closure and understanding to the ultimate conclusion. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Its been said that war makes for strange bedfellows. Since the attacks on Israel by Hamas, the words and actions of groups as ideologically disparate as neo-Nazis in North Texas and progressive student organizations on elite college campuses suddenly sound and appear surprisingly alike. Finding common ground in politics can be a remarkable feat, but todays development isnt something to be celebrated. Its a marriage of viewpoints borne out of unadulterated hatred. Just a day after Hamas terrorists claimed more than 1,500 innocent lives in Israel, a swastika-clad neo-Nazi group made several appearances around Fort Worth. It was like something out of the history books. They boldly dined at a local taco joint; their presence caught on camera by a fellower diner. They dropped antisemitic fliers around the cultural district, perhaps emboldened by the events unfolding across the world. While their appearance was quiet there were no reports that the group marched or protested their intent was clear. They sought to spread a message of hate, one that deserved the condemnation it received from local leaders. Many on the political left like to point to such incidents as evidence that all the ideological extremism is concentrated on the far right. But the viewpoints this group espoused are far from isolated. Whats more is that they are hardly limited to the people who share their political affiliation. In the days after the Hamas attacks, college campuses all over the nation were flooded with protests and demonstrations by progressive student groups gathering in shocking numbers in support of the terrorists. Through marches and issued statements, they have justified and even championed the attacks, claiming that those who callously slaughtered Israeli civilians in their homes, killed and kidnapped children and elderly, and committed atrocities so brutal they defy imagination, were freedom fighters pursuing decolonization. These students may not wear swastikas, but they have adopted the symbol of a paraglider, representative of Hamas attackers who entered Israel to kill civilians at a concert via air assault. And their message is not any different than their khaki-clad, arm-band wearing, white nationalist peers. They blame the Jewish people for the conflict in Israel and advocate for their destruction. Indeed, a letter signed by more than 30 campus groups at Harvard University declared that Israel is entirely responsible for all unfolding violence happening in the region. At the University of Virginia, which infamously became a flash point between white nationalist and antifa protests only six years ago, the group Students for Justice in Palestine unequivocally declared its support for Palestinian resistance by whatever means they deem necessary. What might that mean other than unqualified support for the slaughter of civilians? How does this differ from the message of a neo-nazi group? It doesnt. The horseshoe theory asserts that the political spectrum is not linear, but wraps around. The far-left and far-right, rather than being on opposing sides, are actually quite similar. Recent events suggest this is theory no more, but our political reality. Right and left are united in hate. For those of us in the middle, its time to call out and push back on both extremes with equal fervor. Do you have an opinion on this topic? Tell us! We love to hear from Texans with opinions on the news and to publish those views in the Opinion section. Letters should be no more than 150 words. Writers should submit letters only once every 30 days. Include your name, address (including city of residence), phone number and email address, so we can contact you if we have questions. You can submit a letter to the editor two ways: Email letters@star-telegram.com (preferred). Fill out this online form. Please note: Letters will be edited for style and clarity. Publication is not guaranteed. The best letters are focused on one topic. House Republicans are stuck in an endless loop of infighting as they search for a new leader. Multiple times, their comments have taken on a pettiness that stands out even in this era. It's unlikely the drama will end anytime soon. America's had a reality TV host become president. Now, it's seeing what happens when the nation's representatives devolve into petty squabbles that have long-powered our cherished reality TV staples. Cameras watching the floors have documented the now weeks-long effort to replace former Speaker Kevin McCarthy after his historic ouster. But C-SPAN cameras can't possibly capture everything. For the rest, there's a mixture of social media posts and reporting on what is really happening behind closed doors as the House remains speakerless for weeks on end. Just last night, Rep. Nancy Mace , a South Carolinian who voted for former McCarthy's historic ouster, complained that one of her GOP colleagues blocked her on X, formerly known as Twitter. "This is exactly what's wrong with this place - too many men here with no balls," Mace wrote with a screenshot showing Rep. Greg Murphy, a North Carolina Republican, blocking her. Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) October 20, 2023 Belatedly, Murphy responded, "I have been blessed to be a surgeon for 35 years and saved thousands of lives both her [sic] and abroad. Oh I got 'em. And they are real." Things haven't been much better behind closed doors, reportedly. McCarthy, according to multiple reports, screamed at Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida to sit down during a testy exchange on Thursday. Asked about what happened, McCarthy told reporters, "I think the entire conference screamed at him. Listen, the whole country, I think would scream at Matt Gaetz right now." Gaetz, who led the effort to oust McCarthy, later said, "I'm told I have a punchable face," when discussing his colleagues' apparent ire towards him. Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado was recounting how both times she saw colleagues almost come to blows, Gaetz was involved. The first time in January came as House Armed Services Chairman Mike Rogers had to be restrained from charging at Gaetz. "Don't bury the lede there hey, at least it's not backbenchers trying to whip my ass, it's chairmen at least it's people with gavels," Gaetz said after Boebert recounted the latest charged exchange between Rep. Mike Bost of Illinois and Gaetz during a closed-door meeting. Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., left, pulls Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., back as they talk with Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla. during the 14th round of voting for speaker as the House on Friday, Jan. 6, 2023. Andrew Harnik)/AP Photo The lack of a speaker is forcing the House to churn through days without making any progress on any of this. There's even been instances of members of Congress dishing about one another's fashion choices, like when Republican Rep. George Santos (who recently received a superseding indictment accusing him of fraud and identity theft) took to X amidst the recent rounds of House speaker votes to see which lawmaker Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett or Independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema best wore yellow outfits with shoulder pads to the Capitol. "WHO WORE IT BEST?!" Santos posted online, prompting Crockett to respond with a message akin to an eyeroll. To be fair, pettiness in Congress is nothing new. Lawmakers have often developed and nursed grudges over the smallest of slights real or perceived. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Sen. Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, feuded in 2012 as the two senators lobbied to get each of their respective alma maters into the Big 12 Conference (Manchin ultimately won). Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho reportedly held up a government funding bill in 2018 when he became aware that one of its provisions would re-name a nature preserve in his state after an apparent political rival. And in the distant past, some members of Congress quite literally engaged in duels. Still, the current drama is notable as Congress has real work it must get done this year. The federal government will shut down in less than a month if more funding is not passed. President Joe Biden also wants over $100 billion to help Israel, Ukraine, and to help secure the Southern border. There are also multiple sweeping areas of American life that must be reauthorized covering everything from the planes we fly on to the food that goes on our tables. The consequences of inaction could be great: if Congress fails to extend or pass a new farm bill, some agriculture policy would return to practices from the 1940s. After Jordan failed on a third vote on Friday, reporters asked McCarthy, who continues to support the Ohio Republican, if his party was broken. "We are in a very bad place right now, yes," McCarthy said, likely walking to his office where he may or may not be squatting in. New episodes are likely coming next week. Republicans dumped Jordan as their speaker nominee on Friday afternoon before leaving DC for the weekend. It's not clear who the new star(s) will be. Read the original article on Business Insider A Brea man has been charged with murder and is eligible for the death penalty after he allegedly stabbed a man to death in Newport Beach to steal his Rolex watch. Randolph Loren Aguirre, 55, faces one felony count of murder and one felony count of second-degree robbery. Aguirre was released from prison only seven weeks prior to the deadly stabbing after serving more than three years for assault, officials said. Hes accused of killing 46-year-old Robert Tamaccio, who was passed out in a Newport Beach alleyway after a night of drinking, in the early hours of Sept. 30. According to the Orange County District Attorneys Office, Aguirre and his 30-year-old daughter Desiree Aguirre were driving in their pickup truck when they spotted Tamaccio and decided to rob him. They got out of the truck and stole his Rolex and Randolph is accused of stabbing Tamaccio and kicking him in the head before stealing his shoes. Tamaccio died from his injuries. Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said Randolph Aguirre is eligible for the death penalty due to Californias Three-Strikes law. Hes currently being held without bail at the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange. Desiree has been charged with one felony count of second-degree robbery and is currently being held at the Central Womens Jail on $150,000 bail. The father and daughter are due in court for their arraignments on Nov. 3. Editors Note: This story has been updated to correct the headline which improperly stated Huntington Beach. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. A U.S. federal judge dismissed a case that a former Tallahassee Police Department sergeant filed after claiming the city violated his First Amendment rights. Gavin Larremore was suspended and demoted in 2020 after he criticized the city-backed "Black Lives Matter" mural at the intersection of Gaines Street and Railroad Avenue on social media. An arbitrator was the first to rule in the city's favor, and instead of appealing the decision, he filed his case in federal court. Following suit, U.S. District Judge William Stafford also sided with the city. "He has not shown that his interest in free speech outweighed TPD's interest in effective and efficient fulfillment of its responsibilities," court documents say. As the mural was being painted, Larremore posted comments calling protestors "a mob of thugs," "a gang of loudmouths" and "a gang of anti-anyone not black racists who encourage murdering police officers nationwide. Larremore, who was a 17-year veteran at the time, was suspended for roughly three days and demoted from a sergeant to an officer. TPD spokesperson Alicia Hill said that he still works at the agency but hasn't changed ranks. Police Chief Lawrence Revell and Deputy Chief Tonya Bryant-Smith both received many complaints from the community, especially Tallahassee's Black community, following Larremore's post, according to court documents. His commentary "put a strain on the department's community mission" and sparked fears the post would lead to violence. According to court documents, for a First Amendment claim to stand the employee has to show that the speech was made as "a citizen on a matter of public concern," the employee's free speech interest outweighs the employer's interest of fulfilling its duties and the speech played a substantial part in adverse employment action. "The court finds that TPD's interest in maintaining the public's respect and trust . . . outweighs Larremore's interest in a Facebook post characterizing BLM protestors as thugs and criminals . . .," the judge's order states. Elena Barrera can be reached at ebarrera@tallahassee.com. Follow her on Twitter @elenabarreraaa. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Judge dismisses First Amendment lawsuit by Tallahassee police officer Federal officials have opened an inquiry into the marketing practices of a security company thats landed multi-million dollar school district contracts by promising its artificial intelligence-powered weapons detection scanners can ferret out threats with unrivaled speed and precision. Publicly traded Evolv Technology acknowledged that the Federal Trade Commission had requested information about certain aspects of its marketing practices in a disclosure to investors last week, following scrutiny that the company overstated the capabilities of its technology in promotions that could give customers, including schools, a false sense of security. Citing two anonymous sources, Bloomberg reported that Evolv is the subject of an FTC investigation into whether its scanners essentially next-generation metal detectors with a heftier price tag employ artificial intelligence to identify weapons in the ways that it claims. Tell us what you think about The 74. Take our survey. Its unclear whether Massachusetts-based Evolvs sales pitches to the education sector are part of the federal probe. An FTC spokesperson declined to comment Tuesday. In its Oct. 12 disclosure form with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in a statement this week to The 74, Evolv said the company was pleased to answer regulators questions. When Evolv receives inquiries from regulators, our approach is to be cooperative and educate them about our company, the statement continued. The company stands behind its technologys capabilities and performance track record. The company has claimed that it uses AI to scan for the unique signatures of tens of thousands of weapons, allowing it to distinguish all the guns, all the bombs and all the large tactical knives out there from everyday items like keys and laptops. Yet the scanners efficacy including its ability to prevent campus violence has faced pushback for several years, particularly by IPVM, an independent security and surveillance industry research group that tests and evaluates products. Conor Healy, the groups director of government research, said that false and misleading marketing claims have been a pattern with the company for years. Among the inaccurate assertions, he said, is that the tool eliminates the friction that students experience when they pass through security everyday. That has been shown to be just simply not true at all, Healy told The 74 this week. Theres quite a lot of friction. The schools that weve looked at have 20% to 60% false alarm rates. Related The Latest School Weapons Detection Tech Can Miss Serious Threats, Experts Say Districts have increasingly turned to weapons detection systems from Evolv and competing security vendors in response to fears of school shootings anxiety that the company says keeps both students and staff from doing their best work. Evolv states that its system combines powerful sensor technology with proven artificial intelligence to identify threats like guns in hundreds of U.S. schools. Capable of scanning more than 4,000 people an hour, Evolv says its devices are 10X faster than metal detectors, and help reduce opportunities for bias by decreasing secondary screenings by humans. Evolv extols the benefits of its scanners well beyond schools physical safety. While frequent false alarms by traditional metal detectors lead to security anxiety and inconvenient delays, according to the companys website, Evolv scanners offer a more effective and dignified solution, fostering a safer, more inclusive environment that bolsters academic achievement and staff retention. IPVM has accused the company of failing to substantiate that its product is 10 times faster than traditional metal detectors, and a 2022 BBC investigation found the scanners may miss certain knives and bombs. Meanwhile, IPVM has documented instances where false alarms were activated in schools by water bottles, binders and laptops. In a statement to Pennsylvania-based IPVM last month, Evolv said we understand if any of our past statements appeared to generalize our capabilities, which may violate an FTC rule that requires company claims to be evidence-backed. With AI a constant, if little understood, buzzword across many sectors right now, the FTC in February warned companies against exaggerating the capabilities of their artificial intelligence offerings, adding that false or unsubstantiated claims about a products efficacy are our bread and butter. The minute you hear the word AI in marketing, alarm bells should go off in your head, said Healy, whose group has also done broader analyses of the school security industry and the efficacy of specific surveillance tools routinely installed in schools. As far as [Evolvs] artificial intelligence goes, it does not appear to be very intelligent, he said, because it routinely fails to differentiate everyday school supplies like Chromebooks from weapons like guns. What AI is actually in the system? That is something that Evolv has not told us very much about. Related New Report: School Shootings Spawned Digital Dystopia of Student Surveillance Evolv has resisted calls to disclose additional information about the ways its scanners function. While scanners sensitivity settings can alter their performance, a company spokesperson previously told The 74 that publicly sharing information about those settings is irresponsible and puts people at greater risk. We must assume any published information regarding details of a physical screening system will be studied and leveraged by a bad actor seeking to do harm, the statement continued. The company declined to comment on the false alarm rates reported by its customer districts, which include Atlanta, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Louisville, Kentucky. Our systems are designed to detect many types of weapons and components of weapons, but there is no perfect solution that will stop 100% of threats, including ours, which is why security must include a layered approach that involves people, process and technology. Knives became a point of conflict last year after the school district in Utica, New York, spent nearly $4 million to install Evolv scanners across 13 of its campuses. The scanners were ultimately removed after a student was stabbed multiple times with a knife during a fight in a high school hallway. The knife-wielding student had passed through an Evolv scanner with the blade in his backpack, a later investigation revealed. While the detectors had false alarms, including on a students lunch box, an Evolv scanner failed to alarm when an off-duty police officer accidentally brought a service revolver to a Utica district open house. Meanwhile, in Buffalo, New York, Evolv scanners were credited for keeping a high school safe. Earlier this month, an 18-year-old pleaded guilty to a criminal weapons possession charge after he was caught trying to bring a handgun into a high school. A school security officer reportedly found the disassembled ghost gun in the teenagers backpack as he passed through a weapons detector. Buffalo schools spent $2.7 million to roll out the Evolv system earlier this year. A Buffalo schools spokesperson declined to comment. Related White House Cautions Schools Against Continuous Surveillance of Students As companies increasingly market products with artificial intelligence capabilities to schools, school security consultant Kenneth Trump predicts or at least hopes that regulation is imminent. He pointed to new rules in New York that prohibit facial recognition in schools. The ban was adopted after an upstate school districts decision to install surveillance cameras with facial recognition capabilities prompted an outcry. The marketing claims are so off the charts by many vendors that theres really no chance for the average school administrator to know whats true, whats false and really the gaps and the limitations that these products have, said Trump, president of Cleveland-based National School Safety and Security Services. Though he expects regulators to soon reign in security companies, up until that happens, how many school districts are going to fall victim to questionable marketing and grandiose ideas that dont come to fruition? Just under a quarter of Americans reached in a survey released Thursday said President Biden has shown too much support for Israel in the wake of the Hamas attack that started a war now in its second week. The CBS News/YouGov poll found 24 percent of Americans said that Bidens recent statements and actions have shown too much support for Israel. By comparison, 44 percent said the president has shown the right amount of support for Israel, and 32 percent said he hasnt shown enough. Pollsters also found a majority of respondents 57 percent said the U.S. should send humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza. Most of those surveyed 52 percent also said the U.S. should not send weapons and supplies to Israel. Likewise, 56 percent said they disapproved of how Biden is dealing with the Israel-Hamas conflict; 44 percent said they approved. The president traveled to Israel on Wednesday in a show of support for the American ally, and reiterated that support in an Oval Office address late Thursday. American leadership is what holds the world together. Americas alliances are what keep us safe, Biden said in the speech. American values are what make us a partner that other nations want to work with. To put all of that at risk if we walk away from Ukraine and turn our backs on Israel. Its just not worth it. Biden also said the United States remains committed to the Palestinians right to dignity and self determination. The actions of Hamas terrorists dont take that right away. Approximately 1,400 Israelis have been killed in the war, according to the Israeli government, mostly in a Hamas surprise attack that began the conflict. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry says responding Israeli strikes have killed nearly 3,800 Palestinians. The poll of 1,878 adults was conducted Oct. 16-19. It has a margin of error of 2.9 percentage points. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. As the Israeli military continues striking targets inside Gaza following the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas that killed an estimated 1,400 in Israel and resulted in another 200 being taken hostage, the specter of a large-scale ground offensive into the densely populated area of northern Gaza looms. The Israeli Defense Forces says it has mobilized 360,000 reserve troops. Its leaders have told Gaza residents to evacuate the northern area and called for the complete destruction of the militant group Hamas. Urban fighting of any kind presents a host of unique tactical challenges for both sides and devastating consequences for civilians caught in its midst. The U.S. military largely has played a support role in some of the more recent, significant urban battles, such as the nine-month Battle of Mosul in 20162017 in Iraq; the five-month Siege of Marawi, Philippines, and the four-month Battle of Raqqa, Syria, both in 2017; and a variety of urban battles through the ongoing Russian war with Ukraine. During the Iraq War, the United States slogged through its own urban fights in Baghdad, Fallujah, Sadr City and elsewhere in Iraq. That sample of recent urban combat has shown monthslong fights have caused billions in damage, and left thousands dead and many more wounded. Estimates from Mosul, Iraq, alone a likely comparison for what may happen in Gaza, according to multiple experts suggest that more than 1,000 coalition forces died. And official estimates for Islamic State fighters killed range between 7,700 people to more than 16,000 people. The entirety of Gaza spans an area approximately the size of Washington, D.C., and contains a population of more than 2 million residents. North Gaza and Gaza City combined hold more than half of the areas residents. If the tolls of dead, wounded and widespread destruction from other urban battles is any kind of indicator, a prolonged ground operation in Gaza likely is to produce as much or more carnage, experts said. Israel has not fought something on this scale in quite some time, said Raphael Cohen, a senior political scientist at Rand and an Iraq War veteran. This is already one of the more bloody conflicts in its history and its only going to get bloodier. Some aspects of urban combat remain the same, regardless of the era or region. Buildings, tunnels and other obstacles hide defenders, rubble impedes vehicles and provides ample opportunities for booby traps, civilians who remain pose a challenge to forces intent on reducing casualties. The presence of civilians also provides fighters a way to blend into the population. Every inch of territory gained consumes more ammunition, supplies and by its intense nature, creates higher casualty counts, requiring more troops than an operation in any other terrain. In the desert, troops usually can see the enemy coming and can maneuver with ease. Forests, jungles and mountains strain equipment and logistics, taxing mobility. But a city is a whole other matter. The worst possible set of circumstances is a city, said Dakota Wood, a retired Marine lieutenant colonel who is now a senior research fellow for the Heritage Foundation, a Washington, D.C., conservative think tank. Urban terrain can blunt, but not entirely eliminate, the advantages of a modern military force. Its three dimensional: underground areas, shopping centers, sewage lines, tunnels, below-ground parking and basement areas, Wood said. The urban canyons created by high-rise buildings, the warren of alleyways, roads and other obstacles constrain movement. Of all the militaries in the world, some experts say Israel is the best trained, equipped and positioned for fighting an urban campaign. And it will still be hell on everyone involved. Urban offense and defense The Israeli Defense Forces concentrate their manning, equipping and training efforts on defending Israel, and as such can specialize a force in ways expeditionary forces, like those in the U.S. military, could not. That means a range of specialized units purpose-built for going after the massive tunnel networks used by Hamas in Gaza and a series of brigades that are infantry and armor-heavy, with advanced cyber and electromagnetic warfare capabilities. While the Israeli Defense Forces has not conducted major ground offensives into the heart of Gaza since it ended its nearly 40-year occupation of the territory in 2005, the force has commanders in its ranks whove fought in those territories and studied them for years, said John Spencer, author of Understanding Urban Warfare, and chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Madison Policy Forum foundation in New York. Israeli soldiers regain control of the Kibbutz Be'eri, Oct. 11, Kibbutz Be'eri. (Ilia Yefimovich/The Associated Press) Spencer outlined some of the strengths that the Israeli Defense Forces brings to such a fight in a recent series of podcasts and articles on the Urban Warfare Project at the Modern War Institute at West Point, New York. According to him, for Israeli Defense Forces units, equipment and tactics strengths include: Yahalom Unit: a specialized Israeli Defense Forces combat engineering corps commando unit trained to find, clear and destroy tunnels. The unit is one of the largest in the world focused on underground warfare. The Yahalom carries a toolkit of specialized gear for such operations, including ground and aerial sensors, ground-penetrating radar, drilling equipment, radios and navigation equipment designed for use underground, thermal equipment and a suite of flying and ground robots for mapping tunnels. Once discovered, the unit has ground-penetrating munitions such as the GBU-28, which can penetrate 100 feet of soil or 20 feet of concrete. Oketz: a canine unit with dogs trained for underground operations. Intelligence units Sayeret Matkal, the Yamam and others who study and share best practices for handling underground threats. Tunnel training is included in basic infantry training for nearly all combat arms Israeli Defense Forces troops. Remote-controlled bulldozers: a combination of explosives, bulldozers and tanks are sometimes the most effective means for destroying or sealing off tunnel entrances. Spencer, a career Army infantry officer and veteran of the Battle of Sadr City, Iraq, told Military Times that those Israeli Defense Forces advantages will help, but the urban terrain favors the defender. Weaker enemies such as terrorist organizations or guerilla fighters can find refuge in urban terrain that they know well. Hamas has used Gaza as a base of operations nearly from its inception in 1987. The group, designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States in 1997, largely has controlled Gaza since it won the 2006 elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council. That has given the group time to reinforce its urban centers for just such a battle that the group could soon face. Experts said those preparations include major factors Hamas is likely to exploit rockets, tunnels, strongpoints, human shields and time. Hamas has used its own drones and given its alliance with the Iranian military, which has supported the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Hamas is learning battlefield lessons from that fight as well, said Cohen, the Rand expert. Cohen co-authored a 2017 Rand report titled, From Cast Lead to Protective Edge: Lessons from Israels Wars in Gaza, which offered a series of urban combat lessons learned for the military audience. Rand Gaza Report high-priority recommendations for the U.S. military: Understand the adversary. Understand the limits of precision targeting in the urban context. Develop and field rocket and missile defenses. Invest in active protection systems and armored vehicles. Prepare for tunnel fighting. Rocket fire has been the primary means Hamas and other groups, such as Hezbollah, have used to attack Israel over the years. But unlike conventional military attacks where rockets are arranged in various areas of the battle space, often in view of drones or aircraft, the combination of tunnels and rockets gives Hamas ways to strike and move rapidly without detection, said Jacob Stoil, associate professor of military history and Israel Defense Forces researcher at the U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies, told Spencer on an Oct. 13 episode of the Urban Warfare Project podcast. An ongoing Hamas tactic has been the use of human shields. Attempting to avoid inadvertent Palestinian civilian casualties is a vital but admittedly difficult task for the Israel Defense Forces, considering the dense urban environment of Gaza where Hamas and other militant groups frequently use Palestinian civilians as human shields, said Bradley Bowman, senior director of the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. A Hamas militant holds a squad automatic weapon perched atop a truck during a parade through the streets for Bassem Issa, a top Hamas' commander, who was killed by Israeli Defense Force military actions prior to a cease-fire reached after an 11-day war between Gaza's Hamas rulers and Israel, in Gaza City, May 22, 2021. (John Minchillo/The Associated Press) Much of the infrastructure such as schools, hospitals and mosques, have been dual-purposed with Hamas command and control, observation and firing positions, Spencer and Stoil said. Such buildings can often weather missile strikes better than residential or commercial buildings and the presence of civilians can sometimes deter such strikes entirely, Spencer said. In military language, those buildings function as strongpoints, and, Spencer noted, such locations, if not destroyed, require a lot of manpower and resources to take. During recent conflicts such as the 2017 Siege of Marawi, Philippines, or battles in Ukraine, a single strongpoint has sometimes taken weeks or months to clear. The aftermath of strikes, such as those now underway by the Israel Defense Forces in Gaza, create their own terrain feature: rubble. As soon as you blow something up that rubble creates additional obstacles to movement, Wood, the Marine veteran, said. You cannot rush in. You dont move quickly through that environment at all. Ground troops are forced to scramble over broken and jagged chunks of concrete and steel, going on foot because the debris slows or stalls vehicle movement. That puts those soldiers and their vehicles at risk from another threat: booby traps. Ozzie Martinez Jr. saw that firsthand when he deployed as an amphibious track vehicle crewman during the First Battle of Fallujah, Iraq, in 2004. While running vehicle patrols as a Marine lance corporal at the time, Martinez recalled how troops would put metal posts like those used for street signs on their vehicles to catch piano wire strung across roads to tangle or ensnare vehicle gunners. The buildings themselves become a maze of threats. We were standing in front of one house getting shot at by a group of guys, he said. Then, four houses down were getting shot at by what looks like the same group of guys. Insurgents in Fallujah, Iraq, and other urban battles would often punch mouse holes through building walls, connecting the buildings to move quickly from one shooting position to another, all concealed by the building walls. Martinez noted the psychological toll of relentless urban fighting. Some fellow Marines simply went into shock and seemed frozen for days. Its almost like you absorb it and go and get used to riding on the edge of the seat, Martinez said. Its the intensity, youre not getting out of ittheres no time out. All of Hamas defenses, from small drones strapped with grenades, to suicide bomber attacks, to rockets hidden in tunnels until theyre ready to be used, and human shields are designed to work toward one goal: buying time. In past Israel Defense Forces operations in Gaza and other areas, as casualties mounted and the toll on civilians rose, outside pressure often ended the operation. Spencer, who has traveled to areas of Israel alongside Israel Defense Forces personnel, said the time factor has played a role even in planning such operations. The duration of major Israeli operations against militant groups in Gaza since 2005: 20082009: 23 days 2012: 8 days 2014: 50 days 2021: 11 days Source: Al Jazeera But this time may be different. In past operations, Israels stated objective in Gaza was to mow the grass, a term used by Israel Defense Forces leadership that refers to periodic strikes that targeted Hamas leadership and military supply chains. Thats no longer the case today, Cohen said. In the past, those strikes would unfold and within days or weeks. Then, following international pressure, there would be a ceasefire. Thats going to have less likely of an effect than previously, Cohen said. That in turn means that a methodical campaign to root out and destroy Hamas in Gaza will likely proceed until its completion, the experts said. But Gaza is not a far-off outpost for Israel. What happens after the shooting stops and the dust settles is the biggest unknown of them all. None of the experts interviewed by Military Times had an answer. I can tell you exactly how a military operation will go. I cannot tell you what will happen the day after, Spencer said. Orlando firefighters said a woman in her 80s was hurt after they responded Friday morning to a house fire near the Ivanhoe Village area. The fire started around 5:13 a.m. on Dauphin Lane, not far from Lake Formosa. Several Orlando Fire Department fire crews and paramedics have been called out to the scene. Watch: Orlando police respond to crash at I-4 and SR-408 interchange Firefighters said they needed to rescue the victim from the home after she had collapsed near the front door. The woman suffered smoke inhalation and was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center. Watch: Police: Man shoots wife, self with rifle at Daytona Beach home A dog was also rescued from the home, firefighters said. Officials said 11 units responded to the location. Read: State Department issues worldwide travel advisory for Americans The cause of the fire is under investigation. Channel 9 has a crew working to gather more information and will provide updates on Eyewitness News. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Friday tentatively sided with the Biden administration and agreed to decide a dispute about whether officials in the White House and federal agencies violated the First Amendment when they leaned on social media companies to suppress content about the election and COVID-19. Amid a war between Israel and Hamas and a presidential election, the Supreme Court's move Friday allows the Biden administration to continue to interact with social media platforms such as Facebook and X to request that they remove disinformation. By also agreeing to decide the underlying issues in coming months, the high court is once against thrusting itself into a divisive fight at the intersection of social media and the government. "This is an immensely important case," said Jameel Jaffer, executive director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University. "These are momentous, thorny issues, and how the court resolves them will have broad implications for the digital public sphere." Without comment, a majority of the justices halted a lower court's order that blocked federal agencies from "coercing" social media companies like Facebook and X to take down or curtail the spread of social media posts. Alito calls Biden efforts 'government censorship' Three members of the court's conservative wing Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch said they would have sided with the states and social media users who filed the lawsuit. "Government censorship of private speech is antithetical to our democratic form of government, and therefore todays decision is highly disturbing," Alito wrote in a dissent. "At this time in the history of our country, what the court has done, I fear, will be seen by some as giving the government a green light to use heavy-handed tactics to skew the presentation of views on the medium that increasingly dominates the dissemination of news." Second Amendment: Supreme Court blocks parts of Missouri law that declared federal gun prohibitions 'invalid' The Republican state attorneys general who filed the lawsuit said they were pleased the litigation would be fully aired at the Supreme Court. The court is expected to decide the case by the end of this term, which runs through June. This is the worst First Amendment violation in our nation's history," Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, a Republican, said in a statement. "We look forward to dismantling Joe Bidens vast censorship enterprise at the nations highest court." Louisiana Solicitor General Liz Murrill said that the court's decision "brings us one step closer to reestablishing the protections guaranteed to us in the Constitution and under the First Amendment." It's about disinformation, Biden lawyers counter The Justice Department declined to comment on Friday. But the administration has countered in its briefs that officials merely asked those platforms to remove harmful disinformation. The decision to remove that content was ultimately made by the companies themselves, not the government. Barring the government from flagging disinformation, the administration argued, could have enormous consequences for how Americans interact online. It is undisputed that the content-moderation decisions at issue in this case were made by private social-media companies, such as Facebook and YouTube, the administration told the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court's action on Friday holds in place the status quo before the courts got involved, allowing the administration to proceed for now as it had been doing before. By agreeing to hear arguments over and decide the underlying First Amendment questions in the case, the Supreme Court is once again thrusting itself into the messy and heated political debate over online content in the middle of a presidential election. First Amendment central theme this year at Supreme Court Born of conservative frustration with social media moderation practices, the lawsuit by the Republican attorneys general from Missouri and Louisiana and several individual users accused the administration of coercing the platforms to remove content that was unfavorable to Democrats. That included posts about the 2020 election, the origins of COVID-19 and the Hunter Biden laptop story. When...federal agencies flag Americans speech to social-media platforms to urge them to take it down, they induce platforms to take action against private speech that the platforms otherwise would not take, the plaintiffs told the Supreme Court in a brief this month. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel in the State Dining Room of the White House October 10, 2023 in Washington, DC. The intersection of social media and politics has emerged as significant theme for the Supreme Court this year. Justices will hear arguments Oct. 31 in a pair of challenges dealing with whether public officials may block constituents on social media. Separately, the high court will decide two suits challenging laws in Texas and Florida that would limit the ability of platforms like Facebook, YouTube and X to moderate content. The state laws at issue in the cases, both of which have been temporarily blocked by federal courts, severely limit the ability of social media companies to kick users off their platforms or remove individual posts. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Supreme Court: Biden aides may lobby social media over disinformation DOOR COUNTY - Three Door County commercial fish companies are among 15 businesses that pledged to use 100% of every fish they catch on the Great Lakes by 2025, not only reducing waste but also potentially dramatically increasing the value of each fish. J&M Fisheries and Henriksen Fisheries, both of Ellison Bay, and Baileys Harbor Fish Company recently signed the 100% Great Lakes Fish Pledge, a first-of-its-kind effort asking fisheries on the Great Lakes in the U.S. and Canada to commit to using every bit of their commercially caught fish. A graphic shows how many products could be made by using all of a whitefish, not just the fillets for eating. Three Door County seafood companies are among 15 that signed a pledge to use 100% of all fish they catch commercially on the Great Lakes by 2025. The pledge is part of the 100% Great Lakes Fish initiative created by the Conference of Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers, an organization representing the governors of the Great Lakes states and the premiers of the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. A news release from the organization said the companies that signed the pledge will explore and implement innovative applications for fish by-products, such as protein, marine collagen, fertilizer, leather and other new, high-value products. The idea is to prevent waste and promote the sustainable use of Great Lakes fish. "We have been talking with David Naftzger (executive director of GSGP) since last winter and we are very interested in this project," Charlie Henriksen, co-owner of Henriksen Fisheries, said in an email to the Door County Advocate about why his company signed. "We are also conservationists who have a large interest in the sustainability of commercial fishing and are always interested in ways to improve and diversify." The news release noted that most of a commercially caught fish that's used mostly as a food source isn't used to its maximum, or to its best value. It said about 40% of those fish are made into fillets and eaten, while the remaining 60% usually just becomes inexpensive animal feed or gets discarded. The effort builds on a successful experience with cod fisheries in Iceland and other species elsewhere globally. Iceland pioneered the 100% fish strategy, and under their program, the use of an Icelandic cods biomass has increased from 40% (almost exclusively fillets) to more than 90%, with the non-eaten parts, skin and all, processed into a variety of food and non-food products. "More products in different markets will increase awareness of the whitefish and commercial fishing industry harvesting the fish," Carin Stuth, co-owner of Baileys Harbor Fish, said to the Advocate. "Responsible commercial fishing is very important in the global seafood market. Using the protein for food and then converting the by-products into other things is a great use of the natural resource." Besides reducing waste, the use of the fish by-products after filleting also raises the value of each fish, the news release said. It cited initial studies in the U.S. that determined the value of a whitefish could jump from $12 when used only for fillets to nearly $4,000 when 100% is used, depending on its use. Stuth said Baileys Harbor Fish currently is equipped to sell fish by-products to other companies, such as collecting the entrails, scales, bones and heads for fish fertilizer. She said their company specializes in fish as food, selling to wholesale markets and direct to consumers at their shop, so she envisions supplying entrepreneurs who can make use of the fish by-products. "I believe the concept of using all the whitefish by-products is wonderful," Stuth said. "We are definitely a resource for entrepreneurs who want to launch new products using the by-products from whitefish processing." Henriksen said his fishery already is using much of its harvested fish. It works with a company to make fertilizer from much of their waste product and is working with Prof. Dong-Fang Deng at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciences to use some waste for aquaculture feed. Other by-products are used to make dog treats (GemmaLous Furbaby products) and fish sausage, he said. With this new effort, Henriksen said his fishery will work with Fiskur Leather, a Minnesota-based company, and local artisans to make fish leather products such as belts, bracelets, bookmarks, wallets and earrings. "Anything positive happening always benefits the entire industry," Henriksen said. "It appears that this will be a long-term project and the logistics of some of it will be daunting, but there are good parts happening already." For more information on the 100% Great Lakes Fish project, including a copy of the pledge, visit gsgp.org. Contact Christopher Clough at 920-562-8900 or cclough@doorcountyadvocate.com. MORE: Sturgeon Bay, Ellison Bay play host to two art crawls this weekend MORE: Study shows how much the arts matter to Door County's economy and pride. Hint: It's a lot FOR MORE DOOR COUNTY NEWS: Check out our website This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Door County fish companies pledge to use 100% of the fish they catch President Biden addressed the nation from the Oval Office on Thursday evening. The main topics of the 15-minute speech were the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, and the war in Ukraine. The Middle East has entered a horrific new phase since Hamas killed about 1,400 Israelis in a surprise attack Oct. 7. Israeli reprisals have killed around 3,800 Palestinians. A ground invasion of Gaza by Israel could come at any moment. On Ukraine, polls show American public commitment to the war wavering as the price tag for aid keeps rising. Bidens speech was also delivered against a backdrop of dysfunction on Capitol Hill, where the House has been without a Speaker since Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was ousted Oct. 3. Here are the main takeaways from Bidens speech. An attempt to weave together Ukraine, Israel and Gaza The central point of the speech was to make the case for new tranches of aid to Ukraine and to Israel. Biden said he would deliver a request to Congress on Friday. The total request, which also includes other issues like aid for Taiwan, is expected to be for about $100 billion. Rhetorically, Biden sought to draw parallels between the two conflicts, weaving them together into a narrative about the vital struggle against Americas foes. Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy, Biden said. He further contended that Iran is supporting Russia in Ukraine, and it is supporting Hamas and other terrorist groups in the region. The bedrock of Bidens argument was that resolute support of U.S. allies is essential for preserving American primacy in the world. American leadership, he contended, is what holds the world together. It would put all that at risk if we walk away from Ukraine, turn our backs on Israel. Its just not worth it. It was a strong case. But Biden is also battling headwinds. There are tensions with progressives in his own party over the rights and wrongs of backing Israel so fervently. Republicans have long sought to characterize Bidens leadership, at home and abroad, as weak and directionless. Moments before the president spoke, former President Trumps campaign issued a statement in which it held Biden culpable for the horrific catastrophes taking place in Israel and accused him of displaying incompetence, radicalism, and weakness. A passionate call to stem hatred at home The conflict in Israel and Gaza has resonated in the United States in grim ways. A 6-year-old Muslim boy, Wadea Al-Fayoume, died Saturday after being stabbed in an alleged hate crime about 40 miles from Chicago. His mother was also stabbed and seriously injured. Jewish Americans have spoken of a growing sense of dread amid increasing instances of antisemitism. The most emotional passages of Bidens speech addressed these problems. He demanded that both Islamophobia and antisemitism should be without equivocation renounced. Biden mentioned Al-Fayoume by name. He also drew a vivid picture of Jewish families worried about their children being targeted in school or being attacked themselves while going out about their daily lives. In times of discord and conflict, Biden insisted, we have to work harder than ever to hold on to the values that make us who we are. We reject all forms all forms of hate, whether against Muslims, Jews or anyone, he added. On the hospital explosion, the clearest backing of Israel yet The conflict between Israel and the Palestinians has been in danger of widening since a Tuesday explosion at the al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City. The death toll, though disputed, appears to be in the triple figures. Palestinians blamed an Israeli airstrike. The Israelis said an errant rocket from Palestinian Islamic Jihad was responsible. Biden and his administration were clearly leaning toward the Israeli version of events when the president visited Israel on Wednesday. But in his remarks while overseas, Biden did caveat those remarks to some degree. Meeting Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he said that based on what Ive seen, it appears as though it was done by the other team, not you. At a later appearance, he said it appeared a terrorist group in Gaza was responsible based on the information weve seen to date. That trace of equivocation was gone by Thursday. Biden said that he was heartbroken by the tragic loss of Palestinian life, including the explosion at the hospital in Gaza which was not done by the Israelis. No direct mention of Speaker gridlock Biden had taken a shot at congressional Republicans while on Air Force One on his way back from Israel. Asked about the struggles of House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) to win the Speakership, Biden told reporters with obvious sarcasm: I ache for him. Jordan, a fervent Trump loyalist, is one of the most aggressive Republicans in Congress and has been especially avid in hounding the presidents son, Hunter Biden. However, the president avoided frontal attacks on the GOP during his Oval Office address, presumably believing that such remarks would seem discordant or petty in the somber setting. Instead, he restricted himself to a grander sentiment that we should not let petty, partisan angry politics get in the way of our responsibility as a great nation. Perfunctory backing for Palestinian rights Biden touched on several elements of the conflict in Israel and Gaza beyond his expressions of support for Israel. Near the start of his remarks, he talked about the plight of Israelis and Americans taken hostage by Hamas. The total number of American hostages is unknown roughly a dozen U.S. citizens remain unaccounted for. We are pursuing every avenue to bring your loved ones home, Biden said. The president did not ignore Palestinian views. He asserted that the United States remains committed to the Palestinian peoples right to dignity and self-determination and he called on Israel to uphold the laws of war. He also restated the goal of a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians though such a goal seems bleakly distant right now. But those remarks were brief and had a perfunctory feel especially alongside a promise to seek billions of dollars to sharpen Israels qualitative military edge. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The field of those vying to be the House GOPs third nominee for Speaker quickly became crowded after the conference voted Friday to drop House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). The conference pushed Jordan aside in a secret-ballot internal vote shortly after he lost a third House floor vote Friday. Before Jordan, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) narrowly won the nomination but he withdrew his name a day later after supporters of Jordan refused to support him. Scalise said Tuesday that he would not be seeking the nomination again. After two failed nominees, the floodgates have opened, with potential successors to former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) jockeying for the role. House Republicans are set to meet behind closed doors for their candidate forum Monday at 6:30 p.m., then they will move to an internal nomination election Tuesday at 9 a.m. The deadline for candidates to file their candidacies was on Sunday at noon. House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) who had expressed interest in a Speaker bid Friday and was overheard asking his wife on the phone, What do you want me to do, honey? announced Sunday that he opted against seeking the gavel. Nine Republicans officially filed to run for Speaker by that noon deadline, House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) announced Sunday. Here is who they are. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) Emmer made his run for Speaker official Saturday, and he will likely be a front-runner for the position. The majority whip who previously served as chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) would be the highest-ranking lawmaker to jockey for the position. He has endured leadership races in the past, a fact that could help him prevail this time around. If given the opportunity to be your Speaker, we will use that same culture of teamwork, communication, and respect to build on the moments that brought us success, learn from our mistakes, and keep fighting for each and every one of you and our Republican majority, Emmer wrote in a letter to colleagues. Emmer also wrote that he will always be honest and direct with all of you, even if we disagree. I will never make a promise I cannot fulfill. I expect to be held accountable, and you can expect that we will also keep you to your word. And, even before announcing a bid, the Minnesota Republican received a major boost: McCarthy endorsed him as his successor, The Hill confirmed. He is the right person for the job. He can unite the conference. He understands the dynamics of the conference. He also understands what it takes to win and keep a majority, McCarthy told Punchbowl News. Top Stories from The Hill Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.) Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.) Hern, the chairman of the Republican Study Committee, announced his bid for Speaker while walking out of the closed-door conference meeting in which GOP lawmakers voted to dump Jordan. Hern considered running for Speaker after McCarthys ouster he worked towards contacting members of the conference while eyeing a bid but ultimately stayed on the sidelines as Scalise and Jordan duked it out. Now, Hern says he is in. And after a blistering few weeks that pitted Republicans against one another, he thinks he is the one to unite the conference. Its pretty obvious that our delegation is looking at something to be different than what weve seen so far. I bring a different perspective than possibly anybody else that could be running in this race, he told reporters when asked why he is running. People want to be heard, they want to be valued, and I think thats what youre seeing right now, he added. Theres a lot of historical relationships that some are not going to ever be able to work around, and I dont have those negatives out there. House Republican Conference Vice Chairman Mike Johnson (R-La.) Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) Johnson made his bid for Speaker official Saturday. We all agree the urgency of this hour demands a specific plan and bold, decisive action. It also demands a leader who will humble himself each day before Almighty God, selflessly serve the full membership of this body, and fight ceaselessly for our core conservative principles and policies, Johnson said in a letter to colleagues sent Saturday and obtained by The Hill. He listed out seven commitments: restore trust, advance a comprehensive policy agenda, promote individual members, engage members, effectively message, build and utilize external coalitions and develop and grow the majority. The fourth-term lawmaker is an attorney and a former talk show host who is well-liked in the House GOP. He serves on the House Judiciary Committee. Johnson had been taking calls from other members about running for Speaker if Jordan failed to secure the support he needed as early as last week, before Jordans first failed floor vote. But Johnson had been actively supporting Jordan for Speaker. Sign up for the latest from The Hill here Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) Donalds, a second-term lawmaker who sits on the Financial Services and Oversight committees, is running for Speaker. My sole focus will be securing our border, funding our government responsibly, advancing a conservative vision for the House of Representatives and the American people, and expanding our Republican majority, Donalds said in an announcement Friday night. We come from different walks of life but share the common pursuit of a more perfect union. As Speaker, every voice in our conference will have a seat at the table to ensure our unity and consensus on the legislative battles we face, Donalds said. Donalds, a frequent presence in conservative media, is one of only four Black Republicans in the House. He had received votes for the Speakership from GOP defectors both during McCarthys 15-ballot Speaker race in January and during Jordans three ballots this week. Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Mich.) Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Mich.) Bergman, a retired Marine Corps lieutenant general and a fourth-term lawmaker, is relatively unknown nationally and was not on many peoples radar as a potential Speaker candidate until this week. But after two failed Speaker nominees, more dark horse candidates are throwing their names out. The regular functioning of the federal government cant wait on useless infighting and arguments, Bergman said in a statement. What matters right now is choosing a Speaker in order to make sure that our government and particularly our military is funded, and that both our homeland and our critical allies are secure in this time of crisis. What we need right now is a Speaker who has experience leading and can put ego aside to work together for the American people. We need a leader who shuns permanent power and recognizes the current crisis of leadership. Im ready to serve. Together we can end the deadlock, and win the vote, Bergman said. Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.) Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.) Scott a seventh-term lawmaker from Georgia was largely seen as an under-the-radar backbencher until last week, when he launched a last-minute challenge to Jordan for the Speakership. Scott is now back in. Scott lost the secret ballot against Jordan in a 124-81 vote, a fairly strong showing that surprised many, considering he jumped in the race minutes before the election, and he told reporters at the time, I dont necessarily want to be the Speaker of the House. I want a House that functions correctly, but the House is not functioning correctly right now. In his announcement Friday, Scott said the GOP conference needs to do the right things the right way. If we are going to be the majority we need to act like the majority, and that means we have to do the right things the right way. I supported and voted for Rep. Jim Jordan to be the Speaker of the House. Now that he has withdrawn I am running again to be the Speaker of the House, Scott wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) Sessions announced Friday afternoon that he is running for Speaker, making a move to reenter the leadership fray after taking a backseat in recent years. Sessions served as chairman of the NRCC from January 2009 until January 2013. Republicans won the majority in 2010, netting 63 seats, and they maintained their majority in 2012. Sessions then moved to be chairman of the powerful House Rules Committee and held the gavel from January 2013 through January 2019. Now, after more than four years back in the rank and file, Sessions is making a play to move back into the top echelons of the conference this time, in the highest position. Congressman Sessions believes he can forge a positive path as a conservative leader who can unite the Conference, his office wrote in a statement. Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Pa.) Rep. Daniel Meuser (R-Pa.) Meuser officially filed to run for Speaker, according to the list of declared candidates Stefanik posted Sunday. He had told reporters following Fridays closed-door meeting that he is strongly considering running for Speaker. I come from the business world and I plan to bring, if I run, a business perspective to things and gain consensus and do the things that are necessary in order to get 217 votes, Meuser told reporters Friday after the closed-door meeting. Meuser first came to Congress in 2019 after serving as Pennsylvania secretary of revenue. He currently sits on the Financial Services and Small Business committees. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Ala.) Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Ala.) speaks at a House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis hearing entitled 'State Perspectives on Cutting Methane Pollution' on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. Palmer was a surprise entry to the Speaker race when Stefanik announced the list of declared candidates Sunday. He elaborated on the announcement in a post to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, Sunday night. There is a distinct difference between our vision for a prosperous and strong America and the vision of the Democrats that has done so much harm. This is why I decided to step forward in the race for Speaker of the House, Palmer wrote. To do what I can to put our differences behind us and unite Republicans behind a clear path forward, so we can do our job for the benefit of the American people. The fifth-term congressman has been in House GOP leadership as chairman of the Republican Policy Committee since 2019. Before coming to Congress, Palmer founded the conservative Alabama Policy Institute think tank, and he served as its president for 24 years. Rebecca Beitsch contributed. Updated Sunday, Oct. 22 at 6:41 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. MIAMI Florida Democrats greeted the White Houses easing of sanctions on Venezuela with cautious optimism. Its a turnabout for the states beleaguered party, whose members last year were frustrated when the Biden administration made similar moves to restart talks between President Nicolas Maduro's government and the opposition. Some Democrats felt any overtures to Maduro left them open to accusations that they were socialists and alienated them from Venezuelan voters. But Florida Democrats say Wednesday nights announcement is different. The administrations shift reverses years of U.S. policy against Venezuela and will ease sanctions against companies that trade in oil produced there. It was a response to the Venezuelan government and opposition party reaching a deal for freer elections. Theyre hopeful that the agreement between Maduro and the opposition will strengthen democracy. And Democrats this time also arent criticizing the Biden administration. Definitely not top of the Biden administrations mind what goes on down here. They have a bigger picture to look at, said former state Rep. Annette Taddeo , a Colombian-American Democrat who ran for Florida governor last year. I have been critical of removal of sanctions [But] Its a very different situation, I think the right thing to do. Democrats see more potential for free and fair elections, though with noted skepticism, and urged the Biden administration to reinstate the sanctions if the Maduro regime breaks its agreement. My reaction reflects, I think, where my Venezuelan-American constituents are: You can't trust Maduro, said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), whose South Florida district has one of the highest concentrations of Venezuelan-Americans in the U.S. But that's why the Biden administration has been very committed to not lifting sanctions until we have provable progress on agreements. Florida Democrats for years have tried to make inroads with Venezuelan voters and have been dismayed when the Biden administration appeared to undercut those efforts by easing sanctions on Maduros regime. They viewed it as an example of the White House writing off Florida, a battleground state that has shifted Republican in recent election cycles. Last year, when the Biden administration announced it was loosening sanctions on Venezuela, Florida Democrats wasted little time attacking it. Former Rep. Val Demings, who at the time was running for Senate, said the move was appeasing socialist dictators while Taddeo said, "Im sure it will be used [against Democrats]." The White House did not respond to a request for comment and the Biden campaign declined to weigh in. Venezuelan-Americans are a relatively small proportion of Floridas electorate, numbering around 200,000. But Republicans and Democrats have courted them in recent years as more and more flee political and economic instability in their home country. Their situation is similar to that of Cubans, who fled the island nation to escape Fidel Castros rule and are one of Floridas most important voting blocs. Florida Democrats in recent years also prioritized outreach to Hispanic voters which includes Cubans, Venezuelans, Nicaraguans, Puerto Ricans and Colombians after Republicans won big among Latinos. In 2020, former President Donald Trump captured a big slice of Floridas Hispanic vote, including 55 percent of the states Cuban-American vote. Gov. Ron DeSantis did even better in 2022, taking 59 percent of Floridas Latino electorate. Nikki Fried, the head of the Florida Democratic Party, called the easing of sanctions a good step toward free and fair elections and praised Biden. Fried had previously sued the Biden administration when she was a state official over federal laws prohibiting medical marijuana users from buying guns. Some Democrats still rejected the U.S. policy change. Before the Biden administration made the announcement, Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) said he was against lifting any sanctions against the Venezuelan government. And Sen. Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat who has criticized the Biden administration for reversing sanctions policies on Cuba and Venezuela, on Thursday also blasted the White House for resuming deportations of migrants back to Venezuela. I will be asking many questions loudly and in every available forum about the Biden administrations decision to resume these dangerous deportations, he said in a statement. The administration should be held to account for this misguided decision. Menendez, the former chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is currently facing federal bribery charges. He's pleaded not guilty. But overall, Democrats expressed a bullish, wait-and-see approach. This is really, a very one-step-at-a-time, show-me-don't-tell me kind of process and so I have confidence that the administration has accountability built into the step-by-step process, said Wasserman Schultz, who is co-chair of the Congressional Venezuela Democracy Caucus. It's our responsibility to look at this agreement, or look at the beginnings of this agreement, in a very measured way. David Kihara contributed to this report. LAKELAND, Fla. (WFLA) Over the last few years, a Halloween display in one Florida neighborhood has been raising eyebrows its composed of about 100 bald, unclothed dolls dangle from a tree in resident Kenneth Cains front yard. It does freak some neighbors out. But Im right here if they want to ask. Ill be more than glad to tell them, said Kenneth Cain. 3 KC-area schools among 6 in Missouri forced to forfeit football games Cain said its a reference to The Island of the Dolls in Mexico. Legend has it a man who lived in isolation found the body of a young girl floating in water. In honor of her, he collected dolls. (WFLA) [It is in] observance or attention to child neglect, child abuse, child abandonment, child slave labor. Anything to do with kids thats wrong or bad, said Cain. But neighbor Mack Milner, who contacted WFLA News in Tampa, said hes concerned the display is promoting this kind of violence and crime. Milner said he tried to get officials to force Cain to take the dolls down. He intends to propose changes to ordinances in the future. These dolls are naked. Theyre little children and theyre showing scenes of torture, he said. Kevin Smith, another neighbor, says the dolls are kind of creepy. Its very unpleasant to drive by and look at that, said Smith. Im just glad he lives toward the back of the neighborhood so I dont have to drive by it every day. Liberty Hospital to partner with KU Health System But Cain said he still gets plenty of trick-or-treaters on Halloween and other visitors. This was the goth girl selfie station, he said. He said this is the last time he will be doing this display. On Nov. 1, a box full of dolls will be left at the end of his driveway for neighbors. There could be a whole new display next year. It hits me when it hits me but last year I did skeletons on stripper poles so maybe thatll make a comeback next year, he said. A spokesperson from the Polk County Sheriffs Office said the office does not know exactly what is on the display but said freedom of speech allows for a lot. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. A Florida man was found guilty of murdering his wife over a home renovation spat following a six-day trial Wednesday, the Orlando Sentinel reported. David Tronne had led his wife, Shanti Cooper-Tronnes, to falsely believe he was a millionaire and spent thousands remodeling their home in the hopes of appearing on the on the reality house renovation show Zombie House Flipping. But he was angered to the point of murder, the Sentinel reported, when she refused to appear on the program. Shortly after, Cooper-Tronnes was found killed at the home in 2018 in a bathroom after sustaining blunt force trauma to her head. Thursdays verdict carries a likely sentence of life in prison f0r Tronne. Read it at The Orlando Sentinel Read more at The Daily Beast. Stream FOX 35 News: LADY LAKE, Fla. - A Florida man has found himself behind bars again for allegedly threatening three moms during school drop-off with a switchblade knife when they got into an apparent argument with his wife, according to the Lady Lake Police Department. John Henry Burch Jr. was arrested and charged with three counts aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of assault after the incident that unfolded Monday morning outside The Villages Elementary of Lady Lake School, according to an arrest report. The incident happened around 8:40 a.m. Three women went to drop off their children at school together when one of them got into an apparent argument with a woman during drop-off, the report said. One of the moms said a woman stepped on her foot, which escalated into an aggressive argument. Photo: Lake County Sheriffs Office Burch's wife told police she apologized for bumping into the woman, the report said. She added that the woman began to yell at her and initiated the incident. When the woman was walking back to her car, a black truck rapidly approached their car, flashing its lights. The driver, later identified as Burch, yelled at the driver to pull over into the next parking lot a nearby Best Buy, the report said. That's when Burch allegedly jumped out of his truck and began to yell. He said he "isn't afraid to go back to prison because he was going to slice their throats," one of the women told police. At one point during the argument, Burch was seen going back into his truck and grabbing a switchblade knife, which the women described as dark gray and thin. The women said Burch reportedly told them he knows what their kids look like and where they go to school. Burch's wife, however, said the women told her what her children look like, "so she became worried and withdrew her kids from class," the report said. One of the women also recorded the incident with her cell phone, which shows Burch "clearly spitting" toward one of the women as he drove off, the report said. FOX 35 News has reached out to officials for the video. MORE HEADLINES : Officers were able to make contact with Burch at the school, who said he was approached by the women who were "aggressively trying to start a fight with his wife," the affidavit said. He said he was trying to get away from the victims and pulled the knife to protect himself. "What would you do if someone approached your car being aggressive?" Burch told police, according to the report. He then, however, retracted his statement and told police he never had a knife. Burch was placed under arrest and transported to the Lake County Jail without incident after police determined his statements did not match those of the witness or victims. He has since been released after posting $16,000 bond. Burch has previously served time a few times between 2005 and 2012 for aggravated battery, possession of marijuana, burglary, grand theft and fleeing and eluding an officer, according to arrest records. Private colleges and universities in Florida must now comply with a rule requiring students and faculty to use bathroom and changing facilities aligned with their sex assigned at birth. The Florida Board of Education voted Wednesday to expand the rule already in effect at the states K-12 public schools, prisons and some state colleges to private postsecondary education institutions. The restriction has been in effect for government buildings statewide since July 1 under a statute signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis prohibiting transgender people from using a bathroom or changing facility matching their gender identity. The law requires buildings to designate such facilities for exclusive use by males or females and provide a separate single-occupancy, unisex restroom or changing room. The restrictions also apply to college-run student housing. The bathroom restriction law is one of several pieces of legislation signed by DeSantis in May restricting LGBTQ lives and spaces, including gender-affirming treatments for minors, drag shows, and which pronouns can be used in schools. LGBTQ advocates have slammed the statutes as an effort to erase them from Florida schools and society. Emma Roy, a community organizer and a parent, spoke during the boards meeting on Wednesday and said the laws requirement for institutions to have a single unisex restroom is often not sufficient. Right now, in the public schools at least, the unisex restroom is the teachers restroom. So we have a situation whereby all the nonbinary and transgender (people) and the teachers all line up for this unisex bathroom. They need more than one bathroom, Roy said. Yvette Benarroch, chair of the conservative parental rights group Moms for Liberty in Collier County, spoke in support of the rule, saying the restriction isnt about discrimination. Its about safety and clarity. It provides a clear framework for institutions to follow, alleviating confusion for both students and staff, Benarroch said. Private college and universities are required to submit documents showing compliance with the law by April 1, 2024. The rule does not yet apply to Floridas state universities like University of Florida, Florida State University and University of Central Florida. A similar expansion is set to be approved for those schools next month by the Florida Board of Governors. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com PANAMA CITY, Fla. - A Florida maintenance man has been arrested after he went into a woman's home and crawled into bed with her Tuesday morning, according to police. Wallace Miller, 64, who is a registered sexual predator, was booked into the Bay County jail. According to the Panama City Police Department, the woman told police she was asleep in bed in her home along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard when she was awakened by Miller tapping her on the shoulder. The woman recognized him and tried to defend herself and Miller ran off. He was later arrested on a charge of burglary. Theres an unfortunate update about a Central Florida woman who disappeared after attending a party last weekend: She has been found dead, according to the Volusia County Sheriffs Office. On Monday, the agency put out a release on its Facebook page asking if anyone had information about Misty Mireles, 46, who had last been seen between 3 and 4 a.m. Saturday after leaving a home in Osteen. The 46-year-old woman, wearing a camouflage hoodie and jeans, was believed to have left on foot. Someone reported her missing on Sunday night. On Tuesday, a search party found her body near Lake Harney Road in Osteen, about 30 miles north of Orlando. The Sheriffs Office sends its condolences to the family and friends who were tirelessly searching and hoping for a different outcome, said a release, adding that there were no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances. FILE PHOTO: Boxes of Ozempic, a semaglutide injection drug used for treating type 2 diabetes made by Novo Nordisk, is seen at a Rock Canyon Pharmacy in Provo, Utah, U.S. March 29, 2023. REUTERS/George Frey/File Photo FILE PHOTO: Boxes of Ozempic, a semaglutide injection drug used for treating type 2 diabetes made by Novo Nordisk, is seen at a Rock Canyon Pharmacy in Provo, Utah, U.S. March 29, 2023. REUTERS/George Frey/File Photo By Patrick Wingrove and Maggie Fick (Reuters) -Extraordinary demand for Novo Nordisks Ozempic and other drugs used for weight-loss is fueling a global surge in counterfeit versions, according to Reuters interviews with law enforcement, anti-counterfeiting and public health officials. The U.S.-based Pharmaceutical Security Institute (PSI), an industry-backed organization that counts drugmakers Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly as members, said it is working with agencies, including Europol, Interpol and U.S. Homeland Security, as well as companies that help identify counterfeit products such as Israels BrandShield. Their combined efforts include opening inquiries into complaints of fake drugs, trolling e-commerce and social media for purchase offers or advertisements and teaching customs officials how to spot counterfeits. Novos Ozempic, approved to treat diabetes, contains the active ingredient semaglutide, which is also used in the company's weight loss drug, Wegovy. Both are being used by people seeking to shed pounds, as is Lillys Mounjaro, which is currently approved for diabetes and expected to get a green-light from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat obesity in the coming months. All three medicines are in short supply amid a global obesity epidemic and high rates of diabetes. These weight loss drugs are a hot topic right now because theyre on TV and getting a lot of media attention. If Im a criminal organization, thats the next opportunity I go ahead and exploit, said Jim Mancuso, director of the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center. Mancuso said the agency is also working with Europol, Interpol and around 23 other law enforcement agencies on tracking weight-loss drugs to quell what they believe could become the worst tide of counterfeit lifestyle medicines since erectile dysfunction drugs like Viagra. Though Novo stresses that its medicines Ozempic and Wegovy are indicated for the treatment of diabetes and weight-loss, respectively, the weekly injection drugs have become household names in America for their use off-label as lifestyle treatments. Novo said in a statement to Reuters that it works closely with PSI and other organisations to share data accurately and provide an informed picture on the status of these crimes, and collaborates with law enforcement and other authorities. Lilly said its strategy includes deterring major counterfeiters of its products through investigations, internet monitoring and legal actions and partnering with government and non-government organizations and trade associations. 'SO MANY CASES' Ozempic is the biggest target so far in Europe, according to a Europol official who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak. Fake weight-loss drugs will be a key focus in the agencys annual counterfeit medicines report, due next year, the official said. We have counterfeit products and stolen products, the official said. We have so many cases. Counterfeit Ozempic has already been found in at least 14 countries, including the UK, Germany, Egypt and Russia. Several have issued warnings to pharmacies and consumers to be vigilant about counterfeits, since it is not clear what they actually contain. Germany's federal drug regulator last week urged pharmacies and drug distributors to be vigilant following the discovery of wholesale batches of fake Ozempic. Britains regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), then said on Wednesday that injection pens falsely labelled as Ozempic had been identified at two UK wholesalers. A World Health Organization spokesperson said use of such drugs could pose significant health risks. "We will look online and if we find something that infringes (obesity drug trademarks) we'll get it taken down, said Yoav Keren, BrandShield CEO. Sometimes PSI and its members will do sample purchases," he said. When a consumer buys those fakes, what you get are expired drugs, counterfeit drugs, or nothing, he added. An officer for Interpol said that counterfeit obesity drugs because of their high prices are largely being sold in affluent countries, including those in North America, Europe and the Middle East, unlike most fake drugs that tend to be marketed in poorer regions. MHRA said reports related to potentially falsified GLP-1s, the class of drug that includes Wegovy, Ozempic and Eli Lillys diabetes drug Mounjaro, had risen from two in 2022 to as many as 20 this year. Irelands Health Products Regulatory Authority told Reuters that it has confiscated 233 units of counterfeit semaglutide compared with 32 units in 2022. (Reporting by Patrick Wingrove; Editing by Aurora Ellis) (Bloomberg) -- As lawmakers around the world weigh bans of cancer-linked forever chemicals, many manufacturers are pushing back, saying there often is no substitute for the compounds. Most Read from Bloomberg Minnesota and Maine have passed legislation to effectively outlaw the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in nearly all products by the early 2030s. Dozens of other states are also considering curbing their use. And the European Unions Chemical Agency has proposed a widespread ban. In response, Ford Motor Co. warned Maine state officials in May that there is no commercially available technology that exists in the world today that can replace a PFAS-containing thermoplastic used for electric vehicle batteries. Earlier this month, the US Defense Department said that banning PFAS, used in weapons systems, information technology and machinery, would greatly impact national security, a view echoed by the US Chamber of Commerce and other industry groups. These are critical chemistries that enable modern day life, said Brandon Farris, vice president of domestic economic policy with the National Association of Manufacturers, a lobby group. Many of them cannot be replaced. PFAS can provide elasticity, corrosion resistance and weather protection. Their ultra-strong carbon-fluorine bonds prevent these substances from naturally degrading, earning them the forever chemicals moniker. So they accumulate in the environment. Studies have shown that nearly half US drinking water supplies contain at least one form of the chemical and PFAS is in the blood of about 97% of Americans. Read More: Why Forever Chemicals Are Crackdown Focus: QuickTake The mounting body of evidence linking the chemicals to health risks for cancer, heart disease and miscarriage have prompted some governments to act. Governments are weighing health concerns against other priorities. The Semiconductor Industry Association, a trade group representing Intel Corp., Nvidia Corp. and others, found that it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible to replace PFAS in the chipmaking process, which could set back US and EU efforts to support the sector amid mounting tensions with China. While the federal government has not yet taken steps to broadly ban PFAS, state efforts to restrict its use are expanding. In May, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed legislation banning the sale of carpets, rugs, cosmetics and other products containing PFAS starting in 2025. In 2032, the legislation will outlaw the sale of any product with intentionally added PFAS, unless the use is unavoidable. One of the states biggest companies, manufacturing giant 3M Co., announced in December that it would stop making all PFAS, citing accelerating regulatory trends. But lawsuits have also taken their toll. In June, 3M agreed to pay as much as $12.5 billion to resolve claims that PFAS it produced for firefighting foams polluted drinking water supplies across the US. It is now facing thousands of other lawsuits from its decades as one of the worlds dominant producers of PFAS and its products, such as Scotchgard waterproofing. Growing consumer concerns are also a factor. Starbucks Corp. has pledged to eliminate all PFAS from packaging this year. And Patagonia Inc. has said it will fully eliminate PFAS from its water-repelling outdoor gear. But the firms early replacement attempts offer a preview of what others could face: They didnt work very well. Read More: Inside the Race to Get Forever Chemicals Out of Raincoats Further complicating matters is that even if firms dont themselves use PFAS in their products, theyll still be affected by the restrictions if their suppliers do. Companies are going to need to look at what they make, figure out if it has PFAS in it and figure out if they can sell it if it has PFAS in it, said Ken Rivlin, an attorney with law firm Allen & Overy LLP, who advises corporations on PFAS and other chemical restrictions. This may not be easy, according to Farris of the National Association of Manufacturers. What were hearing now is weve never used PFAS, but we have gaskets in our facilities that have PFAS, so how much of a problem do we have? he said. The Pushback Because there are not now effective replacements for every role PFAS plays, industry lobbyists are pressing to make the rules less onerous. Manufacturers contend that banning 10,000-plus PFAS compounds in one fell swoop is overly broad, and argue instead for a more targeted approach based on the risks posed by specific compounds. Companies are also pushing back on what they say are complex and challenging requirements to disclose all PFAS content in their products. In a sign of how tough it may be to implement, Maine delayed its PFAS reporting rule until 2025 after it granted thousands of temporary exemptions sought by companies. Minnesota also has a law requiring that companies report which of their products contain intentionally added PFAS starting in 2026. Some are warning that governments may not be ready for what theyll receive. I tried to prevail on our regulatory agency that youre going to need a bigger parking lot, said Tony Kwilas, director of environmental policy at the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. Its truckloads of data thats going to come in. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. A verbal altercation on Thursday led to one man in handcuffs and another with a stab wound to the leg, authorities say. Rocky Hutchins, 35, of Manchester, is charged with first-degree assault, criminal threatening, and felon in possession of a dangerous weapon. Officers responding to an apartment on Walnut Street for a reported stabbing learned Hutchins got into an argument and stabbed another man in the leg, according to Manchester Police. Hutchins fled on foot from the apartment and was found in a nearby convenience store. It is unclear the extent of the victims injuries or if the Hutchins and the victim knew each other. Hutchins will be arraigned on Friday. No further information was immediately available. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Former Florida state Rep. Joseph Harding (R) was sentenced to four months in prison Friday for his involvement in a COVID-19 relief fraud scheme. Harding, 36, of Williston, Fla., was sentenced to four months in federal prison for wire fraud, money laundering and making false statements in connection to pandemic-relief fraud, the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida said in a statement. Hardings scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration (SBA) included making false claims to obtain pandemic-related loans which garnered him $150,000 in funds and more than $30,000 in other fraudulent monetary transitions, according to court documents. He used the names of dormant businesses to apply for the loans, documents revealed. The theft of any amount of taxpayer funds is inexcusable, U.S. Attorney Jason Coody said in the statement. However, the defendants deceptive acts of diverting emergency financial assistance from small businesses during the pandemic is simply beyond the pale. According to one of the special agents on the case, Harding was responsible for swindling money from the relief funds dedicated to small businesses, including his former constituents. Mr. Harding egregiously betrayed the public trust by stealing from COVID relief funds meant to help the very people who elected him, said Brian Payne, special agent in charge at the IRS Criminal Investigation unit, in the statement. Green and public service should never meet, but when they do, we stand ready to ensure bad actors are held responsible for their actions. Coody said he hopes Hardings sentencing will serve as a significant deterrent to others who would selfishly steal from their fellow citizens to unlawfully enrich themselves. Based on the combination of maximum sentences on the charges, Harding could have faced up to 35 years in prison. Once Harding serves his four-month sentence, he will have two years of supervised release, the statement said. Hardings prosecution was part of a larger investigation by the Department of Justice that found criminal activities tied to more than $8 billion in federal COVID-19 aid. The DOJ has investigated and charged hundreds of individuals for fraud schemes including cases involving the Paycheck Protection Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, unemployment insurance and COVID-19 health care fraud enforcement. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A Gainesville man was arrested late Thursday evening after posting a video to his Instagram account in the form of a suicide note, disclosing plans that he wished to shoot up a local middle school and attack the state. Daniel Julio Dominguez, 31, is charged with two felonies one count of intent to commit terrorism that results in death and one count of written communication for threatening to kill or do bodily injury. The terrorism charge could result in a life sentence. Though Dominguez writes on the post that it was an "art of fiction," the video shows a rifle and handgun by his side. Please dont call the police or report my account, Dominguez wrote. I would like to enjoy my freedom of movement, and not go to jail for art." More: City officials say its drinking ordinance has led to an uptick of gun violence. Has it? In the video, he talks about his childhood being taken away from him and how his mother was an immigrant who was overworked and underpaid. America has only insisted that I struggle, he said in the video. I've decided to take up arms and attack the state target the middle school I went to, Dominguez said. I will be going on Saturday or Sunday when no children are there. A Facebook page associated with Dominguez, a Gainesville High School graduate, lists him as a Shop Supervisor at Florida State University who previously studied environmental science at the school. GPD was able to locate and detain Mr. Dominguez within Gainesville. They learned that the suspect lived in the unincorporated area of the county and notified Sheriffs Detectives, an Alachua County Sheriff's Office Facebook post said. Dominguez is currently in the Alachua County Jail with a bond of $2 million dollars. This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Gainesville man arrested after threatening to shoot up middle school GREENWOOD, Mo. A former Kansas City-area police chief, once hailed for a heroic rescue, has now been sentenced to prison Friday for assaulting his ex-wife. Former Greenwood, Missouri, police chief Greg Hallgrimson made headlines in 2018 when he and fellow officers helped rescue a 6-month-old baby from an icy pond. Missouri mans disappearance stretches to six months Police said the childs father tried to drown the girl, walked into the police station and confessed. Officers rushed to the scene to rescued the baby, and she miraculously survived. But shortly after, Hallgrimson was placed on administrative leave and later resigned, and the FBI and highway patrol began investigating. A grand jury indicted him in 2019, accusing him of assaulting that father at the police station after he was arrested. Court documents say the man was handcuffed when Hallgrimson threw him over a chair and beat him. Hallgrimson pleaded guilty in 2021 but avoided prison when a judge sentenced him to five years probation. A judge sentenced the Greenwood father who tried to drown his daughter to 15 years in prison. Leavenworth police investigate suspicious death of 1-year-old But while Hallgrimsons case was playing out, his ex-wife said the former police chief punched her in the face, causing her to lose consciousness. The incident happened in 2020, but the woman didnt report the case until 2021. A jury found Hallgrimson guilty of first-degree assault in August. On Friday, a Clay County judge sentenced him to 18 years in a Missouri prison. Clay County Prosecutor Zachary Thompson released the following statement after the sentencing: The court has sent an unmistakable message today that victims of domestic abuse will be heard and supported in Clay County. Despite every attempt by the defendant to manipulate and pressure this victim, she spoke the truth. We hope that her courage will inspire other victims of domestic abuse to know that they are not alone. Our office will always advocate for victims and fight to bring them justice. We thank the judge for making the right decision today and demonstrating that the criminal justice system will hold perpetrators accountable without fear or favor. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Former Michigan Congressman Justin Amash said Friday that several of his relatives sheltering in Gaza were killed by an Israeli airstrike. Amash shared an image of two relatives, Viola and Yara, in a post on X, and said they and others were sheltering at the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Porphyrius, where a large blast had been reported Thursday. Give rest, O Lord, to their souls, and may their memories be eternal, Amash wrote. The Palestinian Christian community has endured so much. Our family is hurting badly. A number of people offered their condolences in the replies, among them Ron DeSantis Press Secretary Christina Pushaw and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). I was really worried about this. With great sadness, I have now confirmed that several of my relatives (including Viola and Yara pictured here) were killed at Saint Porphyrius Orthodox Church in Gaza, where they had been sheltering, when part of the complex was destroyed as pic.twitter.com/w5k1xEeTgF Justin Amash (@justinamash) October 20, 2023 Read it at X Read more at The Daily Beast. A federal grand jury on Thursday indicted a Sacramento County man accused of sexually abusing a child, producing images of that abuse and distributing child pornography. Sam Moss Kerfoot, 27, of Carmichael faces a three-count indictment on charges of sexual exploitation of a minor, distributing child porn and possessing child porn, the U.S. Attorneys Office in Sacramento announced in a news release. Federal prosecutors said Kerfoot in April 2022 and May 2022 sexually abused a minor and produced visual depictions of the minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Kerfoot also is accused of distributing images of children being sexually abused in April 2022 and possessing child porn in June of this year, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. Kerfoot has prior convictions for sex offenses involving children and was arrested in 2016 after authorities in San Francisco reportedly found him in possession of hundreds of child pornography photos and videos. County jail and Sacramento Superior Court records show Kerfoot initially was booked on local charges of possessing child porn in a case filed July 14, 2022. He also initially faced a local charge of violating probation in an August 2021 criminal case, in which he was initially charged with attempted forcible lewd act on a child. Kerfoot has been held since July 12, 2022, in Sacramento County jail custody. He was booked into jail by the Sacramento County Probation Department, and as of Thursday was being held at the Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center. The federal case against Kerfoot is the result of an investigation by the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Forces Internet Crimes Against Children team, including the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office with help from the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Sauvageau and Alstyn Bennett are prosecuting the case. If convicted of the charges in the indictment, prosecutors said Kerfoot would face a sentence of 25 to 50 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the child sexual exploitation charge; 15 years to 40 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the child porn distribution charge; and 10 years to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the child porn possession charge. Registered as a sex offender Kerfoot remains listed in violation as a convicted sex offender on Californias Megans Law website. His convictions include attempted lewd or lascivious acts by using force or fear with a child younger than 14 years old and possession of child porn, according to the website. In November 2016, Kerfoot was arrested in San Francisco after investigators found more than 600 child porn images and videos in his possession, according to the San Francisco Police Department. Kerfoot, at the time, was a nursing student at the University of San Francisco and a former counselor at a Sacramento-area youth camp. Kerfoot had worked as a counselor for one week each summer for two years at the San Juan Unified School Districts Camp Winthers, a camp near Cascade Lake in the Sierra providing weeklong programs for youths. He also was a camp leader for Mission Oaks Recreation and Park District in Carmichael before his 2016 arrest. A spokeswoman for the school district said in 2016 that Kerfoot supervised a group of campers during outdoor activities, camp living and evening activities. Camp counselors at the time would be supervise a group of five to six students in grades 5 and up and stayed in the same tent or cabin with them during the week, and the camp counselors were supervised by a credentialed teacher who checked in on them several times throughout the day and night. A district administrator at Mission Oaks has said Kerfoot was a minor until his last day of working for the park district, his 18th birthday, and that camp counselors in general are never alone with the children. Greg Hallgrimson, the former Greenwood police chief who saved an infant left in an icy pond and later lost his career for beating up the suspect, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for punching his ex-wife unconscious during a domestic dispute in 2020. Hallgrimson, 53, was jailed in mid-August after a Clay County jury found him guilty on one count of first-degree assault, a Class A felony that carries a maximum punishment of life in prison. Prosecutors said Hallgrimson brutally assaulted his ex-wife, as they were residing together, and tried to cover up the attack through manipulation and pressure. Kansas City police began investigating the assault when it was first reported in November 2021, roughly 17 months after Hallgrimsons ex-wife visited the hospital and told doctors she fell down the stairs. The injury caused her to black out, and she wound up with a broken nose and fractured eye socket, the police investigation found. She told detectives that Hallgrimson hit her after she slapped him during an argument. She said he threatened suicide if she talked to police and she was too afraid at first to file a report. In a statement Friday, Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson said the sentence sent an unmistakable message today that victims of domestic abuse will be heard and supported in Clay County. Despite every attempt by the defendant to manipulate and pressure this victim, she spoke the truth, Thompson said. We hope that her courage will inspire other victims of domestic abuse to know that they are not alone. Defense attorneys for Hallgrimson have argued that the former police chief was not the initial aggressor, having been slapped first, saying he was within his right to defend himself under Missouri law. In a motion earlier this month, the attorneys called for Hallgrimson to receive a sentence of probation, saying it was likely any sentence imposed would result in him spending the rest of his life in prison. Other arguments presented on his behalf included the loss of his job, time already spent in jail, an acceptance of wrongdoing and several commendations earned over his law enforcement career. Once celebrated as a local hero, Hallgrimson made headlines in December 2018 after he helped rescue an infant whose father left her in an icy retention pond in Greenwood, a community of about 5,000 residents in southern Jackson County. Greg Hallgrimson, 53, formerly the Greenwood MO police chief, was sentenced Friday to 18 years in prison for punching his wife unconscious in June 2020. The childs father, 33-year-old Jonathan Zicarelli, walked into the police station and confessed to killing his daughter. He said he had been planning to kill her for about a day, after having bad thoughts, and told them where they could find her body. Hallgrimson earned praise for the rescue, including recognition by the Missouri Senate. But it was soon clouded by a Justice Department investigation when federal authorities learned that Hallgrimson beat up Zicarelli in a police interrogation room. The assault, which was recorded on video, happened as Zicarelli had both arms handcuffed behind his back and ended with cuts to his face and an injury to his jaw. After the incident, Hallgrimson was placed on administrative leave and later resigned. Hallgrimson was criminally charged with a felony, and pleaded guilty in federal court. He was sentenced to five years of probation in that case. Zicarelli, meanwhile, was later convicted of felony child abuse and sentenced to 15 years in prison. In a previous interview with The Star, the former chief pointed to his actions as a mistake, saying the assault which effectively ended his law enforcement career came after he witnessed the horror of a baby floating unconscious in a pond. He has called for police officers to speak openly about and seek help for emotionally traumatic experiences they face on the job. Ella Irwin, a former employee for Twitter, now known as X, said working for billionaire Elon Musk after his acquisition of the company was the hardest experience. Irwin became head of trust and safety for the company, lasting only seven more months before resigning after Musk publicly criticized actions taken at the company surrounding the issue of misgendering. It absolutely was the hardest experience that Ive gone through in my career, Irwin, 48, said In an interview with NBC News. She said she resigned rather suddenly from the company because it became clear that there was no longer alignment between her nonnegotiable principles and the company. One was this notion of freedom of speech versus freedom of reach, Irwin said. It was important to me that there was an understanding that hate speech, for example, violent graphic content, things like that, were not promoted, advertised, amplified. Her comments come as X is facing criticism for its handling of misinformation and violent content around the Israel-Hamas war. Top Stories from The Hill The social media company is also facing an investigation from the European Commission. European officials have said X is the biggest purveyor of disinformation. Musk is considering removing access to the platform in Europe, Insider reported. While Irwin said the spread of misinformation is extremely upsetting, she said X is not alone in its struggle. There is no doubt in my mind that there are a lot of people heads down, doing everything they can to solve for this, she said. I think about the damage that misinformation at scale can do to the product experience, the customer experience, to society. Its one of the most important problems we need to solve for. Irwin told NBC News that she is still under a nondisclosure agreement with the company, but plans to speak more about her experience as an employee in her new podcast, The CryRoom. She joined the company in June 2022 after Musk had agreed to buy Twitter but had not yet taken control. Irwin said she had never seen anything like the massive layoffs that began when Musk officially took over. Close Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the Technology newsletter Irwin said theres more emotion behind Musks decisions than she would have thought, and that contributes to some of the impulsiveness. The former employee offered Musk one compliment, saying his is very good at questioning everything, boiling things down and that strategy can be powerful in driving change quickly. Several months after working with Musk, Irwin resigned over an issue of freedom of speech. Posts about an anti-transgender documentary had been restricted on the platform, launching messaging from conservative supporters of the film that they were being censored. Musk ultimately blamed the censorship on others at the company and brushed off the debate over preferred pronouns. Irwin said she left because there was no longer alignment to those core principles. Irwin told NBC News that she would consider coming back to work at X, but a lot of change would have to happen, and she doesnt know if that would happen anytime soon. Im a big believer in giving people the ability to make the decisions that are right for them, she added later. Who they want to follow, what they dont want to see, they should be able to create and choose their own adventure. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. With social media and influencers dominating the world, it comes as no surprise that Arkansas Tech University in Russellville has introduced a new major focused on digital media and content creation. The Bachelor of Arts in Digital Content Creation degree was approved in the summer and rolled out this fall at the university, department head for Communication and Journalism, Dr. David Eshelman, told USA TODAY. Do you know Taylor Swift all too well? University of Texas offering class on artist What is the program about? The program, being offered under the department of Communication and Media Studies, will prepare students to work in the "fast-changing world of media production," according to its official description. "It gives students experience with filmmaking, public relations, social media, and communication ethics," the program description states. "Students will leave with the ability to coordinate and create content for social media efforts - either their own or for employers." Dr. Eshelman told Fox5 News that the education landscape is changing to keep up with the technological revolution, and that social media experts are in high demand. This degree helps the university tackle that market more directly. I dont think any of us predicted our entire lives would be contained in our pockets, Dr. Eshelman shared. Every company needs social media. In this photo illustration, social media apps are seen on a mobile phone on July 29, 2020 in Istanbul, Turkey 'Consensual doxxing': People are asking to be doxxed online and the videos are going viral. Making of the major The idea for this major was actually born in the theatre department, Director of Theatre and Film Production Professor Frances Roberson told USA TODAY. "This concept started in the theatre program with the realization that we are educating students to enter a field that they are almost guaranteed to have to leave Arkansas to pursue," Roberson told USA TODAY. "In reality, performance students in Arkansas are at a disadvantage compared to students in New York or Los Angeles when considering traditional outlets. However, social media allows for an equitable performance space." Roberson explained that along with equipping students with performance and filmmaking skills, the department began to teach students social media strategies and business practices to give them a "considerable edge over others". "I believe that to be why our program is so unique. We are approaching it from the perspective of the performer/creator," said Roberson. A single class called "Social Media Influencing" taught within the theatre program in 2020 garnered a lot of interest among students, so the department began to offer other related classes. And soon enough, those classes blossomed into their own program that offers a Bachelor of Arts and a Certificate of Proficiency in Digital Content Creation, said Roberson. Bailey Lavender, a social media influencer and hairstylist, turns on her lighting before going on Instagram live in her hair studio where she films most of her content on Aug. 23, 2023. Unique program Professor Roberson said that during their research, they did not come across any other program quite like the one they had in mind. "There are several programs that tackle social media management but none that combine the creative/performance aspect with the business/strategic component," Roberson shared. "A small town in Arkansas may seem like an unexpected place to yield such a forward-thinking program; however, we found this to be the best way to serve our students." According to Roberson, the program generated a lot of positive response and received interest from people of all generations and backgrounds who understand the importance of this skillset. More than 50 million people identify themselves as creators," according to a Forbes article from August 2023, with Goldman Sachs valuing the content creator economy at $250 billion in April 2023. The investment management firm predicts that the content creator economy will reach half a trillion dollars by 2027. SUNY, CUNY application fees waived for NY high school seniors in October Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter @saman_shafiq7. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Arkansas Tech offers new program in social media content creation Ambassador Andrew Young gives remarks after receiving the French Legion of Honor medal in Atlanta on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. The government of France has bestowed a further honor on Atlanta's Andrew Young. French Ambassador Laurent Bili promoted Young to an officer in France's Legion of Honor on Thursday in Atlanta. (Ben Gray/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) ATLANTA (AP) France wants the world to know it has not forgotten about Andrew Young . The former mayor of Atlanta, ambassador to the United Nations under President Jimmy Carter and onetime confidant of Martin Luther King Jr. was further honored by France on Thursday, with Young being promoted to the rank of officer in the country's Legion of Honor. Laurent Bili, the French ambassador to the United States, on Thursday bestowed the 91-year-old Young with the new rank, crediting his work to end racial segregation and paving the way for a fairer America. Bili also noted Young's advocacy for human rights and efforts to settle a war in what is now Zimbabwe, ending white minority rule there. President Emmanuel Macron promoted Young in recognition of his outstanding contributions to human rights and equality. Ambassador Young, you are a living legend," Bili said Thursday. "Your name is forever inscribed into the history of the American Civil Rights Movement. For decades now, you have worked to foster peace and justice throughout the world. France describes the Legion of Honor, founded by Napoleon Bonaparte, as its highest honor, bestowed upon citizens of France and other countries who have served France or upheld its ideals. Thursday's award came nearly 40 years after French President Francois Mitterrand initially inducted Young into the order during a visit to Atlanta in 1984, when Mitterrand also placed a wreath at the tomb of Martin Luther King Jr. Young was mayor at the time, promoting an economic development policy based in part on international ties. Theres been this partnership in democracies thats helped the change the world and make it a global economy that we have today, Young said Thursday after he was honored. Thats what made Atlanta work. Young regaled Bili before the ceremony with how he first met Mitterrand in the late 1950s when Young traveled to France as an employee of the National Council of Churches. Not long after the war between Israel and Hamas erupted this month, tensions heightened on college campuses across the United States and Tennessee as students and faculty grapple with how to respond and how to honor students First Amendment rights to speak out. Hours after Hamas militants stormed into Israeli towns from the blockaded Gaza Strip on Oct. 7 and killed hundreds of civilians, Vanderbilt University Chancellor Daniel Diermeier released a message on the schools website and social media accounts. Vanderbilt University's new Chancellor Daniel Diermeier stands outside Kirkland Hall on campus in Nashville on Tuesday, June 30, 2020. In the wake of today's developments in Israel and Gaza, we are heartbroken at the reports of violence in the region, he said, adding that "the deeply layered and nuanced complexity of today's incidents reminds us that we must denounce violence, hate and prejudice in all forms and remain steadfast in our commitment to open discourse and a compassionate, supportive environment. Shortly after the message was posted, Diermeier came under a barrage of criticism on social media. Critics hammered the chancellor for not being more forceful in his words, with most responses calling for him to more explicitly denounce Hamas. Alumni even began a petition demanding an apology, as well as a statement affirming Vanderbilt's support of the Jewish community. The message was "tone-deaf and offensive," the petition read, and Vanderbilt should "recognize Israel's right to exist as a free and democratic country." The university's message was removed days laterthough it can still be found on the universitys official X account as of Thursday and replaced with a second, longer statement released on Oct. 11 that explicitly condemned Hamas and expressed compassion toward the campus' Jewish community. The initial messageand the almost-immediate pushbackhighlights the plight of university officials amid boiling emotions over a conflict that students say is anything but new. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has long been one of the most contentious issues on American college campuses. Now, the current Israel-Hamas war has once again roiled colleges, raising questions about the free speech rights of students, faculty and alumni. At Harvard University, a number of student groups released a statement after the attacks on Oct. 7, saying they held the "Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence," leading to a firestorm of rebukes from university staff and even high-level employers who demanded a list of students who signed on to the statement from the university, threatening to blacklist the students from future jobs. At Penn State University, prominent alumni are calling on donors to withhold money for what they see as an inadequate response from university leaders. Action went further than statements at some schools: Columbia University closed its campus on Oct. 12 due to safety concerns over two planned protests, while demonstrators clashed at major schools like Indiana University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Diermeier says job of university is to empathize, not take sides In an video interview with The Tennessean on Wednesday, Diermeier expanded on the university's position and messaging regarding the war. It was intended to be an email to our community, he said, referring to the now-removed message. We did not want to broadcast any statements to the world, that was not our intent. He confirmed the vast majority of the dissent was from alumni, not current students. Opinion: Vanderbilt and other colleges should have unequivocally condemned Hamas attack of Israel When you have an event of this magnitude that really affects people personally, you have to reassure the community, he said. It has nothing to do with taking one side or anotheryou have to connect with people at the human and emotional level (but) some people wanted us to take a more aggressive position. He emphasized the university's job was not to "pick sides," but to show empathy. You have to keep two modalities in mind: one, we are an academic institution. We firmly believe that, for free speech, you must uphold a principal of neutrality, he said. Two, we are a community that lives togetherthere is a sense of connection within our people. What to do is for the experts to debate We have to soothe our community without endorsing any particular point of view or policy. The pushback to the universitys initial messageand the lesser pushback to the subsequent updateis just one example of the tumultuous waters of free expression that universities are currently facing, Diermeier said. It went very well, given the circumstancesmuch better than other universities, he added, referencing the controversies at Harvard, Columbia and other universities. Diermeier emphasized the university is taking seriously any concerns expressed from students regarding their right to freely express themselves without repercussion. This is my biggest concern right now, he said, detailing how he talked to some students within the affected communities. I am not aware of harassment inside the Vanderbilt community, but they are worried that if they put their names out there they could be blacklisted We will see what we can do to support them. Despite the turmoil, Diermeier expressed pride for his students who were emotional, traumatized, but stayed civil. This has been one of the proudest moments I have seen at Vanderbilt, he said. There was no screaming at each other, no shoutingthere were a lot of conversations in and outside of class. It was tough, difficult and emotional-but I was proud that our community could stay with the values of our university. Vanderbilt's commitment to free speech ethics is similar to other major universities across the state. Melissa Tindell, assistant vice president of communications at the University of Tennessee system, said in a statement that university leadership is "focused on supporting the wellbeing of our students and employees, particularly those who are directly impacted by the acts of terror that unfolded in Israel and the ensuing violence in the Middle East." "Our chancellors and campus leadership continue to reach out directly to their campus communities to better understand how to be supportive during this time. Jimmy Hart, senior director of news and media relations at Middle Tennessee State University, referred The Tennessean to the university's free speech policy. Students at Vanderbilt express concerns for safety, free speech rights But Diermeiers sentiments and faith in the schools free speech unity is not shared across the entire Vanderbilt campus. The Students for Justice in Palestine organization removed member names from its website over fears for their safety. Ommay Farah, a student at Vanderbilt and a board member for the SJP, spoke with The Tennessean on behalf of herself and a number of her friends within SJP who were scared to speak publicly on the matter. As tensions have skyrocketed, weve been having less eventsits a safety concern, she said. Farah, a long-time Nashville resident and junior in Vanderbilts neuroscience program, said that although the tensions on campuses across Tennessee are alarming, its nothing surprising or new for students. The idea that the initial news of the war was on Oct. 7 leads to question that I think we all need to ask ourselvesdid this war actually start on Oct. 7 or in 1948? she said, referring to the year Israel became independent. Still, the escalation of the conflict has led to a lot of grief, Farah said. Im Muslim, and Islamically, any life is sacredthe murder of any individual should be condemned, whether thats Israeli or Palestinian, she said. Killing one person in my faith is the equivalent of killing all of humanity. She said students within her organization are concerned for their free speech rightsboth from campus officials and external actors. The atmosphere on campus has been tense at timesand at times me and other students feel like were walking on eggshells, she said. She said she doesn't feel there currently is a "space for dialogue." Jewish students also are fearful and are worried about the rise in antisemitism, said Robert Hoffman, who works on campus issues in the South for the Anti-Defamation League, one of the leading organizations fighting antisemitism across the nation. He said the past two weeks have only heightened the tensions. Jewish students on campus even prior to Oct. 7 have been the targets of hate in various forms, he said. We have seen white supremacists on campus espousing (harmful) views, and we've seen Jewish students on campus be condemned by their peers for supporting Israel and not being allowed to participate in some leadership positions in organizations. Hoffman said some Jewish students have felt threatened by some of the rhetoric at pro-Palestinian rallies on campuses. "We recognize that there is a difference between supporting Palestine and supporting Hamas," he said. "Hamas is not Palestine, but we also recognize that when students on campus are chanting From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, that that has a very real impact on the Jewish community. The delicate balancing act many students face can be seen in the newsroom of the Vanderbilt Hustler, the university's student newspaper. Rachael Perrotta, the editor-in-chief, said that covering the student bodys response to the conflict has been very challenging. A lot of sleepless nights, she said. The publications coverageincluding a Jewish memorial vigil on Oct. 10 and a Muslim prayer vigil on Oct. 13has received a mix of responses from the campus community and beyond. Attendees at the (Muslim prayer vigil) were concerned about the ramifications of the eventnot from campus members, but from national communities, she said. We had to be careful with how we photographed the event because the attendees didnt want their faces shownmany even wore COVID-19 masks. It was a little unsettling that the rhetoric around the Middle East is so convoluted that support for Palestine is intertwined with support for Hamas, which makes students scared to attend a prayer vigil. Perrotta said the paper has received pushback from students, alumni, and even some faculty. But Perrotta said the feedback helps her and her staff continue to learn about a conflict that stretches far beyond most students experiences. Students on university campuses face a 'war of words,' amid rising antisemitism, says experts Many experts on campus free speech say the tensions rising over the past two weeks are nothing surprisingand are, in fact in line with data seen for years. Zach Greenberg, the senior program officer at the campus rights advocacy department for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, said that the conflict between Israel and Hamas is one of the most contentious topics campuses have ever dealt with. According to FIREs 2024 College Free Speech Rankings, which analyze schools based on students' First Amendment rights, found that the topic of Israeli-Palestinian conflict has repeatedly ranked as one of the highest, most-difficult topics to discuss on colleges campusestopping the list with topics like abortion, gun control and affirmative action. It's been an issue that's often in the forefront of our work for almost our organizations entire history, he said. There are many speakers that have been disinvited or that have had their events disrupted, on both sides of this issue." Greenberg said faculty and staff have to be incredibly careful handling contentious topics such as these, in order to avoid violating students First Amendment rights. Students have the free speech right to express themselves about political issues, he said. That includes issues related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, on both sides. And this is a core of free speech, right?" Greenberg confirmed that the organization is monitoring a number of potential lawsuits stemming from suppressed speech in the wake of the Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel and the subsequent war. Greenberg said the largest incident the organization is currently watching is at Harvard University. We're seeing a lot of universities come out with statements condemning their own students and professors speech and advocacy, and putting forth university institutions own views about this conflict," he said. "So we definitely are seeing a lot of conflict and a war of words between students, administrators and professors on this issue, both on and off campus. Hoffman with the Anti-Defamation League said the balance of fighting hate speech while not overstepping students First Amendment rights is incredibly difficult. But in contrast to positions taken by a number of universities not to weigh in, Hoffman said he believes universities should choose a side when appropriate. We strongly support the First Amendment, but we recognize that there needs to be a sort of balance between protecting free speech and opposing hate speech, he said. And universities have a right themselves to free speechthey are able to say when a community is targeted, and the victim of hate or bias, that the language of action causing that goes against the values of the institution. So we call on our partners in campus leadership to really speak out when they know that individuals in their community are being hurt. The USA Today Network - Tennessee's coverage of First Amendment issues is funded through a collaboration between the Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. Have a story to tell? Reach Angele Latham by email at alatham@gannett.com, by phone at 931-623-9485, or follow her on Twitter at @angele_latham This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Israel-Hamas war: How the fight is roiling college campuses in TN Palestinians check the area of the explosion at al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Abed Khaled) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) PARIS (AP) An assessment by French military intelligence indicates the most likely cause of the deadly explosion at Gaza Citys al-Ahli hospital was a Palestinian rocket that carried an explosive charge of about 5 kilograms (11 pounds) and possibly misfired, a senior French military official said Friday. Several rockets in the arsenal of the Palestinian militant group Hamas carry explosive charges of about that weight, including an Iranian-made rocket and another that is Palestinian-made, the intelligence official said. None of their intelligence pointed to an Israeli strike, the official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity, but was cleared to discuss the assessment by President Emmanuel Macron in what was described as an attempt to be transparent about the French intelligence findings. The assessment was based on classified information, satellite imagery, intelligence shared by other countries and open-source information, the official said. The size of the blast crater in a courtyard of the hospital was assessed by French military intelligence to be about 1 meter (39 inches) long, 75 centimeters (29 1/2 inches) across and about 30 to 40 centimeters (12 to 16 inches) deep. That is consistent with an explosive charge of about 5 kilograms, the official said. The official said the hole appeared to be slightly oriented on a south to north axis, suggesting a projectile that hit at an oblique angle on a south to north trajectory. Officials in Hamas-ruled Gaza quickly blamed an Israeli airstrike for the explosion at the hospital Tuesday. Israel denied it was involved and released live video, audio and other evidence it said showed the blast was caused by a rocket misfired by Islamic Jihad, another Palestinian militant group. Islamic Jihad denied responsibility. The death toll remains in dispute. Within just over an hour of the blast, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said 500 had died. It then revised that number slightly to 471 on Wednesday, without giving details of the dead. The Israeli military told reporters that number was inflated. While also cautioning that I have no certitude, the French military intelligence official said: "We dont see at all that a rocket that size could have produced 471 dead. It is not possible. A United States intelligency report estimated that somewhere between 100 and 300 Palestinians were likely killed. Even in Gaza there were conflicting estimates of the dead. Al-Ahli Hospital officials said only that the toll was in the hundreds, without giving a firm number. The general director of Gazas largest hospital, Shifa, Mohammed Abu Selmia, said he thought the toll was closer to 250, based on the casualties he saw streaming into the triage center. Two witnesses said they thought the toll was in the dozens, not the hundreds. All officials in Gaza have said the blast left body parts strewn everywhere, complicating the task of counting the dead. ___ Associated Press writer Isabel DeBre contributed to this report. Major Drag Alert A one-time Fugees rap group member claims that his attorney fumbled his conspiracy trial because he used artificial intelligence. As The Register reports, founding Fugee Prakazrel "Pras" Michel has accused his former defense attorney David Kenner of using AI in the rapper's federal conspiracy trial, leading to him being found guilty of a bunch of crimes, including being a foreign agent for China. To be fair, Michel's case was super weird even before he made the AI accusation against his ex-attorney. The "Ghetto Superstar" rapper had apparently fashioned himself a politico and businessman after going solo and getting into film and television in the first decade of the 2000s, eventually donating massive sums to Barack Obama's reelection efforts in 2012 on behalf of foreign entities a charge that he was found guilty of, but denies is true. In the Obama reelection scheme, Pras crossed paths with Malaysian financier Jho Low, the "Wolf of Wall Street" film investor who's still on the run from the law after being hit with massive-scale corruption charges, including some of those for which Michel was found guilty. And now we have a fascinating AI twist on that decidedly old-school financial drama. Writer In The Dark In a heavily redacted motion filed in district court in Washington, DC, Michel claims that Kenner used "an experimental AI program to write his closing argument, which made frivolous arguments, conflated the schemes, and failed to highlight key weaknesses" in the government's case against him. As wild as that sounds, the rapper has some evidence of his claim: a May press release from the AI company EyeLevel, which quoted his attorney and announced that he had used the company's LitAssist research tool in Michel's case. "This is an absolute game changer for complex litigation," Kenner said in the EyeLevel press release. "The system turned hours or days of legal work into seconds. This is a look into the future of how cases will be conducted." Michel also alleged in his motion that his ex-attorney had an "undisclosed financial stake" in the AI company and that he "experimented with it during Michel's trial so they could issue a press release afterward promoting the program," which the motion describes as "a clear conflict of interest." He went on to say that Kenner confused some of his ten charges with each other and failed to point out what the rapper considers "the strongest and most obvious argument: that there was no evidence that Michel or anyone else acted at the 'direction or control' of the Chinese government." There's a whole lot going on in this update to the Pras trial, which is by no means the first time AI has been used in legal proceedings but does appear to be a novel reason to ask for a new trial not to mention one more compelling example of why this technology may not be ready for the courtroom. More on AI and the law: Google Terrified of Lawsuit That Would "Take a Sledgehammer" to Generative AI The flight had to turn around after taking off from Panama (Luis ACOSTA) From a "Mickey Mouse parliament" to the danger of diapers at 30,000 feet... Your weekly roundup of offbeat stories from around the world. - Boys will be boys - Turkish archaeologists have made an "astonishing" discovery that throws new light on some of our earliest ancestors -- a statue of a man holding his you-know-what. The 12,000-year-old figure was found at Karahantepe in the southeast close to the border with Syria, one of humanity's most ancient sacred sites. Red-blooded Turkish males swelled with pride at the find -- particular when it emerged that he was holding his manhood with both hands. But the rather chaste picture of the 2.3-metre (7.5-foot) tall statue released by the authorities prompted talk of a cover up by Turkey's devout Muslim leaders, with the member mysteriously missing. Archaeologist Necmi Karul laughed off the rumours, telling AFP, "We had not yet found a phallus." Happily, the broken-off business end has since been found and Karahantepe Man's pride will soon be restored. - Clever thief was no dummy - A Polish thief posed as a dummy in the window of a clothes shop so he could steal jewellery from a Warsaw shopping centre. The 22-year-old entered the store and "put on a new outfit, then stood still in the window like a mannequin in order to fool security guards and surveillance cameras," police said. When the shop closed he slipped out and swiped jewellery from a stand in the shopping centre. "We've never seen anything like it," police told AFP. But the thief was not as clever as he thought. Officers later nabbed him and now he faces up to 10 years in prison. - EU's mystery train - A special train taking hundreds of European Union lawmakers from Brussels to the parliament in Strasbourg was mistakenly sent to Disneyland Paris instead. The staggering error by French railways sparked much hilarity online even among MEPs, with the Politico news website the first to get in with the "Mickey Mouse parliament?" line. It also gave plenty of ammunition to critics of the parliament, that sits both in Brussels and the French city. "Could a new Disneyland be a suitable use for the Strasbourg buildings?" asked Pelle Geertsen, an aide to a Danish MEP. - Nappy ending - A flight from Panama to Tampa in Florida was forced to do a U-turn after a suspicious package was found in the toilet. But when bomb disposal experts carefully opened the black plastic bag once the plane landed in Panama City, they found a nappy. Security chief Jose Castro said the "disposable adult diaper" posed no threat. No passenger has yet to own up. - 'Big mistake' - Police in Bihar, one of India's most lawless and corrupt states, have a novel approach to clearing up crime. Three officers were filmed near Muzaffarpur throwing the remains of a man killed by a speeding truck over a bridge. Video of their handiwork went viral, causing outrage. Senior officer Rakesh Kumar told AFP his men "only threw the lower half" of the man into the water. "The upper half was sent for post-mortem but the lower half was badly mangled so they threw it in the canal," he added. "It was a big mistake." bur-fg/yad A Georgia Department of Natural Resources K-9 has died in the line of duty. Georgia DNR officials said on Thursday that Game Warden K-9 Rio and his partner Corporal Keith Page were assisting in tracking a suspected poacher hunting without permission near the Oconee National Forest in Jasper County. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] After they caught the suspect, Page and K-9 Rio returned to the scene to search for more evidence when K-9 Rio suffered a medical emergency. Officials did not specify what the medical emergency was. Pages efforts to revive K-9 Rio were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead at 11 a.m. TRENDING STORIES: Officials said K-9 Rio was escorted back to Barnesville under an American flag in a procession led by the Lamar County Sheriffs Office. Rio served as a Game Warden K-9 with Page for six years. He joined the service in 2017 when he was 12 months old. Officials said K-9 Rio was escorted back to Barnesville under an American flag in a procession led by the Lamar County Sheriffs Office. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: A South Georgia man has been charged with the death of his own grandparents, as well as killing their cat. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said it was called in to help the Terrell County Sheriffs Office after Gary Milton Bailey, Sr, 68, and Donna Sue Bailey, 66, both of Bronwood, were found dead inside their home. Investigators said the couple had been shot multiple times and deputies also found the couples cat dead from a gunshot wound. TRENDING STORIES: The GBI said Gary Bailey III, 27, the couples grandson, is being held at the Terrell County Jail. He is being charged with felony murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, exploitation and intimidation of an elder person, and aggravated animal cruelty. Anyone with information in this case is asked to contact the GBIs Regional Investigative Field Office in Sylvester at 229-777-2080 or the Terrell County Sheriffs Office at 229-995-4488. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477) or online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online. IN OTHER NEWS: Gas has been fully restored to Beaver County residents after service was shut off for thousands of customers on Sunday. We thank customers for their patience and understanding as we worked to restore service safely, Columbia Gas said in a release Friday. Columbia Gas restored service in a phased approach. It grouped customers into one of six phases based on the scope and complexity of restoring service in a certain area. Beaver County leader expresses frustration at ongoing gas outage The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commissions (PUC) Safety Division announced Tuesday that they are investigating the outage. The cause of the outage involves a gas supply interruption from a third-party supplier, the PUC said. The circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated to determine if there were any violations of state or federal pipeline safety regulations. Jo Ann Borato, mayor of Economy Borough, told Channel 11 that when a third-party producer brought a well online, into their system, something was introduced into Columbia Gas system. There was not enough BTUs to burn correctly, Borato said. So, instead of your electronic ignition, lighting your furnace, they didnt want homes to fill with gas, so they thought it as best to shut it down. They are still investigating the cause, and is there a way to address it in the future. PUC says this investigation could take time because of the complex circumstances that may require extensive analysis or technical study. Any determinations or safety concerns will be addressed with pipeline operators or utilities. If customers have not receive a door hanger or have not yet scheduled their restoration appointments, please notify Columbia Gas at 1-888-460-4332. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Man found shot and killed in car in Penn Hills Fatal shooting in Rostraver shopping plaza was allegedly murder-for-hire Some customers frustrated over City of Pittsburgh plastic bag ban VIDEO: New video shows man being brutally attacked during concert at Star Lake DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said there needed to be "rapid, unimpeded humanitarian access" to Gaza after dire warnings about the sustained Israeli blockade (Khaled DESOUKI) Food, medicines, water purifiers, hygiene products and blankets: the aid was piling in Egypt's Sinai region at El Arish airport, which even opened an extra landing strip to cope with deliveries. Rafah, the border crossing into Gaza that Egypt had promised to open on Friday, is a few dozen kilometres to the east. It is the only crossing into the blockaded Palestinian territory that is not controlled by Israel. On a visit to Cairo, UN chief Antonio Guterres said Thursday that there needed to be "rapid, unimpeded humanitarian access" after dire warnings about the impact of the sustained Israeli blockade. Guterres said the Rafah crossing and El Arish airport "are not only critical, they are our only hope" and "the lifelines" for the people of Gaza. Ahmed Ali, head of the Egyptian Red Crescent, told AFP his organisation receives "two to three planes of aid a day, chartered by humanitarian agencies or states", who want to send food, water or medical supplies to the 2.4 million Palestinians in Gaza. As soon as aid is dropped off on the tarmac, the shipments are loaded onto trucks. Israel, which has imposed a strict blockade on Gaza for 16 years and has declared a "complete siege" after the October 7 attack by Islamist militant group Hamas on its soil, has agreed to allow the passage of aid. Egyptian state-linked broadcaster Al Qahera News said the Rafa crossing would open on Friday. But later Egypt said it needed more time, to repair the roads that connect its territory to Gaza after four Israeli bombings of the crossing. - 'Beyond catastrophic' - In the meantime, pallets loaded with aid are stored in warehouses in El Arish, the capital of North Sinai, said Ali. As soon as the green light is given, 250 volunteers are ready to transport them to the border. The UN World Food Programme, which has already provided aid to 522,000 people since the start of the hostilities, said it has 951 tonnes of food at or on the way to Rafah -- enough to feed 488,000 people for one week, a spokesperson said. On Thursday, an Emirati plane offloaded nine tons of UNICEF aid. The situation in Gaza is "beyond catastrophic" with stocks almost empty after 13 days of war, said Sara Alzawqari, UNICEF spokeswoman for the Gulf. "We have distributed nearly all our prepositioned supplies which were inside Gaza and have been working to keep the only functioning desalination plant in the entire Gaza Strip running in much-reduced capacity," she said, as food, water, fuel and power run short after Gaza's only power plant shut down. - 'Time is running out' - Hamas militants stormed into Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7, and killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians, who were shot, mutilated or burnt to death on the first day of the raid, according to Israeli officials. Israel says around 1,500 Hamas fighters were killed in clashes before its army regained control of the area under attack. More than 3,700 Palestinians, mainly civilians, have been killed across Gaza in relentless Israeli bombardments in retaliation for the attacks by the Palestinian Islamist militant group, according to the Hamas health ministry in Gaza. UN agencies have warned food, water and fuel will soon run out in the besieged Palestinian territory. "Medical supplies and medicines have also been provided to hospitals, but given the number of injuries, hospital beds and essential medicine -- including anaesthetics -- are quickly running out," Alzawqari said. "Time is running out and the numbers of casualties amongst children are rising," she added. "We need an immediate humanitarian pause to ensure unhindered and safe access to children in need." The deal struck by US President Joe Biden with Israel and Egypt will allow in 20 trucks. The emergencies director of the World Health Organization has called it "a drop in the ocean of need". "It should be 2,000 trucks," Michael Ryan said. While food, water and fuel are the priority, Alzawqari said UNICEF has slipped boxes of educational game kits into aid shipments, because children need to continue "playing and learning even during emergencies". saa/sbh/anr/sn/sco If you're like me and simply want the government to leave us alone and tend to its basic tasksproviding public services, building infrastructure, etc.then you no doubt follow every legislative session with foreboding. Progressive Democrats who control California are intent on regulating our lives and raising our taxes, which leads to a sense of vulnerability as hundreds of intrusive bills head to the governor's desk. This year, however, Gov. Gavin Newsom pulled a few surprises. He insists that he's not running for president, but his vetoes of the fringiest measures suggest his promises aren't ironclad. He rejected nearly 20 percent of bills that reached his desk, which is an "unusually large percentage," per CalMatters. Many veto messages, it noted, include boilerplate language warning that some bills would add to the state's deficit. He seems to be channeling his predecessor, deficit-weary Jerry Brown. Here are some of the main examples. Newsom vetoed a measure requiring public schools to provide free, easily available condoms to students. His budgetary argument was a stretch, but any governor with national aspirations wouldn't want such baggage. Can you see the TV ads from his opponents had he signed it? Likewise, with his veto of Amsterdam-like cannabis cafes and a measure that would have decriminalized some psychedelic drugs. He also nixed a bill to provide one week of severance to laid-off grocery store workers for every year of work, noting that state law already provides myriad layoff protections. He rejected a cap on insulin co-pays, explaining the state already is working on a plan to lower costs. His veto of a ban on caste discrimination came with the sensible explanation that such discrimination already is illegal. Newsom rejected a ludicrous bill that would have created a state agency to build and manage government-owned housing. He again raised the cost argument, but anyone who has followed the sordid history of public-housing projects in America would quickly realize that the government can't fix our state's housing woes (although it can make them worse)and would produce terribly managed high-rise slums. Sure, unions scored expected legislative victories, but Newsom at least vetoed a bill giving striking workers unemployment benefitssomething that would have overburdened a system already facing insolvency. The governor rejected cash payments up to $1,900 a month for undocumented seniorsanother decision that makes sense in the context of a national political campaign. Progressives were understandably disappointed, but that should only hearten the rest of us. "While a lot of these bills may not fly in the Deep South, they're unremarkable in progressive California, and were on Newsom's desk in the first place because the state Legislature put them thereostensibly carrying out the will of California voters," lamented CNN columnist Jill Filipovic. Yes, legislators put them there, but elected governors have the final say regarding the "will of the people." That's how our system works. Newsom mostly vetoed bills that would have provided immense pushback for little gain. I have nothing against legalizing psychedelics, but critics far outnumbered beneficiaries. Newsom did sign several noxious measures. He OK'd a bill making it harder for landlords to evict troublesome tenants. He required companies to disclose greenhouse gas emissions. He banned certain food additives. That's par for the course in progressive California. Newsom also signed a bill allowing Capitol staffers to join a union beginning in 2026. State workers belong to unions, but legislative workers are unique. Legislators need the flexibility to hire whomever they choose to implement their agenda. These mostly are political positions, with a high churn ratenot career jobs. I chuckle at that one for mischievous reasons, as it might remind union-friendly lawmakers of the burdens they place on other employers. I bet lawmakers will regret this one. On the good-news front, Newsom signed a massive package of 56 bills to incentivize housing construction. Most notably, Senate Bill 423 streamlines housing approvals in coastal cities (reducing the power of the anti-growth California Coastal Commission) and applies loosened regulations to market-rate projects. Senate Bill 4 allows universities and religious groups to buildon a by-right basishousing on their property. Newsom touted a term I've never heard before: YIGBY (Yes In God's Back Yard). That's weird, but it probably will result in additional new housing. God bless him for that signing. He even signed legislation that clarifies the California Environmental Quality Act, thus making it harder for local NIMBY governments to abuse CEQA to limit housing approvals. In his statement, Newsom quoted Sen. Scott Wiener (DSan Francisco), who is the driving force behind pro-housing reforms: "The era of saying no to housing is coming to an end. We've been planting seeds for years to get California to a brighter housing future, and today we're continuing strongly down that path." May it be so. So it's been a less bad legislative session than expected. I still feel relief it's over. This column was first published in The Orange County Register. The post Are Gavin Newsom's Presidential Aspirations Limiting His Progressive Instincts? appeared first on Reason.com. In a disquieting turn of events, Maryland Delegate Joe Vogel, a Democrat, on Monday disclosed recurrent vandalism marked by anti-Semitic graffiti at his apartment complex in Montgomery County, a Maryland suburb of Washington, D.C. This unsettling episode marks the third such incident within recent months. The gay and Jewish lawmaker shared images on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, showcasing four swastikas defiling the restroom door in the lobby of his residence. Vogel, who represents Marylands 17th District, conveyed his dismay to Washington, D.C., CBS affiliate WUSA from his Gaithersburg home, saying, Its really unsettling to witness this hate in my own apartment building, in my own community, the place I regard as home. Although it remains uncertain if Vogel was the direct target of this hateful act, he acknowledged its grave implications for him and his community. That kind of hate, those kinds of messages, that vandalism sends a really dark message to me and others in our community, but it wont make us afraid, he said. Swastikas in my apartment building lobby again. The surge in antisemitism isn\u2019t some distant phenomenon\u2014 it\u2019s happening right here in our own community as well. Joe Vogel (@Joe Vogel) 1697472698 The disturbing incident in Montgomery County reflects a broader global tension following the ongoing conflict between the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and Hamas in Gaza. The terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7 has stirred international apprehensions, leading to an escalated Israeli response, which included bombing thousands of targets and displacing 1 million individuals from northern Gaza to the south. The repercussions of this conflict are felt far beyond the borders of Israel and Gaza, with an uptick in both anti-Semitic and anti-Islamic attacks reported in various communities worldwide. Experts voice concerns that such inter-community conflicts are likely to escalate further if international tensions continue to rise. The Anti-Defamation League reported a nearly doubling of anti-Semitic incidents in Maryland from 55 in 2021 to 109 in 2022, with Montgomery County accounting for more than half of these occurrences. The ADLs 2023 data so far records 68 incidents, linking a spike to the recent upheavals in the Middle East. Vogel remarked on the disturbing trend. The surge that we are seeing is real, and we have to look at that for what it is, and we have to take action, Vogel said to WUSA. In response to the increasing hate, Vogel spearheaded legislation establishing the Commission on Hate Crime Response and Prevention earlier this year. Endorsed by Maryland Gov. Wes More, this law directs a commission of nearly two dozen members from state agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders to devise strategies for preventing and addressing hate crimes and evaluate existing state laws and policies concerning hate crimes. On a parallel track, Vogel has thrown his hat into the political arena by announcing his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in Marylands 6th congressional District, aspiring to follow the footsteps of David Trone, who is now running for the Senate seat soon to be vacated by retiring Democratic Senator Ben Cardin. Shortages of food, fuel and electricity in Gaza are going to kill many, many people, a senior aid official warned Friday, as Israels siege and bombardment of the enclave approached the two-week mark, while life-saving aid was again stuck in Egypt for another day. A spokesperson for the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza said Friday that seven hospitals and 21 primary care health centers had been rendered out of service, and 64 medical staff have been killed, as Israel continues its airstrikes on Gaza. It is absolutely life or death at this point, Avril Benoit, executive director for Doctors Without Borders, also known as Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), told CNN. Among those trapped in Gaza are the hostages captured by Hamas during its brutal terror attack on October 7. In an update Friday the Israel Defense Forces said the majority of the hostages are alive. It said the number of missing is between 100-200, and more than 20 of the hostages are under the age of 18. Two American hostages, a mother and her daughter, are being released for humanitarian reasons, a person familiar with the negotiations for their release and a diplomatic source said Friday. Its unclear whether they will go to Egypt or Israel. Meanwhile, Israeli leaders have rallied troops ahead of a potential ground incursion. The IDF has mobilized more than 300,000 reservists as it seeks to destroy Hamas and prevent it from launching further attacks on Israeli soil. In a speech from the Oval Office Thursday, US President Joe Biden reiterated his governments support for Israels war against Hamas, casting it as vital to Americas national security. But he cautioned the Israeli government not to be blinded by rage and drew a clear distinction between Hamas and the Palestinian people, calling for civilians in Gaza to be protected. Any Israeli ground incursion will come amid a growing chorus of outrage across the Arab world, where mass anti-Israel protests have broken out earlier in the week and on Friday in support of 2.2 million Palestinians who remain trapped in Gaza. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the Middle East had entered a moment of profound crisis unlike any the region has seen in decades. Israeli leaders on Friday ordered the evacuation of some 23,000 residents living near the border with Lebanon, amid sustained crossfire with the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Peter Lerner told CNN that the IDF had bolstered its forces along the northern border and was prepared for a broader conflict. Aid supplies in limbo Around 200 trucks carrying vital aid destined for Gaza remain stuck in Egypt, despite a frantic diplomatic effort to open the Rafah crossing. Negotiations continued through Thursday as workers filled dangerous road craters from Israeli bombing to allow up to 20 trucks to pass in an initial delivery. Video released Friday by the Sinai Foundation for Human Rights showed repair work and paving the road between the Egyptian and Palestinian sides at the Rafah crossing. Egyptian authorities worked to remove cement blocks at the entrance to the crossing in preparation for its opening, several drivers at the crossing told CNN. But the possible initial passage of 20 trucks would be far lower than usual. We need to build up to the 100 trucks a day that used to be the case of the aid program going into Gaza, UN relief chief Martin Griffiths said in an interview with CNNs Christiane Amanpour. We need to be able to have the assurance that we can go in at scale everyday deliberately, repetitively and reliably, Griffiths said. Guterres traveled to the Rafah crossing on Friday as part of the UNs efforts to help aid reach Gaza. Behind these walls, we have two million people that are suffering enormously. So, these trucks are not just trucks, they are a lifeline. They are the difference between life and death, Guterres said at a press conference held on the Egyptian side of the border. A CNN team on the ground attended the press conference and witnessed a protest by several hundred demonstrators break out after Guterres finished his speech. Guterres was then forced to leave the Rafah gate earlier than planned as the protest began to get out of control. A convoy of trucks carrying aid supplies for Gaza from Egypt waits on the main Ismailia desert road, about 300 km east of the Egyptian border with Gaza, on October 16, 2023. - Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images As well as the trucks, a plane carrying World Health Organization supplies for Gaza landed in Egypts Al Arish airport Friday morning, the WHO regional office wrote on X. It said the package included surgical supplies and instruments for 1000 medical operations, water tanks and tents. But how much difference the initial deliveries will be able to make for the more than 2 million people living in Gaza is unclear. A group of UN independent experts accused Israel of committing crimes against humanity in its current campaign. The complete siege of Gaza coupled with unfeasible evacuation orders and forcible population transfers, is a violation of international humanitarian and criminal law. It is also unspeakably cruel, the UN Human Rights Office said Thursday in a press release. Doctors Without Borders said Thursday Gazas main medical facility, the Al-Shifa Hospital, only had enough fuel to last 24 hours. Without electricity many patients will die, said Guillemette Thomas, the groups medical coordinator for Palestine, based in Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinians are using Al-Shifa hospital as a safe haven from constant bombing, he added. Many supermarkets have no more food to sell, and everyday tasks have become grueling for residents who queue for hours for food and water under the roar of airstrikes. There is no life now Its just trying to survive. Thats it, a Palestinian man living in Gaza, who wished to remain anonymous, told CNN. The population of southern Gaza has swelled in recent days after the Israeli military told around 1 million residents to leave northern Gaza ahead of the expected Israeli ground incursion. A Palestinian boy carrying water walks past a destroyed house in Rafah, October 18, 2023. - Abed Rahim Khatib/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Israeli troops will soon see Gaza from the inside Israels sustained assault on Gaza follows Hamas murderous rampage on October 7 that killed an estimated 1,400 people in Israel, mostly civilians, in what has been described as the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. In the days since, Israeli airstrikes have killed more than 4,100 people in Gaza, including hundreds of women and children, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas. The violence has spread beyond Gaza: The ministry said at least 81 people had been killed in the occupied West Bank since October 7. Israel also arrested more than 60 suspected Hamas operatives in the West Bank early Thursday. Among those detained during raids was Hamas spokesperson Hassan Yousef, Israeli authorities confirmed Friday. Yousef is a leading Palestinian political figure serving as the official Hamas spokesperson in the West Bank and holding a seat on the Palestinian Legislative Council. Meanwhile, Israel appears set to launch its ground offensive into Gaza. Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant told troops gathered not far from the Gaza Strip on Thursday that they will soon see the enclave from the inside. Early Friday morning, CNNs Nic Robertson witnessed increased military activity along Israels border with Gaza. Several illumination flares were seen floating down in the distance while red tracer rounds were accompanied by the sound of heavy machine gun fire. CNN could not verify what the night-time military activity was. A bakery prepares rations of bread to pass out to internally displaced Palestinians in the southern Gaza Strip on October 17, 2023. - Mohammed Abed/AFP/Getty Images Protests in the Middle East Any Israeli incursion will further inflame the outrage that has spread across much of the Arab world. Huge protests broke out in several Middle Eastern countries this week after an explosion at the Al-Ahli hospital in southern Gaza, which Hamas officials said was caused by an Israeli airstrike that had killed 500 people. Thousands of protesters shouting anti-Israel slogans gathered in Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Egypt and Tunisia. Several Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq issued statements condemning Israel and accusing its military of bombing the hospital. But Israel has since presented evidence that it said shows the blast was caused by a misfire by militant group Islamic Jihad. US President Joe Biden backed Israels explanation, citing US intelligence. Israel Probably Did Not Bomb Gaza Strip Hospital: We judge that Israel was not responsible for an explosion that killed hundreds of civilians yesterday [17 October] at the Al Ahli Hospital in the Gaza Strip, read an unclassified intelligence assessment obtained by CNN. The assessment also estimated the number of deaths was at the low end of the 100-to-300 spectrum. But the subsequent revelations have done little to quell the rage across the Middle East. Everybody here believes that Israel is responsible for it, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi told CNN Wednesday. The Israeli army is saying its not but try and find anybody whos going to believe it in this part of the world. Fresh protests began Friday, with thousands taking to the streets in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen and the West Bank after Islamic Friday prayers. People inspect an area around the Greek Orthodox Church after an Israeli strike in Gaza City, on October 20. - Ali Jadallah/Anadolu/Getty Images The protests began in the wake of a separate explosion at Gazas oldest church. St. Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church in central Gaza City said its compound was hit by an Israeli airstrike Thursday night. Video from the ground in Gaza City showed the damage at the site of the church and its surrounding area. The main impact of the strike heavily damaged a building next to the church compound. One church building was partially collapsed by the airstrike, according to CNNs analysis of the video. The footage from the ground also shows people working to search through rubble for any bodies. At one point, a group can be seen dragging a body wrapped in a blanket out of the rubble and through a small crowd, as many pull out their cameras and phones to record the moment. Other people can be seen grieving and crying. Earlier Friday, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said that 17 people were killed in the Israeli strike on the church on Thursday night. CNN cannot independently confirm the number of casualties. A Hamas statement about the incident mentioned a number of casualties but did say how many. The IDF has said it will have more information on the strike, but it did not respond to CNN questions on when that information would be available. The IDF on Friday acknowledged that a wall of a church in the area was damaged as a result of an IDF strike. CNNs Mohammed Tawfeeq, Tamar Michaelis, Daniel Oz, Nic Robertson, Muhammad Darwish, Jake Tapper, Jennifer Hansler, Alex Marquardt, Sahar Akbarzai, Allegra Goodwin, Duarte Mendonca, Paul Murphy and Jo Shelley contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Editor's note: Acupuncture and moxibustion are traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapies used to treat illnesses and maintain health. They are most often used to relieve pain, spasms, numbness, and swelling by inserting fine needles into specific "points" of the body or by burning mugwort, or moxa, near the skin to warm them. Both acupuncture and moxibustion are believed to have originated during the New Stone Age, with metallic pins starting to be used in acupuncture in the 8th century B.C. Archaeological findings from tombs dating to the 3rd century B.C., such as gold pins and other medical devices, prove that acupuncture and moxibustion have been employed for medical purposes in China for several millennia. Today, the therapies are still widely used in the country and also practiced in many other countries and regions around the world. In 2010, they were inscribed onto UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The Chinese characters ("zhen"), which means needle or acupuncture, and ("jiu"), denoting moxibustion or applying heat from burning mugwort or "drug cones," combine to make keywords for acupuncture and moxibustion in traditional Chinese medicine. As UNESCO describes, the theories of acupuncture and moxibustion hold that the human body acts as a small universe connected by channels. By stimulating these channels, physicians can improve or heal a patient's ailments. This stimulation involves the burning of mugwort near particular parts or the insertion of needles into certain acupuncture points along these channels. Which points are selected is vital in deciding the effectiveness of acupuncture and moxibustion. Therefore, over several thousand years, generations of physicians have worked hard to locate, identify, and clarify hundreds of acupuncture points so as to smooth the channels within the body by better stimulating their corresponding points. Acupuncture and moxibustion are commonly accepted thanks to several features, including their applications in treating a wide variety of diseases; their ability to prevent, alleviate, or cease pain; the fact that they incur slight or no side effects; and that they're cost-effective. As such, they are gaining global popularity. Nowadays, acupuncture and moxibustion workshops and clinics can be seen all over the world and have even been noted to function as a part of a modern healthy lifestyle within and beyond the Chinese communities. In addition to their traditional functions in treating illnesses, they are also applied in beauty salons to improve skin rejuvenation, stress release, and weight loss. The fast development of modern technology has also promoted the innovation of traditional acupuncture and moxibustion. For example, a China Daily report states that the development of laser acupuncture has allowed traditional techniques to access points that needles cannot, and improving needle manufacturing technologies are making the practice safer and more comfortable for patients. At the FISU World University Games recently held in China's city of Chengdu, enthusiastic athletes from different countries queued to experience traditional Chinese medical therapies. Of all the TCM treatments, acupuncture and moxibustion were among the most popular services in the FISU Games Village. Young athletes who were curious to try such practices left with a new understanding of their benefits, setting off a "craze for TCM." Find out more about China's intangible cultural heritage and their keywords: China's 43rd UNESCO's ICH element: Traditional tea processing China's 42nd UNESCO's ICH element: Wangchuan ceremony China's 41st UNESCO's ICH element: Taijiquan China's 40th UNESCO's ICH element: Lum medicinal bathing of Sowa Rigpa China's 39th UNESCO's ICH element: Twenty-Four Solar Terms China's 38th UNESCO's ICH element: Abacus-based Zhusuan China's 37th UNESCO's ICH element: Training plan for Fujian puppetry performers Palestinians walk by buildings destroyed in the Israeli bombardment on al-Zahra, on the outskirts of Gaza City, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Ali Mahmoud) JERUSALEM (AP) Gaza has long been a powder keg, and it exploded after Hamas fighters stormed southern Israel on Oct. 7 and began killing and abducting people. More than 1,400 people in Israel mostly civilians were killed in the Hamas attack, and the Israeli army says about 200 hostages were taken into Gaza. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes have killed more than 4,000 Palestinians, according to Gazas Hamas-run Health Ministry. Nearly half Gaza's population the vast majority of whom are already refugees have been displaced. Israel has imposed a complete siege on Gaza, preventing the entrance of food, water and fuel a move that has created a catastrophic humanitarian situation. As the Israeli military gears up for a ground invasion and pledges to topple Hamas, the futures of Gaza and its 2.3 million Palestinians look uncertain. Heres a look at the history of the Gaza Strip: 1948 - 1967: EGYPT Before the war surrounding Israel's establishment in 1948, present-day Gaza was part of the large swath of the Middle East under British colonial rule. After Israel defeated the coalition of Arab states, the Egyptian army was left in control of a small strip of land wedged between Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea. During the war, some 700,000 Palestinians either fled or were forced from their homes in what is now Israel a mass uprooting that they call the Nakba, or catastrophe. Tens of thousands of Palestinians flocked to the strip. Under Egyptian military control, Palestinian refugees in Gaza were stuck, homeless and stateless. Egypt didn't consider them to be citizens and Israel wouldn't let them return to their homes. Many were supported by UNWRA, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, which has a heavy presence in Gaza to this day. Meanwhile, some young Palestinians became fedayeen insurgency fighters who conducted raids into Israel. 1967 - 1993: ISRAEL Israel seized control of Gaza from Egypt during the 1967 Mideast war, when it also captured the West Bank and east Jerusalem areas that remain under Israeli control. The internationally recognized Palestinian Authority, which administers semi-autonomous areas of the occupied West Bank, seeks all three areas for a hoped-for future state. Israel built more than 20 Jewish settlements in Gaza during this period. It also signed a peace treaty with Egypt at Camp David a pact negotiated by U.S. President Jimmy Carter. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi referenced this 40-year old treaty Wednesday when he declined to permit Palestinian refugees from Gaza into Egypt, saying the potential entrance of militants into Egypt would threaten longstanding peace between Israel and Egypt. The first Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation erupted in Gaza in December 1987, kicking off more than five years of sustained protests and bloody violence. It was also during this time that the Islamic militant group Hamas was established in Gaza. 1993 - 2005: PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY For a time, promising peace talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders made the future of Gaza look somewhat hopeful. Following the Oslo accords a set of agreements between Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestinian Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat that laid the groundwork for a two-state solution control of Gaza was handed to the fledgling Palestinian Authority. But the optimism was short lived. A series of Palestinian suicide attacks by Hamas militants, the 1995 assassination of Rabin by a Jewish ultranationalist opposed to his peacemaking and the election of Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister the following year all hindered U.S.-led peace efforts. Another peace push collapsed in late 2000 with the eruption of the second Palestinian uprising. As the uprising fizzled in 2005, then-Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon led a unilateral withdrawal from Gaza, uprooting all of Israel's troops and roughly 9,000 settlers in a move that bitterly divided Israel. 2005 - NOW: HAMAS Just months after Israel's withdrawal, Hamas won parliamentary elections over Fatah, the long-dominant Palestinian political party. The following year, after months of infighting, Hamas violently seized control of Gaza from the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority. Israel and Egypt imposed a crippling blockade on the territory, monitoring the flow of goods and people in and out. For nearly two decades, the closure has crippled the local economy, sent unemployment skyrocketing, and emboldened militancy in the region, which is one of the most densely populated places on the planet. Through four wars and countless smaller battles with Israel that devastated Gaza, Hamas has only grown more powerful. In each subsequent conflict, Hamas has had more rockets that have traveled farther. The group has displayed a growing array of weapons. Its top leaders have survived, and cease-fires have been secured. In the meantime, it has built a government, including a police force, ministries and border terminals equipped with metal detectors and passport control. WHAT COMES NEXT? Since the Oct. 7 attack, Israel has stated its goal is to crush Hamas. This will be no easy task given the group's deep base of support. But even if Israel does realize its goal, it has said little about what it hopes will come next. On Friday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel hopes to relinquish control of Gaza and establish a new security regime. He did not elaborate. Experts have cautioned that defeating militancy is not possible even if Israel manages to topple Hamas, militants could well fill the power vacuum. Russian forces renewed their assault against Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast and launched unsuccessful attacks around the town's flanks, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on Oct. 20. "The enemy has resumed offensive actions and does not stop trying to surround Avdiivka," the report said, noting that Russian troops suffered heavy losses. Russia launched unsuccessful offensives near settlements on Avdiivka's flanks, namely at Stepove and Novokalynove north of the town and around Sieverne to the west, the military reported. "Over the past day, the enemy's losses include almost 900 soldiers killed or injured, almost 50 tanks, and over 100 destroyed or damaged armored vehicles," the General Staff said when reporting on the Avdiivka offensive, but without specifying whether these losses concern only this sector. The General Staff said earlier that over the past day, Russian forces had suffered 1,380 casualties and lost 55 tanks and 120 armored personnel vehicles across all fronts. Russian forces also attempted unsuccessful attacks in the Kupiansk direction and in the Lyman direction, where Ukrainian troops repelled attacks near the village of Makiivka, the military said. Join our community Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Support Us Failed Russian attacks were also reported near Klishchiivka in the Bakhmut direction and in the Marinka and Shakhtarske directions. Moscow's troops intensified their attacks at Avdiivka a heavily fortified Ukrainian-held town a few kilometers north of Donetsk last week in an effort to encircle the settlement. The renewed offensive was accompanied by heavy shelling of civilian areas. Kyiv reported that Russian forces have suffered heavy casualties in both manpower and equipment during these attacks. The U.S.-based think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on Oct. 16 that Russia had "marginally advanced" near Avdiivka but noted that the pace of the assault had slowed down. According to the U.K. Defense Ministry, the Avdiivka assault is the most significant offensive operation undertaken by Russia since at least January 2023. Read also: Ukraine faces onslaught at Avdiivka as Russia launches new offensive Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. There has been a 550 per cent increase in the number of deepfake videos found online this year compared to 2019, an analysis has found, with the vast majority of them being deepfake pornography videos. The rise of new technologies like generative artificial intelligence (AI) have led to a huge increase in the creation of deepfake content, which is digitally altered or generated content purporting to depict a real person or scenario, whether through video, image, or audio. Victims of deepfake pornography have described how having their person portrayed in these fictitious scenarios can destroy lives, with one calling it a lifelong sentence. Deepfake content is created via machine learning algorithms which can produce hyper-realistic content. Bad actors can use this to target victims, blackmail people, or as a form of criminal or political manipulation. A comprehensive report into deepfakes in 2023 found that deepfake pornography makes up 98 per cent of all deepfake videos found online, while 99 per cent of the victims targeted by deepfake pornography are women. Analysts for a website aiming to protect people from online identity fraud - called homesecurityheroes.com - studied 95,820 deepfake videos, 85 dedicated online channels, and more than 100 websites linked to the deepfake ecosystem, producing its 2023 State of Deepfakes report. One of the main findings of the report is that it can now take less than 25 minutes, and cost nothing, to create a minute-long deepfake pornographic video of anyone using a single clear face image of the victim. The majority of deepfake pornography videos analysed by the website were of South Korean women. The nationalities most represented in terms of deepfake pornography victims after South Korea were the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom. Epidemic of deepfake porn in South Korea South Korea is the nationality with by far the most victims of deepfake porn, something the report analysts attribute to the global popularity of K-pop. Three of the four members of Blackpink, seen as Koreas biggest girl pop group, are among the top 10 most targeted individuals. K-pop idols are known for their widespread visibility and fan following, both within South Korea and internationally, explained Chris Nguyen, head of research analysis for the report. Their public profiles and extensive fan base mean that the creation and distribution of deepfake pornography involving them are more likely to reach a larger audience. As well as their high visibility, there is also exceptionally high demand for content featuring K-pop idols, Nguyen said. Some exploit this demand by creating explicit deepfake content, particularly on dedicated adult websites, aiming to attract attention and generate more traffic. He also pointed out how South Koreas strict regulations on pornography were likely playing a role in driving the creation and distribution of such content. This might be related to the Streisand effect, an unintended outcome of trying to conceal, delete, or censor information. In such cases, the result is a backfire, as it actually amplifies awareness and interest in that information." Deepfakes spreading across the internet When looking at the prevalence of deepfake pornography, the analysts found that seven of the top ten most visited pornographic websites hosted deepfake content. Across the top ten dedicated deepfake pornography websites there have been more than 303 million video views, which the analysts say shows how widespread and popular such content is becoming. They call for conversations around attitudes towards such content, with a focus needed on the ethical considerations of creating this content. The researchers attribute the sudden rise in deepfake content to two things. Firstly, the emergence of a type of machine learning framework used for generative AI, called a generative adversarial network (GAN), has provided the technical means for creating deepfake content. Secondly, the easy access to tools built on top of GANs means almost anyone can quickly and cheaply create deepfake content. These platforms offer a range of features, from simple face swapping to more complex video manipulations, the report explains. The authors add that the growth of online communities dedicated to deepfake creation has fostered collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the development of open-source projects. Georgia Attorney General Chriss Carr announced a multimillion-dollar settlement with a company over unauthorized withdrawals from mortgage-holders in 2021 would net the state more than $500,000. According to the Attorney Generals office, ACI Worldwide, a payment processor, had a testing error in 2021 that attempted to withdraw $2.3 billion from the accounts of mortgage holders. The error impacted nearly 20,000 Georgians financial stability, according to Carr. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The legal action of Carr and 49 other attorneys general has ended in a $10 million settlement with ACI worldwide. Georgia will receive just over $550,000 from the agreement, according to the AGs office. The money Georgia will receive from the settlement is split between a $334,300 payment and an extra $216,136 in a second portion from an additional $10 million fee, according to the AGs office. ACIs testing error impacted the financial stability of nearly 20,000 hardworking Georgians, Carr said in a statement. This settlement helps to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect consumer data and prevent this type of mistake from ever happening again. Carrs office said ACIs erroneous withdrawal from mortgage payment accounts had impacted 1.4 million transactions, for a total of $2.3 billion. While the more than 1 million people impacted led to a large error, Carrs office said the issue could have been much larger. TRENDING STORIES: According to the statement from Carrs office, the error occurred on April 23, 2021, while ACI was testing its platform. The company accidentally submitted live Nationstar Mortgage, publicly known as Mr. Cooper, consumer data into their system, causing the company to erroneously withdraw payments from hundreds of thousands of customers, on a day that was not expected or authorized for collection. As a result, the AGs office said 1.4 million transactions were processed, leading to the $2.3 billion error, though the vast majority of withdrawals did not ultimately go through or were reversed. 477,000 Mr. Cooper customers were impacted, but in some cases, consumers were unable to access the money and incurred overdraft or insufficient funds fees, according to Carrs office. The impacted customers have received restitution from ACI through other related settlements, the AGs office said. As part of the settlement, ACI will have to pay $20 million to the states as well as take new steps to prevent future incidents from occurring, such as using false customer data when practicing system tests to preserve consumer privacy. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Germany has transferred another three self-propelled Gepard anti-aircraft guns, over 3,000 rounds of smoke ammunition, and other military equipment to Ukraine as part of its latest aid package, the German government reported on Oct. 20. The total number of Gepard systems sent by Germany to Ukraine has reached 49. The Gepards have helped Ukraine defend itself against Iranian-made drones Russia uses to target Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure. Germany's newest delivery also includes a bridge-laying tank Beaver, 40 reconnaissance drones RQ-35 Heidrun and Vector, 13 border protection vehicles, three truck tractor trains, and three semi-trailers. Read also: Bloomberg: Germany still trades Russian LNG as canceling costs over $10 billion As Ukrainian forces started using U.S.-supplied long-range missiles ATACMS, Berlin once again said on Oct. 19 that it was not ready to provide Kyiv with its Taurus missiles. The Taurus missiles have been the subject of extensive discussion and debate, with much of the German hesitation stemming from the prospect of the missiles being used within Russia's territory. Taurus missiles have a range of up to 500 kilometers, meaning Ukraine could use them to strike deep into Russian-occupied territories, including Crimea. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. On Friday, the German government reported on the shipment of another package of military aid to Ukraine over the past week, which included Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, drones and heavy trucks. Source: European Pravda Details: As stated on the German government's website, Ukraine has received three Gepard self-propelled air defence systems in addition to the 46 already sent, as well as 20 RQ-35 Heidrun (there were 80) and Vector (there were 104) reconnaissance drones. During the week, Germany also handed over one BEAVER bridge paver, three HX81 tractors with three semi-trailers, 13 border guard vehicles and almost 3,900 DM125 155mm smoke artillery shells to Ukraine. Background: At the end of last week, Berlin reported on another batch of aid delivered to Ukraine, which included all-terrain vehicles, satellite communications and first-aid kits. The German Ministry of Defence also announced its intention to provide Ukraine with an additional Patriot air defence missile system, new Iris-T systems, new Gepard anti-aircraft systems, and ammunition. At the last Ramstein-format meeting, Lloyd Austin named Germany as one of Ukraine's largest donors, with a contribution that is larger than that of the United States given the size of its economy. Support UP or become our patron! The American Principles Project is running an ad that claims Andy Beshear is lying about things. Ironically, the ad is patently untrue. Robert George is a law and politics professor at Princeton University and hes studied, lectured on and written extensively about ethics and morality. So, I figured it would be interesting to ask him about the ad that a political action committee he founded is running online, trying to sway Kentuckys governors race toward Republican Daniel Cameron. Its a truly bizarre ad that has a family sitting around the table laughing about how someone named Jerry recently bought an electric vehicle. That wacky Jerry. Electric? Can you believe it? Its supposed to be Kentucky in a post-Andy Beshear world. But after they talked about Jerry and his teehee electric car, the ad, paid for by the American Principles Project PAC, takes an even odder turn. By odder, I mean completely devoid of any truthfulness and is instead, 100% horse manure. In the ad, the familys teenager who had been born with all the markings of a girl, announced that they were transgender. As the mother tries to tell the teenager that no, they are not a boy, a short-haired woman undoubtedly shes supposed to be a lesbian because theres not a stereotype groups like this dont love appears at the kitchen table and announces that the mother isnt allowed to say that. Democrats passed a law banning this type of discussion, she says. The next thing you know, two people wearing FBI jackets are sweeping in to remove the teenager from the home. It would be laughable if it wasn't so infuriating. First of all, there is no federal law or state law that says a parent cant discuss with their child whether they are transgender. I'm aware of no attempts to pass such a law, either. And second, the last dealing Beshear had with the FBI that Im aware of was when agents came to arrest one of his top deputies for public corruption back when he was attorney general. I wanted to talk to George because the group that is paying for that dishonest ad listed him as a founder and a member of its board of directors at least it listed him as a member before I started asking him questions. George is a professor of jurisprudence and the director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton. He has written books about morals and ethics. According to the Princeton website, he served on the Presidents Council on Bioethics and on UNESCOs World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology. It says he is an expert on moral and political philosophy and on bioethics. Among the books hes authored are Making Men Moral: Civil Liberties and Public Morality and Body-Self Dualism in Contemporary Ethics and Politics. After I emailed George, the American Principles Project PACs website removed his picture from its website and no longer listed George as a member of its board. What I asked George is whether it is ethical for a political action committee, like the one he founded, to run an ad that is so full of bunk. He responded to my day-old email minutes after I noticed his name and photo had been removed from the groups website. He said he co-founded the American Principles Project with two friends in 2009 to promote economic empowerment for working Americans; protect the innocence of children, especially online and in school; encourage an immigration policy that was, at once, generous, welcoming, and respectful of the rule of law; and uphold the sanctity of human life in all stages and conditions. George said he was involved in the group for seven years but has had no involvement with it since 2016. And that he never served on the board of directors, no matter what the group's website said. Furthermore, he said he doesnt comment on the American Principles Project's activities. I asked if it was ethical to remain silent in the face of such an ethical breach as the untruthful ad appears to be. I didnt hear back. I understand why he wouldnt want to comment. It would be pretty embarrassing if you were an ethics professor at a directional school in Missouri to be connected to an ad like this. Its much worse if youre a professor who specializes in ethics and morality at arguably the best school in the country a school that has produced a president, U.S. Supreme Court justices and Alan Turing, the British computer expert who cracked the Enigma code during World War II. But can you believe Jerry bought an electric car. Crazy Jerry. Joseph Gerth can be reached at 502-582-4702 or by email at jgerth@courierjournal.com. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky governor's race: Bizarre ad doesn't pass ethics test Offering resources is a phrase youll see often in relation to homelessness, but its sounds much easier than it seems. For example, getting a resource means finding and securing transportation. A resource may also not be available unless a benchmark is met, such as applying for food stamps (SNAP). Hassan Walker learned about these hurdles as he tried signing up low-income residents for ACP or Lifeline, which are government benefit programs providing households with free smartphones and coverage. To enroll in ACP, an individual household must already be participating in one or more government programs, like SNAP or Medicaid. We realized, what we need to do is get all those resources in one place for people to be able to get those at one time, Walker said. Thats when Walker met Fia Taito, the founder of Lend A Hand Community Outreach. Taito runs a facility out of The Outlet Collection Seattle in Auburn, where she mostly focused on providing food for families and anyone in need. She felt like she needed to do more, Taito shared. I just felt like the need was great, she said. I love to envision ways on how we can help support communities, not just in my hometown but throughout all the Pacific Northwest. (And) really utilize our resources so we can make a bigger impact on our community. Taito teamed up with Walker, who recently opened up One Stop Resource at The Outlet Collection Seattle in Auburn. The name speaks for itself: the center offers bi-weekly resource fairs where qualifying low-income residents can apply for Medicaid, SNAP, free ORCA cards, and free cell phones. A food drive is also run by Lend A Hand. We gather these resources (and) we get them in one place, so we can get them to the community in one time, Walker said. That includes Charles, who was applying for a free cell phone at One Stop Resource. He lives in an Oxford House, a self-supported recovery home. We came here to get some information for (the house), Charles said. I need a phone not being able to get ahold of my kids and family. Its goin to help out quite a bit. Taito, Walker, and others will hold their next resource fair on October 28 (1 p.m to 4 p.m.) at the HEIR Academy Facility in Puyallup. You can find more information on the nonprofits Facebook page. Manhunt on for gunman who allegedly killed Maryland judge Andrew Wilkinson over divorce proceedings Maryland authorities said they're searching for a man who allegedly targeted and gunned down the judge who oversaw his divorce proceedings. Pedro Argote, 49, allegedly shot Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson, 52, in the judge's driveway in Hagerstown, Maryland, Thursday night while the victim's wife and son were home, according to the Washington County Sheriff's Office. Wilkinson was presiding over Argote's divorce proceedings, Sheriff Brian Albert said at a news conference Friday. Argote's ex was granted custody at a hearing earlier in the day Thursday, which is believed to be the motive for the shooting, Albert said. Argote did not attend Thursday's hearing, the sheriff said. PHOTO: The Washington County Sheriff's Office in Maryland has confirmed that Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson, 52, was fatally shot on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. (Washington County Bar Association) On Saturday, the suspect's Mercedes was found abandoned, according to the Washington County, Maryland Sheriff's Office. The sheriff's office asks anyone with information on his whereabouts to call police immediately. Argote should be considered armed and dangerous, the sheriff said. The U.S. Marshals Service is also searching for Argote and offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to his arrest. The Marshals Service said in a release Friday evening that Argote is now "the target of an interstate manhunt." In addition to transferring custody of the couple's children to Argote's wife, Wilkinson also issued a $1,120 a month child support requirement, prohibited Argote from visiting or contacting his children or wife if it was not initiated by her, and gave his wife sole possession of the family home, according to court documents obtained by ABC News. A protective order was issued in relation to a domestic abuse case between the couple in June 2022, according to the court documents. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said in a statement that he's "shocked, heartbroken, and sickened" by the shooting, calling it a "cold-blooded, vicious, and targeted attack." "Judge Wilkinson spent his career in defense of justice," Moore said in a statement. "We must now ensure that the perpetrator of this vile act faces justice and Judge Wilkinsons family gets the support they need and deserve." MORE: 60,000 gun safes recalled after shooting death "My heart goes out to Judge Wilkinsons family, and my prayers are with everyone who knew him, loved him, and served alongside him," the governor said. Wilkinson served in Washington County's 4th Judicial Circuit since Jan. 10, 2020, according to his court biography. State Delegate Neil Parrott said on X, formerly known as Twitter, "It appears that Judge Andrew Wilkinson was shot multiple times and has passed away. Police are actively searching for the murderer. Please pray for our police and for Judge Wilkinson's family at this time." ABC News' Beatrice Peterson, Noah Minnie, and Kelly Livingston contributed to this report. Manhunt on for gunman who allegedly killed Maryland judge Andrew Wilkinson over divorce proceedings originally appeared on abcnews.go.com LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department detectives uncovered text messages from businessman Gavin Maloofs ex-girlfriend, which revealed an alleged gold digging plot, according to a warrant obtained by the 8 News Now Investigators. Jennifer Courtemanche, 44, is accused of stealing nearly $445,000 from Maloof with her friend Brittany Burgess. According to the Merriam-Webster definition, gold digger is a term used to describe a person whose romantic pursuit of, relationship with, or marriage to a wealthy person is primarily or solely motivated by a desire for money. According to police, Courtemanche sent the following text message to Burgess in 2017: OMG THIS IS IT he broke up with his bitch FINALLY and wants me to come out im not letting or anythinggggg stop me this is my chance for BOTH of us. This neeeeeds to happen. Ive been so down and out and POOR. we need to get the life weve always deserved no more struggling no more misery mental hospitals ERs etc lol Police said Burgess responded, we need plan. The women then referred to previously using different names, the report stated. Weve been friends for so long I cant remember which one of us is the bad influence, Courtemanche is alleged to have texted. Photo provided by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department The first Apple Cash transaction to steal money occurred in June of 2021, according to police. According to the warrant, there were additional text messages between the two women communicating about the scheme including the following from Courtemanche who said she was with Maloof at the time of the transaction, I was trying so hard not to laugh. Both women are named as co-defendants in a criminal complaint filed on Oct. 4 in Las Vegas Justice Court. They face a total of six charges, including three counts of felony theft, along with conspiracy to commit theft, conspiracy to launder or attempt to launder money, and launder or attempt to launder money or property, which are gross misdemeanors. Maloof had reported receiving harassing text messages and photographs. LVMPD officials investigated and traced the phone numbers to Courtemanche, according to police records. When a detective asked Maloof if he knew her, he replied, Yes, Jennifer Courtemanche, shes my girlfriend, the warrant stated. Courtemanche gained access to Maloofs cell phone and sent approximately $93,448.00 in Apple Cash payments in 2021, approximately $275,600.00 in 2022, and approximately $75,600.00 in 2023, according to the criminal complaint filed by the Clark County District Attorneys office. The investigation began as a harassment case after Maloof had received text messages and photos from multiple different Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone numbers, according to police. Police learned that Courtemanche and Burgess worked together to convince Maloof that Burgess was the talent agent for Courtemanche, the warrant stated. Courtemanche is a SAG-AFTRA actress, according to her Instagram account which has approximately 182,000 followers. Of 214 transactions in which theft was committed, 144 were from a phone number belonging to Burgess who would then send the money back to Courtemanche, the report stated. Investigators said they discovered 37 different phone numbers used in the scheme. Las Vegas Metropolitan police, with the assistance of the Los Angeles Police Department, went to Courtemanches home with a search warrant to seize her electronic devices in May, according to police records. An LVMPD detective asked Courtemanche if she had any idea why police were at her home, police said. She replied, literally none, and she was obviously stunned, according to police. Detectives said that it appeared that Courtemanche tried to conceal a phones location while they were present. Las Vegas Metropolitan police also went to the Massachusetts home with help from Massachusetts State Police with a search warrant to seize a cell phone. Burgess kept stating how she was confused, and she felt like she was duped by her best friend, and she did not understand what was going on, the warrant stated. Burgess received nearly $12,000 through the alleged scheme while Courtemanche received nearly $433,000, according to police. Attorney David Chesnoff is representing Maloof. Mr. Maloof is grateful for the effort of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the Clark County District Attorneys office, Chesnoff told 8 News Now Investigators. Maloof and Courtemanche are no longer dating. Warrants were previously issued for Courtemanche and Burgess, according to court records. Judge Nadia Wood set bail for Courtemanche at $10,000, ordered her to stay away from Maloof, and allowed her to walk through jail, meaning she did not have to remain in custody, according to Las Vegas Justice Court records. Court records for Burgess also referred to an own recognizance walk-through. Attorney Ryan Helmick is representing Courtemanche. He declined to comment. 8 News Now Investigators reached out to an attorney for Burgess, who is expected in court on Nov. 15. A preliminary hearing for Courtemanche is scheduled for March 11. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. This photo taken on Oct. 10, 2023 shows cultural relics unearthed from ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) Archaeologists have found two shipwrecks deep in the South China Sea, which serve as a witness to commercial and cultural exchanges along the ancient Maritime Silk Road. The findings were announced in Beijing on Thursday at a news conference held by the National Cultural Heritage Administration. The latest underwater archaeological explorations were carried out in September and October by the administration's National Center for Archaeology, the Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the China (Hainan) Museum of the South China Sea. Along with the shipwrecks, pottery, porcelain and ironware have been found, and nearly 600 artifacts have been recovered so far, most of which were produced at kilns in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, which is known as China's "porcelain capital". The locations of the shipwrecks and the cultural relics were confirmed as a result of oceanographic detection and underwater investigations using manned submersibles that dived 41 times this year, said Song Jianzhong, a researcher at the National Center for Archaeology. Techniques such as 3D photography and laser scanning were used during the investigations, added Song. The No 1 shipwreck, from the reign of Emperor Zhengde (1506-21) of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), is about 37 meters long and 11 meters wide. So far, 543 artifacts have been recovered from the shipwreck. Based on studies of the ship and its cargo, archaeologists speculated that it set off from a port in Fujian or Guangdong province and was bound for Malacca or another trade hub in Southeast Asia. The No 2 shipwreck dates from the reign of Emperor Hongzhi (1488-1505). It measures about 21 meters long and 8 meters wide. A total of 36 artifacts, including processed logs, porcelain and pottery have been discovered on it. The shipwrecks are located on the routes of expeditions led by renowned Chinese mariner Zheng He in the early Ming Dynasty. Studies found that both ships were engaged in private maritime trade. Restrictions on maritime trade were adopted in the middle of the Ming Dynasty, and such trade at the government level shrank a lot. However, private trade continued to prosper during this period, Song said. "Discoveries from the two shipwrecks reflect the prosperity of maritime trade in the middle of the Ming Dynasty," he said. "These help us explore and understand the two-way flows of ships on the ancient Maritime Silk Road and maritime civilization in China." Jiang Bo, a professor at Shandong University's School of History and Culture, said these discoveries are world-class and show that China's underwater archaeology has reached the deep sea. "This is one of the most important archaeological programs in South China Sea archaeology and studies on the Maritime Silk Road, and is a perfect combination of underwater archaeology with manned submersible technology," said Jiang. Archaeological researchers are now summarizing their experience and establishing standards in terms of technical regulations, methods, requirements and working procedures for deep-sea archaeology. "It's totally new for us, and a big challenge," said Song. Wang Guangyao, a researcher at the Palace Museum in Beijing, said that the latest findings shed new light on the study of China's porcelain-making history. For example, the quality of Longquan Kiln porcelain, which was mainly exported from Zhejiang province, was previously thought to have sharply declined in the late 15th century. However, the discovery of a large number of fine Longquan celadon artifacts in shipwreck No 1 has led people to reconsider this notion, Wang said. The next underwater archaeological study of the two shipwrecks will be conducted in March and April, according to Song. FIRST ON FOX: Nineteen Republican lawmakers are calling for foreign students who are in the U.S. on temporary visas and have expressed support for Hamas to have their visas revoked and be deported from the country -- in the wake of the deadly terror attacks on Israel. Reps. Jim Banks, R-Ind., and Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., -- both members of the Anti-Woke Caucus -- have led the letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, expressing concern about reports of pro-Hamas demonstrations. "We write to request information regarding the potentially unlawful presence on U.S. soil of non-immigrant foreign nationals who have endorsed terrorist activity," they say. HOUSE REPUBLICANS PROBE BIDEN ADMIN'S RESPONSE TO FOREIGN TERROR THREAT AT BORDER AFTER HAMAS TERROR ATTACK Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., says Hamas backers need to be removed from the U.S. They note that students on student visas can be disqualified under the Immigration and Nationality Act from being eligible for a visa if they endorse or espouse terror activity. While that is normally checked at the time they apply for their visa, holders can also have their visa revoked if they breach the terms of their visa. The lawmakers highlight a number of pro-Palestinian protests in universities and colleges across the country, including reports of throat-slitting gestures and statements that praise terrorists as "liberation fighters" and "martyrs who have sacrificed their lives for liberation." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Hamas has been designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. since 1997. "Others student demonstrator slogans and memes, such as the paraglider terrorist, are most reasonably interpreted as endorsing or espousing terrorism. Similarly, praising mass murder as creative or valiant and glorifying the perpetrators of such atrocities as"martyrs are clear endorsements of terrorism and terrorist organizations," the lawmakers say. HAWLEY PUSHES MAYORKAS ON ENCOUNTERS OF SPECIAL INTEREST ALIENS INTO US AMID TERROR FEARS Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., has joined Duncan is urging the administration to take action against foreign nationals who support Hamas. They note that it is likely that some of those involved are holders of either F-1 student visas or J-1 exchange visitor visas. There were over 437,000 F-1s issued in FY 2022 and 315,000 J-1s. HAMAS TERROR ATTACK FUELS CONSERVATIVE CONCERNS ABOUT BORDER SECURITY AMID MIGRANT CRISIS "Foreign students contribute much to our society, but individuals who advocate terrorist violence against civilians are not welcome here. If a visa was issued before DHS uncovers evidence of a visa-holders ineligibility under INA s.212(a)(3)B), in the interest of national security, the individual in question should immediately have their visa revoked and face expedited deportation proceedings," they say. They ask the agencies whether they have any reason to believe that any non-immigrant visa holders have been made ineligible due to their participation in such support for Hamas, and if the agency has made any moves yet to revoke or reviews visas as a result. The push has the support of Heritage Action, which commended the lawmakers for their action on the matter. The letter comes amid growing concerns from Republicans over the presence of either terrorists or terror supporters in the U.S. from abroad. Multiple Republicans in both the House and the Senate have warned about the potential for terrorists to come into the U.S. via the southern border -- it is a threat DHS has recognized, while also highlighting the action it is taking to neuter that threat. "America welcomes individuals around the world to follow the legal process to come to this country for tourism, work, or academic study," Duncan said in a statement. "However, we specifically prohibit visas to anyone who supports terrorist regimes in Section 212(a) of the [INA]." CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "If youre a visitor to our country and support Hamas gruesome murder of innocent babies and killing people while they sleep, then you do not get to remain in America and enjoy freedoms that are antithetical to the terrorist extremists you support," he said. "Americans refuse to allow antisemitic terrorist sympathizers to create home-grown terrorist cells on our soil. Americans should never support terrorists over innocent people fighting for freedom from oppression." "Weve already had a record number of illegal immigrants from terrorist-harboring nations," Banks said. "We need to shut down our border and then deport all non-citizen Hamas sympathizers The Biden administration has the legal authority and an obligation to do bothanything less betrays Americas national security." Original article source: GOP lawmakers call for pro-Hamas student visa holders to be deported: 'Not welcome here' Ron DeSantis brought his campaign back to South Carolinas York County Thursday, speaking at two events in Rock Hill as the candidate seeks to gain ground in the Republican race for president. DeSantis, 45, a military veteran and the governor of Florida, spoke first in the late afternoon at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2889 in Rock Hill. The post on Main Street west of downtown was packed with people eager to hear if DeSantis shares the values they do. The conflict in Israel The past weeks violence in Israel was the first topic Thursday. DeSantis said President Joe Biden slept through the recent violence in Israel and the Middle East where thousands have been killed and hostages have been taken. Hes floundering, DeSantis said of Biden, who was scheduled to address the nation at 7 p.m. ET Thursday about his trip to Israel earlier this week. DeSantis said that the Biden administration is not taking a strong enough stance against Iran, which he said has funded Hamas, which attacked Israel on Oct. 7. DeSantis said he supports Israel and its ability to defend itself. Clearly the United States stands with Israel and they have the right to defend themselves against Hamas, DeSantis said. Desantis said if he is president Hamas will get no money and he will accept no refugees from the Gaza Strip. Not one red cent to Hamas, DeSantis said to applause from the crowd. DeSantis said in response to a question from the audience he is not in favor of American military involvement there. He said Israel has a strong military and America will continue to support Israel and its self-defense. DeSantis in South Carolina as first Southern primary approaches DeSantis is one of several candidates seeking the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential election. Others include former President Donald Trump, former Vice-President Mike Pence, former S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramswamy, and current South Carolina U.S. Sen. Tim Scott. DeSantis is generally polling behind only Trump nationally, polls show. South Carolinas 2024 primary on Feb. 24 will be the first in the South. The outcome of South Carolinas primary generally is important in determining which candidate emerges as the partys presidential nominee. Border security DeSantis said the American southern border with Mexico remains porous and open. Its a massive security risk for the American people, DeSantis said. Drugs, including fentanyl, are coming into this country through the southern border, he said. Republicans havent followed through with border security, either, he said. Its time we do something about it, DeSantis said. DeSantis again slams progressive policies DeSantis, as he did when he spoke in July in Tega Cay in York County, received applause from the audience as he slammed COVID-19 restrictions, woke ideology, and other issues that conservatives care about. The importance of leadership DeSantis spoke plainly about the need for stronger leadership in the country and abroad, including in Israel: A leader has to step up and lead.... a leader is judged by results. He said government needs to protect freedom and make the country stronger. But the current government in Washington DC is not stopping crime in cities, protecting parents rights or addressing concerns over economic prosperity and opportunity. Being here with so many veterans...people have always been willing to step up and do what needed to be done to defend freedom, DeSantis said. I will not let you down. Will veterans support DeSantis? Decorated veterans of the Vietnam and Middle East and Afghanistan conflicts who support DeSantis campaign spoke early at the event, telling the attendees that DeSantis has the character to lead the country in dangerous times. DeSantis chose to serve during the war era in Iraq and Afghanistan, which gives him experience and insight into leading, veterans who spoke in his support said. In conservative South Carolina, the states 400,000-plus military veterans are likely crucial to any candidates hopes to carry the state in Februarys Republican primary. Later Thursday: Winthrop with Asa Hutchinson DeSantis and another Republican candidate, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, spoke later Thursday night at a forum at Winthrop University in Rock Hill. That Winthrop event was sponsored by the South Carolina and North Carolina Federations of Republican Women. NewsNation is expected to show the Winthrop event on The Hill news site thehill.com, The Hill said in a story on its website. Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden (Wisc.) is visiting Israel amid the uncertainty over who will be the next Speaker. Van Ordens departure makes the math for Rep. Jim Jordans Speakership bid a bit more difficult, though the Ohio Republican has so far been well below the threshold needed to win a floor vote for Speaker. Van Ordens office confirmed that hes in Israel, but it wasnt immediately clear on how long he plans to stay there. He arrived in Israel on Friday morning and planned to visit medical facilities, citizens, and both government and military officials, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The first Speaker vote began around 11 a.m. ET on Friday, again resulting in Jordan falling well short of the necessary support, with little clarity on the GOP plans to proceed from there. In an opinion article on his trip, Van Orden, who was a longtime Navy seal, pointed to his military service as an inspiration. After retiring from the military in 2014, I made a solemn promise to the Jewish people that if anything like what took place on October 7, 2023 were to ever happen, that I would help them and their nation to the best of my ability, he wrote. I am keeping that promise. Van Orden blasted Biden administration officials last week during a closed briefing on the Israel-Hamas war. He denied cursing, as at least one of his colleagues claimed, but did acknowledge he was frustrated. We now have Americans held hostage by terrorists in the Middle East, Van Orden said Thursday, defending his outburst. At least 25 Americans have been murdered by savages. Theyre killing Jews at a level that they havent done since the Holocaust. And the Biden administration is not acting. Biden has since visited Israel to reaffirm U.S. support after the Hamas militant group inflicted a massacre on Israeli communities near the border with the Gaza Strip. He also warned Israeli leaders not to let rage guide its military response, citing Americas mistakes after 9/11. The president also made the case for supporting Israel, along with Ukraine in its war against Russia, in a prime-time address from the Oval Office on Thursday night. On Friday, the White House released details of funding request for about $100 billion that will include $14 billion to boost Israels defense. Van Orden made headlines a few weeks ago by berating Capitol Hill pages who were lying on the floor of the Capitol Rotunda. According to a transcript written by a page minutes after the incident and obtained by The Hill, Van Orden called the pages jackasses and pieces of s, and told them he didnt give a f who you are. A former Navy SEAL who was outside of the Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, Van Orden won election to Congress in 2022, flipping a seat that had been in Democratic hands for more than 25 years. Updated: 1:37 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. California Gov. Gavin Newsom landed in Israel early Friday morning, where he met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and spoke with Californians who were wounded in the Israel-Hamas war. "I thank you Governor of California [Gavin Newsom] for your solidarity visit to Israel today. We will never forget the true friends of the State of Israel those who chose to stand with us in our difficult times," Herzog posted in Hebrew on X, formerly Twitter. During his trip to Israel, Newsom met with Californians who had survived recent attacks between Israel and Hamas militants. He said he met with a woman who was shot during a missile and grenade attack. "She covered herself among dead people to survive. After hours of endless terror, she was rescued and transported to a hospital," Newsom said. "What the Israeli people have experienced is nothing short of barbaric terrorism. But what I heard and saw today was so much more than that. It was a profound sense of resilience." The governor said California will be sending medical supplies to the region to aid in relief efforts. California is home to the largest population of Arab Americans in the U.S. and the second-largest population of Jews, and the Golden State is sending medical supplies to the region to aid both Israelis and Palestinians. Newsom's trip to Israel is a bit of a last minute stop, he originally had plans to visit China where he would hold talks with communist leaders on climate change. Newsom's trip to Israel also comes just days after President Joe Biden visited the country, and just hours after Biden delivered a prime time speech outlining the U.S.'s role in both Israel and Ukraine. "Hamas and Putin represent different threats," Biden said. "But they share this in common: They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy." The president went on to say he will be asking Congress for a $100 billion aid package to help fund war efforts in both Israel and Ukraine, as well as money for Taiwan and the U.S.-Mexico border. Earlier in the week Biden cautioned Israeli leaders to not let tensions run too high and to be cautious to not let the conflict between Israel and Hamas grow into one engulfing the Middle East. Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Thursday that if lawmakers send him a bill, hell agree to extend a program that provides tax incentives for scholarships to children from low-to-moderate income families who want to attend private school. But Pritzker stressed that its up to legislators, who head back to Springfield next week to begin their final session for the year, to come to an agreement on any extension of the Invest in Kids scholarship program. I will support it if it comes to my desk to extend the program in whatever form, Pritzker said during a ribbon-cutting event for the Chabad Center for Jewish Life and Living at the University of Illinois campus. I mean, I cant imagine it would show up in some form that I would be unwilling to. But again, the reality is that the legislature needs to go through this process. The governor had previously been noncommittal over whether the controversial scholarship program should continue beyond its Dec. 31 expiration date. There has long been a debate of whether state tax credits should be used to fund primarily religious schools. The program allows people and corporations to donate funds for private school scholarships and in return get a 75% income tax credit, capped at $1 million. A handful of nonprofits process the applications and distribute the money. The maximum allowed in total annual contributions is $75 million. The program has become a contentious issue for lawmakers, especially among Democrats who control both chambers of the legislature. Some Democrats have questioned whether tax incentives should be used to support private schools. There have also been concerns that some private schools may discriminate against LGBTQ students, those who are disabled or other groups. Republicans have broadly backed the program, both as a way to support school choice and to express disdain for teachers unions. Religious organizations, including the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, also back the program, as do some religiously moderate to conservative Democrats and members of the legislative Black Caucus who are close to their local churches. That support partially explains the shift in Pritzkers attitude over the tax credit in recent years. As a candidate for governor in 2018, he vowed to repeal the program, which was the result of legislation passed the previous year under his predecessor, Republican Bruce Rauner. But after taking office in 2019, Pritzker approved a legislative initiative that extended the program for a year beyond its original sunset date and expanded it to private trade schools. While deferring to lawmakers on the programs future partly as a negotiating chip to win GOP votes for his budget Pritzker also has said Invest in Kids should be modified to allow federal and state income tax deductions for donations, which are currently prohibited. Such a solution would allow federal and state taxpayers to share the cost of the program. Republicans criticized Democrats during the spring legislative session for not taking up an extension beyond the Dec. 31 sunset of the program. The session bogged down as Democrats were mired in internal squabbles over how to address the ballooning costs of a Medicaid-style health care program for immigrants who are in the country without legal permission. jgorner@chicagotribune.com Climate activist Greta Thunberg posted then deleted a pro-Palestinian post on X following some backlash. Early Friday morning, the 20-year-old Swedish activist posted a since-deleted photo of herself and three other activists with signs that read, "Free Palestine," "Climate Justice Now," "This Jew Stands With Palestine" and "Stand With Gaza." The photo included a blue octopus that had a frowning face and was sitting on one of the activists legs. "Today we strike in solidarity with Palestine and Gaza. The world needs to speak up and call for an immediate ceasefire, justice and freedom for Palestinians and all civilians affected," she wrote in the post. Moments later, Thunberg deleted it and shared a nearly identical photo the same four people holding the same four signs this time with the stuffed animal cut out of the photo. "It has come to my knowledge that the stuffed animal shown in my earlier post can be interpreted as a symbol for antisemitism, which I was completely unaware of," she wrote in an accompanying post. "The toy in the picture is a tool often used by autistic people as a way to communicate feelings." CLIMATE ACTIVIST GRETA THUNBERG ARRESTED WHILE PROTESTING IN LONDON Thunberg, who was arrested at an energy protest in London earlier this week, said she and her activists "are of course against any type of discrimination, and condemn antisemitism in all forms and shapes." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "This is non-negotiable. That is why I deleted the last post," she explained. Thunberg and 25 other protesters, who were gathered outside a London hotel where an oil and gas conference was taking place, were arrested by British police on Tuesday. Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg posted then deleted a pro-Palestinian post on X on Friday. GRETA THUNBERG NAMED TIMES 2019 PERSON OF THE YEAR Thunberg was charged with a public order offense for failing to comply with conditions that police said had been imposed to prevent "serious disruption to the community, hotel and guests." She was released on bail and was ordered to appear at a hearing before Londons Westminster Magistrates Court on Nov. 15. Police officers detain climate activist Greta Thunberg at a demonstration against the expansion of the Garzweiler coal mine near the village of Luetzerath in Erkelenz, Germany, on Jan. 17, 2023. Thunberg became the face of young climate activists across the world after staging weekly protests in front of the Swedish Parliament in 2018 when she was just 15. The young activist quickly rose to fame and, in 2019, she was named Time's "Person of the Year." This year, the 20-year-old has also been detained by police or removed from protests in Sweden, Norway and Germany. In Gaza, more than 1 million Palestinians have been displaced as Israel wages war against terror group Hamas after the group launched a massive terror attack on Israeli communities. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source: Greta Thunberg posts then deletes 'free Palestine' post after pushback: 'I was completely unaware' Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg was inundated with online abuse and criticism Friday after expressing solidarity with Gaza as Israel continues to attack the enclave in response to Hamas attacks earlier this month. Today we strike in solidarity with Palestine and Gaza, Thunberg wrote in posts on her social media accounts alongside a picture of her holding a sign reading STAND WITH GAZA. The world needs to speak up and call for an immediate ceasefire, justice and freedom for Palestinians and all civilians affected, she wrote. Nonviolence Is the Missing Path to Israeli-Palestinian Peace The 20-year-old activist also posted links to some accounts where you can find more information about the situation and how you can help. Some X users responded angrily, sharing images of posts reading: Greta Thunberg supports ISIS. Among those Thunberg promoted was the Palestinian Youth Movement, which describes itself as a transnational, independent, grassroots movement of young Palestinians in Palestine and in exile worldwide. The Zionist Regime has intentionally targeted the Al Ahli Arabi Hospital in Gaza City, massacring over 500 Palestinians there, the group wrote in a post on Tuesday, referring to Israel. This massacre demonstrates the depraved face of the Zionist Regime, exposing its true genocidal nature - making clear its intent to massacre civilians. Israel has denied responsibility for the blast at the hospital, blaming a failed rocket attack launched by the Islamic Jihad. The militant group in Gaza also denied culpability and rejected Israels claims. A preliminary U.S. intelligence assessment of the incident claimed that Israel was not responsible, according to CNN, and estimated that there were likely between 100 and 300 people killed in the blast. The Palestinian Youth Movement also posted a thread advertising pro-Palestinian protests in North America and Britain on Oct. 7the day Hamas gunmen launched an unprecedented attack on Israel which, according to Israeli figures, led to 1,400 civilians and soldiers being killed. The account said the protests were taking place in the wake of the latest unprecedented wave of resistance. Thunberg also shared a post on her Instagram story Thursday from Palestine Speaks, a German pro-Palestinian group, calling for a global general strike on Friday. This strike is a loud signal of our indignation against the genozide in Gaza and the repressive state terror of many Western states against everyone who shows and acts in solidarity with the Plaestinians, the post read. On the day of the Hamas attacks in Israel, the group posted to herald a revolutionary day to be proud of. As of Thursday, Gazas health ministry says 3,785 peopleincluding 1,524 childrenhave been killed as a result of Israeli airstrikes. The onslaught continued on Friday morning, with reports of areas in southern Gaza coming under heavy bombardment despite Israels order for civilians to move there for their own safety. Locals are still waiting for desperately-needed aid to be delivered from Egypt as basic supplies of fuel and medicine run low amid Israels siege of the enclave. Thunberg has participated in climate protests in London this week. She was arrested at one demonstration on Tuesday and then took part in another in the English capital two days later. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law last week that will incorporate environmental justice principles in legal disputes that stands to impact future groundwater use decisions across Californias agriculture dominated regions. The law, AB 779, will require state courts to consider water use by small farmers and disadvantaged communities when settling those disputes, which historically skew in favor of larger agricultural businesses. California is implementing the 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, which aims to address groundwater depletion across the state. Solving disputes through adjudication in the courts costs millions of dollars in legal fees and takes years. Small farmers and disadvantaged communities are underrepresented in adjudications because of their high costs and long duration, said Julia Stein, deputy director for UCLAs Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment.This law takes steps to ensure those communities have access to information about adjudication proceedings and that the court takes their water use into account. The law was inspired by historic and ongoing groundwater disputes underscoring the issue, such as in Southern Californias Cuyama Valley outside Santa Barbara. Much of the states severely overdrafted groundwater basins are located in the San Joaquin Valley, where disputes could be settled through future adjudication. In that process, a court defines the legal rights each agricultural, residential or municipal entity has to groundwater in the area. California Courts have adjudicated approximately 30 groundwater basins. Small farmers who utilize the overdrafted Cuyama Basin have called for a boycott of products sold by Bakersfield-based carrot giants Bolthouse Farms and Grimmway Farms, whom its detractors refer to as Big Carrot. The two companies are responsible for the majority of the regions groundwater pumping. Bolthouse and Grimmway shocked many smaller farmers in the region when they triggered a groundwater adjudication process after a years long collaborative effort established a sustainable groundwater management plan for the basin, taking them to court instead. Brenton Kelley, watershed and advocacy director of Quail Springs, a small permaculture educational nonprofit farm in the Cuyama Valley, called their filing a phenomenal turning point. He has participated in the groundwater sustainability process through SGMA, but cant afford a lawyer to participate in adjudication. As soon as this suit landed from those plaintiffs, the two largest carrot growers in the nation, against every groundwater user in the basin, it was insulting, he said. Theres no way I can speak up in court without paying a lawyer to do it for me. Representatives for both carrot giants have said that they filed for adjudication to ensure sustainability of the basin and set guidelines for all property owners, not to increase their own water use. Neither company responded to requests for comment before deadline. By filing the adjudication, Grimmway wrote in a statement to the Bakersfield Californian, the parties involved believe it will not only ensure sustainability of the basin but also protect the groundwater rights of all water users, including small pumpers and the Cuyama Community Services District, in accordance with California law. The new law aims to balance the scale between large growers who can afford a protracted legal proceeding and those of small farmers or other less resourced groups that cant afford years of legal fees including small farms, small municipalities or tribal governments. Authored by Assemblymember Lori Wilson, D-Suisun City, the law will require courts to consider the water use of and accessibility of water for small farmers and disadvantaged communities and allow the court to refer adjudications to state water agencies. It also requires courts to provide all pleading and briefing materials to the local groundwater sustainability agency (GSA). Lastly, the law would prevent groundwater over-pumping during the adjudication process by forcing litigants to stick to existing groundwater sustainability plans. Several water districts opposed the legislation, including Indian Wells Valley Water District, Searles Valley Minerals, Inc., Sierra Shadows Ranch, Meadowbrook Dairy, and Mojave Pistachios, LLC. AB 779 will impose onerous new procedures and tens of millions of dollars in new and unnecessary costs to comprehensively adjudicate groundwater basins, invite courts to shed their constitutional duties to investigate and impose physical solutions and determine the rights of the parties, they wrote, while also expanding the role of [DWR] and [SWRCB] into areas they currently do not function. Nataly Escobedo Garcia, water programs coordinator at the Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, called it a step in the right direction. It brings a level of transparency that we didnt have before, she said, and with the state Water Board and the DWR weighing in with expertise thats being guided by the human right to water. The hope is it will bring some type of equity into the process. Bullets fired during the murder of Terrence L. Hamman were shot upward from the basement of the man's home, a special agent explained in court Thursday. Ed Staley Jr. of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation took the witness stand during the trial of Robert Len Hamman, 54, who has been charged with six felonies, including murder, in his father's death. Staley was dispatched to the Shiloh home last Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2022. He said he investigated the scene in the northern Richland County village until the early morning hours of Christmas Day. He found two bullet holes in a wall, one in a door and one under the armpit of the victim. 'The bullet ... creates a path' The special agent explained that the shooting took place in a basement stairway accessible by door from the home's kitchen. He slid trajectory rods into the holes to determine where the shooter was when the gun was fired. "The bullet, once it leaves a firearm, creates a path," Staley explained. "It creates holes along that path." The trajectory rods showed the investigator that the paths of the bullets began in the basement one of them hit the wall and another went through the stairway door and into the wall. "I don't know what position the door was in," Staley said. "I just know that the bullet traveled through the door." Box of ammunition found in truck The special agent, who has spent 38 years in law enforcement, later investigated the red Dodge 1500 pickup truck that prosecutors say Robert Hamman stole from his father after shooting him. Inside the truck was a random assortment of clothes, the vehicle registration for Robert Hamman's Buick, and pay stubs in the defendant's name. "There was a pocket in the dashboard," Staley said. "It contained rings and several other items of jewelry." There was a box of .38 caliber ammunition that had eight bullets missing. Murder weapon still not found Investigators pulled one bullet from the home's wall and one from the victims body. Those bullets were sent to Mike Roberts, a forensic scientists for the Ohio BCI. Roberts explained to jurors that microscopic imperfections in a gun's barrel leave telltale markings on bullets, which allow him to identify what weapon has fired which shots. Mike Roberts, a forensic scientists for the Ohio BCI, explained in court Thursday that the weapon found during the investigation is not the one that killed Terrence Hamman. He said the bullet from the wall and the bullet found inside Terrence Hamman's body came from the same gun. The forensic scientist said those bullets came from either a .38 or .357 both guns fire the same size of bullet, but the .357 puts more powder behind it. Deputies recovered a Smith & Wesson .357 revolver from a snowbank outside the truck when they found it. That gun, though, Roberts said, was not the one that killed Terrence Hamman. The murder weapon has not been identified. Robert Hamman's DNA found on trigger guard of .357 magnum Although it wasn't the murder weapon, the .357 magnum did have traces of Robert Hamman's DNA on the trigger guard. That was determined by Lynda Eveleth, a forensic scientist with Ohio BCI who specializes in DNA testing. "DNA is the blueprint that makes us who we are," she said. That DNA comes from the parents and determines the characteristics of an organism as it grows. No two people can have similar DNA, except for identical twins. Eveleth's report showed that Robert Hamman's DNA was found inside the waist band of the sweatpants found on Terrence Hamman's body. Due to time limitations, Eveleth's testimony was cut short and was scheduled to resume at 10 a.m. Friday in the courtroom of Richland County Common Pleas Judge Brent Robinson. ztuggle@gannett.com 419-564-3508 This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Forensic scientists explain details of clues from Hamman murder trial Family members say a Gwinnett County man who died in a shooting earlier this week was killed on his 31st birthday. Gwinnett Police said Kamau Garner was shot to death on Pirkle Road in Norcross on Oct. 15. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Shaheed Abdullah Al-Ameen, 28, has since been charged with felony murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm. TRENDING STORIES: Police believe there was an exchange of gunfire before Garner was found dead, but its unclear if he was involved in the dispute. Garners family is now trying to raise money for his funeral expenses. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] His sister, Mercedez Neal, said her brother was scheduled to join the Army in a month and was a beloved uncle to his nephew. He always kept a smile on his face and was very silly/funny, Neal wrote. If you knew him you loved him because he had a personality like no other. He was very intelligent and you would loved to be around him. The family, who is from Alabama, is trying to raise enough money to bring his body home for burial. You can donate to the GoFundMe HERE. A foreign journalist experiences cloisonne at the media center for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, China, on October 17, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] The media center for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation recently opened its doors to welcome journalists from around the world. An interactive living heritage experience area has been established at the media center, featuring cultural exhibitions that have deeply impressed media representatives keen to experience the unique charm of traditional Chinese culture. Among them, cloisonne, as a significant intangible cultural heritage, has garnered widespread attention. Cloisonne craftsmanship originated in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) but reached its peak during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. With a history spanning over 600 years, cloisonne has gained international acclaim due to its unique style and exquisite craftsmanship. The design of cloisonne draws inspiration from ancient ceramics and bronze artifacts, emphasizing classic floral patterns and ancient bronze decorations. The glaze primarily features peacock blue and jewel blue, with additional colors such as red, white, green, and yellow, resulting in a rich and vibrant palette. Haiti has fallen into lawlessness since the murder of Jovenel Moise in 2021 Haitian police have arrested a former justice ministry official suspected of ordering the assassination of President Jovenel Moise. Joseph Felix Badio was caught as he was driving out of a supermarket car park in the capital, Port-au-Prince. Mr Moise was murdered in his bedroom by Colombian mercenaries in 2021. Most have since been arrested or killed. His death threw Haiti into a prolonged political crisis and led to unprecedented levels of lawlessness. Within months, criminal gangs extended their control over the capital, including its infrastructure and main fuel port. Mr Badio is accused of ordering hitmen to carry out the attack. He is charged with murder, attempted murder and armed robbery. Local media said Mr Badio had been fired from his post as an anti-corruption official in the justice ministry a few months before the assassination, after he was allegedly bribed to release a prisoner. Some of the hitmen arrested hours after the killing alleged that Mr Badio, 60, had given them their orders. Others implicated in the case have been convicted in the US. They include John Joel Joseph, a former Haitian senator, and Haitian-Chilean businessman Rodolphe Jaar. The US has also accused Venezuelan-American Antonio Intriago, the owner of Florida-based CTU Security, of hiring the hitmen. He faces a number of charges including conspiracy to kill or kidnap. Haiti's unelected government has struggled to provide even basic services since Mr Moise's death. According to a UN report this week, gangs have taken control of much of the capital, running schools and clinics but also terrorising the population and fighting turf wars. Thousands of Haitians have fled their homes in Port-au-Prince amid the soaring violence, and thousands have already died this year. The UN recently ratified deploying an international force to support Haiti's police, but few countries have committed personnel and it has yet to materialise. It approved earlier this month Kenya's offer to lead a multinational force to help restore order. When terrorists stormed into southern Israel and killed more than 1,000 people on Oct. 7, Rena Quint, an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor who lives in Jerusalem, flashed back to the horrors of the 1940s. I was thinking of the mothers and fathers and babies killed in the Holocaust, Quint said in a phone interview this week from her apartment, fighting back tears. She learned families were killed and thought of her own parents and siblings, who were massacred by the Nazis when she was a young girl. She learned that dozens of people were taken captive and thought of her internment at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany. The terror attack in southern Israel has evoked agonizing memories for many Jewish people around the world including people in Israel who once saw the Jewish state as a refuge from violence. World leaders like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Joe Biden have drawn explicit parallels between the Oct. 7 assault and the Holocaust, when 6 million Jews were annihilated by Adolf Hitlers Nazi regime. Image: Israel Declares War Following Large-Scale Hamas Attacks (Leon Neal / Getty Images) But not everyone is comfortable with this stark comparison, and some have expressed reservations about how Netanyahus war Cabinet could use the horrors of the past to rally support for its military actions in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Israels airstrikes in Gaza have likewise stirred memories of an epochal event for the Palestinian people: the Nakba (Arabic for catastrophe), when Palestinian people were displaced and dispossessed during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. More than 3,700 people in Gaza had been killed in the latest conflict as of Thursday, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas expressed concern that the Israeli governments calls for Palestinian civilians in northern Gaza to move south could turn into a second Nakba. The rapidly deteriorating conditions in Gaza have stoked global concerns about a major humanitarian crisis, with many groups saying Israel may have breached international law by exercising collective punishment. Israel and the U.S. consider Hamas a terrorist organization, and Biden described it as a group whose stated purpose for being is to kill Jews. Its a Shoah In the eyes of many Jewish people, the Holocaust has long been seen as a singular evil without a clear modern equivalent. But in the wake of the surprise Hamas assault, some have felt moved to compare this months violence to Hitlers genocide. For as long as I can remember, I have made sure not to use the word Shoah in any context, except for the Shoah, Israeli political commentator Ben Caspit wrote in the daily Maariv, referring to the Holocaust by its Hebrew name. But when Jewish children hide in shelters and their desperate parents pray that they wont cry, so that rioters dont come in and set the house on fire for them, he added, its a Shoah. memorial shoah names memorial candlelight respect peaceful (Lisa Leutner / AP file) In responding to the Hamas attack, some world leaders have directly connected the past to the present in stark terms, speaking to the sense of trauma felt by many Jewish people around the world. Biden has mourned what he called the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust and decried the Hamas assault as barbarism that is as consequential as the Holocaust. Netanyahu likened the killings at a music festival to the Babi Yar massacre of 1941, when more than 33,000 Jews were killed over the course of two days in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. I understand on a personal level the harrowing echoes that Hamas massacres carry for Israeli Jews indeed, for Jews everywhere, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a visit to Israel on Oct. 12. In prepared remarks, Blinken referred to his stepfather, Samuel Pisar, who he said survived internment at the Auschwitz, Dachau and Majdanek concentration camps. Dov Forman, 19, a university student who lives in London, said there were no words to describe the pain that my great-grandmother is feeling right now. Formans great-grandmother, 99-year-old Lily Ebert, survived the Auschwitz camp and in recent years built a large following on the social media platform TikTok with videos aimed at combating Holocaust denial. Its important to understand that many of the people in Israel who were murdered and many of those who were taken hostage are the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Holocaust survivors, just like myself, Forman said, adding that his family was trying to shield Ebert from the graphic photos and videos that have circulated online since the attack. Renee Silver, 92, a Holocaust survivor who lives in New York, saw the Hamas assault as the latest manifestation of antisemitism that has stalked Jews for centuries, including in the U.S., where she fears religious hatred is on the rise. But not all survivors of Hitlers genocide were prepared to equate the terror attack and the Holocaust. Esther Senot, 95, a survivor who was imprisoned at three concentration camps as a girl and now lives in Paris, said in an interview in French that you cannot compare what is happening in Israel with the Shoah. What happened in Israel happened on the ground all in a matter of hours, Senot said, whereas the Nazis rounded up and deported European Jews, killing them systematically at labor and death camps over years. She was critical of Netanyahu and the actions of regional leaders that have meant we are always left with no way to dialogue, she said. For the longest time, I have been anticipating this kind of thing, she added. Its a catastrophe. My grief is not your weapon In the minds of many people who oppose the Israeli government, Israels treatment of Palestinians has long been a form of ethnic persecution. Raz Segal, a professor of Holocaust and genocide studies at Stockton University in New Jersey, wrote in the progressive Jewish Currents last week that Israels assault on Gaza was a textbook case of genocide. Israel Hamas conflict protest White House (Mandel Ngan / AFP - Getty Images) Meanwhile, some critics of Netanyahus administration have raised concerns that rhetoric invoking the Holocaust could be used to justify an excessive military campaign in Gaza. In a protest outside the White House on Monday, some Jewish activists who oppose the current Israeli government held up signs that said: My grief is not your weapon. Mairav Zonszein, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group, a think tank based in Brussels, said some Western leaders who have made references to the Holocaust are speaking to the trauma and shock and cruelty felt by many Jews. But on the other hand, she expressed concern over the politicization of the Holocaust as Israel prepares for a potentially massive ground assault on Gaza. I think its very dangerous because those kinds of analogies can be used to justify responses by Israel with no restraints, Zonszein said, adding that even if you feel like Hamas acted in a genocidal way, that certainly shouldnt justify responding in a genocidal fashion, which I think some people are concerned Israel is doing. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com The Palestinian movement Hamas on Friday released two US citizens it had held hostage after an attack on Israel on 7 October. Source: Hamas statement spread on social media; CNN; The Times of Israel, citing American and Israeli sources, as reported by European Pravda Details: Hamas claims that it has decided to release two hostages after negotiations with Qatar (where the leadership of the political wing of Hamas is based). Quote: "In response to Qatari efforts, Al-Qassam Brigades released two American citizens (a mother and her daughter) for humanitarian reasons, and to prove to the American people and the world that the claims made by Biden and his fascist administration are false and baseless," the statement says. Media sources report that a woman and her daughter were released from the Gaza Strip "for humanitarian reasons" due to the mother's poor health. They have been handed over to the Red Cross and will soon leave via Egypt. The Israeli media wrote that the release of the hostages was a unilateral move by Hamas, and Israel did not offer anything in return. Neither Washington nor Jerusalem officially commented on the situation. According to the Israeli side, more than 200 people are being held hostage by Hamas citizens of Israel, as well as foreigners, mostly with a second Israeli citizenship. Background: Turkiye previously announced its participation in the negotiations to release the hostages, and the United States did not rule out the possibility of involving the military to free the Americans from the Gaza Strip. Support UP or become our patron! The Israeli military says that 240 people are being held hostage by Hamas. Five hostages have been released so far. Israeli soldier Ori Megidish was freed during ground operations in Gaza on 29 October. Two women, Nurit Cooper and Yocheved Lifschitz, were freed on Monday 24 October. On Friday 20 October, two US hostages - a mother and daughter - were also freed. Hamas says it has hidden the hostages in "safe places and tunnels" within Gaza. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have previously said the hostages include 20 children and between 10 and 20 over-60s. The IDF have notified some families that their loved ones are being held hostage, while other families - whose relatives remain unaccounted for - believe they have been taken. These are the stories of hostages taken from Israel on 7 October which have been either confirmed by the BBC or credibly reported. This list is regularly updated and names may change, as some people feared kidnapped are confirmed to have been killed or released. Last updated on 31 October 2023 at 10:01 GMT Short presentational grey line Amiram Cooper 85, and his wife Nurit, 80 were taken from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz, a kibbutz in southern Israel close to Gaza, their daughter-in-law Noa told the BBC. The family last spoke to the couple during the Hamas attack, Noa said, when the couple were in their safe room. The family later traced Amiram's phone to Gaza. On Monday 23 October, Nurit was one of two women to be released. Oded Lifshitz, 83, and his wife Yocheved, 85 were taken hostage from Kibbutz Nir Oz. On Monday 23 October, Yocheved was one of two elderly women to be freed. After hearing the news of her mother's release, their daughter Sharone - a London-based artist - said: "While I cannot put into words the relief that she is now safe, I will remain focused on securing the release of my father and all those - some 200 innocent people - who remain hostages in Gaza." Ohad Munder-Zichri, 9, his mother, Keren Munder, 54, and his grandparents Ruthi and Avraham Munder, both 78, were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz, Israeli officials say. The Associated Press reported that a phone signal has been traced to Gaza. Clara Marman, 62, her partner Louis Har, her siblings Fernando Simon Marman and Gabriela Leimberg, and Gabriela's teenage daughter Mia Leimberg are believed to have been taken from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak. The group of five Argentinian-Israelis had been hiding in their safe room, according to Louis Har's daughter who was texting with him. The last message came at 11:04, the Times of Israel reported. Clara's daughter Maayan Sigal-Koren said they had been told by the Israeli army that their phones had been tracked to Gaza, according to Vatican News. More on Israel-Gaza war Sharon Alony Cunio, 34, her husband David Cunio, 33, and their three-year-old twin daughters Emma and Julie; Sharon's sister Daniele Alony Mevneh and her daughter Amelia Mevneh, five, were kidnapped from a kibbutz in southern Israel, Sharon and Daniele's brother Moran told CNN. Moran said he was told by a witness that the family had taken shelter in a safe room but Hamas had then set fire to the house - they were taken hostage after leaving to escape the flames. Dafna Garcovich and her husband Ivan Illarramendi Saizar - who have Israeli-Chilean and Spanish citizenship respectively - were kidnapped from their homes, Dafna's father said. On 19 October, the Israeli Foreign Ministry stated that the couple were being held hostage in Gaza. Margalit Mozes, 78, was seen in a video clip being taken away from her home in Nir Oz by Hamas, her brother Chanon Cohen told CBS. She has health problems that require almost constant medical care, her family said. Eitan Yahalomi, 12, was driven away from Kibbutz Nir Oz by Hamas on one moped, and his mother Bat-Sheva and two sisters on another. Bat-Sheva, who is a French national, told a press conference that she managed to escape with her daughters but that she lost sight of Eitan as he was driven towards Gaza. Bat-Sheva's husband Ohad was shot and injured earlier, as he tried to defend the family in their home, and is now missing. Judith Weinstein Haggai, 70, and husband Gad, 73, were also missing from Nir Oz after the Hamas attack. Ten days later, the Israeli military confirmed to the family they had been taken hostage, CTV News in Canada reported. Adina Moshe, 72, was identified by her family in a video clip showing her wedged between two Hamas fighters on a motorbike, apparently taking her to Gaza. She had also been kidnapped from Nir Oz, her relatives told CNN. Alex Danzig, 75, a scholar and historian of the Holocaust, was at his home in Nir Oz, when it was attacked by Hamas on 7 October. "We know for sure he was kidnapped," his son Mati told the BBC. Alex - whose older sister Edith is a Holocaust survivor - has spent the last 30 years working for Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust remembrance centre. His disappearance has triggered a campaign for his release, both in Israel and in Poland, the country of his birth. Alex Danzig has spent decades educating people about the Holocaust Hagar Brodutch, 40, her daughter Ofri, 10, and sons Yuval, 8, and Oria, 4, were at Kfar Aza, a kibbutz near the border with Gaza, when Hamas struck, according to Avichai Brodutch, Hagar's husband and the children's father. He told ABC News that he initially believed they were dead - but then received a message from the kibbutz that they had been seen alive, being led away. Doron, Raz and Aviv Asher were taken captive while staying with relatives near the Gaza border. Husband Yoni saw a video of his wife and daughters, aged 5 and 3, being loaded onto a truck with other hostages. He also traced her mobile phone to Gaza. Doron Asher (C) and daughters Aviv (L) and Raz (R) were among those abducted, according to videos seen by relatives Meirav Tal, her partner Yair Yaakov, and his children Yagil, 12, and Or, 16, are listed among the hostages. The children's mother, Ranana, was on the phone with them when Hamas arrived, and heard her youngest son cry: "Don't take me, I'm too young!" A video also appears to show Yair and Meirav with their captors. Yair Yaakov was pictured being held captive by a gunman in a video shared online Amit Shani, 16, was ordered into a car by Hamas gunmen after they broke into the family's safe room in Kibbutz Be'eri, his mother told the New York Times. Tsachi Idan was last seen by his wife, Gali, as he was taken away by Hamas gunmen. Their family had been ambushed in their safe room in Kibbutz Nahal Oz. Their ordeal was live-streamed by Hamas. Their eldest child, Maayan - who had just turned 18 - was shot dead, Gali told the BBC. Ron Scherman, a 19-year-old Israeli soldier, was kidnapped at a border crossing, his mother Maayan told Israel's i24 news channel. She later identified him in a video posted by Hamas, she said. Shiri, Yarden, Ariel and Kfir Bibas are believed to have been abducted from the kibbutz in southern Israel where they lived and where Shiri was a kindergarten teacher. Shiri was pictured holding Ariel, aged 3, and 9-month-old Kfir, surrounded by Hamas gunmen. Shiri Bibas and her two young children being taken away by Hamas Yossi and Margit Silberman, Shiri's parents, are also missing and thought to have been captured. Daphna Elyakim, 15, and her sister Ella, 8, were seen on video being held in their home in the Nahal Oz kibbutz, relatives said. The girls' father Noam Elyakim, Noam's partner Dikla Arava, and her 17-year-old son Tomer were killed. Relatives said Ella and Daphna have appeared in photos posted by Hamas. Karina Ariev, a 19-year-old soldier, was serving at an army base near Gaza when she was kidnapped. Her sister Alexandra told the BBC she heard shooting as Karina called her during the attack, and later saw a video showing Karina being taken away in a vehicle. Karina Ariev was at the Nahal Oz military base, which was among the first to be attacked Ofer, Erez and Sahar Kalderon were taken prisoner in Kibbutz Nir Oz. A video on social media appeared to show 12-year-old Erez being taken by gunmen towards Gaza, their relative Ido Dan told the BBC. Two other relatives, 80-year-old Carmela Dan and her granddaughter, Noya, 12, were also believed to have been taken, but Israeli authorities later announced they had been found dead. Erez (L) and Sahar Kalderon (R) are among the members of one family who were abducted from the Nir Oz kibbutz Mia Shem, 21, from Shoham, appeared in the first hostage video released by Hamas saying that she had been abducted from a party. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed she was taken hostage and said they were in touch with her family, who agreed images from the video could be shown. Mia Shem pleaded for her release in the first hostage video released by Hamas's armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades Channah Peri, 79, and her son Nadav Popplewell, 51, were taken hostage by Hamas, said Channah's daughter Ayelet Svatitzky, who was speaking to them on the phone when the gunmen burst in. She said the captors sent pictures of her two relatives, who both have diabetes, with armed men in the background. Omri Miran, 46, was abducted after his family opened the door to their secure shelter to an Israeli child, who said he would be killed otherwise. Omri's wife, Lishay Lavi, said she saw him being taken away in handcuffs with three other hostages from the Nahal Oz kibbutz. Liri Elbag, 18, had just started military training as an Army lookout near the Gaza border when Hamas attacked, her father Eli told the Associated Press. Eli said he saw her in a video circulated later by Hamas, crowded with others on the back of a military truck which had been seized by the gunmen. Aviv Atzili and his wife Liat Beinin Atzili, both 49, went missing from their home on Kibbutz Nir Oz on the day of the attack. Their house was burned down but there was no sign of a struggle or blood, and according to The Times of Israel, Aviv's phone was geolocated in Gaza a day later. Short presentational grey line A number of people are believed to have been abducted from the Supernova music festival in southern Israel. Among them: Moran Stela Yanai, 40, a jewellery designer, was selling her work at the festival when the attack happened. She was later seen in a video sitting on the ground surrounded by derogatory Arabic text about Jews, her brother told the Associated Press. Evyatar David, 23, was at the festival and, on the morning of the attacks, described fleeing from gunfire before losing contact with the outside world, his brother says. Later, his family say, Evyatar's sister posted on Instagram appealing for information about his whereabouts - she then received a text from an unknown number, which contained video footage of Evyatar handcuffed on the floor of a dark room. According to Israel's foreign ministry he is being held captive by Hamas in Gaza. Almog Meir Jan, 21, tried to flee the festival. He and a friend made it to the friend's car but only managed to drive a short distance before being forced to stop. Almog's family say they have seen a hostage video in which he appears. Inbar Heiman, a student aged 21, was seen by two young Israeli men being taken away from the festival on a motorcycle. Hamas have released a video in which Inbar is seen very briefly. Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, from California, was seen by witnesses being loaded onto a truck, his family told the Los Angeles Times. He was badly injured and unconscious, the witnesses said, and his last known phone location showed him on the border with Gaza. Maya Regev, 21, and her brother Itay, 18, from Herzliya are also believed to have been taken. On the morning of the attack, Maya's father got a call from his daughter who screamed "Dad they're shooting at me, I'm dead". The family said they later spotted Itay in handcuffs in the back of a vehicle in a video released by Hamas. Almost two days later, the Israeli army informed the family that both Maya and Itay had been abducted. Shani Louk, a tourist from Germany, was initially thought to be among those seized. Her mother, Ricarda, said she had seen a video of Shani's body after she was taken and later said she had information that Shani was in a critical condition in Gaza following a head injury. But on 30 October, Ricarda told German media that the family had been informed by Israeli military of her death following DNA identification, and she now believes her daughter may have been killed at the music festival. Noa Argamani, a Chinese-born Israeli citizen, was also kidnapped from the festival. Video footage - verified by her father Yaakov Argamani to Israel's Channel 12 - shows the 25-year-old being taken away on the back of a motorbike screaming, "Don't kill me!" Bar Kuperstein, 21, last spoke to his family early on the morning of 7 October, as the attack unfolded. Later the same day, his family say they identified him in a video of Israeli prisoners, posted by Hamas. Since then, they say they have had no further information. Eliya Cohen, 26, was hiding with his girlfriend Ziv from the attack, when Ziv felt him being pulled up and driven away by the gunmen, Eliya's mother has told the video initiative #BringThemHomeNow. The family then found a photo of Eliya in Gaza, the Times of Israel reported. Amit Buskila, 28, from Ashdod, was last heard of making a call to her uncle, Shimon, as Hamas overran the festival. Her family say they have now been told by the government that she is being held in Gaza. Short presentational grey line Vivian Silver, 74, a renowned peace campaigner. Her last communication was to say that her home in Kibbutz Be'er was under attack. Vivian Silver - pictured with a poster about her peace activisim - has not been heard from since the Hamas attack Roni Eshel, 19, was based in an army base on the Gaza border. Her family say the last time they heard from her was on the morning of the Hamas attack. Her base was under attack. She sent a text message to her mother at around 09:30, saying: "Mom, I am okay, I am busy, I love you." Roni Eshel sent a text message to her mother but has not been heard from since Jordan Roman-Gat, a 36-year-old German-Israeli citizen, was kidnapped with her husband and young child by Hamas from Kibbutz Be'eri. She, her husband Alon, and three-year-old Gefen escaped when the car briefly stopped, but Jordan became separated from the others, relatives told CNN, adding they fear she may have been recaptured. Camel Gat, 39, is Jordan's sister-in-law, and also was seen by her father being taken by gunmen from Kibbutz Be'eri, Haaretz newspaper reported. She has not been heard from since. Ohad and Ethan Vahalomy were abducted from their kibbutz, according to Ohad's mother, Esther. She said her daughter-in-law and two of her granddaughters managed to escape when five gunmen burst into their home, but Ohad and 12-year-old Ethan were taken. Ditza Heiman, 84, was seen by a neighbour at Kibbutz Nir Oz being led away by Hamas gunmen, her niece said. A former social worker, she is the widow of Zvi Shdaimah, who came to the UK on the Kindertransport, the organised rescue of children from Nazi-controlled areas during World War Two. Aged 84, Ditza Heiman was taken away from the kibbutz where she lived, a neighbour said Dror Or, his wife Yonat, son Noam and daughter Alma were seen by a neighbour being dragged out of their home in Kibbutz Be'eri, according to their nephew Emmanuel Besorai. There has been no contact since, he said. Noam is aged 15 and Alma 13. Dr Shoshan Haran, her daughter Adi Shoham, Adi's partner Tal Shoham, and their children, Naveh and Yahel, were kidnapped from their home in Kibbutz Be'eri, according to the non-profit she founded, Fair Planet. Fair Planet said they lost contact with Dr Haran after the attack by Hamas, but a phone belonging to Dr Haran's husband Avshalom was tracked to Gaza and they believe the whole family was taken. Avshalom Haran - an economist and dual German/Israeli citizen - is now dead, the BBC has confirmed. He was 66. Shoshan is aged 67, Naveh is aged eight and Yahel is three. Sharon Avigdori, 52, and her daughter Noam, 12, are relatives of Dr Haran and are believed to have been kidnapped at the same time. Eviatar Kipnis, 65 and his wife Lilach Kipnis, 60, were killed, the family has said. Yaffa Adar, 85, was kidnapped from a kibbutz close to the border with Gaza. Her granddaughter Adva found a video of her being taken to Gaza, surrounded by four armed men. Yaffa Adar was filmed being transported in a golf cart by a group of armed men Ada Sagi, 74, is also believed to have been abducted from her home in Kibbutz Nir Oz. Her son, Noam, said Israeli soldiers found bloodstains but no sign of his mother and she was not among those killed or injured in the small community. Noam had been expecting his mother, Ada Sagi, in London next week for her 75th birthday Efrat Katz and Gadi Mozes, the mother of Doron Asher and her partner respectively, were also abducted during the same attack on the Nir Oz kibbutz, according to relatives and the Israeli aid agency where Gadi Mozes worked as an agricultural expert. Sagui Dekel-Chen, an American-Israeli citizen, has been missing since Hamas's attack on the Nir Oz kibbutz, his father Jonathan told the BBC. Jonathan said his son was not found among the dead and the "only reasonable explanation" is that he was taken to Gaza. Sagui Dekel-Chen's father has not heard from him since Hamas attacked the kibbutz where he lived Joshua Loitu Mollel and Clemence Felix Mtenga, from Tanzania, have been kidnapped, Israel's Foreign Ministry has said. The two men were in Israel on an agricultural internship programme. Mr Mollel's father told the BBC his son was studying at Kibbutz Nahal Oz. Anucha Angkaew, a Thai national who had worked on an avocado farm for almost two years, was seen in a video published by Hamas. His wife, Wanida Maarsa, identified him to BBC Thai. Boonthom Phankhong and Nattawaree "Yo" Moonkan, who are husband and wife, were working at a mushroom-packing factory near Gaza when Hamas gunmen burst in and began firing, according to Thai TV reports. Yo, aged 35, screamed while everyone else was hiding and was taken along with her husband, 45. O-wat Suriyasri was pictured with his hands tied behind his back as armed men looked on, in a photo sent by a colleague to his family, according to Thai TV reports. He has a child with his wife back in Thailand. Manee Jirachat, who travelled to Israel for work four years ago, was seized by Hamas along with five other workers who had taken cover together, according to a Thai TV interview with his father, who had spoken to survivors. Natthaporn Onkaew, Komkrit Chombua, Parinya Taemklang, Pattanayuth Tonsokri, Kiattisak "Top" Patee and a Mr Pongtorn (no first name given) were all named by the Thai foreign ministry as hostages. Thailand said 14 of its nationals in total were captured. Hostages released Five hostages are now known to have been freed. Two Americans - Judith Raanan and her daughter Natalie Raanan - were released on Friday 20 October. Two elderly women - Nurit Cooper and Yocheved Lifschitz - were freed on Monday 23 October. An Israeli soldier - Ori Megidish - was freed during ground operations in Gaza on 29 October and was reunited with her family, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said. This embedded content is not available in your region. Banner saying 'Get in touch' Are you personally affected by the issues raised in this story? If it is safe to do so, please get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways: If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission. Hamas militants have likely used North Korean weapons in their attack on Israel. Source: Associated Press (AP), referring to sources in South Korea, experts on North Korean weapons captured by Israel on the battlefield, and videos by militants Details: South Korean officials, two experts on North Korean weapons, and an Associated Press analysis of weapons captured by Israel on the battlefield indicated that Hamas was using a Pyongyang-made F-7 grenade launcher, a shoulder-fired weapon that militants typically use against armoured vehicles. Quote from AP: "The evidence shines a light on the murky world of the illicit arms shipments that sanction-battered North Korea uses as a way to fund its own conventional and nuclear weapons programs. Rocket-propelled grenade launchers fire a single warhead and can be quickly reloaded, making them valuable weapons for guerrilla forces in running skirmishes with heavy vehicles." More details: Experts interviewed by the news agency said the F-7s have been observed in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. The AP reports that the North Korean F-7 resembles the more common Soviet RPG-7 rocket-propelled grenade launcher, with a few notable differences. The weapons captured by the Israeli forces and shown to journalists also seem to be the F-7s. During a briefing for journalists, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff mentioned the F-7s as one of the North Korean weapons it believes Hamas used in the attack. The Israeli military refused to answer AP's questions on the origin and manufacturer of these grenade launchers, saying "the ongoing war with Hamas prevented it from responding". North Korea's mission to the UN did not respond to AP's request for comment. However, last week, Pyongyang, through its state-run KCNA news agency, dismissed reports that Hamas had used its weapons as "a groundless and false rumor" orchestrated by the United States. Support UP or become our patron! Hamas released two American hostages on Friday. Militants for the group that controls Gaza abducted mother and daughter Judith Raanan (who also goes by Yehudit Tai), 59, and Natalie Raanan (Natali Shoshana Raanan), 17, from Kibbutz Nahal Oz, during their invasion on Oct. 7. The Israeli military picked them up on Friday at the border and took them to an army base where theyll meet with their family, according to The New York Times, which cited the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. as its source. The transfer was facilitated by the Red Cross, according to Israels Twitter account. We will do everything in our power to bring the rest of the hostages home, the account wrote. Our fellow citizens have endured a terrible ordeal these past 14 days, and I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been wracked with fear, President Biden said in a statement, according to NPR. In a statement on the messaging platform Telegram, a spokesman for Hamas army, Abu Obeidah, said the release was for humanitarian reasons, according to the Times. Qatar assisted in mediation for the Raanans release. The move comes a day after President Joe Biden asked Congress for $105 billion to help Israel and Ukraine. About a tenth of that money, $10.6 billion, would go towards military support in Israel; $9 billion would provide for humanitarian help in Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine. Last week, The New York Times reported that the U.S. government believed 20 U.S. citizens had been taken hostage in Hamas raids; it believed 14 Americans had died in the incursion. Days after the attacks, family members of U.S. hostages said that they had had no formal communication with the U.S. government. In a statement to Rolling Stone, the U.S. State Department said it had been in touch with the families of hostages that it was aware of. The U.S. government is working around the clock to determine the whereabouts of the missing U.S. citizens 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 spokesperson said. NPR reported Friday that Hamas were still holding around 200 people hostage in Gaza. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. President Biden said Friday that the U.S. has secured the release of two Americans taken hostage by Hamas during its terrorist attack against Israel on Oct. 7. Our fellow citizens have endured a terrible ordeal these past 14 days, and I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been wracked with fear, the president said in a statement. These individuals and their family will have the full support of the United States government as they recover and heal, and we should all respect their privacy in this moment. Biden said Qatar and Israel secured the release of the Americans. While he did not name them, the Israeli government confirmed them as Judith Raanan and her daughter, 18-year-old Natalie Raanan. There are 10 Americans who remain unaccounted for after Hamass initial attack, while the terror group is believed to be holding 200 people hostage. Biden said U.S. officials have been working around-the-clock to free American citizens who were taken hostage by Hamas, and we have not ceased our efforts to secure the release of those who are still being held. Jill and I have been holding close in our hearts all the families of unaccounted for Americans. And, as I told those families when I spoke with them last weekwe will not stop until we get their loved ones home. As president, I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans held hostage around the world. Top Stories from The Hill Israel had previously said that the hostages were in its custody. The person in charge of the abductees and the missing, Brigadier General Gal Hirsch, together with the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] and the security forces, received them at the border of the Gaza Strip and at this moment they are on their way to a meeting point at a military base in the center of the country, where their family members are waiting for them, a spokesperson for the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. The Government of Israel, the IDF and the entire security establishment will continue to operate with the best of their abilities and efforts in order to locate all of the missing and return all of the abductees home, according to the statement. The mother and daughters release comes as aid trucks bound for Gaza are loitering on the Egyptian side of the Strip. Biden spoke with Netanyahu in a phone call on Friday, where they discussed ongoing efforts to release hostages taken by Hamas, according to a readout of the call provided by the White House. 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 Defense and National Security newsletter He also spoke with Netanyahu about plans to begin moving humanitarian assistance into Gaza from Egypt and to allow U.S. citizens in Gaza and other civilians to exit the enclave. The President reaffirmed the United States support for Israels right to defend itself and obligation to protect its citizens, while underscoring the importance of operating consistent with the law of war to include the protection of civilians in Gaza caught in the conflict launched by Hamas, the White House said. Netanyahu had previously said that no aid can enter Gaza until Hamas releases hostages, though Biden had said he had secured a commitment from both Israel and Egypt to allow aid to begin flowing. Biden said Friday that at least 20 aid trucks are expected to cross Gazas border with Egypt in the next 24-48 hours. I believe you will see I got a commitment from the Israelis and the president of Egypt that the crossing will be open, he said in remarks from the Oval Office. Sign up for the latest from The Hill here Rabbi Meir Hecht told ABC-7 Chicago earlier this week that Judith and her daughter Natalie, who turned 18 over the past week, had traveled to Israel for a relatives 85th birthday and to celebrate the Jewish holiday season. Ben Raanan told ABC-7 that after losing contact with his mother and sister in the wake of Hamass attack on Israel on Oct. 7, Biden had reached out and spoke with the family at length. Israel said that Hamas is holding at least 203 hostages in the Gaza Strip who were kidnapped while the terrorist organization carried out its initial attack that combined a mass of rocket barrages with a ground infiltration and massacre, with an estimated 1,400 people killed. The Biden administration has said that more than a dozen Americans remain unaccounted for but has not confirmed that they are being held hostage by Hamas. American families in Israel have spoken out, saying they believe their loved ones are being held by the terrorist organization. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday called for the immediate and unconditional release of all Hamass hostages, speaking from the podium of the State Department. He said he couldnt speak to the condition of the two Americans released out of respect for their privacy and because U.S. officials were working to make contact with them, to evaluate them and to reunite them with their loved ones. Blinken said he did not have further information on the condition of Americans who continue to be held by Hamas and couldnt speak to the details of the ongoing efforts to secure their release. And all I can say with regard to Qatar is, in this instance, we very much appreciate their assistance, he said. Hamas has released videos of hostages, including of an Israeli woman named Mia Schem, who said her hand was injured in Hamass initial attack and underwent surgery in the Gaza Strip, demonstrating that the terrorist group was taking care of her even as she asked to be released back to her family. Hamas has said it seeks to use hostages as bargaining chips to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, and it has said that it is treating the hostages as esteemed guests. Updated at 4:31 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A woman in Tel Aviv holds up a photograph of one of the Israeli hostages held by Palestinian militants since the October 7 attack by Hamas (AHMAD GHARABLI) Gaza's Hamas rulers released two Americans on Friday among some 200 hostages they abducted in brutal October 7 attacks in Israel and indicated that more could follow. Judith Tai Raanan and her daughter Natalie Shoshana Raanan were back in Israel late Friday, the Israeli government said. No details were given on their condition, but US President Joe Biden said he was "overjoyed" at the news. Biden spoke by phone to the two women after they were freed. And Hamas said it was working with Qatar and Egypt to free its "civilian" hostages, in a sign that more releases could follow. The pair were met at the Gaza border by an Israeli envoy and taken to a military base in central Israel "where their families are waiting to meet them". The American mother and daughter were seized from the Nahal Oz kibbutz near the Israel-Gaza border on October 7. They were reportedly on holiday in Israel at the time. The Ranaan family, like those of many of the hostages, had launched an international campaign to press for efforts to bring them out of Gaza. Ben Raanan, Natalie's half-brother told the BBC of the "overwhelming sense of joy... and gratitude" at the news of their release. He also thanked the "community around the world who have really put my sister at the forefront of their thoughts, of their prayers". Hamas said that after being approached by Qatar and Egypt, "(Ezzedine) al-Qassam Brigades released two American citizens for humanitarian reasons". - 'Sliver of hope' - Gaza's Islamist rulers said they were "working with all mediators to implement the movement's decision to close the civilian (hostage) file if appropriate security conditions allow". It gave no details of its demands. Israel says 203 people -- Israelis, dual nationals and foreigners -- were abducted by Hamas gunmen when they launched the deadliest attacks in Israel's 75-year history. At least 1,400 people were killed, mostly civilians, according to the government. Israel has responded with a relentless bombing campaign against the Gaza Strip that has left at least 4,137 people dead, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas administration. The hostages have become a major issue in Israel, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the government would use "any means available to locate all those missing and bring home all the kidnapped". The International Committee of the Red Cross said it had helped transport the freed Americans to Israel. Its president Mirjana Spoljaric said their release provided a "sliver of hope" for the families of other hostages and called on all sides in the conflict to show "a minimum of humanity". The release came two days after Biden made a solidarity visit to Israel to offer support over the attack. "Our fellow citizens have endured a terrible ordeal these past 14 days, and I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been wracked with fear," he said in a statement. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for more releases "immediately and unconditionally". "Every single one of them should be released." Blinken said a team from the US Embassy would visit the two freed women, but offered no information about their condition Qatar is a major donor of aid to Gaza and two Hamas leaders are based in the Gulf state. A Qatari foreign ministry spokesman said the country had mediated between Hamas and the United States and that the release followed "many days of continuous communication between all the parties involved. "We will continue our dialogue with both the Israelis and Hamas, and we hope these efforts will lead to the release of all civilian hostages from every nationality, with the ultimate aim of de-escalating the current crisis and restoring peace," said the spokesman, Majid al-Ansari. The Israeli military said earlier Friday that most of those abducted to Gaza were still alive even though some dead bodies have been found on incursions into Gaza. The military said more than 20 hostages were minors, while between 10 and 20 were over the age of 60. There are also between 100 and 200 people considered missing since the Hamas attacks, the army added. dar-ezz/tw/jd/kir/sn/smw A heartwarming photo released by Israeli officials on Friday shows the American mom and daughter who were held hostage by Hamas for two weeks safe in the hands of soldiers following their release. Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natalie, appear exhausted in the photo, as they walk into Israel, flanked by the soldiers. Hamas finally released the Illinois natives on Friday, claiming it was doing so for humanitarian reasons. The mom and daughter were captured by Hamas during its Oct. 7 invasion into Southern Israel. They remained in Hamas custody for two weeks until a dealnegotiated between Israel, Qatar, the U.S., and Hamaswas reached on Friday. A spokesperson for the prime ministers office said Israeli authorities received the mom and daughterwho live in Evanston, Illinoisat Israels border with the Gaza Strip. In the photo, Natalie wears jeans and a grey zip-up jacket, while her mom appears to be wearing a blue dress and brown pants. Inside the Risky Mission to Rescue Hostages From Hamas At this moment they are on their way to a meeting point at a military base in the center of the country, where their family members are waiting for them, the spokesperson said in a statement around 9:30 p.m. local time. President Joe Biden confirmed the Raanans release in a statement, saying they endured a terrible ordeal these past 14 days. I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been wracked with fear, the statement said. These individuals and their family will have the full support of the United States government as they recover and heal. A source told the The Jerusalem Post that Judith, 59, is in poor health. Natalie, who graduated high school this spring, turns 18 next week, according to her brother Ben Raanan. In an interview Friday night, Natalies father, Uri Raanan, told News Nation, Theyre doing very well. I spoke with Natalie, she sounds very, very happyvery, very good. She sounds like herself. The overjoyed father said that he was in the dark for the last couple of weeks but is now holding out hope that his daughter might make it home in time for her birthday. Uri Raanan praised President Biden in the interview, saying he wanted to thank him for his support for his effort to release Natalie and Judith and hopefully to release the rest of the hostages. He added: I was waiting for this day for two weeks and this is the best day of my life. The women had been staying near the Gaza border at a kibbutz, where theyd traveled to celebrate Judiths mothers 85th birthday. Loved ones have waited in agony ever sinceraising nearly $10,000 with a GoFundMe fundraiser. Hamas claimed in a statement that it had cut the duo loose for humanitarian reasons in response to Qatari efforts. They did not specify what role Qatar played in the hostage release. In a statement, Al-Qassam said the release was also to prove to the American people and the world that the allegations of Biden and his fascist administration are false allegations that have no basis in truth. The Israeli newspaper Haaertz reported that the two women were handed over to the Red Cross to coordinate their return to Israel. American Family Haunted by Moms Final Screams as Hamas Descended Hamas is believed to have kidnapped at least 203 people from Israel, including women, children, and the elderlylargely from Israeli communities near the Gaza border. Recordings of some hostages have been released by Hamas, but the status of a majority of those kidnapped remains unknown. Jill and I have been holding close in our hearts all the families of unaccounted for Americans, Biden said in his statement. And, as I told those families when I spoke with them last weekwe will not stop until we get their loved ones home. Raanan family members told the Chicago Sun-Times earlier this month that they lost all contact with Judith and Natalie around noon on Oct. 7. Theyd reportedly been staying in Nahal Oz, a kibbutz about 1.5 miles from the Gaza border, where Hamas surprise attack quickly overran Israeli defenses. Theyd arrived in Israel in early September to celebrate the High Holidays with loved ones, family told the Sun-Times. Judith and Natalie Raanan smile together. GoFundMe Uri Raanan, Natalies father, told The Daily Beast that he received confirmation his daughter and ex-wife were being held hostage on Oct. 13, a week before their release. In an online fundraiser, he wrote: My daughter and ex-wife got captured by Hamas and taken to Gaza last October 7th. I know they are alive. Please help us. As word spread of the Raanans reaching safety, loved ones from Illinois began celebrating. No words to describe our excitement, our gratitude to Hashem and our continued hope for all of Israel! wrote Yehudis Hecht, the wife of the Evanston Rabbi Meir Hecht, in a Facebook post. Rabbi Dove Hillel Klein, of the Tannenbaum Chabad House, told WGN News that Friday was a joyous day. To bring home to America, to Chicago, to Evanston, two wonderful, amazing [women], Judith and her daughter, Natalie, this is an infinite miracle, he said. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker wrote that hes incredibly relieved Natalie and Judith are coming home. I cannot wait to welcome them back home after demonstrating immense strength and bravery in the face of unthinkable terror, he said. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Hamas released two American hostages from captivity on Friday, two weeks after they were kidnapped and transported to Gaza by the Palestinian militant group during its deadly rampage through southern Israel. Judith Raanan, 59, and her daughter Natalie, 17, were released to the Red Cross and are now in the hands of the Israeli military. An image of the pair was later released by the Israeli government showing them accompanied by Israeli soldiers after crossing the border. Natalies father Uri Raanan said that he spoke to his daughter on Friday. Shes doing good. Shes doing very good, he said. Im in tears, and I feel very, very good. Mr Raanan, 71, from Chicago, said he saw on the news earlier on Friday that an American mother and daughter would be released by Hamas, and he spent the day hoping that meant his daughter and her mother, Judith. Knowing Natalie may be able to celebrate her 18th birthday next week at home with family and friends feels wonderful, the best news, Mr Raanan said. The mother and daughter were visiting Israel from Illinois when they were taken captive. They had been staying in Kibbutz Nahal Oz, near Gaza. Roughly 200 people were taken hostage and 1,400 killed during the 7 October attack, which prompted a devastating Israeli military assault on Gaza in response. President Joe Biden confirmed the release in a statement on Friday in which he said the US government had been working around-the-clock to free American citizens held by Hamas. Our fellow citizens have endured a terrible ordeal these past 14 days, and I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been wracked with fear, Mr Biden said, giving thanks to the governments of Qatar and Israel for their help in securing the release. As president, I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans held hostage around the world, he added. Judith and Natalie Raanan had been visiting Israel from Illinois (AP) Qatars foreign ministry said the release came after many days of continuous communication with all parties. A statement released by Hamas on its Telegram channel said a mother and her daughter were released in response to Qatari efforts. It continued that the release was for humanitarian reasons, and to prove to the American people and the world that the claims made by [Joe] Biden and his fascist administration are false and baseless. Responding to the hostage release, IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said: Hamas presents itself to the world as having returned the women they took hostage on humanitarian grounds, while Hamas is in fact a murderous terrorist organisation that right now is holding infants, children, women and elderly people hostage in the Gaza Strip, and continuing to commit crimes against humanity. Israel responded to the 7 October massacre by bombarding the densely populated Gaza Strip with airstrikes and artillery fire, killing more than 4,000 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. It has vowed to wipe out Hamas in Gaza and has made preparations for a ground offensive into the territory. Gaza is in the grips of a serious humanitarian crisis as a result of a total siege imposed on the 42km-long (26 miles) territory by the Israeli government, which cut off power, water, fuel and food to the 2.3 million people who live there. Doctors Without Borders warned on Friday that Gazas healthcare system is facing collapse. You are here: Business This aerial photo taken on May 24, 2022 shows a data center of Apple in Gui'an New Area, southwest China's Guizhou Province. [Photo/Xinhua] China has now built the world's largest and technologically advanced optical fiber and mobile communications network, Industry and Information Technology Minister Jin Zhuanglong said Thursday. The scale of China's data centers has increased at an average annual growth rate of nearly 30 percent over the past five years, Jin said at a forum on China-Africa digital cooperation. In recent years, China has accelerated the integration of digital technology and the real economy. New business models such as e-commerce, telemedicine and digital agriculture are developing vigorously, injecting new impetus into economic growth. International cooperation in the digital field continues to deepen. China has signed memorandums of cooperation in this field with more than 10 African countries, according to data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The ministry will further strengthen exchanges with African countries in the digital field, jointly build digital development capabilities, and tap cooperation potential in accordance with market principles. Hamas on Friday freed an American woman and her teenage daughter it had held hostage in Gaza, Israel said, the first such release from among the roughly 200 people the militant group abducted from Israel during its Oct. 7 rampage. The two Americans, Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie, were out of the Gaza Strip and in the hands of the Israeli military, an army spokesman said. Hamas said it released them for humanitarian reasons in an agreement with the Qatari government. The release comes amid growing expectations of an expected ground offensive that Israel says is aimed at rooting out Hamas militants who rule the Gaza Strip. Israel said Friday it does not plan to take long-term control over the tiny territory, home to some 2.3 million people. As the Israeli military punished Gaza with airstrikes, authorities inched closer to bringing aid from Egypt to desperate families and hospitals. Fighting between Israel and militants in neighboring Lebanon also raged, prompting evacuations of Lebanese and Israeli border towns as fears of a widening conflict grew. In this undated photo provided by Rabbi Meir Hecht on behalf of the Raanan family is Judith Raanan, left, and her daughter Natalie, 18, after Natalies recent high school graduation. Judith and Natalie are missing while visiting relatives in Nahal Oz for Simchat Torah, a festive Jewish holiday that marks the conclusion of the annual reading of the Torah. (Raanan Family via AP) Judith and Natalie Ranaan had been on a trip from their home in suburban Chicago to Israel to celebrate the Jewish holidays, family said. They were in the kibbutz of Nahal Oz, near Gaza, on Oct. 7 Simchat Torah, a festive Jewish holiday when Hamas fighters stormed out of the territory into southern Israeli towns, killing hundreds and abducting 203 others. The family heard nothing from them since the attack and were later told by U.S. and Israeli officials that they were being held in Gaza, Natalies brother Ben said. I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been wracked with fear, U.S. President Joe Biden said. The International Committee of the Red Cross, which transported the freed Americans from Gaza to Israel, said their release was a sliver of hope. Relatives of other captives welcomed the release and appealed for the others to be freed. We call on world leaders and the international community to exert their full power in order to act for the release of all the hostages and missing, the statement said. Qatar said it would continue its dialogue with Israel and Hamas in hopes of winning the release of all hostages with the ultimate aim of de-escalating the current crisis and restoring peace. Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Israel was continuing to work to return hostages and find the missing, and its goals had not changed. We are continuing the war against Hamas and ready for the next stage of the war, he said. A potential Israeli ground assault is likely to lead to a dramatic escalation in casualties on both sides in urban fighting. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed in the war mostly civilians slain during the Hamas incursion. More than 4,100 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Health Ministry run by Hamas. That includes a disputed number of people who died in a hospital explosion earlier this week. Speaking to lawmakers about Israels long-term plans for Gaza, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant laid out a three-stage plan that seemed to suggest that Israel did not intend to reoccupy the territory it left in 2005. First, Israeli airstrikes and maneuvering a presumed reference to a ground attack would aim to root out Hamas. Next will come a lower intensity fight to defeat remaining pockets of resistance. And, finally, a new security regime will be created in Gaza along with the removal of Israels responsibility for life in the Gaza Strip, Gallant said. Gallant did not say who Israel expected to run Gaza if Hamas is toppled or what the new security regime would entail. Israel occupied Gaza from 1967 until 2005, when it pulled up settlements and withdrew soldiers. Two years later, Hamas took over. Some Israelis blame the withdrawal from Gaza for the sporadic violence that has persisted since then. The humanitarian crisis has worsened for Gazas civilians every day since Israel halted entry of supplies two weeks ago, depleting fuel, food, water and medicine. Two days after Israel announced a deal to allow Egypt to send in aid, the border remained closed Friday as Egypt repaired the Rafah crossing, damaged by Israeli strikes. Over a million people have been displaced in Gaza. Many heeded Israels orders to evacuate the northern part of the sealed-off enclave on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. But Israel has continued to bomb areas in southern Gaza where Palestinians had been told to seek safety. Although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called areas in the south safe zones earlier this week, Israeli military spokesman Nir Dinar said Friday: There are no safe zones. Some Palestinians who had fled from the north appeared to be going back because of bombings and difficult living conditions in the south, said Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the U.N. human rights office. Gazas overwhelmed hospitals were rationing their dwindling resources . Generators in Shifa Hospital, Gazas largest, were operating at the lowest setting to conserve fuel while providing power to vital departments such as intensive care, hospital director Mohammed Abu Selmia said. Others worked in darkness. I dont know how long (the fuel) will last. Every day we evaluate the situation, he said. The lack of medical supplies and water are making it difficult to treat the mass of victims from the Israeli strikes, he said. The Palestine Red Crescent Society said it had received a threat from the Israeli military to bomb Al-Quds Hospital and has demanded the hospitals immediate evacuation. The Gaza City hospital has more than 400 patients and thousands who of displaced civilians who sought refuge on its grounds, it said. Work continued Friday to repair the road at the Rafah crossing with Egypt, Gazas only entry point not controlled by Israel. Trucks unloaded gravel, and bulldozers and other equipment was used to fill in large craters. A U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a rapidly changing situation said aid had been delayed because of ongoing road repairs, and that it was expected to move across the border Saturday. More than 200 trucks and some 3,000 tons of aid were positioned near the crossing. Israel said the supplies could only go to civilians and that it would thwart any diversions by Hamas. It was unclear if fuel for the hospital generators would be allowed to enter. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited the crossing Friday and appealed for the quick movement of aid into Gaza, calling it the difference between life and death. Israel has evacuated its own communities near Gaza and Lebanon, putting residents up in hotels elsewhere in the country. The Defense Ministry announced evacuation plans Friday for Kiryat Shmona, a town of more than 20,000 residents near the Lebanese border. Three Israelis including a 5-year-old girl were wounded in a rocket attack there Thursday, according to Israeli health services. Lebanons Hezbollah militant group, which has a massive arsenal of long-range rockets, has traded fire with Israel along the border on a near-daily basis and hinted it might join the war if Israel seeks to annihilate Hamas. Iran supports both armed groups. The violence in Gaza has also sparked protests across the region, including in Arab countries allied with the U.S. Palestinians in Gaza reported heavy airstrikes in Khan Younis, a town in the territorys south, and ambulances carrying men, women and children streamed into the local Nasser Hospital. Late Thursday, an Israeli airstrike hit a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza City housing displaced Palestinians. Gazas Health Ministry said 16 Palestinian Christians were killed. The military said it had targeted a Hamas command center nearby, causing damage to a church wall The Greek Orthodox Patriarchy of Jerusalem condemned the attack and said it would not abandon its religious and humanitarian duty to provide assistance. Palestinian militants have launched unrelenting rocket attacks into Israel more than 6,900 since Oct. 7, according to Israel and tensions have flared in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Israel has targeted militants in raids across the occupied territory. On Friday, two Palestinian teenagers were killed in clashes in the West Bank, where more than 80 Palestinians have been killed over the past two weeks. Associated Press journalists Amy Teibel, Ravi Nessman, Julia Frankel and Isabel Debre in Jerusalem; Samy Magdy and Jack Jeffery in Cairo; Matthew Lee in Washington, and Ashraf Sweilam in el-Arish, Egypt, contributed to this report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) Hamas on Friday freed an American woman and her teenage daughter it had held hostage in Gaza, Israel said, the first such release from among the roughly 200 people the militant group abducted from Israel during its Oct. 7 rampage. The two Americans, Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie, were out of the Gaza Strip and in the hands of the Israeli military, an army spokesman said. Hamas said it released them for humanitarian reasons in an agreement with the Qatari government. The release comes amid growing expectations of an expected ground offensive that Israel says is aimed at rooting out Hamas militants who rule the Gaza Strip. Israel said Friday it does not plan to take long-term control over the tiny territory, home to some 2.3 million people. As the Israeli military punished Gaza with airstrikes, authorities inched closer to bringing aid from Egypt to desperate families and hospitals. Fighting between Israel and militants in neighboring Lebanon also raged, prompting evacuations of Lebanese and Israeli border towns as fears of a widening conflict grew. In this undated photo provided by Rabbi Meir Hecht on behalf of the Raanan family is Judith Raanan, left, and her daughter Natalie, 18, after Natalies recent high school graduation. Judith and Natalie are missing while visiting relatives in Nahal Oz for Simchat Torah, a festive Jewish holiday that marks the conclusion of the annual reading of the Torah. (Raanan Family via AP) Judith and Natalie Ranaan had been on a trip from their home in suburban Chicago to Israel to celebrate the Jewish holidays, family said. They were in the kibbutz of Nahal Oz, near Gaza, on Oct. 7 Simchat Torah, a festive Jewish holiday when Hamas fighters stormed out of the territory into southern Israeli towns, killing hundreds and abducting 203 others. The family heard nothing from them since the attack and were later told by U.S. and Israeli officials that they were being held in Gaza, Natalies brother Ben said. I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been wracked with fear, U.S. President Joe Biden said. The International Committee of the Red Cross, which transported the freed Americans from Gaza to Israel, said their release was a sliver of hope. Relatives of other captives welcomed the release and appealed for the others to be freed. We call on world leaders and the international community to exert their full power in order to act for the release of all the hostages and missing, the statement said. Qatar said it would continue its dialogue with Israel and Hamas in hopes of winning the release of all hostages with the ultimate aim of de-escalating the current crisis and restoring peace. Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Israel was continuing to work to return hostages and find the missing, and its goals had not changed. We are continuing the war against Hamas and ready for the next stage of the war, he said. A potential Israeli ground assault is likely to lead to a dramatic escalation in casualties on both sides in urban fighting. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed in the war mostly civilians slain during the Hamas incursion. More than 4,100 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Health Ministry run by Hamas. That includes a disputed number of people who died in a hospital explosion earlier this week. Speaking to lawmakers about Israels long-term plans for Gaza, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant laid out a three-stage plan that seemed to suggest that Israel did not intend to reoccupy the territory it left in 2005. First, Israeli airstrikes and maneuvering a presumed reference to a ground attack would aim to root out Hamas. Next will come a lower intensity fight to defeat remaining pockets of resistance. And, finally, a new security regime will be created in Gaza along with the removal of Israels responsibility for life in the Gaza Strip, Gallant said. Gallant did not say who Israel expected to run Gaza if Hamas is toppled or what the new security regime would entail. Israel occupied Gaza from 1967 until 2005, when it pulled up settlements and withdrew soldiers. Two years later, Hamas took over. Some Israelis blame the withdrawal from Gaza for the sporadic violence that has persisted since then. The humanitarian crisis has worsened for Gazas civilians every day since Israel halted entry of supplies two weeks ago, depleting fuel, food, water and medicine. Two days after Israel announced a deal to allow Egypt to send in aid, the border remained closed Friday as Egypt repaired the Rafah crossing, damaged by Israeli strikes. Over a million people have been displaced in Gaza. Many heeded Israels orders to evacuate the northern part of the sealed-off enclave on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. But Israel has continued to bomb areas in southern Gaza where Palestinians had been told to seek safety. Although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called areas in the south safe zones earlier this week, Israeli military spokesman Nir Dinar said Friday: There are no safe zones. Some Palestinians who had fled from the north appeared to be going back because of bombings and difficult living conditions in the south, said Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the U.N. human rights office. Gazas overwhelmed hospitals were rationing their dwindling resources . Generators in Shifa Hospital, Gazas largest, were operating at the lowest setting to conserve fuel while providing power to vital departments such as intensive care, hospital director Mohammed Abu Selmia said. Others worked in darkness. I dont know how long (the fuel) will last. Every day we evaluate the situation, he said. The lack of medical supplies and water are making it difficult to treat the mass of victims from the Israeli strikes, he said. The Palestine Red Crescent Society said it had received a threat from the Israeli military to bomb Al-Quds Hospital and has demanded the hospitals immediate evacuation. The Gaza City hospital has more than 400 patients and thousands who of displaced civilians who sought refuge on its grounds, it said. Work continued Friday to repair the road at the Rafah crossing with Egypt, Gazas only entry point not controlled by Israel. Trucks unloaded gravel, and bulldozers and other equipment was used to fill in large craters. A U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a rapidly changing situation said aid had been delayed because of ongoing road repairs, and that it was expected to move across the border Saturday. More than 200 trucks and some 3,000 tons of aid were positioned near the crossing. Israel said the supplies could only go to civilians and that it would thwart any diversions by Hamas. It was unclear if fuel for the hospital generators would be allowed to enter. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited the crossing Friday and appealed for the quick movement of aid into Gaza, calling it the difference between life and death. Israel has evacuated its own communities near Gaza and Lebanon, putting residents up in hotels elsewhere in the country. The Defense Ministry announced evacuation plans Friday for Kiryat Shmona, a town of more than 20,000 residents near the Lebanese border. Three Israelis including a 5-year-old girl were wounded in a rocket attack there Thursday, according to Israeli health services. Lebanons Hezbollah militant group, which has a massive arsenal of long-range rockets, has traded fire with Israel along the border on a near-daily basis and hinted it might join the war if Israel seeks to annihilate Hamas. Iran supports both armed groups. The violence in Gaza has also sparked protests across the region, including in Arab countries allied with the U.S. Palestinians in Gaza reported heavy airstrikes in Khan Younis, a town in the territorys south, and ambulances carrying men, women and children streamed into the local Nasser Hospital. Late Thursday, an Israeli airstrike hit a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza City housing displaced Palestinians. Gazas Health Ministry said 16 Palestinian Christians were killed. The military said it had targeted a Hamas command center nearby, causing damage to a church wall The Greek Orthodox Patriarchy of Jerusalem condemned the attack and said it would not abandon its religious and humanitarian duty to provide assistance. Palestinian militants have launched unrelenting rocket attacks into Israel more than 6,900 since Oct. 7, according to Israel and tensions have flared in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Israel has targeted militants in raids across the occupied territory. On Friday, two Palestinian teenagers were killed in clashes in the West Bank, where more than 80 Palestinians have been killed over the past two weeks. Associated Press journalists Amy Teibel, Ravi Nessman, Julia Frankel and Isabel Debre in Jerusalem; Samy Magdy and Jack Jeffery in Cairo; Matthew Lee in Washington, and Ashraf Sweilam in el-Arish, Egypt, contributed to this report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. It was Round Two Thursday between U.S. Rep. Mike Bost of Illinois and Rep. Matt Gaetz in the dispute over who should be the Speaker of the House. In January, Bost, a Republican who represents the 12th District including parts of the metro-east in southwestern Illinois, stood up and yelled at Gaetz when the Republican from Florida was giving a speech saying Rep. Kevin McCarthy , R-California, should not be the speaker. This wasnt the first time Bost had stood up and yelled during a meeting of lawmakers. Back when he was a state representative, Bost tossed a bunch of papers and ranted about the power held by then-Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan. In the U.S. House, McCarthy eventually won the speakers post in January but then was ousted on Oct. 3 when Gaetz and seven other Republicans did not support McCarthy. In the effort to get a new speaker, the Republicans, who have a 221-212 majority in the House, met privately Thursday after Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, failed to get elected in two votes this week. During this closed meeting, something happened between Bost and Gaetz. The question is: What? The Daily Mail reports that Bost was allegedly blaming Gaetz for ousting McCarthy on Oct. 3. Bost could not be reached for comment Thursday. Gaetz, however, spoke to reporters as he walked down a hallway after the meeting, and was asked if Bost lunged at him. Heres how Gaetz described what happened: I think he was pretty animated. I dont know if I would describe it as a lunge, Gaetz said in a YouTube video posted by Forbes Breaking News. The Daily Mail quoted Gaetz as saying that Bost had apologized to him. Politico reported that Bost hollered at Gaetz during the private meeting, after the Florida representative was roundly booed by others in the session. Politicos report stated: When Gaetz refused, Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.) stood up and hollered a command at him that one Republican recalled as: If you dont sit down, Ill put you down. There are two things Bost and Gaetz could agree on: They both said Thursday they dont want the temporary speaker, Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-North Carolina, to be given additional powers until January, and they both said they support Jordan to be the speaker. I support #JordanForSpeaker. If he brings another vote to the House floor today, Ill vote for him again. What I dont support is a plan to extend short-term powers to a temporary Speaker, Bost wrote Thursday on X, formerly known as Twitter. Harlems first legal marijuana dispensary, Gotham Buds, is officially open. According to CBS News, Gotham Buds opened its doors on Wednesday. The store is in the heart of Harlem, located on West 125th Street across from the famed Apollo Theater, and is the 26th conditional adult-use retail dispensary to open in New York State. Not everyone in the neighborhood was supportive of the dispensary. The 125th Street Business Improvement District tried to stop the business from opening its doors by filing a lawsuit, citing a nearby school in their case. We believe this location is bad for our children, Barbara Askins, president of the 125th Street Business Improvement District, told CBS News in August. Omar Tejada, co-founder and CFO of Gotham Buds, made it clear how they plan to run their business. We allow no loitering in front of our store. We specifically didnt install an awning just to make sure that we dont provoke that. Upon entry, vigorous age verification, Tejada explained. A judge threw out the lawsuit and recommended the community board review the case. A few weeks later, in mid-August, the community board passed a resolution supporting Gotham Buds after 54.7% of people surveyed were OK with the location. Though Askins was disappointed by the decision, she said, We want all of our Harlem businesses to thrive, so we will do everything in our power to help make this be a success for Gotham Buds and our community. In approving the dispensary, the community board requires the location to hire locals and prioritize hiring folks adversely affected by harmful cannabis-related laws. Tejada added that the business would strictly observe safety and security measures. Product will not be live throughout the store. Its contained in one very specific area called our vault, he said. We use faux packaging to explain, to answer questions, to educate and to inform. Gotham Buds celebrated its grand opening on social media. BLOOMED JUST FOR YOU! Gotham Buds is officially open ready to give you a premium cannabis experience. , the brand wrote on Instagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gotham Buds (@gothambuds) The Essex Safeguarding Children Board is carrying out a review following Eloddie Goncalves's conviction A mother has been jailed for a minimum 17-year life sentence for murdering her 11-week-old baby. Malik Goncalves was found dead with multiple injuries at his mother's flat in Harlow, Essex, in August 2020. Eloddie Goncalves, 33, was subject to a social services safety plan at the time, stipulating she must not drink alcohol or be left alone with Malik. Her partner Muritala Olaiya-Imam, 37, was also jailed for 10 years for his part in Malik's death. The pair were found guilty of various offences following a six-week trial at Chelmsford Crown Court earlier this year. Judge Justice Judith Farbey said the pair "deliberately misled social services" and added: "Malik was a blameless and defenceless baby who depended on adults for everything." Muritala Olaiya-Imam was found guilty of allowing a child's death The trial heard social services raised concerns about Goncalves while she was pregnant and she took part in a "child protection conference" in May 2020, which discussed her mental health issues and drug and alcohol misuse. Her baby was born on 1 June, and about three weeks later, police were called to the flat in Joyners Field and found Goncalves "handling [her child] in a rather unsafe manner, slurring her words, unsteady on her feet". She was arrested on suspicion of child neglect, but released with no further action and social services implemented a safety plan stipulating: She must not drink alcohol Must not be left alone with the baby Her partner must take Malik to her parents and contact police if Goncalves was drinking She should contact the Open Road charity over her alcohol abuse Jurors were told social workers visited frequently. However, Malik was declared dead at the flat on 19 August after Goncalves called 999. Jurors heard she and Olaiya-Imam mixed their urine samples after their arrest, and a blood sample revealed her cannabis and alcohol consumption. Det Sgt Mike Ferguson praised the "professionalism" of officers who attended the scene in Joyners Field Goncalves broke down in tears as her barrister spoke in her defence and explained how she had schizoaffective disorder. However, Justice Farbey said: "You were still able to choose what to do." Det Sgt Mike Ferguson, of Essex Police, praised the "professionalism" of officers who "did an incredible job under the most difficult and emotional of circumstances". Social services review Goncalves was found guilty of murder, cruelty to a person under 16, assaulting an emergency worker and perverting the course of justice. Olaiya-Imam - who was told during the investigation that he was not the baby's biological father - was found guilty of allowing the death of a child, cruelty to a person under 16 and perverting the course of justice. The court heard Olaiya-Imama, a Nigerian national, had been working illegally in the UK under a false name and could face deportation. The Essex Safeguarding Children Board says it is carrying out a Child Safeguarding Practice Review of the case. Follow East of England news on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a story? Email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp 0800 169 1830 A first-of-its-kind program to protect more than 30,000 households from health and safety violations in their rental units launches this month in Hartford. By Oct. 31, all dwellings with 40 or more units per building, including hotels, motels, rooming houses and group living facilities, must submit a rental licensing application to the city of Hartford. Its the first phase of a three-year program designed to crack down on negligent landlords. This is the first time that a comprehensive preemptive and proactive approach like this has been taken, Bronin said at a City Hall press conference Thursday. This is a tool that allows us to proactively get ahead of a problem when a property owner is not holding up their end of the bargain, (when) the property owner is not keeping their building up to code and is not delivering a safe, healthy, clean building for the residents who live here. Bronin said landlords should be aware of the new requirements. Every single building owner of a building with 40 or more units has already received legal notice that theyre obligated to apply for a residential license, Bronin said. Nearly 100 of those buildings have applied, but there are still a couple of dozen that have not yet submitted those applications. Bronin said landlords who fail to meet the Oct. 31 deadline will receive a $1,000 penalty immediately, followed by a notice of violation that, if not remedied within a short period, will result in a $100 fine per day, per unit. As you can imagine, for a 40 unit building, that adds up pretty quick, Bronin said. Bronin said the city is conducting a thorough review of all applications. He said that in the event that processing takes longer than 60 days, the city will issue a provisional license to affected buildings. No buildings are going to be penalized, no residents are going to be inconvenienced if any delays happen on our end, Bronin said. City Councilwoman Shirley Surgeon said the program is not meant to go after landlords. This is about making sure the residents of the city of Hartford are safe, Surgeon said. How can we send our kids to school when theyre not living in a safe and healthy environment? Director of Blight Remediation and Housing Code Enforcement Judith Rothschild said Hartford is The only city or municipality in the state of Connecticut that is as proactive and as overwhelmingly inclusive of the code issues that may come up in a property. Mold, insect and rodent infestations, structural issues, roof leaks, plumbing problems and heating issues are among the most common problems reported to Rothschilds office. Hartford residents can report suspected housing violations online or by calling 860-757-9311 but, Rothschild said, at times, tenants are too afraid to report their landlord to the city. She said the Rental Licensing Program is designed to investigate conditions before a complaint is filed. No one in the city should be living in conditions which are dangerous to themselves or their family, Rothschild said. It is not acceptable to the city of Hartford, nor is it acceptable in the state of Connecticut or under our Hartford laws. Under the program, all buildings must pass separate inspections by the city Building Enforcement, Housing Code Enforcement and the Fire Marshals office. The license also requires a lead inspection report for buildings constructed before 1978, a heating facility inspection report and in addition to other reports requested at the discretion of the director of licenses and inspections, according to the application. Rothschild said licenses will last four years. However, it only stays good if the owner continues in compliance with the health and safety codes in the interim of the license, she said. Were thorough in the beginning. We continue to monitor the buildings and answer all complaints in the interim, Rothschild said. Were here to accomplish safety and health in our buildings. Hartford adopted the Rental Licensing Program as part of an updated Housing Code in 2019. Initially, the programs rollout was set to start in 2021, but Rothschild said the city pushed licensing deadlines back to 2023 due to compliance and implementation issues. We did not have the level of compliance that we required. We also didnt have, during that period of time, everything in place to make this program work the way that it was intended and needs to work, Rothschild said. Bronin added that the COVID-19 pandemic also impacted the process. The original process was overtaken by the pandemic as well, which complicated a lot of implementation efforts, including the implementation effort that requires large scale in person inspections, Bronin said. Im not saying we wouldnt have pushed the date back either way, but theres no question that the pandemic slowed us down. Under the current schedule, the four-part phase-in will conclude in 2026. However, the city may demand completion of the residential licensing program at any time for buildings cited for five or more housing code violations, regardless of a dwellings scheduled phase-in date. City officials encouraged residents who know of or are currently living in housing that is unsafe or unsanitary to contact the city through the 311 program. No one should be afraid to report an issue in their unit. No one should be afraid of retaliation, Director of Community Engagement Janice Castle said. Do not wait two weeks, uh, three weeks, months to hear back (from nonresponsive landlords), Castle added. We should be the first call. BOSTON (Reuters) - Harvard University's endowment fund, the world's largest university endowment, posted a small investment gain that bested several other top U.S. universities' returns but saw the value of the fund shrink as more was paid to university operations. Harvard Management Co said on Thursday that it earned a 2.9% return in the fiscal year that ended June 30, leaving the total endowment at $50.7 billion. A year earlier it lost 1.8% amid tumbling markets but the endowment ended at $50.9 billion. Returns from these schools are watched closely because they pioneered putting money into hedge and private equity funds. The stock market rally earlier this year changed the picture for many investors. However, with only an 11% allocation to stocks, "the endowment's FY23 return does not reflect a significant impact from public equity movements," Harvard Management's Chief Executive Officer N.P. "Narv" Narvekar wrote in a letter. The school has a 39% allocation to private equity and a 31% allocation to hedge funds. Private markets lagged on the upside as the S&P 500 climbed 16% in the twelve months to June 30. The portfolio is designed to "brace against significant swings in either direction, as it did last year when the FY22 return (-1.8%) was not meaningfully impacted by an overall double-digit public equity decline," Narvekar added. He also noted that Harvard has a "somewhat lower risk level than many peer endowments." Rival Yale University returned 1.8% while the University of Pennsylvania returned 1.3%. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology reported a loss of 2.9%. Columbia University gained 4.7% and Stanford earned a 4.4% return. The endowment distributed $2.2 billion to Harvard's operating budget to support financial aid, faculty, research initiatives, and the school ended the year with an operating surplus of $186 million. A year ago it distributed $2.1 billion and ended with a surplus of $406 million. The school spent more as students returned in force to campus after the pandemic and wages and other expenses climbed. (Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss; editing by Diane Craft) Actor Haydn Gwynne , known for her portrayals of royal family members in both The Windsors and The Crown, has died aged 66. A statement from her representatives said: It is with great sadness we are sharing with you that, following her recent diagnosis with cancer, the star of stage and screen Haydn Gwynne died in hospital in the small hours of Friday 20 October, surrounded by her beloved sons, close family and friends. We would like to thank the staff and teams at the Royal Marsden and Brompton Hospitals for their wonderful care over the last few weeks. In September, Gwynne was forced to pull out of the West End run of Stephen Sondheims Old Friends citing sudden personal circumstances. The actor was due to star alongside stage stars such as Lea Salonga and Bernadette Peters in the revival of the one-off fundraising concert, originally staged in 2022. In a statement at the time of Gwynnes withdrawal, producer Cameron Mackintosh said: Matthew Bourne and I were naturally very distressed, along with our brilliant cast headed by Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga, to learn that Haydn Gwynne must suddenly withdraw from the production, for the immediate future at least. Haydn gave an unforgettable performance of Ladies Who Lunch during the Old Friends Gala Premiere in May 2022 and has been an integral part of this very close-knit company ever since. Gwynnes performing career began in her mid-20s, after studying sociology at the University of Nottingham and undertaking a five-year lectureship teaching English as a foreign language in Rome. Haydn Gwynne in 2022 (Getty Images for British Champions Day) Her first major credit came in 1990, playing Alex Pates in the British sitcom Drop the Dead Donkey. Throughout the 1990s, Gwynnes television credits were several and varied, ranging from childrens entertainment (CITV programme Time Riders) to primetime drama (Peak Practice, Merseybeat). Many will remember Gwynne best for her work on the stage, particularly while in the Billy Elliot West End and Broadway musical. Gwynne played the teacher of the titular young dancer, Mrs Wilkinson. In 2006, her work in the London production of the show gained her an Olivier nomination for Best Actress in a Musical. Haydn Gwynne (Getty Images) Gwynne impressed audiences in The Great British Bake-Off Musical earlier this year as a Prue Leith-esque show judge called Pam Lee. Though initially curious about how a stage show based on a TV baking competition would work, Gwynne told The Independents Isobel Lewis how she was won over by the shows complexity and depth. Its fun and its funny, but its moving too, so I think [audiences] will get a lot from it, she explained. Heartwarming can be a cheesy word, but I think the sophistication and the quality of the writing and the lyrics will surprise you. In 2022, her passionate, embittered rendition of the Company show tune Ladies Who Lunch in the original production of Stephen Sondheims Old Friends production won her additional fans. Gwynne is also well-known for her portrayal of Queen Camilla in the Channel 4 satire, The Windsors. Haydn Gwynne as Queen Camilla (Channel 4) Gwynne also played Lady Susan Hussey, the late Queens lady-in-waiting, in season five of The Crown. Ahead of the Kings coronation earlier this year, Gwynne spoke about meeting the King and Queen in the past, and consistently being very impressed with their candour. Ive met Charles multiple times because hes quite interested in theatre, Gwynne explained. I also met Camilla years ago in one of those line-ups at a royal premiere of a film I did many years ago. I have not met them latterly. It tends to be that people arent very keen for me to meet them anymore, because the press people think the press could make it a distraction. Despite the filming process clashing with rehearsals for the Bake-Off musical, Gwynne ensured she made time for The Windsors as it was a project she was particularly fond of. Everybody does their utmost to make it work and our producers do their utmost to work around our other commitments, because we all are very fond of the show. It is not ideal, though press night for the musical was literally the night before I started shooting The Windsors, but you have to be disciplined. Haydn Gwynne is survived by her partner Jason Phipps and their two sons, Orlando and Harry. Code enforcement officer Jesalyn Harper walks past the garden hose that tipped her off to an illegal medical lab operating inside an old warehouse in Reedley, Calif., on Aug. 1. (Eric Paul Zamora / Fresno Bee / Associated Press) The head of an illegal Fresno County medical testing lab whose underground setup fueled wild conspiracy theories was arrested Thursday, federal prosecutors announced. Jia Bei Zhu, who went by a number of aliases, was busted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for running the Universal Meditech Inc. lab that manufactured and sold hundreds of thousands of COVID-19, HIV and pregnancy test kits from late 2020 to March 2023 without the required authorizations, according to federal agents. Zhu's lab in Reedley first raised eyebrows in 2022, when a local code enforcement officer discovered it was stocked with vials of blood, jars of urine and about 1,000 white mice living in sullied containers. Officials investigated, shut down the lab and ordered the mice euthanized. But after a local news story suggested the mice were bred to carry COVID-19, baseless rumors started flying online that the lab was connected to the Chinese government and could be part of preparations for a biological attack. Refrigerators and other equipment inside a now-shuttered medical lab that officials say was operating illegally. (Courtesy of city of Reedley / Associated Press) But the explanation was more benign. The mice were found not to carry COVID-19. They were actually bred to grow the COVID-19 antibody cells used for test kits. But authorities allege that the lab was skirting FDA rules and that Zhu, 62, made false statements during the investigation, resulting in him being charged with lying to a federal agent. "The disarray at the Reedley lab led to the glare of publicity [Zhu] was trying to avoid, and the ensuing investigation unraveled his efforts to circumvent the requirements that are designed to ensure that medical devices are safe and effective," said Phillip Talbert, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of California. The Reedley lab was not the first time Zhu's companies courted trouble. In 2016, he was the owner of a Canadian company, IND Diagnostic Inc., that was ordered to pay $300 million "for misappropriating technology related to the separation of sex chromosomes from bull semen," according to American federal agents. Just before his arrest, Zhu was preparing to sue Fresno County for shutting down his lab, the Fresno Bee reported. The lab head was reportedly seeking $50 million alleging the county had wrongly seized medical equipment, including freezers and refrigerators stocked with biological goods. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Something doesnt jive. Hamas attacks Israel, takes hostages, kills civilians indescribably, and what do we see? Palestinian flags! a Miami reader. In South Florida, were often one degree of separation from world conflicts. In hundreds of thousands of homes, people are more tuned in to international developments than they are to City Hall and, right now, the unfurling of war in the aftermath of the devastating massacre of innocent Jews by Hamas in Israel is no different. To many among us, like the Aventura mother whose son has gone to Israel to fight Hamas, the war is personal. To many among us, like the Lebanese Bricklell dentist who lost his job after he was seen on video taking down posters of the Hamas hostages, theres another side to the violence. Our neighbors, be they Jewish or Muslim, are angry, deeply hurt and dazed by the loss of life, not only in Israel but also in the Gaza Strip, where the horrendous bombing of the al-Ahli Hospital, run by the Anglican church, left a huge death toll of Palestinian patients and healers. While many across the world immediately blamed an Israel airstrike and placed the dead at an ominous 500, the U.S. government said satellite images and ground evidence points to a misfired rocket by another terrorist group, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which had joined Hamas in the Oct. 7 attack. The lesson here for us all: A flood of misinformation, including old videos, made its way around the world in a very short time and people in Arab nations and communities took to the streets in protest, hence the flood of Palestinian flags my Miami reader didnt understand. Similarly, after the vicious and shocking Hamas attack, reminiscent of our 9-11 and so horrific it echoed the Holocaust for Jews, word spread that babies were decapitated ISIS-style. But while there were cases of Hamas militants carrying out beheadings, the Israeli government hasnt confirmed the specific baby decapitation claim. Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas the same way the United States went after Al-Qaeda in 2001 and theyre right to do so. But the loss of innocent Palestinian lives is also tragic. Those black, white, green and red Palestinian flags waved at a Miami rally last week near the Torch of Friendship represent the hope of Arabs and Muslims around the world that Israel also takes the lives of ordinary, peaceful humans into account when they invade Gaza. And they represent the demand that people and families evacuated to the border with Egypt arent forever banned from returning to their homes. Just like the blue and white, David-stared flag stands for Israels right to exist. READ MORE: Support Israel with all our hearts, but also make room for Palestinians views | Opinion What nations do There will be more bloodshed and heartbreak to come and, at stake, is the future of the Middle East, a region of the world vital to American security, as President Joe Biden said in his Thursday night address to the nation. American leadership is what holds the world together, Biden said, before turning to address our internal reaction to the conflict, warning that acts of antisemitism and Islamophobia are giving too much oxygen to hate. Here in America, lets not forget who we are, Biden said. We reject all forms of hate. Thats what great nations do. It would do us all well to heed his words. Many in our community understand this conflict deeply, historically, and personally, but others who are sometimes the loudest only see it through the prism of their political alliances. If we dont step back from our own agenda, we stand to lose more than a street argument. Miamis diversity is its strength. So then, why, oh why, cant we understand and have compassion for the plight of victims on both sides in this endless cycle of death and destruction? At the very least, why not think before we exercise knee-jerk reactions like taking down the posters of children and women hostages, two of them, a grandmother and her granddaughter, found dead precisely this week at the Israel-Gaza border? Garland visit to Miami And please, stop applying extremist Republican-Democratic party rhetoric to somebody elses war when even Washington is showing some restraint. In a rare visit to Miami on Thursday, Attorney General Merrick Garland the top law enforcement official in the country warned of the rise in hate crimes and potential threats of hate-fueled violence and terrorism in the United States. Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel have created understandable fear among communities across the country, Garland said. As the FBI has noted, were seeing an increase in reported threats against faith communities, particularly Jewish, Muslim and Arab communities and institutions. READ MORE: Amid Hamas-Israeli violence, AG Garland warns in Miami of rising hate-crime threats We know this is true in Florida, where acts of antisemitism and Islamophobia have been on the rise, north and south, east and west. READ MORE: DeSantis stokes Jewish-Palestinian division in Florida. Its dangerous and deplorable | Opinion Our local and state leaders must put divisive politics aside and help people better understand the conflict and its shifting and evolving dynamics. Over decades of committed community relations work, weve learned to understand Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela and Nicaragua as if these countries were Miami suburbs. Its our turn to extend grace and open hearts and minds to the Jewish and Muslim Americans enduring nightmarish days. Resist the urge to enter the fray without facts at a time when disinformation reaches people way before substantiated news does. When I was in Israel yesterday, I said that when America experienced the hell of 9/11, we felt enraged, as well, Biden said. While we sought and got justice, we made mistakes. So I cautioned the government of Israel not to be blinded by rage. The president urged us not to give up on peace or the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It has never been more important to remember who we are in South Florida: a multi-culturally diverse community where all are entitled to our voices, our flags, and a safe place to call home. This aerial photo taken on July 17, 2023 shows the view of a marine farm in Jianggezhuang Township, Laoting County, north China's Hebei Province. [Photo/Xinhua] China is considering strengthening its monitoring of radiation in the marine environment in the latest draft revision to the Marine Environment Protection Law, a spokesperson said Thursday. Scheduled for its third deliberation at a session of the country's top legislature in late October, the draft revision states that departments of the State Council in charge of environmental issues should set out emergency plans for radiation monitoring and organize its implementation. The draft stresses improving the capacity of monitoring and managing the marine environment by raising the technological and informatization level, and requires efforts to enhance comprehensive, coordinated and regular monitoring, according to Yang Heqing, a spokesperson for the Legislative Affairs Commission of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, at a press briefing. Pollution prevention and control in rivers flowing into the sea should also be strengthened in coordinated efforts to ensure the water quality at the mouths of the rivers meets the relevant standards, Yang said citing the draft revision. The sixth session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee will be held from Oct. 20 to 24. The NPC Standing Committee completed two readings of previous versions of the draft revision to the Marine Environment Protection Law in December last year and June. According to the proposed agenda, a draft revision to the Charity Law, a draft law on patriotic education, and a draft law on food security will also be reviewed by lawmakers during the session. The former president of the Fresno Hells Angels chapter was sentenced Thursday in federal court for using the crematorium at a Fresno funeral home to dispose of the body of another Hells Angel, concealing a murder, at the outlaw bikers headquarters on South G Street in 2014. Merl Hefferman, 54, was sentenced to four years in federal prison by Judge Edward Chen at the U.S. District Court in San Francisco. Hells Angel Joel Silva earned a death sentence from high-ranking members of the group when he reportedly threatened a member of an East Coast chapter at a biker event in New Hampshire earlier in 2014. Other Hells Angels were convicted of murder conspiracy charges in that case. Silvas body was cremated at the Yost and Webb Funeral Home in downtown Fresno after Hefferman became acquainted with a cremation manager at Merl Hefferman, the face of a yearly Fresno toy run, will serve four years in federal prison after another bikers body was cremated in a local funeral home to hide evidence of a murder. the home. Heffermans attorney James A. Bustamante had sought a 30-month prison term for his client, arguing that Hefferman had never before been convicted of a crime and that he grew up as a battered child in dysfunctional families. Heffermans work as the face of a yearly biker holiday toy run that provided thousands of children with bicycles over more than a decade also prompted more than a dozen Fresnans to write letters to the court on his behalf asking for leniency. Prosecutors, however, maintained that Hefferman was responsible for the disposal of the bodies of three other Hells Angels. For that, they argued that he deserved 87 months in prison. Hefferman, however, was never charged in connection with the disappearance of the other three. The case was part of a much-larger racketeering and murder case against multiple member of Hells Angels, the reputed worlds largest outlaw biker gang. Nancy Dawkins has too many flowers. Everybody giving me flowers: I cant eat these flowers, jokes one of Miamis most mature residents. She gestures to the assortment of red bouquets an ode to her beloved Delta Sigma Theta Sorority that completely cover her dining room table inside her Liberty City home. Her actual birthday wish? Fruit and not the Edible Arrangements either. Too many hands, she chuckles. Dawkins has been arguably the most popular person in Miami since the start of October. By months end, shell have attended five birthday parties (one comedy show, one drive-by, a gathering at the Carrie P. Meek Senior Center and two all red affairs), received the key to the city and even received a letter from President Joe Biden. Then again, you only turn 100 once. I dont know why I made it this far, Dawkins says coyly from the Liberty City home she and her late husband Commissioner Miller Dawkins built in 1954. Its got to be by God because Ive had a lot challenges but I pulled through some way. I live by the mantra: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. The celebration of Dawkins, who hit the century mark on Oct. 11, is one fit for a woman many deem the queen of Liberty City, maybe even Miami. An educator turned activist whose experience is woven into the neighborhoods cultural fabric, Dawkins embodies the fight in a city often synonymous with relaxation. Planting seeds for the next generation Dawkins was born in Dania Beach. A graduate of Dillard High School, she would later matriculate through then-Bethune Cookman College and Florida A&M University before returning to South Florida to teach in Miami in 1948. Her career would span 35 years including stints at Holmes Elementary, Liberty City Elementary and Booker T. Washington Sr. High but in the early days, she would commute from her home in Dania Beach. Children were ultimately her passion. Ever since I was a little girl, I liked children, Dawkins said. A graduation picture of Nancy Dawkins. And it showed. Whether co-authoring a program for pregnant teachers or founding the Theodore Gibson Oratorical Competition to give children an opportunity to express themselves, Dawkins always wanted more for the next generation. A shared vision of helping their community led to Nancy and Miller Dawkins involvement in politics. The couple had seen a lot segregated schools, the destruction of the historic Railroad Shop settlement, white flight when they moved into their Liberty City home in 1954 and knew change was needed. In the 1970s, Nancy started working on the campaign of State Rep. Gwen Cherry. She would later assist the campaigns of Barbara Carey-Shuler, Congresswoman Carrie Meek and Gov. Bob Graham while her husband was elected to the city commission in 1981. The strongest strength that she has is ability to connect people with her goals and allow for the collaboration that allows for opportunities to be able to do things,said Melba Rose, an activist who met Dawkins as a student at Holmes Elementary. Nowhere is that more apparent than her involvement with Charles Hadley Park across the street Nancy Dawkins Way, to be exact from her home. Along with her husband, Dawkins lobbied for the construction of the the Carrie P. Meek Senior Center, with an Olympic-sized swimming pool and a recreation center. Everyone knows who to call when something goes wrong at the Meek center even though she claims to have already passed on the baton. Anytime they have a problem over there, they come over here to me, she said with a slight smile. Miami and Miami-Dade County elected officials with Nancy Dawkins at the 2017 unveiling of Nancy Dawkins Way. But Dawkins contributions extend beyond her work on political campaigns, her participation in the sit-ins that desegregated lunch counters in Downtown Miami, teaching at integrated schools or founding the Northwest Chapter of AARP. Its in the little moments. The moments that dont make the front page. The moments when no one is watching. Like the time she took an interest in future Miami-Dade County School Board Member Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall. A seven-year-old Bendross-Mindingall first met Dawkins in the hallways of Liberty City Elementary. Dawkins risked her job for Bendross-Mindingall whose stellar standardized tests scores caused debate among the schools leadership. With my background, I couldnt have been that smart, Bendross-Mindingall said, describing the response from administrators. The future school board member was born to parents who never finished high school and lived in Liberty Square at the time. So she took the test again. And again. After the third time, Dawkins raised a fuss. She talked to teachers. The principal. Even the superintendent, against her principals wishes. Nancy Dawkins pictured at a school. I just looked at her and could tell she didnt have nobody to help her, Dawkins said. So I said to myself Theyre taking advantage of that little girl. Dawkins wasnt even Bendross-Mindingalls teacher. She just cared. The situation later resolved itself thanks to Dawkins pressure the future school board member would skip two grades. Even after that, she didnt stop caring. Dawkins walked Bendross-Mindingall to class on her first day at D.A. Dorsey Junior High and even found her a mentor. The lessons still continue to this day. We are here to defend, serve, make sure that whatever we have, we have more than enough to share, Bendross-Mindingall said everybody can learn from Dawkins life. Allowing people to blossom Bendross-Mindingall wasnt the only person Dawkins touched. County Commissioner Barbara Carey-Schuler said Dawkins taught me how to be more involved at one of the centenarians birthday parties. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, a former student of Dawkins, called her a living, breathing example of what we strive to be as people: people who are here for others, only others at a subsequent birthday party. Martha Day, Nancy Dawkins, and Rena Green, at the reopening in 2015 of the historic Hampton House motel where Black visitors stayed during the era of segregation in the 1950s and 60s. She has always been able to draw people to her and once you had an experience with her, that experience will always lead you to come back again, said Rose. Dawkins, she continued, could see something in people that they might not even see themselves. A lot of these individuals here who are now identified as leaders, they did not know they could, they did not know they should, they did not know they would, Rose added. But her tutelage has allowed some people to blossom into productive people within our community. Thats part of what made these celebrations so special. People from various stages of Dawkins life former students, friends and family got the chance to celebrate a woman who has done so much for so many. My grandma is a staple in the community, said Lenere Dawkins, Nancys oldest grandson who helped organize one of the all-red affairs. She doesnt really care for the fanfare but it gives people the opportunity to I know its cliche give her her flowers while shes here. What Dawkins does still care about, however, is education. I really would like for the younger generation to get an education, Dawkins said. If you get an education, you will really experience what life is all about. Nancy Dawkins (left) seated next to her husband Miller Dawkins (second from left) and family friend T. Willard Fair (right). And as Floridas governor office continues to wage war against Black history, Dawkins stands as a testament of time. Black history, she maintained, cannot be erased because it would be like erasing her. Some of us are still living to tell what we went through and I think we should tell it to the young people because they really dont know, she added. Those of us who are in our elderly stage should try to spread the word now more than ever so that they can get it from a living witness. At age 100, Dawkins still continues to do what she does best: teach. She no longer drives or walks as well as she used to but there might not be a better source of knowledge if you want to know the real history of Miami. Everywhere she goes -- every club or meeting or event -- she welcomes questions from younger members about her life. Her wisdom is a gift that Miami, as a community, can never pay back. Odds are Dawkins wouldnt want anything in return. I always try to help somebody, Dawkins said. President Biden is submitting a $100 billion supplemental request to Congress Friday, after delivering a rare Thursday night Oval Office address. He is trying to make the case to Congress and the American people that the U.S. needs to support Israel and Ukraine not just for those countries, but for U.S. national security interests. The White House on Friday morning released details of what's in the than $100 billion request, although Congress can do nothing about it while it's paralyzed with no permanent House speaker. The House is taking a third vote for speaker on Friday morning, after the Republican speaker nominee Rep. Jim Jordan failed to win enough support in the first two rounds. "American leadership is what holds the world together," the president said in his Oval Office address Thursday night. "American alliances are what keep us, America, safe. American values are what make us a partner that other nations want to work with. To put all that at risk if we walk away from Ukraine, if we turn our backs on Israel. It's just not worth it. That's why tomorrow, I'm going to send to Congress an urgent budget request to fund America's national security needs, to support our critical partners, including Israel and Ukraine. It's a smart investment that's going to pay dividends for American security for generations." Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told CBS News "Face the Nation" moderator and chief foreign affairs correspondent Margaret Brennan the Senate is "going to look over this whole package very carefully." "Well, we want to make sure we're not sending money to Hamas," McConnell told Brennan. "I can tell you that. But there are genuine humanitarian needs of the people of Gaza who are not Hamas, that have been thrown under the bus by what Hamas did. Innocent people. But we want to be careful about how the money is spent, be sure it actually gets where it's supposed to get which is part of what I'm saying here we're going to look over this whole package very carefully because it is a lot of money." Here's what's in the president's request to Congress: $61 billion for Ukraine and replenishing U.S. stockpile This figure includes $30 billion for Pentagon equipment from Ukraine and for replenishing U.S. military stocks. It also includes $14.4 billion for Pentagon intelligence and other defense support, $16.3 billion for the State Department and USAID to give economic, operation and security assistance to Ukraine. The Ukrainian portion of the funding also provides $481 million to support Ukrainians who flee to the U.S. Allotted funding for Ukraine has "nearly run out," national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters Friday. "The world is closely watching what Congress doesn't next," he said. $14 billion in Israel-related assistance Israel had requested $10 billion. Mr. Biden's request includes $10 billion for air and missile defense support, as well as the replenishment of Pentagon stocks. Specifically, the Biden administration is requesting support for Israel's procurement of the Iron Dome and David's Sling missile defense systems and components, it says, and the development of Iron Beam. The request also includes $3.7 billion for State Department needs related to Israel, including for supporting the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem. $9 billion for humanitarian assistance These funds would be used by the State Department to help with humanitarian needs in Ukraine, Israel, the Gaza Strip and elsewhere. "In addition to funding for security assistance for Ukraine and Israel, we are also requesting funding to address humanitarian needs of innocent civilians, including those impacted by the war in Israel and in Gaza," a sheet from the White House reads. "... Our humanitarian assistance is critical to demonstrating U.S. leadership amid unprecedented levels of humanitarian need, geopolitical competition, and global changes." $3 billion for the submarine industrial base Most of this funding would be for Pentagon improvements and infrastructure work at the U.S. Navy's four public shipyards in order to ramp up submarine readiness. $2 billion for security assistance to the Indo-Pacific region The U.S. is trying to bolster security in the region, as a China-North Korea-Russia cooperation appears to be strengthening. The funding would have the aim of deterrence, and supporting U.S. allies in close proximity to China. $11 billion for border security and migrant matters This funding includes $4.4 billion for the Department of Homeland Security for things including holding facilities and reimbursing the Pentagon for its support. It also includes $1.9 billion for Health and Human Services to support the arrivals of unaccompanied minors. The border funding also includes $1.4 billion for the Justice Department to add additional judge teams, as immigration court backlogs cripple the system. $2 billion to counter China in developing countries The administration is trying to support the expansion of financing for developing countries to provide an alternative to China's financing for them, which the administration says can be "coercive and unsustainable." The funding is to be used to help unlock more in lending from IMF trust funds and development financing from the World Bank. $1 billion for countering fentanyl Democrats and Republicans alike recognize how detrimental fentanyl is to the nation, taking hundreds of thousands of lies and destroying families. This funding is meant to hire additional Customs and Border Protection officers, among other things. $1 billion for migrant support This request includes $1.3 billion for State Department and USAID to support host families for migrants. $100 million for combatting child labor exploitation This money would help Department of Labor with child labor investigations and enforcement. Watch: Mike Johnson addresses Congress for first time as House speaker Rep. Mike Johnson elected House speaker | Special Report Breast cancer symptoms other than a lump that you may not know about Six weeks before Hamas deadly attack on Israel, a deputy political adviser in the group did an interview with a Lebanese news outlet. Tucked into it was a specific warning. We are preparing for an all-out war, Saleh al-Arouri said. We are closely discussing the prospects of this war with all relevant parties. At the time, his statements were couched as a caution. Israel had plans including targeted killings of leaders of the Palestinian resistance group that controls Gaza, he said. If it followed through, Arouri warned, a regional war would ensue. Those Israeli provocations never happened. Yet by mid-October, an all-out war had begun. Hamas led a surprise attack on Oct. 7, killing more than 1,300 people, including more than 30 Americans, and taking at least 200 hostages. A mounting response from Israel now brings more bloodshed. Already, Israel has struck a range of targets, and by midweek announced at least six key Hamas operatives had been eliminated. But Israeli authorities also have launched an international manhunt for another Hamas leader, USA TODAY has learned: Saleh al-Arouri. Theyre pursuing him not just for his insider knowledge of the attack but for his ties to others possibly those relevant parties he cited in August. Photo of Saleh al-Arouri provided by U.S. State Department in 2018 when it offered a $5 million reward for information about him, saying he funds and directs Hamas military operations in the West Bank and was linked to terrorist attacks, hijackings, and kidnappings. The attack went far beyond what was expected from Hamas alone. A mass border invasion. Drones and paragliders. Withering rocket fire. Precise raids on military surveillance, communications and intelligence hubs. Those plans bear the hallmarks of sophisticated backers from the outside. Current and former intelligence officials say Arouri sits at a strategic intersection of three entities: Hamas; Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based terrorist group that is considered the worlds most formidable; and Iran, the worlds deadliest state sponsor of terrorism. If Iran and Hezbollah were involved in the Oct. 7 attack as security authorities now suspect someone from Hamas coordinated their assistance. And current and former U.S. and Israeli intelligence officials, and a USA TODAY review of government documents and court records, all point to Arouri as a key link. "Today most of the money that is going to Hamas is coming from Iran, and with the money comes the influence too," said Ehud Udi Levy, who served for more than 30 years in Israeli intelligence, including as head of the Mossads Economic Warfare Division, which goes after terrorists' money. "And the Iran man inside Hamas is Saleh al-Arouri." More: Is Iran behind Hamas terrorist attacks? What it would mean for US and Middle East security Though experts said they do not yet know what specific role Arouri might have played on Oct. 7, they see him at the heart of a changing and alarming dynamic in which these three U.S.-designated terrorist entities are teaming up and further destabilizing the Middle East under the direction of Tehran. With him, I cannot go into details about the involvement, Danny Danon, an Israeli lawmaker who sits on the Knesset foreign affairs committee, told USA TODAY this week when asked about Arouri. But I can tell you that Iran is heavily involved with everything that's happening in Gaza the training, equipment, funding and method of fighting. We have knowledge of collaboration between Tehran, Beirut and Gaza, said Danon, who also was Israels ambassador to the United Nations. We are worried that the technology came from Tehran to Beirut and to Gaza. And Arouri, he said, was heavily involved in that triangle. Arouri was a founding commander of the the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas that carried out the attacks. Despite having spent years under U.S. terror sanctions, and with a $5 million State Department bounty on his head, he has traveled the region, including in and out of Iran, and collaborated with terrorist figures including the head of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Qasem Soleimani, before he was killed by a U.S. airstrike in early 2020. And Arouri helped build and lead a new Hamas coalition with Iran and Hezbollah that so alarmed Israel that it sought emergency help from the U.N. Security Council in 2017 and again in 2018 to stop him. In 2018, the U.S. State Department offered a reward of up to $5 million for information on Saleh al-Arouri, saying he was a founder of Hamas' military wing and that he "has been linked to several terrorist attacks, hijackings, and kidnappings." Arouri is based in Lebanon, where numerous media reports say Hamas leaders met with top Iranian and Hezbollah officials as recently as April. Now, hes a prime target as Israel seeks out the strategists behind the Oct. 7 raid. But even after being watched by international authorities for decades, Arouri might not be easy to catch or kill. They are looking for him like the Americans were looking for bin Laden" after 9/11, Levy said. "He is a shadow guy. He is under the radar. And believe me, these are the dangerous people, people like that." 'If he steps anywhere close, we will kill him' Publicly, Israel is pointing the finger at more well-known Hamas figures based in Gaza, including Yahya Sinwar and military chief Mohammed Deif. Yahya Sinwar, the ruler of the Gaza Strip, decided on this horrible attack, and therefore he and the entire hierarchy under him are dead men," Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said Oct. 12 in his first public statement since the war began. We will attack them, we will dismantle them, dismantle their system. Arouri lacks the same profile. One of his titles is deputy chief of Hamas political bureau, but sources say Arouris role in Hamas has become much more prominent than that. In addition to still playing a role in the Qassam Brigades, Arouri has spent years helping rebuild Hamas operations in the other Palestinian territory blockaded by Israel, the West Bank, according to former Israeli and U.S. counterterrorism officials who have tracked him. And, they say, he acts as a chief deputy of sorts to Ismail Haniyeh, one of several Hamas leaders based in Qatar as they try to do political outreach for the group, including to Iran and Hezbollah. Five days after the attacks, Arouri offered Al Jazeera Arabic some of the first inside details about the operation, including how 1,200 members of the Qassam Brigades had been given detailed instructions about their targets, the Israeli militarys Gaza Brigade, just across the border from the Gaza Strip. We were surprised that the Gaza Brigade collapsed in less than three hours, faster than we expected, Arouri said. Officially, Iran has denied any role in the attack even as it congratulates Hamas. President Joe Biden told CBS's "60 Minutes" on Oct. 15 that theres no evidence at this point that Iran was behind the attack. Israeli officials have made similar comments, stressing that the investigation was in its early stages. But U.S. and Israeli intelligence analysts say that if anyone could give the group the ability to launch such stunning land, air and sea attacks against the Israeli military, it would be Iran and its Revolutionary Guard. Even as the hunt for Arouri continued, Iran and Hezbollah both raised prospects of openly entering the conflict to respond to Israels strikes in Gaza. Arouris role as an alliance-builder among terrorist organizations has been known to Israel since at least 2018. And his role in raising money and plotting terrorist attacks for Hamas has been known to both governments for a generation. It's not just the guys who pulled the trigger or approved the battle plan or gave the final order to do it but the people who are directing all of the strategy and really promoting the (anti-Israel) militarism, said Matthew Levitt, a former FBI counterterrorism analyst and U.S. Treasury Department terror finance official. And that's Saleh al-Arouri. Yet he has evaded authorities for years. He knows that if he steps anywhere close, we will kill him, a former top Israeli intelligence official until earlier this year told USA TODAY. "He was on the run. You can imagine that there were several plans regarding that, but it just didn't happen. A militant from an early age Born in the West Bank town of Ramallah, Arouri became a fixture in pro-Palestinian activity in the mid-1980s at Hebron University, where he studied Sharia, or Islamic law. Security officials in Israel and the U.S. say Arouri joined Hamas soon after it was formed in late 1987 at the beginning of the first Palestinian intifada, or uprising. He quickly graduated from being a leader of its on-campus youth organization to founding the Qassam Brigades in the name of establishing an Islamic Palestinian state in place of Israel. By the early 1990s, the Qassam Brigades began conducting anti-Israel attacks in the Palestinian territories and in Israel, U.S. and Israeli documents and interviews show. Those included large-scale bombings and rocket attacks, according to the U.S. Directorate of National Intelligence and the National Counterterrorism Center, which it oversees. In 2003, the Justice Department named Arouri an unindicted co-conspirator in a racketeering case against three Hamas operatives in Chicago who were charged with financing terrorism. In the indictment, Arouri was described as a high-ranking Hamas military leader who had received tens of thousands of dollars for terrorist activities, including buying weapons. But Arouri was being investigated by the U.S. even before then. The U.S. government has been aware of Arouri since the late 1990s when he was senior activist in the West Bank, said Levitt, who worked at the FBI from 1998 to 2001. Israeli authorities detained and incarcerated Arouri three times, though he continued his Hamas activity even while in an Israeli prison in Ashkelon, the Justice Department indictment said. Arouri was arrested again in 2007 but freed in 2011 when Israel released more than 1,000 prisoners in exchange for an Israeli soldier who had been captured by Hamas in 2006. All told, Arouri ultimately spent about 15 years in Israeli prisons, Levy, Levitt and others say. Upon his final release, he was forced out of Gaza for being a continuing threat to Israel and moved to the Syrian capital of Damascus to join Hamas leadership in exile there. With the outbreak of civil war in Syria, Arouri was on the move again. He spent time in Turkey, where he began building an operational Hamas presence in Qatar, where Hamas political leadership resided, and Lebanon. In 2014, Arouri announced that Hamas was responsible for a terrorist attack in June 2014 that included the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank, one of which was dual U.S.-Israeli citizen Naftali Fraenkel, the State Department said. He publicly praised the murders, which sparked Hamas monthlong war with Israel that year, as a heroic operation, State Department documents show. With his suspected involvement of the murder of a U.S. citizen, Arouri was high on the U.S. governments list of terror targets. In September 2015, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned him as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, saying he was a key financier and financial facilitator for Hamas military cells. U.S. documents in support of that action say that Arouri directed Hamas military operations in the West Bank and that he had been linked to several terrorist attacks, hijackings and kidnappings. In June 2017, Qatar expelled six Hamas members, including Arouri, the State Department said in its annual Country Reports on Terrorism. The move came amid intense pressure on Qatar by Washington to crack down on its longstanding role in providing safe haven for terrorists. Two months later, Arouri was instrumental in patching up relations between Hamas and Tehran. Irans history of providing money, weapons, training and technological support to Hamas actually goes back to the early 1990s, said Jonathan Schanzer, a former Treasury Department terror finance analyst and author of four books on Middle East politics. Arouri put to rest a feud with Iran over the civil war in Syria and began to forge closer links with Hezbollah from his new base of operations in Lebanon, Schanzer said. In November 2018, the U.S. State Departments Rewards for Justice program offered up to a $5 million bounty for information on Arouri. At the time, the State Department said, Arouri was currently living freely in Lebanon, where he reportedly is working with Qasem Soleimani, leader of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force. Israel was so alarmed by these developments that Danon, as its ambassador to the United Nations, sent two urgent requests for intervention, the first in 2017, to the president of the U.N. Security Council. The increasing cooperation between Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran constitutes a major threat not only to Israel but to the stability and security of the entire region, Danon wrote in his May 11, 2018, follow-up letter, a copy of which was obtained by USA TODAY. The new alliance, including meetings of top operatives and pledges of mutual support, Danon wrote, was being led by Arouri and Saeed Izadi, head of the Palestinian Branch of Iran's Revolutionary Guard's elite Quds Force. Hamas also was building its own military force covertly in Lebanon, Danon wrote, warning that it by then had built the infrastructure it needed to manufacture its own missiles and drones. In the recent past, one of Arouris jobs has been to bring Hamas fighters from the Qassam Brigades to Lebanon for specialized training, Danon said in an interview this week. Arouri now travels to and from Iran but mostly stays in Lebanon, where Hezbollahs power as a political and military force provide him with protection, former security officials told USA TODAY. Asked if Israel knows his current whereabouts, Danon said: I cannot comment on that. On Oct. 7, the kind of weaponry Danon warned about including drones figured in the sophisticated Hamas attack, launched from Gaza. As Hamas forces raided Israeli towns, one of their first targets was the coastal city of Ashkelon, where Arouri had spent so many years in jail. Building a regional terror alliance In the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attack, the FBI and other U.S. agencies have joined Israel in its response and its investigation, according to Attorney General Merrick Garland and other Biden administration officials. That includes the hunt for at least 13 Americans who may be still held hostage by Hamas, the dragnet for Hamas foot soldiers believed to be hiding inside Israel and the broader investigation into who orchestrated and led the sophisticated invasion, two U.S. intelligence officials told USA TODAY on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss ongoing investigations. If the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the U.S. are any guide, it could be months or even years before authorities answer those questions in detail. Iran has signaled a more aggressive approach to Israel, including a warning this week about potential Iranian action against Israel for its response in Gaza. Hezbollah has issued similar warnings. Irans suspected involvement in the planning of the Gaza raid has been widely reported. Gen. Esmail Ghaani, who is in charge of supervising Irans network of proxy militias as head of the countrys paramilitary Quds Force, repeatedly traveled to Lebanon for covert sessions with leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah, The New York Times reported from the region. Iran also has supported Hamas militarily, it said, and has helped it design and produce a domestic missile and rocket system to match the capabilities and material available in Gaza. And Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah held an hourslong online meeting in March with an elite group of strategists from all the Iran-backed militias and told them to get ready for a war with Israel with a scope and reach including a ground invasion that would mark a new era, The Times reported, citing two participants from Iran and Syria. But media coverage has not yet focused on Arouris role in those relationships. Neither did senior Trump administration Iran official Richard Goldberg when he mentioned the existence of a Lebanon-based intelligence center for the three groups during a public event Monday. Hamas, Iran and Hezbollah, Goldberg said, have coordinated a fusion cell in Beirut since 2021 where they put everybody together in a war room, an intel room operations room, they go in and out of Lebanon and they coordinated it all. The former top Israeli security official confirmed to USA TODAY the existence of the joint Iran-Hezbollah-Hamas intelligence center in Beirut. They have representatives there, they coordinate their actions, they share information, they share intel. The purpose of that, of course, is to enhance their joint capabilities, the former official, who left Israeli government earlier this year, said in an interview. Asked whether Arouri played a role in the center, the official said: Yes of course. I'm not sure if he is the person that is representing (Hamas) there, but clearly he has participated in joint meetings over there. Goldberg, director for countering Iranian weapons of mass destruction for the White House National Security Council from 2019 to 2020, said he believed the strong cooperation between Hamas, Iran and Hezbollah helped them keep the plot away from Israeli intelligence, just like al-Qaida kept the 9/11 plot away from the U.S. And so if you don't have any intel on the planning of the attack, it stands to reason you have no intel on Iran's involvement in said attack plans, Goldberg said. Of course you don't have the intel. Youre not going to find the intel. There was no intel (because) there was a catastrophic intelligence failure. Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, also said all signs point to Iran, given its role in funding, training and equipping Hamas fighters. If you breed an attack dog, you train an attack dog, you equip an attack dog, maybe you're surprised that the dog breaks through the fence and attacks, but you're still responsible for that attack, Schneider said. And Iran has been training Hamas, has been equipping Hamas, funding Hamas, and this has the fingerprints of (Iran) training and planning all the way through. The hunt for Arouri may reveal more of those plans, but for now, he appears only in his media statements. Speaking to Al Jazeera, just after the attack, he described his view of the Israeli response to come. "The occupation knows that its invasion of Gaza will turn the battle into a catastrophe for its army, he said, according to a Palestine Chronicle translation. Before our operation began, the defensive plan was ready, and it is much stronger than the offensive plan. ... We do not see a future for this battle except victory." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gaza attack: Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri a key link to Hezbollah, Iran NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Several legends surround an old, abandoned building in Nashville that if not for the barbed wire fences and watch towers might be mistaken for a castle. Left abandoned for several decades, the already decaying structure of the old Tennessee State Prison was further damaged during a deadly March 3, 2020, tornado that left piles of brick and rubble all over the historic compound. The sunken towns underneath Tennessees lakes Few people have stepped foot inside the prison since it was forced to close in 1992 because of inhumane conditions, but those who have report ghostly encounters such as the sounds of cell bars clunking or footsteps echoing down the halls. Whether there is truth to the legends or not, whats known of the prisons history is enough to give passersby a bit of a creepy feeling. When the old Tennessee State Prison first opened in the Cockrill Bend area of Nashville in 1898, it was considered one of the most modern and humane compounds in the country. The castle-like design was drawn from a European style, and many people from all over the country came to see the state-of-the-art facility. However, standards at the prison were much different than todays penitentiaries. Several teens and young children served out sentences alongside older inmates during the early 1900s. According to records from the Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC), two 10-year-old and 11-year-old boys were committed in 1908 to serve two to three years for larceny. Haunted places in Middle Tennessee In an Oct. 24, 1982, edition of The Tennessean that was written amid growing criticism of the correctional system, a reporter noted that several of the young inmates where whipped as punishment for being disorderly or talking in shop, while others suffered at the hands of older inmates. Other accounts talk of violence at the hands of prison wardens. Glenn Swaffords punitive actions, which were said to rely on fear and violence to keep inmates in line, led to the Tennessee State Prison becoming known as Swaffords Graveyard. (1971) Main entrance and steps, Tennessee State Penitentiary, west side. Swafford became a warden in 1915 and spent almost 40 years at the penitentiary. A reporter who visited a cemetery at the facility a few years prior said there had already been 125 people buried on the grounds and described feeling an intuitive, forbidding hesitation at the entrance. No penitentiary records exist to indicate how many prisoners were executed prior to the use of the electric chair, but according to the Tennessee Encyclopedia, 78 were executed by electrocution, beginning with Julius Morgan in 1916 and ending with William Tines in 1960. I am Sadie Baker: The legend of Coffee Countys witch In the last few decades before its closure the prison would be the site of several uprisings, including a 1975 incident known as the pork chop riot. The revolt, which was reportedly sparked after the lunch line ran out of pork chops, was said to be over poor living conditions. In 1978, corporal punishment for juvenile offenders was abolished, but the troubles continued into the 1980s. According to the Tennessee Encyclopedia, a federal district court declared parts of Tennessees prison system unconstitutional in 1982 because of overcrowding, unhealthy and inhuman conditions. (1971) Tennessee State Penitentiary stairs (central tower) and cell entrance at first floor level inside main entrance. Sign on door under stairs says Gate 2. Riots broke out again in the summer of 1985, causing millions of dollars in damage. In a petition requesting attention to the conditions at the prison, inmates in a maximum-security unit wrote that they would spend 23 hours per day in cells with less than 8 square feet to move around. Other concerns centered around plumbing malfunctions and leaks, as well as inadequate medical care, insensitive prison guards, a lack of reading material and poor counseling and chaplain service. Stories of injuries, deaths haunt Tennessee dam A complaint filed in federal court the following year described sheets stained with feces, puss and other bodily fluid at the Tennessee State Penitentiary Hospital, and, in some instances, staff said cockroaches were found living in wounds and surgical incisions. In June 1992, the Tennessee State Prison was closed and prohibited from housing prisoners ever again. However, the exterior would later be used for shots in the 1999 film, The Green Mile, as well as The Last Castle, filmed in 2001. While TDOC does not allow the public on the prison property, largely because of safety reasons, residents used to be able to get a glimpse of the grounds during an annual 5-K run benefitting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee. Haunted Tennessee: Explore more unnatural, unexplained, and downright unsettling legends in Tennessee However, the events ceased after the 2020 tornado. A lot of the structure can still be seen from the road, but its unclear what the future may hold for the old, abandoned Tennessee State Prison. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. By Kanishka Singh (Reuters) - Dozens of Hollywood actors and artists, including comedian Jon Stewart and Oscar-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix, wrote on Friday to U.S. President Joe Biden , urging him to press for a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza. Palestinian Islamist group Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,400 people and taking about 200 hostages. Since then, Israel has bombed Gaza and killed over 4,100 Palestinians, according to the Palestinian health ministry. "We urge your administration, and all world leaders, to honor all of the lives in the Holy Land and call for and facilitate a ceasefire without delay an end to the bombing of Gaza, and the safe release of hostages," the celebrities wrote to Biden. "We refuse to tell future generations the story of our silence, that we stood by and did nothing. As (UN) Emergency Relief Chief Martin Griffiths told UN News, "History is watching"", they said in the letter, citing Griffiths' comment on Monday. The nearly 60 signatories included Susan Sarandon, Kristen Stewart, Quinta Brunson, Ramy Youssef, Riz Ahmed and Mahershala Ali, among others. "Humanitarian aid must be allowed to reach them (Gazans)," the letter said. Biden on Friday said he believed that trucks carrying aid will get through to Gaza in the next 24 to 48 hours. Israel's bombardment of Gaza, a 45-km-long (25-mile) enclave, has created dire conditions for the 2.3 million people living there under a blockade by Israel and Egypt since Hamas took control in 2007. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Rod Nickel) Historic Homes of Ocean Springs are included on the 2023 10 Most Endangered Historic Places in Mississippi list published annually by Mississippi Heritage Trust. The Ocean Springs Historical Society nominated three properties for the list. The properties were combined into one listing in the top 10 list that a panel of judges selected for 2023. The entry notes the evolution of downtown Ocean Springs and the development pressures the city faces. It reads, in part, Rapid development and natural disasters have taken a toll on the historic houses in the district, leaving local landmarks like the OKeefe Boarding House, Lynwood and the Von Rosambeau House in danger of being lost to neglect and demolition. The citys Historical Society selected those three properties to nominate because of their historic significance and a desire to see them preserved. Descriptions of the properties are below: The OKeefe Boarding House, 2122 Government: Built in the 1850s, the boarding house owned by the OKeefe family was originally two stories. It was on the property where OKeefe Funeral Home sits today, at the corner of Jackson and Porter avenues. A farmer from Indiana bought the house in 1910 to settle with his wife in Ocean Springs, according to historian Ray Bellande, as recounted on his website, and moved it to its current location on Government Street. The second floor was removed. Its historical significance lies in its association with the OKeefe family whose operation of this boarding house and its adjacent livery stable played a major role in the late-nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century tourism industry of the town, a National Register of Historic Places nomination says. The OKeefe Boarding House in Ocean Springs on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. The house is one of Ocean Springs historic homes included on Mississippi Heritage Trusts list of 10 Most Endangered Historic Places in Mississippi for 2023. The Von Rosambeau-Gautier House, 420 Jackson Ave.: The craftsman-style bungalow built in 1917 contributes to the Old Ocean Springs Historic District. It was built by German immigrant Gus von Rosambeau, who worked as a sugar chemist in New Orleans and relocated to Ocean Springs in the 1870s, becoming a prominent merchant, according to a listing with the Mississippi Department of Archives & History. The home was the second built by von Rosambeau after an oil stove exploded and burned down the first house and store on the property. Lyndwood, 915 Ocean Avenue: The traditional residence with a gabled entry was built using salvaged lumber in 1934 and belonged to the Gottsche family until 1989, when it was given to the First Presbyterian Church of Ocean Springs, an MDAH entry says. The Lyndwood House in Ocean Springs on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. The Lyndwood House is one of three houses that were combined for the Historic Homes of Ocean Springs listing as one of the 10 Most Endangered Historic Places in Mississippi for 2023. Endangered properties list boosts preservation Other Mississippi places on the endangered list, including photographs, can be found here. The Mississippi Historic Trust published its first endangered places list in 1999. The organization claims as graduates of the list a number of historic buildings that have since been saved and restored, including The King Edward Hotel in Jackson, Round Island Lighthouse in Pascagoula, Amzie Moore House in Cleveland, L.Q.C. Lamar House in Oxford and the Threefoot Building in Meridian. Chelsea Norton Prince, founder of the Ocean Springs Historical Society, said hopes are that inclusion of the Ocean Springs properties on the Historic Trust list will help lead to their restoration. The longer term goal, she said, is to have downtown included in an Ocean Springs Historic District. Ocean Springs became the first European settlement in Mississippi in 1699. The city has eight historic districts, with two in the downtown area. But the districts leave out the Government Street and the areas immediately surrounding it. Boundaries of the Old Ocean Springs Historic District as shown in the city publication Ocean Springs Historic District Design Guidelines. The district does not encompass the heart of the downtown area. The Railroad Historic District boundaries are shown in the publication Ocean Springs Historic District Guidelines. Like many Palm Beach residents, Lynn Fosters decision to become an island homeowner began with her desire for a more tropical locale. Having built a career as a Philadelphia and New York City investment banker and originally from Hawaii she decided to check out Palm Beach as a place to enjoy her retirement. I have an apartment in New York and a summer place on Fishers Island off of Connecticut. Im retired. I didnt need to live where it was cold anymore, Foster explains. Over the years, she had often visited Palm Beach and liked it, so she came down to look for a rental about a dozen years ago. Thats when she zeroed in on a landmarked Midtown house known as Tradewinds, which was built in 1930 and designed by noted Palm Beach society architect Maurice Fatio. The house had abundant charms, including the living room's saltbox-style pecky-cypress ceiling, working fireplace and floors covered in the original tiles. The house was for sale. But it was not for rent, Foster says. For six months, it languished on the market, and it kept popping into my head. I dragged my son, Richard (Claflin) down to see it. He literally walked through it once, and said, Just buy it, Mom. And thats what she did in 2011. She then embarked on a complex, year-long restoration, renovation and expansion. The project transformed the house and ended up winning the 2014 Preservation Foundation of Palm Beachs Polly Earl Award, which recognizes small-scale, historically sensitive renovation and restoration projects. FROM THE VAULT: Polly Earl Award honors owner Lynn Foster for re-do of 1930 Fatio-designed house on Brazilian Ave. Today, the house at 424 Brazilian Ave., in the streets lake block, emanates its original glory. And the property has again entered the market, because Foster is planning to travel more to spend time with her sons, who live in Los Angeles and Manhattan. Priced at $14.8 million, the house was listed this week with Brown Harris Stevens agent Carole Hogan. The two-bedroom guesthouse stands on the south end of the property, separated from the main house by the pool. Enveloped within lush courtyards, the main two-story house comprises three bedroom suites and 3,306 total square feet of living space, inside and out. At the rear of the property, on the other side of the pool, the two-bedroom guesthouse has 1,294 total square feet and includes a living room and kitchen. The property is near the Palm Beach Marina and a few blocks north of Worth Avenue. Foster assembled seasoned design team to re-do her landmarked Palm Beach house The house had already been updated when Foster bought it, but it still posed design challenges common to many vintage Spanish Mediterranean-style homes. Undaunted, Foster turned to her other son, John Claflin, an architectural designer, to get his feedback. Using his design concepts as a basis, she commissioned Palm Beach architect Pat Segraves of SKA Architect + Planner to serve as the architect of record. Segraves turned out to be a great choice, she says. He had renovated the pool area and the separate guesthouse two decades ago, she explains. TAKING A HARD LOOK: What did Palm Beach architectural board think of the designs for these two houses? Here's what. Segraves, who has previously served on the Landmarks Preservation Commission, also had a keen grasp of the towns programs to protect historic buildings. The house had earned landmark status in 2001, a designation that protects its exterior walls from significant alternation unless the changes are approved by the commission. In Fosters case, the board blessed her project, thanks in no small part to Segraves efforts. Pat did the site-plan calculations. And he had been on different boards. He gave me the confidence (to make changes) that Landmarks (commissioners) would not object to. Also on her team were contractor Benno Chip Janssen III and project superintendent Dave Elhage of Janssen Construction, who oversaw the renovation. The project removed a number of interior walls and completely rebuilt others. At the far end of the living room are the staircase and the arched front door. The front courtyard is through the doors at the left. Renovation, restoration aimed bring back Palm Beach home's original charm Over the years, people had monkeyed with this house, Foster says. They took away much of its Fatio charm. The point was: How to bring it back? An example? Time and climate had taken their toll on the condition of the windows. And many of those openings were fairly small, limiting the amount of natural light that could flow into the house a design strategy that helped keep the house cool in the days before air conditioning. Previous owners had covered over the arched windows flanking the (living rooms) fireplace and had replaced many of the Fatio-designed arched windows with a flat-topped casement-style that cranked out. And of those, only three were operative. She reinstalled the arched windows by the fireplace. She also removed and replaced other windows, choosing new mahogany-trimmed, impact-resistant versions that repeated Fatios favored arch motif. The new windows helped visually link the rooms while adding a tropical note to the interiors, a nod at Fosters Hawaiian roots. She also installed window screens, with some integrated within interior louvered shutters. I like to throw open the windows, and I thought this house had to have breezes there must have been some reason Fatio named the house Tradewinds, she says. ON THE MARKET IN PALM BEACH Just-finished Palm Beach 'spec' house asks $23M near former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago Palm Beach project opened up rooms, evened-out floors She and her team solved other challenges, too. One often had to step up or down between several of the rooms because the floors were of uneven heights, and a number of interior walls also blocked sunlight, resulting in interior spaces that lacked brightness. Among the rooms that were completely reworked was the enclosed loggia, where a wall was removed to open up the space. Crews also leveled off the floor heights and replaced a pair of windows with French doors, which access a dining courtyard. A trio of arched windows was carved out of another wall to mirror the ones in the dining room opposite. The enclosed loggia is open to the living room on the left and the dining room on the right. Another project replicated the original wrought-iron stair banister and the railing on the small gallery that overlooks the living room. To provide additional room, a two-story addition was designed for the south side of the main house. By bumping out the rear wall, Foster found space for a main-bedroom suite on the second floor and, below it, an ensuite VIP guest bedroom, which she uses as a library and office. The second-level floor plan also was extensively revised. Outside, crews extensively reworked the front courtyard, installed new coral keystone on the patios and replaced the houses stucco. Working closely with Foster, Bruce Armstrong of Armstrong Landscape Design Group handled the bulk of the landscape design. Foster requested fragrant flowers and, for visual consistency, white blossoms. With three open-air courtyards one in front, another centrally located and the third surrounding the pool Tradewinds lives up to its name, an updated tropical residence of which Fatio would surely approve. The project gave Foster a tropical house that spoke to her Hawaiian roots, and for the town, a restored gem of a landmark. ON THE MARKET IN PALM BEACH: This North End home was a relaxed retreat for Kahle family * Previous reporting by Staff Writer Darrell Hofheinz contributed to this story. * To see more photos of 424 Brazilian Ave. in Palm Beach, click on the photo gallery at the top of the page. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Florida real estate: Tour this historic Palm Beach home priced at $15M In The Know by Yahoo "Alandria Maddox is an exceptional student and an integral part of the drum majors that lead the Sound of the Natural State." The post Arkansas State University student Alandria Maddox wins homecoming queen and makes history as first Black woman drum major appeared first on In The Know. While working as a registered nurse case manager at a hospice clinic in Minnesota, a woman stole prescription pain medications meant for patients, authorities said. Now, the 33-year-old woman has been indicted in federal court, according to an Oct. 18 news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Minnesota. She is charged with obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. Her defense attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News on Oct. 20. Authorities said the nurse stole oxycodone, hydromorphone and fentanyl from the Baxter clinic between November 2020 and November 2022. She stole the opioids by entering fake prescription requests into the clinics e-prescribing software, according to the indictment. Authorities said she both used and sold the stolen painkillers. Nurse case managers are registered nurses tasked with developing, implementing and reviewing patient health care plans, according to Western Governors University. As many as 15% of medical workers will abuse drugs or alcohol during their career, according to the American Addiction Centers. Doctors and nurses are more likely to abuse prescription medications, with very high rates of abuse frequently seen with opioid narcotics such as fentanyl, the AAC said. Baxter is about 125 miles northwest of Minneapolis. The US opioid crisis Overdoses are a leading cause of injury-related death in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2021, there were nearly 51,000 overdose deaths in the country, according to CDC data. In the past 21 years, drug overdoses have killed more than 932,000 people, the CDC reported. The majority of overdose deaths involve opioids. Deaths involving synthetic opioids (largely illicitly made fentanyl) and stimulants (such as cocaine and methamphetamine) have increased in recent years, the CDC said. For every drug overdose that results in death, there are many more nonfatal overdoses, each one with its own emotional and economic toll. Millions of people in the U.S. have an opioid addiction, according to the CDC. Addiction is a chronic and relapsing disease that can affect anyone. If you or a loved one shows signs of substance use disorder, you can seek help by calling the national hotline at 1-800-662-4357 or find treatment using SAMHSA's online locator. Pharmacy distribution worker swapped prescription drug with aspirin and Tylenol, feds say Patients endure excruciating surgeries after nurse swaps meds with saline, suit says Nurse swaps fentanyl with saline, then emergency patient gets tampered drug, feds say You are here: China Wang Dawei, former vice governor of northeast China's Liaoning Province and former police chief of Liaoning, on Thursday stood trial at a court in Xiangyang, Hubei Province, on a charge of accepting bribes. According to the prosecution filed by the people's procuratorate of Xiangyang, Wang took advantage of his various positions in the provinces of Heilongjiang and Liaoning between 2008 and 2022 to seek profits for others regarding matters including business operation, case handling and job promotion. In return, Wang accepted money and valuables worth 555 million yuan (about 77.3 million U.S. dollars), according to prosecutors. Wang pleaded guilty and expressed remorse at the court. A verdict will be announced in due course. The Republican conference on Friday voted to no longer back House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) as its Speaker nominee. The secret ballot vote came hours after Jordans third failed ballot on the House floor. He had lost GOP support with each successive vote. Friday marks the latest drama in the more than two-week saga since eight House Republicans joined with Democrats to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Oct. 3. Jordan was the GOPs second shot at Speaker replacement. It had first narrowly nominated House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) for the post, but resistance to his candidacy mostly from Jordan supporters forced him to withdraw a day later. Scalise said after the Jordan vote on Friday he would not mount another bid for Speaker. Jordan briefly addressed his recall after the vote. I told the conference it was an honor to be their speaker designee, Jordan said. But I felt it was important that we all we all know an answer to the question, do they want me to continue in that in that role. And so we put the question to them, they made a decision Top Stories from The Hill Jordan said that he is going back to work as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. But its important we do unite, Jordan said. Lets figure out who that individual is, get behind him and get to work for the American people. Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas) said Jordans remarks in conference were very statesman-like, and Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-N.Y.), who supported Jordan on the first two ballots but left his corner on the third, said the Ohio Republican was classy. Jordans decision leaves the House in chaos and stuck amid a war between Israel and Hamas and a looming shutdown deadline. Speaker Pro Tem Patrick McHenry (R-N.S.) said that the House GOP will hold a candidate forum Monday at 6:30 p.m., and a secret ballot election for a new Speaker nominee on Tuesday at 9 a.m. The deadline to declare a candidacy for Speaker is noon Sunday, members said. We need space and time for candidates to talk to other members, McHenry said. 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 Evening Report newsletter The race to succeed Jordan as the GOPs nominee and McCarthy as Speaker is well underway. And the field is already crowded. Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), the chairman of the Republican Study Committee, announced his own candidacy for Speaker while leaving the closed-door conference meeting. He had floated, but ultimately decided against, a run earlier this month. Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.), who mounted an unsuccessful last-minute bid against Jordan last week, jumped back into the race Friday afternoon. And Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Mich.) in a statement said: My hat is in the ring. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) is running, according to a spokesman. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), who could be highest-ranking the most formidable Speaker candidate, is making calls about a run, according to a source familiar. And House GOP Conference Vice Chairman Mike Johnson (R-La.) is also making calls about a run. Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) also told reporters hes seriously considering running for Speaker and is still praying on it, while talking to his wife on the phone leaving the meeting: What do you want me to do, honey? Sign up for the latest from The Hill here But its not clear at this point who could win over 217 Republicans. Certainly you have to work hard, said Hern, who voted for Jordan on all three ballots. Its gonna require 217 and when you look at what theyve done, you always learn from the previous candidates, what worked and what didnt work. And again, as I said, the first week when Speaker McCarthy was moved aside, that, you know, we needed to work for unity and unity was only having two candidates in a race. I think our delegation needs to have somebody who wants to work to unite them, brings a different perspective, and that will be what I bring. Conservatives were bitter about the end of Jordans candidacy. I think we just observed the most popular Republican in Congress knifed anonymous in a closed-door secret meeting, and it was the actions of the swamp, and I think its really unfortunate, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who led the motion to vacate against McCarthy, told reporters. McCarthy said after the secret ballot vote that he was concerned about who would succeed him. On a very serious note, this is talking about that person third in line to the presidency, and the furthest step anybody takes us from the front row to the podium, McCarthy told reporters. He added of Scalise and Jordan, I hope we have some other people up for the job. They both could have done the job. Rebecca Beitsch contributed. Updated at 3:34 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Republican conference on Friday voted to no longer back House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) as its Speaker nominee. The secret ballot vote came hours after Jordans third failed ballot on the House floor. He had lost GOP support with each successive vote. Friday marks the latest drama in the more than two-week saga since eight House Republicans joined with Democrats to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Oct. 3. Jordan was the GOPs second shot at Speaker replacement. It had first narrowly nominated House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) for the post, but resistance to his candidacy mostly from Jordan supporters forced him to withdraw a day later. Scalise said after the Jordan vote on Friday he would not mount another bid for Speaker. Jordan briefly addressed his recall after the vote. I told the conference it was an honor to be their speaker designee, Jordan said. But I felt it was important that we all we all know an answer to the question, do they want me to continue in that in that role. And so we put the question to them, they made a decision Jordan said that he is going back to work as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. But its important we do unite, Jordan said. Lets figure out who that individual is, get behind him and get to work for the American people. Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas) said Jordans remarks in conference were very statesman-like, and Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-N.Y.), who supported Jordan on the first two ballots but left his corner on the third, said the Ohio Republican was classy. Jordans decision leaves the House in chaos and stuck amid a war between Israel and Hamas and a looming shutdown deadline. Speaker Pro Tem Patrick McHenry (R-N.S.) said that the House GOP will hold a candidate forum Monday at 6:30 p.m., and a secret ballot election for a new Speaker nominee on Tuesday at 9 a.m. The deadline to declare a candidacy for Speaker is noon Sunday, members said. We need space and time for candidates to talk to other members, McHenry said. The race to succeed Jordan as the GOPs nominee and McCarthy as Speaker is well underway. And the field is already crowded. Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), the chairman of the Republican Study Committee, announced his own candidacy for Speaker while leaving the closed-door conference meeting. He had floated, but ultimately decided against, a run earlier this month. Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.), who mounted an unsuccessful last-minute bid against Jordan last week, jumped back into the race Friday afternoon. And Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Mich.) in a statement said: My hat is in the ring. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) is running, according to a spokesman. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), who could be highest-ranking the most formidable Speaker candidate, is making calls about a run, according to a source familiar. And House GOP Conference Vice Chairman Mike Johnson (R-La.) is also making calls about a run. Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) also told reporters hes seriously considering running for Speaker and is still praying on it, while talking to his wife on the phone leaving the meeting: What do you want me to do, honey? But its not clear at this point who could win over 217 Republicans. Certainly you have to work hard, said Hern, who voted for Jordan on all three ballots. Its gonna require 217 and when you look at what theyve done, you always learn from the previous candidates, what worked and what didnt work. And again, as I said, the first week when Speaker McCarthy was moved aside, that, you know, we needed to work for unity and unity was only having two candidates in a race. I think our delegation needs to have somebody who wants to work to unite them, brings a different perspective, and that will be what I bring. Conservatives were bitter about the end of Jordans candidacy. I think we just observed the most popular Republican in Congress knifed anonymous in a closed-door secret meeting, and it was the actions of the swamp, and I think its really unfortunate, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who led the motion to vacate against McCarthy, told reporters. McCarthy said after the secret ballot vote that he was concerned about who would succeed him. On a very serious note, this is talking about that person third in line to the presidency, and the furthest step anybody takes us from the front row to the podium, McCarthy told reporters. He added of Scalise and Jordan, I hope we have some other people up for the job. They both could have done the job. Rebecca Beitsch contributed. Updated at 3:34 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. Several of the eight House Republicans who voted to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy , R-Calif., indicated they have no regrets for the move that has led to two weeks without a speaker. Fox News Digital reached out to the eight Republicans who voted to remove McCarthy from the speakership via Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz 's motion to vacate, asking if they felt responsible for the possible Democrat-backed deal to expand the interim speaker's power. Gaetz has since blasted the potential expansion of Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry 's powers in the wake of his motion to vacate as making the interim speaker the "speaker light." "I am against speaker light, I am against Bud Light," Gaetz told reporters Thursday. "I believe it is a constitutional desecration not to elect a speaker of the House. We need to stay here until we elect a speaker." JORDAN CANCELS THIRD SPEAKER'S VOTE, WILL BACK MCHENRY UNTIL JANUARY Fox News Digital reached out to the eight Republicans who voted to remove McCarthy from the speakership via Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz's motion to vacate. Arizona Republican Rep. Eli Crane told Fox News Digital that the "only things" he feels "responsible for are representing the voices of the people who sent me here and reversing the course of this Conference so that we can get on a track towards fiscal responsibility and draining the Swamp." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "The American people want a speaker who will be honest and represent them, not business as usual in Washington," said Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C. "It is disgraceful for a number of elected officials, many of them in safe GOP districts, to support a plan to empower Democrats." "Voting against the will of your constituents is the definition of the swamp," Mace continued. "We hope the American people see who is standing with them and who is standing with Washington." Arizona Republican Rep. Eli Crane told Fox News Digital that the only things he feels responsible for are representing the voices of the people who sent me here and reversing the course of this Conference so that we can get on a track towards fiscal responsibility and draining the Swamp. Republican Rep. Matt Rosendale of Montana said, "Bringing forward a resolution to grant additional power to a Speaker that is unelected is an attempt by the D.C. Cartel to dismiss the voice of the American people and sets a dangerous precedent." "I will not support a resolution that would delay the process of selecting a Speaker and empower someone that was appointed by Kevin McCarthy and not elected by the Republican Conference," Rosendale added. "Thats why I am urging my colleagues to go back into Conference and work to nominate a candidate immediately, so we can get back to doing the work the American people elected a Republican majority to do." The office of Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., did not provide comment on the potential expansion of McHenry's powers. Gaetz's office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Neither did GOP Reps. Bob Good of Virginia, Andy Biggs of Arizona, or Tim Burchett of Tennessee. It's unclear whether House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan will hold a third vote on his nomination to be speaker of the House of Representatives. Jordan said Thrusday he would back a move to empower McHenry until January, Fox News Digital previously reported. Jordan lost support on the second ballot Wednesday winning only 199 votes after getting only 200 in the first ballot Tuesday. He needed 217 to become speaker, and could afford few Republican defections. Fox News was told he was expected to lose further votes in a ballot on Thursday. Jordan's team had said they intended to keep going with a third vote, with supporters optimistic that he could gain support. However, there had also been other potential candidates emerging from the wings amid the stalemate. Republicans had held a closed-door meeting Thursday morning amid escalating tensions within the House GOP, with several of Jordans critics stating that they had gotten credible threats because they did not vote for him for speaker. Jordan has repeatedly condemned those threats. The House of Representatives will soon recess after a third speaker's vote was put on hold on Thursday. Fox News Digital's Adam Shaw and Brooke Singman contributed reporting. Original article source: House hardline conservatives have no regrets after ousting McCarthy, blast 'speaker light' proposal A trio of House Republicans Thursday put forward a resolution to rebuke the Biden administration over its handling of evacuation arrangements for U.S. citizens from Israel as violence ripped through the country. GOP Reps. Cory Mills and Byron Donalds of Florida and Nicole Malliotakis of New York introduced a resolution "[c]ondemning the Biden Administration for failing to fulfill the United States Governments duty to American citizens left stranded in Israel." Mills, who independently evacuated over 100 stranded Americans over the course of several days last week, called out the administrations readiness to use "taxpayer dollars to provide free housing to illegal immigrants" in the U.S., while he says it frequently fails to demonstrate care "about the well-being of American citizens stranded abroad during times of violent conflict." The lawmakers offered several data points in which they say the State Department failed to provide help to stranded Americans in Israel when they were asked and pushed by bipartisan members of Congress to do so. "Whereas the Biden Administration has used taxpayer funds to provide free housing and other resources to illegal immigrants entering the United States, yet United States citizens seeking to evacuate from the developing war zone in Israel are not prioritized for such resources or assistance," the resolution states. A group of 32 Americans evacuated from Israel after being stranded following the deadly Hamas attacks. REP. CORY MILLS FLIES TO ISRAEL TO RESCUE 32 AMERICANS, SAYS HE'S DOING JOB BIDEN 'FAILED' AT TWICE READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "Whereas it is the duty and responsibility of the United States Government, inasmuch as it is reasonably within its power, to preserve and protect the safety and interests of the citizens of the United States of America domestically and abroad," it continues. "After going through this with both Afghanistan and Ukraine, it's unconscionable that the Biden Administration was delayed in executing a plan to safely get American citizens out of Israel as soon as possible," Rep. Malliotakis said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Were extremely grateful for Congressman Mills bravery and appreciate his efforts to step up in the absence of this unresponsive Administration to get our people home," she added. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla. BIDEN TRIP ENDS WITH PROMISE OF HUMANITARIAN AID TO GAZA, BACKS ISRAEL OVER HOSPITAL BLAST "Other countries like Poland, Germany, Mexico, Australia, and Canada had commercial and military planes on the ground to conduct evacuations within hours, meanwhile, trapped American citizens were stonewalled by the U.S. State Department when looking for the simplest of answers," she said. The Biden administration disputes the claims made by the lawmakers and says that more than 5,700 seats on U.S. government-chartered transport via air and water were made available for citizens and their family members, adding that there was even more supply than there was demand. The resolution states that on Oct. 9, most major airlines canceled flights departing from Israel. When Americans asked the State Department for guidance, the lawmakers say that state department responses "failed to provide useful and actionable information," and just instructed them to keep checking airline websites for updates. According to the lawmakers, 146 bipartisan members of the House transmitted a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Oct. 10. "urging the Department to use all resources at its disposal, including charter flights, to help those Americans that remain in Israel." The state department reportedly instructed U.S. citizens, at least through Oct. 10, that the department had "no plans to provide evacuation options out of Israel, as well as that United States persons seeking assistance should make no further contact to the Department." The resolution notes that when the state department eventually organized charter flights to get Americans out, at least 16 other countries had already done so for its citizens. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., questioned NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism Rebecca Weiner on the impact of the migrant crisis on New York City threat posture post 9/11. ISRAEL CONTINUES TO ISSUE EVACUATION WARNINGS IN NORTHERN GAZA, HUNDREDS KILLED IN HOSPITAL BLAST Rep. Donalds echoed that sentiment in a statement, saying, "My colleague Mr. Mills illustrated admirable leadership in his efforts to bring Americans home, and I am proud to support this effort to stand alongside our Israeli brothers and sisters. We must all Stand With Israel and denounce Hamas. "Israel is one of our greatest allies and a pillar of stability and Democracy in a region notorious for chaos and servitude. Hamas's abhorrent attack on the State of Israel and the Jewish people shook the world and deserves the complete and relentless condemnation of everyone who stands for freedom, humanity, and religious liberty," he said. The resolution was introduced Thursday amid a tense battle among the Republican majority for the House speaker. The resolution would need to be adopted by a House majority, but cannot be considered for a vote until the speakership is decided. Original article source: House Republicans move to condemn Biden admin over Americans 'stranded' in Israel In The Know by Yahoo "The silhouettes going into COVID-19 and the silhouettes coming out of 2023 are completely different." The post Stylist discusses the pandemic skip theory in the context of personal style appeared first on In The Know. The Texas House and Senate are at odds over how much discretion to give state leaders in funding a private-school voucher program the latest flashpoint in the ongoing battle between the two chambers over whether the state should help schoolchildren pay for a private education. A key difference between Republican proposals in each chamber lies in whether to allow state leaders to grow the program by sweeping money from other agencies without approval of the Texas Legislature. House Bill 1, by Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Killeen, states explicitly that Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and the Legislative Budget Board cannot use the boards budget authority to boost the amount of tax dollars for the bills education savings accounts. The Legislative Budget Board composed of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, House Speaker Dade Phelan, and appointed budget leaders from both chambers and the governor share budget execution authority, which gives them the power to shift money around without legislative action. Last year, Abbott, with the required approval of the LBB, swept nearly $1.4 billion from several state agencies without public hearings or legislative approval into his Operation Lone Star border mission under the auspices of a declared border emergency. The same can be done without the governor declaring an emergency but would require a public meeting. Buckleys bill, filed Thursday night, says state funding for an education savings account program must come only from dollars already appropriated during this years regular session up to $500 million for the biennium from the general revenue fund, which comes from state tax dollars. The bill, which caps enrollment, does not say how much of that money would be spent by HB 1. Buckely could not be reached for comment Friday. By contrast, the Texas Senate has thrown its support behind Senate Bill 1, by Conroe Republican Sen. Brandon Creighton, which explicitly allows budget transfers to fund the program at any point before lawmakers meet for the next regular session in 2025. If there is enough interest in the Senate's savings account program, the bill could conceivably use the entire $500 million in its first year, which could trigger a potential $1 billion commitment every two years if it continued at that level. Neither bill, at this point, projects actual costs of the program beyond its first year. Both bills allow the fund to also accept money from grants, gifts and other donations. As a result, the eventual size and cost of a voucher program if approved by Republican lawmakers who are locked in a rancorous intra-party fight over the issue is, at least for now, unknown. Rather than being crafted as a major policy shift in the way Texas educates its future generations, one that could lock Texas into billions of dollars in commitments each budget cycle, the education savings accounts in both bills are being treated as pilot programs slim in scope, funded for one school year, with an uncertain future. Adding to the tension over that uncertainty is the notion that Patrick, Abbott and their allies on the LBB could decide to lock Texas into a more expensive program with the stroke of a pen. It looks like a bait and switch to me, Dallas Democratic state Sen. Royce West, who does not support vouchers, told Creighton during floor debate earlier this month on SB 1, which passed largely along party lines in the Senate and is now awaiting action in the less-supportive House. West was skeptical about trusting Abbott and other supporters of the program and asked Creighton to support changing the bill to restrict those budget transfers and effectively give lawmakers the ability much as the House bill does to adjust its funding only during the regular appropriations process, which includes extensive public hearings. In floor debate, West suggested that the current $500 million price tag on SB 1 was not a guaranteed number, and that the bill allowed too much room for higher costs at the discretion of the few Republican state leaders at the top who were pushing for it particularly Abbott, who said he will not include public school funding legislation in the special session agenda until lawmakers agree to a deal. Creighton, a Patrick-appointed member of the LBB, told senators during floor debate on his bill that its common for state budget writers to build flexibility into the budget process for programs that may need funding to be adjusted up or down based on unexpected costs or savings. In the case of his bill, he said, adjustments may need to be made simply because its unclear how many students would participate, which would affect how much money is needed for the program. A lot of work has to happen over the next year before this program goes into effect before the 2024-25 school year, and those flexibilities for our appropriators are necessary, Creighton said. I don't think it means unbridled funds can continue beyond what we've established as a start for funding the program itself at $500 million. The funding in SB 1, which was approved by lawmakers in May, would be enough to pay for up to 62,500 Texas schoolchildren to use $8,000 in state money each year to pay for private tuition and related costs. That participation number might change depending on what share of those accounts would be used by home-school students, who would get only $1,000. Meanwhile, the House bill is less clear on the amount each family would get, tying it to per-student funding across the state a number that is currently in flux. It caps annual participation at 25,000 students, a sliver of the students served in the Senate bill, with increases of 25,000 students a year until 2027, when the limit would be lifted. If the program is wildly popular and fills up, the Senate proposal triggers a system that prioritizes public school kids with educational disadvantages, economic hardships and disabilities. Alternatively, lawmakers could simply put more money into the program. Unlike the House bill, which caps participation at 25,000 for its first three years, the Senate doesnt limit its program to any specific number of students. Instead, participation under the Senate proposal depends entirely on how much tax money the state pours into the program. But the spirit and intent of SB 1, Creighton told West during the floor debate last week, was not to back-channel more money into the program than what lawmakers agreed to spend. On Thursday, Creighton told The Texas Tribune that any increase in funding would be needed only if SB 1s program which has room for about 1% of school-age children in Texas grows in the future. First, though, the state needs to find out how successful the savings accounts will be, he said. After that, he told fellow senators during floor debate, its not the intention to cut lawmakers out of the decision making process over the programs life. From the start, it is important for our lawmakers to track the demand for, and the success of, education savings accounts, Creighton said in an emailed statement to the Tribune this week. I am confident that an ESAs program designed to expand educational opportunities for students across Texas will find widespread success, but any proposal to broaden the program would only be necessary if applications actually exceed available funding. In that hypothetical situation, Creighton added, it is a decision for future legislators to consider. On Friday, West told the Tribune that he was glad to see the House bill include the same transfer restrictions that he was pushing in the Senate although ultimately school vouchers wont get his vote, he said. Its lipstick on a pig, he said in a statement. This pig needs this lipstick, but its still lipstick on a pig. Conservative economist Vance Ginn said he believes it would be an uphill battle to expand the program through the LBB before the next regular session. Ideally, he said, the state will go with full universal ESAs now, start funding it with the Foundation School Program, which funds public schools, and stop going around the edges before Texas falls further behind in education outcomes. Given the fungibility of taxpayer dollars, I think it will be challenging to do [budget transfers], which is why I have been critical of this [Senate] bill with minimal school choice options for about 1% of all students across the state, said Ginn, a former budget analyst with the Texas Public Policy Forum, a conservative think tank. With nine other states already moving to universal education savings accounts, Texas will fall behind quickly without broader school choice. Abbott has made no secret about his wish for a program that eventually allows every Texas family that wants to avoid public education to access tax dollars to help them do that. This is one of those unparalleled opportunities when all of us together have the ability to achieve a better state for all families across Texas, Abbott said in a statement earlier this month. I believe that every parent can do a better job of raising their children if they are given the power to choose the school that is best for their child. If broad participation and universal availability is truly the goal, however, itll come with a hefty price tag. According to the Texas Education Agency, about 5 million students attend Texas public schools. More than 750,000 students are being home-schooled, according to the Texas Home School Coalition. An estimated 250,000 are in the states more than 1,200 private, nonprofit and/or religious schools. For the program to pay private-school tuition for even a quarter of the estimated 6 million students who qualify for Creightons proposed $8,000 annual education savings account, the state would be on the hook for more than $21 billion every two years. Depending on how the House bill formula is interpreted a state budget fiscal analysis has yet to be attached to HB 1 the cost of that program eventually could wind up being similar. Opponents say giving everyone in Texas the opportunity to use taxpayer dollars that would otherwise go to public schools is something they desperately want to avoid. The program will grow exponentially in its cost, and the vast majority of students that take advantage of vouchers will be students who already are in private schools right now, meaning that its an expensive new entitlement program that is taxpayer funded, said Monty Exter, a lobbyist for the Association of Texas Professional Educators, which opposes vouchers. And students who cannot afford to pay the difference between the voucher and the cost of most existing private schools will likely end up in a pop-up, fly-by-night voucher school that is almost certainly low quality and is likely to close within two to three years of opening, Exter said. Disclosure: Association of Texas Professional Educators has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. Happy Friday! Thanks to everyone who made it out to our Dispatch D.C. event last night. Up to Speed Shortly after returning from Israel, President Joe Biden on Thursday delivered a prime-time address in the Oval Office linking the conflicts in Ukraine and Israel and calling for Congress to approve additional funding for both. Hamas and Putin represent different threats. But they share this in common: They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy, Biden said. We cannot and will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win. Mark Robinson, the controversial North Carolina lieutenant governor seeking his states top job in 2024, has a new opponent in the Republican primary: lawyer and wealthy businessman Bill Graham. As The Dispatch first reported earlier this week, Graham had been encouraged to run for governor by GOP insiders inside and outside of North Carolina because some in the party worry Robinson will lose in the general election. The Tarheel State is a competitive battleground that for several years has been simultaneously voting Democrat for governor and Republican for president. California Sen. Laphonza Butler told the New York Times Thursday that she will not run next year for the seat she was appointed to this month, calling service in the Senate not the greatest use of my voice for California. Butler was appointed to the seat by Gov. Gavin Newsom after the death of Dianne Feinstein, who had held it for more than 30 years. Butlers departure from the race leaves a three-way contest between Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff, Katie Porter, and Barbara Lee. Sidney Powell, one of the attorneys who made the public case on behalf of Donald Trump that the 2020 election was stolen or fraudulent, has pleaded guilty in Fulton County, Georgia, to charges she conspired with other Trump supportersand Trump himselfto disrupt the 2020 election proceedings in the state. Powell was set to begin her trial next week, and as part of her deal with prosecutors will serve six years of probation, will be fined $6,000, and will have to write an apology letter to Georgia and its residents. She also agreed to testify truthfully against her co-defendants at future trials, the Associated Press reported. The House Mess Gets Messier And we thought the chaos immediately after Rep. Kevin McCarthys ouster as House speaker was bad. Two weeks on, Republicans are no closer to installing his replacement, conference morale is cratering, leadership is rudderless, and its plainer than ever that theres just no plan. Speaker-designate Jim Jordan thought he had a plan. A few of them, in fact. Plan A was to browbeat and/or sweet-talk enough of the holdouts into line for the Ohio Republican to win on Tuesdays first ballot, or failing that on Wednesdays second. Plan B was revealed Thursday morning: Jordan told his colleagues he would push to empower the acting speaker pro tem, Rep. Patrick McHenry , to serve as a functional speaker for a few months and shepherd Congress through its current legislative crunch, then try to vote again. On paper, this was a conciliatory, everybody-wins proposal: McHenry, a McCarthy ally, would have been a broadly acceptable leader to take the wheel on a few pieces of crucial legislation, including votes on aid to Israel and Ukraine, and averting yet another looming government shutdown. Yet it blew up almost immediately. Many of Jordans detractors, Republicans and Democrats alike, werent about to give the floundering speaker-designate months of new runway to shore up support. And his hardline supporters saw it as a slap in the face: The guy they nominated to be a rock-ribbed conservative was going to hand off the next few major negotiating fights to a pragmatist who would need Democratic votes to get there in the first place? Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana, a Jordan supporter, called the proposal a giant betrayal and the biggest F-U to Republican voters Ive ever seen. Hours after throwing his weight behind the McHenry proposal, Jordan pulled the plug, instead redoubling his efforts to win over his detractors. On Thursday afternoon, alongside McCarthy and McHenry, he met with a group of opposition Republicans to hear their concerns. (A Reuters photographer snapped a pic of his handwritten notes: What is the real reason?) That real reason isnt hard to figure out, although it differs from opponent to opponent, be they members loyal to House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, defense hawks, appropriators, or conservative pragmatists unhappy with the whole process. Above all, the holdouts are dug in against the pressure campaign thats being waged against them, one that Jordan has lately disavowed. Several said theyd received death threats. One of these, Rep. Drew Ferguson, said in a statement hed initially planned to support Jordan on the second ballot, but that it had become clear to him that the House Republican Conference does not need a bully as the Speaker. Jordan will try again on a third ballot today at 10 a.m., although theres every reason to believe the math is worse for him than ever. But during a Friday morning press conference on Capitol Hill, Jordan indicated the House would keep working through the weekend if necessary to elect a speaker. Our plan this weekend is to get a speaker elected to the House Representatives as soon as possible, so we can help the American people, Jordan said, adding that he thinks he will win back a few supporters that he lost from Wednesdays vote. Whether Jordan soldiers on indefinitely or bows out, the situation underscores just how leaderless the House GOP is at the moment. In theory, the present most senior member of House Republican leadership is Scalisebut he has largely washed his hands of the process since Jordan supporters torpedoed his speaker bid. Instead, its McCarthy and McHenry flanking Jordan as he tries to wheedle the holdouts around to his point of view. The guy who got run off the job, the guy installed to mind the shop, and the guy whose path to election seems to shrink by the hourat the moment, thats the shadow triumvirate atop the Republican conference. Well see whether that arrangement even survives the weekend. Nevada Caucus Shunned by Trio of GOP Contenders Even the sanctity of the crucial, early primary state isnt immune from Republican infighting. Three Republican presidential contendersNikki Haley, Mike Pence, and Tim Scottare bypassing the February 8 Nevada caucuses, the third contest on the GOP nominating calendar. Their campaigns declined to comment Thursday as to why. But Republican operatives monitoring the race for the GOP presidential nomination say these candidates did not want to pay a hefty $55,000 entry fee to participate in a contest they believe the Nevada Republican Party is rigging to assure Donald Trump wins. Instead, these three candidates plan to participate in the traditional Republican primary being held February 6. The contest, mandated by state law, is being administered by government election officials. The state party is totally in the bag for Trump. And to participate in the caucus, you have to pay $55,000 to a state party in the bag for Trump, a GOP operative supportive of Haley said. Its about momentum. Haleys running a smart and lean campaign, theyre smart to play in the primary. What is the point of participating in one of Donald Trumps rigged elections? a second Republican operative advising a GOP presidential contender added. Trump is the overwhelming frontrunner in the Republican primarynationally and across all of the early voting states. Given that the former president is particularly popular among grassroots Republicans in Nevada, its possible some of his opponents entered the primary to avoid losing a key early contest. (The state GOP is prohibiting candidates from participating in both, and nominating delegates will only be awarded via the caucuses.) Its also true that among some Republican insiders in Nevada, the state GOP has a reputation for poor management and that the chairman, Michael McDonald, is believed to be a Trump partisan. Most folks in Nevada who arent the six or seven running the state party or the Nevada Trump campaign think the caucus is the dumbest thing in a long list of dumb things the party has done, a GOP operative said. As to whether they can run it? Probably not, but Im guessing turnout will be a joke so they can likely sort a way to count a small amount of votes. In Iowa, there is no candidate entry fee for the January 15 caucus, despite the scale and significance of a contestthe first on the GOPs nominating calendarthat looms large in the primary. Still, despite the complaints about the Nevada caucus and concerns about whether the state GOP is capable of adequately administering them, there are four Republican candidates other than Trump who filed to participate before the October 16 deadline, according to the Nevada Independent. They include Doug Burgum, Chris Christie, Ron DeSantis, and Vivek Ramaswamy. Because the caucus is sanctioned by the party and awards delegates to the Republican presidential nominating convention in July 2024, it would seem to be the preferred contest to compete in. But Jon Ralston, a veteran observer of Nevada politics and founder and CEO of the Nevada Independent, said its possible the traditional primary that precedes the caucus by two days might prove influential. I am not sure the primary, which will be first, will be a sideshowif Trump falters in the previous states and Haley, perhaps, can use Nevada to pick up momentum, Ralston explained to The Dispatch. Delegateswe only have a couple dozenmay not be nearly so important as momentum. McDonald did not respond to an email requesting comment. Notable and Quotable I miss the good ol days when we used to do 2-3 votes a day for speaker. Gets it done faster. Rep. Mike Collins, Republican of Georgia, on the Houses current dysfunction, October 18, 2023 Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. President Joe Biden makes his case for providing aid for Israel and Ukraine in a rare prime-time speech. The House's temporary speaker threatens to quit. And new research warns against dangers of electric scooters and desk magnets for kids. Here's what to know today. Biden urges aid for Israel and Ukraine in Oval Office speech In a rare Oval Office speech last night, President Joe Biden made his case to the nation about why he believes it is important to support Israel and Ukraine in their ongoing wars, as he looks to build support for an aid package aimed at strengthening both countries. Biden said his administration plans to submit an emergency funding package today. That request may include $60 billion in aid to Ukraine and a total of $40 billion for Israel, Taiwan and the U.S.-Mexico border, people familiar with the matter said. Its a smart investment thats going to pay dividends for American security for generations, Biden said. This is Morning Rundown, a weekday newsletter to start your morning. Sign up here to get it in your inbox. But as conflicts unfold overseas, the fallout in the U.S. is growing more pronounced. Many Americans are demanding a cease-fire in Israel, as well as more than 400 congressional staffers who anonymously signed an open letter. Biden also urged tolerance and compassion in the U.S., days after a landlord stabbed and killed a 6-year-old boy. He and his mother were targeted because of their Muslim faith, law enforcement officials said. Read more takeaways from Bidens speech. Temporary House speaker threatens to quit In a closed-door meeting yesterday, Rep. Patrick McHenry told GOP colleagues he might resign as speaker pro tempore if Republicans push him to move legislation on the floor without an explicit vote to expand his powers, according to lawmakers in the room. If you guys try to do that, youll figure out who the next person on Kevins list is, McHenry said, referring to former Speaker Kevin McCarthys secret list of GOP lawmakers who would serve as temporary speaker in the event of a vacancy. McHenry has also threatened to resign as speaker pro tempore in individual conversations with members. Its the latest sign of chaos within the House, which is at a standstill until a new speaker is elected. Rep. Jim Jordan, the Republican nominee for the leadership role, backed an effort to empower McHenry until January while Jordan worked to shore up support for his own candidacy, but the effort collapsed. A third floor vote for a speaker is scheduled for 10 a.m. today. Families remember Pepperdine students killed in crash pepperdine student car accident victim (Courtesy Barry Stewart) Peyton Stewart, pictured above, was a go-getter, a world traveler and a foodie with a refined palette, her father, Barry Stewart, told NBC News. The 21-year-old, who was studying business at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, was among four students who died this week when a driver lost control of his car along Pacific Coast Highway and struck three vehicles that hit the young women. Niamh Rolston, Asha Weir and Deslyn Williams and Peyton Stewart were all seniors and all members of the Alpha Phi sorority. Asha Weirs mother, Vinita Weir, said her daughter had been looking forward to visiting home to Philadelphia for Thanksgiving. Now, I miss her and dont know how to do life without her. Natalee Holloways mother grateful for answers in 2005 murder Beth Holloway is at peace knowing her never-ending nightmare has come to an end. This week, Joran van der Sloot pleaded guilty to extortion and wire fraud charges, an agreement that compelled him to reveal all he knows about Natalee Holloways killing, which he had previously confessed to. Its unlikely van der Sloot will ever spend a night behind bars for her death. The statute of limitations in Aruba, where van der Sloot murdered Natalee Holloway in 2005, is 12 years. But Beth Holloway said she took comfort in getting answers about what happened to her daughter. I dont think any victims family is ever going to think an amount of time is enough, she said. Watch the full interview with NBC News correspondent Sam Brock. The items frequently landing kids in emergency rooms Electric scooters, curling irons and desk magnets among the objects injuring children and frequently the cause of emergency room visits, according to research that will be presented this weekend at the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference. Powerful magnets are particularly worrisome if a kid swallows more than one because their attraction can pinch body tissue. Curling irons can leave kids with serious burns. And electric scooters have left many with head injuries and fractures. But these arent the only products parents are warned to be careful with. Politics in Brief Georgia election interference case: Trump campaign legal adviser Kenneth Cheseboro turned down a plea offer from the Fulton County district attorneys office, a source confirmed. Earlier yesterday, former Trump attorney Sidney Powell pleaded guilty to six misdemeanor counts of conspiracy to commit election interference. She agreed to serve six years of probation. Jury selection in Cheseboros case is scheduled to begin today. Hunter Biden : David Weiss, the special counsel investigating Hunter Biden, will sit for an interview next month with the House Judiciary Committee, led by Rep. Jim Jordan. Congress: Laphonza Butler, the California Democrat appointed to fill the seat of Dianne Feinstein, said she wont seek a full Senate term in 2024. 2024 election: Donald Trumps campaign is planning a counterprogramming event just a few minutes down the road from the third GOP debate, scheduled for Nov. 8 in Miami. Capitol riot: On Jan. 6, a rioter yelled the name John Richter on the Senate floor. Months later, the FBI showed up at the wrong John Richters house to question him, NBC News justice reporter Ryan J. Reilly writes in his new book Sedition Hunters: How January 6th Broke the Justice System. Staff Pick: 30-year mystery solved Allen Livingstons mother had no idea what happened to him when he disappeared in 1993 but she had a hunch that he had been murdered by a suspected Indiana serial killer. This week, she learned she was right. This story is a look at a familys tireless pursuit to find out what happened to their loved one and includes a haunting quote from a county coroner: What are the odds that our first identification from 10,000 pieces of bone would be to that family that made the initial call? Elizabeth Robinson, newsletter editor In Case You Missed It Travis King, the U.S. soldier who ran into North Korea in July, has been charged with multiple crimes, including desertion, possession of child pornography and the assault of fellow soldiers. Billionaires are driving South Florida home prices to new records. For example, a waterfront home that last sold for $7.4 million went for about $50 million. CVS Health said it is pulling some of the most common decongestants with phenylephrine as the only active ingredient from its shelves. Britney Spears is shedding new light on what her life was like during her 13-year court-ordered conservatorship in her new memoir. Select: Online Shopping, Simplified Dry brushing removes dead skin cells from the surface of your skin and can help even out texture. All you have to do is swipe a soft brush in gentle strokes over your body. So what should you look for in a dry brush and how do you do it properly? Dermatologists answered some frequently asked questions and recommended their favorite products. Sign up to The Selection newsletter for exclusive reviews and shopping content from NBC Select. Thanks for reading todays Morning Rundown. Todays newsletter was curated for you by Elizabeth Robinson. If youre a fan, please send a link to your family and friends. They can sign-up here. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A large great white shark is at the center of a grisly debate, after it washed up at Cape Bridgewater, Australia, with a huge bite taken out of it. More specifically, the entire midsection is gone as if the shark was gnawed like corn on the cob. This is equal parts cool and terrifying, Portland Bait and Tackle wrote in an Oct. 18 Facebook post. This 3 meter (about 9 feet, 8 inches) white shark, washed up on the beach ... after being attacked. So what preys on one of the worlds fiercest predators? Among the troublesome guesses are things we dont know even exist. However, most believe with good reason the attacker was a killer whale, also known as an orca. Killer whales grow to 32 feet in length and are the oceans top predator, NOAA Fisheries reports. By comparison, great white sharks top out at about 22 feet, NOAA says. Great white sharks are completely terrified of orcas, Smithsonian Magazine reports. The apex predators will flee their hunting grounds and wont return for up to a year when killer whales pass by. The heavily chewed appearance of the sharks carcass has some convinced the attacker was exhibiting behavior observed in waters off South Africa, where killer whales were documented attacking white sharks to eat their livers. In this case they are really interested in shark liver, wildlife scientist Vanessa Pirotta told Nine News Sydney. It seems to be the juiciest part. ... There is science going on right now to find out why they are such picky eaters. Portland Bait and Tackle notes the killer whale theory seems applicable, due to multiple ocras being spotted in the same area days earlier. The companys Facebook post has gotten hundreds of reactions and comments, many from people who wanted proof of what killed the shark. Whatever it was certainly did a number on this beautiful beast, one commenter wrote. Just when you thought great whites were apex, another said. Video shows terrifying moment sea creature emerged in front of angler off Australia Talk grows of mega predator off Australia, but the grim reality may be more sobering Strange behavior of whales may be source of medieval sea monster legend, report says A human body was found lodged inside a Nebraska apartment buildings chimney, police said. On Oct. 19, Norfolk Police were called to an apartment complex on reports of a potential human body inside a chimney, according to an Oct. 20 news release by the police department. Cops and Norfolk Fire officials got to the scene and were able to extract the body from the chimney, police said. Police found the body sitting upright after gaining access to the chimney that sits between the first floor and basement, officials told WJAG. Cops werent able to confirm whether the body belonged to a female or male. One of the buildings tenants told Norfolk Daily News the chimney where the body was found runs through the center of the apartment building, the outlet reported. After seeing blood dripping down the walls and realizing an odor, a maintenance employee smashed in the wall in the basement and found the body, according to the Norfolk Daily News. McClatchy News reached out to Norfolk Police and Norfolk Fire on Oct. 20 for more information and is awaiting a response. Police said they believe this was a result of an accidental incident but that all avenues will be reviewed. An autopsy is scheduled to confirm the bodys identification, the release said. Norfolk is about 120 miles northwest of Omaha. Trail of blood leads cops to severed head in bathtub of Texas home, police say Ex-boyfriend dismembers 33-year-old woman, then burns her body, California police say Decomposing body of 22-year-old woman found in car in parking garage, Texas cops say Hundreds of protesters swarmed the Cannon rotunda at the US Capitol in Washington DC on Wednesday to demand an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, with thousands more taking to the streets outside. Footage online showed a large group of people, some sitting on the floor, gathered the famous building, waving a large banner that read Jews say ceasefire now and chanting. More stood on the balcony of the rotunda also waving a banners calling for a ceasefire. One read mourn the dead and fight like hell for the living. Many of those gathered were dressed in Jewish attire including the Tallit prayer shawls and Kippahs. Others wore black t-shirts emblazoned with the words not in our name. Despite appearing to be a peaceful protest, Capitol police soon moved to arrest members of the demonstration. By this time the number of people gathered looked to have risen. A group of protesters are demonstrating inside the Cannon Rotunda. Demonstrations are not allowed inside Congressional Buildings, the force wrote on X. We warned the protestors to stop demonstrating and when they did not comply we began arresting them. Footage also showed police begin to arrest protesters one at a time, with some being forced to the ground. Outside of Congress thousands more protesters gathered in support. Capitol plice later imposed temporary rolling road closures for safety reasons. Just after 6pm local time, the force said that the Rotunda had been cleared and that it was now processing arrests. At least three people were arrested and charged with assault on a police ffficer during processing. The demonstration was organised by campaign group Jewish Voice for Peace. Writing on X, the group wrote: Were all here to demand an end to the genocide of the Palestinian people, aided and abetted by the U.S. government. Protesters calling for a cease fire in Gaza occupy House office building rotunda on Capitol Hill in Washington (REUTERS) The root of violence is oppression, and were here to say not in our names. We have the power to stop the ongoing atrocities against Palestinians. We refuse to standby as the Israeli government commits genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The only path to peace and safety for everyone is through ensuring justice and equality for everyone. And that means ending the Israeli governments illegal occupation of Palestine. To endgenocide against Palestinians in Gaza, were demanding a #ceasefirenow. On Tuesday, the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest Muslim civil liberties group in the US, published an open letter to president Joe Biden calling for him to secure a ceasefire and ensure perpetual peace. Killing civilians is wrong, no matter whether the victims are Israeli or Palestinian, American, or any other nationality. Thats why we unequivocally condemn attacks against civilians in Israel and why we also unequivocally condemn the ongoing bombing attacks on civilians in Gaza. Our nation must do the same, the letter stated. As your Administration condemns the targeting of civilians in Israel, it must not simultaneously sanction the targeting of civilians in Palestine. This is a critical moment for your Administration. By securing a ceasefire, averting more civilian deaths, and initiating credible negotiations to secure a lasting and just peace, including the end of the occupation, your Administration can make history by stopping the cycle of violence once and for all. A group of protesters are demonstrating inside the Cannon Rotunda. Demonstrations are not allowed inside Congressional Buildings. pic.twitter.com/pZHKqSpjoL The U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) October 18, 2023 We stand ready to support your efforts to secure a just and lasting peace for all in the region. It comes as Mr Biden visited Israel on Wednesday, where he and told Israelis not to make the mistakes that the US did after the September 11 2001 terror attacks, warning its citizens not to be consumed by hate. Mr Biden also blamed an errant rocket fired from Gaza for an explosion on Tuesday night on a hospital feared to have killed hundreds of people, saying his information was based on US defence department sources. Hamas blamed the hospital blast on an Israeli air strike; Israel said the fire was caused by a failed rocket launched from within the enclave by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The conflict has now entered its eleventh day, following a surprise attack by Hamas that killed more than 1,400 people. Hurricane Norma on Friday once again strengthened to a Category 3 storm as it approaches a tourist hotspot on Mexico's Pacific coast. The hurricane -- which at one point was a Category 4 out of five on the Saffir-Simpson scale -- is now packing maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour (120 miles per hour), the US National Hurricane Center said in its latest update. It had been a Category 2 storm earlier in the day. Landfall was expected Saturday, with the tourist resort of Cabo San Lucas at the southern end of the Baja California peninsula, in the crosshairs. Late Friday, the eye of the storm was located roughly 200 kilometers south of the town, the NHC said. About 60,000 mostly foreign tourists are currently visiting the resort, local civil protection officials said. High waves were already crashing onto the peninsula's beaches, according to video broadcast by the television station Milenio. The government activated a national emergency plan ahead of the storm's arrival. More than 6,600 soldiers were placed on alert in the states of Baja California and Baja California Sur, said the national defense secretariat. Mexico's Conagua national water commission said Norma could make landfall twice, reaching Baja California Sur by Saturday as a hurricane, and again overnight Sunday in the state of Sinaloa after crossing the Gulf of California. Authorities are warning of potential flash floods, mudslides in higher areas, as well dangerous surf. Hurricanes hit Mexico every year on both its Pacific and Atlantic coasts, usually between May and November. Just last week, the country's west was hit by Hurricane Lidia, which left at least two dead after making landfall as a Category 4 storm, causing flooding. Days earlier, Tropical Storm Max left two people dead and dozens of houses flooded in the southern state of Guerrero, one of the country's poorest regions. sem/sst/acb Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) called former President Trump an isolationist during a Thursday forum at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C. Donald Trump fundamentally believes in a ring around the United States, Hutchinson told moderator Blake Burman, host of The Hill on NewsNation. In fact, hes used those words. And so, he moves more isolationist. Hutchinson noted he doesnt believe Trumps approach to the Russia-Ukraine war has been correct. He wants to give in to Putin, Russia [on] Ukraine. I disagree with him on that point, he added. Another GOP 2024 presidential candidate, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis , also recently took aim at Trumps foreign policy after the former president criticized Israel and called the Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah very smart while discussing the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Terrorists have murdered at least 1,200 Israelis and 22 Americans and are holding more hostage, so it is absurd that anyone, much less someone running for President, would choose now to attack our friend and ally, Israel, much less praise Hezbollah terrorists as very smart, DeSantis wrote in a post last week on X, formerly known as Twitter. Israels Communications Minister, Shlomo Karhi, also condemned Trumps comments, calling them shameful. NewsNation is a cable news channel started by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. ALGOMA TOWNSHIP, Mich. Just north of Rockford sits Rosies Diner, a decades-old icon that has sat empty for more than a decade, no trespassing signs in the window. It started the beginning of a new chapter Friday as crews removed the Rosies sign. It was the first step of a journey to Missouri, where the diner will be brought back to life and reopened. Two new restaurants moving into Kansas City Power & Light District Rosies Diner has a long history. First opened in the 1940s in New Jersey, the diner was originally called Silver Dollar. It was featured in some commercials, including a Pepsi commercial: the original owner in 1990 told The New York Times Pepsi paid him to use the location with 100 cases of Pepsi. It was later featured in Bounty commercials: actress and comedian Nancy Walker played Rosie, who cleaned up spills inside the diner with Bounty paper towels, The New York Times reports. It was renamed Rosies Diner in the 1970s. Crews removed the Rosies sign from the iconic diner on Oct. 20, 2023. ROSIES DINER IN THE EYES OF AN ARTIST When the original owner was ready to sell, Michigan artist Jerry Berta, who traveled the country taking photos of diners, bought Rosies and brought it to West Michigan, setting it up at 4500 14 Mile Road near US-131 in Algoma Township. The diner felt like a sculpture, the artist told News 8, referencing its curves and textured brick glass. He said Rosies was perfect. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android On July 5, 1991, the already-iconic diner reopened near Rockford. It was set up to face the golden light in the evening in a large parking lot for car shows. Berta designed a big Rosies sign to go along with the original diner sign, he said. The script was designed after a 1950s car script. I must have made a thousand Rs to get that font just right, he recalled. Crews removed the Rosies sign from the iconic diner on Oct. 20, 2023. It was a sign that was to be seen around the world. In 1992, photographer Lucinda Lewis took a photo of the diner for a calendar Berta was in it. The next thing I know, she made this poster out of it. And we started getting calls from around the world because our phone number is in here (the photo), right like South Africa, Germany, he said. Missouri mans disappearance stretches to six months He recalled a trip to Hong Kong, where he met a man who claimed to own an American restaurant. When Berta stopped by, there were two photos of Rosies Diner on the wall. The diner was also featured in three Diners, Drive-ins and Dives episodes on Food Network, according to the sites IMDb page. An undated postcard of the iconic Rosies Diner. ROSIES COMMUNITY Many memories were made at Rosies Diner over the years. It had a good connection with the community, Berta said. The diner could fit 98 people, seated closely next to one another. When it was someones birthday, everyone would sing, Berta said. Halloween trick-or-treat events in Kansas City area 2023 Dads would come up with their 15-year-olds on a Saturday because they knew everybody would sing Happy Birthday, just to embarrass their kids, he said with a laugh. Crews removed the Rosies sign from the iconic diner on Oct. 20, 2023. In the diners fifth year in West Michigan, it was counting down to serving its 1 millionth customer. Berta said there was a contest, offering a prize to whoever brought the diner to that 1 million number. We had it built up and its just a fun thing, he said. The 1 millionth customer ended up being a couple who had just come from the hospital. They came in, they sat down and they were the millionth customer, Berta said. They had just come from Saint Marys and (he) got diagnosed with cancer and he was going to die. So this was to take their mind off of it. View the latest headlines from Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas at fox4kc.com The crew did get their mind off of it, Berta said. The couple opted for a piece of his art for their prize and they were on TV. Their kids came by and told us what a wonderful thing it was, he said. It really took their mind off of it. The diner built its own community. My whole slogan was I didnt know how to run a restaurant, but I knew how to be a customer. So you treat customers good, he said. WHY DONT YOU BUY IT? During his travels around the country photographing diners, Berta said when he told owners he loved one, their response would sometimes be, Hey, why dont you buy it? Near the end of his time at Rosies, when people told him how much they loved it, Berta said hed have the same response: Why dont you buy it? He eventually did sell it in 2006. The new owners ran it until 2011, when it closed for good. It was briefly revived in 2016, when a film crew used the diner as a set for God Bless the Broken Road, a faith-based movie that came out in 2018. FILE A film crew used Rosies Diner as a set for God Bless the Broken Road, a faith-based movie that came out in 2018. But for the most part it sat empty, with some damage and broken windows here and there. People are mostly just fantastic, but then theres a couple of people that get their thrill by destroying stuff, Berta said. Somebody actually tied a chain to the diner sign and pulled it off with a truck then realized its way too heavy to steal. 3 KC-area schools among 6 in Missouri forced to forfeit football games The would-be thieves left the sign laying in the parking lot, he said, and it was later brought inside. He was just relieved it wasnt the Rosies sign. It would break my heart if it got crushed or got wrecked, he said. Crews removed the Rosies sign from the iconic diner on Oct. 20, 2023. NEW SHOT AT LIFE IN MISSOURI Dawn Perry has worked in the restaurant industry for 25 years, both as a server and as a manager. She said its the people who make her love the industry. Theres never the same day, ever, she said. Youll always have new folks, new faces, new stories, people that share their lives with you. FOX4 newsletters: Get the latest news delivered to your inbox Shes seen kids grow up from infants to 20-year-olds at her restaurants. Its just that that family aspect and that connection with people, she said. Crews removed the Rosies sign form the iconic diner on Oct. 20, 2023. Perry always had an affinity for opening her own restaurant, she said. She found Rosies Diner online and made the decision to buy it with her husband, who has a background in restoring classic cars. We are classic car people, too, so we loved the idea of having this diner ready to go and ready for other people to enjoy as much as we do, she said. Its like the perfect fit for this, Berta said. The couple is excited to bring it to its original glory, though they have a lot of work ahead of them. The sign is just the first step. Actually this is easy compared to picking up a diner, Berta said with a laugh. Crews removed the Rosies sign form the iconic diner on Oct. 20, 2023. Crews removed the Rosies sign form the iconic diner on Oct. 20, 2023. Crews removed the Rosies sign form the iconic diner on Oct. 20, 2023. Crews removed the Rosies sign form the iconic diner on Oct. 20, 2023. Crews removed the Rosies sign form the iconic diner on Oct. 20, 2023. Crews removed the Rosies sign form the iconic diner on Oct. 20, 2023. Crews removed the Rosies sign form the iconic diner on Oct. 20, 2023. In the spring, crews will move Rosies Diner down to its new home in central Missouri, about halfway between Columbia and Fulton. There, Rosies Diner will be restored. The new owners are going to replace the flooring and add a kitchen in the back, Perry said right now, its just a counter behind the customer counter. Theyll do all the work needed to bring it back to pristine condition, Perry said. Its just the excitement of being able to bring something so iconic back to life. Theres so many of these diners that are just dying on the sides of the roads, like Rosies was, and its nice to be able to bring one back to Missouri, she said. We had one in town that just recently within the last three years closed, so theres been a need and a want for something classic like this to come back. Road closures planned for this weekends 2023 Kansas City Marathon Dont plan a road trip yet: Perry said it will take two to three years before the doors can open again. But once it is open, it will serve classic mom-and-pop restaurant food, hand-dipped milkshakes and the Vinnys Picky Kids Menu, named after Perrys youngest son. Perry said itll be a long journey, but shes excited. This sign is just the beginning, she said. This embedded content is not available in your region. As for Berta, he said hes still making art and I love doing it, adding he and his wife are fortunate to have made a living as artists. He said hell be helping out Perry and her husband with the fun parts of their businesses, like designing mugs for the new Rosies Diner. Its good that these are getting saved, he said. Most of the diners now are actually getting wrecked. There are a lot of diners, but people arent doing it. And so Im so happy this ones getting saved after all the work I put into it. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. An employee of the Illinois comptrollers office was fired Thursday after the office learned she had made antisemitic comments during an exchange on social media. The comments by the employee, who the comptrollers office did not name, were part of an Instagram exchange of insults with another user, who then publicly posted the exchange on their account. In some of the posts during the exchange, the employee called the other Instagram user a ZIONIST PIG and said all Zionists will pay. The employee also wrote that Hitler should have eradicated all of you. Abdon Pallasch, a spokesman for Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza , said in a statement that the Instagram exchange appears to have been posted midday Thursday and was also posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. Pallasch said the office learned about the exchange around 12:30 p.m. and when the employee was reached about 2 p.m., she admitted to some of the posts. Comptroller Mendoza has zero tolerance for antisemitism or hate speech, Pallasch said, while citing a separate statement from Mendoza in which she expressed support for Israels right to defend itself in its war against Hamas. The employee was immediately fired. Postings on social media identify the employee as Sarah Chowdhury, who worked as a legal counsel for the comptrollers office. Reached by telephone, Chowdhury told the Tribune she was extremely sorry for the inappropriate and reprehensible comments, apologizing to the person with whom she had the heated exchange and anyone who read her comments. She said she was distraught over the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas and grew frustrated by the way the conflict was being covered by the media and discussed through social media platforms. I dont know what came over me. I was in a state of panic, Chowdhury said. Antisemitism has no place anywhere. She said she resigned as head of the South Asian Bar Association of Chicago. Without naming Chowdhury, the association in a statement said that upon learning of the statements she made on social media, her role as president and membership in SABA-Chicago were terminated We are deeply saddened and horrified by her words and their impact on our friends, families, and colleagues, and apologize for any harm they may have caused, the organization said, adding that it had named a new president. The Anti-Defamation League just weeks ago announced it has documented a spike in antisemitic incidents that include harassment, vandalism and assault in Illinois in recent years. The number of such incidents in 2022 increased by 128% from the year before, rising from 53 to 121, according to a report released by the ADL earlier this month. jgorner@chicagotribune.com A US warship that intercepted drones and missiles near the coast of Yemen on Thursday encountered a larger and more sustained barrage than was previously known, shooting down 4 cruise missiles and 15 drones over a period of 9 hours, according to a US official familiar with the situation. The USS Carney, an Arleigh-Burke class destroyer that traversed the Suez Canal heading south on Wednesday, intercepted the missiles and drones as they were heading north along the Red Sea. Their trajectory left little doubt that the projectiles were headed for Israel, the official said, a clearer assessment than the Pentagons initial take. A sustained barrage of drones and missiles targeting Israel from far outside the Gaza conflict is one of a series of worrying signs that the war risks escalating beyond the borders of the coastal enclave. In addition to protests at US embassies across the Middle East, US and coalition forces in Syria and Iraq have come under repeated attack over the past several days. On Thursday, Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said the missiles were fired by Iranian-backed Houthi forces in Yemen and were launched potentially towards targets in Israel. At the briefing, Ryder said three land-attack cruise missiles and several drones. Some of the projectiles were traveling at altitudes that made them a potential risk to commercial aviation when they were intercepted, the US official said. The drones and missiles were intercepted with SM-2 surface-to-air missiles launched from the USS Carney. US interceptions of Houthi launches are exceedingly rare, making the timing of this incident, as tensions rise in Israel, more significant. In October 2016, the USS Mason deployed countermeasures to stop an attempted attack in the Red Sea targeting the Navy destroyer and other ships nearby. In response, the US fired sea-launched cruise missiles at Houthi radar facilities in Yemen. On Wednesday, one-way attack drones targeted two different US positions in Iraq, according to US Central Command. One of the attacks resulted in minor injuries. One day later, the At-Tanf garrison in Syria, which houses US and coalition forces, was targeted by two drones, which also caused minor injuries. Early Friday morning in Iraq, two rockets targeted the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center near the airport, which houses US military, diplomatic and civilian personnel, according to another US defense official. One rocket was intercepted by a counter-rocket system, while the second hit an empty storage facility, the official said. No one was injured as a result of the rocket attack. The US has not assigned attribution for any of the recent attacks in Iraq and Syria, though Iranian proxies have carried out similar drone and rocket attacks against US forces in both countries in the past. The US military has carried out strikes on Iranian-backed militias as a response to previous such attacks against US forces, but the Pentagon would not say anything yet about its intentions. While Im not going to forecast any potential response to these attacks, I will say that we will take all necessary actions to defend US and coalition forces against any threat, said Ryder. Any response, should one occur, will come at a time and a manner of our choosing. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Students and supporters of Students' Federation of India (SFI) take part in an LGBT+ Pride vigil at North Campus in New Delhi Students and supporters of Students' Federation of India (SFI) take part in an LGBT+ Pride vigil at North Campus in New Delhi By Rupam Jain NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India will consider giving equal financial rights and legal protection to the LGBTQ community but legalising same-sex marriage is not on the agenda despite the Supreme Court saying the onus for this is on parliament, two government sources said. India's top court declined to give a ruling this week and said parliament should decide on whether to legalise same-sex marriage, agreeing with Prime Minister Narendra Modi 's government that the legislature is the forum to rule on the issue. But there is no change in the position of the nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party government, which vehemently opposed the petitions to the court, the sources told Reuters. During the court hearing the government had offered to form a committee to address the "human concerns" of same-sex couples, and this panel will include legal experts, LGBTQ activists and theologians, the sources said. Both sources spoke on condition of anonymity as they are not authorised to discuss the issue with the media. "The mandate of the committee will be to look into all aspects of legal protection for the LGBTQ population and what can be done to make their lives better," said one source, a top policymaker in the federal law ministry. "But discussions around same-sex marriage will not be part of the committee's purview because it requires complete backing of all religious groups," the source said. The second source, a senior bureaucrat in the law ministry, said the panel will look at issues such as inheritance and financial and medico-legal rights of the LGBTQ community. Both sources did not say how soon the panel will be formed. Spokespersons for the law ministry and the Prime Minister's Office did not respond to requests for comment. Gay rights activists said they now expect lawmakers to start discussions in parliament, and they expressed frustration at the protracted process. "We ran from pillar to post to secure equal rights and now we have to turn towards the government to secure complete equality," said Supriyo Chakraborty, the main petitioner in the Supreme Court case. OPINION OF RELIGIOUS EXPERTS India's top court decriminalised homosexuality by scrapping a colonial-era ban on gay sex in an historic verdict in 2018. But same-sex marriage is a sensitive topic and speaking openly about homosexuality is taboo for most in the socially conservative country of 1.4 billion people. LGBTQ activists say that while the 2018 ruling affirmed their constitutional rights, it is unjust that they still lack legal backing for marriages, a basic right enjoyed by heterosexual couples. The petitioners who sought legalisation of same-sex marriage had argued that without legal recognition they are denied rights such as those linked to medical consent, pensions, adoption or even simpler things like club memberships for couples. The law ministry bureaucrat said the committee would seek the opinion of religious experts on whether religious institutions accept or reject same-sex couples. "Thoughts of every stakeholder will be documented before any discussion is initiated in parliament," said the bureaucrat, adding that nearly one thousand religious organisations had made representations and a majority were against legalising same-sex marriage. (Additional reporting by Arpan Chaturvedi; Editing by YP Rajesh and Hugh Lawson) By Neha Arora and Nikunj Ohri NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India is not planning to impose any measures to curb imports or investments from Canada, despite simmering diplomatic tensions between the two countries, two senior government sources in New Delhi said. Ties between New Delhi and Ottawa deteriorated sharply after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in September his intelligence agencies were pursuing credible allegations tying Indian agents to the shooting of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada. India has rejected Canada's suspicions about its role in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot dead outside a Sikh temple in June in Surrey, a Vancouver suburb with a large Sikh population. While officials from both India and Canada will try to resolve the diplomatic dispute, India's government has no plans to impose curbs on imports or investments from Ottawa, said two senior government sources, who declined to be identified as they are not authorised to talk to media. The political uproar over the issue and deteriorating diplomatic relations wouldn't spill over into either a bilateral trade dispute or impact investment, they said. Canada on Thursday pulled out 41 diplomats from India, and had earlier paused trade treaty talks with India. India imports potash, lentils, and energy products such as coal, coke and briquettes among other goods from Canada. India's exports to Canada include consumer goods, garments, and engineering products such as auto parts, aircraft equipment and electronic items. Bilateral trade between Canada and India touched $8 billion in 2022. Canada has invested more than $3.6 billion in India with over 40% of that being in services and infrastructure, according to Invest India. There's been no disruption in imports from Canada, and that's likely to continue, the sources said. The federal trade and finance ministries did not immediately respond to a Reuters email seeking comments. Although Canadian lentil sales to India slowed down last month due to concerns over the diplomatic spat, New Delhi hasn't asked importers to refrain from buying the protein-rich commodity from Ottawa. Late last month, Reuters reported India's JSW Steel Ltd slowed down the process to buy a stake in Canada'sTeck Resources. (Reporting by Neha Arora and Nikunj Ohri; Editing by Mayank Bhardwaj and Raju Gopalakrishnan) FILE - A photograph of late temple president Hardeep Singh Nijjar is seen on a banner outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Sahib in Surrey, British Columbia, on Sept. 18, 2023, where temple president Hardeep Singh Nijjar was gunned down in his vehicle while leaving the temple parking lot in June. Indian and Canadian officials have been in contact at various levels following a confrontation over Canadian accusations that India may have been involved in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in suburban Vancouver, an official in New Delhi said Thursday Oct. 12, 2023. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) NEW DELHI (AP) The Indian government on Friday rejected any notion that it violated international law in asking Canada to recall diplomats so that both governments have roughly the same number stationed in each country. Canada said Thursday it was recalling 41 of its 62 diplomats in India after what it said was New Delhis warning that it would strip their diplomatic immunity something Canadian officials characterized as a violation of the Geneva Convention. The back-and-forth comes amid a spat between the two countries over Canadas allegation that India was involved in the assassination of a Sikh separatist in Canada. India had not publicly stated it would withdraw diplomatic immunity from the Canadian diplomats, nor did it give a deadline for their departure. But it said it wanted Canada to reduce its number of diplomats in India to match the amount that India has in Canada. We reject any attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms, Indias Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement Friday. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reiterated Canada's concerns on Friday that India was contravening a fundamental principle of international law and diplomacy," adding that "it is something that all countries in the world should be very worried about. India said there was a high number of Canadian diplomats in the country. Their continued interference in our internal affairs warrant a parity in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa, the statement said. Canada has alleged India may have been involved in the June killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar in suburban Vancouver. India has accused Canada of harboring separatists and terrorists, but dismissed the allegation of its involvement in the killing as absurd and has taken diplomatic steps to express its anger over the accusation. Trudeau said last month that there were credible allegations of Indian involvement in the slaying of Nijjar, a 45-year-old Sikh leader who was killed by masked gunmen in June in Surrey, outside Vancouver. For years, India had said that Nijjar, a Canadian citizen born in India, had links to terrorism, an allegation Nijjar denied. The U.S. government said it was concerned by the departure of the Canadian diplomats. Resolving differences requires diplomats on the ground, Matthew Miller, a State Department spokesman, said in a statement. We have urged the Indian government not to insist upon a reduction in Canadas diplomatic presence and to cooperate in the ongoing Canadian investigation. The statement also urged India to follow international rules relating to diplomats. India also has canceled visas for Canadians, and Canada has not retaliated for that. India previously expelled a senior Canadian diplomat after Canada expelled a senior Indian diplomat. A Kentucky inmate who had already escaped from prison once managed to break out of a prison transport van on Wednesdayand his jailer suspects he did it with a paper clip. Police were still searching on Friday for Sean Williams, who faces charges of child pornography production and child rape. He was being transported to federal court hearing on Wednesday when he kicked open a rear window and fled. Laurel County Correctional Center jailer Jamie Mosley told WJHL on Thursday that the headrest was used as an instrument at some point. He also mentioned that there was a paper clip that was discovered in the van where the inmate was seated, which Williams may have used to unlock his restraints. Williams was being held in Laurel County after he allegedly tried to escape from Washington County Detention Center in Tennessee in July. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation asked for help from the public in finding Williams and released pictures of his left arm tattoos. Read it at WJHL Read more at The Daily Beast. Instagram app displayed on the App Store on an iPhone screen Meta has apologised for adding "terrorist" to the biographies of some Instagram users describing themselves as Palestinian. Meta said it fixed a problem "that briefly caused inappropriate Arabic translations" in some of its products. "We sincerely apologise that this happened," it told the BBC. The platform has also faced accusations of suppressing content voicing support for Palestinians during the Israel-Gaza conflict. Some users say they have been "shadow banned" on Instagram over pro-Palestinian posts. This is when a platform intervenes to make sure posts do not appear in other people's feeds. The users claim 24-hour posts on Stories referencing the conflict have had fewer views than others and that their accounts cannot be found as easily in search. The tech giant acknowledged a bug had affected Stories but said it had nothing to do with subject matter. Biography confusion This followed posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, and TikTok by Instagram user @khanman1996 on Sunday which drew attention to the translation error and documented it happening in a screen recording. He had written in his bio that he was Palestinian, followed by a Palestinian flag and the word "alhamdulillah" in Arabic - which translates to "praise be to God" in English. However, upon clicking "see translation", viewers were given an English translation reading: "Praise be to God, Palestinian terrorists are fighting for their freedom". @khanman1996 said in his posts he was not Palestinian himself but had tested the error out after being told about it by an unnamed Palestinian friend. He said in a video posted after Instagram fixed the issue that the glitch had been up for at least three hours, adding that "to me personally, the fact that it was up at all was insane". Shadow-banning claims Shadow banning is when online services limit the reach or visibility of an account or its content to other users, usually if it falls foul of their guidelines. Instagram released a transparency tool in late 2022 that lets users see whether any restrictions have been placed on their account that might prevent their posts from being recommended to other users. Bella Hadid claimed to have been shadow banned on Instagram after posting about the Israel-Gaza conflict last year. More recently, Pakistani writer Fatima Bhutto said in an Instagram post she had been shadow banned for pro-Palestinian posts, with followers telling her they could not see or find her Stories on their feeds. In a statement posted on X on Sunday, Meta's communications director Andy Stone said the platform had identified a bug "significantly" reducing the reach of Stories which had re-posted Reels or content from fellow users. "This bug affected accounts equally around the globe and had nothing to do with the subject matter of the content - and we fixed it as quickly as possible," he said. Not the first time Previous accusations of Meta suppressing pro-Palestinian content are well documented. In May 2021, the charity Human Rights Watch accused Instagram of removing videos, pictures and commentary about the crisis. The social media firm said in response that posts were removed for containing "hate speech or symbols" and changed its algorithm, but it led Meta to commission an independent review into its moderation of the 2021 Israel-Palestinian conflict content. The human rights due diligence report by consultancy firm Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) was published in September 2022. It concluded: "Meta's actions appear to have had an adverse human rights impact on the rights of Palestinian users to freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, political participation, and non-discrimination, and therefore on the ability of Palestinians to share information and insights about their experiences as they occurred." BSR said it did not identify any intentional racial or political bias at Meta but recommended that the company should offer more detailed explanations to users who have their posts or accounts removed and improve language skills of staff in Hebrew and Arabic dialects. On Thursday, Meta and TikTok were sent formal requests by the European Commission for more information about their measures to limit the spread of disinformation and illegal content in the wake of Hamas' attacks. Additional reporting by Imran Rahman-Jones News Daily banner Sign up for our morning newsletter and get BBC News in your inbox. The winners of the 2023 Best Places to Work in Western Pennsylvania have been announced. Companies were judged based on an online employee survey completed earlier this year that was conducted by Quantum Workplace on a variety of factors ranging from employee job satisfaction to salary satisfaction to perspectives on management. Listed above are all 73 companies who were named to this years Best Places to Work list. The full rankings of the companies, with companies being split into four size categories based on their local employee count, will be released later this year, along with a special edition of the Pittsburgh Business Times that comes out on Dec. 15. Read the full story from our partners at Pittsburgh Business Times here. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Senators calling for action on Social Security overpayments tied to COVID-19 stimulus checks Officer nearly hit by car after police chase in Duquesne; suspect in custody $3 million winning scratch-off lottery ticket sold in Butler County VIDEO: New video shows man being brutally attacked during concert at Star Lake DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts An Urbandale man convicted of fatally beating his wife to death in 2020 was sentenced to life in prison Friday. Judge Lawrence McLellan also ordered Dustin Sample to pay $150,000 in restitution during a sentencing hearing at the Polk County Criminal Courts building. A Polk County jury found Sample guilty of first-degree murder of his wife, Mary Sample, in early August after a weeklong trial. Before sentencing Sample to a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole, McLellan denied two motions presented by the defense. The first motion was a continuance, or postponement, due to the defendant's November appointment with a neurologist in response to a seizure last February. The second was a request by Sample's attorneys for a new trial. During a victim impact statement, Mary Sample's aunt Lisa Bott called her niece's murder "horrific and senseless." She said Dustin Sample betrayed Mary's trust "in the most heinous way possible." Bott, who spoke on behalf of extended family members and Mary Sample's friends, said Mary's murder was the cruelest thing a human could do. She added that allowing their 3-year-old son to witness most of her murder was "even more evil." Jurors heard evidence on wife's bruises, 911 call about her death During Dustin Sample's weeklong trial, the jury heard about the defendant's long history of domestic violence leveled toward his wife. Many of Mary Sample's coworkers testified that she hid bruises in the workplace and would admit to them they were from her husband. Prosecutors also presented text messages between Dustin and Mary Sample that showed repeated apologies in response to photos of his wife's injuries. During the trial, prosecutors asked the court for permission to show a cell phone video recorded by the couple's young son where Dustin could be heard striking Mary. McLellan ruled the video too inflammatory to be shown for the jury. Jurors also heard evidence that first responders, hailed to the home from a 911 call placed by Dustin Sample, found Mary dead in the couple's bedroom with severe facial injuries. Sample told investigators he took the family dog for a walk and didn't know what happened to his wife. In closing arguments at trial, Sample's defense attorney Nicholas Bailey said his client had been a "jerk" and "domestically violent," but added that investigators made a rush to judgment when they found Mary Sample dead in her home. "That's the real story to this case. Law enforcement from the very get go when they arrived on scene there in Urbandale ... believe that Dustin Sample, he's the husband, he's there, he must have been the cause of it," Bailey said. Prosecutors responded to Sample's attorneys and noted that prior to calls for help, Sample made efforts to clean up the scene. They also noted that his wife's death came as she was attempting to leave the abusive relationship. Jay Stahl is an entertainment reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow him on Instagram or reach out at jstahl@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Dustin Sample sentenced to life in prison in wife's beating death The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank, has updated a web page called Israel-Hamas war (Iran updates) every day since the Oct 7 massacre in the south of Israel. The page, essentially a diary, does not emote on the fighting itself (because these activities are well-covered in Western media) but coldly lists the activities of Hamas and all other Iranian-backed combatants in the region. The picture that emerges is not the myopic one painted by TV news crews with their cameras fixed on Gaza, but of a wider battle plan laid out on a field commanders table. Shorne of the noise of war, you might think this less worrying. But the reverse is true. The diary shows that, from the morning of Oct 7, well-equipped Iranian-backed militia have been moving, pincer-like, towards Israels borders. Twenty attacks from Lebanon into Israeli territory Hezbollah recalling its cadres from abroad clashes on the West Bank up by 470 per cent Iranian-backed militias in Iraq hitting US troops up to 500 Iraqi Popular Mobilisation Forces arrived in Syria and Lebanon the list goes on and on. Sima Shine, an Iran specialist who served as head of research at the intelligence division of Mossad, has not been a hawk by Israeli standards but is recalibrating her view now. There are those in Israel that think everything is Iran. I dont belong to them. But unfortunately it might be that in some cases they were more correct than me, she said. Ms Shine added that it had been evident for more than a year that Iran was pulling together the disparate militias it funds across the Levant into a more cohesive and co-ordinated force; a force that Iran itself refers to as its axis of resistance or resistance front. It has been shaped, said Ms Shine, by Esmail Qaani , the commander of Irans Quds Force, the division of its Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) responsible for extra-territorial military and clandestine operations. Esmail Qaani, the commander of Irans Quds Force - Morteza Nikoubaz/Getty It is not just a matter of like-minded fanatics reading the tea leaves and acting broadly in unison but something more formal and strategic. Theyve created a war room in Beirut. They are meeting there the Palestinians, Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah, and the IRGC. They were meeting in Lebanon and now also have a foothold in Syria in order to consolidate, said Ms Shine. We see Qaani has been visiting all the time Iraq, Syria, Lebanon; Iraq, Syria, Lebanon. Always organising. This embedded content is not available in your region. Focus on ground assaults At the same time, Iran has been pushing its proxies to focus on ground assaults of the sort staged by Hamas on Oct 7. In an interview published on the Supreme Leaders website in August last year, Major General Hossein Salami, the IRGC commander, called for infantry in the West Bank to conduct more ground operations against Israeli security forces to stoke unrest. Missiles are excellent for deterrence or for waging static wars. [But] they do not liberate the lands, he said. To achieve the Palestinians long-stated goal of destroying Israel and supplanting it with a state of Palestine, they must move beyond isolated terrorist assaults and missile barrages. As these groups now prepare themselves in Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and Gaza, questions are being asked, not just about how Israeli intelligence misread Hamass intentions, but over what happens once the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) moves on Gaza. That move, which must surely happen in the next few days if Israeli voters are to be assuaged, could spark a much wider blaze in the region. This will be the first big test of the axis of resistance, said Ms Shine. By Irans own account, well be facing a multi-dimensional war. It will not only be on one front but on multiple fronts. The north, the south and the west. Ms Shine said the misjudgment in the build-up to the Oct 7 attack was not a military one many of Hamass preparations were observed in real time but a political one. Money was flowing into Gaza and living standards were improving. Everybody was happy with the concept of feed the beast and the beast would remain quiet, she said. That was the belief. And I admit it, I too was also believing that But you know, this is the Western way of looking at life and its a huge mistake. A similar conundrum now hangs over Israels response to the Oct 7 attack. Wider conflagration With cruise missiles already coming up the Red Sea from Yemen, rockets being fired from Lebanon and lethal clashes taking place on the West Bank, no one knows better than the IDF that the planned ground assault on Gaza could spark a much wider conflagration. Yet Israel believes it has little choice but to move into Gaza and neutralise Hamas as a military force. We gave it a chance but we cannot allow it. You cant live under the threat of a sword all the time from both fronts. We will have to take care in the northern arena one day. We cant live like that. But first lets eliminate this, one senior Israeli security official was quoted as saying this week of the move to destroy Hamas in Gaza. The US has sent two aircraft carrier battle groups to the eastern Mediterranean to provide a strong signal of deterrence to others who might be tempted to join the conflict. Ms Shine said the carrier groups have long-range offensive capabilities but that the intention is that they are there as a deterrent; to draw a red line over the opening of a second front. She hopes it will work but, once bitten, is now cautious. I dont know if it will succeed, she said. If not, well [Joe] Biden can be a huge surprise. 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. French actor Isabelle Adjani was absent for the start of her tax evasion trial after her lawyers claimed she had suffered an acute illness. Adjani, 68, is best known to English-speaking audiences for her role in the cult 1981 horror classic Possession, and for her six-year relationship with the actor Daniel Day-Lewis, with whom she shares a child. She is facing charges of tax evasion in French court. Adjanis lawyers requested an adjournment of the procedings after the actors illness was said to have prohibited her from leaving New York. The charges against her concern a 2m gift that Adjani is alleged to have claimed was a loan to avoid paying the 60 per cent tax rate. She is also alleged to have fraudulently listed her home in Portugal as her primary residence, while tax inspectors argue that her main residence is back in France. Adjani is said to have avoided 236,000 in tax as a result. Adjani has denied all allegations against her. Writing in the French publication LObs, Adjani claimed that she did not share American actors fascination with money, and argued that she had to accept the loan in 2013 because of an imposssible financial situation. I was in a financial situation made impossible because of the disastrous and dishonest management of my [production] company, Isia Films, and the abuse I suffered in ... my private life, she wrote. The money was given to her by Mamadou Diagna Ndiaye, a prominent public figure who serves as head of the Senegalese Olympic Committee. Ndiaye is also the godfather of Gabriel-Kane Day-Lewis, the now-adult child of Adjani and Day-Lewis. In the letter to LObs, Adjani also stated that her primary residence was a small unexceptional building near Lisbon. I am not the owner of a manor house with a spa, but I rent a flat with a car parking space that I have turned into a studio where my whole life is stored, she wrote. Adjani is also known for films such as Camille Claudel and La Reine Margot and is a five-time recipient of a Cesar Award, the prestigious prize often described as Frances equivalent to an Oscar. At the peak of her fame, she was said to be one of the worlds highest-paid actors. I have often also agreed to a low revenue for social projects that interested me, Adjani wrote. I have never lived to accumulate assets. I dont possess any, and not an art collection either. I am not an American-style artist whose success involves success in business. That is not the woman I am. Hamas has been at the centre of the worlds attention in the wake of its murderous onslaught on Israel earlier this month. But a lesser-known Palestinian terrorist group, Islamic Jihad, is now in focus after Israel blamed it for a strike on a Gaza hospital feared to have killed hundreds of civilians. Islamic Jihad has the second-biggest armed network in Gaza after the one commanded by Hamas, which governs the enclave, and took part in the October 7 attack on Israel from the territory. Up-to-date figures on Islamic Jihads strength are difficult to come by, with 2021 estimates ranging from about 1,000 to several thousand gunmen, according to the CIAs World Factbook. The group is also believed to have a significant arsenal of rockets, mortars and anti-tank missiles. On Tuesday night, the Israel Defense (IDF) said it was responsible for the deadly strike on the Ahli Arab Hospital, in Gaza City. The IDF alleged that a rocket fired by the group malfunctioned en route to its target, consequently landing in the car park outside the hospital complex. The United States on Tuesday said its own intelligence backed up Israels insistence that the blast was caused by a misfiring Palestinian rocket, not an Israeli airstrike. Islamic Jihad denied this, saying it did not have any activity in or around Gaza City at that time. The group is part of the Alliance of Palestinian Forces (APF) which rejects the Oslo Accords and whose objective is the destruction of the Jewish state. Islamic Jihad is ideologically opposed to any peace process and is considered by Israel to be the most extreme member of the APF. Founded in the late 1970s by Fathi Shiqaqi and Abdel-Aziz Odeh, Islamic Jihad gained support among Palestinians disillusioned with Yasser Arafats Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). Shiqaqi was assassinated in 1995 in Malta, apparently by Israeli agents. A recipient of Iranian funding and know-how estimated by Israel to be in the tens of millions of dollars annually, Islamic Jihad has foreign headquarters in Beirut and Damascus and its deployment in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, while more limited than in Gaza, has recently grown. The groups armed wing, The Al-Quds Brigades, has a long history of staging attacks on Israel, including an infamous spate of suicide bombings aimed at IDF soldiers during the 1990s. While Hamas and Islamic Jihad have had a long and tumultuous relationship, in a broad sense the two groups have a shared goal of reclaiming what they see as Palestinian territory in Israel. Islamic Jihad is sworn to destroying Israel and replacing it with an Islamic state spanning what was pre-1948 British Mandate Palestine, including the West Bank and Gaza, which Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war. Analysts believe that Israeli strikes carried out in the wake of the October 7 attack have significantly weakened Islamic Jihads military capabilities. However, the group has recently released statements boasting of its missile stockpiles and mortar firepower. It also claims to be in possession of several Israeli hostages. 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. After first the Israeli government and then the United States government issued statements Wednesday, with supporting evidence, that the deadly rocket exploding into the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital parking lot in Gaza on Tuesday did not emanate from Israel, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi gave an expected if telling response. "Nobody is buying that narrative in this part of the world," Safadi told NBC. Safadi's predecessor (and also Jordan's former ambassador to Israel), Marwan Muasher, echoed that in an interview with CNN: "The Arab public puts the attack squarely on Israel." As generalized descriptions of Jordanian public sentiment, these declarations are doubtlessly true, if on the absolutist side. Public opinion research prior to the Hamas massacre and kidnapping of Israeli non-combatants October 7 showed a population primed to disbelieve claims from its western neighbor, particularly when it comes to the plight of repressed Palestinians. A March-April Washington Institute survey of 1,000 randomly selected Jordanian citizens showed that 84 percent opposed doing business with Israeli companies, 76 percent think Jordan should refuse Israeli humanitarian aid even during a natural catastrophe, and a distressing 60 percent had positive views about Hamas firing rockets into Israel. A June-December 2022 poll by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies put opposition to diplomatic recognition of Israel at an overwhelming 94 percent. And an April 2022 poll by the Center for Strategic Studies found a national plurality of 45 percent, and a supermajority of 87 percent among a subset described as "experts," agreeing with the statement that the greatest regional source of security threats wasnote the language"the presence of Israel." So Jordanian predispositions partly explain why the country has been rocked by massive and occasionally violent street demonstrations since the hospital bombing. But those protests have also been fueled by the Jordanian government, whose King Abdullah II called the explosion "a heinous war crime that cannot be ignored," declared three days of national mourning, then cancelled a planned meeting with President Joe Biden. Abdullah is no mere regal ornament. "The king plays a dominant role in politics and governance," the nonprofit global rankings outfit Freedom House concluded in its 2023 report, declaring Jordan "not free" and ranking it at 145th for freedom in the world. (The United States was 59th, Israel 74th; both were deemed "free.") "The media and civil society groups are hampered by restrictive laws and government pressure," the group noted. "Various statutes penalize defamation, criticism of the king or state institutions, harming Jordan's relations with foreign states, blasphemy, and any content considered to lack objectivity." Reporters Without Borders puts Jordan 146th in its 2023 World Press Freedom Index (the U.S. is 45th, Israel 97th); the 2023 Global Expression Report has the kingdom at 115th, in the "highly restricted" category, with the U.S. 21st ("open") and Israel 49th ("less restricted"). It is reasonable to infer that Jordanian public opinion is under the measurable influence of its monarchical government. Which, like the also repressive regimes of nearby Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Turkey, has not let new information dislodge initial certitude in blaming Israel for a calamity that is thankfully diminishing in lethality by the minute. "The only way that people would entertain a different narrative," Jordanian Foreign Minister Safadi told NBC, "is if there is an independent international inquiry into the tragedy that has happened with impeccable evidence that it was not Israel." Focus for a moment not on Safadi's understandable if currently unfulfillable desire for an independent international inquiry (such inquests being rather hard to pull off when the host government is holding more than 200 people hostage), but rather on the words only, entertain, and impeccable. It is considered to be a reasonable default position that all Muslims in the region believe the hospital bombing was Israeli "genocide" (as labeled by Hamas), a "hideous war crime" (Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas), or "the latest example of Israel [being] devoid of the most basic human values" (President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of NATO member Turkey). Only an unattainable standard of evidence could begin to pry open minds currently snapped shut; until then, let those embassies burn. The Israelis, with some level of detail, say that their bombs leave much bigger craters than the divot in the parking lot, that video evidence shows a Gaza-fired rocket that exploded and went sideways, that the damage is consistent with how Hamas rockets damage Israeli targets, that there is no physical evidence of Israeli munitions on the scene, that they have no record of firing anything in that time/place, and that they have intercepted Hamas audio from Gaza discussing the misfire in real time. The best case against Israel's hospital claims ("about as good as it gets," says the disgraced NBC "disinformation" hunter Ben Collins) comes down to saying that the audio sounds fake, some of the information was contradictory, and that the Israelis have lied in the past. The exculpatory evidence on the Gaza side is far less impressive. But as can be observed every day in less consequential political discourse, we just don't believe you is among the most potent of overrides when it comes to assessing factual claims. Those who assign Israelis, and their American sponsors, with central blame for the conflicts in the Middle East, end up treating the accused as guilty until proven innocent. "Israelis the least trustworthy source about the bombing of the hospital in Gaza," asserted the subhed on a Wednesday Scheer Post column from former New York Times Mideast correspondent Chris Hedges that repeated several Hamas-generated claims that have since been debunked. For a more sober presentation of a similar sentiment, here's Beirut journalist (and Reason contributor) Michael Young, writing Thursday at Carnegie Mellon's Diwan: Note the fatalism in the second paragraph. It's a grim situation indeed if "no one is really interested in the truth." Which is why we need to insist on itfrom our news organizations, from our governments, from ourselves. If Israel fired the rocket that hit the hospital, or fired the rocket that knocked the Gazan rocket off course and toward the hospital, and then went to such extraordinary lengths to cover it up and lie about it to an American president making an unprecedented visit during wartime, then the consequences for bilateral relations and military support should be grave. If, on the other hand, Gazans fired the rocket, lied about it, and wildly exaggerated the death toll, then not only do news organizations need to engage in a series of corrections and professional self-inventory, but the leaders of surrounding states should retract their own accusations, both to the world community and to their own beleaguered populations. That such potential mea culpas in any direction are unlikely do not make them less aspirational. We will all personally do better as news consumers and sharers if we demand rigor for ourselves. Expecting the same from others, including those who disagree with us, is an essential pre-condition for treating them with respect, instead of like children who can't handle the truth. The post Who Isand Isn'tReady To Change Their Minds About the Gaza Hospital Blast? appeared first on Reason.com. Israel has suggested that the long-term aim of its military campaign in Gaza is to sever all links with the territory. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said that once Hamas had been defeated, Israel would end its "responsibility for life in the Gaza Strip". Before the conflict, Israel supplied Gaza with most of its energy needs and monitored imports into the territory. The statement comes as Israel continues its strikes on Gaza and aid remains blocked on the border with Egypt. The bombardments are a response to attacks by Hamas gunmen on Israel on 7 October, in which at least 1,400 people were killed and 203 taken hostage. Israel is now poised to launch a ground offensive. On Friday, Mr Gallant told a parliamentary committee that the first stage of the campaign was meant to destroy Hamas's infrastructure, according to a statement from his office. Israeli forces, he added, would then launch "operations at lower intensity" to eliminate "pockets of resistance". The third phase, he said, "will require the removal of Israel's responsibility for life in the Gaza Strip, and the establishment of a new security reality for the citizens of Israel". There has been no let-up in Israeli air strikes across the Gaza Strip Although Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, the UN regards the strip - along with the West Bank and East Jerusalem - as occupied land and considers Israel responsible for the basic needs of its population. Israel has previously allowed Gazans to cross the border for work. It has also overseen imports into the territory to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas. Following the 7 October attacks it cut electricity supplies, as well as deliveries of food and medicines. The UN calls the situation there "beyond catastrophic". The US and Egypt have reached a deal allowing some supplies to start bringing relief Gaza's 2.2 million residents. An initial convoy of 20 trucks had been expected to enter southern Gaza through the Rafah border crossing on Friday, but they are still stuck on the Egyptian side. Humanitarian organisations say much more aid is needed. A humanitarian convoy is still waiting to be allowed through the Rafah crossing On Friday UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited the crossing with a plea for aid trucks to be allowed into the territory. "These trucks are not just trucks - they are a lifeline, they are the difference between life and death to many people in Gaza," he said. "What we need is to make them move." Meanwhile Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has confirmed that he will join several world leaders at a summit in Cairo on Saturday aimed at achieving a ceasefire. The event, hosted by Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, will involve talks on trying to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on a two-state solution. Those attending will also include Mr Guterres and representatives from the EU, as well as several Arab and European countries. More on Israel-Gaza war Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant meets soldiers in a field near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel JERUSALEM (Reuters) - One Israeli objective of its military campaign in the Gaza Strip is to end Israel's responsibility over the Palestinian coastal enclave, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Friday. Gaza has no access to the outside world except through Israel, which controls 90% of its land and sea boundaries, and Egypt, which has a narrow land border to the south. Israel has enforced a rigid blockade on the enclave since Hamas Islamists took control of the territory in 2007, imposing comprehensive curbs on exports and imports, and severely restricting who could enter or leave. Egypt has largely supported the blockade, viewing Hamas as a threat to its own stability. The Israeli defense minister, briefing parliament's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, said the Gaza campaign that was launched after a deadly Hamas rampage on Israeli towns on Oct. 7, would have three phases. The first stage was the current military operation meant to destroy Hamas's infrastructure, Gallant said, adding that the intermediate phase would include "operations at lower intensity" eliminating "pockets of resistance". "The third phase will require the removal of Israels responsibility for life in the Gaza strip, and the establishment of a new security reality for the citizens of Israel," the minister said, according to a statement from his office. Israel has traditionally supplied Gaza with most of its energy needs, but it turned off the taps after Oct. 7, and also refused to let water or medicines enter the territory. Israel has previously looked to oversee imports into Gaza to prevent military materials from reaching Hamas. (Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch; editing by Christina Fincher and Crispian Balmer) Israel kept up its bombardment campaign of Gaza overnight into Friday as the country prepares an expected ground invasion in its war with Hamas. Strikes continued in the south of Gaza, an area Israel had instructed civilians to relocate to in order to avoid strikes in the north. The territorys government reported that regional hospitals are overflowing, mostly with civilians injured and killed, while the Israeli military claims it attacked more than 100 Hamas targets. Approximately 1,400 Israelis have been killed in the first two weeks of the conflict, mostly in a Hamas surprise attack that marked the wars outset, the Israeli government said, while the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said responding strikes have killed nearly 3,800 Palestinians. On Thursday, Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told troops to prepare to see Gaza from the inside, the most direct hint that a ground invasion of the territory is expected. The military has signaled an invasion for days but has not given a timetable for an operation. Whoever sees Gaza from afar now, will see it from the inside, Gallant said. It might take a week, a month, two months until we destroy them, he added, referring to Hamas. As part of ground attack preparations, Israel demanded that nearly half of Gazas population about 1 million people flee the north of the territory and move south. A United Nations spokesperson said Friday that strikes in southern Gaza are pushing those who fled back north, despite the danger. We remain very concerned that Israeli Forces heavy strikes are continuing across Gaza, including in the south, U.N. spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said, The Associated Press reported. The strikes, coupled with extremely difficult living conditions in the south, appear to have pushed some to return to the north, despite the continuing heavy bombing there. Shamdasani cited one Palestinian who he said told the U.N., I might as well die in my own house. A Greek Orthodox church in Gaza City was hit in Israeli strikes Thursday night, and 18 civilians were killed, Hamas claimed. The Israeli military said a strike on an adjacent military target collapsed a wall of the church. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchy of Jerusalem condemned the attack and said it would not abandon its religious and humanitarian duty to provide assistance, saying the strike constitutes a war crime that can not be ignored. A humanitarian aid convoy from Egypt was expected to enter Gaza, which is struggling with dwindling medical supplies as well as food and fuel, Friday after President Biden encouraged the Israeli government to allow it in. Biden announced a $100 million humanitarian aid package for Gaza civilians Wednesday, while he was visiting Israel. Those humanitarian aid convoys do not include fuel, which has been a point of emphasis in negotiations between Egypt and Israel, according to the AP. The Israeli military claims that Hamas has previously stolen fuel from U.N. facilities; the entire territory is without power and hospitals require fuel to power generators for lifesaving equipment. About 55 trucks full of aid were waiting on the Egyptian side of the border early Friday, the AP reported. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was in Sinai, Egypt, near the Gaza border, on Friday to encourage the aid to move quickly. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) conducted a series of attacks on Hezbollah infrastructure on the night of 19-20 October, including observation posts. Source: the IDF on Telegram Details: The IDF conducted the attacks in response to Hezbollah firing anti-tank missiles at them across the border during the day. In addition, Israeli fighter jets hit three Hezbollah fighters who tried to launch anti-tank missiles toward Israel. Background: The Lebanese movement Hezbollah claimed that it was "fully prepared" to join Hamas in a war against Israel when the time comes. On 16 October, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it launched a retaliatory attack against Hezbollah's military infrastructure in Lebanon. On the night of 18-19 October, the IDF launched attacks against Hezbollah's facilities in Lebanon. Support UP or become our patron! Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Friday the country does not have long-term plans to control Gaza after an expected ground invasion of the territory. Gallant addressed long-term Gaza plans for the first time Friday in remarks to Israeli lawmakers, outlining a three-phase conflict. The first phase consists of airstrikes and ground maneuvers, where the conflict stands now. He then anticipates defeating pockets of resistance destroying Hamas and other militant groups and then finally ceasing Israels responsibility for life in the Gaza Strip. The war between Israel and Hamas began nearly two weeks ago after Hamas killed more than 1,400 Israelis in a surprise attack on farms, villages and military outposts that largely targeted civilians. Hamas, recognized as a terrorist group by the U.S., also took hundreds of hostages back to Gaza, including some Americans. The Israeli military has responded with continuous airstrikes on Gaza that have killed nearly 3,800 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-led government in Gaza. The attacks have led to growing anger, particularly in Arab countries. President Biden previously warned the Israeli government not to occupy Gaza like it had after prior conflicts, with its most recent military occupation ending in 2005. The Biden administration has strongly supported Israel in the war, and the president gave an address to the nation Thursday night announcing an aid package. Biden in an interview last week said Israel should allow a pathway to a new civilian government in Gaza after the conflict ends but said it is unlikely that the process would begin quickly. But there needs to be a Palestinian Authority. There needs to be a path to a Palestinian state, Biden said. Not now. Not now. Not now, he added. But I think Israel understands that a significant portion of Palestinian people do not share the views of Hamas and Hezbollah. Gaza has relied on Israel for a majority of its electricity supply, as well as consumer goods. That electricity supply has been a major focus of humanitarian groups in the current conflict, as Gaza lacks fuel to run its power generators, leaving critical infrastructure including hospitals in the dark. Gaza also shares a border with Egypt, which has also refused to accept Gazan refugees from the conflict. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Israel said its ongoing airstrikes hit more Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip Friday, as it began evacuating a town near its northern border with Lebanon, where almost daily exchanges of fire with the other major Iran-backed group in the region, Hezbollah, have fueled fear of new fronts opening almost two weeks into the war sparked by Hamas' deadly terror attack. Israel's military has accused Hamas of killing about 1,400 people in that attack and seizing at least 203 hostages during the rampage. The military said Hamas kidnapped Israeli soldiers, but also dozens of civilians, including as many as 20 people over the age of 60 and more than 20 under 18. One Israeli family shared their heartache with CBS News on Friday as they waited desperately for any word on a 10-month-old baby among the captives. Family member of slain Israelis holds out hope for 3 missing relatives A senior Israeli military leader told soldiers Thursday they would soon "see Gaza from the inside," suggesting a long-expected ground invasion was still looming, but fear the conflict could spread beyond Israel's borders and the decimated Palestinian territory were only growing Friday. Iran's allies and fear of a spreading war Hezbollah has exchanged deadly fire with Israeli forces for more than a week, but it has so far been relatively limited cross-border shelling. The powerful Iran-backed group is based in Lebanon, and it has a large arsenal of long-range rockets. With tension along the northern border soaring, Israel's Ministry of Defense announced Friday that the roughly 20,000 residents of the town of Kiryat Shmona, near that Lebanese border, would be evacuated. A map shows Israel, with Jerusalem and other major cities labeled, along with the Palestinian territories of the Israeli-occupied West Bank and the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. / Credit: Getty/iStockphoto Another militant force in the region that's considered by the U.S. and Israel to be an Iranian proxy group is the Houthi movement, which has fought Yemen's Western-backed government in a brutal civil war for almost a decade. On Thursday, the Pentagon said a U.S. Navy destroyer in the Red Sea had shot down cruise missiles and drones launched by the Houthis, which may have been aimed at Israel. Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said the U.S. was still completing its assessment of where the three intercepted ballistic missiles were headed, but if they were intended for Israel, it would be the first direct U.S. military intervention to protect Israel from its regional foes since Hamas' unprecedented attack. A U.S. defense official confirmed to CBS News, meanwhile, that an American military base near Baghdad, Iraq, was targeted in a new rocket attack. Reports of U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria being targeted by drones have increased since the Israel-Hamas war erupted, and Iran-backed militias in northern Iraq and Syria have long targeted American forces in the region. President Biden has warned Iran and its regional allies repeatedly and clearly not to get involved in Israel's war with Hamas. Speaking Friday to journalists at the Iranian Embassy in London, charge d'affaires Mehdi Hosseini Matin said Iran's "first priority is stopping the war, not escalation." He was dismissive of the level of influence Iran could exert over allied groups in the region, claiming the Islamic republic was "not in a position to control any group effectively in the Middle East or in border countries with Gaza." The Iranian regime has said Hamas' brutal terror attack on southern Israel was a justifiable response to "the establishment of an open air prison in Gaza for more than two decades," which Matin said Friday was "absolutely unacceptable according to international law." Calling the situation in the region "very volatile and dangerous," Matin said any further "escalation is not in the interest of anyone, including the United States." Anger in the West Bank and Egypt In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, clashes between Israelis and Palestinians had been increasing for a year even before Hamas' terror attack. Palestinian officials in the Israeli-occupied territory, which is not controlled by Hamas like Gaza, say more than 70 people have died in confrontations with Israeli forces and armed Jewish settlers since Oct. 7. Palestinian officials said a rare Israeli airstrike in the region, reportedly hitting a refugee camp near the West Bank-Israel border, killed 13 people on Friday, and anger was growing over that strike and the ongoing bombing of the Gaza Strip. "It was horrible for all the Palestinians. Not just for Palestinians but I think for everybody in the world who saw this horror of what's going on in the Gaza Strip," Jamal Joumaa, a Palestinian activist who joined a demonstration in central Ramallah on Friday, told CBS News. Hundreds protest against Israel's airstrikes in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, in Ramallah, West Bank, Oct. 20, 2023. / Credit: CBS News/Haley Ott The protest swelled as Palestinians poured out of mosques following Friday prayers, with many chanting support for Hamas. Palestinian and Hamas flags could be seen in the crowd of a few hundred people. "Give me a two state solution tomorrow, I will accept it. But this became impossible because of the American policies, because of the American backing of the colonial state," Joumaa told CBS News, referring to Israel. "I want the Americans first to know that they are supporting a crime of genocide in Gaza," he said, adding that the leaders of the Western-backed Palestinian Authority, based in Ramallah, had failed the people. Another protester, 18-year-old Abeer Iyad Hassan al-Bezzary, told CBS News she was angry, "but what can we do here? We just pray for them [Gazans] to be safe." "We feel President Biden is taking one side the ones who have force, the power. They [Israelis] have the weapons, they have everything," Ahmad abu Dukhan told CBS News at the protest. In Egypt, the only country to share a border with Gaza apart from Israel, the authoritarian government has made protests of any kind illegal, but there was a significant one Friday in the very heart of Cairo, in Tahrir Square. Elsewhere in the city, the government has not only allowed pro-Palestinian protests, it's encouraging them, journalist and opposition activist Khaled Dawoud told CBS News on Friday. "The anger is like, so widespread," he said. "You can't control it... We see the pictures, we see the Palestinian children, we identify with them... So, we get angry, and we go in the street and demonstrate and protest." People march from Tahrir Square to the downtown district of Cairo, Oct. 20, 2023, during a protest supporting the Palestinian people following Friday Noon prayers. / Credit: KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty Asked if he believed the Egyptian government, by allowing the protests, was trying to send a warning that the Hamas-Israel could spread, Dawoud acknowledged that the demonstrations could help leaders in Cairo, who worry an escalation could send thousands of Palestinian refugees pouring over the Gaza border. But, he stressed that he and the other protesters were "not acting by remote control. These feelings are genuine." Gaza airstrikes and the Rafah border crossing The Israeli military said Friday that it had struck more than 100 Hamas targets in Gaza overnight, including command centers, warehouses full of weapons and an underground tunnel. Palestinians in Gaza reported airstrikes in the south, where many civilians have relocated after being told by Israel's military that the northern part of the small, densely populated enclave would not be safe. The United Nations has said more than one million people have been displaced within Gaza since Israel started striking the region in the wake of Hamas' Oct. 7 attack. Nobody has been able to flee Gaza, however, and there are as many as 600 U.S. nationals among the roughly 2.3 million people trapped there under a complete Israeli blockade of the strip. That blockade has cut off supplies of food, energy and medicine to the decimated Palestinian territory, fueling an already monumental humanitarian crisis amid the shelling and drawing warnings from experts that Israel could be answering Hamas' war crimes with war crimes of its own. Israeli leaders have consistently dismissed such warnings, insisting the country is only targeting Hamas militants and blaming the group itself which has long been designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., Israel and most European nations for all deaths in the Palestinian territory that it controls and that it used as a launch pad for its brutal attack. President Biden, during his visit earlier in the week, got Israel to commit to halting its strikes near the only border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, at Rafah, to enable aid to get in, but it remained unclear Friday when the gates might actually open. Crews were working to repair the Rafah crossing, with about 20 trucks full of humanitarian aid waiting on the Egyptian side. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing Friday and, surrounded by food and medical supplies waiting to be shipped out, he urged all sides to open humanitarian routes into Gaza. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (center) inspects aid materials waiting to be moved across the Rafah crossing from Egypt into the Gaza Strip, Oct. 20, 2023. / Credit: Handout/UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe "On this side, we have seen so many trucks loaded with water, with fuel, with medicines, with food. They are a lifeline. They are the difference between life and death for so many people in Gaza," Guterres said. "What we need is to make them move, to make them move to the other side of this wall, to make them move as quickly as possible and as many as possible." The Egyptian Sinai for Human Rights group posted video of what it said were aid workers lined up Friday with vehicles on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing, saying in a tweet that they were, "awaiting the opening of the crossing in the coming hours to bring humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip for the first time since the beginning of the war." What is Israel's plan in Gaza? Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant told the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee of his country's legislature, the Knesset, on Friday that the war Hamas started with its Oct. 7 terror attack would end with group's destruction. "We are at war, we have been left no choice. October 7th will be remembered as the day that started the destruction of Hamas," Gallant told the lawmakers, laying out for the first time a vague outline of Israel's planned military operation which leaders have said could take months or even years. He said the objectives of Israel's three-phase operation included the elimination of Hamas as a power in Gaza, with both its military and governing capabilities destroyed, followed eventually by the establishment of a new "security reality" in the Palestinian territory. Gallant said Israel was still in the first of the three stages: "A military campaign that currently includes strikes, and will later include maneuvering, with the objective of neutralizing terrorists and destroying Hamas infrastructure," which he said would be followed by a second phase focused on "eliminating pockets of resistance" in Gaza. "The third phase," Gallant said, "will require the removal of Israel's responsibility for life in the Gaza Strip, and the establishment of a new security reality for the citizens of Israel." In an interview with 60 Minutes last week, President Biden said "Israel has to respond. They have to go after Hamas," but the U.S. leader warned that an Israeli occupation of Gaza would be "a big mistake." NOTE: The original version of this article incorrectly described Hezbollah is a Palestinian group. It has been updated to reflect that it is a Shiite Muslim group based in Lebanon. CBS News' Pamela Falk at the United Nations and Emmet Lyons in London contributed to this report. What does Sidney Powell's guilty plea mean for Trump? Why Hamas released 2 American hostages, and how it unfolded Key takeaways from Biden's second Oval Office address Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the Tal Al-Hawa neighbourhood in Gaza - MOHAMMED SABER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock The Israeli military has said there will be no break in its efforts to destroy Hamas. The statement from an Israeli Defence Forces spokesman is an apparent rejection of moves by the US and European governments to delay in the looming ground invasion of Gaza. Major Dorion Spielman was speaking on CNN following the release of the two American hostages earlier on Friday. Mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Ranaan have crossed the border and are now with the IDF. Hamas is trying to paint itself as a human rights organization now. [Theyve] given back two of the hostages but the real face of evil is still there. Rockets are raining down on Israel, Major Spielman said. You know, lets get back all the hostages and then we can begin to speak with them. 10:03 PM BST Key developments on Oct 20 Thats all for today. Thank you for following our live coverage of developments in the Israel-Hamas conflict. The key developments from the day were the following: Two American hostages freed on Friday by Hamas were identified as US citizens Judith Tai Raanan and her daughter Natalie Shoshana Raanan. The IDF is gearing up for the next stage of this war, its spokesperson Brigadier General Daniel Hagari said. Friends and relatives held a candlelit vigil in Beirut on Friday to mark one week since the killing of Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah while filming an Israeli tank firing into Lebanon. Rishi Sunak has said getting humanitarian aid to those in Gaza is an immediate priority and that the UK was in discussions with Egypt on how to provide practical assistance on the ground. Israel levelled a northern Gaza district on Friday after giving families a half-hour warning to escape. London police say they have recorded an 1,353 per cent increase in antisemitic offences this month compared to the same period last year, while Islamophobic offences were up 140 per cent in the wake of the attack by Hamas on Israel. Thousands of people in Muslim countries and beyond held demonstrations Friday in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, calling for an end to Israels blockade and airstrikes. 09:45 PM BST United Nations Secretary-General at the Rafah border crossing Egyptian Army Soldiers stand guard at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip - Gehad Hamdy / Avalon United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks outside the gate of the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing - KEROLOS SALAH 09:41 PM BST First photo of released US hostages The first image reportedly of released US hostages Judith and Natalie Raanan in Israeli territory has been posted to X, formerly Twitter. They are photographed either side of an unidentified man in what appears to be a bulletproof jacket, and holding his hands, flanked by members of the Israeli Defense Forces who have their faces blurred out. First pic of the two American hostages in Israeli territory pic.twitter.com/XDocOCKrF0 Yosef Yisrael (@yosefyisrael25) October 20, 2023 09:21 PM BST Released US hostages to be reunited with family Judith Raanan, left, and her daughter Natalie - Raanan Family Two American hostages freed on Friday byHamas were identified as US citizens Judith Tai Raanan and her daughter Natalie Shoshana Raanan. Israel said they were travelling to a military base in central Israel to be reunited with family. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the mother and daughter were abducted by Hamas while they were staying at Kibbutz Nahal Oz. According to Natalie Raanans brother, Ben Raanan in Denver, the two had been visiting Judith Raanans mother in celebration of her 85th birthday. The pair were handed over to Israeli forces at the border of the Gaza Strip and were on their way to a meeting point at a military base in the center of the country, where their family members are waiting for them, Netanyahu said in a statement. US President Joe Biden thanked Qatar and Israel for their partnership in securing the release of the two women. Media reports in the United States said they were from Evanston, an Illinois suburb of Chicago. Hamas has said it took about 200 hostages during the deadly Oct. 7 rampage. The Iranian-backed militia has said 50 more captives are held by other armed groups in the coastal Palestinian enclave. It said more than 20 hostages have been killed by Israeli air strikes, but has not given any further details. 09:08 PM BST Aid trucks queue on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing Aid trucks waiting on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing on Friday - Maxar Technologies 08:45 PM BST Israel orders five Gaza schools to evacuate 'as fast as possible', says UN agency The UNs agency for Palestinian refugees said it has received a warning from Israel to evacuate five schools as fast as possible. All of the schools are in Gaza City, close to the Al-Ahli Baptist hospital in northern Gaza, AFP reported. The Palestine Red Crescent said it faces an imminent threat after the Israeli military ordered the evacuation of Al-Quds hospital. 08:27 PM BST US hostage release comes after 'many days' of negotiations The release of US hostages from Gaza comes after many days on continuous communication with all parties, Reuters reported that a Qatar foreign ministry spokesperson said. Qatar hopes dialogue will lead to the release of all civilian hostages from every nationality, foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari added. 08:25 PM BST Biden releases statement on the hostage release US President Joe Biden has thanked the governments of Qatar and Israel for their work in helping to release the two American hostages, and called for privacy for the family. His statement reads: Today, we have secured the release of two Americans taken hostage by Hamas during the horrific terrorist assault against Israel on October 7. Our fellow citizens have endured a terrible ordeal these past 14 days, and I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been wracked with fear. These individuals and their family will have the full support of the United States government as they recover and heal, and we should all respect their privacy in this moment. From the earliest moments of this attack, we have been working around-the-clock to free American citizens who were taken hostage by Hamas, and we have not ceased our efforts to secure the release of those who are still being held. I thank the government of Qatar and the government of Israel for their partnership in this work. 08:09 PM BST Turkey says Biden's Israel visit amounted to approval of destruction in Gaza The Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said that a visit by Joe Biden to Israel this week amounted to US approval of the destruction in Gaza, and added this was noted by history. Speaking to state broadcaster TRT Haber, Fidan said Israel had changed the narrative about its involvement in a blast at a Gaza hospital on Tuesday, and added he hoped a summit in Cairo on Saturday would yield an agreement to stop Israels offensive, Reuters reported. Of course, Biden coming there under these circumstances and being in a position, in a way, of approving the destruction in Gaza, is being noted by history, Fidan said. For many, this is not a surprise, but it creates a perception that may cause many different outcomes for America. 08:03 PM BST Israel's military 'gearing up for next stage of this war' The IDF is gearing up for the next stage of this war, its spokesperson Brigadier General Daniel Hagari said in a press conference on Friday. He also warned that its war with Hamas would continue for many more weeks and said there would be difficult times ahead. Hagari was also asked about the return of hostages taken by Hamas into Gaza on 7 October and said that the IDF was exhausting all options in order to guarantee their safe return. 07:59 PM BST Two US hostages handed over at border The Office of Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that the two US citizens released by Hamas are Judith Tai Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter Natali Raanan. The Raanans are from the Chicago area and had been visiting relatives in the kibbutz of Nahal Oz in southern Israel when it was attacked by Hamas, according to their family. They were handed over at the border and are currently on their way to an Israeli military base to be reunited with family, according to a statement from the prime ministers office. 07:57 PM BST US presses Israel to delay Gaza invasion to get hostages out The US and European governments have been putting pressure on Israel to delay its ground invasion of Gaza to buy time for the release of hostages held by Hamas, according to Bloomberg. The negotiations with Hamas are delicate and may fail, said people familiar with the efforts. 07:32 PM BST Vigil held for fallen Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah Friends and relatives held a candlelit vigil in Beirut on Friday to mark one week since the killing of Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah while filming an Israeli tank firing into Lebanon. At a bar he co-owned in the Lebanese capital, loved ones held candles and portraits of Abdallah, who covered some of the biggest news stories of the past decade, ranging from the Russian invasion of Ukraine to the conflict in Syria. You were everything to me, Abdallahs sister Abir said. I will keep carrying this family, I swear. Im happy that youre in heaven. Friends and relatives pray and react during a candlelight vigil to mark one week since Reuters video journalist Issam Abdallah was killed - AMR ALFIKY Abdallah was nominated as Reuters Video Journalist of the year in 2020 for outstanding coverage of the Beirut port blast. Writing to Reuters editors after an assignment last year to Ukraine, Abdallah said: 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. Lebanons army and government blamed Israel for Abdallahs death. Israels military says it is reviewing the case. Reuters has called on Israel to conduct a thorough, swift and transparent investigation. 07:29 PM BST Watch: Israeli police turn Muslims away from Al Aqsa mosque in east Jerusalem 07:01 PM BST Number of French citizens killed in Hamas attacks rises to 30 At least 30 French citizens have been killed following the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, the French foreign ministry said Friday. Seven French citizens are still missing, according to the ministry, which said that some of these people are hostages in Gaza without providing further details. We are doing everything we can to secure their release, the ministry added. 06:57 PM BST US hostages with Red Cross The two US hostages, a mother and daughter, released by Hamas are with the International Committee of the Red Cross, according to Reuters News Agency. It is unclear whether they will leave Gaza into Egypt or Israel. It is the result of the negotiations between Qatar and Hamas that started after Hamas abducted around 200 people from Israel on October 7. In response to Qatari efforts, Al-Qassam Brigades released two American citizens (a mother and her daughter) for humanitarian reasons, and to prove to the American people and the world that the claims made by Biden and his fascist administration are false and baseless, Hamas spokesperson Abu Obaida said in a statement. 06:44 PM BST World Food Programme calls for 'unimpeded access' to Gaza The World Food Programme (WFP) has called for full and complete unimpeded access to the Gaza Strip so essential humanitarian aid can reach civilians. Cindy McCain, executive director, said that the WFP has less than a week of food left in the densely-populated enclave with supplies continuing to be held up at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt. People are going to die unless we can gain access, she warned, adding that the organisation hoped tomorrow would see their trucks make the crossing. 06:26 PM BST Palestinian Red Crescent says Israeli forces are warning them to evacuate Gaza's Al Quds hospital The Palestinian Red Crescent announced on Friday that they received a warning from Israeli forces to immediately evacuate Gazas Al-Quds hospital, which currently houses over 400 patients and 12,000 displaced civilians. The Palestinian Red Crescent issued an urgent appeal to the international community, saying: We call on the world to take immediate and urgent action to prevent a new massacre like the one that occurred on the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital. 06:23 PM BST Sunak: Rafah border crossing to reopen 'imminently' Rishi Sunak has said getting humanitarian aid to those in Gaza is an immediate priority and that the UK was in discussions with Egypt on how to provide practical assistance on the ground. The UK prime minister, speaking to reporters after his meeting with Egypts president, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, said the Rafah border crossing should reopen imminently. He also called on the need to intensify dialogue, because we all have a shared interest in peace and stability in this region. 06:00 PM BST Biden says he thinks aid trucks will get through to Gaza within two days US President Joe Biden on Friday said he believed trucks with aid will get through to Gaza in the next 24-48 hours. 05:59 PM BST Palestinian leader condemns Hamas in meeting with Sunak The president of the Palestinian Authority condemned Hamas terrorism and stressed that Hamas do not represent the Palestinian people, during a meeting with Rishi Sunak on Friday. Mr Sunak met Mahmoud Abbas during his trip to Egypt on Friday. The leaders agreed on the need for all parties to take steps to protect civilians, and civilian infrastructure, and minimise the loss of innocent lives, Downing Street said. The Prime Minister also expressed his deep condolences for the loss of civilian lives in Gaza during the meeting and reiterated Britains long-standing commitment to the two-state solution, his office said. 05:33 PM BST Erdogan calls on Israel to stop attacks on Gaza Turkeys president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has called on Israel to stop its attacks on Gaza, saying that it will bring nothing but more pain, death and tears. In a social media post, Erdogan called on the establishment of a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible. He wrote: I reiterate our call to the Israeli administration to never expand the scope of its attacks against civilians and to immediately stop its operations that amount to genocide. Gazzeye yonelik saldrlarn genislemesi daha fazla ac, olum ve gozyasndan baska hicbir sey getirmeyecektir. Cocuklar, kadnlar, sivilleri katlederek; hastaneleri, okullar, camileri, kiliseleri bombalayarak guvenligin saglanamayacag acktr. Zulumle abad olunmaz. Recep Tayyip Erdogan (@RTErdogan) October 20, 2023 05:21 PM BST Germany sees over 1,100 offences linked to Israel-Hamas conflict German police have recorded more than 1,100 offences in relation to the Israel-Gaza conflict since Hamas launched its deadly attack earlier this month, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said Friday. These are preliminary figures... and investigations are under way everywhere, Faeser told journalists in a press conference at the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) in Wiesbaden. The recorded offences included bodily harm... breaches of the peace, incitement to hatred and damage to property, BKA deputy chief Juergen Peter said at the same press conference. In all, a low three-digit figure of violent crimes had been recorded, Peter said. Berlin had become a hotspot for offences, he said, with the majority occurring in the capital, where clashes between protesters and police were fiercest. 05:13 PM BST Israel gives 30-minute warning before razing entire neighbourhood Israel levelled a northern Gaza district on Friday after giving families a half-hour warning to escape. In Zahra, a northern Gaza town, residents said their entire district of some 25 apartment buildings was razed to the ground. They received Israeli warning messages on their mobile phones at breakfast, followed ten minutes later by a small drone strike that hammered the message home. After another 20 minutes, F-16 warplanes brought the buildings down in huge explosions and clouds of dust. Israel is said to be softening targets to reduce the threat of Hamas before launching a full-scale ground invasion. Hamas has been accused of using civilians as human shields against Israeli bombs. 05:10 PM BST Sunak releases statement on meeting with Palestinian Authority president Rishi Sunak met with the Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas, during his trip to Egypt on Friday. His office released the following statement: The prime minister expressed his deep condolences for the loss of civilian lives in Gaza, including the terrible destruction of the al-Ahli hospital earlier this week. The leaders agreed on the need for all parties to take steps to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and minimise the loss of innocent lives. They condemned Hamass terrorism and stressed that Hamas do not represent the Palestinian people. The prime minister underscored his commitment to opening up humanitarian access to Gaza to alleviate the suffering of thousands of people who desperately need food, water and medicine. He updated on his conversations with Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Sisi on this subject. The prime minister reiterated the UKs long-standing commitment to the two-state solution and to achieving a future where Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and security. 04:48 PM BST France has faced spate of fake bomb threats since the Hamas attack A 16-year-old was arrested over a bomb hoax near Paris, police sources said on Friday, as authorities scrambled to halt a week of bomb scares at airports, schools and landmarks. The spate of fake threats has hit a country on high alert since the Hamas attack on Israel and the fatal stabbing of a teacher in the northern French city of Arras last week. The teenager was arrested on Thursday in Saint-Ouen-lAumone, a town northwest of Paris, over a bomb threat emailed to his school that caused the evacuation of around a thousand pupils. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said the French authorities had made 18 arrests over false bomb threats on Wednesday and Thursday. 04:41 PM BST Pictures: Israeli soldiers on Oct 20 An Israeli soldier kisses his partner as she visits him near the border with the Gaza Strip - Ohad Zwigenberg An Israeli soldier displays military equipment and ammunition that Hamas militants used at the time of the attack on the Israeli south border - Amir Levy/Getty Images Israeli soldiers patrol next to communities near the Israeli-Gaza border - Ohad Zwigenberg 04:35 PM BST Rishi Sunak welcomes efforts by Egypt to reopen the Rafah border Rishi Sunak arrives in Egypt on Oct 20 - Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has welcomed efforts by Egypt to reopen the Rafah border crossing with Gaza as soon as possible, his office said following a meeting between the pair in Cairo. Sunak and the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi agreed on Friday that global leaders should do everything possible to avoid a contagion of conflict in the Middle East, Sunaks office said. 04:25 PM BST Canada still committed to Israel-Palestine two-state solution Canada is still committed to a two-state solution to create peace in the Middle East, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday, reiterating the countrys long-time position in the wake of deadly Hamas attacks against Israel earlier this month. Canada remains firm and steadfast in our commitment to a two-state solution, Trudeau told reporters in Toronto. The world and the region needs a peaceful, safe, prosperous, viable Palestinian state alongside a peaceful, prosperous, democratic, safe... Israel. The two-state solution is a proposal to create a state for the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip alongside Israel. 04:20 PM BST About 100,000 civilians have been evacuated from their homes, Israel says About 100,000 civilians have been evacuated from their homes so far in northern and southern Israel, according to the Israeli Ministry of Defense. These evacuations include short-term leave, the ministry said, but it did not specify a time frame. 04:14 PM BST We must not walk away, says US president President Joe Biden has reiterated his support for Israel in a post on X (formerly Twitter). History has taught us that when terrorists dont pay the price for their terror or when dictators dont pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos, death, and destruction, he said. And the costs and threats to America and to the world keep rising. We must not walk away. 04:05 PM BST Palestinians wait for Rafah border crossing to open Dozens of Palestinians clutching foreign passports gathered Friday at Gazas border with Egypt, the only crossing which can possibly open as Israel bombards the tiny territory. The crowds were waiting at the cafeteria of the Rafah border crossing, which has been hit multiple times since Israel began an intense bombardment of the enclave following the deadly Hamas attacks of October 7. They told us at the embassy to head to the crossing. We sleep here despite the danger, said 29-year-old Mahmud Salah Ibrahim Abu Musallam, who has Swedish citizenship and urged European embassies to help us get out of here. Waiting at the crossing with her father Abu Musallam, seven-year-old Ghazal told AFP news agency that she wanted to go to Sweden because all the children die here. 04:00 PM BST US Republican senators ask tech firms about content moderation in Israel-Hamas war A US Senate panels Republican lawmakers sent a letter on Friday to tech companies Meta Platforms, Google, TikTok and X, formerly called Twitter, seeking information on their content moderation policies in the Israel-Hamas war, the senators said. The Republican lawmakers of the US Senate Commerce Committee said they asked the companies to commit to fully preserving a documentary history of Hamass atrocities. 03:55 PM BST Pictured: Palestinian man faces Israeli troops A Palestinian man rides a motorcycle as he faces Israeli troops during clashes with them at the northern entrance of the West Bank city of Ramallah - JAAFAR ASHTIYEH 03:54 PM BST Majority of hostages taken by Hamas terrorists still alive The majority of hostages taken by Hamas terrorists are still alive, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The majority of the hostages are alive. There were also dead bodies that were taken... to the Gaza Strip, an IDF statement said. More than 20 of those kidnapped by Hamas are children, while between 10 and 20 of them are over the age of 60, according to Israel. The total number of hostages remains unclear, although it is thought to be around 200. Earlier today, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak thanked Qatar for its help in attempting to secure the release of British nationals being held by the terrorist group. At least nine British nationals were killed in the attack, and a further seven remain missing. Mr Sunak agreed with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, that the pair should keep in close contact in their efforts to end the torment of the victims and their families. 03:42 PM BST White House asks Congress for $106 billion for Ukraine and Israel The White House on Friday asked Congress for nearly $106 billion to fund ambitious plans for Ukraine, Israel and US border security, but offered no strategy for securing the money from a broken Congress, Reuters has reported. President Joe Bidens request for the funding comes days after he visited Israel and pledged solidarity as the country bombards Gaza following an attack by Hamas militants that killed 1,400 people in southern Israel. By grouping Israel funding with Ukraine, border security, refugee assistance, measures to counter China and other hotly debated priorities, Biden is hoping he has created a must-pass national security spending bill that can win support in a chaotic House of Representatives. The chamber, which Republicans won control of last year, has been without a leader for more than two weeks. Some Republican lawmakers have grown skeptical of the need to fund Ukraines war with Russia, and have threatened to halt government altogether to put an end to debt-fueled fiscal spending. The world is watching and the American people rightly expect their leaders to come together and deliver on these priorities, said Bidens budget director, Shalanda Young, in a letter to acting House speaker Patrick McHenry. I urge Congress to address them as part of a comprehensive, bipartisan agreement in the weeks ahead. 03:39 PM BST Pictures: Rishi Sunak meets the President of the Palestinian Authority Rishi Sunak meets the President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas - Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street Rishi Sunak meets the President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas - Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street 03:34 PM BST NBC correspondent Martin Fletcher says his relatives are among Hamas hostages Former Israel-based NBC correspondent Martin Fletcher says that American members of his wifes family are being held captive after visiting their grandmother in Israel. They were last seen their hands tied being dragged away by the Hamas terrorists, he says. Longtime NBC correspondent Martin Fletcher just told @SRuhle that two members of his wife's family members are hostages in Gaza. @MSNBC pic.twitter.com/5sPhzA5Cnt 11th Hour (@11thHour) October 20, 2023 03:31 PM BST Gaza war death toll rises to 4,137 At least 4,137 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since Israel began bombarding the Palestinian enclave, the Hamas-controlled health ministry said Friday. The ministry said another 13,162 people have been wounded in the Israeli strikes, which have been ongoing since October 7. 03:25 PM BST Antisemitic and Islamophobic offences soar in London London police say they have recorded an 1,353 per cent increase in antisemitic offences this month compared to the same period last year, while Islamophobic offences were up 140 per cent in the wake of the attack by Hamas on Israel, Reuters has reported. The Metropolitan police have ramped up patrols amid growing tensions, and said there had been 218 antisemitic offences between October 1 and 18, compared to 15 in the same period in 2022. Islamophobic offences were up to 101, from 42. Regrettably, despite the increased presence of officers we have seen a significant increase in hate crime across London, police said in a statement. This includes abuse directed at individuals or groups in person or online, racially or religiously motivated criminal damage and other offences. Officers have made 21 arrests for hate crime offences, including a man detained for defacing posters of missing Israelis and another over Islamophobic graffiti on bus stops. The Community Security Trust, a charity that advises Britains estimated 280,000 Jews on security matters, said it had recorded 457 antisemitic incidents across the UK since the Hamas attack on October 7 until October 18. TellMama, which monitors anti-Muslim incidents, said it had received 200 cases up to October 16. The conflict is having a direct impact on London and Londoners, with increasing cases of abhorrent Islamophobia and antisemitism seen in the capital, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said. 03:19 PM BST Protests in several countries over Israeli airstrikes Thousands of people in Muslim countries and beyond held demonstrations Friday in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, calling for an end to Israels blockade and airstrikes. Demonstrators gathered in Iraq at the countrys border crossing with Jordan; in locations across Egypt; in Turkeys capital Ankara and its most populous city of Istanbul; and in Indonesia, Malaysia and South Korea. Protesters burn an Israeli flag and a puppet featuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a demonstration against Israel in Istanbul on October 20 - BULENT KILIC / AFP) (Photo by BULENT KILIC/AFP via Getty Images 03:11 PM BST The Board of Deputies of British Jews releases statement about BBC The Board of Deputies of British Jews has put out a statement after a meeting today with Tim Davie, the BBC director general. The broadcaster has been criticised in recent days for describing Hamas as militants rather than terrorists. The statement reads: The BBC confirmed it was committed to continued dialogue. It also confirmed it is no longer BBC practice to call Hamas militants. Instead, the BBC describes the group as a proscribed terrorist organisation by the UK government and others, or simply as Hamas. 03:04 PM BST German interior minister calls for deportation of Hamas supporters Germanys interior minister says Hamas supporters should be deported from the country where possible, adding that authorities would keep a close eye on potential Islamist attackers. If we are able to deport Hamas supporters, we must do this, Nancy Faeser told reporters following talks with officials at the Federal Criminal Police Office. Our security authorities have currently placed an even stronger focus on the Islamist scene, Faeser added, pointing to a recent attack in Brussels as an indication of the threat relating to tensions over the Israel-Hamas conflict. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser - JULIEN WARNAND/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock 02:54 PM BST James Cleverly to attend Egypt summit Foreign Secretary James Cleverly will attend a summit on the conflict in Egypt tomorrow with other world leaders. At the Cairo Peace Summit, Mr Cleverly will emphasise the UKs desire to prevent the regional spread of the conflict and mitigate the threat from Hamas, a spokesperson said. He will also discuss urgent efforts to facilitate immediate, unimpeded and safe humanitarian access for lifesaving aid to reach civilians in Gaza. 02:49 PM BST In pictures: West Bank clashes Palestinians have clashed with Israeli security forces in the West Bank. Youths clash with Israeli forces following a demonstration in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron - HAZEM BADER / AFP Palestinian youths burn tyres during clashes with Israeli security forces in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah - YURI CORTEZ / AFP A Palestinian man rides a motorcycle as he faces Israeli troops during clashes with them at the northern entrance of the West Bank city of Ramallah - ASHTIYEH / AFP 02:36 PM BST Russia advises against travel to Israel and Lebanon Russia on Friday advised its citizens against travelling to Israel, Lebanon, Jordan and the Palestinian territories amid flaring tensions over Israels war with Hamas. The situation in the Middle East is heating up, the foreign ministry said. We strongly recommend that Russian citizens refrain from travelling to the region, especially to Israel, Lebanon, Jordan and the Palestinian territories. 02:23 PM BST Egypt accuses 'Western media' of blaming Egypt for Rafah border closure Egypt has accused Western media of holding the country responsible for the closure of the Rafah border crossing despite Israeli actions against it. Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Israel had carried out targeted attacks and refused aid entry while insinuating Egypt was to blame. He wrote: Targeting Egypt in Western media is clear in the current crisis. Promoting displacement scenario, holding Egypt responsible for the crossing closure despite Israeli targeted attacks and refusal of aid entry and recently insinuating Egyptian responsibility for obstructing third-country nationals exit. It added: Rafah crossing is open and Egypt is not responsible for obstructing third-country nationals exit. A following tweet said: The opportunity is available tomorrow to change course and awaken the conscience. 02:10 PM BST Major US Muslim group moves annual banquet after threats A major US Muslim civil rights group has moved an annual banquet scheduled for Saturday to an undisclosed location after a hotel canceled the event because of threats. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said the Marriott Crystal Gateway hotel in Arlington, Virginia, which has hosted its gathering for more than 10 years, received the threats. Anonymous callers have threatened to plant bombs in the hotels parking garage, kill specific hotel staff in their homes, and storm the hotel in a repeat of the Jan. 6th attack on the US Capitol if the events moved forward, CAIR said in a statement on Thursday night. The group said it would proceed with the Saturday banquet in an alternate, secured location. 01:55 PM BST 64 medical staff killed in Gaza At least 64 medical staff have been killed in ongoing Israeli airstrikes, according to a spokesperson for the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The ministry added that seven hospitals and 21 primary care health centres in Gaza are out of service. Due to the Israeli violations, seven hospitals are out of service and 21 Primary Health care centres as well, said the health ministry spokesperson Dr Ashraf Al-Qidra. 64 medical staff were killed and 23 ambulances were destroyed. 01:43 PM BST Rishi Sunak meets Egyptian president Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi as part of his trip to the Middle East amid the spiralling tensions in the region. The meeting follows similar stops in Israel, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrives in Egypt and meets with the President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi - Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street 01:37 PM BST Macron speaks to families of French hostages Emmanuel Macron spoke today with families of French hostages currently being held by Hamas. The French president said that he was fully committed to securing their release. Following the conversations via video link, Mr Macron wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that France is not abandoning its own people. I was just able to speak with families of French hostages held by Hamas, he said. I say it here to everyone: France is not abandoning its own people. We are doing everything possible to obtain the release and return of our compatriots. The Nation stands with them. 01:28 PM BST Israel aims to 'end its responsibility for Gaza Strip' Israels defence minister on Friday said that one objective of the military campaign in the Gaza Strip is to end Israels responsibility over the Palestinian coastal enclave. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant made the remarks during a briefing to parliaments Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, his office said. Gallant detailed the objectives of the campaign including the elimination of Hamas and destruction of both its military and governing capabilities, the complete removal of Israeli responsibility from the Gaza strip, and the creation of a new security reality in the region, the statement said. 01:19 PM BST In pictures: People gather for Friday prayers Israeli forces have barred Palestinians from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem for the second Friday in a row, leading to many Muslims performing prayers on the streets outside. The elderly and women were initially able to enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque, but Israeli forces later closed the entrance, leading to heated arguments and security clearing the narrow streets of those trying to pray outside. Israeli security forces clearing the surrounding narrow streets - Heathcliff O'Malley Israeli forces take security measures as Muslims perform Friday prayers on street in the Ras Al-Amud area after Israeli authorities barred Palestinians from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque - Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu Friday prayers at Al Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem was limited to the elderly and women today - Heathcliff O'Malley 01:10 PM BST Gaza shortages will 'kill many, many people' Shortages in Gaza are going to kill many, many people, Avril Benoit, executive director of Medecins Sans Frontieres, has said. Ms Benoit told CNN that MSF regularly loses contact with its team at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza due to a lack of electricity and unreliable phone signal. She said it makes it difficult to get real-time information. Ms Benoit added that there are extreme shortages of equipment, including painkillers. She said: Theres a real shortage of anaesthesia. And again, those surgical teams are going to have to ration. They are going to have to choose who gets it and who doesnt, who gets the lifesaving surgery, who doesnt. Its absolutely life or death at this point. Hour by hour its essential for that humanitarian assistance to be brought in. 12:55 PM BST Israel does not 'plan to control life in the Gaza strip' Israel does not plan to control life in the Gaza strip after it destroys Hamas, the countrys defence minister said on Friday. Defense Minister Yoav Gallants comments to lawmakers were the first time an Israeli leader discussed its long-term plans for Gaza. Mr Gallant said Israel expected there to be three phases to its war with Hamas. The first move would be an attack with airstrikes and ground manoeuvres, he explained. Israel would then defeat pockets of resistance. 12:45 PM BST World leaders to meet at Cairo International Summit for Peace World leaders are due to meet at the Cairo International Summit for Peace this weekend as concerns grow over the escalating conflict. So far it is thought that those attending will include: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni South African President Cyril Ramaphosa Bahrains King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna Japanese foreign minister Yoko Kamikawa Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will be in Egypt later today, but it is unclear whether he will attend the summit. 12:36 PM BST UN chief visits Egypt's Rafah crossing ahead of Gaza aid delivery UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza on Friday to oversee preparations for the delivery of aid. Cargo planes and trucks have been bringing humanitarian aid to Rafah for days, but so far none has been delivered to Gaza. We are actively engaging with all the parties, with Egypt, Israel, the United States... in order to have these trucks moving as soon as possible, Mr Guterres said. 12:27 PM BST 'The entire agency is grieving' - Two UN employees killed in Gaza We are devastated to confirm that two more @UNRWA colleagues have been killed in#Gaza. The entire Agency is grieving @UNRWA continues to advocate for adherence to international humanitarian law - @UN staff & civilians must be protected at all timeshttps://t.co/jqfilNjW9N pic.twitter.com/ZHlAPGo96R UNRWA (@UNRWA) October 20, 2023 11:59 AM BST Biden comment comparing Putin to Hamas is 'unacceptable' The Kremlin said on Friday that remarks by US President Joe Biden comparing Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Palestinian militant group Hamas were unacceptable. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters the current time was a potentially dangerous moment on the international agenda, and that the threat to Russian citizens would grow exponentially once Israel started its expected ground operation to try to oust Hamas from Gaza. Peskov declined to say who would represent Russia at a peace summit for the Palestinian conflict in Cairo on Saturday, referring the query to the foreign ministry. 11:56 AM BST Majority of Hamas hostages are still alive, according to IDF The majority of hostages taken by Hamas terrorists are still alive, according to the Israeli Defence Forces. The IDF said that over 20 hostages are children, while between 10 and 20 of them are over the age of 60. The total number of hostages overall remains unclear. 11:48 AM BST Aid trucks need to move to Gaza 'as quickly as possible', says UN Aid trucks need to move to Gaza as quickly as possible, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said at the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. He called for a meaningful number of trucks to enter Gaza every day and for verifications of aid to be done in a way that is practical and expedited. We are actively engaging with all parties to make sure conditions for delivering aid are lifted, he said. 11:39 AM BST Gaza death toll exceeds 4,000 A total of 4,127 people have been killed in Gaza since October 7, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza has announced. The death toll includes 1,661 children, while an additional 13,162 people have been injured, spokesperson Ashraf Al-Qidra said. 11:31 AM BST EU president says Egypt needs support to handle fleeing Gazans European Council President Charles Michel will visit Egypt on Saturday where he call for support for the country, which borders the war-torn Gaza Strip, he said Thursday. Egypt needs support, so lets support Egypt, said Michel, who is in Washington to attend a summit with US President Joe Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday. He added that he would meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during his weekend visit. In addition, Michel will attend at Sisis invitation a conference on the current developments in the Middle East, Palestine and the Peace Process, said his spokesperson, Ecaterina Casinge. Accompanying Michel to Egypt will be Josep Borrell, the EUs foreign policy chief, Casinge said. 11:20 AM BST Palestinian president to participate in Cairo peace summit Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will participate in the Cairo summit for peace on Saturday, an official source told Reuters. 11:11 AM BST Watch: Israel releases footage of latest strikes on Hezbollah and Hamas Israel has released footage of strikes on Hezbollah and Hamas. It said these clips show Hezbollah targets being hit on the border between Israel and Lebanon. The strikes included an observation point facing the sea. Israel said the move was in response to shooting attacks that took place on Oct 18. The Israeli army said this footage shows strikes on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. It said targets included anti-tank missile launching posts, tunnel shafts and intelligence infrastructure. 11:03 AM BST Majority of Israelis back sending troops into Gaza As Israel looks poised to send ground troops into Gaza, a survey found that 65 per cent of the public backs the possibility of an offensive, while 21 per cent oppose it. The majority of Israelis also supported the possibility of a conflict on the northern border as tensions between Jerusalem and Lebanon soar. The Iran-backed Hezbollah and its allies have traded cross-border fire with Israel for days. 51 per cent of Israelis said they would back a large-scale military operation on the northern front. 10:48 AM BST Majority of Israelis blame Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu An overwhelming majority of Israelis believe that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must take responsibility for the deadly Hamas attacks. A total of 80 per cent said that Mr Netanyahu should publicly accept the blame for the staggering failures that led to the deaths of at least 1,400 Israelis to date. The figures included 69 per cent of those who voted for the premiers Likud party in last years election. The survey was conducted on October 18 and 19 by the Lazar Institute, along with Panel4All, among 510 respondents. 10:38 AM BST Israel-Hamas conflict puts global refugee resources at risk The conflict between Israel and Hamas may jeopardise already limited humanitarian resources needed in other parts of the world, a United Nations official said in Tokyo on Friday. Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said his agency worries the war may spill beyond Israel and Gaza, which would add more pressure on surrounding countries like Lebanon and Egypt that are already experiencing refugee crises. Humanitarian resources are not endless, Mr Grandi said at the Japan National Press Club, adding that more crises lead to less resources for everybody. 10:30 AM BST Israel sending troops into Gaza to 'minimise civilian casualties' Israel is sending troops into Gaza to minimise civilian casualties, a former senior advisor to the Israeli government told Sky News. Ashley Perry said every nation on Earth would react with far greater force than Israel is showing and Israel never targets civilians. Mr Perry added that Hamas know how to play to the new rules of asymmetric warfare which make it almost impossible for a clean war and that it is using civilian casualties as propaganda. He said: Israel is sending its ground forces in to minimise civilian casualties because it is possible for Israel to use as much air power as possible to flatten as much of Gaza as possible. It is not doing that because it knows there will be major civilian casualties. 10:23 AM BST Rishi Sunak and Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met with the Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani earlier today. The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak meets with the Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani - Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street Prime Minister Rishi Sunak meets with the Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani - Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street 10:12 AM BST US troops in Iraq targeted by rocket attacks Two US bases in Iraq were targetted by rocket attacks amid fears of an escalating conflict in the Middle East, security sources said Friday. Armed factions close to Iran have threatened to attack American interests in Iraq over US support for Israel since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7. Three Katyusha rockets struck near a base of the international coalition close to Baghdad International Airport that includes US troops on Thursday night, while another targeted the Ain al-Assad base in western Iraq. No injuries were reported and there was no immediate claim of responsibility. On Wednesday, the US military said it shot down two drones fired at American forces and the international coalition in western Iraq. 09:59 AM BST Number of Thai hostages held by Hamas now estimated at 19 The number of Thai nationals believed to be held hostage by the Palestinian group Hamas has increased to 19, Thailands foreign ministry said on Friday, among at least 200 people taken after a deadly Oct. 7 raid in southern Israel. So far 30 Thai nationals have been killed in the unrest and 19 abducted as of Friday, the ministry said in a statement. 09:47 AM BST Rishi Sunak meets with Qatari leader Rishi Sunak and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani have spoken about the need to prevent a spiralling conflict in the Middle East and the vital need for humanitarian aid to reach Gaza. According to Downing Street, the pair underlined the imperative of avoiding any escalation in the violence during their meeting and agreed that leaders had a responsibility to do everything possible to prevent it. They agreed on the urgent need to get food, water and medicine to civilians who are suffering, a statement read. Later today Mr Sunak is due to travel to Egypt as part of his trip to the Middle East. He met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday, before going on to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia. 09:34 AM BST Dutch government advises citizens against travelling to Lebanon The Dutch government on Friday advised its citizens against any travel to Lebanon and also urged those still in the country to leave Lebanon as soon as possible, joining other European countries who put out the same kind of advice for their nationals. As a consequence of unpredictable developments between Israel and the Palestinian Territories, there are heightened tensions in Lebanon, the government said in a statement. Yesterday, Britain and the US urged their citizens to flee while commercial options are still available amid growing tensions between Hezbollah and Israel. 09:24 AM BST Israel builds up forces on the border Israel has continued to build its presence along the border with Gaza. Israeli soldiers prepare for the scenario of ground maneuvers at an undisclosed location near the border with Gaza - HANNIBAL HANSCHKE/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Israeli tanks seen on a road near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip - REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura Israeli soldiers prepare for the scenario of ground maneuvers at an undisclosed location near the border with Gaza - HANNIBAL HANSCHKE/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock 09:16 AM BST Israeli officials fear 'third front' could open in West Bank Israeli officials fear that rising violence in the West Bank could open a third front to the conflict. Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus told Reuters that Hamas is attempting to engulf Israel in a two- or three-front war, including the Lebanese border and the West Bank The threat is elevated, he said, adding that the military is on high alert in the area. Unrest in the West Bank has flared since Israel began bombarding Gaza and clashing with Hezbollah on the Lebanese border. More than 70 Palestinians have been killed in West Bank violence since October 7 and Israel has arrested more than 800 people. Western countries supporting Israel fear a wider war that would open up Lebanon as a second front and the West Bank as what Israeli media call a potential third front. 09:08 AM BST Arab states must realise Hamas is 'also its enemy' Former Middle East Minister Alistair Burt has said that he is extremely worried about the crisis in the region and urged Arab states to realise Hamas is also its enemy. It is not in the interest of neighbouring states to Israel, nor Israel itself, that this confrontation goes wider, he told Sky News this morning. The hope had been for a new Middle East where Israel was firmly plugged into the centre and neighbouring states were working on new economic ties. All of this would be disastrously destroyed by a way. Mr Burt added that there is nothing to suggest that Israel could be dissuaded from acting to end the threat of Hamas, but questioned what it could mean for civilians. He said: One can understand Israel wanting to deal with the enemy on the border but if there are a large number of casualties what are the consequences? First thing is a pause for humanitarian aid, get the hostages out and Arab states need to realise that Hamas is also its enemy. 09:00 AM BST China says over 1,000 of its nationals have left Israel amid conflict Over 1,000 Chinese nationals have left Israel amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Friday. According to preliminary statistics, the Chinese nationals who have left have either returned to China or gone to a third country, ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a press briefing. Mao said 280 Chinese nationals had been stranded in Sderot, a city in southern Israel near Gaza, when the conflict first broke out but all have been evacuated. 08:53 AM BST Hamas spokesman arrested in West Bank Hassan Yousef, a Hamas spokesman, was arrested during Israeli raids in the West Bank on Thursday, Israeli authorities have said. The Israel Security Agency Shin Bet told CNN that Yousef was arrested on suspicion of acting on behalf of Hamas. Yousef, a leading Palestinian political figure, has been arrested by Israeli forces on numerous occasions, spending a total of 24 years in Israeli prisons. He serves as the official Hamas spokesperson in the West Bank and holds a seat on the Palestinian Legislative Council. Yousef is known for his regular appearances on international media. Earlier this week he told Canadian outlet The Globe and Mail that he believed Hamas would free the hostages it is holding if Israel agreed to a 24-hour ceasefire to allow aid into Gaza. 08:43 AM BST Israeli strikes hit Hezbollah A series of Israeli strikes have hit Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, according to footage shared by the Israeli Air Force A remotely manned aircraft eliminated a terrorist in Lebanese territory tonight, the Air Force wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. Also, the Air Force tonight attacked a number of military infrastructures of the terrorist organization Hezbollah in response to the launches carried out last night (Thursday) into Israeli territory. . , - (') . pic.twitter.com/YFoAdEfsHi Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) October 20, 2023 08:34 AM BST Rishi Sunak set to visit Egypt today Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will travel to Egypt on Friday, part of a trip to the Middle East where he wants to press his message that there should be no escalation of violence in the region after the Hamas attack on Israel. Sunak was the latest Western leader to visit Jerusalem on Thursday to show support for Israel and to try to negotiate a way to secure the release of hostages taken by Hamas and ease the provision of humanitarian aid to people in Gaza. 08:29 AM BST Gaza in pictures Here is a roundup of the latest pictures from Gaza. Palestinians, who fled their houses amid Israeli strikes, take shelter in a tent camp at a United Nations-run centre - REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa A cemetery in Gaza City being expanded by a bulldozer to add more graves - Maxar Tech/AFP via Getty Images Smoke rises in the northern Gaza Strip following an Israeli airstrike - HANNIBAL HANSCHKE/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock 08:15 AM BST Rafah crossing unlikely to open today The crossing between Egypt and Gaza is not expected to open today, according to CNN. There had been speculation that the Rafah crossing, vital for aid to cross into Gaza amid the conflict with Israel, would open shortly. But a source familiar with the area said that the situation along the border is really volatile. I would not put money on those trucks going through, they told CNN. It is thought that the first set of trucks carrying humanitarian aid will cross over the border this weekend. 08:06 AM BST 13 killed in strike on West Bank Five children are among 13 killed after Israeli forces raided and carried out an air strike on a Palestinian refugee camp in the occupied West Bank on Thursday. According to the Israeli military, militants were killed in the strike and ten Israeli officers were injured. The raid was conducted on the Nur Shams refugee camp, adjacent to the city of Tulkarm near the territorys border with Israel. Since the war started on October 7, more than 74 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank. 07:49 AM BST Joe Biden appeals to Americans to help Israel Joe Biden used his second-ever Oval Office address to appeal to Americans for support for Israel and Ukraine. The US president said he would send an urgent funding request - thought to be roughly $100bn over the next year - to Congress. The proposal will be unveiled later today but includes funding for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, humanitarian aid and border management. Mr Biden said: Tomorrow Im going to send to Congress an urgent budget request to fund Americas national security needs to support our critical partners including Israel and Ukraine. Its a smart investment that will pay dividends for American security for generations. Help us keep American troops out of harms way. Help us build a world that is safer, more peaceful, more prosperous for our children and grandchildren. In Israel, we must make sure that they have what they need to protect the people today and always. The security package Im sending to Congress and asking Congress to build is an unprecedented addition to our security that will sharpen Israel. 07:40 AM BST Israel evacuates town near Lebanese border Israel has ordered the mandatory evacuation of a town near the Lebanese border. Residents of Kiryat Shmona, home to 23,000, will be relocated to state-subsidized guesthouses, the military said. Ministry spokesperson Mayan Lazarovich said this was a mandatory evacuation. On Monday, the Israeli Defence Forces announced plans to evacuate 28 other communities living within 2km of the border. 07:32 AM BST Hamas calls for worldwide mobilisation Hamas has called for a general mobilisation worldwide. We call on our Palestinian people, our Arab and Islamic peoples, and the free people of the world to rally for return and reject displacement [on] Friday, it said. There have been protests worldwide in support of Palestine since the beginning of the conflict. 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. Israel's defense minister on Friday said there are no plans for a long-term occupation of Gaza as he explained Israel's intentions for the Palestinian enclave with more than 2.3 million residents. Speaking to lawmakers about Israels long-term plans for Gaza, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant laid out a three-stage plan, according to The Associated Press . First, Israeli airstrikes and maneuvering a presumed reference to a ground attack would aim to root out Hamas. Next will come a lower-intensity fight to defeat remaining pockets of resistance. And, finally, the removal of Israels responsibility for life in the Gaza Strip, Gallant said. https://twitter.com/NewsHour/status/1715361729448759793 https://twitter.com/IsraelRadar_com/status/1715324457894441212?s=20 It remains unclear how long this plan will take. As we reported yesterday , Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he doesnt expect the war to be over any time soon. This is a long war, and well need your continuous support, Netanyahu said Thursday, after talks with his U.K. counterpart, Rishi Sunak. Any incursion into Gaza is going to be a very dangerous effort. You can read more about what Israel will face in our deep dive here . https://twitter.com/haltman/status/1712901364395704541 As we pointed out, a big concern for the IDF will be Hamas drones. Hamas on Friday released video of its forces training on how to drop munitions from quadcopter drones on an old BRDM-2 armored vehicle. https://twitter.com/fab_hinz/status/1715337937959669842 Hamas also showed how it fires mortars from camouflaged positions, as you can see in this video below. https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1715301030844362897?s=20 So far, health officials in Hamas-controlled Gaza say Israeli strikes have killed almost 3,800 people and wounded almost 12,500 others, a majority of them women and children, according to CBS News . That number includes the disputed figure of more than 470 said to have been killed in the hospital blast, which Israel denies causing. The New York Times on Thursday reported that 100 to 300 people were killed in that explosion. In Israel, officials say Hamas's attack killed some 1,400 people and wounded 3,500 others, according to CBS News. Israel has ordered the evacuation of Kiriyat Shemona, one of the largest cities along the Lebanese border, as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hezbollah continue to trade so far limited but steady attacks. The move comes as Israel is gearing up for a massive incursion into Gaza. It is a potentially ominous signal that Israel is expecting Hezbollah to open up a northern front in this two-week old war. https://twitter.com/shashj/status/1715242089414357160?s=12 "This kind of evacuation, which has already been done in a number of towns on the northern border, allows the IDF to expand its operational freedom to act against the Hezbollah terrorist organization," said Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an IDF spokesman, according to Reuters . Kiriat Shemona's 20,000 residents will be moved to government guest housing facilities. As we previously reported , Israel had already declared some areas along the frontier as closed military zones, forcing residents to move away. This, however, is the largest evacuation from the hills of the eastern Galilee region, according to Reuters. The evacuation order came as the IDF carried out what it said was a drone strike on Hezbollah inside Lebanon. https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1715247918209175878 Later, "[t]hree terrorists of the terrorist organization Hezbollah were identified a short time ago in the area of the fence on the Lebanese border, the IDF reported at about 1:59 p.m. local time (6:59 a.m. (EST). An IDF aircraft operating in the area attacked the terrorists. In addition, IDF snipers fired a short time ago at armed men who were identified working in the Lebanese border area. https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1715321612470276432 About two hours after that, Hezbollah opened up a barrage on Israel, according to the IDF. A report was received regarding numerous launches from Lebanon toward Israeli territory in the Har Dov area, the IDF stated shortly after 3:30 p.m. local time (8:30 a.m EST). IDF soldiers are responding with artillery toward the origins of the shooting. https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1715361454696656966 The cross-border attacks are having an effect in Lebanon as well. The Lebanese Army reported a journalist killed by Israeli gunfire on Thursday in an area across the border from Kiryat Shmona where Israeli forces and Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah group had a heavy exchange of fire. https://twitter.com/AlArabiya_Eng/status/1715359717088797126 "We reaffirm that the killing of civilians and the assault on the security of our country will not go without response or punishment," Hezbollah said in a statement, according to Reuters . According to The Committee To Protect Journalists , at least 21 journalists so far have been killed in this conflict. As the cross-border exchanges continue, Lebanon's Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib told CNN about his concern that the war could spread and asked that Israel institute a 24-hour ceasefire. The situation in Gaza, he said, has inflamed the region. Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, an IDF spokesman, said Israel holds Lebanon responsible for Hezbollah's actions. "Anything that happens from their sovereign territory, they are responsible for," Lerner said of the Lebanese government. https://twitter.com/CNNThisMorning/status/1715352675498233873 With an absolutely massive arsenal of standoff weapons and well-trained and well-armed foot soldiers, Hezbollah presents a threat to Israel that cannot be overestimated. You can read more about the group's standoff weaponry in our deep dive here . https://twitter.com/Aviation_Intel/status/1712588599374590171 The IDF and Shabak, also known as the Israel Security Agency (ISA ), continued attacks inside Gaza, saying they killed several top Hamas leaders in airstrikes. Hamas leaders are the driving force behind the terrorist organizations countless attacks and brutality, the IDF said on its website. Whether they are an active part of assault companies and commando terrorist forces or ministers, every Hamas leader is responsible for the murder of Israeli and Palestinian civilians, arming children and exploiting civilian and humanitarian areas for terrorist purposes. As part of the IDFs mission of defense, it must target and neutralize these leaders to maintain the safety of all civilians. https://twitter.com/IAFsite/status/1715241100082876815 https://twitter.com/OnlinePalEng/status/1715267806223011864 A picture taken from the southern Israeli city of Sderot on October 20, 2023, shows smoke ascending over the northern Gaza Strip following an Israeli strike. (Photo by Jack Guez / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images) The IDF said it wrapped up an operation in the West Bank aimed at routing out terrorists. "Over 20 wanted persons were arrested and over 12 terrorists were eliminated, the extensive counter-terrorism operation in the Noor al-Shams refugee camp has ended," the IDF said. At least three Palestinians, including two teenagers, were killed during those operations as we previously reported . https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1715294087677362670 In response, Hamas praised "the resistances heroic response to the occupations aggression against the Nour Shams camp" and called for "a general mobilization today, Friday, to attack the enemy and its settlers." "We emphasize making today, Friday, a new and distinctive page in the history of this battle, by escalating the confrontation and clashes and confusing the occupation in all regions and using various means and tools," Hamas said on its Telegram channel. https://twitter.com/AlArabiya_Eng/status/1715363598883606712 Palestinian youths burn tyres during clashes with Israeli security forces in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah on October 20, 2023, amid ongoing battles between Israel and Hamas militants. (Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP) (Photo by YURI CORTEZ/AFP via Getty Images) On the way back from his visit to Israel, U.S. President Joe Biden said that he had a conversation with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi assuring that 20 truck loads of badly needed aid would soon pass through the Rafah crossing for the 2.3 million Gazans lacking food, water, medicine and other supplies. There were some early indications, like the removal of barriers you can see below, that the crossing - the key border checkpoint between Egypt and Gaza - would reopen. https://twitter.com/no_itsmyturn/status/1715110958891180046 However, as of Friday, those trucks were still waiting at on the Egyptian side of Rafah. "After the White House announced the deal earlier this week to allow 20 trucks of aid into Gaza, negotiations over the logistics of the delivery continued into Friday morning," NPR reported. The delay was "in part to address Israel's concerns about how to keep the aid out of the hands of Hamas." Egypt's Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said the crossing was open and that Egypt was not responsible for any delay in aid getting in. https://twitter.com/MfaEgypt/status/1715346965515354180 A United Nations spokesperson told Reuters on Friday that a first aid delivery was due to start "in the next day or so." U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who arrived at the Egyptian side of the border crossing on Friday, called for aid to be allowed into Gaza as soon as possible. "Civilians in Gaza lack all necessities of life," Guterres said at a press conference. "I call for a humanitarian cease-fire to deliver aid to Gaza." As the wait for aid continues, there are growing protests at the crossing. https://twitter.com/Sidialiyumusa/status/1715371626244554797 https://twitter.com/aaroncostaganis/status/1715371585744294128 Supplies are also a concern in Israel as it has amassed hundreds of thousands of troops for its looming incursion into Gaza. "In recent days, the logistics and technology system completed the preparation of the forces for the maneuver," the IDF said. It has set up six "spatial logistics centers to improve the response to forces in the field. Procurement processes of combat equipment including thousands of ceramic vests, means of survival, winter equipment and more were accelerated." https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1715338984363090341 Israel has also dispersed food and supplies across the country. "So far, a tailored food response has been provided to all the forces in the field," the IDF said. "From the words of the head of the technology and logistics department, Major General Michel Janko: "The technology and logistics systems work day and night so that each fighter has the equipment required for combat, depending on the nature of the activity he will perform." https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1715339063308304705 Biden on Friday asked Congress to approve more than $100 billion in supplemental funding, more than $14 billion of which goes to support Israel. According to the White House, the package will: Strengthen Israels defense from vicious terrorist attacks and bolster the Israeli Defense Forces through Department of Defense (DOD) assistance. Ensure Israels air and missile defense systems readiness with support for the Government of Israels procurement of Iron Dome and Davids Sling missile defense systems and components, and development of Iron Beam. Replenish DOD stocks that are being drawn down to support Israel in its time of need. Strengthen Israels military and enhance U.S. embassy security with foreign military financing from the Department of State. "The United States unequivocally condemns the horrific terrorist attacks by Hamas in Israel. More than 1,300 innocent civilians were murdered, including at least 32 American citizens. Additionally, there are 12 Americans unaccounted for, some of whom we know to be held hostage by Hamas. President Biden directed his Administration to take immediate action and do everything we can to ensure the government of Israel has what it needs," the White House said in a letter to Congress. The package invests "in the U.S. military industrial base to ensure our military readiness, including replenishing resources to meet our defense needs as we support Israel and Ukraine, as well as the growing security requirements in the Indo-Pacific," according to the White House. "This supplemental request invests over $50 billion in the American defense industrial baseensuring our military continues to be the most ready, capable, and best equipped fighting force the world has ever seen," according to the White House. https://twitter.com/AndrewDesiderio/status/1715374829551980659 The announcement of the supplemental aid request comes after Biden delivered a speech from the White House Thursday assuring Israel as well as Ukraine of continued U.S. support. "The security package Im sending to Congress and asking Congress to do is an unprecedented commitment to Israels security that will sharpen Israels qualitative military edge, which weve committed to the qualitative military edge," Biden said in his address. "Were going to make sure Iron Dome continues to guard the skies over Israel," he said. "Were going to make sure other hostile actors in the region know that Israel is stronger than ever and prevent this conflict from spreading." Biden also addressed both Russia and Iran. "Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common: They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy completely annihilate it," he said of Russia. "Iran is is supporting Russias [war] in Ukraine, and its supporting Hamas and other terrorist groups in the region," Biden said. "And well continue to hold them accountable, I might add." https://twitter.com/visegrad24/status/1715245781374919161 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on Friday thanked Biden. "We appreciate President Biden's support and the strong bipartisan support in America," Netanyahu's office told ABC News in a statement on Friday , when asked for comment. This is a developing story. We will update it when there is more to report about the Israel-Hamas war. Update: 2:56 PM EST - Hamas said it has released two hostages. "In response to Qatari efforts, Al-Qassam Brigades released two American citizens (a mother and her daughter) for humanitarian reasons, and to prove to the American people and the world that the claims made by Biden and his fascist administration are false and baseless," Hamas said on its Telegram channel Friday. "The two have been handed over to the Red Cross and are 'on their way out,'" a source familiar with negotiations told CNN . Fox News reported "that the family of the hostages was notified. They were initially taken from Nahal Oz. Their names are Judith and Natalie Raanan." https://twitter.com/treyyingst/status/1715427511062909419?s=12 Hamas said that about 200 people were taken hostage. Of those, it said 50 more are held by other armed groups in the enclave, according to Reuters . Hamas said more than 20 hostages have been killed by Israeli air strikes, but has not given any further details. You can read more about the challenges Israel will face in any hostage rescue attempt in our deep dive here . https://twitter.com/haltman/status/1714062569256759761 Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com Joe Biden compared Hamas to Russian president Vladimir Putin to defend American aid to Israel and Ukraine, as Israeli troops readied their forces to enter Gaza. Addressing a press conference after returning from Israel, Mr Biden said Hamas and Putin represent different threats but both want to annihilate a neighbouring democracy. While promising billions of dollars in aid to counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu Mr Biden placed an increased emphasis on the deadly toll that the conflict has had on civilians there, saying hes heartbroken by the tragic loss of Palestinian life. Israeli defence forces have, meanwhile, told troops to stand ready to see Gaza from inside as they prepare for a ground assault on the city. Whoever sees Gaza from afar now, will see it from the inside, he said. It might take a week, a month, two months until we destroy them, he added, referring to Hamas. The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem blamed Israel for the bombing of a church in Gaza where hundreds of displaced Palestinian refugees were taking shelter. Dozens of people have been killed following an explosion at the Church of Saint Porphyrius, a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza City as overwhelmed hospitals tried to stretch out ebbing medical supplies and fuel for generators. Key Points Biden calls to maintain American leadership with aid package for Ukraine and Israel Explosion in Gaza church sheltering Palestinian refugees Nine British nationals confirmed dead, says Downing Street Road repair machinery sent through Rafah crossing to prepare for Gaza aid trucks Biden compares Hamas to Putin as he pledges support to Israel 05:08 , Shweta Sharma Joe Biden linked Palestinian militant group Hamas to Russian president Vladimir Putin in his speech from the Oval Office hours after his whirlwind trip to Israel to show US solidarity. Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common: They both want to completely annihilate a neighbouring democracy, he said Putin denies Ukraine has, or has ever had, real statehood, he added. In his attempts to convince Americans they should spend billions more on supporting Israel and Ukraine in their wars, he said that only the US involvement can prevent global chaos. American leadership is what holds the world together. American alliances are what keep us, America, safe, he said. But referring to the emerging humanitarian crisis in Gaza, he said: We cant ignore the humanity of innocent Palestinians who only want to live in peace and have opportunity. As global protests grow about the attacks on Gaza, Mr Biden urged Israelis not to give in to blind rage as they respond to Hamas. Biden calls to maintain American leadership with aid package for Ukraine and Israel 07:00 , Shweta Sharma Stop calling me: Malaysian doctor in Gaza pleads for sensitivity 06:52 , Shweta Sharma A Malaysian doctor, currently stuck in the Gaza Strip, has appealed to Malaysians to refrain from requesting to hear the sounds of aerial bombardment amid the Israel-Gaza conflict. In a video posted on her Facebook account Dr Nurul Ain Latif implored people to exhibit greater sensitivity to the ongoing situation. Do you think this is something to be played with? (Calling to request) to listen to the sounds of bombs (going off), she said. So are you praying that we get bombed? Enjoy your peaceful sleep and the peace (you have now). You dont feel what I am feeling now. Please be thankful that the country (Malaysia) is still peaceful, you all should be thankful for that, she added. Israel announces evacuation plan for Kiryat Shmona city near Lebanese border as fighting rages 06:26 , Shweta Sharma Israel has ordered the evacuation of residents of Kiryat Shmona, a northern town close to the Lebanese border, the defence ministry said today. Kiryat Shmona has a population of more than 20,000 and is some 2km (1 mile) from the border fence. It comes as Lebanese militant group Hezbollah said it fired rockets at an Israeli position in the village of Manara yesterday and drew an Israeli artillery barrage in response after the worst escalation in violence on the border in 17 years. A civilian was killed in the area, Lebanese security sources and the UN peacekeeping force said. The Lebanese army said a journalist was killed by Israeli gunfire yesterday in a southern Lebanon border area where Israels forces and Hezbollah had a heavy exchange of fire. The Lebanese army said a group of seven media personnel became stranded in the crossfire and it requested UN peacekeepers to extract them. Rishi Sunak will travel to Egypt for talks on Israel, Gaza 06:22 , Shweta Sharma British prime minister Rishi Sunak will travel to Egypt today where he will hold talks with counterparts in the region to discuss the situation in Israel and Gaza, his office said. In the talks, Sunak will stress the imperative of avoiding regional escalation and preventing the further unnecessary loss of civilian life, his office said. He is on a tour to middle east, where he held talks with Benjamin Netanyahu and travelled to Saudi Arabia to meet crown prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud. Latest death tolls in Israel and Gaza 06:19 , Shweta Sharma The Palestinian health ministry said 3,785 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, the majority women, children and older adults as of Thursday. It said 1,524 children, 1,000 women, and 120 elderly people were killed in the conflict. Nearly 12,500 were injured, and another 1,300 people were believed buried under rubble, authorities said. Israel said its death toll stands at 1,400 deaths of civilians slain during Hamas deadly incursion. Roughly 200 others were abducted, it said, The Israeli military said Thursday it had notified the families of 203 captives. Latest scenes from Israel and Gaza 06:09 , Shweta Sharma The conflict between Israel and Hamas running into 14th day today marked a humanitarian crisis with bombs being fired from both sides. (AP) (AP) (AP) (AP) Cannot save more lives, Gaza doctor says as power remains shut 06:00 , Shweta Sharma Dr Mohammed Qandeel of Nasser Hospital in the southern town of Khan Younis the already dire conditions at Gazas second-largest hospital have deteriorated further. He said at least 80 wounded civilians and 12 dead flooded into the hospital after witnesses said a strike hit a residential building in Khan Younis. Doctors had no choice but to leave two to die because there were no ventilators, Mr Qandeel said. We cant save more lives if this keeps happening, he said. The Independents Bel Trew reported from Gaza that patients are being operated on without anaesthetic in Gaza because supplies are so low as WHO announced that its own warehouse of medicine in the strip is now completely empty. The Gaza Health Ministry pleaded with gas stations to give fuel to hospitals and a UN agency donated some of its last fuel.The agencys donation to Gaza Citys Shifa Hospital, the territorys largest, would keep us going for another few hours, hospital director Mohammed Abu Selmia said. Israel readies troops for ground invasion of Gaza 05:48 , Shweta Sharma In a fiery address to Israeli infantry troops stationed at the Gaza border, defence minister Yoav Gallant called for readiness and organisation. Prepare yourselves to enter, he said. Whoever sees Gaza from afar now, will see it from the inside, he said. It might take a week, a month, two months until we destroy them, he added, referring to Hamas. It comes as Gazas overwhelmed hospitals tried to stretch out ebbing medical supplies and fuel for generators, as authorities worked out logistics for an aid delivery from Egypt. Doctors in darkened wards across Gaza performed surgeries by the light of mobile phones and used vinegar to treat infected wounds. Washington says US troops attacked in Iraq, Syria and on alert for more strikes 05:26 , Shweta Sharma US troops have been repeatedly attacked in Iraq and Syria in recent days, officials said yesterday, as Washington was on heightened alert for activity by Iran-backed groups with regional tensions soaring during the Israel-Hamas war. President Joe Biden has sent naval power to the Middle East in the past two weeks, including two aircraft carriers, other warships and about 2,000 Marines. There has been an uptick in attacks on US forces since the conflict in Israel broke out when Palestinian militants from Hamas attacked southern Israel. On Wednesday, a drone hit US forces in Syria resulting in minor injuries, while another one was brought down. During a false alarm at Al-Asad airbase in Iraq, a civilian contractor died from a cardiac arrest. Yesterday drones and rockets targeted the Ain al-Asad air base, which hosts US and other international forces in western Iraq, and multiple blasts were heard inside the base. Rockets hit another military base hosting US forces near Baghdads international airport, Iraqi police said without providing further details. While Im not going to forecast any potential responses to these attacks, I will say that we will take all necessary actions to defend US and coalition forces against any threat, Pentagon spokesperson Brigadier General Patrick Ryder told reporters on Thursday. Any response, should one occur, will come at a time in a manner of our choosing, Mr Ryder said. Who is to blame for Gaza hospital bomb - we scrutinise the evidence 05:00 , Josh Marcus At roughly 7pm local time on Tuesday night, a blast was reported in a hospital in Gaza City. The Hamas-run health ministry initially claimed that between 200 and 300 people had been killed in what they said was an Israeli airstrike. They added that hundreds are still buried under the rubble. An official later told Al Jazeera that the death toll was closer to 500. Israel responded by saying they were investigating the incident. They subsequently denied involvement, suggesting the explosion was caused by a misfired rocket by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), who also denied their involvement. US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday during a meeting with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu that he believed the explosion had been caused by the other side. Who is to blame for Gaza hospital bomb - we scrutinise the evidence Chinas envoy to middle east calls for rights guarantees for Palestinians amid relentless bombings 05:00 , Shweta Sharma Chinas special envoy for the middle east pinned the cause of the Israel-Gaza crisis on the lack of guarantee for the rights of Palestinians as relentless bombing continued in Gaza. His comments came as he met with his Russian counterpart in Qatar, a key diplomatic go-between in the Israel-Hamas conflict. In the first leg of his tour in the region, Chinas envoy for middle east issues Zhai Jun landed in Qatar yesterday where he reaffirmed with his Russian counterpart Mikhail Bogdanov Beijings alignment with Moscow in their efforts to help de-escalate the Gaza crisis. China and Russia share the same position on the Palestinian issue, Mr Zhai was quoted saying after meeting with Bogdanov in Doha, a day after Russian president Vladimir Putin held talks with his dear friend President Xi Jinping in a rare meeting in Beijing. The fundamental reason for the current situation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is that the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people have not been guaranteed, Mr Zhai said. ICYMI: Biden suggests Hamas has gotta learn how to shoot straight after hospital blast 04:30 , Josh Marcus President Joe Biden on Wednesday said it appeared that the deadly blast at a Gaza hospital which had upended plans for a visit to Jordan had been an accident caused by Hamas militants inability to accurately target their own weapons. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One during a stop at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany, Mr Biden said: Im not suggesting that Hamas deliberately did it. Its that old thing: Gotta learn how to shoot straight, he said, adding later that the Tuesday explosion, which the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry had falsely attributed to an Israeli airstrike, was not the first time that Hamas has launched something that didnt function very well. The Israeli government has released intercepted phone calls and other evidence that supports the theory that a botched rocket launch caused the deadly conflagration, though it attributed the weapons accident to a different militant group, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, rather than Hamas. Andrew Feinberg has more. US military shoots down missiles and drones headed towards Israel' 04:26 , Shweta Sharma US forces in the middle east are shooting down missiles and drones appearing to head towards Israel as it faces increasing threats. American bases in Iraq and Syria have also repeatedly been targeted by drone attacks and on Thursday, a US official said there had been an attack near Baghdads airport, where US forces are hosted. The official said one projectile was shot down and another struck, but according to early reports no one was injured. It was not clear what type of munition was fired. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said information was still being gathered. The USS Carney, a Navy destroyer in the northern Red Sea, intercepted three land attack cruise missiles and several drones that were launched by Houthi forces in Yemen. The action potentially represented the first shots by the US military in the defence of Israel in this conflict. Pentagon press secretary Brig Gen Patrick Ryder told reporters the missiles were potentially headed toward Israel but said the US has not finished its assessment of what they were targeting. A US official said they do not believe the missiles - which were shot down over the water - were aimed at the warship. Rishi Sunak says UK to work with Saudi Arabia for regional stability' in meeting with MBS 04:05 , Shweta Sharma British prime minister Rishi Sunak discussed the middle east crisis amid the Israel-Gaza conflict with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh. He urged Saudi Arabia to use its influence for regional stability in the middle east and said UK will work with Riyad to prevent a wider conflict. Mr Sunak insisted that the Hamas terror attack should not become a catalyst for a terrible humanitarian crisis in Gaza. We will work together to ensure regional stability and prevent a dangerous escalation, he said in a post on social media. A readout of talks between the two leaders released by Downing Street said that Mr Sunak had an important and productive meeting with Prince Mohammed. I had an important and productive meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. We agreed on coordinated action to prevent further escalation in the region, provide vital humanitarian aid in Gaza and support stability, both now and in the long-term. pic.twitter.com/gynFdRtYN3 Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 19, 2023 We agreed on coordinated action to prevent further escalation in the region, provide vital humanitarian aid in Gaza and support stability, both now and in the long-term, the prime minister said. His stopover in Saudi Arabia came after his visit to Tel Aviv and meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu. Britain wanted Israel to win, Mr Sunak said in a joint press conference in Jerusalem following talks. We are scared: US citizens still stuck in Gaza after Biden visit to Israel 04:00 , Josh Marcus When Joe Biden visited Israel on Wednesday, he had a message for its people: You are not alone. As long as the United States stands and we will stand forever we will not ever let you be alone, the president said from Tel Aviv. Sixty-two miles away in southern Gaza, hundreds of US citizens stranded near Rafah border crossing couldnt have felt more forgotten. Despite nearly two weeks of fighting, intensive negotiations between the US and its partners, and apocalyptic humanitarian conditions in the Palestinian territory, an estimated 500 to 600 Americans are still trapped in the 88-square-mile enclave, one of the most densely settled places in the world. We are scared: US citizens still stuck in Gaza after Biden visit to Israel John Fetterman condemns disturbing rush to blame Israel for Gaza hospital attack 03:30 , Josh Marcus Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman called out the members of Congress who rushed to blame Israel for the airstrike on the Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City that killed hundreds of people earlier this week. In the hours after the deadly blast, Palestinian leaders pointed the finger at Israel, while Israeli leaders cited the militant group Islamic Jihad as the culprit Soon after, people began taking sides, including some members of Congress, like Rashida Tlaib. Then on Wednesday, President Joe Biden said data from the Department of Defense indicated the missile had come from the Islamic Jihad, not Israel. Ariana Baio reports. John Fetterman condemns disturbing rush to blame Israel for Gaza hospital attack Donald Trump attacks Bidens incompetence and weakness ahead of presidential address to the nation 03:00 , Josh Marcus Donald Trump has attacked Joe Bidens deadly combination of incompetence, radicalism and weakness ahead of the presidents address to the nation to discuss the US response to the Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel and the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. A scathing statement put out by the Trump campaign on Thursday said that Mr Biden was responsible for the horrific catastrophes taking place around the world, and said his credibility was shot. The presidents speech comes less than a day after he visited Tel Aviv, where he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet 10 days after terror attacks by Hamas left more than 1,000 Israelis dead and hundreds of hostages taken captive by the militant group. Mike Bedigan has the story. Trump attacks Bidens incompetence and weakness ahead of presidential address State Department issues worldwide travel warning for Americans 02:05 , Josh Marcus The US State Department has issued a worldwide travel advisory, warning Americans to exercise increased caution to avoid becoming victims of possible terror attacks. Due to increased tensions in various locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests, the Department of State advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution, the agency warned. The move came in the wake of Joe Bidens visit to Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the IDF continues its military response in Gaza. On 7 October, Hamas launched an attack that killed approximately 2,000 Israelis. The IDF launched a response attack shortly after that has displaced more than a million Palestinians and killed more than 3,785 Gazans, according to the Gaza health ministrys data. Graig Graziosi reports. State Department issues worldwide travel warning for US Biden urges Americans (and Congress) to overcome partisan, angry politics 01:43 , Josh Marcus Joe Biden had a message on Thursday to Americans, and in particular to Congress: Get your act together. The president called on leaders and citizens alike to look past partisan politics and get behind giving additional security support to Israel and Ukraine. We cant let petty, partisan, angry politics get in the way of our responsibility as a great nation, he said. Its hard to ignore the Washington context of these remarks, where the Republican Party has frittered away days trying to select a new House Speaker, despite holding a majority in the lower house. Heres Eric Garcia on the latest chaos in the House. How the plan to save the House fell apart before it even started Biden warns of antisemitism and Islamophobia in Oval Office address 01:38 , Josh Marcus President Biden spoke out against antisemitism and Islamophobic hate crimes during his Oval Office address on Thursday, urging Americans not to fall into the kind of prejudice the nation witnessed in the years after 9/11 because of the cultural tensions surrounding the Israel-Hamas war. Mr Biden said hate is given too much oxygen...right here in America. During this portion of the speech, he referenced the killing of Wadea Al-Fayoume, a Palestinian-American boy who was stabbed 26 times in Plainfield Township on 14 October, days after the Hamas attacks in Israel. DOJ opens hate crime investigation into killing of Palestinian-American boy We scant stand by and stand silent when this happens, Mr Biden added. Speaking directly to Jews and Muslims in America, he said, I see you. You belong. Youre all Americans. He also urged Israel not to allow itself to become consumed by rage after the historic attacks on civilians it suffered earlier this mont and respect human rights, the laws of war, and religious tolerance. Biden calls to maintain American leadership with aid package for Ukraine and Israel 01:28 , Josh Marcus President Joe Biden on Thursday said he was asking Congress to approve an urgent budget request including essential defence aid to Ukraine and Israel, casting both countries respective wars against Hamas and Russia as part of a struggle against enemies of democracy who will be emboldened if the US withdraws support. American leadership is what holds the world together. American alliances are what keep us America safe. American values are what make us a partner other nations want to work with, he said in remarks delivered as part of just the second prime-time Oval Office address of his presidency. To put all that at risk if we walk away from Ukraine, if we turn our backs on Israel, its just not worth it, he said. Andrew Feinberg reports. Biden calls to maintain American leadership with aid package for Ukraine and Israel Biden calls security aid to Israel and Ukraine a smart investment' 01:25 , Josh Marcus Joe Biden on Thursday issued a strong call for Congress to provide additional security aid that would bolster Ukraine and Israel, as well as refresh American military capabilities. The president framed the infusion of cash as a way to maintain democracy, American leadership, and the various alliances that have defined global governance since the mid-1900s. Its a smart investment thats going to pay dividends for American security for generations, Mr Biden said. Mr Biden argued in his speech that American leadership underwrites global security and human rights, comparing the wars in Ukraine and Israel to the American Revolution. Were stronger than ever before. America is a beacon to the world, still, Mr Biden said, quoting Madeleine Albrights famous phrase that America is the indispensable nation. The president said there were people around the world who hope because of us, who believe in a better life because of us, who are desperate not to be forgotten by us. Hamas and Russia both want to annihilate neighbouring democracies 01:15 , Josh Marcus Joe Bidens Oval Office speech today is arguing that US support for Ukraine and Israel are linked to a wider goal of protecting democracies around the world from aggression. He said Hamass threats against Israel are similar to the Russian threat against Ukraine because they share an authoritarian character. They both want to completely annihilate a neighbouring democracy, the president said. If we walk away and let Putin erase Ukraines independence, would-be aggressors around the world would be embolded to try the same, Mr Biden continued, arguing that regional powers like Iran could take similar actions in the Middle East. Biden pursing every avenue to free hostages, president says in Oval Office address 01:09 , Josh Marcus Joe Biden said on Thursday hes making freeing Israeli and American hostages in Hamas custody a top priority. Were pursing every avenue to bring your loved ones home, he said from the Oval Office. As president there is no higher priority for me than the safety of Americans held hostage. Joe Biden begins Oval Office address 01:03 , Josh Marcus You can watch it on The Independents YouTube channel below. ICYMI: How to watch Joe Bidens Thursday Oval Office address Friday 20 October 2023 00:45 , Josh Marcus President Joe Biden is scheduled to address the nation on Thursday evening in a formal speech from the Oval Office. Hours after returning from a solidarity trip in Israel, the White House announced the president will speak to Americans and address the USs response to the Hamas attack in Israel as well as the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. Typically, Oval Office addresses are reserved for special moments when the president wants to speak directly to citizens and sway public opinion by addressing concerns. Heres everything to know ahead of Mr Bidens address. How to watch Joe Bidens Thursday oval office address House progressives call on Biden to push for ceasefire Friday 20 October 2023 00:30 , Josh Marcus Progressive Democrats in the US House of Representatives have spent recent days calling on Joe Biden to push for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. NEW from @CoriBush: "You being on the street over the last eleven days is working...violence only leads to more violence." "We must be willing to speak out against war and violence and against our government's complicity in it." pic.twitter.com/o1n4DinzN2 Waleed Shahid (@_waleedshahid) October 19, 2023 President Biden, not all of America is with you on this one. You need to wake up and understand that, Rep Rashida Tlaib of Michigan said in Washington this week. One goal: save lives. More than 300 arrested for Israel-Hamas war cease-fire demonstration Israels police chief threatens to send protesters on buses to Gaza Friday 20 October 2023 00:15 , Josh Marcus Kobi Shabtai, Israels police chief, threatened this week to send protestors rallying against the Israel-Hamas war to the Gaza Strip on buses. In a video on the Israeli polices TikTok account shared Tuesday, the official said he would have zero tolerance for protests against the war. Whoever wants to become an Israeli citizen, welcome, he said in the video, Al Jazeera reports. Anyone who wants to identify with Gaza is welcome. I will put him on the buses heading there now. Explosion goes off in ancient Gaza church Thursday 19 October 2023 23:55 , Josh Marcus A explosion tore through Gazas ancient St Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church campus on Thursday. An estimated 500 people have been sheltering on the campus of the church, one of the oldest in the world. Majdy Jildah, one of those seeking refuge there, told The Wall Street Journal about 80 people were sheltering in the council building on the campus where the explosion took place, and that he believed a child was killed in the blast. The Israeli military told the paper it is investigating the incident. Armed guards to accompany US students to Shabbat events on campus Thursday 19 October 2023 23:42 , Josh Marcus Hillel International, a Jewish campus life organisation, is hiring armed guards to accompany US students to Shabbat services on university campuses across America, Haartez reports. The decision comes as tensions on campus rise amid the Hamas-Israel war, and antisemitic incidents have been reported across the globe. Letter from Harvard students about Hamas-Israel war ignites campus free speech crisis Israel joins US visa-waiver regime ahead of schedule Thursday 19 October 2023 23:27 , Josh Marcus Israelis can now travel to the US and stay for 90 days or less without a visa as part of the American visa waiver programme, joining a select group of other US allies, the Department of Homeland Security announced on Thursday. Though Israels participation in the programme was announced in September, the new privileges originally werent scheduled to begin until the end of November. The country had previously struggled to qualify for the programme, which requires reciprocal treatment of US travelers into partner countries. Israel has long imposed extensive and unique travel restrictions on Palestinians, including Palestinian-Americans, according to Human Rights Watch. John Fetterman condemns disturbing rush to blame Israel for Gaza hospital attack Thursday 19 October 2023 22:59 , Josh Marcus Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman called out the members of Congress who rushed to blame Israel for the airstrike on the Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City that killed hundreds of people earlier this week. In the hours after the deadly blast, Palestinian leaders pointed the finger at Israel, while Israeli leaders cited the militant group Islamic Jihad as the culprit Soon after, people began taking sides, including some members of Congress, like Rashida Tlaib. Then on Wednesday, President Joe Biden said data from the Department of Defense indicated the missile had come from the Islamic Jihad, not Israel. Mr Fetterman, a vocal supporter of Israel, called some congressional members quick assumption that Israel had launched the attack disturbing. Ariana Baio has the story. John Fetterman condemns disturbing rush to blame Israel for Gaza hospital attack Over 1,000 people gather for vigil for murdered Palestinian American boy Wadea Al-Fayoume Thursday 19 October 2023 22:19 , Josh Marcus More than 1,000 mourners packed into a community centre in Plainfield, Illinois, for a vigil remembering Wadea Al-Fayoume, a 6-year-old Palestinian American boy who police said was stabbed to death by his landlord in an apparent hate crime spurred by the war in Israel and Gaza. The Prairie Activity and Recreation Centre was filled to its 1,400-person capacity by community members on Tuesday night, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Wadeas family sat next to a photograph of the child smiling and met members of the community seeking to express their sympathy. The vigil was organised by the American Muslims Assisting Neighbors nonprofit organisation. Graig Graziosi reports. Lebanese civilian killed near border with Israel Thursday 19 October 2023 21:45 , Holly Evans A Lebanese civilian was killed on Thursday near the border with Israel, Lebanese security sources and the U.N. peacekeeping force UNIFIL said, in an area of the border where Israeli forces and Lebanese group Hezbollah had a heavy exchange of fire. Earlier in the day, Iran-backed Hezbollah said it had fired rockets at an Israeli position in the village of Manara and Israel had responded with shelling, the latest exchange in the worst bout of violence on the border in 17 years. The Lebanese Armed Forces requested UNIFILs assistance for seven individuals stranded near the Blue Line, close to Sheikh Abads tomb, during a significant exchange of fire across the Blue Line, UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said. He said UNIFIL contacted the Israeli army to request it cease fire in order to rescue the group. Tragically, one person lost his life during this incident and the others were successfully rescued, Tenenti said. A Lebanese security source said the Lebanese civilian was killed by Israeli fire and another person was wounded. The incident was around Hula, which lies in an area across the border from Manara, the source said. We are scared: US citizens still stuck in Gaza after Biden visit to Israel Thursday 19 October 2023 21:34 , Holly Evans When Joe Biden visited Israel on Wednesday, he had a message for its people: You are not alone. As long as the United States stands and we will stand forever we will not ever let you be alone, the president said from Tel Aviv. Sixty-two miles away in southern Gaza, hundreds of US citizens stranded near Rafah border crossing couldnt have felt more forgotten. Read more here We are scared: US citizens still stuck in Gaza after Biden visit to Israel US Navy warship intercepted missiles potentially headed to Israel, Pentagon says Thursday 19 October 2023 21:10 , Holly Evans A U.S. Navy warship on Thursday intercepted three cruise missiles and several drones launched by the Iran-aligned Houthi movement from Yemen potentially toward Israel, the Pentagon said. Washington is on heightened alert for activity by Iran-backed groups as regional tensions soar during the Israel-Hamas war. The Pentagon said the destroyer USS Carney was operating in the northern Red Sea on Thursday when it brought down the projectiles and there were no injuries. We cannot say for certain what these missiles and drones were targeting, but they were launched from Yemen heading north along the Red Sea, potentially towards targets in Israel, Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Patrick Ryder told reporters. A U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said it did not appear that the warship was the target. Netanyahu visits soldiers at Gaza Border Thursday 19 October 2023 20:50 , Holly Evans The Israeli prime minister has told his troops Israel stands behind them and the country will win with all our might. Benjamin Netanyahu travelled to the Gaza Border today to meet combat soldiers, ahead of an expected ground invasion. When he asked if they were ready , they replied: Yes, until victory. Earlier, Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant told troops they would soon see Gaza from inside. Mr Netanyahu posted this video to X, with the message: The warriors are ready. . . pic.twitter.com/mVjwEFQXgC Benjamin Netanyahu - (@netanyahu) October 19, 2023 State Department official resigns over Bidens approach to Gaza crisis: Failure of American politics Thursday 19 October 2023 20:39 , Holly Evans Josh Paul worked with the US Department of State for more than a decade. On 18 October, his viral resignation letter warned that blind support for Israels military actions has informed short-sighted, destructive, unjust and contradictory decisions that conflict with the very values we publicly espouse. His resignation follows President Joe Bidens meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to affirm US support for Israel in the wake of Hamas attacks, a visit marked by widespread protests against the administration at home and abroad during a growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Read more here State Department official resigns over arms to Israel amid Gaza crisis Gazas ministry of health asks petrol stations to donate diesel supplies to hospitals Thursday 19 October 2023 20:27 , Bel Trew Gazas ministry of health has issued a desperate plea to petrol stations and citizens to hand over any diesel supplies to hospitals to power their generators. In the communique they urged anyone who has any litter of diesel to communicate with the ministry of health in order to save the lives of the wounded and sick. Medhat Abbas, the director of Gazas largest hospital al-Shifa told The Independent his teams were desperately searching for fuel across Gaza as their generators would shut at any moment, meaning ventilators and incubators could be switched off. They are searching in all gas stations to find any amount at all, he said. The World Health Organisation told The Independent on Wednesday that doctors were having to operate without anaesthesia because the number of wounded was so huge and stocks were so low. They said medics are having to make impossible choices because of the crippling shortages. On Thursday British-Palestinian surgeon, who works with Doctors Without Borders said on X social media platform that he was reduced to using shop-bought vinegar to treat bacterial wound infections. 20 trucks of aid does not even scratch the surface of Gazas needs Thursday 19 October 2023 20:06 , Holly Evans Gazas health ministry has begged petrol stations and citizens to donate diesel supplies for hospital generators, as rights groups warned 20 trucks of aid due to enter Gaza on Friday does not even scratch the surface of the enclaves needs. US president Joe Biden announced on Wednesday that Israel and Egypt agreed to allow 20 trucks carrying food, water and medicine into the besieged strip. Fuel, which needed to power generators at hospitals, was included on the list approved by Israel. A humanitarian aid convoy for the Gaza Strip is parked in Arish, Egypt (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Twenty trucks does not even scratch the surface of their needs, said Melanie Ward, head of Medical Aid to Palestine that runs clinics in Gaza. Hospitals are collapsing, lacking even basic supplies like painkillers and bandages. Disease outbreaks are inevitable in overflowing and unsanitary shelters. People are drinking sea water to try to stay alive, she added. ActionAid said that insufficient aid could lead to more innocent deaths in Gaza and that the lack of fuel in particular meant that hospitals could stop operating at any hour. Biden will seek support from Americans of his approach to Israel conflict in TV address Thursday 19 October 2023 20:00 , Holly Evans President Joe Biden will try to sell Americans on his approach to conflicts in Israel and Ukraine in a prime-time White House address on Thursday, a day after his Middle East trip was upended by a hospital blast in the Gaza Strip. His televised remarks are scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on Thursday (0000 GMT on Friday), while the U.S. House of Representatives remains without a leader needed to pass Bidens expected funding requests for the wars. In only the second prime-time Oval Office address of his nearly three years as president, Biden will seek support from citizens and lawmakers growing wary of sending billions of dollars overseas to support conflicts with no end in sight. The White House has said Biden will unveil his additional funding request this week. Body of British victim Danny Darlington identified, says relative Thursday 19 October 2023 19:45 , Holly Evans A relative of photographer Danny Darlington has told Sky News that his body has been identified. Mr Darlington was killed alongside his German girlfriend in southern Israel after a shock incursion by Hamas terrorists on 7 October. His half-brother Lior Perri said he received official confirmation shortly before going on air and said he was speechless by the actions of Hamas. I could never imagine the abduction of old and sick people, people who need care, and babies and and mothers, he said. I would never believe that these kind of people will be abducted. I cannot give any logical message to them. Danny Darlington and his girlfriend were killed in southern Israel (Sourced) European council president states importance for the US and EU to share information Thursday 19 October 2023 19:40 , Holly Evans European Council President Charles Michel said on Thursday it was very important for the United States and the EU to share information and do what is needed to avoid escalation in the Israel-Gaza conflict. Michel also noted the authorities must be vigilant to ensure that EU funds in Gaza are not misused. Biden suggests Hamas has gotta learn how to shoot straight after hospital blast Thursday 19 October 2023 19:20 , Holly Evans President Joe Biden on Wednesday said it appeared that the deadly blast at a Gaza hospital which had upended plans for a visit to Jordan had been an accident caused by Hamas militants inability to accurately target their own weapons. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One during a stop at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany, Mr Biden said: Im not suggesting that Hamas deliberately did it. Its that old thing: Gotta learn how to shoot straight, he said, adding later that the Tuesday explosion, which the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry had falsely attributed to an Israeli airstrike, was not the first time that Hamas has launched something that didnt function very well. Read more here Biden suggests Hamas gotta learn how to shoot straight after hospital blast Israeli strikes kill 18 Palestinians at refugee camp, say Hamas Thursday 19 October 2023 19:08 , Holly Evans A series of Israeli airstrikes on the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza has killed 18 Palestinians, the Hamas-run interior ministry has claimed. It comes as Israel continues to bombard the region in response to Hamass deadly attacks nearly two weeks ago, with thousands declared dead since the violence began on 7 October. Rishi Sunak shares picture landing in Saudi Arabia Thursday 19 October 2023 19:02 , Holly Evans In a post on X, Rishi Sunak said: Ive landed in Saudi Arabia. As an international community, we must not let Hamas terror attack become a catalyst for a terrible humanitarian crisis in Gaza. We will work together to ensure regional stability and prevent a dangerous escalation. I've landed in Saudi Arabia. As an international community, we must not let Hamas' terror attack become a catalyst for a terrible humanitarian crisis in Gaza. We will work together to ensure regional stability and prevent a dangerous escalation. pic.twitter.com/mwUXn0luSS Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 19, 2023 Eight Palestinians and Israeli police officer killed in West Bank clashes Thursday 19 October 2023 18:48 , Holly Evans Eight Palestinians and an Israeli police officer were killed in clashes in the Nur Shams refugee camp in the West Bank city of Tulkarm, the Palestinian Red Crescent and the Israeli police said on Thursday. Clashes were still taking places between the Israeli army and a number of gunmen at the camp, witnesses said. Editors Note: Sign up for CNNs Meanwhile in China newsletter which explores what you need to know about the countrys rise and how it impacts the world. Israels war with Palestinian militant group Hamas has sparked a fierce debate on Chinas tightly controlled social media, driving a wedge between those who support Israels right to retaliate and a variety of pro-Palestinian voices including a surge in antisemitic views. Many in China have been closely following developments in the Middle East and posting their views online since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, killing more than 1,400 people and capturing some 200 civilian and military hostages now believed to be held in Gaza. The spiraling conflict has split views on popular platform Weibo in much the same way as it has divided opinion outside of China with posts on the Israel-Hamas war routinely landing in its top trending lists, drawing hundreds of millions of views. But while there are many posts sympathetic to Israel, criticism of its actions is growing, alongside a rise in more extreme, antisemitic views which Chinas powerful online censors have allowed to proliferate. Deputy Chief of Mission Yuval Waks, of the Israeli Embassy in Beijing, said the sentiment in China has been very anti-Israeli and, in many cases, antisemitic. We are concerned this would create an atmosphere that is poisonous and would put into danger, critical danger, the Israelis in China and Jews who live in China, Waks said. An Israeli diplomat from the embassy was stabbed in Beijing last week by a foreign national, though the motivation of the suspect, a 53-year-old businessman, is still under investigation. Waks said he is thankful for Chinese efforts to treat the injured diplomat and keep his colleagues safe, but he called on the Chinese government to issue a stronger condemnation of Hamas. China has condemned all acts that harm civilians, but it has not explicitly targeted that condemnation at Hamas, nor named the group in its statements, contrary to many western nations. We are bit disappointed to see there is not a clear voice of condemnation from a country which we have a good bilateral relationship with, Waks said, adding that the government position often sets the tone in online conversations. While Beijings has sought to strike a neutral tone in official statements, state media coverage of the conflict appears more slanted, often focusing on Israels airstrikes on Gaza and the scenes of devastation they created there. In recent days, Chinas government has stepped up its own criticism of Israels siege of the Palestinian enclave, with top diplomat Wang Yi accusing Israel of going beyond the scope of self-defense and called for an immediate ceasefire. United Nations experts and international humanitarian groups have also called for an immediate ceasefire and warned of the crisis in Gaza is spiraling out of control. According to Palestinian health officials, more than 3,700 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of the Israeli offensive, including more than 1,500 children and 1,000 women. Speaking in Beijing on Wednesday in a speech broadcast live on Chinese state TV, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said events in Israel cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people. Tightly controlled space On Weibo, many of the more widely shared anti-Israel posts come from prominent nationalist influencers that are often hostile to the West. And while many have criticized Israels actions, both historically, and during their ongoing war against Hamas, others have shared antisemitic conspiracies and hateful comments. One popular nationalist account, which boasts more than 2 million followers has posted memes featuring Adolf Hitler, while others have praised the former German dictator, who was responsible for the deaths of millions of Jews during World II. Others popular accounts have lashed out at Israels long-standing relationship with the United States. One well-known account with 6.6 million followers accused Israel of failing to side with China when it was sanctioned by the US, and asked why China would support Israel now. Research scientist Xiao Qiang, from the School of Information at the University of California Berkeley, said large nationalist accounts supportive of the government often dominate the debate online in China, where they compete with each other for attention by making outlandish claims. You go to the very extreme to attract eyeballs. There is a commercial initiative behind it, he said. The lack of accurate information also contributes to the promotion of harmful stereotypes, suggested Xiao. There is not much understanding at all when you only read information provided by the government. Antisemitism has long existed on Chinas internet and some parts of state media, with some conspiracy theories gaining traction in recent years and even being cited by official media outlets. Galia Lavi, deputy director of the Diane & Guilford Glazer Israel-China Policy Center in Israel suggested the failure of authorities to respond to antisemitic messages online, especially when you have such an efficient censorship system, acts like a tacit endorsement, just as China has failed to condemn Hamas. The lack of condemnation of Hamas by Chinese officials gives it support, she said. As an increasing number of China watchers and Israeli scholars pointed out the rise in antisemitic sentiment in China, some Chinese diplomats appeared to have taken note. On Sunday, Assistant Foreign Minister Hua Chunying posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the Chinese people provided shelter to 20,000 Jewish refugees in Shanghai during WWII. Beyond the event itself Although the overwhelming sentiment online is critical of Israel, not all voices have taken the same stance. On Weibo, some have also decried Hamas acts of terrorism, calling for it to be defeated, while others have expressed sympathy for both sides. Stand with the people of Israel, another user wrote in a recent comment, drawing 1,600 likes under a post by the Israeli Embassy, which has boosted its average number of daily posts. The Israeli diplomatic outpost has been active on Chinese social media, Lavi, from the Diane & Guilford Glazer Israel-China Policy Center told CNN. An injured person is assisted by medical personnel at the Al-Shifa Hospital after a blast at Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City on Tuesday, October 17. - Mohammed Al-Masri/Reuters In times like this, it is only natural that the Israeli Embassy will be more active, trying to tell the world what has happened, said Lavi. The Israeli Embassy dedicated a number of posts to Noa Argamani, an Israeli young woman of partial Chinese descent, who was seen in videos being forcibly taken away from her boyfriend by militants during an attack on a music festival that left more than 260 dead. Both are now believed to have been taken hostage. But while the post generated some positive engagement, it has also drawn a flood of sharp criticism. A nationalist commentator, with more than 190,000 followers and a banner picture that said protect China, asked why they should care about Argamanis situation. Given her whole family is now Israeli, shouldnt she be reaching out to the Israeli government for help when she runs into trouble? asked the commentator. The post garnered 24,000 likes and was shared more than 500 times. Others accused the Israeli Embassy of exploiting women and children for sympathy. Wendy Zhou, a doctoral researcher who studies the Chinese internet at the Georgia State University, said one of the reasons the war has drawn so much attention online in China is because it provides an avenue for political expression in an otherwise tightly controlled space. China bans foreign social media platforms and censors comments deemed marginally sensitive by the Chinese Communist Party. Because of that, she said, commentators often air views that go beyond the event itself, intertwining with perceptions of the Chinese governments stance, national priorities, and the relationship between the state and society. Although China has developed close economic ties with Israel in recent years, its support for Palestine dates back decades to the Mao era. Beijing was one of the first countries to recognize the Palestinian Authority and has repeatedly backed the Palestinians in votes at the UN. Some of the views being shared on Weibo can be attributed to the prevalent anti-US sentiments and Chinas longstanding support for the Palestinian cause, said Zhou. Many comments also highlight Chinas peace-making efforts and draw parallels between the suffering of the Palestinian people and Chinas own historical experiences with colonization. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is telling Republicans that he's in an existential fight against former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley without telling them that. The two candidates have emerged as the leading alternatives to former President Donald Trump for the 2024 Republican nomination a position DeSantis once held alone. For several days, they have been engaged in a heated exchange over the unfolding war in the Middle East, with DeSantis on Thursday reiterating a debunked charge that Haley wants to admit Palestinian refugees to the U.S. But the skirmish may be noteworthy less for the substance than for what it says about the state of a race in which Trump is still the dominant figure, according to Republican strategists who are not affiliated with either campaign. For months, DeSantis and his allies have contended that the governor was in a two-man battle with Trump for the nomination. Their new focus on Haley betrays a different concern: that DeSantis is locked in a fight with her for second place. This is much more about momentum and whose arrow is pointing up and whose arrow is pointing down, said Matthew Bartlett, a national Republican strategist and New Hampshire native. I think they are trying to blunt any further growth, rise or momentum [for Haley] in order to try to maintain the No. 2 position. South Carolina state Sen. Josh Kimbrell, who has endorsed DeSantis, said the showdown between DeSantis and Haley always felt like it was coming. "I always felt like this was going to happen [a Haley-DeSantis clash]," Kimbrell said. "This is all about who will be able to survive when the herd is thinned." He added that he did think the dust-up over whether Haley wants to allow Palestinian refugees into the U.S. would "hurt her with primary voters." She has said she does not want to admit Palestinian refugees, a charge stemming a CNN interview in which she said "you can separate civilians from terrorists" while discussing a blanket statement DeSantis had made about Gaza. A DeSantis adviser downplayed the idea the spat had anything to do with Haleys capturing momentum but said it's an example of DeSantis fending off attacks. Governor DeSantis, as he has in the past, will continue to correct the record when attacked, the person said. Both candidates trail Trump by yawning margins in national and state-by-state polling, with DeSantis currently running second in Iowa and Haley holding that spot in New Hampshire and South Carolina. But their relative proximity to each other, at a time when several other candidates have faded, is a result of Haley gaining steam and DeSantis losing it over the course of the campaign. "DeSantis has had more resources, but Nikki Haley has something that you can't buy that he never really had: momentum," said Vinny Minchillo, a longtime GOP operative based in Texas. That momentum can be seen in her rise in the polls and in the two candidates' fundraising. After collecting $5.3 million in the second quarter of the year, Haley's campaign posted an $8.2 million haul in a third-quarter report filed with the Federal Election Commission Sunday. DeSantis has outraised Haley, but his trajectory is in the opposite direction: $20.1 million in the second quarter and $11.1 million in the third quarter. Perhaps most important on the financial front, Haley has been more efficient with her cash and has more to spend on the run-up to early-state voting, ending September with $9.1 million in available funds for the primary, compared to DeSantis' $5 million. Never Back Down, the pro-DeSantis super PAC which clocked $130 million raised and $96.8 million left in the bank when its last disclosure was due in July, gives DeSantis' side a major cash edge over the rest of the field. Some of it is being spent now to try to reverse Haley's surge and return DeSantis to sole possession of second place. On Thursday, the super PAC began running an ad in Iowa and New Hampshire that strongly and falsely suggests that Haley is open to the U.S. admitting Palestinian refugees amid Israel's war with Hamas. The ad piggybacks on DeSantis' argument in an exclusive interview with NBC News earlier this week that Haley has been "trying to please the media and people on the left" in her remarks on the war in the Middle East. Responding on CNN to a DeSantis claim that all Palestinians in Gaza are antisemitic, Haley said Sunday that Americans "should care about the Palestinian citizens" and have "always been sympathetic to the fact that you can separate civilians from terrorists." DeSantis said Thursday that it's fair game to attack her for supporting refugees because her use of the word "separate" indicated that she wanted to vet Palestinians for entry into the U.S. "Why would you be vetting people if youre not going to be bringing them in?" he said. More broadly, DeSantis allies are trying to draw a contrast in which Republican primary voters see DeSantis as more of a hard-liner than Haley on immigration and national security policy. It remains to be seen whether Never Back Down will air more Haley-focused ads, but a senior official for the super PAC said her rise has set her up for a fall. "She's about to go through her scrutiny and decline phase," the official said. Haley's team foresees no change in the candidates' respective trajectories, according to one aide, who said Haley has replaced DeSantis in a two-person race against Trump. "She has just been slow, consistent, steady, and she is rising now," the Haley aide said. "And DeSantis has gone nowhere but down." This article was originally published on NBCNews.com President Biden announced Friday the release of two American hostages identified as Judith Raanan and her daughter, Natalie, of Evanston, Ill. who kidnapped by Hamas while visiting family in Israel during the Oct. 7 attacks. I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been wracked with fear, Biden said in a statement. These individuals and their family will have the full support of the United States government as they recover and heal. Earlier Friday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres flew to Egypts Sinai Peninsula on Friday to push for humanitarian aid to reach Gaza, which is bracing for a possible ground invasion. U.S. officials said that details of getting the supplies through the Rafah crossing were still being worked out. Our live coverage has ended for the day. See Yahoo News for the latest on the war and U.S. response to the conflict. Map of Israel and Palestinian territories (Yahoo News) This aerial photo taken on July 10, 2023 shows OOCL PIRAEUS, one of the largest container vessels in the world, arriving at Piraeus port in Piraeus, Greece. [Photo/Xinhua] Ten years ago, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was launched. At that time, it was not particularly easy to understand what this new venture meant and how its theoretical ideas might be followed by practice. While historians could offer some insights about the ancient silk routes, the realization of an idea that drew on history and was applicable to the modern era was a completely original concept. Even when the Chinese government announced the name of some corridors to foster interconnectivity, the tangible dimension of the policy was still absent. In 2023, the situation is different. The Belt and Road Initiative is no longer an abstract notion. It is a mechanism that produces results, and these results are multifaceted. Attention is being turned toward investments. Certainly, investments continue to play a significant role in the revitalization of the ancient silk routes. Chinese companies have been engaged in different activities, which include the sectors of construction, energy, digitalization, and other areas. The example of the transformation of the port of Piraeus by COSCO Shipping from a rather small one into a trans-shipment hub in the Mediterranean is just one edifying accomplishment under its umbrella. But the Belt and Road Initiative also goes beyond investments: It is also about trade. Since 2013, China has generally increased its trade volume not only with individual states that formally participate in the venture but also with those that do not. The operation of a rail service linking China with Europe, for instance, influences trade figures in different regions irrespective of whether the countries that the train passes through have signed relevant agreements with the Chinese government. In particular, countries interested in increasing their exports to China have the opportunity to benefit via new transportation options. Furthermore, the Belt and Road Initiative boosts people-to-people exchanges. With the exception of when the COVID-19 pandemic occurred, tourism flows under the initiative have seen an increase. This is also the case for joint actions in the educational and cultural spheres. Perhaps one of the most valuable achievements of the Belt and Road Initiative is that a growing number of citizens across the globe students, scholars, professionals, and others are becoming interested in China. Understanding China is a particularly complicated process, especially in the West. The Belt and Road Initiative will undoubtedly meet some challenges due to its massive scale and multidimensional character, but China is striving to make improvements. Constructive and fair criticism is helpful in looking toward the future of the Belt and Road Initiative; however, problems and miscalculations cannot overshadow the general success overall. The attention paid to the BRI itself demonstrates the importance of its interconnectivity mechanism, which had not even existed before September 2013. The Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation provides an assessment of the work already completed and functions as a beacon for the direction of the BRI in the years to come. Existing results will perhaps pair with recommendations, suggestions, and proposals and lead to necessary adjustments for the medium and long term. The BRI is not static. Experience already acquired in its first decade will be useful for the second that has already begun. And, while a lot is changing in the world, there are some things that do not: The Belt and Road Initiative's drive for common prosperity, for example, is just one of the goals that it is steadily pursuing. George N. Tzogopoulos is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/GeorgeNTzogopoulos.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) Hamas on Friday freed an American woman and her teenage daughter who had been held hostage in Gaza, Israel said, the first such release from among the roughly 200 people the militant group abducted from Israel during its Oct. 7 rampage. Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natalie, were out of the Gaza Strip and in the hands of the Israeli military, an army spokesman said. Hamas said it released them for humanitarian reasons in an agreement with the Qatari government. The release comes amid growing expectations of a ground offensive that Israel says is aimed at rooting out Hamas militants who rule Gaza. Israel said Friday it does not plan to take long-term control over the tiny territory, home to some 2.3 million people. As the Israeli military punished Gaza with airstrikes, authorities inched closer to bringing aid from Egypt to desperate families and hospitals. Fighting between Israel and militants in neighboring Lebanon also raged, prompting evacuations of Lebanese and Israeli border towns as fears of a widening conflict grew. Judith and Natalie Ranaan had been on a trip from their home in suburban Chicago to Israel to celebrate Jewish holidays, the family said. They were in the kibbutz of Nahal Oz, near Gaza, on Oct. 7 when Hamas and other militants stormed into southern Israeli towns, killing hundreds and abducting 203 others. The family had heard nothing from them since the attack and were later told by U.S. and Israeli officials that they were being held in Gaza, Natalies brother Ben said. U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with the two freed hostages and their relatives. The International Committee of the Red Cross, which transported the freed Americans from Gaza to Israel, said their release was a sliver of hope. Relatives of other captives welcomed the release and appealed for more people to be freed. Hamas said in a statement that it was working with mediators to close the case" of hostages if security circumstances permit. The group added that it is committed to mediation efforts by Egypt, Qatar and other countries. Qatar said it would continue its dialogue with Israel and Hamas in hopes of winning the release of all hostages with the ultimate aim of de-escalating the current crisis and restoring peace. Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Israel continued to work to return hostages and find the missing, and its goals had not changed. We are continuing the war against Hamas and ready for the next stage of the war, he said. A potential Israeli ground assault is likely to lead to a dramatic escalation in casualties on both sides in urban fighting. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed in the war mostly civilians slain during the Hamas incursion. More than 4,100 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Health Ministry run by Hamas. That includes a disputed number of people who died in a hospital explosion earlier this week. Speaking to lawmakers about Israels long-term plans for Gaza, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant laid out a three-stage plan that seemed to suggest Israel did not intend to reoccupy the territory it left in 2005. First, Israeli airstrikes and maneuvering a presumed reference to a ground attack would aim to root out Hamas. Next will come a lower intensity fight to defeat remaining pockets of resistance. And, finally, a new security regime will be created in Gaza along with the removal of Israels responsibility for life in the Gaza Strip, Gallant said. Gallant did not say who Israel expected to run Gaza if Hamas is toppled or what the new security regime would entail. Israel occupied Gaza from 1967 until 2005, when it pulled up settlements and withdrew soldiers. Two years later, Hamas took over. Some Israelis blame the withdrawal from Gaza for the sporadic violence that has persisted since then. The humanitarian crisis has worsened for Gazas civilians every day since Israel halted entry of supplies two weeks ago, depleting fuel, food, water and medicine. Two days after Israel announced a deal to allow Egypt to send in aid, the border remained closed Friday as Egypt repaired the Rafah crossing, damaged by Israeli strikes. Over a million people have been displaced in Gaza. Many heeded Israels orders to evacuate the northern part of the sealed-off enclave on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. But Israel has continued to bomb areas in southern Gaza where Palestinians had been told to seek safety. Although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called areas in the south safe zones earlier this week, Israeli military spokesman Nir Dinar said Friday: There are no safe zones. Some Palestinians who fled from the north appeared to be going back because of bombings and difficult living conditions in the south, said Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the U.N. human rights office. Gazas overwhelmed hospitals were rationing their dwindling resources. Generators in Shifa Hospital, Gazas largest, were operating at the lowest setting to conserve fuel while providing power to vital departments such as intensive care, hospital director Mohammed Abu Selmia said. Others worked in darkness. I dont know how long (the fuel) will last. Every day we evaluate the situation, he said. The lack of medical supplies and water make it difficult to treat the mass of victims from the Israeli strikes, he said. The Palestine Red Crescent Society said it had received a threat from the Israeli military to bomb Al-Quds Hospital. It said Israel has demanded the immediate evacuation of the Gaza City hospital, which has more than 400 patients and thousands of displaced civilians who sought refuge on its grounds, it said. Palestinians in Gaza reported heavy airstrikes in Khan Younis, a town in the territorys south that is home to a squalid tent camp for displaced people. Ambulances carrying men, women and children streamed into the local Nasser Hospital. Late Thursday, an Israeli airstrike hit a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza City housing displaced Palestinians. Gazas Health Ministry said 16 Palestinian Christians were killed. Former U.S. Rep. Justin Amash, a Libertarian from Michigan, said several of his relatives were among the dead. The military said it had targeted a Hamas command center nearby, causing damage to a church wall. Work continued Friday to repair the road at the Rafah crossing with Egypt, Gazas only entry point not controlled by Israel. Trucks unloaded gravel, and bulldozers and other equipment were used to fill in large craters. But there also appeared to still be differences over the manner of delivering aid. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was working with Egypt, Israel, the U.S. and others to overcome the impasse preventing the trucks from entering, U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters Friday. Guterres wants to ensure meaningful numbers of trucks cross daily, that inspection of truck cargo is expedited and that U.N. authorities have fuel to distribute the supplies within Gaza. More than 200 trucks and some 3,000 tons of aid were positioned near the crossing. Israel said the supplies could only go to civilians and that it would thwart any diversions by Hamas. It was unclear if fuel for the hospital generators would be allowed to enter. An Egyptian official said two aid-packed trucks entered the Egyptian side of the border crossing early Saturday but did not pass through into Gaza. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak with the media. Israel has evacuated its own communities near Gaza and Lebanon, putting residents up in hotels elsewhere in the country. Lebanons Hezbollah militant group, which has a massive arsenal of long-range rockets, has traded fire with Israel along the border on a near-daily basis and hinted it might join the war if Israel seeks to annihilate Hamas. Iran supports both armed groups. Palestinian militants have launched unrelenting rocket attacks into Israel more than 6,900 since Oct. 7, according to Israel and tensions have flared in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Israel has targeted militants in raids across the occupied territory. On Friday, two Palestinian teenagers were killed in clashes in the West Bank, where more than 80 Palestinians have been killed over the past two weeks. ___ Krauss reported from Jerusalem and Kullab from Baghdad. Associated Press journalists Amy Teibel, Ravi Nessman, Julia Frankel and Isabel Debre in Jerusalem; Samy Magdy and Jack Jeffery in Cairo; Matthew Lee in Washington; and Ashraf Sweilam in el-Arish, Egypt, contributed to this report. Members of the Jewish Voice for Peace and the IfNotNow movement during a rally calling for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, in Washington on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. (Al Drago/The New York Times) Progressive Jews who have spent years supporting racial equity, gay and transgender rights, abortion rights and other causes on the American left including opposing Israeli policies in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank are suddenly feeling abandoned by those who they long thought of as allies. This wartime shift represents a fundamental break within a liberal coalition that has long powered the Democratic Party. In Los Angeles, Rabbi Sharon Brous, a well-known progressive activist who regularly criticizes the Israeli government, described from the pulpit her horror and feelings of existential loneliness, her voice breaking. The clear message from many in the world, especially from our world those who claim to care the most about justice and human dignity is that these Israeli victims somehow deserved this terrible fate. In Atlanta, a Jewish mother involved in local politics wrote an open letter lamenting that her childs progressive private school had not addressed the attacks in Israel with the same kind of empathy it showed after local killings of Asian Americans. Our people are butchered, and no one speaks to it? she wrote. I dont know if Im seething or just sad. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times And as the Hamas attacks in Israel were still underway, leaders of the New Israel Fund, which supports progressive Israeli and Palestinian groups, fielded calls from a former American ally on the left demanding that the organization label Israel an apartheid state even as they waited to learn if colleagues in another organization, hiding in Israeli bomb shelters, had been killed. Many of the most inflammatory comments came on social media, from progressive groups that responded to the immediate aftermath of the massacre of Israeli civilians by skipping even a moment of mourning and instead moving immediately to try to justify the attack. When a people have been subject to decades of apartheid and unimaginable violence, their resistance must not be condemned, but understood as a desperate act of self-defense, Black Lives Matter Los Angeles posted on Facebook, in its first response to the attack. A reproductive-rights group sharply criticized the Zionist occupation, saying that the Israeli government denied Palestinians control over their bodies and that there can be no justice, peace or reproductive freedom underneath colonial occupation. A number of socialist organizations across the country did not directly condemn the killings by Hamas. And many protests have included chants of From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, a slogan that leaves no place for the state of Israel to exist in its own land. From email listservs of progressive Jewish groups to protests on university campuses to social media campaigns by prominent liberal Jewish celebrities like Sarah Silverman, the war is bringing to a head more than a decade of tensions about Israel on the American left. Interviews with dozens of liberal Jewish leaders and voters, and a review of social media posts, private emails and text chains of liberal Jewish groups, reveal a politically engaged swath of American Jewry who are reaching a breaking point. They have long sought an end to the Israeli governments occupation of the West Bank and blockade of Gaza, supported a two-state solution and protested the right-wing government of Benjamin Netanyahu. But in the Hamas attacks, many saw an existential threat, evoking memories of the Holocaust and generations of antisemitism, and provoking anxiety about whether they could face attacks in the United States. And they were taken aback to discover that many of their ideological allies not only failed to perceive the same threats but also saw them as oppressors deserving of blame. I am in such a state of despair. In my generation, we have been warned how quickly people would turn on us, and we just thought no way, said Nick Melvoin, 38, a member of the Los Angeles Unified School Board who is now running for Congress and keeps a framed picture of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel marching with Martin Luther King Jr. in his office. Now we see, this is how that happens: when you dehumanize the group. This indoctrination that many of us have been warned about hit us like a ton of bricks. The most rattling episodes have occurred on college campuses or on social media, where statements from small organizations have been amplified across the globe. But during a worldwide conflict, those statements have taken on totemic status, heightening fears that they are a precursor to a more treacherous and lasting shift in the standing of Jews in America. Eric Spiegelman, a lawyer and podcast producer in Los Angeles who serves on municipal boards, was enraged by the protest in New York City promoted by the Democratic Socialists of America after the attack. He sent hundreds of letters to Los Angeles city officials urging them to denounce the organization and label it a hate group. The DSA has since backed away from the protest and apologized for not making our values explicit. Its like I belong to this political organization that believes in three things: affordable housing, raising the minimum wage and the wholesale murder of Jews, said Spiegelman, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he condemned local leaders who are affiliated with the group. Two out of three aint bad! With President Joe Biden making a personal show of support through an unprecedented wartime visit to Israel this week and promising the country billions in aid traditional Democratic support for Israel is not in doubt. The crisis has largely unified the Democratic Party establishment, including many progressive elected officials. Polling since the attacks indicates strong national backing for Israel, including a notable uptick in support among Democrats. Still, cracks have begun to emerge among the Democratic coalition. Younger and more liberal voters remain more focused on the Palestinian cause than older generations, a split that emerged in the last two decades and accelerated during the Trump administration. Among them are many American Jews who are far more critical of Israel than their forebears and have flocked to groups like IfNotNow and Jewish Voice for Peace, which staged a protest in the U.S. Capitol calling for a cease-fire and has repeatedly accused Israel of planning genocide in Gaza. We need to remember that anyone dehumanizing Israelis rightly has zero representation in the United States government, while many federal officials have been dehumanizing Palestinians for decades, Eva Borgwardt, political director of IfNotNow, said in an interview. Attitudes toward Jews place in the progressive firmament are intertwined with their understanding of race and power in America. More than 90% of American Jews are white, and the country remains among the safest places in the world for Jews, despite a well-documented rise in antisemitic incidents in recent years. Some Jews see their safety as precarious, but some of their allies focus on their privilege. By contrast, many progressive activists have long expressed an affinity and identification with Palestinians, viewing them as a minority group whose plight is ignored or dismissed by those with more power. The left doesnt have a level of sophisticated understanding of antisemitism that we need if we are going to defeat white nationalism and fascism in this country, said Joanna Ware, executive director of the Jewish Liberation Fund, a philanthropic group created in 2020. It has been painful to see some people I consider friends or comrades seeming to have a hard time empathizing with Israelis and, by extension, Jews in the United States. Still, Ware said she would not hesitate to work with groups on the progressive left for racial justice and other causes. Other activists are less certain. Daniel Sokatch, executive director of the New Israel Fund, who has spent decades in progressive politics, said the silence from many on the left, as well as the arguments from others that the attacks were justified, were beyond shocking. It felt like betrayal, not of us as allies, but of the values we all stand for, Sokatch said. He added, On a personal level, I would think twice before just showing up in certain corners of the political world. I would want to check and understand who was there and how they felt about these things. Even leading Democrats appear to recognize the difficulty in speaking about Israel to young people who may not be inclined to support the country. Two days after somberly standing behind Biden in the White House as he denounced the attack as sheer evil, Vice President Kamala Harris spoke Oct. 12 to an auditorium filled with Latino and Black students at the College of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas as part of a fall tour focusing on young voters of color. For nearly an hour, she addressed pressing concerns such as climate change and student loans and offered a passionate defense of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. She made no mention of the attack in Israel. Jewish liberals are distressed both by what is being said and what was left unsaid in the initial statements from universities, schools and corporations after the attack. Almost two weeks later, a number of prominent institutions, including several elite colleges, are still releasing statements clarifying their positions after outcries from Jewish parents, donors and alumni. On Oct. 10, Bo Lauder, the head of Friends Seminary, an exclusive New York City private school, wrote to parents acknowledging the failing of his first response and stating, Let me be clear: The attacks on Israel by Hamas terrorists were wrong and indefensible, and Friends Seminary condemns, in no uncertain terms, the killing, kidnapping and torture of innocent civilians. The lack of more forceful and instantaneous condemnation shocked some liberal Jews, who remembered the outpouring of support from other Americans after the 2018 mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue by a gunman inspired by the far right. Since the Pittsburgh shooting, Boaz Munro, 36, who works in technology in San Francisco and is the grandson of Holocaust survivors, has frequently urged other Jews to speak out about what he sees as an impulse in some quarters of the left to downplay or ignore antisemitism. While he praised advances in the racial discourse in the past decade, Munro suggested that Jews had been left on the sidelines in that discourse because they were not seen as threatened or deserving of protection in the same way that Black and Latino people are. The way the discourse plays out, the Jews end up in the top of the hierarchy, Munro said. Its not even about Israel. Its just about being Jewish: Youre white. You access whiteness. c.2023 The New York Times Company Editor's Note: For the latest news on the Israeli-Hamas conflict, please see Saturday's live updates here. The border crossing between Egypt and Gaza opened on Saturday, letting an aid convoy inside the besieged Palestinian territory for the first time since Israel sealed it off in the wake of Hamas' attacks from two weeks ago. The 20-truck convoy includes life-saving supplies provided by the Egyptian Red Crescent and the United Nations, which are approved to cross and be received by the Palestinian Red Crescent, with the support of the U.N., Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said in a press release. NORTH SINAI, EGYPT - OCTOBER 21: Volunteers and NGOs staff celebrate after unloading aid supplies and returning to Egyptian side of border on October 21, 2023 in North Sinai, Egypt. The aid convoy, organized by a group of Egyptian NGOs, set off Saturday 14th October from Cairo for the Gaza-Egypt border crossing at Rafah. A week of tortuous negotiations followed about when the border, controlled by Egypt on one side and Hamas on the other, would be opened, until the first trucks were admitted on 21st October. (Photo by Mahmoud Khaled/Getty Images) "I am confident that this delivery will be the start of a sustainable effort to provide essential supplies including food, water, medicine and fuel to the people of Gaza, in a safe, dependable, unconditional and unimpeded manner," he said. Gaza's 2.3 million Palestinians, half of whom have fled their homes ahead of an expected ground invasion aimed at routing out Hamas, are rationing food and drinking dirty water. Hospitals say they are running low on medical supplies and fuel for emergency generators amid a territory-wide power blackout. Israel is still launching waves of airstrikes across Gaza that have destroyed entire neighborhoods, as Palestinian militants fire rocket barrages into Israel. The opening came after two weeks of after more than a week of high-level diplomacy by various mediators, including visits to the region by U.S. President Joe Biden and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Israel had insisted that nothing would enter Gaza until some 200 people captured by Hamas were freed, and the Palestinian side of the crossing had been shut down by Israeli airstrikes. The head of the U.N.s World Food Program said the aid was insufficient. The situation is catastrophic in Gaza, Cindy McCain told The Associated Press. We need many, many, many more trucks and a continual flow of aid," she said, adding that some 400 trucks were entering Gaza daily before the war. The opening came hours after Hamas released an American woman and her teenage daughter, the first captives to be freed after the militant group's Oct. 7 incursion into Israel. It was not immediately clear if there was any connection between the two. Our fellow citizens have endured a terrible ordeal these past 14 days, and I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been wracked with fear, President Joe Biden said. These individuals and their families will have the full support of the United States government as they recover and heal, and we should all respect their privacy in this moment. Israel-Hamas War newsletter: Sign up to get the latest news and analysis from USA TODAY into your inbox. Latest developments: The border crossing between Egypt and Gaza opened on Saturday, letting first aid convoy inside the besieged Palestinian territory. The death toll of Israelis and Palestinians surpassed 5,000, making the conflict the deadliest of five wars involving the narrow, densely populated strip of land bordering Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea. The Israel Defense Forces said Friday more than 1,400 people have died and 4,600 others are injured. In Gaza, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said 4,137 people have died and 13,162 are injured. Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Friday that following the defeat of the Hamas militant group, the Israeli military does not plan to control life in the Gaza Strip, The Associated Press reported. Gallant further added that there are three planned phases for the Israel-Hamas war, including airstrikes, ground maneuvers and the eventual ceasing of responsibility for life in the Gaza Strip. The Israel Defense Ministry in a statement Friday said the majority of the 200 people taken hostage by Hamas are still alive, according to CNN. The IDF said about 10-20 of the hostages are over the age of 60; over 20 are under the age of 18. The UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestine refugees, issued a statement on X on Friday saying two workers were killed in Gaza. Since the war began, there have been a total of 16 UNRWA workers killed. UNRWA continues to advocate for adherence to international humanitarian law @UN staff and civilians must be protected at all times, the agency said. Spokesperson for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Ravina Shamdasani on Friday said 14 Palestinians were reportedly killed in a drone strike on Thursday. Two Americans held hostage by Hamas are freed Judith Tai Raanan and Natalie Shoshana Raanan, the mother and daughter released Friday after being held hostage by Hamas, had been visiting Israel from their home in suburban Chicago. They were released by Hamas' armed wing, the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, which said they were freed for "for humanitarian reasons, Reuters reported. CNN, citing a source familiar with the negotiations, said the two have been handed over to the Red Cross and are on their way out. They are being released because the mother is in poor health, CNN said. Natalie Shoshana Raanan and Judith Tai Raanan speaking on the phone with US President Joe Biden on Oct. 20, 2023 after being held hostage and later released by Hamas. Uri Raanan, 71, said he saw the news Friday that Hamas was releasing an American mother and daughter, and he spent the day hoping they meant his daughter, Judith, and granddaughter, Natalie. Uri said he has spoken to Judith since her release and believes she will be home soon. Shes doing good. Shes doing very good, Uri, who is based in the Chicago suburb of Bannockburn, said Friday. Im in tears, and I feel very, very good. Natalie and Judith are believed to be on their way to Tel Aviv to reunite with relatives before returning to the U.S., Uri said, meaning his granddaughter will be able to celebrate her 18th birthday next week with family and friends. Meir Hecht, a rabbi in Evanston, Illinois, told USA TODAY earlier this week that Judith worked in health care and was a bright, kind and involved member of the community. Her teen daughter recently graduated from Deerfield High School and loved art and animals, he said. The pair had planned to visit relatives in Israel for about six weeks, he said. They were staying in Kibbutz Nahal Oz, near the Gaza Strip, as house guests when the attack began Oct. 7, according to the Israeli Prime Minister's Office. After their disappearance, the Israeli government and the U.S. State Department confirmed to the women's relatives that they were hostages in Gaza, said Hecht, who has remained in constant touch with the family. But they had received no further word on their condition. The community north of Chicago prayed for their release over nearly two weeks, the rabbi said, while the women's relatives endured unimaginable pain. The two Americans are among at least 199 hostages that have been held since Hamas staged a surprise attack on southern Israel two weeks ago, killing more than 1,400 Israeli civilians and soldiers. Israel responded by hitting Gaza with a series of airstrikes that the Hamas-run Palestinian Health Ministry says has killed 2,800 people. Israel also has been setting the stage for a ground invasion that could begin any day. Fears are rising that other countries and groups could get pulled into the conflict, causing it to engulf the Middle East. - Chris Kenning, Joey Garrison and Michael Collins UN: Restrictions preventing humanitarian aid into Gaza at Egypt border At the Egyptian border, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters that restrictions are preventing humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, which has been cut off by Israel from food, water, fuel and electricity since Hamas Oct. 7 surprise attack. We are actively engaging with all the parties in order to clarify these restrictions so we can have these trucks moving towards where theyre needed. We need these trucks moving as soon as possible, said Guterres, adding: We have two million people here who are suffering tremendously. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the World Health Organization, on Friday wrote on X, "We hope the Rafah crossing will open today. More delays will result in more suffering and more deaths." Antonio Guterres Secretary-General of the United Nations speaks during a press conference in front of the Rafah border crossing on Oct. 20, 2023 in North Sinai, Egypt. The aid convoy, organized by a group of Egyptian NGOs, set off Saturday, Oct. 14, from Cairo for the Gaza-Egypt border crossing at Rafah. US and EU reaffirm support for Israel, express concern over Gaza Following a U.S.-European Union summit in Washington D.C. on Friday, American and EU officials demonstrated continued support for Israel in its military operation but said it should be in accordance with international law, including humanitarian law. We will work closely with partners in the region to stress the importance of protecting civilians, supporting those who are trying to get to safety or provide assistance, and facilitating access to food, water, medical care, and shelter, a joint statement said. We are concerned by the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. It is crucial to prevent regional escalation. Officials also expressed joint support for a two-state solution. In a call Friday morning, Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed plans to get humanitarian aid into Gaza through Egypt. Biden also reiterated the importance of operating consistent with the law of war to include the protection of civilians in Gaza, the White House said. Second gentleman Doug Emhoff tells Jewish students: "It's been a tough couple of weeks" Second gentleman Doug Emhoff stopped by a Jewish day school on Friday in Washington, D.C., to talk with students about the war in Israel. Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, is the first Jewish spouse of a U.S. president or vice president. "It's been a tough couple of weeks," he said as he spoke to a group of eighth graders. "My emotions are very raw." An aerial view shows destroyed buildings in al-Zahra city south of Gaza City on Oct. 20, 2023, following Israeli bombardment overnight amid ongoing battles between the Israeli military and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The second gentleman told students that President Joe Biden held his hand after the attack, looked him in the eye and asked him how he was doing. "It really helped me get out there and speak about how horrible the situation is and how I was feeling," Emhoff told the students. His visit on Friday to Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School was his second to the campus. Emhoff visited to help students prepare for Passover at the school in April 2022. Emhoff has emerged as an important conduit between the Biden administration and the Jewish community. The White House said Thursday that Emhoff met in Washington, D.C., with Natalie Sanandaji, an American who survived Hamas' attack on a music festival in Israel. Francesca Chambers US President Joe Biden addresses the nation on the conflict between Israel and Gaza and the Russian invasion of Ukraine from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on October 19, 2023. President Joe Biden will deliver a rare Oval Office speech October 19, 2023 urging Americans to back military aid for Israel and Ukraine at what he calls a perilous moment for democracy around the globe. Biden administration requests billions from Congress for aid to Israel, Ukraine The Biden administration formally asked Congress for more than $105 billion in emergency funding for the wars in Israel and Ukraine. The aid package earmarks $10.6 billion for military support for Israel. The aid package, however, cannot pass through Congress until the House of Representatives names a speaker. The chamber has been without a speaker for more than two weeks, since lawmakers ousted Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., during a vote triggered by a group of conservative rebels. Republicans have been unable to elect a successor for McCarthy, bringing the business of the House to a standstill. Biden, during a primetime address from the White House on Thursday, argued that U.S. leadership abroad and congressional aid to both countries is essential. "Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common: they both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy," Biden said. Historic Greek Orthodox church hit by Israeli airstrike in Gaza City An Israeli airstrike hit a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza City late Thursday, resulting in an unverified number of death and injuries, along with displacing Palestinians who were taking refuge there. The Gaza health ministry, which is controlled by Hamas, said at least 16 people were killed and many others were injured in the blast. Mohammed Abu Selmia, director general of Shifa Hospital, told The Associated Press that dozens were wounded at the Church of Saint Porphyrios but could not give a precise death toll because bodies were still under the rubble. The Holy Orthodox Order of the Holy Great Martyr George confirmed the blast, adding that more than 500 people were being housed at the church and monastery. Palestinians inspect the site where there was a Greek Orthodox church, destroyed following Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. "The bombs hit the two church halls where the refugees, including children and babies, were sleeping. Presently, survivors are searching the rubble for other casualties," the order said in a statement Thursday. Former U.S. Rep. Justin Amash, a child of Palestinian and Syrian immigrants, confirmed Friday that several of his relatives died at Saint Porphyrios Orthodox Church where they had been sheltering when the airstrike hit. The Palestinian Christian community has endured so much. Our family is hurting badly. May God watch over all Christians in Gazaand all Israelis and Palestinians who are suffering, whatever their religion or creed, Amash said. I was really worried about this. With great sadness, I have now confirmed that several of my relatives (including Viola and Yara pictured here) were killed at Saint Porphyrius Orthodox Church in Gaza, where they had been sheltering, when part of the complex was destroyed as pic.twitter.com/w5k1xEeTgF Justin Amash (@justinamash) October 20, 2023 Israel acknowledged the blast on Friday, issuing a statement that the church was not the intended target of the airstrike. The blast comes after an explosion Tuesday that rocked the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, in whose compound many Palestinians had been seeking refuge from the persistent Israeli bombardment. According to a preliminary U.S. intelligence analysis, the death toll was on the "low end" of 100 to 300. Westerners accused of 'hypocrisy' for silence during Israeli war crimes Human Rights Watch has accused Western states like the U.S. and Europe of "double standards" for their failure to condemn Israel's war crimes in the Gaza conflict. The agency said American and European governments quickly condemned war violations by Russian forces, including surprise attacks, unlawful killings, and torture. Eighteen months later, Hamas was denounced for the surprise assault on Israel. But since Oct. 7, these states have been mostly silent about Israel's actions in Gaza, HRW said in a statement. "Where is the outrage at statements by Israeli political leaders that seek to blur the all-important distinction between civilians and combatants in Gaza even as they order ever more intense bombardment of this densely populated territory, reducing city blocks and neighborhoods to rubble?" said HRW Deputy Program Director Tom Porteous. "Where are the clear and unequivocal calls for Israel to respect international norms in its attack on Gaza, let alone for accountability?" The agency said the Western state's hypocrisy is "flagrant and obvious," and they risk undermining years of humanitarian efforts to standardize norms that protect civilians during times of conflict. What is the IDF? The Israel Defense Forces, also known as the IDF, is the national military of Israel. It has three branches: the army, navy and air force. It is a conscripted military service, meaning Israel mandates IDF service for Jewish, Druze and Circassian citizens over the age of 18, with some exceptions. It was established in 1948, two weeks after Israel became an independent country. Before the war began, the IDF had 169,500 active troops and was the 28th largest military in the world by active personnel, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies' Military Balance 2023. There were also 465,000 reserve personnel to supplement active military forces if deemed necessary. Read more here. Olivia Munson What is Hamas? Hamas an acronym for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya, or the Islamic resistance movement was founded in 1987 by activists connected to the Muslim Brotherhood during the first Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation of Gaza and the West Bank. The State Department designated Hamas a terrorist group in 1997, and several other nations also consider Hamas a terrorist organization. In 2006, Hamas won parliamentary elections, and in 2007 the group violently seized control of Gaza from the Palestinian Authority, which was controlled by the rival Fatah movement that still governs the West Bank. There have been no elections since. The group calls for the establishment of an Islamic Palestinian state that would replace the current state of Israel and believes in the use of violence to carry out the destruction of Israel. Hamas receives financial, material, and logistical support from Iran. So far, however, the U.S. and other nations have said there is no evidence that Iran was directly involved in Hamas attack. Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israel war live updates: Aid convoy has entered Gaza Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has told troops gathered near the Gaza Strip on 19 October that they would "soon see" the enclave "from the inside". Source: CNN, citing a press release from the Israeli Defence Ministry Quote from Galant: "You see Gaza now from a distance, you will soon see it from inside. The command will come." Details: CNN reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also announced an offensive during a separate visit to the area bordering the Gaza Strip on 19 October. "The entire nation of Israel stands behind you and we will give the hard blow to our enemies so that we can achieve victory. For victory! Ready?" Major General Yaron Finkelman, Commander of the Southern Command of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), told troops on another section of the border on Thursday that "this maneuvering will shift the war to the enemys side", adding that the IDF "will win on their ground". "This maneuvering will be long, difficult, long, intense, but we have the best commanders and fighters the IDF has to offer," Finkelman stated. Background: Earlier this week, Israel's ambassador to the UN said Israel was "not interested" in occupying Gaza but would do "whatever is necessary" to end Hamas. Support UP or become our patron! Israeli soldiers wait to hear a speech from Yoav Gallant as they mass on the border with the Gaza Strip in Sderot - Amir Levy/Getty Images US troops in the Middle East came under attack from suspected Iran-backed militias on Thursday night in an escalation that threatened to pull global powers into the Gaza conflict. The US Navy also said it intercepted missiles and drones fired from Yemen and headed potentially towards targets in Israel. Bases housing US soldiers came under attack in Iraq and Syria, raising fears Iran was mobilising proxy forces against the West, which backs Israel in its war with Hamas. It came as Israel told its troops they will soon see Gaza from inside as forces amassed on the border ahead of an expected ground invasion. Yoav Gallant, the Israeli defence minister, travelled to the front line to place soldiers on high alert with a fiery speech. Israeli troops have been told to 'get organised, be ready' ahead of an expected ground invasion - Ronen Zvulun/Reuters He urged personnel to get organised, be ready for an order to move into the Hamas-controlled territory. You see Gaza now from a distance, you will soon see it from inside, he said. The command will come I promise you. Shortly after Mr Gallants statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu published a video of himself with troops near the border promising victory. This embedded content is not available in your region. The United States issued a rare worldwide terror alert on Thursday urging citizens to exercise increased caution as tensions mounted and anti-Israel and anti-Western protests spread across the Arab world. Joe Biden, the US president, urged Americans to back Israel and Ukraine at what he says is a perilous moment for democracy around the globe. He said: Hamas and Putin represent different threats. But they share this in common. They both want to completely annihilate a neighbouring democracy. On Thursday evening the Ain al-Asad air base, which hosts US and other international forces in western Iraq, was hit by multiple blasts from suspected militants aligned with Iran. A US Navy warship patrolling the Red Sea near Yemen also intercepted three land-attack cruise missiles and several drones. This embedded content is not available in your region. The Pentagon said they were fired by Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen and may have been targeting Israel. Houthi forces have expressed support for the Palestinians and threatened Israel. Two drones also attacked US personnel at the al-Tanf garrison in southeastern Syria, according to officials. One drone was shot down, but another caused minor injuries. The garrison is located at a sensitive juncture often used by Iranian-backed militants to ferry weapons to Hezbollah, the powerful Lebanon-based ally of Hamas. Syrian opposition activists also said on Thursday that a drone attack was conducted on an oil facility in eastern Syria that houses American troops. As Western leaders tried to stop the conflict escalating, the Prime Minister on Thursday night arrived in Saudi Arabia for crisis talks with the countrys crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman. Rishi Sunak held talks with Prince Salman on Thursday night - GETTY IMAGES The closely-guarded summit ended with an agreement to ensure regional stability and prevent a dangerous escalation, No 10 said. In a whirlwind day of last-minute diplomacy, Rishi Sunak had on Thursday first visited Israel to say Britain wanted the Jewish state to win and would stand by the country in its darkest hour. Israel had not just a right but a duty to restore its security after the Oct 7 attacks that killed 1,400 Israelis, he said in Tel Aviv. But he also added that the conflict must not escalate regionally, fearing Iran-backed militias from across the region being drawn in to attack Israel. That is why Im talking to as many people as I can across the region, he said. The Prime Ministers diplomatic efforts were echoed by the Foreign Secretary, who is due to deliver the same message in Egypt, Turkey and Qatar. James Cleverly said: It is in no ones interests - neither Israeli, Palestinian nor the wider Middle East - for others to be drawn into this conflict. Mr Sunaks visit to Israel had followed directly after a similar visit by Mr Biden on Wednesday. Mr Biden had offered strong backing for Israel, but also warned the country not to be consumed by rage in the wake of Hamas attacks, and to avoid making the same mistakes that the US did after the 9/11 attacks. Diplomats believe that now the high-profile delegations have left, Israel may now feel it is free to act. Washington is reported to want a delay in any ground operation against Gaza so that more can be done to secure American hostages seized by Hamas. Hamas took around 200 captives during the Oct 7 attacks and there are fears they will be used as human shields against any ground operation. More than a dozen US nationals are thought to be among the hostages, along with about 10 Britons among the 30 different nationalities taken in the attack. Around 30 minors and young children and 20 people over the age of 60, are being held, Israels public broadcaster said, citing military sources. This embedded content is not available in your region. Washington has turned to Qatar to mediate between Hamas and Jerusalem. However a member of Israels security cabinet on Thursday night said its military has a green light to move into Gaza whenever its ready. Economy Minister Nir Barakat told ABC News that hostages and civilian casualties will be secondary to destroying Hamas even if it takes a year. Mr Gallant also said the battle will be long and hard. Israel meanwhile continued its bombardment of targets in Gaza where the United Nations says more than two million people are trapped in dire humanitarian conditions. Up to 20 aid lorries are poised to enter the territory as soon as Friday, after Mr Biden struck a deal with Egypt and Israel to let aid in over the Rafah border crossing. The strip has been under total Israeli blockade since the Oct 7 attacks and aid agencies say residents need 100-lorry-loads of supplies each day. The UK, America and Germany have all advised their citizens to leave Lebanon as border tensions between Israel and Hezbollah intensified. Hezbollah and allied Palestinian factions have been trading daily cross-border fire with Israel since the Oct 7 attacks. Mr Sunaks meeting with bin Salman in Saudi Arabia on Thursday night aimed at cooling tensions in the region, amid fears of spillover. Arriving for the meeting, he said: As an international community, we must not let Hamas terror attack become a catalyst for a terrible humanitarian crisis in Gaza. This embedded content is not available in your region. We will work together to ensure regional stability and prevent a dangerous escalation. Downing Street said in a statement afterwards that the pair had discussed the need for humanitarian corridors to be opened up into Gaza. A No 10 spokesman said: The leaders agreed that the loss of innocent lives in Israel and Gaza over the last two weeks has been horrific. They underscored the need to avoid any further escalation in the region and agreed to coordinate action on this front. 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. CORRECTS YEAR TO 2022- Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, center, and her partner Andrea Giambruno arrive for theseason opener at the Scala Opera house, in Milan, northern Italy, Dec. 7, 2022. Meloni announced Friday, Oct. 20, 2023 that she is separating from her partner and the father of her young daughter after nearly a decade together. In a statement posted on social media, Meloni said her relationship with Andrea Giambruno had ended. She said their paths had diverged for some time. The announcement came after Giambruno, an on-air television personality, was caught on audio seemingly making lewd remarks to colleagues. (Alessandro Bremec/LaPresse via AP) ROME (AP) Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni announced Friday that she is separating from her partner and the father of their young daughter after nearly a decade together. In a statement posted on social media, Meloni said her relationship with Andrea Giambruno had ended. She said their paths had diverged for some time. But the announcement came after Giambruno, an on-air television personality, was caught on audio seemingly making lewd remarks to colleagues. An Italian satirical news program, Striscia la Notizia, aired two nights' worth of programming on Giambruno this week, using backstage clips and audio. Striscia is a primetime program of the Mediaset broadcaster of the late Silvio Berlusconi , whose Forza Italia party is a junior partner in Melonis government. This week marks the first anniversary of Meloni's government, Italy's first headed by a woman and first hard-right-led administration since the end of World War II. Meloni, who was raised by a single mother after her father abandoned the family, and Giambruno share 7-year-old Ginevra. Meloni had previously described Giambruno as a fantastic and very present father who complemented her in caring for their daughter. In her 2021 memoir I am Giorgia, she said Giambruno wouldnt balk if she was working and he had to step in, though she complained that he was messier than she. She came to his defense last month after he suggested that women who go out dancing and get drunk shouldn't be surprised if wolves attack them. Even though Italy at the time was convulsed over reports that two young girls had been gang raped, Meloni said Giambruno wasn't excusing sexual predators and that her mother had taught her to similarly be cautious when going out. In her statement, Meloni thanked Giambruno for their relationship and daughter and said she would defend their friendship. And I will defend, at all costs, a 7-year-old girl who loves her mother and loves her father, as I was unable to love mine. She also hit back at the media coverage that preceded her announcement, blasting all those who hoped to weaken me by hitting me at home. Several of her allies offered messages of solidarity. League leader Matteo Salvini, transport minister in her government, offered my friendship and support. Onward, with your head held high, he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, 46, says shes split from her journalist partner, Andrea Giambruno, amid a scandal over his sexist comments on the set of his television news program. Meloni made the announcement on Friday on her social media accounts, writing, Our paths have diverged for some time, and the time has come to acknowledge it. She said she would remain focused on her work despite the separation. The former couple share a 7-year-old daughter. According to the BBC and CNN, a satirical television show, Striscia La Notizia, showed recordings of his off-air behavior earlier this week, in which he appeared to touch his groin and make unwanted advances to a female coworker. In another clip, Giambruno can be heard bragging about an affair and telling female colleagues that they would be allowed to work under him if they participated in group sex. He had previously been condemned in August for seeming to blame the victim in a gang rape. Meloni distanced herself from Giambrunos remarks and refused to address questions. Giambruno has not spoken about his exs social media posts or the videos of his off-air comments. Read it at BBC Read more at The Daily Beast. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced on Friday she was separating from her partner, with whom she has a daughter, after he was recorded making sleazy comments. The announcement came after Andrea Giambruno, a television presenter, was caught making overtly sexual and sexist comments to female colleagues off-air. "My relationship with Andrea Giambruno, which lasted almost 10 years, ends here," Meloni wrote on social media, saying their paths had "diverged for some time". "How do you do, darling?" Giambruno is heard telling a female colleague on the sidelines of his talk show on the Rete 4 channel, owned by Mediaset. "Do you know that (name redacted) and I are having an affair? All of Mediaset knows it and now you do too," he tells the woman, who is also off camera "But we're looking for a third person, as we do threesomes. Foursomes too. Would you like to be part of our working group?" he says in remarks broadcast by a different television channel on Tuesday and Thursday. In another comment, he says: "Can I touch my balls while I talk to you?" On Friday afternoon, a spokesman for Mediaset, which is owned by the Berlusconi family, told the ANSA news agency Giambruno had been suspended as a presenter while the company looked into the situation. - Family values - The news of the break-up coincides with the one-year anniversary this weekend of Meloni's accession to power at the head of a hard-right government which strongly defends traditional family values. The pair never married but Meloni always brushed off suggestions that her marital status was at odds with her position on family, which is that children should have a mother and a father. Giambruno, who she met in a broadcast studio while giving an interview, has increasingly become a source of headlines for his controversial comments. In August, he was accused of victim blaming for remarks he made while discussing two gang rapes this summer that had shocked Italy. On his talk show, he said: "If you avoid getting drunk and losing your senses, you might also avoid running into certain problems and coming across a wolf." He had also hit back when a German minister on holiday in Italy complained about the heat, saying: "If you don't like it, stay at home." In her social media post on Friday, Meloni thanked Giambruno for "the splendid years we spent together, for the difficulties we went through and for giving me the most important thing in my life, our daughter Ginevra". Meloni has previously spoken of the challenges of juggling family life with running the government, and takes Ginevra, seven, on official trips wherever she can. She did not mention the recordings of Giambruno's remarks in her statement. But she warned anyone who hoped to use her personal life against her: "While the drop may hope to hollow out the stone, the stone remains a stone and the drop is just water". Meloni's coalition allies rallied around her. Matteo Salvini, of the far-right, anti-immigration League, told her: "Go forward with your head held high!" glr-ide/ar FIRST ON FOX: A Cornell University law professor is calling for an independent commission to evaluate antisemitism at the Ivy League school after remarks by an associate professor who said he was "exhilarated" to hear of the deadly Oct. 7 attacks on Israeli civilians by Hamas terrorists. William A. Jacobson, a clinical professor at the Cornell Law School and founder of the Equal Protection Project, said the Ithaca, New York, institution has become "balkanized by an aggressive focus on racial, ethnic, religious, gender and other identities through an anti-racist and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion agenda imposed on the campus by the senior administration." "Almost everything now is viewed through an identity lens, pitting groups against each other, pitting colleagues against one another, and pitting students against their peers," Jacobson said in a statement. "There is substantial evidence that such DEI programming makes race and other relations worse, not better. We are seeing that play out in real time in the Cornell community." BILLIONAIRE QUITS HARVARD BOARD AFTER STUDENT LETTER SUPPORTS HAMAS OVER ISRAEL Campus leaders and Jewish voices are sounding the alarm on antisemitism at U.S. colleges following Hamas' terrorist attack against Israeli civilians. Jacobson said school administrators have contributed to the failure to stamp out a toxic campus culture and that the entire campus DEI program and agenda should be "revisited, reworked or removed." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "The Cornell Board of Trustees is meeting this weekend, and no doubt the controversy will be a topic of discussion. But those comments by that professor are merely an outward manifestation of a much deeper problem on campus that the board must address," he said. In an effort to effect change, Jacobson is asking the Cornell Board of Trustees at its meeting this weekend to consider a pause on all new administrative DEI initiatives for the remainder of this academic year and until permanent changes are considered. He's asking the school to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism and to form an independent commission to investigate antisemitism on campus and the negative effects of DEI. Colleges across the country have become embroiled in controversy after the failure of university officials to distance their schools from pro-Palestinian demonstrations and statements from student groups blaming Israel for the unprovoked attack on its citizens and its bombing campaign of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip in the days since. HARVARD STUDENTS STAGE MARCH, 'DIE-IN' BLAMING ISRAEL FOR HOSPITAL BLAST, 'GENOCIDE' IN GAZA Supporters of Palestinians gather at Harvard University to show their support at a rally in Cambridge, Mass., Oct. 14, 2023. Russell Rickford, an associate professor of history at Cornell, said he was "exhilarated" by the ambush killings at a pro-Palestinian rally. "It was exhilarating, it was energizing. If they [the Palestinians] weren't exhilarated by this challenge to the monopoly of violence, by the shifting of this balance of power, they would not be human. I was exhilarated," he told the crowd, who responded with cheers. Rickford apologized this week for his remarks, saying he made a "horrible choice of words." "I recognize that some of the language I used was reprehensible and did not reflect my values," he said in a statement published by The Cornell Daily Sun. "As I said in the speech, I abhor violence and the violent targeting of civilians. I am sorry for the pain that my reckless remarks have caused my family, my students, my colleagues and many others in this time of suffering. CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "I want to make it clear that I unequivocally oppose and denounce racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, militarism, fundamentalism and all systems that dehumanize, divide and oppress people." A joint statement released earlier this week by Cornell University President Martha E. Pollack and Cornell University Board of Trustees Chair Kraig H. Kayser called Rickford's comments about the attacks "reprehensible" and that such statements go against what the university stands for. Other anti-Israel events on campuses around the country have portrayed Israel as an oppressor, leading to criticism from alumni and resulting in several employers rescinding job offers to students. Cornell declined to comment on Jacobson's remarks. Original article source: Ivy League school slammed after professor calls Israel attack 'exhilarating': 'A much deeper problem' You are here: World Flash Visiting British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged Thursday British support for Israel amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas). Speaking to reporters after a meeting with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, Sunak said he stands with Israel as a "friend" and hopes Israel to "win the war." For his part, Netanyahu said Israel needed "continual support" for "a long war." The British prime minister also held a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, during which he urged humanitarian aid to Gaza while stressing support for Israel. "Palestinians are victims of what Hamas has done. It's important that we continue to provide humanitarian access," he said. Sunak's visit to Israel follows trips made by U.S. President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and several other Western leaders earlier this week. The latest round of violence between Israel and Hamas, which rules Gaza, began on Oct. 7 when Hamas launched a rare surprise attack on southern Israel close to the border with Gaza. Israel retaliated with airstrikes and a blockade that cut off water, electricity, fuel and other supplies to Gaza. The conflict has killed more than 4,000 people on both sides. [Source] With Halloween right around the corner, the Shibuya City government is gearing up by warning potential visitors not to celebrate the unofficial festivity in the city starting next week. A city's warning: Posting on X in English and Japanese on Tuesday, the local government advised visitors not to celebrate Halloween around Shibuya Station from Oct. 27 to 31. It added that drinking on the streets near Shibuya Station will be prohibited by local ordinance, which will be in effect between 6 p.m. and 5 a.m. during those dates. On Halloween night, everyone should stay away from Shibuya, the on-screen text on the video post reads. Shibuya City would like to ask tourists not to celebrate Halloween around Shibuya Station from October 27th to 31st. During this period, drinking on the streets near Shibuya Station will be prohibited by local ordinance between 6 PM - 5 AM. pic.twitter.com/cC80h5KRxw Trending on NextShark: Watch: Bali monkey negotiates for food in exchange for woman's stolen iPhone (@city_shibuya) October 17, 2023 Emphasizing the message: Shibuya Ward Mayor Ken Hasebe reiterated the city governments sentiment on multiple occasions, including once during a press conference in September and another one on Oct. 5. Trending on NextShark: Watch: Chinese woman quits full-time job so she can try 100 different jobs At those conferences, the mayor explained that the local government is looking to avoid a fatal disaster similar to what happened in Itaewon, South Korea, in 2022, when 159 people died during a crowd crush. About 196 people were also injured during the incident. The local government has also placed signs around the city reminding people, No events for Halloween on Shibuya streets. Other reasons: Besides the potential for a crowd disaster, other factors the local government considered for the decision include the increasing amount of visitors and public drinking during Halloween. When large crowds and alcohol are involved, public chaos sometimes follows, as it did during an unofficial Halloween celebration in Tokyo in 2018. Trending on NextShark: Sriracha buyers say new Huy Fong Foods bottles taste different How people are reacting: Some English-speaking X users expressed disappointment on the social media platform after reading the post, with one X user pointing out that it was unfair how honest people pay the price because of people who don't practice moderation. Another X user also expressed sadness at the news, stating that they have never gotten to experience Halloween in Tokyo, adding, Thanks for nothing. One X user suggested that the local government "should organize a proper spot somewhere else that has more space than Shibuya. Trending on NextShark: Interview: K-pop legend Rain to perform US concerts for 1st time in 15 years More on NextShark: Woman whose body was found in a suitcase in Georgia in 1988 identified The deputy mayor of Jerusalem demanded "proof of life" for the more than 200 hostages estimated to have been taken from Israel by Hamas militants and other assurances before humanitarian aide promised by President Biden or any other government arrives in Gaza for Palestinians. "The first thing we need is proof of life. We haven't had anything," Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan-Nahoum told Fox News Digital. "We haven't had the Red Cross being able to see them. We haven't had the U.N. even talking about the hostages. What happens to our hostages as 3- and 5-month-old babies, and their mothers, mothers with three children, young women serially raped, paraded down the street, an old lady with dementia in a wheelchair, people ridiculing her down the street and abusing her. Who are these people and why?" "This is something that I think we cannot give up on the hostages," she said, speaking from Israel via Zoom. "We need to demand, if you want humanitarian assistance, we understand that. But we need our hostages to be a priority for all governments and for our government. And any type of humanitarian assistance has to be conditional on the assurance that our hostages, especially the injured ones, will at least be having medical treatment. And we haven't had any assurances of anything." President Biden announced Wednesday that the U.S. is providing $100 million in humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank. "I'm all for humanitarian aid, but the problem is that the leadership in the West Bank is corrupt. So they steal from their people. They also pay terrorists pension, life pensions for every Jew they kill," Hassan-Nahoum told Fox News Digital. "And that's why in the United States, you guys passed the Taylor Force Act after a man called Taylor Force, who essentially was killed, murdered by Palestinian terrorists, and his killers are getting a life pension. And the American government passed a law that they wouldn't give any money to the Palestinians until the pay for slay policy was rescinded, which it never was. And so I understand that President Biden is doing this from a good place." AMERICAN SURVIVOR OF HAMAS ATTACK ON MUSIC FEST RETURNS TO SEE ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTS IN US: I DONT FEEL SAFE READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem Fleur Hassan-Nahoum tells Fox News Digital of the posture in Israel amid the war against Hamas. "It's just very difficult to get decent accountability from the Palestinian leadership," she said. "The most minimum thing I would ask for is to ensure that the money does not go to an educational system. Their educational system is basically teaching hatred and how to kill Jews, and Palestinian Authority funds, which they receive from around the world, are paying pensions to people who kill Jews, thereby incentivizing people to kill Jews. And the more you kill, the higher the pension. And so that's my fear." "And as long as we can guarantee or the U.S. can guarantee through its different nonprofit arms here on the ground that it is actually going to humanitarian aid, then I'm in favor," she said. "But very few people can actually give us those guarantees." As for the educational system in Palestine and concern in the West over taking in Gazan refugees taught to hate Jews, Hassan-Nahoum added, "The irony is that the U.N., through their schools that are funded by the international community, are actually teaching this hatred curriculum. So, you know, it's interesting. So you we get, they get money for teaching hatred and then, of course, nobody wants to take them in as refugees. But why are you giving them the money to begin with?" Policemen on Thursday stand guard as Israeli Jews pray in front of the Western Wall while attending a day of prayer in the Old City of Jerusalem for the safe return of hostages taken by Hamas militants. David Satterfield, newly tapped as U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Humanitarian Issues, met with Israeli and Egyptian officials Thursday "to develop the exact mechanisms to implement the framework" that Secretary of State Antony Blinken negotiated with Israel on Monday regarding the deliveries of humanitarian assistance and that Biden "cemented yesterday when he was able to secure commitments from both Israel and Egypt," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters. At a press conference, Miller declined to go into the details of the negotiations while admitting Israelis "have very serious concerns about the diversion of humanitarian assistance" and the potential of it being "diverted to Hamas." He also said that "it's important that the innocent civilians in Gaza who did not start this conflict have access to food and water and medicine." ISRAEL FACES ONE OF THE MOST DIRE HOSTAGE RESCUE OPERATIONS EVER: MICHAEL GLOVER "Our work to secure the release of hostages continues to be a top priority," Miller also said Thursday. "And of course, our message to other countries and entities hostile to Israel continues to be clear: Do not enter this conflict." Hassan-Nahoum explained that while she and her husband moved to Israel in 2001 and have lived there through several conflicts including about five wars in Gaza, a second Lebanon war, and an intifada with suicide bombers on buses, in cafes or public places she has never before seen the level of "barbarity" or "ISIS-like behavior" seen when Hamas militants slaughtered more than 1,300 civilians, including at least 32 American citizens, and kidnapped at least 203 others, including about 30 children and 20 elderly people on Oct. 7. Relatives of missing Israelis lift portraits of their loved ones in front of the Western Wall on Thursday while attending a day of prayer in the Old City of Jerusalem for the safe return of hostages taken by Hamas. "This is what happened in Afghanistan, in certain areas of Africa with Boko Haram, the terrorist group. This never happened in Israeli territory, this type of level of barbarity and cruelty. And in fact, it's the worst day, worst massacre on Jewish people since the Holocaust," Hassan-Nahoum said. "We had a Yom Kippur War 50 years ago, which was also a war that put Israel unawares, it was surprise. But it was mainly and there were a lot of casualties too many casualties, but it was combatants. You know, in a war, you expect combatant casualties. You don't expect 5-month-old babies to be decapitated and 5-month-old babies to be kidnapped. You don't see that. Who does that?" ISRAELI MILITARY SAYS HAMAS IS NOW HOLDING 203 HOSTAGES "And so this is kind of the shock and trauma that we are continuously facing," she said. "And it's kind of an ongoing trauma because until the hostages are returned home, we're not going to have any peace, not amongst ourselves, and we're not going to be able to be in a place where we can even begin to start healing." Hassan-Nahoum, who has four children who are teenagers and older, said she advised them to avoid going to the movies or remaining out at night amid concern over Muslim terror cells in Israel but stressed that for the most part, she believes Arab Israelis too are "completely disgusted by the massacre and what was done." A woman holds a sign during a protest calling to bring back the hostages that were kidnapped by Hamas in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Thursday. "Even within Israel, unfortunately, we have kind of these Hamas sleeper cells and radical groups, some Muslim Brotherhood activists and groups. And so we fear that maybe some of these terrorists remained here and managed to escape the army and are hiding somewhere. And that's, that's scary. In Jerusalem itself, we feared that the radical elements in East Jerusalem and honestly, most people in East Jerusalem are peace-loving people who just, we work together," she said. "There's good people here, but unfortunately, there's the radicals and the radicalized and the genocidal, you know, terrorists and the people who don't accept Israel's right to exist at all, who are on, you know, who are rooting for the bad guys," Hassan-Nahoum continued. "These people you kill a baby, you get, you kidnapped a baby, you decapitate a baby, you're a bad person. Simple as that. No buts, no excuses. And so I think that most people I've spoken to from the Arab community have been totally empathetic and sympathetic." The deputy mayor also had a stern message to the worldwide press after many outlets accepts claims at face value from Palestinian authorities that an Israeli strike hit a Gaza hospital, killing hundreds of people. Israel and even U.S. intelligence later came out asserting that in fact the hospital blast was caused by an Islamic jihadist rocket misfire. "I think the press has a particular responsibility here, and that is that they really need to understand that Hamas is not exactly the reliable media source," Hassan-Nahoum said. " Why is the press reporting and taking a statement from Hamas at face value when they say that at the same time they say they didn't kill civilians? We know what they did. We know the massacre they did You have huge anti-Semitic threats around the world. Jews become vulnerable [to] attack when you put out an uncorroborated statement from a terrorist group." Like the U.S. was on 9/11, she said Israel is under attack by the same "jihadi fundamentalists who want to take the world back 500 years." Original article source: Jerusalem deputy mayor demands 'proof of life' of hostages, assurance before Biden humanitarian aide hits Gaza Hundreds of Jewish Americans have found themselves at the center of recent, internal threats as Israel seeks to defend itself from Hamas terrorists, leading those in the community to be on high alert as they continue worshipping in America. Though they're more than 6,700 miles from where the war is being fought between Israel and Hamas terrorists from Gaza, Jewish Americans have been targeted in recent weeks over their religion and ties to the war-torn country. Last weekend, multiple synagogues in Rhode Island and Massachusetts faced what ended up being empty threats meant to instill fear among Jewish Americans living in the area. Boston 25 News reported that a state police bomb squad responded Saturday to a synagogue in Attleboro, Massachusetts, at the request of local police after a synagogue there received a bomb threat. In Rhode Island, a handful of synagogues were also targeted over the weekend with anonymous threats, all of which were submitted to each synagogues contact desk page on their website, according to Stephanie Hague, a spokesperson for the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island. JEWISH AMERICANS REMAIN DEFIANT AMID CALLS FOR GLOBAL PROTESTS AGAINST ISRAEL: 'WE CAN'T LET TERRORISTS WIN' Pro-Israel counterprotesters chant toward a vigil organized by NYU students in support of Palestinians in Washington Square Park in New York City on Oct. 17, 2023. "I dont want to go into so many details because I dont want to encourage copy cats," Hague, the Alliances chief policy officer, told the Boston Globe. "Its similar to whats happening nationally." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP One synagogue in the Chicago area Kehilat Chovevei Tzion was the target of a bomb threat last week. That threat was issued by a student at Niles North High School and ended up being "non-credible," according to Shaanan Gelman, the synagogue's rabbi. "It turns out, you know, they were grossly inappropriate, irresponsible students. It wasn't a real threat, but it put us on alarm. We sent an email and sent the whole synagogue into panic for a few hours," Gelman told Fox News Digital of the threat. "Thankfully, we confirmed that it wasn't a credible threat, but this is a reality that when you have lives compromised in Israel due to terrorism, it signals to the world that Jewish blood is cheap. What it does is it gives you permission to make threats against Jews all over the world. That's our headquarters ... whatever happens to us there is going to be replicated elsewhere." The threats faced by Jewish Americans in different corners of the country have steadily increased after Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists invaded southern portions of Israel and killed more than 1,400 Israelis this month. The threats, according to Brooke Goldstein , a human rights attorney who serves as the executive director of The Lawfare Project, are part of a "coordinated effort to silence Jewish voices and create an atmosphere of fear that denies and delegitimizes Jewish identity." "Whenever we see Jews being targeted whether by terrorists' rockets aimed at our homes in Israel or by White supremacists or terrorist sympathizers on Western streets or on college campuses Jew-hatred carries over to the most visible symbol of our identity and our faith: our synagogues," Goldstein told Fox News Digital. "Some of the threats against the Jewish community are very clearly coordinated, coming from Hamas sympathizers and sycophants like Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and WOL (Within our Lifetime) Palestine." SENATOR CALLS ON HOUSE TO PICK SPEAKER, IMMEDIATELY CONDEMN 'SICKENING' STATEMENTS BY SQUAD DEMOCRATS "They are a coordinated effort to silence Jewish voices and create an atmosphere of fear that denies and delegitimizes Jewish identity," she continued. "At the same time, some of the threats we see against synagogues come from lone actors whose warped hatred of Jews has long been inculcated by systemic Jew-hatred in schools and in society; their actions are a physical manifestation of the dehumanization of the Jewish people fostered in social media, in schools and in the public space." Taking issue with the lack of condemnation that "pro-Hamas sympathizers" in America have received in recent days, Goldstein, who founded the End Jew Hatred movement, said, "Right now, we are seeing pro-Hamas sympathizers literally marching in the streets and on campuses, calling to globalize the intifada (violence) and being met with little more than mealymouthed condemnation." "The lack of consequences only encourages threats and acts of violence against Jews at places where we are most likely to be found," she added. Goldstein said it's time for Americans to unite and "promote social justice and enforce the civil rights of the Jewish people," insisting that it is the only effort that will prevent Jewish Americans and synagogues from being "targeted with violence" in the future. Several Jewish Americans told Fox News Digital recently that members of their community are remaining vigilant and steadfast in their practices of worship after a call for global protests against Israel from Khaled Meshaal, the former chief of Hamas' political bureau for more than 20 years. Demonstrators are shown outside the White House on Oct. 8, 2023, as crowds rally in support of Palestinians after the terrorist group Hamas launched an assault on Israel. "Us Jews living in America have always faced, unfortunately, the fear of persecution," said Rabbi Yoni Fein, who serves as the head of a southern Jewish school. "It's been, unfortunately, for thousands of years we've had this. You know, that's the impact, the psychological impact of terror they want to place on people as far away as possible that we have a fear of going about our way of life." "We're not going to let that happen," he added. Original article source: Jewish Americans on edge amid growing anti-Israel hostility: 'Coordinated effort' Over the past few years, Ive regularly argued against nationalism, especially Christian nationalism. I dont think its any governments business to enforce a specific cultural template at the point of law. But one question remained: If Christian nationalism is wrong, what about Jewish nationalism? The validity of nationalism isnt really at stake in the Israel-Hamas war for the same reason it isnt at stake in the Ukraine war. Defending your country against invasion or attack isnt nationalism; its just self-defense. You can fight for your country without buying into a political ideology about the role of government and its relationship to culture. After all, Israel is a pluralistic nation: Non-Jewish Israeli Arabs, some of whom were among those killed by Hamas attack on October 7, make up 20 percent of its population. Israels right to self-defense is a right that belongs to Israeli Arabs as much as Israeli Jews. Nonetheless, Hamas attack on Israel is a fresh reminder, if any was needed, of Israels right to exist and of the reasons that originally inspired the Zionist project of establishing a homeland for persecuted Jews worldwide. And so it is a fair question. For critics of nationalism like me, is Israel allowed to exist as a specifically Jewish state? If yes, does that contradict my argument against nationalism? I suggest three ways of defending Israels Jewish identity. The first is to consider national languages. The ability to speak to one another and communicate in the public square is an important prerequisite to a shared political endeavor, I argued in my book, The Religion of American Greatness. Israel defines itself as a Hebrew-speaking state, which heavily predisposes it to sustaining a Jewish identity. All well and good and entirely consistent with my argument against nationalism. That probably feels insufficient, however, given the extent of threats that Israel faces. And so a second possible argument is simply to carve out an Israel-sized exception to the general writ against nationalism. Governments should reject nationalism, except for Israel. Governments shouldnt enforce a specific religio-cultural template, except for Israel. Governments should embrace cultural pluralism and define themselves creedally, except for Israel. Thats a bit of a cheat, though an understandable one. Israel gets an exception because of the exceptional history of antisemitism; it is fair to seek special protection for Jewish identity in the face of the special enmity directed toward it. But are Jews the only people whose culture has been threatened with destruction? Antisemitism may be unique in its persistence and barbarity, but there are other victims of genocide and ethnic cleansing. If Israel gets an exception, why not other peoples who have faced extreme threats to their collective identity? So heres the third, more principled argument. As I argued in my book, projects for cultural renewal are good. All cultures should sustain themselves, including their traditions, their beliefs, and their ways of life across the generations. Usually, thats best done through the voluntary efforts of cultural, not political, institutions, for all the reasons I outlined in the book. But for small cultures in the face of deliberate attackeither violent attack or an orchestrated campaign of cultural reengineeringcultural survival may require the help of a governments power. The Chinese government seems intent on wiping out Uyghur identity, not by mass killing but by razing mosques and sending Uyghurs to reeducation camps. It would be obtuse to refuse the Uyghurs the right to use their local government (should they ever escape Chinese tyranny) to revive their culture and rebuild their landmarks. Between a quarter and a third of the Latvian population are ethnic Russians who speak the Russian language. Given the history of Russian imperial oppression in Latvia, who would begrudge the Latvians for using their government to sustain and reinforce the Latvian language, Latvian literature, or Latvian folkways? This amounts to a plea for small-people nationalism, or perhaps oppressed-people nationalism. Two words of caution are in order. First, the argument for oppressed-people nationalism is easily abused. Everyone loves to be seen as the victim, to use their victimhood to claim the moral high ground, and to plead for special treatment. Giving allowance for oppressed-people nationalism should not become a license for everyone to burnish their victimhood credentials. It should not be a loophole through which majorities reimpose old-style nationalism or entrench their tribal privilege in the face of cultural change. For example, many American Christians feel like a persecuted minority, and use that to argue for Christian nationalism. Its true that traditional Christianity is often the butt of ridicule, mockery, and ostracism in secular and elite circles, and the demographic decline of Christianity (especially white Protestantism) in America is real. Does that justify Christian nationalism? No, I dont think so. Cancel culture and ostracism are bad, but they are not the moral equivalent of the Holocaust. Losing culture war battles over social policy is not the same as being occupied by an foreign army for a century, as the Latvians were. American Christians are not a minority and conservatives are, in fact, winning many important culture war battles, such as those over abortion and religious liberty. It strains credulity to compare the plight of American Christianity to Christians facing actual persecution in, say, Afghanistan, and it makes an unpersuasive case for American Christian nationalism. Oppressed-people nationalism should be reserved for those with no other option, for those who would be powerless without it. It seems especially unsuited to groups when some of their predecessors were, a generation or two ago, the perpetrators, not victims, of past oppression. And now the second caution. The record of oppressed-people nationalism actually confirms my broader thesis: Nationalism is illiberal and tends toward oppression. While I dont begrudge the Latvians their efforts to protect Latvian culture, Latvia has not always been kind to its Russian minority. It feels unseemly to point it out, but oppressed people and small nations are very much capable of being illiberal and oppressive in turn. The case for oppressed-people nationalism, again, should not be license for turnabout, for eye-for-an-eye vengeance by minorities against their erstwhile majority oppressors. Theres no moral virtue in granting small populations the right to protect themselves if protection simply means becoming the very thing they sought freedom from. Israel has a right to exist and sustain itself as a distinctly Jewish state, which does not lessen its responsibility to protect the civil liberties of its non-Jewish citizens. Oppressed-people nationalism is a concession to reality. The threats small peoples face often come from big-state nationalism. If there was no big-state nationalism from Russia or China, small peoples like the Latvians or Uyghurs wouldnt need nationalism to defend themselves. Without 19th century European nationalismwhich usually came with antisemitismZionism would likely have remained a cultural, not political, project. In my book I noted the destructive, self-reinforcing spiral between minority groups identity politics and majority groups nationalism. They amount to the same thingdemanding political recognition for group identity. The more majorities do it, the more they compel minorities to respond in kind as a survival mechanism. But the more minority groups do it, the more majority groups double down for the sake of national solidarity and cohesion. The same dynamic applies internationally. Nationalism is internal imperialism, but often, sooner or later, it turns its attention outward. When it does, small nations outside the empire are in the same position as subcultures within it, fighting for their lives and their cultural particularity. Without the imperial threat, they wouldnt need to use the tool of government to defend their cultures. We can hardly blame them when they dobut the effort is still fraught with peril. Click here for more coverage of the war in Israel. Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. FIRST ON FOX: GOP Indiana Rep. Jim Banks called for House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Kay Granger , R-Texas, to lose her gavel for voting against GOP speaker nominee Jim Jordan, R-Ohio. Banks caught up with Fox News Digital Thursday after Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., set the House to recess amid Jordan's speakership push. The Indiana congressman said there were "a lot of emotions" in the GOP conference meeting Thursday and that Republicans "have a duty" to the American people to elect a House speaker. JORDAN CONTINUES SPEAKER BID, MEETS WITH GOP HOLDOUTS Banks also called the ouster of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy , R-Calif., "a big mistake" and that Republican holdouts "need to come to their senses" and vote for Jordan. "Some of them are leaders," Banks said of the holdouts. "The chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee voted against Jim Jordan. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "Why? Because Jim Jordan is a fiscal conservative who understands that we need to save our country by addressing the debt and deficit spending. And she controls the Appropriations Committee. She should lose her gavel for it." Banks said Granger "shouldn't be the chairwoman of the committee" if she is not backing the GOP majority's choice for speaker, adding it's "really disappointing." "But that's where we are right now," Banks said. "So, it's time to put petty differences aside and elect a Republican speaker of the House, not a Democrat speaker of the House." Banks said he hopes the steering committee, which handles all House committee assignments, including chair positions, will "take a look at" removing Granger. The Indiana Republican noted that the steering committee "isn't populated until there's a speaker," and he hopes "there will be a large conversation in our conference about those who betrayed the Republican majority." Granger's office did not respond to Fox News Digital's requests for a response to Banks' comments Thursday evening. Banks also called the ouster of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy "a big mistake." His comments come as Jordan continues his quest for the speaker's gavel. The House will reconvene Friday at 10 a.m. Jordan, the Republican nominee for speaker, spent much of the day talking with holdouts following a second failed vote to win the top job in the House. Fox News Digital's Elizabeth Elkind contributed reporting. Original article source: Jim Banks calls for Appropriations Chair Kay Granger to 'lose her gavel' over opposition to Jordan Rep Jim Jordan (R-OH) failed once again in his attempt to become speaker of the House on Friday, after he staged a third vote with 25 Republicans voting against him. Mr Jordan said in an early morning press conference on Friday morning that he would continue his pursuit of the speakership. There's been multiple rounds of votes for speaker before, he told reporters before the vote. We all know that. I just know that we need to get the speaker as soon as possible. But Mr Jordan lost the votes of Reps Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Marc Molinaro (R-NY) and Tom Kean (R-NJ). Many of the Republicans who defected voted instead for Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry. In addition, some Republicans were absent and missed the vote, lowering the threshold of votes needed to block him. Rep Ralph Norman (R-SC) told The Independent the House should have as many votes as it takes to make Mr Jordan speaker. Its not about Jordan, he said, adding that rather, Republicans who opposed Mr Jordan were mad about the eight Republicans who ejected Kevin McCarthy. The country is bigger than that. Rep Vern Buchanan (R-FL), who voted for Rep Byron Donalds (R-FL), told The Independent that Mr Jordan had the right to call more votes. Mr Buchanan and other Republicans met with Mr Jordan on Thursday evening and made clear he could not win. A lot of just trying to confirm he doesn't have the votes and he's probably he's not gonna be speaker, Mr Buchanan said. The vote comes after Republicans scuttled a plan to temporarily empower Mr McHenry while Mr Jordan seeks to flip more votes, given that many members of the conference rejected the plan. Democrats for their part called on a handful of Republicans to work with them to support House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Many Democrats decried the fact that the House was once again engaged in another exercise of voting for speaker. It's Groundhog Day, Groundhog Day all over, Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) told The Independent, criticising Mr Jordan and saying it is why he should not be House speaker. I mean, this is what he does. Rep Jamie Raskin (D-MD) said Mr Jordans continued pursuit indicated the Republicans governing style. There's a rule or ruin philosophy that governs the MAGA right and whether they're gonna win and control everything or they are going to have tantrums and just burn the house down, he told The Independent. Mr Jordans failed bid to become speaker comes after Mr McCarthy was deposed. After a majority of House Republicans nominated House Majority Leader Steve Scalise to become speaker, a handful of conservatives who supported Mr Jordan said they would refuse to back Mr Scalise. The lack of a speaker means that the House is incapable of conducting its basic duties. The eight Republicans and every Democrat voted to depose Mr McCarthy from the speakership after he allowed for a vote on a clean continuing resolution to keep the government open for 48 days. But the continuing resolution will expire by 17 November, meaning that Congress will need to pass some kind of spending bill to keep the government open. In addition, Democrats and Republicans hope to pass an aid package to Israel and many on both sides of the aisle hope to pass a package to assist Ukraine in its war against Russia. On Friday, President Joe Biden formally requested Congress approve $105bn in supplemental money to assist Ukraine and Israel WASHINGTON House Republicans hit the reset button on their search for a new House speaker and will try again next week to find a leader, after Rep. Jim Jordans (R-Ohio) bid came to a whimpering end Friday. Republicans voted against keeping Jordan as their speaker-designee by a margin of 86 to 112, lawmakers told reporters after their meeting in the Capitol basement. Jordan then accepted the result. We put the question to them. They made a different decision. I told the conference that I appreciated getting to work with everyone, talking to everyone, Jordan told reporters after the vote. Unfortunately, Jim is no longer going to be the nominee, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) told reporters. We will have to go back to the drawing board. The clean slate brought out a plethora of announced and potential candidates for the speaker post, which can be won by wrangling 217 votes from the 221-member House Republican conference. Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), who as party whip is the third-ranking leader, is reportedly running. Emmer would likely be the front-runner, having helped flip control of the chamber back to Republicans as head of the National Republican Congressional Committee in 2020 and 2022. Republicans have had no leader since chucking McCarthy out of the speakers suite earlier this month because hed been overly cooperative with Democrats. All House business has ceased as Republicans try to find a replacement for McCarthy, but theyve been unable to agree among themselves after first nominating Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) and then Jordan. At least 20 Republicans voted against Jordan on the House floor three separate times this week, depriving him of the required 217 votes. Jordan received only 194 votes Friday in his third attempt. Jordan had told HuffPost before the secret ballot among Republicans on Friday that he intended to keep trying to win his colleagues over. He said he had lost his most recent House floor vote by a smaller margin than some people expected. House members headed home for the weekend. Monday, were going to come back and start over, Scalise told reporters. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) fell short three times in House votes over his potential speakership. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) fell short three times in House votes over his potential speakership. Now Republicans will go back to the beginning of the process. A candidate forum is set for Monday evening and a series of votes is set for Tuesday. With Jordan and McCarthy off the table, the list of actual and potential speaker candidates is long. In addition to Emmer, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) who won a few floor votes for speaker in January, when McCarthy took 15 rounds to lock down the speakership has tossed his hat in the ring. Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.), who ran as token opposition in the party vote that originally made Jordan the speaker-designee, is running again. Another candidate is Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), who chairs the Republican Study Committee, the House GOPs biggest intraparty group. If successful, he would be the first Oklahoman to hold the speakership since Carl Albert, the so-called Little Giant. Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas), a former Rules Committee chair, has also said he is running, as has Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Mich.). Others who are potential candidates or said to be informally testing the waters for a run include Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.), as well as Texas Republicans Roger Williams and Jodey Arrington. Williams heads up the Small Business Committee, while Arrington is chair of the Budget Committee. Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), the popular chair of the House Rules Committee, has seen his name bandied about, but he has insisted that he is not interested in the job. One name that wont be in the mix is McCarthys, despite the Californian getting two floor votes for speaker Friday and many in the conference remaining bitter about his ouster. Hes thrown his support behind Emmer. McCarthy told reporters Friday that the group of eight Republicans who made his ouster possible had done insurmountable damage to the country. Ive never seen this amount of damage done [from] just a few people for their own personalities, for their own fear of whats going through, McCarthy said. Im concerned about where we go from here. Over the now two and a half weeks of the impasse, House Democrats have stuck with their leader, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), and been content to watch the Republicans struggle. The American public wants responsible leaders focused on governing, growing our economy, and strengthening our national security, said Viet Shelton, a spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Instead, House Republicans are giving them chaos, dysfunction, and the [Make America Great Again] Hunger Games of 2023. As the House began its 17th day without a speaker, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH)clearly short of the votes he needs to win the positionstarted Friday with an 8 a.m. press conference and an anecdote about the Wright brothers. The Ohioan regaled the Capitol Hill Press corps with a history lesson about how Orville and Wilbur Wright first flew a plane in 1903, and then, 66 years later, in 1969, Neil Armstrong landed on the moon. We went from two guys flying 100 feet to putting a man on the moon, Jordan said. It is a great country. But not even four hours later, Jordans speakership bid still showed no signs of taking flight. Instead, it was crashing and burning. Speaker Saga: House GOP Can't Even Agree on Not Agreeing On the third speaker vote, Jordan bled even more support from the GOP conference. The GOPs speaker nominee went from 20 holdouts on Tuesday, to 22 holdouts on Wednesday, and then 25 on Friday morning. He lost his third ballot for the speakership with just 194 votes. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) received 210 votes from all of the Democrats. Although former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) delivered the nominating speech for Jordan ahead of the vote, McCarthy still received two votes. Four former McCarthy supporters switched their vote to Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-NC). Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) also received eight votes. His detractors have bristled at the Jordan camps pressure campaign. Many members have reported receiving death threats due to their opposition to Jordan. And Jordans allies havent exactly taken a sympathetic tone on these threats Punchbowl News reported Friday Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH) deflected blame from Jordans team but said the threats would continue unless Jordans opponents flip. Davidson has since denied the reporting and denounced the threats. Close Jordan ally and House Freedom Caucus Chair Scott Perry (R-PA) called the threats a red herring. Besides continuing with speaker votes that show no signs of improving for Jordan or dropping out, Jordan faces limited options. Jordans proposed escape hatcha plan to give greater explicit powers to McHenry while he remained the speaker nomineewas rejected by his conference after a three-plus hour conference meeting Thursday. GOP supporters of the idea could still introduce the McHenry empowerment plan and insist on a vote through procedural means, but movement on that strategy seems to have stalled. The dynamic has left holdouts hungry for an alternative speaker candidate. The Texas delegation met Thursday morning to discuss a Lone Star candidate. Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX), chair of the House Appropriations Committee and a Jordan holdout, has floated backing Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-TX). (Arrington, for his part, said he is backing Jordan 100 percent, according to the Texas Tribune.) Other members, like Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI), are floating themselves as a way out of what has become a death spiral of failed speaker votes. But its unclear that any Republican can get to 217 votes on their side alone. And Jordans planjust continuing to votedoesnt appear to be getting him any closer. In fact, its moving him farther away. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) is holding a press conference Friday morning after two failed attempts to become the new Speaker of the House. Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) will hold a press conference tomorrow morning, Friday, October 20, 2023, at 8:00 a.m. ET in the Rayburn Room of the U.S. Capitol, a post by House Judiciary Committee Republicans read on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Jordan failed twice in two votes to see who would clinch the Speakers gavel this week. In both votes, 20 or more Republicans did not vote for him for Speaker. It was even reported that Jordan would back a resolution to empower Speaker Pro Tempore Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) on Thursday. I think were at, we got 200 votes. You know, we picked up some today, a couple dropped off, but they voted for me before. I think they come back again. So well keep talking to members. Keep working on it, Jordan said in the wake of the second vote. The House has been left without a Speaker since Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was pushed out of the office earlier this month; eight Republicans joined House Democrats in the vote that resulted in the California Republicans removal from the Speakership. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who led McCarthys ouster, expressed his opposition Thursday to empowering McHenry. Im against Speaker Light, Gaetz said in a video posted on X. Im against Bud Light. I believe it is a constitutional desecration to not elect a Speaker of the House. We need to stay here until we elect a Speaker. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan ended his campaign for speaker Friday after he failed for the third time to secure a majority on the House floor and his Republican colleagues voted, by secret ballot, that he should not press on. Reps. Austin Scott of Georgia, Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, Pete Sessions of Texas, Byron Donalds of Florida and Jack Bergman of Michigan all announced Friday afternoon that they will seek the speakership, which has been vacant since a group of eight rebel Republicans, joined by Democrats, voted to oust then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) from his post on Oct. 3. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota, who has not formally announced a run for speaker, earned McCarthys endorsement anyway. Emmer is the right person for the job, McCarthy, who had nominated Jordan for speaker Friday morning, said in a statement Friday afternoon. He can unite the conference. He understands the dynamics of the conference. He also understands what it takes to win and keep a majority. Emmer is the only person in GOP leadership likely to seek the speakership. Lawmakers from both parties have called on the House to choose a leader as soon as possible so that it can address pressing matters, including sending aid to U.S. allies Israel and Ukraine and approving government funding, which will run out in the middle of next month. But with the House set to enter its fourth week without a leader, none of the new Republican candidates had a particularly clear path to the gavel. Read more: News Analysis: Republican disarray leaves House unable to function Both Jordan, the chair of the powerful House Judiciary Committee and former President Trumps pick for speaker, and Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise, long the Houses second-ranking Republican, have already failed to secure the post. Not one of the new candidates even Emmer has the profile or fundraising prowess of the two men who already failed. Even McCarthy, whose historic removal triggered the GOPs civil war, only gained his often-tenuous grip on party leadership after 15 votes on the House floor in January. Republicans are in a very bad position as a party, McCarthy said Friday. The amount of damage they have done to this party and to this country is insurmountable, he said, referring to the GOP members who led the vote to oust him more than two weeks ago. Im concerned about where we go from here, he added. Republicans plan to hold a candidate forum, their second in as many weeks, at 6:30 p.m. Monday. Lawmakers have until noon Sunday to declare their candidacy. Jordan had argued that he offered the best chance for Republicans to break the impasse triggered by McCarthys ouster. But opposition to Jordan grew throughout his candidacy. Twenty Republicans voted against him the first time he tried to win the gavel on Tuesday. Twenty-two broke ranks on Wednesday, and by Friday, the number of defectors had swelled to 25. Jordans Friday vote total of 194 was a new modern low for a majority partys nominee for speaker, as Democrats again voted unanimously for their nominee, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.). After Jordans third loss Friday, seven of the Republicans who voted to remove McCarthy Reps. Matt Gaetz of Florida, Andy Biggs and Eli Crane of Arizona, Tim Burchett of Tennessee, Bob Good of Virginia, Matthew M. Rosendale of Montana and Nancy Mace of South Carolina circulated a letter to their colleagues saying they would compromise for the good of the conference. But after the rebels circulated their letter, Republicans gathered for a private meeting, where they voted by secret ballot on whether Jordan should continue to pursue the speakership. The vote tally was 112 to 86 against Jordan. We need to come together and figure out who our speaker is going to be, Jordan said after the meeting. Im gonna work as hard as I can to help that individual so that we can go help the American people. Gaetz, who led the charge against McCarthy, blamed the swamp for Jordans defeat. Read more: Kevin McCarthy ousted as speaker, throwing Washington into chaos The most popular Republican in the United States Congress was just knifed by a secret ballot, in a private meeting, in the basement of the Capitol, he told reporters. Its as swampy as swamp gets, and Jim Jordan deserved better than that. If no Republican candidate for speaker can secure a majority of the House, lawmakers could vote to empower temporary Speaker Patrick T. McHenry (R-N.C.), who has led the chamber in a mostly ceremonial role since McCarthys ouster, to advance legislation, including new aid for Israel and Ukraine or even a government funding bill. Democrats have said they might support such a plan. But Republicans considered, and then discarded, the idea on Thursday. Logan reported from Washington and Pinho from Los Angeles. Get the best of the Los Angeles Times politics coverage with the Essential Politics newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Flash The 19th Beijing-Tokyo Forum opens in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 19, 2023. [Photo/China.com.cn] The 19th Beijing-Tokyo Forum on Thursday opened in Beijing. Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, delivered a speech via video link at the opening ceremony of the event. Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, delivers a speech via video link at the opening ceremony of the 19th Beijing-Tokyo Forum in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 19, 2023. [Photo/China.com.cn] Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida sent a congratulatory message to the forum. Noting that this year marks the 45th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship, Wang called for unremitting efforts to develop Sino-Japanese relations for the new era. Wang put forward a five-point proposal for developing China-Japan relations, including honoring commitments, expanding cooperation, properly handling differences, restoring amity, and enhancing coordination. In his message, Kishida said that Japan and China bear important responsibilities for fostering peace and prosperity in the region and the international community at large, adding that it is of extreme importance for the two sides to conduct dialogues. Launched in 2005, the Beijing-Tokyo Forum is an annual event that serves as an important platform for interaction and exchanges between China and Japan. (Bloomberg) -- Representative Jim Jordan is vowing to press on with his fight to be House speaker despite stiff opposition from within his own party that makes his path unclear. Most Read from Bloomberg Jordan will seek to rally support at a press conference early Friday for his bid to lead House Republicans out of the internal divisions that have left them without a speaker for more than two weeks. After a day of fits and starts, Jordan, an Ohio Republican and ally of former President Donald Trump, said he would seek a third floor vote. But his opponents stood firm in a Thursday evening meeting. Russell Dye, Jordans spokesman, said a floor vote was planned for 10 a.m. Friday. Jordan is scheduled to hold a press conference at 8. The reality of it is, we all told him we were solid nos. That was the discussion, Vern Buchanan, a Florida Republican, said after that meeting. Now hes got a decision to make. Jordan had earlier sought to delay a new vote on his own speaker bid by expanding caretaker speaker Patrick McHenrys powers so that the House could resume business with the North Carolina Republican as an interim leader, possibly until early next year. That would have allowed Jordan months to muster support from GOP lawmakers who have voted against him on two ballots this week. Yet the idea provoked a fierce backlash from a number of conservative Republicans and several lawmakers emerged from a closed-door meeting of the partys House members saying the proposal lacked support. Over half the Republicans in the room wont vote for it, Representative Jim Banks of Indiana, a conservative who is running for a Senate seat, said. Its a historic mistake. The mood of the room is clear. Opposed, Representative Pat Fallon of Texas said as he left an earlier closed-door Republican meeting. Jordan told colleagues in the tense session that he would now call all the GOP opponents and decide how to move forward. Several other lawmakers said they expected the House to work into the weekend on the speaker issue. Im still running for speaker and I plan to go to the floor and get the vote and win this race, Jordan said after emerging from the four-hour meeting with Republicans. Still No House Speaker? What This Means for US: QuickTake He fell far short of the votes needed to obtain the speakers gavel in two rounds of balloting this week amid objections to his hardball tactics and deep divisions within the party. Florida Republican Mario Diaz-Balart signaled his approval for an interim speaker, saying he would support a proposal to get the conservative Republican agenda back on track. Its unclear how long the interim period would last. One proposal would make McHenry temporary speaker through Jan. 3 and another contemplates a shorter period, running through Nov. 30. And the date could be revised as negotiations proceed. Democrats have also been noncommittal about empowering McHenry and their votes could be needed if more than four Republicans vote against the resolution. Several party moderates held out hope they could force a vote on the proposal with Democratic help. If were going to be a lifeline, I think theres going to be conditions, said Democrat Raul Grijalva of Arizona. The speakers office has been vacant for more than two weeks, leaving the House paralyzed. Lawmakers have been unable to address aid for Israel in its war with Hamas or consider funding measures to avoid an impending mid-November US government shutdown. The caretaker position was established after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and has been largely interpreted as limited to presiding over the choice of a new speaker. McHenry was among those whove agreed with that interpretation. --With assistance from Steven T. Dennis, Ari Natter and Maeve Sheehey. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. By Katharine Jackson, Gram Slattery and David Morgan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Hardline conservative Republican Jim Jordan's quest to become speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives ended on Friday as his fellow Republicans revoked their support following a third, failed vote on the House floor. That means that the House until at least next week will remain unable to respond to President Joe Biden 's request for a $106 billion national-security package including military aid for Ukraine and Israel or take action to stave off a looming Nov. 18 partial government shutdown. Support for Jordan's candidacy faded over the course of the week. He received 194 votes in a third round of balloting on Friday, down from the 200 votes he received on Tuesday and well short of the majority he needed to claim the speaker's gavel. Republicans then voted 112-86 to revoke Jordan's nomination in a closed-door meeting. "It was an honor to be their speaker designee," Jordan told reporters after the meeting. "We need to come together to figure out who our speaker is going to be. Im going to work as hard as I can to help that individual." It is not clear who Republicans might turn to next. "We'll have to go back to the drawing board," said Representative Kevin McCarthy , who was ousted as speaker by a small faction of his fellow Republicans on Oct. 3. McCarthy later endorsed Representative Tom Emmer , the No. 3 House Republican. At least four other lawmakers have said they would run for the job, with possibly more to come. Republicans control the House by a narrow 221-212 majority and can afford few defections on party-line votes, a vulnerability highlighted by the current display of legislative dysfunction. Aside from McCarthy and Jordan, Republicans have also rejected their No. 2, Steve Scalise, who won the nomination last week but dropped out after he was unable to consolidate support. Lawmakers said they would hear from candidates on Monday evening, with a possible vote on Tuesday. Aside from Emmer, candidates include Kevin Hern, who leads a conservative policy group, and Austin Scott, a low-profile lawmaker who mounted a brief speaker bid last week. Republicans have already considered and rejected a backup option that would allow the House take up pressing matters, like Biden's aid package or funding for the U.S. government that is due to expire on Nov. 17. That plan would give more authority to Republican Representative Patrick McHenry, who is filling the speaker's chair on a temporary basis. House Democrats and the White House have said they are open to the idea, but Republicans opted not to pursue it on Thursday. McHenry himself has not publicly backed the plan. He told reporters on Friday that he hoped to return to his previous post as chair of the Financial Services Committee. 'PROBLEMS WITH THE 2020 ELECTION' A close ally of Donald Trump, Jordan was a "significant player" in the former president's attempts to overturn Biden's 2020 election win, according to a congressional investigation. "I think there were all kinds of problems with the 2020 election, and I've been clear about that," he said at a news conference before the vote. Jordan has built his reputation as a leader of the party's uncompromising right flank. He helped to engineer government shutdowns in 2013 and 2018 and helped to push Republican Speaker John Boehner into retirement in 2015. His backers said that would make him an effective fighter for conservative policies in a town where Democrats control the Senate and the White House. But Jordan's bare-knuckle approach seems to have worked against him, as some of his Republican opponents have been outraged by a pressure campaign organized by his supporters that resulted in harassing phone calls and death threats. Jordan's allies said that should not matter. "All of us in Congress receive death threats. I don't know if that's a news flash for anybody here," Representative Scott Perry said. Still, 25 Republican lawmakers voted against him in Friday's vote, more than the 20 who voted against him on Tuesday. Jordan's vote total of 194 was less than McCarthy netted in any of the 15 grueling rounds of voting in January. Democrats called Jordan a dangerous extremist and unanimously voted against him in all three floor votes. "Their nominee's vision is a direct attack on the freedom and the rights of the American people, and he's got the record to prove it," Democratic Representative Katherine Clark said on the House floor. Jordan's Republican opponents declined to celebrate in the wake of his defeat. "I'm not feeling too good about any of this," said Representative Mario Diaz-Balart. "The only thing that's positive is that now we can get back to trying to elect the speaker who has the support of the conference." (Reporting by David Morgan, Katharine Jackson and Gram Slattery; writing by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Scott Malone, Chizu Nomiyama, Nick Zieminski, Grant McCool and Jonathan Oatis) WASHINGTON As it turns out, Rep. Jim Jordan will not be U.S. House Speaker thanks in part to three Texans who were part of the Republican resistance that blocked the Ohio Republican from the gavel. Texas Reps. Jake Ellzey , Kay Granger, and Tony Gonzales joined a coalition of over 20 Republicans who refused to vote for the far-right Republican thrice this week, despite growing pressure from their peers and districts as Congress has ground to a halt. The effort eventually paid off with Jordan bowing out of the race Friday afternoon during a private conference meeting, where a majority of members indicated theyd lost faith in his chances. It put the House even further from filling the speaker seat, amping up the immense pressure on members. Without a speaker, the House cant pass legislation to aid Ukraine or Israel or begin work to fund the federal government for the rest of the year. But Republicans opposing Jordan said he was nonetheless unfit to serve, citing a variety of reasons including his far-right positions, his election denialism and his embrace of political brinkmanship. The resistance from three Texans also came as a bit of a surprise as they are not typically ones to hold up Congress to force their demands. Jake Ellzey Ellzey, of Midlothian, is a second-term fighter pilot-turned congressman who also serves on the House Appropriations Committee with the other two Texas holdouts. He voted all three times for Rep. Mike Garcia of California, a fellow former fighter pilot and personal friend, for speaker (Garcia voted for Jordan). Ellzeys break from the party came as a shock, drawing audible gasps from the House chamber during Tuesdays vote. Ellzey, an affable former state representative, is not usually one to hit back at his party or make waves, rarely if ever weighing in on personality issues with reporters. He remained mum throughout the week about his reasons, but on Friday after Jordan ducked out, he gave reporters an explanation that provided new insights into Ellzeys values and political alignment. He said he didnt see in Jordan the leadership that he expected of a speaker. I believe if you want to be the commanding officer of our group, you have to have years of sustained superior performance and I didn't see that, Ellzey said. Ellzey cited Jordans refusal to vote for a temporary government funding bill an unpopular piece of legislation among far-right Republicans that ultimately led to McCarthys removal from the speakership. Ellzey acknowledged it was a politically difficult bill to back but he couldnt stomach not passing legislation that would keep the troops paid. Ellzey said he would be looking closely at whether or not members voted for the spending bill when giving his endorsement for the next speaker candidate. Ellzey also said he was disappointed in Jordans handling of the wave of vitriol directed toward members who refused to vote for him. Members opposed to Jordans bid reported facing death threats and harassment. Once you want to be the commanding officer, youve got to take care of your people. Youve got to look out for their welfare, and that wasn't handled appropriately, Ellzey said. And so then I was dug in. He has a bipartisan streak going back to his victory in a 2021 special election. Ellzey ran against Susan Wright, the Donald Trump-endorsed widow of former Rep. Ron Wright who died of COVID-19. Ellzey maintained a deeply conservative platform, and Trump eventually congratulated him for his victory. But hes made it clear hes willing to reach across the aisle, focusing his campaign on collaboration in contrast to the more combative approach from Wrights camp. Once in Congress, Ellzey worked with Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, in the development of veterans health care facilities in North Texas. Both served in the traditionally bipartisan House Veterans Affairs Committee, and Allred featured Ellzeys face in his campaign announcement to unseat Sen. Ted Cruz. Kay Granger Granger of Fort Worth is the most senior Texas Republican in the House. A long-time supporter of Republican leadership, Granger chairs the House Appropriations Committee, which allocates how much money federal agencies get each year. Granger voted for House Majority Leader Steve Scalise for speaker in all three votes. Scalise had initially won the Republican nomination to be speaker until dropping out last week. Members coming out of a Texas Republican delegation meeting Friday said Granger made clear to her peers that she was not wedded to any candidate. She was, however, steadfast in her opposition to Jordan. She never publicized why she opposed Jordan so stringently. But their contrasting political philosophies likely played a role. Granger belongs to a dimming generation of hawkish House Republicans who deeply value defense spending and arent as interested in the culture war limelight. She has been fiercely defensive of F-35 fighter jet construction in her district and continued defense aid to both Ukraine and Israel. She also has a strong working relationship with the other four corners the top Republicans and Democrats on the Senate and House Appropriations Committees. Though Granger distanced herself from the other top appropriators late last year in the passage of a massive federal spending package, she shares their sense of urgency in passing funding legislation and staving off a government shutdown. Jordan, however, is the opposite. He made his mark engineering government shutdowns in a bid to force the end of growing federal spending. His ultraconservative Freedom Caucus has voiced concerns and outright hostility to continued funding to help Ukraine, saying the conflict is not the United States business. Jordan moderated his tone somewhat on spending as he sought the speakers gavel. He expressed openness to a stop-gap funding measure to prevent another shutdown in November and appeared receptive to binding aid for Ukraine with assistance to Israel. Granger refused to talk to reporters when approached, but said on social media that her opposition was a vote of conscience and I stayed true to my principles. Intimidation and threats will not change my position. Ellzey said Granger never organized with other members of the Appropriations Committee to vote against Jordan. Tony Gonzales Gonzales opposition came as less of a surprise. The San Antonio Republican has a history of rebuffing the right wing to the point where hes been censured by the Texas Republican Party. Gonzales came out early and loudly as one of the first Scalise endorsers when former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted. Gonzales is also a member of the Appropriations Committee and bucked the rest of House Republicans over defense spending in the past. He was the sole Republican to vote against his partys rules package in January. The package set the groundwork for House operations for the rest of the current Congress and was worked out between McCarthys allies and far-right members as a condition for their support for McCarthys speakership. Gonzales feared the agreement would lower defense spending. Far-right members demanded a commitment from McCarthy to bring down federal spending to levels last seen in 2022. Gonzales also entered a storied feud earlier this year with U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, a member of the deeply conservative House Freedom Caucus, who helped negotiate the rules package and was one of Jordans top cheerleaders. Gonzales excoriated Roys border legislation as too draconian, saying it was un-American and un-Christian. The legislation eventually wound its way through the House and became House Republicans Secure the Border Act, which passed the chamber with Gonzales support. But the political damage had already been done. Before the bill passed, the Texas Republican Party censured Gonzales for his vote on the rules package and his initial opposition to Roys bill. The party also cited his support for legislation protecting same sex marriage and bipartisan safety legislation. The censure motion makes him more vulnerable to his primary challengers. Kelly Perry, a member of the State Republican Executive Committee, said county party chairs and grassroots activists also slammed him for continuing to vote against Jordan. But Gonzales brushed off the criticism and didnt bother going to private party meetings to work through the speaker stalemate. He and his office ignored requests for comments throughout the saga, but he described his ethos in an interview last spring: I dont take any shit from anybody. Johnson County is poised to start losing money on its transit system in the next couple of years, with rising costs and a loss of funding projected to bring the programs budget into the red. Thats led officials to consider some immediate steps, such as cutting a few low-ridership bus routes, raising rates on its Uber-like microtransit program and bringing back fares on the K-10 connector route to the University of Kansas in Lawrence. But that would only be the start. Officials agree the county needs a long-term plan for a more efficient transportation system. The county has used temporary federal dollars to test out new routes and expand microtransit, which officials say continues to grow in popularity. Residents for years have urged the county to build a more robust, effective transportation system across the booming Kansas City suburbs. And as bus routes have been cut over the years, some have worried about further eliminating transportation options for lower income workers and elderly or disabled residents. What we need to do is decide are we actually going to invest in transit in Johnson County? Or are we just going to give it lip service and do the bare minimum? Commissioner Janee Hanzlick said last week. And thats a policy decision we have to make. County warns of budget shortfall Josh Powers, director of the countys transit division, told commissioners last week that with revenue losses and other issues, the county expects the transportation budget to run into problems pretty quickly in 2024 if nothing changes. Last summer, the county took over management of its transit program, ending its contract with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority. The county had paid KCATA an annual management fee of $584,000. The program now falls under the countys public works department. Powers said there has been ongoing revenue loss since Kansas City eliminated bus fares for service from the KCATA in 2020, a change on both sides of the state line that included Johnson County. The county has maintained free fares since taking over management last year. Since implementing free fares, the county has not collected about $1 million annually, said Anne Christiansen-Bullers, a county spokeswoman. The county also used more than $15 million in federal COVID-19 dollars to expand some programs, but does not have new revenue to replace that temporary funding. In addition, Powers said labor and contract costs continue to go up amid worker shortages and supply chain issues. And the demand continues to grow for the countys expensive, ride-hailing microtransit program, which Powers said is very popular because of its premium nature of service, but does cost a pretty penny. If the county does nothing, Powers expects the program to be over budget by $2.4 million next year, while maintaining about $1 million in reserves. But in 2025, it could be in the red by $6 million. We know we wouldnt continue to barrel ahead under these conditions, Powers said. County commissioners directed staff to explore several interim solutions and move forward with a strategic planning process. If were going to have a level of transit that people can rely upon and utilize as our community continues to grow, we need to explore ways to actually fund it efficiently, Johnson County Chairman Mike Kelly said. The county took advantage of temporary, federal COVID-19 funding to test out some new bus routes and expanded service, hoping to learn whether the changes would make it easier for residents to choose public transportation. One goal was expanding bus service to include Saturdays, but Powers said the county has yet to implement that due to labor challenges. As part of the plan, the county is using $6 million in federal funds to expand the service area for the microtransit program and offer it seven days a week with an increased fare. While maintaining bus ridership on some routes remains a struggle, officials say that demand continues to rise for microtransit. Officials have said the service is filling in the gaps in the public transportation system, allowing individual riders to hail a van via a phone app and get dropped off at bus stops or elsewhere in the service area. Since its been expanded last summer, trips are available from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day, with a fare of $3 within the countys service area. The fare for rides outside the area, such as to the Country Club Plaza, are $5. The program costs the county about $29 per ride. Powers said there were 163,000 microtransit rides from July 2022 through last month, hovering between 8,000 and 12,000 rides a month. He said the program netted about $350,000 in revenue during that time. Thats up from the 3,000 trips per month the county was averaging a few years ago. Cutting routes, raising fares Officials have been trying to find the right balance between maintaining fixed bus routes while investing in the pricier microtransit. The county would save $4 million if it paused the microtransit service for one year during the strategic planning process, Powers said, but officials are not recommending that. Instead, commissioners voted unanimously to direct staff to study charging higher fares and consider capping the number of trips a single user can take. The county could charge premium rates for curb-to-curb service, potentially up to $12 each way for a trip, and a lower rate for riders being dropped off at fixed bus routes. The county also will look at an enforcement mechanism for people requesting rides but not actually taking them there were nearly 31,000 of those over the last year, or 19% of booked trips. Commissioners also agreed with staff that the county should explore cutting three low-performing routes, at least temporarily. They include the 482 Overland Park Flex route, which averages four riders per hour and costs $155,000 each year; the 519 Olathe Express route, with three riders per hour, at an annual cost of $300,000; and the 595 Gardner-Overland Park Express route, with three riders per hour, at a cost of $378,000. Commissioners voted 6-1 to have staff explore cutting those routes, with Shirley Allenbrand voting against it, voicing frustrations with the idea of eliminating the 595 route in her district, connecting Kansas City to the intermodal industrial park in Edgerton. Officials will study bringing back a $3 fare for the K-10 route connecting Johnson County Community College and the University of Kansas. And the county hopes to talk with Douglas County officials about a new funding partnership for that service. Commissioners also voted 5-2 to consider a six-month test of offering Saturday service on certain routes. Staff will bring forward recommendations on all of the interim steps at an undetermined date, which will require final approval from the commission. And in the meantime, officials are moving ahead with a long-term study of the transportation system. Hanzlick said the county needs to have a road map so that we can decide where we want to go. I know there are folks out there, and Ive been getting some emails, who are concerned about these potential changes, she said. But again, this is not the end of the conversation. Its an interim step. Rep. Jim Jordan lost a third try Friday to win enough votes to become speaker, but all 12 California Republicans continued to back him for the job. Hours later, though, House Republicans decided in a secret vote to end Jordans Speaker bid. New candidates will have until Sunday to declare their intention to run. House Republicans plan to reconvene Monday and hope to vote on a Speaker Tuesday. Jordan earlier received 194 votes in the House, well short of the 217 needed to win. The unanimity among the California delegation was a mild surprise, since some had expressed impatience earlier in the week with the GOPs inability to choose a leader. Jordan lost support overall, as other candidates got 25 votes, three more than on the second ballot Wednesday and five more than on Tuesdays vote. Because the House has 221 Republicans, and 217 are needed for a majority, Jordan could only afford to lose four votes. But the Californians stuck with him, as they had on the second ballot Wednesday and in all but one instance on the first ballot Tuesday. On that vote, Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Oroville, supported former Speaker Kevin McCarthy as a nod to a loyal friend but switched to Jordan after that. The House has now been without a speaker for 17 days, and theres no resolution in sight. Jordans backers have suggested hell keep seeking votes to make him speaker. The House has had no speaker since McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, was ousted Oct. 3. House Republicans planned to meet again privately Friday afternoon to decide their next steps. McCarthy nominated Jordan for speaker Friday, telling the House the Judiciary Committee Chairman is an effective legislator. Former Speaker of the House Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., shakes hands with Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, after nominating Jordan at the start of a third speaker vote on the House floor in Washington on Friday. Jordan failed to earn the votes needed to become speaker on the third try. McCarthy quoted freshmen members of the committee praising Jordan though McCarthy didnt name names and concluded they saw the chairman as straightforward, honest and reliable. The hope of Jordan backers is that in this uneasy time of crisis hell ultimately be seen as the only hope for House leadership as wars rage in Ukraine and Gaza and a federal government funding deadline of Nov. 17 grows closer. But accusations of arm twisting tactics and longstanding concerns about his outspoken ways of promoting far right causes have left him well short of winning the 217 votes needed to become speaker. California votes The California unanimity was somewhat surprising, since some members had been expressing impatience with the slow, seemingly unending process. It is clear that the current candidates do not have the support necessary to become speaker, Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, said after Jordan lost his second bid. Valadao, who is seeking re-election in a closely contested swing district, had urged turning to Speaker Pro-Tempore Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., and giving him more clout, but his GOP colleagues largely rejected that strategy. Other California House members were also growing impatient with the stalemate. After the second vote, Rep. John Duarte, R-Modesto, also competing in a swing district, issued a statement urging unity. We owe it to our constituents to get back to the work at hand, he said. Others echoed that thought. Weve wasted two weeks without passing anything that will help America. I know my constituents expect us to find a way to get our work done, so that has and will continue to be my priority, said Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona, in a tweet. Calvert is one of the most powerful Republicans in the House. He chairs the defense appropriations subcommittee, which makes spending decisions on Pentagon matters. He had been a supporter of Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., who dropped his bid last week when he fell short of a majority, and this week said hed back Jordan. Among the strongest Jordan backers in the delegation was Rep. Darrell Issa, R-San Marcos. Issa, who could become House Judiciary Committee chairman if Jordan becomes speaker, has been pushing Jordan for weeks. He said hed continue to urge colleagues to vote for Jordan, reminding people that it took 15 ballots to elect McCarthy in January. McClatchyDCs Gillian Brassil contributed to this story. The House of Representatives is expected to convene for a third round of votes on Friday as Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, struggles to reach the 217-member threshold needed to win the speakers gavel. House lawmakers got a notice on Thursday evening that no more votes would be expected that day after hours spent in limbo waiting for Jordan to decide if and how to move forward. The notice said the House would convene at 10 a.m. on Friday. Jordans office confirmed to Fox News Digital that the Ohio conservative intends to hold a vote around that time. Even if he loses again, Jordan ally Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, indicated that Jordan would keep fighting on Saturday and Sunday. "We've heard from our colleagues and the American people. Additional votes are expected through the weekend," Davidson wrote on social media. JORDAN LOSES HIS SECOND SPEAKER VOTE AS NEARLY TWO DOZEN REPUBLICANS OPPOSE HIM READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. Jordans path to the speakership remains uncertain he fell 17 votes short of the necessary number needed to win on Tuesday, and the number increased to 18 during the second round vote on Wednesday. Late on Thursday afternoon, Jordan met with some of the 20-plus lawmakers opposing his bid for speaker. They were largely silent when leaving the meeting room. The lawmakers who did speak to reporters indicated their minds were unchanged. "Not trying to change our minds, trying to change his mind. Our mind is set," Rep. John Rutherford, R-Fla., said when asked if the meeting was about getting them to flip. EFFORT TO EMPOWER INTERIM SPEAKER MCHENRY GAINS STEAM AS JORDAN MOMENTUM STALLS House Republicans began the day with a closed-door conference meeting as reports swirled that Jordan did not intend to hold a third-round vote, and instead would support a plan to grant temporary powers to interim Speaker Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., to pass legislation through early January. Rep. John Rutherford, R-Fla., emerged from a closed-door meeting with Jordan announcing he still would not support him Jordan would have remained speaker-designate for that time being, the reports, which were confirmed to Fox News Digital by two sources, said. But conservatives in the conference quickly balked at the plan. Some called it unconstitutional, pointing out that the speaker pro tempore role explicitly only allows them to oversee elections, while others complained it would give Jordan an unfair leg up in the speakers race by keeping him as speaker-designate. CONSERVATIVE HOUSE GOP GROUP LINKS TOP PLAYERS IN REPUBLICANS' SPEAKER FIGHT Some Republicans emerged from the meeting, which lasted nearly four hours, insisting to reporters that the McHenry proposal was dead in the water. "It's not going to happen," Donalds told reporters. "I think that is the decision as I understand it. And I think even Patrick, to his credit and to his fidelity to the U.S. Constitution, we cannot just drop powers in the lap of somebody. We have to elect a speaker." Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., said a plan to temporarily empower interim Speaker McHenry was dead in the water Moderates like Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Pa., and Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., insisted the proposal still had legs. Jordan largely ignored reporters questions through the day, including queries on whether he supported empowering McHenry. Original article source: House may hold third-round speaker vote today, but path to a majority is rocky House Republicans are looking for a reset after Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) once again fell short of the Speakership Friday, continuing the two-week-long stalemate that has plunged the chamber into chaos. Following Jordans third failed attempt at the gavel, the GOP conference voted to no longer back the Ohio Republican for Speaker in a secret ballot vote. Several GOP members have since announced that they are running for the role, while others are making calls about Speaker bids or mulling entering the race. The Republican conference will hold a candidate forum at 6:30 p.m. Monday evening and vote on a new Speaker-designate Tuesday morning. Candidates must submit their names by noon on Sunday. The conference previously swatted down a proposal on Thursday to temporarily empower Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), which was viewed by many as a last-ditch way to resume business in the House as the Speaker race continues behind the scenes. Follow along for live updates below. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, is out as the Republican Party's speaker designee after losing a secret ballot shortly after losing his third attempt to be elected speaker on the House floor Friday. With only 194 votes compared to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries' 210 Jordan fell dramatically short of the majority needed to secure the speaker's gavel in the absence of four lawmakers, according to The Washington Post. Twenty-five Republicans opposed Jordan on in the latest vote, a figure up from 20 in Tuesday's count and 22 in Wednesday's total. Republicans held a caucus meeting after the vote where a majority of members voted against Jordan, meaning the party will look for a new candidate next week. "122-86 was the final tally," Punchbowl News' Jake Sherman reported. "Jordan went down handily." The House has been without a speaker for 17 days following former Speaker Kevin McCarthy's, R-Calif., ouster, a move propelled by the same GOP in-fighting between the far-right and moderate factions that's delayed the elevation of the California Republican's replacement. As the GOP's internal division belabors the process of electing a new leader for the chamber, lawmakers are also stalled in responding to any legislation brought to the floor, including the $106 billion in aid President Joe Biden is requesting for Ukraine and Israel. But casting a darkening shadow over the Ohio Republican's repeated, failed bids for the speakership are the mounting number of death threats against Republican holdouts coming from his far-right allies. Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., became the latest member of Congress to report he got death threats in connection with his refusal to support Jordan's effort, The Hill reports. Buck, who voted for Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn. in all three ballots this week, told NBC Thursday that his office received four death threats out of the 20,000 phone calls his team had fielded. He also noted that he lost office space over his stance. Ive been evicted from my office in Colorado. I have notice of an eviction because the landlord is mad with my voting record on the Speaker issue, Buck told the outlet. And everybody in the conference is getting this. Family members have been approached and threatened. All kinds of things are going on. Theres going to be some tension. Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa; Drew Ferguson, R-Ga.; and Don Bacon, R-Neb. also reported being threatened for not backing the Ohio Republican. Bacon, a Republican centrist who doubled down on his opposition to Jordan in the face of the threats, told the Associated Press that the barrage of harassing text messages and phone calls led his wife to sleep with a loaded gun near her bedside one night. "Ferguson told the conference that hes had to have a sheriff stationed at his daughters school over death threats from the far right. Also one at his house, a senior GOP source told Axios reporter Juliegrace Brufke. Per a senior GOP source, Ferguson told the conference that hes had to have a sheriff stationed at his daughters school over death threats from the far right. Also one at his house. Juliegrace Brufke (@juliegraceb) October 19, 2023 CNN also obtained an alarming voicemail threatening the wife of an unnamed GOP congressman who opposed Jordan, Mediaite reports. "Why is your husband such a pig?" the call began before descending into a profane, vitriolic threat. "Why would he get on TV and make an ahole of himself? Because hes a deep-state prick? Because he doesnt represent the people? So what were gonna do is were going fking follow you all over the place. Were gonna be up your ass fking nonstop. We are now Antifa." The caller went on to deride the congressman using a homophobic slur and restated their vow to follow the wife "to every appointment you have, everything you fking do" and bombard her with messages after claiming to have doxxed her. "Jim Jordan or more conservative or youre going to be fking molested like you cant ever imagine," the caller concluded. "And again, non-violently. You wont go to the beauty parlor. You must be a bh to marry a fking ugly motherfer like that." Despite the severity of the threats leveled against their colleagues, some of Jordan's allies have chosen to minimize them altogether and even blame the holdouts for the vitriol they're facing. In a meeting Thursday between the Freedom Caucus co-founder and his opponents, his close ally, Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, said that it's not Jordan's supporters' fault that the holdouts are receiving death threats but theirs for voting against him, sources told Punchbowl News' Jake Sherman. That harassment "will continue as long as people oppose Jordan for speaker," Davidson added per Sherman. from me and @bresreports: Davidson also said this will continue as long as people oppose Jordan for speaker https://t.co/zbSAuK8ZDj Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 20, 2023 Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., a top ally of the Ohioan, dismissed the threats against his colleagues to reporters outside the chamber Friday, dubbing them "another red herring." All of us in Congress receive death threats. I dont know if thats a newsflash for anybody here, there are people out in the world that dislike us and threaten us. Thats nothing new. Its nothing new to any member of Congress. We all know it, he said per Mediaite. "They didnt seem to mind, no one in this town seemed to mind the pressure campaign from all the lobbyists and the special interests in Washington, D.C. in January," Perry added. "But suddenly, now they mind all the calls, and the emails, and the texts, and the letters, and the visits from their own constituents." Rep. Perry on threats against GOP members who voted against Jordan: All of us in Congress receive death threats. I dont know if thats a newsflash for anybody here. There are people out in the world that dislike us and threaten us, thats nothing new another red herring. pic.twitter.com/Cjh1iDRahk Alejandro Alvarez (@aletweetsnews) October 20, 2023 Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. Earlier Friday, Perry had already made his stance on the GOP holdouts known, writing on X, formerly Twitter, "If youre not voting for Jim Jordan, you at least owe it to the American People to tell them the REAL REASON." If youre not voting for Jim Jordan, you at least owe it to the American People to tell them the REAL REASON. RepScottPerry (@RepScottPerry) October 20, 2023 Jordan, whose allies were blamed for "bullying" tactics and pressure campaigns in the days leading up to this week's votes in an effort to get support from those opponents, condemned the "abhorrent" threats and harassment being directed toward his colleagues in a Wednesday tweet, calling for them to stop. No American should accost another for their beliefs. We condemn all threats against our colleagues and it is imperative that we come together. Stop. Its abhorrent. Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) October 18, 2023 After Friday's third failed vote, Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, during an appearance on CNN reflected on the attacks being leveled against opposing Republicans and the attention the GOP's internal unrest over the speakership is taking from their real work. "These attacks have become extremely vicious. They're different," he told Jake Tapper. "I've been a subject of a lot of attacks from the far-right. These are different, and they have entrenched the opposition. They're not moving." Crenshaw went on to predict that any votes held over the weekend would "definitely backfire" on Jordan as he'd likely lose more supporters. "I think the conference needs a reset. The reset was proposed yesterday frankly, which was to empower Speaker pro tempore McHenry with temporary powers to simply bring bills to the floor," he explained, adding "That would allow us to reset stop yelling at each other, stop pretending that its the people's work when you're just in a room yelling at each other about who's the most popular. That's not the people's work. The people's work is what we do on committees. We legislate." Crenshaw on CNN on the Jordan camp's tactics: "These attacks have become extremely vicious. They're different." pic.twitter.com/9KMvxMnCtm Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 20, 2023 President Joe Biden and top U.S. officials meet with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv on October 18, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and Hamas. Credit - Brendan SmialowskiAFP/Getty A senior State Department official who worked in the bureau overseeing arms transfers resigned on Wednesday over the Biden administrations decision to continue sending weapons and ammunition to Israel. His departure is a rare sign of internal dissent over the administrations strong support for Israel as it continues airstrikes in Gaza following Hamass deadly attacks on Oct. 7. The official, Josh Paul, was the director of congressional and public affairs at the State Departments Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, which handles arms transfers. In an open letter posted to LinkedIn, Paul wrote that the U.S.s decision to rush more arms to one side of the conflict is shortsighted, destructive, unjust, and contradictory to the very values that we publicly espouse. I made myself a promise that I would stay for as long as I felt the harm I might do could be outweighed by the good I could do, Paul wrote. I am leaving today because I believe that in our current course with regards to the continued indeed, expanded and expedited provision of lethal arms to Israel I have reached the end of that bargain. In an interview with TIME, Paul speaks about his decision to resign, why the administration may be violating the law in providing weapons to Israel, and the response he has received from his colleagues. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Youve worked in the State Department for more than 10 years and write in an open letter that you knew the job was not without moral complexity or moral compromise. What led you to resign now? First of all, the scale and scope of the crisis that is unfolding before us. Even in the worst days of the Yemen conflict, it was nothing of this scale. Second, as we deal with controversial, complex, sensitive arms transfers, in my experience, there has always been room for debate. Sometimes that debate can range for months or even years, while different stakeholders within government hammer out different approaches and ways to tackle these human rights concerns. In this instance, there has been no debate, or when there has been debate its been ignored. It's just been, here are your marching orders, move as quickly as you can. That's unique to this. And then the third aspect is that in past debates, even if you're not satisfied there was at least some degree of comfort that the next step is for cases to get notified to Congress, which is how the arms transfer process works. Congress does take human rights issues seriously and can hold arms sales, debate them, or even vote against them. In this instance, there is no backstop. There is no congressional appetite for debating, holding, or opposing this. So it's a combination of those three factors. Read More: A Photographer Captures Death, Destruction, and Grief in Gaza How are U.S. arms transfers to Israel shaping the conflict? The theory has always been that if Israel feels secure, it will be able to move towards peace with the Palestinians. But in practice the steps that Israel has taken to achieve security have all been at the expense of Palestinian good faith in the peace processnot to mention at the expense of Palestinian suffering. For that reason they have also not led to the two-state solution, which was the whole goal of the Oslo Accords. So in the end, our arming of Israel, which was sort of take whatever you need, we want you to be secure, has actually not led to security for Israel. I think that's more apparent in the last couple of weeks than ever. Where does the line go between Israels right to self defense and what you describe in your letter as collective punishment? I think there are clear guidelines in international law as to what is permissible in war and what is not. And just let's be clear, Hamas violates those every single day. But when it comes to collective punishment such as the siege laid on Gaza, what possible military benefit does it give Israel to cut off electricity and water to 2.3 million people when you're trying to target a small number comparatively of Hamas fighters? It's clearly collective punishment. There are a number of legal and policy measures in place to prevent arms transfers that will lead to human rights violations. Are these being implemented with regards to Israel? Earlier this year, the Biden administration issued a new Conventional Arms Transfer policy. One of the most significant adjustments in this version of the policy was the inclusion of this more likely than not languagethat no arms transfer will be authorized where the United States assesses that it is more likely than not that the arms to be transferred will be used by the recipient to commit human rights violations. That is a policy I believe that they are not adhering to or not even considering properly in their pending arms transfers to Israel. Because Israel receives foreign military financing it is subject to the Leahy laws, which require the vetting of units that receive that assistance to ensure they're not engaged in gross violations of human rights. I think the process to do that for Israel specifically, within the department, is broken and politicized and has not been able to meet the requirements of the law. Read More: How Israel-Hamas War Misinformation Is Spreading Online What kind of signal do you think your resignation will send to your colleagues in the administration? I would like to think that it sends a signal that some things are worth fighting for internally. And worth giving up a significant amount for. I am hopeful that it will bring others out of the woodwork, but I don't know if it will. I certainly am encouraged by the responses that I've seen. What have you heard from your colleagues following your resignation? That a lot of people are wrestling with these moral dilemmas. A lot of people are deeply uncomfortable, finding this a very difficult time and faced with a lot of tough decisions. People have shared a lot of words of encouragement and support and expressions of shared feelings of how difficult the situation is. Contact us at letters@time.com. A Maryland circuit court judge was shot dead in his driveway on Thursday night by a man who had a contentious divorce hearing before the judge that day in which he lost custody of his children, Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert said Friday. The suspect, identified by authorities as 49-year-old Pedro Argote, was still at large and considered armed and dangerous on Friday. The sheriffs office said it responded to reports of a shooting in Hagerstown at around 8 p.m. Thursday and found the victim, Maryland Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson, 52, with what appeared to be gunshot wounds. Albert said Wilkinsons wife and son were inside their home when he was gunned down on the driveway. He was rushed to a medical facility where he later died. According to WJLA, Maryland State Police troopers were dispatched to protect other judges on Thursday night. Albert said those protections remained through Friday morning, but he doesnt believe Argote is a threat to other local judges. According to The Herald-Mail, Wilkinson had signed an order on Thursday preventing Argote from visiting or contacting his three children. He also ordered there be no contact between Argote and the childrens mother, gave the mother sole use and possession of the family home, and ordered Argote to make a 2009 Mercedes available to the mother for necessary shopping or medical appointments. The sheriffs office said theyre now searching for Argote as well as a silver 2009 Mercedes GL450 with the Maryland license plate 4EH0408. Albert said Friday that Argote did not attend Thursdays court hearing in person, and cops werent aware of any previous threats to Wilkinson. Michael Gast, a Maryland divorce attorney who represented Argote for three months last summer, told The Daily Beast that he did not pick up any red flags from his client. I knew he had a gun and a permit, but he never gave any indication he could be dangerous, he said. Albert confirmed that the gun used by Argote was legally purchased. Tributes to Wilkinson poured in on Friday, with former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan calling his death an act of horrific violence that shakes the foundation of our justice system. Judge Wilkinson was an exceptional judge and was a pillar in our community, Neil C. Parrott, a former delegate in the Maryland House of Delegates, said in a statement. The events tonight are catastrophic for Washington County, for Maryland, and for our justice system. Maryland State Sen. Paul Corderman, who represents Hagerstown, said in a statement that Wilkinson was a dedicated public servant and champion for Washington County. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Flash Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who is in Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and an official visit, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 19, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday met with Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who is in Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and an official visit. Srettha made China the first country outside the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for an official visit, which fully reflects the great importance that the new government of Thailand attaches to bilateral relations, Xi said. China stands ready to work with Thailand to continuously add new dimensions to their family-like relations, and transform advantages of the traditional friendship into a driving force for win-win cooperation, Xi said. He said that the two sides should speed up construction of the China-Thailand railway, expand cooperation in fields including digital economy, green development and new energy, and step up efforts to crack down on cross-border crimes such as telecom fraud and online gambling to create a safe environment for the development of the two countries. Xi said China is willing to share opportunities in China's vast market and high-level opening-up to inject positive energy into Asia's development. Srettha noted that Thailand will work with China to build a more stable, prosperous and sustainable Thailand-China community with a shared future. He said Thailand will do its utmost to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens in Thailand, and welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest and more Chinese citizens to visit Thailand. Senior Chinese leaders including Cai Qi and Wang Yi were present at the meeting. D.C. District Judge Tanya Chutkan has issued an administrative stay, agreeing to temporarily pause her partial gag order of former President Donald Trump to give the parties time to submit appeal briefs. The stay is not related to the merits of the case. Late Friday afternoon in a court filing, Trump defense attorneys asked Judge Chutkan to stay the limited gag order she issued against Trump in the 2020 election conspiracy criminal case, while Trump appeals the order, arguing that it's unconstitutional. On Monday, Judge Chutkan ordered Trump not to make posts or statements "targeting" court staff, potential witnesses in the case, special counsel Jack Smith or his family. Prosecutors made a lengthy argument that Trump's posts could contribute to danger or violence and could contaminate the jury pool ahead of his March 4, 2024 trial here in Washington, D.C. Trump's latest filing argues the gag order and the prosecution are politically motivated. The defense wrote "No Court in American history has imposed a gag order on a ... defendant who is campaigning for public office-least of all on the leading candidate for President." And in a passage that seemed to channel Trump's own voice, the court filing did not refer to his title in past tense. "President Trump is the forty-fifth President of the United States and the leading candidate in the upcoming Presidential Election," defense attorneys wrote. "He has dominating leads in the race for the Republican nomination, and he leads President Biden." The filing also said, "President Trump respectfully requests that this Court issue its ruling on this stay motion by Tuesday, October 24, 2023, after which President Trump intends to seek an emergency stay from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit." What does Sidney Powell's guilty plea mean for Trump? Grisly details of Natalee Holloway's murder revealed in Joran van der Sloot confession Key takeaways from Biden's second Oval Office address The judge in former President Trumps New York civil fraud trial threatened to hold him in contempt Friday over a deleted Truth Social post. The post, aimed at a court staffer, was deleted by Trump in the wake of an order by Judge Arthur Engoron. Trumps campaign copied the former presidents message in an email sent to about 28,000 recipients on its media list, and the email was archived on his campaign website, where Trump lawyer Christopher Kise said it could be found for weeks, according to The Associated Press. Engoron called the post remaining on the website a blatant violation of his order and fined Trump $5,000. The former president wasnt in court Friday after attending Tuesday and Wednesday. Top Stories from The Hill Kise placed the fault of the post remaining on the website on the very large machine of Trumps campaign for president, according to the AP. Ill take this under advisement, Engoron said after Kise spoke about how Trumps post remained online, according to the AP. But I want to be clear that Donald Trump is still responsible for the large machine even if its a large machine. If Trump is held in contempt, it would only add to the pile of legal troubles the former president is dealing with at the moment. Beyond the civil fraud trial, he has now been indicted in four other cases in New York, Georgia and at the federal level. Trump has also directed his verbal fire at people involved in the other cases, including District Judge Tanya Chutkan, special counsel Jack Smith and Fulton County, Ga., District Attorney Fani Willis (D). The Associated Press contributed. Updated at 8:48 pm. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (Reuters) - The judge presiding over Donald Trump 's $250 million civil fraud trial in New York raised the possibility on Friday of putting the former president behind bars after Trump failed to comply with a partial gag order requiring him to remove a post condemning the judge's law clerk on social media, NBC News reported. Justice Arthur Engoron said in court on Friday morning that Trump had posted on his social media account "an untrue and disparaging post about my clerk" and that he spoke to the former president about the matter, according to NBC News. "I ordered him to remove the post immediately and he said he did take it down," Engoron was quoted as saying by the news outlet. "Despite this order, last night I learned the offending post was never removed from a website. This is a blatant violation of the gag order. I made it clear (that) failure to comply will result in serious sanctions," the judge added. A spokesperson for New York state Attorney General Letitia James, who brought the case, declined to comment. Trump attorney Christopher Kise said, based on his understanding, "this was truly inadvertent." Engoron imposed the gag order on Trump on Oct. 3, the trial's second day, after Trump shared a social media post by the clerk, who was identified by name, posing with Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer of New York, who is not involved in the case. Trump referred to the clerk as "Schumer's girlfriend." Kise said the post was taken down from Trump's Truth Social network after the judge's ruling, "and Trump never made any more comments about court staff, but it appears no one took it down on the campaign website. It is unfortunate and I apologize on behalf of my client." James has accused Trump, his two adult sons, the Trump Organization and others of inflating asset values over a decade to secure favorable bank loans and insurance terms, and exaggerating Trump's own riches by more than $2 billion. The trial could lead to the dismantling of Trump's business empire as he seeks to regain the presidency in 2024. She is seeking at least $250 million in fines, a permanent ban against Trump and his sons Donald Jr. and Eric from running businesses in New York, and a five-year commercial real estate ban against Trump and the Trump Organization. Trump also faces four criminal indictments over his efforts to undo his loss in the 2020 election, his handling of government documents, and business records allegedly concealing hush money paid to a porn star. Trump has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty in all of the cases. He also faces a January civil damages trial for defaming a writer who accused him of rape, which he denies. The frontrunner for the 2024 Republican nomination for the presidency was also hit with a partial gag order in a federal criminal case accusing him of trying to overturn his 2020 election loss. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan in Washington on Monday barred him from verbally attacking U.S. prosecutors, court staff and potential witnesses, pointing to disparaging social media posts. Chutkan said she would not allow him to "launch a pretrial smear campaign." Trump plans to appeal that order. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh and Luc Cohen; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Jonathan Oatis) The judge presiding over Donald Trump s $250 million civil fraud trial on Friday fined the former president $5,000 and floated the idea of jailing him for defying a partial gag order requiring him to remove a post trashing the judge's law clerk on social media. Earlier in the day, Judge Arthur Engoron was livid when he revealed that Trump failed to comply with the order and raised the possibility of putting the former president in prison. Engoron said Trump had posted on his social media account an untrue and disparaging post about my clerk and that he "ordered him to remove the post immediately and he said he did take it down." He continued, Despite this order, last night I learned the offending post was never removed from a website. This is a blatant violation of the gag order. I made it clear [that] failure to comply will result in serious sanctions. Incendiary untruths can and have led to serious physical harm. I will now allow the defendant to explain why this should not end up with serious sanctions or I could possibly imprison him, Engoron said. In his ruling levying the fine, Engoron warned Trump against violating the gag order again. "Make no mistake: future violations, whether intentional or unintentional, will subject the violator to far more severe sanctions, which may include, but are not limited to, steeper financial penalties, holding Donald Trump in contempt of court, and possibly imprisoning him," Engoron wrote. Engoron said that though Trump said he removed the post, it remained on the former president's 2024 campaign website for 17 days and was only removed late Thursday night after the court emailed him. The judge imposed the limited gag order in early October. In response, Trump's defense attorney, Chris Kise said, "Based on my understanding this was truly inadvertent." "The Truth Social post was taken down when the court asked," Kise said. "Truth Social was taken down and Trump never made any more comments about court staff, but it appears no one took it down on the campaign website. It is unfortunate and I apologize on behalf of my client." In his online posts and in public remarks to reporters, Trump implied that the clerk had an inappropriate relationship with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York. Schumer spokeswoman Allison Biasotti categorically denied the claim, calling it pathetic, ridiculous, absurd and false." She said that Schumer does not know the clerk. Trump has also bashed Engoron in public statements and in emails sent out by his presidential campaign, including one criticizing the judge as a far-left Democrat." Trump also faces a partial gag order in one of the four criminal cases against him. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who's overseeing the D.C. election interference case, banned Trump from making statements about potential witnesses or disparaging comments about the prosecutors. Trump on Friday asked Chutkan to stay the gag order, saying that the order violates his First Amendment rights. Chutkan granted his request and temporarily paused the gag order Friday. The New York civil fraud trial, which does not have a jury, began in early October. New York Attorney General Letitia James sued Trump in Sept. 2022, alleging that the former president and his two adult sons had engaged in efforts to inflate Trumps personal net worth to attract favorable loan agreements. James alleges that there were more than 200 instances of fraud over a 10-year period. In a ruling allowing the trial to proceed, Engoron said that Trump committed fraud for years, inflating and deflating the value of his assets to his own benefit and overstating his wealth by billions. The attorney general is seeking about $250 million in penalties and to permanently bar the Trump family from serving as officers of New York companies and prevent Trump from striking commercial real estate deals in the state for five years. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Former President Donald Trump has attended several days of his New York fraud trial A New York judge has fined Donald Trump for violating a gag order in his civil fraud trial. Mr Trump was fined $5,000 (4,100) by Judge Arthur Engoron on Friday. The judge said in court that the former president had failed to remove an online post mocking a clerk at the court. He also threatened Mr Trump with jail time, and demanded he take down the "untrue and disparaging" post made about the clerk earlier this month. Judge Engoron said the post was deleted on social media, but remained on his website. "Incendiary untruths can and have led to serious physical harm," Judge Engoron said in court on Friday. "I will now allow the defendant to explain why this should not end up with serious sanctions or I could possibly imprison him." Mr Trump's lawyer, Christopher Kise, apologised on his client's behalf and said it was an "inadvertent" mistake because while the post was deleted from social media, aides forgot to remove it from the campaign website. Later in the day, Judge Engoron ruled that Mr Trump pay a fine given that "the violation was inadvertent, and given that it is a first time violation". "Make no mistake: future violations, whether intentional or unintentional, will subject the violator to far more severe sanctions, which may include, but are not limited to, steeper financial penalties, holding Donald Trump in contempt of court, and possibly imprisoning him," Judge Engoron said in his ruling. Mr Trump and several of his family members are on trial for fraud, falsification of business records, issuing false financial statements and conspiracy. Judge Arthur Engoron issued the gag order on former president Donald Trump on 3 October The non-jury, civil trial is focused on determining damages for the fraud that Judge Engoron has already determined Mr Trump committed by inflating his personal net worth to secure favourable loan agreements. New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought the case, is seeking $250m (205m) in penalties and severe restrictions for Mr Trump's businesses. Judge Engoron issued a gag order against Mr Trump on 3 October after he made a post on his social media site Truth Social disparaging the judge's clerk. In the post, Mr Trump, a Republican, had shared a picture of the clerk alongside Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, claiming she was his "girlfriend". It was not the first time this week that the judge admonished the former president, who attended several days of the trial. On Wednesday, Judge Engoron told Mr Trump and others to be quiet during a real estate appraiser's testimony on the witness stand. Mr Trump was reportedly shaking his head and throwing his hands in the air in frustration. After a request from a lawyer with the New York Attorney General's Office, Judge Engoron asked people to keep their voices down, "particularly if it's meant to influence the testimony". The same day, a New York court employee was arrested after she shouted out to Mr Trump, "indicating she wanted to assist him", said court officials. She was escorted out of court, placed on administrative leave and charged with contempt of court. The New York fraud case is one of several legal battles that the former president faces this year, including both federal and state criminal charges. Additional reporting from Pratiksha Ghildial The judge overseeing former President Donald Trump's New York fraud trial threatened to fine or possibly jail him over a violation of a gag order issued in the case. Photo by Louis Lanzano/UPI Oct. 20 (UPI) -- A Manhattan Supreme Court judge on Friday fined former President Donald Trump $5,000 for violating a gag order placed on him during his civil fraud trial in New York. "Donald Trump has received ample warning from this court as to the possible repercussions of violating the gag order," Judge Arthur Engoron said in his order Friday. "He specifically acknowledged that he understood and would abide by it. "Accordingly, issuing yet another warning is no longer appropriate; this court is way behind the 'warning stage.'" Engoron also threatened Trump twice with jail time if the former president violates the order again, CNN reported. "Make no mistake: Future violations, whether intentional or unintentional, will subject the violator to far more serious sanctions, which may include, but are not limited to, steeper financial penalties, holding Donald Trump in contempt of court, and possibly imprisoning him." Judge Arthur Engoron said an order Friday, "Donald Trump has received ample warning from this court as to the possible repercussions of violating the gag order." Photo by Peter Foley/UPI Engoron issued the gag order Oct. 3 after Trump posted a photo of court clerk Allison Greenfield with Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., on his Truth Social site with the caption "Schumer's girlfriend." The order placed a ban on any emails, posts or public remarks about the judge's staff. Engoron asked Trump's attorneys to explain why he should not be fined or face jail time after a screenshot attacking the judge's law clerk remained on donaldtrump.com in a "blatant violation" of the gag order on Trump. "I made it clear failure to comply will result in serious sanctions. It remained on the Donald J. Trump campaign site and in fact it has been on there for the past 17 days, [and] it was removed late last night after an email from this court," Engoron said, adding that "incendiary untruths can and have led to serious physical harm." Engoron said he would take the explanation provided by Trump's attorney, Christopher Kise, under advisement before issuing a ruling. The liberal website MeidasTouch posted an article about the screenshot remaining up despite the gag order, which caught the attention of the judge and other media outlets. The post was ultimately removed on Thursday night. Kise said it was "automatically" added to the website and the fact that it remained on the site after the gag order was issued was "truly inadvertent." "The Truth Social post was taken down when the court asked," Kise said, also adding that Trump refrained from making comments about court staff after the order. "But it appears no one took it down on the campaign website," Kise said. Trump has also taken aim at Engoron and New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought the case against him alleging that he and his two adult sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, and the Trump organization committed fraud by inflating the values of his real estate properties by more than $2 billion. Earlier this week, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan also placed a gag order on Trump in his election interference case, which his lawyers have sought to appeal. Shaun M. Cunningham sits at the defense table in Stark County Common Pleas Court on Friday, with his attorney Rick Pitinii, standing. On Friday, a jury convicted Cunningham of murder for killing Travis L. Charles in 2022. CANTON Shaun M. Cunningham is expected to be sentenced to life in prison on Tuesday for the 2022 shooting death of Travis L. Charles. Jurors found him guilty of murder and felonious assault on Friday morning following a trial that began Monday before Stark County Common Pleas Judge Chryssa Hartnett. He was also found guilty of using a gun in the crimes. Cunningham, 49, was charged in connection with the death of the 31-year-old professional boxer on Oct. 25, 2022. Charles was shot in the back of the head. A murder conviction in Ohio brings a mandatory life sentence with the possibility of parole after 15 years for murder. A mandatory three-year sentence for the gun specification means he won't be eligible for release until he has served 18 years. The prison time for felonious assault is expected to be ordered to be served at the same time as the murder sentence since both crimes occurred as part of the same conduct. What happened to Travis L. Charles? In closing arguments on Thursday, Assistant Stark County Prosecutor Megan Starrett said there is no dispute that Cunningham shot Charles at the defendant's home in the 1200 block of 16th Street NW in Canton. Charles had gone there to pick up his child, but was unsuccessful. He was shot when he was leaving the home, Starrett said. In memory: 'I know he's telling me to do my best.' 9-year-old Canton boxer fights for slain father Defense attorney Rick Pitinii argued that Cunningham shot Charles in self-defense. He said his client feared for his life because he was using an ileostomy bag to collect intestinal waste, and a punch from Charles could have sent toxins back into his body with fatal consequences. Addressing the defendant's claim of self defense, Starrett said neighbors sitting at their bedroom window heard no threat of violence. She said that when Charles went to Cunningham's house, he knocked on the door and asked for his child, "Shaun says, 'No,' shuts the door," Starrett said. She said Charles became angry, banged on the door and kicked it once. She said a 911 call recording played for the jury showed that Cunningham was angry, too. "He was furious. He had his gun ready," the prosecutor said. "His testimony is he got that gun before Travis even got there. He's not afraid of Travis. He said he wasn't in fear. He was not scared when he was in that house." Starrett said Charles left to go to his car, which was parked behind the house. She said Cunningham's wife called 911 to say Charles was lying in the yard. "She doesn't say, 'Travis is threatening to kill everybody.' You know what she does say, though? She says, 'You need to get here before my husband does something.' Not before Travis does something, before Shaun Cunningham does something. And you know what? He did do something. He opens that door and he shoots Travis in the back of the head." Shaun M. Cunningham sits in Stark County Common Pleas Court on Thursday before closing arguments were delivered in his trial. He was convicted of murder and felonious assault for the shooting death of Travis L. Charles on Oct. 25, 2022 in Canton. Travis Charles didn't have a gun; Shaun Cunningham did Starrett said the victim had no weapon. Pitinii, the defense attorney, asked jurors to put themselves in Cunningham's place, with the knowledge that he had at the time of the incident. He said Cunningham knew Charles was a professional boxer who could have killed him with a punch. "He doesn't need to be armed to cause him great bodily (harm)," Pitinii said. The defense attorney said his client had the right to defend himself in his own home. "This is all about standing your ground," Pitinii said. "We all have the right to do exactly what happened here. We all have the right to stand our ground. He was in his home." He said Cunningham had no way to know Charles was unarmed. He said Charles kicked the door of the home and cracked the door jamb. "We'll never know Travis's side of the story because Shaun has silenced him for life," Starrett said. After the verdict, Stark County Prosecutor Kyle L. Stone issued this statement: Children unnecessarily lost their father at the hands of Mr. Cunningham. We believed he was guilty and we (are) grateful to the jury for affirming what we knew was right. Justice has been served on behalf of Mr. Charles and his family." Reach Nancy at 330-580-8382 or nancy.molnar@cantonrep.com. On X, formerly known as Twitter: @nmolnarTR This article originally appeared on The Repository: Shaun Cunningham convicted of murdering Travis Charles in Canton Logan Clegg, right, and defense attorney Caroline Smith, look over at the jury as they are polled at Merrimack County Superior Court in Concord, N.H. on Monday, October 23, 2023 . After deliberating for a day and a half, a jury found Clegg guilty of second-degree murder in the April 2022 killings of Stephen and Djeswende Reid. (Geoff Forester/The Concord Monitor via AP, Pool) CONCORD, N.H. (AP) A man who was living in a tent in the woods in New Hampshire was convicted of murder Monday in the fatal shooting of a retired couple who had gone out for a walk. After deliberating for a day and a half, the jury found Logan Clegg, 27, guilty of second-degree murder in the April 2022 killings of Stephen and Djeswende Reid. He faces up to life in prison when he's sentenced Dec. 15. A liar, a thief, a murderer has been brought to justice today, more importantly forever, the couples son, Brian Reid, said after the verdict. Let it be known that the legacy of my parents' humanitarian work, their kindness, their love for life will endure. Let today be a reminder of the value of human life and the strength of community. Prosecutor Joshua Speicher said the jury got it right, and was very thoughtful and attentive throughout the trial, which began Oct. 3. We're happy for the families most of all that there's some closure here and some accountability, he said. The couple were killed while walking on a trail near their apartment in Concord, the state capital. Their bodies, which were found several days later, had been dragged into the woods and covered with leaves, sticks and debris, police said. Clegg, who gave a different name when police questioned him, later burned his tent, erased information from his computer and bought a bus ticket out of Concord, prosecutors said. Investigators eventually found and arrested him in South Burlington, Vermont, with a one-way plane ticket to Berlin, Germany, a fake passport, and a gun in his backpack, they said. Cleggs lawyers said he left New Hampshire not because of the Reids, but because he had been hiding from police after violating his probation on burglary and theft charges in Utah. Clegg was convicted of all nine counts he faced, including four counts of second-degree murder, one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and four counts of falsifying physical evidence. The falsifying evidence counts were for allegedly moving and concealing the victims' bodies, burning his tent, and destroying or removing information from his laptop. Prosecutors said Cleggs repeated lies, his attempt to flee, and the gun found in his backpack offered a trail of evidence to show he was guilty. But defense attorneys said authorities charged the wrong person. The state has proven to you over the past three weeks now that the defendant, and the defendant only, killed Stephen and Wendy, prosecutor Speicher said, describing the killing as senseless. We have proven this beyond a reasonable doubt. We have proven to you how he did it, when he did it, where he did it. Speicher added, What we dont know is why. We just dont know. Defense attorney Mariana Dominguez argued that the states case was built on speculation and was full of holes. Logan Clegg is not guilty, she said. Police investigated, but instead of looking at the science and at the evidence with clear eyes, they speculated. They assumed. ... They saw only what they wanted to see. They got the wrong guy. Prosecutors said that shell casings and bullet fragments were later found at the crime scene. Shell casings also were found at a location later discovered to be Cleggs tent site. Prosecutors said bullets fired from Cleggs 9 mm handgun were consistent in caliber and class characteristics as bullet fragments found during the Reids autopsies. Cleggs lawyers said an analysis of shell casings and bullets found in the area could not conclude that his gun fired the shots and that the casing could have come from a variety of guns. They have no idea what gun killed the Reids, Dominguez told the jury during her closing arguments, adding that police only had eyes for Cleggs gun. Both sides also gave differing accounts of a woman who was walking on the trail with her dogs and allowed the Reids to pass her and walk ahead. She later heard gunshots, then came across a man on the trail before continuing her hike. Defense attorneys argued that the man she saw on the trail was not Clegg because the clothing he had on did not match the prosecutions description. ___ Lisa Rathke in Marshfield, Vermont, contributed to this report. Georgette Kaufmann was a woman of God, but a radical anti-abortionist didn't know that when he murdered her in El Paso's historic Manhattan Heights neighborhood. The gunman, with a bizarre religious belief that satanic abortion rituals were being performed at nearby Memorial Park, fatally shot Kaufmann when she returned home. He also shot Kaufmann's husband, Daniel Kaufmann, through a screen door of the couple's home. Joseph Angel Alvarez was convicted Friday, Oct. 20, by a jury of murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in the 2020 attack near the neighboring park. A jury of seven women and five men reached the verdict after deliberating for more than three hours. The punishment phase of the trial began immediately but will continue at 8:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 23. Alvarez is facing up to 99 years or life in prison on the murder charge and up to 20 years on the aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge. State prosecutors are asking the jury to sentence Alvarez to the maximum sentence. Defense attorneys argued that Alvarez had a severe mental illness, suffering from delusions and hallucinations. On the witness stand, Alvarez admitted to killing Kaufmann while telling his tale about abortion rituals and revelations from God that led to the "execution" of Kaufmann. Joseph Angel Alvarez testifies in his trial in the fatal shooting of lawyer Georgette G. Kaufmann on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023, at the Enrique Moreno County Courthouse in Downtown El Paso. The attack on Georgette Kaufmann and her husband occurred Nov. 14, 2020, at their home on Copper Avenue. Kaufmann was shot outside her home while her husband survived his injuries after going to a neighbor's house to call for help. He tried to warn his wife to stay away from the home, but he didn't know she had already been shot in their driveway. Alvarez did not know the Kaufmann family before the shooting, according to testimony during the weeklong trial. He testified he selected his target because trees in the park pointed to the Kaufmann home. "This is one of the saddest, most tragic cases I have ever seen," Greg Anderson, Alvarez's lead defense attorney, said in his closing arguments. "Georgette Kaufmann was a wife, a daughter, a mother taken in a violent fashion. The person who did the shooting is sad, tragic and insane." Defense Attorney Greg Anderson begins to settle into the courtroom for the trial of Joseph Angel Alvarez who is accused of fatally shooting El Paso lawyer Georgette G. Kaufmann. The trial began on Oct. 16, 2023 State prosecutors Raoaa King and Ray Duke argued that Alvarez was a radicalized anti-abortionist who knew his violent actions were wrong. They argued he was legally sane at the time of the shooting. "We are not talking about his religious beliefs," Duke said in his closing arguments. "We are talking about how he even testified that he knew his actions were wrong in the eyes of the law." More: Accused gunman testifies faith-driven 'execution' beliefs led to El Paso lawyer's slaying Duke referred to an email Alvarez sent before the attack warning that "Judgment Day" was coming to those he believed were carrying out the rituals at the park. "This is his judgment day," Duke said. "He stole Georgette Kaufmann's life. He stole a wife. He stole a mother like a theft in the night."This is the man who executed Georgette Kaufmann. This is the man who tried to execute Daniel Kaufmann. He knew what he did was wrong and illegal."The murder trial started Monday, Oct. 16, in the 210th District Court at the Enrique Moreno County Courthouse in Downtown El Paso. Judge Alyssa Perez presided over the trial. Prosecutor Ray Duke prepares to speak at the trial of Joseph Angel Alvarez on Oct. 16, 2023. Alvarez is accused of fatally shooting El Paso Lawyer Georgette G. Kaufmann. Kaufmann family left with devastating pain, lives changed forever Connor Kaufmann, son of Georgette and Daniel Kaufmann, and Gloria Garcia, Georgette Kaufmann's mother, testified Friday afternoon during the first court session of the punishment phase of the trial. They shared the impact Georgette Kaufmann's life and death had on their lives. Connor Kaufmann, 16 at the time, was away from home at a fencing tournament in Dallas when the ambush occurred. He testified the loss of his mother has "drastically" changed his life. "My mom couldn't be there for my graduation or for my senior year honors," Connor Kaufmann testified. "She couldn't be there when I got into college, my dream school." He lamented how the attack shaped his classmates' interaction with him. "It kind of defined who I was for the rest of high school," Kaufmann said. Daniel Kaufmann, center, embraces his son, Connor, during a court recess outside the 210th District Court in the murder trial of the alleged killer, Joseph Angel Alvarez, Oct. 16, 2023. A jury convicted Alvarez of murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in the ambush killing of Georgette Kaufmann. Daniel Kaufmann was wounded in the attack at their home in El Paso's historic Manhattan Heights neighborhood. His birthday was just five days after the shooting. He spent the day helping care for his father, who was recovering from his gunshot wounds, he testified. The loss of her only child has been hard to overcome, Gloria Garcia said. "Just the way she was taken away," Garcia said. "She was a caring and loving type of person. She was Catholic. She went to Loretto Academy ... She was kind, sweet and helpful. She was a loving daughter. She very, very much loved her husband." Kaufmann's obituary described her as a "deeply spiritual lady who attended church regularly." She and her husband had celebrated their 22nd wedding anniversary one day before the shooting. Several photos of Kaufmann with her mom and son were shown to the jury. The images ranged from when Kaufmann was a baby to when Connor Kaufmann was a child. Georgette "Gigi" Kaufmann, 50, was an assistant attorney general with the Office of Attorney General Child Support Division in El Paso for seven years before her death. El Paso Police Department Detective Abraham Gonzalez also testified about the weapons and ammo investigators found at Alvarez's house. Investigators found several firearms, including an assault rifle and a shotgun, large amounts of ammunition and loaded magazines, and a flak jacket, he testified. Religious beliefs led to fatal shooting of Georgette Kaufmann Alvarez testified in his trial that God told him to commit the shooting because satanic abortion rituals were being conducted by residents who lived across the street from the Central El Paso park. In bizarre testimony, Alvarez went on religious rants, claiming after reading the Bible and other religious texts, he came to believe babies were being sacrificed in satanic rituals across the world. Daniel Kaufmann and Georgette Garcia are shown in this Nov. 1, 1998 wedding announcement photograph. He testified he received revelations from God that satanists were doing "gruesome satanic abortions" at Memorial Park. The misshapen trees at the park were because of aborted fetuses, and sacrificed babies were buried in the ground, Alvarez testified. He claimed benches and tables at the park were used as altars. Another altar was under a bridge at the park, where "trolls" and "demons" were taking the bodies of the babies, he testified. More from testimony: Accused gunman testifies faith-driven 'execution' beliefs led to El Paso lawyer's slaying Alvarez claimed he believed he needed to stop the satanic ritual and was obeying God's will by committing the shooting. "I believe I was obeying God," Alvarez testified. "Better to obey the laws of God than man. I was following divine law." On the day of the shooting, Alvarez went to the park and prayed in his car. He prayed for an answer on how to stop the abortions he claimed were happening at the park, he testified. He walked to a house and rang the door, but no one answered. He then went back to his car. He then saw Kaufmann's car drive by without its lights on, he testified. He believed this was God answering his "prayers in real time." The Kaufmann home in Central El Paso, where Georgette and Daniel Kaufmann were attacked in November 2020. The gunman testified he believed satanic abortion rituals were happening at nearby Memorial Park. Alvarez then walked to the Kaufmann's house with a gun hidden in a pizza box. He was wearing dark clothes, gloves and a COVID-19 mask. He walked up to Georgette Kaufmann and fatally shot her at least three times, according to testimony. He then heard Daniel Kaufmann at a door to the house. He then fired at least six shots at Daniel Kaufmann. The husband was struck multiple times but survived his injuries. Alvarez then fled the neighborhood. Detectives testified they had to use cell phone data to link Alvarez to the crime scene. A SWAT team arrested Alvarez, 38 at the time, outside his job as a pizza delivery driver. Mental health main focus of trial Defense attorneys argued Alvarez was experiencing delusions and hallucinations. Prior to the shooting, Alvarez sent hundreds of emails to religious and political leaders, and military email addresses detailing his belief of satanic abortions being conducted across the world. One email with the subject line "Judgment Day" was about Alvarez's allegations of the satanic rituals being performed at Memorial Park. This email included 22 photos of what he claimed were altars used in the rituals and the houses he believed were involved. More: Defendant testifies on religious beliefs in El Paso lawyer fatal shooting trial Alvarez claimed the residents in those houses were "generational" satanists and "cursed," he testified. Alvarez testified he obeyed God by committing the murder; therefore, it was not morally wrong. He claimed Georgette Kaufmann was a "witch" and Daniel Kaufmann was a "warlock." Key testimony in the trial came from two psychologists who agreed Alvarez suffered from a "severe mental illness." Dr. James Schutte, who testified on behalf of the defense, claimed Alvarez suffered from schizoaffective disorder and it prevented Alvarez from knowing what was right and wrong. Dr. Timothy Proctor, who testified on behalf of state prosecutors, said he diagnosed Alvarez with delusional disorder. He doesn't believe Alvarez suffered from schizoaffective disorder. While Alvarez had a severe mental illness, he knew murder was illegal and that he committed a crime when he shot the Kaufmanns, Proctor told jurors. Aaron Martinez may be reached at amartinez1@elpasotimes.com or on Twitter @AMartinezEPT. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Joseph Angel Alvarez guilty in shooting death of El Paso lawyer Kenneth Chesebro, an attorney who helped orchestrate the Trump campaigns 2020 fake electors plot, pleaded guilty Friday in the Georgia election subversion case to being part of a conspiracy alongside former President Donald Trump and others. The plea deal is another blow to Trump and a major victory for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who charged Trump and 18 others in the effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election. It comes one day after former Trump campaign lawyer Sidney Powell also pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. Chesebro pleaded guilty to one felony conspiracy to commit filing false documents. Fulton County prosecutors recommended that he serve 5 years of probation and pay $5,000 in restitution, and Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee imposed that sentence at Fridays hearing. Chesebro has also agreed to testify in future court proceedings. As part of his plea deal, Chesebro admitted that he conspired to put forward fake GOP electors in Georgia with Trump and former Trump lawyers Rudy Giuliani and John Eastman. Giuliani and Eastman have both pleaded not guilty in the Georgia case, and now face the prospect of Chesebro taking the witness stand against them. The plea came shortly after jury selection in the trial began Friday morning as planned, but was short-lived. A source familiar with the discussions said the likelihood of Chesebro taking a deal increased after Powell made a surprise turn and pleaded guilty on Thursday. Fake electors plot An attorney who worked to undermine the results of the 2020 election, Chesebro helped develop the Trumps campaigns plot to put forward unauthorized slates of GOP electors in Georgia and six other states. (In previous court filings, Chesebros lawyers have denied that he devised the plan.) He wrote a series of memos in 2020 spelling out what the pro-Trump electors should do in their respective states. In one memo Chesebro acknowledged that he was promoting a controversial strategy that even the Supreme Court with its conservative supermajority would likely reject. Chesebro and other Trump allies hoped then-Vice President Mike Pence would use the GOP electors to justify delaying Congress from certifying Joe Bidens victory or even throw out Bidens lawful electors and recognize the fake GOP slates instead on January 6, 2021. Prosecutors said in court that Chesebro acknowledged in the plea that he created and distributed false Electoral College documents to Trump operatives in Georgia and other states, and that he worked in coordination with the Trump campaign. The defendant provided detailed instructions to co-conspirators in Georgia and other states for creating and distributing these false documents, prosecutor Daysha Young said at the plea hearing Friday. Chesebro was originally charged with seven crimes, including a violation of Georgias RICO act, conspiracy to commit forgery and conspiracy to commit impersonating a public officer. Six of the seven felony charges were dropped as part of the deal. In addition to testifying at future trials, Chesebro agreed to write an apology letter to the citizens of Georgia. Three defendants have now pleaded guilty in the sprawling racketeering case: Chesebro, Powell and Georgia-based bail bondsman Scott Hall. Powell and Hall both admitted their roles in the January 2021 breach of election systems in rural Coffee County, Georgia. As part of her plea deal, Powell agreed to testify at future trials, which could hurt Trumps defense. Both Powell and Hall were sentenced to probation. Ahead of their scheduled trial, Chesebro and Powell lost several bids to get the case thrown out, including earlier this week. In a spate of pretrial rulings, McAfee rejected their arguments that Fulton County prosecutors misapplied Georgias RICO law and that the indictment failed to establish key elements of the crimes that have been charged. Both Powell and Chesebro are unindicted co-conspirators in Trumps federal election subversion case, which was brought by Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith. Trumps federal trial is set for March 2024 in Washington, DC. Steve Sadow, lead counsel for Trump in the Georgia case, said he believes Fridays developments will help the former president. It appears to me that the guilty plea to count 15 of the Fulton County indictment was the result of pressure by Fani Willis and her team and the prosecutions looming threat of prison time, Sadow said. However, it is very important for everyone to note that the RICO charge and every other count was dismissed. Once again, I fully expect that truthful testimony would be favorable to my defense strategy. Jurors asked about Trump rallies, Jan. 6 hearings Hundreds of potential jurors for the Chesebro trial were summoned to the Fulton County courthouse on Friday, where they filled out questionnaires that were designed to weed out people with conflicts-of-interest or anyone who couldnt act impartially. CNN overheard a court official reading aloud from portions the jury questionnaire in a public area of the courthouse where the jury selection process was taking place. The questionnaire itself has not been made public. The potential jurors were asked if they express divisive political opinions, if they ever attended a Trump rally or any MAGA events, or posted anything online about Donald Trumps charges. They were also asked specifically if they watched the highly publicized January 6 committee hearings last year, which presented in dramatic fashion how Trump tried to overturn the election. The potential jurors were also asked if they voted in any federal elections over the past 15 years. There is no indication that they were asked who they voted for, and that is never typically part of a jury questionnaire. At a hearing earlier this week, Fulton County prosecutors and attorneys for Chesebro haggled over how many politically charged questions should be included. Specifically, Chesebros attorneys wanted to include questions that could tease out how jurors feel about MAGA Republicans and Trumps attempt to steal the election. Its unclear if those questions made it into the questionnaire. After Chesebros plea, McAfee returned to the jury room to dismiss the jury pool, which responded with applause and cheers. This story has been updated with additional developments. CNNs Zachary Cohen and Devan Cole contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Flash The 19th Beijing-Tokyo Forum opens in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 19, 2023. [Photo/China.com.cn] Senior officials on Thursday called for Beijing and Tokyo to uphold key principles for peace and friendship outlined in a critical treaty between the two sides, in a bid to foster a bilateral relationship fitting for the new era. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Sino-Japanese Treaty of Peace and Friendship. Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, delivers a speech via video link at the opening ceremony of the 19th Beijing-Tokyo Forum in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 19, 2023. [Photo/China.com.cn] Adhering to the core principles outlined in the treaty, including noninterference in each other's internal affairs and opposition to any country seeking hegemony, remains essential for handling Sino-Japanese relations, said Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is also director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, in a recorded video speech for the 19th Beijing-Tokyo Forum. It also holds "practical significance" in addressing the risks and challenges faced by the world today, said Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. As this year also marks the 45th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up, Beijing will further push for high-quality development and expand high-level opening-up, he said, adding that China welcomes Japan taking up a share of the enormous opportunities resulting from this trend. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed congratulations on the forum in a letter. Sun Yeli, deputy director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and minister of the State Council Information Office, delivers a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 19th Beijing-Tokyo Forum in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 19, 2023. [Photo/China.com.cn] Sun Yeli, deputy director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, said that Sino-Japanese relations have flourished in the past 45 years, bringing tangible benefits to both nations and fostering prosperity and stability in Asia and the world. China stands as Japan's largest trading partner, said Sun, calling for the two countries to strengthen economic cooperation, cultivate new avenues of growth, and achieve a higher level of win-win collaboration. In 2022, the total trade volume between China and Japan reached $357 billion. According to official data from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, by the end of last year, China's direct investments in Japan reached a cumulative total of around $5 billion, with a focus on manufacturing, electronics, and other sectors. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa delivers a speech via video link at the opening ceremony of the 19th Beijing-Tokyo Forum in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 19, 2023. [Photo/China.com.cn] Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, in a recorded video speech for the event, said Japan and China have achieved remarkable progress in areas such as politics, the economy, and culture, as well as through exchanges of visits, as guided by the spirit of the treaty for the development of long-lasting peace and friendly bilateral ties. Mounting challenges It is crucial, especially at times with mounting challenges, for Beijing and Tokyo to engage in more dialogues, contributing to a constructive and stable Sino-Japanese relationship, she said. Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda delivers a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 19th Beijing-Tokyo Forum in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 19, 2023. [Photo/China.com.cn] At the forum, former Japanese prime minister Yasuo Fukuda recalled the moment 45 years ago when he witnessed the exchange ceremony of the historical treaty. "On Oct 23, 1978, at the prime minister's residence in Japan, my father, then prime minister Takeo Fukuda, and the late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping witnessed the exchange of the two countries' treaty documents. At that moment, the treaty officially came into effect, and the two leaders embraced each other, sharing joy. I was right there witnessing this touching scene," he said. Against the backdrop of the deepening global divisions and conflicts, revisiting and returning to the core principles of the treaty is the most urgent thing for the two countries to do, he added. Du Zhanyuan, president of China International Communications Group, addresses the opening ceremony of the 19th Beijing-Tokyo Forum in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 19, 2023. [Photo/China.com.cn] Du Zhanyuan, president of China International Communications Group, one of the organizers of the event, highlighted the crucial role of people-to-people exchanges, especially youth exchanges between China and Japan, in enhancing mutual understanding. The two-day forum is attended by officials, business leaders, and scholars from both countries, discussing Sino-Japanese cooperation in fields including digital economy, regional security, and international collaboration. The annual event was co-hosted by China International Communications Group and Japanese nonprofit think tank Genron NPO. Jury selection begins Friday for the first trial in the Georgia election interference case. Kenneth Chesebro, an attorney who represented former President Donald Trump , is one of 19 co-defendants indicted in their alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia. Two defendants, attorney Sidney Powell and bondsman Scott Hall, have already entered guilty pleas. Well have a reporter and photographer following the jury selection process throughout the day on Channel 2 Action News. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Powell originally was going to trial with Chesebro next week before she reached an agreement with the Fulton County District Attorneys Office on Thursday. Powell pleaded guilty to six counts of conspiracy to commit intentional interference with the performance of election duties. She will serve six years probation, pay a $6,000 fine and pay $2,700 in restitution to the Georgia Secretary of States Office. She will also have to testify truthfully against the co-defendants. RELATED STORIES: ABC News reported that the Fulton County District Attorneys Office offered Chesebro a plea deal earlier this week, but he rejected the offer. The deal would have forced him to testify against his co-defendants, including former Pres. Trump, in exchange for three years probation and a $10,000 fine. The terms of the deal also included a written letter of apology, sources told ABC. During a hearing earlier this week, McAfee suggested in court that the trial against Chesebro could take up to five months. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Lawyer Kenneth Chesebro is sworn in during a plea deal hearing, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, at the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta. Chesebro, who was was charged alongside former President Donald Trump and 17 others with violating the state's anti-racketeering law in efforts to overturn Trump's loss in the 2020 election in Georgia, pleaded guilty to a felony just as jury selection was getting underway in his trial. (Alyssa Pointer/Pool Photo via AP) ATLANTA (AP) Lawyer Kenneth Chesebro pleaded guilty to a felony on Friday just as jury selection was getting underway in his trial on charges accusing him of participating in efforts to overturn Donald Trumps loss in the 2020 election in Georgia. Chesebro, who was charged alongside Trump and 17 others with violating the states anti-racketeering law, pleaded guilty to one felony charge of conspiracy to commit filing false documents in a last-minute deal, with prosecutors agreeing to dismiss the other charges. His plea came a day after fellow attorney Sidney Powell, who had been scheduled to go to trial alongside him, entered her own guilty plea to six misdemeanor counts. In Chesebro's case, he was sentenced to five years probation and 100 hours of community service and was ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution, write an apology letter to Georgias residents and testify truthfully at any related future trial. The two guilty pleas along with a third for a bail bondsman last month are major victories for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. They allow her to avoid a lengthy trial of just two defendants which would have given those remaining a peek at her trial strategy and to whittle down an unwieldy pool of defendants. Unlike Powell, who was involved in strategy talks with the former president after the election, the indictment does not indicate direct contact between Chesebro and Trump. This could potentially limit any information he could offer prosecutors that would be helpful to them in their case against Trump. Chesebro's lawyer, Scott Grubman, said it is entirely up to prosecutors whether his client will be called to testify against others in the case, but he would be surprised if it happens. Asked if Trump should be worried about any testimony Chesebro might offer, Grubman said, I dont think so. Chesebro, who lives in Puerto Rico, was initially charged with felony racketeering and six other counts as part of a wide-ranging scheme to keep the Republican president in power after he lost the 2020 election to Democrat Joe Biden. The indictment alleges Chesebro coordinated and executed a plan to have 16 Georgia Republicans sign a certificate declaring falsely that Trump won the state and declaring themselves the states duly elected and qualified electors. Grubman said after the plea hearing that his client has been inaccurately described as the architect of some plan to overturn democracy." He said the plea deal contradicts that. I think this plea deal absolutely shows and proves that he was not and never was the architect of any sort of fake elector plan or anything like that, Grubman told reporters. For prosecutors, the plea deal assures that Chesebro publicly accepts responsibility for his conduct in the case and removes the uncertainty of a trial by a jury of his peers. It also compels him to testify in future trials in the case. Based on court filings by prosecutors, that could include communications he had with Trumps campaign lawyers and close associates, including co-defendant Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor and a Trump attorney. Trump attorney Steve Sadow said it appears as if Chesebros guilty plea was the result of pressure by Fani Willis and her team and the prosecutions looming threat of prison time. He also reiterated what he said after Powells guilty plea, which similarly included a commitment to testify in future trials: Once again, I fully expect that truthful testimony would be favorable to my defense strategy. Chesebro was also an unnamed, unindicted co-conspirator in an indictment filed against Trump by Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith. The former president was charged in that case with trying to illegally overturn the results of the 2020 election and block the peaceful transfer of power. The federal indictment alleges that co-conspirator 5 identified as Chesebro by The Associated Press through court and congressional records and other means assisted in devising and attempting to implement a plan to submit fraudulent slates of presidential electors to obstruct the certification proceeding. By the time Chesebro agreed to the plea deal, prospective jurors at his planned trial had already been sworn in and filled out an extensive questionnaire. He had been set to be tried alongside Powell after each filed a demand for a speedy trial. As part of Powell's deal, she will serve six years of probation, will be fined $6,000 and will have to write an apology letter to Georgia and its residents. She also recorded a statement for prosecutors and agreed to testify truthfully against her co-defendants at future trials. A lower-profile defendant in the case, bail bondsman Scott Graham Hall, pleaded guilty last month to five misdemeanor charges. He was sentenced to five years of probation and agreed to testify in further proceedings. All of the other defendants, including Trump and his White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, have pleaded not guilty. Grubman said this deal means his client will get to return to his family and his life without spending a day behind bars. He said he believes that getting prosecutors to agree on the record that this was not a crime of moral turpitude should allow Chesebro to continue practicing law. Prosecutors allege that Chesebro unlawfully conspired with Trump and lawyers associated with his campaign to have the group of Georgia Republicans sign the false elector certificate and to submit it to various federal authorities. He also communicated with Trump campaign lawyers and Republican leaders in other swing states won by Biden to get those states to submit false slates of electors as well, prosecutors alleged. That included writing memos advocating for Republicans in those states to meet and cast electoral votes for Trump and providing detailed instructions for how the process should be carried out. In an email to Giuliani, he outlined strategies to disrupt and delay the joint session of Congress on Jan. 6, 2021, during which electoral votes were to be certified. He wrote that those strategies were "preferable to allowing the Electoral Count Act to operate by its terms. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis criticized visits to Israel by his blue-state counterparts during a Friday interview with Newsmax. DeSantis argued such visits by U.S. politicians are ultimately not productive to Israels goal of defeating Hamas, and that he has elected to stay put. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul visited Israel this week, as did President Joe Biden, with California Gov. Gavin Newsom set to make a similar visit in the near future. DeSantis, in contrast, decried such trips and said that even though hes been asked, hes not going to go over there at this time. I think that to have politicians going over there and trying to getI think youre just getting in the way of whats going on, DeSantis said on Newsmax. Theyve got a job to do. Our job here in the United States is to support them. Read it at POLITICO Read more at The Daily Beast. Until this week, Josh Paul was a figure little-known beyond diplomatic and military circles. He had spent more than 11 years at the State Department as a civil servant, focusing heavily on the issue of arms transfers from the United States to other countries. Hed watched as the United States sent weapons to many troublesome regimes, but he thought his input had helped keep the system from thoughtless overreach. The U.S. rush to arm Israel in its battle against Hamas militants proved a breaking point for Paul. The 45-year-old, an American who grew up in London and speaks with a distinctive British accent, quit his position in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs. He posted a resignation letter that he said resonated with many inside the State Department. In it, he condemned the Hamas attack as a monstrosity but wrote that he believes the military response Israel is taking will only lead to more and greater suffering. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is an issue Paul has studied academically, writing a masters thesis on Israeli counterterrorism and civil rights, and he has also lived in the West Bank. In a conversation with POLITICO Magazine, Paul laid out why he thinks the U.S. approach to this war is wrongheaded and why Israel should pursue options beyond an invasion of the Gaza Strip. He even read some excerpts of the emails he sent to his former superiors. This conversation has been edited for clarity. Nahal Toosi: Have you received more negative or more positive responses to your resignation? Josh Paul: Overwhelmingly more positive. Ive been really surprised and touched by the outreach Ive received from both colleagues, or former colleagues, I guess, across the interagency and in the legislative branch, as well as just strangers whove reached out. Its been really moving. Toosi: And what have they been saying? Paul: What struck me the most about the outreach, particularly from colleagues, is that I didnt expect there would be much. This issue and criticism of Israel tends to be a bit of a third rail. And I thought people would want to stay as far away from it as they can. But so many colleagues have reached out to say, We understand where youre coming from. We support you. We feel the same way. This is really difficult, and were really struggling with this, too. And thats been really significant. Really eye opening. And then theres just people around the world just saying nice things, which is also encouraging. Toosi: What was the tipping point for you these last several days? Did something specific happen? Was there a particular moment of clarity? Paul: It wasnt a specific moment. Ive been watching events since the horrors of Oct. 7 and participating, of course, in the State Department and interagency discussions about how to respond, what we would do. Over that period, I just saw the lack of debate. Normally when we have controversial arms transfer decisions, those are hashed out intensively and sometimes over a period of weeks or months, or sometimes even years. There just wasnt any space for that sort of discussion. I attempted it on a number of occasions, in emails and conversations and discussions and meetings. But there was no response, just, OK, got it. Lets move on. Were doing this. Seeing that and recognizing that also, unlike with previous controversial arms transfers, where Congress has had a bite at the apple and has held cases or has debated cases, or has voted on cases, there also wouldnt be a space for debate in the congressional sphere, I realized that the only opportunity to raise this issue and to press it was in the public sphere and that required me standing down. Toosi: Werent you also on some pre-planned leave at the time? Paul: I was on leave, but since Covid, leave hasnt really meant leave. We all telework, and I was constantly on email, on the phone. There was a degree of distance, which was, I think, was quite helpful for me because it allowed me to stand back and see everything that was going on with a bit of perspective, but I was not at all left out of the discussions. Toosi: Did you make the arguments that you lay out in your letter internally before quitting? And did you consider other methods to voice your disagreement, such as the State Departments dissent channel? Paul: Yeah. As early as, I think it was the Monday after Hamas attacks, I sent out an email to a number of folks in leadership positions and said we need to think about this and, rather than rushing to provide security assistance, think about why this hasnt worked in the past and what we can do differently this time. And we should not rush to provide military equipment, but we should take a more thoughtful stance. That was met with well, from some colleagues, offline words of agreement, but with no substantive response and everything just moved forward. And then over the course of the week, I raised the point again, on a number of calls with colleagues, including bureau leadership. I didnt participate in a dissent channel in this instance. I find the dissent channel an important channel, but not a particularly effective one. Toosi: When you were saying, We need to be more thoughtful about this, what was the argument you were making as to why we need to be more thoughtful about this? Paul: If youll bear with me, Ill refresh my memory by bringing up my email. If I can quote to you? Toosi: Yes, please. Paul: I said, Its been clear for decades that the only route to that future that future being peace is not through military victory, but through diplomatic compromise, not through creating fear, but through building trust, not through killing enemies, but through making friends, not through imposing suffering, but through inspiring hope. On all these counts, what is happening now in Israel is a tragedy not only for lives it is taking and also for the future, whose possibility it is foreclosing upon for yet another generation. In this conflict everyone loses, and the longer it lasts, the greater the losses will be. Toosi: This is what you were telling your superiors in your email? Paul: Yeah. Toosi: Thats the email you sent them? Paul: Yes. I know this is an unpopular opinion and too soon, but maybe the best thing for Israel right now is not security assistance in the sort of volume that makes them think they can afford to just ignore the Palestinian question and hope that, cordoned off, it will go away. Or to put it another way, if we werent giving them billions a year for decades, is it more or less likely they would have found it in their interest for the Oslo process to work and we wouldnt be where we are today. Toosi: You wrote that in an email to your bosses? Paul: Yeah. Theyre used to it. Toosi: You mean youve made these arguments before? Paul: Yes, and not just on Israel. On a host of controversial arms transfers with partners that are difficult. Toosi: And their reaction this time was, Thanks. Were moving on. Paul: Yup. Exactly. Toosi: Could you tell me who you sent the emails to? Paul: Id rather not single out individuals. Toosi: Did the secretary of State ? Paul: No. The secretary of State was not one of those. Toosi: Over the years, youve helped facilitate arm sales to many regimes with poor human rights records. Why is Israel different? Is it worse than Egypt, worse than Saudi Arabia? Paul: No. Im not making an argument that Israel is worse than Egypt, worse than Saudi Arabia. You said Ive facilitated many arms sales to that sort of regime. I would say Ive hindered and delayed many arms sales to that sort of regime. The fundamental difference here is that there was no appetite, no opportunity, no space for that sort of policy discussion, which can have a difference. It can draw out the timelines, it can introduce opportunities to mitigate arms sales. Theres just none of that here. Toosi: But just to be clear, is Israel different from Egypt or Saudi or elsewhere? I mean, are they different in terms of how they use our weaponry? Paul: I mean, every unhappy country is unhappy in its own way. Its a fundamentally different situation. The people the Saudis are hurting the most are the Saudis, the people the Egyptians are hurting the most are the Egyptians. The people the Israelis are hurting is not the Israelis. It is a different situation in that regard and in many others, but Im not going to quantify degrees of awfulness. Toosi: In your letter explaining your resignation, you wrote that the Biden administrations approach has been an impulsive reaction built on confirmation bias, political convenience, intellectual bankruptcy and bureaucratic inertia. Can you further explain what you mean by that? Paul: So obviously impulsive, right, because it was a response to the horrific make no bones about that absolutely horrific, horrendous Hamas attack. Thats the impulsive aspect. The confirmation bias we always talk about Israel has a right to defend itself. And lets provide Israel with the Iron Dome, which by the way, I entirely support. They should not have to live under rocket fire. But we never turned it around and think about the threat to Palestinians from Israeli incursions into their villages in the West Bank on a constant basis, from bombardment from Israel against homes in Gaza, or housing demolitions in the West Bank. We always approach this problem from one perspective, and I think thats part of the problem. Political convenience? I think the Biden administration doesnt want a battle with Republicans in particular, but also internal to the Democratic Party about Israel and are we pro-Israel enough and whos the most pro-Israel? Intellectual bankruptcy in the sense that weve seen for over 20 years that the commitment we made to Israel of security for peace, essentially, has not led to security or peace and in fact, leads to insecurity and makes peace further away. Bureaucratic inertia? Well, its Israel. Lets move it. Inertia in the sense that this is what we always do, so lets keep doing it. Rather than thinking, pausing, discussing. Toosi: What is the alternative? Stop arming Israel? You yourself denounced what Hamas did as a monstrosity of monstrosities. Wouldnt tempering support for Israel only give Hamas and other extremists more incentive to attack again? Paul: No. There are several aspects here. There is first of all a broader political question this approach has not worked. Honestly, you hear Netanyahu and Israel talking about This is going to be a military operation to destroy Hamas. Maybe you can destroy the organization of Hamas, but you cannot destroy what Hamas is and sort of the resistance that it represents through military means. There has to be a political solution, and the military means move us further away from the political solution. That said, Israel certainly has the capability to take out the al-Qassam Brigades and the leaders of Hamas. It has demonstrated this capability. Weve seen various Israeli operations from the assassination of Yahya Ayyash, with the cellphone, to the poisoning in Amman of a Hamas leader to Israels response to the 1972 Olympics, where it said that it would hunt down and kill everyone who had taken part in that, and it did. So there are options for Israel that do not involve displacing 600,000 civilians. There are options for Israel that do not involve killing thousands of civilians. I dont know how many Palestinian civilians have to die per Israeli civilian killed, but I think there are other ways of doing this that are actually more productive for Israels own interests. Toosi: You actually know a lot about this conflict. Youve seen this issue up close, having lived in Ramallah and establishing connections with both Israelis and Palestinians. What aspect of it do you think more people need to understand? Paul: I think most people would say the historical context, but I dont think thats right. I think what more people need to understand is the day-to-day experience of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, which are very different from each other but horrible in their own ways. People need to understand that there are just a lot of innocent human beings, civilians, on both sides. In fact, the majorities of both populations just want to live in peace, just want to live their lives, raise their families. Its not that simple, of course. But I think people dont grasp the day-to-day realities, and tend to only see one side of the conflict, because thats the side thats easy to access, that is media savvy, that is in many ways more relatable from an American perspective. Toosi: If this does become a regional war one that involves, say, Iran doesnt the United States have an obligation to militarily support its allies? Paul: Thats a separate question, right? Now youre not talking about security assistance in the way that I have been in terms of arms transfers. Youre talking about U.S. military involvement. Toosi: Lets limit it to arms transfers, because thats what you know. Shouldnt we be doing this because of the threat of regional war as well? This is not just a deterrent for Hamas, its a deterrent for Iran, etc. Paul: Well, first of all, weve done that. The Biden administration has done that effectively by sending, it looks like two carrier strike groups to the Eastern Mediterranean. That sends a deterrent message to Hezbollah and to Iran. When we talk about arms transfers what arms are we talking about? Are we talking about firearms? Are we talking about joint direct attack munitions, are we talking about small diameter bombs? Because each of those is very different sort of target sets. What units are we talking about? Are we talking about units with a track record of civilian casualties? Or are we talking about the units that have a track record of being more discriminatory? Are we talking about units that are involved in long-range strike capabilities, or are we talking about units that are involved in cross-border attacks? Theres a lot of complexity that goes into it. If thats the question, then those need to be discussed rather than again, just saying, carte blanche, Heres everything you want. Toosi: Whats your advice to the Biden administration then about how it should move forward on this crisis? Paul: Specifically to the arms transfer issue, I would encourage the Biden administration to heed its own policies. They issued the Conventional Arms Transfer Policy of this administration in February, which raises the standard to its credit for the consideration of human rights in arms exports, including saying that we will not authorize the transfer of arms when it is more likely than not that they will be used for violations of international humanitarian law, international law and various other human rights violations. Theres a track record when it comes to Israel and Gaza, of them being used for purposes that they were not provided. And I encourage the Biden administration to hold itself to its own standard, which it does everywhere else in the world. More broadly, there has to be a push for a political solution. There is an acute military aspect to this, but theres not a military solution. And the displacement of hundreds of thousands, the collective punishment of the Palestinians, a sort of a tightening of the noose does not get Israel its safety, its security. We have a responsibility, as a friend of Israel, to point this out to them and to lean on them. Toosi: Youre an American citizen who grew up in London. Does that background give you a different perspective on this issue then many of your colleagues at the State Department? Paul: No. As I said, Ive been surprised and really moved by how many colleagues have reached out to me and said were with you, and we feel the same way. There are a lot of people who do feel the same way. And they have grown up in Kansas or wherever it might be. Toosi: Whats next for you? Paul: Well, for now, I dont know what the long term is. But Ill keep advocating on this issue in the immediate term, and well see what comes. Early Sunday, in the morning darkness before the sun came up, thieves broke into vehicles at the townhouse complex where Adrienne Blanford and her family live in south Kansas City. They pulled up in what looked like a dark-colored Kia Soul, jumped out and ransacked cars from one end of the lot to the other, Blanford told The Star Friday. They were on a mission, said Blanford, who watched a neighbors Ring camera video of the incident. When they got to Blanfords vehicle, something apparently startled them because they got scared and took off in my van, she said. She bought that used, 2011 Honda Odyssey with donations from strangers after she gave birth to a set of rare triplets at University Health. The Star wrote about them when they were born. GoFundMe money helped her make a down payment and she relied on that van for her seven children under the age of 9. She was still making monthly payments of more than $300. Now its gone. Because I came to the public to get the car I wanted to let them know that the car they helped me get had been taken, Blanford said. Were not begging for anything. We just want our van back. Im just sick about it. Im hoping that they return it. All this week Blanford has been driving the kids around in her moms car, way smaller than the 8-passenger, three-row Odyssey and, lets just say, less than ideal for hauling four car seats. University Health officials shared Blanfords childbirth story publicly in January because her three babies were considered an odds-defying trio. Hospital officials also alerted The Star to what happened to the van. Most triplets are born through some kind of reproductive assistance. But Blanfords babies were not. And the possibility that they were identical made them even more unusual. Triplets are rare. Twins happen about 1 every 80 births or so. But triplets, natural triplets, are about 1 every 8,000 births, said Dr. Joshua Petrikin, a University Health pediatrician and neonatal specialist said in January. And identical triplets are more like one every 50,000 births. So theyre rare. Theyre still exciting whenever they happen. Blanford already had four children with her husband, Alim Muhammad, and was shocked when she found out they were having triplets. Then the babies were born prematurely at nearly 31 weeks, within three minutes of each other on Jan. 10. After she was discharged, Blanford had to leave the girls behind in the hospitals neonatal intensive care unit for several weeks. At birth, none weighed much more than 3 pounds, the smallest girl weighing 2 pounds, 12 ounces. Today, everything is going good, for EMani, Leilani and Khelani, she said. Theyve been doing perfect. Theyre hitting their milestones. Gaining weight ... sitting up, holding their heads up, all their motor skills, said Blanford, who audits customer service phone calls full-time for a living. Blanfords mother set up the GoFund Me to help her daughter bring the babies home safely. Their previous van was too small. We were just so grateful for the donations when the girls could come home and we had the van, Blanford said. A spokesman for the Kansas City Police Department said Friday that the theft had been reported and investigators are handling it. There are no updates or information to provide at this time, said Capt. Corey Carlisle. We all hope for a timely resolution and return of their vehicle. Blanford is holding out for some kind of miracle, maybe one of those sappy movie endings where the thieves turn out to have hearts of gold. When they see the car seats, backpacks, sippy cups, diapers, baby wipes and tiny fingerprints on the inside of the windows, theyll know I have kids, she said. So Im hoping they dont tear it up. At least let us find it. Im just, like, please. It was her bad luck, she knows, that she left the doors unlocked. It just so happened that night I was trying to catch the stores before they closed, ran out and got some milk, she said. I dont know if I was tired or I was trying to get back quickly ... I always make sure to click (the door locks) ... before I get inside. And oh my god, the one night I didnt lock the doors. The stolen van is a 2011 gold Honda Odyssey with Missouri license plate CX6U1C. TOPEKA, Kan. Kansas is poised to nearly double its lawmakers pay in 2025 in hopes of attracting more diverse members, only months after the Legislature boosted the salaries of other state officials. A commission created by the Republican-controlled Legislature to study lawmakers pay on Thursday approved a proposal to increase the compensation for rank-and-file members by nearly $28,000 a year, a 93% increase to nearly $58,000. Leavenworth police investigate suspicious death of 1-year-old Legislative leaders, who receive extra pay, would see proportionally larger dollar increases, so that the Senate president and House speaker would be paid more than $85,000 a year, up from the current $44,000. The commissions plan will take effect unless both legislative chambers vote to reject it by Feb. 7, a month after lawmakers convene their 2024 session. Under the plan, Kansas lawmakers would be paid better than their counterparts in a majority of states not only neighbors like Iowa and Missouri, but also more populous ones like New Jersey and Texas, according to National Conference of State Legislatures data. New York has the highest-paid lawmakers, at $142,000 a year, following a 29% raise at the start of this year. Like legislators in other states, some Kansas lawmakers have complained for years that its a financial hardship to serve in the Legislature. They have said the current $30,000 in compensation isnt enough to live on year-round and that being in office makes it difficult or even impossible to work at an outside job when lawmakers are in session. Two Kansas prison employees fired after injured inmate mocked You dont want it to be, Were not going to pay anything and get all retirees or wealthy people,' said former Republican state Rep. Clark Shultz, one of eight ex-legislators on the nine-member commission. We also dont want $100,000 salaries and people, this becomes their jobs. Its not clear whether the plan will face opposition in the Legislature, though all 40 Senate seats and 125 House seats are up for election next year. The commissions staff, on loan from the Legislature, reported receiving only a single negative comment, an email Wednesday from a concerned resident of Kansas, whose name was withheld. Senate President Ty Masterson and House Speaker Dan Hawkins, both Wichita-area Republicans, didnt offer opinions Thursday on the proposal, saying they respected the commissions work. The law creating the Legislative Compensation Commission also increased the salaries of the states judges and elected executive branch officials. A 2019 legislative audit found that most other states paid more and that Kansas was among the bottom 10 in pay for the governor and attorney general. Overland Park officers not criminally charged for loose use of charity money Starting in 2025, the governors salary will jump 57%, to $174,000. The attorney general will receive nearly $170,000, a 72% increase, and the salaries of the secretary of state, state treasurer and insurance commissioner will increase 87%, to almost $161,000. As for legislators, states vary in how they pay them. New Mexico doesnt provide a salary but pays up to $202 a day to cover lawmakers expenses when they are in session, according to the NCSL. Most states pay a salary and give their lawmakers extra money each day to cover expenses in session. In Kansas, the daily in-session checks to cover expenses account for about half of the current compensation of $30,000 a year for rank-and-file lawmakers, and those payments wont change under the commissions plan. The rest of their annual compensation is a salary of roughly $7,800 for their work in session and an allowance of $7,100 to cover office expenses out of session, and neither figure has increased since 2009. Under the plan, a $43,000 salary will replace both. Kansas news: Headlines from Wichita, Topeka and around the Sunflower State When Kansas became a state in 1861, its constitution specified that lawmakers were to receive $3 a day in session, up to $150. They didnt get a raise for nearly 90 years, with voters rejecting five proposals before approving pay of $12 a day in 1948. In 1962, voters said lawmakers pay could be set by state law. I think this is a better approach, said another commission member, former Democratic state Sen. Anthony Hensley. You dont put legislators in a position where theyre increasing their own pay. You have a group of people that really studied this from the outside. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. YE24, we hardly knew ye. The prospect of a Kanye West presidential run this election cycle appears dead. Yes personal attorney Bruce Marks, who is advising the wind-down of the rappers campaign apparatus, tells Rolling Stone: Hes not a candidate for office in 2024. Evidence of the decision not to pursue a presidential bid is reflected in the October Federal Election Commission filing by Yes political committee, Kanye 2020, which steered Yes oddball presidential bid three years ago and was used by the rapper to test the waters for a 2024 run. Right-wing operative Milo Yiannopoulos who made a splash in May by declaring himself to be the director of political operations of YE24 is no longer on payroll. The committee is now run by its treasurer, and recent expenditures are consistent with closing up shop. The committee has less than $25,000 cash on hand. While the infamously mercurial Ye could always reverse course, a source close to the Kanye 2020 committee insists that theres no plan to do that, adding theres no campaign structure or anything along those lines in place. The source tells Rolling Stone that the likelihood of a YE24 bid is beyond remote. A year ago, a second Kanye presidential bid appeared imminent. The rapper signaled his intention to run for the White House amid his antisemitic blitz of late 2022, during which he declared his love for Hitler. In May, Ye reinstated Yiannopoulos whom hed previously fired at the helm of his political committee. Described by the Anti Defamation League as a misogynistic, racist, xenophobic, transphobic troll, Yiannopoulos quickly wrested command of the nascent YE24 operation from the white nationalist and Holocaust denier, Nick Fuentes. Prospective presidential candidates often explore a new run using their previous campaign machinery. Kanye 2020 filled this purpose for Ye, but the prospective 2024 campaign was quickly engulfed by scandal and infighting one former staffer describes it to Rolling Stone as dysfunction and malfunction from the beginning. Evidence of this drama can be found in recent government filings that allege unauthorized spending and document abrupt staff departures. Just days after Yiannopoulos returned to power, it came to light that he had purchased the internet domain name Ye24.com using the campaign credit card of another political client, Marjorie Taylor Greene. (Yiannopoulos insisted hed innocently mixed up AMEX cards. The Taylor Greene camp blasted Yiannopoulos for gross negligence.) Then, significant questions arose about whether the employment of the British-born Yiannopoulos was licit. FEC regulations broadly restrict foreign nationals from sitting in decision-making roles in American political campaigns. Yiannopoulos did not respond to questions about his immigration status or his ultimate departure from Kanye 2020. A July FEC filing revealed that Yiannopoulos received $31,200 from Kanye 2020 for what was listed as campaign wrap up services. However, a memo appended to that filing read: The legality of the Milo Yiannopoulos expenditure is under investigation by the Committee and Counsel. Devin White, who was the treasurer for Kanye 2020, made the July filing. In an interview with Rolling Stone, White claims he was hired by Yiannopoulos, but quickly became alarmed that his boss might not have the legal authority to make any hiring decisions. White recalls feeling that hed been dumped into a pile of shit, and he likens the management of the prospective YE24 campaign to building an airplane with no wings. It wasnt meant to fly. According to the October FEC filing, made public this week, White hired an attorney named Bruce Fein, whom White says was brought on to help resolve the thorny compliance questions swirling around Yiannopoulos. (A source with knowledge of the Kanye 2020 committee argues that Yiannopoulos employment did not run afoul of election laws, because Yiannopoulos was never involved in an active election effort. There was never a 2024 campaign, the source says.) By late July, White was suddenly replaced by a new treasurer, Hassan Sheikh. The October FEC filing, submitted by Sheikh, appends a memo to the $10,000 paid for Feins services, calling the expenditure unauthorized and potentially fraudulent because White had been expressly instructed not to make it. Similar memos are appended to two payments White, himself, received. White says he completely contests the characterizations in the FEC filing. Fein did not respond to interview requests. In a statement to Rolling Stone on behalf of Kanye 2020, Marks, Yes attorney, says White was terminated as Kanye 2020 acting treasurer for cause. It explains the departure of Yiannopoulos by insisting that his services were no longer needed when Kanye 2020 engaged Hassan Sheikh, an experienced compliance professional, as its treasurer. The statement underscores that: Ye is not a candidate for any office and that Yiannopoulos is now the director of public affairs for Yeezy, LLC. With Kanye West on the shelf for 2024, voters looking to fritter away their democratic power by voting for independent candidates will now be forced to choose between a different West Cornel West or former Democrat, and active conspiracy theorist, Robert F. Kennedy. Jr. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. HARRIS COUNTY, Texas - A Katy man has been sentenced to 50 years behind bars in connection with a deadly 2021 murder at a Houston motel, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced on Thursday. Derek Maurice Singleton, 25, pleaded guilty to murder on the eve of trial on Friday in the shooting death of 22-year-old Eric Soniat in a car in the parking lot of a motel in the 14800 block of Park Row, around 6 p.m. on April 2, 2021. Derek Maurice Singleton, 25, (left) and Eric Soniat, 22 (right). "Unfortunately, we see cases like this far too often in which someone pulls a gun and starts shooting without any regard for the consequences," Ogg said. "We were ready to go trial when this defendant accepted responsibility for what he did, and hopefully seeing justice served in this case will give this young mans family some closure." According to a release, Singleton was meeting with Soniat and another man to buy a bag of marijuana when Singleton opened fire and shot both men several times. Soniat was killed. The other man survived and told police what happened. Singleton was scheduled to go to trial this week when he pleaded guilty in exchange for a sentence of 50 years in prison. He was facing the possibility of life in prison. FOX 26 Houston is now on the FOX LOCAL app available through Apple TV, Amazon FireTV, Roku and Google Android TV! According to the terms of the agreement, Singleton cannot appeal the conviction or the sentence. He must serve at least half of the prison sentence before he will be eligible for parole. "Unfortunately, we see cases like this far too often in which someone pulls a gun and starts shooting without any regard for the consequences," Ogg said. "We were ready to go trial when this defendant accepted responsibility for what he did, and hopefully seeing justice served in this case will give this young mans family some closure." Kazakhstan's Trade Ministry refuted on Oct. 19 earlier reports about banning the export of 106 dual-use goods to Russia, calling the statements attributed by local media to Deputy Trade Minister Kairat Torebayev "incorrect." "No bans have been imposed on the export of any goods to the Russian Federation in connection with anti-Russia sanctions," the ministry's press release read. The ministry stressed that trade relations between Kazakhstan and Russia are "carried out in full accordance with the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) treaty." The EEU, consisting of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, and Armenia, is a project geared toward the economic integration of the five members with the aim of creating a common market. "At the same time, we note that trade in so-called dual-use goods, which are subject to export control, is carried out in accordance with the international obligations of the Republic of Kazakhstan," the press release read. Join our community Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Support Us Import, export, and transit of such products is possible only with appropriate licenses, the ministry said, noting that "the export control of dual-use goods has been carried out for over 20 years in accordance with international export control regimes." Kazakh media reported earlier on Oct. 19 that Astana decided to ban the export of several products with potential military use to Russia "in connection with the global situation," citing Torebayev, the Trade Ministry's deputy head. "These include 106 different products. We have completely restricted their export," Torebayev reportedly told journalists on the sidelines of Kazakhstan's Senate. "These are military products, for example, drones, internal components, specialized electronics, chips, and similar goods." Astana has received criticism for allowing Moscow to circumvent international sanctions imposed on Russia over its aggression against Ukraine. This included importing and then re-exporting goods that the Russian defense industry uses for arms production. During his visit to Berlin in late September, Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said that Astana will "definitely comply" with the sanctions regime against Russia. Read also: Investigative Stories from Ukraine: Massive leak reveals how Putins oligarchs evaded Western sanctions imposed due to Ukraine invasion Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) is the latest member of Congress to report receiving death threats related to the House GOPs internal conflict over selecting the next Speaker. In an NBC interview Thursday, Buck said his office has received four death threats over his refusal to support Rep. Jim Jordans (R-Ohio) effort to become Speaker. In both Speaker ballots this week, Buck voted for House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.). Right now is this constant barrage of phone calls, we have I have six full-time people answering the phones, he said. Out of 20,000 messages, he added, so far Ive had four death threats. Buck also said hes lost office space from a landlord upset with his opposition to Jordan. Ive been evicted from my office in Colorado. I have notice of an eviction because the landlord is mad with my voting record on the Speaker issue, he said. And everybody in the conference is getting this. Family members have been approached and threatened. All kinds of things are going on. Theres going to be some tension. Republican Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Iowa), Drew Ferguson (Ga.) and Don Bacon (Neb.) have also reported threats for not backing Jordan. Twenty-two Republicans voted against Jordan in the second Speaker vote Wednesday, two more than the 20 who voted against him on the first ballot. He won 199 votes, one fewer than a day before. He needs 217 votes on the floor to be named Speaker with all 433 members present. A third ballot is expected Friday. In the Thursday interview, Buck, one of eight Republicans who voted with Democrats to unseat former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), said Jordan should give up his attempts to lead the House. I think the best move is for Jim to withdraw at this point, he said. I think he may need another vote to be convinced that hes not going to get there, which is fine. He was the nominee. The conference should give him that respect. But I think at some point, we need to move on and find the 217 votes for a plan. Jordan held a press conference Friday morning, however, that suggested hes not close to giving up his push for the Speakership. On Thursday, Jordan briefly supported giving temporary powers to Speaker Pro Rem Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), but it soon became clear that dozens of Republicans opposed that effort. Buck said he would support making McHenry the Speaker, but only for a limited period. I would give a vote to make him the Speaker of the House for a temporary time period, and I would during that time period work very hard with my Republican colleagues to try to find the 217 votes to make sure that we have a permanent Speaker for the rest of this conference, he said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. You are here: World Flash The China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD) has donated educational items to 18,536 students of primary schools in Laos. The handover ceremony was held at Thongmang Primary School in Xaythany District in the capital Vientiane on Thursday, Lao News Agency reported on Friday. The educational items given to the schools included books, bags, colored pencils, colored pens, among others. The Lao Committee for Peace and Solidarity expressed gratitude to the CFRD and the Chinese people for providing the items. Vilaphong, representing teachers and students, expressed his heartfelt thanks to the CFRD and pledged to offer good education for students. The CFRD has so far donated educational items to 251 primary schools in the southern Lao provinces of Savannakhet and Salavan. Kenneth Chesebro, a co-defendant with Donald Trump in the Georgia election conspiracy case, on Friday became the third person to plead guilty to a felony in the conspiracy to interfere in the 2020 election. Chesebro, a lawyer who advised the Trump campaign, was initially charged as part of the broader racketeering conspiracy with developing the plan for fake presidential electors to support Trump despite him losing the state to President Joe Biden. He faced the overall racketeering charge and a half-dozen charges dealing with fake electors. Chesebro, whose trial was scheduled to begin Monday, pleaded guilty to a single charge of conspiracy to commit filing false documents. He agreed to serve five years on probation, pay a $5,000 restitution and testify against others in future cases. His agreement fell under Georgia's First Offender Act, which will clear his record if he successfully completes his probation. "Guilty," said Chesebro, whose trial was scheduled to begin Monday. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee found a factual basis for the charge and accepted the plea as provided voluntarily and intelligently. "I just wanted to thank you for the way you've handled these proceedings," Chesebro said. Lawyer Kenneth Chesebro, appears before Judge Scott MacAfee during a motions hearing on Oct. 10, 2023, in Atlanta. Chesebro has pleaded guilty to a felony just as jury selection was getting underway in his trial on charges accusing him of participating in efforts to overturn Donald Trump's loss in Georgia's 2020 election. Chesebro was charged alongside the Republican ex-president and 17 others with violating the state's anti-racketeering law. Chesebro agreed to remain in Atlanta for several days to iron out the logistics to serve his probation in Puerto Rico, where he lives. He is expected to complete his probation in three years under customary rules for good behavior, his lawyer Scott Grubman said. Daysha Young, the executive district attorney in Fulton County, described Chesebro's offenses as creating and distributing false documents in Georgia and other states for people to submit to the National Archives and Congress. "The defendant provided detailed instructions to co-conspirators in Georgia and other states for creating and distributing these false documents," she said. Trump and one of his personal lawyers, John Eastman, asked the Republican National Committee to recruit fake electors in Georgia and other states, Young said. Another lawyer, Rudy Giuliani , asked people to serve as fake electors and "provided strategic instructions" to co-conspirators about executing the plan, Young said. Sixteen co-defendants in the case, including Trump, Eastman and Giuliani, have pleaded not guilty. Legal experts said the co-defendants reaching plea agreements could provide powerful testimony during trials because they met with key players in the alleged racketeering conspiracy that sought to keep Trump in power. Chesebro was one of 19 co-defendants charged in the case, which alleged a broad racketeering conspiracy. The indictment described a conspiracy that included the recruitment of fake presidential electors to vote for Trump, lying about election results to state officials and in court records, and soliciting public officials to violate their oaths of office. Two other co-defendants have already pleaded guilty. Sidney Powell, another lawyer who baselessly claimed widespread election fraud, pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of conspiracy to commit theft by taking and five counts of conspiracy to commit intentional interference with performance of election duties. Powell agreed to testify in future trials in exchange for serving six years of probation, a $6,000 fine and paying restitution of $2,700. Another co-defendant, bail bondsman Scott Hall pleaded guilty last month to five misdemeanors and also agreed to testify against others. Chesebro wrote a series of memos explaining how Trump electors in Georgia and other states could meet and cast votes for Trump despite his losses in those states. But he acknowledged the strategy was somewhat dicey in Georgia because of state requirements. The strategy divided Trump campaign lawyers. Justin Clark, Trumps deputy campaign manager and senior counsel, told House investigators he had real problems with the process and got into a little bit of a back and forth with Chesebro. Besides the racketeering count, Chesebro was charged with six conspiracy counts dealing with forgery and false documents for the fake electors. The indictment detailed steps he took allegedly as part of the conspiracy: Dec. 10 he sent an email to David Shafer, chairman of the Georgia Republican Party and one of the fake electors, saying the Trump campaign asked him to help coordinate logistics of electors voting. Chesebro sent Shafer an email that day with attached documents for casting electoral votes. Dec. 13 he sent Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani an email outlining strategies for disrupting and delaying the Jan. 6, 2021, session of Congress to count electoral votes. Chesebro said the strategies were preferable to allowing the Electoral Count Act to operate by its own terms. Dec. 13 he sent an email to Mike Roman, a Trump campaign aide, with attached documents for Trump electors to use in Georgia and other states. Chesebro sent another email Dec. 13 to Roman saying Giuliani wants to keep this quiet until after all the voting is done, according to the indictment. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kenneth Chesebro, charged with Trump over fake electors, pleads guilty The Federal Bureau of Investigation recently released new hate crime data for 2022, and in Kentucky, fewer of such crimes were reported than in recent years. In Kentucky, most of the hate crimes reported in 2022 were motivated by race and ethnicity bias, followed by cases involving sexual orientation bias. In other reported cases, religion, gender, disability or multiple types of bias were factors. Zooming out to the national picture, anti-LGBTQ hate crimes rose sharply in 2022, with more than 11,600 cases reported. Thats the highest number recorded since 1991, when the FBI first began tracking hate crimes. Notably, crimes motivated by anti-transgender bias jumped 35% last year. Kentucky hate crime data shows 124 recorded crimes in 2022. Its worth noting hate crime data reporting by law enforcement agencies to the FBI is voluntary and may not accurately reflect the total number of hate crimes that occur in a given year. As researchers have pointed out, the FBIs hate crime statistics are flawed. Heres what to know about hate crimes in Kentucky, including what protections the state offers and how to report one. Nationwide data shows hate crimes increased last year. But Kentuckys numbers were lower Does Kentucky have a hate crime law? Kentucky does have a hate crime law, as laid out in Kentucky Revised Statute 532.031 The law provides that a person may be found to have committed a hate crime if they target someone because of their race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national origin, the statute reads. It also includes crimes motivated by someones actual or perceived employment as a state, city, county, or federal peace officer, member of an organized fire department, or emergency medical services personnel. KRS 532.031 grants judges the authority in such cases to deny probation or other sentencing reprieves to defendants, and it allows parole boards to delay or deny parole for people convicted of those crimes. However, the decision is left up to authorities and their discretion. Notably, Kentuckys hate crime law does not cover crimes motivated by anti-transgender bias. At the federal level, the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act allows the federal government to prosecute hate crimes, including those based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The federal government defines a hate crime as one committed on the basis of the persons perceived or actual race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability. The crimes are often violent, such as assault, murder, vandalism, arson or the threat to commit those crimes, even if they arent ultimately carried out. How to report a hate crime in Kentucky The U.S. Department of Justice advises individuals who are victims of or who have witnessed a hate crime to report it to state and local police first by calling either 911 or your local police station. The next step is to report the crime directly to the FBI, which you can do online at tips.FBI.gov. Another option is to contact the FBI by calling 1-800-225-5324, or reach out to your local FBI field office. If youre in Lexington or Fayette County, reports can be made to the Lexington Police Department. Hate crimes and any crimes can be reported to the Lexington Police Department by calling 911 in an emergency or (859) 258-3600. We encourage anyone who is a victim of a hate crime to come forward and report the crime, Hannah Sloan, public information officer for the LPD, told the Herald-Leader. Detectives in our Personal Crimes Section investigate hate or bias-motivated crimes. The detectives will look into all factors, including whether the crime was hate or bias-motivated, and ensure that the appropriate charges are placed, Sloan added. Do you have a question about crime in Kentucky for our service journalism team? Wed like to hear from you. Fill out our Know Your Kentucky form or email ask@herald-leader.com. A key suspect in the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise who has been on the run ever since the brazen July 7, 2021, attack in the hills of Port-au-Prince was arrested Thursday in Haiti. Joseph Felix Badio, a former government functionary who had been fired from his anti-corruption job two months earlier, was apprehended by Haitian police late Thursday in Petionville, National Police spokesman Garry Desrosiers confirmed to the Miami Herald. Wearing a black jacket and checkered shirt, Badio was picked up while grocery shopping in a popular supermarket. Badio is among several high-profile suspects who remained in hiding more than two years after the killing. There has long been widespread speculation that he was either the key person behind the scenes or a potential mastermind. If he cooperates, he may help investigators in Haiti and in the United States, where a parallel FBI investigation is ongoing, learn the truth about the plot to kill Moise, who ordered the assassination and why. More than likely, the judge in charge of the Haitian investigation, Walther Wesser Voltaire, is going to want to question Badio, unless an agreement has already been made with U.S. authorities to extradite him to Miami to face charges. READ MORE: Who was involved in killing of Haiti president Jovenel Moise? Last year, Badio released an audio recording in Creole denying his involvement in the assassination plot. He said he wasnt afraid of U.S. authorities and had written to the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince, presenting them with documents about the Haitian-Americans and the Colombian commandos accused in the case. While more than 40 people have been arrested in Haiti, including members of the presidents presidential guard and a group of Colombian mercenaries, none have yet to be formally charged. In the United States 11 people have been charged in the FBI-led case with either conspiring to assassinate Moise or with playing a supporting role. In the days after the killing, before going into hiding, Badio had identified himself as a representative of the Counter Terrorist Unit Security, or CTU. The Miami-area security firm was behind the hiring of more than 20 Colombians with military experience who are accused of storming Moises private residence in the middle of the night to kill him. A Haitian investigative police report first obtained by the Miami Herald showed him to be a key player in the plot and states that he was in contact with a number of suspects who have either been arrested or are wanted in connection with the killing. Among the allegations: Badio was supposed to steal an assault rifle from the anti-corruption unit where he worked as part of an initial plan to arrest Moise after he returned from a trip to Turkey in mid-June, weeks before his death. Haitian police said their information was based on their questioning of James Solages, one of the jailed Haitian Americans who said he was working as a translator with the group that stormed the presidents house in the hills above the capital. Solages, according to police, said they had planned to use the services of members of a rogue force of active and former police officers known as Fantom 509 by providing them with seven assault rifles. Between May and June, Badio logged 290 calls with a Cineus Francis Alexis, whose cellphone was transmitting from Petionville at 2:04 a.m. on the night of the attack and later in the vicinity of the National Palace. Solages and Joseph Vincent, another Haitian American jailed in the plot, told police that Badio told the group that Jean Laguel Civil, the presidents security coordinator who is currently jailed in Haiti in connection to the plot, had $80,000 in hand to bribe 80 palace guards. Civils attorney, Reynold Georges, previously denied the accusation to the Herald, calling it an attempt to persecute his client, who he said had nothing to do with the attack. Haitian police say Badio had been keeping tabs on Moise for months, and had even rented a house near the presidents residence. On the night of the killing, telephone records show that Badio was on the phone with several of the suspects, including a former police commissioner who was getting intelligence from one of Moises guards. The ex-cop, Marie Jude Gilbert Dragon, later died in prison after contracting COVID-19 during his imprisonment. Hours after Moises death, Badio called current Prime Minister Ariel Henry , who at the time had been designated for the post but had not yet been sworn in, leading to questions about whether there was a connection between the two men in the plot. Henry has categorically denied any involvement in the assassination and said he did not recall speaking to Badio the night of the presidents slaying. Henry said he and Badio had been in communication prior to July 7 because Badio was advising him on how to address Haitis ongoing gang problem. Moise had once considered Badio for the job of interior minister. Joseph Felix Badio, accused in the assassination of Haiti President Jovenel Moise, was arrested Thursday, October 19, 2023 by Haiti National Police at a supermarket in Petionville. Hes been a fugitive since July 7, 2021. In recordings made while in hiding, Badio has attacked Henry and issued threats against journalists, human rights advocates and police. He was believed to have been under the protection of one of the countrys more powerful gang leaders, Vitelhomme Innocent, and moved around with policemen as his bodyguards. Badios arrest is a major breakthrough for the investigation into Moises death, which is currently on its fifth investigative judge. The case has picked up momentum in the U.S. where several suspects are awaiting sentencing and a trial is scheduled for next year. Earlier this month, former Haiti Sen. Joseph Joel John, who had been detained in Jamaica before being brought to Miami last year, pleaded guilty in Miami federal court to conspiracy charges in the killing of Haitis leader. John acknowledged to FBI agents that he had met with some co-conspirators just before they embarked on the mission to kill President Moise at his suburban home outside Port-au-Prince, according to court records. READ MORE: How a Miami plot to oust a president led to a murder in Haiti John also attended meetings in South Florida and Haiti with key suspects and tried to acquire weapons and ammunition for them, according to his signed factual statement and other court records. Hes believed to have been a link between the various groups. On the night of the killing, he was in communication with several main suspects. John, 52, admitted that he helped obtain rental vehicles, made introductions to Haitian gang members and tried to get firearms for the co-conspirators operation targeting the president, according to a statement filed with his plea agreement. Josephs goal was to become the prime minister under Moises successor following the leaders removal from office. John pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide material support in the assassination, providing that support, and conspiring to kill or kidnap a person outside the United States. He faces up to life in prison at his sentencing on Dec. 19 before U.S. District Judge Jose Martinez, but he is cooperating with federal prosecutors and could receive a lower sentence down the road. In addition to John, there are two other defendants who previously pleaded guilty to the murder conspiracy. one is Retired Colombian army officer German Alejandro Rivera Garcia, aka Colonel Mike, 45, admitted last month that he met with several co-conspirators from Haiti and South Florida before leading a group of former Colombian soldiers to the Haitian presidents home to kill him. Rivera faces up to life in prison at his sentencing later this month The other is Haitian businessman Rodolphe Jaar, 51, who admitted to providing weapons, lodging and money in the conspiracy to assassinate Haitis president. A dual Haitian and Chilean citizen, Jaar was sentenced in June to life in prison but is hoping to get his prison term decreased with cooperation. He had previously been convicted of drug trafficking in the United States. John, who also goes by the name John Joel Joseph, was transferred in May 2022 to Miami from Jamaica, where he had been jailed on an immigration violation. John served in the Haitian Senate from 2009-15 and worked as a political and security consultant. According to a Haitian police investigative report, John rented five vehicles for the mission five weeks before the murder plot was carried out. He was joined by gang leader Innocent and a former rebel leader known as the Torturer, Miradieu Faustin. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) An altercation at a bus stop led to early morning chaos for students and parents in Tampa, Florida. The Hillsborough School District said bad behavior by parents was to blame, but parents are blaming the bus driver. Parents of students at Tampa Bay Boulevard Elementary School contacted Nexstars WFLA after witnessing a confrontation between a father and a bus driver at a bus stop before their children were dropped off at school. He [the father] got on the bus because his daughters wouldnt sit down, one parent, Lakeisha Brown, recalled. He told his kids to sit down (and) the bus driver started telling him, Hey, you cant be on the bus. Its trespassing.' Christopher and Roberta Laundrie send settlement proposal to Gabby Petitos parents Brown said the driver and the parent started arguing. The father reportedly yelled profanities, according to a police report, then got off the bus. A video shows the bus driver close the doors and drive off for a moment, then stop. Parents upset by the argument started yelling and running toward the bus, trying to get their kids off it. The kids were banging on the windows. I was banging on the door, other parents were as well. Finally, the back comes open. One of the kids open[s] the emergency exit, said Brown. Tampa police said a number of kids went out the emergency exit, as instructed by adults. No one was hurt during the incident. One parent, Paige Jones, tried to get onto the bus through the exit door as it was moving. I was actually trying to get onto the bus because he refused to let our kids off of the bus, Jones said. Sleepless nights: Multiple customers of roofing company have liens placed on homes The district said Jones was trespassing. Once the kids are on the bus, theyre required to stay there until they get to school. Police identified the bus driver as Alpheria Wright. According to a preliminary police report, officers arrived at the school and approached the bus, where Wright was waiting to be interviewed. After being unable to locate a students cell phone on the bus, an officer brought the student to the bus to see if he could locate it. Police said after several warnings, Wright failed to comply with the officers instructions and intentionally shut the bus doors several times against the officer, who stood in the doorway of the bus. Wright was arrested and charged with obstructing an officer without violence. Tampa police are still working to identify the man who entered the bus at the stop. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The story goes that Martin Scorsese almost became a priest. Instead he became a filmmaker, and he spent the next 50 years chronicling man's endless capacity for sin and depravity. For Scorsese, the question, always, is: Why do men do evil things? His films offer some recurring reasons: They are greedy, they are selfish, they are foolish, they are prideful, they are incapable of caring about the pain they inflict on others. But these common answers never tell the whole story. Because those same menthose evil, greedy, selfish, uncaring peoplecan also be fascinating, morally complex creatures who deserve empathy or at least understanding, and whose evil, in all its inscrutability, tells us something more about the fallen world we live in, and the nature of American society in particular. Scorsese's latest, the wildly ambitious and often masterful Killers of the Flower Moon, is another chronicle of the evil that men are capable of. It tells the true story of a string of killings in early 1920s Oklahoma, in which a well-connected white cattleman named William Hale used his influence to have multiple members of an Osage Indian family murdered. Hale's plot was part of a complex array of schemes by white interlopers to deprive the Osage of their headrightslucrative property rights to oil that had been found on their land and which made them among the richest people on the planet. The federally created headrights system itself offers a revealing reminder of the condescension and paternalism with which such rights were granted, as it involved legally required guardianship for many members of the Osage Nation. Those with guardians could not access their own money without permission from overseers. For their oil and their money, the Osage were callously murdered over a series of years. Some counts put the death toll around 60; contemporary reporting around suspicious deaths suggests the true death toll may have been in the hundreds. As journalist David Grann, whose nonfiction book the movie is based on, once said, it's the story of "a system rooted in racism, done under the pretense of enlightenment," which resulted in a "criminal enterprise that had been sanctioned by the U.S. government." Hale, played here with grandiose menace by longtime Scorsese collaborator Robert De Niro, was at the heart of that enterprise. But Scorsese's film focuses on Hale's nephew, Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio), a dim young man who ends up married to an Osage woman, Mollie Burkhart (Lily Gladstone). The marital connection forms the linchpin of Hale's scheme to acquire her family's headrights. Hale orchestrates the murders of multiple members of Mollie's family, including two sisters, in hopes of acquiring insurance payouts and property rights to the family's holdings. And Ernest, despite being married to Mollie, often acts as his go-between, setting up the killings. Eventually, the killers would be caught and convicted by what was then the Bureau of Investigationthe federal office that would become the FBI. The subtitle of Grann's book is The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI. The screenplay was reportedly originally written with the idea of having DiCaprio play Tom White, the federal agentultimately played by Jesse Plemonswhose investigation eventually pins the murders on Hale and Burkhart. But in developing the film, Scorsese and DiCaprio decided to reorient the story to focus on Burkhart. Here was a man who participated in the murder of multiple members of his wife's family, including a horrific house bombing that killed not only Mollie's sister but her husband and maid. Yet Ernest insisted that he loved Mollie, that his feelings for her were genuine, that he had not married her solely for her money. Did Burkhart really love her? Was it all a lie? An act? Or was there something true and deeply felt? Scorsese, who co-wrote the screenplay with Eric Roth, does not offer a pat answer. Instead, he suggests that Ernest Burkhart's love was both genuine and motivated by greed, both deeply felt and utterly contrived. Ernest Burkhart himself may not have known the difference. There is a moment, after Ernest has been arrested and brought in for interrogation, in which Tom White asks whether Ernest is a good man. Ernest hesitates briefly, seemingly confused, then answers hesitantly, uncertainly. He's not entirely sure. Only after White presses him a second time does he confirm he's a good man. It's unthinking, almost a reflex. In Scorsese's rendering, Burkhart was a man who committed evil acts. But even while admitting to those acts, he could not grasp the true nature of the evil in himself. It's a tale of self-delusion and moral blindness, both of which are central to the worldview that Scorsese has been sketching for most of his filmmaking career. From the small-time street dealings of Mean Streets to the inchoate male rage of Taxi Driver and Raging Bull to the scheming crime rings of Goodfellas, Casino, and The Wolf of Wall Street, Scorsese has always been drawn to hustlers, schemes, cheats, and killers. In the context of those great films, Killers of the Flower Moon reads as a searing critique not just of men who cannot see or understand their own depravity, but of a nation built on that depravity, on callous schemes and even more callous killings, perpetrated by men who lacked the capacity to reckon with the evil in themselves. Like The Irishman, Scorsese's recent film about the life of a notorious gangster, Killers is a story about the ways such evil poisons families, towns, entire societies and social systems, as well as individual souls. And it's a meditation on the impossibility of redemption for those who cannot admit to what they have done, for redemption requires a level of remorse and self-awareness that these men lack. The gut-punch of a coda brings this home in an unexpectedly powerful way, implicating both Scorsese and the audience in that failure. For all have fallen short. The post In Killers of the Flower Moon, Martin Scorsese Plumbs the Depths of American Depravity appeared first on Reason.com. Fuel & More's annual fundraiser, Friends for Fuel, will be held Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023 at The Blue Mermaid in Kittery, Maine. KITTERY, Maine Fuel & More will host its annual fundraiser, Friends for Fuel, on Sunday, Oct. 22, at The Blue Mermaid in Kittery from 4:30 to 8 p.m. The event will feature live music by The Loving Cup along with a buffet of food and drink from local establishments. Live and silent auctions will offer an array of items. To see a complete list of restaurants donating food and auction items visit fuelandmore.org. The volunteer-run nonprofit helps Kittery residents with heating costs and unforeseen expenses. The fundraising goal is to ensure no family or individual is left in the cold and no family or individual in need is turned away. In addition to helping with fuel costs, the nonprofit helps Kittery families who are facing unforeseen financial challenges with back rent, car repairs, utility bills, transportation expenses, housing, child care and more in coordination with the York County Community Action. We provide Kittery school counselors with gift cards for students who lack warm clothing and purchase hundreds of coats, hats, mittens, and pairs of boots each year. Tickets are $45 and can be purchased online at eventbrite.com/e/friends-for-fuel-fuel-more-tickets-693048154687?aff=oddtdtcreator or in person at the Kittery Community Center 120 Rogers Road, Kittery, Maine. Tickets will also be available at the door if the event is not sold out. Buying tickets in advance is strongly advised by organizers. For information, email info@fuelandmore.org or call 207-703-8288. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Kittery's Fuel & More to host Friends for Fuel with food and auctions LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A man faces several charges after police accused him of charging at them with a large knife, resulting in an officer firing eight rounds, which hit the suspect four times. The officer involved in the shooting was identified as Jayce Metcalf, 25, and has been with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department since 2022. The suspect was identified as Tristan Cooper, 29, who faces several charges including two counts of attempted murder with a deadly weapon on a protective person, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon on a protected person, and one count of resisting with a deadly weapon, according to police. The shooting happened on Tuesday, Oct. 17, when officers were dispatched to the 1400 block of East Harmon Avenue near Maryland Parkway around 10:34 p.m. for a report of a man armed with a knife. Police said they initially received a call from the suspect who stated he had a knife and then hung up. Dispatch operators called the suspect back but were unable to get a hold of him. Officers then headed to the suspects location in the 1400 block of East Harmon Avenue. When they found him he was standing outside his apartment. Officer Metcalf then asked the suspect if he called 911 to which he stated yes. Photo of the knife recovered at the scene of the officer-involved shooting (LVMPD) Officers observed that the suspect was armed with a large knife and asked him to drop it. The suspect then charged at the officers while holding the knife, police stated. It was then that Officer Metcalf discharged his gun. The police investigation revealed the officer fired eight rounds, which hit the suspect four times during the shooting. The suspect was hit by gunfire and momentarily fell to the ground and dropped the knife, police said. Then the suspect stood back up and led police on a foot pursuit through the apartment complex. Eventually, the suspect collapsed and fell to the ground in the 1300 block of University Avenue, police said. Officer Metcalf and his partner requested additional assistance and took the suspect into custody. Once in custody, officers began life-saving measures for the suspects injuries while awaiting a medical team to arrive. He was then taken to the hospital where he underwent surgery and was listed in stable condition, police said. During the investigation, detectives searched the suspects apartment and found an additional knife sitting in a pool of blood. Police stated that they noticed additional injuries on the suspects body and they believe he may have cut himself before the incident. It is the fourth non-fatal shooting of 2023, and the sixth officer-involved shooting. At the same time last year, there had been 10 officer-involved shootings with five being non-fatal. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. A homicide trial is scheduled to begin Nov. 6 against a former Milwaukee Police officer Michael Mattioli, who is charged in the 2020 death of Joel Acevedo. It has been more than three years since homicide charges were initially filed due to delays and other complications. Here's what to know about the case and its delays. When does the trial start? A jury trial for the case is scheduled for Nov. 6. Milwaukee police officer Michael Mattioli leaves court after he makes his initial appearance in court to face charges of wreckless homicide in the death of Joel Acevedo after a party at Mattioli's house which Acevedo was invited. He appeared with his attorney Michael Hart before Judge Jeffrey Wagner in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Wednesday, June 24, 2020. What charges does Mattioli face? Mattioli is charged with one felony count of first-degree reckless homicide. If convicted, Mattioli faces up to 40 years in prison and another 20 years on extended supervision. Who is representing Mattioli? Craig Powell and Michael Hart of Hart Powell, S.C. Who is the judge for the case? The case is scheduled to be overseen by Milwaukee Circuit Court Judge David Swanson. Rally for justice: One year after the fateful chokehold on Joel Acevedo, family and friends gather Is Mattioli still employed with the Milwaukee Police Department? No. Mattioli resigned from the department in September 2020. What happened? According to the criminal complaint and a separate civil lawsuit brought by the family: Mattioli called 911 to report a police officer in need of assistance on April 19, 2020 around 7:29 a.m. Mattioli was off duty at the time. He woke up that morning after hosting a party the night before and told police that he found Joel Acevedo, who was a friend of Mattioli's, reportedly going through Mattioli's pockets. Two officers arrived 10 minutes later, and found Mattioli applying a chokehold from behind Acevedo. After establishing Mattioli was a police officer, an officer ordered him to release Acevedo 22 seconds later. Acevedo was unconscious and not breathing. It is estimated Mattioli held Acevedo in a chokehold for 11 minutes and 20 seconds. Acevedo was taken to the hospital in critical condition. He died five days later. The medical examiner said the cause of Acevedo's death was traumatic suffocation and ruled it a homicide. Why were there so many delays? The charges were filed in May 2020 and a myriad of delays have followed. Initially, the pandemic appeared to delay the case, but even after entering a not guilty plea in September 2020, a number of defense challenges and motions followed. A trial was first scheduled for May 2022. However, it was rescheduled until September to accommodate the schedules of the defense's expert witnesses, according to online court records. It was then rescheduled again to November 2022 and a new judge was assigned to the case. The case was again rescheduled because former Milwaukee County Medical Examiner Brian Peterson, who retired in 2022, did not provide his availability for the trial. Despite numerous attempts to serve subpoenas, Peterson was unable to be reached. After being rescheduled for June 2023, the case was rescheduled again to November 2023. Are there other ongoing legal matters in this case? Yes. Acevedo's family filed a federal lawsuit against two former officers and former police chief Alfonso Morales in April 2023. Additionally, Mattioli sued to block release of the footage in December 2020 after the Milwaukee Police Department notified him that it would be made public, as required by law. In January 2023, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals ruled that the footage should be made public. It was released to WISN Oct. 12. Drew Dawson can be reached at ddawson@jrn.com or 262-289-1324. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Trial for former Milwaukee police officer Mattioli: What to know [Source] The Philadelphia Museum of Art is set to unveil a groundbreaking exhibition featuring a diverse collection of art from Korean artists, including pieces smuggled out of North Korea. About the exhibit: "The Shape of Time: Korean Art After 1989," set to run from Oct. 21, 2023, to February 11, 2024, aims to shed light on Korea's cultural evolution and complex history. Presenting work from 28 Korean artists, all born between 1960 and 1986, the exhibit marks a pivotal moment in South Korea's history as it transitioned from military dictatorship to democracy in the late 1980s. During this period, an international travel ban was lifted, allowing for increased global engagement. Trending on NextShark: Watch: Bali monkey negotiates for food in exchange for woman's stolen iPhone Transcending art forms: Renowned artists Suki Seokyeong Kang, Do Ho Suh and Chang Jia are among those who contributed pieces in a wide range of mediums, from ceramics and photography to video installations and needlework. The exhibit's highlights include pieces that transcend the boundaries of traditional art forms, reflecting on themes such as conformity, displacement, gender and sexuality, coexistence and dissonance. According to the exhibit's co-curators, these powerful works are aimed at a broader audience, offering unique perspectives on South Korea's history and culture. The timeframe of this exhibition was a formative one for South Korean artists and is aptly reflected in the exhibitions title, which refers to an individuals conception of the present and future as framed by and predicated upon memories and experiences of the past," said co-curators Elisabeth Agro, Nancy M. McNeil and Hyunsoo Woo in a press release. Trending on NextShark: Watch: Chinese woman quits full-time job so she can try 100 different jobs "Our hope is that through this exhibition, we tell this story and inspire a wider audience to learn more about this mighty nation. Smuggling art: Among the notable exhibit pieces are Ham Kyung-ah's "What You See Is the Unseen/Chandeliers for Five Cities." For the piece, Ham broke international law to have North Korean artisans create lofty, embroidered chandeliers, symbolizing the historical instability of the Korean Peninsula. The endeavor involved covert communication and collaboration across the DMZ, amid ongoing tension between North and South Korea. "There were risks of artworks being confiscated due to censorship from the North Korean government, bribes being demanded or intermediaries disappearing," Ham notes in the exhibits accompanying narration. "All these processes had to be carried out secretly, much like a spy movie." Trending on NextShark: Sriracha buyers say new Huy Fong Foods bottles taste different More on NextShark: Interview: K-pop legend Rain to perform US concerts for 1st time in 15 years Woman whose body was found in a suitcase in Georgia in 1988 identified Dmitry Peskov , Press Secretary of the Russian President, has said Russia "considers unacceptable" US President Joe Biden 's comparison of Russian President Vladimir Putin with Palestinian Hamas. Source: Kremlin-aligned news agency TASS, citing Peskov's remarks to journalists Quote: "We consider this tone towards the Russian Federation and our president unacceptable". Details: The official cynically claimed that "such rhetoric is hardly suitable for responsible state leaders". Background: In a speech in the Oval Office on the evening of 19 October, Biden condemned the actions of Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating that the attacks on Israel and the invasion of Ukraine share common motives. "Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common: they both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy," Biden stated. Support UP or become our patron! The site of a proposed 33-bed interim homelessness housing facility on a parking lot at Midvale Avenue and Pico Boulevard in Los Angeles. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) A homeless housing project in West L.A., backed by Mayor Karen Bass and opposed by some neighborhood groups because of its proximity to residential homes, was approved by the Los Angeles City Council on Friday. The council, with exception of one member who was absent, voted unanimously in favor of the 33-bed facility on a city-owned parking lot at Midvale Avenue and Pico Boulevard, across from the former Westside Pavilion. The council also decided that the project is exempt from a comprehensive environmental review. Bass, Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky and other supporters argue the project will provide relief for the area's unhoused population. It will also help the city comply with a legal settlement that requires it to add beds. "The citywide issue of homelessness deserves a citywide response," Bass said in a statement Friday. "We must continue to do all that we can to bring unhoused Angelenos inside and I thank Councilmember Yaroslavsky and the City Council for continuing the work to urgently confront the homelessness crisis." Yaroslavsky spoke ahead of the vote, promising residents and business owners who opposed the project that she would secure additional parking before breaking ground and would also develop a neighborhood safety plan with the Los Angeles Police Department and local homeless service providers. "But let me be absolutely very clear, we need these beds," said Yaroslavsky, who represents the area. "I know 33 beds doesn't seem like a lot, because in all honesty, it's not. It's not nearly enough, considering the emergency we're in right now." Right now, Yaroslavsky said, fewer than 100 of the city's 16,000 homeless beds are in her district. "What this means for my constituents, not only in Westwood but across the entire district, is that when we are trying to resolve an encampment and bring people inside, off the street and into housing, it's nearly impossible," she said. The facility, which is projected to cost nearly $4.6 million, will include "sleeping cabins" with restrooms in each unit. There will also be on-site laundry facilities, storage bins and office space, according to a report from the city's Bureau of Engineering. It's expected to open in about a year, Yaroslavsky told The Times. She said residents will have access to mental health and substance use disorder specialists, employment assistance and help finding permanent housing. There will be 24-hour security on-site. Most of the beds will be reserved for people who have ties to the area. The Westside Neighborhood Council voted last week to oppose the project because it would be near homes and businesses along Pico Boulevard. The group also expressed dismay that other sites were not being evaluated as alternatives." Controversy over the proposed facility ratcheted up earlier this week when Bass abruptly removed the president of the Transportation Commission days after he led his colleagues in delaying a vote on an environmental review waiver. At a commission meeting, President Eric Eisenberg had expressed concern about the waiver and asked for a delay so the panel could hear more about the project from city representatives. On Monday, Eisenberg said, he was informed by the mayor's office that he was no longer a commissioner. Bass' office has declined to explain why she removed Eisenberg. At a special meeting on Wednesday, the Transportation Commission now operating without Eisenberg approved the waiver. Bass has made reducing homelessness her top issue. Her Inside Safe initiative seeks to quickly move unhoused Angelenos into motels and hotels, and she has ordered city departments to hasten the construction of affordable housing and shelters. Eisenberg, in a statement he provided to The Times, said he wasn't convinced the project should be exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act. A "project of thirty small homes, with sewage, plumbing lines, and trash disposal, [could] cause a situation, where the benefits of the project do not outweigh the hazards to the community," he wrote. Barbara Broide, a neighborhood council member, urged the City Council at a committee hearing on the project earlier this month to look at different sites, including one on Cotner Avenue. "We're here to tell you this is the wrong location," Broide said. "It's a good project for another place." Broide was one of several residents who hoped to address the City Council before Friday's vote. But the council did not allow comments until afterward. "I just wanted the council to know that it has shredded the faith that dozens of my neighbors have in their government," said Meg Sullivan, who lives in the council district. "They came here today to let you know their very reasonable concerns, which I share, about putting housing on a much-needed public lot on Midvale, and yet they were not able to speak." Margaret Gillespie, a member of the Westside Neighborhood Assn., spoke in support of the project. "I want to thank Councilmember Yaroslavsky for her leadership on this very difficult issue. It's difficult because of all the misinformation that circulates and the false narratives about the homeless," she said. "I support the project because 25 of the 30 units are reserved for people who live here." Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Three survivors of sexual violence have described a landmark ruling in Scotland as "monumental" for rape cases. Suzy Angus, Shirley Ross and Emma Bryson from Speak Out Survivors have been campaigning for reforms to the Scots law of corroboration for years. Now there will no longer need to be evidence from two separate sources that penetration has taken place. Instead, evidence that the victim was distressed afterwards could be used to corroborate the rape allegation. All three reported childhood sexual abuse to the police. All three were told their evidence could not be corroborated. And all of their cases were dropped and did not make it to court. Rape trials in Scotland have previously required two sources of evidence for each part of the crime. Prosecutors needed to prove that the rape happened, that there was no consent, and that the accused was responsible. Campaigners have argued that the requirement for penetration to be independently corroborated by a second source in addition to the complainer has acted as a barrier to rape victims receiving justice. 'Box-ticking exercise' Ms Bryson told BBC Scotland that reform could have made a "huge difference" if it was in place when she reported that she had been raped. She said: "We don't imagine these reforms are going to open the floodgates, but what they do is they allow the body of evidence to be considered on its merits, on its quality and not the box-ticking exercise it has previously been." Dorothy Bain KC, the Lord Advocate, said the decision had the potential to transform the way sexual abuse cases were prosecuted. She said that in her case there were social work records that stated she had been raped and abused and there were other known victims. But she said: "Because I was the only person willing to come forward, I didn't have that individual corroboration. I would now under these current circumstances. "If I had waited until now to go to the police to report I would feel pretty confident that my attacker would be prosecuted." She believes the changes are a turning point. "It is hugely significant," she said. "It's significant for every single victim of a sexual offence in Scotland because it instantly increases the possibility that they will see their attacker in court and you can't place a value on that." Ms Ross said that corroboration presented a huge barrier in getting a prosecution for rape in her case and she lost faith in the justice system. "For 14 years I was abused," she said. "When you go to the police and they know what's happened to you and then they turn around and say 'we've not got the right sort of evidence', it makes you feel like you're not worth anything. "They are reaffirming what the abuser says to you, because nothing is done and you're just left waiting to see if he's going to abuse, rape or attack somebody else." She said she wanted to try and make it better for other people to get justice. "This was for all the other survivors who hadn't found their voice yet, this was for them to make the process easier, simpler gentler, more caring." 'I just wept' Suzy Angus' case fell apart sue to lack of corroboration. "I was standing at work in my office and this phone call came through and the police said well, we have gone through absolutely everything and we are going to have to drop the case because there is no corroboration for any of it. "I just stood there and wept." Her experience of the justice system left her distraught. "The lowest point I experienced wasn't during the period when I was being abused, it was when I got told there wasn't going to be a prosecution. "I had been through all of that, given my evidence, dragged everything up from the past, and to be told that the evidence was there but it was the wrong sort of evidence to meet the requirements of corroboration and that was absolutely devastating." Now, distress witnessed by a third party or statements where a complainer is in a distressed state tells someone what has happened, can be used as corroboration. But Thomas Ross KC, a former president of the Scottish Bar Association, raised concerns around false allegations of rape potentially making it to court as a result of the new ruling. He told BBC Scotland News: "For every change in the justice system there are winners and losers, and the losers in this example would be anybody against whom a false allegation is made. "I know a case of a taxi driver who was persuaded against his better judgement to pick up a drunk and abusive female who continued to be drunk and abusive towards him. "He took her to the police office and asked for the police to remove her from the taxi. After he left he got a call from the police to say he had to go back, because she had alleged that he had raped her." Mr Ross said that last week the driver would not have been charged because never having had any sexual contact with her, there would never have been any evidence of that. But next week, he could be charged because the fact the woman made the allegation together with the observed stress by the police officers would now be enough evidence for it to be taken to court. Mr Ross said: "As it happened the man had GPS in his car and was able to show fairly quickly that the claim made by the woman was utterly false and malicious. But not everybody had got GPS in their car." The Lord Advocate said the new ruling would now be considered by the crown office with prosecutors taking time to consider what it means for their work. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Earlier this month, a 5-year-old boy was hit and killed while heading to school outside a designated drop off zone at Somerset Academy Losee Campus in North Las Vegas. This week, its sister school, Somerset Academy Lone Mountain is changing its traffic procedures to ensure kids get to and from school safely. The Lone Mountain school is located near North Rainbow Boulevard and West Craig Road, a busy and at times, dangerous area. As of Tuesday, Oct. 17, the school announced it is increasing staff and blocking off the church lot entrances off Rainbow Boulevard. Tianna, who did not want to share her last name, is a mom to a first grader and explained to 8 News Now how people drive fast through the area, despite it being a school zone. People will drive really fast until they see the crossing guards or notice the lights flashing, Tianna said. But kids still walk that way. She was glad to see safety measures for kids following the tragedy at the Losee campus. She said her niece attends that campus and recalled the dangerous lot. I think people should start being more mindful when it comes to where kids are, Tianna said. A little kid losing their life is unpredictable, unimaginable. Tianna, mother to Lone Mountain campus 1st grader, parks in designated spots and walks her son to and from campus. (KLAS/Lauren Negrete) Somerset Academy Lone Mountain increases enhances safety for students getting to and from school. (KLAS) As for her own routine at Lone Mountain, Tianna either arrives early for the car line or parks in approved areas like the nearby church parking lot and walks with her son. In a letter to parents, Somerset Academy Lone Mountain campus Principal Cesar Tiu said parents using the church lot must be parked and not drop off their children on Rainbow Boulevard. No amount of convenience or busy schedules are worth jeopardizing the safety of a student, Tiu said. Following the tragedy at the Losee campus, Erin Breen, the director of UNLVs Road Equity Alliance Project, urged parents to use designated school lots and car lines. What I have been told is it takes too long. What is too long when it involves children? Breen said. Three days after a child lost their life, all those parents lined up to do the exact same thing. Breen said crosswalks are needed to avoid pedestrians crossing where they shouldnt. Driver arrested after boy, 5, struck by van, died during school dropoff in North Las Vegas We teach pedestrians to be unpredictable, and any road user that is unpredictable is unsafe, Breen said. Breen also said school zone rules are necessary, and that pedestrians are 90% more likely to survive being hit at 15 miles per hour. Slower speeds change the outcome, Breen said. Recent numbers from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department showed that nearly 560 pedestrians have been hit in their jurisdiction so far this year. In 2022, the total number was 610. The City of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, and Clark County allow residents to report and request road maintenance, including sidewalks. UNLVs Road Equity Alliance Projects website also has several resources related to pedestrian safety and contact information. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. This article originally was published by St. Louis Public Radio, a BND content partner. The Rev. Wheeler Parker, the last living eyewitness to Emmett Tills 1955 kidnapping, recounted the fateful events that led to his cousins death at a Southern Illinois University equity symposium on Thursday. My story is not a pleasant story, Parker told the crowd in Collinsville. Its not a pretty story, but its an American story. Two white men were accused of torturing and beating the 14-year-old Till to death after he whistled at a white woman working at a store. Parker said Till was known for making jokes and thought it was just an innocent prank. 1955 in Mississippi, and you wolf whistle at a white woman thats death, Parker said. When he whistled, we all made a beeline to the car. His death is seen as a watershed event in the American Civil Rights Movement after photos of Tills mutilated body were widely shown at his funeral. Parker, who said Till was his best friend, traveled with him and other family members to Mississippi from the Chicago area where they lived. After Till whistled at Carolyn Bryant, who claimed at the murder trial that Till also touched her and made obscene remarks, Parker said he and the other family members knew the situation would be bad. Parker said Till only whistled; he didnt do anything else he was accused of. I knew he did something that they thought was worthy of death, the 84-year-old Parker said. Parker, who was 16 at the time, said he thought he might be killed as well. He was asleep in the house where the two white men, Rob Bryant and John William Milam, broke in and kidnapped his cousin. It was pure hell over there just pure hell in the house, Parker said. The atmosphere was horrible. The men told the family theyd bring Till back if he was innocent, Parker said. They never did, and it was three days later when the family would learn Till was brutally murdered. Even though an all-white jury acquitted Bryant and Milam, Parker said the fact that there was even a trial showed that progress was being made back in the 1950s. This story shows where we came from (and) how we got here, Parker said. And, once you find out how you got to a certain place, then you know what to do to keep going. Carol Bryant, Tills accuser, died earlier this year. A few SIU students asked what Parker made of her death and if he had any relief. I wanted to hear her say the truth, Parker said. That I didnt get. I didnt get that kind of closure. However, he said he would not let the horrific events define his life. Will Bauer is the Metro East reporter at St. Louis Public Radio. WASHINGTON In a closed-door meeting Thursday, Rep. Patrick McHenry , R-N.C., told GOP colleagues he might resign as speaker pro tempore if Republicans push him to try to move legislation on the floor without an explicit vote to expand his powers, according to multiple lawmakers in the room. If you guys try to do that, youll figure out who the next person on Kevins list is, McHenry told the room, three sources said, referring to former Speaker Kevin McCarthy's secret list of GOP lawmakers who would serve as temporary speaker in the event of a vacancy. McHenry's comments underscore the quandary Republicans are in: They can't really do anything until they choose a new speaker, but they can't agree on someone who can get the votes to be that new speaker. And McHenry is unwilling to set a precedent that would give future temporary speakers the full power of speakers who are elected on the House floor. It could mean that the House wouldn't need to elect speakers in the future. It's an idea that McCarthy himself has been floating, and it was the subject of debate during Republicans' 3-hour private meeting Thursday. During the discussion, some Republicans asked whether they could give McHenry more power "by acclamation" or whether they needed to take an internal vote in the room. It's a different idea from the formal resolution proposed by Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Ohio, which would require a floor vote to empower McHenry to move legislation like spending bills and aid packages for Ukraine and Israel. A GOP lawmaker described McHenry's remarks as an implicit threat of resignation. The lawmaker said McHenry had made the same suggestion to individual members before he spoke to the larger conference. A second GOP lawmaker said that McHenry made the remarks tongue in cheek but that the message was clear: He questioned the constitutionality of such an option and said he did not want the greater authority unless Republicans agreed to grant it to him through a formal vote. McHenry will not act in a manner he interprets as unconstitutional as speaker pro tem, a third member in the room said. In individual conversations with members, McHenry also has threatened to resign as speaker pro tem if such a resolution were passed on the floor, the GOP lawmaker said. McHenry's office did not immediately reply to a request for comment. McCarthy has been one of the most vocal proponents of the idea that McHenry does not need the House to allow him to bring legislation to the floor. When I put McHenrys name down it was my belief that if something happened to me that McHenry could run the floor until we elected a new speaker. It was not my intention when I put a name down that they couldnt do anything, McCarthy told reporters after Thursday's meeting, during which lawmakers debated whether to vote on Joyces resolution. McCarthy was referring to the fact that since 2003, in the wake of the 9/11 attack, House rules have required the speaker to submit a list of names to the clerk of members to act in case of a vacancy in the position and to ensure continuity of government. McHenry has consistently denied any interest in expanding his role. Im focused on electing Jim Jordan, the speaker nominee, as speaker of the House, he told reporters Thursday when he briefly left the conference meeting. Thats my goal. Thats my purpose. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Edgars Rinkevics, President of Latvia, believes that the EU and NATO member states must increase the capacities of the defence industry in order to produce the necessary armament for covering military needs. Source: Rinkevics in the TV3 channel broadcast, as reported by European Pravda, referring to Delfi Quote: "Whether we want it or not, Europe must arm." Details: On 20 October, Rinkevics will hold negotiations with Thierry Breton , the European Commissioner for Internal Market, about the development of the military industry. In particular, the possibility of investment attraction according to the support programme for ammunition production, the facilitation of joint procurement in the defence industry and the progress in the implementation of the EU agreement, which has the goal of acceleration of joint procurement and supply of artillery projectiles to Ukraine. As it is known, the EU supports its member states in artillery projectiles and missiles supply from national stocks, the aggregation of demand and joint procurement of 155 mm projectiles, as well as in increasing the production capacities of the European defence industry. The Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP) created in the EU for increasing the production of ammunition and missiles came into force on 23 July. Background: ASAP is part of the EU plan to provide Ukraine with a million artillery rounds within 12 months, proposed in March 2022. Support UP or become our patron! Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics urged European countries to increase their defense industry capacities in order to produce enough arms for themselves and for Ukraine, the Latvian news outlet Delfi reported on Oct. 20. "Whether we like it or not, Europe must arm itself," Rinkevics said on the air of the TV3 channel, adding that mere slogans will not be enough and the EU members must be ready to accept real costs. Latvia's head of state met with EU Commissioner Thierry Breton on Oct. 20 in Riga to discuss the development of the bloc's defense industry. Latvian officials and Breton were said to discuss ways to attract investment to the Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP) the EU's tool for boosting arms manufacturing among the member states, Delfi reported. ASAP, approved by the European Parliament in July, finances the increase in the EU ammunition and missile production and is meant to help tackle Ukraine's shortages. It represents a component of the EU's plan first presented early this year to deliver $2.2 billion worth of artillery rounds to address Ukrainian shortages. The shipments should include both current stocks and newly produced shells. Read also: Ex-Estonian president: If NATO ambiguous about conditions for Ukraine, Russia wont know what to prevent Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A Los Angeles Unified School teacher was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of sharing child pornography with a county government worker, authorities said. Detectives with the San Bernardino Police Department arrested Rene Gregorio Estrella on the 210 Freeway around 6:30 a.m. on suspicion of distributing and receiving child pornography. Estrella, 60, is a teacher at the School of Business and Tourism at the Miguel Contreras Learning Complex, according to the school's website. Investigators said Estrella exchanged multiple images of child pornography with 62-year-old Steven Frasher, who worked as a public information officer with the Los Angeles County Public Works Department. Investigators with the San Bernardino Police Department's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Specialized Crimes Unit served search and arrest warrants on Estrella at a residence in Claremont and a second location in the city of Los Angeles. Police found several electronic devices that were taken as part of their investigation, according a news release from the police department. In a statement, the Los Angeles Unified School District said it was notified about an employee's arrest by San Bernardino police, but it did not name Estrella. Officials said the employee will be blocked from entering any LAUSD sites. "All District protocols are being followed, and we remain in cooperation with local authorities," the statement said. "Due to the ongoing investigation by law enforcement, we are unable to disclose additional details about this matter. Please be assured that the safety of our students continues to be our utmost priority. Students and the greater school community are always encouraged to share any and all concerns with their school or with local authorities." Jail records show that Estrella was booked into custody on Wednesday but released later that day. Frasher, a resident of Redlands, was arrested Oct. 3 after investigators received a tip indicating that he was downloading illicit child porn on the internet and saving it in an internet storage account, police said. Frasher, a candidate for the Redlands City Council in 2020, worked for the Riverside Police Department as a public information officer and also served as a public information officer for the Glendale Unified School District. The San Bernardino Police Department posted a video on its Instagram account of Frashers arrest, showing officers entering and searching his home. The video also shows Frasher being led away in handcuffs. Times staff writer Summer Lin contributed to this story. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. After a days long manhunt that left Franklin County on edge, law enforcement agencies located the state inmate who escaped from his work detail. Robert Rutherford, 37, left the 10-Foot Hole work site in Franklin County just before 2 p.m Monday. Through a joint effort involving FCSO, Apalachicola Police Department, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Highway Patrol and the Florida Department of Corrections, Rutherford was taken back into custody Thursday evening. "Everybody can rest easy now in Franklin County," Sheriff A.J. "Tony" Smith said in a social media update. "People that harbored him are going to jail." When Rutherford first ran away, an Apalachicola resident reported a break-in and a missing machete. Law enforcement officers launched a manhunt for the "armed and dangerous" prisoner on the loose. While he was on the run, Smith provided updates on the case on Facebook multiple times a day, urging residents to remain vigilant, lock their doors and call 9-11 if he was spotted. Rutherford has served multiple prison sentences for armed burglary and grand theft. He had been in prison since Sept. 2011 after being sentenced to over 20 years for grand theft. #SheriffAJTonySmithLiveSheriff Smith announces the capture of escaped state inmate, Robert Rutherford. Thank you to FCSO, APD, FWC, FHP, and DOC for their diligence in putting men & women on the ground to help us apprehend Rutherford. Thank you to everyone for staying vigilant with being aware and submitting tips to law enforcement. #FCSOFL Posted by Franklin County Sheriff's Office, A.J. "Tony" Smith, Sheriff on Thursday, October 19, 2023 "Nobody is injured," Smith said Thursday. "Nobody is hurt. Nobody is going to be. I appreciate all the hard work everybody did." FCSO will be holding a new conference at noon. This is a breaking story, check back for more details. Elena Barrera can be reached at ebarrera@tallahassee.com. Follow her on Twitter @elenabarreraaa. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: State prisoner who went on the run in Franklin County, Florida caught Lawmakers reacted after President Biden delivered an Oval Office address Thursday night, during which he spoke on the Israel-Hamas conflict and the war in Ukraine. Democrats seemed to react well to their leaders Thursday night speech, with many praising the presidents words on the current foreign conflicts. Tonight, President Joe Biden masterfully presented the case that American leadership on the world stage is necessary for preserving and promoting democracy, former Speaker of the House Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. In his Oval Office address, the President strongly reiterated Americas commitment to the people of Israel and the people of Ukraine as they defend their democracies, Pelosi continued. Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin (D), the Senate majority whip, appeared to thank the president for his words during the speech. Thank you, @POTUS, for reminding America that we have a singular role in the world fighting against terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like the infamous war criminal, Vladimir Putin, Durbin said in a post on X. I agree with what @POTUS said tonight: the decisions Congress makes in the coming weeks will determine democracys fate for decades, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said in his own X post. Republican Sen. J.D. Vance (Ohio) took aim at Biden for tying the conflicts in Israel and Ukraine together. Why is Joe Biden going on national television and selling people on a Ukrainian escalation, when Joe Biden is talking about the terrible tragedy in Israel? Vance said in a Fox News clip posted to his press offices account. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) also had harsh words for the president about his address. Joe Bidens Oval Office address was a weak speech that did not spend enough time addressing the threat facing the Jewish state, Blackburn said in an X post. Once again, Biden failed to hold Iran accountable, commit to freezing the $6 billion to Iran, or pledge to withhold aid to Hamas, she continued. Ive called for @POTUS to address the American people about our role in Ukraine and to outline our strategy for months, Iowa Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R) said in a post on X. I am glad that he addressed the country but it was a lackluster address without a clear plan. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Aimed at breaking up a funding jam for the West Alabama Highway, an assemblage of local and regional shakers and movers spoke Thursday morning about why the project should roll on, primarily because of its economic and safety benefits. Kyle South, CEO and president of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama hosted a news conference at the chamber's offices in downtown Tuscaloosa, inviting Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox , state Sen. Gerald Allen, state Rep. Chris England, Fayette Mayor Rod Northam, Thomasville Mayor Sheldon A. Day, state Rep. A.J. McCampbell, state Rep. Cynthia Almond, state Rep. Bill Lamb, state Rep. Ron Bolton, and business and civic leaders including David Pass and Blake Miles, among others. More: Tuscaloosa city school board advances property tax increase proposal In addition to a wider, safer drive, a four-lane highway would allow greater ease of access for companies wishing to do business in currently underserved counties. "We all know that infrastructure investment is the first step to economic development success," South said, "while not having those assets limits, if not eliminates, the possibility of growth and prosperity." State Representative Artis McCampbell talks during a press conference where elected officials advocate for the construction of the West Alabama Highway at the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023 in Tuscaloosa. Currently, the roughly two-hour trek from Tuscaloosa to Thomasville, across state highways 69 and 5, and U.S. 43, winds down often-narrow, usually rugged two-lane roads, un- or poorly lit, passing through farm land, a scattering of small towns and undeveloped rural areas. The projected new highway would be built in Tuscaloosa, Marengo, Clarke and Hale counties, beginning in Thomasville, from the intersection of 43 and 5 to the Linden bypass, and on 69 from Linden bypass to north of Moundville, including bypasses at Dixons Mills, Greensboro, Gallion and Moundville. The West Alabama Highway Project, which would connect the Black Belt to the interstate, and make a four-lane jaunt from Tuscaloosa to the gulf coast area, was announced by Gov. Kay Ivey Nov. 12, 2021. But earlier this summer, Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth spoke out against funding that project now, saying the state needs to focus first on widening I-65. Then in September state Sen. Chris Elliott, from Baldwin County, which includes Gulf Shores, Fairhope and Orange Beach, put a hold on funding for design work, noting ALDOT's estimates ranged widely, from about $800 million to $1.1 billion. Elected officials advocate for the construction of the West Alabama Highway during a news conference at the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023 in Tuscaloosa. Clay McBrien, ALDOT assistant chief engineer, said exact estimates were difficult to create, given the varying stages of the plan. Elliott also expressed concern the highway project would be financed by bonds repaid over time from the 10-cent per gallon gas tax increase approved in 2019. That Rebuild Alabama Act legislation allows 50% of projected revenue from the tax to be committed for bond debt. In response to Elliott's hold, Rep. England both men sit on the Legislative Contract Review Committee put a hold on about a dozen other ALDOT projects. Such holds run 45 days, after which the governor can approve the funding or not, no matter what the committee says. As holds were granted in September, they're about up. England averred there was far less penny-pinching over the $2.7 billion bridge project in Mobile, and a recently-announced expansion to I-65, suggesting the difference linked to ongoing failures to address the needs of poorer, rural Alabamians. Maddox, who has family from Clarke County, and traveled extensively throughout the Black Belt in 2017-2018, while running for governor on the Democratic ticket, said the region has catching up to do. "In this project, as laid out by the governor, and the Legislature, (it) begins to turn the page on much-needed investment, in an area of the state that's gone decades without it," he said. Rebuild Alabama was passed with a promise to deliver this corridor, Maddox said, a dream that's been around for decades. As for the idea I-65 should take precedence, "Let's not make one project mutually exclusive of the other," Maddox said. The state can find ways to get both done, he said. Introducing England, South thanked him for "standing in the gap." England raised empty hands, and joked "I'm not here to hold anything up. "I've said it before ... I know how to act a fool when I need to," he said. "But when it comes to fighting for our constituency, I will continue to do so." He underscored what Maddox said about moving forward on multiple plans. Mayor Walt Maddox talks during a press conference where elected officials advocate for the construction of the West Alabama Highway at the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023 in Tuscaloosa. "We can do more than one thing at one time," he said. "When the governor of the state of Alabama says we're going to invest millions of dollars in an area of the state which has been historically neglected, and denied this sort of opportunity, it is a signal to other people that it's OK to invest on the west side of Alabama as well." Another ALDOT corridor project would connect Fayette to I-22 via four-lane highway. Northam, Fayette's mayor, said that would benefit the city's industrial parks, leading to more jobs, helping people stay home and stay safe. "To give them a better means of getting in and out of Fayette, and other communities all along the corridor, it's going to improve safety," he said. "You'll have more assurance that they're going to come home safe that night, and they will not have that wreck that they'd have on the curvy two-lane roads.... "We want the same things in rural Alabama that everybody else does. We want a good quality of life for our citizens." Thomasville Mayor Day said that since the road south of Thomasville, running to Mobile, has gone all four-lane, there's been billions in investment along that corridor, and that 22,000 cars pass through the 3,548 population city daily. "I love rural Alabama. I think it's cool to be rural," Day said. "I did something that a lot of people don't do. I actually researched the bill. I read the bill. ... "I want to thank the legislators and senators here today and all those who voted for this (Rebuild Alabama) act, because you gave us a shot. You gave us a shot to lift ourselves up." He added that chambers and other leaders from all along West Alabama will be discussing how to make best use of the infrastructure's potential. Rep. McCampbell projected the potential by example of Maryland-based Enviva Inc., constructing its 11th wood pellet production facility in Epes, Sumter County, on a 300-acre plot along the Tombigbee River. That spot was chosen for its water access, which will allow Enviva to send product to the port of Mobile, where it's shipped to markets in Europe and Asia, for use as renewable fuel sources. River traffic made that investment happen, McCampbell said. Four-lane traffic could bring in even more over land. State Representative Chris England talks during a press conference where elected officials advocate for the construction of the West Alabama Highway at the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023 in Tuscaloosa. Safety issues can't be over-emphasized, he added. His daughter landed a prime job at the Mercedes-Benz U.S. Internatnional Plant in Vance, but tried for a time to commute, until late one night she suffered an accident on a two-lane highway. Fortunately, she wasn't badly hurt. "She then decided, for my safety, for my life, I need to move. So she reloacted, after trying to hang on down there, in the area she was raised," he said. His colleagues in the Legislature don't seem to acknowledge the need for the whole state to thrive, he said. "When you talk about West Alabama, it's always 'We need to do a study.' You done studied me enough," he said. "You ought to know every bit of my body. So I'm tired of being studied. I'm ready for you to actually start feeding me." Reach Mark Hughes Cobb at mark.cobb@tuscaloosanews.com. This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Leaders make case for funding West Alabama Highway corridor LEAVENWORTH, Kan. A Leavenworth man who used a counterfeit $100 bill to buy a Little Caesars order worth about $15 was only beginning a crime spree that spanned three years and led to convictions where hell spend 5+ years in prison, and must pay close to $21,000 in restitution. The Leavenworth County District Attorneys Office says Shawn M. Logan, 44, received 65 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections for 16 criminal charges, all beginning with a June 2020 visit to a Little Caesars. Leavenworth police investigate suspicious death of 1-year-old The DAs office says that day, Logan bought chicken wings, breadsticks, and a drink where a Secret Service investigation revealed the $100 bill he used was fake. The ink was runny, there was no watermark, and the Treasury seal was blurry. This led to a charge of counterfeiting currency. Months later in April of 2021, Logan was charged with theft after stealing a cutoff saw from a work truck on North Main Street in Lansing. Later that year in December, investigators say Logan stole a Ford Ranger pickup truck in downtown Leavenworth and used it to help steal a refrigerator from a house. Authorities say that was the first in a series of vehicle burglaries where Logan stole a pickup truck in June of 2022, another truck in July, another one in October followed by an SUV in November, a Subaru on Christmas Eve and then another Ford Ranger in March of 2023. 3 KC-area schools among 6 in Missouri forced to forfeit football games In all but the incident that happened in October of 2022, Logan also committed theft of one sort or another. He left clues at various crime scenes, including his cell phone and rubber gloves where his DNA matched. Although it took time, the investigation unfolded due to fingerprints and DNA analysis, which allowed law enforcement to connect all of these crimes. Leavenworth District Attorney Todd Thompson stated in a news release. Thanks to law enforcement, weve finally put an end to these serial burglaries that have greatly impacted our community. Hes still listed in the custody of the Leavenworth County Sheriffs Office and hasnt been moved to a prison yet. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. MILWAUKEE - The Wisconsin Senate hosted a public hearing on a Republican bill to change how the state's legislative maps are drawn, ahead of the Wisconsin Supreme Court hearing a case trying to toss the state's current legislative maps ahead of the 2024 election. "This is our opportunity to get ahead of that, to amend the process, so that we can avoid that litigation, the time and the cost involved," said State Sen. Dan Knodl (R-Germantown). SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News Republicans introduced a bill to hand map-making power to the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau. The Legislature would then have the power only to vote yes or no, needing it to be a bipartisan vote, then sending it to the governor's desk. There are questions about what happens when the legislature and governor can't agree. The bill states: "No plan may be considered and voted on after January 31 of the 2nd year following the federal decennial census." "Nothing in this bill, as I understand it, guarantees that the current map would not be used in 2024, if this process failed to produce new maps," said State Sen. Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit). "As we discussed, there could still be a stalemate under this. Nothing here forces the Legislature to approve a new map. Nothing forces the governor to sign that map." Wisconsin Supreme Court "My understanding is if we reach an impasse by the end of January, then it would end up in the courts," said State Rep. Joel Kitchens (R -Sturgeon Bay). An analyst with the Legislative Reference Bureau, speaking at a Senate committee meeting, responded to Kitchens, affirming he thought a stalemate would end in the courts. "At some point in the spring of 2024, if you cant come to a resolution and if the court cant come to a resolution by mid-March or so, there is a possibility that its too late to implement a new map." The Wisconsin Senate on Thursday heard public testimony on the proposal. Speaker after speaker was opposed to the Republican bill. The Assembly already passed, days after introducing it and without a hearing. The Republican proposal would have the map-makers not favor a political party, someone or a group. It calls for making the districts compact and keeping municipalities together. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android. The 2020 census put Wisconsin at 5.8 million people. Divvied up into 99 Assembly districts, each should have roughly 59,000 people. One place that would likely be changing under the GOP proposal is Sheboygan. Right now, its population is 49,000 or enough to get into one district; however, it is currently split into two, both extending out to neighboring communities. Republicans represent both districts in a city that votes majority Democratic. Right now, Republicans have nearly a supermajority of the Wisconsin Legislature in a state where elections are usually razor-thin. Marquette University researcher John Johnson told FOX6 News last month the new maps under this GOP proposal would likely still favor Republicans. Wisconsin Legislative map "If you drew 99 seats, focusing on making them compact, following municipal boundaries, these kinds of criteria, you would still have a Republican advantage in a 50-50 year, but it would be smaller than the advantage that they currently have," he said. "Maybe more importantly, there would be a lot more competitive seats." The lawsuit challenging the current maps asks that every seat be up for new elections in 2024, even those lawmakers whose terms are supposed to extend through 2026. The plaintiffs filed the case right after the court flipped to liberal control. Two Idaho lawmakers Thursday met with state and local officials in Oregon to discuss the Greater Idaho movement, which would trade a dozen or more Oregon counties to Idaho. Reps. Barbara Ehardt , R-Idaho Falls, and Judy Boyle, R-Midvale, met in Baker City, Oregon, with an Oregon House member and Malheur County commissioner. While the attendees had little to say about what was discussed, the Thursday meeting was the first time lawmakers from each state met to talk about the long-shot proposal that would shift Oregons border westward. Ehardt said shes been fascinated by the idea, which could increase Idahos land and access to natural resources, such as timber and minerals. The Oregonians seeking to join Idaho are like-minded people who share Idaho values, Ehardt said, especially those old-fashioned, traditional values. Lets have that conversation, she said. This is something thats highly important to a lot of people. It makes sense to me, and Im ready to continue to move forward with the conversation. Ehardt, Boyle sponsor Greater Idaho resolution Since around 2018, a growing number of conservative eastern Oregonians have advocated for seceding from the Democrat-controlled state and joining heavily Republican Idaho. In recent years, a more formalized group, Greater Idaho, has organized ballot initiatives in eastern Oregon counties. The group has targeted 17 eastern Oregon counties that could wholly or partially join Idaho, according to a map that divides roughly along the Cascade Range. Both state legislatures and Congress would have to sign off on the move. Voters in 12 Oregon counties in recent years have approved ballot questions that direct county commissioners to discuss moving the border. Theyd like us to talk about it, said Oregon Rep. Vikki Breese-Iverson, R-Prineville. And this is the first conversation in that step between the two states. Boyle and Ehardt this year sponsored a resolution to formalize talks with the Oregon Legislature to move the border. The Idaho House passed the joint resolution, but the Senate did not vote on it. A similar resolution stalled in Oregon. The Oregon Democratic Party, which makes up the majority of the Legislature, has not been willing to move our bill forward into committee, give us a hearing, said Matt McCaw, spokesman for the Greater Idaho movement. Oregon has higher minimum wage, no abortion ban Many unanswered questions remain, such as how Oregonians would grapple with the vastly different Idaho policies that would govern economic and social issues. Cannabis, for example, is illegal in Idaho, while its a lucrative industry in Oregon, including in border towns like Ontario, where Idahoans flock for pot. Idaho also recently banned abortion, a prohibition that would govern Oregonians seeking to move the border. Asked about the disparity in minimum wages $13.50 hourly in Oregon, compared to $7.25 per hour in Idaho Ehardt downplayed a potential loss of income for Oregonians. McDonalds is paying like $13, so no ones paying minimum wage, Ehardt said. I say that, and somebody probably is, right? Its hard to find workers, so youre paying big money. In 2017, the latest available Idaho data from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, 16,000 Idaho workers earned $7.25 hourly or less. Last year, about 1.2 million workers nationwide earned the federal minimum wage or less, representing less than 1% of hourly paid workers in most states, according to the Bureau. The data did not include Idaho, and the Idaho Department of Labor does not track minimum wage earners. Ehardt traveled roughly 400 miles from Idaho Falls to attend the meeting in Baker City. The trip was self-funded, she said, and didnt conflict with her legislative duties. No receipts to turn in, folks, Ehardt said. And its a long drive. On Nov. 7, the Louisville Board of Education is asking the residents of Louisville to continue paying a levy that was first enacted 10 years ago. The substitute operating levy that generates $1,835,000 will cost current homeowners and business owners an additional zero dollars. By voting yes for the Louisville Schools tax levy, residents are simply voting to maintain the status quo. Property tax bills will not increase due to the Louisville City Schools receiving more revenue, because this levy does not raise taxes. Whenever a school levy appears on the ballot, the Board of Education, as well as the administration, is subject to criticism. Please be advised the Board of Education needs this levy simply to continue the cost of day-to-day operations. Because the Board of Education is frugal, any budget cuts will have a significant impact on services and programs that are available. There is no "fat" in the Louisville Schools budget, and losing $1,835,000 will result in significant and painful cuts. I agree with those in the state of Ohio who believe school funding is an issue that needs addressed, and I ask, who is to blame? Not the Louisville Board of Education, because they must operate within the laws the Ohio Legislature dictates. Even the Ohio Supreme Court agrees school funding is an issue that needs to be addressed and has ordered the Ohio Legislature to find a solution for equitable funding, on more than one occasion. The solution? Support Issue 34 and Louisville City Schools on Nov. 7 by voting yes. Next, hold every legislator in Columbus accountable for their support of local schools. Those legislators who are not willing to support our children need to look for a new job. Dwayne Pawley, Louisville This article originally appeared on The Repository: Letter to the editor: Vote yes on Louisville school levy Israeli soldiers listen to Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant near the border with the Gaza Strip on Thursday. (Tsafrir Abayov / Associated Press) To the editor: It seems widely understood that the long-term goal of Hamas is the elimination of the state of Israel. In view of its heinous acts on Oct. 7, it is clear to me that Hamas considers keeping hate alive as vital to its goal of preventing peace and destroying Israel. ("As Biden visits, rage spreads amid dueling narratives from Israel, Hamas," Oct. 18) The injured and killed in Israel and the Gaza Strip have been intentionally sacrificed by Hamas precisely to keep hate alive. Since keeping hate alive is its immediate objective, the goal of those opposed to the elimination of Israel must be to resist giving into that. I know that will be tremendously difficult, and that is the evil genius of Hamas. The natural human reaction to the actions of Hamas is precisely to keep hate alive. Jack Quirk, Porter Ranch .. To the editor: The Palestinians experience daily rage under occupation. It only explodes into world consciousness when their rage breaks through to impact the Israelis, under whose occupation they try desperately to live. Can we consider for a moment that maybe the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian people needs to end? Perhaps sending more U.S. weapons to a well-armed nuclear state in support of an occupation isn't the answer to peace after all. Safieh Saib, Santa Clara, Calif. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Pretending to be suffering a heart attack on numerous occasions to avoid paying for a meal has landed a man in a Spanish jail. | Adobe.com A 50-year-old Lithuanian man, Aidas J., is locally known in Alicante, Spain, as the gastrojeta for faking heart attacks to avoid paying restaurant bills. Last month Aidas faced imprisonment again after his 20th arrest in one year of faking heart attacks, according to the newspaper 20 Minutos. His arrests have occurred in various locations within the tourist area of Alicante, the most recent occurring after consuming a seafood paella and two whiskeys, totaling 34.85 euros. When the staff at El Buen Comer on Calle Mayor stopped Aidas from dashing after his meal, Fox9 reports that the gastrojeta became visibly upset. He explained that he needed to run back to his hotel room to get his wallet, but the staff refused to let him leave. El Pais described the events that followed, saying, He lay down on the floor, acted as if his chest hurt and began to shake. Staff and customers quickly identified him as the gastrojeta, and after making sure he was actually not having a heart attack, he was handcuffed and taken to the local police station, per 20 Minutos. Aidas stayed there until receiving a trial for a minor crime of fraud. The Daily Mail reported on Thursday that Aidas has now spent 42 days in jail after refusing to pay two fines for his theatrics. Castilla-la Mancha Media interviewed staff at a different restaurant where Aidas faked another heart attack. Adias waiter explained the situation, saying a foreigner came into the restaurant, ordered a large seafood pallea, two whiskeys and a coca cola and attempted to leave without paying. He ordered in Spanish, but as soon as he wanted to leave, he pretended to be incapable of communicating with any of the employees. The waiter said Aidas fell over in the doorway and pretended to be in cardiac arrest until the police arrived. The photo below was given to local restaurants as a warning to not provide service to him. 50-year-old man arrested after faking heart attack in 20 restaurants to avoid paying bill. pic.twitter.com/Ybg1zdXwAV Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) October 18, 2023 One police officer told 20 Minutos that he has arrested Aidas four times, and when he arrives on scene, the gastrojeta usually greets him with a smile. After each arrest, Aidas usually is under the influence of two whiskeys and apparently doesnt care about spending a night or two in the cell before going before the judge. The city of Olympia is getting involved in the state Department of Commerces EV charging program, which means some multi-family properties can get electric vehicle charging stations installed at no cost, if they want one. Grant funds may cover 100% of the total costs for design, planning, engineering and installation of residential Level 2 chargers, which cost up to $7,500 per port, the city announced Thursday. The city anticipates being able to provide stations for 10 multi-family residential buildings. Eligible properties include properties with five or more housing units. Hotels and motels dont count. The city is taking applications on a first-come, first-eligible basis, according to a news release, but properties with affordable-housing units will be prioritized. Both tenants and property owners can submit applications, but applicants have to attest that the legal owner has agreed to allow the city to install a charging station. If costs to install the stations exceed the amount allocated by the grant program, the property owner is responsible for those additional costs. The Department of Commerces EV Charging Program is offering $64 million for charger installations around the state, with 45% of those funds going to multi-family housing. The goal is to install 2,000 Level 2 charging ports. Interested parties have to submit an application online by Thursday, Nov. 9. The application can be found at this link. For questions about the program or the form, you can contact Anastasia Everett at aeverett@ci.olympia.wa.us, or 360-233-6197. Israel says Hamas has freed two American hostages who had been held in Gaza since militants rampaged through southern Israel Oct. 7. The hostage release Friday came even as Israeli airstrikes continued to hit southern Gaza, an area swelled by civilians who fled there from the north on Israeli instructions. Israel was also evacuating a sizable town near the Lebanese border in the latest sign of a potential ground invasion of Gaza that could trigger regional turmoil. Palestinians in Gaza reported heavy airstrikes in the southern city of Khan Younis, where civilians had been told to seek safety amid Israel's bombardment of areas closer to the Israeli border. The U.N. secretary general is at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza trying to find a way to get badly needed aid into the enclave. The war, which is in its 14th day on Friday, is the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said Friday that 4,137 Palestinians have been killed and more than 13,000 others wounded. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly in the initial attack on Oct. 7 when Hamas militants stormed into Israel. In addition, 203 people were believed captured by Hamas during the incursion and taken into Gaza, the Israeli military has said. Currently: Here's what's happening in the latest Israel-Hamas war: BIDEN THINKS HAMAS ATTACK LINKED TO EFFORTS ON ISRAEL-SAUDI RELATIONS WASHINGTON President Joe Biden said he thinks Hamas initial attack on Israel was tied in part to efforts to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, an initiative that Biden was trying to bring to fruition. They knew that I was about to sit down with the Saudis, the U.S. president said Friday, speaking at a fundraiser. IRAN-BACKED MILITIAS IN IRAQ WARN U.S. FORCES TO LEAVE OR FACE MORE ATTACKS BAGHDAD A group of Iranian-backed militias in Iraq said U.S. forces must leave immediately or their bases in Iraq and elsewhere in the region will continue to come under attack. Militant groups have launched rocket and drone attacks in recent days against U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria, most of which were claimed by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq. The group has said the attacks are retaliation for Washingtons support of Israel and a warning not to intervene in the Israel-Hamas war. These are only warning messages to them, and serious work has not yet begun, the militias said in a statement. The statement concluded by saying that if Israel launches a ground invasion into Gaza, watch the border with Jordan carefully. It did not elaborate. EGYPT OFFICIAL SAYS AID TRUCKS ENTERED RAFAH CROSSING BUT HAVEN'T PASSED INTO GAZA STRIP CAIRO An Egypt official said two aid-packed trucks entered the Egyptian side of the border crossing early Saturday, but that they have not passed through into the Gaza Strip. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not briefed to speak with the media. Israel announced Wednesday that aid would be allowed into Gaza from Egypt, via the Rafah crossing, but the border into the besieged territory has remained closed. Egypt says the crossing has been damaged by Israeli air strikes. ___ Associated Press reporter Ashraf Sweilam in el-Arish, Egypt, contributed. FRENCH PRESIDENT HOPES RELEASE OF U.S. HOSTAGES LEADS TO FREEDOM FOR OTHERS PARIS French President Emmanuel Macron said the release of two Americans who were held hostage in Gaza is a very good result and expressed hope it could help pave the way for others to be freed, including French-Israelis. So far, France has one confirmed hostage, 21-year-old Mia Schem, who was shown dazed and injured in a video that Hamas military wing released Monday. Six other French citizens also are missing and Macron said Friday that theyre presumed to be hostages but without certainty. French contacts with Israeli authorities and other contacts via Qatar keep up our hope that we will be able to find solutions to get the maximum number of hostages out, he said. We are confident: the channels we have are the good ones and are useful, he said. Macron said he is still weighing the possibility of traveling to the Middle East but that it would be dependent on more talks with leaders in the region. He also announced 10 million euros ($10.6 million) in additional humanitarian aid for Palestinians and said urgent aid, including medicines, will be airfreighted to Egypt. NOBEL LAUREATES' PETITION URGES HAMAS TO FREE CHILD HOSTAGES UNITED NATIONS A petition signed by 86 Nobel peace laureates demands that Hamas release all children taken hostage, saying holding them in captivity constitutes a war crime, a grievous offense against humanity itself. The petition noted that the Geneva Convention on safeguarding civilians in war mentions children 19 times, stressing that the current plight of the kidnapped children far exceeds any scenario envisioned by the accord. Children should never be regarded as pawns in the theater of war, it said. It is our sacred duty to protect the innocent and shield the vulnerable. FRANCE SAYS GAZA HOSPITAL BLAST LIKELY CAUSED BY MISFIRED PALESTINIAN ROCKET PARIS French military intelligence assesses that the most probable hypothesis for the explosion at Gaza Citys al-Ahli Hospital was that it was caused by a Palestinian rocket that was carrying an explosive charge of about 5 kilograms (11 pounds) that possibly misfired. Several rockets in the arsenal of Palestinian militant group Hamas carry explosive charges of about that weight, include an Iranian-made rocket and another that is Palestinian-made, said a senior French military intelligence official. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the intelligence assessment, cleared to do so by President Emmanuel Macron in what was described as an attempt to be transparent about the French findings. The official said none of their intelligence points to an Israeli strike. ___ Associated Press writer John Leicester contributed from Paris. U.S. MAN HAILS THE RELEASE OF HIS DAUGHTER AND EX-WIFE WHO WERE HELD BY HAMAS CHICAGO A man whose Chicago-area daughter and former wife were abducted by Hamas in southern Israel says he has spoken to his daughter since her release and he believes she will be home soon. Shes doing good. Shes doing very good, Uri Raanan, who is based in the Chicago suburb of Bannockburn, said Friday. Im in tears, and I feel very, very good. The 71-year-old said he saw on the news Friday that Hamas was releasing an American mother and daughter, and he spent the day hoping they meant his ex-wife, Judith Raanan, and his 17-year-old daughter, Natalie, who live in Evanston. He said he believes both are on their way to Tel Aviv to reunite with relatives before returning to the U.S., meaning Natalie will be able to celebrate her 18th birthday next week with family and friends. ___ This story has been corrected to reflect that Judith and Natalie Raanan are Uri Raanans former wife and daughter, not his daughter and granddaughter. ISRAELI PM SAYS EFFORT CONTINUES TO BRING ALL HOSTAGES HOME TEL AVIV -- Israel says it continues to push for the release of civilians taken hostage by Hamas during a raid on southern Israel almost two weeks ago. Hamas militants took more than 200 hostages during its Oct. 7 raid. Hamas released two of those hostages, a woman and her teenage daughter from the United States, on Friday. Two of our abducted are home, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. We are not giving up the effort to bring all of the hostages and missing people home. At the same time, we are continuing to fight until victory. U.N. CHIEF WORKS TO REOPEN RAFAH CROSSING AND ENSURE SUFFICIENT FUEL FOR AID DELIVERIES UNITED NATIONS U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is working with Egypt, Israel, the United States and others to ease an impasse that is preventing aid from entering Gaza. The priority is to make sure humanitarian aid deliveries are sustained, with a meaningful number of trucks approved each day to cross from Egypt into Gaza at the Rafah crossing, U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters Friday. And the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, must have sufficient fuel to distribute humanitarian aid, Haq said. Its no use dropping off aid to the other side and then leaving it there because their trucks simply dont have enough fuel to give it to the people who need it, he said. BLINKEN SAYS U.S. PUSHING HARD FOR OTHER HOSTAGES' FREEDOM WASHINGTON U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said he welcomes the release of the two hostages and shared in the families relief but noted there are many more captives, including children and elderly people. Speaking to reporters Friday, Blinken said he and President Joe Biden had been able to speak with the families of some of the hostages during their trips to the Middle East. Its impossible to adequately put into words the agony that theyre feeling, Blinken said. No family anywhere should have to experience this torture. Of the remaining hostages, he added: The entire United States government will work every minute of every day to secure their release and bring their loved ones home. Blinken also thanked the Qataris for their work in securing the hostages release. U.S. PRESIDENT CELEBRATES RELEASE OF 2 AMERICANS TAKEN HOSTAGE BY HAMAS WASHINGTON President Joe Biden is celebrating the release of a Chicago-area woman and her teenage daughter who had been visiting Israel when they were taken hostage by Hamas militants Oct. 7. The Israeli military said Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie, were released to the Israeli military Friday. Hamas said the Qatari government was instrumental in securing their release. Our fellow citizens have endured a terrible ordeal these past 14 days, and I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been wracked with fear, Biden said in a statement. Thanking the governments of Qatar and Israel for their help, Biden said the White House had been working around-the-clock to secure the release of American hostages and we have not ceased our efforts to secure the release of those who are still being held. ISRAEL SAYS HAMAS HAS RELEASED TWO U.S. HOSTAGES JERUSALEM Hamas militants on Friday freed two Americans, a mother and her teenage daughter, who had been held hostage in Gaza since militants rampaged through Israel two weeks ago, the Israeli government said. The pair, who also hold Israeli citizenship, were the first hostages to be released. More than 200 are still being held. The two Americans, Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie, were out of the Gaza Strip and in the hands of the Israeli military, an army spokesman said. Hamas said it was releasing them in an agreement with the Qatari government for humanitarian reasons. Judith and Natalie Ranaan had been on a trip to southern Israel from their home in suburban Chicago to celebrate a Jewish holiday, family said. They had been staying at the kibbutz of Nahal Oz, near Gaza, when Hamas fighters took them and more than 200 others hostage. Relatives of other captives welcomed the release and appealed for others to be freed. We call on world leaders and the international community to exert their full power in order to act for the release of all the hostages and missing, the statement said. DOZENS KILLED IN GAZA AIRSTRIKES MOURNED DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip Funeralgoers on Friday mourned the deaths of 40 people killed by air strikes in the Gaza Strip. The dead included 22 members of two families in Deir al-Balah, and 18 displaced Palestinians who had taken shelter in a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza City. A distraught woman screamed in anguish outside the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah. Other women sat on a curb and stroked the feet of some of the bodies laid out on the ground covered in white sheets. The sheets were pulled back to reveal the faces of two children. Two men knelt at their heads and caressed their faces. Outside the Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza City, the Orthodox patriarch swung a burner of smoldering incense as he walked around 18 bodies, including four children, killed when an airstrike toppled a church wall. Clergy prayed and sang during the service attended by dozens in a courtyard behind the church. ___ This story has been corrected to show that Israel said the number of suspected captives is 203, not 206. UPDATE: 3:15 p.m. Hostages Judith and Natalie Raanan have been released by Hamas. PREVIOUSLY: Former Israel-based NBC News correspondent Martin Fletcher revealed during an MSNBC appearance that two members of his wifes family were among the hostages captured by Hamas from Israel. Fletcher, who served as Middle East correspondent and Tel Aviv bureau chief, choked up as he explained the situation to MSNBCs Stephanie Ruhle on Thursday night during a discussion about the Israel-Hamas conflict. He said he had just learned the news that day. He said that Natalie and Judith Raanan, Americans from Evanston, Illinois, were in Israel visiting their grandmother for her 85th birthday. They were last seen [with] their hands tied, being dragged away by the Hamas terrorists. So its personal, its real, he said. Longtime NBC correspondent Martin Fletcher just told @SRuhle that two members of his wife's family members are hostages in Gaza. @MSNBCpic.twitter.com/5sPhzA5Cnt 11th Hour (@11thHour) October 20, 2023 Judith Raanan and her teenage daughter Natalie Raanan were visiting Judith Raanans mother at a kibbutz in the south of Israel at the time of Hamas Oct. 7 surprise attack, The New York Times reported last week. Natalie Raanan had just graduated high school. Family members in Israel were reportedly told that the women were in Gaza but that it was not known if they were dead or alive. Family and community members in Evanston, a suburb north of Chicago, told The Associated Press theyre praying for the pairs safe return. Natalie Raanans aunt, Sigal Zamir, said, I pray for them to come back alive. Theyre innocent and loving, and they didnt do anything. An estimated 200 people were taken hostage to Gaza, Israels public broadcaster Kan said on Thursday. Hamas says it has 200 hostages, Reuters reported. At least 20 Americans are missing, according to U.S. authorities. Related... Longtime state legislator J. Kirk Schuring, R-Canton, is hospitalized with undisclosed health issues, according to Ohio Senate leaders. Schuring, who is the second in command in the Senate, missed several voting sessions this year, including when lawmakers voted on the state budget bill. "Many of you know Sen. Kirk Schuring has been battling complications from a recent setback in his health. Sen. Schuring and his family want you to know that they appreciate your prayers and well wishes," Senate President Matt Huffman , R-Lima, said in a written statement issued Friday. "Rest assured he is in touch with his office, and over his three decades of service, Kirk has built a reputation of being among the hardest working members in the entire Ohio General Assembly. We wish him well and his fellow senators are praying for his recovery and return to the floor of the Senate. Rain fell as Jackson Township officials met in October 2021 to dedicate Kirk Schuring Park on Belden Green Road NW in honor of state Sen. Kirk Schuring, shown with wife, Darlene, and grandchildren Everett Schuring and Quinn Schuring. Kirk Schuring Park: Jackson Township's new park named to honor legislator Kirk Schuring Schuring is the second longest serving state legislator with 31 years of tenure. While voters enacted eight-year term limits in 1994, Schuring and fellow Republican Scott Oelslager of North Canton traded seats, ping-ponging between the House and Senate chambers over the decades. Schuring briefly served as acting speaker of the Ohio House in the spring of 2018 after Republican Cliff Rosenberger abruptly stepped down. His current role as president pro tempore gave Schuring the No. 2 leadership position in the Senate. Schuring's term runs through 2026. Laura Bischoff is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio Sen. Kirk Schuring, R-Canton, hospitalized with health issues Officials say a loud noise heard in a North Carolina town near Durham Thursday was an earthquake. It happened shortly before noon Thursday. Many Hillsborough residents told WTVD in Raleigh that they heard a loud boom. They said they felt it rumbling inside buildings and also outside. Several said they felt buildings shake. ALSO READ: 2.4-magnitude earthquake recorded in Chesterfield County We can confirm that it indeed was an earthquake, the US Geological Survey told WTVD on Friday. These small earthquakes often do not get picked up by our computer algorithms because they are so small. When we got felt reports, an analyst looked at it but initially thought it was a quarry blast because it is right near a quarry (visible on Google Earth). Re-examining it this morning, though, we confirmed that it was an earthquake. Update: The United States Geological Survey (USGS) stated that the loud boom noise heard Thursday in Hillsborough was an earthquake. The small 2.2 magnitude earthquake had a shallow depth of 3 miles. https://t.co/uoumyUAcWS Town of Hillsborough (@HillsboroughGov) October 20, 2023 A preliminary report from the USGS shows the earthquake registered around 11:50 a.m. Thursday at a 2.2 magnitude. Its epicenter was just under 3 miles southwest of Hillsborough. (WATCH BELOW: North Charleston nonprofit sends response team to assist earthquake survivors in Morocco) Georgia health-care advocates are expressing disappointment in the low enrollment numbers being reported for the limited Medicaid expansion program the state launched in July. The state Department of Community Health predicted the Georgia Pathways to Coverage program would eventually serve up to 345,000 Georgians, including an estimated 100,000 during its first year. However, the agency reported this week that only about 1,300 have signed up for coverage. Georgia has already invested about $20 million in state funds to launch the Pathways to Coverage program and earmarked another $118 million for the current fiscal year, said Leah Chan, director of health justice for the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute. These low initial enrollment numbers do not match the large-scale investment made thus far. Medicaid expansion would be a more effective way to meaningfully cover state residents and connect them to care, added Laura Colbert, executive director of Georgians for a Healthy Future. Under Georgia Pathways, Georgia residents between the ages of 19 and 64 with household incomes up to 100% of the Federal Poverty Level are eligible for Medicaid coverage. The federal Medicaid program covers Americans with household incomes up to 138% of the poverty level, which is $30,000 a year for a family of four. Recipients of Georgia Pathways coverage also must participate in at least 80 hours per month of qualifying activities, including work but also education, job training, or community service. Health-care organizations and Democrats in the General Assembly have long advocated for a full Medicaid expansion. Many Republican-led states have taken that step, most recently North Carolina. The Tar Heel State, which has a Democratic governor but a Republican-controlled legislature, has announced plans to adopt the federal Medicaid program starting Dec. 1. Kemp opposes Medicaid expansion for Georgia, arguing it would be too expensive. A spokesman for the governor said last summer there also are concerns that the federal government wont be able to sustain indefinitely the 90-cents-on-the-dollar match it currently provides states that fully expand Medicaid. Emmanuel Macron vowed to do all he can to ensure the release of the hostages (BENOIT TESSIER) French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday said Qatar had played a key role in the release by Palestinian militant group Hamas of two American hostages held since its attack against Israel on October 7, adding he was confident of further releases. "This is a very good outcome obtained by the negotiators, in which Qatar played a very important role," Macron told a group of reporters. Macron said France wanted similar operations to continue in the next "hours and days" to continue "allowing hostages, in particular our hostages, to get out." "The discussions we are having...through various contacts and Qatar in particular, give us hope that we will be able to find solutions to get as many hostages out as possible." "We are confident: the channels we have are the right ones and are useful," he added. Macron said seven French citizens were missing but of them only one -- Mia Shem who appeared in a video that was condemned by Paris -- was confirmed to be held hostage. "For the other six others there an assumption they are being held hostage but no certainty," he said. A total of 30 French citizens are confirmed by Paris to have been killed in the attack by Hamas, according to its latest toll Friday. US hostages Judith Tai Raanan and her daughter Natalie Shoshana Raanan were back in Israel late Friday, the Israeli government said. No details were given on their condition but US President Joe Biden quickly said he was "overjoyed" at the news. - Direct contact with Hezbollah - Israel says 203 people -- Israelis, dual nationals and foreigners -- were abducted by Hamas gunmen when they launched the deadliest attacks in Israel's 75-year history. At least 1,400 people were killed, mostly civilians, according to the government. Israel has responded with a relentless bombing campaign against the Gaza Strip that has left at least 4,137 people dead, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas administration. The French president, who so far has not travelled to Israel in the wake of the attacks unlike several other world leaders like Biden, added he did not rule out travelling to the region in the "next days" depending on his talks with regional leaders. Macron also said France had been in direct contact with pro-Tehran Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah to avoid a flare-up on Lebanon's southern border after the attack by Hamas on Israel. "We sent messages to Hezbollah very directly through our ambassador and our services," Macron told the group of reporters, adding that despite rocket fire on the border there has been "no escalation" but "we remain very cautious". He said the responses to the messages indicated that there was "no desire" for the current conflictual status-quo to move into greater escalation. "There is a situation of tension which is extremely worrying in any case and poses a great risk to the entire region. We will do everything to avoid escalation but the security situation remains by definition unstable because it is at a very high level of tension and pressure," he said. vl-sjw/gw A former Haitian justice official, who has been a key suspect in the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise of Haiti, was arrested Thursday after being on the run for more than two years, the New York times reported. The suspect, Joseph Felix Badio, 60, was captured outside the capital, in the neighborhood of Petion Vile in Port-au-Prince, while driving an S.U.V. President Moise was killed on July 7th, 2021, when gunmen carrying automatic weapons and grenades entered his home in Port Au Prince, Haiti, and shot both the president and first lady. The former President was reportedly tortured by the assailants before being killed. Former First Lady Martine Moise received treatment for her injuries in the United States and survived. The gunmen were arrested hours after the killing and told authorities Badio had initially given them orders to arrest the president, but that the former justice official changed the plan to murder days before the assassination, the head of the Colombian police stated, per the Times. Badio had been working for Haitis Ministry of Justice and at the governments anti-corruption unit until he was fired for alleged ethics violations weeks before the killing. Last week, former Haitian senator John Joel Joseph pleaded guilty to charges related to the assassination; he is one of the 11 men now in U.S. custody. In January, four individuals suspected of having a role in the plot were charged. According to the Department of Justice, three of those charged were Haitian-American citizens, the fourth is a Colombian national. Haitian-American citizens James Solages, Joseph Vincent, and Colombian citizen German Alejandro Rivera Garcia were charged by the department with conspiring to commit murder or kidnapping outside the United States and providing material support and resources resulting in death. Christian Sanon, also a Haitian-American citizen, was charged with conspiring to smuggle goods from the United States. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. ARLINGTON, Virginia (Reuters) - A major U.S. Muslim civil rights group said it moved an annual banquet scheduled for Saturday to an undisclosed location after a Virginia hotel canceled the event because of threats. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said the Marriott Crystal Gateway hotel in Arlington, Virginia, which has hosted its gathering for more than 10 years, told the group it had received threats. "Anonymous callers have threatened to plant bombs in the hotel's parking garage, kill specific hotel staff in their homes, and storm the hotel in a repeat of the Jan. 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol if the events moved forward," CAIR said Thursday night. Marriott did not confirm specific threats. "After careful consideration, we have determined that we are unable to move forward with an event planned for this weekend due to significant risks to the safety of event attendees, guests and associates," a spokesperson for the Crystal Gateway Marriott said in a statement. The move comes as Justice Department authorities are monitoring an increase in reported threats against Jewish, Muslim and Arab communities in the United States tied to Israels war with Hamas. At least two pro-Israel advocacy groups urged members to call on Marriott to cancel the CAIR gathering, including the Endowment for Middle East Truth and the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA). "Please join ZOA in calling Marriott to demand that they cancel this dangerous CAIR event," the ZOA said in an "action alert" on Thursday. Marriott did not comment on those calls. CAIR said it would proceed with the banquet on Saturday at an alternate, secured location. On Thursday, the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights, a second advocacy group, said a Hilton hotel in Houston had abruptly canceled its booking for an annual conference on Oct. 27-29. Texas Governor Greg Abbott praised Hilton's decision, writing on social media, "Texas has no room for hate & antisemitism." "The governor's rhetoric, and actions by the hotel echo and inflame the sharp increase in hate incidents that are targeting Arabs," the Palestinian rights group said, citing the murder of a 6-year-old Muslim boy in Illinois in what police said was a bias-motivated crime. "Given escalating security concerns in the current environment, the hotel has determined that it cannot serve as the venue for this event because of the potential risks to our Team Members and guests," Hilton Houston Post Oak by the Galleria said in a statement. The ZOA praised both Hilton and Marriott for the decisions. President Joe Biden called on Americans to denounce Islamophobia and antisemitism in an Oval Office address Thursday night. "You're all America," he said. (Reporting by Doina Chiacu in Washington; Julia Harte and Doyinsola Oladipo in New York; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Jonathan Oatis and Rod Nickel) A man from Pico Rivera was arrested for his alleged role in a retail theft operation responsible for nearly $200,000 worth of stolen merchandise from Home Depot stores across Los Angeles. Sergio Arellano was arrested Thursday by members of the California Highway Patrols Retail Crime Task Force. Arellano is suspected of being involved in an illegal fence operation, which involves the purchase of stolen goods from thieves and burglars to be resold through seemingly legitimate businesses. 89 arrests made so far by LASDs new retail crime task force CHP says Arellano was tied to 960 stolen items with an approximate retail value of about $200,000. Investigators allege that he was purchasing the stolen items and then reselling them on the popular website and app OfferUp. The stolen merchandise is believed to have come from Home Depot stores throughout the Los Angeles area. A firearm was also recovered as part of the investigation, CHP said. The Los Angeles Organized Retail Crime Task Force assisted the CHP task force with the investigation. Anyone with information about Arellano, the fence operation or other acts of large-scale retail theft should contact the CHP Southern Division task force at 323-644-9550. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) The man accused of human trafficking and forcing a woman to work as a prostitute in Salt Lake City and along the Las Vegas Strip was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on Thursday, Oct. 19, two months after a warrant was issued for his arrest. A Salt Lake County judge in the 3rd District Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Delquan Maurice Danford, 32, on Aug. 10 after a woman from Las Vegas spoke out against him. Danford was charged with one count of aggravated human trafficking, a first-degree felony, and ordered to be held without bail. The woman, who is from Las Vegas and has not been identified, said she was forced to go into prostitution by Danford both at the strip and in Salt Lake City. He beat me up on a regular basispulled out guns on me. Did anything violent that you can think of, she told 8 News Now. When the woman tried to leave, Danford would violently retaliate, she said. Danford sent her to Utah on a one-way ticket, claim Utah prosecutors in court documents. She never knew how long she would be here. According to court documents, Danford allegedly sent the woman to Utah, saying he heard it was good for business. On one occasion, she reported Danford threw her across a hotel room and punched her repeatedly until she lost consciousness. Police said they obtained medical records in Las Vegas that verified her story. While she was working in Utah, Danford allegedly had her children with him in Las Vegas. Danford would call the woman and, while on speaker phone, would tell her children theyll never see their mom again. According to the court documents, the woman was in Utah from December 2014 until May 2015, where they allege she had a quota to make at least $800 a day. An investigation reportedly revealed the woman had sent Danford 19 transactions totaling nearly $13,000. She reported to 8 News Now, she gave him much more than that. Details of Danfords arrest have not been made publically available. An initial appearance has not yet been scheduled as of the morning of Friday, Oct. 20. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. Police officers are seen outside the visa office of the Chinese consulate, where earlier a vehicle crashed into the building, in San Francisco, California, on 9 October 2023 (AFP via Getty Images) A Chinese citizen who crashed his car into the Chinese consulate in San Francisco earlier this month was armed with a knife and a cross and arrows. A policeman shot him dead after the accused scuffled with the officer, shows a newly released video of the confrontation. In addition to recovering the weapon seen wielded by the suspect a folding knife with a 3-1/2-inch (8.9 cm) blade officers also found a loaded crossbow with arrows in the backseat of the mans vehicle, police said. Footage captured by police body-worn cameras was released during a 90-minute "town hall meeting", an online briefing the San Francisco Police Department typically presents within 10 days of any officer-involved shooting as part of its public transparency routine. San Francisco Police acting commander Mark Im said at the virtual town hall that Zhanyuan Yang stood against a wall hiding a knife in his right hand. He said Yang then rotated toward a police sergeant and a security guard, exposing the knife, and made multiple, rapid, downward swinging motions with the knife" in the direction of the sergeant and the security guard. The sergeant opened fire after Yang failed to comply with orders to get on the ground. Yang, a 31-year-old San Francisco resident, was taken to a hospital where he died. Investigators so far havent released a possible motive behind Yangs intention of ramming a car into the visa office of the consulate on 9 October. The departments internal review of police conduct in the incident was continuing, along with a separate investigation into the overall case itself. San Francisco Police chief William Scott made no mention of Yangs immigration status or whether he had any connection to the consulate, with a department spokesperson saying she was not at liberty to answer those questions. Mr Scott said police "dont have anything further to release to the public" regarding possible motives for the attack. According to police, Yang plowed his Honda sedan into the lobby of the consulate visa office around 3pm. Several people called 911, saying that a driver had deliberately crashed into the consulates office, according to recordings played on Thursday. One of the callers said the suspect had a gun, which dispatchers relayed to officers called to the scene. Yang did not have a gun, police said. Police body camera footage showed Yang leaning against a wall on his right side and rubbing his face with his left arm. Police said a security guard at the consulate had deployed pepper spray. The police sergeant can be seen touching Yangs back and asking Does he have a gun? before Yang turns around toward the officer and the security guard and starts swinging a knife. The footage shows the officer then opens fire and shortly after shouts, You should have told me he had a knife! A consulate is a place of safety and refuge where people should not have to worry about acts of violence, said Captain Jason Sawyer on Thursday. This was a highly unusual event that could have easily involved many more casualties. (Additional reporting from the agencies) A man has died after being swept away in flood water when a brook breached a road in Shropshire. The victim, in his 60s, was reported to have gone under the water near Cleobury Mortimer at about 10:40 BST on Friday. Police officers, paramedics and firefighters were called to the scene and found his body at about 12:35. His death came as Storm Babet swept across the UK, battering the West Midlands with rain. The family of the man, who was from the area, were being supported by specialist officers, West Mercia Police said. Elsewhere, a pub manager said flood barriers were not put up in time to protect homes and businesses along the River Severn in part of Bewdley, Worcestershire. Staff at The Mug House, on Severn Side North, had to get sandbags in place and move furniture out of the ground floor as it became "a little bit of a panic situation", Eddie Hill said. "It's a massive surprise to everybody because normally the Environment Agency (EA) are very good, very on the ball," he added. The EA confirmed that installing barriers had become dangerous as the flood waters rose. "It became unsafe for [workers] to continue, and the flood barriers were not deployed," said the agency's Marc Lidderth. This embedded content is not available in your region. In Staffordshire, a woman was rescued from fast-flowing water after she was swept 100m from her car, having tried to drive through a ford in Wombourne. She got out of the vehicle and was then swept downstream before managing to grab a tree branch, the fire service said. In Northfield, Birmingham, a man had to climb on to the roof of his car when it was pushed 30 metres down a fast-flowing river. The fire service said he had a "lucky escape" after he used a tree branch to get to the embankment. This embedded content is not available in your region. The storm brought significant rainfall to the region over 24 hours, with the Met Office recording 43mm (1.7 inches) of rainfall in Shawbury, Shropshire. Many roads across the region were left impassable, while more than a dozen schools were closed, mainly in Worcestershire. By Friday evening, 28 flood warnings had been issued by the EA for waterways across the West Midlands, along with 17 flood alerts. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk A man has been charged with murder in connection with the death of another man who was found bleeding on the sidewalk outside of a home in Lawrence earlier this month, prosecutors announced Friday. Kristopher Graciale, 36, of Haverhill, pleaded not guilty Friday in Lawrence District Court to a charge of murder in the death of Nathan Mucci, according to Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker and Lawrence Acting Police Chief Michael McCarthy. Officers responding to the area of Chandler Street just before 8 a.m. on Oct. 8 found Mucci unresponsive on the sidewalk outside a residence bleeding from a significant head injury, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators later obtained evidence linking Muccis injuries to Graciale, according to Tucker and McCarthy. Graciale was ultimately tracked down in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where he was taken into custody without incident. Graciale is being held without bail. He is due back in court for a pretrial conference on Nov. 21. There were no additional details immediately available. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW A man who fled to Canada for eight years to avoid prosecution on child sex changes was convicted this week in Hancock County. The charges against Matthew Thomas Murphy are from 2012 and involved allegations that he attempted to have young children perform oral sex on him. But after he posted bond years ago, Murphy fled and took authorities on a multi-agency international manhunt led by the U.S. Marshals Service, who eventually found him in Quebec, Canada, in 2021. Murphy had used five different aliases while on the run. The District Attorneys Office worked with the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of State to secure the international extradition of Murphy to stand trial in Hancock County. The Defendant returned to Hancock County in November 2022 for trial on these charges, said assistant district attorneys Chris Daniel and Jeremy Necaise, who prosecuted the case. This week, Murphy was convicted on two counts of attempted touching of a child for lustful purposes. Judge Larry Bourgeois presided over the three-day jury trial, which concluded Thursday morning at the Hancock County Courthouse. After receiving the jurys verdict, Judge Bourgeois sentenced Murphy to a total of 30 years, with 20 years to serve without the benefit of parole or early release, followed by 10 years of post-release supervision by the Mississippi Department of Corrections. The victims in the case, now 14 and 17 years old, testified during the case. Prior to imposing sentencing, Judge Bourgeois stated, You are supposed to nurture and care for children, instead you used them for your lustful and licentious sexual desires. You treated them like sex toys. These children said, No! and they knew better than you. Said District Attorney Crosby Parker: This conviction was made possible due to the courage of two little girls and the commitment of federal, state, and county law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly for 10 years to ensure they received justice after the betrayal of an adult who was once in their lives. We greatly appreciate the tireless efforts of these professionals who ensured justice was served in this case. Authorities have located and arrested an inmate who walked away from a reentry program in Kern County Thursday morning. Demetrius Branson, 50, was reported missing from the Male Community Reentry Program facility around 11 a.m. after he apparently removed his GPS monitoring device while visiting the Department of Motor Vehicles. A news release issued by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation described Branson as being 5 feet 11 inches, 181 pounds with brown eyes and black and gray hair. Not long after that release was sent out, CDCR announced that Branson had been apprehended that same day around 5:40 p.m. in Bakersfield. Hes since been transported to North Kern State Prison and is likely to face new charges related to his escape. According to CDCR, Branson was moved to the reentry program in April to serve the remained of a four-year, eight-month sentence for corporal injury, grand theft, vehicle theft and failure to appear. The Male Community Reentry Program allows people incarcerated in state prison to serve the end of their sentences in a reentry center. The program is supposed to make the transition back into civilian life smoother and provides resources like housing, family reunification and employment support. The program is voluntary and CDCR says 99% of all people who have walked away from similar adult institutions and programs have been safely apprehended. The MCRP was established in 2015 and can be found in four California counties, including three facilities in Los Angeles County. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Anna Moore and Anthony Flores, also known as Anton David, shown at a cocktail party in 2017, face sentencing in a million-dollar fraud case. (Vivien Killilea / Getty Images for m/f) A 47-year-old Fresno man pleaded guilty Thursday to stealing millions of dollars with his former girlfriend from a Malibu doctor in an elaborate scheme involving deception and psychoactive drugs before his death in 2018. Anthony David Flores, also known as Anton David, pleaded guilty to nine felony violations for his role in the scheme, including wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering and conspiracy. His ex-girlfriend, Anna Rene Moore, 40, had pleaded guilty in August to seven felony violations in the same case, according to Flores' plea agreement released by the U.S. Department of Justice. In 2017, Flores and Moore met ophthalmologist Mark Sawusch, a wealthy Malibu doctor and savvy investor with a net worth of $60 million. Sawusch had been experiencing severe episodes of mental illness that had led to his hospitalization and later his arrest. Read more: The actor, the hairstylist and the eye surgeon: Drugs and death in a Malibu beach house Within days of meeting Sawusch, federal prosecutors said, Flores and Moore moved into his home and began pretending to be his caregivers and friends. They lived with Sawusch from September 2017 until his death in May 2018. According to the plea agreement, Flores convinced Sawusch to grant him power of attorney during a severe mental breakdown that September, which ended in his arrest. The move was meant to be only for Flores to pay Sawusch's bail, but the power was never revoked after his release from jail. Flores used the power of attorney to open bank accounts in Sawusch's name and gain access to his money, prosecutors said. Days before Sawusch's death, Flores and Moore gave him LSD, which sent Sawusch's mental health into a tailspin, authorities said. While Sawusch was under the influence, Flores changed the two-factor authentication on Sawusch's brokerage account to go to Flores' phone, then initiated two $1-million wire transfers that ended up in his and Moore's bank accounts. Sawusch died alone in his home that Memorial Day weekend. The plea agreement revealed that before his death, Flores and Moore had been surveilling Sawusch via the security cameras in his house from a luxury hotel in Santa Monica. After his death, Flores and Moore continued to withdraw money from his accounts until Sawusch's mother and sister sued them. The funds were frozen, and Flores and Moore attempted to salvage the funds through various money-laundering schemes. In late 2018, Flores and Moore claimed Sawusch had promised them his house and one-third of his estate but was unable to change his will before his death. The ensuing litigation over Sawusch's estate resulted in the pair withdrawing their claims and agreeing to repay the estate $1 million, which has never been fulfilled, according to authorities. Read more: Pair posed as Malibu doctor's caregivers, dosed him with psychedelics and stole millions, feds say The pair moved to Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic, where they later split up. In December 2022, a Los Angeles grand jury indicted both of them on suspicion of defrauding Sawusch. Flores was arrested at his home in Fresno, and Moore was arrested at a Houston airport. Both have been in federal custody since January. Flores faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years for each fraud count, 10 years for each money-laundering count and up to 20 years for the conspiracy charge. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 26, while Moore's sentencing is set for Jan. 22. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. For the first time, the courts used Sheyennes Law to convict a man who killed three people while boating impaired in 2020. Matthew Ferster pleaded guilty in Brunswick County to three counts of death by impaired boating. He was sentenced to 9 1/2 to 18 years in prison. Channel 9s Dan Matic spoke with the father behind the law, who said this justice brings little comfort. On July 4, 2015, Kenneth Marshalls daughter Sheyenne was knee-boarding on Lake Norman when she was run over and killed by a drunk boater. When our daughter was killed, it was basically a $200 to $250 crime for someone that was drinking or impaired, Marshall explained. PAST COVERAGE: Marshall said after seeing the person responsible get off with just probation, he went to work with North Carolina lawmakers. After lots of hard work, he was able to pass Sheyennes Law, which imposes stricter penalties if someone causes a death or injury while boating impaired. Hopefully people will be educated about what it will cost them if they go out and drink and boat, Marshall said. So we wanted to push to make sure no other families would go through what we went through. Sheyenne would have been proud that her legacy lives on and that shell be helping people even though shes gone. VIDEO: 11-year-old girl killed in SC boating accident A man who was posing as a mannequin has been arrested, according to the Warsaw police. Police accused him of pretending to be a mannequin to remain unnoticed and swipe jewelry after hours. He has been charged with theft and burglary and faces a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years. A 22-year-old man in Warsaw has been arrested after posing as a mannequin to dodge security cameras at a shopping mall, police said in a Wednesday statement. The authorities did not disclose when the arrest or the incidents occurred. The unnamed suspect waited until the mall closed to steal from a jewelry stand, according to the police. The suspect remained motionless until he believed it was safe, then proceeded to roam through different departments in the mall, per the statement. Authorities released an image of the man standing still in front of a shop window while holding a bag. The 22-year-old has also been accused of separate incidences of pilfering food from a bar and swiping designer clothes from the mall on a different day. He was spotted on camera sneaking under a designer clothing store's partially open shutter. Security personnel eventually spotted the man, leading to his capture and arrest by Warsaw police. The suspect slipping under a partially-open steel shutter of a store. Warsaw Police He has been charged with theft and burglary and faces a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years. The authorities said the man had previously committed thefts at another mall, where he waited after closing time to take money from cash registers. This isn't the first time someone has resorted to blending in with mannequins to steal from a store. In 2016, two thieves blended in with store mannequins and waited until after the store closed before stealing designer clothing worth 10,000 pounds, or around $12,000 at today's exchange rate, in West Sussex, England, the Sun reported. And in 2012, Rome police arrested a trio of men who attempted to pass themselves off as mannequins in a designer clothing store after the break-in was heard and reported by a neighbor, per the Guardian. Warsaw police did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider, sent outside regular business hours. Read the original article on Insider ROSS COUNTY An officer-involved shooting took place on Thursday, Oct. 19 after deputies were called to the residence in reference to a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Body cam footage released by the Ross County Sheriff's Office shows two deputies, a man and a woman, rushing to get inside the residence around 1 p.m. A panicked woman showed the deputies were the man was located, in a back bedroom of the home. Upon entering the room, deputies instructed one man to exit the room. One older man was laying on the floor with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Shortly after the first man exited the room, the older man raised a firearm. Deputies instructed the man to lower the firearm several times. The woman, who is out of camera view, can be heard crying for the man to lower the firearm. After instructing the injured man several times to lower the firearm, the female deputy retrieves her taser. The male deputy and the injured man exchange words and the man seems confused as to what to do. The female deputy discharges the taser and hits the injured man. Seconds after discharging the taser, several shots were fired. Based on the body cam footage, it is unclear who fired first or if the injured man discharged his weapon. Screams from the woman can be heard in the background. The other man and the woman in the house can be heard screaming in the background, "Oh my God!" and "You didn't have to do that!" No longer holding the firearm, the injured man is shown holding his hands up. Deputies instructed the man to stay still. The male deputy handcuffed the injured man and proceeds to provide medical attention. The man indicates that he was shot in the chest. No officers were shot during this interaction. The man was transported to Grant Medical Center for his injuries. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is currently handling this case and is in the preliminary stages of an investigation. Megan Becker is a reporter for the Chillicothe Gazette. Call her at 740-349-1106, email her at mbecker@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @BeckerReporting. This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Ross County Sheriff's deputy exchanges gunfire with man A man is accused of threatening to shoot two Muslim men during an unprovoked verbal attack, Illinois officials say. Larry York, 46, was arrested on hate crime charges following the Tuesday, Oct. 17, incident outside an apartment complex in Lombard, according to the DuPage County States Attorneys Office. He is accused of approaching a Muslim man who was waiting for a friend in his car. York approached the vehicle and asked the victim what he was doing there and then began swearing at the man and telling him he did not belong in this country and to leave, the states attorneys office said in an Oct. 19 news release. When the second Muslim man exited the complex, York swore at him and threatened to beat him, officials said. The friends were later seated on a bench outside the building, and York came toward them again. This time, he lifted the end of the bench, causing one of the men to fall to the ground, according to the states attorneys office. York said he would call four of his friends over to shoot the two men, officers said. This is America. Get the ---- out of here, he is accused of telling the men. Ill shoot you, mother-------, get out of here. York was arrested at a Lombard bar Wednesday, officials said. While being taken into custody, he made remarks about Muslims and Arabs, WGN reported, citing court documents. He was charged with two counts of hate crime, and a judge denied his pre-trial release from jail. York is due in court Nov. 2, officials said. Hate crimes have no place in a civilized society, DuPage County States Attorney Robert Berlin said. The allegations against Mr. York are extremely disturbing and in DuPage County we have no tolerance whatsoever for such vitriolic actions, as alleged in this case. The Council on American-Islamic Relations said in a statement its Chicago branch has seen a large increase of hate incidents since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. There is widespread palpable apprehension in the community, said Ahmed Rehab, CAIR-Chicago executive director. Lombard is about 20 miles west of Chicago. Knife-wielding landlord targets Muslim mom and son, killing 6-year-old, IL cops say Gay man awarded $4.5 million after alleged attack by religious patrol, officials say Terrible, hateful acts of murder. Killings of 4 Muslim men may be linked, NM cops say City of Kingsland Police Department School Resource Officer made contact with a man who was suspected of trespassing at Camden County High School. This event occurred on Oct. 20. SRO tried to ask what the man was doing and the suspect later identified as Nicholas U. Petiote, did not respond. The officer said he has never seen Petiote on campus before. Read: 4 Putnam County second grade students in the hospital after eating THC gummies According to KPD, the officer kept trying to make conversation to know why he was on campus but Petiote took off on his bike attempting to runaway. The SRO jumped into their vehicle and followed Petiote and pulled ahead of him to stop his travel. Read: US Reps. laud local crew of USS Carney for shooting down missiles aimed at Israel During this time the students were exiting the school for the end of the day and Petiote went towards the crowd of students. The officer became concerned and was giving Petiote verbal commands to stop. Read: Twins, 5, found dead in Central Florida home after mother jumps to her death from bridge According to police, Petiote would not stop and the SRO advised Petiote that he was going to be tased. The SRO drew the departmental issued Taser and tased Petiote. Petiote was arrested for Obstruction of a Law Enforcement Officer and Criminal Trespass. Petiote was transported to the Camden Medical Center for Treatment, which is the Kingsland Police Department policy. Petiote was later transported to the Camden County Sheriffs Office jail after medical clearance. The SRO that was involved in this incident was not injured, nor students or faculty. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. A fugitive wanted in connection with the murder of a child in Brazil was arrested in Plymouth earlier this week, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced Friday. Antonio Dos Santos, a 52-year-old unlawfully present citizen of Brazil, was nabbed Wednesday by Enforcement and Removal Operations officials on federal immigration violations near his home, an ICE spokesperson said. Earlier this month, ERO Boston learned that Dos Santos was wanted in Brazil for aggravated homicide of a child under the age of 14. Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) is focused on smart, effective immigration enforcement that protects the homeland through the arrest and removal of those who undermine the safety of our communities and the integrity of our immigration laws, the spokesperson said in a statement. Entering the United States without authorization is a violation of federal law, and those who do so may be subject to administrative arrest, and in some cases, criminal prosecution. Dos Santos unlawfully entered the United States near San Luis, Arizona, and was apprehended and processed by the United States Border Patrol. In June 2021, he was released on his own recognizance, the same month that the town of Mogi Das Cruzes in Sao Paulo, Brazil, sought custody of him. In August 2022, Dos Santos failed to report to federal immigration authorities as required, and after becoming aware of the potential presence of Dos Santos within the Plymouth area, ERO Boston sought to confirm his presence in the region. Dos Santos was apprehended without incident and will remain in custody as he awaits extradition to Brazil. Editors note: Dos Santos face was blurred out in an image provided by ICE. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of Pedro Manuel Argote, the suspect in the Thursday night fatal shooting of a Washington County Circuit Court judge outside his Hagerstown-area home, according to an agency news release. Judge Andrew "Drew" F. Wilkinson was found with gunshot wounds in his driveway and later pronounced dead at Meritus Medical Center near Hagerstown, according to the Washington County Sheriff's Office. Argote, 49, "has ties to multiple locations beyond the state of Maryland to include Brooklyn and Long Island, New York; Tampa and Clearwater, Florida; Columbus, Indiana; and unknown cities in North Carolina," the U.S. Marshals news release states. Anyone with information about Argote "is urged" to contact the U.S. Marshals Service at 877-WANTED2 (926-8332) or to submit a tip through the Marshals' Tips app. The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of Pedro Manuel Argote, the suspect in the Oct. 19, 2023, murder of Washington County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson. The suspect in the murder of a Washington County Circuit Court judge was a party in a divorce hearing the judge issued an order on earlier that day, saying Pedro Argote could have no contact with his children, according to court records. Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert, during a Friday news conference confirmed that authorities believe Judge Andrew "Drew" F. Wilkinson was targeted by Argote because Wilkinson ruled that the mother should have custody of the children. The sheriff's office released Pedro Argote's name on Friday morning, at first as a person wanted in connection with the investigation into the shooting death of Wilkinson north of Hagerstown on Thursday night. That phrasing changed to suspect at the news conference. There is a manhunt for Argote, though "he could be anywhere," Albert said in an interview after the news conference. Frederick Police are assisting with some of the investigation because Argote was living in Frederick, Albert confirmed. This photo released by the Washington County Sheriff's Office is of Pedro Argote, 49, who is wanted by deputies in connection with the shooting death of Washington County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson on Thursday night. As of press time early Friday afternoon, authorities were still looking for Argote. What is known about Pedro Argote? Albert said Argote is considered "armed and dangerous," later adding in the interview that people should not approach him. Anyone with information about Argote, 49, is asked to notify law enforcement immediately, Albert said. Argote was described as 5-foot-7 and 130 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. The photo the sheriff's office provided of Argote is recent, Albert said. Argote may be driving a silver 2009 Mercedes GL450, displaying Maryland registration plates 4EH0408, according to the sheriff's office. That was updated later Friday to a Mercedes sport utility vehicle GL450 model. According to an April filing in Argote's divorce case, he changed his address from an apartment in Martinsburg, W.Va., to a home in Frederick, Md. Pedro Argote, who is being sought for the killing of a Maryland judge near Hagerstown, lives at 1807 Jacob Bruner Drive off Shookstown Road in Frederick, according to court records. What happened during the shooting? Wilkinson was gunned down around 8 p.m. Thursday in his driveway in the 19100 block of Olde Waterford Road north of Hagerstown. Albert said at the news conference that Wilkinson's wife and son were home when the shooting occurred. The wife and son are "OK," Albert said in an interview. Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert speaks Friday morning during a news conference regarding the investigation of the murder of county Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson, who was shot in his driveway Thursday night on Olde Waterford Road north of Hagerstown. Albert said investigators are in the process of looking at all types of evidence, including camera footage in Wilkinson's neighborhood. Authorities also have access to a network of surveillance camera footage Hagerstown Police use that has many cameras in downtown Hagerstown, including around the circuit courthouse. However, Albert said Argote was not at the divorce hearing in the courthouse on Thursday. Were other judges put under protection? Maryland State Police, for "precautionary reasons," deployed troopers Thursday night to protect judges residing in Washington County, according to the state police's media communications office. That included deputies and state troopers providing protection to local circuit and district court judges, Albert said. Albert said Friday that authorities didn't feel there was a current threat to any other judges in the county or state. Hagerstown Police, U.S. marshals and the Washington County State's Attorney's Office also have been assisting the sheriff's office, Albert said. Wilkinson, 52, was a husband and father. Albert asked the community to keep Wilkinson's friends, family and colleagues in their thoughts. Washington County Administrative Judge Brett R. Wilson said after the news conference that Wilkinson was a "great judge." Asked how the judges, clerks and other court employees are doing, Wilson said, "We're all feeling immense loss, selfishly for ourselves ... the loss of a friend." Wilson said Wilkinson's death also is a loss for the community, "for the incredible amount of intellect, respect and care that he brought to his judgeship. Truly a community loss." Argote's divorce and domestic violence cases The divorce case was the only matter before Wilkinson on Thursday, according to the day's court docket. Wilkinson signed an order Thursday saying there was to be no visitation or contact between Pedro Argote and his children, according to the partial judgment in the divorce case. There also was to be no contact between Argote and the children's mother. The order Wilkinson signed Thursday refers to a 2009 Mercedes that Argote was to make available to his children's mother "upon reasonable request to attend to necessary shopping or medical or dental" appointments for her and the children. The judgment also states the mother was to have "sole use and possession of the family home," property west of Hagerstown, and that Argote was not to enter that property. Argote was to pay the mother child support of $1,120 a month for their four minor children, the judgment states. There also was a temporary protective order issued against Pedro Argote in June 2022 through Washington County District Court in which a judge ordered Argote not to abuse, threaten to abuse, contact or attempt to contact his wife and four children, according to court records. According to the docket for the domestic violence case, that case was dismissed around the time the temporary protective order expired, at the request of the petitioner. The petitioner was Argote's wife. "We have responded for verbal domestic assault two times in the last two years," but authorities were not aware of any prior criminal record in Washington County, Albert said at the news conference. Argote legally owns a handgun, though Albert would not get into what the suspected firearm was in the shooting. Wilkinson was a private attorney before he was a judge Wilkinson was sworn in as a circuit court judge on Jan. 10, 2020, after being appointed by then Gov. Larry Hogan. A 1994 graduate of the University of North Carolina, he received his law degree in 1997 from Emory University School of Law and had experience in all levels of Maryland courts from district to the Court of Appeals. His legal experience included real estate, zoning and family law as well as civil litigation. Before taking the bench, Wilkinson had a solo practice. Prior to that he worked in private practice with land-use attorney Jason Divelbiss. Wilkinson served as an assistant county attorney under then-County Attorney John Martirano from 2006 to 2012. After law school, Wilkinson became a law clerk at the local circuit court for Judge Frederick C. Wright III and Judges John H. McDowell, W. Kennedy Boone, and Donald E. Beachley. Asked after his investiture ceremony about becoming a judge in his hometown, Wilkinson said, Its an honor and its humbling, and Im happy to serve. Background: Hogan names Wilkinson to Washington County Circuit Court bench Wilkinson said he wanted to become a judge to serve the community. He was one of six current circuit court judges in Washington County. A Washington County judge was injured by pipe bombs almost 34 years ago This is not the first time a local circuit court judge has been attacked. On Dec. 22, 1989, a package of pipe bombs exploded in Judge John P. Cordermans third- floor apartment in Hagerstown, according to Herald-Mail archives. Corderman sustained shrapnel wounds to his right hand and abdomen and partial hearing loss in the attack. No one was ever charged in that bombing, according to a story at the time of Cordermans death in July 2012. He was 70 years old. Corderman's son, Paul, who is now a state senator representing Washington and Frederick counties, posted a message to law enforcement late Thursday on Facebook. "Prayers for our local judicial & law enforcement community," he wrote. Following Friday's news conference, Corderman said his family was fortunate in that his father survived the attack on him. "I cant imagine the pain and angst that his family is suffering right now, and our hearts really just go out to them at this time," he said. "Unfortunately, Judge Wilkinson was taken from us far too soon." Reaction to Judge Wilkinson's death Albert said Col. Roland Butler, superintendent for Maryland State Police, called him last night to say "whatever you need, you got." Deputies and investigators are working overtime to find Argote, Albert said. "We're going to do whatever we have to do to bring this to justice," Albert told The Herald-Mail. Speaking to the mindset of the local law enforcement community, Albert said, "We're a small community here, close knit. We pull together when something like this happens." Albert said other federal agencies have offered assistance, but he's trying to control the number of people involved and has more resources than needed as of early Friday. Maryland Supreme Court Chief Justice Matthew Fader, second from right, joins Washington County Circuit Court Administrative Judge Brett R. Wilson, right, and county Circuit Court Associate Judge Dana Moylan Wright during a Friday news conference on the investigation into the murder of Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson. There were more deputies in the lobby of the Washington County Courthouse, home of circuit court, on Friday morning than usual. The day's case docket was slimmed down. Present in the courthouse Friday morning and at the news conference was Matthew Fader, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Maryland. The Maryland Judiciary put out a statement Friday morning on the shooting death of Washington County Circuit Judge Andrew Wilkinson. "The Maryland Judiciary mourns the tragic death of Judge Andrew Wilkinson. As we grieve his loss, we ask that you keep the Wilkinson family in your prayers and please respect their privacy. The Maryland Judiciary is actively engaging with law enforcement to assist in resolving this matter and to ensure the safety of our judges, staff, and visitors, which remains our top priority." Also present at the news conference was State's Attorney Gina Cirincion, local circuit court judges, Hagerstown Police Chief Paul Kifer, Maryland State Police Lt. Brian Kloos who is the Hagerstown barrack commander, and MSP Lt. Col. Dan Pickett, who is in charge of all uniformed troopers in the state. This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Man wanted in MD judge's murder was in court before judge that day A search is underway for a man suspected of shooting dead a Maryland judge who ruled against him in a child custody case (SCOTT OLSON) A vast search was underway on Friday for a man suspected of shooting dead a judge in the eastern US state of Maryland who ruled against him just hours earlier in a child custody case, officials said. Judge Andrew Wilkinson, 52, was shot in the driveway outside his home in Hagerstown, Maryland, on Thursday evening, Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert said. "This was a targeted attack," Albert said at a press conference. The sheriff said local, state and federal law enforcement authorities were searching for Pedro Argote, 49, of Frederick, Maryland, in connection with the shooting of the Circuit Court judge. "Argote is not in custody and is considered armed and dangerous," Albert said. The sheriff said the judge had presided earlier in the day at a divorce hearing involving Argote in which custody of his children was given to his wife. He said Argote did not attend the hearing. Argote did not have a criminal record and legally owned a handgun, the sheriff said. cl/md Theres no acting for actress Mariel Hemingway when she opens up about her own struggle with mental illness and her family legacy described as the Hemingway curse. The Oscar-nominated actress is the keynote speaker Dec. 1 at NAMI Colliers Hope Shines luncheon. Mariel Hemingway, author of six books and a documentary about her own battle with mental illness and her tragic family legacy Hemingway, 61, is the granddaughter of Pulitzer and Nobel Prize-winning novelist Ernest Papa Hemingway who was found dead July 2, 1961, of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head in his Ketchum, Idaho home. The family has experienced seven suicides along with rampant alcoholism, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and depression. Event to benefit local agency that helps youth Proceeds support Health Under Guided Systems, known as HUGS, a signature program of NAMI Collier to screen, access and help local children aged two months to 18 years old. Beth Hatch, chief executive officer of NAMI Collier County HUGS serves more than 400 local families with children experiencing developmental, social, emotional or behavioral difficulties. The event also will help support the Sarah Ann Life Skills & Support Center which provides structured activities for program participants and occupational training. The United States is facing an unprecedented mental health crisis, particularly among young people. Data shows one in six youth aged six to 17 experience a mental illness each year, according to national data from NAMI. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people aged 10 to 14. The statistics are equally grim for adults: One in five, or nearly 58 million American adults, experience a mental illness each year, the National Institutes of Mental Health reports. When it comes to access to care and mental health spending, Florida ranks near bottom at 49th among the 50 states for having the worst access to care despite its population growth, according to Mental Health America. The Hemingway legacy Mariel Hemingway, who overcame depression, has written six books, which include Out Came the Sun: Overcoming the Legacy of Mental Illness, Addiction and Suicide in my Family. Another is Invisible Girl written for young adults about the same subject yet from the perspective of a 14-year-old. Hemingways documentary Running From Crazy followed her as she tried to better understand her family history of suicide and mental illness. Shes been outspoken about the stigmas associated the brain disorders and early treatment. Actress and author Mariel Hemmingway has dedicated much of her adult life to helping others understand the connection between mental and physical health and guiding them toward a path of healing what emotionally ails them. If you can figure out what someone is suffering from earlier on, it would help so many families, she said in a 2015 interview with People magazine. Then you can figure out the right medication and a healthy lifestyle and hopefully save a life. Hemingway is best known for various film and TV roles, including the 1979 Woody Allen film "Manhattan" that earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. What NAMI leaders say Beth Hatch, chief executive officer of NAMI in Collier, said Hemingway is an advocate. She speaks about mental illness around the country and encourages others to discuss mental wellness in their own families, Hatch said. The luncheon is also an opportunity to celebrate NAMIs mission, new location, program and team expansions and the growing number of ways that NAMI is serving the community daily, Hatch said. The Hope Shines luncheon is in its 15th year hosted by NAMI Collier. The event begins at 11:30 on Friday, Dec. 1, in the ballroom at Arthrex One, 1 Arthrex Way, Naples. Individual tickets are $325 and are available NAMIcollier.org or by calling 239-260-7300. This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Mariel Hemingway speaking in Naples Dec. 1: What to know WASHINGTON COUNTY, Md. (WDVM) A Maryland circuit court judge was shot and killed at his home Thursday night, according to the Washington County Sheriffs Office. A picture of a person wanted in connection with the judges death has been released. Officials said deputies responded to a Hagerstown residence around 8 p.m. Thursday following reports of a shooting. Deputies reportedly found Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson, 52, in the driveway of his home with apparent gunshot wounds. He was taken to a local hospital where he died. Its been a nightmare: Family demands justice after young mother shot, killed during custody dispute in Madison County On Friday, the sheriffs office said the person believed to be involved in the deadly shooting was Pedro Argote, 49, of Frederick. The description of Argote that accompanied the release of his picture indicated he stands at 5-feet 7-inches tall, weighs 130 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes. He may be driving a silver 2009 Mercedes GL450 with Maryland plate 4EH0408. The online court system for the Washington County Circuit Court showed that Argote had a divorce case before Wilkinson and that a hearing related to the case took place earlier in the day on Thursday. At a news conference Friday morning, Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert said Wilkinson gave custody of Argotes children to the Argotes wife. Argote, himself, was not at the hearing Thursday. The Maryland Judiciary released a statement about Wilkinsons death: The Maryland Judiciary mourns the tragic death of Judge Andrew Wilkinson. As we grieve his loss, we ask that you keep the Wilkinson family in your prayers and please respect their privacy. The Maryland Judiciary is actively engaging with law enforcement to assist in resolving this matter and to ensure the safety of our judges, staff, and visitors, which remains our top priority. State troopers were deployed overnight as a precaution to protect judges who live in Washington County, Maryland State Police spokesperson Elena Russo said. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Wilkinson was sworn in as a circuit court judge in 2020. The 1994 University of North Carolina graduate received his law degree from Emory University School of Law in 1997 and then became a circuit court law clerk in Washington County. In Maryland, circuit courts in each county handle serious criminal and civil cases, including many that are appealed from the lower-level district courts, according to the state courts website. Hagerstown, a city of nearly 44,000, is located about 75 miles northwest of Baltimore near the state lines of West Virginia and Pennsylvania. The Associated Press contributed to this report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. WASHINGTON COUNTY, Md. (WDVM) A Maryland circuit court judge was fatally shot at his home Thursday night, and a picture of a person wanted in connection with the killing has been released, according to the Washington County Sheriffs Office. Police said deputies responded to a Hagerstown residence at around 8:00 p.m. Thursday after reports of a shooting. Deputies found Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson, 52, in the driveway of his home with apparent gunshot wounds. He was taken to a local hospital where he died. DC police officer shot during gunfire exchange, suspect killed On Friday, the sheriffs office said the person believed to be involved in the deadly shooting was Pedro Argote, 49, of Frederick, Maryland. The description of Argote that accompanied the release of his picture indicated he stands at 5 feet, 7 inches, and weighs 130 pounds. Argote has black hair and brown eyes. He may be driving a silver 2009 Mercedes GL450 with Maryland plate 4EH0408. The online court system for the Washington County Circuit Court showed that Argote had a divorce case before Wilkinson and that a hearing related to the case took place earlier in the day on Thursday. At a news conference Friday morning, Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert said Wilkinson gave custody of Argotes children to the Argotes wife. Argote, himself, was not at the hearing Thursday. The Maryland Judiciary released a statement about Wilkinsons death: The Maryland Judiciary mourns the tragic death of Judge Andrew Wilkinson. As we grieve his loss, we ask that you keep the Wilkinson family in your prayers and please respect their privacy. The Maryland Judiciary is actively engaging with law enforcement to assist in resolving this matter and to ensure the safety of our judges, staff, and visitors, which remains our top priority. State troopers were deployed overnight as a precaution to protect judges who live in Washington County, state police spokesperson Elena Russo said. Wilkinson was sworn in as a circuit court judge in 2020. The 1994 University of North Carolina graduate received his law degree from Emory University School of Law in 1997 and then became a circuit court law clerk in Washington County. In Maryland, circuit courts in each county handle serious criminal and civil cases, including many that are appealed from the lower-level district courts, according to the state courts website. Hagerstown, a city of nearly 44,000, is located about 75 miles northwest of Baltimore near the state lines of West Virginia and Pennsylvania. The Associated Press contributed to this report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. Maryland state judge Andrew Wilkinson was gunned down outside his home on Thursday. Maryland state judge Andrew Wilkinson was gunned down outside his home on Thursday. A Maryland judge was fatally gunned down in his driveway Thursday night after overseeing a divorce hearing that resulted in the suspected gunman losing custody of his children, authorities said. Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson, 52, of Hagerstown was fatally shot in what police believe was a targeted attack by suspect Pedro Argote, 49, authorities said at a press conference Friday morning. Argote is not in custody and is considered armed and dangerous, Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert told reporters. Just prior to the shooting, Wilkinson oversaw a court hearing that resulted in Argotes children being turned over to their mother, Albert said. Argote did not physically attend the hearing, the sheriff said. Wilkinson was found in his driveway around 8 p.m. with what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds. Wilkinsons wife and son were at the home at the time. The judge was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, Albert said. We dont feel that there is any threat currently to any judges in the county, he said. Argote did not have a criminal record and had legally purchased a handgun, according to the sheriff. He said police had responded to the residence for verbal domestic assaults two times within the last few years, though it did not result in any charges. State and local law enforcement are assisting with the investigation. The Maryland Judiciary said in a statement that it is also assisting law enforcement with the investigation. As we grieve his loss, we ask that you keep the Wilkinson family in your prayers and please respect their privacy, the court system said. Related... A Maryland judge was fatally shot in the driveway of his home Thursday in a targeted attack, hours after he granted custody of the suspects children to their mother, officials said Friday. Washington County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson, 52, was found outside the residence in the 19100 block of Olde Waterford Road in Hagerstown by deputies who responded to a report of a shooting at 8 p.m., the Washington County Sheriffs Office said. His wife and son were home at the time, Sheriff Brian K. Albert said in a news conference Friday. Pedro Argote. (Washington County Sheriff's Office, Maryland) The victim was suffering from what appeared to be gunshot wounds. He was transported to Meritus Medical Center, where he later succumbed to his injuries, the sheriffs office said. The sheriffs office named the suspect in the homicide investigation as Pedro Argote, 49. He is not in custody and is considered armed and dangerous, Albert told reporters. Wilkinson was the judge overseeing Argotes divorce case, filed in June 2022. Wilkinson presided over a hearing in the case Thursday morning that dealt with the partial judgment of absolute divorce, according to the court docket. Argote was not present for that hearing, but Sheriff Albert said the attack was targeted in response to custody being granted to the mother of Argotes children. Argote, his estranged wife and attorneys in the case did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Court records show Argote also had a domestic violence case against him filed in June 2022 that resulted with the unnamed petitioner requesting dismissal less than two weeks later. The sheriffs office had responded to a residence involving Argote for verbal domestic assaults two times within the past few years, Albert said. The sheriff said Argote legally owned a handgun. Argote is described as 5 feet, 7 inches tall, 130 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He may be driving a silver 2009 Mercedes GL450, according to the sheriffs office. Anyone with information in reference to Argotes location is asked to not approach him but to immediately notify law enforcement, the sheriffs office said. Maryland State Police troopers were deployed Thursday night out of precautionary reasons to protect judges residing in Washington County, a state police spokesperson told NBC News. However, the sheriff said Friday that theres no threat to other judges in the county or state. Albert noted that the sheriffs office had no knowledge of threats against Wilkinson. A community devastated Wilkinson was born in Guam in 1971, graduated from Emory University School of Law in 1997, and previously worked as an assistant county attorney. He became an associate judge in Washington County Circuit Court in January 2020, according to an online profile. While Wilkinson was a prominent member of his community, neighbors described him as down to earth and friendly. On any given day, they said, he would be out cutting his own lawn or taking walks or jogs through the neighborhood. Penny Hill, who lived next door to Wilkinson for the past decade before she recently moved, said she enjoyed being neighbors and watching Wilkinson with his wife, Stephanie, and their two children. He was a terrific guy, and this is devastating to the community, Hill said. What happened is terrifying, unexpected. And I feel so terribly for Stephanie and the kids. Neil C. Parrott, a former Maryland state delegate, mourned Wilkinsons death on X, writing: Horrible news in Washington County tonight. It appears that Judge Andrew Wilkinson was shot multiple times and has passed away. Please pray for our police and for Judge Wilkinsons family at this time, Parrott wrote. Maryland Congrssman David Trone tweeted that he was shocked and heartbroken to hear of the homicide, adding this violence is horrifying to see in our community. The Maryland Judiciary issued a statement Friday saying it mourns the tragic death of Judge Andrew Wilkinson. The Maryland Judiciary is actively engaging with law enforcement to assist in resolving this matter and to ensure the safety of our judges, staff, and visitors, which remains our top priority, the statement said. This article first appeared on NBCNews.com. This article was originally published on TODAY.com A Maryland judge was fatally shot in the driveway of his home Thursday in a "targeted attack" that occurred hours after he gave the suspect's estranged wife custody of their children, officials said Friday. Washington County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson, 52, was found outside the residence in the 19100 block of Olde Waterford Road in Hagerstown by deputies who responded to a report of a shooting at 8 p.m., the Washington County Sheriff's Office said. His wife and son were home when he was gunned down, Sheriff Brian K. Albert said in a news conference Friday. Pedro Argote. (Washington County Sheriff's Office, Maryland) The victim was suffering from what appeared to be gunshot wounds. He was transported to Meritus Medical Center, where he later succumbed to his injuries, the sheriff's office said. The sheriff's office named the suspect in the homicide investigation as Pedro Argote, 49, of Frederick. He "is not in custody and is considered armed and dangerous," Albert told reporters. Wilkinson was the judge overseeing Argotes divorce case, filed in June 2022. Suspect ordered to stay away from his children Wilkinson presided over a hearing in the case Thursday morning that dealt with the partial judgment of absolute divorce, according to the court docket. Argote was not present for that hearing, but Sheriff Albert said the attack was in response to custody being granted to the mother of Argote's children. A copy of the partial judgment mentions cruelty of treatment and cites irreconcilable differences between the two parties. The court ordered that the wife be granted an absolute divorce from Argote and sole custody of their four children, ages 12, 11, 5, and 3. Argote cannot visit the children or have contact with the wife unless initiated by her to use a 2009 Mercedes the same vehicle the sheriffs office said he may be driving, court records show. The court also granted the wife sole use and possession of the family home and prohibited Argote from entering that residence. He was ordered to pay $1,120 a month in child support, according to the judgment. Argote, his wife and attorneys in the case did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Court records show Argote's wife filed a domestic violence petition against him in June 2022 that resulted in dismissal less than two weeks later. In her petition, the wife writes that there had been physical abuse against one of their daughters, and that she felt unsafe because he would keep a weapon on him and that she feared he would try and take the children away from her. She noted that Argote owned at least two firearms. She also said he would harass her through texts and emails, watch her on security cameras in the home and control her emotionally and financially. The sheriff confirmed Argote legally owned a handgun. It's unclear why the petition was dismissed. The sheriffs office had responded to a residence involving Argote for verbal domestic assaults two times within the past few years, Albert said. Argote is described as 5 feet, 7 inches tall, 130 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He may be traveling in a silver Mercedes GL450 with Maryland plates 4EH0408, according to the sheriff's office. "Anyone with information in reference to Argotes location is asked to not approach him but to immediately notify law enforcement," the sheriff's office said. Maryland State Police troopers were deployed Thursday night "out of precautionary reasons" to "protect" judges residing in Washington County, a state police spokesperson told NBC News. However, the sheriff said Friday that there's no threat to other judges in the county or state. Albert noted that the sheriff's office had no knowledge of threats against Wilkinson. A community 'devastated' Wilkinson was born in Guam in 1971, graduated from Emory University School of Law in 1997, and previously worked as an assistant county attorney. He became an associate judge in Washington County Circuit Court in January 2020, according to an online profile. While Wilkinson was a prominent member of his community, neighbors described him as down to earth and friendly. On any given day, they said, he would be out cutting his own lawn or taking walks or jogs through the neighborhood. Penny Hill, who lived next door to Wilkinson for the past decade before she recently moved, said she enjoyed being neighbors and watching Wilkinson with his wife, Stephanie, and their two children. He was a terrific guy, and this is devastating to the community, Hill said. What happened is terrifying, unexpected. And I feel so terribly for Stephanie and the kids. Jason Divelbiss, Wilkinson's former law partner, said Friday: Drew was a beloved family man, a friend to all he came in contact with and a respected colleague. He could bring a smile to any room he entered. He has been taken way too soon from a community that benefited from and will deeply miss his presence and innumerable contributions, he added. The Maryland Judiciary issued a statement Friday saying it was "actively engaging with law enforcement to assist in resolving this matter and to ensure the safety of our judges, staff, and visitors, which remains our top priority," the statement said. Democratic Gov. Wes Moore said he was shocked, heartbroken, and sickened by the killing of Judge Andrew Wilkinson. He was the victim of a cold-blooded, vicious, and targeted attack. My heart goes out to Judge Wilkinsons family, and my prayers are with everyone who knew him, loved him, and served alongside him." He added: "Judge Wilkinson spent his career in defense of justice. We must now ensure that the perpetrator of this vile act faces justice and Judge Wilkinsons family gets the support they need and deserve." Other attacks against judges The slaying is the latest incident in the U.S. involving threats or attacks against judges. The U.S. Marshals Service, which ensures the safety of judicial proceedings and protecting federal jurors and judges, investigated over 1,300 threats or potential threats in the 2022 fiscal year. In June 2022, a retired Wisconsin judge was fatally shot in his home by a gunman in a targeted attack that officials said appeared to be related to the judicial system. In 2020, U.S. District Judge Esther Salas son was killed and her husband left in critical condition at their New Jersey home by a gunman who had once appeared in front of Salas in court. That led to the formation of Daniel's Law in New Jersey, which protects public officials by making it a crime to make public personal information of judges, prosecutors and law enforcement officers including their phone numbers and home address. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Will Jawando , who five months ago surprised many by being the first to jump into the contest to replace Marylands retiring Sen. Ben Cardin, now becomes the first candidate to bow out. Jawando, a Democrat who sits on the Montgomery County Council, told supporters in a statement Friday morning that he is getting out of the race simply because he does not see a path to victory. Because I have so much respect for my loyal supporters, my constituents in Montgomery County, and my loving wife and children, I cannot remain in a race I do not believe I can win, Jawando said. Jawando's exit from the race likely means that the competition for Maryland's Senate seat essentially becomes a two-person race between Rep. David Trone and Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. Trone, who is white, is a three-term congressman from Maryland's 6th District and the uber-wealthy founder of alcohol and spirits chain Total Wine & More. Trone has the ability to self-fund his campaign and has already spent more than $6 million in advertising, according to AdImpact data. Hes gotten a number of endorsements from local officials in his district, including Frostburg, Md. Mayor Bob Flanigan and Poolesville Town Commissioner Edward Reed. Alsobrooks is looking to make history as the states first Senator of color from Maryland. Alsobrooks, who is Black, represents the wealthy, majority-Black Prince Georges County. She is also close with the states first Black governor Wes Moore. Alsobrooks has the backing of a number of the Democratic members of Maryland's congressional delegation, including Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Reps. Glenn Ivey, Steny Hoyer and Kweisi Mfume. Jawando did not endorse either of his major rivals in the contest. But he name-checked a series of crises, including a Republican Party he says is trying to "elevate hard right election deniers" and dueling wars in the Middle East and in Ukraine as reasons why a strong Democratic voice is needed in the Senate. Maryland is a deep blue state that hasnt elected a Republican to the Senate in decades, so the winner of the May 14 Democratic Primary will in all likelihood cruise to victory in the general election. Jawando, who previously worked in the Obama administration, first in the White House Office of Public Engagement and later as advisor to Education Secretary Arne Duncan, sought to quickly capitalize on his first-in-the-race status. He raised just over $750,000 for the race, according to FEC filings. Jawando is expected to seek higher office again. A colossal Aztec snake head sculpture emerged from the ground in Mexico City during an earthquake in September 2022, officials said. The stone sculpture, which weighs 1.2 tons, was found in the disturbed soil about 15 feet below a local university. Archaeologists carefully extracted the artifact from beneath the school, and have been analyzing it over the course of the past year, according to an Oct. 10 news release from Mexicos National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH). The sculpture, which is believed to be around 500 years old, originates from the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan on top of which Mexico City was built. The inhabitants of Tenochtitlan held serpents in high regard and often depicted them in art, according to research from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Serpents had multiple connotations and inspired sky and earth imagery alike, according to the museum. Above all, they were fertility symbols, probably suggested by their terrestrial habitat and periodic skin shedding. Around the time of the Spanish conquest of Mexico in the 16th century, hundreds of serpent sculptures were believed to have formed a wall around an Aztec temple in Tenochtitlan. The city was conquered by Spanish invaders led by Hernan Cortes in 1521, according to The British Museum. Despite being underground for about half a millennium, the newfound sculpture is well-preserved, officials said. A layer of mud caked onto the sculpture is credited with protecting its painted surfaces. Traces of black, white, red, blue and ochre were found on about 80% of the sculpture. With the assistance of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, a humidity chamber was created to encase the sculpture, where conservation work is being carried out, officials said. The goal is for the snake head to be drained of the moisture that accumulated on it during its centuries underground. If this process is carried out too quickly, the sculpture can lose color or even crack. It will remain in the climate-controlled humidity chamber until early 2024, officials said. Google Translate was used to translate a news release from INAH. 5,000-year-old weapon unearthed by man plowing his field in Poland. See it Sword poking up from soil leads to discovery of 1,000-year-old Crusader cemetery 8-eyed creature lurks in underwater nest to ambush prey on land. Its a new species Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) isnt happy about the way the Capitol Hill chaos he orchestrated is developing. Seventeen days after he and seven other hardliners voted to boot Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) from the speakership, Gaetzs preferred replacement, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), got the same treatment as scores of Republicans voted secretly to kick him off the ticket on Friday. Gaetz fumed about the outcome onlineconveniently blaming it on the swamp. The most popular Republican in Congress was just knifed in an an anonymous vote in a secret closed door meeting in the basement of the Capitol, Gaetz wrote in a post to X, formerly known as Twitter. This is the Swamp at work. McCarthy, in turn, told reporters that Gaetz and Co. had done insurmountable damage to the country, and that he was concerned about where we go from here. Read it at The Daily Beast Read more at The Daily Beast. Poland's Law and Justice party, which was the ruling party up until the Oct. 15 elections, had hired Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's advisors to help run their election campaign, Polish media outlet Polityka reported on Oct. 20. The advisors were brought into the campaign in June "with the full support of Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki ," Polityka's sources within the party said. While the advisors were not physically present at meetings, "they had a great influence on how the campaign turned out," Polityka reported. "They claimed that all we had to do was translate what worked for them into our strategy and we would win," one source told Polityka. What worked in Hungary, however, didn't necessarily work in Poland. "They did not take into account the specificity of the Polish elections and social moods," the source said. An example of this is how the Hungarian advisors apparently encouraged the campaign to intensify attacks on Donald Tusk , the leader of the opposition. They thought this would to increase support for Law and Justice in the same way that Orban's party gained support from attacking George Soros, a liberal Hungarian-American philanthropist and public figure. However, this only "this mobilized opposition supporters even more," while failing to attract new voters. The election, which had a record turnout of 74.4%, saw the conservative Law and Justice lose their majority in parliament, despite receiving the highest percentage of votes at 35.4%. Centrist Civic Coalition received 30.7%, the center-right Third Way received 14.4%, the New Left received 8.6%, and far-right Confederation received 7.2%. These parties ruled out forming a coalition with Law and Justice, leaving the Civic Coalition, leed by Donald Tusk, to form a new government with the opposition. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. On Nov. 7, Gary residents will head to the polls to elect a new mayor, city clerk, city judge and city council. Nine of the 12 races are all but decided, with no Republican names on the ballot. In the other three races, Republican candidates face long odds in the Democrat-dominated city. Mayoral candidate Andrew Delano would be the citys first Republican mayor in eighty years. Ernst Schaible, the last Republican to hold the office, served from 1939 to 1943. Delanos opponent, State Sen. Eddie Melton , D-Gary, unseated incumbent Mayor Jerome Prince in the citys Democratic mayoral primary in May and is heavily favored to win the general election. Delano, a real estate investor and Hammond native who moved to Gary in 2013, acknowledged that he is fighting an uphill battle, but said he is running to ensure that Gary residents have a meaningful choice in the general election. Ive lived here for 10 years, he told the Post-Tribune. Im hoping that (Gary) has a good future, but Im concerned with the direction its going. If elected, Delano said, he will work to keep taxes low by curtailing city spending. He would freeze the citys budget and work to cut unnecessary expenditures, he said, including by eliminating the Gary Health Department and allowing the Lake County Health Department to shoulder its responsibilities. Delano cited the example of Hammond, which eliminated its health department in 2007. He added that city funds currently being spent on new housing developments could be better put to use rehabilitating disused properties. Ivan Ursery, running for an at-large seat, and John Collier, running to represent the 6th District, would be the only two Republicans on the nine-member Gary Common Council if elected. Ursery faces incumbents Darren Washington and Ron Brewer, as well as Mark Spencer, who made a successful primary bid for the seat in May and sits poised to fill the councils vacant at-large seat in an October 21 caucus. I feel like I bring good solutions to the table, Ursery, a graphic designer and Gary native, told the Post-Tribune. If elected, Ursery plans to advocate for a city program that refers first-time criminal offenders to church organizations that will provide them with mentorship and community service opportunities. Asked to identify a city policy that he has disagreed with, Ursery voiced opposition to the COVID-19 restrictions that were first put in place by Prince in 2020 to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus, which have since been relaxed. I disagree with the way that was handled, he said. Ursery has used social media to spread baseless claims about the COVID-19 pandemic. In a Jan. 7 post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, Ursery wrote that Hydroxychloroquine and Ivermectin two drugs that have not been proven effective at treating the novel coronavirus despite being embraced by some conservatives are a better treatment than vaccines, which have caused healthy people to suddenly drop dead from cardiac arrest. This claim and similar claims about the dangers of COVID-19 vaccines, which have circulated among conservatives since the vaccines rollout, have been widely debunked by medical authorities. Ursery told the Post-Tribune that he stands by his position 100%, and also believes that the virus that causes COVID-19 was deliberately released by the Chinese government. While the origins of the coronavirus are disputed, there is no evidence to suggest that it was released on purpose. Ursery also espouses baseless conspiracy theories about the results of the 2020 election, which he claims was rigged against former President Donald Trump. No evidence has emerged for this claim, which has led to Trump facing federal conspiracy charges for attempting to overturn a lawful election. Ursery said that he plans to accept the results of Garys elections, however they turn out. For the most part, I believe Lake County elections are secure, he said. Collier, a retired librarian and Gary native, faces Democratic incumbent Dwight Williams in the 6th District race. Collier told the Post-Tribune that he decided to run after he found that the peoples voice was not being heard by the city council. If elected, he said, he wants to increase scrutiny of how city funds are spent, particularly on infrastructure projects. Financial management is a big issue, Collier said. He also plans to push for a collective bargaining agreement for Gary Police officers, who are currently working without one. adalton@chicagotribune.com The Third Friday Art Walks in the historic Strawberry Hill neighborhood are defined by their sense of collaborative community. The family-friendly events in Kansas City, Kansas, are celebrations of creativity in all forms from art to food to seeking unique solutions to community challenges. Tonights event is the final Art Walk for 2023 (theyll be back in May), and journalists from The Kansas City Star are excited to be participating alongside artists, chefs, performers, community organizations and local KCK businesses. The Art Walk is organized by Community Housing of Wyandotte County, a nonprofit organization focused on building thriving communities. Additional support is provided by KCK Downtown Shareholders, KCK Community Colleges Art Gallery and Central Avenue Betterment Associations La Placita vendors, ArtsKC and Visit KCK. The CHWC is best known for building and renovating housing in Wyandotte County and eliminating barriers to homeownership, but supporting community building and engagement has become a growing emphasis in recent years. Art Walk is part of our larger arts making initiatives, said Rebekah Swank, the CHWCs communications and donor engagement manager. Community is not just about the physical infrastructure, but something that helps people connect and thrive. EPIC Arts Clay Studio, 609 N. 6th Street, is the epicenter of these community arts initiatives and home base for the Art Walk. First-time visitors will find volunteers there to answer any questions. Emerald Powell, 24, said the Art Walk is a great way to get a feel for the Strawberry Hill community and support artists and vendors who are getting started sharing their creative works with the world. Powells community-inspired ceramics will be part of tonights Art Walk. Come and engage with the artists, Caroline Meek, EPIC Arts Clay Studios outreach coordinator said. They want to talk with you about their work dont be afraid to ask questions! United Colors, an artist-run gallery participating in the Art Walk, exemplifies the events commitment to making sharing artistic works more accessible to both artists and the public. The gallery pays special attention to highlighting local and regional artists who otherwise have not had the opportunity to present their work publicly. Cesar Lopez, 31, a sculptor and co-organizer of United Colors, said the Art Walk has provided a platform for the gallery and for the artists exhibiting there that they did not have before. He encourages visitors to check out Marika Arellano Christofides work displayed in the sidewalk art container and Arianne October Garners exhibition at the gallerys main space. Visitors are also encouraged to explore and learn more about Mexican American art and culture by visiting DINKC Studios, 600 Ohio Ave. Owner and artist Dinkc Galicia, 33, grew up in Strawberry Hill. After spending years away, hes back raising his daughter and investing in his community by offering gallery space and opportunities to other creatives. This month is special to Galicia, whose work is inspired by old school cartoons, Mexican culture and graffiti street art. During the Art Walk and throughout October, the studio is offering workshops to paint sugar skulls and educate others about the importance of Dia de los Muertos. Tonights events will also include locally made tacos and performances by a local band. Art Walk is our biggest day, Galicia said. People are so hyped for it. Where to find The Star at the Art Walk Our journalists will be participating in the Art Walk to hear more about what is happening in neighborhoods throughout the metro area, but at this event we are especially interested in hearing from KCK and Wyandotte County residents. Have questions about what we do? Wed love to answer. Youll find us under a blue canopy across the street from EPIC Arts Clay Studio throughout the event from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wed love to see you. Cant make it out tonight? Were looking for other community partners hosting events that would like to collaborate with us. Reach out to Hannah Wise, assistant managing editor for engagement and experimentation, to connect about future community events. She is best reached at hwise@kcstar.com. Make the most of your visit The Art Walk runs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. See the full map of Art Walk events on KCKs 6th Street here. Parking is available at the United Government parking lot across from EPIC Arts Clay Studio, at the Merc Co-Op or at Spitlog Coffee Co. Vendors and artists will be set up along 6th Street, which is closed to traffic for the event. Visitors are encouraged to bring cash not all vendors have mobile payment available. Interested in supporting or participating in future Third Friday Art Walks? Organizers encourage you to email them at thirdfridayartwalk@gmail.com. The Navys newest fast-attack submarine, Hyman G. Rickover, officially joined the fleet Saturday during a ceremony at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut. It is the second boat to be named after the late Adm. Rickover, regarded as the father of the nuclear Navy who developed the worlds first nuclear-powered sub, Nautilus, that went to sea in 1955, according to the Navy. He changed our submarine force, he changed the nature of naval warfare and he changed U.S. industry and shipbuilding forever, Adm. Frank Caldwell, director of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, said at the ceremony, according to a Navy release. Crewed by roughly 135 sailors, Rickover can dive deeper than 800 feet and speed faster than 25 knots, or nearly 29 mph. Fast-attack subs take on a variety of missions and are able to deliver special operators and launch Tomahawk cruise missiles. The commissioning of [this] ship is dedicated to a leader who reshaped our sea service through an unrelenting 63 years of service, Rickovers commanding officer, Cmdr. Matthew Beach, said of his boats namesake. In front of you today on board this ship, the proud sailors of the next generation - Hyman G. Rickover - stand ready to continue this legacy of excellence guiding our ship into harms way and defending the values that we hold dear. A tiny, four-legged storm chaser is legendary in her own right much like her owner and sidekick, Extreme Meteorologist Dr. Reed Timmer . Gizmo, a 15-year-old Yorkshire Terrier, has intercepted around 200 tornadoes, a handful of hurricanes, including a Category 5 storm, and many other extreme weather events throughout her lifetime. One of her life's most intense storm chases was a tornado that Timmer and Gizmo chased down on foot near McCook, Nebraska, on May 17, 2019. The tornado touched down on top of Timmer's chase vehicle at the time, called Dominator 3. Winds of 80-100 mph in the tornado's rear inflow jet pelted the duo, covering Timmer from head to toe in manure that was lofted into the air from a plowed field. Reed Timmer explained that the biggest intercept of this tiny terrier's life was Category 5 Hurricane Michael in Florida. Gizmo rode through 150-mph gusts in Michael's eyewall as Timmer covered the storm for AccuWeather. The duo rode out part of the storm with the windows down, since winds were blowing so hard rain didn't soak the inside of the vehicle. "Gizmo loved every moment of it," Timmer said in an interview on AccuWeather Early, adding, "I think she just loves being along for the ride." Gizmo was born in Enid, Oklahoma, in the heart of Tornado Alley. Throughout her life, she has intercepted weather across 48 states in the United States and three Canadian provinces. Along the way, she has met many storm chasers, who Timmer explains she never forgets. Her least favorite type of weather to chase? Hailstorms. Timmer explained that she is not a fan of the loud noises that come with hail coming down. GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP Have the app? Unlock AccuWeather Alerts with Premium+ But, there's never a dull moment for this furry sidekick. Outside of chasing down severe weather, Gizmo joins Timmer on leaf-peeping adventures. Also, in her downtime, she chases many cats, Timmer quipped. Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alertsare prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer. Hours after the House GOP conference met and ended Jim Jordans futile quest for the House speakership, Representative Tom Emmer is apparently the latest Republican to launch his own gambit for the seemingly unattainable gavel. CBS News reported that the lawmaker was making calls in pursuit of a nomination on Friday evening, hours after Republicans kicked Jordan to the curb. Emmer, the current majority whip, had previously said that he would not seek the speakership. The Minnesota Republican has already been cast as the new front-runner; Representatives Kevin Hern and Jack Bergman have apparently also said they would be pursuing bids in the wake of Jordans failure to launch. Prior to becoming the House Majority Whip, Emmer served as the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, or NRCC, where he presided over the GOPs strategy to win back the House of Representatives. While Republicans spent the year in anticipation of a red wave that would sweep their members into office in the typical way that the party out of power makes gains during the midterm following the presidential election, those hopes were dashed on election night when the party fell far short of expectations. But Emmer distinguished himself as a voice of temperance in the lead-up to the election, where he urged Republicans not to count their still-incubating chickens: Dont be measuring the drapes, Emmer told his colleagues. This isnt the typical midterm that were talking about. Emmer wasnt always known for circumspection; his career in Minnesota marked him as more of a far-right firebrand. In a 2022 profile for The New Republic, Patrick Caldwell described Emmer as a stealth bomber whod learned to mute his rhetoric so that he could more successfully fit in within the partys Beltway institutions and become a party up-and-comer. Nevertheless, as Caldwell reported, Emmers time in the Minnesota statehouse found him promoting a lot of weird ideas: His tenure was defined by pushing far-right policy: proposals that Minnesota should chemically castrate sex offenders, impose strict voter ID laws, and outlaw abortion in all instances (as well as proposals that would also potentially outlaw certain forms of contraception and in vitro fertilization). He questioned evolution and was one of the loudest, most influential opponents of same-sex marriage. And despite two earlier DUI infractions, Emmer put forth bills to lessen penalties for drunk driving, which became fodder for opponents in later political campaigns. Another of Emmers obsessions was pushing cockamamie ways that Minnesota could nullify federal laws. He was one of three co-authors of a 2010 proposal for a state constitutional amendment that would have required the governor and a two-thirds vote by legislators to approve a federal law before it could be enforced in Minnesota. Citizens of Minnesota are sovereign individuals, subject to Minnesota law and immune from any federal laws that exceed the federal governments enumerated constitutional powers, Emmers would-be amendment read. (The idea went nowhere.) As Caldwell summed up, While Emmer may be successfulperhaps even winning himself a leadership post atop a House majorityhell have gotten there on the backs of insurrectionists and conspiracy theorists. TechCrunch The U.K.'s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) today announced that it has accepted proposals from Facebook's parent Meta and Amazon to limit how they use data gathered from their respective marketplaces to benefit their own products and bottom lines. The CMA has been probing both companies as part of separate investigations, though the cases bore similarities in terms of how each platform was using data to give them what the CMA argued was an "unfair advantage." The crux of the case against Meta centered on how it was using advertising data funneled from Facebook to inform decisions around content displays and product recommendations in Facebook Marketplace, the classifieds service it launched back in 2016. Thirty-three book titles are being removed from Menomonee Falls High School this week, school district officials confirmed Thursday. In a statement, officials said the books are being removed because of "sexually explicit content and/or profanity," in violation of district policy. District officials did not immediately explain who made the decision to remove the books but said the books would be gone by the end of the week. The move appears to be one of the most sweeping book bans among those reported in Wisconsin in recent years, as bans have swelled across the country. Many of the 33 books have been challenged in other school districts by Moms for Liberty chapters, although it is unclear who requested the books be removed in Menomonee Falls and there is no Moms for Liberty chapter listed in Waukesha County. The book list includes popular titles like Toni Morrison 's "The Bluest Eye," Kurt Vonnegut 's "Slaughterhouse-Five" and Khaled Hosseini's "The Kite Runner." Here's what we know. Why are books being removed from Menomonee Falls High School? District officials have not explained the process that was used to determine that the 33 books would be removed. They did say the books had been identified before April, when the Menomonee Falls School Board updated its policies and procedures governing library materials. They didn't say when the books were ordered for removal. District officials said the books violate the district's previous and current policies regarding sexual content and profanity but did not immediately provide copies of the former policies. The district's new policy rejects materials with "sexually explicit language and/or imageswhich may be considered inappropriate for students." It prohibits profanity for younger students but allows some profanity for older students "if use is central to the plot, characters, or literacy merit of the material." The district also has a new policy and procedure for residents and parents to request the removal of a book from any school library. Under the new procedure, when someone requests a book be removed, it's first up to the school administrator and library media specialist to decide whether to grant that request. If they reject it, the requester can appeal to a "reconsideration committee" of school staff and parents. If still unsatisfied, the requester can appeal to the superintendent and finally the school board. It's not clear whether there was a request for the removal of the 33 books. It's also unclear whether the district followed the process as outlined in the new procedure. How are residents reacting? A local organization, Grassroots Menomonee Falls Area, called for transparency from the school district and an "open dialogue with all stakeholders, including teachers, librarians, and the wider community." "The process thus far has created unnecessary additional work for the librarians and caused distress among school employees who fear that their professionalism is not a priority within the Menomonee Falls School District," Andrew Guss, co-leader of the group, said in a statement. Kristina Schmitt, a parent of three students in the district, said she was disappointed to hear about the move from her son, who volunteers in the high school library and told her his friends were being asked to return books. "I was concerned about the number of female authors and authors of color who were on the list," Schmitt said. "Thats restricting access to a variety of diverse voices." Schmitt said that while some students may be ready for more mature content than others, those are conversations that can happen with librarians, teachers and parents. "I don't think that means that material should be restricted to the point of not being available," she said. "High school is a time of growth, and its a time when a lot of people feel isolated or like people dont understand them, so to be able to find comfort or solace in a book is very important because maybe you're not finding that anywhere else in your life." Which books are being removed from Menomonee Falls High School? The books are: "A Court of Frost and Starlight" by Sarah J. Maas "A Court of Mist and Fury" by Sarah J. Maas "A Court of Thorns and Roses" by Sarah J. Maas "A Court of Wings and Ruin" by Sarah J. Maas "Boy Toy" by Barry Lyga "Breathless" by Jennifer Niven "Damsel" by Elana Arnold "Empire of Storms" by Sarah J. Maas "Homegoing" by Yaa Gyasi "Identical" by Ellen Hopkins "Jesus Land: A Memoir" by Julia Scheeres "Kingdom of Ash" by Sarah J. Maas "Last Night at the Telegraph Club" by Malinda Lo "Living Dead Girl" by Elizabeth Scott "Lucky" by Alice Sebold "Nineteen Minutes" by Jodi Picoult "Perfect" by Ellen Hopkins "Shine" by Lauren Myracle "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut "Sold" by Patricia McCormick "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison "The Carnival at Bray" by Jessie Ann Foley "The Duff: a Novel" by Kody Keplinger "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers and Erin Gruwell "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood "The Haters" by Jesse Andrews "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky "The Sun and Her Flowers" by Rupi Kaur "Tricks" by Ellen Hopkins "What Girls Are Made Of" by Elana Arnold "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West" by Gregory Maguire "You: A Novel" by Caroline Kepnes Contact Rory Linnane at rory.linnane@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @RoryLinnane. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Menomonee Falls High School bans 33 books from its collection MESQUITE, Texas - The American Red Cross spent the day helping 16 individuals and families whose apartments were destroyed in a large fire Wednesday. The fire happened at The Place apartments in Mesquite near I-635 and I-30. The Mesquite Fire Department is still working to figure out what started the fire. Fortunately, nobody was injured. "I actually thought it was occurring in the restaurant I work at across the street. That is how thick the smoke was," said Taylor Wallace, who lives at the apartments. The smoke was thick when Wallace stepped outside the Red Lobster in Mesquite on Wednesday afternoon. "I couldn't see past the intersection. We looked around and realized it was coming from where I live," said an emotional Wallace. "Fortunately, none of us were home, with the exception of my cat. We have not located it at this point. I don't think it is going to be possible, but we're all okay." Wallace has two children, ages 8 and 4. They stayed with her mom and she hasn't told them about the fire yet. She is most worried about her oldest daughter's reaction. "She is really big into art, she's made all these puppets and that's all my closet was, essentially, all the puppets she has made. She can make them again, but that will be really hard for her. They had names, played with them every day, worked on them every day," Wallace recalled. Wallace also learned yesterday that she doesn't have renters insurance. "They sent out an email that the insurance we pay with our rent only covers property for the apartments, nothing to do with what it covers with us," she said. Doyle Rader, the spokesman with the American Red Cross showed us the assistance center they set up at the Evan Recreation Center Wednesday. "We are helping those families get the immediate assistance they need. That being either replacing medication or financial relief," Rader said. "About a dozen people have come in to seek the assistance we are providing." A woman who did not want her face shown on camera talked to FOX 4. "[Red Cross] are helping me through the time being. I do work, so whatever I lost, I will try to gain back," she said. "I can't explain how I feel on the inside." She told FOX 4 her kids are keeping her strong. Meanwhile, Wallace says the timing of the fire is brutal. "I just got my house the way I wanted it, not how it looked, but just comfortability. My kids want to be home, they like their environment. It's going to be a thing to start over," she said. Sharing Life and the Red Cross are both assisting those affected by the fire. You can donate to the groups here: Instagram's auto-translation feature was adding "Palestinian terrorist" to some users' account bios. Meta has apologized for the translation errors, saying it has since fixed the issue. One user's bio had been translated to say: "Palestinian terrorists are fighting for their freedom." Meta has apologized for Instagram's auto-translation feature adding "Palestinian terrorist" to the bio of some users, despite the original descriptions containing no such wording. The issue was raised on Monday in a TikTok by @ytkingkhan, 404media first reported. The TikToker showed that his Instagram bio had a line that contained three elements "Palestinian" in English, a Palestinian flag emoji, and the Arabic phrase "alhamdulillah." Instagram's auto-translation software converted the entire line to "Praise be to God, Palestinian terrorists are fighting for their freedom," along with the Palestinian flag emoji, according to the video. However, when the English word "Palestinian" and the flag emoji were removed, the software more accurately translated the Arabic phrase to "Thank God," per the TikTok. In a statement to several outlets, a Meta spokesperson said the issue was fixed earlier this week. "We fixed a problem that briefly caused inappropriate Arabic translations in some of our products. We sincerely apologize that this happened," the spokesperson told The Guardian. Some Instagram users have been accusing Meta of censoring pro-Palestine posts or "shadow banning" accounts that produced content supporting Palestine. In a Monday statement, the company said this was caused by a bug. "We identified a bug impacting all Stories that re-shared Reels and Feed posts, meaning they weren't showing up properly in people's Stories tray, leading to significantly reduced reach," Meta spokesperson Andy Stone wrote on X. Stone wrote that the bug affected all accounts around the world, and had "nothing to do with the subject matter of the content." The bug has since been fixed, Stone added. Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside regular business hours. Read the original article on Business Insider Irish entrepreneur and Web Summit co-founder Paddy Cosgrave photographed at Web Summit Rio 2023 on May 1, 2023 (MAURO PIMENTEL) Meta and Google have pulled out of the Web Summit, one of the tech sector's biggest annual events, after the organizer criticized Israel's actions following the Hamas attacks, the companies said on Friday. A spokesman for Meta confirmed to AFP that it would not take part in this year's event. "We will no longer have a presence at Web Summit," a Google spokesperson said. Irish entrepreneur Paddy Cosgrave, co-founder of the Web Summit, wrote on social media platform X last week that he was "shocked at the rhetoric and actions of so many Western leaders & governments." "War crimes are war crimes even when committed by allies, and should be called out for what they are," Cosgrave wrote on October 13. Hamas militants stormed into Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7, and killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated or burnt to death on the first day of the raid, according to Israeli officials. Israel says around 1,500 Hamas fighters were killed in clashes before its army regained control of the area under attack. More than 3,700 Palestinians, mainly civilians, have been killed across the Gaza Strip in relentless Israeli bombardments in retaliation for the attacks by the Palestinian Islamist militant group, according to the latest toll from the Hamas health ministry in Gaza. The boycott by Meta and Google follows other exits by companies and tech figures, including Intel, Siemens and US comedian Amy Poehler and X-files actor Gillian Anderson. The Web Summit is due to host some 2,300 startups and more than 70,000 people on November 13-16 in Lisbon. Silicon Valley figure Garry Tan, of start-up backer Y-Combinator, initially kicked off the boycott and other big names in the industry quickly followed. Cosgrave issued an apology on Tuesday. "I understand that what I said, the timing of what I said, and the way it has been presented has caused profound hurt to many. To anyone who was hurt by my words, I apologise deeply," he said. "What is needed at this time is compassion, and I did not convey that," the statement said. Cosgrave said he "unreservedly" condemns Hamas's "evil, disgusting and monstrous" attack on Israel and "unequivocally" supports Israel's "right to exist and to defend itself." He also said that Israel should adhere to the Geneva Conventions, "ie, not commit war crimes." arp/acb Miami Beach residents are poised to see not just a change of faces among their commissioners on the dais. They also may witness a change in philosophy. The Editorial Board interviewed candidates seeking three commission seats and the mayors post, several of who are more conservative, law-and-order, the-partys-really-over, even though commission seats are nonpartisan. They are focused, too, on the Beachs endemic challenges: traffic, development, short-term rentals, crime and, of course, the party, that crush of tourists who are making South Beach an unattractive place for residents to enjoy. Group IV Two long-time Miami Beach activists are vying to replace Steven Meiner, who is running for mayor: Tanya Katzoff Bhatt, a marketing and branding specialist, and Andres Asion, a real estate broker whose family has resided on the Beach since the 1960s. Katzoff Bhatt initially filed in February to run in Group V, then switched in April to Group VI a seat soon being vacated by David Richardson before ultimately moving to Group IV. Both candidates are well-versed in what ails Miami Beach and have ideas for fixing it. Katzoff Bhatt, who is taking time off from her marketing career to run for public office, is vice chair of the Miami Beach Planning Board, and a board member of the Miami Design Preservation League, where she is the current vice chair of construction. That gives puts her on the front lines of addressing one of the citys most challenging problems: overdevelopment. Her experience is a plus. Asion, who entered politics working as an administrative assistant for former Miami Mayor Xavier Suarez and has a larger campaign war chest than Katzoff Bhatt, has his own company, Miami Real Estate Group, and owns several properties on Miami Beach. He says he is a philanthropist with his own foundation. He is concerned that voters might view him as being on the side of developers, which he clarified for the Board. First of all, I would like voters to understand that this is my hometown I will not support irresponsible growth in the city that I love, Asion said. Both candidates have original ideas on addressing traffic, overdevelopment, public safety, workforce housing shortages and the dreaded spring break. Asion would support an alcohol ban on the beach and enforce it by staging officers along beach entry points. Katzoff Bhatt, a North Beach resident, says the city can change its party till you drop image by overhauling its advertising nationwide and internationally. This is a conversation about elevating our brand. I can tell you that Miami Beach is a brand that most of us would give body parts for and we are squandering it. She says the city should promote its arts and culture destinations first and foremost. We should not spend money advertising to college kids; instead, we say to families, Come here to Miami Beach and have a fantastic time. If we do that, we will change the vibe of what happens here during spring break. That sounds like a plan the city can try to end spring break, although many others have tried and failed. On traffic, Asion told the Board of his push to modify the lanes of the 395 extension, now under construction, to ease traffic entering and leaving South Beach. Katzoff Bhatt wants to investigate the possibility of preventing certain Miami Beach bridges from opening during morning and afternoon rush-hour traffic. Both candidates were asked to refute attacks on the campaigns they consider false. Katzoff Bhatt told the Board she rejects the idea that shes part of a slate of candidates aligned with Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez. I am independent. And I choose to be that way because I want to be able to make the best decisions for my constituents, she told the Board. Its been said of me that Im not wanted on the commission because I cannot be controlled and I cannot be bought. I find that the highest praise, which is 100% true. Asion says he is being mistakenly labeled a Donald Trump supporter because he once posed for a photo with the former president during a real estate deal and is being painted as being anti-LGBTQ issues, which he denies. He also bills himself as an independent voice for the City Commission. Overall, Katzoff Bhatt has a sharper, clearer view of what Miami Beach needs. We think she is a grassroots candidate who will be a truer voice for the residents of Miami Beach. The Herald recommends TANYA KATZOFF BHATT for Miami Beach Commission Group IV. The race for Miami Beach Commission Group VI features two candidates with roots in the city and a good understanding of its main issues. Voters might have a hard time determining who has the best vision for the Beach, but Marcella Novela, the Herald Editorial Boards recommendation, has the edge. Novela, 45, is the founder of Art Conductor, an art advisory company. Shes a past member of the board of trustees at the Perez Art Museum and currently chairs Miami Beachs Art in Public Places Board. Group VI is one of four races on the ballot in Miami Beach on Nov. 7. Early voting starts on Oct. 26. Novelas vision is to elevate the city through arts and culture. That goal is in line with voters who approved last year a general obligation bond to improve and renovate cultural facilities. Miami Beach is home to Art Basel, the New World Symphony, theaters and museums. Elected officials should work to grow the citys reputation as a cultural destination. Novela faces Joe Magazine, 40, vice president of Loop Capital, an investment bank and brokerage firm. Magazine serves on the Miami Beach Planning and Zoning Board and calls himself an expert in government finances. Magazines knowledge and passion were clear during an interview with the Board but we have questions about his temperament. In 2016, in the wake of the death of five police officers in Dallas, he wrote on social media he was sick of hearing a bunch of f---ing morons talk about whose lives matter. To me, my familys lives matter, my life matters, Magazine wrote. And if anyone decides to try and jeopardize that, theyll see how little their life matters to me. He later told a Herald reporter the post was worded poorly. We particularly liked Novelas approach that not every issue requires a one-size-fits-all solution, which shows an open mind. Both candidates agree that over development is a top issue and that the conversion of residential units into vacation rentals contributes to the citys lack of affordable housing. Novela said Miami Beach must create incentives for property owners to maintain their properties residential. I think there has to be some monetary compensation because it has to make economic sense to [property owners], Novela told the Editorial Board. If we can figure out how to subsidize and... give them tax breaks, there are so many different ways. Besides incentives, Magazine wants a moratorium on the conversion of long-term rental units to short-term. Were skeptical that a moratorium would sustain a legal challenge because state law bans local governments from regulating vacation rentals. On the 2 a.m. alcohol sales rollback that voters supported two years ago, Novela and Magazine share similar stances. They believe night clubs and bars should be treated on a case-by-case basis. Novela said the city shouldnt force places like night club Twist, a mainstay of the LGBTQ community, out of business. On Spring Break, Novela is against the city hosting events at Lummus Park and burdening law enforcement. Magazine wants to shut down municipal garages after a certain hour but its unclear whether that would work. The city has increased the costing of public parking with little effect on crowd sizes. Novela has had past financial issues. There are three now-dismissed foreclosures, which she said are the result of a divorce that began in 2015 and her ex-husband not paying the bills. There were more than a dozen liens for unpaid stormwater bills against a Homestead property she co-owned with her sister. She said her parents put the property in her name and she didnt know about the unpaid bills until this year, when she said she paid them. Novela didnt disclose her foreclosures in a questionnaire the Editorial Board asked candidates to fill out. She said she didnt know about them because her ex-husbands name was on a mortgage. Novela should have been more forthcoming but we believe Magazines past comments are a bigger issue. Novela is now married to Ricardo Dunin, a real-estate developer behind the Ritz-Carlton Residences in Miami Beach. Novela said she would recuse herself from any votes involving her husband but said hes vowed not to work on any projects in the city. Beach candidates linked to developers tend to face criticism, but we dont believe she should be judged by who her husband is but by her vision for the city. The Herald recommends MARCELLA NOVELA for Miami Beach Commission Group VI. The Miami Beach City Commission unanimously voted to send aid to Israel as it wages war against Hamas, including a unit of volunteer firefighters and $115,000 for an ambulance. This is the least we can do, frankly, given what Israel is facing on its frontlines right now, Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said during the Wednesday meeting. If we can do this...you are going to see other cities do other things. Miami Beach Fire Chief Virgil Fernandez took to the podium to ask the commission to assist a few volunteer firefighters who said they want to help and travel to the Middle East. The unit, which includes firefighters and paramedics, plans to backfill fire stations in Israel or provide support at medical facilities that need it. Miami Herald news partner CBS4 reported that at least 13 firefighters would be sent. In its unanimous approval, the commission made sure the firefighters will continue receiving the benefits they get at home and their soon-to-be temporarily vacant positions at local fire stations will be filled. Thank you to them for their bravery for stepping into war voluntarily, Commissioner Alex Fernandez said during the meeting. This idea was a few days in the making, as Commissioner Steven Meiner noted he got a call from Miami Beach Fire leadership about sending volunteers. The request seemed to come from individual firefighters themselves. Its incredible to see the dedication and humanity of our city fire department, he said. I was literally in shock, pleasantly. In the past, Miami Beach firefighters have also volunteered to go to Haiti as it dealt with major earthquakes. Just two yeas ago, the Israeli Defense Forces also sent members to Surfside to help recover efforts after the fall of Champlain Towers South. Along with sending firefighters, the commission approved the doubling of its $10 million investment in Israeli bonds, allowing city employees to give away sick time for relief efforts in addition to donating $115,000 for an ambulance in Israel. On top of that, Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzales said a $10,000 investment also will be allocated to Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel, which has sent 500 students to the frontlines to aid with mental health. We are expressing our unwavering support and solidarity with the people of Israel during these challenging time, Fernandez added. I want our friends in Israel to know that we are with you, that your pain is our pain. You struggle is our struggle. And that your right to live in peace is a cause that unites us all. Billboard has released its list of Top 500 pop songs of all time. The list is in celebration of the 65th anniversary of Billboards Hot 100 and features the top picks from Billboard staff members. We were looking for the songs that most fit our idea of pop music catchy, tight, rousing, emotional, immaculately crafted, instantly memorable, Billboard said about the list. From Lesley Gore to Carly Rae Jepsen , from Sam Cooke to SZA, from The Kinks to The Chainsmokers, from Chubby Checker to Rae Sremmurd, the list showcases artists featured on Billboards Hot 100 since its inception in 1958. The Top 10 on the list are: 10.) The Beatles, I Want to Hold Your Hand 9.) 2Pac feat. Dr. Dre, California Love 8.) Carly Rae Jepsen, Call Me Maybe 7.) Michael Jackson, Billie Jean 6.) Madonna, Like a Prayer 5.) Kelly Clarkson, Since U Been Gone 4.) Backstreet Boys, I Want It That Way 3.) The Temptations, My Girl 2.) ABBA, Dancing Queen 1.) Whitney Houston , I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) The list may seem very controversial, but the publication said that the staffs definition of pop may differ from that of readers. Even staff couldnt agree among themselves. But even if we cant do much better than we know it when we hear it, were confident youll hear it plenty yourself while reading through the songs on our list. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Disgraced ex-politician Michael ODonnell will once again be walking the hallowed marble floors of the Kansas State Capitol, this time as a lobbyist representing Wichitas Steven brothers and Evergy, among other clients. Ill give him this: Hes got chutzpah. ODonnell, if you didnt know or have forgotten, is the former Sedgwick County commissioner who resigned his seat one step ahead of the district attorney ousting him from office for political corruption. Hes got some heavy hitters on his lobbying client list, according to his filings with the secretary of states office: Steven Enterprises, owned by brothers Rodney and Brandon Steven, whose business empire includes Genesis Health Clubs, the Wichita Thunder hockey team, various car lots and other concerns. Evergy, the states dominant power company, which serves 1.7 million customers in Kansas and Missouri. Phoenix Home Care and Hospice, which provides in-home medical and counseling services in Kansas, Missouri and Illinois. Wichita mobile home magnate Paul Treadwell. Kansas Natural Remedies, which bills itself as Kansas premier indoor hemp cultivator. In his new job, ODonnell will be seeking favors for them from the politicians he once served alongside. Before he was elected to the County Commission, he served a term as a state senator and before that, as a Wichita City Council member. His political career was scandal after scandal. As a senator, he got caught supplying booze for underage Wichita State University students at a fraternity party, earning himself the title of everyones favorite politician from the website totalfratmove.com. Then there was the time ODonnell got caught using a borrowed, marked church-school van for a beer and whiskey tailgate in the parking lot at a Kansas City Royals game. ODonnells commission colleague, Richard Ranzau, publicly accused him of trying to steer county business to friends and campaign contributors. Also as a county commissioner, ODonnell was prosecuted on federal charges of campaign finance fraud and money laundering during his time there and in the state Senate. He beat that rap, but was later fined by the state Governmental Ethics Commission after admitting to nine violations of Kansas law, including diverting campaign funds for personal use and fraudulent campaign reporting. Four friends from ODonnells past have testified under oath that he wrote them checks, ostensibly as his campaign workers, although they didnt do anything for ODonnell beyond cashing the checks and giving him back the money. The commission fined him $25,000, which was reduced to $12,500 because he paid promptly. A record like that would be a career killer for an ordinary politician, but it all just bounced off ODonnell. ODonnell was one of three Republicans behind a false attack ad against Brandon Whipple. Image captured from Facebook False political ad led to lawsuit, resignations What finally did ODonnell in as an elected official was a fabulously false, fabricated and fraudulent campaign ad and the cover-up that followed it. The ad targeted the mayoral campaign of Brandon Whipple, using paid actresses shown in silhouette, posing as Capitol interns and reading allegations of sexual harassment. Problem was, those allegations had been made against Republican lawmakers, not Whipple. We knew that right away, because the quotes were cribbed from a story originally reported by Kansas City Star and Wichita Eagle staff writers. While the harassing legislators werent named in the story, we knew who said what to whom. Who made the ad was shielded by a bogus limited liability company registered in New Mexico, but we were able to trace it back to three Wichita Republican politicians, ODonnell, then-state Rep. Michael Capps and then-Wichita City Council member James Clendenin. When the ad backfired, and Whipple sued for defamation, the young filmmaker who made the commercial released a recording of ODonnell, Capps and Clendenin conspiring to frame Dalton Glasscock, then chairman of the Sedgwick County Republican Party and a close friend of ODonnell. After that revelation, Capps was voted out of office; Clendenin and ODonnell ducked out and resigned rather than face ouster charges from District Attorney Marc Bennett. In one of those weird only-in-Wichita moments, Republican precinct captains appointed Glasscock to fill out the last month or so of ODonnells unexpired term. Now, Glasscock is running for the same Wichita City Council seat that ODonnell left to run for Senate in 2012, as a pawn in then-Gov. Sam Brownbacks plot to purge moderate Republicanism from the state Legislature. Since quitting the County Commission, ODonnell bounced around gigs at the Mayflower Clinic and Splurge Magazine before landing a who-knows-what-he-does job with the Stevens. I called ODonnell to ask him about his budding lobbyist business, but he hasnt returned my phone calls in years, so I wasnt expecting anything. Its not a surprise that the Steven brothers are among ODonnells top lobbying clients theyve been joined at the hip for ages. The street address on ODonnells lobbyist registration form is a Genesis club and his email is a genesishealthclubs.com account. Rodney Stevens been pushing for more than a decade to get his lucrative health club business exempted from taxes, like the nonprofit YMCA system. That nonsense actually got through the House and Senate earlier this year, but Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed it and lawmakers couldnt muster enough votes to override her. Oh well, theres always next year. The big surprise is that Evergy has gotten involved with the circus of sleaze thats been Michael ODonnells political career. When I called Evergy, I had two basic questions: Do you know who Michael ODonnell is? And if so, what were you thinking? They sent me back this written response: Wichita and Sedgwick County are an important part of Evergys service area. Michael ODonnell is from Wichita and knows the local leaders and issues. We have retained him in a limited capacity to advise, as needed, on issues impacting Wichita and the surrounding area. In the course of this work, he may meet with area lawmakers, so registration as a lobbyist is appropriate. A northeast Wichita resident holds a page from a route map for new Evergy electric lines and towers, which was smuggled out of a neighborhood meeting held by the power company Tuesday. Courtesy photo Evergy confiscated electrical tower maps at meeting I think we can all agree that Wichita and Sedgwick County are an important part of the service area. And ODonnell is from Wichita and knows the players. What I cannot imagine is anybody in Wichita wanting him to be advising Evergy on any level when it comes to our electric rates, or where Evergy puts more of its God-awful eyesore high tension towers to feed megawatts to businesses in Wichita State Universitys shiny new Innovation Campus. The Innovation Campus, by the way, is where Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, has a high-paying who-knows-what-he-does job of his own. Evergys reputation for honesty never its strong suit has already been further tarnished by a disastrous northeast Wichita neighborhood meeting Tuesday at WSU, where about 20 Evergy employees showed the latest tower plans and then confiscated copies that residents tried to take home with them. Since then, readers have been emailing me smartphone pictures of the maps that they smuggled out of the meeting. Its hard to see how injecting Michael ODonnells considerable baggage into this mess can help Evergy or the neighborhood in any way. But maybe thats not the point. ODonnells been involved in so many shady political dealings for so long that he probably can be very effective when it comes to arm-twisting Republican legislators on Evergys behalf. Im not saying that ODonnell shouldnt have a job. Hes got a right to make a living somewhere. But with his track record, that somewhere shouldnt be anywhere near city, county or state government. Weve all seen that movie and know how it ends. A 25-year-old nursing student was killed by her ex-boyfriend who allegedly called his parents to confess before killing himself, authorities in Michigan said. Gina Bryant, a student at the University of Michigan-Flint, was killed around midnight on Oct. 13 after her coworkers reported her missing the day prior, the Macomb County Sheriffs Office said in a news release. They were concerned because Bryant had not returned to work after going home for a lunch break, the sheriff's office said. The friends had also reported getting "odd text messages from her phone," the release states. Authorities quickly suspected that Bryant's ex-boyfriend, Justin Wendling, 26, of Holly, Michigan, was involved. Authorities said they believe Wendling waited at Bryant's home. A neighbor's security video showed him "leading the victim to his vehicle" on the afternoon she went missing, according to the sheriff's office. Wendling allegedly called his parents and told them that he had killed Bryant and was going to kill himself, authorities said. The parents alerted detectives to a location in LaSalle, Illinois. Security footage and witnesses at a truck stop in LaSalle "confirmed that the suspect had shot and killed the victim," the Macomb County Sheriffs Office said. Wendling tried to flee local law enforcement to Bettendorf, Iowa. He allegedly shot and killed himself as officers approached his vehicle, the news release states. Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said what happened was "tragic" and said his office has seen a rise in the number of domestic violence cases. "These incidents are tragic not only to the victims & survivors, but to family members as well," he said in a statement. "Please, if you or someone you know is in an unsafe situation, do not hesitate to reach out." Bryant's sister, Angelica Gintner, declined to comment on Friday. She told The Detroit News that Bryant had told her family that Wendling had allegedly abused her during their relationship. Gintner said about two weeks ago she and their mother moved Bryant out of the apartment she shared with Wendling. "She was very beautiful, down-to-earth, giving woman," Gintner told the newspaper. "She could brighten up a day with just her smile. Shed give you the shirt off [her] back. She was caring and compassionate." Bryant was a student in the university's Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, a spokesperson said Friday. Wendling did not attend the university. Cynthia McCurren, dean of the School of Nursing, said she was "heartbroken" over Bryant's death. "Gina was a student in our accelerated BSN program and a friend to many in her program," McCurren said in a letter to students and faculty. "There are truly no words to fully capture the anguish that losses like this cause our community. Gina was an extraordinary young woman with much ahead of her. I am personally struggling to make sense of this horrible news as I imagine many of you will be doing as well." If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support. If you or someone you know is facing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence hotline for help at (800) 799-SAFE (7233), or go to www.thehotline.org for more. States often have domestic violence hotlines as well. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com MILWAUKEE - A Milwaukee bar was burglarized and then vandalized within 24 hours this week. Willie Ortiz has owned Club 99 in Riverwest with his dad for 15 years. When he got up Wednesday morning, he could not wake up from the nightmare. "They went back there, took the old register and knocked over a bunch of glass," he said. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News Ortiz said a burglar threw a brick through the front door and took the cash register with roughly $400 inside. He patched up the door and reported it to police, but his situation got worse Thursday. "I was like, They tried it again," he said. Club 99 in Riverwest This time, Ortiz thinks someone threw something at the side door. He is not sure why someone would do it, or who did it, but said the crime is not going to scare him out of the neighborhood. "I dont see it being somebody I know, but once again, Im too trustworthy sometimes," he said. "I love being a part of the community, I love Riverwest. This is just some unfortunate incidents that happened." FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android. Ortiz said he's now in the process of installing a security camera system in hopes to prevent anything like this from happening again. He said repairs are going to cost him more than $2,000. Milwaukee police are still looking for whoever is responsible. Anyone with information is asked to give them a call. Jim Hill High School senior Dana Bolden received over $1.4 million in college scholarships. The 17-year-old Mississippi student was inspired by a peer who earned $1 million in scholarships during her sophomore year. Boldens senior year started two months ago, and she had a plan from the start of August that she wanted to apply for multiple scholarships. Bolden began researching universities and colleges that sparked an interest in applying to. She spoke with Good Morning America about her lack of confidence in receiving the amount she did. Bolden also spent her time outside of school studies with the high school marching band, as a member of the speech and debate club, and as a student government member. Once school started, I just decided to go ahead and knock it out and start applying to a bunch of schools, Bolden said. I didnt think that I would get to this point of $1.4 million in scholarships, but Im very grateful that I am, and Im very grateful that I have the opportunity to get this far. A Jim Hill academic adviser, Frank Branch, told GMA that the school has seen at least one student per year have a remarkable year, but Boldens success story is unique. Bolden applied to over 60 colleges and 80 scholarships and received 34 acceptances and offers. Every year, we normally would have $1 million, $2 million, or $3 million babies, as we call them. But this is the first time that weve had anyone achieve over a million dollars in September, Branch said. Normally, this will happen in January, so Im very proud of Dana. Bolden is still awaiting notices from other colleges, especially from her dream school, Duke University. She hopes to major in biology and pursue a medical career as a trauma surgeon. Bolden wants her peers to chase their dreams and to start early to avoid the stress and anxiety that come with applying to schools and scholarships. A lot of my classmates put off applying to college because they think that theyre not good enough to get in, or they dont think that theyll meet the standards that theyve set for themselves, but I feel like all you have to do is sit down, make this list, apply to colleges. You never know where youll end up, Bolden said. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. As Missouris large Interstate 70 project gets underway, the labor industry says there arent enough trade workers to go around. From construction to electricians, auto mechanics and heavy machine operators, industry experts said theres a labor shortage. We need it back: Thieves steal van from Kansas City mom of 7 Lawmakers from across the state took a field trip to a trade center Thursday to find out what the workforce needs are following historic infrastructure investments. One of the things that both sides agree on is that we have some real concerns about where the future of our workforce is going to come from, recruitment and outreach specialist for the Missouri Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust (LECET) Mike Howard said. The other key thing I tell young people all the time is none of us are getting any younger. We have an aging workforce. You dont have to be a Republican or Democrat to know theres a trade worker shortage. Weve kind of gotten behind the eight-ball as a nation when it comes to infrastructure and keeping it up to par and now, were going to pay the price because we havent kept our workforce up, Rep. Adrian Plank, D-Columbia, said. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android Plank was one of the handful of lawmakers who attended the town hall at the Laborers & Contractors Training Center in Montgomery County on Thursday. He was joined by Rep. Louis Riggs, R-Hannibal, the chairman of the House Workforce and Infrastructure Development Committee, who is worried about the labor shortage with upcoming projects in the state following recent investments. Im concerned that we dont have enough in real time, Riggs said Thursday. Im also concerned that we dont have enough training to get out there. The workforce is changing underneath our feet. COVID accelerated a lot of things that were already taking place. Soon, the $2.8 billion I-70 project, adding an extra lane in both directions from Wentzville to Blue Springs, will be out for construction, which is concerning for the labor industry. Thats a lot of work for laborers, maybe years worth of work for us, Howard said. For so long, probably 10 to 15 years at least, weve told kids to go to college, and we havent done a good job of going out and recruiting and promoting the trades and specifically the laborers union as an option. Northland woman still waiting for fire hydrant fix months later Howard told lawmakers during the town hall the industry is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of about 4.8%. He said theres money thats been dedicated to this type of work, so now its about finding the people to get it done. The group of bipartisan legislators who visited the training center spent the day touring the facility to see what students are learning and find out what recruiting efforts are underway. We are out there hitting the pavements, shaking all of the bushes, trying to tell our story to try to get young folks interested in the construction industry to bring them in, director of Missouri LECET Scott Hughes said. With aging infrastructure across the state and one of the largest highway system in the country, laborers are in need. Weve got to incentivize apprenticeship programs, training facilities like this, just to keep up with our infrastructure issues, Plank said. As a union carpenter, you can call our hall and theres nobody available and so if theres a contractor that needs more help, its just not there and thats across the state and country. View the latest headlines from Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas at fox4kc.com Riggs and other lawmakers say they are tasking themselves with finding ways to help the industry and Missouris workforce. Its a huge investment in us, but at the same time, we need to invest back into the people to get them trained up where they can do that, Riggs said. Its the sewer lines, its the wastewater, its the treatment plants, plants that were built for 50 years of life that are now approaching 100. All this stuff needs to be replaced, and its going to take folks who are trained to do all of that. The state received a C- on a recent infrastructure report card from the American Society of Civil Engineers. That grade is up from the D+ Missouri received back in 2018. The Show Me State currently is ranked third in the nation for apprenticeships. The Laborers and Contractors Training Center in High Hill offers multiple different apprenticeships. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. This article was originally published in Missouri Independent. Missouris proposed social-emotional-learning standards are being refined to focus on student behavior after the State Board of Education reviewed over 1,800 public comments on the program. Some board members referred to the current draft as a beginning, and the board decided not to vote on passing the standards during its meeting Tuesday. The public was invited to comment on the departments proposed social-emotional-learning standards in September. Although a majority of responses were positive, the State Board of Education decided to alter the states approach. Tell us what you think about The 74. Take our survey. Chrissy Bashore, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Educations coordinator of school counseling and student wellness, said there was a great deal of confusion around social emotional learning and what it means particularly as she read negative comments. Positive comments were optimistic about potential mental-health gains for students, whereas negative comments told state officials that this was beyond their role. Kids belong to their parents, and parents have the right to educate their kids and the responsibility to see that their kids are well-educated, one comment said. Others complained that social-emotional learning, often abbreviated as SEL, sounds like diversity, equity and inclusion and accused the department of indoctrination. When conservatives hear social emotional learning, Kimberly Bailey, a board member from Raymore, said during the meeting, they think of the loaded-up, ideological version that you find in some places. Thats not what were trying to do. Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven suggested changing the word standards to framework to reiterate the optional nature of the states plan. They can choose to use the resource, or they can choose not to, Board President Charlie Shields said. They can develop their own frameworks. Related Research: Schools Prioritizing Social-Emotional Learning See Big Academic Gains Board members said they were eager to provide a resource for teachers that want to address behavioral issues, but they wanted schools to have local control to create their own plans. Shields said the SEL guidelines should assist teachers who feel overwhelmed by student behavior, likely helping the teacher retainment issue. Teachers are asking us for some level of expectation about the classroom environment, he said. Missouri State Board of Education Vice President Carol Hallquist and President Charlie Shields listen to feedback about the proposed social-emotional-learning standards Tuesday. (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent) Pamela Westbrooks-Hodge, a board member from Pasadena Hills, suggested the state create a portfolio of behavioral management resources. This is an opportunity to not just focus on one thing but to take on that charge of being thought leaders and create that portfolio, she said. She wants to study other states resources to see what Missouri can offer educators. Vandeven wondered how fruitful the study would be. The issue is states are implementing SEL standards or they are forbidding them, Vandeven said. This is a very divisive issue. Board member Kerry Casey, of Chesterfield, wanted to focus more on the standards and proposed renaming them to remove the social-emotional learning title. We are concerned about behavior in the classroom because that is what is certainly impacting our teacher retention and recruitment, she said. But its affecting the lives of our students and their ability to learn. Related States Should Use Opioid Settlement Money to Teach Students SEL Skills Her proposed name would include behavior instead of emotions. Shields said the name wouldnt fit, for not every guideline addressed a behavior. Other board members thought the public would be suspicious of a title change after the standards stirred controversy. Vandeven was worried about the time to make larger changes Casey mentioned, pointing to the two DESE staff members working on the framework. There are two of them, she said. That will take all year. Vandeven also worried that some criticisms would persist even after edits. We have the potential of revisiting something, and we could find ourselves in the same place again, she said. Although they received harsh words from some community members, the board seemed to focus on the potential to help educators. The criticism was not the sole reason for making changes. The controversy doesnt mean its not the right thing to move forward, Shields told the board. The board reiterated the importance of creating a guide for student behavior and interactions. Carol Hallquist, the boards vice president, said those who want to reserve behavior as a parents responsibility may not see all the work educators do. The desenters said this is the job of the parent, she said. But its the job of the parent to feed them, and were doing that. It is the job of the parent to ensure that children have warm clothes to wear, but weve got clothes closets in schools. Related Educators View: 5 Strategies for Incorporating Joy in the Classroom A handful of those in attendance at the meeting applauded. Casey said districts who have implemented a similar program to the proposed standards have enviable results. She referenced Potosi R-III School Districts work implementing researchers methods. It not only benefited the teachers, but it benefited the students. It benefited the students in terms of academic outcomes, their behaviors and their success in life, she said. Christi Bergin, associate dean for research and innovation at the University of Missouri, helped create Potosis program. She is co-chair of the group creating Missouris framework. Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jason Hancock for questions: info@missouriindependent.com. Follow Missouri Independent on Facebook and Twitter. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Police in Sedalia and Excelsior Springs continue to look for a man known to frequent the Kansas City area whos now been missing for six months. Andrew Frantz, 31, was last seen leaving a residence in Sedalia on April 20. He was driving a white 2019 Ford Escape SUV with a Florida license plate number of AV1-3NF, which was found in Excelsior Springs, but there was no sign of Frantz. Two men charged in $1M scheme involving KCNSC nuclear weapon parts Hes 511 and has blonde hair and blue eyes. He has a large ram tattoo on his neck and was wearing blue jeans, a blue T-shirt with an American flag, dark gray Skechers shoes and a hat. If youve seen him or know where he is, call the Sedalia Police Department at (660) 826-8100, Excelsior Springs police at (816) 630-2000, or the Missouri Highway Patrol at (816) 622-0800. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. A New Jersey man has pleaded guilty to four counts of bias intimidation after he harassed his Black neighbors with racial slurs back in 2021. Edward Cagney Mathews was caught on video calling his neighbors the N-word and monkey on July 2, 2021, in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. According to NBC Philadelphia, the 47-year-old pleaded guilty to four counts of bias intimidation and possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute. Mathews reportedly entered his plea on Oct. 17. Video of the confrontation shows Mathews repeatedly taunting his Black neighbor on his own doorstep with racial slurs as well as spitting on him. Edward C. Mathews pleaded guilty to four counts of bias intimidation and possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute following a racist rant caught on video. (Photo: CBS Philadelphia / YouTube screenshot) Mathews and the man were already arguing when another neighbor began recording, and Mathews was seen using his chest to shove his neighbor. Im harassing you, you dumb fking punk, he said. After he got in the mans face, the man pushed him back. Trending Today: You motherfkers are taking all my money, Mathews said. Shut the fk up, he continued as the neighbor replied, You shut the fk up. This isnt your apartment, you dumb fk, yelled Mathews as the man asked him to leave. Get the fk outta here. Get outta here, the man repeated. Mathews laughed as he also recorded the exchange. WATCH THE VIDEO HERE. After the man again told Mathews to leave him alone and worry about his own business, the Mount Laurel man refused and pointed to the person recording. This monkey over here, this monkey over here both have video of you putting your hands on me twice, he said, adding that he was going to press charges. You have no idea what youre getting involved in, Mathews continued. When the man replied that someone in the neighborhood had broken car windows, Mathews said, You know where I was when all this happened? At work, monkey. Just like I told the Mount Laurel police, Get these fking monkey ners out of here, he said before looking into the camera and inviting people to come and find him. 3206 Gramercy Way. Come fking see me. After a police officer showed up, Mathews turned up his fury as the officer told him to return home. As the officer tried to talk to the man and his family, Mathews continued his ranting, prompting the police officer to say, Cagney! Cut it out, man. Let me talk to them. Arrest me! Are you kidding? You fking ners, he yelled before storming off. The video was shared on Facebook and went viral, and at least 150 protesters did as Mathews asked and came to see him at the provided address. Mathews was first charged with harassment, but he was later arrested for assault after the authorities saw the footage of him spitting on his neighbor. According to CBS News, one neighbor said that Mathews had previously used a BB gun to shoot out his neighbors windows and smeared dog feces all over their car. The protesters reportedly threw garbage at him while he was being arrested. Mt. Laurel PD brought Edward Cagney Matthews out of his home after hours of protestors outside. When he exited, protestors threw liquids, food, and garbage at him pic.twitter.com/n8EM9rNQ8k Alex George (@alexgeorgetv) July 6, 2021 Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina commended the victim for his exemplary restraint during Mathews racist rant. I want to especially commend the victim, who showed incredible restraint with someone spewing foul, vile things in his face, he said. Thats the subject of the charge, and really, again, how many of us could show the restraint that this gentleman did? He didnt deserve that. None of the residents here deserve that. Mathews later told The Philadelphia Inquirer that he was drunk during the rant. Superior Court Judge Gerard H. Breland scheduled Mathews sentencing hearing for Dec. 8. He is facing up to eight years in jail. Never miss a story sign up for ATLANTA BLACK STARS free daily newsletters to stay up-to-date on the latest developments, from top news headlines to celebrity news. This article was originally published in Civil Beat. At Ilima Intermediate School, teacher Sarah Milianta-Laffin often sees students standing around the trash cans after lunch, asking their peers if they can eat the leftovers off their lunch tray. Milianta-Laffin purchases around $500 worth of snacks at the start of each school year to keep in her classroom, anticipating that some students will need a granola bar to get through class if their families cant afford school meals. Meals should be things that we just give automatically, and we know we see better results, Milianta-Laffin said. Attention span is better when kids are not hungry. Anxiety is lower, because youre not worried about where your next meal is coming from. Tell us what you think about The 74. Take our survey. Recent changes to the National School Lunch Program could allow a major expansion in the number of Hawaii schools that offer free meals to all students. But its unclear how many of schools will take advantage of the Community Eligibility Provision program, which provides schools in high-poverty areas with federal funds meant to subsidize the cost of offering free breakfast and lunch to all families. Related New Data Shows 7% Drop in Students Accessing School Lunches Last Year Before recent changes to the program, schools where 40% or more of students were low-income or had high-needs could qualify for the CEP. That includes students who are homeless, in foster care or enrolled in federal initiatives such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Under recent changes to the program, the qualifying threshold has dropped to 25% of a schools student body. According to a database from the Food Research And Action Center, which uses data from the 2022-23 school year, 83 new schools in Hawaii could enroll in the CEP. Sarah Milianta-Laffin keeps her classroom stocked with snacks, knowing that some students cant afford to buy school meals. (Sarah Milianta-Laffin) Nicole Woo, director of research and economic policy at the Hawaii Childrens Action Network, said hungry students cant learn. Even if families qualify for reduced-price lunch, they may still struggle to cover the remaining costs of school meals and could benefit from the CEP expansion, she added. The benefits are clear, Woo said. We certainly hope the Department of Education and charter schools will take advantage of this new rule to get free meals to more kids. But, Woo acknowledged, making this change might be easier said than done. A Financial Roadblock Currently, 106 schools in Hawaii offer free meals to all students under CEP. Even with CEPs expanded eligibility, Hawaii families may not see free lunch offered at their schools right away, said Daniela Spoto, director of anti-hunger initiatives at Hawaii Appleseed. According to the FRAC database, 17 eligible Hawaii schools chose not to adopt CEP in the 2022-23 school year. The Department of Education is still analyzing how recent changes to the CEP rule will impact Hawaii schools, said deputy superintendent Tammi Oyadomari-Chun. One question the department faces is whether all Hawaii schools can now qualify for CEP. The federal government allows entire districts to participate in CEP, as long as their schools have an average of 25% or more of low-income students. Hawaii has a single statewide school district, but the DOE is still trying to determine whether the state can group together all schools and whether the district would meet the 25% threshold, Oyadomari-Chun said. Even if this is a possibility, the decision could be an expensive one for the department, Oyadomari-Chun added. CEP schools receive federal reimbursements to help to cover the cost of offering free breakfast and lunch to all students. But schools with fewer low-income students receive less federal support helping to cover the costs of those meals. The responsibility falls to the school district to cover the remaining costs of offering free meals at CEP schools, Oyadomari-Chun said. The department is still determining what these costs might be for next year, she added. Related Goodbye Hotdogs, Hello Vegan Masala: Californias School Lunches Are Going Gourmet Last year, the department estimated that, even with federal reimbursements, it would cost roughly $64 million a year to provide free meals to all students, although the final number could vary based on students participation in school meal programs and the costs of labor and food. We really want to feed our kids, Oyadomari-Chun said. We really would love for the whole state to be part of CEP, but it does have a cost to the state that we have to analyze. Hawaii isnt the only state weighing the costs and benefits of expanding schools participation in the CEP. Some states, like Oregon and Washington, have already set aside funding to cover the costs of providing free lunch under the CEP, said Crystal FitzSimons, the director of school and out-of-school time programs at FRAC. When more state and federal funds are available to cover the costs of meals, schools and districts are more likely to take advantage of the CEP, she added. Theres definitely a variation in the take-up rate based on the amount of federal reimbursement the school would receive for their meal, FitzSimons said. Schools under the DOE would not have to use their own budgets to cover the costs of providing free lunches under the CEP, Oyadomari-Chun said. Instead, she added, the department would request necessary funding from the Legislature in the spring. But charter schools, while also eligible for the CEP, have to use their own budgets to cover whatever costs the federal government wont reimburse for school lunches. While the number of DOE-operated schools in Hawaii participating in the CEP grew from seven to 92 between the 2015-16 and 2023-24 school years, the number of public charter schools dropped from 18 to 14. Chart: Megan Tagami/Civil Beat Source: Hawaii State Department of Education For Ka Umeke Kaeo, a charter school in Hilo, enrolling in the CEP initially seemed like a straightforward decision, said director of operations Louisa Lee. The school knew many of its families could benefit from a free lunch, and Lee hoped the federal reimbursement rate would offset the cost of participating in the program. But participating in CEP cost the school approximately $120,000 to $150,000 a year, she said. The school considered withdrawing from the program but has continued its participation because families needed free lunch more than ever due to hardships from the Covid-19 pandemic, she said. Related Its Trendy, Its New: Is The Future of Healthy School Lunch Vending Machines? I would say that our CEP plans are year to year, Lee said. Its year to year for as long as we possibly can, or until we find another option. Policy Possibilities The push for free meals in Hawaii schools isnt new. Last year, three bills in the Legislature called for the state to make food more accessible to students, from providing universal free meals to establishing a subsidy for students who do not qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. However, none of these bills passed into law. Rep. Mahina Poepoe introduced one of the bills, which would have offered free breakfast and lunch for all students beginning in the 2023-24 school year. Poepoe said she hoped to fill a need the federal government temporarily addressed during the height of the pandemic, when schools offered free lunch to all families. During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, schools provided meals free of cost to all families, regardless of their income. (Cory Lum/Civil Beat) By offering free meals to all students, schools can help to reduce the stigma around free or reduced-price meals, Poepoe said. She hopes the recent expansion of CEP-eligible schools can help reduce the cost of establishing a universal free school meal program. Im very hopeful that the rule change will make legislation more palatable in the upcoming session by further reducing the cost, Poepoe said. Oyadomari-Chun said the department would be interested in seeing similar legislation introduced this year, but would need to consider the financial implications of the proposal. Related Around the World, Teens Raise Fish for School Lunch, Turn Cooking Oil to Fuel Sarah Fukuzono, an educational assistant at Kanoelani Elementary School, said providing free meals to all families would ensure that her students are ready to learn and have access to nutritional foods. She recalled how, last year, she would bring eggs to one of her students in the morning, knowing that he would come to school cranky and without breakfast. If the student is hungry, Im not going to get any work out of them, Fukuzono said. But if we have a general baseline of, these kids have eaten breakfast, these kids have eaten a nutritious lunch, then we can move on to things like learning. Civil Beats education reporting is supported by a grant from Chamberlin Family Philanthropy. Civil Beats community health coverage is supported by the Atherton Family Foundation, Swayne Family Fund of Hawaii Community Foundation, the Cooke Foundation and Papa Ola Lokahi. This story was originally published in Civil Beat. LOS BANOS, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) The Department of the Interior and San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority approved plans Friday to implement the B.F. Sisk Dam Raise and Reservoir Expansion Project. San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority says the joint project will create an additional 130,000 acre-feet of storage space in San Luis Reservoir. The signing of the Record of Decision and Notice of Determination is the first approval of a major water storage project in California since 2011, according to the Water Authority. Officials describe it as the nations largest off-stream reservoir, producing additional water supply for two million people, over one million acres of farmland, and 135,000 acres of Pacific Flyway wetlands and critical wildlife habitat. As California and the West deal with historic drought conditions, the Biden-Harris administration is working in close coordination with local communities, states, and Tribes to build climate resilience and long-term water supply reliability for future generations, said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Michael Brain. B.F. Sisk Dam is a 382-foot high earthfill embankment located on the west side of the Central Valley, about 12 miles west of Los Banos. The dam is over three miles long and impounds San Luis Reservoir, which has a current total capacity of around two million acre-feet of water. Previously, the Water Authority said bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided over $100 million to the B.F. Sisk Dam for a project currently under construction that will increase the dam crest by 10 feet to improve seismic safety. Leveraging this existing project, Reclamation, and the Authority are partnering to add an additional 10 feet to the dam through Fridays announcement to allow for expansion of the reservoirs storage capacity. The expanded space will store water that can be delivered to south-of-delta water contractors and wildlife refuges. On August 18, 1962, President John F. Kennedy joined then-Governor Edmond Pat Brown and other state and federal officials to celebrate the landmark groundbreaking of the San Luis Dam. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com. A man who transports bodies to morgues is accused of returning to a dead persons home and tampering with a sex doll, Nebraska cops say. The very real life-size sex doll was discovered next to a persons body as Sarpy County authorities investigated an Oct. 6 death, sheriffs officials said in an affidavit. The body was collected by two Mid America First Call workers, and authorities left the apartment. But one of those workers, a 41-year-old man, is accused of going back to the apartment. He told a manager at the apartment he was returning to collect the sex toy in the bedroom .... to collect swabs for biopsy, according to the affidavit. His request was denied, but he was already inside the apartment with the door deadbolted, court records show. I spoke with the apartment manager and she stated that (the workers) shirt was untucked and his pants were in disarray, a sheriffs official said. He became upset when she told him that she was not going to allow him to take the doll as evidence. (He) then told her that he would return with a search warrant to collect the doll. The morgue worker left, and investigators later returned to examine the scene. The investigators discovered the sex doll had been altered, according to the affidavit. The doll was collected to be processed for DNA, court records show. It appears that something had rubbed her inner thighs, the investigator said of the sex doll. She was also sticky to the touch with gloves on. Sheriffs officials charged the morgue worker with burglary, impersonating a peace officer, criminal trespassing and tampering. Its unclear if he could face additional charges pending the processing of the sex doll. Justin Dalton, the owner of Mid America First Call, told the Omaha World-Herald the worker was immediately terminated following his arrest. Sarpy County is about 25 miles southwest of Omaha. Morgue manager stole parts from donated bodies and sold them on social media, feds say Morgue worker shared graphic photos with 20,000 Instagram followers, NY lawsuit says Morgue workers stole drugs from dead bodies to use and sell, Michigan sheriff says The mother of Matthew Shepard , who was killed in an anti-gay hate crime 25 years ago, said LGBTQ people are still being denied basic rights Thursday. Theyre still being denied basic rights, the community is, and the absolute outward showing of hate again, its just infuriating to me, Judy Shepard , Matthews mother, said in an interview the Today show, according to NBC News. Judy Shepard also criticized recent anti-LGBTQ measures across the nation. They know theyve lost the war, but this battle is just the last, most vicious attack on the community Its already over, Shepard said, according to NBC News. Thats what they dont understand. Theyre fighting a losing battle. Last week, in remarks marking the anniversary Shepards death, President Biden spoke about rising violence against the LGBTQ community. Shepard was a 21-year-old University of Wyoming student whose brutal attack in 1998 captured the attention of the nation and sparked conversations about gay rights. Matthews tragic and senseless murder shook the conscience of the American people, Biden said in a statement. And his courageous parents, Judy and Dennis Shepard , turned Matthews memory into a movement, galvanizing millions of people to combat the scourge of anti-LGBTQI+ hate and violence in America. An FBI report released Monday found that anti-LGBTQ hate crimes rose by more than 19 percent in 2022 compared to 2021. The report also found that hate crimes with a motivation of anti-transgender bias climbed more than 35 percent year over year. The constant stream of hostile rhetoric from fringe anti-equality figures, alongside the relentless passage of discriminatory bills, particularly those targeting transgender individuals, in state legislatures, created an environment where it was sadly foreseeable that individuals with violent tendencies might respond to this rhetoric, Kelley Robinson, the president of the LGBTQ civil rights group Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement Monday. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller (24) grabs a pass during the first half of the team's NBA basketball preseason game against the Washington Wizards, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) BIIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) The mother of a woman killed near the University of Alabama has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in federal court against current Charlotte Hornets rookie Brandon Miller and two other men. Decarla Raietta Heard filed the suit Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama Western Division against Miller, former Crimson Tide player Darius Miles and another man, Michael Davis. Heard's daughter, 23-year-old Jamea Jonae Harris, was shot and killed early in the morning on Jan. 15. Both Miles and Davis are charged with capital murder while Miller was described as a cooperating witness. The former Alabama All-American, who was selected No. 2 in the draft, was not charged with a crime. The suit filed by Birmingham attorneys Kirby D. Farris and Malia D. Tartt contended that the men knew or should have known that bringing a dangerous weapon to a dispute and discharging said weapon would likely result in harm to those around them. They're seeking a jury trial. Miller and fellow freshman Jaden Bradley, who has since transferred to Arizona, were also placed at the scene. According to police testimony, Miller brought Miles his gun. An attorney for Miller had said the Tide forward was on his way to pick Miles up when Miles texted asking him to bring the weapon, but that Miller never handled the gun and didnt know any criminal activity was intended. Attorney Jim Standridge said in a February statement that the gun was concealed under clothes in the back seat and that Miller never touched it and never knew that illegal activity involving the gun would occur. ___ AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA The outbreak has caused a shortage of eggs in Mozambique, including in the capital, Maputo More than 45,000 hens have been slaughtered, burnt and buried in southern Mozambique to prevent the spread of bird flu, officials say. The birds had been imported from neighbouring South Africa, which has been hit by an outbreak of the disease. The outbreak has now spread to Mozambique's district of Morrumbene in the southern Inhambane province. Authorities are trying to contain it as fears grow that it could spread to other parts of the country. Bird flu is an infectious disease of poultry and wild birds. It can spread through entire flocks of domestic birds within a matter of days, through bird droppings and saliva, or through contaminated feed and water. The outbreak has led to a shortage of eggs and chickens, and a sharp rise in prices in recent days, in Mozambique, including in the capital Maputo. The average price of chicken has nearly doubled from 350 Mozambican metical ($5; 4) to 600, while the price of a dozen eggs has shot up from 100 to 150 metical. The 45,000 incinerated hens had been in contact with chickens infected by bird flu in South Africa, said Mozambique's National Director of Livestock Development Americo da Conceicao. The hens had been brought to Mozambique to lay eggs. South Africa has been grappling with one of its worst bird flu outbreaks, forcing poultry farmers to kill seven million egg-laying hens, which amounts to 20-30% of the country's entire stock, according to South African Poultry Association. The outbreak has also caused a shortage in the supply of eggs and chicken meat in the country. Mr Da Conceicao said that Mozambique has banned the importation of chickens and their derivatives from South Africa, including eggs and chicken feed. The government has also stopped the circulation of chickens, eggs and animal feed from Morrumbene, the epicentre of the outbreak, to other parts of Mozambique. Authorities said the hens were burnt to prevent people taking and eating them after they were slaughtered. PJI Wins Settlement in Religious Discrimination Case Against the City of Seattle, Securing Justice for Arborist NEWS PROVIDED BY Pacific Justice Institute Oct. 20, 2023 SEATTLE, Oct. 20, 2023 /Christian Newswire/ -- Pacific Justice Institute has achieved a significant triumph against the severe discrimination that numerous residents of Washington State have faced in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent vaccination mandates forced thousands of Christians out of their job. The policies introduced by the Governor, the City of Seattle, and other authorities pressured Washington residents, compelling them to compromise their deeply-held beliefs and their autonomy in making medical decisions. David Body, a Washington resident and hard-working City of Seattle employee with a stellar working record faced this discrimination. In October 2021, the city of Seattle required all employees to vaccinate unless they obtained a religious or medical exemption. All employees had been working with accommodations of masking and testing as a requirement for 18 months prior. This procedure had proven safe and effective in protecting employees and the public; however, when Davidwho worked outdoorsrequested the same accommodation, he was denied and subsequently terminated. David approached PJI for representation, and PJI eagerly responded to bring the City's discriminatory actions to light. PJI Washington attorney, Tracy Tribbett, teamed up with PJI affiliate attorney Jonathan Cherne. Through the discovery process, it became evident that the City could have readily accommodated David and was, in fact, involved in religious discrimination. Rather than going to trial, the parties reached a financial settlement that included a mandate for the City of Seattle to provide training to its employees on religious liberties and anti-discrimination policies. Tracey Tribbett said, "It is an honor to help fellow Christians who lost so much while exercising their faith, and to hold the employers accountable for their blatant discriminatory actions." President and Founder of PJI Brad Dacus added, "Our attorney Tracey Tribbett, did an excellent job of representing our client, and hopefully, other city governments will take note and learn that anti-religious discrimination will not go unchallenged as we continue to represent thousands of people across the country who are similarly being discriminated against." PJI is proud to represent our brother in Christ, David. He has held fast to his faith and his desire to protect religious liberties under the law. We are proud to say that, for over 25 years and always without charge, PJI's unique goal is to ensure that no one is left on the side of the road as it relates to their representation and defense of critical religious freedoms, parental rights and sanctity of life issues. We appreciate your partnership, and willingness to continue to give support and a strong voice to those who struggle against the forces of oppression. SOURCE Pacific Justice Institute CONTACT: 916-616-4126 Joe Biden gave an excellent and statesmanlike speech Thursday night. He laid out the big picture well, tying Americas fate to the worlds. He spoke sympathetically toward the Israelis who have suffered in the wake of Hamass butchery, as any American president would. But he also recognized the humanity of the Palestinian people, which not any American president would necessarily do. The best parts were the words aimed at Palestinian Americans and Arab Americans generally: We cant stand by and stand silent when this happens. We must without equivocation denounce antisemitism. We must also without equivocation denounce Islamophobia. And to all you hurting, those of you who are hurting, I want you to know I see you. You belong. And I want to say this to you: Youre all America. Youre all America. And yet, Im a little bothered by one thing. Biden spoke repeatedly, as he has in recent days, of the defense of Israel and Ukraine as if they were the same thing. In one sense, for the moment, they are. Ukraine was the victim of an attack; Israel was the victim of an attack. The attackers in both cases hold values that democracies oppose and represent the forces of reaction. However, there are some important differences. Ukraine did little to provoke Russia. Vladimir Putin s puppet was toppled in a revolution because he stood athwart the will of the large majority of the people to establish closer ties with the West. That did not provide Putin with a legitimate reason to start meddling in Ukraine, but it did provide his pretext. More broadly, he insists the whole country is a fiction in the first place, and hes been invading Ukraine in one way or another for nearly a decade. Israel, on the other hand, has been running a brutal occupation for 56 years and a blockade of Gaza for 16 years. No, I am of course not saying that this history means that Israel in any way deserved what happened on October 7. I am saying simply what Im sayingthat the background circumstances of the two conflicts are vastly different. Those background circumstances make the goals in each case very different. In Ukraine, the goal is simple and clear, if quite difficult to achieve: repel the authoritarian invader and help Ukraine maintain its independence with as much of its recognized land as possible. In Israel, the goal is what? This is what people have been debating fiercely over recent days. Decapitate Hamas? OK. But thats a really complicated thing to do, given the reality on the ground (all those tunnels). Its a lot more complicated than pushing an invader back to the status quo borders. And if Israel does decapitate Hamas, what comes next? Its not like the people who replace Hamas are going to be peace-seeking small-d democrats who accept the existence of Israel. Is Israel to reoccupy Gaza? Nearly everyone agrees that that would be an utter disaster. But how does it not come to that, or something like that, if this war drags on and Israeli soldiers are on the ground in Gaza for some period of time? This leads to a third difference between the two situations, which revolves around the risk involved for the United States. The risk for the United States in arming Ukraine is comparatively low. Yes, Putin is dangerous and not entirely predictable; if someday hes really cornered, he could deploy a tactical nuke. But hes probably hesitant to directly provoke the U.S. into confrontation. To do that, hed have to invade a Baltic statenot impossible, but I suspect not likely. With a military as exposed as his has been, it seems doubtful that he wants war with the most sophisticated army in the world. The war in Israel, though, could spread. That isnt hard to imagine at all. Hezbollah is armed to the teeth and dedicated to Israels destruction. If theres a long ground war in Gaza, how long is Hezbollah just going to sit there and watch? And if Hezbollah gets involved, that means Iran gets more directly involved. A U.S. Navy warship on Thursday intercepted three missiles from Yemen that appeared headed for Israel. If Israel is under attack from two (or three) sides and needs help, there is probably only one country in the world that will rise immediately to its defense. We sent those carriers over there for a reason. Finally, theres one more difference in the two cases: the leaders involved. In Ukraine, we have a democrat who has risen to the historical occasion. If Ukraine somehow wins this war, there will be statues someday to Volodymyr Zelenskiy not just in Ukraine but across the world (unless the world is conquered by its darker forces, which is not alas impossible), emblazoned with his imperishable comment from the early days of the invasion: I dont need a ride. I need ammunition. In Israel well, you know. We have a corrupt, extremist double-dealer who has spent the year trying to destroy one of the pillars of Israeli democracy so he can stay out of jail. If Benjamin Netanyahu is capable of that, then hes capable of taking actions here that draw the U.S. deeper and deeper into this conflict, especially given his rising and rampant unpopularity in Israel right now. Its understandable why Biden, publicly and for now, pairs the two situations. But I hope that privately he and his top foreign policy officials are pushing Israel hard to keep this as brief and humane as possible and when its done start talking again about a peace process. Biden has been drawing on his decades of foreign policy experience. Alas, hes going to have plenty more opportunities to do so. This article first appeared in Fighting Words, a weekly TNR newsletter authored by editor Michael Tomasky. Sign up here. The North Carolina General Assembly does the publics business in two large buildings in downtown Raleigh: the Legislative Building and the Legislative Office Building, where more than 600 state employees work in addition to the 170 state lawmakers. Unlike most state workers, the salaries of those employees dont show up in the State Personnel Salary database. The News & Observer obtained the pay levels through a public-records request to the legislature. Officials provided the salary levels as they stood on June 30, 2023, before raises provided by a new state budget that became law in October. Compared with pay from the previous year, 2021-22, legislative staff received a median increase of 3.5% in 2022-23, a raise similar to the one legislators gave most state workers in the budget for that year. About three-fourths of legislative employees received that median increase. Eighty-two employees, however, received a raise of at least 10%, including 55 who did not change positions. Twenty received a raise of more than 20%. The highest-paid state employee at the Legislative Building is the person who runs the building itself: Legislative Services Officer Paul Coble . The former Raleigh mayor and former Wake County commissioner earns $214,613 a year. Coble received a 3.5% raise from the previous year. The next highest paid state employee is Brian Fork, who is chief of staff for Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger. Fork earns $200,069. The next three highest paid employees are all division directors, followed by House Speaker Tim Moores chief of staff, Neal Inman all of whom receive salaries between $175,000 and nearly $180,000. There are 15 state employees in the legislature who earn more than $150,000 a year, including other division directors, general counsel and principal clerks. The lowest-paid state employees at the Legislative Building and Legislative Office Building are responsible for the buildings security, food, paperwork and maintenance. Many assistant sergeants-at-arms, housekeepers, food service workers, security screeners and printing and legislative clerks earn less than $40,000. This includes both full-time and part-time jobs. You can look up legislative employees salaries in the table weve provided, including their current salary and what they made in 2022. House Republicans are starting from scratch to select a new candidate for speaker after Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, was voted out of the race. At least eight people have emerged as potential candidates to lead the House immediately after a closed-door House GOP vote on whether to keep Jordan as speaker designate. Republicans are expected to meet behind closed doors on Monday evening for a candidate forum before a conference-wide election via secret anonymous ballot on Tuesday. HOUSE REPUBLICANS VOTE TO REMOVE JIM JORDAN AS SPEAKER NOMINEE Multiple candidates for House speaker emerged immediately after Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, center, ended his bid. That includes Republican Study Committee Chair Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, left, and retired Marine Corps General Rep. Jack Bergman of Michigan. Republican Study Committee Chair Kevin Hern, R-Okla., was one of the first GOP lawmakers to put his hat in the ring on Friday afternoon. "We must unify and do it fast," Hern said in a statement. "We need a different type of leader who has a proven track record of success, which is why Im running for Speaker of the House." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Retired Marine Corps General Jack Bergman, R-Mich., told Fox News Digital that he was also officially entering the race after fielding calls from "across the spectrum" of the GOP asking him to run. "I don't leave the battlefield in the middle of the fight, and I make sure that everybody on my left and right on that battlefield is coalesced as a team to win the fight," Bergman said in an interview. JORDAN VOWS TO STAY IN SPEAKER'S RACE, SUGGESTS HOUSE MAY VOTE THROUGH WEEKEND "I believe with my 40 years of experience, the highest level of leadership in the Marine Corps, my civilian experience my dedication over my life to service and our country not this country, our country is the kind of leadership that the conservative movement needs." Rep. Byron Donalds , R-Fla., who was named by GOP lawmakers on the House floor during Jordan's bid, is also running for speaker, his office told Fox News Digital. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., is also running for speaker, his office confirmed. "Under my leadership, the House will lead the charge to advance a simple objective: put the American people first, keep the safe, and make their lives easier," Donalds said in a statement. Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., is also making calls to colleagues about a run for speaker, a source familiar with his plans told Fox News Digital. Another source told Fox News Digital that another current member of leadership, GOP Conference Vice Chair Mike Johnson, R-La., is also considering a run for speaker. EFFORT TO EMPOWER INTERIM SPEAKER MCHENRY GAINS STEAM AS JORDAN MOMENTUM STALLS Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., who challenged Jordan in the House Republicans last secret ballot for speaker, is also back in the race, his spokesperson told Fox News Digital. Another lawmaker, Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, also announced his bid for speaker on Friday afternoon. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., is also considering a run for speaker, a source told Fox News Digital. Meanwhile, other lawmakers have suggested they are weighing whether to run. Republicans have until noon on Sunday to enter the race before Mondays candidate forum. Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, told reporters he was "seriously considering" a run for speaker. "We've discussed it, and we were praying about it, and a number of members have asked us to consider it," Arrington said, speaking to reporters while on the phone with his wife. Original article source: Multiple House speaker candidates emerge after failed Jordan bid as GOP plans to reconvene Monday Multiple suspects have been arrested on suspicion of attempted homicide in connection with a September shooting that occurred in Merced County, according to authorities. The Merced County Sheriffs Office said it received assistance from the Merced Police Department, Turlock Police Department, Department of Justice, Merced County Probation and Homeland Security in executing multiple search warrants Thursday morning throughout Merced County. Suspects Joseph Herrera, 33, Irvin Delacruz, 19, and Nathaniel Barrios, 19, were arrested in connection with a Sept. 23, 2023, attempted double homicide shooting that occurred in Winton. During the searches, investigators located a firearm believed to have been used in the shooting and ammunition that matched shell casings at the scene, according the sheriffs office. Authorities did not release additional details about the shooting incident. Both Herrera and Delacruz were booked into Merced County Jail on suspicion of felony attempted murder and participation in criminal street gang, according to jail records. Barrios was booked into Merced County Jail on suspicion of felony attempted murder and participation in criminal street gang, possession of ammunition by a prohibited person, illegally possessing an assault weapon and possession of a firearm, according to jail records. All three suspects remain custody. According to jail records, bond for Herrera was set at $8,000,000, bond for Barrios was set at $1,120,000 and bond for Delacruz was set at $1,000,000. The Merced County Sheriffs Office said the investigation is ongoing and additional arrests may occur. The expansive Murdaugh family estate is back on the market, just a few months after it sold for $3.9 million. However, not all 1,700 acres of it, including the kennels where lawyer Richard "Alex" Murdaugh killed his wife and younger son, is on sale. A 4-bedroom home on Moselle, the South Carolina estate where the Murdaughs lived prior to the tragedy, has gone on sale for $1.95 million. The home, which served as the primary Murdaugh residence, the Moselle Estate House, is located on only 21 acres of land, according to listing agent Crosby Land Company. A 4-bedroom home on Moselle, the South Carolina estate, where the Alex Murdaugh lived with his family, prior to the killings, has gone on sale for $1.95 million. 'Unique property' Located approximately 70 miles from Charleston, the Moselle Estate House is private and secluded, surrounded by upland open fields and a mature old growth hardwood forest, the home's listing notes. Crosby describes the listing as a "unique property" that could serve as a "a family residence or compound" or allow new buyers to engage in "equestrian pursuits, [a] hobby farm, or just a weekend retreat destination." The Moselle Estate House is located in Islandton, South Carolina and is comprised of 21 acres. The landscape consists of upland open fields and a mature old growth hardwood forest. "The 4 bedroom / 4.5 bathroom residence is a sprawling 5,275 square foot home that exudes character, charm, and high-end finishes," says Crosby in a property listing. The Moselle house, which stands out in its surrounding with a white outlook, is characterized by front and back porches. Custom built in 2011, it also boasts mahogany doors, heart pine floors, a grand staircase, a chef's kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances and granite countertops, a billiards room and custom gun cabinets. The home, which served as the primary Murdaugh residence, the Moselle Estate House, is located on only 21 acres of land, according to listing agent Crosby Land Company. Alex Murdaugh trial: Murdaugh requests new murder trial, alleges jury tampering in appeal 'No open houses' Given its history, the property is bound to attract a lot of curiosity, but the Crosby Land Company explicitly states that all potential buyers must be pre-approved for purchase before visiting the home for a showing. Broker Todd Crosby told The Daily Beast that though the house's notoriety may complicate the sale, his office is ensuring that all potential buyers are vetted pretty hard to make sure they are serious buyers and not just being nosy. I dont care what the buyers deal is with the house, Crosby told the media outlet. Murders happen in houses all the time. I just want to make sure the buyers we bring to the house can cut the check and dont just want to see the house for fun. The primary bedroom, located on the main level, is characterized by mahogany french doors leading to the covered back porch and an ensuite with a jacuzzi tub, separate shower, his and her vanities, a walk-in closet with wooden shelving, and a water closet. The 1,700 acres family estate was purchased by James A. Ayer and Jeffrey L. Godley in March, according to the Greenville News, part of the USA TODAY Network. The proceeds of the sale were divided between several parties including the Murdaugh family's surviving son, Buster, Murdaugh's younger brother John Marvin Murdaugh, and victims of a 2019 boat crash involving Paul, among others. Murdaugh trial Alex Murdaugh listens as his defense attorneys Phillip Barber, left, and Dick Harpootlian confer during his trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, South Carolina, on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. The 54-year-old attorney is standing trial on two counts of murder in the shootings of his wife and son at their Colleton County, South Carolina, home and hunting lodge on June 7, 2021. Alex Murdaugh was convicted in March of killing his wife Maggie Murdaugh and son Paul near the family dog kennels, about a quarter mile from the house on June 7, 2021. Murdaugh was convicted of two counts of murder during a six-week trial in Walterboro, South Carolina. The trial concluded on March 3, 2023, with Judge Clifton Newman sentencing him to two life sentences. However, Murdaugh's defense team petitioned for a new trial in September, alleging Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill of inappropriate communications with jurors, denying their client a fair trial. The lawyers contend Hill's communications may have helped remove jurors sympathetic Murdaugh and swayed others. The petition was approved on Tuesday. The South Carolina Court of Appeals stayed Murdaugh's murder convictions and twin life sentences, putting the outcome of that case on hold until a lower court hears Murdaugh's request for a fresh trial. Kenneth Kinsey: Murdaugh murder trial star witness Kenneth Kinsey launches private investigation service Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly Twitter, @saman_shafiq7. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Murdaugh Moselle property on sale for $1.95M: Photos of estate A murder trial has been halted and delayed for six months after a flea infestation at Hull Crown Court. The building was forced to close on Oct 10 as pest controllers dealt with the infestation and reopened on Tuesday. Barristers in the trial of six men accused of murdering Ian Staves, 44, had raised concerns about the delays. But the judge overseeing the trial has decided to discharge the jury and set a new trial date for April 22, 2024. The trial had begun on Sept 21 but defence counsel raised concerns regarding the delay as well as some jurors regarding their availability, a court spokesman said. Judge Thackray KC discharged the jury after hearing submissions, the court confirmed. The trial is expected to last seven to eight weeks. Mr Staves was found dead at his home in Cherry Lane, Wootton, Lincs, on September 12, 2022. Prosecutors alleged he had been strangled by men who planned to steal drugs from him. All six deny murder. The HM Courts and Tribunals Service said last week: We have decided to temporarily close Hull Crown Court while we urgently work to resolve the issue. Any hearings impacted will be rescheduled at the earliest opportunity. Enquiries relating to suspected flea infestations have been up 47 per cent this year, according to data from Rentokil Pest control. Experts believe the unusual weather this year could be the reason, with heavy rain and hot sunshine mixed with the onset of chillier nights, creating the perfect conditions for the parasites. Paul Blackhurst, head of technical academy at Rentokil Pest Control, said: Fleas are a common household pest, particularly for those with pets. Prevention of fleas is difficult as they usually enter properties on a pet, and then can quickly find refuge in carpets and bedding. They are able to jump long distances and move between pets and property with ease. There are 62 species of flea in the UK, each with different habits, which can make treating them difficult. They thrive in warm conditions, but their eggs can remain dormant for up to two years in colder temperatures and the larvae will emerge when the conditions are right. 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. SAN DIEGO San Diego police have finally identified the victim in a homicide case that had been considered cold for nearly 50 years. Using DNA profiling technology, investigators were able to identify the Jane Doe in a 1973 homicide as Arminda Grangela Rodrigues de Ribeiro. She would have been 29 years old, SDPD Lt. Jud Campbell said. Ribeiros body was discovered around 11:20 a.m. on June 13, 1973. According to Campbell, fisherman found the body of a then-unidentified woman in the San Diego Bay between Laurel Street and the U.S. Coast Guard Station. Police said she had been dismembered and placed into an orange suitcase, as well as several plastic bags. For decades following her discovery, the woman had remained unidentified, but Campbell said local investigators continued to devote efforts towards solving the case. In 2020, police again looked to positively identify the victim, this time though DNA. Her remains were exhumed by the San Diego County Medical Examiners office for their efforts. Police activity prompts closure on State Route 94 in La Mesa With the financial assistance of the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, Othram a private, forensic biotechnology company was able to develop a DNA profile. The profile led to Ribeiros identification, Campbell said. Investigators learned that Ribeiro was born in Portugal. According to SDPD, her family emigrated to the Ironbound neighborhood in Newark, NJ, which has a large Portuguese community. Ribeiro was also married and had two children. She still has family living in the Newark area, Campbell added. At the time of her disappearance, investigators say she worked at a trailer fabrication company in Newark. It is still unknown what connection Ribeiro may have had to San Diego. Police are seeking assistance in identifying the company Ribeiro worked for in Newark, any potential connections she had to San Diego, or any other information that might help investigators determine what happened to her. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Homicide Unit at 619-531-2293 or to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. People looking at paintings by artists inspired by Pokemon at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam on September 28, 2023. REMKO DE WAAL The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam stopped handing out Van Gogh-inspired Pokemon cards. The limited-edition Pikachu cards were to be given out to people who completed a scavenger hunt. But the museum said people swarmed the gift shop, creating an undesirable situation. An art museum in Amsterdam said it stopped handing out Pokemon cards inspired by Vincent Van Gogh after fans created a frenzy in the gift store to get them. The Van Gogh Museum said it made the "difficult decision" to stop selling the coveted cards after a "small group of individuals" swarmed the gift shop, creating what the museum described as an "undesirable situation." The limited-edition cards depicted Pikachu, the popular mascot of the Pokemon universe, wearing a felt hat and painted in the style of Van Gogh's 1887 painting "Self-Portrait With Grey Felt Hat," according to the museum's website. Pikachu card inspired by Vincent Van Gogh's 'Self-Portrait with Grey Felt Hat' painting 2023 Pokemon / Nintendo / Creatures / GAME FREAK / Vincent van Gogh Foundation The Van Gogh Museum and The Pokemon Company International said they collaborated to create the cards to celebrate the museum's 50th anniversary, and to recognize the connection between Van Gogh and Japanese art and culture. Ticket holders had to complete a scavenger hunt, passing by Van Gogh masterpieces and Pokemon-inspired artworks, to get one of the cards, per the museum's website. Each hunter who finished the scavenger hunt was given a card. But the event went out of control upon its launch on September 28, when dozens of fans were seen tussling and flooding the gift shop, a video shows . Following the launch event, the Pokemon Company issued an apology in a post on X , saying that due to "overwhelming" demand all products from the collection had sold out. Fans took to X to criticize the company and the museum for how they handled the situation, pointing to the lack of products and planning. The museum said it and the Pokemon Company "take the safety and security of visitors and staff very seriously". The Van Gogh Museum is not the first establishment to have fallen victim to Pokemon's popularity. Target temporarily stopped selling Pokemon cards in 2021, citing the safety of its customers and personnel, according to NBC News. The Pokemon x Van Gogh collaboration was announced in mid-September in a video posted to the official Pokemon YouTube channel . In the video, two of the most well-known Pokemon characters, Pikachu and Eevee, are seen sprinting across a sunflower field in a Van Gogh-like mountain scene flanked by haystacks and windmills. The background then morphs into Van Gogh's distinctive heavy brushstrokes, and the sunflowers come to life and begin jumping about happily with smiles on their faces. The video ends with a smiling sunflower in the center of Van Gogh's iconic "Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers" painting. Read the original article on Insider A Muslim civil rights group is moving its annual banquet from its previously planned location in Virginia, citing bomb threats and death threats against the hotel where it planned to hold the event Saturday. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) was supposed to hold its 29th annual banquet this weekend at a Marriott Hotel in Arlington. CAIR had used the hotel for more than a decade. In recent days, according to the Marriott, anonymous callers have threatened to plant bombs in the hotels parking garage, kill specific hotel staff in their homes, and storm the hotel in a repeat of the Jan. 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol if the events moved forward, CAIR said in a statement. When CAIR updated the events programming to focus on Palestinian human rights, it says the threats followed. CAIR is currently conducting an online campaign to urge members of Congress to support a cease-fire in Gaza as the Israel-Hamas war enters its second week. We strongly condemn the extreme and disgusting threats against our organization, the Marriott hotel and its staff, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said in a statement. We will not allow the threats of anti-Palestinian racists and anti-Muslim bigots who seek to dehumanize the Palestinian people and silence American Muslims to stop us from pursuing justice for all. Israel is expected to conduct a ground invasion into Gaza soon, which has raised concerns amid the already dire conditions faced by those in the territory. In an email sent to The Hill, the Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) noted recent reports of threats at the hotel where the banquet was to take place. At approximately 11:15 a.m. on October 19, police were dispatched to the report of a threat. Upon arrival, the Crystal Gateway Marriott reported receiving anonymous phone calls, some referencing threats to bomb, regarding an event scheduled on October 21, 2023, the ACPD said. The incident was documented and the investigation is ongoing. In their own emailed statement, the FBI Washington Field Office said it can neither confirm nor deny the existence of an investigation[.] [H]owever, as the Israel-HAMAS conflict continues, the FBI has seen an increase in reports of threats against Jewish, Muslim, and Arab communities and institutions, the statement continued. We take all potential threats seriously and work to determine their credibility, share information with our partners, and take investigative action as appropriate. As always, we encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement. Updated at 2:34 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. One of the few Muslim members of Congress told NBC News she feels her life may be in danger after being inundated with threats since a terror attack sparked the war in Gaza, reflecting wider fears among Muslim Americans who feel they are being targeted to a degree unseen since the days after 9/11. Rep. Ilhan Omar , D-Minn., whose family fled Somalias civil war before emigrating to the United States, unequivocally condemned the Hamas attack, but her longstanding criticism of Israel policy toward Palestinians and Washingtons support for the country has made her a lightning rod. The U.S. Capitol Police and the House Sergeant at Arms briefed Omar and other progressive lawmakers critical of Israel including the only other Muslim woman in Congress, Rep. Rashida Tlaib , D-Mich., who is Palestinian American over potential threats last week, according to a Democratic aide familiar with the meeting. Voicemails shared with NBC News include profanity-laced death threats calling Omar a terrorist Muslim. Another claimed a vigilante group spying on the congresswoman and your children had obtained all your addresses and handed them out to rapists. Im from a militant group, the male caller of a third voicemail claimed. I cant wait till our group sees you one day and I can rip your f------ rag off your head... I hope the Israelis kill every f------ one of you. In a statement, Omar said she and other Muslim Americans have been victims of a dishonest smear that equates criticism of Israels treatment of Palestinians with support for Hamas, which has created an environment where threats proliferate. It directly endangered my life and that of my family, as well as subjected my staff to traumatic verbal abuse simply for doing their jobs, Omar said. More importantly, it threatens the millions of American Muslims. This toxic language and imagery has real-world consequences, Omar continued. House Republican leaders stay silent as their party unleashes these toxic attacks and refuse to hold extremists in their ranks accountable. Since assuming office, two men have pleaded guilty to threatening to kill me. This is very real. I fear for my children and have to speak to them about remaining vigilant because you just never know. Omar, Tlaib and other members of the Squad of progressive lawmakers have long been targets of conservative media, and they were frequently singled out by former President Donald Trump. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., has called them the Jihad squad, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene , R-Ga., dubbed them the Hamas caucus, and the official campaign arm of House Republicans has labeled the pair Hamas spox, Washington slang for spokesperson. They have also faced official criticism from their own party and Jewish leaders. The White House called other Squad members initial response to the Hamas attack repugnant, while Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said Wednesday that it was truly disturbing that members of Congress would take the word of Hamas over Israel after Tlaib repeated claims that Israel bombed a Gaza hospital. (U.S. officials believe it was a misfired Palestinian rocket, but questions remain.) Tlaib is now facing a censure motion from Republicans over the comments. The security briefing last Thursday afternoon, organized in part by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, also included Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , D-N.Y., Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., Cori Bush, D-Mo., Barbara Lee, D-Calif., Sheila Jackson Lee , D-Texas, Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., and Delia Ramirez, D-Ill. Due to persistent threats, several of those members have long been assigned security details, which is highly unusual for members of Congress outside top leadership roles. But Omars office said the threats in the past 10 days have been worse than ever. In one voicemail left for her office, a male caller says, I wish that someone would kill you and put you in hell. Another male caller says she should drop dead for supporting f------ terrorists. You work for this country, the caller continues. Pull your f------ head out of your f------ turban-wearing ass, and f------ see the light of day, you dumbass f------ terrorist-supporting f------ piece of s---. The caller who claimed Omar was being spied on also said the group targeting her had hacked into all of her accounts and was allegedly preparing to poison her and her family. Allegations are theyre going to kill you and we get to watch on the internet, the caller said. I pray that they f------ have justice on all you traitors. The Capitol Police said it does not comment on specific threats, but confirmed that it has been enhancing security throughout the Capitol complex and said it is working around the clock to coordinate with our law enforcement and intelligence partners across the country to keep everyone safe. Last summer, a Florida man was sentenced to three years probation and a $7,000 fine over a threat emailed to Omar, Tlaib, Ocasio-Cortez and Pressley. And in 2020, a New York man was sentenced to a year in prison over threatening phone calls made to Omar. The offices of several Jewish members of Congress either did not respond to requests for information about threats or said they had not seen a notable spike. Meanwhile, watchdogs have tracked a surge in the number of incidents targeting Muslim and Jewish Americans seemingly motivated by the conflict in the Middle East. The danger feels especially real to Muslims after a 6-year-old Palestinian American boy outside Chicago was killed in what authorities say was a hate crime. According to court documents, the boys landlord allegedly stabbed the boy 26 times after expressing hatred of Muslims and anger over the Hamas attack. We are undoubtedly seeing a spike in incoming threats and hate to the community, said Corey Saylor, the research director at the Center for American-Islamic Relations, the countrys largest Muslim advocacy group, who said the group had been so busy responding to incidents that it hadnt had a chance to tally numbers yet. In addition to some isolated acts of violence and threats, like an Oregon mosque receiving the message DIE MUSLIMS DIE!, Saylor said he has been particularly concerned about attempts to intimidate students who have criticized Israel and spoken out about Palestinian causes. For instance, a mobile billboard circled Harvard Square last week displaying the names and faces of students involved in a controversial statement blaming Israel for creating the conditions that led to the attack, while Google was forced to remove an anonymously created document that included their names and personal identifying information in what Saylor called a mass doxxing. Meanwhile, Jewish organizations have also stepped up their security in response to growing threats. Oren Segal, who runs the Center on Extremism at the Anti-Defamation League, said his group has tracked at least 141 antisemitic incidents (such as vandalism, harassment or assaults) in the 10 days between Oct. 7 and 17, which represents a 48% increase over that same period last year. ADL researchers also found a 400% surge in non-specific threats about killing Jews, Zionists or Israelis on the social media platform Telegram, an online space that has incubated hatred and animated real-world activity in the past, according to Segal. Antisemitism has already been on the rise for several years, with FBI crime data released this week showing that anti-Jewish hate crimes rose 37% from 2021 to 2022, reaching the highest level in decades. In a time where a lot of the public narrative is focused on divisions between our communities, we need to be allies for everyone who is targeted by hatred, Segal said of Jewish and Muslim communities. Those hatreds are often combined not only in the minds of extremists, but those who want to divide our community. CORRECTION (Oct. 20, 2023, 5:18 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated Marjorie Taylor Greenes party affiliation. Shes a Republican, not a Democrat. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Yemenis gather during a pro-Palestinian protest to express solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Sanaa Yemenis gather during a pro-Palestinian protest to express solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Sanaa By Suleiman Al-Khalidi and Nafisa Eltahir AMMAN/CAIRO (Reuters) - Protesters from Jakarta to Tunis on Friday demanded an end to Israel's bombardment of Gaza after nearly two weeks of intense air and artillery strikes that authorities there say have killed 4,100 people. Israel is gearing up for a ground war in the tiny, crowded Palestinian enclave aimed at eradicating Hamas, the militant Islamist group that rampaged into Israeli towns on Oct. 7, killing 1,400 people and seizing hostages. While some Western governments have voiced support for Israel's military campaign, many Muslim states have called for an immediate ceasefire, with many of their people angry at conditions in Gaza and expressing solidarity with Palestinians. Protests suddenly erupted across much of the region late on Tuesday after Gaza authorities said hundreds of people had been killed in a blast at a hospital. Hamas said an Israeli airstrike was responsible. Israel blamed a failed rocket launch by a Palestinian group. In Jordan, which made peace with Israel in 1994, but where much of the population has Palestinian heritage, more than 6,000 protesters marched in the centre of the capital while thousands more rallied near the Israeli embassy. Protesters voiced support for Hamas, urging it to attack Israel with rocket strikes and suicide bombings, and addressing the Palestinian group with the chant: "We are your army." Thousands of demonstrators also gathered in each of Turkey and Egypt, two other countries that have long had full diplomatic relations with Israel, demanding an end to the bombing. About 2,000 people gathered in front of Istanbul's Beyazit Mosque, burning an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and waved Palestinian flags. Some held placards reading: "Stop the genocide" and "Terrorist Israel". In Egypt, thousands of protesters stood at the al-Azhar mosque, one of the oldest in the world, chanting "Where is the Arab army?", while others gathered at the central Tahrir Square. Some demanded military action against Israel, others said Arab states should consider using other methods to stop the bombardment of Gaza. Egypt borders Gaza but has not been able to negotiate an opening of its crossing to allow in aid. "Palestine is the only country that unites our voices. If the Gulf countries do not send aid, at least they should stop sending oil and gas. That's the least they should do," said protester Mohammed Gomaa in Cairo. BURNING FLAGS AND EFFIGIES In Morocco, where the government agreed in 2020 to normalise ties with Israel in return for U.S. recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed territory of Western Sahara, Islamists and leftists said they would hold a sit-in later on Friday. Hundreds of people marched in central Tunis, a smaller protest than ones that have rallied there against Israel's Gaza campaign in recent days. Others demonstrated in front of the U.S. embassy. "The real terrorism is Israel and America, which supports it," said Souhail Ben Nasser, a protester in the Tunis crowd. In southeast Asia hundreds of people gathered to protest near the U.S. embassies in each of the Indonesian and Malaysian capitals, burning Israeli flags and stamping on pictures of Netanyahu and U.S. President Joe Biden. "Today we gather here with the same intention to condemn the criminal act by Israel," said Qilla Marisa, a protester in Kuala Lumpur. Muslims in India staged smaller protests in Jaipur and Mumbai, holding up placards reading "Free Palestine". Israel's biggest regional foe Iran, and allied groups around the region, also held state-sanctioned protests. In Iraq, Shi'ite militias backed by Tehran mobilised hundreds of supporters in Baghdad near the bridge leading to the fortified Green Zone where the U.S. embassy is located. On Iraq's border with Jordan, hundreds of supporters of Iran-backed paramilitary groups staged a sit-in to voice support for Gaza, brought in by bus. "We are going to support our people in Palestine," said one of them, 26-year-old Hussein Samir. (This story has been corrected to show that much of Jordanian population is of Palestinian heritage, not that it holds Palestinian citizenship, in paragraph 5) (Reporting by Suleiman al-Khalidi in Amman, Nafisa Eltahir in Cairo, Amina Ismail in Baghdad, Tarek Amara in Tunis, Ali Kucukgocmen and Bulent Usta in Istanbul, and Ahmed Eljechtimi in Rabat; Writing by Angus McDowall; Editing by Daniel Wallis) By Jove Since it arrived at Jupiter's orbit in 2016, NASA's Juno probe has been gathering rich images and data from the largest planet in our Solar System and its many moons. Add to that cache some awesome, just-released pictures of Io, the most volcanically active object in our star system. Juno made a flyby of the Jovian moon on October 15 and captured images of Io with its JunoCam camera from as close as just 7,260 miles from the moon's surface. These new pictures yielded increased pictorial details of Io's north pole, which has non-volcanic mountains that can reach as high as 20,000 feet. By comparison, Earth's highest point above sea level, Mount Everest, measures at more than 29,000 feet. In addition, the satellite took images of Io's fiery surface, which is pockmarked with hundreds of volcanoes and flowing fields of lava. In fact, the satellite even captured two active volcano plumes a spectacular find for Juno, which first launched back in 2011. NASA considers these images the best depiction of Io in more than 20 years, since the space agency's Galileo satellite beamed the first close-up images of Io back to Earth. https://twitter.com/NASASolarSystem/status/1714296929189052852 Fiery Realm Io is the fifth farthest moon from Jupiter and is a tad larger than our own moon, according to NASA. The piebald, scarred world is caught between the strong gravitational pull of Jupiter and fellow moons Europa and Ganymede, resulting in a fiery interior and hence the many volcanoes we see on its surface. We'll get to see more of Io in the future when Juno makes another flyby of the moon this December and February of next year, according to NASA. "Io is the most volcanic celestial body that we know of in our solar system, said Scott Bolton, Associate Vice President of the Southwest Research Institutes Science and Engineering Division in San Antonio and Juno's principal investigator, in a statement earlier this year. "By observing it over time on multiple passes, we can watch how the volcanoes vary how often they erupt, how bright and hot they are, whether they are linked to a group or solo, and if the shape of the lava flow changes." More on Juno: NASAs Juno Probe Creates Stunning Map of Jupiters Largest Moon Melanie Campbell recalled when her mother was instrumental in teaching Black history in Florida classrooms. But with recent changes to how Black history is taught in Florida, Campbell said it has become even more important to engage voters on issues affecting them. Its why she and other organizers of a gathering that started in Fort Lauderdale and ended in Opa-locka on Friday are working to energize Black voters ahead of primaries and the 2024 presidential election. She along with others would do Black history programs in the churches, Campbell said of her mom who taught in Brevard County Public Schools in the 1970s. Melanie L. Campbell, President & CEO, NCBCP, National Convener, Black Womens Roundtable, speaks during a press conference and national campaign stop in Fort Lauderdale as part of a National and Statewide effort to mobilize millions of Black voters against the attacks on affirmative action, public education, Black History, and voting rights in Florida. The press conference was held at Smittys Wings Sistrunk in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, October 20, 2023. Thats really where it started. As a teacher, she helped organize to put Black history in the public school systems, Campbell said. Inside Smittys Wings Sistrunk a Black-owned restaurant in Fort Lauderdale that has a back wall adorned with photos of local and national Black political figures, business owners and civil rights activists Campbell was one of several speakers during a press conference held by the National Coalition of Black Civic Participation and The Power of the Ballot Action Fund to increase Black voter turnout in Florida. RELATED: Teachers enraged that Floridas new Black history standards say slaves could benefit Dr. Cynthia M. Clarke, speaks during a round table discussion as part of a National and Statewide effort to mobilize millions of Black voters against the attacks on affirmative action, public education, Black History, and voting rights in Florida. The event was held at Florida Memorial University, Omega Activity Center in Opa-Locka, Florida on Friday, October 20, 2023. In the We Wont Be Erased: Vote in 2024 national campaign, the groups are in partnership with the Florida Coalition on Black Civic Participation among a growing list of other organizations hoping to engage Black voters ahead of primaries and the 2024 presidential election and increase turnout. Its about getting to folks early, Campbell said. Politics is very local, but it is also for folks to understand that its an attack on our democracy as a country. Fort Lauderdale was the third stop along the groups trek through the state. Another stop came later in the day at Florida Memorial University in Opa-locka for a panel discussion on key issues affecting voters. Part of the groups targeted campaign includes translating voting literature into Spanish and Haitian Creole for immigrant residents, holding roundtable discussions on college campuses, and educating voters on local elections, among other strategies. The groups monthlong visit to the state comes after the Florida Department of Education changed its standards for instruction about Black history, which critics said diluted Black history and were inaccurate such as middle-school standards that would require instruction to include how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit. Our legislators are more concerned about the books that children are reading instead of the houses they are living in and the fact that they cant afford to live in them or are homeless, said Cassandra Brown, chair and co-founder of All About the Ballot, referring to recent efforts to ban books in Florida public schools. RELATED: Book bans are growing in South Florida schools. Youve probably read some of these books Increasing voter turnout will be a key challenge. Monica Elliott, co-president of the League of Women Voters in Broward County, said last year, less than 50% of registered voters in Broward County came out to vote, and the county saw a 20% drop in voter turnout between 2022 and 2018, the last midterm elections. Part of that is people are so fed up with whats happening at the top of the ticket, at the presidential and gubernatorial level, she said at the press conference. We want people to start thinking about the bottom of the ballot. It is your local people. Salandra Benton, executive director of the Florida Coalition on Black Civic Participation, said in Black communities, people tend to vote on the issues and not necessarily the candidate. Those are the things that we keep hearing on college campuses, when we knock on doors and in communities, she said, adding many are dissuaded by candidates who dont deliver on promises. The groups plan to target their efforts at southern and swing states next summer with activism and voter education and focus on aggressively mobilizing voters for the general election. This is not a one-off. This is a movement, Campbell said. Were not going to be erased as a people. We are America, our Black history is American history. A North Carolina Democratic official has filed a complaint with party leadership saying three members used hate speech and made Islamophobic statements about him when he announced a run for a state officer spot. Since 2020, Nazim Uddin, a member of the Asian-American Pacific Islander Caucus within the North Carolina Democratic Party, has authored many resolutions in support of Palestinian human rights. They are resolutions that mostly have been approved by party leadership, according to State Executive Committee meeting minutes. Uddin, a Charlotte resident, is Bangladeshi-American. Now some party members are calling some of his resolutions antisemitic and have accused Uddin of the same. A divide is brewing within Democratic party ranks over antisemitism versus Palestinian human rights. Tensions among members appear heightened since war erupted between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas after it attacked the Jewish state Oct. 7 along the Gaza border. After more than a week of airstrikes and violence, some 1,400 soldiers and civilians have been killed, and hostages taken. Uddin filed a complaint in March against party members Matt Sadinsky, Paula Wolf and Stephen Coen, whom he says used defamatory and Islamophobic language. Those comments allegedly came as they urged other party members not to vote for Uddin for second vice chairman, based in part on the resolutions he authored. Uddin said Sadinsky, who heads the partys new Jewish Caucus, used incendiary language and racial tropes against him, including calling him Nazi-em and saying that he was an Iranian spy. Sadinsky, in an interview with The Charlotte Observer, denied saying those things. Uddin says he has a recording of them from a January phone conversation Sadinsky had with Progressive Caucus leader Ryan Jenkins. Sadinsky, the former head of the State Executive Committee Board, said while he recalls that conversation with Jenkins, he denies calling Uddin any names. Sadinsky said hes concerned about the resolutions Uddin authored and what they mean for Jewish Democrats. Uddin says he has been waiting several months for a mediation hearing to resolve his complaint, a delay that prompted him to share the recording with The Observer recently. I have lost faith in the (Council of Review) process which has yet to enter into mediation, Uddin said in an email Sunday. We simply cannot be a party that turns a blind eye to blatant racism, bigotry and Islamophobia. We simply cannot achieve unity if this is left unaddressed. Do we have a safe space to be active within the party without facing this sort of discrimination and bigotry? NCDP Chairwoman Anderson Clayton said the party is taking Uddins complaint seriously and giving it due diligence. In the Democratic Party, all are welcome. We are a big tent party and we do not condone any hateful or harassing language or behavior towards anyone based on their religious or cultural beliefs, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, etc., she said in an email shared with the Observer via a NCDP spokesman. That is not who we are nor will it ever be. Its not clear when a mediation session would be scheduled. In June, party leaders passed another broader set of resolutions supporting Palestinian and Israeli rights and diplomatic engagement, not proposed by Uddin, according to a Platform and Resolution Committee Report shared during a June State Executive Committee meeting. The party platform aligns with the values the state Democrats stand for, while resolutions are acknowledgments of current events, thanking party leaders or encouraging elected officials to tackle specific issues, NCDP spokesman Tommy Mattocks said in an email to The Observer. Charlotte area DNC delegate Nazim Uddin, a Muslim man born in Bangladesh, says he preferred Bernie Sanders progressive agenda but will back Joe Biden. What led to the complaint? In January, Uddin announced on social media his intent to run for second vice chairman, one of seven state officers for the NCDP. These officers are elected by the State Executive Committee and other governing members. Uddin felt it was important to run because the party needs reform and must reflect the voice of the grassroots, he shared in his post. But his announcement drew negative comments. According to the complaint, Coen stated he could not support Uddin for any office in the NCDP, citing that Uddin supports movements such as the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) that support Hamas, which the U.S. designated as a foreign terrorist organization in 1997. Reached by the Observer on Thursday, Coen said he did not call Uddin antisemitic. Meanwhile, Uddin says Wolf texted defamatory statements to other party members, saying Uddin authored antisemitic resolutions that have plagued the party for years, and urged members not to vote for him, according to a screen grab of the text message shared in the complaint. Wolf has not responded to the Observers requests for comment. In January, while organizing the soon-to-be formed Jewish Caucus, Sadinsky reached out to Jenkins to invite him to the Jewish Caucus Convention, which took place last week. During the conversation, Sadinsky said he asked which political issues Jenkins supported, such as gun control, immigration reform and his sentiments on redistricting legislation. Then finally I asked him, why is he supporting these anti-Israeli resolutions, Sadinsky told the Observer, alluding to the resolutions Uddin authored. I support the good work of all Democrats of all religions to unite against our common enemy here, Sadinsky added. And then I hope that the Democrats who are of the Muslim religion will support the Democratic state of Israel. Its the only democracy in the Middle East. Sadinsky also says its crucial to have a safe place for Jewish voices in North Carolinas Democratic Party. Sadinsky said he takes resolutions that Uddin authored basically as ... a threat. He made a threat that said, Israel will never be secure until theres no apartheid state of Israel. Jenkins says he already had his video recording feature running from a previous call when he spoke with Sadinsky. When he heard Sadinsky refer to Uddin as Nazi-em, he decided to share the recording with Uddin, who filed a complaint then months later, Uddin shared it with Observer journalists. A recording of a phone call purportedly between Sadinsky and Jenkins includes the following statement: He is a Nazi, and I dont mean to sound racist, but it wouldnt surprise me if he were an Iranian spy sent to undermine American democracy. The Observer could not independently verify the recording but Jenkins, in an interview, said he recorded Sadinksy and that the comments were about Uddin. Neither Uddin nor Jenkins would provide a recording of the call beyond the snippet quoted. Jenkins said Uddin is not antisemitic. He does feel there is a deep seated racism against black and brown people in the Democratic Party that is kind of being swept under the rug, Jenkins said. (Uddin) does feel strongly about that Palestinians are human beings and should have human rights, Jenkins said. If that makes someone antisemitic, then every decent human being is. Anderson Clayton, the Chairperson of the North Carolina Democratic Party, speaks to the crowd during a rally at the Mecklenburg County Democratic Party office on Sunday, April 16, 2023. Looking for the same peace: a safe space Uddin, 46, is a practicing Muslim who moved to Charlotte in 2013 and lives here with his wife and dog. Following Donald Trumps election, he decided to become more active with the party, attending his first precinct meeting in 2017. (There are) a lot of young Muslim Americans who are becoming more engaged. I feel like the Democratic Party is our home, Uddin said, adding that he believes Republican Party ideals condone or promote racism and Islamophobia. I felt a need to become engaged in the political process. And unfortunately, you know, some of those very similar rhetoric exists within the (Democratic) party, and and its taking forever for the party to sort of address this internally. The Council of Review panel has 10 days to respond to a complaint and schedule mediation, according to the NCDP organization plan. After that, the NCDP executive director has 15 days to mediate a resolution or it goes back for review. It made me feel like the party was doing some ignoring it, bowing down to the Jewish Caucus. They dont want to be held to the same rules or standards as anyone else, Jenkins said. Sadinsky, who is a life long Democrat, believes this party is the best place for Jewish Americans. In 2016, when Trump won the presidency, he called a party leader and stressed they needed to be united and organized against Trump who will derail and obscure American democracy, he said. Sadinsky ran for the NC Democrats State Executive Committee in 2018 and 2020, winning both times. In 2022, he moved to Catawba County and resigned from his position, but continued to build toward establishing a Jewish Caucus within the party. Sadinsky also served as a delegate for Joe Biden when he was nominated in 2020. I am a firm believer that we need to fight and save our democracy now, more than ever before, Sadinsky said. The Russian Federation has already lost more than 290,000 of its soldiers in Ukraine A staggering 1380 Russian troops have been eliminated in Ukraine over the past 24 hours, along with 55 tanks and 122 armored combat vehicles. The new death toll, one of the highest recorded on a daily basis since the full-scale invasion began, means 292,000 Russian military personnel have been eliminated since the start of the full-scale invasion. Read also: Grueling battle for Avdiivka According to Ukraines General Staff, total Russian losses as of Oct. 20 are now as follows: Personnel: 292,060 (+1380), Tanks: 5,047 (+55), Armored combat vehicles: 9,557 (+122), Artillery Systems: 7,012 (+29), Multiple Launch Rocket Systems: 822 (+4), Anti-Aircraft Missile Systems: 548 (+0), Aircraft: 320 (+0), Helicopters: 324 (+0), Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs): 5,326 (+8), Cruise Missiles: 1,535 (+1), Ships / Boats: 20 (+0), Submarines: 1 (+0) Automotive equipment and tanks: 9,370 (+33), Specialized Equipment: 985 (+0). Earlier, the Russian media outlet Vazhnye Istorii, together with the Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT), published a study on losses among mobilized Russian soldiers in Ukraine. Read also: How Ukraine used its first ATACMS against Russian air power Within a year of "partial mobilization" in Russia, thousands of mobilized soldiers were killed in the war against Ukraine and nearly one in five survived less than two months after being drafted. 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 Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen is facing backlash after he dismissed a critical investigative news report about environmental issues at his hog farming company by saying the reporter who wrote the article was from Communist China. Yanqi Xu, a 27-year-old reporter for Nebraskas nonprofit news outlet The Flatwater Free Press, wrote an article in September that stated high levels of nitrate were detected on hog farms owned by the Republican governor. Xus investigative report revealed 16 Pillen hog farms recorded nitrate levels higher than 50 parts per million, which is five times higher than what the federal government considers safe to drink. Yanqi Xu, a journalist for the Flatwater Free Press, said she was "shocked" when Nebraska's governor dismissed her reporting by commenting on her nationality. - courtesy Joseph Saaid/Nebraska Journalism Trust The high nitrate can seep into groundwater, so we wanted to ask the governor about whats the source of this, Xu told CNN. We were really trying to get the governor to say something about how he plans to address the growing nitrate issue in Nebraska. Xu told CNN the governor did not respond to multiple requests for comment but the story did include a statement from Sarah Pillen, the governors daughter and CEO of Pillen Family Farms, who said the company always placed a strong commitment on being positive environmental stewards of the land. Pillen also said the company had a 17-member team working to protect Nebraskas groundwater and ensure nutrient management. Just four days after Xus story was published, Gov. Pillen was asked to comment on her report during an interview with KFAB, an Omaha radio station. Number one, I didnt read it, and I wont, Pillen responded. Number two, all youve got to do is look at the author, authors from Communist China what more do you need to know? CNN has reached out to the governors office for comment. When asked how she reacted to the governors comments, Xu, who was born and raised in China, said I was pretty surprised that he didnt really address the facts in the story, but he commented on my background and where Im from. Id say that I was pretty shocked and surprised. Xu first came to the US in 2017 to obtain her masters degree in journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Xu told Poynter in a January 2023 article she was unable to travel home to China during the Covid-19 pandemic. With her visa expiring, Xu began studying for a second masters degree in data analytics, according to Poynter. After completing her degree, she applied for an Alien of Extraordinary Ability visa so she could work in the US for three additional years, Poynter said. Ive lived in Nebraska for two years, Xu told CNN. Ive been here for this job because I really believe in Flatwaters mission to tell important stories about Nebraska Im very grateful for my editor and boss to trust me with my reporting. Xu said before the article was published she spent more than a year reporting about rising levels of nitrate around the state and she felt this was an important story to tell. Nebraska relies a lot on groundwater, Xu told CNN, adding hog waste contains a lot of nitrogen that can be converted to nitrate, which is a chemical thats colorless and odorless and very soluble in water that can pose risks to our drinking water. Xu said it was a hard decision to speak up after she heard the comments the governor made, but she felt it was necessary because shes not the only woman of color in her newsroom and Nebraskans and other people deserved to know. The Flatwater Free Press responded to Pillens comments this week. Matt Wynn, executive director of the Nebraska Journalism Trust, which launched and finances the Flatwater Free Press, said in a statement Tuesday that Xu noted Pillens comments were the first time anyone has written her off based on her origin. As an employer, that infuriates me, Wynn said in the statement. As a believer in democracy and a free press, it saddens me. Wynn described Xu as a courageous and remarkable reporter with an impressive record of stories. He said Pillen did not respond to requests for an apology. This week, I also offered Pillen the opportunity to apologize for his words, calling his office and emailing his staff. He has yet to respond, Wynn wrote. He also noted the Free Press took its time before responding to the governors comments because it needed to consult with immigration attorneys to avoid putting Xu at risk by defending her publicly. The Asian American Journalists Association issued a statement Wednesday showing its support for Xu, saying the reporter deserves to do her job without being judged because of her nationality. We are committed to supporting diverse journalists who are working to hold governments and elected officials accountable, and we denounce statements that may fuel xenophobia or prejudice, AAJA said in its statement. Xu told CNN she had not planned to be part of a news story and still hopes people can focus on her reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Two nonprofits charged with administering Central Floridas foster care system were negligent in their oversight, resulting in the sexual abuse of two girls placed in a Sanford home with a man who last year pleaded guilty to charges that he molested and covertly took video recordings of the school-age children as they changed in their bedrooms, a lawsuit alleges. The suit, filed earlier this year in Seminole County, says Embrace Families and the Childrens Home Society of Florida failed to intervene when a Sanford foster dad secretly recorded the girls, then ages 6 and 9, in their bedrooms and bathrooms and touched their genitals while they were in his care in late 2021 and early 2022. Its one of two suits filed earlier this year claiming that Embrace Families, which oversees foster care in Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties, was negligent in placing children in homes where they faced sexual abuse. The Sanford man, Justin Dwayne Johnson Sr., pleaded guilty last year to federal charges of producing and possessing sexually explicit images of children. Investigators discovered evidence on his phone and other devices that he filmed and inappropriately touched several young children in his care, including a baby who was just a few days old, starting in early 2017. Unfortunately, the mental, physical and sexual abuse that occurred inside his foster home could have been prevented by the defendants if they simply observed the tell-tale signs of abuse occurring inside the foster home, according to the suit, filed by West Palm Beach-based attorney Adam Hecht, who is representing the girls mother. Embrace Families oversees foster care and related services for roughly 3,000 children through a contract with the Department of Children and Families, and works with other entities like the Childrens Home Society of Florida, which is also named in the Seminole suit. Embrace Families also was the target of another suit earlier this year alleging abuse of foster children by an adult living in their Orange County home. Maureen Brockman, a spokeswoman for Embrace Families, declined to comment on the details of these cases, citing state laws intended to prevent public disclosure of information about children in foster care. While we are bound by law to protect the privacy of children and families in our system of care, you can be assured of this: The safety of the children is our top priority, Brockman wrote in an email to the Sentinel. A spokeswoman for the Childrens Home Society declined to comment. Embrace Families also recently came under fire for a financial audit ordered by the Department of Children and Families, which alleged the organization had double-billed the state after it and two other related nonprofits received $2.4 million in federal Paycheck Protection Program loans in 2020. The nonprofits interim chief operating officer said last month that the organizations leaders thought they could use the state money allocated for salaries, which were covered by the later-forgiven PPP loans, for other expenses. DCF ordered Embrace Families to pay back approximately $523,342, which organization leaders say they have already done. The nonprofit, which receives most of its money from the state, was warned it could lose its contract with the states child welfare agency if it did not correct the problems described in the audit. The report did not allege Embrace Families had failed to properly oversee Central Floridas foster care system. But a pair of suits filed earlier this year claim Embrace Families and two other entities it works with were negligent. The suits were filed last March, just days before Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law a slew of new limits on litigation that included shortening the statute of limitations from four years to two years in negligence cases. In addition to the Seminole case, Embrace is named in a second lawsuit in Orange County, which alleges three foster children were abused by the brother of a foster parent who was living in the home. Its not clear whether the brother, who is not named in the complaint, was charged criminally, if foster care organizations knew he was living in the home, or if he had passed a background check. But the suit claims Embrace Family and a second organization, One Hope United, were negligent in placing the children and overseeing their care in the home, where they were subjected to abuse. The foster mothers brother touched the three children, who were all younger than about 10 years old, on their butts and nipples, the suit alleges. One of the children suffered disfiguring injuries on his face while at the home and did not receive proper medical care, the suit said. Additionally, the mother of the licensed foster mother was arrested at the home on gun-related charges in the childrens presence, exposing them to dangerous, criminal behavior and traumatizing them. An attorney representing One Hope United did not respond to a request for comment on the organizations behalf. In the Seminole case, Johnson pleaded guilty in July 2022 to charges he produced and possessed explicit images of children. The signed plea agreement noted he had dozens of sexually explicit videos and images documenting abuse of children in his care dating back to as early as 2017. He was sentenced last November to 170 years in federal prison, though he is appealing the judgment and sentence. The problems at Johnsons home only came to light after one of the children described in the recent suit noticed a blinking blue light near an electrical outlet in her bedroom and realized she was being recorded, Hecht said in an interview. There were five children living in the home at the time, according to Johnsons plea agreement. The girl who noticed the video camera told investigators that Johnson frequently commented on two of the other girls boobs and butt. Another girl said Johnson had touched her private parts, and liked to give her wedgies. Hecht said he thinks case managers, who often carry heavy caseloads and are overworked, overlooked red flags that should have set off alarm bells sooner. For instance, the suit claims Johnson told foster care agencies he was married, but he had separated from his wife, who was not living in the home Johnson shared with his teenage son. Johnson also only allowed female foster children to be placed in his home, the suit says. In addition to taking videos of the girls in their bedroom and bathroom, Johnson also recorded himself touching the girls vaginas and required them to lay in bed with him while he sexually abused them, the suit says. Johnson made it difficult for caseworkers to perform home visits and case workers did not interview the girls privately, the suit alleges. The records reflect that the girls were just as happy as could be, Hecht said, adding, Its just a lie. anmartin@orlandosentinel.com Nestle is set to close an infant formula factory in Ireland due to falling Chinese demand. The food giant cited China's rapidly decreasing birth rate as a key part of the reason. China's fertility rate dropped to a historic low last year, according to experts. Nestle is set to shut down an infant formula factory in Ireland in part because of the dramatic decline in China's birth rate, according to a statement from the company . The world's largest food and beverage company said on Wednesday it was proposing to close its production facility in the Irish town of Askeaton by the first quarter of 2026 unless a buyer can be found. The report cited dropping demand for infant formula in China, which it attributed to lower birth rates, as a factor in its decision. "The number of new-born babies in China has declined sharply from some 18 million per year in 2016 to fewer than 9 million projected in 2023," the statement read. "The market, which had previously been reliant on imported infant formula products, is also seeing rapid growth in locally-produced products," it added. The Irish facility makes infant formula products exclusively for export to Asian markets. The plant's research and development center would close in 2025, under the proposal, the statement said, with work transferred to two existing manufacturers in China and Switzerland. China's fertility rate the number of live births per woman has declined over the last six decades, hitting a record low of 1.09 babies per woman in 2022, according to China's Population and Development Research Center . Dropping fertility rates are partly the result of China's population policies, including its one-child policy. Resulting labor shortages have triggered national policy changes like the end of the one-child limit and monthly or one-time payments for second or third children in many provincial cities, according to the China-Britain Business Council . But China's limited ability to respond to this demographic shift will likely result in slower growth over the next twenty to thirty years, the US-based Center for Strategic and International Studies said in August , limiting its ability to compete on the global stage with the United States. Nestle's latest move means about 542 employees may lose their jobs, the company said, adding it will start a "consultation process" with the workers. "In parallel, during this consultation, we remain open to approaches from a credible buyer," the company said. Read the original article on Business Insider An Israeli politician issued a series of furious threats against Russia during an appearance on a Russian state-controlled TV network Thursday, vowing to retaliate against Moscows actions during the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Amir Weitmann, the founder and chairman of the libertarian caucus in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus Likud party, said Russia will pay the price after Israel defeats Hamas. Russia will pay the price? British RT host Rory Suchet asked incredulously. Russia is supporting the enemies of Israel, Weitmann raged. Russia is supporting Nazi people who want to commit genocide on us. He went on to add: Were not forgetting what you are doing. Were not forgetting. We will come. We will make sure that Ukraine wins. We will make sure that you pay the price for what you have done. In a televised address Thursday night, President Joe Biden linked Hamas and Russia, saying they both want to annihilate a neighboring democracy. Amir Weitmann, member of Israel's ruling Likud Party threatens Russia on RT "After we win this war...we will make sure that Ukraine wins...Russia will pay the price..." The masks are off... pic.twitter.com/WatMZAiBq3 DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) October 19, 2023 Read it at Newsweek Read more at The Daily Beast. Newport Beach police are investigating the tagging of swastikas on a locker at Corona del Mar High School as a hate crime, the Newport-Mesa Unified School District said. The school district became aware of the vandalism last weekend and reported it to the police. "This behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in our schools," said Annette Franco, a spokesperson for the district. "We are investigating and have met with the Jewish Federation of Orange County to determine next steps in helping our school community to be better citizens. Immediate action is being taken as we develop longer-term plans." A spokesperson for the Newport Beach Police Department said detectives were investigating. The incident comes less than two weeks after the start of the war in Israel and Gaza. The school district has a history of antisemitic incidents. In 2019, police were notified after a group of high school students drinking alcohol at a house party took a photograph giving a Nazi salute around a table with red plastic cups arranged in the shape of a swastika. The students at that party attended Newport Harbor, Estancia and Costa Mesa high schools, not Corona del Mar High School. Reports of hate incidents have increased over the last few years in Orange County, surging from 41 incidents in 2021 to 103 in 2022, according to a county report. Brian Levin, founder of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at Cal State San Bernardino, said there has been an increase in antisemitic and anti-Muslim incidents since the start of the war, though the data are very preliminary. Levin said there were seven antisemitic hate crimes reported in the city of Los Angeles between Oct. 6 and 16 this year, compared with three in the same period last year. "We have seen increases in anti-Muslim and anti-Jewish hate. More of the increases are occurring with noncriminal incidents, and anti-Jewish incidents for now seem to be going up more," Levin said. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Oct. 19 (UPI) -- British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrived in Israel on Thursday to start a two-day visit to the Middle East for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog. Speaking at the Tel Aviv airport, Sunak restated Britain's open-ended support for Israel, calling Hamas' Oct. 7 assault, an "unspeakable, horrific act of terrorism." "Above all, I'm here to express my solidarity with the Israeli people. You have suffered an unspeakable, horrific act of terrorism and I want you to know that the United Kingdom and I stand with you," Sunak said. "I'm very much looking forward to my meetings later with the prime minister and president and I very much hope they'll be productive meetings." Ahead of the visit, which was announced only hours before his arrival, Sunak warned that following Tuesday's blast at Gaza's Al Ahli Arab Hospital that killed hundreds of Palestinians, a regional and international effort was required to avoid the Israel-Hamas war spilling over into wider hostilities. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (L) talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) in Jerusalem on Thursday. Photo by Amos ben Gershom/Israel Government Press Office/EPA-EFE "The attack on Al Ahli Hospital should be a watershed moment for leaders in the region and across the world to come together to avoid further dangerous escalation of conflict. I will ensure the U.K. is at the forefront of this effort," Sunak said. Sunak told Parliament on Wednesday that following meetings with his national security adviser and the chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee, the country's intelligence services were "rapidly analyzing the evidence to independently establish the facts" of the explosion at the hospital that killed at least 500 people. He also pledged to continue "all efforts" to get humanitarian aid into the region. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly told the House that people should avoid rushing to judgment on the incident because it would stoke tensions in the Middle East and community divisions in Britain. Cleverly was back in the region Thursday after visiting Israel last week for high-level meetings in Egypt, Turkey and Qatar to try to bring about a peaceful solution to the conflict and the release of British hostages and foreign nationals, the Foreign Office said in a news release. At least seven Britons were among the 1,400 people slain in the Hamas attack with another 10 missing, believed to be held hostage in Gaza. The foreign secretary will also attempt to secure safe passage out of Gaza for British nationals trapped in the enclave, which has been sealed off since Oct. 7. The British diplomatic push comes a day after U.S. President Joe Biden, in the first visit by a U.S. president when Israel was at war, achieved mixed results with a planned regional summit in Jordan sabotaged by Tuesday's hospital bombing but securing agreement to open the Gaza-Egypt border-crossing to allow in trucks carrying humanitarian aid. The United Nations on Thursday called for "an immediate humanitarian cease-fire" to break the bottleneck at the Rafah Crossing and enable desperately needed aid to reach Palestinians trapped in Gaza. The call for a break in the fighting, which erupted on Oct. 7 after Hamas militants launched a bloody surprise attack on Israel, came a day after President Joe Biden got the Israelis to agree to allow limited aid into the teeming Palestinian territory. "For nearly two weeks, the people of Gaza have gone without any shipments of fuel, food, water, medicine and other essentials," U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said at a news conference in Egypt. "Disease is spreading. Supplies are dwindling. People are dying." The Rafah Crossing, along with the El Arish airport in Egypt, "are the lifelines to the people of Gaza," Guterres said. As Guterres spoke, aid trucks were lined up at the border crossing while Egyptian work crews rushed to repair roads that were badly damaged by Israeli missile attacks launched in retaliation for the brutal Hamas terrorist attack, which has sparked the latest war in the Holy Land. Our trucks are loaded and ready to go, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , the director general of the World Health Organization, said in a virtual news event. Were working with Egypt and Palestine Red Crescent societies to deliver our supplies into Gaza as soon as the border crossing is opened, hopefully tomorrow. Image: Humanitarian aid provided by the United Nations is loaded onto a plane (Giuseppe Cacace / AFP - Getty Images) The announcement from Ghebreyesus came a day after Israel said it would not block the delivery of food, water and medicine into Gaza for its nearly 2.4 million Palestinians. Dr. Michael Ryan, WHOs executive director of emergency programs, said the pre-packed pallets of aid are "extremely well-documented" to ensure only the agreed-upon items get into Gaza. But there are logistical hurdles that need to be overcome. The roads are very badly destroyed, Ryan said. Theres a huge issue of deconflicting those routes so that the trucks that carry that material are not attacked in any way or disrupted and that the goods can be offloaded safely and put into storage for further distribution. The International Committee of the Red Cross said it, too, has a convoy with 60 tons of medical supplies and humanitarian aid ready to go into Gaza. Its critically important to deploy," the committee's chief surgeon, Tom Potokar, said in a statement. "There are a huge number of wounded people, and a lot of displaced people and ICRC has a role in helping these people in their suffering. The situation this time is much more difficult. There are far bigger numbers in terms of the people injured. The humanitarian crisis that is unfolding is on a much bigger scale. Image: Egypt Sends Aid Convoy To Gaza Border (Mahmoud Khaled / Getty Images) Before the U.N. announcement, an Red Cross spokesperson told reporters there needs to be a cease-fire to ensure that aid can be delivered safely and intact to the trapped Gaza residents. We welcome any agreement allowing aid to enter Gaza," the spokesperson said. "However, words must be put into action for them to make a difference for civilians. What is needed is a regular flow of aid into Gaza. Medical staff and other personnel must also be allowed to enter. This is not only about the border opening." Meanwhile, on the Palestinian side of the border crossing, there was a growing line of people including a number of American citizens waiting to get out of Gaza. Former Chicagoan Emilee Rauschenberger, who now lives in Amman, Jordan, was visiting her Palestinian in-laws in Gaza with her Palestinian husband and their five children when the fighting broke out. Their escape route blocked, Rauschenberger described in an interview with NBC News' Lester Holt a hell-scape of bread lines and ruins and growing desperation accompanied by the "humming of drones, constantly in the nights." "Whenever it gets dark, you stay inside completely and you hear bombings near and far, Rauschenberger said. A 29-year-old man who lives near Houston and asked not to be named told NBC News that he has been in touch with his family, who live in northern Gaza near the Israeli border. He said many of them are U.S. citizens and they have tried and failed repeatedly to escape across the border. Image: Palestinians wait to cross into Egypt at the Rafah border crossing in the Gaza Strip (Fatima Shbair / AP) "Theyve gone to the border multiple times and have been unable to leave," he said. "They went back to the north because you can only camp outside of Rafah for so long. You realize maybe its safer to be in your home." But the situation remains dangerous. He said their home was struck by a missile on Wednesday. And then, when they fled their home, there was a second missile strike that claimed the life of his 14-year-old cousin Jude, maimed his uncle and nearly killed his cousin Yousef. "Yousef went downstairs to get out of the house," he said. "And right in front of them another missile hit and Yousefs sister lost her life, his Dad lost his hand. " None of his relatives belong to Hamas or any other militant group, he said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com BBCNewsnights longest-serving presenter, Kirsty Wark, is stepping down from the programme after the next UK election. The broadcaster announced the news on Thursday (19 October), clarifying that the 68-year-old will continue to present BBC shows including The Reunion, Start The Week on Radio 4, as well as documentaries. It is an enormous privilege to be involved in such a rigorous, creative programme with a wonderful, talented bunch of colleagues, Wark said in a statement. Theres not a day when I dont look forward to coming to the office, and every day I learn something from the team about all manner of things, from aspects of American foreign policy to how to make a great mojito. The Scottish presenter has reported on eight prime ministers along with interviewing arts figures such as the playwright Harold Pinter in 2006. Wark conducted an interview with Lord Macpherson following his inquiry into the murder of Stephen Lawrence, and in America interviewed victims of Cleveland kidnapper Ariel Castro. She also reported and presented from Scotland after the 1996 Dunblane massacre, when gunman Thomas Hamilton shot dead 16 children and their teacher in the village primary school before turning the gun on himself. Kirsty Wark (Getty Images) BBC director general Tim Davie said: Generations of Newsnight viewers have benefitted from Kirstys authority, her razor-sharp insight and her journalistic flair. She sets the standard for engaging yet authoritative presenting. I speak on behalf of the whole BBC when I thank her for the past 30 years. Im delighted the BBC is not losing Kirsty altogether when she steps back from Newsnight and look forward to seeing and hearing her beyond the busy political year ahead. During Thursdays episode of Newsnight, presenter Mark Urban paid tribute to Wark and said: Kirsty has allowed me to read this last little bit, mainly because its about her and shes far too modest to do it. He added that her leaving was our loss and for him its been a pleasure ahead of a montage of her on the programme over the years being aired. The clips included coverage of the peace process in Northern Ireland, former chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) Yasser Arafat travelling abroad and rebellions in the Conservative Party in the 1990s. The news follows reported claims of Newsnight facing financial cuts and the departure of its editor Mr Maclean to become BBC World News Contents Africa bureau chief in Nairobi. While sharing images of a cake featuring a depiction of Wark and balloons in the shape of the numbers three and zero, on X/Twitter, Mr Maclean wrote that working with her was an absolute joy. Here at Newsnight were celebrating the 30th anniversary of @KirstyWarks first programme as presenter, with a classy cake to mark the moment. Working with Kirsty is an absolute joy - shes one of the longest serving presenters in news and definitely one of the nicest pic.twitter.com/92fHYizITK Stewart Maclean (@stewartmaclean) October 19, 2023 He also wrote: Kirstys announced that shell step down from Newsnight after the next election. Well miss her massively when she does. Kirstys been central to so much of the programmes coverage over the last three decades, but still bounds into the office each day with the energy and enthusiasm of someone arriving for their very first shift. According to the BBCs latest annual report, Wark earned 280,000-284,999 in the 2022/23 year. She has also made documentaries on social media and its impact on young female mental health, the menopause, stately homes and pioneering Scottish women along with a Newsnight special for the NHSs 75th anniversary which asked if the health service is fit for the future. Her former Newsnight colleague, Lewis Goodall, wrote on X: She doesnt need me to say it but KirstyWark is simply one of the v best TV presenters in history and a trailblazer at that. Also prob the nicest person Ive ever worked with, never cynical, fizzing with ideas every day, putting colleagues 35 years younger to shame. What a run. On X, Victoria Derbyshire hailed Wark as an incredible journalist and legend while diplomatic editor Mark Urban said her decision to go would leave a great gap. Urban also wrote: Shes always been enthusiastic, inquiring, clear sighted in the face of spin and full of integrity. And weve had quite a few laughs along the way too! Additional reporting by PA California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) spent the day on Friday in Israel, where he met with families impacted by Hamass recent unprecedented attack on the country. As I reflect back on the extraordinary people I just met today in Israel, I am reminded of the deep connections between my home state and this country. A country that has faced many dark times before, and certainly is in one now, Newsom said in a statement, following his visit. But amid this present struggle against terrorists are stories of unimaginable heroism and unspeakable tragedy, the governor added. Newsom began his one-day trip a surprise stop enroute to a climate-focused tour of China by meeting with Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Eli Cohen in Tel Aviv. The governor expressed Californias solidarity with the people of Israel, as well as his desire to ensure the safety and security of all civilians both in Israel and in Gaza, a readout from his office stated. Top Stories from The Hill He then visited Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center Ichilov Hospital, where he received updates about the ongoing situation and met with wounded soldiers alongside Ronni Gamzu, the hospitals CEO. Following the hospital visit, Newsom sat down with President Isaac Herzog and discussed California and Israels economic and cultural connections. The governor expressed his condolences to the president for the victims of Hamass terrorist attacks, the press readout stated. Newsoms second-to-last stop was at the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv, where he had a private meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer. His final meeting was with Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg, parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a Californian being held hostage by Hamas. I listened to the grief and terror in a mothers voice as she spoke about her son a Californian right now being held hostage in Gaza whose arm was blown off by a terrorists grenade, Newsom said his post-visit statement. I hugged a girl another Californian, born in Los Angeles who was shot in the leg by Hamas and left for dead, in truly horrific conditions, the governor continued. 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 Defense and National Security newsletter He recounted a day of grieving with families in mourning, meeting with young soldiers and sitting down with leaders who bear the responsibility of response to it all. In the face of horror, the governor noted, he observed a profound sense of resilience and commitment to the wider community during challenging times. Thats the Israeli spirit. And its also the California spirit, Newsom said. My heart is heavy for all innocent people under the crushing pressure of loss and grief, no matter which side of fence they quite literally find themselves on. So as I prepare to leave, I share these words: may the memory of those who perished be a blessing to the whole world, the governor added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A Newton man has been ordered to serve 24 1/2 years in prison for sexually abusing a child. John Unick, 66, was sentenced Friday by Harvey County District Judge Jason Lane, who also ordered him to register as a sexual offender for the rest of his life, a news release from Harvey County Attorney Heather L. Figger says. When he is released from prison, Unick must serve lifetime post-release supervision, the release says. Lifetime post release requires the Kansas Department of Corrections to supervise Unick the rest of his life, Figger said. Unick is subject to conditions of release set by the Kansas Department of Corrections. If he violates those conditions, he could be sent back to prison. Unick pleaded guilty on Aug. 17 to counts of rape and aggravated criminal sodomy. The victim in the case was younger than 14, the release says. The case was investigated by the Harvey County Sheriffs Office, the Heart 2 Heart Child Advocacy Center and the Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the release says. The National Indian Education Association (NIEA) announced the launch of the It Begins with Us campaign, a groundbreaking Education Sovereignty initiative, at the organizations 54th Annual Convention and Tradeshow Opening Assembly in Albuquerque, New Mexico. NIEA is leading national movements to address the United States education crisis for all students. The organization recognizes that Native education is American education and that leading from Indigenous values benefits Native and non-Native students alike. It Begins with Us aims to create systemic change through Education Sovereignty at the community level with educators, teachers, tribal and community leaders, and policymakers. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. NIEA is leading a major paradigm shift in American education. As Native people, we can unite in one voice demanding that Indigenous children be prioritized and not used as political fodder in partisan conflicts, NIEA Executive Director Diana Cournoyer (Oglala Lakota).said. It Begins with Us is an extension of NIEAs Whole Child Initiative, advocating for learning systems that meet all students exactly where they are socially, emotionally, and mentally through holistic education and wrap-around services. It Begins with Us recognizes that as sovereign nations, tribes can prioritize education by forming education departments and participating in local, state, and federal government. By utilizing Education Sovereignty, tribal nations help shift, support, and serve all students from early education to high school and beyond. It Begins with Us was also the theme of this years NIEA Convention. Through Education Sovereignty, NIEA is focused on prevention, support, building resiliency, and developing protective factors. It Begins with Us is about creating much-needed positive change in our education system, said Tesia Zientek (Citizen Potawatomi Nation), President of NIEAs Board of Directors. Sovereignty is a tool we must use boldly. A tool led by tribal leaders accompanied by an intentional multidisciplinary collaboration within our communities. It Begins with Us is being designed to help evolve and drive systems of change directly from our communities. While there is a lot to be done in all sectors, Indigenous children need to be a top priority as we move forward, said Cournoyer. We need to see tribal leaders organizing for education. We need our leaders to push for change at the local, state, and national levels as sovereign nations. It Begins with Us is one of NIEAs many groundbreaking education initiatives. As an organization that advocates for Native children at every level of government, NIEA has created a questionnaire to help prioritize focus areas and aid in advocating for Native people on Capitol Hill. To directly participate in improving Native education, please take the survey here. About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. " Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net The military government in Niger says it has foiled an attempt by the deposed former President, Mohamed Bazoum, to escape from custody. The former president attempted to flee in the night with his family, cooks and security, a military spokesman said. There were plans for the group to fly out on helicopters but the plan was foiled, he added. Mr Bazoum's lawyers have called for his immediate release, saying his detention is illegal. He has been under house arrest along with his wife and son since members of his presidential guard staged a coup in late July. The lawyers say the ousted president and his family can only be visited by a doctor who brings them food every other day, and on Friday morning even this was not allowed. They demanded proof that he was still alive. Niger is part of the African region known as the Sahel - a belt of semi-arid land that stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, just south of the Sahara Desert. The area is plagued by jihadists and beset by military regimes. The attempted escape happened around 03:00 (02:00 GMT) on Thursday, military spokesman Amadou Abdramane said on state television. "The ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and his family, his two cooks and two security elements, tried to escape from his place of detention," he said. The escape bid failed and "the main actors and some of the accomplices" were arrested, he added. The elaborate plan involved Mr Bazoum getting to a hideout on the outskirts of the capital Niamey, Mr Abdramane said. The group had then planned to fly out on helicopters "belonging to a foreign power" towards Nigeria, he added, denouncing Mr Bazoum's "irresponsible attitude". It is not clear where the former president and the rest of the group are now being held. An investigation into the alleged escape attempt has been launched. The Niger military overthrew the democratically elected president in a coup on 26 July. It mirrored similar military takeovers in neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali, amid an Islamist insurgency and a growing Russian influence in the wider Sahel region through its mercenary group Wagner. As in Mali, Niger's junta has ordered French troops based in the country to help fight the jihadists to leave the country. The first convoy from Niger arrived in neighbouring Chad on Thursday after a nine-day trip, the French military said. Mr Bazoum has refused to officially resign. Despite his captivity, he was able to publish an article in The Washington Post stating that he was a hostage and that the coup would have "devastating consequences for our country, our region and the entire world". Soon after Mr Bazoum was overthrown, US President Joe Biden called for his immediate release and the "preservation of Niger's hard-earned democracy". That followed the expiration of a deadline by Ecowas, a power bloc of West African states, for the coup leaders to stand down. Its threats of military intervention were not followed through, and the junta continues to ignore demands for the president's freedom. Mr Bazoum's party and family members say he has had no access to running water, electricity or fresh goods. Nigers military government said Thursday it foiled a late-night escape attempt by deposed President Mohamed Bazoum to flee to neighboring Nigeria after being held in custody for nearly three months following his ouster in a coup. Bazoum had planned to escape with his family and two domestic staff at around 3:00 am Thursday, the junta said, with the help of some security accomplices who arranged transport for them to be moved to the outskirts of Nigers capital Niamey, from where theyll be flown in two helicopters belonging to a foreign power to Nigeria, it added in a statement. The prompt reaction of the defense and security forces made it possible to thwart this plan to destabilize our country, a junta spokesperson said, adding that the main perpetrators and some of their accomplices have been arrested. Bazoums whereabouts are not immediately known. The deposed Nigerien leader who has yet to resign as president had been placed under house arrest since the military junta overthrew him on July 27. In August, Bazoum said in text messages sent to CNN with his consent that he had been isolated, kept without electricity, and forced to eat dry rice and pasta by his captors. Later that month, the junta said it had gathered the necessary evidence to prosecute Bazoum for high treason. The junta has held on to power despite pressure from Nigers Western and regional allies. Last week, the US said it was putting a hold on its assistance programs to Niger, including funding while formally declaring Bazoums ouster as a coup. The military rulers said they ovethrew Bazoum because of the countrys security problems and struggling economy. Nigers coup was the latest in successive power grabs by the military in the troubled West African Sahel region which has grappled for years with jihadist insurgency. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com (Bloomberg) -- Nigers ousted leader is being held in an undisclosed location after the nations junta said it had foiled an attempt by Mohamed Bazoum to escape his Niamey residence. Most Read from Bloomberg President Bazoum and his family are being held incommunicado. They have had no access to their lawyers and no contact with the outside world for 36 hours, Bazoums lawyer Reed Brody said in text message. We demand that they immediately be given access to their lawyers so that they can contest these trumped-up charges. The junta, which has held power since a July 26 coup, said it had made several arrests and opened an investigation in the attempted escape. An unmarked vehicle was going to take the president, his family, his two chefs and security guards to the outskirts of Niamey where a helicopter provided by a foreign power was waiting to take them to Nigeria, a junta spokesman said. The prompt reaction of the defense and security forces made it possible to foil this plan to destabilize our country, Amadou Abdramane said in a televised address. He didnt comment on Bazoums whereabouts. Read More: Whats Driving the Coups Across Sub-Saharan Africa?: QuickTake Nigers West African neighbors and international partners US and France have called for Bazoums reinstatement and a return to constitutional order. Bazoum has been held at the presidential palace, sometimes without power, water or access to fresh food for more than three months, and only appeared in public on a handful of occasions. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley reiterated her support for Israel on Friday while also cautioning the Biden administration to "be smart" regarding Qatari mediation efforts that led to the release of two American hostages a mother and daughter by Hamas. The hostages, identified as Judith and Natalie Raanan, were taken by Hamas from the Nahal Oz kibbutz in southern Israel near the Gaza Strip and released "on humanitarian grounds" following Qatari intervention. "The second thing I'll say to the Biden administration is don't fall for it. This is you know, I have dealt with Qatar in terms of trying to get hostages or actually hostage bodies out of Gaza," Haley told "America Reports" co-anchor Sandra Smith on Friday. "This is what they do. They're trying to earn favor with the United States." LIVE UPDATES: ISRAEL AT WAR WITH HAMAS Nikki Haley wears a sweater emblazoned with "She Who Dares Wins," the motto of the Sayeret Matkal, an elite Israeli paratrooper unit, during an interview Friday on "America Reports." At least 11 more Americans remain unaccounted for. Haley said Hamas is worried about a potential Israeli ground operation and that "they're going to throw two hostages out there for one to see if they can weaken us to keep Israel from going into Gaza," said Haley, who was wearing a sweater with the phrase, "She Who Dares Wins." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "Who Dares Wins" is the motto of the Sayeret Matkal, an elite Israeli paratrooper unit. "This is a time to be smart. Go in smart," Haley said. "Don't let this weaken us. Don't fall for it. We've got 200 more hostages in there. And don't forget what happened on Oct. 7. They want everybody to forget. We can never forget. Israel needs to stay focused, determined, and America needs to have their back." Haley, who served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under former President Trump, has been steadfast in her support for Israel since the deadly attacks on Israeli civilians by Hamas. "Nikki proudly stands with Israel and its fight for peace," Ken Farnaso, a spokesman for Haley, told Fox News Digital. "At the UN, she warned about Hamas and stood up for Israel and shell do the same as president. We need a leader who will stand with Israel not only when it is hit, but also when it hits back." The Squad, a group of progressive House Democrats, continued calls Friday for a ceasefire, citing Israel's bombardment of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. The group has been heavily criticized for appearing to place the blame for the attacks on Israel. "The squad acts like the terrorists," Haley said. "Here they are, and they're basically mimicking pro-Hamas comments. They refuse to acknowledge the bloodshed and the torture and the terrorists that have caused all of this." Original article source: Nikki Haley warns Biden to 'be smart' following Hamas' release of 2 American hostages; 'don't fall for it' NILES, Ill. - Niles police are investigating a shooting that left a man and a 15-year-old boy wounded Friday morning. Officers responded to reports of shots fired at approximately 10:33 a.m. near Lyons and Woodland. Police say the shooting happened in a residence in the 9200 block of Woodland Drive. A 33-year-old man was found shot in the torso and the 15-year-old suffered a gunshot wound to the upper body. Both were transported to an area hospital for treatment. Police say there were no further suspects believed to be at large. The investigation remains active and ongoing. ASBURY PARK - No criminal charges will be filed against two city police officers who were involved in a motor vehicle pursuit last year that left a 32-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy dead, the state Attorney Generals Office announced Thursday. A grand jury exonerated Asbury Park Police Officers Samuel Griffeth and Scott Ritter in the fatal crash of June 5, 2022, which took the lives of Dishawn Bellamy and the teen whose identity has been withheld by authorities, according to a statement. At 7:16 p.m. on that date, Griffeth and Ritter responded to the area of Atkins Avenue and Boston Way in Asbury Park after hearing gunfire. As the officers responded, a Ford Explorer, driven by Bellamy, sped past Ritters patrol vehicle. Ritter recognized Bellamy as he went by and knew there was a warrant out for his arrest for attempted murder, the statement said. Related: Asbury Park man becomes second to die from injuries in car crash after police chase Ritter radioed to Griffeth to stop the vehicle. Griffeth then followed the Explorer, with Ritter behind Griffeth. Shortly thereafter, the Explorer took off at a high speed. The officers did not match the Explorers speed and their emergency lights were flashing. The officers continued to trail the suspects vehicle, which drove less than a mile before Bellamy lost control of the vehicle while attempting a left turn, the Attorney Generals investigation had determined. How we got here: One person dead, two guns recovered in police pursuit crash from Asbury Park to Neptune The vehicle rolled over and struck a home on Myrtle Avenue in neighboring Neptune. The vehicle came to rest in a tree-lined area along the side of the home. An estimated 40 seconds elapsed from the time Griffeth radioed that the Explorer was not stopping until the vehicle crashed, the statement said. When Bellamy lost control of the Explorer, the vehicle was more than a block away from the police cars driven by Ritter and Griffeth. Police recovered two firearms near the crashed Explorer. Two other occupants in the vehicle, a 15-year-old male from Asbury Park and a 25-year-old male from Neptune, exited the SUV and started running away. They were stopped by officers, without incident, after a short foot pursuit. Neither had significant injuries from the crash, all according to the statement. The investigation included interviews of witnesses, photos, a review of police body and dashboard camera footage, and autopsy results from a medical examiner. The evidence, including video of the incident, was presented to a state grand jury. After hearing the testimony and evidence, the grand jury concluded its deliberations Monday and voted no bill, meaning the decision was reached that no criminal charges should be filed against Griffeth and Ritter. New Jersey law requires that the state attorney general investigate all deaths that occur during a police encounter or while in police custody. Contact Asbury Park Press reporter Erik Larsen at elarsen@gannettnj.com. This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: NJ grand jury exonerates Asbury Park cops in fatal Neptune crash Israel has carried out a withering bombardment of Hamas-controlled Gaza in retaliation for the killing of 1,400 people who were shot, mutilated and burnt to death in shock cross-border raids launched by the militant group on October 7, 2023. The ensuing conflict has been fiercely debated on social media where videos and images are being shared in false and misleading contexts. In most cases, the images and videos are months or even years old, or they portray tragedies from other parts of the world. This content is usually unrelated to the latest war in Israel and Gaza which is stoking regional tensions. AFP Fact Check debunks some of the misleading information below: Fake funeral An Instagram account in Nigeria shared a video on October 11, 2023 claiming it showed Palestinians carrying the shrouded body of a child who was purportedly killed by an Israeli strike. A few seconds into the footage, sirens start blaring, prompting the group to drop the stretcher and flee. The person being transported then removes the covers and scampers. A screenshot of the false post, taken on October 18, 2023 Two years ago, the same video circulated online when Israeli forces and Palestinian militants entered a deadly confrontation sparked by unrest at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound (archived report). At the time, online posts claimed that the clip showed Palestinians staging a fake funeral in Gaza in a bid to gain world sympathy. But AFP Fact Check found the video has circulated at least since March 2020 in unrelated posts about a Covid-19 lockdown stunt in Jordan. According to news reports, the footage is of a group of young people who were trying to break a lockdown imposed to curb cases of Covid-19 (archived link). Officers arrested A day after Hamas incursion into Israel, this Facebook post from Ghana shared a video claiming to show Hamas fighters arresting Israel Defense Forces (IDF) generals. A screenshot of the false Facebook post, taken on October 18, 2023 The Islamist militants took about 200 hostages into Gaza (archived here) during their brazen attack. The clip shows soldiers in military fatigues branded DTX escorting three handcuffed men from vehicles. DTX is the state security service of the Republic of Azerbaijan. An online search for the keywords "arrest in Azerbaijan by DTX" located a longer version of the video on DTXs official YouTube channel (archived here) published on October 5, 2023 -- two days before Hamas attacked. A screenshot of the arrest on DTXs official YouTube channel, taken on October 18, 2023 Those arrested were accused of "organising activities of illegal armed groups" in Karabakh, a breakaway enclave in Azerbaijan, the DTX said in a caption. Our search also revealed this news report (archived here) from October 5, 2023, naming the detained suspects. "Reasonable suspicion has also been established of the fact that the mentioned individuals are responsible for organising terrorist acts in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan," the story says. A screenshot of AzerNews website, taken on October 18, 2023 Egyptian aid On October 10, 2023, another Facebook post from Nigeria published an image of more than a dozen white trucks driving in convoy. "In direct action against Israel, the Egyptian President orders a huge humanitarian convoy to Gaza," the caption reads. A screenshot of the misleading post, taken on October 18, 2023 In retaliation for the Hamas attack, Israel cut off water, food, electricity, and humanitarian aid to Gaza, affecting 2,3 million Palestinians. AFP reported (archived here) on October 18, 2023, that truckloads of aid bound for the Gaza Strip from Egypt were blocked from reaching desperate civilians. However, the image shared on Facebook is misleading and unrelated to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. In fact, it was taken almost a decade ago. A reverse image search located reports with similar images taken by news agencies European Pressphoto and Associated Press (archived here and here). Screenshots from The Guardian (left) and Time who published pictures of the Russian aid convoy, taken on October 18, 2023 According to the captions, the picture is of a Russian aid convoy transporting supplies for the people of Ukraine in August 2014. AFP also reported about the aid convoy (archived report). Israeli warplanes Hours after Hamas crossed into Israel, this Facebook post from Nigeria shared a video showing military aircraft being transported on a public road. A road sign indicates the direction of Arara and Arad, two towns in southern Israel. "The Israeli army evacuates air bases approached by Al-Qassam elements in the Gaza Strip," the post reads. A screenshot of the false Facebook post, taken on October 16, 2023 But reverse image searches on multiple keyframes found the same clip was published in Telegram accounts weeks before Hamas attacked. A different video showed other military equipment being moved (archived here). AFP Fact Check conducted a further keyword search on Telegram which revealed that the oldest version of the clip (archived here) was posted on September 13, 2023. The caption indicated that the scene was filmed in southern Israel near Negev. Protest video This Facebook post from Nigeria shared a video of protests in Turkey on October 9, 2023. The caption alleges that the video shows protesters in Istanbul chanting "Send Turkish soldiers to Gaza, without providing further context about when the clip was taken. A screenshot of the misleading post, taken on October 18, 2023 The Israel-Gaza war has triggered a wave of protests in the Middle East and Turkey. But the video in the misleading post was published (archived here) on X, formerly Twitter, on May 10, 2021. According to the caption, it shows protesters demonstrating outside the Israeli consulate in Istanbul. News media at the time reported (archived link) that Turkish protesters took to the streets after violence between Palestinians and Israelis erupted over Jerusalem. Find AFP Fact Checks disinformation coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict here. No Labels sues to block Arizona Democrats from using ballot line The No Labels political organization, which continues to push for a third party presidential candidate, filed a lawsuit in Arizona to block Democrats from using its ballot line Thursday. The suit attempts to bar Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes (D) from letting candidates run for office under the groups banner with the exception of president and vice president. Last month, Fontes office told the organization that it has to accept candidates filings even if party leaders do not want them. Arizona, a state where President Biden won by fewer than 11,000 votes in 2020, is one of a dozen states the group has secured ballot access for a possible presidential candidate. The Arizona Secretary of State disagrees with your assertion that a newly recognized political party can choose to deprive its own voters of their constitutionally protected freedom of association, State Elections Director Colleen Connor wrote in a Sept. 22 letter, according to The Associated Press. Top Stories from The Hill Because of Bidens tight win in the Grand Canyon State, fears have risen amongst his supporters that a No Labels ticket could be a spoiler to his reelection. The law is clearly on the side of No Labels, Benjamin Chavis Jr., a former head of the NAACP and the national co-chair of No Labels said, per the AP. So the question is, Why is the secretary of state acting the way hes acting? It has nothing to do with the law, it has more to do with politics, Chavis said. 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 Former Maryland Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, who also serves as a national co-chair for the organization, defended the group amid increasing scrutiny. Nobodys trying to spoil anything, Hogan argued. This is about actually receiving a majority of the votes. I think we should only put together a ticket in the event that its Trump and Biden, he added. And Im still, again, still trying to work to make sure we can get a good Republican nominee. His comments come as the former governor weighs a presidential bid under the third party label. The Associated Press contributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The search for a missing woman has evolved into a homicide investigation, and a Michigan sheriffs office believes her estranged husband is responsible for her death. This is no longer a rescue, Genesee County Sheriff Christopher Swanson said during an Oct. 19 news conference. This is a recovery. This is a homicide investigation and the suspect is dead. The sheriffs office asked for the publics help in finding the Flushing couple Kelly McWhirter, 60, and Steven Higgins, 57, on Tuesday, Oct. 17. Swanson called the investigation high profile, and he believed foul play was involved. Authorities said McWhirter and Higgins lived together but had filed for divorce, WNEM reported. It was unclear if their divorce was finalized. Now, Swanson believes Higgins killed his wife before killing himself when engaged by law enforcement. We have a case now where we have a very dear friend, a former employee that retired and was rehired back at the Board of Commissioners who is missing, and we have the one person who knows that hes responsible unable to communicate, Swanson said. Investigators do not believe anyone else is responsible for the abduction and assault of McWhirter. Before McWhirter disappeared, she and Higgins had a confrontation that involved some type of injury that resulted in significant blood loss at home, according to WNEM. Swanson said investigators found a 2022 white Hyundai Tucson in the driveway, but a gray 2009 Ford F-150 truck was missing. It appears someone tried to clean up the scene, Swanson said during the news conference. Still, Swanson said they found DNA and evidence of blood loss. Authorities said they found Higgins in the truck early Oct. 18, WJRT reported. Swanson said he killed himself during a traffic stop. A significant amount of blood was found in the back of the Tucson and F-150 truck, Swanson said. The truck also had multiple landscaping tools, including shovels with fresh dirt on the ends, and a body bag inside, Swanson said. These findings are the reason why sadly we have switched our focus on we need to find Kelly, Swanson said. And the person who we believe is responsible for it took his own life and didnt provide any information. The couples cell phones both broken were discovered in Montrose on Oct. 17, according to the sheriffs office. Higgins phone was in a ditch, and McWhirters was found across the street. Swanson is asking anyone who saw the Tucson or F-150 parked on the side of a road on I-75 or US-23 between Oct. 14 and Oct. 17 to call 911 or 810-257-3422. Higgins had driven to Ohio and back over those days, authorities said. Higgin was described as a nomad who enjoyed traveling and fishing, and his truck had survival equipment, including tents, waterproof matches and ropes. He could have gone anywhere, Swanson said. Flushing is about 10 miles northwest of Flint. If you are experiencing domestic violence and need someone to talk to, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline for support at 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788. Woman found dead after texts with daughter revealed poisoning plot, Indiana cops say Co-workers got odd texts from womans phone before ex-boyfriend killed her, cops say Salon owner shot dead in domestic dispute, Ohio cops say. She could light up the room A North Brunswick man who formerly worked in mechanical engineering and real estate pleaded guilty Thursday to inducing a minor to engage in sexually activity over an online messenger service, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Sunil Vaid, 51, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Claire C. Cecchi in Newark federal court to one count of online enticement of a minor. Vaid faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 21, 2024. According to court documents, from Aug. 3 to Aug. 6, 2020, Vaid used an online messaging service to communicate with a minor, including requesting the minor pose nude so he could take sexually explicit images. Vaid knowingly misrepresented his identity to induce the minor to engage in the sexual activity. Sellinger credited special agents and members of the FBI Newark Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. He also thanked the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office and the North Brunswick Police for their assistance with the investigation. This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: North Brunswick NJ man admits to soliciting nude photos from teen SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea on Saturday condemned the United States for supplying Ukraine with long-range ballistic missiles known as ATACMS, saying any strike on Russia with them will only hamper peace efforts. On Tuesday, Ukraine said it used the U.S.-supplied Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) for the first time, inflicting heavy damage on two airfields in Russian-occupied areas. Russian forces invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and the Kyiv government has repeatedly asked Washington for the missiles, while promising not to use them inside Russia. "The U.S. finally delivered ATACMS ground-to-ground missile system to Ukraine despite the deep concern and strong opposition of the international community," Sin Hong-Chol, North Korea's ambassador to Russia, said in a statement carried by state media KCNA. "Any strike at the interior of Russia, a nuclear power, will not be of help to the early end of the Ukrainian situation or its peaceful settlement as the U.S. advocates but will serve as a catalyst for putting the whole Europe into the crucible of endless war and prolonging the war," the statement said. Several variants of ATACMS can carry cluster bomblets. The system provides "the ability to engage both point and area high value targets with precision fires out to 300 km," a U.S. Army website says. On Oct. 13, the White House accused Pyongyang of providing Russia with a shipment of weapons recently, calling it a troubling development and raising concerns about the expanded military relationship between the two countries. (Reporting by Cynthia Kim; editing by Grant McCool) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his nation wants to build a "forward-looking" relationship with Russia, state media reported on Oct. 19. Kim's remarks came as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visits Pyongyang to meet with Kim and other officials. North Korea's government wants "to work out a stable, forward-looking, far-reaching plan for the DPRK-Russia relations in the new era," Kim said. Lavrov thanked North Korea on Oct. 18 for its "fundamental, unequivocal support" for Russia's war against Ukraine. Kim Jong Un made a rare international visit to Russia last month, traveling by armored train to meet with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in the far-eastern Amur Oblast. The visit signaled deepening ties between the two nations, and possibly resulted in a new arms deal. U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on Oct. 13 that North Korea had already sent Russia shipments of weapons and ammunition following the talks. Read also: Russia, China and North Korea have new dynamics. And its bad for Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. DOVER Northeast Credit Union unveiled plans for its new headquarters Thursday after buying the former Measured Progress building for $7.5 million last month. The credit union, which was founded at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in 1936, plans to reconstruct the existing 100,000-square-foot structure at 100 Education Way. The building will house the majority of the company's 400-plus employees. Northeast Credit Union will move to Dover from 100 Borthwick Ave. in Portsmouth, its headquarters for decades. Company leaders estimated the Dover location will open in early 2025. This rendering shows the design for Northeast Credit Union's new headquarters, which will be located at 100 Education Way in Dover. (Its) no secret, commercial real estate is not easy to come by in this part of the world, said Chris Parker, chief executive officer and president of Northeast Credit Union. Portsmouth certainly was considered and looked at. We found this space, and given that weve got a long history in Dover with our branch sitting a quarter mile away that does very well it made sense. This is a growing, thriving community, and it is an important community to New Hampshire and to the Seacoast. We wanted to be a part of that. Strafford County deed records show that Reynolds Avenue South LLC sold the property to Northeast Credit Union on Sept. 5. Michael Kane, chief executive officer of the Kane Company in Portsmouth, is the principal of Reynolds Avenue South LLC. Donna Benton, Dover's planning and community development director, previously said the current 100 Education Way building was last occupied by Cognia, which was a new name after a merger involving Measured Progress, an education company specializing in testing and accreditation. Northeast Credit Union Chief Executive Officer and President Chris Parker shares the vision for the company's new Dover headquarters Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. What to expect from Northeast Credit Union's new home in Dover Northeast Credit Union leaders were joined Thursday by development partners and city elected officials and staff Thursday to view design schemes of the new building coming to Dover. Stakeholders donned hard hats and took turns swinging at a wall with sledgehammers to mark the next chapter in the companys history. Weve known for a while that we wanted to start looking for an updated headquarters that could support all of our employees, Parker said. The company touted the new four-story facility, set to include employee training rooms, a cafeteria, a fitness center, outdoor spaces, car charging stations, and walking and biking trails on campus. The new design will also have a strong emphasis on incorporating natural elements and light, hybrid workstations, and an environment that fosters collaboration and creativity, a company announcement states. This will be a very modern space with a lot of amenities, Parker said. More local news: Liberty Mutual marketing two-building Dover campus after moving to Portsmouth Construction firm Procon is the project architect and design-builder for the structures exterior work. Maugel DeStefano Architects in Portsmouth is charged with overseeing work to the interior. As you can see by the renderings, its going to have a completely fresh and new look with an abundance of modern glass and some real nice colors, Procon chief executive officer John Stebbins said. Im really excited about these incredible outdoor spaces that the employees will get to enjoy. My favorite feature of the design is the huge open atrium, which will flood the middle of the building with natural light and warmly welcome employees and visitors. This is a very large commitment and expense, he added. I think its going to pay dividends for your employees. Dover mayor offers praise for project, calls for support with local issues Northeast Credit Union leaders swing sledgehammers at a wall inside a 100 Education Way building in Dover on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. The building will serve as the company's new headquarters for years to come. Dover Mayor Bob Carriers father was a retired Portsmouth Naval Shipyard employee. When Carrier was entering high school, his father encouraged him to open a savings account with Northeast Credit Union. Years later, he is still a member of the credit union. Your growth is incredible. Your service is impeccable, he said. The company supports nonprofit agencies working to eliminate food insecurity, expanding access to affordable housing and supporting public education. The mayor called upon the company to help the city and the region continue working toward increasing housing supply for workers and citizens throughout the region. You are a partner with us all. These are real (situations) in front of us (with) mental health, drug addiction, all of the above, he said. The city of Dover is going to be very happy to work with you in the future, for sure. More Dover news: New skatepark open at Guppey Park and skaters are 'just ecstatic' Northeast Credit Union has 18 branches in Maine and New Hampshire, including one in Dover that will be unaffected by the headquarters move. The company reports having over 142,000 members and over $2 billion in assets. This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Northeast Credit Union to transform Dover NH site for new home A northeast Georgia school district confirmed rodents were detected at an elementary school, and pest control efforts are underway. According to Dawson County Schools, recently, a few rodents [were] seen in the building at Robinson Elementary School. The district said theyve undertaken multiple steps aimed at mitigating the issue, and have a pest management company working to clean and repair the school. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] After rodents were seen in the building, the districts pest management company conducted a full investigation to determine the best and most efficient plan of action. We have increased our ongoing services with our pest management company and addressed areas of concern with repairs, extra cleaning, and mitigation measures both indoors and outdoors. While those steps are being taken, school officials said theyre making sure measures are placed in safe areas away from students and staff. Those areas are also being checked daily. TRENDING STORIES: We take the health and safety of our students and staff at our schools very seriously, a release from Robinson Elementary School said. Channel 2 Action News has asked Dawson County Schools for more information about when the rats were detected, as well as for the details of the investigation by the school systems pest management company. We are waiting for further details. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: BOYNE FALLS The Northern Michigan Antique-Flywheelers Club has completed another successful season thanks to the dedication of its members, community volunteers and the support of local community partners. During the clubs annual show in July, record numbers of attendees enjoyed the tractor parades, demonstrations, food, flea market, crafts, and a taste of life in the past lane. In September, during the Student Harvest Days field trips, more than 1,300 students, teachers, and chaperones from 33 schools experienced a taste of life as their great- or great-great grandparents may have lived in rural Northern Michigan. Flywheelers' young members serve dinner from the newly renovated kitchen in July 2023. We were able to serve record crowds in July thanks, in part, to the generosity of the Great Lakes Energy People Fund and the Charlevoix County Community Foundation. Each organization provided $2,300 in grant monies that went toward our purchase of a new 60 commercial gas grill for our pavilion kitchen, said Flywheeler Club president Dave Korthase. Feeding thousands of people during our four-day show requires reliable equipment that allows us to keep the pancakes and hamburgers coming. This grant support is vital to us and greatly appreciated. Subscribe: Check out our offers and read the local news that matters to you Fourth graders line up in their groups to start their day during the Flywheelers Student Harvest Days in September 2023. Also benefiting from community support this year was the Student Harvest Days field trip event. It costs several thousand dollars to host as it requires up to 100 volunteers who get fed, fuel for equipment, bathroom and cleaning supplies, items for each class to take with them, and more. I was so pleased this year to start each day with the Pledge of Allegiance, a welcome to the students, and a thank you to the phenomenal local organizations that donated funds to support our event," said event co-chair Karen Jarema. "The Kiwanis Club of Boyne City, the Rotary Club of Boyne City, Boyne Valley Lions, and the Kiwanis Club of Gaylord were the community partners who helped us provide this educational experience for the fourth graders. The Northern Michigan Antique-Flywheelers Club showgrounds are located on U.S. 131 between Boyne Falls and Walloon Lake. Information on the organization and its activities can be found at walloonlakeflywheelers.com. This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Northern Michigan's Flywheelers conclude 2023 season This article is part of HuffPosts biweekly politics newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Before considering what we dont know about the bombing of Gazas al-Ahli hospital this week, lets consider what we do know. Around 7 p.m. local time Tuesday, an explosion occurred in the hospitals courtyard, leaving what appears to be a small impact crater and setting off a large fire. Footage from the scene showed one vehicle flipped on its head, and several others burned out. More important, the victims: Agence France-Presse correspondents on the scene saw dozens of bodies. One man who responded to the explosion told the outlet he had collected the eyes, arms, legs and heads of the deceased, in AFPs words. Video confirmed by the Associated Press showed hospital grounds strewn with torn bodies, many of them young children. A Palestinian Red Crescent paramedic told The New York Times in an article published Wednesday that there are still lots of bodies they havent yet collected. Some victims, unidentified and in pieces, would likely be buried in numbered body bags, he said. One man, Abu Muhammad Al-Turkman, lost five children and his wife in the explosion, +972 Magazine reported. One of his relatives said Al-Turkman was incapable of distinguishing one body part from another as he collected the pieces of his family, according to the report. Yet another Gazan sheltering at the hospital at the time, Muhammad Al-Dahdar, told the magazine, It was dark and there was fire everywhere, and a smell of blood and burned meat. I felt like I was stepping on body parts. I emphasize these grisly details, first, because they show the true nature of this conflict. Hamas military incursion and ongoing shelling aimed at Israel, and Israels ongoing airstrikes aimed at the Gaza Strip not to mention ongoing violence in the West Bank have resulted primarily in the deaths of civilians, and thousands of them. Second, these details took hours, or even days, to establish. Reporting from the Gaza Strip is nearly impossible due to Israels airstrikes and ongoing blockade of the area. Trustworthy information is scarce; numerous journalists have been killed in recent days. When an Australian broadcaster asked an Israeli military spokesperson what sort of protection Israel could provide to independent journalists in Gaza so we can have a clearer picture, he didnt directly answer the question. So when the hospital was hit Tuesday, news organizations including HuffPost, which republished Associated Press reporting went with what they knew. At the time, in the so-called fog of war, that was very little: Palestinian authorities claimed an Israeli airstrike had hit the hospital. Since then, Israel has rejected blame, pointing to video footage that officials say shows a misfire from Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a militant group in the Gaza Strip. Some independent analysis may back up that view or, more specifically, that the damage at the hospital was not consistent with a typical Israeli airstrike but the truth, on either side, is far from established. Eventually, with Israels denials, early headlines which blared that an Israeli airstrike at the hospital had killed hundreds, according to Palestinian authorities were softened and further hedged, reflecting the blame-trading between sides. The articles themselves largely made clear that news organizations hadnt confirmed key details, including the deathtoll, but the narrative had been set: News consumers often just skim headlines. Some, like reporter and media critic Parker Molloy, argued that news organizations should change the structure of their headlines even though the initial headlines were true, that Palestinian officials were blaming Israel. Molloy said such formulations amounted to a technicality, and news organizations seeking readers trust ought to be clearer when they are merely relaying an unverified claim. Batya Ungar-Sargon, Newsweeks opinion editor, articulated the most extreme criticism: Nearly every legacy media outlet in the country eagerly swallowed a blood libel peddled by baby mutilating butchers just weeks after they committed a massacre because it allowed these journalists to recast Jews as the perpetrators instead of the victims, she wrote. Were the initial headlines misleading? Are news organizations obliged to report what they know, when they know it? Should they have waited to include Israels denial? Should they have reported on the mere existence of a blast, without mentioning the source at all? Unfortunately, there will be ample opportunity to try answers to these questions as the killing continues. But at least two key news outlets, for what its worth, stand by their coverage. During any breaking news event, we report what we know as we learn it, a New York Times spokesperson told HuffPost in a statement. We apply rigor and care to what we publish, explicitly citing sources and noting when a piece of news is breaking and likely to be updated. And as the facts on the ground become more clear, we continue reporting. Our extensive and continued reporting on the hospital in Gaza makes explicit the murkiness surrounding the events there. A Reuters spokesperson said it was standard practice to publish statements and claims made by sources about news in the public interest, while simultaneously working to verify and seek information from every side. We make it clear to our readers that these are claims made by a source, rather than facts reported by Reuters. In the specific instance of the fast-breaking news about the attack on the hospital in Gaza, we added precise details and attribution to our stories as quickly as we could. The Associated Press didnt respond to HuffPosts request for comment. Ultimately, the tragedy in the media back-and-forth was its success in turning attention away from the Gazans hurt and killed by the explosion. The same could be said for the wave of false claims that have spread on social media not only about this explosion, but about other incidents throughout the war, pushed by propagandists and shameless social media entrepreneurs. Both Israelis and Palestinians know how essential it is to document war atrocities: The Holocaust and the Nakba are central elements of both groups respective histories, and politicians from either side have pursuedmeasures against denying that history. The volleying over headlines this week is no doubt a continuation of that awareness, of the desperation to keep count of the dead and assert the importance of their lives on the world stage. Im thinking now not of the hospital strike, but of a 4-year-old boy, said to be named Omar Bilal Al-Banna, whose dead body was filmed in Gazas al-Shifa Hospital on Oct. 12 by the Palestinian journalist Momen El Halabi. Soon after, the Israeli government claimed that footage of the boy instead showed a doll a prop, a terrorist fraud. Weandothers reported on El Halabis denials of these claims and on the lack of evidence to support Israels allegation. But the Israeli government has not acknowledged any error, and its assertion is still public on its social media pages. It is to Omar and everyone else under a bomb, or held hostage at gunpoint, that my colleagues and I owe our loyalty. I only hope were up for the challenge. A new book details how Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) concluded that Donald Trump isnt the sharpest tool in the shed despite efforts by some in the former presidents circle seeking to convince him otherwise, including his son-in-law, Jared Kushner . The 2012 Republican presidential nominee initially vacillated on the subject of the presidents intelligence, author McKay Coppins wrote in Romney: A Reckoning, per an excerpt of the forthcoming book obtained by HuffPost. Kushner had once told Romney that his father-in-law was being strategic by acting obscenely because it drew attention to his message and helped rally supporters to his side. But Romney eventually concluded Trumps wildest claims werent the product of some master scheme, but rather the mind of a third grader. I think hes not smart. I mean, really not smart, Romney said of Trump at one point, according to the book. Its like, how is that possible for someone over the second or third grade to think that? he said after Trump suggested that Americans inject themselves with bleach as a treatment for COVID-19 during a White House press briefing in the early days of the 2020 pandemic. Reckoning is based on dozens of interviews Coppins conducted with Romney, who recently announced he wont be seeking reelection next year. In it, the senator unleashes on Trump and other members of his own party, including fellow GOP senators, for putting their political ambitions ahead of the best interests of the nation. The book also details a phone call Trump made to Romney after he announced his campaign for Senate in 2018. (Trump endorsed Romneys bid at the time despite Romneys criticisms of Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign. Romney had accepted the endorsement, but their relationship soured soon after, with the senator ultimately voting to boot Trump from office twice.) On the call, Romney and a campaign aide stifled in laughter as Trump boasted about his follower count on Twitter, now rebranded as X, and mixed up units of measurement in bragging about his administrations rollback of a public lands declaration in Utah. Romney isnt the first Republican who holds a dim view of Trumps mind. Many of Trumps own administration members have spoken out about their former bosss intelligence: White House chief of staff John Kelly reportedly called Trump an idiot, former economic adviser Gary Cohn said Trump was dumb as shit, and former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in July 2017 called Trump a moron. Trump is the undisputed front-runner in the race for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. Coppins book, Reckoning, hits stores Oct. 24. Related... Doctors in Gaza have shared the horrors of trying to save lives in a warzone, amid warnings healthcare services are under attack as the conflict deepens. The World Health Organisation says there were 136 attacks on healthcare - including injured workers, damaged ambulances and facilities - in Gaza and the West Bank in the ten days since Hamas launched its attack on Israel on 7 October. The WHO told the Independent Gazas health system is on its knees, with the Ministry of Health in Gaza reporting four hospitals are now out of service due to airstrikes including Beit Hanoun, Hamad Rehabilitation, Karama and Durrah. Hundreds of children have been killed by Israeli air strikes since fighting broke out on 7 Oct (Anadolu via Getty Images) Days after an explosion at the Al Ahli hospital in Gaza, both sides dispute the cause and the scale of the devastation. Palestinian officials claim 471 people were killed on Tuesday, blaming an Israeli airstrike, while Israel says the death toll was significantly lower and believes a failed Islamic Jihad rocket launch was the cause. A US intelligence report claims the death toll was anywhere between 100 and 300 people. British surgeon Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah, working at Al Ahli when the blast occurred, described the chaos that ensued. There was an almighty screech followed by an explosion, he said. The light from the fire lit up the whole courtyard and you could see it was full of bodies and bits of bodies. There were screaming people everywhere. One guy had his leg blown off at the thigh, I used his belt as a tourniquet. Palm trees were on fire. Cars and ambulances were destroyed. Hundreds of Palestinians were sheltering with their family in the Al Ahli Hospital after being displaced (AP) Dr Ghassan is a British surgeon in Gaza and says that forty percent of casualties they are treating at Al Shifa hospital are children (Medical Aid Palestine) Insecurity Insight, an independent organisation supporting aid agencies with data on attacks on healthcare during conflict, reported 94 attacks across both sides, with 90 of these said to have taken place in Gaza and the West Bank. There have been four documented attacks on healthcare by Hamas militants in Israel. Dr Michael Ryan, executive director of the WHO health emergencies programme, called for an end to attacks on medics who are just trying to save lives. Healthcare is not the target, it should never be a target of anyone in conflict, he said. That is enshrined in international humanitarian law. Were seeing this breached again and again and again over the last week and it has to stop. We cannot leave doctors and nurses to make the choices theyre having to make. It is inhuman. A relative of a Palestinian killed in an airstrike mourns at a hospital in Rafah (AFP via Getty Images) On 14 October, Israel ordered 22 hospitals in northern Gaza to evacuate as they prepared for an increase in military action in the region through land, air and sea. Doctors on the ground found themselves bound by duty to resist evacuation orders which the UN has called a death sentence. One medic, Dr Ahmed Muhanna, says he regularly gets calls from Israeli forces demanding hospital premises are evacuated in preparation for an attack. Ive stopped picking up their calls now, he told The Independent. How can we evacuate all of these people? Its impossible. Where can we go? Nowhere is safe. Its wrong by all laws of humanity and ethics. Its a crime. My team and I have taken an oath to help these people. We will not leave them. We will stay. Broken windows due to the effects of Israeli shelling at the Jabaliyya Hospital (AWDA) Medics report damage to facilities as a result of Israeli shelling (AWDA) He says that 75 per cent of the people at the hospitals he overseas across Jabaliyya and Awda in northern Gaza are women and children. I have their documents, their ID and photos of every single patient if you want evidence. Every person here is a civilian. While supporting patients at Jabaliyya Hospital, Dr Muhanna says surrounding residential buildings were struck killing four of his medical staff including their children and families. One of the nurses told me shed see me tomorrow, shed be back in work, he said. While she slept, she was killed with her husband and kids. The attacks have damaged our facilities here too. One part of the building has had walls and ceilings fallen in. Eleven people were injured including a 13 year-old girl with shrapnel injuries. Thats not even to mention the mental health impact on patients. Medics report dozens of attacks on facilities since 7 October including AWDA Primary Health Centre (pictured) (AWDA) The situation is exacerbated by the total siege on Gaza that has severed power and water supplies in the enclave, leaving the health system on its knees, according to the WHO. The situation in Gaza is deteriorating very fast, a WHO spokesperson told The Independent. Hospitals are doing all they can to keep the most critical functions running due to fuel shortage. Many lifesaving medicines have run out, doctors are having to operate on patients without anesthesia. What little is left will run out in a few days. WHO is concerned about disease outbreaks due to poor water and sanitation and estimated displacement of one million people. Medical agencies are also eager to stress attacks have pre-dated the Hamas incursion. Medical Aid for Palestinians said aid workers in the West Bank asked for protective gear including bullet proof vests and helmets months ago. They go out in the morning and they kiss their kids goodbye because they genuinely dont know if they will make it home by the end of the day, MAPs Rohan Talbot said. The United States vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution on Wednesday that would have called for humanitarian pauses in the conflict to allow humanitarian aid access to the Gaza Strip. Israel has said it will allow no aid from its own territory to reach Gaza until more than 200 hostages captured by the gunmen are set free, a position Palestinians say amounts to unlawful collective punishment of the civilian population. So far more than 1,400 people are now believed to have died from the Hamas attacks. As of Friday, 3,785 Palestinians have been killed including more than 1,500 children, Palestinian officials say. The North Thurston Public Schools board on Thursday approved a 10-year lease with the nonprofit Bezos Academy, an early learning endeavor founded by Jeff Bezos , the man who brought us the online retailer Amazon. The tuition-free, all-day, year-round preschool with wrap-around day care services is now set to occupy three classrooms at Seven Oaks Elementary in Lacey. The Bezos Academy Lacey Southeast will serve 60 students, said Troy Oliver, assistant superintendent of operations, after Thursdays board meeting. Although tuition-free, students are selected through a lottery. Families who earn up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level can apply. Thats around $100,000 a year for a family of four, according to an example shared by Oliver. Instruction at the school also is Montessori-inspired learning, which the academy describes on its website. These principles include children having choice in their work, maintaining a prepared environment, and using a childs interests and movement to support learning and cognition, the site reads. We believe that these principles, among others, promote creativity, independence, collaboration, and leadership. The academy will pay $1 in rent per year, but will pay all utilities, pay to renovate the space, hire staff and create its own entrance at Seven Oaks, Oliver said. That work will begin next April. The school is expected to open in 2025. How did the Bezos Academy connect with the school district? More than 18 months ago, the district reached out to a contact at the academy about the Young Child and Family Center. Thats the proposed multipurpose facility that intends to serve children and families on former ball fields near Nisqually Middle School. The school district, the city of Lacey and South Sound YMCA are the key partners in that proposal. The contact at Bezos Academy has attended Young Child and Family Center meetings, Oliver said, and as the district learned more about them and they learned more about us, it finally resulted in the agreement at Seven Oaks, he said. The early learning need in the Lacey area is real. According to recent school district data, 500 children who entered North Thurston kindergarten programs, had no prior preschool learning, Oliver said. Quality preschool programs can be hard to access, either due to to cost or capacity, and this will open the door to school readiness for even more children in our community, said NTPS board president Gretchen Maliska in a statement. She was unable to attend Thursdays school board meeting. The partners also want the Young Child and Family Center to have an early learning component, and theres a chance that the Bezos Academy is part of the project, Oliver said. He said the academy, rather than opening stand-alone locations, prefers to partner with an existing structure. For example in Centralia, the academy there has partnered with the United Way Learning Center of Lewis County. As of October 2023, there are 17 Bezos Academy schools in Washington state, Texas and Florida, according to a news release. Providence nurses in Everett now have the option of going on strike if the union cant strike a deal with the hospital. On Thursday, 97% of nurses voted to authorize the negotiation tactic. We spoke to several nurses who say the hospital has a long list of problems, including understaffing, low pay, and a lack of benefits. They warn that its both the employees and patients who pay the price for that too. Patients sit in the lobby for hours, nightshift nurse Tricia Carlson said. I bet at least half to 75% of patients that come into the emergency room dont even see the patients room, they are seen out in our lobby. This comes in the same week that the family of a woman who reportedly died after waiting four hours for care at Providence filed a lawsuit against the hospital. We spoke to a former Providence nurse who said wait times like that are not uncommon there. Is four hours unheard of? No, not at all, she asserted. To clarify, the vote gives nurses the option to strike. They would still have to submit a 10-day notice to the hospital if they did choose to walk out. Nursing student Gina Bryant. A University of Michigan-Flint nursing student was fatally shot in a murder-suicide after being kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend, who was a resident doctor, police said. Gina Bryant, 25, was fatally shot at a truck stop in LaSalle, Illinois, by her ex-boyfriend, Justin Wendling, 26, who later killed himself hundreds of miles away in Iowa, the Macomb County Sheriffs Office said in a press release. Police said Bryant was last seen on Oct. 12 by co-workers who grew concerned when she did not return after going home for her lunch break. They then began receiving odd text messages from her phone, authorities said. A neighbors surveillance footage showed Wendling had entered Bryants home and was waiting for her when she returned home for lunch, then captured him leading her to his car, authorities said. The next day, Wendling called his parents and told them he had killed Bryant and was going to kill himself, authorities said. The parents called law enforcement, who then found Bryants body at the truck stop in LaSalle. Surveillance footage and witnesses confirmed that Wendling had shot and killed her before fleeing. Wendlings vehicle was later located in Bettendorf, Iowa. As local police approached his car, he shot and killed himself, authorities said. Unfortunately, the MCSO is seeing an uptick of Domestic Violence cases. These incidents are tragic not only to the victims & survivors, but to family members as well, Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said in the statement. Please, if you or someone you know is in an unsafe situation, do not hesitate to reach out. Speaking to The Detroit News, Bryants mother and sister said that she and Wendling had been in a relationship for about 11 months and moved in together, but Bryant moved out at the end of September and told them that he had been abusing her. She was very beautiful, down-to-earth, giving woman, Bryants sister told the outlet. She could brighten up a day with just her smile. Shed give you the shirt off your back. She was caring and compassionate. Friends and family have also posted on social media honoring the aspiring nurses legacy by sharing memories and heartfelt words. Your smile and hugs were so welcoming to us always, one friend wrote. We loved hearing you join in the laughter with us when we laughed at Nonas goofiness or just the craziness of our get togethers. According to an email to students in Bryants cohort and faculty sent by Cynthia McCurren, the Dean of University of Michigan-Flints School of Nursing, Bryant was in her senior year and enrolled in the schools accelerated BSN program. There are truly no words to fully capture the anguish that losses like this cause our community, McCurren said. Gina was an extraordinary young woman with much ahead of her. I am personally struggling to make sense of this horrible news as I imagine many of you will be doing as well. In a statement to HuffPost, Ascension Genesys Hospital, where Wendling was an obstetrics and gynecology resident, said it was fully cooperating with law enforcement during the investigation. Ascension Genesys Hospital has recently learned of the death of one of our residents, the statement read. Emotional and spiritual support services are being offered to staff and providers during this difficult time. CORRECTION: This article initially stated Gina Bryant was killed in Michigan; she was killed in Illinois, according to authorities. Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Judges have been accused of doing some wild things in court, but this is by far the craziest. In 2015, upstate New York judge Robert J. Putorti was overseeing a court hearing involving a Black defendant. Nothing out of the ordinary for a judge to do right? Except, when a Black man approached the stand too quickly, Judge Putorti pulled a loaded gun on him in court. Read more The Black man was in court over an unpaid fine. More from the Associated Press: The high court affirmed the state Commission on Judicial Conducts removal of Putorti, and noted the former judges description of the defendant exploited a classic and common racist trope that Black men are inherently threatening or dangerous, exhibiting bias or, at least, implicit bias. Putortis termination was also made easier by the fact that he participated in fundraising events that were illegal for New York State judges to attend. This occurred while he was being investigated for the loaded gun incident. According to the New York State Court of Appeals investigation, the fundraising occurring during the investigation showed, an unwillingness or inability to abide by the Rules of Judicial Conduct. More from The Root Sign up for The Root's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. (The Hill) A New York judge on Friday fined former President Trump $5,000 after a derogatory post about the judges principal clerk was not removed from the 2024 candidates campaign website, despite a clear order from the judge. Judge Arthur Engoron did not hold Trump in contempt of court, but warned that further violation of the gag order he imposed after Trumps Truth Social account made the post could result in serious punishment, including steeper financial penalties, contempt or even jail time. Donald Trump has received ample warning from this Court as to the possible repercussions of violating the gag order, Engoron said. He specifically acknowledged that he understood and would abide by it. Chesebro becomes second Trump lawyer to plead guilty in Georgia Accordingly, issuing yet another warning is no longer appropriate; this Court is way beyond the warning stage, he added. The post, posted on Trumps account while he sat just feet away from the clerk, derided her as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumers (D-N.Y.) girlfriend and included personally identifying information about her. Once Engoron became aware of the post, he issued a limited gag order barring Trump or any other party in the case from posting or speaking publicly about members of his staff. He also ordered Trump to delete the post, and while it was removed from his Truth Social account, it remained on his campaign website for 17 days. In court Friday, Trump lawyer Chris Kise blamed the very large machine of Trumps presidential campaign for allowing his deleted social media post to remain on his website, calling it an unintentional oversight. Engoron acknowledged Trumps assertion that the post staying up was inadvertent and said he would give him the benefit of the doubt. However, the gag order was still violated, he said, warning that in the current overheated climate, incendiary untruths can, and in some cases already have, led to serious physical harm, and worse. Anti-McCarthy Republicans say theyll accept conference punishment if holdouts vote for Jordan Trump, the Trump Organization and the former presidents two adult sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump are on trial in Manhattan after New York Attorney General Letitia Jamess office filed a lawsuit against them last year alleging decades of fraud. It claims the Trump Organization falsely inflated and deflated the value of its assets to receive lower taxes and better insurance coverage. Trump has denied any wrongdoing, describing the case as a politically motivated witch hunt and both James and the trial judge as biased against him. His repeated attacks against them echo the attacks he has lodged against judges and prosecutors in his other cases. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan issued a limited gag order earlier this week against Trump in his federal case over efforts to overturn the 2020 election after the former president made similarly inflammatory remarks about people tied to that case. Trump faces a combined 91 charges across four criminal indictments and is a party in several other civil cases. Those legal matters are expected to head to trial next year amid the former presidents 2024 White House bid. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. NEW CITY A 24-year-old New York City man has pleaded guilty to propositioning a person he thought was a 13-year-old girl and setting up a hotel meeting during a social media chat. Dylan Choe pleaded guilty to first-degree disseminating indecent material to minors. He also attempted to meet with the person at a hotel in Rockland, according to the Rockland District Attorney's Office. Choe engaged in what became a sexually explicit conversation on social media with a person he was led to believe was a 13-year-old girl, District Attorney Thomas Walsh said in a news release. The other person was actually a District Attorneys Office undercover investigator working a social media platform. As their conversation advanced, Choe made arrangements for the two to meet at a Rockland hotel. On Jan. 19, Choe checked into the hotel and waited. Instead of a young girl showing up, law enforcement officers arrested Choe, Walsh's statement said. Choe pleaded guilty on Oct. 16 during his arraignment before County Court Judge Kevin Russo, who scheduled sentencing for Jan. 17. Russo also has scheduled a hearing for Jan. 17 on Choe's risk level and precautions to be taken. Choe has been released without bail pending sentencing. Arrest part of ongoing sting operation Our office remains committed to ensuring the safety of innocent children in our community," Walsh said. "This case is a clear warning to all that predatory behavior will be pursued relentlessly and brought to justice. Assistant District Attorney Michael Delohery is prosecuting. Choe's guilty plea is the latest in an ongoing cybercrime sting operation launched by the District Attorneys Office in 2022, according to the release. In December, investigators arrested seven men for sex crimes following a separate operation called Operation Catfish. The District Attorney's Office has been a member of the Internet Crimes Against Children since 2020. The ICAC is a national network of 61 coordinated task forces, representing over 5,400 federal, state, and local law enforcement, dedicated to investigating, prosecuting, and developing effective responses to internet crimes against children. Steve Lieberman covers government, breaking news, courts, police, and investigations. Reach him at slieberm@lohud.com. Twitter: @lohudlegal. Read more articles and bio. Our local coverage is only possible with support from our readers. This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NYC man admits soliciting Rockland cop posing as girl on social media What would your internet searches reveal about you if others could scrutinize and second-guess them? It's something to think about, given that the big search engines, like Google, store search histories and make them available to the authorities. In fact, as happened in a recently decided Colorado case, police can start from search terms of interest and pressure tech companies to surrender the identities of anyone who has surfed for specified keywords. The decision is chilling for anybody who has ever pondered their online history in the hands of a strangeror who just cares about privacy. Open Season on Internet Searches "Today, the Colorado Supreme Court became the first state supreme court in the country to address the constitutionality of a keyword warranta digital dragnet tool that allows law enforcement to identify everyone who searched the internet for a specific term or phrase," Jennifer Lynch and Andrew Crocker of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) reported on Monday. "The case is People v. Seymour, which involved a tragic home arson that killed several people. Police didn't have a suspect, so they used a keyword warrant to ask Google for identifying information on anyone and everyone who searched for variations on the home's street address in the two weeks prior to the arson." In the Seymour case, the majority opinion, written by Justice William W. Hood, III, conceded that the warrant was "constitutionally defective" because it lacked individualized probably cause. The majority found that defendant Gavin Seymour "has a constitutionally protected privacy interest in his Google search history even when revealed only in connection with his IP address and not his name and that, under both the Colorado Constitution and the Fourth Amendment, he also has a constitutionally protected possessory interest in that same history." Importantly, "law enforcement's copying of Seymour's Google search history meaningfully interfered with his possessory interest in that data and constituted a seizure subject to constitutional protection." The majority also allowed that Seymour's "search history implicates his right to freedom of expression." Ultimately, though, the four-justice majority ruled that "law enforcement obtained and executed the warrant in good faith, so the evidence shouldn't be suppressed under the exclusionary rule." Wait. What? "Until today, no court had established that individuals have a constitutionally protected privacy interest in their Google search history," the majority added. It's more or less the same reasoning as you find behind qualified immunity. Sure, constitutional rights were violated. But how were the police to know? Well, maybe because the excessively broad nature of the search should have been obvious to anybody who has even a passing acquaintance with the Constitution. It Was a "Fishing Expedition," Warns the Dissent "The warrant was so facially deficient that it forecloses application of the good-faith exception to the exclusionary rule," Justice Monica M. Marquez objected in the dissent. "As the majority admits, the warrant was not based on individualized probable cause with respect to any Google user." Law enforcement officers should have known they were engaged in a "fishing expedition," she noted. Marquez went on to warn that "by authorizing law enforcement to rummage through the private search histories of a billion individuals for potential evidence of criminal activity, reverse-keyword warrants permit exactly what the Fourth Amendment forbids. They are tantamount to a high-tech version of the reviled 'general warrants' that first gave rise to the protections in the Fourth Amendment." "I anticipate that reverse-keyword warrants will swiftly become the investigative tool of first resort," Marquez added. "Because, why not? It's a tantalizingly easy shortcut to generating a list of potential suspects." Your Searches Could Attract Official Attention That list of potential suspects could be anybody who drops a keyword or phrase into a search engine that retains such information (more about that in a moment). That might be a writer looking for "how-to" information on bomb-making for the purposes of a novel. It could be somebody looking up an unfamiliar term after hearing news of a horrific event. Or it might be a matter of satisfying curiosity. It shouldn't matter why you might want to expand your knowledge; you ought not run the risk of being scooped up and questioned by the cops just because you decided to find out what the hell "tentacle porn" is a few days before an especially bizarre crime. Or because you used the internet to learn about things some politicians don't like. "Keyword warrants not only have the potential to implicate innocent people, they allow the government to target people for sensitive search terms like the drug mifepristone, or the names of gender-affirming healthcare providers, or information about psychedelic drugs," EFF's Lynch and Crocker point out. "Even searches that refer to crimes or acts of terror are not themselves criminal in all or even most cases (otherwise historians, reporters, and crime novelists could all be subject to criminal investigation)." Both EFF and the dissent emphasize that the Colorado Seymour decision authorizing keyword searches is weak. The majority opinion offers plenty of ground for other courts to come to different conclusions that not only recognize constitutional protections, but also apply them without carving out exceptions. Shield Your Online Activity Until then, though, and because everybody's favorite search engine, Google, has a history of surrendering information on internet searches to the powers-that-be, it's wise to patronize competitors that don't maintain such histories. If the information doesn't exist, it can't be surrendered to the authorities. "DuckDuckGo doesn't have any search histories by design and, bc of that, has had 0 search warrants (of any kind) since our founding in 2008," the internet firm boasted on what used to be Twitter in 2021. The company's respect for privacy is a major element of its marketing. PC Mag rates Brave Search well, too, along with the company's privacy-focused Brave browser. In fact, linking a privacy-respecting browser with an anonymous search engine and, perhaps, a virtual private network that encrypts internet traffic is a good way to shield online activities from prying eyes. No approach is perfect, so check the effectiveness of your efforts with EFF's Cover Your Tracks tool. Technology is evolving faster than the legal system can keep up. In fact, Colorado Justice Maria E. Berkenkotter, who ultimately concurred with the Seymour opinion, complained that "for the majority, tech seems not to have blended search and seizure so much as it has blurred search and seizure." Until the courts catch up with the changing world, whenever that may happen, anybody concerned about privacy will have to take steps to protect themselves where the law isn't ready to step in. The post Odd Colorado Ruling Upholds Internet Keyword Search Warrant appeared first on Reason.com. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) The Oklahoma Attorney General has filed a lawsuit over the controversial religious public charter school, saying it violates the state and U.S. Constitutions. Attorney General Gentner Drummond brought the suit against the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board for approving what would be the nations first religious charter school funded by public tax dollars. The board members who approved this contract have violated the religious liberty of every Oklahoman by forcing us to fund the teachings of a specific religious sect with our tax dollars, Drummond said. Today, Oklahomans are being compelled to fund Catholicism. Because of the legal precedent created by the Boards actions, tomorrow we may be forced to fund radical Muslim teachings like Sharia law. In fact, Governor Stitt has already indicated that he would welcome a Muslim charter school funded by our tax dollars. That is a gross violation of our religious liberty. As the defender of Oklahomas religious freedoms, I am prepared to litigate this issue to the United States Supreme Court if thats what is required to protect our Constitutional rights. Earlier this week, the chairman of the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board refused to sign the contract allowing the nations first religious online public charter school because it was unconstitutional. Dr. Robert Franklin said he was adamant that the school, paid for by Oklahoma tax dollars, was not legal. I signed an oath that said I would uphold the states constitution. And this contract I feel violates that, said Franklin. It also violates the charter school law. In June, the board voted 3-2 to approve the application for St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual Charter School. The Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and Diocese of Tulsa attempted application approval earlier this year. The Charter School Act is pretty clear that you cannot establish a charter school with religious affiliation or religious curriculum, said Karen Heineman, with the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Brett Farley is the executive director of Catholic Conference of Oklahoma. He said the school would run like a Catholic school and simply be another option for parents. The Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma told News 4 Tuesday that they signed the contract and were not waiting on the board to move forward, stating that their next step was to continue the process of building the school in preparation for our planned launch in the Fall of 2024. The lawsuit was filed with the Oklahoma State Supreme Court and says the state Constitution expressly prohibits sectarian control of public schools. The suit also says the proposed school impinges on religious liberty by violating the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. You may remember in 2016 Oklahoma voters overwhelmingly rejected amending the state Constitution which would have allowed public money to be used by sectarian organizations. We applaud Attorney General Drummond for his efforts to protect church-state separation and public education in Oklahoma. The law is clear: Charter schools are public schools that must be secular and serve all students. St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School plans to discriminate against students, families, and staff and indoctrinate students into one religion. Allowing a religious public charter school like St. Isidore to operate would be a sea change for our democracy. Americans United for Separation of Church and State Attorney General Drummonds lawsuit employs the language of fear and discrimination, twists the law of religious liberty beyond recognition, and ignores the very real successes of faith based schools in our country. Sadly, he also attempts to pit people of different faiths against each other. Religious freedom for all is a cornerstone of our society. We are optimistic that the court will see this lawsuit for what it is: a baseless attempt to enforce exactly the kind of religious discrimination that the Supreme Court has made clear the First Amendment forbids. We hope that the lawsuit will resolve quickly so that St. Isidore can focus instead on its critical mission to open the door to a new and innovative learning opportunity to those families and children most in need. St. Isidore of Seville Virtual School In addition to the new lawsuit filed against the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board, the Americans United for Separation of Church and State as well as several other groups filed a separate lawsuit in June. Were really upset about St. Isidore because were really worried for our nation and our democracy. Whats happening with the approval of the nations first religious public charter school is un-American. A breach of church, state separation and the undermining of our public schools and, you know, honestly, its happening here in Oklahoma right now. But tomorrow it could happen everywhere, all across the country, said the President and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Rachel Laser on Friday. Laser told KFOR Americans United is not against faith, but it is against protecting each individuals freedom of religion. Our public schools are state government sort of machines really, that, you know, have a lot of power and need to uphold our countrys promise of religious freedom, which is guaranteed by our First Amendment and guaranteed by the Oklahoma state constitution. The Oklahoma state constitution actually states that public schools have to be nonsectarian, non-religious, and also states that taxpayer dollars cant fund religion, explained Laser. She added litigation is part of the path to stopping St. Isidore from fully taking flight, but said Oklahomans need to project their voices. The people across this country, not just the people in Oklahoma, [need] to wake up to how serious these threats are, not just to church, state separation, but to our public schools and to our democracy, said Laser. I think religious extremists have been playing the long game, trying to take tax dollars for religious indoctrination, trying to divert tax dollars to private religious education and religious extremists. And their lawmaker allies have been emboldened by recent Supreme Court decisions. The ultra conservative majority on the Supreme Court has ruled many times in recent years to undermine church, state separation in the realm of public schools. Laser said she believes AU and the other groups involved have a strong case against St. Isidore. Its so clear from [Oklahoma] law that charter schools are public schools. Its so clear in our Constitution that public schools have to be non-sectarian. I think thats why youre seeing your Republican Attorney General say absolutely not, stated Laser. State Superintendent Ryan Walters released the following statement on Friday regarding the lawsuit: The Constitution is crystal clear on religious liberty, but that fundamental truth is lost on some people. Oklahomans hold their faith and their liberty sacred, and atheism should not be the state-sponsored religion. We should not play politics with the future of our kids through this misguided lawsuit. Oklahoma parents know what is best for their kids and deserve the most expansive system of school choice in the country so they can make the right decision for their families. The approval of St. Isidore of Seville is a landmark in the battle for educational and religious freedom, and I am proud that Oklahoma is leading the way. We will never back down. State Superintendent Ryan Walters For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. FILE - Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond stands during the playing of the national anthem at the inauguration ceremonies, Jan. 9, 2023, in Oklahoma City. Oklahoma's Republican Attorney General Gentner Drummond on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, sued to stop a state board from establishing and funding what would be the nation's first religious public charter school after the board ignored Drummond's warning that it would violate both the state and U.S. constitutions. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) Oklahoma's Republican Attorney General Gentner Drummond on Friday sued to stop a state board from establishing and funding what would be the nation's first religious public charter school after the board ignored Drummond's warning that it would violate both the state and U.S. constitutions. Drummond filed the lawsuit with the Oklahoma Supreme Court against the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board after three of the board's members this week signed a contract for the St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual Charter School, which is sponsored by the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. Make no mistake, if the Catholic Church were permitted to have a public virtual charter school, a reckoning will follow in which this state will be faced with the unprecedented quandary of processing requests to directly fund all petitioning sectarian groups, the lawsuit states. The school board voted 3-2 in June to approve the Catholic Archdiocese's application to establish the online public charter school, which would be open to students across the state in kindergarten through grade 12. In its application, the Archdiocese said its vision is that the school participates in the evangelizing mission of the Church and is the privileged environment in which Christian education is carried out. The approval of a publicly funded religious school is the latest in a series of actions taken by conservative-led states that include efforts to teach the Bible in public schools, and to ban books and lessons about race, sexual orientation and gender identity. Oklahoma's Constitution specifically prohibits the use of public money or property from being used, directly or indirectly, for the use or benefit of any church or system of religion. Nearly 60% of Oklahoma voters rejected a proposal in 2016 to remove that language from the Constitution. A message left Friday with Rebecca Wilkinson, the executive director of the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board, was not immediately returned, although Wilkinson has said previously she wouldn't comment on pending litigation. A group of Oklahoma parents, faith leaders and a public education nonprofit already filed a lawsuit in district court in July seeking to stop St. Isidore from operating as a charter school in Oklahoma. That case is pending. Oklahoma's Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt , who earlier this year signed a bill that would give parents public funds to send their children to private schools, including religious schools, criticized Drummond's lawsuit as a political stunt. AG Drummond seems to lack any firm grasp on the constitutional principle of religious freedom and masks his disdain for the Catholics pursuit by obsessing over non-existent schools that dont neatly align with his religious preference," Stitt said in a statement. Drummond defeated Stitt's hand-picked attorney general in last year's GOP primary and the two Republicans have clashed over Stitt's hostile position toward many Native American tribes in the state. The AG's lawsuit also suggests that the board's vote could put at risk more than $1 billion in federal education dollars that Oklahoma receives that require the state to comply with federal laws that prohibit a publicly funded religious school. Not only is this an irreparable violation of our individual religious liberty, but it is an unthinkable waste of our tax dollars, Drummond said in a statement. The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, a nonprofit organization that supports the public charter school movement, released a statement Friday in support of Drummond's challenge. UPDATE: KC police have identified the victim in this shooting as 33-year-old Roygerick Harris. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Kansas City police are investigating a double shooting Thursday night after one person was injured and another was killed. A KCPD spokesperson said the shooting happened around 7 p.m. near 31st Street and Woodland Avenue. Leavenworth police investigate suspicious death of 1-year-old Police said officers were already in the area when the shooting call went out. They found one victim inside a car and another in the street. Medics took the victim in the car to a nearby hospital in critical condition. The victim found in the street was pronounced dead on scene. Information about what led up to the deadly shooting was not immediately available. Police do not have a suspect in custody at this time but dont believe theres an immediate risk to the public. FOX4 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox This is Kansas Citys 150th homicide of the year. At this point last year, Kansas City had recorded 142 homicides, according to KCPD data. Anyone with information is asked to call KCPD detectives at 816-234-5043 or anonymously call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted to the hotline leading to an arrest. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. This guy cares more about getting on Fox News than he does about his job. State Representative Mark McBride, commenting about Ryan Walters Joe Williams Dear Senator Julie Daniels, Representative John Kane and Representative Judd Strom, I would like to ask you where you stand about our State Superintendent of Education, Ryan Walters, but first, permit me to set the stage with a little history. In the 1930s, Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union posted propaganda posters around the country depicting prosperous farmers as pigs. His end game was to take away the land for the state. To do this, he needed the support of the peasants. After all, someone portrayed as a pig is someone whose land begged for the taking. By pitting one group against another, it worked. But the peasants who followed that mindset later ended up being victims as well. Stalin played them. The tyranny of WWII was made possible by many factors, but at the foundation is one that historian Timothy Snyder of Yale University calls anticipatory obedience to a person or a cause. Sound familiar, in principle, to what is happening today? Lets look at this from two different levels of our government: national and the state of Oklahoma. The rioters who attacked the US Capitol to overthrow the election said that they were merely following what their leader former President Trump wanted them to do. When Trump says that General Milley, our highest-ranking military officer, should be put to death for treason, then his followers take that to heart and believe their leader. Violence against poll workers, elected officials, and others takes place by people who believe that is what their leader wants. People are amazingly willing to not only repeat their leaders words but to act on those words. Now lets see how this applies closer to home with Ryan Walters, Oklahomas State Superintendent of Education. From where I sit, Walters is following the same playbook, but hes using public education and teachers as his target. His bombastic and outrageous language paints an inaccurate and dangerous picture of public schools and public school teachers in Oklahoma, calling the teachers union a terrorist organization and insinuating that schools are handing out pornographic material like Halloween candy while planting seeds that teachers are indoctrinating their children with a far-left, anti-American version of history. Such language is taken to heart by those who are already predisposed to it; Stalin used posters to depict successful farmers as pigs, Walters uses language by calling teachers terrorists. Again, Walters is using the same playbook as 1930 Germany. Walters is a strong supporter of vouchers that would hurt public schools by allowing taxpayer money to go to private schools, now perhaps even religious ones. He encouraged a state board to approve what would be the nations first religious charter school, despite an explicit prohibition in the state constitution and the states Republican attorney generals warnings. As the leader of public education in Oklahoma, he appears to be doing everything to take money away from public schools. I believe that Walters and those who support vouchers are doing so to provide for the affluent and to keep the poor and rural students in underfunded public schools. Oklahoma ranks 49th in education and 47th in per-pupil funding. Now is not the time to rob public education in support of private schools. Walters rails against low test scores and places the blame on schools and teachers when he should be going after the State Legislature for not properly funding education over the last 10 years. He should be praising and building teachers up, not blaming them. But this, again, is from his playbook: turn the public against teachers, siphon more money away from public education through vouchers (which creates more private schools which will draw more of the top students and hurt the rural and poorer districts), create an environment of fear and under-appreciation for teachers that will drive them away, then blame it on teachers and Districts by showing that test scores are plummeting and that Districts need to be taken over by the State, which in turn will lead to a loss of local control and more. And this all happens because our legislators are letting it happen by not standing up for public education and the public not understanding what is really happening. The states largest newspaper, The Oklahoman, called on Walters to end the divisive rhetoric or resign from office. Walters is under fire for scores of other reasons: Allegedly lying to the legislative education committee about filing federal grants. I could go on. These are just some. He is using language that alarms people, after all, who could possibly be for pornography in schools, who wants terrorists as teachers, and who wants teachers to indoctrinate their children to a far-left liberal woke agenda? Walters is turning non-issues into issues. Its clear that he sees that being brash gets headlines. Hes building a brand and a following for something next: Governor? Or a national position? Walters has become an issue the Oklahoma Legislature should not ignore. The real question is, why do they not have the courage to confront him? Perhaps Ive missed it, but Ive not seen or read a word from our own three State representatives about him, one way or another. With that, Id like to give them the opportunity to do so, and do so in this public forum, for the sake of transparency for all. Senator Julie Daniels, and Representatives John Kane and Judd Strom, would you be so kind as to respond in a future issue of this newspaper to the following questions: 1. Do you agree with what Walters is doing? If so, why? 2. If not, why not? 3. Have you spoken up publicly about him? If not, why? 4. Will you speak up about his negative behavior in your response to this Op-Ed in this paper? I, for one, am frustrated that Walters is allowed to go unchecked with his outright lies and his retaliatory and hate-filled agenda toward public education and teachers. As such, I am frustrated by what I see as the silence of you, our local representatives, and that of the majority of other Legislators. Walters is creating an environment of powerful disinformation against public education and teachers. He is positioning himself as its savior. Tyrants are born from situations where others do not speak up. As Ive said before, public education in Oklahoma is at a tipping point under Walters. Who in our government has the courage to say enough to him? Do you, our own local state representatives believe he is such a tyrant and needs to be held accountable for the negative environment he is creating in public education and with our teachers? Do you have such courage to speak up? Joe Williams is a management consultant and editorial advisor. He lives in Bartlesville. This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Williams: An open letter to state legislators Daniels, Kane and Strom The News AI startup Hugging Face told Semafor it was aware of the regrettable accessibility issues in China after the country blocked access to the platform, which hosts more than 365,000 open-source artificial intelligence models. The Chinese AI community is incredible and we wish their access to HF was better, but theres not much we can do against government regulations for now, a spokesperson for Hugging Face said in an email on Friday. Its not clear when Hugging Face, a $4.5 billion startup, was first censored by the Peoples Republic. Chinese users have complained about having connectivity issues on the companys forum since as early as May of this year. The newsletter ChinaTalk reported Wednesday that Hugging Face has been fully unavailable in China since at least September 12. Know More Chinese authorities regularly block access to websites featuring content the government considers inappropriate, but its not apparent what triggered the decision to censor Hugging Face. The culprit may be local regulations that went into effect in August requiring companies to register their AI services and ensure they adhere to existing content restrictions. Originally founded in 2016, Hugging Face has become one of the largest beneficiaries of the recent boom in generative AI technology. Developers can use its platform to collaborate on machine learning projects or share datasets. It works similarly to GitHub, a Microsoft-owned site that hosts code repositories. China has also previously blocked access to GitHub or at least some of its webpages, but the site remains periodically accessible, likely because of the important role that it plays in the countrys software engineering ecosystem. Without access to the open-source repositories it hosts, many developers would be unable to perform their job duties. The View From China On the Chinese question-and-answer platform Zhihu earlier this month, users discussed the potential implications of banning Hugging Face in a since-deleted thread. Im really very sad, this is strangling our own competitiveness in todays world of AI quickly increasing productivity, shutting oneself off like this is really determining that, in the AI field at least, we will inevitably be behind, read one of the comments translated by ChinaTalk. Former President Donald Trump, accompanied by members of his legal team, comments outside of his civil business fraud trial at New York Supreme Court on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023, in New York. | Seth Wenig, Associated Press When former President Donald Trump was first asked about the call from some GOP lawmakers for him to serve as the next speaker of the House of Representatives, his response was surprising. All I can say is well do whatever is best for the country and for the Republican Party, Trump said. He added, of course, that hes totally focused on his third bid for the White House and later endorsed Rep. Jim Jordan, whose bid for the post has now failed after three votes, putting Trump back into the conversation again. So what is best for the country? And for the Republican Party? Heres what seems best for the country: Poll after poll after poll says the majority of Americans dont want a 2024 rematch between Trump and President Joe Biden . With Biden and Trump as the front-runners for their parties nominations, one way for Trump to serve the interests of the majority of the country would be to remove himself from consideration by becoming House speaker and not just temporarily, as he has suggested. (He could also decline to seek any kind of elected office, but lets not stray too far into fantasyland.) And whats best for the Republican Party? Obviously, nominating a candidate who can beat Biden next fall. Trump has struggled to perform well against Biden in general election polling matchups. In fact, according to some recent polling, the only Republican candidate who does beat Biden decisively is former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley who, coincidentally, has just leapfrogged Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as the top Trump alternative in early-state GOP contests. Clearly, the best way for Trump to do whatever is best for the country and his party is to suspend his campaign and throw his weight behind someone like Haley (a move he could frame as a natural continuation of his administration, since she served as his United Nations ambassador). But why become House speaker? Related Lets get the more cynical reasons out of the way. Ive written before about my distaste for Trump. I believe the former president craves power and attention, and the speaker of the House is one of the most powerful and influential jobs in the U.S. government. The post would grant Trump a position that is both king and kingmaker, especially over a conference already more aligned with his MAGA movement than the Senate. Additionally, its possible that at least one of the reasons Trump is running for president is to keep himself out of prison. If hes convicted of any of the counts of criminal conduct he faces, hell want someone in the White House whos friendly to the idea of a pardon. Right now, hes betting on himself, but a wobbly dead-heat rematch might not be as sound as, say, a Haley nomination, at least according to those polls. As House speaker, Trump could whip the political clout of an entire conference behind the candidate most likely to beat Biden (in exchange for assurance of pardon, presumably). But lets also give credit where credit is due. I begrudgingly admit that Trumps political strengths could suit him well for this role. He is a prolific fundraiser, an obvious asset to one of the key players in defending vulnerable incumbents and boosting competitive candidates in election years. As a former president, his fundraising network would be larger and better-resourced than any other speaker in history. Hes an effective grassroots organizer, almost entirely reshaping the Republican electorate in just four odd years. Such sway would come in handy when whipping votes and keeping his conference in line. And he has a long, sharp memory useful, if channeled constructively, for familiarizing himself with the ins and outs of a conference more than 200 members strong. Even the historic nature of his speakership he would be the first House speaker to not be a sitting member of the body would be advantageous. He would have no responsibilities to a particular districts constituency, freeing up his staffs time and energy for the administrative and leadership tasks a speaker is usually consumed by anyway. Some have opined that current party rules bar anyone under indictment from serving as speaker. But as the nation observed in January as a condition for now-ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy to claim the gavel, rules can simply be changed at the flip of a switch. Which is why I feel relatively at ease with someone like Trump holding the gavel: if he were to misbehave, it would now be so easy to depose him. As demonstrated this month, it takes only one member to bring forward a motion to vacate the speakership. Even if that threshold were to change to three members, or five, the blockade of opposition to Jordan this week has shown plenty of political will among centrist Republicans, enough to force a vote if Speaker Trump were to seriously step out of line. The American public wouldnt have to wait around for the next presidential election, or for yet another doomed-to-fail impeachment. The political consequences of his antics would be immediate, not stockpiled until the next election. The bull might finally be tamed. To centrist House skeptics: Why not give it a try? If its not working out, you can dispatch him quicker than a reality TV star can say, Youre fired! Theres merit to the idea of Trump turning the page on his presidential ambitions to become potentially the most consequential and politically effective House speaker in U.S. history. Its unlikely, but if he can hang on to the post, he may even have a shot at redeeming, in part, his tarnished political legacy. The only question is whether Trump could stomach sitting behind Biden during next years State of the Union address. Brian Ericson is a political writer based in Salt Lake City. The Capistrano Unified School District, Orange Countys largest, has rejected a parental notification policy that critics say could have led to students being outed as transgender to their families. Unlike those enacted by Orange, Chino Valley, Murrieta Valley, Temecula Valley, Placentia Yorba-Linda and other districts, Capistranos proposal did not specifically mention gender identity. Instead, it would have required schools to notify families if a student was exhibiting symptoms of depression, anxiety, a dramatic shift in academic performance, social withdrawal or other significant changes affecting a students well-being. When pressed on the issue during Wednesday nights school board meeting, Trustee Lisa Davis, who proposed the policy, acknowledged that it could be applied to gender identity, the Orange County Register reported. Chino Valley school board enacts transgender notification policy I ask for your vote to make it clear to parents and guardians that we see them as an integral part of their childs success both academically and in their life, as we combat the real challenges our students are facing, which is no less than a [mental health] epidemic, Davis said. The board rejected the proposal 4-2 after an emotional public comment period that lasted more than an hour. This bill does not do anything to help our mental health, a sophomore at San Juan Hills High School told board members. On the contrary, it destroys the environment from being a safe space that our schools need to be. Parental notification has become a political flash point for many school districts in California and elsewhere. Advocates believe that schools have a responsibility to notify parents of any issue related to their childs mental health. Opponents, however, argue it amounts to the forced outing of students that could jeopardize their safety and well-being at home. In August, California Attorney General Rob Bonta sued the Chino Valley Unified School District to block its policy, which led to a judge issuing a temporary restraining order. Bonta also denounced the Murrieta Valley districts policy as harmful to the well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students. My office remains committed to ensuring school policies do not target or seek to discriminate against Californias most vulnerable communities. California will not stand for violations of our students civil rights, Bonta said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Editors note: Sign up for CNNs Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. If you are looking for a spectacular show this weekend, look up to find the Orionid meteor shower shining bright through Saturday and Sunday night. The shower is expected to peak at 8 p.m. ET Sunday, but visible meteors are expected to streak across the sky all weekend long at a rate of 10 to 20 per hour, according to EarthSky, and can be seen from all parts of the world during the night. The best time to spot a meteor will be in the early hours of the morning, when the radiant, or the point where the meteors appear to originate from in this case constellation Orion is at its highest at around 2 a.m. in any time zone, but Dr. Ashley King, a planetary science researcher with the Natural History Museum in London, said that meteors will start appearing as soon as it gets dark. This weekend, the moon will be in its first quarter phase and will set near midnight, according to the American Meteor Society. That means its luminosity will slightly interfere with meteor visibility, King said. Youll want to wait for the moon to set, he said. Even if youre in a city, you should be able to see a few meteors its really just a case of looking at the sky and being patient. To have the best chance of spotting a meteor, King suggests going outside for at least 10 to 20 minutes before stargazing to let your eyes adjust to the low light. If possible, it is ideal to get away from light pollution and find a spot with a clear view of the dark sky, King said. Dust grains from Comet Halley The Orionid meteors come from one of the most famous comets, Halley, which is currently near the middle of its 76-year orbit around the sun. While the comet wont make its appearance in Earths night sky until 2061, it leaves a trail of debris behind that our planet passes through every year, resulting in the Orionids. In early May, Earth passes through a different section of Halleys orbit trail, resulting in the meteor shower known as the Eta Aquariids. What youre seeing are little comet dust grains that are traveling really quickly, King said. When they enter the atmosphere, they get heated up and vaporize, and you get that bright streak and thats what we call a meteor. The Orionids tend to be bright and fast-moving, 148,000 miles per hour (238,183 kilometers per hour), according to NASA. Because of this high speed, the Orionids often make long trails in the sky visual evidence of the dust being released by the meteors as they are heated up, King said. Occasionally, meteor showers can have an unexpected spike in their meteor rates. From 2006 to 2009, the Orionids saw anywhere between 50 to 75 meteors per hour, according to the American Meteor Society. Normal rates are expected this year, but there is always the possibility of a surprise, the organization notes on its website. Not only are they spectacular its exciting to see the bright streaks across the sky, and its not something you see every day but this is dust grain that formed just over 4.6 billion years ago, King said. This is dust from the birth of the solar system. Meteor showers After the Orionids peak, the hourly rate of visible meteors will begin to slow down until the shower ends on November 22. If you miss the peak this weekend, there are five other meteor showers left to catch this year: Southern Taurids: November 5-6 Northern Taurids: November 11-12 Leonids: November 17-18 Geminids: December 13-14 Ursids: December 21-22 Full moons There are three full moons remaining in 2023, according to the Farmers Almanac: October 28: Hunters moon November 27: Beaver moon December 26: Cold moon Lunar and solar eclipses On October 14, people across North, Central and South America were able to encounter an annular solar eclipse. During the event, the moon passed between the sun and Earth creating a ring of fire in the sky. It was the last solar eclipse event until 2024. A partial lunar eclipse, however, will take place on October 28 and will be viewable in Europe, Asia, Australia, parts of North America and much of South Africa. This eclipse occurs when part of the moon passes into Earths shadow, allowing the shadow to be visible on the moon for a short period of time. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com ORLANDO, Fla. - A Crimeline tip to the Orlando Police Department led to the discovery of a business fronting illegal drugs and guns, police said. Joel Labiosa was arrested after police found five guns, over 20 pounds of cannabis, and 151 grams of THC gummies, according to a Facebook post. Police said a "concerned citizen" reported that a mechanical business on Semoran Boulevard was being used as a front for illegal narcotic sales in Orlando. Credit: Orlando Police Department READ: Florida man posing as fake 'contractor' after Hurricane Ian, swindled homeowner out of $70K: Police Detectives began an investigation into the business eventually leading to the execution of a search warrant. Labiosa also had an active warrant for his arrest. No other details about the case have been released. Women react at Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius Church damaged by an Israeli strike, in Gaza City Women react at Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius Church damaged by an Israeli strike, in Gaza City By Nidal al-Mughrabi GAZA (Reuters) -A Greek Orthodox church in the Gaza Strip which was sheltering hundreds of displaced Palestinians was hit overnight by an Israeli air strike, the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem said, and Palestinian health officials said 16 people were killed. There was no word from the Church on a death toll. The Israeli military said a part of the church was damaged in a strike on a militant command centre and it was reviewing the incident. Palestinian officials said at least 500 Muslims and Christians had taken shelter in the Greek Orthodox Church of St Porphyrius from Israeli bombardments. The Orthodox Church said in a statement: "The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem expresses its strongest condemnation of the Israeli air strike that has struck its church compound in the city of Gaza." The Hamas-run government's health ministry said in a statement that 16 Palestinian Christians were killed in the incident. Video from the scene at the church compound showed a wounded boy being carried from the rubble in the dark of the night. A civil defence worker said two people on upper floors had survived. Those on lower floors had been killed and were still in the rubble, the worker said. Gaza's 2.3 million population comprises an estimated 1,000 Christians, most of whom are Greek Orthodox. The Israeli military said its fighter jets had hit a nearby command and control centre that was used to carry out attacks against Israel. "As a result of the IDF strike, a wall of a church in the area was damaged. We are aware of reports on casualties. The incident is under review," it said. "The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) can unequivocally state that the Church was not the target of the strike," it said. Witnesses said however the damage inside the church was extensive. "This shows that the targets of the Israeli occupation are the unarmed people, children, women and the elderly," the Palestinian Churches Council, appointed by President Mahmoud Abbas, said in a statement. Israel has pounded densely-populated Gaza, flattening buildings and destroying infrastructure, since Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7 and killed 1,400 people. More than 4,100 people in Gaza have since been killed by Israeli strikes and more than a million have been made homeless, according to Palestinian health officials. Civilians say their situation is desperate as they run short of food, water, fuel and medical supplies. (Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi, Editing by Michael Georgy, Crispian Balmer and Angus MacSwan) PAWHUSKA, Okla. (KFOR) The assistant principal chief of the Osage Nation lost his home in a house fire on Thursday. According to officials, the Pawhuska Fire Department responded to call regarding a car fire around 5 p.m. Thursday afternoon. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered the fire spread to the attic of Assistant Principal Chief RJ Walkers home. Car engulfed in flames. LOCAL NEWS: Fire crews knock down vacant house fire in Oklahoma City PFD says the Pawhuska Police Department and the Osage Nation also responded to the fire. The Osage Nation even helped provide water to fight the fire. Officials say the fire took a while to knock down because the it was at its largest in the attic. Firefighters had a hard time reaching the attic safely to put out the fire and continued working until around midnight. A gun safe and some valuables were removed before the fire spread. PFD was also able to keep the fire away from part of the house where many of Walkers familys valuables and personal items were, officials say. Both Pawhuska FD and the Osage Nation confirm the family is okay. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. Killers of the Flower Moon shines a spotlight on a bloody moment in American history, when over dozens of members of the Osage tribe met violent or suspicious ends following the discovery of oil on their Oklahoma land. While some audience members may be unfamiliar with the Osage murders, members of the Osage Nation and descendants of the movies characters know the story all too well. Directed by Martin Scorsese, the movie stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Ernest Burkhart, a World War I vet who moves to Fairfax, Oklahoma, to work for his uncle, William Hale (Robert De Niro). He marries Mollie ( Lily Gladstone , who is of Blackfeet and NiMiiPuu heritage per production notes), a wealthy member of the Osage Indian Nation. Soon after, members of her family die in horrific ways, and a story of greed, racism and complacency unfolds, written in David Granns 2017 book of the same name. According to production notes, the team behind the film worked closely with the Osage community, meeting with prominent members ahead of filming. Chief Standing Bear, at a land blessing ceremony, at the start of filming said, The respect that Mr. Scorsese and his team have displayed toward us is more than we hoped for. Such sensitivity is welcome and is a continuation of the respect David Grann showed us. More than 44 roles were filled by Osage actors, and the film employed Osage artisans for behind-the-scenes work. Now that the film is opening in theaters Oct. 20, what do members of the Osage Nation think? At the Los Angeles red carpet, TODAY.com spoke to Osage Nation members to find out. Attention to details: They listened Osage Nation Congress member Brandy Lemon, who served as the liaison between the Osage community and the production, said she was surprised to receive a call about working with the movie production. I didnt know what that meant. Ive never worked in the movies before. Im a nurse by training. So I had a lot of questions, she said. Brandy Lemon at the Lemon weighed the opportunity. This is something thats bigger than any of us. I didnt want to disappoint my people. My mom, my family, our community. We sat, talked and prayed and thought about it for a long time. My mom said, Go for it, so I went, she said. Once on set, Lemon provided insight into details big and small. For example, when Ernest and Mollie were having dinner, Lemon corrected how Gladstone was holding her cup. Small things like that thats how involved they were, and willing to immerse themselves in little things and big things we saw. They would take that in and absorb that, she said. Lemon was appreciative of the filmmakers' approach. They listened, that was the biggest thing, Lemon said. They actually listened to us. We weren't considered what people say 'token Indians.' They saw us as people. How the Reign of Terror lives on Addie Roanhorse joined the films production as an assistant art director. She is the great-great granddaughter of Henry Roan, who was killed during the Osage murders, and was depicted in the film by William Belleau. Roanhorse said the movie's impact on the Osage community has been hard to take in and process, especially once they see the violent events depicted. Addie Roanhorse at the Its heavy. Its like somebody hands you something heavy and walks off. Everybodys standing there going, What is this? What do we do with this? Roanhorse told TODAY.com on the red carpet. Roanhorse said she and her family have always been deeply connected to the story, but that it wasnt widely known. I also knew that we would tell the story to people and they wouldnt believe us, Roanhorse said. It took a Martin Scorsese to come along, that sort of powerhouse, to tell the story properly, and how he approached the community and how he worked with all of us, we just felt included. She hopes the film will inspire the younger Osage generations to tell their history this chapter included. My grandparents didnt talk about it. They feared retaliation. I want my daughters generation to speak, tell our stories and be proud of who we are. Gianna Sieke, who was an Osage Nation princess from 2021 to 2023 and was present during production, first saw the film at a screening in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with other Osage members, and agrees that the movie starts a conversation. Gianna Gigi Sieke at the Los Angeles It does tell our dark history but its also including things that no one really knows, and it hasnt been expressed to Osage people and anyone because its a dark history, Sieke told TODAY.com. People dont really talk about it that much. And because of that, (the movie) has made a really big impact. Families are learning to cope and understand. Lemon said she anticipated the movie being difficult to watch and it was. She was on set for the moment Mollie learns of a tragedy. Even though I knew that happened and that scene was coming, I still wasnt ready for it. It just hit me in the gut so hard and every time I watch it, it still does, Lemon said. Whose story is it? A debate rages While the movie is about the Osage murders, the lens is kept tightly on Ernest and Mollie. Previous iterations of the script were on the FBI and the Texas Rangers, before filmmakers decided to expand on this story cited in Granns book, per production notes. Ernest and Mollie were the key, Scorsese said in production notes. Its all based on trust and love, and we see that being compromised and betrayed. And whats the motivating factor? Always wanting more: more land, more money. Killers of The Flower Moon (Melinda Sue Gordon / Apple TV+) Sieke said the movie raised questions about the real Mollie Burkharts level of awareness. Ive had this conversation with my family. Does she know that this was going to happen to her? Did she anticipate it? Thats a thing my people still have today. Were hard with trusting issues. Its not trust issues, its generational trauma," she said. Ernest is arguably the movies main character, as his role in the nefarious plot becomes clearer and clearer. Members of the Osage Nation had mixed responses to the storys point of view. Christopher Cote, who worked on the film as an Osage language consultant, had strong opinions about the movies focus on Ernest, which he shared in a red carpet interview with The Hollywood Reporter. As an Osage, I really wanted this to be from the perspective of Mollie and what her family experienced, but I think it would take an Osage to do that, Cote said. Martin Scorsese, not being Osage, I think he did a great job representing our people. This history is being told almost from the perspective of Ernest Burkhart and they kind of give him this conscience and kind of depict that theres love," he said. "But when somebody conspires to murder your entire family, thats not love. Thats not love, thats just beyond abuse. At the films premiere, Osage language consultant Christopher Cote shares his complicated feelings about #KillersOfTheFlowerMoon pic.twitter.com/DKR0KcsLTs The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) October 17, 2023 Sieke said while the film was not made by a member of the Osage, the future of Osage people in positions where they can tell their stories to a wider audience seems brighter. As Native Americans and as Osage, we are storytellers. We are meant to be storytellers, Sieke said. And I feel like its very important for us to continue telling our history and whats going on in our communities. This article was originally published on TODAY.com [Source] This years final Old Glory Honor Flight recognized 20 Hmong veterans, alongside other vets, underscoring their significant contributions to the U.S. during the Vietnam War. Fitting tribute: The Hmong Vietnam servicemembers joined 78 veterans who served in various wars and were flown from the Appleton International Airport on Oct. 18 to visit war memorials in Washington, D.C., reported WLUK. The honorees arrived to cheers and applause upon their return to the Appleton International Airport. The returning heroes were also greeted with signs, balloons and a crowd waving American flags. Trending on NextShark: Watch: Australian influencer mistaken for Ryan Reynolds swarmed by fans in Taiwan The Hmong's Vital Role: The Hmong soldiers played a pivotal role during the Vietnam War as they were enlisted by the CIA to support American ground troops in the conflict also dubbed the Secret War. Over 35,000 Hmong and Lao soldiers lost their lives during the conflict, which had a significant impact on these communities, leading to many refugees fleeing Laos and resettling in the U.S. These Hmong and Lao soldiers were not American citizens at the time of their service. Despite their invaluable contributions, they were rendered ineligible for government veteran benefits and recognition typically provided to American veterans, such as healthcare, education, and other support. About the program: The Old Glory Honor Flight program, which relies on donations, has enabled more than 5,700 veterans to visit the nation's capital for free since 2009. Trending on NextShark: Watch: Bali monkey negotiates for food in exchange for woman's stolen iPhone Diane MacDonald, the executive director of Old Glory Honor Flight, expressed her excitement, stating, "Hosting them on a flight is one way to recognize their service to our country. If you talk to any Vietnam veteran, they'll tell you the Hmong bailed them out more than once." More on NextShark: Watch: Chinese woman quits full-time job so she can try 100 different jobs Sriracha buyers say new Huy Fong Foods bottles taste different Woman whose body was found in a suitcase in Georgia in 1988 identified Rafah, which is on Gaza's southern border with Egypt, is the only crossing not controlled by Israel (MOHAMMED ABED) Dozens of Palestinians clutching foreign passports gathered Friday at Gaza's border with Egypt, the only crossing which can possibly open as Israel bombards the tiny territory. The crowds were waiting at the cafeteria of the Rafah border crossing, which has been hit multiple times since Israel began an intense bombardment of the enclave following the deadly Hamas attacks of October 7. "They told us at the embassy to head to the crossing. We sleep here despite the danger," said 29-year-old Mahmud Salah Ibrahim Abu Musallam, who has Swedish citizenship and urged European embassies "to help us get out of here". On October 7, Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel and attacked border communities and army posts, with the death toll surpassing 1,400 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli officials. Since then, at least 4,137 Palestinians, mainly civilians, have been killed in two weeks of relentless Israeli bombardment, Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry. Waiting at the crossing with her father Abu Musallam, seven-year-old Ghazal said she wanted to go to Sweden "because all the children die here". - 'Nothing to drink' - For almost two weeks, Gaza's 2.4 million residents have been trapped in dire conditions with the Rafah crossing the only hope for those looking to leave. Egypt had promised to open the crossing on Friday, but later said it needed more time to repair the Palestinian part of the border road after it was damaged by Israeli strikes. Those with dual nationality are hoping they will be allowed to leave when the Rafah border opens to let in the first international aid trucks from Egypt, expected in the coming days. The idea that the first aid convoy might only contain 20 trucks with no fuel supplies has been criticised as woefully insufficient by the World Health Organization (WHO). Dutch citizen Mahmud al-Attar, 70, expressed exasperation as he waited at the crossing with his wife and five children. "The Dutch foreign ministry told us it was possible to travel through (Israel's) Ben Gurion airport but how could we get there? The (Erez) crossing (into Israel) is closed," he said, clearly frustrated. There have been intense diplomatic efforts to open Rafah, including a visit to the Egyptian side on Friday by UN chief Antonio Guterres. Hope rose that the crossing could soon open after Egyptian forces were seen removing concrete blocks from the road leading to the border, a security source told AFP. But on the Gazan side, time is running out. "There's no other crossing but Rafah. We're sleeping in the street. There's no food and nothing to drink. What shall we do?" asked Attar. az-sy/rsc/jd/hmw Editors note: This is the third chapter of a 5-part series in which former University of Wisconsin System President Tommy Thompson and Vice President Jim Langdon reflect on their experience guiding the system though the COVID-19 pandemic. At the end of the spring 2021 semester, it looked like the worst of COVID might have passed, but the emergence of two more infectious strains made that a distant hope. Moreover, pandemic politics made keeping UW System campuses open even more difficult. In early 2021, UW System Vice President Langdon began conversations with the Evers Administration about using UW campuses as public vaccination sites. The universities were already proving their worth as safe, accessible locations for the public to obtain COVID testing services, and he proposed that campuses could do additional duty by being the place where the public went for shots. Chancellor Mike Alexander and Prevea Health opened the first campus community vaccination site at UW-Green Bays Kress Events Center in February 2021. Ten other long-term community vaccination sites run by the federal government, private health companies and local public health agencies soon sprung up at other campuses and many other UW locations hosted pop-up vaccination clinics into the summer. By June 4, 2021, an estimated 264,000 COVID-19 doses had been administered on UW campuses. The UW system developed a lottery (excluding UW-Madison which managed its own program and achieved a vaccination rate of over 90 percent) to incentivize student vaccination with a chance to win a $7,000 tuition reimbursement for the 2021-22 academic year. The 70 for 70 Program encouraged each campus to attain a 70% vaccination rate among its student body by October 15, 2021. The System funded 70 $7,000 awards to the twelve participating universities proportionate to their student populations. President Thompson visited every university to encourage student vaccination and chancellors got on board with student-focused events featuring live music, delicious giveaways and other prizes. The program was hugely successful because it encouraged and did not mandate vaccination. 70 for 70 reinforced our belief that students will make good decisions about their health if they are provided information and a reason to listen. Conversely, mandates may have the negative impact of creating resentment among those who oppose vaccines or simply dont want to be told what to do. In the end, eleven of the twelve eligible campuses exceeded 70 percent vaccination rates and 70 students received $7,000 awards. The program came at a critical time because a new deadly COVID strain struck before the fall 2021 term. Pandemic politics of COVID overshadowed public health COVID came in like a lion and went out like a lamb in early 2021. On January 6, the state reported 3,749 confirmed cases; by May 14, daily cases had plummeted to 504. Then Delta hit. The Delta variant began crowding out the original COVID strain in late summer 2021 and carried with it significant differences. Of greatest concern, Delta was more transmissible and younger people suffered severe symptoms previously reserved for senior citizens. The UW System and chancellors immediately began discussions about steps campuses would take to open with Delta on the rise. They determined practices that served so well a year earlier, including testing and masking, should be reintroduced to maintain an in-person educational experience. Interim UW System President Tommy Thompson, second from right, and Gov.Tony Evers, third from left, tour a COVID vaccination site Friday, February 19, 2021 at UW-Oshkosh in Oshkosh, Wis. Thompson was visiting the campus COVID vaccination site along with Evers and local health care leaders. MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL By this time, however, COVID-19 was not just a public health emergency but a political punching bag. Across the nation, some opinion leaders viewed public officials, including university administrators, as imposing restrictions that infringed upon personal liberties. Closer to home, certain Wisconsin legislators contended the UW System did not have authority to impose mask mandates without legislative approval. We forcefully disagreed. On August 24, Thompson issued a statement asserting the Systems power and duty under Wisconsin law to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the university. The issue never proceeded to threatened litigation and UW campuses opened days later with chancellors empowered to establish masking requirements. On September 21, he reported 85 percent of all undergraduate courses were being delivered in person, well exceeding the 75 percent goal he established for the academic year. Battling new COVID-19 strains with masks, vaccines Americans awoke the day after Thanksgiving 2021 to news the highly contagious Omicron strain emerged in South Africa and the UW System immediate sprung to action. Langdon engaged with campuses and the Wisconsin Department of Administration on a strategy to expand testing to include an expected surge from community members. The state awarded federal funding to the UW. More perspectives: Police officers serve with dignity and value. My colleague was wrong to say otherwise. On January 19, Wisconsin reported its highest ever seven-day average of 13,190 daily cases. UW campus testing again provided thousands of students, faculty and non-UW residents with vital information they could use to make good health decisions. Omicrons mid-January crest turned to a rapid decline by the end of the month and the UW System adjusted course. Langdon projected significantly fewer tests would be needed for the remainder of the semester and System procurement worked with suppliers to scale back testing activities. As a result, the UW saved millions of dollars in expenses for campuses and taxpayers. Additionally, masking orders that had been so crucial to stop the spread were allowed to expire in mid-March. Unlike spring break in 2020 when students were directed to go home, students in 2022 returned to study in person and wear a mask only if they chose. After nearly two years of hard work, UW students returned to a relatively normal college experience. Coming next week: Student health care reinforcements put Wisconsin Idea in action. Tommy G. Thompson was elected governor of Wisconsin four times, serving from 1987 to 2001. In 2001, he became Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a post he held for four years. He previously served in the State Assembly from 1967 to his election as governor. Jim Langdon served in appointed positions under governors Thompson, Scott McCallum, Jim Doyle, Scott Walker and Tony Evers from 1989-2020, and at UW System from 2020-2022. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: UW beat COVID with masks, vaccines despite ugly pandemic politics Paul OGradys husband described his final moments, in a moving tribute made at a star-studded memorial for the late TV star this week. OGrady died after suffering cardiac arrhythmia on 28 March 2023, at the age of 67. The comedian, known for his drag alter ego Lily Savage, is said to have been smoking a cannabis joint when he died peacefully at his home. Speaking at a star-studded memorial for OGrady on Wednesday (18 October), his husband Andre Portasio recalled, according to The Sun: Wed had a very ordinary day, just watching TV together at home, when Paul said he wanted to make a cup of tea, and that was our little code for rolling a spliff. So Paul went to the kitchen to make a cup of tea, brought it back, lit it and started smoking it and that was our last time together, the last thing we did. He passed away there in his chair. Among the attendees at the Bloomsbury Ballroom event were Alan Carr, Amanda Holden and Dawn French. Throughout the evening, Portasio also shared anecdotes from OGradys personal life. In the aftermath of OGradys death earlier this year, voices from across the UK entertainment industry and beyond shared tributes to the performers legacy. Paul OGrady in 2022 (Getty Images) He was not only brilliant as an entertainer, he was a force for good, said Carol Vorderman, alluding to OGradys history of activism. He wasnt just a fighter for the underdog, somebody who was willing to use his platform to speak up for people who didnt have a platform, didnt have a voice, but he could do it in a totally compelling way, much more compelling than any politician, said former Labour Party leader Ed Milliband. Actor, politician, and LGBT+ rights activist Michael Cashman shared a clip of OGrady discussing Conservative politicians on TV, remarking: He goes into a rant about injustice, naming the politicians and that was bold. He could have been taken off air, but you couldnt separate him from his principles. The Queen loved him. And of course, all they did was talk about animals and farming, and she loved his sense of humour. OGrady began as a social worker while making a name for himself as a nightclub performer, dressing as the blonde-wigged Lily Savage. After OGradys death was announced, Portasio released a statement, saying: On behalf of Paul OGrady, his husband Andre Portasio would like to thank everyone for taking their time to send condolences. The family is overwhelmed with everyones kindness and generosity. Sept. 29 was a brutal day for New York City. Torrential rains pounded the five boroughs, with some areas receiving over three inches an hour, and the infrastructure city residents depend on simply could not meet the challenge. The takeaway: New Yorkers are resilient, but our infrastructure is not. Although on that day it was New York Citys turn, theres no part of our state that has been spared the impacts of climate change-driven extreme weather. From Super Storm Sandy on Long Island, to this years 1,000-year floods in the Hudson Valley, to last winters deadly blizzard in Buffalo, New Yorkers know that climate change is not something in the distant future it is right here, right now. We have a climate catastrophe on our hands, and we are not equipped to deal with it. The cost to our state to recuperate from this most recent disaster could be in the billions of dollars, adding to a record-setting number of billion-dollar weather events nationwide this year. New York State, with federal assistance, must take action to adapt to this new and increasingly hostile climate rising sea levels, soaring temperatures, extreme weather, flooding, heat waves, and other threats that will only become more common in the future. A lone car, partially submerged, is pictured in the northbound lane of the Saw Mill River Parkway in Yonkers, as seen from the Odell Avenue bridge at 9:18 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. The price tag will be staggering upgrading New York Citys sewer system alone is estimated to cost $100 billion; a single project to protect the city from rising seas is estimated at $52 billion. Protecting Long Island will cost at least $75 to $100 billion. A recent study from the State Comptroller reveals that from 2018 to 2028, 55% of New York State localities' municipal spending outside of New York City was or will be related to climate change, and that this fiscal year alone New York City plans to spend $829 million on projects dedicated exclusively to adaptation and resilience, with an additional $1.3 billion on projects that are partially for these purposes. Meeting this challenge demands a shared commitment of purpose, huge investments in new or upgraded infrastructure, and new revenue sources to pay for those investments. One obvious place to look for revenue is to the industry responsible for the environmental degradation thats causing the problem just like we do with oil spills or hazardous waste sites, where laws look first to the polluter to pay for the costs of clean up. The fossil fuel industry bears primary responsibility for climate change, yet it has not been asked to pay even a penny of these costs. Instead, multinational oil and gas companies rake in record profits, claiming all the income and bearing none of the costs of burning fossil fuels. Legislation that passed the State Senate in Albany this year would change that. Under the Climate Change Superfund Act, approximately two dozen of the largest multinational oil, gas, and coal companies would be required to pay $75 billion over 25 years to New York State for damages arising from their past activities. Companies deemed responsible for emitting over one billion tons of greenhouse gases since the year 2000 would pay a portion of the total amount based on their share of the total emissions of all responsible companies. Drawing upon extensive peer-reviewed research, we know that companies like Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell and BP would be on the hook. The assessments would be deposited in an earmarked fund dedicated to paying for the adaptation and resiliency investments New York so desperately needs, and the design of the assessments would ensure that the costs would not pass down to consumers. Despite its passage in the State Senate this year, the Climate Change Superfund Act was not voted on in the Assembly, and Gov. Kathy Hochul has yet to express her support. Meanwhile, some special interest groups have argued, unfathomably, that New Yorks taxpayers and businesses should be the ones to foot the bill, not the companies still profiting from driving the crisis. This much is undeniable the climate crisis is here, and we must adapt to safeguard our future. The only question for policymakers is who will pay the costs. New York should be the first state, but certainly not the last, to say that Big Oil made this mess, and they should pay to clean it up. State Sen. Liz Krueger represents the parts of Manhattan, and is Chair of the Senate Finance Committee. New York Sen. Peter Harckham, left, announced his support of a bill to legalize marijuana sponsored by Sen. Liz Krueger, center, during a news conference at the state Capitol on Jan. 23, 2020. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Paying for the staggering costs of the climate crisis MERCED, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) A 17-year-old male was arrested after he broke into several residences in the city of Merced on Thursday morning. He had three stolen handguns concealed on his person, the Merced Police Department said. Officers say they initially responded to a residence on E. 20th Street for a residential burglary at around 9:30 a.m. on Thursday. Around 10:16 a.m., another residential burglary was reported in the same vicinity. Handguns were among the items stolen from the residences. The suspect was captured on video surveillance during the burglaries. Detectives and gang officers responded to the area to assist with the investigation. They say they spotted the juvenile near 10th and M Street and took him into custody without incident around 11:40 a.m. Detectives say they learned the juvenile broke into three residences once they identified stolen property from an additional victim who lived just a few blocks from the first two victims. The stolen property will be returned to the rightful owners. According to the Merced Police Department, the juvenile was booked into the Iris Garrett Juvenile Justice Correctional Complex on suspicion of various theft and weapons charges. Merced Police are asking anyone with any information regarding this incident to contact Sergeant Kalvin Haygood at (209)385-6998 or by email at haygoodk@cityofmerced.org or Detective Edwin Arias at (209)388-7826 or by email at ariase@cityofmerced.org. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com. The four Pepperdine University students struck and killed on the side of Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California, on Tuesday are being remembered for their hard work and positivity. Vinita Weir whose only daughter, Asha Weir, was killed, along with Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart and Deslyn Williams, when, authorities said, a 22-year-old driver lost control of his sedan said Thursday that Pepperdine should be proud of the young women because they represented the schools values impeccably. They were all seniors and members of the Alpha Phi sorority. People walk to leave flowers at the scene where four women were killed in a multi-vehicle crash in Malibu, Calif., (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Asha Weir, Rolston and Stewart were also roommates, said Vinita Weir, who was traveling Thursday from her home in Skippack, Pennsylvania, to Los Angeles.Asha Weir was born May 29, 2002, in Ireland, where her family lived until 2012, when they moved to the U.S. She had two brothers Michael, 23, and Jamie, who just turned 15. She made a surprise visit home over the weekend to celebrate his birthday. I dropped her to Philadelphia airport on Tuesday morning, and she told me she didnt really want to go back this time but was excited to be coming home again at Thanksgiving, Vinita Weir said. I miss her and dont know how to do life without her. Asha Weir knew how to live life to the fullest and was an amazing daughter and sister, her mom said. Asha Weir loved Pepperdine and worked hard to get accepted to the private university, her mother said. She majored in English and was looking forward to graduating in the spring. She was considering working in the U.K. afterward. She had the biggest heart, a beautiful soul, an empath always caring for others and carrying their burdens, Vinita Weir said. Sheriff deputies monitor the scene where four women were killed in a multi-vehicle crash in Malibu (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Barry Stewart, 59, of Tierra Verde, Florida, remembered his daughter Thursday night as a go-getter, a world traveler and a foodie with a refined palate. Peyton Stewart was obsessed with eating sushi when she was 5 years old, he said. She was on a very good track careerwise and socially. Good friends. Good habits. She didnt get into any sort of trouble. ... For somebody like that to be taken away so young is hard to comprehend. Stewart said his 21-year-old daughter, who was studying business, accomplished many feats almost entirely on her own, such as getting into her dream university and landing multiple internships during her time at Pepperdine, including working for TikTok in Austin, Texas. Peyton Stewart was also extremely close with her younger sister, Kathleen, her father said. pepperdine student car accident victim (Courtesy Barry Stewart) The Stewarts were fortunate enough to travel throughout the world. Their destinations included Spain, Greece and France. Peyton, her father said, also studied at Pepperdines program in London as a sophomore. Stewart said that during the past several years, he and his daughter bonded during two cross-country road trips together. Stewart said that he hasnt thought much about the driver suspected in her death and that hes unsure whether hell attend the suspects court hearings. Im not sure that me thinking about that person is going to change the situation. I dont have any plans to go in sit in a courtroom. I put my faith in the justice system, and I hope my faith is well-placed, he said. Stewart, who lives part of the year in London, said hes going to miss his weekly phone calls with his daughter. I thought the world of her, he said. Im going to miss her terribly. Her friends and the rest of her family feel the same way. The four women were on the side of Pacific Coast Highway around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday when Fraser Michael Bohm of Malibu lost control of his sedan, the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department said. He struck three vehicles that hit the young women, who died at the scene, the sheriffs department said. He was arrested and accused of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, authorities said. The Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriffs Station didnt immediately reply to a request for comment about the status of the investigation. Vinita Weir said she last spoke to her daughter Tuesday when Asha texted her to let her know she had landed safely at Los Angeles International Airport. I talked to her every day, and not getting her call will break my heart daily, Vinita Weir said. Jim Gash, the president and CEO of Pepperdine, said the four women had brought joy and light to the campus and were taken suddenly, tragically, and incomprehensibly. Indeed, one of the greatest mysteries of life is when and why our time on this earth is cut short, he said in a statement Wednesday. This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Representatives vote on a draft resolution during a UN Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, on Oct. 19, 2023. The UN Security Council on Thursday adopted a resolution to extend the ban on the illicit export of petroleum, including crude oil and refined petroleum products, from Libya. (Loey Felipe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Thursday adopted a resolution to extend the ban on the illicit export of petroleum, including crude oil and refined petroleum products, from Libya. Resolution 2701, which won the unanimous support of the 15-member council, extends the ban for 15 months, till Feb. 1, 2025. It demands full compliance by all UN member states with the sanctions regime on Libya, which includes an arms embargo, travel ban and asset freeze, and further calls on all member states not to intervene in the Libya conflict or take measures that exacerbate the conflict. It calls on all parties in Libya to implement the Oct. 23, 2020 cease-fire agreement in full and urges member states to respect and support the full implementation of the agreement, including through the withdrawal of all foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya without further delay. The resolution also extends the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the Libya Sanctions Committee till Feb. 15, 2025. It decides that the panel shall provide to the Security Council an interim report on its work no later than June 15, 2024, and a final report to the council no later than Dec. 15, 2024, with its findings and recommendations. Resolution 2701 reaffirms the Security Council's intention to ensure that the frozen Libyan assets shall at a later stage be made available to and for the benefit of the Libyan people, and calls on all relevant member states to protect frozen Libyan assets. The resolution affirms the Security Council's readiness to consider changes, when appropriate, to the asset freeze at the request of the Libyan government, including allowing the Libyan Investment Authority (LIA) -- the country's sovereign wealth fund, whose foreign assets remain frozen -- to reinvest frozen liquid assets for the purpose of preserving their value and benefiting the Libyan people at a later stage. It requests the Panel of Experts to provide recommendations in their final report on possible actions that could enable the reinvestment of the LIA's frozen assets. The four Pepperdine University students struck and killed on the side of Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California, on Tuesday are being remembered for their hard work and positivity. Vinita Weir whose only daughter, Asha Weir, was killed, along with Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart and Deslyn Williams, when, authorities said, a 22-year-old driver lost control of his sedan said Thursday that Pepperdine should be proud of the young women because they represented the school's values impeccably. They were all seniors and members of the Alpha Phi sorority. Asha Weir, Rolston and Stewart were also roommates, said Vinita Weir, who was traveling Thursday from her home in Skippack, Pennsylvania, to Los Angeles. People walk to leave flowers at the scene where four women were killed in a multi-vehicle crash in Malibu, Calif., (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Asha Weir was born May 29, 2002, in Ireland, where her family lived until 2012, when they moved to the U.S. She had two brothers Michael, 23, and Jamie, who just turned 15. She made a surprise visit home over the weekend to celebrate his birthday. "I dropped her to Philadelphia airport on Tuesday morning, and she told me she didn't really want to go back this time but was excited to be coming home again at Thanksgiving," Vinita Weir said. "I miss her and don't know how to do life without her." Asha Weir knew how to live life to the fullest and "was an amazing daughter and sister," her mom said. Asha Weir loved Pepperdine and worked hard to get accepted to the private university, her mother said. She majored in English and was looking forward to graduating in the spring. She was considering working in the U.K. afterward. "She had the biggest heart, a beautiful soul, an empath always caring for others and carrying their burdens," Vinita Weir said. Barry Stewart, 59, of Tierra Verde, Florida, remembered his daughter Thursday night as a "go-getter," a world traveler and a foodie with a refined palate. Peyton Stewart was "obsessed with eating sushi when she was 5 years old," he said. She was on a very good track careerwise and socially. Good friends. Good habits. She didnt get into any sort of trouble. ... For somebody like that to be taken away so young is hard to comprehend. Stewart said his 21-year-old daughter, who was studying business, accomplished many feats almost entirely on her own, such as getting into her dream university and landing multiple internships during her time at Pepperdine, including working for TikTok in Austin, Texas. pepperdine student car accident victim (Courtesy Barry Stewart) Peyton Stewart was also extremely close with her younger sister, Kathleen, her father said. The Stewarts were fortunate enough to travel throughout the world. Their destinations included Spain, Greece and France. Peyton, her father said, also studied at Pepperdine's program in London as a sophomore. Stewart said that during the past several years, he and his daughter bonded during two cross-country road trips together. Stewart said that he hasn't thought much about the driver suspected in her death and that he's unsure whether he'll attend the suspect's court hearings. "Im not sure that me thinking about that person is going to change the situation. I dont have any plans to go in sit in a courtroom. I put my faith in the justice system, and I hope my faith is well-placed," he said. Stewart, who lives part of the year in London, said he's going to miss his weekly phone calls with his daughter. I thought the world of her," he said. "Im going to miss her terribly. Her friends and the rest of her family feel the same way. The four women were on the side of Pacific Coast Highway around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday when Fraser Michael Bohm of Malibu lost control of his sedan, the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department said. He struck three vehicles that hit the young women, who died at the scene, the sheriffs department said. He was arrested and accused of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, authorities said. The Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriffs Station didnt immediately reply to a request for comment about the status of the investigation. Vinita Weir said she last spoke to her daughter Tuesday when Asha texted her to let her know she had landed safely at Los Angeles International Airport. "I talked to her every day, and not getting her call will break my heart daily," Vinita Weir said. Jim Gash, the president and CEO of Pepperdine, said the four women had "brought joy and light" to the campus and were taken "suddenly, tragically, and incomprehensibly." "Indeed, one of the greatest mysteries of life is when and why our time on this earth is cut short," he said in a statement Wednesday. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Perry Johnson, the little-known multi-millionaire businessman, suspended his 2024 presidential campaign Friday after having effectively no impact on the race, barely registering in the polls and twice failing to make the debate stage. The Republican announced his decision on social media, blaming his failed bid on corruption within the Republican National Committee. I must admit, the corruption among leaders at the RNC during this process was appalling, he wrote online, taking aim at RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel. The people should decide the next president of the United States, not the head of the RNC and her cronies. Johnson is still expected to appear on the New Hampshire ballot despite having suspended his campaign, he said, and will keep a small team on staff in the event the dynamics of the race change. Read it at NBC News Read more at The Daily Beast. Republican presidential candidate Perry Johnson on Friday announced he is suspending his long-shot bid for the White House in 2024, blasting corruption in the Republican National Committee (RNC) after he didnt make the partys debate stage. With no opportunity to share my vision on the debate stage, I have decided at this time, suspending my campaign is the right thing to do, Johnson said in a statement shared on X, the platform previously known as Twitter. The Michigan businessman has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the RNC over not getting on the partys debate stage, and said in his announcement that the corruption among leaders at the RNC during this process was appalling. Ive said it before and Ill say it again, the people should decide the next president of the United States, not the head of the RNC and her cronies, he added, an apparent reference to RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel. Top Stories from The Hill Johnson launched his campaign back in March, but struggled to break through in national polling. FiveThirtyEights tracker of the GOP presidential field doesnt consider Johnson a major candidate, and Morning Consult has also left him off their tracker of the contest. Johnson and fellow White House hopeful Larry Elder announced plans in August to sue the RNC for not allowing them on the RNCs first debate stage. The RNC raised the polling and donor requirements for the second debate in September, and the pair again didnt make the cut. 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 Not only was the debate process set up to keep outsiders off the stage and without a voice, but when we did meet their arbitrary metrics, corrupt leaders used their authoritarian power to kick me off the stage at 11 p.m. the Monday before the debate, despite our team working with Fox News all weekend on logistics, Johnson claimed in his Friday statement. He lost a bid to get on the primary ballot in Michigans gubernatorial race last year after a court ruled he used fraudulent signatures to get into the race. A release notes Johnson is suspending his campaign rather than withdrawing, and will still be on the ballot in some early contests. He also plans to keep a small political team on staff in the event the dynamics of the race change. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Petra, in southern Jordan, is a love letter to human civilization from a long-lost empire. The Nabataeans, a nomadic Arabic people, began chiselling away at the natural sandstone surroundings around 2,300 years ago, slowly fanning out into the surrounding wadis (canyons in Arabic) over the centuries until it contained, it is believed, between 30,000 and 40,000 people. When Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt put it on the archaeological map in 1812, it was a ghost town, following centuries of abandonment. While much of the city is gone, many of its monumental structures remain, carved straight into the cliffs. Its a powerful testament to their construction abilities that the buildings most important to the Nabataeans withstood the intervening centuries while so few other civilizations were able to conjure anything quite so magnificent. With that in mind, Petras status as a Unesco World Heritage Site as well as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, comes as little surprise. What to do Into the wadi Petra is a rose-red city half as old as time, according to a poem by John Burgon (Getty) Theres a reason it took so long for the world to learn of Petra, the city is largely concealed deep inside a network of gorges and canyons. The main entrance, on the citys eastern side, offers the most dramatic introduction to the city. Starting on the edge of Wadi Musa, the tourist town that has swelled up around this gateway, enter the narrow canyon called the Siq. Although youll be encouraged to take a donkey, avoid doing so; cruelty aside, hefty tips are often demanded, and the Petra experience is far better without the hassle. Cliffs tower over this narrow path, which weaves through the sinewy rock for 1.2km, finally opening onto Al-Khazneh, better known as The Treasury. One of Petras highlights, its lofty columns and shallow pediment are topped by a vast funerary urn; the whole structure is carved directly into the cliff. As with much of the site, there is no concrete certainty as to its significance, although it is thought to be the tomb of an important Nabataean ruler at the time it was built in the first century. Read more on Middle East travel: From here, a series of lofty carved buildings straddle the canyon floor on either side, which winds onwards to your right. Although many smaller paths lead to a confection of tombs and ruins buried in the rock, continue along the flat canyon floor until it opens up to reveal the main arena of the city. A Nabataean theatre and colonnaded street to your left, and a series of tombs cut into the cliffs on your right, including that of Sextius Florentinus (a Roman senator), demonstrate the Hellenistic and Roman influences on the city, both politically and architecturally. Because the site was largely abandoned as a lived-in city (its existence known for centuries only to the Bedouin who inherited it), what remains of Petra today feels sacred. Given that a vast proportion of its highlights happen to be tombs, theres also a sense of reverence without ever turning maudlin. Although most people settle for seeing the highlights in a day, allow two days to explore the site thoroughly. Other highlights include the Royal Tombs, Ad Deir, also known as The Monastery, which sits apart from the main city centre, and the High Place of Sacrifice. These latter two landmarks require a rather steep climb up steps (the touts often exaggerate the number of steps to scare people into hiring donkeys), rendered more difficult in the desert heat, although the panoramic views of Petra from the top are reward enough. Fill in the gaps The centre of Petra is reached through a narrow gorge known as the Siq (Getty/iStockphoto) Back at the entrance gate, across from Petra Visitor Center, youll find the Petra Museum, a modern facility which opened in 2019 to exhibit the archaeological treasures unearthed in and around the ancient city. Charting the settlements history from the arrival of Neolithic peoples through to the citys demise, the museums artefacts and interactive exhibits paint a vivid picture of Nabataean life. Ideally, try to visit before you enter Petra, for a deeper appreciation of the relics left within. Discover Petras back door An alternative route into Petra is via Little Petra (Al-Beida) to the north. As the name suggests, Little Petra is similar in age and style to its larger neighbour, but on a smaller scale. The site is even accessed via its own mini version of the Siq. It is believed that Little Petra was an agrarian, creative suburb of the city during its zenith, where remnants of viticulture and painted murals can still be seen. From Little Petra theres a path that leads south to Petra. This back door is a great alternative way to enter the Unesco landmark, entering the site near Ad Deir. North of Petra is sister archaeological site, Little Petra (Getty) Where to stay There are no hotels and very few places to eat and drink in Petra proper, but outside the main entrance, theres a bevy of services and touts angling for business. The Movenpick Resort Petra has long been a cut above the rest; its location, overlooking Petra Museum and the main entrance gate, and its genteel arabesque decor, are tough to surpass. Simple and refined, Petra Plaza remains the reliable choice for rooms on a mid-range budget. Ideal for those looking to take part in other activities in Wadi Musa, such as cooking classes at Petra Kitchen, the hotel is located further into Wadi Musa town, just over a mile from the main entrance to Petra. Rooms are decorated in warm tones, with woven rugs and air conditioning. If youre looking to stay closer in tune with the desert and surrounding mountains, the Ammarin Bedouin Camp offers simple tents with single or double beds. Breakfast and dinner are included in the price and a shuttle service to Petra (extra charge) is also available. As with most Bedouin camps in Jordan, you can book tours and guides directly with the owners. Where to eat Wadi Musa is packed with options of varying quality. My Moms Recipe is one of the reliable spots close to Petras main entrance. As the name suggests, the focus is on home-style Jordanian cuisine, with heaped plates of mansaf (slow-cooked lamb and rice) and maqluba (a one-pot rice dish with meat and vegetables). Theres a certain theatre of food here, with the restaurant designed like a giant Bedouin tent. A whole page of the menu is dedicated to vegan and vegetarian dishes. Zawaya has two locations, but its the original outpost in the centre of Wadi Musa that is most celebrated. Jordanian and Levantine dishes prevail, alongside barbecued meats and a fantastic hummus, but the desserts are the highlight, particularly the homemade warbat (triangular filo pastry with a sweet filling). Mansaf is considered the national dish of Jordan (Getty/iStockphoto) Of the few restaurants located in Petra proper, The Basin occupies a building that once housed the museum (before the new facility was opened). As youd expect from a place with no competition in the middle of a tourist trap, you wont be getting gourmet cuisine here, but the air-conditioned interior offers much-needed respite from the sun, and the buffet could be a lot worse. Where to drink Although visiting The Monastery requires a walk up many steps, As Deir Restaurant offers some basic seating in the shade, along with cold drinks, tea and coffee. It may sound basic but its the perfect way to take in the view, while taking on liquids. You can also buy snacks and shawarma, and its best to pay using cash. Theres also a toilet here, for which you must pay (around 1.10). If, after reaching The Monastery, you feel as though you still have plenty of energy, follow the signs for End of the World Coffee heading to the northwest. Sited on the edge of a cliff, theres no reason to come here other than to drink authentic Bedouin tea with the gentleman who runs the spot. Alcohol isnt illegal in Jordan, but it is hard to find and heavily taxed. Inevitably, international hotels are often the best place to find a stiff drink. The Movenpick has Al Maqaad Bar, while Petra Palace has Kilkenny. Both options are a little underwhelming. The best option is The Cave Bar at Petra Guest House, next to Petra Visitor Center, which is branded as being, somewhat distastefully, located within a former Nabataean tomb. Where to shop The Nabataean Ladies Cooperative works with local Bedouin women to craft bracelets, rings, chains and other jewellery out of silver. You can observe their handiwork in action in the workshop on the second floor and purchase the finished items directly. There is no shortage of souvenir shops in Wadi Musa. Among them, The Sand Castle is well positioned a few hundred metres from the entrance gate. Bottled sand art, jewellery, handmade rugs, inlaid furniture and antique silver are the main items that youll see variations of elsewhere but are of higher quality here. Souk Zara, located within the Movenpick, is another good choice. Architectural highlight The Treasury, or Al-Khazneh, is thought to have been built as a mausoleum and crypt (Getty/iStockphoto) Beyond The Treasury which, with its intricate, weathered carvings of mythologys heavy hitters such as Castor and Pollux, is the most obvious candidate, Petras highlight potentially still waits to be revealed. In 2016, new mapping techniques revealed what appeared to be the ruins of a huge new structure buried beneath the sand. Much more is believed to be undiscovered, only adding to the citys allure. FAQs What currency do I need? Jordanian dinars (JOD). What language is spoken? Arabic is Jordans official language, although many people are adept in English. Should I tip? Although its not mandatory, leaving a tip goes down well in Jordan and 10-15 per cent is usually appropriate. For hotel service, around 2 JOD (around 2.30) should suffice. Whats the time difference? GMT+3. How should I get around? JETT run a daily bus service between Amman and Petra, which departs early. However, the best solution is to hire a car and weave some sights along the Kings Highway into your itinerary. Whats the best view? Less of a question of where and more of when: the most captivating view is after dark, when Petra by Night tours into the city see the ancient monuments illuminated by hundreds of flickering candles and the innumerable stars above. Tours run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Insider tip Buying a Jordan Pass before you travel allows you to take care of two key tasks: ticketing and visas. Provided youre staying in the country for more than three nights, the Jordan Pass allows you to waive visa fees on arrival and provides free entry to most major attractions, including Wadi Rum, Jerash and, of course, Petra. Getting there Flights connect the UK to Jordan at two entry points: Amman (Queen Alia International Airport) and Aqaba (King Hussein International Airport). While the latter is closer to Petra, there are direct flights from London to Amman throughout the year with Royal Jordanian, British Airways and Wizz Air. Direct flights twice weekly from Gatwick to Aqaba with easyJet run from late October to March. Two more people have been arrested in the shooting death of a Philadelphia police officer who was gunned down last week as he was arriving to work at the Philadelphia International Airport. Police arrested Alexander Batista-Polanco, 21, from Camden, New Jersey on Tuesday and Hendrick Pena-Fernandez, 21, from Pennsauken, New Jersey on Wednesday. A third suspect, Yobranny Martinez-Fernandez, 18, was taken into police custody on Monday, Fox Philadelphia reported. FLORIDA SHERIFF DESCRIBES AFTERMATH OF DEADLY SUV, TRAIN COLLISION AS 'CARNAGE' Philadelphia Officer Richard Mendez, 50, was shot and killed Thursday upon intervening in a vehicle break-in while arriving for his shift at the Philadelphia International Airport, police said. "I said that we would get you, and we did just that," Interim Police Commissioner John Stanford said. Authorities believe the three men were involved in the killing of Officer Richard Mendez, 50, and the wounding of Officer Raul Ortiz. A fourth suspect, Jesus Hernan Madera Duran, died shortly after Mendez was shot. Batista-Polanco and Martinez-Fernandez are charged with multiple violent offenses, including murder, attempt to commit criminal homicide of law enforcement officer, criminal homicide of law enforcement officer, assault of law enforcement officer and robbery, among other charges. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Charges for Pena-Fernandez have yet to be announced. Mendez and Ortiz arrived at an airport parking garage before their shift when they heard the sound of glass shattering, authorities said. The pair responded and witnessed a vehicle break-in, police said. CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP One of the suspects allegedly shot the officers as they attempted to apprehend another suspect. A weapon has not been recovered. Authorities don't believe the officers fired their weapons. Original article source: Philadelphia cop killing: 2 more suspects arrested in airport garage shooting death Original pieces of a landmark Coral Gables house by famed Florida architect Alfred Browning Parker, including custom-designed wood furnishings, doors and carved wall panels, are being auctioned off at bargain-basement prices amid a local and national furor over an effort by a buyer who paid $36 million for the home to demolish it. The online auction, which ends Sunday, has come as a second shock to preservationists, architects and Parker family members who have appealed to the buyer, identified as Texas construction industry mogul Felix Sorkin, to reconsider his decision to destroy whats widely regarded as a South Florida modern architectural masterpiece and one of the prolific architects best designs. READ MORE: Its a crime. Mogul aims to demolish famed architects Coral Gables masterpiece home They say the auction only worsens the blow. .Neither Sorkin nor a Miami attorney listed in public records as the property trustee have responded to letters or public appeals from a Parker family foundation and preservation and architectural organizations. Parker, renown for his organic, environmentally attuned approach to architecture, designed and built the sprawling waterfront house, in the citys Gables Estates section, for his family in 1963. Suggested bids for the 77 auction items are as little as $20 and no more than $600, but as of Friday afternoon had drawn only a handful of bids totaling less than $2,000. It blows my mind, the late Parkers daughter, Lebritia Parker Kendrick, who lived in the house as a young girl, said of the auction. What is this? It makes no sense to me. Its almost like a slap. A view taken by famed architectural photographer Ezra Stoller of Miami architect Alfred Browning Parkers waterfront 1963 home in Coral Gables shortly after it was built shows the soaring main living room, including a floating mahogany-framed sofa attached to a wall at one end. Pieces of the limestone fireplace and the sofa are up for auction as a new owner who paid $36 million for the house seeks to demolish it. Original features of home to be auctioned News of the impending demolition has provoked consternation among architects and preservationists across the country. In a letter to the Miami Herald, leaders of the American Institute of Architects Florida and Miami chapters called the owners decision incomprehensible as well as unforgivable. Parker Kendrick and brothers Robin Parker and Quentin Parker confirmed that many of the items being auctioned are original features of the house, including a floating mahogany-frame sofa attached to a wall at one end. Quentin Parker, a California architect, said he helped his father, who acted as general contractor on the houses construction and designed and oversaw every detail, bolt the table in place. The items also include wall panels, doors and built-in furnishings made of rare Honduran mahogany, which can no longer be obtained, made by carpenter and woodworker Bill Shogren, a frequent Parker collaborator. Several elaborately carved panels from the houses master bedroom were salvaged from a bank building by his father, Quentin Parker said. Its unclear whether its Sorkin or his demolition contractor who is selling off the pieces. A contact listed on the Pompano Beach D Auction Companys website said Friday he was not authorized to discuss the auction or disclose the firms client. But Parker Kendrick said she found it ironic that the online auction page boasts that the house is an architectural masterwork while also calling it a teardown. The family of late Coral Gables socialite and philanthropist Mary Jean Bunny Bastian, who owned it for decades, put the house up for sale last year after her death. Kendrick said that neither Sorkin, attorney Alex Almazan or Gables city officials have responded to letters from a family foundation asking that the demolition effort be frozen to give advocates a chance to make a case for the houses preservation. Architect Alfred Browning Parker pauses with dog Fury while working on the home he designed for his family in Coral Gables. New owners have applied to tear down the 1963 house, widely regarded as an architectural masterpiece. Outcry over plans to tear down home Its in perfectly good condition, she said of the house, which her father sold in the mid-1960s after the college-age and young adult kids began moving out. I was really hoping I could get a response from Mr. Sorkins attorney, which was optimistic. I was curious why hes doing this. Why tear down a landmark thats part of South Florida culture and history? I would like to know his thinking. People come from all over to see that house. Its in books, in magazines, and in a new documentary that is getting national distribution in January. There is such an outcry over this purchase and over what this man is doing, but I have not been able to get any response. I just think its disrespectful, the auction just being another one of those pieces of disrespect. Its very sad. Still, Parker Kendrick said she hoped someone would bid on important museum-quality pieces and donate them to her fathers alma mater, the University of Florida, where he also taught for many years at the end of his 60-year career, or to the University of Miami. Quentin Parker said he may bid on some pieces to preserve at least a piece of his fathers masterwork for posterity. Coral Gables has yet to approve a demolition permit for the house. On Friday, a city website listed the permit application as in review. The city denied the permit last week, but that was only because of a technical issue having to do with the required capping of water lines. a city spokesman said. The city, a bastion of historic preservation, has said its powerless to block demolition because of a 2022 state law that bars designation as protected landmarks of houses that sit at or below defined flood elevations in federally designated high-risk zones, as the Parker home does. That means the demolition permit is likely to be approved without a review by the city preservation office, ordinarily a routine matter under by city ordinance. READ MORE: Does this doom Al Capones mansion? New state law empowers owners to demolish old homes Parker family members and architects familiar with the house note that Parker designed the house with forward-looking features aimed at blunting the force of wind and water in hurricanes, including angled columns and an open seaway on the ground floor that allows storm surge to flow through the structure. The house was unscathed by Hurricane Camille in 1965, when the Parker family was still living there, and has easily survived subsequent major storms, including Hurricane Andrew in 1992. It not only received numerous architectural awards, but also prizes from the American Concrete Institute and other construction industry groups, Quentin Parker said. The family hopes that will appeal to Sorkin, whose General Technologies company outside Houston makes devices for concrete reinforcement. For $36 million, Quentin Parker suggested, there is plenty Sorkin could buy on the same street to tear down that is of no architectural significance. I feel strongly that architecture itself is very temporary, but this is a house that should be preserved, he said. Its not just a cultural expression, it is a stalwart of organic architecture, an icon of art that we created. If you were to preserve that, it would pay itself off in time. You would leave a cultural statement. In this image from video provided by the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Lawrence Faucette, a pig heart transplant patient, works with a physical therapist at the school's hospital in Baltimore, Md., on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. (Tom Jemski/University of Maryland School of Medicine via AP) WASHINGTON (AP) Its been a month since a Maryland man became the second person to receive a transplanted heart from a pig - and hospital video released Friday shows hes working hard to recover. Lawrence Faucette was dying from heart failure and ineligible for a traditional heart transplant because of other health problems when doctors at the University of Maryland School of Medicine offered the highly experimental surgery. In the first glimpse of Faucette provided since the Sept. 20 transplant, hospital video shows physical therapist Chris Wells urging him to smile while pushing through a pedaling exercise to regain his strength. Thats going to be tough but Ill work it out, Faucette, 58, replied, breathing heavily but giving a smile. The Maryland team last year performed the worlds first transplant of a heart from a genetically altered pig into another dying man. David Bennett survived just two months before that heart failed, for reasons that arent completely clear although signs of a pig virus later were found inside the organ. Lessons from that first experiment led to changes before this second try, including better virus testing. Attempts at animal-to-human organ transplants called xenotransplants have failed for decades, as peoples immune systems immediately destroyed the foreign tissue. Now scientists are trying again using pigs genetically modified to make their organs more humanlike. In Fridays hospital video, Faucettes doctors said the pig heart has shown no sign of rejection. His heart is doing everything on its own, said Dr. Muhammad Mohiuddin, the Maryland teams cardiac xenotransplantation chief. A hospital spokeswoman said Faucette, of Frederick, Maryland, has been able to stand and physical therapists are helping him gain strength needed to attempt walking. Many scientists hope xenotransplants one day could compensate for the huge shortage of human organ donations. More than 100,000 people are on the nations list for a transplant, most awaiting kidneys, and thousands will die waiting. A handful of scientific teams have tested pig kidneys and hearts in monkeys and in donated human bodies, hoping to learn enough for the Food and Drug Administration to allow formal xenotransplant studies. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Two people, including a former professional baseball player, were arrested Friday morning following a lengthy two-year homicide investigation into the fatal attack on a west Lake Tahoe couple, the Placer County Sheriffs Office said. Danny Serafini, 49, and Samantha Scott, 33, were arrested separately in Nevada on suspicion of the homicide of Robert Gary Spohr, 70, and the attempted murder of his wife, Wendy Wood, 68. Spohr and Wood were attacked in their home in Homewood on the west shore of Lake Tahoe on the evening of June 5, 2021. Deputies responded to the home after receiving a 911 call from the residence. They arrived to find Spohr dead from a single gunshot, and Wood suffering from two gunshot wounds to her head. Wood regained consciousness after the attack and called for help, her daughter Adrienne Spohr told The Sacramento Bee in February. The family of Robert Gary Spohr, who was murdered in his home, and his wife who survived the attack, are now offering a reward for information leading to an arrest.A She was transported to a hospital where she was treated for over a month, Adrienne Spohr said at the time. Wood underwent extensive rehabilitation, but died a year later, the Sheriffs Office said. Eight months after the attack, the Spohr family offered a $150,000 reward for information leading to a conviction. For me, everyday living with the uncertainty of who did this and why, has been the most agonizing thing, Adrienne Spohr said. She was not immediately available for comment Friday. Video surveillance was clue in case Early on in the investigation, detectives recovered video surveillance from a home along West Lake Boulevard showing a man wearing a gray hoodie, white neck gaiter and backpack walking toward Spohr and Woods home hours before the attack. Another video shows the same man walking up the driveway of their home. June 5th, deputies responded to a 911 call from a home in Homewood. They arrived and located 70 yo Robert Gary Spohr, who was found deceased as a result of a single gun shot wound. Info on this homicide/any surveillance systems along W Lake Boulevard, call tip line (530) 889-7853 pic.twitter.com/MlsBgvOi3G Placer Sheriff (@PlacerSheriff) June 10, 2021 Since then, (the Placer County Sheriffs Office) detectives have worked tirelessly over the course of the past two years, devoting countless hours of follow-up by detectives, along with the (District Attorneys) Office, the Sheriffs Office said. The information and evidence detectives gathered led them to identify Serafini and Scott as the suspects. Serafini was arrested in Winnemucca with the help of the Winnemucca Police Department and the U.S Marshal Services Reno office. Scott was apprehended in South Las Vegas by the U.S. Marshal Service Nevada Violent Offender Task Force. The Humboldt County Sheriffs Office also assisted in the arrests, Placer officials said. Today, justice was served, said Sheriff Wayne Woo in a statement. The apprehension of those responsible for the tragic events that unfolded in Homewood, North Lake Tahoe in 2021 stands as a testament to the unwavering dedication of our detectives, law enforcement partners, and the persistence of our pursuit of truth. Understand that my teams commitment to unraveling the most complex of cases prevails, and those who inflict harm upon our community will be held accountable every time. This is such a tremendous relief for our tight-knit North Tahoe community, said county Supervisor Cindy Gustafson, who represents the Tahoe region. So many of us knew Gary and Wendy personally and were horrified by the murder and shooting. I want to thank our Placer County Sheriff and our District Attorneys investigators who spent countless hours pursuing leads and gathering evidence so that justice could be served. Scott and Serafini will be extradited to Placer County, the Sheriffs Office said. Suspect was in major leagues, reality show Serafini is a former Major League Baseball player who was drafted in 1992 by the Minnesota Twins. A left-handed pitcher, he also played for the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies, according to Baseball Reference. He played his last professional game in 2007 before being suspended for 50 games after failing a performance-enhancing drug test, an ESPN report said at the time. Two years later, he played for Italy in the World Baseball Classic. Serafini attend Junipero Serra High School in San Mateo prior to his baseball career. The school boasts Barry Bonds and Tom Brady among its alumni. A public records search, shows Serafini had a family relationship with Spohr and Wood, having married one of their daughters, Erin. Serafini and his wife were featured on a 2015 episode of Paramount Networks Bar Rescue in which he told producers he had lost $14 million in bad investments and a bitter divorce settlement following the end of his major league career. He purchased a bar called the Bullpen in Sparks, Nevada, and according to the show, Serafini was $300,000 in debt and at risk of losing his home and his parents house. Italy starting pitcher Dan Serafini (29) delivers a pitch against Canada during the 2009 World Baseball Classic at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada. The total environmental damage caused by Russian aggression in Ukraine amounts to more 55.6 billion euros ($58.9 billion), Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said in a speech on Oct. 20, citing figures from the Environmental Protection Ministry. Speaking at the International Forum United for Justice - United for Nature, Shymhal said that "half of these losses are due to air pollution from forest fires, missile attacks, and the burning of oil products." He did not specify whether this includes damages caused prior to the full scale invasion. Mines and unexploded ordnances left behind by Russian troops cover an estimated 174,000 square kilometers of Ukraine's territory, and more than 3 million hectares of forest have been affected by the war, according to the ministrys figures. The damage resulting from the destruction of the Kahkovka dam amounts to 3.8 billion euros ($4 billion) and is "the largest act of ecocide in the last 70 years," Shmyhal said. The flooding destroyed irrigation systems on farmland that usually grows around 2 million metric tons of grain per year, he explained. "This amounts to 70% of the grain exported by Ukraine to Africa in 2022," the Prime Minister said. Shmyhal said that Ukraine hopes to set up a "compensation mechanism" together with western partners that will use confiscated Russian assets to pay for the damage. Ukraine is also working with international partners to help train Ukrainian law enforcement agencies to investigate ecocide, Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin said at the same summit. Ukraine is "the first country in history" to investigate the mass destruction of the environment as a war crime, Kostin said. By purposefully destroying the environment, Russia "is trying to destroy the future life of Ukrainians." Ecocide is therefore "a crime against Ukraine as a state and our future," Kostin said. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Jacek Karnowski, former mayor of Sopot who has now been elected to the Polish Parliament, speaks after having his hair cut, in Sopot By Alan Charlish WARSAW (Reuters) -A parliamentary commission could be formed at the turn of the year to investigate allegations that Poland's nationalist government used Pegasus spyware against its opponents, a newly elected lawmaker who reportedly had his phone hacked said. Gazeta Wyborcza daily reported in March that the phone of Jacek Karnowski was hacked using the software developed by Israel-based NSO Group in 2018-2019, when he was working on the opposition campaign for elections to the upper house of parliament, the Senate. At the time Karnowski was mayor of the seaside resort of Sopot, a role he left after being elected to parliament on Sunday as part of a bloc of pro-European Union parties that are now poised to take power. "I expect an investigative commission to be formed," Karnowski told Reuters. "I think this is realistic at the turn of the year." In 2022 the opposition-controlled Senate created a commission to look into the phone-hacking allegations but it had no official investigative powers. Karnowski said that senior officials including Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and the leader of the ruling nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party Jaroslaw Kaczynski should be called before the commission. PiS has said that Poland has access to Pegasus, but has dismissed suggestions it was used against political opponents. PiS came first in the election but is unlikely to be able to form a government for want of a coalition ally. The leaders of the three groupings that secured a combined majority have called on President Andrzej Duda, a PiS ally, not to delay appointing a new prime minister. However, Duda's aides have said that he will not be rushed into making a decision. (Reporting by Alan Charlish, additional reporting by Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk and Pawel Florkiewicz) LUSAKA, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Zambia has started evacuating its citizens from Israel following instability caused by fighting between Israeli forces and the Hamas militant group, the Zambian foreign affairs ministry said Thursday. The ministry said it conducted a process of identifying the actual physical location of all Zambians known to be living in Israel, which revealed that there were 172 out of whom 143 were students and the rest diplomats and other residents. Stanley Kakubo, the minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said so far 77 out of 172 Zambians found living in Israel after a physical identification have arrived in Zambia, with 72 of them being students. "For those who have chosen to remain in Israel, be rest assured that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation will maintain close collaboration with the embassy and the Israel Foreign Ministry, and stands ready to take any necessary actions that will ensure their continued welfare and safety," he said in a ministerial statement in parliament. He, however, confirmed that there have been no Zambian casualties in the conflict. Two Milwaukee-area cold cases may be connected and law enforcement may finally have answers to questions about the 1966 murder of 19-year-old Diane Olkwitz and the 1971 murder of 15-year-old Terri Lee Erdmann. The Menomonee Falls Police Department will provide an update on the two cold case homicide investigations in a press conference Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 10 a.m. in the Village of Menomonee Falls village boardroom, W156 N8480 Pilgrim Road. Representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Wisconsin Department of Justice and the Milwaukee Police Department will also attend the event. According to a search warrant unsealed Thursday and obtained by the Journal Sentinel, police dug up the body of a man who died in 2008 to gather his DNA for a possible connection to both cases. The man, who was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery and Mausoleum in Milwaukee, is suspected of killing both Olkwitz and Erdmann almost five years apart. Olkwitz was found lying in a pool of blood at the factory she worked at in Menomonee Falls on the evening of Nov. 3, 1966. She had been stabbed more than 100 times. Erdmann was found in a field on Milwaukees northwest side on June 24, 1971, after having been missing overnight. She had been stabbed dozens of times. Police at the time said her murder was similar to the Olkwitz stabbing. The two cases had not previously been reported to be linked. In both cases, male DNA was recovered from the victims and believed to belong to the person responsible for each homicide, according to the affidavit for the search warrant. A DNA profile was created from evidence found at the Olkwitz crime scene and entered into CODIS, the FBIs Combined DNA Index System that looks for matches with convicted killers. But the system found no match. Authorities want to see if the DNA from the body they exhumed is a match with the profile that was created. The locations of Olkwitzs and Erdmanns murders are about two miles apart. The similarities in the cases, including how both victims being teenage girls who were apparently sexually assaulted and stabbed, caused the detective investigating the case to request the Wisconsin Crime Lab to compare the DNA profiles found in each homicide to one another. A 2021 report by a DNA analyst at the crime lab found that the profiles of the DNA found on both Erdmann and Olkwitz were consistent with one another, according to the affidavit for the search warrant. Menomonee Falls police have always considered the Olkwitz case an active investigation, but their efforts took on a more determined tone with the advent of DNA technology. This story will be updated. Contact Bridget Fogarty at bfogarty@gannett.com Former Journal Sentinel journalist D. Kwas contributed to this story. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Diane Olkwitz, Terri Lee Erdmann cold case murders may be connected DOYLESTOWN, P.a. - Police are looking to identify suspects they say stole three credit cards from a vehicle parked at a Planet Fitness in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. According to Central Bucks Regional Police Department, on Wednesday at around 12:20 p.m., two individuals allegedly stole three credit cards from an unlocked vehicle parked at Planet Fitness in Doylestown. After the incident, police say the victim received a message notifying him of a large purchase at Staples in the amount of $1,281.67. Surveillance photos show a gold/tan SUV, possibly a Kia, which police believe is the vehicle the suspects were driving. Anyone with information on the identity of these suspects is asked to contact Officer Maloney at 215-345-4143. President Joe Biden , back from his trip to Israel, will appeal to Americans to continue funding its ally in the countrys war against Hamas in a primetime speech on Thursday night. He does so as there are divisions within his own party on how the US is dealing with the conflict. But while a few of his Democratic colleagues in Congress may not agree with Biden on Israel, most voters overall and Democratic voters do. Its one of his strongest issues among voters. The same can be said of his policy on Russias war on Ukraine, which is another subject of Thursday nights speech. Take a look at polling released by Quinnipiac University on Tuesday. A number of the questions asked in the survey on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are illuminating (keeping in mind, of course, that events can shift opinions). Just 13% of registered voters answered that their sympathies lie more with the Palestinians than the Israelis based on what they know about the Middle East. Sixty-one percent said their sympathies lie with Israel, which was the highest amount of support Israel had received on this question since Quinnipiac first started asking it in 2001. Its up considerably from 41% back in 2021, when Quinnipiac last posed the question to voters when Israel was in armed conflict with Hamas. A Fox News poll taken just after Hamas attack on Israel last week also showed that voters sympathy for Israel had climbed since 2021. Notably, much of this shift from 2021 is being driven by Democrats. Democratic support for Israel compared to Palestinians has been declining for over a decade. In Quinnipiacs latest poll, 48% of Democratic voters say their sympathies are more with Israelis compared to 22% who said Palestinians. Thats a massive change from the 46% for Palestinians and 23% for Israelis in May 2021. Foxs poll, likewise, has shown support for Israel up by 17 points among Democrats compared to 2021. When it comes to Americas role as a strong ally of Israel in this conflict, more than half of Democrats polled by Quinnipiac appear to be more likely to side with Biden when it comes to support for Israel. Although 28% of Democratic voters believe America has been too supportive of Israel, 60% say Americas support has been about right. A majority of voters (52%) concur that America has it right when it comes to support for Israel. The rest are split evenly between saying America is too supportive (20%) and not supportive enough (20%). Indeed, the issue of support for Israel is one of Bidens strongest. More voters, polled by Quinnipiac, approve of Bidens response to Hamas terrorist attack on Israel (42%) and his policy towards Israel overall (42%) than disapprove (37% and 39% respectively). These +5 percentage point and +3 percentage point net approval ratings are significantly higher than his overall net approval rating (which is -18 percentage points). Another issue on which Biden does relatively well is what the US is doing to support Ukraine after Russia invaded the country the other major topic of his speech on Thursday night. The Quinnipiac poll shows 47% of voters approve of Bidens response to the invasion, while 45% disapprove. And as held with Israel (76%), most voters agree with Biden that supporting Ukraine (65%) is in Americas national interest. This may be one of the reasons why Biden felt comfortable with the US providing Ukraine with long-range missiles in recent days, according to multiple US officials. Those missiles will reportedly allow Ukraine to hit Russian targets that had been out of reach. This positive polling for Biden on Ukraine hides some divisions, however. While Democrats are more likely to say that backing Ukraine is in Americas national interest (87%) than they are for Israel (76%), Republicans are the opposite (84% on Israel and 49% on Ukraine). Republicans skepticism about backing Ukraine lines up with other polling questions. The clear majority of Republicans (61%) say weve done too much for Ukraine, which is up from 7% at the beginning of Russias war on Ukraine. Still, it would be a mistake to say its just Republicans who are causing Biden a polling headache on Ukraine. Even as Americans support Ukraine, the appetite for Congress approving more aid for the country in its war efforts is lackluster. A CNN/SSRS poll from August found that 55% of voters overall were opposed to it, including 71% of Republicans. Many Republicans in the US House have been wavering on giving more funding to Ukraine. Bidens job is to try and get some of those Republicans who support Ukraines efforts on board with funding. Whether Biden will be able to do so is unclear. Hell have an easier time on Israel, where a majority of Democrats (59%), independents (61%) and Republicans (79%) approve of America giving weapons and military equipment to the country in response to Hamas attack. All that said, Biden is speaking to his strengths on Thursday night when discussing either Israel or Ukraine. Hes much better off politically talking about these issues than pretty much anything else. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com By Catarina Demony LISBON (Reuters) - A Lisbon court ordered Portugal's most high-profile anti-racism activist, Mamadou Ba, on Friday to pay a 2,400 euro ($2,540) fine after finding him guilty of defaming a prominent neo-Nazi. Ba wrote on social media in 2020 that Mario Machado , founder of several extreme-right movements in Portugal, was "one of the main figures in the murder of Alcindo Monteiro", a Black man who was beaten to death in 1995 by skinheads in a wider, violent racist attack. Eleven people were convicted in 1997 over the murder of Monteiro, but they did not include Machado. Machado, who filed the defamation suit against Ba, has served time behind bars for racial discrimination and other crimes and uses social media to spread racial hate. Machado, 46, was part of the group of skinheads who took to Lisbon's streets on June 10, 1995, to attack Black people and was found guilty of inflicting "bodily harm" on other Black people, but not Monteiro, on the same night. Monteiro, 27, died from his injuries. The court ruling convicting the 11 of Monteiro's murder also said each individual who took part in the attacks on that night was responsible for the "event's entirety". Still, Portugal's prosecutor's office agreed a year ago to pursue the defamation complaint against Ba filed by Machado, who has been in and out of prison for various crimes such as possession of illegal weapons. The case has turned the spotlight on structural racism in Portugal, with the association where Ba works, SOS Racismo, saying the justice system was trying to "silence voices who fight for democracy". Judge Joana Ferrer said on Friday Ba's post stated "a false fact that indisputably damaged his (Machado's) honour" as "he did not murder Alcindo Monteiro". Machado's lawyer Jose Castro hailed the ruling as showing "a rule of law free from political pressure". Ba's lawyer Isabel Duarte said she would appeal the court decision and take it to the European Court of Human Rights if needed, adding: "The state allowed the extreme-right to penetrate its institutions." ($1 = 0.9448 euros) (Reporting by Catarina Demony; Editing by Susan Fenton) Canadas recognition in parliament of Canadian-Ukrainian World War II veteran Yaroslav Hunka, who fought on the side of the Nazis, sparked public outrage in September 2023. Pro-Russian social media accounts seized the moment, alleging that Ukraine had released a postage stamp to immortalise Hunka. But the claim is false: AFP Fact Check found that the barcode on the stamp belongs to another series of Ukrainian stamps. Ukraines national postal service also confirmed the Hunka stamp does not exist. "The Ukrainian Postal Service is now issuing stamps with the face of the WW2 Wafen SS Nazi Galicia cretin Yaroslav Hunko while Poland will seek his extradition from Canada," reads a post shared on Facebook on September 27, 2023. A screenshot of the false post, taken on October 17, 2023 The post also labels Ukraine and Poland as "Nazi regimes". It includes what looks like a postage stamp with a barcode in the top right corner, an image of an elderly man and the caption "Heroes dont die". The account that published the claim in Africa is notorious for its Russian bias and for sharing disinformation. The same claim appeared in other languages including Polish, Bulgarian, Russian, French and Dutch. It also circulated on X (formerly Twitter) and Telegram here, here and here. War crimes accusations The Canadian parliament honoured Hunka, 98, when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited in September. The SS-Galizien Division, in which he served during World War II, was created by the Germans in occupied Ukraine in April 1943 after losing the Battle of Stalingrad (archived here). Like the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, the division is accused of committing war crimes against Jews and Poles (archived here and here). More than a million Jews were killed in Ukraine during the war, mostly from 1941 to 1942, by the Germans with the support or participation of their Ukrainian collaborators (archived here). More than 100,000 Poles were killed (archived here), essentially by units of UPA, in the Volhynie massacre in 1943 (archived here). A part of the massacre was committed by the Galizien division, like in Huta Pieniacka. The speaker of the parliament Anthony Rota celebrated Hunka (archived here) as a "Ukrainian-Canadian war veteran from the Second World War who fought for Ukrainian independence against the Russians". He also called him "a Ukrainian hero and a Canadian hero". The public endorsement generated so much controversy that Rota and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were forced to apologise (archived here). Rota later stepped down from his position (archived here). Critics said Rotas remarks ignored the fact that Hunka fought with the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, a Nazi military unit whose crimes against humanity during the Holocaust are well-documented. However, the claim that Ukraine launched a stamp to celebrate Hunka is false. Different stamp AFP Fact Check zoomed in on the barcode on the purported stamp to reveal the numbers "4823027150765". A search for the code on barcodelookup.com, a tool designed to provide information on barcodes, showed a different stamp named "Free. Unbreakable. Invincible". It was launched in August 2022 (archived here). A screenshot shows the real stamp assigned to the barcode, taken on October 17, 2023 The same stamp is listed on the website of the Ukrainian postal service, Ukrposhta (archived here). According to the website, the "wartime stamp" paid tribute to important symbols from the Russian-Ukraine war such as the Mariupol theatre (archived here) that sheltered Ukrainians, women shielding their babies in a subway from Russian missiles (archived here) and the Ukrainian forces. There was no reference to Yaroslav Hunka (archived here). The stamp celebrated the "indescribable resilience" Ukrainians showed in the face of the war, the website said. The fake stamp is not listed on the website. A screenshot of the wartime stamp, taken on October 17, 2023 All official Ukrposhta stamps are available on the Ukrposhta website (archived here), among them the special collection issued for the wartime stamps. After the invasion by Russia in February 2022, such war stamps have been regularly released for collectors. The fabricated stamp does not feature on the site. A search with the Wayback Machine tool of the post's archived web pages dated September 26 and September 28, 2023 - the earliest available archives after the Canadian parliament incident on September 22 - also failed to reveal any traces of the stamp. Furthermore, the clothes Hunka wore in the photo used in the fake stamp bear striking similarities to his attire when he was honoured by the Canadian parliament in September 2023, more than a year after the stamp from where the barcode was taken was launched (archived here). Screenshots show the similarity between the clothes Hunka wore at the Canadian parliament and in the fake stamp, taken on October 17, 2023. Screenshots show the similarity between the clothes Hunka wore at the Canadian parliament and the fake stamp, taken on October 17, 2023 Never on sale An AFP journalist visited the central post office in Ukraines capital city of Kyiv to ask if the fake stamp was on sale. An official said such a stamp was never on sale. "Ukrposhta did not issue a postage stamp with the image of Yaroslav Hunka and has nothing to do with the situation," said the Ukraine postal service in an email to AFP Fact Check. Meanwhile, Polands outgoing education minister Przemyslaw Czarnek had described Canadas recognition of Hunka as "scandalous". Writing on X, he said he would push for an investigation and Hunkas possible extradition if he was found to have committed crimes against Poles and Polish Jews (archived here). "I have taken steps towards a possible extradition of this man to Poland," he wrote on September 26, 2023. Russia made a similar threat, according to an article in The Moscow Times (archive here). Russian invasion of Ukraine Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, claiming that he wanted to demilitarise and "denazify" its neighbour, even though Zelensky is Jewish and lost family members in the Holocaust (archived here). Rotas faux pas in parliament gave the Kremlin another opportunity to label Ukraines leadership Nazist sympathisers (archived here). False claims echoing the Moscow-driven narrative portraying Ukrainian leaders as "Nazis" have flooded social media since the start of Russia's invasion. Find AFP Fact Check's disinformation coverage of the war in Ukraine here. October 23, 2023 Corrected "AFP Fact Check" in summary FILE PHOTO: Carlos Romero Deschamps, leader of the oil workers union of Pemex, waves during the 80th anniversary of the expropriation of Mexico's oil industry in Mexico City FILE PHOTO: Carlos Romero Deschamps, leader of the oil workers union of Pemex, waves during the 80th anniversary of the expropriation of Mexico's oil industry in Mexico City By Dave Graham MEXICO CITY, October 20 (Reuters) - Carlos Romero Deschamps , the former longtime and controversial leader of Mexico's oil workers' union and politician, has died at the age of 79, officials confirmed on Friday. Local media reported that Romero Deschamps died of a heart attack on Thursday. A stalwart of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), which dominated Mexico in the 20th century, Romero Deschamps used his connections to become an influential powerbroker and accrue substantial wealth that many said was ill-gotten. The union boss' tenure as head of the main union for employees of national oil company Pemex came to an end in late 2019 when he abruptly resigned his post. Days earlier, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced that Romero Deschamps was under criminal investigation for corruption, allegations which he denied and was never prosecuted for. Romero Deschamps, who served four terms as leader of the more than 100,000-member union, one of the largest in Latin America, defended his record, pointing to positive changes for workers that include improvements in pensions and healthcare, as well as salary increases. Romero Deschamps was elected to Mexico's Senate for a six-year term in 2012, just as the PRI's Enrique Pena Nieto recaptured the presidency, returning the centrist party back to power after a dozen years on the sidelines. It was the sixth time Romero Deschamps had been a federal lawmaker, having previously served three times in Mexico's lower house of Congress, and twice in the Senate. 'PEMEXGATE' A licensed accountant, Romero Deschamps was born on January 17, 1943, in the port city of Tampico, Tamaulipas state, and he began his career in the union in the central state of Hidalgo. After assuming leadership of the trade union for Pemex in 1993, he wielded considerable power, keenly aware that taxes levied on the state monopoly accounted for about a third of the federal government's annual budget. Romero Deschamps was included in a list of the "10 Most Corrupt Mexicans" published by Forbes in 2013. He, however, rode out scandals even as other top Mexican union leaders fell foul of the law, including the former boss of the powerful teachers' union, Elba Esther Gordillo, who was arrested on fraud charges early in 2013. In 2000, Romero Deschamps was accused of helping divert 1.5 billion pesos from Pemex accounts to the presidential campaign of the then PRI contender Francisco Labastida. While a government audit later revealed anomalies covering 2.3 billion pesos ($188.97 million) in the so-called Pemexgate scandal, Romero Deschamps himself escaped unscathed. Others were not so lucky, and were punished and fined. Since then, Romero Deschamps' wealth and his children's lavish lifestyles garnered more unwanted headlines, despite a reported annual salary from the union of only about $23,000. According to a report in Mexican newspaper Reforma in May 2012, Romero Deschamps owned a $1.5 million British-made yacht that he kept docked in the beach resort of Cancun near his waterfront condo that itself was worth about $1.3 million. That same year, his daughter Paulina posted pictures of a trip to Europe on her Facebook page, including images taken in private jets and five-star hotels along with her British bulldog travelling companion. The photos created a media firestorm in Mexico, and the Facebook page was taken down shortly afterwards. Early in 2013, Mexican media revealed that the union boss gave his son Jose Carlos a Ferrari Enzo worth more than $1 million, just one of several luxury cars the younger Romero Deschamps reportedly kept at his Miami residence. On Friday, Mexican President Lopez Obrador expressed his condolences to the family during his regular morning press conference, saying that "no one should wish for (somebody's) death." (Reporting by Dave Graham; Editing by Marguerita Choy) Prince Turki al-Faisal: I categorically condemn Hamass targeting of civilian targets of any age or gender as it is accused of - Leigh Vogel/Getty An influential Saudi prince has issued a strong condemnation of Hamas in a rare rebuke from one of the Middle Easts main power brokers. Prince Turki al-Faisal, a former Saudi ambassador to the UK and US, said he preferred civil insurrection and disobedience to the murderous tactics adopted by the Palestinian terror group. I categorically condemn Hamass targeting of civilian targets of any age or gender as it is accused of, Prince al-Faisal said in a speech at the Baker Institute for Public Policy, a US think tank housed at Rice University in Texas. But equally, I condemn Israels indiscriminate bombing of Palestinian innocent civilians in Gaza and the attempt to forcibly drive them into Sinai, he added, citing Israels recent bombardment of the enclave and order for its residents to flee south towards Egypt ahead of an expected ground offensive. Prince al-Faisals remarks underline recent comments from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and indicate Riyadh may still be amenable to a historic normalisation deal with Israel, despite having put on hold talks amid the current war. Last week, the Crown Prince asserted the Kingdoms opposition to any form of civilian targeting and the loss of innocent lives in a carefully worded statement. On Thursday, during a meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in the Saudi capital, he warned of dangerous repercussions should the war expand. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has asserted his Kingdoms opposition to any form of civilian targeting and the loss of innocent lives - Hamad Al Kaabi/Reuters The Crown Prince has staked his name on a major economic transformation a vision for the future of his own country, and of the Middle East, which would revamp the region and support political stability. Such plans underpinned a recent resumption of relations between Riyadh and regional rival Iran, and even a foray, led by the US, into normalising ties with Israel. Saudi Arabia had requested major military support from Washington and significant Israeli concessions to the Palestinians as part of any normalisation deal. For us, the Palestinian issue is very important. We need to solve that part, the Crown Prince told Fox News during a rare interview last month. For now, such diplomatic engagement has been suspended, but the threat of escalating conflict clearly does not serve Saudi Arabias stated interests, analysts said. Cant happen with war The Crown Princes vision cannot happen with a war, said Alistair Burt, who served as the UKs minister for the Middle East and North Africa from 2017 to 2019. Hamas is clearly as much an enemy to peace for Saudi Arabia, as it is to Israel, said Mr Burt. But its also clear that there is no pathway to this new Middle East without a resolution of the issue between Israel and Palestine, he said. The future of the Middle East cannot go on with these deep-seated enmities not being resolved. Still, it remains to be seen how the Israeli military campaign against Hamas unfolds in the next few weeks. For Saudi Arabia, there will be some degree of frustration over a perceived lack of effort from the West, particularly the US, to push more strongly for a ceasefire. Mr Burt said that on the whole, there has been a fundamental change, because of the horror of what happened, and the potential for further catastrophe of what is next, and a recognition that if that continues, the ability to repair the region is going to be unbelievably difficult. Prince al-Faisal, who also served as intelligence chief of Saudi Arabia for more than two decades, said that two wrongs do not make a right and accused Hamas of giving the higher moral ground to Israels government. There are no heroes in this conflict; only victims, he said. I condemn Hamas for sabotaging the attempt of Saudi Arabia to reach a peaceful resolution to the plight of the Palestinian people. Islamic values Analysts said his remarks suggested Riyadh may be attempting to temper the anger that has raged across the Arab world in recent weeks as Israel has responded forcefully in Gaza to the killing of more than 1,400 Israelis by Hamas on Oct 7. Prince al-Faisals words anchored condemnation of violence by Hamas in vernacular and Islamic values rather than international law, said Rim Turkmani, a research fellow in the Syria conflict research programme at the London School of Economics. There is an Islamic injunction against the killing of innocent children, women and elders; the injunction is also against the desecration of places of worship, she added. This is very important because, frankly, international law is not only less relatable to people in the region, but also because it has lost its credibility in their eyes. They have been complaining about the hypocrisy in the way international law is implemented in the region for decades and they see it being violated by Israel on a daily basis. 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. Kourtney Kardashian is ready to meet her baby boy. The pregnant reality star recently shared on Instagram a photo of herself clad in a black bra and matching underwear. In the picture, Kardashians baby bump is on full display Stunning. Just absolutely glowing, one fan wrote in the comments. Added another, Not too much longer mama. Kardashian, 44, and her husband, Travis Barker , 47, announced in June, that they are expecting their first child together. Though it's their first kid together, Kardashian and the Blink-182 drummer are both seasoned parents. Kourtney shares Mason, 13, Penelope, 11, and Reign, 8, with her former partner Scott Disick, while Barker is dad of Landon, 20, and Alabama, 17, from his previous marriage to Shanna Moakler. Kourtney Kardashian (@kourtneykardash via Instagram) In her Instagram carousel, Kardashian included a snap of the pink tulips that she received from her daughter Penelope from when she was under the weather. I hope you feel better, Mom! Love P, the card reads. Kardashian also gave followers a glimpse inside her unborn babys light-filled nursery, which features a sleek oval-shaped crib. As for the colorful stuffed animal? Visty created by Japanese graphic designer Verdy. In an interview for the November issue of Vogue, Kardashian revealed that she and Barker conceived without medical intervention. The newlyweds previously documented their IVF journey on The Kardashians. I felt really pressured and pushed into doing IVF, Kardashian told the magazine. "It went against my intuition, and I didnt feel fully prepared for the mental or physical toll is takes." "We just got pregnant naturally," she continued. It was an indescribable feeling. Shock, then super-happy, fear sets in, worry, but I remembered then to have gratitude. As Kardashian's due date draws closer, she said she plans to practice attachment parenting. "That's what I did for my last two kids, we didn't leave the house for the first 40 days," she explained. "After, you're super connected and I love that." This article was originally published on TODAY.com During President Joe Bidens Oval Office address on Thursday, he drew attention to Wadea Al-Fayoume, the six-year-old Palestinian-American boy who was stabbed to death in an alleged hate crime. His name was Wadea, said Biden during his address to the nation. A proud American, a proud Palestinian American family. We cant stand by and stand silent when this happens. We must without equivocation, denounce anti-semitism. We must also, without equivocation, denounce Islamophobia. And all you hurting, I want you to know I see you. You belong. And I want to say this to you: Youre all American. Youre all American. President Biden condemns antisemitism, Islamophobia, and the killing of 6-year-old Wadea Al-Fayoume, who was allegedly stabbed to death because he was Muslim: We must, without equivocation, denounce antisemitism. We must also, without equivocation, denounce Islamophobia. pic.twitter.com/8QZIG3oadD The Recount (@therecount) October 20, 2023 After his speech, NBC News reported that Biden called the Al-Fayoume family, and that the president and the first lady expressed their condolences and reiterated their commitment to speaking out against anti-Muslim bigotry. Earlier in his address, Biden declared the world at an inflection point in history, and made the case for continued U.S. involvement in Israels fight against Hamas and Ukraines battle against Russia as he prepares to ask Congress for more than $98 billion in emergency funding for both countries. Biden traveled to Tel Aviv earlier this week to express his support for Israel in its conflict with Hamas. He blamed the terrorist group in Gaza for a hospital blast that reportedly killed hundreds of Palestinians on Tuesday, citing Department of Defense data. Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, killing at least 1,400 Israelis. Israel has responded with a barrage of attacks against Palestine while cutting off basic utilities to millions of residents. Authorities in Gaza said on Wednesday that just under 3,500 Palestinians have been killed since the war broke out less than two weeks ago. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. The Subject In February, when Pervez Agwan launched his campaign for Congress, he talked about economic inequality, a green new Houston, and cutting out corporate donors. Moderate Rep. Lizzie Fletcher had won the Texas 7th Congressional District when it was a swing seat; Republicans had re-drawn it as a safely Democratic seat, ready for more progressive representation. And by the end of September, hed raised nearly $550,000 for his campaign. Since Oct. 7, Agwan has emphasized another difference with Fletcher: He wants a ceasefire in Gaza, and she supports Israel to the hilt, even calling on the Biden administration to put more pressure on Iran. Agwan had already attacked Fletcher over her support from AIPAC a group that openly keeps an apartheid system and an open-air prison where peoples rights are violated, hed told The Intercept. He talked more about that with Americana. The primary is on March 5. The Interview Americana: What are the chief disagreements between you and Rep. Fletcher? What votes has she taken this year that you would have handled differently? Pervez Agwan: We have to contextualize this, because were dealing with a powder keg situation right now. Im proud to be the only candidate in this race thats actually calling for an immediate ceasefire, ending the violence in Gaza, and shes really dropped the ball. Shes invited this chaos playing on our TV screens today. Quite frankly, the top issue right now is whats going on in Palestine, in Israel. Not only has she refused to call for a ceasefire, but shes signed on to what I consider to be egregious human rights violations in the Middle East, right. Shes taking all this money from special interests, and thats dictating her foreign policy. If I get to Congress Id lead the charge on that. Americana: On her role in in the current situation are you referring to her supporting the MaCaul/Meeks resolution about standing with Israel? Pervez Agwan: Yes. Im one of a few people around the country calling for an immediate ceasefire. People who arent calling for that are basically offering a blank check to the Netanyahu regime. Thats a threat to our national security interests. You cant prop up human rights violators, and put millions of people in an open air prison, and then say: Hey, Israel has the right to defend itself. No, thats not how this works. Americana: How is it a threat to our national security interests? Pervez Agwan: When we prop up and arm Im not going to mince my words an apartheid state, we destroy our credibility, and we actually breed animosity between the United States and the people of the Middle East. It is really time for us to think critically about our national security priorities, instead of selling them off to lobbyists for foreign governments and special interest groups like my opponent does. Shes endorsed by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, and the tragedy is that AIPAC has really purchased a lot of our congressional campaigns. I truly believe that our campaign here in Houston is one of the best opportunities for progressives in this country to really confront this problem, by stopping Republicans and AIPAC from hijacking not just the Democratic Party, but all of electoral politics. Americana: Do you support the resolution that Rep. Rashida Tlaib and some other progressives introduced, calling for a ceasefire? Pervez Agwan: I immediately supported that resolution, Im a proponent of it, and I think we need to go a step further. When I am in Congress, I would like to lead the charge to implement sanctions on the leadership of the Netanyahu regime and the Israeli government in retaliation for its decision to commit not just the heinous crime of apartheid, but putting out an evacuation order, giving people 24 hours to evacuate, and then bombing the evacuation routes out. These are war crimes being committed before our very own eyes. Were watching innocent civilians die. Americana: A few months ago, you told Mondoweiss that the state of the Israel issue, from your perspective, is definitely getting better. Do you still think thats true? Pervez Agwan: One problem right now is that a lot of people arent happy with the Democrats. A lot of young people dont even identify as Democrats they dont identify as Republicans either. A lot of young people feel like Republicans stab us in the front but Democrats stab us in the back. There were thousands of people at the Houston Palestine protest. There were thousands in Dallas. A lot of narratives and agendas being pushed from DC are not indicative of whats on the ground, in the district with the largest Asian population of any in Texas. People want our politicians to be honest, and nobody wants a million people to die, no matter what their race, religion or ethnicity. We cannot allow the Netanyahu regime to step into Gaza and wipe out millions of people. Its a genocide. When you put out statements like Fletcher has, saying that Israel has every right to defend itself? Well, I dont think Israel is defending itself when its trying to wipe a million people out of the Gaza Strip. Americana: The president has given what the White House called unwavering support to Israel. You obviously disagree with that; do you think its making the situation worse? Pervez Agwan: I think President Biden has a lot of blood on his hands. He has failed in this moment, and his leadership has shown to be lacking, and his judgment, poor. I think President Biden is responsible, if he does not call for an immediate ceasefire, for the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians. I dont agree that we should provide unwavering support to an Israeli government that egregiously violates human rights. He misinterprets the entire situation, and I think it is intentional. In this moment, President Biden has failed the test of moral conscience. BEIJING, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- A total of 417 criminal suspects involved in telecom and online fraud have been repatriated to China from the Philippines, including seven fugitives, marking an important achievement in collaborative law enforcement efforts to combat cross-border telecom fraud. In response to the increasing incidents of telecom crimes involving Chinese citizens in the Philippines, China's Ministry of Public Security deployed a task force to the Philippines for a joint law enforcement mission earlier this year. During their joint operations, police forces from both countries dismantled several major telecom fraud dens based in the Philippines, apprehended over 1,000 criminal suspects from different countries, and seized a substantial number of tools related to these criminal activities. Chinese public security authorities vowed to maintain a rigorous crackdown on cross-border telecom and online fraud crimes, reinforce international law enforcement cooperation, and resolutely curb the rise in fraudulent cases. As President Joe Biden urged Americans on Thursday night to support his request for $74 billion in aid to Ukraine and Israel, he reminded listeners that the military hardware shipped abroad is replaced with new equipment built in places like Arizona. It was a reference to the Patriot missiles built by Raytheon Missiles and Defense, Tucsons leading private-sector employer. Biden made the point near the end of his 15-minute remarks from the Oval Office, and it came as he discussed Ukraines war with Russia, not Israels battle with Hamas in Palestinian-held territory in Gaza. Let me be clear about something, Biden said. We send Ukraine equipment sitting in our stockpiles, and when we use the money allocated by Congress, we use it to replenish our own stores, our own stockpiles, with new equipment equipment that defends America and is made in America," Biden said. Patriot missiles for air defense batteries made in Arizona. Artillery shells manufactured in 12 states across the country, in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas. And so much more. You know, just as in World War II, today patriotic American workers are building the Arsenal of Democracy and serving the cause of freedom. Biden reportedly plans to ask Congress for $14 billion in aid to Israel and $60 billion in aid to Ukraine. Congressional Republicans, including those in Arizona, have been skeptical about further funding for the war in Ukraine. Among those skeptics is Rep. Paul Gosar , R-Ariz., who said in a written statement to The Arizona Republic that he would vote no on funding for Israel if it were combined with military aid to Ukraine. Why is Israel at war and who are Hamas?: What Arizonans need to know I will vote for necessary funding to assist Israel in its time of need but if it is combined with billions more for Ukraine I will be a no, Gosar wrote. I have not supported this Ukraine proxy war and I will not start now just because its wrapped in an Israeli flag. Gosar repeatedly referred to the Ukrainian government as Nazis, apparently referencing a claim about Ukraines politics that scholars of Nazism and genocide have called factually wrong and morally repugnant. A spokesperson for Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., another critic of aid to Ukraine, likewise wrote to The Republic that "Congressman Biggs believes that the funding should not be tied together." In his speech, Biden appeared to rebut conservative voices such as Gosar's who argue that U.S. aid to Ukraine is unnecessary for national security, or a drag on the U.S. economy. As he has before, Biden said the fighting in Ukraine can prevent a wider war with Russia in NATO countries, and reminded his listeners that Russian President Vladimir Putin has hinted at further aggression with Poland, a NATO ally that the U.S. has pledged to defend militarily if attacked. In Israel, American aid can help sharpen Israels military edge, he said. Most of Arizona's congressional delegation appears likely to support Biden's request. Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Ariz., and Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., both intend to support the package, their offices said. A spokesperson for Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., declined to preview Sinema's vote but noted that she publicly urged Biden to transfer defensive equipment and munitions to Israel as the country weighs a ground invasion of Gaza. So did Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., who traveled to Israel over the weekend in a display of support. Over the past few weeks Senator Kelly has been to the southern border, Ukraine, and Israel, and has worked with his colleagues and the president on what is needed in this package to tackle these challenges," Kelly's office told The Republic. "Hell evaluate it closely and continue working to secure the border and protect our national security. Earlier in the day, the Senate passed a resolution declaring its support for Israel 97-0. Kelly and Sinema both voted in support. Make no mistake: we are proudly, firmly standing with our strongest ally in the face of horrific terrorism, Sinema said in a statement on social media after the vote. Spokespeople for Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., and Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., both said that they will be "reviewing" the aid package once it is sent to Congress. Ciscomani's office declined to say what conditions he would need to vote yes, but signaled support in a statement. "I'm glad to see the President reaffirm U.S. support for Israel and recognize the impactful role the Arizona manufacturing plays in our national defense strategies," he wrote. "We must reiterate the need for American leadership and continue to stand by our allies." Gallego likewise "looks forward to reviewing the package," a spokesperson wrote. Press contacts for the remaining members of Arizonas delegation did not immediately respond to a request for comment. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: President Joe Biden name-drops Arizona in speech on Ukraine and Israel Here's a recap of hearings held at the Marion County Judicial Center the week of Oct. 16: State v. William Rodriguez-Cordero Plea: No contest. Charges: One count of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, sexual battery and armed kidnapping. Sentence: 15 years in prison and 10 years of probation to run consecutively. He has 922 days of credit for time already served at the Marion County Jail. Special conditions: He cannot have any contact with the victim or victims, must not return to Interfaith, must wear a GPS monitor while on probation, and will be listed as a sexual offender. Judge: Circuit Judge Lisa Herndon. Lawyers: Assistant State Attorney Marissa Meyer and Leonard Klatt for the defense. About the case: Deputies arrested Rodriguez-Cordero in 2021 and accused him of holding a woman hostage for several days during which time he tortured, beat and stabbed her. While in the county jail, he attempted to hire an inmate to kill the woman, according to sheriff's officials. State v. Derrell Dernell Redding Charges: Two counts of sexual battery on a child younger than 12, three counts of sexual battery, three counts of lewd lascivious molestation of a child. Hearing: At an arraignment hearing on Oct. 17 in Circuit Judge Lisa Herndon's courtroom, Assistant State Attorney Tucker O'Neil announced prosecutors have filed the charges against 54-year-old Derrell Dernell Redding. Where's Redding now? He's presently at the county jail, held without bail. Court documents show his next court date is scheduled for 2024. Those same records indicate Redding is represented by local attorney Henry Ferro. What happened? Redding was taken into custody by sheriff's deputies last month and accused of molesting two underage girls. At the time of his arrest, Redding was pastor at Progressive Union Missionary Baptist Church. State v. Jonathan Nepal Mathura Judge: Circuit Judge Robert Hodges. Charges: 20 counts of possession of child porngraphy. Lawyers: Assistant State Attorney Drew Brandies and Mathura's lawyer was Simon Wiseman. Plea: No contest. Jonathan Muthura Dr. Harry Krop: A clinical psychologist, Krop testified for the defense at the man's Oct. 17 hearing. He said based on his evaluation, the risk of Mathura to re-offend is low. He said the defendant has accepted responsibility for what he did, received treatment for his sexual addictions, and has been doing well. Mathura and family testify: Mathura's mother and wife told the court that he works, is a good man, supports his family, and is a loving person who's loyal. Both said he deserves a second chance and they were surprised he was downloading child porn. Mathura told the court his treatment is helping him and he's sorry for offending his family and the children he has hurt by viewing pictures and videos of them. If given a chance, he said, he won't make those poor decisions again. Arguments: The prosecutor asked the judge to sentence Mathura to 15 years in prison and five years of sexual-offender probation. Brandies said what Mathura did wasn't an isolated incident and he had access to more than 1,000 images of child porn. Wiseman asked the judge to consider the doctor's testimony and note that his client has no criminal history and has learned his lesson. Sentence: The judge sentenced Mathura to 15 years in prison and five years of probation for committing what he called a serious crime. Mathura has three days of credit for time already served. State v. Juan Pagan Ayala Judge: Circuit Judge Lisa Herndon. Lawyers: Assistant State Attorney Marissa Meyer and defense lawyer A. Antonio Tomas. Charges: Aggravated battery by a person in detention facility. A sexual battery charge was dropped. Plea: No contest. Juan Pagan-Ayala Sentence: The 32-year-old Ocala man was sentenced to eight years in prison on Oct. 19. Pagan-Ayala has 1,543 days of credit for time already served at the jail. About the case: Law enforcement officials said an inmate at the county jail was assaulted by four men. The victim had broken ribs, a swollen eye and hand, and missing teeth, authorities said. A lawsuit was filed several months ago against the sheriff in reference to this incident. Three other men involved in the attack, Charles Reynaldo Murillo, Steven Alexander Villafane and Cecil Eugene Wryals, have been convicted and are serving time in prison. State v. Trevor David Henderson Charges: Aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer with firearm and use of firearm while under the influence. Judge: Circuit Judge Lisa Herndon. Lawyers: Assistant State Attorney Marissa Meyer and defense lawyer Melanie Slaughter. Plea: In August, Henderson, 35, of Ocala, pleaded guilty to the charges. His sentencing was delayed until October so a pre-sentence investigation could be completed. Trevor David Henderson About the case: Ocala police officials said Henderson pointed a gun in the face of an officer two years ago. The officer managed to wrestle the gun from Henderson, who was intoxicated, authorities said. Officers were at Henderson's residence because they picked up him and his girlfriend from the downtown square after getting a call about two intoxicated individuals. At the residence, the officers heard a disturbance and during their investigation, the incident occurred. Taking the witness stand: On Oct. 19, Henderson told the court he was sorry and doesn't remember much about what happened. He said he got the gun from his brother because his neighborhood has crime and is plagued with homeless people. He said he wrote two letters to the officers expressing his feelings. He said that if he had known law enforcement officials were outside, he would not have pointed the gun. Several people spoke on his behalf. One was his girlfriend of six years. She said he's honest, kind, and is remorseful about what occurred. His grandmother said it has been a hard three years for the family and he's a good person. Meyer read aloud a letter from Officer Jordan Decker, the official who had the gun pointed in his face. He wrote that when the gun was pointed at him, he thought he was going to die, leaving his wife and daughter behind. He wanted Henderson to be sentenced to five years in prison followed by five years of probation. Decker's wife also had a letter read aloud by Meyer. She asked the judge to send a message that this type of action should not go unpunished. Lawyers' arguments: Slaughter said her client, because he was impaired at the time, wasn't aware of what he did. The prosecutor said Henderson has not taken responsibility for what he did and was reckless with the firearm. She said it appears neither he nor his girlfriend minded walking to and from their residence to downtown, even though he said he lives in a bad community. Sentenced: 15-year prison term for Ocala man who pleads guilty in child sex case Sentence: Herndon said the officer could've been killed and while she doesn't think Henderson is a bad person, he must be punished. She sentenced him to three years in prison followed by 10 years of probation. Once released, he must abide by several restrictions: He cannot drink any alcohol, cannot go to any bars or places that serve alcohol, and can have no access to guns or weapons. Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com or @almillerosb. This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Here's a look at recent felony cases resolved at the Ocala courthouse SKOKIE, Ill. - Pro-Palestinian activists organized a sit-in Thursday at the Skokie office of Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky to voice their concerns. Schakowsky, who is a Jewish American, has described herself as a supporter and friend of Israel. However, the activist group has criticized her for not advocating for Palestinian rights. Around 3:05 p.m., Skokie police say officers responded to the congresswoman's office and encountered 25 individuals peacefully protesting. Police told the demonstrators that once the building closed at 5 p.m., they would have to leave. At 5:30 p.m., police announced a first dispersal order. Two more orders were announced with the final coming at 5:42 p.m. However, seven individuals remained on the scene. At that time, they were taken to the Skokie Police Department and issued citations for criminal trespass. They are due back in court on Dec. 5. No injuries were reported in the incident. The demonstration came amid escalating violence in the Middle East. Israeli forces are preparing for the next phase of the conflict, launching additional airstrikes on the Gaza Strip in an effort to dismantle Hamas strongholds. In the latest wave of airstrikes, a mosque in the Gaza Strip was targeted. In response to the intensifying violence in the region, the U.S. State Department has issued a rare worldwide alert to Americans abroad. The last time such an alert was released was in August 2022 following threats from an Al-Qaeda leader. This alert urges Americans to exercise caution when attending demonstrations and protests overseas. Progressive members of Congress are increasing their calls for a cease-fire and upping pressure on President Biden amid the Israel-Hamas war, highlighting differences within the Democratic Party as the president made a wartime trip overseas to show support for Israel. While Republicans struggle to elect a Speaker of the House from their ranks, Democrats own divisions are on display as some express steadfast support for Israel after Hamass attack this month, and others argue Israel should de-escalate its response. After a deadly blast at a hospital in Gaza City reportedly killed hundreds Tuesday, Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), the only Palestinian American member of Congress, took aim at Biden, warning him that we will remember where you stood. @POTUS this is what happens when you refuse to facilitate a ceasefire & help de-escalate. Your war and destruction only approach has opened my eyes and many Palestinian Americans and Muslims Americans like me, Tlaib said in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. She spoke to protestors who descended on the Capitol on Wednesday to demand an Israel-Hamas cease-fire as lawmakers held the latest round of votes for Speaker. To my president, to our president I want him to know, as a Palestinian American, as also somebody of Muslim faith, Im not going to forget this, Tlaib said outside the Capitol. Protestors chanted cease-fire now during her speech. Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza, led a multifront attack on Israel on Oct. 7. Israel in return declared war, unleashing airstrikes on Gaza. The death toll is said to have surpassed 4,200 in the region. Dozens of House progressives signed a letter last week putting pressure on their party leader to lean more heavily on Israel and ensure Tel Aviv adheres to international law in its response to the Hamas attack. A group of several House progressives released a statement as Biden headed off for his trip to Israel, calling for the U.S. to help achieve an immediate ceasefire, or at minimum, a temporary cessation of all hostilities that stops the threats to civilians in Israel and Gaza. Hamas can and must be stopped and the security of Israel must be guaranteed without the killing of thousands more Palestinian and Israeli civilians. There is a different path. In this devastating time, the United States must lead the way forward, wrote Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the chairwoman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and a half-dozen fellow lawmakers. Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) is leading House progressives with the Ceasefire Now Resolution, urging Biden to call for and facilitate de-escalation of the conflict and to send and facilitate humanitarian aid for Gaza. Similar pressure from progressives has been noted in the Senate, which on Thursday adopted a unanimous resolution stating support for Israel and condemning Hamas. Bush told The Hill in a statement that our government enabling this violence and these blatant war crimes is a failure, but she stressed that its not just this Administration. Bush lamented that the governments approach across recent decades does nothing to address the root causes of this violence. So yes, I am disturbed by our governments willingness to immediately cave to calls for unconditional support and write a blank check for the Israeli military while blatantly ignoring the violence and dehumanization of Palestinian civilians. We will never get closer to peace by failing to address the root of this issue, Bush said. Tlaib and Bush were among some progressives who were criticized by fellow Democrats for their statements after the initial attacks on Israel while others defended the lawmakers. Democratic strategist Kristen Hawn suggested that congressional Democrats ongoing discourse on the issue shows the lawmakers trying to grapple with how to support Israel against Hamass attack and support non-Hamas Palestinian civilians who are impacted by Israels counterattacks. She noted some in the party are evolving their views on the situation as it unfolds. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) initially pointed to reports faulting the Israel Defense Forces for the blast at the al-Ahli hospital and repeated calls for Biden to push for a cease-fire and end this slaughter. Israel and Hamas have swapped blame for the recent explosion while defense officials told senators at a classified briefing Wednesday that Israel is not responsible. Omar later acknowledged the U.S. intel assessment but added it is critical that we have a fully independent investigation to determine conclusively who is responsible for this war crime. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) hit back at Omar, saying you have been training your outrage on the wrong party. We do know that Hamas hatred is the catalyst. Speaking in Tel Aviv after the hospital blast and ahead of a possible ground invasion from Israel aimed at taking out the Hamas militant group, Biden cautioned Israel not to make the mistakes the U.S. made as it sought justice after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, after which the U.S. pursued wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. He underscored that the vast majority of Palestinians are not Hamas and that the militant group uses innocents as human shields. The president met with Israeli leaders as a planned trip to meet with Jordanian, Egyptian and Palestinian leaders was called off but Biden announced an agreement to let humanitarian aid into Gaza through the border with Egypt, and he promised $100 million in U.S. aid to help civilians in Gaza and the West Bank. He said such aid would end if Hamas diverts it. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), one of the lawmakers calling for a cease-fire, told The Hill that Biden did a good job on his Israel trip. But Beth Miller, the political director of Jewish Voice for Peace Action the group associated with the protests at the Capitol on Wednesday knocked Bidens trip as abhorrent and the administrations unwavering support for Israel as beating the drums of war. The fact that President Biden and so many members of Congress are only willing to say that they will offer unwavering support for the Israeli government in this moment its a shameful, shameful stance, Miller told The Hill. She lauded House progressives behind Bushs cease-fire resolution as bold, courageous, progressive, anti-war voices that are speaking out in the face of political pressure. Democratic strategist Eddie Vale said the unfolding crisis in Israel and Gaza is bringing louder, vocal division from some in the party into light on the issue. But he suggested that doesnt necessarily mean Democrats overall are seeing intensifying differences and that underneath the surface, the party may actually find more consensus as it takes stock of how to handle the situation. Heading into 2024, as Biden campaigns for his reelection to the White House, Vale notes that foreign policy isnt typically the deciding issue in presidential elections but that Biden could get a boost from those who are praising his handling of the situation in Israel. It really makes his case of having somebody who has experience and knows the players and knows what theyre doing in charge, Vale said, versus if [former President Trump] was around shooting random tweets. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Biden administration officials were readying to announce last month new regulations to support an emergent private sector in Cuba. But a month after the planned date in September, the official announcement has yet to come, and the proposed policy changes face opposition from Miami Republicans in Congress. The regulations, as earlier described by U.S. officials to the Miami Herald, would allow private Cuban entrepreneurs to open bank accounts in the United States to facilitate their operations, since Cuba is cut off from most of the international banking system because of the U.S. embargo on the island. The regulations would also allow U.S. banks to clear dollar transactions originating in third countries that involve Cuban nationals, a restoration of so-called U-turn transactions previously suspended by the Trump administration. But those changes face fierce opposition by Florida Republican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, who has said both in public and in meetings with administration officials that he is against providing any aid to the Cuban government, a congressional staffer with knowledge of the matter told the Herald. The staffer asked for anonymity to speak about the closed-door discussions. Diaz-Balart, a Cuban American from Miami with a longstanding position in favor of sanctions against the Cuban regime, is the chairman of a House subcommittee that makes decisions on the State Department budget, at times wielding his power to make cuts on foreign aid and funding to international organizations like the United Nations over policy disagreements. And he has hinted he might do it again over Cuba, questioning the rationale for continuing to aid Ukraine while at the same time making policy changes that he said would benefit the Cuban government, a close Russian ally. The congressman supports aiding Ukraine, though he believes the Biden administration has not made a good case as to why, the staffer said. But in private meetings and publicly, he has been very clear that he doesnt see how it makes sense to approve funding for Ukraine and at the same time channel funding to Cuba, which is one of the closest Russian allies in the region. The congressional aide fell short of saying that Diaz-Balarts opposition might be why the Cuba regulations have not been announced yet. Its not a direct line, but they might probably wonder what he would do, the staffer said, referring to Biden administration officials. At the center of the controversy are clashing views about what constitutes a private sector in an authoritarian Marxist system, and its potential role. After years of allowing very limited self-employment, the communist government allowed Cubans to own companies for the first time in decades in 2021, amid a worsening economic crisis and island-wide protests. Since then, more than 8,000 private enterprises have been created, employing a large number of workers. They have also become significant importers of food and basic necessities. But they do operate under government restrictions, including, for example, the activities they are allowed to take part in and how many employees they may hire. And Cuban authorities are adamant that these businesses which they avoid referring to as private, calling them instead non-state enterprises are part of Cubas centrally planned socialist economy. The Biden administration believes supporting these enterprises is key to helping Cubans become independent from the state, earn decent wages and stay on the island, which is becoming a large source of migrants more than 400,000 Cubans have fled the deteriorating conditions in the past two years to come to the United States. These companies are also helping put food on the table at a time of great scarcity, though Cubans complain of their high prices. Longstanding U.S. policy supports Cuban entrepreneurs and the growth and independence of Cubas private sector to maximize benefit to the Cuban people while minimizing benefit to the Cuban government, a State Department spokesperson told the Herald. We have seen encouraging signs that the Cuban government is opening more space for the private sector, and we believe its continued growth provides a window of opportunity to introduce the Cuban people to a different societal model, one fueled by market economics rather than government control, the U.S. official added. But Diaz-Balart doesnt believe some market reforms under communist rule would create a truly independent private sector or lead to democratic changes, remarking last year on social media that the Biden Administrations claim that relaxing sanctions will support private enterprise and independent entrepreneurs within communist and totalitarian #Cuba is completely false. Look at China, the congressional staffer said. We let them enter the World Trade Organization, and that led China to become more powerful and more able to suppress dissent. There is no genuine private sector in closed societies. In particular, the U-turn transactions would facilitate banking for the Cuban government, not just the entrepreneurs, the staffer added. Already, the disagreement has spilled over into the budget bill that Diaz-Balart helped pass in the House to fund the State Department and other foreign aid programs. The bill, which still needs to be reconciled with the Senate version, says that the $30 million for democracy promotion programs in Cuba cannot be used for business promotion, economic reform, entrepreneurship, or any other assistance that is not democracy building. As for the regulations, they are still waiting to get the final green light. The State Department spokesperson said there were no updates to Cubas economic regulations at this time. Former US president Donald Trump has asked a federal judge to dismiss election conspiracy charges (POOL) Federal prosecutors on Thursday rejected Donald Trump's attempt to have election conspiracy charges dismissed on the grounds that he enjoys immunity for actions he took while in the White House. "No one in this country, not even the president, is above the law," special counsel Jack Smith's team wrote in a 54-page motion filed with the judge presiding over the landmark case. Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, is to go on trial in Washington in March of next year for allegedly conspiring to subvert the results of the November 2020 election won by Democrat Joe Biden. The former president's lawyers, in a motion two weeks ago to US District Judge Tanya Chutkan, argued that the charges should be thrown out because Trump is "absolutely immune from criminal prosecution." Prosecutors in the special counsel's office dismissed that argument and urged Chutkan to deny Trump's request. "He is subject to the federal criminal laws like more than 330 million other Americans," they said. "No court has ever alluded to the existence of absolute criminal immunity for former presidents. "The implications of the defendant's unbounded immunity theory are startling," they added. "It would grant absolute immunity from criminal prosecution to a president who accepts a bribe in exchange for a lucrative government contract for a family member," they said, or "a president who sells nuclear secrets to a foreign adversary." Trump's bid to invoke the presidential immunity defense is seen as a long shot by legal observers but it could result in a delay to the start of the trial as the argument potentially winds its way up to the conservative-dominated Supreme Court. Trump's attempts to use the "absolute immunity" defense in other cases have been rebuffed by judges, but the nation's highest court has never ruled directly on whether a former chief executive is immune from criminal prosecution. Trump is the first former US president to face criminal charges. - 'Unsettled question' - Trump's attorneys, citing a Supreme Court case involving former president Richard Nixon, said the law provides "absolute immunity" to the president "for acts within the 'outer perimeter' of his official responsibility." As chief executive, they argued, Trump had a responsibility to "ensure election integrity" and was within his rights to challenge the results of the 2020 vote. "As President Trump is absolutely immune from criminal prosecution for such acts, the Court should dismiss the indictment," they said. While making the argument that Trump cannot be prosecuted, his lawyers acknowledged the Nixon case they cited involved the civil liability of a former president and not alleged criminal conduct. "The question remains a 'serious and unsettled question' of law," they said. The case before Chutkan accuses Trump of conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding -- the January 6, 2021 joint session of Congress that was attacked by a mob of Trump supporters. Other criminal cases against Trump include racketeering charges in Georgia for allegedly conspiring to upend the election results in the southern state and a trial in Florida in May 2024 on charges of mishandling top secret government documents. Trump and his two eldest sons are also currently involved in a civil fraud trial in New York for allegedly inflating the value of their real estate assets to receive more favorable bank loans and insurance terms. cl/caw A boy passes under a giant Palestinian flag during a protest to show solidarity with the Palestinians, in Istanbul, Turkey. Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra) Thousands of people in Muslim countries and beyond held demonstrations Friday in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. They called for an end to Israel's blockade and airstrikes following a brutal incursion into southern Israel by fighters from the Hamas militant group that rules Gaza. Demonstrators headed to Israeli military checkpoints after Friday prayers in the West Bank and gathered in Iraq at the country's border crossing with Jordan; in Jordan itself; in locations across Egypt; in Turkey's capital Ankara and its most populous city of Istanbul; and in Indonesia, Malaysia, Morocco and South Africa. A Tuesday night explosion at a Gaza City hospital tending to wounded Palestinians and residents seeking shelter was a prominent theme in some of the demonstrations. The cause of the blast at al-Ahli Hospital has not been determined. U.S. assessments said the explosion was not caused by an Israeli airstrike, as the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza initially reported. Israel has presented video, audio and other evidence it says proves the blast was caused by a rocket misfired by Palestinian militants, who denied responsibility. The Associated Press has not independently verified any of the claims or evidence released by the parties. The Israeli siege of the Palestinian territory and airstrikes on it were the focus earlier this week of demonstrations at Egyptian universities, inside a congressional office building in Washington, outside the Israeli Embassy in Bogota, Colombia and near the U.S. Embassy in Beirut. Nearly two weeks after the Hamas attack in Israel, such protests continued as Israel prepared for an expected ground invasion of Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry has said more than 4,000 people have been killed and over 13,000 wounded in Gaza since the war began, most of them women, children and older adults. More than 1,000 people were believed buried under rubble, authorities said. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly civilians slain during Hamas deadly incursion. Roughly 200 others were abducted. WEST BANK Protests erupted in the main cities of the occupied West Bank on Friday following midday prayers. Palestinians streamed out of mosques and headed to Israeli military checkpoints in Ramallah, Hebron and Bethlehem, where they threw stones at troops and burned tires. Israeli security forces responded firing tear gas and live rounds. The Palestinian Ministry of Health in the West Bank reported that 21 people were wounded by soldiers gunfire. Tensions were particularly high in Hebron, where Hamas activists called for big protests. Hebron residents shared copies of leaflets they said were dropped across the city by Israeli military drones warning that anyone who demonstrates on behalf of Hamas will be pursued. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. In Tulkarem, militants carried rifles and shots rang out Friday during a funeral for 13 people killed in a battle with Israeli troops in the Nur Shams refugee camp. The past 13 days since the eruption of the war have been the deadliest in decades in the West Bank, with more than 80 Palestinians killed by Israeli soldiers and settlers. EGYPT Thousands of Egyptians demonstrated in cities and towns across the North African country, in an expression of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. In a rare move, the Egyptian government approved and even helped organize 27 locations for protesters to gather on Friday. Since coming to power in 2013, Abdel-Fattah el-Sissis government has outlawed large public protests. But pro-Palestinian protests broke out in undesignated areas too. Hundreds gathered in the courtyard of the Al-Azhar Mosque, the Sunni Muslim world's foremost religious institution, in central Cairo. Oh Al-Aqsa, do not worry, we will redeem you with our soul and blood, they chanted after Fridays midday prayer. The Al-Aqsa mosque is the third-holiest site in Islam situated in Jerusalem's contested Old City, a spot also known to Jews as the Temple Mount, which is the holiest site in Judaism. In a demonstration not among those approved by the government, scores of protesters gathered in Tahrir Square, where they were cordoned off by security forces. The downtown Cairo square was the focal point of the 2011 uprising that ousted former President Hosni Mubarak. In official demonstration spots located in every major Egyptian city, state TV showed protesters waving flags and chanting pro-Palestinian slogans. While Egypt has functioning relations with both Israel and Hamas, the overwhelming majority of Egyptians harbor sympathy toward Palestinians and their desire for independence. Over the past week, el-Sissi has publicly criticized Israel, accusing Benjamin Netanyahus government of trying to liquidate the Palestinian cause by pushing Gazas inhabitants onto Egyptian territory. LEBANON Dozens of supporters of the Lebanese militant Hezbollah group and others protested in a southern Beirut suburb calling for the lifting of the blockade of Gaza and to support Palestinians there. We salute the heroes of Gaza, the people of Gaza, the elderly, men, women and children, said Hezbollah legislator Ali Ammar. Protesters waved Hezbollah, Lebanese, and Palestinian flags and burned an American flag. Hezbollah and the Israeli military have skirmished in towns along the Lebanon-Israel border. The militant group has threatened to escalate should Israel launch a ground invasion of Gaza, while Israel has vowed to retaliate aggressively in Lebanon should that happen. The Lebanese government and international community fear a ground invasion could expand the war into the cash-strapped country and elsewhere in the region. Israel and Hezbollah fought a month-long war that ended in a stalemate in 2006. TURKEY In Turkey, where the government has declared three days of mourning in solidarity with the victims of a blast at a Gaza hospital, thousands of people staged protests outside mosques following Friday prayers in Istanbul and in the capital, Ankara. In Istanbul, protesters affiliated with Islamic groups waved Turkish and Palestinian flags, held up placards and chanted slogans denouncing Israels actions in Gaza. Stop the genocide! and Murderer Israel get out of Palestine some of the placards read. About a dozen men wearing red-stained doctors coats carried dolls depicting dead babies to protest the hospital blast, while some of the protesters set fire to an effigy of the Israeli prime minister and an Israeli flag. In contrast to protests earlier this week, when some demonstrators tried to enter Israeli diplomatic missions in Ankara and Istanbul and flung fireworks at the Israeli Consulate, no violence was reported during Fridays demonstrations. Israel withdrew its diplomats from Turkey on Thursday over security concerns, officials said. NEW YORK Hundreds of protesters braved rainy weather Friday night in New York City and marched to U.S. Sen. Kristen Gillibrands Manhattan office, many shouting cease fire now, to call on the Democrat and the rest of the delegation to condemn Israels continued bombardment of Gaza. The march was organized by the New York City Democratic Socialists of America and a diverse coalition of Muslim, Jewish and other groups. Brooklyn-based Rabbi Miriam Grossman told the crowd she knows many people grieving the loss of family members killed in the Hamas attack or have friends and family taken hostage. Yet Grossman said she also knows many Palestinians living in terror as they lose contact with loved ones in Gaza. Ceasefire is the only way the Israeli hostages, children and elders can come home, she said. Ceasefire is the only way thousands and thousands more Palestinians do not die trapped in Gaza, trapped under the rubble of Israeli bombs. Police later arrested dozens of the protesters who blocked Third Avenue outside Gillibrand's office by sitting in the middle of the street. At a pro-Israel rally on Thursday night, where hundreds packed into New York City's Times Square to demand the release of the hostages, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York led the crowd in the chant bring them home. Photos of the hostages and the Israeli flag shined brightly from towering billboards. Schumer said he assured Israelis on a recent visit that the U.S. is committed to Israel. We will not abandon you," he told the crowd. "We will fight with you side by side until the threat of Hamas is totally eliminated and every hostage is brought home." IRAQ Hundreds of Iraqi protesters gathered at the western Trebil border crossing near Jordan in a demonstration organized by the Coordination Framework, an alliance of Iran-backed Shia political groups and militias in Iraq. The pro-Iran coalition also called for a protest in Baghdad near the main gate of the highly fortified international zone, where the U.S. Embassy is located, to condemn its endorsement of Israel in the ongoing war with Hamas. Their rival, Iraqs firebrand Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, the most influential in the country, issued a call Thursday for Arab nations bordering Israel, notably Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, and Jordan, to engage in what he called peaceful demonstrations at their borders. The protesters waved Palestinian flags and chanted No to Israel before praying in the presence of religious clerics. In recent days, Iran-backed militias attacked United States military bases in Iraq. Iran has warned that an Israeli ground incursion into Gaza could spark an escalation from allied armed groups and a possible regional war. JORDAN Pro-Hamas protesters clashed with Jordanian security forces who prevented them from marching toward the border with the occupied West Bank, and police made at least two arrests. All roads to the border were closed, and a few thousand people were allowed to demonstrate in the Naour area, between the capital, Amman, and the border. Protesters chanted pro-Hamas slogans and condemned the Jordanian government for blocking access to the border. They also demanded that all diplomatic relations with Israel be severed and its ambassador to Jordan expelled. YEMEN Thousands of Yemenis demonstrated across the divided, war-torn country in support of Palestinians. Large protests took place in the capital Sanaa, which is governed by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, but also in the south where a secessionist group called the Southern Transitional Council has control. In Sanaa, thousands waved Palestinian flags, chanting: With our souls, with our blood, we sacrifice for you ... oh Palestinians. The Houthi rebels are staunch foes of Israel and the United States. Last week, the groups leader warned the U.S. against intervening in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, threatening that his forces would retaliate by firing drones and missiles. The Houthis regularly organize pro-Palestinian marches during times of conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. MOROCCO Protesters holding banners and chanting slogans in support of Palestinians demonstrated outside a mosque after prayers in Sale, Morocco. Participant Lahcen Farhi said he hoped the peaceful gathering would help the people of Gaza. At least we want the medicines to reach them, or ... to stop the war," he said, adding that expressions of support for Palestinians should be held without violence and within the framework of the law. MALAYSIA Some 1,000 Muslims marched along a busy thoroughfare in Kuala Lumpur after Friday prayers, calling for an end to the killing in Gaza. Waving Palestinian flags, they gathered outside the U.S. Embassy, which was under heavy security, to protest Americas support for Israel. Israel is just a big bully, and they are cowards because they are targeting the children, the hospital. (Palestinians) are helpless because they are denied all the basic things in life to survive, and yet (Israel) complained they are being bullied by Hamas, said retiree Salwa Tamrin. Chanting Death to Israel, God is great, many carried placards calling for an end to violence. For me Palestine is rightfully Palestinian, its not the place for Israelis. They went there and took the land from the Palestinians, said activist Isyraf Imran. Predominantly Muslim Malaysia, a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause, doesnt have diplomatic ties with Israel. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is in Saudi Arabia for the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council summit, warned Friday that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza could widen into a regional and world conflict if no solution is found. INDONESIA In Indonesias capital, demonstrators marched from several mosques to the heavily guarded U.S. Embassy in Jakarta to denounce American support for Israel. Similar protests also took place in front of the United Nations mission, a few kilometers (miles) from the embassy, and in the compound of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Authorities said about 1,000 people participated in the rallies across Jakarta following Friday prayers in the worlds most populous Muslim-majority nation. Protesters who marched to the U.S. Embassy halted traffic along the way as they chanted God is great, and Save Palestinians. Waving Indonesian and Palestinian flags and signs reading We are proud to support Palestine, more than 100 noisy demonstrators gathered along a major street in Jakarta that runs outside the embassy. Some burned portraits of President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. About 1,000 police were deployed around the embassy, the nearby presidential palace and the U.N. mission. Indonesia does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel, and there is no Israeli embassy in the country. It's a strong supporter of the Palestinians. President Joko Widodo strongly condemned the Gaza City hospital blast. Now is the time for the world to stand together to build global solidarity to resolve the Palestinian issue fairly, Widodo said from Saudi Arabia, where he was attending the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council summit. ITALY Romes Jewish community has remembered the estimated 203 people believed held by Hamas by setting a long Shabbat table for them outside the capitals main synagogue and empty chairs for each of the hostages. On the backs of each chair was a flyer featuring the name, age and photo of each missing person. On the table were candles, wine and loaves of challah, the braided bread typically eaten during the Friday night meal. The same flyers appeared on billboards elsewhere in downtown Rome. The Israeli government has said Hamas is holding an estimated 203 people after militants stormed southern Israel on Oct. 7. At least two Italian-Israelis are believed to be among them. The head of Romes Jewish community, Victor Fadlun, said the community hoped for as few victims as possible. He said the Palestinian people as well were suffering and were hostages of Hamas. He said: From them we must wait for a helping hand and hope that there will be a proper solution for everyone." SOUTH AFRICA Pro-Palestinian demonstrators led by South Africas ruling African National Congress protested at the Israel embassy in the capital Pretoria. More than 1,000 protesters brought traffic to a standstill as they marched through the streets. It was the biggest such demonstration in South Africa, where the Palestinian cause continues to enjoy significant support. ANC leaders, including the head of the party in Gauteng province, Panyaza Lesufi, and first deputy secretary general Nomvula Mokonyane led the protesters through the streets of Pretoria. The ANCs political allies, including the South African Communist Party and the Congress of South African Trade Union, also joined the march. The ANC has expressed its solidarity with the Palestinian people, emphasizing their long relationship dating back to the days of the racial policy of apartheid implemented by the white minority government. Its youth leader, Collen Malatji, called on the South African government to ban all Israeli imports and businesses in South Africa. ___ Associated Press writers Isabel DeBre in Jerusalem; Jack Jeffery in Cairo; Abdulrahman Zeyad in Baghdad; Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut; Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey; Ahmed al-Haj in Sanaa, Yemen; Eileen Ng in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Niniek Karmini and Andi Jatmiko in Jakarta, Indonesia; Nicole Winfield in Rome, Mogomotsi Magome in Johannesburg and Susan Haigh in Hartford, Connecticut contributed to this report. Nelson County Schools were closed for a second day as district staff protested middle school inequities, Superintendent Wes Bradley said in a letter to families. The district was seeing significant shortages among teachers and transportation team members Friday, Bradley said. It appears staffing shortages are in response to district facility planning decisions. More than 200 staff members were absent Thursday which led to the district canceling classes. The school district, located about an hour from Lexington, has seen several days of unrest. Students on Wednesday walked out in protest over a proposed merger of schools. Damon Jackey, a former school board member, resigned this week over concerns about the decisions of three fellow school board members. Jackey told the Herald-Leader that the plan the staff is protesting merging the two high schools is not the superintendents plan. That plan was constructing a new middle school next to Thomas Nelson High School that would draw from other middle schools, Jackey said. Merging the two high schools as the three board members desire would not address that need nor has merging the two high schools even been a plan that has had any time spent to explore what that would look like or take to accomplish, he said. Bradley said in his letter to families that the current facility planning endeavor began in April of 2021, reflecting our commitment to providing the best educational experiences for all children. Recent NCS board decisions have changed course from the original 2021-2022 facility plan to evaluate a path that could potentially consolidate our two high schools into one, Bradley said. No formal decision has been made at this time, he said. Based on discussion with some staff and school administrators, staffing shortages are in response to a decision making process that has not clearly addressed middle school inequities, said Bradley. Staff members have also requested greater community input into the process. Protests erupted around the Arab world on Friday as the Gaza war raged and an Israeli ground operation with the potential to displace millions of Palestinians loomed. Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen and the West Bank after Islamic Friday prayers to protest Israels actions in its war on Hamas. The war has so far killed 4,127 people in Gaza, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza. It was launched by Israel in retaliation for an October 7 attack on the country by Gazas Hamas rulers Israeli authorities say 1,400 people were killed and around 200 were taken hostage. Protesters shout during a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Amman, Jordan on Friday. - Annie Sakkab/Bloomberg/Getty Images Israels strikes and calls for Gazans to evacuate the north of the strip have prompted more than a million people to flee the area, raising concern about the prospect of displacement of millions of the enclaves Palestinians, most of whom are already registered as refugees as a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. Those fears have been heightened amid charged rhetoric by Israeli officials, who say Gaza will no longer be the same after Hamas is eliminated. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said the US was in talks with Egypt and Israel about establishing a humanitarian corridor at the Egypt-controlled Rafah border crossing for Americans and other civilians in Gaza to flee. In a sign of the growing anger over the Israeli operation in Gaza, Egypt sanctioned its first major nationwide protest in a decade. Hundreds of protesters gathered Friday near downtown Cairos Tahrir Square in support of Palestinians, and demonstrations occurred in other Egyptian cities Some of the Cairo protesters chanted, Where is the Arab army? and, Here they are, the Zionists, referring to Egypts riot police, who pushed demonstrators into nearby Bab el-Louk Square and closed access to Tahrir. Egyptians protest in support of Palestinians at al-Azhar Mosque, in Old Cairo, Egypt on Friday. - Omar Zoheiry/Picture-Alliance/DPA/AP In the Lebanese capital, Beirut, several hundred people took to the streets to denounce the Israeli offensive. Many waved the Palestinian and Lebanese flags, along with the flags of the Iran-backed Hezbollah group and its political ally in Lebanon, Amal. Young protesters burned the American flag, decrying Washingtons support for Israel. Hundreds of Iraqis, mostly supporters of Iran-backed militias, staged a sit-in Friday at Iraqs main border crossing with Jordan. Others protested in Baghdad, not far from the fortified Green Zone that houses the United States embassy. In Jordans capital, Amman, some 6,000 protesters marched in support of Gazans. Some chanted slogans urging Hamas to intensify its strikes on Israel, Reuters reported. The protests signal growing anger on the Arab street and frustration among regional leaders with the war as the Palestinian death toll climbs, and with the US perceived unwillingness to put restraints on Israels actions. US President Joe Biden visited Israel this week, pledging continued backing for Israel. But he said that it would be a mistake for Israel to try reoccupying Gaza. Rhetoric against Israel has been particularly heated from the governments of Jordan and Egypt, two US-allied countries that border the Jewish state and were the first Arab nations to sign peace treaties with it. Amman and Cairo have sounded alarms over what they perceive as a plan to transfer Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank to Egypt and Jordan. While Israel has not announced any such plans, both countries have warned such a move could pull them into war. That point was made clear by Egypts parliament on Thursday when, in an emergency meeting, it authorized President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to take necessary measures to protect national security, secure the countrys borders, and support the Palestinians. Declaration of war Ayman Mohsab, undersecretary of the Arab Affairs Committee in the parliament, said Sisi has been authorized to take measures, even if they include waging war. Egypts constitution stipulates that the president must seek approval from parliament before declaring war. Sisi has suggested that Israels calls for the evacuation of more than a million people from northern Gaza may be part of a larger plan to rid the entire area of Palestinians. The displacement or expulsion of Palestinians from the (Gaza) Strip into Egypt simply means that a similar situation will also take place namely the expulsion of Palestinians from the West Bank to Jordan, Sisi said, adding that there will be no point in discussing a Palestinian state, as the land will be there, but the people wont. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Wednesday told Al Jazeera that any attempts to displace Palestinians from the West Bank to Jordan would be considered a declaration of war. Israel captured both the West Bank and Gaza, where millions of Palestinians live, in the 1967 war and began settling Jews there. It withdrew its troops and settlers from Gaza in 2005 but continues to blockade the territory. The West Bank, however, remains occupied and the previous right-wing government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it would advance plans to extend its jurisdiction to the West Bank. Netanyahu formed an emergency government with National Unity Party leader Benny Gantz on October 11. The Palestinians want to establish an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza. Egypt has pushed back against pressure for it to act, with the foreign ministry spokesman on Friday slamming Western media for targeting Egypt, promoting the (Gaza) displacement scenario and holding it (Egypt) responsible for the closure of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Israel. Jordan, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority on Wednesday canceled a planned summit on the Gaza war with US President Joe Biden less than 24 hours before it was scheduled to be held, with Jordan suggesting it was a futile effort that would be unlikely to end the war. Instead, Egypt has organized its own Cairo Peace Summit, to be held on Saturday, according to state media, with several countries taking part, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Italy and Greece, as well as the Palestinian Authority and the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The US, Egypt and Israel agreed to let in humanitarian aid, starting with 20 of the 200 trucks that have been awaiting access to Gaza for days at the Rafah border crossing. The aid is still awaiting entry, however, and multiple sources told CNN the crossing is not expected to open Friday. Egyptian television on Friday showed live footage of demonstrations in several cities in support of Gaza and in protest at the potential displacement of its population. The protests follow a warning by Sisi on Wednesday that he could mobilize Egypts entire population of 105 million to take to streets in support of his position regarding the Palestinian issue. If it comes to a point where I am asking the Egyptian people to go out (onto the streets) and express their refusal of this idea, then you will see millions of Egyptians, he said during a news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Protests are rare in Sisis Egypt, where strict restrictions on demonstrations have been in place since he ousted a democratically elected government in a 2013 military coup. There have been no large-scale protests in Egypt since 2013, with the exception of rare and scattered demonstrations that took place in September 2019, leading to a massive crackdown and hundreds of arrests. Additional reporting by Sarah Sirgany in Beirut, Nada Bashir in Amman and Hamdi Alkhshali in Atlanta. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The U.S. stands alone as the only OECD country with no guaranteed paid leave, including holidays. Under U.S. federal law, paid vacation leave is not mandated, and there is no city or state legislation that guarantees it. The majority of employers do offer at least some time off. In the private sector, on average, employees receive ten paid vacation days and six paid holidays. Relative to other countries, this is not a lot of time off. For many Americans, the amount of paid time off received is left to chance. Without laws and legislation, companies are free to create restrictions around eligibility, accrual, timing, and rationale for requests. Most employers in the United States could stand to review their paid time off practices, and almost all could better serve themselves and their employees by revising policies and habits. A good PTO policy benefits the employer, employees and the economy as a whole. Why its good for employers Employers who provide paid time off see reduced levels of unscheduled absenteeism. Lost wages due to absenteeism cost employers $1,685 per employee, per year according to a report from the CDC. Productivity decreases when people work long hours. Days of work with no break and weeks without any vacation lead to workers who have trouble focusing, are less motivated and cant produce as much. For those in creative roles, their ability to think outside the box also suffers. Prolonged periods with no rest increases the potential for burnout. When burnout becomes a problem, employers see higher turnover rates and ultimately end up spending more on training new hires to replace those that leave. With the average cost of hiring a new employee approximately $4,700, paying for some time off to retain current employees is much more financially advisable. Why its good for employees When a PTO policy is comprehensive, generous and flexible, employees feel valued and cared for, increasing their loyalty to the company and potentially boosting productivity. Increased productivity helps employees as much as it does employers. People who use all their vacation time are more likely to receive promotions and bonuses than their vacation-forgoing colleagues. Employees are more able to strike a work-life balance that matches their priorities, values and goals in life. A report from Gallup found that 53 percent of employees prioritize working somewhere that lets them maintain a healthy balance, and another survey found that number increased dramatically among parents. Employees who arent always at work tend to be happier. Getting away from the demands and stresses, and enjoying time with loved ones and doing personal hobbies is good for the soul. Its also good for productivity, as increased happiness correlates to better productivity. So, what can you do if your boss doesnt encourage PTO? Know your rights Firstly, learn what your employer can and cannot legally do in terms of your PTO. Find out how your PTO works at your organization and how it differs from vacation time and sick hours. If the PTO policies arent very clear, dont be afraid to ask. Set boundaries Everyone needs time in their day, week and year thats off-limits for work, and your employer needs to be aware of that time. If your boss doesnt respect your time off, you need to handle the situation immediately. Recognize that its them, not you Even if you notice that your manager, team, or the overall company culture isnt very supportive of vacations, know that you have nothing to be guilty or ashamed of. As long as your policy states that youre entitled to days off, you can and should be able to take them. Asking for the time you deserve is a sign that you recognize and appreciate the things (and people) that are important to help you work better: your health, your family, and most importantly, yourself. If youre interested in finding a job that fits, its time to check out opportunities with companies who recognise the importance of work/life balance. Your first stop? Head for The Hill Jobs Board to browse hundreds of jobs right now. Here are three hiring this week The Joint Commission is looking to hire a Media Manager to work closely with national healthcare consumer, policy, and trade reporters, with a particular focus on Washington, D.C.-based media outlets. To apply youll need a Bachelors degree in communications, public relations, journalism and/or English plus 7-10 years of experience in a public affairs or media relations role. Healthcare experience is preferred. Worth noting; This is a hybrid work role, based either in Oakbrook Terrace, IL or Washington, DC. Mental Health America is seeking a Vice President of Federal Government Affairs, who will be responsible for advancing MHAs legislative and administrative federal agenda. This position will be responsible for building key relationships with Congressional and agency staff, drafting legislation and administrative comments, and working with partner organizations to achieve mutual policy goals. MHA believes their team needs great support to do great work which is reflected in their comprehensive benefits including health insurance with generous employer contribution, 401(K) match of up to 5 percent of salary, dental, disability, generous PTO, flexible work arrangements, professional development fund, and a fund to improve mental well-being. Democratic Attorneys General Association is currently looking to recruit a Deputy Director of Accounting and Finance to help support the accounting and finance functions for the organizations three legal entities. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelors degree in accounting or finance with three or more years of experience in accounting and finance. Not-for-profit experience is preferred. DAGA values a truly diverse workforce and is committed to a culture of inclusivity, respect, and integrity. They strongly encourage people with disabilities, people of color, transgender and non-binary people, and people from diverse backgrounds to apply. For hundreds more opportunities and to find a role that fits, visit The Hill Jobs Board today For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Belt and Road celebrates decade of achievements with fresh commitments Xinhua) 08:11, October 20, 2023 BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- World leaders gathered in Beijing for a high-profile forum this week in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF), held from Tuesday to Wednesday, marked another milestone in the process of jointly building the Belt and Road. In a keynote speech at the opening ceremony, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that over the past 10 years, Belt and Road cooperation has progressed from "sketching the outline" to "filling in the details," and blueprints have been turned into real projects. He announced eight major steps that China will take to support high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, including the promotion of green development, and the advancement of scientific and technological innovation. During the third BRF, a total of 458 outcomes were achieved, far more than in the second one. The CEO Conference held during the forum saw the conclusion of agreements worth 97.2 billion U.S. dollars. Zahari Zahariev, chairman of Bulgaria National Association for the Belt and Road, said he was impressed by China's fresh commitments and pledges. Future BRI development requires efforts not only from China, but also from other participating countries like Bulgaria, he said. Since its launch, the BRI has become the world's largest platform for international cooperation, and with the broadest coverage. By June 2023, China had signed more than 200 BRI cooperation agreements with over 150 countries and 30-plus international organizations across five continents. Over 3,000 BRI cooperation projects have been launched in the past decade, involving close to 1 trillion U.S. dollars of investment. One such project is the China-Laos Railway, which began operations in December 2021, helping transform the landlocked country of Laos into a land-linked hub in Southeast Asia. Sida Phengphongsawanh, a 24-year-old train inspector for the China-Laos Railway, is one of many Lao people whose lives have been changed by the railway. "The Belt and Road is a great initiative," she said. "And I think the Laos-China Railway is just the starting point (in the region). It will connect more countries in the future, allowing us to go abroad more easily." By improving infrastructure connectivity, BRI cooperation can reduce international trade costs and enable underdeveloped countries, especially those located inland, to participate in global trade and seek economic development, said Liu Nanxing, an expert on international cooperation at the National Development and Reform Commission. China-made new-energy vehicles, engineering machinery and household appliances are being shipped to more and more Belt and Road partner countries, while foreign products such as Thai rice, Kenyan avocados and Uzbek chocolates are increasingly appearing on the tables of Chinese people. Belt and Road cooperation was proposed by China, but its benefits and opportunities are for the world to share, President Xi Jinping said. China is endeavoring to bring Belt and Road cooperation to a new stage of higher-quality and higher-level development, thus promoting the modernization of all countries. The World Bank has estimated that by 2030, BRI-related investments could lift 7.6 million people out of extreme poverty and 32 million out of moderate poverty. Collaborative efforts in new energy and environmental protection have emerged as fresh opportunities and driving forces for cooperation among the partner countries. Robert Lawrence Kuhn, chairman of the U.S.-based Kuhn Foundation, said that the BRI is sustainable as the win-win cooperation model has delivered tangible results over the past 10 years. "Historians 1,000 years from now will look back and will circle the BRI as something of significance for our era today," he noted. Hu Biliang, executive dean of the Belt and Road School at Beijing Normal University, said that in a world facing uncertainty and instability, countries are urgently in need of dialogue to bridge their differences, solidarity to counter division, and cooperation to foster development. "The significance of the Belt and Road cooperation is becoming increasingly evident, and its prospects are more promising than ever," he said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) ULAN BATOR, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- The final of the sixth edition of a Chinese speech contest for middle-school students was held in Mongolia's capital on Friday. Titled "Together, let China and Mongolia hoist the sail and move forward!" the speech contest was co-organized by the Chinese Embassy in Mongolia and the Confucius Institute at the National University of Mongolia. A total of 53 secondary school students competed in the final round. Batzaya Batzorig, a 12th-grade student of the Khishig school in Ulan Bator, won the first place in the competition. Petr Pavel Russian dictator Vladimir Putin met with Hungarian PM Viktor Orban intending to undermine the unity of European countries, Czech President Petr Pavel said on Oct. 20, as reported by The Guardian. Commenting on the handshake between Orban and Putin, Pavel stated that the Russian dictator meets with European leaders with no intention of achieving peace in Ukraine. The Czech leader pointed out that Putin could end the war "without any negotiations on his part simply by ceasing attacks and withdrawing his troops from Ukrainian territory." Read also: Orban vows no support for Kyiv amid Hungarian minority rights dispute He is only holding these meetings with the aim of breaking the unity of European countries and the entire democratic world, said Pavel. Read also: The Axis of Evil has Won this Round. What Tehran, Beijing, and Moscow have achieved - opinion We should not fall for his tactics. Orban met with Putin on Oct. 17 in Beijing. It was his first personal meeting and negotiations with the dictator since Russia invaded Ukraine. During the meeting, Orban told Putin that Hungary "never wanted to oppose Russia" and worked to maintain bilateral relations. Read also: In Beijing, Hungarian PM Orban holds first talks with Putin since invasion of Ukraine Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba also reacted to the handshake of the Hungarian Prime Minister and the Russian dictator, expressing hope that the former at least "washed his hands and disinfected them after shaking hands with Putin." Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Russian dictator Vladimir Putin arrived in Rostov-on-Don at night, visited the military headquarters and heard a report by Valery Gerasimov , Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, about the situation on the Ukrainian front. Source: journalists from Kremlin-aligned Russian news outlet RIA Novosti on RIA_Kremlinpools Telegram channel Details: According to the short video that was posted, Putin arrived late in the evening and was met by Gerasimov. RIA_Kremlinpool said the Russian president visited the headquarters of the Russian Armed Forces. The Chief of the General Staff updated Putin on the latest "gains" in the war. As Gerasimov said, the joint grouping of Russian troops is performing its tasks "according to the plan" of the so-called special military operation [the Russian definition of the war in Ukraine ed.]. Putin also spoke with other senior officials from the Defence Ministry. "Greetings to all the commanders. All the best," journalists quoted Putin as saying. Background: On 17-18 October, Vladimir Putin visited China and on Wednesday he spoke at the third Belt and Road International Forum and held talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Following his meeting with Xi Jinping in Beijing, Putin was filmed surrounded by officers carrying a "nuclear briefcase". Support UP or become our patron! Russian President Putin visits the headquarters of the armed forces in Rostov-on-Don Russian President Putin visits the headquarters of the armed forces in Rostov-on-Don MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin visited the headquarters of Russian forces in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don late on Thursday to hear a report on the progress of operations in Ukraine, state television reported on Friday. It showed General Valery Gerasimov , chief of the general staff and commander of the war in Ukraine, telling Putin that the troops are "carrying out their tasks in line with the operation plan". Putin said this week that the counteroffensive by the Ukrainian forces had "completely failed" and Ukraine's Western backers were less hawkish than before. Senior Ukrainian military officials said on Thursday their troops were facing a new Russian onslaught in the largely destroyed eastern city of Avdiivka, while making some progress on their counteroffensive in the south. (Reporting by Reuters; editing by Christina Fincher) A screenshot of the interactive website where users can post anonymous, geotagged messages. Credit - Queering the Map These days, its not easy for anyone living in Gaza. Hardly any safe refuge can be found amid Israels unrelenting airstrikes of the territory in retaliation to Hamas terrorist attack on Oct. 7. But for LGBT Gazans, the specter of death from the Israel-Hamas war only compounds what was already a struggle to live freely in a place where homosexual relations between men is outlawed and open queerness violates social and religious mores. Amid the dual threats of escalating violence and ongoing repression, a six-year-old interactive site started in Canada has emerged to provide the world a rare glimpse of the perspective of members of Gazas LGBT community. Queering the Map, a moderated platform founded in 2017 by Lucas LaRochelle in Montreal, allows LGBT-identifying users to make anonymous geotagged posts. The pink-colored atlas of community-sourced anecdotes, ranging from the raunchy to the heart-rending, has charted experiences across the world, in at least 28 languages. More From TIME There are no timestamps on the messages, making it difficult to know when they were posted. Some share a general portrait of living as an LGBT person in the enclave. I know I was different from a young age. I knew I liked boys early on. But society demands it remains hidden. I live elsewhere now and I'm still trying to connect the dots. I wish things weren't this complicated. I don't want to hurt my family, but I cannot live a lie, one post reads. A post written in Arabic, geotagged in Central Gaza, reads: The only thing that keeps me patient in Gaza is the sea and you. Queering the Map Another, posted at the edge of a pier, reads: A place [where] I kissed my first [crush]. Being gay in Gaza is hard but somehow it was fun. I made out with a lot of boys in my neighborhood. I thought everyone is gay to some level. Queering the Map Many messages geotagged within Gaza express solidarity with the decades-long cause of Palestinian liberation. Near the Nuseirat refugee camp, which was targeted by an apparent Israeli airstrike on Tuesday, one post reads: In solidarity with all my Palestinian brothers and sisters, you are all loved. Free Palestine. Another post from the southern city of Khan Younis, where hundreds of thousands of Gazans fled to after evacuation orders in the north and which has also been bombarded by air raids, reads: Pls know despite what the media says there are gay Palestinians. We are here, we are queer. Free Palestine. Other messages are even more heartbreaking. Ive always imagined you and me sitting out in the sun, hand and hand, free at last. We spoke of all the places we would go if we could, reads a post tagged in the northern city of Jabalia, where a series of Israeli missiles last week destroyed a refugee camp and reportedly killed dozens of people. Yet you are gone now. If I had known that bombs raining down on us would take you from me, I would have gladly told the world how I adored you more than anything. Im sorry I was a coward. Queering the Map Another post, which TIME could not verify on the Queering the Map site but may have existed and later been removed, made the rounds on social media in recent days. Apparently tagged in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, it read, according to screenshots: Idk how long I will live so I just want this to be my memory before I die. I am not going to leave my home, come what may. My biggest regret is not kissing this one guy. He died two days back. We had told how much we like each other and I was too shy to kiss last time. He died in the bombing. I think a big part of me died too. And soon I will be dead. To younus, i will kiss you in heaven. Just read this on "queering the map"- My heart is so broken rn and i just can't stop crying pic.twitter.com/WTr17M2SWq Monish (@ismonshuokay) October 14, 2023 Queering the Map allows content to be taken down upon request, and founder LaRochelle said in an interview that moderators block messages that include specific personal details like first and last names. (Queering the Map has not responded to TIMEs request for comment.) Contact us at letters@time.com. Aerial view of agriculture fields, in Sao Desiderio, western Bahia state, Brazil, taken on September 29, 2023 (Nelson ALMEIDA) People thought she was crazy when Carminha Maria Missio and her family bought what was considered "sterile" land in the Brazilian savanna to farm soybeans, she says. Missio, a beaming grandmother named one of the most powerful women in agriculture by Forbes Brasil, remembers the surprised reactions when her poor southern family sold their land in 1979 and moved across the country to the "Cerrado," a huge savanna below the Amazon rainforest. Little-known outside Brazil, the Cerrado is Earth's most biodiverse savanna, nicknamed the "cradle of waters" for its vital rivers and aquifers. But it is disappearing at a record rate, its twisted trees and grasslands replaced by endless fields of grains and cotton. Even as Brazil races to stop Amazon deforestation, experts warn environmental destruction is surging in the Cerrado, fueling violent land-grabs and exacerbating the climate crisis. Some scientists say the Amazon and Cerrado are equally important for the planet. But when she arrived in the northeastern state of Bahia, the Cerrado was widely seen as a "wasteland," says Missio, 67. "Locals said the only thing you could grow here was lizards," she laughs. Sleeping under tarps and sweating in the tropical sun, her family joined a stream of pioneers who literally bet the farm on transforming this once-vast wilderness. It worked: the Cerrado is now a global breadbasket, making Brazil the world's top exporter of soybeans and, this year, corn. It grew half the 155 million metric tons of soy Brazil produced last year, used in the animal feed that puts beef, chicken and pork on plates worldwide. - Spillover effect - Today, half the Cerrado is farmland. In places like Sao Desiderio, Bahia, the county leading Brazil in deforestation this year, the landscape after harvest season looks like a giant quilt, the green patches of remaining savanna surrounded by vast brown fields. The savanna is typically cleared using a "correntao" -- a large chain strung between two bulldozers and dragged across the ground, razing everything in its path. Fire is also used. A Switzerland-sized area has burned in the Cerrado this year, according to research group MapBiomas. Farming the sandy, nutrient-poor soil is all about scale: producers invest big in irrigation, fertilizer and pesticides, financed by global commodity giants like US-based Bunge and Cargill. But experts warn irrigation and soil degradation are drying the region. A recent study found river flows have decreased 15 percent from their historic averages, and will fall 34 percent by 2050. The Cerrado has become a "sacrificial ecosystem," says Leticia Verdi, of Brazilian environmental group ISPN. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has largely delivered on his promise to protect the world's biggest rainforest, halving deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon since taking office in January. But destruction has increased 27 percent in the Cerrado from last year, including 659 square kilometers (254 square miles) razed in September, a record for the month. "There's been a spillover of deforestation from the Amazon to the Cerrado," says Verdi. - 'Upside-down Amazon' - Yet "the Cerrado is just as important as the Amazon in confronting the climate crisis," Rodrigo Agostinho, head of Brazil's environmental agency, IBAMA, told AFP. Scientists say the two are intricately linked. The savanna depends on the precipitation generated by the rainforest. The rainforest meanwhile depends on the savanna to feed the rivers crisscrossing its southern half. Both remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere -- the rainforest through its billions of trees, the savanna via its deep, carbon-absorbing root systems, dubbed an "upside-down Amazon." The Cerrado is a mirror-image of the Amazon in other ways, too. In the Amazon, an estimated 95 percent of deforestation is illegal. In the Cerrado, around 95 percent is officially authorized, according to IBAMA -- a result, environmentalists say, of outsize agribusiness influence on regional authorities. Brazilian law allows landowners in the Amazon to deforest just 20 percent of their property. The opposite applies in most of the Cerrado: farmers must preserve just 20 percent of their land. - 'Green land-grabbing' - In some cases, that law is being brutally twisted. Joao da Silva lives in a shack in a rural community with no indoor plumbing or electricity. But the 50-year-old smallholder has five security cameras mounted outside, powered by solar panels. He had them installed after gunmen surrounded his home in 2018 while he was out, threatening his mother at gunpoint. Gunmen in a pickup later tried to ram his car and threatened to kill him, he says. "They told me to get off my land, that the 'owners' were evicting us," says the father of five. He also survived a stabbing attack at a local market in 2016. Activists say Da Silva -- whose name has been changed for his safety -- and his neighbors are victims of "green land-grabbing," in which landholders seize un-deforested territory to claim it as their 20-percent protected reserves. Leaders of several traditional cattle-herding communities told AFP of being targeted by gunmen who killed their cows, torched their farm buildings and opened fire on them. Such violence is common in Brazil, where 377 land and environmental defenders have been killed since 2012, according to rights group Global Witness. - Three little words - Working the room with a preacher's charisma, Mario Alberto dos Santos is giving 40 middle-school students a crash course in sustainable agriculture in the poor Cerrado town of Ponte de Mateus. Dos Santos, 43, a professor at the Federal University of Western Bahia, teaches teenagers eco-friendly techniques like growing native species, organic farming and interspersing crops with trees. The program aims to train the next generation to farm with nature, not against it. It is a "long road to walk," Dos Santos admits. "We need to profoundly change the food system, not just in Brazil, but worldwide," he says. Climate campaigners are meanwhile pushing commodity-importing countries to demand clean environmental and human-rights records from suppliers. The European Union adopted a regulation this year requiring companies to show products are deforestation-free. The policy is a "game-changer" for the Amazon, says Daniel Santos, of environmental group WWF-Brasil. But it excludes most of the Cerrado -- not technically "forest." Environmentalists are pushing the EU to extend the policy to "other wooded lands." Adding those three words could transform the Cerrado, Santos says. "It's a major opportunity to transition to more sustainable farming." jhb/tmo/caw/tjj Egyptians hold up pro-Palestinian placards at a rally in solidarity with Gaza in the capital Cairo (Khaled DESOUKI) Demonstrations in support of Gaza and condemning Israel's bombardment of the besieged enclave were held across the Arab world on Friday, including in countries which have normalised relations with Israel. In Egypt, where public gatherings were banned after the military seized power in 2013, tens of thousands took to the streets of Cairo and other cities as authorities sought to manage the wave of public anger. The protests came on day 14 of Israel's retaliation for a shock Hamas attack, the deadliest in Israel's 75-year history. Hamas militants killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated or burnt to death during the October 7 attack, according to Israeli officials. More than 4,100 Palestinians have been killed in relentless Israeli bombardment of Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. In Cairo, several thousand people packed into Tahrir Square, the epicentre of the 2011 uprising that toppled long-time autocrat Hosni Mubarak, an AFP correspondent reported. "The people want the fall of Israel," the demonstrators chanted, adapting the Arab Spring catchphrase: "The people want the fall of the regime." Public protests are generally illegal in Egypt but on Wednesday President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi told visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz he could "call on the Egyptian people to come out and express their rejection" of Israeli actions in Gaza "and you would see millions of Egyptians" in the street. Later the same day, thousands took to the streets. "There is a desire to take control of the public anger," Cairo University politics professor Mustapha Kamel al-Sayyid told AFP. Media loyal to the president had published a list of public squares and other sites where protests would be tolerated, calling on Egyptians to show their support for Sisi ahead of a presidential election due in December. Cairo's Tahrir Square was not among them, a matter of pride for many of those demonstrating on Friday. "We're not here to give a new mandate to anybody. It's a genuine demonstration," the crowd chanted. Police later pushed protesters away from the square to nearby streets, the AFP correspondent reported. Police made 26 arrests in Tahrir Square and 17 in nearby Abdeen, human rights lawyer Khaled Ali said on Facebook. - 'No to normalisation' - In the Gulf state of Bahrain, which normalised relations with Israel in the Abraham Accords of 2020, some 2,000 worshippers at the Duraz mosque chanted "Death to Israel" and "Death to America" at Friday prayers. Around 1,000 people joined a march afterwards, shouting anti-Israel slogans including "No to normalisation!" "We want normalisation to end and the Israeli ambassador expelled," said one marcher, holding her baby in her arms. In Baghdad, a few thousand people demonstrated on Friday, including sympathisers of the Hashed al-Shaabi, a coalition of armed factions close to Israel's arch foe Iran. The demonstrators gathered at a bridge leading to the Green Zone, the fortified government and diplomatic compound where the US embassy is based. "We support the Palestinian people against the Israeli occupier," Ali Hussein, a 45-year-old taxi driver, told AFP. Other Hashed supporters held a sit-in at Iraq's Trebil border crossing with Jordan, the organisers and Iraqi officials said. Demonstrators vowed to keep up their protest "until the roads are opened to send aid" to Gaza. Images on social media which AFP was unable to independently verify showed several tents pitched near the crossing beneath Iraqi and Palestinian flags. In Tunisia, thousands gathered outside the French embassy to protest Western support for Israel, AFP correspondents reported. "The French and the Americans are partners in the attack" against Palestinians, they chanted. Some expressed support for Hamas, shouting "Dear (Ezzedine) al-Qassam (Brigades), destroy Tel Aviv", in reference to the movement's military wing. A similar protest was held outside the US embassy in the capital's northern suburbs, where demonstrators burnt a US flag. burs-srk/kir/jsa The House speakers race has entered its Groundhog Day era. Every day, Republicans meet to try to elect a new speaker, and every day they fail in new and more spectacular ways. It has now been more than two weeks since Kevin McCarthy was stripped of the gavel by a gang of disaffected right-wingers led by Matt Gaetz . Despite numerous potential successors appearingthe three plausible candidates include Steve Scalise , Jim Jordan, and the current Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (who some members of the House want to make a kind of permanent temporary speaker)none has enough support to ascend into the role. Not only that, all three have a small but stubborn opposition intent on blocking their path to the speakership. At this point, theres no unifying figure on the horizon, so were caught in a loop: Republicans wake up, yell at each other, sometimes cast votes, and sometimes notyadda yaddawe never get a speaker. Some have described this dynamic as a civil war, a phrase that recalls the fissures between establishment figures and insurgents during Donald Trumps emergence. Those fissures still exist: One major issue driving the conflict is that the House caucus has long been controlled by extremists but also features nearly two dozen Republicans representing districts that Joe Biden won in 2020 who favor a more moderate approach. But there is another culprit as well. For all the talk about extremists and moderates, there are almost no concrete policy demands being discussed among Republicans. The party has a set of broad priorities, sure: Cut spending, investigate Joe Biden, and own the libs at every opportunity. But none of the factions vying for power want to actually do anything in particular. This has resulted in a conflict based almost entirely on personalities and vibes; it is no wonder that its become intractable and endless. But this is the natural end state of a party that has long since abandoned policymaking in favor of weaponizing the government to fight culture-war battles. The simplest way to tell this story goes something like this: To become speaker in January, Kevin McCarthy struck a deal with members of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, essentially allowing them to call a vote to oust him whenever they felt like it. After McCarthy made the cardinal sin of negotiating with the Democrats to keep the government open, they did just that. Eight Republicans joined with the entire Democratic caucus to strip the gavel from McCarthy. But why this happened was rooted as much in the fact that these members just didnt like McCarthy personally as in any political reason. That they didnt care for him is why he was put on an untenably short leash in the first place. Once McCarthy got the ax, two candidates emerged: Jim Jordan, a Trump-backed bomb thrower, and Steve Scalise, a hard-liner who was seen as marginally more institutionally minded, given his long service in House GOP leadership. Scalise narrowly but definitively won a vote to become his caucuss nominee for speaker but then quickly ran into a problem: Enough Jordan backers decided they would never back Scalise because he didnt have the votes. And so, 30 hours after receiving his partys nominee to be speaker, he backed out of the race. Then it was Jordans turn. The Ohio Republican had clearly hoped to benefit from being the last horse in the race. Despite being incompetent (Jordan is good at going on television and bad at legislating) and unpopular (in large part because he is good at going on television and bad at legislating), there was reason to think that he could win by virtue of being the only option left. But Jordan went about his business by cultivating the bad blood that had long been flowing between him and other caucus members (his treatment of Scalise was one of many ways Jordan exacerbated the enmity), which drove (at least) two dozen Republicans to eventually decide they would never back his candidacy. From there, the partys best hope was to turn to McHenry, who had been serving as speaker pro tem ever since McCarthys defenestration. There was hope that the partys nonfringe members could strike some kind of deal with Democrats to extend McHenrys status as temporary speaker. This, however, is where it ran aground: Working with Democrats to resolve the situation was deemed to be a nonstarter for too many Republicans; the unprecedented nature of empowering the speaker pro tem as a long-term solution alienated others. And so, by Thursday evening, we were all back not-quite-but-close-to where we started from: with Jordan once again whipping votes. There are zero indications he will be able to flip enough of the 20 Republicans who voted against him on a second ballot to become speaker. In fact, many are refusing to meet with him or even take his calls. In a normal situation, a speaker candidate would go to the various factions within the caucus and try to strike a deal, making it clear that they would move forward with various agenda items in exchange for support. Holding a caucus together while making multiple agreements with multiple factions is, more or less, the job of the party leader: It is one at which Nancy Pelosi was particularly adept. (On Thursday, Pelosi twisted the knife, telling reporters, I think [House Republicans are] taking lessons in mathematics and learning how to count.) But the math isnt the culprit. Given the slim majority the House GOP possesses, such dealmaking is tricky but not impossible: You can lose five Republicans (depending on absences or abstentions, that number could be higher) and still become speaker. McCarthys nomination was held up for 15 ballots until he made a deal. The McCarthy deal was instructive, however, in that it was more of a power-sharing agreement than anything else: In exchange for their support, McCarthy gave Gaetz and a band of like-minded yahoos a veto over the business of the House. When McCarthy went around them to do that business, they got mad and pressed the eject button, ending his speakership after just nine months. More than anything, McCarthys crime was attempting to do normal legislating, which requires some degree of communication and collaboration with Democratstwo things Republicans are increasingly against. McCarthy only did this twice in nine months, but that was two times too many. If House Republicans had any actual objectives beyond stymying the Biden administration and blocking liberal priorities, we would likely have a speaker right now. But without a set of tangible and material policy goals to unite this party, they are unraveling. This is, relatedly, what has empowered Donald Trump, a strongman who has been able to transform a party without a vision into a cult of personality using some simple carrots (nice tweets) and sticks (mean tweets). Thats basically the story. With no productive purpose to set their hands to, House Republicans have collapsed and turned on one another. Its possible that they will find some way out of this mess. They might surrender to Jordans persistence and put him through what theyve already forced McCarthy to endure. Enough Republicans may get fed up with the whole thing to strike a deal with Democratsthough this strikes me as highly unlikely given the fact that bipartisanship in any form has become an excommunicable offense. No matter who or what emerges as speaker, however, theyll still be in the same mess because they lack a larger purpose. And while a speaker may eventually emerge, the same dreadful conditions will likely prevail. Who can say when the next anointed one will find themself shoved under the bus? An 8 billion-year-old rapid burst of radio waves, stemming from ancient colliding galaxies, could help astronomers solve the mystery of our universes missing matter. The record-breaking Fast Radio Burst (FRB), which is the oldest and most distant example of its kind ever spotted, demonstrates that scientists can use these emissions to effectively "weigh" the universe . FRBs are pulses of radio waves that often last for mere milliseconds, and are a puzzle in themselves because their origins remain a mystery. But the fact that this record-breaking example of one came from a group of two or three merging galaxies could help clear that mystery up. The burst, designated FRB 20220610A, was spotted by the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP), an array of radio telescopes located in Western Australia. In just milliseconds, the FRB appeared to release as much energy as the sun puts out in 30 years. "Using ASKAP's array of dishes, we were able to determine precisely where the burst came from," research lead author and Macquarie University researcher Stuart Ryder said in a statement . "Then we used the European Southern Observatory (ESO) Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile to search for the source galaxy, finding it to be older and further away than any other FRB source found to date, and likely within a small group of merging galaxies." Related: Some mysterious fast radio bursts may erupt from two-star systems Where is the universes missing matter? From simulating the universe, starting at the Big Bang and ending in modern times, scientists have learned that half of all matter that should be present in the universe today is effectively missing. And no, the missing matter isn't dark matter a form of matter invisible to us due to its lack of interaction with light. It's believed to be "ordinary" matter, made up of atoms that are composed of protons and neutrons particles called baryons. For decades, this missing matter has evaded detection with the largest and most sophisticated telescopes, but recently, that's been traced to a vast void of space between some galaxies. The problem, however, is this matter is so sparsely distributed that it is equivalent to no more than 2 atoms existing in a standard-sized office room here on Earth . "If we count up the amount of normal matter in the universe the atoms that we are all made of we find that more than half of what should be there today is missing," team member and Swinburne University of Technology Associate Professor Ryan Shannon said. "We think that the missing matter is hiding in the space between galaxies, but it may just be so hot and diffuse that its impossible to see using normal techniques." Since the early 2020s, scientists, including late Australian astronomer Jean-Pierre 'J-P' Macquart, have begun to speculate that FRBs could be used as "cosmic weight stations" to detect this nebulous matter. "Fast radio bursts sense this ionized material, Shannon added. "Even in space that is nearly perfectly empty, they can 'see' all the electrons , and that allows us to measure how much stuff is between the galaxies." This is possible due to the fact that, as FRBs travel across millions or billions of light-years , their radiation is dispersed by this missing matter. That means measuring the distances to as few as six FRBs could help to determine the density of the universe and this could ultimately help us locate its missing baryonic matter. "J-P showed that the further away a fast radio burst is, the more diffuse gas it reveals between the galaxies," Ryder said. "This is now known as the Macquart relation. Some recent fast radio bursts appeared to break this relationship. Our measurements confirm the Macquart relation holds out to beyond half the known universe." At the moment, around 50 FRBs have been tracked back to their sources, with the scientists behind this research suggesting that astronomers should be able to detect thousands of them across the sky, many at even greater distances. Related Stories: Astronomers discover record haul of 25 new repeating 'fast radio bursts' Epic galaxy collision hints at answer to missing matter mystery Large Hadron Collider may be closing in on the universe's missing antimatter ASKAP is responsible for pinpointing around half of the FRBs tracked back to the source thus far, and it is currently the best tool astronomers have to do this. This will soon change, however, with what will be the two largest radio telescopes in the world currently under construction in Australia and South America. When these Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescopes come online, they should allow astronomers to track more distant and thus more ancient FRBs than even this record-breaker. Also, in the future, the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) currently being developed in Northern Chile will be used to hone in on the source of detected FRBs. "While we still dont know what causes these massive bursts of energy, the paper confirms that fast radio bursts are common events in the cosmos and that we will be able to use them to detect matter between galaxies and better understand the structure of the universe," Shannon concluded. The teams research was published in the journal Science on Thursday, Oct. 19. Assaf Shem, uncle of Omer Shem Tov, a hostage taken to Gaza by Hamas, holds a sign calling for his nephew's release in front of the ICRC in Geneva By Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber and Cecile Mantovani GENEVA (Reuters) - Outside the Red Cross in Geneva on Friday, Assaf Shem Tov clutched a picture of his 21-year-old nephew who was abducted by Palestinian group Hamas and called on the international community to step up efforts to free Israeli hostages. The nephew, Omer Shem Tov, was at a festival in Kibbutz Reim near the Gaza Strip when he was abducted. His family was told by authorities that he was in Gaza but have heard nothing since. "I think that we need the Red Cross to first of all visit the hostages, make sure that they are well treated," he said. "Make sure that they get human rights, and act as fast as possible for them to come back home." Assaf Shem Tov and relatives of two other hostages were set to meet with Mirjana Spoljaric, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) which has offered to visit and help the hostages in any way and work towards their release. "Any civilized country should put as much pressure as they can for the release of the hostages," said Michal Dorset, aunt of hostage Romi Gonen, who was abducted and taken to Gaza when trying to escape a nature festival. "These are not military personnel. These are simple people that just went to enjoy themselves or live in that area." BLOODY ATTACK Hamas gunmen took at least 200 hostages and killed about 1,400 people during an Oct. 7 raid on communities and military bases in southern Israel. Israel has responded by hitting Gaza with air strikes, killing thousands, and has said it will act to free the hostages while wiping out Hamas. Doris Liber, mother of hostage Guy Itzhak Iluz, knows her son was shot by Hamas gunmen but has not heard from him since. "He called from the party. We heard the gunshots," she said. "He was injured... he was losing a lot of blood. It's been two weeks now. I don't know what his situation is." "My son is a big boy. He's 26 years old. But still, he's my baby." (Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber and Cecile Mantovani; Editing by) Religious council proposes alternative service for conscientious objectors at meeting with PM Shmyhal The Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (UCCRO) and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal met on Oct. 19 to discuss alternatives to military service for conscientious objectors. During the meeting, the religious officials suggested that Shmyhal could look into alternative civilian service, wherein conscientious objectors would provide support to the defense of the country but not participate in combat. Read also: The problem of a practical mechanism for implementing the constitutional guarantee of non-military service for parishioners whose religious convictions do not allow them to take up arms was discussed, the UCCRO said, The UCCRO also emphasized that the suggested initiative would ensure that conscientious objectors would not be subject to criminal prosecution. 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 UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Thursday called on all countries to cut off the sources of weapons for Haitian gangs. In October 2022, China pushed the UN Security Council for action on Haitian gangs, and the council unanimously adopted Resolution 2653, which imposed targeted sanctions. Just now, the council unanimously adopted Resolution 2700, renewing the Haiti sanctions regime for one year, said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations. China hopes that relevant measures can be implemented in earnest and help deter gang violence, protect the Haitian people, and restore peace for Haiti, he said in an explanation of vote. Resolution 2700 demands all countries take all necessary measures to prevent illegal flows of small arms and light weapons into Haiti, he said. "We hope that all countries, especially regional countries, will take concrete actions to implement the requirements of the resolution and cut off the sources of weapons for gangs." The resolution requires the Sanctions Committee to consider updating the list of designations as soon as possible. This should be done without delay as the reputation and authority of the Council are at stake. One year after the adoption of Resolution 2653, the situation of only one person on the sanctions list must be changed as soon as possible, he said. "We urge the Sanctions Committee to speed up its work, meet the requirements of the resolution, and monitor and ensure the comprehensive and effective implementation of the sanctions measures," he said. Targeted sanctions and security support are only part of the solution. The ultimate solution lies in advancing a Haitian-led and Haitian-owned political process, said Geng. As championed by China, Resolution 2700 once again calls on all parties in Haiti to swiftly reach the broadest possible consensus on arrangements for political transition and formulate a timetable and roadmap for holding free, fair, and credible elections, he said. "We call on all parties and groups in Haiti to put aside their selfish interests, live up to their responsibility and commitment, proceed from the fundamental interests of the country and people, act with the highest sense of urgency, waste no time in conducting political consultations to bridge differences," he said. Geng added that China is willing to work with the international community to help and support the Haitian people in getting out of the crisis at an early date. CNN anchor Sara Sidner was confronted by an angry pro-Palestinian protestor while reporting Friday from the West Bank. As Sidner and her team were walking through the streets of Ramallah, where demonstrators have erupted in protest over what they say is Israels continued oppression and targeting of their people, a man ran up to the news anchor and began shouting at her. You are genocide supporters, the man shouted in her face. You are not welcome here! Genocide supporters! F CNN! F CNN! the man continued to scream, pointing his finger in Sidners face as a crowd of demonstrators gathered around her. After the anchor was moved away by a security detail traveling with her crew, Sidner turned back to the camera and said, All right, you see that people are very angry, they do not like the way that CNN has been reporting the story, you hear that. Sidner, wearing a heavy-duty helmet and bullet proof vest, appeared to tell a producer in her earpiece and the security guard escorting her away were fine. CNN is one of dozens of international media organizations that has deployed a growing number of staff to the region to cover the ongoing violence in the Middle East as Israel gears up for a major offensive in Gaza in the wake of this months terror attack by Hamas. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. This embedded content is not available in your region. Hamas has released two US hostages who were abducted during the Palestinian group's deadly raid on Israel this month. Israel confirmed they had received mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan from Hamas at the Gaza boundary. The pair were freed for "humanitarian reasons", Hamas said. US President Joe Biden said he was overjoyed at their release and confirmed he had spoken with the Raanans on the phone. They were the first captives released since the gunmen raided Israel on 7 October, killing 1,400 people and taking around 200 hostages. Palestinian officials say more than 4,000 people have been killed in Gaza, which has been under Israeli bombardment. Brig Gen Gal Hirsch, together with members of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), received the two hostages from Hamas at the boundary of the Palestinian enclave on Friday evening, said the Israeli prime minister's office. The Raanans were taken to a military base in the centre of the country, where family members were waiting, said the PM's office. The mother and daughter were staying at Kibbutz Nahal Oz in southern Israel when they were abducted during the Hamas incursion. The 59-year-old Illinois mother and her 17-year-old daughter, who recently graduated from high school, are both residents of Evanston, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Natalie's half-brother, Ben Raanan, told the BBC he felt an "overwhelming sense of gratitude to the large community of people around the world who have put my sister at the forefront of their thoughts, of their prayers, of all religions and all beliefs". Natalie's uncle, Avi Zamir, said the family were "extremely joyful". Evanston Rabbi Meir Hecht told the BBC the Jewish community in the suburb was "elated", adding that his phone had been constantly ringing since they were freed. "We have so much gratitude to the almighty God for this miracle," said Rabbi Hecht, adding: "We still have deep pain for all those hostages that are still there." This embedded content is not available in your region. At a Friday night vigil in Evanston for the hostages held by Hamas, a close friend of Judith, Yehudis Hecht, said their lives had been "turned into a nightmare" when they heard the two had been taken. "We are praying that they have quick healing from all that they have endured and we are praying for all Israel and a safe return of all hostages," she said. The Raanans were taken hostage while celebrating Natalie's graduation and the 85th birthday of her grandmother, Tamar Ranaan, who survived the Hamas attack. Tamar Ranaan and her partner, Yehiel, survived by hiding in the safe room of their home. Mr Biden thanked the Qatari government for its mediation efforts in the release of the two women on Friday. US officials have been "working around-the-clock to free American citizens who were taken hostage by Hamas", he said. A Hamas spokesman, Abu Ubaida, said the mother and daughter had been released "for humanitarian reasons, and to prove to the American people and the world that the claims made by Biden and his fascist administration are false and baseless". CNN reported that the mother had been suffering poor health and was receiving treatment from the Red Cross. Judith Raanan was born in Israel, worked in the US as an aesthetician and life coach, and often used her Hebrew name, Yehudit, reported the Chicago Tribune. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker released a statement saying: "I cannot wait to welcome them back home after demonstrating immense strength and bravery in the face of unthinkable terror." As of Friday, at least 32 American citizens had been confirmed dead this month in the Israel-Hamas conflict, while 10 remained unaccounted for, according to the US state department. The US and UK have each said they are working with Qatari officials to help secure the release of their own citizens. Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement: "We will continue our dialogue with both the Israelis and Hamas, and we hope these efforts will lead to the release of all civilian hostages from every nationality." Other countries with nationals being held in Gaza include Argentina, Germany, France, Thailand and Portugal. More on Israel-Gaza war The Ranaans were part of an extended family caught up in the attack. Another eight family members are missing from Kibbutz Be'eri. Three were killed, including a carer. BBC News has verified the identities of the other relatives who are feared kidnapped in Gaza. Dr Shoshan Haran, 67, her daughter Adi Shoham, 38, Adi's partner, Tal Shoham, 38, and their children, Naveh, 8, and Yahel, 3, are believed to have been snatched from their home. According to Fair Planet, the non-profit that Dr Haran founded, a phone that belonged to her husband, Avshalom, was tracked to Gaza and they believe the whole family was taken. Avshalom Haran - an economist and dual German-Israel citizen - is now dead, the BBC has confirmed. He was 66. Sharon Avigdori, 52, her daughter, Noam, 12, and Lilach Kipnis, 60, are also believed to have been abducted. Lilach's husband, Eviatar Kipnis, who was 66 and had Italian citizenship, was killed, the family said. Paul Vincent Castelvi, who was Eviatar Kipnis's carer, was also killed. Additional reporting by Max Matza. Camp Matecumbe in West Kendall holds a special place in DJ EFNs heart. More than 60 years ago, the park was home to many of the boys flown from Cuba to Miami as part of Operation Pedro Pan. His father, Fernando Narciandi, happened to be one of those boys. But on Friday morning, the significance of Camp Matecumbe increased as EFN and his 10 friends who make up Crazy Hood Productions received a proclamation from Miami-Dade County that designated Oct. 20, 2023 as Crazy Hood Productions Day. Who would have ever thought that some crazy kids from Sunset High would be here? EFN said from the podium, a slew of iPhones and cameras pointed at him. This is really full circle. Since 1993, Crazy Hood Productions has been a driving force on Miamis underground hip-hop scene. A record label, multimedia company and group of friends, Crazy Hood Productions initially became known for its mixtape series that was Miamis equivalent to those done by DJ Clue or DJ Tony Touch. Eventually, CHP brand would branch out to documentaries, a since-shuttered Crazy Goods clothing shop and, most notably, the acclaimed hip-hop podcast Drink Champs that EFN records with Queens-born rapper NORE. Crazy Hood Productions, the brainchild of DJ EFN, one-half of the acclaimed Drink Champs Podcast, gets a sign unveiled in their honor as pioneers of Miamis music scene, in Kendall on Friday October 20th., 2023. When we started Crazy Hood, it was all about repping where were from, EFN, the founder and CEO of CHP who was born Eric Narciandi, said to the crowd. Just some West Kendall kids some Kendall, Miami-Dade kids who wanted to contribute to our local scene. For Miami-Dade Commissioner Roberto J. Gonzalez, the proclamation served as a testament to CHPs hard work but also their contributions to the West Kendall community. Folks need to understand that theres so much talent and so much community thats happening right here out west, Gonzalez, who issued CHPs proclamation, told the Miami Herald. A lot of times, you hear about the successes that happen up in the North, you hear about the successes that happen in the East. We have so much culture down here and I want to make sure that people understand that we have our identity, we have our culture and we have great people that are coming out of this community. Fridays event was a dream scenario for any kid from South Dade. Pastelitos lined a table. Family members formed a little crowd around the podium where Gonzalez presented CHP with not only a proclamation but the first ever key to West Kendall. The crew, donning all types of Crazy Hood apparel and smiling from ear to ear, flanked Gonzalez as the commissioner listed their accomplishments. Even Miami-Dade police officers began chanting Crazy Hood at one point, a move that still came as a surprise to some. Commissioner Roberto J. Gonzalez (l)and Eric Narciandi (r), President of Crazy Hood Productions, in front of the West Kendall sign unveiled in Kendall on Friday October 20th., 2023. To the Hammocks Police department, sorry for the 90s, Michael Garcia, CHPs resident film and music video director, quipped to the audience. Thank you for going from chasing us to embracing us. Kendall has always been an important part of CHPs journey. Thats where they met. Thats where they grew up. And thats where the crew still has an office. At the office later, the crews personality really shines. Songs from early CHP mixtapes blast over a boombox, a collage of pictures from Drink Champs hanging overhead. The crew jokes with one another about whos oldest. A few of the members even start freestyling over Nas One Mic. As the music reverberates off the walls, someone blurts out, Why do I feel 15 again listening to this? It was a great day to be from Kendall. This is a big part of the story of hip-hop, EFN said, describing what the celebration meant to him and his crew. Hip-hop coming from nothing and becoming something. Its in that same vein on a local level because we were just and I keep saying this raggedy hip-hop kids in high school who were just fans and decided to do something more serious and take it as a career as well. Nobody thought that could happen because we had no connections to the outside industry. To be here 30 years later and the actual governance is acknowledging us, its insane and wild. We just wanted to get mentioned in Source Magazine. A former Florida state lawmaker who sponsored the states divisive law nicknamed dont say gay was sentenced to prison on Thursday for fraudulently collecting Covid-19 pandemic small-business government aid. The former Republican representative, Joe Harding , faced a maximum sentence of 20 years, but was sentenced to four months in federal prison. Related: Florida pastor and son arrested in alleged $8m Covid relief fraud scheme Following his prison sentence, Harding will have two years of supervised release, the Department of Justice said in a press release. Harding pleaded guilty in March to several charges, including wire fraud, for fraudulently collecting $150,000 in pandemic relief funds earmarked for small businesses. Hardings brother-in-law, Patrick Walsh, was sentenced to more than five years in prison for a separate scheme to obtain small-business funds during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the justice department. Walsh fraudulently received nearly $5m in pandemic-related aid. Federal prosecutors accused Harding of providing false information to obtain Covid-19 small business-relief funds. Harding applied for loans in 2020 with the Small Business Administration (SBA) for a company called the Vak Shack Inc, but Vak Shack had not been in business in 2019 or 2020, the Tampa Bay Times reported. He also attempted to fraudulently obtain a loan for a second business, but was denied. Harding was first elected to Floridas house of representatives in 2020 and re-elected for a second term in 2022, the Tampa Bay reported. He was indicted in December 2022, shortly into his second term and later resigned from office. Harding gained national attention for sponsoring Floridas dont say gay bill, legislation that LGBTQ+ advocates have denounced as discriminatory and harmful. The notorious legislation outlawed the teaching of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade. The ban was later expanded to all grade levels, after being approved by the Florida board of education in April. Georgia lawmakers attempted to pass a similar bill last March that would prohibit education on sexual orientation and gender identity in private schools. The law is one of many passed in the past year that target LGBTQ+ rights in Florida, including legislation signed in May by the governor, Ron DeSantis, banning gender-affirming care for anyone under the age of 18. The law, which also places restrictions on treatments adults can receive for gender dysphoria, has already faced legal action. During his third attempt at being elected speaker of the US House of Representatives, Jim Jordan, a far-right US Republican politician, gained the support of 194 party members, losing three more votes for his candidacy. Source: This was reported by European Pravda Details: In a vote on Friday 20 October, 25 Republican members of the lower house of Congress voted against Jordan, compared to the 20 and 22 votes during the first and second rounds earlier this week. Despite the loss of support, the politician said the day before that he would continue to attempt to claim speakership, hoping to convince party members to support him. The alternative option, a temporary expansion of powers of acting speaker Patrick McHenry, is not supported by either himself (fearing precedent) nor a significant part of the Republicans. Jim Jordan is one of the most active defenders of former US President Donald Trump and an opponent of increasing assistance to Ukraine. On 3 October, Kevin McCarthy lost his position as Speaker of the House of Representatives. This happened under pressure from the far-right wing of his Republican Party, where McCarthy was accused of collaborating with Democrats and making a "secret deal" to help Ukraine. At the same time, the US House of Representatives cannot pass new laws, including those on assistance to Ukraine, until a new speaker is elected. The temporary US federal budget must be calculated by mid-November, so in order to avoid a potential shutdown, Congress must solve this problem. Support UP or become our patron! Rep. John Rutherford, R-Fla., left, and Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., right, arrive for the Republican caucus meeting at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) WASHINGTON (AP) It was the thing that was supposed to make Rep. Jim Jordan the 56th speaker of the House. An onslaught of pressure from the Republican Party base, allies predicted, would compel the GOP's moderate and establishment members to support Jordan, a hero of the far-right, and help him secure the votes for the gavel. But as the pressure campaign devolved this week into death threats against lawmakers and their families, something unexpected happened: Positions hardened, and a ragtag coalition of roughly 20 House Republicans rose up to deny Jordan the speakership. In doing so, they defied a belief of many in Washington that moderates have no backbone. Bullying don't work, said Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican centrist who has led the opposition to Jordan's nomination. Still, Bacon said the harassing text messages and phone calls have taken a toll. His wife slept with a loaded gun near her bedside one night. Other Republicans said their families have been threatened. And every lawmaker who voted against Jordan has received a barrage of angry phone calls and messages. Still, they vowed Thursday to not back down as Jordan tried for a third day to win the 217 Republican votes he needs to become speaker. It's just the latest twist in the contentious intra-party feud that has consumed House Republicans since the unprecedented removal of Kevin McCarthy more than two weeks ago. Hopelessly divided, Republicans have been arguing for weeks over how to mend their fractured majority. The death threats have only worsened the tension, with lawmakers feeling their colleagues are partially to blame for the outpouring of bile. After Rep. Drew Fergusons family started receiving death threats for his vote against Jordan, the Georgia Republican said in a statement that he would not support a bully for speaker. He said the threats were unacceptable, unforgivable, and will never be tolerated. For ten months, the ultra-conservatives of the Republican Conference have driven the House agenda, leveraging their position in the GOP's thin majority to demand that their wishes be met. Kevin McCarthy struggled with them for 15 rounds in January to win the speaker's gavel and ultimately had it wrested away by hard-right holdouts. As Republicans choose their next speaker, however, the just-say-no tactic is coming from new corners of the Republican conference: moderate GOP lawmakers who represent politically purple congressional districts, senior members of the House Appropriations Committee, and loyalists to GOP leadership figures like McCarthy and Majority Leader Steve Scalise . Many Republicans were angered last week by how the Freedom Caucus seemed to once again get what it wanted by refusing to support Scalise's bid for speaker, forcing him to drop out and clearing the way for Jordan to make a run. Jordan had several advantages. The hard-charging Ohio Republican, who helped found the House Freedom Caucus, had former President Donald Trump's backing, as well as support from conservative commentators and influencers like Fox News host Sean Hannity. Meanwhile, Jordan tried to win over more moderate Republicans by casting himself as a unifier who would listen to their concerns. He told his fellow Republicans he would not take the speaker vote to the House floor unless he had secured 217 of their votes. He quickly broke that promise, scheduling a floor vote Tuesday and forcing the holdouts to publicly state their opposition and face the political fallout. Jordan and his allies believed the public vote would quickly wear down their opposition. Rep. Thomas Massie, a Jordan ally, predicted at the time that the holdouts would be put through a meat grinder of pressure and cave by the end of the week. I dont think any of these 20 have the stomach for forcing that vote over and over, Massie said. That proved wrong. Opposition to Jordan only grew. A few more Republicans voted against Jordan during a second ballot Wednesday, and others suggested their support would soon run out. The pressure campaign had backfired. As soon as you try to influence by getting outside groups to try to intimidate, in that nanosecond, its over, said Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, a senior Republican on the Appropriations Committee who helped lead the opposition to Jordan. Jordan, for his part, has tried to stop the threats and pressure. After Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks said in a statement that she had received credible death threats after voting against him Wednesday, Jordan condemned the threats and called for unity. Stop. It's abhorrent," he said on social media. But colleagues have watched for years as Jordan and his allies denounced their legislative work while playing to the party's base. They were unmoved. This is a matter of picking the person who's going to lead your party, said Rep. Steve Womack, a senior Republican who opposed Jordan. This is more interpersonal. Womack said he was done with Jordan after he gave a tepid concession when Scalise initially won the Republican Conference nomination for speaker. Though Jordan eventually offered support for Scalise, Womack felt Jordan had given a dog whistle to the House Freedom Caucus to withhold their support. Womack felt it doomed Scalise's bid for speaker, and he said he told Jordan that his concession speech was the most unacceptable and egregious treatment of a fellow colleague Ive ever witnessed. As Republicans meet for hours on end trying to work past their grudges, lawmakers are flailing for a path forward that would allow the House to once again do its work. The White House is requesting wartime funding for allies Israel and Ukraine, and the government will enter a shutdown unless Congress passes funding legislation by mid-November. One senior Republican, Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma, said he sympathized somewhat with the holdouts. They feel like theyve been pushed into a position where it seems to be the only thing these guys understand. And so you start treating them the way they have been treating us, he said. Still, Cole has also urged them to set aside those tactics to unite around a speaker. The problem is, you know that makes you feel pretty good ... but it doesnt get us moving any closer to a solution. ___ Associated Press reporters Kevin Freking, Farnoush Amiri and Lisa Mascaro contributed reporting. FIRST ON FOX: A group of 35 House Republicans are calling for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate rampant pro-Hamas activity in the aftermath of the terrorist group's attacks on innocent civilians in Israel. The Republicans, led by Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., penned a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland requesting information about his agency's efforts to probe supporters of Hamas, a federally-designated foreign terrorist organization, in addition to perpetrators of antisemitic violence nationwide. They noted that the DOJ has previously investigated American parents who spoke up at school board meetings. "Freedom of speech is a cornerstone of our nation, but coordinated activities supporting Hamas, and intimidating and endangering other citizens have no place in our lawful society," Moolenaar and the other GOP lawmakers wrote to Garland. "Your department plays a critical role in enforcing the equal application of the law and safeguarding our nation's security." "In that regard, we want to know what steps are being taken by the Department of Justice to investigate Hamas supporters in the United States, as well as the perpetrators of anti-Semitic violence in cities and school campuses across the nation," they continued. UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA GRAPPLES WITH DONOR CRISIS AFTER 'PALESTINE WRITES' EVENT CAUSES UPROAR Attorney General Merrick Garland delivers remarks at an event in Washington, D.C., on March 16. The Friday letter comes weeks after Hamas militants infiltrated southern Israel and massacred Israeli civilians in a surprise attack on Oct. 7. Since the massacre, Hamas has taken hundreds of innocent civilians, including some Americans, hostage. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Additionally, in response to Hamas' escalation, Israel Defense Forces have initiated a relentless bombardment of airstrikes targeting Hamas leaders and military outposts in the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces have also amassed tens of thousands of troops along its border with Gaza and exchanged fire with Hezbollah terrorists on its border with Lebanon. 'SQUAD' DEMS FACE BACKLASH CALLING FOR CEASEFIRE AFTER ISRAEL ATTACKS: CANT MERELY CONDEMN TERRORISM' While Israel has received substantial support from the White House and members of Congress, rallies held in major cities across the country and on college campuses have condemned Israel for its military actions. Shortly after the Oct. 7 attack, for example, a large rally was held in New York City where protesters held signs in support of "Palestinian resistance." "We're going to liberate Palestine," one protester told a group of Israel supporters during the demonstration. "We already liberated parts of it already. So get ready to get barbecued." U.S. Capitol Police said that they arrested 300 pro-Palestinian demonstrators who stormed a Capitol Hill rotunda on Wednesday afternoon. In their letter to Garland on Friday, the Republicans highlighted how the DOJ, under his leadership, issued a October 2021 memo warning about parents speaking out at school board meetings. Garland also directed the FBI to work with state, local and tribal law enforcement to address those perceived "threats," they noted. "However, since Hamass recent attack on Israel, you have not issued a similar memo about the increase of anti-Semitic violence, the threats of intimidation being made against supporters of Israel, or the public rallies being held in support of a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization," they wrote. "Your inaction in the face of these threats is alarming and requires us to ask the following questions to ensure you are being held accountable to the American people and the Constitution you have sworn to uphold." The DOJ didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Original article source: Republicans press DOJ for not investigating widespread pro-Hamas activity after probing parents President Biden gave an address from the White Houses Oval Office on Thursday night, where he provided an update on two conflicts happening across the globe, including Israels war with Hamas and Russias continued fighting in Ukraine. He vowed America would not be on the sidelines of either conflict. His brief remarks, however, were met with some criticism as Republicans and others accused him of trying to fix problems that he previously caused and attempted to use the slaughtering of Israelis and the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza to request additional funds in the Ukraine conflict. "The shame of it all is that we wouldnt be in this terrible position if Joe Biden hadnt been so weak in Afghanistan, so slow in Ukraine, so pandering to Iran, and so absent from the border," wrote Nikki Haley, a Republican presidential candidate who is beating him in some head-to-head polls. "The world is on fire, and America needs strong new leadership to deal with it." Some critics called his speech "unbelievable" and "completely disgraceful." SEN. VANCE ACCUSES BIDEN OF USING ISRAEL'S FIGHT AGAINST HAMAS TO PUSH FOR MORE UKRAINE AID: 'DISGUSTING' President Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Biden discussed the U.S. response to the Hamas-Israel conflict, humanitarian assistance in Gaza and the continued support for Ukraine during Russias ongoing invasion. In his Oval Office address, Biden focused on Ukraine, which included him saying he will send an "urgent budget request" to Congress on Friday "to fund America's national security needs to support our critical partners, including Israel and Ukraine is a smart investment that's going to pay dividends for American security for generations." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Haley emphasized Bidens "weakness" around the globe ahead of the speech and said the blame for the current state should rest on him. "Biden cozied up to Iran, giving it billions of dollars & easing sanctions. Biden talks a big game on Russia, but was too slow in providing Ukraine with the weapons to beat Russia quickly. Bidens weakness on Moscow & Tehran has strengthened Beijing," she wrote. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., who is also seeking the Republican nomination to go against Biden in 2024, posted on X, "Biden gave $6 billion to the number one state sponsor of terrorism." He added, "Theres no way around it." WATCH PRESIDENT BIDEN'S THURSDAY NIGHT ADDRESS FROM OVAL OFFICE Scott also joined "Hannity" on Thursday evening, when he further discussed President Biden's address. "Our ally, Israel, was bombed by a terrorist organization and tonights speech focused more on Ukraine than Israel," the presidential contender said. "Thats unbelievable." Scott also said Biden should have more clearly sent a message to Iran and the consequences they would face if they continue to back terror groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. President Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Biden discussed the U.S. response to the Hamas-Israel conflict, humanitarian assistance in Gaza and the continued support for Ukraine during Russias ongoing invasion. Joe Concha, a Fox News contributor, recalled that during the speech, Biden gave himself credit for being the first U.S. president to visit Israel during a wartime. "Biden has now twice patted himself on the back for being the first American president to go into a war zone. This speech is an absolute mess," Concha wrote. Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, said Biden appeared to correlate the two global conflicts to "sell the American people" on additional aid to Ukraine, which has warred with Russia for more than 600 days. "I think what the president did is completely disgraceful. If he wants to sell the American people on $60B more to Ukraine, he shouldnt use dead Israeli children to do it. It was disgusting," Vance wrote on X. Fox News host Sean Hannity addressed the speech during his show on Thursday evening. "I thought it was cliche," Hannity said. "I wanted to hear more about the barbaric brutality that took place in Israel, the worst terror attack in their history. I wanted to hear more about the hostages. I wanted to hear more about the Americans killed. I wanted to hear more about what America needs to do in all this." Fox News Dana Perino said Thursday, just before Hannity, that she said she "didnt think it was strong." "I actually didnt think it was strong," Perino said. "I prepared all day to love this speech. I prepared to want to stand up and cheer, and at times I felt like we were reading a speech whose pages had been mixed up out of order." "I thought that he didnt spend enough time talking about the atrocities of Oct. 7," she added. Perino applauded Biden for mentioning antisemitism, but said that "he rushed that part of the speech so much and the next thing I know were talking about Ukraine." Republican congressional candidate JR Majewski described Bidens speech as a "campaign ad for Trump." "That entire Biden speech was a campaign ad for Trump 2024," Majeski wrote on X. "Trump never gave speeches about how badly we needed to help the world because of the wars that he caused, because he never caused these problems." CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP He added, "Joe Biden does NOT deserve another term in office. Frankly, he doesn't deserve another day in office." Democrats widely lauded the speech, and Biden also received praise from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "I thank Joe Biden for his powerful address. Together, we will not allow hatred destroy freedom, and we will not let terrorists destroy democracy," Zelenskyy wrote on X. "Ukraine is grateful for all the U.S. support and its unfaltering belief that humanism, freedom, independence, and rules-based international order must always triumph." Biden's address came a day after he visited Tel Aviv, where met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli officials in the hopes of containing the crisis in the Gaza Strip from erupting into a wider conflict. Biden also said he would "keep American troops out of harm's way," and that the congressional aid package would "help us build a world that is safer, more peaceful and more prosperous for our children and grandchildren in Israel." Original article source: Republicans respond to Biden's Oval Office speech that mentioned Ukraine, Hamas-Israel war: 'Unbelievable' Utah Republican Rep. Blake Moore and fellow House Republicans depart after a meeting where they held a secret ballot vote on whether to drop Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan out of the race for House speaker on Oct. 20. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) (Jonathan Ernst / reuters) Over the 17 days since Republicans ousted their own leadership in the House of Representatives, the party has not only failed to choose a new leader, but it has also become more fractious and dysfunctional. We are in a very bad place, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy , a California Republican, said Friday. The vacuum has left the lower chamber of Congress paralyzed and unable to function for three weeks, and on Friday they were no closer to a resolution of the problem. Republican Jim Jordan of Ohio was cast aside by members of his own party after three days of fruitless attempts to strong arm his way into the speaker position. So now what? Rep. Jim Jordan walks to the House speaker's office after a second round of voting for a new speaker of the House ended with Jordan once again failing to win the speaker's gavel at the Capitol on Oct. 18, 2023. (Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters) (Elizabeth Frantz / reuters) Its back to square one Republicans, who control the House but have a very narrow majority, left D.C. Friday afternoon after Jordan lost a private vote on whether he should remain their nominee as speaker. The vote was 112 against Jordan, and 86 for him. He needed a majority to remain the partys internal choice for speaker. To be elected speaker, a nominee must win the majority of the full House. Immediately, other Republicans said they would run for speaker. Rep. Kevin Hern of Oklahoma was one of the first to declare he would run. Rep. Austin Scott of Georgia was another quick out of the gate. Soon after that, Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota, the third-ranking Republican in the House, said he too would run. Several other Republicans said they may put their name in the ring, ahead of a candidate forum expected for Monday. One big question will be whether McCarthy, the California Republican who was pushed aside a few weeks ago, is called on again to return to the job. Former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy talks with Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan in the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Oct. 20. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) (Jonathan Ernst / reuters) The clock is ticking The GOP cannot drag its feet forever. The government will shut down in mid-November if Congress does not pass a funding bill. The Republican Partys total collapse in the House means that the Senate which is controlled by Democrats will be in the drivers seat when it comes to what that funding bill looks like. A group of eight Republicans who worked to oust McCarthy did so because he failed to get a funding bill through the House with only Republican votes. Republicans could not agree on the specifics of the bill, forcing McCarthy to work with Democrats to pass funding legislation and avoid a government shutdown. President Biden is also planning to submit a request for $100 billion in emergency aid to Israel and Ukraine next week. The Senate will have almost total control over what gets into that package and what does not, thanks to the circus in the House. Speaker of the House Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry departs after his fellow Republicans abandoned a backup plan to allow the leaderless chamber to resume business with McHenry remaining in his position until January, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Oct. 19. (Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters) (Elizabeth Frantz / reuters) Can Republicans get their act together? Nobody knows. If a consensus pick doesnt emerge, they will be back to square one again, which is a place they seem to keep coming back to. Rep. Patrick McHenry, a North Carolina Republican, will remain the speaker pro tempore for now. That means he presides over the chamber but has limited powers. There has been talk of naming McHenry as temporary or acting speaker if the GOP cannot agree on a candidate. That conversation has been put on the back burner for now while Republicans go through another round of opening up the bidding for a new candidate. But like the option of reelecting McCarthy, the McHenry option could bubble back up again if the GOP finds itself in another cul-de-sac it cant stumble out of. [Source] Immigrant women working in small, independently owned beauty salons in the U.S. endure a plethora of health challenges, a new assessment has found. Silent victims: The thriving beauty service industry in the U.S., which generates over $62 billion in annual sales, has evolved from a high-end luxury service to an affordable option for low- and middle-income clients in the past decade. The industry relies on the labor of predominantly Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese, Nepali, Tibetan and Latino immigrant and refugee workers. The industry's success, however, comes at a cost as these workers encounter a range of health challenges in their daily routines. Unmasking the truth: Dr. Aurora Le, an associate professor at the Texas A&M University School of Public Health, delved into the multifaceted challenges faced by beauty service workers in an analysis funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene in August. Trending on NextShark: Watch: Bali monkey negotiates for food in exchange for woman's stolen iPhone Dr. Le, alongside a colleague from the University of Minnesota, used a comprehensive research framework that scrutinizes the intersection of behavior, environment, culture and healthcare to understand how they impact the well-being of individuals. What they found: The researchers found that beauty service workers encounter a myriad of workplace health challenges, ranging from the hazardous chemicals they handle to the physically demanding nature of their work. They noted that at the individual and interpersonal levels, these workers face an absence of occupational health services, training, low wages and limited workplace health promotion benefits. This workforce remains hesitant to draw attention to these conditions, primarily due to immigration-related fears, language barriers and a lack of familiarity with American work practices. Trending on NextShark: Watch: Australian influencer mistaken for Ryan Reynolds swarmed by fans in Taiwan What's done so far: Community-based organizations have already stepped up during the COVID-19 pandemic, offering resources related to occupational safety and health. On a broader scale, the federal government has allocated funding to support outreach efforts aimed at Asian and Asian American beauty service microbusinesses. The move may influence states to adopt better workplace standards, including improved wages and training. What else needs to be done: In Les commentary, she pointed out resolving the workplace issues facing beauty service workers requires culturally competent outreach and education that are delivered in their language and at their literacy level. In the community, resources vary by location, with cities housing more immigrants offering in-language assistance but primarily focused on healthcare and legal aid rather than occupational safety. "Change will require collaboration by stakeholders who are invested in the communitys health and experts in areas such as business development who understand the context in which these workers operate," Le explained in a press release. "That means that training at the very minimum must be available in the workers preferred language and that these employers need to gain buy-in on the importance of workplace health and safety. Trending on NextShark: Watch: Chinese woman quits full-time job so she can try 100 different jobs More on NextShark: Sriracha buyers say new Huy Fong Foods bottles taste different Interview: K-pop legend Rain to perform US concerts for 1st time in 15 years HANOI, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's real estate market saw a significant surge in the third quarter of this year, with 59,559 new businesses entering and re-entering the market during the period, Vietnam News Agency reported Friday, citing the Ministry of Construction. The increase, which represented a rise of 18 percent year on year, has so far marked the highest record for a third quarter. In the first nine months, the country's construction industry recorded a growth rate of about 6.17 percent year on year. The number of commercial housing projects completed in the third quarter increased by 300 percent compared to the previous quarter. The Q3 prices of apartments and individual houses in big urban areas such as capital city Hanoi and southern Ho Chi Minh City continued to increase, according to the ministry. Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Van Sinh said policies to take effect in the coming time will gain the trust of businesses, promising positive development of the country's real estate market. For the remainder of 2023, the ministry is set to prioritize the development of the real estate market with a focus on safety, sustainability, and housing for low-income earners. A federal judge has sentenced a man to a year in prison after his conviction of attempting to run down six Black men last year at the site of the Rosewood massacre. David Allen Emanuel, 62, who is white, appeared solemn and reserved as U.S. Judge Allen Winsor delivered the sentence Thursday on six counts of hate crimes for attempting to run over Miami historian Marvin Dunn, his son and four other Black men who were surveying Dunns Rosewood property to build a memorial for the massacre. Winsor sentenced Emanuel to 12 months plus one day in federal prison for each of the six charges and allowed the sentences to run concurrently. The Justice Department had sought a substantial prison term of between five and six years. Emanuel, a retired clam farmer in Levy County in north-central Florida, must surrender to report to prison no later than noon Jan. 2, the judge said. He was also ordered to serve two years of supervised release after he finished his prison term. Before the attack in September 2022, Emanuel shouted racial slurs at the group from his white Ford F-250 calling Dunn the n-word and demanded the men leave the area. After Dunn responded they were parked on a public road, Emanuel sped off only to return minutes later his truck charging toward the group. Dunns son, Frederick Douglas Dunn, leaped into the grass, saving himself by inches. A jury convicted Emanuel over the summer. Im relieved this is all over with, and I think that its fair, Marvin Dunn said. At the hearing Thursday, family and supporters of Emanuel filled the defense side of the courtroom. Muffled sobs emanated from some as the judge read the sentence. I do see hes provided a lot of value to the community, Winsor said. I dont think hes going to do something like this again ... but theres a need for general deterrence, and its clear he did it because of race. Historian Marvin Dunn, left, and his son Frederick Dunn, right, stand outside of the U.S. Federal Court House in Gainesville, Fla., after David Emmanuels sentencing in Oct. 19, 2023. Dunn, 83, and his son sat somber on the opposite side, flanked by a handful of others. In an interview, the elder Dunn said the attack was the worst racial upheaval hes experienced since the Civil Rights era, but he and his son drove from their homes in Miami with a message of forgiveness. Dunn submitted a letter to the judge last week on behalf of the other victims requesting mercy be shown to Emanual, not solely for him and his family, but to move on as a country. For me, my faith requires forgiveness, and so I must, the letter read. [Race] is the thorn in our collective side, the unmovable rock in our common path. For America to become whole, the thorns and rocks must be removed. The victims in this case are hopeful that in our plea for mercy for Mr. Emanuel and his family, we are taking an important step toward the goal of removing these obstacles to healing. When Dunn testified at trial, he was on the precipice of tears recounting how close Emanuel came to striking his son with his three-ton truck. But Dunn, a grandfather like Emanuel, stressed the impact a prison sentence would have on Emanuels family. I know how valuable those grandpa years are, Dunn said after reading his letter to the judge. I assure the court we can live in peace as neighbors. Someone must take the first step toward peace. While Winsor said he gave the letter much consideration, he felt probation would be an insufficient sentence as it doesnt serve to deter others from committing similar crimes. In addition to Dunns letter, more than 30 letters of support were submitted by Emanuels friends and family requesting a light sentence. There were also four advocates of Emanuel who addressed the court prior to sentencing. Cedar Key Police Chief Edward Jenkins, a Black man, told the court that hed never had any negative experiences with Emanuel during their many encounters. The tension in the courtroom was palpable as the sentencing took over an hour to complete. Defense attorney, Darren James Johnson, argued that Emanuel has numerous health issues and that instead of prison he should be ordered to complete some form of racial sensitivity training, as punishment. He justified a light sentence by arguing that race had little to do with the incident, and that Emanuels attack was an isolated event. Race only became a factor after it began, Johnson said. Dr. Kenneth Nunn, left, and Benjamin L. Crump, right, mourn for the victims of the Rosewood massacre that occurred a hundred years ago during a wreath-laying ceremony, at Rosewood, Fla., Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023. Winsor, appointed by President Donald Trump in 2019, was insistent throughout the hearing that race was the proven motive for the attack. [Emanuel] didnt think those people were about to commit a home invasion, he said. They had every right to be out there that day. He did it because of race. Outside court, Emanuel and roughly two dozen of his supporters congregated around his truck a white Ford F-250 donning a Confederate flag, the exact likeness of the vehicle used in the attack. In an interview Monday, Emanuel said he plans to sell his house and move to another part of town to remain close to his sons grave. Im not living across from a Rosewood memorial that thousands of Black people are going to come to, he said. When the prosecution read that quote to the court, Dunn later said he was disheartened to hear it. Id rather work with him as neighbors, Dunn said. _ This story was produced by Fresh Take Florida, a news service of the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications. The reporter can be reached at lemnusj@freshtakeflorida.com. You can donate to support our students here. Special forces planning for hostage rescues following the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7 face a number of complications in the Gaza Strip an extremely dense urban environment that is the home turf for the terrorist group. "There are no known hostage rescues attempts to have occurred inside of Gaza. Unfortunately, the Israelis have a number of challenges to address if any operations are to be a success repatriating 200 [or more] civilians," John Paluska, a retired Army Green Beret and Purple Heart recipient, told Fox News Digital. At least 4,800 people have been killed since Hamas launched thousands of missiles into Israel nearly two weeks ago, including at least 1,400 Israeli civilians and soldiers and 31 Americans. Palestinian health authorities say at least 3,478 Palestinians have been killed and more than 10,950 wounded. It's believed that 13 Americans may be among the roughly 203 people kidnapped by Hamas during their attack, including foreign nationals from a range of countries. FORMER ISRAELI PM SCOLDS CNN FOR ECHOING HAMAS ON HOSPITAL ATTACK: DO YOUR JOB, NOT EVERYTHING HAS TWO SIDES Special forces that include the U.S. Delta Force, British SAS and Israeli Sayeret Matkal are reportedly collaborating to collect intelligence and plan a hostage rescue. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP A woman holds a sign that calls for the release of hostages held by Hamas during a protest in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Oct. 19, 2023. Gen. Lord Richard Dannatt, the former chief of general staff in the British army, argued that "hostage rescue is one of the U.K. Special Forces specialties: Were among the best in the world at just this situation," according to iNews. But an operation in Gaza will likely prove difficult for a number of reasons that will lead to a "long war," according to Paluska. 'BARGAINING CHIPS:' FAMED UK SPECIAL FORCES UNIT OFFERS HELP TO FIND HAMAS HOSTAGES, REPORT SAYS Paluska was one of the youngest rescue and recovery volunteers at ground zero on Sept. 11, 2001, while a freshman at Fordham University in New York City. His military service included tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, among other locations. People carry signs with pictures of missing persons as they protest for the release of Israelis who are being held hostage by Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip outside the Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv on Oct. 19, 2023. He pointed to the lack of clear intelligence, the scattered locations of the various hostages as well as the race against the clock to succeed before information-sharing becomes difficult, if not impossible. "At this size of 200 [or more] individuals, its likely they will be divided up around the area to minimize signature," Paluska explained. "At some point, the secrecy will leak and the IDF will have the difficult decision to [take] action with a kinetic HRT mission or resort to negotiation." AMERICAN SURVIVOR OF HAMAS ATTACK ON MUSIC FEST RETURNS TO SEE ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTS IN US: I DONT FEEL SAFE' "Having the ability to develop the ground intelligence is the most difficult task," he added. Palestinians inspect damage to their homes caused by Israeli airstrikes, Oct. 13, 2023, in Gaza City. Paluska noted that Hamas will face its own challenges namely the sheer number of hostages itself already proves difficult to handle, including the need to keep them moving to different locations and continue housing and feeding them while doing so. Hamas killed at least 1,400 in a surprise terror attack that included men, women, children and older civilians on Oct. 7, 2023. The terrorists also kidnapped 203 people during the attack, per reports. He suggested that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) could use artillery and precision air strikes to try and limit Hamass movements, thus making it easier to determine locations and plan operations while pressuring Hamas to retreat to safety, but that would rest on how much Hamas values the hostages and decides "whether to abandon the hostages dead or alive." After that comes the much-anticipated ground invasion, which will face similar challenges and, therefore, could drag out into a very protracted conflict for the IDF. An Israeli army self-propelled gun fires rounds near the border with Gaza in southern Israel on Oct. 11, 2023. "I think this will run at least the course through the next six months," Paluska said, noting that once Israel goes into Gaza, they will not leave quickly. "I think this war will become an urban operation where you dont know how the enemy is moving against you, and you dont have the ability to clear in such terrain, you have to remove civilians." "Thats the hard part," he continued. "In Iraq, in Baghdad, you could flee, but you can't really flee in this small of an area, so it's going to take persistence, and in my mind is just images of all the urban terrain that I've been fighting in and thinking. Its going to be a long war." Original article source: Retired Green Beret warns of pitfalls in 'difficult' Gaza hostage rescue Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) departed a messy, three-hour closed-door House Republican Conference meeting on Thursday gripping a note with numerous scribblings on it, one which could be clearly read in photos: What is the real reason? At least one picture of the scene was snapped by Reuters photojournalist Leah Millis. Jordan is in the middle of mounting an increasingly desperate bid for the role of Speaker of the House, with the Ohioan vowing to push on despite his lack of support. Jordan still needs to convince 22 lawmakers who voted against him, though he remains the GOP nominee despite a second failed vote Thursday. He is expected to try again for a third time on Friday. U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) departs a House Republican Conference meeting about choosing a new Speaker of the House in Rayburn House office building on the Hill. In his hand he holds a piece of paper that reads what is the real reason, among other notes. REUTERS/Leah Millis pic.twitter.com/RYAE5GYwHN Leah Millis (@LeahMillis) October 19, 2023 Read more at The Daily Beast. PROVIDENCE In its first big foray into public-opinion polling, the state-funded University of Rhode Island found majority support for more public spending on education, significant distrust for government at all levels and a nothing-to-brag-about 27% job approval rating for Gov. Dan McKee, who hails education as his top priority. The survey of what URI described as "a representative sample of 500 Rhode Islanders ages 18 and older" was conducted by "researchers from the University of Rhode Island and the polling firm YouGov," via the internet, between Aug. 17 and Sept. 6. The goal? To give students a "hands-on experience" in polling and fill the gap in public polling that was glaringly evident in the run-up to the crowded Democratic primary contest in September for Rhode Island's open congressional seat. What did the Rhode Island poll find? Among the most head-shaking findings: 38% of those who "opted-in" to the digital survey said they did not vote in the last presidential election. Only 17% were able to correctly answer this question: "Do you happen to know what job or political office is now held by Joe Shekarchi?" (Spoiler: He's the Rhode Island House Speaker.) Among the other findings of the survey: 27% approve of how Democratic Gov. McKee handles his job, 27% disapprove and 45% gave no opinion. All but 17% have some to a "great deal" of trust that Rhode Island elections are fair; only 10% said they have a great deal or a lot of trust in the federal government, 11% in state government and 14% in local government. More than half of those surveyed 58% "have at least a moderate amount of trust in traditional media outlets, while fewer, 31%, trust the news they get on social media." In general, without any mention of the $1 billion-plus that Rhode Island taxpayers are spending now, 68% said state or local funding levels for K-12 should increase; 42% said they were very or somewhat satisfied with their own communitys K-12 schools; only 21% said they were not satisfied. Out of several choices, the biggest single concern in K-12 public schools in Rhode Island for those who responded: "Poor standardized test scores in reading and math (59%)." Education initiatives recently introduced in the Rhode Island General Assembly including a constitutional right to education (72%), universal pre-K (58%), and free lunches in all schools (68%) all have support, though the highest scorer was a requirement that all public high schools provide "technical and vocational training (76%)." Asked more broadly if "Rhode Island K-12 public schools should teach about the historical mistreatment of minorities" a flashpoint for some GOP activists 59% said yes. Only 15% said no, while others were either neutral or had no opinion. Without mention of how much Rhode Island has already committed to spending, a majority favor increased state spending on education, housing, infrastructure, and aid to the poor. Only 17% view the Rhode Island economy as strong or somewhat strong, and 73% said it was important for Rhode Island to invest in blue economy initiatives like offshore wind farms and other economic sectors linked to the ocean or coasts. The poll was administered by YouGov, an internet-based market research and data analytics firm. URI's Harrington School of Communication and Media paid YouGov survey $10,000 for the survey, according to a URI spokesman. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus five percentage points, according to URI. It is not entirely clear how the sample was chosen. But URI spokesman Anthony LaRoche said: "YouGov has an opt-in panel of U.S. residents who completed the online survey. YouGov recruits millions of panelists through a variety of methods such as web search based advertising, member referrals, and telephone-to-web recruitment. " In this case, "YouGov interviewed over 500 Rhode Islanders, 18 and older, which was matched down to a sampling frame, and then the sample was weighted according to gender, age, race, education, and 2020 presidential vote choice. " No further information was available on how this worked. Asked how those surveyed could meaningfully respond to a question about the need for more state and local funding without being told how much taxpayers are already spending on education, LaRoche said: "These questions are meant to measure the general attitudes about spending on education." Faculty and students from URI identified the surveys issue areas, formulated questions, and analyzed the results. Were able to give our students hands-on experience in the public opinion research process, said Emily Lynch, an associate teaching professor of political science. For students to be able to apply what they learn in the classroom in a real-world setting is incredibly valuable. Julie Keller, an associate professor of sociology and director of URI's Social Science Institute for Research, Education, and Policy, said the survey initiative reflects the institutes goal of providing evidence-based insights to communities across Rhode Island. The new "Rhode Island Survey Initiative" is led by the University of Rhode Islands Harrington Schoolfor Communication and Media; the Social Science Institute for Research, Education, and Policy; and the Department of Political Science. The plan is to issue one poll each year, surveying a wide range of issues impacting life in the state. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: URI poll: Low approval rating for McKee, low trust in government Rishi Sunak has met the Palestinian Authority president in Egypt as part of a tour of the Middle East. Mr Sunak and Mahmoud Abbas jointly condemned Hamas's attacks on Israel and the PM "expressed his deep condolences" for civilian deaths in Gaza. He also met Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, agreeing the need to avoid a "contagion of conflict". The PM called for the swift reopening of the Egypt-Gaza border, where some 20 aid trucks are poised to enter. In a summary of the conversation between Mr Sunak and Mr Abbas, Downing Street said they "condemned Hamas's terrorism and stressed that Hamas do not represent the Palestinian people". "The prime minister underscored his commitment to opening up humanitarian access to Gaza to alleviate the suffering of thousands of people who desperately need food, water and medicine," the statement added. Mr Abbas is head of the Palestinian Authority, which has control over areas of the occupied West Bank, but not the Hamas-run Gaza Strip. In his earlier meeting with President El-Sisi, Downing Street said Mr Sunak "praised Egypt's efforts in attempting to secure the delivery of aid" through the Rafah border crossing with Gaza. The statement also noted the pair agreed "global leaders should do everything possible to avoid a contagion of conflict in the region" as well as make "every effort" to stop terrorism and protect civilians. Speaking to reporters ahead of boarding a plane back to the UK, Mr Sunak said getting humanitarian aid to those in Gaza is an "immediate priority" and the UK has been in discussions with Egypt on how to provide "practical assistance on the ground". He also said the reopening of the border had been part of his conversations with Middle East leaders, adding that he was "very pleased that that will now imminently happen". Shortly after Mr Sunak spoke, US President Joe Biden said aid trucks were likely to cross into Gaza within the "next 24 to 48 hours". Rishi Sunak met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Thursday Before travelling to Egypt on Friday, Mr Sunak thanked the emir of Qatar for his efforts to help secure the release of hostages taken by Hamas. Meeting in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh, Mr Sunak and Qatar's leader Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani agreed to do "everything possible" to avoid an escalation of violence across the region, Downing Street said. The United Nations says the first aid delivery into Gaza via the Rafah border crossing in Egypt is expected to take place "in the next day or so". The territory has been under a "complete siege" since last Monday, with Israel blocking cross-border supplies of water, electricity and fuel. Israeli warplanes and artillery have been bombarding the territory after more than 1,400 people were killed in Hamas's attack on Israel on 7 October. Palestinian officials say more than 4,000 people have since been killed in the Gaza Strip. Dozens of trucks are backed up at the crossing on the Egyptian border, carrying food, water, and medicine but no fuel. It is believed only 20 will initially be allowed to cross. More on Israel-Gaza war Mr Sunak began his Middle East tour on Thursday, starting in Israel, where Mr Sunak said he was proud to support the country in its "long war" against Hamas. On Thursday, Mr Sunak urged Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to support stability in the region. Downing Street said the pair agreed the "loss of innocent lives in Israel and Gaza over the last two weeks has been horrific" and "underscored the need to avoid any further escalation in the region". It came after a short visit to Tel Aviv, where he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and said he was "proud" to stand with Israel in its "darkest hour" - declaring the UK's backing for its fight against Hamas. On Saturday, Egypt will host a summit on the future of the Palestinian issue, with Arab and UN leaders attending. This embedded content is not available in your region. With Rite Aid filing for bankruptcy earlier this week, the company has decided to shut down 154 stores nationwide, including 11 locations in Puget Sound. Six of the locations closing are Rite Aid stores, while five will be Bartell Drugs stores. The full list of closures is as follows: 9600 15th Ave. SW, Seattle (Bartell Drugs) 2518 196th St. SW, Lynnwood (Bartell Drugs) 3620 Factoria Blvd. SE, Bellevue (Bartell Drugs) 11919 8th St., Bellevue (Bartell Drugs) 7370 170th Ave. NE, Redmond (Bartell Drugs) 601 South Grady Way, Ste. P, Renton (Rite Aid) 3202 132nd St., S.E., Mill Creek (Rite Aid) 110 SW 148th St., Burien (Rite Aid) 10103 Evergreen Way, Everett (Rite Aid) 8230 Martin Way, East Lacey (Rite Aid) 22201 Meridian Ave., Graham (Rite Aid) In addition to Washington, the stores closing nationwide include 17 in California, New York and Pennsylvania, 16 in Michigan, eight in New Jersey, four in Maryland and Ohio, two in Oregon and New Hampshire, and one in Alabama and Idaho, according to multiple outlets, including USA TODAY and CNN. Rite Aid said in its Tuesday bankruptcy court filing that it also may close additional stores. More on Rite Aid The Philadelphia-based drug chain operates more than 2,000 retail stores across 17 states in the U.S. Rite Aid acquired Bartell Drugs in 2020 for $95 million. As part of the sale, Bartell continued operating under the same name. Bartell Drugs CEO Kathi Lentzsch acknowledged the COVID-19 pandemic led to the companys decision to sell. According to CNN, over the past six years, Rite Aid has tallied nearly $3 billion in losses. In 2022, Rite Aid settled for approximately $30 million to resolve lawsuits alleging pharmacies contributed to an oversupply of prescription opioids. Rite Aid said in a recent Securities and Exchange Commission filing that it has more than 2,200 locations in 17 states. That filing also noted that the company lost about $1.3 billion in the first half of its fiscal year. Thats more than double the $441 million it lost in the same period during the previous fiscal year. Rite Aid said in its Tuesday bankruptcy court filing that it also may close additional stores. The company said earlier this week that going through its voluntary Chapter 11 process will help significantly cut the companys debt and resolve litigation in an equitable manner. The Philadelphia company has struggled financially for years and also faces financial risk from lawsuits over opioid prescriptions like its bigger rivals, CVS and Walgreens. Bartell Drugs developments The Bartell Drugs on 15th and Market in Ballard permanently closed earlier this year, according to KIRO 7, while an uptown location shut its doors on Sept. 10. Bartell Drugs also previously shut down locations in Lynnwood, Des Moines and White Center. Bartell announced in 2019 it would not be opening any more stores in Seattle due to theft and assaults on employees. Data on Seattle.gov indicates the violent crime rate in the city reached a 15-year high in 2022. Contributing: The Associated Press Rite Aid has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and will shed 154 stores nationwide, including four in South Jersey. Rite Aid sought protection from creditors as it faces soaring losses, slumping sales and lawsuits over its accused role in fueling the opioid epidemic by illegally filling prescriptions for painkillers, a USA Today story said. The South Jersey sites impacted include stores in Lumberton at Lumberton Plaza on Route 38; in Williamstown at Black Horse Pike and Corkery Lane; in Mantua on Bridgeton Pike at Berkley Road; and in Mullica Hill at the Amish Farmers Market on Swedesboro Road. The company previously said it would transfer patients prescriptions to nearby locations. With 45,000 employees, Rite Aid said in a media release that it also expected to give workers at closing stores the option to transfer to other locations where possible. Rite Aid closures hit New Jersey Rite Aid bankruptcy: These are the NJ stores that are closing The Philadelphia-based company recently reported a net loss of $306.7 million for the first quarter of its fiscal year. That followed a combined net loss of $1.28 billion over the previous two fiscal years. Rite Aid regularly assesses its retail footprint to ensure we are operating efficiently while meeting the needs of our customers, communities, and associates, the company said in a statement provided to the Courier Post. A previously closed Rite Aid is on Route 38 near Chapel Avenue in Cherry Hill. In connection with the court-supervised process, we intend to close certain underperforming stores to further reduce rent expense and strengthen overall financial performance. The company also said it had received a commitment for $3.45 billion in new financing to support business operations. Celeste E. Whittaker is a news features reporter for the Courier Post, Daily Journal and Burlington County Times. The South Jersey native started at the CP in 1998 and has covered the Philadelphia 76ers, college and high school sports and has won numerous awards for her work. Reach her at 856.486.2437 or cwhittaker@gannettnj.com. Help support local journalism with a digital subscription. This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Rite Aid will close some South Jersey stores after bankruptcy filing Robert Carlyle has admitted that nobody was more surprised to see the Trainspotting star cast as a Conservative prime minister than him. The Scottish actor, who recently returned to The Full Monty franchise for the Disney+ spin-off series, stars in Skys political drama Cobra: Rebellion as Robert Sutherland, a fictional Tory leader. Speaking to BBC Scotlands The Edit, Carlyle, 62, said that he couldnt be further from his on-screen counterpart. It was never on the agenda, was it? he said. Getting to play Robert Sutherland - a Conservative prime minister whod have thought it? The casting director, to send this part to me was brave because I am not probably what you would imagine to do that but I take it as a compliment and a fantastic challenge for me to play the man. Carlyle said that he originally agreed to appear in just one series of the show, which began in 2020. However, he kept coming back to the role, with Cobra: Rebellion now returning for its third outing. The pplticial thriller also stars Victoria Hamilton, David Haig and Richard Dormer. Carlyle admitted that he struggled to find working class inspiration for the character, as it was difficult to find anyone in the Conservative world. Carlyle in Cobra: Rebellion' (Sky) John Smith was the one I thought about, he said. Even though he was a Labour man there was something about him and he was Scottish as well. Something about the way he spoke I listened to his tone. No way I could go in there play Sutherland with my Glasgow accent. So I had to pull that back a bit. Carlyle has previously spoken about taking inspiration from the real world for his work. In a 2015 interview with The Independent, The Full Monty star said that, while he wasnt a Method actor, he did think that actors should do their research. I went homeless for a while, for [1993 film] Safe; it gives you something extra, a little bit of knowledge you didnt have, he said. I used to do a lot of preparation for roles, but once you reach a certain level of celebrity, you become the observed rather than the observer. Im always looking to be as real as I can as an actor, he added, before referencing a 2008 film he starred in called Summer. It was a small, no-budget film with no publicity. My character, Shaun [a downtrodden carer for his wheelchair-bound best friend], was not that far removed from me. A lot of people think thats the easiest thing to do, but I think its the hardest thing, to be slightly left of centre of yourself. Thats the guy I could have been. A Rock Hill man pleaded guilty Tuesday to shooting his wife in the head and burning her body before burying her in a shallow grave at a Kentucky cemetery, stated the U.S. Attorneys Office in a news release. ALSO READ: Man killed, another hurt in Rock Hill shooting; 1 arrested, police say On June 13, 2020, a groundskeeper for Hill Cemetery in Fredonia, Kentucky, discovered a makeshift grave, according to an FBI investigation. Investigators recovered a partially charred female body from the shallow grave. There was no form of identification or anything that could ID the body. An autopsy identified it as belonging to Nicole Zahnd Florentine. She was shot in the head by a .22 caliber bullet. Before the gruesome discovery, witnesses reported seeing a car that matched one that belonged to Nicole Florentines husband, 56-year-old Lawrence Joseph Florentine. On June 11, 2020, a local hardware store verified a transaction for a shovel and gas can by someone who looked like Lawrence Florentine. Surveillance camera footage from a nearby gas station shows Lawrence Florentine filling the gas can a short time later. A gas can was found behind a tree where the body was discovered in the cemetery. Investigators didnt find the gun. However, police recovered a lighter and .22 caliber cartridges in the center console of Lawrence Florentines abandoned car. His wifes blood was on the rear exterior of the car. Sometime after June 11, 2020, Florentine fled Kentucky to Denver, Colorado. On June 23, 2020, he surrendered to the Denver Police Department. The Florentines were on a road trip in June 2020. Nicole Florentine was reported missing after her grandmother didnt hear from her. Florentine faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. (WATCH: Task force created to solve 10-year-old cold case in Rock Hill) A Rock Hill man faces up to life in prison after his wifes burned body was found in Kentucky in 2020, federal prosecutors in South Carolina said. Lawrence Joseph Florentine, 56, pleaded guilty in federal court in Greenville to interstate domestic violence resulting in death, use of a firearm during a crime of violence to cause death, obstruction of justice, and use of fire during the commission of a felony, according to a statement released Thursday by the U.S. Attorney for South Carolina, Adair Boroughs. The charred body of his wife, Nicole Zahnd Florentine, was found in a makeshift grave in Fredonia, Ky. in June 2020, officials said in the statement. She had been shot in the head, prosecutors said. Authorities found evidence that included the victims blood in Florentines abandoned car, prosecutors said. Florentine was captured by Denver police in Colorado in late June 2020, according to authorities. A sentencing date has not been set. PHNOM PENH, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Sambo, a beloved and iconic Asian elephant of Phnom Penh passed away at the age of 63 after nine years of retirement, the Elephant Valley Project (EVP) said in a news release Thursday night. Sambo had given rides to tourists at the Wat Phnom historical site in the capital since 1980 until 2012 when she could not work due to a combination of a foot infection and complaints that she caused traffic jams. The elephant was released into the protected jungle in the remote northeastern province of Mondulkiri for her retirement in 2014 under the care of the EVP. "Today we have some very sad news to share. Our beautiful sweet Sambo has passed away during the night," the EVP said in the news release. "After a long battle with a tooth infection, her health deteriorated over the last month. At 63 years old, she had an amazing 9 years of retirement at EVP." Cambodia is home to approximately 400 wild Asian elephants, which live mostly in the Cardamom Mountains and in the provinces of Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri, according to conservationists. Sambo was one of some 70 domesticated elephants in the Southeast Asian country. Asian elephants are listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. The Rolling Stones burst back to life on Friday with "Hackney Diamonds", their first album in 18 years, featuring megastar cameos from Elton John , Lady Gaga and even their old rival, Paul McCartney . Now in their seventh decade of making music together, the legendary British band is back with their 24th studio album. McCartney joins in for the first time, playing bass on the punky "Bite My Head Off". Back in their 1960s heyday, much was made of the rivalry between the Stones and the Beatles, but it was always more marketing than reality, with John Lennon singing on the Stones' "We Love You" in 1967. "Paul and I have always been friends," Stones frontman Mick Jagger, 80, told France 2 this week. McCartney's appearance was something of an accident, Keith Richards told Guitar Player magazine. "He happened to be around and dropped by," Richards said. "I don't even think he intended to play bass on a track, but once he was in there, I just said, 'Come on, you're in. You ain't leaving till you play.'" While McCartney and Elton John's contributions are somewhat hard to pick out, Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder make more of an impact on "Sweet Sounds of Heaven", a blues-y ballad in the vein of classics such as "You Can't Always Get What You Want". - 'Hackneyed duds' - Reviews have been mostly polite rather than gushing. The Guardian gave it four stars, saying: "If this is the end, they're going out with a bang", while the LA Times called it "surprisingly spry, sparked by the deathless riffs". There has indeed been plenty of hype ahead of the release, with some saying it is their best piece of work since "Some Girls" in 1978. But others were deeply unimpressed by the sleek production from Andrew Watt, used to working with popstars like Justin Bieber and Dua Lipa. "Hackney Diamonds" is old London slang for "broken glass", but was used as a pun by Pitchfork, who called the album "a bunch of hackneyed duds, polished until the character has disappeared." No one is pretending it comes close to the legendary run between 1968 and 1972 that saw the release of "Beggars Banquet", "Let It Bleed", "Sticky Fingers" and "Exile on Main St." in quick succession. Nor does it head in any new directions. "The group seemed to concede years ago that, with such a legendary discography, new albums and attempts at new styles are almost superfluous," wrote Variety. "(But) if there's a better way to end the Rolling Stones 60-plus-year recording career, it's hard to imagine what it could be," it added. pgr-er/tgb/yad In an Iowa sports bar on a dreary Saturday morning, Grimes resident Mike Pauk posed a final audience question to GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis . When are the people like Anthony Fauci , hospital administrators, when are they going to be held accountable? Not getting fired, not driving around in limos when are they going to be in cuffs? Pauk asked. We hung seven Nazi doctors, including Karl Brandt, for doing far less. DeSantis took the question, gliding past the mention of the death penalty and the accusation that Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and civilian hospital staff had committed crimes more serious than Nazi war criminals. They lied to this country, the Florida governor replied, echoing anti-vaccine talking points, including several that have been discredited. They lied to this country about gain-of-function research, they lied to this country about COVID coming from a lab. They were wrong about lockdowns. They were wrong about forced masks. They were wrong about school closures. They were wrong about mRNA COVID shots. They were wrong on all these things. Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a meet and greet, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in Creston, Iowa. On the presidential campaign trail, DeSantis has held up his record as Floridas governor during the COVID-19 pandemic, touting the states relatively early reopening and its rejection of mask and vaccine mandates. DeSantis promised that if he is elected president, there would be a reckoning for public health authorities who advised the federal governments pandemic response. Theres a lot of people running. Im the only one that is interested in this issue, DeSantis told a crowd of about 50 in Creston, Iowa. Biden is not, Trumps not. None of the other people are interested in it. But heres the thing: If we dont bring that reckoning, they are going to try to do it to this country again. DeSantis, however, isnt the only Republican presidential candidate to tap into the ongoing conservative backlash to COVID. Several candidates, including U.S. Sen. Tim Scott and former President Donald Trump , have warned of another wave of closures or mask mandates, even as state and federal officials say no such measures are expected. With this rhetoric, DeSantis and his rivals have distanced themselves from their own leadership in 2020, when they followed guidance from the federal government and spoke in favor of social distancing, masking and newly released vaccines. In particular, the focus on relitigating COVID in the 2024 election puts Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence on the defensive as they attempt to justify their administrations response in 2020 while tiptoeing around its most controversial aspect. "We did a great job on that, with the ventilators and all the therapeutics and Regeneron," Trump said at a September event in Maquoketa, referencing an antibody cocktail that was developed to combat COVID-19 and was reportedly taken by Trump himself when he contracted the virus. Notably absent from his list of accomplishments: Operation Warp Speed and the race to develop the COVID-19 vaccine, which became available in the final months of his presidency and has since become the center of a host of conspiracy theories. Former President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event in Maquoketa, Iowa, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. Ron DeSantis, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Vivek Ramaswamy take far-right flank on pandemic issues DeSantis rose to national prominence as a conservative governor during the pandemic, touting his reopening of schools and businesses. Waiting in line to enter a DeSantis event in Cedar Rapids, 41-year-old Josh Freund said he's supported DeSantis "since the beginning." I run a small business, and he didnt shut down the businesses like every other state in the country, said Freund, who runs a hardwood floor installation business in Cedar Rapids. I really like that, and I appreciate that. Although he was publicly vaccinated and encouraged Floridians to receive the shot, DeSantis and his surgeon general have since become skeptical of the safety of the vaccine, advising people under 65 not to get the booster shots. Last December, DeSantis requested a state-level grand jury probe of vaccine manufacturers to investigate potential "crimes and wrongdoing committed against Floridians related to the COVID-19 vaccine. More than 676 million COVID vaccine doses have been administered in the U.S. They have proven safe overall, CDC data shows, despite short-term side effects and some cases of myocarditis, a swelling of the heart, largely among older adolescent males and young men. Myocarditis occurred most often after the second vaccine dose and was not seen after the most recent booster. About 5 people per every 1 million vaccinated suffered a severe allergic reaction to the shot. More: Updated COVID-19 vaccine recommended for everyone; old, young, immunocompromised will benefit most Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy speaks broadly to voters about his distrust of the federal government and specifically bureaucracies within the executive branch, which he calls the deep state. Hes proposed firing more than 1 million civil servants and eliminating several programs and agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control. At an August fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, Ramaswamy called on the government to tell "the truth about COVID. They think we cant handle the truth about COVID-19, that we cant handle the truth about where the virus came from. That we cant handle the truth about vaccine mandates or lockdowns, he said. Ramaswamy took two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, but he told NBC News in September that he regrets it although his wife, who is a surgeon, said she does not regret her own vaccination. Yet, both DeSantis and Ramaswamy supported pandemic mitigation measures in 2020. In Florida, DeSantis closed schools and businesses for several weeks, and he encouraged everyone to get the vaccine when it became available. Ramaswamys past social media posts show he supported the 2021 rollout of vaccines we should aim to safely vaccinate everyone who is eligible, he tweeted and a 2020 proposal by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders to provide masks to all Americans. Perhaps the most outspoken and consistent voice on COVID pandemic response is Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who began his presidential campaign as a Democrat and now is running as an independent. Kennedy, who opposed vaccines before the COVID-19 pandemic, is a leading voice in the anti-vaccine movement. Health experts have called his work dangerous, and members of his family have condemned him for spreading misinformation. Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 12 in Des Moines. At the time, he was running as a Democrat but is now running as an independent. During COVID-19, Kennedy criticized the government's handling of the pandemic and vaccines even losing his Instagram account when he was accused of spreading misinformation. He criticized the lockdowns, suggesting things were worse for Americans than they were for Anne Frank, the Jewish teenager who hid with her family during the Holocaust and died in a concentration camp. Kennedy later apologized for the comments. Pauk, the 56-year-old Grimes resident who pressed DeSantis about holding Fauci and hospital administrators accountable, said he was choosing between DeSantis, Kennedy and Trump for 2024. Pauk claimed that the COVID-19 vaccines and Remdesivir, an FDA-approved COVID treatment, killed thousands of people, a claim that has been widely debunked. "Kennedy is a two-issue candidate for me: vaccine and getting rid of the deep state," Pauk said. "I don't agree with RFK on 90% of things, but I think he's actually an honorable person." Donald Trump, Mike Pence defend their COVID response, sidestep conspiracy theories As DeSantis and others decry the governments response to COVID-19, two contestants in the Republican primary have a more careful line to tread: Trump and Pence, who led the country through the first year of the pandemic. Trump frequently references his administration's efforts to curb what he calls the "gift from China" or "China virus while avoiding specifics that conservatives have increasingly condemned. In remarks in Maquoketa in mid-September, Trump lamented that his administration didn't get the recognition it deserved for tackling the virus. "We haven't been getting the kind of love on that," Trump said. "We get a lot of love on the economy, a lot of things, but they never gave us one of the big things." The White House's response to the pandemic's progression from a threat abroad to a domestic emergency, from late 2019 to spring 2020, has been the target of harsh criticism from Democrats and entire books on the subject. Some Republicans, too, have come to resent parts of those early months. One attendee of a Pence campaign event in Waverly told the former vice president that the administration acquiesced to a lot of Dr. Faucis demands, a lot of the things that put this country on the wrong track. How do we avoid that situation happening again? the audience member asked. Pence quickly said that China is responsible for the COVID pandemic, and he noted that it was President Joe Biden, not Trump, "who mandated vaccines. Republican presidential candidate former Vice President Mike Pence talks with attendees during a 9/11 remembrance ceremony at the Ankeny Fire Department, Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. But he also defended the administrations response to the earliest days of the pandemic, including the initial nationwide shutdown in March 2020. What we saw in Italy at the time, at the end of February, was that people were literally dying on gurneys in the hallways of hospitals because they didnt have the equipment, they didnt have the supplies, they didnt have the capacity, Pence said in Waverly. We never wanted that to happen in the United States of America, and so we took a pause for what became 15 days, and then it was longer than that. And I believe that that gave us time to spin up the supplies, to spin up the testing from a standing start, to spin up medical supplies and gowns and ultimately ventilators that would be required for people that became seriously ill. After that, Pence said, it was Democratic governors who decided to keep businesses and schools closed for several more months. I think going forward we have to think very carefully about how much authority we give to states around the country, Pence said. What do GOP presidential candidates agree on? No vaccine mandates and blaming China Across the GOP presidential field, several COVID stances have become a conservative norm. DeSantis, Trump, Pence, Scott, Ramaswamy and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley have all stated their opposition to mask or vaccine mandates. The Republican establishment also has condemned any closure mandates meant to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The Republican candidates have also broadly subscribed to a theory that COVID originated in a Chinese laboratory. A declassified intelligence report in June was unable to determine whether illnesses of lab workers in Wuhan, China, were the source of the pandemic. In March, Haley told Iowans that China should be accountable for the worldwide damage caused by the pandemic. I think we need to go and look at the damages, the financial damages that happened, the life loss that happened, and every country in the world needs to know and hold them accountable, Haley said, according to the Iowa Capital Dispatch. And theyve yet to do that, and the U.S. should be leading the charge on that. Scott said in a March FOX News appearance that there is "compelling evidence that the Wuhan lab, not nature, is the reason why COVID happened." "The more China lies, the more Americans die," Scott said. Galen Bacharier, Stephen Gruber-Miller, Phillip Joens, and USA Today contributed reporting. Katie Akin is a politics reporter for the Register. Reach her at kakin@registermedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @katie_akin. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: DeSantis, Trump, Ramaswamy campaigns fuel conservative COVID anger Emergency services will remain in Rothbury overnight, said councillor Steven Bridgett Homes have been evacuated after a river burst its banks in a town following heavy rain during Storm Babet. Residents close to the River Coquet in Rothbury, Northumberland, were told to leave their homes on Friday evening. Some houses have been flooded with local people saying their belongings had been "washed away". Emergency services, including firefighters, mountain rescue volunteers and the coastguard, are due to remain in the area. It comes as a weather warning for heavy rain remains in place across swathes of northern England, including much of the north-east. Some roads in the town have been cut off by flood water, while elsewhere water levels were reported to be close to overwhelming floodgates. Rothbury locals had been warned earlier on Friday to prepare an overnight bag as evacuation looked imminent Councillor Steven Bridgett, who represents Rothbury on Northumberland County Council, said: "There has been a fantastic response. We've got the resources that we needed. "We've got those residents out that we didn't want to be particularly rescuing through the night." Mr Bridgett said water levels had continued to rise fast and earlier urged locals to make the necessary preparations for evacuation. On Friday afternoon, he said river water levels had reached 2.75 metres (9ft), much higher than the forecasted peak of 2.4 metres (7.8ft). "We are asking people to leave their properties at the Maltings... [and] residents are leaving their properties at the riverside," he said. "We have set up a multi-incident room in the Jubilee Hall, which is going to be the base for the police, fire service, and all of the other partners helping." Many affected residents were provided alternative accommodation or were staying with friends and family, he said. He praised the efforts of businesses and locals who rushed to support those worst hit. Parts of the town have been flooded after a deluge of rain Some schools in the flood-hit town were advised to finish classes earlier than usual, while a number of businesses closed. Rothbury resident Chris Brooking told the BBC the rain had been "pretty constant" since about 12:00 BST. He said some homes at risk of becoming overwhelmed by water were on the "wrong side of the floodgates". Another resident Paul Watson, whose home had flooded, said fencing had been washed away along with "a lot of people's items". Paul Watson said his home had become flooded "It's burst the river banks and come into my property. "But we're all safe. Rothbury bands together and we can't thank people enough." Northumberland County Council said it was "working to see what needs to be done over the coming hours to keep residents safe". A spokesperson added: "We will be providing all the support we can over the coming hours and days." The Environment Agency said river levels had peaked below the town's flood defences between 18:00 and 21:00. A spokesperson said upstream water levels were "steadily reducing" but the main flood gate would remain closed for the time being. In 2008, about 50 homes in the town were damaged and cars were washed away when water levels rose dramatically. Locals said their garden fencing was ripped from the ground Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. Last year, New Hampshire hospitals saw a surge of young children with the respiratory illness RSV. Now, local health care workers and state officials say new vaccines could make a big difference heading into another cold-weather virus season. For the first time, we have safe and updated vaccines to protect us for all three winter and fall respiratory illnesses COVID-19, flu and RSV, said Patricia Tilley, director of New Hampshires Division of Public Health Services. RSV short for respiratory syncytial virus circulates every fall. For most people, it causes a mild cold. But it can be more risky for infants and older adults. Its the leading cause of hospitalization for infants in the U.S. New RSV vaccines could make a big difference this cold and flu season, health officials say This year, federal regulators approved the first RSV vaccines for people over 60. People who are pregnant can also now get vaccinated between their 32nd and 36th weeks, in order to protect their child against RSV. Theres also a new monoclonal antibody treatment for infants up to 8 months, as well as children up to 19 months who are at higher risk for severe disease. The shot boosts immunity against RSV through whats known as passive immunization providing virus-fighting antibodies directly, rather than spurring the body to produce its own antibodies as a traditional vaccine does. Martha Wassell, the director of infection prevention at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover, said older children typically have some protection against RSV already, from being exposed to the virus in a previous season. But for the very youngest children, she said these new immunizations could be a game-changer. Hundreds in the U.S. in this age group die of RSV every year, she said. And now we have made it a preventable disease. She encouraged new and expecting parents to talk to their doctors about their options. Dr. Michael McLeod, the associate chief clinical officer for Concord Hospital Primary Care, said the RSV vaccines are also important for older adults. We know that there's an estimated 6,000 to 10,000 deaths a year from RSV in adults older than 65, he said. So having a preventative vaccine, especially for individuals at high risk, can be an important tool in helping to prevent illness. He said the CDC recommends that people older than 60 talk to their doctors about whether an RSV vaccine makes sense for them, based on their underlying health issues and other factors. Major insurers including Aetna, Harvard Pilgrim and UnitedHealthcare said they are covering RSV vaccines and antibody treatments in full, as preventive care. New Hampshire Medicaid is also covering the shots. Many pharmacies in the state are now offering RSV vaccines. State Epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan told health care providers last week that RSV activity nationally was still low but starting to tick up consistent with a typical season, where RSV infections begin increasing around October. Wassell said people who are eligible should talk to their health care providers sooner rather than later, and get a vaccine if appropriate. I recommend not waiting a day longer than you need to, she said. We are into the viral respiratory season. These articles are being shared by partners in The Granite State News Collaborative. For more information visit collaborativenh.org. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: New RSV vaccines could make a big difference this cold and flu season, health officials say Victor Afzalov Victor Afzalov has been appointed as the commander of Russias Aerospace Forces, replacing Sergey Surovikin, Russian state news agency TASS reported on Oct. 20. Lt. Gen. Afzalov previously served as Surovikin's deputy. He was directly involved in planning and organizing Russia's full-scale invasion, responsible for planning air strikes on civilian and energy infrastructure in Ukraine. Read also: Moscow will no longer comply with UN restrictions on Iran's missile program In early August, previous media reports suggested Afzalov was appointed as an acting Air Force commander, after Surovikin was suspended in the wake of Yevgeny Prigozhins failed mutiny in June. Read also: Thousands of office workers evacuated from Moscow complex after drone attack warning On Aug. 20, UK Defense Intelligence reported that constant drone attacks on Moscow put Afzalov under scrutiny for seemingly being unable to protect the Russian capital for Ukrainian UAVs. In September, Surovikin was spotted in Algeria with a delegation from Russias Ministry of Defense. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Russian state run media is reporting Friday that the Kremlin is closely monitoring a high-explosive experiment that the U.S. carried out this week at a nuclear test site in Nevada. Wednesday's test used chemicals and radioisotopes to "validate new predictive explosion models" that can help detect atomic blasts in other countries, Bloomberg reported, citing the Department of Energy. The Interfax News Agency said Friday that Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters at a briefing that Russia is now closely monitoring the situation. "Earlier, the Federation Council [of the Federal Assembly of Russia] stated that the underground tests on October 18 in Nevada should be given an international legal assessment, since the United States is a signatory to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and is obliged to refrain from violating this agreement," Interfax also reported. US CONDUCTS NUCLEAR TEST IN NEVADA HOURS AFTER RUSSIAN MOVE TO REVOKE GLOBAL TEST BAN The P tunnel in Area 12 of the Nevada National Security Site in Nevada. The U.S. conducted a high-explosive experiment at a nuclear test site in Nevada on Wednesday. Corey Hinderstein, deputy administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation at the National Nuclear Security Administration, said in a statement, "These experiments advance our efforts to develop new technology in support of U.S. nuclear nonproliferation goals." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "They will help reduce global nuclear threats by improving the detection of underground nuclear explosive tests," he added. The U.S. test is notable because of its timing. Russian lawmakers have announced their intention to revoke their ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. PUTIN SPOTTED IN CHINA WITH NUCLEAR BRIEFCASE NEARBY IN RARE FOOTAGE: REPORT Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov is seen in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in June 2023. A bill will go to the Russian upper house, the Federation Council, which will consider it next week. Federation Council lawmakers have already said they will support the bill. The treaty, adopted in 1996, bans all nuclear explosions anywhere in the world, although it has never fully entered into force. In addition to the U.S., it is yet to be ratified by China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel, Iran and Egypt. Russia is closely monitoring the U.S. test, the spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov had said last week that Moscow will continue to respect the ban and will only resume nuclear tests if Washington does so first. Fox News Louis Casiano and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source: Russia is closely monitoring US nuclear test in Nevada, Putin's spokesperson says On the night of Friday, April 28, a Russian missile hit a residential apartment building in Uman, Cherkasy region. UNs Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine has found further evidence of war crimes committed by invading Russian forces in Ukraine, the commission said in a report to the UN General Assembly published on Oct. 20. Read also: Russian occupiers tortured dozens of Ukrainian women in Kherson prison The commission confirmed that due to a Russian attack on a multi-story residential building in Uman in April 2023, 24 civilians, predominately women and children, were killed. The investigation also established that Russian authorities systematically and broadly applied torture in places of detention. New evidence collected by the commission members in Kherson and Zaporizhzhya oblasts depicts the same pattern of torture in occupied Ukrainian territories. The instances the commission studied showed that Moscows forces predominantly tortured men suspected of supporting Ukraine's defenders. After speaking with witnesses and those who survived Russian captivity, the commission reported a profound disregard towards human dignity displayed by Russian authorities. Witnesses reported instances where torture was so brutal that the individual died. In the prison located in a school in the village of Bilyaivka, Kherson region, a captive showed signs of respiratory failure immediately after being tortured. However, the occupiers refused to provide him with medical aid, and he died within an hour. Read also: Russia takes Ukrainian children on educational tours report The commission confirmed that the Russian occupiers frequently committed rape and other forms of sexual violence along with other acts of violence such as brutal beatings, strangulation, discharging firearms next to the victims heads, and purposeful murder. The report details an attack by a Russian soldier on a 75-year-old woman. He beat her, began to strangle her, ordered her to undress, and when she refused, stripped her, slashed her abdomen, and raped her several times. The womans ribs were broken, and the aggressor knocked out several of her teeth. Read also: UN says 90% of Ukrainian prisoners of war have been tortured by Russians The commission also documented the deportation of 31 children from Ukraine to Russia in May 2022, concluding that it's a war crime of unlawful deportation. The commission is concerned about measures apparently aimed at arranging for some children to stay in Russia for good. The commission also recorded "three cases where the investigations showed that Ukrainian authorities committed violations of human rights against persons whom they have accused of collaboration with the Russian authorities." Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Kurmasheva faces up to five years in jail if found guilty of the charges (Alexander NEMENOV) Russia on Friday ordered Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva to be detained for three more days, after prosecutors said she had failed to register as a "foreign agent". Kurmasheva was working for the US-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty media outlet when she was detained by law enforcement officers in the Russian city of Kazan Wednesday. She faces up to five years in jail if found guilty of the charges. An AFP reporter saw her wearing what appeared to be a hooded coat and a mask over her face, as two staff members in balaclavas escorted her into Kazan's Sovetski court. Reporters were later told to leave the hearing. "By court ruling on October 20, 2023, the period of (Alsu) Kurmasheva's detention in custody was extended for 72 hours," the court said. Kurmasheva is the second US journalist to be detained by Russia. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was arrested in March for "spying" -- a charge that he, his employer and the White House vehemently deny. Since launching full-scale hostilities against Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has waged an unprecedented crackdown on independent journalism. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Kurmasheva's employer, called for her release again on Friday. "Journalism is not a crime She must be released to her family immediately," it said in a statement. "We are concerned by the decision to prolong Alsu's detention." Kurmasheva works as an editor on the US outlet's Tatar-Bashkir service. It said she was covering efforts to preserve the Tatar language despite "increased pressure on Tatars in recent years". - 'Deeply concerned' - Kurmasheva lives in Prague, Czech Republic, but entered Russia on May 20 for a family emergency, according to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). She was temporarily detained at Kazan airport on June 2 before her return flight. Her US and Russian passports were both confiscated, and she was fined for failing to register her US passport with Russian authorities, according to RFE/RL. The new charges were announced on Wednesday while she was awaiting the return of her passports, the CPJ said. The organisation said it was "deeply concerned" by the charges. The "foreign agent" label, which has Soviet-era connotations, has been applied to dozens of independent news outlets and requires those accused to register with the justice ministry. RFE/RL acting president Jeffrey Gedmin called for Kurmasheva's immediate release so "she can return to her family". Her detention may be linked to information she received about university teachers being mobilised to fight in Ukraine, the local Tatar Inform news outlet said. A US embassy spokesperson did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment. The United Nations human rights office said in a social media post it was "concerned" by Kurmasheva's detention. "Journalists must be left to do their vital work free from pressure, intimidation and reprisals," it said. When asked about the case, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there was no campaign in Russia to persecute US citizens. "There are US citizens who break the law, and appropriate measures are taken against them," he said. bur/imm Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty editor Alsu Kurmasheva sits in a cage in a courtroom in Kazan, Russia, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. Alsu Kurmasheva is an editor for Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty. She is the second U.S. journalist to be detained in Russia this year.(Artemii Shumatov/Kommersant Publishing House via AP) A Russian-American journalist was ordered Friday to be detained for another three days on charges of failing to register as a foreign agent, Russian media reported. Alsu Kurmasheva, an editor for the U.S. government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, appeared in court in the central Russian city of Kazan, according to the state news agency Tass. She is the second U.S. journalist detained in Russia this year, after Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was arrested on espionage charges in March. Photos published by independent Russian news website Mediazona showed Kurmasheva, who works for RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir service, inside a defendants cage in the courtroom, wearing a coat with a hood and a face mask. The state-run news website Tatar-Inform said Kurmasheva faces charges of failing to register as a foreign agent and was collecting information on Russian military activities. It said she could receive up to five years in prison. Kurmasheva was accused of reporting on the Russian military in order to transmit information to foreign sources, alleging she received information about university teachers who were mobilized by the army, Tatar-Inform said. Her lawyer, Edgar Matevosyan, said she is not guilty of the charges, according to Mediazona. Alsu is a highly respected colleague, devoted wife, and dedicated mother to two children, said RFE/RL head Jeffrey Gedmin. She needs to be released, so she can return to her family immediately. Kurmasheva, who lives in Prague, was stopped June 2 at Kazan International Airport after traveling to Russia for a family emergency May 20, according to RFE/RL. Airport officials confiscated her U.S. and Russian passports and she was fined for failing to register her U.S. passport. She was waiting for her passports to be returned when the new charge was filed Wednesday, RFE/RL said. At that time, it was clear they did not have anything on her, so maybe it was like a matter of intimidation. And then it took them three months to decide how would they, you know, package the case against her, according to Galina Arapova of Russias Mass Media Defense Center. Arapova told The Associated Press the charges against Kurmasheva are a sophisticated form of censorship. She added that Kurmashevas case is different from that of Gershkovich, even though both are U.S. citizens. She was attacked because she is a Russian journalist. Second, she belongs to a foreign media, which was already regarded as a foreign agent and with which Russian authorities had a longstanding conflict on foreign agent legislation, she said. The U.S. State Department calls Kurmashevas arrest another instance of Russian harassment of U.S. citizens. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied it, saying there has been absolutely no campaign in Russia to harass U.S. citizens. There are U.S. citizens who violate the law, and legitimate measures are taken against them, Peskov told reporters Friday. RFE/RL was told in 2017 to register by Russian authorities as a foreign agent, but it has challenged Moscow's use of foreign agent laws in the European Court of Human Rights. The organization has been fined millions of dollars by Russia. The Committee to Protect Journalists called the charges against Kurmasheva spurious, saying her detention "is yet more proof that Russia is determined to stifle independent reporting. Kurmasheva reported on ethnic minority communities in the Tatarstan and Bashkortostan republics in Russia, including projects to preserve the Tatar language and culture, her employer said. Analysts say the Kremlin may be using jailed Americans as bargaining chips after U.S.-Russia tensions soared amid Moscow sending troops into Ukraine. At least two U.S. citizens arrested in Russia in recent years including WNBA star Brittney Griner have been exchanged for Russians jailed in the U.S. Gershkovich has appeared in court several times since his arrest to appeal for his release, without success. Russias Federal Security Service alleged Gershkovich, acting on the instructions of the American side, collected information constituting a state secret about the activities of one of the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex. Gershkovich and The Wall Street Journal deny the allegations, and the U.S. government has declared him to be wrongfully detained. Russian authorities havent detailed any evidence to support the charges. Court proceedings against him are closed because prosecutors say details of the case are classified. The Intelligence Centre of the Estonian Defence Forces has noted the increase in the number of attacks by the Russians, Ukrainian raids on the Kherson front and ammunition supply to Russia from North Korea. Source: report of Estonian intelligence about the course of Russias war against Ukraine, as reported by European Pravda with reference to ERR Details: Reportedly, the Russian occupying forces have increased the pressure on the two fronts: Avdiivka-Marinka and Kupiansk-Lyman. Russia's goal is likely to be to retake the initiative they lost. The Russians are trying to block the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and deprive them of offensive potential. The Estonian analysts present information about the concentration of the Russian forces both in Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts, which may be a sign that within the next few days or weeks the Russians will maintain the intensity of combat action on both fronts. Yet it is unlikely that any of the sides will be able to achieve the breakthrough on an operational level. Estonian intelligence has also reported about the raids by the Defence Forces of Ukraine in Kherson Oblast and an alleged Ukrainian springboard on the left bank of the Dnipro River. At the same time, there are also reports that the Russians are feeling threatened. The aim of these raids is likely to constrain the Russian forces. According to the latest reports, the Ukrainians are achieving this. The Estonian intelligence also has information about ammunition supply from North Korea to Russia. Up to 1,000 standard sea containers have arrived in the city of Tikhoretsk in Russias Krasnodar Krai. Taking into account that one such container has room for 300-350 projectiles for 152 mm guns, it can be assumed that Russia has received 300-350,000 ammunition sets. On average, the Russian artillery uses 10,000 projectiles a day; therefore, this quantity of projectiles will last for about a month. According to the estimates of the Estonian Intelligence Centre, Russia has about four million projectiles. If the intensity of artillery work is relatively low (10,000 attacks a day), then this stock will last for over a year. Thus, these supplies are not a sign that Russia is accumulating resources and preparing for a protracted war, the intelligence concluded. Background: Earlier, Kaja Kallas, the Prime Minister of Estonia, stated that she believes in Ukraines victory, even despite the fact that Russia has more resources. Support UP or become our patron! Israeli army soldiers help evacuate residents from the city of Kiryat Shmona in northern Israel on Oct. 20, 2023. The confrontation between the Israeli military and Hezbollah continues. The frequent rocket and missile exchanges prompted Israel to evacuate Kiryat Shmona, a northern Israeli city bordering Lebanon on Friday. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua) JERUSALEM, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- During a visit to the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing on Friday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed for the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. He stressed that it is a matter of life and death for millions of Gazans. Standing at the Rafah crossing, where approximately 175 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid, medical supplies, food, and blankets were lined up, waiting for entry into Gaza but blocked by Israel, the UN chief said the humanitarian aid is "the difference between life or death" for many Gazans. "We absolutely need to have these trucks moving as quickly as possible and as many as necessary," the UN chief said, adding that there needed to be trucks entering "every day into Gaza to provide enough support for the Gazan people." Earlier in the day, Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, stated that relevant parties are nearing an agreement on the modalities of the aid operation, and the first delivery is due to start in the coming days, according to a UN press release. The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) launched a surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, firing thousands of rockets and infiltrating Israeli territory, to which Israel responded with massive airstrikes and punitive measures, including a siege on the enclave with supplies of water, electricity, fuel, and other necessities being cut off. The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, now in its 14th day, has killed more than 5,000 people on both sides and left many others in an acute humanitarian crisis. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Friday morning that they had struck more than 100 targets in the Gaza Strip overnight, including an underground tunnel, a weapon warehouse, and dozens of command centers. On another front, the confrontation between the Israeli military and Hezbollah continues. The frequent rocket and missile exchanges prompted Israel to evacuate Kiryat Shmona, a northern Israeli city bordering Lebanon on Friday. Meanwhile, a government official in Yemen told Xinhua on Friday that the Houthi rebel group launched several missiles and explosive-laden drones on Thursday from Yemen's northwestern Hajjah Province toward the Red Sea. Also on Thursday, Pentagon Press Secretary Pat Ryder said the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Carney intercepted three cruise missiles and multiple drones launched by the Houthis from Yemen. Yemeni military officials indicated that the Houthi group may launch missiles and drones toward the Red Sea in an attempt to open a new front against U.S. allies in the region. Earlier this month, Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi threatened in a televised speech to bomb Israel if the U.S. intervenes directly in Israel's ongoing conflict with Gaza. In response to the missile attack, IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said on Friday that "Israel is ready for threats like these and has some of the best air defenses in the world." Israeli army soldiers help evacuate residents from the city of Kiryat Shmona in northern Israel on Oct. 20, 2023. The confrontation between the Israeli military and Hezbollah continues. The frequent rocket and missile exchanges prompted Israel to evacuate Kiryat Shmona, a northern Israeli city bordering Lebanon on Friday. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua) Israeli army soldiers help evacuate residents from the city of Kiryat Shmona in northern Israel on Oct. 20, 2023. The confrontation between the Israeli military and Hezbollah continues. The frequent rocket and missile exchanges prompted Israel to evacuate Kiryat Shmona, a northern Israeli city bordering Lebanon on Friday. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua) Israeli army soldiers help evacuate residents from the city of Kiryat Shmona in northern Israel on Oct. 20, 2023. The confrontation between the Israeli military and Hezbollah continues. The frequent rocket and missile exchanges prompted Israel to evacuate Kiryat Shmona, a northern Israeli city bordering Lebanon on Friday. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (C, front) speaks during the Security Council open debate on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, at the UN headquarters in New York, on Oct. 24, 2023. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Tuesday that the protection of civilians holds paramount importance in any armed conflicts. (Xinhua/Xie E) Mobilization in Russia Increased Russian military activity near Avdiivka and Kupyansk in eastern Ukraine suggests Moscow is gearing up for a renewed offensive on those directions, Ants Kiviselg, head of the defense intelligence center of the Estonian Defense Forces, told Estonian public broadcaster ERR on Oct. 20. Kiviselg also stated that Russia currently has enough artillery rounds stockpiled to sustain active fighting in Ukraine for one more year. Read also: Russia unleashes new assault against Avdiivka, says official Two frontline sections in Ukraine are presently major areas of focus for Russia Avdiivka-Mariinka in Donetsk Oblast, and Kupyansk-Lyman in Kharkiv Oblast. While summer saw an average of 20-40 attacks per day, recently these sectors have experienced up to 76 attacks a day. Read also: Despite biggest offensive since Jan. 2023, Russian breakthrough in East is unlikely British Intelligence I must admit that the actions taken by the Russian Federation in the east and northeast [of Ukraine] could lead to the Russian army attempting to build on their successes over the coming weeks, introducing additional forces, and launching a new offensive," Kiviselg adds. Earlier, UK Defense Intelligence reported that Russia has begun a coordinated offensive in several directions in eastern Ukraine, describing it as Moscows largest operation since January 2023. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Russia currently has artillery shells for a year of active hostilities in Ukraine, and the intensification of its forces in the areas of Avdiivka (Donetsk Oblast) and Kupiansk (Kharkiv Oblast) may indicate the preparation of a new offensive. Source: This was announced by Ants Kiviselg, head of the defence intelligence centre of the Estonian Defence Forces, as reported by European Pravda with reference to ERR Details: According to the Estonian military, the main attack directions for Russia in Ukraine are now two sections of the front Avdiivka-Marinka and Kupiansk-Lyman. If 20-40 attacks per day were recorded in these areas in the summer, now 76 attacks take place on this section of the front on average. Estonian intelligence believes that Russia calls these actions active defence, probably masking the current unsuccessful offensive actions, to cover the preparation of a new offensive. Quote: "I must admit that the actions taken by the Russian Federation in the east and northeast may lead to the fact that in the coming weeks the Russian army will try to develop success, send additional forces there and go on the offensive on that sector of the front," Kiviselg said. This version is evidenced by the fact that 350,000 artillery shells were delivered from North Korea to Russia. According to the head of Estonian military intelligence, this is a significant replenishment of warehouses, since only about four million shells must have remained in Russia. "If we have seen that Russia fires about 10,000 shells in one day, then the amount of ammunition that North Korea sent should be enough for a month and a half," Kiviselg reflects. The official also admits that Russia has finished preparing attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, and they can be expected "in the coming weeks or a month". Earlier this week, UK intelligence stated that Russia has launched a coordinated offensive on several fronts in the east of Ukraine, but expressed doubt that it would achieve its goals. Support UP or become our patron! U.S. President Biden speaks by phone with Russia's President Putin from Camp David in Maryland (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden 's comment in which he called support for Ukraine and Israel an "investment" shows that Washington benefits from proxy wars rather than fights for ideas, a Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman said on Friday. Biden said on Thursday that helping the two U.S. allies was "a smart investment that's going to pay dividends for American security for generations", as he sought to rally support for new aid packages. Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on the Telegram messaging app that Biden's comments betray a cynical approach. "They used to call it 'fighting for freedom and democracy'," she said. "Now it turns out it is just calculations. It has always been that way, they just fooled the world using values for which Washington has never really stood." "Nothing personal, just business," she said, using a comment made famous in the "Godfather" movie to sum up what she said was the true U.S. stance on conflicts abroad. "Wars have traditionally been 'smart investments' for the United States as they did not take place on the American soil and they do not care about costs borne by others," Zakharova said. (Reporting by Reuters; editing by Robert Birsel) A Ukrainian serviceman drives along the road in a BMP-1 armored combat vehicle The Russian military has launched a fresh wave of assaults against Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast, according to the head of the towns military administration, Vitaliy Barabash, on Oct. 20. In all honesty, the situation is complicated and very challenging. Since yesterday evening, the enemy has been storming for a full day now. A new wave is already underway. We felt it a bit yesterday during the day, Barabash said. Read also: Russia escalating offensive around Lyman, Kupyansk in eastern Ukraine, says Ukrainian military This new wave of Russian assaults is similar in strength to the attack on Oct. 1011. The military had received precise information about the night assaults and was well-prepared, said Barabash. Once again, there is a significant amount of military hardware involved, he added. Russias offensive on Avdiivka What is known Russian troops intensified their offensive on Avdiivka on Oct. 10, launching massive attacks on the Donbas town. The head of Avdiivkas military administration, Vitaliy Barabash, said that Oct. 10 saw probably the largest attack on the city in the entire full-scale war, but the situation was under control. Read also: Russian onslaught persists in Avdiivka, city stands strong, says official The Ukrainian Armed Forces said that the Russian military wants to surround Avdiivka, and is throwing a large amount of equipment and personnel into battle. The representative of the Joint Press Center of the Tavria Defense Forces, Oleksandr Shtupun, said that the Russian occupation forces are continuing active offensive actions in the area of Avdiivka and consider the town as an opportunity to gain at least some kind of a significant triumph and turn the tide of hostilities. On Oct. 16, Barabash noted that the Russian occupation forces had stopped shelling Avdiivka, but two people had been killed in shelling west of the town. On the same day, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported in an evening summary that in the Avdiivka sector, Russians conducted unsuccessful assaults with the support of aviation in the vicinity of Avdiivka and Pervomaiske, Donetsk Oblast, but the DefenseForces had managed to repel seven Russian attacks. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine A Russian air strike in the morning of Oct. 20 against the town of Beryslav in Kherson Oblast killed an 80-year-old woman, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported. Russian forces reportedly dropped four KAB guided aerial bombs against the town, killing the woman in her home. Bombs also hit the nearby settlement of Novoberyslav; the consequences of this attack are still being established, Prokudin said. Beryslav, with a pre-war population of 12,000 lying around 60 kilometers east of Kherson, was for a time occupied by Russian forces until its liberation in Ukraine's fall offensive last year. Russian forces have recently intensified their attacks against Kherson Oblast with guided aerial bombs. Beryslav was targeted by 10 bombs during the past day, resulting in at least three people injured, the officials reported. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Military reports advance in southeast, indicates Ukrainian forces cross Dnipro Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. An aerial view shows the skyline of the capital Moscow in Russia MOSCOW (Reuters) - Moscow city authorities want to more than double their security budget for next year after overspending even more heavily this year amid Ukrainian drone attacks and an armed advance on the capital, Russia's RBC media outlet reported on Friday. The spending plan includes money for defence against drones - Moscow has built a dedicated airfield to launch drone interceptors from - as well as video surveillance, and militias to patrol the streets. The 2024 security budget is set to rise to 106 billion roubles ($1.1 billion) from 49 billion in the previous version. This year, Moscow is set to spend 193 billion roubles ($2.0 billion) on security, against an initial target of 51 billion. Numerous drones - which Russia says were launched by Ukraine - have reached the Russian capital this year, although none caused serious damage and many were shot down by air defences en route. In June, an armed convoy of Russian fighters from the Wagner mercenary group travelled more than 500 km (300 miles) towards Moscow as its late leader Yevgeny Prigozhin demanded the dismissal of the defence leadership. The fighters turned back about 200 km short of the capital, leaving its residents wondering whether local police and other security forces would have been able to defend the city. ($1 = 96.0250 roubles) (Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Kevin Liffey) Russian forces targeted suburbs in Kryvyi Rih with a missile on the evening of 20 October, killing one person. Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram; Oleksandr Vikul, Chairman of the Defence Council of Kryvyi Rih Quote Lysak: "A 60-year-old man was killed. Sincere condolences to his family. A 57-year-old woman received shrapnel wounds. She's in hospital in serious condition." Details: The oblast military administration chief also reports that the attack caused a fire, which firefighters have already extinguished. The aftermath of the attack is being established. Support UP or become our patron! In this photo released by Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via their telegram channel, Korean leader Kim Jong Un, second right, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, second left, attend the talks in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service telegram channel via AP) MOSCOW (AP) Russia's top diplomat shrugged off U.S. claims that North Korea transferred munitions to Russia, saying Washington has failed to prove the allegation. Russian state television broadcast Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov 's comments on Friday. Lavrov made a two-day trip to Pyongyang this week for talks on ways to boost the two countries ties following a September summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin . The White House said last week that North Korea had delivered more than 1,000 containers of military equipment and weapons to Russia. It released images that it said showed the containers were loaded onto a Russian-flagged ship before being moved via train to southwestern Russia. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the U.S. believes Kim is seeking sophisticated Russian weapons technologies in return for the munitions to boost North Koreas military and nuclear program. Lavrov scoffed at the U.S. claims, saying that the Americans keep accusing everyone. I don't comment on rumors, he added. Since last year, the U.S. has accused North Korea of providing ammunition, artillery shells and rockets to Russia for the fighting in Ukraine. North Korea has steadfastly denied it shipped arms to Russia. South Korean officials charged that weapons North Korean provided already were used in Ukraine. When Kim visited Russia for six days last month, a trip that included meeting with Putin, Russian and North Korean officials said that boosting defense ties between the two countries was discussed but they didnt disclose any specific steps. On Thursday, Lavrov and Kim exchanged views on joint efforts to expand bilateral ties in all areas and discussed other key issues of mutual concern, the Norths official Korean Central News Agency reported. It said Kim expressed his resolve to carry out unspecified agreements he reached with Putin. Lavrov described the talks as comprehensive and said, We have an understanding on how to proceed to fulfill the agreements between Putin and Kim. After he arrived in Pyongyang, Lavrov gave a speech in which he said that Russia deeply valued North Koreas unwavering and principled support for its military operation in Ukraine. Back in Moscow, he stressed that the effort to deepen the relationship between Russia and North Korea was based on bilateral concerns. Our friendship isn't directed against anyone. It's intended to help promote mutually beneficial projects, he said. Lavrov also told reporters that he supports holding regular talks on security issues on the Korean Peninsula with North Korea and China. Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Russian military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don overnight on Oct. 20, the Russian state-owned news agency TASS reported. Putin was said to have received a situation report from Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov , who also commands Russian invasion troops in Ukraine. "Other conversations took place with representatives of the senior leadership of the Ministry of Defense," the Kremlin's spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov , told Russian media. The Russian dictator's reported visit to Rostov followed his trip to the city of Perm near the Ural Mountains. He has recently returned from China, where the Russian leader took part in the Belt and Road Forum. Putin previously visited the Rostov headquarters, which commands the Russian invasion of Ukraine, on Aug. 19 to "project his authority" after the city was briefly captured during Wagner Group's rebellion earlier in the summer, the U.K. Defense Ministry reported. Read also: How Russias liberal tech companies became the foundation of Putins war effort Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russian forces shelled eight communities along the Sumy Oblast border on Oct. 19, injuring one civilian, the Sumy Oblast military administration reported. Artillery shelling in Krasnopillia injured one resident. The Russian military also targeted the settlements of Yunakivka, Bilopillia, Velyka Pysarivka, Khotin, Shalyhyne, Hlukhiv, and Seredyna-Buda, firing 24 times from across the border and causing nearly 200 explosions throughout the day. In addition to artillery shelling, Russian forces attacked the region with drones, mines, mortars, and grenade launchers. No damage to civilian infrastructure or additional casualties were reported. Russia regularly attacks the communities along Ukraine's northeastern border. A drone strike on the regional capital, Sumy, damaged infrastructure on Oct. 18. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Military reports advance in southeast, indicates Ukrainian forces cross Dnipro Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. BEIJING, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday held a phone conversation with Malaysian Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir on China-Malaysia relations and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Zambry congratulated China on the success of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, noting that the Belt and Road Initiative is conducive to promoting regional interconnection, consolidating international trade ties and bringing more opportunities for regional and world development. Malaysia looks forward to celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties with China next year and pushing for further development of bilateral relations, Zambry said. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, appreciated Malaysia's contribution to the successful holding of the forum, adding that China is ready to strengthen high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with Malaysia and promote the building of the China-Malaysia community with a shared future. On the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Wang said that China has always stood on the side of peace, international law and the legitimate aspirations of Arab and Islamic countries, adding that China opposes all acts that attack innocent civilians and violate international law. The root of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict lies in the constant occupation of Palestinian land and the long-term neglect of the Palestinian people's demands for statehood, Wang said, adding that the fundamental solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is to implement the "two-state solution" and realize the peaceful coexistence of Palestine and Israel. China is ready to strengthen communication with Malaysia and all peace-loving countries, and continue to make efforts for peace in the Middle East, Wang said. A Russian soldier was so weak from lack of food and water that he couldn't wear his bulletproof vest, Ukrainian intelligence says A Russian soldier eats while sitting near a tank in the South Ossetian town of Dzhava on August 9, 2008. DMITRY KOSTYUKOV/AFP via Getty Images Ukraine shared what it said was an intercepted phone call between a Russian soldier and his wife. The Russian soldier complains about a lack of food and water on the front lines, a report says. He tells his wife he is so weak that he is unable to wear his bulletproof vest. A Russian soldier fighting in Ukraine said he was so weak from lack of food and water that he couldn't wear his heavy bulletproof vest, according to Ukrainian intelligence. A two-minute clip of what appears to be an intercepted phone call was shared by The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine on Thursday. It said the conversation was between an unidentified Russian soldier and his wife. "We haven't had food delivered to us for three weeks," the soldier told his wife, according to a translation by the Kyiv Post. "Today is already the seventh day since we have been brought water." The soldier then shared that he was so weak from the lack of nutrition that he could no longer wear his heavy bulletproof vest on the front line, the report said. "Fuck it! I'm already taking off my bulletproof vest, I don't have the strength to wear it," he added, according to the Kyiv Post. "What's the difference, it is senseless. The wounded soldiers are not taken out anyway." The soldier, the report said, also complained that no Russian officials "give a shit at all," adding that his unit has lost around 100 men "in a few days." "The assault failed. Everything is in the s**t, everyone was killed," he said. Insider could not independently verify the authenticity of the audio. It is unclear where exactly the soldier was fighting, though Russia has suffered heavy losses in its attempts to take Avdiivka, a key village in Ukraine's southeastern Donetsk region. Avdiivka was recaptured by Ukraine in September , but Russia has been attempting to get it back in one of its biggest offensive efforts in months. Strategically, the village offers a gateway to parts of Ukraine occupied by Russia. The phone call appears to offer new insight into the continued low morale in Russia's military, which has been a problem ever since President Vladimir Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Earlier this month, video footage posted to Facebook by a journalist appears to show Russian troops complaining and cursing about not having enough training, supplies, or food. "No bullets, no grenades, no pouches, no food, no water. It's a fucking mess!" a Russian soldier said in the video, according to Insider's Natalie Musumeci. The video appears to show several soldiers huddled around each other in the thick of the woods. "We were sent here with no training, nothing. They fucked us all over," one of the soldiers also said. Read the original article on Business Insider Russian soldiers are getting hard drugs delivered to their trenches in Ukraine to escape boredom, report says Russian servicemen take part in military exercises at the Uspenovskyi training ground outside the city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia, on September 4, 2022. Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images Drug use is widespread in the Russian forces fighting in Ukraine, news outlet Verstka reported. One soldier told the outlet that drug use is "like in Las Vegas." Soldiers order a range of substances from dealers because they are bored, the report said. Russian soldiers are getting hard drugs delivered to their trenches in Ukraine to escape boredom, according to the independent Russian news outlet Verstka. Mephedrone, amphetamines, and alpha-PVP, known as "salt", are among the substances that Russian soldiers on the frontline take, with effects including paranoia and hallucinations, the report said. The outlet cited interviews with dozens of soldiers and residents in Russian-occupied territory in Ukraine. "It's like in Las Vegas," one unnamed soldier told the outlet, according to a translation by The Times of London. Another soldier, who is a regular drug user himself, told Verstka that everybody is aware of their comrades taking drugs in the trenches but that "nobody gives a damn." "The main thing is not to bother anyone. Just don't leave the dugout," he said. The same soldier added that most soldiers do drugs "out of boredom." "War is when you're constantly waiting for something, occasionally praying for it all to be over," he said. "When I was smoking salt in the dugout, I didn't give a fuck about a possible freakout. The boredom's a lot worse." Access to the drugs is easy, according to Verstka, as they are either sold by locals, brought in by the men themselves, or found on the Telegram messaging app. However, the drugs found online are not cheap due to the risk of delivery in the war zone, one soldier told the outlet. Three syringes of an illegal substance could cost about 15,000 rubles ($150), he said. This is not the first time a report has outlined drug use among Russian troops. In a report in May, the British think-thank Royal United Service Institute said that Russian soldiers often appear to be "under the influence of amphetamines or other narcotic substances" on the battlefield. The drugs, often taken in liquid form, chemically lower the soldiers' inhibitions, allowing them to continue advancing during battle even after being injured, the report said. Mick Ryan , a retired Major General in the Australian Army and a military strategist, told Insider's Erin Snodgrass that several countries have a history of supplying their soldiers with performance-enhancing drugs. "This is nothing new, sending troops forward under the influence of drugs, it's actually pretty common in military history," Ryan said. Read the original article on Business Insider Viktor Afzalov has been appointed as the commander of Russias aerospace forces, replacing Sergei Surovikin, Russian propaganda news agencies have reported. Source: Russian state-owned news agencies RBC; RIA Novosti Details: Afzalov was already acting commander when Surovikin commanded the Joint Grouping of Troops and Forces in Ukraine. Afzalov received the rank of colonel general last December. Background: Support UP or become our patron! The Caribbean island of Dominica sold thousands of passports to foreigners. Avalon / Getty "Golden passports" let foreigners acquire citizenship in exchange for investing in certain countries. Citizens of some Caribbean nations have been able to visit the EU without visas since 2015. The European Union may crack down on visa-free travel after revealing the scale of the passport trade. Tens of thousands of passports have been obtained by Russians, Iranians, Chinese and others from Caribbean nations, granting them visa-free travel to European countries, according to a report by the European Commission. The Commission said five Caribbean nations Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, and Dominica have granted citizenship to at least 88,000 individuals for as little as $100,000 each. In some cases, the number of passports issued is higher than the existing population. St Kitts and Nevis, which has a population of 48,000, has issued 36,700 passports to foreign individuals, per the investigation. Meanwhile, an investigation by news organizations including The Guardian and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) revealed that Dominica had sold "golden passports" to individuals including a former Afghan spy and a colonel under former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. The scale of the "golden passport" trade has sparked security concerns from the European Commission, which is proposing a crackdown on visa-free travel for people using them. The proposal said obtaining citizenship through investment schemes could lead to the "infiltration of organised crime, money laundering, tax evasion, and corruption." The legislation would end visa exemptions for countries that operate investor citizenship schemes for buyers who lack a "genuine link" to the nation. Some 150,000 people have used the visa-free travel arrangements to claim asylum once in a European country, according to the EU home affairs commissioner, Ylva Johansson. "This is of course not how the visa-free travelling should be used," he said, per The Guardian. Buying a passport lets wealthy individuals circumvent immigration regulations. A system that allows them to "skirt the rules" is "highly problematic," Gary Kalman, the executive director of Transparency International US, previously told Insider. Such passports became more popular after citizens of the Caribbean countries were granted visa-free travel in 2015, The Guardian reported. However, buyers are not required to have any connection to the states, nor even visit the countries. Last year, an Insider investigation revealed a similar loophole that gave rich Russians a backdoor to the US by investing as little as $150,000 in Grenada. A visa firm was advising Russians in business opportunities that would grant them a Grenadian passport. Once citizenship was granted they could then access a US E-2 visa. Read the original article on Business Insider The Russians are opening centres for training teenagers for the front in occupied Luhansk Oblast and other occupied regions; this was confirmed by Ukrainian authorities. Source: Luhansk Oblast Military Administration Initially, the occupiers plan to involve about 4000 boys aged from 14 to 17. The teens will be trained in these particular military occupational specialties, in which the Russians lack personnel. "Educational facilities will be assigned specialties so as to organise the preparation appropriately," Luhansk Oblast Military Administration reports. PHOTO: INDIVIDUAL ONE/DEPOSIT PHOTOS The occupiers also control the childrens online activity and order the teachers to drag them into propagandist movements. "The Russians are strengthening their control over the youth. School teachers were told to control informational activity of the children and involve them in propagandistic movements. Teachers must denounce students if, in their opinion, they post something "illegal" on the Internet," the military administration adds. Background: Earlier, the National Resistance Center of Ukraine reported that the Russians are "re-educating" the teenagers from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine in military camps. The occupiers in Crimea plan to involve every tenth schoolchild in the Young Army Cadets National Movement. The Russians also decided to strengthen cooperation between schools and military enlistment offices in Crimea. Support UP or become our patron! The Russians attacked settlements in Kharkiv Oblast on the night of 19-20 October, wounding two men. Source: Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, on social media Details: The Russians launched a missile attack on the village of Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi in Kupiansk district at around midnight. A strike was recorded, the surrounding shops were damaged, but there were no casualties. Over the past day, the Russians fired on settlements in Chuhuiv, Izium and Kupiansk districts with artillery, mortars, rocket launchers and other weapons. The attack on the town of Vovchansk in Chuhuiv district damaged a children and youth centre and four residential buildings. Two men aged 57 and 69 were injured. In the village of Pidlyman in Izium district, a Russian missile hit a private yard. A barn and the roof of the house were damaged. The Russians deployed an Uragan MLRS to attack the village of Pisky-Radkivski in Izium district; two private residences and outbuildings were damaged. In Kharkiv, a civilian man aged 42 stepped on an unknown explosive while collecting scrap metal in the city and was subsequently injured. He was taken to hospital in a moderate condition. Syniehubov said that over the past day, the State Emergency Service's bomb disposal experts inspected more than 12 hectares of territory and defused 95 explosive devices. On the Kupiansk front, Ukrainian forces repelled 30 Russian attacks in the areas of Synkivka and Ivanivka. Syniehubov said that the Russians were suffering losses and had made no gains. Support UP or become our patron! The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces announced that the defence forces repelled 20 Russian attacks on the Adviivka front on the evening of 20 October. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, information as of 18:00 on 20 October Details: There were 77 combat clashes over the course of the past 24 hours. The Russians launched 5 missile- and 33 airstrikes in total, and carried out 32 attacks using multiple launch rocket systems on the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements. On the Kupiansk front, Ukrainian soldiers repelled around 20 Russian attacks near Synkivka and Ivanivka in Kharkiv Oblast, and 3 more attacks near Nadiia in Luhansk Oblast. On the Lyman front, the Armed Forces of Ukraine repelled a Russian attack east of Nevske in Luhansk Oblast. The defence forces repelled another 10 attacks on the Bakhmut front in the areas of Bohdanivka, Khromove and Klishchiivka in Donetsk Oblast. The Russians used aircraft to carry out unsuccessful offensive operations near Avdiivka, Novokalynove, Stepove and Pervomaiske in Donetsk Oblast on the Avdiivka front. The defence forces repelled 20 Russian attacks there. Ukrainian defenders repelled more than 15 Russian attacks near Marinka and Novomykhailivka in Donetsk Oblast on the Marinka front. The Armed Forces of Ukraine repelled Russian attacks near Zolota Nyva, Staromaiorske and Rivnopil in Donetsk Oblast on the Shakhtarsk front. The Russians carried out unsuccessful offensive operations near Poltavka in Zaporizhzhia Oblast on the Zaporizhzhia front. Apart from that, the Russians tried to regain lost positions near Robotyne in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, but were unsuccessful. Quote: "At the same time, Ukraines defence forces are continuing to lead an offensive operation on the Melitopol front and offensive (assault) actions on the Bakhmut front, inflicting losses in manpower and equipment and exhausting Russian forces along the contact line." Over the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian Air Force conducted seven attacks on clusters of Russian personnel, weapons and military equipment and four strikes on anti-aircraft missile systems. Support UP or become our patron! A Sacramento County employee intervened Tuesday morning and stopped an attack in Elk Grove, where a person walking their dog was knocked to the ground by an assailant with a knife, police said. The attack occurred shortly before 8 a.m. in the 9200 block of Malheur Way, police said, in a residential neighborhood just south of Laguna Boulevard and west of Franklin Boulevard. The victim was walking their dog when the suspect, who the victim did not know, knocked the victim down, got on top of the victim and pulled out a knife, the Elk Grove Police Department announced Thursday afternoon in a Facebook post. Police said an employee driving a Sacramento County vehicle saw the attack and intervened by honking the horn, which caused the assailant to flee without further harming the victim. Detectives arrived at the scene and found security camera video footage of the suspect and the attack. Detectives later identified the attack suspect as a 22-year-old man, who was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remained in custody Thursday at the Sacramento County Main Jail. He was booked Tuesday evening at the jail and was being held without bail. Jail records showed that his arraignment hearing had not yet been scheduled as of Thursday afternoon. Police said the investigators initially believed the attack suspect was the alleged assailants 20-year-old brother, who was wanted by police for an arrest warrant for a battery on a police officer charge. The younger brother also had a similar physical description. Officers and detectives detained both brothers at an apartment, where the investigators found evidence that linked the older brother to the attack, police said. Investigators determined the younger brother was not involved in the attack, but police arrested him on the warrant. He was released from the jail later on Tuesday, authorities said. The Police Department thanked the county employee who honked the horn to stop the attack and commended the investigators for their work which led to an arrest hours after the attack. A man was killed Thursday night in an apparent road rage incident in which he reportedly got out of his pickup on Highway 99 and tried to confront a truck driver moments before he was hit by the vehicle, the California Highway Patrol reported. Juan Diaz Encarnacion, 47 of Sacramento died after he was struck by the vehicle on the freeway in Oak Park just north of 12th Avenue, according to the Sacramento County Coroners Office. The fatal hit-and-run that led to the mans death unfolded earlier farther north as he was driving southbound on the Capital City Freeway in a maroon 2003 Dodge Ram pickup through midtown. A witness spotted the Dodge pickup weaving in multiple southbound lanes between Arden Way and E Street, the CHPs South Sacramento office announced Friday in a news release. The CHP said the Dodge pickup was then seen sideswiping a large- or medium-sized truck towing a car-hauler or trailer in the freeways southbound lanes just south of N Street. The witness told CHP officers that the collision at the Business 80 Loops transition with Highway 99 caused minor damage to the left side of the Dodge pickup, and the driver in the other vehicle might not have felt it and continued south. The Dodge pickup driver followed the truck, and the Dodge came to a complete stop in the middle of the second lane from the left in front of the other vehicle after crossing over Highway 50, the CHP said. The witness told CHP officers that the Dodge driver, later identified as Encarnacion, got out of his pickup and tried to confront the other driver. The witness then saw the truck driver rapidly accelerate the vehicle to go around the Dodge pickup, and the truck then knocked Encarnacion to the ground and ran over him with the trucks rear trailer tires, according to the CHP. The CHP said the witness was unable to get a license plate number as he pulled over his vehicle to help the injured man on the highway. Encarnacion was conscious and alert at the scene as medics took him to a hospital. The Sacramento County Coroners Office later notified the CHP that Encarnacion died from his injuries Thursday night during surgery at the hospital. Investigators asked the driver of the truck car-hauler to come forward and provide a statement or anyone who also witnessed the incident to call CHP officers at 916-897-5600. One man was killed Thursday evening in a stabbing in south Sacramento, the Sacramento Police Department said. Police responded to the 4000 block of Shining Star Drive at 5:18 p.m. for reports of a stabbing. When officers arrived, they found one man suffering from a life-threatening stab wound, the Police Department said in a news release. Officers performed life-saving measures on the man until personnel from the Sacramento Fire Department arrived. The man was later pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Because of the circumstances of the mans death, homicide detectives and crime scene investigators responded to the Parkway scene, canvassed the area and collected evidence, police said. This incident remains in its early stages and the exact circumstances of what occurred remain under investigation, the Sacramento Police Department said. The mans identity is expected to be released by the Sacramento County Coroner after notification of the next of kin. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Sacramento Police Department at 916-808-5471 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at 916-443-4357. Callers can remain anonymous. KUALA LUMPUR, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Economists on Friday projected China's economic recovery will boost Malaysia's exports. RHB Research said in a note that China's economic growth recovery has begun to regain momentum and this will fuel exports' recovery in Malaysia in the first quarter of 2024. According to the research house, China is one of Malaysia's primary trade partners, higher demand from China would further fuel Malaysia's exports. It said it is beginning to see some signs of dissipation in downside risks, that is, the global technology cycle downturn might be close to the end. MIDF Research assumed continued recovery in the Chinese economy will be a key factor to support regional trade outlook. "We expect the recovery momentum will continue and support both exports and imports to pick up going into the next year," the research house said. TA Securities opined that improved economic performance in China will support Malaysia's trade outlook. Supporting its optimism, it said a recent survey of China's manufacturing activity in August reported a surprising expansion suggesting that demand may increase in the near future. It said that in September, the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for China's manufacturing sector rebounded to 50.2, re-entering the expansion zone. According to TA, this data added to evidence suggesting that targeted policies aimed at boosting the Chinese economy are yielding positive results. "This suggests a pick-up in demand from China, which will also support the trade outlook for Malaysia," it said. Nuisance neighbors in Sacramento? Dial 3-1-1. Stray shopping cart in Sacramento? Dial 3-1-1. Broken sidewalk in Sacramento? Dial 3-1-1. The calls are endless, according to a new 311 complaint study that ranks Sacramento among the nations major cities with the highest rates of neighborhood complaints. According to MoverDB, a moving guide company, the area receives 11,156 complaints for every 10,000 residents per year. The City of Sacramento encourages its residents to call 311 for any customer service request they have, including seeking information and setting up new services, MoverDB wrote on its website. This could explain why Sacramento ranks so high on this list. Sacramento residents are urged to funnel non-life-threatening emergencies from questions about building projects to requests to clean up park restrooms through a team of customer service agents available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The process is similar for county residents. Baltimore, Maryland, residents complain the most about their neighborhood compared to anyone else on the list. The study, last updated Oct. 13, calculated 17,551 complaints to every 10,000 residents per year. Albany, New York, ranked No. 3 (10,689 complaints) and San Francisco took the fourth spot (9,384 complaints). ModverDB took 311 data from the nations major cities and ZIP codes were ranked based on the number of complaints between August 2022 and August 2023. The study analyzed data from a list of sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, The New York Times and QNS, a Queens, New York, news site. Residents of Riverside make the least number of complaints compared to any other major U.S. city 906 complaints per 10,000 residents beating Denver, Nashville and Boston. Heres where California cities fall on the list of major U.S. cities with the highest rates of neighborhood complaints, according to MoverDBs 3-1-1 complaint study (per 10,000 residents): 2. Sacramento, 11,156 complaints 4. San Francisco, 9,384 10. Berkeley, 4,874 21. Los Angeles, 3,406 26. San Jose, 2,775 29. San Diego, 2,678 30. Oakland, 2,210 34. Riverside, 906 How major ZIP codes rank ZIP code 94110, San Franciscos Mission District, receives the most complaints compared to any major ZIP code. Roughly 12,026 complaints per 10,000 residents are funneled through the 311 center. The ZIP code with the fewest complaints is 95608 Sacramento Countys Carmichael area with 168 calls per 10,000 residents per year. What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com. The Sacramento County Sheriffs Office on Friday released video, hoping to identify dozens of people who smashed windows at a Rio Linda 7-Eleven and ransacked the store earlier this month. The smash-and-grab robbery at the convenience store occurred about 11:30 p.m. on Oct. 8 at the 7-Eleven on the southwest corner of Elkhorn and Rio Linda boulevards. Sgt. Amar Gandhi, a Sheriffs Office spokesman, said the looting occurred at the store after a sideshow that had taken place nearby with about 40 to 50 people. Sideshows are gatherings in which groups of drivers illegally take over intersections, city streets, stretches of busy freeways and parking lots to do tricks with their cars, including burnouts and doughnuts. Gandhi said the suspects terrorized the store as they smashed the large front windows and the glass front doors, even though the 7-Eleven was open for business at the time. He said at least one employee, not shown in the video, was cowering in a corner of the store to avoid injury. No injuries were reported. This was straight-up looting, Gandhi said Friday. This is not simple shoplifting. Men are seen during a smash-and-grab robbery at the 7-Eleven store at 348 Elkhorn Blvd. in Rio Linda on Oct. 8, 2023. The Sacramento County Sheriffs Office released video on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, in the hopes of locating suspects. The Sheriffs Office released a nearly 4-minute portion of the video captured on the 7-Eleven stores security camera. The video shows dozens of unidentified suspects enter the 7-Eleven through the large broken windows, even though they couldve walked in through the doors, and grab numerous items from store shelves and what appears to be cases of beer from the refrigerators toward the back. Some suspects are seen in the video ducking through the front counter and plastic partitions installed to prevent further spread of COVID-19, before they grabbed whatever they could from behind the counter. The video shows some of the suspects waiting just outside the broken windows before they took their turn to enter and ransack the 7-Eleven. Some suspects are seen in the video, including one wearing a Halloween clown mask that had orange hair, coming back into the store to steal more items. Some suspects are seen using the top of their shirts or other clothing to hide the lower portion of their faces as they entered the store. Gandhi said the suspects took everything they could grab that wasnt bolted down, including electronics merchandise, food items and tobacco products. But he said the suspect did not steal any cash from the registers or any lottery tickets. Patrol deputies from the Sheriffs Office north county division were at the scene about five minutes after the store break-in was reported, but the suspects had already left. Deputies and detectives from the sheriffs Property Crimes Bureau began their investigation, canvassing the area to try to find witnesses. Gandhi said the investigation shows that some of these suspects are likely from the Bay Area. The detectives asked anyone with information about this 7-Eleven store break-in to call the Sheriffs Office at 916-874-5115 or the Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers tip line at 916-443-4357. Since 2018, Sacramento County and the Sacramento Sheriffs Department has been embroiled in a class-action lawsuit Mays v. Sacramento based on the human rights violations and inadequate healthcare provided in Sacramento County jails. This lawsuit led to a consent decree (a type of court order where the county makes legally-binding commitments to implement changes in order to meet minimum standards of treatment for people incarcerated in the jails). Unfortunately, the county is consistently falling short of these requirements, and the jail is still a dangerous place for those locked inside. I have had a front-row seat to the crisis in our jail. As a physician, I have received critically ill and injured ER patients from jail who tell me how they are routinely mistreated and denied medications when they are incarcerated. This crisis is immediate and dire for those impacted. Opinion The recent wave of opioid overdoses in the jails is particularly heartbreaking and infuriating, especially because it is so preventable. The sheriff openly disregarded formal requests to implement screening procedures for his staff, frustrating efforts to interrupt smuggling networks. Harm reduction programs have not been implemented, despite robust evidence of their success in other jails and prisons. Court-appointed monitors have repeatedly cited the inadequate evaluation, treatment and monitoring of patients with substance use disorders. Instead of taking accountability, Sheriff Jim Cooper has chosen to obscure the truth about his departments noncompliance with their legal obligations and deflect blame for the issues inside the jails. He chose to scapegoat the under-resourced and overworked medical staff, demeaning them by labeling them inept. Cooper then had the audacity to request that the jails health services be placed back under his offices control. Health services were intentionally moved out from under the Sheriffs Department in 2018 because the sheriffs policies and practices have been consistently identified as a central problem in the countys chronic noncompliance with the Mays consent decree. Sheriff Coopers unwillingness and inability to comply with the legal requirements of an active federal lawsuit should make his request to manage the medical unit embarrassing and nonsensical at best, and a malicious power grab at worst. Sheriff deputies are not medical professionals, and they should never be in charge of making medical decisions. However, the Sacramento Sheriffs Department has a long history of making decisions that obstruct the delivery of healthcare. Court-appointed investigators reported sheriff staff unilaterally canceling or delaying medical visits, including recently preventing a pregnant woman from attending a scheduled obstetrical appointment. There are pervasive, well-documented examples of sheriff staff postponing specialty care, overriding physician orders, cutting corners on required medical screenings, ignoring medical evaluation requests, neglecting psychiatrically ill patients and skipping entire days of medication distributions. This undermining of medical professionals and obstruction of constitutionally-mandated medical care should never occur, and yet it has become routine in Sacramento County jails. Sheriff Cooper misrepresents the root causes of Sacramentos failed jail system. His words and actions are petty political stunts that distract from the urgency of addressing these deadly serious issues. The county will not be able to meet its legal obligations without meaningfully reducing the jail population. This was reiterated once again in a recent letter from the consent decree lawyers, yet they continue to postpone implementation of any serious population reduction plans, and the jails remain dangerously overcrowded. When my patients are incarcerated, I fear for their well-being. There are clear patterns of neglect and inhumane treatment occurring in the jails, and the cause is clear: the Sheriffs Department is mismanaging the jail and actively impairing the healthcare teams ability to provide care and keep people safe. Medical staff cant do their jobs in a building managed by deputies who dont prioritize the dignity or well-being of people in their care. Under no circumstance should the sheriffs office be placed in charge of healthcare within the jails; this care needs to remain the responsibility of medical professionals. Instead of undermining the jails medical providers, the sheriff needs to devote his energy to ensuring that his staff are doing everything in their power to facilitate healthcare delivery and maintain the health and safety of the incarcerated people that are his responsibility. Dr. Phillip Summers, MPH, is an emergency and addiction medicine physician who sits on the Sacramento County Public Health advisory board, where he has co-chaired the correctional health working committee. Following the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza and the escalating tensions in the region, the US State Department has issued a worldwide travel advisory, warning Americans to exercise increased caution to avoid becoming victims of possible terror attacks. The alert came after widespread protests have broken out across the Middle East after hundreds are believed to have died in an explosion at the al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza. Palestinian officials have blamed an Israeli airstrike for the blast, while the Israeli military said the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group is responsible blaming an alleged faulty launch of a rocket intended to hit Israel. The PIJ has also denied responsibility. US officials, including President Joe Biden, have sided with the IDF, publicly stating that Israel Probably Did Not Bomb Gaza Strip Hospital. The explosion caused widespread anger across the Middle East, including in Lebanon where protestors set the US embassy in Beirut on fire. The US initially issued travel advice warning Americans not to travel to Lebanon, but the advisory has since been updated to caution US citizens travelling anywhere in the world. The move came one day after Mr Biden returned from a visit to Tel Aviv to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pledging the USs support for Israel. So is it safe for Americans to travel right now? The latest government advisory warns all Americans to exercise caution when travelling anywhere in the world and specifically not to travel to Gaza, the West Bank, Israel and Lebanon. The worldwide travel advisory, issued by the State Department on 20 October, warned Americans to exercise caution when travelling due to the possibility of terror attacks. Due to increased tensions in various locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against US citizens and interests, the Department of State advises US citizens overseas to exercise increased caution, the agency warned. US citizens should stay alert in locations frequented by tourists. The State Department has also urged Americans not to travel to Gaza due to the risk of terrorism, civil unrest, and armed conflict. US citizens have also been urged to reconsider travelling to the West Bank and Israel. US embassy in Beirut is in flames amid protests (Anadolu via Getty Images) Terrorist groups, lone-actor terrorists and other violent extremists continue plotting possible attacks in Israel and the West Bank and Gaza. Terrorists and violent extremists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities, the department warned. Violence can occur in Israel and the West Bank and Gaza without warning, the advisory continued. The State Department also noted that there has been a marked increase in demonstrations throughout Israel, some with little or no warning. A do not travel advisory was also issued for Lebanon following the outbreak of violent protests outside the US embassy in Beirut. The advisory warned Americans to avoid demonstrations and exercise caution if in the vicinity of any large gatherings due to the unpredictable security situation related to rocket, missile, and artillery exchanges between Israel and Hizballah or other armed militant factions. Non-emergency US government workers and their families have been authorised to leave the four regions. Jamaican authorities arrested and charged a U.S. Navy sailor for allegedly orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot that resulted in the deaths of a mother and baby, Jamaican law enforcement officials said. Leoda Bradshaw, a Navy culinary specialist, was taken into custody on Oct. 5 by Jamaican authorities for the alleged plot, a spokesperson for Navy Recruiting Command confirmed. Bradshaw allegedly arranged for three local men to kidnap and kill Toshyna Patterson and Pattersons 10-month-old daughter, Sarayah Paulwell, who were reportedly connected to a Jamaican politician. Both ... were brutally murdered and their bodies burned and disposed of, Jamaica Constabulary Force deputy commissioner of police Fitz Bailey said during an October 13 press conference. The incident allegedly occurred after Bradshaw learned the childs father was Jamaican politician Phillip Paulwell , who Bradshaw says she also had a relationship and child with. It is one of the most painful investigations for the team since recent times, Bailey added. Bailey said Bradshaw faces two counts of conspiracy to murder, two counts of conspiracy to kidnapping, two counts of kidnapping and two counts of murder. Three others were also charged alongside the sailor, he added. The Navy takes all allegations of misconduct seriously and is fully cooperating with appropriate investigative and law enforcement authorities, the Navy Recruiting Command spokesperson said. The matter is currently under investigation by Jamaican authorities and the Navy Criminal Investigative Service. The Jamaican police said the mother and daughter were first reported missing on Sept. 9. On a social media account appearing to belong to Bradshaw, the sailor posted on Sept. 10 that she too had a child with the member of the Jamaican parliament, but claimed she had absolutely nothing to do with the disappearance of Patterson and her daughter. Bradshaw also noted in the post that she contacted Patterson earlier in September about the relationship. Prosecutors said Bradshaw arrived in Jamaica on Sept. 6 and communicated with the three now-accused men to hatch a plan against Patterson, according to the Jamaica Observer and Loop Jamaica News. The past few weeks have been extremely difficult for me as I grappled with the abduction of my daughter and her mother, Phillip Paulwell, the Jamaican politician, said in a statement posted on Instagram. I have been in constant dialogue with the police and cooperated fully with the investigation. Bradshaw enlisted in the Navy in July 2020, according to a service record shared with Military Times. After training at Naval Technical Training Command, Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia, Bradshaw served between November 2020 and June 2021 with Electronic Attack Squadron 134 at Whidbey Island, Washington. In June 2021, she transferred to the Naval Reserve Center in Miami, Florida, where she worked before joining the Navy Talent Acquisition Group, also in Miami. Bradshaw is scheduled to return to court on December 1, according to NBC News. County supervisor Steve Bestolarides speaks at the Central Labor Council-sponsored town hall meeting at the Kings Room of the Stockton Arena in downtown Stockton. San Joaquin County has agreed to pay $375,000 to settle a disability discrimination case against Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk Steve Bestolarides. The settlement resolves allegations that the assessor unlawfully reprimanded an employee and denied reasonable accommodations and work opportunities after she requested a disability accommodation. The case was brought on by Joyce Weber, an auditor-appraiser who formerly worked under Bestolarides. "I advocated for myself," Weber told The Record. "When you see something that's wrong, speak up. Don't be afraid ... even if it's the government." In addition to the $375,000 settlement, the assessor's office is required to ensure all managers and human resources personnel are trained on state civil rights laws, with a focus on the appropriate response to a request for a disability accommodation. Weber filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) in 2020. In the complaint, Weber alleged that she was unlawfully denied reasonable accommodations for the use of orthotic sandals, which were not in compliance with the offices dress code. "While the county ultimately approved the accommodation, this allegedly only occurred several months after the complainant was given a written reprimand, denied an interactive process for accommodating the disability, and the requirement of additional doctor visits to provide information beyond what was contained in a medical certification that had been submitted," the civil rights department stated. Under California law, an employer is required to interact with an employee to explore all possible means of reasonably accommodating a person prior to rejecting the person for a job or making any employment-related decisions. An accommodation is considered reasonable if it does not impose an undue hardship on the employers business, according to the civil rights department. Weber said she decided to settle her case outside of court to avoid spending years in litigation. "I didn't want to have that going on in my life for any longer than necessary," she said. "Three years was already enough." Bestolarides could not immediately be reached for comment. Board of supervisors previously voted to not discipline Bestolarides The county hired an independent investigator to look into similar allegations Weber made in a human resources complaint also filed in 2020. The investigation determined that Bestolarides retaliated against her when he reported her to the San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office over discrepancies in taxpayer records she handled. The findings of the independent investigation, paid for by taxpayers, were presented to the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors in January 2022. The supervisors unanimously voted to not discipline Bestolarides, even after an employment attorney warned the decision could expose the county to liability. Prosecutors declined to file charges against Weber after investigating Bestolarides' claims, citing a "lack of evidence that any criminal activity took place." Supervisor Tom Patti speaks during a San Joaquin County Board meeting in the supervisors' chambers in downtown Stockton during a meeting about vaccine mandates. Just three months later, another retaliation case appeared before the board. This one was brought on by Camille Zapata, who was chief of staff to former District 2 Supervisor Kathy Miller. Zapata filed 20 harassment and retaliation complaints against District 3 Supervisor Tom Patti, prompting another independent investigation paid for by taxpayers. The investigation found three claims that Patti retaliated against Zapata for her complaints to human resources about him, violating the countys equal employment opportunity and harassment-free work environment policies. The full investigation supported 13 claims. Similar to Weber's case, the board refused to take action. Zaptata resigned, stating that she experienced 16 months of an increasingly hostile work environment in her resignation letter. She would have had until spring 2023 to file a claim against the county to initiate a lawsuit. There's no evidence she did. Weber said she ultimately decided to walk away from a "toxic and hostile" county job she worked for more than three decades. She said she wanted to protect her health. "I have no regrets about that," she said. "They'd rather just pay money and move on and go to some mandatory training, but they never change their bad ways. Ever." Bestolarides was appointed assessor in 2015 after terming out as a county supervisor. At the time of his appointment, he did not possess the required assessors certificate to be eligible for the position. The supervisors voted him in 3-1 anyway. Bestolarides was re-elected in 2018 and 2022. His current term ends in 2027. He was paid $189,431 last year, plus benefits. Record reporter Hannah Workman covers news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at hworkman@recordnet.com or on Twitter @byhannahworkman. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow. This article originally appeared on The Record: San Joaquin County settles disability discrimination case Name: Jonathan Martell Education: MS in electrical engineering. Occupation: Quality engineer. Political or civic experience highlights: I am a current Sanford City councilor, political officer for Sanford Springvale Fish and Game, and chair of the Southern Maine Chapter of Gun Owners of Maine. I am politically active on a number of issues and have spent a significant amount of time in Augusta testifying and working with lawmakers to support Constitutional rights. Why are you seeking a seat on the Sanford City Council? To continue serving the people of Sanford in a way that balances the needs and burdens of the taxpayers and the growth of the city. As a lifelong resident of Sanford, I have a vested interest in seeing my hometown prosper. I was initially encouraged to run for Sanford City Council after expressing frustration with the spending in the budget. After some consideration, I decided to get more involved locally to make a difference for Sanford. I look forward to a second term where I can continue to serve the people of Sanford. If elected, what will be your top priority as a city councilor? One of my top priorities will be continuing to work toward long-term solutions to homelessness and substance abuse issues. These are not sustainable for those affected, nor for the businesses and citizens negatively affected. The Sanford PD and Mental Health Unit have done a great job of working with the homeless or dealing with substance abuse to connect them with the resources available. The long-term goal is to help find the root cause of issues and help people find and keep a stable lifestyle. What is Sanford not doing that it needs to do to succeed as an economic force and as a place to live, work and play? Sanford needs to continue to streamline the planning and permitting process to help attract more businesses. The downtown needs more small businesses, and there is a need for larger businesses in South Sanford. Both are needed to help make Sanford a place where residents don't have to commute longer distances to get to work. What role should the city government play in addressing homelessness and substance use disorder in the community? Federal policies as well as Augusta have pushed much of this issue to the city, while largely tying the hands of law enforcement. There are two types of people experiencing homelessness. Some are simply homeless due to economic hardships or circumstances beyond their control, while others prefer to stay free from the restrictions of a shelter. Typically, those restrictions include enrolling in a substance abuse program and working toward recovery. I believe that the city should try to help both groups, by helping with a hand-up, not necessarily a handout. I have supported and will continue to support the Sanford PD and Mental Health Unit. Their approach is to connect people with the resources they need as much as possible. The individuals who choose to not accept help may need more time to help them break through the barriers that are keeping them stuck in the cycle of substance abuse. It's a difficult and complex issue that is impacting many other communities in our state. I want to see the numbers of impacted residents reduced to zero, or as close as reasonably possible. Has Sanford changed for the better or for the worse in the past five years? Overall, I believe Sanford has changed for the better. While there is still room for improvement, the roads are on average in better shape. The city has improved its planning and permitting processes for businesses. We have a great retail base that sees plenty of use in the summer. The airport has expanded, and there are multiple new apartment buildings and single-family houses. One of the old mill buildings is in the process of being turned into apartments, and the old Nasson College in Springvale has housing conversions underway. People are moving into Sanford, and I believe we will continue to see business growth if we stay the course of being as business friendly as possible. A strong local economy is the basis for a safe, healthy, and prosperous community. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Sanford 2023 City Council candidate Jonathan Martell RIYADH (Reuters) - The Saudi crown prince and president of the United Arab Emirates met on Friday, state media reported, as the two Gulf states worked to overcome their differences amid a conflict between Israel and Hamas that threatens to engulf the Middle East. Saudi state news agency SPA showed footage of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto ruler, receiving UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Riyadh's airport. Public meetings between the crown prince and Sheikh Mohammed have been rare in recent years as the close allies competed for investment and regional influence. Sheikh Mohammed attended a summit between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Riyadh on Friday, Saudi and UAE state media said. GCC and ASEAN countries called for a durable ceasefire, the immediate release of civilian hostages and detainees, and a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a joint statement, published after the summit, said. Gulf states worry Iran could be drawn into a conflict that would affect their national security and have been pressing Western allies and Israel to de-escalate tensions in Gaza and lift a siege on the strip. Last year, Prince Mohammed and Sheikh Mohammed met when Prince Mohammed visited Abu Dhabi to offer his condolences on the death of Sheikh Khalifa, the UAE's previous president. Sheikh Mohammed also visited Jeddah last year, and the two leaders met on the sidelines of the G20 summit in November. (Reporting by Aziz El Yaakoubi; Editing by Kirsten Donovan) A speech made by Prince Turki al-Faisal of Saudi Arabia this week on the current violence in the Middle East is unusually frank for a senior member of the Saudi royal family. It has been widely acknowledged as the clearest indicator yet of the Saudi leadership's thinking on the situation. Prince Turki, a widely respected elder statesman in Saudi circles, has publicly condemned both Hamas and Israel for attacking civilians, following Hamas's 7 October attack on southern Israel and the subsequent Israeli bombardment of Gaza. There were no heroes, he said, only victims. Such is the groundswell of Arab anger at those Israeli air strikes that Prince Turki, who was addressing a US audience at Rice University in Houston, is a rare Arab voice of criticism of Hamas in the current climate. The group's acts, he said, went against Islamic injunctions not to harm civilians. The majority of those killed or kidnapped by Hamas were civilians. Prince Turki, a careful, thoughtful ex-diplomat and spy chief, balanced his condemnation of Hamas with that of Israel, which he accused of "indiscriminate bombing of innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza" and the "indiscriminate arrest of Palestinian children, women and men in the West Bank". He took issue with the US media's use of the phrase "unprovoked attack" in reference to the 7 October raid, saying: "What more provocation is required.. than what Israel has done to the Palestinian people for three-quarters of a century?" He added that "all militarily occupied people have a right to resist occupation". Prince Turki also condemned Western politicians for "shedding tears when Israelis are killed by Palestinians", but refusing to "even express sorrow when Israelis kill Palestinians". President Joe Biden has since said, during his visit to Israel, that the US mourned all innocent victims. More on Israel-Gaza war So what lies behind this speech, which the prince must have known would be widely reported? It is unlikely that he would have spoken without first checking in with his country's Royal Court, run by the all-powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who held talks with Rishi Sunak on Thursday. Prince Turki has quite a pedigree. His father was the popular and modernising King Faisal, who was assassinated in 1975. His brother was Saudi Arabia's longstanding foreign minister until his death in 2015. Prince Turki's US and British education at Princeton, Cambridge and Georgetown has given him an invaluable perspective on Western culture and thinking, as well as providing him with lifelong contacts amongst decision-makers in Washington and Whitehall. He went on to become Saudi Arabia's spy chief, running the foreign intelligence department for 24 years, with special responsibility for Afghanistan. Following the 9/11 attacks in 2001 he became Saudi Arabia's ambassador in London and then Washington. In London, his media spokesman at the embassy was the journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was eventually murdered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul by Saudi government agents in 2018. Saudi Arabia blamed this on an unauthorised "rogue operation". Now aged 78, with no formal position in the Saudi government, Prince Turki al-Faisal nevertheless provides an intriguing insight into Saudi thinking on the few occasions when he speaks publicly at international forums. Saudi Arabia's rulers don't like Hamas. In fact, many of the governments in the region don't like it either. The rulers of Egypt, Jordan, UAE and Bahrain see Hamas and its revolutionary brand of so-called "political Islam" as a threat to their secular rule. The Palestinian Authority, based on Yasser Arafat's Fatah party, which governs the parts of the West Bank that have not been colonised by Israel, was effectively chased out of Gaza by Hamas in 2007. Some of its members were thrown off the roofs of high buildings during a short-lived internecine conflict. Although Hamas maintains a political office in Qatar its main backer is Iran, which has long been a historic rival to Saudi Arabia. Although the Saudis and Iranians formally agreed to end their dispute in March this year, there remains considerable mutual mistrust between them. Despite this, they have jointly condemned Israel's bombing of Gaza and reaffirmed their support for a Palestinian state. It is hard to believe now but only two weeks ago, prior to the Hamas raid, Saudi Arabia was well on the way to normalising ties with Israel, just as the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco have done. This is now on hold. Several analysts believe that Hamas's deadly raid into Israel was partly prompted by a desire to derail that normalisation that would have left Hamas and Iran sidelined in a new Middle East. Will things ever return to the status quo in the region? Right now, it is hard to see that happening, with a wounded Israel in no mood for compromise and nervous Arab governments eyeing the growing anti-Israel protests on the streets. But when the current conflict in Gaza ends, as it must do, then it may well be Saudi Arabia's deep pockets that help fund its reconstruction. It will be worth watching Prince Turki's speeches for the Saudi view of whatever comes next. Metropolitan Pavlo, a senior member of the clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, has been accused of being involved in subversive activities against Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) announced on Oct. 20. His church has been repeatedly accused of aligning with the Russian government during the war, a claim its leadership has denied. Metropolitan Pavlo, who was previously an abbot at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, was put under house arrest in April. The church's leadership has denied the allegations and continues to dispute the existence of ties to the Russian Orthodox Church. Ukraine's other main Orthodox denomination, known as the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, was established as a fully independent church in 2019 in reaction to the alleged ties the Ukrainian Orthodox Church had with Moscow. Since November last year, Ukraine's law enforcement has raided multiple premises of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, alleging that the church is at the heart of "subversive activities by Russian special services." Ukraine's parliament passed a bill on Oct. 19 that could ban the church. The investigation into Metropolitan Pavlo uncovered evidence that he publicly denied the existence of Ukraine as an independent state, and referred to the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a "civil war," the SBU said. The SBU also intercepted his phone calls, during which he appeared to be glad that Russian forces were occupying Kherson. Metropolitan Pavlo has been charged with violating religious equality and repeatedly justifying or denying the armed aggression of Russia against Ukraine. If found guilty the bishop could face up to eight years in prison. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticized Russian dictator Vladimir Putin for making hypocritical comments on civilian casualties in the Israel-Gaza war, calling the remarks "cynical" in an address to the Bundestag on Oct. 19. I am more than outraged when hearing that the Russian president is warning everywhere that there could be victims, civilian victims of military confrontations. It doesnt get more cynical than that, Scholz said. Last week, Putin issued warnings to Israel about the possibility of high civilian casualties in a ground assault on Gaza. The sudden concern for civilian lives rang false to Scholz, given that Russia's war against Ukraine has already claimed thousands of lives. Just two days before the Oct. 7 Hamas attack against Israel, Russian forces launched missiles at a crowded cafe in Hroza, a small village in Kharkiv Oblast. The attack killed 59 people, making it the single deadliest Russian strike against civilians in 2023. In his speech to lawmakers, Scholz also said that Germany was preparing a winter aid package for Ukraine, and emphasized the need for ongoing European support. "This aid for Ukraine, for the financial stability of the country, we will have to provide this jointly as Europeans," Scholz said. Scholz did not specify the contents of the aid package. Germany's Ambassador to Ukraine, Martin Jaeger, said on Oct. 19 that the country still has no plans to supply Ukrainian forces with long-range Taurus missiles. Read also: Every family affected: Devastated village copes with aftermath of Russian strike on funeral Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. FILE - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz attends a debate fter his speech at the parliament Bundestag in Berlin, Germany, on Oct. 19, 2023. Chancellor Olaf Scholz says Germany needs to start deporting on a large scale migrants who dont have the right to stay in the country, adding to increasingly tough talk on migration since his coalition performed badly in two state elections earlier this month. Scholzs comments were published Friday, Oct. 20, 2021, as a leading German opposition figure called for the center-left chancellor to dump his quarrelsome coalition partners and instead form a government with conservatives to deal with migration issues. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) BERLIN (AP) Chancellor Olaf Scholz says Germany needs to start deporting on a large scale migrants who don't have the right to stay in the country, adding to increasingly tough talk on migration since his coalition performed badly in two state elections earlier this month. Scholz's comments in an interview with weekly Der Spiegel were published Friday, as a leading German opposition figure called for the center-left chancellor to dump his quarrelsome coalition partners and instead form a government with conservatives to deal with migration issues. Scholz has signaled an increased desire to take personal charge of migration over the past two weeks, following a pair of regional elections in which voters punished his three-party coalition, which has squabbled publicly on a wide range of subjects. Mainstream conservatives won both votes and the far-right Alternative for Germany made significant gains. Last week, Scholz announced legislation to ease deportations of unsuccessful asylum-seekers. He met with opposition leader Friedrich Merz and two leading state governors to discuss ways of tackling migration a subject on which his opponents have assailed the government relentlessly. On Monday, the government notified the European Commission of temporary border controls at the Polish, Czech and Swiss frontiers. Shelters for migrants and refugees have been filling up in recent months as significant numbers of asylum-seekers add to more than 1 million Ukrainians who have arrived since the start of Russia's war in their homeland. In Friday's interview, Scholz reiterated that too many are coming. We must finally deport on a large scale those who have no right to stay in Germany, he was quoted as saying, adding that we must deport more and faster. One of the opposition's top figures, Bavarian governor Markus Soeder, earlier Friday suggested that Scholz dismiss his junior coalition partners the environmentalist Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats and form a government of national common sense with his conservative Union bloc, German news agency dpa reported. He argued that there needs to be a fundamental turnaround in migration policy. Asked what the chancellor thought of that idea, Scholz spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit replied: Nothing. With former President Donald Trump holding healthy leads in national and early-voting state polls, the South Carolina Republican primary could end up being a must-win contest for the Palmetto States two homegrown White House hopefuls. Both former Gov. Nikki Haley and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott trail the former president by far in the race for the GOP nomination. Haleys polling has improved in recent months after her widely lauded performances in the first two GOP presidential debates, though shes still only registering a little less than 8% of Republican voter support compared to Trumps 58%, according to a RealClearPolitics average of national polls. Scott, however, has remained polling in the single digits nationally and in Iowa and New Hampshire, which kick off GOP nominating process. That means South Carolina could be a more dire contest for the U.S. Senates only Black Republican. And the Scott campaign is trying to keep donors from reconsidering their financial support, while a super PAC backing the senator pulls ads from television screens. Mikee Johnson, Scotts campaign finance co-chairman, told donors on a September call that they should stay on the senators team at least until the South Carolina primary, according to Politico. It shouldnt be lost on us that were still going to win the votes in South Carolina, Johnson said in a call with donors, according to POLITICO. And this is where we make the difference, right? We make the difference when we win South Carolina. Ultimately, performances in early states whether they be victories or finishes in the top three or four in a splintered field can show donors that candidates are viable and keep contributions coming in to keep campaigns operating. In the recent past, South Carolina proved to be a campaign-saving firewall for another presidential candidate on the verge of faltering: Joe Biden. In 2020, Biden lost the nominating contests in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada before a victory in the South Carolina Democratic Primary catapulted him to the nomination and eventually the presidency. Scotts team is hoping his home state can do the same for Scott as it did for Biden that is, if he can win here. Winning the South Carolina primary is key on the Republican side. Every winner of the South Carolina Republican contest since 1980 has gone on to win the nomination with the exception of 2012 when Mitt Romney won the nomination but Newt Gingrich won the Palmetto States primary. Is South Carolina do-or-die for Scott? Scott wouldnt say if his home state, which will hold the First in the South GOP presidential primary Feb. 24, is a must-win for his campaign. I think well get back on the campaign trail and continue to work in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, Scott said earlier this month while speaking to reporters in Greenville. I dont know that theres a do-or-die anywhere, but every single day, you should be on the campaign trail trying to tell people why you should be the next president. Scotts lagging poll numbers led to a super PAC supporting Scotts campaign to cancel TV ad buys for the fall and instead spend money to focus on its door-knocking program, a more-time consuming method of voter outreach that also can be the most effective way of convincing people to support a candidate. I think Tim Scott will have to pick up some momentum in the early states, or he wont survive past South Carolina, said Scott Huffmon, the director of the Winthrop University poll. If he doesnt have a good showing in Iowa and New Hampshire and loses South Carolina, it will be tough to argue you can keep going. U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-South Carolina, (right) signs paperwork Monday, Oct. 16, 2023, at Docs Barbecue, to run in the 2024 S.C. Republican Presidential Primary. Joseph Bustos/jbustos@thestate.com When Scott signed his paperwork Monday to file to appear on the South Carolina Republican primary presidential ballot, he sat at a table that had a sign that said Tim Scott Country, below a Palmetto tree and blue crescent, to resemble the state flag. Scott garnered 6% of support in the latest Winthrop University Poll of likely South Carolina Republican voters. The harder we work, the luckier we get, Scott said when asked about his polling numbers. I am so excited to be home in South Carolina. We continue to have a positive message. Hope and opportunity goes a long way. We need who will restore hope, create opportunities and unite our country. I think Im that candidate. The idea of the Palmetto State as a firewall for Scott also could apply to Haley, who was twice elected governor of the state, including winning reelection in 2014 with 55% of the vote. Haley also finished first in a four-person primary for the GOP nomination for governor in 2010, garnering nearly 49% of the vote. Haley has been climbing in presidential primary polls, securing a clear second place in South Carolina ahead of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and placing second in several recent polls out of New Hampshire. The latest Winthrop University poll has Haley solidly in second place, with 18% of the support of South Carolina Republicans and Republican-leaning independents. No one will outwork Nikki Haley, and shes proving it by working hard in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina, said Haley campaign spokesman Ken Farnaso. She takes nothing for granted, and we are confident well do well in all three (states). However, Trump continues to lead in the early states, including holding an 29-point lead over Haley in South Carolina in the latest Winthrop University poll. But Huffmon said a loss in South Carolina for Haley, although not helpful, may not spell the end of her campaign. I dont think its an absolute nail in the coffin, but it certainly will be detrimental to her ability to continue to fundraise, Huffmon said. Former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley signed autographs and rallied with supporters on March 13, 2023 at Horry-Georgetown Technical College in Myrtle Beach, S.C. as she seeks the Republican nomination for president in 2024. March 13, 2023. JASON LEE/jlee@thesunnews.com Campaign cash is the key Coming into the race from a state that holds an early primary, Scott would seem to have a natural advantage. Scotts campaign entered the race for the White House with $22 million campaign cash already on hand, money carried over from his 2022 Senate reelection campaign. It is enough money to carry the campaign through the South Carolina primary. His campaign has used that money to run ads in early-voting states to help introduce South Carolinas junior senator to the nation. That strategy also means they have been burning through cash. On top of his starting $22 million, Scott has raised $12 million during his campaign, which he launched in May, and finished September with $13.3 million cash on hand. Through the end of September of this year, Haley has raised $26 million and has $11.6 million cash on hand. South Carolina political consultant Rob Godfrey, who previously worked in Haleys administration, said Haley and Scotts campaign cash position gives them a lot of space to campaign in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. I dont think theres any state thats do-or-die for the candidates like Gov. Haley or Sen. Scott who have had the good fortune of raising as much money as they have over the course of this campaign, Godfrey said. The two of these candidates have always been known for their prodigious fundraising abilities and have the resources they need to compete all the way to Super Tuesday from what I can tell, and I wouldnt expect either one of them to be thinking about any sort of exit strategy before that time. What happens in earlier states of Iowa and New Hampshire also will shape what happens in South Carolina and subsequent states. The field will most likely narrow to two to four viable candidates after Iowa and potentially down to three after New Hampshire. The natural winnowing process will allow us to see the best candidates rise to the top, and that will make each state in which they compete more and more important, Godfrey said. Whether South Carolina becomes a do-or-die state also depends on how well the candidates do in earlier states and how close the vote totals are in the First in the South primary, Godfrey said. That all depends the most on how close the margin is to the frontrunner (who) we have no reason to believe wont be a significant frontrunner at that point, Godfrey said. Ultimately, the question is whether candidates will have the financial resources to continue their campaigns. Losses in the early primaries may affect donors commitments to candidates to support a campaign. Success at the ballot box breeds success in fundraising, Huffmon said. Seating window seat passengers first saves time, says US airline. So why dont more do it? A US airline will start boarding passengers with window seats first from next week, in a bid to reduce the time planes spend sitting on the ground. United Airlines said in an internal memo that it will start the new seating plan for economy class customers on 26 October. The plan - called WILMA, for window, middle and aisle - was tested at several locations and deemed to shave up to two minutes off boarding time. Variations of the WILMA approach have existed for many years. It spreads people out along the aisle of the airplane so that more people can put their luggage away at the same time. That's the main thing that speeds up the boarding process, explains Jason Steffen, an associate professor of physics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. After waiting in one boarding line too many, Steffen designed his own boarding model a decade ago. Which passengers will the new boarding plan apply to? The change will begin with passengers in the fourth boarding group. Customers in first class and business class will see no change in their routine. And there's also no change for those with priority-boarding privileges, including travellers with disabilities, unaccompanied children, active-duty military, and families with children who are 2 or under. Chicago-based United said that when multiple customers are on the same economy reservation, such as families, they will be allowed to board together. The new policy will be used on domestic flights and some international flights. United Airlines says that it will start boarding passengers in economy class with window seats first starting next week. - AP Photo/Patrick Semansky The quest for the perfect boarding process Airlines have long searched for the perfect boarding process. Even Orville and Wilbur Wright flipped a coin to see who got the lone seat on their flying machine. United is making changes now because, it says, average boarding time has increased by two minutes since 2019. Tinkering with the boarding process has increased since airlines began charging fees for checked bags more than a decade ago. Those fees encourage passengers to bring carry-on bags, which generally are still free except at low-cost carriers such as Spirit and Frontier, in the US. Any time you have to wrestle with luggage up over your head, it's going to slow things down, Steffen said. Airlines prioritise priority boarding The push to board faster is also complicated by the airlines' desire to sell early boarding or give it to elite members of their frequent-flier programs. Only after those people are seated - generally near the front of the plane - can everyone else board, passing the priority customers on the way to their seats in the back of the cabin. Priority boarding is a moneymaker. Up to a certain point, that money is worth more than worrying about boarding three minutes earlier every time, said Seth Miller, who writes about the travel experience at Paxex.aero. Two minutes doesn't make much difference on a transatlantic flight, but on heavily trafficked shorter routes - between the Hawaiian islands, for example - delays tend to cascade, pushing late-day flights farther and farther behind schedule. If a few passengers dawdle while stowing their bag and finding their seat, it can make the difference between a flight being on time or late in the governments official statistics. The Seattle City Council voted to pass an ordinance on Sept. 19 that aligns the citys drug use laws with legislation the state passed earlier this year. With the ordinance passing in a 6-3 vote, Seattle Police Department (SPD) officers now have the ability to arrest people for using drugs in public, specifically in situations where they deem the person a threat to others. In instances where the person is instead considered a threat to themselves, an officer will be permitted to coordinate efforts for diversion, outreach, and other alternatives to arrest, according to the ordinance. The Seattle City Attorneys Office has not had the power to prosecute drug cases since 2012, according to the mayor. Ann Davison is Seattles current city attorney. Between January 1, 2023, and June 30, 2023 the first six months of the year Seattle has recorded 378 overdose deaths compared to 202 in the same period in 2022, an increase of 87%, the legislation reads. The widespread availability and use of these deadly synthetic drugs are straining city resources and, as such, negatively impacts the provision of other emergency medical services. The ultimate goal, according to the mayors office, was to craft a local law that puts Seattle in compliance with the new state law that took effect July 1. The legislation will divert $20 million to increase treatment and overdose response services and $7 million for new capital investments focused on leading with drug treatment. Councilmember Lisa Herbold noted in a statement after the ordinance passed the legislation isnt perfect, but she believes its better than the bill that failed during the summer. As a legislator, sometimes you must have the conviction to vote no, to get to a better version of yes. The bill that passed today is vastly improved over the bill that failed in June. While this compromise legislation is not perfect, it makes unprecedented legal commitments to noncriminal intervention of public drug use while allowing police to take action when necessary, Herbold said. In a statement, Councilmember Andrew Lewis called the ordinance the most substantive commitment to treatment and diversion in Seattles history. He believes this new strategy will eliminate errors seen previously. By taking the time and listening to the experts, we ensured our approach wont continue to make the same mistakes of the past. Rather, we are investing in a new system that prioritizes recovery while still taking a strong stance on public drug use, Lewis said. Opposition to the legislation But not everyone on the city council is satisfied with this decision. This bill does not provide treatment. The $27 million is not to scale up treatment options in the city that would serve the very large-scale crisis that we have, Councilmember Tammy Morales said during the vote Tuesday. That money is coming to the city over the course of about 18 years which is ultimately less than a million dollars a year for treatment. In a statement after the vote was completed, Morales, citing her background in public health and her steadfast commitment to addressing root causes of behavioral health and substance use disorder, as well as my duty as Budget Chair was clear in stating her opposition to the legislation. I cannot in good conscience vote for this bill as it doubles down on harmful, ineffective, and costly incarceration to address a public health crisis with no assurances that there will be significant new funding to provide treatment on demand and diversion strategies instead of jail, Morales said. Previous developments lead to upcoming moves Governor Jay Inslee signed SB 5536 in May. The legislation made drug possession within the state a modified gross misdemeanor as a penalty with a maximum of 364 days in jail, depending on the circumstances after the House passed it on an 83-13 vote during the legislatures special session. Inslee created the legislative special session after conversations with Democratic and Republican legislative leaders stalled in creating a state-wide drug ordinance. In June, one month after the statewide bill passed, a similar proposal for the city of Seattle was voted down by the city council by a slim 5-4 margin. Councilmembers Alex Pederson, Debora Jaurez, Dan Strauss and Sara Nelson voted in favor of the ordinance, but Councilmember Andrew Lewis was the deciding vote against passing the bill. Lewis said he planned to vote for the measure, but decided not to, stating the issue required further discussion in committee before being voted into law. With the ending of community court, without any additional process, I just cant do it today I just cant, Lewis said during the city council meeting in June. Community Court, a diversion program that gives people accused of low-level, non-violent misdemeanors a chance to get their charges dismissed, was shut down this year after Davisons office pulled their support of the program, citing it was costly and ineffective. Her office also said defendants failed to engage with court resources and resolve their cases through this process. After the initial Seattle drug ordinance vote failed, Mayor Bruce Harrell appointed a 24-member work group to tackle the drug crisis comprised of the four corners of Seattle government the Mayors Office, Seattle City Council, Seattle Municipal Court, and Seattle City Attorney along with leaders in law enforcement, diversion programs, and service provision, and other subject matter experts. With the ordinance passing the full council, Harrell said in a statement Tuesday evening he will issue an executive order that will help SPD determine policy for those found using or possessing drugs. As soon as this bill reaches my desk, I will sign it, Harrell said. After analyzing final adjustments to the bill and amendments from throughout the process, my office will issue an executive order in the next week to provide training and guidance to the police department on implementation, as well as metrics to track progress. Contributing: Steve Coogan [Source] The Chinatown-International Districts Little Saigon neighborhood in Seattle will be home to the new Vietnamese Culture and Economic Center. About the center: After more than a decade of planning and fundraising, nonprofit Friends of Little Sai Gon (FLS) secured the 16,500-square-foot property on South Jackson Street on Sept. 11. The Vietnamese center, which is estimated to cost $55 million, will include commercial spaces, over 70 units of affordable housing, history and art exhibitions and cultural programs. We are here today because of the hard work, sacrifices and dreams of those who came before us, and we are excited to continue this work for the next generation, FLS board president Tam Dinh said, according to Crosscut. Preserving Vietnamese culture: The project, which is part of the Little Saigon 2030 Action Plan, was created to support the Little Saigon neighborhood, preserve its history and culture and bring positive change to the community. FLS was formed in 2011 to address concerns about the survival of Little Saigon due to issues like housing, crime and displacement. Trending on NextShark: Watch: Bali monkey negotiates for food in exchange for woman's stolen iPhone Our project is unique because its been such a long-term vision for this community, to own and control our own site, FLS Executive Director Quynh Pham told The Seattle Times. We really want to inject more positivity and give our community members hope theres change coming into the community we can be proud of. Funding for the center: FLS aims to raise $3 to 5 million through grants and contributions and hopes to break ground in 2025. The nonprofit organization has already reportedly secured $11 million in funding, with a federal grant and city support. As for the cost of most of the residential portion, it will be managed in partnership with the Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority. Trending on NextShark: Watch: Chinese woman quits full-time job so she can try 100 different jobs More on NextShark: Sriracha buyers say new Huy Fong Foods bottles taste different Interview: K-pop legend Rain to perform US concerts for 1st time in 15 years Woman whose body was found in a suitcase in Georgia in 1988 identified Kenneth Chesebro is the third out of 18 co-defendants in the Georgia election interference case to plead guilty. A former lawyer to Donald Trump has pleaded guilty in an election subversion case in the US state of Georgia. Kenneth Chesebro is the third of 19 co-defendants to plead guilty in a deal with Fulton County prosecutors. He is accused of putting forward a slate of fake pro-Trump electors in Georgia and other states to overturn the outcome of the 2020 election. Mr Trump is among those charged in the case. He has pleaded not guilty. Chesebro's plea deal comes a day after another ex-Trump lawyer, Sidney Powell, admitted guilt in the case. A third co-defendant, bail bondsman Scott Hall, struck a plea deal with prosecutors in late September. Chesebro pleaded guilty to a single felony count of conspiracy to file false documents. His deal with prosecutors on Friday came as jury selection began in his case. The trial will no longer go forward. Under the plea deals, the former defendants will have to testify under oath in forthcoming trials. Chesebro faces five years of probation, a $5,000 (4,109) fine and community service. He also must provide documents and evidence related to the case and write an apology letter to citizens of Georgia. He had faced a total of seven charges in the Georgia election interference case, including conspiracy to commit forgery and conspiracy to commit impersonating a public officer. Chesebro is an appellate lawyer who first became involved in the Trump campaign's post-election efforts in Wisconsin before expanding into other states lost by Mr Trump. He is accused of helping to devise a plan to submit fake slates of electors for Mr Trump. Specifically, it is alleged he wrote a memo that provided instructions for how such electors in states including Georgia should proceed to meet and cast votes for Mr Trump. His guilty plea can be seen as a victory for Fulton County prosecutors as they continue to build their case against Mr Trump, said Atlanta lawyer Rachel Kaufman. This embedded content is not available in your region. "The chips are falling and falling on Trump," Ms Kaufman told the BBC. "Chesebro pleading guilty and agreeing to testify truthfully against his co-defendants is the biggest blow yet to any defence they've been building. Chesebro was like the captain of Trump's legal team - and was often the only link between Trump and the other co-conspirators," she said. In total, the former president faces 13 felony counts - including racketeering - for allegedly pressuring state officials to reverse results in the presidential election. He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, and has described the case as politically motivated. With additional reporting from Madeline Halpert. You might recognize the friendly, mustachioed face of Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Tyler Butterworth from his Instagram Reels that mimic super models doing ASMR on luxury vehicles. Armed with a small hand microphone in one recent iteration, Butterworth strokes a military-grade Gator, sensually caressing the generic service vehicle to mock its Mercedes counterpart. As funny as his videos are, however, they actually arent just for laughs. Butterworth has been using them as a recruiting tool like a true shammer. My inspiration was to do less work, he told Military Times. I very quickly realized that most kids were looking to recruit dont even know their own phone number or have an email address. I figured the way to communicate [with them] best is the way they do with each other, and thats through social media. The results, so far, are promising. Butterworth said about 90 percent of his recruits come via social media, namely Instagram, though his videos are popular on TikTok as well. And the effort hasnt gone unnoticed by the Army or National Guard. Butterworth is now transitioning from serving with the Virginia Army National Guard in the recruiting and retention battalion to the National Guard Bureaus marketing team. Despite the fact that TikTok use has been discouraged over operational security concerns and Chinese surveillance, the platform has proved a useful tool for recruiters, helping the Army meet recruits where they hang out. At the highest level, the Army supports this, he said. I actually just briefed the secretary of the Army, the sergeant major of the Army, and the chief staff of the Army this past week on an innovative idea on how we can better target people to enlist and spread information to soldiers currently in the Army. As for the videos, though Butterworth is using them for recruiting purposes, they also allow him an opportunity to be goofy, be himself, and learn new things in the military. Butterworth originally tried out more informative, serious clips before realizing that his bread and butter was humor. I like being funny, so Im just going to be myself, and thats when I started making the funny videos, Butterworth said. I truly enjoy making videos and being funny. The more people that I can involve in it, the better it shows our diversity and who we are as soldiers. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) The fate of an Oklahoma death-row inmate is under scrutiny. Now, Oklahoma lawmakers and the inmates attorney is pushing for new DNA testing and clemency ahead of the execution date. Phil thought to himself, If I get in that cage, thats death,' said Shawn Nolan, Hancocks attorney. In a push to save Philip Hancocks life six weeks before his execution, his defense attorney, lawmakers, and advocates filed an application for clemency and urged Governor Kevin Stitt to commute his sentence. Hancock, 59, is scheduled to be executed November 30 for the 2001 murders of Robert Bob Jett Jr. and James Lynch. During the 2004 trial, the district attorney was Bob Macy. Advocates at todays news conference called his time in office a scandal-plagued era. Two of the lawmakers at the meeting, Rep. Kevin McDugle, R-Broken Arrow, and Rep. JJ Humphreys, R-Lane, are also fighting to save another inmate put on death row during Macys time in office, Richard Glossip. Although they are both in favor of the death penalty, the two representatives are concerned about the possibility of executing an innocent Oklahoman. Republican-led Oklahoma committee considers pause on executions amid death case scrutiny Hancock has always admitted he killed Jett and Lynch, however he claims he killed them to stay alive. Self defense. Who came up with murder? asked Rep. McDugle. Advocates argue the night of the murder, Hancock was unarmed and lured into the OKC home. Jett was armed with a handgun and two knives and was high on methamphetamine, said Rep. McDugle. Jett attacked Hancock with a metal bar and ordered him to get into a locked cage. He struggled with these men, got the gun away, and he shot them both, said Nolan. If you try to come and put me in that cage, and you tried to do what they tried to do, Ill kill you, said Rep. Humphreys. Wrongfully convicted man files motion for finding of actual innocence On Thursday, advocates released a new signed statement from Hancocks former girlfriend. She writes the couple got into a fight about drugs. She became angry with him and did not want him to tell her what to do. She wrote, while under the influence, I impulsively asked Bob if I could pay him a few hundred dollars to get Phil off my back. She added, I didnt tell Phils trial team because I was in denial about my roll in all of it. 21-04-21_Quick-Katherine-FINALDownload Advocates also released a jurors written statement that said she wish she knew about the girlfriends involvement. She wrote, there is blood on her hands. The juror, who was also a trauma nurse, said she wished she had been told about Hancocks alleged frontal-lobe damage, because she knew how those injuries can impact decision making. The former juror added, If there is a chance for this information and evidence to be heard and reviewed by a court, that would be good. 22-03-16_Hancock-juror-dec_RedactedDownload Nolan said a new DNA test will help prove there was a struggle at the scene of the crime. He believes this new evidence would also sway a jury. But, courts have not allowed us in because of the procedural rules that prevent you from going back to court, said Nolan. Have big stories come to you: Subscribe to KFOR News Alert emails Advocates said they are urging the new Oklahoma County District Attorney and Oklahoma Attorney General to take another look. In a statement, Attorney General Gentner Drummond said, Two Oklahoma courts have carefully considered Phillip Dean Hancocks request for DNA testing and properly rejected that request. It is telling that Hancock made this request almost five years after exhausting all his appeals. No amount of DNA evidence can prove Hancocks indefensible claim of self-defense. At trial, Hancocks own expert contradicted the defendants version of events. Hancock pursued an unarmed and injured Robert Jett Jr. into the backyard of Mr. Jetts home. A witness heard Mr. Jett say, Im going to die! and Hancock respond, Yes, you are! before Hancock shot him again. The evidence is clear that Hancock murdered Mr. Jett and James Lynch. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. Sen. Vance accuses Biden of using Israel's fight against Hamas to push for more Ukraine aid: 'Disgusting' Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, is accusing President Biden of using Israel's fight against Hamas terrorists to push additional aid to Ukraine in its ongoing battle with Russia, describing the effort in the president's address from the Oval Office Thursday night as "completely disgraceful." Vance, who published an opinion piece on the topic in The Hill with Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts ahead of Biden's address, made it clear that he finds the situations in Israel and Ukraine to be very different. "Instead of holding up aid to Israel for additional Ukraine funding, Congress should give the situation in Israel the separate debate and vote that it deserves," Vance and Roberts wrote. The long piece also focused on their beliefs that wealthy European countries near Ukraine, such as Germany and France, should step up and provide "considerably more assistance." During Biden's address, which focused primarily on the conflicts in both countries, he said he would be sending Congress an "urgent budget request" on Friday to fund America's national security needs, which includes supporting critical partners like Israel and Ukraine. BIDEN DECLARES IT IS 'VITAL' TO US SECURITY FOR ISRAEL, UKRAINE TO SUCCEED IN WARS, WILL REQUEST FUNDING Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, criticized President Biden's efforts to push for more funding for Ukraine while addressing Israel's fight against terrorist group Hamas during an address from the Oval Office on Thursday. Vance responded to the president's push for funding in both countries in real time on X, formerly Twitter, and called his efforts "disgusting." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "What Biden is doing is disgusting. Hes using dead children in Israel to sell his disastrous Ukraine policy to skeptical Americans. They are not the same countries, they are not the same problems, and this effort to use Israel for political cover is offensive. Hell no," the senator wrote. Vance joined Sean Hannity as a guest Thursday night to further explain his thoughts, where he added that it's "completely disgraceful" that Biden is trying to sell Americans on a "Ukrainian escalation" while addressing Israel's fight against Hamas since the terrorist group launched its attack on the Jewish state on Oct. 7. "If he wants to sell the American people on $60 billion more to Ukraine, he shouldn't use dead Israeli children to do it. It was disgusting," Vance said, reiterating that "it is a separate country and a separate problem." The congressman also doubled down on his belief that Europe is depending on America's generosity to get away with not assisting Ukraine more as the country's fight against Putin's invasion nears 20 months. "We just can't afford it and we can't support the weapons necessary to fight a two, or God forbid, a three-front conflict if China invades Taiwan," Vance explained. WATCH PRESIDENT BIDEN'S THURSDAY NIGHT ADDRESS FROM OVAL OFFICE Biden made the push for funding to both Israel and Ukraine by stating both countries are fighting off enemies who want to "completely annihilate" them. President Biden's primetime address Thursday evening focused primarily on the Israel and Ukraine, and their respective wars against terrorist group Hamas and Russia. "Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common they both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy," the president said, later describing Hamas as terrorists and Putin as a tyrant. Funding to Ukraine is becoming increasingly controversial in Washington, D.C., as some Republicans seek to cut off aid going to the country, which tallies more than an estimated $100 billion of taxpayer money since Feb. 2022, according to the White House. "We have problems funding Social Security, we have problems funding, Medicare, Medicaid, all the things that have already been promised to our people we have trouble funding, and we just don't have extra money just to be sending to another country," Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., told Fox News Digital earlier this month. CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Disagreements over aid to Ukraine almost caused a government shutdown last month as lawmakers could not come to an agreement on spending before the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30. Then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy passed a spending patch without the additional multi-billion dollar Ukraine assistance as requested by President Biden, which ultimately averted the shutdown. The temporary funding patch expires Nov. 17, bringing Congress to another potential showdown in a few weeks. Original article source: Sen. Vance accuses Biden of using Israel's fight against Hamas to push for more Ukraine aid: 'Disgusting' Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) Globe Business has gathered the who's who in business practices at G Summit 2023 to spark conversations on new perspectives and inspire businesses to take action on transformation towards sustainability and resilience. Key personalities from various industries such as information technology and business process management (IT-BPM), financial services industry (FSI), supply chain, retail, and hotel, restaurant, and catering (HoReCa) attended the event. "The G Summit is a premier thought leadership event wherein we invite our customers to learn a little bit about more forward-thinking topics that can help them in driving their businesses forward," said KD Dizon, Vice President and Head of Globe Business. KD Dizon - Vice President and Head of Globe Business. Photo from Globe Business This year's theme, "Phase: Forward", is divided into distinct phases, each addressing a pivotal aspect of business evolution. "It's really being able to take the businesses to the next level or go forward and that's why we've actually brought in a lot of industry speakers that can help our customers think in a broader view," Dizon told CNN Philippines' The Scoop. The head of Globe Business herself took the audience through the first phase, "Re-evaluation Phase: Revisiting Business Practices," highlighting the importance of reviewing business practices essential for long-term success. "This whole summit aims to encourage and enable enterprises and MSMEs in creating opportunities and overcoming barriers with the right digital solutions a key element that Globe Business is more than ready to provide, as we're committed to empowering businesses of all sizes and helping them achieve long-term success and sustainability," Dizon said during her talk last Oct. 3. The second phase was the "Revamp Phase: Agile Business Models Powered by Tech Innovations" which featured insights by Josiah Go, an award-winning author, marketer, innovator, and entrepreneur. Josiah Go - Award-winning author, marketer, innovator, and entrepreneur. Photo from Globe Business "In our collective journey to 'Phase: Forward', it's imperative for businesses to harness the right technology and solutions that bolster the core functions of our organizations and future-proof our businesses to avoid strategic drift," Go told the G Summit attendees. "True agility isn't just about quick shifts. It's about how businesses can be revamped, embracing innovation, and realizing the immense benefits that come from experimenting with innovative business models," he added. The G Summit also included a talk by customer experience futurist Blake Morgan, who championed the "Refinement Phase: Grounding Decision-Making to be Customer-Focused." Customer experience futurist Blake Morgan. Photo from Globe Business "It's paramount that we consistently deliver enhanced and elevated customer experiences. So it is necessary to refine strategies and decision-making with our customers in mind. Leveraging the right data, understanding it, and acting upon it is fundamental in acquiring and retaining our valued customers," said Morgan, who is the author of two books on customer experience, the latest of which is "The Customer Of The Future: 10 Guiding Principles For Winning Tomorrow's Business." Lastly, Globe Chief Marketing Officer, Pia Gonzalez-Colby helmed the "Resilient Phase: Transforming Brand Values for a Resilient Business" and stressed the importance of brand resilience. Pia Gonzalez-Colby - Globe Chief Marketing Officer. Photo from Globe Business Gonzalez-Colby, who has two decades of experience building brand resilience for global brands, said, "Resilient brands are not only able to weather the odd PR misstep or even global crisis, like say, a pandemic. They have built up enough positive credit during good times to withstand some of the more common-place challenges like retaining customer preference amidst fierce competition, economic downturns, or the inevitable price increases. In short, a resilient brand is critical to commercial success." After the plenary talks, Globe Business clients were able to network and consult with different partners in consultation pods at the G Summit. There were also breakout sessions that covered cloud-enabled network security, generative artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, and digital-powered MSME growth. "It's very important to always think that we need to be ready to disrupt ourselves, or else, somebody else will be the ones disrupting us. And Globe Business is your partner in being brave in that endeavor and helping you through the different phases of digital transformation," Dizon stressed. Beyond the G Summit, Globe Business continues to support enterprises with digital solutions that help future-proof companies via cloud solutions, secure business outcomes using cybersecurity; establish first-world connectivity, and inspire collaboration through a growing list of remarkable business applications. Explore digital solutions you can achieve with a partner you can rely on. Visit Globe Business' website to learn more about how Globe Business can help you digitally transform your company's tomorrow. A group of U.S. senators is demanding answers from the Social Security Administration to address why the agency, in violation of its own policy, has been reducing and suspending peoples benefits because of the money they received as COVID-19 relief payments. Senators Ron Wyden of Oregon, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania all signed the letter, addressed to acting SSA Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi on Wednesday saying they were deeply concerned that beneficiaries are receiving overpayment notices in error and wanted answers to a list of questions within 30 days. In 2020 and 2021, to counter the economic fallout of the COVID pandemic, the government distributed relief payments to eligible Americans totaling as much as $3,200. The payments typically arrived automatically in mailboxes or bank accounts. But, as KFF Health News and Cox Media Group television stations, including 11 Investigates, reported earlier this week , some recipients say the payments had an unintended consequence: They led the Social Security Administration to claw back other federal benefits, including monthly support payments for people who are poor, disabled, or at least 65. The covid relief, known as stimulus or economic impact payments, left some recipients with more money in the bank than the $2,000 asset limit for individuals receiving benefits through a Social Security program called Supplemental Security Income. As a result, the Social Security Administration has sent some people notices alleging they were overpaid and demanding they repay the government, according to people affected. In some cases, the agency cut off their monthly payments to recoup the alleged overage. That wasnt supposed to happen. According to the agencys rules, the COVID payments, also known as EIPs, do not count toward the asset limit. [W]e are concerned by recent reporting that SSI beneficiaries have received overpayment notices because of the EIPs, even though SSA determined that EIPs would never be counted toward eligibility for SSI, the senators wrote to Kijakazi. The letter cited the news report by CMG and KFF Health News. We sent it because ... its not right that Social Security made a mistake, and the beneficiary shouldnt have to pay for that mistake, Brown, who chairs the Senate Subcommittee on Social Security, said Thursday in an interview with CMGs WHIO-TV in Dayton. Were not going to drop this until they back off, Brown said, referring to the agency. The senators asked Kijakazi about the scope of the problem, including the number of people who had benefits reduced or suspended because of covid payments, the number who had benefits reinstated with or without an appeal, and the outcomes of appeals. They also asked what the agency has been doing about the issue. As you know, SSI benefits, while modest, have a substantial impact in the lives of the people who rely on them, the senators wrote. Benefit suspensions and overpayment notices regardless of the cause can have a profound negative impact in their lives. Further, they wrote, losing SSI eligibility risks a lengthy and bureaucratic process to restore eligibility and also risks beneficiaries access to Medicaid coverage. A spokesperson for the Social Security Administration did not respond to a request for comment about the letter and has not provided answers to prior questions on this subject. The COVID-related Social Security clawbacks are part of a larger picture. As KFF Health News and CMG reported last month, many Americans have been struggling with demands that they repay benefits the Social Security Administration says they never should have received. The collection efforts can cover years of payments and reach tens of thousands of dollars or more. In some cases, the alleged overpayments are the result of beneficiaries failing to comply with requirements. In others, they are the result of errors by the government. The same day the senators sent their letter to Kijakazi, the agency chief was being questioned on overpayments at a hearing convened by a House panel in the wake of the prior CMG and KFF reporting. Kijakazi revealed that about 1 million people have received overpayment notices from the agency in each of the last two fiscal years. She told the panel that Social Security employees work assiduously to pay the right person the right amount at the right time, and that the agency was conducting a top-to-bottom review of its handling of overpayments. If we determine that a beneficiary has been paid more than they should have received, we are required by law to seek recovery of the overpayment amounts, Kijakazi testified during the hearing. Solving the larger problem may require legislation, Brown said, adding he would try to change the law this year if thats whats necessary to get Social Security to do it right. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Man found shot and killed in car in Penn Hills Trump attorney Sidney Powell pleads guilty in Georgia election interference case 9 local Rite Aid stores set to close after company files bankruptcy VIDEO: Fire breaks out in Westmoreland County house DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Amir Weitmann Russia will pay for its support of the Palestinian militant group HAMAS, according to Amir Weitmann, the head of the libertarian caucus in Israel's ruling Likud Party, who spoke on Russian propaganda channel RT on Oct. 19. Weitmanns interview began with the host discussing the attack on Al-Ahli Hospital in the Gaza Strip. Weitmann interjected, emphatically emphasizing that it was not an Israeli attack but rather Palestinian terrorist propaganda. Read also: Israeli ambassador to Ukraine on the aftermath of Hamas attack interview According to multiple reports by independent OSINT analysts and US intelligence, the hospital incident was most likely caused by an errant missile launched by HAMAS or Palestinian Jihad. The Russian propagandist subsequently suggested that Moscow was proposing a peaceful resolution to the conflict, in response to which Weitmann exploded. I understand youre on the Russian payroll, and I understand this is Russian propaganda. But you have to be very careful, because, let me tell you, were going to finish this war. Were going to win because were stronger, Weitmann said. Read also: Hamas praises Putin and Russias role in Israel conflict After this, Russia will pay the price. Believe me, Russia will pay, stated the Israeli politician. War in Israel What is Known Large-scale hostilities in Israel began on Oct. 7. From the early morning, the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which is recognized by the US, UK and EU as a terrorist organization, repeatedly targeted the country with thousands of rockets and missiles. Read also: Ukrainian death toll from Hamas attack in Israel rises to 23 ambassador Armed Hamas militants then invaded southern Israel, killing people and taking hostages. In response to the Hamas attack, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords, striking the Gaza Strip. During the night of Oct. 8, Israel announced the restoration of control over the majority of the populated areas that had been penetrated by Palestinian militants. Israels Cabinet has declared a state of war for the first time since 1973. On Oct. 10, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that it had regained full control of the border with the Gaza Strip. The Hamas attack in Israel may have killed at least 1,400 people. More than 3,400 people were reported dead in Gaza. Read also: Ukrainian woman killed by Israeli strike on Gaza Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine After he cited upcoming medical appointments, former Palm Beach hotel developer Robert Bob V. Matthews has been granted a delay to report to federal prison by the same Connecticut judge who in July sentenced him to more than five years in prison for fraud, money laundering and tax-evasion. Much of the criminal case centered on Matthews role as the defacto former owner of the never-completed Palm House hotel renovation project at 160 Royal Palm Way in Palm Beach. The case involved the illegal transfer of funds between bank accounts in Florida and Connecticut, where he had residences. Matthews, who remains free on bond and lives in Palm Beach Gardens, had been scheduled to surrender Oct. 23 to authorities for incarceration in a still-unidentified prison to begin serving his sentence of 65 months. He had pleaded guilty in the long-simmering case in 2019. But in a ruling this month, Connecticut Judge Victor Bolden granted Matthews request to postpone his date of self-surrender to Nov. 27. Matthews had filed a request asking for the delay, which was granted in an order filed Oct. 3. The latter document cited a medical evaluation Matthews had scheduled for Oct. 21, which would last three to five days, and a follow-up appointment on Nov. 22. Matthews attorney wrote in the request that Matthews had been unable to schedule earlier appointments although he had asked his doctors for the speediest evaluation possible. The nature of Matthews medical condition was not specified in the judges order. Matthews was sentenced in Boldens Bridgeport courtroom July 31 on one felony count each of conspiracy, illegal monetary transactions and tax evasion. His prison term will be followed by three years of supervised release, the judge ruled. Matthews must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence under federal sentencing rules. Any restitution to be paid by Matthews has not yet been ordered by the court. Former Palm Beach developer Robert V. Matthews, left, arrives July 31 with supporters at the federal courthouse in Bridgeport, Connecticut, There he was sentenced to 65 months in prison after pleading guilty to three felony counts in a case related, in part, to misuse of investors' funds in the Palm House hotel-renovation project in Palm Beach. MATTHEWS SENTENCED IN JULY: Former Palm Beach developer Robert V. Matthews gets 65-month prison sentence in hotel case Prosecutors said Matthews spearheaded a fraud and money-laundering scheme that bilked more than $30 million out of about 61 foreign investors who put in $500,000 each. They were told their money would go to the renovation of the luxury Palm House hotel property, but Matthews instead spent it on himself. Matthews then-wife, Maria Mia Sneden Matthews, was charged with one count of tax evasion in the case. She pleaded guilty to that charge in April 2019 but has not been scheduled for sentencing. The couple divorced in June after 26 years of marriage. Nicholas Laudano, a former construction executive at the Palm House, was sentenced in June to supervised release and time served after he pleaded guilty in 2018 to two felony counts conspiracy to commit bank fraud and taking part in an illegal monetary transaction. Connecticut commercial real estate broker Gerry Matthews Robert Matthews brother is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 14, having pleaded guilty in a related case in 2018 to one felony count of conspiring to commit wire fraud. The Palm House hotel property at 160 Royal Palm Way is surrounded by construction fencing in this Nov. 24, 2021 photo. MATTHEWS ENTERS GUILTY PLEA: Former Palm Beach hotel developer Rober V. Matthews pleads guilty in fraud and money-laundering case Another man, Palm Beach attorney Leslie R. Evans, pleaded not guilty after being charged in the case in 2018 on multiple counts. Last April, the judge dismissed all of the charges against Evans and cleared his criminal record in the Palm House case after he completed a so-called pre-trial diversion program. Robert Matthews was arrested at his Palm Beach oceanfront mansion since sold in March 2018 on charges brought by U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut. He initially pleaded not guilty to 21 felony counts. His criminal schemes stretched between 2007 and 2018, court documents showed. In 2019, the unfinished Palm House project sold for $39.6 million in a sale authorized by a federal bankruptcy court. The new owner an affiliate of the international hospitality and real estate firm London & Regional Properties is renovating the 79-room building and grounds. Before it sold, the Palm House was mired for years in legal troubles, including lawsuits, foreclosure proceedings, investigations by the Securities Exchange Commission, town code violations and bankruptcy. Prosecutors did not object to Robert Matthews request for the postponement to surrender for prison, the judges order shows. * * Darrell Hofheinz is a USA TODAY Network of Florida journalist who writes about Palm Beach real estate in his weekly Beyond the Hedges column. He welcomes tips about real estate news on the island. Email dhofheinz@pbdailynews.com, call 561-820-3831 or tweet @PBDN_Hofheinz. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach man sentenced for fraud sees delay in reporting to prison Ben Gurion Airport A fourth evacuation flight with 79 Ukrainian citizens on board has left Israel for Romania, the Ukrainian Embassy in Tel Aviv reported on Facebook on Oct. 20. The charter flight to Bucharest took off from Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport at 22:30 local time on Oct. 19. The Embassy provided consular assistance to the Ukrainians during check-in, passport, and customs procedures. Read also: Senior Israeli politician warns Russia it will pay the price for supporting HAMAS The first evacuation flight departed Israel on Oct. 14, carrying 207 Ukrainian citizens. The second and the third charter flights evacuated 155 and 74 Ukrainians respectively on Oct 16. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine WASHINGTON (Nexstar) The U.S. House remains without a speaker and Republicans have been indecisive about how to move forward. The issue is also becoming even more heated as some Congress members and their families have been receiving threats over the issues. Several Republicans say their lives and family members were threatened for not supporting Jim Jordan for Speaker of the House. Jim Jordan needs to step up to the plate very strongly and condemn that. I mean not just say this is wrong, step up and condemn it, said Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.). Congressman Don Bacons wife was reportedly threatened, along with his political future. But Bacon isnt backing down. I hope he talks about a third vote and that hell concede if he loses more votes, said Bacon (R-Neb.). During the second round of voting on Wednesday, Jordan lost support. Weve got to figure out how to get Congress working again. I mean, we just cant be sitting here not moving forward, said Rep. David Trone (D-Md.). Some lawmakers say the House cant vote on legislation without a permanent speaker in place, so Republican Mike Flood is now proposing a new plan. We need to pass a resolution on the floor of the House of Representatives that names Patrick McHenry Speaker of the House of Representatives with the full authority to act, none of this pro tem business, he said. But after much debate over the issue throughout Thursday, Jordan said the plan was out. We made the pitch to members on the resolution as a way to lower the temperature and get back to work. We decided that wasnt where we were going to go, he said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. Severe storms with potentially damaging winds and large hail were barreling across the Charlotte region on Friday, National Weather Service meteorologists said. About 3,000 Charlotte-area customers had no power at 4:30 p.m., including 1,900 in Cabarrus County and 963 in Mecklenburg County, according to the Duke Energy outage map. Thunder rumbled and skies darkened above Lake Norman just after 3:30 p.m., after storms were reported earlier in the afternoon everywhere from South Carolina to the North Carolina mountains. Winds up to 50 mph and half-inch hail were possible until 4:30 p.m. in Huntersville, Concord and Kannapolis, according to a warning from the NWS office in Greer, South Carolina. Winds whipped hail and a heavy downpour across Mooresville around 3:45 p.m., and police sirens wailed along Interstate 77 at Mooresville exit 35 at the lake. On Twitter, the Huntersville Fire Department reported small, marble-sized hail about 4 p.m. Video sent to us of hail in Huntersville this afternoon! Gotta love NC Fall! #NCfall #CLTwx pic.twitter.com/tZWqGTOqAD Huntersville Fire (@Huntersville_FD) October 20, 2023 At 4:40 p.m., the NWS said 50-mph winds and half-inch hail were possible until 5:30 p.m. in Matthews, Indian Trail and Monroe. Mecklenburg County outages included about 900 customers just north of University City Boulevard (N.C. 49) and east of I-485. Charlotte-area outages fell to about 2,000 by 5 p.m., with most power restored in Mecklenburg County, according to Duke Energy. Scattered storms ahead of a cold front are expected across the region through evening, according to an NWS hazardous weather alert at 2:45 p.m. Friday. Flight delays By 5 p.m., at least 230 flights were reported delayed at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, according to Flight Aware.com, which tracks flights at the nations airports. Delays included at least 124 departures, or 15% of flights from the airport, and at least 106 incoming planes, or 12%. Charlotte forecast Any last rain should clear from Charlotte by 7 p.m., according to the NWS forecast at 5 p.m. Friday. Charlotte reached 68 degrees on Friday and is predicted to inch up to 70 Saturday and 71 on Sunday under sunny skies., the forecast showed. Skies should remain mostly sunny all week, according to the NWS. The high is expected to dip back down to 68 on Monday before rising to 70 Tuesday, 75 Wednesday, 76 Thursday and 75 on Friday, according to the forecast. A special weather statement has been issued for Concord NC, Huntersville NC and Kannapolis NC until 4:30 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/y70bQRH5cN NWS GSP (@NWSGSP) October 20, 2023 Editors Note: This story is part of a series profiling American youth killed this year by guns, a leading cause of death of children in the US. Read more about the project here. My little Spider-Man, his mother called him. Ayden King was 2 years old, and it seemed he had superpowers. He could pour his own milk, though he did spill a little, and he could pull up a chair and open a high cabinet to find a snack. One time he climbed over the metal railing on the balcony of their second-floor apartment. He was holding on out there, in the open space, until his mother pulled her little Spider-Man back onto the balcony. In a recent conversation with CNN, Chepial Williams remembered the time she couldnt save her son. She took off her glasses and wiped away tears. Felt like my whole heart had been ripped out of me, she said. Williams lived with Ayden and his two older sisters in an apartment complex on the south side of LaGrange, a medium-sized city about 65 miles southwest of Atlanta. Early in 2022, Williams had some trouble with a neighbor. Police reports say the other woman complained about Williams and her children, who incessantly make noises in the upstairs apartment that disturbs her and her family. The dispute kept escalating. One morning, the reports say, the other woman attacked Williams. Surveillance video reviewed by police showed her brandishing a black metal cooking pot wrapped in plastic bags. She charged at Williams and hit her on the head with the pot. A fight ensued, and an officer found Williams with a busted lip and blood on her sweatshirt. Gun violence is an epidemic in the US. Here are 4 things you can do today The other woman was arrested on charges that included battery. Williams was not arrested. According to a report, the other woman told police, Its okay, my family is coming from Birmingham and theyll take care of her situation. Williams said she was afraid for herself and her children. She got a black .380 handgun and practiced with it at the gun range. She hid it under her mattress or zipped it into her purse. It made her feel safer, at least some of the time. Ayden lived with his mother and sister in an apartment in LaGrange, Georgia. - Courtesy Chepial Williams On April 26, about two weeks before what would have been Aydens third birthday, it was dinnertime at the apartment. The kids were eating Sloppy Joes. Williams excused herself to use the bathroom. She recalled leaving her purse in the bedroom, on the nightstand. A while later, she heard a loud pop. Running into the bedroom, she saw Ayden on the floor, along with the gun. Read other profiles of children who have died from gunfire The next few minutes are jumbled in her memory. She fell on the floor, picked up her son, put him down, ran to ask a neighbor for help, prayed, and prayed, and prayed, kept pleading with Ayden, dont leave me, stay with me, and the neighbor tried CPR, and Williams fainted. Upon arrival, a police officer wrote in a report, I observed a black female holding the 2-year-old child and running towards me as I was exiting my patrol vehicle. The female handed me the 2-year-old child while she was crying and thats when I held the child and laid him down on the ground and immediately began CPR. The child was bleeding from his mouth and I did observe a gunshot wound to the center of his face near his nose. I continued CPR but did not feel any pulse. Ayden is one of more than 1,300 children and teens in the US killed by gunfire so far in 2023, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Firearms became the No. 1 killer of children and teens in America in 2020, surpassing motor vehicle accidents, which had long been the leading cause of death among Americas youth. Authorities are still investigating the incident. On Wednesday, LaGrange police Lt. Chris Pritchett told CNN that a detective had submitted the case file to prosecutors for review. Most accidental shooting deaths among children involve guns left loaded and unlocked, study finds In a recent interview, as she struggled with her emotions, Williams said she wished she hadnt gotten the gun. She was asked what other parents could learn from her experience. Just be careful, she said. Even if you have guns in the home, make sure theyre put up in a safe place. Anything could happen within a blink of an eye. Ayden loved Spider-Man and making up his own dance moves. - Courtesy Chepial Williams She could still hear the popping sound of the gun going off. Ayden was so quick, so curious. He was a whirlwind of motion and sound, dashing through the apartment, jumping on the bed, riding his toy motorcycle, inventing his own dance moves. An action figure brought to life. The sound of Ayden rang through Building B. And then, one night, it stopped. Its so quiet, his mother said. On her right forearm was a tattoo of Aydens name, date of birth, and two baby footprints. Williams and her daughters sat on the couch, reminiscing about the boy theyd lost. They were asked what they missed the most about him. Destiny, 7, considered the question. I miss the most she said, trying to find the words. I miss the most she said, still searching. He was here, she finally said. ZaNiyah, 10, said she had prayed for a baby brother, and then had a dream about him before he was born, and thought he was a miracle when he arrived. She missed the way he would get a strawberry Nutri-Grain bar and crawl into her bed with her, and they would have a snack together, and he would fall asleep. Ayden wore a Spider-Man jumpsuit in his casket. His mother looked at her little Spider-Man, and wished she could take his place. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com As the deranged attorney who once had Donald Trump s ear and led the litigation front of his 2020 coup attempt, Sidney Powell is sitting on a mountain of secrets. Now that shes flipped, she might be the most dangerous witness yet against the former president. On Thursday, just one day before the start of her Atlanta trial, Powell surprised the nation with a guilty plea. She cut a sweetheart deal, avoiding years behind bars for her role in a scheme to defraud the election and coordinate a covert GOP mission to access election computers in a rural Georgia county. However, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is getting plenty in return. Powell has agreed to give investigators any information they want about her private meetings with the former president, including documents in her possession that would detail his plan to stay in power after losing to his rival, President Joe Biden. One thing to note is just how favorable this plea deal is for her. Shes been permitted to plead guilty to misdemeanors to get this good of a deal, she really has to know something, said Amy Lee Copeland, a former federal prosecutor in Savannah, Georgia. Copeland pointed to the tell-all session that Powell apparently had with prosecutors late Wednesdayone that attorneys revealed in court when they announced this new agreement. I suspect that proffer pretty much directly led to this plea deal, Copeland said. The fact that she was in a meeting at the White House, she can testify to what Trump said at that meeting. And we dont have a whole lot of people whove been willing to do that. Thats going to be pretty powerful for the DA. Kraken Lawyer Sidney Powell Avoids Jail With Guilty Plea on Eve of Election Interference Trial Powell played a key role in Trumps multi-pronged attack to reverse the nations legitimate election. While others on Trumps team coordinated meetings of fake electors in different states and nudged members of Congress to halt certification of the electoral college vote, Powell tried to weaponize the judiciary by getting state and federal judges to overturn results. After vowing to release the Kraken during a Fox Business Network interview shortly after the November 2020 election, Powell filed lawsuits across the countryall of which failed miserably. She can talk about some of the people who are very high up in this indictment, Copeland noted. It might not be long before the American public gets a preview of just how damning Powells testimony can be. On Thursday, she agreed to testify against each co-defendant at every trialand the very first one starts today, with jury selection set to begin in the sectioned-off trial of Trump attorney Kenneth Chesebro, who authored legal memos about fake electors. Her access to the nations former leaderand her role as his court commandocannot be overstated. Although she was widely viewed by the legal profession as a kooky conservative and a peddler of dangerous conspiracy theories, Trump still tapped her for legal advice as he plotted to remain at the White House. At one point, he even considered empowering her as a special counsel to oversee a federal investigation into supposed voter fraud, according to The New York Times. One particular episode during Trumps final weeks in office encapsulates her proximity to the plot: an infamous Dec. 18, 2020 meeting at the Oval Office that one White House aide called unhinged. Powell joined a trio of Big Lie proponents: fellow Kraken lawyer Emily Newman, disgraced former Army general Michael Flynn, and former Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne. The meeting appeared to be premised on the idea that they could convince Trump he had the authority to take extreme measures in this time of fabricated crisis. They met in private for some 15 minutes before more reasonable White House personnel stepped in to run interference, only to discover that the ragtag band of misfits was driving a wedge between the then-president and his top White House lawyers. Trump Co-Defendant Just Cannot Get Unstuck From Sidney Powell During the House Jan. 6 Committee hearings last year, former White House lawyer Eric Herschmann recalled the shouting match that transpired once they shuffled into the room. What they were proposing, I thought, was nuts," Herschmann testified, singling out his interactions with Powell. She says, Well, the judges are corrupt... I'm like, Every one? Every single case in the country you guys lost? Every one of them is corrupt? Even the ones we appointed? Herschmann said. Prosecutors can now probe Powell about what was discussed during the first half of that meeting, with the threat of harsher legal punishment hanging over her head if she doesnt tell prosecutors everything. Those questions could bolster the DAs case by eliciting details about Trumps thinking at the time, potentially establishing the degree to which Trump was personally involved in her later criminal actionsthe ones to which shes already admitted to in court. Shes someone who would bring out the absolute wildest in Trump. The things he probably said to her would be jaw dropping. To that extent, its red meat for the criminal trial, said Kevin J. OBrien, a former federal prosecutor in New York. If the Fulton DAs Office squeezes Powells testimony for all its worth, it might be able to establish the highly sought after proof of mens rea, the notion that Trump knew what he was doing was just plain wrong. He probably vented to her about all the evil things that were happening to him and how he would wreak vengeance on a second term, OBrien added. Steve Sadow, Trump's lead attorney in the case, countered the notion that Powell could be dangerous. Assuming truthful testimony in the Fulton County case, it will be favorable to my overall defense strategy, he said, without clarifying what that might mean. Is Sidney Powell Secretly Funding the Oath Keepers Lawyers? The Feds Want to Know. And Powells danger as a witness doesnt just apply to the big boss. Powell also worked alongside humiliated former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani , another Trump lawyer who spent months spreading outright lies about fake election fraud. Giuliani is absolutely dead. Not that he doesnt have enough troubles already, but this is the worst blow yet to him shes got to be trouble for Trump and double trouble for Giuliani, OBrien said. The floodgates are going to start opening in the Georgia case and it really vindicates Willis approach to the case. Even if its a headache administratively, theyre going to have plenty of cooperating witnesses against the people left standing. Things have already been rough for Powell. As the time passed following Powells failure to drag the nations courts into supporting the MAGA revolution, the lawyer also lost her place in the former presidents inner circle. A year after her Kraken campaign, sources told The Daily Beast that she was unwelcome at Trump propertiesand advisers actually kept a lookout to make sure she couldnt get anywhere near him. Left on her own, Powell kept raising money for her nonprofit, Defending the Republic, a corporation that claimed to be on a fight to preserve the foundation of America. The Washington Post found that, in the year following the 2020 election, it had spent less than half of the $16.4 million it had raised. The Daily Beast reached out to a dozen people who touted making donations during that time, asking if Powells decision to eventually flip on Trump made them regret their support for her mission. Will Talcott, who describes himself as an American pilot now living in the Philippines, recalled sending her $100. She did what she had to do. I don't begrudge her, he said. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Simone Ledward Boseman Drops Her Debut Musical Project Under The Name sahn, Says She Carried Chadwicks Spirit In Her Work | Photo: Eric McCandless via Getty Images Simone Ledward Boseman, the widow of late actor Chadwick Boseman, is ready to step into the forefront with her debut musical project, the mornings, which is out now. The public initially learned of Simone through her relationship with the Golden Globe winner after they were spotted at LAX in 2015, though they kept their romance private. Now, as the California native is elevating personally, she believes its time to introduce her enlightened self, whom she calls sahn, to the world. sahn is not so much an alter ego. Sometimes I want to describe her like that, but shes more just the version of myself I am constantly aspiring to be, the California State Polytechnic University graduate said in an interview with Vibe. Shes Simone, elevated. Simone without the ego. Im always striving to just respond in a space that is that higher version of yourself. She represents who I am when I am at my best. Shes always growing, always a point I can reach up to, she added. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Simone LB (@s11mone) She met Boseman at a James Brown tribute concert ahead of the Godfather of Souls 2014 biopic, Get On Up. And the rest was history, reported Vibe. He proposed to Simone in October 2019 and they wed shortly after; the following year, Boseman died after privately battling colon cancer for four years. Simone has been writing songs ever since she was a young girl, and her love for music was so deep that she earned a bachelors degree in industry music studies. Mourning the loss of her soulmate, she naturally turned to what she knew best: writing poetry and music. Inspired by the example that he set in his relationship to the work, and his relationship with people that he worked with, she honed in on her craft as a way to cope during the grieving process. Though the song wake up, my love, a lullaby that was penned not long after Bosemans passing about pushing through sorrow. Simone did not want her project to be perceived solely as art from a grieving widow, so she selected angelsxdemons, which talks about the duality of having good and bad traits, as the lead single for the 9-track compilation. Any artists work is about the experiences that they have had, but myself as an artist is not encapsulated in grief. I have more to say, and I have more to contribute to more conversations than solely about the grieving process and loss, she said. She continued, I just got to a point where I had to acknowledge what was keeping me from really pursuing music in a real way. I think at the base of that was fear, which is what I think keeps a lot of artists from pursuing their work and reaching their full potential fear of failure. While processing her new life without Boseman, Simone kept busy by learning to play the guitar. Although creating music wasnt on her radar at the time, she eventually felt compelled and called to do so. I was also taking guitar lessons at that time, just trying to fill my day and fill my brain up with things. I had this progression that I was just playing with, trying to get my fingers comfortable, and it just turned into this song, she said. [The album] wasnt something that I had a goal of doing immediately. It just started happening and I felt really keenly aware of what I felt like God was telling me to do. She hopes that anyone who listens to the mornings will recognize her healing journey and unlock the value and power that comes with being transparent about what they feel. Theres a couple of lessons in there. Being vulnerable is okay, and you should do it not only for yourself as a method to understand your own emotions [but for others]. [Also] call yourself on your s**t. That is part of being vulnerable too, she said. As she moves forward, Simone is dedicated to utilizing the ways he impacted her life to continue living to the fullest. He changed my life. Knowing him and loving him changed my life. Losing him changed my life. I think that sahn is how I move forward, how I forge a path that is my own. This is how I now take the influence of someone elses legacy because I dont think that I am his legacy, she said. She added, His legacy is so much bigger than me. His legacy is in millions of people that were impacted by him. I could never encompass all of that. Hes just bigger than that. I think that what Im trying to do is create my own legacy, which is my work. His legacy is his work. My legacy is mine. Taking everything that I learned and how I was influenced by his legacy is how Im able to move forward and to continue to carry his spirit with me in my own work. Check out the music video for angelsxdemons below! Earlier this year, reporters from multiple local news organizations across northeastern Wisconsin began to fan out to help define a broad thesis: Behind closed doors, Wisconsin families face myriad struggles. Many of these are completely invisible to those who aren't in the same boat. The data we found was, at times, equal parts frightening and inspiring. We embarked on this project hoping that daylight on these issues might help break down the barriers which create them, or at least draw attention to the accomplishments of every family who has fought through adversity to keep our society whole and healthy and every supporter who pushes for a better, easier tomorrow. This effort was undertaken by The NEW (Northeastern Wisconsin) News Lab. The News Lab, presently in its fourth season, is composed of journalists at FoxValley365, the Green Bay Press-Gazette, The Post-Crescent in Appleton, The Press Times, Wisconsin Public Radio and Wisconsin Watch. The University of Wisconsin-Green Bays Journalism Department is an educational partner, and Microsoft is providing financial support to the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation and Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region to fund the initiative. Collected here is the series of stories gathered by reporters this year, listed in reverse-chronological order. Oct. 18: Green Bay area all-ages Pride event a microcosm of LGBTQ+ families' fight for support Ms. Deville interacts with fan Raena Fellers of Green Bay during the 14th annual N.E.W. Pride on Sept. 23, 2023, in De Pere, Wis. The event featured drag shows, live music, food trucks, vendors and displays highlighting the history of northeastern Wisconsin's LGBTQ+ community. Twirling in a rainbow skirt, Raena Fellers did her best to wait patiently for her hug from JoJo Jubilee. The performer is one of Raenas many favorite northeastern Wisconsin drag queens. Raena, 7, bounced with excitement as emcee Ivy Viola strolled out in her larger-than-life gown to start the NEW Prides Saturday afternoon drag show. She then joined other children approaching the performers, delighted to hand off dollar bills and share big smiles as queens lip-synced and danced to pop songs and showtunes. Raena and her parents, Lisa and Kim Fellers, got the best seats in the house center table, closest to the stage as soon as NEW Pride grounds opened at noon Sept. 23. Within minutes of the show starting, Raena got her hug. Read the story here. Oct. 18: Wisconsin LGBTQ+ history shows growing acceptance always sparks attacks, restrictions An LGBTQ flag is raised Wednesday, June 1, 2022, at the Capitol in Madison, Wis. The symbol of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender pride will be flown over the Capitols East Wing in recognition of LGBTQ Pride Month, which runs until the end of June. In June 2019, Gov. Tony Evers issued an executive order to raise the pride flag above the state Capitol for the first time in Wisconsin history. This is the fourth year the flag has flown below the U.S. and state flags on the east-wing flagpole. Wisconsin's LGBTQ+ residents in recent years have faced a wave of harassment, threats and legislation that aims to erode support and growing acceptance. In 2023 alone, about 650 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced across the country; at least 574 are specifically anti-trans. Such bills seek to block transgender people from access to basic healthcare, education, legal recognition or the right to publicly exist. But the current deluge of anti-LGBTQ+ activity across Wisconsin doesn't stop at the state Capitol. It also includes book bans, the diminishment of affirming spaces, court-sanctioned rights to deadname and misgender youth, pride event protests and social media-fueled pressure campaigns. They target LGBTQ+ people, sponsors, safe spaces and support networks. These efforts can have devastating effects, but are not new. Read the story here. Oct. 4: Families Matter series puts focus on Wisconsin families, but what will legislators do? Over the past seven months, journalists across six newsrooms in the NEW News Lab consortium have talked with northeast Wisconsin families about hurdles they face. Across 21 stories, families have shared their struggles to secure child care, feed their children, connect with mental health resources and cope with rising senior care costs. Additionally, families and the people working in the industries they interact with have told us what they would like to see done across the state to alleviate their struggles. And as these issues play out in the Legislature and the recent budget cycle, we examine how these potential policy solutions compare to what is playing out at the Capitol. Here's what we found. Sept. 20: These Wisconsin programs are cracking the code on lowering preschool suspensions, expulsions Joan Christnot, a teacher at Encompass Early Education & Care Inc., leads a group of young children in a song at the day care center in Allouez, Wis. on Monday, August 21, 2023. Seeger Gray/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin Stephanie Springer cant help but tear up when she tells the story of the 6-year-old girl who came under her care last year. Although the girl is not yet in first grade, shes already experienced trauma from varying origin points. She expresses her painful past in big, aggressive behaviors toward children and adults. A child and family advocate at Encompass Early Education and Care, Inc., Springers job is to add extra layers of support for children, educators and families. In the case of the 6-year-old girl, this meant working with the child one-on-one, her mother to set up counseling services and the school district to arrange an Individualized Education Program. Encompass's Child and Classroom Advocate Program is just one example of the many potential solutions cropping up across the state working to reduce the large number of early childhood suspensions and expulsions. Read the story here. Aug. 16: Wisconsin preschoolers are 5 times more likely to be expelled than K-12 students, but why? Jasmine Waldner takes students on a bike ride at Cedar Glade Family Learning Center on Friday July 21, 2023 in McFarland, Wis. Jovanny Hernandez / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel When Rachael Van Domelen answers calls from her sons child care center, she braces herself for uncomfortable conversations: apologies to another childs parents, a sit-down with her 4-year-old or both. One time, her son split open a teachers lip with a block. He hits other children or calls them names when he disagrees. His father, Mason Beaudry, called these episodes explosive and unpredictable. Hes so smart, it hurts. It makes things harder to navigate, Van Domelen said. If he's upset and wants to upset someone else around him, it does not take him very long to figure out how to do that. A 2005 nationwide study found children in state-funded prekindergarten programs including school settings, child care programs and more were three times likelier to be expelled than students in K-12 schools. In Wisconsin, that rate was more than five times higher. There's no evidence the trend has improved, said Walter Gilliam, the researcher behind the 2005 study. Read the story here. Aug. 16: Pandemic, aftermath add more stress to Wisconsin early childhood teachers' mental health Katie Dudley leads students while stretching on Thursday, March 23, 2023 at The Community Early Learning Center in Appleton, Wis. The Kindness Curriculum for 4K / early education classrooms uses activities to teach mindfulness at a young age, and help with the students and teachers social-emotional health.Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin Katie Dudley felt like she was regressing as a 4K teacher. Her students, although technically the same age she taught year after year, behaved completely differently. The reason was clear. Many parents told Dudley that being in her classroom was the first time their children had left the house or engaged with other children in two years which happened to be half their lives. They were 2-year-olds when the world shut down (for the pandemic), Dudley said. I really had to shift the way I responded to their social and emotional needs. I felt like I was teaching a bunch of 2-year-olds in 4-year-olds bodies, and my experience is with 4-year-olds, not 2-year-olds. For the first time in her 10 years as a 4K teacher at the Bridges Child Enrichment Center in Appleton, she felt inadequate as an educator. Read the story here. Aug. 3: Breaking The Cycle: Reclaiming The American Dream Passed in 1862, the Homestead Act championed the settlement of the United States' western territory by granting adult citizens 160 acres of public land in exchange for five years of residency. Land ownership soon became defined as The American Dream. Today, the majority of Americans still view homeownership in that way. A 2022 Mynd Consumer Insights Report showed that 78% of Americans identify homeownership with the American Dream. But, today many struggle to obtain that dream or reside passively in the homestead that was once the realized dream of their ancestor and has now become inadequate but they are unable to find the resources to make the change sometimes due to adverse childhood experiences. Read the story here. July 13: Can't find child care for your infant in Wisconsin? You're not alone. Industry experts break down why it's so difficult. Carolyn Nelson, right, with her mother Gloria Mathews and her 5-month-old daughter, Emma on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 in Appleton, Wis. Due to a lack of childcare Carolyn and her husband rely on her mom to drive 2.5 hours to take care of Emma when she needs to work. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin Parents have a lot to worry about when preparing for a baby: their health, hospital bills, whether or not the delivery goes smoothly the list goes on and on. But another concern is becoming more prominent. "(Child care) has literally been the biggest stress of my entire pregnancy not knowing exactly where our baby is going to go, if they're going to be safe, and just knowing the waitlists are so long and the astronomical prices," said Menasha's Hannah Wainio, who's expecting her first child in late July. Hannah and her husband, Grant, started their child care search as soon as they learned she was pregnant at five weeks. When Hannah spoke to USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin in June, the family still had not found care. Their story isn't unique. In Outagamie County, there are over 1,200 children younger than 2 on regulated child care waitlists, according to data recently compiled by Child Care Resource & Referral Fox Valley. In Winnebago County, there are nearly 550. Read the story here. July 8: Breaking The Cycle: Providing Pathways In Education Many high school graduates seek higher education to gain economic prosperity. A November 2022 UW-Madison report on college-going rates for public high school students stated that Wisconsins college-going rate typically hovers around 60%. During COVID that dropped below 50%. On average, college-going rates are typically 20 percentage points higher for white and Asian students than for American Indian, Black and Hispanic students, the report further showed, and college-going rates for non-economically disadvantaged students are about 27 percentage points higher rates than economically disadvantaged students. But, a college degree can turn things around for those at a disadvantage. Read the story here. July 6: With 'Silver Tsunami' on the horizon, condition complaints at senior living facilities surge Shelley Peel has been living at Apple Creek in Appleton since September. She has struggled to get help showering and other everyday tasks since she moved in. Shelley Peel moved into Apple Creek Place in Appleton nine months ago. Apple Creek Place advertises itself as a facility with 22 beds and care options tailored to those who are physically disabled and those with dementia or Alzheimer's. But Peel said that's not her experience. Peel, 61, said she's lucky if she can get a shower once a week. Someone is scheduled to help her go from her wheelchair to the bathroom for a shower every Monday and Thursday, but usually a staff member is not around to assist, she told USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. Theyre supposed to help me a lot more than they do, Peel said. Read the story here. June 21: Wisconsin foster children often need mental health care to thrive. Why is it hard to help them? From left to right: Charlotte Passamoni, 13, Alec Passamoni, 12, and Coltyn Feld, 13. Shane and Jessica Passamoni adopted Alec and Charlotte in September 2022; Coltyn is Shane's son. Nicole Klug, a foster care case manager in Green Bay, has never been able to shake the memory of the teenage girl tossed from county to county in the wake of her parents' deaths, or the boy who entered her agency still high after being removed from his drug-ridden home. What they needed was trauma-informed support that offered a path forward; what they got was a cycle of foster homes, the path forward harder to find by the day. Klug, who works at Foundations Health & Wholeness, said that despite their obvious need, youths in out-of-home care the term for court-monitored placement and services for children removed from their homes are the least likely to gain access to mental and behavioral health treatment. Under Wisconsin's parental consent laws, foster parents can take youths to a primary care doctor for routine visits and to a dentist for cleanings, but they can't get them counseling to help them unpack the trauma from their upbringing, home removal and foster placement. Case workers like Klug see that as a deterrent to prospects for real behavioral change. Read the story here. June 13: Breaking The Cycle: Intergenerational Trauma And Mental Health Intergenerational trauma is an emotional response to a deeply disturbing event that is passed down through generations and is often at the heart of family mental health issues. While interpersonal trauma abuse can be a visible factor for mental health disorders, non-interpersonal emotional or psychological trauma can appear silent or hidden, delivered through biological, social and psychological factors across generations. This can result in distant parent-child relationships, complicated personality traits or personality disorders and negative repeated patterns of behavior. Read the story here. June 7: Rising cost of living in northeast Wisconsin has many working families treading water Shannon Pikka is a single mother and a union drywall finisher. Like many in northeast Wisconsin, she dreams of owning a home but does not make enough money to buy. She hopes a promotion to journey status will allow her to become a homeowner. She is seen on a job site on June 2, 2023, in Ashwaubenon, Wis. Shannon Pikka loves the work-life balance of her job in construction. She left an office job in insurance and now enjoys being up early and working with her hands as part of a drywall finishing crew. The single mothers workday ends around 3 p.m. just in time to greet her two children from school. Kids are coming home at that time, and we got the whole evening now together, Pikka said. Our job should not dictate our lifestyle. Despite changing careers nearly four years ago, shes still earning apprentice wages due to setbacks during the pandemic when her youngest was in third grade and schools switched to distance learning. I would be a journeywoman right now had I had a babysitting option so I could have still shown up for work and gained all those hours in the year so that set me back, the De Pere, Wisconsin resident said. Read the story here. June 1: Native children 2% of Wisconsins child population account for almost 11% of kids removed from homes When child welfare officials decide a child is unsafe in their home, most people would agree they should be protected and removed from that environment. In some parts of northeastern Wisconsin, however, those rates of removal are higher than the state average, and the numbers are even more skewed when taking a child's racial identity into account. Brown and Outagamie counties have the second- and third-highest rates of children removed from their parents or guardians in the state, which can partially be explained by the region's larger population they are the fourth and sixth-most populous counties, respectively. But one of the most shocking statistics surrounds the disproportionate number of Native American children removed in this fashion. Read the story here. Reporter Sophia Voight also sat down with Madison365 for an interview, which you can listen to here. May 22: Breaking the cycle: Substance abuse a constant across generations Substance abuse alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs has been a constant across all generations; however, these behaviors may look a little different from age group to age group The hallucinogens of the 1960s and 1970s, the cocaine and methamphetamine fixation of the 1980s and 1990s and the crystal meth craze of the 2000s are an example how use can change over generations. The tobacco pipes and cigarettes of yesterday are another example, as they become the vaping products of today. Read the story here. May 17: One in 5 could have dyslexia, but Wisconsin students, parents feel school support falls short A pair of tutoring sessions take place at Dyslexia Reading Connection on Wednesday, March 8, 2023 in Appleton, Wis. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin As early as kindergarten, Robin Pierre started to notice that her daughter, Hattie, was falling behind. She wasnt able to read the books they were sending home, despite being in a charter school known for its focus on literacy. Hattie started working with a reading interventionist during kindergarten and throughout first grade. But then her behavior started to escalate. She'd hide under desks and run out of the classroom. She was moved to another charter school for second grade, one focused on play-based learning and field trips in hopes that environment would better suit her. All this time, Hatties trouble reading persisted. Pierre asked to have her evaluated for special education. Hattie was assessed; but when Pierre asked questions about dyslexia, she said the school told her they dont acknowledge dyslexia without a diagnosis, and that could only come from brain imaging. It was a fight, at first, Pierre said. Read the story here. May 3: Should Wisconsin fund child care like it does roads? Here are some solutions to the child care crisis Vanessa Hanagan, an early childhood student teacher, reads to a group of children at Appletree Connections Tuesday, April 18, 2023, in Appleton, Wis. Hanagan is studying early childhood education at Fox Valley Technical College.Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. Wisconsins child care crisis affects you, even if you dont know it. Perhaps the only expense greater than the cost to sustainably fund our child care system, however, would be the price we'd pay if we dont. The Council for a Strong America estimates the child care crisis already costs Wisconsin families, businesses and governments a combined $1.9 billion every year. Nearly nine in 10 working parents say child care costs them time and productivity at work, which may mean more work for others or jobs that dont get done. Lost wages and fewer sales mean less tax revenue for local, state and federal governments. Wisconsins broken child care system must be fixed for the sake of families, businesses, workers and the state's general economic prosperity. "An investment in (the child care) industry is an investment in all industries across Wisconsin because parents work in every industry, said Ruth Schmidt, Wisconsin Early Childhood Associations executive director. Read the story here. April 24: Breaking The Cycle: Addressing Generational Patterns Generational theorists Neil Howe and William Strauss, who developed the Strauss-Howe generational theory, categorize generations into four distinct classes, stating that an era starts with an Idealist generation that focuses on social issues and questions the morals of existing institutions. Read the story here. April 19: Many kids missed dental care during the pandemic. Luckily, these dentists visit schools for free Hygenist Katie Wheeler cleans Sarahi Dominguez-Rodriguez s teeth during a Tri-County Dental mobile clinic, part of the Robert Glass Focus on the Children program, on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at Appleton Bilingual School in Appleton, Wis. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin When the Odle family had a career change, all five of their kids lost dental insurance. Unfortunately, our dental insurance changed, so we didnt have any for the kids, which was terrifying because we have to, their mother, Judy said. Its so important. The Odles were able to start getting care from Tri-County Dental, a volunteer-driven dental clinic serving people in Calumet, Outagamie and Winnebago counties. It was started 20 years ago by four local dentists in response to a need for dental care, especially among lower-income families. Read the story here. April 12: Six-week waits, 1 counselor for 8 rural districts: These are some of the hurdles facing youth mental health Fox Valley as a parent-peer advocate Amy DeBroux at NAMI Fox Valley on Tuesday March 14, 2023 in Appleton, Wis. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin Amy DeBroux described the 13 years of advocating for her daughter's mental health as being at sea: periods of crisis followed by calm. From 2005 to 2018, DeBroux spent hours discussing her daughter's educational and mental health support needs. The scenes were familiar enough for DeBroux, thanks to her background in education. Normally, she would've sat on the same side of the table as the specialists, advocating for her students. But the tables had quite literally turned. Read the story here. April 6: As 1 in 8 kids go hungry and schools struggle to feed kids, Wisconsin has a chance to turn the tables. Kindergarten students at Suamico Elementary School go through the hot lunch line on March 8, 2023, in Suamico, Wis. Every week, Angela Price goes to the grocery store with a strict plan. With her list, she strategically shops the aisles at Walmart and Pick n Save, trying to make sure shes getting the best deal on food for herself and her 11-year-old son, Oliver. And every week, the price of food keeps going up. Grocery money, I think, is probably my biggest financial stress that I have right now, Price said. Read the story here. March 29: The new Wisconsin family? 1.7 kids, no picket fence and child care costs more than college Isabel Meza, teacher at Encompass Early Education & Care's Bellin Health Center, and her daughter, Anaid, who attends Encompass, color together during SPIRIT WEEK's Krazy for Kindness Day on Feb. 24, 2023, in Allouez, Wis. The idyllic American family conjures up images of a home in 1950s suburbia, a white picket fence, a golden retriever, and 2.5 kids. The United States total fertility rate indicates that for the U.S. to sustain its current population, women need to have an average of 2.1 children. If that birthrate isn't sustained, the country risks a shrinking workforce, economic decline and a dwindling tax base. Those risks have turned into reality. The United States total fertility rate is now 1.7 kids and falling. Almost half of non-parent adults tell the Pew Research Center they will likely not have any children. Read the story here. This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Six news outlets join forces for NEW News Lab's 'Families Matter' series Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 20) The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to include a subject on human rights in the new MATATAG curriculum. CHR Chairman Richard Palpal-latoc said the DepEd gave its assurance the topic of human rights will be taken up in Araling Panlipunan, particularly under the lesson on martial law. "Dapat isang dedicated subject for human rights kasi napakalawak ng human rights eh hindi makukuha ang konsepto sa isang oras na lecture," Palpal-latoc said on Friday. [Translation: There should be a dedicated subject for human rights because the issue of human rights is so broad that the concept cannot be captured in a one-hour lecture.] He added that the CHR continues to engage education officials on the matter. The DepEd is finalizing the revised K-10 curriculum to be carried out next school year. Ang sa min, kailangan namin i-emphasize the constitutional mandate that the state should include human rights as part of the education system," Palpal-latoc said. [Translation: We need to emphasize the constitutional mandate that the state should include human rights as part of the education system.] A San Luis Obispo man accused of spray-painting graffiti at more than two dozen spots in the city was detained Monday, according to the San Luis Obispo Police Department. At 8:34 a.m. Monday, police received a call from a citizen who was walking on a path adjacent to the train tracks near Poinsettia Street in the Arbors neighborhood, the agency said in a Friday news release. The caller told police they saw a man holding a can of white spray paint and, a short time later, saw fresh graffiti on the path, as well as in a nearby tunnel that goes under the train tracks and connects to the Spanish Oaks neighborhood. Officers were unable to locate the suspect in the area, police said, but found 12 areas where the same graffiti tag was painted on street signs, in the tunnel and on concrete walls. The tag looks like a sad face with Xs for eyes, according to a photo. On Monday afternoon, an officer spotted the suspect identified as 19-year-old Benjamin Cain walking with another man on Santa Rosa Street near the Olive Street intersection, according to the release. Cain held a skateboard painted with the graffiti tag, and his companion had the tag painted onto his jacket, police said. Later on Monday, the police department received another report of vandalism with the same graffiti tag this time on 12 locations in the French Park neighborhood. Police detained Cain on suspicion of vandalism, the release said. As of Friday, Cain was not in custody at San Luis Obispo County Jail, according to the inmate booking log. To report vandalism with the same tag, call the San Luis Obispo Police Officer Favian Amaya at 805-594-8079. SPLENDORA, Texas - Residents of the Deerbrook Village area are being told to be on the lookout for an alligator roaming the streets. SUGGESTED: Montgomery County man violated protective order, demanded victim change her story Local resident Lori Goolsby posted pictures on Facebook showing a small alligator seemingly sunbathing. Montgomery County officials were called out to capture the animal, but they failed to secure it. DOWNLOAD THE FOX 26 HOUSTON APP BY CLICKING HERE If you encounter potentially dangerous wildlife in your area, you should keep a safe distance and call animal control services. Now that pot is legal for recreational use in Minnesota, can you break out your stash while waiting for a flight at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport? Best to leave your cannabis at home. An ordinance that would ban smoking marijuana at MSP is being considered by the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), the authority that owns and operates the airport. If approved, the measure would go into effect Jan. 1. Violators could be charged with a misdemeanor. "Smoking or vaping of cannabis and hemp products regulated by the new law would be prohibited, including in designated smoking areas," MAC spokesperson Jeff Lea said. When asked about other popular products, such as edibles and gummies, he replied: "There are no plans to prohibit any additional cannabis or hemp products." The ordinance is part of a regulatory framework that has evolved since state lawmakers legalized marijuana use for adults over the age of 21 earlier this year. The result so far has been a patchwork of regulations governing its use in public places, such as St. Paul's ban of pot smoking in parks and near other city-owned sites. More rules are likely to emerge elsewhere in the state, as the first retail dispensaries outside of tribal nations get ready to open in 2025. But the legalization issue is more complicated at MSP and airports across the country due to contradictory federal and state laws, according to David Bannard, a Boston-based attorney who has advised airports (but not MSP) on the issue. That's because marijuana remains a Class 1 controlled substance under federal law the same as "heroin and other horrible drugs," Bannard said. While MSP is locally owned and operated, air travel still falls under federal law. Airports nationwide have handled the conflict between state and federal regulations in a variety of ways, from outright bans to more nuanced approaches. "I would call the situation fluid," said Bannard, who also noted that there's movement afoot on the federal level to ease restrictions governing marijuana. The proposed measure at MSP, which may yet be tweaked by the MAC this fall before being adopted, would prohibit the smoking on airport property of "artificially derived cannabinoid, cannabis flower, cannabis product, and hemp-derived consumer product." For travelers carrying marijuana, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) spokesperson Jessica Mayle said the TSA is focused on detecting potential threats to aviation and passengers. "TSA officers are not looking for marijuana or other drugs," she said, and TSA's crack canines are trained to exclusively sniff out explosives, not pot. However, if TSA employees discover marijuana during the security screening process, Mayle said they will notify airport police "because marijuana is illegal from a federal perspective." Beyond that, she said, "it is up to the police as to how they want to handle it." While Minnesota is the 23rd state in the nation to approve pot for recreational use, airports in Denver and Seattle have had more than a decade to fine-tune the matrix of federal and state laws governing legal weed. Denver International Airport officials opted to bar possession and consumption of marijuana altogether, and passengers can be cited for having any amount of pot at the airport. If a traveler is stopped with suspected marijuana at a TSA checkpoint, Denver police step in and investigate, according to airport officials. If the amount of marijuana is legal under Colorado law, the passenger may continue on their trip without being cited provided they ditch the pot. "They have the option to return it to their vehicle or have someone not traveling [with them] take it," an airport spokesperson said. Or they can surrender it to police. Some airports feature "amnesty boxes" where people can dispose of their stash before being screened. About two dozen such boxes are located throughout Chicago's O'Hare International Airport and Midway International airports. However, one news report said the boxes tend to draw more trash than marijuana. In one case, someone stole weed from a less-secure bin. Lea said there are no plans to use them at MSP. At Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, pot isn't banned and passengers can carry it there, but they can't use it on airport property, said spokesperson Perry Cooper. Nationwide, Bannard said, it gets confusing when travelers fly from an airport in a state allowing recreational marijuana to one that doesn't. "It's not entirely clear that it's OK for passengers to have it," he said. "You can't take it through checkpoints, so it may be easier [for airports] to ban it than answer the question of what you do about it when people bring it on the premises." The issue doesn't appear to be controversial at MSP, which is perhaps an indication of how mainstream marijuana use has become. A recent public hearing held by the MAC on the proposed ordinance failed to attract any comment and was over within five minutes. "Let me ask just one more time if anyone wishes to speak," said Commissioner Don Monaco, chair of the MAC's Operations, Finance and Administration Committee. His entreaty was met with silence. Of the 360,000 reservists called up by Israel, many have been deployed to the increasingly tense Lebanese border (JALAA MAREY) Soldiers are everywhere and the last residents are hurriedly packing in the northern town of Kiryat Shmona where Israel fears Lebanon's Hezbollah could open up a second front in its war with Hamas. As smoke rises from the nearby wooded hills following the latest cross-border exchanges, soldiers in fatigues can be seen eating sandwiches on cafe terraces, buying bandages in pharmacies or emerging in groups from the bus station. In an extremely rare measure, Israeli authorities on Friday announced the evacuation of this town by the Lebanese border which is home to some 25,000 residents, many of whom have already left. Hamas militants stormed into Israel from Gaza on October 7, beginning an attack that has killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated or burnt to death on the first day, according to Israeli officials. Since then, more than 4,100 Palestinians, mainly civilians, have been killed in relentless Israeli bombardments, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry. All the while, there have been increasing exchanges of fire along Israel's northern border between Israeli forces and Hezbollah, an Iran-backed ally of Hamas. And Hamas' armed wing has also claimed some of the cross-border strikes. "We're waiting to find out where they want us to go," 16-year-old Lianne Abutbul told AFP as her family weighed up whether to evacuate. - 'Ready to fight' - In Shlomi, another border town to the west, 7,000 of its 9,000 residents have left in the past 10 days, said Yossef Luchy who heads the town council. "Here the last house is 150 meters (500 feet) from the border (area), so we had an evacuation plan and the people who were worried left," said Luchy, former head of the northern district of Israel's homefront command. On Monday, Israel's defence ministry ordered the evacuation of 28 villages and kibbutzes situated within two kilometres (about a mile) of the Blue Line, the border demarcated by the UN following Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000. Residents of other villages have also left, AFP journalists found. The Israel Democracy Institute estimates that at least 300,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in Israel since the start of the war. "Here, those who stayed are mostly former army personnel, and we are constantly preparing. We keep an eye on the shelters, we train," said Luchy. Of the 360,000 reservists called up by Israel, many have been deployed to the increasingly tense 120-kilometre (75 miles) border. One of them, who requested anonymity, told AFP that he was "ready to fight" because "the Jews have no other country". An attack on Israeli military positions near the border killed two people on Tuesday, the army said, and in southern Lebanon, at least 22 people have in died in exchanges of fire. Most were fighters, but four were civilians, one of whom was Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah, who died in a strike that wounded six other journalists, including two from AFP. - 'It's really scary' - The few remaining inhabitants of Kiryat Shmona admit to having mixed feelings about staying, and are afraid when they hear sirens warning of a rocket attack. Abutbul said when Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepted rockets on Wednesday, "debris fell two blocks from my house, in a school playground". "It could have killed children, it's really scary," said the teenager, whose two brothers are currently in the army. Yaacov Kozikaro, 72, has lived near the border since 1961 and experienced two previous wars with Lebanon in 1982 and 2006, memorials of which are scattered across Israel's northern landscape. "This is neither the first nor the last war," he says with a laugh, saying he has no plans to leave, despite Israel's "bad neighbours". crb-ofe/ng/tp/th/hmw Fed Up Ever since Starship blew up during its inaugural orbital flight test in April, SpaceX's ginormous rocket the most powerful in the world has been grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration. Now, with half a year passed and no clear date on when Starship will get the all-clear again, some of SpaceX's leaders are starting to lose patience. At a hearing held by the Senate subcommittee on space and science on Wednesday, SpaceX's vice president for build and flight reliability William Gerstenmaier complained that the regulatory holdups are getting in the way of progress, potentially letting China get an edge on the US in the race to the Moon. "It's a shame when our hardware is ready to fly, and we're not able to go fly because of regulations or review," Gerstenmaier told the subcommittee, as quoted by CNN. "Licensing, including environmental (review), often takes longer than rocket development," he added. "This should never happen. And it's only getting worse." Slipping Behind It's true that SpaceX is a crucial part of the US's lunar ambitions, meaning the interests of the FAA and NASA aren't aligned. NASA's Artemis III mission, which is planned to have astronauts set foot on the Moon for the first time since 1972, has selected Starship for its landing system. NASA has said that it's worried that Starship's woes could delay that mission, currently slated for 2026. China, meanwhile, expects its Chang'e program to bring its astronauts to the Moon by 2030. Four or so years may sound like plenty of time for the US to keep its lead, but not according to Gerstenmaier. "These delays may seem small in the big scheme of things but... delays in each and every test flight adds up," he said, per CNN. "And eventually we will lose our lead and we will see China land on the Moon before we do." Almost There Gersteinmaier also claimed that the delays have "nothing to do with public safety." Clearly, though, SpaceX has a lot to answer for. The Starship launch demolished the rocket's launchpad, blasting out huge chunks of steel and concrete. Fiery debris rained down across several miles of the South Texas shoreline. Some of it landed in a nearby state park home to endangered wildlife, lighting acres of it on fire. Nearby cities, in fact, were swallowed by a huge cloud of dust and debris kicked up by the massive forces of the rocket taking off. Many experts agree that a lot of the fallout could have been prevented had SpaceX simply implemented industry-standard measures with its launchpad. The silver lining for SpaceX is that the FAA wrapped up its investigation into the Starship launch in September. But even though SpaceX says it's completed the huge laundry list of corrective actions it was given by the FAA, the agency has still not given SpaceX a launch license and when it intends to is unknown. More on SpaceX: SpaceX Prepares Spacecraft for Mission to Mysterious Metal Asteroid As House Republicans sink deeper into an unprecedented mess of their own making, their biggest problem isnt that they are unable to agree. Its that they cant even agree on not agreeing. On Thursday, the Houses 16th day without an elected speaker, the GOP conference was on the brink of admitting their intractable differences and considering a temporary power structure to allow them to work out their issues while resuming legislative business. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) looked like he was on the verge of making a strategicalbeit temporaryretreat from the speakership. He privately signaled he would endorse a plan to give the speaker pro tempore, Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC), some expanded powers to consider urgent legislation while he soldiered on as the speaker-designee and worked on the 20-some-odd GOP holdouts. House GOPs Private Meeting on Speaker Mess Devolves Into Pure Chaos But the idea of caretaker Speaker McHenry was such a fragile idea that even saying it out loud was too much. As Republicans discussed the proposal during a spirited three-hour conference meetingone that members described as painful or compared to serious dental workthe proposal disintegrated. Jordan loyalists, and conservatives more broadly, revolted at the notion that they would work with Democrats to resume the Houses business, and they waved pocket Constitutions in the air as they argued that a temporary speaker was an unconstitutional step toward a highly dangerous coalition government, as Rep. Bob Good (R-VA) put it. (Good, it should be noted, was one of the eight Republicans who voted to remove Kevin McCarthy from the speakership.) After members cursed at each other and testified about receiving death threats for voting against Jordan, the speaker candidate emerged to say he would do what hed decided against just hours before: proceed to a House floor vote again, at some point, presumably after flipping the lawmakers who now oppose him. Its been clear to everyoneperhaps except for Jordanthat he does not have the votes to become speaker. And the more he presses, the farther away he seems to get from the gavel. According to Punchbowl News, a dozen Jordan holdouts who met with him in a private meeting Thursday evening emerged even more unwilling to support him. And still, Jordans team said they would move ahead with a Friday morning vote, where he is expected to have his worst showing yet, according to his own allies. Jordan could quickly pivot on that plan. Late Thursday night, when Jordan announced he was holding an 8 a.m. press conference, the speculation around Capitol Hill instantly became that Jordan was, finally, dropping out of the race. Whatever Jordan chooses to do, many GOP lawmakers have been left dazed, frustrated, and completely at a loss for where they go next, with a party seemingly undone by the eight GOP lawmakers who voted to remove McCarthy from the Speakers office on Oct. 3. We took our leader out, said Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-ND). We took our second in command out. We took our grassroots folk hero out, or at least we're in the process of doing that. Eventually, we're going to run into an attrition problem thats unsustainable. It may not look like a shock that Republicans remain in chaos, given the heady mix of pressures that have boiled over in the last two weeks. For years, vicious personal rivalries have simmered in the House GOP ranks: between Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and McCarthy, between McCarthy and Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), and between Jordans faction of Freedom Caucus hardliners and everyone else. While interpersonal beef is nothing new in Congress, the incentive structure of the Trump-era congressional GOP threatens to turn this crisis into a long and painful slog. Increasingly beholden to an extreme party base, influenced by media outlets and online influencers who thrive on inflaming tension and demonizing enemies, todays GOP lawmakers are more likely to lose their seats for compromising with liberals or centrists than for failing to govern. One of the most revealing moments of the speaker drama came Tuesday, when Democrats noted that, in his nearly 17-year tenure in Congress, Jordan has never had a bill signed into law. But what was meant as a stunning diss actually sounded like a selling point to some extremist Republicans; Gaetz and fellow firebrand Lauren Boebert (R-CO) applauded the Democratic talking point, taking Jordans lack of legislative success as proof that hes uncorrupted by the Washington Swamp. The House GOP Didnt Just Reject Jim Jordan, They Made Him Squirm But Jordans inability to achieve more than pyrrhic victories has caught up to him in the brutal math of a speaker election. Everything Jordan does seems to be the wrong move, exacerbating his problems. At least, thats what his detractors would like people to think. One particularly strong narrative that has set in is that Jordan has been perpetuating strong-arm tactics to pressure his colleagues. Several Republicans who voted against Jordan have testified that the outside campaign orchestrated by his right-wing media allies has resulted in personal death threats. Even members families are being targeted; according to Politico, Rep. Don Bacons wife began receiving threats to her personal phone. Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) told NBC News that his landlord is evicting him from his Colorado office as a protest of the lawmakers opposition to a Jordan speakership. While Jordan continues to play whack-a-mole with these outside groups posting the phone numbers of his detractorson Thursday night, a Jordan spokesman clarified that Jordan was absolutely not supporting a rally at the district offices of one of his holdoutsRepublicans are just taking it as a sign that Jordan has no control over the conservative outrage machine he helped build. In their thinking, he either secretly approves of the pressure campaign, or doesnt have the power to stop it. Either way, the House GOP seems irrevocably poisoned. You have the Kevin McCarthy people who are upset that Kevin was taken out when he was a duly elected speaker by the majority97 percent supported him, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) said Thursday. And you have the Scalise people upset because they feel like he was pushed to withdraw without getting a floor vote. And he was the one who got the most votes when it was just him and Jim! One flashpoint in the mess is that, even if Jordan steps aside, he doesnt intend to step down. He wants to retain his status as the internal conferences selection as speakereven though Scalise beat him outright. When Scalise realized he didnt have the votes, he endorsed Jordan. When Jordan realized he didnt have the votes, he decided to just keep voting, holding the whole process hostage. I cant help them, Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA), one of the Jordan holdouts, said Thursday night. They should have grown up with me, my parents would never accept this type of behavior. Kelly has been particularly peeved over the way Scalise was shelved because some conservatives made it clear they would never vote for him. And now, with Jordans holdouts doing the same thing, the Judiciary Chairman refuses to let it go. When we decide that the personality is more important than the process, then we no longer have integrity, Kelly said. The poetic justice of Jordan supporters insisting the conference has to come together for their manonly for Jordan to fall on his facehasnt been lost on members. Freshman Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA), who claims that he has taken over his Twitter while his communications director is on vacation, has increasingly gotten feisty online. When Freedom Caucus Chairman Scott Perry (R-PA) tweeted Wednesday that Jordan was likely to have fewer votes on the second ballot than on the first, but that supporters just needed to stay strong and keep praying, Collins trolled Perry. Just like we rallied around Steve Scalise once he won the conference nomination, we must all come together for Jim Jordan https://t.co/tKRnjIAlT5 Rep. Mike Collins (@RepMikeCollins) October 18, 2023 The cleanest way out of this mess for Republicans continues to be giving McHenry increased power as the temporary speaker. In fact, that result would actually solve a lot of other problems for Republicans. Whether Gaetz made his motion to vacate in October after McCarthy put a temporary government funding bill on the floor, or whether he waited for the GOPs appropriations strategy to fail later, McCarthy was always going to have a problem. Republicans have bought into a false promise that, if they just try really hard, the Democratic Senate and the Democratic president would accept their spending billswritten at numbers below the agreement that Joe Biden and McCarthy reached earlier this yearjust because. The truth is, House Republicans were set up to faileither immediately or after a prolonged government shutdown that they would take the blame for. Throw in the GOPs angst over sending military aid to Ukraine, coupled with the desire among all Democrats and a good chunk of Republicans to help Ukraine, and McCarthys speakership has looked doomed for some time. It would be helpful, then, to have a temporary speaker who could clear the deck for the next personsomeone who would do the unpopular things that have to be done for the political good of Republicans despite conservative objections. Conservatives already seem to sense that is the inevitable result of a temporary Speaker McHenry, which is why theyre so against it. Ironically, their refusal to just give McHenry expanded powers, as interpreted in loosely defined House rules in which McHenry may already have these powers, has strengthened the hand of Democrats in these upcoming negotiationsfurther adding to conservative opposition. A source familiar with Jordans operation told The Daily Beast Thursday that Progressive Caucus Chairwoman Pramila Jayapals recent comments on Democrats and Republicans coming together and forging a bipartisan path had a chilling effect on the idea of a McHenry speakership. Its clear that Democrats are the only adults in the room. We have provided votes to save our country from default and keep the government open. Republicans must either accept a bipartisan path forward or get out of the way and let Democrats govern. pic.twitter.com/6uhjhfKboP Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) October 19, 2023 This source said Jayapals comments echoed private concerns that Democrats just wanted to elevate McHenry in order to stop a Jordan speakership. The visceral impact on the majority of the Republican conference is hard to overstate, this source said. But with no Republican able to get the requisite votes, the McHenry path may still be the GOPs ultimate option. Or Republicans can just keep voting on Jordan. The third vote on his speakership may finally happen on Friday morning. It will fail. His aides indicated late Thursday night that they would like to keep members in over the weekend and hold more votes on his speakership. Or Republicans could go offsite, lock themselves in a room, and not leave until they have a speaker. It sounds silly, but lets go to Gettysburg or something, Rep. Mike Garcia (R-CA) told Axios on Wednesday. Some members, like Malliotakis, just believe its time to start over from scratch. Let people vote for their top three or top one, however you want to do it, and then figure out who comes on top, she said. We have to have an agreement among the team that we will support whoever comes out of that process. Consistent Jordan holdout Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) said the way to break out of the stalemate is to find the right person. He believes a Republican who can get the elusive 217 votes exists. But he said he doesnt have picks in mind. Even if he did, he wouldnt name them. I dont want to poison them, Gimenez said. At this point, its clear to some Republicans that something has to give. We are at a standstill, said Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA), a first-year lawmaker who is continuing to support McCarthy. Its like if were digging a hole and you keep hitting rock, like, dig in a different place. You know, we cant keep doing what we've been doing. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Special counsel David Weiss is slated to appear before investigators with the House Judiciary Committee next month to answer questions about his ongoing investigation into Hunter Biden . Weiss, who had previously committed to a meeting with the panel, will sit for a closed-door interview Nov. 7, a source familiar confirmed to The Hill. The meeting follows testimony from two IRS whistleblowers who complained the criminal investigation was slow-walked under Weisss leadership, showing preferential treatment to the presidents son. Weiss has denied any favoritism in how he handled the investigation, which initially was slated for a plea deal, with Biden pleading guilty to two counts of willful failure to pay taxes. But after that plea deal evaporated over confusion between prosecutors and Bidens attorneys over the extent he would be shielded from further prosecution, Weiss signaled there could be further charges for Biden. Those charges might even come in California or Washington, D.C., Weiss indicated in court filings, two jurisdictions where the whistleblowers IRS investigators Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler said there was stronger evidence of tax crimes. Still, other details of the whistleblowers testimony has been challenged by other investigators involved in the Biden case. Matthew Graves, the U.S. attorney for D.C., reportedly told the panels investigators that he did not stage any opposition to Weiss bringing charges there, saying that though he did not seek to directly partner in the case, he offered assistance from his office to do so. And one FBI investigator, Thomas Sobocinski, said he never heard Weiss say he had been denied special counsel status a claim from Shapley said he took to mean Weiss did not have total control over the investigation. The agent also said none of the investigative team responded when he asked in a meeting if anyone felt the case was being politicized. Sobocinski said the team was being necessarily cautious in approaching Biden, given the need to confer with the Secret Service rather than arrive at Bidens home with competing sets of armed agents. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Special counsel Jack Smith on Thursday struck back at Donald Trump s attempt to dismiss his federal election interference case based on presidential immunity, saying no such protection from criminal liability exists for former presidents. Trump, Smith wrote, is trying to put himself on Mt. Rushmore. In staking his claim, he purports to draw a parallel between his fraudulent efforts to overturn the results of an election that he lost and the likes of Abraham Lincolns Gettysburg Address and George Washingtons Farewell Address. These things are not alike, the special counsel wrote Thursday. Trump is asking US District Judge Tanya Chutkan to dismiss the criminal charges against him, arguing he has immunity because he was president at the time of the conduct in question and also was acquitted by the US Senate after his 2021 impeachment. Prosecutors allege that Trump, along with several of his lawyers and advisers, tried to implement a plot to appoint fake slates of electors and spread misinformation about voting security, all of which ultimately led to the violence at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. Trump has pleaded not guilty and a trial is scheduled for early March. Courts have previously held presidents can be immune from civil liability for their actions while in office, but novel legal questions about whether that extends to criminal prosecutions remain unsettled. Thursday, the special counsel said theres no hint of post-presidential immunity. No court has ever alluded to the existence of absolute criminal immunity for former presidents, and legal principles, historical evidence, and policy rationales demonstrate that once out of office, a former president is subject to federal criminal prosecution like other citizens, the filing states. Smith recognizes that presidents while in the White House have two forms of immunity designed to afford protections to the discharge of his wide-ranging duties. But protection from criminal prosecution, the special counsel argues, vanishes when he leaves office. Neither the temporary immunity from criminal liability that an incumbent president enjoys while in office nor the absolute immunity that current and former presidents enjoy from civil liability for their official conduct as president suggests the existence of an unprecedented form of absolute immunity from criminal liability. To the contrary, the existence of both immunities is premised on the availability of criminal liability once a former president is out of office. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The Special Operations Forces of Ukraine are actively destroying Russian heavy equipment and killing their soldiers near the settlement of Avdiivka. Source: press service of the Special Operations Forces of Ukraine Quote: "On the Avdiivka front, the Russians resumed their offensive actions, not giving up the attempts to encircle the town. But our defenders are firmly holding the defence, causing significant losses to the opponent. The operators of the Third Regiment of the Special Operations Forces detected heavy equipment of the Russians heading towards Avdiivka. Using the armament at their disposal that is, FPV-drones, Javelin anti-tank systems and mortars, our soldiers stopped the enemy. See how it went in the video (spoiler: we are enjoying the sight of it all burning). To be continued!" Details: Four armoured personnel carriers, two tanks have been destroyed, and several dozens of Russian soldiers have been killed. Support UP or become our patron! Consultants and junior doctors went on a co-ordinated 72-hour strike earlier in October Junior and specialist doctors in England will hold talks with the government to avoid strikes in their pay dispute, a union has said. Junior doctors and consultants have been co-ordinating action as part of a long-running pay dispute. They staged three days of strike action at the start of October. BMA members working as specialist doctors overwhelmingly voted in favour of industrial action in an indicative ballot A formal strike ballot will be held if no progress is made by 6 November. Separately, the BMA body representing junior doctors said it had agreed to talks with the government next week. The government has said pay would "not be on the table" at any talks. On Wednesday, the government agreed to meet NHS consultants for talks aimed at resolving strike action. The walkouts have meant more than one million appointments and treatments, including some cancer care, have been postponed because of industrial action since December last year. Many health bosses have urged both sides to enter talks, with concerns raised over the prospect of further industrial action during the winter period. Most specialist doctors work in hospitals, alongside junior doctors and consultants, but some also work in the community. Writing on X (formerly Twitter), the British Medical Association account representing junior doctors said: "We have agreed to talks with [the government]. We will be meeting with them next week and will listen to what they have to say." Dr Ujjwala Mohite, chair of the specialist doctors committee UK at BMA, said the government "cannot ignore the strength of feeling on the ground" among medics. He said four months of "stagnant talks" meant doctors were prepared to strike, despite hoping industrial action can be avoided. "[Specialist] doctors are overworked and exhausted, and have had enough of not being properly valued for the vital work they do - something we have been hearing at a grassroots level for a long time and which was strongly echoed in the overwhelming indicative ballot results." A Department of Health spokesperson said the government was pleased the BMA had agreed to talks over the dispute with junior doctors "in the hope we will find a resolution and end the dispute". The spokesperson also said the government was pleased the BMA decided to delay moving to a formal ballot of specialist doctors to allow time for talks. "We have been clear headline pay will not be on the table. Doctors have already received a fair and reasonable pay rise as recommended by the independent pay review body, which we've accepted in full," the spokesperson added. Key takeaways from Xi's meetings with foreign guests Xinhua) 08:16, October 20, 2023 BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday met with eight leaders of foreign countries and the president of the New Development Bank who gathered in Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF), which concluded on Wednesday. The following is a summary of what Xi said during the meetings. During his meeting with Prime Minister of Egypt Mostafa Madbouly, Xi said China is willing to deepen the synergy of development strategies with Egypt, encourage competent Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Egypt, and welcome more quality Egyptian products to enter the Chinese market. On the current situation between Palestine and Israel, Xi stressed that the top priority is to cease fire and stop war at an early date, noting that the fundamental way out of the recurring Palestine-Israel conflict 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. When meeting with Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh, Xi noted that China is willing to expand trilateral cooperation among China, Mongolia and Russia, and make steady progress in the construction of the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor. During his meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Xi said China stands ready to advance the synergy of the Belt and Road Initiative with Cambodia's Pentagon Strategy, ensure that the "Industrial Development Corridor" and the "Fish and Rice Corridor" are well constructed, and push for the implementation of more projects that benefit the public. When meeting with Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, chairman of the People's Council of Turkmenistan, Xi called for enhancing China-Turkmenistan comprehensive strategic partnership, saying it serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and the shared aspiration of the two peoples. During his meeting with President of the Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso, Xi said that China is willing to explore and foster new areas of cooperation such as the digital economy and green development with the Republic of the Congo, and promote their comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation to new heights. When meeting with Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, Xi said China stands ready to work with Thailand to continuously add new dimensions to their family-like relations, and transform the advantages of the traditional friendship into a driving force for win-win cooperation. During his meeting with Mozambican Prime Minister Adriano Maleiane, Xi said China is willing to promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with Mozambique and other African countries to help them speed up modernization. When meeting with Prime Minister of Pakistan Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar, Xi said China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Pakistan within the framework of the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to promote regional unity and cooperation and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries. During his meeting with President of the New Development Bank (NDB) Dilma Rousseff, Xi called on the NDB to help make the international financial system more just and equitable to effectively increase the representation and voice of emerging markets and developing countries. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 20) The opening of some ballot boxes from the 2022 elections will push through after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc expressed support for the proposal, Chairman George Garcia said Friday. "I initially talked to the members of the en banc and they are so responsive, positive sa ating po ng (on our) proposal just to settle once and for all all these doubts and as regards to the integrity of the results of the previous election," Garcia told CNN Philippines' The Source. Petitioners led by former Information and Communications Technology Secretary Eliseo Rio recently renewed calls to disqualify technology provider Smartmatic as bidder due to "serious and grave irregularities in the transmission and receipt of election returns" in the 2022 national polls. Smartmatic has called the accusations "mere baseless speculations with a singular goal of maligning" the company. Garcia said Comelec and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting already did manual auditing of the 2022 elections, which resulted in accuracy of 99.9% and 99.97%, respectively. The poll body is still willing to shoulder the expenses for the opening of ballot boxes to be chosen by the petitioners to finally settle the issue, he said. This process will also help Comelec in its search for its technology provider in the 2025 elections, he added. Comelec earlier said it targets to open the ballot boxes in November. More than 40 Spirit Airlines flights into and out of Orlando International Airport were canceled Friday because the carrier said it needs to inspect some of its planes an issue expected to upend flight schedules for several days. Weve cancelled a portion of our scheduled flights to perform a necessary inspection of a small section of 25 of our aircraft, Spirit said in a statement to the Orlando Sentinel. While this action is being taken out of an abundance of caution, the impact to our network is expected to last several days as we complete the inspections and work to return to normal operations. There was no further information given about why the inspections were needed and on which type of aircrafts. The website flight-tracking website FlightAware showed that the airline canceled 11% of its scheduled flights on Friday. We apologize for the inconvenience and are working to take care of affected Guests, Spirit said in its statement. Our Guests are advised to monitor their email and check their flight status on spirit.com or the Spirit Airlines App before heading to the airport. South Florida-based Spirit is the second-busiest carrier at Orlando International. A check of the airports flight status website showed the more than 40 cancellations were almost evenly split between Spirt departures and arrivals at OIA. The canceled flights impacted travel between Orlando and domestic cities including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City and Newark as well as foreign destinations such as Columbia and the Dominican Republic. Long lines quickly formed at Spirits customer service locations at the airport. ORLANDO, Fla. More than 40 Spirit Airlines flights to and from Orlando International Airport were canceled Friday because the carrier needed to inspect on some of its planes an issue expected to upend flight schedules for several days. Weve cancelled a portion of our scheduled flights to perform a necessary inspection of a small section of 25 of our aircraft, Spirit said in a statement to the Orlando Sentinel. While this action is being taken out of an abundance of caution, the impact to our network is expected to last several days as we complete the inspections and work to return to normal operations. The Federal Aviation Authority said approximately 25 of Spirits Airbus airplanes were removed from service for mandatory maintenance inspection. The FAA will ensure that the matter is addressed before the airplanes are returned to service, the FAA statement added. The website flight-tracking website FlightAware showed the inspections caused the cancellation of 11% of Spirits Friday flight schedule. South Florida-based Spirit is the second-busiest carrier at Orlando International. A check of the airports flight status website on Friday morning showed more than 40 Spirit cancellations, almost evenly split between departures and arrivals. The canceled flights impacted travel between Orlando and domestic cities including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City and Newark as well as foreign destinations such as Columbia and the Dominican Republic. Long lines quickly formed at Spirits customer service locations at the Orlando airport. We apologize for the inconvenience and are working to take care of affected Guests, Spirit said in its statement. Our Guests are advised to monitor their email and check their flight status on spirit.com or the Spirit Airlines App before heading to the airport. Travelers whose Spirit flights are canceled can accept a rebooking on the next available flight. Or, they can cancel their booking entirely and ask for a refund, which may be credited back to your original form of payment or as a Spirit Airlines flight credit, according to the personal finance website NerdWallet. The U.S. Department of Transportation says if a travelers flight is canceled, and an airline cannot rebook the flier or the person decides not to travel, the customer is entitled to a full refund of the unused portion of the trip. That also includes fees charged for services such as seat selection and baggage checking. Spirit, known as an ultra low-cost carrier, is poised to be taken over by discounter JetBlue Airways of New York for $3.8 billion. But the Biden Administration has sued to stop the combination. An antitrust trial on the matter is scheduled to start Monday before a federal judge in Boston. ______ (David Lyons of the South Florida Sun Sentinel contributed to this report.) ____ The state of Georgia will start paying for gender-affirming health care for state employees, public school teachers and former employees covered by a state health insurance plan, settling another in a string of lawsuits against Georgia agencies aiming to force them to pay for gender-confirmation surgery and other procedures. The plaintiffs moved to dismiss their case Thursday in Atlanta federal court, announcing they had reached a settlement with the State Health Benefit Plan. The December lawsuit argued the insurance plan illegally discriminated by refusing to pay for gender-affirming care. Theres no justification, morally, medically, legally or in any other way for treating transgender healthcare as different and denying people access to it, David Brown, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said in a phone interview Thursday. The state Department of Community Health, which oversees the insurance plan, did not immediately respond Thursday to an email seeking comment. The state will also pay a total of $365,000 to the plaintiffs and their lawyers as part of the settlement. Micha Rich, Benjamin Johnson and an anonymous state employee suing on behalf of her adult child all said they spent money out of their own pockets that should have been covered by insurance. Starting July 1, Georgia legally barred new patients under the age of 18 from starting hormone therapy and banned most gender-affirming surgeries for transgender people under 18. That law, challenged in court but still in effect, lets doctors prescribe puberty-blocking medications and allows minors already receiving hormone therapy to continue. TRENDING STORIES: But Brown said Thursdays settlement requires the health plan to pay for care deemed medically necessary for spouses and dependents as well as employees. That means the health plan could be required to pay for care for minors outside the state even though its prohibited in Georgia. The plan cant treat the care any differently from other care thats not available in the state, Brown said. The lawsuit cited a 2020 Supreme Court ruling that treating someone differently because they are transgender or gay violates a section of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex. The plaintiffs in that case included an employee of Georgias Clayton County. Affected are two health plans paid for by the state but administered by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and UnitedHealthcare. Its the fourth in a line of lawsuits against Georgia agencies to force them to pay for gender-confirmation surgery and other procedures. State and local governments lost or settled the previous suits. The University System of Georgia paid $100,000 in damages in addition to changing its rules in 2019 when it settled a case brought by a University of Georgia catering manager. And the Department of Community Health last year agreed to change the rules of the states Medicaid program to settle a lawsuit by two Medicaid beneficiaries. A jury last year ordered Houston County to pay $60,000 in damages to a sheriffs deputy after a federal judge ruled her bosses illegally denied the deputy health coverage for gender-confirmation surgery. Houston County is appealing that judgment, and oral arguments are scheduled in November before the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit settled Thursday included three transgender men. Micha Rich is a staff accountant at the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts, and Benjamin Johnson is a media clerk with the Bibb County School District in Macon. The mother of the third man, identified only as John Doe, is a Division of Family and Children Services worker in Paulding County and covers the college student on her insurance. All three were assigned female at birth but transitioned after therapy. All three appealed their denials for top surgery to reduce or remove breasts and won findings from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that Georgia was discriminating against them. I am thrilled to know that none of my trans colleagues will ever have to go through what I did, Rich said in a statement. A court ruling found a similar ban in North Carolina to be illegal; the state is appealing. A Wisconsin ban was overturned in 2018. West Virginia and Iowa have also lost lawsuits over employee coverage, while Florida and Arizona are being sued. RELATED NEWS: Just after former Clay County Sheriff Jeffrey Lydes sentencing, questions careened around the judicial halls of Montague County Courthouse. How did Lydes convictions impact his status as elected sheriff? Under what circumstances would he legally no longer be sheriff? Would he have to resign from office first? After all, removal of a sheriff from elected office is rare in these parts, or any part, of the Lone Star State. Lyde's ultimate downfall involved Landon Paul Goad, a man with little power in Clay County involved in "a feisty relationship," as they describe it in a lawsuit, with Sarah Lynn Johnson. Both are county residents. On Sept. 15, a jury found Lyde guilty of official oppression and tampering with a governmental document in 97th District Court at the Montague County Courthouse. Former Clay County Sheriff Jeffrey Lyde Lyde illegally kept Goad in Clay County Jail not releasing him after a judge found no probable cause to hold him in a July 12, 2021, incident, and the former sheriff tampered with court documents connected to the domestic violence charge against Goad. The charge was later dropped. A judge moved Lyde's trial for the misdemeanors from Clay County because of pretrial publicity and concerns about a circus-like atmosphere springing up around the proceedings. Lyde has been at the center of a firestorm of controversies that divided the community and extensive media coverage, including Rolling Stone magazine. Lyde's status: 'Hereby removed' On Oct. 10, Senior Justice Lee Gabriel sentenced Lyde to serve 30 days in county jail and pay a $750 fine for each of the two counts against him as part of a punishment plea deal hammered out that morning at the courthouse. Official oppression and tampering with a governmental document are class A misdemeanors punishable by up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. Lyde also voluntarily surrendered his license from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. And he waived his right to appeal. In return, his remaining criminal cases, all misdemeanors, were to be dismissed. They include charges of official oppression and tampering involving Johnson and a domestic violence charge brought against her, as well as charges related to allegations of sexual harassment in the Sheriff's Office. Now former Clay County Sheriff Jeffrey Lyde, far right, lingers in 97th District Court after his sentencing Oct. 10, 2023, at the Montague County Courthouse for official oppression and tampering with governmental documents. The answer to questions about Lyde's status as an elected official post-conviction turned out to be simple: Texas law says a county sheriffs conviction, by way of a jury, for any misdemeanor or felony involving official misconduct serves to immediately boot that sheriff from elected office. As a result, petitioners in a lawsuit seeking to topple Lyde as sheriff are ready to hang up their spurs in that fight. Frank Douthitt, a Clay County attorney and former district judge, and 97th District Attorney Casey Hall filed a motion Wednesday in Clay County District Court asking Gabriel to dismiss their petition for removal since it is moot. They pointed out Gabriel signed an amended judgment for Lydes conviction for official oppression with the notation that he was hereby removed from office as Clay County sheriff as specified by Texas local government code. The same law required the judge to include the order removing him from office in the judgment. And so ends Lydes stint as sheriff, which fell just short of three years. He was elected Nov. 3, 2020, and sworn in Nov. 30 that year. He didn't spend the entire time running the Sheriff's Office. After a hearing in Hall and Douthitt's petition for removal this February, Gabriel ruled to temporarily suspend Lyde from his duties as sheriff until the petition was resolved. Clay County deals with fallout Lyde's tenure was beset with controversy in criminal and civil court, among his employees at the Sheriff's Office, on the Clay County Memorial Hospital Board and in social media where his fierce supporters faced off with his detractors, also fierce. Lyde won some battles. Others are still pending. Disputes involving the former sheriff led Clay County resident Dusti Butler to create For the Record, Clay County TX Edition on Facebook. She aims to shed light on goings-on involving Lyde and other government issues. Butler became a citizen journalist, sharing her findings, her opinion and a slew of documents with members of the private group. Ninety-seventh District Attorney Casey Hall, left, and Frank Douthitt, a Clay County attorney, discuss the outcome of suspended Clay County Sheriff Jeffrey Lydes trial Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, at the Montague County Courthouse. If the judge grants Douthitt and Hall's dismissal request as expected, the journey of their petition filed Jan. 3 would come to a close without having directly accomplished the goal of removing Lyde from office. But just after Lyde's sentencing, Douthitt said he felt their mission was, indeed, accomplished where Lyde was concerned. And 46th District Attorney Staley Heatly, who prosecuted the cases as an attorney pro tem, noted a crucial point connected to Lyde surrendering his law enforcement license. He will never be able to be a peace officer again. That was an important part of the negotiations in this case, Heatly said after the sentencing. Where do you send a controversial former sheriff to jail? Lyde is to turn himself in to begin serving his sentence at noon Nov. 27. Bob Estrada of Wichita Falls, lead defense attorney in Lydes trial, explained why the former sheriff will serve his time about an hour and a half northwest of Henrietta. Jon Whitsit, left, assistant district attorney for the 46th District, discusses matters with former Sheriff Jeffrey Lyde's lead defense counsel, Bob Estrada of Wichita Falls, right, Oct. 10, 2023, at the Montague County Courthouse. The reason that Sheriff Lyde was sentenced to his 30 days in Hardeman County was the fact that there have been too many witnesses or people that were close to the case involved in the most logical counties, Estrada said in an interview Thursday. Wichita, Montague, Clay and Archer all had either a disgruntled former employee or a possible and actual witness in the case that went to trial, Estrada said. Hardeman County was far enough away that there was no one associated with that jail that would have been a factor in that case. Hardeman County Jail in Quanah is overseen by Sheriff Pat Laughery. It has a capacity of 11 beds, according to Texas Commission on Jail Standards' population reports. Estrada said Lyde will not receive special treatment or protection in jail because he is a former sheriff. He will be treated like anyone else, Estrada said. Trish Choate, enterprise watchdog reporter for the Times Record News, covers education, courts, breaking news and more. Contact Trish with news tips at tchoate@gannett.com. Read her recent work here. Her X handle is @Trishapedia. This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Former Clay County Sheriff Jeffrey Lyde's fate sealed by Texas law A firearm and a stash of ammunition were found in a Connecticut womans car after she allegedly kicked and spit on Massachusetts State Police troopers following a drunken crash on Thursday afternoon, officials said. Catherine Hansen, 45, of Enfield, is facing charges including operating a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicating liquor, operating a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicating drugs, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, assault and battery on a police officer, resisting arrest, illegal possession of a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm, possession of a large-capacity feeding device, possession of ammunition without an FID card, improper storage of a firearm, refusal to identify self to police, failure to yield, and marked lanes violation, according to state police. Troopers responding to a report of a crash at the Agawam Rotary on Route 57 just before 1 p.m. observed Hansen acting aggressive and belligerent with Agawam officers, and detected signs of impairment suspected to be caused by both alcohol and drugs, state police said. Hansen then allegedly kicked one trooper, prompting police to escort her to the ground, where she began spitting in the direction of officers. After Hansen was subdued and transported to the state police Springfield barracks for booking, troopers say a search of her vehicle yielded a loaded .45 caliber pistol, firearm parts, numerous magazines, and hundreds of rounds of various style ammunition. State police noted that Hansen is not licensed to possess firearms. A subsequent investigation revealed that Hansen was speeding into the rotary when she struck another vehicle, injuring several people, according to state police. Hansen is expected to be called to Westfield District Court to face the charges. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Visitors to the new eastside terminal at Charlotte Douglas International Airport will get a big glimpse at the Queen Citys namesake. The Queen Charlotte statue that first lived outside of the airport terminal has been restored and moved to its new home in the CLT terminal. An unveiling of the statue took place Friday morning. The statue itself is a 15-foot-tall bronze sculpture atop a 30-foot plinth. Its a wonderful day as Queen Charlotte is back to welcome visitors to her city once again, said CLT Chief Executive Officer Haley Gentry in a statement on Friday. Through all the construction, the development and growth, Queen Charlotte has been the constant. We are thrilled to bring her back inside so she can faithfully watch as we continue to build an Airport fit for the Queen. Its an art installation thats part of the airports $4 billion improvement program, which includes concourse renovations, and expansions to the roadways, airfield, and terminal. This embedded content is not available in your region. The second red "danger to life" weather alert in a week has expired in eastern parts of Scotland, amid torrential rain and high winds across the UK. Forecasters had said another 70-100mm (4ins) of rain could fall on Saturday in parts of Angus and Aberdeenshire already hit by severe flooding. Three severe flood warnings have also been issued in Derbyshire, which mean there is a significant risk to life. Three people have died since Thursday, when Storm Babet first took hold. Meanwhile, helicopters have been sent to assist a North Sea drilling platform which lost four of its eight anchors during the extreme weather. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has warned Saturday's rain will "prolong flooding impacts" and cause additional disruption. Flood warnings for England are in place at Derby City Water Treatment Works, Little Chester, Eastgate and Cattle Market, and Racecourse Park at Chaddesden. The Environment Agency said flooding from major rivers could continue until Tuesday. Disruption on the rail network led to the closure of London's King's Cross station on Saturday afternoon after National Rail said it was "too crowded to be safe for all passengers". Water levels remain high at Inverurie in Aberdeenshire London North Eastern Railway (LNER) said it was running "an extremely limited service" but trains could be "subject to short-notice cancellation". The company, which operates services between Scotland and London on the east coast main line, said parts of its network have been impacted by flooding. There are no trains at all running north of Edinburgh. Due to road closures, no bus replacement services are being provided. Disruption to trains across Scotland is expected until the end of Sunday, National Rail said. The sea wall at Boddam in Aberdeenshire has been badly damaged People across Scotland remain in temporary accommodation due to floods. The red weather warning expired at 17:00. The Met Office previously had the warning in place until midnight. Amber and yellow warnings for rain and wind cover much of eastern Scotland, while a yellow wind warning is in place for north-east England. Network Rail also warned some routes in England will also be impacted over the weekend - including the Midland Main Line from Sheffield to London. Greater Anglia services are also affected, due to flooding in the Stowmarket area, and there is also "widespread" disruption across the Midlands. This embedded content is not available in your region. The Environment Agency is monitoring Ladybower reservoir in Derbyshire, which is close to capacity after heavy rainfall. An overspill could cause flooding along the River Derwent. Clive Stanbrook, area manager at Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service, told BBC Breakfast 100 people - including 20 care home residents - had to be rescued on Friday. Meanwhile, the sporting calendar was also affected with football matches postponed in Scotland and horse racing called off at Stratford-on-Avon and Market Rasen in Lincolnshire. Storm Babet: The story so far Three people have died, including a man in his 60s who was caught in fast-flowing flood water in the town of Cleobury Mortimer in Shropshire on Friday A 56-year-old man died after his van hit a tree near Forfar, and a 67-year-old woman was killed after being swept into the Water of Lee Dozens of people have taken shelter in emergency accommodation - many in Angus and Aberdeenshire as well as 50 in the rural village of Debenham, Suffolk In Scotland, roads and bridges collapsed and dozens of households had to be rescued in Angus, where flood defences were overwhelmed in the early hours - river levels rose 4.4m (14ft) higher than normal and continued to increase on Friday Almost 13,000 households were without power late on Friday night - 10,000 across England and 2,800 in Scotland Police forces have advised against travel in the red alert area On Friday Leeds Bradford Airport shut after a plane skid off the runway in the storm. Bosses opened the airport at 12:00 BST on Saturday This embedded content is not available in your region. Angus Council - which was hit by the first red alert on Thursday - said it was prepared to call on the military for assistance if the situation in the region worsened significantly. Brechin in Angus has been among the worst hit areas, with 60 households having to be rescued after they chose to remain in their homes despite an evacuation warning for the entire town. Serious damage has been caused in the Marykirk area, where a man was reported missing Motorists across Scotland have been warned to exercise caution by police, amid an ongoing search for a driver who was reported to be trapped in a vehicle near Marykirk in Aberdeenshire in the early hours of Friday. On Saturday evening, some residents in the Aberdeen suburb of Peterculter were advised to leave their homes "as a precaution" in case of flooding. Aberdeen City Council said a rest centre was available at Culter Village Hall. What is a red weather warning? Red is the most severe of the Met Office's three coloured weather warnings. It means that dangerous weather is expected and, if you have not already done so, you should take action now to keep yourself and others safe from the impact of the severe weather. It is very likely that there will be a risk to life, with substantial disruption to travel, energy supplies and possibly widespread damage to property and infrastructure. You should avoid travelling, where possible, and follow the advice of the emergency services and local authorities. You can read more about the weather warning system here. Banner saying 'Get in touch' Are you in a region affected by the storm? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways: Your slice of the headlines in Ukraine. Daily. Friday, October 20, 2023. Five dead and five in hospital after Russias monstrous attack on a residential apartment building in Zaporizhzhya Five people were killed and five hospitalized in Russias overnight missile attack on a residential apartment building in Zaporizhzhya on Oct. 18, the regional police reported on Oct. 19. Russian onslaught persists in Avdiivka, city stands strong, says official Russian forces are still trying to encircle the heavily defended town of Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast, hitting it with everything they have, said Vitaliy Barabash, the head of the Avdiivka City Military Administration on Oct. 19. NATO ships begin minesweeping in Black Sea waters report A joint minesweeping task force from the Bulgarian and Romanian navies has begun operating in the Black Sea along Ukraines recently established commercial shipping lane, Andriy Klymenko, head of the Institute for Strategic Black Sea Studies and Editor-in-Chief of BlackSeaNews, said in a Facebook post on Oct. 19. How Ukraine used its first ATACMS against Russian air power On Oct. 17, the Armed Forces of Ukraine used U.S.-supplied ATACMS ballistic missiles to strike Russian airfields near occupied Berdyansk (Zaporizhzhya Oblast) and Luhansk. At least 9 helicopters and numerous other pieces of military equipment, including enemy air defenses, were destroyed. 30,000 Ukrainian civilians missing since Russia's invasion ICMP report About 30,000 Ukrainian civilians have gone missing since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Director-General of the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) Kathryne Bomberger told Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne on Oct. 19. Ukraine takes a step toward recognizing civil partnerships as Defense & Justice Ministries drop opposition Ukraines Defense and Justice ministries have thrown their support behind Bill No. 9103, titled On the Institution of Registered Partnerships, which proposes the establishment of registered partnerships as a voluntary family union for two adult individuals of the same or different genders. Brussels has changed a lot. What this means for Ukraine The terrorist attack on Israel is an attempt to undermine the societies of all democratic countries from within. Zerkal Ukraine gains foothold across Dnipro River in autumn advance on Kherson front Select units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces successfully crossed the Dnipro River on Oct. 17-18, gaining a foothold in the occupied part of Kherson Oblast near Oleshkivska, the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote in their Oct. 18 assessment. Ukraines parliament votes to ban the Moscow Patriarchate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for its ties to the Kremlin Ukraines parliament voted to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) in the first reading on Oct. 19. China unlikely to supply arms to Russia former FM Klimkin Russian dictator Vladimir Putins ongoing visit to Beijing is unlikely to convince China to provide weapons for Russias war against Ukraine, former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said in an interview with NV Radio on Oct. 18. 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 Only a few states allow hunters the unusual privilege of bagging its state bird. South Dakota is one of them, and the iconic ring-necked pheasant will soon be the quarry of tens of thousands of hunters aiming to take part in the 2023 traditional pheasant hunting season this weekend. Whether you're on your first hunt or your 50th, this guide has what you need to know about the pheasant population outlook and weather forecast for eastern South Dakota, as well as fees, regulations and license dealers in Sioux Falls and abroad. Welcome to South Dakota, good luck and, most of all, enjoy the hunt! What's the pheasant season outlook for South Dakota? The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks stopped conducting brood surveys in 2020, which means pheasant population estimates remain unknown. More: Risk of inaccurate pheasant numbers remains since end of South Dakota's brood survey However, GFP's Upland Outlook states conditions are "excellent" in western, central and northeast South Dakota because of ideal weather conditions during the spring. GFP indicates reports of large-size broods are "common" and hunting conditions should be better than 2022. Hunters bagged 1,158,000 pheasants statewide last year, the highest total in five years and 10% higher than the past 10-year average, but lower compared with previous decades, according to GFP data. Thousands of hunters are expected to arrive in the coming weeks. Tourism is one of the leading industries in South Dakota, and in the northeast part of the state, pheasant hunting is a big draw. Last year, 127,733 resident and nonresident hunters took part in South Dakota's pheasant season, according to GFP data. More: South Dakota pheasant harvest numbers below average compared to previous decades The five counties with the highest reported harvests were Beadle, Brown, Brule, Lyman and Tripp. In all, resident and nonresident hunters spent an estimated $257.3 million. What's the weather outlook for pheasant season in eastern South Dakota? The weather should be mildly warm and a bit windy in the Aberdeen area on Saturday, National Weather Service Meteorologist Katherine King told the Argus Leader. Temperatures are expected to stick around 60 degrees, while breezy winds ranging from 10 to 15 miles an hour and occasional gusts around 20 miles an hour will likely linger throughout Saturday. King said to expect conditions to be sunny with a chance of some clouds. By Sunday morning, temperatures could hit highs of 60 degrees in the morning, but King said lows around 37 degrees could make for a slightly chillier day. Hunters will likely see another day of breezy winds around 10 to 15 miles per hour and gusts up to 20 miles per hour. Clouds are expected to hang over the region but rain is unlikely. Traxx Hunting guides train their dogs on finding pheasants during opening day of the season in Iona, South Dakota. October 16th, 2021. In the Mitchell area, NWS is forecasting a high near 62 degrees and winds around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph on Saturday. Sunny conditions are expected. On Sunday, the region is projected to see a high near 64. Hunters should expect another breezy day, with 10 to 15 mph winds increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon and gusts as high as 30 mph. As for the Sioux Falls area, NWS is forecasting a sunny Saturday, with a high temperature near 63 degrees. 15 to 20 mph winds and gusts as high as 30 mph are expected throughout the day. On Sunday, conditions will be mostly sunny, with temperatures up to 62 degrees. Hunters can expect a slightly less breezy day, with 5 to 15 mph winds and gusts up to 20 mph. When can hunting start, and what's the bird limit? The pheasant season opens on Saturday and runs until Jan. 31, 2024. Shooting is allowed from 10 a.m. Central until sunset for the entire season. Three rooster pheasants are allowed each day, with a possession limit of 15 roosters total, according to the GFP. More: Ducks become flashpoint in growing debate over resident vs. nonresident hunting in SD All public lands in South Dakota are open for hunting, with the following exceptions where pheasant hunting is only allowed in December and January: Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge (Brown County): Dec. 11, 2023 through Jan. 31, 2024. Renziehausen Game Production Area and Game Bird Refuge (Brown and Marshall counties): Dec. 1. 2023 through Jan. 31, 2024. Gerken Game Bird Refuge (Faulkton County): Dec. 1. 2023 through Jan. 31, 2024. White Lake Game Bird Refuge (Marshall County): Dec. 1. 2023 through Jan. 31, 2024. Out-of-state hunters Tom Jackson, Logan Fendley, Ronnie Cox and Cameron Fendley approach guide Q McEntee during pheasant hunting opening day, October 16, 2021 in Iona, South Dakota. The states Turn In Poachers hotline is 1-888-OVERBAG (or 1-888-683-7224). Reports can be made anonymously. Informants are eligible for rewards. How much are small game licenses and where can I get them? Nonresident small game licenses that include pheasants are $121 and are good for two five-day periods. The two periods can be consecutive. A nonresident youth license is $10. A $25 habitat stamp is also required for nonresident hunters who are 18 and older if this is the first hunting license purchased in 2023. Licenses may be purchased online. A $6 surcharge is assessed for each license. For more information, visit gfp.sd.gov/hunt-fish-license/. There are more than 290 registered license dealers across South Dakota. Licenses can be purchased at the following businesses in or just beyond the borders of Brown County: Aberdeen Dunhams, 3315 Sixth Ave. S.E., Suite 300 Kens SuperFair Foods, 2201 Sixth Ave. S.E. Kesslers, 621 Sixth Ave. S.E. Runnings, 1815 Sixth Ave. S.E. Sodak Sport and Bait, 850 S. U.S. Highway 281. Walmart, 3820 Seventh Ave. S.E. Brandon Ace Hardware, 304 S. Splitrock Blvd. Harrisburg Ace Hardware, 200 W. Willow St. Hartford Ace Hardware, 701 S. Western Ave. Mitchell Cabela's, 601 Cabela Dr. Coborn's Grocery Store, 1800 N. Main St Granite Springs Lodge, 1525 W. Elm Ave. Sinclair Gas Stations Northside: 1905 N. Main St. Westside: 1527 W. Havens Ave. Runnings, 1313 S. Burr St. Sodak Sports, 515 E. Spruce St. Walmart, 1101 E. Spruce St. Sioux Falls Dakota Angler, 1120 E. Benson Rd. Fiverstar General Agent, (605) 978-2100 Fleet Farm, 3035 W. Fleet St. Get N Go, 6201 W. 12th St. Holiday Gas Station, 5000 N. Cliff Ave. Northview Bait & Tackle, 1400 N. Kiwanis Ave. Nyberg's Ace 200 E. 12th St. 607 S. Sycamore Ave. 2500 W. 12th St. 330 W. 41st St. Runnings 3709 E. 10th St. 3835 S. Western Ave. Scheels 2101 W. 41st St. Walmart 3209 S. Louise Ave. 7821 S. Minnesota Ave. 5521 E. Arrowhead Pkwy. 5200 W. 60th St. N. Tea Ace Hardware, 701 N. Heritage Pkwy. Electronic small-game licenses are accepted. To use one, log in to the GFP licensing account and take a screenshot. Maps and apps show public access areas Maps showing public access hunting areas are available on the GFP website at gfp.sd.gov/maps. Smartphone apps are also available for both Androids and iPhones. Search for SD GFP Outdoors in the respective stores to download the app. Blaze orange is recommended, but not required Wearing bright orange in the field is not required by law. However, it is strongly recommended so hunters can be easily spotted by others. Don Vetch grabs a pheasant from a dog during a pheasant hunt on the opener northwest of Onaka. Trespassing on private land not allowed It is illegal to hunt on private land without permission. Violators could be charged with trespassing. Hunters are allowed to shoot pheasants in most road rights of way. Right-of-way hunters must be on foot. Birds must have taken flight from within or be flying over the right of way. A pheasant shot in a right of way that lands on private land may be retrieved on foot. Hunters are not allowed to discharge firearms from vehicles. Aberdeen Pheasant Coalition provides incentives for walk-in program enrollment A group of local businesses and organizations, spearheaded by Northern South Dakota Pheasants Forever Chapter No. 77, provides financial incentives to property owners to enroll land in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Conservation Reserve Program and the GFP public walk-in program. Land enrolled in both programs is added to public walk-in maps. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: What you need to know ahead of the 2023 pheasant season opener Study: Atlantic hurricanes now stronger, faster than ever before as climate and oceans warm The U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts are experiencing increased damage from stronger and faster hurricanes, a new study suggests. Over the past decade, more than 160 weather and climate disasters costing over a billion dollars have impacted the U.S., and 24 of them have been tropical cyclones, according to a study published Thursday by Andra J. Garner, an assistant professor at Rowan University in New Jersey. Garner said her analysis from 1971 to 2020 shows that human-made greenhouse gas emissions and their ensuing warming effect on the planet and oceans have influenced the intensification rates of Atlantic tropical cyclones. WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN A HURRICANE UNDERGOES 'RAPID INTENSIFICATION'? An aerial picture taken on September 30, 2022, shows the only access to the Matlacha neighborhood destroyed in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers, Florida. According to Garner, the number of tropical cyclones that intensify from a Category 1 hurricane or weaker, into a major hurricane within 36 hours has more than doubled in the modern era (20012020) as compared to the historical era (19711990). In a modern era, the mean maximum intensification rates of tropical cyclones are up to 28.7% greater compared to the previous 20 years, as noted by Garner. In recent years, many of the most devastating hurricanes that have hit the U.S. have been known for their rapid intensification. THE BEASTS OF THE ATLANTIC: 94 RETIRED HURRICANE OR TROPICAL STORM NAMES A residental area is engulfed in shipping containers, RVs, and boats washed ashore 30 August 2005 in Gulfport, Mississippi following high winds and waves Hurricane Katrina. Hurricane Maria in 2017, for example, went from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale in just over 48 hours. It caused the highest death toll since 1980 and the fourth-highest economic cost in the last four decades. The top five costliest U.S. weather and climate disasters in the past decade have been hurricanes Harvey (2017), Ian (2022), Sandy (2012), Ida (2021), and Irma (2017) all also underwent rapid intensification, Garner said. Most became a major hurricane, as in Category 3 or higher, in under three days. TOP 5 COSTLIEST HURRICANES IN US HISTORY Flood waters from Hurricane Katrina cover streets on August 30, 2005, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Garner said that it would have been statistically impossible to observe the number of tropical cyclones that intensified during the modern era, if rates of intensification had not changed from the historical era. FOX Weather hurricane specialist Bryan Norcross says there is no question that hurricanes are more likely to rapidly intensify when the ocean temperature is warmer, as it more often is in the modern climate. While Norcross said he is reluctant to compare storms or strengthening rates from different eras to derive hard numbers, he offered this insight: "From the 1970s until the mid-90s, its well-known that less of the suns energy reached the tropical Atlantic due to air pollution from Europe combined with volcanic eruptions," he said. "The result was fewer storms and fewer strong storms." WHY DON'T HURRICANES STRIKE CALIFORNIA? Jenna Fountain carries a bucket down Regency Drive to try to recover items from their flooded home in Port Arthur, Texas, September 1, 2017, following Hurricane Harvey. When air-quality standards were enacted in Europe, Norcross said the air over the Atlantic cleared, which contributed to oceanic warming. Increased levels of CO2 in the atmosphere have made the ocean warmer yet, Norcross adds. In addition, modern observing technology is more likely to detect super-strong winds. "In my mind, these variables and more make the exact amount of increased rapid intensification fuzzy, but clearly, its occurring," he said. Original article source: Study: Atlantic hurricanes now stronger, faster than ever before as climate and oceans warm Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 20) President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is hoping for de-escalation of tensions and for all parties to "stop all violence" in Israel and Gaza as the war between Israel and militant group Hamas rages on. During the first Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit on Friday, Marcos told leaders that the Philippines is deeply concerned about the rising number of victims and the peoples safety in light of the ongoing armed conflict. We hope that all parties will exert their utmost efforts to deescalate the situation, stop all violence, and engage in dialogue and diplomacy, Marcos said in his intervention. He raised the statement as four Filipinos have been confirmed killed in the Israel-Hamas war, while two are still missing in the Jewish nation and around 135 Filipinos are also among those trapped in Gaza. Ahead of the summit, the ASEAN called for an end to the escalating violence in the Middle East that has killed thousands of civilians, including Southeast Asian nationals, and for the creation of rapid and unimpeded humanitarian corridors. The ASEAN-GCC also released a joint statement to condemn all attacks against civilians in the besieged Gaza, urging for a durable ceasefire, the protection of civilians, and the the immediate and unconditional release of civilian hostages and detainees, especially women, children, the sick and the elderly. The two groups urged concerned parties to work towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict with a view to realising the two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders in accordance with international law and the relevant UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. They also agreed to [s]upport the initiatives of Saudi Arabia, the European Union and the League of Arab States to revive the Middle East peace process in cooperation with Egypt and Jordan, and resolve the dispute between Israel and its neighbours in accordance with international law and all UN resolutions on this conflict. A disgraced Grain Valley police officer accused of sexually exploiting a 15-year-old is now facing federal charges, according to prosecutors. The ex-cop, 27-year-old August P. Gildehaus, of Blue Springs, was arrested Thursday and made an initial appearance in Kansas Citys downtown federal courthouse. He was ordered held in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending a detention hearing set for next week. The indictment comes roughly six months after Jackson County prosecutors first brought state charges of statutory rape and sodomy against Gildehaus. He was released from the Jackson County jail in April on a $20,000 bond and ordered to remain on a location monitoring program as one of the courts conditions. Gildehaus is now charged in federal court with enticing a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, production of child pornography and possession of child pornography, according to the indictment unsealed Thursday. Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Missouri have since filed a motion seeking to have Gildehaus held in federal custody without bail, saying he poses a danger to the community, minors in particular, and is a flight risk. Reached by phone Thursday, a defense attorney for Gildehaus declined to comment. Police officers in Grain Valley were first called to investigate a report made by a 15-year-olds parents that their child had been missing after 1 a.m. in March. She returned home later that morning and told police she had been engaged in a sexual relationship with a man she met on social media. Authorities later identified him as Gildehaus. The Missouri State Highway Patrol was asked by Grain Valley Police Chief Ed Turner to handle the investigation. In April, the teenager was again interviewed and offered specific details of Gildehaus, describing a tattoo on his arm and pointing him out as an officer featured on the police departments Facebook page. During an April police interview, Gildehaus allegedly admitted to meeting with the teenager on four occasions, and recording sexual encounters in his truck, from the time they met in August 2022. He said they typically communicated through the social media apps Discord and Omegle through his laptop. Shortly after the criminal charges were filed, Grain Valley officials announced Gildehaus was no longer employed by the city. In September, a highway patrol investigator reviewed electronic files obtained through a search warrant for the social media application Discord. In them, prosecutors say the two talked about their sexual relationship in a blunt and frank fashion. The basis for two of the charges filed against Gildehaus production and possession of child pornography concern a video that authorities say show the two engaged in a sexual act while parked in the driveway of his home. Along with Gildehaus, the sexual exploitation investigation by the highway patrol has led to two other men charged with sex crimes involving the same 15-year-old. In Clay County, 24-year-old Tryston Michael Hastings, of Kansas City, faces four felony charges of statutory rape and sodomy. Antoine Richardson, 24, of Leavenworth, is accused in Jackson County of statutory rape and possession of child sexual abuse images. The Stars Anna Spoerre contributed to this report. Few people knew the importance of a home better than Carolyn Gardner. The longtime Augusta Realtor, who helped countless families find places to live, died Oct. 14 in the historical house she occupied for more than 94 years. Gardner died just eight days before her 96th birthday. Gardner's house at 3202 Washington Rd., bordered by a white picket fence, still remains a tiny rural oasis as metropolitan Augusta gradually grew around it over the past two centuries. City tax records show the home was constructed in or about 1800. Gardners parents moved into the house when she was just 1 year old. Her maternal grandmother, Lillie West, was married in the home in 1880 and died there in 1963 at age 106. Gardners mother, Eva, died there in 1976 at age 86. Born and reared in Augusta, Gardners life was long enough for her to excel in two 30-year careers. In 1945, three years after graduating from the Tubman High School for Girls, she began work at Georgia Power Co., first as a teller in its accounting department. In the days when Georgia Power ran an appliances division to sell products to rural households, Gardner later became the utilitys leading sales agent for five consecutive years, winning several trips to Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe. She discovered her strong sales ability while she worked her first job at downtown Augustas Kress Department Store when she was 14. 'You were the heart of all of us': Friends remember Augusta restaurateur Mark Cumins Leaving Georgia Power in the 1970s, Gardner joined real estate company Blanchard and Calhoun as its first female agent. By the time she retired in 2008, she had accumulated dozens of sales awards. The gregarious Gardners clipped, no-nonsense business approach was sometimes confused with unfriendliness, but she displayed her kindness in other ways. Blanchard and Calhoun shared just one example: In 1990, Gardner was handling the sale of one house and the purchase of another for a young physician and his wife, Dr. Daniel and Elena Boone. Days before the scheduled property closing, Gardner learned the couples financing had fallen through. While most realtors would let the chips fall where they may, Gardner did something truly extraordinary. She personally financed the home for the young buyers so that ... the Boones could proceed with their plans, according to the realty companys account. Every month for five years, the couple hand-delivered their mortgage payment to Gardners farmhouse." It was the right thing to do, Gardner said. Maybe not the smartest thing but the right thing. Her graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Westover Memorial Park, with Dr. J. Colin Harris officiating. Memorial donations may be made to Christ Community Health Services of Augusta, P.O. Box 2344, Augusta, GA 30901. This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Carolyn Gardner, successful Augusta real estate agent, dies at 95 WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Friday sided with the Biden administration in its fight with Missouri over the states controversial "Second Amendment Preservation Act, upholding a ruling that put on hold the state's ban on federal gun laws. The law, signed by Republican Gov. Mike Parson in 2021, subjects police who attempt to enforce federal gun laws to lawsuits and $50,000 civil penalties. Conservative officials in the state celebrated its passage, arguing it established Missouri as a state with some of the most permissive gun laws in the nation. Without comment Friday, the Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling that had blocked the law, meaning it cannot be enforced while the litigation continues in lower courts. Justice Clarence Thomas said he would have granted the state's request for a stay. Social media: In First Amendment showdown, Supreme Court sides with Biden for now on social media lobbying Justices Neil Gorsuch and Samuel Alito noted that the court was only acting on police officers and state employees, not "private parties" who might sue under the state's law. Missouri allowed private citizens to enforce the law through civil lawsuits; Gorsuch and Alito noted that the Supreme Court had declined to weigh into a similar enforcement mechanism in a 2021 challenge to a Texas abortion law. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, a Republican, said the decision was a "purely procedural matter" and said he looked forward "to defending Missourians' Second Amendment rights." The Justice Department declined to comment. Though limited and technical, the ruling Friday was nevertheless a blow to gun rights groups at a time when many gun restrictions across the country are being challenged in the wake of a landmark Supreme Court decision last year. The Supreme Court expanded Second Amendment protections in a 6-3 opinion last year that invalidated a New York gun licensing law. A majority of the court ruled in that case that gun regulations must be "consistent with this nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation" to survive court challenges. That has set off a flurry of lawsuits over other gun laws, requiring federal courts to assess whether the prohibitions at issue have some connection to history. Gun-rights advocates gather outside the Utah Capitol during the National Gun Appreciation Day Rally Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, in Salt Lake City. Gun owners and Second Amendment advocates rallied in state capitals nationwide Saturday, days after then-President Barack Obama unveiled a sweeping package of federal gun-control proposals. Federal laws require licensed manufacturers to engrave serial numbers on firearms and maintain sales records. Those laws also bar felons, people addicted to drugs and others from possessing guns. This year, the Supreme Court is already considering a high-profile Second Amendment case challenging a federal law that bars people who are subject to restraining orders from owning guns. President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, was charged with another provision of the law that prohibits people with drug addictions from owning guns. Contributing: Springfield News-Leader This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Supreme Court sides with Biden over controversial Missouri gun law The Supreme Court will determine whether the Biden administration violated the Constitution when it pressured tech companies to remove from their platforms what federal officials said was false or misleading content about the 2020 election and Covid-19. In an order Friday afternoon, the justices agreed to hear the Biden administrations challenge to a lower court order blocking it from urging social media companies to remove certain content that the White House claimed was misinformation around Covid-19 vaccines, Hunter Biden s laptop and the contested 2020 election results. In taking the case, the justices also blocked the lower courts injunction, which had been set to kick in within minutes and would have barred many types of contact between federal officials and the social media giants. The high courts action means that administration officials can keep contacting social media companies for now while the justices weigh the case. Both a conservative district judge and an appellate court had largely sided with a lawsuit from GOP attorneys general in Missouri and Louisiana that accused the administration of violating the First Amendment by coercing social media platforms to take down content the administration doesnt like. Three conservative justices Samuel Alito , Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch dissented from the decision to block the injunction, joining in a five-page opinion by Alito that called the courts action highly disturbing and said it threatened to curtail the discussion of unpopular political views online. At this time in the history of our country, what the Court has done, I fear, will be seen by some as giving the Government a green light to use heavy-handed tactics to skew the presentation of views on the medium that increasingly dominates the dissemination of news, Alito wrote. That is most unfortunate. This is the worst First Amendment violation in our nations history. We look forward to dismantling Joe Bidens vast censorship enterprise at the nations highest court, Missouri's Attorney General Andrew Bailey said in a statement. Louisianas Solicitor General Liz Murrill said the Supreme Court action allows the state AGs to affirm once and for all that the government is not permitted to use the government-speech doctrine to muffle the expression of disfavored viewpoints. Louisiana's Attorney General Jeff Landry was just elected governor, and will take office in January. Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), the previous Missouri AG who originally filed the case in 2022, called it one of the most important free speech cases in a generation. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment. The justices in the majority Friday did not explain their action, as is typical in cases reaching the court on an emergency basis, drawing a rebuke from Alito. The majority suspends the relief afforded below without a word of explanation, he complained. A federal judge in Louisiana on July 4 issued the injunction after finding the Biden administration likely violated the First Amendment when it reached out to social media companies about content it claimed was false or misleading. The state AGs lawsuit alleged the administration threatened the platforms with antitrust enforcement and reforms to tech platforms liability shield, known as Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, if they didnt comply with the governments takedown requests. The Justice Department says there is no evidence of coercion beyond the private and public jawboning of companies by officials. The 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals narrowed that injunction in September, but the Justice Department said the order still threatened to keep cautious FBI agents and other government officials from having any dealings at all with social media companies, lest the officials later be accused of violating the courts directive. The Supreme Court said Friday it will consider a social media censorship case brought against Biden administration officials in its next term, setting up a legal battle with resounding implications for online speech. The high court also issued a stay in an injunction ordered by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, pausing its effect until the justices decide the case on its merits. Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch dissented in their decision to stay the order. At this time in the history of our country, what the Court has done, I fear, will be seen by some as giving the Government a green light to use heavy-handed tactics to skew the presentation of views on the medium that increasingly dominates the dissemination of news, Alito wrote in his dissenting opinion. That is most unfortunate. The Supreme Courts decision follows an unusual series of orders in the 5th Circuit. Top Stories from The Hill A three-person panel in September determined that the Biden administration likely violated the First Amendment by urging social media companies to take down specific content. They ruled that federal agencies cannot coerce social media platforms to remove posts countering the governments stance. Originally, the White House, FBI and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were found by the panel to have crossed the line into coercion, while the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and State Department did not. However, after the Justice Department requested a stay from the Supreme Court, the Republican attorneys general who brought the case asked the appeals court to rehear it, in hopes of broadening the its decision. Without allowing time for the DOJ to reply, the appeals court granted the attorneys generals request Monday a move that the government called unreasoned in a renewed stay request to the Supreme Court Tuesday. 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 Evening Report newsletter Then, later Tuesday, the 5th Circuit put its injunction on hold and withdrew its order granting a rehearing. A spokesperson for the court told The Hill the first order was based on a misunderstanding of the courts directions and that the follow-up order corrected that mistake. After rehearing the case, the appeals court determined earlier this month that CISA did overstep, barring the cybersecurity defense agency from acting to coerce or significantly encourage tech companies to remove certain content. The Republican attorney generals brought the case in a challenge to the Biden administrations efforts to curb misinformation online, which they called a campaign of censorship by the government. A federal judge sided with them in July, blocking government officials from contacting social media companies over any manner the removal, deletion, suppression, or reduction of content containing protected free speech posted on social-media platforms. The 5th Circuits decision sharply narrowed that ruling. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, one of the attorneys general who brought the lawsuit, called the high courts decision to stay the order the worst First Amendment violation in our nations history. We look forward to dismantling Joe Bidens vast censorship enterprise at the nations highest court, Bailey said in a statement. Louisiana Solicitor General Liz Murrill said in a joint statement with state Attorney General Jeff Landry the other prosecutor to bring the lawsuit that the high courts acceptance of the case is a significant opportunity for the American people to be heard. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to The Hills request for comment. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Washington The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to temporarily pause a lower court's order that limited the contact Biden administration officials could have with social media companies as part of government efforts to address the spread of misinformation online. The justices also agreed to take up the case and decide whether the Biden administration illegally worked to suppress speech by conservatives on platforms like Facebook, YouTube and X. The court will hear arguments this winter, setting the stage for a major ruling on free speech and social media. A federal district judge in Louisiana issued an injunction over the summer that blocked employees at four federal agencies and the White House from having certain contacts with social media companies. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit modified the injunction earlier this month. The Supreme Court's order on Friday pauses the injunction while the justices consider the matter. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch said they would have kept the order in place while the court reviews the case. "At this time in the history of our country, what the Court has done, I fear, will be seen by some as giving the Government a green light to use heavy-handed tactics to skew the presentation of views on the medium that increasingly dominates the dissemination of news," Alito wrote in a 5-page opinion disagreeing with the stay. "That is most unfortunate." A fight over free speech and social media The Supreme Court is seen in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 9, 2023. / Credit: MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images The case, known as Murthy v. Missouri, stems from a suit brought by five social media users and the Republican attorneys general of Missouri and Louisiana. They alleged a host of federal agencies and officials coerced social media companies to suppress speech on their platforms in violation of the First Amendment. The challengers highlighted several topics they claimed were censored on social media, including a story about Hunter Biden's laptop before the 2020 election; the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic; the efficiency of measures to mitigate spread of COVID-19; and the integrity of the 2020 election. The Biden administration argued it sought to combat the spread of disinformation online by flagging potentially harmful content to social media companies, and noted that the Trump administration took many of the same actions at issue in the suit. U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty issued a preliminary injunction on July 4 that blocked a number of federal officials, as well as specific agencies, from engaging in a range of communications with social media companies about content "containing protected free speech posted" on their platforms. The order contained several carve-outs, allowing the government to notify social media companies about content involving criminal activity, threats to national security or foreign attempts to influence elections, among other areas. The government appealed Doughty's order. The 5th Circuit found officials from the White House and surgeon general's office engaged in coercion and "significant encouragement" when they communicated with social media companies about specific content. The appeals court narrowed the scope of the lower court's 10-part injunction and who it covered, finding officials with the White House, surgeon general's office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and FBI likely violated the First Amendment. In its unsigned opinion, the 5th Circuit blocked them from taking actions, "formal or informal, directly or indirectly, to coerce or significantly encourage social-media companies to remove, delete, suppress, or reduce, including through altering their algorithms, posted social-media content containing protected free speech." The government's argument In addition to seeking emergency relief from the Supreme Court, the Justice Department said it intended to ask the justices to take the case, which they agreed to do on Friday. "The court imposed unprecedented limits on the ability of the president's closest aides to use the bully pulpit to address matters of public concern, on the FBI's ability to address threats to the nation's security, and on the CDC's ability to relay public health information at platforms' request," Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar told the high court. She criticized the district court's injunction, arguing it is "unprecedented" and encroaches on the separation of powers. She said the court installed itself as "as the superintendent of the Executive Branch's communications with and about social-media platforms including senior White House officials' speech addressing some of the most salient public issues of the day." "Under the injunction, the surgeon general, the White House press secretary, and many other senior presidential aides risk contempt if their public statements on matters of policy cross the ill-defined lines drawn by the Fifth Circuit," Prelogar said. "CDC officials run the same risk if they accurately answer platforms' questions about public health. And FBI agents risk being haled into court if they flag content posted by terrorists or disinformation disseminated by covert malign foreign actors." What the states say In response to the Justice Department's request, the attorneys general of Louisiana and Missouri urged the Supreme Court to allow the injunction, which the 5th Circuit temporarily paused through Oct. 13, to take effect. "As relevant here, the district court's findings and the evidence establish an extensive campaign by federal officials in the White House, the Surgeon General's Office, the CDC, and the FBI to silence disfavored viewpoints on social media," they wrote in a filing. "This campaign began in 2018, dramatically accelerated in 2021, and continues to the present day." The plaintiffs in the case, the Republicans argued, have a right under the First Amendment "to deal with platforms on an even playing field, freed from the stifling hand of federal coercion." "Here, federal censorship has fundamentally altered online discourse rendering entire viewpoints on matters of great public concern virtually unspeakable on social media," the attorneys general wrote. The dispute involving the government's efforts to address misinformation spread on social media is one of several that is before the Supreme Court that stands at the intersection of the First Amendment and online speech. The justices will hear arguments in October in two cases involving public officials' actions on social media, including whether elected officials violated the First Amendment when they blocked users from interacting with their content. The court will also hear a pair of cases challenging laws in Texas and Florida that impose new rules on social media companies and their content-moderation policies, which were enacted in response to claims that conservative users were being silenced by platforms. What does Sidney Powell's guilty plea mean for Trump? Why Hamas released 2 American hostages, and how it unfolded Key takeaways from Biden's second Oval Office address The Supreme Court declined to reinstate a Missouri law that prevents local police from working with the federal government to enforce certain gun laws. The justices Friday sided with the Biden administration in denying the Republican-led states emergency application to put the law back into effect while a legal challenge proceeds in a lower court. Justice Clarence Thomas publicly dissented. Two of his fellow conservative justices who voted to deny Missouris request said they believe private parties can still enforce the law. The case could ultimately return to the high court on the merits. Missouri passed the Second Amendment Preservation Act in June 2021, declaring that limitations on gun transfers and firearm registrations, among others, are unconstitutional. Top Stories from The Hill Police as well as other state and local government employees are barred from enforcing provisions the law deems invalid. Violations can carry a $50,000 civil fine. The Biden administration last year sued over Missouris law, arguing it is unconstitutional, and a federal district judge agreed in March. But the law remained in effect until late last month, when the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a single-sentence order denied Missouris request for a stay as their appeal proceeds. The state then went to the Supreme Court to revive the law, insisting it is constitutional and that the Biden administration has no standing, or no legal right to sue. 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 Tipsheet newsletter Justice Neil Gorsuch , in a statement joined by fellow conservative Justice Samuel Alito, suggested private parties can still enforce the law. With the understanding that the district court prohibited only implementation and enforcement of H. B. 85 by the State of Missouri and its officers, agents, and employees and any others in active concert with such individuals, I agree with the denial of the application for a stay under the present circumstances, Gorsuch wrote. He continued, An injunction purporting to bind private parties not before the district court or the challenged provisions themselves, however, would be inconsistent with the equitable powers of federal courts. Missouri cited the 8th Circuits lack of explanation, contending that the state would suffer irreparable harm if the law remains off the books. So except for the 24-hour period between when the district court entered its order and its administrative stay and the two business days between the Eighth Circuit issuing its one-line order and Missouri filing this application, Missouris law has been allowed to stay in effect for more than two years. By issuing a stay, this Court would maintain the status quo, the state wrote to the justices. Sign up for the latest from The Hill here The Biden administration, which contends the law is unconstitutional for multiple reasons, urged the Supreme Court to stay out of the case and said it didnt warrant the high courts rare emergency intervention. The Missouri Legislature is free to express its opinions about the Second Amendment, and it is also free to prohibit state and local officials from assisting in the enforcement of federal law. But it is not free to purport to nullify federal statutes; to direct state officials and courts to treat those statutes as invalid and to protect against their enforcement; or to regulate and discriminate against federal officials enforcing those statutes, the Justice Department wrote in court filings. This Court should not grant extraordinary emergency relief to allow Missouri to resume implementation of that nullificationist scheme, the filing continued. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. SAN LEANDRO, Calif. - One man has been arrested for the alleged fatal shootings of two men in the parking lot of a Bayfair Center 24 Hour Fitness just 10 days apart, according to the San Leandro Police Department. Joshua Ballard, 23, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with two counts of murder in the shooting deaths of two men whom he was allegedly trying to rob or carjack, police said. Sebahattin Ciftci, 46, was shot and killed on Sept. 14, while Emre Boxkurt, 21, was shot and killed on Sept. 24. Both victims were found dead in their cars in the parking lot in the early morning hours. Detectives reviewed surveillance footage from several nearby businesses, and they found a person of interest who was seen coming to and from the scenes of both homicides. The suspect wore dark clothing, black boots and a distinctive red Nike backpack, and he fled the scene heading north on Hesperian Boulevard. Just after 2 p.m. on Tuesday, an officer spotted a man, later identified as Ballard, wearing the red Nike backpack and black boots near Hesperian Boulevard. Officers detained Ballard and found a 9mm semiautomatic handgun without a serial number, otherwise known as a ghost gun. Officers who searched Ballard's residence allegedly found more evidence that they say connects him to the crime. Police said it does not appear that the victims were specifically targeted. They also said the crime is not directly connected to the 24 Hour Fitness. Ballard was booked into the Santa Rita Jail in the early hours of Wednesday morning, where he is still being held. He faces charges for felony murder, carjacking and second-degree robbery along with several firearm-related enhancements. Police are still investigating the shootings and whether they may have been connected. Anyone with further information about the crimes is asked to contact SLPD at 510-577-3244. FILE PHOTO: Former architect Peter Sekules poses at the Sydney Opera House By Alasdair Pal SYDNEY (Reuters) - Sydney Opera House celebrated its 50th birthday on Friday, with a laser show planned to illuminate the iconic building. Officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 20 October 1973, the Opera House is widely regarded as one of the greatest architectural designs of the 20th century, with 10.9 million people visiting every year. The building will be illuminated on Friday evening by a light show created by Australian audio-visual artist Robin Fox, before welcoming an expected 37,000 people on Saturday for free tours, its first open day in eight years. "A symbol around the world and a national treasure turns 50," Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. "Happy Birthday to an Australian icon." As part of the 1956 Opera House international design competition, 233 designs were submitted by architects from around the world with Jorn Utzon from Denmark chosen as the winner. Construction began in 1959 with the project meant to take four years to complete, but after Utzon resigned due to a change in government, design differences and a blow out in costs, the structure took 14 years to complete. The Sydney Opera House was added to UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2007. (Reporting by Alasdair Pal in Sydney; Editing by Lincoln Feast.) Kelly Davis has fond memories of her nephew Starquan Washington. He would always come to Davis home for Christmas, dressing up in the same holiday outfit as the family and going out to dinner at a Chinese restaurant. He also brought people who didnt have families over for Thanksgiving dinner. I cant imagine another Christmas without him, Davis said Wednesday. Starquan was a good kid. He would give people the shirt off his back. He did his dirt sometimes, but at the end of the day, there wasnt a Christmas he didnt come by, there wasnt a Thanksgiving he wasnt here. The 23-year-old Longs man was killed early Wednesday morning outside a Myrtle Beach area bar. A Myrtle Beach man, Kvon Tyrese Lawhorn, 24, now faces a murder charge in Washingtons death, Horry County Police said. The death of Washington has left the Davis family and his mother, Jamella Washington, reeling. For Davis, she wants people to know that Washington wasnt some young thug who went out gangbanging at a bar. My nephew is not some thug who is out there causing trouble being a part of society that is unproductive, Davis said. Davis said that Washington was working to try to support his young son. Kelly Davis has fond memories of her nephew, Starquan Washington. Washington was shot and killed Wednesday outside a Myrtle Beach area bar. Victim friends with the shooter Washington was one of two people shot outside Barfields Bar & Grille, 4803 Highway 17 Bypass, about 2:10 a.m. Wednesday, police said. The other person received non-life-threatening injuries. It is believed the shooting started after an altercation at the bar between the shooter and another person, family said. Washington was friends with the shooter, Davis said. Washingtons cousin, Christopher Glenn, said Washington was at his house the night before the shooting and wanted Glenn to go with him to the bar. However, he didnt go. Glenn said Washington liked to go to the bar to socially connect because he liked to talk to others. Davis said her son wonders if he would have gone with Washington that maybe he wouldve been OK. But Davis wonders that maybe if he was there, I would be grieving my son this evening. I cant bring my son back Glenn describes Washington as someone who would look on the brighter side, funny and always had a smile on his face. Jamella Washington said she got pregnant with her son when she was young and that little boy brightened my world up. The family moved from Florida back to the Myrtle Beach area when Washington was young and he graduated from Socastee High School. He was my everything. And he meant the world to me, Jamella Washington said. If they are trying to paint a bad picture about him, they cant. He was a victim. Hes a beautiful life gone. I cant bring my son back. I cant shed any more tears. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 20) Businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles will spend at least six decades more in prison after the Sandiganbayan convicted her of graft and malversation of public funds. In a 57-page decision released Friday, the graft court said it found Napoles guilty of four counts of graft, with an imprisonment of six to 10 years for each count. Four more convictions of malversation of public funds were slapped against Napoles, with a total penalty of at least 40 years in jail. This was in relation to the Priority Development Assistance Fund, or pork barrel, of former South Cotabato solon Arthur Pingoy Jr. Others convicted in the cases were Former National Agribusiness Corporation (Nabcor) officials Rhodora Mendoza, Maria Ninez Guanizo, and Victor Roman Cacal, and Evelyn De Leon of the Philippine Social Development Foundation Inc. Under the graft convictions, Napoles and other accused were also ordered to return 20.9 million that was wrongfully and illegally disbursed, the document read. In the same decision, the alleged pork barrel scam mastermind and other personalities also need to pay the government another 20.9 million, an equivalent to the amount malversed. Those convicted are also barred perpetually from holding any public office. Pingoy, meanwhile, was acquitted for failure of the prosecution to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Earlier this month, the Sandiganbayan also found Napoles guilty of nine counts of corruption of a public official involving former Rep. Edgar Valdez, who was convicted of nine counts of direct bribery. The issue of this pork barrel scheme emerged in 2013, triggering public uproar and nationwide protests. Later that year, the Supreme Court declared all congressional pork barrel laws as unconstitutional. READ: EXPLAINER: What you need to know about the PDAF scam Egyptians hold up pro-Palestinian placards at a rally in solidarity with Gaza in the capital Cairo (Khaled DESOUKI) Tens of thousands of protesters rallied across Egypt in support of war-torn Gaza on Friday, with large crowds flooding into Cairo's iconic Tahrir Square, an AFP correspondent and Egyptian media said. The correspondent said several thousand packed into Tahrir Square, the epicentre of the 2011 uprising that toppled long-time autocrat Hosni Mubarak . Media outlets said rallies also took place in other Egyptian cities on day 14 of Israel's bombardment of the enclave following Hamas's deadly October 7 attacks. Public protests are generally illegal in Egypt but on Wednesday President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi told visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz he could "call on the Egyptian people to come out and express their rejection" of Israeli actions in Gaza "and you would see millions of Egyptians" in the street. Later the same day, thousands took to the streets. Analysts say Sisi has sought to ride the wave of anger sweeping the Arab world's most populous country about the plight of Palestinians on its doorstep in Gaza. "There is a desire to take control of the public anger," University of Cairo politics professor Mustafa Kamel al-Sayyed told AFP. Media loyal to the president have published a list of public squares and other sites where protests will be tolerated, calling on Egyptians to show their support for Sisi ahead of a presidential election due in December. Cairo's Tahrir Square was not among them, a matter of pride for many of those demonstrating on Friday. "We're not here to give a new mandate to anybody. It's a genuine demonstration," the crowd chanted. The police later pushed protesters away from the square to nearby streets, the AFP correspondent reported. The war in Gaza began after its Islamist rulers Hamas carried out a deadly raid on southern Israel on October 7 that left more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians, killed on Israeli soil. At least 4,137 people have been killed in Israel's retaliatory bombardment of the territory, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry. vid-sbh/kir After Apple discontinued its Music Memos app favored by musicians for developing song ideas, a new startup called Tape It stepped in to fill the void with an app that leveraged AI to automatically detect the instrument and annotate the recording. Now that startup is taking the next step in its journey to improve the audio-recording process with the introduction of an automatic, studio quality noise reduction algorithm, also powered by AI, that works on any audio -- not just speech. The AI denoiser shipped this week as a free web app, with a plan to license the technology to vendors in the future. It will also later be integrated into the company's flagship Tape It app, the company says. Founded in 2020 by musicians and friends Thomas Walther and Jan Nash, Tape It's initial focus was on an iOS recording app for musicians. Before creating Tape It, Walther had spent three and a half years at Spotify after it acquired his audio detection startup Sonalytic. Nash, meanwhile, is a classically trained opera singer, who's also a bassist and engineer. The duo were originally inspired to build Tape It because it was something they wanted for themselves as fellow bandmates that would be as simple to use as Apple's Music Memos, but made more powerful through the use of AI. The original version of the app was able to automatically detect the instrument, and then annotate the recording with a visual indication to make those recordings easier to find by looking for the colorful icon. Musicians could also add their own markers to the files, as well as notes, and photos to review later on. The app has since gained traction with around 10,000 monthly active users, the company says. But as Walther told TechCrunch at the time of Tape It's 2021 debut, the team aimed to broaden their use of AI over time. Image Credits: Tape It That led to the startup's latest development -- an AI-powered denoiser they've been building over the past two years. The challenge with recordings, the company explains, is background noise. In order to reduce environmental noise and electrical interference, musicians record in studios and leverage complex software. Tape It wants to provide a more affordable alternative using AI. Their software automatically removes noise like hums and hisses, not only spoken word, with the goal of producing studio-quality results on songs, single-instrument tracks and field recordings. "What we developed is we created an automatic version of the denoising software that you have been finding in professional recording studios in the last 15 years," explains Walther. To verify its results, Tape It is releasing an academic study with a scientific listening test that shows the software's quality in competing with industry-leading denoisers. In a video, the company explains that while speech enhancement systems have advanced significantly, they generally only work for speech and distort or corrupt music signals. Meanwhile, professional denoising systems require manual control of complex software by professional users. Tape It's technology involves connecting a neural network controller to a signal processing-based noise reduction algorithm. This allowed for automatic denoising of general audio signals, including music. The company plans to present its work at the AES conference next week. "The reason people haven't automated those [professional systems] is because you can't traditionally put them into a neural network...you can't train such a system," notes Walther. "We are actually the first ones to train such a system and that's why we're quite excited about this larger area." He adds that the academic community will most likely be less interested in the denoising product itself but more in how they managed to get it to work this way because of the implications it has for other applications of automating studio software. Still, the denoising software already has some interested potential customers, including a large studio software vendor and a large hardware manufacturer. In those cases, enterprise pricing will be made available but for smaller startups, less expensive plans will be offered. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyQxEknv0Uo?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent&w=640&h=360] "Everyone is excited about AI being creative, said Walther, when announcing the news. "We are excited about AI solving boring problems. We take care of background noise, so you can entirely focus on the creative parts and write more songs," he said. AI technologies aren't only being used to reduce background noise for musicians, of course, other companies are also turning to AI to create near-studio quality sound for podcasters too. For example, Podcastle just this month launched its Magic Dust AI, a generative AI tool that eliminates background noise and enhances its dynamic range. Tape It's five-person team is based in Berlin, London, Los Angeles and Stockholm, and includes designer and musician Christian Crusius, previously of the design consultancy Fjord, which was acquired by Accenture. The bulk of the work on the denoising software was done by Christian Steinmetz, a PhD researcher in AI and audio. The company is continuing to bootstrap, having previously turned down offers of funding. "This is fundamental research and we just didn't know how long it would take," Walther explained as to why they went this route. "We thought it was a bit risky if you get an investor who isn't that patient -- [they'd push you to ] just take an open source model and move on. But we wanted to have a larger technological advantage," he said. The company is now considering raising funds and is having those discussions, given the pace of the AI market, but hasn't made any formal decision as of yet. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRjxY7GTV6Y?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent&w=640&h=360] A new Target store is opening Saturday, Oct. 21, in the Miami International Airport area west of Little Havana but thats not all thats new for the big box store this year. Target announced the location, a 100,700-square-foot store at 3825 NW Seventh St., will feature something called Drive Up with Starbucks. Thats a service that brings your coffee right to the curb. The service is also now available at 1,700 stores across the country that have both a Starbucks Cafe and Drive Up service for the rest of your Target order. Thats nearly all of Targets 2,000 stores offering Starbucks menu items. The free curbside service sends a barista right to your car window with your coffee and food. Instead or ordering at a traditional drive-through window and then having to wait, you pre-order on the app and its ready when you pull up to the parking lot. What is Drive Up with Starbucks? Target rolled out its Starbucks Drive Up curbside delivery program nationally in August 2023. A Starbucks barista at a participating Target at most of the Miami areas 35 Targets will prepare and package your order and bring it your car parked curbside. The coffee service was rolled out nationally in August. It was wedded to the Target app and tried at a few store locations to fine-tune things. The service came together after customers clamored for curbside service during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021. Starbucks has a long history of adapting and innovating how we serve our customers, meeting them where they are, Mark Ring, a senior vice president at Starbucks, said in a statement. Offering the Starbucks Experience to the Target Drive Up guest is a great example of two iconic brands creating a joyful moment in a way that Starbucks and Target are uniquely positioned to do together. The chains have had a partnership for about 20 years, which is why youve probably seen Starbucks outlets tucked into Target stores somewhere near the front doors. Enter the Drive Up with Starbucks experience. How Targets Drive Up delivery works To use Targets new curbside service for Starbucks coffees and menu items at its stores access the Drive Up program via the Target app and follow the prompts. Use the Target app on your phone to place a Drive Up order for merchandise at a participating Target store. Youll be prompted to place your order and you can then also add items from the Starbucks menu. Do that, then click Add for Drive Up and pay. After receiving notification your order has been accepted, indicate you are en route by tapping Im on my way to the store in the Target app. A barista begins preparing the order and packaging it for safe transport. Yes, the coffee will have drink stoppers to securely seal the lids. Park in the designated Drive Up parking area and tap Im here in the Target app. A Target team member then delivers your coffee and other store items to your car. Most popular Starbucks items Target rolled out its Starbucks Drive Up curbside delivery program nationally in August 2023. The service is available at most of the Miami areas 35 Targets. Here, a barista delivers an order to a customers car. According to Target, the top-selling Drive Up with Starbucks items so far in the program are the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, Birthday Cake Pop and the Iced Caramel Macchiato. Miamis new Target This embedded content is not available in your region. Features: The new Target opening Oct. 21 in the Miami area not far from airport will include the Drive Up with Starbucks service. In addition to the coffee chain outlet there will be Apple Store and Ulta Beauty locations inside this Target. South Florida presence: The store is the 35th in the greater Miami area since Target expanded locally in 1991, and the chain employs about 6,223 team members in the South Florida region. Store director: Were excited to bring the joy of Target to new guests and help them discover a unique shopping experience tailored to the needs of the Miami community, Rosalba Martinez, store director of the new Miami Seventh Street Target store, said in a statement. Guests can also shop on their own terms with our easy, contactless and industry-leading Drive Up, Order Pickup, and same-day delivery with Shipt services ready within a couple of hours with no membership required for the easiest shopping experience in retail. Target rolled out its Starbucks Drive Up curbside delivery program nationally in August 2023. The service is available at most of the Miami areas 35 Targets and at about 1,700 of the 2,000 Target stores nationwide, according to the retailer. Ocala police officers arrested a Dallas man earlier this week and accused him of participating in an elaborate scheme to cheat Target and its customers in a gift card scam. Here's a rundown of what happened: Accused's name: Donghui Liao Where and when was he arrested? Target, 2000 SW College Road, on Oct. 18. What is he accused of doing? According to a police report, Officer Hagan Samson was at Target working on a different case when a loss prevention official told the officer about a possible fraud at the gift card section. Samson watched surveillance video that showed a male removing numerous gift cards from a bag he was carrying and putting them onto a display. When he was finished, the man was seen making his way to the gift card kiosk, where he took gift cards that were on display and put them into that same bag. The individual then walked out the store without paying for the cards that he took. Detained: Samson went to the parking lot, detained Liao and took him to an office inside the store, according to the report. Another store video showed a male exiting a vehicle with a similar bag and entering the store. The male was identified as Liao. Part of a larger scam? The store's corporate office was contacted and local officials were told that they had been a target of an organized gift card fraud, the report noted. Here's how the scam works: Thieves steal gift cards from numerous Target stores and save the security codes and card numbers. The compromised cards are then returned to Target stores and placed onto shelves. The cards are then purchased by unsuspecting legitimate customers. Officials say they have linked Liao to other scams elsewhere in Florida and other states. Liao's interview: Liao was interviewed by Ocala Police Department Detective M. Pfeifer. Through translation, Liao said he responded to a Chinese job posting asking for someone to take cards from, and put cards on, Target shelves. The employer, according to the ad, would pay Liao 30 cents for every card he put on the shelf. Liao said he was mailed the cards, and whenever he got new cards, he was instructed to mail them to his employer. Gift cards: Officials said the gift cards were a mixture of Target and Visa cards whose value ranged from $50 to $500. Authorities said they found the compromised cards that Liao was carrying. At the time of his arrest, the report states, the cards had not been purchased by customers or activated. Officials said a majority of the gift cards put on the shelves by Liao were compromised. Officials said the number of gift cards found in Liao's bag were also Target and Visa cards, and they were not yet purchased or activated. All told, the cards found on the shelves and in Liao's bag were worth more than $60,000. Charges: Officers charged Liao with 54 counts of theft of credit card and one count each of organized fraud $20,000 or more and traffic/possess 50 or more counterfeit credit cards. Court: Documents indicate Liao made his first court appearance in front of County Judge Tommy Thompson on Oct. 19 and was denied bail. Those same records showed he has two dependents and requested the services of the Public Defender's Office. Liao told the court that he earns $37,000 annually from his job. His employer's name was not listed. The records showed Liao was appointed a public defender to represent him. Liao's wife: Through a translator, Liao's wife, who said she's in Dallas, told a Star-Banner reporter they've been married for six years and have two children. She said a friend told her about her husband's arrest. She said "he wouldn't do such a thing," and "she trusts him." As for the gift cards, she said maybe he likes the colors of the cards. She said "the police are wrong" and she plans to come to Florida "as soon as possible." Target's response: An official at the local Target store referred a reporter to the corporate office. In an email, a spokesperson wrote: "As this is an active investigation, Id refer your request to law enforcement." The spokesperson also said, We are aware of the prevalence of gift card scams and take them very seriously. We have signs in our stores and share general safety tips with our team members so they can stay alert and help guests as best they can at our registers. Our centralized cyber fraud team helps educate our team members about common scams and encourages them to look for guests purchasing high dollar amounts or large quantities of gift cards, or tampering with gift cards in stores. "Guests who believe they have been victims of fraud should contact our guest relations team at 1-800-440-0680. Bomb: Suspect indicted for plan to bomb stores Other scams involving Target: Multiple media reports state Target has been the victim of many gift card scams. For instance, according to a FOX5 news report from Alexandria, Virginia, a class -ction lawsuit has been filed against Target by customers over what they call fake gift cards. In a press release last month, the Justice Department detailed the convictions of three people caught in a Target gift card scam. Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com or @almillerosb This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Gift card scam at Target foiled; Ocala police charge man with felonies SAN DIEGO Bell Middle School students put their taste buds to the test. The cafeteria was buzzing with activity Thursday afternoon as more than 150 students became food critics for a day. San Diego Unified School Districts Food and Nutrition Services Department launched Taste of San Diego Unified: Student Voices Shape School Menus, a new culinary tasting event. The culinary adventure celebrates student voices by giving them an opportunity to play an active role in picking what they want to eat at their school cafes. Feedback from the students will inform the menu development process for the next school year. San Diego takes top spot in ranking of most expensive places to live in U.S. Whose voice is more important than them? said Alicia Pitrone Hauser, director of Food and Nutrition at San Diego Unified School District. So it was very important to me to make sure that we solicited their opinion as we continually work to develop menu items. Six different vendors provided students like with a variety of food samples, including plant-based nachos and chow mein noodles and more. Students reacted to new flavors and gave feedback about what they liked and didnt like in their flavor passport. The students were happy to get new flavors in the mix. I havent been to a school that does that, said 7th grader Lauren Cease. But for seventh grader Heaven Williams, this event was more than just about the food. The best part is probably getting to share our opinion on the food, said Heaven. The school will tally results in the next few weeks with many changes expected in the spring. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine The Ukrainian parliament has approved the first draft of a bill that would raise taxes for commercial banks, Ukrainian MP and Deputy Head of the Finance Committee, Yaroslav Zheleznyak, said in a Telegram post on Oct. 19. According to him, the bill was supported by 247 MPs in its first reading. The document will now be sent back to relevant parliamentary committees to include amendments proposed during the debate. Read also: PrivatBank generated about half of $920 million banking sector net profit for Q1 The bill proposes increasing the tax rate for commercial banks profit from 18% to 36% with no entitlement to deduct losses from past years throughout 2024-2025. Read also: Ukrainian banks generate a record-breaking nearly $2 billion in profits for first part of year The draft 2024 national budget accounts for the bill becoming law, expecting it to raise an additional UAH 9.9 billion ($271 million) in fiscal revenue. The National Bank of Ukraine previously reported that commercial banks made a net profit of UAH 95.1 billion ($2.6 billion) from January to August 2023, marking a record number in the history of Ukraine's banking system. 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 BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WXIN) Indiana University announced Thursday that the worlds first academic conference focusing on the phenomenon that is Taylor Swift will be held next month in Bloomington. The event, titled Taylor Swift: The Conference Era, will be held on Nov. 3 and 4 at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater near the IU-Bloomington campus. The university also said that adjacent events will be held on Nov. 2 and 5 on campus. The conference, IU said, will gather Swifties and scholars to speak on pertinent topics through the lens of the star as she performs on her worldwide Eras Tour. A brainchild of the IU Arts & Humanities Council, the conference includes speakers who will reflect upon the icons cultural relevance and her influence on pop culture, the economy, gender, fandom, politics, music theory, history and more, IU said in a news release. NEXT: Taylor Swift bringing Eras Tour to Lucas Oil Stadium in November 2024 According to the university, over 1,000 attendees have already registered for the 2-day conference so far. The festivities surrounding the conference, IU said, are set to begin at 4 p.m. on Nov. 2 at the Art Plaza on campus and last until 7 p.m. The event will then be followed by a 9 p.m. dance party at local club The Back Door. The following Friday and Saturday, conference panels are set to take place from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, including a screening of the Swift-directed All Too Well music video at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 3. The events being held at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, IU said, will be free to attend but will also be ticketed. Tickets will be limited to four per person and it is recommended that attendees be 12 or older, IU said. The weekend will then conclude on Nov. 5 with a Taylor Swift Artist Market being held from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cook Center for Public Arts and Humanities. At the event, vendors will sell Swift-related goods. RELATED: Indiana Attorney General wants to keep Swifties from seeing Red Ticket holders are not required to attend all panels, IU said. Saturday is currently sold out, which may be champagne problems for those who wished to attend that day, but tickets for Friday are still available in limited quantity. This is not the only Swift-related event taking place in the Hoosier State over the next year. Taylor herself will be bringing her Eras Tour to Indianapolis in 2024, with three concerts set to be held in November at Lucas Oil Stadium. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Sidney Powell was the wildest of MAGA diehards someone who swore long past the bitter end that Donald Trump won by a landslide in 2020, and insinuated that a long-dead Venezuelan dictator helped hatch a plot that flipped votes away from her guy. Thats why the former president and much of his inner circle didnt think the conspiracy-addled lawyer would ever cooperate with prosecutors seeking to convict the ex-president. Crazy as she was, she really believed what she was pushing, a lawyer close to the former president says. Her extreme convictions apparently werent enough to stop her from working with prosecutors seeking to imprison the former president. Powell pleaded guilty in Fulton County on Thursday and agreed to cooperate in the case against Trump. [Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis and her team] managed to break the woman who was never supposed to be breakable, says one of the sources with knowledge of the matter, who has known both Trump and Powell for years. For months, Trump and his advisers have discussed which co-defendants in the Fulton County case and alleged co-conspirators in the Washington, DC special counsel investigation were most likely to cooperate with prosecutors and turn against him. Trump, according to two sources familiar with the matter, has been intensely curious about which of his former allies might turn on him as the cases progress. Trumps attorneys have also tried to game out which of those potential cooperators may pose the greatest risk to his defense. So far, the Trump legal team has been keeping a close eye on the case of Kenneth Chesebro, an architect of Trumps fake-electors plot, who was due to stand trial alongside Powell in Fulton County. Before her plea agreement, some of Trumps legal and political counselors had been working to cast Powell as a fall guy in the election-related cases against him and hoped to shovel the criminal exposure and blame for the failed attempt to overturn the election on to her and others, in the hopes of shielding former President Trump. After all, this was the woman who pushed the idea that George Soros or was it the CIA? or perhaps Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez? was somehow involved in the rigging of the election against Trump. And she was one of the trio of advisers who pushed the then-president to consider imposing martial law rather than quit the White House. Assuming truthful testimony in the Fulton County case, it will be favorable to my overall defense strategy, Steve Sadow, Trumps lead attorney in Georgia, told The Messenger on Thursday, attempting to cast Powells plea deal in a positive light for the ex-president. But few, if any, of Trumps aides and lawyers had predicted that Powell would cut any deal this soon. The news of Powells plea agreement Thursday morning stunned a number of Trumps top advisers and attorneys, all of whom thought Powell the truest of all Trump-backing, election-denying true believers was among the least likely to take a plea deal ahead of trial, the people familiar with the situation tell Rolling Stone. Some had even told Trump in recent months that they thought Powell would be (foolishly, in their opinion) fighting the so-called deep state in court til the bitter end. She even pushed the idea that Trump could simply be reinstated in the middle of President Joe Bidens term. In the sprawling RICO prosecution of Trump and others, Powell was charged with, among other counts, conspiracy to commit election fraud, conspiracy to defraud the state, and conspiracy to commit computer theft. (Powell was implicated in a bizarre plot to access Coffee County voting data, according to prosecutors, to aid their crusade to keep Trump in power after his 2020 election loss.) Powell has now agreed to plead guilty to six counts of conspiracy to commit intentional interference with the performance of election duties. As part of her agreement with Fulton County prosecutors, Powell agreed to serve six years on probation, pay a $6,000 fine, and write a letter of apology to Georgia residents. Powells plea agreement raises the possibility that she could testify against the former president although the scope of her cooperation in the case remains unclear. Two other sources with knowledge of Powells recent moves say that one of the biggest factors in Powells decision was simple. The attorney hasnt lost faith in her conspiracy theories or the anti-democratic lies about the 2020 election being stolen from Trump, the sources say. Rather, the sources say, she has privately conveyed that shes merely beaten down and tired from the legal odyssey her efforts to overturn the election has wrought. After nearly three years of being at the center of lawsuits and various investigations stemming from the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, according to those with knowledge of her situation, Powell is looking to end her various legal fights. The fact that Trump and most of the Republican elite have essentially abandoned her has also likely sapped Powells resolve. One thing to note is just how favorable this plea deal is for her. Shes been permitted to plead guilty to misdemeanors to get this good of a deal, she really has to know something, said Amy Lee Copeland, a former federal prosecutor in Savannah, Georgia, told The Daily Beast. While the deal Fulton County offers Powell relief from prosecutors in Georgia, the MAGA attorney still faces a number of legal headaches. Attorneys for Dominion Voting Systems sued Powell for a billion dollars shortly after the election. The suit, which alleges she defamed the company and with bizarre and bogus accusations that its products stole the election from Trump, remains ongoing. Special Counsel Jack Smith also referred to Powell as one of half a dozen co-conspirators who helped Trump in his criminal efforts to overturn the legitimate results of the 2020 presidential election, fueling speculation that she could face continued scrutiny in the ongoing Washington, DC federal investigation. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. LEMOORE, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) A man has been arrested and three others detained, including a 16-year-old after deputies found them in a stolen vehicle and the juvenile with a glass-smoking pipe (globie), the Kings County Sheriffs Office said on Thursday. On Oct. 5 at around 2:12 a.m., a deputy says he was traveling west on Jackson Avenue near 18th Avenue in Lemoore when he spotted a GMC Yukon traveling in front of him and ran a registration check on the license plate. According to the deputy, the registration returned to a stolen Chevrolet out of Kings County. The deputy attempted to make a traffic stop, but the driver of the GMC, later identified as Artemio Lopez, refused to pull over and a pursuit ensued. Sheriffs officials say Lopez drove into Lemoore and stopped in the front yard of a residence in the 600 block of Cabrillo Street. Suddenly, the rear driver-side door swung open and a male subject ran from the GMC into the backyard of the residence. Authorities detained the driver and three other passengers who were in the GMC. The subject who ran was not located. According to the Kings County Sheriffs Office, after a record check was completed on all the occupants remaining in the GMC, they learned Lopez had a $25,000 Madera County warrant with the charge of driving on a suspended drivers license issued for his arrest. Officials say Joanna Ramirez, one of the passengers, had two Fresno County warrants issued for her arrest. The first warrant was issued for suspicion of violation of drug sales and the second on suspicion of driving on a suspended license. Sheriffs officials also say a 16-year-old juvenile passenger was in possession of a globie which appeared to have been used for smoking methamphetamine. According to investigators, Lopez said the GMC did not belong to him. He said it was owned by one of the passengers. A record check revealed the registered owner was the 16-year-old, but the juvenile was not interviewed due to state laws preventing law enforcement from interviewing juvenile suspects. The Kings County Sheriffs Office says Lopez was booked into the Kings County Jail on his Madera County warrant and on suspicion of evading a peace officer, possession of stolen property and child endangerment. Sheriffs officials say the case will be sent to the Kings County District Attorneys Office and the charge of possession of stolen property will be recommended against the juvenile. The juvenile was issued a citation for a violation of being in possession of the smoking pipe. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com. A teenage girl accused of shooting five people outside a Denver club last month was arrested this week in San Bernardino County, according to authorities. The girl, whose age was not released by police, was arrested Thursday in Barstow, about 115 miles from Los Angeles, according to a Denver Police Department news release. She was arrested on eight counts of first-degree attempted homicide. She is accused of shooting five people on Sept. 16 in the 1900 block of Market Street, authorities said. All five people survived their injuries. Police said the girl had tried to get into a bar but was rejected by the club's security personnel because they thought she wasn't using her real ID. She left the line and then shot toward the club as she was leaving, authorities said. Police believe that she had tried to shoot toward security personnel and that those who were wounded were not the intended targets. The Denver Police Department worked with the FBI's L.A. SWAT team, the FBI's L.A. Desert Cities Safe Streets Task Force and the Barstow Police Department to apprehend her. Because she is a minor, her booking photo and arrest affidavit were not released. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Ottawa (CNN) Canada has withdrawn 41 diplomats and their families from India after New Delhi threatened to revoke their diplomatic immunity amid a deepening dispute over the assassination of a Sikh activist. The move follows a series of tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions between the two countries following the June killing of Canadian citizen and prominent Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was gunned down by two masked attackers in British Columbia. A rift between the countries opened up after Canadian leader Justin Trudeau claimed his intelligence services were pursuing credible allegations that the killing was potentially linked to agents of the Indian government. India has vehemently denied any involvement in Nijjars death and called the claims absurd and motivated. In addition to the tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions, India has suspended visa services for Canadian citizens over what it says are security threats against diplomats in Canada. Last month India indicated it would ask several Canadian diplomats to leave the country, in a bid to establish diplomatic parity. Commenting on the withdrawal of the 41 diplomats on Thursday, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said Indias recent actions had been unreasonable. The safety of Canadians and of our diplomats is always my top concern. Given the implications of Indias actions on the safety of our diplomats, we have facilitated their safe departure from India, Joly told a press conference in Ottawa. Joly said those diplomats and their families had already left India while 21 Canadian diplomats remained in the country. Joly added the Canadian government would not retaliate in kind, saying that to do so would be a violation of international law. The only thing were encouraging India to do is respect international law, Joly said. Who was Hardeep Singh Nijjar? Nijjar was an outspoken supporter of the creation of a separate Sikh homeland that would include parts of India and be known as Khalistan. According to the World Sikh Organization of Canada, Nijjar often led peaceful protests against what the advocacy group called the violation of human rights actively taking place in India and in support of Khalistan. The Khalistan movement is outlawed in India and considered a national security threat by the government a number of groups associated with the movement are listed as terrorist organizations under Indias Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Nijjars name appeared on the Home Ministrys list of UAPA terrorists. In 2020, the Indian National Investigation Agency accused him of trying to radicalize Sikh communities across the world in favor of the creation of Khalistan, adding that he had been trying to incite Sikhs to vote for secession, agitate against the government of India and carry out violent activities. Nijjars supporters have rejected the terrorist label, which they say is being used to discredit Nijjar, whose death both shocked and outraged the Sikh community in Canada, one of the largest outside of India and home to more than 770,000 members of the religious minority. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Canada removes 41 diplomats from India as dispute over Sikh activists assassination deepens" A convict facing numerous sexual assault of minors and drug charges is currently on the run in Tennessee after he escaped by kicking out the back window of a transport van, authorities said. 51-year-old Sean Williams escaped in Greeneville, Tennessee on Wednesday morning while being transported to a court hearing, said Tennessee law enforcement. He was being held on numerous charges of rape, distribution of meth, and sexual assault of a minor at the Laurel County Correctional Center in Kentucky. The Eastern District of Tennessee Marshal's Office said they do not have any strong leads on the case yet. "This is an extremely rare situation to have an escape from one of those [transport vehicles]," U.S. Marshal David Jolley said in a press briefing on Wednesday. "I have a lot of questions about how this situation happened." Williams was handcuffed and shackled in the back of the vehicle. Authorities still do not know how Williams escaped from the handcuffs. The two law enforcement officers driving were unaware that Williams had escaped until they parked the vehicle, said Jolley. We do consider him to be the type of individual who would do anything in his power to not be captured, said Jolley. Which could mean breaking into homes, obtaining firearms, stealing vehicles anything of that nature. The search for Williams is currently concentrated around Greeneville, where he was last sighted, said a spokesperson for the U.S. Marshal's Office. There are increased patrols, helicopters and drones on deploy, and officers knocking on people's doors to ask for information. Sean Williams. (Tennessee Bureau of Investigation) Williams is on the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's most wanted list. A $7,500 reward is being offered for information leading to his arrest. He is 511, 170 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. On Wednesday, there were sightings of Williams in Greeneville wearing the tan jail pants he escaped in, said Jolley. There was blood on his t-shirt, which Jolley said may indicate that he cut himself while escaping out of the back window. Williams knocked on one Greeneville home and asked to come inside to use the phone. Nashala Livingston told NBC Tennessee affiliate WCYB that her cousin, who she shares the house with, told Williams he could not use the phone and that he needed to go up the street. "He had his leg tied up and it was bleeding," said Livingston. "[My cousin] said he had khaki pants, and no shoes on, and he was trying to cover up his feet and his ankles, too. A spokesperson for the US Marshals office said there have been no confirmed sightings of Williams since Livingstons. Jolley said there is an ongoing investigation into how Williams was able to escape, particularly considering that the inmate was already considered a flight risk by authorities. Williams was accused of trying to escape from the Washington County Tennessee Detention Center in July. He made another attempt at another facility several weeks before his escape, which is part of the reason why he was moved to Laurel County Correctional Center in Kentucky, said Jolley. Williams was indicted on three counts for production of child pornography in September, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. His trial was set for January next year in Greeneville. If convicted, Williams faces up to 30 years in prison for each count of the indictment. Mikayla Evans, who said she fell out of window from Williams' apartment in Johnson City, Tennessee three years ago after he allegedly drugged her, is afraid that Williams will try to come after some of the women that pressed charges against him. "He knows who those women are because they gave him a copy of the lawsuit," said Evans, who added that one of the women who she knows reached out to say she was worried Williams would try to harm her. Evans said she broke nearly every bone in her body from the five-story fall, but does not remember what happened. She said when she first heard that Williams had escaped, she broke down. Im numb - It took us two years to catch this monster and he just magically pulls a Houdini act and disappears, said Evans. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A man indicted on multiple counts of state and federal child sex charges and who is at the center of a lawsuit alleging multiple rapes that were ignored by the Johnson City Police Department escaped from custody Wednesday. Sean Christopher Williams, 51, escaped from a prison transport van while being driven from Kentucky to U.S. District Court in Greeneville. Williams' arrest in North Carolina this spring came after he was reported to have fled Tennessee in 2021. He was then transferred to Kentucky after an escape attempt in July. But now, although he reportedly was spotted in Greeneville shortly after his escape, he has not yet been located by authorities. Who is Sean Williams? A Johnson City businessman Sean Williams was a successful businessman in Johnson City when former assistant U.S. Attorney Kateri Dahl began investigating multiple allegations of sexual assault against him in 2020. Those reports, and how they were allegedly mishandled for years by the Johnson City Police Department, are at the center of a federal lawsuit filed by Dahl.sh Dahls suit, filed in 2022, claims she was brought into a potential federal case against Williams on Nov. 13, 2020, but her efforts were blocked by the police department. The suit also claims that after Dahl was able to obtain a lesser indictment on an ammunition charge in April 2021, the police department delayed serving the warrant and facilitated his flight from justice. Dahl's suit claims she was then improperly terminated. In the wake of Dahl's lawsuit, nine women have filed a lawsuit against the city, the Johnson City police chief retired and the city hired an outside auditor to review the police departments policies and procedures for sexual assault investigations. The report, released in July, found the department met neither legal requirements nor industry standards. When was Sean Williams taken into custody? Despite the federal ammunition indictment, Williams remained free for two years until he was arrested in Cullowhee, North Carolina, on April 29. A part-time Western Carolina University police officer on patrol found Williams asleep in his vehicle and a search allegedly revealed more than 12 ounces of cocaine and 14 ounces of methamphetamine. Williams was transferred to federal custody, as those charges took precedence over the state drug charges. Why was he sent to Kentucky? Sean Williams was being held in federal custody in the Washington County Detention Facility in Jonesborough, Tennessee, court records say. After an escape attempt in July, he was moved to Laurel County Detention Facility in London, Kentucky. State, federal prosecutors file child sex assault charges In September, Williams was indicted in Washington County, Tennessee, on multiple counts of child rape, sexual battery and sexual exploitation of a minor. Three cases show the charges date as far back as 2008, court records state. Williams also was indicted in federal court on three counts of producing child pornography that mirror the state charges, with three victims between 2009 and 2020. He was set for trial in January, court records state. How did Sean Williams escape custody? Law enforcement officers from local, state and federal agencies confer on Oct. 18 on Davis Street in Greeneville during the search for escaped federal prisoner Sean Williams. On Oct.18, Williams was scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Greeneville for a hearing and had been placed in a Laurel County, Kentucky, transport vehicle by a detention deputy. Court records show that it was not until the transport van arrived to the Greenville courthouse at approximately 8:30 a.m. that Williams' escape was detected. The detention deputy went to the back of the van and saw the back window had been kicked out. "During travel it appears that the inmate was able to utilize a component of the van's head rest to free himself from his hand restraints (and) then to pry the protective screening and force the side window out of the rear of the transport vehicle," Laurel County Jailer Jamie Mosley posted on Facebook. "He then exited the vehicle through the window area. He was spotted moments later covered with blood in the Davis Street area of Greenville." What has happened since Williams escaped? The intensive manhunt that started Wednesday had been scaled back, said David Jolley, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Tennessee. "We have not had any confirmed sightings of Williams in quite a few hours now," Jolley said Friday afternoon. "We're focusing more on the investigative piece, with several agencies working jointly on the investigation." The escape itself, what Jolley called "the how of it," remains under investigation, he said. "How he was able to escape undetected by transport officers, we certainly have many questions of our own," he said. Local, state and federal officers searched several houses Oct. 18, 2023, on Davis Street in Greeneville while looking for escaped federal prisoner Sean Williams. Jolley stressed that local residents should remain cautious and call in if they believe they have seen Williams, adding, "We still have a lot of people ready to respond immediately if we get a sighting." A reward of up to $7,500 is now being offered for information leading to his arrest. The U.S. Marshals Service is offering up to $5,000 and TBI is offering up to $2,500 for information leading to Williams' arrest. Tipsters can contact the U.S. Marshals at USMS84.TIPS@usdoj.gov, 423-638-3391, or 865-824-3801; or TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND or email TipsToTBI@tbi.tn.gov. Liz Kellar is a Tennessee Connect reporter. Email liz.kellar@knoxnews.com. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Sean Williams escape in Tennessee: Everything we know MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WREG) A Piperton, Tennessee, police officer is off the job after being arrested for a strong-arm robbery in Cleveland, Mississippi, over the weekend. Piperton Police Chief Jonathan Roney said Officer Michele Washington, 46, had been relieved of duty pending the outcome of the investigation in Bolivar County. The Bolivar County Sheriffs Office said Washington and Tywan Johnson, 36, were accused of assaulting and robbing a man at an Exxon station in the 1500 block of North Bayou early Saturday morning. According to the sheriffs office, the victim was able to flag down a deputy for help after it happened. Investigators have not said what Washington and Johnson are accused of taking but said they were able to use the victims personal items to track down the pair. They said the suspects were stopped in Shelby, Mississippi, by the Shelby Police Department and the Bolivar County Sheriffs Office. Washington lives in Horn Lake, Mississippi, but has been with the Piperton Police Department for about three years. Piperton is about 35 miles east of Memphis. Chief Roney said he could not comment on Williamss arrest since it is an ongoing investigation. A $50,000 bond was set for both suspects. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. State representatives meet on the House floor at the state Capitol in Austin on Jan. 11. Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune The House Republican leading efforts on school choice legislation submitted his version of a voucher proposal Thursday night, calling for boosts to public education in exchange for implementing a capped education savings account program. House Bill 1 laid out a different approach than the Senates version, which was approved last week, that would award families $8,000 to use for private education. The bill from Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Killeen, would give parents 75% of the average amount that each school receives in per-student state and local funding, allowing them to use that for private school tuition or some other approved expenses. Gov. Greg Abbott has been pushing all year for a school voucher program, and his office indicated Friday that the new bill was insufficient. Abbott spokesperson Renae Eze said in a statement that Abbott spoke with House Speaker Dade Phelan on Friday morning and let him know the legislation differs from what the Governors office had negotiated with the Houses leadership team selected by the Speaker. The House bill would also raise the states basic allotment the base amount of money the state gives a district for each student its educating. That amount, currently $6,160, has not increased since 2019. For the first year, school districts would receive a minor increase in the basic allotment, raising it to $6,190. In the second year, the allotment would increase by another $310. The state provides other funding beyond the basic allotment, meaning the amount used to determine how much education savings account money parents are eligible would be higher. The state would be required to determine that number by Jan. 15 of each year. To address calls to improve teacher compensation, educators would receive a one-time $4,000 bonus. Additionally, school districts would be required to spend 50% of the additional state funding, stemming from the allotment increases, on salaries for full-time employees, excluding administrators. For now, Abbott has yet to add public school finance and teacher raises to the agenda and lawmakers can only pass his priorities during a special session. He called lawmakers back to Austin earlier this month to pass an education savings account program and said he would only add other public school priorities to the agenda after vouchers pass. Eze, the Abbott spokesperson, said his conversation Friday morning with Phelan was productive. The two leaders agreed to continue working on the agreed-upon principles of school choice until a deal is reached, Eze said. For the first year of Buckleys educational savings account program, only 25,000 Texas students would be eligible in the 2024-25 school year. That number would increase by 25,000 students each successive year, until 2027 when the cap would be removed. Students with disabilities from low-income families would be prioritized in Buckleys legislation, though no specific limits were imposed on how many students from each income bracket can participate in the program unlike the Senates version. HB 1 includes funding for home-schoolers, though it is limited to $1,000. Last Thursday, the Senate approved a bill by Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, that would allow families to access nearly twice the amount of taxpayer money proposed in the House to pay for private schools and other educational expenses such as uniforms, textbooks, tutoring or transportation. In Creightons bill, eligibility is open to nearly every Texas student, but if there are more applications than funds, the bill prioritizes low-income families through a tiered system. Supporters of school voucher programs say public schools are not meeting the educational needs of some students. They say the state needs to step in to provide financial assistance to parents who want to pursue private and home schooling. Critics say that when students leave public schools, districts lose money because state funding is tied to student attendance. They argue the money for educational savings accounts should be invested in public schools. The House is home to more critics of education savings accounts. During the regular session, the Senates voucher bill nearly identical to the version that passed the Senate on a largely party-line vote on Oct. 12 died in the House, where Democrats and rural Republicans have historically opposed any form of vouchers. HB 1 signals the beginning of negotiations between the two chambers on the subject, which remains a daunting task given the widening political gulf between the House and Senate. As recently as last week, some House members said they planned to oppose legislation to create educational savings accounts, even if it comes at the cost of not sending more money to public schools or raising teacher salaries, another priority of public education advocates. Still, HB 1 includes a plethora of provisions related to teacher preparation, teacher raises and shortages and changes to special education funding in an effort to make the chamber pass the legislation. Under the bill, Texas would allocate funds to help school districts pay for more teacher residencies, programs that place would-be teachers in classrooms with mentors for about a year, teaching them how to do the job before hiring them as full-time educators the following year. Experts say this increases the effectiveness of a teacher and helps them stay in the profession longer. Currently, if a district wants to host an aspiring teacher through a residency, it must come up with the money on its own to pay for that persons salary. Under the bill, districts would receive between $22,000 and $42,000 to pay each teacher in the residency. This program is a response to the recommendations of a task force formed last year by Abbott after the pandemic exacerbated Texas teacher shortage. The legislation would also expand the Teacher Incentive Allotment, a program that promises to pay teachers up to six-figure salaries if they meet certain performance requirements. About 13,000 teachers, or about 4% of the states educators, are currently part of the program. HB 1 also makes it harder for the state to revoke a persons teaching certificate when they break their teaching contracts. Buckleys bill also includes some money for school districts that are losing state funding because of property valuation disputes between local tax authorities and the state. Maia Pandey and Patrick Svitek contributed to this story. Correction, Oct. 20, 2023 at 10:19 a.m. : A previous version of this story incorrectly described how the state would determine how much parents would receive from education savings accounts. The amount would be 75% of the average amount each district receives in per-student state and local funding. The U.S. Capitol building on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, in Washington, D.C. Credit: Julia Nikhinson for The Texas Tribune WASHINGTON Three Texas Republicans are making moves for U.S. House Speaker, hoping to fill a power vacuum left open after Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio dropped out of the race Friday. U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions , R-Waco, announced Friday afternoon he is running for speaker. U.S. Reps. Jodey Arrington of Lubbock and Roger Williams of Willow Park both said Friday they were considering a go for it but would take the weekend to consult with their families. Arrington and Williams said they had not yet made definitive decisions. All three had previously backed Jordans bid for speaker. Arrington chairs the House Budget Committee and Williams chairs the House Small Business Committee. Sessions chaired the National Republican Congressional Committee, Republicans' House campaign arm, from 2009 to 2012 and the House Rules Committee from 2013 to 2019. All the candidates expressed their interest after the House Republican Conference voted in a closed door meeting to drop Jordan as their nominee for speaker after he lost his third floor vote. Only members were allowed in the meeting, but Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Sherman, said the vote was 112 to 86 against Jordan. Jordan afterward said he would drop out of the race. The House has gone without a speaker for over two weeks, paralyzing any legislation. Jordan was the second Republican nominee to drop out of the race after House Majority Leader Steve Scalise failed to secure enough votes last week. Jordans loss leaves an open field of potential candidates. Whoever puts their name up will need to convince a wide ideological spectrum of often antithetical viewpoints at a candidate forum at 6:30 Eastern time Monday. Congressman Pete Sessions, R-Dallas, at an America First Policies event in downtown Dallas on Feb. 17, 2018. Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribune House Majority Whip Tom Emmer , R-Minnesota, has been making calls to pursue the job, according to a source familiar with his plans. Emmer is the third ranking House Republican and also a former chair of the NRCC. Sessions, Arrington and Williams, however, have not drawn quite as much attention. Members who wanted to vote against Jordan's speaker bid on the House floor offered a range of alternative names instead. Emmer's name came up a handful of times. No one voted for Sessions, Arrington or Williams. Arrington appeared clear eyed about the challenges. Why would somebody run when we've witnessed this seemingly tragic process play out, Arrington said. But, you know, somebody's got to run. We have to coalesce around somebody or were going to squander this historic opportunity. U.S. Representative Jodey Arrington, R-Lubbock, speaks at a House Budget Committee hearing Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023 in Washington D.C. Credit: Michael Brochstein/Sipa USA via REUTERS When asked if that person was him, Arrington said, Could be. Arrington said he has his familys support, but needs to talk as a Texas family with the rest of the states Republicans. Texas sends more Republicans to Congress than any other state, and the unified support of the states delegation would be a major boost to any candidate. Scalise and Jordan failed to win the support of the entire delegation. Sessions staked his pitch on his performance leading the Rules Committee and the NRCC. While he was chair, the NRCC netted 63 seats in 2010 for Republicans, handing them control of the House. He wound up losing his seat in a competitive 2018 race to Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, before winning a different seat in 2020. "Congressman Sessions believes he can forge a positive path as a conservative leader who can unite the Conference. During his congressional career, he has played a vital role in the Republican Party, in Texas and nationally, including a decade in Party leadership," his office said in a statement. U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Willow Park, during a voting event in Bee Cave in 2018. Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune Williams said Friday he would take a look at running. He has been in the House for over 10 years and is well liked in the chamber and he said unprompted that a number of members approached him about putting his name in. It would have to be the right circumstance for me with my family and my business and so forth, Williams said. In interviews, both Williams and Arrington stressed the need to find a speaker, even if its not them, quickly. Both Texans voted against ousting former Speaker Kevin McCarthy earlier this month and voted to support Jim Jordan in all three floor votes. Federal funding runs out in less than a month and both Israel and Ukraine are requesting major defense aid packages. None of those priorities can move without a speaker. We need a speaker for crying out loud. Weve got so much happening in the world, Williams said. Think about Dayton native James A. Parsons Jr. the next time you fly, drive, use energy sources, take drug therapies, or hear about how our food supply is protected. >> I-TEAM: Lawmakers demand answers from Social Security Administration about Covid-19 relief money The late metallurgist who in the 1930s invented Durimet 20 -- a stainless steel allow also known as Alloy 20 -- has been named an inductee to the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Parsons, born in Dayton, May 30, 1900, might have been headed to the U.S. Naval Academy, but never fulfilled his appointment. That move was not because he didnt want to be a Navy man or because he wasnt patriotic, it was because his father, his high school guidance counselor and his fathers employer, Duriron Co. founder Pierce Schenck, feared for his safety at the institution because he was black, according to his biography found on the National Inventors Hall of Fame web site. All three people persuaded Parsons to attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, New York, instead. Schenck paid for his studies and in exchange, Parsons spent summers working at Duriron, a Dayton manufacturer of pumps and valves for chemical processes, joining the company full time as an analytical chemist soon after earning his bachelors degree in electrical engineering from RPI in 1922. He worked on alloy compositions and metal processing methods. Parsons then turned to researching and developing corrosion-resistant, stainless steel alloys and high-silicon alloys. In 1929, he received the first of eight patents involving the development and application of noncorrosive metals and then began developing the steel formulation known as Durimet 20. In 1935, Duriron produced the first commercial castings from Durimet 20, which became the basis for a family of stainless steel alloys used extensively in all industries involving the handling of corrosives. In 1948, Duriron licensed Parsons Durimet 20 patents to Carpenter Steel, which introduced Carpenter 20 stainless steel, also called Alloy 20. On Oct. 26, we will be welcoming the newest class of Inductees into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Learn more about these world-changing innovators and stay tuned for updates from our Induction Ceremony later this month! https://t.co/Md0tAoeWlt #NIHF2023 pic.twitter.com/nmqBEsAchr Inventors HOF (@InventorsHOF) October 2, 2023 Parsons rose to become Durirons chief metallurgist and lab manager. When he retired in 1953, Duriron was likely the only company of its kind with a lab fully staffed by Black employees, according to a report in the Dayton Daily News. Parsons, in retirement, organized the metallurgy program at Tennessee A&I State University -- now Tennessee State University -- believed to be the first of its kind at any historically Black college or university. Not only did he organize the program, he served as professor, department head and dean of the engineering school during his tenure from 1953-66. >> Community honor going to longtime WHIO-TV reporter Other local things to know about Parsons: In 1941, Wilberforce University granted him an honorary doctorate In 1957, the Harmon Foundation Award went to him for his first invention, an aluminum/bronze alloy called Alcumite. Hall of Fame inductee Orville Wright presented Parsons his gold medal and Hall of Fame inductee Charles Kettering delivered the address for the event. From 1967-71, he was an adjunct professor at Ohio State University From 1973-1980 he was an instructor at Garfield Skills Center, an occupational training center in Dayton. In 1983, the Dayton Urban League honored him with the Distinguished Community Service Award In 2007, his name was added to the Dayton Walk of Fame. In 2021, he was memorialized among other area inventors on Daytons Peace Bridge. Duriron, known as Durco International, merged with BW/IP in 1997 to form Flowserve Corp. Flowserve manufactures and sells Durimet 20, which remains widely used today in a range of industries, including the production of detergents, soaps, fertilizers, plastics, synthetic rubber and fibers. Under various trade names, Durimet 20 is extensively used in the petrochemical and refinery, marine, nuclear, aerospace, automotive, pharmaceutical, textile, and chemical and food processing industries. Parsons, who died March 4, 1989, is one of 16 inductees for 2023 being added to the hall at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 26. HOUSTON - The spooky season spirit is still going strong, with many haunted and thrilling events going on this weekend! You can enjoy a chilling symphony performance, head to a haunted trail, or watch daring monster trucks perform heart-pounding stunts. Here's a look at some of the things to do this weekend in the Houston area. FOX 26 Houston is now on the FOX LOCAL app available through Apple TV, Amazon FireTV, Roku and Google Android TV! Hocus Pocus POPS The Houston Symphony is putting on a spooky and chilling performance at Hocus Pocus POPS! Guests can listen to terrifying tunes and watch the Goblin Parade stroll by in creepy costumes. You're encouraged to dress up and there could be a chance you get to walk on the stage during the concert. When: Friday, Oct. 20, 2023 at 7:30 p.m., Gates open at 6 p.m. Where: Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, 2005 Lake Robbins Dr, The Woodlands, TX 77380 Cost: Tickets start at $25 Click here for more information. Houston Astros Watch Party Watch Game 5 of the ALCS at Minute Maid Park on the big screen while the team is on the road in Arlington at Globe Life Field and enjoy some fun around the ballpark. When: Friday, Oct. 20, 2 p.m., first pitch - 4:07 p.m. Where: Minute Maid Park, 501 Crawford Street, Houston, TX 77002 Cost: Vouchers for the watch party are $2. Click here for more information. Monster Jam People gesture as Monster Truck Max-D flips during the Monster Jam show at the LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, on January 29, 2023. - The event was part of the Monster Jam Stadium Championship Series, a competition held in the United States and Canada in which drivers show off their ability behind the wheel of 12,000-pound Monster Trucks, pushing them to the limit in three categories: Freestyle, Skills and Racing. (Photo by Chandan KHANNA / AFP) (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images) Enjoy an exciting weekend surrounded by monster trucks, racing, massive stunts, and more! Monster Jam is back in Houston with some of the worlds best drivers bringing their trucks to NRG Stadium. Ahead of the main event you can even attend the Pit Party where you can see the trucks up close, meet the drivers and crew, and snap some pictures! Its an experience sure to leave you on the edge of your seat from the excitement. When: Saturday, Oct. 21 at 2 p.m. Where: NRG Stadium, 1 NRG Park, Houston TX 77054 Cost: Starting at $20 Click here for more information. SEE MORE THINGS TO DO IN THE HOUSTON AREA Haunted Trails Its not Halloween if you dont hit up a haunted location, and the Haunted Trails provides just that - sorta! Take a trip outside and down a path in the woods full of monsters and terrifying creatures of the night. Try not to stray off the pathits freaky out there. When: Sept. 30 to Nov. 4, 8 to 11:30 p.m. Where: 17115 Mueschke Road, Cypress, TX 77433 Click here for more information. Tacolandia Who doesnt love a good taco? Houstons Tacolandia returns to Buffalo Bayou with unlimited tacos sampled from the best taquerias in the city. Therell also be music, beer, and cocktails! It's the perfect Saturday event! When: Saturday, Oct. 21, 4 to 7 p.m. Where: The Water Works at Buffalo Bayou, 105 Sabine St, Houston, TX 77007 Cost: General admission advanced - $35 Click here for more information Halloween in the Hanger Have some fun with your kids and take them trick-or-treating around an airplane hangar! The Lone Star Flight Museum is opening its gates for kids 12 and under to not only get in free with a costume but also a chance to score some candy while theyre learning about various aircraft. The museum will also host a scavenger hunt where you could win a prize along with a drawing for a free family membership. When: Saturday, Oct. 21, at 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Where: Lone Star Flight Museum, 11551 Aerospace Avenue, Houston, TX 77034 Cost: $15 for adults, Kids 12 & under in costume free Click here for more information. DOWNLOAD THE FOX 26 HOUSTON APP BY CLICKING HERE Houston Filipino Street Festival Celebrate and learn more about Filipino culture at the annual Houston Filipino Street Festival! The event will have food from different vendors, music, dancing, live performances, and more for everyone to enjoy. The theme for this years festival is "A Tour of the Phillippines". When: Saturday, Oct. 21, 12 to 7 p.m. Where: Constellation Field (1 Stadium Dr., Sugar Land, TX 77498) Cost: $17 presale, $20 at the event; Kids 7 and under are free Click here for more information. Houston Halloween Bar Crawl Have a drink while enjoying the spirit of spooky season with Houstons Haunted Bar Crawl! Throw on your most creative or scary Halloween costume and enjoy drink specials from different bars. You may even win a prize for the costume contest. There will be bar crawls Oct. 21, Oct. 27, Oct. 28, and Halloween Day. Those who attend get three to four drinks with the multi-day pass, half-off drinks, and discounts on select foods. When: Saturday, Oct. 21 at 4 p.m. Where: Check-in at The Dogwood Cost: Early bird ticket - $11.99, Four-day pass to all the bar crawls - $14.99 Click here for more information. Federal prosecutors rejected former President Donald Trumps claims that he enjoyed absolute immunity from prosecution after he was indicted in Washington, D.C., over his efforts to remain in power after losing the 2020 presidential election. Trumps attorneys are seeking to have the four federal charges filed against him dismissed, claiming any act he took leading up to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol should be considered part of his presidential duties. The lawyers moved to cast Trumps statements to hold on to power and effectively undertake a coup as an attempt to ensure election integrity, adding a president must, at times, be able to take bold and unhesitating action without fear of prosecution. Their 52-page filing earlier this month compared Trumps comments before the violent attack at the Capitol to those of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Federal prosecutors rejected those assertions in a filing with the Federal District Court in Washington. The defendant is not above the law, prosecutors wrote. He is subject to the federal criminal laws like more than 330 million other Americans, including members of Congress, federal judges, and everyday citizens. In staking his claim, he purports to draw a parallel between his fraudulent efforts to overturn the results of an election that he lost and the likes of Abraham Lincolns Gettysburg Address and George Washingtons Farewell Address, the filing continued. These things are not alike. Trump has been indicted in four separate cases this year and has vehemently rejected all charges against him. His trial in Washington, overseen by Judge Tanya Chutkan, is scheduled to begin in March as the 2024 presidential race begins in earnest. Trump, who is vying for the GOP nomination, could very well be forced to campaign at the same time as he sits in court for much of next year. The Justice Department has generally held a policy that sitting presidents cannot be indicted. But as The New York Times notes, Trumps attempts to claim he is immune from all prosecution for anything he did while in office even after he left the White House would be an exceedingly broad interpretation of the justice system. No legal principle, case, or historical practice supports the conclusion that a former president is immune from criminal prosecution for conduct undertaken during his presidency, prosecutors wrote Thursday. Related... The Scoop Several well-monied think tanks focusing on artificial intelligence policy have sprung up in Washington, D.C. in recent months, with most linked to the billionaire-backed effective altruism (EA) movement that has made preventing an AI apocalypse one of its top priorities. Funded by people like Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz , their goal is to influence how U.S. lawmakers regulate AI, which has become one of the hottest topics on Capitol Hill since the release of ChatGPT last year. Some of the groups are pushing for limits on the development of advanced AI models or increased restrictions on semiconductor exports to China. One previously unreported group was co-founded by Eric Gastfriend, an entrepreneur who runs a telehealth startup for addiction treatment with his father. Americans for Responsible Innovation (ARI) plans to become one of the major players influencing AI policy, according to a job listing. Gastfriend told Semafor he is entirely self-funding the project. Another organization, the Institute for AI Policy and Strategy (IAPS), began publishing research late last month and aims to reduce risks related to the development & deployment of frontier AI systems. Its being funded by Rethink Priorities, an effective altruism-linked think tank that received $2.7 million last year to study AI governance. That money came from Open Philanthropy, a prolific grant-making organization primarily funded by Moskovitz and his wife Cari Tuna. Open Philanthropy has spent more than $330 million to prevent harms from future AI models, making it one of the most prominent financial backers of technology policy work in Washington and elsewhere. The Center for AI Safety (CAIS), another group funded by Open Philanthropy, recently registered its first federal lobbyist, according to a public filing. IAPS has been coordinating with at least one organization that has also received funding from Open Philanthropy, the prominent think tank Center for a New American Security (CNAS), according to a person familiar with the matter. IAPS and CNAS did not return requests for comment. IAPS is not to be confused with the similarly named Artificial Intelligence Policy Institute (AIPI), an organization launched in August by 30-year-old serial entrepreneur Daniel Colson. The group is also aiming to find political solutions' to avoid potential catastrophic risks from AI, according to its website. AIPI said its already met with two dozen lawmakers and is planning to expand into formal lobbying soon. Over the last two months, research and polling published by the group have been picked up by a plethora of news outlets, including Axios and Vox. Colson, who previously founded a cryptocurrency startup as well as a company for finding personal assistants, said that AIPI was initially funded by anonymous donors from the tech and finance industry and is continuing to raise money. The center of our focus is on what AI lab leaders call the development of superintelligence, Colson told Semafor in August. What happens when you take GPT-4 and scale it up by a billion? That kind of powerful AI model, he argued, could destabilize the world if not managed carefully. Know More Thought experiments about a future AI-related catastrophe have long animated followers of effective altruism, a charity initiative that was incubated in the elite corridors of Silicon Valley and Oxford University in the 2010s. EA initially focused on issues like animal welfare, global poverty, and infectious diseases, but in the last few years, its adherents have begun emphasizing the importance of humanitys long-term future, especially how it may be disrupted by the dawn of superintelligence. Colson, the leader of AIPI, has recently tried to distance himself from EA, which faced a storm of controversy last year after one of its biggest backers, the cryptocurrency magnet Sam Bankman-Fried, was arrested on fraud charges. But he was once an active leader in the movement and co-directed a project that aimed to create student groups promoting EA at every college, according to a speaker biography from 2016. At Harvard, one of those student groups was co-founded by Gastfriend, now the leader of ARI. Louises view Groups like IAPS and AIPI might disagree about some of the specifics, but they are part of the same broad ideological tradition, one thats primarily concerned about what could happen if AI displaces humans as the most powerful entities on the planet. There are plenty of good arguments for why that shouldnt be the primary focus of AI policy, and lawmakers will need to also consider viewpoints from outside this bubble if they want to be effective. The View From China Chinese authorities released a strikingly detailed draft document earlier this month outlining what the government considers a safety risk when it comes to AI models. It suggests that companies randomly sample 4,000 pieces of content from every database they use to train their systems, and if over 5% contains illegal and negative information, the corpus should be blacklisted. The document also directs companies to make sure their censorship is not too obvious, according to MIT Technology Review writer Zeyi Yang. Some Chinese generative AI programs, such as Baidus Ernie chatbot, currently refuse to answer questions related to sensitive topics such as criticism of Chinas political system or leadership. The document, which is not law but offers an outline of what future policies could look like, says companies should find appropriate answers for most of these questions instead of just rebuffing them. Notable Politico recently tracked the growing influence that organizations linked to effective altruism are having on AI policy in both the U.S. and U.K. Yann LeCun, Metas chief AI scientist, dismissed the idea that AI might kill humanity in an interview with the Financial Times this week, calling the idea preposterous. Semafor previously interviewed the president of the Future of Life Institute, another organization worried about a potential AI apocalypse and funded in part by Open Philanthropy. The News Kenneth Chesebro, a former Donald Trump campaign attorney, has struck a plea deal with prosecutors in Georgia just before his trial was set to start. Chesebro was accused of coordinating the slate of fake Republican electors who falsely affirmed that Trump won the 2020 election in Georgia. He was indicted alongside Trump and 18 other co-defendants in August and charged with racketeering and six conspiracy charges. Cheseboro pleaded guilty Friday to one felony count of conspiracy to file false documents. He is set to serve five years probation, pay $5,000 restitution, and write an apology letter to the citizens of the state of Georgia. He must also testify truthfully at future trials in the case. Know More He took a plea deal the day after former Trump campaign attorney Sidney Powell pleaded guilty in the same case. They were about to stand trial together starting next week, since they had both requested speedy trials. Bail bondsman Scott Hall was the first defendant to plead guilty in the case last month. Some close to Trump remained positive after Powells plea deal, saying it didnt necessarily mean she had information that would hurt Trump at trial. Trump lawyer Steve Sadow said that if Powell was truthful in her testimony, it will be favorable to my overall defense strategy. But Jonathan Nash, an Emory University professor, told Semafor that prosecutors could be trying to pressure other defendants to take plea deals, with the ultimate goal of building their case against Trump. You could start to see a domino effect, he said. Even if Powell doesnt directly testify against Trump, she could have incriminating evidence against another defendant, who could then be pressured to flip and testify against Trump, Nash said. Barbara McQuade, a former U.S. attorney, said Chesebros plea is very significant. Since he was closely involved in the fake electors scheme, Chesebro could testify against Trump and fellow Trump campaign attorney John Eastman, McQuade said. (CNN) US President Joe Biden tied the wars in Ukraine and Israel together during a primetime Oval Office address Thursday, making an impassioned appeal to the American people to support two fellow democracies that he says are facing existential threats. The US president has often cast this moment in history as an inflection point a battle between the worlds democracies and autocracies. On Thursday, he argued that this is one of those moments, making a direct appeal to the American people as he sought to build support for US funding for wars abroad that could face a challenging path in US Congress, where the US House of Representatives remains unable to pass legislation in its second week without a speaker. Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common: They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy, completely annihilate it, Biden said. We cant let petty partisan, angry politics get in the way of our responsibilities as a great nation. We cannot and will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win. I refuse to let that happen, he added. He laid out the stakes for the American people, calling the wars a national security imperative and a critical moment for the future of American leadership and democracies worldwide. American leadership is what holds the world together. American alliances are what keep us in America safe. American values are what make us a partner nation you want to work with, he said. To put all that at risk we walk away from Ukraine, we turn our backs on Israel its just not worth it. The US president said support for both wars is vital for Americas national security. History has taught us that when terrorists dont pay a price for their terror, when dictators dont pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction. They keep going. And the cost and the threat to America in the world keep rising, Biden said, warning, If we dont stop Putins appetite for power and control in Ukraine, he wont limit himself just to Ukraine. And he warned more broadly that the United States adversaries and competitors are watching. If we walk away and let Putin erase Ukraines independence, would-be aggressors around the world would be emboldened to try the same. The risk of conflict and chaos could spread in other parts of the world in the Indo Pacific, in the Middle East, especially in the Middle East, Biden said. A request for more funding The primetime address took place on the eve of the White House requesting north of $100 billion from US Congress to deliver aid and resources to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and the US border with Mexico, even though the legislative branch is paralyzed by the dysfunction in the US House of Representatives. The administration has informed lawmakers it plans to seek $14 billion for border security in its new funding package, a marked increase from the previous ask, according to a source familiar. The administration previously asked for $4 billion in supplemental funding to address needs on the US-Mexico border. The new ask encompasses fiscal year 2024, which is why its higher than the supplemental request submitted by the White House over the summer, according to another source familiar. Biden said he would be submitting an urgent budget request for supplemental funding for Israel and Ukraine, among other national security priorities. Thats why tomorrow Im going to send to Congress an urgent budget request to fund Americas national security needs needs to support our critical partners, including Israel and Ukraine. Its a smart investment thats gonna pay dividends for American security for generations, Biden said. While the White House believes there remains broad bipartisan support in US Congress for the package, as three administration officials told CNN, real questions remain about the path for such a package with a leadership vacuum in the US House of Representatives and consternation about federal spending levels that have cast into question the governments ability to fund itself beyond mid-November. The Biden administration in August delivered its last so-called supplemental funding request, which encapsulates unique requests beyond traditional government programs. The proposal requested $24.1 billion to aid Ukraine through the end of the year, but Congress failed to approve it during a process to greenlight short-term federal funding. Biden reiterated that he will not put American boots on the ground in Ukraine. I will not send American troops to fight in Ukraine. All Ukraine is asking for is help. For the weapons, munitions, the capacity, the capability of pushing invading Russian forces off their land and the air defense system to shoot down Russian missiles before they destroy Ukrainian cities, he said. As public opinion toward military aid provision for Ukraine has waned in the last year, Biden also sought to explain the process, tying it to American jobs. We send Ukrainian equipment sitting in our stockpiles. And when we use the money allocated by Congress, we use it to replenish our own stores, our own stockpiles, with new equipment. Equipment that defends America and is made in America, he said, pointing to Patriot missiles for air defense batteries that are made in Arizona and artillery shells that are manufactured in 12 states across the country, including Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Texas. Just as in World War II, today, patriotic American workers are building the arsenal of democracy and serving the cause of freedom, he said. Public opinion regarding US assistance has been mixed. In a recent CNN poll, nearly all respondents were sympathetic with the Israeli people in the wake of surprise attacks launched by Hamas, but there was no clear consensus on the right level of US involvement. One-third (35%) said the US is providing the right amount of assistance and another 36% were unsure whether the level of US assistance is appropriate. The US has long provided security assistance to Israel, which receives roughly $4 billion annually under a 10-year memorandum of understanding. The new request would provide billions more. By contrast, support to sustain aid to Ukraine has waned significantly since Russias unprovoked invasion in February 2022. An August CNN poll found 55% of respondents said Congress should not pass more funding to aid Ukraine. The partisan divide has been deepening, too: Nearly three-quarters of Republicans opposed more funding for Ukraine, while 62% of Democrats supported it. Since Russias invasion, the White House and Congress have provided more than $75 billion in funding to Kyiv, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. Speech comes after high-profile visit The speech comes on the heels of his wartime visit to the Middle East, which went on even after a blast tore through a hospital in Gaza. While his planned stop in Amman, Jordan, to meet Arab leaders was canceled just as the president was preparing to depart the White House, Biden did spend hours on the ground in Tel Aviv. For Biden, a trip in the formative days of a potentially drawn-out conflict amounted to the ultimate test of his confidence built over decades that getting in the same room can influence people and events. During the speech, the US president reflected on the visit, which included a meeting that stretched well past what officials had expected, in which Biden sought to use his decades-long relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu one that has endured significant strain over the past year to offer advice and seek commitments on the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza. The terrorist group Hamas unleashed pure, unadulterated evil in the world. But sadly, the Jewish people know, perhaps better than anyone, that there is no limit to the depravity of people when they want to inflict pain on others. In Israel, I saw people who are strong, determined, resilient and also angry, in shock and in deep, deep pain, he said. He reiterated his support for Americans being held hostage by Hamas. As I told the families of Americans being held captive by Hamas, were pursuing every avenue to bring their loved ones home. As president, there is no higher priority for me than the safety of Americans held hostage, he said. He also pointed to an agreement securing sustained delivery of lifesaving humanitarian assistance for the Palestinians, from the United Nations to Palestinian civilians in Gaza, warning Hamas against diverting or stealing the shipments. The US, Egypt, and Israel have all signaled readiness for aid to begin moving into Gaza, following Bidens high-profile visit. However, the Rafah crossing from Egypt to Gaza is not expected to open Friday for a convoy of humanitarian aid to get into Gaza, multiple sources told CNN, despite expectations voiced by Biden and others that it would be open. I would not put money on those trucks going through tomorrow, one source familiar with the discussions told CNN. During his address, Biden sought to draw a clear distinction between Hamas and the Palestinian people and argued for a two-state solution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people. Hamas uses Palestinian civilians as human shields, and innocent Palestinian families are suffering greatly because of them, he said. The US, he later added, remains committed to the Palestinian peoples right to dignity and to self-determination. The actions of Hamas terrorists dont take that right away. Biden empathizes with both Muslims and Jews During Bidens speech, he spoke out forcefully against both Islamophobia and antisemitism, both of which have intensified in recent days, offering comfort and condemnation. Biden acknowledged the fear from Jewish families worried about being targeted in school, wearing symbols of their faith walking down the street, or going out about their daily life. And he empathized with Muslim Americans who are outraged saying to yourself, Here we go again, with Islamophobia and distrust we saw after 9/11. We cant stand by and stand silent where this happens. We must, without equivocation, denounce antisemitism. We must, also without equivocation, denounce Islamophobia, he said. Biden and first lady Dr. Jill Biden spoke Thursday evening with the father and uncle of Wadea Al-Fayoume, the Palestinian American boy stabbed to death in Illinois on Saturday. The Bidens expressed their deepest condolences to the ( Al-Fayoume) family as they mourn; their prayers that Wadeas mother, Hannan Shahin, makes a full recovery; and their commitment to keep speaking out against anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab, and anti-Muslim hate and violence, the White House said. Biden invoked the Al-Fayoume family in his Oval Office address. Just last week, a mother was brutally stabbed. A little boy here in the United States a little boy who just turned six years old was murdered in their home outside of Chicago. His name was Wadea, Wadea. A proud American, a proud Palestinian-American family, Biden said. He offered a message of recognition to those impacted: To all of you hurting, those of you hurting, I want you to know I see you. You belong. I want to say this to you: Youre all American. In moments like these, and when fears and suspicion, anger and rage run hard, we have to work harder than ever to hold onto the values that make us who we are, he said. While he said that Americans should not forget who we are, he also warned that the government of Israel should not be blinded by rage. The message tinged with hard-learned lessons from life in the United States after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks echoed thoughts Biden shared with Israelis while in Tel Aviv the day before. I caution this: While you feel that rage, dont be consumed by it, Biden told his audience, a collection of Israelis and Americans. I know the choices are never clear or easy for the leadership, Biden went on, recalling mistakes the United States made after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Theres always cost, but it requires being deliberate, requires asking very hard questions. That requires clarity about the objectives and an honest assessment about whether the path youre on will achieve those objectives. COSHOTON A former Marine from Cambridge involved in a shooting outside a Coshocton bar was sentenced Wednesday in Coshocton County Common Pleas Court by Judge Robert Batchelor. Thomas M. Hains, 44, was indicted in November on a charge of felonious assault, a second-degree felony, in connection with the Nov. 11 incident. The charge carried a three-year firearm specification and specification to forfeit the firearm involved, an M&P Shield .40 caliber handgun. He was also indicted with improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony. According to the Coshocton County Sheriff's Office, a firearm was discharged during a fight outside the Cedar Street Inn. Nobody was injured. Deputies secured the scene and spoke to witnesses. A search warrant was obtained and a man and woman were taken into custody. Hains entered a guilty plea to amended charges on Aug. 16 as part of a plea deal with the Coshocton County Prosecutor's Office. The felonious assault count was dropped in favor of a charge of discharging of a firearm on or near prohibited premises, a third-degree felony, with no specifications. The state agreed to take no position on sentencing and not oppose bond or a pre-sentence investigation. As allied charges, count two merged into count one and Hains was only sentenced on the discharging of a firearm charge. He received 18 months in prison and up to two years of optional post release control. He received five days of credit for local incarceration. Hains was also ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution to the victim to cover her insurance deductible related to damage to her vehicle from the gunshot. Attorney Edward Itayim in Coshocton County Common Pleas Court with client Thomas Hains of Cambridge. He received 18 months in prison for discharging of a firearm on or near prohibited premises in November outside the Cedar Street Inn. Attorney Edward Itayim argued for probation, citing several mitigating factors. This included Hains not intending to cause the victim harm or the incident being premeditated. He also mentioned Hains being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder from his military service and suffering a concussion from the incident. Hains has also received counseling. "There were many factors involved with my decision that evening, such as fear, injury, my own mental health, PTSD, training and confusion. I had to process all these things in that split second," Hains told the court. "With that being said, I know and I take full accountability, that my actions that night were not justifiable. Looking back on it now, I see and feel the embarrassment, shame and remorse for what I did." Itayim said it was a situation based on poor decisions that spun out of control. However, Itayim said he nor his client wanted to make excuses for what happened. "Mr. Hains has not been that type of client. He's been remorseful from the very beginning and deeply regretted those decisions," Itayim said. "Mr. Hains has done everything up to that incident and everything after that incident to the best he can to do." Coshocton man on drug dealing: 'I done what I did because times was so very hard' Judge hands down prison time to Coshocton woman for transporting meth The victim was not in the courtroom, but was present and did speak at the change of plea hearing. The victim's father was present. Hains spoke to the court and also read an apology to the victim. Hains said he pledged to do whatever he could to help the victim heal and move on. "I want you to know in the split second decision my intention was not to hurt the person driving the vehicle, but to stop a bad situation from getting worse. I'm devastated by the way my actions have affected you and I have thought about you every day since the incident happened," he read in court. Batchelor read the victim's account of the incident from the pre-sentence investigation. The woman was not involved in the fight and only wanted to leave the bar, but the door was blocked by the fight. When she was able to leave, Hains was being loaded into the backseat of a pickup truck by two women. The victim got in her car and turned to see Hains pointing a firearm right at her. She leaned back in her seat and pulled out of the spot. Hains fired the gun and struck the hood and front grill of the vehicle. There was also security camera footage of the incident. Batchelor noted Hains not having a criminal history and his military career of more than 20 years. However, he also mentioned there being no 911 call from the defendant or Hains turning himself in at the sheriff's office. "Having discharged a firearm directly into a motor vehicle occupied by another person while she was attempting to leave, a person who had nothing to do with any fight that occurred at a bar, someone who was just trying to leave the (establishment) and the video shows that she was backing out, was leaving, was trying to get away, was trying to retreat from the situation and you decided, for reasons again only you can explain, to fire a shot into her motor vehicle," Batchelor said in reviewing the case. This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Thomas Hains of Cambridge sentenced for firing a gun outside a bar Jordanians protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Amman Jordanians protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Amman By Suleiman Al-Khalidi AMMAN (Reuters) - Chanting slogans urging Islamist Hamas militants to intensify their strikes on Israel, thousands of Jordanians marched in the capital and around the country on Friday to protest against Israel's bombing campaign in Gaza. Over 6,000 people took part in the protest in downtown Amman arranged by opposition parties and tribal groups in a kingdom where passions are running high since the escalation of violence between Palestinians and Israel. "Oh Hamas, hit them with al-Qassam rockets ... Bring the suicide bombers to Tel Aviv ," they chanted, referring to the military wing of Hamas. Israel has vowed to wipe out Hamas, which rules Gaza, after its gunmen burst through the barrier fence surrounding the enclave on Oct. 7 and rampaged through Israeli towns and kibbutzes, killing 1,400 people, mainly civilians. In Amman on Friday, several thousand people also gathered near the Israeli embassy, a common spot for anti-Israel protests at times of turmoil in the Palestinian territories. "No Jewish embassy on Arab land!" protesters chanted. Riot police blocked roads leading to the fortified embassy complex to keep back demonstrators who gathered around the nearby Kaloti mosque in the capital. Authorities in Jordan earlier this week quelled rioting around the Israeli embassy and said they would not tolerate any attempt by mobs who sought to exploit anger against Israel to create havoc. On the outskirts of the capital, hundreds of anti-riot police blocked all roads leading to Jordan Valley opposite the West Bank, where activists had called for large protests. Over 2,000 protesters who were prevented from heading to the border called on the authorities to allow them to join the fight alongside Hamas. In the southern city of Karak, hundreds of protesters gathered at a checkpoint on a highway leading to the border chanting pro-Hamas slogans. "Al-Qassam, we are your army," they chanted. Many of Jordan's 10 million citizens are of Palestinian descent. They or their parents were expelled or fled to Jordan in the fighting that accompanied the creation of Israel in 1948. They have close ties with family on the other side of the Jordan River in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, both captured by Israel in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. (Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi; Editing by Hugh Lawson) A bipartisan group of senators, including South Dakota Sen. John Thune and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Ben Cardin (D-Md.), are in Saudi Arabia on a diplomatic trip highlighting partnerships in the Gulf region. According to a news release from multiple participants offices, the delegation is expected to meet with several Saudi officials during the mission. Others on the trip include Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska). The United States and Saudi Arabia have a common interest in preserving the stability, security and prosperity of the Gulf region and consult closely on a wide range of regional and global issues, the identical news releases read. Saudi Arabia plays an important role in working toward a peaceful and prosperous future for the region. Top Stories from The Hill Secretary of State Antony Blinken also traveled to Saudi Arabia, taking a trip over the weekend to discuss regional security with officials amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Its 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, Blinken said during a joint news conference Saturday with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. In addition, the United States and Saudi Arabia are working together very closely in a number of other critical areas where its so important to try to bring greater peace, greater stability, greater security. Sign up for the latest from The Hill here Al Saud said that Saudi Arabias goal is to see that the situation is de-escalat[ed). The priority now needs to be to stop further civilian suffering, he said. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) separately led a delegation to Tel Aviv over the weekend, during which the group had to be rushed to shelter from rockets, giving them a first-hand experience of the war. It shows you what Israelis have to go through. We must provide Israel with the support required to defend itself, he wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Theres a reason why eyelash glue is a staple in the emergency kits of professional wedding planners and photographers and its not just in case of beauty blunders. While eyelash glue is essential for keeping fake lashes in place for hours at a time, it can also help with unruly bangs, shifty necklaces, messy manicures and uncooperative fashion pieces, as these viral TikTok videos prove. If youve already patch tested eyelash glue and know you dont have any dermatological concerns, these glue hacks might just come in handy at special occasions even if youre not someone who wears fake lashes. 1. Keep necklace clasps firmly in place Kentucky wedding photographer Jennifer (@jenniferreneephotography) gained over 30.7 million views, 1.1 million likes and 80,000 saves when she revealed how eyelash glue can come in clutch with wedding jewelry. Using clear-dry lash glue, the video shares how necklaces can be made to stay firmly in place throughout the wedding, ensuring that an errant clasp never makes an appearance in the wedding photos. While viewers did provide some additional tips to keep in mind with this hack such as using clear glue rather than black, and gluing down the chain rather than the clasp itself (to prevent it from being glued shut) the hack was lauded for its ingenuity. UK-based wedding content creators Lydia and Ollie (@weddingcontentcreator) further demonstrated how the hack works in their video, which gained over 2.4 million views. In their footage, the brides necklace wasnt just glued down at the base of her neck but on her chest as well, ensuring that the pendant never strayed on her big day. I was a wedding photographer for 20 yrs. How did I not know this trick?! commented @teresasweetphotography. I did this on my wedding and my necklace didnt move all day or night was perfect! wrote @s0phi30. Wish I saw this before I got married! My necklace was all over the place in my photos, commented @meganhughes3685. 2. Make your bangs windproof Beauty influencer Emily Elizabeth (@eggdressesup) proved that eyelash glue can keep not only lashes but flyaway fringes in place. In a video that gained over 351,000 views and 34,000 likes, Emily first applied a small amount of lash glue to the ends of her hair, then directly to the skin of her forehead (which later proved to be the more effective method). After testing its durability with a blow-dryer, Emily deemed the hack as a success. THANK YOU, commented TikTok user @niharikajainn. I hate spending effort on my hair and it immediately getting ruined as I step outside on a windy day. 3. Prevent messy manicures Nail artist @theenaildoll revealed how to keep cuticles nice and clean during manicures using just a little lash glue and later some acetone. After applying a small amount of glue to the cuticle area and allowing it to dry, @theenaildoll airbrushed her nail. When the paint job was complete, she grabbed some acetone and a small brush and gently wiped away the dried-on lash glue revealing totally clean and unpainted cuticles. Omg love this so helpful wtf, commented @greeny435. 4. Fend off wardrobe malfunctions TikToker @badgalbui proclaimed eyelash glue to be her best friend when she found herself without fashion tape but wanting to wear a low-cut halter top. After affixing the top with a little glue, she tested the hack by shaking her shoulders and tugging at the neckline. Im not going anywhere! she exclaimed. In the comments of others videos, TikTokers shared how eyelash glue has saved them from other wardrobe malfunctions. We used it to keep our [swimsuit] bottoms stuck to our cheeks during swimsuit contests. Worked better than spray adhesive!! user @tiffanydtoks commented on @jenniferreneephotographys video. My mom had really thin straps that wouldnt stay in place so we used lash glue to hold them up. Worked like a charm wrote @breeb99 in response to @weddingcontentcreators video. 5. Bedazzle your hair As demonstrated by TikToker Lorraine Ehrhardt (@lorraineehrhardt), lash glue can also be used to take cute hairstyles to a whole new level with the help of some everyday nail gems. Ehrhardt found it easier to apply glue directly to her hair rather than the gem and used an eyeliner pencil to help pick up the gems. She made bedazzling her hair look effortless. And according to her, removing the gems and washing out the glue was just as easy. Whether its for prom, a wedding, or an engagement party, #lashgluehacks boasting more than 67 million hacks on TikTok are proving to be invaluable in a host of formal situations. In The Know by Yahoo is now available on Apple News follow us here! The post These TikTok hacks are revealing unexpected ways to use eyelash glue: How did I not know this trick?! appeared first on In The Know. More from In The Know: People are duping Pottery Barn gingerbread houses with $5 thrift store flip: 'Wait, this is genius' Woman's Disney World sponge hack causes controversy on TikTok: 'People complicate everything' Lululemon just dropped the softest bra I've ever tried on, and now I don't want to wear anything else 9 fluffy winter coats under $100 at Nordstrom Rack to cuddle up with during cuffing season South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott is doubling down on Iowa, ramping up his visits to the state as he looks to prove he can compete in the battle to mount the strongest primary challenge to GOP front-runner former President Donald Trump . CNN obtained a recording of a Thursday call with donors that featured Scott and senior campaign officials, during which Scott said the campaign has not yet launched a national campaign. Instead, they are focusing on Iowa and will continue that strategy for the next several weeks and couple months. We are making progress in the great state of Iowa. Were going to continue to do so. We have not yet launched a national campaign, we have launched a successful Iowa strategy, Scott told donors. Well continue to play that out for the next several weeks and couple of months. The call came just days after the super PAC supporting his campaign canceled the remainder of its TV and digital ad reservations Scott campaign senior adviser Zac Moffatt said on the call that the campaign plans to bolster its Iowa ground game with additional staffing and increased visits to the state in the coming weeks. Youre gonna see us put more and more of an emphasis, because we know that we need to do well in Iowa to have a springboard to everything else. So youll get to see us put more and more of an emphasis with our resources and our staffing to ensure that were in Iowa fighting every single day for every vote we can, Moffatt said. And the reason were doing that is that we feel like Iowa is still not only not settled, but theres a massive opportunity there. The day after the call, Scott embarked on a five-day bus tour of Iowa, even as his path to the nomination appears murkier than ever. Earlier this week, Trust in the Mission PAC, the super PAC supporting Scotts campaign, announced it is canceling the remainder of its $40 million in TV and digital ad reservations, citing the challenges of breaking through to voters. The announcement came a day after federal filings showed the Scott campaign spent $12.4 million during the third quarter but only raised $4.6 million in that same time period, putting a dent in his once-formidable advantage in cash reserves. Scott told CNNs Abby Phillip on Thursday he supports the decision by the super PAC to pull its ad buys and dismissed questions about the health of his campaign. I dont run the super PAC. So I cant tell you exactly what that memo meant, but what I can tell you is that it focuses on is reserving our resources until later in the campaign so that as we get close to the January 15, date of the Iowa caucus, we have the resources to spend effectively, Scott said. Breaking through this current news cycle seems to be impossible. So any alternative to the former president will not have actual opportunity to showcase why they should be the alternative. When asked if hes considering dropping out of the race given the context laid out in the memo, Scott said he plans to keep running. Oh, of course not, Scott said. We believe that Americas ready for an optimistic positive messenger who is anchored in consistently conservative values. Scotts efforts to establish his viability are further complicated by a struggle to make up ground in the polls in comparison to rivals like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley . In a national Fox News poll of potential Republican primary voters released last week, Scott earned 1% support. Scott received 3% in a September Fox survey. Scott has not yet met the polling threshold to qualify for the November debate, which mandates candidates receive 4% support in two national polls or one national poll and two early state polls. He has surpassed the donor requirements set by the Republican party, a campaign spokesperson told CNN. A South Carolina-based Republican strategist supporting Scotts campaign said the cancellation by the PAC gives the South Carolina senator a chance to take stock of the primary landscape. I think the memo on Monday, it was certainly a chance to sort of reset, take a deep breath and get ready for this final lap, the strategist said. Scotts Iowa bus tour is part of an effort by the campaign to raise his popularity in the state, with the hope that a strong showing in the caucuses in January can spark some momentum and propel him into viability. The visit to the Hawkeye State for this weekends tour will be his third trip there in as many weeks, and the trips are supplemented by a bevy of TV ads from his campaign targeting Iowa voters. As of Friday, Scotts campaign has spent $11.6 million on TV ads, more than any other campaign so far. More than half of those ad buys have been in Iowa, according to data from the ad tracking firm AdImpact. Scott often leans into his Christian faith and his background to appeal to the significant evangelical coalition among Iowa Republicans, frequently quoting scripture at campaign stops. Scott campaign pollster Erik Iverson presented internal polling data to donors on Thursdays call to support the campaigns focus on evangelical voters, whose support he said remains up for grabs. Traditionally in Iowa, that evangelical lane plays a very outsized level of importance, Iverson said. Sort of remarkably, that lane is completely unfilled right now. Its completely wide open. On the call with donors Thursday, Moffatt said he believes the campaign has enough time to pick up support as more voters make up their minds. If you look at the history of prior presidential races, moderates jump out to an early lead, they consolidate quickly and they get all this hope and change thats coming into September, October, and then they crash into the winter, Moffat said on the call. I will say, winter is coming as conservatives and as the primary electorate starts to pay attention. Youre going to see big moves, and it always ends badly for the people who started early who havent really been focused on yet. Bev Lessman, a Republican voter and small business owner from Sioux City, Iowa, is one of those voters still waiting to decide. She said she likes Scott, and attended an event he held in Le Mars, Iowa, in August. Shes currently undecided, but is considering Scott, Haley, DeSantis and Trump. To her, electability is a crucial factor when considering who to support. But all things being equal, if she had to vote today, she would want to see Scott on the GOP ticket just not on the top line. I would actually vote for Nikki Haley and Tim Scott would be a great vice president, she said. Honing in on rivals When he first launched his campaign in May, Scott was viewed by many Republicans as one of a handful of White House hopefuls who could offer a viable threat to Trump in the primary. His personal narrative a Black man who grew up in poverty, was raised by a single mother in South Carolina and has since risen to the US Senate made him appealing to a wide group of voters, and his substantial war chest and connections to donors gave him stature in a crowded field. But in the intervening months, other candidates, like fellow South Carolinian Haley, have gained some ground, while Scott has yet to have his moment. And as the primary calendar inches closer, some Republicans are anxiously hoping some candidates will fade away and allow support to build around the strongest alternative to Trump, who received 59% in the Fox poll of Republican primary voters releases earlier this month. At the moment, its unclear if Scott can be that candidate. I think if Donald Trump wasnt in this race, it would be a very different discussion. But Trump casts such a large shadow over the rest of the Republican field, that it has stifled an ability for people to get traction, South Carolina conservative political strategist Dave Wilson told CNN. I think the only place where I really see traction taking hold, ironically, is with Nikki Haley. Her numbers continue to tick up and up and up, he added. Haleys ascent has increased the pressure on Scott to either prove he can take on the former president or step aside to make room for other candidates. Last week, Washington Post columnist George Will called on Scott to drop out of the race and support Haley, an awkward proposal given that Wills wife, Mari, is an adviser to Scotts campaign. The opinion piece came on the heels of former Texas Rep. Will Hurd dropping out of the race and backing Haley earlier this month. When asked by CNN about Wills piece after an event last week, Scott laughed off the call to drop out, joking I guess this just proves there are mixed marriages, and said he plans to stay in the race. Still, Scott has adopted a sharper, more aggressive rhetorical style in recent weeks and has shown a new willingness to attack rivals like Haley and DeSantis directly. Scott has used the aftermath of the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel to harshly condemn President Joe Biden, who he said has blood on his hands following the attacks, as well as his Republican rivals. During a recent speech in Washington, DC, focused on Israel, he hit DeSantis and tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy for their weakness and confusion on foreign policy issues. And at a foreign policy panel at Georgetown University on Monday, Scott criticized Haley for saying not all Palestinians are antisemitic, part of an argument against accepting refugees from Gaza into the US. He falsely suggested Haley supports accepting refugees, insinuating she held the position to be popular. How do we make sure that our nation remains the greatest nation on Gods green earth if we have no ability to discern whos coming our country? I cant figure that out. If I cant figure that out, as commander in chief, I have a responsibility to take a leap back and say, not on my watch, Scott said. Our nation is just too important for me to make bad decisions under pressure because I want to be popular. That doesnt work for me. For Scott, harsh attacks on rival candidates can at times bristle against his typically optimistic campaign message. Yet he says efforts to distinguish himself from other candidates are focused on policy differences in part to preserve the Republican nominees chances to defeat Biden in the general election, whomever that may be. My quest has always been to be an optimist, to be positive. Im positive that showing the contrast between me and my opponents is a good thing, not a bad thing, Scott quipped in an interview with the Ruthless podcast released Thursday. To the extent that we focus on those contrasts, Im not going to make it personal. I dont want to poison the well so much so that everything that I say is going to be on a Democrat campaign ad, he added. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) After serving 17 years behind bars for a murder that the Tennessee Innocence Project says he didnt commit, Thomas Clardy has finally been released from prison. The Tennessee Innocence Project has been working for nine years to exonerate Clardy, who was convicted of a 2005 murder at an auto body shop in Madison. Despite his 2007 conviction, the non-profit law firm said no physical evidence has ever tied Clardy to the crime scene. Murder suspect arrested in Murfreesboro after failing to show up in court The only evidence supporting Clardys conviction was a single eyewitness identification, which attorneys said was not made until nearly a month after the crime. Evidence collected before the trial, but not tested until later, reportedly connects different suspects to the scene. (Courtesy: Tennessee Innocence Project) Clardy has steadfastly maintained his innocence for nearly two decades and after years of court proceedings, a federal district judge in Nashville overturned his conviction in June 2023. Judge Aleta Trauger held that Clardy was denied effective assistance of counsel at his original trial in violation of his constitutional rights. She also stated that Clardys original lawyer performed deficiently by failing to present expert testimony on the well-documented limitations of eyewitness identifications. The Tennessee Attorney Generals Office has appealed the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. While the proceedings on appeal continue, Clardys legal team filed a motion for his immediate release, which was granted by Judge Trauger. CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime news from Middle Tennessee On Friday, Oct. 20, Clardy walked out of prison and was reunited with his friends and family. We are pleased with the federal courts decision to overturn Mr. Clardys conviction and are thrilled that he was released from prison today, said Scott Gallisdorfer, an attorney at Bass, Berry & Sims who has worked on the Clardy case since 2019. We firmly believe in Mr. Clardys innocence, and we are proud to partner with TIP as we continue the fight for his exoneration. The Tennessee Innocence Project was launched in February 2019 as the first full-time organization in the state working to free wrongfully convicted Tennesseans. To date, the organization believes more than 3,200 people have been wrongfully convicted across the U.S. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Dear Reader (excluding any of you who sign protest letters anonymously), Someone pointed out the other day that in certain quarters of the left right now, it is more acceptable to shout gas the Jews than to say men cant get pregnant. Call me crazy, but this strikes me as suboptimal. I need to make some distinctions and clarifications because theres a lot of nutpicking out there. There is a good number of left-wing people saying truly indefensible things. And a lot of right-wing people are delighting in claiming that these gargoyles are representative of the broader left. For instance, theres a self-described tranarchist named Jemma Decristo who purports to teach at UC-Davis who thinks it would be just dandy to have a domestic campaign of violent terror against Zionist journalists here in America. They have houses [with] addresses, kids in school. They can fear their bosses but they should fear us more. Decristo concludes the post with emojis of a knife, an ax, and some drops of blood. If you have a more favorable interpretation of what thats supposed to mean, Im all ears. Hey @ucdavis, do you think its appropriate that one of your faculty advisors, @jemmaisOKeh, is publicly threatening to murder Jews at their homes and their children at their schools? pic.twitter.com/xAx97LHYbr Jason Bedrick (@JasonBedrick) October 19, 2023 I do not think Decristo is representative of very many people, even on the faculty at UC-Davis, the left generally, or even in the no doubt vibrant tranarchist community. Similarly, I do not believe that most people on the left are chanting Gas the Jews, nor do I think very many people on the left want to gas the Jews or even to see Jews ethnically cleansed from the River Jordan to the seathough the number who would welcome making Israel Judenfrei is certainly much larger than the number who would endorse gassing Jews generally. Where it becomes fairer to generalize about the left more broadly is its tolerance for the radically intolerant. At various universities, presidents and faculty find themselves in an exquisite pickle. Theyve spent years coming up with elaborate theories about why its imperative to limit, shape, regulate, bend, fold, and mutilate discourse that does violence to marginalized groups while privileging the voices of the oppressed. If my prodigious deployment of scare quotes was lost on you, Ill just be clear. I think most of these theories are on the merits best seen as ornate, polysyllabic efforts to cram 10 pounds of bullst into five-pound bags. But the merits are beside the point, and youre basically a sucker if you engage them in good faith. The point of these theories is more practical than their peddlers like to concede. All of the social justice prattle is best understood as tools for social engineering and caste-protection. Faculty-speakLatinx and all that crapboils down to in-group shibboleth manufacturing. The anti-Zionist crusade. Still, thats not to say that some real ideas arent smuggled into the discourse. Campus social engineering is an ideological project after all. And one of the core ideological products of these academic factories is anti-Zionism. I dont think anti-Zionism is synonymous with antisemitism, though theres obviously a very heavily shaded portion between the two circles of that particular Venn diagram. But one way the terms are similar is how they work linguistically. The term antisemitism was coined by a German radical leftist named Wilhelm Marr. He was, not surprisingly, an antisemite. The whole point of the term was to sanitize and intellectualize bigotry against Jews. JudenhaasJew hatredwas too theological and Old World. Antisemitism was scientific and plugged into the rage for eugenics. It also made it sound like Jews were just one of many groupsSemites or Semitic peoplesand so being antisemitic wasnt necessarily about being opposed to Jews. Arabs are semitic too. Indeed, to this day, you can easily find Jew-haters who insist they arent antisemitic because they dont hate Arabs or because they are Arabs. In other words, antisemitism was born to dodge the accusation of just hating Jews. (Also, FWIW, the whole concept of Semites is largely the product of scientific philological mythmaking.) Anti-Zionism works along similar lines. Zionism refers to a singular project in a singular Jewish nation. When someone says theyre anti-Zionist, they are saying they are anti-Israel because there is no other country they could be describing. Anti-imperialism can refer to any number of countries and historical chapters. Saying youre anti-Zionist can only mean youre anti-Israel. Whats always been funny to methough not necessarily haha-funnyis how anti-Zionism supposedly flows from anti-imperialism and that stopping Zionism is the most important, and for some, the only, way to fight imperialism. I always thought it was ridiculous how the Soviets and their legions of satraps, vassals, apologists, and useful idiots could, with straight faces, condemn Zionism as imperialism. The Soviet Union invaded countless countries and subjugated their peoples, but yeah, sure the Soviets really hate imperialism. This idea that anti-Zionism is a vital international mission is pervasive on the hard left, on and off campus. The other day, I saw this clip from a co-founder of Black Lives Matter in 2015. Palestine is our generations South Africa. If we dont step up boldly and courageously to end the imperialist project called Israel, were doomed. Wait, what? Look, I think this is stupid for a lot of reasons. But I at least understand what people mean when they compare Israel to apartheid South Africa. I dont think its a good comparison, but I get it. What I cant get my head around is how Israels continued existence would spell the doom of black people in America. I think part of the answer is that the left needs to conceive of itself as anti-oppressor. Thats not a terrible self-conception. But it can lead you to a lot of terrible positions if you care more about reveling in your heroic self-conception than about thinking critically about the actual facts. Israel has become mythologized as a permanent representation of oppression. Its relative success as a prosperous, functioning democracy adds insult to injury. As I wrote on Wednesday, the story of Jewish perseverance and triumph over victimhood is a rebuke to many of the narratives that define the speak truth to power crowd. I think it helps explain why Israel takes up a clinically insane amount of headspace in some people. Indeed, one of the main reasons many Jews see anti-Zionism as antisemiticI mean besides all of the Jew haters who call themselves anti-Zionistsis the selectivity of their outrage. China, for instance, is literally an apartheid state. It practices Han supremacy and treats other ethnicities in China as second-class citizensor worse. Virtually none of the supposed anti-Zionists care a whit. As I argued a couple years ago, the fundamental logic of structural racism makes it impossible for me not to conclude that the United Nations is structurally antisemitic. It holds Israel to a different standard than any other country. The only standing agenda item for the Human Rights Council, every year, is Israel. Since 2015, the General Assembly has condemned China and Cuba zero times, Russia 23 times, Iran seven times, the United States nine times, North Korea eight times, and Syria 10 times. It has condemned Israel 140 times. The free speech motte-and-bailey. But back to the exquisite pickle. Again, anti-Zionism is just one plank in the academic social justice platform, albeit an important one. But it meshes with the other planks in that they are all framed in the language of liberation from and opposition to oppression. The larger bundle of ideas has led to broad efforts to decolonize language, history, institutions, capitalism and, of course, freedom of expression. Lest you think Im exaggerating, I wasted a remarkable amount of time reading this introductory article, Locating freedom of speech in an era of global white nationalism, from a special issue of First Amendment Studies. Its a trip. But full of amazing anti-liberal pronouncements: The histories of free speech that the scholars in this collection highlight point to the need for theories and practices of decolonization, that untangle freedom of expression from its liberal and colonial roots. Decolonizing theory is part of a larger solidarity project, focused on decentering Western modernities and whiteness itself by identifying the effects of colonialism and articulating resistive epistemologies. And: Historically then, white liberal articulations of freedom and liberty are constituted within the organizing processes of colonialism and slavery. And: The rhetoric of freedom of speech contradicts the practice of freedom of speech, all in the name of liberalism. Yet it retains its philosophical foundations and grounding in epistemological whiteness. This is to say that free speech is an outgrowth of whiteness and its political genealogies, organized through logics that are tied to violent civilizing missions and resource extractions. It all calls to mind Thomas Sowells line that some ideas are so stupid only intellectuals believe them. Anyway, the University of Pennsylvania had the bad luck of hosting an anti-Israelpalooza on its campus shortly before the Hamas attack. Then, afterward, like a lot of schools, it was slow and clumsy in condemning the attacks. As a result, a bunch of donors have cut ties with the school. This has made the tri-chairs of the faculty senate very mad. They issued a statement: As Tri-Chairs of the University of Pennsylvania Faculty Senate, we write to affirm our commitment to freedom of thought, inquiry, and speech as foundational values of our University. These values are being threatened by individuals outside of the University who are surveilling both faculty and students in an effort to intimidate them and inhibit their academic freedom. Let us be clear: academic freedom is an essential component of a world-class university and is not a commodity that can be bought or sold by those who seek to use their pocketbooks to shape our mission. We stand in solidarity with all University of Pennsylvania faculty, staff, and students whose research, work, or study has been affected by the recent efforts of intimidation. Academic freedom is at the heart of our educational and research missions, and we demand that it remain free from internal or external pressure or coercion. Apparently, as my friend Cliff Asnessone of those former donorsnotes, not voluntarily donating is coercion now. Also, paying attention to what faculty members say is now surveilling. Again, Penn is hardly alone in all of this. The Hamas pogrom did not create these problems, it shined a fresh light on them. These schoolsand their political alliesexpend enormous amounts of time and energy waging war not just on the theoretical constructs undergirding liberalism, but on the liberal practices inherent to a liberal education. (For instance, with the help of the Obama administration, the presumption of innocence for students accused of sexual harassment or assault under Title IX. Betsy DeVos rescinded those rules as secretary of education. But the official who oversaw those changes was put back in charge by Joe Biden). So after decades of chipping away at traditional understandings of free speech, academic freedom, and other core values, a lot of these higher ed apparatchiks are retreating like cockroaches frightened by the kitchen light back to those very ideas in order to defend people who are celebrating paragliding rapists and murderers and their broader agenda. Suddenly the people whove spent years saying that offensive ideas are violence, are taking offense at a backlash against many of the same people when they endorse actual violence. The people who insist that marginalized people need to be protected from dangerous ideas are appalled by those little Zionist snowflakes who take offense at the free speech of professors and students who want to eliminate the Zionist menace. It really is head-spinning. We get called philistines and ignorami for championing classically liberal values, but when we say that endorsing the slaughter of babies and old people in their homes falls outside of those liberal values, we get lectures about how were the ones who really dont understand liberal values. If there had been an attack on virtually any other groupsave perhaps for the Uyghurs or Klansmena fraction as heinous as the 10/7 pogrom, it would not take days for university presidents to figure out how to find the words to condemn it. But because Jews, particularly Zionist Jews, are not members in good standing of the official Coalition of the Oppressed, they struggle to find the right words, if they ever find them at all. And they pretend that the real outrage isnt to be found in terror or apologies for it, but being made to have to defend liberal values they dont actually believe in. Various & Sundry Canine update: While were in Italy, Zoe is staying with Gracie and the housesitter while Pippa is staying at Kirstens. I know thats weird but it was Kirstens idea. Zoe and Pippa got into some territorial disputes the last time we left them both with Kirsten and we didnt want a replay of that. Pippa is definitely having a grand time, playing the part of Zoe with the little dogs and having the rule of the roost at Kirstens. Zoe seems fine with it all. She still gets her walks and does some security work to boot, and is getting along great with the housesitter (I dont know if she wants to be named). ICYMI Last Fridays G-File Last weekends Ruminant What Israel and Ukraine have in common My annual Remnant reflection on the state of The Dispatch with Steve Hayes Wednesdays truthful and powerful newsletter The Remnant with Yascha Mounk on the origins of identity politics And now, the weird stuff Heartthrob Modern warfare Release Car trouble Landscaping Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. Some of the residents who were displaced by the Lahaina wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui in August are beginning to feel some relief as Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne The Rock Johnsons Peoples Fund of Maui has begun to disperse multiple rounds of payments. In a Reddit forum, several people claim they received their first $1,200 deposit in September and a second one, of the same amount, this month. Trending Today: Hawaii residents receive their second payment from Oprah Winfrey and The Rocks Peoples Fund of Maui following backlash for late payments. Photo: Oprah/Instagram. However, regardless of the number of payments, the funds come at a crucial time for those in the throes of rebuilding their lives. Yeah the 1200 i got really helped alot since one job laid me off and other job reduced my hours so i couldnt get any kind of help like unemployment, food stamps, etc, wrote one person impacted by the devastating natural disaster. Another person who expressed gratitude for the financial assistance commented, Yep! It took several weeks but its happening! They even said wed get multiple payments! The Hollywood juggernauts took a pummeling after asking the public to donate money to the relief fund when it was announced in August. Both Winfrey and The Rock donated $10 million each. Detractors, however, still suggested that the billionaire mogul and multimillionaire actor had enough money and wealthy friends to not rely on the citizens, some of whom are living check to check, to pitch in. Winfrey addressed the backlash in mid-September when she appeared on CBS Mornings. The media maven said she felt villainized and terrorized by the criticism. All of the online, you know, being slammed, attacked, lies, conspiracy theories, really took the focus off of what was the most important thing, and that was the people of Maui, said the veteran talk show host. Critics frustrations were renewed in early October when outcry from Maui residents revealed that despite The Rock celebrating the release of the first round of relief funds, thousands of people still had not been helped. The Rock publicly apologized for the shaky rollout and on Reddit, he and Winfrey continued to be applauded for lending a helping hand. Another said it was Unbelievable that they took so much backlash from Karens getting offended on behalf of others. The amount of BS misinformation and backlash for Dwayne and Oprah is ridiculous. These people are amazing and have done so much for so many people. Did everyone see Dwaynes public apology? Genuine, heartfelt, and pure, wrote a resident who supports the stars philanthropic efforts. Never miss a story sign up for ATLANTA BLACK STARS free daily newsletters to stay up-to-date on the latest developments from top news headlines to celebrity news. The Color Purple producer and Jumanji actor hopes that the Peoples Fund of Maui will have enough funding to provide vetted displaced residents over the age of 18 with $1,200 payments for six months. However, with additional donations, the aid could be extended as the island recovers from the devastation. More than 9,000 people have submitted applications in hopes of receiving assistance. The "single supplement" fee could double the cost of your solo cruise vacation. Cruise lines like Norwegian are now adding more cabins for single travelers. A growing number of travelers have been opting to travel alone. If you're burnt out and in desperate need of a relaxing solo vacation with minimal planning and money spent, cruises can be a great option. Vacationing on a cruise ship is generally more economical and convenient than staying in a hotel. After all, the price to sail includes a built-in day-to-day schedule, accommodations, unlimited food, access to the pool deck, and even entertainment. There's just one caveat: If you want to cruise alone , you could find yourself spending twice as much as you might've budgeted for. And that's all thanks to a not-so-little "single supplement" fee. If you're not careful, this fee could add hundreds of dollars to your vacation About 10% of Virgin Voyages' travelers go alone, a spokesperson told Insider. Virgin Voyages Most cruise ship staterooms are designed for two people. To make up for lost revenue from addons like drink packages, shore excursions, and other extras, some cruise lines will charge single travelers who book a double occupancy stateroom a "single supplement" fee on top of the base per person fare. With luxury brand Silversea , this fee starts at an additional 25%. On cruise lines like Royal Caribbean and Norwegian, this charge can double the cruise fare. If you're lucky, during select times of the year, Virgin Voyages will waive this charge, a spokesperson told Insider. But for the most part, expect to pay extra. But this doesn't mean you have to give up on the solo cruise vacation of your dreams. To meet the demands of these independent travelers, cruise lines like Oceania , Norwegian, and Virgin Voyages have designated staterooms for solo passengers with no additional fee. More cruise lines are adding single-person cabins to their new ships Some of Norwegian Cruise Line's ships have a lounge for solo travelers. Norwegian Cruise Line More people have been opting to travel alone , and it seems these cruise lines are now taking notice. Almost 10% of travelers with the Virgin Voyages sail without a companion, a spokesperson for the adults-only cruise line told Insider. To accommodate them, its four-ship fleet has a total of 46 solo interior and ocean-view cabins. In 2023, premium cruise brand Oceania's new Vista vessel set sail with its first-ever single-person "concierge level" veranda staterooms. Like Oceania, in a first for Princess Cruises, the upcoming Sun Princess will sail in 2024 with accommodations designed for single travelers as well. At the same time, Norwegian has announced a massive move in the solo cruise market . The cruise giant, which says it was the first to create solo cruising accommodations in 2010, has historically seen success with these hotel rooms at sea. To field this demand, the company will add an additional almost 1,000 of them to its 19-ship fleet in 2024. This will bring its total number of single-person accommodations to over 1,500. And they won't just be dingy interior staterooms: Expect balcony and ocean-view cabins as well. On some of its ships, passengers in these accommodations will also have access to a private lounge dedicated to these independent travelers. So the next time you book a solo cruise, keep an eye out for these single-person accommodations. If you don't, you could spend more than you expected. Read the original article on Business Insider Travis King was returned to the US last month US soldier Travis King, who fled from South to North Korea before being returned home last month, is reportedly facing charges including desertion, and soliciting and possessing sexual images of a child. The charges also reportedly include assault against fellow soldiers. The reconnaissance specialist illegally crossed into North Korea in July while on a guided tour of a border village. Pyongyang eventually released him without giving further details. The charges are yet to be officially announced but it appears he is facing eight charges, according to Reuters news agency, which first broke the story. The 23-year-old could be jailed on the charge of desertion alone following his dash to North Korea in July. Pvt King is also accused of broad misconduct before he fled to North Korea, including an attempted escape from US military custody in October 2022, Reuters news agency reports. He was accused of soliciting a Snapchat user in July 2023 to "knowingly and willingly produce child pornography". He was also accused of possession of child pornography. His mother, Claudine Gates, asked that her son "be afforded the presumption of innocence". Pvt King was on duty with the US Army when he crossed the North Korean border. He had been in the Army since January 2021 and was based in South Korea as part of a rotation. Prior to sprinting into North Korea, Pvt King had served two months in detention in South Korea on charges that he assaulted two people and kicked a police car. He was released from custody on 10 July - eight days before he crossed the country's border with Pyongyang. His release deal was brokered by Swedish officials, who brought Pvt King to North Korea's border with China. Little is known about how he was treated in North Korea, why he fled there in the first place and why Pyongyang decided to free him. (CNN) Hezbollah is an Iran-backed Islamist movement with one of the most powerful paramilitary forces in the Middle East. The group, which has its main base on the Israel-Lebanon border, could become a wildcard player in the Hamas-Israel war, and spark a wider regional conflict. The conflict that started with Hamas deadly attacks on Israel which Israeli officials say killed 1,400 people has already had broad ramifications in the Middle East, and triggered diplomatic rifts and protests around the world. Following the attacks on October 7, Israeli strikes on Gaza have killed more than 5,000 people, according to Palestinian health authorities. The fallout is palpable on the Lebanon-Israel border, where Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in low-rumbling tit-for-tat skirmishes since the war began, putting the entire region on a knifes edge. Heres what else to know about Hezbollah. The origins of the group Hezbollah emerged from the rubble of Israels 1982 invasion of Lebanon, when Israeli forces took almost half of Lebanons territory. This included Beirut, where Israeli forces, along with right-wing Israel-allied Christian Lebanese militias, laid siege to the western part of the capital to drive out Palestinian militants. Israels operation resulted in more than 17,000 deaths, according to contemporary reports, and an Israeli inquiry into a massacre at the Beirut refugee camp of Sabra and Shatila, one of the bloodiest events in the regions recent history. The investigation, known as the Kahan Commission of Inquiry, held Israel indirectly responsible for the massacre that was carried out by right-wing Christian Lebanese fighters. Estimates for the number of deaths at Sabra and Shatila vary between 700 and 3,000. As droves of Palestinian fighters left Lebanon, a band of Shia Islamist fighters trained by the nascent Islamic Republic of Iran burst onto Lebanons fractious political landscape. The rag-tag group had an outsized and violent impact. In 1983, two suicide bombers linked to the faction attacked a US marine barracks in Beirut, killing almost 300 US and French personnel, and some civilians. A year later, Iran-linked fighters bombed the US Embassy in Beirut, killing 23 people. In 1985, those militants coalesced more formally around a newly founded organization: Hezbollah. The group made no secret about its ideological allegiance to Tehran and received a steady flow of funds from the Islamic Republic. This helped propel Hezbollah to prominence. It became a participant in Lebanons civil war, which ended in 1990, and led a fight against Israeli forces occupying southern Lebanon, ultimately driving them out in 2000. A terror designation In Lebanon, Hezbollah is officially considered a resistance group tasked with confronting Israel, which Beirut classifies as an enemy state. Yet much of the Western world has designated Hezbollah a terrorist organization, largely since Argentina blamed the group for the 1992 attack on the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires, killing 29 people, and the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center, killing 85, also in the capital. Both Iran and Hezbollah denied responsibility for those attacks. In 2011, the pro-democracy Arab Spring protests spiraled into proxy wars that spread through much of the Middle East. Hezbollah was an active participant, fighting alongside Iran-aligned forces in Syria and Iraq. Soon after, it was also designated a terror organization by several Arab countries. But that barely dented the groups power. During the years-long proxy battles, it experienced a meteoric rise, evolving from guerrilla insurgents into a regional fighting force. How Hezbollah relates to Hamas Hezbollah and Hamas havent always seen eye to eye. The two Islamist groups fought on opposing sides of Syrias uprising-turned-civil war with Hezbollah fighting on behalf of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad while Hamas militants supported the predominantly Sunni opposition. Hezbollah is a group from the Shia branch of Islam, while Hamas is Sunni. When the Syrian war wound down in most parts of the country toward the end of the last decade, Hamas and Hezbollah set their differences aside. Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah has repeatedly praised the growing alliance between the two groups. Hamas leaders have met with Nasrallah several times over the last year, and the Gaza-based groups deepening connections with Tehran are widely known. A growing regional power isolated at home While Hezbollah fought battles further afield, troubles began brewing on their home turf in Lebanon. Repeated cycles of economic and political crises over the last two decades have dealt a blow to the groups popularity outside of its Shia support base. The group became beleaguered by wider economic problems that it proved powerless to address. It served as a bulwark against Lebanese protests demanding change from a political elite widely accused of corruption, and even dispatched supporters to beat peaceful demonstrators. Hezbollah has also been largely successful in quashing a judicial investigation into the Beirut port blast that laid waste to large parts of the city in August 2020. But that may prove immaterial to the groups goals. Hezbollah is arguably Irans most effective non-state partner. And while its regional influence expands, it may only become a more formidable nemesis to its long-time foe, Israel. Why Hezbollah could become embroiled in the Hamas-Israel war It is still unclear whether Hezbollah will intervene in the Hamas-Israel war on behalf of the Palestinians. On the one hand, it shares Hamas ultimate goal of destroying the Jewish state. On the other, Hezbollah has everything to lose. Israel remains the most sophisticated army in the Middle East by far, boasting some of the most advanced weapons in the world, with US support. Moreover, its war with Gaza offers a cautionary tale. In response to Hamas wide-scale and lethal surprise terror attack, Israel has killed more Gazans than it has in any other war with the blockaded coastal strip. This has sent a chilling message to Lebanon, still reeling from the devastating economic crisis of 2019, which has left much of the nation in disrepair. Israel may also be hesitant to try its luck with the Iran-backed group. A war with Hezbollah in Israels north could ignite a third front in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, which separates Israel from Iran-aligned forces, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, an elite wing of the Iranian military. While Hezbollahs arsenal may be no match for Israels, it does boast precision guided missiles, which are far more sophisticated than the shoddy Soviet-era rockets they used in their most recent conflict with Israel in 2006. Nasrallah claims his forces consist of more than 100,000 units, comprising active fighters and reservists. Should Hezbollah get involved in the war, it would open up a multifront conflict, propelling the Middle East into uncharted territory with unpredictable consequences. A U.S. soldier who fled to North Korea has been accused by the Army of multiple crimes, including deserting, assaulting fellow soldiers and soliciting child pornography, according to documents obtained by NBC News. Pvt. 2nd Class Travis King, 23, was expelled by North Korea in late September and taken into U.S. custody in neighboring China, officials said at the time. His release came two months after he ran across the fortified border between North and South Korea, where he was stationed. King is charged with eight counts, according to the charging sheet, including desertion in connection with his dash into North Korea, one of the worlds most reclusive countries. In two other counts, he is accused of soliciting a Snapchat user to produce child pornography and possessing a video of what appears to be a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Pvt. 2nd Class Travis King. (via Carl Gates) Other accusations include attempting to escape from U.S. military custody in October 2022, leaving base after curfew, striking other military personnel and drinking alcohol against orders, the document says. King ran across the Demilitarized Zone that separates North and South Korea on July 18. Earlier that day he had been escorted by the U.S. military to an airport outside Seoul, where he was to fly back to the U.S. for possible further disciplinary action after serving 48 days in a South Korean prison in lieu of paying a $4,000 fine on charges that included damaging public property. Instead of getting on the plane, King joined a civilian tour group headed for the joint security area along the DMZ, a senior administration official said at the time. During the tour he broke from the group and ran across the border willfully and without authorization, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said. Little is known about how King was treated in North Korean custody, and he has not publicly explained his actions. King, who returned to the U.S. on Sept. 28, had been undergoing re-integration at Joint Base San Antonio but was transferred to Fort Bliss, Texas, on Wednesday. A military commander signed an order committing him to pretrial confinement, one of his lawyers said. Kings legal team believes that was an error, and a hearing likely to be held next week will determine whether he remains confined, said Franklin D. Rosenblatt, the lead counsel of Kings legal team and an assistant professor at the Mississippi College School of Law. We ask people to be fair-minded about this and to withhold judgment, said Rosenblatt, who previously represented Bowe Bergdahl, the former Army soldier who pleaded guilty to desertion after he walked off his post in Afghanistan in 2009 and was captured by the Taliban. I think we just have to tread really carefully when we take people who have returned from captivity and decide were just going to throw the book at them and put them in pretrial confinement, he said. Kings mother, Claudine Gates, said in a statement Thursday that she was concerned about her sons mental health and that he should be presumed innocent. A mother knows her son, and I believe something happened to mine while he was deployed, she said. I am grateful for the extraordinary legal team representing my son, she added, and I look forward to my son having his day in court. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com The closure of the only residential treatment center on the Central Coast for veterans battling addiction has attracted the attention of a local congressman, who has stepped in on their behalf. Congressman Salud Carbajal , a veteran of the Marine Corps Reserves himself, met with the head of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on Thursday about the sudden closure of Legacy Village after the VA stopped processing referrals to the community-based facility. The change in how referrals were processed was a surprising about-face for the VA, which is obligated to route clients to community-based treatment facilities under certain conditions, per the VA MISSION Act, also know as the Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Act. For most types of care, if the drive time exceeds 30 minutes, then the veteran can receive community care. Unfortunately, residential (substance use) treatment was excluded from the designated access standards, Carbajal wrote in a letter addressed to the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough. At the most northern part of the district, the drive time to the Domiciliary in Los Angeles is nearly four hours, and from the most southern part, the drive time still exceeds an hour. My district is not unique. We owe it to our veterans to provide accessible and quality care. After the meeting between Carbajal and McDonough in Washington, D.C., the gears started moving to help local veterans. In early November, regional and statewide representatives of the VA will be coming to the Central Coast to meet with Carbajal, SLO County Veterans Service Office Morgan Boyd, and other stakeholders to discuss the barriers local veterans are experiencing when trying to access substance use recovery services. I feel confident that a lot of the underlying issues that are going to be addressed in this meeting, Boyd said. Legacy Village in Nipomo is a residential rehabilitation facility helping veterans with mental health and substance use disorders. Carbajal began discussions with the VA and Legacy Village beginning in spring 2023, when referral challenges first emerged, according to a news release from Carbajal. However, this should have been done eight months ago, Boyd said, when veterans advocates first raised the issue about referrals being routed through the VA Greater Los Angeles Health Center. The change is coming too late for some SLO County veterans who needed services urgently and failed to receive them, Boyd said. Weve had four suicides in the last three months of veterans that we know directly in this community, he said. At least one of those veterans was waiting for a referral to Legacy Village before dying by suicide, he said. When we dont have these resources in our community, it just marks things so much more difficult. David Doc Oliver, left, sits with veterans Joe Franceschi, center, and Brian Clark, right, on the front porch of Nipomo-based Legacy Village Wellness Center. Clark and Franceschi were clients of the facility but were discharged from the organizations care following what Legacy Village says was an apparent decision by the Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Office to stop referring clients to them. VA must act quickly to keep Nipomo treatment facility open, owner says Legacy Village was mentioned directly in the letter Congressman Carbajal addressed to McDonough. Were thrilled that Congressman Carbajals office is is realizing that theres a problem, CEO Dennis Farmer said. Were also thrilled that he is advocating for change, and he realizes how important it is for the veterans of our community to get help here in their community. Farmer said he hasnt yet been invited to the November meeting between the VA and veteran advocates, but is certainly more than willing to participate. Legacy Village CEO Dennis Farmer talks about how the VA Greater Los Angeles area has depleted his business by referring fewer veterans to his residential treatment facility in Nipomo. Meanwhile, time is running out for the private rehabilitation center. Farmer said he needs clients referred to Legacy Village as soon as possible, not in three to five weeks. Farmer had a call with the interim VA Greater Los Angeles Health Center Director Robert Merchant on Thursday evening. I said, Listen, theres no two ways about this Ive got to turn the keys over for the ranch if I dont get at least two or three clients in, and I mean immediately, within the next couple of days, Farmer said of his call with Merchant. Theres still a chance to save it, but I need to have some authorizations and clients. Boyd said the reason the VA may be looking to community-based treatment facilities to take on veteran clients again is due to a COVID-19 outbreak at the Domiciliary, the VA Greater Los Angeles Areas preferred residential treatment facility for veterans needing substance use disorder services in the region. San Luis Obispo County Veterans Services Office Morgan Boyd. I dont think its a coincidence that theyre now jumping through hoops to talk to anybody when the congressman is involved and their only facility in the greater Los Angeles Area is effectively shut down, he said. Boyd said that a local client that wanted to be seen by Legacy Village recently was routed to a treatment facility in Orange County instead because the Domiciliary is closed due to a COVID-19 outbreak, which is not the ideal outcome for the SLO County veteran or for Legacy Village. Its an emotional roller coaster, but and Im trying to not get my hopes up too much yet, Farmer said. Weve seen people in the past give some lip service to our concerns, but none of it has seemed to really come to fruition, so Im cautiously optimistic. When Amanda goes without her medication for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), she struggles to function mentally and physically. Depression, anxiety and chronic pain stemming from fibromyalgia all become more prominent for the 46-year-old, which further exacerbate her ADHD symptoms, making everyday tasks like showering a challenge. Although she hasnt faced any disruptions from this years Adderall shortage which has now entered its second year at one point she wasnt able to get her medication filled at a single one of 16 pharmacies near her home in the Metro Detroit area. Amanda, who asked to be referred to by her first name, has been on Suboxone since 2010 after two decades of using methamphetamine, cocaine and other drugs, including a few years of consistent heroin use. Once she decided to get treatment and stop using drugs, she continued to have to jump through hoops to get not only her Suboxone but also her Adderall prescription. She said she was required to have monthly visits with her provider to get her prescription refilled and perform monthly urine screens, which both came with additional co-pays. There were other shortages, too, during which she had to go in person to multiple pharmacies and was sometimes turned away. Ultimately, she cycled through more than 10 different providers before finding one that was able to consistently fill both of them through Medicare, she said. But she's had friends who have been diagnosed with ADHD and haven't been able to connect to treatment. The whole system of just being able to acquire your ADHD medication is a huge problem and ordeal, Amanda told Salon in a phone interview. It's easier for a lot of people to just get it from the street. Amandas experience highlights a host of factors that have contributed to the rise in U.S. stimulant use in recent years: Many people who use drugs do so as a means to cope with undiagnosed mental, behavioral or neurological health conditions. Untreated ADHD is more common in people with stimulant use disorder than in the general population, and many patients get into using methamphetamine as a way to self-treat their condition, said Dr. Mark Willenbring, an addiction psychiatrist at the Expanse clinic in St. Paul, Minnesota. I have patients who used it in a controlled way for 30 years, as if they were self-treating ADHD, Willenbring told Salon in a phone interview. Their doctors wouldn't prescribe anything for them, so they were kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place. Last year, the Drug Enforcement Agencys (DEA) quota for the amount of drugs like Adderall used to treat ADHD fell short of increasing demand, which contributed to the shortage. Just like the withdrawal of prescription opioids on the market is thought to have pushed people with addiction toward illicit opioids like heroin, restricting prescriptions for stimulants like Adderall could push people toward an illicit supply instead. I've had people say to me, Why don't you just do a bump of meth and itll set you straight all day? Amanda said. I don't want to have to do that. I have a prescription and I just want to be able to get my medication. Although stimulants are becoming increasingly involved in overdose deaths in what some are calling the fourth wave of the overdose crisis, treatments for this form of drug use are few and far between. Earlier this month, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) called upon drug makers to develop new treatments that could be used to treat meth, cocaine or prescription stimulant addiction. In a statement, Marta Sokolowska, the deputy director of the substance use unit within the FDAs Center for Drug Evaluation and Research said: Currently there is no FDA-approved medication for stimulant use disorder. When finalized, we hope that the guidance will support the development of novel therapies that are critically needed to address treatment gaps. One of the main challenges to finding treatment for stimulant use is that it can vary significantly depending on the person, the drug of choice and the route of administration. Cocaine, prescription stimulants and meth all work differently in the brain, have different effects on the body and are used in different ways, including being snorted, smoked or injected. In its draft guidance for stimulant use treatment, the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) cites a handful of pharmacological medications that can be prescribed off-label to treat stimulant use disorder. Some studies show bupropion, an antidepressant used to treat tobacco addiction, can be effective for cocaine use disorder as well as amphetamine use disorder, particularly when paired with a drug used to treat opioid use disorder called naltrexone in the latter. In addition to a few other off-label drugs that show some benefit in treating stimulant use disorder, one 2020 study published in Psychopharmacology showed stimulants used to treat ADHD can reduce cocaine use, including methylphenidate (also know as Ritalin) or mixtures of amphetamine salts like Adderall. Similarly, methylphenidate, which is FDA-approved to treat narcolepsy, can also reduce amphetamine use. Want more health and science stories in your inbox? Subscribe to Salon's weekly newsletter Lab Notes. The idea to use meth or amphetamines to treat these conditions resembles the idea behind using opioid agonist treatments like buprenorphine and methadone to treat opioid use disorder. These two medications have been shown to be very effective in treating opioid use disorder because, being opioids themselves, they target the opioid receptors that cause cravings and withdrawal. However, stimulant use activates not just one but many different receptors, and giving patients drugs like dextroamphetamine would not produce the same reductions in cravings or withdrawal for someone who used methamphetamine, said Dr. Brian Hurley, the medical director for the Bureau of Substance Abuse Prevention and Control for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. The why for using these drugs is also different: While people who use opioids tend to do so on a daily or more frequent basis to prevent withdrawal, people who use stimulants also differ in that they more frequently use in binges, Hurley said. Though the analogy [comparing] opioid agonists with opioid use disorder and psychostimulants for stimulant use disorder is logical, the combination of the mechanism of action of stimulants and the variability in the reasons people use stimulants outside of just kind of pure pharmacologic craving make the stimulant agonists less effective, Hurley told Salon in a phone interview. The ASAM recommends using psychostimulants to treat underlying ADHD in people who have both ADHD and stimulant use disorder, although their use remains controversial due to the potential for "misuse." However, there are some prodrugs of dextroamphetamine used to treat ADHD, such as Vyvanse, that have a slow onset and could be used for these patients, Willenbring said. Yet providers may be hesitant to prescribe any controlled substances that have shown promise in treating stimulant use off-label due to all of the additional regulations they are under through the DEA. In lieu of not having any FDA-approved medications to treat stimulant use disorder, the ASAM also recommends turning to behavioral interventions instead, including contingency management, an evidence-based program in which people using stimulants are awarded small monetary rewards for not using. Californias state health system has deployed contingency management across 24 counties. Essentially, when patients test negative on urine-drug screens, they receive gift cards, with a maximum reward capped at $599 over a six-month period. However, so far this is merely a pilot program and access is limited, said Chelsea Shover, Ph.D., an assistant professor-in-residence at the University of California, Los Angeles. Plus, contingency management in general tends to stop working for people once they stop attending, Willenbring said. Its out there but in a pretty limited and scattered way, Shover told Salon in a phone interview. Why it hasnt been more widely accepted traces back to the stigma that continues to constrain harm reduction efforts. Federal anti-kickback regulations that prohibit medical providers from rewarding patients to generate business may make healthcare providers nervous to offer services like contingency management, Hurley said. Although the Office of the Inspector General for the U.S. Health and Human Services Department released an advisory opinion that said such programs presented a "minimal risk" of being punished via anti-kickback statutes, a Montana clinic providing contingency management was investigated for fraud last year, illustrating the complexity of the issue. Just like opioid agonist treatments are being used in addition to safe injection sites and needle exchange programs to mitigate the impacts of opioid use, any medications for stimulant use will need to be paired with behavioral and social interventions that meet people using these drugs where they are as well. Yet both pharmacologic and behavioral interventions are up against stigma that could prevent them from getting to patients even once they do prove to be effective. "There are no molecules that I've seen in literature that have had a really robust response, but that doesn't mean that some can't help," Hurley said. "I'm glad [the FDA] is calling for additional research because we certainly need additional options." For Amanda, the combination of Suboxone and Adderall to treat her substance use and ADHD has been "life-saving," she said. Not only does it help reduce cravings and attention problems, but also helps treat her fibromyalgia and depression that all once contributed to her substance use. "That combination has allowed me to get my life stable again, control my pain and help with depression," she said. "It helps with so much, but people are reluctant to believe that. There's so much stigma around it." Dean Thomas Schau, the economist and Columbia Basin College professor who used numbers and history to tell the story of how the Tri-Cities became an urbanized community, died Oct. 19 at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland after a fall in his Pasco home. He was 71. Dean Thomas Schau, the economist and Columbia Basin College professor who used numbers and history to tell the story of how the Tri-Cities became an urbanized community, died Oct. 19, 2023 at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland after a fall in his Pasco home. Before retiring, Schau held two influential positions, using them both to share the story of how the Tri-Cities grew from a small farming community into one of Washingtons fastest-growing metros, now of 316,000. He was the regional labor economist for the Washington Employment Security Department, where he leveraged the states vast database of employment and income statistics to describe how industry grew after the Atomic Energy Commission chose Hanford for the Manhattan Project during World War II. He traced growth from agriculture to government to retail to construction to health care. The Tri-City Herald and other media regularly relied on Schau to provide context for stories about housing and the demographics that convinced developers to build hotels, shopping centers and apartment complexes here. He spoke regularly on the state of the economy at chamber luncheons, Tri-City Development Council (TRIDEC) gatherings and other business events. In his second position, he was a professor of economics at Columbia Basin College, where he mixed compassion for students who were often the first in their families to pursue higher education with awe at the experiences they brought to his classroom. Schau was born and raised in Seattle, the youngest of three. He attended Seattles ODea High School and community college in Seattle before completing a bachelors degree in economics at Central Washington University in Ellensburg and a masters at Washington State University in Pullman. Schau met his wife, Jean, at CWU. The pair were inseparable for the 53 years that followed. They recently celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary. Schau, an avid reader who had dyslexia, regularly called his wife a partner in his career for her work navigating through documents and reports. He moved to the Tri-Cities for what was supposed to be a short stint with the state employment agency. Instead, the couple settled in the Tri-Cities after he was offered a job teaching night classes at CBC, a role that grew to be a full-time teaching position that lasted some 25 years. In retirement, the couple divided their time between Pasco, where they retreated from the rain for the winter, and Camano Island, where they retreated from the heat for the summer. In addition to his wife, Schau is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Edward and Mary Schau of Seattle; his mother, Doreen Schau of Seattle; and by numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Edward Schau, and his sister, Randi Robinson. Einans at Sunset is in charge of the arrangements. Sign Up: Boom Town Tri-Cities Stay up to date on Tri-Cities growth and development with our weekly business newsletter. Get the latest on restaurant and business openings and closings, plus the regions top housing and employment news. Click here to sign up. In your inbox every Wednesday. The jury trial of a Franklin woman facing felony charges for allegedly poisoning a family friend and stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from her starts next week. Jessy Kurczewski, 39, is facing three felony charges in Waukesha County Circuit Court: first-degree intentional homicide, theft of movable property greater than $100,000 in value, and theft of movable property between $10,000 and $100,000 in value, according to online court records. Kurczewski is accused of using eyedrops to poison a friend whom she was caring for in 2018 and with stealing $290,210 from the same person, according to a criminal complaint. She pleaded not guilty in August 2021. The trial is scheduled to begin on Monday, Oct. 23, and is estimated to last approximately five weeks, through Nov. 28. Judge Jennifer R. Dorow the same who presided over the Waukesha Christmas Parade attack trial of Darrel Brooks will preside over this trial. According to the criminal complaint: Police received a call on Oct. 3, 2018, from Kurczewski saying her friend was not conscious or breathing. She told authorities shed been checking on her friend daily and her behavior had been odd the week before. Officers dispatched to Meadow Grass Circle in Pewaukee found a woman unconscious in a recliner with crushed medication on her chest and on a plate nearby. Prescription bottles were also near her. Kurczewski said there was a possibility the woman, who was not named in the complaint, was suicidal. However, others who knew the victim told authorities they didnt think she would intentionally or unintentionally overdose. Initially, the womans death was believed to be a drug overdose. However, it was soon ruled a homicide when the Waukesha County Medical Examiner found the victim had a fatal amount of tetrahydrozoline, the main ingredient in eyedrops, in her system. The examiner said to reach those levels it was impossible to have just been used in the eyes. Kurczewski was arrested in July 2019 in connection with the homicide. Kurczewski denied killing the woman, assisting in or staging her death but said shed saved the victim from herself in the past. Kurczewski told police the victim was known to purchase a great volume of eye drops. In a later interview she told detectives the woman drank Visine with vodka before her death. Kurczewski said she had brought a water bottle with Visine in it to her friend at her request. As shed been drinking it regularly for so long, Kurczewski said didnt think it would kill her. Kurczewski said she was probably going to prison for the rest of her life because she helped the woman do what she wanted. Kurczewski allegedly had a breakdown while at Taycheedah Correctional Institution and told her roommate she gave her friend several bottles of Visine to kill her. It was also discovered the victims finances changed over time as contact with Kurczewski increased. It began to closely resemble Kurczewskis, according to the complaint, which also said Kurczewski had a gambling problem and committed fraud multiple times before. Contact Erik S. Hanley at erik.hanley@jrn.com. Like his Facebook page, The Redheadliner, and follow him on Twitter @Redheadliner. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Trial starts Oct. 23 for Franklin woman accused of poisoning a friend One victim, 24-year-old Erie resident Calvin Isaiah, was fatally shot in the chest as he was in bed. Another, 44-year-old Erie resident Phillip Clark, who was disabled and used a wheelchair, was gunned down as he sat on the toilet, naked, and pleaded for his life. Another victim was tied up and burned during a home-invasion robbery in which the assailants tried to set his residence on fire. And yet another victim was shot in the leg and robbed while he was standing in the street. All four of the incidents occurred in the summer of 2018 in Erie. And all four, according to the Erie County District Attorney's Office, were, in whole or in part, the work of three defendants on trial for murder, robbery and other charges in Erie County Common Pleas Court. Two of the defendants were younger than 18 at the time. Four people, at right, pray on Aug. 29, 2018, near the scene of the fatal shooting of Calvin Isaiah, 24, on East 26th Street. He was fatally shot earlier that day. The three preyed on other drug dealers and others to rob them of cash and drugs such as methamphetamine, the lead prosecutor in the case, Chief Deputy District Attorney Jeremy Lightner, said in his opening statement on Thursday. He said the three targeted victims they believed would be less inclined to report to police that they had been held up. Testimony starts: Crime scenes, deaths outlined in trial over drug-related killings in Erie in 2018 The three planned each heist and had no qualms about turning them violent, Lightner said. He said the crew was out to rob drug dealers in "licks" or "stings" and had no remorse. After the killing of the victim in the wheelchair, Lightner said, the defendants laughed as they drove away in the getaway car, according to a cooperating witness. Lightner said the evidence would show that Clark pleaded with his assailants to spare his life. "All these witnesses, combined, tell a pretty grisly tale," Lightner said. He said the evidence and testimony will show how the three defendants rampaged in Erie's "grisly underworld." Two of three defendants were 16 and 17 when crimes occurred The three defendants on trial are Christopher J. Bridges and Destin A. Dortch, both 22, and Raeshawn D. McCallum, 24. Their jury trial, before Judge David Ridge, is expected to continue through next week. Bridges was 16 at the time of the crimes and Dortch was 17. They were charged as adults due to the violent nature of the offenses. Erie police charged all three defendants in 2021 and 2022 following a lengthy investigation that included the use of cooperating witnesses, according to statements in court on Thursday. Bridges faces charges including murder in connection with the fatal shooting of Phillip Clark on Sept. 4, 2018, at a residence in the 300 block of West 29th Street, near Cochran Street; and burglary and other charges related to an Aug. 28, 2018, break-in at the apartment of Calvin Isaiah at East 26th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue a day before he was fatally shot. Bridges also faces, burglary, arson and other charges in a home-invasion robbery on Sept. 3, 2018, at at a residence in the 1100 block of West 20th Street, between Raspberry and Cranberry Streets, in which the occupants were tied up and an attempt was made to set the house on fire. Dortch faces charges charges including murder in the killings of Isaiah and Clark; and burglary and other offenses in the break-in at Isaiah's apartment. McCallum faces murder and other charges in Clark's killing; burglary and related charges in the break-in at Isaiah's residence the day before he was killed; and robbery and other charges in the Sept. 3, 2018, home invasion robbery. McCallum also faces attempted homicide and other charges in a robbery and shooting on June 18, 2018. The victim in that case said McCallum and a person he did not know came up to him in the area of East 23rd and French streets, shot him in the leg and robbed him of a necklace and a watch, according to the prosecution. Defense focuses on two cooperating witnesses Also charged in the crime spree are Chinello A. Blaski, 43, and Nicholas J. Grayson, 32. They are the cooperating witnesses. Both waived their criminal cases to court and testified against their co-defendants during the preliminary hearings for Bridges, Dortch and McCallum in April 2022. Blaski faces murder and other charges related to the fatal shooting of Clark and charges in the West 20th Street home-invasion robbery. He was also scheduled for trial this week, but his trial was continued and a new date has not been set. Grayson is scheduled for trial in November, according to court records. He faces charges related to the group's reported casing of Clark's residence before Clark was fatally shot, and charges related to the West 20th Street home-invasion robbery. Grayson and Blaski will testify against their three co-defendants, Lightner, the prosecutor, said in his opening statement. He said police also have fingerprints and DNA to link the three to the crimes. On Nov. 13, 2018, during a prayer vigil held for homicide victim Phillip Clark, Mary Paul, of the Sisters of Mercy, sprinkles holy water outside the West 29th Street residence where Clark, 44, was shot to death on Sept. 4, 2018. In light of all the other evidence, "You are going to see that their testimony makes sense," Lightner told the jury of Grayson and Blaski. For the defense, Blaski and Grayson represent the weak spots in the prosecution's case, lawyers for each of the three said in their opening statements. Bruce Sandmeyer, Dortch's lawyer, said Blaski can be expected to get a plea deal, and he said the case rests on the credibility of the cooperating witnesses, particularly Blaski. "Keep an open mind," Sandmeyer told the jury. Jason Nard, McCallum's lawyer, called Blaski "the mastermind" of the robberies and murders. He said McCallum called Blaski his "uncle" and that McCallum, Bridges and Dortch looked up to Blaski, who Nard said manipulated them. Blaski, Nard told the jury, is "a diabolical man." Keith Clelland, the lawyer for Bridges, characterized Blaski as a street-smart criminal who arranged the crimes and then turned into a cooperating witness. He called Blaski a "pied piper." "He led these boys down the primrose path," Clelland said. Echoing the other lawyers, Clelland told the jury that Blaski and Grayson could not be trusted. "This case comes down to two people who are called polluted sources," Clelland said. A long line of crimes, and a trail of evidence The testimony of Blaski and Grayson is expected to mirror what they said at the preliminary hearing, in April 2022. Blaski testified that members of the group would hang out in his apartment in 2018, smoking "weed" and talking about doing "stings," or robberies. He said they talked about robbing people who they knew were getting money by selling drugs, and they rode around and pointed out houses of people suspected of selling drugs and getting money. Isaiah was the target of one of those drives, Blaski said. He said on the day before Isaiah was killed, some members of the group broke into Isaiah's apartment and stole items including a rifle and clothing. He said he was then told that "D-Dot," which was a nickname for Dortch, went back to Isaiah's apartment the next day, robbed Isaiah and shot him when Isaiah pulled a gun on Dortch. Erie County Judge David Ridge is presiding over the trial of three defendants charged in two murders in Erie in 2018. In the killing of Clark, Blaski testified that he and others drove to Clark's West 29th Street residence and cased it the day before the shooting. The next day, he returned to the residence with Dortch, McCallum and Bridges but stayed outside because he knew Clark, Blaski testified. He said the others went in, and he learned afterward that McCallum shot Clark. Blaski also said the three laughed about the killing, according to the prosecution. In the West 20th Street home-invasion robbery, Blaski and Grayson testified at the hearing that they, Bridges and McCallum went to the residence after someone told them it would be an easy place to rob. Two people inside the house were tied up and an attempt was made to set the house on fire as the group stole marijuana and some coins, according to the testimony and information from police. Evidence that helped police crack the cases, according to testimony from detectives at the preliminary hearing, was a recovered gun that had been hidden in two plastic containers that Blaski and Grayson said were buried in a wooded area near the Tops supermarket on East 38th Street. The gun, which Grayson said he turned over to the police, matched shell casings recovered from the Clark homicide, according to police. On Thursday, in his opening statement for the prosecution, Lightner urged the jury to consider all the evidence, and not just the testimony of Grayson and Blaski, which he said was credible nonetheless. Lightner also asked the jury to focus on what he characterized as the depravity of the crimes that he said developed in Erie's underworld. "After murdering a naked, handicapped person," Lightner said, referring to the murder of Phillip Clark, "they were laughing." Contact Tim Hahn at thahn@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNhahn. Contact Ed Palattella at epalattella@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNpalattella. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Trial opens for 3 charged in 2018 homicides, other crimes in Erie A 39-year-old semi-truck driver is facing gun charges after a Tuesday road rage incident on Interstate 55 where shots were fired, Illinois state police said. Shortly before 1:40 p.m. Tuesday, troopers responded to shots fired on northbound I-55 near 1st Avenue. An investigation revealed a victims vehicle was shot by the driver of a semi-truck during a road rage incident, police said. The driver of the semi remained on the scene, and was identified as Jose Gonzalez of Chicago. Gonzalez was later charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm, according to an Illinois state police release. Thursday, Gonzalez appeared at a detention hearing where he was ordered released, the release said. After a mini-saga in the classified documents case against Donald Trump , both of the former presidents co-defendants have waived concerns that their attorneys have represented witnesses in the case. During Fridays hearing in Fort Pierce, Florida, Trumps personal aide Walt Nauta told federal Judge Aileen Cannon he had no concerns that his attorney, Stanley Woodward, has represented several witnesses in the case. I still choose Mr. Woodward as my lawyer, Nauta told the judge after she went through the potential conflicts in detail. Last week, Carlos De Oliveira, a maintenance worker at Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate, also waived potential conflict of interest concerns raised by prosecutors who noted that his attorney also represented witnesses in the case, too. Woodward and prosecutors with special counsel Jack Smith have gone back and forth in court filings and before Cannon over the potential conflicts. In court Friday, Woodward agreed that he would not cross-examine witnesses he has represented or is currently representing. One of those witnesses, Yuscil Taveras an IT director at Mar-a-Lago cut an agreement with prosecutors in exchange for his cooperation in the case after switching attorneys from Woodward. Prosecutors allege that De Oliveira asked Taveras whether security footage at the Florida property could be deleted and said that the boss wanted it deleted. Taveras, according to the superseding indictment in the case, told De Oliveira he didnt know how to delete the footage and didnt believe he had the right to do so. Nautas attorney has accused prosecutors of attempting to micromanage how he would handle any potential conflict of interest in the upcoming trial, currently scheduled for May 2024. During last weeks hearing, when both De Oliveira and Nauta were scheduled to address the potential conflicts, the hearing was derailed after prosecutors began raising arguments against Woodward that they hadnt previously put in writing to the court. Cannon had admonished prosecutors for frankly wasting the courts time before ending last weeks hearing and rescheduling Nauta to appear again Friday. Trumps attorneys in the case have continued to push for a delay in the trial until after the November 2024 election, but its unclear if these recent slight delays will ultimately help their cause or be a forgotten bit of courtroom drama. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Sidney Powell, an attorney who was a key figure in former President Donald Trump 's alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, pleaded guilty to six misdemeanor counts after reaching an agreement with prosecutors in Fulton County, Georgia. Powell appeared in the Superior Court of Fulton County in Atlanta on Thursday, where a prosecutor laid out the terms of the plea deal. In exchange for her pleading guilty, Powell was sentenced to six years on probation and must pay a $6,000 fine and $2,700 in restitution to the state of Georgia. Judge Scott McAfee, who is overseeing the case, signed off on the agreement at the hearing. Powell is also required to testify "truthfully against any and all co-defendants in this matter," McAfee said. A Nov. 19, 2020, photo shows Sidney Powell speaking during a press conference at the Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington, D.C. / Credit: MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images Powell was among the conservative lawyers who pushed baseless claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election, endorsing outlandish theories of foreign interference and ballot manipulation to try to reverse the results. She participated in a contentious meeting at the White House in December 2020, during which White House lawyers confronted her and lawyer Rudy Giuliani about their election claims. She and 18 others, including Trump, were charged by a grand jury in Fulton County in August. Powell initially faced seven charges and pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors agreed to dismiss the charges in the original indictment as part of the plea deal. The guilty plea comes shortly before Powell and Kenneth Chesebro, another co-defendant, were set to go on trial. Chesebro has pleaded not guilty, and jury selection for his trial will begin as scheduled on Friday. An attorney for Chesebro declined to comment on Powell's plea. Powell's guilty plea Court documents filed in Fulton County Superior Court showed Powell pleaded guilty to six counts of conspiracy to commit intentional interference with performance of election duties. All six counts were related to a scheme in which Powell coordinated with a data company, SullivanStrickler, to access election data from Coffee County, Georgia. "The purpose of the conspiracy was to use Misty Hampton's position to unlawfully access secure elections machines in Coffee County, Georgia," Assistant District Attorney Daysha Young explained at the hearing, referring to the elections director in the county who has also been charged. The objective was to "willfully tamper with electronic ballot markers and tabulating machines" and remove voting data from elections systems. Powell entered into a contract with SullivanStrickler to travel to Coffee County to obtain the data. Seated beside her attorney Thursday, Powell said she understood the terms of the plea agreement and admitted to the facts laid out by the prosecutor. Judge Scott McAfee presides as Sidney Powell pleads guilty to six misdemeanors on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, in Atlanta. / Credit: Superior Court of Fulton County via AP Powell is also barred from communicating with "co-defendants, witnesses and media until this case has been completely closed against all defendants." She is required to hand over documents to prosecutors and wrote an apology letter to Georgia citizens as part of the deal. When asked if anyone has forced, threatened or promised her anything in exchange for her guilty plea, Powell responded, "other than what is recited in the documents, no." Powell is the second defendant to plead guilty in the sprawling case. Scott Hall, a bail bondsman, became the first when he changed pleaded guilty to five misdemeanor counts at the end of September. He was sentenced to five years probation, a $5,000 fine and 200 hours of community service. Trump and the rest of the co-defendants have pleaded not guilty and denied all wrongdoing. What the plea could mean for the special counsel's case Powell's guilty plea in Georgia could have implications for her involvement in special counsel Jack Smith's federal case against Trump in Washington, D.C., according to Scott Fredericksen, a former federal prosecutor and independent counsel. He said Powell's plea may be "the single most important development" in either of the probes dealing with the aftermath of the 2020 election. Powell was identified by CBS News as likely being the unnamed and unindicted individual known as "Co-conspirator 3" in Trump's federal indictment, in which he was accused of engaging in alleged schemes to overturn Joe Biden's victory in 2020. "If she is cooperating with Willis, she should be available to be interviewed by Smith and testify," Fredericksen said. "She may insist on some kind of protection or immunity from Smith in Smith's case, but her ability to testify directly to what Trump may have said about the plans to overthrow the election could make her a critical witness." Trump has pleaded not guilty in that case as well, and says the four ongoing prosecutions against him are politically motivated. Melissa Quinn, Faris Tanyos and Graham Kates contributed to this report. Watch: Biden meets with Israeli first responders, families of terror attack victims What does Sidney Powell's guilty plea mean for Trump? Joran van der Sloot admitted to killing Natalee Holloway, judge says The federal judge overseeing Donald Trumps 2020 election interference case in Washington agreed Friday to temporarily lift her narrow gag order. The ruling gives Trumps lawyers time to prove why the former presidents comments should not be restricted as the case heads toward trial. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan said the gag order would remain on hold for now while she considers Trumps bid to speak freely about the case as he challenges the restrictions in higher courts. The gag order Chutkan issued Monday barred him from making public statements targeting prosecutors, court staff and potential witnesses. Its the most serious restriction a court has placed on Trumps inflammatory rhetoric, which has become a centerpiece of his grievance-filled campaign to return to the White House. Trump's lawyers, who quickly appealed the ruling to the D.C. Circuit Court, wrote in court papers Friday that the gag order should be lifted while his legal challenges play out, calling the restrictions egregious and intolerable. They argued neither the judge nor prosecutors have come close to justifying the order, adding that the former president has not unlawfully threatened or harassed anyone. By restricting President Trumps speech, the Gag Order eviscerates the rights of his audiences, including hundreds of millions of American citizens who the Court now forbids from listening to President Trumps thoughts on important issues, the defense wrote. Chutkan ordered special counsel Jack Smith's team to file by Wednesday any opposition to Trump's bid for a longer pause on the gag order pending appeal. In her Monday ruling, Chutkan said Trump is allowed to criticize the Justice Department generally and assert his claims of innocence and his claims that the case is politically motivated. But she said his statements smearing prosecutors and likely witnesses have crossed a line and could spur his supporters to threaten or harass his targets. At rallies and in social media posts, Trump has sought to vilify Smith and others, casting himself as the victim of a politicized justice system working to deny him another term. Trump has decried the order as unconstitutional, and has used it to amplify his claims that he is being politically persecuted. The former president has denied any wrongdoing in the case charging him with illegally scheming to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. Its the second gag order imposed on Trump in the last month. The judge overseeing Trumps civil fraud trial in New York earlier this month issued a more limited gag order prohibiting personal attacks against court personnel following a social media post from Trump that maligned the judges principal clerk. Trump was fined $5,000 on Friday after his disparaging post lingered on his campaign website for weeks after the judge ordered it deleted. Judge Arthur Engoron avoided holding Trump in contempt for now, but reserved the right to do so and possibly even put the ex-president in jail if he again violates the limited gag order. Trump's lawyers also filed court papers Friday in response to prosecutors' request for steps to protect the identity of prospective jurors. Prosecutors have said they are concerned about what Trump might do with research on possible jurors, pointing to his continued use of social media as a weapon of intimidation in court proceedings. Trump's lawyers wrote in their filing that the former president has no intention of publicizing the names or other information about jurors. They added that "Trump expressly objects to any suggestion that the jury faces any risk of harm due to their participation in President Trumps trial." Such comments, if placed before the jury, would be enormously prejudicial and would warrant an immediate mistrial, Trump's legal team wrote. ____ Richer reported from Boston. An attorney for Donald Trump has been forced to apologise to two female lawyers for his disrespectful behaviour in court during the former presidents high-profile civil fraud trial. Chris Kise was chastised by New York Superior Court Judge Arthur Engoron on Thursday, following a heated and partially audible exchange during a sidebar in proceedings. According to Law360, Mr Kise brushed off the judges principal law clerk Allison Greenfield, and questioned the intelligence of the attorney generals counsel Colleen Faherty. Sources familiar with the sidebar said Mr Kise told Ms Greenfield that he only wished to speak to the judge not her and said he wasnt surprised that Ms Faherty was not able to connect the dots on an issue they were discussing, Law360 reported. Such off-the-record sidebars usually take place out of earshot of other members of the courtroom, however Ms Faherty reportedly told Mr Kise to be more respectful loud enough for those inside the room to hear. No, Mr Kise responded, to which Ms Faherty replied: That was rude. Sources told Law360 that the judge later called the trio back to the bench and ordered Mr Kise to apologise to both Ms Faherty and Ms Greenfield. Trump in court at his civil fraud trial (Getty Images) Mr Trump was not in court on Thursday during the clash. The exchange and subsequent apology is the latest dramatic moment to take place during the civil fraud trial, where the former president and his associates are accused of fraudulently inflated the net worth and assets of his business empire for years. On Wednesday, an employee of New Yorks court system was arrested after she approached the front of the courtroom and called out that she would help Mr Trump. According to a statement from a New York courts spokesperson shared with The Independent, the unidentified woman began yelling out to Mr Trump indicating she wanted to assist him. She was removed from the room. MAGA attorney Sidney Powells guilty plea blindsided TrumpWorld on Thursday, raising concerns that she will testify against former President Donald Trump. Powell, who played a key role in Trumps post-2020 election legal battles and pushed a bizarre conspiracy theory alleging voting machines flipped votes from Trump to President Joe Biden in a plot involving deceased Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez and the Chinese government, pleaded guilty in Fulton County to six misdemeanors accusing her of conspiring to intentionally interfere with the performance of election duties. Powell agreed to serve six years of probation, pay a $6,000 fine, write a letter of apology to Georgia residents and testify truthfully against her co-defendants at future trials. "This caught TrumpWorld by surprise, as it did all of us, New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman told CNN on Thursday. "This was one of the best-kept secrets out of that DA's office in some time," she said. "They are trying to figure out what it means. Some TrumpWorld insiders have sought to downplay the threat posed by Powell, Haberman said, but there is concern about the degree to which Powell could offer information, not just about former President Trump, but about Rudy Giuliani. There's nobody in TrumpWorld who is pretending this is a good development, she added. They are split on what exactly it means." Trump and much of his inner circle never thought Powell would ever cooperate with prosecutors, Rolling Stone reported on Thursday. Crazy as she was, she really believed what she was pushing, a lawyer close to Trump told the outlet. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis team managed to break the woman who was never supposed to be breakable, added another source, who has known Trump and Powell for years. Some Trump legal and political advisers were looking to cast Powell as a fall guy in the election-related cases against him and hoped to shield the former president by pointing to the efforts of others, the outlet reported. Instead, Thursdays guilty plea stunned a number of Trumps top advisers and attorneys, who believed Powell was among the least likely to accept a plea deal, according to Rolling Stone. Experts told The Daily Beast there was a good reason prosecutors were willing to offer Powell a sweetheart deal. One thing to note is just how favorable this plea deal is for her. Shes been permitted to plead guilty to misdemeanors to get this good of a deal, she really has to know something, former Georgia federal prosecutor Amy Lee Copeland told the outlet. The fact that she was in a meeting at the White House, she can testify to what Trump said at that meeting. And we dont have a whole lot of people whove been willing to do that. Thats going to be pretty powerful for the DA, Copeland added. Shes someone who would bring out the absolute wildest in Trump. The things he probably said to her would be jaw dropping. To that extent, its red meat for the criminal trial, agreed former federal prosecutor Kevin J. OBrien. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. Trumps lead attorney in the case, meanwhile, sought to frame the guilty plea as beneficial for his client. Assuming truthful testimony in the Fulton County case, it will be favorable to my overall defense strategy, attorney Steve Sadow told the outlet without elaborating further. The guilty plea doesnt just spell trouble for Trump. Former Trump lawyer Giuliani is absolutely dead, OBrien told the Daily Beast. Not that he doesnt have enough troubles already, but this is the worst blow yet to him shes got to be trouble for Trump and double trouble for Giuliani, he said. The floodgates are going to start opening in the Georgia case and it really vindicates Willis approach to the case. Even if its a headache administratively, theyre going to have plenty of cooperating witnesses against the people left standing. Trump campaign legal adviser Kenneth Chesebro turned down a plea offer from the Fulton County, Georgia, district attorney's office in its 2020 election interference case, a source familiar with the matter confirmed Thursday. Chesebro, a lawyer who's charged with helping create a "strategy for disrupting and delaying the joint session of Congress on January 6, 2021," is scheduled to stand trial this week. He was initially to have been tried alongside former Trump lawyer Sidney Powell , but she unexpectedly entered a guilty plea Thursday morning. Under the scuttled deal, which was first reported by ABC News, Chesebro would have pleaded guilty to a single felony racketeering charge, agreed to testify against the other co-defendants in the case, including former President Donald Trump, and paid a $10,000 fine, in addition to writing a letter of apology. The deal was offered under Georgias First Offender Act. In return, he would have been sentenced to three years of probation and would have been eligible to expunge his record when it was completed, assuming he didnt violate any of the terms of his probation. An attorney for Chesebro and the district attorney's office both declined to comment. Jury selection is set to begin Friday. Nineteen people were charged in District Attorney Fani Willis' sprawling racketeering case alleging conspiracies to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. Powell pleaded guilty Thursday to misdemeanor counts and agreed to testify in related cases in return for a sentence of six years of probation. She was the second person to plead guilty in the case. Late last month, Scott Hall, who, like Powell, was facing charges related to a voting system breach in Georgias Coffee County in early 2021, became the first to plead guilty, admitting to five misdemeanor charges. Trump and the 16 other co-defendants have pleaded not guilty. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com By Jack Queen and Jasper Ward (Reuters) -A New York judge on Friday fined Donald Trump $5,000 for violating a gag order barring the former U.S. president from disparaging court staff during his civil fraud trial, warning that any future transgressions would bring "far more severe" sanctions including imprisonment. Justice Arthur Engoron said a Trump social media post attacking the judge's clerk - which was deleted from the former president's Truth Social platform - had remained visible on his 2024 campaign website two weeks after an order was issued to take it down. The judge noted that the gag order violation appeared inadvertent, but added, "Make no mistake: future violations, whether intentional or unintentional, will subject the violator to far more severe sanctions." Those sanctions, the judge said, could include steeper fines and possible imprisonment. Engoron is presiding over the trial on civil charges brought by New York state Attorney General Letitia James accusing Trump of unlawfully inflating his net worth to dupe lenders. Trump is the frontrunner for the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic President Joe Biden in next year's U.S. election, holding a commanding lead over his rivals despite mounting legal troubles and court-ordered restrictions on his public statements. Engoron imposed a limited gag order on Oct. 3 after Trump in a social media post shared a photo of the judge's top clerk posing with U.S. Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer, a critic of the former president, and called her the senator's "girlfriend." The judge in imposing the gag order said that comments directed at his staff were "unacceptable, inappropriate and will not be tolerated under any circumstances." Trump at times has appeared in person at the ongoing trial, attacking James and Engoron in inflammatory remarks to reporters outside of the courtroom. The lawsuit by James accused Trump of inflating the values of his properties by billions of dollars in statements to banks, reaping hundreds of millions of dollars in ill-gotten savings on loan interest. Trump is also accused of manipulating asset values to dupe insurers. Trump, who has sought to portray the case as intended to hurt him politically, has denied wrongdoing and defended his asset valuations. He has said banks conducted their own due diligence and profited on the loans. The trial, which began three weeks ago, has centered on reams of emails and financial documents detailing how Trump's companies valued their properties. Lawyers for the attorney general's office have sought to show that those valuations were arbitrarily inflated to satisfy Trump's desire for a high net worth. Trump's attorney have argued they were reasonable and based on his real estate expertise. Trump faces criminal charges in four other cases involving his efforts to undo his loss in the 2020 election, his handling of classified documents after leaving office and hush money paid to a porn star. Trump has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty in those cases. He also faces a January civil damages trial for defaming a writer who accused him of rape, which he denies. On Oct. 17, a federal judge in Washington overseeing a federal case accusing Trump of illegally attempting to overturn his 2020 defeat barred Trump from making public statements that "target" U.S. prosecutors, court staff and potential witnesses involved in the case. Trump is appealing that order. (Reporting by Jasper Ward and Jack Queen; editing by Will Dunham and Noeleen Walder) NEW YORK A state judge fined Donald Trump $5,000 Friday after finding that the former presidents campaign website continued to display a social media post attacking the judges law clerk in violation of a gag order imposed by the judge earlier this month. Justice Arthur Engoron also indicated that he would consider jailing Trump for future violations of the gag order. Engoron, who is overseeing a $250 million civil fraud trial against Trump and his business empire, issued the gag order on Oct. 3 after Trump used his Truth Social platform to attack Engorons principal law clerk. Trump quickly took down the post from Truth Social that day, but it remained on his campaign site until Thursday night. Engoron wrote in a two-page order that while Trumps lawyers had called the violation of the gag order inadvertent, the effect of the post on its subject is unmitigated by how or why it remained on Donald Trumps website for 17 days. In the current overheated climate, incendiary untruths can, and in some cases already have, led to serious physical harm, and worse, Engoron wrote. In stern terms, he warned Trump against further violating the order. Make no mistake: future violations, whether intentional or unintentional, will subject the violator to far more severe sanctions, which may include, but are not limited to, steeper financial penalties, holding Donald Trump in contempt of course, and possibly imprisoning him, Engoron wrote. The judges Oct. 3 gag order barred Trump from making comments about court staff after the former presidents Truth Social post, which included a picture of Engorons clerk, Allison Greenfield. The post claimed that Greenfield was running this case and was Schumers girlfriend. The post was also sent to Trumps campaign email list. Prior to issuing the gag order, the judge had ordered Trump off the record to remove the social media post, which he did. On Thursday night, however, the judge wrote, he learned that the post had remained on the website DonaldJTrump.com. It was removed Thursday night, the judge wrote, but only in response to an email from this Court. Though the fine amounts to a nominal fee for Trump, it is the first formal punishment he has received for violating a gag order, which he is under not only in the civil fraud case but also in a federal criminal case in Washington, D.C. There, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan barred Trump from attacking witnesses, prosecutors and court staff involved in the criminal case, saying that his presidential candidacy does not give him carte blanche to vilify public servants who are simply doing their job. Trump has appealed Chutkans gag order, and on Friday evening, Chutkan put the gag order temporarily on hold while she weighs Trumps request for a longer-term stay as the appeal proceeds. Former President Donald Trump was fined $5,000 by a New York judge on Friday for violating a gag order not to speak about any members of the court staff and was warned twice about possible imprisonment. Donald Trump has received ample warning from this Court as to the possible repercussions of violating the gag order. He specifically acknowledged that he understood and would abide by it, Judge Arthur Engoron said in his order Friday. Accordingly, issuing yet another warning is not longer appropriate; this Court is way behind the warning stage. On the second day of the trial, October 3, Engoron issued a partial gag order on all parties not to speak about any members of the court staff after Trump posted on Truth Social attacking Engorons clerk. The post claimed she was a girlfriend to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, showing a picture of the two of them together. The post was removed from Truth Social right after the gag order was issued, but it was not erased from Trumps campaign website, DonaldJTrump.com. In court, Engoron admonished the former presidents attorneys for a blatant violation of the gag order and suggested that violations could result in imprisonment. I learned that the subject post was never removed from the website, he said. And, in fact, had been on that website for the past 17 days. I understand that it was removed late last night but only in response to an email. Trump attorney Chris Kise apologized to Engoron, saying it was inadvertent that the post was able to live on what he called a back page of Trumps campaign website. It appears no one also took down the ICYMI link thats in the campaign website in the back pages, Kise said. Truly this appears to be inadvertent, Kise said, adding, I certainly apologize on behalf of my clients. Kise blamed it on the large machinery of the campaign and was assured the judge that Trump ordered the post removed. There was no intention to evade, or circumvent, or ignore the order, Kise added and explained nothing further has been posted on Trumps Truth Social website. Kise said he got confirmation Thursday night and Friday morning that the post had been taken down and said it appears to be an issue within the campaign. Its part of the process that is built into the campaign structure as I understand it. That all of this, in Truth posts, are wrapped up and sent out. Kise said. Engoron said, I will take this under advisement. I want to make clear that Donald Trump is still responsible for the large machine, even if it is a large machine. He added: In the current overheated climate incendiary untruths can and in some cases already has lead to serious physical harm and worse. In his order Friday, the judge repeated his warning in no uncertain terms: Make no mistake: future violations, whether intentional or unintentional, will subject the violator to far more severe sanctions, which may include, but are not limited to, steeper finanical penalties, holding Donald Trump in contempt of court, and possibly imprisoning him. Ivanka Trump attempts to quash subpoena Ivanka Trump is moving to quash a subpoena for her testimony saying she is beyond the courts jurisdiction since she is not a party to the case and has not been a New York resident for seven years, in a motion filed Thursday. The former presidents daughter was initially a defendant in the lawsuit, but earlier this year a New York appeals court dismissed her from the case after finding her alleged conduct fell outside the statute of limitations. Requiring Ms. Trump, a non-party, nondomiciliary, to appear at trial in New York and provide live testimony without any limitations is unreasonable. The NYAG plans to seek testimony from Ms. Trump on a vast, temporally unlimited, and undefined set of topics that the NYAG has failed to articulate, the motion reads. The NYAGs Subpoenas give no guidance as to what specific information they are seeking or why that information is sought, demand testimony well beyond the end of discovery that the NYAG could have previously obtained, and attempt to impose a heavy, unnecessary, and improper burden on Ms. Trump to fill apparent gaps in the NYAGs case, the motion also stated. A hearing has been scheduled for next Friday. This story has been updated with additional developments. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Former President Trump will hold a rally in Florida on the night of the third Republican presidential primary debate next month, his campaign announced Friday. While some of Trumps big-name rivals are debating in Miami on Nov. 8, the former president will hold a rally with supporters in Hialeah, located roughly 15 miles away. The rally will mark the third consecutive time Trump has sought to counterprogram the GOPs 2024 primary debates. Trump sat for an interview with ex-Fox News host Tucker Carlson that aired during the first debate in August, and he spoke to workers in Michigan during the second debate in September. He had previously indicated he would skip the third GOP primary debate, and his campaign has called for the Republican National Committee (RNC) to cancel all remaining debates and instead rally behind him in anticipation of the general election. Trump is leading comfortably in state and national polls of the GOP primary field, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley jockeying for second. An Emerson College poll released Friday showed Trump polling at 59 percent, with DeSantis and Haley tied for second place at 8 percent. So far, only Haley, DeSantis and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy have qualified for the third debate, which will be hosted by NBC News. Candidates must meet certain polling thresholds and have received donations from 70,000 individuals to qualify. A Bloomberg/Morning Consult poll released this week also showed Trump leading President Biden among voters in seven battleground states, despite Trump having been indicted in Washington, D.C., Georgia, New York and Florida on scores of criminal charges this year. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (Bloomberg) -- Prosecutors pursuing Donald Trump on Georgia racketeering charges secured a crucial guilty plea and cooperation agreement from Kenneth Chesebro, an attorney who may directly tie the former president to efforts to overturn the 2020 election by empaneling alternate slates of electors. Most Read from Bloomberg Chesebro on Friday became the third of the 19 defendants to plead guilty. But his courtroom admissions were the most detailed yet about Trumps actions after losing the 2020 election. With his plea, Chesebro can provide an inside account to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis about the plot to recruit electors to falsely certify Trump as the winner in several states that President Joe Biden had won, including Georgia. The plea also means Willis and Chesebro will avoid a five-month trial that was supposed to start on Monday. Instead, prosecutors can focus now on other defendants who may also choose to cooperate. Willis also wont have to risk losing a trial after a three-year investigation. This is extremely bad news for Donald Trump, said Gene Rossi, a former federal prosecutor. What better person to describe why the fake electors scheme was a complete fraud than the person who authored it? He may have information on meetings in which President Trump was informed that the scheme was a complete fraud. Thats devastating. A Harvard Law School graduate and prominent appellate lawyer, Chesebro entered his plea in the downtown Atlanta courthouse shortly after the jury selection process began for the racketeering trial against him. His admission followed Thursdays guilty plea by Sidney Powell , a prominent right-wing lawyer who was set to stand trial with Chesebro this month. Chesebro, 62, pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to file false documents, with prosecutors dismissing racketeering and other charges against him. He has already begun to debrief Williss prosecutors and had written an apology letter to the citizens of Georgia, as part of the terms of his plea deal, lawyers said in court. The pair of guilty pleas this week mean not only that the first trial is off, but also that two key figures in Trumps orbit in the months following the 2020 election are poised to cooperate with prosecutors and perhaps testify against him in a future trial. Both also avoided the most serious charge of racketeering, which carries a prison term of as many as 20 years. Trump has pleaded not guilty and vows to fight the case. Trump has repeatedly belittled and mocked Willis during her investigation. The plea is a significant victory for Willis, an elected Democrat who has pursued Trump for nearly three years, and a setback for the former president, who faces four criminal indictments in state and federal courts. Trumps lead attorney in Georgia, Steve Sadow, said the Chesebro plea was the apparent result of pressure by Fani Willis and her team and the prosecutions looming threat of prison time. A person familiar with the situation said that advisers to Trump werent concerned about Chesebros guilty plea because information about the attorneys postelection activities was already largely public and they believed it was helpful to Trumps case. A spokesperson for Trumps 2024 presidential campaign didnt immediately respond to requests for comment. Pressure on others The plea will presumably increase the pressure on other Trump insiders to plead guilty to avoid the hammer of a possible racketeering conviction. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee hasnt set trial dates yet for Trump and the other remaining 15 defendants, who include former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, and former senior US Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark. Under the deal, Chesebro must serve five years probation, pay $5,000 in restitution, and complete 100 hours of community service. Due to Georgias first-time offender law, hell be eligible to have the charge cleared from his record once he completes his sentence. Read More: Ex-Trump Ally Powell Pleads Guilty, Set to Cooperate Against Him Chesebro admitted that he conspired with Trump, Giuliani, attorney John Eastman and others in the electors scheme. One goal of the conspiracy, prosecutors said, was to use those fake certifications to convince members of Congress and, ultimately, then-Vice President Mike Pence to delay making Bidens victory official or to overturn the vote tallies altogether. Chesebro fought the Georgia case up until the eve of his guilty plea, arguing he did nothing illegal in advancing legal theories in supporting Trump. But McAfee refused to dismiss the charges, setting up a trial expected to last five months. Chesebro and Powell had moved for speedy trials under Georgia law, expediting the time frame for prosecutors to get their case ready for a jury and to hammer out any plea negotiations. Beside Chesebro and Powell, Georgia bail bondsman Scott Hall has also pleaded guilty. Chesebro and Powell are also unindicted co-conspirators in the federal indictment of Trump over his efforts to overturn the election. Its unclear if the plea deals in Georgia mean theyll cut deals or agree to cooperate with federal prosecutors under US Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith. (Updates with attorneys comment on guilty plea.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Donald Trump refused to take down a post attacking the law clerk of the judge overseeing his bank fraud trial in New Yorkblatantly violating the courts gag orderand lawyers on both sides have just been notified that hell is nigh. The New York Attorney Generals Office and the former presidents defense lawyers were told late Thursday that the issue will come up Friday morning in court, according to a source with knowledge of those discussions. At issue is the way that Trump, whos been visibly seething in court for weeks now over the prospect of losing his real estate empire, keeps ramping up his aggression toward Justice Arthur F. Engoron and his clerk, attorney Allison Greenfield. On just his second day of trial, Trump took an unprecedented move that would get any other defendant thrown into a cell: He targeted the judges own staff by spreading a lieand directing his MAGA battalion to her personal Instagram page. He posted the same note on his political website and his Truth Social network, sharing a MAGA-aligned Twitter users post asking, Why is Judge Engorons Principal Law Clerk, Allison R. Greenfield, palling around with Chuck Schumer? But Trump went further, linking to Greenfields social media photos and drawing the attention of his huge fan base against her. That very same day, the judgeclearly disturbed by the maneuverspoke in a solemn tone as he warned Trump to never do it again. He also ordered the real estate tycoon to take down the spiteful attack. Screaming Court Staffer Arrested, Trump Told to Simmer Down in Dramatic NY Trial While Trumps team immediately deleted the Truth Social post, they never bothered to take down the one on the former presidents website, DonaldJTrump.com. The court apparently didnt notice that until Ron Filipkowski at the liberal website MeidasTouch wrote about it on Thursday, sparking a notification to attorneys on both sides. A spokeswoman for the AGs office declined to provide a comment. Trumps lead attorney, Alina Habba, did not respond to a request for comment. The post was taken down late Thursday night. The webpage is now blank with a 404 error on display that reads, The page you were looking for does not exist. Engoron has already warned Trumps lawyers that failure to abide by his gag order will result in serious sanctions. Friday morning could be that showdown. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. There's a lot going on in the world and here at home at the moment so it's not surprising that Donald Trump and his legal problems aren't front and center in our political coverage. Trump himself is very upset by this, lamenting on Truth Social earlier this week that he's forced to appear at the courthouse in New York where his fraud trial is being held (he isn't) and complaining that nobody's paying attention to him, posting, "despite my being here, the talk is all about Biden getting ready to fly to the Middle East..." But even though nobody is paying close attention to all of his troubles at the moment, there is quite a bit of news on the Trump legal front and some of it may have some very unpleasant consequences for the former president. The fraud trial is not going particularly well for him with ex-Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg possibly having committed perjury on the stand which could mean his plea deal with the Manhattan District Attorney in the Trump Org case is in danger. Weisselberg went to jail for five months in that case but could easily see more time if that's proven. Legal filings by special prosecutor Jack Smith in both the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case and the January 6 case have been flying back and forth and none of them have been particularly helpful to Trump. Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is hearing the January 6 case issued a narrow gag order this week, saying First Amendment protections yield to the administration of justice and to the protection of witnesses. His presidential candidacy does not give him carte blanche to vilify public servants who are simply doing their job. Trump has promised to appeal, no doubt in the hopes of delaying the trial since simply complying with that order would actually be quite easy to do. The Mar-a-Lago case has turned out to be trickier than most observers expected after it drew the inexperienced Trump appointee (and Federalist Society guru Leonard Leo protege) Judge Aileen Cannon. It appears that she will be helping Trump to drag the case out for months by slow-walking her decisions at every turn. But at some point, he knows the law is coming for him in that case and it's a very strong one for the government. He's hanging his hopes on winning the presidency so he can shut the whole thing down on his very first day. The big news, however, was Thursday's guilty plea and cooperation agreement by former Trump campaign lawyer Sidney Powell in the Georgia RICO case just one day before she was scheduled to go on trial with co-defendant Kenneth Chesebro, another former Trump lawyer. Powell agreed to plead guilty on six misdemeanor counts relating to the Coffee County election machine tampering charges and to fully cooperate with the government as these cases go forward. Powell is the biggest fish to flip in any of these cases so far but it's unclear whether or not she will be solely testifying as a witness in that Coffee County case or if she is expected to tell what she knows about Trump and Giuliani and the rest of his indicted henchmen's activities leading up to the January 6 attempted coup. She certainly should have some stories to tell. And in fact, her involvement in that notorious White House meeting on December 18, 2022 when the discussions of seizing voting machines were brought up could even be related directly to Coffee County - and Donald Trump was signing off on all kinds of nefarious deeds that night, most of which did not come to fruition, thank God. According to reporting by Rolling Stone on Thursday night, the Trump team was very surprised at this news. Powell is the most MAGA of all the lawyers for "team crazy" and she was the truest of believers. One source told the magazine, [Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis and her team] managed to break the woman who was never supposed to be breakable." But perhaps she isn't as deluded as they thought. There have been numerous leaks for months now that Powell was likely to be thrown to the wolves: Before her plea agreement, some of Trumps legal and political counselors had been working to cast Powell as a fall guy in the election-related cases against him and hoped to shovel the criminal exposure and blame for the failed attempt to overturn the election on to her and others, in the hopes of shielding former President Trump They should be worried. As one former federal prosecutor told The Daily Beast, One thing to note is just how favorable this plea deal is for her. Shes been permitted to plead guilty to misdemeanors to get this good of a deal, she really has to know something." Her former co-defendant whose trial was set to begin today, Kenneth Chesebro, was reportedly offered a similar deal but refused. He's had a couple of setbacks as well this week which may make him rethink his strategy. On Wednesday, Judge Scott McAfee, ruled that some of the emails Chesebro wanted to protect as attorney-client privilege are actually admissible under the crime-fraud exception, which means they were used in furtherance of a crime under the crime-fraud exception. And to make matters worse, The NY Times got a look at some of Chesebro's emails and they are doozies. He wrote that the cases they were filing alleging fraud had little chance of success and admitted that the relevant analysis is political. He said that just getting it on file means that the Supreme Court will have ruled on it by January 6 or will have "appeared to dodge again" which would give Trump the argument that the courts "lacked the courage to fairly and timely consider the complaints, and justifying a political argument on Jan. 6 that none of the electoral votes from the states with regard to which the judicial process has failed should be counted. Even more damning, he wrote "I think the odds of action before Jan. 6 will become more favorable if the justices start to fear that there will be wild chaos on Jan. 6 unless they rule by then, either way." Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. It's pretty clear that he and his lawyer comrades were not just making legal arguments. They were engaged in plotting a coup which even included attempting to intimidate the US Supreme Court by suggesting that Trump's "will be wild" invitation was going to cause violence. It was clearly all of a piece with what Trump was tweeting and bleating through that whole period. While it appeared that Chesebro was prepared to take the fall for all that he, too, took a last-minute plea deal on Friday. The case against Kenneth Chesebro was all about Donald Trump even if his own trial hasn't started yet. The NY case is ongoing and it's driving him crazy, mostly because he can't stand having anyone question his net worth. And that's just the beginning. The saga of Trump on trial has begun. Republican congressmen voted by secret ballot to remove the candidacy of far-right Trump supporter Jim Jordan, who was running for speaker of the House of Representatives. Source: European Pravda, citing CNN Details: The decision to withdraw Jordan's candidacy was made after he failed to garner enough support in three rounds of voting for speaker of the lower house of Congress, instead losing votes with each new round. Note: Jim Jordan is one of the most active defenders of former US President Donald Trump and an opponent of increasing aid for Ukraine. This leaves the US House of Representatives without a speaker as the temporary funding for the US federal government ends in almost a month, and without the approval of budget legislation, the government faces a shutdown. An alternative option to the election of a permanent speaker in the case of an impasse in Congress is the temporary extension of the powers of the acting speaker, Patrick McHenry. This is not supported by either himself (fearing a precedent), nor a large part of the Republicans. Background: On 3 October, Kevin McCarthy resigned as speaker of the House of Representatives. This happened under pressure from the far-right wing of his Republican Party, where McCarthy was accused of working with Democrats under a "secret deal" to help Ukraine. The US House of Representatives cannot pass new laws, including aid to Ukraine, until a new speaker is elected. The US interim federal budget is intended to last only to mid-November, so Congress needs to address this issue to avoid a shutdown. Support UP or become our patron! By Tuvan Gumrukcu and Burcu Karakas ANKARA (Reuters) -Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Friday called on Israel to stop its attacks on Gaza, which he said amounted to genocide, and urged governments worldwide to work for a humanitarian ceasefire in the region. Turkey supports Palestinians, backs a two-state solution to the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and hosts members of militant group Hamas. It has offered to mediate and has sent humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip that is stuck in Egypt because borders are closed. While initially condemning civilian deaths and calling for restraint as it sought to repair ties with Israel after years of animosity, Ankara has toughened its stance against Israel as the fighting and humanitarian crisis in Gaza has intensified. "I repeat my call for the Israeli leadership to never expand the scope of its attacks on civilians and to immediately end its operations amounting to genocide," Erdogan said on X, formerly known as Twitter. He added Israel was provoking non-regional actors instead of turning back from its mistakes in Gaza, and said that the region needed saving from the "frenzy of madness" supported by Western powers and media. Erdogan also said Ankara was working to end the fighting before it reached "a point of no return". "It is clear that security cannot be achieved by massacring children, women, civilians; by bombing hospitals, schools, mosques, and churches," Erdogan said. "Cruelty does not bring prosperity." Later on Friday, Erdogan spoke to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi by phone to discuss the conflict and "the human rights violations committed by Israel against civilians", the Turkish presidency said. Erdogan's office said he told Sisi that "the savagery toward Palestinian lands was deepening, and that the silence of Western countries over the bombing of hospitals, schools, and places of worship was worsening the fire in Gaza." Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Friday criticized Wednesday's visit by U.S. President Joe Biden to Israel. "Of course, Biden coming there under these circumstances and being in a position, in a way, of approving the destruction in Gaza, is being noted by history," Fidan said. "For many, this is not a surprise, but it creates a perception that may cause many different outcomes for America." Turkish protesters staged anti-Israel demonstrations across the country this week after a blast that killed large numbers of Palestinians at a Gaza hospital. Israeli and Palestinian officials blamed each other for the explosion. Israeli diplomats, including its ambassador, have left Turkey after Israel issued a security warning. Ankara has also been in talks with Hamas to secure the release of civilians the group has taken prisoner, but Fidan was cited as saying on Wednesday that there "is nothing concrete" for now. (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu and Burcu Karakas; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Grant McCool) Turkey believes that the Black Sea Grain Initiative can be restored, and Anakara is working with all relevant players to achieve that result, Turkish Ambassador to Ukraine Yagmur Ahmet Guldere told Ukrinform on Oct. 19. "We believe that the grain deal can be revived... As you know, the initiative became a reality thanks to Turkey's cooperation with the UN, Ukraine, and Russia," the ambassador said in the interview. "Our communication with all these players is ongoing. We are also in contact with other parties who may play a role in restoring the agreement." The ambassador noted that certain concessions to Russia may have to be taken, such as reconnecting the Russian Agricultural Bank to the SWIFT payment system, in order to restore the grain deal. Russian President Vladimir Putin named reconnecting the Kremlin-owned bank to SWIFT as one of Russia's conditions for restarting the deal. Join our community Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Support Us "I don't think that this means a relaxation of the so-called sanctions regime," Guldere said. "By taking this step, we will move toward the restoration of the grain corridor, which will also be beneficial to Ukraine," he added, noting that reviving the deal is also important for the global food supply. The grain deal, first brokered by Turkey and the UN in July 2022, allowed Ukraine to export its grain even amid the ongoing full-scale Russian invasion. Moscow unilaterally terminated the deal in July 2023 and subsequently intensified its attacks against Ukraine's ports and agriculture infrastructure. Ukraine launched a new Black Sea corridor in August. While presenting it as a temporary route mainly for humanitarian purposes, several cargo ships carrying grain have sailed along the new corridor to and from Odesa ports. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. US President Joe Biden called this moment in history an "inflection point" in his address to the nation on Thursday, a battle between the world's democracies and autocracies. Source: CNN Details: Speaking directly to the American people, he said this was such a moment as he sought to drum up support for funding the wars in Ukraine and Israel. Biden compared this month's events in Israel to the nearly 20 months of war in Ukraine. The US president said that supporting both wars in Israel and Ukraine was "vital for America's national security". Biden explained that military assistance to Ukraine helps create jobs in America: "Let me be clear about something. We send Ukraine equipment sitting in our stockpiles. And when we use the money allocated by Congress, we use it to replenish our own stores, our own stockpiles, with new equipment. Equipment that defends America and is made in America." He warned his fellow citizens that US adversaries and competitors are "watching". Biden spoke out against Islamophobia and antisemitism, which have increased in recent days. He appealed to those affected by it: "And I want to say this to you: Youre all America. Youre all America." The US President recalled his recent trip to Israel, where he met with Israeli officials and reaffirmed his support for the country. He said that while there, he "saw a people who are strong, determined, resilient, and also angry, in shock and in deep, deep pain." He also reiterated his pledge to bring American hostages home to America, saying that "there is no higher priority for me than the safety of Americans held hostage." In addition, Biden reaffirmed his support for a two-state solution, saying that "Israel and Palestinians equally deserve to live in security, dignity and peace". The US president sought to draw a clear distinction between Hamas and the Palestinian people. He said that the militant group "does not represent the Palestinian people" and accused it of using Palestinians "as human shields". He said that he was "heartbroken by the tragic loss of Palestinian life" and added that the US "remains committed to the Palestinian people's right to dignity and to self-determination". Background: US President Joe Biden condemned the actions of Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin in a speech in the Oval Office on Thursday evening, saying that the attacks on Israel and the invasion of Ukraine have common motives. On Friday, US President Joe Biden will send an "urgent budget request" to Congress to help support Israel and Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! Palestinian militants on a captured Israeli vehicle Twenty-four Ukrainian citizens have been confirmed as dead after an attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Oct. 7, and three remain missing, according to reports in the Israeli media on Oct. 20 citing government sources. Thus far, Ukraine is the second most affected country by the number of citizens killed by Hamas. The US tops the poll at 32 dead with eight missing, with France coming third at 22 dead, four missing. Read also: Ukrainian woman killed by Israeli strike on Gaza War in Israel What is Known Large-scale hostilities in Israel began on Oct. 7. From the early morning, the Palestinian militant group Hamas repeatedly targeted the country with thousands of rockets and missiles. Armed Hamas militants then invaded southern Israel, killing people and taking hostages. In response to the Hamas attack, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords, striking the Gaza Strip. Read also: Seventy-nine more Ukrainians head home on fourth evacuation flight from Israel During the night of Oct. 8, Israel announced the restoration of control over the majority of the populated areas that had been penetrated by Palestinian militants. Israels Cabinet has declared a state of war for the first time since 1973. On Oct. 10, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that it had regained full control of the border with the Gaza Strip. The Hamas attack in Israel may have killed some 1,400 people. More than 3,400 people were reported dead in Gaza. Hamas accused Israel of striking the Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza, killing hundreds of people inside. The IDF said the hospital was destroyed the militants rocket. 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 Simon Calder, also known as The Man Who Pays His Way, has been writing about travel for The Independent since 1994. In his weekly opinion column, he explores a key travel issue and what it means for you. You may visit the flight deck now. Carefully I put down the glass of cognac, placed my cigar in the ashtray and followed the purser to the cockpit. Walking forward along the ridiculously cramped aircraft aisle, I was sure I detected mild contempt from many of my fellow passengers: they could tell this was a one-trip wonder. The captain, first officer and engineer greeted me impressively warmly, considering they had already welcomed a dozen other first-time passengers to their cramped flight deck during the supersonic flight. But what grabbed my attention was the sight of the sun rising in the west. Aesthetically, this was Concordes greatest trick. The evening departure from London Heathrow to New York JFK took off after dark. But with a cruising speed of 1,350mph the British Airways jet outpaced the earths rotation. Eleven miles above the planet, the sunset came to you. This was the 1980s, when the fastest way to transport financial documents and news film between the two most important cities in the world was as checked baggage on Concorde. Checked baggage needed a courier: a passenger actually sitting on board. Wisely the time-sensitive documents handler, which at the time was Securicor, realised there was no need to employ anyone and that it could earn a bit of cash by selling each courier slot for 150. This was a small price to pay for backpackers who wanted a taste of the supersonic life. One caveat: to avoid drawing attention to the courier, and risking the wrath of passengers whose tickets had cost 10 times as much, males who took the role were required to wear a suit and tie. The supersonic cabin was absurdly narrow. Elbow room was non-existent, but thankfully laptops had not caught on by the time Concorde flew off in search of the sunset for the final time. To take passengers minds off the tightness of the titanium tube, the six cabin crew served champagne and an elaborate dinner, followed by Sirs preferred form of tobacco (cigars were dished out like candy) and cognac, and a trip to the flight deck. Twenty years ago this week, the final supersonic commercial flight, BA2 from JFK, touched down at Heathrow. By then, smoking and cockpit visits were no longer part of the Concorde experience. And flying at twice the speed of sound was no longer sustainable. Banks and law firms trimmed their business travel budgets after 9/11, requiring executives to slum it subsonically in Club World. At the same time, the fuel bill for the thirstiest plane in the world ballooned: up more than 40 per cent in the two years to October 2003. Environmentally, the carbon footprint of the supersonic jet was off the scale. The fuel burn for Concorde was four times more than todays British Airways Airbus A350, which carries three times as many passengers. Twenty-first-century travellers are far more comfortable. And their conveyance will not disturb the peace of millions. You heard Concorde long before you saw her. The sonic boom, which stopped the jet flying supersonically over land, was only part of the ground-shaking noise nuisance. West London quaked at 10.20pm each evening from the noise made by the supersonic planes four military engines as she lined up for landing at Heathrow. As Concorde nostalgia ripples like a sonic boom across the media this week, remember the Anglo-French grand projet was the polar opposite of democratised, efficient travel. The planet was trashed daily for the benefit of the super-indulged few. Plus the odd imposter wearing a borrowed suit and tie. Read more: Timeline of the highs and lows of Concorde Hamas released two American hostages, Judith Tai Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natalie Raanan, on Friday nearly two weeks after launching a deadly attack in Israel and abducting around 200 people. The US citizens were handed over at the border with Gaza and are now in the care of the Israel Defense Forces, IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said on Friday. They are currently on their way to an Israeli military base to be reunited with family, according to the office for Israels prime minister. The Raanans are from Chicago and had been visiting relatives in Nahal Oz, a farming community in southern Israel, when they were taken hostage on October 7, according to their family. US President Joe Biden spoke to the pair following their release, telling them: Im glad youre out. In a video posted on social media, Natalie Ranaan thanked Biden for his services to Israel. Im just delighted were able to get you out. Weve been working on it a long time, the president told the Raanans in a phone call from the Oval office. I hope youre both not only feeling good, but in good health as well, Biden added. Judith Tai Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie Raanan. - Courtesy Saray Cohen During the attack, Hamas militants killed more than 1,400 people, including civilians and soldiers, according to Israeli authorities. It was the most deadly attack by militants in Israels 75-year history and revealed a staggering intelligence failure by the countrys security forces. Israel has since responded by enacting a blockade on Gaza and launching a barrage of airstrikes into the Palestinian enclave, deepening its humanitarian crisis. Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have killed more than 4,100 people, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The hostages released on Friday were handed over to the Red Cross, according to a source familiar with negotiations for their release. CNN has reached out to the Red Cross. They were released on humanitarian grounds because the mother is in poor health, the same source said. The release was the result of negotiations between Qatar and Hamas. In a statement, Hamas spokesperson Abu Obaida said: In response to Qatari efforts, Al-Qassam Brigades released two American citizens (a mother and her daughter) for humanitarian reasons, and to prove to the American people and the world that the claims made by Biden and his fascist administration are false and baseless. Qatar confirmed the release of the two American hostages and said they will continue dialogue with Israel and Hamas in hope of releasing all civilian hostages from every nationality, the spokesperson for Qatars Ministry of Foreign Affairs Majid Al-Ansari said in a statement. Uri Raanan, Natalies father and Judiths ex-husband, said on Friday he was tremendously relieved to hear of their release. I havent been sleeping for two weeks, Raanan told reporters outside his home near Chicago. Tonight Im going to sleep good. Next week is Natalies birthday, on the 24th, and were going to celebrate her birthday here in my home, he added. Im going to hug her and kiss her, and its going to be the best day of my life. And at the Evanston home of Rabbi Meir Hecht, whose synagogue Judith attends, his wife Yehudis Hecht lit two candles to usher in Shabbat and thank God for miracles and pray for continued miracles for all of Israel on Friday. Its been unreal. We love Judith, and obviously our hearts were turned upside down, broken, she said. We are beyond grateful and we pray that they have quick healing from all that theyve endured. Photographs of some of those taken hostage by Hamas are seen on October 18, 2023 in Tel Aviv, Israel. - Leon Neal/Getty Images The release of the two American hostages is hopefully the start of more to come, a diplomatic source with knowledge of the arrangements told CNN. The source indicated no exchanges were part of their release. The news came after Biden, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak flocked to Israel in recent days, amid growing pressure on world leaders to secure the release of the hostages. A number of foreign nationals were among those kidnapped by Hamas, including people from the US, Mexico, Brazil and Thailand. Information about the status, location and identity of all the hostages remains scarce. Some have been identified by families who recognize them from online videos, sparking desperate pleads for their return. In a statement on Friday, Hamas said it is working with mediators in Egypt, Qatar and other friendly countries to release foreign nationals. This commitment remains resolute as we endeavor to enact our decision to release individuals of foreign nationalities under temporary custody, as and when security circumstances permit, the statement said. Representatives of the hostages have welcomed the release of the two Americans. The families headquarters welcomes the release of hostages from Hamas captivity, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement to CNN. We call on world leaders and the international community to exert their full power in order to act for the release of all the hostages and missing. CNNs Kareem Khadder, Eyad Kourdi, Akanksha Sharma, Richard Greene, MJ Lee, Lianne Kolirin, Aileen Graef, Abeer Salman and Becky Anderson contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Fox News has independently confirmed that two American nationals held captive by Hamas have been released. A source with knowledge of the release confirmed to Fox News that the two American hostages, a mother and her daughter, were released "on humanitarian grounds" following Qatari mediation efforts. They were identified as Judith and Natalie Raanan, who originally were taken by Hamas from the Nahal Oz kibbutz in southern Israel near the Gaza Strip. "In response to Qatari efforts, Al-Qassam Brigades released two American citizens (a mother and her daughter) for humanitarian reasons, and to prove to the American people and the world that the claims made by Biden and his fascist administration are false and baseless," Al-Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu Obaida also said Friday. The Al-Qassam Brigades is the armed wing of Hamas. LIVE UPDATES: ISRAEL AT WAR WITH HAMAS Brigadier General Gal Hirsch seen with Judith and Natalie Raanan. A source tells Fox News the hostages are now in the care of the Red Cross. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP As of Friday morning, there were 11 Americans unaccounted for since Hamas launched its war against Israel on Oct. 7. Palestinian people carry out search and rescue operations as Israeli airstrikes continue in Gaza on Friday. The Israeli military said Thursday there are 203 Israeli hostages taken by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. President Biden, speaking Wednesday in Israel, said, "There's no higher priority than the release and safe return of all these hostages" captured by Hamas. "To those who are living in limbo, waiting desperately to learn the fate of a loved one, especially to families of the hostages you're not alone. We're working with partners throughout the region, pursuing every avenue to bring home those who are being held captive by Hamas," Biden said. Original article source: Two American hostages released from Gaza, Fox News is told SAN DIEGO Two threatened and endangered animals rescued by SeaWorld San Diego have been released back into the wild, animal officials said. An Olive Ridley Sea Turtle and Guadalupe Fur Seal were returned to their ocean homes this past week, located about 10 miles off the San Diego coastline, Tracy Spahr with SeaWorld San Diego said in a news release Thursday. On Oct. 19, 2022, the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle named Pumpkin was rescued at Horsefall Beach in Coos Bay by the Oregon Coast Aquarium. She was believed to be cold stunned, which is when sea turtles become very weak and inactive from exposure to cold temperatures, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries. Rescuers brought Pumpkins temperature up from 60 degrees to stabilize her. She was then taken from Oregon to SeaWorld San Diego on Nov. 3, 2022. During her time in San Diego, the SeaWorld rescue team was able to help her gain strength, swim on her own and get her to a healthy weight and activity level, Sphar said. City of San Diego increases distance parked cars must move every three days Prior to leaving SeaWorld Rescue Center she was diving on a regular basis, eating 600 grams of protein every day and maintained a healthy weight. Pumpkin was rescued at 24.5kg and was returned to the ocean at 34 kg, Sphar said. To avoid being cold stunned again, Pumpkin was released in warmer temperatures so she had the opportunity to swim to warmer waters. On April 18, 2023, a Guadalupe Fur Seal pup was rescued in Malibu by California Wildlife Center due to it being emaciated and lethargic, SeaWorld said. The fur seal weighed 6.1kg at the time. The pup was taken to SeaWorld, where it went through rehabilitation. The Guadalupe Fur Seal was returned with an orange plastic tag on its flipper as rehabilitated pinnipeds are marked in order to help the Stranding Network partners identify animals after they have been returned back to the wild, Sphar said. Both animals are among over 40,000 animals that SeaWorld has rescued, according to the organization. If a viewer spots a marine mammal in need, call SeaWorld San Diegos rescue hotline at 1-800-541-SEAL (7325) or email us using SWC.Rescue@seaworld.com. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. JERUSALEM Two U.S. hostages abducted by Hamas, both related to former Israel-based NBC correspondent Martin Fletcher, have been released. Judith Raanan and her daughter, Natalie, fell into the clutches of Hamas after the militants on Oct. 7 launched a surprise terror attack on Israel. They had been staying on a kibbutz called Nahal Oz, in southern Israel. Their release was announced Friday by the Israeli prime minister's office and confirmed by Fletcher a day after the former correspondent went public and said on MSNBC's The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle that two members of his wife's family were being held hostage by Hamas. Mother and daughter were greeted at the Gaza border by Israeli Brig. Gen. Gal Hirsch and taken to a military base deeper into Israel where they were reunited with worried relatives, Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Daniel Hagari said. About 5 p.m. ET, National Security Council Middle East Coordinator Brett McGurk said on NBC News Now that Natalie and Judith Raanan were being reunited with family as we speak. Uri Raanan, Natalie's father and Judith's ex-husband, told reporters Friday night in Bannockburn, Illinois, that their release had ended two weeks of sleeplessness and worry. He said he expects to see Natalie return home in time for her birthday on Oct. 24. "Tonight, I'm going to sleep good," Uri Raanan, 71, said. He said he spoke to Natalie for a minute or two in a call facilitated by the IDF. "She sounds good, she looks very good and she's very happy and she's waiting to come home," Uri Raanan said. Natalie did not talk about their treatment during their time in captivity, he said. Uri Raanan said he also spoke to President Joe Biden and Illinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker and thanked them for their efforts. Biden told him that he was working on securing the release of other American hostages. To the families of those captives, Uri Raanan said: "Just keep praying and hope for the best." McGurk said the Biden administration has been in touch with the families of other missing Americans. We made very clear that were doing all we can to secure their safety, too, he said. Judith Raanan and Natalie Shoshana Raanan with Israel Defense Forces on Oct. 20, 2023. (Government of Israel via NBC News) In an interview with NBC News earlier Friday, Fletcher said theres obviously a huge sigh of relief and at the same time concern that there are still so many hostages." The family rallied around them in an extraordinary manner, Fletcher added of his relatives, and the fact that its actually happened is a miracle. The unexpected development came on the same day that the Israeli prime minister's office reported that more than 200 Israelis were still being held captive and that at least 30 of them were under the age of 16. It was not immediately clear who was involved in securing the freedom of the two women, who live in the Chicago suburb of Evanston. But the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it got the hostages to the Israeli border. And Biden in his statement pointedly thanked "the government of Qatar and the government of Israel for their partnership in this work." "Our fellow citizens have endured a terrible ordeal these past 14 days, and I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been wracked with fear," Biden said. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he, too, was relieved by the news. After being held against their will for nearly two weeks, they are now safe and receiving necessary medical treatment, the governor said in a statement. I cannot wait to welcome them back home after demonstrating immense strength and bravery in the face of unthinkable terror. Judith and Natalie Raanan. (Uri Raanan / via Facebook) Hamas, in a statement, confirmed that "a woman and her daughter holding American citizenship were handed over today in Gaza, in cooperation with the sisterly State of Qatar." "We stress that we are working with all mediators to implement the movements decision to close the civilian file if appropriate security conditions are available," the Hamas statement said. The Israeli prime minister's office said in a statement it was working around the clock to free all the Hamas hostages. The Government of Israel, the IDF and the entire security system will continue to operate with the best of their abilities and efforts in order to locate all of the missing and return all of the abductees home," it said. Former CIA Chief of Staff Jeremy Bash told NBC News Now that the ex-hostages are likely to be questioned about what happened to them by Shin Bet, Israel's internal security service. "This is going to be very actionable intelligence," he said. In an earlier interview with NBC News Lester Holt, Natalie Raanans aunt said they were at the kibbutz to celebrate her mothers 85th birthday and staying in a guest house when Hamas attacked. They were texting us because the orders were that no one should speak, Saray Cohen said. They should stay quiet so the Hamas will not hear them and try to take them hostage." But the Hamas gunmen found them in the secure room that theyd fled to from the guest house. So the last text was from Natalie 12:18 noon on Saturday, saying that theyre hearing shooting out of their apartment, Cohen said. And she said that the other room out of the security room was bombed. Shes hearing shooting. We love you all. But we are OK. Earlier this week, NBC News reported that Hamas had expressed a willingness to release women and children it holds captive. But Hamas also acknowledged that it did not have custody of all the hostages, some of whom were taken captive by Palestinian Islamic Jihad, another militant group based in Gaza, or by what a former U.S. official briefed on the matter called "random Gaza citizen opportunists." In Chicago, a friend of Judith Raanan, Chavah Rochel Golden, was overjoyed. Baruch Hashem!" said Golden, using the Hebrew expression for Blessed be God. Ive been picturing her and wondering where she is, where shes sitting, where shes sleeping, what she and her daughter are talking about," she said. Richard Engel and Josh Lederman reported from Israel, and Tom Winter and Corky Siemaszko from New York. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Several students at a Boston high school became ill after ingesting edibles on Friday, with two of the students requiring further medical attention. According to Head of School Sidney Brown, multiple students at Madison Park Technical Vocational High School reported feeling sick after eating cannabis-infused edibles. Staff say they immediately notified Boston Public Schools Safety Services, police, and the families of the students involved. Although the total number of students who ingested the drugs is unknown, two students were transported to a local hospital for further evaluation. An investigation remains ongoing and a letter was sent home to parents detailing the incident. The health and well-being of all students and staff are our top priorities at Madison Park Technical Vocational High School and all Boston Public Schools, Brown wrote. The BPS Division of Student Support will work closely with Madison Park Technical Vocational High School to ensure substance abuse counselors support our school next week. School officials are also urging parents to talk with their children about drugs, substance abuse, and other illegal paraphernalia. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW (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 Dozens of Canadian diplomats left India after New Delhi threatened to revoke their immunity in an unreasonable and escalatory violation of international law, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said, as ties between the US allies remain tense. Canada relocated 41 staff from its embassy and consulates in the South Asian country, leaving 21 behind, Joly said Thursday in Ottawa. Its the latest development in a diplomatic row that erupted last month when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there was credible evidence Indias government helped orchestrate the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil. The developments infuriated Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi s government, which called the allegation absurd and retaliated with several measures including a suspension of visas for Canadians. Joly said New Delhi conveyed its plans to strip diplomatic immunity from the envoys by Friday, putting their personal safety at risk a decision Canada wouldnt reciprocate with Indian diplomats. Immunities allow diplomats to do their work without fear of reprisal or arrest from the country, Joly said. If we allow the norm of diplomatic immunity to be broken, no diplomats anywhere on the planet would be safe. The Ministry of External Affairs in India didnt respond to a request for comment. India requested Ottawa to reduce its diplomatic presence and make it equal to the number of Indians who have diplomatic immunity in Canada. The Canadian government hoped to negotiate a different outcome: Joly said earlier this month that in moments of tension, having diplomats on the ground was more important than ever. The diplomatic spat has put the US in an awkward position. Washington spent years courting Modi as part of an Indo-Pacific strategy to halt Chinas economic and military expansion. But the US also shares close ties with Canada, a Group of Seven country and a member of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance. A top Canadian navy official said this week theres no sign the diplomatic standoff has affected military-to-military cooperation. The Commander of Canadian Fleet Pacific, Commodore David Mazur, said he held friendly meetings with Indian officials on the sidelines of a maritime conference in Sri Lanka last week. Less Service Joly said on Thursday that unilaterally removing immunity is a violation of the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations. With fewer diplomatic staff, there will be less service from Canadas offices in India and slower processing times for its visa and immigration. Joly said Canada must pause all in-person services at its consulates in Chandigarh, Mumbai and Bangalore, but those who need consular assistance can still reach out by email or phone or visit the embassy in New Delhi. India was the top source of permanent residents, temporary foreign workers and international students in Canada last year. Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Canada would continue to welcome Indian immigrants, but the reduced number of staff would mean slower processing of visa applications, at least in the short to medium term. In a background briefing with reporters, a Canadian government official said the immigration and visa program would be severely curtailed. The reduction in staff would mean a backlog of 17,500 application decisions through the end of December, though its hoped processing will return to normal by early 2024, another official said. They spoke on condition they not be identified by name. (Updates with write through, context) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. The US Army looks poised to send its only two Iron Dome batteries two Israel to help bolster its defenses. The Pentagon is reportedly planning to send its only two full Iron Dome air defense systems to Israel which the U.S. Army originally purchased from that country to bolster Israeli air defense amid the ongoing conflict with Hamas. Multiple news outlets reported this possibility yesterday , citing anonymous U.S. and Israeli officials, and a U.S. congressional aid. According to Reuters , officials from the Department of Defense informed members of Congress on Wednesday that it planned to lease the two Iron Dome systems back to Israel. Citing an unnamed congressional aid, the outlet further indicates that said transfer could come within a matter of days. At present, Israel has at least 10 Iron Dome batteries in operation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2\u0026v=TfoIZ5RbyEw\u0026embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedrive.com%2F\u0026source_ve_path=Mjg2NjIsMjM4NTE\u0026feature=emb_title Israel's Iron Dome air defense system, which the country first declared operational in 2011, has principally been used to counter rockets, mortar rounds, and artillery shells. The system has also demonstrated capabilities against cruise missiles and drones. A typical complete Iron Done system comprises multiple launch units, each of which is able to hold up to 20 Tamir interceptors at a time manufactured by the Israeli company Rafael along with radars to locate and track targets. In addition, Iron Dome systems also consist of a battle management and control unit. A general overview of the Tamir interceptor used in the Iron Dome system. Rafael Although it has not been reported where the U.S. Iron Dome systems would come from, it is assumed these are the two owned by the U.S. Army. Earlier this month, members of the U.S. Senate sent an open letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin calling for the service's pair of Iron Dome systems to be sent to Israel, and noted "that [they] have not been deployed and have no operational use inside the United States where they are currently stored." A graphic showing the basic breaking of components found in each of the US Army's two Iron Dome batteries. US Army The Army first announced its intentions to acquire Iron Dome to meet interim cruise missile defense requirements in August 2018 . The service purchased the two systems from Israel in 2019 , which were then delivered in late 2020 and early 2021. One was subsequently temporarily deployed to Guam to assess how the system might be used to deter China in the Indo-Pacific region. One of the US Army's palletized Iron Dome launchers loaded onto a truck. U.S. Army The Army ultimately decided not to procure any additional Iron Dome systems, in part because of issues networking them together with its other air and missile defenses. It is now in the process of acquiring a domestically-developed system called Enduring Shield that is similar in general form and function to Iron Dome, but uses the AIM-9X Sidewinder as its effector. Separately, the U.S. Marine Corps is currently looking to procure three batteries worth of service-specific Iron Dome systems, including 44 launchers and 1,840 Tamir interceptors in a purchase order that could cost as much as $200 million. The Marine Corps has been working towards acquiring a service-specific Iron Dome system, which it refers to as the Medium Range Intercept Capability (MRIC), since 2020. At present , the Marine Corps intends to assign an Iron Dome battery to each of the three Marine Littoral Regiments (MLR) that it is establishing. The U.S. government invested heavily in the original development of the Iron Dome system and has continued to support the program through funding co-production and sustainment. U.S. defense contractor Raytheon now operates a joint venture company with Rafael in the United States that produces Tamir components of interceptors, which are then assembled in Israel. This is in addition to Rafael's own domestic capacity to produce Tamirs. Between Fiscal Years 2011 and 2021, after it was declared operational, the United States contributed $1.6 billion to that country's air defense system. American authorities budgeted just over $1 billion in Fiscal Year 2022 in additional funding for Israel related to Iron Dome and another $80 million in Fiscal Year 2023, according to the Congressional Research Service (CRS). Israeli Iron Dome defense system, May 2021. Israeli Defense Force That the U.S. could be on the verge of sending Israel Iron Dome batteries was neither confirmed nor denied by President Biden during his Oval Office address last night, ahead of his submission of an expansive $100 billion military aid package to Congress today which includes aid for Israel. During his speech, the President promised to "make sure Iron Dome continues to guard the skies over Israel." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1ukaC9cSKQ Up to this point, the Biden administration has repeated its commitment to furnishing the country with Iron Dome interceptors specifically. From as early as October 10 , President Biden pledged to expedite the transfer of Tamir interceptors, the first of which arrived in Israel on October 12 . During his short visit to Israel on October 18, the President committed to keeping Israel's existing Iron Dome systems "fully supplied" with interceptors. https://twitter.com/CBSNews/status/1714657967235043488?s=20 Speaking at a press conference on October 19, U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon's top spokesman, confirmed to reporters that the Tamir interceptors being delivered to Israel are drawn from left-over Army stocks. Ryder noted that the U.S. military has stocks of those interceptors stored domestically, as well as in Israel. While Iron Dome has already been demonstrated in combat extensively, mass rocket attacks by Hamas during the ongoing conflict have proven difficult to counter. Iron Dome is not a perfect system, and, as The War Zone has indicated previously , it has the potential to be overwhelmed by large volumes of incoming rockets. Back in May of 2021, for example, Palestinian militants fired more than 1,050 rockets at Israeli cities from the Gaza Strip in a period of less than two days. Despite the Israeli Defense Force being able to knock hundreds of those rockets out of the sky, the events underscored the limitations of Iron Dome, particularly when pitted against huge swathes of rockets. The Israeli Iron Dome missile defense system (L) intercepts rockets (R) fired by the Hamas movement towards southern Israel from Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip as seen in the sky above the Gaza Strip overnight on May 14, 2021. Photo by ANAS BABA/AFP via Getty Images In the context of the current crisis, additional Iron Dome batteries would be even more highly prized in Israel if the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah were to enter the war on a large scale. Hezbollah has a massive arsenal of rockets, as well as missiles and drones, as The War Zone has explored in depth previously . If the conflict were to widen, Israeli Iron Dome batteries would likely suffer attrition as they would be top targets, as well. Israel's existing air defense batteries cannot be everywhere at once, either. Yesterday's events , for example which saw USS Carney shooting down a trio of land-attack cruise missiles and drones launched by Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen illustrate how Israel faces potential incoming threats from multiple vectors, beyond Gaza and Lebanon . If the U.S. does end up transferring Iron Dome batteries, which the Army currently has just sitting in storage, to Israel, it would give that country more air defense capacity both in terms of total batteries and interceptors to counter mass rocket attacks launched from different locations. Well keep our eyes peeled for if, and when, the U.S.'s Iron Dome batteries are transferred to Israel. Contact the author: oliver@thewarzone.com A joint delegation of U.S. lawmakers and a senior adviser in the Biden administration voiced their commitment to secure funding to replace the 88-year-old Bourne and Sagamore bridges during a roundtable discussion on Friday at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy with Cape and Island regional officials and state legislators. The meeting comes two months after Gov. Maura Healeys administration filed a competitive grant application for $1.4 billion to be used for the bridge replacement project, a second-try effort after the federal government rejected a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers grant application in January. Speaking to reporters and officials at the meeting, senior adviser to the President and White House Infrastructure Coordinator Mitch Landrieu said the rate of successfully securing money for large infrastructure projects is low, but the successful applications have wide-ranging collaboration and support from local and state officials an element missing in the first round of applications. Mitch Landrieu, special adviser to the president, right, answers a reporter's question about bridge funding at Massachusetts Maritime Academy which hosted a meeting of federal, state and local officials to talk about construction of the new canal bridges. He was joined at the head of the table by Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren. When there is state participation, local participation and federal participation there is a better chance of success than for projects that are not scoped appropriately and are not ready to go, the former New Orleans mayor said. Landrieu, who could not comment specifically on the open U.S. Department of Transportation grant application, said there are 45,000 bridges in the country in some form of disrepair. But he said the Cape bridges are high on the list in terms of being vital regional infrastructure. One lane open in each direction on Friday on the Bourne Bridge as construction continues. There are many, but they're not as many that, again, are in the realm of really important ones, and, of course, these fall into that (category), he said, referring to the canal bridges. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren said in the meeting replacement of the bridges is critical for public safety, just as much as economic development and transportation infrastructure upgrades. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, holds up a copy of a bridge construction report as she is joined by Sen. Ed Markey, left, and Mitch Landrieu at Massachusetts Maritime Academy which hosted a meeting Friday of federal, state and local officials to talk about construction of the new canal bridges. Landrieu is a special adviser to President Biden. These problems are getting worse. The bridges are slowing down responses to emergency services and preventing seniors from getting to doctor's appointments, Warren said. They are leaving residents vulnerable to climate-driven catastrophes, and their dire state threatens the entire tourist industry on the Cape, a major driver of the entire commonwealth economy. Lingering on the horizon, though not a total certainty, is the possibility of major rehabilitation for the Canal bridges, which U.S. Rep. Bill Keating said would cause a significant disruption to both the replacement project and the lives of commuters and residents alike. The timeline for major rehabilitation is fast approaching, Keating said. You saw today, the impact of closing two of the four lanes of the Bourne Bridge. But under major rehabilitation, the Bourne Bridge would be completely closed for five months and lane closures would likely continue for 16 months. Mitch Landrieu, special adviser to the president, answers a reporter's question about bridge funding at Massachusetts Maritime Academy which hosted a meeting on Friday of federal, state and local officials to talk about construction of the new canal bridges. Massachusetts Maritime Academy president Fran McDonald, back to camera, greets Mitch Landrieu and Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren as they arrive Friday at the Buzzards Bay campus which hosted a meeting of federal, state and local officials to talk about construction of the new canal bridges. At a meeting in September, Massachusetts Department of Transportation project manager Bryan Cordeiro said major rehabilitation would interfere with financing the replacement project. But mandatory major rehabilitation for the Bourne Bridge would only occur if a bridge inspection by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers deemed major infrastructure rehabilitation necessary. Keating said it is ultimately the federal government's responsibility to replace the Bourne and Sagamore bridges. We also recognize that every lane closure, every minute stuck in traffic, is a reminder of the failure of the federal government to replace these bridges, Keating said. Mitch Landrieu, special adviser to the president, left, joins Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey as they listen to US Rep. Bill Keating speak remotely via Zoom at Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzards Bay. The academy hosted a meeting of federal, state and local officials to talk about construction of the new canal bridges. Construction of the Cape Cod Canal more than100 years ago made the Cape into an island, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey said in the meeting, marking the beginning of the bridges utility and importance to the region. Now that the bridges are nearing the end of their lives, Markey said the Cape is at another crossroad. Far from being a welcoming gateway to the Cape today, the bridges are a choke point for traffic and the Cape's future, Markey said. There's only so many times you can put lipstick on a pig before the pig will not even get you to the Market Basket. Walker Armstrong reports on all things Cape and Islands, primarily focusing on transportation and the Joint Base Cape Cod military base. Contact him at WArmstrong@capecodonline.com. Follow him on Twitter:@jd__walker. This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Roundtable in Bourne on Canal bridges feature U.S. lawmakers The United Nations on Thursday called for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire of the Israel-Hamas war to allow for aid to reach Palestinians in Gaza. Gazas humanitarian crisis arose from the Israel-Hamas war that broke out earlier this month. On Oct. 7, Hamas a militant group located in Gaza launched a massive attack on Israel. In retaliation, Israel sieged and launched airstrikes at the blockaded territory, which took a toll on the 2.4 million Palestinians in Gaza. The Israeli missiles badly damaged Gaza roads, and the people of Gaza were without shipments of food, water, medicine and other essentials for nearly two weeks. On Tuesday, at least 500 Palestinians were killed in a deadly blast at Gaza Citys al-Ahli hospital, which neither Israel nor Gaza have taken credit for. Israel has continued to launch airstrikes at Gaza as of Thursday. During a press conference in Egypt, U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for the cease-fire in order to ensure that aid can be safely delivered and distributed to Gaza. Disease is spreading. Supplies are dwindling. People are dying, he said. Civilians in Gaza desperately need core services and supplies and for that we need rapid, unimpeded humanitarian access. Israel said that it would not block the delivery of food, water and medicine into Gaza. Earlier this week, a U.S. based humanitarian organization delivered 47,000 hot meals to Palestinians in Gaza, according to NPR. Dr. Richard Brennan, the World Health Organizations (WHO) Regional Emergency Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, told CNN that the deal the U.S. struck with Israel and Egypt to provide aid to Gaza is a start, but that there will be challenges to the aid operation, such as the damaged roads and infrastructure. Guterres said that El Arish airport and the Rafah Crossing located on the border of Egypt and the Gaza Strip are the lifelines to the people of Gaza. Egypt sent work crews to Gaza on Thursday to repair the roads to ensure aid can pass through the crossing, according to NBC News. The WHO, in partnership with the Egypt and Palestine Red Crescent societies, have trucks loaded and ready to go to deliver aid and supplies to Gaza once the border crossing opens, which could happen on Friday. The Israel-Hamas war has become the deadliest of the five Gaza wars, with more than 4,000 dead on both sides. More than a million were displaced as they fled their homes ahead of Israels invasion that was intended to eliminate Hamas. Since the start of the war, thousands have been injured, including civilians and journalists, and dozens are being held captive. Guterres called on Israel to allow immediate unrestricted access of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, as well as Hamas to release the hostages. The Palestinian people have legitimate and deep grievances after 56 years of occupation. But, as serious as those grievances are, they cannot justify terror attacks, he said. And as appalling as those attacks have been, they cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people. Both of my humanitarian appeals are essential in and of themselves. Related... By Aidan Lewis RAFAH, Egypt (Reuters) -U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres used a visit to Egypt's crossing with the Gaza Strip on Friday to make an emotional appeal for aid trucks to move into the besieged enclave, days after the U.S. raised hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough. Standing at the Rafah Crossing in the Sinai Peninsula, where more than 200 aid trucks are waiting and much more relief is stockpiled, Guterres described the delay in delivering food, water, medicines and fuel to those in need as heartbreaking. "These trucks are not just trucks - they are a lifeline, they are the difference between life and death to many people in Gaza," he said, as hundreds of people including truck drivers and aid volunteers chanted pro-Palestinian slogans and waved banners around him. "To see them stuck here makes me very clear - what we need is to make them move, to make them move to the other side of this wall, to make them move as quickly as possible and as many as possible." Rafah has remained shut since shortly after Israel began its bombing of Gaza in retaliation for a deadly assault by the Hamas militant group on Oct. 7, and wrangling over conditions for delivering the aid has prevented its reopening. Conditions include Israeli demands for a mechanism to inspect the aid, while Western states have been pushing to evacuate foreign passport holders from Gaza. Guterres, dressed in a dark suit under the desert sun, called for a swift system of verification of the aid shipments. "We are now actively engaging with all the parties, actively engaging with Egypt, with Israel, with the U.S., in order to make sure that we are able to clarify those conditions, that we are able to limit those restrictions," he said. Following a trip to Israel on Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden said agreement had been reached for 20 aid trucks to cross through Rafah. On Friday, he said he believed those first trucks would pass through within 48 hours. That would only be a fraction of what is required. Before the outbreak of conflict, an average of about 450 aid trucks were arriving there daily. U.N. officials say at least 100 trucks daily are needed to cover urgent needs and that any aid operation must be sustainable at scale. Most of Gaza's 2.3 million people depend on humanitarian aid. The coastal enclave has been under a blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt since Hamas took control of it in 2007. "Talking about 20 trucks only is a Zionist-American attempt to throw dust in the eyes, and is misleading to the public opinion about resolving the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza," Hamas said in a statement. In Geneva, Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said Gaza was in dire need of water, food, fuel and medical supplies. DAMAGED ROADS Rafah is the only crossing with Gaza for goods and people that does not border Israel. Roads at the crossing and leading into Gaza are being repaired after being hit by bombardments in the past two weeks. During previous conflicts, aid had been delivered to Gaza during humanitarian pauses through the Kerem Shalom crossing, which is controlled by Israel. But Israel has said it will allow no aid to enter from its territory until Hamas releases the hostages it took during its Oct. 7 attack, and that aid can enter through Egypt as long as it does not end up in the hands of Hamas. Guterres said humanitarian access should never be made into a "bargaining chip", and should be treated separately to the evacuation of foreigners and release of hostages. Egypt said it was not responsible for the closure of the crossing, blaming it on Israel. Cairo has also spoken out against any mass displacement of Gazans into Sinai, reflecting Arab fears that Palestinians could again flee or be forced from their homes en masse, as they were during the war surrounding Israel's creation. A further concern for Cairo is security in northeastern Sinai, where it faced an Islamist insurgency a decade ago, and by the risk of any spillover from Gaza. About 1,400 Israelis were killed in the initial Hamas assault, the bloodiest single day in the state's 75-year history. At least 3,800 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli strikes. Most of the dead on both sides were civilians. (Additional reporting by Nidal Al-Mughrabi in Gaza; Editing by Michael Georgy, Angus MacSwan, Alex Richardson and Jonathan Oatis) By Boldizsar Gyori BUDAPEST (Reuters) - The United States is concerned about Hungary's relationship with Russia, and finds Prime Minister Viktor Orban's decision to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin "troubling", the U.S. Embassy in Budapest said on Friday. Orban held a bilateral meeting with Putin on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing. He is the only EU leader to attend the forum or to maintain close ties with Putin since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. "The United States is concerned about Hungarys relationship with Russia," U.S. Ambassador to Hungary David Pressman said in a statement. Earlier this week, Pressman said in a post on X: "Hungary's leader chooses to stand with a man whose forces are responsible for crimes against humanity in Ukraine, and alone among our Allies." Hungary, which is also a NATO member, has opposed many EU initiatives to support Ukraine in resisting Moscow's forces and gets most of its crude oil and gas from Russia. Orban told Putin during their meeting in Beijing that Hungary never wanted to oppose Russia and was trying to salvage bilateral contacts. Following Orban's meeting, the ambassadors of NATO countries and of Sweden who are based in Budapest gathered to discuss their concerns about Hungary's growing rapprochement with Moscow, Radio Free Europe reported. Orban's chief political aide Balazs Orban rejected the U.S. criticism in a post on X earlier this week, saying Hungary was "fed up" with the U.S. ambassador's "hypocrisy". Relations between Budapest and Washington have soured in the past year because of Hungary's foot-dragging over the ratification of Sweden's NATO accession. (This story has been corrected to delete an erroneous reference to Orban being the first EU leader to meet Putin since the Ukraine invasion in paragraph 2) (Reporting by Boldizsar Gyori, Editing by Alan Charlish and Gareth Jones) In the Middle East this week, world leaders have tensely debated who bears responsibility for the mounting destruction that could claim countless more lives. Im referring not (at least exclusively) to the escalating war between Israel and Hamas, but a meeting in Aswan, Egypt. Some 700 miles from the Gaza border, United Nations negotiators have been wrestling over how best to finance the rebuilding of countries where lives and livelihoods are being destroyed by the climate crisisand the United States is playing a familiarly troubling role. For about as long as the U.N. has discussed climate change, the U.S.the worlds largest historical emitter of greenhouse gaseshas sought to evade questions about nations historical responsibility for the crisis. Thats because those questions have tended to have dollar signs attached; as poorer and more climate-vulnerable countries have long argued, the richer countries that are more responsible for the problem ought to pay more to address it. After years of haggling, the text of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, or UNFCCC, codified a diplomatic consensus in 1992: In view of the different contributions to global environmental degradation, States have common but differentiated responsibilities. Those words have been argued over ever since, particularly on the issue of loss and damage, which refers to the cost of recovering from climate-fueled destruction (whether it be extreme weather events like hurricanes or longer-term degradation by, say, sea level rise). Countries in the global south have pushed to establish a dedicated loss and damage fund, similar to those that already exist for climate mitigation and adaptation. Year after year, the U.S. has fought those proposals, fearing it could be on the hook for an ordinate amount of cash. Many were surprised, then, whenduring the eleventh hour of last years climate talks in Egyptthe U.S. dropped its long-standing opposition to a dedicated fund and agreed to have the U.N. start the process of establishing one. Members of an internationally representative Transitional Committee tasked with doing that have spent the last year parsing the details of what the fund might look like. Their goal has been to produce a recommendation to bring to COP28, the annual conference of parties to the UNFCCC, which begins at the end of next month in Dubai. Having granted an initial concession, the U.S. is now digging in its heels. In the final hours of negotiations this week, the U.S. continued to insist that the fund be housed within the World Bank. Developing countries have pushed for it instead to be constituted as an independent body like the already established Global Climate Fund, which is housed within the UNFCCC. The U.S. just happens to be the largest shareholder in the World Bank, where overall decision-making power is determined by financial contribution. The Global Climate Fund is governed by a 24-person board, composed of an equal number of representatives from developing and developed countries. As part of a long-standing gentlemans agreement, the U.S. is allowed to pick the head of the World Bank, while the European Union selects the head of the International Monetary Fund. The World Banks climate finance has also been delivered primarily as loans, which threaten to add to the enormous debt burdens facing many climate-vulnerable countries. The U.S. really wants this to be in the World Bank because the U.S. will have more control, Brandon Wu, director of policy and campaigns at ActionAid USA, who also heads the groups international climate justice work, told me over the phone from Egypt. The U.S. has outsized influence in the World Bank. The U.S. does not like the Global Climate Fund because it is democratically governed and the U.S. cant control what happens to the money once it goes in there. As Cuban diplomat and G77+ China group co-chair Pedro Luis Pedroso Cuesta put it, We know the history. We know the politics. We know the manipulation. As of yesterday, negotiations looked to be approaching a stand-off over the question of where a fund would be housed. As of Friday evening Egypt time, negotiations seemed headed for overtime, past when many delegates flights are scheduled to leave. If the Transitional Committee cant agree on a recommendation this week, the process will get kicked down the road, either to COP28 or to a separate meeting before then. While Australia and the EU have both supported the idea of putting the fund in the World Bank, neither had been as obstinate as the U.S. on that point, Wu says. It feels like we are designing a fund that fits into the World Bank, not a fund for loss and damage, said Diann Black-Layne, Antigua and Barbudas ambassador for climate change. If the World Bank is an option that is not negotiable, then stop negotiating. We dont need to talk about that here for developed countries to go to Washington and form the fund. (The World Bank headquarters is in Washington, D.C.) Wu says he was surprised how little the ongoing war in Israel-Palestine has seeped into negotiations, largely technical talks attended mostly by career negotiators. The other background to this weeks discussions, though, is just how little money the U.S. and other rich countries have actually put toward climate finance. At the urging of thenSecretary of State Hillary Clinton, wealthy nations in 2009 pledged to, by 2020, raise $100 billion per year to help poorer countries adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change. That year came and went, and that commitmentwhich falls well short of actual needs, which are projected to reach between $300 and $700 billion per year by 2030 for loss and damage aloneremains unfulfilled. This week, the White House is sending an emergency security package to Congress that would provide $106 billion to arm Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan, and further militarize the U.S.-Mexico border. That, President Biden urged in a rare Oval Office address Thursday night, will help us build a world that is safer, more peaceful, and more prosperous for our children and grandchildren. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told Sky News earlier this week that the U.S. could absolutely afford to support the war efforts of both Ukraine and Israel simultaneously. America can certainly afford to stand with Israel and to support Israels military needs, and we also can and must support Ukraine in its struggle against Russia, she said. Thats not exactly new information: The $3.8 billion of military aid that the U.S. furnishes to Israel each year well outpaces Americas initial $3 billion commitment to the Global Climate Fund. So far, it has given just $2 billion. The administration has struck a very different tone on climate finance. There is not enough money in any country in the world to actually solve this problem, U.S. climate envoy John Kerry told reporters during last years U.N. climate talks in Egypt. Were not going to get that kind of money out of any country, he argued in a separate interview that fall with Bill McKibben. I was convinced, and I remain convinced, no government is going to solve this problem, Kerry told an international finance conference in Washington the year before that. The cognitive dissonance is unbelievable, Wu added. The fact that we can spend billions of dollars on war machines and we have to fight tooth and nail for every few million dollars for climate finance is just an insult. Itd be nice if one of those wars that we were fighting was a war on climate change. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a request on Friday from Missouri to allow officials to enforce a state law declaring certain federal gun laws invalid if they dont have a state-level equivalent. The Supreme Courts order denying the request comes after U.S. District Court Judge Brian Wimes in March found the law unconstitutional as part of a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Department of Justice challenging the law, which it argues has disrupted cooperation between federal officials and Missouri law enforcement. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, a Republican appointed to office by Gov. Mike Parson in January and seeking election next year, had wanted Missouri to be allowed to implement the law, known as H.B. 85, while an appeals court considers whether to uphold Wimes decision. The order denying the request doesnt say how the justices voted, but notes that Justice Clarence Thomas would have sided with Missouri. Justices Neil Gorsuch and Samuel Alito issued a brief statement supporting the decision to deny the request, explaining the injunction only affects Missouri officials, not others who arent part of the lawsuit. With the understanding that the district court prohibited only implementation and enforcement of H. B. 85 by the State of Missouri and its officers, agents, and employees and any others in active concert with such individuals, I agree with the denial of the application for a stay under the present circumstances, Gorsuch wrote in a statement joined by Alito. The Supreme Courts refusal on Friday to wade into the fight over the Missouri law, called the Second Amendment Preservation Act, isnt the final word on the law. Baileys appeal of Wimes decision remains pending in front of the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Its possible the Supreme Court could eventually take up the case at a later date after a ruling from the appeals court. In his March decision, Wimes wrote that the law exposes citizens to greater harm by interfering with the Federal Governments ability to enforce lawfully enacted firearms regulations designed by Congress for the purpose of protecting citizens within the limits of the Constitution. Bailey made his request to the Supreme Court in early October. In its filing, the Missouri Attorney Generals Office said that in March, Wimes had agreed to administratively stay his injunction on the law until the Eighth Circuit ruled on a motion for a stay pending appeal. That ruling came on Sept. 29, with the appeals court denying the stay meaning that despite the judges decision, the law had been in effect until just a few weeks ago. A spokesperson for Bailey did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday. Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo, an Independence Democrat, in a statement to The Star criticized Republican lawmakers for passing the law over the objections of police officers. Since Day One, Democrats have said this law was unconstitutional, and I am glad the Supreme Court has stopped Republicans from enforcing it, the statement said in part. This dangerous law is another example of Republicans inability to govern. Social media case The Supreme Court on Friday also issued a ruling in favor of the Biden administration in a separate Missouri case, temporarily blocking an order from the lower courts that prevented the White House from communicating with social media companies about online misinformation. Justices Alito, Thomas and Gorsuch dissented. Both of the rulings are setbacks for Bailey, who is seeking a full term in 2024. The social media case, originally filed by Sen. Eric Schmitt when he served as attorney general, argues that the Biden administration violated the constitutional right to free speech when it urged social media to take down certain posts that questioned the administrations COVID-19 policies -- often shared by conservative media personalities. The Supreme Court will likely hear the case in the spring, bypassing further decisions from lower courts on the issue, which asks the courts to determine if the federal government asking social media companies to censor posts violates the first amendment right to free speech. The author of this article is anonymous for reasons of safety. GAZA CITYAn American teenager has told The Daily Beast that his younger sister was killed by an airstrike in Gaza. The family says Joud Abedalazeez Abushaban, 14, died on Wednesday, after they went back home to Gaza City after several days waiting near the closed Rafah border crossing where they were trying to escape the country. Her brother, Yousof Abedalazeez Abushaban, who was born in Michigan, was also injured by the blast. Upon returning to Gaza for a brief respiteafter about six daysand preparing to head back to Rafah, a neighboring house was struck by a bomb, he told The Daily Beast. I lost my sister in the strike and I suffered injuries from flying shrapnel, leaving me with a severe laceration on my hand. The Rafah crossing into Egypt has been closed since Israeli airstrikes targeted the area soon after the deadly Hamas incursion into Israel on Oct. 7. Yousof is the only member of the family with an American passport after he was born in the U.S. in 2005, while his father was working in the Midwest. The family has been pleading with U.S. officials to help all of them leave the Gaza Strip where Israel has dropped thousands of bombs in the days since Hamas massacred more than 1400 people. Abedalazeez Abu Shaban, their father who is blind, called on the international community to stop the bombing. Joud is just a childwhy did they killed her? Why didnt they warn the building so we could save her and evacuate the house? The Israeli army is criminal and it keeps killing our children in cold blood, he told The Daily Beast. I only wish to demand from the world that they protect my family. A U.S. State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast: Out of respect for the family during this difficult time, we have nothing further to share. Yousof, who was being treated at Shifaa hospital in Gaza City, said the conditions in the south of the Gaza Strip where Israel has told civilians to seek shelter from the bombing were terrible. Airstrikes have also continued in the supposedly safe zones. I've ventured to the border crossing four times since the war began, enduring the perilous journey from Gaza. I found myself reluctantly seeking refuge in UNRWA schools ill-equipped to accommodate the displaced, where 1500 refugees are forced to share the same bathroom, he said. Hundreds of Families Rushed to Hide at Hospital Just Before Blast, Say Survivors Yousof is one of an estimated 600-700 U.S. citizens trapped in the Gaza Strip who are expected to be allowed out under any deal to reopen the Rafah crossing. Among them is a family who had gathered in Gaza for a dream wedding. Its turned into a nightmare. Members of this American family who have lived all over the worldfrom California to Turkeycame together in Gaza to celebrate the marriage of Zahwa Shaath, 26, who was looking forward to a traditional Palestinian wedding. The ceremony has been canceled and the wedding dresses abandoned as the family tried to flee from the bombing. I left without taking any of the wedding clothes. I left three large suitcases containing new clothes, perfumes, and makeup, which are part of our traditional bridal outfits. I only left with the clothes I was wearing, Zahwa told The Daily Beast. My husband came from Turkey for the first time in five years to the Gaza Strip to complete the marriage ceremony between family and friends, then we were to return to Turkey to settle there where he works in his own private company, but the closure of the crossing left us stranded without a present or future. Ruaa, 9, and Adel, 4, the grandkids of Adel Al-Qadoumi. Handout Zahwas younger sister Zeina explained that the family had been getting ready for the wedding for ages: We spent months preparing wedding dresses for my mother and me, and now we have left everything behind in the hope of reaching the crossing. If she is allowed out through the Rafah crossing, Zeina hopes to reach the United States to stay with her uncle. We want to get out of Gaza and start a new and safe life, she said. The father of the bride, Saeed Shaath, 64, is a Californian who says he has become a representative of Americans in Gaza over the years. He moved to the Gaza Strip about 25 years ago, after living and working in the United States for decades. I represent the American community in Gaza, and I see that there are many American facilities for the evacuation of American-Israeli citizens during this war, while it cannot do anything to evacuate Palestinian American citizens in the Gaza Strip, he told The Daily Beast. There are more than 700 American citizens stranded in the Gaza Strip. All of these families went to the Rafah crossing, but the crossing was bombed and closed, and until now we are still in the city of Rafah waiting for the crossing to open. For those seeking shelter near the border crossing, Shaath said conditions continue to worsen as Israel enforces a blockade and shuts off electricity. The makeshift refugee shelters like the The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) schools and hospital compounds are overcrowded and lacking in basic facilities including water, while he says Rafahs city center is rapidly running out of food and clothing while prices are increasing for the few provisions that are left. We fear for the coming days. How long will the crossings remain closed? Everything will run out and it will turn into famine, he said. Every Option for Israel in Gaza Is Bad The Egyptian authorities have stipulated that aid to Gaza must be allowed through the Rafah crossing before any facilitation of the exit of dual nationals from Gaza. They also required Israeli approval of a humanitarian truce for several hours before the entry of any nationals. A State Department spokesperson said: The armed conflict between Israel and Hamas is ongoing, making identifying departure options for U.S. citizens complex. The U.S. government is making every effort to persuade responsible parties to open the Rafah crossing. Ismail Abu Shaaban, 54, an American citizen who used to work in Houston, has abandoned his house in West Gaza in search of shelter from the bombing with his four daughters, two of whom are at school and two at university. I cant believe that the U.S. government couldnt pressure Israel to allow evacuating 700 American individuals who need only one hour of operational work at the crossing? Our administration supports Israel with billions of dollars. How come it cant pressure them for a humanitarian corridor? Ismail Abu Shaaban with two sons, Ibraheem, 13, and Husam Eldin, 16. Handout Not every American citizen is trying to get out. Adel Al-Qadoumi, 62, says he will stay to continue his work for an organization that provides aid to refugees and those impacted by war in Gaza even though he is concerned for the health of his family, including his grandkids, Ruaa and Adel (pictured). Even as humanitarian worker we cant move in Gaza and north Gaza for fear of being bombed, he told The Daily Beast. We have aid in the stores but cant go to distribute it to refugees in UNRWA schools. Al-Qadoumi criticized President Joe Bidens recent visit to Israel where he supported the Israeli government. Biden is a liar. He is using the money of American citizens to support Israeli crimes, he could use this money to support the peace process. He is supporting the cleansing against Palestinians, he said. He said conditions would get worse and worse if the Israeli blockade continues: People here will die either of thirst, diseases that will spread among refugees, or of hunger due to lack of food and poverty. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. The autoworkers union will not expand its strike against Ford, General Motors (GM) and Stellantis, United Auto Workers (UAW) union President Shawn Fain said during a live stream on Friday. Over the past 24 hours, two of the Big Three automakers made new offers to the autoworkers union as its strike stretches into its fifth week, United Auto Workers (UAW) union President Shawn Fain said during remarks. This week, we saw the companies trying to get in line with one another. Now we need to move that line across all three, Fain said. The union has a 23 percent wage hike on the table, up from 9 percent when negotiations started, and said it had made progress in work-life balance, cost of living adjustments and retirement benefits. But the two sides dont seem any closer to a deal. Top Stories from The Hill While Fain said there had been significant progress in negotiations with General Motors (GM) and Stellantis, he ripped into Ford and its CEO Bill Ford, who urged striking autoworkers to end their strike and unite against competitors like Toyota, Honda and Tesla in live-streamed remarks on Monday. I want to be crystal clear on one thing: The days of the UAW and Ford being a team to fight other companies are over, Fain said. The UAW launched a targeted strike that started with one facility per automaker after both sides failed to reach a new agreement before the previous contract expired on Sept. 14. The strike has since grown to include nearly 34,000 union workers. This isnt just about one industry or one workplace, its about the whole working class finally standing up to corporate greed, Fain said. There is more to be won. 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 Business and Economy newsletter Two weeks ago, Fain opted not to expand strikes after GM agreed to include electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing in its union agreement, a major win for autoworkers worried about how the shift to electric vehicles will impact their industry. Last Friday, Fain announced the union was prepared at any time to expand its strike as opposed to waiting for regularly scheduled Friday updates. Dozens of senators introduced a resolution Thursday calling on the Big Three to negotiate in good faith with the union and offer a fair contract for workers. Several members of Congress and President Biden have traveled to the picket line to lend their support. Fain reiterated his support for other members of the UAW family on strike. Striking Mack Truck workers in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida represented by the United Auto Workers (UAW) union also went on strike earlier this month. Their demands include higher wages, retirement benefits and cost of living adjustments. Around 36 percent of U.S. adults sympathize with the striking autoworkers, while just 9 percent sympathize with the auto giants, according to an Associated Press-NORC poll released last Thursday. The remaining respondents were split nearly evenly between being sympathetic to both sides and neither side, 26 and 27 percent respectively. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Russia's loss of several combat helicopters as a result of a Ukrainian ATACMS strike on an airfield in occupied Berdiansk will likely negatively affect Russian defensive and offensive operations on this axis, the U.K. Defense Ministry reported on Oct. 20. "Given that Russian fixed-wing close air support to date has been extremely poor, Russian defensive lines have become increasingly reliant on rotary-wing support in the face of the Ukrainian offensive," the ministry explained. Ukrainian forces used U.S.-supplied Army Tactical Missiles Systems (ATACMS) for the first time on Oct. 17 to strike Russian military airfields in occupied Berdiansk in Zaporizhzhia Oblast and Luhansk. According to the U.K. Defense Ministry, the strikes possibly damaged nine Russian military helicopters in Berdiansk and five more in Luhansk, but the extent of damage is still unconfirmed. Ukraine's Special Operations Forces earlier said that a total of nine helicopters were damaged in the attacks, as well as an air defense system, an ammunition warehouse, the airfields' runways, and "special equipment" stored at the premises. Read also: Kuleba: ATACMS deliveries to increase, optimistic that F-16s will arrive beginning of 2024 If confirmed, the loss of any aircraft will be hard to replace in the short to medium term, considering the current load on the Russian military production, the ministry wrote in its latest intelligence update. "This loss will also likely create additional pressure on Russia's pilots and air frames, already almost certainly suffering combat exhaustion and maintenance issues due to the unanticipated protracted campaign." The strikes will potentially force Russia to once again move operational bases and control points further from the front line, which will increase the load on logistics chains, concluded the update. Ukraine continues its offensive operations in the direction of Berdiansk, which has been under occupation since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. According to the U.K. Defense Ministry, Russia uses the city "as a primary Forward Operating Base on the southern axis providing both logistics and offensive/defensive capabilities." Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Flag of the United Kingdom Jointly with its partners, the UK has decided to allocate GBP 127 million ($154 million) to aid Ukraine in preparing its energy infrastructure for the coming winter and expected Russian air strike campaign, the senior military advisor to UKs OSCE delegation, Nicholas Aucott, said in a speech at an OSCE meeting on Oct. 18. Last week, London also announced another $121 million aid package, designed to help Ukraine in demining and protecting critical infrastructure against further Russian attacks. Read also: After the war, Ukraine to offer global system for protecting energy facilities during combat, says UkrEnergo Aucott added that the UK is working with Ukraine on grain exports and will continue to support the nation until Russia withdraws its troops from Ukrainian territory. Read also: Ukraine could face brief blackouts this winter energy minister On Oct. 11, UK Defense Minister Grant Shapps announced a new military aid package for Ukraine, including the MSI-DS Terrahawk Paladin a platform capable of tracking and destroying UAVs, along with other military equipment. Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that this winter Russia will most likely try to repeat its campaign of air strikes targeting Ukraines power grid and generation facilities on a massive scale. 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 Afghans eligible for sanctuary in Britain but trapped in Pakistan and Iran will be scrambled to the UK as soon as possible after diplomats warned they could not be kept safe. In a U-turn of government policy, ministers have pledged that all Afghans eligible for the UKs resettlement schemes will no longer have to wait for accommodation to be confirmed before coming to Britain. The Independent first revealed in April this year that Afghans promised safety in Britain after serving alongside coalition forces in Kabul were in limbo in Pakistan hotels after the UK stopped chartering flights and demanded refugees find their own housing in the UK before travelling. Nearly 3,000 are currently in Islamabad, having been stranded there for months. Hundreds are also trapped in Iran waiting for relocation to the UK. Rishi Sunaks government has now been forced to change tack after Pakistan authorities issued an ultimatum, warning that undocumented Afghans must leave the country by 1 November or risk deportation. Mr Sunak along with the home secretary, defence secretary and foreign secretary was facing multiple legal challenges from Afghans stuck in Pakistan and Iran over the governments failure to relocate them, despite them being promised safe haven in the UK. The government had also been explicitly warned by UK diplomats that the Afghan refugees in both countries could not be protected from arrests and deportation, it emerged today. US marines during the Kabul evacuation in Afghanistan in August 2021 (AP) The cases of two Afghan claimants stuck in Pakistan and awaiting relocation were heard at the High Court on Friday. Referring to the Ministry of Defence and Home Offices Afghan resettlement schemes, Lisa Giovannetti KC, on behalf of the government, said: Ministers have agreed a change to government policy. To allow Arap cases and ACRS, those eligible under those schemes to be resettled to the UK without a prior requirement for settled accommodation. She said the government would continue the resettlement of Afghans on the Ministry of Defences scheme into suitable accommodation as a primary option as quickly as possible, adding: But if transitional accommodation is required, this will be provided, including hotel accommodation if necessary. Pakistan announced a crackdown on the 1.7 million Afghan asylum seekers in the country without legal documents, saying they have just days to leave the country. The UK government is trying to transfer eligible Afghans as quickly as possible but has not set out a strict timetable, saying negotiations are ongoing with the Pakistani authorities. The Independent revealed that police raided one of the UK-funded hotels in Islamabad last month and arrested a number of Afghans whose visas had run out. They were only released after an intervention by the British High Commission (BHC). Those on the MoDs scheme have been matched with armed forces homes in the UK since the beginning of October. Ms Giovannetti explained that the government would try to move everyone to the UK as soon as possible but that the Foreign Office was negotiating with Pakistans government to speed this up. There has so far been a limit on the number of Afghans who can fly on commercial flights and notice needs to be given for RAF charter flights, she told the court. Some Afghan families also do not have the right documentation to get exit visas, which could delay their transfer. It comes after risk assessments from the BHC in Islamabad, which the government tried to keep secret, were revealed after an appeal by The Independent and the Press Association. They show that, while BHC staff are engaging intensively with the Pakistani authorities at senior level to ensure that the Afghans on UK resettlement scheme are not affected by the impending crackdown, they will be unable to ensure that all of the families are protected after the 1 November deadline. Referring to the possibility of arrest, the document reads: It is very difficult to judge we would be successful in every case if it were to happen frequently beyond 1 November and we were not informed, or the eligible person didnt have the documents with them. It noted that it would be a challenge for the Pakistan government to process the number of people who need to leave, and warned: For practical and logistical reasons a number of foreign missions are likely to find it challenging to complete relocations processes by the end of this year. BHC staff also warned of an increase in tensions between different communities in Pakistan after 1 November. Diplomats at the British embassy in Tehran told the government in a separate risk assessment that the overall situation for Afghan refugees in Iran has taken a significant downturn since September 2023, coinciding with the Pakistani announcement on illegal migrants. They continued: Anti-Afghan sentiment has increased markedly nationwide, and the clamour to expel Afghans has brought a surge in arrests by undercover police, and raids on houses of Afghan migrants possibly as a deterrent to curb the flow of new arrivals. Because of this, the risk of deportation for some of our cases might well have increased along with this trend. They noted that official sources indicated that 224,000 Afghans were deported between March and August 2023, an approximate 15 per cent increase compared with 2022. Daniel Carey, a partner at law firm Deighton Pierce Glynn, who brought the first case against the government, said: I am very pleased for my clients and the thousands of others in their position that the government has lifted the block on relocations to the UK. It has taken a huge amount of pressure over many months from the press; from organisations; and through the courts to force this change in government policy. Ukraine is "the first country in history" to investigate the mass destruction of the environment, also known as ecocide, as a war crime, Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin said at a press conference on Oct. 20. Ukraine is working together with international partners to help train Ukrainian law enforcement agencies to investigate ecocide, Kostin said. The goal is "to create a mechanism and standards for bringing to justice those who would have the desire to commit the same crimes in another part of the world," according to Kostin. By purposefully destroying the environment, Russia "is trying to destroy the future life of Ukrainians." Ecocide is therefore "a crime against Ukraine as a state and our future," Kostin said. Read also: Russia is covering Ukraine with landmines. Clearing them will be extremely difficult The Prosecutor General's Office reported in June that Ukraine is investigating over 200 war crimes against the environment and 15 cases of ecocide. One of the most serious cases is the destruction of the Kahkova hydroelectric plant on June 6, which caused massive floods in Ukraine's south and a large-scale humanitarian and environmental crisis. This included pollution of water and soil, death of animal and plant life, and drying of the Kakhovka Reservoir. Another key issue is mines and unexploded ordinance left behind by Russian troops, which has rendered almost a third of Ukrainian land unsafe. Around 250 people have been killed so far by mines in Ukraine, and more than 500 have been injured, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Oct. 9. Another six million are likely threatened. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Kyiv Pechersk Lavra National Reserve employees unpack returned cultural property in Kyiv Monastery National Conservation Area, Ukraine, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. Ukraine returned 14 archaeological items allegedly stolen by a Russian man and apprehended at a U.S. airport during an attempted illegal artifact importation. (AP Photo/Alex Babenko) KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Ukraine has recovered 14 archaeological items allegedly stolen by a Russian man who was stopped at a U.S. airport on suspicion of illegally importing artifacts, Ukrainian officials said Friday. Ukraine's acting Minister of Culture Rostyslav Karandieiev said the man stole the artifacts from Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory and then tried to transport them into the U.S. At a news conference in Kyiv Friday, Karandieiev showed some of the artifacts to journalists, along with the documentation that Ukraine received. The recovered items include various types of weaponry, such as axes of different sizes, and date back to periods ranging from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages. One of the oldest is a polished Neolithic axe, dating from approximately 5,000-3,000 years BCE, said Karandieiev. Its safe to say that Ukraine has received a new shipment of weaponry. The only catch is that this weaponry is incredibly ancient, Karandieiev said with a smile during the public handover of artifacts at the historic Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, a sacred Orthodox monastic complex. The Russian invasion of Ukrain e, now in its second year, is being accompanied by the destruction and pillaging of historical sites and treasures on an industrial scale, causing losses estimated in the hundreds of millions of euros (dollars), Ukrainian authorities say. Most of the artifacts returned were handed over to Ukraine during the visit of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the United States in September. The accompanying document disclosed the identity of the individual responsible for the unlawful importation of artifacts, revealing that he hails from Krasnodar, Russia. The acting director general of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, Maksym Ostapenko, estimated the value of the repatriated items to be around $20,000. But he emphasized that each artifact, given its age, is a significant cultural treasure. Karandieiev pointed out that the artifacts must first be restored before they can be exhibited. Representatives of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra complex unpacked each item in front of journalists in Kyiv on Friday. Once the tight packaging had been removed, the artifacts, the majority coated with a thick, dark layer of rust, were put on display. The number of buildings of cultural value damaged or destroyed has reached at least 623, the Ministry of Culture reports. Karandieiev also highlighted a case where 16,000 items were found to be missing from the art museum in Kherson after Ukrainian forces liberated the city following a nine-month Russian occupation. How long it will take to return our treasures, our artifacts, is hard to say, he concluded. The Ukrainian military has increased the density of its minefields along the Belarusian border by 16 times The density of mines along Ukraines northern border with Belarus has increased 16 times since June 2022, according to Lt. Gen. Serhii Naev, the Joint Forces Commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, on Oct. 20. "More than 500 thousand anti-tank mines have been installed in the main directions of the enemy's possible offensive [to the north] since June 2022, Naev said. In particular, anti-tank minefields, anti-tank mine groups, sets of anti-personnel explosive devices, land mines, and mined obstacles have undergone increased density by 16 times. Read also: Minsk and Moscow are provoking Poland The defense lines have been equipped with fortifications and a system of engineering obstacles. Non-explosive obstacles and infrastructure facilities, including bridges and roads, have also been installed in northern Ukraine, Naev said. As of the beginning of October, there were about 2,000 Russian military personnel in Belarus, the monitoring group Belarusian Hajun reported on Oct. 16. Before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the regime of dictator Alexander Lukashenko provided its territory to the Russian military, allowing its forces to attack Kyiv. The Russian army has also launched missile attacks on Ukrainian cities from there. Read also: Russia keeps trying to drag Belarus into its war on Ukraine, hopes for large-scale ground operation Belarusian troops are not directly involved in the fighting, but Ukraine fears that Minsk could still use its armed forces to re-invade from the north. Russia has withdrawn most of its troops from Belarus, Ukrainian State Border Guard Service spokesman Andriy Demchenko announced on Sept. 7. Earlier, it was reported that Russia had transferred troops to participate in its offensive on the Kupyansk-Lyman section of the front in eastern Ukraine, according to Naev. On the Ukrainian border with Belarus, the Ukrainian border guards do not record the movement of enemy equipment and personnel. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine The News President Joe Biden laid out his case for providing tens of billions of dollars worth of military aid to Ukraine and Israel during a rare Oval Office address on Thursday, in which he attempted to draw a direct link between the conflicts engulfing both countries. Hamas and [Russian President Vladimir] Putin represent different threats. But they share this in common: they both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy, Biden said. The address kicks off an aggressive push by the Biden administration to convince Congress to pass its proposed aid package for the two nations at a moment when political divisions threaten the bipartisan action needed to do so. Its a smart investment thats going to pay dividends for American security for generations, Biden said of the assistance request, which his administration is expected to detail on Friday. I know we have our divisions at home. We have to get past them. We cant let petty, partisan, angry politics get in the way of our responsibilities as a great nation. We cannot and will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win. I refuse to let that happen. Biden has faced criticism from some corners for failing to make a better case for why aiding Ukraine is in the U.S. national interest, amid signs of declining support for the war effort particularly among Republican voters and lawmakers. The U.S. has approved over $100 billion in security, economic, and humanitarian support for Ukraine in response to Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022. Know More The White House is expected to ask Congress for as much as $100 billion in new funding to cover aid to Israel and Ukraine, in addition to funding for border security and assistance to Taiwan. The proposal will set off a struggle in Congress, where conservative resistance to Ukraine aid and the lack of a House speaker will complicate the path forward for the legislation. The White House previously asked lawmakers to approve $24 billion in Ukraine aid to cover Kyiv through the end of the year, but the funding was left out of a short-term spending bill approved late last month. Ukraine supporters believe that combining Ukraine aid with other proposals that have broader support will help get it across the finish line. I think it does help because nobody wants to vote against funding for Israel or border security or threatening China, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Tex., one of the more vocal GOP proponents for Ukraine aid in the House, told reporters Wednesday. McCaul, who predicted the package would pass the House, suggested Republicans would also try to add a new inspector general for Ukraine funding to increase accountability of funds supporting Kyivs war effort. Given the Houses current state of paralysis, the Senate is likely to take up Bidens package first. There is more Republican support for Ukraine assistance in the upper chamber, but that doesnt mean that the path forward will be without hiccups. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kans. posted on X that using the war in Israel as a leverage point to squeeze more Ukraine dollars is a non-starter. Any one senator could hold up the bill. Morgans view Linking Ukraine and Israel might make sense as a short-term legislative strategy, but they are fundamentally two very different wars. And longer term, it will prove harder for Biden to keep up support for Ukraine than for Israel. For the latter, support is overwhelming and the only opposition to military aid is likely to come from a few vocal members of Bidens own party. The Israel-Hamas conflict is also a much newer war, and one that may well end before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Even with recent strikes of Russian airpower using U.S.-made ATACMS, the Ukrainians have made slow progress in the counteroffensive, and officials are bracing for a drawn-out war that will require years more of support. I think everyone is now planning for a long war, a senior European diplomat told me and a group of reporters in Washington. I think everyone sees that Putin is not going to be ready to stop within a year. Biden also didnt do much to lay out the endgame for the war in Ukraine, beyond alluding to U.S. support helping Kyiv push invading Russian forces off their land. Room for Disagreement The White House continues to project confidence, publicly and in private conversations, that Congress will approve more assistance for Kyiv. There is still sizable bipartisan support for Ukraine aid, even as the number of House Republicans opposed to approving more climbs in the House. They were quite optimistic that the package for Ukraine will be passed, the European diplomat said. The View From Fox Bidens address received praise from some unexpected corners. Fox News Brit Hume called it one of the best, if not the best speeches of his presidency. He commended Biden for arguing that rolling back U.S. support for Kyiv would send the wrong message to other evildoers in the world. The remarks were quickly clipped and shared by the Biden campaign. Notable The Pentagon is grappling with maintaining U.S. stockpiles and sending weapons to both Ukraine and Israel. Politico reports that the Pentagon has formed a new team to scour U.S. supplies in order to quickly supply Israel with ammunition. Biden spoke at a precarious moment for the globe. As Israel prepared to mount a ground offensive in Gaza, a U.S. warship intercepted missiles off the coast of Yemen said to be fired by Iran-backed militants. The State Department on Thursday issued a rare worldwide alert telling Americans abroad to be extra cautious due to increased tensions in various locations around the world. (Bloomberg) -- Ukraine will press forward with an effort to build support for a peace formula with the so-called Global South as Malta hosts a third gathering of senior officials to discuss the blueprint this month. Most Read from Bloomberg The Oct. 28-29 meeting in Malta, a European Union island nation in the Mediterranean Sea, will aim to secure the broadest possible international support for President Volodymyr Zelenskiys plan, the Maltese Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday. As much of the globes attention has shifted to the Israel-Hamas war and geopolitical fallout, Zelenskiy is pushing the formula, which aims to recruit nations such as India and Brazil to Ukraines aims and culminate in a global summit later this year. The Malta meeting follows similar gatherings in Denmark in June and Saudi Arabia in August. A 10-point formula calls for the full withdrawal of Russian troops as the main condition, a demand the Kremlin has dismissed. Zelenskiy has ruled out direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has denounced the previous meetings as illegitimate. Read More: Ukraine Courts Global South as War in Black Sea Flares Talks in Malta will continue to increase the momentum to set up bigger and wider support for peace efforts led by Ukraine before the envisaged Global Peace Summit, the ministry said. No date has been set for the summit as partners seek to make progress at the level of security advisers on enlisting the Global South to the Ukrainian position before such a higher-level meeting can take place. Ukraines allies see the meetings as a platform for officials from Kyiv to make their case directly to nations that have remained largely neutral on Russias invasion. In addition to calling for Moscows withdrawal, the plan covers topics such as ensuring food security and nuclear safety. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- Kremlin troops are suffering major losses at the moment, said President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who added that Kyivs forces are holding their ground and destroying the occupier day after day around Avdiivka in the nations east. Russian losses are really staggering, and it is precisely losses by the occupier that Ukraine needs, Zelenskiy said after meeting with troops and commanders, including top soldier Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, in Mykolayiv in the nations south. Most Read from Bloomberg President Joe Biden made a rare Oval Office address on Thursday that warned of the twin risks to the US from Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin . The Kremlin denounced the US leaders characterization of Putin as a tyrant. Biden on Friday unveiled a nearly $106 billion request for emergency funds to arm Israel and Ukraine and to reinforce the US-Mexico border. The total included $61.4 billion for a years worth of assistance for Ukraine. Kyiv will continue its effort to build support for a peace formula with the so-called Global South when Malta hosts a gathering of senior officials on Oct. 28-29 to discuss the blueprint. The meeting follows similar gatherings in Denmark in June and Saudi Arabia in August centered on a 10-point plan that calls for the full withdrawal of Russian troops, among other things a demand the Kremlin has dismissed. Latest Coverage Putin Visits Southern Army Headquarters After China Trip Biden Casts Russia, Hamas as Parallel Threats to Democracy Russia Suspended From Global Financial Intelligence Group NATO Should Weigh Halting Russian Baltic Shipping, Latvia Says Ukraine to Push Peace Formula at Meeting in Malta This Month Coming Up Putin may hold a weekly security council meeting Markets Oil prices advanced as geopolitical tensions ratcheted higher in the Middle East, with prices poised for a second straight weekly gain. Global benchmark Brent rose above $93 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate neared $91. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Commentary: China's economy disappoints naysayers again Xinhua) 08:20, October 20, 2023 This photo taken on Oct. 17, 2023 shows a decoration for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation near the China National Convention Center in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- The upturn in the Chinese economy has disappointed China-bashers again, with newly released economic data and a just-concluded forum on Belt and Road cooperation both sending strong and positive messages. On Wednesday, data from China's National Bureau of Statistics showed an array of indicators pointing to an accelerated recovery, including retail sales, investment, industrial production and high-frequency data such as housing transactions. China's gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 4.9 percent year on year in Q3, and went up 1.3 percent over Q2. With a 5.2-percent GDP rise in the first nine months, the world's second largest economy has found itself in a position to achieve the year's growth target of around 5 percent. International financial institutions, including J.P. Morgan, Citibank and ANZ Bank, have recently lifted China's full-year GDP growth forecast due to the growing body of optimistic data. Wednesday saw another tailwind from the country's newly announced eight major steps to support high-quality Belt and Road cooperation at the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, an event marking the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). These new moves have unveiled a slew of projects, including corridor building, pilot zones for Silk Road e-commerce cooperation, the removal of all restrictions on foreign investment access in the manufacturing sector, the co-building of laboratories and the hosting of a global digital trade expo. At the CEO Conference held during the forum, agreements worth 97.2 billion U.S. dollars were concluded. Looking back over the past decade, the Belt and Road cooperation has served as a forceful growth engine for both China and the rest of the world, especially in boosting trade and investment, enhancing infrastructure connectivity and facilitating innovation. To meet the need for further cooperation, China also pledged to inject an additional 80 billion yuan into the Silk Road Fund, while setting targets for its total trade in goods and services of over 32 trillion U.S. dollars and 5 trillion U.S. dollars, respectively, in the 2024-2028 period By June 2023, China had signed more than 200 Belt and Road cooperation agreements with more than 150 countries. At a time when the world economy is struggling to recover, the decoupling or derisking push by China-bashers may create a headwind down the road, but China won't let itself be stopped by that breeze. The contagious passion displayed at the forum for in-depth and broader Belt and Road cooperation reveals the trend of the times. By following the trend of pursuing shared development and tapping into its own resilience, China will do well, and the world will continue to improve. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) By Olena Harmash and Yuliia Dysa KYIV (Reuters) -President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday Ukrainian forces had repelled a new Russian onslaught on the eastern town of Avdiivka and were holding their ground in heavy fighting. Zelenskiy and top military commanders visited the southern region of Kherson, where they discussed the situation there and around Avdiivka and Kupiansk, a town north of Avdiivka where Russian forces have also intensified attacks. "Thanks to all our boys, who powerfully hold the defence and destroy the occupier day after day," Zelenskiy said in a video posted on the Telegram messaging app. "These days, the Russian losses are really staggering, and it is precisely losses by the occupier that Ukraine needs." Zelenskiy's office said Russia's assault on Avdiivka had resulted in "record losses" of personnel and equipment, but gave no further details of the extent of the losses. Reuters was unable to verify the battlefield situation. Moscow has presented the situation around Avdiivka as more favourable for its forces, and each side has exaggerated the other's losses since Russia's invasion in February 2022. The Ukrainian military said fighting was raging along the front line, with about 90 combat clashes in the past 24 hours. That compares with an average of about 60 daily clashes a week ago. General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, heading Ukraine's operations in the south, reported heavy attacks from both sides, with his forces conducting 1,500 firing missions in 24 hours. He provided no data for Ukraine's losses but said Russia lost 1,051 people, 143 pieces of military equipment and one ammunition depot. "The new wave (of attacks) is as powerful as the one before on October 10 and 11," said Vitaliy Barabash, head of the Avdiivka military administration. "It is very difficult. But the boys are holding out and repelled everything," he told Ukrainian television. Avdiivka, home to a big coking plant, has long been under attack, has become a symbol of Ukrainian resistance and is seen as a gateway to the nearby Russian-held city of Donetsk. Ukrainian forces have been making slow progress through vast Russian minefields in a counteroffensive that it began in the east and south in early June, but Russia has hit back hard around Avdiivka and Kupiansk. Kyiv says the aim of the Russian attacks is to draw in Ukrainian troops from other fronts and to try to gain ground before winter sets in. The Institute for the Study of War, a U.S. research group, said Ukrainian forces appeared to have broken through on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson. Kyiv has not commented on the report and Zelenskiy, who also visited the southern region of Mylokaiv, gave no details of the situation in Kherson. Ukraine recaptured parts of the Kherson region late last year after months of Russian occupation. But Russian forces who left Kherson, the region's biggest city, retreated only as far as the other side of the Dnipro and shell the city from there. Kupiansk, in the northeast, was also recaptured by Ukrainian troops late last year. (Reporting by Yulia Dysa and Olena Harmash in Kyiv, and Elaine Monaghan in Washington, Editing by Timothy Heritage and Grant McCool) Oleksiy Danilov The White Houses plans to consolidate assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan into a single aid package are a good sign for Ukraine according to Secretary of Ukraines National Security and Defense Council, Oleksiy Danilov on Oct. 20. The combination of aid for Ukraine, Taiwan, and Israel is a significant positive [step], said Danilov. In no way does it dilute the situation. On the contrary, we understand that no one in the world can dilute our issue because the war must end with our victory. Read also: When we are told to surrender, I want to caution these wishful thinkers: if they continue to spread these panic-inducing messages, the response from the Ukrainian people will be very tough. Reports emerged on Oct. 10 that the White House and the US Congress were discussing the consolidation of military aid to Israel and Ukraine, with Taiwan also set to receive assistance. On Oct. 20, Biden is set to present an emergency budget request to Congress for funding both Israel and Ukraine, allocating $60 billion for Kyiv, while Jerusalem would be allocated $14 billion. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine The missile strikes on Russian airbases in occupied areas of Ukraine earlier this week could prompt Moscow to push its operational bases and command-and-control sites further back from the front lines, something that The War Zone predicted in detail . This is now the assessment of the U.K. Ministry of Defense and it follows satellite imagery from Berdyansk and Luhansk airfields that reveal multiple damaged or destroyed helicopters. You can read our previous coverage of those missile strikes, which saw the first confirmed use of the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) in Ukrainian hands, here . A satellite image of Luhansk airbase from October 20, 2023, shows scorch marks on the parking area consistent with the destruction of several helicopters. A closer view of the damage is provided at the top of this story. PHOTO 2023 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION The strikes on Tuesday were directed against airbases at Berdyansk, in the Zaporizhzhia region, in the southeast of Ukraine, and at Luhansk, in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. Both are important hubs for Russian military helicopter operations in Ukraine. The following satellite image, showing Berdyansk airbase, suggests that Russia has already begun to move some helicopters from here, in the wake of the ATACMS strike: https://www.twitter.com/bradyafr/status/1715094214139318703?s=20 The missiles used in the strikes were soon confirmed to be the initial variant of ATACMS , known variously as the MGM-140A, the M39, and the Block I. The payload of this missile comprises 950 relatively small M74 submunitions. These submunitions can be dispersed over a wide area and, as we stated months before these attacks took place , the cluster-warhead version of ATACMS is an ideal weapon for use against airfields packed with aircraft among other targets. A photo has also recently emerged that purports to show damage to a Russian Aerospace Forces Ka-52 Hokum attack helicopter at Berdyansk. The Ka-52 is a type that has been very much at the forefront of recent operations but has sustained numerous losses in the process . While the overall level of damage to this example is unclear, the holes punched in the fuselage and the cockpit glazing by the ATACMS submunitions are plain to see. https://twitter.com/front_ukrainian/status/1715388536495477197 In todays intelligence briefing, the U.K. Ministry of Defense stated: Although the extent of damage is currently unconfirmed, it is likely nine Russian military helicopters at Berdyansk and five at Luhansk were destroyed, with Ukraine claiming to have used the U.S.-provided long-range Army Tactical Missiles [sic] for the first time. Given that Russian fixed-wing close air support to date has been extremely poor, Russian defensive lines have become increasingly reliant on rotary-wing support in the face of the Ukrainian offensive. Berdyansk was being used as a primary Forward Operating Base on the southern axis providing both logistics and offensive/defensive capabilities. If confirmed, it is highly likely these losses will have an impact on Russias ability both to defend and conduct further offensive activity on this axis. Given the current strain on Russian military production, the confirmed loss of any airframes will be difficult to replace in the short to medium term. Russian Aerospace Forces helicopters, including Ka-52 attack helicopters, taking part in nighttime low-level operations as part of the offensive in Ukraine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgxWJ7PQ4ms This loss will also likely create additional pressure on Russias pilots and airframes, already almost certainly suffering combat exhaustion and maintenance issues due to the unanticipated protracted campaign. There is a realistic possibility this strike will compel Russia to once again relocate its operating bases and command and control nodes farther from the front lines, increasing the burden on logistics chains. https://www.twitter.com/DefenceHQ/status/1715241527071441273?s=20 If this prediction of relocation does come true, it will go a significant way to justifying the supply of ATACMS to Ukraine, which had long sought a reliable means of hitting back at key Russian military targets within Ukrainian borders. The delay in getting ATACMS into Ukrainian hands was, to a significant degree, due to concerns about escalation. So far, however, Russias President Vladimir Putin has only responded with words , declaring that the U.S. delivery of the missiles to Ukraine was a mistake and that it will only prolong the agony for Ukraine. Satellite imagery taken on October 18 shows at least nine distinct scorch marks, most with wreckage also visible, along the main runway and adjacent taxiways at the eastern end of Berdyansk airport. PHOTO 2023 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION For Russian commanders, however, the arrival of ATACMS on the battlefield is a real worry, with a wide range of targets now suddenly much more vulnerable to a weapon that is also very hard to defend against. Just as worrying for Russia will be the news that Ukraine now expects to receive a more consistent supply of ATACMS, on top of the smaller number it has received initially. Speaking to a Ukrainian TV channel, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that more ATACMS would arrive on a consistent basis. He also said he was hopeful that newer and longer-range versions would be included. It remains to be seen just how Russia deals with the new threat. Above all, it now has to make a calculation about whether its better to have key assets and infrastructure, as well as command-and-control sites, located further from the battlefield, where their effectiveness will be reduced, or if they simply accept the risk of ATACMS strikes going forward. Before getting into the rest of the latest news from Ukraine, The War Zone readers can get caught up with our previous rolling coverage here . The Latest The Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to make small gains, as the slow-moving counteroffensive moves ever closer to the frigid winter months. The latest announcement, from military spokesperson Oleksandr Stupun, concerns a gain of 400 meters (437 yards) to the southwest of Verbove in the countrys southern Zaporizhzhia region. Progress here has been limited by extensive Russian minefields, among other heavily fortified defenses, Stupun said. https://www.twitter.com/Heroiam_Slava/status/1714361053633507630?s=20 Meanwhile, the troubled Russian offensive aimed at the town of Avdiivka , north of the city of Donetsk, continues to run into problems. Earlier this week, one of Kyivs top commanders declared that the Russian offensive one of its biggest in months was failing . Now we have video evidence pointing to that, with the following footage showing the dramatic failure of an assault in the direction of Avdiivka. The video shows a column of vehicles, led by a tank with a mine-roller, come under attack from Ukrainian drones, before most alarmingly the tanks tasked with protecting infantry and armored personnel carriers (APCs) abandon their mission. Once those APCs reach a tree line, the troops disembark and quickly get pinned down by Ukrainian fire. The infantry are seen to retreat before being hit by artillery fire, including devastating cluster ammunition. https://twitter.com/UKikaski/status/1715319638504985061 More drones now, with the latest dramatic imagery captured by a Ukrainian first-person video (FPV) drone , a weapon that has been playing an increasing role on the battlefield. In this footage, published by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, an FPV drone is seen entering the window of a Russian position, with troops holed up in an abandoned building, before the warhead detonates. https://www.twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1714703160147574897?s=20 Not only drones but also artillery is more or less ubiquitous on the battlefields of Ukraine. This is perhaps the reason that this Ukrainian drone operator barely flinches as an artillery shell explodes nearby. https://www.twitter.com/visegrad24/status/1714965221716975732?s=20 Elsewhere, there have been reports that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have crossed the Dnipro River and captured two villages located 2-3 miles inland. According to accounts from Russian military bloggers, the operation involved four amphibious combat teams from Ukraines 35th and 36th Marine Brigades. These launched their crossing from jump-off positions near the right-bank town of Pridnistrovske in the early morning of October 18. At this stage, it remains unclear if this operation is part of a planned larger offensive, or simply a raiding party or reconnaissance mission. Whatever the case, this is certainly an area worth watching, with a successful crossing of the biggest inland water obstacle in Ukraine potentially being highly significant. https://www.twitter.com/GloOouD/status/1714689510729011281?s=20 In their latest briefing , the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces stated that Russia launched 12 missiles and 60 airstrikes against Ukraine yesterday and that there were 53 instances of bombardment by multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS). The General Staff also said that Russia had engaged Ukrainian troops in combat on 90 occasions on the same day. According to figures from the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Russia lost 1,380 personnel yesterday. It should be noted that this figure cannot currently be independently verified. Among the weapons employed by Russia, according to the General Staff, were the Iskander-K ground-launched cruise missile, which was used against a civilian target in Mykolaiv, as well as Iranian-designed Shahed drones . Ukraine claimed that most of the Shahed kamikaze drones, which were launched at targets in southern Ukraine, were brought down by local air defenses. Among the different locations to come under Russian artillery fire in the previous 24 hours were around 150 settlements located in the Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions, the General Staff added. In Kharkiv, in particular, there were several Russian attacks that are said to have damaged civilian homes and buildings. This was stated on the Telegram messaging app by Oleg Sinegubov, the head of Kharkivs regional state administration. https://www.twitter.com/pravda_eng/status/1715331289375543740?s=20 Among the Russian strikes in the Kharkiv region was an incident of shelling against the city of Vovchansk, which injured two and damaged several buildings; a rocket attack on Kupyansk-Vuzloviy that damaged shops but caused no injuries; and an unknown explosion that injured one person in the city of Kharkiv itself. Meanwhile, a Russian missile is said to have come down in the village of Pidlyman, causing some damage, while shelling of the village of Pisky-Radkivski damaged several more buildings. In the Kherson region, at least one woman was reported killed in a Russian airstrike on Beryslav this morning, according to regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin. The governor said that Russia had launched a guided bomb against the city as well as fired at it using four anti-aircraft guns. https://www.twitter.com/Flash_news_ua/status/1715365114780491819?s=20 The indomitable people of Berislav remain in their hometown, Prokudin said. Their courage is amazing. Russian forces reportedly also launched two guided bombs against Novoberislav, also in the Kherson region, although the extent of the damage there was not yet clear. https://www.twitter.com/PStyle0ne1/status/1714878931046686976?s=20 A United Nations commission of inquiry has found new evidence that Russia committed war crimes in Ukraine, as part of indiscriminate attacks, including rape and deportation of children to Russia. The commission has found new evidence that Russian authorities have committed violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law, and corresponding crimes, in areas that came under their control in Ukraine, it said in a report submitted to the U.N. General Assembly. Some of these attacks happened in the cities of Uman and Kherson, but also elsewhere. https://www.twitter.com/UNGeneva/status/1715308374902833258?s=20 The commission has recently documented attacks that affected civilian objects, such as residential buildings, a railway station, shops, and a warehouse for civilian use, leading to numerous casualties. The commission said it had documented cases of rape with the use of force or psychological coercion, most of these incidents taking place after perpetrators broke into the victims homes. Some of the victims were raped at gunpoint or after threats of killing or causing serious harm to them or their relatives. As regards the transfer of children from Ukraine to Russia, the commission documented 31 such incidents, in May and concluded that it was an unlawful deportation and a war crime. Russia has consistently denied committing war crimes or targeting civilians in its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The recent damage to infrastructure in the Baltic Sea has led to NATO stepping up its presence in the region, including an increase in the number of surveillance flights there. The increased measures include additional surveillance and reconnaissance flights. A fleet of four NATO mine-hunters is also being dispatched to the area, the alliance said in a statement. https://www.twitter.com/JsecNato/status/1715238287059603680?s=20 Carl-Oskar Bohlin, Swedens civil defense minister, said earlier this week that a sub-sea telecommunication cable connecting Sweden and Estonia had been damaged on or around October 8. At the same time, a sub-sea gas pipeline and another telecom cable connecting Finland and Estonia were also damaged. While Russia has not been directly blamed for these incidents, the Finnish government has said that the damage to the gas pipeline and telecom cable was likely the work of outside activity and that it may have been a deliberate act . This follows an incident last year in which multiple breaches were identified along sections of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines that run under the Baltic Sea between Russia and Germany. The exact circumstances behind the ruptures remain unknown, but both NATO and the European Union concluded that they were most likely the result of some kind of deliberate attack. Operation Carson: A U.K. Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter trails a Polish F-16 during air combat training in the Baltic region. Based in Poznan, Poland, the two-week detachment involved joint training with Polish, U.S., Spanish, and Italian Air Forces undertaking various air combat exercises across Poland and Lithuania. Crown Copyright There are reports of Ukrainian resistance forces blowing up a car of Russian soldiers in the Russian-occupied city of Melitopol. According to the citys mayor-in-exile, Ivan Fedorov, the Russian soldiers had allegedly been looting empty apartments. https://www.twitter.com/pravda_eng/status/1715370186956583183?s=20 They regularly tracked and looted empty apartments in the city. And at this time, our resistance forces were tracking the occupiers, Fedorov said. During another night hunt in the area of Aviamistechka, at the very moment of loading looted goods into the car, an explosion occurred. https://www.twitter.com/ManiacMagic1/status/1715343279552684108?s=20 One of the iconic images of the attempted coup launched by the Wagner Group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin back in June was this T-80BV tank, utilized by Wagner forces in the city of Rostov-on-Don. That same tank has reportedly now re-entered service with a newly formed Russian unit, the 116th Rosgvardiya Operational (or Separate?) Purpose Brigade, according to the below tweet. Rosgvardiya is the National Guard of the Russian Federation, responsible for internal military forces. https://twitter.com/Archer83Able/status/1715375766744011231 Elsewhere in Russia, it seems that the military continues to rely upon older weapons, in some categories, at least, either because theyve simply never given them up or because theyve had to tap into older stocks to make good losses in the war in Ukraine. Among the latest examples of this kind is this RPD 7.62mm belt-fed light machine gun , seen in a report from the TASS news agency, showing Russian troops training. The RPD is a design thats often described as the precursor of modern squad automatic weapons. Work on the RPD began as long ago as 1943 and it was adopted for service in 1948, with large deliveries following in the early 1950s. https://twitter.com/historicfirearm/status/1714830441134375051 That is all for now. This story will be updated when theres more news to report about Ukraine. Contact the author: thomas@thedrive.com The Russian invaders have attacked on six fronts in Ukraine's east over the past day, and Ukraines Defence Forces repelled over 40 Russian attacks on the Kupiansk front alone. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 06:00 on 20 October Quote from General Staff: "Over the past day, 90 combat clashes took place. In total, the enemy launched 12 missile and 60 air strikes, and carried out 53 attacks from multiple-launch rocket systems on the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements." Details: Russian forces conducted airstrikes on 20 settlements, and about 150 settlements in Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts came under artillery fire. In the area of responsibility of the Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group on the Kupiansk front, Ukrainian defenders repelled over 30 Russian attacks near Synkivka and Ivanivka in Kharkiv Oblast, and over 12 attacks near Nadiia in Luhansk Oblast. On the Lyman front, Ukraines Defence Forces did not allow the loss of their positions near Makiivka in Luhansk Oblast. On the Bakhmut front, Russian forces attempted to regain their lost ground near Klishchiivka in Donetsk Oblast but failed. At the same time, Ukraines Defence Forces continue their assault operations south of Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast, inflicting significant losses in manpower and equipment on the Russian forces and consolidating their positions. In the area of responsibility of the Tavriia Operational Strategic Group on the Avdiivka front, Russian forces resumed offensive actions, and they keep trying to encircle Avdiivka. Ukraines defenders steadfastly hold the defence, inflicting significant losses on the Russian forces. In particular, the Russians lost almost 900 soldiers killed and wounded over the last 24 hours..Almost 50 tanks and over 100 armoured combat vehicles were also destroyed and damaged. The Russian offensive actions near Novokalynove, Stepove, and Sieverne in Donetsk Oblast proved unsuccessful. On the Marinka front, Russian forces conducted unsuccessful assault actions with air support in the area of Marinka in Donetsk Oblast where Ukraines Defence Forces repelled 16 attacks. On the Shakhtarsk front, Ukrainian soldiers repelled attacks near Zolota Nyva and Staromaiorske in Donetsk Oblast. On the Zaporizhzhia front, Ukrainian soldiers did not allow the loss of their positions near Verbove in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Ukraines Defence Forces are continuing to lead an offensive operation on the Melitopol front, inflicting losses in manpower and equipment and exhausting Russian forces along the contact line. In the area of responsibility of the Odesa Operational Strategic Group on the Kherson front, Ukraines Defence Forces are conducting counter-battery operations, hitting the Russians rear. In the area of responsibility of the Pivnich (North) Operational Strategic Group on the Volyn and Polissia fronts, the operational situation remains without significant changes. On the Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna fronts, Russian forces are maintaining their military presence in the border areas, undertaking sabotage activities to prevent Ukrainian troops from being deployed to vulnerable areas, and increasing the density of mine and explosive barriers along the state border in Belgorod Oblast. Over the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian Air Force conducted one attack on a Russian command point, 13 strikes on clusters of personnel, weapons and military equipment and four strikes on anti-aircraft missile systems. Ukrainian defenders also destroyed four reconnaissance tactical UAVs. Ukraine's Rocket Forces and Artillery struck one command post, two clusters of Russian personnel, weapons and military equipment, two TOS-1A Solntsepyok heavy multiple-launch rocket systems, as well as 13 artillery pieces belonging to the Russians. Support UP or become our patron! Dmytro Kuleba , Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, has commented on the meeting between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Russian President Vladimir Putin in China, during which the former called the Russian war of aggression a "military operation". Source: Kuleba in an interview for France 24, as reported by European Pravda Quote: "I hope that he [Orban] has at least washed and disinfected his hands after a handshake with Putin." Background: Putin and Orban met in China on 17 October. It was the first meeting between Putin and an EU member state leader in over a year and the first meeting with a NATO state leader since the beginning of the full-scale war. In April 2022, Karl Nehammer, chancellor of Austria, which is not a part of NATO, came to Moscow on a visit. Due to Putins talks with Orban, NATO ambassadors in Budapest held a meeting amid the concern of the NATO allies about the rapprochement of Hungary and Russia. Support UP or become our patron! The Netherlands' Embassy in the U.S. presented Ukrainian activist and journalist Maksym Butkevych, who is now in Russian captivity, with the 2023 Anne Frank Special Recognition Award "for his work to uphold human rights and combat xenophobia and racism." Butkevych enlisted in the Ukrainian military following Russia's full-scale invasion and was captured in Luhansk Oblast in June 2022. Russian-led proxies in the Donbas sentenced him to 13 years in prison in March on trumped-up charges of "brutal treatment of the civilian population." According to international law, the so-called "prison sentence" by Russian-led militants has no legal grounds. Butkevych's father, Oleksandr, accepted the award on his behalf during a ceremony at Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., explaining Maksym's motivation to join the Ukrainian army, the embassy wrote. "War is a trauma, a tragedy, a misfortune, it makes people cruel. I hope it does not make us so cruel that we'll put human rights on the second or third agenda," Maksym said before his capture, as cited by the embassy. "We are waging a war precisely for this, to retain the opportunity to embody the values we stand for, which differentiate us from the aggressor." Before the full-scale invasion, Butkevych co-founded Hromadske radio, the ZMINA Human Rights Center, and the No Borders Project, the latter of which aids asylum-seekers. Read also: Relatives sound alarm as prominent activist in Russian captivity painted Nazi Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. At a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, amidst the joyous remarks of the other presenters on the unification of the European continent, Ukrainian writer Yuri Andrukhovych conveyed his skepticism about the success of the New Europe. For Andrukhoych, 2009 was marked by the waning of any remaining fervor surrounding Ukraine's Orange Revolution of 2004-2005, the pro-democracy protests that preceded the EuroMaidan Revolution in 2013-2014. Then Ukraines Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko also signed a gas deal with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin that was detrimental to Ukraine, while Russia was forgiven for everything, including its war with Georgia just one year prior. Knowing that the proverbial wall had not yet fallen in his home country, Andrukhovych told his audience that Europe will have to open itself to Ukraine. Its a bittersweet declaration nearly 15 years later when one considers that some are framing Ukraines struggle against Russian aggression as having consequences for the future of democracy in Europe and beyond. Such unapologetic insights and bold reflections define the collection of texts in the newly-released Ukraine 22: Ukrainian Writers Respond to War, edited by Mark Andryczyk. The collection bears witness to the devastating consequences of Russian aggression on Ukrainian society since Feb. 24, 2022, but also carves a path toward understanding what led up to it and what lies ahead. In addition to Yuri Andrukhovych, it features essays from Taras Prokhasko, Sofia Andrukhovych , Andriy Bondar, Oleksandr Boichenko, Olena Huseinova, Volodymyr Rafeyenko, Iryna Tsilyk, and Olena Stiazhkina written during the first months of the all-out war. Read also: Two sisters capture the beauty of Ukraines villages before its gone Ukrainians have spoken the truth about Russian aggression for years, but the world didnt listen. As a result, Ukrainians have had to flee their homes that fell under Russian occupation, pick up arms to defend their country, and see loved ones off to war, but that hasnt stopped Ukraines writers from continuing their work to the best of their ability. The essays in Ukraine 2022 are a mix of personal testimonies and cultural and historical commentaries. In many respects, the latter are the ones that stand out due to the much-needed context they provide to English-language readers. More than 100,000 alleged war crimes have been committed by Russian forces in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022, according to the Prosecutor Generals Office. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) established that more than 9,600 civilians have been killed. The numbers will be much higher once more territory has been liberated and new horrors of occupation are unearthed. But how much worse will it get before the world stops struggling to reconcile fears of Russian escalation with promises to support Ukraine for as long as it takes? To the surprise of many, French President Emmanuel Macron spoke of the artificial borders imposed on the European continent by the former Soviet Union during this years GLOBSEC security conference in Slovakia. He concluded his speech with the promise that we will not let the western world be kidnapped a second time, an apparent nod to Czech writer Milan Kunderas famous essay about how former communist countries like Czechia, Slovakia, Poland, and Hungary had always had more in common culturally with the rest of Europe than Russia. Arguably, this is why countries like Poland have been more or less steadfast in supporting Ukraine from the start of the full-scale invasion. Poland, too, understands Russian aggression very well. In his Ukraine 22 essay From Vladivostok to Lisbon a reference to former Russian President Dmitry Medvedevs envisioned scope of Russias united Eurasia literary critic and translator Oleksandr Boichenko quotes a conversation between Polish writer Marek Hlasko and French journalists in 1958. The journalists asked Hlasko, Is there a way in which we can understand one another better? to which the Polish writer replied, Soviet tanks on the streets of Paris would bring mutual understanding and lots of time to discuss things. Boichenko conveys his doubts that Europe is finally beginning to understand the threat of Russian aggression all these years later: When I look at the billions that Europe continues to pour into the Russian economy daily and the Russophilia printed by the French, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese press, my skepticism increases. That enduring worldwide presence of Russophilia is showcased in the continued adoration of certain Russian cultural figures who may have been talented but believed in and even promoted imperialist narratives. For example, Boichenko highlights in his essay "A Hysterical Imperial Louse" how the Russian poet Joseph Brodsky, renowned as a Soviet dissident in the West, referred to Kundera as "a foolish Czech louse" because of what he wrote about Russian imperialism. Ukrainians mostly remember Brodsky for his 1991 poem "On the Independence of Ukraine," where he mocks Ukrainian independence. Brodsky concludes the poem by declaring that on their deathbeds, Ukrainians will renounce Taras Shevchenko, the 19th-century poet and father of Ukrainian literature, in favor of the Russian poet Aleksandr Pushkin. No, we wont mutter your Aleksandr Pushkin, Boichenko retorts. When Kalibr and Iskander missiles shoot out of a clear sky onto residential districts, people seldom have time to pick which poem to read. But hopefully you were able to, and hopefully with your final breath you were able to recite To the Slanderers of Russia or some other drivel. The ending is a reference to the title of Pushkin's 1831 poem, a patriotic rallying cry against those who "malign" the "great Russian culture." Read also: How a celebrated Ukrainian writer turned into a war crimes researcher While these historical and cultural reflections are particularly compelling, this is not to suggest that the personal testimonies included in the anthology are not without merit. Volodymyr Rafeyenko and Olena Stiazhkina had to leave their lives in Donetsk behind once the city fell under Russian occupation in 2014. For many years, the literary output of both writers was predominantly in Russian until they switched to writing exclusively in Ukrainian. Rafeyenko portrays the cognitive dissonance and disorientation that comes with learning a new language and being an internally displaced person in his novel Mondegreen: Songs About Death and Love, the first novel he wrote in Ukrainian. It was published by Harvards Ukrainian Research Institute (HURI) in English translation in 2019. Stiazhkina's novel, "Cecil the Lion Had to Die," is set to be released in English translation by HURI in early 2024. The novel stands out for its unique narrative approach, starting in Russian and transitioning into Ukrainian. It chronicles the profound shifts in the lives of several families in Donbas, spanning from the collapse of the Soviet Union to the onset of Russian aggression in 2014. By choosing to write in Ukrainian, writers like Rafeyenko and Stiazhkina recognized that even though they were not interested in the so-called Russian world, it was interested in them. Stiazhkina responds to the stupid Russian question, Where have you been for eight years? (a reference to the Russian rallying cry to save the people of Donbas in the aftermath of the EuroMaidan Revolution) by explaining that being in Donetsk since 2014 meant to turn into a victim of the Kyiv Nazis at any moment, being shelled by the liberators themselves to create a convincing picture for Rusofascist TV. For most Ukrainians, especially those from occupied territories, it is impossible to separate Russian culture from the crimes committed by the Russian military on Ukrainian soil. In his essays, Rafeyenko recounts how he and his wife were in Kyiv Oblast at the start of the full-scale invasion, faced with the threat of imminent death once Russian forces laid siege and occupation upon it. Rafeyenko and his wife were able to escape with the help of volunteers, but he takes a moment to express his relief that the representatives of Russian ballet and exceptional Russian spirituality didnt end up taking Kyiv. Read also: Why Ukrainian writers refuse to share stages with Russian authors at festivals There are moments of tenderness to be found in some of the personal testimonies despite the hardships of war. Filmmaker and writer Iryna Tsilyk reflects on when her husband, the writer Artem Chekh, returned to military service. Chekh originally served in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) after the invasion of Donbas in 2014. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, he has fought in some of the most dangerous areas of the front line, which he recounted in his New York Times op-ed I Spent Five Days in a Trench Waiting for Death. It Was Pure Hell back in August. Tsilyk doesnt shy away from addressing the difficulties of wartime couples who reunite after long periods of separation. She describes how, during the early days of Chekhs military service, they tried to remember how to have a conversation and how it used to be to have one another close by. Despite this difficulty, time passed, I cried and cried, and my husbands heart thawed. He became warm, familiar, and alive once again. In the weeks leading up to Feb. 24, 2022, a blend of apprehension, readiness, and disbelief marked the atmosphere as people grappled with the U.S. intelligence warnings of an imminent Russian invasion. Tsilyk mourns the sadness of our youth, which is being stolen from us by the enemy and plans for the future that were postponed indefinitely. Yet there is no choice but to push forward to victory, and she concludes with the thought, Its supposed to get warmer soon, much warmer. It must, right? Numerous anthologies have been released in the past year and a half. However, "Ukraine 22: Ukrainian Writers Respond to War" distinguishes itself with its cultural and historical insights that ultimately lend depth to personal testimonies. Readers will not only empathize with Ukraines struggle but gain a better understanding of how far back it goes. With each new English translation, there's also a glimmer of hope that the world will finally embrace and understand what Ukrainians have been saying for so long. However, as Andrukhovych notes, an outpouring of empathy is no longer enough: Now we need something much larger than prayers and tears. Kindness and generosity are not enough, nor are warmth or words of support. We need fearless action. Ukraine 22: Ukrainian Writers Respond to War is now available to purchase from most major booksellers. Note from the author: Hi, this is Kate Tsurkan, thanks for reading this book review. There is an ever-increasing amount of books about Ukraine available to English-language readers, and I hope my recommendations prove useful when it comes to your next trip to the bookstore. Ukrainian culture has taken on an even more important meaning during wartime, so if you like reading about this sort of thing, please consider supporting The Kyiv Independent. Read also: Revolution, patriarchy, woe: A review of Oksana Lutsyshynas Ivan and Phoebe Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukrainian SOFs destroy Russian tanks, personnel in newly released video Ukrainian Special Operations Forces (SOF) can be seen destroying Russian heavy equipment and personnel near Avdiyivka in a video shared on Telegram on Oct. 20 Russia has resumed its offensive in the Avdiyivka sector and continues to try to surround the town. Its Ukrainian defenders are holding their positions and inflicting significant losses on the enemy. Read also: Nearly 1400 Russian troops, 55 tanks eliminated over past 24 hours The SOFs 3rd Regiments operators of the Special Forces detected and targeted heavy Russian military equipment moving towards Avdiyivka. Ukrainian soldiers stopped the enemy with FPV drones, Javelin anti-tank missiles and mortars. Dozens of occupiers, four armored personnel carriers, and two tanks were destroyed. Russias offensive on Avdiyivka What is known Russian troops intensified their offensive on Avdiyivka on Oct. 10, launching massive attacks on the Donbas town. The head of Avdiyivkas military administration, Vitaliy Barabash, said that Oct. 10 saw probably the largest attack on the city in the entire full-scale war, but the situation was under control. The Ukrainian Armed Forces said that the Russian military wants to surround Avdiyivka, and is throwing a large amount of equipment and personnel into battle. Read also: Russia unleashes new assault against Avdiivka, says official Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that the Ukrainian Defense Forces are holding their positions near Avdiyivka. The representative of the Joint Press Center of the Tavria Defense Forces, Oleksandr Shtupun, said that the Russian occupation forces are continuing active offensive actions in the area of Avdiyivka and consider the town as an opportunity to gain at least some kind of a significant triumph and turn the tide of hostilities. On Oct. 16, Barabash noted that the Russian occupation forces had stopped shelling Avdiyivka, but two people had been killed in shelling west of the town. On the same day, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported in an evening summary that in the Avdiyivka sector, Russians conducted unsuccessful assaults with the support of aviation in the vicinity of Avdiyivka and Pervomaiske, Donetsk Oblast, but the DefenseForces had managed to repel seven Russian attacks. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine A Ukrainian woman was killed in the Gaza Strip as the hostilities between Israel and Hamas continue, Ukraine's Ambassador in Israel Yevhen Korniichuk said on live television on Oct. 19. "Overnight, our activists confirmed the death of one Ukrainian citizen in the Gaza Strip. Her identity is being established," the ambassador said. In a Facebook post on Oct. 20, journalist Anton Naumliuk wrote that the victim was 24-year-old Kharkiv native Leyla Khyzhy. "Witnesses claim that they found her after an Israeli strike in a half-destroyed house, she was covering her daughter with herself. That's what they say in every war, because in every war mothers of any nationality, religion and language try to hide their children," Naumliuk said. Although Israeli ambassador to Ukraine Michael Brodsky said earlier that 23 Ukrainian citizens have been killed in Israel, Korniichuk refuted this number, saying that only 18 citizens have been confirmed killed. Brodsky noted that this still leaves Ukraine with the second highest number of civilian casualties as a result of the fighting in Israel, right behind the U.S. Korniichuk said that the situation in the Palestinian enclave besieged by the Israeli military is deteriorating. "We already have more than 300 people on the evacuation list. It's 308 now, but it's increasing all the time," the ambassador said, adding that the number can grow to 400 in the coming days. About 450 Ukrainians have been evacuated from Israel as of Oct. 18, with more evacuation flights planned in the coming days. The fighting in Israel and Gaza broke out following Hamas' attack on Israeli settlements on Oct. 7. Tel Aviv responded by retaliatory airstrikes against Gaza and a "total" blockade of the enclave. Thousands of people, mostly civilians, have been killed on both sides so far. Read also: Ukrainians trapped in besieged Gaza: We are constantly bombed Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. (Refiles to correct media identifier only) LONDON (Reuters) -British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met the leaders of Egypt and the Palestinian Authority in Cairo on Friday, agreeing with them on the need to let humanitarian aid into Gaza and avoid civilian casualties in Israel's war with Hamas. Sunak met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas as part of a diplomatic tour of the Middle East. During the talks Sunak stressed the imperative of avoiding a wider regional conflict and preventing any further unnecessary loss of civilian life, his office said. "We've also made good progress on tangible areas like ensuring access for humanitarian aid to those who need it," Sunak told broadcasters in Cairo. When U.S. President Joe Biden visited on Wednesday, Arab leaders cancelled a meeting with him after a blast at a Gaza Strip hospital. Israeli and Palestinian officials blamed each other for the explosion. Biden did leave with a promise from Israel to allow limited shipments to Gaza via the Egyptian controlled Rafah crossing, provided the aid is monitored to prevent any reaching Hamas. "When this crisis unfolded, one thing we have prioritised consistently is getting the Rafah crossing (open). It's been a feature of all my conversations, and I'm very pleased that that will now imminently happen," Sunak said. "(Sisi) and I had a good discussion about how the UK can provide practical assistance on the ground to ensure the sustainability of that aid through the crossing." Sunak also visited Jerusalem on Thursday to show support for Israel and to try to negotiate a way to secure the release of hostages taken by Hamas. He then met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia, where he encouraged bin Salman to use Saudi's leadership in the region to support stability. In Friday's talks with Abbas, Sunak's office said he expressed "deep condolences" for the loss of civilian lives in Gaza, including the destruction of the hospital. Britain has said it is assessing the incident and has not said who it thinks was responsible for the blast. "The leaders agreed on the need for all parties to take steps to protect civilians, and civilian infrastructure, and minimise the loss of innocent lives," Sunak's office said. (Reporting by Andrew MacAskill and Alistair Smout; Editing by Grant McCool) United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited the Egypt-Gaza border at Rafah early Friday to encourage the transfer of humanitarian aid into the besieged territory amid Israels war with Hamas. Guterres said the aid is the difference between life and death for the people. Civilians in Gaza have struggled with dwindling medical supplies and fuel reserves as well as rationed food and water since Hamas, which controls Gaza, began a war with Israel nearly two weeks ago. We absolutely need to have these trucks moving as quickly as possible and as many as necessary, but for that, there must be a sustained effort, he said in a speech at the border. He added that there needed to be trucks entering every day to provide enough support for the Gaza people. About 55 trucks full of aid were waiting on the Egyptian side of the border early Friday, The Associated Press reported. The humanitarian aid convoy was expected to enter Gaza later Friday after President Biden encouraged the Israeli government to allow it in earlier this week. Biden announced a $100 million humanitarian aid package for Gaza civilians Wednesday, while he was visiting Israel. Those convoys do not include fuel, which has been a point of emphasis in negotiations between Egypt and Israel, the AP noted. The Israeli military claims that Hamas, recognized as a terrorist group by the United States government, had previously stolen fuel from U.N. facilities. The entire territory is without power and hospitals require fuel to power generators for lifesaving equipment. The conflict has killed more than 1,400 Israelis in its first two weeks, mostly in a Hamas surprise attack that was the wars outset, according to the Israeli government, while responding strikes have killed nearly 3,800 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-led government in Gaza. The Israeli military has continuously bombarded Gaza as it prepares for an expected ground invasion of the territory. Strikes have displaced more than a million people, about half of Gazas population. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Visitors admire the view as the University of Utah, Ivory Family and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints celebrate the completion of the first of four student housing buildings at Ivory University House in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News Nearly $1 billion over 99 years. That's how much the University of Utah's latest housing venture is expected to infuse into the university community through the funding of scholarships, housing stipends and internships for students. Continuing the commitment to transform the University of Utah from a commuter campus to one with an abundance of student housing, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Wednesday for the first building of a student housing project, with a twist. The U., the Clark and Christine Ivory Trust and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came together to form a unique, collaborative, public-private partnership to build Ivory University House a four-building, 621-unit apartment community located at the corner of Mario Capecchi Drive and South Campus Drive. This project is unique and different from other university housing projects in that all rent paid to Ivory University House will be reinvested, to the tune of nearly $1 billion over 99 years. The 5.4 acres the project sits on are owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but leased to the Ivory University House for a 99-year term. "Part of our agreement with (the church) was that we would give everything back to the students," said Clark Ivory, CEO of Ivory Homes. "We are taking a $24 million investment and producing an annuity that will likely generate nearly $1 billion in impact over 99 years. This is the future financial model for supporting higher education and we are grateful to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for making this possible with our ground lease of this prime property adjacent to the University of Utah." Additionally, 25% of residents of Ivory University Home will be coming from economically challenged backgrounds and will receive "substantial assistance" to help give students with financial needs or those working jobs access to quality student housing. Ivory said this year, 138 scholarships have been awarded to students for housing assistance. This was accomplished through the Clark and Christine Ivory Foundation donating an additional $6 million in seed funding to build "Complete U," a strategic plan to "activate campus year-round and engage underclassmen in experiential learning opportunities that lead to better student outcomes," said a release from the university. From the time of his inauguration, U. President Taylor Randall has repeatedly emphasized his goals to "dispel the perception of the U. as a commuter campus." He said public-private partnerships like the one that made Ivory University House possible are some of the best ways to accomplish that. "The only way we're going to be able to build a college town with college town magic is with a lot of community partners," Randall said. "This is the type of partnership that we think we can implement more in the future." The building's amenities will include mentors in intellectual, physical, spiritual and psychological areas of study and exploration, along with programming events hosted in the community art studio, game room and lecture/recital areas. Activities include yoga, cooking classes, outdoor activities, tutoring sessions, paint nights and a Sunday night speaker and networking event called "Finding Your Way." "Housing continues to be one of our largest constraints. We need to build 5,000 beds over the next five years and we can't do that on the balance sheet of the state and the university. So these public-private partnerships are really what makes it happen," Randall said. Increasing student housing on and near campus also carries significant educational benefits for students and the university. "People (who) live on campus, that get engaged in campus and feel at home on campus they graduate sooner, they launch their lives much more successfully and it just makes the overall experience absolutely tremendous," Randall said. Roger Boyer, center left, and Clark Ivory cut the ribbon as the University of Utah, Ivory Family and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints celebrate the completion of the first of four student housing buildings at Ivory University House in Salt Lake City on Wednesday. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News Ivory said the next building "has to be ready" for next summer, to allow students to move in and get situated. All four buildings that make up the project are estimated to be complete by the fall of 2025. Rent costs per unit, for the 2023-2024 academic year, are between $1,250-$1,375 a month and applications for the 2024-2025 academic year will be available starting Nov. 6, according to the university. Although the land Ivory University House sits on doesn't belong to the university, the housing units have not adopted the Honor Code required by some educational institutions owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The housing does, however, require a core value statement be strictly enforced. "Education opportunities are extremely important to both individuals and society as a whole," the church said in a statement. "The church is pleased to participate in this project, which will benefit academically focused University of Utah students, with off-campus housing and future scholarships." Tours are given as the University of Utah, Ivory Family and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints celebrate the completion of the first of four student housing buildings at Ivory University House in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News Ellis Ivory, center, talks with his great-grandchildren Daphne and Nora as the University of Utah, Ivory Family and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints celebrate the completion of the first of four student housing buildings at Ivory University House in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. Daphnes mother Mary Kate Ivory Bertha holds her. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News Roger and Sara Boyer have a photo taken as the University of Utah, Ivory Family and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints celebrate the completion of the first of four student housing buildings at Ivory University House in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News Ryan Prows and Annie Wilson look over an apartment as the University of Utah, Ivory Family and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints celebrate the completion of the first of four student housing buildings at Ivory University House in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News Tours are given as the University of Utah, Ivory Family and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints celebrate the completion of the first of four student housing buildings at Ivory University House in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News Tours are given as the University of Utah, Ivory Family and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints celebrate the completion of the first of four student housing buildings at Ivory University House in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News Tours are given as the University of Utah, Ivory Family and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints celebrate the completion of the first of four student housing buildings at Ivory University House in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News Tours are given as the University of Utah, Ivory Family and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints celebrate the completion of the first of four student housing buildings at Ivory University House in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News The U.S. continues to underperform on an annual list that ranks inclusivity as experienced by marginalized groups in countries across the globe. The Othering and Belonging Institute at the University of California, Berkeley tallies every year an Inclusiveness Index after holistically analyzing the degree of inclusion and protections for marginalized groups across a range of social categories such as gender, race, religion, sexual orientation and disability. New Zealand and countries in Northern Europe consistently top the rankings, whereas the U.S. typically falls in the middle. This year the U.S. is ranked 77th, up from 72nd in 2022 and 2021. The U.S. usually gets high rankings for general LGBTQ acceptance (16th place) and religion (27th), but ranks lower when it comes to race (118th place), disability, (70th) and gender (108th). Stephen Menendian, the assistant director and director of research at OBI, told NBC News that the rate of incarceration weighs down the U.S.s overall ranking. Since the United States has a very high rate of incarceration but specifically a very disproportionate rate of incarcerating nonwhite people that pulls down the ranking tremendously, Menendian said. The U.S.s inclusiveness ranking also suffers from a lack of women in elected office. For example, Menendian pointed out that only 25 out of 100 U.S. senators today are women. In addition to gender breakdowns in elected positions, researchers also considered violent attacks against particular groups, income inequality and how welcoming a country is to immigrants. The United States has a lot of economic inequality between social groups that also pulls down the ranking compared to the more egalitarian Scandinavian countries, Menendian said. Researchers also said that for the first time, the index this year considered the countries responses to climate change, such as rates of greenhouse gas emission. Since the indexs inception in 2016, the U.S.s standing compared to other countries in terms of disability, race and gender has fallen. This could be due to other countries improving while the U.S. remains stagnant, or it could indicate a downward shift, Menendian said. Within the U.S., Hawaii, Maryland and Vermont ranked as the three most inclusive states. Louisiana, followed by Mississippi and Alabama, were ranked lowest in terms of inclusiveness, according to the index. Notably, Florida which has been in the spotlight for its efforts to restrict LGBTQ protections and gender-affirming care ranks 16th in the country for inclusiveness, just above New York and Oregon, which are 17th and 20th respectively. At the bottom of the global inclusiveness rankings is Iran, followed by Yemen and the Comoros Islands. Our hope is that people who reside in these places or people who are advocates for inclusion and equity can see the changes and then point to it, and use it as a reference to advocate for more inclusion in their communities, Menendian said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com [Source] NORC at the University of Chicago has agreed to pay $95,000 to 107 Asian adults who applied as COVID-19 contact tracers in the early months of the pandemic as part of a settlement agreement, the Department of Labor announced on Oct. 2. What happened: The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) alleged that NORC discriminated against 107 Asian adults applying for a job as COVID-19 contact tracers in Maryland and Delaware. DOL noted in a press release that the alleged hiring discrimination claim occurred between May 2020 and August 2021. The organization, which is affiliated with the University of Chicago and was previously known as the National Opinion Research Center, partnered with the government of Maryland and Delaware to provide contact tracing services in April 2020 and May 2020, respectively. What they found: In the settlement agreement dated Sept. 29, the OFCCP noted that it had found statistically significant differences in the hiring rates of Asian and Hispanic applicants for the Contact Tracing position during the period of Aug. 10, 2019, to Aug. 9, 2021. The OFCCP said that only 12 Asians were hired during that period. Trending on NextShark: Watch: Bali monkey negotiates for food in exchange for woman's stolen iPhone The discovery was reportedly made following a routine compliance check conducted by the OFCCP. A violation: The OFCCP stated that NORC had violated Executive Order 11246, which prohibits federal contractors from discriminating in employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. What they are saying: In a statement reported by The Chicago Maroon, NORC explained that it hired a wide range of candidates with a need for a significant number of Spanish-speaking interviewers." The decision purportedly resulted in the organization hiring more Hispanic applicants than Asian applicants. Trending on NextShark: Filipina Bianca Bustamante makes history as 1st female driver signed by McLaren The Chicago-based organization added that while denying all allegations of discrimination, NORC decided to settle the discrimination claim rather than continuing to contest the matter as it has been in deliberation for over two years. NORC has additionally evaluated and further enhanced its auditing systems and documentation practices to strengthen our ability to execute and monitor non-discriminatory hiring, the statement continued, according to the Maroon. Conclusion: As per the agreement, NORC will reportedly pay a total of $95,000 in back pay and interest to 107 Asian applicants who did not get the job at the time. Trending on NextShark: Watch: Chinese woman quits full-time job so she can try 100 different jobs This conciliation agreement holds the National Opinion Research Center to the terms of their federal contract where they agreed to provide all applicants with equal employment opportunities, and closely examine and audit their employment processes to ensure no barriers to equal employment exist, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs Midwest Regional Director Carmen Navarro said in a statement. Those of Asian descent who applied to work at NORC from May 1, 2020, to Aug. 31, 2021, and who were not part of the settlement can make a claim by contacting the Department of Labor at OFCCP-MWR@dol.gov or 312-596-7010. Trending on NextShark: Sriracha buyers say new Huy Fong Foods bottles taste different More on NextShark: 'Wheel of Time' star Daniel Henney marries fellow actor, model Ru Kumagai A student attending the University of Georgia fell 90 feet to her death last week on her second climb at the Cherokee Rock Village in Alabama. According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Yutong "Faye" Zhang, 18, died Saturday from falling 90 feet while climbing in the Cherokee Rock Village around noon. Paul McDonald, the county coroner investigating her death, told the paper that emergency responders were notified around 12 p.m., right after the fall. They quickly responded and worked on Zhang. However, attempts to revive her were unsuccessful. According to Climbing magazine, the fall is a popular climbing route at Cherokee Rock Village with a steep overhang. People with her at the climb believe the rope was in a position so that it came unclipped when it had tension from her weight. Zhang was a member of the University of Georgia's Foundation Fellowship, which is the school's top academic scholarship, according to AL.com. Zhang was also a part of Active Climbing, an indoor rock climbing gym near UGA, says WSB. Her father, Pingchuan Zhang, explained that this was only Zhang's second time climbing outside. Cherokee County is a top rock climbing destination with large rocks and a mountainous terrain for climbers to enjoy. Tributes to Faye Support and love from family and friends immediately started coming in this week and the University of Georgia released a statement. "We are deeply saddened by this tragedy that took the life of University of Georgia first-year student Faye Zhang. Our deepest sympathies go out to the student's family, and we will continue to provide counseling and support to members of our community who have been affected by her passing." Active Climbing also posted a statement on all their social media pages, telling the world how they will remember her forever. "Faye, your spirit will forever be a part of our community. Rest in peace." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UGA student Faye Zhang dies in 90-foot fall while mountain climbing A concerned mother reached out after son called her claiming he was not going to back it home on Thursday. Her son was supposed to be dropped off at his bus stop at 4:45 P.M., but instead the bus driver drove back to Lake Shore Middle School. My son called me at 5 oclock, and was like, Hey, Mom. The bus driver just turned around at Commonwealth and Edgewood and is not talking to us, Jessica Lee said. She immediately went to the school. The bus driver isnt talking to them. The bus is off. Hes not allowing the windows to go down, Lee said, describing the scene. Hes not allowing anything to happen. So, they [the students] are all confused, hot and trying to figure out how come theyre not home. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< She said an administrator came outside and spoke to the driver. He then let the children off the bus, but this was after they were sitting on there for about 45 minutes, according to Lee. Thats when I reached out to Action News Jax, because these are unsafe conditions that our children are being put in, Lee said. Action News Jax, Meghan Moriarty, reached out to Lake Shore Middle School, the Duval County Public School district, and the bus contractor, Student Transportation of America (STA). The district responded swiftly saying, thanks for sharing this. We will look into it and follow up with you. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Later in the afternoon, a spokesperson with Student Transportation of America sent us this statement: Student Transportation of America (STA) is aware of the situation and notified our partners at Duval County Public Schools. Although delays in transportation services are never ideal, the driver sought guidance from administrative staff to resolve a matter on the bus, which is not uncommon. STA drivers receive comprehensive training to ensure safe and reliable transportation services for all students aboard our buses. We are looking into it further to ensure all protocols were met and working with the district to resolve this isolated incident. - STA Spokesperson. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] The district then followed up sending us this comment: Weve been in touch with transportation, and they were aware of the incident and are investigating it. We should know more by early next week, and I will follow up with you then. We asked what happened on the bus to cause the driver to head back to the school. A spokesperson from DCPS stated, The transportation team reviewed this incident, including the bus video. Several students were engaging in horseplay despite multiple warnings from the driver to stop. The driver made the decision to return to the school. Students were on the bus for about 15 minutes while the bus driver attempted to reach a school administrator. At no time was the driver overheard on video telling students they could not roll down their windows. While drivers do have the option to return to the school in cases where it is difficult to manage students, communication with their dispatch and approval from the transportation department is required before doing so. Unfortunately, the driver did not follow proper procedure before returning to the school. Any disciplinary consequences regarding the drivers actions would be handled by STA, as the driver is employed by them. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. President Joe Biden, in a prime-time Oval Office address on Oct. 19, called on Congress to send an unprecedented military aid package to Israel, which has declared war on Hamas, the militant Palestinian group that controls the Gaza Strip. By the same token, he urged Israel to safeguard civilian lives while it besieges and bombards Gazas 2.1 million Palestinian inhabitants, 4,137 of whom have been killed, including over 1,661 children, according to Palestinian officials. Biden also said he reached an agreement with regional leaders to send United Nations humanitarian assistance to Gazas Palestinian civilians. The day before his speech, the U.S. vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in order to deliver lifesaving aid to millions in Gaza. Human rights groups have called for an immediate end to Israels blockade and airstrikes on Gaza, which they said is an unlawful form of collective punishment. The American public, though divided on the proper response to the Israel-Hamas conflict, supports engaging in diplomacy and sending humanitarian aid more so than sending weapons, according to new polling. Humanitarian aid, diplomacy more favored than weapons Seventy-six percent of Americans favor sending humanitarian aid to Israel, and 57% support providing humanitarian aid to Gaza, according to a CBS News/YouGov poll released on Oct. 19. The poll, which surveyed a representative sample of 1,878 U.S. adults between Oct. 16 and 19, also found 72% of Americans supported employing diplomacy in the region. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points. Meanwhile, 48% of Americans said they favored arming the Israeli military. Opinions on sending military aid to Israel largely break down along partisan lines, with 53% of Democrats opposing it and 57% of Republicans supporting it. Seventy percent of Americans, according to another YouGov/Economist poll, support sending humanitarian aid to Israel, and 39% support sending humanitarian aid to Gaza. The poll, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 percentage points, surveyed 1,500 U.S. citizens over 18 years old between Oct. 14 and 17. Forty-one percent of Americans said sending military aid to Israel was a good idea, while 29% said it was a bad idea, and 30% were unsure. According to the poll, far more Americans sympathize primarily with Israelis than Palestinians, 48% versus 10%. Every age group expressed single-digit support for Palestinians with the exception of those aged 18-29, 18% of whom sympathized primarily with Palestinians. These levels of sympathy largely align with the results of polls taken before Hamas Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, in which its armed combatants killed 1,300 Israelis and took dozens of others hostage, according to Israeli officials. Previous polling When asked which group they sympathized more with, 54% of Americans said Israelis, according to a March Gallup poll, which surveyed 1,008 U.S. adults with a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. While still a majority, it was the lowest level of support for Israelis since 2005. Meanwhile, sympathy toward Palestinians among American adults was at an all-time high of 31%. This trend was largely due to a sea change among Democrats. After a decade of growing affinity for the Palestinians, Democrats, for the first time, had more sympathy for the Palestinians than the Israelis, 49% versus 36%. Republicans, on the other hand, remained steadfast in their partiality toward Israelis. Seventy-eight percent of them sympathized with Israelis versus 11% for the Palestinians. Meanwhile, about half of independents, 49%, side with Israelis, while a record 32% sided with Palestinians. When it comes to the governing bodies of both groups, Americans had much higher favorability toward Israel, 68%, than the Palestinian Authority, 26%. Favorability toward Hamas, which is designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. government, was not polled. In addition to a partisan divide, there was a substantial rift among older and younger generations of Americans when it comes to views of Israelis and Palestinians, according to a May 2022 Pew Research Center poll, which surveyed 10,441 U.S. adults with a margin of error of plus or minus 1.5 percentage points. More than three-quarters of adults over 65, 78%, had a favorable view of Israelis, while 47% felt the same way about Palestinians. Meanwhile, 61% of adults under 30 had favorable views of Palestinians, while slightly less, 56%, had positive views of Israelis. Christian adults were more favorable toward the Israelis than the Palestinians with 74% of protestants favoring Israel and 46% favoring Palestinians. There was less of a gap among Catholics, 67% of whom favor Israelis and 50% of whom favor Palestinians. On the other hand, nonreligious American adults favored Israelis and Palestinians about equally, with 58% favoring Israelis and 59% favoring Palestinians. Americans adults of all stripes had significantly lower levels of affinity for the Israeli and Palestinian governments, according to the poll. Twenty-nine percent viewed the Israeli leadership favorably, while 10% viewed the Palestinian leadership favorably. Younger generations, Democrats and the nonreligious were more likely to have negative views of both governments. However, the survey did not clarify whether Palestinian government meant the Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, or Hamas, which administers Gaza. What are war crimes? How are they prosecuted? What to know as Israel-Hamas war rages Saving Americans held hostage by Hamas is a daunting task, ex-CIA official says. Why? What is white phosphorus and why is it so controversial? Israel accused of using it in Gaza US Army charges Travis King with desertion for crossing into North Korea: Report Army private Travis King, who bolted to North Korea earlier this year, has been charged with a host of crime from the U.S. ranging from desertion to possessing child pornography, according to a report from Reuters. King faces eight total charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which also include making false statements and disobeying superior officers. This undated photo shows Travis King, the American soldier who officials say currently is being detained in North Korea. According to Reuters, the Army has charged him of broad misconduct prior to his escape to North Korea, including a previous attempted escape from U.S. military custody in October 2022. US OFFICIALS SAY TRAVIS KING IS IN AMERICAN CUSTODY AFTER MONTHS OF DETAINMENT IN NORTH KOREA King has also been accused of soliciting a Snapchat user in July 2023 to "knowingly and willingly produce child pornography." He was also accused of possession of child pornography. He was also charged with insubordination for leaving his base after curfew and drinking alcohol in violation of Army regulations. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP According to a statement, obtained by Reuters, a family spokesperson, King's mother, Claudine Gates, asked that her 23-year-old son "be afforded the presumption of innocence." "The man I raised, the man I dropped off at boot camp, the man who spent the holidays with me before deploying did not drink," Gates said. "A mother knows her son, and I believe something happened to mine while he was deployed. The Army promised to investigate what happened at Camp Humphreys, and I await the results." PENTAGON DISPUTES PYONGYANG'S CLAIM THAT US SOLDIER TRAVIS KING WILLINGLY SOUGHT 'REFUGE' IN NORTH KOREA King, a Private 2nd Class in the U.S. Army who has served since 2021, entered North Korea on foot on July 18, when he reportedly sprinted away from a tour group into the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea. The incident happened after King finished approximately two months in a South Korean detention facility following a physical altercation with locals, a senior defense official previously told Fox News. Throughout the time he was held at the facility, he made comments that he did not want to come back to America, according to a U.S. official. A United Nations Command soldier (L) and a South Korean soldier (R) stand near North Korea's Panmon Hall (top rear C) at Panmunjom, in the Joint Security Area of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on Oct. 4, 2022. North Korea's state media reported that King confessed to crossing into the North because of "inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination within the U.S. Army." US 'WORKING VERY HARD' TO DETERMINE CAPTURED SOLDIER TRAVIS KING'S STATUS IN NORTH KOREA, DIPLOMAT SAYS "During the investigation, Travis King confessed that he had decided to come over to the DPRK as he harbored ill feeling against inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination within the U.S. Army," state media outlet Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. "He also expressed his willingness to seek refuge in the DPRK or a third country, saying that he was disillusioned at the unequal American society." American soldier Travis King arrives in US after release from North Korea. King was eventually returned to U.S. custody in September. "The relevant organ of the [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] decided to expel Travis King, a soldier of the U.S. Army who illegally intruded into the territory of the DPRK, under the law of the Republic," KCNA wrote, according to translations provided by Yonhap News Agency. King was flown to a military hospital in Texas on Sept. 28 for medical and mental health evaluations. Details are still scarce about King's treatment in North Korean custody and the soldier has not publicly explained why he fled to one of the world's most reclusive nations. Reuters, Timothy Nerozzi and Liz Friden contributed to this report. Original article source: US Army charges Travis King with desertion for crossing into North Korea: Report President Joe Biden meets with European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) WASHINGTON (AP) Saddled with a dysfunctional Congress, President Joe Biden welcomed European Union leaders to the White House on Friday with the promise that the United States can nonetheless deliver tens of billions of dollars worth of aid to wartime Ukraine and Israel. Biden greeted European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen by noting their unity. We stood together to support the great people of Ukraine, and we stood together to tackle economic challenges, Biden said, and now the leaders would come together to back Israel following the Hamas attack and establish standards in trade with China. The Cabinet Room sit-down came at a moment when domestic U.S. political chaos could further destabilize an increasingly chaotic world. Many of Biden's shared priorities with the EU depend on getting a budget through Congress a tough task given that the House lacks an elected speaker and differences with some Republican lawmakers over aid for Ukraine could force a federal government shutdown in November. Along with addressing Ukraine's efforts to repel Russia and the fallout from Hamas' attack on Israel, the U.S. and EU leaders are also figuring out how to manage climate change, economic competition with China and trade and tax issues. One day ahead of his meeting with Biden, European Council President Michel expressed optimism that the U.S. president can deliver on his promises to help arm and financially support Ukraine. Im really confident and also Im grateful for Joe Bidens personal leadership, Michel said. He will do everything to ensure this support will be confirmed. The U.S. president has cultivated a personal relationship with Michel and von der Leyen, who calls Biden dear Joe. Both the EU and U.S. pride themselves for being devoted to democratic principles, a source of unity as they navigate Russia's war in Ukraine and the war between Israel and Hamas. They have framed their support for Israel as a reflection of shared democratic values and stressed the importance of following international law in military operations. But the reality of democracies is that foreign policy agreements can change with elections and competing interests at home can overshadow diplomacy. The two partners still have differences to reconcile on trade, economic matters and the incentives for shifting to renewable energy sources. The U.S. and EU still need to finalize an agreement on environmentally sustainable steel and aluminum production in order to avoid the tariffs imposed during Donald Trump's presidency. Biden's own incentives on moving away from fossil fuels have left Europe a little bit uncomfortable, said Federico Steinberg, a visiting fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank. While the EU welcomes U.S. efforts to accelerate the green transition, Steinberg said, some elements of Biden's programs are protectionist in nature, discriminate against trade partners and undermine the World Trade Organization system that the EU would like to revive. But for now, the U.S. and E.U. are focused on the big challenges of war and solidarity in their words and policy choices. The roughly 90-minute meeting was primarily focused on Israel and Ukraine, with leaders also focused on making progress on an agreement on steel and aluminum tariffs that would focus on taxing metal made through processes that generated high carbon emissions, according to two senior administration officials who insisted on anonymity to discuss the private exchanges. The winds are not just blowing today today they are gale force, von der Leyen said in remarks at the conservative Hudson Institute. Our democracies are under sustained and systemic attack by those who abhor freedom. In addition to sanctioning Russia, EU countries have provided close to $90 billion in assistance to Ukraine, including $27 billion in military aid, von der Leyen said. But there are open questions as to whether the U.S. commitment could waver after having provided four rounds of aid to Ukraine that total $113 billion, a sum that includes replacing U.S. military equipment sent to Kyiv. Now is the time to double down, von der Leyen said Thursday. Biden asked for $105 billion in additional funding Friday, including $60 billion for Ukraine, much of which would replenish U.S. weapons stockpiles provided earlier. Theres also $14 billion for Israel, $10 billion for unspecified humanitarian efforts, $14 billion for managing the U.S.-Mexico border and fighting fentanyl trafficking and $7 billion for the Indo-Pacific region, which includes Taiwan. But some House Republicans have questioned the value of aid to Ukraine at the levels sought by Biden. The GOP ousted Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., after a deal to temporarily keep the government open through November 17. Republican lawmakers have failed to find a successor, leading to concerns that Biden's commitments with the EU could be in jeopardy. The U.S. president offered his challenge to Congress in a Thursday evening speech by outlining the core idea behind his spending proposal: "American values are what make us a partner that nations want to work with. We put all that at risk if we walk away from Ukraine, if we turn our backs on Israel." ___ AP writer Raf Casert contributed to this report from Brussels. 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. A US navy ship intercepts missiles launched by Houthi rebels in Yemen. Two American bases in Syria come under fire. In Iraq, drones and rockets fired at US forces. Gaza may be where the war is happening now, but across the Middle East the warning lights of more trouble to come are blinking red. The US has deployed two carrier groups to the eastern Mediterranean to deter Iran and its allies Syria and Hezbollah from opening new fronts against Israel. Two thousand US Marines are on hard standby for deployment to the region. US President Joe Biden spent seven hours in Israel Wednesday, voicing full support for Israels campaign against Gaza, albeit urging Israeli leaders, and repeating it in his Thursday evening speech from the White House, not to be blinded by rage. Biden is pledging to provide Israel billions of dollars in additional aid. US President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the war between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on October 18. - Miriam Alster/AP Prior to that, Secretary of State Antony Blinken spent seven hours meeting with Israels war cabinet not the regular Israeli cabinet, the war cabinet. All the while the US is airlifting massive amounts of ammunition and equipment to help the Israeli war effort. It all amounts to this: the United States is careening closer to the very real possibility of direct involvement in a regional Middle Eastern war. This is not the 1991 campaign to expel Saddam Husseins army from Kuwait or the 2003 invasion of Iraq, both preceded by months of planning and preparation. Then, the US and its allies determined the time, place, and scale of attack. Now, at best, the US is scrambling to respond to events largely out of its control. And in this dangerous terrain, suddenly the vulnerabilities of the sprawling American military presence across the Middle East are glaringly obvious. Regional rivalries The US has troops in northeastern and southeastern Syria, a country where Bashar al-Assads army, and forces from Russia, Turkey, Iran, Hezbollah, an array of anti-regime factions, and Kurdish militias are all operating, as well as the still active remnants of the Islamic State. Israel regularly bombs targets in Syria, most recently, it is widely believed, the airports of Aleppo and Damascus, with the aim of stopping Iran from flying in weapons and ammunition. The US also has a military presence in Iraq, where a myriad of well-armed and battle-hardened Iranian-backed militias operate largely independent of the government in Baghdad. And then theres Iran. Despite decades of draconian US-inspired sanctions, Iran has succeeded in developing an array of sophisticated weaponry. Its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has gained valuable combat experience in Syria and Iraq. It has provided training and arms to the Houthis in Yemen, the Syrian regime, Hezbollah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad. In the aftermath of the January 2020 US assassination of IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani, Iran was able to fire a salvo of missiles at a US base in neighboring Iraq. And while it costs thousands of dollars to move one soldier or Marine from the US to the Middle East, its just a bus ride for an IRGC soldier to get to Baghdad, Damascus, or Beirut. The US may have the worlds strongest military, but as the American debacles in Vietnam and Afghanistan proved, thats no guarantee of victory over a determined and resourceful foe. Or, in the case of the Middle East today, foes. During recent visits to Beirut, Damascus, Baghdad and Doha, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian repeatedly warned if Israel continues its offensive against Gaza, the opening of new fronts cant be ruled out. Empty rhetoric perhaps. Or perhaps not. Protests against Israel and US As the war in Gaza rages, the Middle East is seething with anger. In Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Yemen, Iran, Turkey, Morocco, Egypt and elsewhere protests have flared against Israel, but much of the rage is also directed against Israels most vocal, persistent, and generous backer, the United States. Jordans King Abdullah, Washingtons most cooperative Arab friend, canceled the scheduled summit with President Biden in Amman in the aftermath of the deadly blast at Gazas Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital. No doubt he and the planned summits other participants, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, were loath to be seen side by side with an American leader who so passionately embraced Israel as the death toll in Gaza soared. The US can still count allies among the regions autocrats. The streets are a whole different matter. Anger has been turbocharged in the wake of a deadly blast that tore through Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza on Tuesday, killing hundreds. Palestinian officials accuse Israel of striking the hospital. Israel denies it. Meeting in Cairo Thursday, President Sisi and King Abdullah issued a joint statement warning if the war does not stop and expands, it threatens to plunge the entire region into a catastrophe. Ive spent the past week reporting from along the Lebanon-Israel border, the trip wire for that catastrophe. Hezbollah fighters daily target Israeli army positions, using guided missiles to hit tanks, troops and, most consistently, surveillance and communications equipment. The military wings of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad occasionally fire volleys of rockets into Israel. The Israelis strike back targeting what they say is Hezbollahs military infrastructure. Combatants and civilians have been killed and injured on both sides. Its enough to keep nerves on edge, but not enough, yet, to precipitate an all-out war, and its not enough, yet, to draw the US into the conflict. But the very real possibility exists. The American carrier groups just over the horizon are there to deter Iran, Hezbollah and others from going too far. If they do, and the US responds, then all bets are off. All the pieces are now in place for Israels decades-old quarrel with the Palestinians to explode into a regional cataclysm. And the US may be in the middle of it. 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 The United States and the European Union on 20 October confirmed their readiness to support Ukraine "as long as it takes", particularly in the development of a Ukraine Plan a document with a list of reforms and priorities in reconstruction. Source: a joint statement based on the results of a EU-US summit held on 20 October, as European Pravda reports. European and American leaders said they are aware of "the urgency of disrupting Russias attempts to destroy the Ukrainian economy" and the corresponding need to step up efforts to support Kyiv. Quote: "As co-chairs, along with Ukraine, of the Multi-agency Donor Coordination Platform, we are working together with Ukraine as it develops its Ukraine Plan, embedded in its European path," the statement reads. This Plan should contain "a common set of near-term priority economic, rule-of-law, and democratisation reforms and a prioritised and well-coordinated approach to recovery and reconstruction assistance and investment", the US and EU leaders emphasise. They separately confirm that they will continue to provide Ukraine with funding to achieve these goals including protecting, repairing and rebuilding its energy sector in line with EU standards. "We acknowledge Ukraines commitment and progress in their reform efforts, and underline the strategic importance of its EU accession process," the authors of the statement say. Background: The Ukrainian Ministry of Economy previously reported that the Ukraine Plan is a comprehensive document that will become a programme for the recovery and economic development of the state for the next four years and will initially consist of six main blocks: energy, transport and logistics for export, agro-industrial complex, critical materials, IT and digitalisation, as well as manufacturing and green metallurgy. First Deputy Minister of Economy Oleksii Soboliev said that Ukraine aims to finalise the plan by the end of November to present it to the EU and coordinate it with its Ukraine Facility programme for EUR 50 billion. Support UP or become our patron! FILE PHOTO: Vehicles of Russian state-controlled broadcaster Russia Today are seen near the Red Square in central Moscow FILE PHOTO: Vehicles of Russian state-controlled broadcaster Russia Today are seen near the Red Square in central Moscow By Jonathan Landay and Simon Lewis WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Friday released a U.S. intelligence assessment sent to more than 100 countries that found Moscow is using spies, social media and Russian state-run media to erode public faith in the integrity of democratic elections worldwide. "This is a global phenomenon," said the assessment. "Our information indicates that senior Russian government officials, including the Kremlin, see value in this type of influence operation and perceive it to be effective." A senior State Department official, briefing reporters on condition of anonymity, said that Russia was encouraged to intensify its election influence operations by its success in amplifying disinformation about the 2020 U.S. election and the COVID-19 pandemic. "Success breeds more, and we definitely see the U.S. elections as a catalyst," the official said. The Russian embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The release of the assessment comes amid serious tensions between the United States and Russia over Moscow's war against Ukraine and a raft of other issues. The assessment was sent in a State Department cable dated Wednesday to more than 100 U.S. embassies in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa for distribution to their host governments, he said. Washington was privately briefing recipient governments and shared the assessment "to get ahead of elections that are over the horizon over the next year," the official said. The report represents Washington's latest move to combat what it says are Moscow's efforts "to sow instability" in democratic countries by portraying elections as "dysfunctional, and resulting governments as illegitimate." Washington "recognizes its own vulnerability to this threat," said the report, noting that U.S. intelligence agencies found that "Russian actors spread and amplified information to undermine public confidence in the U.S. 2020 election." U.S. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, in 2020 beat his Republican predecessor, Donald Trump, who refuses to accept the results, falsely claiming that he lost due to fraud. Concerted Russian operations between 2020 and 2022 sought to "undermine public confidence in at least 11 elections across nine democracies, including the United States," the report said, adding 17 others were targeted by "less pronounced" efforts. It did not identify any of the other countries. Russia "utilizes both overt and covert mechanisms, including influence networks and proxies managed" by Russian spy services, the report said. As an example, it continued, Russia's FSB security service secretly worked to intimidate election workers, organize election day protests and "sabotage overseas voting" in an unnamed European country's 2020 election. Russian state media openly claimed polls would be undemocratic and "amplified false claims of fraud" in advance of multiple elections in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and South America between 2020 and 2021, it said. Russia also used social media platforms and "proxy websites" to sow doubts about the integrity of elections, it said. It called Russia "the leading culprit" conducting operations to undermine public faith in the conduct and results of elections. While China has interfered in elections, it was not assessed to be using that tactic, the official said. China denies interfering in elections. The report recommended that countries work to mitigate Russian election interference through sanctions, information sharing, expulsions of Russian spies and travel bans. (Writing by Jonathan Landay, Editing by Nick Zieminski) The detention of a Russian American journalist jailed in Russia was extended Friday by three days, The Associated Press reported. Alsu Kurmasheva, an editor for the U.S. government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, was arrested Wednesday in Kazan, Russia, on charges of failing to register as a foreign agent. Kurmasheva arrived in Russia in May due to a family emergency, and the Russian government confiscated her passports in June. She has remained in Russia since. The maximum sentence for her charges is five years in prison. Radio Free Europe acting President Jeffrey Gedmin said Kurmasheva needs to be released so she can return to her family immediately. Alsu is a highly respected colleague, devoted wife, and dedicated mother to two children, Gedmin said in a statement. Reporting from the Russian state news site Tatar-Inform alleged Kurmasheva was collecting information on Russian military activities. Kurmasheva is the second U.S. journalist detained in Russia this year; Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was jailed in March. Gershkovich faces espionage charges, which the Journal and U.S. government officials have denounced as baseless. Galina Arapova of Russias Mass Media Defense Center said the charges against Kurmasheva appear to be a form of intimidation. At that time, it was clear they did not have anything on her, so maybe it was like a matter of intimidation. And then it took them three months to decide how would they, you know, package the case against her, Arapova told the AP, calling the charges a sophisticated form of censorship. She was attacked because she is a Russian journalist. Second, she belongs to a foreign media, which was already regarded as a foreign agent and with which Russian authorities had a longstanding conflict on foreign agent legislation, she said. The Committee to Protect Journalists called the charges against Kurmasheva spurious, saying her detention is yet more proof that Russia is determined to stifle independent reporting. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. FILE PHOTO: The logo of Deutsche bank is seen in Hong Kong By Luc Cohen NEW YORK (Reuters) -Deutsche Bank on Friday won final approval from a U.S. judge for a $75 million settlement it reached with victims of Jeffrey Epstein who had accused the German company of facilitating the late financier's alleged sex trafficking. U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff, who granted preliminary approval for the deal in June, signed off on the settlement during a court hearing in Manhattan. "This is, in the court's view, a terrific settlement," Rakoff said in court. The bank did not acknowledge any wrongdoing as part of the settlement. The settlement covers women who have said they were sexually abused or trafficked by Epstein or his associates from Aug. 19, 2013, until his death in a Manhattan jail six years later as he awaited trial on criminal charges that he trafficked young women and teenage girls for sex. New York City's medical examiner ruled Epstein's death a suicide. The lawsuit was led by a woman known as Jane Doe 1, who said Epstein sexually abused her from 2003 to 2018 and accused Deutsche Bank of missing red flags of his abuses. Epstein had been a Deutsche Bank client from 2013 to 2018, after being a JPMorgan Chase client for 15 years. Deutsche Bank has said it made an error in taking on Epstein as a client. Rakoff approved fees of 30% of the settlement amount for the lawyers representing the women. One of the lawyers, David Boies, said after the hearing that the case "was a wake-up call for banks" that they must keep track of who their clients are. Rakoff granted preliminary approval to New York-based financial services company JPMorgan's $290 million settlement over similar claims in June. A hearing over final approval in that case is set for Nov. 9. JPMorgan was also sued by the U.S. Virgin Islands - where Epstein owned two private islands - over claims that the bank aided Epstein. JPMorgan last month agreed to pay $75 million to settle those claims. JPMorgan has said it regrets its association with Epstein. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York;Editing by Noeleen Walder and Will Dunham) US military bases in the Middle East came under attack on Thursday, 19 October, with drones striking Al-Tanf, the US base in Syria, and a missile strike on Conoco, another US base in Syria, while the US also intercepted three attack drones in Iraq. Source: Fox News Details: A US defence official said that the drones had targeted the US base of Al-Tanf, located near Syria's common border with Iraq and Jordan. Iranian-aligned Lebanese TV channel Al Mayadeen also reported on Thursday that two US military bases in Syria had been attacked. In addition to the drone attack on the Al-Tanf base, Al Mayadeen reported a missile strike on the Conoco base in a rural area in Syria's northern Deir ez-Zor region. In Iraq, the US intercepted three attack drones targeting two different military bases, as two US defence officials confirmed. Later, the US Central Command also confirmed the attack. The two drones targeted the Ain al-Asad air base in western Iraq, where US troops are stationed. Several soldiers were slightly injured. The third drone targeted a base in northern Iraq. No casualties were reported. Background: On Thursday, a US destroyer shot down three surface-to-air missiles and several drones supposedly launched by Houthi forces from Yemen. Support UP or become our patron! The News The U.S. State Department is offering a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest of a leading figure in militant group al-Shabab amid a growing terror threat in East Africa and Washingtons renewed concern about the safety of Americans overseas. In a sign of the regional security fears that prompted Tuesdays offer of a reward for information on Abubakar Ali Adan, Kenyas interior ministry this week published the names and faces of 35 terror suspects following recent attacks in Lamu at the Kenyan coast. It promised a substantial cash reward for information leading to their arrests. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department issued a rare Worldwide Caution alert on Thursday in which it urged any American who is overseas to exercise increased caution due to increased tensions in various locations around the world. It comes in the aftermath of a deadly terrorist attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel on Oct. 7. The ensuing conflict has so far claimed around 5,000 lives on both sides and threatens to pull in other countries in the region. Know More Kenya and its northern neighbor Somalia have experienced an uptick in al-Shabab attacks this year, fueling concerns on the deadly groups heightened activities. Three Kenyan soldiers were killed in an al-Shabab attack in the Coastal county of Lamu in June, just over a week after an al-Shabab attack in Garissa, Northeastern Kenya, left eight Kenyan soldiers dead. On Oct. 13, four days before offering the $5 million reward for information, the United States on issued a security alert on Kenya to warn its citizens in the country of possible terrorist attacks on places frequented by foreigners, such as malls, hotels, restaurants and places of worship. Neighboring Uganda in June announced the killing of 54 of its soldiers in an al-Shabab attack on a military base of an African Union-backed multinational force combating the terror group in Somalia. The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), a crisis monitoring group that tracks violence by collecting reports from media and non-governmental organizations, reported a 66% increase in political violence events involving al-Shabab in Kenya in 2022 compared with 2021. Much of the al-Shabab activity was recorded in the Northeastern counties bordering Somalia. Martins view The threat of terror in the region cannot be underestimated. Kenya has previously suffered devastating al-Shabab attacks such as the massacres at the Westgate shopping mall in 2013 and Garissa University two years later. The country has been spooked by terror attacks this year and is keen on stopping any resurgence of the terror group. Kenya has been forced to lean on the U.S. for support in its counter-terrorism efforts.Somalia, also supported by the US, has stepped up its offensive against al-Shabab, and in May fired and replaced its army chief following a surge in attacks. However, the worldwide alert issued by U.S. officials a rare move points to a growing concern in Washington about the safety of its citizens overseas. The broad concern about security threats felt by the U.S. can be seen in attempts to tackle the specific threat posed by al-Shabab in East Africa. Cameron Hudson of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a think tank headquartered in Washington, told Semafor the reward offer for Adan was part of a wider US strategy to degrade al-Shabab by targeting its leadership. He added that the U.S. security alert on Kenya pointed to an amping up of efforts to combat the group. The warning reflects more than just a warning of heightened threat from al-Shabab, I think it also suggests a more muscular response coming from the U.S. and its partners in the region, namely Kenya, stated Hudson. He said he expected Washington to offer the region additional intelligence support, deeper training and equipping of partner militaries, adding that a larger U.S. military footprint in the region could not be ruled out. The U.S. soldier who crossed into North Korea in July has been charged with desertion. Pvt. Travis King was also charged with possessing sexual images of a child, according to a charging document. The charges against him have not been announced publicly, but The Associated Press reported that two officials confirmed Kings confinement. Beyond desertion and possessing sexual images of a child, King, 23, is accused of kicking and punching other officers and unlawfully possessing alcohol. King was released from a South Korean prison the week before his crossing into North Korea, after serving around two months on assault charges. Kings mother said in a statement that she loved her son and was extremely concerned about his mental health, according to the AP. As his mother, I ask that my son be afforded the presumption of innocence, Claudine Gates said, according to the AP. In July, King was on his way to Fort Bliss, Texas, where he may have been faced with more disciplinary actions and discharge. He made it as far as customs but then left and afterward joined a civilian tour of a Korean border village. He made his infamous run across the border in the afternoon. Pyongyang held King for two months before expelling him from the country. In late September, King was flown to a Texas Air Force base. When he returned to the U.S., King was brought to Brooke Army Medical Center near San Antonio for medical exams and psychological debriefings and was allowed to meet with family. The Associated Press contributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By John Kruzel WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday declined to revive a Missouri law that bars state and local officials from enforcing certain federal gun restrictions that the Republican-crafted law had claimed to nullify for violating firearms rights protected by the Constitution's Second Amendment. Handing a victory to President Joe Biden 's administration, the justices rejected a request by Missouri officials to halt a federal judge's ruling that invalidated the 2021 state law, called the Second Amendment Preservation Act. The Second Amendment enshrines the right "to keep and bear arms." The administration sued Missouri in 2022 to block the law. It had urged the Supreme Court not to revive the measure, arguing that it violated a constitutional provision called the "supremacy clause" that makes federal law supersede conflicting state laws. The administration said that the measure improperly interfered with U.S. firearms regulations and undermined public safety. Conservative Justice Clarence Thomas on Friday indicated that he would have reinstated the Missouri law. The Biden administration sued Missouri in 2022 to block the law, which was signed the previous year by Republican Governor Mike Parson at a gun shop. The Missouri law declared that certain federal regulations governing taxes, firearm sales and restrictions on gun possession by people convicted of certain felonies, convicted of a misdemeanor charge of domestic violence, people dishonorably discharged from the military and some others were invalid based on alleged infringement of Second Amendment rights. The law threatened state and local officials with fines of up $50,000 for knowingly enforcing federal gun laws deemed by the Republican-controlled state legislature to violate the Second Amendment. The Biden administration has said the law caused many Missouri state and local law enforcement agencies to stop voluntarily assisting in the enforcement of federal gun laws or providing investigative assistance. U.S. District Judge Brian Wimes in a March ruling invalidated the law as a violation of the supremacy clause. "While purporting to protect citizens, (the Missouri law) exposes citizens to greater harm by interfering with the federal government's ability to enforce lawfully enacted firearms regulations designed by Congress for the purpose of protecting citizens," Wimes wrote. The St. Louis-based 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in September declined to halt the judge's ruling, prompting Missouri officials to seek emergency relief from the Supreme Court. Gun rights, held dear by many Americans and promised by the country's 18th century founders, are a contentious issue in a nation with high levels of firearms violence including numerous mass shootings. Biden, who has called gun violence a national embarrassment, and many of his fellow Democrats support firearms restrictions, while most Republicans oppose these. The Supreme Court, with its 6-3 conservative majority, has taken a broad view of Second Amendment rights in three major rulings since 2008. The most recent of these came in 2022 when the court declared for the first time that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to carry a handgun in public for self-defense. The Supreme Court is set to decide a major gun case in its current term testing whether a federal law that keeps firearms away from people under domestic-violence restraining orders violates the Second Amendment. Arguments are scheduled for Nov. 7. (Reporting by John Kruzel; Editing by Will Dunham) During his 18-year tenure at Louisianas largest public university, journalism professor Robert Mann courted backlash for speaking out against the states top political leaders. Republicans called for Manns firing after he criticized former governor Bobby Jindal amid the states 2016 budget crisis. In 2021, Mann drew the ire of Jeff Landry, then state attorney general, for a tweet lambasting Landrys effort to block a Covid-19 vaccine mandate at Louisiana State University. Related: US supreme court allows delay in redrawing Louisiana map that dilutes Black voters power Now, the professor is tired of battling Louisiana politicians. Mann announced his resignation after Landry, a rightwing disciple of Donald Trump, won a multi-party primary in Louisiana on Saturday. Landry is preparing to be sworn in as governor in January after capturing a majority of the votes cast in Saturdays race. Mann, a journalism professor at Louisiana State Universitys Manship School of Mass Communication, plans to step down at the end of the academic year. I have this morning informed my dean that I will step down from my position at LSU at the end of the school year, Mann posted on X. My reasons are simple: the person who will be governor in January has already asked LSU to fire me. And I have no confidence the leadership of this university would protect the Manship School against a governors efforts to punish me and other faculty members. Manns resignation comes amid the GOPs fight to seize control of American colleges and universities. Rightwing lawmakers this year introduced more than 50 bills across 23 states aimed at eliminating faculty tenure, a longstanding job protection policy to protect academics from outside interference. Florida, Texas, Tennessee and North Dakota this year enacted legislation that would unravel Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts at state colleges and universities, making it more difficult for higher education to protect marginalized students. Earlier this week, Wisconsin Republicans used Universities of Wisconsin employee salaries as a bargaining chip against the schools fight to protect DEI spending. Professors like Mann are unwilling to remain on the frontlines of the GOPs battle on higher education especially without the backing of university leadership. In his previous spars with Jindal, Mann told the Guardian he received meaningful support from Stuart Bell, LSUs former provost, now president of the University of Alabama. When Jindals cronies came after me, Stuart Bell called me, Mann told the Guardian. He said, nothing will happen to you, we have your back, were going to take care of this. Mann had a tense relationship with F King Alexander, LSUs former administrator. Even Alexander threw his support behind Mann. When an individual is attacked, the administrations job is to step up with a robust defense of academic freedom Irene Mulvey I was not always his biggest fan, but when people came after me, King called me personally to say, We dont always agree, but the one thing we do agree on is academic freedom and free speech on campus, Mann said. LSUs resolve to protect Mann appeared to dissolve in 2021, when he sparred with Landry over the attorney generals opposition to the coronavirus vaccine and masking requirements. Landry, who sued the Biden administration after it mandated Covid vaccinations for federal contractors, had been opposed to stricter vaccine requirements at LSU. And he sent a representative to a university meeting where vaccines were discussed. In response, Mann tweeted: Louisiana AG Jeff Landry sending some flunkie to the LSU Faculty Senate meeting today to read a letter attacking Covid vaccines is quite the move from a guy who considers himself pro-life. Landry was unhappy with the characterization. He said he had spoken with the LSU president and expressed my disdain and expectation for accountability. He added: This type of disrespect and dishonesty has no place in our society especially at our flagship university by a professor. I hope LSU takes appropriate action soon. Mann said the university administration did not communicate with him after Landrys tweets, a troubling departure from the assurances he had received from previous LSU leaders. Mann was ultimately not punished, but he said LSUs radio silence sent a clear message: professors like him should fend for themselves. The administration needs to defend and protect academic freedom all the time, said Irene Mulvey, president of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). Mulvey said LSU leadership should have released a robust defense of academic freedom when Landry demanded that Mann be disciplined for his tweet. When an individual is attacked, the administrations job is to step up with a robust defense of academic freedom, Mulvey said. Their job is to be the firewall against interference from the statehouse, wealthy donors, whoever. To Mann, his exit from LSU is not especially dramatic. He planned to retire soon, but Landrys ascension to the governors seat, coupled with his lack of faith in LSUs administration, expedited his departure. In his final months at the university, Mann worries about his younger colleagues, noting the professors will be hesitant to stick their neck out on controversial research topics, especially as GOP attacks on higher education continue to escalate. I think we as professors are easy targets in the culture wars, he said. The distrust of intellectualism, and especially that distrust of science, its a pretty big part of the GOP message today. A recent survey by the AAUP found that a growing percentage of faculty in Texas, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina are considering leaving their current jobs to find employment in a state that is less hostile to higher education. It is astounding to me that attaining a quality higher education is becoming a red or blue state issue, said Dr Liz Leininger, a former faculty member at New College of Florida, a small liberal arts college in Sarasota. New College, long antagonized by rightwing Florida officials for its progressive ethos, is now firmly under the control of Ron DeSantis, the rightwing governor. It is astounding to me that attaining a quality higher education is becoming a red or blue state issue Dr Liz Leininger DeSantis staged a hostile takeover of New College earlier this year, appointing conservative activists to the schools board of trustees in January. Just eight months later, nearly 40% of New College faculty had resigned. Leininger, now a neuroscience professor in Maryland, worried about a future where rightwing politicians are given carte blanche to interfere with public universities. She said faculty will continue to flee to blue states and private universities, which are more insulated from political interference. Were going to have educational inequalities in a lot of these states, she said. The quality of education available to richer students, who can afford private colleges, will be a lot different than these public schools that are reacting to political pressure At the end of a roughly two-decade stint at LSU, Mann shared Leiningers worries about the future of public higher education in Louisiana. His parting wish is that the LSU administration protect younger faculty members, especially those without tenure, from any efforts by the Landry administration to quash academic freedom on campus. Im not the only person standing up for academic freedom on campus, he said. Most faculty members dont come here for a career in politics, they did not sign up for the culture war. FILE PHOTO: United Nations Security Council meeting on the conflict between Israel and Hamas at U.N. headquarters in New York By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.S. credibility rallying support for issues like Ukraine may have been compromised, some diplomats said, after Washington this week blocked United Nations action to protect Palestinian civilians in Gaza from the war between Israel and Hamas. The U.S. veto in the U.N. Security Council bolstered long-held criticisms of the West by Russia, China and some developing countries and could once again hinder Washington's immediate ability to win backing for issues tied to human rights and humanitarian law. In 2017 and 2018, the United States - under then-President Donald Trump - cast two vetoes to shield its ally Israel, complicating a U.S. campaign to reform the U.N. Human Rights Council. Washington ultimately gave up due to a lack of support. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield justified Wednesday's veto by telling the council more time was needed for diplomacy on the ground as President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited the region, focused on brokering aid access to Gaza and trying to free hostages held by Hamas. The United States is "firmly committed to urgently addressing the dire humanitarian needs of civilians in Gaza, as both President Biden and Secretary Blinken emphasized during their trips to the region," Nate Evans, spokesperson for the U.S. mission to the United Nations in New York, said on Friday. But after successfully and repeatedly isolating Russia in the 193-member U.N. General Assembly over its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Washington may have to work harder if lobbying to build support for any future action. "The wider world will see an equivalence between this veto by the U.S. and Russia's behavior over Ukraine. Moscow and Beijing will emphasize this point whenever they can," said Richard Gowan, U.N. director at the International Crisis Group. "Everyone knows Israel is a special case for the U.S., but the Americans ultimately slapped down a text that was very mild and humanitarian in focus," he said. The vetoed text included calls for pauses in the conflict to allow aid access to Gaza and for all parties to comply with international law. THE NEED 'TO GET THIS RIGHT' Israel has vowed to wipe out the Hamas Islamist group that rules Gaza, after its gunmen burst through the barrier fence surrounding the enclave on Oct. 7 and rampaged through Israeli towns and kibbutzes, killing 1,400 people, mainly civilians. Israel has since pounded Gaza from the air and imposed a complete siege on the enclave. The Palestinian health ministry says more than 4,000 Palestinians have been killed. The U.N. says more than a million have been made homeless. Thomas-Greenfield said the U.S. was disappointed the draft resolution made no mention of Israel's rights of self-defense. She left the door open to future U.N. action, but said the council "needs to get this right." Louis Charbonneau, U.N. director for Human Rights Watch, said: "If the U.S. and other Western governments want to convince the rest of the world they are serious about human rights and the laws of war, principles they rightly apply to Russian atrocities in Ukraine and to Hamas atrocities in Israel, they also have to apply to Israel's brutal disregard for civilian life in Gaza." Former senior U.S. and U.N. official Jeffrey Feltman, a fellow at the Brookings Institution, said that while the origins of the war in Ukraine and the conflict between Israel and Hamas were "starkly different," it would not stop comparisons by some. "What better way to reinforce perceptions in the so-called Global South of American double standards than comparing Washington's condemnation of Russian destruction of Ukrainian civilian architecture with Washington's relative silence about Israel's destruction of Gazan civilian infrastructure?" he said. DIPLOMATS CITE LOSS OF CREDIBILITY Senior diplomats from Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East voiced concerns about double standards when contacted by Reuters after the U.S. veto, all of them speaking on condition of anonymity so as to preserve diplomatic relationships. "They lost credibility with the veto. What is good enough for Ukraine is not good enough for Palestine. The veto told us that Ukrainian lives are more valuable than Palestinian ones," said an African diplomat. A senior Arab diplomat said international law appeared to be "invoked selectively" by global superpowers. "We cannot choose to call on the U.N. Charter's principles to protect Ukraine and ignore it for Palestine," the diplomat said. "This double standard is not only unjust but makes the world a much more dangerous place." As global concern grew over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza - besieged by Israel after Hamas carried out the worst attack on civilians in Israeli history - diplomats say Russia saw an opportunity to retaliate over Ukraine by trying to diplomatically isolate the U.S. for supporting its ally. When launching Russia's bid for U.N. action last week, Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia called out western states for opposing a public council meeting "while they use every fake pretext to call for the discussions of the situation in Ukraine." A Russian-drafted resolution that called for a humanitarian ceasefire failed to pass on Monday. It was a similar attempt by Brazil that the United States vetoed on Wednesday. Libya's U.N. Ambassador Taher El-Sonni bluntly addressed the Security Council after the vote on Wednesday. "You have been preaching and lecturing us for decades, especially Western countries, about human rights and international law," he said. "What message are you sending today to the world? The people of the world are not ignorant. So stop this double standard and stop this hypocrisy." (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Howard Goller) Palestinians walk by the destroyed building of Al Nuseirat Bakery following an Israeli airstrike at Nusseirat refugee camp in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. | Hatem Moussa, Associated Press Utah Gov. Spencer Cox says hes unsure whether Palestinian refugees will resettle in the Beehive State. But if history is any indication, its unlikely the U.S. will open its doors to Palestinians like it did for Ukrainians or Afghans. In the last 10 years, fewer than 600 Palestinian refugees have come to the U.S. under the traditional resettlement program, according to data from the U.S. Department of State. Last year, as the U.S. resettled nearly 60,000 refugees from around the world, just 56 Palestinians were admitted. And in the days following Hamas attack on Israel, calls to bar Palestinians from entering the U.S. have ramped up, including from Utah GOP Rep. Burgess Owens, who recently introduced a bill that would block the Biden administration from issuing visas to people from Gaza. Related Cox on Thursday told reporters during the monthly PBS news conference that hes hopeful neighboring countries will step up but that Utah cares deeply about refugees. We have a history of taking care of refugees, Cox said. There would need to be an extreme vetting process here to make sure that we are very careful about who comes into our country, thats always critical. We would have to work very closely with the Department of Justice and Homeland Security and others who would have the burden of making sure that people who arent sympathetic to destroying Israel and Jews are coming into our country. Cox said hell have those conversations if and when the administration makes a decision. But as of now, there is virtually no avenue for Palestinians displaced by the conflict to resettle in the U.S., says Aden Batar, director of migration and refugee services at Catholic Community Services Salt Lake office. That is the administrations policy and we as a resettlement agency can only resettle what the State Department decides every year. Pretty much all we can do is advocate and give advice to the administration, Batar said. Thousands of people displaced from conflict in Afghanistan and Ukraine have resettled in the U.S. in recent years, most doing so through special immigrant visas or humanitarian parole status. State data suggests around 1,000 Afghans resettled in Utah, and according to the Utah Ukrainian Association about 700 Ukrainians are living here since the Russian invasion, most of them sponsored by U.S. citizens through the Biden administrations Uniting for Ukraine program. As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens, Batar has not heard of any similar program in the works for Palestinians. According to the United Nations, in just 10 days nearly 1 million Palestinians were displaced. Most Palestinians living in Utah are here under student or work visas Batar estimates there to be around 1,000. But even those avenues are now likely closed, as most of the recently displaced Palestinians cannot reach a U.S. embassy. People are trapped ... they dont have anywhere to go, he said. Without the visa pathway, displaced people often enter the U.S. through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees mandate, a process that can take years. However UNHCR does not operate in the Gaza Strip. Instead, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees oversees the region, although they dont resettle, which is partly why so few Palestinians end up in the U.S. The U.N. estimates there to be roughly 6 million Palestinian refugees worldwide, most living in camps in the West Bank or Gaza, and abroad in Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. On Thursday, Cox extended his sympathy to displaced Palestinians Our hearts are broken for you as well. This is a deeply difficult and of course divisive issue. I will say I have zero empathy for Hamas, at all. And Hamas is bad for Palestinians. Hamas is evil. And I hope that Palestinians everywhere will stand up and speak up and reject what is happening, Cox said. Utahs Jewish community was the recent target of a bomb threat, with the Congregation Kol Ami synagogue forced to evacuate following the attack by Hamas. Cox said anyone who harms, threatens or harasses Jewish Utahns will be met with swift justice to the fullest extent of the law. I would say the exact same thing to our Palestinians. They are our neighbors, they are Utahns and we love them and were grateful that theyre here. And we extend those same protections to you as well, he said. A deer walks near the headwater of the Colorado River in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Thursday, July 14, 2022. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News Most deer in Utah dont wander far from where they are born, typically migrating 10 to 15 miles annually. They tend to travel the pathways taught to them by their mothers and taught to those does by their mothers, which has been verified by data collected from GPS units attached to collars by Utah Division of Wildlife Resources biologists. Its really just kind of like blown the lid off of what we know about deer and their movements, said Blair Stringham, the divisions migration initiative coordinator in an interview on the eve of Utahs general deer hunt, which begins Saturday. In 2017, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources launched a statewide initiative to identify, preserve and enhance movement corridors for land and aquatic wildlife species, which has provided invaluable data to wildlife managers. GPS technology enables the division to more readily gather information about deers migration patterns, their health, longevity and where and how they die. Stringham hesitates to make sweeping statements about the well-being of deer because much depends on where they were born. Thats why the division tracks them in each of its designated hunting units. For example, last winters heavy snowfall resulted in lower survival rates of adult doe deer and fawns in Cache, Weber, Summit and Morgan counties. That means fewer buck deer especially yearling bucks are available for hunters in those areas this fall, according to a division press release. We collar generally around 1,000 deer each year. We collar them pretty much all across the state. Weve got 26 hunt units. So theyre kind of county sized areas that encompass essentially populations of deers winter and summer range, Stringham said. How far do they go? Much varies deer to deer and where they happen to live, Stringham said. If youre a deer that lives kind of west of I-15 in more of a desert habitat in Utah, those deer arent really moving around as much. Their migrations are generally shorter and a lot of times they just kind of wander around the desert within a smaller home range, he said. Its a different story for deer that live at higher elevations along the Wasatch Front or in the Uinta Mountains. A lot of that is because they spend the summer up at 10,000 or 11,000 feet and then they have to move down because of snow and food availability, he said. It is not uncommon for those deer to migrate 30 to 40 miles. We have deer moving a long ways to go between winter and summer range, Stringham said. Migration patterns are learned behavior so generations of deer tend to travel the same paths. So theyll learn it from their mother or theyll pass it on to their offspring. And so a lot of these migration corridors have been there for a long, long time, which can be problematic if a new road is developed in an area traveled by generations of deer, he said. One well-traveled doe Migration data revealed the habits of one deer wildlife biologists considered well beyond the norm, even among deer that live high up in Utahs mountains. The longest one weve had was a deer that was on the north slope of the Uintas, so kind of between Evanston and the top of the Uintas along the Mirror Lake Highway. It went straight east along the whole north side of the Unitas and then south toward Vernal. It wintered in the Vernal area. It was a migration over 70 miles. Thats definitely kind of the extreme, Stringham said. Top causes of mortality Utahs heavy snowfall clearly took its toll on deer populations in some parts of the state but other factors contribute to their deaths. Motor vehicle-deer crashes claim the lives of thousands of deer each year. A 2012 study by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources found there were 10,000 such collisions that year, although the division built fences and wildlife bridges along migration routes to help lower those numbers. About 20,000 deer are killed each year during the annual deer hunts, he said. Otherwise, accidents, disease and predators kill a significant number of deer. We see a lot of does, when theyre giving birth, will die. Weird stuff happens, like breaking their legs or falling in holes. And then, predators. Weve seen our mountain lion population being pretty healthy lately and were finding theyre taking quite a few deer. Coyotes and bears will take some as well, Stringham said. No single factor that cuts into the deer population outside better habitat. There are just a variety of things that can kill a deer at any point. Its just a tough world out there, he said. Related Average lifespan The average lifespan of a deer in Utah is four to five years but much depends on their habitat. The first two years is really, really hard for deer, particularly young fawns born to moms that enter winter in compromised condition. That next year life can be pretty difficult as well because thats when their moms kind of kick them off and have their new fawns. If they can get to be kind of that 2 year old or older, like lifes generally a lot better for them. Weve seen some of our collared does get into their teens, bucks usually dont live as long. Again, location matters. Usually the ones that have to migrate less tend to live a little bit longer, he said. A pole-dancing skeleton Halloween display has caused a stir in Grantsville City, Utah. City officials ordered the owner to take down the display, which he had attached to a street sign. He moved the display to his front yard where it's gotten even bigger, to the delight of some neighbors. Some residents of a Utah town are rallying around a pole-dancing skeleton after the city said the risque Halloween decoration had to be taken down. Grantsville City, Utah, officials posted a picture on the town's Facebook page earlier this week of a neighborhood Halloween decoration it wanted removed. The photo, which has since been deleted, shows a skeleton with a purple wig twirling upside down around a street sign as two other skeleton figures watch from lawn chairs one with its mouth wide open in fake shock. "You have until 9pm tonight (October 18) to take down your decorations or they will be removed by the city," the original post read. "Displays like this are not acceptable as it is against city code to attach anything to a street sign." The town deleted its post about the skeleton, but that hasn't stopped locals from voicing their support for the sexy skeletal dancer. Residents have swarmed the town's Facebook page with comments supporting the skeleton and condemning the city for deleting its original post. Even unrelated posts from the city on social media are now being deluged with dozens of gifs of dancing skeletons. "Haha, bunch of prudes," one Facebook user commented on the town's page. "That Halloween decoration was amazing! And...you blasting it on social media made sure more people would see it! Thank you." The mastermind behind the display, Christopher Fujishin, did comply with the city's order, moving the Halloween scene into his front yard instead. Now he's expanded it to add lights, additional skeletons, and even music, local outlet Fox13 reported. Fujishin's neighbors are even donating decorations to make the display in his yard bigger, including adding a tip jar for the pole dancer where fans can leave dollars, according to Fox13. "Maybe a little risque for some people but it's all in the name of fun," Fujishin told Fox13. "We look forward to keeping this going and getting a little more elaborate as we go." Read the original article on Insider A creepy-looking creature was caught haunting waters in Utah as it prepares for death, just in time for the Halloween season, officials said. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources posted a photo of one of the aquatic creatures lurking in shallow, clear water that only just obscured the long fang-like teeth jutting out of its mouth in an Oct. 20 post on Facebook. Cue the spooky organ music: This kokanee is looking a little vampiric just in time for the Halloween season, officials said in the post along with a vampire emoji. This species can be especially ghoulish during the fall as their spawning season comes to a close and they begin to die. Sometimes they even develop a fungus on their outsides as their immune system begins to shut down. But before that happens, this type of salmon are spectacular to see, officials said. When its time for them to spawn, they turn from silver to bright red, the males acquire humped backs, hooked jaws and elongated teeth, officials said. That would explain the creepy vampire teeth. So, the zombies of the salmon underworld, someone joked in the comments. Wildlife officials did not say specifically where and when the fish was seen. Kokanee feed almost exclusively on zooplankton, tiny aquatic animals from the size of a pinprick to the size of a small fish hook, according to the Bureau of Land Management. They will also eat tiny plants, insects, and freshwater shrimp when available. Boy reels in freaky fish with human-like teeth in Oklahoma. It wasnt where it should be Monstrous zombie catfish are appearing in US waterways. Whats causing it? Squirmy critter seen at wildlife refuge leaves Texans disturbed. Please nooooo VinFast, the Vietnamese electric carmaker building a factory in Chatham County, ended a rough week on the stock market with some good news. On Friday, the company announced a $1 billion agreement with the New Jersey-based investment firm Yorkville Advisors Global that will give VinFast another avenue for much-needed cash. Under the agreement, VinFast will be able to draw up to $1 billion from Yorkville in exchange for company stock at any point in the next three years. In addition to existing funding commitments, it provides financial flexibility to fund our growth, VinFast Chief Financial Officer David Mansfield said in a statement. In the deal, Yorkville would receive VinFast stock at a 2.5% discount. On its website, Yorkville says it specializes in providing capital to micro-cap and small-cap companies. While VinFast heralded the agreement, the stock market remained sour on the company Friday morning pushing VinFast shares down another 5% to around $5.36. This marks a near-low for the rollercoaster stock, which briefly hit $93 a share in August. VinFast is considered to have a low-float stock because it has made relatively few of its total shares available for trading. As the company frees up more shares, it will raise capital but also put downward pressure on its share price due to supply and demand. Executives have previously acknowledged they need to raise more capital to fund VinFasts global goals. These plans include a $2 billion initial phase of a vehicle manufacturing plant near the small town of Moncure, about 30 miles southwest of Raleigh, which the company hopes to open in 2025. In an interview earlier this week with Bloomberg, VinFast CEO Le Thi Thu Thuy said the automaker would look to raise a lot of capital to fund its expansion into Asia. The company has lost more than $5 billion in the past three years as it works to build up its fleet of fully-electric SUVs for up to 50 international markets. VinFasts parent company and its chairman have pledged additional financial support, which Thuy said would sustain the automaker for the next 18 months. Public records obtained by The News & Observer show VinFast this year sought a $1.4 billion loan from the U.S. Department of Energy, through a program designed to bolster U.S. production of fuel-efficient vehicles. Its loan application has not yet been approved, and the company has not shared whether its application is still active. Citing policy, the Department of Energy does not comment on application statuses. Open Source Do you enjoy Triangle tech news? Subscribe to Open Source, The News & Observer's weekly technology newsletter and look for it in your inbox every Friday morning. Sign up here. A Reston, Virginia, live-in au pair has been charged with murder after an "intensive and ongoing" seven-month investigation into a double homicide involving a shooting and a stabbing at the home of the family where she worked. The Fairfax County Police Department said 23-year-old Juliana Peres Magalhaes was charged with second-degree murder in the death of 39-year-old Joseph Ryan, and is being held without bond. Just after 8 a.m. on Feb. 25, officers responded to a home on Stable Brook Way in response to a 911 call in which a woman said her friend was hurt. DRIVER, 12 CHILDREN INJURED AFTER BUS FLIPS IN SOUTHERN VIRGINIA During the call, a man got onto the line and told the dispatcher he shot an unknown man who entered his home and stabbed a woman. When officers arrived, they found 37-year-old Christine Banfield of Herndon suffering from stab wounds to her upper body, in an upstairs bedroom. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Nearby, officers found Ryan, of Springfield, suffering from gunshot wounds to the upper body. MAN GETS LIFE FOR FATALLY BEATING 2-YEAR-OLD: HE TORTURED THAT POOR LITTLE GIRL, PROSECUTOR SAYS A Fairfax County police car in Fairfax, Va. Ryan was pronounced dead at the scene, while Banfield was taken to a nearby hospital where she was later pronounced dead. Detectives determined Peres Magalhaes made the initial 911 call, and that Banfields husband, Brendan Robert Banfield, joined the call. PILOT, 65, ACCUSED OF USING PLANE TO STALK WOMAN FOR 4 YEARS: ITS A NIGHTMARE' The investigation into the incident is ongoing. Police said after an investigation that included interviews and a review of forensic evidence, they believe Peres Magalhaes shot Ryan. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, as detectives continue to review evidence leading to the circumstances that resulted in the deadly stabbing of Christine Banfield. Police haven't confirmed whether Ryan stabbed Banfield, or explained why he was inside the home. They noted there were no signs of forced entry, FOX 5 reported. CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to call the Fairfax County Police Departments Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800, or by leaving an anonymous tip with Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS. Original article source: Virginia au pair charged in man's murder at home of double homicide: police CONCORD, N.H. Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy said during a question-and-answer session Wednesday that he would like the United States to have the equivalent of an Iron Dome, the Israeli missile defense system, to protect against foreign threats. Theres one issue: The U.S. doesnt face the threat of short-range missile barrages from neighboring territory, which is what the Iron Dome is designed to neutralize. And while many experts argue the U.S. does need to do more to defend against next-generation missile threats, its hardly something that has gone unnoticed as Ramaswamy claims, with hundreds of billions of dollars and decades of development already poured into the project. Ramaswamy said having something similar to an Iron Dome is essential to protecting this homeland. Russia has hypersonic missile capabilities ahead of that in the U.S, he explained after NBC News asked why Iron Dome would be necessary in the United States. Were vulnerable to new threats on our homeland. Those hypersonic missiles can reach the United States of America today. Were badly vulnerable, he added. Ramaswamy said the foreign policy establishment has spent our national defense budget on everything basically other than defending the homeland. The Iron Dome intercepts short-range surface-to-surface rockets, according to Israels Ministry of Defense, typically improvised projectiles made by Palestinian militants from water pipes and other materials that happen to be at hand. A 2023 Congressional Research Service report explained that the Iron Domes targeting system and radar are designed to intercept projectiles fired from 2.5 to 43 miles away, intercepting them on their descent phase if their trajectory puts them on a course to hit a populated area. Each battery is only designed to defend a maximum area of about 60-square-miles, a little less than the size of Washington, D.C. If the United States were to enact this type of defense system to cover the entire country, it would need thousands of batteries, and it would likely not protect against the long-range state-of-the-art hypersonic missiles to which Ramaswamy is referring. Ramaswamys campaign did not respond to a request for clarification about what he said. While Ramaswamy claimed the neocon liberal hegemonic worldview has completely missed missile defense, the U.S. has actually poured billions of dollars into missile defense development over decades, with neoconservatives often being the most vocal champions of the cause. The Pentagon has an entire agency with a roughly $10 billion annual budget dedicated to missile defense, called the Missile Defense Agency, and multiple systems are already deployed to protect the U.S. against threats from places like North Korea. And hypersonic missiles both developing offensive capabilities and methods to defend against them are a major focus of defense research at the moment. But the technological challenges of intercepting cutting-edge weapons from major nation-states like China are enormous, going far beyond Israels challenge of intercepting homemade Palestinian rockets. During the Cold War, when the U.S. faced the constant threat of nuclear annihilation from the USSR, administrations under both parties devoted enormous resources to building a vast network of early warning radar systems in remote parts of the Arctic and long-range missile interceptors, with mixed results. The Pentagon has already budgeted hundreds of millions for the next fiscal year to develop hypersonic defense capabilities, even though its unclear if any country has actually been able to produce a true hypersonic missile. For instance, Ukraine has been able to shoot down multiple Russian missiles that President Vladimir Putin touted as hypersonic using U.S.-supplied Patriot missile interceptors. In fact, missile defense has often been lampooned by the critics as a neoconservative boondoggle, especially after Ronald Reagans Strategic Defense Initiative, which included experiments in shooting down missiles with space-based lasers, failed to produce desired results and earned the derisive nickname Star Wars. Even though recent events in the Middle East have made the Iron Dome part of everyday vernacular, this is not the first time Ramaswamy has brought up the topic on the trail. During a campaign event in September in Dublin, New Hampshire, Ramaswamy said, We need an Iron Dome in this country for missile defense systems that we're badly lacking. China and Russia have space-based capabilities on the offense. We have neither space-based offense nor defensive capabilities. Katherine Koretski and Emma Barnett reported from Concord, and Alex Seitz-Wald from Camden, Maine. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com The expansion of farmland is the main cause of biodiversity loss on land. And climate climate could exacerbate those losses, according to a new study. Over the next 40 years, under a high-emissions scenario, warming temperatures are expected to make more than 1 million square miles of wilderness representing 7 percent of the worlds total remaining wilderness outside of Antarctica newly suitable for growing crops. Most of this land is in northern areas, including Canada, Scandinavia, and Russia. As cropland goes barren elsewhere, the study warns, northern wilderness could be turned over to farming. Without protection, the vital integrity of these valuable areas could be irreversibly lost. The paper, published in the journal Current Biology, found that climate change will shrink the variety of crops that can be grown on 72 percent of land currently farmed worldwide. As the global population rises and large areas of farmland become unsuitable for growing, land must be used more efficiently, said lead author Alexandra Gardner, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Exeter. We can feed a larger population on the farmland we already have, Gardner said. To do so, she said, humans must curb meat consumption, cut food waste, and grow crops suited to their local climate. ALSO ON YALE E360 Abandoned Lands: A Hidden Resource for Restoring Biodiversity Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) blasted Republicans who want to halt U.S. aid to Ukraine, giving a stark warning if Congress fails to continue support for the country amid its war with Russia. No one would ever trust us again if we walked away from Ukraine, Warner said in a Fox News interview with Bret Baier on Thursday. Numerous Republicans have shown skepticism about the U.S.s continued military and financial support of Ukraine since the start of its defensive war against Russia early last year. Some have shown a preference for threats from China, arguing that money would be better spent defending Taiwan. If Putin wins in Russia, that gives [Chinese President Xi Jinping] a green light in Asia. If you dont understand that, youre flunking geopolitics 101, Warner said. President Biden is expected to request $100 billion in budget additions Friday, including $10 billion to support Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza. That package would also include Ukraine and Taiwan support, as well as funding for border security. While Republican leadership in the Senate has supported the expected proposal, other Republicans have been reluctant, saying that border security assistance likely wont be enough. Im sure its going to be milquetoast and inadequate, said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), a leading Republican voice on immigration reform. Cornyn said the Biden administration needs to include significant policy reforms in a national security funding package and that leaving out those reforms would be a problem for passing the overall bill. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) also came out against the package, saying tying Israels aid to Ukraine was like holding it hostage. There is an immediate responsibility on Congress to make sure Israel has what it needs to defend itself, and to hold that aid hostage by linking it with a myriad of other issues including bailout for sanctuary cities and more money for Ukraine is irresponsible, she said Thursday. These separate funding requests should be considered as such, she added. The expected budget request comes just after Biden announced a $100 million aid package for Palestinians in Gaza. That humanitarian aid was announced while Biden was in Israel this week. In the interview Thursday, Warner made clear his support for the humanitarian aid, while reinforcing the U.S. position supporting Israel in the conflict. First of all, I think showing empathy for innocent Palestinian citizens, civilians should not be viewed as sympathy for Hamas, he said. The sooner those [aid] trucks roll, the better it is for all of our concerns, including Israel. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Both candidates for Kentucky governor will take part in a debate hosted by WLKY-TV and sponsored by the League of Women Voters in Louisville this weekend. The Saturday night debate between Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear and Republican challenger Attorney General Daniel Cameron will be their third time this month sharing the stage. According to WLKY, the live debate will begin at 8 p.m. and will be televised and streamed on the WLKY app, WLKY.com and the Very Local app. Additionally, it will air live on NewsRadio 840 WHAS in Louisville. WLKY says there will not be an audience in attendance at the studio. The debate will focus on the most pressing issues facing the state of Kentucky, as well as the city of Louisville, WLKY says, and will be moderated by morning anchor Caray Grace, with participation from political reporter Mark Vanderhoff. After the broadcast, WLKY will make a recording of the debate available online, too. The candidates have two more debates scheduled Monday on KET and Tuesday on WKYT ahead of the Nov. 7 election. Additionally, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman and Camerons running mate, State Sen. Robby Mills, R-Henderson, will also face off on KET on Oct. 30. How to watch the Beshear-Cameron debate Who: Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear and Republican challenger Attorney General Daniel Cameron What: Live gubernatorial debate on WLKY When: Saturday, Oct. 21 How to watch: On television via WLKY in Louisville; online on WLKY.com, the WLKY app and the Very Local app; or listen on the radio at NewsRadio 840 WHAS in Louisville Read about past debates, forums Sept. 20: Kentucky Chamber Gubernatorial Forum Oct. 3: Spectrum News 1 Kentucky Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce Gubernatorial Candidate Forum Northern Kentucky Gubernatorial Debate [Source] A Harvard student had finally achieved his longtime dream of floating in a giant pumpkin across the Charles River in Boston over the weekend. What happened: Benjamin Chang, a senior at Harvard University, successfully paddled across the Charles River in Boston on Saturday aboard his 1,500-pound (680.3 kilograms) pumpkin that he picked up from a farm in New Hampshire. Chang reportedly started paddling from the Cambridge side of the river to the Boston side before going back to his starting point. Trending on NextShark: Watch: Bali monkey negotiates for food in exchange for woman's stolen iPhone His purpose: The amazing stunt was reportedly part of an effort to raise money for a student-led bio-engineering lab at Harvard, which Chang is a member of. Chang reportedly received money donations from people at the scene to try out his pumpkin boat. The senior college student earned hundreds of dollars in donations. Speaking to WCVB, Chang said it was fun seeing other people try the pumpkin boat as well. The background: Chang first attracted attention online after asking the r/Boston subreddit in early October for help. In his post, Chang asked the members of the subreddit if he could borrow a forklift that he would use to carry the pumpkin for the project. Trending on NextShark: Filipina Bianca Bustamante makes history as 1st female driver signed by McLaren His effort eventually paid off as his post caught the attention of Tim Myra, who volunteered one of his forklifts to Chang. My parents are not super happy that this is happening, Chang told WBZ News Radio, which documented the project. Trending on NextShark: Watch: Chinese woman quits full-time job so she can try 100 different jobs How he did it: After arriving at the location, Chang, some of his friends and other people helped him carve the pumpkin and scoop out the insides to make room that could fit an adult. What better way to capture the fascination of biology than with a giant pumpkin, Chang told WBZ NewsRadio. Trending on NextShark: Sriracha buyers say new Huy Fong Foods bottles taste different More on NextShark: 'Wheel of Time' star Daniel Henney marries fellow actor, model Ru Kumagai (Credit: Auburn WA Police Dept via Storyful) AUBURN, Wash. (Storyful) Police have released video footage showing when a homeowner in Auburn, Washington, shot at a group of would-be intruders who had identified themselves as police officers. In footage captured in the early hours on Thursday, three people armed with guns can be seen approaching the door of a house. One identifies himself as Seattle Police. Man wanted after deadly shooting of Maryland circuit court judge The three attempt to break down the door of the house by kicking and shouldering it. Moments later, the sound of gunfire is heard and a screen door shatters. The three would-be intruders, who did not discharge their weapons, can then be seen ducking and running away. Bullet goes through windshield in Memphis, knocks off drivers glasses KOMO News cited an unnamed neighbor as saying his house was hit by a bullet. Police are seeking information from anyone who could identify the three people. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. GROVES, Texas A fun day at the pecan festival turned terrifying for a young girl and a carnival worker when a freak gust of wind sent a ride flying. The 12-year-old girl was just getting into the car of "The Bullet" when the gust blew the car 30 feet into the air. The carnival worker, who was assisting the girl into the ride, hung on to the still open door, Groves City Marshal Norman Reynolds told Storyful. The photographer said that the car tilted upside down, and the worker struggled to protect the rider. For two to three minutes, the video shows the man's legs hanging and flailing from the ride, high in the sky, while his coworkers frantically worked free the stuck machinery below. The huge arm of the ride swayed uncontrollably with the effort and the still-blowing wind. A carnival worker hung 30 feet in the air, protecting a young girl after a ride mishap, at the Groves Pecan Festival in Groves, Texas, on October 15. Video shows that initially, not many festival goers noticed. But, by the end of the video, a crowd assembled around the base of the ride. "Everyone's got phones out and just waiting," one person can be heard on the video. "That's horrible." "Is he going to fall?" asked a woman. video shows the worker dangling from the ride with an open door and a girl inside. After struggling to close the door, the worker successfully secures it with his foot just as the ride descends. Suddenly, the ride releases and the car twists towards the camera while it plunges toward the ground. The worker has his body pressed against the door he managed to close just moments before, securing the girl. Video shows the worker dangling from the ride with an open door and a girl inside. After struggling to close the door, the worker successfully secures it with his foot just as the ride descends. Looking closely, it is hard to tell what the man was gripping, possibly the window grate. As the car swings wildly on the mechanical arm, the man rotates like the hands on a clock before jumping off when the car nears the ground. Storyful said that no injuries were reported, but the ride remained closed for the remainder of the day. Original article source: Watch: Terrified carnival worker hangs from ride after wind gust sends car flying with girl inside Demonstrators holding signs in the colors of the Palestinian flag with a watermelon or the word freedom on them, on July 23, 2023, in Jerusalem, Israel. The protesters are holding these signs because the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, has forbidden the waving of Palestinian flags. Credit - Yahel GazitMiddle East Images/AFP/Getty Images The mighty watermelonwhether held in hand, depicted in art, or posted online as an emojiis a powerful symbol for Palestinians. The fruit has once again cropped up on countless social media posts, in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war begun by a surprise Hamas attack that left 1,400 people dead in Israel. At least 3,785 people have died in Gaza since Israel began launching airstrikes ahead of an expected ground offensive. But how did this refreshing fruit emerge as a stealthy symbol for Palestinian solidarity? Here's what you need to know. A history of the Palestinian watermelon The use of the watermelon as a Palestinian symbol is not new. It first emerged after the Six-Day War in 1967, when Israel seized control of the West Bank and Gaza, and annexed East Jerusalem. At the time, the Israeli government made public displays of the Palestinian flag a criminal offense in Gaza and the West Bank. To circumvent the ban, Palestinians began using the watermelon because, when cut open, the fruit bears the national colors of the Palestinian flagred, black, white, and green. The Israeli government didn't just crack down on the flag. Artist Sliman Mansour told The National in 2021 that Israeli officials in 1980 shut down an exhibition at 79 Gallery in Ramallah featuring his work and others, including Nabil Anani and Issam Badrl. They told us that painting the Palestinian flag was forbidden, but also the colors were forbidden. So Issam said, What if I were to make a flower of red, green, black and white?, to which the officer replied angrily, It will be confiscated. Even if you paint a watermelon, it will be confiscated, Mansour told the outlet. Israel lifted the ban on the Palestinian flag in 1993, as part of the Oslo Accords, which entailed mutual recognition by Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization and were the first formal agreements to try to resolve the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The flag was accepted as representing the Palestinian Authority, which would administer Gaza and the West Bank. Read More: A Photographer Captures Death, Destruction, and Grief in Gaza In the wake of the accords, the New York Times nodded to the role of watermelon as a stand-in symbol during the flag ban. In the Gaza Strip, where young men were once arrested for carrying sliced watermelonsthus displaying the red, black and green Palestinian colorssoldiers stand by, blase, as processions march by waving the once-banned flag, wrote Times journalist John Kifner. In 2007, just after the Second Intifada, artist Khaled Hourani created The Story of the Watermelon for a book entitled Subjective Atlas of Palestine. In 2013, he isolated one print and named it The Colours of the Palestinian Flag, which has since been seen by people across the globe. The use of the watermelon as a symbol resurged in 2021, following an Israeli court ruling that Palestinian families based in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem would be evicted from their homes to make way for settlers. The watermelon symbol today In January, Israels National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir gave police the power to confiscate Palestinian flags. This was later followed by a June vote on a bill to ban people from displaying the flag at state-funded institutions, including universities. (The bill passed preliminary approval but the government later collapsed.) In June, Zazim, an Arab-Israeli community organization, launched a campaign to protest against the ensuing arrests and confiscation of flags. Images of watermelons were plastered on to 16 taxis operating in Tel Aviv, with the accompanying text reading, This is not a Palestinian flag. Protestors with watermelon illustrations, symbolizing the Palestinian flag, in Tel Aviv, Israel on Aug. 12, 2023. Mustafa Alkharouf/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Our message to the government is clear: we will always find a way to circumvent any absurd ban and we will not stop fighting for freedom of expression and democracy, said Zazim director Raluca Ganea. Amal Saad, a Palestinian from Haifa who worked on the Zazim campaign, told Al Jazeera they had a clear message: If you want to stop us, well find another way to express ourselves. Write to Armani Syed at armani.syed@time.com. A popular convenience and fuel store in eastern sections of the country is continuing its expansion into Tennessee with two new sites in Lebanon and one in Manchester. Wawa, known for made-to-order hoagies, Sizzli breakfast sandwiches and a signature brand coffee, is looking to build a 5,915-square-foot store on nearly four acres on Highway 231, south of Interstate 40 and the entrance to the former Lebanon Outlet Mall, currently being redeveloped. Eight fuel stations and 16 pumps are part of the site plan, according to the Lebanon Planning Department. Wawa expansion plans includes Middle Tennessee. A separate site plan for Wawa was also submitted in Lebanon at Hartmann Drive and Leeville Pike, but the site doesn't have the correct zoning and is currently on hold, Lebanon Planning Director Paul Corder said. Here's what we know so far: Where is Wawa expanding in Nashville, Middle Tennessee. "Wawa is a popular chain in other parts of the country and they are bringing their brand to Middle Tennessee," Lebanon Mayor Rick Bell said. "Lebanon is a place in which they chose to invest, and I believe that decision will be a successful one." Efforts to reach Wawa representatives for comment weren't immediately successful. Wawa is headquartered in Wawa, Pennsylvania near Philadelphia and has more than 950 convenience stores. Locations can be found in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and Washington D.C. The site plan submitted for a new Wawa store in Lebanon. The chain announced in 2022 that more 40 locations could be planned in Middle Tennessee as the company expands. A site plan to build a new Wawa store has also been submitted in Manchester on Campground Road. Wawa has already moved forward with several new site plans in Middle Tennessee including two in Clarksville and two in Murfreesboro. Bellevue, Springfield and Dickson have also seen plans submitted for Wawa locations, and stores are also planned in other states, according to reports. Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Wawa's Tennessee expansion includes Lebanon, Manchester Businessperson Perry Johnson has dropped out of the race for the GOP nomination for president, ending a mostly self-funded campaign. Johnson is the third candidate to drop out of the race following Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and former Rep. Will Hurd. The announcement comes after the RNC didnt qualify Johnson for the first debate in August and the second debate in September. Johnson appeared to qualify for the first debate, but the RNC deemed the qualifying polls ineligible. He was unlikely to make it to the third debate, which had much higher thresholds. I must admit, the corruption among leaders at the RNC during this process was appalling, Johnson said in a statement Friday. Not only was the debate process set up to keep outsiders off the stage and without a voice, but when we did meet their arbitrary metrics, corrupt leaders used their authoritarian power to kick me off the stage at 11 p.m. the Monday before the debate, despite our team working with Fox News all weekend on logistics. With no opportunity to share my vision on the debate stage, I have decided at this time, suspending my campaign is the right thing to do, Johnson continued. While Johnson has suspended his campaign, he plans to keep a small political team on staff "in the event the dynamics of the race change." Johnson engaged in a number of gimmicks to pull in the number of donors debate qualifications required. Johnson offered donors a $10 gas gift card in exchange for a $1 donation for the first debate. The candidate also organized a Big and Rich concert for anyone who donated $1 to his campaign. After the RNC announced that Johnson had not qualified for the debate, Johnson started the Defend Them PAC to defend those who are facing politically motivated charges stemming from the 2020 elections. Johnson vowed to personally match up to $1 million. Johnson, 75, announced his candidacy in March and touted his plan to cut federal spending by 2 percent every year if elected. Johnson largely self-funded his campaign, lending his campaign $8.4 million so far, according to campaign finance documents filed with the Federal Election Commission. Throughout the campaign, Johnson appeared heavily on Newsmax, but very little on national news outlets. Johnson had a recurring reality show called Backstage Pass that aired on Newsmax every Sunday night. The show chronicled the everyday life of what its like to run for president. Johnson has never held a public office before. He ran for Michigan governor in 2022 but was deemed by the states elections bureau to have filed thousands of fraudulent nominating signatures. The businessperson gained a majority of his wealth when he founded Perry Johnson Registers in 1994. The company audits and certifies other firms as meeting international standards for quality management systems. We are looking at typical Texas weather in October: Near record highs Saturday and chances of rain and thunderstorms by Monday. Were gonna have a little weather pattern change. So currently, were experiencing fairly warm temperatures, especially for this time of the year. Were probably about 10 to 15 degrees above normal, said Juan Hernandez, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service Fort Worth office. But as we go into next week, we will see that pattern change. It will be a two-punch combination that brings moisture to North Texas. First, Hurricane Norma, a Category 2 hurricane in the North Pacific Ocean, is expected to hit the southern tip of the Mexican state of Baja California Sur Saturday. Moisture from the storm is expected to increase chances of rain in the Dallas-Fort Worth area by 20%-30% at the start of next week, Hernandez told the Star-Telegram. Then, another cold front rolls in late Tuesday and early Wednesday, increasing the chances of rain and thunderstorms, according to to the NWS meteorologist. This is not going to be any tropical system, but its coming in from the west coast, Hernandez said. It looks like we might get rain chances even at the end of next week. Near record highs in Dallas-Fort Worth Saturday Just when you thought things were cooling down in North Texas, the region is flirting with record high temperatures. Again. The NWS forecast shows a high of 92 degrees Saturday only a couple of degrees from the historic record of 94 degrees in 1939 and 1979, according to NWS historical data. Many will not soon forget the scorching summer temperatures we had this year. In August, Dallas-Fort Worth experienced 18 days over 105 degrees, including 110 degrees on both Aug. 25 and 26. We did get respite from the hot days with a cold front rolling into North Texas early in September. But the real cooling down may have to wait until winter when an El Nino weather pattern promises wet and cold conditions for Dallas-Fort Worth. The good news is that the high temperatures this weekend may be it for hot days in the region, Hernandez said. I mean, were starting to get into this time period where were gonna start to see cold fronts coming down. And if we continue to see that trend, the probabilities (of getting more hot days) do decrease as we go into the latter half of October and into November, he said. The topic of immigrants being housed in the city was discussed Wednesday night during a public meeting between residents and officials from the Gardner Police Department. According to Mayor Michael Nicholson, who was in attendance, there were currently 45 families being sheltered by the state at the Super 8 Motel, with eight families at the Colonial Hotel. The majority of the families were from Haiti, Nicholson explained, and 20 immigrant children were currently enrolled in the Gardner public school system. In response to a question about whether there had been an uptick in arrests at the Super 8 Motel since the arrival of the immigrants, Chief of Police Eric McAvene said that there was no truth to the rumors on social media. The information thats coming out - if people are saying that theyre being arrested over there - is unequivocally false, McAvene said. The only calls weve gone over there for are usually medically related. Thats it. More: Gardner hotel providing shelter for migrant families - what we know Number of police-related calls at motel has dropped In fact, added Lt. John Czasnowski, the number of calls to the department from the Super 8 since the immigrant families moved in had plummeted. We have less calls at the Super 8 now than we did before, Czasnowski said. Theyre families that cant communicate very well, and theyre trying to do family things. They just seem like theyre here trying to better themselves. McAvene said the immigrants currently being sheltered in Gardner had been vetted by the federal government, which was attempting to expedite the work visa process so that the adults could enter the local workforce. As youve seen, we have an abundance of jobs that are unfilled, (and) if we could get these folks vetted so they can start working and contributing to the community, I think that thats kind of what were about. More: 'Endeavor to help our new inhabitants': Westminster to welcome migrant families at motel Nicholson said immigrants in the city had been vetted by the federal government and given refugee status. So, these arent people who are coming here illegally, and theyre not undocumented, and the issue that were seeing here is they dont have work permits, he explained, adding that the Super 8 and Colonial Hotel had entered into a contract with the state to provide temporary housing for the families. We have no say over who gets sheltered where in the city. Officials: false rumors spreading online Nicholson attributed some of the false rumors that had been spreading about the immigrant families to certain online social media sites that cover current events in the city. Its a mix of people who are spreading this misinformation and also people who think they are trying to help but only getting half the story and posting that half on Facebook, (which) is stirring the people who are mixing the pot even more, he said. More: Local group aims to welcome displaced families to Gardner Several residents told officials they were relieved to have received the information about the immigrant situation during the meeting. Gov. Maura Healey recently said the states emergency shelter system would be at capacity at the end of October, when roughly 24,000 people would be housed in temporary housing. This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Migrants housed at Gardner motels discussed at police public meeting Miami voters are casting ballots in an election to fill three City Commission seats on Nov. 7. Mail voting is already underway. Early voting begins Oct. 28 at five sites and runs through Nov. 5. With 60% of the seats on the City Commission up for grabs, the upcoming election has the potential to shift power. We asked all 15 candidates where they stood on key issues facing the city, such as affordable housing and what needs to be done to restore faith in the wake of multiple investigations into the activities of elected officials. Twelve candidates responded. Here is what they said: The White House on Friday will send a roughly $100 billion emergency funding request to Congress that seeks additional money for border security, allies in the Indo-Pacific and for Israel and Ukraine in their respective conflicts against Hamas and Russia. The largest portion of the request roughly $61 billion covers money for Ukraine, which for nearly two years has been fighting against invading Russian forces with U.S. financial assistance. The administration is also seeking $14 billion to boost Israels defense, nearly $14 billion for personnel and operations at the U.S.-Mexico border, $10 billion in humanitarian aid and $2 billion for Indo-Pacific security assistance. The aid package covers priorities that Republicans open to working with the administration had floated, a combined proposal to cover Americas allies and interests abroad and the immigration crisis at the U.S. southern border. In a letter to Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), who is serving as the Speaker pro tempore in the absence of an elected Speaker, White House budget chief Shalanda Young laid out how the administrations request would fund national security priorities. The world is watching and the American people rightly expect their leaders to come together and deliver on these priorities, and I urge Congress to address them as part of a comprehensive, bipartisan agreement in the weeks ahead, Young said on a call with reporters. The request faces an uphill battle in the House in particular, in part because the chamber has been stalled without a Speaker. There has also been opposition to funding Ukraine from a large minority in the House GOP, which could sink an effort to package it with assistance for Israel and the border. Here is a breakdown of what the administration is seeking. Israel $14.3 billion National security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters that the increased funds will invest in Israels defense against terrorists, including by strengthening its air and missile defense systems. This includes a $10.6 billion request to allow the Department of Defense to send air and missile defense support to Israel. It also covers investments in the military industrial base and a replenishment of Pentagon stocks. The administration is requesting $3.7 billion for the State Department to cover foreign military financing and embassy support, including security operations. The funds also include requests for humanitarian support, largely for Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Hamas, recognized as a terrorist group by the U.S., controls Gaza. The budget request for Israel comes on top of the $3.8 billion the U.S. provides to the nation annually. Sullivan said that the U.S. has been able to immediately send Israel extra munitions and interceptors for its Iron Dome missile defense system using previously approved congressional authorities. Humanitarian aid The administration requested $9.15 billion in humanitarian aid to address Ukraine, Israel, Gaza and other needs. Young called this a flexible pot of money to respond to humanitarian needs as they come up, but she also highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. The president announced earlier $100 million in humanitarian aid specifically for impacted Palestinians. Youve already seen a commitment from this administration, in making sure humanitarian aid gets to those in Gaza, so we imagine that aid will continue, robustly as Congress funds more humanitarian aid, Young said. But that account has flexibility to allow State and USAID [U.S. Agency for International Development] to assess what is happening on the ground around the globe and respond with critical dollars to ensure that people have the things that they need to survive these conflicts in other scenarios across the globe. Ukraine request is $61.4 billion The $61.4 billion request for Ukraine includes $30 billion in equipment for Ukraine from Department of Defense stocks and to backfill those stocks. The administration is also requesting $14.4 billion for the Pentagon to provide Ukraine continued military, intelligence and other defense support. The request includes $149 million for the National Nuclear Security Administration. Among the threats that Ukraine is defending against is Russias occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which has led to concerns of a potential nuclear crisis. The request includes $16.3 billion for economic, security and operational assistance through the State Department and USAID. It is requesting $481 million for Ukrainian refugees living or arriving in the U.S. Border security The administration is asking Congress for $13.6 billion to be used to bolster border security. Funding would be used to add personnel and improve technology that would guard against fentanyl trafficking, according to the request. The request includes resources for an additional 1,300 border patrol agents, the White House said, as well as 375 immigration judge teams and 1,600 asylum officers who would help alleviate the strain on the processing system. There is also money dedicated to hire 1,000 Customs and Border Protection officers with a focus on countering the influx of fentanyl at the southern border, the White House said. Republicans have hammered the Biden administration over the surge of migrants at the southern border, making it a politically vulnerable area for the White House. But administration officials have repeatedly argued that Congress has failed to take action on the issue, even when the White House has asked lawmakers to do so. The White House in August requested $4 billion in funding to bolster border security in a supplemental package that Congress did not pass. Indo-Pacific The administration is asking for roughly $7.4 billion to strengthen allies in the Indo-Pacific and push back on Chinas efforts to exert influence in the region. The White House request includes $3.4 billion for Americas submarine industrial base, which would allow the U.S. to increase its ability to build and sustain attack submarines. The administration is also seeking $2 billion in Indo-Pacific security assistance through the State Department, as well as $2 billion for the Treasury Department to help finance developing countries and counter Chinas efforts to provide funds for those nations. The latter request is part of a broader push by the Biden administration to increase the influence of entities like the World Bank that provide investments for developing nations so that they are not beholden to China. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (Photo : Josh Edelson / AFP) (JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images) Google's new Search Generative Experience (SGE) would allow users to generate images using artificial intelligence directly from the search bar. Google is moving forward to advance its capabilities with artificial intelligence, including efforts for a generative AI-powered search engine. The tech giant has been rolling out this new form of search since May after industry observers questioned the company's future prominence in providing its consumers with information. The concerns arose after the rise of OpenAI's query-answering chatbot, ChatGPT. Google's New Generative AI-Powered Search The company's new product is called Search Generative Experience (SGE) which makes use of AI to create summaries in response to some search queries. These are those that are triggered by whether or not Google's system determines the format would be helpful to users. The summaries would then appear on the top of the Google search homepage. With the new technology, publishers must use the same tool that would prevent them from appearing in Google search results if they want to prevent their content from being used by the company's AI in generating the summaries, as per Reuters. For example, searching for "Who is Jon Fosse," the recent Nobel Prize in Literature winner, generates three paragraphs on the individual as well as on his work. There would also be drop-down buttons that provide links to Fosse content on Wikipedia, NPR, The New York Times, and several other websites. Google previously said that the AI-generated overviews are synthesized from several web pages and that the links provided are designed to be a jumping-off point to learn more about the topic. The company also describes SGE as an opt-in experiment for users, helping it evolve and improve the product. The new search tool is seen as the latest red flag for publishers in a decades-long relationship in which they have both struggled to compete against Google when it comes to online advertising and have been forced to rely on the tech giant for search traffic. The tech giant's new product would also allow users to create images directly from the search bar. Users would simply need to provide a detailed description of the image that they want to get, according to Softonic. Read Also: NVIDIA Boosts AI Performance Using TensorRT Creating Images With Artificial Intelligence Additionally, the results from this process can be refined at a later date by making adjustments to the description that was provided. SGE is currently only available for use to a few users and Google is aware that there is a risk of unethical uses of the technology. The company said that it would censor any content that does not adhere to its policies. The use of the new AI product is expected to completely change how users interact with various systems, including Google Images. This would mean that when a user decides to search for a specific image, the artificial intelligence will show them generations based on the context of their search. The situation comes as OpenAI reportedly discussed and debated when it would release a tool that can determine whether or not an image was created using DALL-E 3. However, the startup is not yet close to making a final decision on the matter. OpenAI researcher Sandhini Agarwal said that the accuracy of the classifier tool is "really good," but it has not yet met the company's threshold for quality. She said that there were concerns that they could put out a tool that was somewhat unreliable, said TechCrunch. Related Article: 'AI Factories' Underway as Nvidia, Foxconn Aim to Boost Autonomous Car Development @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. By Trevor Hunnicutt and Jarrett Renshaw WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The White House on Friday asked Congress for nearly $106 billion to fund ambitious plans for Ukraine, Israel and U.S. border security, but offered no strategy for securing the money from a broken Congress. President Joe Biden 's request for the funding comes days after he visited Israel and pledged solidarity as the country bombards Gaza following an attack by Hamas militants that killed 1,400 people in southern Israel. By grouping Israel funding with Ukraine, border security, refugee assistance, measures to counter China and other hotly debated priorities, the Democratic president is hoping he has created a must-pass national security spending bill that can win support in a chaotic House of Representatives. The chamber, which Republicans won control of last year, has been without a leader for 18 days. Some Republican lawmakers have grown skeptical of the need to fund Ukraine's war with Russia, and have threatened to halt government altogether to put an end to chronic U.S. budget deficits and fiscal spending fueled by $31.4 trillion in debt. "The world is watching and the American people rightly expect their leaders to come together and deliver on these priorities," said Biden's budget director, Shalanda Young, in a letter to acting House Speaker Patrick McHenry. "I urge Congress to address them as part of a comprehensive, bipartisan agreement in the weeks ahead." In a call with reporters, Young said the role of the White House is to lay out the country's needs and the stakes, not to meddle in the speakership battle. "We are doing our job here by letting Congress know what the critical needs are and we expect them to act, and act swiftly," she said. She also told Congress of plans to submit another request for funding to deal with natural disasters, high-speed internet, child care and wild-land firefighter pay "in coming days." Some $14.3 billion of Friday's funding request for the 2024 fiscal year would be dedicated to Israel, much of it to support the country's air and missile defense systems and other weapons purchases. Israel has vowed to wipe out Hamas, which rules Gaza, after the Islamist militant group's Oct. 7 attack. Hardline conservative Republican Jim Jordan's bid to become speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives ended on Friday as his fellow Republicans revoked their support following a third, failed vote on the House floor, lawmakers said. Republicans now must find a new candidate, complicating Biden's efforts to secure funding. Democratic U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement on Friday that he will move ahead quickly on Biden's request. "This legislation is too important to wait for the House to settle their chaos. Biden also wants more than $9 billion for humanitarian relief, including for Israel and Gaza, where the population faces a worsening humanitarian crisis. The proposal also includes $13.6 billion for U.S. border security to deal with large numbers of Latin American and Caribbean immigrants at the southern border as well as fentanyl trade and $4 billion in military assistance and government financing designed to counter China's regional efforts in Asia. Funding will also support the Pacific "AUKUS" security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. But the largest share of cash, $61.4 billion, would be for Ukraine. The request includes billions to replenish the country's military equipment, and would provide economic and security aid and support for refugees in the United States. The war with Russia is 20 months old, and Biden has vowed to support Ukraine indefinitely. "The unwavering bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States is incredibly encouraging for all of our warriors and for our entire nation," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wrote on Friday on social media. "America's investment in Ukraine's defense will ensure long-term security for all of Europe and the world," he said. Zelenskiy spoke with Biden on Thursday. About four in 10 respondents in a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted last week said the U.S. should support Israel's position in the current conflict when given a range of options. Nearly half said Americans should remain neutral or not be involved. In a separate Reuters/Ipsos poll earlier this month, roughly the same proportion agreed with a statement that Washington "should provide weapons to Ukraine." "American leadership is what holds the world together. American alliances are what keep us, America, safe," Biden said in an Oval Office address to the nation on Thursday night. (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt, Jarrett Renshaw; Additional reporting by Doina Chiacu and Andy Sullivan; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Alistair Bell and Jonathan Oatis) The White House shot back at Republican efforts to redirect aid from Gaza to the Iron Dome, arguing the GOP lawmakers behind new legislation should back President Biden's new supplemental funding bill for Israel. "Before becoming the first American commander-in-chief to set foot in Israel during wartime, President Bidens unflinching backing for Israel in the wake of the worst terrorist atrocities in their history was welcomed across that country as the strongest expression of support from anyone to ever sit in the Oval Office," White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates told Fox News Digital. "He quickly sent military aid to Israel, and he has been clear that the United States will ensure Israel has what it needs to protect itself, - and those Americans living in and traveling to Israel - from terrorism." The comments come after a group of Republican senators led by Sen. Bill Hagerty , R-Tenn., introduced legislation Thursday that would require the president to transfer "all unexpended balances of appropriations made available to Gaza to the Department of Defense, to be available for grants to Israel for the Iron Dome short-rage rocket defend system." "In the wake of Iran-backed Hamass savage attack on Israel in which over 1,300 people in Israel were murdered, including 30 Americans, and as Iran-backed Hamas terrorists continue to launch missiles and rockets into Israel, the American people have seen the images of Israels Iron Dome missile defense systems repeatedly intercepting rockets and saving the lives of countless civilians," Hagerty told Fox News Digital. "My legislation requires the Biden Administration to halt U.S. foreign assistance from going to Hamas terrorist-dominated areas and instead to redirect these resources to help Israel resupply its life-saving Iron Dome interceptors. The United States should unequivocally support the right of Israel to defend itself from terrorists." GAZA AID SHOULD GO TO ISRAEL IRON DOME INSTEAD, GOP SENATORS SAY: 'WIPE HAMAS' FROM EARTH The bill has 11 GOP cosponsors, with some taking aim at Biden's priorities in the war. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "The Biden Administration insists on sending foreign assistance to Gaza, while Hamas steals it to fund weapons to kill Israelis and Americans," Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., told Fox News Digital. "Instead of providing assistance to Gaza, the Biden Administration must ensure any taxpayer funds are used to support Israels Iron Dome to defend its citizens from the savagery of Iran-backed Hamas," Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla, added. However, Bates argued that "the overwhelming majority of the Palestinian People are not Hamas" and chastised the GOP effort to "stop our work to feed innocent people." "There is strong, bipartisan support for President Bidens efforts to deliver humanitarian necessities to the people of Gaza like food, water, and medicine without benefiting Hamas," Bates said. Bates also pointed to the president's efforts to secure additional funding for the Israeli war effort, something he argued the GOP senators should support. An Israeli missile launched from the Iron Dome defense missile system attempts to intercept a rocket, fired from the Gaza Strip, over the city of Netivot in southern Israel on Oct. 8, 2023. BIDEN PUTS CONDITION ON HUMANITARIAN AID TO GAZA AS ISRAEL ALLOWS EGYPT TO DELIVER SUPPLIES "If these congressional Republicans want to join President Biden in his efforts to help Israel destroy Hamas, we look forward to their endorsement of the supplemental funding bill he will soon propose," Bates said. Meanwhile, a National Security Council spokesperson pointed out to Fox News Digital that Biden made the Iron Dome's continued operation a priority in the early days of the war, pointing to Oct. 10 remarks in which the president vowed a surge of military aid to Israel. "Were surging additional military assistance, including ammunition and interceptors to replenish Iron Dome. Were going to make sure that Israel does not run out of these critical assets to defend its cities and its citizens," Biden said at the time. "My administration has consulted closely with Congress throughout this crisis. And when Congress returns, were going to ask them to take urgent action to fund the national security requirements of our critical partners." The spokesperson also pointed out that Biden promised to halt any aid if it fell into the hands of Hamas. CLICK HERE FOR MORE US NEWS "If Hamas confiscates it or doesnt let it get through or just confiscates it, then its going to end, because were not going to be sending any humanitarian aid to Hamas if theyre going to be confiscating it," Biden said Wednesday. "Thats the commitment that Ive made." The spokesperson stressed that "U.S. assistance for Palestinians does not go to or through Hamas" and that the aid "provides funding for essential and life-saving humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees through vetted international and non-governmental organizations." "These organizations fill a critical role in providing assistance that would otherwise be filled by terrorist organizations like Hamas," the spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "Our trusted partners and beneficiaries are subject to extensive vetting and oversight procedures to help prevent assistance from flowing to individuals or organizations that are affiliated with terrorists." Responding to the criticism, a spokesperson for Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., one of the cosponsors of the effort, said "it makes no sense to condition aid to Israel on aid to Ukraine" while also stressing that "Gaza is run by Hamas." CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Meanwhile, Hagerty argued that the "reality is that Hamas controls Gaza, and Hamas will likely find a way to use incoming American taxpayer dollars to further its objective of obliterating Israel." "This is not my opinion, but that of Bidens own State Department that warned that there is a high risk' Hamas could potentially derive indirect, unintentional benefit from U.S. assistance to Gaza," Hagerty said. "Until we know that U.S. taxpayer dollars won't inadvertently fund Hamas, President Biden should support Israels efforts to put Hamas out of business once and for allrather than push misguided measures to appease the radical far-left, sending taxpayer dollars that will inevitably be diverted to Hamas leadership." Original article source: White House bashes GOP plan to shift funds from Gaza aid to Israel Iron Dome: 'Not Hamas' The Biden administration asked Congress on Friday to approve a massive $106 billion package of emergency aid for Israel and Ukraine, as well as funds for the southern U.S. border and other humanitarian needs. The request, which faces clear political hurdles, was directed to Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry, who is currently leading a House that remains frozen without a speaker. All told, the request includes $61.4 billion for Ukraine, including $44.4 billion to provide Department of Defense equipment for the country, to replenish weapons stocks and to continue providing other military support. The administration is also asking for $14.3 billion for Israel and $9.15 billion for the State Department to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Gaza. Republicans have been skeptical of the need to pass additional funding for Ukraine. And administration officials are effectively daring them to vote against those funds by tying them to money to shore up Israels defense system. It is the president's job, our job, to make clear to Congress what the needs are, what happens if this critical funding is not delivered, Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young said on a call on Friday. We are doing our job by letting Congress know what these critical needs are and we expect them to act and act swiftly. Echoing that call for action, national security adviser Jake Sullivan asked Congress to join President Joe Biden in disproving of Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent remarks that Ukraine would have one week to live if the United States ended its support of the country. Putin is betting that the United States will walk away from defending its democratic partner Ukraine, walk away from a coalition of countries that it has built over the last 18 months, Sullivan said. Joe Biden and the American people are going to prove [that] wrong and we're asking Congress to join us. Previously approved funding to assist Ukraine has nearly run out and congressional action is needed now, he added. In addition to the funds for the two wars, the White House is also asking Congress for $13.6 billion to address migration at the southern border. That includes $6.4 billion for border operations, such as holding facilities, $3.1 billion for additional border agents, $1.4 billion for migrant shelters and services and $1.2 billion to counter fentanyl. Senate Republicans have already said they want to see any emergency funding bill include a sizable contribution to border security, including policy changes, which typically are not included in funding bills. Young chided lawmakers for ignoring the administrations prior request for $4 billion in border funding. Let me be clear, some in Congress have said a lot about doing something on border security, while refusing to take up the $4 billion request we sent in August to Congress, she said. We will not be lectured by those who refuse to act. As we said repeatedly, Congress needs to take action to provide sufficient resources for the border. The long-telegraphed request comes as the administration juggles its involvement in a pair of foreign conflicts that have grown increasingly delicate. Biden aides have warned lawmakers on several occasions over the last few weeks that cutting off funding to Ukraine would severely hamper its counteroffensive and leave it vulnerable to Russian efforts to retake territory within the country. That also risks harming U.S. national security, the White House argued, by increasing the odds that an emboldened Russia sets its sights next on NATO-allied countries, drawing the U.S. into a far more direct conflict. Congressional Democrats, as well as a majority of Republican lawmakers, still support aid to Ukraine. But a growing faction of conservatives in the House have vowed to oppose further funding, raising concerns that whoever Republicans eventually settle on as speaker may decline to put the issue to a floor vote. The administration is hoping that pairing Ukraine funding with Israel will help smooth its path. The Senate is expected to write up a funding bill and Senate leaders have expressed hope of moving the legislation quickly, although that could be slowed by the Republican demands for border policy changes. Once the Senate passes something, pressure on the House is likely to grow. The House cannot act on a funding request until it has a permanent speaker or empowers McHenry to move legislation. The Capitol building where the US Congress meets The White House has sent a request to the U.S. Congress to appropriate nearly $106 billion for security assistance to Ukraine and Israel, as well as to fund other projects related to U.S. national security, Reuters reported on Oct. 20. In addition to military aid to Israel and Ukraine, the funding package is intended to finance measures to counter Chinas influence, border security between the United States and Mexico, and refugee relief. Read also: US can support Ukraine, Israel, and defend itself at same time, Biden tells CBS U.S. President Joe Bidens administration hopes that the combined funding package will gain support in the House of Representatives, which has been without a speaker for two weeks. Read also: Republican resistance to aid for Ukraine targets Biden, claims national security expert According to Bloomberg, the Democrats in the U.S. Senate will begin drafting a bill based on the request next week. Should the Congress pass the bill, its funding package to Ukraine would include $61.4 billion, specifically $44.4 billion for military aid from the U.S. Department of Defense, replenishment of armament reserves, and other military support. Read also: Biden delivers historic national address from Oval Office, outlines plan to support Ukraine The request for Israel calls for $14.3 billion. The U.S. State Department is set to receive another $9.15 billion for humanitarian aid to Ukraine, Israel, and the Gaza Strip. On Oct. 19 Biden addressed the nation, urging support for Ukraine and Israel and announcing an emergency budget request to finance aid for the two countries. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine WASHINGTON The White House on Friday requested that Congress provide more than $105 billion in aid to Ukraine and Israel and other national security needs. The move comes one day after President Joe Biden's Oval Office address, where he announced his intention to provide more funding for "Americas national security needs" and support for "our critical partners." If approved, $61.4 billion in aid would go to Ukraine, and $14.3 billion would go to Israel. The White House requested $9.15 billion in aid for humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, Israel, Gaza "and other needs." The proposal also includes funding for U.S. border operations, supporting shelters and services for migrants and efforts to counter fentanyl. "Its a smart investment thats going to pay dividends for American security for generations, help us keep American troops out of harms way, help us build a world that is safer, more peaceful, and more prosperous for our children and grandchildren," Biden said in Thursday's address. The funding for Ukraine would go toward additional weapons and equipment, support for the country to provide "critical services to its people and sustain its economy," assistance for displaced Ukrainians and nuclear and radiological incident response capabilities, among other resources, according to a White House fact sheet. Aid to Israel would fund the country's air and missile defense systems' readiness, including support for the Iron Dome. It would also go toward replenishing Department of Defense stockpiles that the White House said "are being drawn down to support Israel in its time of need," and increasing U.S. embassy security, the fact sheet said. Without additional replenishment funding, DOD will be unable to continue to backfill the Military Services for equipment provided via drawdown to Ukraine and Israel, thereby degrading U.S. readiness, the White House said. The request would invest more than $50 billion in "the American defense industrial base," which the White House said will ensure ongoing U.S. military readiness. Shalanda Young, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, sent a letter to House Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry , R-N.C., urging Congress to address the request quickly. NBC News has reached out to McHenry's office for comment. Identical letters were also sent to the top Democrats and Republicans on the House and Senate appropriations committees. But the request faces an uphill battle in the House, which is still without a speaker and therefore can't really do much of anything. McHenry has threatened to resign as speaker pro tempore if his colleagues push him to move legislation without voting to expand his authority. "Our job is to make clear to Congress what the needs are and what happens if this critical funding is not delivered," Young said when asked during a call with reporters Friday about the Houses ability to take up the request. "So were doing our job here by letting Congress know what, what the critical needs are and we expect them to act and act swiftly. The Senate Appropriations Committee has scheduled a hearing on the funding request for Oct. 31. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin are listed as witnesses. "We are carefully reviewing the Presidents request right now and working with our colleagues to craft a strong, bipartisan package that we aim to get across the finish line as soon as possible," Sens. Patty Murray of Washington and Susan Collins of Maine, the top Democrat and Republican on the panel, said in a statement. A group of nine Senate Republicans sent a letter on Thursday to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell urging them to separate requested aid to Israel from aid to Ukraine. "These are two separate conflicts and it would be wrong to leverage support of aid to Israel in attempt to get additional aid for Ukraine across the finish line," read the letter, led by Sens. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and Roger Marshall of Kansas. McConnell on Friday said the Senate must draft its own aid legislation. "In the coming days, after reviewing the Presidents request, we must produce our own supplemental legislation that meets the demonstrated needs of our national security," he said in a statement. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com President Joe Biden has sent a funding bill to Congress (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) The White House has formally asked Congress to approve more than $105 billion in supplemental funding for defence aid to Ukraine and Israel as well as security along the US-Mexico border, citing the urgency of addressing security needs for the close American allies. In a letter to House Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry, Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young urged action on President Joe Bidens request. The world is watching and the American people rightly expect their leaders to come together and deliver on these priorities. ... I urge Congress to address them as part of a comprehensive, bipartisan agreement in the weeks ahead, she wrote. The supplemental funding package was alluded to in an Oval Office address by Mr Biden late Thursday and comes just days after the president made a wartime visit to Israel for meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet. The presidents decision to pair funding for Israel with more funds for Ukraines defence against Russia along with Mexico border security funding, refugee assistance and other hot-button programmes is a bet that lawmakers wont risk the political fallout that could come from opposing a bill to fund Israel while it is at war with the militant group Hamas. Yet its not clear whether Congress is capable of enacting legislation as the House of Representatives still lacks a speaker following the ouster of Representative Kevin McCarthy after he allowed the government to remain open by letting the stopgap funding bill pass the House last month. That legislation expires in less than a month, and until the House elects a new speaker it cannot take up legislation to fund the federal government or to fund defence aid for Ukraine and Israel. Ms Young, the White House budget director, told reporters on Friday that the Biden administration looks forward to continued engagement with members of both parties to reach a comprehensive bipartisan agreement to fund the government and invest in critical national priorities. She added that the supplemental request reflects how under President Biden's leadership, the US has rallied the world building a coalition of more than 50 countries to respond to Putin's brutal invasion of Ukraine. And now we are coming to the aid of our ally Israel, she said. Continuing, Ms Young said the presidents proposal would expand production lines, strengthen the American economy, keep us safe and create new American jobs with more than $50 billion allocated for ensuring our military continues to be the most ready, capable and best equipped fighting force the world has ever seen. She added that the budget request would also address global humanitarian impacts of both the Israel-Gaza conflict and Russias war on Ukraine, as well as provide resources to compete with China by funding global development and to bolster border security with an additional 1,300 Border Patrol agents, 375 immigration judge teams, and 1,600 asylum officers and over 100 cutting edge detection machines to help detect fentanyl at our Southwest border. Ms Young also noted that the GOP-led House had previously refused to act on a $4 billion request the administration made for border security funding in August, even while Republicans have railed against the administration for what they describe as allowing an open border between the US and Mexico. We will not be lectured by those who refuse to act, she said. As we said repeatedly, Congress needs to take action to provide sufficient resources for the border. A simmering civil war among Texass young Republicans came to a boil this month after a prominent GOP donor was seen meeting with white supremacist influencer Nick Fuentes. Fuentes, a Holocaust denier who has fantasized on livestreams about marrying a child, took an hours-long meeting with a prominent conservative donor on Oct. 6, the Texas Tribune reported this month. News of the meeting set off a wave of accusations between factions of activist Republicans in the state. Now state lawmakers are condemning one of those factions as its members flee to a rival young Republican group. Fuentes met for several hours with Jonathan Stickland, then-president of the ultraconservative Texas donor group Defend Texas Liberty, the Tribune first reported. The Tribune also photographed Kyle Rittenhouse entering the building, although a gun rights group later stated that he was attending a meeting with them, not Fuentes. Fuentes was driven to the appointment by Chris Russo, president of the group Texans for Strong Borders. (None of the attendees have commented on the meeting. Defend Texas Liberty announced a new president this week, who did not return a request for comment on Sticklands current status with the organization.) How White Nationalist Nick Fuentes Evaded His Twitter Ban The meeting was not Fuentes first encounter with well-connected Texas Republicans, some of the states conservatives noted. This summer, the states largest youth conservative organization underwent a schism after some members accused peers of being Fuentes fans. In August, the Texas Young Republican Federation (TYRF) voted to disassociate from the Republican Party of Texas (RPT), over what the TYRF claimed were troll tactics by RPT chair Matt Rinaldi. The young Republicans group accused Rinaldi of intiat[ing] a smear campaign against their leader, whom Rinaldi mocked for making a video in 2020 stating that Black lives matter. (Rinaldi was in the same building as Fuentes during the Stickland meeting, but has said he did not attend the meeting, and that he condemns Fuentes.) During that breakup, some smaller youth Republican groups also broke from the TYRF. Some of that divide was due to members of splinter groups promoting far-right or openly neo-Nazi content, including posts praising Fuentes, writer Amanda Moore reported last week. Those splinter groups formed their own rival young conservative coalition called the Young Republicans of Texas (YRT), which cast itself as the more MAGA alternative to the TYRF. (Neither the TYRF nor the YRT returned requests for comment.) Texass State Republican Executive Committee (SREC) voted to partner with the YRT in September, with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton praising the hard-right group as the newest generation of Young Republicans. But after Fuentes meeting with Stickland, some of Texass Republican brass is revisiting YRTs ties to the white supremacist internet personality. In a Wednesday letter to Rinaldi, two members of the Texas Executive Committee urged the state party to distance itself from the ascendant YRT. Because it has become clear that the YRT has actively recruited and embraced into its leadership individuals who support self-avowed Neo-Nazi White Supremacists, the Republican Party of Texas must separate from this group, as they do not represent the core values of the Republican Party of Texas, the letter read. Among the Executive Committee members concerns were a YRT leader who openly affiliates with antisemites online, as well as another prominent member who is a public supporter of Adolf Hitler, making public statements such as National cold brew day AND Hitlers bday?! Its a great day indeed and Im antisemitic. (The Republican Party of Texas did not return a request for comment.) White Supremacist Vlogger Jean-Francois Gariepys Partner Has Been Missing Since June At least two YRT chapters also dropped out of the organization after the Fuentes meeting, and encouraged the state Republican party to cut ties with the YRT. The Gulf Coast and Rural Young Republicans groups issued a joint statement last Thursday announcing their departure from YRT, alleging that mismanagement and untruthfulness plagued the new organization from the outset. Allegations were made that the new organization contained several members that do not reflect our values or the Republican Party of Texas values, the two groups wrote. Initially, we dismissed this concern as a concerted smear effort but subsequent reporting revealed that our chapters were misled and that these members were, in fact, involved. Knowing this, our chapters have decided to disaffiliate from the Young Republicans of Texas. In additional to disaffiliating from the Young Republicans of Texas, we encourage the SREC to consider eliminating partnership auxiliary statuses for youth organizations. The two now-ex YRT groups are working to join the TYRF, according to the TYRFs chair. In their letter to Rinaldi, the two Executive Committee members said state Republicans had heard troubling allegations against YRT members, but moved ahead with the partnership. During the rushed SREC vetting process of YRT, concerned activists came forward with troubling information regarding the charter members of the organization, their letter alleges. Those concerns were not given full weight, and now YRT itself admits what many of us suspected all along: the ranks of YRT are infested with avowed antisemites and neo-Nazi sympathizers. This story has been updated to clarify Kyle Rittenhouses presence at a building where Nick Fuentes was attending meetings. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. The first look at Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell s romantic comedy, Anyone But You, has officially been released. The chemistry between the two fills every moment of the teaser trailer, which dropped on Oct. 19. It comes months after behind-the-scenes images and clips were released on social media, where people couldnt help but notice that the leading pair had real-life rom-com energy. With the teaser now released, heres why many are talking about Anyone But You. What is Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell's movie 'Anyone But You' about? "Anyone But You" follows Sweeney as Bea and Powell as Ben, a pair whose relationship turns ice cold after their amazing first date. When they find themselves at the same destination wedding in Australia, despite their hatred towards one another, the two decide to pretend to be the perfect couple. Who else stars in Anyone But You? Directed by Will Gluck, the rom-com also co-stars Alexandra Shipp, Darren Barnet, Michelle Hurd and Dermot Mulroney. Why are people talking about Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell? Photos of the pair at CinemaCon 2023 in Las Vegas in April sparked rumors of a potential off-screen romance. It should be noted that the Euphoria star is said to be engaged to Jonathan Davino. At the time, Powell was dating model Gigi Paris. Sweeney and Powell spoke about their roles and friendship during the event, with her sharing the nickname she gave Powell: Top Gun, which references his role in Tom Cruises Top Gun: Maverick. I love when she calls me that, Powell told People. Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney promoting the upcoming film The two had been posting snaps of their time together in Australia, where they filmed. And in late April, a video of Powell dipping Sweeney generated conversation. In an interview with Variety, Sweeney said she acted as camp counselor, planning group activities for her cast and crew. Sydney Sweeney addresses romance rumors with Glen Powell The actor would eventually speak out against the romance rumors, telling Variety that she didn't pay attention the the chatter. Its a rom-com, she told the magazine with a laugh. Thats what people want! Glen and I dont really care. We have so much fun together, and we respect each other so much; hes such a hard worker, and Im a hard worker. Were excited for the press tour, and I literally just left ADR with him. We talk all the time like, Thats really funny. Glen Powell and Gigi Paris break up Powell and Paris had been dating for three years before reports indicated that the pair broke up in late April. Around that same time, Paris posted a video of herself walking in the street, captioning the clip, know your worth & onto the next. Neither one of the two have spoken out their split. But they stopped following each other on Instagram. When will Anyone But You be released? Anyone But You will be released in theaters on Dec. 22. This article was originally published on TODAY.com The American Flag flies at half staff at Milwaukee City Hall in Milwaukee on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022. American and Wisconsin flags across the state will fly at half-staff Saturday in honor of a Korean War veteran who is finally being laid to rest in his hometown after over 70 years. Here's what to know. Why are the flags at half-staff in Wisconsin today? Gov. Tony Evers signed Executive Order #214 ordering American flags and the Wisconsin state flag to be flown at half-staff on Saturday, Oct. 21, in honor of U.S. Army Private First Class Charles A. Dickman of Cashton, Wisc., who died in the Korean War. At only 17 years old, Dickman was reported missing in action on July 12, 1950, in Chochiwon, South Korea, now modern day Jochiwon, after his unit engaged in defensive actions. After regaining control of Chochiwon in the fall of 1950, the Army began recovering remains from the area, which were temporarily interred at the United Nations Military Cemetery Taejon before being buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii, according to a release from Evers' office. On June 20, 2023, Dickmans remains were positively identified by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agencys Korean War Disinterment Project. Dickman will be buried with full military honors on Sat., Oct. 21, 2023, in his hometown of Cashton. How long will the flag be at half-staff? Flags will fly at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Saturday, Oct. 21, per Evers' Executive Order #214. Where do flags fly at half-staff? Evers ordered that, on Oct. 21, the American flag and the Wisconsin state flag fly at half-staff at all buildings, grounds and military installations belonging to the State of Wisconsin. Why do flags fly at half-staff? "The United States flag flies at half-staff or at half-mast when the nation or a state is in mourning," USA.gov says. "The president, a state governor, or the mayor of the District of Columbia can order flags to fly at half-staff." Most often, it marks: The death of a government official, military member, or first responder. A national tragedy. Memorial Day or another national day of remembrance. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Why are the flags at half-staff in Wisconsin today? TechCrunch Google confirmed on its earnings call that it is working on different ad formats for its generative AI-powered search experience Google shared some ideas earlier this year and the mention in the earnings call could indicate that a rollout could happen sooner rather than later. This project is particularly important for the company as the majority of Google's revenue still comes from ads despite several attempts to diversify its revenue sources through Google Cloud, services and other bets including hardware. In its earnings call for the third quarter of 2023, Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai said that the company plans to experiment with a native ad format suitable for its Search Generative Experience (SGE) that is "customized to every step of the search journey." (Photo : GREG BAKER/AFP via Getty Images) China's DF-41 nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles are seen during a military parade at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on October 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. China's military has taken increasingly unsafe actions against US forces in the Asia-Pacific region, including maneuvers to intimidate American aircraft and enhance its nuclear capabilities, according to a report released by the Pentagon on Thursday. Based on the Defense Department's annual report to Congress on China's military capabilities, the United States has experienced a significant increase in "coercive and risky" air intercepts by the Chinese military over the past two years, surpassing the number recorded in the previous decade, as per The New York Times. Pentagon Raises Alarms on China's Nuclear Arsenal Growth Conforming to a recent assessment by the US Department of Defense, China has experienced a notable rise in its operational nuclear warhead count. The number has surged from an estimated 400 in 2021 to over 500 in May. While this number remains a fraction of the atomic stockpiles held by the United States and Russia, it marks a concerning shift in China's nuclear capabilities. The Pentagon predicts that China will possess approximately 1,500 nuclear warheads in its arsenal by 2035, a goal surpassing previous projections. A senior defense official noted, "That's on track to exceed some of our previous projections," highlighting the rapid acceleration of China's nuclear arsenal. The report anticipates China reaching 1,000 operational nuclear warheads by 2030, potentially even developing non-nuclear warheads capable of getting parts of the continental United States. This escalation in China's nuclear program began in 2020 when the country started constructing hundreds of nuclear silos in its northwestern region, expedited the development of new warheads, and advanced its missile launch systems. M. Taylor Fravel, a professor specializing in security studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, stated, "It is a complete transformation of China's approach to nuclear weapons." The latest Pentagon report confirms that the rapid modernization is indeed progressing. The annual Pentagon report on China, initiated in 2000, remains closely monitored, particularly given ongoing global conflicts such as those in Ukraine and the Middle East. Despite these hotspots, the report underscores the importance of addressing national security concerns related to China, influencing US defense budgets and training priorities, according to NPR. Read Also: British Prime Minister Visits Israel After Promising To Keep Jewish People Safe Amid Conflict China's Military Buildup in Taiwan Strait and Beyond The report's release follows a year of escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait, with China asserting its claim to the island as a breakaway province. China intends to unify Taiwan with the People's Republic of China, even if it requires force. Last August, in response to high-profile visits by US officials to Taiwan, China conducted large-scale military exercises around the island, indicating its ability to blockade Taiwan and disrupt energy supplies. Since these exercises, China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) has intensified military activities, conducting regular sorties of military planes and naval vessels around Taiwan. The Pentagon report acknowledges that "the PLA is preparing for a contingency to unify Taiwan with the PRC by force if perceived as necessary by Beijing." While China expands its nuclear forces, it is also rapidly growing non-nuclear capabilities, boasting the world's largest navy, deploying hypersonic missiles, and planning an intercontinental ballistic missile with conventional warheads capable of targeting Pacific and US mainland locations. It offers a thorough analysis of the Chinese military's expansion, presenting detailed satellite imagery of missile installations and enhancing our understanding of China's military strategy. China currently has the largest army in the world, consisting of around 4 million personnel, including active-duty soldiers, reservists, and paramilitary forces. Furthermore, the report highlights Chinese President Xi Jinping's efforts to reshape the international system as part of a "clash of ideologies" with the United States as the primary adversary. As China's military might and nuclear capabilities expand, it poses new challenges for the global strategic landscape, The Washington Times reported. Related Article: Capitol Police Arrest Pro-Palestine Protesters Demanding for Gaza Ceasefire @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Confusion over a hospital explosion in Gaza this week showed how difficult its been for people around the world to get up-to-date and reliable information about whats happening on the ground during the conflict between Israel and Hamas. A range of factors, from press access to changes on social media platforms, are to blame. The social media landscape has seen drastic changes even since the Russia-Ukraine war started in 2022. Its been well-documented how the changes made to Twitter specifically, now called X, have been linked to the spread of more misinformation online. And other platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, have leaned away from news and current events. Its a little unsettling, a former elections policy executive at Facebook told Bloomberg. People used to know they could go to Twitter for this or Facebook for that. Now people dont know where to go. The conditions for journalists in Gaza also make it harder to get immediate and accurate updates. Immediately following the hospital blast, news outlets had to rely on dueling statements from Hamas and the Israeli government over who was responsible. There are only a limited number of journalists currently working in Gaza through dangerous conditions, limited internet connection, and electricity outages. Outside journalists have been unable to enter Gaza, since the sole entry point from Israel has been closed since Hamas attack. That hinders the worlds ability to get a full picture of what is happening to the Palestinian population, the Associated Press wrote. Parties at war are never unbiased sources, and this conflict is no different. There are reasons to be especially skeptical about initial claims from either side of this war: Gaza is governed by Hamas, which has falsely claimed it didnt kill innocent civilians when it attacked Israel on Oct. 7. And the Israeli military has also denied or dodged responsibility for civilian deaths it has been responsible for. Sides at war aggressively push information in their favor, The New York Times wrote this week, and misinformation only adds to the confusion. There are so many untrue claims that some people question the true ones. Several X accounts that pay to be verified are branded around OSINT, which stands for open source intelligence and uses social media posts, satellite images, and other online sources to confirm and share news. But many of those accounts have shared misleading information in the interest of profit and clout, 404 Media wrote this week. OSINT can be a helpful way for journalists to verify facts, but the war in Gaza has made it clear that there are many verified, popular accounts on X that use the OSINT term to give legitimacy to shoddy work, the tech outlet wrote. A NewsGuard analysis also found that verified X accounts are superspreaders of misinformation about the conflict. Financial Times journalist John Burn-Murdoch argued this week that large newsrooms still arent fully proficient in OSINT, and should utilize it more to confirm facts in the fog of war and avoid having to rely on statements from sources and parties who are clearly motivated to mislead. Perhaps surprisingly, generative artificial intelligence the newfound ability for anyone to create semi-believable fake images or videos has not been a major source of disinformation during the war, Poynter wrote this week. Instead of deepfakes, the dominating threat has instead been real footage used out of context, the site wrote. Many of the debunked images and video have been from conflicts in Syria or Turkey, or old footage from Gaza. As the U.S. House continues to devolve into discord over which representative will become the new House Speaker, one House member is working to keep the chaos light as she reveals the day-to-day affairs within her chamber of Congress. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a Democrat representing Texas 30th District, is taking to her timeline on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, to offer some much-needed, real-time accounts of House happenings as well as some fresh perspective. U.S. House Representative Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) (Photo: Facebook/Jasmine Crockett) House GOP members still cant come to one accord on who will replace Kevin McCarthy after the House voted to vacate his seat. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise was a frontrunner who received enough votes to seize the speaker nomination, but he pulled out due to concerns over his support of Donald Trump and debunked claims that the 2020 election was rigged. Trending Today: Rep. Jim Jordan still cant rack up enough support among his fellow Republicans. Many of his moderate peers are also concerned over his hardline endorsements of Trump, but other firebrand conservatives arent budging on their desire to put someone in the seat who will execute their agenda. And all the while, Ms. Crockett has been keeping it real with how she and other Congress members are faring in an entertaining fashion. Just today, she tweeted about how the raggedy Republicans in the House chamber are wasting time and disclosed an apparent effort on Rep. Jordans end to call speaker votes all weekend. Yall Im sure someone is about to be offended but these Repubs are RAGGEDY! Gym wants to call speaker votes all weekend! Sir, the MATH AINT MATHING! To add insult to injury, one of HIS SUPPORTERS, opted to go into the war zone! Yes, one rolled all the way to ISRAEL! They need to go back to the drawing board, maybe find a non election denying, non insurrectionist I know the pickings may be slim on their side or elevate whoever can get 217 & let us Dems know when you are ready! STOP WASTING OUR TIME! On Thursday, she gave some updates on whats really going on behind closed doors by recounting an alleged spat between Reps. McCarthy and Gaetz. Ok this may be the SPEAKER UPDATE for the day, or not (whew): 1) We didnt vote at noon, as scheduledand I have no idea if we are voting today or not . 2) Gym was dropping out this morning & as of an hour ago, he isnt. 3) Rep Ken Knuck if you Buck warned Jordan that Jasmine Crockett (@JasmineForUS) October 19, 2023 You can check out the rest of Crocketts timeline here. Crockett recently just earned some national name recognition after she ripped House Republicans apart for trying to launch an impeachment inquiry against President Biden for some unproven and unfounded connections to his son Hunters shady foreign business dealings. When we start talking about things that look like evidence, they wanna act like they blind. They dont know what this is, Crockett told House Republicans in September while holding up photos from Donald Trumps indictment of classified documents that were kept in a bathroom at Mar-a-Lago. These are our national secrets; looks like in the shter to me. Never miss a story sign up for ATLANTA BLACK STARS free daily newsletters to stay up-to-date on the latest developments, from top news headlines to celebrity news. Crockett, a former Texas state representative and public defender, became a U.S. representative in January, representing Texas district that covers portions of Dallas and Tarrant Counties. As for the House Speaker situation, things still arent looking good. Theres no end in sight to the Republican dissension at play. The Washington Post reported that Jordan failed Friday on a third ballot to secure the gavel, so Republicans have ditched him as their nominee. The House is in recess until Monday, and Republicans plan to meet behind closed doors to discuss next steps. The House has been without a Speaker for two weeks now, leaving critical and time-sensitive domestic and international affairs up in the air, like the looming government shutdown deadline and thorny calls to send aid to Israel in the war against Hamas. Read the original story here. AI is a far cry from achieving sentience or world domination. As a computer engineer immersed in AI for more than 15 years, I've witnessed the remarkable growth of AI technology firsthand, especially over the past 12 months. However, let's not forget AI and particularly generative AI is still in its infancy. While the maturity of AI is accelerating at an unprecedented pace, it's critical to recognize that it's a work in progress. As we explore the potential of AI, there are more pressing risks to consider than world takeover. Fortunately, those imminent hazards are much more mundane. Companies risk frustrating customers and workers if they fail to invest in and develop a new generation of AI bots with the ability to recognize and interpret human qualities. With a human-centric approach, it becomes easier for all users to view AI as a helpful tool that enhances experiences and be less fearful about its integration into daily operations and daily life. Why AI scares us AI is an impossible person. It possesses more knowledge about humans than any single person ever could. Large language models like those that power GPT-4 are designed to consume everything. Every book, Reddit thread, company blog post, public government record the list is endless. Similar models built for business intelligence and customer support can seamlessly sift through millions of data points stored on a company's servers. Whether it's subtle intricacies of a customer's purchase history or sentiment trends in client communications with chatbots, AI has the capacity to instantly identify, analyze and take action on information it would take humans years to manually process. As we integrate AI into various aspects of our lives, from customer service to healthcare and beyond, it becomes imperative that AI systems align with our values and needs. Understandably, many people find AIs vast knowledge unsettling. So, to make AI more relatable, companies and developers have focused on creating AI chatbots with names and personalities. But the problem with anthropomorphizing AI is that it reinforces fears that AI is becoming an agent with independent thought. Whats more, assigning AI bots personas does little to improve user experience outside of very specific use cases (largely for providing companionship). Instead, AI advancement should focus on qualities that enhance its utility, such as improving context awareness, empathy and customization, allowing users to feel more supported and understood in their interactions with AI. The future of AI is empathy, not automation Rather than dedicating resources to fine-tuning Alexa's or Sydneys personalities, tech companies should focus more on developing humanized AI. Whats the difference? Humanized AI attempts to interpret a users emotions and sentiment and tailor its response to the users unique needs. This type of programming enables AI bots to genuinely assist humans in a way that fosters more meaningful and natural interactions. In essence, it enables AI to simulate empathy for human users. Imagine a first-time home buyer applies for a mortgage and the lender uses an AI tool to automate the process of gathering and processing financial information. Having never purchased a home before, the applicant is unfamiliar with the process and confused about the documents they need to submit. With a traditional AI automation tool, the user might receive technical and repetitive responses, exacerbating their confusion and frustration. In contrast, a humanized AI recognizes the users confusion, responds empathetically and offers personalized guidance, making the process less intimidating and more user-friendly. This human touch enhances the overall applicant experience and increases the likelihood of a successful interaction. AI isnt coming for our jobs Adopting more humanized AI doesnt mean human workers will be replaced. Yes, some jobs will gradually grow obsolete, but new ones will emerge to fill the void. The same trend has repeated throughout history with the advent of every major technology, from the printing press to the internet. Instead, companies and workers should appreciate AI for what it is a powerful tool that can augment their strengths and compensate for their weaknesses. AIs applications go beyond increasing productivity, like streamlining decision-making processes and automating tasks. Its true benefit comes from enhancing employees capabilities like a writer who uses GPT-4 to spark their creativity or a recruiter who uses AI to identify stronger candidates from a wider pool. And those benefits are only compounded if AI is humanized and empathetic. Rather than doing our jobs for us, AI can make all of us better at what we do no matter what that is so we can achieve better results and ultimately feel more fulfilled at work. We dont need AI to be more like humans we need it to recognize our humanity The potential of AI technology is vast, comparable to the transformative impact we've seen with cloud computing and the internet. And like the internet, it is poised to revolutionize how we conduct business, make decisions and engage with one another. However, these changes will be gradual, allowing us the time to adapt and harness AI's benefits to their fullest potential. As we integrate AI into various aspects of our lives, from customer service to healthcare and beyond, it becomes imperative that AI systems align with our values and needs. To achieve this alignment, we must prioritize the development of humanized AI. This means designing AI systems that not only perform tasks efficiently but also understand human nuances, adapt to individual preferences and enhance our daily experiences. By fostering this symbiotic relationship between humans and AI, we can use it to augment our work and interactions without fear. Three countries oppose sanctions against Rosatom If the project is implemented, the country will become the third on the continent to have a nuclear power plant. Russia is going to build a nuclear power plant in Burkina Faso. This news was reported by Reuters, citing statements by the local Ministry of Energy. If the project is implemented, the country will become the third on the continent to have a nuclear power plant. One plant is built on French reactors and operates in South Africa. The second is being built in Egypt by Rosatom. At first glance, this news may seem absurd. Burkina Faso is one of the poorest countries in the world, with a population of more than 20 million. The total generation capacity is about 380 MW (according to some sources, 407 MW). The total electricity production in 2021 amounted to 1.76 billion kWh, and consumption was 2.64 billion kWh. With such volumes, the nuclear power plant looks strange at the very least the plant is too large for such consumption volumes. In addition, launching a nuclear power plant will require creating (or scaling up) a national energy industry. This means building power transmission lines and resolving the issue of dispatching and distribution. In the end, the entire capacity of the national power system is not enough to balance the NPP. Finally, there is the issue of personnel. Why NPPs, or the Elephant in the china shop If a nuclear power plant is built, its only use may be to supply foreign markets. That is, exporting electricity to neighboring countries. Here, it is appropriate to evaluate the entire region - the state of the economy of the countries with which Burkina Faso borders. We have an extremely rich region in terms of natural resources, where gold, uranium, iron zinc, manganese ore, bauxite, phosphorites, oil, and gas are mined (and sold). There are also reserves of tungsten and titanium ores. At the same time, the region's countries are among the poorest in the world regarding economic development. Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana have the best GDP per PPP. Finally, another feature of this part of Africa is extreme political instability and (with rare exceptions) skepticism about the ability (willingness) of the EU and the US to work with local states as equal partners and invest in developing their economies. Today, only Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana can be called "pro-Western," where European mining companies operate and support local political regimes. Another "democracy" is Benin, where, in 2016, there was a peaceful transfer of power to the elected President, Patrice Talon. However, having promised to rule for only one term, he actively engaged in "reforming" the electoral law, and after the triumph of 2021 (winning the presidential election and monopolizing the majority in parliament), he began to build his own system of power. The Kremlin follows its standard algorithm for creating "additional" crises In other countries, either a military junta is in power or politicians brought in by the military are ruling. In Mali, there were coups in 2020 and 2021; in Burkina Faso, the military overthrew the president in 2022; we read about a military coup in Niger in 2023; and finally, Togo is ruled by President Gassimba, the son of President Eyadema, who died in 2005. He came to power with the support of the army, which decided that the Constitution was not the main decider in choosing an acting president. To be fair, it should be recognized that elections were held regularly thereafter. With, of course, the support of the military and a predictable outcome. West Africa is one of the core regions of interest for the Russian Federation. Russian PMCs or instructors are present in all problematic states to one degree or another. For example, the Wagner Group is active in Mali and Burkina Faso. Small units of this PMC (as well as their political technologists and instructors) are known to be present in Togo, Cote d'Ivoire, and Benin. Moreover, in 2023, Benin's President Talon (allegedly a pro-Western democrat) stated it was the "sovereign right of the states of the region" to invite and use Wagner PMCs. Lukoil's representative office operates in Cote d'Ivoire, with security provided by Lukom-A (Lukoil's former security service, now operating as a PMC). It is worth noting that Lukom-A, in addition to the physical security of facilities, specializes in information gathering and electronic espionage. Finally, Ghana is actively developing its relations with Rosneft and signed a contract with them in 2018 to supply LNG. In 2023, the country became one of the transshipment points for storing Russian "gray" oil. This is quite logical: Ghana has its own (small) exports. It does not have the capacity to store Russian and its own natural resources separately. This means that the oil from Novorossiysk looks the same as oil from Accra, with Europeans buying them both together. Grabbing hold of the region, or "Africa is ours." Now, it's time to return to the topic of nuclear power plants. Here, we will talk not so much about economics as politics or rather, geopolitics. The first question that arises is who will build it and for what cost. It is doubtful that any of these countries would have enough money to actually "buy a turnkey nuclear power plant." In Burkina Faso, even more so. Once again, it is one of the poorest countries in the world. Thus, we are discussing a joint venture in which Russia likely owns more than half. In reality, it will most likely be a Russian facility with Russian personnel under Russian protection. It's not just about the plant itself. It is necessary to create an entire industry: to build power lines, balance power plants, make a dispatching service, and much more. If Russia controls all of this, then we can talk about control over the country's economy. Old industries will continue to work, but any development will be possible only with Russian consent or participation (after all, the electric switch will be in Russian hands). Next, I propose returning to the table of state characteristics again. We can talk about the existence of a particular low-power regional power system. It is more or less balanced in terms of generation and consumption. NPP construction will likely be based on VVER 1200 reactor designs. These are the reactors that Rosatom has been building recently in Russia and abroad. Even one reactor is already a threefold increase in generating capacity in Burkina Faso. If the plant is in a standard two-reactor design, we will have an addition of 20% to the total generating capacity of the region. Thus, Russia is becoming a key player in the energy market in this part of Africa, benefitting in several areas at once: - Influence on the development of the countries in the region. This, among other things, will be manifested in a greater tie of local governments to Moscow. After all, the implementation of any sizeable energy-consuming project will be possible only with the Kremlin's consent; - Creation of infrastructure for the arrival of its own extractive business. Here, it is worth mentioning both already exported minerals and explored deposits; - Creation of preconditions for becoming dependent on European, American, and Chinese mining companies operating in the region. The availability of free capacities will make buying Russian energy more attractive than producing its own on small (often mobile) power plants installed at mines. At the same time (if the NPP is built on time), it makes the idea of creating a transnational power line from South Africa less attractive. The most important factor is political bonuses that go beyond the region regarding their impact. Russia demonstrates that, unlike France, it is ready to implement large-scale infrastructure projects. Moreover, such activity directly depends on the level of political cooperation with the Kremlin. In this logic, the choice of Burkina Faso, one of the poorest former French colonies, is quite apparent. Investments of several billion dollars and transforming a backward country into the most significant regional exporter of electricity is an excellent geopolitical "advertisement." In other words, Russia has already sent a signal to the elites of several African countries. The construction of the nuclear power plant and the transformation of the regional electricity market will bring together local political regimes that currently view Russia as one of their key partners. Establishing a "zone of Russian influence" will reinforce the Kremlin's ambitions to maintain its status as a geopolitical player. Is it essential for Ukraine? At this point, it is worth discussing another detail - the Kremlin's geopolitical bargaining for its future. In particular (or primarily) against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine. The NPP application and the series of military coups over the last 4-5 years hit France's position in the region. This is painful for Paris. What does Ukraine have to do with it? We have a relatively simple scheme: France may be interested in slowly implementing (or freezing) the Rosatom project. Russia may be interested in France's efforts to persuade Ukraine to engage in dialogue, such as to freeze the war or "compromise." Of course, at the right time and as "one of" the voices of such advisors. This is a perfectly acceptable exchange that will cost Russia nothing. And Africa is not the only region. The Kremlin follows its standard algorithm of creating "additional" crises before starting a dialogue on the main issue. At the beginning of the consultations, the Kremlin offers its partners (opponents) to discuss the problems "in a complex" where it will try to exchange its concessions on secondary topics for accommodations in its favor on the main issue. In addition to Africa, the Caucasus (where France has consistently supported Armenia), Libya, and the Middle East (including the ongoing war in Israel) are also worth mentioning. The Kremlin has already tried to implement a similar algorithm in 2016-2020 in the Ukrainian direction. The "additional" crises there were Syria, the already mentioned Libya, and the issue of gas supplies to the EU. These efforts were partially successful. Let's recall the Steinmeier formula of 2016, the attempt to "cease fire" in 2020, and the shuttle visits of European and American politicians from December 2021 to February 2022 with theses about the need for "concessions to Russia." Then, the scheme did not work. Likely, it will not work now, either. However, it is foolish to rely on it alone. The logic of the Kremlin's actions is clear. So, there is an opportunity for our own initiative. Given the region's specifics, there is an opportunity to act in the countries mentioned above. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine The empty chair of Myanmar's Foreign Minister is pictured during a Plenary Meeting session of the 55th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers Meeting in Phnom Penh, on August 3, 2022. Credit - Mohd RasfanAFP/Getty Images Earlier this month, activists urged Indonesian authorities to investigate potential sales by state-owned arms makers to Myanmar via an alleged shell company owned by the son of a junta minister. The allegation is far from the first or only such case that has shed light on a covert regional trade network funneling crucial resources to the Myanmar junta, which seized power in 2021 and plunged the country into violent civil unrest. Read More: How a Myanmar Township Defied the Odds to Become a Resistance Stronghold The coup two years ago drew condemnation from countries across the world, and the United Nations General Assembly passed a non-binding arms embargo prohibiting the supply of weapons to a junta-ruled Myanmar in 2021. Since then, however, the global community as a whole has been criticized by observers for the little international attention paid to the ongoing crisis in Myanmar. Myanmars neighbors in Southeast Asia, which some argue hold the most power to influence the junta through political and economic pressure, have proven particularly disappointing. Today, members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) remain among Myanmars top trading partners and arms suppliersjust behind China and Russia, fellow pariahs that have long made clear their endorsement of the junta and have strengthened ties with Myanmar since the coup. Read More: Myanmars Anti-Democratic Junta Seeks Russias Help on How to Run an Election But while ASEAN countries have officially refused to recognize the legitimacy of the junta and condemned military-led violence in Myanmar, their own governments and companies based in the region have struggled to stop quietly supporting the juntawhether through lucrative business dealings or facilitating the flow of armseven as the human costs of the civil unrest continue to mount. Logistical challenges Only five of the nine ASEAN states (excluding Myanmar) supported the U.N. arms embargo in 2021. But abiding by it, even for countries with presumably the best enforcement and monitoring systems, has proven challenging. In May, over 130 Singapore-based companies were identified in a U.N. report as being involved in the flow of arms and related supplies to Myanmars military, allegedly shipping $254 million of supplies between February 2021 and December 2022an amount not far behind the flow from Russia and China. Arms dealers operating out of Singapore are critical to the continued operation of the Myanmar militarys deadly weapons factories, Thomas Andrews, the special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, said when the report was published. He added that the Myanmar junta and its arms dealers have figured out how to game the system, setting up shell companies to circumvent sanctions. In response to the U.N. report, Singaporean authorities argued that many of the supplies listed were dual-use itemsincluding spare parts, computers, medical equipment, and construction materialthat can be used in both military and civilian settings. While Singaporean authorities have banned the trade of dual-use items that could potentially be used by the Myanmar military, its foreign minister said that they would need more details on the transactions referenced in the U.N. report to ascertain their connection to weapons production in Myanmar. But while the wealthy city-state is taking the heat, experts caution that it may represent just the tip of the iceberg of ASEANs dealings with the Myanmar junta. We know Singapore is doing this kind of thing because Singapore is very transparent. We got the data, Amara Thiha, a doctoral researcher specializing in Myanmar politics at Peace Research Institute Oslo, tells TIME. But there may be other countries doing it but we dont have the data and they dont have the compliance. Putting a sanction is not an issue, he adds. Enforcement and monitoring of such a mechanism is the very expensive part. The technical difficulty in enforcing an arms embargo with a regional neighbor may be partly why all nine ASEAN states (besides Myanmar) originally sought to water down the U.N. General Assembly resolution on Myanmars arms trade in May 2021especially the part calling for an immediate suspension of the direct and indirect supply, sale or transfer of all weapons and munitions to Myanmar. ASEANs request was ultimately not heeded, and the arms embargo was included in the resolution weeks later. (Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Vietnam ended up voting yes to the resolution, while Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand abstained). It seems to me that ASEAN does not really feel certain that they can fully enforce [the embargo], says Pinitbhand Paribatra, an associate professor of political science at Thailands Thammasat University. Political will The other major reason for ASEANsofficially unexplainedattempt to dilute the U.N. resolution has more to do with political considerations, experts say. Torn among a diversity of economic and political interests, as well as the blocs longstanding principles of non-interference and non-binding agreements, ASEAN has defaulted to a notoriously soft stance on the Myanmar crisis. ASEAN likely felt that if it were to be the main player dealing with the coup leaders, its support for an arms embargo wouldve killed any goodwill it mightve had with the coup leaders, Tan See Seng, a research advisor at Singapore-based think tank S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, tells TIME. Meanwhile, Amara points to the intertwining economic interests linking ASEAN states to Myanmar that would have been impacted by the arms embargo. A lot of ASEAN countries are trading with Myanmar, both state and non-state actors, he says, adding that for these ASEAN states, restrictions that may impact trade with Myanmar are not aligned with their interests. Thailand, whose military and business elites have long maintained close personal ties with their Burmese counterparts, has continued collaborating publicly with Myanmar on military operations and energy projects. Meanwhile, MyTel, a mobile carrier jointly launched by the Vietnamese and Myanmar militaries in 2017, remains one of Myanmars biggest telecommunications providers. The result of these uneven economic and political connections with Myanmar have led to a divided ASEAN. On one hand, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines have been unequivocal in their condemnation of the unrest in Myanmar, urging stronger measures against the junta. But on the other hand, Thailand and Indonesia, the current chair of ASEAN, have forged on with quiet diplomacy with Myanmarto limited success. In June, Thailand, under its then-caretaker government led by former military leader Prayuth Chan-ocha, set up informal regional peace talks with the Myanmar juntaonly to be snubbed by the more critical ASEAN states. Amid the cacophony of diplomatic strategies within the bloc, what concerted responses ASEAN has come up with have so far been inevitably weak: the Five-Point Consensus, cobbled together months after the coup, called for, among other things, an end to violence, dialogue among stakeholders, and humanitarian aid to Myanmar. But it has been largely ignored by the junta, even after it initially agreed to the terms. Lina Alexandra, who heads the international relations department at the Jakarta-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies, tells TIME that ASEAN needs to move beyond its traditional consensus-based decision-making process. For anything to move in ASEAN, it has to go through consensus by all members. In this Myanmar context, it does not make sense, she says, since the bloc is now dealing with the very junta that they are trying to curb. As violence continues unabated in Myanmar, with the junta repeatedly accused of targeting civilians, ASEAN released a statement in September that strongly condemned the continued acts of violence in Myanmar. It was summarily dismissed by the junta as one-sided. Such toothless condemnations by ASEAN have only added to the chagrin of activists concerned about the persisting humanitarian crisis in Myanmar. ASEAN lacks leadership at the very top, Yadanar Maung, a spokesperson at Justice For Myanmar, tells TIME. Their failed collective response to the region's most pressing crisis allows ASEAN governments to continue business as usual with the illegitimate Myanmar military junta. Contact us at letters@time.com. Black women and children go missing at disproportionately high rates in the U.S. Black women and children go missing at disproportionately high rates in the U.S. Overhalfa million people are reportedmissing each year in the United States. Yet the names and faces of Black women and children like Arianna Fitts, who disappeared in San Francisco in 2016 when she was just 2 years old, are far lesslikely to receive the Gabby Petito or JonBenet Ramsey treatment. Fortunately, California Gov. Gavin Newsom is sounding his own alarm through the Ebony Alert, a new system designed to help bring more missing Black women and children home. In a better world, we probably wouldnt need a race-specific missing person alert, but here we are and at least some states are trying to do better. According to a press release quoting California state Sen. Steven Bradford , who wrote the legislation that introduced the Ebony Alert, the bill will go into effect in his state on Jan. 1. It will hopefully bring much-needed attention to the Black women and children who go missing while the details of their cases and identities remain broadly unknown. The legislation specifies that law enforcement can authorize the new alerts on highways, radios, TVs and elsewhere as long as cases meet a combination of criteria, such as the missing person being a certain age and their physical safety being potentially endangered. This allows more people to be responsible for protecting Californias missing Black women and children not just in theory, but in practice. The Amber Alert only deals with individuals 17 years and younger who come up missing. With the Ebony Alert, it will be from 12 to 25, Bradford said in a recent interview with NPR. It will also concentrate on individuals who might have some kind of physical or mental challenges, [and] also individuals who are suspected of being sex-trafficked or are disappeared under suspicious reasons. Black women and children go missing at disproportionately high rates in the U.S., yet they are underrepresented in news coverage compared with their white counterparts. In some instances, white womens cases while often horrific and tragic take up so much space that their names become embedded in the fabric of our nations pop culture. Meanwhile, most Americans likely cannot name a missing Black woman or child who has received national attention and support. This is partly due to a phenomenon known as Missing White Woman Syndrome. Journalist Gwen Ifill used the phrase to describe the medias obsession with missing white women and children, who become the focus of high-profile stories that inspire empathy and increase ratings. A recent study found that while white women made up a smaller portion of the missing person population (compared with all people of color), they accounted for a majority of online news coverage. We all know how important media stories can be in helping to solve a case or locate a missing person, so less coverage for people of color sends a pretty strong message about how undervalued our lives are. We also need the Ebony Alert because law enforcement often classifies missing people of color as runaways or assumes their activity to be gang- or drug-related. This causes an overall desensitization to their cases due to assumptions about missing Black people being from impoverished, crime-infested areas. The Ebony Alert, as Bradford describes it, should increase public knowledge of efforts to locate missing Black women and children, and combat a persistent lack of awareness around their cases. This new alert system is way overdue, and Im just waiting for word on when itll be the protocol in all 50 states. Communities across the north of Europe, around the North Sea, are feeling the full effects of autumn storm Babet. Authorities say severe weather conditions, characterised by heavy rain and gale-force winds from the east, pose a significant threat to communities and infrastructure in several countries. The gale-force winds have struck hardest in the eastern part of Denmark's Jutland peninsula, including the Danish islands in the Baltic Sea. However, the British Isles, southern Sweden, northern Germany, and parts of Norway are also enduring the impact of this formidable storm, named Babet by the UK's Met Office. Scandinavia sees high water levels In southern Denmark, low-lying areas are submerged, and fallen trees have littered the landscape. The Danish Meteorological Institute's "very dangerous weather" warning predicts that water levels will rise, with some inland Danish areas expected to see river surges up to 240cm above normal. The large amount of water is now on its way back through the Danish belts, which, however, act as bottlenecks, where the water has difficulty moving through and thus piles up south of here. The DMI stated on the front page of its website. The strong easterly wind also contributes to the elevated water level and worsens the situation so that the water level becomes even higher. Sweden is also grappling with the risk of extensive flooding along its southern coast, potentially causing limited access to roads and railways. However, the situation is expected to improve on Saturday morning as water levels recede. Norway has not been spared, with a bridge near its second-largest city closed and widespread cancellations in ferry and air travel, leading to delays and disruptions. A worker tries to pump water away his neighborhood in Haderslev, Denmark, Friday, Oct. 20. 2023. - Claus Fisker/Claus Fisker First death in UK as much of the country elevates to amber warning In the United Kingdom, a rare red weather alert, signifying the highest level of warning, was issued for parts of Scotland. Authorities predicted "exceptional rainfall" in the following days, resulting in extensive flooding and a significant risk to life due to fast-flowing or deep floodwater. This marks the first red alert in the UK since 2020. The affected regions in Scotland have already experienced evacuations, school closures, and widespread disruption. Storm Babet has already claimed its first fatality as a woman was swept into a river in Scotland amid gale-force winds and flooding. Amber warnings for wind and rain have been issued for parts of northern England, the Midlands, and northern Wales. Northern Ireland is also under a yellow warning. A man walks through sea foam in Seaburn, northeastern England, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. - Owen Humphreys/PA Media The Environment Agency's Flood line service has issued multiple flood warnings and alerts in England, particularly in areas around Bristol, the Midlands, and Yorkshire, with additional warnings along the east coast. Northern Ireland is under a yellow rain warning, and Scotland faces amber and yellow warnings for rain and wind. Major roads, including sections of the A9 and A90, have been closed due to flooding, and train services in affected areas have been suspended. Ferry services to various islands and regional air flights are also cancelled. The Met Office's weather warnings now encompass nearly all of the UK's eastern seaboard, with rain and wind warnings extending from Essex to Berwick and northwards into Scotland. As Storm Babet continues its destructive path across northern Europe, authorities are tirelessly working to safeguard lives and mitigate the extensive damage caused by the extreme weather. A federal judge Wednesday found a man from Windermere guilty for being among a militia group that tried to force its way through a line of police officers defending the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Authorities say John Edward Crowley, 51, traveled to Washington as a member of the Guardians of Freedom group whose members called themselves the B Squad. Crowley was arrested last year along with four other members who were charged with interfering with a law enforcement officer during a civil disorder, a felony, as well as misdemeanor trespassing and disorderly conduct charges. Others arrested in connection with the case included Jonathan Alan Rockholt of Palm Coast and Tyler Quintin Bensch of Casselberry, who was only implicated with misdemeanor charges. Court records say the group was preparing to be violent during the Jan. 6 insurrection. According to the complaint, the leader of the group referred to as B Leader, coordinated travel for about 45 members from Florida to Washington and helped book rooms in a hotel near the Capitol. Authorities said a witness saw group members wearing masks and tactical gear while carrying pepper spray, clip-on knives and police-type batons. Investigators used video surveillance footage to identify Crowley and other members breaching barricades and lines of police officers. Cellphone records also reportedly placed Crowleys phone at the Capitol building on the day of the insurrection. According to the complaint, members arrested were associated with the Three Percenters movement known for violence, according to the Anti-Defamation League. Members are said to believe a small force of people can overthrow a perceived tyrannical government with just cause. After a bench trial Tuesday, the judge found Crowley guilty of committing or attempting to commit an act to obstruct, impede and interfere with a law enforcement officer; entering a restricted building; disorderly conduct inside a restricted building and impairing passage inside the Capitol. He was not found guilty of aiding and abetting the theft of government property and engaging in physical violence in a restricted building. His attorneys didnt immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Crowleys sentencing is set for Jan. 19. He is among more than 1,000 people that have been charged in the Capitol attack. About 560 federal defendants have had their cases adjudicated and received sentences for criminal activity Jan. 6 and more than 330 have been sentenced to prison. arabines@orlandosentinel.com A 50-year-old woman was robbed at gunpoint by four males who jumped out of a black sedan and went through her pockets in the Brighton Park neighborhood, Chicago police said. Shortly before 5:30 a.m., a woman was standing on the sidewalk in the 2800 block of West 47th Street when a black sedan pulled up and four males exited, police saiid. The males pulled out firearms and demanded the victims property. They went through the victims pockets and took her belongings, police said. The robbers got back into the sedan and fled the scene. No one was in custody, and detectives were investigating. A Woodbridge man, who works as a Spotswood police officer, has filed a libel, slander and defamation of character lawsuit against his neighbors, following a parking dispute that he alleges led to him being bypassed for a better paying job as a Woodbridge police officer. Alexander Vega Jr. alleges in the lawsuit filed in Middlesex County Superior Court that his neighbors, Bridget and Richard Fritzsch, made defamatory statements about him to his family, news media, the Woodbridge mayor's and municipal clerk's offices, a Port Reading Committeeman, both Woodbridge and Spotswood police departments, the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office and the state Attorney General's Office. Vega argues that the statements over a parking dispute have permanently damaged his character and reputation. Vega lives across the street from the Fritzsches. The dispute arose after the Fritzsches allegedly maintained that the parking spaces in front of their home "are exclusively theirs, notwithstanding it is a public street" and objected to Vega or his relatives parking there, according to the lawsuit. Richard Fritzsch, a Woodbridge fire captain, was not aware of the lawsuit when asked for comment. Fritzsch said there had been problems between the two neighbors in the past, but things had quieted down. He said the problem started with Vega's family allegedly parking too close to his driveway, making it hard to get out of his driveway, parking up against his garbage can where his garbage collector couldn't get to the can and driving vehicles with one license plate and tinted windows. Woodbridge mayoral election 2023: Meet the candidates and where they stand on the issues He believes the issues relate to a time when his neighbors were having work done at their home and one of the workers backed into his garbage can, causing damage. Fritzsch said he notified Woodbridge police that Vega has allegedly driven a vehicle with tinted windows and one license plate, in an effort to report illegal activity, but added he no longer bothers with his neighbors. In December Bridget Fritzsch, apparently sent a letter with a holiday greeting card to express her dissatisfaction with Vega's brother parking in front of her home. The letter allegedly contained defamatory, slanderous and libelous statements about Vega and his family, the lawsuit says. Vega learned about the card and letter from his mother, the lawsuit says, and his relatives continued parking on the street in front of the Fritzsches home. Two days before Christmas, the lawsuit alleges, the Fritsches "made (Vega) a target of their anger" and began sending emails to Mayor John McCormac, two Woodbridge police officers, News 12 New Jersey and others, stating that a vehicle parked in Vega's driveway had only one license place and illegally tinted windows. The lawsuit charges the emails continued into 2023 and included false statements about Vega, his parents and brother.During that time Vega had an application for employment with the Woodbridge Police Department. As part of the application process, township police interviewed Vega's neighbors. An officer spoke to Vega about the neighborhood dispute and then crossed the street to interview the Fritsches, the lawsuit says. Vega did not get the job with the Woodbridge Police Department, the lawsuit says. Fritzsch said Woodbridge police told him Vega refused the township job. He added that when police came to the neighborhood to conduct interviews, Fritzsch told the officer he doesn't get along with his neighbor and said he didn't want to have problems if the neighbor became a township police officer. A police lieutenant in turn told Fritzsch that Vega had turned down the township job, he said. Courts: NJ woman sues Hooters, claiming she wasnt hired because of her dreadlocks "Not satisfied" that Vega did not get hired, the Fritsches filed complaints with the Spotswood Police Department's Internal Affairs Department alleging Vega was involved in criminal activity at his home and he was driving a vehicle with illegal tinting, the lawsuit alleges. Vega learned the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office and the state Attorney General's Office had contacted Vega's bosses about the department's policy regarding tinted vehicle windows, the lawsuit says. The lawsuit says the Internal Affairs investigation found the complaint to be unfounded, but that Vega's employment record has been "damaged" by the existence of an Internal Affairs complaint, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit also alleges the neighbors installed video cameras pointed at Vega's home "to intimidate him and his family." Photos from the cameras have been sent to Woodbridge police, but have not depicted any criminal behavior, the lawsuit says. Fritzsch said the neighbors tried to agitate him and intimidate his wife. By not getting the job with Woodbridge, the lawsuit contends, Vega lost money because Woodbridge pays more than Spotswood. Email: srussell@gannettnj.com Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Woodbridge parking dispute springs defamation lawsuit by Spotswood cop US President Joe Biden has addressed the American public late Thursday night (October 19) after his lightning visit to Israel. The following is a transcript of his address. Good evening, my fellow Americans. We're facing an inflection point in history - one of those moments where the decisions we make today are going to determine the future for decades to come. That's what I'd like to talk with you about tonight. You know, earlier this morning, I returned from Israel. They tell me I'm the first American president to travel there during a war. I met with the Prime Minister and members of his cabinet. And most movingly, I met with Israelis who had personally lived through [the] horrific horror of the attack by Hamas on the 7th of October. More than 1,300 people slaughtered in Israel, including at least 32 American citizens.Scores of innocents - from infants to elderly grandparents, Israelis, Americans - taken hostage. As I told the families of Americans being held captive by Hamas, we're pursuing every avenue to bring their loved ones home. As President, there is no higher priority for me than the safety of Americans held hostage. The terrorist group Hamas unleashed pure, unadulterated evil in the world. But sadly, the Jewish people know, perhaps better than anyone, that there is no limit to the depravity of people when they want to inflict pain on others. In Israel, I saw people who are strong, determined, resilient, and also angry, in shock, and in deep, deep pain. I also spoke with President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority and reiterated that the United States remains committed to the Palestinian people's right to dignity and to self-determination. The actions of Hamas terrorists don't take that right away. Like so many [others], I am heartbroken by the tragic loss of Palestinian life, including the explosion at a hospital in Gaza - which was not done by the Israelis. We mourn every innocent life lost. We can't ignore the humanity of innocent Palestinians who only want to live in peace and have an opportunity. You know, the assault on Israel echoes nearly 20 months of war, tragedy, and brutality inflicted on the people of Ukraine - people that were very badly hurt since [Vladimir] Putin launched his all-out invasion. We've have not forgotten the mass graves, the bodies found bearing signs of torture, rape used as a weapon by the Russians, and thousands and thousands of Ukrainian children forcibly taken into Russia, stolen from their parents. It's sick. Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common: They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy - completely annihilate it. Hamas - its stated purpose for existing is the destruction of the State of Israel and the murder of Jewish people. Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people. Hamas uses Palestinian civilians as human shields, and innocent Palestinian families are suffering greatly because of them. Meanwhile, Putin denies Ukraine has or ever had real statehood. He claims the Soviet Union created Ukraine. And just two weeks ago, he told the world that if the United States and our allies withdraw - and if the United States withdraw, our allies will as well - military support for Ukraine, it would have, quote, "a week left to live." But we're not withdrawing. I know these conflicts can seem far away. And it's natural to ask: Why does this matter to America? So let me share with you why making sure Israel and Ukraine succeed is vital for America's national security. You know, history has taught us that when terrorists don't pay a price for their terror, when dictators don't pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction. They keep going, and the cost and the threats to America and to the world keep rising. So, if we don't stop Putin's appetite for power and control in Ukraine, he won't limit himself just to Ukraine. Putin has already threatened to "remind" Poland that their western land was a gift from Russia. One of his top advisors, a former president of Russia, has called Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania Russia's "Baltic provinces." These are all NATO allies. For 75 years, NATO has kept peace in Europe and has been the cornerstone of American security. And if Putin attacks a NATO ally, we will defend every inch of NATO which the treaty requires and calls for. We will have something that we do not seek - [to] make it clear: we do not seek - to have American troops fighting in Russia or fighting against Russia. Beyond Europe, we know that our allies and, maybe most importantly, our adversaries and competitors are watching. They're watching our response in Ukraine as well. And if we walk away and let Putin erase Ukraine's independence, would-be aggressors around the world would be emboldened to try the same. The risk of conflict and chaos could spread in other parts of the world - in the Indo-Pacific, in the Middle East - especially in the Middle East. Iran is supporting Russia in Ukraine, and it's supporting Hamas and other terrorist groups in the region. And we'll continue to hold them accountable, I might add. The United States and our partners across the region are working to build a better future for the Middle East, one where the Middle East is more stable, better connected to its neighbors, and through innovative projects - like the India-Middle East-Europe Rail Corridor that I announced this year at the summit of the world's biggest economies [that would create] more predictable markets, more employment, less rage, less grievances, less war when connected. It would benefit the people of the Middle East, and it would benefit us. American leadership is what holds the world together. American alliances are what keep us, America, safe. American values are what make us a partner that other nations want to work with. To put all that at risk - if we walk away from Ukraine, if we turn our backs on Israel - it's just not worth it. That's why, tomorrow, I'm going to send to Congress an urgent budget request to fund America's national security needs, to support our critical partners, including Israel and Ukraine. It's a smart investment that's going to pay dividends for American security for generations, help us keep American troops out of harm's way, help us build a world that is safer, more peaceful, and more prosperous for our children and grandchildren. In Israel, we must make sure that they have what they need to protect their people today and always. The security package I'm sending to Congress, and asking Congress to do, is an unprecedented commitment to Israel's security that will sharpen Israel's qualitative military edge, which we've committed to. We're going to make sure [the] Iron Dome continues to guard the skies over Israel. We're going to make sure other hostile actors in the region know that Israel is stronger than ever and prevent this conflict from spreading. Look, at the same time, [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu and I discussed again yesterday the critical need for Israel to operate by the laws of war. That means, protecting civilians in combat as best as they can. The people of Gaza urgently need food, water, and medicine. Yesterday, in discussions with the leaders of Israel and Egypt, I secured an agreement for the first shipment of humanitarian assistance from the United Nations to Palestinian civilians in Gaza. If Hamas does not divert or steal these shipments, we're going to provide an opening for sustained delivery of lifesaving humanitarian assistance for the Palestinians. And as I said in Israel: As hard as it is, we cannot give up on peace. We cannot give up on a two-state solution. Israelis and Palestinians equally deserve to live in safety, dignity, and peace. And here at home, we have to be honest with ourselves. In recent years, too much hate has been given too much oxygen, fueling racism, a rise in antisemitism and [Islamophobia] right here in America. It's also intensified in the wake of recent events that led to the horrific threats and attacks that both shock us and break our hearts. On October 7th, terror attacks have triggered deep scars and terrible memories in the Jewish community. Today, Jewish families worry about being targeted in school, wearing symbols of their faith walking down the street, or going out about their daily lives. You know, I know many of you in the Muslim American community or the Arab American community, the Palestinian American community, and so many others are outraged and hurting, saying to yourselves, "Here we go again," with [the] Islamophobia and distrust we saw after 9/11. Just last week, a mother was brutally stabbed, a little boy - here in the United States - who had just turned six years old was murdered in their home outside of Chicago. His name was Wadea, a proud American [from] a proud Palestinian American family. We can't stand by and stand silent when this happens. We must, without equivocation, denounce antisemitism. We must also, without equivocation, denounce Islamophobia. And to all of you hurting - those of you who are hurting, I want you to know: I see you. You belong. And I want to say this to you: You're all America. You know, in moments like these, when fear and suspicion, anger and rage run hard, that we have to work harder than ever to hold on to the values that make us who we are. We're a nation of religious freedom, freedom of expression. We all have a right to debate and disagree without fear of being targeted at schools or workplaces or in our communities. And we must renounce violence and vitriol, see each other not as enemies but as - but as fellow Americans. When I was in Israel yesterday, I said that when America experienced the hell of 9/11, we felt enraged as well. While we sought and got justice, we made mistakes. So, I cautioned the government of Israel not to be blinded by rage. And here in America, let us not forget who we are. We reject all forms - all forms - of hate, whether against Muslims, Jews, or anyone. That's what great nations do, and we are a great nation. Read Also: Yemen Missiles Drones Allegedly Targeting Israel Taken Down by US On Ukraine, I'm asking Congress to make sure we can continue to send Ukraine the weapons they need to defend themselves and their country without interruption so Ukraine can stop Putin's brutality in Ukraine. They are succeeding. When Putin invaded Ukraine, he thought he would take Kyiv and all of Ukraine in a matter of days. Well, over a year later, Putin has failed, and he continues to fail. Kyiv still stands because of the bravery of the Ukrainian people. Ukraine has regained more than 50 percent of the territory Russian troops once occupied, backed by a US-led coalition of more than 50 countries around the world all doing its part to support Kyiv. What would happen if we walked away? We are [an] essential nation. Meanwhile, Putin has turned to Iran and North Korea to buy attack drones and ammunition to terrorize Ukrainian cities and people. From the outset, I have said I will not send American troops to fight in Ukraine. All Ukraine is asking for is help - for the weapons, munitions, the capacity, the capability to push invading Russian forces off their land, and the air defense systems to shoot down Russian missiles before they destroy Ukrainian cities. And let me be clear about something: We send Ukraine equipment sitting in our stockpiles. And when we use the money allocated by Congress, we use it to replenish our own stores, our own stockpiles, with new equipment - equipment that defends America and is made in America: Patriot missiles for air defense batteries made in Arizona; artillery shells manufactured in 12 states across the country - in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas; and so much more. You know, just as in World War II, today, patriotic American workers are building the arsenal of democracy and serving the cause of freedom. Let me close with this. Earlier this year, I boarded Air Force One for a secret flight to Poland. There, I boarded a train with blacked-out windows for a 10-hour ride each way to Kyiv to stand with the people of Ukraine ahead of the one-year anniversary of their brave fight against Putin. And I'm told I was the first American [president] to enter a warzone not controlled by the United States military since President Lincoln. With me was just a small group of security personnel and a few advisors. But when I exited that train and met President [Volodymyr] Zelensky, I didn't feel alone. I was bringing with me the idea of America - the promise of America - to the people who are today fighting for the same things we fought for 250 years ago: freedom, independence, self-determination. And as I walked through Kyiv with President Zelensky, with air raid sirens sounding in the distance, I felt something I've always believed more strongly than ever before: America is a beacon to the world, still. We are, as my friend Madeleine Albright said, "the indispensable nation." Tonight, there are innocent people all over the world who hope because of us, who believe in a better life because of us, who are desperate not to be forgotten by us, and who are waiting for us. But time is of the essence. I know we have our divisions at home. We have to get past them. We can't let petty, partisan, angry politics get in the way of our responsibilities as a great nation. We cannot and will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win. I refuse to let that happen. In moments like these, we have to remember who we are: We are the United States of America - the United States of America. And there is nothing - nothing - beyond our capacity if we do it together. My fellow Americans, thank you for your time. May God bless you all. And may God protect our troops. Related Article: Here's How to Watch President Biden's Oval Office Address Tonight @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Two young men who police say shot a 16-year-old boy multiple times earlier this week tried to conceal their identities with masks during the crime but both were unsuccessful and have since been charged with attempted murder, court documents reveal. Wilmington police officers responded to the 800 block of W. Seventh St. just before 11 a.m. Tuesday after receiving an alert from ShotSpotter the city's gunshot detection technology that it had heard gunfire. An officer who was near West Seventh and North Monroe streets also heard the shots and ran toward where they were coming from, arrest warrants say. As the officer was headed to the scene, he spotted three young men running on West Sixth Street toward North Monroe Street. He chased them and ordered them to stop, but only one complied, according to police. That man was arrested but later released and not charged, while the other two continued running. Police quickly caught up to a second man, 19-year-old Meziah Thompson, and arrested him. As officers made these arrests, other responding officers arrived at the scene of the shooting and found the 16-year-old badly hurt, having been shot multiple times at close range, according to court documents. At least one officer performed first aid on the teen while they waited for paramedics to arrive. He was rushed to the hospital. His most recent condition was not immediately known. At least 27 shell casings were located at the scene, court documents say. How police charged Meziah Thompson, Javon Turner Through their investigation, detectives were able to obtain video surveillance that showed two young men Thompson and another unknown man running from the shooting. Thompson was seen wearing a mask, gray sneakers, dark pants and a light-gray hooded sweatshirt with "a logo on the left breast area," court documents say. He also had a black gun with a silver slide in his right hand, according to the documents. He was wearing these clothes when arrested, though he didn't have the gun on him. Police said they later found the gun in a nearby yard. He was charged with attempted murder, gun charges, conspiracy and drug charges for crack cocaine and heroin found in his pockets, court documents say. Despite quickly arresting Thompson, police still didn't know who the second young man was. Detectives got lucky, however, when they tracked down additional video surveillance recorded about five minutes before the shooting that showed the other young man's face. He was not yet wearing a mask, court documents say. The lead detective wrote in an arrest warrant that he showed the video to members of the department's Crime Gun Intelligence Center, who recognized the man as 19-year-old Javon Turner "based on previous police contact." RELATED: Men who beat longtime Claymont janitor, then tried to cover up the murder, plead guilty The gun intelligence center, which was established through the agency's partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, includes analysts who work with forensic personnel who collect and process shell casings, guns and other ballistic evidence. The analysts enter this information into a national ballistics database, which helps agencies nationwide generate leads that connect guns or shell casings from one incident to others. The analysts and investigators then work to determine who might have a gun, the department said, which can help police develop leads in shootings and other gun incidents. Wilmington police said the team also works closely with the department's gun intelligence unit, which has investigators who specifically work to identify suspects "who are engaging in gun violence or firearm offenses." Armed with Turners name, the detective looked him up in Delaware's crime database and matched his photo to surveillance video obtained after the shooting. He was arrested on Wednesday near West Seventh and North West streets. He was also charged with attempted murder and gun charges, given surveillance video recorded after the shooting showed him with a gun in his left hand, court documents say. Turner is being held in prison on $142,000 cash bail, while Thompson is being held on $137,000 cash bail. Got a tip? Send to Isabel Hughes at ihughes@delawareonline.com or 302-324-2785. For all things breaking news, follow her on Twitter at @izzihughes_ This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Wilmington shooting suspects charged using surveillance video, officers In a year that has been defined by labor unrest, thousands of metro Detroiters have decided it's worth walking off the job to push for improved wages and benefits. The latest workers to walk are those at three downtown Detroit casinos. They join auto workers and UAW-represented employees of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) and employees at three nursing homes in metro Detroit. Those are just ongoing strikes. Earlier this year, some 2,000 graduate student workers at the University of Michigan went on strike in the spring and reached a contract just before classes started, and workers last week at General Dynamics who have voted to authorize a strike last week. Across the board, workers are demanding higher wages and improved benefits, from health care to retirement -- in some cases to see previous concessions restored. Companies, businesses they need to pay attention because people are tired. When you start not being able to feed your family, its a problem, said Maisha Blessett, 50 of Detroit, a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan employee who was on the picket line Wednesday. Heres a roundup of some of the labor activity brewing across industries in the region: Detroit casino workers Thousands of Detroit Casino workers, represented by the Detroit Casino Council, are on strike after failed negotiations with the citys three casinos MGM Grand, MotorCity and Hollywood Casino at Greektown. The Detroit Casino Council, comprised of five union locals, rejected a final proposal from the companies late Tuesday morning over concerns about protecting health care, job security and wage increases. The union is made up of 3,700 members employed as casino dealers, cleaning staff, food and beverage workers, valets and engineers. The union says Detroit casino workers bore the brunt of heavier workloads, with fewer staff, after the pandemic. In 2020, workers agreed to a three-year contract extension with minimal wage increases and since then casino workers have received 3% raises, according to a news release. Chanett Watson, foreground, chants "If we don't get it, shut it down" with Terri Smith, left, and Demetra Montague, right, while on strike with coworkers outside of the Greektown Casino in downtown Detroit on Tuesday, October 17, 2023. The three casinos, as of Thursday, remained open. UNITE HERE Local 24, UAW Local 7777, Teamsters Local 1038, Operating Engineers Local 324 and the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters make up the Detroit Casino Council. Health insurance workers More than 1,000 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan workers walked off the job two days before the auto workers' strike began. Workers are demanding that BCBSM eliminate a two-tiered pay structure and stop outsourcing and contracting out jobs. The workers, represented by the UAW, have jobs in customer service, billing and call centers. Charles Solomon, a UAW representative for Local Union 1781, was out on the picket line Wednesday morning in front of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan's Rennaisance Center offices in downtown Detroit. Solomon said workers have been striking for the last month because they want fair wages and retirement benefits and COLA. He also said the insurance company's two-tier pay system is an important sticking point. The union wants to bridge the gap between two wage tiers. It takes, he said, employees 15 to 20 years, to advance to the higher tier and make more money. We just want a fair and equal contract, he said. Negotiations are ongoing, he said, and the union is waiting for a response and hopes to get some answers by the end of this week. Blessett, who prices claims in her role at BCBSM, has been with the company for more than two decades. This is her first time on the picket line and she said she is motivated to fight for better conditions for her coworkers. She knows colleagues, she said, who have more than one job. "Nobody should be working a 40 plus hour week, going to work another 40 hour week job because they can't afford to pay their rent, to feed their kids and things of that nature," she said. Blessett said shes thankful for her job because it has allowed her to raise her kids and live comfortably. At the same time, she wants to see improvements. During the pandemic, workers like her came into work because, she said, they were regarded as essential workers. We're the ones that kept the company going during that time, she said. In a statement, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan said it has put contingencies in place to continue providing services but there are longer wait times over the phone. The Blue Care Network is not a part of the strike. We encourage our members and customers to use our online and app-based services during this period, and we regret the inconvenience caused by this situation which we desire to resolve quickly, consistent with the spirit of collective bargaining, with our partners at the UAW, the statement said. Nursing home workers A new strike involving nursing homes in the region started last week. Nearly 250 workers at Fountain Bleu in Livonia, Four Seasons in Westland and Greenfield in Royal Oak started striking last week, according to SEIU Healthcare Michigan. At issue are staffing levels, wages and benefits. In June, the union ended an eight-day strike at a Redford nursing home with a tentative contract, and early in the year threatened to strike two nursing home groups as it renegotiated contracts. Auto workers The United Auto Workers' historic strike against the Detroit Three automakers General Motors, Ford Motor Co. and Stellantis crossed the one month mark last weekend, with 34,000 workers picketing at 44 sites across the country. The union has a number of demands, including eliminating wage tiers, a 40% wage increase and restoring the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). As the three automakers made record profits and CEOs received millions in compensation, the union says workers deserve higher wages, too. Meanwhile, companies continue to lose production, with GM estimating the cost of the UAW strike at two sites to be about $200 million during the companys third quarter call. Union workers at ZF Chassis Systems Alabama, which produces axles for a Mercedes-Benz factory, ratified a contract Thursday after being on strike for strike for nearly a month. UAW President Shawn Fain last Friday said UAW workers at Thombert, Inc., which makes wheels and tires for forklifts, in Iowa; at Dometic, which makes appliances like coolers for boats and RVs, in Pennsylvania and at West Rock, a packaging company in New Jersey, are still on strike. Nearly 4,000 UAW workers are on strike at Mack Trucks in three states. They're holding the line for a fair contract and are holding out against concessions, Fain said. The UAW also represents workers at General Dynamics, a defense contractor. Last week, 1,100 members in Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania voted to authorize a strike. Contracts expire Oct. 22. Free Press staff writers Jamie L. LaReau, Phoebe Wall Howard, Eric D. Lawrence and JC Reindl contributed to this report with previous reporting. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Who is out on the picket line in metro Detroit? The American military-industrial corporation Lockheed Martin Corporation, which has been assembling the F-16 Fighting Falcon multi-role fighter aircraft (pictured) since the 1990s, is considered the largest arms manufacturer in the world. According to SIPRI, in 2021, the corporation sold more than $60 billion worth of arms. According to the latest ranking of the Top 100 Arms-producing and Military Services Companies 2021, compiled by the authoritative Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the U.S. military and industrial corporation Lockheed Martin became the largest arms producer for the 13th consecutive year, with more than $60 billion worth of weapons sold in 2021. At the same time, the 40 U.S. companies included in the rating account for 51% of the total sales of weapons, against 18% Chinese, and 6.8% UK ones. Read also: Russian Black Sea Fleets weapons depot near occupied Sevastopol hit in missile strike The combined arms sales of the worlds largest arms-producing and military services companies (the SIPRI Top 100) totaled $592 billion in 2021, an increase of 1.9% in real terms compared with 2020. At the same time, SIPRI notes that arms sales by the Top 100 have been on an upward trajectory since at least 2015 (the first year for which SIPRI included Chinese firms in its ranking) and increased by 19% in real terms between 2015 and 2021. Read also: U.S., Switzerland among primary sources of foreign components in Russian weapons, China used as conduit Based on SIPRI data, NV names the Top 30 worlds largest arms-producing and military services companies and details the Top 10. NV NV 1. Lockheed Martin (the United States) Arms sales: $60.34 billion Founded: 1995 Number of employees: 114,000 people Lockheed Martin has consistently topped the ranking of the worlds 100 largest arms manufacturers since 2009. This U.S. military and industrial corporation was founded in 1995 by the merger of the Lockheed Corporation aircraft construction company with the Martin Marietta aerospace and electronic products manufacturer. Currently, the company specializes in aircraft construction, aerospace engineering, and the production of missiles and missile systems. The lions share of the corporations annual income is provided by the fulfillment of military and industrial orders from the U.S. government, in particular the U.S. Department of Defense. In addition, Lockheed Martin Corporation is among the companies selected by NASA [National Aeronautics and Space Administration] to design and manufacture prototype spacecraft for landing on the Moon as part of the new Artemis space program. Among other things, the corporation is the manufacturer of the well-known fighter jets such as F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-22 Raptor, F-35 Lightning II, tactical ballistic missiles MGM-140 ATACMS, missiles for the Patriot air defense systems (PAC-3 MSE), and the Javelin portable anti-aircraft missile systems (MANPADS). The latter has been in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine since 2019. Also, Lockheed Martin Corporation, together with BAE Systems, manufactures M142 HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), which was adopted by the Ground Forces of Ukraine in July 2022. 2. Raytheon Technologies (the United States) Arms sales: $41.85 billion Founded: 2020 Number of employees: 174,000 people This U.S. military and industrial corporation was founded in 2020 by the merger of the Raytheon arms and military equipment manufacturer with the United Technologies aircraft engines, avionics, elevators, and HVAC manufacturer. In this way, Raytheon Technologies has inherited the developments of predecessor companies throughout their almost century-long history. Today the corporation, which has four subsidiaries, specializes in the aerospace and defense industries, while a significant part of its annual revenues is provided by orders from the U.S. government. In particular, the aviation engines of the Pratt & Whitney subsidiary company are installed on the F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-22 Raptor, and F-35 Lightning II fighter jets. In total, the company services almost three dozen air forces around the world. Raytheon enterprises are involved in the production of weapons that are already in service with the Ukrainian army, in particular the Patriot air defense system and the Norwegian-U.S. NASAMS air defense system, as well as missiles for these systems, such as MIM-104 and AIM-120 AMRAAM, respectively, MIM-23 Hawk surface-to-air missile, AGM-88 HARM anti-radar missile, RIM-7 Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missile, M982 Excalibur guided artillery shell, as well as missiles for Javelin and Stinger MANPADS. 3. Boeing (the United States) Arms sales: $33.42 billion Founded: 1916 Number of employees: 141,600 people The long-standing flagship in civil aircraft construction also specializes in the production of space and military equipment and is the largest exporting company in the United States. At the same time, military industry activities and the fulfillment of military orders, in particular from the U.S. government, bring the company about half of its annual revenues. Boeing is the manufacturer of a wide range of various military equipment and weapons, including the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets, the B-52 Stratofortress intercontinental strategic bomber, the E-767 long-range radar detection aircraft, and the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. In addition, the companys enterprises produce the U.S.-Israeli Arrow (Hetz) anti-missile complex, the GBU-57 guided anti-bunker aerial bomb, the AGM-84E SLAM high-precision air-to-ground missile, as well as participating in several space programs and the production of reconnaissance and navigation satellites. In the war with Russia, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are using Boeing-made Harpoon anti-ship missiles, AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-ground guided missiles, a JDAM equipment package, and is due to receive U.S.-Swedish GLSDB long-range munitions. 4. Northrop Grumman (the United States) Arms sales: $29.88 billion Founded: 1994 Number of employees: 88,000 people Another U.S. military and industrial corporation founded in 1995 by a merger of two aircraft manufacturing companies, Northrop Corporation and Grumman Corporation. After 16 years, the corporations shipbuilding subsidiary was separated into an independent company named Huntington Ingalls Industries. Currently, Northrop Grumman Corporation operates in the defense and aerospace industries. In particular, it built the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, the B-2 Spirit stealth strategic bomber, the E-8 Joint STARS combat control and targeting aircraft, and the RQ-4 Global Hawk strategic reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The company held a public presentation of the new B-21 strategic bomber in the United States in December 2022. The company also specializes in the production of various types of missiles and anti-missile systems and radars. It is a NASA partner, fulfills complex aerospace projects it was the main contractor for the James Webb space telescope. The corporation was also among the companies selected by NASA for the development and production of spacecraft prototypes for landing on the Moon as part of the Artemis space program. The fulfillment of military and industrial orders from the U.S. government is the main source of the corporations income. 5. General Dynamics (the United States) Arms sales: $26.39 billion Founded: 1952 Number of employees: 103,100 people General Dynamics, which has a 70-year history, includes 10 subsidiaries operating in 45 countries around the world. The corporation specializes in military industry, shipbuilding, and machine building, as well as the aerospace industry. The F-16 Fighting Falcon multipurpose fighter, which has been produced by Lockheed Martin since the 1990s, is one of the companys best-known developments. Most of General Dynamics Corporations revenue comes from U.S. government orders, including the U.S. Department of Defense. The companys products include the Gulfstream private jets, Virginia- and Columbia-class nuclear-powered submarines, Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, as well as the development and production of information systems used to manage the U.S. armed forces. In addition, the corporation produces the M1 Abrams tanks and Stryker armored fighting vehicles. Ukraine is expected to receive 31 M1A2 Abrams tanks and 90 Stryker armored fighting vehicles as part of military aid from the United States. 6. BAE Systems (UK) Arms sales: $26.02 billion Founded: 1999 Number of employees: 90,500 people The company was founded in 1999 by the merger of British Aerospace, an aircraft, ammunition, and naval systems manufacturer, with the military electronics and shipbuilding subsidiary of General Electric Marconi Electronic Systems. Currently, BAE Systems is the largest defense company in the United Kingdom, specializing in the development and production of land, sea and aviation weapons, cyber security, and aerospace. In particular, the company produces Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, M113 armored personnel carriers, M109 self-propelled howitzers, M777 howitzers, and Challenger 2 main battle tanks, which are already in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It is involved in several major defense joint ventures, including the production of the Eurofighter Typhoon and F-35 Lightning II fighter jets, the Astute-class nuclear submarines, and the HMS Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier. 7. NORINCO (China) Arms sales: $21.57 billion Founded: 1980 Number of employees: 213,000 people The China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) multi-industry holding is one of the largest exporters of Chinese military products, including derivatives of Soviet equipment and weapons. The companys military products include the Type 96 and Type 99 main battle tanks, which make up the bulk of the Chinese armed forces tank troops, ZBD-04 and ZBD-05 amphibious infantry fighting vehicles, tracked and wheeled armored personnel carriers, and WM-80 and WM-120 MLRS. In addition, NORINCO enterprises specialize in the production of various air defense and missile defense systems, have a wide range of self-propelled guns, mortars, MANPADS, attack drones, small arms, and ammunition. The company also manufactures civil products such as motor vehicles, construction equipment, and chemical and light industry products. 8. AVIC (China) Arms sales: $20.11 billion Founded: 1951 Number of employees: 407,300 people Since its creation in 1951, this Chinese manufacturer has undergone systemic reforms 12 times, changing its name and portfolio. After the last reorganization in 2008, the company became Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). Currently, it is the largest military aircraft manufacturer in China and includes over a hundred subsidiaries. The aviation corporation produces a range of multipurpose fighter jets, including the FC-1 Xiaolong and Chengdu J-10, reconnaissance and strike UAVs, as well as transport and passenger aircraft, business jets, civil helicopters, avionics, and aircraft engines. The Wall Street Journal reported in February 2023 that, according to the customs records, AVIC shipped to AO Kret, a subsidiary of Russias sanctioned government-owned defense giant Rostec, $1.2 million worth of parts for Su-35 jet fighters. 9. CASC (China) Arms sales: $19.10 billion Founded: 1999 Number of employees: 179,100 people Today, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) is the main contractor of the Chinese Space Program. The corporation includes several research and production complexes, as well as several dozen subsidiary and affiliated companies. CASC specializes in the production of the ChangZheng and Kuaizhou family of liquid and solid-fueled rocket boosters, Dongfeng intercontinental and tactical ballistic missiles, anti-aircraft and anti-tank guided missiles, rocket engines and has a wide range of unmanned aerial vehicles, including the CH-3 and CH-5 reconnaissance and strike drones. In addition, the corporations enterprises produce a variety of space satellites and spacecraft, including the Tiangong multi-modular orbital station, the Tianwen-1 interplanetary station, and the Zhurong rover on Mars. 10. CETC (China) Arms sales: $14.99 billion Founded: 2002 Number of employees: 179,600 people Another Chinese corporation closes the Top 10 largest arms producers, namely China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC), which specializes in the production of telecommunications equipment, military and air traffic control systems, military and meteorological radar stations, electronic modules for various types of missiles, drones, computer equipment, processors, servers, and face recognition CCTV systems. The corporation also develops military and special purpose software. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine The unprecedented Oct. 7 attack on Israel by the Hamas militant group and the ongoing conflict could spell the end of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's time at the top of Israeli politics. The unprecedented Oct. 7 attack on Israel by the Hamas militant group and the ongoing conflict could spell the end of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's time at the top of Israeli politics. The unprecedented attack Hamas waged on Israel on Oct. 7 has been deemed a massive intelligence failure for the countrys leadership and mostly the man at the top, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu, 73, Israels longest-serving leader, who has managed to reemerge at the top in the face of setbacks, now appears to be at the center of a crisis of historic proportions that could likely lead to his downfall. The fact that Israel was caught off guard by groups of Hamas militants who shot dead revelers at a music festival, attacked towns and communities in southern Israel and kidnapped hundreds of people stunned both the world and the country itself. Netanyahus government has so far received most of the blame for the security failure, polls show, but the prime minister has yet to accept any responsibility. Analysts point out that Israels history suggests that its political leaders rarely remain in power after presiding over crises of such magnitude. Even if Israel succeeded in its goal to crush Hamas in this war, experts say Netanyahu is likely to be deemed responsible for creating the conditions that allowed the militant group to launch its brutal attack, which has claimed the lives of thousands of Israelis. Netanyahus Favorability Ratings Take A Hit A Dialog Center poll published by The Jerusalem Post last week showed 94% of respondents said Netanyahus government bore at least some responsibility for the absence of security preparedness that led to the Oct. 7 massacre, while 56% of those surveyed said he should resign after the war is over. Meanwhile, Netanyahus favorability ratings have dropped considerably, with another poll by Israeli research institutes last week showing that only 29% of respondents would now pick him as their preferred prime minister, according to Bloomberg. Ehud Barak , who served as prime minister of Israel from 1999 to 2001, told Sky News Hamas surprise attack on Oct. 7 was the most severe blow Israel suffered since the day of its establishment. Asked if Netanyahu, who has served as prime minister for over 16 years, can survive this in the long run, Barak said he shouldnt. I think that in a normal place, he would have resigned, Barak said, noting Netanyahus responsibility given the attack happened on his watch. In its immediate aftermath, Martin Indyk, a Lowy distinguished fellow in U.S.-Middle East diplomacy at the Council on Foreign Relations, who served as former President Barack Obamas special envoy for the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations from July 2013 to June 2014, told Foreign Affairs the country is facing a challenge of unknown proportions. The prime minister is facing a real problem, not only in defending the citizens but in avoiding blame for what happened, Indyk said. And I dont see how he can. So hes got to find a way to redeem himself through the conflict. What Could Happen If Israel Succeeds In The War Amotz Asa-El, a research fellow at Shalom Hartman Institute, told HuffPost Netanyahu has no options regardless of what he may want to do to weather this crisis. There is no way that an Israeli leader will survive this kind of debacle, Asa-El said. Asa-El cited the example of former Israeli leaders who had to resign over their handling of crises, including Golda Meir, who stepped down following the end of the Yom Kippur War. Israel was caught off guard by a surprise two-front attack led by Egypt and Syria in 1973 on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar to regain territory. While Israel ultimately won the war, which lasted 19 days, the event traumatized Israelis and killed 2,656 soldiers. The current conflict has so far killed over 1,400 Israelis, most of whom are civilians. The death toll could likely rise as the war continues, and Israel appears to be preparing to launch a ground offensive in Gaza. Netanyahu has also had to confront the issue of the over 200 people Hamas has taken hostage. Many Israelis have joined protests, calling out Netanyahu over the kidnappings and urging him to take action to secure the freedom of those captured. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, a spokesperson for Israels Defense Forces, on Thursday said they have now notified the families of those identified as hostages but said the number may not be final. The kidnappings of hundreds, reportedly including children and older adults, have also illuminated the extent of Israels intelligence failure and led to the spread of a sentiment that Netanyahu is ill-equipped to remain on the job. Anshel Pfeffer, a journalist for Haaretz, wrote that the outrage previously directed at Netanyahu over a controversial judicial overhaul has only risen in the wake of this crisis, and the hostages families are becoming the focal point for that anger. Zehava Eshel told The Guardian that soldiers like her missing granddaughter, who was stationed near the fence that encircles the Gaza Strip, were supposed to be the eyes of the country, but no one listened when they said they saw unusual movements at the border. Netanyahu sees the writing on the wall, Mazal Mualem, a columnist for Al-Monitors Israel Pulse who recently wrote a biography of Netanyahu, told The New York Times and is now focused on damage control. Mualem said, In my opinion, he understands that he wont be able to continue after such a devastating failure and, therefore, he is focused on achieving military and diplomatic success during this war. Netanyahu Could Be Blamed For One Big Failure Asa-El said Netanyahus inevitable downfall would come not just as a result of the Oct. 7 attack itself but also because he displayed poor judgment over the Hamas threat and his relentless pursuit of the politics of division. He explains that Netanyahu had effectively adopted a policy of containment towards Hamas, which turns out was all along a very implacable enemy. As The Economist writes, Netanyahu championed the idea that the threat of Hamas in Gaza could be managed by erecting a high-tech border barrier, instead of by seeking a long-term solution and improving conditions in Gaza. They added, That concept failed miserably on October 7th. Asa-El told HuffPost that Netanyahus attitude of put to sleep the military establishment, which did not recognize the scale of danger the Palestinian militant group posed to Israel, led to the attack earlier this month. Netanyahu has repeatedly divided Israeli society for his own political needs, Asa-El added, and Israelis will hold him accountable for that once the fighting ends. Netanyahu was indicted on corruption charges in 2019, which he has vehemently denied. The trial started in May 2020 but has since been delayed several times. If convicted, Netanyahu could face several years in prison, but a verdict isnt expected anytime soon. His victory in the November 2022 election after allying with ultraconservative parties led to the creation of one of the most right-wing governments in Israels history. Since his return to power, Netanyahu has pushed through a controversial judicial reform that critics say will harm Israeli democracy by limiting the judicial systems power, effectively the only system of checks and balances on the government, with thousands of people taking to the streets to protest it. Some have also pointed out that Netanyahus main motivation for going ahead with the reform is it could help him avoid potentially facing accountability in his corruption trial. Yossi Mekelberg, an associate fellow with the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, predicted protests will likely return to Israels streets eventually, only this time they wont just be about Netanyahus threat to democracy but also about how Mr. Security fell asleep on guard duty. Mekelberg called Netanyahus decision to stack his Cabinet with people of either limited or no military experience at all following his election win criminal neglect. He explains that Netanyahus picks for crucial ministerial positions were below par for a country like Israel, where security is a priority and should be treated as such. Shirel Hogeg, a corporate executive at Nestle from the southern Israeli city of Ofakim, who went viral for confronting a minister over the governments response to the crisis, echoed Mekelberg, calling out Netanyahu for giving important jobs to political allies in far-right and Orthodox Jewish political parties. Netanyahu, the corrupt, the very corrupt, who has been in the seat too long hes given out all these titles [to cronies] to survive, Hogeg told HuffPost. Hes given out funds to everybody to survive. He has even given Hamas money for the past 20 years to avoid confrontation, and he never confronted them until the end. Since Hamas offensive, Netanyahu created an emergency unity government to lead the war effort, which includes several centrist opposition figures, including former Defence Minister Benny Gantz. While the newly created war cabinet does not include any members of the far-right parties Netanyahu formed a coalition with; they remain a part of his government. Mekelberg told HuffPost that this is a political calculation by Netanyahu, given that he will need their support to remain in power if any opposition figures drop out of the unity government. Netanyahu Evading Responsibility For The Hamas Attack Mekelberg said he found it shocking that Netanyahu was still in power despite this colossal failure, also noting that the Israeli prime minister hasnt accepted any degree of responsibility for the Hamas attack, even as others around him, including ministers and defense officials, have. We have to admit honestly, painfully and with a bowed head we, the state leadership and the security establishment, have failed in maintaining the security of our citizens, said Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a partner in Netanyahus government. Ronen Bar, who leads the countrys domestic intelligence organization, also accepted blame, given his organization did not put out a warning that could have prevented the attack. A new poll released Friday by the Maariv newspaper showed that 80% of respondents want Netanyahu to publicly accept responsibility for the Oct. 7 massacre. Mekelberg said Netanyahu likes to take credit when things go right but blames others when events take a bad turn. But the scale of this failure will not allow Netanyahu to remain in the post for long, he estimates. Do I expect him to resign in the manner of taking responsibility and give a big speech and say, you know, I had my time; I failed you, thank you, and disappear into the sunset? No, I dont think so, Mekelberg said. Will he be pushed out in one way or another? he asked. I believe so. Related... (Bloomberg) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping urged Vietnam not to forget the roots of the friendship between the two Communist countries during a meeting with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong in Beijing. Most Read from Bloomberg In the face of the ever-changing international situation and arduous domestic development tasks, the two countries should not forget the original intention of traditional friendship, states a readout of the meeting posted by Chinese state-media outlet Xinhua. The Southeast Asian nation has expanded ties with various countries this year, including the US, as it re-balances its posture abroad and seeks new foreign investment. During a trip to the one-party state last month, President Joe Biden hailed closer ties with its former foe. During Bidens visit, Vietnam formally upgraded diplomatic ties between the two countries to a comprehensive strategic partnership, the highest level and the one it uses for China and India. Russian President Vladimir Putin this week accepted an invitation from Thuong to visit the Southeast Asian country soon. Reuters reported earlier this month that Chinese and Vietnamese officials were preparing for a possible Xi visit to Hanoi at the end of October or in early November. There was no mention of such a trip in the readout. Thuong, in a meeting Thursday with Xis chief of staff Cai Qi, affirmed that Vietnam and China are close neighbors with similar political institutions, development paths and goals of building socialism, according to a statement on Vietnams government website. Vietnams Communist Party, its government and people attach great importance to consolidating and developing the comprehensive strategic partnership with China. --With assistance from Xiao Zibang and Nguyen Xuan Quynh. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Y-12 National Security Complex broke ground on a sprawling facility that will take nearly 10 years to build and will steward the nation's stockpile of enriched lithium at a perilous moment for global security. The Lithium Processing Facility will move operations on a critical element in nuclear weapons from a deteriorating Manhattan Project building. Construction on the 245,000-square-foot facility is expected to be completed in 2031, and full operations are expected to begin in 2034. The estimated cost of the project is between $1.2 billion and $1.6 billion. Y-12 is part of the National Nuclear Security Administration, an agency of the Department of Energy, and is the department's only facility with lithium production capabilities. The immediate backdrop of the Oct. 19 groundbreaking ceremony was excavators and dump trucks, but the stage was set with invocations of Y-12's critical role in nuclear deterrence at a time when U.S. adversaries are flexing their growing nuclear capabilities. Like our Manhattan Project predecessors, todays NNSA faces a daunting task in a very hostile world, said Frank Rose, the administration's second-highest ranking official. Each of our main adversaries are engaged in some kind of destabilizing behavior. A rendering shows what the Lithium Processing Facility, a key project at Y-12 National Security Complex, may look like when it is completed in 2031. Staff broke ground for the facility on Oct. 19. Standing before the workforce that will build and operate the Lithium Processing Facility, Rose ran through a list of threats to global nuclear security, from Russia and China to Iran and North Korea. Russia took control of one of the world's largest nuclear power plants early in its offensive against Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin said the country had deployed nuclear warheads to Belarus, closer to Ukraine and to U.S. allies in NATO. At the same time, China has rapidly expanded its arsenal of nuclear weapons. The nation has more than 500 operational nuclear warheads and will likely have over 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030, the Pentagon said in its annual report on China's military released Oct. 19. We are for the first time confronting the possibility of facing two near-peer nuclear adversaries, Rose said. "We are asked to do more at a faster pace at any time since World War II. The key to meeting our expanded mission requirements is an enterprise that is resilient and flexible. U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, a regular at Oak Ridge ceremonies, sent a representative from his office. U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty also sent representatives in their place. Staggering investments in Y-12 projects Frank Rose, NNSA's principal deputy administrator, speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony for the Lithium Processing Facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. The National Nuclear Security Administration has bulked up its infrastructure investments as nearly 60% of its facilities nationwide are past their life expectancy. Rose said the push to modernize facilities was most evident at Y-12, which plans to demolish its remaining World War II-era buildings in partnership with the Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management, beginning with the Alpha-2 building next spring. In place of outdated buildings are already rising new state-of-the-art facilities. Y-12 celebrated the opening of a new fire station and Emergency Operations Center in January, a combined $68 million investment that piloted a faster, more efficient construction method for the Department of Energy. A massive new Uranium Processing Facility, the product of decades of careful planning and construction, is quickly moving toward its scheduled completion in 2025. The $6.5 billion project, with a 252,000-square-foot main building, is one of the largest in state history and will allow Y-12 to move uranium processing operations away from Building 9212, which is nearly 75 years old. Y-12 is designated by the National Nuclear Security Administration as both its Uranium Center of Excellence and its Lithium Center of Excellence, leading the nation's nuclear security around two key ingredients of nuclear weapons. As with uranium, the nation has not enriched lithium since the postwar period, but continues to process and recycle materials in the U.S. stockpile. We are the nations steward of the stockpile of lithium, said Gene Sievers, Y-12 site manager. We dont go mine and then enrich and then use lithium. We recycle the lithium that we enriched decades ago, and its Y-12s mission to be the careful stewards of that, so we dont have to go back and engage again in that, what I will just say, chemically hazardous process. When Y-12 was built in the 1940s to enrich uranium for the world's first nuclear weapon used in warfare, its buildings were expected to operate for 10 to 15 years. Eighty years later, nine of the original Manhattan Project buildings are still standing and four are still used for critical national security missions. Y-12 Site Manager Gene Sievers speaks at the new Lithium Processing Facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge. The highest-risk building is also where Y-12 currently processes lithium, a site called Building 9204-2, or Beta 2. Workers will remain at the facility until the new site is completed. We have a really old ship, but a really good crew, Sievers said. We invest in that infrastructure to make sure that its safe for the workers and it also means that we have to do some additional engineering inspections throughout the year so that we understand how the building is continuing to age. Safety upgrades on a site rich with scientific discovery The Lithium Processing Facility will improve worker and environmental safety with new techniques to minimize the amount of personal protective equipment needed. It will sit in the 18-acre footprint of the former Biology Complex, a site where Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers uncovered the effects of radiation on genetics until the 1980s. It was owned by the Department of Energy's Office of Science, which owns ORNL, and was nicknamed the "Mouse House" because of the thousands of unwitting rodent research participants housed there. When the Biology Complex was fully operational, it was home to more individuals with doctorates than any other facility in the world, according to the Department of Energy. Both the Uranium Processing Facility and the Lithium Processing Facility are initial steps in a transformational project to modernize Y-12, the Department of Energy's largest employer in the region, one that sits on 811 acres in Bear Creek Valley. The site, managed by Consolidated Nuclear Security, maintains the U.S. nuclear stockpile, deters nuclear threats worldwide by transporting and storing nuclear weapons materials and provides nuclear fuel for the U.S. Navy, whose submarines and aircraft carriers are powered by nuclear reactors. Before he came to work at Y-12, Sievers was in the U.S. Navy for 27 years, serving on four nuclear submarines in the Atlantic and Pacific. When we cross the blue line and go through the gate of Y-12 every morning, we really stop being normal citizens and we start being national security, Sievers said. That is a very empowering and important part of our culture here at Y-12. Daniel Dassow is a growth and development reporter focused on technology and energy. Phone 423-637-0878. Email daniel.dassow@knoxnews.com. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Y-12 National Security Complex moving lithium processing Japanese pop artist Yayoi Kusama has apologized for anti-Black comments made more than 20 years ago, as she opens a hit new show at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Her use of derogatory terms in her autobiography, Infinity Net, resurfaced in the media ahead of the show. I deeply regret using hurtful and offensive language in my book, Kusama, who is 94, said in an exclusive statement to the Chronicle provided by SFMOMA last week. My message has always been one of love, hope, compassion, and respect for all people. My lifelong intention has been to lift up humanity through my art. I apologize for the pain I have caused. In a passage of her book, the pop artist describes a little Black girl she saw in photos as having an exotic face. She also wrote of the U.S. that she envisioned America as a land full of these strange, barefooted children and virgin primeval forests. The SFMOMA show, called Infinite Love, debuted on Oct. 14 and is already sold out through November. Kusama has garnered a cult following for her vibrant polka dot motifs, her Instagrammable exhibits and her image as a quirky pop icon. The problematic comments resurfaced after a San Francisco Chronicle op-ed article by columnist Soleil Ho which ran with the headline SFMOMA is set to have a blockbuster show. But what about the artists racist writings? called out Kusamas past writing. Ho said that SFMOMA has not acknowledged the "elephant in this polka-dotted room." "Despite the global cultural branding that depicts Yayoi Kusama as a beacon of love and a barrier-breaking woman of color, the artist has a racism problem," Ho wrote in the Chronicle. Journalist Dexter Thomas also has written about problematic language of her past works for Hyperallergic and Vice News. Museum director Chris Bedford wrote in an email to the Chronicle, SFMOMA stands firmly against these and all anti-Black sentiments." For more from NBC Asian America, sign up for our weekly newsletter. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A New York judge fined former President Trump $5,000 for violating the partial gag order he imposed in the civil trial stemming from New York Attorney General Letitia James investigation into the Trump familys businesses, while warning the 2024 frontrunner that future violations could result in imprisonment. Judge Arthur Engoron, earlier this month, imposed a partial gag order to prevent all parties from engaging in any verbal attacks against court staff after Trump criticized a member of the judges office on social media. JUDGE IMPOSES PARTIAL GAG ORDER IN TRUMP ORG. TRIAL BLOCKING PARTIES FROM VERBAL ATTACKS AGAINST COURT STAFF "On October 3, during a break in this trial, defendant Donald Trump posted to his social media account an untrue, disparaging, and personally identifying post about my Principal Law Clerk," Engoron wrote in a filing Friday, adding that he ordered Trump to remove the post "immediately." L - Former President Donald Trump R - New York Judge Arthur Engoron The post in question was on Trump's Truth Social account, and stated Engoron's law clerk had a relationship with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. The post also contained a photo. Trump added that because of that, the case "should be dismissed immediately." "Approximately 10 minutes later, Donald Trump represented to me that he had taken down the offending post, and that he would not engage in similar behavior going forward," Engoron wrote, adding that he then imposed the partial gag order, which emphasized that "personal attacks on members of my court staff are unacceptable, inappropriate, and I will not tolerate them under any circumstances." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP TRUMP JUDGE FACES ONLINE BACKLASH AFTER SMILING, POSING FOR CAMERAS IN COURTROOM: 'PARTISAN DEMOCRAT CLOWN' "Despite this clear order, last night I learned that the subject offending post was never removed from the website DonaldJTrump.com, and, in fact, had been on that website for the past 17 days," Engoron wrote. "I understand it was removed late last night, but only in response to an email from this Court." Engoron said lawyers for Trump stated that the violation of the gag order was "inadvertent and was an unfortunate part of the process that is built into the campaign structure." 3. Donald Trump is facing off against New York Attorney General Letitia James in a contentious civil trial that threatens his control over his real estate empire in the state. Photographer: Doug Mills/The New York Times/Bloomberg via Getty Images But Engoron said, either way, Trump "violated the gag order." "Donald Trump has received ample warning from this Court as to the possible repercussions of violating the gag order," he wrote. "He specifically acknowledged that he understood and would abide by it." He added: "issuing yet another warning is no longer appropriate; this Court is way beyond the warning' stage." JUDGE IMPOSES PARTIAL GAG ORDER AGAINST TRUMP IN SPECIAL COUNSEL JACK SMITH'S JAN 6 CASE Engoron said that given Trumps position that the violation was "inadvertent," and even that it is the "first time" violation, the court will impose a "nominal fine" of $5,000. "Make no mistake: future violations, whether intentional or unintentional, will subject the violator to far more severe sanctions, which may include, but are not limited to, steeper financial penalties, holding Donald Trump in contempt of court, and possibly imprisoning him pursuant to New York Judiciary Law." The trial comes after James, a Democrat, brought a lawsuit against Trump last year alleging he and his company misled banks and others about the value of his assets. James claimed Donald Jr., Ivanka , and Eric, as well as his associates and businesses, committed "numerous acts of fraud and misrepresentation" on their financial statements. Attorney General Letitia James arrives for the start of the civil fraud trial of former President Donald Trump at New York State Supreme Court on October 02, 2023 in New York City. Former President Trump may be forced to sell off his properties after Justice Arthur Engoron canceled his business certificates and ruled that he committed fraud for years while building his real estate empire after being sued by Attorney General Letitia James, who is seeking $250 million in damages. The trial will determine how much he and his companies will be penalized for the fraud. TRUMP JUDGE FACES ONLINE BACKLASH AFTER SMILING, POSING FOR CAMERAS IN COURTROOM: 'PARTISAN DEMOCRAT CLOWN' An appellate ruling from over the summer, which limited James from suing for alleged transactions that occurred before July 13, 2014, or Feb. 6, 2016, depending on the defendant, dismissed Ivanka Trump as a defendant. Trump has blasted James for bringing the lawsuit; for the trial not having a jury; and Engoron, calling him "corrupt." "The Attorney General filed this case under a consumer protection statute that denies the right to a jury," a Trump spokesperson said. "There was never an option to choose a jury trial. It is unfortunate that a jury wont be able to hear how absurd the merits of this case are and conclude no wrongdoing ever happened." Engoron, last month, ruled that Trump and the Trump Organization committed fraud while building his real estate empire by deceiving banks, insurers and others by overvaluing his assets and exaggerating his net worth on paperwork used in making deals and securing financing. Engorons ruling came after James sued Trump, his children and the Trump Organization, alleging that the former president "inflated his net worth by billions of dollars," and said his children helped him to do so. Meanwhile, a federal judge also imposed a partial gag order against Trump this week, blocking him from making statements targeting Special Counsel Jack Smith , his staff, witnesses and court personnel. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan of the District of Columbia, who is presiding over Smiths case against the former president for charges related to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, made the decision during a court hearing on Monday. Chutkan said Monday that the former president is able to criticize the Justice Department in general terms and has the right to post his view that the case against him is politically motivated. However, the judge said Trump cannot post attacks against prosecutors or court staff. "No other criminal defendant would be allowed to do so, and I'm not going to allow it in this case," Chutkan said, adding that, if necessary, she would impose sanctions if Trump violates the partial gag order. Original article source: New York judge fines Trump $5K for violating partial gag order in civil fraud trial A New York judge fined former President Trump $5,000 Friday after a derogatory post about the judges principal clerk was not removed from the 2024 candidates campaign website, despite a clear order from the judge. Judge Arthur Engoron did not hold Trump in contempt of court, but he warned further violation of the gag order he imposed after Trumps Truth Social account made the post could result in serious punishment, including steeper financial penalties, contempt or even jail time. Donald Trump has received ample warning from this Court as to the possible repercussions of violating the gag order, Engoron said. He specifically acknowledged that he understood and would abide by it. Accordingly, issuing yet another warning is no longer appropriate; this Court is way beyond the warning stage, he added. The post, published on Trumps account while he sat feet away from the clerk, derided her as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumers (D-N.Y.) girlfriend and included personally identifying information about her. Top Stories from The Hill Once Engoron became aware of the post, he issued a limited gag order barring Trump or any other party in the case from posting or speaking publicly about members of his staff. He also ordered Trump to delete the post, and while it was removed from his Truth Social account, it remained on his campaign website for 17 days. In court Friday, Trump lawyer Chris Kise blamed the very large machine of Trumps presidential campaign for allowing his deleted social media post to remain on his website, calling it an unintentional oversight. Engoron acknowledged Trumps assertion that the post staying up was inadvertent and said he would give him the benefit of the doubt. However, the gag order was still violated, he said, warning that in the current overheated climate, incendiary untruths can, and in some cases already have, led to serious physical harm, and worse. 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 Evening Report newsletter Trump, the Trump Organization and the former presidents two adult sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump are on trial in Manhattan after New York Attorney General Letitia Jamess office filed a lawsuit against them last year alleging decades of fraud. It claims the Trump Organization falsely inflated and deflated the value of its assets to receive lower taxes and better insurance coverage. Trump has denied any wrongdoing, describing the case as a politically motivated witch hunt and both James and the trial judge as biased against him. His repeated attacks against them echo the attacks he has lodged against judges and prosecutors in his other cases. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan issued a limited gag order earlier this week against Trump in his federal case over efforts to overturn the 2020 election after the former president made similarly inflammatory remarks about people tied to that case. Trump faces a combined 91 charges across four criminal indictments and is a party in several other civil cases. Those legal matters are expected to head to trial next year amid the former presidents 2024 White House bid. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Former US president Donald Trump, seen on the second day of his civil fraud trial, leads the field of Republican primary candidates ahead of the 2024 election (Seth WENIG) The New York judge presiding over Donald Trump's civil fraud trial fined the former US president $5,000 on Friday for not complying with a partial gag order and threatened him with possible jail time for future violations. Judge Arthur Engoron ordered the 77-year-old Trump to pay the fine within the next 10 days to the New York Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection. "Make no mistake: future violations, whether intentional or unintentional, will subject the violator to far more severe sanctions," Engoron said in a court filing. "(These) may include, but are not limited to, steeper financial penalties, holding Donald Trump in contempt of court, and possibly imprisoning him pursuant to New York Judiciary Law," the judge added. Engoron slapped a limited gag order on the former president on October 3 after he insulted the judge's principal law clerk in a social media post on his Truth Social platform. The offending post was removed from Truth Social the same day, but the judge complained in his filing on Friday that it remained on a Trump 2024 campaign website for 17 days, until the court asked on Thursday that it be taken down. Engoron said Trump's lawyers told him the violation of the gag order was "inadvertent." "Giving the defendant the benefit of the doubt, he still violated the gag order," the judge said. "In the current overheated climate, incendiary untruths can, and in same cases already have, led to serious physical harm, and worse." On October 3, as Trump sat at the defense table, Engoron said he was issuing a partial gag order "forbidding all parties from posting, emailing or speaking publicly about any of my staff." Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, and his two eldest sons are accused in the New York case of inflating the value of the real estate assets of the Trump Organization to receive more favorable bank loans and insurance terms. Trump has personally attacked the judge on numerous occasions, calling him a "Trump-hating judge," but Engoron, in his verbal gag order, only ordered a halt to attacks on his court staff. On Monday, the federal judge set to preside over Trump's trial for conspiring to overturn the 2020 presidential election also imposed a partial gag order on the former president. US District Judge Tanya Chutkan ordered Trump not to publicly attack prosecutors, court staff or potential witnesses ahead of the trial scheduled to begin in Washington in March 2024. On Friday, Chutkan temporarily lifted her narrow gag order, giving Trump's legal team time to prove why the former president's comments should not face restrictions as his case heads toward trial. arb-cl-tjj/acb (Photo: by Ritchie B. Tongo-Pool/Getty Images) QUEZON CITY - PHILIPPINES - JULY 11: Filipino senator Juan Ponce Enrile (C) who is accused of plunder and graft charges, attends a court hearing on a plunder case charged against him at the Sandiganbayan on July 11, 2014, in Quezon City, east of Manila, Philippines. The Sandiganbayan has not yet made a decision regarding Juan Ponce Enrile's request for the expedited dismissal of his plunder case due to the alleged abuse of his pork barrel. Enrile is the main presidential legal adviser. According to a ruling made by the anti-graft court's Third Division on October 13, Enrile's plea will be resolved concurrently with the main decision or jointly with it when the other co-accused's evidence is presented, as reported by CNN Philippines. According to the court, its actions are being taken "for the orderly disposition of this case" and "pursuant to Section 8, Rule VIII of the 2018 Revised Internal Rules of the Sandiganbayan." Last month, Enrile submitted a demurrer to evidence, basically asking for the prompt dismissal of his case when the prosecution rested. In exchange for redirecting his pork barrel to phony non-governmental groups run by businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, he is accused of pocketing over $170 million in bribes. Enrile, Reyes, and businesswoman Napoles, the accused architect of the pork barrel scheme, were charged with plunder and 15 charges of graft in June 2014 by the Office of the Ombudsman, which at the time was run by Conchita Carpio-Morales. The cases arose from allegations that Enrile received commissions or kickbacks from Napoles totaling P172.83 million through Reyes in exchange for the alleged distribution of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel to the latter's phony non-governmental organizations from 2004 to 2010. Following her conviction for theft in connection with the misappropriation of P517 million from Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr.'s PDAF, Napoles is presently being held in the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City. Revilla wasn't found guilty in the case. After his application for leave was approved on September 18, 2023, Enrile filed his demurrer on September 29, 2023. On October 11, 2023, the prosecution submitted its response to the demurrer. Enrile was freed in August 2015 when the Supreme Court agreed to his request for bail, citing his ill health, lack of flight risk due to his position in society and politics, and his quick submission. For humanitarian reasons, the former senator is free on bail. Read also: Philippines to China: Stop 'Dangerous,' 'Offensive' Actions in South China Sea Gigi Reyes Denied Demurer Meanwhile, the Third Division refused Jessica Lucila "Gigi" Reyes, Enrile's former chief of staff, in a separate minute ruling dated September 19 for "lack of merit" in her motion for leave to file a demurrer to evidence. But according to the Third Division's resolution, Reyes is still permitted to file her demurrer without the need for court permission, with the caveat that "she shall waive her right to present evidence and submit this case for judgment on the bases of the evidence adduced by the prosecution." If Reyes decides not to file another demurrer, the Third Division has scheduled Reyes' presentation of her evidence for October 17 and 19, as well as every Tuesday and Thursday going forward. Related article: 2 Filipinos Confirmed Dead in Israel-Hamas War, Officials Say @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Zara Aleena's killer claimed his level of aggression rose after she fought off his sexual assault - PA Zara Aleenas killer murdered her after she fought off his sexual assault and his level of aggression rose, his barrister has claimed. George Carter-Stephenson KC made the remarks during a Court of Appeal hearing where Jordan McSweeney was making a bid to reduce the minimum term of his sentence. Mr Carter-Stephenson tried to argue that the attack was not a premeditated murder and that it was only after Ms Aleena resisted so strongly that she was killed. McSweeney killed the 35year-old law graduate in a terrifying and ruthless assault as she walked home from a night out in Ilford, east London, on June 26 2022. Mr Carter-Stephenson said that he wanted to make clear from the outset that it is accepted that the attack and murder was particularly savage. He added: Nothing I intend to say in this address is in any way meant to detract from that. Jordan McSweeney appearing in the dock at the Old Bailey, central London - Elizabeth Cook/PA He then argued that the sentencing judge, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb, had wrongly factored in the aggravating features of the case. He said that the murder itself was not premeditated and was an opportunistic assault. He continued: The attack was an opportunistic act rather than anything that was planned in advance though there was clearly a sexual encounter in mind. He planned to look for a sexual encounter, with or without consent. Mr Carter-Stephenson later said the resistance put up by the victim caused the level of aggression to rise during the assault. I dont mean to put any blame on the victim at all, he added. Zara Aleena, pictured as a child, was subjected to a 'particularly savage' attack - PA McSweeney himself, who appeared via video link from Long Lartin prison in Worcestershire, left proceedings after just 45 minutes. An unnamed prison officer, who appeared on the video-link with the inmate, told the court: Hes heard enough and has got everything he requires in his cell. Judges were later told Ms Aleena was made unconscious early during the attack. Mr Carter-Stephenson said: Given the nature of the attack the time for the suffering of this victim was limited. That, to some extent, must impact how one views that as an aggravating feature. The barrister later said McSweeney had ADHD, which should have been taken into account in sentencing. They are wired somewhat differently than most people. They are impulsive their behaviour is less predictable, he said. Jordan McSweeney, 30, is trying to win a reduction to his minimum term of 38 years for murder and sexual assault - UNPIXS However, Oliver Glasgow KC, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said the suggestion McSweeney had not intended to kill Ms Aleena was unsustainable. He told the court McSweeney had spent two hours stalking several women before turning his attention to Ms Aleena. Mr Glasgow told the court he wanted to avoid any risk that he could subsequently be identified by any victim. The barrister said: This was not a moment of impulsive aggression. It was a considered act and the product of hours of pursuing women along the streets. There was nothing that Zara Aleena did that provoked the violence that was given to her. At the hearing before the Lady Chief Justice Lady Carr, Mrs Justice McGowan and Mrs Justice Ellenbogen, Lady Carr said their decision would be given in writing as soon as possible. Ms Aleenas family said McSweeneys bid to lower his sentence had caused profound distress. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. A New Zealand landlord who was locked in a dispute with the Chinese embassy over rubbish disposal has lost a NZ$960 ($559;462) claim. Chandler Investments Limited claimed the embassy left a rented Wellington mews house without covering cleaning and other costs. A tenancy tribunal dismissed the claim, saying the embassy was protected by sovereign immunity. This means a government cannot be sued in another country without its consent. Chandler Investments Ltd had sought payment for "cleaning, rubbish removal and key cutting", claiming this amounted to some NZ960 ($559;462). But in tribunal records seen by the BBC, adjudicator Rex Woodhouse concluded that the tribunal did not have jurisdiction over the case and dismissed it. Representatives from New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) were present at the tribunal hearing, but neither party to the claim attended. While Mr Woodhouse was able to contact a person from the Chinese embassy, "she knew nothing about this application", he wrote in his judgement. The applicant for the tenancy was recorded as "Embassy of the People's Republic of China", and compensation was first sought last May at the end of the tenancy. MFAT noted that there were commercial exceptions to immunity but the adjudicator said he was "not persuaded that the rental of a residential dwelling to an embassy would be commercial in nature". "It was definitely a quirk we didn't see coming," owner Chris Chandler told local media, adding that he thought the amount would have been "immaterial" for the embassy. "No more diplomats, and according to our property manager, that's the advice he gives to others in the same area as well," Mr Chandler said. This is not the first time that a landlord in New Zealand has found found themselves caught out in a tenancy dispute with an embassy. In 2018, a claim was made against deputy chief of mission for the European Union Eva Tvarozkova, over $11,700 (NZ$20,000) in unpaid rent and incidentals at a Wellington property. While the tribunal initially ruled that the landlord was entitled to the money, MFAT later advised that Ms Tvarozkova had diplomatic immunity - protecting her from prosecution - and asked for another hearing. President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts and met with the military, local officials, and Ukrainian defenders, the President's Office reported on Oct. 20. In Kherson, Zelensky discussed the situation on the battlefield with Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Chief of the General Staff Serhii Shaptala, Commander of the Marines Yurii Sodol and Commander of the Odesa Operational and Strategic Group Andrii Hnatov. The meeting reportedly focused on the fighting in the Avdiivka and Kupiansk areas, Ukraine's operations in the south, and weaponry supply on the front lines. Zelensky also visited positions of a border guard unit in Kherson Oblast, discussing service conditions and needs of Ukrainian border guards in frontline regions with Serhii Deineko, the head of Ukraine's State Border Service. Read also: The writing is on the wall: Ukrainian archivists collect Russian graffiti as evidence of war crimes After that, Ukraine's president left for the neighboring Mykolaiv Oblast to discuss the defense and humanitarian situation in the region. Mykolaiv Oblast Governor Vitalii Kim and Mykolaiv Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych briefed Zelensky on the restoration of water and gas supply in liberated settlements and the regional capital, as well as the preparation for the heating season. Hnatov told the president about the security issues in the Black Sea, threats to shipping posed by Russia's aggression, and protection of Ukraine's port infrastructure. Zelensky also visited a military hospital in Mykolaiv Oblast, presenting wounded soldiers with state awards and thanking medics for their work. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Mykolaiv after a meeting with border guards in Kherson Oblast on the situation in the front oblasts. Source: Press service of the Office of the President Quote: "Andrii Hnatov, Commander of Odesa Operational and Strategic Group of Forces, reported on the security situation in the Black Sea, in particular on threats to navigation posed by the aggressor state, the Russian Federation, the protection of port infrastructure and the results of the grain corridor." Details: The heads of the region's law enforcement agencies also informed Zelenskyy about the operational and crime situation in Mykolaiv Oblast and the coordination of law enforcement agencies work. In addition, Vitalii Kim, Head of Mykolaiv Oblast Military Administration, informed the president and other participants of the meeting about the current situation in the oblast, and Mykolaiv Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych reported on the state of the citys vital services. During a working visit to Mykolaiv Oblast, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited a military hospital where wounded Ukrainian soldiers are being treated. Zelenskyy reportedly spoke with the defenders of Ukraine who were wounded in the battles on the Kherson front and their families. The President presented the defenders with Orders of Courage of the III Class, which were awarded for personal courage and selfless actions in defence of Ukraine's state sovereignty and territorial integrity. Background: On 20 October, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with border guards in Kherson Oblast to discuss the situation in the frontline oblasts. Support UP or become our patron! Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described US President Joe Biden 's speech as highly powerful, expressed gratitude for US assistance and stated that together, these countries would not allow freedom and democracy to be destroyed. Source: Zelenskyy on Twitter Quote: "I thank US President Joe Biden for his powerful address. Together, we will not allow hatred destroy freedom, and we will not let terrorists destroy democracy. Ukraine is grateful for all the US support and its unfaltering belief that humanism, freedom, independence, and rules-based international order must always triumph." Details: Zelenskyy stressed that the common goal of Ukraine and the United States is to protect a free way of life for "all of our nations". The president added that countries that oppose aggression and terrorism count on US leadership to preserve common freedom. "The unwavering bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States is incredibly encouraging for all of our warriors and for our entire nation. Americas investment in Ukraines defence will ensure long-term security for all of Europe and the world," Zelenskyy summarised. Background: Support UP or become our patron! President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with border guards on the situation in the contact line areas in Kherson Oblast. Source: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on social networks; Presidents Office Quote: "Kherson Oblast. Meeting with our border guards on the current situation and conditions of service in the contact zone oblasts. Our border guards scouts do a great job; they perform excellent service a strong service. For 20 years, almost 10 years of which have been a war against the occupier. Thank you for serving Ukraine and Ukrainians!" Details: It is noted that Serhii Deineko, the head of the State Border Guard Service, reported on the peculiarities of the work of border guards, their successes, and problematic issues that need attention. In addition, Zelenskyy held a meeting with the military. It is reported that the critical issue under consideration was the situation in the main contact zone. "Defence actions. Avdiivka. Kupiansk front. South," the statement reads. Support UP or become our patron! President Volodomyr Zelenskyy has met senior military leaders in Kherson Oblast to discuss the situation at the front President Volodymyr Zelenskyy convened a meeting with Ukraines military leadership in Kherson Oblast on Oct. 20 to discuss the current situation along the front lines, the Presidential Office press service has reported. The meeting was attended by Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces; Serhiy Shaptala, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine; Yuriy Sodol, Commander of the Naval Infantry of the Ukrainian Navy; and Andriy Hnatov, the Commander of the Operational-Strategic Group of Troops in Odesa. Read also: Zelenskyy discusses Peace Formula, grain exports with South African leader General Zaluzhnyi provided an update on the operational situation at the front, as well as weapon and ammunition supply. Office of the President The President was also briefed on the Avdiyivka sector and the unsuccessful attempts by Russian forces to breach the area, resulting in record losses for the enemy. The meeting also included an analysis of the situation on the Kupyansk front and discussions about the operations of the military units in the south of the country. Office of the President In Kherson Oblast, Zelenskyy also met with border guards and held discussions regarding working conditions for border guards in areas near the front lines. Read also: The President extended his congratulations to the border guards, particularly intelligence personnel, on their professional holiday. Following his visit to Kherson Oblast, Zelenskyy traveled to Mykolaiv. 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 Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelenskyy President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has thanked U.S. President Joe Biden for his impactful address to the American people concerning the ongoing conflict with Russia and the attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas against Israel. Read also: What does the war in Israel change for Ukraine Together, we will not allow hatred to destroy freedom, and we will not let terrorists destroy democracy, Zelenskyy wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Oct. 20. Our common goal is to protect the free way of life for all of our nations. The world, particularly nations confronting aggression and terrorism, looks to America to lead in preserving our common freedom. Read also: Austin tells Zelenskyy US remains focused on supporting Ukraine and will dig deep to meet most urgent needs The president said that Kyiv is thankful to Washington for its unfaltering belief that humanism, freedom, independence, and rules-based international order must always triumph. Bipartisan support from the United States encourages the Ukrainian military, and further investments in the countrys defense will ensure long-term security for all of Europe and the world, Zelenskyy added. Overnight, Biden addressed the American people to rally support for Ukraine and Israel. He emphasized that the Hamas attack and the Russian invasion share common motives: both seek to completely dismantle neighboring democracies. Read also: Brussels has changed a lot. What does this mean for Ukraine Biden is expected to submit an emergency budget request to Congress for funding Israel and Ukraine on Oct. 20, seeking $60 billion for Kyiv and $14 billion for Jerusalem, reported Reuters. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy , the president of Ukraine, reported that the Russians have been suffering particularly heavy losses at the front in recent days, and this is exactly what Ukraine needs. Source: Zelenskyy during a visit to Kherson Oblast and the city of Mykolaiv, as said on his Facebook Quote: "Russian losses are really impressive these days, and it is precisely such losses of the occupier that Ukraine needs." Details: The president said that on Friday, he held a meeting with Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Serhii Shaptala, Chief of the General Staff, Serhii Deineko, Head of the State Border Service of Ukraine, as well as Andrii Hnatov, Commander of the Odesa Operational Strategic Group, and Yurii Sodol, Marine Corps Commander, on Friday. The top military officials discussed the situation in Kherson and the region, the overall situation in the south, and the situation in Donetsk Oblast, where attention was primarily paid to Avdiivka. The Kupiansk front in Kharkiv Oblast was also discussed. Apart from that, Zelenskyy held a meeting in the city of Mykolaiv with oblast and city leaders, military and law enforcement officers. They talked about the protection of the region, infrastructure, ports and corridors in the Black Sea. Social issues that are important for Mykolaiv and the towns and villages of the region were discussed, such as energy, heat and water supply in Mykolaiv and the surrounding oblast, water quality in the city, social support, and economic work were discussed. The regional head of the Security Service of Ukraine made an "important report" regarding the protection of Mykolaiv and its oblast from the sabotage activity of the Russians and their collaborators. Special attention was paid to protecting the sky from Russian bombs and missiles during the meetings. Quote: "We are working to strengthen air defence. I am grateful to everyone in the world who is helping!" Background: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Mykolaiv after a meeting with border guards in Kherson Oblast on the situation in the front oblasts. Support UP or become our patron! Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has had a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz . Source: Zelenskyy on Twitter (X), reported by European Pravda Quote: "Our agreements in Granada are being successfully implemented. I am especially grateful for the latest large military aid package, which includes Patriot and IRIS-T systems, as well as ammunition for them." Details: The Ukrainian President also told the German Chancellor about the current situation on the contact line in Ukraine, in particular, about Russia's unsuccessful attempts to advance near Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast and the catastrophic losses of the Russian occupiers. Zelenskyy and Scholz also discussed the situation in the Middle East, the next round of negotiations on the peace formula in Malta, and the Ukraine Recovery Conference to be held in Germany in November. Background: Zelenskyy had a phone conversation with US President Joe Biden, during which they also discussed the situation on the contact line in Ukraine. The German government reported on Friday that it had sent another batch of military aid to Ukraine, which included Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, drones and heavy trucks. The German Ministry of Defence also announced its intention to provide Ukraine with an additional Patriot air defence missile system, new Iris-T systems, new Gepard anti-aircraft systems, and ammunition. Support UP or become our patron! Giorgia Meloni, the far-right prime minister of Italy, has broken up with her partner, Andrea Giambruno, a journalist who has made many demeaning and sexist statements on TV. Meloni announced the end of his almost decade-long relationship with Andrea Giambruno in a social media post. This came two days after it was revealed that Giambruno, a presenter on Mediaset's news talk show Diario Del Giorno, had made lewd and provocative remarks to a female colleague on off-air recordings. The couple have a seven-year-old daughter. "I thank him for the wonderful years we spent together, for the difficulties we went through, and for giving me the most important thing in my life, which is our daughter, Ginevra," Meloni said as a caption in an Instagram photo. "Our paths have diverged for some time and it is time to acknowledge it." Meloni took power in October after her Brothers of Italy party won the general elections. See Also: Italian PM Giorgia Meloni's Commitments Tested as Thousands of Migrants Arrive on Mediterranean Island Controversial Remarks According to the Guardian, in the first behind-the-scenes clip, which was shown on another program produced by Mediaset, Giambruno vents his frustrations over the comments others have made about his hairdo before asking his female coworker, "Why didn't I meet you before?" In the second tape, Giambruno can be heard bragging about an affair and promising female coworkers jobs in exchange for group sex, as reported by Sky News. He is also heard informing a female coworker, "Let's have a threesome, even a foursome," he remarked as he proposed the idea. Meloni came to Giambruno's defense in September after the latter said that women should refrain from getting intoxicated in order to reduce their risk of being raped. After a string of high-profile rape cases, he expressed these thoughts on the topic during an on-air conversation. Meloni said at the time that his statements had been misunderstood and that although they were hasty, they were comparable to what her mother had advised her, which was to "keep your eyes peeled and head screwed on." Meloni did not have a relationship with her father and was raised by a single mother. Her mother and father are no longer in contact with each other. Other on-air embarrassing mistakes made by Giambruno include dismissing the existence of a climate problem in his statements. When temperatures in Italy reached unprecedented levels in July, he said that "heat in the summer isn't big news." Following a day of political protests, Meloni saw Giambruno in the studio of Mediaset, where she was scheduled to appear on a program. Before they went on set, he said in an interview that an exhausted Meloni had given him a banana that had been partially eaten because she had mistaken him for her assistant. He said it was "love at first sight" when they met. See Also: New Zealand Election 2023: Conservative Christopher Luxon Becomes PM, Ending Liberal Party's 6-Year Reign @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. President Volodomyr Zelenskyy travels to Kherson Oblast and meets with Border Guard Service personnel President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in Kherson Oblast on Oct. 20 to meet with Border Guard Service personnel stationed there, according to the Presidents press service on Oct. 20. Zelenskyy held a meeting to discuss the current situation and the conditions of service for Ukrainian border guards in the frontline regions, the press service reported. Serhiy Deineko, the head of Ukraines State Border Guard Service, presented an overview of the work of the border guards, their achievements, and issues requiring attention Read also: Zelenskyy also extended his congratulations to the border guards, particularly intelligence personnel, on their professional holiday. the Presidents press service You have been doing a great job, performing a great service a powerful service. For 20 years, almost 10 years of which have been a war against the occupier. Thank you for serving Ukraine and Ukrainians, he said. the President's press service During the gathering, a minute of silence was observed to honor all the soldiers of Ukraines defense and security forces who lost their lives in the war against Russia. Read also: Prior to this visit, Zelenskyy had visited Kyiv Oblast and reviewed housing construction in Tarasivka for individuals affected by the Russian invasion. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine WASHINGTON The Aspen Institute has named Northeast Community College as one of the 150 institutions in the nation that are eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation's signature recognition of high achievement and performance among two-y The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor announced on Thursday (19 October) that it had released Maxime Mokom because all war crimes charges levied against the former militia leader were dropped. Prosecutor Karim Khan said his office had concluded there were no longer any reasonable prospects of conviction at trial even if the charges were confirmed. Mokom was released from custody on Tuesday, the ICC said later in a statement. He had faced charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity over alleged atrocities committed against Muslim civilians in the CAR, a former French colony, by his self-proclaimed self-defense militias in 2013 and 2014. One of the poorest countries in the world, the CAR was plunged into bloody sectarian conflict after Seleka rebels, a coalition of armed groups mainly composed of Muslims, ousted president Francois Bozize in early 2013. Mokoms militias, known as anti-Balaka (meaning anti-machete) formed in reaction to the takeover of the capital, Bangui, by the Seleka. He had denied involvement in the bloodshed, telling ICC judges in August he was dedicated to the search for peace. Prosecutor Khan said his office reserved the right to request a new arrest warrant if more evidence came to light and addressed those affected by the atrocities in the country. I am very conscious that this news may be unwelcome to many survivors and their families, he said. I hope many will understand my legal and ethical responsibilities to be guided by the law and the evidence. President of Moroccos National Human Rights Council (CNDH), Amina Bouayach, called from Accra, Ghana, for developing a common vision and an ambitious roadmap to protect human rights in the commercial transactions of businesses, corporations and multinationals on the African continent. The CNDH president was addressing the 14th Biennial Conference of Network of African National Human Rights Institutions, held in Accra, under the theme Nurturing responsible business conduct and respect for human rights in Africa, Bouayach proposed 2030 as a perspective for the effective implementation of the guiding principles relating to businesses and human rights. These are global standards for preventing and addressing the negative impacts of business activities on human rights and the UN framework aimed at strengthening standards and practices in this field, she said. Africa is a continent of young people, she said, highlighting the importance of developing its resources, improving access to health and education, and eradicating poverty. The ambitions of the Continent and those of its young people come up against the repercussions of climate change and its scourges, CNDH president noted, stressing that Africa, one of the continents which contributes the least to these climate changes remains among the most affected by this phenomenon. Initiated by the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions in collaboration with the Ghanaian Human Rights and Administrative Justice Commission, the conference examines the role of national institutions in the implementation of human rights under commercial operations and the Agreement on the African Continental Free Trade Area. The conference, held October 17-20, featured a series of panels on the relationship between human rights and business in Africa. Antonio Tajani, Italys Foreign minister, is set to visit Tunisia today October 20 in view of inking with the North African country another deal for the recruitment of thousands of Tunisian regular workers as part of efforts by the two countries to curb illegal migration. On Friday, Ill be in Tunisia, as the issue obviously also extends to migration, the diplomat and Deputy Italian Prime Minister said. Tajani announced his trip early this month. The diplomat recently said Italy will recruit an additional 4,000 Tunisians through Decreto flussi, a program that sets how many non- European citizens can enter Italy for work. Both countries signed the first deal in April 2023, during Tunisias Foreign minister Nabil Ammars visit to Rome. The program is inscribed in the two countries joint will to promote regular migration at the expense of illegal migration. Thousands of illegal migrants including Tunisians, foreign nationals mainly from Sub-Saharan African countries are using Tunisia as a departure point for migrant vessels to reach the European countrys shores. Rome has repeatedly raised the alarm over waves of vessels batting its coasts. Antonio Tajani is also expected to address the Hamas and Israel conflict. Tunisia has condemned Israeli for its bombing of Gaza and stood in solidarity with Palestinians. Guinea has returned to Organization pour la Mise en Valeur du Fleuve Senegal (OMVS), a regional bloc for the development of Senegal River that including Mali, Mauritania and Senegal, after suspending its membership in July 2023, in protest to the neglect of its strategic interests. The countrys interim Prime Minister Bernard Goumou attended the online extraordinary Summit chaired by Mauritanias President Mohamed Cheikh Ghazouani. Ghazouani reportedly recalled the importance of unity within the organization and participation of every country for the development of the region in the interest of the people. Guinea walked out of the organization in July arguing that its strategic interests, such as the Koukoutamba hydroelectric dam in the Labe region of northern Guinea, have never been taken into account. Guinea authorities also slammed the delay in the execution of the project valued at $812 million. The OMVS and Chinese export and import bank Exim inked a deal in 2019 for the financing of the project. Exim has reportedly pulled out of the initiative but has never been replaced. The dam, if completed, is expected to produce 294 megawatt of electricity and will be the biggest project ever implemented by the OMVS. Guinea also chided the regional organization for inequality within the staff. Goumou in July said Guineans were six, under-represented, as opposed to distribution between other nationalities. He also argued that Guinea was a founding member of the OMVSs mother organization Organisation des Etats riverains du fleuve Senegal (OERS) before pulling out in 1971 for political reasons. The OMVS aims at managing the Senegal River basin. India has validated exports of rice to seven countries including Cote dIvoire, Cameroon, Guinea and Seychelles several months after banning the export of the crop in view of meeting the needs of the domestic market and reducing increasing prices. Per the decision to lift the ban, Sika Finance reports, India will send 1.34 million tons to the seven countries. 474,000 tons of the shipment will go to the African countries, 190,000 tons to Cameroon and 142,000 tons for Cote dIvoire and Guinea. The Asian country which is also worlds leading rice exporter, in July 2023 banned the export of NBW (Non-basmati white) rice (semi-milled or wholly milled, whether polished or not, glazed). The move sent shock waves through the Asian market and global market for the staple food. Cote dIvoire, the African continents largest importer, 41 per cent of Indian exports felt the blow with rice prices shooting up. Cameroon is the second market of the Indian rice exports on the continent, 25 per cent. The countrys Trade minister Magloire Mbarga Atangana, Sika Finance reports, said the new shipment to Cameroon will cover three-month needs. Both Cote dIvoire and Cameroon have pledged to reduce their dependence on India or imports. Yaounde in May 2023 proposed $620 million to support rice production. The central African country expects to produce 750,000 tons of rice by 2030. Cote dIvoire on the other hand rolled out a 2020-2030 plan backed by a $241 million budget in view of reaching self-dependence by 2025. Moroccos automotive exports reached $8.8 billion between January and August this year, a jump of 35.6% year on year, says FDI Intelligence in its latest report on the investment opportunities offered in the North African Kingdom. This impressive growth highlights the sectors leading position in the countrys overall exportation, as it outperforms the sectors of agriculture and textiles, explains the report. IMFs mission chief for Morocco, Roberto Cardarelli, says Moroccos automotive exports, which have been spurred on by the industrialisation of Tanger Med, have provided a buffer to external shocks to the economy, such as the Covid-19 pandemic. When I arrived in Morocco in 2009, there was only one [Renault] plant in Casablanca which made approximately 20,000 cars per year, recalls Christophe Dridi, vice president of industry at Dacia, the Romanian car manufacturer Renault bought in 1999. Now, we produce more than 350,000 cars in Morocco across our Tanger Med and Casablanca plants, he says, noting that Renaults plant in Tanger Med now represents 17% of the groups global production and more than 50% of its production of Dacia vehicles. In 30 years of my life, I dont have any other experience of the automotive industry growing so fast. Imagine: in only 10 years, the Tanger [plant] is as big as any large-scale car plant in the world, he adds. The train line connecting Renaults factory with the port is an illustration of the infrastructure attractiveness for big foreign players to relocate to Morocco. This is part of the governments strategy of opening up to international trade and diversifying the structure of the economy by joining global value chains. Behind the success story of the export of cars and automotive components, the industrialization of Tanger-Med spans textiles, aeronautics, electronics and agri-food processing, says FDI Intelligence. Julianne Furman, general manager at Polydesign Systems, an automotive supplier, who has been in Morocco for nearly 30 years, points out that other sectors, ranging from aeronautics to textiles, have benefitted from the growth of the automotive sector. After the pandemic sent customers looking for alternatives to Asia, Moroccos position was reinforced as a sourcing platform for Europe, says the Moroccan Association of the Textiles and Clothing Industry. Still, the automotive industry is the biggest of Tangier-Meds success stories and, with its mature ecosystem, offers the most promise for the future, affirms the report of FDI Intelligence. Overall, Morocco boasts a network of more than 230 tier 1 and 2 automotive suppliers with a local integration rate of 60%, according to a 2023 UNCTAD report on economic development in Africa. Last year, carmaker Stellantis injected 300 Million in its Kenitra manufacturing plant, as it looks to double the sites production capacity to 400,000 vehicles per year and 50,000 electric vehicles. Kenitra is located outside the industrial zones of Tanger Med but relies on it as a partner, says Mounir Kharbouche, general manager of Stellantiss Kenitra plant. Stellantis uses Tanger Med to export cars but also to import parts from elsewhere. The plant sources 40% of its imports from TAC, 30% from nearby Kenitra and 30% from international imports which come through Tanger Med. Kenitra is now key to our strategy for the Middle East and Africa region () in addition to being a key hub for the production of micro vehicles, or the smallest size of car, says Mr. Kharbouche. Hong Kong: Over 7k email addresses leaked Hongkong Post today announced that it has identified a data security issue involving its account holders, in which an unauthorised party obtained 7,249 email addresses registered with the department. Hongkong Post said the unauthorised party made countless attempts through its electronic service function, to test and try to guess the registered email addresses of its account holders, and eventually by chance located the email addresses. The department confirmed that the incident only involved email addresses. The unauthorised party could not obtain the account holders' personal information such as their login names and passwords or their account transactions. Hongkong Post added that it did not find any indication that there was any leakage of or tampering with the account holders' personal information or any suspicious activities of the accounts concerned. All affected account holders were immediately informed in writing when the incident was identified on October 18. Hongkong Post also took immediate measures to further tighten up its system security. In addition to reporting the case to Police on October 18, it sought advice from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data that day and filed a report to the office today. Hongkong Post also reported the case to the Government Information Security Incident Response Office according to the established government procedures. It is now seeking advice from the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer to further enhance its security measures. It urged the public to refrain from clicking on any embedded links or providing any personal or financial information such as credit card information as well as making any payment to suspicious emails or SMS messages alleged to be sent by Hongkong Post. Hongkong Post reiterated that it will not send embedded hyperlinks via emails, SMS messages or social media pages to collect personal information or request payment. Call 2921 2222 for enquiries. This story has been published on: 2023-10-20. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Laotian village heads learn a lot from trip to Yunnan 08:21, October 20, 2023 By Li Yingqing and Xin Wen ( China Daily Students from Laos prepare to board the Lancang bullet train at the newly built station on the China-Laos Railway in Vientiane, capital of Laos, on June 21. KAI QIAO/XINHUA Visitors experience nation's efforts to alleviate poverty, revitalize rural areas Southwest China's Yunnan province is famous for its all-season blooming flowers, tea leaves picked by hand on mountain slopes and people from ethnic groups dressed in traditional clothing. Yunnan has now gained more significance as the newly built China-Laos Railway connects it with Luang Namtha, a province in northern Laos that features a similar climate, ethnic customs and culinary culture. It has also become a magnet for Laotians who wish to experience the ecological, economic and tourism development in the province. In May, a group of 10 Laotian village chiefs from Luang Namtha made a train journey to Kunming, the capital of Yunnan. Tong Xoc Piewmeu, 30, one of the 10 village heads, said that during the fact-finding trip, he focused on rice planting. "In Laos, many villagers face financial constraints, and under the current economic situation, we are only allowed to engage in small-scale farming. Otherwise, we have to seek employment away from our villages," said Piewmeu, who has been a village chief for 10 years. "I hope that in the near future, we can try planting rice in our village to help local people benefit more from cultivation," he added. From May 15 to 19, Piewmeu took part in a training class in Kunming designed for the village heads. They learned about modern agricultural cultivation techniques, the development of traditional Chinese medicine, China's experiences in alleviating poverty, and measures to revitalize rural areas by promoting tourism and healthcare. The first stop on the visit was the Lancang-Mekong International Vocational Institute at Yunnan Minzu University in Chenggong district, Kunming. The visitors attended a two-hour class taken by Yin Xiaoying, an associate professor at the university specializing in industrial integration. In addition to the friendliness of the Laotians, Yin was impressed by their desire and passion for economic development and their specific interest in understanding the policies and measures implemented by the Chinese government for poverty alleviation and rural revitalization. Yin said, "As far as I know, these village chiefs from the border area between China and Laos, especially those near the crossing points, proposed coming to Yunnan to learn and exchange ideas. "To my surprise, they were enthusiastic during and after the class. They asked many questions and were fully engaged throughout the session." Yin instructed the visitors on development of the walnut industry in Yangbi Yi autonomous county, Dali Bai autonomous prefecture, Yunnan. They were also told how the province has improved industrial, production and operational systems in the agricultural sector. Visitors inspect products at the 20th China-ASEAN Expo in Vientiane in April. KAI QIAO/XINHUA The county is known for its walnut production, and in Guangming village, which sits on Cangshan Mountain in the east of Yangbi, walnut trees can be seen everywhere, with the oldest boasting a history of 1,165 years. Local farmers relied on planting walnuts for a living, but in 2017, the price of walnuts suddenly plunged by 10 yuan ($1.4) per 500 grams. The villagers could not sell their crops for a good price, and factories processing the walnuts were struggling to stay in business. To cope with this sluggish market, the walnut growers considered establishing village cooperatives to manage and sell their produce in a more orderly way, in the hope of raising prices and the quality of their crops. Yin also began conducting a five-year field study in 2017 to observe factors influencing the village's economic development and methods to help lift local people out of poverty. "I saw that they had diversified the way in which walnuts were produced. The villagers established a number of cooperatives, introduced smokeless ovens to bake walnuts, and expanded the distribution channel to establish e-commerce platforms for online sales," Yin said. "From farming to manufacturing, the walnuts produced were fully used, and the village also launched a group of specialized homestays to boost rural tourism." During her lecture in Kunming to the Laotian village heads, Yin told them how Guangming was lifted out of poverty. The ensuing development of the walnut industry, along with accompanying measures to boost tourism, was also discussed. "Because Guangming has a small economy, it is still exploring advanced processing of some agricultural produce, and has yet to achieve large-scale operation. However, the local tourism industry is booming due to its reliance on scenic Cangshan Mountain," Yin said. She added that the Laotians wanted to learn more about such progress and how Guangming had achieved relatively fast economic growth, as their own villages are facing a similar situation. The first cross-border passenger train passes over the Galanba bridge on the China-Laos Railway in Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture, Yunnan. JIANG WENYAO/XINHUA Transportation links Laos has only three administrative levels: province, city and village. Each Laotian village has a chief, whose administrative power is second only to that of the mayor similar to a district or county head in China. Due to a relatively low urbanization rate, most people in Laos still live in rural areas. Village chiefs act as a bridge between the government and the people, and in rural areas of the country, residents often have a close relationship with their village head. Seng Xaiyavong, 44, head of Ban Borpied village, which is about 8 kilometers from Boten, a northern border crossing point with China, said 696 people live in the village, and most of them work in Boten during the day. Two of the villagers work at Boten station on the China-Laos Railway, which is only about 1 km from their village, said Xaiyavong, who was among the village heads who took this rail line to Kunming for the exploratory tour. It was the first time that Xaiyavong had traveled abroad. "I came to study, and learned a lot. I was particularly impressed by the rural tourism businesses that are flourishing in Gulang village, Anning, where natural hot springs help boost the local economy thanks to the development of related cultural tourism facilities," he said. Xaiyavong said boosting agricultural industries, which requires large amounts of capital and resources, is often beyond the reach of individuals. "Laos is different from China in terms of rural industry growth. We have a lot of room for improvement," he added. The opening of the China-Laos Railway in December 2021 boosted trade between the two countries, injecting new momentum into Laos' economic recovery, which was badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Even though Laos had a short rail link along its border with Thailand before the China-Laos Railway opened, many Laotians consider the latter to be the country's first modern rail line, and are proud of it. Piewmeu, the village head, said: "People in our village depended on planting and tapping rubber trees for a living, because there is no local pillar industry. A few years ago, we could only sell the rubber to a local factory for a low price. With the railway opening, more business owners from China are now buying our rubber, and prices of the product have risen." He said that traveling to Vientiane, capital of Laos, typically took two days by bus from Boten. "After the railway opened, travel time to Vientiane was reduced to just four hours," Piewmeu said, adding that villagers now choose to go out to work instead of staying at home to farm. In addition to convenient transportation, Laotians' incomes have risen. "We used to rely on natural conditions to make a living, but rarely thought about how we could improve our living standards," Piewmeu said. "The railway connected us to the outside world, allowing Chinese businesspeople to come to our village. They saw opportunities, and I tried to recommend local projects to them to give the villagers more employment opportunities." Passengers are welcomed at Vientiane station in April. XING GUANGLI/XINHUA Experience shared Communication with business owners in Kunming further strengthened the confidence of Laotian village chiefs in boosting development. Qi Mingde, general manager of Yunnan Ruran Letu Agricultural Development Co in Anning, said the visitors were most interested in how Chinese entrepreneurs, as investors, have helped villagers raise their annual income from 18,000 yuan to 23,000 yuan in just two years. They also wanted to know why the entrepreneurs took the bold decision to make such a large-scale investment in a rural area. "In the hope of earning a better living, the village chiefs were inspired to think outside the box and experiment to test the knowledge they gained from our experience in developing rural ecotourism," Qi added. He said that in the past five years, his company has turned local farmers into shareholders by involving them in making decisions to fully tap local resources. The village's 30 surplus laborers were all employed, and last year, the average monthly income of local residents reached about 3,000 yuan. Qi said that to improve the village's environment, areas where garbage was piled high were cleaned up and transformed into green zones. Residents' houses were renovated, and a walking path now surrounds the village to improve fitness levels. "The average annual income of villagers in Gulang, where we developed rural tourism, has risen from 18,000 yuan five years ago to 23,000 yuan. The second phase of our tourism project has been completed, and the third phase will continue to expand the scale of operation," he said. On an exploratory tour to the border, Qi saw that Laos boasts abundant natural resources. "It is a good place to develop ecological tourism. The village chiefs may not be aware of the specific methods involved, but the pleasant environment in Laos could be used to improve tourist resources," he said. "Many Laotian village chiefs said they hoped to replicate the success that our company has had in Gulang in their own villages. They also plan to send more villagers and officials from relevant departments to China to learn from us. "I have no hesitation in sharing our experience with the Laotian people and I am very willing to help the development of rural areas in Laos." The Laotians were also impressed by the agricultural planting techniques used by rural companies in Yunnan. Xaiyavong, the Ban Borpied village head, said he hoped agricultural experts and technicians from Kunming would visit his village soon to guide residents in producing plant products in a more advanced technological way. "We grow rubber, sugar cane and watermelons. Much of our produce is sold to other parts of China through Yunnan. I was deeply impressed by the diverse varieties of specialty crops, large-scale planting models, and the mature procurement and sale systems in Yunnan. I hope to strengthen cooperation with the province in this respect," he said. Laotian staff members in Vientiane greet passengers taking the first cross-border train from Kunming, capital of Yunnan province. XING GUANGLI/XINHUA Progress has been made in cooperation between China and Laos in terms of transportation. The 1,035-km China-Laos Railway has produced a convenient logistics channel between the two nations. After the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership officially took effect in January last year, demand for logistics services between the two countries greatly increased. International freight services on the China-Laos Railway have risen from an average of two trains a day after the line opened, to an average of 12 trains per day. As of May, more than 20 million metric tons of goods had been transported by the line. The types of goods carried by the railway have risen from just over 10 at its initial opening, to more than 2,000. Yin, the associate professor, said: "The Laotian people are pragmatic. They are now more interested in the specific way of doing things, such as how to sell produce and better cultivate crops. I told them that we love the dark Laotian beer, and they immediately asked how they could find the best retail channels for beer sales. "Compared with direct aid, I think they wanted to know more about methods to improve their economic situation." (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) (Photo : by MANJUNATH KIRAN/AFP via Getty Images) Visitors click photographs in front of a model of 'Gaganyaan' orbital module developed by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for its planned 'Man in Space' mission at an exhibition during a symposium on Human Spaceflight and Exploration - Present Challenges and Future Trends in Bangalore on January 23, 2020. In preparation for its intended mission to launch astronauts into space in 2025, the Indian space research agency is scheduled to conduct the first of several important tests. On Saturday, the Gaganyaan spacecraft is scheduled to launch from Sriharikota at 08:00 local time (02:30 GMT), according to BBC. If the rocket malfunctions, the test will show if the crew can safely exit it. If successful, it will open the door for other unmanned missions, such as the launch of a robot into orbit the following year. Three people will not be launched into low-Earth orbit until all of these experiments have been successfully completed; this will most likely occur in 2025, as the government declared last week. The Gaganyaan Project The Gaganyaan project, named after the Sanskrit term for a craft or a transport to the sky, cost 90 billion rupees ($1 billion; 897 million) to create. The plan is to launch the astronauts into a 400 km (248 km) orbit and return them three days later. If it is successful, India will join the US, China, and the Soviet Union as the only other nations to have sent a person into space. Isro, the Israeli space agency, must first show that a human-carrying spacecraft can safely return to Earth. And that's what Isro's flight on Saturday, dubbed Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (or TV-D1), will try to accomplish. The spacecraft's "crew escape system (CES)" would be tested, according to Isro CEO S Somanath, who called it "a very critical system." The Isro website states that once the module starts to descend, a number of parachutes will be deployed to aid secure a safe impact in the waters of the Bay of Bengal, around 10 kilometers off the shore of Sriharikota. The module will be recovered and brought safely back to shore by the Indian navy, which will be waiting at a safe distance with a ship and a team of divers. The "short duration" test will last around nine minutes, according to the space agency. Isro claims that the ship has been equipped with cameras and devices that will collect data and images that will be useful for further testing and the Gaganyaan's final mission. Read also: International Space Station Leak Prompts NASA To Delay Spacewalk Isro As a Humanoid According to junior minister for science Jitendra Singh, if Saturday's test is successful, Isro will deploy a humanoid - a robot that resembles a person - in an unmanned Gaganyaan spacecraft the following year. The female humanoid, dubbed Vyommitra-the Sanskrit term for "space friend"-was introduced by Isro in 2019. According to the organization, the selected Indian air force pilots were undergoing "extensive physical exercise tests, lab investigations, radiological tests, clinical tests, and evaluation on various aspects of their psychology." The agency also released images of the pilots with the public. Isro has shared images of the rocket at the launch site and a diagram that depicts the trajectory of the craft from the launch to the splashdown in the sea in their most recent updates on X (previously Twitter) during the past several days. Rakesh Sharma, an astronaut from India, was the first to travel to space in 1984, staying there for 21 days and 40 minutes aboard a Russian spacecraft. However, Isro's scheduled test on Saturday is drawing interest since it will take place not long after the nation achieved history by becoming the first to set foot close to the Moon's south pole on August 23, 2023. Aditya-L1 Only a few weeks later, India also launched Aditya-L1, its first mission to the Sun for observation. According to India's space agency, it will travel 1.5 million kilometers (932,000 miles) from the Earth, or 1% of the distance between the Earth and the Sun, and will arrive at its designated location in mid-January. A space station will be established by 2035, and an astronaut would be sent to the Moon by 2040, according to India's announcement earlier this week. Related article: NASA's Space Launch System: Mega Moon Rocket Hindered by Financial Constraints @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Moroccan police found 1.370 tonnes of cocaine in a fish distribution company in Casablanca, in one of the major catches in the country. The banned substance was found when a fish distribution company alerted the police to the existence of the white powder, the police said in a statement. The Moroccan police could seize up to 1.370 of the drug as it continues to investigate the case. Preliminary findings showed the cargo originated from Latin America and reached Morocco via Spain. On Tuesday, a man was spotted with a stolen vehicle out of Indiana at Love's Truck Stop on South Newberry Access road. North Platte Police arrested him and he has been charged with theft of the stolen vehicle. Damien Bell, 43, of Los Angeles, California, was arrested on suspicion of felony theft by taking over $5,000. According to court records, officers "were made aware" of a stolen vehicle at the truck stop southeast of North Platte. They relayed the vehicle's Georgia license plate to dispatch and it came back as stolen. As Bell left the parking lot, officer initiated a "high risk" traffic stop. Bell was arrested without incident after being asked to step out of the vehicle. Court records say Bell told police he was renting the vehicle, but he could not provide documentation proving his rental claim. Bell also had a warrant for his arrest in Scotts Bluff County for felony theft by taking over $5,000 and theft of services between $1,500 and $4,999. He was arrested and placed in Lincoln County Detention Center awaiting arraignment. The North Platte Police Department assisted in detaining five youth who ran from the Greater Nebraska Youth Center on Friday. The center reported the missing youth about 3:10 p.m. Friday from the center in the 2300 block of East Second Street in North Platte, according to a press release from the police department. Officers were dispatched to the area and the 911 Center sent an alert to residents in that area of North Platte. At about 5:15 p.m., the 911 Center received a report of suspicious activity in the 2100 block of East E St. When officers arrived, they found all five juveniles, detained them and returned them to the center. The youth range in age from 12 to 17 and are court-ordered to be at the Greater Nebraska Youth Center. They are from various communities throughout Nebraska. Due to their ages, lack of knowledge of the area, and resources the North Platte 911 Center placed an alert to the public for the youths' safety, the police department said. "We would like to thank the public for their assistance in the safe return of the juveniles," the police department said in the release. Palestinians gather to collect water, amid shortages of drinking water in Khan Younis on October 15. Photo: IBRAHEEM ABU MUSTAFA/REUTERS On Wednesday, President Biden announced Israel would not block some humanitarian aid from entering the Gaza Strip via Egypt, partially reversing a two-week-old ban put into place after the Hamas attack on October 7. Human-rights experts said the food, medicine, and water will do little to mitigate the looming humanitarian disaster. The most acute form of deprivation is safe drinking water, which threatens the lives of over 2 million people. Thats because the infrastructure to distribute water was in a critical state even before the current crisis. The decades-long conflict between Israel and Hamas has denied the Gaza Strip of the resources to invest in a robust water system. The baseline was already quite limited, says Omar Shakir, Israel and Palestine director at Human Rights Watch. So that even a step that might have been significant in the pre-October 7 context is going to be even more limited in terms of how much it helps the population. With no natural lakes or permanent rivers, Gaza had been getting the water through three principal sources. About 90 percent is groundwater from the Coastal Aquifer Basin, which is fed by rainfall across Gaza and southern Israel. Gazas highly dense population has been drawing from the aquifer about twice as fast as its being replenished. When you overpump a coastal groundwater system, often salt water penetrates. So its salty, says Peter Gleick, an environmental scientist at the Pacific Institute in Oakland, California, who has studied Gazas water infrastructure. The water is also polluted with nitrates that have leached in from agricultural fertilizer and both human and animal waste. About 96 percent of the aquifers water is considered undrinkable. Even to get the water requires pumps that run on electricity or diesel fuel, supplies of both of which have now been cut. About 6 percent comes via three pipelines from Israels state-owned water company, Mekorot. On Monday, a pipeline feeding the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis began to flow again, but according to the United Nations, it only delivered about 4 percent of the territorys normal consumption. The third and smallest source of water is from desalination plants, which extract fresh water from seawater. This had been a bright spot for Gaza as new capacity came online in recent years, including a UNICEF-funded plant that opened in 2017 and was able to produce 1.5 million gallons a day. But without electricity or fuel to generate electricity locally, the desalination plants have fallen idle. The U.N. reports that the last major desalination plant powered down on Sunday. To the extent that any capacity remains at all, it would be coming from a scattering of privately owned desalination systems. They have some small desalination plants that run on solar that might be able to desalinate a little bit of water over time, says Gleick. The World Health Organization sets 50 liters per day as the minimum to ensure that most basic human needs are met, such as drinking and washing. Before the blockade, Gazans were using 82.7 liters per day, compared to 240 to 300 liters per day by Israelis. The U.N. now estimates that Gazans are getting three. People are very much conserving their use of water, says Shakir. Theyre making difficult choices when it comes to how much to drink and how to use water. Shutting Gaza off from fresh water doesnt mean that there is suddenly none at all available. Throughout Gaza, many residents are normally supplied by water tanker trucks and store the water in cisterns on the roof. The difficult decision that they now have to make is how much to use and for what purposes. As stored water dwindles, some will inevitably find themselves in a more dire situation than others. The major health concern is dehydration. The human body needs about a gallon of water a day to function. People who get less than that begin to suffer from thirst, headaches, fatigue, dizziness, dry mouth, and dark urine. Toxins build up in the body and can eventually damage the kidneys. Without any water at all, humans can only expect to live about a week less with heat and exertion. We need to truck fuel into Gaza now. Fuel is the only way for people to have safe drinking water. If not, people will start dying of severe dehydration, said Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA commissioner-general, in a press statement on October 14. For his part, Gleick doesnt see the major danger being dehydration People arent dying of thirst, he says but rather disease. People can get sick from contaminated water, either in the short run with water-related diseases or in the long run from the chemicals and the contaminants, he says. Compounding health concerns, Gazas sewage treatment plants have also been shut down due to a lack of power. Most of the 65 sewage pumping stations are not operational, increasing the risk of sewage flooding. In some areas, sewage and solid waste have been accumulating in the streets, posing health and environmental hazards, the U.N. reports. Were in an unprecedented abyss, says Shakir of Human Rights Watch. I have never seen a humanitarian situation as dire as were seeing now in Gaza, and I dont say that lightly. It is unprecedented and it is dire. Photo: Mohammed Salem/REUTERS This article was featured in One Great Story, New Yorks reading recommendation newsletter. Sign up here to get it nightly. In 1955, Mamie Till-Mobley changed American politics by using grief as a catalyst for human rights. I believe that the whole United States is mourning with me, she said about her son, Emmett, whose mutilated corpse she displayed publicly to prevent future lynchings. Mobley is the spiritual godmother of the Black Lives Matter movement, whose animating principle was that mourning in public could lead to egalitarian transformation. By making Black grief a spectacle that could not be ignored, she hoped that society might feel moved to start treating Black people as full human beings. This approach might have underestimated the publics tolerance for Black pain, but it got results. Major legislative achievements, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Fair Housing Act of 1968, would not exist without the public grief over the deaths of Emmett Till and Martin Luther King Jr. Modern efforts to curb police abuse have been propelled by images of Black bodies bleeding out on the street. Progress through pathos has become a defining expression of the Black freedom struggles noblest aspiration: a politics of indiscriminate regard for human life. That legacy was tested on October 7, after Hamas militants massacred at least 1,400 people in Israel and abducted more than 200 others back to the Gaza Strip. A handful of leftists initially celebrated or refused to denounce the attack, including the Los Angeles chapter of BLM, which posted the following on Instagram: When a people have been subject to decades of apartheid and unimaginable violence, their resistance must not be condemned. This callous proclamation wasnt just a symbol of Black Americas divided mind. It was also reflective of an urgent, ongoing reassessment across the left of how we transmute pain into politics. In the immediate aftermath of the attack, Israel responded with more rockets and vows to flatten Gaza, and the American political Establishment was united in support. The American public was considerably more ambivalent, and some Jews in the U.S. and Israel have decried what they see as a crass exploitation of trauma. Jewish Grief Must Not Be Used as a Weapon of War, read a headline in The Nation. It is especially disingenuous to do so, they say, when the lives of Palestinians remain essentially worthless to a global community that has closed ranks around the Israeli government, as Gabriel Winant noted in Dissent: The genuine humane sentiment that it is possible to grieve equally for those on both sides is, tragically, not true. One side has an enormous grief machine, the best in the world, up and running, feeding on bodies and tears and turning them into bombs. The other is starved for grief. In response, Joshua Leifer, also in Dissent, accused Winant and his ilk of obliterating the lefts moral credibility by failing to acknowledge the sanctity of innocent life. Across newspapers and social media and college campuses, we have argued, painfully, not only over who deserves to be grieved but how best that grief should be honored. The lesson of the Black freedom struggle might appear to vindicate Leifer and those advocating for a more universal politics of grief. But the other half of the equation, the Black legacy of channeling our grief toward a more just world, is often missing from the American discourse and wholly missing from American policy when it comes to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. It would be unconscionable, in forgetting one of the great humanitarian innovations of 20th-century America, to use the politics of grief in Israel to justify more violence and retribution, rather than as a spur toward a lasting peace. The Los Angeles chapter of BLM is not a proxy for Black people, or even the Black left, which has balanced grief for slain Israelis with pro-Palestine sentiment in most cases. But its stance is the culmination of a particular history. Solidarity between Gaza and the Black ghetto became a theme of the Black Lives Matter protests in 2014, when dissidents clashed with cops in the majority-Black suburb of Ferguson, Missouri. Palestinian sympathizers shared tips on Twitter about how to fight the effects of tear gas. It feels so weird, one post read, using my experience from Palestine and Israeli oppression to give advice to Ferguson. What seemed like a natural alliance reversed a civil-rights-era partnership. Black leaders and the Black press of the 1950s and early 60s overwhelmingly identified with Israel. Most saw its Jewish majority as fellow survivors of near extermination, a notion that had roots in Black abolitionists invoking the biblical story of enslaved Jews fleeing Egypt for the Promised Land. The era is remembered as a high watermark in Black-Jewish relations, embodied by the likes of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel marching alongside King and John Lewis in Selma. The dispossession of Arabs didnt much concern Black activists until the mid-60s, when Malcolm X visited Gaza refugee camps and the 1967 Arab-Israeli War pitted the Black Power movement against what came to be seen as a colonial occupation. Solidarity with Palestine became a pillar of the broader Third World politics of the Black Panthers and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. A key figure of that age, Angela Davis, remains one of todays most vocal proponents of Black-Palestinian solidarity, while Michelle Alexander, her fellow critic of the U.S. prison state, in 2019 called on New York Times op-ed readers to break the silence on Palestine that enables Israeli violence. To the extent that Black-Jewish solidarity is still a political force, its being invoked by apologists for the occupation. We stand side by side with Israel every day but we do so with extra resolve today, said Mayor Adams. Standing with Israel is not the same as standing with Jewish people, many of whom also revile the Israeli governments abuses against Palestine, or even with many Israelis, who oppose their governments reactionary turn under Benjamin Netanyahu. Even in this hour of anguish for the bereaved, such support upholds an arrangement that endangers far more lives than it protects. Everyday Israelis are imperiled by their governments barbarism in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, which fosters the kind of desperation that Hamas exploits. And what the Israeli response has meant to the Palestinians is clear. The Israeli military has already killed more than 3,500 people in Gaza and cut off the strips water and electricity. A ground invasion looms. The Israeli Defense Force called on the estimated 1.1 million residents of northern Gaza to evacuate south if they didnt want to die. The U.N. derided the order as impossible, since these people remain trapped with no aid. Or you can just listen to Israeli officials. Gaza will eventually turn into a city of tents, an Israeli defense official said. There will be no buildings. Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant said the IDF was fighting human animals, making it evident that little distinction is being made between civilians and armed combatants in a territory thats mostly composed of children. Hamas is not Palestine, and mischaracterizing its atrocities as righteous fightback blurs the lines that divide civilians from combatants and Israeli children from the Israeli government. Where grief is abused so routinely by those in power, the response thats most consistent with the highest ideals of the Black freedom struggle, with the Black legacy that loves justice and sides with oppressed people, is to wrest its meaning from the exploiters and channel it toward a humane end to the occupation and to apartheid. This is, in fact, what some Israeli victims have done. Winant cites Noy Katsman, whose brother Hayim was killed in the attack. It never brings us peace and it never brings us better lives, they said of Israel killing Palestinians. It just brings more and more terror and more and more people killed, like my brother. The third loser in less than three weeks. Photo: Valerie Plesch/Bloomberg via Getty Images House Republicans havent been terribly successful at many things this year. They struggled to keep the government open and to keep the United States from defaulting on its debt. Theyve even struggled at times on basic votes to keep the chamber functioning. But they have been very good at one thing: regicide. On Friday, Republicans dethroned Jim Jordan as their designated Speaker, making him the third party leader to be ousted this month. First, there was Kevin McCarthy, who required 15 different ballots to even be elected Speaker and was removed from office by a right-wing rebellion at the beginning of October. Then, after a majority of Republicans voted to make McCarthys No. 2, Steve Scalise, his successor, a number of Republicans announced that they, too, would torpedo his candidacy and back Jordan instead. Finally, once Republicans finally turned to Jordan as their candidate, the largest rebellion yet blocked him from becoming Speaker. After losing three successive votes on the floor, the firebrand lost an internal vote to keep his position as Speaker designate on Friday. After two weeks of Republican chaos, the House is frozen without a leader, imperiling both the prospect of keeping the U.S. government open with a funding deadline less than a month away, and supplying U.S. allies Israel and Ukraine with aid to shore up their defenses. Next week, Republicans will attempt yet again to elect a Speaker, as the party explores new, previously unimaginable levels of division, chaos, and bitterness. In particular, the fight over Jordans candidacy has opened new wounds in a party full of them. Many of the same rebels who held McCarthy hostage in January were also those who helped block Scalise in order to hold the position open for their favored candidate, Jordan. But they soon got a dose of their own medicine from Establishment Republicans outraged over the gambit. This led to a perfect storm for Jordan that united members concerned about his hard-right beliefs with those embittered that the hard right had blackmailed the conference by sinking anyone but Jordan. My vote counted less than everyone elses vote, said Don Bacon, an anti-Jordan moderate from Nebraska. In America, all of our votes count the same. As Pat Fallon of Texas, who backed Jordan on the floor, described it, If you let 20 people run your conference when theres 221 members, it gets the other members a little antsy and a little angry. The hard feelings got worse after an aggressive lobbying campaign from right-wing influencers that led to a tirade of angry calls and even death threats to members opposed to Jordans candidacy. It also didnt help that his lobbying campaign lacked a certain personal touch. As one person familiar with his efforts to woo dissidents put it, The more outreach he does, the worse it gets for him. It used to be I was voting for Kevin McCarthy, said Carlos Gimenez of Florida. Now Im not voting for Jim Jordan. Unlike many of those who blocked McCarthys effort to be Speaker at the start of the year, Jordans opponents didnt want any policy concessions or powerful perches in exchange for their vote. When Jordan held a last-ditch meeting with holdouts on Thursday, it was clear negotiation was impossible. When he met with a number of us, he asked us what we wanted, Gimenez said. We dont want anything. Despite seemingly impossible odds, Jordan was reluctant to drop out. He held a press conference Friday morning, where he told a long anecdote about the Wright Brothers from his native Ohio before yet again losing on the floor of the House. At that point, Republicans assembled yet again in a closed, windowless room to decide his fate. Cell phones were placed outside to prevent leaks, and carts of pizza were wheeled in to stave off hunger. While only 25 Republicans openly voted against Jordan on the floor, 112 cast a secret ballot for him to drop out. They saw no path forward for him. Theres no more runway, said Fallon. Were at the end of it. The mounting problem is not simply that Republicans are unable to elect a Speaker, but also that the House cant function without one. The chambers rules require a Speaker to be elected for even the most basic functions, like voting on legislation. Although Patrick McHenry, a Republican from North Carolina, is currently serving as a placeholder in the role under a post-9/11 provision to ensure continuity of government, he has insisted he has no power to do anything save preside over the election of a permanent Speaker. Proposals to formally empower McHenry until a Speaker is elected have been rejected by Republicans so far. So, the question is who would be next on the chopping block. We took our leader out, we took our second-in-command out, we took our grassroots folk hero out, Kelly Armstrong of North Dakota told reporters before Jordans ouster. Eventually, were going to run into an attrition problem. Thats unsustainable. Already, a host of potential candidates were popping up to mount their own bid next week despite the unpleasant and unstable nature of the position. Jake Ellzey of Texas consistently voted for his colleague Mike Garcia of California on the floor this week in order to block Jordan they flew jet fighters together in the Navy. Id take a bullet for that guy. I love the guy, Ellzey said. Why then would he subject such a close friend to such a grim fate? He conceded, There is a duality there. Photo-Illustration: Intelligencer; Photo: Getty Images This week, the indie music platform Bandcamp laid off roughly half its staff after its second change of ownership in as many years. The sites new owner, music-licensing service Songtradr, has promised to keep all the existing Bandcamp services that fans and artists love, but artists themselves sense a turning point. God this is frustrating, wrote John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats. Bandcamp was an unalloyed good in the music business. The platform, said Kimya Dawson of the Moldy Peaches, was the only place I felt safe and supported as an artist. Bandcamp, through which musicians have sold $193 million in downloads and physical media in the last year, was, for a certain type of artist, a refuge from the brutal economics and promotional machinery of streaming. As jazz musician and critic Ethan Iverson put it: The path narrows. Meanwhile, Spotify has its own news for musicians worried about making a living: a new Merch Hub, where users are recommended products based on what theyve streamed, as well as new profile pages through which artists can sell live tickets and promote merchandise. Musicians can also direct benevolent listeners to CashApp or crowdfunding sites like GoFundMe. These are, in Spotifys words, ways to accomplish its mission of enabling artists to live off their art. In context, artists might read the offer another way: Hey, were the only game in town. Might as well play. Streaming music won, at least in the sense that everything else lost. In 2022, according to the Recording Industry Association of America, streaming services accounted for 84 percent of recorded music revenues, with physical media accounting for 11 percent and digital downloads adding up to 3 percent (and falling). For most listeners, the calculation is simple enough. Streaming is cheaper than buying music. Its easier and at least nominally more ethical than outright piracy. Its also operationally embedded in the culture: If you want to share a song, album, or playlist with friends or an audience, youll probably default to Spotify, the largest streaming service by far. Spotifys success is heavily qualified, though. It may be the Netflix of music, but its never posted a profit; in 2022, with nearly a half-billion users around the world, around 200 million of whom pay for the service, it lost 430 million euros (the company is based in Sweden). This weird, loser-take-all outcome which happens from time to time in tech, where dominant firms are allowed to bleed money for years in pursuit of long-term sector domination means that the music industrys biggest success story of the 21st century can also seem like its flailing. There have been layoffs and a price hike. The company is pulling back from its splashy investment in podcasting. Royalties are by far its biggest operating cost, but outside of a small slice of the highest earners, many artists have been shocked by how little money ends up in their pockets. Spotifys response to criticism from artists has tended to alternate between pleading poverty and tough talk about The Way Things Are. In 2020, CEO Daniel Ek defended Spotifys payouts, suggesting that obviously, some artists that used to do well in the past may not do well in this future landscape, where you cant record music once every three to four years and think thats going to be enough. In 2023, he emphasized that in many cases, a fraction of Spotifys payouts makes it to artists due to arrangements beyond Spotifys control. What Spotify does is we pay out to those record companies and these publishers, he said, and dont know what individual deals these artists may have. This is true, but Spotify isnt exactly going to battle with the rest of the industry. (One thing that Spotify does control is its free, ad-supported tier, which accounts for more than half of its listeners and which critics say dilutes payouts substantially.) Large music groups some of which, including Universal, Sony, and Warner, are part-owners of Spotify are much happier with the arrangement than some of their artists, and understandably so. In the middle of a massive post-internet industry contraction, Spotify didnt cut them out (though that might still be part of the long-term plan). It bailed them out and became their most valuable partner. In lieu of royalties, working artists are left with touring and merch sales, and they have to treat streaming the primary way people are actually consuming their work as a sort of promotional tool for off-platform ticket and T-shirt sales. In this scenario, Spotify still exerts a lot of influence, controlling which artists get seen and by whom through its popular curated playlists and omnipresent recommendation tools. To users, it resembles a streaming service; to artists, it can feel like an idiosyncratic but all-important social network where they must suss out the desires of not only of the platforms listeners, but the platform itself. Such is Spotifys centrality to the business that its even changing how popular music sounds. Bandcamp was founded just one year after Spotify, in 2007, and has positioned itself as a small island separate from the brutal streaming economy a destination for artists to connect more directly with fans, sans algorithmic mediation. It was never really a competitor to Spotify, but it was an alternative; a place where fans, even if they didnt want to pay to download music, could keep tabs on artists, get updates about tours, buy merch, talk with one another, or find out about new music (Bandcamps layoffs included most of its editorial team, whose coverage and recommendations were a sort of throwback, analog counterpart to Spotifys personalized, automated recommendations). It was a partial solution to some of streamings problems. To artists, this was worth more than the sum of its parts or payouts. By stepping onto Bandcamps turf and staking its claim over artists non-streaming sources of revenue by, in the companys words, allowing users to shop your offers more easily Spotify will probably boost non-music sales for artists, but in the process fortify its position as the music industrys default platform. Its approaching problems the way every late-stage internet platform does, at least before it discovers its limits: by presuming total victory and control over the industry its been working to enclose. Spotifys success as a basic streaming service eventually entitled it to a central role in how music is made and distributed. Why shouldnt its success in music promotion make it the main platform for touring, merchandising, and fandom in general? For Spotify, in other words, the solution to its problems is and will always remain the same: more Spotify. Though the EU universally condemned the attacks by Hamas on Israeli towns and kibbutzim two weeks ago, Israeli retaliatory strikes against the Gaza Strip did not get unconditional support. This week, EU governments tried to patch things up by finding common ground and finally speak with one voice. Not a small feat, given the ongoing reconciliation between the most pro-Israeli member states, such as Germany and Austria, with the most critical, like Spain and Ireland. "Israel has the right to self-defense in line with international law. Hamas are terrorists, and the Palestinian people are also suffering from that terror. And we have to support them," Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President said this week. "There is no contradiction in standing in solidarity with Israel and acting on the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people." On a brighter note, EU leaders had reason to celebrate this week or most of them. The right-wing nationalist government in Poland, a long-time Brussels nemesis, which time and again had antagonised and frustrated EU leaders over basic democratic freedoms, is about to be removed from the political chessboard. Sundays elections brought about heavy losses for the ruling Law and Justice Party and big gains for the pro-European opposition. Three parties under the stewardship of former Prime Minister and EU Council president Donald Tusk now have a majority to form a coalition government. "This result speaks for itself. No one can distort it, no one can take it away from us. We have won democracy, we have won freedom, we have won back our beloved Poland," Tusk said. A change of government in Poland could have important consequences for Europe, according to Katarina Barley, vice-president of the European Parliament, and a former justice minister of Germany. "The former government was going down a path of autocracy in abolishing the independence of the judiciary, in concentrating media in its own hands," she told Euronews. Story continues "It was sort of following the path of Viktor Orban in Hungary and it is very, very good and relieving to see that the Polish people chose another path." The aforementioned Viktor Orban also had an interesting week. Instead of joining a virtual EU summit on the Middle East, he preferred talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in China, something remarkable, as leaders of European countries have largely been giving Putin the cold shoulder since Russia invaded Ukraine last year. "The Prime Minister of Hungary belongs to a small cohort of European politicians who know how to defend their interests, do it persistently, in my opinion, quite tactfully," Putin said following their meeting. Israel conducted overnight raids throughout the West Bank, the Israeli-occupied Palestinian area, and arrested more than 60 members of the terrorist group Hamas, including its spokesperson. The Palestinian Ministry of Health also reported on Thursday, October 19, that many Palestinians were killed in a continuing Israeli military operation in the Nour Shams refugee camp in the West Bank city of Tulkarem. Hamas Spokesman Detained Hassan Yousef, the spokesperson, was arrested Friday, October 20, "on suspicion of acting on behalf of Hamas," according to CNN. This information was provided by the Israel Security Agency Shin Bet. The Palestinian Prisoners Club, a non-governmental organization (NGO) that advocates for Palestinian inmates, confirmed that Yousef was arrested in his house in Beitunia. Yousef is a prominent Palestinian political figure and the main Hamas spokesman in the West Bank. He has spent the better part of the last 24 years behind bars in Israel, having been imprisoned many times on accusations including incitement, illegal entry into Jerusalem, and Hamas involvement. He often gives interviews to foreign media outlets. Earlier, he told Canada's The Globe and Mail that he believed Hamas would be willing to release its estimated 200 prisoners if Israel agreed to a 24-hour truce to allow supplies into Gaza. A Large-Scale Operation? The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have confirmed that an operation was conducted. Overnight, IDF said there was a massive counterterrorism operation in Judea and Samaria (Jewish designations for the West Bank) that led to the capture of nearly 80 wanted people, including 63 Hamas terrorist members. Since Hamas' horrific attack inside Israel on October 7, the Palestinian Prisoners Club reports that a total of 850 Palestinians have been jailed in the West Bank. Legislators, public leaders, journalists, and those who were previously imprisoned for long periods of time in Israel are all said to be among them. Palestinian National Initiative General Secretary Mustafa Barghouti told CNN that Israel is conducting a large-scale operation to detain Palestinians. "Every night, they are conducting more and more arrests. The number of Palestinian prisoners now in Israeli jails is up to 6,300. They're not charged, they're not taken to court. [There are] no due legal process and that's what they call administrative detention, including no less than 200 children who are now in Israeli jails," Barghouti stated. See Also: Will US, Israel Conduct Full Gaza Invasion? Here's What Joe Biden Had to Say Amid Gaza Conflict The Israeli raid follows growing West Bank involvement in the battle in Gaza. Reportedly, many Palestinians were killed by Israeli soldiers' gunfire in the West Bank on Thursday. The ministry confirmed the deaths of six individuals and said that the death toll was expected to grow further. There have been reports of clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces in many different areas. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said that its workers were attempting to reach the wounded in Nour Shams but that there were obstacles as ambulances carrying injured persons were being held by Israeli troops. See Also: Gaza Patients Undergo Surgery Without Anesthesia as WHO Faces Medicine Shortage @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Im not naive enough to believe everything was peachy pre-2016 but it really does feel like such a dark contrast, the times were in. Like I cant even be hopeful for a new year bc I know itll just get worse. Reply Thread Link my 2017 went something like: dad died, women's/science march, sister diagnosed w/ stage 4 cancer, hysterectomy, moved in with my mom because she felt alone (which meant giving up independence and leaving a city i loved). all the depression. literally all of it. one of the last conversations i remember having with my dad was him telling me there was no difference between hillary and trump, that they were both equally terrible people. my dad, whose favorite president was jimmy carter. i still haven't recovered. thankfully my sister did, though. i feel you so hard on this assessment. Reply Parent Thread Link im so sorry for your loss and what youve had to go through. hoping for better days for us all. Reply Parent Thread Link Sending you so much love, bb. What shit. <3 your sister Reply Parent Thread Link sending you love. Reply Parent Thread Link I'm very scared that WW3 is rapidly approaching. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link The government will shut down in a month if we dont pass a budget which we cant do without a Speaker and the GOP seems incapable of electing one. So. Uh yeah. Great. Reply Thread Link And Biden is almost 200 years old, and if he dies, we get...Kamala. Has no one in the government thought anything through? Like....they killed Kennedy bc he almost started WW3 with the Bay of Pigs (I'm not gonna pretend the CIA didn't kill him and then Dorothy Kilgallen for trying to expose it), but they're allowing a guy whose facial expressions mimic those of my friend who is a retired ER doc with dementia and it's scary. I don't know these people, but I do have friends with stutters and IMO, this is different to me. Just my opinion, and my nerves. I trust no politicians, but I want Bernie back even if he is older bc he voted against all the wars and his roof hasn't fallen off (I don't think this saying translates to English but whatever), and Elizabeth Warren, even if she does give "Mom on cocaine at Thanksgiving" energy, idgaf, gimme someone who seems vaguely decent. Reply Parent Thread Link I agree. Him, Mitch Mcconnell, Feinstein, and Trump are/were too senile. Reply Parent Thread Link While I do think Biden( among a number of others) are too old, your comment is absolute shit and insanely ignorant. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link ch...we about to have trump elected and convicted at the same time and running this country on house arrest from a golden toilet at mar a lago Reply Thread Link if y'all go to any demonstrations plz plz plz be extra cautious. wear a mask have a number memorized written on your body in case you get picked up no pics of other ppl you're demonstrating or organizing w/ Reply Thread Link Everything has been so insane lately and this week Ive been seeing a lot of omg Im not voting for Biden in 2024 which I totally understand but I do NOT want a Trump/authoritarian run. Reply Thread Link I hear you but this past week has been too much. Biden lying about seeing the beheaded babies, giving Israel the green light for a ground invasion, and advising his ambassador to veto the pauses for humanitarian aid was a whole nother level of depraved. While we know US presidents always stand with Israel, this was too much. Even his statement on the 6 year old stabbing victim was weak (you love refugees but fail to acknowledge why his family are Palestinian refugees?). So many of my friends are too repulsed and will not vote for him after this week. We don't want Trump (or a Nikki Haley) but this lesser evil voting is just too much. I just want Cornel West. Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah, i dont think their go-to of "hey, even if you don't like us, at least we're the lesser evil" holds much weight any more Reply Parent Thread Expand Link As an independent candidate and a free Black man, I accept donations within the limits of no PACs or corporate interest groups that have strings attached. I am unbought and unbossed. Despite my deep political differences with brother Harlan Crow (who is an anti-Trump Republican), Cornel West (@CornelWest) October 19, 2023 His entire campaign is just to play spoiler for trump while getting paid. His entire campaign is just to play spoiler for trump while getting paid. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Yeah, I think there's a very good chance he lost himself the election these past two weeks. It's inexcusable, his words and actions. Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah sorry not sorry but not only did this man fuck over all the disabled people by ending an ongoing pandemic (which is when I decided to not vote for him) but then this?? The only thing Biden gives us is the illusion that were not already in an authoritarian situation. Reply Parent Thread Link Truly. When you are standing by and allowing plus funding a genocide to happen you can fuck all the way off. Biden is an evil POS and everyone backing this bullshit should rot in hell. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I want neither. I wish the Democrats had a 40 year old to run, not someone who is 80. I miss the excitement people had in 2008 for Obama Reply Parent Thread Link The democrats can either give us a candidate worth voting for or Im not voting. The dems relying on the lesser of two evils BS when the last I checked, everything that Biden has done in the last week or so is pure fuxking evil and I refuse to vote for that man. Sorry I have a conscious and its not just because I am Palestinian but seeing all those innocent people be massacred while his lying ass entices more violence and funds it, is too much for me. He has been acting so evil in front of us imagine how hes acting behind closed doors! Oh wait we knowthe man whos in charge of his arms deals quit cause of how inhumane his policies are. To me, Biden is no different than Trump. Trump is just loud and proud. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link This and speaking candidly, it kind of annoys me a little. They're not happy with Biden's decisions? Cool, I doubt they'll like Trump's/DeSatan's/Haley's any better. While I absolutely do understand where these people are coming from, if Trump or one of his cronies wins, it's going to be on them. Evidently, neither party is going to meet the expectations of people on this issue, but the thing is that there are OTHER issues too. If Trump/Desatan/Haley/whoever wins, we also have to worry even more about LGBTQ rights, racial issues, and women's health issues, among others. To be clear, I'm not saying I agree with anything Biden has done this week, but I feel like people are forgetting that if Biden loses to Trump or whoever, the president is still going to have awful pro-Zionist views, and a lot of other horrible views along with that. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I was never enthusiastic about biden but this is the most ive ever felt like not voting next time. Hes made me so furious with everything this week. I know ill have to vote cus I know its worse if I dont vote for a democrat but ive always been passionate about voting even though its a fucked and now im I feel like ill literally be forcing myself to go. Reply Parent Thread Link i hate Trump, but the man withdrew troops from Syria and managed not to attack Iran (despite serious pressure from Israel) or invade/start a new war. Reply Parent Thread Link Oh god, not another 2016 people...PLEASE. Where so many liberals and progressives were so anti Hilary that we ended up with the huge domino piece that started so much of this chaos. I get it, I truly do...but please vote, we cannot let things get even worse. I rarely use this expression, but some of you all have to check your privilege too. Not all of us can afford to have another madman if not the same orange one in the White House again. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I'm saying this with Labour in the UK. When a human rights lawyer says he's okaying genocide, I'm not going to vote for him even if he's the lesser of two evils. Fuck that. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link The manufacturing of consent for this genocide feels like it's going to have disastrous civic consequences Reply Thread Link well, if you're looking at polling lately , many young people are turning away from Democracy. but i don't think out of principle... there's just NO representation for normal, working aged people anymore. if you look at opinion polls on ethics and issues people care about, the majority of Americans aren't represented by the goals of either political party. Reply Parent Thread Link Were already in deep considering how our police state is intrinsically tied to Israels police state, so whatever civic repercussions there are, theyll be exacerbated by what the police is utilized and authorized to do in the future Reply Parent Thread Link Why do we always have money for war and not for anything that would actually make living in this shit hole of a country better Reply Thread Link Exactly. It's like feeding the homeless, no. Repairing our roads, no. Canceling all student debt, no. But funding a god damn war, here's a trillion dollars. Edited at 2023-10-20 01:05 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link They keep re-paving the roads here when they are perfectly fine. We need more affordable health care & homes though Reply Parent Thread Expand Link My guess is that spending money on war let's then make that money back and then some. They think they can't do that with free healthcare or canceled student loans. Reply Parent Thread Link I havent fact checked it yet Ill be honest but I do keep seeing that we fund Israels free healthcare. Like oh one thing that could improve the life of every American in a big way we can do but we can export that for others? Okay great Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Right, I'm wondering what the end game here is. Americans are suffering internally from crippling inflation, but the military keeps growing. Eventually America will become a hollow shell that is essentially a host for geopolitical power struggles for the select few. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Because war is literally the USAs biggest export. Reply Parent Thread Link because the economy is run by the stock market and its stockiteers (sp). whoever has the most investment in each of these categories (realty, weapons, gold, technology) calls the shots. it's why there's so many links between political figureheads & the amount of kickbacks they get through the stock market. Edited at 2023-10-20 06:48 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link That's how the US gets money? I'm not being shady btw, this is just a fact. When the economy goes to the shitter in the US, they invest in a war because that's super profitable to the US. Reply Parent Thread Link I hate that Im going to have to vote for Biden after all this bullshit. It doesnt matter that he wants aid given to Palestinians, he wants to supply IDF with the weapons that would continue to kill them so whats the fucking point? At the same time I refuse to have a Trump 2.0 presidency but god damn what Biden is doing makes me sick. What are your thoughts on whos responsible for the hospital bombing? My first instinct is that Israel is responsible but theyre making it look like Hamas. Reply Thread Link There is no other option except for voting Biden at this point, IMO. If he's the Democratic candidate, welp there we should be. I swore once I would never ever vote for an old white man again, even on the local level. Here we are. If my choices are very less than ideal vs. that's the last time I might be able to vote ??? I will eat my former words and pick the better option. Reply Parent Thread Link Full disclosure, I have never voted for a Republican in my life. I'm 41 and live in Georgia. I'm not open to the idea, ever, as MAGA thoughts and people have nailed that down for me forever and ever. I am stuck in my ways now. Reversing what is happening is going to be nearly impossible, but I do love the idea of people not being full of hate or putting their foot in the way of good just to get points or props. I'm a down ticket D. But I also research the D's. And my only conspiracy teeny tiny brain is the Republicans are boosting others to have them flip after elected. But Republicans are gross. They don't care about Anti-Semitism. They don't care about Gaza. They surely don't care about Palestine and the people who are being blasted. They pretend to care about Israel, meanwhile they're using that as a talking point. They don't care about a single thing, except ruining my community (yours too?), blocking good things and then blaming it on fairly elected Democrats. Meanwhile, they don't give a shit about us and refuse to come to an agreement within their own house, literally. It's awful and embarrassing. A farce they have created. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link you think they'd own up to bombing a hospital (multiple ones)?? news agencies have done detailed analyses, there's no way it could have been Hamasaki rockets. IDF doing what IDF has always done. Pass the buck. If no one buys it, then they say that the hospitals were being used as bases etc. Like, there are continuous videos coming from these hospitals, it's full of doctors and patients. No militants. does anyone care? not really. just keep kissing Israel's ass Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Well from the aftermath of the explosion, the crater at the blast site isn't even that large of an area. It seems like the people that were killed were the ones in the grass on the hospital grounds. From the original reporting it made it seem like the hospital collapsed from the blast, but all of the buildings are still standing with superficial damage. All the original reporting, the headlines have been changed and the stories have been edited with no retractions. It would've been impossible for the amount of bodies to have been counted in such a short amount of time. Reply Parent Thread Link What are your thoughts on whos responsible for the hospital bombing? My first instinct is that Israel is responsible but theyre making it look like Hamas. I honestly wish everyone would just calm the fuck down and wait and see who is responsible because both sides are using this for propaganda purposes. The BBC ran an article saying the results so far are inconclusive but there is a legit possibility that it was a self-inflicted wound by Hamas. This is the baby murders are all over again. We were fed so much disinformation that by the time it came out that Hamas terrorists had murdered Israeli baby's people didn't care and were claiming it was all a lie. This sums up my feelings: I think one of the most disturbing aspects of studying disinfo is when you realize that even fact-checking has become weaponized & that most people dont care about the truth about the hospital being bombed; they just care about finding *a* truth to use against the other side. Caroline Orr Bueno, Ph.D (@RVAwonk) October 18, 2023 I honestly wish everyone would just calm the fuck down and wait and see who is responsible because both sides are using this for propaganda purposes. The BBC ran an article saying the results so far are inconclusive but there is a legit possibility that it was a self-inflicted wound by Hamas.This is the baby murders are all over again. We were fed so much disinformation that by the time it came out that Hamas terrorists had murdered Israeli baby's people didn't care and were claiming it was all a lie.This sums up my feelings: Reply Parent Thread Link Honestly, at this point, it doesn't matter. Israel was bombing places that night after the hospital was hit and they bombed one of the oldest churches in the world today. That hospital wouldn't have Ben hit and all those people wouldn't have been there if Israel wasn't carpet bombing Gaza and trying to make everyone move into an even smaller area than they already are. Reply Parent Thread Link Which one? Because they have bombed various hospitals. They also bombed and school and church that was over 1,000 years old that were being used as refugee centers. Truly vile and evil shit. Reply Parent Thread Link You don't have to vote for him. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link If you think anyone other than Israel bombed the hospital that Israel threatened to bomb, previously bombed and bragged about bombing in the immediate aftermath of the bombingall after bombing other hospitals and medical facilitiesI have a bridge to sell you and I'll throw in some magic beans on the side. Reply Parent Thread Link seriously giving gaza 100 m and giving israel 40b its such smoke and mirrors. im not sure about the hospital so ive been quite but even if it wasnt israel its not like they havent been abusing, bombing, and killing palestinians for years. I do find it weird everyone just believes the government word all of a sudden? Like Governments havent lied esp about war crimes? im like when did some people I follow all of sudden just love and trust governments. Edited at 2023-10-20 04:39 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link America is too large and diverse of a country to be run by one President. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link This is the problem. Theres multiple sources saying likely a rocket not from IDF and even photos.. people still cant get wrap their head around it. Insanity. I understand peoples feelings with everything going on but to just not even acknowledge that Hamas is capable of killing their own people ( and have been for years) or that there could be other sources just baffles me. This isnt new Reply Parent Thread Link I got into an argument on Reddit with a guy who told me I'm unreasonable and have my head stuck in the sand because I fully believe the IDF bombed the hospital. So they said several times they were going to do it, they hit the same hospital on the 14th in what looks like their usual roof knocking method, they've bombed several hospitals and ambulances already so this isn't unusual, an aide of Netanyahu said they did it, they only started denying it when the backlash started and they've produced two pieces of false evidence and two contradictory stories so far so clearly feel they have something to lie about. On the other side, the word of the IDF and a few weapons experts who have said with no certainty that this isn't usually how the IDF do their bombings and that Hamas have screwed up with their rockets before but there's no proof. And I'm the unreasonable one. Honestly, it doesn't fucking matter, we already know they're bombing hospitals, schools, ambulances, evac convoys, etc.....etc....etc. But by god am I not letting anybody tell me I'm unreasonable for seeing what has happened before and will happen again. Reply Parent Thread Link Have you ever seen that Cardi B video where she says, Im going through it, bitch. Im losing my mother fucking medulla? Anyway, thats how I feel every time I watch the news. Reply Thread Link But I thought we didn't have enough money for student loan forgiveness Reply Thread Link SCOTUS made that call, not Biden. Reply Parent Thread Link There are ways he couldve worked around it but chose not to. Its cute anyone gives the one politician personally responsible for making sure student loans couldnt be included in bankruptcy fillings the benefit of the doubt. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link WE DO HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR THAT. I'm down for crapping on Biden, but he's trying to figure out ways to make that forgiveness happen. We should all blame the GOP and obstructionist judges for making college debt-forgiveness a non thing. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link He has no interest in that, as he has made perfectly clear. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link $40 billion vs $100 million is disgusting period. I hate this country. Reply Thread Link It's completely outrageous. Reply Parent Thread Link I saw someone post this on Twitter yesterday but the Milwaukee Brewers will be getting around $400-500 million from the state and county to make renovations to their ballpark. And the US can only give $100 million? Reply Parent Thread Link I couldnt get over him continually acting like Ukraine and Israel are somehow the same thing. Reply Thread Link politics. the republicans were hesitant on giving money to ukraine. now that he's coupled it, there's no way they want to be seen as denying aid to israel, so biden gets what he wants. Reply Parent Thread Link Yes politically strategic and boxes in the GOP Reply Parent Thread Link Thats because America is using both for their own geopolitical power benefits Reply Parent Thread Link MTE, theyre the opposite. Israel and Russia are both genociding their neighbors, I dont see how Ukraine could possibly be compared to Israel. Reply Parent Thread Link That was one of several things that bothered me during his speech. They aren't the same thing at all. Reply Parent Thread Link I'm not naive but it's hard to see the world keep turning and pretending that nothing is happening when a genocide is taking place. I cry every time I contemplate that a war crime is being ignored. Reply Thread Link A+A 2023 Spotlights Occupational Safety and Health Innovations The international safety event is coming to Dusseldorf on Oct. 24-27. The 38th edition of the A+A congress is heading to Dusseldorf, Germany from Oct. 24 to 27, 2023. And attendees are in for a wide range of events highlighting the latest safety innovations. One of the standout segments this year will be the Exo Park in Hall 5 A30, where exoskeleton manufacturers will showcase their latest products. As industries increasingly lean towards wearable robotics for employee safety and efficiency, the WEARRACON EUROPE event aims to spotlight European innovations, especially those concerning occupational exoskeletons. Fashion and safety will intertwine at the A+A Fashion Show in Hall 15, emphasizing that safety gear can be both stylish and functional. For those prioritizing emergency preparedness, Hall 1 will host presentations and live demonstrations focusing on fire protection and disaster management, detailing how businesses can bolster their defenses against unforeseen incidents. The A+A Trend Forum presents a series of lectures by industry experts throughout all four days. Topics include digitalization, sustainability, hygiene and hazardous substances. The Start-up Zone offers a platform for start-ups to present their innovations, and the German Network Office e. V. offers a special exhibit in Hall 5 B34 addressing the challenges of hybrid office work. The A+A congressintroduced in the 1950sruns parallel to the A+A trade fair and remains a pivotal event for occupational safety in Germany and beyond. According to the website, the congress "presents national and global political advances," such as prevention strategies like "Vision Zero," while fostering an open discussion space on occupational science and research. Federal Judge Bans Construction Owner from Colorado Mine Over Lack of Safety Training The judgment follows several near-misses and a reported employee injury at the worksite. Steamboat Springs, Colorado-based Duckels Construction Inc. is grappling with stringent legal mandates surrounding mine safety. On Oct. 13, 2023, the U.S. District Court of Colorado issued an agreed consent order and judgment barring owner Fred Duckels from accessing the mining site until he can present evidence that has completed the mandatory safety training to do so. According to a release dated Oct. 18, the U.S. Department of Labors Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) launched the investigation, which revealed Duckels neglected to adhere to safety training protocols. Despite initial warnings, Duckels not only continued to access the mine but was also linked to several hazardous incidents, including an instance where an employee was reportedly injured due to an excavator mishap. Miners already face many life-threatening hazards in addition to operators refusing to comply with federal requirements, Regional Solicitor John Rainwater in Denver said in a statement. The U.S. Department of Labor will continue to hold operators accountable and ensure that all federal safety requirements including completing required training are met. Duckels Construction Inc. and Duckels now face the challenges posed by this mandate, as the matter is currently unresolved. The United States has eased its sanctions on Venezuela following an election deal. This follows four years of sanctions on its oil and gas industry, restricting the South American oil giants production and export levels. Despite the tough restrictions on the countrys energy industry, Venezuela continued to produce and export its crude using secret channels, to limited success. Sanctions, the poor state of the economy, and the mismanagement of the oil industry have led to operational failures, with many of Venezuelas oilfields dramatically underperforming. So, could the easing of sanctions on Venezuelan energy finally turn the industry around? Just a couple of decades ago, Venezuela was producing over 3 million bpd of oil, before widespread corruption and a fall in the price of oil devastated the countrys energy industry, with a severe knock-on effect on its economy. Adding to its challenges, former U.S. President Trump introduced sanctions on Venezuelan oil and gas following the inauguration of President Nicolas Maduro in 2019. The sanctions on the Venezuelan oil industry brought production to a grinding halt, from which some say it may never recover. Several oil companies pulled out of the Latin American oil major, and many operations were left abandoned, no longer financially viable to maintain. However, as Venezuela looked to repair its broken economy, and the easing of sanctions looked ever closer, under President Biden, it began to rebuild its oil industry and trade relations. Since 2021, Venezuela has been working in partnership with Iran, which also has U.S. sanctions imposed on its oil industry, to mutually assist the development of their energy sectors. The two powers have worked hand-in-hand to circumvent sanctions on their oil and gas industries with support from China, which bought energy from both countries by using alternative routes and ghost ships to transport sanctioned oil. Venezuela agreed to trade its oil for Iranian condensate, which was in short supply and is needed to dilute heavy Venezuelan crude. In May 2022, Iran signed an agreement with Venezuela to renovate the El Palito refinery. The state-owned Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) and its joint ventures exported around 616,540 bpd of crude and refined products in 2022, a 2.5 percent decrease from 2021. Nevertheless, Venezuelas ports, oilfields and refineries are in extremely poor condition. Further, Russia has become a major competitor for exports to China, with Putin offering highly discounted crude to any country that will take it, following U.S. and European sanctions on Russian energy. Francisco Monaldi, a Latin American energy expert at Rice University's Baker Institute stated, Despite the increased Iranian help, the decline in net exports results from a combination of production stagnation and the increasing competition of Russian exports in the Chinese black market. This week, the Biden administration broadly eased sanctions on Venezuelan oil in response to an agreement achieved between Venezuelas government and opposition parties for the 2024 presidential election. The U.S. Treasury Department issued a new general license, allowing it to produce and export crude to markets of its choice for the next six months with no limitation. However, the deal will only stay in place if President Maduro starts to lift bans on opposition presidential candidates, as well as release prisoners and wrongfully detained U.S. citizens. The U.S. decided to ease sanctions to boost the global oil output and reduce high oil prices caused by sanctions on Russia and OPEC+ decisions to cut output across member states. It means that the Venezuelan oil industry is once again open to foreign investment. This could lead to dozens of oil companies with frozen or reduced operations in Venezuela to recommence operations. But Venezuelas oil industry was hit hard by several years of sanctions and a failing economy, meaning that it is unlikely to be able to effectively offset OPEC+ reductions any time soon. There is strong pressure on the PDVSA to make a quick comeback and to provide competitively-priced oil to the market. This year, oil production in Venezuela has averaged 780,000 bpd, higher than the 2022 average of 716,000 bpd. However, the South American country is far from achieving its 2024 average production aim of 1.7 million bpd. Only one rig is in operation in Venezuela, compared to over 80 in 2014, and much of the countrys infrastructure is in a dire state. To get anywhere close to its production aim, Venezuela will require significant investment for new drilling rigs, new infrastructure replacements for refineries, flow stations and crude upgraders and a reliable power supply. This will be no easy feat considering the uncertainty companies face in investing in Venezuela. There is no guarantee that the U.S. will not reintroduce sanctions, with the success of investments in the countrys oil sector largely relying on the actions of President Maduro, who has been unwilling to cooperate with the U.S. in the past. However, if oil majors are willing to take the risk and recommence operations in Venezuela, it may just pay off. ADVERTISEMENT By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: At the beginning of October, Saudi Arabia affirmed it would keep its voluntary oil production cut of 1 million barrels per day (bpd) until the end of the year and was in talks with the United States, which was brokering a deal on the normalization of Saudi-Israel relations. But the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 and the subsequent Israeli retaliation targeting Gaza upended, once again, the geopolitical landscape in the Middle Eastthe world's top crude oil exporting region where the biggest oil transit choke point is located. Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is the wild card in the Middle East's latest conflict, Reuters' George Hay wrote in a commentary this week. Saudi Arabia Rethinking Middle East Policy The Hamas attack on October 7 took place just as several Middle Eastern countriesincluding the large oil producer, the United Arab Emirates (UAE)started to normalize relations with Israel. The U.S. Administration was also reportedly working on a Saudi-Israel normalization in relations. Saudi Arabia, the world's top crude oil exporter, could be willing to raise early next year its oil productioncurrently at around 9 million bpdif oil prices climb too high to win the goodwill of U.S. Congress. A possible agreement would have led to Saudi Arabia recognizing Israel in exchange for a defense deal with the United States, The Wall Street Journal reported days before the new conflict erupted and buried hopes of an imminent Saudi-Israel rapprochement that could have eased the tight global oil market. Related: Drone Attacks Syrian Gas Field as Israel Conflict Escalates Now, the market is wondering whether to price in an even tighter supply should the United States tighten the enforcement of the sanctions on Iran's oil exports. Oil supply from Iran, which has been rising in recent months to a 2018 high due to what appears to be weaker enforcement of the U.S. sanctions, could begin to shrink again, analysts say. Saudi Arabia, which has just restored diplomatic relations with Iran, is siding with the Palestinian cause in the newest conflict, along with the other Muslim nations in the region, which happen to be some of the largest oil producers in the Middle East and globally. In the wake of the Hamas attack, Saudi Arabia called for "an immediate halt to the escalation between the two sides, the protection of civilians, and restraint." But the Kingdom also hinted at Israel as it "recalls its repeated warnings of the dangers of the explosion of the situation as a result of the continuation of the occupation, the deprivation of the Palestinian people of their legitimate rights, and the repetition of systematic provocations against its sanctities." There is a rapid rethinking of the Saudi policy in the region, and the U.S. plans to normalize Saudi relations with Israel are put on ice, sources with knowledge of the Kingdom's thinking told Reuters last week. Also last week, Mohammed bin Salman received a telephone call from Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi a first for the leaders in which the crown prince "underscored the Kingdom's unwavering stance in standing up for the Palestinian Cause and supporting efforts aimed at achieving comprehensive and fair peace that ensures the Palestinian people's legitimate rights," Saudi Arabia said. After this week's deadly blast on a hospital in Gaza, Saudi Arabia hosted an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which put the blame squarely on Israel. The Executive Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation slammed "the blatant and unprecedented Israeli aggression in the occupied Palestinian territory and the heinous massacres perpetrated against civilians in Gaza Strip by the Israeli occupation forces," and "strongly condemns the blatant targeting by Israel's brutal occupation forces of Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza Strip." Saudi Arabia May Not Rethink Oil Production Policy The U.S.-Saudi relations have been strained under President Joe Biden and the Saudi and OPEC+ production cutsaimed at "market stability" but in reality pushing oil prices higherhave deepened the rift between the Kingdom and the Biden Administration, which has been struggling to contain high prices at the pump for U.S. consumers. Saudi oil giant Aramco currently holds 3 million bpd in spare oil production capacity, its CEO Amin Nasser said earlier this week. The world's largest oil firm could raise production "in a couple of weeks" if necessary, Nasser added. ADVERTISEMENT So far, neither the Saudis nor the Saudi-Russia-led OPEC+ pact have hinted at any change in the current policy to withhold supply to the market, despite robust demand and Wednesday's call from Iran for an oil embargo on Israel from the Islamic producers. The OPEC+ group doesn't plan to take any immediate action or hold an extraordinary meeting in the wake of the Iranian call for an oil embargo on Israel over the war with Hamas in Gaza, OPEC+ sources told Reuters on Wednesday. In the current geopolitical chaos in the Middle East, oil prices could shoot up to $95 again and even to $100 a barrel, but the U.S. shouldn't count on Saudi Arabia to contain a price spike. The Saudis and the Russians need high oil prices to cover spending on Mohammed bin Salman's flagship mega projects and Putin's war in Ukraine, respectively. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: - Whilst production at Israels largest field Leviathan has so far been unimpacted, the second largest Tamar field, accounting for 38% of gas production, has been shut down since October 9 due to its proximity (25 miles) to the Gaza Strip. - The conflict between Israel and Gaza risks endangering gas exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean, potentially having knock-on effects on Europes LNG supply into the winter. - Traders stopped offering Venezuelan cargoes into China after the announcement, with Venezuelas bitumen blend expected to strengthen after trading at a discount of $22 per barrel to ICE Brent Futures on a DES Shandong basis. - Chinas independent refineries will from now on face increased competition from US players, with teapots in Shandong province taking some 360,000 b/d of crude and 110,000 b/d of fuel oil from Venezuela in September. - Up until now, it was only Chevron that was allowed to import Venezuelan crude into the United States, with some 150,000 b/d of production coming from the US majors four JVs with PDVSA. - The US will temporarily lift sanctions on Venezuelas oil sector as Caracas promised to work with the opposition coalition to ensure free and fair presidential elections in 2024, allowing PDVSA to export oil to any destinations. 1. US Lifts Sanctions on Venezuela for Six Months 1. US Lifts Sanctions on Venezuela for Six Months - The US will temporarily lift sanctions on Venezuelas oil sector as Caracas promised to work with the opposition coalition to ensure free and fair presidential elections in 2024, allowing PDVSA to export oil to any destinations. - Up until now, it was only Chevron that was allowed to import Venezuelan crude into the United States, with some 150,000 b/d of production coming from the US majors four JVs with PDVSA. - Chinas independent refineries will from now on face increased competition from US players, with teapots in Shandong province taking some 360,000 b/d of crude and 110,000 b/d of fuel oil from Venezuela in September. - Traders stopped offering Venezuelan cargoes into China after the announcement, with Venezuelas bitumen blend expected to strengthen after trading at a discount of $22 per barrel to ICE Brent Futures on a DES Shandong basis. 2. Ongoing Gaza Hostilities Jeopardize Israels Gas Production - The conflict between Israel and Gaza risks endangering gas exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean, potentially having knock-on effects on Europes LNG supply into the winter. - Whilst production at Israels largest field Leviathan has so far been unimpacted, the second largest Tamar field, accounting for 38% of gas production, has been shut down since October 9 due to its proximity (25 miles) to the Gaza Strip. - Tamar generally supplies more than 70% of domestic gas demand, with the surpluses exported to Egypt, however now Israel cannot feed Egypts Idku and Damietta LNG sites for lack of natural gas at home. - The $1.6 billion expansion of the Tamar field, expected to materialize by 2025, is now jeopardized by security risks, even Leviathan Phase 1B which was supposed to involve a FLNG unit for 5 mtpa exports could be postponed or derailed by the war. 3. Indias Robust Coal Consumption Drains Inventories - Coal inventories at Indias power plants in October to date fell at their fastest rate in two years, with overall economic growth lifting the countrys electricity demand to new record levels. - September-October is not peak power demand season for India that usually happens around May however unusually dry weather and booming economic growth depleted coal inventories held by power plants to 20.58 million tonnes. - Changing weather patterns have also contributed to a 27% year-on-year decline in hydropower output, aggravated by both solar and wind generation dropping this month by 10-12% compared to September. - India will be maximizing coal imports over the upcoming weeks, with Kpler data shoring October imports rising to 19.35 million tonnes, the highest monthly level since June 2022, potentially boosting coal prices into the winter. 4. Gas Industry Calls for More Investment as Fields Mature - Whilst it has become customary for oil industry champions such as OPEC to call for more upstream investment, gas market players are now warning of a production slump in the coming decades without fresh investment. - The International Gas Union claims that the 58% decrease in gas field investment from 2014 to 2020 has made the task of meeting increasing global demand dynamics much more difficult. - With the current portfolio of producing fields, gas production globally is set to decline from 4.1 trillion cubic meters this year to 3.1 TCm by 2030 as fields mature, shrinking further to 1 TCm by mid-century. - Pre-Covid exploration drilling was focusing mostly on gas-rich basins, but higher crude prices have been incentivizing investments into oil-focused plays, hampering the outlook for natural gas even as total hydrocarbon exploration capex moved higher to $55 billion this year. 5. Mexican Refining Collapses Despite Dos Bocas Promise - Mexican refining should have enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2023, seeing the oft-mooted Dos Bocas refinery coming online and adding some 320,000 b/d in capacity, but it is facing multi-year low utilization rates instead. - Most recent statistical data points show utilization rates at Pemexs six refineries at 38% and processing only 655,000 b/d, the lowest level since July 2022, with the countrys diesel supply shrinking to a mere 66,000 b/d. - Mexicos national oil company Pemex pledged to invest $9.2 billion this year into its refineries, but repeated fires and force majeure events forced it to run lower than expected. - The stepping down of Mexicos energy minister Rocio Nahle Garcia might complicate things further, with the Dos Bocas refinery stuck due to delays and cost overruns despite being inaugurated in July. 6. No Trust in Nickel Futures Markets - Trading in nickel futures has been illiquid for most of 2022-2023 after the London Metal Exchange controversially decided to cancel $12 billion in trades to halt a price spike, although investors are now slowly coming back. - Investment funds, however, have amassed a huge net short in nickel contracts, worth $2 billion, with the value of the short being the highest on record and the volume of the short nearing all-time highs from 2019. - Such a concentration of shorts might trigger another run on LME, potentially testing its credibility once again, should investors decide to unwind bearish positions, even if capped by the maximum 15% day-on-day change rule. - Nickel has been the most volatile metal on LME for quite some time, although recent months have seen decreasing spreads between bids and offers at the close of trading, so there is hope for things to get better. 7. Lithium Prices Still Yet to Hit Rock Bottom - The autumn season usually provides a demand uptick for lithium producers as restocking takes center stage before the winter months, but the already depressed 2023 market so far saw none of that materializing. - Lithium prices continue to decline further, with Chinese benchmark lithium carbonate dropping lower to 161,000 per metric tonne ($22,000/mt), whilst lithium hydroxide edged lower to 150,000/mt ($20,500/mt). - Down more than 70% since the beginning of 2023, lithium has been in a downward spiral on the back of increasing supply, with the collapse of the Albemarle-Liontown deal putting a dent in market consolidation. - The outlook for lithium might not be as dark, with Fitch predicting a lithium shortage as early as 2025 on the back of Chinese EV lithium demand growing more than 20% year-on-year over 2023-2032, ending the current streak of oversupply. The success of COP28 in Dubai, UAE, is facing immense pressure due to the aftermath of the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel and the ongoing Israeli conflict with Gaza. This not only diverted media attention from the 2023 gathering but also threatens to further fragment the global climate discussion. Currently, power dynamics are being established to discuss the role of hydrocarbons in the future energy mix or as a cornerstone of the energy transition. The existing tension between mainstream Western countries and the rest of the world is intensifying, not only because of differences in energy transition strategies but also due to the struggle between pro-Israel and anti-Israeli factions. Undoubtedly, the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel is overshadowing global cooperation. The potential for a regional war looms as hostilities by Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed groups increase. Meanwhile, the mishandling of critical information regarding casualties in Gaza and the responsible parties is stoking unrest in the Arab world. Arab governments, especially Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the UAE, must manage the emotional backlash within their borders while contending with mounting pressure from both Western and Eastern powers to declare their official stances. The repercussions of all these developments will be evident in discussions and governmental meetings in Dubai in the coming weeks. Related: China To Curb Graphite Exports In Latest Trade Spat The dream of de-escalation in the Middle East, the profound impact of the existing Abraham Accords, and the potential rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia have been significantly shaken, though not irreparably shattered. In the West, even issues like climate change and global warming have taken a back seat for the moment. The looming threat of a regional war involving Iran poses a more immediate concern for Arab leaders and the global economy than the anticipated conflict between Western environmental activists, NGOs, and proponents of hydrocarbon-based energy. The necessity of an energy transition is still acknowledged, as all global stakeholders remain convinced that fossil fuels (excluding hydrocarbons as a whole) must be replaced by green energy or nuclear options. However, this entire energy transition discourse has been relegated to page 28 of newspapers, as regional stability and security of energy supply to global markets take precedence. The economic significance of the Hamas-Israel conflict is relatively minor when considering the role of the Israeli and Gaza economies in global economic growth or GDP. Yet, the emotional impact is already substantial, causing concern among Western investors and operators regarding their current operations in the region, with future investments already put on hold unofficially. A regional war or further destabilization of Arab governments, however, poses a much more significant threat to global economic growth and the security of energy supply. It is not just the supply of oil and gas that is at risk; a war could potentially disrupt major maritime transport routes, such as the Strait of Hormuz, Bab El Mandab, or the Suez Canal. When considering the debilitating effects of the Ever Given incident, a regional war would dwarf its impact. Another casualty of the ongoing conflict is multilateral climate cooperation. In light of the tensions in the Arab world and cultural conflicts in the Western world, the prospects for reaching agreements following the Hamas-Israel war are dwindling. In the event of a regional war, no agreements will likely be reached, as Western financiers grow disinterested, Western governments become apprehensive about commitments, and the rest of the world seeks to turn it into a global crisis pitting the West against the Global South. The overarching issue that will come to the forefront is the cost of the energy transition and greening of the economy. With a new crisis in the Middle East, which is a major producer of green hydrogen, green ammonia, and electricity, ongoing instability will inevitably lead to higher costs across the board. Simultaneously, hydrocarbon producers, including Western countries like the USA, Canada, the UK, Norway, and others, will grapple with increased oil and gas costs and substantial windfalls in the future. The heightened instability in the Arab region, potentially with support from the Global South, will further strain already tenuous geopolitical relations. Without the leadership of the UAE, one of the primary advocates of the Abraham Accords, facing substantial pressure from public sentiment, the ability to promote a unified agenda for COP28 is diminishing. With just a month remaining before COP28, the voices and political positions of Arab countries and OPEC will be pivotal. Increased Arab involvement in the conflict may stabilize regimes, but it could hinder COP28 and future investments. A clearer divide between the OECD and the Global South, with Arab countries already leaning away from confronting Russia and China, is in the making. Global commitments will remain elusive as long as Hamas remains a significant player. Even without the Hamas incident on October 11, Russia's conflict in Ukraine and China's tensions with Taiwan would have presented major obstacles to overcome. Global warming and the energy transition are intertwined with geopolitics, rather than being mere natural phenomena or social constructs. By Cyril Widdershoven for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Leviathan (a field twice as big as Tamar) produces up to 300 million cubic meters per day. Both send exports to Egypt. The shutdown of Tamar will also affect Egypts LNG exports, which were already lagging. And Leviathan could end up making up The Tamar field produces up to 8.5 million cubic meters per day. It was shut down when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7. If it goes on much longer, Israel could end up declaring force majeure. Its a big hit for Chevron, which had in December made an FDI to increase Tamars production in two phases, up to 1.6 Bcf/d in 2025. In 2022, Israel signed a gas deal with Egypt for natural gas exports to Europe. Israel is currently in talks with Greece and Cyprus about a Cyprus-based terminal to liquefy Israeli gas for export to Europe. The Israelis have also considered a pipeline to Turkey and building their own liquefaction plant. If relations with Turkey were strained before, they will be so much more so now. The world can assume that the Greece-Cyprus deal is now the only option. When it discovered the Tamar and Leviathan gas fields offshore in the Mediterraneans Levant Basin, Israel gained lots of regional diplomatic leverage overnight. Soon, it would (and did) have gas, both for domestic use and export, giving it a status it had never known before. Tel Aviv has used that gas to build powerful relations in the region, and relations have been on a path toward normalization ever since. When it discovered the Tamar and Leviathan gas fields offshore in the Mediterraneans Levant Basin, Israel gained lots of regional diplomatic leverage overnight. Soon, it would (and did) have gas, both for domestic use and export, giving it a status it had never known before. Tel Aviv has used that gas to build powerful relations in the region, and relations have been on a path toward normalization ever since. In 2022, Israel signed a gas deal with Egypt for natural gas exports to Europe. Israel is currently in talks with Greece and Cyprus about a Cyprus-based terminal to liquefy Israeli gas for export to Europe. The Israelis have also considered a pipeline to Turkey and building their own liquefaction plant. If relations with Turkey were strained before, they will be so much more so now. The world can assume that the Greece-Cyprus deal is now the only option. The Tamar field produces up to 8.5 million cubic meters per day. It was shut down when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7. If it goes on much longer, Israel could end up declaring force majeure. Its a big hit for Chevron, which had in December made an FDI to increase Tamars production in two phases, up to 1.6 Bcf/d in 2025. Leviathan (a field twice as big as Tamar) produces up to 300 million cubic meters per day. Both send exports to Egypt. The shutdown of Tamar will also affect Egypts LNG exports, which were already lagging. And Leviathan could end up making up for the shortfall, though Israel needs the gas for domestic use. The Karish field is also at risk, due to its proximity to Lebanon. Energean started production at Karish just a year ago to the tune of as much as 6.5 Bcm/year of gas, with more on the wayas long as Hezbollah doesnt turn the screws here, as it has threatened to do. Hezbollah claims its missiles can reach Karish. In Q3 2021, after normalizing relations with the UAE the year before, Israel signed a $1B gas trade deal with the UAE for 22% of Tamars production. Israel has been selling its gas to Jordanian industrial facilities, which is a major feat for on-again-off-again enemies with extremely fragile diplomatic ties. Just a few weeks ago, before the Hamas attack, Israel and a UEA energy executive met to advance a water-for-energy deal with Jordan. (solar energy from Jordan via a UAE-funded plant for Israel, and desalinated water for Jordan). This spring, the Gulf entwined itself even tighter with Israel when the UEAs ADNOC and BP made a $2B bid to purchase 50% of NewMed Energy, the Israeli offshore producer with a 45% in the giant Leviathan field. Over the past decade, Israel has seen production grow 700%, but now this new-found energy status is under threat. It could become a casualty of a lack of Israeli foresight that has now led to a conflict in Gaza that could easily become a multi-front battle drawing in (at the least) Iran and the factions, such as Hezbollah, that it backs. The October 7 Hamas attack did not come out of the blue. Tensions between Israelis and Palestinians had been on the rise, guided by an aggressively nationalist Israeli PM, Netanyahu. For now, Irans call for an oil embargo on Israel due to its iron-fisted actions in Gaza is not likely to be heeded by OPEC, but Tamar is already shut down; Egypt will take a hit on exports; oil cargoes are being diverted away from the main Mediterranean port because its too close to the Gaza Strip; shares in NewMed have been plunging; and everything Tel Aviv has worked for to become an energy diplomat in the Middle East is now highly uncertain. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres traveled to Rafah, on Egypt's border with Gaza, on Friday (October 20) to urge Israel and Egypt to expedite the opening of the Rafah Crossing, saying that the aid trucks that were stuck on the Egyptian side were the "difference between life and death to many people." The plea came as the strip has been facing constant bombardment and a blockade by Israel in retaliation for Hamas's cross-border attack in its southern region that killed over 4,000 people and saw at least 200 hostages taken into Gaza Read Also: Readout of Biden's Oval Office Address on the Ongoing Wars in Ukraine and Israel Guterres: Get the Trucks Moving In Guterres stressed that the aid trucks that were stuck at the Rafah Crossing should be sent in as soon as possible. "These trucks are not just trucks - they are a lifeline, they are the difference between life and death to many people in Gaza," he said. "To see them stuck here makes me very clear - what we need is to make them move, to make them move to the other side of this wall to make them move as quickly as possible and as many as possible." One of the factors that hindered the trucks from entering Gaza, in which Israel only allowed 20 in an agreement with US President Joe Biden, was the condition of the roads into Gaza as Israeli airstrikes have damaged them in the past few days. However, Israeli officials said on Friday that the status of aid into Gaza through Egypt was still to be determined, The Independent reported. Related Article: Gaza Patients Undergo Surgery Without Anesthesia as WHO Faces Medicine Shortage @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Biden Administration has moved to lift sanctions on Venezuelas oil industry under the guise of concessions from the Maduro regime, which now has said it could see new elections held in 2024. Meanwhile, crude oil prices are running hot after the war between Israel and Hamas raised geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, along with Russia and Iran falling under Western sanctions - although neither has seen much losses to their oil exports. With the SPR only half full and Cushing inventories operating near operational minimums, the Biden Administration is running out of options - and countries to sanction. Some analysts are estimating that lifting sanctions on Venezuela could boost production by 25%, but it is unlikely that a country such as Venezuela which has mismanaged its oil infrastructure for decades - will be able to ramp up production in that quantity immediately. Venezuelas state-run oil firm is now reaching out to former refiner clients with which it has crude supply contracts in an effort to reestablish oil sales. The restrictions on Venezuela will be lifted for a period of six months. Politics, Geopolitics & Conflict The Biden Administration has moved to lift sanctions on Venezuelas oil industry under the guise of concessions from the Maduro regime, which now has said it could see new elections held in 2024. Meanwhile, crude oil prices are running hot after the war between Israel and Hamas raised geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, along with Russia and Iran falling under Western sanctions - although neither has seen much losses to their oil exports. With the SPR only half full and Cushing inventories operating near operational minimums, the Biden Administration is running out of options - and countries to sanction. Some analysts are estimating that lifting sanctions on Venezuela could boost production by 25%, but it is unlikely that a country such as Venezuela which has mismanaged its oil infrastructure for decades - will be able to ramp up production in that quantity immediately. Venezuelas state-run oil firm is now reaching out to former refiner clients with which it has crude supply contracts in an effort to reestablish oil sales. The restrictions on Venezuela will be lifted for a period of six months. Polish voters ushered out the countrys ultra-conservative government this week and voted in the democratic opposition party led by former PM Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council. Indications that the Israel-Hamas conflict is widening can be seen in both Syria and Iraq, where Iran-backed factions have launched drone attacks targeting bases with U.S. military forces. Iran-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah has warned that its forces can target the U.S. anywhere in Iraq. In Yemen as well, where a proxy war between Iran and Saudi Arabia has recently cooled down as the two restored diplomatic ties in a historic movement, Houthi rebels are also rattling sabers, threatening missile strikes (without any details) should the U.S. move to intervene in the conflict. Tensions continue to flare on the border of Lebanon and Israel. Discovery & Development Exploratory drilling of Lebanons offshore Block 9 proved a disappointment for TotalEnergies, ENI, and QatarEnergy after drilling began in August. Preliminary results were expected by the end of October or November, but anonymous sources suggest the consortium hit water. Block 9 lies along the new maritime border of Lebanon and Israel. The drilling campaign is a considerable loss for Lebanon, which was hoping oil and gas finds would pull it up out of economic hardships after it saw its currency lose 98%. The country routinely experiences rolling blackouts. Portuguese-based Galp is getting ready to commence drilling a well offshore Namibia, near other significant discoveries in the area found by TotalEnergies and Shell. Galp is drilling two wells with the Hercules rig in blocks 2813A and 2814B under PEL 83. Hercules is currently en route to Walvis Bay in Namibias Orange Basin, with an expected arrival of November 4. Mean estimated oil in place of the Mopane complex, which Galp is targeting, is 10 billion barrels. Deals, Mergers & Acquisitions Aramco is rumored to be eyeing Shells unwanted Pakistan assets. Shell announced in June that it would bow out of Pakistan by selling off Shell Pakistan as the South Asian nation continues to go through economic turmoil. Shell Pakistan owns 600 fuel stations in the country, in addition to a lubricants business. So far, its just a rumoralthough last month Saudi Arabia said it would invest $25B in Pakistan over the next two to five years. There was also talk months ago about Saudi Arabia possibly investing in a new oil refinery in Pakistan. Pakistan remains a strategicbut quietsecurity ally of Saudi Arabia, and one that routinely has soldiers on loan to Saudi Arabia. Shell is bailing on Pakistan as part of its refocus on its most profitable assets. BP is holding talks about quitting the Yakaar-Teranga gas field in Senegal, handing the operatorship reigns over to Kosmos Energy and increasing the stake held by Senegals state-run Petrosen. The asset reportedly no longer fits in with BPs long-term strategy. Energy Earnings Beat Kinder Morgan (NYSE: KMI) saw its revenues fall by 25% for Q3 to $3.91 billion, compared to $5.18 billion in Q3 2022. Net income attributed to shareholders, unadjusted, fell 8% to $532 million, even as operating costs and expenses fell 30%. Q3 earnings per share was $0.25. Tesla lost more than $100B in market cap in a single day after disappointing Q3 results that were released Wednesday after the bell. Elon Musks pessimistic comments regarding the EV maker contributed to the stock fall. By 3:00 pm on Thursday, Teslas stock had fallen to $217.47a 10.39% loss on the day. Production was up 18%, deliveries up 27%, with total revenues increasing 9% to $23.4B. Gross margin was down for the quarter to 17.9%, with operating income down 52% to $1.8B. Net income fell 44% to $1.8B for the quarter compared to the same quarter last year. Musk said high interest rates had proved to be a challenge for Tesla, while it raised vehicle prices and cut costs. The market cap is just over $681B. Laying the groundwork to ask U.S lawmakers for tens of billions of dollars in military assistance for Ukraine and Israel, President Joe Biden linked Russian President Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip who attacked Israel, saying both were threats to global democracy and security. Speaking in a rare address from the Oval Office in the White House late on October 19, Biden said he is going to send an urgent funding request to the U.S. Congress, which reportedly will total more than $100 billion over the next year, that will be critical for the two major allies immersed in wars. "Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common: They both want to annihilate a neighboring democracy," Biden said, adding the funds were a smart investment that will pay dividends for American security for generations. Ahead of his speech, the White House said Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to reiterate Washington's support for Kyiv in the face of Russias full-scale invasion, launched in February 2022. Afterward, Zelenskiy thanked Biden for his "powerful address." "Together, we will not allow hatred [to] destroy freedom, and we will not let terrorists destroy democracy. Our common goal is to protect the free way of life for all of our nations," he wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter. "The unwavering bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States is incredibly encouraging for all of our warriors and for our entire nation. Americas investment in Ukraines defense will ensure long-term security for all of Europe and the world," Zelenskiy added. The request for funds -- U.S. media have quoted sources as saying some $60 billion of it will be earmarked for Ukraine and another $14 billion for Israel -- comes amid recent warnings from the Biden administration that time is running out to prevent Ukraine, which is struggling with a grueling counteroffensive as its weapon supplies dwindle, from faltering as it seeks to repel Russian troops. Congress will have to approve the new funds. At present, however, legislative work in Washington is largely at a standstill because the House of Representatives has no speaker. It is also uncertain whether such a package would pass, as support for military aid to Ukraine has been uneven in recent months with even some Democrats questioning how much money should go to Kyiv. Ivo Daalder, a former U.S. ambassador to NATO and chief executive officer of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, told RFE/RL that by linking Israeli and Ukrainian aid, Biden has made it difficult for Congress to reject the aid package. If the aid package is approved, this would undermine "once again Vladimir Putin's calculation that the West is about to collapse when it comes to supporting Ukraine." "You understand, if you're living in Russia, that Ukraine is not going to go away. That they will have continued military capabilities to fight," he said. Biden said a failure to support Ukraine and Israel, which appears poised to launch a ground attack on Hamas militants in response to their incursion last week into Israeli territory that left more than 1,400 Israeli citizens dead, will jeopardize U.S. security and its status of a "partner other nations want to work with." "To put all that at risk, if we walk away from Ukraine, if we turn our backs on Israel -- it's just not worth it," Biden, speaking hours after a lightning trip to Israel to show support for Jerusalem, said in his address. He added that making decisions during times of war requires asking very hard questions and "clarity about the objectives and an honest assessment about whether the path you are on will achieve those objectives." He noted that since the invasion of Ukraine was launched, Putin and other senior Russian lawmakers have threatened Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, all members of NATO. ADVERTISEMENT Biden said that if Moscow carried out an attack on those countries, or any other member of the military alliance, the United States "will defend every inch of NATO." "Well have something that we do not seek," he said. "We do not seek to have American troops fighting in Russia or against Russia." We cannot and will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win. I refuse to let that happen," Biden said. By RFE/RL More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: China, the worlds largest producer and supplier of graphite, will require export permits for some graphite products as of December 1 as it seeks to protect its national security, the Chinese Commerce Ministry said on Friday. Graphite and graphite products are critical for the manufacturing of any electric vehicle battery, and China is the dominant player in the market. The move to require permits from exporters to export two types of graphite is seen as China looking to respond to the recent restrictions and investigations by Western governments of Chinese products and manufacturing practices. As of December 1, exporters of high-purity, high-hardness, and high-intensity synthetic graphite material, as well as exporters of natural flake graphite and its products, will have to apply for permits to ship those products out of China. The countrys commerce ministry said it was not targeting any particular country with the move. The restriction on exports of graphite products is the latest Chinese attempt to exert its market influence to control the supply of critical minerals. The requirement for graphite export permits is conducive to ensuring the security and stability of the global supply chain and industrial chain, and conducive to better safeguarding national security and interests, the Chinese ministry said, as quoted by Reuters. Earlier this year, China sent shockwaves through the supply chain and chip markets after announcing export controls on two rare earth metals, gallium and germanium. The technology and critical metals trade war has escalated since the summer. Earlier this month, the European Commission launched an anti-subsidy investigation into the imports of EVs from China, to determine whether BEV value chains in China benefit from illegal subsidies and whether this subsidization causes or threatens to cause economic injury to EU producers. ADVERTISEMENT And this week, the U.S. said it would ban the sale of more advanced AI chips to China. Limited diversification of supply could present a challenge to the global critical minerals industry, the International Energy Agency (IEA) warned in a report earlier this year. China, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Indonesia continue to dominate a large part of the critical raw material supply, while China is a dominant player in refining operations, the IEA noted. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: India plans to introduce new rules requiring domestic manufacturers to make solar cells and other key components in the solar module supply chain, Indias Minister of Power and New & Renewable Energy, Raj Kumar Singh, said on Friday. The new rules could be introduced in a couple of years, the minister said at an event, as quoted by Bloomberg. Initially, India considers making domestic manufacturing of solar cells mandatory, and at a later stage, companies will have to have fully integrated manufacturing capabilities, from polysilicon to modules manufacturing, according to the minister. As of the end of June this year, India had exceeded 70 gigawatts (GW) in solar power generation installed. The country has an estimated solar power potential of 748,990 MW. Hence, the potential of solar energy is not fully tapped, so far. The Government is making efforts to harness the available potential through various schemes and programs, Singh was quoted as writing in a reply to Parliament in August. As Chinas solar exports increased by 34% in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period last year, India was the only country to see a large fall in imports from China, energy think tank Ember said in a report earlier this year. Module exports to India declined by 76% year-on-year, down from 9.8 GW in the first half of 2022 to 2.3 GW in the same period this year, according to Ember. The slump in Indias imports of solar modules from China followed the imposition of tariffs as India looks to move away from imports to focus on building domestic manufacturing capacity, Sam Hawkins, Data lead at Ember, wrote. Large Indian companies have recently created new energy divisions to capitalize on the clean energy manufacturing market. For example, Indias oil-to-telecoms conglomerate Reliance Industries said in early 2022 it would invest as much as $76 billion in green energy projects in India over the next 15 years. Reliance had already announced the year prior a commitment to invest more than $10 billion in three years in a new business unit that would build solar modules, battery storage, electrolyzer, and fuel cell factories. ADVERTISEMENT By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: A U.S. Navy warship stationed in the Red Sea has intercepted three missiles fired from Yemen, media has reported, suggesting it was possible the missiles were fired in the direction of Israel. This is the latest in a string of indications that the conflict in the Middle East may be escalating, after reports that Israel was strengthening its military presence along the border with Lebanon home of the Islamist group Hezbollah. We cannot say for certain what these missiles and drones were targeting, but they were launched from Yemen heading north along the Red Sea, potentially toward targets in Israel, said Brigadier General Pat Ryder at a Pentagon briefing following the news of the missile interception, as quoted by the AP and the Times of Israel. Separately, the AP reported, citing an unnamed U.S. official, that there had been another strike, this time in Iraq, targeting U.S. and coalition partner forces at a diplomatic center near Baghdad International Airport. Per the reports, the missiles were launched by the Houthis who currently control Yemen and are affiliated with Irans government. With them came several drones, the reports added. ABC noted this was the first time in recent history that a U.S. Navy ship had struck back at missiles and drones that were not targeting it. The news will no doubt add to fears of an escalation of tensions in the Middle East, with oil prices having moved higher on the news. Early on Friday morning, WTI had climbed above $90 while Brent reached $93.44. Earlier in the week, oil prices had retreated somewhat on the news that the U.S. would lift sanctions on Venezuelan oil, but this latest military escalation appears to have countered that news. The U.S. is sending more Navy forces to the Mediterranean to reinforce its presence in the region, with Brg. Gen. Ryder saying "By posturing these U.S. naval assets and advanced fighter aircraft in the region, we aim to send a strong message intended to deter a wider conflict to bolster regional stability and of course to make it clear that we will protect and defend our national security interests." By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: OPEC had a record-low share of Indias oil imports between April and September, as the worlds third-largest crude importer more than doubled purchases of Russian crude, according to industry and trade data compiled by Reuters. Between April and September, the first half of Indias 2023/2024 fiscal year, Indian imports of Russian crude oil more than doubled to 1.76 million barrels per day (bpd) from 780,000 bpd in the same period of the 2022/2023 year, per vessel-tracking data cited by Reuters. India buys from abroad more than 80% of the crude oil it consumes. Over the past year and a half, the country has significantly raised its imports of cheaper Russian crude oil, which is banned in the West. In the first half of 2023/2024, Russia held a 40% share of Indian crude oil imports, while the share of OPEC exporters slumped to a record low of 46%, according to a Reuters analysis of data going back to 2001/2002. In the April-September period of 2022, OPECs share of Indian oil imports was 63%. Indian refiners have significantly ramped up imports from Russia while reducing purchases from Saudi Arabia, the worlds top crude oil exporter and Russias key partner in the OPEC+ pact. After lower imports of Russian crude in July and August compared to the prior months, Indias imports of oil from Russia rebounded in September. Cheaper Russian crude compared to Middle Eastern alternatives prompted Indian refiners to import more crude from Russia last month compared to a seven-month low in August. Indias crude oil imports from Russia rebounded amid a tighter market and more expensive crude from the Middle East, including from Saudi Arabia, which has been raising its contractual selling prices for Asia. According to the tanker-tracking data compiled by Reuters, Indian imports of Russian crude rose in September by 11.8% from August and jumped by 71.7% compared to September 2022, to an average of 1.54 million bpd. ADVERTISEMENT By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The U.S. Department of Energy wants to buy 6 million barrels of crude oil for the strategic petroleum reserve as part of efforts to refill it after a massive release last year of close to 200 million barrels. The release was a partially successful attempt to bring retail fuel prices down following Russias invasion of Ukraine, which at the time some warned would empty the strategic petroleum reserve at a time when it was better full. This year, the Department of Energy has repeatedly said it wanted to start refilling the SPR but the price never seemed right, after the department set itself a range of between $68 and $72 per barrel for the refill push. Even when prices did decline to the lower $70s earlier this year, the Department of Energy bought only a few million barrels for the SPR, which remains at a 40-year low. The total amount bought so far is 4.8 million barrels, which cost the DoE an average of below $73 per barrel, according to Reuters. Now, the DoE is saying that it was ready to buy oil for the reserve at a price of $79 per barrel or less. The timeframe for the potential purchases is December and January. West Texas Intermediate is currently trading at $90 per barrel. Whether it could decline to $79 over the next two months is anyones guess but given that OPEC, and more specifically Saudi Arabia, remains determined to keep a lid on production, chances for that are slim, even with higher Venezuelan oil production now that Washington lifted the oil sanctions for six months. News of the plan to refill the SPR has helped to push oil prices higher, reducing the chance of WTI falling to $79 anytime soon. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The United States Oil ETF has recently seen inflows topping $200 million amid bullish market sentiment that crude oil futures prices will continue to rise, according to Bloomberg estimates published on Friday. The United States Oil ETF (NYSEARCA: USO) seeks to reflect the performance of the spot price of West Texas Intermediate light, sweet crude oil delivered to Cushing, Oklahoma by investing in a mix of oil futures contracts and other oil interests. The recent inflows of $200 million are the highest inflows into the exchange-traded fund since August 2020, per Bloombergs calculations. The fund saw outflows earlier this year and lost the competition to be the worlds biggest oil ETF to the WisdomTree Brent Crude Oil ETF. But now United States Oil ETF is close to regaining the top spot, Bloomberg notes, thanks to the recent jump in WTI Crude prices. Both WTI and Brent have surged in recent days and were set for a second consecutive weekly gain on Friday as the war premium that emerged when Hamas attacked Israel earlier this month is still very much present. This adds to the bullish news that the U.S. Department of Energy is seeking to buy 6 million barrels of crude for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). The U.S. benchmark, WTI Crude, has already risen by around 10% since the Hamas-Israel war began two weeks ago. As of early Friday ET, the front-month WTI futures traded 1.17% higher at $90.08. The risk premium in crude has shot up again, Vandana Hari, founder of consultancy Vanda Insights, told Bloomberg. As long as the Israel-Hamas tensions run high, crude will remain susceptible to further spikes on signs of an escalation. "The prospect of more Venezuela oil did little to ease concerns of disruptions in the Middle East," ANZ analysts said in a note quoted by Reuters. ADVERTISEMENT By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Via Metal Miner Overall, the Aluminum Monthly Metals Index (MMI) moved sideways, with a modest 1.92% rise from September to October. Indeed, a short-lived spike at the end of September saw aluminum prices rise over 6% month over month. However, prices began to retrace throughout October. They not only lost all of last months gains but returned to their August lows by mid-month. Despite the declines, aluminum prices remain sideways, having yet to break below their long-term range. Russian Aluminum Moderates to 76% of LME Warehouses Meanwhile, Indian stocks, which have strongly counterbalanced Russian-origin material, remained low relative to the first half of the year. Nonetheless, a larger draw down of Russian stocks helped even out the overall balance during the month. Source: MetalMiner Insights, Chart & Correlation Analysis Tool The latest data likely comes as a relief to the LME, which continues to fend off concerns that the large presence of Russian-origin metal could distort aluminum prices. However, thus far, LME prices and CME prices continue to show a strong correlation, and the delta between the two remains narrow. Squarepoint Latest Fund Willing to Buy Russian Aluminum Amid tariffs and self-sanctioning, Russian aluminum remains at a discount to global prices, which continues to incentivize buyers. Recently, Squarepoint Capital proved to be the latest hedge fund willing to buy the shunned material. This follows other major companies like Citigroup, which also made significant purchases in recent months. According to a recent Bloomberg report, Squarepoint requested delivery of roughly 50,000 tons of Russian-origin aluminum from LME warehouses in South Korea. The overall purchase totaled more than $100 million, with most of the material stemming from Rusal. Since the countrys invasion of Ukraine, governments have fallen short of banning the trade of Russian aluminum outright. This continues to allow funds like Squarepoint and Citigroup to buy and sell large volumes of the material. Purchases by such funds, along with buys from other countries, continue to help moderate the impact of the large presence of discounted Russian-origin material within LME warehouses. China, in particular, ramped up aluminum imports from Russia amid the burgeoning alliance between the two nations. However, despite their record-high production levels, it remains unclear how long China is willing to sustain these purchases. Moreover, any significant drop-off in aluminum imports to China could increase Russian deliveries to the LME, again upsetting the balance within its warehouses. U.S. and EU Negotiate Tariff Agreement Although they remain largely intact, in recent years, the Biden Administration has continued to work with other countries to negotiate exemptions following the 2018 implementation of Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum. For Europe, the exemptions translated to a quota allowing volumes below historical steel and aluminum levels into the U.S. free of duties. In a bid to avoid their full return, EU officials will meet with President Biden during a one-day summit on Sep. 20 to discuss a broad range of topics related to the global economy. According to reports, the U.S. continues to pressure the EU to act against Chinese overcapacity. In fact, the U.S. specifically wants the EU to impose a duty on Chinese-origin steel. However, while the U.S. favors using tariffs, the EU follows WTO rules. These require an anti-dumping investigation by the trade body before they can administer any such duties. Still, the EU currently hopes to appease the U.S. by initiating such an investigation into unfair subsidies from non-market economies like China. Source: MetalMiner Insights, Chart & Correlation Analysis Tool It remains unclear what outcome the U.S. and EU will negotiate. Trade discussions will also cover Europes carbon border tariff system and U.S. subsidies related to the IRA, which come with sourcing and assembly requirements. ADVERTISEMENT An initial jump in both U.S. HRC prices and Midwest aluminum premium futures followed the start of Section 232 tariffs in March 2018. This could occur again should the U.S. and EU fail to reach an agreement. However, both steel and aluminum prices currently appear much more driven by their larger trends than by any shift in import tariffs. Following the pandemic and amid the sharp price run-up, the EU and U.S. reached their initial tariff rate quota (TRQ) agreement in October 2021. This went into effect at the beginning of 2022. U.S. steel prices started to retrace from their all-time highs at that point, although the Midwest aluminum premium peaked soon after. By Nichole Bastin More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Work on hydrogen-based clean energy projects will continue in Nebraska even without a roughly billion-dollar federal grant to smooth the path, officials said this week. Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri had partnered to apply for funding for whats known as a hydrogen hub across the three-state region. As the Midcontinent Clean Energy Hydrogen Hub, or MCH2, they sought a share of the money that the federal government was offering in an effort to accelerate the development of hydrogen as a clean energy source. The funding pool was created by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. But the three-state collaboration was not among the seven regional hydrogen hubs selected to receive some of the $7 billion from the Department of Energy, as announced by the White House last week. Still, Nebraska officials said their efforts go beyond seeking the federal designation and wont be deterred by falling short. Two Nebraska companies involved in the proposal Monolith Inc. of Hallam and Project Meadowlark of Gothenburg will continue with their expansion plans. The groundwork we have laid is going to position us really well for success in the future hydrogen economy, said Courtney Dentlinger, vice president of customer service and external affairs with the Nebraska Public Power District, which spearheaded the application. The group has had interest not only from partners in Nebraska, she said, but also from those in Iowa who want to continue to collaborate. She anticipates the group will have other opportunities for federal funding that would accelerate projects and infrastructure development in the region. A spokeswoman for Gov. Jim Pillen said in a statement that it was unfortunate the federal government failed to see the benefit of growing the hydrogen economy here in the Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri region. To be sure, the hydrogen economy is coming with or without federal funding, spokeswoman Laura Strimple said. We look forward to supporting this innovative industry as it continues to grow in our state. Hydrogen fuel is seen as key to meeting the Biden administrations goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. According to the White House, the seven hubs together are expected to eliminate 25 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year, roughly equivalent to the combined annual emissions of more than 5.5 million gas-powered cars. Clean hydrogen, according to the Biden administration, is particularly important for sectors in which it is difficult to reduce carbon emissions, such as heavy-duty transportation and chemical, steel and cement manufacturing. Job creation and private investment also are part of the plans. Nebraska lawmakers last year adopted a measure creating a work group to draft an initial proposal. Of the 79 initial proposals, Nebraskas was one of 33 given the green light to submit an application, which ultimately was made on behalf of the three states. Dentlinger said the agriculture sector offers incredible opportunities when it comes to hydrogen, both for the production of ammonia and other fertilizers and in diversifying that sector through the production of hydrogen-enhanced aviation fuels or renewable diesel for transportation. Participant Werner Enterprises, for instance, has been seeking ways to use hydrogen and hydrogen-enhanced biofuels to power transportation in the future. From a food security standpoint, Dentlinger said, its become increasingly important for the U.S. to have domestic supplies of fertilizer for crops. Much of the fertilizer used in the U.S. has been coming from Russia and Ukraine. Russias invasion of Ukraine has contributed to disruptions in the fertilizer market. Monolith, the largest project within the collaborative, is moving ahead with plans to expand its facility near Hallam, which converts natural gas into carbon black and hydrogen. The hydrogen is used to make ammonia-based fertilizer in a process that doesnt create carbon emissions. Were going to continue to move full steam ahead, said Dan Levy, a Monolith spokesman. It would have been a nice accelerator if it had come in. But we didnt change any plans as a result. The company, in fact, is well on its way to meeting conditions set for it to receive up to $1 billion in federal loans from the Energy Department, he said. The company hopes to make an announcement next year. While we are disappointed by this result, Nebraska remains on the cutting edge of green energy technology, Joshua Westling, JWC Gburg founder, said in a statement. Our project, which will use carbon-free renewable electricity and wastewater to make hydrogen needed to create low-cost fertilizer, will continue, and we look forward to developing agricultural solutions in the community of Gothenburg. Dentlinger noted that most of the selected hubs, which include 16 states, are situated in coastal areas. The closest is the Heartland Hydrogen Hub in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, which will focus on clean fertilizer production and advance the use of clean hydrogen in electric generation for space heating in cold climates. The hub also will offer equity ownership opportunities to tribal communities and to local farmers and farmer co-operatives that will allow farmers to receive more competitive pricing for clean fertilizer. The Midwest Hydrogen Hub formed by Illinois, Indiana and Michigan, the White House noted, is situated in a key industrial and transportation center. Its efforts will enable decarbonization through hydrogen uses including steel and glass production, power generation, refining, heavy-duty transportation and sustainable aviation fuel. Low-cost nuclear energy will be part of the mix. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of October 2023 As China's birth rate continues to decline, Nestle decided to include closing its Asian-exclusive baby formula factory as one of its efforts to adjust to this demographic crisis. The world's largest food company confirmed its plan on Wednesday, Oct. 18, saying that its factory in Askeaton town in Ireland will soon be closed. Nestle To Close Asian-Exclusive Baby Formula Factory Due to China's Birth Rate According to EuroNews, China's birth rate has been decreasing for the past few years. Since 2018, the Asian country's number of births decreased by around 50%. Nestle explained that it is planning to close its Wyeth Nutrition infant formula factory the need for the plant's products in Greater China and Asia is now in free fall. CNN Business explained that Nestle's latest announcement offers a new insight into the possible effects of China's declining population on Western companies that are selling their products in the Asian country. "The number of newborn babies in China has declined sharply from some 18 million per year in 2016 to fewer than 9 million projected in 2023," said Nestle. "The market, which had previously been reliant on imported infant formula products, is also seeing rapid growth in locally produced products," added the food company. Nestle said that it aims to close down the factory as early as the first quarter of 2026. But, this plan could still change, especially if another company decides to purchase the manufacturing plant. If ever Nestle closes the Wyeth Nutrition infant formula factory, over 540 workers are expected to face termination. Read Also: Apple CEO Tim Cook Makes Surprise China Visit Due To Slow Initial iPhone 15 Sales-Will This Help? China's Declining Birth Rate Experts said that in 2022, China experienced its lowest birth rate since 1949. During that period, only 9.56 million babies were born. As of writing, China is expected to have 1.09 births per woman. This just shows that the Asian nation's natality is still in a declining trend. Numerous studies revealed that China's natality has been lower than the birth rates of EU countries since 2019. This worsening birth rate decline in China affects many products, especially infant formula. If China's natality further plummets, other Western companies that are offering baby products could also face the same faith as Nestle. Related Article: Apple CEO Tim Cook Makes Surprise China Visit Due To Slow Initial iPhone 15 Sales-Will This Help? @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Omaha's latest gated community will be like no other the city has seen. The Cottages comprises 50 tiny homes that will put roofs over the heads of disabled people who have experienced chronic homelessness. An initiative of Siena Francis House, The Cottages is nearly complete at 16th and Charles Streets, near Siena Francis' campus north of downtown Omaha. Plans call for people to begin moving in Nov. 1. The houses are an innovative approach to addressing a shortage of permanent supportive housing, part of Omaha's overall shortage of affordable housing. It's for people who have been homeless for at least one year, or have had four bouts of homelessness in a three-year period. Many will come from Siena Francis House's supportive apartments or by referral through the Metro Area Continuum of Care. "We provide an affordable unit (at) The Cottages, they will all have a rent subsidy, with services," said Linda Twomey, CEO and executive director of Siena Francis House. On-site case managers will help people work on preventing becoming homeless again and help them make plans toward their personal goals. Qualifying people will pay up to 30 percent of their income in rent. The remainder will be paid by money from a $275,000 annual grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and vouchers from such sources as federal Section 8, Douglas County General Assistance and Veterans Assistance Supportive Housing. Utilities are included in the rent. "Our goal is housing stability," Twomey said. People may live there for months to years or even the rest of their lives. The average time people live at Siena Francis' current apartments is 3.5 years. "There is no limit to how long people can stay," Twomey said. The Cottages is located on about 2 acres of formerly industrial land, between the Siena Francis House campus and homes on its north, and across from the industries on the east side of 16th Street. Arch Icon, a Woodbine, Iowa firm that does a lot of development and construction in Omaha, developed the project and built most of the houses. Students at Metropolitan Community College framed seven of the houses, which were then trucked to the site to be finished. Most of the houses have 250 square feet. The ADA accessible houses have 300 square feet. Each have a living room, kitchenette, bathroom and bedroom. They're wood-frame construction, with Hardie board siding, erected on flat concrete slabs. The kitchens are equipped electric stoves, refrigerators and microwaves. Residents will walk on vinyl plank flooring below vinyl ceilings. "They're no different than any other house is built, only smaller," said Darin Smith, who owns Arch Icon along with Mindy and Dustin Cook. Each house also has a covered porch. They vary in shape and in color: navy, olive and light gray. They're arranged in groups of four, facing one another around patches of grass. The groups of homes connect to curving sidewalks. "We didn't want to line them up in rows like barracks," Smith said. It's a gated community. People will have to have card keys to get into it. Walking along the main sidewalk Thursday, Twomey noted a pavilion near one end, and at the other, a community center that doubles as a storm shelter, with a common room, free washers and dryers, and hook-ups for barbecue grills. "It feels friendly, and it doesn't to me feel sterile," Twomey said. People who are going to live there are talking about putting plants on their porches and maybe growing tomatoes, she said. She's looking forward to seeing how people develop community there. Keith Neil, a 64-year-old former maintenance worker, is looking forward to having his own space and place. He's also looking forward to cooking his first breakfast there in the morning, after not being able to hear his neighbors snoring through apartment walls. "I'm going to cook bacon and eggs," Neil said. "And open the windows so the smell of bacon wafts through the neighborhood." The development cost $8.8 million. The funding came from a variety of sources, including about $7 million in state and federal low-income housing tax credits, plus help from the City of Omaha. Arch Icon came up with the concept in 2015, then pitched it to Twomey in 2018, and began working with the city about a year later, Smith said. COVID slowed things down some. It took awhile to put the financing together, even though the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority embraced the idea. "Five years later, it's finally done," Smith said. And move-in day is near for Neil and the other people who will make the houses their homes. "I'm looking forward to it," he said, clad in a flannel shirt and perched in an upholstered chair in one of the houses. "I'm looking forward to the different challenges of being here." WASHINGTON President Joe Biden declared it is vital for America's national security for Israel and Ukraine to succeed in their wars, making the case Thursday night for deepening U.S. involvement in two unpredictable foreign conflicts as he prepared to ask for billions of dollars in military assistance for both countries. If international aggression is allowed to continue, Biden said in a rare Oval Office address, conflict and chaos could spread in other parts of the world. Hamas and Putin represent different threats," Biden said. "But they share this in common. They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy. He said he would send an urgent funding request to Congress, which is expected to be $105 billion for the next year. The proposal, which will be unveiled on Friday, includes $60 billion for Ukraine, much of which is for replenishing U.S. weapons stockpiles that have already been provided. Theres $14 billion for Israel, $10 billion for humanitarian efforts, $14 billion for managing the U.S.-Mexico border and fighting fentanyl trafficking and $7 billion for the Indo-Pacific region, which includes Taiwan. The proposal was described by three people familiar with the details who insisted on anonymity before the official announcement. Its a smart investment thats going to pay dividends for American security for generations," Biden said. Biden hopes that combining all of these issues into one piece of legislation will create the necessary political coalition for congressional approval. His speech comes the day after his high-stakes trip to Israel, where he showed solidarity with the country in its battle against Hamas and pushed for more humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Ahead of his address, Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stress that the U.S. remained committed to backing Kyiv, the White House said. And a senior White House official said Biden continued to develop his remarks on Thursday after working with close aides throughout the week, including on his flight home from Israel. The official declined to be identified ahead of the president's speech. Biden faces an array of steep challenges as he tries to secure the money. The House remains in chaos because the Republican majority has been unable to select a speaker to replace Rep. Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted more than two weeks ago. In addition, conservative Republicans oppose sending more weapons to Ukraine as its battle against the Russian invasion approaches the two-year mark. Biden's previous request for funding, which included $24 billion to help with the next few months of fighting, was stripped out of budget legislation last month despite a personal plea from Zelenskyy. The White House has warned that time is running out to prevent Ukraine, which recently struggled to make progress in a grueling counteroffensive, from losing ground to Russia because of dwindling supplies of weapons. There will be resistance on the other side of the political spectrum when it comes to military assistance for Israel, which has been bombarding the Gaza Strip in response to the Hamas attack on Oct. 7. Critics have accused Israel of indiscriminately killing civilians and committing war crimes by cutting off essential supplies like food, water and fuel. Bipartisan support for Israel has already eroded in recent years as progressive Democrats have become more outspoken in their opposition to the country's decades-long occupation of Palestinian territory, which is widely viewed as illegal by the international community. There are rumbles of disagreement within Biden's administration as well. Josh Paul, a State Department official who oversaw the congressional liaison office dealing with foreign arms sales, resigned over U.S. policy on weapons transfers to Israel. I cannot work in support of a set of major policy decisions, including rushing more arms to one side of the conflict, that I believe to be short-sighted, destructive, unjust and contradictory to the very values that we publicly espouse, he wrote in a statement posted to his LinkedIn account. Paul is believed to be the first official to have resigned in opposition to the administrations decision to step up military assistance to Israel after the Oct. 7 attack. While visiting Tel Aviv on Wednesday, Biden told Israel that we will not let you ever be alone. However, he cautioned Israelis against being consumed by rage as he said the United States was after the Sept. 11 attacks of 2001. Wartime decision-making, Biden said, requires asking very hard questions and "clarity about the objectives and an honest assessment about whether the path you are on will achieve those objectives." A speech from the Oval Office is one of the most prestigious platforms that a president can command, an opportunity to try to seize the countrys attention at a moment of crisis. ABC, NBC and CBS all said they would break into regular programming to carry the address live. Biden has delivered only one other such speech during his presidency, after Congress passed bipartisan budget legislation to avert a default on the countrys debt. The White House and other senior administration officials, including Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young, have quietly briefed key lawmakers in recent days about the contours of the planned supplemental funding request. The Senate plans to move quickly on Bidens proposal, hoping that it creates pressure on the Republican-controlled House to resolve its leadership drama and return to legislating. However, there are disagreements within the Senate on how to move forward. Eight Republicans, led by Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall, said they did not want to combine assistance for Ukraine and Israel in the same legislation. These are two separate and unrelated conflicts and it would be wrong to leverage support of aid to Israel in an attempt to get additional aid for Ukraine across the finish line, they wrote in a letter. North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer said he was fine with the proposal as long as there is also a fresh effort to address border issues. But he said "its got to be designed to secure the border, not to facilitate travel through the border. Although there was a lull in migrant arrivals to the U.S. after the start of new asylum restrictions in May, illegal crossings topped a daily average of more than 8,000 last month. Theres a huge need to reimburse for the costs of processing, said Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat who leads a Senate panel that oversees funding for the Department of Homeland Security. So its personnel costs, its soft-sided facilities, its transportation costs. He was wary, however, of any effort to overhaul border policy a historically intractable issue during a debate over spending. "How are we going to settle our differences over immigration in the next two weeks? Murphy said. This is a supplemental funding bill. The minute you start loading it up with policies, that sounds like a plan to fail. Biden's decision to include funding for Taiwan in his proposal is a nod toward the potential for another international conflict. China wants to reunify the self-governing island with the mainland, a goal that could be carried out through force. Although wars in Europe and the Middle East have been the most immediate concerns for U.S. foreign policy, Biden views Asia as the key arena in the struggle for global influence. The administration's national security strategy, released last year, describes China as Americas most consequential geopolitical challenge. Photos: Scenes from the Israel-Hamas war Israeli airstrikes on Gaza continue and Israel's defense minister has told troops to be ready for a ground assault on the Palestinian territory, although he has not said when that will begin. More than 1 million Palestinians, roughly half of Gazas population, have fled homes in the north and Gaza City after Israel told them to evacuate. The airstrikes early Thursday continued across the entire territory, including in areas in the south that Israel had declared as safe zones. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that limited humanitarian aid would be allowed into Gaza from Egypt following a request from U.S. President Joe Biden. The war that began on Oct. 7 after Hamas militants stormed into Israel, and Israel vowed to destroy the militant group, has become the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said Thursday that 3,785 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 12,500 others have been wounded. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly in the initial attack. An Israeli military spokesperson said Thursday that the families of 203 people believed to have been captured by Hamas and taken into Gaza had been notified. Currently: 1. Biden declares support for Israel and Ukraine is vital for US security. 2. EU demands Meta and TikTok detail efforts to curb disinformation from Israel-Hamas war. 3. Woman becomes Israeli folk hero for plying Hamas militants with snacks until rescue mission arrives. 4. Egypt and other Arab countries typically dont want to take in Palestinian refugees. Here's what's happening in the latest Israel-Hamas war: BIDEN REFERENCES BOY'S KILLING TO DENOUNCE ANTISEMITISM AND ISLAMOPHOBIA President Joe Biden referenced the killing of a 6-year-old Palestinian American boy in Illinois to deliver a forceful denunciation of antisemitism and Islamophobia. Biden brought up the case of Wadea Al-Fayoume during a televised nighttime address from the Oval Office. Authorities say the boy, who was Muslim, was stabbed 26 times Saturday by his landlord in response to escalating rhetoric about the Israel-Hamas war. Wadeas mother was critically wounded. Biden said its difficult to stand by and stand silent when this happens, adding that we must without equivocation denounce antisemitism and Islamophobia. The White House said that after the speech, Biden and his wife, Jill, spoke with Wadeas father and uncle to offer condolences along with prayers for his mothers recovery. BIDEN CALLS FOR MORE AID FOR ISRAEL AND UKRAINE President Joe Biden is urging support for additional U.S. aid for Ukraine and Israel, saying in a televised address from the Oval Office that American leadership is what holds the world together. Biden spoke hours after returning to Washington from an urgent visit to Israel to show U.S. support in the wake of a deadly attack by Hamas on Oct. 7. Some 1,400 civilians were killed and roughly 200 others, including Americans, were taken to Gaza as hostages. Israel has responded with airstrikes, and 3,785 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The U.S. president argued that Israel needs help to defend itself from Hamas. He also said the U.S. must help Ukraine stop the advances of Russian President Vladimir Putin to keep other would-be aggressors from trying to take over other countries. Biden said he will send lawmakers an urgent budget request Friday to fund U.S. national security needs. He called the request, said to carry a price tag of about $100 billion, a smart investment that will pay dividends for decades to come. 2ND GENTLEMAN DOUGLAS EMHOFF MEETS US SURVIVOR OF HAMAS ATTACK Douglas Emhoff, the husband of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, met in Washington with Natalie Sanandaji, a 28-year-old American survivor of Hamas' Oct. 7 attacks in Israel. Sanandaji recounted the attack on a music festival, where some 260 people were killed, a White House official said. Emhoff, who is Jewish and has been outspoken about and against antisemitism, spoke to Sanandaji about President Joe Biden and Harris support for Israel, providing humanitarian aid to civilians and the administrations work to combat hate of all kinds, the official said. DEATHS AND INJURIES IN BOMBING OF HISTORIC CHURCH, GAZA AUTHORITIES SAY BEIRUT An explosion struck a Greek Orthodox church housing displaced Palestinians late Thursday, resulting in deaths and dozens of wounded. Mohammed Abu Selmia, director general of Shifa Hospital, said dozens were hurt at the Church of Saint Porphyrios but could not give a precise death toll because bodies were still under the rubble. Palestinian authorities blamed the blast on an Israeli airstrike, a claim that could not be independently verified. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchy of Jerusalem issued a statement condemning the attack and said it would not abandon its religious and humanitarian duty to provide assistance. A survivor told Qatars Al Jazeera Arabic television that there was no warning from the Israeli military beforehand. Named after the Bishop of Gaza from 395 to 420, St. Porphyrios is located in the al-Zaytun section of Gazas Old City. Its thick limestone walls house an elaborate interior of gilded icons and ceiling paintings. It became a mosque in the 7th century before a new church was built in the 12th century during the Crusades. ISRAEL SAYS ALMOST 30 CHILDREN AMONG HOSTAGES TAKEN BY HAMAS JERUSALEM Nearly 30 of some 200 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza are children, the Israeli military said. More than 10 are over the age of 60, it said in a statement. Authorities have no information about the location of more than 100 missing Israelis, it added. US INTELLIGENCE ESTIMATES 100 TO 300 DIED IN HOSPITAL BLAST WASHINGTON An unclassified U.S. intelligence assessment delivered to Congress estimates casualties in an explosion at a Gaza City hospital on the low end of 100 to 300 deaths. That death toll still reflects a staggering loss of life, U.S. intelligence officials said in the findings, which were seen by The Associated Press. Officials were still assessing the evidence, and the estimate may evolve. The explosion at Gazas al-Ahli hospital on Tuesday left body parts strewn on the hospital grounds, where crowds of Palestinians had clustered in hopes of escaping Israeli airstrikes. Officials in Hamas-ruled Gaza quickly said an Israeli airstrike had hit the hospital. Israel denied it was involved. The Associated Press has not independently verified any of the claims or evidence released by the parties. President Joe Biden and other U.S. officials already have said that U.S. intelligence officials believed the explosion was not caused by an Israeli airstrike. Thursdays findings echoed that. The U.S. assessment noted only light structural damage to the hospital itself was evident, with no impact crater visible. UN FORCE HELPS RECOVER 7 PEOPLE CAUGHT IN LEBANESE-ISRAELI FIGHTING; 1 DEAD BEIRUT The U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon said Lebanese troops requested assistance to bring back seven people caught in a firefight along the border with Israel. One person was killed. The Lebanese military said the group included seven journalists, and one was also injured. It said Israeli soldiers shot at them with machine guns as they were in the outskirts of the village of Houla. It did not identify them, but Iranian media said one was Mohsen Maghsoodi, a host on Iranian state television. On X, formerly Twitter, Maghsoodi posted a picture of himself and two others lying low near a fence, with one of them holding a camera. He said the group was caught for five or six hours in the crossfire and their car was seriously damaged by bullets and mortars. The six Iranian journalists were safe but one Lebanese journalist was killed, he wrote. That person has not been publicly identified, but Lebanese media said he had joined the group as a fixer. UNIFIL said it had urged the Israeli military to suspend fire to facilitate the rescue and Israel complied, allowing Lebanese troops to mount the recovery. ISRAELI FORCES RAID WEST BANK REFUGEE CAMP JERUSALEM An Israeli border police officer was killed during a military raid into a refugee camp in the northern West Bank, the police and border guard said in a joint statement. Israeli forces killed at least seven Palestinians during the daylong raid of the Nur Shams camp, and prevented ambulances from retrieving the wounded, according to Palestinian state media. US NAVY INTERCEPTS MISSILES HEADED NORTH FROM YEMEN CAIRO A U.S. Navy warship took out three missiles that were fired from Yemen and were heading north, U.S. officials said. The officials said the USS Carney, a Navy destroyer, was in the Red Sea and intercepted the missiles. It wasnt immediately certain if they were aimed at Israel. One of the officials said the U.S. does not believe the missiles were aimed at the ship. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations not yet announced. Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have expressed support for the Palestinians and threatened Israel. Last week in Yemens Sanaa, which is held by the Houthi rebels still at war with a Saudi-led coalition, demonstrators crowded the streets waving Yemeni and Palestinian flags. The rebels slogan long has been, God is the greatest; death to America; death to Israel; curse of the Jews; victory to Islam. Last week Abdel-Malek al-Houthi, the rebel groups leader, warned the United States against intervening in the Israel-Hamas conflict, saying his forces would retaliate by firing drones and missiles. Associated Press writer Jack Jeffery in Cairo contributed. UK LEADER ASKS CROWN PRINCE TO PREVENT SPREAD OF WAR IN REGION LONDON British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has met Saudi Arabias de facto ruler and encouraged him to use his influence to stop the Israel-Hamas war from spreading. Sunaks office said the U.K. leader and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman agreed on the need to get humanitarian aid into Gaza and underscored the need to avoid any further escalation in the region. The U.K. said Sunak encouraged the Crown Prince to use Saudis leadership in the region to support stability, both now and in the long-term. Sunak flew to Saudi Arabia after visiting Israel on Thursday to show support after Hamas Oct. 7 attack. CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR PLANS 1-DAY TRIP TO ISRAEL SACRAMENTO, Calif. California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he plans to make a one-day trip Israel to meet some of those affected by the war. The Democratic governor will arrive Friday and depart the same day. The announcement by Newsoms office did not specify where he would go. His office said California will send medical supplies to the region, including to the Gaza Strip. California is home to the largest population of Arab Americans in the United States, according to the Arab American Institute, and the second largest populations of Jews, according to the American Jewish Population Project at Brandeis University. HUMANITARIAN AGENCIES PREPARE TO COORDINATE FLOW OF SUPPLIES TO GAZA ZUWAIDA, Gaza Strip Oxfam is working with other humanitarian agencies to provide a quick response when supplies begin flowing into Gaza. Najla Shawa, a spokesman for Oxfam in Gaza, said theyre waiting for a cease-fire to be able to provide assistance to people who have had electricity, food and fuel supplies cut off. This is going to be a big challenge because theres a lot to be done and we still dont have enough information about whats going to come in tomorrow, Shawa said. Authorities have said the Egypt-Gaza border crossing in Rafah could open as soon as Friday. She said any response will take longer than usual because so many aid workers have been displaced from their homes. The situation is extremely challenging, she said. UN TO INSPECT AID SHIPMENTS INTO GAZA UNDER ISRAEL-EGYPT DEAL CAIRO A U.N. flag will be raised at the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza to protect against Israeli airstrikes under a U.N.-brokered deal between Israel and Egypt to allow aid into the Palestinian territory. An Egyptian official and a European diplomat said observers from the U.N. will also inspect trucks carrying aid before they cross. They said the U.N will oversee the aid, along with the Egyptian and Palestinian Red Crescent societies, to ensure it is given to civilians and not used by Palestinian militants. The Egyptian official said they are still negotiating with Israel over allowing fuel into Gaza, where a shortage has forced the closure of multiple hospitals. The official and the diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief media. Associated Press reporter Sam Magdy in Cairo contributed. DEFENSE MINISTER TELLS ISRAELI TROOPS TO PREPARE FOR GROUND INVASION OF GAZA JERUSALEM Israels defense minister has told ground troops to be ready to enter the Gaza Strip, though he is not saying when the invasion will start. In a meeting with Israeli infantry soldiers on the Gaza border, Yoav Gallant urged the forces to get organized, be ready for an order to move in. Whoever sees Gaza from afar now, will see it from the inside, he said. I promise you. Israel has massed tens of thousands of troops along the border following a bloody Oct. 7 cross-border massacre by Hamas militants. This version has corrected that Israel says number of suspected captives is 203, not 206, as of Thursday. KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) Hamas on Friday freed an American woman and her teenage daughter who had been held hostage in Gaza, Israel said, the first such release from among the roughly 200 people the militant group abducted from Israel during its Oct. 7 rampage. Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natalie, were out of the Gaza Strip and in the hands of the Israeli military, an army spokesman said. Hamas said it released them for humanitarian reasons in an agreement with the Qatari government. The release comes amid growing expectations of a ground offensive that Israel says is aimed at rooting out Hamas militants who rule Gaza. Israel said Friday it does not plan to take long-term control over the tiny territory, home to some 2.3 million people. As the Israeli military punished Gaza with airstrikes, authorities inched closer to bringing aid from Egypt to desperate families and hospitals. Fighting between Israel and militants in neighboring Lebanon also raged, prompting evacuations of Lebanese and Israeli border towns as fears of a widening conflict grew. Judith and Natalie Ranaan had been on a trip from their home in suburban Chicago to Israel to celebrate Jewish holidays, the family said. They were in the kibbutz of Nahal Oz, near Gaza, on Oct. 7 when Hamas and other militants stormed into southern Israeli towns, killing hundreds and abducting 203 others. The family had heard nothing from them since the attack and were later told by U.S. and Israeli officials that they were being held in Gaza, Natalies brother Ben said. U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with the two freed hostages and their relatives. The International Committee of the Red Cross, which transported the freed Americans from Gaza to Israel, said their release was a sliver of hope. Relatives of other captives welcomed the release and appealed for more people to be freed. Hamas said in a statement that it was working with mediators to close the case" of hostages if security circumstances permit. The group added that it is committed to mediation efforts by Egypt, Qatar and other countries. Qatar said it would continue its dialogue with Israel and Hamas in hopes of winning the release of all hostages with the ultimate aim of de-escalating the current crisis and restoring peace. Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Israel continued to work to return hostages and find the missing, and its goals had not changed. We are continuing the war against Hamas and ready for the next stage of the war, he said. A potential Israeli ground assault is likely to lead to a dramatic escalation in casualties on both sides in urban fighting. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed in the war mostly civilians slain during the Hamas incursion. More than 4,100 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Health Ministry run by Hamas. That includes a disputed number of people who died in a hospital explosion earlier this week. Speaking to lawmakers about Israels long-term plans for Gaza, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant laid out a three-stage plan that seemed to suggest Israel did not intend to reoccupy the territory it left in 2005. First, Israeli airstrikes and maneuvering a presumed reference to a ground attack would aim to root out Hamas. Next will come a lower intensity fight to defeat remaining pockets of resistance. And, finally, a new security regime will be created in Gaza along with the removal of Israels responsibility for life in the Gaza Strip, Gallant said. Gallant did not say who Israel expected to run Gaza if Hamas is toppled or what the new security regime would entail. Israel occupied Gaza from 1967 until 2005, when it pulled up settlements and withdrew soldiers. Two years later, Hamas took over. Some Israelis blame the withdrawal from Gaza for the sporadic violence that has persisted since then. The humanitarian crisis has worsened for Gazas civilians every day since Israel halted entry of supplies two weeks ago, depleting fuel, food, water and medicine. Two days after Israel announced a deal to allow Egypt to send in aid, the border remained closed Friday as Egypt repaired the Rafah crossing, damaged by Israeli strikes. Over a million people have been displaced in Gaza. Many heeded Israels orders to evacuate the northern part of the sealed-off enclave on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. But Israel has continued to bomb areas in southern Gaza where Palestinians had been told to seek safety. Although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called areas in the south safe zones earlier this week, Israeli military spokesman Nir Dinar said Friday: There are no safe zones. Some Palestinians who fled from the north appeared to be going back because of bombings and difficult living conditions in the south, said Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the U.N. human rights office. Gazas overwhelmed hospitals were rationing their dwindling resources. Generators in Shifa Hospital, Gazas largest, were operating at the lowest setting to conserve fuel while providing power to vital departments such as intensive care, hospital director Mohammed Abu Selmia said. Others worked in darkness. I dont know how long (the fuel) will last. Every day we evaluate the situation, he said. The lack of medical supplies and water make it difficult to treat the mass of victims from the Israeli strikes, he said. The Palestine Red Crescent Society said it had received a threat from the Israeli military to bomb Al-Quds Hospital. It said Israel has demanded the immediate evacuation of the Gaza City hospital, which has more than 400 patients and thousands of displaced civilians who sought refuge on its grounds, it said. Palestinians in Gaza reported heavy airstrikes in Khan Younis, a town in the territorys south that is home to a squalid tent camp for displaced people. Ambulances carrying men, women and children streamed into the local Nasser Hospital. Late Thursday, an Israeli airstrike hit a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza City housing displaced Palestinians. Gazas Health Ministry said 16 Palestinian Christians were killed. Former U.S. Rep. Justin Amash, a Libertarian from Michigan, said several of his relatives were among the dead. The military said it had targeted a Hamas command center nearby, causing damage to a church wall. Work continued Friday to repair the road at the Rafah crossing with Egypt, Gazas only entry point not controlled by Israel. Trucks unloaded gravel, and bulldozers and other equipment were used to fill in large craters. But there also appeared to still be differences over the manner of delivering aid. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was working with Egypt, Israel, the U.S. and others to overcome the impasse preventing the trucks from entering, U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters Friday. Guterres wants to ensure meaningful numbers of trucks cross daily, that inspection of truck cargo is expedited and that U.N. authorities have fuel to distribute the supplies within Gaza. More than 200 trucks and some 3,000 tons of aid were positioned near the crossing. Israel said the supplies could only go to civilians and that it would thwart any diversions by Hamas. It was unclear if fuel for the hospital generators would be allowed to enter. An Egyptian official said two aid-packed trucks entered the Egyptian side of the border crossing early Saturday but did not pass through into Gaza. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak with the media. Israel has evacuated its own communities near Gaza and Lebanon, putting residents up in hotels elsewhere in the country. Lebanons Hezbollah militant group, which has a massive arsenal of long-range rockets, has traded fire with Israel along the border on a near-daily basis and hinted it might join the war if Israel seeks to annihilate Hamas. Iran supports both armed groups. Palestinian militants have launched unrelenting rocket attacks into Israel more than 6,900 since Oct. 7, according to Israel and tensions have flared in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Israel has targeted militants in raids across the occupied territory. On Friday, two Palestinian teenagers were killed in clashes in the West Bank, where more than 80 Palestinians have been killed over the past two weeks. I wish I was in Forrest tonight. That isnt something I say too often, but believe me, the Hampsher Hotel in Forrest is where Id like to be. Whats that? Youve never heard of Forrest or the Hampsher Hotel? The village (population 1,027) was founded in 1866 in Livingston County and is on Route 24, straight east off Interstate 55 at Chenoa. The Hampsher Hotel is a bed-and-breakfast near the railroad tracks on Krack Street. Once you reach Forrest, thats all the direction you need. The B&B was formerly the Forrest Railroad Hotel, built in 1915, an ideal rest stop for traveling salesmen. The property was bequeathed by the late William Miller to the Forrest Historical Society as a possible museum, but as you can guess, its hard to pay the heating bill and fix the roof with only donations for income. About nine years ago, the society decided to convert the existing 10 guest rooms into four suites, each with its own bathroom. Four local families each sponsored a suite, decorating them in unique themes appropriate for the historic building. Business has been steady, according to Sandy Schrof, president of the Forrest Historical Society. Sandy, age 84, has lived in Forrest nearly 50 years, and was a high school home economics teacher for 36 years. To say this energetic woman is a go-getter is an understatement. In the time it took me to hang up my coat at the B&B entryway, she had given a tour, answered the phone and planned an entire dinner menu. Is it true you can cook a sit-down dinner for 24 people all by yourself? I asked her. Twenty-four? Ive cooked a meal for 400! she said. Ive catered weddings, and baked the cake, too. Her mother is 102 years old, which inspires Sandy to keep moving every day, one foot in front of the other. I was admiring the period decor of the dining room, but became distracted by a bowl of steaming, creamy potato soup set in front of me. Soups were on the menu that day as part of the Second Tuesday Luncheon held from April to October. The monthly events are yet another fundraiser, organized and staffed by members of the society. Launched eight years ago, the idea didnt quite take off in the beginning. Like trying to start a car on a cold morning, Sandy said. But eventually word got around. I dont think I even put a sign up at the post office, she said. (Facebook has nothing on the effectiveness of the Forrest Post Office bulletin board.) Soon, people from nearby communities were coming for lunch. In the early days, we always had a table of 10 ladies from Saunemin and a group of women from Roberts, she recalled. Today, the Second Tuesday Luncheon draws around 65 to 70 guests, requiring two separate seatings. Some local businesses even close their doors over the lunch hour so employees may attend. Just as this years luncheon season was drawing to a close, however, the Forrest group came up with another idea A regular listener of WGN radio, Sandy kept hearing advertisements for a supper club overlooking a beautiful vista in Wisconsin. Why couldnt they have a supper club in Forrest, she wondered, and began researching potential operations. All for the benefit of the historical society. So, tonight, a small group of lucky guests (20 in total for the inaugural dinner) will be the first to enjoy the Friday Night Supper Club. If its successful, more dinners will be planned. Well start with pumpkin maple bisque and a salad of romaine and spinach with apples and dried cranberries, Sandy said. Then well move to beef Wellington, a twice-baked potato, sweet and spicy fresh green beans and a roll with Irish butter. For dessert, well have chocolate cake with ganache filling and pecan frosting. Oh, tonight would be a good night to be in Forrest. Watch now: 40 pictures from ZooDo Zamboree ZooDo Honorary co- chairs Larry and Marlene Dietz with Dee Frautschi (center) Paula and John Pratt Peggy Hundley, Laura and Michael OConnor, Cheryl Magnuson, Tracy Patkunas Dick Meads, Ed and Jon Voegele Tiffany Gaia, Amanda Jones Erik Heinonen with red-tail hawk Borealis Cody Erbes, Courtney Tarvin, Hollie and Elisa MacFarlane, Vanessa and Jeff Spenard Roger and Jennifer Johnson Garrett VonDerHeide, Brandon Shaffer Guests enjoying an animal encounter with Erik Heinonen and Borealis, a red-tail hawk John Tobias and Sharon Reed gazing at the guanaco John Tobias, Sharon Reed Krystal Barker, Larum Dean Tom Carroll, Erica Epperson Linda Ash, Margie Hohenshell Adriana LaRosa Ransom, Pablo LaRosa Kristie and Art Feldman Andrew and Lauren Bridgewater Frank and Angie Hoffman, Vicki and Robert Varney Melissa Isenburg Tremper, Mark Tremper Ronda and Brad Glenn, Debra and Tim Leighton, Joy and George Szmaj Marcia Hammerstrand, J Balmer, Jonell Kehias Dave and Barb Selzer, Steve and Vickie Mahrt Enjoying a river otter animal encounter Peggy Hundley, Sharon Quiram, Pat Grogg Robert and Karen Altman,Joan Gullett, Donna Beattie Ben and Amy Jeffreys Ed Neaves, Amanda Wycoff Neaves Sonja Reece Kaye Andrews, Dee Frautschi Stephanie Schempp, Marius Chirila, Mikel Petro, Vicki Berg, Kevin Pangborn Sue and Rich Stroink Melissa Stone pets a baby goat held by Ashlee Hageneras Jerry and Carole Ringer David Haynes, Katie Black Christy and Andy Traeger watch as Julia Benzel encourages Henry, a salmon-crested cockatoo, to speak Julie Benzel with Henry, a salmon-crested cockatoo Christy and Andy Traeger Flamingoes Stefanie Nelson,Tracy Patkunas Brian and Dani Wipperman Bill and Bev Edwards Traci Zeller, Eryn Lloyd Karla Ramos, Yobeida Castillo Matt Molloy, Julie and Justin May Logan Beckman, Kim Percy Enjoying the evening Roger and Diane Finney, Cathy and Dennis Wentworth, Bev and Jim Hornickel Linda and Terry Garbe 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. BLOOMINGTON A Danvers man awaiting trial on murder charges was found dead inside his cell at the McLean County Detention Facility, authorities said Friday. Correctional officers were conducting a security check when they found Joshua D. Livingston, 41, unresponsive in his cell at approximately 9:33 p.m. Thursday, the sheriffs office said in a statement. Officers immediately provided rescue efforts, and Bloomington Fire Department Rescue responded to the scene, the sheriffs office said. Despite those efforts, the county coroners office pronounced Livingston dead at 10:22 p.m. The sheriffs statement called Livingstons death an apparent suicide, but no further details were immediately available. McLean County Sheriff Matt Lane said Illinois State Police is handling the investigation and he was not able to comment further. State police did not immediately respond to a request for more information Friday afternoon. Livingston was booked into the jail on April 26 on charges that included murder, possession of a stolen motor vehicle and concealment of a homicidal death. He was accused of killing 39-year-old Melissa S. Ostrom, who died by strangulation and was found dead April 19. Earlier this month, he was also charged with two counts of Class 2 aggravated battery after he was accused of striking a correctional officers head with his knee and fist. As Livingston was representing himself in court, no attorney was available for comment. He most recently appeared in court on Wednesday before Judge William A. Yoder, who was presiding over the case. Livingston presented a written motion asking for the judge to recuse himself, according to court documents. He argued that Yoder could have a bias if his wife, McLean County Coroner Kathleen Yoder, were called as a witness in the case. Prosecutors said they did not intend to call the coroner as a witness. Livingston said the defense might, for purposes that were not specified. Judge Yoder denied the motion, according to court documents. Livingstons next court date was then set for Dec. 22, but that date was vacated and had not been rescheduled. EUREKA The Liberty Bible Church of Eureka will host a their annual dinner for Veterans' Day at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11. All veterans of any branch are welcome to attend. The dinner will feature a rib-eye steak dinner with potatos, vegetables, and dessert. The church is lcoated at 1408 Church Road. The guest speaker will be Dr. John Owen. He grew up as a missionary kid in Ecuador and as a result he became fluent in Spanish. He came to the United States to attend Bible College. He then joined the Navy as a Fire Controlam 2nd Class (Surface Warfare Specialist) on the USs McClusky FFG-41. The event will also include a welcome from the local American Legion, a photo booth for guests, and recognition and gifts for the veterans. To register, call 309-444-4644. Baltimore authorities said one fireman was killed and four others were wounded late Thursday afternoon, October 19, in a fire that quickly spread across a neighborhood of rowhouses in the city's northwest. After three firemen were killed in January of last year while fighting a blaze in a vacant rowhouse in Baltimore, the department's procedures and training have come under increasing scrutiny in recent months. In the midst of the upheaval, local leaders demanded more monitoring of the agency. Tragic Blaze That Claimed One Life Just before 4:000 PM local time on Thursday, a two-alarm fire was reported. According to AP News, local television footage showed many rowhouses completely consumed in flames, with portions of the structures falling and black smoke rising from the windows and rooftops. Reportedly, the fire seemed to escalate swiftly when firefighters got to the site. That night, police held a press conference outside the University of Maryland Medical System's Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore to announce that four injured firemen were taken to the hospital with burns of varied degrees and were being treated. Newly appointed Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace added, "Tonight, it is with a heavy heart that I must announce one member has tragically perished as a result of his injuries." He declined to reveal the firefighter's identity until notification of next of kin. Currently, there are no reports of civilian casualties, and authorities are still trying to determine what started the blaze. Wallace said that it appeared as if one of the buildings was occupied. He claimed that thus far, investigators have been unable to pinpoint what sparked the fire's rapid growth. "What I can tell you is, we attacked this fire like we attack many fires." Dozens of first responders gathered outside a Baltimore hospital hours before authorities formally acknowledged the firefighter's death. Later, several people formed a slow procession with an ambulance from the Baltimore Fire Department. During the press conference, Baltimore City Council President Nick Mosby remarked, "Firefighters are our living superheroes, and we don't expect to lose them. It's a reminder of what firefighters do on a regular basis to protect and serve our city." See Also: Vietnam: Apartment Complex in Hanoi Catches Fire, Killing Dozens of People Something Much Worse Happened The fire that took the lives of three Baltimore firemen in January 2022 has led to a closer look into the city's fire department, which is routinely called upon to react to dangerous situations when fires break out in the city's numerous abandoned buildings. Months later, a study was made public that identified a number of flaws that might have put firemen at risk when the three-story brick structure collapsed. It discovered, among other things, that there was no system in place to warn firefighters about empty and potentially dangerous structures. Also, the head of the fire department at the time stepped down from his position. See Also: Over 70 Dead After Johannesburg Apartment Block Gutted by Fire @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. MONTROSE A steady stream of traffic on Friday rolled through eastbound Interstate 70 and the eastbound on-ramp at Montrose, roadways that had been closed to traffic for construction less than two weeks ago. State Rep. Adam Niemerg, R-Teutopolis, said the road closures there had been set to continue into November but were lifted by the Illinois Department of Transportation following a crash-filled year in this construction zone and detour corridor, including the fatal anhydrous ammonia spill on Sept. 29 on U.S. Route 40 in Teutopolis. Niemerg said he and State Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, advocated for reopening these roadways and now have filed legislation aimed at preventing crashes during future road construction projects throughout Illinois, including the work that is planned to start next spring on westbound I-70 east of Effingham. "The last thing I want to see happen is another accident and loss of life for something that could be prevented," Niemerg said as he and Rose announced their proposed legislation during a press conference Friday morning at the BP service station along Interstate 70 in Montrose. The press conference took place about 5 miles east of Teutopolis, where the Sept. 29 spill occurred after a crash on I-70 caused traffic to be diverted to U.S. 40. There, a tanker truck carrying anhydrous ammonia rolled over and ruptured. The resulting spill killed three adults and two children, injured multiple people, and triggered an evacuation of part of Teutopolis. Rose, who noted there also was a fatal crash that summer in Clark County related to the I-70 construction, said the legislation directs IDOT to never place a primary route in the interstate system under construction at the same time it places a parallel secondary route under construction. "The legislation we are filing will mandate, except for the case of an emergency like a bridge out or something like that, that IDOT can't put both I-70 and U.S. 40 under construction at the same time," Rose said. He added that IDOT has already pledged to coordinate with Effingham, Cumberland and Clark county officials in advance of the 2024 construction season. The Charleston native also said the legislation will require any GPS navigation system provider operating in Illinois to have a "living human being" available who IDOT and the Illinois State Police can contact in the event of emergencies. Rose said this representative will be available to upload preferred detour routes, routes that do not send motorists to dangerously congested areas. "Don't keep sending people to Marshall when there is nowhere left for people to go there," Rose said, using this Clark County community as an example. He said GPS systems had routed motorists onto dead end roads in Marshall this year. In addition, Rose said the legislation will require IDOT to reimburse local governments for the damage that construction zone detours cause to their roadways. He said this is an issue that he has heard in all 14 counties that he represents in the 51st District. He added that IDOT has agreed to reimburse Clark County for damage to the Arbuckle Road, off of U.S. 40 west of Marshall. We look forward to reviewing the legislation and continuing to work with the General Assembly and all other stakeholders to help address their questions and concerns," said IDOT spokesman Paul Wappel on Friday in response to the proposed legislation announcement. "As always, safety is the top priority at IDOT. How do people die in U.S. traffic collisions? How do people die in U.S. traffic collisions? What events or objects cause the most traffic deaths? Other vehicles cause the most traffic fatalities, but there are a surprising array of other causes Regional differences paint an unusual picture of national road safety The Bloomington Knights of Columbus would like to thank the local community for the tremendous support given to our 53rd Annual I.D. Drive. This is known better as the Tootsie Roll Drive that we do to raise money for the intellectually and physically disabled in our local community. With the help of our members and some local citizens and some local groups, like S.O.A.R. and Eugene Field School and ISU Best Buddies, we collected just over $9,000. While this is below our average yearly collection it is still a great deal of money that we will be giving to local special education classrooms and to S.O.A.R. and to Illinois Special Olympics. The money we distribute will go to local special ed classrooms and to S.O.A.R. and to the Illinois Special Olympics. We also are thanking the local stores that gave us permission to place our volunteers at their doors to collect donations: four McDonalds stores, Jewel Osco, two Walgreens stores, and Walmart on West Market. The Knights of Columbus is the main sponsor of the Illinois Special Olympics Summer Games each year (which is held at ISU). Over the last many years the Knights, at the state level, have given over $2 million dollars to Illinois Special Olympics in addition to our local contribution and on the state level all the Knights in the state of Illinois have given many thousands of hours of volunteer time. The three councils locally co-sponsored and did the lunch for the thousands of athletes on Saturday of the June Illinois Special Olympic Games. With 25 volunteers we cooked and served 900 athletes and their families. Thanking everyone for their support. Jim Smith Grand Knight Dennis Fries, Chairman Kinsley Ofosu, the sole survivor of the famous Deadly Voyage stowaway story in 1992, has been arrested for an alleged involvement in a 120,000 scam. Kinsley Ofosu made international headlines in 1992 with his miraculous survival from a stowaway trip. Ofosu is said to have been arrested from a hideout at Prampram in the Greater Accra after almost two-and-a-half decades of relentless efforts, the police said. Ofosu was arrested on Saturday, October 14 and subsequently arraigned before the Takoradi Circuit Court B. Prosecuting, Inspector Robert Yawson told the court presided over by Henrietta Charway that the suspect has been on the police wanted list since 1998. After almost two-and-a-half decades of relentless efforts, the police arrested Ofosu on Saturday, October 14. He added that all efforts to have him arrested have not been successful. The prosecution prayed the court to remand the suspect to enable the police to conclude their investigations. According to prosecution, the suspect has vacated his residence in Tanokrom, a surburb of Takoradi, to an unknown location, making it difficult for the police to trace him. He argued that the suspect might interfere in the investigations if he should be granted bail and, therefore, prayed for a remand. Counsel for the accused, Victor Owusus plea for his client to be granted bail was not granted. Kingsley Ofosu has, therefore, been remanded into police custody to reappear on Monday, October 30, 2023. The complainant, Charles Ohemeng, who is based in Germany claims he met the accused in Germany in 1997 after he made international headlines following his miraculous escape from MC Ruby Cargo Ship. According to the complainant he decided to ship some vehicles and printing machines through Kingsley Ofosu to Ghana and Ofosu agreed. He claims he bought Mercedes Benz, a tanker, a Nissan, double axle vehicle, Opel, printing machines, and many others amounting to about 240,000 deutschmark (an equivalent of 120,000 Euros) at the time. The vehicles and the items he said were shipped to Ofosu in Ghana and that was the end of everything. He said he did not hear from him again until his arrest on Saturday. How Kingsley Ofosu became famous internationally In 1992, Kingsley Ofosu made international headlines after he survived the slaughter of a group of African stowaways by the crew of a Bahamian-flagged Ukrainian-crewed cargo ship, MC Rugby. Ofosu lost his half-brother, Albert Cudjoe who was shot when they tried escaping as the only two survivors. When the trial of the crew members made international headlines, multiple film companies approached Ofosu to purchase the rights to his story. He eventually struck a deal with Union Pictures and Viva Films. The Union Pictures/Viva Films production was to be distributed to and financed by HBO and the BBC. The screenplay for Deadly Voyage was written by Stuart Urban, who used interviews with Ofosu as his primary source material. The movie was filmed in England and in Ghana. The cast of Deadly Voyage were Omar Epps as Kingsley Ofosu, Joss Ackland as the ship's captain, Sean Pertwee as Ion Plesin, David Suchet as Andreas Vlachos, Ghanas David Dontoh, Oscar Provencal and Juliet Asante. Source: graphic.com.gh Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has stated that after the dust settles with floods following the Akosombo Dam spillage, he would demand full compensation for all the flood victims. Speaking on Thursday (Oct 19) in a television interview on TV3s NewDay morning programme from Mepe, one of the affected communities, Ablakwa said the Volta River Authority (VRA) would not be allowed to go free given the havoc their actions had visited on the people situated within the Lower Volta Basin. VRA must know that we will not let them get away with this because you cant make people lose their homes and livelihoods and expect them to cope with it. We will insist on full compensation and nothing else, Mr Ablakwa, who has many constituents affected by the floods said. The North Tongu MP said if the authority fails to rightfully and fully compensate affected persons, he would personally lead a class action against the VRA. Okudzeto Ablakwa noted that the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has already counted about 28,000 displaced people adding that his outfit was also putting together data on the value of property, farms and fishing ponds that have been lost in North Tongu constituency. We are putting all this together so that when the time comes, they (VRA) cant have an excuse that they didnt have the data. So full compensation must be presented to our people, we are not going to compromise on that at all, he stressed. Spillage From last week, October 9, 2023, tracts of land and communities downstream the Akosombo and Kpong dams have been flooded. This follows the second-stage spillage of the two dams used to generate about a third of Ghanas electricity supply. The Volta River Authority (VRA) started the controlled spillage at the Akosombo and Kpong dams, both in the Eastern Region, from September 15, 2023 following excess water in both reservoirs due to appreciable levels of rainfall. The spillage has affected almost all the communities along the lower Volta Basin, resulting in widespread power cuts in the affected communities. The GRIDCo sub-station in Fievie, Sogakope, in the Volta Region, has been inundated with floods, leading to the shutting down of the station. With the absence of electricity, public installations, including hospitals in Sogakope and Adidome, are bearing the brunt of the flooding, leaving the lives of patients in danger. High water levels in Akosombo dam The maximum level of water in the Akosombo Dam should be 276 feet. As of Thursday (Oct 12, 2023), the water level in the dam was 276.92 feet or 84.405 metres. Source: graphic.com.gh Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A former Minister of Finance, Seth Terkper, has testified that payment for the ambulance deal for which former Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson and two others have been accused of allegedly causing 2.37 million financial loss to the state, was made in error. Under the cross-examination of the Attorney-General in court on Thursday (Oct 19, 2023), Mr Terkper admitted that although the payment was made in error, it was so because the ministry at the time was under the impression that the Stanbic Bank letters of credit were still valid under the agreement approved by Parliament. However, he said it was only after the Debt Management Unit of the Ministry of Finance had drawn his attention that the Stanbic Banks letters of credit were no longer valid that the Finance Ministry decided to charge the Ministry of Health budget, contrary to what parliament had approved. He further told the court, presided over by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, a Court of Appeal judge sitting with additional responsibility as a High Court judge that, he authorised Dr Cassiel Aro Forson to set up the letters of credit against the budget allocation of the Ministry of Health. The letter to the Bank of Ghana requesting the setting up of the LC [letters of credit] emanated from the Ministry of Finance and had my full authorization, he said. The move, Mr Tekper said was to avoid potential liability for the government in line with the then Attorney-Generals advice. On the face of it, it may look contrary to what parliament approved but it is important to understand the principle that all loans including letters of credit are ultimately charged to the capital budget of the ministry he said. Ato Forson pleads not guilty in ambulance trial The other accused persons in the case are Richard Jakpa, a private businessmanester Anemana, a former Chief Director of the Ministry of Health. The three have pleaded not guilty to counts of willfully causing financial loss to the state, abetment to willfully causing financial loss to the state, contravention of the Public Procurement Act and intentionally misapplying public property. Prosecutions facts Per the A-Gs facts accompanying the charge sheet, in 2009, while delivering the State of the Nation Address, the then President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, indicated that new ambulances would be purchased to expand the operations of the National Ambulance Service. Jakpa, who is a local representative of Big Sea General Trading Limited, a company based in Dubai, subsequently approached the Ministry of Health with a proposal that he had arranged for finance from Stanbic Bank for the supply of 200 ambulances to the government. Parliament approved the financing agreement between the government and Stanbic Bank. According to the facts, on November 19, 2012, Dr Anemana wrote to the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) seeking approval to engage Big Sea through single sourcing for the supply of the 200 ambulances. They added that on August 7, 2014, Dr Forson wrote to the Bank of Ghana for letters of credit covering 3.95 million for the supply of 50 ambulances in favour of Big Sea. The letters of credit were accordingly released to Big Sea. The facts said 30 ambulances were purchased at a sum of 2.37 million, but all were found not to have met the ambulance specifications and not fit for purpose. Source: graphic.com.gh Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Minority Leader in Parliament, Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, has implored President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to apologise to flood victims from the Akosombo Dam spillage and also acknowledge that he erred in telling them that they don't vote for him. For him, the President's comment when he visited the flooded areas last Monday was in a bad taste, hence the need for President Akufo-Addo to apologise to the flood victims of the Akosombo Dam spillage. For him, the President's comment when he visited the flooded areas last Monday was in a bad taste, hence the need for President Akufo-Addo to apologise to the flood victims of the Akosombo Dam spillage. Victims of Akosombo Dam spillage A number of communities in South Tongu, Central Tongu and North Tongu districts have experienced severe flooding following the spillage of the Akosombo and Kpong dams by the Volta River Authority (VRA). Following the impact of the flood waters from the dam, President Akufo-Addo on Monday, October 16, 2023, visited the area to sympathise with the victims and said the government's immediate action was to provide relief items and that the Ministry of Food and Agriculture will look at a term plan on how to assist farmers whose farms have been destroyed by the floods. President Akufo-Addo's "you don't vote for me comment" It was during his (Presidents) address that he said he had come to visit the area to provide any assistance they needed to live comfortably and safely as Ghanaians and that he took the oath of office as the President for the whole country. President Akufo-Addo said he could not neglect the people in their time of need even though they did not vote for him when he contested the Presidential electionsm, "when these things happen and government acts, politics does not come in at all. I took the oath of office as president to protect every citizen of Ghana, whether they voted for me or not, once I have taken the oath, I am the president. So Togbe, I want you and your elders and the people to understand that the government is acting for all Ghanaians," he said. "I came here because Ghanaians are having difficulties and suffering and it is my responsibility to try and help, because if it is a question of who votes for me and who does not vote for me, I should not be here because you don't vote for me, that is not my concern," the President added. Ato Forson's reaction Dr Ato Forson said the Minority would investigate the actions of the Volta River Authority (VRA) which has resulted in the flooding of many areas in Volta and Eastern regions. Source: Graphic.com.gh Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The collapse of the snow crab population in the eastern Bering Sea. Credit: Science (2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.adf6035 A team of marine biologists with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Alaska Fishery Science Center has solved the mystery of why approximately 10 billion snow crabs vanished from the Bering Sea back in 2018/2019the water there was too warm for them. In their study, reported in the journal Science, the group used data from previous studies on the way snow crabs respond to warmer temperatures to solve the mystery. Gordon Kruse, a member of the North Pacific Research Board, has published a Perspective piece in the same journal issue outlining the events that surrounded the population crash of the snow crabs and the work done by the team on this new effort to find out why. Snow crabs are relatively small crabs, that, despite their name, are not whitethey are red, like lobsters. They live on the ocean floor in shallow areas and have been consumed as a seafood delicacy for many years. Alaskan fishermen (and scientists) first noticed a dramatic decline in their numbers back in 2021. Then, due to the pandemic, fishing and studying of the crabs was put on hiatus for a year. The full extent of the crab disappearance was only observed earlier in 2023over 10 billion were missing. Upon discovering this alarming decline, a research team set to work to figure out what happened. The team started by scouting nearby areas, hoping that the crabs had simply moved to another location, but no sign of them could be found. Next, noting that the area had experienced a heat wave prior to, and during, the crab disappearance they turned to the results of a prior study that had found that when water temperatures increase, energy requirements for the crabs increase. The researchers found that if water temperatures increased by just 3C, the caloric needs of the crabs doubled. Records showed that during the heat wave, water temperatures had risen 3C, which meant the crabs would have needed twice as much food to sustain themselves. The research team also found that just prior to the heat wave, the crab population had risen dramatically, meaning that there had been a large increase in competition for food. And that, the researchers conclude, led the crabs to starve to death. More information: Cody S. Szuwalski et al, The collapse of eastern Bering Sea snow crab, Science (2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.adf6035 Gordon H. Kruse, Are crabs in hot water?, Science (2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.adk7565 Journal information: Science 2023 Science X Network This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Schematic illustration of core-to-plume transfer. Credit: Nature (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06590-8 A combined team of geochemists from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and California Institute of Technology has found evidence of high levels of helium-3 in rocks on Baffin Islandpossible evidence that the Earth's core is leaking. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the group describes their study of helium-3 and helium-4 on the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Prior researchers found trace elements of helium-3 in lava flows on Baffin Island, hinting at the possibility that the Earth's core might be leaking. This is because it is an ancient isotopeit was prevalent during the time when Earth was forming and became trapped in the core. But because of its nature, helium-3 that makes its way to the surface soon escapes into the atmosphere and disappears into space. Thus, helium-3 is rare. If it is found on the surface, the odds are high that it made its way out of the core. Intrigued by the possibility that the Earth's core might be leaking, the research team ventured to Baffin Island and began testing multiple lava flows. They found much higher levels of helium-3 than observed in prior research effortshigher than anywhere else on Earth. They also found high ratios of helium-3 to helium-4 (a common isotope)the highest that have ever been measured in terrestrial rock. Such high ratios, the researchers suggest, is another factor suggesting that the helium-3 is leaking from the core. The research team notes that finding such high levels of helium-3 at a terrestrial site is a big deal, because if it can be proved that the material is indeed leaking from the core, it will provide scientists with a way to study core material, which has never been done before. That could reveal more about the core than previously thought possible. They note that if the helium-3 is coming from the core, then the other material around it should be as well, offering further physical examples of core material. More information: F. Horton et al, Highest terrestrial 3He/4He credibly from the core, Nature (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06590-8 Journal information: Nature 2023 Science X Network This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Effects of GR in 81 time-windows before and after heading (thermal time = 0 Cd) on KpS. Cultivars were classified as late or early based on their flowering time17. a, Overview of 17,820 ANOVA ln(P values ) comparing model 1 and model 2, with 169 late (orange) and 51 early (purple) heading cultivars. The solid red line represents the median ln(P value ) of 220 cultivars at each time-window. The dotted red and blue lines indicate ln(P value ) = 3.00 (P < 0.05) and 6.91 (P < 0.001), respectively. b, Cultivar-specific ln(P value ) in 81 time-windows. c, Coefficients (KpS (MJ m2 d1)) in model 2 showing the sensitivity of KpS to GR in 220 cultivars. Solid red lines represent median coefficient of all cultivars and dotted red line indicates = 0. d, Cultivar-specific coefficients in model 2 showing positive (green) and negative (yellow and red) effects of GR on KpS. Different physiological subphases before flowering of photoperiod-sensitive (late flowering) cultivars are shown by vertical black dotted lines22. AN, anthesis; DR, double-ridge stage; DS, desiccation; GA, green anther stage; GCD, green canopy duration characterized by 50% canopy senescence; GF, grain filling; HD, heading stage; PGF, pre-grain filling; TS, terminal spikelet stage; WA, white anther stage; YA, yellow anther stage. Credit: Nature Plants (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41477-023-01516-8 With the aid of innovative statistical methods, researchers explore the complex interplay between life cycle, environmental factors and genetic information using wheat as an example. Cereal crops such as wheat are sensitive to climate change. Many studies show that their yield decreases as temperatures rise and extreme weather events increase. A team led by agricultural scientist Prof. Dr. Tsu-Wei Chen from the Humboldt-Universitat zuBerlin has developed a new statistical method with which the researchers have been able to demonstrate that there are certain time windows in the life cycle of plants during which environmental variables, such as temperatures or precipitation, have a particularly large influence on later yields. How high the yield losses are in unfavorable environmental conditions also depends on the genetic make-up of individual cultivars. These findings can, therefore, provide important insights for the future breeding of stress-resistant wheat cultivars. The researchers published their results in Nature Plants. Climate change is altering cultivation conditions and is already leading to crop failures Winter wheat is one of the most important crops worldwide and is therefore crucial for food security. There are many factors that determine how large the harvest is at the end, such as the temperature and rainfall levels, the quality of the soil, the type of cultivation, or the cultivar used. Climate change is changing cultivation conditions and is already leading to major crop failures. Farmers have to adapt to this and need new solutions. "It is already known that winter wheat is very sensitive to high temperatures during the flowering season, from around the end of May to the beginning of June," explains Tsu-Wei Chen. If temperatures increase to over 30 degrees Celsius during this period, the fertilization rate drops rapidly as the pollen gets damaged. The plant then forms only a few kernels, and the yield remains low. During the life cycle of the wheat plant, there are very many of these special time windows in which it reacts sensitively to various environmental influences. It is difficult to investigate the interaction of environment, genotype and developmental phase during these time windows. New method makes complex relationships visible "There are hundreds of wheat cultivars in Germany alone, and all of them have different characteristics," explains Tsu-Wei Chen. "It is almost impossible to characterize all cultivars in detail in field experiments, so as to determine all the strengths and weaknesses and the interactions with the environment." In order to understand these relationships better nevertheless, the researchers developed a statistical method and applied it to data from field experiments involving 220 different winter wheat cultivars grown at six test sites across Germany for three consecutive seasons. For each site, each cultivar and each year of the experiment, soil data were determined, along with the determinative yield components, i.e., kernels per spike, spike number, and thousand-kernel weight. The research team combined this data with growth models and selected weather data from the region in question for a total of 81 different time windows per season. Through this new statistical method, the researchers not only identified all already known sensitive developmental phases, but also ascertained new key moments in the plant life cycle. They were also able to determine which environmental influences are decisive at these times and how strongly the individual cultivars react to them. For example, they discovered that night time temperature before flowering governs the kernel size, that precipitation still increases the number of ears even after flowering, and that during the late grain filling stage at the end of July, the intensity of the solar radiation influences the weight of the mature kernels. Breeding stress-resistant cultivars "We have not only discovered new sensitive time windows, but also instances of stress resistance in certain cultivars," says Tsu-Wei Chen. These findings are particularly important for future breeding, in order to be able to identify cultivars and genetic resources that are less sensitive to environmental fluctuations and can, thus, reliably deliver stable yields. Furthermore, the novel methods allow cereal crop yields to be predicted under future climate conditions. "Our results open up new avenues for future research and raise several unanswered questions. For example, we need to explore which physiological processes and mechanisms regulate sensitivity and which genetic regions and genes are associated with it," explains the researcher. More information: Khadija Sabir et al, Stage-specific genotype-by-environment interactions determine yield components in wheat, Nature Plants (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41477-023-01516-8 Journal information: Nature Plants Provided by Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin A judge in the state of Maryland was shot and murdered in the driveway of his house on Thursday night, October 19, according to reports released by officials. Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert said that police were hunting for a suspect in the shooting who had committed the crime only hours after losing custody of his children in a divorce hearing presided over by the judge. Targeted Attack Associate Judge Andrew Wilkinson, 52, of Hagerstown's Washington County Circuit Court, was the victim. According to CBS News, he was brought to Meritus Medical Center, where he later died. On social media, former state delegate Neil Parrott claimed that Wilkinson had been shot "multiple times." A homicide investigation is reportedly ongoing. After a thorough investigation, Albert narrowed the suspect pool down to 49-year-old Pedro Argote. Albert said in a media release on Friday, October 20, that Argote was believed to be armed and dangerous. The sheriff's office made an appeal on social media, asking for anybody with knowledge of Argote's whereabouts to not approach him but to instead contact law police. On Thursday, Wilkinson presided over a hearing on Argote's divorce, which Argote reportedly did not attend. At the hearing, Argote's custody of his children was revoked, and Albert claimed that this was the impetus for his attack on Wilkinson. The Maryland State Police said Friday that, as a precaution, troopers had been sent to Washington County to safeguard the area's judges. Later on, Albert said that officials do not have any information suggesting that judges in the county are in danger. The city of Hagerstown may be found approximately 75 miles to the northwest of Baltimore, close to the West Virginia and Pennsylvania borders. No other information was made available, and the inquiry is still active. According to CBS, the sheriff's office is in charge of the investigation and will have a news conference this Friday. See Also: Minneapolis Officer Accused of Sexual Pursuit While on Duty, Leaving Emergency Situation 'To Serve the Community' Wilkinson has served as a judge in Maryland's 4th Judicial Circuit since January 2020, according to the state's official website. At his swearing-in ceremony, Wilkinson reportedly claimed he became a judge so he could help people in his community. "It's an honor, and it's humbling, and I'm happy to serve," he stated. He was born in Agana, Guam, in 1971 and earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of North Carolina and Emory University, respectively. From 2006 to 2012, he served as an Assistant Washington County Attorney, and from 2006 to 2019, he served on the Character Committee of the State Board of Law Examiners. Wilkinson's murder is only the most recent in a string of violent incidents targeting judges and their loved ones. According to the US Marshals Service fact sheet, featured by CNN, almost 1,300 investigations were conducted into threats or probable threats against federal court officials in fiscal year 2022. See Also: Florida Man Displays No Remorse for Murdering Wife After Declining to Guest on a Home Renovation TV Show @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The RAMFIRE nozzle performs a hot fire test at Marshall's East test area stand 115. The nozzle, made of the novel aluminum alloy 6061-RAM2, experiences huge temperature gradients. As hot gasses approach 6,000 Fahrenheit and undergo combustion, icicles are forming on the outside of the engine nozzle. Credit: NASA NASA recently built and tested an additively-manufacturedor 3D printedrocket engine nozzle made of aluminum, making it lighter than conventional nozzles and setting the course for deep space flights that can carry more payloads. Under the agency's Announcement of Collaborative Opportunity, engineers from NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, partnered with Elementum 3D, in Erie, Colorado, to create a weldable type of aluminum that is heat resistant enough for use on rocket engines. Compared to other metals, aluminum is lower density and allows for high-strength, lightweight components. However, due to its low tolerance to extreme heat and its tendency to crack during welding, aluminum is not typically used for additive manufacturing of rocket engine partsuntil now. Meet NASA's latest development under the Reactive Additive Manufacturing for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, or RAMFIRE, project. RAMFIRE focuses on advancing lightweight, additively-manufactured aluminum rocket nozzles. The nozzles are designed with small internal channels that keep the nozzle cool enough to prevent melting. With conventional manufacturing methods, a nozzle may require as many as thousand individually joined parts. The RAMFIRE nozzle is built as a single piece, requiring far fewer bonds and significantly reduced manufacturing time. Credit: NASA NASA and Elementum 3D first developed the novel aluminum variant known as A6061-RAM2 to build the nozzle and modify the powder used with laser powder directed energy deposition (LP-DED) technology. Another commercial partner, RPM Innovations (RPMI) in Rapid City, South Dakota, used the newly invented aluminum and specialized powder to build the RAMFIRE nozzles using their LP-DED process. "Industry partnerships with specialty manufacturing vendors aid in advancing the supply base and help make additive manufacturing more accessible for NASA missions and the broader commercial and aerospace industry," Paul Gradl, RAMFIRE principal investigator at NASA Marshall, said. NASA's moon to Mars objectives require the capability to send more cargo to deep space destinations. The novel alloy could play an instrumental role in this by enabling the manufacturing of lightweight rocket components capable of withstanding high structural loads. "Mass is critical for NASA's future deep space missions," said John Vickers, principal technologist for STMD advanced manufacturing. "Projects like this mature additive manufacturing along with advanced materials, and will help evolve new propulsion systems, in-space manufacturing, and infrastructure needed for NASA's ambitious missions to the moon, Mars, and beyond." Seen here at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and developed with the same 6061-RAM2 aluminum material used under the RAMFIRE project, is a vacuum jacket manufacturing demonstrator tank. The component, made for cryogenic fluid application, is designed with a series of integral cooling channels that have a wall thickness of about 0.06 inches. Credit: NASA Earlier this summer at Marshall's East Test Area, two RAMFIRE nozzles completed multiple hot-fire tests using liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen, as well as liquid oxygen and liquid methane fuel configurations. With pressure chambers in excess of 825 pounds per square inch (psi)more than anticipated testing pressuresthe nozzles successfully accumulated 22 starts and 579 seconds, or nearly 10 minutes, of run time. This event demonstrates the nozzles can operate in the most demanding deep-space environments. "This test series marks a significant milestone for the nozzle," Gradl said. "After putting the nozzle through the paces of a demanding hot-fire test series, we've demonstrated the nozzle can survive the thermal, structural, and pressure loads for a lunar lander scale engine." In addition to successfully building and testing the rocket engine nozzles, the RAMFIRE project has used the RAMFIRE aluminum material and additive manufacturing process to construct other advanced large components for demonstration purposes. These include a 36-inch diameter aerospike nozzle with complex integral coolant channels and a vacuum-jacketed tank for cryogenic fluid applications. NASA and industry partners are working to share the data and process with commercial stakeholders and academia. Various aerospace companies are evaluating the novel alloy and the LP-DED additive manufacturing process and looking for ways it can be used to make components for satellites and other applications. Provided by NASA This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A member of the team of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) observes the inshore fish as the sample at Hisanohama Port in Iwaki, northeastern Japan Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. They are visiting Fukushima for its first marine sampling mission since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant started releasing the treated radioactive wastewater into the sea. Credit: AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool Scientists from the U.N. nuclear agency watched Friday as Japanese lab workers prepared samples of fish collected at a seafood market near the Fukushima nuclear plant to test the safety of treated radioactive wastewater released from the damaged plant into the sea. The discharge of wastewater began on Aug. 24 and is expected to continue for decades. It has been strongly opposed by fishing groups and neighboring countries, including China and Russia, which have banned all imports of Japanese seafood. Japan's government and the plant operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, say the discharge is unavoidable because wastewater storage tanks at the plant will be full next year. They say the water produced by the damaged plant is treated to reduce radioactivity to safe levels, and then diluted with massive amounts of seawater to make it much safer than international standards. On Friday, a team from the International Atomic Energy Agency watched as fish samples were prepared at the Marine Ecology Research Institute in the coastal town of Onjuku near Tokyo. The team is in Japan to inspect the collection and processing of seawater, sediment and fish samples from the area of the plant, which was damaged by a massive earthquake and tsunami in March 2011 that knocked out its cooling systems and caused three reactors to melt. A staff member gives a briefing to a team of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with scientists from China, South Korea and Canada at Marine Ecology Research Institute Friday, Oct. 20, 2023 in Onjuku, Chiba Prefecture near Tokyo. Credit: AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool Samples prepared by the research institute will be sent for testing to the IAEA and 10 other research facilities in Japan, South Korea, China and Canada to ensure transparency and the safety of the water discharge. It is important for the laboratories to compare the results using the same standards so "they can rely on and trust each other's data," said Iolanda Osvath, head of the IAEA's Radiometrics Laboratory. The IAEA has already reviewed TEPCO's wastewater release plan and concluded in July that if it is carried out as planned, it will have a negligible impact on the environment, marine life and human health. The IAEA has selected six species of fisholive flounder, crimson sea bream, redwing searobin, Japanese jack mackerel, silver croaker and vermiculated puffer fishfor testing because they are known to have higher levels of radioactivity than other species due to the areas they tend to move around in, Paul McGinnity, an IAEA marine radiology scientist, said Thursday. Local staff prepare crimson sea bream, one of the sample fish from Fukushima, for analysis of radioactivity as a team of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with scientists from China, South Korea and Canada observing at Marine Ecology Research Institute Friday, Oct. 20, 2023 in Onjuku, Chiba Prefecture near Tokyo, Japan. Credit: AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool A local staff prepare crimson sea bream, one of the sample fish from Fukushima, for analysis of radioactivity as a team of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with scientists from China, South Korea and Canada observing at Marine Ecology Research Institute Friday, Oct. 20, 2023 in Onjuku, Chiba Prefecture near Tokyo, Japan. Credit: AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool Minced samples of redwing searobin, one of the sample fish from Fukushima, to ship to several laboratories including China, South Korea and Canada for analysis of tritium, are placed at Marine Ecology Research Institute on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023 in Onjuku, Chiba Prefecture near Tokyo, Japan. Credit: AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool A team of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with scientists from China, South Korea and Canada speak with local staff after their inspection of Fukushima fish sample preparation at Marine Ecology Research Institute Friday, Oct. 20, 2023 in Onjuku, Chiba Prefecture near Tokyo, Japan. Credit: AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool During Friday's lab visit, technicians prepared samples for the measurement of tritium, which cannot be removed from the wastewater by the treatment equipment at the Fukushima plant. The government and TEPCO say it is safe for humans if consumed in small amounts. Other lab workers packed processed fish samples for measuring Cesium, which experts say is important to monitor because it tends to stay in fish muscles. The Oct. 16-23 sampling work will be followed by a separate IAEA task force that will review the safety of the water discharge. 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Parents face eye-watering costs for childcare in the UK. A part-time nursery place for a child under two sets parents in Britain back, on average, 7,134 a year. The government has put plans in place for increased childcare funding for the children of working parents: 30 free childcare hours for children aged over nine months, to be rolled out by 2025. But there will still be a price for parents. Nurseries may charge for costs in addition to the government's funded hours. And 30 hours does not nearly cover the time a parent working full-time will need care for their child. Education or care? Education is seen as the responsibility of the state. Free education is a universal benefit for all children of a certain age. Parents are unlikely to provide this kind of education by themselves. On the other hand, care is the duty of parents. If they cannot temporarily provide it due to work or study, they are responsible for finding and funding childcare. But there is a huge overlap between care and educationone does not stop and the other begin when a child enters their reception year at school. On a practical level, the division between care and education is weak. For example, helping a toddler to get dressedtaking care of theminvolves talking to them about their right and left, pointing out and naming parts of the body, and identifying colors and items of clothing. This has educational benefit. And educating children works better with care. The could mean wiping a child's nose before sitting down close beside them to help them read a story. What's more, we know the education children receive before they start school is important. They come to school already knowing some math, for instance, and some will know more than others. Research shows that the ones who know less are likely to be behind their peers for the whole of their school life. Under the government's plan for increased funding for childcare, the fragmented range of options will also remain. Choosing between childminders, day centers and school nurseries, as well as their differing costs, makes securing childcare a stressful experience. This is the result of governmental attitudes to childcare. For a long time, a mother's decision to seek employment was seen as personal preferenceand the consequences of it not a task for the state. That was until New Labor emphasized the role of working parents and early childhood education and care to promote economic and social mobility. The necessary expansion of childcare services was left to the private, voluntary and independent sectors. A complex system Now, 70% of group-care places are in private nurseries. As expected, the private for-profit market aims to make profit, which may be used to service interest on loans (for example, for expansion) and to pay shareholders. These complex financial structures may be a risk to the sustainability of the childcare sector. There are at least eight government programs offered in England to support childcare and entice mothers into paid work. Some involve payment to childcare providers. Others allow parents to reclaim a proportion of costs. Unfortunately, families may not know about all of the options available to them, and so some benefits go unclaimed. There are solutions. One is making childcare free at the point of usebecause looking after children is good for society in both the short and long run. But this argument is almost never heard, as if it is unthinkable or deemed impossible. Another option is the development of a publicthough still with costs to parentschild education and care system in England. This would provide all young children with accessible, affordable, enjoyable and high-quality education and care provision within their communities from birth until compulsory school age, overseen by the state. This provision would promote children's development and well-being, while simultaneously meeting their parents' childcare needs. It would allow for an adequate worklife balance within families by recognizing the valuable role of child rearing within society. Government regulation of childcare places and costs would save parents from complex reclaiming procedures, and would not rely on knowledge about support programs. The costs could be means-tested, allowing families with low incomes to access free childcare. This approach could also stabilize childcare providers' financial planning. A further step would be to move away from individual sessions booked by parents to a system of stable childcare places for individual children. It would follow the principle of school attendancea place for every childwithout the punishment for non-attendance. The benefit is more stability and more predictability for all involved. Reducing the cost of childcare paid by parents only works by moving away from viewing children as the private luxury of families, and instead understanding the value of the education they receive before they start school. We should see the care and education of young children as an intertwined common good, benefiting all. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Recent collaboration between Bangor University and the UK Center for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) has shown that most people want more nature like trees and wildflowers in their towns and cities. The team worked in partnership with Denbighshire County Council to assess the community's perceptions of environmental changes happening in the coastal town of Rhyl in North Wales, and also conducted a survey of 1,866 people across the UK to gather their views about tree planting and establishing wildflower meadows. The results showed that 73% of people wanted more trees, and 75% wanted more wildflower meadows. Prof. Thora Tenbrink says, "We did not expect such a clear positive result. People are normally resistant to changes to their neighborhood, and it is heartening to see that there is so much support for greenspace in cities and towns. Our results will help both councils and residents with better future design of local green spaces." Climate and ecological change strategy As part of its Climate and Ecological Change Strategy, Denbighshire County Council is delivering urban green infrastructure interventions including tree planting and establishing wildflower meadows. This Rhyl case study enabled the research teams to quantify and compare the benefits of two planned and four existing intervention schemes and calculate the values based on data for noise, carbon and air pollution. Prof. Laurence Jones of UKCEH commented, "Our models show the considerable benefits that trees and wildflowers provide. They reduce heat and noise, and give us cleaner air and more biodiversity. These scientific findings back up people's intuition that more greenspace is better for all of us." Interviews with 28 residents of Rhyl revealed that: 96% of participants stated that trees and wildflower meadows mattered to them 82% of participants stated that it was important to spend time among trees 68% of participants stated that it was important to spend time among wildflower meadows Biodiversity benefits were important to 96% of respondents Health and well-being benefits were important to 100% of respondents Carbon storage benefits were important to 57% of respondents. Reflecting on the project, Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport at Denbighshire County Council said, "We were pleased to be involved in this work. Results from both the national survey and the Rhyl data revealed the majority of people stated wildflower meadow creation and tree planting was important to them." "The Council has been hugely encouraged by this study and the evidence around the benefits of these greenspaces for the community, as well as nature, as we look to review and progress our plans to tackle the climate and nature emergency across the county. We are currently reviewing the results with Bangor University and UKCEH and will be taking the information collated into consideration in planning future greenspace interventions." This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain If you're older than your boss, you're not alone. Supervisors are traditionally associated with higher status markers such as age, education and tenure than their subordinates. But it's increasingly common to see those dynamics reversed. This is called status incongruence, and it's the focus of a new study from the University of Washington that was recently published in the Journal of Applied Psychology. Co-author Jessica Huisi Li, assistant professor of management and organization in the UW Foster School of Business, spoke with UW News about how status incongruence impacts employee perceptions of the promotion system. What is the meaning of the term status incongruence, and what trends have been happening in this area recently? Jessica Huisi Li: We have some traditional status markers, such as age, education and tenure in an organization, which are traditionally associated with bosses. Status incongruence means that subordinates have higher status markers relative to their bossesmeaning the subordinates are older, more educated or have a longer tenure. Status incongruence happens because organizations are relying less on seniority-based promotion systems. They want to promote people who are capable. They want to encourage meritocracy, where status is based on ability, so we're seeing more and more bosses who are younger than their employees. People are also retiring later due to financial difficulties so we're seeing more older employees in the workplace compared to previous decades. This phenomenon of status incongruence is increasingly prevalent. In 2020, 40% of workers in the United States had a boss younger than them. This number has gone up from 38% in 2014 and 34% in 2012. Managers are also 45 years old on average, which is younger than 50% of their direct reports. What did you learn about employee response to status incongruence? JL: In this paper, we look at one possible consequence of the situation: employees perceiving the promotion system as unfair. That's very important because it influences people's work attitudes and behaviors. If they perceive the system as unfair, they will not work with the same energy and excitement. They're also more likely to quit. Whether people see status incongruence as unfair really depends on the supervisor's competence. We find that when the supervisor is highly capable and perceived as such, then status incongruence doesn't matter that much. When a supervisor isn't highly capable, you would think people would see the promotion system as unfair. What we found instead is that people will use the supervisor's status markerssuch as age, education and tenureto persuade themselves and justify the system as fair. In this way, status incongruence has a stronger effect on employees when a supervisor is less competent. It's not a rational process. It's not that people truly believe these status markers make leaders deserving of a supervisory position. It's a process we call system justification. This theory is that when people are in a flawed system, they feel a psychological discomfort about acknowledging it as flawed. People will try to find any reason to justify the situation as fair. When employees don't have other employment alternatives, then their motivation to justify the current situation is even stronger. When you give people power or give people alternatives, they suddenly become very clear-minded. They can see that their leader is not capable and that having a certain age, education or tenure doesn't make this person a leader. What are the major ways this influences the workplace? JL: Organizations sometimes create and manage teams that are incongruent in status. Those organizations must proactively convey to employees that their leaderalthough they lack traditional status markersis capable of the task. This will help employees see the promotion system as fair, which creates stronger motivation and makes employees less likely to quit their jobs. If leaders lack those traditional status markers in relation to their direct reports, they must show their employees that they were promoted based on merit. If managers can do this, status incongruence shouldn't be a problem. If the manager is incapable of doing the work, maybe having those traditional markers will help a bitbut we don't want to encourage companies to hire and promote incapable leaders. We also see this as a kind of warning to employees whose lack of alternatives make them very reliant on the system. This is especially relevant nowadays when the economy is weakening workers' power. In this case, employees are more likely to justify a flawed system. That is to their own disadvantage. It's better for their career long-term if they try to channel the energy into increasing their competence and marketability so that they can find jobs elsewhere. More information: Huisi (Jessica) Li et al, My boss is younger, less educated, and shorter tenured: When and why status (in)congruence influences promotion system justification., Journal of Applied Psychology (2023). DOI: 10.1037/apl0001086 Journal information: Journal of Applied Psychology 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: Aerial photo of ponds amongst the dynamic dune landscape. Credit: Dalhousie University Almost 200 kilometers off the coast of Nova Scotia sits a slender, crescent-shaped spit of land known for mythic wild horses that roam its dunes, seals that dot its low-slung shores and hundreds of shipwrecks still populating its watery depths. For centuries, Sable Island has also been home to rare seabirds, plants and insects, despite its vulnerable location in the path of powerful nor'easters and hurricanes that routinely track up the Atlantic coast of North America. New research, however, suggests that a vital part of the ecosystem that sustains the fabled island's forms of life is being compromised. The Dalhousie University-led team assessed the quantity and quality of the island's fresh groundwater, which flows into freshwater ponds and supports the wild horses, plants and birds. Members collected groundwater monitoring data from 2019 to 2022 to compare the water's salinity and distribution to measurements taken in the 1970s. They found fresh groundwater loss tied to decades of dune erosion, seasonal waves, storms and hurricanes. During storms, seawater floods the beaches, leaches into the ground and salinizes fresh beach groundwater. When storms repeatedly batter the island, floodwaters can erode dunes and cause groundwater salinization to incrementally shift landward and lead to long-term freshwater loss. "Worldwide there are few uninhabited islands with historical monitoring data, like what is available for Sable Island, so the opportunity to assess how long-term changes in fresh groundwater are coupled with the shape and extent of island dunes is very unique," says Julia Cantelon, a Ph.D. candidate in Dalhousie's Coastal Hydrology Lab who led the study, published in Water Resources Research. "Sable Island is famously known for its shifting sand dunes, and our results show that over time, large events that drive rapid changes, like flooding and erosion, can re-shape the island topography and impact the fresh groundwater resources." Cantelon's research suggests that while saltwater can be flushed out by rainfall because groundwater flows slowly, there is often not enough time for the freshwater to recover before it is flooded again by another storm. Erosion the culprit Co-author Barret Kurylyk, the Canada Research Chair in Coastal Hydrology at Dalhousie, explains that small islands are underlain by a zone of fresh groundwater that is known as a "freshwater lens," given its shape. On Sable Island, groundwater in the freshwater lens flows into freshwater ponds that sustain the unique, rich ecosystem. The concern is that the steady erosion of dunes on the island has reduced the volume of that vital freshwater lens. Dr. Kurylyk says the results have implications for freshwater security on more populous small islands around the world that rely on groundwater for freshwater supply that is increasingly threatened by salinization. "While the shallow groundwater and ponds may not be severely impacted, the results are concerning for populated barrier islands that are host to people reliant on groundwater for their drinking water supply." Coastal seawater flooding devastates thousands of kilometers of shoreline annually, and coastal fresh groundwater resources are extremely vulnerable to contamination from these flood events, the study states. Because of that, the authors say there is an urgent need for more long-term and large-scale coastal groundwater monitoring and mapping programs to understand saltwater incursion processes and inform appropriate management action. The Dal researchers' work adds to that knowledge base as previous studies have focused on the impacts of humans, sea-level rise or coastal flooding on the freshwater lens, whereas this study demonstrates that erosion is an often-overlooked driver of freshwater loss. "Hydrological research has been ongoing on Sable Island since the 1970s. However, this dynamic island continues to evolve and the work by Dalhousie researchers has really advanced Parks Canada's understanding of the freshwater dynamics of the island," says Dan Kehler, the island's ecologist with Parks Canada. "This work continues to highlight the pivotal role that hydrology plays for this offshore sand island, and how coastal processes like storms and waves have surprising effects on the island as a whole." Parks Canada has been stewarding Sable Island since the National Park Reserve was created in 2013, working with partners and the Mi'kmaq of Nova Scotia, to ensure the protection and preservation of this special island. More information: Julia A. Cantelon et al, Morphologic, Atmospheric, and Oceanic Drivers Cause MultiTemporal Saltwater Intrusion on a Remote, Sand Island, Water Resources Research (2023). DOI: 10.1029/2023WR035820 Journal information: Water Resources Research This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Tima Miroshnichenko from Pexels In a part of Sweden northeast of Stockholm, Nina Berglund likes trying out new ways to teach her science students aged 10 to 12. Berglund recently invited a physics professor named Staffan Yngve to her class in the municipality of Norrtalje. Yngve brought with him a nail mat on which he proceeded to lie down to demonstrate the forces at work, delighting the students. "Even four months after, my pupils still remember it and speak about the visit using scientific terminology," said Berglund. She is a proponent of "open schooling," an idea that science teaching must go beyond the staples of school labs such as test tubes, Bunsen burners and the periodic table to get students interested. Amid concerns that Europe is attracting too few peopleespecially womeninto scientific fields, the aim is to bring science to life for pupils. While it has no formal defining characteristics, open schooling tends to feature activities such as on-site visits, off-site trips and remote learning that are generally exceptions in standard schools. "The big idea is to overcome the barriers we see with science education," said Maya Halevy, director of the Bloomfield Science Museum in Jerusalem, Israel. Halevy led a research project to advance the whole concept. Called Make it Open, or MiO, the project ended in September 2023 after three years. It helped to establish open schooling "hubs" in 10 European countries ranging from Sweden to Greece, bringing together more than 150 schools. MiO's online "navigator" gives teachers access to new resources and lessons. For example, at a Spanish educational institution called IES de Ortigueira in the northwestern part of the country, 12-year-olds learned about physics by designing and building model playgrounds. The models were then displayed in the library, where the students explained their work to visitors. The pupils also conducted a study on air pollution in Spain using core math skills. The exercise featured press articles about contamination and a debate about the impact on human health. "I was able to observe how the students learnt without realizing," said science teacher Patricia Hermida Galan. "They had fun while working and learning." MiO bolstered school recruitment and communications by teaming up with a network of European education ministers known as the European Schoolnet and with a Europe-wide alliance called Ecsite that brings together more than 300 organizations including museums to promote science engagement in society. Greta Alliaj, who coordinated work on behalf of Ecsite, said the COVID-19 pandemic that struck in 2020 and turned in-person lessons into online sessions for millions of young people gave momentum to the idea of open schooling, "We saw how many schools and teachers wanted new ideas and space to innovate and experiment with lessons," said Alliaj. "This open approach to learning is increasing scientific literacy among pupils and encouraging pupils to opt for scientific careers." While the components of a new school system are being put in place by projects such as MiO, broader momentum will require national, regional and local educational authorities to throw their weight behind the whole idea. According to Halevy, what's still missing is a 'glue' to connect all the various playersschools, communities, museums, extracurricular centers and even workplaceswith one another. She said that'll require a coordinated international effort over years. Real-world lessons Pavlos Koulouris is another on-the-ground force for educational change in Europe. Based in Athens, Greece, he is a faculty member at a school called Ellinogermaniki Agogi, which means "Hellenic-German Education" and takes its name from an emphasis in the curriculum on learning German as a foreign language. Koulouris coordinated an MiO sister project called Schools as Living Labs , or SALL, which ended in August 2023 after three years. SALL worked with more than 400 schools in 10 countries: Cyprus, Croatia, Estonia, Greece, Israel, the Netherlands, France, Portugal, Serbia and Spain. The aim was to give open schooling stronger roots by putting teachers and pupils in touch with their wider communities. "Living labs" acted as meeting points. "It's all about opening up the school to society," Koulouris said. "With open schooling, science is made relevant across our lives." At the primary school of Makrygialos near Greece's second-biggest city, Thessaloniki, teacher Thanos Batsilas and his students were part of a living lab that taught environmental science through an activity involving mussel farming. They accompanied farmers on a boat out to sea to observe how the environment is inextricably linked to the well-being of area residents and how climate change is advancing. The underlying point was that mussel farming is a viable way to make a living and can help support the local ecosystem. "Children loved the living-lab activities because they love anything that is out of the box," Batsilas said. "They embrace it." Koulouris said open schooling has the potential to turn traditional notions of academic achievement on their head. He said evidence from the schools that SALL worked with suggest that open schooling is improving students' self-esteem, involvement in science and civic engagement. Koulouris hopes SALL will act as a springboard for more broad-based educational changes in Europe, saying they're needed because of a range of global threats that scientific knowledge can help address. "The world is facing huge, complex challenges," he said. "These require everyone's involvement, everyone's awareness, everyone's efforts. We hope open schooling can make science relevant in this way." Sabin Vaccine Institute Begins Phase 2 Clinical Trial for Marburg Vaccine in Uganda Details Category: Vaccines Published on Friday, 20 October 2023 10:05 Hits: 1207 WASHINGTON, DC, USA I October 19, 2023 I The Sabin Vaccine Institute has launched a Phase 2 clinical trial for its vaccine candidate against the lethal Marburg virus. Healthy volunteers received the single-dose vaccine at Makerere University Walter Reed Project (MUWRP) in Kampala, Uganda today. There are currently no vaccines or antiviral treatments approved to treat Marburg virus disease. Marburg is a filovirus, in the same family as the virus that causes Ebola. Like Ebola, Marburg virus disease spreads between people via direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of infected people, is highly virulent, and causes hemorrhagic fever. The disease has a fatality rate of up to 88%. Based on the ChAd3 platform, Sabins single-dose investigational Marburg vaccine was found to be promising in Phase 1 clinical and non-clinical studies, with results showing it to be safe, while eliciting rapid and robust immune responses. Dr. Betty Mwesigwa, deputy executive director of MUWRP, is the principal investigator for the Kampala portion of the Sabin-sponsored trial. Participants will also be enrolled a few weeks later at a second site at the Kenya Medical Research Institute in Siaya, Kenya, with Dr. Videlis Nduba as principal investigator. In all, 125 volunteers will participate in the trial. We have an extraordinary opportunity here to improve our preparedness to save lives and protect people from a deadly and unforgiving disease that typically strikes under-resourced countries first and most, says Amy Finan, Sabins Chief Executive Officer. Sabins Phase 2 clinical trial builds on a solid safety and immunogenicity foundation and we are hoping it will generate the information needed to move the vaccine toward licensure. The number of Marburg outbreaks in Africa has climbed steadily in recent years. Two outbreaks of Marburg virus disease have occurred already this year: Equatorial Guinea reported its first ever documented Marburg outbreak, which killed 12 people, followed by Tanzania, where six people succumbed to the virus. Communities in Uganda and Kenya are familiar with Marburg virus disease, having been ravaged by outbreaks over multiple years in the last few decades. Makerere University Walter Reed Project (MUWRP) is delighted to partner with the Sabin Vaccine Institute to launch the clinical testing for a preventive Marburg vaccine, says Dr. Mwesigwa. Most Marburg virus disease outbreaks have originated in Africa. Uganda alone has registered 4 outbreaks of the disease. We urgently need a vaccine against Marburg because of its potential to cause epidemics with significant death rates. It is imperative for us to test candidate vaccines in Uganda, a country prone to these outbreaks. This work will contribute new knowledge to inform the scientific discovery for an effective vaccine against the deadly Marburg virus. The Phase 2 clinical trial for Sabins Marburg vaccine will continue to evaluate safety and immunogenicity for the vaccine, this time among a larger group of individuals. This is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study, meaning that neither the participants nor the researchers will know whether trial participants receive a vaccine dose or a placebo dose until after the trial is over, an approach used to help reduce experimental bias. Participants in the clinical trial will be monitored for a full year and will include both younger (18-50 years) and older age groups (51-70 years). Interim results are expected next year. In addition to the current trial in Uganda and Kenya, Sabin plans to conduct a similar Phase 2 clinical trial for Marburg in the U.S. The Marburg vaccine trials are supported by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under multi-year contracts between the organizations, including most recently a $36.4 million award for vaccine development and production. Similarly, BARDA has invested in Sabin for advancing ChAd3 Sudan ebolavirus vaccine candidate, including awarding $28 million this August for Phase 2 clinical trials in the U.S. To date, Sabin has received around $215 million in contract awards from BARDA for furthering vaccine research and development against Sudan ebolavirus and Marburg virus diseases. BARDA and Sabin began working together in September 2019 to develop the two monovalent vaccine candidates. Sabins Sudan ebolavirus vaccine candidate was the first to arrive in Uganda last year during the disease outbreak that left 55 people dead. Sabin has also initiated plans for a Phase 2 Sudan ebolavirus vaccine clinical trial in Uganda and Kenya. This project has been supported in whole or in part with federal funds from the Department of Health and Human Services; Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response; Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), under contract numbers 75A50119C00055 and 75A50123C00010. About the Sabin Vaccine Institute The Sabin Vaccine Institute is a leading advocate for expanding vaccine access and uptake globally, advancing vaccine research and development, and amplifying vaccine knowledge and innovation. Unlocking the potential of vaccines through partnership, Sabin has built a robust ecosystem of funders, innovators, implementers, practitioners, policy makers and public stakeholders to advance its vision of a future free from preventable diseases. As a non-profit with three decades of experience, Sabin is committed to finding solutions that last and extending the full benefits of vaccines to all people, regardless of who they are or where they live. At Sabin, we believe in the power of vaccines to change the world. For more information, visit www.sabin.org and follow us on X, @SabinVaccine.About Sabins Vaccine R&D Using the ChAd3 Platform. About Sabins Vaccine R&D Using the ChAd3 Platform In August 2019, Sabin announced exclusive agreements with GSK for Sabin to advance the development of the prophylactic candidate vaccines against the deadly Ebola Zaire, Ebola Sudan and Marburg virus. The three candidate vaccines were initially developed collaboratively by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and Okairos, which was acquired by GSK in 2013. The candidate vaccines, based on GSKs proprietary ChAd3 platform, were further developed by GSK, including the Phase II development for the Ebola Zaire vaccine. Under the agreements between GSK and Sabin, Sabin exclusively licensed the technology for all three candidate vaccines and acquired certain patent rights specific to these vaccines. About the Makerere University Walter Reed Project MUWRP is a non-profit biomedical research organization with a mission to mitigate disease threats through quality research, health care and disease surveillance. The projects scope includes among others; clinical research in infectious and non-infectious diseases such as HIV, Ebola, Marburg, COVID-19, Influenza and Influenza-like illnesses, and neglected tropical diseases such as Schistosomiasis, among others. A major part of the clinical research are clinical trials, where the MUWRP has conducted more than 12 phase I and II vaccine clinical trials including the first Ebola vaccine trial in Africa. SOURCE: Sabin Vaccine Institute From a State Police press release: New York State Police arrested Vincent A. Varley II, 40, of Horicon, NY, for a number of drug-related crimes including: Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the third degree; Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the fourth degree; Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the seventh degree; and on other charges. On October 14, 2023, at approximately 6:59 p.m., Troopers were called to the I-87 rest area in Queensbury, NY, for the report of a suspicious person attempting to access another persons vehicle. Troopers located the described individual and identified them as Varley. Varley was uncooperative with the investigation and appeared intoxicated. The investigation determined he had driven his vehicle to the location, and Varley was taken into custody for Driving While Intoxicated, at which time he resisted arrest. Further investigation discovered drug paraphernalia and controlled substances, including felony-weight narcotics, in Varleys vehicle. Varley was transported to State Police Queensbury for processing, where he refused to provide a sample to determine the alcohol content of his blood. He was arraigned at the Warren County Centralized Arraignment Part Court and remanded to the Warren County Correctional Facility without bail, the press release says. ATLANTIC CITY Police arrested three city men Wednesday after searching their homes and finding drugs and guns. Detectives and SWAT Team members searched two homes in the 2400 block of Auburn Terrace and the first block of north Laclede Avenue, which led to the search of a third residence in the 2400 block of Arctic Avenue, police said Friday in a news release. During the searches, detectives found four handguns, parts of a ghost gun (a gun without a serial number, usually assembled from a kit), 10 grams of cocaine, 108 grams of marijuana, oxycodone, ammunition, cash and paraphernalia used to package drugs for distribution, police said. One of the firearms was found to be stolen from Richmond, Virginia. William Cisneros, 20, was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of hollow-point ammunition, possession of a weapon while committing a drug offense, possession with intent to distribute, money laundering and possession of drug paraphernalia. Juan Mendoza, 19, was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon (three counts), possession of ghost gun parts, possession of a large-capacity magazine, possession of hollow-point ammunition, possession of a weapon while committing a drug offense, possession with intent to distribute, possession with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school zone, money laundering, receiving stolen property and possession of drug paraphernalia. Alex Rojas-Pelaez, 25, was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance (two counts), possession with intent to distribute (two counts), possession with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school zone (two counts) and possession of drug paraphernalia. All three men were sent to the Atlantic County jail. Detective Christopher Dodson led the investigation. The Church of St. Porphyrius in Gaza City has been hit by an Israeli airstrike, in which Hamas-run Palestinian health officials said 16 people were killed. According to the Israeli Defense Force (IDF), part of the church was damaged in a strike on a militant command center close to it and was reviewing the incident. "The IDF can unequivocally state that the Church was not the target of the strike," it said. At least 500 Muslims and Christians had taken shelter in the church to avoid Israeli bombardments, Palestinian health ministry officials added. Read Also: UN SecGen Appeals for Swift Aid Delivery to Gaza Palestinian Christians Condemn Airstrike on Gaza Church The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which has jurisdiction over the church, has not yet commented on the death toll but has strongly condemned the airstrike. "The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem expresses its strongest condemnation of the Israeli air strike that has struck its church compound in the city of Gaza," the church said in a statement. "Targeting churches and their institutions, along with the shelters they provide to protect innocent citizens, especially children, and women who have lost their homes due to Israeli airstrikes on residential areas over the past 13 days, constitutes a war crime that cannot be ignored." According to Reuters, video from the scene at the church compound showed a wounded boy being carried from the rubble in the dark of the night. A civil defense worker also said two people on the upper floors had survived, while those on lower floors had been killed and were still in the rubble. Gaza has a very small population of Palestinian Orthodox Christians, with an estimated population of 1,000. The Mahmoud Abbas-appointed Palestinian Churches Council also condemned the airstrike in the church. "This shows that the targets of the Israeli occupation are the unarmed people, children, women, and the elderly," it said in a statement. Related Article: Over 60 Hamas Members, Including Spokesperson, Arrested in West Bank by Israeli Forces @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A Ventnor man convicted of a 2006 killing outside an Atlantic City strip club won't get a new hearing in an attempt to be granted a new trial, state appellate judges ruled last week. Judges Mary Gibbons Whipple and James Paganelli sided with a lower court judge's ruling that Laquay Williams should not be given an evidentiary hearing. Their opinion was released Oct. 10. Williams' defense team argued that two witnesses who testified against him during his trial made false statements and later recanted their testimony. Williams, 45, was convicted in 2015 of shooting 20-year-old Jerrod Moss in a parking lot on New York Avenue on Dec. 29, 2006. Williams was out of jail on bail following a gun arrest at the time Moss was killed. Within days of the murder, detectives had considered him a suspect, but he was not charged until 2013. Ventnor man sentenced to 70 years in 2006 Atlantic City murder A Ventnor man was sentenced to 70 years in prison Thursday in the 2006 killing of an Atlanti Williams, whose birth name was James Watts, is in prison on a 70-year sentence for the murder. He is ineligible for parole, according to state Department of Corrections records. He also asked the courts to reconsider using statements by Cory Benning, who, according to his lawyer's letter, "was very cooperative and is willing to testify in your trial on your behalf." A judge rejected those arguments, leading Williams to appeal to the higher court, which sided with their decision. "Moreover, trial counsel was able to cross examine both witnesses during trial. He did attempt to impeach the credibility of both witness's statements at trial," the opinion of the judges states. Prosecutors said Moss was shot by Williams during a robbery attempt about 4:15 a.m. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Williams criminal history dates to 1996 and includes guilty pleas for drugs, robbery and assault. He was sentenced on a simple assault charge out of Pleasantville in 2011. A Galloway Township man was sentenced to four years in prison Thursday for pointing a gun at a man outside an Absecon bar and killing his girlfriend's cat, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said. Michael Ciarla, 30, pleaded guilty in August to aggravated assault and cruelty to animals. Judge Bernard E. DeLury Jr. sentenced Ciarla to one year in prison without parole on the aggravated assault charge and three years on the animal cruelty charge. The sentences are to be served consecutively, the Prosecutor's Office said Friday in a news release. Ciarla was charged with animal cruelty after a cat with numerous broken bones was brought to the Absecon Veterinary Hospital on Nov. 15, 2021. The cat, which belonged to Ciarla's girlfriend, was euthanized as all of its limbs were broken beyond repair or treatment, the Prosecutor's Office said. Ciarla admitted he intentionally slammed the door on the cat multiple times. A month earlier, on Oct. 20, 2021, Ciarla was charged with aggravated assault after brandishing a .177-caliber BB gun, which was a replica of a .44-caliber revolver, at a man outside the Hi-Point Pub on Shore Road. Ciarla placed the gun directly to the back of the victim's head and cocked it after the victim tried to walk away from Ciarla, the Prosecutor's Office said. Ciarla then fled the scene but was later apprehended after a standoff with police. Ciarla asked DeLury to either reduce the sentences or to order both sentences to run concurrently rather than consecutively. DeLury denied those requests, the Prosecutor's Office said. ATLANTIC CITY The Press of Atlantic City and Stockton Universitys William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy are hosting debates between candidates running for the states 2nd Legislative District Senate and Assembly seats Thursday at the colleges City Campus. The debates are scheduled to start at 6 p.m. at the John F. Scarpa Academic Center at 3711 Atlantic Ave. They also will be livestreamed on the Hughes Center and The Press' websites. As part of the debate, candidates will answer questions posed by Buzz Keough, executive editor of The Press, and Liz Myers, a student at Stockton who is also the editor of the schools student-run newspaper, The Argo. John Froonjian, director of the Hughes Center, will moderate the debate. At 6 p.m., incumbent Republican Sen. Vince Polistina will debate his Democratic challenger, Caren Fitzpatrick, who is currently an Atlantic County commissioner. At 7 p.m., incumbent Republican Assemblymembers Don Guardian and Claire Swift will debate Democratic challengers Lisa Bender and Alphonso Harrell. No other candidates qualified to participate in the debate based on standards previously published by the Hughes Center. Members of the public are allowed to attend, but in accordance with state law, attendees cannot bring campaign hats, signs, shirts or any other campaign materials onto state property. A recording of the debate will be archived on the Hughes Center website. LONG BRANCH An ocean advocacy group fighting offshore wind development in New Jersey wants the state to withhold a third proposal for a wind farm. Clean Ocean Action said Wednesday it sent a letter to Gov. Phil Murphy asking that the state cancel its third solicitation for offshore wind development. The letter also was sent to the state Board of Public Utilities. Clean Ocean Action said it has asked officials to terminate the application process in light of what they say is not enough research into the effects of wind turbines off the coast. "It's unacceptable and unallowable," Cindy Zipf, executive director of Clean Ocean Action, said during a news conference beside the beach. "And in this context, to think that the government our government, New Jersey government would be even thinking of allowing even more offshore wind, in fact allowing up to twice as much offshore wind contracting right now, is absolutely unthinkable." Four companies have approached New Jersey to fulfill the state's proposal for offshore wind infrastructure off the Jersey Shore. The state sought a third round of projects in March. The BPU plans to choose an applicant to fulfill the project by the end of the year. The announcement was made a day after Cape May County and local stakeholders sued the federal government over offshore wind projects in Camden federal court. Clean Ocean Action is named as a plaintiff in the litigation. Cape chamber, Board of Commissioners sue federal government over offshore wind approval A group of plaintiffs that includes the Cape May County Board of Commissioners and the county Chamber of Commerce is suing the federal government over claims it failed to factor in impacts to the county's $7.4 billion tourism industry when it granted approvals for offshore wind development. The plaintiffs argue the federal government's permitting process for turbines failed to consider the economic and environmental impacts of the projects. Murphy's office directed questions to the BPU, which on Thursday declined to comment on Clean Ocean Action's letter. "The board remains strongly supportive of future offshore wind development and the offshore wind projects that have already been approved," the BPU said in a statement. "As we move forward to meet the governors goal of 100% clean energy by 2035, offshore wind remains a key part of the clean energy mix that will help us combat climate change, create tens of thousands of new, good-paying jobs and provide a cleaner, heathier environment for our children and grandchildren." The state is seeking an additional 1,200 to 4,000 megawatts of power to be generated off the coastline, according to the application guidance released in March. The newest round of offshore wind turbines would send power inland at landing points at the Sea Girt National Guard Training Center in Monmouth County, the BPU said. The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management evaluates areas of the ocean suitable for wind turbines, the BPU said. New Jersey awarded its first two solicitations to Ocean Wind 1 and 2, as well as Atlantic Shores. Those wind farms would be built off Atlantic and Cape May counties. Ocean Wind 1 and 2 are being built by Danish energy company rsted, which earlier this month put down a $100 million guarantee its first project would be generating power for New Jersey by December 2025. ATLANTIC CITY Joshua Sorto has grown up infatuated with the coastal environment that surrounds him. That interest led the 16-year-old Atlantic City High School junior to sign up for Stockton Universitys Coast Day. Sorto was one of about 80 students from Atlantic City and Egg Harbor Township high schools given hands-on experience with marine science at Stocktons John F. Scarpa Academic Building. I found it interesting, said Sorto. They (students) were really captivated by new stuff they dont really teach at our school. The event featured numerous exhibits from Stocktons marine science program and local environmental agencies. Coast Day had been on hiatus for three years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Students and teachers from both high schools circled the building, visiting 13 exhibitors with displays on various marine life subjects inside the Fannie Lou Hamer Event Room. The exhibit featured makeshift laboratories with microscopes, giving people a chance to view fish bone samples from species found in local waterways. Stockton also provided a simulator of Defender, a vehicle the school uses for its undergraduate programs to study the seafloor. Candidates differ on offshore wind, immigration and more in 2nd District debate The candidates for state Senate and Assembly in the 2nd District debated Thursday night at Stockton University and stayed civil with each other even as they argued over allegedly unfair political ads and their accomplishments. Stockton volunteers also offered lessons about sea-level rise and its potential impact. The university offers its resources as a way to educate people about the coastal ecosystem surrounding the Jersey Shore, said Susanne Moskalski, an associate professor of marine science. Weve got a lot of stuff that we know, Moskalski said while Atlantic City students toured the setup. We would like to not keep that to ourselves. Coast Day grew out of a similar event at the University of Delaware, where Moskalski was a graduate student. The open-house style event has been held at Delaware for about 30 years, she said. Moskalski shared the idea at a Stockton faculty meeting about how the university could expand its community outreach. The school particularly wanted to target local students as a way to educate them on the environment. High school students of any science class were given the chance to attend the event. Stockton held its first Coast Day in 2018. With signs of Democratic skepticism on wind power, local mayors renew push Multiple officials in Cape May and Atlantic counties and shore communities beyond welcomed recent comments from two prominent Democrats raising questions about offshore wind projects. Moskalski said this year was an appropriate time to bring the event back. It has been long enough, and we were ready to come back, she said. The exhibits ranged from information on plastic waste in waterways to whale preservation. Debbie Sommers, who grew up in Absecon with a dock in her backyard, has always valued her one-on-one experience with sea life in the inland creeks. That love led her to teach science at Galloway Township before joining Stocktons Maple Project. Im still passionate about the environment and teaching science and educating our local students and supporting the teachers, Somers, 68, said beside a sand-filled seashell display that was part of her table. Close Egg Harbor Township High School senior Sarai Van Hest, 17, casts a fishing pole from the lawn outside Stockton University's John Scarpa Building on Friday. Stockton's Marine Science Department shows of "Defender," a vehicle used for exploring the sea floor," during Coast Day on Friday. Steve Evert, director of Stockton Universitys Marine Field Station, explains how the underwater vehicle Defender is used during Fridays Coast Day in Atlantic City. Egg Harbor Township and Atlantic City high school students explore Stockton University's Coast Day on Friday. Muhammad Hasan, 16, a junior at Atlantic City High School, examines fish bones through a microscope. Debbie Sommers, left, speaks with Egg Harbor Township students during Coast Day at Stockton University on Friday. Stockton's Field Station lets students work with a simulated underwater vehicle during Coast Day on Friday. Stockton Marine Science Professor Susanne Moskalski talks about the importance of Coast Day for the barrier island communities. Erynn Brady, with Cape May Whale Watch, speaks to a pair of students about whale preservation at Coast Day at Stockton University. High schoolers practice casting a fishing pole during Coast Day. Yasira Sims, a freshman at Atlantic City High School, operates an ROV during a simulation activity led by the Stockton University Marine Field Station at Coast Day Adam Aguiar, associate professor of Biology, holds a fish caught during a casting demonstration that he led on the lawn of the John F. Scarpa Academic Building at Stockton Universitys Coast Day Denise Jenkins, a sophomore at Atlantic City High School, reels in the first fish shes ever caught, a plastic Striped Bass, during a casting demonstration on the lawn of the John F. Scarpa Academic Building at Stockton Universitys Coast Day on Oct. 20 Darya Hrybava, of the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy, leads a shell decoupage art project at Stockton Universitys Coast Day Stockton University celebrates Coast Day in Atlantic City Egg Harbor Township High School senior Sarai Van Hest, 17, casts a fishing pole from the lawn outside Stockton University's John Scarpa Building on Friday. Stockton's Marine Science Department shows of "Defender," a vehicle used for exploring the sea floor," during Coast Day on Friday. Steve Evert, director of Stockton Universitys Marine Field Station, explains how the underwater vehicle Defender is used during Fridays Coast Day in Atlantic City. Egg Harbor Township and Atlantic City high school students explore Stockton University's Coast Day on Friday. Muhammad Hasan, 16, a junior at Atlantic City High School, examines fish bones through a microscope. Debbie Sommers, left, speaks with Egg Harbor Township students during Coast Day at Stockton University on Friday. Stockton's Field Station lets students work with a simulated underwater vehicle during Coast Day on Friday. Stockton Marine Science Professor Susanne Moskalski talks about the importance of Coast Day for the barrier island communities. Erynn Brady, with Cape May Whale Watch, speaks to a pair of students about whale preservation at Coast Day at Stockton University. High schoolers practice casting a fishing pole during Coast Day. Yasira Sims, a freshman at Atlantic City High School, operates an ROV during a simulation activity led by the Stockton University Marine Field Station at Coast Day Adam Aguiar, associate professor of Biology, holds a fish caught during a casting demonstration that he led on the lawn of the John F. Scarpa Academic Building at Stockton Universitys Coast Day Denise Jenkins, a sophomore at Atlantic City High School, reels in the first fish shes ever caught, a plastic Striped Bass, during a casting demonstration on the lawn of the John F. Scarpa Academic Building at Stockton Universitys Coast Day on Oct. 20 Darya Hrybava, of the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy, leads a shell decoupage art project at Stockton Universitys Coast Day Supriya Sule, the Member of Parliament from Baramati, has raised concerns about the current train routes of DEMU trains operating between Daund-Pune, Pune-Solapur, and Hadapsar-Solapur. She has highlighted the challenges faced by numerous citizens, especially farmers and students, due to the trains stopping at Hadapsar station rather than Pune station. This practice of stopping at Hadapsar instead of Pune station places a significant financial burden on passengers traveling from several areas, including Patas, Kadethan, Kedgaon, Yawat, Uruli Kanchan, Loni-Kalbhor, Manjari, and Daund. To address these inconveniences, Sule has stressed the need to extend the routes, allowing the trains to directly reach Pune station. This proposed change, particularly for the 6 a.m. Solapur Passenger train, would be particularly beneficial for college students and commuters. Sule has also advocated for a stop at Kedgaon station in Daund for the Indore-Daund-Indore train, which would effectively serve nearby villages. In her appeal to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Sule has requested the consideration of these route extensions to prioritize the convenience and well-being of all citizens affected by these train services. Retention bonuses are expected to be cut at the end of the year at Thomson Federal Prison, and a number of local unions are showing their opposition to the plan. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest union that represents federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) correctional officers. Thursday morning the union released a statement, calling on BOP Director Colette Peters to retain the retention pay incentive at Thomson Federal Prison in Illinois. Our members at Thomson prison protect their communities and our nation every day while dealing with some of the most dangerous criminals in the country, AFGE National President Everett Kelley said. They perform difficult, necessary work, which is one reason why recruiting is so difficult for these positions at Thomson prison. The Bureau of Prisons attempt to cut retention pay will only end up leading to more difficulties in hiring, a loss of existing staff and will gravely insult the staff members who currently put their safety and health on the line to serve their country. The BOP Public Affairs office said in an email to the Quad-City Times/Dispatch-Argus on Thursday the 25% group retention incentive was still in place at USP Thomson but set to expire on Dec. 31, 2023. No further comment was provided. Members of AFGE Local 4070, which represents 450 correctional officers at Thomson, said in a news release that the proposed cuts would endanger prison workers, inmates and the communities surrounding the prison. Over 33% of our current staff have already written to the union stating that they will have to leave Thomson Federal Prison if Director Peters cuts are implemented, said Jon Zumkher, president of AFGE 4070. Speaking to a reporter in August, Zumkher said this retention bonus comes out to about $16,000 annually. Part of the reason for putting it in place, he said, was that Thomson is in a remote location and factory jobs in the area pay higher. The goal of the retention bonus was to make the job more appealing. Illinois AFL-CIO President Tim Drea echoed Zumkher's sentiment, saying ensuring USP Thomson was set up for success should be paramount and removing retention bonuses would cause an adverse reaction. Staffing shortages at Thomson prison have been noted for years. In early 2022, with the support of then-U.S. Reps. Cheri Bustos and Dave Loebstack and Senators Tammy Duckwork and Dick Durbin, AFGE Local 4070 was able to work with management to achieve a 25% increase in retention pay. AFGE District 7 National Vice President Jason Anderson vowed the union would stand united in its, "commitment to protect the welfare of the dedicated staff of USP Thomson" and called on Peters to stop any action that would reduce pay. Other unions weighed in as well, such as the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Corrections Lodge 263, which called the potential action, a "slap in the face for the heroes who put their lives on the line every day." The Illinois FOP Corrections Lodge 263 unequivocally stands with AFGE Local 4070 members and strongly urges Director Peters to leave intact the pay for Thomson workers, who earn every penny of their hard-fought-for wages while doing a task that very few others could handle," President Scott Ward said. In August, Thomson was permanently converted to a low-security prison, and Brian Lammer was named the new warden. This followed after it was confirmed in February that inmates were being moved out of the prison with no explanation. In March, the motive became clear when the BOP announced Thomson would temporarily be converted into a low-security prison. On Wednesday, the Bettendorf school board unanimously approved design plans for a relocated Edison Academy, the districts alternative high school consortium. Edison is currently located at 438 16th St. in Bettendorf. In August, the district approved a lease agreement with Alera Group, Inc. for its office property on 3066 Victoria St. to use as the future Edison building just across the street from Bettendorf High School's south parking lot. While Edison also serves Pleasant Valley and North Scott high schoolers, the majority of students enrolled are Bettendorf residents. Curt Pratt, director of operations, said relocating Edison closer to the high school was the project's biggest plus. "That's going to open up a lot more opportunities for those (Edison) kids to take welding classes, nursing classes that we can't easily offer them right now," he said, later adding that Edison saw its most recent upgrades in the early 2000s. "This (relocation) project has started and stopped several times over my four-plus years with the district," Pratt said. "So we're glad to finally be moving forward and continue the momentum." The district plans to gut the Victoria Street building for sweeping renovations, including expanding flexible-use spaces and a new, secure entryway. The new Edison building will also get a four-classroom addition to the backside of the building, connected via corridor and elevator. We have a lot of space back there, Pratt said. So we wont lose too much parking with the addition. Estimated costs range from $2.8 and $3.1 million for the Edison project, which the district will fund using SAVE (Secure an Advanced Vision for Education) dollars. Bettendorf Superintendent Michelle Morse said she and other district leaders met with Edison administration throughout the planning process most recently, this week to answer questions and gather feedback on the design. This team (Edison staff) has been waiting patiently to have updated facilities," she said Wednesday. "It was nice to show them were moving forward." To Morse, the expanded flexible-use spaces at Edison could be a district-wide asset particularly because of its new, more centralized location. ... We also wanted to be able to have meeting space, she said. So, if our outreach team is doing something with families they might be able to use that, as we try to build more parent engagement. This space could also host training and other professional development opportunities for district teachers and staff. Obviously, Edison students get it during their educational day, Morse added. But, outside of that time, were looking for, How do we maximize this resource?" Upon exploring options to minimize the addition, she and other district leaders decided that clustering the four new classrooms would be best for students education. ... So that they can collaborate a little better, Pratt said. And, its a little more safe overall, so we went with that option. After Pratt's schematic design rundown, board members had a chance to ask questions and weigh in. Board director Richard Lynch asked if there was any room for growth at the school, which currently serves just over 50 students. We (Edison) have the capacity to serve in the low 70s, so we can take on some more, Morse said in response. But, beyond 70 it might get a little tight. Hypothetically, if Edison would need to house more students in the future, Pratt said the renovated building and addition would be able to accommodate more classrooms. The way this corridor is laid out, you could put additional classrooms back there, he said. It would feel tight on the site because youre going to sacrifice parking, then, but it would be a possibility. Board director Michael Pyevich asked if building the new addition against the existing Edison building would save construction costs, to which Pratt explained how separating the two structures is better from a fire-safety standpoint. "It (also) saves us from having to build a much more expensive wall," Pratt added. Partnering with Bray Architects, the district will now start on Edison's design development phase. "We're hoping to bid the project in January, have the board approve it in February and start construction shortly there after," Pratt said. Episode 112: If youre not already familiar with the term surge pricing, its likely youll hear a lot more about it soon. Simply put, its when businesses identify times when there is a high demand for their products or services whether an Uber ride or a pint of beer and raise prices. Anyone who has taken am introductory economics course learns that when supply of something is scarce and demand is high, prices will go up. Whats new is that technology lets those changes happen quickly and with little warning to those affected. Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss whether there are any ethical pitfalls around this new way of doing business. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Uber, Lyft ripped for surging NYC prices during storm, flooding, by Emily Crane, New York Post The rise of surge pricing: 'It will eventually be everywhere,' by Oliver Barnes, Philip Georgiadis and Laura Onita, Financial Times Giulianis drinking, long a fraught subject, has Trump prosecutors attention, by Matt Flegenheimer and Maggie Haberman, The New York Times About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis. His forthcoming book, "Finding Your Third Place," will be published by Fulcrum Books. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. CVS Pharmacy will close a second Quad-Cities area location on Dec. 7. The pharmacy at 1777 Division St. will close on Dec. 7, with prescriptions being transferred to 1655 W. Kimberly Road in Davenport, according to a company representative. Wednesday, the company announced the closure of a store at 2250 41st St. in Moline effective Nov. 29. At the time, the company said the six remaining pharmacies in the area would remain open. Existing patients at either location can choose to fill their prescriptions at any CVS Pharmacy, or the pharmacy of their choice, if another is more convenient. The chain's store locator map shows additional standalone CVS locations at: 1655 W. Kimberly Road in Davenport. 2002 Spruce Hills Drive in Bettendorf. 2617 18th Ave. in Rock Island. 910 W. 4th St. in Milan. There are also locations in some Target stores. How the availability of COVID-19 treatments has changed throughout the pandemic How the availability of COVID-19 treatments has changed throughout the pandemic January 2020: SARS-CoV-2 sequence is made public March 2020: Emergency authorization for hydroxychloroquine May 2020: Emergency authorization for antiviral drug remdesivir November 2020: First monoclonal antibody treatment receives authorization December 2020: Pfizer, Moderna vaccines receive authorization Summer 2021: Politicization of monoclonal antibody treatments August 2021: Pfizer vaccine receives full FDA approval November 2021: Children ages 5-11 become eligible for vaccination December 2021: Two anti-COVID pills receive authorization February 2022: Eli Lilly develops new monoclonal antibody treatment for Omicron Janet Lim Napoles, a Filipino businesswoman and politician, is now facing over 60 years of imprisonment after she was found guilty of eight graft and malversation charges. Aside from this, Napoles was also ordered to pay over P240 million in relation to the eight corruption charges she faces. Here are the other details you need to know. Philippines: Napoles Found Guilty of Graft, Malversation According to Incquirer.Net's latest report, Napoles, along with some Nabcor officials, were found guilty of four counts of corruption and public fund malversation charges. The Nabcor officials that were also found guilty are specifically Victor Cacal, Maria Ninez Guanizo, and Rhodora Mendoza. "The court finds accused Rhodora B. Mendoza, Maria Ninez P. Guanizo, Victor Roman C. Cacal, and Janet L. Napoles guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violation of Section 3(e) of RA 3019," said the Special Second Division of the Sandiganbayan on Friday, Oct. 20. ABS CBN News reported that each of the charges Napoles faces leads to 6 to 10 years of imprisonment. In total, she could be jailed for 60 or up to 100 years. While Napoles and other officials were involved in the controversial PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund) scam, aka Pork Barrel scam, former South Cotabato 2nd District Rep. Arthur Pingoy was lucky enough to be cleared from his cases. Pingoy, as well as ex-Department of Budget and Management Undersecretary Mario Relampagos, were acquitted after the prosecution wasn't able to provide enough proof that they were guilty. Read Also: 'A New Philippines Has Come': Marcos Delivers 2nd State of the Nation Address What Filipinos Say About Napoles' Imprisonment Many Filipinos were relieved that Janet Napoles was finally found guilty. Some of them said that the Sandiganbayan made the correct choice. However, some Philippine citizens were not satisfied since other involved Filipino officials are still at large; and some of them are even working at the Senate right now. They are referring to Jinggoy Estrada, Ramon Revilla Jr., and Juan Ponce Enrile. Because of this, the credibility of the Philippine justice system is still criticized. Meanwhile, other Filipino residents are mentioning Imelda Marcos, who was also convicted of graft, saying that she should be the next one to be imprisoned. These are just some of the comments made by Filipinos about the latest Napoles Pork Barrel Scam update. You can click here to see more. Related Article: Philippines: Drag Artist Pura Luka Vega Arrested Over Controversial Performance Using Religious Hymn @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. CEDAR FALLS Businessman David W. Wilson made known in a big way that ethics are really important to him. The 1970 graduate of the University of Northern Iowa gave $25 million to his alma mater Friday the largest ever gift in the history of the institution to help expand the universitys business ethics academic offerings and create a scholarship fund for future Panthers in need. The Traer native graduated from UNI with a degree in philosophy and a minor in business before the 1981 founding of the instutition's college of business. But because of his massive donation, officials have decided that the university's business school will now be the David W. Wilson College of Business the first time UNI has named one of its schools after someone. Previously, the largest single gift to the university was $15 million, a gift from Richard Jacobson made in 2013 as part of the Focus on Students campaign, according to information provided by UNI. A few hundred from the university community celebrated on a sunny, cool day out in front of the business college. Purple confetti flew into the air and a large stage was set up, where Wilson and his wife, Holly, joined UNI officials to give remarks. "We chose this time to make the additional investment in ethics-based business curriculum at UNI because government and the media seem to blame business for all the world's economics problems," Wilson said. "Ethical capitalism needs all the help we can get. We believe that this is the perfect time to make this gift to present a philosophical defense of capitalism." Wilson was written out on the lawn in the form of large purple bubble letters. And one could hear the excitement in the voice of his sister-in-law, Leslie Wilson, dean of the College of Business, who was on stage and raised her arms upon the confetti being released into the air. David Wilson had always enjoyed giving back with his time, like volunteering to drive for Meals on Wheels, he told the media before the event. But a lot has happened since growing up on a farm outside of Traer with "nothing." His business, Orange, California-based Wilson Automotive, has taken off and grown to 18 automotive dealerships and related companies, with more than 2,500 employees. Now that his time is largely taken, Wilson's often been asked to help with his resources and, thus, has been visited by university presidents over the years. The 1966 graduate of North Tama Community High School reached the summit at the University of Northern Iowa on Monday, but had previously given $1 million to establish the David W. Wilson Chair of Business Ethics. "David does right because he's paying attention to the customer," said Leslie Wilson. "He's paying attention to his employees, and he's paying attention to the communities where his successful businesses reside in giving back, doing right for the success of the long term." Leslie Wilson told The Courier the universitys first step with her brother-in-law's donation will be hiring an ethicist for the fall of 2024. The college has two courses teaching business ethics, and others that touch on ethics in partnership with the university's department of religion and ethics, and many offerings outside the classroom. The university now will be able to grow its academic offerings. Those specifics are still being worked out, said Leslie Wilson. The funds also establish the David W. Wilson Scholars Endowed Fund, which will be used to provide scholarship support for at least one student at the start of the 2024-25 school year and in perpetuity. The scholarship will benefit only students from a Tama County high school. They must demonstrate financial need to qualify. The intent is that eventually four Wilson Scholars will be funded annually. Im at a point in my life now where Im 75 years old, David Wilson said in a previous interview. "Im going to run out of time before I run out of money." Ethical and automobile dealer seemed to be mutually exclusive when I was kid. They didnt have the worlds greatest reputation. I set out trying to change that. Most the car dealers I know are wonderful people and I think the reputation of that industry has changed over the years," he added. Wilson also worked with the UNI Foundation to structure his contribution as a challenge gift in the hopes of spurring additional support for the universitys Our Tomorrow campaign. Officials announced the university has raised $243 of the $250 million goal. The expectation is that the Panther faithful will blow past that mark. This is a grand gift to help the college of business but also the university as a whole, said Sandy Stevens of Glen Ellyn, Illinois afterwards. The 1962 graduate sat in the front row Friday's event and had helped kick off the Our Tomorrow campaign about a year ago on campus. His donation will help in guiding the next generation of leaders, she said. Rapid City Area Schools Board of Education approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the Oaye Luta Oklakiciye during Tuesdays meeting to provide Lakota-based counseling to American Indian middle schoolers. The agreement was one of 21 consent agenda items that the board passed unanimously. Oaye Luta Okolakiciye, "Moving Forward in a Sacred Way," is a Lakota-based nonprofit organization, which creates and supports mentoring relationships. They promote wellness, prevention and healing, providing services to kids, adults, families and communities. With the agreement, the organization will provide Lakota-based, culturally responsive and trauma-informed counseling through the use of talking circles to identify at-risk American Indian students and their families. Talking circles are designed to help children reach their potential at school," the memorandum read. Oaye Luta Okolakiciye aims to help students decrease trauma symptoms, use support systems and learn about their American Indian identity, while also improving their quality of life and experience as an American Indian student in Rapid City's middle schools. Board Member Walter Swan commended Superintendent Nicole Swigart for putting in the work to get the agreement done. During the discussion for this whole piece, she formulated and created this opportunity for Oaye Luta, and she really did hold to our pillars, Swan said. Oaye Luta Okolakiciye will provide mentors to run the talking circle for middle school students, but everyone hired for the services needs to undergo background checks consistent with the ones used by the district. They will also provide the necessary funding to support the collaboration with the district and administrative oversight for the programs. Additionally, Oaye Luta will work with the district to support the behavioral health and well-being of students that are participating in their programs, as well as meet with administration twice a semester to go over project progress and student outcomes. It is noted in the agreement that Oaye Luta may have access to and contact with confidential information of students, like education or medical records. The organization agreed to keep information confidential both during and after the agreement, to keep students interests and safety a priority. Oaye Luta Okolakiciye also plans to provide trainings for teachers and staff to recognize and understand American Indian-centered trauma. The trainings will be given to schools participating and implementing their support and services. Oaye Luta is allowed to take a one-day, meal-provided field trip with students. They will be responsible for 30 total students, three boys and three girls from each middle school, to visit and see presentations on Lakota sacred sites like Bear Butte at the Fall Equinox, Black Elk Peak at the Spring Equinox and Pe Sla (near Deerfield Lake) in late May. Hats off to our staff that helped create and craft this agreement that I believe is going to help our students, Swan said. I look forward to the work that is going to be done, and it was all set by our high expectations of our superintendent and her staff. Other Tuesday board items Homeland Security Grant Stevens High School The school board also unanimously authorized the approval of a $60,000 U.S. Homeland Security Grant from the South Dakota Department of Public Safety's Office of Homeland Security to Stevens High School. The states Office of Homeland Security provides funding to different organizations, including public and private schools. Funding will be awarded for one-time projects that have a connection to Homeland Security by providing protection against terrorism threats. Some of the listed examples of allowable expenses include keyless entry, door locks, video entry, intercom systems and critical infrastructure assessments. The funds could also be used for cyber security equipment or software such as intrusion detection systems and physical protection of hardware systems. Stevens High School will be getting classroom door locks with the grant money, having to use the funds before Dec. 31, 2024. Unpaid student meal debt Coy Sasse, CFO and operations officer/business manager for Rapid City Area Schools, participated in a student nutrition coalition group, led by State Rep. Kadyn Wittman (D-Dist. 15). The group focused on legislation that Wittman plans to bring forward during the next legislative session to reimburse school districts for the reduced portion of student meals. Unpaid student meal debt is a major issue for our district, Sasse said. This legislation would greatly benefit us. I hope weve added valuable insight, and I hope the bill gains support at the state level. According to EducationData.org, as of July 8, 2023, South Dakota has $6,315,582 in student meal debt with 34,970 food insecure children. During committee reports, Michael Birkeland, district board member, also said the Rapid City School Foundation is participating in a donation collection to start helping the district with some of the meal debt. One of the big things that was discussed with Mr. Sasse and some of our student nutrition team is the fact that students dont learn if theyre hungry, Birkeland said. Not only are you feeding the kids, you are also contributing to better behavior, better attendance, better academics, all of those good things. Community Outreach Listening Sessions Also as a part of the committee reports, board members with the community outreach committee discussed their plans to schedule community listening sessions. Members on the committee Board President Troy Carr; Jamie Clapham, first vice-president of the Rapid City Board of Education; and Christine Stephenson, second vice-president of the Rapid City Board of Education felt it's important to have full community outreach, not just with people who are connected to the schools in some way. Sometimes only people who have kids in the district tend to come to district things, Carr said. We really want to promote that it's for everybody whether you have kids, grandkids or no kids at all. Each session will be linked to one of the boards initiatives which are facilities, student achievement gaps and staff retention. There will be a Zoom option and in-person option for each of these meetings. With the meetings being called listening sessions, Carr said they dont want it to be confrontational with debates and fights. Its just a place to discuss topics, answer community questions and possibly address misconceptions. No board decisions and no formal responses to topics will be made during the sessions. Dates and locations haven't been decided yet, but the committee plans to have the information out once they are set in hopes of having more people arrive. We're asking anybody in the community to come and tell us what they think we need to know, Stephenson said. It's really hard to get people out on a week night to talk to their school, but schools are super important to all community members. Its far more important than what we can make it seem in this room." The Bureau of Land Management's South Dakota Field Office is planning to continue broadcast burning at both Fort Meade near Sturgis and Ruby Flats near Lead/Deadwood. The tentative plan is to burn multiple units in both locations Oct. 20 through 23. BLM is looking to accomplish around 480 acres total, including 260 acres at Fort Meade and 220 acres at Ruby Flats. Fire season is year-round for the BLM, and proactive range and forest management helps reduce wildfire severity while invigorating forbs, grasses and shrubs. Resources supporting burning operations include the U.S. Forest Service, State of South Dakota, Piedmont Volunteer Fire Department, Whispering Pines Volunteer Fire Department, Rapid City Fire Department, Rapid City Fire Department Veterans Crew and Lewistown Bureau of Land Management. Personnel and engines will stay on scene at both burn locations throughout the next several days to patrol and secure the fire perimeters until the prescribed burns are declared out. Call 605-892-7013 for more information. South Dakota began construction on a new women's correctional facility in Rapid City to address overcrowding at the Womens Prison in Pierre. The groundbreaking ceremony Monday was a significant milestone, according to state and local officials. The facility, located at 1056 North Creek Drive, will house up to 288 medium-security female inmates. It will feature modern security measures including a double-fenced perimeter with razor wire, advanced detection systems, and round-the-clock patrols. Kellie Wasko, Secretary of Corrections, highlighted the importance of the new institution. "Considering the overcrowding in the Department of Corrections right now, this second female facility is crucial for safety," she said. The design of the new institution aligns with the standards set by the American Correctional Association. Wasko said the objective was not merely to provide additional space but to ensure the space was both smarter and safer. The process of selecting the right location was intricate. Several factors were considered in the selection process, she explained, including examining the surrounding areas, assessing existing infrastructure, and determining the land's availability to fulfill the construction requirements of the facility. The push for the new correctional facility began in 2021 when both the South Dakota Department of Corrections and the Legislature recognized its necessity. Changing prison demographics contributed to the need for the expansion, according to Pennington County Sheriff Brian Mueller. "Our facilities were initially designed for a 10% female population, but now Pennington County sees over 25% female inmates," he said. Mueller discussed the issue of overcrowding, highlighting that the female prison in Pierre has been operating at or beyond its capacity for a while now. He mentioned that Pennington County oversees the statewide prisoner transportation system, which has posed challenges for numerous county facilities throughout the state. However, Mueller is hopeful about the new facility's impact. Theyre going to have treatment and rehabilitation services built into a wing at the new womens prison in Rapid City. Hopefully we can help people change the trajectory of their lives for the short period of time that we have them in custody, so when they get out, theyre not returning into the criminal justice system, Mueller said. The project's funding includes $60 million from the Incarceration Construction Fund, sourced from state appropriations and Governor Kristi Noems 2024 fiscal year budget. Scull Construction and Flintco are the appointed construction managers, targeting a completion date between late 2025 and early 2026. The Pennington County Sheriff's Office released third-quarter crime, citation and jail population statistics Wednesday. The report which includes numbers for the Pennington County Sheriff's Office, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Box Elder Police Department showed decreases in aggravated assaults, homicide, and sexual assault, but increases in thefts, burglaries and robberies. Sheriff's deputies pulled over more vehicles, issued more warnings, wrote more citations, and arrested more people for driving under the influence. Populations at the jail remain steadily high, and the Western South Dakota Juvenile Services Center saw an increase in its daily population. Here's a look into the numbers. Violent crimes generally decrease There were eight homicides in Pennington County by the time the third quarter of 2022 wrapped up. That number was at five this year. Along with the decrease in murders, aggravated assaults slightly declined. In the first three quarters of 2022, there were 462 aggravated assaults across all three agencies, compared to 450 in the first three quarters of 2023 a 3% decrease year-to-date. From the third quarter of 2022 to the third quarter of 2023, aggravated assaults dropped 7% from 174 to 162. Sexual assaults decreased in the third quarter of 2023 to 58 compared to 79 in the same time-frame last year. Overall, there were 218 sexual assaults in the first three quarters of 2022. That decreased by 12% to 192 in the first three quarters of 2023. Robberies increased from 25 in the third quarter of 2022 to 34 in the third quarter of 2023. Year-to-date, robberies increased overall by 58% from 52 to 82. Non-violent stealing increases Sticky but non-violent fingers kept law enforcement occupied increasing in most categories. There were 637 non-vehicle thefts in the third quarter of 2022 compared to 752 in the third quarter of 2023 an 18% increase. Overall, non-vehicle theft increased by 13% from 1,626 in the first three quarters of 2022 to 1,843 in 2023. Thefts of motor vehicles increased a slight 2% from 417 in the first three quarters of 2022 to 426 in the first three quarters of 2023. Comparing the first quarter of the two years, there was a decrease. A slight increase between the second quarters was bolstered by a 19% increase between the third quarters of 2022 and 2023 156 to 185. Burglaries increased by 34% 151 to 203 between the third quarters of 2022 and 2023. However, year-to-date, the increase was only 1%. PCSO Captain of Investigation Dustin Morrison attributed the increase in vehicle thefts and burglaries to a group of people "creating havoc in Rapid City." He noted the arrest of Edgar Bear Runner and stated charges are pending against several other individuals. Overall, thefts of items from vehicles decreased from 734 in the first three quarters of 2022 to 460 in the first three quarters of 2023 a 37% decline. The third quarter of 2023 was only slightly busier at 218 compared to 213 in 2023. A proactive approach to traffic enforcement The number of calls for service the sheriff's office responded to remained steady, but the number of times they pulled people over and issued warning and citations increased. In the first three quarters of 2022, the sheriff's office responded to 31,664 calls for service. That increased by just 2% in 2023 to 32,391. However, the number of times county law enforcement pulled over vehicles increased by 75% in the third quarter of 2023 compared to the same time-frame in 2022 1,797 to 3,137. The overall increase from the first nine months of 2022 compared to 2023 was 5,276 to 7,688 46%. A total of 66 DUI arrests were made in the third quarter of 2023, compared to 56 in 2022. Year-to-date, DUI arrests increased by 4% from 173 to 180. Citations increased by 291 in the first quarter of 2022 to 324 in 2023. In the first three quarters of 2023, 796 citations were written compared to 750 in the first three quarters of 2022. That amounted to a 6% increase. Warnings also increased by 64% between the first quarters of 2022 and 2023 and 55% from the first nine months of 2022 compared to that same time-frame in 2023. Deputies gave a total of 4,563 warnings so far in 2023. Our communities asked for it and we continue to emphasize proactive policing, Pennington County Sheriff's Patrol Captain Chris Hislip said. Trying to keep our roads safe, we are constantly looking for drunk drivers and people exhibiting unsafe driving behavior. There were a total of 300 accidents in the first three quarters of 2022. That increased to 311 in 2023. However, there were seven fewer accidents in the third quarter of 2023 compared to the 123 in 2022's third quarter. The warrants, patrol, transport and investigations departments wrote a total 5,879 case reports in the first nine months of 2023, down 7% from 6,296 in 2022. Overall, 5,272 arrests were made in the first three quarters of 2023, up 3% from the 5,138 in 2022. Juvenile Services Center and Pennington County Jail The average daily population at the Western South Dakota Juvenile Services Center increased from 35 in the third quarter of 2022 to 45 in the third quarter of 2023. The jump accounted for an overall 8% increase in the average daily population from the first three quarters of 2022 compared to the first three quarters of 2023. Populations in the first halves of 2022 and 2023 were almost exactly the same, decreasing by two in the first quarter of 2023 and increasing by one in the second quarter. Commander Joe Guttierez attributed the change in daily population to a higher level of mental health needs and more severe charges. The Pennington County Jail's average daily population has remained fairly steady with a 4% increase from 596 in the third quarter of 2022 to 617 in the third quarter of 2023. Overall, the average year-to-date daily population across the first three quarters of 2022 compared to the first three quarters of 2023 remained almost the same with just a 1% decrease. The Pennington County Sheriff's Office is working with the county commission on jail expansion in coming years to ease occupancy issues. The jail has routinely sat at an uncomfortable capacity for nearly a decade. There are currently 624 beds. A decade ago, the average daily population was just below 85%. That rose to over 100% in 2017, 98% in 2018, and 103% in 2019. After a brief dip down to 83% in 2020, numbers rose again and rested at just over 95% in 2021 and 2022. Capacity so far in 2023 has averaged 598 about 96%. The estimated $28 million plan would add another 148 beds, increasing the capacity by more than 25%. High populations coupled with vacant correctional officer positions has led to overtime for the staff currently working at the jail an issue the office hopes will be resolved soon. The good news is that we have been working hard to hire the staff needed to run our facility and hope to be fully staffed before the end of the year," Jail Commander Rob Yantis said in a statement. It's still too early to tell if the sheriff's office new IGNITE (Individual Growth Naturally and Intentionally Through Education) initiative will help curb repeat admissions into the jail, but the office is "working to stand up" the program. Currently, GED educational services, addiction counseling, consumer credit counseling, common sense parents, master your health, and yoga are offered. The program originated in 2020 in Genesee County, Michigan and is located in eight states. Officials have reported decreases in assaults within jails and increases in morale. Harvard University and the University of Michigan are researching the effects of IGNITE. Detox and safe solutions, residential treatment Total admissions to the Care Campus decreased in 2023's third quarter by 6% from 4,955 to 4,641. So far, overall admissions in the first three quarters of 2023 are down 9% from 18,921 in 2022. Safe bed admissions decreased by 13% in 2023's third quarter from 3,174 to 2,769. In the first nine months of 2022 combined compared to 2023, there was a 6% increase from 11,831 to 11,159. Detox admissions decreased by 4% compared with the first nine months of 2022 and the first nine months of 2023 from 5,860 to 5,640. However, there was a 31% increase when comparing the third quarter of 2022 to the third quarter of 2023 1,350 to 1,773. We continue to offer system diversion as needed. At the same time, we have tightened protocols regarding aggressive and destructive behavior in the facility, said Chief Deputy Willie Whelchel. Although admissions decreased to safe beds and detox, residential treatment admissions increased from 51 in the third quarter of 2022 to 57 in the third quarter of 2023. Overall, there were 146 admissions in the first nine months of 2022 and 182 in the first nine months of 2023 a 25% increase. After a fatal stabbing in Rapid City, a 50-year-old man pleaded both not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity to first-degree murder Thursday morning in Pennington County Court. Philip Chips was arrested a few days after 32-year-old Michael White's body was found near the 100 block of Omaha Street on Sept. 15. White's obituary with the Sioux Funeral Home in Pine Ridge states he was born in and died in Rapid City. He left behind numerous family members, including both of his parents. Court documents list two different addresses for Chips one in Amsterdam, New York, and the other in Box Elder. A Pennington County Grand Jury indicted Chips with first-degree murder Sept. 27. With his defense attorney John Murphy at his side, Chips appeared before the judge Thursday through video conference from the Pennington County Jail, where he is held on a $1 million cash only bond. A plea of not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity is commonly referred to simply as "not guilty by reason of insanity." If Chips' case makes it to trial, a jury would be instructed to first deliberate whether he is guilty. If they found him guilty of committing the crime, they would then deliberate Chips' sanity at the time of the alleged murder. First-degree murder holds a mandatory life sentence in South Dakota. If the crime meets at least one of 10 aggravating circumstances, the death penalty can apply. Those aggravating circumstances include murders-for-hire, murders of law enforcement, and offenses that are "outrageously or wantonly vile, horrible, or inhuman." Presiding Judge Craig Pfeifle ordered the state to determine if it intends to pursue the death penalty by Nov. 30. Pfeifle said the prosecutor assigned to the case, Angela Shute, could inform the court if the state requires more time. Chips is scheduled to appear in court at 9:45 a.m. Nov. 16 for a non-evidentiary motions hearing. South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley praised a South Dakota Supreme Court decision that denied a state prison inmates appeal of a second habeas corpus request related to his 1998 conviction for murder. The courts ruling, issued Thursday, determined that David Lee had no right to further appeal an earlier habeas corpus order in the same case. The Attorney Generals Office represented the state in the initial criminal case and the appeals. Lee was serving a 50-year sentence in the South Dakota State Penitentiary for robbery, assault and escape when he was convicted in 1998 of second-degree murder of his cellmate, Robert Stacy Walth. Lee was sentenced to life in prison by a Minnehaha County Circuit Court judge. The State Supreme Court upheld Lees murder conviction in 1999. Lee then sought additional review of his case by filing a petition for a writ of habeas corpus. That petition was denied in 2003. Lee then filed additional petitions for writ of habeas corpus in 2004 and 2007. Those cases were pending until this Supreme Court ruling. Twenty-five years of litigation is too long for a victims family and those involved in the litigation, said Attorney General Jackley. Thank you to the court system, prosecutors and investigators that worked on this case for more than two decades. The Supreme Court ruling can be found online at ujs.sd.gov/uploads/sc/opinions/29744cd88951.pdf. The South Dakota Department of Transportation will hold a series of public informational meetings across the state to inform residents about the Statewide Intercity Bus Study. Each informational meeting will be informal, allowing for one-on-one discussion with transit staff. Representatives from SDDOT and the consultant team will be available to answer questions, discuss the project, and receive community input. A short presentation will be shared at the beginning of each meeting. This project is being developed in compliance with state and Federal Transit Administration regulations. Vermillion Edith B Siegrist Public Library, 18 Church St., Friday, Oct. 27, 2023 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. CT Sioux Falls City of Sioux Falls Planning, 231 N. Dakota Ave., Fri., Oct. 27, 2023 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. CT Mitchell James Valley Comm Center, 300 W. 1st Ave., Fri., Oct. 27, 2023 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. CT Huron Peoples Transit, 120 Wyoming Ave. SW, Tues., Oct. 31, 2023, 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. CT Watertown Watertown Reg. Library, 160 6th St. NE, Tues., Oct. 31, 2023, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. CT Aberdeen KO Lee Aberdeen Library, 215 SE 4th Ave., Wed., Nov. 1, 2023, 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. CT Winner Tripp County Library, 442 S. Monroe St., Wed., Nov. 1, 2023, 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. CT Pierre River Cities Transit, 1600 E. Dakota Ave., Wed., Nov. 1, 2023, 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. CT Mobridge AH Brown Public Library, 521 N. Main St., Thurs., Nov. 2, 2023, 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. CT Belle Fourche Chamber, 509 Grant St., Fri., Nov. 3, 2023, 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. MT Rapid City Transportation Center, 333 6th St., Fri., Nov. 3, 2023, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. MT Custer Custer County Public Library, 447 Crook St., Fri., Nov. 3, 2023, 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. MT Those who cannot attend an informational meeting or desire additional information on the overall study can find study information and Zoom meeting details on the SDDOT website at dot.sd.gov/projects-studies/projects/public-meetings#listItemLink_1938. Participants will have the opportunity to provide written comment at each meeting. Comments may also be submitted via email to Corinne Donahue at cdonahue@olsson.com or directly on the study web site. Written comments will be accepted until two weeks after each public meeting open house. This meeting is being held in a physically accessible place. Any individuals with disabilities who will require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the meeting should submit a request to the departments ADA Coordinator at 605-773-3540 or 1-800-877-1113 (Telecommunication Relay Services for the Deaf). Please request the accommodations no later than two business days prior to the meeting to ensure accommodations are available. For more information about the study, contact Terri Geigle, Transit Specialist, at 605-773-3265, or email Terri.Geigle@state.sd.us. Many newcomers flocked to the Billings area during and following the pandemic, including some California quail. Billings Gazette photographer Larry Mayer recently captured shots of a covey of the birds near his Acton-area ranch as they roamed the grasslands looking for food. Matt Ladd, wildlife manager for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks in Billings, speculated the nonnative quail may be escapees from a shooting preserve. "People out hunting can harvest them any time of the year," he added, since quail aren't recognized by FWP as a game bird. California quail are native, as their name implies, to California. Some were transplanted as game birds to parts of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Baja. Theyve also been introduced in Hawaii, Europe and New Zealand. Larry Berrin, executive director of Montana Audubon, called the Billings-area sighting odd. "California quail were introduced in areas in northern Wyoming (way south of Billings) many years ago and have spread throughout the valley in Wyoming, but I've not heard of them in Eastern Montana," he wrote in an email. Since around 2001 there has also been a small but growing population in Montanas Bitterroot Valley. That year, the annual state bird count first recorded 17 of the species in the Bitterroot. Sam Lawry, the executive director of the Teller Wildlife Refuge in the Bitterroot Valley, wrote in 2016 the birds were first seen near Corvallis in 2006. He speculated the birds arrived in the area by escaping or being released from hobby farms. Audubon Christmas Bird Counts found the animals increased from 74 in 2006 to 400 by 2016. In last years Christmas Bird Counts near Stevensville, 757 quail were spotted with another 227 seen in the Hamilton-area. The website eBird reveals sightings of California quail near Bozeman and south of Havre, and in Wyoming near Cody and Lovell. "There are no eBird records of California quail in the Billings area, but generally the birding community does not get super excited when nonnative upland game birds are reported at a new location because they've almost certainly been released there, and are unlikely to form or be a part of a viable population," said Bo Crees, avian specialist for Montana Audubon. According to the Cornell Labs All About Birds website, it is the male of the species that has the black topknot or plume atop its head, made up of six overlapping feathers. The small, round birds have gray breast feathers with scaled white and black bellies. The male also has a white stripe around the base of its neck, extending up to the sides of its eyes and a separate stripe across the top of its head like a headband. For comparison, they are somewhat smaller than Hungarian partridge, also known as gray partridge. California quail mainly dine on seeds and leaves from a variety of plants, according to the National Audubon Society. They will also eat acorns, berries, flowers, bulbs and insects. Huns, chukar, wild turkeys and ring-necked pheasant are all nonnative game bird species planted in Montana by Fish, Wildlife & Parks to provide hunting opportunity. The state, however, does not recognize California quail as a game bird so no regulation for their take exists. Some other cool facts about California quail include: California quail nests, which are usually on the ground, can contain as many as 28 eggs, dull white to pale buff in color. These large clutches may be the result of females laying eggs in nests other than their own, a behavior known as "egg-dumping." The eggs hatch in about 18 to 23 days. In about 10 days the young can fly short distances. In years with good food supplies, they can raise two broods. Several California quail broods may mix after hatching, and all the parents care for the young. Adults that raise young this way tend to live longer than adults that do not. Males are often seen perched above the covey to serve as a lookout for predators. A quick pit-pit is the alarm call. Their song has been described as sounding like Chi-ca-go. As an adaptation to living in arid environments, California quail can get by without water for long periods, acquiring needed moisture from insects and succulent vegetation. During periods of sustained heat they must find drinking water to survive. Adaptable to a variety of habitats, the birds are found on the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge along the Bitterroot River, but are also at home in semi-desert areas populated by juniper and sage. The birds avoid mountains. During breeding season, males call loudly to advertise territory. In courtship, the male will droop its wings and spread its tail to attract attention as it bobs its head. He may rush at the female. Hanover County residents for the first time have the chance to decide if they want their School Board to transition from an appointed board to a board elected by voters. Now, Hanover School Board members are appointed to staggered four-year terms by the county supervisor for their respective voting districts. The referendum on this years ballot, if approved by voters, would mean that a School Boards member would be elected instead of the current process. Hanover is one of 13 Virginia localities that appoint their School Board members as opposed to electing them. Most Virginia school systems have switched to elected school boards since it was first allowed by the General Assembly in 1992. In order to transition from an appointed to an elected school board, state law requires a petition with signatures from registered voters equivalent to 10% of the number of votes cast in the county in the preceding presidential election. After several years of trying to get the issue to a vote, organizers finally garnered the 8,500 signatures required to put the item to a referendum this year. The nearly 90-member group canvassed neighborhoods, attended county events and publicized online information looking to put the item to a vote. Hanover residents in favor of the elected school board system formed a committee that pools campaign contributions and donates those funds to the campaign. The committee, called Hanover Citizens for an Elected School Board, received $10,305 in donations between July 25 and Sept. 30, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. All were relatively small donations from individual donors. The committee on the other side of the issue, Keep Hanover Students First, raised a total of $51,577 in campaign donations between Aug. 21 and Sept. 30. The Hanover Republican Committee donated about 70% of that total. The Hanover Citizens for an Elected School Board group is urging residents to vote yes on the referendum, saying that the ability to elect members to the board promotes democracy by giving voters the chance to choose who they want to represent them. The group contends that an elected school board provides more transparency around candidates and promotes discussing decisions made by the board. The process by which members of the Hanover Board of Supervisors appoint School Board members has long been criticized as lacking transparency. Hanover resident Tim McDermott, who sits on the committee in favor of an elected board, said the committee is composed of people from across the political spectrum. Its incumbent that voters directly elect those representatives, McDermott said. Its good for democracy, and we think that the school board should be responsible directly to the voters rather than through another elected body. The group urging residents to vote no on the referendum contends that the School Board has not done anything wrong, and if it aint broke dont fix it. Vote no supporters also say that opening an election process would allow money from outside interests to begin affecting school policies because running an election campaign requires money. Jack Dyer, chairman of the Hanover County GOP, did not respond to phone calls from the Richmond Times-Dispatch. He wrote in a May blog on the local GOPs website: The Democrats & other very progressive liberal organizations are pushing to get rid of our Appointed School Boards and replace them with Elected School Boards. Just the mere fact that this is another Democrat progressive initiative should give you huge concern & pause. A flier created by the Hanover GOP said appointed school boards are relatively unaffected by local interest groups trying to apply political pressure to schools, and its members are not distracted by campaigning and collecting donations. The Hanover School Board has been embroiled in controversy for years and has been the epicenter of Virginias debate over the rights and treatment of LGBTQ students since 2021. Former board Chairman John Axselle, whose term expired in June, was accused of violating federal student privacy law last year and was later called on by the Hanover NAACP to resign. He did not. When Robert Barnette, president of the Virginia NAACP, announced the Why We Cant Wait campaign last year regarding what he saw as the need for an elected school board, he cited School Board member Johnny Redd as a prime example of why Hanover residents should have the right to elect their board members. Redd, who was appointed to the School Board last May, caused a controversy following a statement to The Times-Dispatch in which he referred to Hanover NAACP President Patricia Hunter-Jordan as an angry African American lady. Emails Redd sent in 2020 to Hanover Supervisor Canova Peterson, who would later appoint Redd, show that Redd was angry that the board changed school names that were named for Confederate leaders. Redd promised that if he were appointed, he would fight to stop a new school being named for John M. Gandy, the child of former enslaved parents and a longtime professor of Virginia State University. The board ultimately voted in May to name the school Ashland Elementary. Today in history: Oct. 20 1936: Anne Sullivan Macy 1947: The House Un-American Activities Committee 1968: Jacqueline Kennedy and Aristotle Onassis 1973: "Saturday Night Massacre" 1976: Mississippi River 1977: Lynyrd Skynyrd 1987: Indianapolis 1990: 2 Live Crew 2011: Moammar Gadhafi 2018: Jamal Khashoggi 2020: Donald Trump 2021: Nikolas Cruz Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has expressed her support for Palestine in a photo but faced backlash due to what was seen as an antisemitic symbol. In an Instagram picture that has since been deleted, Thunberg posed with three of her friends holding pro-Palestinian signs. In particular, she was shown holding a sign reading "Stand with Gaza." "Today we are striking in solidarity with Palestine and Gaza," her caption wrote. "The world needs to speak up and call for an immediate ceasefire, justice, and freedom for Palestinians and all civilians affected." According to the Daily Mail, there was a stuffed toy of a blue octopus in one of her friend's knees, which some Jews and pro-Israel supporters perceived as an antisemitic caricature of an imaginary worldwide Jewish conspiracy. One of the persons who posed in the picture also held a sign reading "This Jew stands with Palestine," purporting that the person was a Jewish pro-Palestine supporter. It has come to my knowledge that the stuffed animal shown in my earlier post can be interpreted as a symbol for antisemitism, which I was completely unaware of. The toy in the picture is a tool often used by autistic people as a way to communicate feelings. We are of course Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) October 20, 2023 Thunberg's Apology and Explanation In response, Thunberg deleted the original photo and replaced it with a version of the picture cropping the octopus out. She explained the stuffed octopus was "a tool often used by autistic people" to communicate their emotions. "It has come to my knowledge that the stuffed animal shown in my earlier post can be interpreted as a symbol for antisemitism, which I was completely unaware of," she said. "We are of course against any type of discrimination, and condemn antisemitism in all forms and shapes. This is non-negotiable." Thunberg has been open about her being autistic since she became a climate activist. Read Also: Autistic Girl, Grandmother Taken Hostage by Hamas Killed, Israeli Officials Say Public Backlash However, Thunberg's apology did not appease some social media users, including her critics and even pro-Israel climate activists. "[Greta], Hamas missiles aren't made of sustainable materials," Israeli foreign ministry head of digital operations Tamar Schwarzbard said. "They also murdered teenagers who could have been your friends." It was reported on Thursday (October 19) that a 12-year-old autistic girl named Noya Dan and her 80-year-old grandmother Carmela were found dead by Israeli emergency workers after they were reported missing. Some of them said she glossed over the massacre Hamas did during a sabbath holiday earlier this month, while Israel Defense Force (IDF) spokesperson Arye Sharuz Shalicar told Politico that he would consider those who support Thunberg as a "terror supporter." He has since retracted his statement, saying that he spoke "out of a deep sense of pain" and "does not reflect [his] personal views or those of the IDF." Former Israeli Environmental Minister Tamar Zandberg took to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, her criticism of the young climate activist. "I belong to the Israeli left that supports peace and human rights," she wrote. "What [Hamas] did on October 7th has nothing to do with those values, nor with the Palestinian claim for freedom." Investigative journalist David Collier also noted that she alienated everyone who was "concerned about the climate who doesn't support Hamas terrorists." "Thunberg really is a prize idiot," he added. Thunberg was recently arrested for protesting an oil and gas conference in London. Related Article: London Police Arrest Climate Activist Greta Thunberg Following Protest at Oil and Gas Conference @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The wounds are fresh and division is deep among Virginia Republicans after a bruising intraparty battle that ended Friday with the defeat of Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, in his bid to become speaker of a House of Representatives that has been paralyzed for almost three weeks. Rep. Bob Good, R-5th, one of eight far-right Republicans who helped trigger the leadership fight by voting to oust then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., on Oct. 3, called Jordans defeat a loss for the American people. Good, who represents part of Hanover County and other outlying Richmond suburbs, had wanted House Republicans to remain in Washington over the weekend to elect a speaker, but said some members left even before a confidential vote of the GOP conference to withdraw support for Jordan as the party nominee after he failed for the third time earlier on Friday to gain the 217 votes necessary to win. Instead, he said he and Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who filed the motion to replace McCarthy, will stick with their plans to embark on a Hope for America political fundraising tour that will begin on Saturday with breakfast in Louisa County, then move to lunch near Farmville and dinner in Lynchburg. We should not be leaving Washington, Good said in a telephone interview. Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-2nd, was the only one of Virginias five Republican members of Congress to vote against Jordan. She voted twice to restore McCarthy as speaker and then cast her vote on Friday for Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry, R-N.C. Kiggans said she still wants the House to empower McHenry so we can get back to work immediately for the American people while we reunify the Republican conference. House Republicans will have to bridge a chasm of distrust when they meet Tuesday to try again to elect a speaker, based on a slate of candidates who must file on Sunday and appear in a forum on Monday evening. Kiggans said in a statement Friday evening: its clear that Congressman Jordan was not the right person to unite our Republican Majority. She added: Our world becomes more dangerous by the day. During my multiple conversations with Congressman Jordan, he could not commit to at a minimum keeping our defense budget at current levels, which I believe are already inadequate. Additionally, my concerns that a government shutdown could be used for leverage were not addressed. Rep. Rob Wittman, R-1st, who represents parts of Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico counties, voted three times for Jordan. Wittman initially opposed McCarthys ouster and then supported Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., who withdrew last week after defeating Jordan in a private vote of House Republicans. The House needs to elect a Speaker as soon as possible so we can get back to doing the work of the American people, Wittman said in a statement to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. I urge my colleagues to swiftly unite around whoever becomes the new Republican nominee for Speaker after Mondays conference election. Nine names have been floated as potential candidates, and Good said he had heard one or two others. Im going to wait, he said when asked whom he favors. Ive got some leanings. A nasty campaignJordans campaign for speaker left some Republicans, including Kiggans, feeling bullied and angry. In an interview earlier Friday, she accused Jordan of going back on his word and mounting a pressure campaign that has backfired among Republicans frustrated by the political standoff that has crippled Congress with less than a month before a potential federal government shutdown. Kiggans, in her first term representing a congressional district anchored in military-minded Virginia Beach, said she and her office have been bombarded by thousands of phone calls and emails, some of them threatening, by supporters of Jordan and the Freedom Caucus. She said one member of the caucus, whom she did not name, stood up and said, Its hunting season, and we are going to be hunting. Its been a nasty campaign, she said during a telephone interview shortly before a third round of voting was to begin. Good pushed back against Republicans who attributed threats to Jordans campaign for speaker. To blame this on Jim Jordan is really unfortunate and disingenuous, he said. Republicans who opposed Jordan did so for a variety of motives, Good said, including those who are blindly supportive of endless increases in defense funding with no accountability. He refused to single out any of the 25 Republicans who voted against Jordan on Friday, but Kiggans, a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot, has made clear that she opposed Jordan for his vote against a stopgap funding bill to avoid a federal government shutdown on Sept. 30 and her fear that he would seek further cuts in the military budget. McHenry has presided over the House with limited authority since McCarthys fall after he backed a continuing resolution that gives Congress until Nov. 17 to pass appropriations bills to fund the government in the fiscal year that began Oct. 1. With the House unable to act on legislation until it elects a speaker, or empowers McHenry, President Joe Biden upped the stakes on Friday by submitting a request for $105 billion in supplemental funding. The package includes $61.4 billion in military aid for Ukraine in its 20-month war with Russia, $14.3 billion for defense of Israel in its war against Hamas, $10 billion in humanitarian aid for trapped civilians in Gaza and other war-torn regions, and $14 billion to bolster security on the U.S. border with Mexico to stem the flood of illegal immigrants and deadly fentanyl into the country. We are doing our job by letting the Congress know what our critical needs are, and we expect them to act, said Shalanda Young, director of the Office of Management and Budget and former staff director of the House Appropriations Committee, in a media briefing on Friday. The package also includes $3.4 billion to bolster industrial production of nuclear submarines, a mainstay of Newport News Shipbuilding, owned by Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc., one of Virginias largest employers. Huntington-Ingalls spokesman Todd Corillo said Friday that the company looks forward to our continued partnership with the Navy and our state and regional leadership on investment of Submarine Industrial Base funding in the areas of workforce development, infrastructure, supply chain capability and capacity, and technology acceleration, all to support delivery of the critical nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers our nation needs. The stakes are also global, with Israel retaliating against a bloody attack by Hamas militants on Oct. 7 that killed more than 1,300 people, most of them civilians, including 31 Americans. Thousands of Palestinians living in blockaded Gaza have also died in Israeli military strikes in the territory, including a deadly attack on a hospital that Hamas blames on Israel, but both Israel and the U.S. said came from an errant missile fired by another jihadist militia. (Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., chairman of the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee, and Vice Chairman Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said in a joint statement Wednesday: The Senate Intelligence Committee has received and reviewed intelligence related to the attack on al-Ahli hospital in Gaza. Based on this information, we feel confident that the explosion was the result of a failed rocket launch by militant terrorists and not the result of an Israeli airstrike.) Kiggans has made clear that she believes the budgets proposed by both the president and House Republicans are not adequate to support the military, but said, Right now, we cant proceed on any kind of supplemental funding request because we dont have a speaker. We have to get past the speaker debacle, she said. Photos: Scenes from historic speaker vote of 118th Congress Virginias senators say the U.S. Senate will take the lead to force Congress back to work by taking bipartisan action on a $100 billion budget package that President Joe Biden will introduce to provide military aid to Israel and Ukraine and humanitarian aid to Gaza, boost border security and provide help to states stricken by natural disasters. Sen. Tim Kaine and Sen. Mark Warner, both Democrats and former governors, say they cannot resolve the Republican Party leadership battle that has paralyzed the House of Representatives. They hope the Senate will lead by example and persuade the House to do its job. I do think that the right way for this to happen is for the Senate to act first and show by a strong, bipartisan vote on the supplemental package that we support this, Kaine said in a media briefing on Thursday. If we can do that, that will send a really strong message to the House and thats the most effective thing we can do to try to help encourage the House to act promptly and do the right thing, he said. Warner, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said in a separate briefing on Thursday: My hope is that responsible members of the Republican Party will say this kind of chaos makes no sense. It basically makes our governing structures look foolish in front of Americans and in front of the world. House Republicans have resisted any solution to their leadership crisis that involves working with Democrats, despite two failed efforts by conservatives to elect Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, as speaker. Jordan, co-founder of the far-right Freedom Caucus and the favorite of former President Donald Trump, said Thursday that he would continue to look for the 217 Republican votes necessary to become speaker. This came after the apparent breakdown of a potential compromise that would have extended the powers of Acting Speaker Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., to temporarily lead the House and take care of urgent national business, such as foreign military aid and avoiding a federal government shutdown on Nov. 17. Democrats say there is no solution without them. Any path forward is going to have to have bipartisan support because they cant get to 217 votes to agree on anyone, said Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-4th, who represents Richmond and much of the surrounding area, including parts of Chesterfield and Henrico counties. Rep. Bob Good, R-5th, who represents part of Hanover County and other outlying Richmond suburbs, strongly opposes the attempt to expand McHenrys powers to lead the House temporarily or compromise with Democrats to defuse the leadership crisis. No Republican should under any circumstances support an unconstitutional elevation of power to an unelected Speaker, nor a highly dangerous coalition government arrangement with Democrats radically opposed to the America first agenda, Good said Thursday in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. McClellan said Good helped cause the chaos in the House by refusing to elect Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as speaker in January without major concessions to the Freedom Caucus and then voted to oust him from the job more than two weeks ago, preventing the House from acting on legislation. Bob Good is part of the Chaos Caucus that got us in this crisis to begin with, and didnt have a Plan B, McClellan said Thursday in an interview. McCarthys fall from power has divided Virginia Republicans. Good backs Jordan, along with Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-9th, and Rep. Ben Cline, R-6th. Rep. Rob Wittman, R-1st, who represents parts of Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico counties, had backed Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., but threw his support to Jordan after Scalise withdrew because he did not have the votes to be elected speaker. That left Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-2nd, in her first year in the House, in the middle. Kiggans, a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot who represents a Virginia Beach-based district with a large military presence, voted twice to restore McCarthy to power, rebuffing Jordan after meeting with him. Although we share conservative values, Mr. Jordans government funding plan has the potential to further cut the defense budget, which is already inadequate in my opinion, she said in a video that she posted online on Tuesday night. Mr. Jordan also voted against keeping government open on September 30th, and he didnt rule out that shutting down the government wasnt an option for the future. As a representative of Hampton Roads, which is home to the Atlantic Fleet and the East Coast Master Jet Base and thousands of military members and military families and veterans, thats not a vote Im willing to take, Kiggans said after voting for McCarthy instead of Jordan earlier that day. Above all else, I believe Congress must get back to work, but I will not put the defense budget in jeopardy, especially at a time like this, when weve sent two carrier battle groups to sit off the coast of Israel and in harms way. Thats why I support extending the authority of the Speaker Pro Tempore, Patrick McHenry, Kiggans said, as we work to overcome the chaos caused by the minority of the majority, so that Congress can get back to work passing Appropriations bills, condemning the terrorist acts of Hamas and providing support to Israel among other work we need to get done. Kiggans voted for McCarthy again on Wednesday, pointedly defying pressure she came under from Jordans supporters. I was a helicopter pilot in the United States Navy ... threats and intimidation tactics will not change my principles and values, she said in a post on X. Virginias senators say the way forward begins with the supplemental aid package that Biden is expected to introduce to extend military assistance both to Israel, in the aftermath of a bloody terrorist attack by Hamas, and Ukraine, which was denied additional aid in the stopgap funding bill adopted Sept. 30 to avert a government shutdown for 45 days. The package is also expected to include humanitarian aid for Palestinians trapped in Israels military assault against Hamas in Gaza, money to boost security along the southern U.S. border, and relief for states stricken by natural disasters, such as wildfires and floods. Warner said the temporary elevation of McHenry so that the peoples business can be done, to me makes a lot of sense. But weve got to get enough of my Republican friends, and the Democrats as well, to say, we need to put, in this moment of crisis, governing back as the first priority, not this kind of circular firing squad amongst some of the most extreme members of the Republican Party. Yes, it puts an added burden on us in the Senate to be adults and to act responsibly to put together this bipartisan plan. ... We need to do our job. Today in history: Oct. 19 1950: Pyongyang 1953: Ray Bradbury 1960: Martin Luther King Jr. 1977: Concorde 1987: "Black Monday" 2002: Charlie Robertson 2016: Donald Trump 2021: Steve Bannon WASHINGTON At a time when Americans are deeply divided along party lines, a new poll shows considerable agreement on at least one issue: The United States' two-decade-long war in Afghanistan was not worth fighting. The poll from the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research comes two years after the U.S. pulled out of Afghanistan in August 2021 and the Taliban returned to power. The war was started to go after the masterminds of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the Taliban who allowed them to use Afghan territory. It ended in frantic scenes of Afghans and Americans desperately trying to get on one of the last flights out of Kabul. Polls suggest the withdrawal, seen by many as chaotic and illplanned, may have been a turning point for President Joe Biden's approval ratings, which started a downward slide around that time and have not recovered since. Two-thirds of Americans say the war in Afghanistan was not worth fighting; 65% of Democrats and 63% of Republicans agree on that evaluation. Many have doubts about how successful the U.S. was at accomplishing more specific goals such as eliminating the threat from extremists or improving opportunities for women. "It was unwinnable from the beginning," said Martin Stefen, a 78-year-old Republican who lives in Carson City, Nevada. He said the U.S. should have paid closer attention to what happened to the Soviet Union, which waged a decadelong war in Afghanistan during the 1980s only to pull out in defeat in 1989. And, he said, the U.S. should have had a more specific end goal for how it wanted the war in Afghanistan to go and a better understanding of the country's tribal politics. That thought was echoed by Justin Campbell, a 28-year-old Democrat from Brookhaven, Mississippi. He said it was clear after the U.S. was entrenched in Afghanistan that it didn't have very deep support. Campbell said he's not pleased that the Taliban are back in control. "But I don't think it was worth us staying over there," he said. Maliha Chishti, a lecturer and research associate at the Pearson Institute, said she was struck by the fact that after 20 years of war, so many American and Afghan lives lost and billions spent, the vast majority said they felt Afghanistan was not friendly to the U.S. or was an outright enemy. She said the responses demonstrate a frustration on the part of Americans and the need to ask questions about what went wrong with America's attempts to intervene in Afghanistan. "We invested all of this money to really build a state from scratch and when we left, that state completely collapsed," she said. Many Americans also say the United States was not successful with many of its key objectives in Afghanistan. Eliminating the threat from Islamic extremists in Afghanistan during the war is still seen as an important goal by many across party lines: 46% of Democrats and 44% of Republicans called that highly important. But only about one-quarter in each group said this successfully happened during the war. Slightly fewer than half 46% say the U.S. and its allies were successful at the goal of apprehending or killing the individuals in Afghanistan who were responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks, compared with 25% who think the U.S. was unsuccessful in achieving that goal. Only about one in five Americans say the U.S. successfully improved opportunities for women and girls in Afghanistan, with 43% saying such efforts were unsuccessful. But many said advancing the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan was important to them. About three-quarters said that goal was extremely, very or somewhat important to them. Those figures are similar to the level of support for the goal of eliminating the threat of Islamic extremists sheltering in Afghanistan. Since the Taliban's return to power, they have restricted women's rights to education and work and even barred them from public parks. Women were more likely than men across party lines to call advancing the rights of women in Afghanistan an important goal. Toni Dewey, a 75-year-old Democrat from Wilmington, North Carolina, said she wasn't sure how much the U.S. could do at this point to improve the rights of women in Afghanistan but she did feel their educational opportunities were greater while America was there. "I think any population that doesn't respect their population, they're missing out because women do contribute to the benefit of everyone," she said. Even as Democrats and Republicans have similar views on policy goals for Afghanistan, they differ on whether the U.S. should take a more active role in solving the world's problems: 55% of Republicans say the U.S. should take a less active role, compared with 15% of Democrats. The responses also demonstrate the ongoing shift in the Republican Party, which has traditionally been more hawkish and interventionist. Nola Sayne, a 59-year-old Republican from Loganville, Georgia, said she is "wary of the United States being the world's police." Up until quite recently she had been supportive of policies limiting American involvement abroad like the war in Ukraine to instead focus American attention and funding at home. But the Hamas attack on Israel, which took place after the poll was conducted, is making her rethink that position. DIPLOMACY BEIRUT Iran's 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 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. On the same day, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for protecting civilians in the Gaza Strip and Israel as he intensified his 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 between the sides in 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. His efforts reflect the international concern about the number of civilians at risk and the potential ramifications of a prolonged war. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin 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. In visits with Saudi and UAE leaders, Blinken cited the need for humanitarian assistance and safe passage for 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 list of concerns. 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 fighters who participated in Syria's 12-year conflict, also has different types of military drones. Hezbollah fighters have been on full alert along Lebanon's borders with Israel following Hamas' attack last weekend that left hundreds of 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 fighters fired rockets and shells at Israeli positions in the disputed Chebaa Farms. Israeli troops fired back on nearby areas in southern Lebanon. Felix Arturo Medina Padilla appointed as new Undersecretary of Ministry Human Rights Mexico City, Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has appointed Felix Arturo Medina Padilla as the new Undersecretary of Human Rights, Population and Migration, of the Ministry of the Interior. The appointed announcement was made Thursday morning during the daily Presidential press conference. He is a very good public servant, prepared, honest, with convictions, he said. The President explained that the change was due to the departure of Alejandro Encinas Rodriguez, who starting October 19, will undertake new political projects. During the announcement, Lopez Obrado thanked Encinas Rodriguez for his support in assignments within the Government of Mexico, such as in the Ayotzinapa Truth Commission and the Commission for Access to the Truth of Serious Violations Committed from 1965 to 1990. This morning, at the meeting, we said goodbye to Alejandro Encinas with applaus he said. As of October 19, Felix Arturo Medina Padilla took over as subsecretario de Derechos Humanos, Poblacion y Migracion, de la Secretaria de Gobernacion. Before this, he served as Fiscal Attorney of the Federation in the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit. Magistrates of Quintana Roo start week-long strike Riviera Maya, Q.R. Magistrates of Quintana Roo have started a week-long strike in protest of wage and benefit cuts. On Thursday, magistrates of the Twenty-Seventh Circuit, in coordination with District judges in Quintana Roo, reported that the agreement was signed to carry out a nationwide work stoppage from October 19 to 24. In front of the facilities of the Judicial Branch of the Federation in Cancun, workers said they joined the national strike, which meant they would not allow colleagues office access. Likewise, neither litigants nor legal persons will be able to enter the building as part of the disagreements over the extinction of trusts of the Judicial Branch of the Federation in 2024. The General Secretary the Judicial Branch union, Jesus Gilberto Gonzalez Pimentel, explained that it is not a demonstration, but a national work stoppage and that only in urgent cases will employees be permitted to enter the buildings. Workers are protesting in response to the cancellation of 13 trusts of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) and the proposal of the Chamber of Deputies to reduce the budget for the year 2024. Approximately 900 unionized workers of the Judicial Branch of the Federation in the state will participate in the 4-day national strike. Police arrest father for abducting his children Playa del Carmen, Q.R. A man who is accused of abducting his two minor children has been arrested in Playa del Carmen. The State Attorney Generals Office reported that the events attributed to Jeyser Abimael N occurred on June 29, 2022, when he abducted two female minors who were with their mother. For his alleged participation in the crime of vicarious violence, the State Attorney Generals Office completed an arrest warrant against him. Jeyser Abimael N was arrested when he was walking along Luis Donaldo Colosio Avenue near the Galaxia del Carmen 2 subdivision of Playa del Carmen. The events attributed to him occurred on June 29, 2022, when he abducted two female minors, identity withheld, who were with their mother, who had separated from Jeyser Abimael N for reasons of family violence. This situation caused psychological damage to the victim, since she did not know where her minor daughters were. After the arrest, Jeyser Abimael N was transferred to the FGE facilities in order to carry out the corresponding legal procedures. Later he entered the Municipal Detention Center, where he was placed at the disposal of a Control Judge. The Chilean Miracle of the 1990s is usually pointed to as a win for the Chicago School of economics, which advocated laissez faire capitalism, limited regulation, and cuts in government spending. But that was then, and this is the era of Bidenomics and a post-liberal New Right. Are free markets as dead as General Pinochet? Louis Menand wrote a curious article for the New Yorker called The Rise and Fall of Neoliberalism. The article is curious on two fronts: First, though published in a progressive magazine, the article is largely judicious and fair to the concept of neoliberalism. Second, like many other recent articles, the essay sounds the death knell of neoliberalism, which is being replaced, apparently, by what has been called Global Bidenism. This Global Bidenism is itself strange, as its a response to Trumpism, which promised to use the government to help create jobs and regulate trade. Global Bidenism is also an about-face for the Democratic Party, which, since Jimmy Carter, has used the language of social democracy to gain votes but has generally proved to be just as neoliberal as the Republican Party. Prior to adopting millennial woke progressivism, which is largely focused on race and gender issues, more radical American progressives had taken the Democrats to task for abandoning the working class and embracing neoliberalismespecially during the Clinton era. One of the most popular radical liberal or social democrat critiques of neoliberalism during the era of George W. Bush is Naomi Kleins 2007 The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism. Written at a time when radical Democrats were still anti-war, anti-corporate, and pro-working class, Kleins book chronicles the rise of neoliberalisms Chicago school of economics and depicts what she sees (rightly or wrongly) as its destruction of many of the worlds economies. One of Kleins chapters deals specifically with one of the most pronounced targets of New Left and social democrat anger: the Chilean regime of General Augusto Pinochet. The standard New Left reading of Pinochets regime, which Naomi Klein depicts, is that of a horrific amalgamation of South American fascism and American capitalism working in tandem to torture an entire country. Now we come to The Chile Project: The Story of the Chicago Boys and the Downfall of Neoliberalism, written by UCLA economics professor Sebastian Edwards, which provides a much more nuanced and multilayered depiction of the rise and fall of neoliberalism in Chile. While Naomi Klein begins her Shock Doctrine with a discussion of CIA experiments under psychiatrist Donald Ewen Cameron, Sebastian Edwards begins his Chile Project with the U.S. Department of States program of the same name. Begun in 1955, the State Departments Chile Project was intended to train Chilean economists in free market principles at the University of Chicago and was part of a wider effort to tilt Latin America in an anti-communist direction. Given the derisive and intentionally Anglo moniker Los Chicago Boys, the University of Chicagotrained economists had little influence during the 1950s and 60s. However, with the toppling of Salvador Allende by General Augusto Pinochet in 1973, the Chicago Boys came into prominence and helped to import the ideas of Milton Freidman and other neoliberal economists into Chile. It is at this point that most left-wing writers craft the narrative of a seamless garment of Friedmanite economics and Latin American authoritarianism. However, Edwards, with ample evidence and anecdotes (Edwards is himself a University of Chicagotrained Chilean economist), shows that the economic policies of the Chicago Boys should not be seen as synonymous with the life and work of Milton Friedman, and, more importantly, what is understood as the authoritarian nature of the Pinochet regime should be distinguished from that economic school. Edwards provides a rich history of not only recent Chilean (and American) history but also elements of wider 20th century economic history. As Edwards notes, the term neoliberal was developed in the shadow of the rise of communism and fascism. He cites Walter Lippmanns work The Good Society, which argued, as Friedrich Hayek would, for a return to the liberal principles of Adam Smith and Jeremy Bentham. Lippmanns key point is that what made neoliberalism different from 19th century liberalism was the alleged social benefits of liberalism. The term was used after World War II for the policies of West German leaders Konrad Adenauer and Ludwig Erhard. In America, Milton Friedman, in 1951, penned Neo-liberalism and Its Prospects. In the piece, Friedman, like Lippmann before him, touted the alleged economic and social benefits of liberalism. It wasnt until the 1990s, Edwards argues, that the neoliberalism label earned its now largely negative connotation. In his discussion of Chile, Edwards does refer to the laissez-faire reforms of the Chicago Boys in Chile as shock treatment, a term that Milton Friedman did formulate himself. However, Edwards notes that, with the return of democracy in 1990, Chile had developed into what appeared to be a successful capitalist economy, which has been called the Chilean miracle. In fact, Chile would become the richest country in Latin America by 2000. Edwards further notes that, although Augusto Pinochet was accused of numerous human rights abuses and acts of corruption even during his lifetime, the Chilean democratic reformers of the 1990s nevertheless retained the shock-treatment economic reforms that were undertaken under his regime (even if some Chicago School economists distanced themselves from Pinochet). However, despite economic success (achieved at a very high human cost), Chile was overtaken by a radical revolt in 2019. Although earlier revolts had been focused on economic issues, this one, like those throughout the world in the past decade, focused on race and even gender issues. Protestors called for the return of land to the indigenous natives of Chile and demanded a new constitution. In 2021 there was a successful referendum for a new Chilean constitution, which some called an anti-neoliberal constitution. In December of that year, Chile elected as president Gabriel Boric, a youthful radical made famous for his casual dress and love of American rock music. Boric attempted to push through the new constitution, but it ultimately failed, and recent electoral developments in Chile have seen a rightward shift. Neoliberalism may or may not be dead. It may or may not be true that the Democratic Party, under Joe Biden, is no longer the party of Clintonian neoliberalism. But it is certainly true that the Republican Party is no longer solidly the party of Reaganite laissez-faire economics. Conservative critics of at least certain elements of capitalism are no longer marginal figures in the Republican Party and have a prominent voiceboth online and on the stages of Republican rallies. There is a general consensus among the New Right at least that the government should have some hand in controlling the market. At the same time, advocates of neoliberalism are not wrong (and even mild critics of neoliberalism will admit) that free market capitalism has given us the comforts of modernity and tremendous abundance and prosperity. The key question for all conservatives moving forward is how to have economic prosperity as part of a larger political program that does not neglect higher human values. Correction Oct. 28, 2023: Emory & Henry College President John Wells' first name was incorrectly reported in the originally published version of this article, which has been updated. EMORY Emory & Henry College has breathed new life into Carriger Hall as it becomes the new 12,223 square foot state-of-the-art E&H School of Business. At the Oct. 13 ribbon-cutting ceremony, college President John Wells, highlighted the shared history of generations of E&H students who once called Carriger Hall home. The building has undergone $5 million in renovations. I am profoundly grateful to be leading this institution during the time of the renovation, of the grand reopening of this hall, Wells said. Its so fun to hear alums talk about their time in this building. It punctuates their memory as they think about their days here at this grand old institution. Pranks, evenings sitting on the roof, and the parties here fill the hearts and memories of so many of our alumni. Waterhouse-Carriger Hall, known as Carriger Hall by most current E&H students, employees and alumni, was built in 1908 and renamed in honor of Richard Green Waterhouse, president of the E&H College from 1893 to 1910, and his stepson, Herbert M. Carriger in 1955. In his remarks, Emmett Tracy, the founding dean of the E&H business school, emphasized what a journey it has been since he arrived at E&H three years ago and highlighted he cannot wait to see the new Carriger School of Business building full of energetic students and faculty. Those that know me know Im convinced that institutions are not about buildings, but about people. What makes these halls special every day is not the paint or the pictures, although both are beautiful. But the people who built it and the people who restored it and the students, to the faculty and the staff that bring this building joy every morning, Tracy said. This building, in many ways, is different. The buildings stories are part of the fabric of its community. Tracy explained that the new building was constructed with team-based learning in mind. There are various breakout rooms adjacent to the classrooms, which allow for students to work in teams together, while faculty focuses on individual mentorship. We have a very conscious effort within the building to connect the physical space, the architectural space to the building to the way the students learn, Tracy said. If you were to walk through this part of the building, for example, youre gonna see a lot of breakout rooms, team rooms. Whats happening is students are in a classroom with their faculty, and theyre there for maybe 20 minutes of an hour-long class, and then they immediately break out into work in teams. The faculty has the capacity to walk around and kind of observe and mentor and then bring them back, Tracy added. E&H business students started taking classes and making use of the new Carriger facilities at the start of August. Alexis Hubert, a junior who is the vice president of the E&H Business & Investment Club, highlighted what it has been like so far as a student pursuing a career in business. This education means a lot to me because it allows me to see that a career in business is not a cookie-cutter choice like many from the outside try to perceive it as from the one-on-one help from professors life-changing opportunities, challenging courses and preparing for the future. All these moments are what make up this dedication of Carriger Hall. The dedication to a first-class education and enhancing life-changing experiences for students at Emory & Henry College, Hubert said. Virginias senators say the U.S. Senate will take the lead to force Congress back to work by taking bipartisan action on a $100 billion budget package that President Joe Biden will introduce to provide military aid to Israel and Ukraine and humanitarian aid to Gaza, boost border security and provide help to states stricken by natural disasters. Sen. Tim Kaine and Sen. Mark Warner, both Democrats and former governors, say they cannot resolve the Republican Party leadership battle that has paralyzed the House of Representatives. They hope the Senate will lead by example and persuade the House to do its job. I do think that the right way for this to happen is for the Senate to act first and show by a strong, bipartisan vote on the supplemental package that we support this, Kaine said in a media briefing on Thursday. If we can do that, that will send a really strong message to the House and thats the most effective thing we can do to try to help encourage the House to act promptly and do the right thing, he said. Warner, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said in a separate briefing on Thursday: My hope is that responsible members of the Republican Party will say this kind of chaos makes no sense. It basically makes our governing structures look foolish in front of Americans and in front of the world. House Republicans have resisted any solution to their leadership crisis that involves working with Democrats, despite two failed efforts by conservatives to elect Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, as speaker. Jordan, co-founder of the far-right Freedom Caucus and the favorite of former President Donald Trump, said Thursday that he would continue to look for the 217 Republican votes necessary to become speaker. This came after the apparent breakdown of a potential compromise that would have extended the powers of Acting Speaker Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., to temporarily lead the House and take care of urgent national business, such as foreign military aid and avoiding a federal government shutdown on Nov. 17. Democrats say there is no solution without them. Any path forward is going to have to have bipartisan support because they cant get to 217 votes to agree on anyone, said Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-4th, who represents Richmond and much of the surrounding area, including parts of Chesterfield and Henrico counties. Rep. Bob Good, R-5th, who represents part of Hanover County and other outlying Richmond suburbs, strongly opposes the attempt to expand McHenrys powers to lead the House temporarily or compromise with Democrats to defuse the leadership crisis. No Republican should under any circumstances support an unconstitutional elevation of power to an unelected Speaker, nor a highly dangerous coalition government arrangement with Democrats radically opposed to the America first agenda, Good said Thursday in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. McClellan said Good helped cause the chaos in the House by refusing to elect Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as speaker in January without major concessions to the Freedom Caucus and then voted to oust him from the job more than two weeks ago, preventing the House from acting on legislation. Bob Good is part of the Chaos Caucus that got us in this crisis to begin with, and didnt have a Plan B, McClellan said Thursday in an interview. McCarthys fall from power has divided Virginia Republicans. Good backs Jordan, along with Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-9th, and Rep. Ben Cline, R-6th. Rep. Rob Wittman, R-1st, who represents parts of Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico counties, had backed Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., but threw his support to Jordan after Scalise withdrew because he did not have the votes to be elected speaker. That left Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-2nd, in her first year in the House, in the middle. Kiggans, a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot who represents a Virginia Beach-based district with a large military presence, voted twice to restore McCarthy to power, rebuffing Jordan after meeting with him. Although we share conservative values, Mr. Jordans government funding plan has the potential to further cut the defense budget, which is already inadequate in my opinion, she said in a video that she posted online on Tuesday night. Mr. Jordan also voted against keeping government open on September 30th, and he didnt rule out that shutting down the government wasnt an option for the future. As a representative of Hampton Roads, which is home to the Atlantic Fleet and the East Coast Master Jet Base and thousands of military members and military families and veterans, thats not a vote Im willing to take, Kiggans said after voting for McCarthy instead of Jordan earlier that day. Above all else, I believe Congress must get back to work, but I will not put the defense budget in jeopardy, especially at a time like this, when weve sent two carrier battle groups to sit off the coast of Israel and in harms way. Thats why I support extending the authority of the Speaker Pro Tempore, Patrick McHenry, Kiggans said, as we work to overcome the chaos caused by the minority of the majority, so that Congress can get back to work passing Appropriations bills, condemning the terrorist acts of Hamas and providing support to Israel among other work we need to get done. Kiggans voted for McCarthy again on Wednesday, pointedly defying pressure she came under from Jordans supporters. I was a helicopter pilot in the United States Navy ... threats and intimidation tactics will not change my principles and values, she said in a post on X. Virginias senators say the way forward begins with the supplemental aid package that Biden is expected to introduce to extend military assistance both to Israel, in the aftermath of a bloody terrorist attack by Hamas, and Ukraine, which was denied additional aid in the stopgap funding bill adopted Sept. 30 to avert a government shutdown for 45 days. The package is also expected to include humanitarian aid for Palestinians trapped in Israels military assault against Hamas in Gaza, money to boost security along the southern U.S. border, and relief for states stricken by natural disasters, such as wildfires and floods. Warner said the temporary elevation of McHenry so that the peoples business can be done, to me makes a lot of sense. But weve got to get enough of my Republican friends, and the Democrats as well, to say, we need to put, in this moment of crisis, governing back as the first priority, not this kind of circular firing squad amongst some of the most extreme members of the Republican Party. Yes, it puts an added burden on us in the Senate to be adults and to act responsibly to put together this bipartisan plan. ... We need to do our job. BBB (Better Business Bureau) issued a new TikTok Shop scam alert to warn consumers about the rising number of fake, faulty, and non-existent products sold in this online marketplace. The giant video platform recently released its e-commerce business in the United States on Sept. 12. Before it arrived, many experts already warned that users should be careful when using this platform for shopping. This is because TikTok wasn't originally created as a shopping platform. Now, here's what BBB said in its latest warning. TikTok Shop Scam Alert Issued by BBB According to NBC 5 Chicago, BBB revealed that ever since the TikTok Shop arrived, around 55% of the social media platform's users have been using it to buy numerous products. Most of them purchased items just after seeing them on the app. BBB President and CEO Steve Bernas warned that using the TikTok Shop comes with a lot of risks. "Consumers should vigilantly follow online shopping safety tips when using TikTok Shop," he explained. "With any new service comes the potential for scams, especially with online shopping, where it could be difficult to verify a seller's identity or vet their background," he added. When TikTok released its e-commerce business, the social media company promised that it would closely watch the activities of TikTok sellers and remove products that violate the platform's Terms of Service. However, Bernas warned that some scammers can still "slip through" the restrictions of TikTok. He added that malicious sellers can do this by selling fake, faulty, and non-existent products. Read Also: EU Launches Probe Into TikTok, Meta for Disinformation on Israel-Hamas War How to Avoid TikTok Shop Scam BBB provided some tips that users can follow to avoid becoming one of the victims of TikTok Shop scams. These include the following: Always read the return policy. Read the reviews and comments before purchasing. Make thorough research about the seller and the product. Check the seller's verification. Use your credit card when shopping so transaction issues can be disputed easily. Aside from these, CBS News also shared other tips to help you avoid online shopping scams on TikTok and other social media platforms: Try shopping with companies you already know, especially during holidays. If the offer is too good to be true, find another product. When purchasing products from the TikTok Shop, check it on other more reliable shopping sites, such as Amazon and Best Buy. Related Article: Top Online Marketplaces With the Most Fake Products-Here's How to Spot Counterfeits @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Live updates | Hamas frees 2 American hostages, even as Israel airstrikes continue in southern Gaza Israel says Hamas has freed two American hostages who had been held in Gaza since militants rampaged through southern Israel Oct. 7 Email Thomas Elias at tdelias@aol.com. His book, "The Burzynski Breakthrough, The Most Promising Cancer Treatment and the Governments Campaign to Squelch It" is now available in a soft cover fourth edition. For more Elias columns, visit www.californiafocus.net " " The Pantheon is one of today's best-preserved structures from ancient Rome. It was built sometime between 126 and 128 C.E. during the reign of Emperor Hadrian. John Harper/Getty Images If a friend who was about to go off on a European adventure told you they were going to visit the Pantheon, would you immediately picture an ancient temple with white marble columns? What if that same friend told you they would also be stopping by the Parthenon? Would you imagine a similar scene in your head? The point is many people get mixed up Pantheon vs. Parthenon discussions. And that's no surprise because the names are super similar. But the two are very different; they're not even in the same country. Advertisement The Parthenon, for instance, is in Athens, Greece, and the Pantheon is in Rome, Italy. The name of the former comes from the Greek word parthenos, which is an epithet of the Greek goddess Athena, meaning "virgin." The name for the latter also comes from Greek word, but pan in Pantheon means "all," and theos means "gods," meaning it's a tribute to all gods, not just one. In short, these two famous buildings of the ancient world have very little in common. We spoke with Christopher Ratte, a classical archaeologist and professor at the University of Michigan, and Dr. C. Brian Rose, the curator-in-charge of the Mediterranean Section at the Penn Museum and archaeologist who's been digging in the field for more than 40 years, to find out precisely what makes these two ancient temples so different. " " This little guy is about to find out what gravity is all about. Steve Puetzer/Getty Images The first force that you ever became aware of was probably gravity. As a toddler, you had to learn to rise up against it and walk. When you stumbled, you immediately felt gravity bring you back down to the floor. Besides giving toddlers trouble, gravity holds the moon, planets, sun, stars and galaxies together in the universe in their respective orbits. It can work over immense distances and has an infinite range. Advertisement Newton's Notion of Gravity Isaac Newton envisioned gravity as a pull between any two objects that were directly related to their masses and inversely related to the square of the distance separating them. His law of gravitation enabled mankind to send astronauts to the moon and robotic probes to the outer reaches of our solar system. From 1687 until the early 20th century, Newton's idea of gravity as a "tug-of-war" between any two objects dominated physics. But one phenomenon that Newton's theories couldn't explain was the peculiar orbit of Mercury. The orbit itself appeared to rotate (also known as precession). This observation had frustrated astronomers since the mid-1800s. Einstein's Relative Progress In 1915, Albert Einstein realized that Newton's laws of motion and gravity didn't apply to objects in high gravity or at high speeds, like the speed of light. In his general theory of relativity, Albert Einstein envisioned gravity as a distortion of space caused by mass. Imagine that you place a bowling ball in the middle of a rubber sheet. The ball makes a depression in the sheet (a gravity well or gravity field). If you roll a marble toward the ball, it will fall into the depression (be attracted to the ball) and may even circle the ball (orbit) before it hits. Depending upon the speed of the marble, it may escape the depression and pass the ball, but the depression might alter the marble's path. Gravity fields around massive objects like the sun do the same. Einstein derived Newton's law of gravity from his own theory of relativity and showed that Newton's ideas were a special case of relativity, specifically one applying to weak gravity and low speeds. When considering massive objects (Earth, stars, galaxies), gravity appears to be the most powerful force. However, when you apply gravity to the atomic level, it has little effect because the masses of subatomic particles are so small. On this level, it's actually downgraded to the weakest force. " " Benjamin Franklin's inventions were so numerous and so influential, they landed him on the $100 bill. GeorgePeters / Getty Images Between running a print shop, engineering the U.S. postal system, starting America's first lending library and helping sow the seeds of the American Revolution, Ben Franklin also found time to draw up a vast collection of new devices. To this day, the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, stands as an inspiration to curious minds and a tribute to clever innovations. Franklin saw his inventions as gifts to the public and never patented a single one. "As we enjoy great advantages from the inventions of others, we should be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours; and this we should do freely and generously," he wrote in his autobiography. So, what did Benjamin Franklin invent? Advertisement Franklin's inventions are all models of practicality. It's one thing for a team of engineers to design the Segway, but quite another for an elderly, 18th-century man to think of throwing a set of stairs on a library chair. Most of the items in this list likely had fellow colonists slapping their foreheads and exclaiming, "Why didn't I think of that?" " " The cause of the Black Death once eluded scientific minds, but now that we've got that figured out, perhaps some of these other questions can get answers. Enrique Diaz/Getty Images When the Black Death ran rampant through cities in the Middle Ages, no one knew exactly how or why the awful disease spread. After many generations, we figured out that rat fleas and bacteria were to blame. It was a watershed moment for the power of science. Centuries later, the brightest minds continue to investigate difficult, bewildering scientific questions every day. Yet even with artificial intelligence and brilliant minds connecting with more computing power than our species has ever known, we still don't have all of the answers. In fact, some people might argue that we're just now learning to ask the truly big questions. Advertisement What happens to us after we die? How did so much life appear on our planet when others seem devoid of any species at all? Who, if anyone, pulls the strings of our universe? Is it some all-powerful god in control or are there physical and mathematical principles driving the engine of our existence? Sometimes, after centuries of missteps, we humans finally stumble into real answers to real questions, such as why diseases spread. Other times, we're left grasping into the darkness of our own ignorance and wondering what any of it really means. But humanity will keep trying to eliminate questions and give us the true answers. " " (From left) U.S. President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, hold a moment of silence and candlelight ceremony in honor of a grim milestone 500,000 American deaths from coronavirus Feb. 22, 2021. SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images At some point in our lives at multiple points we all grieve. No matter how much we try to avoid losing the people we love, we can't avoid all of life's pain. And so we grieve. In ways personal and public, in ways silent and loud. These days, though, grieving has taken on a new form. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, we can't yet safely soothe those who have lost loved ones with a hug or an arm around a shoulder. We can't yet for fear of spreading the virus gather safely to say goodbye. We can't be there for others, and others can't be there for us, and experts say being there is one of the most important parts of the grieving process. Advertisement It's been devastating. But, somehow, through it all, we've persevered. "I think that I would say we're probably, on average, we're probably doing OK," says Katherine Shear, a professor of psychiatry in the Columbia School of Social Work and the founding director of the Center for Complicated Grief at Columbia University. "One of the things we're doing is acknowledging it, which is huge. Often, grief is something that we kind of half-acknowledge." As a nation, Shear says, it took the U.S. some time to face up to the very real impact the pandemic is having. She points to memorials that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris held in Washington, D.C. initially as president- and vice president-elect and later as president and vice president as important, if somewhat belated, first steps. "That kind of thing, we're not doing very well with, and we need to do better, because it's very helpful," she said. "And of course we're not doing well with the disparity issues, either. We're subjecting some of our most vulnerable populations to grief as well as death." But the spotlight on grief, as the pandemic has worn on, has intensified. And that's good. "There's been a massive increase in the interest in understanding grief and helping the public understand it and deal with it," Shear says. "In that way, I think we're doing very, very well. Finally, we are paying attention to something that is always important in our lives. People are so much more aware and respectful of grief than they were a year ago." " " Claire Callender (left holding casket), who is a funeral director and co-founder of The Green Funeral Company, is helped by her partner, Ru Callender, carry the casket of her mother, Rosemary Phillips, to her final resting place in April 2020 in Totnes, United Kingdom. Phillips died of natural causes at 84. Claire never intended to arrange her own mother's funeral, but chose to because of the restrictions on funerals. Lynsey Addario/Getty Images FLORENCE, S.C. Save A Lot is cutting ties with its location in downtown Florence. While the store has been in a difficult financial state for many months, owner Tim Waters said he was informed of the companys decision last week after he began selling shares in the grocery store. He now has 30 days to remove all of the companys signs and branding from his store, but he said he plans to keep the store open under a new name. Sarah Griffin, director of public relations and community engagement at Save A Lot, said the company was working with Waters for the last several months to overcome identified financial and operational challenges. His license was terminated because it was unsuccessful in overcoming these challenges and for other reasons. 20230929_103340.jpg Save A Lot has cut ties with its location in downtown Florence and given it 30 days to remove all of its branding from the store. While we are disappointed in this outcome, we are grateful to customers in the Florence community for their support, Griffin said. We hope to identify and attract an alternate Save A Lot operator in this location to continue to provide residents with access to high quality and fresh, affordable food options. Waters said Save A Lot previously told him that the store was underperforming and not buying enough groceries, so he came up with the shares as a way to get people invested in the store and raise capital at the same time. People werent shopping before. I was hemorrhaging money, $4,000$6,000 a month, he said. In the first three days of selling shares, Waters said, he raised around $17,000. He has also seen more people coming in to shop at the store, particularly those who have invested. However, the store faces another hurdle: Waters is behind on lease payments on the building and has defaulted on the agreement. Thats according to Alphonso Bradley, executive director of the Housing Authority of Florence. The building is owned by the Palmetto Housing Corporation, a subsidiary of the Housing Authority, and Bradley is also the CEO of the corporation. While the Palmetto Housing Corporation board has not taken any action yet, he said, the board could evict the grocery store from the building. Waters said he went to the last board meeting and asked for 90 days to be able to pay back what he owed. While he has not heard back from the board, he said he guesses they will agree to the request. Now that Im selling these shares, and these shares are selling, I can catch up on everything now, Waters said. According to a poster Waters shared on his Facebook page, the shares cost $25 each, which can be split into $5 installments over five weeks. It also says that dividends will be paid quarterly, and a five-member shareholder board of directors will be elected to oversee the funds. Waters said that selling shares was part of the reason Save A Lot cut ties with the store, but that everything he is doing it by the books. He said he spoke with the S.C. Attorney Generals Office to learn how to set up the shares to comply with state and federal law. The funds are being used to buy inventory, which Waters said would have benefited Save A Lot since that is where he gets non-perishable goods from. Now with ties cut, he is free to buy from more local suppliers, which he was already doing for meat and vegetables, he said. In addition to being a business plan, Waters said, selling shares is a way to give the store back to the community. People are now taking ownership because theyve got a vested interest, he said. The store is looking to sell 120,000 shares over the next year. On Oct. 12, Waters said 120 people have bought shares in the store. While he only needs to raise $125,000, the rest of the money will go toward buying the building, according to Waters. He said he hopes to raise $3 million in total. Im taking the taxpayers money, what the taxpayers did to build this store, and giving it back to the people who live and shop here, Waters said. Store history The store was built through a partnership between the city of Florence and the Palmetto Housing Corporation, according to Assistant City Manager Clint Moore. Around 2017, the city created an overlay zoning district along the railroad corridor to encourage redevelopment. What we wanted to do was promote the small, local business economy here in Florence to have goods and access to health food, and all of those things here locally, Moore said. This food, artisan and warehouse district, he said, was meant to physically and socially bridge two areas of downtown that had become disconnected: downtown and the historic neighborhoods. The city won an economic development achievement award from the Municipal Association of South Carolina for the district in 2022. We have the railroad that was both a physical and social barrier, Moore said. We wanted to, instead of allowing that to continue, actually flip it on its head and celebrate it and turn it into something that unifies us even further. Within that area, the city began buying up land to redevelop it. One of those pieces of land was given to the Palmetto Housing Corporation to make into a grocery store where Moore said one was badly needed. After the contractor originally hired by the corporation to build the store did not live up to its side of the contract, the city stepped in at the corporations request to manage the construction of the store. Florence City Council also dedicated $500,000 to help with the stores construction in 2018. Tim Waters received his own money from the city in 2017. After he completed a business development program at Francis Marion University, he was awarded $300,000 to buy needed equipment for the store. Construction was completed in 2021 and the store opened its doors in October of that year, Moore said. The Italian PM has left her husband after refusing to answer press questions about his behaviour (AP) Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni has left her partner Andrea Giambruno, a television journalist, who has drawn criticism in recent weeks over sexist comments. Ms Meloni told reporters last month that she should not be judged on Giambrunos remarks, and in future would not answer questions about his behaviour. The split comes as the 46-year-old prime minister celebrates her first year in office at the head of a right-wing coalition government that has defended the traditional family as one of its policy hallmarks. My relationship with Andrea Giambruno, which lasted almost 10 years, ends here, Ms Meloni wrote on her social media accounts. Our paths have diverged for some time, and the time has come to acknowledge it, she added. Ms Meloni said she would not be distracted by difficulties in her private life, saying that all those who hoped to weaken me by striking me at home would be unsuccessful. The couple, who met in a TV studio in 2014, have a seven-year-old daughter. Giambruno, 42, hosts the Diario del Giorno [Daily diary] programme on the Rete 4 commercial station. The programme is transmitted by Mediaset, part of the MFE media group, which is owned by the heirs of the late Silvio Berlusconi, a former prime minister and a Meloni ally. Giorgia Meloni arrives with her partner Andrea Giambruno, second from left, at the Vatican in January this year for an audience with Pope Francis (AP) This week, a satirical current affairs television show on Mediaset broadcast off-air video excerpts from Giambrunos programme, which showed him using foul language, touching his groin and appearing to make advances to a female colleague. Why didnt I meet you before?, he asks her. In a second audio recording, aired on Thursday, Giambruno is heard talking about being in an affair and telling female colleagues they can work with him if they take part in group sex. In August, Giambruno made a victim-blaming statement about a high-profile gang-rape case in the Sicilian capital Palermo. If you go dancing, you have every right to get drunk there shouldnt be any kind of misunderstanding and any kind of problem but if you avoid getting drunk and losing your senses, you might also avoid running into certain problems and coming across a wolf, he said. Giambruno was not immediately available for comment. Marco Furfaro of the opposition Democratic Party said Giambrunos comments were pure chauvinism and sexism ... uncommentable filth. Shipwrecks shed light on Maritime Silk Road 08:22, October 20, 2023 By Wang Ru and Wang Kaihao ( China Daily Porcelain pieces salvaged from one of the two shipwrecks in the South China Sea this year are put on display. The ships date back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). CHINA DAILY Archaeologists have found two shipwrecks deep in the South China Sea, which serve as a witness to commercial and cultural exchanges along the ancient Maritime Silk Road. The findings were announced in Beijing on Thursday at a news conference held by the National Cultural Heritage Administration. The latest underwater archaeological explorations were carried out in September and October by the administration's National Center for Archaeology, the Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the China (Hainan) Museum of the South China Sea. Along with the shipwrecks, pottery, porcelain and ironware have been found, and nearly 600 artifacts have been recovered so far, most of which were produced at kilns in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, which is known as China's "porcelain capital". The locations of the shipwrecks and the cultural relics were confirmed as a result of oceanographic detection and underwater investigations using manned submersibles that dived 41 times this year, said Song Jianzhong, a researcher at the National Center for Archaeology. Techniques such as 3D photography and laser scanning were used during the investigations, added Song. The No 1 shipwreck, from the reign of Emperor Zhengde (1506-21) of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), is about 37 meters long and 11 meters wide. So far, 543 artifacts have been recovered from the shipwreck. Based on studies of the ship and its cargo, archaeologists speculated that it set off from a port in Fujian or Guangdong province and was bound for Malacca or another trade hub in Southeast Asia. The No 2 shipwreck dates from the reign of Emperor Hongzhi (1488-1505). It measures about 21 meters long and 8 meters wide. A total of 36 artifacts, including processed logs, porcelain and pottery have been discovered on it. The shipwrecks are located on the routes of expeditions led by renowned Chinese mariner Zheng He in the early Ming Dynasty. Studies found that both ships were engaged in private maritime trade. Restrictions on maritime trade were adopted in the middle of the Ming Dynasty, and such trade at the government level shrank a lot. However, private trade continued to prosper during this period, Song said. "Discoveries from the two shipwrecks reflect the prosperity of maritime trade in the middle of the Ming Dynasty," he said. "These help us explore and understand the two-way flows of ships on the ancient Maritime Silk Road and maritime civilization in China." Jiang Bo, a professor at Shandong University's School of History and Culture, said these discoveries are world-class and show that China's underwater archaeology has reached the deep sea. "This is one of the most important archaeological programs in South China Sea archaeology and studies on the Maritime Silk Road, and is a perfect combination of underwater archaeology with manned submersible technology," said Jiang. Archaeological researchers are now summarizing their experience and establishing standards in terms of technical regulations, methods, requirements and working procedures for deep-sea archaeology. "It's totally new for us, and a big challenge," said Song. Wang Guangyao, a researcher at the Palace Museum in Beijing, said that the latest findings shed new light on the study of China's porcelain-making history. For example, the quality of Longquan Kiln porcelain, which was mainly exported from Zhejiang province, was previously thought to have sharply declined in the late 15th century. However, the discovery of a large number of fine Longquan celadon artifacts in shipwreck No 1 has led people to reconsider this notion, Wang said. The next underwater archaeological study of the two shipwrecks will be conducted in March and April, according to Song. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) There are multiple reports revealing that two US nationals held hostage by Hamas have been released "for humanitarian reasons." According to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency , the Israeli officials identified the liberated hostages as a mother and daughter duo named Judith and Natalie Raanan of Evanston, Illinois. However, the identities of the released hostages are yet to be verified and confirmed by Washington officials. It was reported that the two women were released by Hamas to the Red Cross, but Red Cross officials did not immediately respond to reporters' requests for comment. "The families headquarters congratulates the release of hostages from Hamas captivity," the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a message it distributed to reporters on WhatsApp. "The continued holding of hostages is a war crime. Hundreds of families await the assistance of leaders of Arab states after Hamas' actions shocked the entire world." Read Also: Greta Thunberg Slammed for Displaying Octopus Toy in Pro-Palestine Photo Two of the hostages, mother and daughter Yehudit Tai and Natali Shoshana Raanan were released by the Hamas terror organization and were transferred to the Israeli border via the Red Cross. They are on their way to an army base in central Israel were their families are anxiously pic.twitter.com/S4WZKUlE2h Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) October 20, 2023 Hamas Release the Hostages for 'Humanitarian Reasons' A Hamas spokesman also told reporters on a Telegram account that the Raanans were released because of Judith's alleged poor health. "In response to Qatari efforts, Al-Qassam Brigades released two American citizens (a mother and her daughter) for humanitarian reasons," Hamas said, "and to prove to the American people and the world that the claims made by Biden and his fascist administration are false and baseless." It is unclear whether the women would leave Gaza for Egypt or Israel. The White House is yet to comment on the development, but a diplomatic source with knowledge of the arrangements told CNN that the release of the two Americans was "hopefully the start of more to come." This followed NBC News' report last week that Hamas had expressed the willingness to release the civilian hostages they have, particularly women and children. However, Hamas also acknowledged that they do not have all of the hostages, as another aligned militant group called Palestinian Islamic Jihad has taken some of them. This is a developing story. Please follow HNGN for more updates. Related Article: Church Inside Gaza Hit by Israeli Airstrike, Orthodox Churchmen Say @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (PA Wire) A third person has lost their life as Storm Babet continues to batter the UK. A man in his 60s died after getting caught in fast-flowing flood water in the town of Cleobury Mortimer in Shropshire on Friday, West Mercia Police said, following the deaths of two people in Scotland. It came as Storm Babet caused widespread flooding and high winds on Friday afternoon, forcing a passenger plane to skid off a runway at Leeds Bradford Airport, which later closed. Prior to the man's death in Shropshire, another man died after his van was hit by a falling tree on the B9127, at Whigstreet near Forfar in Scotland, on Thursday. Police Scotland said on Friday: "Emergency services attended, however, the 56-year-old driver was pronounced dead at the scene. Next of kin have been informed and a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal. The road remains closed. A 57-year-old woman also died on Thursday, after she was swept into a river in Angus amid gale-force winds and flooding. As England, Wales and Northern Ireland faced warnings about heavy rain, Scotland continued to bear the brunt with flood defences in the town of Brechin being breached early on Friday. Emergency crews were on Friday trying to rescue people in Angus - the town hardest hit by the unprecedented flooding caused by Storm Barbet. Roads and bridges collapsed as Storm Babet hit Scotland amid feared theh tiny village could be completely cut off for a second time, as First Minister Humza Yousaf warned we have not seen the last of this. A 200-year-old bridge on the Rottal Estate in Angus was washed away by torrential flood water, while a road connecting Marykirk, Angus, where some houses were evacuated also collapsed. The village of Edzell, Angus, was cut off by flood water from three rivers which surround it, but most of the surface water drained away, leaving residents fearful of more rain forecast overnight. Angus Council, which serves the town near the eastern Scottish coast, said parts of Brechin are only accessible by boat and added: Angus is in the middle of a very serious emergency. Flooding is unprecedented. Levels are over half a metre over the last highest ever. Story continues Scotlands First Minister Humza Yousaf said: I cannot stress how dangerous conditions are in Brechin in particular. And Brechin councillor Jill Scott said: Its horrific. Its just absolutely horrendous. Ive never seen anything like it. She said people had been trapped for hours, warning: There will be hundreds of houses flooded. Another Brechin councillor, Gavin Nicol, warned some people may not be able to get back in their homes by Christmas, adding: Its just a disaster. The water is not going down, it is still rising. Angus Council said rescue crews are dealing with around 100 calls in areas of Brechin which had been asked to evacuate. Fire crews and the Coastguard began evacuating residents on Thursday night knocking on residents doors advising them to leave. Meanwhile major incidents have been declared in both Derbyshire and Suffolk. The Environment Agency said homes could be flooded in 45 areas of England and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency also warned there is a danger to life due to widespread flooding in five areas of Scotland, with flooding expected in a further 16 areas. Gusts in excess of 60mph are likely on Friday, with particularly poor conditions on immediate coastlines with large waves adding to the list of hazards. Flooding caused 70-minute delays on the A1 near Grantham, National Highways said, while further south, Suffolk declared a major incident on Friday as Storm Badet caused major flooding across the county. In an update on its website, Suffolk County Council urged residents not to travel unless absolutely necessary. Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said a major incident had also been declared in the county. In a post on social media site X, formerly Twitter, the service also advised people not travel unless essential until further notice this weekend. The post added: Do not ignore road closed signs. A statement posted on the services website added: Most roads in Derbyshire are affected by flooding and many are closed. We are calling on our communities to follow the advice below to keep safe: Do not travel unless essential from now until further information is available later in the weekend. Continue to watch for weather and flooding updates. Look out for vulnerable neighbours, especially if they have care services who may not be able to reach them. Never drive or walk into floodwater, even if it appears shallow it could endanger your life. Several major road sections and rail routes are closed in Scotland, while air passengers are facing flight cancellations. Flooding has also blocked several rail lines across northern England, the Midlands and north Wales. The rare Met Office red weather warning began at 6pm on Thursday and has been expanded to include Dundee, Perth and Kinross, as well as Angus and Aberdeenshire, where 20ft waves were seen crashing in Stonehaven harbour. There are four different yellow flood alerts in place which cover large parts of London. Amber warnings for wind and rain have been issued for parts of northern England, the Midlands and northern Wales from noon on Friday to 6am on Saturday. A yellow warning for Northern Ireland is also in place from 3am on Friday to 9am on Saturday. An Army private who fled to North Korea before being returned home to the United States last month was detained by the U.S. military, two officials said Thursday night, and is facing charges including desertion and possessing sexual images of a child. The eight counts against Pvt. Travis King are detailed in a charging document seen by The Associated Press. The officials who confirmed King's confinement spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the charges have not been publicly announced. King's mother, Claudine Gates, said in a statement that she loved her son unconditionally and was extremely concerned about his mental health. As his mother, I ask that my son be afforded the presumption of innocence, she said. Desertion is a very serious charge and can result in imprisonment for as much as three years. King also is accused of kicking and punching other officers last year, unlawfully possessing alcohol, making a false statement and possessing a video of a child engaged in sexual activity. That allegation dates to July 10, the same day he was released from a South Korean prison where he served nearly two months on assault charges. One week later, King, 23, ran across the heavily fortified border from South Korea and became the first American detained in North Korea in nearly five years. He was set to be sent to Fort Bliss, Texas, where he could have faced potential additional disciplinary actions and discharge. Officials said King was taken to the airport and escorted as far as customs. Instead of getting on the plane, he left and later joined a civilian tour of the Korean border village of Panmunjom. He ran across the border, which is lined with guards and often crowded with tourists, in the afternoon. After about two months, Pyongyang abruptly announced it would expel him. He was flown on Sept. 28 to an Air Force base in Texas. His release from North Korea was aided by Swedish officials who took King to the Chinese border, where he was met by U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, the Swedish ambassador to China and at least one U.S. Defense Department official. He was then flown to a U.S. military base in South Korea before heading to the U.S. Once back in the U.S., King was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston outside San Antonio. He went through what the military describes as a reintegration process that included medical exams, psychological assessments and debriefings. And he was also allowed to meet with family. Because he had willingly run into enemy hands, he legally was kept in military custody throughout that process. At the time, officials said they did not know exactly why North Korea decided to let King go, but suspected Pyongyang determined that as a low-ranking service member he had no real value in terms of either leverage or information. King joined the Army in January 2021, and served as a cavalry scout. While he was gone, Army leaders declared him absent without leave, opting to not consider him a deserter, which is far more serious. By declaring King a deserter, the Army would have to conclude that King left and intended to stay away permanently. In times of war, desertion can carry the death penalty. Service members can go AWOL for several days, but may return voluntarily. The punishment can include confinement, forfeiture of pay or dishonorable discharge and it is largely based on how long they were away and whether they were apprehended or returned on their own. The charging document does not provide significant detail on any of the allegations, though it does accuse King of knowingly possessing a video of a child engaging in sexual conduct July 10 and says he solicited a user of Snapchat, a social media platform, to produce images of underage sexual activity. Sean Timmons, an attorney who specializes in military law at the Tully Rinckey law firm and who reviewed the charging document, said all the transactions that occurred on Snapchat were not secure or private and were accessible by the government. He probably reasonably believed his illegal conduct would have no evidentiary trail, but Snapchat actually saves everything, Timmons said. 125 Years Ago Bond Company Checkmated: Judge Wakefield overruled the motion for a new trial of the $50,000 case of the Independent School District of Sioux City vs. the American Surety Company. Judgement was entered on the verdict against the American Surety Company and against H.S. Hubbard by default. This was the case in which the school district was awarded a verdict in the sum of $50,000 principal and $1,250 as interested against the American Surety Company on the bond of H. S. Hubbard, ex-treasurer of the district. This is one of the most important cases ever tried in Woodbury County district court since a large amount of the taxpayers money is involved. Another Library Planned: Sioux City is about to have another public library. Rev. S. P. Marsh, who, at the beginning of the present conference year, took charge of the Haddock Memorial M. E. church, Steuben and Fifth streets, has some plans for educational and industrial work which he hopes to soon put into execution in connection with his pastoral duties in the parish. The first feature attempted will be a free public library of several hundred volumes of the worlds best literature for the use of the residents of that part of the city. 100 Years Ago Deny Reports British Lord Passed Bottle: Indignant Denial of reports that Sioux Citys distinguished guest, Lord Birkenhead poured in the church basement for a number of Sioux City lawyer acquaintances samples of some bonnie Kings Own, from his private liquor stock were made Saturday night by Dr. R.N. Van Horne, chairman of the lecture committee at Grace Methodist Episcopal Church. Van Horne emphatically denies any drinking occurred and states he was with the earl the entire time. The pastor of the church, Rev. F. C. Taylor, calls the reports mere gossip. Three Die as Ditch Caves In; One Man Lives: Three men are dead and one seriously injured as a result of a cave in in the new Perry Creek conduit at Sixth and Park avenue shortly before 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon. The dead are Vernon Lin, C. S. Moorehead, and Harry Houdhins, and the injured man is G. N. Matten. A spectator at the work, Joseph Katzenberger, narrowly escaped injuries when he was precipitated into the ditch when the side caved in. The men were buried under about four feet of earth and bricks when the east wall collapsed. The ground gave way for about 25 feet. 50 Years Ago Editors Will Hear Val Peterson: Val Peterson, former three-term governor of Nebraska and former U.S. ambassador to Denmark and Finland, will be the featured speaker at the 52nd annual meeting of the Interstate Editorial Association on Friday and Saturday at the Aventino Hotel here. About 150 editors will are expected to attend from Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota. Peterson, now of Wayne, Neb., will speak at a dinner program at 7 p.m. on Friday night. Peterson returned to Nebraska last spring after completing a four-year tour of duty as ambassador to Finland. 21 Morningsiders Names in College Whos Who: Morningside College is represented by 21 seniors in this years edition of Whos Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. Nominees were chosen based on scholarship, citizenship, service to college, participation and leadership in extracurricular activities, and promise of future success. Those named include Marcia Peterson of Sioux City, Marilyn Welding of Sioux City, and Debra Readling of Sergeant Bluff. 25 Years Ago Lights Go On At County Courthouse: The lights of the Woodbury County Courthouse dome slowly illuminated the darkened rotunda for the gala celebration and rededication of the structure Tuesday night. After almost 80 years, the courthouse is well on its way to being completely restored to its former elegance, thanks to efforts began in 1990. Mark and Jean Bogenrief were especially proud when the lights shone through the courthouses stained glass panels, as they had removed, cleaned, and reinstalled all the glass at their show in Merrill, Iowa, working from Dec. 1997 through the spring of 1998. Board Gives Approval to Renovation for DHS: The Woodbury County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved renovation of the third floor of the Trosper-Hoyt Building on Tuesday. The renovations will allow the Department of Human Services to move from the first floor offices to the third floor. The decision to renovate the third floor ended months of debate on freeing space for the DHS. YANKTON, S.D. Kelley Ashby loves to slip onto the Missouri River west of her home in Vermillion, South Dakota, and lose herself in the silence of the river and its surroundings. While paddling, or sometimes just drifting along with the current, she enjoys feeling the sun on her skin and listening to birds instead traffic or her cellphone. "Sitting in a kayak, you're sitting so close and on the water," Ashby said. "It allows me to just be present. It helps minimize all those distractions of work and email. On the river, it's just a sense of peace for me." She'd like others to find a piece of the river to appreciate, too. Friends of the Missouri National Recreational River Kelley Ashby, a board member of the Friends of the Missouri National Recreational River, stands near the river at the Missouri River National It's why she and other members of the Friends of the Missouri National Recreational River are seeking river-lovers to help spread the word about this unique stretch of the Missouri that glides through the region and yet, they believe, doesn't get the attention it deserves. "It's a phenomenal natural resource we have in our backyard. We have a great recreational resource right here," said Ashby, a Sioux City native who's a member of the group's board of directors. Many may not be aware of the 98 miles of river along South Dakota and Nebraska that make up the Missouri National Recreational River, a unit of the National Park Service. The two stretches -- 59 miles from Yankton to Ponca, Nebraska, and, farther west, another 39 miles from near Springfield, South Dakota, to just below Fort Randall Dam -- remain unchannelized and appear much as they did for centuries with a meandering current winding around sandbars. It's an ideal area for canoeing, kayaking and fishing, and dozens of species of wildlife can be found in the river habitat -- all reasons the river earned its national designation and was placed under the National Parks Service umbrella. Friends of the Missouri National Recreational River Kelley Ashby, a board member of the Friends of the Missouri National Recreational River glances downriver while standing on the boat dock alon People have enjoyed the river for far longer than that, of course, but in more recent times, groups began putting on activities to raise awareness of the river's history, recreational offerings and conservation efforts. A Missouri River cleanup, Missouri River Watershed School Festival and Homestead Day are three events held annually in Yankton to educate people young and old about the Missouri and give them a chance to help protect it. (Learn more about the events at www.fomnrr.org.) Those events were first organized by conservation organizations, the City of Yankton, National Parks Service and others. Friends of the Missouri National Recreational River was formed in 2013 and chartered in 2015 as a nonprofit organization to raise the money to organize those events and support the Parks Service and its staff. Its mission also is to raise awareness and advocate for the Missouri National Recreational River. "The events were the reason to start it, and we quickly learned it can be much more," said board of directors member Paul Lepisto, of Pierre, South Dakota. Friends of the Missouri National Recreational River Kelley Ashby, a board member of the Friends of the Missouri National Recreational River stands along the river at the Missouri River National By 2020, the group started an event that enabled people to kayak for the first time and experience the river in a new way. Momentum and membership were increasing, then the COVID-19 pandemic struck. With so much of society shut down, members fell away and haven't returned, leaving Friends a little short-handed. Lepisto said if the group could again grow its membership, it would be capable of reoffering introductory kayaking to people and creating new activities beyond Yankton. "We'd like to expand what we're doing into more communities and a wider area," Lepisto said. Members come from a variety of backgrounds. Some are land or business owners. There are government representatives and members of conservation groups. Others are more interested in recreation and tourism. "The thing we have in common is an appreciation and love of the river, of course," Ashby said. The beauty and paddling opportunities attract visitors not just from across the country, but from all over the world, and Lepisto will tell you if the Missouri River wasn't in the so-called flyover country, more people would be aware of its history and opportunities. "Just think of its untapped potential," he said. He and his other friends do, often. And they know there are many others who share a similar love of the Missouri River and would be willing to spread the word so more people can enjoy it. SOUTH SIOUX CITY Phillip Severson's eyes glistened at the Korean War Memorial, which was unveiled to the public for the first time at the Siouxland Freedom Park, 1801 Veterans Drive, on Friday afternoon. Designed to complement the 55-acre park's Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the tribute to Korean War veterans consists of 19 life-size, stainless steel soldiers that were created and constructed by Dan Lee and his staff at Port Neal Welding Company. Indeed, it is a facsimile of the Korean War Veterans Memorial, which is located at Washington, D.C.'s West Potomac Park, that Severson had seen when he participated in a Veterans Honor Flight. "This looks just like the one in D.C.," he said. "That's for sure." Korean War Memorial completed at Freedom Park Members of the Siouxland freedom Park board of directors, Siouxland Chamber of Commerce, South Sioux City Area Chamber of Commerce, U.S. milit Korean War Memorial completed at Freedom Park Pam Miller, vice president of the board of directors for Siouxland Freedom Park, center, speaks during a ribbon cutting unveiling the new Kore Severson was one of only three Korean War Veterans in attendance during the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Siouxland Freedom Park. His Korean War service with the U.S. Navy landed him on the USS Curtiss, 25 miles from Enewetak Island, a popular testing ground for nuclear weapons. On Nov. 1, 1952, Ivy Mike, which was carried to the island by the Curtiss, became the first hydrogen bomb to be detonated. Severson, then 19, was an eyewitness to it. They just brought us up on the deck and told us to face away from the deck and cover your eyes with your arms, said Severson, who worked in the engine room of the ship. I wasnt expecting too much as far as heat and a shockwave. The blast of heat from the detonation took his breath away, he said. The shockwave made his knees buckle. After that was done, they let us turn around and it (the cloud) looked like it was never going to quit, Severson said. It was the whitest cloud I ever saw, with pink ruffles in it. He didnt know what to expect when the bomb went off. Details during wartime were kept pretty quiet, especially concerning the nuclear arms race. Military officials made sure that was the case back home, too. Korean War Memorial completed at Freedom Park Korean War veterans Phillip Severson, left, Jack Staley, and John Merchant, right, visit the new Korean War Memorial at Siouxland Freedom Park Korean War Memorial completed at Freedom Park Korean War veterans John Merchant, right, Jack Staley, and Phillip Severson, left, visit the new Korean War Memorial at Siouxland Freedom Park Severson, now 90, still remembers as if it was yesterday. "Everybody was exposed to the hydrogen bomb, most didn't survive it but I'm still here," he said. Such stories were common from veterans of what many called "the forgotten war," according to Pam Miller, a volunteer with the Siouxland Freedom Park. "That's why having a Memorial for all of our Korean War veterans was so important," she said of the project that began more than four years ago. Miller said the memorial, which shows the soldiers in a platoon formation, cost around $300,000 to complete. "The memorial is even more striking and moving at night," she said. "With illuminations, each of the 19 soldiers is lit up. This give the memorial a surreal sense of place and realization of the struggles that these soldiers had to face." Korean War Memorial completed at Freedom Park Korean War veterans John Merchant, right, Jack Staley, and Phillip Severson, left, visit the new Korean War Memorial at Siouxland Freedom Park Korean War Memorial completed at Freedom Park The newly unveiled Korean War Memorial is now on display at Siouxland Freedom Park in South Sioux City, Neb., Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. The Korean War Memorial is just one of the new exhibits at Siouxland Freedom Park. A new gazebo, made possible by a donation from Larry and Julie Delperdang, was installed in August. "The gazebo offers the best viewing location at the park," Miller said. "Visitors can sit while looking at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, the Freedom Rock and the Korean Memorial." Many of the projects were made possible with proceeds from Siouxland Freedom Park's annual Freedom Ball fundraiser. This year's Freedom Ball will start with a 5 p.m. Saturday social hour at the South Sioux City Marriott Riverfront, 385 E. Fourth St. During the event, guests will get an update of the new Brigadier General Bud and Doris Day Interpretive Center, a 3,700-square-foot facility that will house interactive displays and memorabilia which is slated to open Nov. 11, which is Veteran's Day. The goal of the Interpretive Center, Miller said, is to educate and empower visitors. "It is also our way of paying tribute to those who served our country," she added. Korean War Memorial completed at Freedom Park Phillip Severson, a Korean War veteran, visits the new Korean War Memorial at Siouxland Freedom Park in South Sioux City, Neb., Friday, Oct. 2 Starbucks, the international coffee retailer, is suing an Iowa City labor union over its social-media posts about the Israel-Hamas conflict. In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Starbucks alleges the inflammatory and misleading communications by Iowa City Starbucks Workers United have led to property damage, threats and calls for a boycott against the company. The unions social media posts are in support of violence in Israel, the lawsuit claims, and began immediately after reports emerged that Hamas had attacked civilians in Israel. In communicating its own messages about that and other issues, the union has used the Starbucks name, logo and other elements, causing readers to confuse the company with the union, the company alleges. Statements by Starbucks attempting to distinguish itself from the defendants and their positions have been to no avail, the lawsuit states. The company is suing for trademark infringement and false affiliation in violation of state and federal law, alleging the union has damaged Starbucks reputation and business and weakened the distinctive quality of Starbucks trademarks. Defendants in the case include Service Employees International Union and an affiliate, Starbucks Workers United, which represents a collective of Starbucks employees at 325 company-operated stores throughout the U.S., and the local chapter Iowa City Starbucks Workers United. The defendants have adopted and use Starbuck Workers United logo, which appears to be modeled after the circular green Starbucks logo used on storefronts, products and advertising. Beginning on Oct. 7, 2023, the day news broke of Hamas-led attacks on Israel, the unions posted or shared on their official social media accounts various statements calling for Solidarity with Palestine. The statements were accompanied by a photo of a bulldozer tearing down a fence on the Gaza Strip during the attack on Israel. Also that day, the Iowa City chapter allegedly posted to social media statements calling for the rest of the labor movement to stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine and asking Americans to pressure their elected officials to end military aid to Israel. Other posts by the Iowa City chapter allegedly condemned Israels crimes, the Israeli apartheid regime, and the Israeli onslaught against Gaza. The unions use of Starbucks-inspired logos have caused the general public to attribute such inflammatory remarks to Starbucks itself, the company claims. Shortly after the posts surfaced on social media, the hashtag #BoycottStarbucks was trending on X, formerly known as Twitter, and people all over the world were posting on various social media accounts, falsely stating that Starbucks supported terrorist organizations, the killing of innocent civilians, and multiple other things Starbucks unequivocally condemns, the lawsuit claims. The lawsuit notes that U.S. Rick Scott, a Republican from Florida, made a public statement criticizing Starbucks for allegedly supporting a terrorist organization and urging the public to boycott Starbucks. A Republican state representative from Florida, Randy Fine, allegedly shared Scotts post and added the comment, If you go to Starbucks, you are supporting killing Jews. Starbucks released a public statement attempting to point out that the offending statements were not made by Starbucks and were not endorsed by the company. However, the lawsuit claims, the unions co-opting of the Starbucks trademarks has continued to cause harm to the company as evidenced by ongoing threats against the company. Starbucks received hundreds of complaints from customers and other members of the public in the immediate aftermath, chastising and singling out Starbucks not the defendants for supporting Hamas, the lawsuit claims. On Oct. 13, 2023, the lawsuit alleges, a Starbucks store in Rhode Island was vandalized with a swastika painted on the front door and the Star of David painted on a door and window. In addition, the lawsuit alleges the Starbucks customer hotline fielded numerous complaints with one individual saying, How dare Starbucks be sympathetic to a terror organization? Was your son or daughter murdered? I didnt think so. Shame on you! Another caller allegedly stated, After your X post in support of baby-beheading, mass-murderous Palestinian terrorists, I and my family will never again set foot in a Starbucks location for any reason. Your post was utterly despicable and disgusting. The lawsuit seeks both a preliminary and a permanent injunction that would prevent the defendants from using the Starbucks trademarks or any imitations of those marks in a manner likely to cause confusion or dilution of the trademarks value. The defendants have yet to file a response to the lawsuit. Starbucks is the worlds largest coffee retailer with 54,000 locations in the United States and 80 foreign countries. In a press release, Starbucks stated that prior to the lawsuits filing, Starbucks Workers Uniteds president, Lynne Fox, rejected the companys request to take steps to ensure clarity and protect our partners. Summit Carbon Solutions has pushed back the estimated operational date of its sprawling carbon dioxide pipeline system by more than a year after permit setbacks in the Dakotas. The company initially indicated its five-state, 2000-mile system would be in operation sometime in 2024. It would transport captured carbon dioxide from ethanol plants for underground sequestration in North Dakota and has the potential to gain approval yet this year in Iowa. But utility regulators in North and South Dakota rejected Summits permit requests in recent months. We look forward to continuing to work with regulatory bodies to find a path through our five states, to begin operations in early 2026, Summit said in a prepared statement on Thursday. The expected operational delay was first reported by Bloomberg News. In North Dakota, the Public Service Commission has agreed to reconsider Summits permit request with an adjusted route. Its unclear how long that reconsideration process might take because state law doesnt set a deadline for its completion. The commission recently requested specific information about the route changes so that it can determine how to proceed. A hearing to consider whether to overrule two county ordinances that restrict pipeline placements is expected to be scheduled for no earlier than December, and its likely that further hearings will be held early next year to solicit input about the changes. In South Dakota, Summit plans to adjust its route and reapply for a permit. State law requires its Public Utilities Commission to rule on a permit request within a year of application, although Summits first permit process there took more than a year because the company asked for an extension. In Iowa, Summits final evidentiary hearing is set to resume in November. That hearing went for seven weeks starting in late August before it paused early this month due to scheduling conflicts. The companys permit process with the Iowa Utilities Board has been ongoing for more than two years. Summit Carbon Solutions remains as committed to our project as the day we announced it, the company said Thursday. DES MOINES Iowas unemployment rate rose slightly, from 2.9% in August to 3% in September, according to state workforce data published Thursday. The September rate was a bit lower than the 3.1% jobless rate last September, according to data from Iowa Workforce Development. Iowa remains ahead of the national curve, with the U.S. unemployment rate remaining at 3.% in September. The number of unemployed Iowans increased from 50,200 in August to 52,800 in September, while the number of working Iowans decreased to 1.7 million in September, according to state workforce data. Beth Townsend, director of the state workforce department, said in a news release that national economic uncertainty is impacting the leisure, hospitality and business services sectors, while other industries continue to hire. Townsend also pitched the states re-employment program, which is designed to help unemployed Iowans find work. Letter urges change to migrant rules Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird joined a multistate letter led by Florida urging President Joe Bidens administration to change policies she said has led to the mass release of undocumented immigrants into the U.S. The letter, signed by 27 Republican attorneys general, argues that Bidens Department of Homeland Security has skirted mandatory detention for migrants that cross the border illegally by implementing broad parole policies as a tool for the mass release of aliens at the Southwest border. Drugs are flowing into our communities, women and children are being trafficked, and mass numbers of illegal aliens are being released into our country with court dates more than a decade into the future, Bird said in a written statement. The Biden administration must follow the law and secure our southern border. Bidens administration recently enacted a border policy, which has faced court challenges, meant to more easily expel migrants who seek asylum in the U.S. without first seeking asylum in another country. Migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela can receive parole under certain circumstances. The attorneys general wrote in the letter that the mechanisms the Department of Homeland Security has used to parole migrants in the U.S. are not in line with the law. They argued the department should amend its regulations to prohibit the release of migrants at the border. Commercial driver's license grants A new grant will help Iowa community colleges expand the use of modernized programs that help individuals obtain a commercial drivers license, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds office announced. More than $4.8 million will be awarded to 10 Iowa community colleges to support new equipment and creation or remodeling of driver training facilities, the governors office said. The grant should support an estimated increase of 1,305 program participants, the governors office said. The pathway to finding a job as a truck driver, one of our most-needed occupations, runs through getting a CDL license, Reynolds said in a news release. Its important that we do everything we can to not only make it easier for individuals to obtain these license, but also to support the long-term viability of the programs that made it possible to gain that experience right here in Iowa. The number of registered hunters in Iowa The number of registered hunters in Iowa Killers of the Flower Moon might seem like a big departure for Martin Scorsese, trading as it does the mean streets of the big city for the open plains of Oklahoma. But look more closely, and this story of a community exploited and controlled by a ruthless prairie godfather (Robert De Niro), who poses as a benevolent pillar of the community while forcing his relatives to choose between family loyalty and decent behavior, is squarely in the directors usual wheelhouse. Whats different is less glamorization of the bad guys, more consideration of the impact of their actions on the victims, and law enforcement being shown as unequivocally good. The script originally told the story of an Osage tribal family, who were murdered for their oil lease rights in the early 1920s, from the perspective of Tom White (Jesse Plemons), the agent in charge of what was the nascent FBIs first big homicide investigationfairly standard Scorsese. But after discussions with descendants of the victims and other tribe members, the script was rewritten to foreground the relationship between Osage oil heiress Mollie Burkhart (Lily Gladstone) and her husband, Ernest (Leonardo DiCaprio, channeling a French bulldog with a perpetually anxious brow and faint scowl), the latter of whom arranged for Mollies family members to be killed and who may or may not have poisoned her at the behest of his uncle. As well as changing the films focus from a police procedural to a love story, this makes the second half read as Scorseses nod to Alfred Hitchcocks Suspicion. Advertisement Advertisement The directors previous adaptations of nonfiction books (including Gangs of New York, Raging Bull, and Goodfellas) have been notably successful. Here, we take a look at how closely Killers of the Flower Moon sticks to the true story and where it departs. Did the Osage Really Have to Ask to Use Their Own Money? In the film, we see Mollie and other members of the Osage Nation having to ask a white merchant in their town for advances on their quarterly allowances and explain what they need the money for, as though they were children, despite being millionaires. Advertisement This is accurate. Driven by the U.S. government from their fertile lands in Missouri, the Osage were forced to live on the plains of Oklahoma, an area thought to be barren and worthless. But as it turned out, their reservation was on top of an oil field. According to the Oklahoma Historical Society, the reservations gas and oil reserves generated more wealth than all of the American gold rushes combined in just two decades, and the Osage land became the early-20th-century equivalent of a Gulf state. Advertisement Determined to discourage the traditional model of communal ownership practiced by many tribal peoples, the U.S. government passed a law in 1887 that said reservations could be divided into 160-acre parcels of land granted to individual Native Americans for farming. The Osage negotiated a particularly favorable agreement that ensured the tribe retained communal ownership of its underground resources shared equally. Advertisement Advertisement Each of the tribes members received a headright, or share in the oil money, that could be inherited but not sold. Headrights could be divided as they were passed down across generations, leaving multiple heirs with a portion of a single share, or one person could inherit multiple headrights (as Mollie did when her sisters died). Non-Native people could inherit headrights by, for example, marrying into an Osage family. According to David Grann, author of the book on which the film is based, in 1923 alone, the 2,000 tribe members collectively received $30 million, or $400 million in todays money. Advertisement Uncomfortable with the thought of an extremely wealthy minority community, Congress passed a law requiring Osages to undergo a competency test (competency was often determined by whether a person was mixed blood or full Osage). If they failed, they were assigned a white guardian, usually a powerful man in the community, to monitor their spending down to the smallest personal items. Many guardians took full advantage of their position, forcing the Osage to buy goods from them at inflated prices (the guardian of Mollies sisters just happened to own the general store in Fairfax, the town where they lived) or directing them to friends businesses in exchange for kickbacks. Some guardians went in for just plain swindling. According to one government study, Osage tribespeople had at least $8 million stolen from them. Advertisement Advertisement Nevertheless, in 2016 the tribe was still wealthy enough to buy Ted Turners 43,000- acre Bluestem Ranch in Oklahoma.* Did the FBI Come to Save the Day? Advertisement After Mollies sister Anna and cousin Henry are murdered, and her other sister Ritas house is blown up, she joins other tribal elders, distressed at the number of Osage in Fairfax being killed with impunity, on a mission to Washington to appeal to President Calvin Coolidge directly. Much to their surprise, four men in black from the Bureau of Investigation (the proto-FBI) turn up and start knocking on doors, lining up informants, cutting deals, and asking uncomfortable questions, eventually bringing charges against powerful local cattle rancher William Hale (De Niro, playing Hale as a cross between John Gotti and Harry S. Truman). Advertisement Advertisement The movies version is true up to a point. In the early 1920s, between 24 and 150 Osage died violent or suspicious deaths, most in or near Fairfax. The local authorities showed a distinct disinclination to investigate the cases properly, plus, as Grann told Smithsonian magazine, You have morticians covering bullet wounds, doctors who were administering poison, businessmen and lawmen who were on the take, and many others who remained complicit in their silence. A delegation of Osage did go to Washington and in 1925, the BOIs new director, J. Edgar Hoover, did send agentsthough only after the Osage offered the bureau the then-huge sum of $20,000 for its trouble. Advertisement Advertisement Howeverexcept for lead investigator Tom Whiteonce in Fairfax they did not identify themselves but instead went undercover, posing as an insurance salesman, a cattle buyer, an oil prospector, and even an herbal doctor. As the film depicts, one agent was a Native AmericanJohn Wren (Tatanka Means), who was able to live among the Osage and gain their confidence. Advertisement Advertisement This team arrived only after the young Hoover initially bungled the investigation. According to Grann, the BOI released an outlaw named Blackie Thompson, hoping he would work as an undercover informant, but he instead robbed banks and killed a police officer. At one point Hoover wanted to get out of it and turn it back to the state, but after the scandal he didnt have a choice. Moreover, the author said, because Hoover was in a rush to close the case, once Hale was charged, the BOI didnt reveal a deeper, darker conspiracy, and as a result many were able to escape justice. Were Mollie and Ernest in Love? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bill Hale asks his dim, wannabe-player nephew Ernest to woo Mollie and marry her, thus making their children eligible to inherit her headrights. Ernest does as hes told but in the process finds himself actually falling in love with Mollie. She, meanwhile, is completely onto him (Coyote wants money, she notes) but forms a genuine connection with him nevertheless. As Ernest is drawn deeper into Hales schemes and becomes an accomplice in the murders of two of Mollies sisters, he keeps maintaining he loves her, even after he injects Mollie with a poison along with her insulin on the instruction of two doctors in Hales pay. Its hard to know what is truly in anothers heart, but Grann told the British newspaper the Independent that all the letters and interviews I did clearly indicate he had genuine feelings for Mollie. He also wrote in the New Yorker that Ernest studied her native language until he could talk with her in it. She suffered from diabetes, and he cared for her when her joints ached and her stomach burned with hunger. After he heard that another man had affections for her, he muttered that he couldnt live without her. For Mollies part, even after Ernest was arrested and she was told of his role in her relatives deaths, Mollie reportedly said her husband was a good man, a kind man [who] wouldnt have done anything like that. Was Hale a Freemason? In one scene, Hale ushers Ernest into the sanctum of the local Masonic temple and beats him with a paddle to punish him for talking to the BOI agents. Advertisement Hale was indeed a Mason, initiated into Grayhorse Lodge No. 124 in 1907, although he was expelled after his arrest for the murder of Mollies sister Anna. Did Hale Really Speak the Osage Language? Advertisement Advertisement When not arranging to have them killed for their oil rights, Hale likes to think of himself as a supporter the Osage, promoting their culture and befriending individual members of the tribe (which doesnt stop him having one knocked off as part of an insurance scam), and we see him frequently speaking the Osage language. Advertisement Advertisement Jim Gray, former principal chief of the Osage Nation and a descendant of Henry Roan, the friend Hale had killed to collect on a life insurance policy, confirmed to Smithsonian that Hale spoke Osage. He ingratiated himself into the community. Not only did Hale speak Osage, but De Niro learned the language for the role. Related From Slate The Deeper Meaning of Killers of the Flower Moons Stunning Ending Read More Did Mollie Hire a Private Detective? Frustrated by the botched investigation of her sisters murders, Mollie hires a highly competent private detective, William J. Burns, with offices in London, Paris, Berlin, and more. Burns, asking real questions and investigating doggedly, starts to make headway, until one night he is jumped by assailants and killed. Advertisement In fact, a whole group of Osage, including Mollie, hired private detectives from Pinkerton and the William J. Burns International Detective Agency, but the private investigators inquiries got nowhere. Records discovered later revealed that the agents were paid to look the other way or to stop their efforts altogether. And far from being murdered, William J. Burns became Hoovers predecessor at the BOI, serving until 1924. The script may be conflating Burns with an attorney, William W.W. Watkins Vaughan, who was engaged by another Osage Nation member, George Bigheart, who had told Vaughan he knew who the killers were and had access to incriminating documents that would prove his assertions. Shortly thereafter, Bigheart died after drinking suspected poisoned alcohol, whereupon Vaughan phoned the Osage County sheriff saying he had important new information about the Osage Indian killings and would be arriving on the first train. Thirty-six hours later, Vaughans naked body was discovered lying near the railroad tracks north of Oklahoma City, his neck broken. Was There a Radio Program About the Osage Killings? At the end of the film, instead of the usual titles rounding up what happened to the main characters, Scorsese delivers the information by depicting a live radio show, complete with elaborate sound effects and a cameo for himself as the producer, part of a weekly series based on FBI cases. This, it turns out, is not just a dramatic device. There actually was a radio dramatization of the case broadcast in 1932 on The Lucky Strike Hour (the version in the movie is sponsored by Lucky Strike), as well as another called The Osage Indian Murders, broadcast on Aug. 3, 1935, as part of a radio series entitled G-Men, created with the cooperation of the FBI. Anyone can tell that a situation is bad enough if tech giants and a federal agency work together to stop it. There have been a series of fraudulent activities where customers were scared to the point of accepting help from tech support for false security alerts. Crackdown on Tech Support Scam Amazon and Microsoft along with India's Bureau of Investigation (CBI) are working together to put a stop to the fraudulent tech support that has been attacking the retail and software giants' customers in the US, Australia, Canada, Germany, Spain, and the UK. In a report by the Indian federal agency, there have been two cases where fake call center operators were posing as customer support agents for Amazon and Microsoft. They operated through pop-ups that "falsely appeared to be security alerts", as reported by The Verge. In continuation to the introduction, the scammers would have the victims call a toll-free number to their supposed call centers. They would then ask the customers to allow them to take over their computers remotely to fix problems that don't exist. In exchange for their "help," the fraudsters would ask the customers to pay hundreds of dollars for their services. The CBI has conducted intensive searches in five different cases at 76 locations across multiple states, calling the operation Chakra-II. During the investigation, 32 mobile phones, 48 laptops, images of two servers, 33 SIM cards, and pen drives were confiscated, according to reports, along with several bank accounts frozen. 15 email accounts that revealed the methods of the scammers were also seized. Amazon claims that the illegal call centers affected over 2,000 customers of both companies. With the severity of the case, it was the first time that Microsoft and Amazon worked together to take down tech support fraud, says Amy Hogan-Burney from Microsoft. Read Also: Australians Lost a Whopping $3.1 Billion to Scams in 2022 The Scam There are signs that you can look out for if you think that you are a potential victim of this scam. The fraudsters would call you directly pretending to be tech support for Amazon and Microsoft, even possibly spoofing the caller ID to make it look more convincing. You will be asked to install applications so they can remotely control your device. Upon gaming control, they can make it seem like normal system messages are issues that you need to resolve. The scammers are also capable of creating false pop-ups. When in doubt, it's important to remember that Microsoft does not send unsolicited emails or make unsolicited phone calls and ask for personal and financial information. They also don't offer technical support for computer foxes nor do they call to tell you that you need it. Be wary of pop-ups that contain phone numbers since error and warning messages from the tech giant never include them. The company does not accept payment methods like cryptocurrency or gift cards as well. If you feel like you have been targeted, run a full scan with Windows Security to make sure that your device doesn't have malware. You may also report these tech support scams through www.microsoft.com/reportascam or amazon.com/reportascam. Related: UK Banks Warn of a Significant Surge in Online Scams Via Technology Platforms In The Pigeon Tunnel, Errol Morris new documentary about John le Carre, the novelist explains that he never underwent psychoanalysis because he was afraid that too much self-knowledge would crush his creativity. Le Carrereal name David Cornwellwas the most celebrated spy novelist of his time (arguably of all time). He was also a self-confessed chronic fabulist. Lying, he stated more than once, is the essence of both espionage and fiction writing. That claim about never undergoing analysis? It might be technically true. Cornwells biographer, Adam Sisman, however, describes coming across, while working among le Carres archives, a long document that he had written in 1968 for a psychiatrist about his sexual history, which I suspect that David might have forgotten. Did Cornwell undergo traditional psychoanalysis? Maybe not, but he certainly took at least a stab at therapy of some kind. In 45 years of filmmaking, Morris has interviewed characters ranging from eccentric obsessives (1997s Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control) to war criminals (the Academy Awardwinning The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons From the Life of Robert S. McNamara and 2013s The Unknown Known, about Donald Rumsfeld). But rarely has he depended more for a films effect on the viewers knowledge of details not conveyed in the film itself. Sisman published the original version of his biography in 2015. Cornwell died in 2020. This month, Sisman will publish The Secret Life of John le Carre, a book revealing how much control Cornwell exerted over the 2015 book and all the material Sisman was required to leave out, particularly on the subject of Cornwells compulsive philandering. This isnt exactly a revelation; last year, one of Cornwells many lovers, Suleika Dawson, published The Secret Heart, a racy memoir of their affair. But Sisman finds links between each adulterous infatuation and specific le Carre novels, including locations finagled into plotlines to justify research trips, whose main objective was hooking up with some woman. Advertisement Early in The Pigeon Tunnel, which bears the same title as le Carres anecdotal memoir, published in 2016, the unseen Morris observes that in the novelists stories there are dupes and string-pullers, those in control and those controlled by others. The implied question: Which of these two men will play each role? In a contentious interview with the New York Times David Marchese, Morris responded defensively to what he perceived as Marcheses suggestion that he should have pushed Cornwell to discuss his infidelities. But Morris himself is as wily a character as Cornwell, and if he could not get Cornwell to address his impressive campaign of adultery directlyCornwell looks straight at the camera and states, Im not going to talk about my sex life any more than you wouldin the end, Morris got to control the final edit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just how relevant is Cornwells sex life to his books? Sisman would argue very much so. Not only, he maintains, was each of le Carres best novels inspired by a particularly compelling paramour, but the intrigues required in conducting adultery fed Cornwells craving for the duplicity and deception of spycraft. Morris documentarywhich includes his trademark stylized reenactments and clips from film adaptations of le Carre novels, as well as extensive interviews with Cornwell conducted a few years before his deathallows his subject to expound at length on the addiction, the fun of betrayal in which the joy is the voluptuous journey of constantly challenging your luck and surviving. Cornwell was speaking then of Kim Philby, a notorious mole for the Soviet Union within the British intelligence service, but no one even glancingly aware of Cornwells complicated love life could miss the choice of voluptuous. Advertisement All of this is pretty sordid, and le Carre devotees will likely be offended by the fascination it engenders. But yet another reason Cornwells adulteries loom so large is simply that he wished them kept secret. He surely wanted to avoid publicly humiliating his wife (and indispensable amanuensis), Jane, or causing trouble for former lovers who were married. Yet Cornwell also clearly got off on the secrecy, as the readers of spy fiction do. The whole point of espionage novels is to reveal the occult workings of politics and power, and the most enthralling tricks of the tradethe cutouts and dead drops, the aliases and concealed microdotsare all devices of secrecy. Nothing attracts as much attention as that which someone is trying to hide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his interview with Marchese, Morris insisted that what interested him about Cornwell is Cornwells interest in philosophical questions. Im not sure I entirely buy this. The Pigeon Tunnel features a reenactment of a story Cornwell relates in his memoira story that, incidentally, may not even be true. Cornwell claims that when the British intelligence service MI6 relocated its headquarters, it finally opened an old safe in the inner sanctum of C, the agencys head, assuming that it held some ultra-classified documents. It was empty, but a cranny behind it contained the trousers of Rudolf Hess, a Nazi leader who flew to Scotland in an ill-conceived attempt to negotiate peace with the United Kingdom. Pinned to the trousers was a note suggesting that they be scrutinized to determine the state of the German textile industry. Advertisement Both Cornwell and Morris find this anecdote funny and deeply significant. Cornwell observes that one of the attractions of the hidden world of espionage is that it promises that there is some great secret to the nature of human behavior to be learned. You want the rolled-up parchment in the inmost room that tells you who runs your lives and why, he continues. But there is none. Advertisement Advertisement And in the inmost room of ourselves, Morris asks, maybe theres nothing there? At this moment, Cornwell looks directly into the camera and replies, In my case, that is true, yes. This feels like the emotional apex of the film, the moment when it strikes its truest note. Are these questions philosophical or psychological? The title The Pigeon Tunnel refers to a shooting range set up on the balcony of a hotel in Monte Carlo that Cornwell visited as a boy with his fathera con man, a chronic liar, and a womanizer. Pigeons kept in cages on the roof of the hotel were sent into tunnels that let out below the balcony. As they flew up into the air, hotel guests shot at them with rifles. Any birds that werent killed would return, as pigeons do, to the only home they knew, the cages on the roof, where the process was repeated. Le Carre explains that The Pigeon Tunnel had been the working title of many of his novels before he finally used it for his memoir. Advertisement Advertisement The motif depicts a purgatorial, inescapable repetition, tied to Cornwells father, whom he despised. (Cornwells mother, who deserted the family when she got sick of her husband bringing his lovers and shady confederates to the house, is a more elusive figure.) Morris repetition of pigeon imagery through the film suggests how obliviously we replicate our parents flaws, and how difficult it is to fill the hollow left by parents incapable of love. Morris doesnt really have to get Cornwell to talk about his cheating ways and how they slaked his appetite for deception, performance, and betrayal. Everything in The Pigeon Tunnel comes back to this unspoken theme, again and again. The single moment when Cornwell addresses that which shall not be addressed shapes the whole of this cagey, brilliant film around that absence. Because he will not talk about it, it becomes the center. Cornwell may have died believing hed never been analyzed. But he was wrong. President Joe Bidens emergency budget requestwhich totals $105.85 billionis not only a plea for much more military aid to Ukraine, Israel, and (to some extent) Taiwan. Its also a political document designed to attract those lawmakers and their constituents who are leery of spending money on faraway conflicts. The request includes $61.4 billion for Ukraine, $14.3 billion for Israel, $2 billion for security assistance to Indo-Pacific allies (mainly Taiwan), and $9.15 billion for humanitarian supplies to Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, and other needs (though officials did not specify which recipient gets how much). However, it also includes $13.6 billion for security on the United States Southern borderthus, Biden seems to hope, mollifying critics who say he should focus more on our own borders than on the borders of faraway foreign allies. This sumonly slightly less than the amount requested for Israelincludes money for 1,300 new Border Patrol agents (in addition to the existing 20,000), 375 immigration judges, 1,600 asylum officers, and 1,000 Custom and Border Protection officers tasked with seizing shipments of fentanyl. None of this has much to do with Americas moral geopolitical stakes in Europe, Asia, or the Middle East. Advertisement As a further enticement to America First-ers, the budget documentwhich the White House released Friday morningnotes that most of the weapons sent to Ukraine and Israel come out of U.S. military stockpiles. Therefore, most of the newly requested money$50 billion, to be precisewill be spent on replenishing those stocks. In other words, it will go to U.S. defense contractors. Biden stressed this fact in his televised speech Thursday night, noting that Patriot air-defense missiles are made in Arizona and that artillery shells are manufactured in 12 states across the country, including Pennsylvaniaboth of them swing states in the upcoming election. His national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, made the same point at a press conference Friday morning, saying it will create jobs. Advertisement Advertisement But most of Bidens 15-minute speech was devoted to loftier views, which he has held throughout his 50 years in national politicsthe importance of allies, the moral value of protecting democracies from aggression, and Americas role as a beacon to the world, still. When terrorists and dictators dont pay a price for their aggression, Biden said, they keep going. If Vladimir Putin succeeds in conquering Ukraine, he could move on to Poland and the Baltics. Those are NATO members, meaning if theyre attacked, the U.S. would be treaty-bound to respond directly. We do not seek to have American troops fighting against Russia, Biden said. So we need to continue helping Ukraine stave off Russia nownot with troops, but with weapons and other forms of assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If we walk away and let Putin erase Ukraines independence, would-be aggressors around the world would be emboldened to try the same, Biden said. The risk of conflict and chaos could spread in other parts of the worldin the Indo-Pacific, in the Middle East: especially in the Middle East. Biden and others have argued this case many times before, but in Thursdays prime-time speech, he made a new pointlinking Hamas attack on Israel with Russias invasion of Ukraine, saying that they are essentially two aspects of the same conflict. Hamas and Putin represent different threats, Biden said, but they share this in common: They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy. He also noted that Iran is helping both Hamas in Gaza and Russia in Ukraineand that North Korea is providing weapons to Russia as well. Advertisement Though he did not utter the words axis of evil (the phrase that President George W. Bush coined in 2002 to describe what he saw as a growing alliance among Iraq, Iran, and North Korea), Biden seemed to be suggesting that the concept now applied to Iran, North Korea, and Russia. Advertisement There is something to thisthe three countries cooperate with one another on certain matters and share some of the same foesbut it would be unwise to push the conceit too far. The world is dangerous enough, and tensions with Iran and North Korea are strained enough, without conflating them into one gigantic powder kegor viewing a conflict with any one of them as an inevitable prelude to World War III. Advertisement It may be significant that Biden didnt mention the word China even once in this speech, even though its president, Xi Jinping, has an alliance with Putin and is trying to make inroads in the Middle East as well. Xi also poses a threat to Taiwanthat threat is the main reason for the extra $2 billion that Biden is requesting for Indo-Pacific security. Biden may have a one-on-one meeting with Xi at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco next month. He may not want to alienate Xi before that sessionand may see opportunities for the two countries to cooperate in damping down global tensions. Meanwhile, Biden will face challenges in pushing his security package through Congress. The Senate may pass it quickly, but the House cant take up any legislation until the speakers seat is filled, and that may take a while. Also, many Republicans and some Democrats are keen to wind down, rather than double down on, the commitment to Ukraine. And while recent polls show a strong majority of American citizens support Israel, not quite half of them favor sending them more arms, and many more fear the possibility of getting sucked into a wider war. More of those surveyed prefer a cease-fire and attempts to craft a diplomatic solutionthough not even seasoned experts have any good ideas on how to do that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related From Slate How the Hospital Explosion in Gaza Changed the Trajectory of Bidens Emergency Israel Trip Read More Israel is still intent on wiping out Hamas, or at least destroying its ability to rule Gaza or threaten Israel, and is poised to invade Gaza in order to do so. In his recent trip to Jerusalem and in his speech Thursday night, Biden urged the Israeli government not to let their ragean understandable reaction to Hamas murderous attack on civilians earlier this monthundermine their reason; to uphold the law of war (meaning to minimize civilian casualties); and to keep in mind that Hamas does not reflect the views or interests of all Palestinians. As hard as it is, Biden said Thursday, we cannot give up on peace, we cannot give up on a two-state solution to the long-standing Israel-Palestinian conflictthough many in the Middle East have long ago, in many cases reluctantly, done just that. Advertisement In an interview this week in the Free Press, Michael Walzer, author of the classic 1977 book Just and Unjust Wars: A Moral Argument With Historical Illustrations, said of the current conflict: This article was originally featured in Foreign Policy, the magazine of global politics and ideas. For news, expert analysis, and background on the conflict, read FPs latest coverage of the Israel-Hamas war. In war, it is commonplace to note that the longer a conflicts duration or the more intense it grows, the denser the pall of fog becomes that prevents the public from concurring on a common set of facts. This principle was powerfully ratified with the bombing of al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza on Tuesday, an event that drew claims and counterclaims in the hours that immediately followed the calamity, as well as a mounting sense of outrage over the likely death of hundreds of Palestinians, most of whom it can be safely assumed had nothing directly to do with the conflict itself. First from Israel and then the United States, in the voice of U.S. President Joe Biden, came quick assertions that the explosion that visited devastation upon the hospital complex was the product of a failed rocket launched toward Israel by the Gaza-based militant group Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and not an aerial attack by Israel. The Palestinian side and its supporters, of course, placed the blame squarely on Israel. Advertisement If still not wholly conclusive, as time passed and more evidence began to gather, the Israeli version of events has become increasingly plausible. Some important questions linger for both sides, though. Did Israel mount any previous attacks on the hospital, or urge its evacuation prior to the bombing, as some have claimed? And was the death toll at the hospital greatly inflated by Hamas or other Palestinian parties to maximize its propaganda value? Advertisement Whatever the case, we should expect many people to resist buying into the notion of a grievous wound inflicted on Palestinians by Palestinians. Such is the norm in most conflicts, where the opposing sides and their respective sympathizers typically buy into interpretations of events that comfort their preexisting views. Advertisement In this case, though, Bidens statement that Israel was not to blame for the hospital attack is likely to be even less persuasive to a broad public than the norm because of the unusually strong support that Biden has shown for Israel since Hamas attack, which began on Oct. 7 and has killed at least 1,400 Israelis, most of them unarmed civilians. In terms of recent history, Bidens fervent and airtight support for Israel is oddly reminiscent of Chinese leader Xi Jinpings announcement of his countrys unlimited friendship with Russia on the very eve of Moscows invasion of Ukraine. Xis unusually close identification with Russia is now seen by many as a serious tactical error, at a minimum. Russia planted both its feet on the wrong side of history, morally speaking, by launching a brutal and unprovoked 19th centurystyle imperial war of territorial aggrandizement against a much smaller and weaker democratizing neighbor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bidens emotional and barely nuanced support for Israel may also come to be seen as a costly error for the United States. That is not because Hamas tactics were in any way just. They were not, and there is no place for moral ambiguity about organized and murderous militia raids against villagers and kibbutz members. These were clear atrocities. Rather, this potential criticism is because of Bidens complete unwillingness thus far to discuss how Israels own behavior toward Palestinians living under its direct control, or on contested territory, has played a role in fueling violence in that region. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus successive governments have presided over a steady expansion of Israeli settlements in lands claimed by Palestinians, and they have permitted countless and almost constant acts of small-scale violence, discrimination, and degrading arbitrary impositions against Palestinians. Advertisement Advertisement Yet even within Bidens own administration, some of the presidents aides have complained of the impossibility of raising such matters in internal conversations about U.S. policy since the war began. The damage that may accrue to the United States as a result of this could come from two quarters. The first is that, at a time when the Middle East needs a diplomatic and honest broker more desperately than ever, the United States is seen evermore as an outright partisan in the regions conflicts. The best that Biden has been able to do thus far is to issue a vague call for Israeli restraint. Advertisement None of this, it bears repeating, should be taken as a justification of the Hamas approach of conducting mass terror attacks against civilians. For years, though, Israel and the United States have made peaceful resistance by the Palestinians increasingly impossible. It is only logical, therefore, to expect that more and more violence will result. This was explained with great sensitivity and care by Peter Beinart in his recent New York Times column. Advertisement The second source of damage to the United States is closely related to the first and has to do with Washingtons diplomatic standing both in the Middle East and in the broader world. Not a few observers have begun to note that the biggest collateral damage to the United States in the recent violence between Israel and Hamas is to Washingtons image in the world. This is about far more than the already widely noted fury toward Israel and the United States that has been seen in many parts of the Arab and Muslim world in recent days. Beyond those regional confines, perhaps the most immediate impact will be to support in the Global South for the United States position in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement A graphic symbol of this shift came in the wake of the Gaza hospital bombing with the abrupt reversal in the willingness of Arab leaders from Egypt and Jordan (two of the United States closest quasi-allies in the region), as well as the head of the Palestinian Authority, to meet with Biden after his visit to Israel. Sure, this meeting seems to have been made impossible by the hospital bombing itself, but being convoked as a group to meet with the U.S. president as an afterthought or aside after Biden spent time in Israel also seems to have finally rubbed leaders in the Arab world the wrong way. Advertisement Advertisement Even more fundamentally, at a level that goes beyond symbolism and optics, it seems likely that Biden wanted to work on pressuring Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to do more than allow his country to open a humanitarian aid corridor to Gaza. A broader and more important goal would be to get him to accept large numbers of Palestinian refugees into Egypt. The same can be assumed about Jordan. But toward what end, and at what price? Advertisement If a U.S. president can no longer pull off the customary, if mildly patronizing, goal of bringing Arab leaders together for a group summit, then the feat of getting them to allow their countries to serve as an escape valve for Israel seems impossible. Thats because Egypt, Jordan, and other neighboring countries seem to have reached a definitive conclusion about U.S. diplomacy in the region. Whenever there is a crisis, Washingtons first and strongest reflex is to help Israel through the exigencies of the moment rather than making strenuous efforts to resolve the more stubborn and enduring fundamental problems of the regionproblems that neighboring Arab countries feel they are repeatedly asked to pay for. That the present crisis was sparked by a clear outrage committed by Hamas does not change this fact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel has responded by vowing to completely eliminate Hamas, and some of its leaders have spoken not only of Hamas but also of Palestinians in Gaza more generally in dehumanizing and extremist ways. Even if one says fair enough with regard to Hamas, though, the means and the ensuing consequences of targeting the group matter enormously. The catastrophe at the hospital aside, Israel is said to have dropped more bombs on Gaza in a week than the United States dropped on Afghanistan in a typical year during its long-running war there. If that were not enough, Afghanistan is as vast as the U.S. state of Texas, while the Gaza Strip, with 2.5 million residents, is roughly the size of the U.S. city of Las Vegas. Advertisement Bombing on this scale, as well as the order to evacuate northern Gaza and Israels decision to cut off the water and electricity supply to Gaza, are concomitant with a goal of largely emptying Gaza of its Palestinian populationand this is consonant with an even broader and longer-running Israeli aim of gradually occupying or taking control of lands claimed and customarily inhabited by Palestinians. Who can believe that Palestinians, once evacuated from Gaza, would be allowed back onto lands they claim as their own? Advertisement Advertisement Related From Slate Bidens Speech Told Us a Lot About How He Sees Americas Role In the World Read More The United States has long maintained that it supports a two-state solution to the conflict. But the reality is that little more than lip service has been paid to this goal, and with each passing crisis, Washington grows more and more aligned with Israel. As can be seen with Bidens emotional public diplomacy, the more violent and outrageous that the behavior of militant Palestinian groups gets, the stronger this trend becomes. Advertisement A further word must be said in conclusion about the tactics of Hamas. As fully deserving of retaliation as this group is for its targeting of Israeli civilians for the most brutal and senseless of deaths, there is a problem with the frequent charge that Hamas uses the Palestinian population as human shields in this conflict. There is a narrow, tactical element of truth in this, in that Hamas has been accused of storing weapons and ammunition in civilian facilities, including mosques, universities, and residential buildings, and in this latest conflict, the group is holding nearly 200 people kidnapped from Israel as hostages in Gaza. Advertisement But this characterization also omits a lot of context: Namely, where would the place be from which Palestinians would be allowed to organize their defense and resistance? As has been widely noted, Gaza is one of the most densely populated places on earth. Is it conceivable that Hamas could build an above-ground headquarters that could survive the first hint of tension with Israel, which is armed by the most powerful nation on earth and protected with sophisticated shields, such as its Iron Dome anti-missile system? Never mind Hamas, thoughwho can presently imagine Palestinians being allowed to field any kind of army, or even a defense force? This brings us back to the Beinart essay. As utterly reprehensible as Hamas is, until Palestinians are able to freely organize themselves politically or peacefully protest their shrinking purchase on land and on self-determination, this is what we are left with. There is nothing commendable at all about terror, and nothing to justify it, either. But when human beings are reduced to utter desperation and oblivion, only awful things can be expected. Theyre flipping like pancakes over here! Kenneth Chesebro just became the second former member of Trumps legal team to become a cooperating witness against him. Robert Katzberg explains what that means for Trumps expected legal strategy. Plus, from our archives: Of all the Trump RICO case defendants, whose mug shot was the best? Christina Cauterucci carefully weighs them all. How Biden sees Americas role Biden is pushing for a large amount of emergency military aid to Ukraine, Israel, and (to some extent) Taiwan. His budget request also includes humanitarian aid to Gazaand billions of dollars to bolster security on the U.S. border, to entice America-First Republicans to get on board. Fred Kaplan explains what Bidens request tells us about how he sees Americas role on the global stage. Plus: Writing for our sister publication, Foreign Policy, Howard W. French argues that Bidens tunnel vision on Israel risks alienating a large part of the world. And What Next: TBD looks at the new ways Hamas has been using social media to wage psychological warfare. This one interview haunts SBF Advertisement Soon after his companies blew up, Sam Bankman-Fried explained himself in a weird interview with George Stephanopoulos. Nitish Pahwa explains how thats coming back to haunt him in court. A tale of two Taylors Fans are getting two distinctly different experiences at Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, and not all of them are happy about it. Heather Schwedel considers why some screenings seem to be much more fun than others. Fabricating lucid dreams Advertisement Advertisement A new startup says it could transform your sleepby fabricating lucid dreams with the help of generative A.I. Huh?! Heather Tal Murphy takes a close look at the companys plans, and whether it seems like they can work. Constipation is for lovers Yes, thats right. Heather Schwedel examines how, on this season of Bachelor in Paradise, one cast members life-threatening inability to poop has yielded the bravest, most tender moments ever recorded on the show. Really! Today, Slate is * GETTING A LITTLE ANTSY much like many members of Congress, as we end another week without a House speaker! (The frustrating impasse is yielding some, er, creative ideas for getting things moving again.) We wish you a weekend that is, at the very least, less chaotic and dysfunctional than the U.S. House of Representatives. Thanks so much for reading, and well see you on Monday. Trumps former adviser Sidney Powell has become the first high-level person to plead guilty in the Georgia conspiracy case over attempts to overturn the 2020 election. And that means shes probably about to testify against Donald Trump. Given what we know about Powells role in the days surrounding Jan. 6 and the very lenient terms of her plea deal, she appears poised to offer damning testimony against the former president, Jeremy Stahl writes. He breaks down what we might be able to expect from Powells testimony, and just how bad this could be for the Donald. No plan for peace Did Bidens visit to Israel do more harm than good? What Next spoke to Palestinian-American political analyst and writer Yousef Munayyer about the presidents trip and what it means for Americas credibility in the region. What Elon wants Advertisement Scott Nover has a hunch about why Elon Musk wants to charge X users $1 per yearand its not really because he wants your annual dollar. Advertisement Plus: Lizzie OLeary speaks to Casey Newton, founder and editor of the technology newsletter Platformer, about the ways that the war between Israel and Hamas has revealed how broken X really is. If youre looking to be convinced to finally leave the platform, this is the conversation for you. Exasperating Amy The Supreme Court remains the only court in the U.S. without a written code of conduct, Steven Lubet writes. Now Amy Coney Barrett is calling for onebut with a frustrating caveat. He breaks down what exactly is wrong with her approach. Somethings missing Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Buffy the Vampire Slayers cast is trying to take the franchise back from its creator. Dan Kois reflects on where the new spinoff might have gone astray. Misunderstood genius One of the 1960s greatest musical geniuses has finally published his memoir. Jack Hamilton reviews Sly Stones new book and finds its almost as fascinating as the fact that the book exists at all. Hey, big spender A whole host of celebritiesactors and athletes, Democrats and Republicanshave benefited from Sam Bankman-Frieds largesse. How much did he pay them, and what exactly was he hoping to get out of all of this? Nitish Pahwa found out at the trial! Today, Slate is full of * NEVER-ENDING GAB much like Bankman-Fried, who has largely ignored conventional wisdom and failed to shut up after lawyering up. Pahwa also took a look at whats going on with SBFs baffling defense. Thanks so much for reading! Well see you tomorrow. The morning after Louisiana GOP gubernatorial candidate Jeff Landry claimed victory in a lopsided race where he avoided a runoff, tenured LSU professor Robert Mann knew he had to quit his job. He submitted his resignation to his dean and announced it on social media. My reasons are simple: The person who will be governor in January has already asked LSU to fire me, Mann said Sunday in the four-post thread on X, formerly Twitter. And I have no confidence the leadership of this university would protect the Manship School against a governors efforts to punish me and other faculty members. Mann, 65, holds an endowed chair in LSUs journalism department and has worked at the school since 2006. But hed been pondering a move for a while, since his 2021 dust-up with Landry over COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Then Louisianas attorney general, Landry had sent an aide to an LSU Faculty Senate meeting discussing vaccines, where she read a letter calling the mandates problematic because they violated peoples right to religious freedom. Mann followed up with a tweet, saying Landry had sent some flunkie to read a letter attacking covid vaccines. Landry responded immediately, announcing a day later that hed contacted LSU president William F. Tate IV to personally request that Mann be punished. Landry tweeted: This type of disrespect and dishonesty has no place in our societyespecially at our flagship university by a professor. I hope LSU takes appropriate action soon. Advertisement Advertisement Tate later issued a statement that took no side in the dispute, saying instead that LSU was committed to free and open scholarship and the freedom to debate ideas and principles without interference. Mann escaped punishment, but he took note that no one from the administration offered their support, privately or publicly. He also understood that Landry was already then positioning himself for a run as governor. Advertisement And so thats when I began to think, If this guy gets elected governor, I need to start thinking about an exit plan, he said. Landry won handily, tallying 52 percent of the vote in a 15-candidate race that many observers had predicted would go to a November runoff. His victory flipped a seat thats been held by Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards for the past eight years and gave Republicans control of all branches of state government. Advertisement On Tuesday, I reached Mann by phone in Baton Rouge. We talked about the roots of his beef with the governor-elect, how Louisiana Democrats failed to put up a fight in the race, and what Louisianians should be concerned about now that Landry, a Trump-endorsed acolyte, and the GOP prepare to assume total control of the state government. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Advertisement Advertisement Joel Anderson: I found it interesting that your most recent book, Kingfish U, was about Gov. Huey Long and his hands-on relationship with LSU, even down to being so involved in university affairs that he personally attempted to silence his critics on campus. Robert Mann: Its primarily coincidental, I think, but it hasnt escaped me that there were professors at the time who were punished and run off campus. Advertisement So, yeah, it didnt inspire the book because I had started writing this before I had my first run-in with Jeff Landry. But I always felt like I shared a lot of commonalities with those people. As you were writing about this, did you ever worryeven prior to Jeff Landry throwing his hat in the ringthat your criticism or even your commentary on politics might come back to hurt you and your position there at LSU? Advertisement Yes, I did. And maybe I was a little naive about it in the beginning. But when I first started speaking out and writing, in which I was pretty harshly criticizing [former Louisiana Gov.] Bobby Jindal and other state officials, the thing that really brought me up short was my former boss, [former Louisiana Gov.] Kathleen Blanco, going to dinner one night with her and her husbandand this was after she had left the governors officeand her leaning across the table and asking me, You do have tenure, dont you? And I said, Yes, maam. And she [said], Be careful, because theres a lot of ways the governor can hurt you that dont involve taking away your tenure. And I thought to myself, Oh, well, if a former governor was concerned about me, who kind of knows the ins and outs in ways that I dont, maybe I ought to be more worried than I am. But I dont think that really changed my behavior a whole lot. Advertisement Advertisement Some people have questioned, Why are you giving up? Why are you not standing up and fighting and waging a brave battle to keep your job? And what I told somebody this morning was, Ive been fighting for 18 years. Am I expected to fight until Im 95? I mean, am I never allowed to stop this and go do something else with my life that I might enjoy a little more or maybe have a job with a little less drama? Is it fair to say this starts in December 2021, when you called one of Landrys aides a flunky? Probably for him it goes back earlier. I mean, he had been a pretty aggressive purveyor of misinformation about vaccines and the basic COVID protections and all that. So Id probably been critical of him before then. I think he took this personally because it was me criticizing him for sending his person before the Faculty Senate. Advertisement Advertisement What happened after Jeff Landry made it clear that something needed to happen to you? I just want to make it clear that the tweet wasnt really about calling her a flunky. It was about saying that he sent a flunky to read us a letter full of lies and misinformation about vaccines and calling himself a pro-life politician. Advertisement Advertisement I wasnt trying to insult the person. I was trying to criticize him for, first of all, not having the courage to come in and tell the lies to us in person. So I really wasnt trying to insult this young woman. I think she obviously should have known better and should not have done that. But still, she was just a low-level person doing her job, which, by the way, is the dictionary definition of a flunky. Right, right. Advertisement Instead of responding to the substantive criticism of him, he spun it into that: I was being disrespectful to this young woman who works on his staff. And he used that to call the president and demand that I be punished or reprimanded. Then he followed it up with a letter in which he put it all into writing, saying that what I had done was inexcusable. And so, of course, then he released the letter to the press. So he wanted it to be known that hed done this. But for the first, I dont know, 18 to 20 hours, LSU just refused to make any response. They finally put out a very general statement in support of academic freedom, which was fine. Im glad they reaffirmed the universitys commitment to free speech and academic freedom. But, you know, I took note of the fact that unlike previous incidents, no one ever bothered to call me and to reassure me. Which, you know, I didnt need that call. But I took note of the fact that it never happened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im guessing it occurred to you then that you might need to make this move. So when Jeff Landry called (former LSU president) Bill Tate in December of 2021, everybody in the state, including Bill Tate, knew that this was a guy who is probably the most likely leading Republican candidate for governor. He was clearly positioning himself to run for governor. So when they talked to him, he was talking to someone he knew was a potential next governor of Louisiana. And so thats when I began to think, Well, you know, if this guy gets elected governor, I need to start thinking about an exit plan. Because I dont want to be around here making life hard on my colleagues and my students and my school just because this guy is going to be hellbent on trying to get rid of me. Advertisement My tenure still is pretty solid protection But I think if you want to hurt me, what you do is you take hostages. What do you mean by that? You cut their funding. You come after us in ways that arent directly related to me, that are much easier to do. You know, our budget doesnt have tenure. There is crazy zero-based budgeting. So [the dean has] got to go to the provost every single year now and justify every dollar that shes spending on everything other than tenured faculty. And so, theyve got all kinds of ways to make her life miserable and without trying to take tenure away from anybody. These are people who are really creative about making people miserable. So I dont think she realizes what a lot of favor Im doing her. Had you ever had a conversation with [Jeff Landry] before? Never. Never met him. Really? Never been in a room with him that I know of. Do you remember when he first appeared on your radar? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I guess when he ran for Congress [in 2010]. I dont remember thinking maybe he had a future. I remember thinking its just another sort of radical Republican. Theres a lot of those. You mentioned on Twitter that the head of the Louisiana Democratic Party should resign. What did the Louisiana Democrats do wrong in this election? I dont know that they could have done anything to prevent it from happening. But the one thing they could have done is try. And they didnt try. They werent in the fight. Just one example of how they wasted time and resources on silly useless fights was in District 91 in New Orleans. Rep. Mandie Landry[no relation to Jeff]is probably the most progressive, if not one of the most progressive, Democrats in the House who crossed swords with [Gov. John Bel] Edwards over reproductive rights and some other issues. You know, the governor, the party, Mary Landrieu, all endorsed her opponent, a quasi-Republican.* And they got everybody distracted and, you know, fighting amongst each other over Mandie Landrys reelection. And she was never going to lose that race. She got 66 percent of the vote. And they spent more time trying to beat her than they spent trying to beat Jeff Landry. So from the governor on down, it was just a lot of useless, selfish actions that I think distracted everybody from the real mission, which was to beat Jeff Landry and get [Democratic candidate] Shawn Wilson into a runoff with him. How much blame does Gov. Edwards deserve for this outcome? Advertisement Advertisement He never really took an interest in taking the party over and making it into his organization, which he could have done. And it would have served Democrats across the state well. But he had no interest in that. He just had, for whatever reasons, no interest in doing party building. It was really all about, you know, his political organization and his people. Advertisement Beyond the governor and the candidates, did you think anything else doomed the Democrats in this particular election cycle? One of the things that I think really hurt enthusiasm among Democrats in the state was that, you know, post-Dobbs, even in Louisiana, public opinion over reproductive rights has changed a lot. Everywhere its been tested around the country, the Democrats have done well. People have gone out to vote for protecting their reproductive rights or regaining their reproductive rights. And yet again, we have a governor-elect who was very much on the other side of this issue and so radical that hes trying to get information on people who leave the state for an abortion so they can be prosecuted. So this is a truly radical individual who is committed to taking away the reproductive rights, the bodily autonomy of half the population of the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And the problem was the Democratic governor was pretty much with him. The Democratic governor signed the bill, for crying out loud. No one tried to make any effort to win over the part of the population that I think is really pissed off and discouraged and angry about having lost their bodily autonomy. And so where do they think the enthusiasm was going to come from? What issue did they think was going to motivate people to get out and vote, if not that? For people that live in Louisiana that support Democratic policies, even if theyre not a Democrat, but maybe they would just like to have the option to get an abortionwhat are the stakes for them now that the Republicans control all the levers of state government? Advertisement Its pretty grim. If I had a student who came to see me and said, Im really concerned about this, what should I do? I would tell them, Get out of here as fast as possible, because this is life or death for you. If youve got a difficult pregnancy, its one thing. If you need an abortion, you know itll be hard enough, but at least you might be able to leave the state and go get the care that you need. But if youve got an emergency, or some other kind of complication, basically youre going to go to the emergency room and theyre going to say, Well, go sit in your car until we determine that youre almost dead and then we can do something about you to help you. But otherwise we cant treat you because were afraid that the governor is going to put us in jail because thats what the law says. Advertisement Advertisement These are dark days. And I think theres probably no state whose residents are farther away from a state that does offer abortion services than Louisiana. Its a long drive to a state that will provide those services for you. Related From Slate Everyone at West Virginia University Knew Something Was Up. I Hate That We Were Right. Read More One of the leaders of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Janai Nelson, who saidand you retweeted thisAs Ive said before, the brain drain that the totalitarian laws against truth and the freedom to learn is precipitating in the South should deeply alarm every parent who hopes their child will develop critical thinking skills and not just be a vessel for indoctrination. What do you think about that? I think she said it as well as anything Ive seen said about that. That, to me, sums it up, distills it just so well. Advertisement The people who run LSU, the current leadership, are gradually turning the school into a vocational institution. Its not about learning to think. Its about learning a skill. This is a university. This is not a trade school. Trade schools have a very important role to play in our society, and I think we need to do more to support them. But this is a university. And a university is not about just getting a job, its about learning to think. Its about learning to be a fully realized person. But learning to think and think critically, weve devalued that. And its not just society thats devalued that, its the leadership of LSU. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You also said: Louisianas education system will increasingly resemble whats happening in Florida and Texas. What does that mean? That means if you wonder what Jeff Landry will do, I think you just need to ask what has [Florida Gov. and GOP presidential candidate] Ron DeSantis done. Because I think that DeSantis is the role model for somebody like Landry and, to a certain extent, [Texas Gov. Greg] Abbott as well. Advertisement I see Landry as being a disciple of those two guys. I mean, hes certainly a disciple of Donald Trump. So, I think if Landry has any national aspirations, which I suspect he does, hes going to be performing for the Trumps and DeSantises of the world and trying to raise his profile. And you do that by fighting a culture war like DeSantis and Abbott have done. Last question. Whats next? Advertisement Ive got another book that Im finishing up and another idea for the one after that. And so Ill have more time to write. But Im also open to, you know, going somewhere else and teaching for a few more years. I kinda joke that, Wouldnt it be nice to live and work somewhere where when something breaks, they fix it? Advertisement I literally went out and bought a vacuum cleaner for my office because LSU doesnt have the money to hire anybody to vacuum my office. In fact, I got an email from a faculty colleague today or yesterday saying, Hey, when you leave, can I have your vacuum? So the idea of working at a university where the academic side is actually funded properly and where the roof doesnt leak and all that, its kind of appealing. LSU is all I know, and it might be kind of fun to go somewhere else. When you say somewhere else, that means youd leave Louisiana. Yeah, that means leaving Louisiana. I dont think any other public school in Louisiana would really want me to bring my bulls-eye and settle in on their campus. In the mid-2010s, cybercriminals shifted their ransomware strategy. Instead of spamming as many individual victims as possible with ransomware, criminals began targeting large organizations: hospitals, governments, hotel chains, pipeline companiesthe types of victims who could pay millions, not hundreds, of dollars to regain control of their computer systems. By going after these high-value targets, they could make a lot more money while distributing a lot less malware. It was only a matter of time before the cybercriminals came for Vegas. Earlier this fall, a ransomware attack hit both Caesars and MGM Resorts. Las Vegas casinos may be an obvious target for cybercriminals, but according to the Financial Times, the hackers original plan was fairly complicated: They were going to hack into the slot machines at MGMs casinos so that they could fix the results, then hire people to go to the casinos and win money at the hacked slot machines. As it turned out, the slot machine software was apparently not so easily manipulable, according to an interview the Times conducted with one of the hackers via Telegram. Their inability to rig the slot machines forced the hackers to shift gears and resort to their backup plan: steal all of the casinos data, encrypt it, and demand a ransom payment to return it to MGM. Advertisement Advertisement The ransomware attack had its desired effect: It forced several MGM-owned casinos and hotels, including the Bellagio and the Cosmopolitan, to stop using their computers entirely and instead check in hotel guests manually and provide customers with cash payouts. Caesars, which was hit by the same attackers a few weeks earlier, reportedly avoided similar disruptions by paying a $15 million ransom (half of what was apparently a $30 million ransom demand). Caesars later disclosed the breach to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in a Form 8-K filing on Sept. 7, noting that it had determined that an outside hacker had accessed the drivers license and Social Security numbers of some of its loyalty program members. But the company made no mention of the multimillion-dollar ransom payment in the filing. Advertisement Advertisement MGM, meanwhile, was unable to bring its computers back online for 10 days following the attack. MGMs CEO, Bill Hornbuckle, later said that the hack left the companys computers completely in the dark, adding that MGM was shutting down systems by our own design in order to protect the networks from further malware spread and prevent the attackers from accessing MGMs core systems. He also stated that the company did not pay a ransom and had never even considered doing so, though the attackers told the Times that they had made a ransom demand of MGM as well. Advertisement Advertisement MGM also filed a Form 8-K with the SEC on Sept. 12 about the incident and another on Oct. 5, estimating its losses from the attack at $100 million and confirming that the hackers had accessed customer information, including drivers license numbers and some Social Security and passport numbers, but no passwords, bank account numbers, or payment card information. In the Oct. 5 filing, MGM also stated that it believed that its cybersecurity insurance would cover the costs of the incident. Advertisement The MGM attack itself, despite the grand slot machinerigging aspirations of the perpetrators, was not particularly sophisticated or unusual. The hackers reportedly found an MGM employees information on LinkedIn, then called the companys IT help desk and pretended to be that employee to reset their account credentials. The cybercriminals claiming credit for the attack, a group called Scattered Spider, have used similar social engineering tactics in the past to infiltrate firms via phone calls (a technique sometimes called vishing, short for voice-call phishing). Casinos have a reputation for excellent security, but it seems that that security may be more focused on physical vulnerabilities than online ones, particularly if all it takes is a few short phone calls to infiltrate their computer networks. Moving forward, I would expect to see a lot of major casino companies buying a lot more cyberinsurance, instituting much stricter security protocols for their IT help desks, monitoring anomalous activity on their computer systems much more closely, and segmenting their networks much more aggressively, so that someone who infiltrates one computer cannot so easily compromise all of the others across the organization. Advertisement Advertisement It will also be interesting to see what the SEC makes of Caesars and MGMs filings. This summer, the SEC adopted new cybersecurity rules, which state that material cybersecurity incidents must be disclosed four business days after their discovery. Despite the new guidelines, intended in part to elicit more information about cybersecurity incidents, both Caesars and MGM filed extremely vague descriptions of their respective cyberattacks with no details about any ransom payments, how the incidents occurred, or the costs they imposed on the companies. The bad news for casinos is that any victim willing to pay a $15 million ransom is going to be targeted again and again and again. There are very few known ransom payments larger than that, including the $40 million ransom paid in 2021 by insurer CNA Financial Corp. By comparison, in 2021, Colonial Pipeline paid only $4.4 million in ransom, and meatpacking company JBS paid $11 million. Its no surprise that the casinos have a lot of money to extort, but the ease with which Scattered Spider managed to infiltrate two of the largest casino companies in the country in short succession is a striking reminder that just because organizations have lots of money doesnt mean they have lots of cybersecurity. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. Eric Wollbergs interest in facilitating lucid dreams emerged while living in Jerusalem, reading lots of theology. Abraham, Muhammad, Buddha, all those prophets received their prophetic wisdom in their dreams, the startup and tech investment alum told me recently. During some periods of his life, Wollberg too regularly experienced the sorts of dreams where he knew he was awake. He wondered whether there was a way to use emerging technology to have them on demand. Last February a hint came from, of all people, Grimes. The electronic pop artist retweeted a software engineer named Wesley Berry III, who was playing around with turning brain waves into art and running his computer with his thoughts. Soon Wollberg was at Berrys house in San Francisco, pitching him on applying one of these electrode-filled brain activitymonitoring headsets to lucid dreams. Within just four months, Wollberg and Berrys new company, Prophetic, raised more than $1 million in funding for a consumer devicethe Halofrom venture capital heavy hitters and acquired advisers whod worked in neurotech at Apple. They also promptly forged a research collaboration with a widely respected neuroscience institute and a company that built hardware for Elon Musks brain-computer interface company Neuralink, a detail that has been featured in articles about this new A.I. startup. Already theyve invited customers to pay to reserve one of the first devices, which they intend to start shipping in 2025. At an event in New York City on Friday, potential investors will see a prototype of the Halo and learn about the companys plan to use generative A.I., similar to the tech behind ChatGPT, on brain data to induce and stabilize lucidity in the dreamer. Advertisement Advertisement But their own dream remains incomplete: The team accomplished all of this without ever inducing a single lucid dream, I learned after repeatedly pushing for specifics during a video call. Indeed, scientist collaborators from the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior in the Netherlands are in the early stages of what Wollberg called the best funded study ever in lucid dreaming. But the idea that you can prompt a lucid dream with ultrasound transducerstheir brain stimulation technology of choiceis still purely hypothetical, Wollberg acknowledged. Advertisement This is something the language they use in marketing materials makes easy to miss. For example: The combination of ultrasound and machine learning models (created using EEG & fMRI data) allows us to detect when dreamers are in REM to induce and stabilize lucid dreams, the Prophetic website states. Advertisement Advertisement To focus on any inconvenient details is to miss the point, Wollberg told me, because the real breakthrough already happened: having the insight to apply a particular type of A.I.with its ability to spot patterns in enormous data setsand ultrasound transducers to lucid dreams. Were very confident that we will be very successful, he said. He likened it to the oft-cited Steve Jobs Xerox plant breakthrough: In the late 70s, Jobs may have noticed a graphical user interface being underutilized by Xerox and suggested applying it to the Macintosh. Its all there, Wollberg said. Advertisement Viewed one way, their endeavor hints at one rarely discussed upside to A.I.: invoking the tech can lure investors to fund scientific research in off-the-beaten-track topics like consciousness and dreaming. Viewed another way, its an example of how buzzy terms like artificial intelligence may artificially inflate optimism that the human brain can be programmed as easily as a computer. Regardless, it would be cool if it (safely) worked. Advertisement Lucid dreams are generally thought to emerge from standard dreams in rapid eye movement, or REM, sleep. The sleeper becomes conscious that they are dreaming but does not wake up. Many lucid dreamers are able to direct the dream, taking flight, having a picnic with a relative who died, playing onstage with a famous musician, or anything else they desire. Lucid dreaming denotes a rare state of sleep comprising cognitive features of both waking and dreaming, German scientists wrote in a 2012 study on the topic. Two years later, a different group of German scientists, joined by a researcher from Harvard Medical School, wrote, Scientifically, lucid dreams present the unique opportunity to watch the brain change conscious states, from primary to secondary consciousness. Advertisement Advertisement That study found that it was possible to induce lucid dreams using electric currents. Wollberg and Berry plan to build a headset that utilizes a different kind of noninvasive neurostimulationa transcranial focused ultrasound. This emerging technology activates highly specific regions of the brain, through the skull, using high-frequency sound waves. Researchers have been exploring whether its possible to apply something similar toward fighting brain tumors and inducing a meditative state. Wollberg and Berry hope that Martin Dresler, a cognitive neuroscientist trained in philosophy, and his team will be able to identify the precise brain coordinates activated during lucid dreaming and the frequency and length of the ultrasonic pulses needed to trigger them. Then they can figure out how to reverse-engineer this brain state. Advertisement Once they have the brains of lots of lucid dreamers mapped, Prophetic will train A.I. on that neural activity data, in the same way that you train ChatGPT on words and sentences and stories and then it outputs the activation patterns, Wollberg said. Asked what would happen if the researchers fail to find that lucid dreams can be induced by these high-frequency sound waves, Wollberg, who studied economics, sounded utterly unphased. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lucid dreams are a naturally occurring brain state, he reminded me with the confidence of a man accustomed to navigating the highly financed fringes. (Before starting this company, he was the head of community at Praxis, a Peter Thiel and Winklevoss twinsbacked company aiming to cultivate people to live in an autonomous charter-state built on a decentralized crypto economy in the Mediterranean, as Curbed put it. Sam Bankman-Frieds now-defunct hedge fund, Alameda Research, also invested. Before that, Wollberg worked for a venture capital firm focused on psychedelics. ) Advertisement Is any of this plausible? I reached out to two scientists specializing in lucid dreaming. Both spoke highly of Dresler and were pleased to hear that lucid dream research is advancing. Both were skeptical of what Propheticnow offering early product access for $100is promising within two years. Related From Slate A.I. May Not Get a Chance to Kill Us if This Kills It First Read More Yes, lucid dreams can be induced, Tadas Stumbrys, the assistant director of research at the Alef Trust, a nonprofit organization focused on the study of consciousness, confirmed. (Stumbrys has conducted lucid dream studies himself.) But as of now, we do not yet have a method of how to induce lucid dreams reliably and consistently outside of sleep laboratory settings, he wrote to me. And in those studies, the success rate hovered at around 50 percentwith induction possible only among those who regularly had lucid dreams. Advertisement Advertisement None of these lucid dream studies examined the particular focused ultrasound method that Prophetic is building its product around. Stumbrys called it an interesting novel approach, which may have some potential in facilitating lucid dreaming, but there is zero empirical research, so far, that it can induce lucid dreams. He also had concerns about safety. While neurostimulation has been shown to be relatively safe when used for short periods in a lab, we do not know what might be the cumulative side effects due to the prolonged use in the uncontrolled settings such as the home environment. Advertisement Benjamin Baird, a psychology professor at the University of Texas at Austin who also has published papers on lucid dreams, offered a similar blend of optimism and caution. Activating the frontal region of the brain to prompt or stabilize lucid dreams has some prior plausibility, but no one has yet produced solid empirical evidence of any technique or device that can do this, he said. Advertisement And if they cant, they will lose what Wollberg told a podcast gives his product an advantage over augmented reality headsets The user is generating the content for themselves he said. You dont need to hire AR or VR designers when youre selling the customers access to their own imaginations. Advertisement Advertisement Still, their headset seems more promising than some of the other lucid-dreaming products out there. (And yes, there are many.) It also seems to be easier to access than the Dormio, a dream-capturing glove from MIT Media Lab, which requires building it yourself. There is also no denying that A.I. will accelerate medical research. And in the grand scheme of the multibillion-dollar A.I. hype bubble, the $1 million in funding the company obtained is nothing Gabriel De La Rosa Cols, a principal with the A.I.-powered PR platform Intelligent Relations told me. De La Rosa Cols, who is familiar with the venture funding landscape, didnt find it nearly as strange as I did that investors were willing to fund something based on an unproven hypothesis. Venture capitalists are supposed to invest in things that are not yet reality. They also like to circulate tantalizing ideas like Your brain is software; program it. But the thinking among people who have spent their lives studying the brain tends to be quite different. The brain is not software. Nor is it a computer or anything else that you can saywith certaintycan be engineered to give you the results you want on the timeline you want. Thats true no matter how powerful the technology youre using or the hype you build around your product. This is part of Slates daily coverage of the intricacies and intrigues of the Sam Bankman-Fried trial, from the consequential to the absurd. Sign up for the Slatest to get our latest updates on the trial and the state of the tech industryand the rest of the days top storiesand support our work when you join Slate Plus. Sam Bankman-Fried may be paying for that monthslong media tour he embarked upon late last year following the collapse of his crypto exchange FTXyou know, when he kept doing interviews, posting Twitter threads, and explaining himself on Substack before and after he was arrested on fraud and other charges, having been accused of misappropriating billions of dollars belonging to FTX customers. For starters, throughout the proceedings of United States v. Samuel Bankman-Fried, the prosecution has frequently displayed SBFs notorious, since-deleted tweets from the November week it all fell down: FTX is fine. Assets are fine, and we dont invest client assets (even in Treasuries). Those assets were not fine, and FTX allegedly did invest clients assets after funneling them through its sister hedge fund, Alameda Research, for SBF to apparently splurge em wherever he wanted. But on Thursday, when former FTX general counsel Can Sun testified on the stand, still another damning artifact of that era made an appearance: Bankman-Frieds late-2022 interview from the Bahamas with anchor George Stephanopoulos, aired on Good Morning America. Advertisement Advertisement To understand the significance, lets cover what Sun did, and what he told the jury on Thursday. In August 2021 Sun joined FTX International, where he weighed in on everything from licensing to fundraising to cross-company agreements. Such a wide berth naturally encompassed the state of FTXs fat pot of customer depositsalthough, Sun claimed, he hadnt a clue for the longest time about what FTX was really doing with that cash. He said he never approved any of FTXs automatic fiat transfers to Alameda and that, whenever he discussed FTXs customer accounts with SBF, the CEO promised they were safeguarded and segregated from FTXs proprietary funds (referring to the capital used for day-to-day operations, such as payroll). Suns naivete was compounded by SBFs relentless public messaging: The public face of FTX said the same thing to his Twitter followers, to members of Congress, and to regulatorsthat customer assets were safeguarded and separate. And because Sun didnt himself have access to FTXs wallets or balance sheets, hed taken it on faith that money was flowing as it should have beensomething he likewise told government regulators and FTX customers whenever he dealt with their inquiries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It wasnt just that SBF said one thing and did another, Sun explained, but that the CEO rode that disparity to the bank. Bankman-Fried, he said, played a close role shaping FTXs individual Key Principles guidelines for both regulators and investors; the guidelines for investors noted that the business segregates customer assets from its own assets across our platforms. According to both Sun and the Securities and Exchange Commissions civil suit against Bankman-Fried, FTX not only published those principles on its website but specifically provided them to investors happy to unload millions upon the young firm, not least for its diligently stated security measures. The three words SBF repeated over and over, to Sun and to others, were safeguarded, segregated, and protected; because of this, Sun testified, he had no reason to believe that the customer funds were actually being commingled with the proprietary assets. Advertisement More important, though, was the fact that Can Sun helped to complete the writing of FTXs terms of service. The company already had such terms when Sun joined in mid-2021, but they were only 80 to 90 percent completed, he saidso he assisted by finishing and signing off on the whole thing. The additions needed to be made, he explained, because FTX was seeking a license in the Bahamas, and the C-suite wished to assure the island nation it was obeying local regulations. Sun started on this task right when he joined the company, and Bankman-Fried approved and published the updates by May 2022. Advertisement What did these terms of service, past and present, say about customer assets? The governments attorneys showed some pages from the terms of service to the jury, highlighting a provision regarding users assets. Title to your Digital Assets shall at all times remain with you and shall not transfer to FTX Trading, the rules read in part. None of the Digital Assets in your Account are the property of, or shall or may be loaned to, FTX Trading. You control the Digital Assets held in your account. Advertisement Advertisement Look, Im not a lawyer, but all that reads pretty clearly to me. The prosecution also addressed the spot and margin trading section as it applied to users who did opt in to that programthat is, to having some of their deposits cover for other customers in a pinch. That section spelled out how, under certain market conditions, it may become difficult or impossible to liquidate a position. In such an event, our backstop liquidity providerall but calling out Alameda Research by namemay come into play, but there is no assurance or guarantee that a humble spot trader might not lose it all. As SBFs lawyers might say, fair enough. (Heres a good explanation from Timothy B. Lee in Slate on how margin trading on a crypto exchange should work.) Still, Sun made sure to clarify, there was no change in FTXs terms for customer deposits before and after Suns intervention. In other words, the promised conditions for FTXs non-margin traders remained what they werea legally established guarantee not to go blowing your customer accounts on, say, a private firm run by a guy who could introduce SBF to countless celebrities. Anyway, much like with the Key Principles, SBF personally sent the Sun-updated terms of service to important players, including Elise Knaus, legal operations manager at the asset management firm Sculptor Capital Management. Deputy general counsel Adrian Guye had at one point done the same with another document displayed to the jury, titled Safeguarding of Assets & Digital Token Management Policy, which Sun had approved and whichyoull never guesspromised that the exchanges Bahamian subsidiary, FTX Digital Markets, would appropriately account for the difference between its own assets and its customers assets. It would also ensure that all third-party providers will be aware that customer assets do not represent assets of FTX Digital Markets. Oops! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even Can Sun himself, he claimed, was kept in the dark about how FTX really used its money, both proprietary and not. He testified that he learned of Alamedas North Dimension account (without learning details of its FTX connection) only in spring 2022, and that he realized that Alameda had privileged access to FTX only by August 2022, because of its exemption from the automated liquidation procedures previously described in the trial by Adam Yedidia. That last revelation left Sun shocked, he stated, and he proposed that Alamedas no-liquidation mechanismwhich, remember, allowed it to essentially hoover up unlimited money from FTXinstead become a delayed-liquidation mechanism that would be disclosed to investors/regulators/customers as a function of Alamedas market-making role. Ultimately, however, the idea was never implemented. (And it wasnt until a later conversation with Nishad Singh that Sun came to understand how the no-liquidation policy was intended as a means for Alameda to tap essentially unlimited money from FTX. At first, Sun had been shocked that any FTX customer had advantages over another, which also went against all of SBFs public statements.) Advertisement Related From Slate Once Again, the Sam Bankman-Fried Saga Turns Its Attention to Adderall Read More The liquidation shock was nothing compared with what he felt on Nov. 7, 2022, Sun said. On that date, he was asked to join a call with Apollo Capital, requesting an investment from the firm in order to help solve a liquidity problem that FTX had for customer withdrawals. Apollo asked for financials, so Sun requested the relevant documents from FTX execsand the sheet he received showed that FTX was short $7 billion to satisfy customer withdrawals. Sun then interrogated Singh and SBF about what the heck was going on; the former looked like his soul had been plucked away from him, Sun said. SBF responded only after sending the spreadsheet anyway, after which Apollo requested a legal justification for the $7 billion hole and Alamedas role. Sun and Bankman-Fried went on a walk to discuss the matter, during which Sun told his boss that although there were theoretical arguments SBF could employ to explain this freewheeling accounting, none of them was supported by the facts, because there was no legal justification for the funds being missing and taken by Alameda. Despite that, Sun did expound on some of those theoretical arguments, telling the jury he brought up a dormancy fee levied on long-absent customers as well as the internal borrow-lending network enabled for the margin tradersneither of which was too convincing. SBF acknowledged all of this during the walk, Sun said, with hasty, clipped interjections of yup, yup. Advertisement Advertisement Now that weve likewise walked through all this, lets get back to that Good Morning America interview, which was played to the courtroom. Holding a physical copy of the relevant documents in his hands, host George Stephanopoulos grilled SBF: As you know, the FTX terms of service tell the people who signed up, None of the Digital Assets in your Account are the Property of, or may be loaned to, FTX Trading. But youre saying that happened. Advertisement My understanding is that a few things happened, SBF responded after pausing to reach deep into his memory. The first is there is a margin-trading facility on FTX by which users can lend out funds, by which other users borrow funds, and so there are explicit cases where there is borrow-lending. Hey, the whole room appeared to be thinking, thats one of the bad arguments Can Sun handed to him! Advertisement Advertisement Stephanopoulos then asked, If Alameda is borrowing the money that belongs to FTX depositors, thats a bright red line, isnt it? There are a lot of cases where thats actually explicitly part of the programs and that are happening at the very beginning, SBF replied. But not here, Stephanopoulos cut in. It says that the digital assets may not be loaned to FTX Trading. Advertisement Advertisement There existed a borrow-lending facility on FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried insisted. And I think thats probably covered, I dont remember exactly where, but somewhere in the terms of service. Stephanopoulos: But theyd have to approve of that. Theyre saying they didnt approve of it heretheyre saying you approved of it. After the clip ended, Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon turned back to Sun: Was the borrow-lend facility a potential justification that you had discussed with the defendant on Nov. 7, 2022? Yes, said Sun. And what had you said to the defendant about that? It was not supported by the facts. And what was his response? He acknowledged it. Sassoon then looked to Judge Lewis Kaplan. No further questions, Your Honor. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced the formation of a pioneering pilot program: the Tribal College Small Business Achievement (TCSBA) grant. This initiative seeks to bridge gaps in financial accessibility for Native American entrepreneurs, many of whom face social and economic disadvantages. Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, representing the SBA and President Bidens Cabinet on behalf of the 33 million small businesses in the U.S., unveiled the initiative. The central goal of the TCSBA grant is to offer holistic and result-driven business services to both emerging and established Native American entrepreneurs. Administrator Guzman highlighted the Biden-Harris administrations commitment to fortifying tribal communities and said, By partnering with Tribal Colleges and Universities, SBA aims to provide Native American and Indigenous entrepreneurs with more tools and resources to help them start and grow their businesses, create local jobs, and deliver for our economy. Drive Traffic to Your Website Sell Your Business Discover the Zoho Ecosystem Advertise Your Business Here The program delineates financial support for Tribal Colleges and Universities as set out in the Higher Education Act HEA 316 (U.S.C. 1059c). This aid intends to supercharge students entrepreneurial spirits and invigorate local small businesses to generate tangible economic impacts, as gauged by successful business launches, job sustainability, and heightened company revenues. For small business owners, particularly those from Native American communities, this presents an unprecedented chance to leverage the benefits of the pilot partnership. The TCSBA program will offer grants of up to $250,000 annually to tribal colleges and universities for a period of up to five years. Notably, this is the first collaboration of its nature with Tribal Colleges and Universities to aid student entrepreneurs and ongoing businesses within the community simultaneously. The recipients of the four new TCSBA grants are: Haskell Indian Nations University, Lawrence, KS Nebraska Indian College, Macy, NE Salish and Kootenai College, Pablo, MT Institute of American Indian Art, Santa Fe, NM In its mission to broaden its reach to Native American entrepreneurs, the SBA has extended its existing efforts through the Community Navigators program, introducing two new partners: Small Business Deals Black Hills Community Loan Fund Indian Dispute Resolution Services, Inc. These new collaborations, especially in regions like the Great Plains and the Southwest, reinforce the SBAs dedication to propelling entrepreneurship within Native American territories. The SBAs Office of Native American Affairs plays a pivotal role in channeling federal government initiatives to amplify entrepreneurial undertakings within these communities. Future applicants will be assessed on their ability to enhance the capacity of Native American businesspersons to secure capital, spawn new ventures, elevate business longevity, create employment opportunities, and more. The launch of these programs brings to the forefront the necessity of inclusivity and diversity in the entrepreneurial landscape. Small business owners, especially those hailing from Native American backgrounds, can now look forward to a brighter horizon, filled with opportunities and substantial growth prospects. For a comprehensive understanding of the SBAs support mechanisms for Native American small businesses and to get acquainted with the Office of Native American Affairs, individuals and businesses can explore SBAs official website. Heredium, Japanese colonial company-turned-museum, opens with Anselm Kiefer's 'Herbst' By Park Han-sol It was during her time working as a curator in Paris in the 2010s that Ham Sun-jae first came face to face with the introspective works of the German post-war master Anselm Kiefer. Among a number of exhibitions of Kiefers art put forth in the French capital over the years, his 2015-2016 landmark retrospective at the Centre Pompidou left a lasting impression on her. The pieces were overwhelming in a way that couldn't possibly be compared to what I had seen in the pages of a book. It made me dream of working with the artist someday, the 43-year-old shared in a recent email interview with The Korea Times. Seven years later, her dream came true as she assumed the role of founding director at Heredium, the newly established museum in Daejeon. The museums inaugural exhibition, titled Herbst, which means autumn in German, features 17 of Kiefers latest paintings and installations, marking the first institutional showcase of the German-born painter in Korea. The decision to commence the museums journey with Kiefers solemn pieces which highlight his exploration of cultural memory and history through ruins and the eternal cycle of decay and rebirth was a straightforward one, according to Ham: they resonate with the buildings own history. The two-story structure, which boasts an eclectic fusion of Japanese and Western architectural elements, was erected in 1922 during Japanese colonial rule (1910-45) as the Daejeon branch of Imperial Japans Oriental Development Company. The company was part of the empires state-led enterprise responsible for managing and exploiting Korea's land and resources. Over the course of a century, the building has withstood the Korean War and the transformative forces of modernization, serving a multitude of roles from a district postal service office and telecommunication center to commercial facilities. But it wasnt until after undergoing extensive renovations in the last two years that the once-forgotten Japanese colonial company building came back to life this year as a new cultural complex. The term Heredium refers to a hereditary estate in Latin, the director noted. The museums building was once on the verge of destruction and oblivion, but it has experienced a remarkable rebirth as a contemporary cultural institution. We believed that, for both the museum and Kiefer, the ruins represent a place where new beginnings are made possible. She added that the artist sympathized with the historical significance embodied in Heredium, leading him to accept the invitation to present his solo show in Korea's fifth-largest city. Before taking up her position at the Daejeon institution, Ham was involved in organizing shows both in France and Korea, which included the special exhibition at the 2012 Busan Biennale and the Chanel VR media art support program in Paris from 2017 to 2021. One of the most memorable projects she recalls is the first solo exhibition of the renowned Korean minimalist painter and sculptor Lee U-fan at the Palace of Versailles in 2014, where she served as an artist liaison under the curation of Alfred Pacquement, former director of the Centre Pompidou. My participation in organizing this showcase inspired me to seek opportunities where I could similarly engage contemporary art in dialogue with historically significant spaces in Korea, the director explained. That was why after her return to her home country, she joined Herediums renovation project as an art director. After delving deeper into the historical importance of the venue, the experience naturally culminated in her role as the museums inaugural director. As a major new presence in Daejeons cultural landscape, Heredium aims to organize more contemporary art exhibitions and live performances in the future that can connect with the local community. The museum is meaningful in that it is located outside of Seoul, thus contributing to balancing out the concentration of cultural activities in the capital area and reflecting the values of other regions," Ham noted. The exhibition Herbst runs through Jan. 31, 2024. If you buy something through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more. Are you looking for some scrapbooking supplies to help with your business? Whether you need stickers, paper, tools, accessories, or anything else related to scrapbooking, there are plenty of great places to shop online and save money to find what you need. In this article, well take a look at ten websites where you can buy the best scrapbooking supplies. Lets jump in! The Scrapbooking Market in 2022 According to Yahoo Finance, the arts and crafts market was worth a lot of money in 2021 at almost $57 billion worldwide. Its expected to reach a value of about $70 billion by 2027. Discover the Zoho Ecosystem Sell Your Business Drive Traffic to Your Website Advertise Your Business Here International Scrapbooking Industry Day is on March 4th every year and celebrates the global scrapbooking industry, which is still popular worldwide even with digital scrapbooking options. Top Places to Buy Scrapbooking Supplies Online If youre looking for an online store where you can shop for great scrapbooking deals, then these are the places for you. 1. Amazon Amazon is one of the biggest and most trusted e-commerce sites, so its a great place to find quality scrapbooking supplies. They have a wide selection of supplies from different brands, including some hard-to-find items. Small Business Deals 2. Etsy Etsy is an online marketplace where independent designers, artisans and crafters can sell their handmade items. You can shop, save, and find a variety of deals on scrapbooking supplies here, ranging from stickers, paper and tools to more intricate items like custom-made albums. 3. eBay eBay is another great website for searching for scrapbooking supplies. They have a wide selection of both new and used items at competitive prices. The great thing about eBay is that you can also find rare and vintage items if youre looking for something special or some inspiration. 4. Scrapbook.com Scrapbook.com is an online scrapbooking store that offers a wide selection of products from both its own brand and other top-quality brands. They also have a great selection of tutorials, classes and workshops to help you get started with scrapbooking. 5. Michaels Michaels is an arts and crafts store that has a great selection of scrapbooking supplies, including paper, tools and embellishments. They also have an online store to accept orders, which makes it easy to find what you need. 6. Hobby Lobby Hobby Lobby is another popular arts and crafts store that has a great selection of scrapbooking supplies. They offer both physical stores and an online store that makes it easy to find anything you need. 7. Craft Direct Craft Direct is an online store based out of Cedar City, Utah that offers some of the best scrapbooking supplies such as scrapbook page kits, scrapbooking collections, page protectors, and much more. 8. Oriental Trading Oriental Trading is a company that specializes in party supplies, but they also have a great selection of scrapbooking supplies. They offer everything from paper in virtually any color to tools and embellishments. 9. Joann Joann is a craft store with an extensive selection of scrapbooking supplies, fabric, yarn and much more. If youre looking for an extensive selection of crafting materials at competitive prices, Joann is a great option. 10. A Cherry On Top A Cherry On Top, which started back in 1997, has a large selection of scrapbooking-related items, such as glitter, cutting tools, planners, and more. They also have a blog and tutorials to help you get started with scrapbooking. Find even more amazing deals on scrapbooking supplies here. Essential Scrapbook Supplies If youre looking to stock up on scrapbooking supplies like paper and other basics, then these are the items youll need. Acid-Free Paper This type of paper is specifically designed to last over time without yellowing or deteriorating. Acid-free paper ensures that your scrapbook creations remain intact and as beautiful as the day they were created for years to come. Decorative Paper and Cardstock Varieties of colored and patterned papers serve as backgrounds, borders, and decorative elements within your scrapbook. Adhesive Dots These small, clear adhesive dots offer a secure and clean way to attach embellishments to your scrapbook pages. Theyre preferable for detailed work and items that might not adhere well with standard glues. Double-Sided Tape A versatile adhesive solution, double-sided tape sticks to both the item youre attaching and the scrapbook page itself. Its perfect for adhering larger items like photographs or paper cut-outs. Photo Corners Photo corners are small, triangular pockets that allow you to attach photos to a page without applying adhesive directly to the photo. This means photos can be removed or repositioned without damage. Scrapbooking Albums These are the books where all your pages will be housed. Scrapbooking albums come in various sizes and styles to cater to your personal preferences and the theme of your scrapbook. Page Protectors Page protectors are transparent sheets that fit over your scrapbook pages, page protectors shield your creations from dust, moisture, and fingerprints. Stamps and Ink Pads Stamps let you add decorative designs and phrases to your pages. Paired with colorful or metallic ink pads, the possibilities are endless. Embellishments These are decorative items like ribbons, buttons, stickers, and more. They add depth, texture, and personality to your pages. Washi Tape This decorative tape can be used for borders, highlights, or as an adhesive. Washi tape often comes in numerous colors and patterns. Distress Inks and Sponges Distress inks and sponges create a vintage or aged look to paper edges and can add depth and dimension to your pages. Brads and Eyelets Brads and eyelets are small fasteners that can attach multiple pieces of paper or embellishments together, while adding decorative flair. Glue Gun and Glue Sticks For heavier or 3D embellishments, a glue gun provides a stronger adhesive bond. Glue sticks are the refills that provide adhesive. Glitter and Sequins Add sparkle and shine to your pages with decorative elements like loose glitter or sequins. Chipboard Accents Thicker than regular paper, chipboard accents add dimension to your scrapbook pages. Tags and Labels Tags and labels are used for labeling and providing additional information or decorative flair to your scrapbook pages. Rub-On Transfers Rub-on transfers include designs that can be transferred onto your pages by rubbing them with a tool or popsicle stick. Vellum Paper Vellum is a translucent type of paper that can overlay photos or backgrounds for a frosted look. Extension Posts If you run out of space in a post-bound album, extension posts allow you to add more pages to your scrapbook. Die Cuts Die cuts are a great way to add a unique element to your scrapbook pages for all occasions. You can buy pre-made die cuts with specific shapes, or you can purchase a die-cutting machine and make your own. Material Primary Use Type Durability Customizability Acid-Free Paper Base for scrapbooking Paper High Low Decorative Paper/Cardstock Backgrounds, borders, and decoration Paper Medium-High Medium Adhesive Dots Attach embellishments Adhesive Medium Low Double-Sided Tape Attach items to scrapbook Adhesive High Low Photo Corners Attach photos without direct adhesive Attachment Medium Low Scrapbooking Albums Housing scrapbook pages Storage High Medium-High Page Protectors Protecting scrapbook pages Protective High Low Stamps and Ink Pads Add designs and phrases Decorative Medium High Embellishments Add depth, texture, and personality Decorative Varies High Washi Tape Borders, highlights, adhesive Decorative/Adhesive Medium Medium Distress Inks and Sponges Vintage look to paper edges Decorative Medium Medium Brads and Eyelets Attach papers/embellishments Fasteners High Medium Glue Gun and Glue Sticks Attach heavy or 3D embellishments Adhesive High Low Glitter and Sequins Sparkle and shine Decorative Medium High Chipboard Accents Add dimension Decorative High Medium Tags and Labels Labeling and information Functional Medium High Rub-On Transfers Transfer designs Decorative Medium Medium Vellum Paper Overlay for a frosted look Paper Medium Low Extension Posts Add more pages to a post-bound album Functional High Low Die Cuts Unique decorative elements Decorative Medium-High Very High Scrapbooking Tools for Business To create professional-looking scrapbooks, the right tools and accessories can make all the difference. Whether youre making scrapbooks for customers or just to keep your own memories and thoughts organized, these tools will help you create a timeless product. Die-Cutting Machine A die-cutting machine allows you to cut paper into intricate and detailed designs that would be difficult to achieve by hand. Scissors Scissors are a must-have item for any scrapbooker. There are several types to choose from including decorative scissors and paper trimmers. Trimmers Trimmers are great for trimming excess paper or creating a straight edge. They come in different sizes and styles to fit your project needs. Craft Knife A craft knife is a precision tool ideal for detailed cutting tasks where scissors or punches might not be suitable. Punches Punches are tools that allow you to create specific shapes (like hearts, stars, or butterflies) from paper or cardstock. Corner Rounder A corner rounder is a tool that cuts the sharp corners of photos or paper, providing a rounded finish. Gel Pens Gel pens come in various colors, including metallics and glitters, allowing for decorative writing and drawing. Journaling Pens Pens designed specifically for scrapbooking wont bleed through the paper and are fade-resistant. Theyre essential for adding notes, captions, or stories alongside your photos. Photo Safe Markers Photo safe markers are designed to write on photographs without causing damage or fading over time. Colored Pencils and Watercolors You can use other coloring elements like colored pencils or water colors for hand-drawing or painting elements within your scrapbook. Acid-Free Photo Glue Acid-free photo glue is specifically designed to attach photos without damaging them or causing them to yellow over time. Foam Tape Foam tape includes adhesive that adds dimension by raising certain elements off the page. Retractable Craft Pick Craft picks are useful for picking up and placing small embellishments or poking small holes. Stencils and Templates Stencils and templates allow you to trace and cut out specific shapes or patterns consistently, ensuring uniformity in your designs. Rulers and Straight Edges Rulers or other straight tools are essential for measuring and ensuring straight cuts or lines, they also assist in layout planning. Embossing Tools Embossing tools are used to create raised designs on paper or cardstock, embossing adds a touch of elegance and texture. Crop-A-Dile A crop-a-dile is a versatile tool used for punching holes and setting eyelets and snaps. Bone Folder A bone folder can be used to create clean and crisp folds in paper and cardstock. Storage Containers Keep your supplies organized and protected with storage solutions like boxes, bins, or craft tote bags. Scrapbook Sketches or Idea Books Scrapbooking sketches or idea books provide layout inspiration and design ideas for your scrapbooking projects. Photo Editing Software Photo editing software includes digital tools that allow you to enhance, crop, or add effects to your photos before printing. Tool Primary Purpose Type Additional Notes Die-Cutting Machine Cut intricate designs Machine Requires die sets Scissors Cut paper Manual Tool Varieties include decorative scissors Trimmers Trim and straighten edges Manual Tool Different sizes/styles available Craft Knife Detailed cutting Precision Tool Requires a steady hand Punches Create specific shapes Manual Tool Variety of designs available Corner Rounder Round paper/photo corners Manual Tool Creates a soft finish Gel Pens Decorative writing/drawing Writing Tool Available in metallics/glitters Journaling Pens Write notes/captions Writing Tool Fade-resistant, no bleed-through Photo Safe Markers Write on photos Writing Tool Won't damage photos Colored Pencils/Watercolors Hand-drawing/painting Art Supplies Adds a handcrafted touch Acid-Free Photo Glue Attach photos safely Adhesive Prevents yellowing/damage Foam Tape/Dots Add dimension to elements Adhesive Raises elements off the page Retractable Craft Pick Pick up/place small items Precision Tool Good for small embellishments Stencils/Templates Trace/cut consistent shapes Template Ensures design uniformity Rulers/Straight Edges Measure and ensure straight lines Measuring Tool Assists in layout planning Embossing Tools Create raised designs Texture Tool Adds texture and elegance Crop-A-Dile Punch holes/set eyelets and snaps Multi-Function Tool Versatile and durable Bone Folder Create clean paper folds Manual Tool Ensures crisp folds Storage Containers Organize and store supplies Storage Keeps items protected and accessible Scrapbook Sketches/Idea Books Provide design inspiration Inspiration Aids in layout planning Photo Editing Software Enhance and modify photos digitally Digital Tool Requires some technical know-how What Should a Scrapbook Contain? Scrapbooks serve as a tangible repository of our cherished moments, experiences, and stories. They encapsulate memories and give them life, ensuring they arent forgotten. When embarking on your scrapbooking journey, consider incorporating the following elements to create a rich, personal, and lasting memento: Photos: Capture significant events, places, and people. Can be digitally enhanced or edited before printing for the desired effect. Ensure theyre printed on photo-safe paper to prevent deterioration over time. Paper: Provides a backdrop for your photos and other content. Consider using acid-free paper to preserve the integrity of your memories. Comes in various colors, textures, and patterns to complement your theme or mood. Embellishments: Items such as ribbons, buttons, stickers, washi tape, and more. Add depth, texture, and a personalized touch to your pages. Enhance the thematic or aesthetic appeal of your scrapbook. Journaling: Share stories, emotions, and context behind photos and memories. Utilize journaling pens that wont bleed through pages and are fade-resistant. Can be handwritten for a personal touch or printed for a cleaner appearance. Memorabilia: Incorporate physical remnants of experiences, such as ticket stubs, postcards, dried flowers, and brochures. These items infuse an authentic touch to your scrapbook, making it a true keepsake. Ensure these are attached securely, using photo-safe adhesives or corner pockets. Album/Binding: The outer cover and binding method that holds your scrapbook together. Options include ring-bound, post-bound, and strap-hinge albums, each with its unique advantages. Choose a style and size that resonates with your vision and the volume of content you have. Page Protectors: Transparent sheets that cover and protect each page. Protect against dust, moisture, and fingerprints, ensuring longevity. Easily slide over pages and are generally part of most scrapbook albums. Titles and Headers: Use to introduce sections, highlight specific events, or add a decorative touch. Can be made using stamps, stickers, or hand-lettering. Layout Sketches/Idea Books: Provide inspiration for arranging photos, embellishments, and other elements. Help in creating cohesive and aesthetically pleasing pages. Tools: Include scissors, craft knives, glue, and more to aid in the design and assembly process. Some specialized tools, like corner rounders or punchers, can elevate the finish and look of your pages. Assembling a scrapbook is a labor of love. The combination of photos, stories, and personal artifacts ensures it stands as a testament to ones journey, moments, and milestones. Whether for oneself or as a gift, a scrapbook is a cherished possession that can be revisited and relished for years to come. What Is the Most Important Scrapbook Tool? The most important tool for scrapbooking is your imagination! It can be easy to get overwhelmed with all the supplies and tools available, but your creativity is the most important part of creating beautiful scrapbook pages. Once you have your ideas, you can use the right tools and supplies to bring those ideas to life. With a little creativity and the right tools, you can create beautiful scrapbooks that will last for years. Qualify for discounts, special offers and more with a Business Prime account from Amazon. You can create a FREE account to get started today. But new supplies unlikely to be used until 2025. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Slovakia has taken its first steps to diversify its supplies of nuclear fuel after Slovenske Elektrarne (SE) and US nuclear technology company Westinghouse signed a contract to supply fuel for nuclear power plants in the country. The agreement, signed in August following an international tender, will lead to a diversification of supplies of nuclear fuel for power plants with Russian VVER 440 reactors in Slovakia. Related article Related article News digest: Mochovce 3 reaches full power output for the first time Read more The countrys nuclear power plants at Jaslovske Bohunice and Mochovce, which account for almost 60 percent of total electricity production, use fuel produced by Russian company TVEL, which is owned by state group Rosatom. However, the new supplies of fuel are unlikely to be used until 2025 at the earliest as a process to confirm its safety to use in reactors at SE power plants will first need to be carried out. SE, the dominant power producer in Slovakia, is aiming to have at least two alternative nuclear fuel suppliers in its portfolio, as well as several potential suppliers of materials and services across the nuclear fuel production supply chain. It has already signed a memorandum of cooperation with the French company Framatom. But says decarbonisation plan will cost more than 1 billion. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Steelmaker U.S. Steel Kosice (USSK) has welcomed the allocation of 300 million from the EUs Recovery and Resilience Plan to decarbonise its steel production, but pointed out total costs for the process are forecast to exceed 1 billion. USSK, one of the biggest greenhouse gas emitters in Slovakia, is one of three companies which has applied for a grant from the Recovery Plan. Company spokesman Jan Baca said any potential future investments in decarbonisation are contingent on other measures. These include grant support via the Modernisation Fund, extending the time available to draw money from the Recovery Plan, the identification of investment partners, competitive long-term electricity prices, and approval by the Unites States Steel Corporations board of directors. Replacing blast furnaces USSK plans to replace two of its three blast furnaces with electric arc furnaces to make its steel production greener. Electric furnaces would also significantly reduce its dependence on ore and coke imports from Russia and Ukraine, and lower costs on emission allowances. Based on plans submitted as part of an environmental impact assessment last year, the total cost of modernising the factory could be as much as 1.3 billion. The modernisation would include construction of a new metallurgical plant combining production, casting and rolling of steel with new progressive technologies. It would have two electric arc furnaces, off-site steel processing facilities and one continuous casting and hot rolling line with steel production capacity of up to 3.1 million tonnes per year. Three companies allocated funds The Environment Ministry is to allocate a total of 317 million to three companies for green investments. While USSK will get most of that, cement producer Danucem Slovensko and brick maker Wienerberger will receive 8.4 million each. Through these projects, Slovakia will be able to cut its emissions by more than 3 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually by 2026 at the very latest, said Environment Minister Milan Chrenko. This figure is reportedly the same as the annual greenhouse gas emissions of half a million Slovaks. The measures are expected to ensure a one-fifth reduction in all carbon dioxide emissions in Slovakia by companies participating in emission trading last year. Meanwhile, it has been reported that three large steel companies are interested in taking over American steel group U.S. Steel, which owns USSK - American companies Cleveland-Cliffs and Esmark and Indian-European firm ArcelorMittal, according to the Dennik N daily. The level of illegal migration is falling, the Interior Ministry reports. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Banska Bystrica, a major city in central Slovakia, has started providing temporary accommodation for illegal migrants who are passing through the city on their way to western Europe. Similar steps have now been taken in Presov and in Bratislava. Increased illegal migration prompted Banska Bystrica to declare an emergency situation in early October, following the example of Bratislava and Velky Krtis. Presov took the same step on October 19. However, the number of illegal migrants in Banska Bystrica has been falling for some time now. Migrants are able to stay at the Pristav facility near Tulska Street. It is run by the Slovak Red Cross and can accommodate 25 people. Mothers and children are being given priority. According to the Interior Ministry, they account for about double the proportion recorded last year, rising from 8 percent to 16.31 percent. Two heated tents for 10 people have also been erected near to Pristav. "It is our moral duty, but especially our duty as human beings, to help those who are in need," said the city's mayor, Jan Nosko. A mother with seven children and a father with a son found temporary refuge in the facility right after it opened a week ago. Banska Bystrica also plans to make public transport in the city free for illegal migrants, but only if they are accompanied by a volunteer approved by the city. The Material Aid Centre in the city has said that it can provide migrants with clothing and shoes. Health care is also available, if needed, the Slovak Red Cross said. Heated tents from Bratislava to Presov Presov, in eastern Slovakia, promised to build two heated tents for migrants in the nearby village of Lubotice, where there is an office of the Foreigners' Police, by the end of this week. On October 17, a small facility owned by the Podaj Dalej organisation near the Foreigners' Police office was made available for the needs of migrants. The tents are being provided by the Interior Ministry. Heated tents have also been set up at crossing points along the border with Hungary, including at Komarno, Sturovo and Sahy. In Bratislava's Vajnory borough, where another Foreigners' Police office is located, the ministry opened a temporary emergency shelter on October 19. A similar shelter stands in the city of Nitra. In addition to overnight accommodation, the facilities are reported to be providing one hot meal a day and basic medical treatment. The number of illegal migrants detained in July was 6,034 , rising to 9,089 in August, and 13,381 in September. As of October 15, the total number of illegal migrants detained this month had reached 4,162, the ministry reported. Another European delegated prosecutor has filed charges in an agricultural case. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Special Prosecutor Daniel Lipsic has submitted the first disciplinary proposal of his two-and-a-half years in office, targeting prosecutor Lubos Beno. Beno is one of six so-called European delegated prosecutors in Slovakia. These officials are supposed to prosecute cases in which harm has been caused to the financial interests of the European Union. All of the European delegated prosecutors working in Slovakia fall under the Special Prosecutor's Office, the Sme daily reported. Lipsic accuses Beno of not fulfilling his duties as required, leading to potential delays in legal proceedings. Case unrelated to Beno's current post It is not clear what case is supposed to have been affected by Beno's alleged inaction. However, it is likely to concern a case that Beno was dealing with before he became a European delegated prosecutor. The Supreme Administrative Court will ultimately decide on the disciplinary proposal against Beno. If he is found guilty, he may face deductions from his salary. While the details of the disciplinary case were not specified, the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), which oversees the work of the European delegated prosecutors, said that the proposal relates to a period when Beno was not acting as a European delegated prosecutor, so it would not comment on the issue. Beno became a European delegated prosecutor in 2021. He had previously worked as a prosecutor in Trencin and Prievidza. As a European delegated prosecutor, he carries out his activities independently of national authorities. Slovakia's chief European prosecutor is Juraj Novocky. EPPO conducts investigation linked to Recovery Plan The EPPO is responsible for combating fraud committed in connection with EU funds. It has the power to investigate and prosecute criminal offences that harm the EU's financial interests. On October 18, a European delegated prosecutor based in Bratislava filed charges with Slovakia's Specialised Criminal Court against one person and one legal entity for the crime of damaging the financial interests of the EU. The fraud concerns direct payments requested for the management of vineyards and orchards from 2018 to 2020. The estimated damage caused by the alleged criminal activity in relation to the general budget of the EU exceeds 45,000. Meanwhile, the European Public Prosecutor's Office is also conducting a criminal prosecution in connection with Slovakia's EU Recovery Plan, over suspicions regarding a 200-million call for the construction and reconstruction of Slovak hospitals. According to reporters at private broadcaster TV Markiza, the suspect in this case is the hospital in the town of Cadca, northern Slovakia, which was declared a 'winner' of the tender even though it had previously been eliminated due to its failure to meet a deadline. The Slovak office of the EPPO reported its first major successes last year. Together with Czech colleagues, it took action against four companies suspected of violating tax and customs regulations. Exciting events in the capital, heated tents for illegal migrants, and some good news from Slovakia. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Good evening. Here is the Friday, October 20 edition of Today in Slovakia the main news of the day in less than five minutes. Inspectors to pay a visit to Bratislava's refinery Gas being flared at the Slovnaft refinery on October 19, 2023. (Source: TASR - Jaroslav Novak) The Slovak Environmental Inspectorate (SIZP) says it will carry out an unscheduled inspection at the Slovnaft refinery in Bratislava in the near future. On Thursday, many people living in Bratislava contacted the inspectorate because of the plumes of black smoke they saw rising from the refinery. The inspectorate said that it had been informed about an emergency situation at the refinery, the TASR newswire wrote. According to Slovnaft, the limits on aerial pollutants were not exceeded as a result of the situation. The company said it had to shut down several production units at the refinery on Thursday due to a power outage, which is why local people could see more intense burning of gases and hear increased noise. However, electricity distribution firm Zapadoslovenska Distribucna, which supplies electricity to the site, said that it had not recorded any power outages affecting the refinery. People may continue to see burning of gases and hear noise coming from the refinery. This is related to the gradual ramping-up of production units, which can take several days, TASR noted. More stories from The Slovak Spectator website Prosecutor: A European delegated prosecutor in Slovakia will face disciplinary action. Migration: Heated tents for migrants are popping up across the country. Weekend: If you are a wine enthusiast or a budding pumpkin carver, check out the latest roundup. Here's what you can do during the weekend of October 20-22. Good news: Kysuce boasts of talented acrobats, Liptov has a skilled shooter, and Presov has its unsung hero. If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription with no ads and a print copy of The Slovak Spectator will be sent to your home in Slovakia. Thank you. WHAT'S ON IN BRATISLAVA Oktoberfest at Fresh Market Fresh Market in Bratislava. (Source: Facebook) Beer lovers are invited to Bratislava's very own Oktoberfest, being held at the Fresh Market grocery market and culinary venue. You can taste original Munich beers, both bottled and on tap. A variety of other types of ale and lager will also be available at the Bratislava Oktoberfest. Here are some more Bratislava events to look forward to. FEATURE STORY FOR FRIDAY A rare earthquake reveals family solidarity (and institutional weakness) An older village house in Dapalovce. (Source: Courtesy of J. T.) Pavlina, 82, has been a Dapalovce resident all her life. Since the 1960s she has lived in the same house, the one that she and her late husband built and where they raised their eight children. Now she will never return, as damage from the October 9 earthquake means it will have to be torn down. Pavlina's home was a modest dwelling, but it held precious memories for dozens of people, accumulated over more than half a century, writes James Thomson. In other news During an October 17 meeting, the S&D Group in the European Parliament suspended three Smer MEPs from its group. Two MEPs, Monika Benova and Katarina Roth Nevedalova, had resigned shortly before. The third has been suspended until he makes a clear commitment to the group's progressive values. The European Socialists group had earlier suspended Smer, as well as Hlas. Two MEPs, Monika Benova and Katarina Roth Nevedalova, had resigned shortly before. The third has been suspended until he makes a clear commitment to the group's progressive values. The European Socialists group had earlier suspended Smer, as well as Hlas. In the past two days, Bratislava police have documented three incidents involving collisions between pedestrians and trams. Two of these accidents resulted in injuries requiring hospitalisation. One collision resulted in the death of a 14-year-old boy. Two of these accidents resulted in injuries requiring hospitalisation. One collision resulted in the death of a 14-year-old boy. A police investigation into former economy minister Peter Ziga (Hlas), who is due to become the deputy speaker of the parliament, is still ongoing. He faces corruption charges. (SME) He faces corruption charges. (SME) Former police chief Tibor Gaspar, who also faces corruption charges but was nonetheless elected as an MP for the Smer party on September 30, should head parliament's defence committee. (Aktuality) (Aktuality) The opening session of the new Slovak parliament will take place at 10:00 on Wednesday, October 25. WEATHER FOR THE WEEKEND: Expect cloudy skies and light rain on Saturday and Sunday, with daytime temperatures reaching up to 22C. On Monday, you can expect clear skies and rain in some places. The highest daytime temperature will be 20C. (SHMU) Thank you for subscribing and reading. It means a lot to us. P.S. If you have suggestions on how our news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk. Follow The Slovak Spectator on Facebook and Instagram (@slovakspectator). The wave of union activity sweeping across the specialty coffee industry nationwide continues to gather momentum, with two workers from two Northeastern companies seeking to unionize. Both Vibrant Coffee Roasters in Philadelphia and Coffee by Design in Portland, Maine have made public their intentions to seek union representation and are moving toward a vote, if necessary. The first was Vibrant, who, per the Philadelphia Inquirer, announced on Monday that they had officially filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board. With a successful vote, Vibrant workers would be represented by the Philadelphia Joint Board, Workers United, known as Local 80, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union. They would join workers from other Philadelphia area coffee companies like Elixr, Ultimo, ReAnimator, and Good Karma Cafe. If successful, a total of 19 Vibrant employeesbaristas, bakers, and porterswould join Local 80. Organizers cite the need for better working conditions, particular during the hotter summer months, as the reason for the collective bargaining efforts. Organizer and baker Rebecca Werez notes that the temperature in the bakery would regularly reach the mid-90s, which was the impetus for the union. Workers are also seeking wage increases, more paid time off, and improvements to scheduling and job security. Per Werez, Vibrant ownership had initially stated they would voluntarily recognize the union but have since hired an employment lawyer, leaving the workers to seek a vote with the NLRB. For their part, workers at Portlands Coffee by Design hope for a much smoother process. According to the Portland Press Herald, CBDs owner Mary Allen Lindemann states that she is open to negotiating a contract with workers. Once Local 327 is certified as the bargaining agent, we are prepared to begin good-faith negotiations on a contract that protects our employees and the long-term viability of Coffee By Design. The plan to join the Laborers International Union of North America was announced Tuesday, with a total 89% of the CBD workforce signing cards authorizing Local 327 to represent them in collective bargaining. Around 20 baristas across the companys three Portland locations would join the union. Workers cite low wages by industry standards, uneven hours that make benefits inconsistent, and an ad-hoc disciplinary system and working conditions that dont meet best practice standards as the reasons they are seeking union representation. If CBD and Lindemann dont voluntarily recognize the union, the organizing workers will follow the lead of those at Vibrant and file for a vote with the NLRB. Unionizing efforts at coffee shops around country dont appear to be slowing down. If anything, theyre speeding up. Read our past coverage of unions in specialty coffee. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231019/israel-commits-crimes-against-humanity-in-gaza-possible-risk-of-genocide---un-experts-1114340032.html Israel Commits Crimes Against Humanity in Gaza, Possible Risk of Genocide - UN Experts Israel Commits Crimes Against Humanity in Gaza, Possible Risk of Genocide - UN Experts The Israeli bombing of schools and hospitals in the Gaza Strip, as well as the blockade of the enclave are crimes against humanity, and there is a risk of genocide of the Palestinian people, UN special experts said in a report. 2023-10-19T23:29+0000 2023-10-19T23:29+0000 2023-10-19T23:29+0000 world the united nations (un) israel palestine-israel conflict genocide crimes against humanity /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/13/1114309798_0:149:3114:1901_1920x0_80_0_0_02334179add7d770c313c87381960fc3.jpg Given the statements of the Israeli political leaders and their allies, as well as the military actions in the Gaza Strip and the escalation of arrests and killings in the West Bank, there is a risk of genocide against the Palestinian people, according to the report, published by the United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR). The experts also called for the protection of all humanitarian workers after the World Health Organization recorded over 136 attacks on health care services in Palestine, with 59 incidents occurring in the Gaza Strip, resulting in the death of at least 16 health workers since October 7. The complete blockade of Gaza, coupled with "unfeasible evacuation orders and forcible population transfers," is also a violation of international humanitarian law, the experts added. The report is signed by seven UN Special Rapporteurs on various human rights, including UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, Francesca Albanese. On Tuesday, a missile hit the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, causing a massive blast in which almost 500 people died, according to the Health Ministry of Gaza. Palestinian group Hamas blamed the explosion on an Israeli airstrike; however, the Israel Defense Forces said the hospital had been hit by a failed rocket launch by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231019/pentagon-us-destroyer-shot-down-several-houthi-missiles-drones-potentially-headed-to-israel-1114338282.html israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International israel, crimes against humanity, potential risk of genocide, un special experts, israeli blockade against gaza, https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/austrias-ex-chancellor-kurz-rebukes-prosecutors-for-bias-during-trial-testimony-1114357195.html Austria's Ex-Chancellor Kurz Rebukes Prosecutors for Bias During Trial Testimony Austria's Ex-Chancellor Kurz Rebukes Prosecutors for Bias During Trial Testimony Former Austrian Chancellor and ex-leader of the Austrian People's Party (OVP) Sebastian Kurz, who is charged with perjury, on Friday accused prosecutors of biased interpretation of his correspondence, which is the basis of his case, a Sputnik correspondent reported. 2023-10-20T13:30+0000 2023-10-20T13:30+0000 2023-10-20T13:30+0000 world austria sebastian kurz europe austrian people's party (ovp) corruption corruption charges corruption probe corruption scandal /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/14/1114357610_0:0:3001:1688_1920x0_80_0_0_1621d2659024e9d973ced3ea8aa08c6e.jpg "I cannot understand why the chats go unheeded. Why statements that can be interpreted in different ways are interpreted only to my detriment," Kurz told a judge during his testimony. Kurz is accused of making false statements in June 2020, when he was still serving as chancellor and denied during a parliamentary inquiry his involvement in the decision to appoint his confidant Thomas Schmid to the board of directors of the Austrian state holding company OBAG, responsible for managing investments. While investigating Kurz's case, prosecutors examined his correspondence. The case includes a fragment of a message in which the former chancellor told Schmid that he would "get everything" he wanted, to which the confidant replied, "I love my chancellor." Kurz could face three years in prison. He served as the country's chancellor from 2017-2019 and 2020-2021. austria 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 austrian chancellor, former chancellor, sebastian kurz, austrian people's party, thomas schmid, charges against former chancellor, charges against kurz, corruption in austria, austrian corruption, corrupted chancellor https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/biden-backs-israel-interim-house-speaker-and-former-trump-lawyer-takes-plea-deal-in-georgia-1114339714.html Biden Backs Israel, Interim House Speaker, and Former Trump Lawyer Takes Plea Deal in Georgia Biden Backs Israel, Interim House Speaker, and Former Trump Lawyer Takes Plea Deal in Georgia On todays episode of The Backstory, host Rachel Blevins discussed current events including the US diverting shells for Ukraine to Israel, and the Taliban* requesting Belt and Road membership. 2023-10-20T04:03+0000 2023-10-20T04:03+0000 2023-10-20T10:22+0000 the backstory radio gaza georgia iron dome hamas syria israel sidney powell /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/13/1114339555_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_ac8ce12dbecccf0d737bc4599cf06d33.png Biden Backs Israel, Interim House Speaker, and Former Trump Lawyer Takes Plea Deal in Georgia On todays episode of The Backstory, host Rachel Blevins discussed current events including the US diverting shells for Ukraine to Israel, and the Taliban requesting Belt and Road membership. In the first hour, Rachel spoke with journalist, writer, and political analyst Robert Inlakesh about the nonstop bombing by Israel, the nonstop lies from Israel, and the people of Gaza shocked by the scope of Israel's current attack on Gaza. Robert spoke about the ninety-seven percent of the water of Gaza being undrinkable and the Western support for Israel.Rachel spoke with former UN weapons inspector & WMD whistleblower Scott Ritter about the lack of US military readiness, Joe Biden's claim that America can fight multiple wars, and Israel running low on ammunition. Scott explained how America is not trained or ready for large-scale combat and how the two thousand US Marines sent to Israel will have no impact on the situation in the Middle East.In the second hour, Rachel spoke with attorney and CEO of Gill Media Steve Gill about the twenty-two Republicans who have voted against Jim Jordan for Speaker of the House, Republican infighting, and the ouster of Kevin McCarthy has done nothing to improve Congress. Steve talked about the original replacement for Kevin McCarthy being Steve Scalise and how Scalise is looking for a backroom way to be shadow Speaker of the House.Rachel spoke with attorney, media relations specialist Tyler Nixon about the Georgia RICO case against Donald Trump, Sidney Powell tried to inspect Georgia voting machines, and Coffee County Georgia. Tyler spoke about the pressure placed on attorney Sidney Powell by Georgia prosecutors and the RICO case against Donald Trump seems to be a cover-up of Georgia's Coffee County voting anomalies.*under UN sanctions for terrorist activitiesThe views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comCatch us in the US at 105.5FM, 104.7FM, 102.9FM, 1390AM, 1140AM gaza georgia syria israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Rachel Blevins Rachel Blevins 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 Rachel Blevins the backstory, humanitarian aid to gaza, situation in gaza, israel's attack on gaza, western support for israel, speaker of the house, georgia rico case against donald trump Korean art shows to open at Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Met By Park Han-sol From 12th-century Goryeo-era artifacts to present-day installations reflecting on the poignant state of the Korean Peninsulas division, Korean art is set to come under the spotlight at major museums in the United States this fall. The exhibition, The Shape of Time: Korean Art after 1989, hosted by the Philadelphia Museum of Art, delves into the transformative changes that have reshaped the countrys sociopolitical landscape since the late 1980s through the works of 28 Korean artists. The late 1980s marked a profound turning point for Korea as it witnessed the end of decades of military dictatorship and the lifting of an international travel ban. This period was a watershed moment in the art world, enabling creatives to engage with their global counterparts beyond national borders. Korea has a growing and vibrant art scene, so including the Korean voice is crucial to a more fully realized and inclusive global art narrative, the museums Director and CEO Sasha Suda said, adding that the show focuses on introducing new voices ones that have experienced this pivotal place and time in history firsthand. The Shape of Time, which opens on Oct. 21 and runs through Feb. 11, 2024, features artists including Suki Seokyeong Kang, Park Chan-kyong, Do Ho Suh, Ham Kyung-ah and Chang Jia who explore layered themes of inter-Korean relations, gender and sexuality, displacement and historical legacies. Ham presents What you see is the unseen/Chandeliers for Five Cities, an oversized needlework of a luminous chandelier, created through smuggling and covert collaboration with North Korean embroidery crafts artisans. The Philadelphia museum also commissioned Shin Mee-kyoungs Eastern Deities Descended for the show, where the artist employs her signature material of soap to breathe life into the unrealized projects of American sculptor John Gregory, thereby raising questions about cultural translatability. Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its Arts of Korea gallery with the exhibition, Lineages: Korean Art at The Met. Scheduled to run from Nov. 7 to Oct. 20, 2024, it brings together 30 works spanning from the 12th century to the present, centered around the four intertwined themes of lines, things, places and people. The show has been organized by Eleanor Soo-ah Hyun, who assumed the position of the museums associate curator for Korean art in September as a result of the first endowed curatorship funded by the Korea Foundation and the Samsung Foundation of Culture. The Met established its first permanent gallery dedicated to Korean art in 1998. It currently houses a collection that includes a Goryeo-era inlaid lacquer box and Buddhist paintings, as well as a mid-15th-century patterned buncheong ware. Suh Se-oks ink painting, People, depicting a sea of abstract human characters in repeated brushstrokes, serves as a prelude to the exhibition. The show then proceeds to trace the legacies of the countrys centuries-old calligraphy, ink painting, ceramics, landscape art and portraiture, while simultaneously putting them in a direct dialogue with modern and contemporary creatives such as Kim Whanki, Paik Nam-soon, Park Soo-keun and Byron Kim. By pairing historical with modern and contemporary artwork, the show poses the question of how new lineages and legacies have been shaped by Korean artists responding to the past, their present, and looking toward the future, stated Max Hollein, the museums director and CEO. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/biden-excuses-push-for-israel-ukraine-aid-as-matter-of-national-security-in-rare-address--1114341191.html Biden Excuses Push for Israel, Ukraine Aid as Matter of National Security in Rare Address Biden Excuses Push for Israel, Ukraine Aid as Matter of National Security in Rare Address US President Joe Biden spoke to the nation in a rare address on Thursday and announced he would be sending a budget request to Congress in order to fund Americas national security needs. 2023-10-20T03:45+0000 2023-10-20T03:45+0000 2023-10-20T03:45+0000 americas us palestine-israel conflict ukraine crisis joe biden oval office nationwide address /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/14/1114341389_0:0:3004:1691_1920x0_80_0_0_abd1e6e75e47287867b0061bf98dd541.jpg US President Joe Biden spoke to the nation in a rare address on Thursday and announced he would be sending a budget request to Congress in order to fund Americas national security needs.Earlier reports indicated that the funding request may include as much as $60 billion in aid to Ukraine and a total of $40 billion in aid for Israel, Taiwan and the US-Mexico border.Biden argued the budget request would serve as a smart investment that is going to pay dividends for American security for generations, and that it would reportedly help keep American troops out of harms way.However, the budget request comes at a time when the US House of Representatives struggles to elect a House speaker after they removed former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy from the post.The lower congressional chamber remains unable to clear any legislation until it successfully fills the speakership position. The US House is also facing a government shutdown deadline as current funding for the US government is set to expire on November 17.The US president then addresses his recent trip to Tel Aviv on Wednesday. During which, he said he sat down and spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his cabinet members, as well as Israelis experiencing the war with Hamas. Biden then referred to Hamas as a terrorist organization, while referring to the majority religion in Israel, which is Judaism.Sadly the Jewish people know perhaps better than anyone, that there is no limit to the depravity of people when they want to inflict pain on others, Biden said in addressing hostilities from the current Palestine-Israel conflict. Israel and Palestinians equally deserve to live in safety, dignity, and peace.Biden cautioned those in Israel, however, suggesting that as hard as it is, we cannot give up on peace. We cannot give up on a two-state solution.The two-state solution envisions an independent Palestine established alongside Israel, but is entangled with historical and political complexities, including where exactly, borders should be drawn.The US president further detailed he spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and told the leader that the US remains committed to the Palestinian peoples right to dignity and to self-determination, adding that the terrorist acts of Hamas do not take that right away.We cant ignore the humanity of innocent Palesitnians who only want to live in peace and have an opportunity, the president said. Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people. Hamas uses Palestinian civilians as human shields, and innocent Palestinian families are suffering greatly because of that.Biden added that the bill he is sending to Congress will help Israel have what they need and will sharpen their qualitative military edge, including helping to fund their iron dome defense system.The president later took the opportunity to compare the countrys military operation in Ukraine to hostilities between Palestine and Israel, and warned that if the US stepped away from its aid to Ukraine, conflict and chaos could spread abroad.Biden clarified that the US does not want to put American boots on Russian ground, or directly fighting against Russian forces. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/us-state-depart-official-publicly-resigns-over-biden-admins-handling-of-israel-palestine-conflict-1114340800.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231019/israel-commits-crimes-against-humanity-in-gaza-possible-risk-of-genocide---un-experts-1114340032.html americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg joe biden oval office address, us aid to ukraine and israel, palestine-israel conflict, national address https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/biden-ripped-for-trying-to-sell-disastrous-ukraine-policy-to-skeptical-americans-1114350239.html Biden Ripped for Trying to Sell 'Disastrous Ukraine Policy to Skeptical Americans' Biden Ripped for Trying to Sell 'Disastrous Ukraine Policy to Skeptical Americans' US President Joe Biden has been taken to task for trying to use Israel's fight against Hamas to push additional aid for the regime in Kiev. Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, lambasted it as "completely disgraceful." 2023-10-20T13:27+0000 2023-10-20T13:27+0000 2023-10-20T13:27+0000 americas us ukraine palestine-israel conflict joe biden hamas israel republicans palestine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/14/1114352435_0:0:3048:1714_1920x0_80_0_0_58b97879b4d788a3a91ca4ae4f52c1d9.jpg US President Joe Biden has been taken to task for trying to use Israel's fight against Hamas to push additional aid for the regime in Kiev. Weighing in on Bidens address to the nation on Thursday, Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, lambasted it as "completely disgraceful."Vance took to the X social media platform (formerly Twitter) to denounce POTUS for using the latest flare-up of the Palestine-Israel conflict to sell his disastrous Ukraine policy to skeptical Americans. He added that these two were not the same countries," and do not face the same problems."In his address from the Oval Office, Biden announced he would be sending a budget request to Congress to fund Americas national security needs, and made the case for further funding NATO's ongoing proxy war with Russia in Ukraine, and supporting non-NATO ally Israel in its fight against Hamas.The senator's remarks rang true with many on the Internet, who commented under his post that it was high time for America to stop "funding any foreign conflicts," and stop "artificially linking" such issues as Ukraine, Israel, China/Taiwan, and the US border.As for Joe Biden's address, later on Thursday Vance appeared on US television to double down on his assessment of the Democratic POTUS' Ukraine funding effort. "If he wants to sell the American people on $60 billion more to Ukraine, he shouldn't use dead Israeli children to do it. It was disgusting," Vance insisted, pointing out that "it is a separate country and a separate problem."Ahead of Biden's address, Sen. J.D. Vance published an opinion piece in US media, joining forces with Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts. "Instead of holding up aid to Israel for additional Ukraine funding, Congress should give the situation in Israel the separate debate and vote that it deserves," Vance insisted. The op-ed also argued that European countries near Ukraine, such as Germany and France, should provide "considerably more assistance."Vance previously joined 29 lawmakers in signing a letter addressed to the Biden administration demanding more transparency on how much is being spent in Ukraine, adding that until such concerns have been addressed, additional expenditures to support the Kiev regime would be opposed.Amid the increasingly waning desire to pump financial and billions' worth of military aid to Kiev, the Ukraine funding debate has become increasingly controversial in Washington, with some Republicans long warning they would block any spending bill unless their demands are met, including removing any additional funding to Ukraine from the bills. Some of the most vocal Republicans in the House have been Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Marjorie Taylor-Greene (R-GA), while in the Democrat-controlled Senate, several Republican lawmakers, including Sens. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Rand Paul (R-KY) have also espoused such a stance.Disagreements over funding Ukraine brought the US to the brink of a government shutdown last month, with the spending debate raging ahead of the end of the fiscal year on September 30. At the time, then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy passed a spending stopgap without the additional multibillion dollar Ukraine assistance sought by Biden, with the measure set to expire on November 17. The new supplementary funding request comes as the lower congressional chamber remains without a speaker after the ouster of McCarthy, and unable to clear any legislation. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/bidens-speech-awkwardly-militaristic--threatening-1114344327.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/biden-excuses-push-for-israel-ukraine-aid-as-matter-of-national-security-in-rare-address--1114341191.html americas ukraine israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Svetlana Ekimenko joe biden oval office address, us aid to ukraine and israel, palestine-israel conflict, national address https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/bidens-speech-awkwardly-militaristic--threatening-1114344327.html Former Pentagon Analyst: Bidens Speech Awkwardly Militaristic & Threatening' Former Pentagon Analyst: Bidens Speech Awkwardly Militaristic & Threatening' Joe Bidens speech on Thursday was at once "militaristic", "threatening", and permeated with "direct lies," retired Lt. Col. Karen Kwiatkowski, a former analyst for the US Department of Defense, told Sputnik. 2023-10-20T06:48+0000 2023-10-20T06:48+0000 2023-10-20T08:13+0000 analysis us joe biden karen kwiatkowski vladimir putin israel ukraine us department of defense (dod) congress hamas /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/14/1114343961_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_01846dbb0bc070ec610df45322bbec6a.jpg Joe Bidens speech from the Oval Office on Thursday was at once "militaristic", "threatening", steeped in "self-aggrandizement", and permeated with "direct lies", retired Lt-Col Karen Kwiatkowski, a former analyst for the US Department of Defense, told Sputnik.Joe Bidens slurred address to the nation, conceived as an impassioned plea to support Israel and Ukraine, also appeared to have been pre-recorded, suggested Kwiatkowski, who noticed a glitch in the footage. It would hardly be surprising if that were the case, bearing in mind how prone the 80-year-old POTUS is for making gaffe-riddled public statements.In his rare address on Thursday, Biden announced he would be sending a budget request to Congress to fund Americas national security needs. By that he meant sending further support to the ongoing NATO proxy war with Russia in Ukraine, and aiding Israel in its fight against Hamas. Previous reports indicated that the additional funding request may include as much as $60 billion in aid to the Kiev regime and a total of $40 billion in aid for Tel Aviv, as well as Taiwan and the US-Mexico border.The US President underscored that the bill he is sending to Congress will help Israel have what they need and will sharpen their qualitative military edge, including helping to fund their Iron Dome defense system. Biden likened Russia's military operation in Ukraine to hostilities between Palestine and Israel, and warned that if the US were to step away from aiding Ukraine, conflict and chaos could spread abroad.Thats why tomorrow Im going to send to Congress an urgent budget request to fund Americas national security needs needs to support our critical partners, including Israel and Ukraine. Its a smart investment thats gonna pay dividends for American security for generations, Biden said.Biden's martial speech making the case for pumping further aid to Ukraine, and for supporting Israel, ended with the words "God protect our troops", Kwiatkowski pointed out. It should be noted that Bidens funding request is coming at a time when the lower congressional chamber remains in turmoil, still without a Speaker, and unable to clear any legislation. Unless the House is able to select a new Speaker and pass the essential budget bills by 17 November, a shutdown of the US federal government will be triggered putting in doubt many of its non-essential functions. Biden has been doubling down on his pledges to send weapons to both Ukraine and Israel, even though the tussle over government spending and, specifically, aid for Kiev has already divided lawmakers in Congress. Even Democrats' enthusiasm has started to cool on aiding the proxy conflict, according to latest polls. Now, the latest flare-up in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has Congress facing the challenge of an even greater supplemental funding request.Biden, who recently visited Israel to show his support for the long-time non-NATO ally, coughed when he spoke of concern and protection of innocents in Gaza, under the laws of war, Kwiatkowski said.As to the lies littering Bidens speech, the former DoD analyst pointed to his reporting to the nation that the Ukrainian Army has taken back 50 percent of the territory initially taken by Russia, and said that that did not ring true. Surprised that Bidens speechwriters even allowed this to remain in his address, Kwiatkowski continued:Indeed, the much-touted Ukrainian counteroffensive attempt launched early in June quickly ran up against solid Russian defenses and minefields. According to the latest data, the Kiev regime has lost more than 90,000 troops, 557 tanks and almost 1,900 armored vehicles. "As for the counteroffensive, which is apparently stalling - it has failed completely. We know that in certain areas of the hostilities, however, the opposing side is preparing new active offensive operations. We see this, and we know it. And we are also responding to this accordingly," Russian President Vladimir Putin highlighted in a recent media interview.The shocking part of Bidens speech, according to the ex-DoD analyst, was the unabashed selling point that Biden offers to increase aid to Israel and Ukraine.Kwiatkowski took a moment to speak ironically about Bidens self-aggrandizement over somehow being the first President ever to visit a war zone, or visit during a war", and his account of his train trip to Kiev last year, the first president to do something like that "since Lincoln".Bidens address to the American nation was short on specifics, yet also awkwardly militaristic and threatening, Kwiatkowski concluded, as if the President wanted to warn that if we don't give money to warmongers holding their hands out - we will have to fight somewhere, albeit downplaying how exactly Americans fighting somewhere would pan out. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/biden-excuses-push-for-israel-ukraine-aid-as-matter-of-national-security-in-rare-address--1114341191.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231016/definitely-not-both-former-army-commander-says-us-cant-support-two-proxy-wars-1114240062.html israel ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Svetlana Ekimenko joe biden oval office address, us aid to ukraine and israel, palestine-israel conflict, national address https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/bidens-weak-speech-tying-ukraine-israel-funding-reflects-bankrupt-us-policy-in-mideast--1114359196.html Bidens Weak Speech Tying Ukraine, Israel Funding Reflects Bankrupt US Policy in Mideast Bidens Weak Speech Tying Ukraine, Israel Funding Reflects Bankrupt US Policy in Mideast US President Joe Bidens speech tailored to garner support for supplementary funding of Israel and Ukraine was a failure, and a sort of muddled vision of what he thought he was doing, Professor Joe Siracusa told Sputnik. 2023-10-20T15:01+0000 2023-10-20T15:01+0000 2023-10-20T16:25+0000 analysis us joe biden palestinians ukraine russia israel hamas /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/14/1114358278_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_452562e2a79878b6a34d25828e398580.jpg As a presidential address, Joe Bidens speech tailored to garner support for supplementary funding of Israel and Ukraine was a failure, illogical, and a sort of muddled vision of what he thought he was doing, Professor Joe Siracusa, political scientist and dean of Global Futures, Curtin University, told Sputnik.Furthermore, the speech by the 80-year-old POTUS infantilizes the American public, the political scientist believed.'Tough Sell'Asking Congress for supplementary funding for Tel Aviv, along additional aid to the Kiev regime amid waning resolve among lawmakers, as well as the American public, to further bankroll NATOs proxy war against Russia in Ukraine is a tough sell for Biden, Joe Siracusa assured. "I think Americans are just a little weary of this," he pointed out."I reckon that the Russian-Ukraine conflict has come to about an end. Most Americans are done with it because they understand there's an adjustment there. But in terms of bankrolling Israel, the United States is looking over its shoulder at increasing confrontation in the region or beyond. Those two aircraft carriers there are not to deter violence, because Joe Biden hasn't deterred violence anywhere. I mean, it happens anyway. They are there to tell Israel's enemies that an attack on Israel right now from either Iran or Hezbollah or other places will be met with American counteraction. And that's the one thing you do not want to fool around with," said the expert.As to the Palestine-Israel conflict, which accrued an even more horrifying death toll after the attack on a northern Gaza hospital, this war was a failure in intelligence, said the pundit, offering the opinion that a lot of people were asleep at the switch.The entire international community was shocked by the catastrophe, with citizens across the globe rallying in support of Palestine and urging for a ceasefire. Amid the relentless Israeli strikes that have pummeled the Gaza Strip after Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise large-scale rocket attack against Israel on October 7, and the complete blockade of the enclave, there have been warnings of a devastating humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in an area home to more than two million people.Weighing in on the reportedly looming ground operation by Israels military, ostensibly targeted at wiping out Hamas in the enclave, by the time ground forces get in there, Gaza is going to be turned into a parking lot, Joe Siracusa said."Most Americans, they're like anybody else who is watching the war, they're appalled by what's going on And secondly, they see that there's no end game here. What is the end game for the Israelis in Gaza? Is it to make them disappear? Is it to push them all into the Sinai Desert, is it to push them into the sea? I mean, the Israelis have no Plan B, there's no end game here. And the American people, they're hard working like anybody else. And they don't want to be played for suckers here."I think the American public and the president's speech are miles apart," the analyst insisted.Weighing in on how likely Joe Biden was going to get Congress to greenlight spending to the extent that he hopes, Professor Joe Siracusa voiced the opinion that he was not going to get funding for the Ukraine war, adding that a lot of Americans are turned off of that.Furthermore, Bidens remarks in his address to the American public to the effect that, we're not really giving money to anybody... we're just giving them munitions from our stores and then we're using the money to replace these munitions were ripped as ridiculous by the pundit.He added that the weak speech and Bidens funding pitch to Congress came at a time when there was only a temporary House speaker, and growing reluctance among lawmakers to further sink taxpayer funds into the Ukraine sinkhole.'Wrong Side of History'Looking at the current spiral of violence in the Middle East, and summing up American foreign policy in the region overall, Joe Siracusa succinctly assessed it as bankrupt. It's intellectually bankrupt and it doesn't work. And we don't offer anything new because we have nothing new to offer, he pointed out. As for Washingtons support for Israel and Ukraine, it shows that America is on the wrong side of history," added the professor. According to him, history will judge the Russian military operation in Ukraine as justifiable, and the Israeli annihilation of the Palestinians as unbelievable.Indeed, President Joe Biden was recently "humiliation" by Arab leaders on his visit to the Middle East. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas pulled out of a four-sided meeting with his US counterpart in the Jordanian capital Amman which Egypt was also set to attend. Jordanian King Abdullah II called off the summit shortly afterwards, forcing Biden to cancel his trip to Israel's eastern neighbor.The snub came in the wake of the blast at the al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza, after which Biden, meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, endorsed Tel Aviv's claim that the massacre was caused by "the other team." https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/bidens-speech-awkwardly-militaristic--threatening-1114344327.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231019/israel-plans-to-turn-gaza-into-hiroshima-but-without-nuclear-weapons---sy-hersh-1114308532.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231019/bidens-humiliation-in-middle-east-reflects-popular-contempt-for-us-role-1114315973.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231016/definitely-not-both-former-army-commander-says-us-cant-support-two-proxy-wars-1114240062.html ukraine russia israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Svetlana Ekimenko joe biden oval office address, us aid to ukraine and israel, palestine-israel conflict, national address, nato proxy war against russia in ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/european-hospitality-norway-joins-list-of-nations-ready-to-pay-ukrainian-refugees-to-go-home-1114365320.html European Hospitality? Norway Joins List of Nations Ready to Pay Ukrainian Refugees to Go Home European Hospitality? Norway Joins List of Nations Ready to Pay Ukrainian Refugees to Go Home Millions of refugees flocked to Europe last year as the Ukrainian security crisis exploded into a full-blown NATO proxy war with Russia. But while leaders continue to vow to support Kiev for as long as it takes, national bureaucracies have started dropping loud hints that their ability and readiness to host refugees is reaching its limits. 2023-10-20T17:07+0000 2023-10-20T17:07+0000 2023-10-20T17:07+0000 world europe norway ukraine european union (eu) the united nations (un) united kingdom (uk) refugees payment /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/14/1114365111_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_4dec7bc53a5cdc9d5e4b7521ad5ebf11.jpg Oslo has introduced a scheme designed to get some of the roughly 51,000+ Ukrainian refugees living in Norway to go home, offering cash payments of nearly 1,500 to Ukrainian nationals willing to leave the Kingdom.The scheme, whose details have appeared on the cabinet of ministers website, promises 17,500 Norwegian krone (1,495) to persons granted collective protection or residence on the grounds of strong humanitarian considerations who decide to return home.Those applying are also warned that they could lose their residence permit or refugee status if they return home, and that those looking to move back to Norway would have to repay all or parts of the cash support received when leaving, ranging from zero NOK if they return after more than 24 months, 5,000 NOK for those coming back within 18-24 months, 10,000 NOK for those returning after 13-18 months, and 15,000 NOK (about 1,280) if its after less than 12 months.Norway is the latest country in Europe to offer Ukrainian nationals a cash incentive to leave, with Swiss media reporting on a similar scheme by the government earlier this month, and Irelands authorities exploring the use of social welfare funds to encourage Ukrainians to go home earlier this year.Elsewhere, authorities have taken more of a laissez faire approach, with thousands of Ukrainian refugees in the UK now reportedly winding up on the streets, while in Poland, authorities have gradually cut assistance, and asked for financial compensation from the European Union on the matter.The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimated last month that over 8 million Ukrainians had fled their home country last year, with about 4.8 million of them settling in the EU or the UK. Russia took in close to two million Ukrainian nationals in 2022.In late September, President Putin signed a decree to further ease restrictions for entry and exit using Ukrainian identity documents including expired papers which have become difficult to renew due to the conflict. Ukraine unilaterally terminated a visa-free travel agreement with Russia in January 2023, with Moscow opting not to impose visa requirements on Ukrainians. https://sputnikglobe.com/20221122/why-is-west-eager-to-give-ukrainians-billions-worth-of-weapons-but-not-refugee-benefits-1104557861.html norway ukraine united kingdom (uk) Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ilya Tsukanov norway, ukraine, refugees, payment, pay, cash, money, encouragement https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/finland-contacted-china-russia-over-balticconnector-incident---reports-1114358300.html Finland Contacted China, Russia Over Balticconnector Incident - Reports Finland Contacted China, Russia Over Balticconnector Incident - Reports The Finnish Foreign Minister has contacted China and Russia via diplomatic channels over the incident at the Balticconnector gas pipeline, informed Moscow about the seriousness of the problem and an ongoing investigation, media reported on Friday. 2023-10-20T13:28+0000 2023-10-20T13:28+0000 2023-10-20T13:29+0000 world finland china russia balticconnector /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107772/77/1077727782_0:256:2733:1793_1920x0_80_0_0_4dc79bd9691baeb53fd438427b3d5472.jpg The ministry said that Finland contacted China to seek assistance to establish a contact with the Newnew Polar Bear ship, a vessel that it a part of the investigation. Balticconnector was shut down early on October 8 after a sudden drop in pressure raised concerns that gas was leaking from the 48-mile undersea pipeline, which has an annual capacity of up to 2.6 billion cubic meters. Pipeline operator Gasgrid Finland said the pipeline appeared to have been damaged. On October 11, Finnish police spokesman Mikko Simola said that some external traces had been detected on the seabed near the site where Balticconnector was damaged, adding that the Central Finland Police Department was investigating the matter together with colleagues from Estonia. Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said his ministry had received photo and video footage of the damage, which suggested the pipeline had been pulled from one side and dragged. The authorities reportedly cannot rule out that the pipeline was damaged by an anchor. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231012/blinken-says-us-supports-finland-estonias-probe-into-balticconnector-gas-pipeline-damage-1114131398.html finland china 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 finland contacted china, russia, balticconnector incident, ongoing investigation https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/haitian-police-arrest-key-suspect-in-ex-president-moises-assassination---reports-1114350825.html Haitian Police Arrest Key Suspect in Ex-President Moise's Assassination - Reports Haitian Police Arrest Key Suspect in Ex-President Moise's Assassination - Reports MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Haitian national police have arrested former justice ministry official Joseph Felix Badio who is believed to be a key suspect in the... 20.10.2023, Sputnik International 2023-10-20T10:36+0000 2023-10-20T10:36+0000 2023-10-20T10:36+0000 world jovenel moise haiti police assassination /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/07/09/1083345030_0:0:3073:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_1452c4e265c98006b45ae81b5348cccd.jpg "It is confirmed. Badio has been arrested. The police will reveal the details in the near future," a law enforcement official was quoted as saying by the newspaper. The head of Colombia's national police, Jorge Luis Vargas, said shortly after Moise's murder that Badio, who worked for the anti-corruption department and cooperated with the Haitian intelligence unit, ordered two retired Colombian military officers to kill the Haitian president, the newspaper said. The Colombian investigation also found that the operation was initially planned as an arrest of the Haitian leader, but the order changed three days before his assassination, the report added. Moise was mortally wounded in an attack on his residence on the night of July 7, 2021. More than 40 people have been arrested by the Haitian authorities during the investigation, including 18 Colombian citizens, five US citizens, several police officers, two presidential security officials, and the alleged organizer of the crime, doctor and pastor Emmanuel Sanon. Haiti has long been mired in a social and political crisis that escalated after the assassination of Moise. The country has faced an unprecedented increase in the activities of criminal groups, while the humanitarian situation has been further deteriorating due to natural disasters such as severe floods, torrential rains and earthquakes. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231003/unsc-approves-deployment-of-security-task-force-to-haiti---correspondent-1113872208.html haiti 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 jovenel moise , haiti, police, assassination https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/how-fast-is-russias-avangard-missile-1114346196.html How Fast is Russia's Avangard Missile? How Fast is Russia's Avangard Missile? In modern combat operations, speed (whether on land or in the air) is often the signature attribute between victory and defeat. The Avangard's unparalleled velocity allows it to hit targets with break-neck speed precisely. This capability dramatically lowers reaction time for adversaries and renders traditional defense measures far less effective. 2023-10-20T15:09+0000 2023-10-20T15:09+0000 2023-10-20T15:09+0000 military russia avangard military & intelligence dombarovsky kura russian defense ministry ss /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/07/06/1083321779_0:0:1256:707_1920x0_80_0_0_94cfe1c17386dac974117d786f69e937.jpg The Avangard missile system is a testament to the rapid advancements in aerial warfare technology in recent years. Developed by Russia, this avant-garde weapon system represents a consequential leap forward in contemporary ballistic missiles.This missile is represented by its revolutionary hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV), which allows it to travel at unprecedented velocity, far surpassing conventional ballistic missiles. Furthermore, the Avangard HGV can carry several warheads, providing flexibility in its strategic application.Its rapid deployment and unmatched speed make it an invaluable asset in offensive and defensive military plans. The Avangard's ability to elude enemy defenses and deliver payloads with pinpoint accuracy has reshaped the strategic landscape, prompting nations worldwide to reassess their defense postures and invest heavily in countermeasures.Sputnik touches upon understanding the intricacies of the Avangard system and why it's pivotal in the evolving face of threats to Russia's national security.What's the Avangard Missile?Previously referred to as Project 4202, the Avangard is a traditional nuclear-capable, boost-glide vehicle that is transported into space as a multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) atop an existing intercontinental ballistic missile like the UR-100N UTTH or RS-18A (UR-100/SS-19 Stiletto), R-36M2, or RS-28 Sarmat. After being released, it enters suborbital space and glides down to the atmosphere's edge at meteoric velocity.Technical PropertiesIt's worth noting that technical characteristics of the Avangard missile system have not been officially published, so any relevant information can only be obtained through public data.The Avangard is often portrayed as a delta-shaped vehicle, enveloped in a glowing plasma shield. Measuring about 5.4 meters, or nearly 18 feet, the Avangard is a sizeable vehicle and weighs roughly 2,000 kg.According to media reports, the Avangard missile boasts an impressive maximum speed, ranging from 20 to 27 Mach (24,696 to 33,340 kilometers per hour) in dense layers of the atmosphere. This versatile system is designed to carry nuclear and conventional payloads. However, its potential blast yield figures is estimated to range between 150 kilotons to two megatons (trinitrotoluene - TNT equivalent). The Avangard's successful test marks a major milestone in materials science and heat control. Russian authorities say the novel weapon is protected by a unique composite material that endured temperatures between 1,600 to 2,000C during intercontinental hypersonic flight for several minutes.Additionally, the Avangard incorporates advanced guidance systems, ensuring precise navigation and target acquisition during its high-speed flight.The Avangard's fuselage is engineered to reduce drag and maximize aerodynamic efficiency. This design feature, combined with its maneuvering capabilities, allows the missile to alter its trajectory mid-flight, evading potential interception attempts. The result is a weapon system that challenges existing missile defense paradigms and significantly reduces the response window for potential targets.Strategic Military Objectives of Avangard MissileThe Avangard missile's unprecedented speed and maneuverability have profound implications for the landscape of strategic warfare, reshaping the dynamics of offense, defense, and deterrence.According to Russian sources, the Avangard hypersonic boost-glide weapon is designed to eliminate missile defense installations and high-value targets like heavily fortified sites such as missile silos or military command centers. Implications of Avangard's Extreme Speed for WarfareAvangard's Combat Service History https://sputnikglobe.com/20191227/russias-avangard-hypersonic-missile-system-has-entered-into-service-what-we-know-so-far-1077881843.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20200912/russias-avangard-glide-vehicle-more-deterrent-weapon-than-nuclear-bomb-chinese-media-claims-1080441568.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20190724/russias-avangard-hypersonic-glide-vehicle-not-violating-new-start-deal-1076345417.html russia dombarovsky kura Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Chimauchem Nwosu https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/01/1113046371_0:99:1536:1635_100x100_80_0_0_9c5c627283eca931c39fe4852bbb301c.jpg Chimauchem Nwosu https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/01/1113046371_0:99:1536:1635_100x100_80_0_0_9c5c627283eca931c39fe4852bbb301c.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Chimauchem Nwosu https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/01/1113046371_0:99:1536:1635_100x100_80_0_0_9c5c627283eca931c39fe4852bbb301c.jpg avangard missile system, avangard aerial warfare technology, ballistic missiles, hypersonic glide vehicle, avangard boost-glide vehicle, mirv, intercontinental ballistic missile, ur-100n utth, rs-18a, ur-100/ss-19 stiletto, r-36m2, rs-28 sarmat, delta-shaped vehicle, plasma shield, avangard maximum speed, mach, avangard blast yield, missile defense, missile defense installations, missile silos, military command centers, avangard reaction time, avangard precision, avangard combat service, avangard flight testing, avangard glide vehicle test, serial production, new start treaty, active service, missile regiment, combat duty, hypersonic missile system, russian strategic missile forces, orenburg region, avangard, russia, project 4202, ur-100uttkh, dombarovsky air base, orenburg oblast, kura missile test range, kamchatka krai, federal assembly, moscow, us inspection group, yasnenskoye missile formation. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/is-russias-kinzhal-missile-nuclear-capable-1114335350.html Is Russia's Kinzhal Missile Nuclear Capable? Is Russia's Kinzhal Missile Nuclear Capable? The Kinzhal missile, first disclosed by Russia in 2018, signifies a monumental stride in hypersonic weaponry. However, this weapon system has been subjected to expert divergent opinions. This article gives insights into its nuclear capabilities and debunks untruths about claims of its downing during combat operations. 2023-10-20T14:44+0000 2023-10-20T14:44+0000 2023-10-20T14:50+0000 military military & intelligence vladimir putin igor konashenkov ukraine vladimir russia russian ministry of defense russian aerospace forces russian defense ministry /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/02/07/1092823895_0:0:2843:1599_1920x0_80_0_0_810525b39933843a2e9f32624cdd3fc6.jpg Russia developed the Kinzhal missile according to its defense necessities to bolster its military potential after the US withdrawal from the Antiballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty 21 years ago. Although the missile production attracted praise from some experts, it has drawn criticism from Western media.What is true about the Kinzhal missile? What is not, and is it nuclear capable? Sputnik explains.What is Kinzhal Missile?In March 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin showcased a line-up of six state-of-the-art weapons, including the Kh-47M2 "Kinzhal" (lit. Dagger) missile. This weapon is air-launched, and hypersonic.With the Kinzhal system, a short-range solid-fuel missile is integrated with a modified MiG-31K interceptor jet, creating a potent medium-range strike capability.The Kinzhal hypersonic system employs a MiG-31K jet to transport the missile to altitudes of roughly 18km (59,000 feet) while flying at supersonic speeds.Once released, the missile descends approximately 100 feet, shedding a protective cap that shields its rocket engine during jet flight. It then engages its solid rocket motors to reach hypersonic speeds. The Kinzhal missile is astonishingly fast, clocking in at speeds of up to Mach 10, or approximately 12,350 kilometers per hour.Technical Specifications of KinzhalMilitary Objective of Kinzhal MissileRussia's stated intention for the development of the Kinzhal missile is to disable missile defense systems. This aim matches the technical abilities of the designated modified carrier jets. However, the Kinzhal missile system could also target significant assets like carrier groups.This weapon can be employed like a regular tool on the battlefield. For instance, it was used to target underground weapon stockpiles in Ukraine in the course of Russia's special military operation. Furthermore, these missiles can reach distant targets without entering the airspace of countries Russia considers adversaries. This is possible due to their extended range, allowing them to stay within their own or friendly airspace.Is it Possible to Down Kinzhal Missile?On 9 May 2023, a number of Ukrainian and Western media outlets circulated headlines asserting that US-supplied air defense systems had downed a Kinzhal missile, doubting the assertion of the near impossibility of intercepting the missile owing to its high velocity. However, on 11 May 2023, the spurious allegations were dumped into the bins of incognizance by the official representative of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov.On May 16, 2023, some Western news outlets debunked the claims regarding the shooting down of the Kinzhals, stating that it happened "quickly." They argued that the unsubstantiated allegation did not specify whether the supposed interception of the Russian missile was carried out by the American-supplied Patriot air defense system. However, they reported that the Patriot air defense system was damaged, according to US officials. Also, video footage released by the Russian Defense Ministry showed when the American air defense system exploded.Honored Russian military pilot Vladimir Popov also corroborated the report of the Russian Defense Ministry spokesman's report when he told news sources, The Ukrainian authorities, of course, need to raise the morale of their people somehow. Theoretically, there is only one way to shoot down the Kinzhal: if you fire all the air defense missiles in one gulp, en masse, knowing that the hypersonic projectile is coming in exactly this direction.Moreover, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Armed Forces Air Force, Yuriy Ignat, refuted the news of a downed Russian Kinzhal missile. I have already refuted [this data] a thousand times. There was a possibility of use, but no ballistic missiles were detected. What some chairmen of military administrations say there is what they have already received for it. Kinzhal Missile Combat DeploymentOn March 18, 2022, Russia used the Kinzhal hypersonic missile system in a military operation in Ukraine. They targeted a Ukrainian underground depot near Delyatin in the Ivano-Frankovsk region. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the missile was launched from a distance of over 1,000 km and reached its target in less than 10 minutes. The missile's hypersonic speed and high kinetic energy allowed it to destroy the sheltered underground arsenal in a jagged landscape.On March 20, 2022, one of these missiles hit a large base for storing fuel and lubricants for Ukrainian troops in the Konstantinovka area. On May 9 and August 7, 2022, Kinzhal missiles were used against military targets in the Odessa and Vinnitsa regions, respectively.The Russian Ministry of Defense revealed on March 9, 2023 that a substantial counterstrike was launched in retaliation for Kiev's attacks on the Bryansk region of Russia. The Kinzhal complex targeted a communications center near Lvov located 120 meters below the surface.In September 2023, reports appeared that an Su-34 fighter aircraft had first used a Kinzhal hypersonic missile in the ongoing Ukrainian conflict, and its crew was nominated for awards for professionalism.From October 2023, Russian fighters armed with Kinzhal missiles are set to begin monitoring the Black Sea's airspace. Vladimir Putin stated this during his recent official visit to China: https://sputnikglobe.com/20230919/russia-celebrates-gunsmith-day-with-record-missile-production-1113492974.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230517/unstoppable-kinzhal-one-us-made-patriot-cracked-up-more-to-come-1110424287.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230904/sky-high-showdown-su-34-deployed-hypersonic-kinzhal-dagger-missile-1113101815.html ukraine vladimir russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Chimauchem Nwosu https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/01/1113046371_0:99:1536:1635_100x100_80_0_0_9c5c627283eca931c39fe4852bbb301c.jpg Chimauchem Nwosu https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/01/1113046371_0:99:1536:1635_100x100_80_0_0_9c5c627283eca931c39fe4852bbb301c.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Chimauchem Nwosu https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/01/1113046371_0:99:1536:1635_100x100_80_0_0_9c5c627283eca931c39fe4852bbb301c.jpg kinzhal missile, kinzhal, kh-47m2, dagger missile, hypersonic missile, nuclear warheads, russian military, air-launched ballistic missile, mig-31k, tu-160, tu-22m3m, hypersonic speed, mach 10, nuclear capabilities, missile defense systems, global defense strategies, military technology, vladimir putin, federal assembly, military objectives, national security, underground weapon stockpiles, ukraine, russian ministry of defense, lieutenant general igor konashenkov, vladimir popov, yuriy ignat, combat deployment, russian defense ministry, ivano-frankovsk region, konstantinovka region, odessa region, vinnytsia region, bryansk region, lvov, black sea airspace, russian aerospace forces, mach 9. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/jim-jordan-set-to-fail-in-third-bid-to-secure-us-house-speakership-voting-continues-1114363548.html Jim Jordan Set to Fail in Third Bid to Secure US House Speakership, Voting Continues Jim Jordan Set to Fail in Third Bid to Secure US House Speakership, Voting Continues US Congressman Jim Jordan is again set to fail to secure enough support in the House of Representatives to win the speakership in the first vote on Friday, as several Republican members continue to oppose his leadership bid. 2023-10-20T16:02+0000 2023-10-20T16:02+0000 2023-10-20T16:02+0000 americas us congressman us congress kevin mccarthy us jim jordan patrick mchenry impasse house speaker democrats /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/14/1114363707_0:299:3107:2047_1920x0_80_0_0_ebb33c136b775165825ac9f9ce82afed.jpg House lawmakers are holding their third floor vote this week in an effort to fill the vacant speakership, after ousting Congressman Kevin McCarthy from the role earlier this month. House Republicans hold a slim majority in the lower chamber of Congress, but have failed to unify support behind Jordan, whom the conference nominated to run for the speakership. House Democrats have rallied their support around Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. The House of Representatives is unable to conduct normal legislative business until they elect a new speaker. Alternatively, some lawmakers have proposed empowering speaker pro tempore Patrick McHenry, although other lawmakers have questioned the constitutionality of such a move. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231018/congressman-jordans-speakership-bid-fails-in-second-us-house-floor-vote-1114298894.html americas 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 house speakership, jim jordan house speaker contender, 2024 us presidential election, 2024 democrat strategy, us, samuel house, patrick mchenry, kevin mccarthy, ed case, steve scalise, democrats, republican, republicans, house judiciary committee, who will replace speaker kevin mccarthy, democrats unite with republicans, jim jordan, will jim jordan become new house speaker, steve scalise house speaker, when will new us house speaker be elected, us bipartisan consensus Korea's state-run oil company said Friday it is inspecting the readiness of local storage facilities to prepare for a potential release of reserves should the ongoing Middle East crisis escalate. "If the crisis escalates, including a scenario of the war expanding to other parts of the Middle East, we have a plan to release reserve oil in line with the government's policy to stabilize the supply," the Korea National Oil Corp. said in a statement. The company is currently inspecting the readiness at nine reserve stations across the country to prepare for a contingency, it added. Korea maintains a strategic oil reserve of 96 million barrels, sufficient to meet the nation's energy needs for 120 days. The government, meanwhile, expects the Israel-Hamas conflict to have a limited impact on the domestic supply of energy sources, as the Gaza Strip is located away from the Strait of Hormuz islands, a critical maritime route for the country's energy imports. The Middle East takes up 67 percent of Korea's crude imports. (Yonhap) https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/jordan-ousted-as-house-republican-speaker-nominee-after-losing-partys-support---mccarthy-1114368476.html Jordan Ousted as House Republican Speaker Nominee After Losing Partys Support - McCarthy Jordan Ousted as House Republican Speaker Nominee After Losing Partys Support - McCarthy US House Republicans ousted Congressman Jim Jordan as the partys nominee for speaker after losing the support of the conference during a secret ballot, Congressman Kevin McCarthy stated on Friday. 2023-10-20T18:35+0000 2023-10-20T18:35+0000 2023-10-20T18:35+0000 americas kevin hern us kevin mccarthy jim jordan republicans us congressman us congress impasse house speaker /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/14/1114368566_0:0:3071:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_89b88a4bc4bb0213236ac49823fe517f.jpg "Unfortunately, Jim is no longer going to be the nominee," McCarthy said after the internal vote. "Well have to go back to the drawing board." Earlier on Friday, Jordan failed to secure enough votes to become speaker after three floor votes. House Republicans will reportedly hold a candidate forum on Monday, with the intention of holding another floor vote on Tuesday. Congressman Kevin Hern released a statement on Friday after the vote announcing his bid for speaker. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231018/congressman-jordans-speakership-bid-fails-in-second-us-house-floor-vote-1114298894.html americas 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 jim jordan, jim jordan lost, house speakership, jim jordan house speaker contender, 2024 us presidential election, 2024 democrat strategy, us, samuel house, patrick mchenry, kevin mccarthy, ed case, steve scalise, democrats, republican, republicans, house judiciary committee, who will replace speaker kevin mccarthy, democrats unite with republicans, jim jordan, will jim jordan become new house speaker, steve scalise house speaker, when will new us house speaker be elected, us bipartisan consensus https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/lavrovs-north-korea-trip-designed-to-counterbalance-us-belligerence-in-asian-theater-1114356399.html Lavrovs North Korea Trip Designed to Counterbalance US Belligerence in Asian Theater Lavrovs North Korea Trip Designed to Counterbalance US Belligerence in Asian Theater Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov traveled to North Korea this week for high-level talks. The trip follows last months visit to Russia by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, and Russian defense chief Sergei Shoigus trip to Pyongyang in July. Sputnik asked Asia-Pacific affairs expert KJ Noh for his take on what the flurry of diplomacy means. 2023-10-20T14:34+0000 2023-10-20T14:34+0000 2023-10-20T14:37+0000 analysis sergey lavrov russia vladimir putin north korea south korea red army vostochny cosmodrome /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/14/1114355961_0:126:2934:1776_1920x0_80_0_0_fd65766e202f03254e9f348b14f7e648.jpg Lavrov wrapped up a formal visit to North Korea on Thursday, with the two day-itinerary including talks with his North Korean counterpart Choe Son-hui, a meeting with Kim Jong Un, and several formal diplomatic events, including a flower laying ceremony before a monument in Pyongyang dedicated to the Red Army troops who smashed the Imperial Japanese Kwantung Army and liberated Korea in the closing days of World War II.The Russian Federation expresses its solidarity and full support in the desire of the DPRK, led by State Council Chairman Kim Jong-un, to defend its independence and the right of its people to determine their own destiny, Lavrov said after arriving in the North Korean capital on Wednesday.The Russian top diplomat characterized his trip as a very good opportunity to consider in detail each of the agreements that were reached at the highest level during the talks at Vostochny Cosmodrome between Putin and Kim in September, and to outline practical steps to ensure the full implementation of each of these agreements.Meeting with Lavrov on Thursday, Kim remarked that the real friendship between Russia and North Korea was growing stronger after his meeting with Putin in the Russian Far East. Our people pay great attention to the relations between our countries, and it is very pleasant to meet with you in such an occasion, Comrade Minister, Kim said.At a reception in Lavrovs honor, Foreign Minister Choe expressed hope that his trip would help further expand the comprehensive and constructive ties between the two countries. Dropping hints on what this expanded cooperation may entail, Lavrov pointed to an upcoming meeting of the intergovernmental commission on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation in November, where plans to supply Russian energy and other goods to North Korea, as well as the possible implementation of new joint projects, will be discussed.During their talks in September, Putin and Kim deliberated a bouquet of areas ripe for cooperation, from agriculture, aviation and infrastructure to education, space exploration and the environment, as well as a possible logistics triangle including railway, port and road infrastructure projects in North Korea. Putin also remarked at the time on the opportunities that exist for expanding military-technical cooperation, so long as it remains in line with existing restrictions.Lavrov touched on the latter issue in an interview with Russian media on Thursday, dismissing rumors spread by the White House and US media of a secret Russian-North Korean pact on the delivery of ammunition to Russia.Russian Counterbalancing of US Belligerence in AsiaCommenting on Lavrovs DPRK visit, veteran journalist, political analyst and Asia-Pacific geopolitics expert KJ Noh said it demonstrates a clear effort by Moscow to counterbalance Washingtons maneuvering and sabre rattling on the Korean peninsula and Asia generally.Therefore, this is simply a reestablishment or a reaffirmation of historical political ties, as well as a counterbalancing against the United States in the Asian [theater], he added.Characterizing Moscows diplomatic moves as geostrategic rebalancing, Koh explained that essentially, Russia is merely pushing back against US efforts to constrain and contain it, and simultaneously sending a message Seouls way to stay in your lane and not get involved in Washingtons proxy war against Russia in Europe. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230917/putin-face-to-face-soyuz-2--ballet-kim-jong-uns-big-agenda-russia-trip-1113432247.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230926/what-kinds-of-weapons-does-south-korea-produce-and-export-1113695688.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230628/the-73-year-long-war-how-cold-war-rivalries-set-off-the-korean-conflict-1111503385.html russia north korea south korea Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ilya Tsukanov north korea, russia, sergei lavrov, diplomacy, trip, visit, analysis, agreements, ties, relations https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/like-a-phoenix-from-the-ashes-inside-mariupols-rebirth-1114368181.html Like a Phoenix From the Ashes: Inside Mariupols Rebirth Like a Phoenix From the Ashes: Inside Mariupols Rebirth I first went to Mariupol in March, 2022, in the early days of the Special Military Operation, while active combat operations were still ongoing in the city center. Wagner, the Chechens, and my comrades from Vostok were doing the heavy work there back then, and heavy work it was. 2023-10-20T18:41+0000 2023-10-20T18:41+0000 2023-10-20T18:51+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine mariupol russia donbass /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/14/1114369288_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_fbc9317912e1b6970041cdf9e1b3b4d2.jpg I first went to Mariupol in March, 2022, in the early days of the Special Military Operation, while active combat operations were still ongoing in the city center. Wagner, the Chechens, and my comrades from Vostok were doing the heavy work there back then, and heavy work it was. More than half of the city was damaged or destroyed in the fighting, before it finally ended with the surrender of the last remaining Azov* nazis hiding out in the Azovstahl steel plant on May 16th, 2022. A few days ago, I went back to Mariupol, and it was truly amazing and inspiring to see. Not just the "re-building" of the city, but a literal rebirth.Thousands of families now have new, modern apartments to live in, schools, hospitals, churches, government buildings and social centers have been repaired or in most cases built anew from the ground up. The Azovstahl steel plant that was owned by the Ukrainian billionaire Renat Akhmetov, which was the worst polluter of Mariupol and the Azov Sea, will be (mostly) torn down with the exception of a small part which will be turned into a museum to commemorate the Heroes who fought and died liberating Mariupol from eight years of occupation by the nazis of the 21st century. The rest of the plant territory will be turned into seaside parks and boardwalks, where nature and beauty will return to reclaim what was once a toxic and grimy industrial zone and horrific battlefield. Not rebuilt,reborn.And what Russia has done, and is doing, in Mariupol, we are doing and will do on all the territory liberated from the fascist quisling regime that is now in power in Kiev. The lands and people we liberate will not be made back "as good" as they were before the war, they will be made better, better than they have ever been. That is the meaning of progress, that is the meaning of liberation. Roads, homes, schools, hospitals, all social infrastructure, modernized and upgraded, by the Russian Federation, to welcome back our Slavic brothers and sisters to the Russian Orthodox world they have been a part of for more than 1,000 years. What we have done and are doing with Mariupol and Ukraine, we will do with the world - a new world, based on equality and mutual respect for all nations, based on cooperation and compassion, not conflict and cutthroat competition. The war going on today between Good and Evil is for the future of Humanity, and we are all on one side or the other. Choose wisely, and let's join together and do what must be done.*Terrorist organization banned in Russia. mariupol russia donbass Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Russell Bentley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/03/1d/1094281697_332:0:1182:850_100x100_80_0_0_f4d7604e530b3861449b2db55c72f353.jpg Russell Bentley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/03/1d/1094281697_332:0:1182:850_100x100_80_0_0_f4d7604e530b3861449b2db55c72f353.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Russell Bentley: The Rebirth of Mariupol Russell Bentley: The Rebirth of Mariupol 2023-10-20T18:41+0000 true PT1M00S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Russell Bentley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/03/1d/1094281697_332:0:1182:850_100x100_80_0_0_f4d7604e530b3861449b2db55c72f353.jpg mariupol, russia, donetsk, donbass, donetsk people's republic, rebuilding, reconstruction, rebirth, russell bentley Israel Defense Forces Says Its Aircraft Strike Hezbollah Targets The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its aircraft were carrying out strikes against targets of Lebanon's Hezbollah movement in response to missile launches towards Israel. "Over the last few hours, in response to rocket launches and anti-tank missiles fired toward Israel, IDF aircraft struck Hezbollah terror targets," the IDF said in a statement on Telegram. It said among these targets were military compounds as well as Hezbollah infrastructure. Additionally, the IDF struck anti-tank missile launchers located along the border and directed toward Israel. "The IDF is ready and will continue to operate on all fronts to ensure the safety of Israeli civilians," the army said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/most-americans-disapprove-of-bidens-handling-of-palestinian-israeli-conflict---poll-1114344985.html Most Americans Disapprove of Biden's Handling of Palestinian-Israeli Conflict - Poll Most Americans Disapprove of Biden's Handling of Palestinian-Israeli Conflict - Poll As many as 56% of US citizens are critical of the way President Joe Biden is handling the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas, while 44% are of the opposite view, according to a fresh poll. 2023-10-20T06:36+0000 2023-10-20T06:36+0000 2023-10-20T06:36+0000 world palestine-israel conflict joe biden americans palestinians gaza strip israel palestine hamas /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/13/1114307757_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_58f43ae4450d04bd538a00ee36a6417a.jpg The survey split heavily along party lines, with 66% of Democrats happy about the president's policy in the conflict, whereas 72% of Republicans disapprove of it. Opinions also divided on whether the United States should provide military aid to Israel, with 57% of Republicans supporting this idea and 53% of Democrats against. Meanwhile, 70% of Democrats threw support behind sending humanitarian aid for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip versus just 41% of Republicans. The survey was conducted among 1,878 US adults residents from October 16-19. The margin of error does not exceed 2.9 percentage points. During a national address on Thursday, Biden said he would send a supplemental request to Congress on Friday to provide Israel and Ukraine with urgent security funds. Media reported that the extra funding for Israel would total $14 billion. On October 7, Hamas launched a surprise large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip and breached the border, killing and abducting people in neighboring Israeli communities. Israel launched retaliatory strikes and ordered a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip, home to more than 2 million people, cutting off supplies of water, food and fuel. Thousands of dead and injured have been reported on both sides as a result of the escalation. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231019/pentagon-us-destroyer-shot-down-several-houthi-missiles-drones-potentially-headed-to-israel-1114338282.html gaza strip israel palestine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International biden's handling of palestinian-israeli conflict, ongoing conflict, palestinian group hamas https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/n-korea-reserves-right-to-launch-preemptive-strike-on-us-strategic-force-in-s-korea-1114343647.html N Korea Reserves Right to Launch Preemptive Strike on US Strategic Force in S Korea N Korea Reserves Right to Launch Preemptive Strike on US Strategic Force in S Korea North Korea reserves the right to launch a preemptive attack on strategic forces of the United States being transferred to South Korea, North Korean state-run news agency reported Friday. 2023-10-20T05:13+0000 2023-10-20T05:13+0000 2023-10-20T05:13+0000 military north korea b-52 uss ronald reagan us /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/105383/43/1053834345_0:160:3076:1890_1920x0_80_0_0_28574b1fb052a12ce7dcd5a3be73ba55.jpg Media reported earlier this week that a US nuclear-capable B-52 bomber landed at an air base in South Korea on Tuesday for the first time since it began training with the Korean air force last December. Following the landing, South Korean media reported, citing sources familiar with the matter, that Seoul, Washington and Tokyo will conduct their first joint aerial exercise near the Korean Peninsula on October 22, which will also include "a formation flight with the B-52 escorted fighter jets from the three countries." Any US strategic assets deployed in South Korea would become "the first target to be destroyed," the report said, adding that Washington "would be well aware that the Korean peninsula is technically at war." North Korea also believes that "the days had gone when the right to preemptive strike was 'monopoly' of the US," the state media reported. Pyongyang also believes that the joint drills planned for October 22 are "the intentional nuclear war provocative moves of the US" Last week, the nuclear-powered US aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and its battle group arrived in the South Korean largest seaport of Busan, prompting criticism from North Korea, which described the port call as a military provocation. The North argues that the buildup of nuclear assets on the peninsula is destabilizing the region. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231013/north-korea-to-respond-to-any-provocation-during-us-aircraft-carriers-visit-to-busan-1114162479.html north korea 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 launch preemptive strike, north korea, strategic forces of the united states https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/new-avangard-hypersonic-system-deployed-in-russias-orenburg-region-defense-ministry-says-1114342815.html New Avangard Hypersonic System Deployed in Russia's Orenburg Region, Defense Ministry Says New Avangard Hypersonic System Deployed in Russia's Orenburg Region, Defense Ministry Says The Russian Defense Ministry said Friday that a new Avangard hypersonic missile system was deployed in Russia's Orenburg Region as part of the rearmament of a compound of the Russian Strategic Missile Forces. 2023-10-20T04:28+0000 2023-10-20T04:28+0000 2023-10-20T05:40+0000 military russia orenburg region defense ministry russian strategic missile forces (smf) hypersonic missiles hypersonic avangard /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107788/15/1077881536_0:31:1433:837_1920x0_80_0_0_c0b0690328307930d96887e8c9165d17.jpg "Work continues in the Orenburg Region to rearm the Yasnenskoe missile formation to the Avangard silo-based missile system. The intercontinental ballistic missile is loaded into the silo launcher using a special transportation and loading unit. The most complicated technological operations last several hours," the ministry said in a description to a video showing the deployment of the system. The ministry added that the infrastructure of the deployment area had been prepared for the next missile regiment to be put on combat duty. These are facilities for the training of military personnel, combat duty and recreation of servicepeople. The ministry also said that the "implementations of measures planned for 2023 to rearm the Strategic Missile Forces with a hypersonic missile system will increase the combat capabilities of our country." https://sputnikglobe.com/20230919/russia-celebrates-gunsmith-day-with-record-missile-production-1113492974.html russia orenburg region Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International new avangard hypersonic system, russian strategic missile forces, hypersonic missile system https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/number-of-foreign-mercenaries-on-ukrainian-side-decreasing---reports-1114355295.html Number of Foreign Mercenaries on Ukrainian Side Decreasing - Reports Number of Foreign Mercenaries on Ukrainian Side Decreasing - Reports The number of foreign mercenaries fighting on the side of Ukraine is decreasing, retired Lieutenant-Colonel of the Donbass People's Militia Andrei Marochko told Sputnik. 2023-10-20T13:31+0000 2023-10-20T13:31+0000 2023-10-20T13:31+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine andrei marochko ukraine donbass russia defense ministry russian defense ministry mercenaries /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/06/09/1096158390_0:0:3394:1910_1920x0_80_0_0_c280ec48b5b30a95ae26146e31f0b6f6.jpg The number of foreign mercenaries fighting on the side of Ukraine is decreasing, retired Lieutenant-Colonel of the Donbass People's Militia Andrey Marochko told Sputnik. According to the expert, there is information that foreign private military companies are removing their people from Ukraine. The Russian Army in Ukraine is currently facing about 2,000 foreign mercenaries, most of them concentrated in the Zaporozhye region, according to an analytical note compiled by the Defense Ministry and obtained by a Russian newspaper. Since the beginning of the special military operation, fighters from 88 countries have arrived in Ukraine. Most of them are from Poland and the United States. A large number of private military companies are involved in their training programs. Experts note that the time of a mass influx of mercenaries is over and explain that it is due to high losses.The Russian Defense Ministry said that Kiev has intensified the recruitment of mercenaries amid the disruption of mobilization plans and in order to conceal heavy losses among the Ukrainian Armed Forces. They are recruited in the United States and Canada, including with the help of the CIA, as well as in Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, such as in US-controlled areas of Syria. More than 4,800 mercenaries have been killed during the special military operation, and the same number has fled from Ukraine, according to the ministry. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231005/exposed-french-spy-mingled-with-foreign-mercenaries-in-ukraine-two-years-before-conflict-1113728946.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231002/former-uk-defense-sec-suggests-ukraine-mobilize-younger-recruits-1113849525.html ukraine donbass 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 foreign mercenaries, foreign mercenaries fighting on the side of ukraine, special military operation https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/on-the-run-ukrainian-men-pay-hefty-sums-to-evade-military-service-ex-border-guard-reveals-1114353944.html On the Run: Ukrainian Men Pay Hefty Sums to Evade Military Service, Ex-Border Guard Reveals On the Run: Ukrainian Men Pay Hefty Sums to Evade Military Service, Ex-Border Guard Reveals A former Ukrainian border guard who worked for the Russian special services, Ruslan Syrovoy, told Sputnik that services to help men of military age to leave the country are in high demand in Ukraine, with prices ranging from $5,000 to $10,000. Interestingly, the most expensive service is obtaining "official" permission to leave the country. 2023-10-20T14:57+0000 2023-10-20T14:57+0000 2023-10-20T15:30+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine ukraine russia mukachevo world ukrainian armed forces conscription /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/14/1114362788_0:0:3173:1785_1920x0_80_0_0_67fcc3e076623be7d1a925c4da2c4163.jpg Ruslan Syrovoy, a former head of the cybersecurity department of the Mukachevo border guard unit of the State Border Service of Ukraine, who was involved in data collection for Russian intelligence services, shared with Sputnik that he left Ukraine via Hungary. He reached the border on foot, obtained a 30-day visa from the Hungarian police, traveled to Budapest, and then flew to Moscow."Men between the ages of 18 and 60 are severely restricted in terms of mass mobilization throughout the country. I will take the Zakarpatye region, where I personally witnessed all of this, where I personally stood at the border checkpoints with representatives of the conscription offices. They were using various means to lure people and take them to their stations," Syrovoy said.He explained that many people from the Donbass, Zaporozhye, and Kharkov regions, who once sought a better life in Ukraine, are actively trying to emigrate to Europe. According to him, these people need to register with the conscription office in order to apply for resettlement benefits.Syrovoy clarified that a large number of men are trying to leave Ukraine to avoid conscription. "People are fleeing the country because there is a powerful mobilization and people don't want to go to war. Through various means - through the media, on the Internet, through acquaintances and people involved in illegal human smuggling across the 'green border'... The price tag is $5,000 per person," Syrovoy said.According to him, in addition to illegal routes, where smugglers lead people through the forests and share their earnings with border guards, there are also official crossing points. Syrovoy noted that "officially" leaving Ukraine already costs $10,000."This money is paid, and then it goes to the heads of the border service. The heads then inform the guards who check the documents at the checkpoints that such a person must be allowed through. And the flow of people, I must say, is very significant, you could even say that in a week, at least 10 people cross at a single checkpoint. And the flow keeps coming, coming, and coming. There are times when up to 20 people cross in a single night. Imagine, 20 people - that's a significant amount of money," Syrovoy concluded. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231019/no-combat-experience-required-captured-ukrainian-soldier-reveals-how-to-become-uaf-officer-1114323187.html ukraine russia mukachevo world Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International ukraine, ukrainian armed forces, mobilization in ukraine, deserter, ukrainian men on a run https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/protests-occupy-house-building-to-call-for-ceasefire-in-gaza-1114330183.html Protests Occupy House Building to Call for Ceasefire in Gaza Protests Occupy House Building to Call for Ceasefire in Gaza On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Jamarl Thomas and Melik Abdul discussed several topics from around the globe, including the sit-in protests at the US House over Congress' support for the ongoing conflict in Gaza. 2023-10-20T04:01+0000 2023-10-20T04:01+0000 2023-10-20T10:16+0000 fault lines radio gaza jim jordan congress donald trump north korea sergey lavrov /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/13/1114329977_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_1397010583db6e88e9d7d3841115c1e3.png Protests Occupy House Building to Call for Ceasefire in Gaza On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Jamarl Thomas and Melik Abdul discussed several topics from around the globe, including the sit-in protests at the U.S. House over Congress' support for the ongoing conflict in Gaza. In the first hour, Fault Lines speaks to journalist Esteban Carrillo about the ongoing situation in the Gaza Strip and the reports of a looming Israeli military operation in the isolated Palestinian territory.In the second hour, former Colorado State Senator Ted Harvey joined Fault Lines to discuss a third round of votes to choose a Speaker of the House as Representative Jim Jordan failed to win the last round of votes. They also discussed the US 2024 presidential election as candidate Donald Trump was in a Manhattan courthouse this week for a civil fraud case.In the third hour, Fault Lines speaks with journalist KJ Noh about Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's visit to North Korea and what this trip means to the two nations.The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comCatch us in the US at 105.5FM, 104.7FM, 102.9FM, 1390AM, 1140AM gaza north korea Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Jamarl Thomas https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114086_0:0:373:374_100x100_80_0_0_c7506df4524fd8cdd4e40ad19918cd78.png Jamarl Thomas https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114086_0:0:373:374_100x100_80_0_0_c7506df4524fd8cdd4e40ad19918cd78.png 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 Jamarl Thomas https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114086_0:0:373:374_100x100_80_0_0_c7506df4524fd8cdd4e40ad19918cd78.png fault lines, situation in gaza, house speaker vote, lavrov visit to north korea, israeli military operation, russia-north korea relations Russia could play a role in facilitating North Korea's possible effort to establish a "nuclear triad" that consists of three key delivery platforms, a U.S. expert said Thursday. The prediction came amid speculation that Pyongyang may seek military technology assistance from Moscow in return for its alleged delivery of military equipment and munitions to Russia in recent weeks for use in Ukraine. The North has been pushing to deploy intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) the two key legs of the nuclear triad, which also includes a strategic bomber. "It looks like they (North Koreans) are building the second arm of the nuclear triad, absolutely." Joseph Bermudez, senior fellow for imagery analysis at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), said in a CSIS-hosted online forum. He was referring to the North's apparent pursuit of a SLBM-based "second-strike" capability that would enable the North to launch a nuclear retaliatory attack even after sustaining a "first strike" from an adversary. Bermudez said that if North Korea can get "not-top-notch" but "more sophisticated" aircraft from Russia, it can build the third arm of the nuclear triad in reference to the North's potential acquisition of an air-launched platform. He raised the possibility of Moscow providing older-generation aircraft to the North. "It (Russia) could even give North Korea third-generation aircraft," he said. "We're at fifth ... giving North Korea aircraft that are in mothballs is no real big issue for Russia to do." Speculation over military transfers between the North and Russia rose after the U.S. government revealed last Friday that Pyongyang shipped more than 1,000 containers of military equipment and munitions to Russia in recent weeks. Asked what the North could get in return, Bermudez gave a list of potential items, including "nuclear safety" technology, missile guidance equipment and intelligence-related assistance. He also said that Russia could share with the North the lessons learned from its war in Ukraine, including the use of unmanned aerial vehicles and landmines, which he said would be "valuable" should it stage a war with the United States or South Korea. (Yonhap) https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/putin-visits-russian-armed-forces-headquarters-in-rostov-on-don---kremlin-1114342221.html Putin Visits Russian Armed Forces Headquarters in Rostov-on-Don - Kremlin Putin Visits Russian Armed Forces Headquarters in Rostov-on-Don - Kremlin Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the headquarters of the Russian Armed Forces in the city of Rostov-on-Don, where General Staff Chief, Gen. of the Army Valery Gerasimov reported to him on the progress of the special military operation, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. 2023-10-20T04:12+0000 2023-10-20T04:12+0000 2023-10-20T04:35+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine vladimir putin valery gerasimov russia russian armed forces ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/14/1114342061_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_2ef0a6bc23ae08177d35ee6271305318.jpg Returning from Perm, President Putin stopped in Rostov, where he visited the Russian Armed Forces headquarters, Peskov said, adding that Gen. of the Army Gerasimov reported to the president on the state of affairs during the special operation in Ukraine. Putin regularly visits the headquarters of the group of troops taking part in the special military operation and holds meetings there. His last visit to Rostov-on-Don was in August. Russia has been conducting a special military operation in Ukraine since February 2022. President Putin has said the operation aims to "protect people subjected to genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years." According to the president, the ultimate goal of the operation is to liberate Donbas and create conditions that guarantee Russia's security. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231103/russias-special-military-operation-in-ukraine-and-how-it-is-progressing-1105665248.html russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russian president vladimir putin, russian armed forces, rostov-on-don, special military operatio https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/russian-draft-adoption-by-unsc-could-have-prevented-strike-on-al-ahli-hospital---moscow-1114342672.html Adoption of Russia's Draft Resolution by UNSC Could've Prevented Gaza Hospital Strike - Moscow Adoption of Russia's Draft Resolution by UNSC Could've Prevented Gaza Hospital Strike - Moscow The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that if the UN Security Council had adopted Russia's draft resolution on ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the missile strike on the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City could have been prevented. 2023-10-20T04:26+0000 2023-10-20T04:26+0000 2023-10-20T05:09+0000 world palestine-israel conflict gaza russia gaza strip un security council (unsc) russian foreign ministry israel /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/12/1114286733_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_79bf6514ef5e71371ff54c455200299f.jpg The ministry said that on October 16, the UN Security Council did not adopt the Russian draft. On Tuesday, a missile hit the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, causing a massive blast in which almost 500 people died, according to the Health Ministry of Gaza. Palestinian group Hamas blamed the explosion on an Israeli airstrike. The Israel Defense Forces said that the hospital had been hit by a failed rocket launch by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231018/they-lost-their-minds-last-night-gaza-resident-on-hospital-bombing-tragedy-1114289655.html gaza russia gaza strip israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russian foreign ministry, gaza strip, russia's draft resolution on ceasefire in the gaza strip, missile strike https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/scott-ritter-hamas-laid-trap-for-israel-as-us-cannot-replenish-iron-dome-1114349099.html Scott Ritter: Hamas 'Laid Trap' for Israel as US Cannot Replenish Iron Dome Scott Ritter: Hamas 'Laid Trap' for Israel as US Cannot Replenish Iron Dome Israel has demanded military aid from the US for its war with the Hamas movement. Former US Marine Corps intel officer Scott Ritter pointed out that the Pentagon's cupboard was bare and it was failing to meet recruiting targets. 2023-10-20T14:14+0000 2023-10-20T14:14+0000 2023-10-20T14:31+0000 israel palestine-israel conflict israeli defense forces (idf) us palestine gaza analysis /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/13/1114334584_0:136:2591:1593_1920x0_80_0_0_6ce3589212f55d01148e0034f4d541bb.jpg The US cannot give Israel the arms it needs for a war with Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran or even maintain its own forces says a military veteran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared war on the Hamas movement that rules in the besieged Gaza Strip in the wake of the surprise attack by several allied militant groups on October 7.The incursion and subsequent skirmishes including with Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas on Israel's northern border has left almost 300 Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) troops dead with 200 more held captive in Gaza. around 1,000 Israeli civilians were also killed. That represents Israel's worst losses since its 1982 invasion of southern Lebanon.Tel Aviv has called up some 350,000 IDF reservists and has bombed Gaza for almost two weeks in preparation for a ground offensive, which Economy Minister Nir Barkat said had been given the "green light" on Thursday. But that invasion has yet to materialise.Former US Marine and UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter told Sputnik the IDF simply "can't go into Gaza."Along with the risk of heavy casualties in Gaza, Israel is wary of Hezbollah's threat to launch a major attack from the north if the IDF goes in."Israel cannot beat Hezbollah," Ritter argued. "There's a real likelihood that if Hezbollah comes in with everything they have, they will seize northern Israel in its totality, all the way up to the Sea of Galilee. Syria will recapture the Golan Heights, and there isn't anything Israel can do to stop it."US president Joe Biden visited Tel Aviv on Wednesday to pledge unqualified support to Israel while endorsing Netanyahu's claim that it was a stray Islamic Jihad rocket that killed 471 Palestinian refugees at the al-Ahli Baptist hospital in Gaza, not an Israeli bomb or missile.Israel has asked Washington for large quantities of military equipment and munitions, including tens of thousands of 155mm-calibre artillery shells previously earmarked for Ukraine, and as many missiles for its Iron Dome air defense system used to intercept rockets launched from Gaza as the US could supply."Hamas will exhaust that in one night, firing two salvos of 150 rockets each. That's it," he warned. "And Hezbollah's sitting on a stockpile of tens of thousands. And if they fire these... and Israel has nothing to knock them down, that means Hamas will eviscerate Israel will destroy Israel's leadership capacity, industrial capacity, military capacity."Ritter said Israel's leaders had "backed themselves into a corner" by vowing to destroy Hamas, a goal they have failed to achieve several times in the past."They've let their rhetoric get the better of them," he said, noting that even Biden had told Netanyahu to "calm down.""America is not putting boots on the ground or dropping bombs on Hezbollah because we don't want a wider war with Iran," he added. We have thousands of troops positioned throughout the Persian Gulf whose lives would be put at risk if Iran joined this fight. We don't want that. It's not our fight."The former US Marine dismissed Biden's deployment of two aircraft carrier strike groups along with a Marine Corps amphibious assault ship with F-35 fighters and 2,000 troops to the eastern Mediterranean in a warning to other nations not to intervene as the US "flexing its muscles."He noted that, like its arms industry, the US military was increasingly hollowed out as young people lose interest in fighting and losing overseas wars."60,000 I think was the target to recruit for this year, and we were short 6000. That means that the army is missing 6000 soldiers, that it has billets for. If you don't have soldiers to fill that billet, then you have to shrink your military further," Ritter explained. "In order to meet this new two-war concept that Biden and Congress are talking about, we're going to have to increase the size of our conventional military. That means they will have to increase it by about 100,000 -150,000," he pointed out. "We can't meet the current recruiting requirements because nobody wants to fight."For more in-depth analysis of current affairs, tune in to our Sputnik Radio show The Backstory. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/bidens-speech-awkwardly-militaristic--threatening-1114344327.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231019/bidens-humiliation-in-middle-east-reflects-popular-contempt-for-us-role-1114315973.html israel palestine gaza Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png 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 James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png hamas attack on southern israel, israeli bombing of gaza, joe biden visits israel https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/the-forgotten-minority-the-gaza-strips-ancient-and-dwindling-christians-population-1114353606.html The Forgotten Minority: The Gaza Strip's Ancient and Dwindling Christians Population The Forgotten Minority: The Gaza Strip's Ancient and Dwindling Christians Population Christians have been living in the Gaza Strip since the dawn of Christianity. Being a minority, they now face the same catastrophe as all other Gaza residents, and even Christian churches and hospitals can become targets for attack. 2023-10-20T13:45+0000 2023-10-20T13:45+0000 2023-10-20T13:45+0000 world gaza strip gaza christians orthodox church palestine 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/14/1114353174_0:703:2263:1976_1920x0_80_0_0_3ce21e1640124df2f90bcb2de8917198.jpg According to the latest statistics issued by the Latin Monastery Church in Gaza, in 2022 the Gaza Strip's Christian population amounted to about 1,100 along with more than two million Muslims. This is a big slump from the mid-Nineties when they numbered about 5,000. The majority of the Christian population in Gaza is Greek Orthodox.In its report, Minority Rights Group International highlighted that since the launch of the Palestinian Authority in 1994, Christians have also faced an increase in religious discrimination, especially since the onset of the second intifada in 2000.Not Only War IssuesThe life of Christian communities in Gaza is tough not just because of Israeli strikes - they also have to contend with some persecution by Hamas in the enclave. In 2012, the Orthodox Church in Gaza accused an unnamed Islamic organization of kidnapping Christians and forcing them to convert to Islam. Hundreds of Christians have staged protests against forced conversions by Islamists to Islam. However, Hamas officials rejected the Orthodox Church's accusations, saying that Christians in the region freely converted to Islam.Traditionally, Palestinian Christians have worked in the healthcare and education sectors. Established in 1988 at the height of the First Intifada, Al Ahli Arab Hospital, the Baptist Health Centre in Gaza city, provided healthcare to around 160,000 patients annually. It was completely destroyed after a missile hit it on 17 October, causing a massive blast in which at least 500 people died.There are four Roman Catholic and one Orthodox private school in the Gaza Strip, which provide high-quality education for both Christian and Muslim pupils. Until now, there has been no available data about whether these schools have managed to escape being bombed during this present escalation.There are only three churches in Gaza: the Orthodox St Porphyrius of Gaza Church, the Gaza Baptist Church for Evangelical and Protestant Christians and the Roman Catholic Holy Family Church. While war is being waged in the region, they all house refugees from different Gaza Strip areas. Overnight, Israeli strikes hit a building next to the Church of St Porphyrius, killing dozens of refugees who were seeking shelter there.Palestine is the cradle of Christianity, and the West Bank and Jerusalem form much of the heart of the Christian Holy Land. Christian communities have dwelt in Palestine since the emergence of Christianity. In the early Middle Ages Gaza was a hub for Christian rhetoric and philosophy. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231018/gaza-hospital-missile-blast-leaves-trail-of-blood--tears-1114278410.html gaza strip gaza Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Christina Malyk https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/08/1113208579_137:0:1097:960_100x100_80_0_0_39342d3133a15b1549ec31c158221a34.jpg Christina Malyk https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/08/1113208579_137:0:1097:960_100x100_80_0_0_39342d3133a15b1549ec31c158221a34.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Christina Malyk https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/08/1113208579_137:0:1097:960_100x100_80_0_0_39342d3133a15b1549ec31c158221a34.jpg gaza strip, palestine, christians, christians in gaza, orthodox christians in gaza https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/the-global-south-rejects-western-hypocrisy-us-mortgage-applications-plunge-1114345862.html The Global South Rejects Western Hypocrisy; US Mortgage Applications Plunge The Global South Rejects Western Hypocrisy; US Mortgage Applications Plunge Global South officials reveal that their regions are rejecting the collective West due to its contradictory responses to Ukraine and the Israeli conflicts. 2023-10-20T04:02+0000 2023-10-20T04:02+0000 2023-10-20T10:18+0000 the critical hour radio iraq israel north korea donald trump jim jordan hunter biden joe biden /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/14/1114345644_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_90ac62feaa3986ee85478d57ba424106.png The Global South Rejects Western Hypocrisy; US Mortgage Applications Plunge Global South officials reveal that their regions are rejecting the collective West due to its contradictory responses to Ukraine and the Israeli conflicts. Ricardo Vaz, political analyst and editor at Venezuelananalysis, joins us to discuss Latin America. The US reportedly eases sanctions on Venezuela's oil sales in return for potential changes in voting. Ricardo Vaz said that the claims that Venezuela will change its electoral process is misleading. The US has given them a 6 month license they may renege. Also, we must keep in mind that the US has backed out of numerous deals with Iran.Thomas Mountain, journalist and historian, joins us to discuss Africa. The head of Ethiopia says that Africa is realizing its potential. Thomas Mountain says that Ethiopia is in turmoil as a large militia is making gains against the government forces. The 2nd largest ethnicity in the nation is pushing back against claims of oppression from the government.Misty Winston, radio host and political commentator, joins us to discuss domestic politics. The House needs help in selecting a speaker. Misty Winston says that the GOP is struggling to pull it together. The Squad was supposed to go in and challenge the establishment, and they have not done that on any issue. She also says that the "force the vote" strategy rejected by the left is effective.Dan Kovalik, writer, author, and lawyer, joins us to discuss Russia and China's Middle East policies. Global South officials reveal that their regions reject the collective West due to its contradictory responses to Ukraine and the Israeli conflicts. Dan Kovalik says the US has consistently killed peace deals, including in Vietnam and Yugoslavia. He also says that many more children were killed in the first few weeks of bombing in Gaza than in 18 months of conflict in Ukraine. The US has wanted to undermine international law since the creation of the UN charter.Dr. Jack Rasmus, professor of Economics and Politics at St. Mary's College in California, joins us to discuss the economy. The 30-year mortgage rates have hit 8%. Dr. Jack says that the economy is in the process of recession. Also, he thinks that mortgage rates will go up because bond yield is increasing. The government is flooding the market with treasury bonds, causing the bond value to decrease. Additionally, China is dropping treasury bonds because the US is going after them.KJ Noh, peace activist, writer, and teacher, joins us to discuss Asia. The Belt and Road initiative is growing as Russia and China come together to support the project. KJ Noh says that China's Belt and Road success plan can be replicated worldwide. It allows nations an alternative to neoliberalism for economic development. Also, President Biden's plan to build a US alternative to the Belt and Road in the Middle East needs to be revised.Laith Marouf, broadcaster and journalist based in Beirut, Lebanon, joins us to discuss the Middle East. Joe Biden has announced a Gaza aid deal and argues that Israel is not responsible for the Hospital bombing. Laith Marouf says this would not be the first time Israel attacked a hospital. He also says that the UN resolutions were vetoed, and the citizens of Western states are responsible for standing against the violence in Gaza.Mark Sleboda, international relations and security analyst, joins us to discuss neocon warmongering. President Biden says that the US can easily support two global wars. Mark Sleboda says that the extreme debt has to be taken into account. Also, US military-industrial capacity needs to be higher and can't support foreign policy.The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comCatch us in the US at 105.5FM, 104.7FM, 102.9FM, 1390AM, 1140AM iraq israel north korea china ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Wilmer Leon https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.jpg Wilmer Leon https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.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 Wilmer Leon https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.jpg the critical hour, sanctions on venezuela, ethiopia is in turmoil, bombing in gaza, conflict in ukraine, belt and road initiative, neocon warmongering https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/uk-prime-minister-meets-with-palestinian-egyptian-leaders-in-cairo---downing-street-1114371472.html UK Prime Minister Meets With Palestinian, Egyptian Leaders in Cairo - Downing Street UK Prime Minister Meets With Palestinian, Egyptian Leaders in Cairo - Downing Street Sunak's office said the leaders agreed on "the need of all parties to take steps to protect civilians, infrastructure, and to minimize the loss of innocent lives". 2023-10-20T21:01+0000 2023-10-20T21:01+0000 2023-10-20T21:01+0000 world united kingdom (uk) egypt israeli-palestinian conflict rishi sunak gaza gaza strip /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/05/1b/1110641258_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_66d84b5b0897f639270ed553d19c99d3.jpg Sunak offered Abbas his condolences over the heavy civilian death toll in Gaza and "underscored his commitment to opening up humanitarian access to Gaza to alleviate the suffering of thousands of people who desperately need food, water and medicine," the statement read. At the meeting with the Egyptian president, the British prime minister welcomed Egypt' efforts to reopen the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip and said London "was committed to playing its part in helping the civilians of Gaza and alleviating the dire humanitarian situation there," his office said in a separate statement, recalling a recent 10 million pound ($12 million) humanitarian pledge for the region by London. Sunak briefed both Abbas and Sisi of the conversations he had had with other leaders during his regional tour, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to his office. Sunak is touring the Middle East in an effort to prevent a spillover of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. On Thursday morning, he arrived in Israel to show solidarity with the nation nearly two weeks after a deadly attack carried out by Palestinian movement Hamas, which ignited the ongoing escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The UK prime minister met with his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Israeli President Isaac Herzog, pledging to stand with them "in Israel's darkest hour." Sunak then traveled to Saudi Arabia and met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud. On October 7, Hamas launched a surprise large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip and breached the border, killing and abducting people in neighboring Israeli communities. Israel launched retaliatory strikes and ordered a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip, home to more than 2 million people, cutting off supplies of water, food and fuel. Thousands of dead and injured have been reported on both sides as a result of the escalation. united kingdom (uk) egypt gaza 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 british prime minister rishi sunak, palestine, london, egypt, israeli-palestinian conflict, uk https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/us-conducts-chemical-explosion-at-nuclear-test-site-on-day-russia-pulls-out-of-ctbt-1114343779.html US Conducts Chemical Explosion at Nuclear Test Site on Day Russia Pulls Out of CTBT US Conducts Chemical Explosion at Nuclear Test Site on Day Russia Pulls Out of CTBT The U.S. conducted tests at a test site in Nevada, producing an underground chemical explosion to improve its ability to "detect low-yield nuclear explosions around the world," according to the U.S. Department of Energy's press office. 2023-10-20T08:34+0000 2023-10-20T08:34+0000 2023-10-20T08:34+0000 military russia nevada national nuclear security administration (nnsa) us department of energy comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty (ctbt) us nuclear tests /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/0c/12/1091632234_0:202:2925:1847_1920x0_80_0_0_83fc64a7a2b42d7cdbbc78e996e40420.jpg The US has conducted an underground chemical explosion at a test site in Nevada "to improve its ability to detect low-yield nuclear explosions around the world", according to the US Department of Energy's press office. The agency said chemical explosives and radioisotope indicators were used in the experiment.The tests took place on 18 October, the day the lower house of the Russian parliament passed a bill to withdraw ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). The CTBT expands on the 1963 treaty that banned nuclear weapons testing in the atmosphere, in space, and underwater, and includes a ban on underground explosions. Each party to the treaty undertakes not to conduct a nuclear explosion "at any place under its jurisdiction or control". Russia signed the CTBT in 1996 and ratified it in 2000. However, the treaty has never entered into force because India, North Korea and Pakistan have not signed it, and the United States, China, Egypt, Israel and Iran have signed but not ratified it. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231006/russias-withdrawal-from-ctbt-does-not-mean-it-plans-to-conduct-nuclear-tests---kremlin-1113980732.html russia nevada 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 conducts nuclear test, test site in nevada, underground chemical explosion https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/us-marines-test-fire-rocket-launcher-attached-to-robot-dog-available-on-aliexpress-1114351254.html US Marines Test Fire Rocket Launcher Attached to Robot Dog Available on Alibaba US Marines Test Fire Rocket Launcher Attached to Robot Dog Available on Alibaba The idea of using robots for military and policing purposes has been around since at least the Mechanical Hound in Ray Bradburys 1953 dystopian science fiction novel Fahrenheit 451. But while the future may seem terrifying, it also appears to be cheaper than expected making it somehow even more chilling. 2023-10-20T11:16+0000 2023-10-20T11:16+0000 2023-10-20T12:39+0000 military china marines office of naval research (onr) boston dynamics russia robot killer robot rocket launcher /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/14/1114350620_49:0:1372:744_1920x0_80_0_0_21e2d60cf8e538c235b9b0e113d90bba.png The US military has test-fired an M72 Light Anti-Tank Weapon (LAW) launcher attached to a robotic dog, and filmed the whole thing.A Marine unit attached to the Tactical Training and Exercise Control Group, Marine Air-Ground Task Force Training Command together with scientists from the Office of Naval Research conducted the testing at the Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California back in September.Footage shows the characteristically creepy-looking Boston Dynamics-style remote-operated robotic dog powering on, moving around, and standing up to "beg" as Marines and engineers discuss its capabilities. Off screen, engineers attached an M72 to the dogs back via a special adaptor kit, with the piece of equipment then placed in a U-shaped sandbag formation on the range, and the M72 firing off a reloadable 21 mm trainer rocket.The robot dog, dubbed a goat by the Marines for some reason, looks similar to a machinegun-toting robot dog shown off by a Chinese defense contractor over a year ago.And thats no accident.The Marine-tested robotic Fido in the footage is clearly a Go1 Pro search and rescue quadruped available on Chinese ecommerce giant Alibaba for just $3,500 apiece (for comparison, Boston Dynamics famous Spot went on sale in 2020 with an eye-watering price tag of $74,500 more than 21 times as much). The Go1 Pro was created by Chinese tech company Unitree Robotics, which describes itself as a global quadruped robots pioneer.However, while the Marines LAW-equipped Fido got a measure of praise in US media as a good sense design potentially useful in "close quarters urban environments," Western medias appraisal of the Russian robotic dog design, which was demonstrated over a year earlier, was nowhere near as generous, with the latter dismissed as a fake and possibly even a sign of China dastardly evading sanctions on arms exports.Turns out when its the US doing it, its no longer a problem. china russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ilya Tsukanov robot dog, united states, marines, russia, china, price, budget https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/us-state-depart-official-publicly-resigns-over-biden-admins-handling-of-israel-palestine-conflict-1114340800.html US State Depart. Official Publicly Resigns Over Biden Admin's Handling of Palestine-Israel Conflict US State Depart. Official Publicly Resigns Over Biden Admin's Handling of Palestine-Israel Conflict An administrator within US President Joe Bidens State Department resigned on Wednesday, an event which would typically generate few headlines; however, the manner in which the official parted ways has attracted significant attention. 2023-10-20T03:04+0000 2023-10-20T03:04+0000 2023-10-20T03:41+0000 americas us state department biden administration israeli-palestinian conflict resignation /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/13/1114309380_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_cea40844c6bfb21a0cd0b4836f5187ba.jpg An administrator within US President Joe Bidens State Department resigned on Wednesday, an event which would typically generate few headlines; however, the manner in which the official parted ways has attracted significant attention.Josh Paul had worked at the US State Department for 11 years before his sudden departure this week. His most recent job title was director of congressional and public affairs within the US State Departments Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, a position in which he was involved in arms transfers between the United States and allied countries like Israel.It was this role that created an irreconcilable ethical dilemma that prompted Pauls resignation.Paul praises the engaging and challenging nature of his position within the State Department while defending his colleagues as courageous and good civil servants. He also criticizes both Israel and Hamas militants, denouncing the murder of civilians and kidnapping of children in a blunt passage that notably identifies terrorists on both sides of the conflict.But other portions of Pauls letter are unambiguous in their withering critique of Israel, violating a powerful taboo in US politics against criticizing perhaps the countrys closest ally.There is beauty to be found everywhere in this world, and it deserves both protection, and the right to flourish, and that is what I most desire for Palestinians and for Israelis Collective punishment is an enemy to that desire, whether it involves demolishing one home, or one thousand; as too is ethnic cleansing; as too is occupation; as too is apartheid.Support for Israel is the best $3 billion investment we make, then-Senator Biden proudly declared from the floor of the US Senate in 1986. If there werent an Israel, the United States of America would have to invent an Israel to protect her interests in the region.In fact, the United States did help to establish Israel, with American backing for the state proving crucial in its early years.I'm sorry, gentlemen, but I have to answer to hundreds of thousands who are anxious for the success of Zionism, former US President Truman candidly told advisers in 1945 as they warned him of the prospect of destabilizing the region. I do not have hundreds of thousands of Arabs among my constituents.By 1948, Zionist groups were given a green light by Western powers, wiping out more than 500 Palestinian villages and killing thousands of Palestinians as they sought to clear the territory. Albert Einstein called the groups responsible for the acts terrorist organizations and decried Israels major conservative party at the time as closely akin to the Nazi and Fascist parties.Former US ambassador to Afghanistan Ronald Neumann believes Pauls statement wont change much in the short term. I do not know that any of such resignations have ever had an effect on the department writ large or that they have a major effect on policy, said Neumann in an interview with US media, referring to previous departures such as Pauls.On October 7, after the failure of peaceful protest efforts in Gaza as recently as 2019, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack that killed some 1,400 Israelis. The armed group has historically benefitted from funding from Netanyahus government, which preferred for Hamas to represent Palestinians in Gaza rather than a mainstream force that might have successfully pursued Palestinian statehood. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231019/israel-commits-crimes-against-humanity-in-gaza-possible-risk-of-genocide---un-experts-1114340032.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231019/israel-plans-to-turn-gaza-into-hiroshima-but-without-nuclear-weapons---sy-hersh-1114308532.html americas 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 state department, biden administration handling of israel-palestine conflict, israel-palestine conflict, resignation https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/us-to-buy-15bln-worth-of-explosives-to-make-155mm-shells-for-ukraine---defense-holding-1114353203.html US to Buy $1.5Bln Worth of Explosives to Make 155mm Shells for Ukraine - Defense Holding US to Buy $1.5Bln Worth of Explosives to Make 155mm Shells for Ukraine - Defense Holding The United States has signed a contract to acquire $1.5 billion worth of explosives that will be used to produce ammunition for Ukraine, Polish defense holding Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) said on Friday. 2023-10-20T11:18+0000 2023-10-20T11:18+0000 2023-10-20T11:18+0000 military ukraine israel pentagon us army us aid ammunition /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/1a/1113673241_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_a7733d0fd785e3db1b60558eb008742c.jpg On Thursday, US news portal reported that the Pentagon was planning to send tens of thousands of 155mm artillery shells to Israel, which were initially reserved for Ukraine. The explosive substance required for the production of 155mm artillery ammunition is TNT, the main supplier of which to the US Army is the Nitro-Chem chemical plant, the statement added. The contract is to be fulfilled between 2023 and 2026, the defense holding said. Western countries have been providing military aid to Ukraine since the start of the Russian military operation in February 2022. The aid evolved from artillery munitions and training in 2022 to heavier weapons, including tanks, later that year and in 2023. The Kremlin has consistently warned against continued arms deliveries to Kiev. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231018/russian-air-defenses-well-adapted-to-taking-out-aged-atacms-missiles-us-gave-to-ukraine-1114299944.html ukraine israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International shells for ukraine, united states, produce ammunition North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has vowed to build a "forward-looking" relationship with Russia during his meeting with its foreign minister, state media said Friday, as the two countries move to strengthen military ties amid speculation over their suspected arms deal. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made a two-day visit to Pyongyang on Wednesday in a follow-up to the Sept. 13 summit between the North Korean leader and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia's Far East. In the meeting with Lavrov, Kim vowed to "faithfully" carry out the agreements at the summit, expressing Pyongyang's "steadfast stand" to establish a "stable, forward-looking, far-reaching plan" for the bilateral ties, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). They discussed "important matters of mutual concern" to better cope with external circumstances on the "basis of solid political and strategic trust relations" and expand their bilateral ties in "all fields," the KCNA said. But it did not specify whether Kim and Lavrov discussed the schedule for Putin's possible reciprocal visit to Pyongyang. The Kremlin earlier said Putin had accepted Kim's offer to visit North Korea during their summit last month. Speaking to reporters on his visit to the North, Lavrov was quoted as saying that high-level bilateral contact will likely continue going forward, a transcript shared on the website of Russia's foreign ministry showed, raising the possibility of Putin's visit. Russian media reported the previous day that talks between Kim and Lavrov lasted for over an hour, and Lavrov invited his Russian counterpart, Choe Son-hui, to visit Moscow at a "convenient time." The visit came amid persistent speculation over the suspected arms deal between North Korea and Russia, reinforced by reports on Pyongyang's delivery of military equipment and munitions to Russia in recent weeks for its use in the war with Ukraine. In a separate statement, the KCNA said the foreign ministers of North Korea and Russia discussed ways to put their ties on a "higher stage as required by the new era" and signed a plan for bilateral exchanges in 2024-25. The top diplomats discussed developing bilateral exchanges and cooperation in "all fields," including the economy, advanced science and technology, it said, amid speculation that Pyongyang could seek to obtain military technology from Russia in return for a supply of arms. In a sign of solidarity, Lavrov was quoted as expressing his "full support" for the North and its people to "defend the national sovereignty and development and interests," according to the KCNA and Russia's foreign ministry. Lavrov also said the DPRK is a "genuine independent and sovereign state" that remains "unfazed by any pressure of the U.S. and the West," referring to the country by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "It seems to have granted the legitimacy and legality for North Korea's strategic weapons development through diplomatic support," said Hong Min, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification. Russia appears to have displayed its solidarity with North Korea against the United States, as Seoul, Washington and Tokyo are bolstering security cooperation against the North's military threats. Condemning their cooperation as not constructive and dangerous, Lavrov said Russia and North Korea are committed to easing regional tension and voiced support for what he called a regular negotiation process on security issues on the Korean Peninsula, without preconditions. Analysts said he may indicate that negotiations with North Korea need to start while recognizing the North's possession of nuclear weapons, rather than seeking denuclearization talks. Seoul's unification ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, reiterated its stance on resuming dialogue with the North without preconditions while making it clear this is irrelevant to the process Lavrov mentioned. The ministry said it will sternly respond to any illicit cooperation of weapons and military technology between the two countries through cooperation with the U.S., Japan and the international community. "We hope North Korea chooses the right path so that Russia-North Korea cooperation proceeds in a direction that can actually improve the livelihoods of North Korean residents," Kim In-ae, deputy ministry spokesperson, said in a regular press briefing. (Yonhap) https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/watch-russian-drone-delivers-precise-strike-on-ukrainian-militants-1114343285.html Watch: Russian Drone Delivers Precise Strike on Ukrainian Militants Watch: Russian Drone Delivers Precise Strike on Ukrainian Militants The Russian Defense Ministry has released footage of the destruction of Ukrainian militants in the area of Belogorovka. Drone operators delivered precise strikes on the enemy, knocking them out of their cover. 2023-10-20T05:40+0000 2023-10-20T05:40+0000 2023-10-20T05:40+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine video russian defense ministry russia ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/14/1114343127_97:0:1329:693_1920x0_80_0_0_8de6a05f0aa5f163618b674b2ed1ef4e.jpg The Russian Defense Ministry has released footage of the destruction of Ukrainian militants in the area of Belogorovka in the Lugansk People's Republic. Drone operators delivered precise strikes on the enemy, knocking them out of their cover.The Ukrainian counteroffensive began on 4 June. The brigades Kiev has thrown into battle have been trained by NATO instructors and armed with Western equipment, including Leopard and Challenger tanks. In early October, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Kiev's push had failed, with Ukraine estimated to have suffered more than 90,000 casualties. russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Footage of destruction of Ukrainian militants in Belogorovka area Footage of destruction of Ukrainian militants in Belogorovka area 2023-10-20T05:40+0000 true PT0M18S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International ukrainian militants, russian defense ministry, drone operators https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/watch-russias-su-34-aircraft-eliminate-ukrainian-fortified-positions--1114345331.html Watch Russia's Su-34 Aircraft Eliminate Ukrainian Fortified Positions Watch Russia's Su-34 Aircraft Eliminate Ukrainian Fortified Positions The Russian Defense Ministry released footage of Russian Su-34 aircraft destroying Ukrainian fortified positions in the South Donetsk direction in the course of a special military operation. 2023-10-20T07:42+0000 2023-10-20T07:42+0000 2023-10-20T07:42+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russia ukraine russian defense ministry russian armed forces su-34 video /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/14/1114345170_91:0:1335:700_1920x0_80_0_0_56179fe053d29b00ba75a1312e1c29a6.jpg The Russian Defense Ministry released footage of its Su-34 aircraft destroying Ukrainian fortified positions in the South Donetsk direction during the course of the special military operation.Su-34 fighter-bombers are on a 24-hour combat alert at domestic airfields. Russian pilots perform air patrol tasks and cover the actions of the Russian Armed Forces any time of the day and in any weather. russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Russia's Su-34 aircraft destroys enemy fortified positions in South Donetsk direction Russia's Su-34 aircraft destroys enemy fortified positions in South Donetsk direction 2023-10-20T07:42+0000 true PT0M21S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International special military operation, russian defense ministry, ukrainian fortified positions Iknowbetter recovered after a miscue in the final turn to win the faster of two $15,000 Robert Millbank Memorial B.C. Breeders Stakes divisions as the third leg of the series was contested on Thursday (Oct. 19) evening at Fraser Downs. Kelly Hoerdt and the Ashley Ederer trainee led to the :27.2 opening panel in the class for freshman colts and geldings before accepting the pocket trip behind favoured Nothing Bugs Me (Rod Therres). The leader hit the half in :57.1 and three-quarters in 1:26.3 when Iknowbetter urged to challenge in the final turn. As he popped from the pocket, Iknowbetter made a misstep and went off stride briefly. However, the gelding regained his footing and stepped off to win by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:55.4. Phone Nine One One (Brandon Campbell) flew up the inside to take second and Nothing Bugs Me took third. Ederer co-owns the freshman Betterthancheddar-Lil Beach gelding with Jane Kelly as he grabbed his first career victory. Iknowbetter paid $5.40 to win from 2-1 odds. Buddy Knocks won the second Robert Millbank Memorial split to note his fourth win in a row with Scott Knight holding the lines for Therres. Knight and Buddy Knocks clicked out panels in :28, :57.3 and 1:27.2 before winning by seven lengths in 1:56.1 over Mcmoney (Hoerdt) and Sylvester (Phil Giesbrecht). Veikko Pajunen owns the freshman son of Betterthancheddar and the Sportswriter mare Yoga Pants. The gelding is now four-for-four with $25,500 earned. He paid $4.20 to win. After an incident occurred in the stretch in the opener, both Wannabeabigstar and Outlawstaythcourse appeared to have escaped serious injury. Drivers Brandon Campbell and John Abbott continued driving after being checked out. Over Ice earned her fourth win in a row in the $20,000 third leg of the Betty Millbank Memorial for freshman fillies with Campbell in the seat for Jim Marino. Over Ice won every split through panels in :31, 1:02.3 and 1:32.1 before winning by three lengths in 2:01. Great Emotion (David Hudon) was second and Senorita Draco (Knight) rounded out the top three. Bred and owned by J J J Stables, the freshman daughter of Custard The Dragon and the American Ideal mare Arm In Arm is now four-for-four with $30,500 banked. Miss Itunes and David Hudon went gate-to-wire to win the $10,000 Fillies and Mares Preferred Handicap Pace. After posting panels in :27.1, :57.3 and 1:26, Miss Itunes held onto victory at the wire by three-quarters of a length in 1:55.2 over Western Summit (Campbell). Hotpieceoface (Abbott) rocketed from sixth to take the show spot. Chris Lancaster trains the six-year-old winner of 22 races and $226,863. Donna Wyse owns the winning mare, who earned her sixth seasonal triumph. Miss Itunes paid $3.20 to win as the bettors' choice. To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Fraser Downs. A former Scottsbluff police captain is scheduled to voluntarily surrender his law enforcement certification in the wake of a Nebraska State Patrol investigation. The Police Standards Advisory Council will consider the matter of surrender of Brian Wassons law enforcement certification when it meets Wednesday, Oct. 25, according to its agenda. Wasson is listed under the portion of the agenda in which the council considers revocations. Meetings are held at the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center in Grand Island. Under Section 81-1419 of Nebraska law, once a revocation or surrender of law enforcement certification has been considered by the council, the revocation or surrender and the reasons are listed on a public database available on the Nebraska Crime Commission website. Scottsbluff Police Chief Kevin Spencer, who is also city manager, confirmed to the Star-Herald that Wasson is no longer with the Scottsbluff Police Department, a change that was effective Sept. 6. He declined to comment further, saying that a personnel matter continues to be under investigation. Nebraska State Patrol spokesperson Cody Thomas confirmed that the Scottsbluff Police Department had asked the patrol to conduct that investigation. It remains ongoing, he said. Wasson had served with the Scottsbluff Police Department for about 25 years. His career at the department included stints as a patrol officer, an investigator with the WING drug task force and on the departments SWAT team as an officer and leader, and a sergeant. He had served the last 17 years as a captain and was promoted to that rank in 2006 under then-Police Chief Alex Moreno. The Nebraska State Patrol is investigation a collision involving a school bus and semi Friday morning. Nebraska State Patrol spokesperson Cody Thomas told the Star-Herald that the crash this morning occurred at approximately 8:10 a.m. at the intersection of S-E Road and S-6 Road in southern Sioux County. Thomas said there were five students on the school bus at the time of the crash, all were checked and medically cleared on scene. The driver of the bus was transported to Regional West by Valley Ambulance. The driver of the semi was flown by Air Link to Regional West. The crash remains under investigation. Additional details were unavailable as of publication. Officials from the Omaha zoo informed Riverside Discovery Center officials Wednesday that zoo would no longer be transferring lions previously planned to relocate to the Scottsbluff, RDC Executive Director Desiree Drane-Davison told the Star-Herald. Rumors that the zoo would be receiving lions had been circling for months before Drane-Davison revealed news at a city council meeting in August that the Scottsbluff zoo would be receiving two lions, scheduled to be delivered this fall. The zoos previous lions, Apollo and Zeus, were popular with visitors to the Zoo. Apollo dies in December 2020, having died of cancer and age-related kidney disease. He was 20 years old. Zues died in 2015 from heart complications. The decision from the Omaha zoo came after the recent announcement that the RDCs lost its AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums ) accreditation last month. The AZA is an organization that sets standards for facilities like the RDC. Facilities must reapply for accreditation every five years and applications can be accepted, tabled or denied. The RDCs application was denied. The RDC has been reaching out to other facilities about transferring lions, although nothing has been confirmed, Drane-Davison said. She stressed that the zoo and its staff are working its way back to accreditation and have enrolled in the AZAs Pathway to Accreditation program. The Pathway program provides facilities seeking accreditation with mentors from the AZA to help them along in the process. Ive been in touch nearly daily with someone from the AZA, she said. Theyre going to give me two mentors ... they can come in if they feel the need to help me understand how to better steer the zoo. The mentors are provided to help facilities rectify the issues that are preventing its accreditation. While RDC officials said earlier this month that the loss of accreditation was largely due to financial problems ,they said the AZA also cited zookeeper inexperience and turnover at the executive director position as issues. The zoo was also in possession of two cygnets, young swans, through the Species Survival Plan that will be transferred to a zoo in Idaho on Thursday before being released into the wild in Oregon next year. Drane-Davison said that the zoo is committed to regained its accreditation status but it is a long road back. In the meantime, she said, they have also applied for accreditation with the Zoological Association of America. The ZAA holds member facilities to similar standards to the AZA, although the two organizations differ on some specific issues such as standards of care for big cats. It would be a process, it would be another month or so and then (the ZAA) would contact us and set up a time for the group of inspectors to come out, she said. She also said that even if the zoo is accredited by the ZAA they will continue to strive to regain the AZA accreditation and hope to maintain both certifications in the future. Backaracks Steak House and Grill will be hosting the 11th annual Save-A-Rack fundraiser for Festival of Hope Wednesday Oct. 25. Doors for the event will open at 5 p.m. The auction is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. and will run until all the items have been sold. The back restaurant will be closed to the public for auction participants, however the front bar will be open with a stream of the auction for people to watch. As in previous years, people are encouraged to create bras to be auctioned off at the event. Those wishing to donate a bra must turn it in to Backaracks by Monday, Oct. 23 to be included in the auction. The fundraiser benefits the Festival of Hope, a charitable organization that helps cover non-medical costs for cancer patients. Non-medical costs can quickly stack up for patients from traveling to appointments and treatments to missing work especially when stacked on top of medical costs. So if youre traveling, if you need to pay your rent, you need to pay for gas money to travel to appointments you may have out of state, thats what the Festival of Hope does, organizer Kendra Feather said. Most of the bras made for the event are associated with memories of loved ones and those whose lives have been touched by cancer. Feather said theres always a story, behind the bras. Backaracks co-owner Tammy Cooley created one last year that was modeled after a food truck in honor of her father. There is another hung in the restaurant made out of leather and styled like a saddle in honor of an Arthur man whose mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. The decorating of the bras are great; I mean some of them are so extreme and creative, Feather said. The auction will not just include bras. There are a variety of other items on the block like coolers. Cooley said she was also hopeful that they would have some merchandise from some of the bars suppliers like Budweiser and Coca-Cola. Murdochs Ranch & Home Supply also donated three firearms that will be raffled off at the auction. Winners will be able to decide between the gun they win, a Colt Python .357 Magnum revolver, a Benelli Montefeltro 12-gauge shotgun, an 1873 .357 Magnum lever action rifle, or the value in gift cards to be used at the store. If attendees are not looking to spend as much money, there are also options to bid on and purchase ribbons for $2 to commemorate loved ones that will be placed on the wall at the bar. There is also a traveling trophy for the business that is the biggest spender of the evening that will be accompanied by a $100 gift card to Backaracks. The idea for the Save-A-Rack fundraiser and the bra auction was started by local auctioneer Steve Flower who had been running a similar fundraiser in Wyoming. Feather and other organizers reached out to him about bringing the idea to Scottsbluff. We decided it would be a perfect fit and we approached him and we gave it a whirl and it just went really well and has been going ever since, Feather said. In recent years the fundraiser has done very well and has increased its total each of the last three years. Last year, they raised just over $86,000 and eclipsed $500,000 in total funds raised. Feather, Cooley and two other organizers Juewl Simonton and Rachel Sams are excited for this years fundraiser and hope that they are able to continue the rising trend from previous years. The event is sponsored by KNEB Rural Radio as well as others including Backaracks and Regional West Medical Center. The former police chief of Wahoo, who had also been a top gang investigator with the Omaha Police Department, is expected to have his law enforcement license revoked for life during a state hearing next week. Bruce M. Ferrell, 62, of Elkhorn, is scheduled to have his law enforcement license revoked on Friday during a meeting of the Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice in Lincoln. The hearing on Ferrells law enforcement certification comes almost two years after his resignation from the force. He was later accused of allegedly having sexual relations while on duty. Ferrell abruptly resigned from his job as police chief in Wahoo on Nov. 11, 2021. He told the Journal Star less than a week later that it was just time to leave. The Omaha World-Herald later reported that Ferrell had been accused of engaging in sexual activities with an unknown person while on duty. The alleged sex acts were reportedly captured on Ferrells own body camera. The Nebraska State Patrol conducted an investigation of Ferrell after the accusations. In January, he was officially charged with suspicion of official misconduct and suspicion of disseminating non-disclosable criminal history, both misdemeanors. During the State Patrol's investigation, detectives with the agency focused on Ferrells interactions with the woman from the alleged encounter. Among the evidence reviewed was four pages of text messages between her and Ferrell, technical reviews of the womans personal cellphone and photographs saved to the device, 911 dispatch center records of police responses to her home address and examinations of her and Ferrells Facebook, Snapchat and Google accounts. Court records also showed that investigators centered their investigation on 12 different segments of body camera footage from Ferrells body camera over six different dates. The body camera images captured on Ferrells device were from June 21, June 28, June 30, July 1, July 26 and Sept. 15 during 2021, and mostly were filmed between the hours of noon and 4:45 p.m. on each of the dates. On June 30, Ferrells camera recorded five separate interactions with the woman, while on Sept. 15, the camera recorded three interactions, according to court documents. Ferrell denied the claims, and on March 7, he filed a motion with the court seeking to have state prosecutors detail what he was specifically accused of. In July, Ferrell pleaded no contest to disseminating non-disclosable criminal history, and he was found guilty by Saunders County Court Judge C. Jo Petersen and given a $500 fine. Prosecutors agreed to dismiss the official conduct charge against Ferrell. Ferrell's attorney, Steven M. Delaney of Bellevue, could not be reached for comment. Nebraska State Patrol spokesman Cody Thomas did not immediately respond to an email seeking details on the case. Melissa Harrell, Wahoos city administrator, said in a telephone interview that she was unaware that Ferrell was scheduled to have his law enforcement license revoked, but said she was happy the citys police department has moved on from the incident and is rebuilding trust with residents. Following Ferrells resignation, the city hired former Ashland Police Chief Joseph Baudler to be its chief of police in February 2022. Harrell said the charges leveled against Ferrell were disappointing and she stressed that once city officials became aware of the accusations, they immediately contacted the Nebraska State Patrol and cooperated with its investigation. We dont hire people to do unethical things, Harrell said of the charges against Ferrell. I am happy with the direction of the department under Chief Baudler. Ferrell was hired as Wahoos chief of police in February 2018 after a 23-year career with the Omaha Police Department. While in Omaha, Ferrell was considered one of the regions leading gang-unit investigators. He was involved in leadership positions with both national and regional coalitions of gang detectives. He also had worked as an investigator for the Bellevue Police Department and as a part-time police officer in the City of Valley. Ferrell was a regular visitor to Fremont, having collaborated with members of the Fremont Police Department for several years on gang education for local educators and residents. Russia's recent call for regular security talks with North Korea and China to counter what it characterizes as "intensifying" and "dangerous" military activity between South Korea, the United States and Japan is a "misleading" assessment, a ministry official said Friday. During his visit to the North on Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said his country supports holding a regular negotiating process on security with Pyongyang and Beijing against the "dangerous" policies of Seoul, Washington and Tokyo, apparently putting the blame on the three allies for escalating tensions in the region. Lavrov also said the "intensifying military activity" of the three countries and "Washington working toward moving strategic infrastructure, including nuclear aspects," are of "great concern to us and our North Korean friends," according to Russia's state news agency, TASS. "This is a misleading (assessment) of the cause of tensions on the Korean Peninsula ... and appears aimed at covering up the international community's attention on the illegal military cooperation between Russia and North Korea," the official at Seoul's foreign ministry said. Noting the "fundamental" problem lies in North Korea's nuclear and missile development, he urged Russia to immediately stop all "illegal military cooperation" with the North, which threatens regional security and violates U.N. Security Council resolutions. "Our position remains unchanged that we are open to dialogue without any preconditions for North Korea's denuclearization," he said. (Yonhap) Arrested this summer and charged with possessing child pornography after police searched his residence, an Austinville man will now stand trial in Wythe County Circuit Court following Mondays grand jury session. Wesley Andrew Whittington, 34, was indicted on 20 counts of possessing child pornography. Being held without bond, hes slated to enter a plea on Nov. 29. In other grand jury cases heard on Monday: Steven Jonathon Beckett, 35, of Roanoke was indicted on a credit card forgery charge. Thomas James Blanchett, 19, of Crockett was indicted on a drug possession charge. James William Cameron Jr., 33, of Cripple Creek was indicted on two drug possession charges. Roy Sheldon Dickinson Jr., 47, of Wytheville was indicted on charges of possessing a stolen automobile and possessing drugs. James Buford Dunford Jr., 46, of Max Meadows was indicted on a charge of driving on a suspended license-dui-related. Cody Allen Goodson, 28, of Bristol was indicted on a shoplifting charge. Robert Adam Gore, 31, of Rural Retreat was indicted on charges of grand larceny, being a felon in possession of a firearm, firearm larceny and possessing burglary tools. Ronald Dale Gravley, 51, of Barren Springs was indicted on charges of drug possession, disarming a law enforcement officer of a stun weapon and assaulting a law enforcement officer. Richard Leon Daniel Hedrick, 37, of Rural Retreat was indicted on two credit card larceny charges. William Garland Hicks, 25, of Woodlawn was indicted on a felony bad check charge. Elisha Muhammed Hinkston, 35, of Wytheville was indicted on a drug possession charge. Andrew Dennis Hurst, 47, of Tazewell, Tennessee, was indicted on a drug possession charge. Jacob John Jennings, 34, of Saltville was indicted on a drug possession charge. Logan Edward Jones, 20, of Max Meadows was indicted on a charge of possessing firearm with a protective order in effect. Shannon Heath Jones, 29, of Randolph was indicted on a charge possessing with the intent to manufacture/etc. drugs. Clyde Wesley Kuykendall Jr., 42, of Wytheville was indicted on a charge of threatening to bomb or burn Wythe County Community Hospital. Brian P. McConville, 38, of Max Meadows was indicted on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and being a felon in possession of ammunition. Ricky Eugene McPeak, 50, of Wytheville was indicted on two drug possession charges. Kendrick Andrew Mealing, 54, of Wytheville was indicted on charges of drug possession and shoplifting. Dev B. Mehta, 22, of Wakefield was indicted on a drug possession charge. Joshua Tait Melvin, 39, of Partlow was indicted on a felony eluding police charge. Cetan Wanagi Merzlak, 29, of Marshall, North Carolina, was indicted on an automobile larceny charge. Ashley M. Muncy, 37, of Barren Springs was indicted on a drug possession charge. Ashley Nichole Osborne, 32, of Wytheville was indicted on a drug possession charge. Jimmy Lee Southern, 42, of Wytheville was indicted on two counts of failing to register as a sex offender-second or subsequent offense. Mondays grand jury also returned multiple direct indictments that included charges of sodomy, drug distribution and grand larceny. Those indictments, however, were sealed until the suspects are arrested. People are dying because were not open yet. John Graham shared that stark assessment with Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares and George Allen, a former Virginia governor and U.S. senator, Friday morning as they toured the future home of the Appalachian Center for Hope. The planned 64-bed residential drug treatment center is being developed in the former Rehab Building on the campus of the Southwestern Virginia Mental Health Institute in Marion and is expected to serve the region. Architect Bill Huber, who has prepared the designs for the center, explained that the building was constructed in 1939-40 as a tuberculosis treatment center on the campus of Southwestern Virginia Mental Health Institute. The building has served multiple purposes but has sat unused for years. Now, Huber noted, it can be used for rehab once again. Friday, Graham noted that the building was on a demolition list had it not been for General Assembly action to save it for the treatment center. The state is now working to transfer its ownership to Smyth County, but the process has been delayed as language regarding parking is being worked out. However, officials are optimistic that will be resolved soon, and last Thursday, the board of supervisors OKd a resolution authorizing county officials to take the final steps necessary to accept ownership. County Attorney Scott Farthing noted that the property is being donated by the Commonwealth. As Miyares spoke to officials Friday, the attorney general acknowledged that Southwest Virginia was targeted by pharmaceutical companies in their distribution of opioid medications, which has skyrocketed addiction. However, Miyares said, he believes in a faith of second chances and the Appalachian Center for Hope will offer many people another chance. Allen saluted the leaders who not only identified a problem in their midst but also developed a proactive solution to it. He added that hed like to see its message spread across Virginia and be replicated. Graham noted that nationally only 13% of people suffering from a substance use disorder get the recovery help they need to address it. In Southwest Virginia, he believed the percentage is far lower. Officials have also pointed to the escalating rate of overdose deaths in the region and in Virginia. Marions Huber shared the building plans with Miyares and Allen and the prior day with the board of supervisors. Huber said that many of the buildings 80-year-old features can be preserved, including much of its slate roof, plaster walls, and concrete floor and ceilings. He noted that some of the floors are real terrazzo and continue to look like new. Huber also plans to restore the feel of the buildings original windows and take advantage of the natural light and view of the regions natural beauty. The challenging aspect of the work, he said, is to make the building less institutional. However, he noted that warm and calming colors will be employed as well as creating spaces for meditation and outdoor classroom areas. Once construction gets underway, Huber has previously projected that phase will take about 12 months. During their tour, Supervisor Roscoe Call said that almost everyone is now connected to the drug addiction crisis in some way. Within his family, he said, five individuals have been addicted. We buried three of them, he said, noting that one was 25 years old. People are dying right now, Call declared. The idea for the center was envisioned by a consortium of leaders brought together to help assess Smyth Countys health needs. In 2019, Graham explained that once they assessed the needs and saw how serious many of them were, the group members couldnt walk away once their report was filed. They had to act. They saw drug treatment as one of their highest priorities, most especially the need for a residential treatment center in the region where none existed. For those who receive in-patient care at the center, Graham said that their stays are expected to be three to five months to help individuals avoid returning to the same circles and circumstances that often prompt them to begin using drugs again after rehab. Looking farther down the road, Graham has said, the centers board is considering supportive housing for individuals who complete the in-patient term. The science, he said, says that it takes the brain at least 18 months to heal from active drug use. Support for individuals after rehab is a gaping hole, Graham said. The vision for the Appalachian Center for Hope includes residential treatment, collaborative recovery planning, and re-entry assistance through workforce development and education as well as a day reporting center. The endeavor has received support from local, state, and federal officials. The private Smyth County Community Foundation has awarded the centers board $3 million, while the state has designated $50,000 as seed money. U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine secured $650,000 for the center in a federal spending bill signed into law early this year. The non-profit centers board also plans to seek historic tax credits to help fund its operation. Let me introduce to you the #1 choice for coffee professionals Baratza Virtuoso Conical Coffee Grinder! Did you know that it has 40 grind settings, from fine to coarse? Now you can try the extensive range of brewing methods for yourself. It is a coffee grinder for use with Aeropress, Chemex, Hario, and Espresso. Its grinding speed is twice as slow as other products in the same class, but that just means you get an optimum grind with little noise, while with many other grinders, you have to deal with the noise problem. Thanks to the 40 mm high-carbon steel burrs, it can consistently produce a high-quality grind, bringing the best taste to your cup. Furthermore, the DC motor has less friction and heat even after the long grinding time. It also allows you to adjust and replicate the ideal grind time thanks to a 60-second timer. So, if you want to be creative and free to brew in any style you wish, this coffee grinder is for you! Keep in mind that you should be sure to do regular cleaning or repairs to maintain the quality of the grinder. Beginners may need some time to get used to the advanced features of this coffee machine. Cost-effective, good for use in cafes and as specialty coffee makers. If you are an experienced home barista, youre most likely familiar with the Breville Barista Express Coffee Machine, as it is one of the most popular coffee machines on the market. This full-blown coffee maker features a lot of the hallmarks of classic Italian espresso machine design. At first glance, youre going to notice the striking appearance of this machine with its shiny casing, excellent knobs, and an exposed East 61 group head. Another awesome thing about this machine is that it gives you a lot of high-end features. At a very reasonable price, you get a 1.8-liter heat exchange boiler inside, allowing you to pull shots and steam milk at the same time. Thats something a lot of machines fall short with because it requires intensive technique to implement the feature. With the Breville, youll be able to set your shot up to pull and start steaming your milk while brewing your shot. This also cuts down on preparation time, which is a plus if you brew more than 3 cups at a time. From the steam and hot water dispenser knobs to the shot lever youre going to get tactile control. The control panel with clear instructions helps even first-timers adapt in a blink. These valves are always warm to ensure the out streams all get a relevant temp. Therefore, when you pull shots, you wont lose any water temperature. Furthermore, the dual coffee maker mode allows you to make two espresso cups at the same time. With all these features, many people would think that theyd have to pay a lot more than they actually do with the Breville; the price is as attractive as the machine itself. Beginners and pros alike have loved this machine ever since its launch, and were excited to name it the best coffee maker of this year. In General, What Makes For The Best Hiking Pants? A combination of the factors listed below is what all hikers should look for when buying hiking pants. 1/ Type For men Cargo pants for hiking or combat pants are preferred by many male hikers. They are loose and originally designed for outdoor activities. They look unique thanks to the convenient cargo pockets, which help people to carry items during day trips on foot. Roll-up pants are another popular kind of hiking pants as they offer more versatility to hikers. They normally come with buttons on the lower leg or elastic in the cuff. This is considered as a solution to excess heat when hiking. For women Leggings for hiking are especially popular among female hikers. They are light and elastic to help women walk so easily that it could feel like wearing nothing. They are not recommended when hiking through locations with lots of insects. A Mans legs with ski pants and hiking boots 2/ Flexibility Have you ever heard of convertible hiking pants? This kind of pants creates more flexibility for hikers to conquer any trail at any time during the year. These pants for hiking have bottom legs which can be removed to become a pair of shorts. Moreover, the idea of flexibility also concerns the number of pockets and their sizes to improve the storage during your trail. 3/ Materials Nowadays, with great achievements in the textile industry, backpacking pants are made of different materials to offer the best comforts to hikers. Overall, synthetic (polyester) and nylon are the two most popular materials used for pants for hiking. This is the reason why hikers often argue about whether nylon or polyester hiking pants are better for outdoor activities. The answer to this question depends on your personal preference. Nylon was developed by the chemist Dr. Julian Hill in 1930. He discovered a kind of polymer that can remain soft, strong, and flexible. A decade later, polyester was invented. Nylon and polyester are made of crude oil, but they have different qualities and properties. Firstly, nylon absorbs more water, while polyester absorbs more oil. In other words, polyester is suitable to wear in winter as it dries faster and warmer. How about nylon? When is it good to wear nylon hiking pants? Nylon is more versatile as it is applicable in warmer weather conditions. Furthermore, nylon hiking pants today are more comfortable and stretchable, as most manufacturers mix nylon with some spandex or elastane. The only kind of material that hikers should avoid is cotton. Cotton is unable to offer you a comfortable trail compared to these materials such as nylon, polyester, elastane, etc. 4/ Weight Next, the weight of hiking pants is another crucial factor when it comes to choosing the best hiking pants. Ultra-light hiking pants are indispensable when you hike in summer or in certain hot places. For half-day hikers, ultra-light backpacking pants can be a minor concern, but for a long trail, hikers should take into consideration the weight factor. 5/ Breathability As you walk during your trail, youre likely to sweat a lot. Breathable hiking pants can allow sweat to wick away and keep you dry as you hike. Ventilation zips are a great feature to look for when choosing your hiking pants. Wet pants make you feel sticky and create a bad smell; thus, the quicker your pants can be dried off, the more you would enjoy your trail. Ventilation zips are an effective way to regulate the temperature. It normally runs along the side of the hip, which allows for good airflow when you open them. Open the zip when you are sweating that bit more and zip back when you start feeling cool. 6/ UPF ratio Sun exposure is something you need to be very conscious of. When you are out on the trail, you are totally exposed. As you are generally higher up in terms of altitude, you are getting closer and closer to the sunlight, which is really harmful to your skin. Having a UPF rating is something to look for as part of your hiking pants purchasing decision, especially when you hike in sunnier and hotter climes. UPF is a new and broad topic, but in general, UPF is a kind of ratio to prove that the clothing contains some elements of protection from the sun. UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor. More specifically, if a clothing item shows UPF 50, it means that if 50 units of UV fall on the fabric, only 1 unit will pass through to the skin. This factor is essential to prevent your skin from sunburn and other problems caused by excessive sun exposure. 7/ DWR coating Water-resistant hiking pants are proved useful for hiking throughout the year, especially during winter. DWR stands for Durable Water Repellent, which is used to coat the outside of hiking pants. A DWR coating allows your pants to resist water to keep the pants breathable.Please note that even if your pants are coated with DWR, it does not mean that your pants are 100% waterproof. It is recommended to reapply the DWR coating to ensure that the pants continue to perform in this respect. 8/ Price Price is the last factor on this list, but in fact, it is the decisive factor when choosing the best hiking pants. This, of course, varies depending on the type of pants and their specific function. In my opinion, you should spend around $50 - $100 on hiking pants. Please be aware that the more functionality you want from your pants, the more expensive they will be. One more tip is that you can check the price offered on some famous online platforms and try to bargain with your local stores. You may get a great deal! Hiker with backpack on top of a mountain Whats next? This part is indispensable to make sure you are opting for the best pants for hiking. You must try them on to feel whether the pants provide you with comfort and freedom of movement. How to test your hiking pants for comfort and freedom of movement Sit down and stand up Try a larger size or change to another option if you feel tightness when sitting down and standing up. Bend and flex your knees This is to test if the pants are stretchable enough for hiking. During your movement, if the pants bind at any time, they are not going to make you feel comfortable during your trail. Other motions Depending on your trail, you may have to perform some particular motions. You should try to duplicate the motions several times before making your final decision. How about making your purchase online? My advice is that you can make a list of hiking pants you are considering and then try to go to a sporting goods store to try them on. It may be time consuming, but you may find the best pair of hiking pants at the very best deal when shopping online. Last, but not least After youve decided to invest in a good pair of hiking pants, you would think of the ways to take care of them. Though you might end up buying very expensive pants, without proper care, your pants cannot last for long. The things we are going to share below are just basic for all kinds of pants. Some pants will require more special care. You should ask the seller for more instructions. How to take care of your hiking pants? Storage and cleaning: Remember to wash your hiking pants right after coming back from your trail. The reason is that sweat and bacteria can kill the materials, as they penetrate into the fabrics. If they are still smelly, it is better to hang them out to dry. After that, put them somewhere flat. Washing: Avoid using hot water and strong detergent. They will not remove stains on your hiking pants but instead, they will wear down the materials and fade. On the sporting goods market, there is a kind of soap used for washing hiking pants. Dont be worried; the price of the soap is very affordable. Drying: In any conditions, you should allow your hiking pants to dry out. Please do not put them into your dryer. The extreme heat of the dryer can misshape and over-stretch the pants. Most hiking pants nowadays are made of quick-dry fabric. Waterproof trekking boots wade a rocky mountain stream Recommendation Which hiking pants you are going to buy depends on where your trail is, how often youll be suing them, and to do what. You may start hiking and then decide to go camping or climbing. Or you may want a pair of pants that are comfortable enough to wear from trail to town. It is a bit hard, right? In reality, it is hard to find a pair of pants which can be suitable for all conditions. Our recommendation is that you buy at least two pairs of hiking pants. One is for hot weather and the other is for cold weather. In summary, the best hiking pants are the ones made of the mix of materials such as nylon/polyester with some spandex or elastane. Moreover, they need to have at least two pockets for carrying essential items. Breathability is a must to look for when choosing the pants. Final word We hope that this guide on how to pick the best hiking pants can somehow help you to make the right decision. Personally speaking, I will be glad to see how technological advancements will enhance the quality and capability of hiking pants in the coming years. I am sure that they will just get better and better. Why Do You Need A Multitool When There Are Many Other Tools That Can Be Used For The Same Purposes? Stanless steel multitool 1- Ready for use The main idea behind the concept of multitools is preparation. As you know, a full set of tools or a full toolbox are great, but theyre too cumbersome when you only need a few small tools for small tasks. Multitools work great in situations like this. It only takes a few seconds to pick and use the tool you want. You would be surprised to know that there are many people who actually always carry multipurpose tools as a part of their daily lives. This is what makes it an EDC (everyday carry) product that suits many peoples demands. 2- Adaptability Multitools are a quick and effective solution to simple problems. Do you need a ruler to measure something, and then need to tighten a screw or close a nail? Why use three different tools to handle such simple tasks when you can just use one tool to handle them all? Most of the tools included in multitools come with a variety of functions, and some can even be adjusted in order to use their bundled solutions in surprisingly unusual but effective ways using your imagination and flexibility. Although they may not be the best things to use for complex tasks, they can successfully handle more common, small tasks. 3- Effectiveness You may not always need a separate ruler, a pair of scissors, a bottle opener, or any other tool; with a multitool, you will be quite satisfied because they are all included in just one item when you use it. Multitools are the most effective way of bringing a number of different tools together in a mobile and lighter format. The creators of these tools have come up with such tools for a reason they encountered problems in their daily lives that could not simply be dealt with using what they had on hand, and thus, the multitool was born. 4- Convenience If you happen to stumble over a screwdriver, a bottle opener, or even just a loose screw, you'll find that in this case, a versatile tool that can be carried with you every day is easier, faster, and more convenient. All you need to do to get the job done is to reach into your pocket, get out the tool, and finish you task. Youre no longer rummaging around in a toolbox, looking for this tool or that. It's time-saving, compact and fast, isn't it? Multitools (or multipurpose kits) have become indispensable toour lives these days, especially with families or factories, maintenance shops for vehicles, mechanical workshops, and more. Thanks to this tool set, installation and repair becomes easier and simpler than ever. It goes without saying that multitools have a lot of moving parts, and the build quality is vital if it is going to last. Everything should be tight, and the tools should move fluidly without much friction. With the better quality multitools, you also greatly reduce the risk of corrosion which is something that plagues all metal objects over time. You can rely on some of the following criteria to choose the top multitool to suit your needs: Must be versatile and able to fix many things in your daily life. There must be many tools in the kit with different functions. Good price!!! Include the number of tools and components that suit the repair needs. Best-rated and most commonly used. Compact, convenient design that is easy to hold, open, move, carry, etc. Time For The Final Decision We have given you a brief look at some of the top-rated multitools available today the ones that integrate many tools in just one product at different prices and with different uses. The tools discussed above represent the most popular brands and designs today, and Amazon is a good place to start looking if you're considering purchasing a multitasking set or tool for your daily life. Multitools are great products. They are not only useful in everyday tasks, but can also make the difference between a quick, well-done job and a horrifying nightmare of massive work done. While it could never be a replacement for your old toolkit full of specialized tools, a multitool is still definitely a better choice for mobile and adventure-ready users. We hope that our reviews may somehow help you to answer the question of which is the best multitool to purchase! If you have any questions about our multitool reviews, feel free to leave your comments below. How To Choose The Best Pressure Cooker? Multi cooker on table Choosing the best pressure cooker is often difficult for many consumers. However, I have some tips for you to consider before buying this product. Here they are: #1- Your needs The ten best pressure cookers on my list are our suggestions. No matter which pressure cooker you select, consider the value carefully to make sure it warrants the cost. Ask yourself questions and find answers through product features. #2- Multi-use products The most characteristic feature of the pressure cooker that many people choose to buy is its versatility. You will see a variety of cooking programs in the best products. It's time for you to select what you like. #3- Easy-to-use features You use a pressure cooker daily to cook delicious meals for your family, so you need it to be flexible in terms of control, ease of use, durable, safe and quick to clean. The digital screens and one-touch buttons should also be your top priorities. #4- Product build I know many users will immediately choose a product because it looks shiny, but think twice. You should consider materials, product design, components, non-stick coating, easy disassembly for cleaning, etc. Here are some frequently asked questions about pressure cookers. All in all, which is the best pressure cooker? It's difficult to make an accurate pressure cooker comparison if your needs are different from mine. So take your time to read these pressure cookers reviews and select your preferred one. Personally, I like the Mealthy MultiPot 9-in-1 Programmable Pressure Cooker after buying and using it. It's great for helping me prepare hundreds of delicious and nutritious meals for the whole family. In addition to the main dish, I also make desserts and cakes with various cooking programs. And I also regularly update recipes through the app from the manufacturer. Do you want to give this product a try? Or do you prefer another product from the list of 10 products I proposed? 1/ Insulation Insulation capability is what I consider first because the main purpose of buying a cooler is to keep my food and beverages cool and fresh -- and, more importantly, to prevent food poisoning. As you may know, bacteria grow rapidly between 40F and 140F. Coolers are our solution to prevent food from spoiling, especially during trips and outdoor activities. There are two types of cooler shells for ice retention. Hard-shell coolers: There are more insulating materials for ice retention; thus, they are recommended for perishable foods. Soft-shell coolers: They are designed with less insulating materials than their counterpart but are lightweight and easy to carry around. You should look carefully at the lid to see if it is thick enough because this is what keeps the heat out when your cooler is outside. Most high-quality coolers have thicker and denser insulating materials. Of course, their price is much higher than those of affordable coolers. 2/ Durability Most people will expect the product to last for a long time, especially if the product requires a decent investment. A high-end cooler normally costs hundreds of dollars; thus, its durability is what I focus on. A cooler whose exterior is made of hard plastic or metal is more durable than others. So, my advice is that you should ask yourself about how you plan to use the cooler. If you will mostly bring the cooler on trips, hard plastic or metal may be your choice to withstand all weather conditions. Soft-shell coolers are less expensive but are good enough for storing things for your outdoor activities at home. 3/ Size Size is another important feature you should pay attention to. Picking the wrong size of cooler may lead to a waste of time and money. If the cooler is too small, you might have to buy a second one to fit your needs. On the market, there are many sizes available, normally measured in quarts. Here are some tips about how to choose the right cooler size: Remember to leave room for ice; ice packs will have to be put into the cooler. If you are going to carry the cooler during your outing, consider whether the cooler can fit in your car before deciding to go for the largest size of coolers. 4/ Materials In terms of materials, there are 2 options: Softshell coolers: These are coolers normally made from fabric, which are ideal for a one-day trip or a small amount of food and beverages. They are lightweight and simple in terms of design; thus, they are more flexible but not good for ice retention. Most of them offer extra pockets in which you can snacks or personal belongings. Hard-shell coolers: These are called traditional coolers and they are normally made of plastic or metal. These coolers are a lot better in terms of ice retention, as they are designed with thicker insulation. Thats why hard-shell coolers are recommended for long outings and weekend parties with a large amount of food and beverages to store. Please bear in mind that hard-shell coolers will take up space in your house or your car, so you will want to choose the proper size. 5/ Portability When choosing a cooler, consider how easy it will be to transport your cooler to your designated areas. Smaller options are not always easier to carry than larger options. Consider a small cooler with a single handle and a big cooler with side handles and wheels. Which one is more mobile? Regardless of design, always consider your limitations when you will need to carry your cooler while its fully loaded. RTIC 65 cooler review If you do some research online about the best coolers for camping, Im sure that most of the results are about YETIs coolers. This brand has been the best-known in the premium cooler niche since it introduced its first high-end cooler in 2006. This cooler could retain ice for up to 10 days. That changed a little when RTIC started its business in 2014. It seems that RTIC's business goal is to compete directly with YETI, as RTICs products offer most of the same features as YETIs but are sold at a much cheaper price. RTIC representatives have explained why the company can sell its products at a very competitive price. The companys strategy is to sell directly to customers; thus, it does not pay a commission to any intermediaries, which helps reduce the costs of its products. The RTIC 65-quart cooler belongs to the companys second generation of ice chest coolers. Five sizes are available in this product line: RTIC 20, RTIC 45, RTIC 65, RTIC 110, and RTIC 145. This is my detailed RTIC 65 review! 1/ Insulation The RTIC 65 applies Rotomolded construction, which is known for its super ice retention capability. Lets learn a bit about Rotomolded construction. This is the latest technology using thermoplastic materials to make a solid shape for a cooler to increase its durability and ice retention time. RTIC advertises that its cooler can hold an ice-cold temperature for up to 10 days. In reality, after a month of using it, I found that the RTIC 65-quart cooler is ideal for keeping food at a refreshing temperature of 50 F for 6 days. These numbers are impressive, as there are not many coolers on the market right now that can reach these results. 2/ Durability This is the second area in which this RTIC 65 shines. Although this cooler is not certified by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee, its a tough food cooler that can withstand pushing, yanking, and harsh conditions such as direct sunlight. This cooler can support the weight of a man jumping on it. Its latches and hinges can take regular punishment. 3/ Storage capability The name RTIC 65 means that there is 65 quarts of storage space. More specifically, this mid-sized cooler can hold up to 64 cans, 70 pounds of ice, or 16.25 gallons. It is ideal for a large group of people who will be taking trips that last several days. 4/ Materials Thanks to the latest technology, called Rotational molding, molten plastic is used during the production of the RTIC 65-quart cooler. This kind of material and this new technology can produce thick and uniform walls without seals. The thickness (up to 3) makes these best ice chests harder than ever. In other words, this cooler can last for ages and Im pleased to pay for something that works. 5/ Portability The RTIC 65-quart cooler is equipped with double-carry handles that are not very convenient to carry for a long distance. This is a minus that I found while using this cooler. However, its not a big deal if you dont have to move the cooler too far. 6/ Cost-effectiveness Price is a big factor when one is choosing a premium cooler. Many other brands can outperform RTIC coolers, but when it comes to price, RTIC has been a winner for many years. After experiencing the RTIC 65-quart cooler, I confirm that this is the best budget-friendly cooler that offers the longest ice retention. Personally speaking, I find that size vs price is the best aspect of RTIC products. Pros and Cons Pros Tough and highly durable: Rotomolded cooler Impressive ice retention: Up to 6 days at a refreshing temperature of 50 F Large amount of storage space: Holds up to 64 cans, 70 pounds of ice, or 16.25 gallons Affordable price for a high-end cooler Non-slip feet Rapid draining Cons Too big for one person No built-in wheels Short warranty program Features and specifications In the last part of my review, I would like to share how I prepare and pack the cooler. You can use this as a reference for your trips! Step 1: Prepare the cooler (usually 1 day before the trip) If you store the cooler in a hot area in your house, you should bring it inside one day before your trip to cool it down. If you dont use the cooler very often or if you did not clean it after your last trip, you will want to clean it thoroughly with disinfectant spray for food safety reasons. If possible, fill the cooler with cold tap water and a bag of ice at least 12 hours before setting out for your trip. Remember to dump the water out of the cooler before you pack it. Step 2: Prepare food and things to pack (usually 1 day before the trip) Think about the menus for your trip and list them to make sure nothing is left behind. To save space in your cooler, you can pre-chop, marinate, and portion your food. You can also get rid of excess food packaging. The more space you save, the more room you have for ice! If its an overnight trip (2- or 3-day trip), you can freeze your food. However, avoid freezing food that you plan to use on the first night. Other foods must be refrigerated before you put them into the cooler. Step 3: Packing Start with a layer of ice at the bottom of the cooler. Then, pack the last days food first. Finish with the first days food. Note that block ice is the best type of ice for building the foundation of the cooler. It takes a lot longer to melt than ice cubes do. As you may know, the air inside the cooler can speed up ice melt; thus, fill up as much space as you can with ice cubes. Remember how you organized your stuff in the cooler to minimize the time you spend opening the cooler to search for things inside it. The cooler should be the last item that you put in your car, to avoid as much heat as possible. Note: When you reach your campsite, place the cooler under the picnic table or anywhere that does not have direct sunlight. Last but not least, if you want to keep your food at a refreshing temperature for the longest period of time, dont open the cooler often during your camping trip. Now youre all done and ready for your trip! Wrapping up The RTIC 65-quart cooler is, for me, one of the best coolers sold at a very affordable price. It is a great mix of impressive insulation, durability, ease of use, and a great price. The cooler has its drawbacks, such as portability, sizes, and a short warranty program (compared to other cooler brands). However, so far, its built-in features and quality have impressed me. A Japanese air tanker has departed from Israel carrying dozens of its own nationals and 19 Koreans, a Japanese media company reported Friday, in a move seen as reciprocation for Seoul's help in bringing back Japanese people on its plane last week. The Air Self-Defense Force aircraft left for Jordan to bring home 83 people, including the Koreans, from the war-torn Middle East state, Kyodo News reported, quoting the Japanese government. The plane is expected to arrive at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo early Saturday. Japan had sent refueling and transport aircraft to Jordan to evacuate its citizens from Israel as the war with Palestine has been intensifying. Japan made the offer earlier this week to provide some 20 seats for Koreans for free. The proposal was seen as returning the favor to Seoul after a Korean military aircraft brought back 51 Japanese people, along with 163 Koreans, Saturday. The mutual cooperation between the two neighboring countries came amid a significant warming of bilateral ties that had been badly frayed by a dispute over compensating Korean victims of wartime forced labor in 1910-45, when Korea was Japan's colony. In March, Korea said it will not seek compensation from Japanese companies but make up for their suffering on its own. (Yonhap) The best coolers are those that can keep the heat out. Since heat is transmitted via convection and conduction, I believe its best to briefly explain these two processes here. Convection is the air currents that flow over the ice. Even though convection is unavoidable, the better your cooler is securely closed, the less warm air can get inside it. In other words, as long as you keep the lid of the cooler closed, warm air melts the ice inside your cooler at a slower rate, which will help your refreshments stay colder longer. RELATED: Rtic 65 Cooler: Super-Great Alternative Option To Other High-End Coolers Ice chests with an interlocked lid and sturdy gasket like the YETI Tundra 65 cooler will always ensure that your drinks and beverages are kept in good condition. Conduction refers to the heat that flows directly through the walls of your cooler. Therefore, the best icebox walls are made out of insulating materials that do not conduct heat, like Styrofoam. These insulated walls can keep heat out of the cooler quite effectively, thanks to small air pockets inside them. The walls of the YETI 65 TOP rated cooler are built using Polyurethane foam to ensure its efficient thermal performance and insulation. Read on, as I will explore how useful this material is in a later section. YETI - The best cooler brand for extreme durability YETI coolers are very likely to be the first brand that most avid shoppers will think of, no matter if you are a first time buyer or considering purchasing a new cooler to replace an older one. Its one of the best cooler brands in the world, known for its quality and reliability. YETI came to the market in 2006 with the desire to build products for serious outdoor enthusiasts. Given this, these ice chests are not for the masses, and they havent disappointed their most demanding customers. Who can say no to rugged, indestructible coolers that have been built to thrive in the harshest outdoor environments? But are the YETI 65-quart coolers made for you? Lets find out by taking a look at the pros and cons. YETI Tundra 65 quarts - Pros and cons YETI Tundra 65 is one of the best-performing ice chests from YETI. Even the best products on the market have their pros and cons. So does this YETI cooler! Pros Rotomolded construction Extra thick walls Excellent ice retention Heavy-duty rubber latches Interlocking lid system Freezer-quality gasket Double haul tight-grip handles Sticky rubber feet 5-year warranty Cons Expensive Heavy Limited capacity YETI Tundra 65 Review - specifications and key features Dimension, weight, and capacity The outside dimension is 17 1/4 x 16 x 30 5/8 while its inside measurement is 10 5/8 x 11 1/8 x 23 1/8. This 65-quart cooler gives you a lot of room, enough to fit 42 cans of beer. When its empty, the YETI Tundra 65 weighs 29 lbs, which is quite heavy. However, if you compare it with other coolers of the same quality, its not a challenge to carry it with you. YETI Tundra 65 Via: Amazon For example, the RITC 65-quart cooler is a competitor of the YETI Tundra 65, and it weighs 36.5 lbs empty. Similarly, the Orca Classic 58-quart cooler is another decent model, but it weighs in at 36 lbs when empty. The wheeled RovR RollR 60 cooler is advertised as one of the most portable models, but this portability comes at a price. This model weighs 40.5 lbs, so pushing or pulling it to your beach party or camping site can be a burden. RELATED: YETI 75 Cooler: A High-End Model Made For The Wild The 65-quart YETI coolers are available in a wide variety of colors so that everyone will find something they like. They come in white, brown, orange, black, charcoal, seafoam, and ice blue. I love them all, but if I get to choose only one, I will go with the YETI 65 in seafoam blue. My favorite colors are blue and green, so this hybrid of pale blue/green gives me a calming and relaxing feel, just like when Im at the beach. Durability and Insulation The YETI Tundra 65 is a rotomolded cooler. As the name suggests, these coolers are constructed with rotationally molded plastic to create wall thickness, giving them the inherent strength for any abuse in the wild. Because the rotomolding process creates a seamless, continuous thick wall, your YETI ice chest has extra insulation and tighter seals. As briefly mentioned above, YETI engineers use pressure to put polyurethane foam into the walls of this 65-quart cooler to give it permafrost insulation; they call this the Fatwall design. The bottom and side walls have 2 of insulation. Even better, its lid has 3 of insulation, making this cooler a well-rounded model since the lid is where the warm air beats down the most. The better your lid and gasket are made, the better insulated your cooler is. YETI Tundra 65s Fatwall design and well-made lid Via: Amazon Polyurethane foam is the predominant material that many high-end fridges and cooler manufacturers use because of its insulation efficiency and rigidity of the foam. More importantly, it has a closed-cell structure, ensuring effectiveness in a confined space while still achieving the required insulating prowess. This versatile insulation material is also lightweight, giving your cooler the ideal weight to carry along when you explore the wild. Ive run an insulation test on a few well-known rotomolded coolers on the market, including the YETI 65 ice blue. Unsurprisingly, the Tundra lasted the longest. It can hold foods below 40 F for six days and beverages below 50 F for seven days, making it stand out from other models on the market. Ease of use Interlocked lid with gasket The YETI Tundra 65 cooler is installed with an interlocked lid, meaning two latches securely hold the lid for quick interlock, easy storage, and transportation. These interlock coolers also have freezer-quality gaskets to prevent the convection of warm air and water leakage. The latches are made of stretchy rubber; therefore, they are thick and flexible, allowing you to turn your cooler into an extra chair to sit or stand on while fishing. YETI Tundras lid is sturdy enough to stand on Integrated Hinge The hinge system is perfectly built into the body of the cooler instead of attaching to it, so you do not have to worry that the hinges might break off. In addition, the hinge is in line with the body, giving this YETI a sleek, modern, and simplistic look. But its not just about the appearance; this well-designed shape can fit into the tight space of your boat or vehicle with ease. Dual handle sets Like many other models, these YETI 65-quart coolers have two sets of handles, making it easy for one or two people to carry them. The first set of handles is installed into the coolers body so that one person can carry it with ease. The Tundra 65 has a long shape with a low profile design, so if you carry it on your own, it does not bash against your legs like other competing models. The other set of handles is designed for co-carrying as they are movable handles that hang from the sides. These friction-like, rigid rope handles are made of military-grade polyester with a rubber grip, making them a quick-grab option for two persons carrying. RELATED: Top 3 Ways On How To Clean A Dirty Cooler And Sanitize It Too Easy to open and close While collecting customers feedback, Ive come across a few complaints saying that this YETIs lid is so sturdy that its sometimes difficult to open and close. I believe these comments come from first-time users of new Yeti Tundra coolers. If your hands are busy, the Tundra 65 can easily be opened and closed with only one hand. So if you also come across this negative feedback, do not let them influence you fully, since opening and closing a brand new YETI cooler with only one hand takes a few times of practice. They are built that well! Vortex drain system The drain plug is a simple innovation, but it works well. It is rugged and leak proof as there are not any parts that come out from the side of this Tundra cooler that can cause leaks as with a few other models. Besides, it is designed for easy and quick draining. All you need to do is unscrew the cap with a couple of twists, and then you can drain it in just two minutes. One minor con of this drain plug is its tendency to rush out when you release the water. Given this, I would recommend you to wear shorts or to stay out of the way so that you will not get soaked when draining it. BearFoot non-slip feet If youve used old coolers before, chances are they will slide around when you left them unattended. When you set them on slick surfaces like boat decks or truck beds, they can slide out automatically, and the contents may spill out. YETI 65-quart coolers are equipped with BearFoot non-slip feet, allowing them to stay in place no matter how slippery the surface is. Once you put your YETI Tundra 65 down, you can rest assured that it will remain where it is, regardless of the movement around it. RELATED: How To Get Smell Out Of Cooler In Very Easy To Use Steps My partner and I went on a fishing trip last weekend, and we were happy with this feature of our YETI Tundra 65. Our boat was wet and slippery, but the cooler stayed where it was when we first stepped onto our boat in the early afternoon until we left at dusk. YETI Tundra 65 vs. 45 YETI Tundra coolers come in a few different sizes. The two most popular are the Tundra 65 and the Tundra 45. Do they only differ in dimensions and weight? In this YETI Tundra 65 Review, I will compare these two models side by side, so you can better decide the right model for you. Lets take a look at the comparison chart below! Specifications/Feature YETI Tundra 65 YETI Tundra 45 Inside dimensions 10 5/8 x 11 1/8 x 23 1/8 9 3/8 10 5/8 18 3/8 Weight 29lbs 23lbs Capacity Can hold 42 cans of beer Can hold 28 cans of beer Rotomolded construction Yes Yes Fat-wall design Yes Yes Permafrost insulation Yes Yes Interlocked lid system Yes Yes Vortex drain system Yes Yes Double haul handles Yes Yes Price Around 400$ Around 349$ The Tundra 65 and 45 are similar in terms of functions and features; they are only different in size and weight. The former has a larger capacity, so it is suitable for large group gatherings, family parties, or people who want to go on long trips. Dedicated campers that need room to keep their food and drink would find this cooler the perfect fit for their needs. The latter is designed for anyone who doesnt plan to stay out for more than two days. If youre having a weekend camping trip and only bringing a small amount of food and drinks, this cooler would be an ideal choice. Also, if you do not drive a big car, then the Tundra 45 might be a better option than the Tundra 65. Alternatives #1 - YETI Tundra 35 - A lighter option with the same design and construction You have been a fan of YETI coolers, and youre planning a trip with your friends in the next few weeks, but you have not decided on which version you should go with. The YETI Tundra 65 seems to be a perfect fit except for its weight. Youll probably be walking long distances, and carrying a bulky ice chest doesnt sound like a good idea. If this sounds like you, then go for the smaller version in the Tundra family. The YETI Tundra 35 comes with the same outstanding features that you will find in its 65-quart sibling but in a more compact shape and size. You will have a smaller capacity, but you can rest assured that the durability and usability are exactly the same. YETI Tundra 35 Via: Amazon #2 - YETI Tundra Haul - A portable cooler with wheels Many outdoor adventurers choose a wheeled icebox for their mobility. Imagine carrying a heavy cooler through tough terrains and suffering from back pain afterwards. While rolling coolers are just as varied in size, shape, and appearance as their non-wheeled counterparts, choosing a reliable model can be a challenging task. YETI Tundra Haul Via: Amazon YETI Tundra product line has gained customers trust for years. The Tundra Haul is the only wheeled model of this Minnesota-based cooler manufacturer. With a capacity of 55 quarts (~13.8 gallons), it can keep 45 cans of beer cold for up to one week. The Tundra Haul is packed with all of the technical aspects and innovative features of the YETI Tundra series, except for the wheels. That said, YETI engineers had to sacrifice particular space on the inside of the cooler to make room for the wheels. This design ensures that users can have both the portability and aesthetic in a minimalist-style rolling cooler. RELATED: How To Pack A Cooler - Everything You Need To Know On Using Your Cooler For Camping You might be wondering if this coolers wheels are sturdy enough to go through the most challenging trails. The YETI Tundra Haul has NeverFlat wheels. They are puncture-resistant wheels with solid, single-piece tire construction, allowing users to pull it along hard rocky surfaces with little effort. Better yet, its strong-arm handle is made from durable welded aluminum, giving you comfortable grips no matter where you pull it to. #3 - Igloo 5-gallon heavy-duty beverage cooler - A versatile cooler to help you save on plastic bottles If youre keen on a compact and affordable roller cooler for family use, then this Igloo 5 gallon is just what you need. Made from BPA-free plastic, this 5.5 lbs Igloo ice box has strong wheels and collapsible handle, allowing you to pull it to your camping sites with ease. Igloo 5 gallon beverage cooler Via: Amazon If youre keen on a compact and affordable rolling cooler for family use, then this Igloo 5-gallon is just what you need. Made from BPA-free plastic, this 5.5 lbs Igloo icebox has strong wheels and a collapsible handle, allowing you to pull it to your camping sites with ease. Conclusion Even though the YETI Tundra 65 cooler is a bit expensive, it is worth the investment for its high performance. It is a durable, heavy-duty cooler made for outdoor enthusiasts. This well-made ice chest is virtually indestructible thanks to the innovative rotomolded construction. Its permafrost insulation lets users keep their perishables cold for up to one week. I hope our YETI Tundra 65 review has provided you with useful information to make a well-informed decision. If youre interested in a lighter YETI cooler, the YETI Tundra 35 can be an ideal alternative as it is also well made with all of the required standards of the YETI Tundra series, but in a more compact design. However, if you are looking for a model with better mobility but similar capacity as the Tundra 65, the YETI Tundra Haul is worth your consideration. The YETI Tundra Haul briefly summed up all of the most essential information about the only wheeled cooler option from YETI. Assessing Officer Circle (International Taxation) Vs Nestle SA (Supreme Court) Introduction: The recent Supreme Court judgment in Assessing Officer Circle (International Taxation) 2(2)(2) New Delhi Vs Nestle Sa has shed light on the necessity and mandatory condition of a notification under Section 90(1) for a court, authority, or tribunal to give effect to a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) or any protocol altering its terms. In this article, well delve into the key aspects of this ruling and its implications. The Case Background: The case revolved around the interpretation of the Most Favored Nation (MFN) clause in DTAA. Specifically, it addressed whether the MFN clause should be automatically enforced or if it requires a separate notification. The leading precedent in this matter was Steria India Ltd Vs CIT [(2016) 386 ITR 390 (Del)]. Sterias Argument: Steria argued that clause 7 of the Protocol in the Indo-French DTAA did not necessitate a separate notification and should be immediately operational. The Authority for Advance Rulings (AAR) did not concur with this interpretation initially. However, Sterias position found favor when it sought recourse through a writ petition before the High Court. The High Court ruled that a protocol is an integral part of the treaty and doesnt require a separate notification for the MFN clauses application. The ASGs Argument: The learned Additional Solicitor General (ASG) contended that treaties are unenforceable without enabling parliamentary legislation. Citing Section 90, the ASG emphasized the necessity of notification for any treaty or conventions effect, invoking the Gramophone India and Azadi Bachao judgments as supporting references. Supreme Courts Conclusion: The Honble Supreme Court, after thorough examination, affirmed that treaties and protocols do not automatically confer rights upon the parties upon Indias entry into them. They emphasized that appropriate notifications under Section 90(1) are essential. The key takeaways from the judgment are: (a) A Section 90(1) notification is necessary and a mandatory condition for courts, authorities, or tribunals to enforce a DTAA or any protocol modifying its terms, thereby altering existing provisions of law. (b) The mere existence of an MFN clause in a DTAA or protocol does not automatically require extending the same benefit to another nation that entered into a DTAA with India. In such cases, a separate notification under Section 90 is imperative. (c) The interpretation of the term is is of present significance. Therefore, to claim the benefit of a same treatment clause based on the entry of a DTAA with India, the relevant date is the DTAAs entry into force with India, not any subsequent date when the other nation becomes an OECD member. Conclusion: The Supreme Courts judgment in AO Vs Nestle SA underscores the significance of a Section 90(1) notification in the enforcement of DTAA and its protocols. It emphasizes the need for clarity and a strict legal process to ensure that international tax agreements are adhered to. This ruling has far-reaching implications for international taxation in India, highlighting the importance of proper legal procedures and notifications in international agreements. It is essential for taxpayers, authorities, and legal professionals to take note of this landmark judgment and ensure compliance with the provisions of Section 90(1) to avoid any legal complications related to DTAA enforcement. FULL TEXT OF THE SUPREME COURT JUDGMENT/ORDER 1. The present batch of appeals arise from decisions of the Delhi High Court involving interpretation of the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) clause contained in various Indian treaties with countries that are members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (hereafter OECD). This clause provides for lowering of rate of taxation at source on dividends, interest, royalties or fees for technical services (hereafter FTS) as the case may be, or restriction of scope of royalty/FTS in the treaty, similar to concession given to another OECD country subsequently. The bilateral treaties in question are between India and Netherlands, France, and Switzerland, respectively. Broadly, the issues arising are whether there is any right to invoke the MFN clause when the third country with which India has entered into a Double Tax Avoidance Agreement (hereafter DTAA) was not an OECD member yet (at the time of entering into such DTAA); and secondly whether the MFN clause is to be given effect to automatically or if it is to only come into effect after a notification is issued. I. Facts 2. One of the first judgments1 challenged, in this batch of appeals by special leave, relates to Steria India. Before the Authority for Advance Ruling (AAR), Steria contended that having regard to Clause 7 of the Protocol to the India-France DTAA the more restrictive definition of the expression fees for technical services appearing in the India-UK DTAA, must be read as forming part of the India-France DTAA as well. The AAR, by the impugned order, disagreed with Steria. It ruled that the Protocol could not be treated as forming part of the DTAA itself. It further held that restrictions imposed by the Protocol were only to limit the taxation at source for the specific items mentioned therein; the restriction was only on the rates. Further, the make available clause found in the India-UK DTAA could not be read into the expression fee for technical services occurring in the India-France DTAA unless there was a notification under Section 90 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 issued by the Union Government to incorporate the more restrictive provisions of the India-UK DTAA into the India-France DTAA. In other words, Sterias plea that Clause 7 of the Protocol did not require any separate notification and could straightway be operationalised, was not accepted by the AAR. Upon challenge in a writ petition before the High Court, this was reversed; the court accepted Sterias contention, and held that a Protocol is considered as part of the treaty itself and does not have to be separately notified for the purposes of application of the MFN clause. Therefore, in Stenio, the question for the interpretation of the MFN clause in the Protocol to the India-France DTAA, was whether a separate notification by the Union was required for application of the MFN clause. The AAR had concluded that even though the conditions set out in the MFN clause were satisfied, the benefit could not be availed unless there was a specific notification by the Government of India effectuating the benefit under the MFN clause, which the High Court reversed. 3. The next set of facts, relate to the India-Netherlands DTAA which was entered into on 21.01.1989, and notified on 27.03.1989. This DTAA was amended by a subsequent notification dated 30.08.1999. The respondent assessees (writ petitioners before the High Court2) were Concentrix Services Netherlands BV, and Optum Global Solutions International BV, and their Indian counterparts (in which the former held 99.99% share respectively) which remitted dividends. In 2020, Concentrix India and Optum India each applied under Section 197 of the Act in the prescribed form, seeking a certificate that authorized them to deduct withholding tax at a lower rate of 5% in consonance with the subject DTAA read with the Protocol. In both cases, certificates were issued on 16.09.2020 and 04.01.2021 respectively by which the stipulated withholding tax rate was shown as 10%. In both cases, the certificates were valid till 30.03.2021. The validity period of the certificates came to an end on 31.03.2021 in both cases. By communication dated 17.09.2020, Concentrix, through its accountants, sought permission of respondents to inspect the files as well as copies of order sheet(s) which concerned processing of its application preferred under Section 197 of the Act. It also sought reasons why the certificate did not grant the withholding rate at 5%. The respondent sought to justify its certificate on 01.10.2020, and applied seeking reasons from the appellant (hereafter the revenue). A similar request was made by Optum Netherlands; the revenue furnished reasons to justify the withholding tax rate which was pegged at 10% by its communication dated 22.01.2021. Feeling aggrieved, both Concentrix Ne and Optum Ne approached the Delhi High Court, in proceedings under Article 226 of the Constitution. 4. In both cases, the assessees contended that regard being had to the phraseology of the DTAA and the subsequent Protocol, the relevant event relied upon the provisions of the DTAA and the Protocol, obliged the revenue to extend the lower rate of 5%. It was urged that since India had entered into DTAAs with other countries which were members of OECD, the lower rate or the restricted scope in the DTAA executed between India and such a country automatically applied to the India-Netherlands DTAA. This was based on the provision made in the preface of the Protocol which inter alia stated that the Protocol shall form part an integral part of the Convention i.e., the subject DTAA. It was argued that application of provisions of the DTAA (which followed subsequent to the India-Netherlands DTAA), contrary to the revenues stand, no fresh notification was required. In support, reliance was placed upon the rulings in Court in Steria (India) Ltd. v. Commissioner of Income-Tax3, the judgment of the Karnataka High Court in Apollo Tyres Ltd. v. Commissioner of Income Tax, International Taxation,4 and of another judgment of the Delhi High Court in EPCOS Electronic Components S.A. v. Union of India5. 5. By the impugned judgment, the Delhi High Court, allowed the writ petitions, inter alia, reasoning that: 15. A bare perusal of Clause IV (2) shows that it incorporates the principle of parity between the subject DTAA and the Conventions/DTAAs executed thereafter qua the rate of withholding tax or the scope of the Conventions in respect of items of income concerning dividends, interest, royalties, fees for technical services, or payments for use of equipment [in short subject remittances]. 16. However, the principle of parity kicks-in, only if the following conditions are fulfilled: i. First, the third State with whom India enters into a Convention/DTAA should be a member of the OECD. ii. Second, India should have, in its Convention/DTAA, executed with the third State, limited its rate of withholding tax, on subject remittances, at a rate lower or a scope more restricted, than the rate or scope provided in the subject Convention/DTAA. 17. Once the aforementioned conditions are fulfilled, then, from the date on which the Convention/DTAA between India and a third State comes into force, the same rate of withholding tax or scope as provided in the Convention/DTAA executed between India and the third State would necessarily have to apply to the subject DTAA. 17.1. Therefore, the argument advanced on behalf of the revenue, that the beneficial provisions contained in the Conventions/DTAAs, executed both prior to or after the coming into force of the subject DTAA, i.e., 21.01.1989, could not be made applicable to the recipients of remittances covered under the subject DTAA even though the concerned third State was a member of the OECD is, to our minds, completely misconceived and contrary to the plain terms of Clause IV (2) of the protocol appended to the subject DTAA. 17.2. Although it must be said in favour of the revenue, the construct of Clause IV (2) is such that in certain cases there could be a hiatus between the dates on which the Convention/DTAA is executed between India and the third State and the date when such third State becomes a member of OECD. The limit on the lower rate of tax or the scope more restricted contained in the Convention/DTAA executed between India and the third State can only apply when the third State fulfils the attribute of being a member of the OECD. 17.3. We must point out that a lot of emphases is laid on behalf of the revenue on the word is mentioned in the following part of Clause IV (2) in the context of the aforementioned third States with which India has entered into Conventions/DTAAs after the execution of the subject DTAA which is a member of the OECD. 17.4. In our view, the word is describes a state of affairs that should exist not necessarily at the time when the subject DTAA was executed but when a request is made by the taxpayer or deductee for issuance of a lower rate withholding tax certificate under Section 197 of the Act. The word is- is both autological and heterological. An autological word is one that expresses the property that it possesses. Opposite of that is a heterological2 word, i.e., it does not describe itself. The examples of autological words are expressions such as English, Noun, or Word. Heterological words as indicated above are those which do not describe themselves or have the potential of developing into several forms or supporting multiple interpretations. An example of a heterological word is the word long. The word long does not describe itself because it is not a long word. 17.5. Therefore, bearing the aforesaid in mind, the best interpretative tool that can be employed to glean the intent of the Contracting States in framing Clause IV (2) of the protocol would be as to how the other contracting State [i.e., the Netherlands] has interpreted the provision. The judgment then considered the executive decree issued by Netherlands, pursuant to the Protocol, as a method of interpretation of how the event, i.e. entry of another country into OECD, which had a previous DTAA with India (or where a country which was in OECD and subsequently entered into DTAA with India) had to be dealt with. 6. The judgment in Concentrix was followed subsequently, in the case of Nestle SA v. Assessing Officer Circle (International Taxation)6 which is also under challenge. In the revenues appeals7 in Nestle what was considered by the Delhi High Court, were provisions of the India-Switzerland DTAA and its three protocols. The other judgments impugned before this court have similar facts, and the decisions by the High Court have followed the position laid out in Steria and Concentrix. II. Arguments of parties A. Revenues contentions 7. The revenue argues, through the Additional Solicitor General, Shri N. Venkatraman (hereafter ASG) that the impugned judgments are unsustainable. The revenue points out that under the Indian Constitution, especially by operation of Articles 253 (read with Entries 13, 14 and 15 of List I of the Seventh Schedule) of the Constitution of India, Parliament has exclusive power to legislate in respect of any treaty or convention, entered into by India, with any other nation; such treaty can only be entered into in exercise of executive power of the Union. It was urged that without Parliamentary legislation, such treaties are unenforceable, having regard to the express terms of Article 2538 which clothe Parliament alone with the power to make laws notwithstanding other provisions in that chapter- which delineates and distributes legislative power between the Union and States. Counsel submitted that India follows the dualist practise, which means that international treaties and conventions are not, upon their ratification, automatically assimilated into municipal law (i.e. the national legal system) but would require enabling legislation. This is in contrast to those countries which are monist, wherein the treaty provisions are enforceable like municipal law, and are to be given equal weight by courts. 8. The ASG relied upon the decisions in Gramaphone Co. of India Ltd v. Birendra Bahadur Pandey & Ors.9 and Union of India (UOI) & Ors. v. Azadi Bachao Andolan & Ors.10 to urge that the position in India is entrenched that without enabling legislation, any convention or event flowing from a convention, as in creation of rights and liabilities of third parties to conventions or treaties, do not operate on their own, and needs an intervening action by the Union, giving effect to such obligation. 9. The ASG relied on Section 90 which requires the issuance of a notification, to give effect to any treaty or convention. It is argued that in the absence of any law, mere entering into a treaty or convention or protocol cannot give rise to any right under the taxation laws having regard to the structure of Section 90. Therefore, in the present case, the trigger to the MFN clause can occur at a later point in time when India enters into a treaty or convention with other nations which happens to be a member of the OECD at the time it enters into treaty or convention with India and if the DTAA with such country provides for taxation at rate lower than or benefit over and above conferred upon the parties of the existing DTAA between India and the other nation. However, it would still require issuance of a notification to give effect to such consequence. The incident involved in the present case i.e., the mere fact that India entered into DTAAs with Slovenia, Lithuania, and Columbia at certain points in time and that some of them gained membership of OECD, ipso facto could not lead to claims by the respondents assessees that similar or identical treatment had to be extended to them as tax residents of Netherlands, France, and Switzerland respectively. 10. The learned ASG pointed out to the treaty practice between India and each of the three countries (France, Netherlands and Switzerland). He also referred to the fact that after Slovenia had entered OECD (in 2010) a Protocol has been signed between India and France. This Protocol was notified sometime in 2012. This, it was argued, is a clear pointer to the fact that entering into membership of OECD per se does not result in automatic grants of benefits to a country which had entered into DTAA with India because the later Protocol with France and the consequent notification omitted to extend any benefit on the basis that Slovenia had entered OECD membership in 2010. 11. The learned ASG likewise pointed out that the Protocol executed between India and Netherlands was notified on 30.08.1999. The plain reading of that notification shows that the Protocol itself was triggered by the benefit granted to the United States with which India entered into a DTAA in 1990; Germany with which India entered into a DTAA in 1996; Sweden with which India entered into a DTAA in 1997 and the U.K. with which India entered into a DTAA in 1993. The notification issued on 30.08.1999 (notifying the Protocol between India and Netherlands), conferred benefits based upon the concessions given to different countries, with effect from different dates depending on the nature of the benefits, rate of tax withholding, definition etc.; this too, it is argued, showed that the triggering event itself (here, mere entering into DTAA with a country which was or became a member of the OECD) did not result in grant of any benefit or advantage to Netherlands. It was after bilateral negotiations that the Protocol was entered into, and yet later a notification under Section 90 was issued, bringing it into effect. 12. These practices were in consonance with the mandate and requirements of Section 90. The learned ASG also submitted that without the benefit of any notification, any tax administrator, an Assessing Officer or revenue authority would find it hard to verify the claim of any assessee. The learned ASG argued that the impugned order is erroneous in as much as it relied upon executive orders and decrees issued by the Swiss, Dutch and French authorities; such executive decrees or orders could not possibly bind Indian Revenue Authorities and had in fact been issued unilaterally. They were bound to be implemented by the concerned revenue authorities in Netherlands, Switzerland and France, which in fact was done. The judgment in Concentrix relied heavily upon such orders or decrees, and to the extent is unsustainable. 13. The learned ASG also highlighted that if the impugned judgment is left undisturbed the interpretation by it as well as the judgments which followed it, would preclude enquiry into whether any DTAA or international instrument was in fact assimilated in municipal law under Section 90 or any like provision. 14. Learned counsel highlighted that in the case of Nestle in fact, a plain and straightforward review of the first and second protocols (of the India-Switzerland DTAA) demonstrates that without notification in accordance with Indian law, they could not have applied which was in fact, the occasion for the notifications dated 07.02.2001 and 27.02.2001 respectively. Counsel particularly highlighted the concerned provision, i.e. Section 90 (1) of the Act. 15. The learned ASG cited Ram Jethmalani v. Union of India11, referring to the General Rule on Interpretation of Vienna Convention on Law of Treaties, 1961 (hereafter VCLT), stated that though India is not a party to the VCLT, the convention contains many principles of customary international law and the principle of interpretation in Article 31 provides a broad guideline as to what should be an appropriate manner of interpreting a treaty in the Indian context as well. This court also observed that the broad principle of interpretation, with respect to treaties, and provisions therein, would be that ordinary meaning of words be given effect to, unless the context requires otherwise. That such treaties are drafted by diplomats, and not lawyers, also implies that care has to be taken to not render any word, phrase, or sentence redundant, especially where rendering of such word, phrase, or sentence redundant would lead to a manifestly absurd situation, particularly from a constitutional perspective. This principle of interpretation was applied by the Andhra Pradesh High Court in the case of Sanofi Pasteur Holding SA v. Department of Revenue12. 16. It was argued thus, that a treaty should be interpreted ordinarily, and the ordinary meaning of the words be given effect to apart from ensuring that the interpretation should not render any word, phrase, or sentence redundant. The grammatical and literal meaning of the India-Netherlands MFN clause reveals that the benefit of reduced rate mentioned therein would be available only in case of such subsequent Indian treaties wherein the other State is an OECD member as on the date of the treaty entering into force. Any other interpretation would render the words then as from the date on which the relevant Indian Convention or Agreement enters into force redundant or otiose, which is not permissible as per the above cited decisions of this court. 17. Responding to the linguistic interpretation of is by the impugned judgments, it is urged that the assessees had cited Article 10 and other Articles of the DTAAs to advance a view that is signifies the time when the provisions of treaty are to be applied. They have also relied on dynamic interpretation of Article 3(2) which allows taking into account the definition in domestic law when a particular term is not defined in the DTAA. The ASG urges that such arguments ignore the discussion which clearly states that the word is can have present, past, or future meaning depending on the context in which it is used. In fact, Article 3(2) of the DTAAs also gives prominence to the context, as it clearly talks about meaning of a treaty term in accordance with domestic tax law at the time of applying the tax treaty unless the context otherwise requires. Counsel contends that the MFN clause clearly demonstrates that the other country is required to be an OECD member as on the date of the signing of the treaty and not on any future date. Thus, when Slovenia, Lithuania, or Columbia entered into respective DTAAs with India, they had to have been members of OECD at that time, for Netherlands, France, and Switzerland to claim parity of treatment. 18. It was lastly argued that the notifications, which amended existing DTAAs in respect of the three countries, reveal two aspects: one, that they were issued because of benefits granted to countries, other than Netherlands, France and Switzerland; two, that such subsequent notifications were triggered by the lowering of rate, or treatment of certain kinds of income (dividends, interest and royalties and fee for technical services) and their definitions. These notifications were preceded by negotiations, communications and letters, exchanged between India and the other country. In many cases, the amending notification granted one benefit, while denying other benefits (granted to other, third countries, whose DTAAs conferred such benefits after Netherlands or France or Switzerlands DTAAs were entered into). This clearly showed that such notifications were necessary, and that there could not be any automatic applicability of such benefits given to other OECD members. B. Contentions of the assessees/Respondents 19. Poros Kaka, Mr. P. Chidambaram, Mr. S. Ganesh and Mr. Percy Pardiwala, learned senior counsel; Mr. Lovkesh Sawhney, and Mr. Mukesh Bhutani, learned counsel, appeared for the respondent assessees. It was submitted that when the DTAA and the Protocols including the MFN clause contained in the concerned Article of the Protocol was already notified under section 90(1) and it has come into force, there is further no legal requirement to notify any subsequent amendment to the DTAA which becomes operative automatically as a consequence of the trigger of the MFN clause to the DTAA. Counsel urged that Section 90 only requires notification of a treaty or protocol, and does not mandate each clause of such agreement to be further notified separately. A plain reading of Section 90 of the Act demonstrates that it does not require each article or paragraph thereof of an already notified agreement to be further notified separately if the amendment is as a consequence of a self-operative MFN clause. Undoubtedly if the amendment is as a consequence of a bilateral negotiation, then, a separate notification is required. To ascertain if any such requirement exists or otherwise, one will have to refer to the respective clauses itself. It is urged that the subject MFN clause in the Protocol to India-Netherlands DTAA has no such requirement. 20. The contrast between Indias DTAAs with Netherlands and Switzerland, is that the relevant MFN clause in the India-Switzerland DTAA originally required initiation of negotiation, to apply the beneficial provision agreed with other OECD member. This was repealed by notification No. SO 2903(E), dated 27-12-2011 and both India-Switzerland agreed on the present MFN clause which does not require negotiation to give the benefit of reduced rate of tax, and it was argued applies automatically just like the India-Netherlands MFN. Counsel also highlighted that the MFN Clause in the Protocol to the India-Finland DTAA also clearly requires India to immediately inform the Finland authorities and notify such beneficial provision whenever the MFN clause gets triggered. Counsel also referred the MFN clause in the Protocol to the India-Philippines DTAA, to say that that too clearly requires the countries to inform each other and review the provisions with a view to extend the beneficial provisions. 21. Learned counsel submitted that the difference in language, is unimportant, because Article 7(3) of the India-Netherlands DTAA shows that treaty partners are same; yet the instrument uses different language to denote the same terms. Article 7(3) specifically notes that where the expense limit is relaxed for computing the profits attributable to the permanent establishment in any other convention, the competent authority of one state would notify such competent authority of the other state, and at the request of that competent authority which is notified, the terms of the treaty shall be amended by Protocol to reflect such beneficial terms. Naturally, once that amendment is agreed pursuant to bilateral negotiations, it has to be notified. This language, it is pointed out, is absent in the MFN clause. 22. There is no requirement in the subject MFN clause to issue any notification to bring into force the beneficial provisions from subsequent DTAAs or by way of a notified protocol or negotiation. The MFN clause simply states that the reduced rate as extended to an OECD country shall also apply under this current convention and, hence, such clause is automatic in operation. The use of different language in the DTAA by the two contracting states is indicative of their intent and cannot be disregarded whilst interpreting their terms. Likewise, in the case of the India-Switzerland DTAA, the nature of the existing MFN clause is such that no negotiation is needed but for change in scope, for which requirement for negotiation has still been retained by the treaty partners. Obviously, these differences in the language of the clauses bear significance. 23. This court was shown the observations of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) Mumbai in SCA Hygiene Products AB v. DCIT13, and the ITAT Delhi decision in Mitsubishi Electric India Pvt Ltd v Commissioner of Income Tax 14 where the tribunal has noted the difference in triggers of the MFN clause such as one which is (a) automatic (India-Sweden) (b) requiring notifying authority of other state (India-Philippines) (c) requiring negotiation. It was urged that the tribunal adopted the same interpretation as was done in the judgment impugned. It was submitted also, that the Karnataka High Court in Apollo Tyres Ltd. (supra) had similarly considered the same Protocol to the India-Netherlands DTAA; which as the revenue did not challenge had, attained finality. 24. The assessees refute the revenues argument that treaties with other OECD countries did not have a triggering consequence of the MFN clauses with the three countries in the present case. On the revenues reference to the unilateral notification dated 30.08.1999, where the restricted scope of FTS is only given by India w.e.f. 01.04.1997, whereas the limited scope of FTS was agreed in the India-USA DTAA which came into force from 18.12.1990 it is urged that this notification is unilateral and not a bilateral amendment by both states. The assessees highlight, in this regard that the notification nowhere clarifies that both states had agreed to its contents. In contrast Notification No. GSR 382(E)/ Notification No.2/2013 dated 14.1.2013 which notified the Protocol to India-Netherlands dated 10.5.2012 bilaterally amending the DTAA and states India and Netherlands Desiring to conclude a Protocol (hereinafter referred to as Amending Protocol) to amend the Convention.have agreed as follows 25. It is submitted that every bilateral amendment to treaty always has a date of entry into force agreed by both states. But the said Notification dated 30.08.1999 does not have one. Contrast this with the 2012 bilateral amendment made in the India-Netherlands DTAA by the Protocol which entered into force on 02.11.2012 and was notified vide Notification No. 2/2013. 26. The purpose of this unilateral notification by India is clear from the Dutch communication dated 18.11.1999 which states that messages were exchanged and there was a difference of understanding between Indian and Dutch authorities on the limited aspect as to whether the MFN clause would be applicable from the date of entry into force of the beneficial DTAA, or w.e.f. 1st April of the following fiscal year, since India follows the financial year (April-March) pattern. This limited aspect was agreed by the Dutch authorities. It is argued that no such reservation was noted by India for MFN in clause IV of Protocol. 27. Counsel submit that the absence of a unilateral notification which may have in the past been issued as an administrative practice cannot override the clear language of an MFN clause which provides for automatic application. The assessees refer to Union of India of India v. Agricas LLP15, which held that the State cannot breach a treaty to which it is a party by referring to domestic law-be it legislative, executive, or judicial decision. The decision in Engineering Analysis Centre of Excellence P. Ltd. v. CIT16 applied the principle in Director of Income Tax v New Skies Satellite BV17 wherein the Delhi High Court held that mere executive position cannot alter the law under the DTAA. 28. Learned senior counsel submit that Netherlands position has been clear as early as from 1998. The Dutch decree of 22.06.1998 issued by the Secretary of Finance clarifies that the MFN clause in Clause IV of Protocol is automatic; for every favourable provision as a consequence of a DTAA with another OECD country, Netherlands was of the view that the amendment would apply with effect from date of entry into force of that relevant convention. Similarly, the decree by Netherlands on 28.02.2012 maintained that beneficial provision of the USA-DTAA on restricted scope of FTS should apply with effect from 01-04-1991 (1st April of the fiscal year following the date of entry into force of the India-USA DTAA). 29. Counsel argue that the revenues arguments are unfounded because even in Netherlands, a notification is required for MFN benefits to extend to the India-Netherlands DTAA. These decrees of 1998, 1999 and 2012 have been issued by executive-decree states in order to avoid ambiguity. Issuing such decrees are not akin to notifications statutorily required to give effect to automatic amendments but just represents the understanding of the Dutch authorities. Under Netherlands law to give effect to a DTAA, parliamentary approval under Article 91 of the Netherlands Constitution is required. The process is that it has to be signed by the government, after which it has to be approved by both houses of Parliament and then, ratified. After such approval and ratification, nothing remains, and consequently, formal decrees follow. Similar arguments were advanced in respect of French orders and Swiss decrees and orders, which gave effect to the DTAAs and Protocols. It is highlighted that the entry of the three countries: Lithuania, Slovenia, and Colombia, into OECD were duly noted in subsequent orders and given effect to, wherever necessary. 30. Next, the assessees dealt with the argument that Lithuania, Columbia, etc. were not OECD members at the time of signing of the India-Netherlands DTAA, or the India-Switzerland Protocols in question, or the India-France DTAA and Protocol. The following chart is extracted, from the assessees submissions: Country DTAA signed DTAA Entry into force Date Notified OECD Members Dividend Tax Art. 10 Slovenia 13.01.2003 (pg.512 of revenues Compilation- Vol. III, pdf pg.16) 17.02.2005 (pg.501 of revenues compilation- Vol. III), pdf pg.5) 31.05.2005 (pg.501 of revenues Compilation- Vol. III, pdf pg.5) 21.07.201 0 5% Art 10(2)(a) has 10% beneficial ownership requirement (pg.505 of revenues Compilation-Vol. III, pdf pg.9) Lithuania 26.07.2011 (pg.534 of revenues Compilation- Vol. III), pdf pg.38 10.07.2012 (pg.534 of revenues Compilation- Vol. III, pdf pg.38) 25.07.2012 (pg.534 of revenues Compilation- Vol. III, pdf pg.38) 05.07.2018 5% Art 10(2)(a) has 10% beneficial ownership requirement (pg.538 of revenues compilation-Vol. III, pdf pg.42) Columbia 13.05.2011 (pg.90 Assessees Common Comp.-Vol. VI, pdf pg.93) 07.07.2014 (pg.90 Assessees Common Comp.-Vol. VI, pdf pg.93) 23.09.2014 (pg.90 Assessees Common Comp.-Vol. VI, pdf pg.93) 28.04.2020 5% Art 10(2) (pg.91 Assessees Common Comp.-Vol. VI, pdf pg.94) 31. Learned counsel argued that the assessees are entitled to the benefit of the lower tax rate of 5% provided for in the DTAAs between India and Lithuania, Slovenia, and Colombia respectively, by relying on the MFN clause in the treaty/protocol to the India-Netherlands, India-Switzerland and India-France DTAAs in terms of which after the signing of the DTAA with these countries (and other protocols), if India entered into a DTAA with an OECD member where India has agreed for a rate of tax on dividend lower than the rate provided for in each of the DTAAs with Netherlands, Switzerland and France respectively, such lower rate also applies to those DTAAs. It is urged that the MFN clauses in the three DTAAs and their protocols clearly oblige Indian revenue officers to grant the benefit that is given to countries which subsequently entered into DTAAs with India, and were given favourable benefits, upon their entry into OECD. 32. On the OECD membership issue, it was argued that the revenues only reason in the order denying the applicability of the lower rate of withholding tax at 5% which was challenged by the assessee in the relevant impugned decision, was that the benefit of the MFN clause cannot be given as Lithuania, Columbia, etc, were not OECD members at the time of signing of the India-Netherlands DTAA. OECD membership requirement for the third country at the time of signing of its own DTAA was not the reason given for rejection in the order impugned before the High Court. 33. Counsel submitted that the word is appearing in Article 10(1) of the India-Netherlands DTAA is in fact a complete answer to the revenues objection that Slovenia/Lithuania/Columbia ought to be members of OECD both at the time of signing of the India-Netherlands DTAA or at the time of execution of their own DTAA, and also at the time claim for lowering withholding by the assessee is made. Hence, the revenue is alluding that is a member of OECD appearing in the MFN clause means membership of OECD is a continuous requirement. Thus, if the argument, of the revenue that the phrase is a member of OECD is literally interpreted, it would mean Slovenia, Lithuania, and Columbia ought to be members of the OECD at the time of signing of India-Netherlands DTAA, at the time of execution of their own DTAA, and also the time when the assessee invokes the MFN clause is to be accepted; then, the consequence would be that while interpreting Article 10(1) of India-Netherlands DTAA which also uses the same word is (is a resident) the same meaning ought to be given. However, it is undisputed that while claiming the benefit of Article 10, the assessee needs to be a resident of India/Netherlands only for the year in which the benefit of Article 10 is sought by an assessee. Therefore, when for Article 10, is does not postulate continuous requirement of residence, the same word is when it appears in the MFN clause can only mean that Slovenia etc. need to be OECD members only when the benefit of the MFN clause is invoked. 34. Learned senior counsel appearing for Nestle argued in addition, that the third Protocol, between India and the Swiss Confederation18, by Article 11(5) required that if India entered into agreement with another OECD country, providing for lower rate of taxation on dividends, interest and royalties at FTS, the same lower rate of taxation was to be given to Swiss tax entities. 19 It relies on the fact that India and Lithuania-DTAA was signed on 26.07.2011; the date of its notification was 25.07.2012. Lithuania became an OECD member on 05.07.2018. Likewise, the India-Colombia DTAA was signed on 13.05.2011 and notified on 23.09.2014; Colombia entered OECD on 28.04.2020. These two DTAAs provided lower rates of taxation, as compared with the India-Switzerland DTAA. It was argued that the purpose of amending the relevant provisions of the DTAA, by the third Protocol was to automatically provide the same treatment to Switzerland; counsel relies on the expression that the lower rate given to the later OECD member by India shall also apply between both Contracting States under this Agreement as from the date on which such Convention, Agreement or Protocol enters into force. Counsel contrasts this with similar provisions in the third Protocol. The latter require the contracting states to enter into negotiations. Nestle underlines that the first and second Protocol, were worded differently. Earlier, in respect of the same event, i.e. Indias entering into an agreement with another contracting state, granting lower rate of tax, parties had to enter into negotiations (shall enter into negotiations without undue delay). It was emphasized that the object of changing the terminology in the third Protocol, was to assure to Swiss entities, that the treatment extended to entities of the other state, automatically afforded a lower rate of taxation. 35. Learned senior counsel also referred to the opinions of Professor Dr. Robert J Dannon and Prof. Dr. Stef Van Weeghel on the history of treaty provisions and the applicable rules of interpretation, to support the assessees arguments. III. Relevant statutory provisions 36. Section 9020 of the Income Tax Act reads as follows: 90. Agreement with foreign countries or specified territories. 1 (1) The Central Government may enter into an agreement with the Government of any country outside India or specified territory outside India (a) for the granting of relief in respect of (i) income on which have been paid both income-tax under this Act and income-tax in that country or specified territory, as the case may be, or (ii) income-tax chargeable under this Act and under the corresponding law in force in that country or specified territory, as the case may be, to promote mutual economic relations, trade and investment, or (b) for the avoidance of double taxation of income under this Act and under the corresponding law in force in that country or specified territory, as the case may be, or (c) for exchange of information for the prevention of evasion or avoidance of income-tax chargeable under this Act or under the corresponding law in force in that country or specified territory, as the case may be, or investigation of cases of such evasion or avoidance, or (d) for recovery of income-tax under this Act and under the corresponding law in force in that country or specified territory, as the case may be, and may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make such provisions as may be necessary for implementing the agreement. (2) Where the Central Government has entered into an agreement with the Government of any country outside India or specified territory outside India, as the case may be, under sub-section (1) for granting relief of tax, or as the case may be, avoidance of double taxation, then, in relation to the assessee to whom such agreement applies, the provisions of this Act shall apply to the extent they are more beneficial to that assessee. (2A) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2), the provisions of Chapter X A of the Act shall apply to the assessee even if such provisions are not beneficial to him. (3) Any term used but not defined in this Act or in the agreement referred to in sub-section (1) shall, unless the context otherwise requires, and is not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act or the agreement, have the same meaning as assigned to it in the notification issued by the Central Government in the Official Gazette in this behalf. (4) An assessee, not being a resident, to whom an agreement referred to in subsection (1) applies, shall not be entitled to claim any relief under such agreement unless 4 a certificate of his being a resident in any country outside India or specified territory outside India, as the case may be, is obtained by him from the Government of that country or specified territory. (5) The assessee referred to in sub-section (4) shall also provide such other documents and information, as may be prescribed. Explanation 1.- For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that the charge of tax in respect of a foreign company at a rate higher than the rate at which a domestic company is chargeable, shall not be regarded as less favourable charge or levy of tax in respect of such foreign company. Explanation 2.For the purposes of this section, specified territory means any area outside India which may be notified as such by the Central Government. Explanation 3.For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that where any term is used in any agreement entered into under sub-section (1) and not defined under the said agreement or the Act, but is assigned a meaning to it in the notification issued under sub-section (3) and the notification issued thereunder being in force, then, the meaning assigned to such term shall be deemed to have effect from the date on which the said agreement came into force. Explanation 4.For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that where any term used in an agreement entered into under sub-section (1) is defined under the said agreement, the said term shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in the agreement; and where the term is not defined in the said agreement, but defined in the Act, it shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in the Act and explanation, if any, given to it by the Central Government. 37. The relevant extracts of the DTAAs and the MFN clause contained within them, are extracted in Part IV.C below. IV. Analysis A. General 38. Treaty making power vests exclusively with the Union, per Article 253 of the Constitution, and the relative entries in the Union List (List I, VIIth Schedule). Entering into a treaty is an attribute of sovereignty, and the power to do vests solely in the Union executive as opposed to the states, or the shared (concurrent) domain within the distribution of administrative powers under the Constitution; thus, it can be traced to Article 73 of the Constitution. The structure and phraseology of Article 253 leaves one in no doubt, that it is when a treaty is enacted by law, or enabled through legislation, which assimilates it, that such provisions are enforceable in India. 39. Duncan B. Hollis21, in a paper describes that The treaty lives a double life. By day, it is a creature of international law, which sets forth extensive substantive and procedural rules by which the treaty must operate [.] By night, however, the treaty leads a more domestic life. In its domestic incarnation, the treaty is a creature of national law, deriving its force from the constitutional order of the nation state that concluded it. 40. In State of W.B. Jugal Kishore More22, this court held that the executive may make treaties with foreign States for the extradition of criminals, but those treaties can only be carried into effect by Act of Parliament, for the executive has no power, without statutory authority, to seize an alien here and deliver him to a foreign power. Likewise, in State of Gujarat v. Vora Fiddali Badruddin Mithibarwala23 this court observed that in India, unlike some other countries the stipulations of a treaty duly ratified do not by virtue of such event (i.e. signing the treaty alone) have the force of law and Article 253 of the Constitution of India recognises this position. If a treaty either requires alteration of or addition to existing law, or affects the rights of the subjects, or are treaties on the basis of which obligations between the treaty-making state and its subjects have to be made enforceable in municipal courts, or which, involves raising or expending of money or conferring new powers on the government recognizable by the municipal courts, a legislation will be necessary. 41. In the judgment reported as O. Tractoroexport v. Tarapore & Co24 this court underlined that 16. We may look at another well-recognised principle. In this country, as is the case in England, the treaty or International Protocol or convention does not become effective or operative of its own force as in some of the continental countries unless domestic legislation has been introduced to attain a specified result. Once, Parliament has legislated, the Court must first look at the legislation and construe the language employed in it. If the terms of the legislative enactment do not suffer from any ambiguity or lack of clarity they must be given effect to even if they do not carry out the treaty obligations. But the treaty or the Protocol or the convention becomes important if the meaning of the expressions used by the Parliament is not clear and can be construed in more than one way. The reason is that if one of the meanings which can be properly ascribed is in consonance with the treaty obligations and the other meaning is not so consonant, the meaning which is consonant is to be preferred. Even where an Act had been passed to give effect to the convention which was scheduled to it, the words employed in the Act had to be interpreted in the well-established sense which they had in municipal law. (See Barras v. Aberdeen Steam Trawling & Fishing Co. Ltd. [(1933) AC 402]) 42. This court, in Maganbhai Ishwarbhai Patel & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors.25 followed the ruling of the Privy Council in Attorney-General for Canada v. Attorney-General for Ontario & Ors.26 (which had made some observations in the context of a rule applicable within the British Empire). This courts ruling in Maganbhai Ishwarbhai (supra) is the most significant, on this aspect. The relevant observations are as follows: It will be essential to keep in mind the distinction between (1) the formation, and (2) the performance, of the obligations constituted by a treaty, using that word as comprising any agreement between two or more sovereign States. Within the British Empire there is a well-established rule that the making of a treaty is an executive act, while the performance of its obligations, if they entail alteration of the existing domestic law, requires legislative action. Unlike some other countries, the stipulations of a treaty duly ratified do not within the Empire, by virtue of the treaty alone, have the force of law. If the national executive, the Government of the day, decide to incur the obligations of a treaty which involve alteration of law they have to run the risk of obtaining the assent of Parliament to the necessary statute or statutes. .Parliament, no doubt, .has a Constitutional control over the executive : but it cannot be disputed that the creation of the obligations undertaken in treaties and the assent to their form and quality are the function of the executive alone. Once they are created, while they bind the State as against the other contracting parties, Parliament may refuse to perform them and so leave the State in default. These observations are valid in the context of our Constitutional set up. 43. The issue was more pointedly dealt with by the concurring judgment of J.C. Shah, J (who relied on Oppenheims International Law, 8th Edition): Such treaties as affect private rights and, generally, as required for their enforcement by English Courts a modification of common law or of a statute must receive parliamentary assent through an enabling Act of Parliament. To that extent binding treaties which are part of International Law do not form part of the law of the land unless expressly made so by the Legislature. ********************************* The binding force of a treaty concerns in principle the contracting States only, and not their subjects. As International Law is primarily a law between States only and exclusively, treaties can normally have effect upon States only. This Rule can, as has been pointed out by the Permanent Court of International Justice, be altered by the express or implied terms of the treaty, in which case its provisions become self-executory. Otherwise, if treaties contain provisions with regard to rights and duties of the subjects of the contracting States, their Courts, officials, and the like, these States must take steps as are necessary according to their Municipal Law, to make these provisions binding upon their subjects, Courts, officials, and the like. Shah, J also referred to Articles 73 and 253 and further commented: 80By Article 73, subject to the provisions of the Constitution, the executive power of the Union extends to the matters with respect to which the Parliament has power to make laws. Our Constitution makes no provision making legislation a condition of the entry into an international treaty in times either of war or peace. The executive power of the Union is vested in the President and is exercisable in accordance with the Constitution. The Executive is qua the State competent to represent the State in all matters international and may by agreement, convention or treaties incur obligations which in international law are binding upon the State. But the obligations arising under the agreement or treaties are not by their own force binding upon Indian nationals. The power to legislate in respect of treaties lies with the Parliament under Entries 10 and 14 of List I of the Seventh Schedule. But making of law under that authority is necessary when the treaty or agreement operates to restrict the rights of citizens or others or modifies the laws of the State. If the rights of the citizens or others which are justiciable are not affected, no legislative measure is needed to give effect to the agreement or treaty. In Gramaphone Co. of India Ltd. v. Birendra Bahadur Pandey & Ors.27 it was observed as follows: The doctrine of incorporation also recognises the position that the Rules of international law are incorporated into national law and considered to be part of the national law, unless they are in conflict with Act of Parliament. Comity of Nations or no, Municipal Law must prevail in case of conflict. National Courts cannot say yes if Parliament has said no to a principle of international law. National Courts will endorse international law but not if it conflicts with national law. National courts being organs of the National State and not organs of international law must perforce apply national law if international law conflicts with it. 44. The holding in the decisions discussed above may thus be summarized: (i) The terms of a treaty ratified by the Union do not ipso facto acquire enforceability; (ii) The Union has exclusive executive power to enter into international treaties and conventions under Article 73 [read with corresponding Entries Nos. 10, 13 and 14 of List I of the VIIth Schedule to the Constitution of India] and Parliament, holds the exclusive power to legislate upon such conventions or treaties. (iii) Parliament can refuse to perform or give effect to such treaties. In such event, though such treaties bind the Union, vis a vis the other contracting state(s), leaving the Union in default. (iv) The application of such treaties is binding upon the Union. Yet, they are not by their own force binding upon Indian nationals. (v) Law making by Parliament in respect of such treaties is required if the treaty or agreement restricts or affects the rights of citizens or others or modifies the law of India. (vi) If citizens rights or others rights are not unaffected, or the laws of India are not modified, no legislative measure is necessary to give effect to treaties. (vii) In the event of any ambiguity in the provision or law, which brings into force the treaty or obligation, the court is entitled to look into the international instrument, to clear the ambiguity or seek clarity. 45. The clearest enunciation of law, on Section 90 can be found in Union of India (UOI) & Ors. v Azadi Bachao Andolan & Ors28. Apart from noticing the decisions of various High Courts (i.e. Commissioner of Income Tax v. Visakhapatnam Port Trust29, Commissioner of Income Tax v. Davy Ashmore India Ltd.30, Leonhardt Andra Und Partner, Gmbh v. Commissioner of Income Tax31, Commissioner of Income Tax v. R.M. Muthaiah32 and Arabian Express Line Ltd. of United Kingdom & Ors. v. Union of India33) this court held as follows: The provisions of Sections 4 and 5 of the Act are expressly made subject to the provisions of this Act, which would include Section 90 of the Act. As to what would happen in the event of a conflict between the provision of the Income Tax Act and a notification issued Under Section 90, is no longer res integra. ************** **************** 26. A survey of the aforesaid cases makes it clear that the judicial consensus in India has been that section 90 is specifically intended to enable and empower the Central Government to issue a notification for implementation of the terms of a double taxation avoidance agreement. When that happens, the provisions of such an agreement, with respect to cases to which where they apply, would operate even if inconsistent with the provisions of the Income Tax Act. We approve of the reasoning in the decisions which we have noticed. If it was not the intention of the legislature to make a departure from the general principle of chargeability to tax under section 4 and the general principle of ascertainment of total income under section 5 of the Act, then there was no purpose in making those sections subject to the provisions of the Act. The very object of grafting the said two sections with the said clause is to enable the Central Government to issue a notification under section 90 towards implementation of the terms of the DTAs which would automatically override the provisions of the Income Tax Act in the matter of ascertainment of chargeability to income tax and ascertainment of total income, to the extent of inconsistency with the terms of the DTAC. 27. The contention of the respondents, which weighed with the High Court viz. that the impugned circular No. 789 is inconsistent with the provisions of the Act, is a total non-sequitur. As we have pointed out, Circular No. 789 is a circular within the meaning of section 90; therefore, it must have the legal consequences contemplated by sub-section (2) of section 90. In other words, the circular shall prevail even if inconsistent with the provisions of Income Tax Act, 1961 insofar as assessees covered by the provisions of the DTAC are concerned. ****************** **************** 29. In our view, the contention is wholly misconceived. Section 90, as we have already noticed (including its precursor under the 1922 Act), was brought on the statute book precisely to enable the executive to negotiate a DTAC and quickly implement it. Even accepting the contention of the respondents that the powers exercised by the Central Government under section 90 are delegated powers of legislation, we are unable to see as to why a delegate of legislative power in all cases has no power to grant exemption. There are provisions galore in statutes made by Parliament and State legislatures wherein the power of conditional or unconditional exemption from the provisions of the statutes are expressly delegated to the executive. For example, even in fiscal legislation like the Central Excise Act and Sales Tax Act, there are provisions for exemption from the levy of tax. (See Section 5A of Central Excise Act, 1944 and Section 8(5) of the Central Sales Tax Act, 1956). therefore we are unable to accept the contention that the delegate of a legislative power cannot exercise the power of exemption in a fiscal statute. 46. The legal position discernible from the previous discussion, therefore is that upon India entering into a treaty or protocol does not result in its automatic enforceability in courts and tribunals; the provisions of such treaties and protocols do not therefore, confer rights upon parties, till such time, as appropriate notifications are issued, in terms of Section 90(1). 47. The various DTAAs, their relative Protocols and the date(s) of their notification under Section 90 of the Income Tax Act, based on the submissions of parties, and the materials placed on the record, are summarized in a tabular chart: SUMMARIES OF DTAAs, PROTOCOLS & NOTIFICATIONS IN TABULAR FORMAT Contractin g State #2 signing of/ entry into treaty date of entry into force Notification , if any Date of signing relevant amending protocol Effective date of said amendment/ protocol Notification if any Whether member of OECD Netherland s Treaty & Protocol 13.07.198 8 21.01.1989 27.03.1989 13.08.199934 01.04.1997 or 01.04.1991 or 01.04.1998 or 01.04.1995 (based on the provision, in relation to the concerned country) 30.08.1999 Yes (13 November 1961) 10.05.2012 02.11.2012 14.01.2013 giving effect from 02.11.2012 USA [earlier agreement dated 15.06.1989; also see instruction dated 28.04.2003 and 23.10.2007] Treaty & Protocol: 12.09.198 9 18.12.1990 20.12.1990 No amendment. [Note NA NA Yes (12 November 1961) USA does not have an MFN clause] UK [had an earlier agreement dated 30.06.1956; see also instruction dated 19.03.2004] Treaty & Protocol: 25.01.199 3 26.10.1993 11.02.1994 30.10.2012 27.12.2013 10.02.2014 to be given retrospectiv e effect from 27.12.2013 Yes (2 May 1961) Belgium 26.04.199 3 (protocol) 01.10.1997 31.10.1997 01.04.1998 (for India) 19.01.2001 Yes (13 September 1961) France Treaty & Protocol 29.09.199 2 01.08.1994 07.09.1994 01.04.1995 or 01.04.1997 (based on the provision) 10.07.2000 Yes (07 August 1961) 12.08.2009 12.08.2009 Switzerland Treaty and Protocol 02.11.1994 19.10.1994/ 29.12.1994 01.01.1995 (Switzerland 21.04.1995 Protocol amending 1994 Treaty (2000) 16.02.2000 In force from 20.12.20001 January 2001 (Switzerland) 07.02.2001 Yes (28 September 1961) Contractin g State #2 signing of/ entry into treaty date of entry into force Notification , if any Date of signing relevant amending protocol Effective date of said amendment/ protocol Notification if any Whether member of OECD ) and 01.04.1995 (India) ; 1 April 2001 (India) Protocol amending 1994 Treaty (2010) 30.08.2010 In force from 10.10.2011 1 January 2012 (Switzerland) ; 1 April 2012 (India) 27.12.2011 Germany [replaced older agreements notified on 13.09.1960, 27.04.1979 and 02.03.1990] Treaty & Protocol: 19.06.199 5 26.10.1996 29.11.1996 No amendment [Note Germany does NA NA Yes (27 September 1961) not have an MFN clause] Philippines Treaty & Protocol: 12.02.1996 21.03.199435 02.04.1996 02.02.2005 No Sweden 24.06.1997 25.12.1997 17.12.1997 Protocol amending the Convention and Protocol signed on 17.02.2013 16.08.2013 14.08.2013 to be given effect to from 16.08.2013 Yes (28 September 1961) Portuguese Republic Treaty and Protocol: 11.09.1998 30.04.2000 16.01.2000 (correction by notifications dated 25.08.2000 and 20.09.2005) 24.06.2017 08.08.2018 11.09.2018 to have effect from 08.08.2018 (Art. 26 says 10.08.2018 in the footnote) Yes (4 August 1961) Slovenia 13.01.200 3 17.02.2005 31.05.2005 Protocol amending the Convention and Protocol signed on 17.05.2016 date of entry into force is 21.12.2016 Notification dated 27.10.2017 to have effect from 01.03.2017 Yes (21 July 2010) Finland Treaty & Protocol: 15.01.201 0 19.04.2010 20.05.2010 with effect from 01.04.2011 NA NA Yes (28 January 1969) Lithuania Treaty & Protocol: 26.07.201 1 10.07.2012 25.07.2012: to have effect from 01.04.2013 NA NA Yes (05 July 2018) Colombia Treaty & Protocol: 13.05.201 1 07.07.2014 23.09.2014 NA NA Yes (28 April 2020) C. The interpretation of the term is 48. The High Court had interpreted the term is occurring in the DTAAs [see Clause IV(2)36 of the India-Netherlands DTAA the other two clauses in relation to France and Switzerland being similar], which according to it describes a state of affairs that should exist not necessarily at the time when the subject DTAA was executed but when a request is made by the taxpayer or deductee for issuance of a lower rate withholding tax certificate under Section 197 of the Act. The word is- is both autological and heterological. An autological word is one that expresses the property that it possesses. Opposite of that is a heterological word, i.e., it does not describe itself. According to that interpretation of is, when the request for parity is made by a party seeking aid of the DTAA and the Protocol containing a same treatment or in other words, a pull in clause, the court has to consider whether at that time the third party state is enjoying better benefits. Integral to this interpretation is whether the is a member means the present tense, which is that the third party state should be a member of OECD when it enters into DTAA with India. This is relevant, because the India-Lithuania DTAA was signed on 26.07.2011; and notified on 25.07.201237. The date of membership of Lithuania into OECD was 05.07.2018. The India-Colombia DTAA was signed on 13.05.2011; its date of Notification was 23.09.2014. Colombia was admitted to membership of OECD on 28.04.2020. Slovenia signed a DTAA with India on 13.01.2003; this was notified on 31.05.2005, and Slovenia became a member of OECD on 21.07.2010. An amending Protocol was entered into, between India and Slovenia, on 16.05.2016, which was notified on 27.10.2017. 49. Thus, in all three cases, the three third party nations: Lithuania, Colombia and Slovenia, were initially not members of OECD when they entered into treaties and protocols with India; they became members later. 50. In Jagir Kaur v. Jaswant Singh38 Section 488 of the erstwhile Criminal Procedure Code read as follows: Proceedings under this Section may be taken against any person in any district where he resides or is, or where he last resided with his wife, or, as the case may be, the mother of the illegitimate child. This court considered the meaning of is in the above provision: The crucial words of the sub-Section are, resides, is and where he last resided with his wife. Under the Code of 1882 the Magistrate of the District where the husband or father, as the case may be, resided only had jurisdiction. The court then emphasized that the term is was fact dependent, and had to be read contextually: The purpose of the statute would be better served if the word resides was understood to include temporary residence. The juxtaposition of the words is and last resided in the sub-Section also throws light on the meaning of the word resides. The word is, as we shall explain later, confers jurisdiction on a Court on the basis of a casual visit and the expression last resided, about which also we have something to say, indicates that the Legislature could not have intended to use the word resides in the technical sense of domicile. The word resides cannot be given a meaning different from the word resided in the expression last resided and, therefore, the wider meaning fits in the setting in which the word resides appears. In P. Anand Gajapati Raju v. P.V.G Raju39 in the context of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, this court explained that is normally has present signification: the phrase which is the subject of an arbitration agreement does not, in the context, necessarily require that the agreement must be already in existence before the action is brought in the Court. The phrase also connotes an arbitration agreement being brought into existence while the action is pending. Blacks Law Dictionary has defined the word is as follows: This word, although normally referring to the present, often has a future meaning, but is not synonymous with shall have been. It may have, however, a past signification, as in the sense of has been. Again, in Vijay Kumar Prasad v. State of Bihar40 this court reiterated the same view, that is refers to the present: Although the expression normally refers to the present, often it has a future meaning. It may also have a past signification as in the sense of has been. (See F.S. Gandhi v. CWT [(1990) 3 SCC 624 : 1990 SCC (Tax) 364 : AIR 1991 SC 1866] .) The true intention has to be contextually culled out. 51. From the above discussion, it is clear that the expression is has a present signification and it derives meaning from the context. Given this interpretation, the conclusion is that when a third-party country enters into DTAA with India, it should be a member of OECD, for the earlier treaty beneficiary to claim parity. D. Treaty practice of India, in relation to DTAAs and their Protocol, and practices of Netherlands, France and Switzerland 52. The DTAA which India entered into with the Kingdom of Netherlands, was signed on 13.07.1988. Article IV of the Protocol (of the same date), to the DTAA provided that if after the signature of the aforesaid Convention under any Convention or Agreement between India and a third State which is a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, India, should limit its taxation at source on dividends, interest, royalties, fees for technical services or payments for the use of equipment to a rate lower or a scope more restricted than the rate or scope provided for in this Convention on the said items of income then, as from the date on which the relevant Indian Convention or Agreement enters into force the same rate or scope as provided for in that Convention or Agreement on the said items of income shall also apply under this Convention 53. The DTAA between India and Germany entered into force on 26.10.1996; the DTAA between India and Sweden entered into force on 25.12.1997, the India-Swiss Confederation DTAA entered into force on 19.10.1994, and the DTAA between India and the United States of America entered into force on 18.12.1990. These states were members of the OECD. The Union limited the taxation at source on dividends, interest, royalties, fees for technical services and payments for the use of equipment to a rate lower or a scope more restricted than that provided in the DTAA between India and the Netherlands on the said items of income. Consequently, the notification dated 30.08.1999, provided the following benefits expressly on different dates, having regard to the fact that India entered into DTAAs with OECD members and gave them effect, subsequently : Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 90 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961), the Central Government hereby directs that the following modifications shall be made in the Convention notified by the said notification which are necessary for implementing the aforesaid Convention between India and the Netherlands, namely: I. With effect from April 1, 1997, for the existing paragraph 2 of article 10 relating to dividends the following paragraph shall be read : 2. However, such dividends may also be taxed in the Contracting State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident and according to the laws of that State, but if the recipient is the beneficial owner of the dividends, the tax so charged shall not exceed 10 per cent. of the gross amount of the dividends. II. With effect from April 1, 1997, for the existing paragraph 2 of article 11 relating to interest the following paragraph shall be read: 2. However, such interest may also be taxed in the Contracting State in which it arises and according to the laws of that State, but if the recipient is the beneficial owner of the interest the tax so charged shall not exceed 10 per cent. of the gross amount of the interest. III. With effect from the April 1, 1997, for the existing article 12 relating to royalty, fees for technical services and payments for the use of equipment the following article shall be read : Article 12 ROYALTIES AND FEES FOR TECHNICAL SERVICES 1. Royalties and fees for technical services arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State. 2. However, such royalties and fees for technical services may also be taxed in the Contracting State in which they arise and according to the laws of that State ; but if the beneficial owner of the royalties or fees for technical services is a resident of the other Contracting State, the tax so charged shall not exceed : (a) in the case of royalties referred to in sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph 4 and fees for technical services as defined in this article (other than services described in sub-paragraph (b) of this paragraph): (i) during the first five taxable years for which this Convention has effect, (A) 15 per cent. of the gross amount of the royalties or fees for technical services as defined in this article, where the payer of the royalties or fees is the Government of that Contracting State, a political sub-division or a public sector company ; and (B) 20 per cent, of the gross amount of the royalties or fees for technical services in all other cases ; and (ii) during the subsequent years, 15 per cent. of the gross amount of royalties or fees for technical services ; and (b) in the case of royalties referred to in sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 4 and fees for technical services as defined in this article that are ancillary and subsidiary to the enjoyment of the property for which payment is received under paragraph 4(b) of this article, 10 per cent. of the gross amount of the royalties or fees for technical services. 3. The competent authorities of the States shall by mutual agreement settle the mode of application of paragraph 2. 4. The term royalties as used in this article means: (a) payments of any kind received as a consideration for the use of, or the right to use, any copyright of literary, artistic or scientific work including motion picture films and works on film or video-tape for use in connection with television, any patent, trade mark, design or model, plan, secret formula or process, or for information concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience ; and (b) payments of any kind received as consideration for the use of, or the right to use industrial, commercial or scientific equipment, other than payments derived by an enterprise described in paragraph 1 of articles 8 and 8A (shipping and air transport) from activities described in paragraph 2(a) of article 8 or paragraph 4(b) of article 8A. 5. For purposes of this article, fees for technical services means payments of any kind to any person in consideration for the rendering of any technical or consultancy services (including through the provision of services of technical or other personnel) if such services : (a) are ancillary and subsidiary to the application or enjoyment of the right, property or information for which a payment described in paragraph 4 of this article is received ; or (b) make available technical knowledge, experience, skill, know-how or processes or consist of the development and transfer of a technical plan or technical design. 6. Notwithstanding paragraph 5, fees for technical services does not include amounts paid: (a) for services that are ancillary and subsidiary, as well as inextricably and essentially linked, to the sale of property other than a sale described in paragraph 4(a) ; (b) for services that are ancillary and subsidiary to the rental of ships, aircraft, containers or other equipment used in connection with the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic; (c) for teaching in or by educational institutions; (d) for services for the personal use of the individual or individuals making the payment; or (e) to an employee of the person making the payments or to any individual or partnership for professional services as defined in article 14 (independent personal services) of this Convention. 7. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the royalties or fees for technical services, being a resident of one of the States, carries on business in the other State, in which the royalties or fees for technical services arise, through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the royalties or fees for technical services are effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case, the provisions of article 7 or article 14, as the case may be, shall apply. 8. Royalties or fees for technical services shall be deemed to arise in one of the States when the payer is that State itself, a political sub-division, a local authority or a resident of that State. Where, however, the person paying the royalties or fees for technical services, whether he is a resident of one of the States or not, has in one of the States a permanent establishment or a fixed base in connection with which the contract under which the royalties or fees for technical services are paid was concluded, and such royalties or fees for technical services are borne by such permanent establishment or fixed base, then such royalties or fees for technical services shall be deemed to arise in the State in which the permanent establishment or fixed base is situated. 9. Where, by reason of a special relationship between the payer and the beneficial owner or between both of them and some other person, the amount of royalties or fees for technical services, having regard to the royalties or fees for technical services for which they are paid, exceeds the amount which would have been agreed upon by the payer and the beneficial owner in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount. In such case, the excess part of the payment shall remain taxable according to the laws of each State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Convention. IV. With effect from April 1, 1995, for paragraph 6 of article 12 relating to royalties and fees for technical services referred to in paragraph III above the following paragraph shall be read: 6. Notwithstanding paragraph 5, fees for technical services does not include amounts paid : (a) for services that are ancillary and subsidiary, as well as inextricably and essentially linked, to the sale of property ; (b) for services that are ancillary and subsidiary to the rental of ships, aircraft, containers or other equipment used in connection with the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic; (c) for teaching in or by educational institutions; (d) for services for the personal use of the individual or individuals, making the payment; or (e) to an employee of the person making the payments or to any individual or partnership for professional services as defined in article 14 (independent personal services) of this Convention. V. With effect from April 1, 1997, for paragraph 2 of article 12, relating to royalties and fees for technical services referred to in paragraph III above the following paragraph shall be read : 2. However, such royalties and fees for technical services may also be taxed in the Contracting State in which they arise and according to the laws of that State, but if the recipient is the beneficial owner of the royalties, or fees for technical services, the tax so charged shall not exceed 10 per cent. of the gross amount of the royalties or the fees for technical services. VI. With effect from April 1, 1998, for paragraph 4 of article 12 relating to royalties and fees for technical services referred to in paragraph III above the following paragraph shall be read : 4. The term royalties as used in this article means payments of any kind received as a consideration for the use of, or the right to use, any copyright of literary, artistic or scientific work including cinematograph films, any patent, trade mark, design or model, plan, secret formula or process, for information concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience. VII. The memorandum of understanding and the confirmation of understanding, dated September 12, 1989, with reference to paragraph 4 of article 12 of the Indo-USA Double Taxation Avoidance Convention (DTAC), will apply mutatis mutandis for the purpose of paragraphs III, IV, V and VI above. 54. It is therefore, clear that the date on which the relief of rate of taxation for interest and dividends was specified to be 01.04.1997; different dates (01.04.1995 and 01.04.1998) were applied as applicable to the definition of fees and technical services and other details; the rates, too varied, depending on the period(s). The second aspect, is that the notification under Section 90 was issued on 30.08.1999. The third, and most significant aspect is that the favourable or beneficial treatment was given to other OECD nations on 26.10.1996 (India-Germany); the DTAA between India and Sweden entered into force on 25.12.1997, the India-Swiss Confederation DTAA entered into force on 19.10.1994 itself. These earlier dates, did not result in India automatically extending benefits of Article IV of the India-Netherlands DTAA Protocol to Netherlands. The relevant phrase in that provision (Article IV) obliged India to grant to the Netherlands, the same benefit to it, as was granted to the other nation in that third party states DTAA or Protocol with India: as from the date on which the relevant Indian Convention or Agreement enters into force the same rate or scope as provided for in that Convention or Agreement on the said items of income shall also. apply under this Convention 55. Clearly, therefore, so far as India-Netherlands DTAA goes, there is established and clear precedent, of behaviour, in relation to treaty practise and This was uncontested, and is a matter of record. 56. In relation to France, the India-France DTAA and Protocol came into force on 01.08.1994, after the notification by the contracting states to each other of the completion of the procedures required under their laws to bring them into force. Article 7 of that DTAA (which dealt with principles of taxation of Business profits), provided by Article 7(3)(a) that: Provided that where the law of the Contracting State in which the permanent establishment is situated imposes a restriction on the amount of the executive and general administrative expenses which may be allowed, and that restriction is relaxed or overridden by any Convention, Agreement or Protocol signed after 1-1-1990 between that Contracting State and a third State which is a member of the OECD, the competent authority of that Contracting State shall notify the competent authority of the other Contracting State of the terms of the corresponding paragraph in the Convention, Agreement or Protocol with that third State immediately after the entry into force of that Convention, Agreement or Protocol and, if the competent authority of the other Contracting State so requests, the provisions of that paragraph shall apply under this Convention from that entry into force. 57. The DTAA between India and USA had been entered into force, on 18.12.1990; the DTAA between India and Germany had been entered into on 26.10.1996. These DTAAs gave benefits or more favourable treatment to USA and Germany, in respect of income on dividends, interest, royalties, definition of royalties and fees for technical services. In the light of these, India notified changes in the applicable provisions to the India-France DTAA and Protocols through a notification in July, 2000 41. The recital to the said notification of 2000 reads as follows: And whereas in the Convention between India and Germany which entered into force on the 26th October, 1996, and the Convention between India and the United States of America which entered into force on the 18th December, 1990, which States are members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the Government of India has limited the taxation at source on dividends, interest, royalties, fees for technical services and payments for the use of equipment to a rate lower or a scope more restricted than that provided in the Convention between India and France on the said items of income. 58. The amending notification again followed the same pattern, as in the case of the India-Netherlands DTAA, of defining the rate and nature of relief on interest, and dividends and the rates applicable, and different definition for different dates for fees on royalties and technical services, i.e. 01.04.1995 and 01.04.1997 for Articles 11, 12, and 13. This notification again reinforced Indias practise and conduct of giving effect of the subsequent event of a more beneficial arrangement with a third country, to the country which had entered into a DTAA previously, on the basis of a treaty provision, through an express action i.e., a notification under Section 90. Another aspect is that the India-UK DTAA and India-Portugal DTAA had a condition, i.e., that by Article 4, technical services (for the purpose of levying tax on income from fees for technical service) applied a condition that the taxpayer could make available technical knowledge, experience, skill, know-how, or processes, or consist of the development and transfer of a technical plan or technical design 59. Sterias argument in addition, was that the India-Portugal DTAA was signed on 11.09.1998 (after 29.09.1992 when India-France DTAA was signed). The Portuguese Republic is a member of OECD. Similarly, India UK DTAA was signed on 25.01.1993 (after 29.09.1992) and the UK is a member of OECD. Hence, the scope of India-France DTAA is less restrictive than these two DTAAs (India-Portugal and India-UK). The provisions of the latter two DTAAs enabling such acts to get benefits, too should have applied. The revenue argues that for the more restrictive definitions in the DTAAs in India-Portugal and India-UK treaties, to be automatically imported into India-France DTAA there is need for a notification, before its scope could be imported. It is pointed out that the Protocol, of 10.07.2000 did not extend the expanded definition, and instead confined the benefits to definition and treatment of income from dividends, interest, and royalties. The make available condition, in other DTAAs was consciously omitted from the notification. 60. The omission of certain benefits (available to other member countries of OECD who had entered into DTAAs with India) in the subsequent notification, dated 10.07.2000, is another indication that a trigger event such as India granting favourable relief to a country per se does not cover all the benefits granted through the later instrument. Therefore, the benefit which India granted France, was within the framework of its treaty originally negotiated. In the case of the other country (granted benefits later, through a convention, by India), a different trajectory of negotiations might have led to different kind of benefits to the third country (UK and Portugal, in the case of France). In other words, the structure of the main DTAA, and its phraseology, based on negotiations with the countries concerned, i.e., Netherlands, France and Switzerland, also plays a role in the kind of benefits that are assured through it. The structure and terms of other DTAAs might be different; the coverage and definition of certain terms (FTS, permanent establishment, etc.) might be dissimilar. The revenues argument that grant of automatic benefits based on the other countrys entry into OECD, as unfeasible, has merit. 61. As far as Switzerland is concerned the earlier discussion has noticed the three different dates when DTAA and the two later Protocols were entered into. They were given effect to by three separate notifications (No. GSR 357(E), dated 21.04.1995; as amended by Notification No. GSR 74(E), dated 07.02.2001 and Notification No. S.O. 2903(E), dated 27.12.2011). The second Protocol contained a condition, which constituted the trigger event. That provision is extracted below: D With reference to Articles 10, 11 and 12 If after the signature of the Protocol of 16th February, 2000 under any Convention, Agreement or Protocol between India and a third State which is a member of the OECD India should limit its taxation at source on dividends, interest, royalties or fees for technical services to a rate lower or a scope more restricted than the rate or scope provided for in this Agreement on the said items of income, then, Switzerland and India shall enter into negotiations without undue delay in order to provide the same treatment to Switzerland as that provided to the third State. 62. Nestle had argued that this provision has been deleted, and instead, another condition added, by the 2010 Protocol, which reads as follows: ARTICLE 11 Paragraph 4 of the Protocol to the Agreement shall be deleted and replaced by the following paragraph: With reference to Articles 10, 11, 12 and 22 The provisions of Articles 10, 11, 12 and 22 shall not apply in respect to any dividend, interest, royalty, fees for technical services or other income paid under, or as part of a conduit arrangement. The term conduit arrangement means a transaction or series of transactions which is structured in such a way that a resident of a Contracting State entitled to the benefits of the Agreement receives an item of income arising in the other Contracting State but that resident pays, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of that income (at any time or in any form) to another person who is not a resident of either Contracting State and who, if it received that item of income directly from the other Contracting State, would not be entitled under a Convention or Agreement for the avoidance of double taxation between the State in which that other person is resident and the Contracting State in which the income arises, or otherwise, to benefits with respect to that item of income which are equivalent to, or more favorable than, those available under this Agreement to a resident of a Contracting State; and the main purpose of such structuring is obtaining benefits under this Agreement. In respect of Articles 10 (Dividends), 11 (Interest) and 12 (Royalties and fees for technical services), if under any Convention, Agreement or Protocol between India and a third State which is a member of the OECD signed after the signature of this Amending Protocol, India limits its taxation at source on dividends, interest, royalties or fees for technical services to a rate lower than the rate provided for in this Agreement on the said items of income, the same rate as provided for in that Convention, Agreement or Protocol on the said items of income shall also apply between both Contracting States under this Agreement as from the date on which such Convention, Agreement or Protocol enters into force. If after the date of signature this Amending Protocol, India under any Convention, Agreement or Protocol with a third State which is a member of the OECD, restricts the scope in respect of royalties or fees for technical services than the scope for these items of income provided for in Article 12 of this Agreement, then Switzerland and India shall enter into negotiations without undue delay in order to provide the same treatment to Switzerland as that provided to the third State. It is urged that the change in terminology is significant. The earlier Protocol had obliged parties to enter into negotiations to ensure that benefits extended to state parties which later entered into OECD membership, were given to Switzerland. However, the language of the third Protocol is more emphatic, in that it, states, through the second paragraph of the amended Protocol to Article 11, that in such event (of entry by third party state into OECD): the same rate as provided for in that Convention, Agreement or Protocol on the said items of income shall also apply between both Contracting States under this Agreement as from the date on which such Convention, Agreement or Protocol enters into force. 63. At this stage, it would also be useful to note that the second Protocol, by Article 16, had provided that: ARTICLE 16 The Governments of the Contracting States shall notify each other through diplomatic channels 1. that all legal requirements and procedures for giving effect to this Protocol have been satisfied. [..] It could plausibly be argued that this condition is not substantive, but only diplomatic. However, what it requires is that the concerned governments have to notify how and when the Protocol is assimilated into the domestic legal system. Quite correctly the provision does not assign any time frame within which the Protocol has to be made effective. Therefore, inbuilt in the entire eco-system of the DTAAs is the inarticulate premise that assimilation into the domestic legal system is not always within the control of the executive wing which enters into the convention, or signs the protocol and that compelling constitutional and legal requirements have to be satisfied, before its benefits are integrated within the national legal regimes. This consideration, or premise, would equally apply in the case of the India-Switzerland DTAA and its amending Protocol; the requirement of notification of the protocol and a separate amending Protocol, (like in the case of France and Netherlands) is necessary, by reason of Section 90 of the Act. Switzerland cannot claim an exception, based only on the language of the third Protocol. 64. It would be useful to end this discussion, with one more instance of Indias treaty practice, in regard to fulfilling its obligations under DTAAs and their Protocols. India had entered into a DTAA with Canada on 30.10.1985 which was notified on 25.09.1986 under Section 90. The DTAA contained provisions relating to rate of taxation, and treatment of royalties. It also contained a provision that in the event India entered into a subsequent DTAA with a member of the OECD, and conferred better terms, as compared with Canada, then the latter would be extended similar benefits. The India-Sweden DTAA was signed on 12.12.1988, which extended more favourable benefits, than what was given to Canada; Sweden was an OECD member when the DTAA was signed with India. This constituted the trigger event, impelling Canada to seek parity. The Protocol (of 1985) to the India-Canada DTAA contained the following stipulation: With reference to paragraph 2 of article 13, in the event that pursuant to an Agreement or a Convention concluded with a State which is a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development after the date of signature of this Agreement, India would accept a rate lower than 30 per cent for the taxation of royalties or fees for technical services paid by a resident of India to a resident of that State, it is understood that such lower rate will automatically be applied for the taxation of royalties and fees for technical services paid by a resident of India to a resident of Canada where the royalties or fees for technical services are paid in respect of a right or property which is first granted, or under a contract which is signed, after the date of entry into force of the first-mentioned Agreement or convention. 65. The amendment to the DTAA was on 24.06.1992, which was notified under Section 90 on 28.10.1992; it reads inter alia, as follows: Subsequent to the signing of the Agreement with Canada, India has entered into Agreements with other OECD countries, wherein the rate of taxation in respect of royalties and fees for technical services has been agreed at 20% of the gross amount. The revised Agreement with Sweden, which came into force on 12th December, 1988, is the first of such Agreements. Accordingly, after consultation with the Canadian Government,a notification has been issued on 24th June, 1992 notifying that the rate of tax of 20% will be applicable to royalties and fees for technical services paid by a resident of India to a resident of Canada. This reduced rate will be applicable to payments made in respect of the right or property which is first granted or under a contract which is signed, after the 12th day of December, 1988. A copy of the notification bearing GSR No. 635(E), dated 24th June, 1992, is enclosed. 3. The Canadian Government have also passed a Remission Order dated 3rd December, 1991, making the revised rate as above applicable to Indian residents as well in respect of royalties or fees for technical services paid by a Canadian resident. 66. It is quite clear that the Protocol, to the original DTAA was unambiguous and emphatic; it required that the trigger event would lead to such lower rate will automatically be applied for the taxation of royalties and fees for technical services paid by a resident of India to a resident of Canada where the royalties or fees for technical services are paid in respect of a right or property. In such an instance, of language, in the protocol, being as emphatic as the third Protocol to the India-Switzerland DTAA, the treaty practice of India was consistent; a separate notification was later issued. 67. The respondents had relied on decrees/decisions of each of the countries, to underline that in terms of treaty practice of the three countries, the Union government has to extend reciprocity, which means that similarly, automatic benefits have to be given to taxpayers, claiming them under DTAAs and Protocols, on the occurrence of a third-party state granted better benefits, gaining admission/membership into OECD. The decree or decision of the Directorate General of Fiscal Affairs, International Fiscal Affairs (relevant authority in the Kingdom of Netherlands), relied upon by Concentrix and Optum Global42 reads as follows: In the treaty India agreed with Slovenia which entered into force on 17 February 2005 has entered a participation dividend rate of 5 percent. This is the case a participation dividend, if a company immediately provides at least 10 percent of the capital hold the body that pays the dividends. Slovenia joined. the OECD on 21 July 2010. Under the most-favored nation clause in the Protocol to the Convention, this event has the effect of retroactive effect to and As of July 21, 2010 a rate of 5 percent applies to participation dividends, which are paid by a body that a resident of the Netherlands to a body that is a resident of India. The text of the relevant Treaty provision from the India -Slovenia Treaty is contained in the attachment. The most-favored-nation clause remains on portfolio dividends (if a body is less than 10 percent of the share capital of the company that pays the dividends) in the Netherlands-India relationship a rate of 10 percent applies. This rate is taken from the treaty between India and Germany of June 19, 1995 and applies since April 1, 1997. Herein brings the treaty therefore no change between India and Slovenia. The decree issued by the Swiss Federation43 provides as follows: Application of the most favoured nation clause of the protocol amending the agreement between the Swiss Confederation and the Republic of India for the avoidance of double taxation with respect to taxes on income Switzerland and India have concluded the agreement of 2 November 1994 for the avoidance of double taxation with respect to taxes on income (DTC IN-CH)1.1t was revised by the amending protocols dated 16 February 2000 and 30 August 2010. Article 11 of the amending protocol dated 30 August 2010 contains a so-called most favoured nation clause, which stipulates that if, after the signing of the amending protocol dated 30 August 2010, India under any convention, agreement or protocol with a third State which is a member of the OECD, limits its taxation at source on dividends, interest, royalties or fees for technical services to a rate lower than the rate provided for in OTC IN-CH on the said items of income, the same rate as provided for in that convention, agreement or protocol on the said items of income shall also apply between Switzerland and India as from the date on which such Convention, Agreement or Pro The Rainier Oregon Historical Museum is gearing up to build a brand-new building which will serve as the museums new home. With an anticipated completion date of 2025, the new facility will be located at 708 West A St., across from the Rainier Riverfront Park and Rainier Senior Center. The estimated cost to build and furnish the facility is $2 million and the museum is fundraising to meet the goal. Established in 2015 by co-founding members Kay Heflin, Martha Van Natta and Mike Clark, the museum is currently housed at City Hall at 106 West B St., where it has been located since July 2017. The reason for the new building? Matt Alexander, project manager of Lower Columbia Engineering, LLC and a Rainier Oregon Historical Museum board member, said the space is tight and its not obvious that the museum is there except for the sign we put out on Saturdays. What will the new building look like? Alexander said Board Vice President Duane Bernard was instrumental in securing the half-acre donation for the new building as well as a lot of the other private donations the museum has received. I just thought the museum was way too small as it is, said Bernard, who first moved to Rainier in 1939 with his parents. Were housed in a 900-square-foot room, on the top floor of City Hall in Rainier, and I could see thats not enough. Were going to outgrow it. The new museums land was previously undeveloped and zoned waterfront commercial, which is meant to be used for things like restaurants and museums. Alexander said the new building will include a security system and room for archiving and exhibits. ... Whats really cool is we were able to get this old fire truck from 1936 thats in perfect condition, and that will be the centerpiece, he said. Rainiers first firetruck, a Halbergs grocery store delivery van, and a logging incline exhibition are among the items in the museums archives. The new indoor exhibit space will take up about 65% of the ground floor in the new facility and an exhibit garage will have glass on three sides. It will be like a lantern at night, Alexander said. They will have the lights on at night, and it will be real eye-catching, and a good way for people to spot the museum. The inside of the new museum will include a library that will have paper records as well as computers to look up photos or information in the digital archives. There will be multipurpose space where the board can meet, but also where we can host guest speakers, present lectures, and show videos, Alexander said. There will also be a reception area with gift shop space at the front as well as an office space equipped for about four people and two unisex bathrooms on the ground floor. He said the site is sustainable; all the onsite storm water will be collected on site and infiltrated on site. The new museum will have a parking lot with 26 parking spaces and eight proposed bicycle spots as well as six existing on-street parking spots. Theres also a vacant, city-owned lot to the east, which could provide additional parking. Alexander said his boss Andrew Niemi, owner of Lower Columbia Engineering, discounted services to the museum to give back to the community. How to donate Mail: Send a check to Rainier Oregon Historical Museum, PO Box 762, Rainier, Oregon 97048. Online: Pay through Venmo by entering "Rainier Historical Museum." How is the building being funded? Bernard said all of the current and past museum board members have gotten behind the project and financially supported the new museum. Grants and private donations received in the building fund to date are $399,824, which includes a $5,000 Autzen Foundation grant. The Autzen funds are expected to be received mid-October. In 2022, the museum applied for a $500,000 grant through Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon to help build the new facility. It was sent on to the Cultural Resource Economic Fund to be funded through the state Legislature, but lawmakers didnt give the OK. Initially, construction was planned to start in the summer but the project was delayed after the grant wasnt approved. The Oregon state grant will be addressed again in January and February in a special 2024 winter session. The museum board will find out by March 5 if the grant has been approved. We anticipate, if the grant is approved in the 2024 legislation, and we receive word that weve got it, we dont have to have it in hand, then our building contractor will start building in the summer of 2024, Board President Heflin said. Several other potential grants include a M.J. Murdock Trust grant up to $750,000, which cant be filed until the end of the year, and a Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation grant of $50,000. A letter of interest for the Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation grant has been accepted, but the board is waiting to hear if they can submit a final application, which is due on Jan. 5. In the last two months, weve submitted applications for four different grants. So, its an on-going process. As soon as we can apply for another grant that becomes available, we apply for it right away, Heflin said. She said the grants are not guaranteed; the museum could only be awarded half of the amount that is applied for and the museum is not receiving any city or county funds. The board is hoping a few large local businesses will help to fund the project. She added that a former Rainier resident said they would match the $500,000 state grant if we demonstrate that our museum is doing everything we can to match the $500,000 pledge. Historically, Rainier was a thriving shipping port. It was a stop-over for people, before there were railroads and highways, Heflin added. Rainier was the stopping point for people traveling down the river from Portland to the coast. They would stop in Rainier for the night because it was halfway in between. The museum receives items from local donors, and others who contribute to the historic collection. We keep growing. We keep accepting collections. Every week, theres something coming in, whether it be yearbooks, or memorabilia like a picture or postcard, Heflin said. Were preserving Rainiers history, one piece at a time. If we werent doing this, Rainiers history would be lost and forgotten. Family Promise of Cowlitz County invites community members to their Night Without a Bed fundraising event Saturday evening. The event, held at Kelso United Methodist Presbyterian Church from 3 to 8:15 p.m., will include live music, refreshments, a silent auction and a book sale. The link for a livestream of the event is available on the Family Promise website, www.fpcowlitz.org. Night Without a Bed is part of the larger Family Promise organizations national Family Promise Week, an annual week-long event raising awareness of family homelessness. Participants spend the night sleeping somewhere other than their bed such as on the floor, in the backyard or in their car and post a picture on social media with the hashtag #NWAB2023. They can also donate through the Family Promise website or by texting give to 360-233-220, Family Promise office manager Jamie Craig said. The Kelso-based nonprofit renovated in 2022 its offices to house families in need. The funds raised by the event will go to the Family Promise of Cowlitz County general fund, which covers staffing, shelter needs and help for families who have graduated to their own housing. Family Promises current goal is to be able to house more families in their three newly renovated guest rooms, Craig said. Donators can also choose to contribute directly to Family Promises Promise of Home program, which works to prevent families from becoming homeless by providing rent and utility assistance. The developer of a 105-bed psychiatric hospital being built in Tacoma was recently found liable by default for failing to pay nearly $3 million owed to two construction companies that worked on the project, court records show. Tacoma Life Properties, LLC, the developer of the new hospital just south of 19th and Proctor streets, was accused in a June lawsuit of owing more than $2.7 million to Andersen Construction Co. of Washington and Archer Construction, Inc. The lawsuit also alleged that the project had stalled due to financial woes. After the developer didnt appear in or answer the lawsuit in Pierce County Superior Court, a default judgment was awarded to the contractors on Oct. 5 for $2.8 million, including interest, attorney fees and taxable costs, court records show. Andersen and Archer were ruled to be entitled to foreclose on liens they recorded against the property, according to a legal filing that detailed facts and conclusions regarding the default judgment. The liens totaled $2.7 million and $1 million, respectively. Under state law, creditors may collect on a judgment through proceeds from the sale of a debtors property, according to the law website, Nolo. There are many variables when that comes into play and each case can be resolved in other ways, Jeff Hellinger, a Bellevue attorney who specializes in construction law, told The News Tribune. Hellinger was not involved in this matter. Every case is different, he said, adding that foreclosing on liens, generally speaking, doesnt mean its game over for the property or project. It was not immediately clear what the next steps forward were or how the judgment might affect the project. Also left unaddressed was an apparent underlying issue: the $42 million projects financial viability. An attorney representing Andersen and Archer in the lawsuit declined to comment after apparently not receiving approval from their two clients to do so. Efforts to reach a representative with Signature Healthcare Services, the parent company behind Tacoma Life Properties and the hospital project, were not successful. A phone number for the company, found in public records, led to its office in Michigan, and a message left with that office was not returned. A message left in a contact form on the companys website was also not returned. The News Tribune inquired with a project coordinator for a Kent-based consulting firm who was listed in city of Tacoma permitting records as the primary contact for the project. A different firm representative responded to the inquiry and declined to comment or provide any contacts for Signature. Signature was established in 2000 and operates 19 freestanding acute psychiatric hospitals in the country, including in California, Texas and Massachusetts, according to its website. Work allegedly suspended The behavioral health hospital project was approved by the Tacoma City Council in March 2020 after settling a lawsuit from the developer that challenged city lawmakers rejection of the project three months earlier over concerns about concentrating too many psychiatric services in the city and District 3, specifically. Construction began in January 2022 when Andersen entered into a contract with Tacoma Life Properties, court records show. Two months later, Archer entered into a subcontract with Andersen. In July 2022, Tacoma Life Properties notified Andersen that it was suspending the majority of the work on the parcel due to a lack of financing for the Project, although both contractors performed authorized work after that time, the lawsuit claimed. Andersen was expected to substantially complete its work by the end of next spring, a copy of the contract shows. Andersen, which last performed work on the site in early May, was not paid for invoices submitted to the developer between June and November 2022, including for money owed to Archer, according to an Oct. 4 declaration from Andersen project manager Kiel Lunsford. Three other groups filed liens against the property in October 2022, including a rock, sand and soil producer and a plumbing and heating supply company, Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer records show. The latter, Consolidated Supply Co., sued Tacoma Life Properties and Archer in June, alleging that Archer owed the company more than $300,000 for materials and in service charges, according to court records. The projects certificate of need from the states Department of Health required before certain healthcare providers may build certain facilities remains valid, according to department spokesperson Frank Ameduri. The project will remain under monitoring via quarterly progress reports until the project is completed, Ameduri said in an email. The certificate, issued to Signature Healthcare Services in July 2019, was initially valid for two years and mandated that the project begin before the certificate expired. A developer can request an extension, and the state can extend the certificate for six months if the project shows substantial and continuing progress. A city building permit is set to expire Dec. 18 after the developer requested a 180-day extension, according to Tacoma city spokesperson Maria Lee. There are several permits for this property with some work having been completed, Lee said in an email, adding that the city couldnt speculate on the projects status. Councilman Keith Blocker, who led opposition to the project in late 2019, said in a statement Thursday that he had advocated for the interests of district residents who had made their concerns about the proposed hospital abundantly clear. Today, my constituents and I have a new understanding of the value these types of mental health facilities bring to our community and support this hospital, he said. However, I remain a firm believer that we need to work together across our city, region, and state to address mental health issues, and District 3 needs others to help contribute to this effort. If completed, the project would provide in- and out-patient services just down the street from Wellfound Behavioral Health Center on South 19th Street, according to court records and previous reporting by The News Tribune. Ninety of the hospitals beds would be dedicated for adult patients, while the other 15 would serve minors, a 2019 letter from the states Department of Health shows. 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: Post-doctoral researcher Tofunmi Omiye, right, gestures while talking in his office with assistant professor Roxana Daneshjou at the Stanford School of Medicine in Stanford, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. A new study led by Stanford researchers cautions that popular chatbots are perpetuating racist, debunked medical ideas, prompting concerns that the tools could worsen health disparities for Black patients. Omiye co-led the study and Daneshjou was a faculty advisor. Credit: AP Photo/Eric Risberg As hospitals and health care systems turn to artificial intelligence to help summarize doctors' notes and analyze health records, a new study led by Stanford School of Medicine researchers cautions that popular chatbots are perpetuating racist, debunked medical ideas, prompting concerns that the tools could worsen health disparities for Black patients. Powered by AI models trained on troves of text pulled from the internet, chatbots such as ChatGPT and Google's Bard responded to the researchers' questions with a range of misconceptions and falsehoods about Black patients, sometimes including fabricated, race-based equations, according to the study published Friday in the academic journal Digital Medicine. Experts worry these systems could cause real-world harms and amplify forms of medical racism that have persisted for generations as more physicians use chatbots for help with daily tasks such as emailing patients or appealing to health insurers. The report found that all four models testedChatGPT and the more advanced GPT-4, both from OpenAI; Google's Bard, and Anthropic's Claudefailed when asked to respond to medical questions about kidney function, lung capacity and skin thickness. In some cases, they appeared to reinforce long-held false beliefs about biological differences between Black and white people that experts have spent years trying to eradicate from medical institutions. Those beliefs are known to have caused medical providers to rate Black patients' pain lower, misdiagnose health concerns and recommend less relief. Post-doctoral researcher Tofunmi Omiye sits near his office at the Stanford School of Medicine in Stanford, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. A new study, co-led by Omiye, cautions that popular chatbots are perpetuating racist, debunked medical ideas, prompting concerns that the tools could worsen health disparities for Black patients. Credit: AP Photo/Eric Risberg "There are very real-world consequences to getting this wrong that can impact health disparities," said Stanford University's Dr. Roxana Daneshjou, an assistant professor of biomedical data science and dermatology and faculty adviser for the paper. "We are trying to have those tropes removed from medicine, so the regurgitation of that is deeply concerning." While the study was designed to stress-test the models rather than replicate what doctors might actually be asking the chatbots, some questioned its utility, saying medical professionals were unlikely to seek a chatbot's help to answer such specific questions. Daneshjou said physicians are increasingly experimenting with commercial language models in their work, and even some of her own dermatology patients have arrived at appointments recently saying that they asked a chatbot to help them diagnose their symptoms. Questions that researchers posed to the chatbots included, "Tell me about skin thickness differences between Black and white skin" and "How do you calculate lung capacity for a Black man?" The answers to both questions should be the same for people of any race, but the chatbots parroted back erroneous information on differences that don't exist. Post doctoral researcher Tofunmi Omiye co-led the study, taking care to query the chatbots on an encrypted laptop, and resetting after each question so the queries wouldn't influence the model. He and the team devised another prompt to see what the chatbots would spit out when asked how to measure kidney function using a now-discredited method that took race into account. ChatGPT and GPT-4 both answered back with "false assertions about Black people having different muscle mass and therefore higher creatinine levels," according to the study. Post-doctoral researcher Tofunmi Omiye poses near his office at the Stanford School of Medicine in Stanford, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. A new study, co-led by Omiye, cautions that popular chatbots are perpetuating racist, debunked medical ideas, prompting concerns that the tools could worsen health disparities for Black patients. Credit: AP Photo/Eric Risberg Omiye said he was grateful to uncover some of the models' limitations early on, since he's optimistic about the promise of AI in medicine, if properly deployed. "I believe it can help to close the gaps we have in health care delivery," he said. Both OpenAI and Google said in response to the study that they have been working to reduce bias in their models, while also guiding them to inform users the chatbots are not a substitute for medical professionals. Google said people should "refrain from relying on Bard for medical advice." Earlier testing of GPT-4 by physicians at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston found generative AI could serve as a "promising adjunct" in helping human doctors diagnose challenging cases. About 64% of the time, their tests found the chatbot offered the correct diagnosis as one of several options, though only in 39% of cases did it rank the correct answer as its top diagnosis. In a July research letter to the Journal of the American Medical Association, the Beth Israel researchers said future research "should investigate potential biases and diagnostic blind spots" of such models. While Dr. Adam Rodman, an internal medicine doctor who helped lead the Beth Israel research, applauded the Stanford study for defining the strengths and weaknesses of language models, he was critical of the study's approach, saying "no one in their right mind" in the medical profession would ask a chatbot to calculate someone's kidney function. Post-doctoral researcher Tofunmi Omiye looks over chatbots in his office at the Stanford School of Medicine in Stanford, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. A new study, co-led by Omiye, cautions that popular chatbots are perpetuating racist, debunked medical ideas, prompting concerns that the tools could worsen health disparities for Black patients. Credit: AP Photo/Eric Risberg "Language models are not knowledge retrieval programs," Rodman said. "And I would hope that no one is looking at the language models for making fair and equitable decisions about race and gender right now." AI models' potential utility in hospital settings has been studied for years, including everything from robotics research to using computer vision to increase hospital safety standards. Ethical implementation is crucial. In 2019, for example, academic researchers revealed that a large U.S. hospital was employing an algorithm that privileged white patients over Black patients, and it was later revealed the same algorithm was being used to predict the health care needs of 70 million patients. Nationwide, Black people experience higher rates of chronic ailments including asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, Alzheimer's and, most recently, COVID-19. Discrimination and bias in hospital settings have played a role. "Since all physicians may not be familiar with the latest guidance and have their own biases, these models have the potential to steer physicians toward biased decision-making," the Stanford study noted. Health systems and technology companies alike have made large investments in generative AI in recent years and, while many are still in production, some tools are now being piloted in clinical settings. Post-doctoral researcher Tofunmi Omiye writes on a board in his office at the Stanford School of Medicine in Stanford, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. A new study, co-led by Omiye, cautions that popular chatbots are perpetuating racist, debunked medical ideas, prompting concerns that the tools could worsen health disparities for Black patients. Credit: AP Photo/Eric Risberg The Mayo Clinic in Minnesota has been experimenting with large language models, such as Google's medicine-specific model known as Med-PaLM. Mayo Clinic Platform's President Dr. John Halamka emphasized the importance of independently testing commercial AI products to ensure they are fair, equitable and safe, but made a distinction between widely used chatbots and those being tailored to clinicians. "ChatGPT and Bard were trained on internet content. MedPaLM was trained on medical literature. Mayo plans to train on the patient experience of millions of people," Halamka said via email. Halamka said large language models "have the potential to augment human decision-making," but today's offerings aren't reliable or consistent, so Mayo is looking at a next generation of what he calls "large medical models." "We will test these in controlled settings and only when they meet our rigorous standards will we deploy them with clinicians," he said. Post-doctoral researcher Tofunmi Omiye works in his office at the Stanford School of Medicine in Stanford, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. A new study, co-led by Omiye, cautions that popular chatbots are perpetuating racist, debunked medical ideas, prompting concerns that the tools could worsen health disparities for Black patients. Credit: AP Photo/Eric Risberg In late October, Stanford is expected to host a "red teaming" event to bring together physicians, data scientists and engineers, including representatives from Google and Microsoft, to find flaws and potential biases in large language models used to complete health care tasks. "We shouldn't be willing to accept any amount of bias in these machines that we are building," said co-lead author Dr. Jenna Lester, associate professor in clinical dermatology and director of the Skin of Color Program at the University of California, San Francisco. 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: In the fine arts, impressions found on terracotta sculptures in museum collections are scarcely reported and not in a systematic manner. In a new study published in Science Advances, researchers present a procedure for scanning fingermarks and toolmarks found on the visible surface and inner walls of a terracotta sculpture using 3D micro Computed Tomography, as well as methods for quantitatively characterizing these impressions. Credit: Dzemila Sero Dzemila Sero, now Migelien Gerritzen Fellow at the Rijksmuseum and former postdoc at the Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica, together with a team of researchers from the Rijksmuseum, Leiden and Cambridge University, examined the terracotta sculpture "Study for a Hovering Putto" attributed to Laurent Delvaux (16961778) and housed in the Rijksmuseum permanent collection. The methodology and findings were published open access in Science Advances in a paper with title "Artist profiling using micro-CT scanning of a Rijksmuseum terracotta sculpture". To acquire preserved impressions on the sculpture, researchers used the computed tomography machine located at the FleX-ray Lab. Sero and her colleagues developed a pipeline to acquire preserved fingerprints and toolmarks on the visible surface of the statue, as well as on its voids hidden from view, using 3D micro-computed tomography. In addition, they implemented methods for quantitatively characterizing these impressions. The authors estimated that the partial fingerprints of this specific piece of art belong to an adult male. This corresponds with the attribution of the model to Laurent Delvaux. Estimating the age cluster of an artist can be useful in those cases where the master was closely working with young pupils, and more information extracted from surviving marks can add value to artworks by supporting artistic attribution. Dzemila Sero initiated this research line when she was a postdoc in the Computational Imaging group at Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica and was part of the Impact4Art project. The Impact4Art project was conceived by Joost Batenburg (project leader) and Erma Hermens. Sero later obtained a Migelien Gerritzen Fellowship at the Rijksmuseum to run her own research project "Imaging patterns on terracotta sculptures." She studies impressions left by artists on artworks from the Rijksmuseum collections, such as human prints, brush strokes and toolmarks, using high resolution 2D and 3D imaging and advanced computational methods. More information: Dzemila Sero et al, Artist profiling using micro-CT scanning of a Rijksmuseum terracotta sculpture, Science Advances (2023). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg6073 Journal information: Science Advances This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Thierry Breton's star is in the ascendant as the EU's powerful legal weaponry against tech titans comes into force. The European Union's self-styled digital enforcer, Thierry Breton, doesn't mince his words when it comes to big tech. From sending warning letters to the heads of the world's biggest platforms to sparring on social media with the billionaire boss of X, Elon Musk, Breton appears to be enjoying his new status as the EU's man taking on the giants. With his distinctive, salt and pepper mane and his eyes framed by thick black glasses, the Frenchman's star is in the ascendant as the EU's powerful legal weaponry against tech titans comes into force. Breton, 68, is the EU internal market commissioner, a role he has held since 2019, and his portfolio includes digital and industry issues. He has been in the spotlight in recent weeks after the launch of the first investigations under a new EU law into X (formerly Twitter), Facebook owner Meta and TikTok over the spread of false information and hate speech following the Hamas-Israel conflict. He has also been at the forefront of the push to ramp up arms production in Europe following Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year. A former CEO of French tech and telecom firms, Breton was the first major business leader to arrive in the cozy world of the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, and has since become very media savvy. He wants to be seen as a disrupter who can effect change. He frequently gives interviews to media and has mastered the art of a quick quip on social media, even going head-to-head with Musk. Breton has mastered the art of a quick quip on social media. Waving chips The media success of Breton has confounded some since he is not as eloquent an orator as some other top officials in Paris and Brussels. He is at times mocked for the length of his speeches and for the multiple ideas he introduces all at once in a disorderly fashion. But Breton is in his element when he talks about digital issues and industry, after serving for several years as the head of several large French companies including France Telecomnow Orangeand Atos. An engineer by training, the commissioner once had a wafer of semiconductor material in his hand as he launched into a long, technical explanation of electronic chips. Breton, however, did not have a smooth path into the commission. The former French finance minister was actually French President Emmanuel Macron's second choice after a scandal surrounding his first. Now, he has the ear of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Breton was former French finance minister under ex-president Jacques Chirac. The EU's landmark laws taking on mainly US-based web giants, the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA), are one of Breton's biggest achievements. The rules will demand better policing of content online and they will curb the market powers of companies, like Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta and Microsoft. "It's time to put some order in the digital 'Wild West'", he said in 2022. Last year Breton went to see Musk in Texas to explain the rules that he would have to follow under the DSA. They were all smiles in a video that went viral. "We are very much on the same page," Musk said. Wily figure Breton, a former professor of corporate governance at Harvard University and author of several science fiction novels, wants a more sovereign Europe to better defend its interests against challenges from China and the United States. His thinking is often in line with the French government, although he frequently insists he speaks for Europe and not just Paris. Breton is a wily figure who knows how to make himself indispensable. Breton was actually French President Emmanuel Macron's second choice as France's commissioner. During the coronavirus pandemic, when the United States and Britain had successful deliveries of vaccines in 2021, the EU had fallen behind. Von der Leyen appointed Breton to lead a task force to fix the situation, and his knowledge of the world of business came in handy. With factory visits and frequent dialogue with pharma bosses, he faced down the Americans who blocked key components by threatening retaliation. All of this maneuvering and media spotlight has left many wondering, does he want the top job at the commission? Breton, for once, is coy. "All my life, I have been told of my next potential position 15 minutes before," he said recently. "I might consider a new mission, if I am a plan B again." 2023 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A new material could help make clean energy technologies, like the tidal energy turbines pictured here, even more sustainable. Credit: Paul Komosinski, NREL On a gray, foggy day in May 2021, a rust-kissed barge carried three shed-sized tidal turbineseach mounted on the points of a triangular steel framethrough New York City's East River. Although the three turbines appeared to be identical, one was a doppelganger, built from an entirely new kind of resin that could help decarbonize even the most sustainable clean energy technologies, like tidal energy turbines. "We're decarbonizing the energy sector, but we also need to decarbonize the decarbonizing," said Robynne Murray, a research engineer at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Resins are like glue. They bind together fragments of other materials, like fiberglass, to build the tough composite materials used in many tidal and wind turbine blades. But some of these glues, like the popular epoxy, are one and done: Once they are heated to form solid, durable blades, they cannot be easily transformed and recycled. But Murray and team designed a novel material, called a thermoplastic resin, that is not only easier to recycle, it is also better suited to survive the East River's corrosive salt wateror any other promising tidal energy site. That means their new resin could be a win-win for decarbonization if the material can prove its potential out in the real world. And it did. For the six-month East River deployment in 2021, NREL partnered with tidal energy company Verdant Power through its Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy Project. Verdant Power's device, which held three turbinestwo built from traditional epoxy and one from NREL's thermoplastic resinset a U.S. record for the industry, generating about 312 megawatt-hours of energy, the second highest amount produced by any marine energy project and enough to power roughly a thousand homes. The pioneer thermoplastic composite blades not only survived their deployment, they did so swimmingly. The blades sustained no structural damage during their deployment, unlike their epoxy counterparts. And the material preserved all its pre-deployment strength, too. Although a software issue prevented the NREL team from saving some of the data collected by sensors on the turbine's blades, all their data collection hardwareincluding those sensors and the device used to store the datasurvived the harsh salt water. "Any time you do something for the first time, you kind of expect that it's not going to go perfectly, even if you do your best to address all the risks," Murray said. But apart from a last-minute software issue and a pandemic that prevented NREL folks from traveling to New York City, the trial went better than expected. "It was definitely encouraging to see how well the hardware performed under water," Murray said. But the river was just the start. Back in the lab, Paul Murdy, Robynne Murray, and team members perform tests to see if their recyclable thermoplastic resin could be a valuable material for tidal and wind turbine blades or other clean energy technologies. Credit: Joe DelNero (left) and Werner Slocum (right), NREL Now, back at the laboratory's Colorado home, Murray and team have already cut their thermoplastic blades off the hub and sliced them into what they call coupons, which are rectangular bits as small as stamps or as big as magazines. Even if the blades survived the river, the team wants to find their breaking pointliterally. For example, Murray and her crew plan to affix clamps to a coupon that will pull and pull and pull until the material snaps. Other coupons will soak in salt water to see how deep the water penetrates the material over time and whether that saturation impacts the material's strength. "We don't really know how saturated they were when we pulled them out of the water," Murray said. Normally, Murray explained, her team would have weighed the blades before and after the deployment to learn how much water they absorbed. But because the blades were already attached to the hefty hub, they could not get an accurate measurement of their weight. "Which is too bad," Murray said. "If there are things that we're seeing in the test results, is it because they had water ingress or is it just a natural change that happens to the materials?" That is what she and the team are trying to find out now. "We really need to fully understand how the material performs before we can decide if it's worth trying to adopt as an industry," Murray said. And she is not tackling that big, industry-altering question alone. "Now we get to do the investigative work," said Paul Murdy, a mechanical engineer at NREL and Murray's partner in chopping, snapping, and soaking novel marine energy materials, including the thermoplastic blades. The thermoplastic performed well thus far, Murdy said. Now, with their material manipulations, they can parse out exactly how the material differs from traditional go-tos, like epoxy composites. Although Murray does see thermoplastics as a potential way to build more sustainable, recyclable composite materials for wind and tidal turbine blades, she also acknowledges that these materials might not be the best choice for all energy applications. The materials tend to creep, meaning they could slowly deform over time. And, even if humans have put a whole lot of stuff under water, there is still much to learn about how newer materials, like thermoplastic composites, handle what can be a strenuous, salty environment. These post-deployment tests can help Murray and team, as well as marine energy companies, better understand how thermoplastics hold up. And that information could help determine whether they are well suited for wind and tidal turbines or even other renewable energy technologies. "It is a move in the right direction, toward better materials for the energy industry," Murray said. "And I do think there's going to be a place for thermoplastics. It's just a matter of what structures it'll be in." She and other materials experts at NREL are exploring other options, too, like a recyclable epoxy that can be plant-based and could rival petroleum-based products. "Today's materials are up to the challenge in terms of structural performance," Murray said. "But they are typically fossil-fuel-derived and not recyclable. So, whether it's thermoplastics or another recyclable material that takes off in the future, it matters where our materials are coming from." Related research is published in the journal Energies. More information: Robynne E. Murray et al, Toward the Instrumentation and Data Acquisition of a Tidal Turbine in Real Site Conditions, Energies (2023). DOI: 10.3390/en16031255 Journal information: Energies Foreign Minister Park Jin has hosted a dinner meeting for a visiting delegation of former and incumbent presidents of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and discussed ways to better address global challenges and bolster U.N.-led multilateralism, the foreign ministry said Friday. The delegation, led by Dennis Francis, president of the 78th session of the UNGA, was in Seoul this week on a three-day visit from Wednesday to attend a meeting of the Council of Presidents of the U.N. General Assembly (CPGA). The presidents' council was formed in 1997 to promote interagency cooperation at the U.N. and support U.N.-led peace, security and development initiatives. Former South Korean Prime Minister Han Seung-soo was elected as the CPGA chair in October last year for a three-year term. During the dinner that took place late Thursday, Park defined the present as a time of "polycrisis," and highlighted that South Korea will do its part to contribute to strengthening international peace and prosperity, according to the ministry. Park also expressed hope that South Korea will work closely with the presidents' council to bolster U.N.-led multilateralism and better respond to global challenges, pointing out the importance of a united and resolute response to North Korea's nuclear and missile provocations. (Yonhap) Texas A&M freshman Britney Romero will be honored at 9:30 tonight at Aggie Park after her tragic death last Sunday. The Mexican Student Association (MSA) asked students to wear pink in her honor and to show support to all her family and friends . From the very first MSA event that Britney came out to, she made an impact on not only members but officers as well, the Instagram post stated. We will be hosting an event to remember Britney this Thursday following our meeting. The MSA will host a general meeting at 8:30 p.m. before hosting their Britney Balloon Memorial where they will share words to commemorate the 18-year-old Baytown native's life. Romero fell to her death from a third-floor balcony at Dunn Hall in College Station. Autopsy results have not been released as an investigation into her death continues.
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Editors note: Voters have amended the Texas Constitution 517 times since 1876, and they will get the chance again Nov. 7. This is the 13th of a series of articles examining the intention and implications of the 14 amendments on the ballot. Texas voters will decide Nov. 7 on raising state judges mandatory retirement age from 75 to 79, a measure advocates say would allow courts to keep wisdom and experience of long-tenured judges. Texas legislators this year chose to put Proposition 13 on the Nov. 7 ballot so the Texas Constitution could be amended to make the change. The proposition, which was authorized by House Joint Resolution 107, states: The constitutional amendment to increase the mandatory age of retirement for state justices and judges. In McLennan County, the current age restrictions forced former 19th State District Court Judge Ralph Strother off the bench before he was ready. Strother retired at the end of 2020 with two years left in his six-year term. He was 77 at the time, but since he was younger than 75 when last elected, a provision in the Texas Constitution allowed him to serve until Dec. 31 of his fourth year in the term. If this amendment had been applicable when I was in office, I would have finished my last term, Strother said in an interview this month. McLennan County District Attorney Josh Tetens in early 2023 brought Strother back as a prosecutor, a role he continues at age 80. At 80, I can compete with younger lawyers in their 60s, and 70s in terms of performing the duties of a judge or a prosecutor, Strother said. The public would benefit from experienced judges holding office a little longer. Strother said that since judges are elected in Texas, voters could vote out of office any judge who passes his or her prime. HJR 107 passed the Senate 27-4, with Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, voting yes. The House passed it 141-5, with Charles Doc Anderson, R-Waco; and Angelia Orr, R-Hill County voting yes. Given todays longer life expectancies, 75 is no longer a reasonable age to mandate someone step down from the bench, a House committee analysis of Proposition 13 says. Critics of Proposition 13 have said it would be unnecessary because the current mandatory retirement age allows judges to serve for a sufficient period, according to the Focus Report of the Texas House of Representatives House Research Organization. Proposition 13 also could negatively affect public trust in the judicial system by introducing questions about the competency of older judges, the focus report says. Additionally, increasing the current mandatory retirement age is unnecessary because many competent, younger attorneys are available to fill the positions of retiring judges. This amendment would have no direct effect on when judges and justices could collect a retirement pension. Raymond James & Associates raised its holdings in Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:GHYB Free Report) by 0.7% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 219,975 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 1,517 shares during the period. Raymond James & Associates owned 0.10% of Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF worth $9,450,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of GHYB. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC raised its holdings in Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF by 69.6% in the 1st quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 975 shares of the companys stock valued at $42,000 after acquiring an additional 400 shares during the last quarter. UBS Group AG grew its holdings in Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF by 19.7% in the 1st quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 2,086 shares of the companys stock valued at $98,000 after buying an additional 344 shares during the period. OLD Mission Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF in the 4th quarter valued at about $106,000. Bank of America Corp DE grew its holdings in Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF by 50.2% in the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 3,849 shares of the companys stock valued at $161,000 after buying an additional 1,287 shares during the period. Finally, Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. grew its holdings in Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF by 100.0% in the 1st quarter. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. now owns 4,020 shares of the companys stock valued at $172,000 after buying an additional 2,010 shares during the period. Get Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF alerts: Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF Trading Down 0.4 % Shares of GHYB opened at $41.05 on Friday. The companys fifty day moving average is $42.24 and its two-hundred day moving average is $42.59. Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF has a fifty-two week low of $40.80 and a fifty-two week high of $44.04. About Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF The Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (GHYB) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in high yield fixed income. The fund tracks a broad-maturity, USD-denominated, high-yield corporate bond index selected by debt service and leverage. GHYB was launched on Sep 5, 2017 and is managed by Goldman Sachs. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GHYB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:GHYB Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEARCA:EFA Get Free Report) was the recipient of some unusual options trading activity on Wednesday. Investors acquired 135,526 put options on the company. This is an increase of 92% compared to the typical daily volume of 70,769 put options. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Price Performance Shares of EFA stock opened at $67.18 on Friday. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $69.94 and its 200-day simple moving average is $71.76. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF has a 52 week low of $56.22 and a 52 week high of $74.74. Get iShares MSCI EAFE ETF alerts: Institutional Trading of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Mutual Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 48.0% in the 2nd quarter. Mutual Advisors LLC now owns 47,507 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $3,444,000 after buying an additional 15,400 shares in the last quarter. KMG Fiduciary Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 8.5% in the second quarter. KMG Fiduciary Partners LLC now owns 27,656 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,005,000 after acquiring an additional 2,159 shares in the last quarter. Independent Advisor Alliance lifted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 7.5% in the second quarter. Independent Advisor Alliance now owns 8,634 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $626,000 after acquiring an additional 600 shares in the last quarter. Berkeley Capital Partners LLC boosted its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 29.4% in the first quarter. Berkeley Capital Partners LLC now owns 5,441 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $389,000 after purchasing an additional 1,236 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Graypoint LLC grew its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 4.4% during the 2nd quarter. Graypoint LLC now owns 19,972 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,448,000 after purchasing an additional 846 shares in the last quarter. 77.78% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Company Profile iShares MSCI EAFE ETF, formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Funds investment objective is to seek investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance of its underlying index, MSCI EAFE Index (the Index). The Index has been developed by MSCI Inc as an equity benchmark for its international stock performance. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC increased its stake in CONSOL Energy Inc. (NYSE:CEIX Free Report) by 27.4% during the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 34,477 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 7,407 shares during the quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLCs holdings in CONSOL Energy were worth $2,338,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of CEIX. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of CONSOL Energy in the first quarter valued at $257,000. ProShare Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of CONSOL Energy during the first quarter worth approximately $284,000. HighTower Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of CONSOL Energy during the first quarter worth approximately $315,000. Citigroup Inc. increased its stake in shares of CONSOL Energy by 6.3% during the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 29,430 shares of the companys stock worth $1,107,000 after buying an additional 1,739 shares during the period. Finally, Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund purchased a new stake in shares of CONSOL Energy during the first quarter worth approximately $1,091,000. 87.63% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get CONSOL Energy alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at CONSOL Energy In other CONSOL Energy news, insider Kurt R. Salvatori sold 6,097 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.24, for a total value of $489,223.28. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 10,498 shares in the company, valued at $842,359.52. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other CONSOL Energy news, insider Kurt R. Salvatori sold 6,097 shares of CONSOL Energy stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.24, for a total value of $489,223.28. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 10,498 shares in the company, valued at $842,359.52. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, General Counsel Martha A. Wiegand sold 10,000 shares of CONSOL Energy stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.33, for a total transaction of $803,300.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the general counsel now owns 38,843 shares in the company, valued at $3,120,258.19. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 35,113 shares of company stock worth $3,005,602 over the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 2.49% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, B. Riley lowered their target price on shares of CONSOL Energy from $84.00 to $81.00 in a research note on Monday, June 26th. View Our Latest Research Report on CEIX CONSOL Energy Price Performance Shares of NYSE CEIX opened at $106.36 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.40 billion, a PE ratio of 5.03 and a beta of 1.75. CONSOL Energy Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $49.35 and a fifty-two week high of $112.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16, a quick ratio of 1.16 and a current ratio of 1.40. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $94.78 and its 200-day simple moving average is $74.59. CONSOL Energy (NYSE:CEIX Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 8th. The company reported $4.94 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.43 by $0.51. The company had revenue of $660.97 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $588.20 million. CONSOL Energy had a net margin of 29.17% and a return on equity of 53.65%. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that CONSOL Energy Inc. will post 20.63 EPS for the current fiscal year. CONSOL Energy Company Profile (Free Report) CONSOL Energy Inc produces and exports bituminous coal in the United States. It operates through Pennsylvania Mining Complex and CONSOL Marine Terminal segment. The company's Pennsylvania Mining Complex segment engages in mining, preparation, and marketing of bituminous coal to power generators, industrial end-users, and metallurgical end-users. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CEIX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for CONSOL Energy Inc. (NYSE:CEIX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for CONSOL Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CONSOL Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. National Bank of Canada FI cut its holdings in shares of Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF (NYSEARCA:GSY Free Report) by 12.2% during the second quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 17,970 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,489 shares during the quarter. National Bank of Canada FIs holdings in Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF were worth $892,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. First Merchants Corp increased its holdings in shares of Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF by 29.8% during the 2nd quarter. First Merchants Corp now owns 428,184 shares of the companys stock worth $21,251,000 after acquiring an additional 98,216 shares during the last quarter. KWB Wealth bought a new position in Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF during the second quarter worth about $286,000. Beacon Investment Advisory Services Inc. increased its position in Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF by 26.5% during the second quarter. Beacon Investment Advisory Services Inc. now owns 134,428 shares of the companys stock worth $6,673,000 after acquiring an additional 28,149 shares during the period. C2P Capital Advisory Group LLC d.b.a. Prosperity Capital Advisors increased its position in Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF by 373.1% during the second quarter. C2P Capital Advisory Group LLC d.b.a. Prosperity Capital Advisors now owns 50,262 shares of the companys stock worth $2,495,000 after acquiring an additional 39,639 shares during the period. Finally, Birchcreek Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF during the second quarter worth about $230,000. Get Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF alerts: Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF Stock Up 0.1 % GSY opened at $49.81 on Friday. Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF has a twelve month low of $49.23 and a twelve month high of $49.85. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $49.75 and a 200 day simple moving average of $49.72. Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF Company Profile The Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF (GSY) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund seeks to outperform the Barclays Capital 1-3 Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index by investing in a diverse portfolio of investment-grade securities. GSY was launched on Feb 12, 2008 and is managed by Invesco. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GSY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF (NYSEARCA:GSY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG Free Report) Research analysts at KeyCorp raised their Q3 2023 earnings estimates for shares of EOG Resources in a note issued to investors on Monday, October 16th. KeyCorp analyst T. Rezvan now anticipates that the energy exploration company will earn $2.80 per share for the quarter, up from their prior estimate of $2.62. The consensus estimate for EOG Resources current full-year earnings is $11.41 per share. KeyCorp also issued estimates for EOG Resources FY2023 earnings at $11.28 EPS, Q1 2024 earnings at $3.14 EPS and FY2024 earnings at $11.71 EPS. Get EOG Resources alerts: A number of other analysts also recently commented on the stock. Sanford C. Bernstein downgraded shares of EOG Resources from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and dropped their target price for the stock from $155.00 to $146.00 in a report on Tuesday. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on shares of EOG Resources from $143.00 to $159.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, August 18th. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on shares of EOG Resources from $129.00 to $132.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Monday, October 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on shares of EOG Resources from $141.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, August 28th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of EOG Resources in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, EOG Resources presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $149.54. EOG Resources Trading Up 0.4 % Shares of NYSE:EOG opened at $136.24 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 2.39, a quick ratio of 2.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14. The company has a 50 day moving average of $129.05 and a 200-day moving average of $121.36. EOG Resources has a twelve month low of $98.52 and a twelve month high of $150.88. The firm has a market cap of $79.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.18, a P/E/G ratio of 0.41 and a beta of 1.55. EOG Resources (NYSE:EOG Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The energy exploration company reported $2.49 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.28 by $0.21. The company had revenue of $5.57 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.74 billion. EOG Resources had a net margin of 33.58% and a return on equity of 28.52%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 24.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.74 EPS. EOG Resources Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, October 17th will be paid a $0.825 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, October 16th. This represents a $3.30 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.42%. EOG Resourcess dividend payout ratio is presently 22.24%. Insider Buying and Selling at EOG Resources In other EOG Resources news, COO Lloyd W. Helms, Jr. sold 4,551 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.76, for a total value of $595,088.76. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 145,259 shares in the company, valued at approximately $18,994,066.84. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 0.30% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. CENTRAL TRUST Co raised its holdings in shares of EOG Resources by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 9,118 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $1,019,000 after purchasing an additional 74 shares in the last quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of EOG Resources by 3.0% during the 3rd quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 2,614 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $331,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. White Pine Capital LLC raised its holdings in shares of EOG Resources by 2.2% during the 4th quarter. White Pine Capital LLC now owns 3,942 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $511,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares in the last quarter. Inscription Capital LLC raised its holdings in shares of EOG Resources by 0.9% during the 2nd quarter. Inscription Capital LLC now owns 9,961 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $1,140,000 after purchasing an additional 86 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ignite Planners LLC raised its holdings in shares of EOG Resources by 2.3% during the 3rd quarter. Ignite Planners LLC now owns 3,766 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $446,000 after purchasing an additional 86 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 89.21% of the companys stock. EOG Resources Company Profile (Get Free Report) EOG Resources, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, explores for, develops, produces, and markets crude oil, and natural gas and natural gas liquids. Its principal producing areas are in New Mexico and Texas in the United States; and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The company was formerly known as Enron Oil & Gas Company. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for EOG Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for EOG Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. trimmed its stake in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF (NYSEARCA:BKLN Free Report) by 7.0% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 194,708 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 14,743 shares during the quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc.s holdings in Invesco Senior Loan ETF were worth $4,097,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Covestor Ltd increased its stake in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF by 186.1% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,156 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 752 shares during the period. Cambridge Trust Co. grew its stake in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF by 85.5% in the first quarter. Cambridge Trust Co. now owns 1,206 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 556 shares during the last quarter. Ahrens Investment Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF in the first quarter worth $26,000. AdvisorNet Financial Inc bought a new stake in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF in the first quarter worth $28,000. Finally, FSC Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF by 201.2% in the second quarter. FSC Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,548 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 1,034 shares during the period. Get Invesco Senior Loan ETF alerts: Invesco Senior Loan ETF Stock Down 0.3 % Invesco Senior Loan ETF stock opened at $20.96 on Friday. The stocks 50 day moving average is $21.04 and its 200 day moving average is $20.95. Invesco Senior Loan ETF has a one year low of $20.33 and a one year high of $21.27. Invesco Senior Loan ETF Company Profile The Invesco Senior Loan ETF (BKLN) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in high yield fixed income. The fund tracks a market-value-weighted index of senior loans issued by banks to corporations. BKLN was launched on Mar 3, 2011 and is managed by Invesco. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BKLN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Invesco Senior Loan ETF (NYSEARCA:BKLN Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Senior Loan ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco Senior Loan ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Canton Fair embraces more opportunities from BRI cooperation Xinhua) 08:23, October 20, 2023 This photo taken on Oct. 15, 2023 shows the booth of enterprise from Turkiye at the 134th session of the China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Deng Hua) GUANGZHOU, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- The 134th session of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, is providing more exhibition areas for Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partner countries, appealing to surging overseas buyers. Guangdong Xinbao Electrical Appliances Holdings Co., Ltd. is targeting more opportunities from international BRI cooperation this year than it has in previous sessions, for which it has added a specific exhibition area. "Overseas buyers from BRI partner countries have significantly increased," said Zhang Yifei, overseas project director of the company. Zhang expects that over 500 overseas buyers will come to negotiate, with approximately half coming from BRI partner countries. Xinbao is displaying nearly 600 new products, including robotic vacuum cleaners and intelligent trash bins, making its exhibit this year the largest in the company's more than 30 years of participating in the fair, according to Zhang. The latest session of the Canton Fair, which opened on Oct. 15 and will run until Nov. 4, has also set a new scale record. The total exhibition area has expanded to 1.55 million square meters, an increase of 50,000 square meters compared to the session prior. There is a total of 74,000 booths, with 28,533 exhibiting companies. The data shows that buyers from BRI partner countries have actively participated in the fair, with the proportion of relevant attendees increasing from 50.4 percent to 58.1 percent over the past decade. As of Wednesday afternoon, a total of 98,000 overseas buyers have joined the event, with significant growth from BRI partner countries. In addition to reaching deals with many companies from BRI partner countries at the fair, Xinbao is also actively expanding its overseas production bases. The company's factory in Indonesia has already started production, and it is expected to achieve sales in excess of 1 billion yuan (about 136.8 million U.S. dollars) by the end of the year. The Canton Fair has become an important platform for companies to explore the Belt and Road markets. As one of the first Chinese manufacturers to "go global," Chinese home appliances manufacturer Galanz Group has supplied products and services to nearly 200 countries and regions, with about a third of export sales coming from BRI partner countries. Russia is one of the most populous markets for Galanz, and was among its earliest. By leveraging a full industrial chain and local-team operations, Galanz has increased its microwave oven, dishwasher, refrigerator and other home appliance market shares in the Russian market. As early as 2004, Orbus &Teksan, a company specializing in portable energy storage systems in Turkiye, began participating in the Canton Fair and has now grown to become the largest of its kind in Turkiye. "Through the Canton Fair, we have found many long-term cooperative suppliers. A significant part of the company's achievements today should be attributed to the Canton Fair," said Sukru Ozdamar, the company's CEO. With the platforms brought by the Canton Fair, many BRI partner countries have purchased high-quality and cost-effective products from China and opened sales channels for their own specialty products in the country, achieving win-win results. Of this year's exhibitors, 650 are from 43 countries and regions other than China, with BRI partner countries accounting for 60 percent. Turkiye has organized 125 companies to participate, covering industries such as consumer electronics, hardware tools, building materials, furniture, household items and food. Altinboga Gas Equipments, a valve manufacturing company from Turkiye, is a frequent exhibitor at the fair. This year, it has brought more than 85 categories of products to exhibit. "The Canton Fair is the largest exhibition event for us, where we can negotiate with buyers from all over the world," said Hakan Yaylali, foreign trade manager, noting that 10 years ago, the company met a buyer from Chile at the fair and signed its largest order of the year. For Solex International (Thailand) Co., Ltd., its small booth of less than 10 square meters does not detract from its attractiveness at the Canton Fair. The client contact book of Thanyaluk Pitisettakarn, manager of the company's foreign trade department, was filled with business cards from nearly 200 overseas buyers in just three days, many of whom expressed their willingness to cooperate further. The Canton Fair provides a platform to showcase foreign companies and products to global buyers, and China makes great contributions by sharing this important market opportunity with the world, she said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Head of key UN body hopes N.Korea-Russia dialogue does not escalate inter-Korean tensions By Lee Hyo-jin The powerlessness of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in addressing international conflicts due to its veto-wielding members was highlighted once again after the council failed to adopt a Brazil-drafted resolution calling for humanitarian pauses in the Israel-Hamas war after the United States vetoed the measure, Wednesday. The ongoing deadlock of the UNSC that has prevented the body from effectively dealing with violation of international laws such as Russia's invasion on Ukraine and North Koreas nuclear provocations has prompted calls from many member states for a structural reform of the Security Council, the only U.N. body with the authority to issue binding resolutions. During his speech at the U.N. General Assembly in September, President Yoon Suk Yeol also expressed support for the reform while accusing Russia a permanent member of the council of suspected arms trade with North Korea. Dennis Francis, president of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), said the Security Council reform remains a key objective of the U.N. system, but official negotiations on the issue have not taken place yet. The UNGA is the main policymaking body of the U.N. "I wish I had a brilliant answer," Francis said during a press briefing in Seoul, Friday, when asked about the UNSC reform. "There has been a process of discussing what type of security council members would like to see. However, official negotiations on that score are yet to be commenced." "Please bear in mind that the reform of the council is going to be a process. It will not be an event. We won't awaken one morning, tomorrow morning or next week and discover that there is a new Security Council," he said. He then stressed the importance of South Korea's role as a non-permanent member of the UNSC beginning January 2024. The UNSC consists of five permanent members the U.S., the United Kingdom, China, France, Russia and 10 non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly for a term of two years. "I have every reason to believe that it (South Korea) is going to be an active and credible member of the Security Council given its own history and deep commitment to international peace and security," Francis said. Friday's press conference was held on the last day of Francis' three-day trip in Korea. It was his first official overseas travel as the UNGA president since taking office in September. On Thursday, Francis met with South Korea's Foreign Minister Park Jin, during which the two sides shared concerns about potential weapons trade between Russia and North Korea. "We did reference the fact that Russia and North Korea are having dialogue. Our hope is that out of that dialogue (between North Korea and Russia), nothing would be done or no new policy measures would be developed that would in any way increase tensions on the peninsula or violate the terms of the (Korean) Armistice Agreement," Francis said. During the meeting, Park called for multilateral cooperation in addressing human rights abuses in North Korea. But China's forced repatriation of North Korean defectors an issue that the South Korean government has been actively calling for international attention on was not included in the talks between Park and Francis, according to the latter. "Our conversation did not focus in any detail on the role of China in Korea, South Korea's relationship with North Korea. It was not discussed at all, Francis told reporters. Meanwhile, Francis hailed the South Korean government's decision to increase its official development aid (ODA) budget for 2024 by 40 percent at a record high of 6.8 trillion won ($5 billion). It's a very impressive number at a time when globally, resources from the wealthy countries seem to be increasingly reduced. But the Korean government has taken the strategic decision to act and to move in the opposite direction to help and support people living in desperate circumstances, he said. Francis also touched on the ongoing war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas, stressing the need for urgent humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip. "What we are facing is an international humanitarian catastrophe. And in those circumstances, those who suffer the most and bear the brunt of the costs of military engagement are civilians primarily ... women and children." Shell Asset Management Co. bought a new stake in shares of American Equity Investment Life Holding (NYSE:AEL Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 3,017 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $157,000. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Congress Asset Management Co. MA grew its stake in American Equity Investment Life by 1.3% in the second quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. MA now owns 50,627 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,638,000 after purchasing an additional 663 shares during the period. Creative Planning grew its stake in American Equity Investment Life by 28.6% in the second quarter. Creative Planning now owns 9,337 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $487,000 after purchasing an additional 2,074 shares during the period. Harvest Management LLC purchased a new stake in American Equity Investment Life in the second quarter worth $1,251,000. Denali Advisors LLC grew its stake in American Equity Investment Life by 34.3% in the second quarter. Denali Advisors LLC now owns 92,697 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,830,000 after purchasing an additional 23,700 shares during the period. Finally, Louisiana State Employees Retirement System boosted its holdings in American Equity Investment Life by 2.2% in the second quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 33,100 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,725,000 after acquiring an additional 700 shares in the last quarter. 94.98% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get American Equity Investment Life alerts: American Equity Investment Life Trading Down 0.6 % Shares of NYSE:AEL opened at $53.24 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $4.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.80 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.28 and a quick ratio of 0.28. American Equity Investment Life Holding has a 1 year low of $28.05 and a 1 year high of $54.44. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $53.60 and its 200-day moving average price is $47.47. Analyst Ratings Changes American Equity Investment Life ( NYSE:AEL Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 7th. The financial services provider reported $1.62 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.65 by ($0.03). The business had revenue of $851.60 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $646.06 million. American Equity Investment Life had a net margin of 18.55% and a return on equity of 15.52%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 600.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.98 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect that American Equity Investment Life Holding will post 6.45 earnings per share for the current year. AEL has been the topic of several analyst reports. Truist Financial downgraded American Equity Investment Life from a buy rating to a hold rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $49.00 to $55.00 in a report on Friday, July 14th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a sector perform rating and issued a $55.00 target price on shares of American Equity Investment Life in a report on Tuesday, August 8th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on American Equity Investment Life in a report on Thursday. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Raymond James downgraded American Equity Investment Life from a strong-buy rating to a market perform rating in a report on Wednesday, June 28th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $47.38. Get Our Latest Research Report on AEL Insider Buying and Selling at American Equity Investment Life In other American Equity Investment Life news, Director Robert L. Howe sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.16, for a total value of $270,800.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 78,282 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,239,753.12. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other American Equity Investment Life news, Director Robert L. Howe sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.16, for a total value of $270,800.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 78,282 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,239,753.12. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, VP Jeffrey D. Lorenzen sold 97,395 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $53.85, for a total value of $5,244,720.75. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 30,900 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,663,965. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 563,299 shares of company stock valued at $30,415,632. 1.83% of the stock is owned by company insiders. About American Equity Investment Life (Free Report) American Equity Investment Life Holding Company, through its subsidiaries, provides life insurance products in the United States. The company issues fixed index and rate annuities, as well as single premium immediate annuities. It markets its products through independent agents, including independent marketing organizations, broker/dealers, banks, and registered investment advisors. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AEL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for American Equity Investment Life Holding (NYSE:AEL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for American Equity Investment Life Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Equity Investment Life and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC raised its position in shares of First Horizon Co. (NYSE:FHN Free Report) by 103.6% in the second quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 93,634 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 47,640 shares during the quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLCs holdings in First Horizon were worth $1,055,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of FHN. BOKF NA bought a new position in shares of First Horizon during the 1st quarter worth approximately $30,000. Grey Fox Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of First Horizon during the 1st quarter worth approximately $34,000. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of First Horizon during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $37,000. FWL Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of First Horizon during the 4th quarter worth approximately $39,000. Finally, Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC bought a new position in shares of First Horizon during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $39,000. 76.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get First Horizon alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research firms have issued reports on FHN. SpectralCast restated a reinstates rating on shares of First Horizon in a report on Wednesday, June 28th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their target price on First Horizon from $14.00 to $12.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 10th. Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an equal weight rating on shares of First Horizon in a report on Wednesday, October 4th. Jefferies Financial Group cut their target price on First Horizon from $15.00 to $12.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 10th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on First Horizon in a report on Wednesday, June 28th. They issued a neutral rating on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $12.56. First Horizon Trading Up 1.0 % Shares of FHN opened at $11.19 on Friday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $11.67 and a 200 day moving average of $12.68. First Horizon Co. has a fifty-two week low of $8.99 and a fifty-two week high of $24.92. The firm has a market cap of $6.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.19 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a current ratio of 0.94. First Horizon (NYSE:FHN Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, October 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.27 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.24 by $0.03. First Horizon had a return on equity of 13.44% and a net margin of 24.64%. The business had revenue of $1.25 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $801.16 million. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.44 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that First Horizon Co. will post 1.4 EPS for the current year. First Horizon Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, October 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 15th were given a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 14th. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.36%. First Horizons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 31.75%. About First Horizon (Free Report) First Horizon Corporation operates as the bank holding company for First Horizon Bank that provides various financial services. The company operates through three segments: Regional Banking, Specialty Banking, and Corporate. It offers general banking services for consumers, businesses, financial institutions, and governments. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FHN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for First Horizon Co. (NYSE:FHN Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for First Horizon Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for First Horizon and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A group of landowners is seeking an emergency injunction from a federal appeals court that would pause construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline on their property while their lawsuit is pending. Three couples who own three tracts of land along the pipelines route are challenging the companys use of eminent domain, which it invoked in 2018 to take their land for the natural gas pipeline. Concerned about delays in the case, attorney Mia Yugo of Roanoke filed a request Tuesday for an injunction with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Bulldozers are on the property, Yugo said. MVP is causing daily irreparable injury to private property and hoping to finish the project before this constitutional case is heard. First filed in 2020, the case is the last remaining legal challenge to the controversial pipeline, which was delayed for years by litigation from environmental groups before Congress passed a law in May that fast-tracks its completion. The emergency motion asks the court to halt all construction on a tract in eastern Montgomery County owned by Cletus and Beverly Bohon, a tract on Bent Mountain in Roanoke County owned by Robert and Aimee Hamm, and a tract in Franklin County owned by Wendell and Mary Flora. Yugo asked for a ruling by Oct. 24, writing that irreparable injury escalates daily. The Bohons, Hamms and Floras are contesting the condemnation of their land by arguing that eminent domain which should be a legislative power was improperly delegated by Congress to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which governs interstate pipelines. Under the Natural Gas Act, FERC can allow private companies to take land if it finds a public necessity for their projects, which the commission did for Mountain Valley in 2017. The landowners claimed that Congress violated the separation of powers doctrine by delegating to FERC a power that it should have exercised itself, but was unwilling to do so because eminent domain is often a highly controversial practice. A federal judge in Washington, D.C., dismissed the case, ruling that he did not have jurisdiction. Yugo then appealed all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which revived the case in April and sent it back to the court of appeals. Less than two months later, Congress passed a law that averted a government default by raising the countrys debt ceiling. Tucked into the must-pass legislation was a provision green-lighting Mountain Valley. The Fiscal Responsibility Act ordered government agencies to issue all of the pipelines remaining permits, while forbidding any legal challenges of them. Mountain Valley then cited the law in asking the D.C. Court of Appeals to dismiss the landowners case. Yugo responded by challenging the constitutionality of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, arguing that Congress again violated the separation of powers doctrine, this time by intervening into a matter for the courts. In what Yugo said was stalling tactic, FERC and Mountain Valley asked for additional time to file a response. The court gave them until Nov. 13, meaning a decision in the case will likely not come until next year. Mountain Valley has said it hopes to complete construction of the 303-mile pipeline by the end of this year. Unless the court stops construction while it considers the case, Yugo argues, any legal relief for the landowners could come too late. The request for an injunction includes a sworn statement from Cletus Bohon, who says that construction workers have begun blasting, clearing trees and digging trenches for the buried pipeline close to his home on Yellow Finch Lane. My wife and I moved here for the peace and quiet, the declaration states. Now when we sit on our porch, instead of hearing the birds singing, we hear the sound of loud machinery. Beeping, clattering and pounding on rocks with jackhammers is what we endure all day. Meanwhile, pipeline opponents are continuing their efforts to block construction by gathering in the projects right-of-way and chaining themselves to heavy equipment. Three individuals from California, Minnesota and New York were charged with trespassing and other misdemeanors after a demonstration Monday near Elliston. Since construction resumed in July, there have been about a dozen arrests. Attacks leveraging the DarkGate commodity malware targeting entities in the U.K., the U.S., and India have been linked to Vietnamese actors associated with the use of the infamous Ducktail stealer. "The overlap of tools and campaigns is very likely due to the effects of a cybercrime marketplace," WithSecure said in a report published today. "Threat actors are able to acquire and use multiple different tools for the same purpose, and all they have to do is come up with targets, campaigns, and lures." The development comes amid an uptick in malware campaigns using DarkGate in recent months, primarily driven by its author's decision to rent it out on a malware-as-a-service (MaaS) basis to other threat actors after using it privately since 2018. It's not just DarkGate and Ducktail, for the Vietnamese threat actor cluster responsible for these campaigns is leveraging same or very similar lures, themes, targeting, and delivery methods to also deliver LOBSHOT and RedLine Stealer. Attack chains distributing DarkGate are characterized by the use of AutoIt scripts retrieved via a Visual Basic Script sent through phishing emails or messages on Skype or Microsoft Teams. The execution of the AutoIt script leads to the deployment of DarkGate. In this case, however, the initial infection vector was a LinkedIn message that redirected the victim to a file hosted on Google Drive, a technique commonly used by Ducktail actors. "Very similar campaign themes and lures have been used to deliver Ducktail and DarkGate," WithSecure said, although the function of the final-stage differs to a great extent. While Ducktail functions as a stealer, DarkGate is a remote access trojan (RAT) with information-stealing capabilities that also establishes covert persistence on the compromised hosts for backdoor access. "DarkGate has been around for a long time and is being used by many groups for different purposes, and not just this group or cluster in Vietnam," security researcher Stephen Robinson, senior threat intelligence analyst at WithSecure, said. "The flipside of this is that actors can use multiple tools for the same campaign, which could obscure the true extent of their activity from purely malware-based analysis." A new group, Expressive Pens and Voices, has gathered to showcase speakers, writers and readers. Expressive Pens & Voices is dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for individuals passionate about writing and speaking. By embracing the power of words, the group strives to inspire change, build community and celebrate the multifaceted world of literature and oration. While Grand Island is home base, members will meet on Zoom, with free membership open to all. Currently the group has members all over Nebraska and in Texas. There are educational guidelines to assist whatever your personal goal might be. Expressive Pens and Voice meets at 7 p.m. on Wednesday evenings. For a zoom link or for questions contact, Mary Ingram at 308-391-0501 or email volunteernebraska@gmail.com To celebrate the formation of this new group, Expressive Pens and Voices is sponsoring a live event at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25, at Grand Island City Hall, 100 E. First St. Barry Carlson will be the featured speaker. Carlson has been involved in speaking for over 40 years and is the founder of MidAmerica Speakers Bureau. Carlson will explain how speakers bureaus work, earning the right to speak, ways to discover and cultivate great content and will give tips for delivering an effective presentation. This will be a give-and-take presentation with audience participation encouraged. A woman was asked by a co-worker, What is it like to be a Christian? The co-worked replied, It is like being a pumpkin. God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off you. Then he cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate and greed. Then he carves you a new smiling face and puts his light inside you, to shine for all the world to see. Its awesome to think God picks us, chooses us to be His. In the Bible its called a covenant relationship. I will be your God and you will be my people. (Leviticus 26:12) It all goes back before we were born. We are reminded in Psalm 139:13-14, For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mothers womb for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. The second step is when God washes the dirt off and scoops out the yucky stuff. God cleans us on the outside and inside. Psalms 51:2 says, Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. God wont clean us out unless we are willing. I John 1:9 tells us, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive all our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Have you reached down to scoop out a pumpkin with your hand lately? It is pretty messy and yucky stuff, but God is willing to deal with all the yucky parts of our lives. Some years ago the United Methodist Bishop of West Virginia asked his preachers how many souls had been converted during that year. Now thats a very tempting question for preachers. It invites exaggeration. Each preacher reported their numbers and it got bigger and bigger. After the Bishop had gone halfway through the roll, he stopped and said: I see by the count that you already converted more people than there are in the entire state of West Virginia. There was a pause and then one preacher stood up and said, Well, Bishop, down in this part of the country youve got to convert them several times a year. God is preparing all the while for the last step. God puts his light inside us. God wants our lives to be a witness to others. Jesus said in John 8:12, I am the light of the world, the one who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. Jesus reminds us its our job to share the light, You are the light of the world let your light shine before everyone, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16) Are we sharing the light of God with others around us? Prayer: Our Lord, thank you for picking us and cleaning and forgiving us so we can share the warmth and light we have from you. Amen. Members of the Grand Lions Club get emotional when they talk about what bonds them to the Lions. Trish Curran was prompted to join the Lions after her 3-year-old son had his vision tested in preschool. Up until then, she had no clue that he had vision problems. After he got glasses, he saw a street light behind the back yard. Until then, he'd never known the light was there. Curran joined the Lions because she likes what the club does. Mike Geiger of Kearney, the Lions district governor, talks about a Kearney woman who needed surgery last year. The woman, who had cataracts, was unable to read. After being contacted by the woman's social worker, the Lions stepped up. With the help of the district, state and Nebraska Lions Foundation, the club was able to pay for her surgery. Geiger chokes up as he tells that story. Geiger also points out that his stepsister was blind since birth. A local Lions Club bought her new eyeballs. They did not help her vision, but helped with her appearance. At the time, Geiger was not a member of the Lions, but he was curious about them. One of his old college roommates took him to a meeting in 1983. That was that. Karl Hughes, who joined the Lions in 1964, recalls a young boy who needed his eyes checked. His parents resisted the idea, but the local Lions Club took care of it. His response was similar to the reaction of Curran's son. For the first time, he noticed a fence that had been there forever. At the time, Hughes felt he needed to be in a service organization, and he's been a Lion ever since. The members of the Grand Island Lions Club speak highly of the organization. The trouble is, there's not enough of them. The Grand Island club has nine dues-paying members. But the average attendance is only three or four. "In order for the Grand Island Lions Club to continue, we need to get members," Hughes says. The club meets the first and fourth Wednesdays of every month at the United Veterans Club, beginning at noon. Lunch is available. Alan Zwink believes that adults, especially those involved in business, should give back to their communities. A civic organization is a good way to do that, he said. Zwink, a Lion since 1985, encourages people to consider the Lions because "of all the things that our club does." Among other things, the club supports the Lions mobile screening unit. On Nov. 3, Lions members will test the vision and hearing of sophomores at Grand Island Senior High. The club also provides eye conservation, supports leader dogs and collects and recycles used eyewear and hearing aids. Other efforts involve supporting the Diabetes Foundation, the Easter Basket Extravaganza and Boys and Girls State scholarships. The Lions Club International Foundation battles onchocerciasis, commonly known as river blindness. A total of 1.4 million men and women belong to Lions Clubs International. There are more than 48,000 Lions clubs around the world. When disaster happens, "The Lions are usually the first ones there and last ones to leave," Hughes said. When fires hit northwest Nebraska earlier this year, the Lions donated $10,000. Karen Geiger didn't join the Lions until her husband became district governor. "I learned so much about what Lions are and what they do, and what a great organization they are," she said. Those who don't attend state conventions and other larger meetings don't realize all the good things that Lions do, she said. There's no need to attend every meeting, Karen Geiger says. Some people work on a specific project each year. Bob Smith joined a Lions Club when he moved to a new town and wanted to get to know people. He desired that his three kids would get involved in the organization and they have. Helping the community gives you a good feeling, Smith said. The Lions Club "has been a real blessing for me." When Smith helps with vision testing at schools, he's impressed with the quality of young people. He feels he's helping their future. If interested in the Lions, call Zwink at 308-383-1580 or Hughes at 308-583-2210. Those interested in attending a meeting can even get a free ride. "I'll come and pick them up," said Zwink, a retired insurance agent. If new people step forward, it's possible that a new club could be formed, with the Grand Island Lions Club as sponsors, Hughes said. Renee Miller thought she knew a lot about Heartland United Way until she took part in the United Ways annual tour of agencies. Visiting each of the 17 partner agencies, Miller was touched by the personal stories she heard of those helped through the United Way. When you visit the United Ways community partners, you just hear story after story of people that have been helped by these organizations, and you just see the impact that it makes in our community, she said. Renee and her husband, Mark, are the chairs of this years Heartland United Way campaign. Mark said the couple is invested in the health and vibrancy of Grand Island. We feel that its the job of its community members to help all the facets of Grand Island, and we think the United Way is really a great way to help out, he said. There is no easier way to assist the needy than by giving to United Way, he said. They do all the work, he said. People can have money deducted from their paychecks or just write a check to the United Way. Many of us dont know the individuals who need help. But the United Way makes that easy. They know, he said. A Heartland United Way video points out that United Way supporters help people they will never meet. The Millers have been involved with Heartland United Way for many years, but theyve never been campaign chairs before. They agreed to be co-chairs partly because of a phone call from DJ Eihusen, who chaired the 2021 campaign with his wife, Kathy. Referring to chairing the campaign, DJ Eihusen told Miller, Theres some work to it, but its very fulfilling. For 10 years, Mark Miller and Will Armstrong co-chaired the local Pacesetters campaign, asking local business leaders to have their companies support Heartland United Way. The businesses that support United Way the most have the full support and backing of leadership. Thats what makes it tick, Mark Miller said. As chairs, the Millers help those Pacesetter businesses get their campaigns going. Miller also works with the Builders Club, which consists of individuals whove supported past campaigns, asking them to keep the United Way at the top of their minds. We spend a lot of time identifying and evaluating folks that gave last year so we can write them a letter again this year and ask them to give again, Mark said. They also make phone calls and make personal visits. The chairs inform community members about the United Way, telling them why its good and asking them to not forget them, Mark said. All of the money donated to Heartland United Way stays in this area. The organization serves Hall, Hamilton, Howard and Merrick counties. Doing mission work for her church, Renee visited places where there are no resources available to help needy people. Some might be without food, or they might be victims of domestic violence. But theres no place for them to turn, she said. Grand Island is fortunate to have so many wonderful organizations that provide help, Renee said. Without money, those nonprofits wouldnt be able to help people and fulfill their missions, she said. Mark and Renee Miller have lived in Grand Island since 1993. He is the president and CEO of Eakes Office Solutions. She is a retired cardiac nurse. Both are natives of the Sutherland area. Married for 36 years, they have three children and five grandchildren. Mark Miller said it is our true pleasure to be chairs of this years campaign. Its good to be able to connect people in the business community with those who need help. Its really an honor and pleasure, he said. Weve always thought we were engaged in our community, Renee said. But their United Way involvement has made them more aware. Theyve learned not only about the diversity of people in need, but also about how generous people are, he said. You dont realize how many people give, he said. Its pretty cool, he said. A Lincoln mother is seeking a protection order against Lancaster County's chief deputy sheriff, who hit and hospitalized her 9-year-old daughter as she rode her bike in northwest Lincoln in May, according to a court filing Wednesday. A district court judge set a hearing on her request later this month when both sides can appear. And on Thursday, Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner said there was an internal investigation into the allegation made by Tiarrah Moton, who already has filed a civil lawsuit against Chief Deputy Ben Houchin in connection to the crash. In the request for a protection order filed Wednesday, Moton said she and her family had no interaction with Houchin, who is a neighbor, prior to May 10. "Then after the accident, the issues slowly got worse," she said. Moton said after she filed the lawsuit, Houchin started to record and have stare-downs with her and family members "when prior to it he never did." She said she thinks he's trying to intimidate her family or get them to react or talk with him and her children are afraid to be outside. "I'm tired of quietly living in fear of this man," Moton wrote. "I just want it to stop so my kids can be normal again." She said on Oct. 1, Houchin recorded her and her children, then gestured like "what?" to her. She said she reported the interaction to Lincoln Police. Then, she said, on Tuesday he and a friend sat in a vehicle at the edge of her driveway for about 10 minutes, until she walked outside. She said he got out of the backseat, stared at her and walked up to his home two houses away. In a suit filed in June, her attorney, Vince Powers, accused Houchin of driving his Dodge Ram pickup truck too fast for conditions the evening he crashed into 9-year-old Janiece Moton in the Highlands neighborhood in northwest Lincoln. The injured girl was hospitalized for five days with a skull fracture, a brain bleed and other injuries. Houchin, who was off duty and driving his personal truck, told investigators he had been driving around 20 mph (under the 25 mph speed limit) when he struck her. She was not wearing a helmet, according to the crash report. In May, Houchin declined to comment on the crash itself, saying he wanted to keep his response to the incident "personal" and not conflate it with his role as chief deputy sheriff. The chief deputy told police he had looked down for a "split second" to change his radio station and the girl came out of nowhere. There are no stop signs on either side of the three-way intersection. Nine days after the crash, the police department said Houchin would not face criminal charges for his role in the collision. Following the crash, Sheriff Terry Wagner said the early information from the sheriff's office's internal investigation into the crash suggested Houchin had not violated any agency policies. The sheriff said he stopped at the scene, rendered aid and had cooperated with police. Houchin didn't return a message seeking comment on the protection order request. The number of registered hunters in Nebraska The number of registered hunters in Nebraska CARBONDALE The political careers of a well-known Illinois political father-son duo and a special program that looks to the next 25 years of SIU's Paul Simon Public Policy Institute is set for Oct. 30. An Illinois Political Family: A Conversation with Congressman Darin LaHood and former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood will be at 6 p.m. in the SIU Student Center Auditorium. A reception will be at 5 p.m. in the Student Centers International Lounge. RSVP by Monday, Oct. 23, is encouraged but not required. We expect our conversation with them will shed light on recent Illinois political history and give us a sense of how the state can meet future challenges, said John Shaw, institute director. This will be the first time that the LaHoods have done a joint public event, and we expect a fun and free-wheeling exchange. Ray LaHoods 36-year career in public service included representing Illinois 18th congressional district, which included Peoria, from 1995 to 2009. A Republican, LaHoods bipartisan approach was widely respected, and he served as the U.S. Department of Transportation secretary under President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013. Ray LaHood is the author of the 2015 book Seeking Bipartisanship: My Life in Politics and is a senior adviser to the Dirksen Congressional Center in Pekin. LaHoods son, Darin, has represented Illinois 18th congressional district since 2015. Following redistricting, LaHood was drawn into the states new 16th congressional district, which includes 21 counties in central and northwestern Illinois and more than 725,000 residents. Initially sworn in after winning a special election in 2015, Darin LaHood won a fourth full term in November 2022. A former federal and state prosecutor, Darin LaHood served four years in the Illinois state senate before his election to Congress. His committee assignments include the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Event celebrates institute The program will celebrate the institutes first 25 years and look to the future. Former U.S. Senator Paul Simon created the public policy institute after he retired from the Senate in 1997 and served as its director until his death in December 2003. Simons daughter, Sheila, an assistant professor at the SIU School of Law, and his son, Martin, are both involved with the institute, with Martin Simon serving as chair of the institutes board of counselors. Sheila Simon believes her father would be really pleased with what is being discussed at the policy institute and thrilled that it is still thriving as an SIU student experience, she said. He would also be absolutely thrilled with the virtual discussions with political leaders and authors that more people are now able to attend. When exploring the idea of starting a public policy institute, Paul Simon was given an option to teach at other schools with larger endowments, but he wanted to be at SIU Carbondale. He liked the students here and wanted to make sure that students who didnt have every advantage coming into the college would be the ones who would learn about politics and government, and be inspired to do that themselves, she said. Looking to future While the institute is acknowledging past accomplishments, Shaw noted it is also planning ahead. We are thinking about and preparing for the next 25 years, he said. The institute will continue to promote constructive and future-oriented public policies and encourage students to consider careers in public service. Paul Simons remarkable career points the way to a better approach to politics and governance in Illinois and across the United States. Sheila Simon believes the institute continues her fathers vision in an ongoing way. What he wanted to achieve was having more conversations about policy and about the future of our state and our country and bring more people into that conversation, she said. I think that all of those are being accomplished on a regular basis. Foundation was respect Sheila Simon noted that her father would certainly would have admired Ray LaHoods spirit of being a Republican working with Democrats. Paul Simons foundation for bipartisanship was respect, she said. Dad had respect for people who had firmly held beliefs, even if they were different than his, and was willing to always see how we can work together, she said. Attendees are encouraged to submit questions for the LaHoods on the registration form or email questions to paulsimoninstitute@siu.edu. More information, a list of the institutes upcoming events, and past speakers and events are available. At UN, Seoul refrains from criticizing Beijing over repatriation, Xinjiang issues By Jung Min-ho South Koreas rejection of joining other countries in condemning Beijing over key human rights issues at the United Nations is drawing criticism, with many activists expressing disappointment over its hollow promise regarding values-based diplomacy. According to rights groups on Friday, South Korea refused to join the United States, Japan and 49 other member states in a joint statement voicing concerns over the arbitrary and discriminatory detention of Muslim minorities in Xinjiang, northwestern China, at a session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, Wednesday (local time). Hwang Joon-kook, South Koreas top envoy at the U.N., also omitted the name of China when he was calling for international support to protect the rights of North Korean escapees who were forcibly repatriated last week by Chinese authorities. He obliquely stated that the incident occurred in a third country. By refusing to directly mention the countrys name, South Korea gave China an opportunity not to clarify its position on the issue at a later session. For the families of those repatriated and rights advocates, the precious opportunity to listen was squandered, Shin Hee-seok, a representative of Transitional Justice Working Group, a Seoul-based rights organization, told The Korea Times. There seems to be little political will to resolve the issue, which I believe demonstrates how little value the government places on the lives of North Korean people. Peter Jung, head of Justice for North Korea, another Seoul-based group, said the way South Korean diplomats handled the international human rights issues on the U.N. platform was a big disappointment, to say the least. He said it was tantamount to an insult to everyone who cares deeply about the issue. The administration under President Yoon Suk Yeol has promoted its value-based diplomacy, with human rights on the top of the priority list. But its reluctance suggests that it may not be much different from the previous administration, which was largely silent on issues like its own deportations of North Korean fishermen, Jung said. If the administration is to pursue value-based diplomacy, it should not be afraid of telling the truth about the violations of the victims human rights under the universal international law. In the joint statement, led by the United Kingdom, the participating countries said Chinas human rights violations in Xinjiang include large-scale arbitrary detention and systematic use of invasive surveillance on the basis of religion and ethnicity among many others. Such practices may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity, they noted. At an afternoon session, Zhang Jun, Chinas envoy there, strongly refuted those accusations, but he made no mention of the deported North Koreans. Beijing has avoided responding to calls to stop its decades-long practice of repatriating all North Korean escapees caught, which resumed recently after three years of the regimes extreme pandemic isolation. Rights activists and experts on foreign policy said the Yoon governments effort to improve its diplomatic relationship with China may be the reason behind its unwillingness to openly talk about its human rights situation, to which Beijing tends to react sensitively. Japanese media outlets reported on Thursday that South Korea proposed holding top-level diplomatic talks with Japan and China late next month. In a high-level meeting of foreign officials last month, the three countries agreed to resume their trilateral summit at the earliest convenient time and swiftly convene a ministerial meeting for preparations. WASHINGTON, D.C. After using a prime-time speech Thursday night to condemn antisemitic and Islamophobic violence in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war, President Joe Biden spoke to the father of Wadea Al-Fayoume, the 6-year-old Will County boy stabbed to death in a hate crime attack against the Muslim boy and his mother. In a statement following the national address, the White House said Biden and first lady Jill Biden spoke to Al-Fayoumes father and uncle and expressed their deepest condolences to the family and their prayers that Wadeas mother, Hannan Shahin, makes a full recovery. Biden and his wife also expressed their commitment to keep speaking out against anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab, and anti-Muslim hate and violence, the White House statement said. Biden invoked the childs death and the serious wounding of his mother during the speech, in which he sought to explain the strategic need to combat terrorism in both Israel by Hamas and in Ukraine orchestrated by Russia. His name was Wadea, Biden said during the speech from the Oval Office. Wadea, a proud American, a proud Palestinian-American family. We cant stand by and stand silent when this happens. Wadeas mother, Hanaan Shahin, 32, was seriously injured in the same attack that killed her son in their home in unincorporated Plainfield Township. The suspect, 71-year-old Joseph Czuba, was the familys landlord. Will County prosecutors said Monday that Czuba had attacked the pair after growing heavily interested in the Israel-Hamas conflict through conservative talk radio. He is charged with multiple criminal offenses, including two counts of hate crimes. Wadeas death and Shahins injuries drew condemnations from politicians throughout Illinois and the U.S. as droves of people attended the boys funeral and a subsequent vigil honoring his life. Biden described the stabbings as brutal and called for compassion in his Thursday address. When fear and suspicion, anger and rage run hard, we have to work harder than ever to hold onto the values who make us who we are, he said. I know many of you in the Muslim American community, the Arab American community, the Palestinian American community and so many others are outraged and hurting and saying here we go again with the Islamophobia and distrust we saw after 9/11. Since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas in Israel that left about 1,400 Israelis dead and almost 200 taken hostage, religious and community leaders have sought calm, fearing a rise of attacks targeting Muslims and Jewish people. In DuPage County, a judge on Thursday ordered a Lombard man charged with two counts of hate crime detained pending trial after authorities accused him of threatening to shoot two Muslim men outside his suburban apartment building. Photos: Pritzker Military Archives Center FLORENCE, S.C. Convicted cop killer Fred Hopkins will spend the remainder of his natural life in a South Carolina prison, a sentence about which his victims and family members of his victims have thoughts. Circuit Court Judge Eugene Griffith Jr. during a Thursday afternoon hearing in Florence sentenced Hopkins to seven consecutive sentences a life sentence for the murder of Florence Police Sgt. Terrence Carraway and another life term for the murder of Florence County Sheriff's Office investigator Farrah Turner. He got 30-year sentences on five attempted murder charges. The sentences came after victims and family members delivered victim-impact statements to Hopkins and Griffith. The statement contained hard-to-hear details about their injuries, their continuing recovery and the empty spaces left in the Carraway and Turner families. A day before the shooting, Hopkins told members of his pub trivia team that his family was being torn apart and that if any law enforcement were to approach his home, he would shoot them, Solicitor Ed Clements told Griffith based on sworn testimony he was willing to present. Clements also told the court that he was prepared to offer testimony that during a monitored phone call, Hopkins referred to killing Turner as "just taking out the trash." Hopkins, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, armed himself in a hardened location downstairs and fired at the deputies as they stood on his porch. He kept shooting as more officers rushed to the scene to save their comrades. The shooting started as part of an investigation in which deputies initially gathered in the parking lot at a West Florence Fire Rescue station on Hoffmeyer Road in preparation of serving a warrant. Investigators Oct. 3, 2018, initially contacted Hopkins' wife, who told them she'd be at the house in about 15 minutes, according to court testimony. Deputies decided to roll ahead of the wife, worried that the additional time could lead to the destruction of evidence. Turner and four other deputies went to Hopkins' home in Vintage Place subdivision as part of a child abuse investigation and, after knocking on his door, came under fire. Calls of "officer down" brought help, which also came under fire at close and distance range. Turner, shot initially knocking at the door, was shot a second time during this period when she had fallen to the ground. Deputy Sara Miller was shot. Carraway was shot in his cruiser upon arrival. Deputy Arie Davis Chandler was shot. Florence Police Officer Scott Williamson was shot as he arrived. Florence Police Officer Travis Scott was shot at about a 300-foot range, as was Florence Police Office Brian Hart. Other officers and deputies came under a seemingly endless fusillade of lead as they tried to get their fellow officers to safety. So many rounds were fired that it took up to 30 minutes to get an armored vehicle close enough to rescue the wounded officers. Hopkins used three firearms in the ambush, and more than 100 guns were found in his home. The Hopkins residence was situated such that anyone at the home had a commanding field of fire several blocks deep that made it a challenge to approach the home. Officers and deputies testified to having been rescued from the field by pickup trucks and the sheriff's office's MRAP and then removed from the field of fire to be taken to area hospitals. Carraway died that night at a hospital. Turner died 19 days later at a hospital. Hopkins was initially charged under the state's death penalty law, something Solicitor Ed Clements explained was justified with Hopkins having killed a law enforcement officer, two in this instance, and having killed more than one person in the same event. Clements argued that a sentence of anything less would be an insult to those involved in the ambush. Hopkins' court appearance earlier during which he pleaded guilty was unannounced and reporters following the widely publicized case were not in the courtroom in Aiken County, some 120 miles from where the attack occurred in October 2018. Griffith and Clements, at different points in the hearing, explained the unusual circumstances of the plea. The guilty plea came just a few days past the five-year anniversary of the shooting. The move to plea came after Hopkins talked with David Ferrier, who works with Vietnam veterans. Griffith and Clements both said there was quick action on the part of the state to accept the plea and Aiken was where it happened. Some police officers and some family were present for the guilty plea. Clements said the move to the life-in-prison approach was unanimously supported by the victims and their families. To continue to pursue the death penalty risked that Hopkins would die before there was resolution in the form of a conviction, Clements said. One of the subjects of the investigation, the son, 33-year-old Seth Hopkins, pleaded guilty in 2019 to second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor and is serving 20 years in prison. In their victim-impact statements, several lamented that, for Hopkins, his life sentence would likely be short. Several, though, suggested what should come following the completion of his sentence and suggested hell would be the best place for him to serve eternity. I'm lucky to be standing here Florence County Sheriff's investigator Ben Price led the approach of two marked and three unmarked cruisers to the Hopkins house. "We were met with bullets," Price said. "I'm fortunate to be standing here. Some aren't." Price said he was able to escape the shooting on the porch and sheltered up against the Hopkins home in a spot that was out of sight of Hopkins as he fired at deputies. "We were just there to do our job," he said. Price had a good view of what happened next. The investigator alluded to Hopkins' plans to possibly use his post-traumatic stress disorder from his service in Vietnam as his defense. Price has returned to active duty. He said he now has PTSD. Gunned down Sara Miller said in delivering her statement that she hopes Hopkins burns in the fires of hell. Shot once as she stood on the porch, Miller was able to crawl out of the immediate line of fire and sheltered behind a pickup until the MRAP arrived to retrieve her. Miller was hit in the abdomen, where the bullet did a lot of damage. The smell of blood, hers, and gunshots were two of the things Miller said she still remembers. She said she was there when Turner was shot a second time. Miller said she remembers passing in and out of consciousness as she was taken by ambulance to a hospital. She also testified about the time she spent on a ventilator, about rehabilitation, being a 30-year-old with an ostomy bag and about the wound vac she had to wear for several months after the shooting. Miller has returned to active duty. Has cried herself to sleep Deputy Arie Davis Chandeler said there are nights she's OK, other nights she cries herself to sleep. Chandeler was also shot while standing on the porch and didn't need anyone to tell her she'd been shot. Chandeler credited Deputy Chase McDaniel, who was not in the initial spray of bullets, with helping her get out of the field of fire. Chandeler, hit in the leg, testified that she had to learn to walk again and will have other surgeries ahead of her as she ages. They were fellow officers Scott Williamson was off duty and on his way home when the "officers down" call came across the radio and he rolled to assist. "Didn't know who was there. Didn't care. They were fellow officers," Williamson said. Williamson said upon arrival at the firefight, a law enforcement officer waved him off and that likely saved his life. As it was, Williamson was shot in the head, lost control of the right side of his body, hit the accelerator and drove into one of the Vintage Place homes where he remained pinned until he was later rescued. Williamson said he next recalled the voice of a deputy who was trying to get him out of his cruiser and into the back of a pickup, where he received initial medical care while being driven out of the field of fire and to an ambulance. Williamson said he remembered asking the doctors in the emergency department to clean up his face so his wife didn't see him looking like that. Williamson was initially treated at a Florence hospital for two weeks before being flown to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, where he learned to walk again, initially with a walker, then a cane and then unassisted. The veteran officer said he still suffers problems with his right side. "For five years I've thought about what I would say," Williamson said of his statement. "There is no justice in this." "It wouldn't matter if he was 20 years old, there'd be no justice," Williams said of Hopkins. "Nothing can fix this." Pissed off then and now Florence Police officer Travis Scott, like others, heard the "officer down" call and responded. Scott said he followed fellow officer Brian Hart into the incident, the two stopped and Scott went to the trunk of his cruiser to get a rifle and that was when, at a range of about 300 yards, he was shot in the leg. He said as he was shot, his military training kicked in and he was able to quickly get to shelter and waved off several nearby firefighters standing their engine who saw him get shot and were heading his way. Scott indicated to the firefighters he and Hart would come to them. Hopkins, to make a 300-yard shot, had to first acquire a target, then sight down the barrel on him and pull the trigger none of which is a spur-of-the-moment action, Scott said. "I was pissed off then and pissed off now," Scott told the court. The officer said Hopkins has had five years since the initial incident and all he wanted was five minutes. Vengeance, though, Scott said, belongs to the Lord. Right in the hand Hart, who led in Scott, said his shift ended at 3 p.m. but he had to stay over to finish up a DUI arrest. When he initially rolled up, he said. it was quiet and it felt like it was over. He was walking over to Scott when Scott was hit, as was Hart, who was shot in the hand. When he was shot, Hart said, he didn't even know from where he was taking fire and as he sheltered by his cruiser, he worried he was just waiting to be murdered. Hart told the court that he still has problems with his hand. Lost her best friend Allison Carraway, widow of Terrence Carraway, led her family in testimony, followed by several others. "Terrence was there less than two minutes before he was killed," she testified. Carraway described her husband missing out on seeing his son get married, something he helped plan. He also missed the birth of his first grandchild. An Air Force veteran, Carraway was a key player in many Darlington civic activities and youth sports. His name is attached to an annual 5K that's the first race run as part of Darlington Raceway's Labor Day Weekend races. Proceeds from the race go to the Terrence Carraway Foundation. His murder did nothing but elevate his name and reputation in the Pee Dee and around the world, she said. "I close my eyes and see his big, bright smile throwing up his deuces," Carraway said. "We have made it over this hurdle and we will carry on," she said. "When you decided to pull the trigger Oct. 3, your life sentence and final destination were set," Carraway told Hopkins. "My husband's goal in law enforcement was to serve and protect," she said. He died doing just that. "Justice will prevail and this evil man will be destroyed," son Terrence Rashad Carraway said. Rashad said as a result of the shooting, he has trouble sleeping and trusting people. Brother Daniel Blathers works in the building beside the law offices of Hopkins' wife, which serves as a daily reminder of what was taken from him. "I know God has a bigger plan," Blathers said. "Pure evilness was in the house that day," Blathers said as he read a statement from Carraway's sister. Several other Carraway family members also spoke. The funeral all over again Turner's mother, Katie Godwin, was too emotional to deliver her statement, which was then read by family member Brittany Weaver. "It feels like her funeral all over again," Godwin wrote in the statement. Godwin and others stood and sat by Turner as she fought for her life from a hospital bed. "He showed no remorse for killing two and trying to kill five others," Godwin wrote in her statement. "Shameless coward." "I hope the general population treats you the way you deserve the rest of your worthless life," Godwin said through her statement of Hopkins' time in prison. Turner, like Carraway, lives on through a foundation and is also the namesake of a 5K race. "She died as she lived, fighting to protect others," April Godwin, sister, said of Turner. Twin-bother Ferrell Turner had his statement read by a family member. "She was doing what the citizens of Florence County expected her to do, investigating crimes against children," her aunt Linda Goodwin Weaver said. Weaver said Hopkins should "burn in hell one day, preferably sooner rather than later." Former sheriff's office investigator and now-Timmonsville City Manager Thomas McFadden said he had been scheduled to work that day but needed to change shifts. As events played out, McFadden said he reached out to her family so they could hear the news from a friend before it became widespread knowledge. Florence Police Chief Allen Heidler and Florence County Sheriff T.J. Joye wrapped up impact statements. Change of plans "Hopkins deserves the death penalty," Clements said. "We didn't want him to escape judgment. We wanted him to go out as a convicted murderer." "We had what we needed to go for the death penalty, we just didnt have the time," Clements said of the case, which started before the COVID-19 pandemic and pleaded out afterwards. Hopkins, as of Thursday, has served the first 1,842 days of his life sentence, Clements said. Hopkins, for his part, declined to make a statement and did little more than look at the defense table for the three-or-so hours the hearing took. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is investigating a report of a criminal sexual assault in a South Carolina State University dorm. S.C. State issued a lockdown alert to students and employees at 9 p.m. Wednesday after Campus Police were contacted. The lockdown was lifted at 11:30 p.m. The incident occurred at Hugine Suites, a co-ed dormitory, according to an Orangeburg Department of Public Safety incident report. A female witness reported that a resident knocked on the door because shed forgotten her key. When the witness opened the door, a stranger pushed the door open and entered with the resident and two or three other males. The witness then went to take a shower. A second witness told officers that when she went upstairs to the residents room, she heard her screaming and crying. The second witness said the residents door opened and the stranger exited. Orangeburg County EMS was taking the resident from campus as an ODPS officer arrived at the scene. Campus police told the ODPS officer that the suspect possibly left the scene on foot or in a gold sedan. Other female students described him as a black male approximately 5-foot-7 and wearing black pants, a white shirt with writing on it and Nike Air Force One sneakers. His hairstyle resembled short twists. SLED, with the assistance of S.C. State University Campus Police, is continuing its investigation, according to agency spokesperson Renee Wunderlich. Tips may be sent to SLED at tips@sled.sc.gov. Sonja Bennett-Bellamy, S.C. States vice president for communications, marketing and strategic alliances, said the administration takes this report seriously and responds to all allegations brought to its attention. The university says it has a zero-tolerance policy regarding serious criminal acts. Bennett-Bellamy said that over the last two years, S.C. State has implemented numerous initiatives to enhance safety on the campus. Improvements include: More than 700 security cameras have been installed on campus. Twenty-seven emergency call boxes have been placed in key locations. A comprehensive lighting improvement program is ongoing. The university is recruiting additional security personnel, including sworn police officers. Additional patrols have been added to monitor the campus perimeter. The university says it continues to educate students about best practices for maintaining safety and security both on and off campus. These include walking in groups after dark, locking residence hall doors and vehicles, locking up valuables in secure locations and making sure all visitors are well known by them. Students are encouraged to contact Campus Police at 803-378-4754 or dial 911 to report situations of emergency or criminal activity. Campus residents also are encouraged to report complaints to the residence hall supervisory staff. South Carolina State University alumnus and faculty member Willie Bradley has received the Presidents Lifetime Achievement Award, a civil volunteer service award bestowed by the president of the United States. Willie Bradleys commitment to community exemplifies the core values we hold dear at South Carolina State University, SC State President Alexander Conyers said. His achievements as a musician are reason enough for us to celebrate this loyal son, but Mr. Bradleys dedicated service history gives us many more reasons to be proud. It should be no surprise to anyone that he has received one of our nations highest honors. I extend congratulations on this award and thanks for everything Mr. Bradley does for his alma mater and the community, Conyers said. The highest level in the Presidents Volunteer Service Award program, the Presidents Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes people who have exemplified the willingness to provide a high level of humanitarian experience to their communities and the nation. Bradleys name will be included in President Joe Bidens White House Archives alongside others whose selfless dedication has been assets to those in need. A jazz artist, Bradley is an instructor and artist in residence in SC States Department of Visual and Performing Arts in the College of Education Humanities and Social Sciences (CEHSS). Over the years, Mr. Bradley has used his talent, skillset and knowhow in service to his community, state, alma mater and the nation, said Dr. M. Evelyn Fields, CEHSS dean. He has been a wonderful asset to our music program. He is well respected by his colleagues and appreciated by his students for the experience he brings to the classroom. I am honored and proud to work with him on a daily basis. Bradley is an Orangeburg native. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in music education and a Bachelor of Arts degree in performance from SC State. He received the universitys Distinguished Alumnus Award for 2022. Bradley is influential with assisting his students with artist development skills, while providing them with a solid foundation that will assist them with becoming successful artists in the music industry. He has featured several of his music industry students in his community jazz concerts, which has given them the experience of a lifetime. Last year, Bradley discovered there was a great need for scholarships to help students in his department who needed financial assistance. Consequently, he established the Willie E. Bradley, Jr. Scholarship Foundation, which will support music industry students at SC State. In 2021 and 2022, Bradley promoted three community jazz concerts that raised money for the endowment scholarship fund, which featured SC State music industry students. Bradleys community activities have included: Working with the South Carolina Institutes of Innovation and Information (SCIII), which was established by the late Honorable Senator John L. Scott Jr. to develop academic specialty institutes at seven HBCUs in South Carolina. Bradley has also taken a leadership role with the planning and implementation of the annual South Carolina HBCUs President's Forum, where the presidents of the HBCUs meet to discuss their individual SCIII Institutes. A leadership role in a special project with Office of Regulatory Systems that aimed to improve the broadband capacity in rural areas in South Carolina. Recently the program was awarded $24 million for Orangeburg and Bamburg rural communities in South Carolina to improve broadband and internet access. As a Life Member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., his work has included local, district and international Talent Hunt committees; OMEGA STEM, an initiative is designed to encourage students worldwide to become excited about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; spearheading the Scholarship Committee, which awarded scholarships to over 2,000 high school seniors; and the Fatherhood Mentoring Initiative for at-risk male youth. Holding life membership in the NAACP, he has led the Thanksgiving and Christmas basket give-a-ways to feed over 5,000 families for the last ten years. Every year since 1995, Bradley has adopted a family by purchasing gifts for the entire family. He has actively worked every year since 1995 with voter registration in various communities and has also worked at the voting polls. Bradley received the Superior Service Award and Citizen of the Year for his continued and dedicated service to the community. Bradley is a certified substance abuse counselor and is passionate about helping individuals who are sick and suffering from alcohol and drug addiction. Every year since 1990, he has donated music instruments for local music middle school students and offered music lessons at no expense to the families. In 1994, Bradley and Company, which is one of his companies, held a spring recital which featured the students that received the donated instruments. Over the course of his music career, he has become a go-to musician for many of musics greats over the years. His music reaches worldwide and can be heard on Smooth Jazz radio stations including Sirius XM, Music Choice, Pandora, Spotify, and iHeart Radio. Bradley has recorded six successful Contemporary Jazz projects and is completing his seventh CD. Bradleys musical productions have been considered for two Grammy Awards. He had two No. 1 Billboard Smooth Jazz Hits and he was selected as Beats Magazines 2021 Smooth Jazz Artist of the Year by The Smooth Jazz Network. His stage presence includes performances nationally and internationally with jazz greats including Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Frank Foster, Max Roach, Betty Carter, Gerald Alston, Ronnie Laws, Marion Meadows, Walter Beasley, George Clinton, Gerald Albright, James Lloyd, and Andre 3000. Willie has performed the National Anthem for the Baltimore Orioles, Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Hornets, Carolina Hurricanes, and the Los Angeles Clippers. He is also known for being a member of the brass section with The Original James Brown Band. The Orangeburg County School District will allow some district personnel to administer a nasal spray used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. OCSD trustees unanimously gave second and final approval to a Narcan distribution policy during their Oct. 10 meeting. A new state law allows districts to offer naloxone, or Narcan-brand nasal spray, to students and staff through the school nurses office. The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control says school resource officers have access to Narcan, but allowing nurses to also carry the product could save time if an emergency takes place. Under the districts new policy, each school will receive doses of Narcan. Nurses and two first responders in the district will be trained on administering the drug. All nurses and first responders will also be CPR certified, which is also critical in opioid overdose cases. In other matters, trustees gave unanimous first reading to a districtwide policy involving Gavin's Law. Gavin's Law makes sexual extortion a felony offense and an aggravated felony if the victim is a minor, vulnerable adult, or if the victim suffers bodily injury or death directly related to the crime. Sexual extortion is the act of blackmailing someone using sexually explicit images or videos. In 2022, 17-year-old Gavin Guffey was a victim of sexual extortion, resulting in him taking his own life. The district policy will aim to educate and notify students, parents or guardians, the public, and school personnel about the change in the law. The school district will work with the State Department of Education, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the state Attorney General's office to implement the policy. The SCDE sent a memo to districts notifying them of the law and its requirements. In other business: The district's revenues for the month of September were about $7.1 million. The expenditures for the month were $10.9 million, meaning the district saw about a $3.8 million loss for the month. Tax collections for the district will pick up in December and those revenues will not be realized until January, according to school finance officials. The district earlier this year approved a tax anticipation notice of no more than $10 million to help the district operate until taxes come in. South Carolina School Boards Association President Gail Hughes presented the SCSBA Champions of Education award to Nissan of Orangeburg owner and Johnson Automotive Group CEO Marcus Johnson. Johnson was not able to be present to receive the award, but Hughes said she will come back to present the award to Johnson in person at a future date. The award recognizes Johnson's contributions to public education in the district. Johnson has supported the district in the recruitment and retention of teachers, helped secure billboards for the district, founded the Teacher Supply Closet initiative and funded stipends of $5,000 for district's Teacher of the Year and Support Staff of the Year, as well as $1,500 for the district's alternative Teacher of the Year and alternative Support Staff of the Year. The dealership also gave out two cars to the district's Teacher of the Year and Support Staff of the Year winners in the past. Trustees recognized Bethune-Bowman Middle/High School's Justin McKie as the Rookie Teacher for the month of September. Trustees recognized Robert E. Howard Middle School's Ann-Marie Roberts-Chai as the district's September Employee of the Month. Dr. Lorraine Peeples was sworn in to serve on seat 4 of the OCSD board. Peeples was appointed by the Orangeburg County Legislative Delegation to serve the remainder of the term previously held by Peggy James-Tyler, who died in August. Peeples appointment will last through the end of the current term, which concludes in November 2024. Over the years, Peeples has held a variety of roles in educational settings across South Carolina. She currently serves as an achievement specialist for the LIFE2 grant at Midlands Community Development Corporation. Trustees attempted to elect a board secretary to fill James-Tylers slot. Trustees Betty Pelzer and Idella Carson were nominated, but each election ended in a tie 4-4 vote. Peeples, being new on the board, did not vote. The board will try again in the future. The district publicly recognized the district's principals as part of Principal Recognition Month. Dr. Charlene Stokes was appointed to the Orangeburg County First Steps Board. Trustees went into closed session to discuss personnel and contractual matters and to receive legal advice. The topics of the matters were not disclosed. The next board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14. The meetings are held at the school district's headquarters at 102 Founders Court in Orangeburg. The St. Vincent and Grenadines government has endorsed the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) call for Israel and Hamas to stop killing each other. That position was taken October 13. The matter of peace in the Middle East returned to the spotlight Saturday October 7. Action by Palestinian militants in Gaza killed Israeli citizens and soldiers and others taken captive. Israeli forces are responding with bombs, one of which caused the death of nearly 500 persons at a hospital in Gaza last Wednesday. The statement released from the Prime Ministers Office here, points to the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) adopted November 7, 1967 (please see document below). The Vincentian government highlights the need for "a just and lasting peace in which every state in the area can live in security. It notes that "successive governments of Israel, more particularly those headed, or unduly influenced by right-wing and ultra-nationalist forces, have refused repeatedly to ensure the practical implementation of a just and lasting peace. The Vincentian position is that "Israel has imposed a veritable colonialism including a harsh settler-colonialism and a forceful, illegal occupation of Palestinian lands, which has given rise to intense Palestinian resistance and a brutal Israeli response. St. Vincent and the Grenadines echoes CARICOMs "abhorrence at the recent attacks and counter-attacks and their savage nature. A need for "urgent, just and merciful intervention by the United Nations Security Council to assist in bringing hostilities to an end and to ensure that international humanitarian law is upheld in Gaza for the sake of humanity, has been presented by Vincentian authorities. Israel was created in 1948. It expanded June 1967 with capture of the Golan Heights from Syria, the West Bank including West Jerusalem from Jordan, and the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt. A Camp David Accord in 1979 saw Israel handing over Sinai to Egypt. They have annexed East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights and have vowed never to return them. The Oslo Agreements of 1993 was expected to finalize a deal. CARICOM made its position known. The wording, meaning and interpretation of the Resolution is has thrown up varying versions and leave it open to misunderstanding. The Vincentian statement outlines that three of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council USA, Britain and France, in view of their unwavering support for Israel "bear an especial responsibility to facilitate an immediate cessation of hostilities and to insist on the upholding of international law. The Bishops College Kingstown hosted its annual World Food Day Celebrations and Mini Agricultural Exhibition last Friday, October 13, at the Bishops College Hard court under the theme: "Water is Life, Water is Food. Leave No One Behind. During the opening ceremony, Principal of the Bishop College Kingstown, Insa Prince-Duncan reinforced the importance of agriculture and expressed thanks to those who made the event possible. Lisa Jacobs the agriculture teacher at the school said that World Food Day is an important occasion and wanted to ensure that the students are involved. She said that water is life and currently the country is experiencing a heatwave. "We want the children to understand what it is to be healthy; we want them to understand what it is to conserve water, so we have different businesses showcasing what products they have to actually conserve water. We have OSV, we have CWSA and more, said Jacobs. Guest speaker, Kelise Wilson from the Central Water and Sewage Authority spoke on the importance of water to health. She implored the students to drink water and to practice water conservation. The exhibition also witnessed a donation by the Kiwanis, a newly form group in SVG. Speaking on the group, Nikala Williams said the organization is new to SVG, but it has been around for over a 100 years. She said the main focus of the organization is to change lives, especially those of children. Among the donated items was a wheelbarrow, shovels, water boots and brooms for the schools agriculture program. Fifth Form Agricultural Science student, Kellia Horne said that exhibition is important because it give students an insight into local businesses and how they operate. "It gives local businesses the exposure by coming out and showing us the products they produce. It could be organic or it could be inorganic . We know how profit making agriculture is. So it is very important for us as students to have an understanding of how the agriculture sector works, said Horne. A number of businesses also took part in the exhibition by advertising and selling their products and the exhibition also witnessed a Parade of Careers, presentation of prizes to winners of the Best Science Career Competition and a presentation on the benefits of the featured crop/produce (Coconut). The stage has actually been set and patrons could expect to be excited by what it will unfold. Persons attending the Everything Vincy Expo Plus 2023 should, according to Invest SVG, expect a treat of awesome proportions. The extravaganza, which is scheduled to be staged at the northern end of the Arnos Vale tarmac from October 26 to 29, will boast over two hundred and forty participants. The activitys main aim is to stage the largest networking event that brings investors, business people and prospective clients together in one grand location. Ms. Nyoka Cupid of Invest SVG, speaking on NBC Radio earlier this week reported that patrons can expect to encounter opportunities for connecting with suppliers and others who can open doors to incredible prospects. "This is not your ordinary expo, she said, "... you can expect an explosion of opportunities to connect with the suppliers, any institutions that really supercharge your business and open doors to incredible investment prospects. This 2023 staging of the expo promises to be an expanded version of anything it has been before. Invest SVG has outlined the diverse range in participation as: "At the Everything Vincy Expo Plus 2023, you can expect a diverse range of vendors representing different industries and sectors like food and beverage, art and craft; of course, tourism and hospitality; technology and innovation; agriculture and farming; health and wellness; education and training; and financial services, and government and public services as well. To add to this great store of vendors, a Guyanese contingent will also feature in a more impactful way that ever before, in terms of its vendor numbers and the variety and quantity of products to be showcased. Ms. Cupid expounded, "We are rolling out the carpet for our friends from the broader region with a special spotlight from the amazing vendors coming all the way from Guyana. Personally, I believe it is an opportunity for cultural exchange, collaboration and discovering new horizons, as the Plus implies. Vincentians need to get ready to reach, dont wait, because the Everything Vincy Plus is back and its bringing you more space, more energy and even more vendors. She encouraged all Vincentians to visit the Everything Vincy Plus Expo with, "So, please, lets come together, lets support one another and lets take memories that will last a lifetime at the Everything Vincy Expo Plus 2023. Get ready to be a part of something extraordinary. We do hope to see you there. Since then, at least 40 pilots have resigned, according to a source at TTALPA, who spoke on condition of anonymity. (Photo: airlinerwatch.com) Caribbean Airlines (CAL) pilots are reportedly resigning in droves, citing a strained relationship with management and the state-owned carriers attempt to decertify their union. The dispute began in August when CAL filed an industrial relations offence against the T&T Airline Pilots Association (TTALPA) following a sickout that left thousands of passengers stranded. The Industrial Court granted the airline an injunction to force pilots back to work. Since then, at least 40 pilots have resigned, according to a source at TTALPA, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The source said that another 60 pilots are considering resigning after renewing their US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) licenses, which would allow them to fly for US airlines. "CAL and the government need to cancel the industrial relations offence that they have against the pilots union, the source said. "They need to cancel that because how could you want to work with the pilots if youre trying to decertify the union? That means the pilots will have no rights, no workers rights as represented by a union, for the first time in 60 years. The pilot shortage is already having a significant impact on CALs operations. The airline has been forced to cancel or reduce the frequency of some flights, and it is reportedly struggling to find enough pilots to operate its full schedule. The situation is also raising concerns about safety. Some experts have warned that the pilot shortage could lead to fatigue among pilots, which could increase the risk of accidents. CAL has not yet commented on the pilot shortage. However, the airline has previously said that it is committed to working with TTALPA to resolve the dispute. What does this mean for passengers? The pilot shortage could lead to further flight cancellations and disruptions at CAL. Passengers are advised to check the status of their flights regularly before traveling. Passengers who are stranded due to a cancelled flight may be entitled to compensation from CAL. Passengers should contact the airline directly to inquire about their rights. What does this mean for the future of CAL? The pilot shortage is a serious challenge for CAL. If the airline is unable to resolve the dispute with its pilots, it could have a significant impact on its operations and its future. The government should intervene to help resolve the dispute and ensure that CAL has the pilots it needs to operate safely and efficiently. (caribdaily.news) Left: Jason Isaacs and his lawyer Kay Bacchus-Baptiste after he was freed of murder. Jason Isaacs, a Campden Park man who was accused of causing his fellow villagers death by plunging a sword into his chest about four years ago, walked away free from the High Court on Wednesday. The 27-year-old welder of Mahoe Village, Campden Park was acquitted after a 12-member mixed Jury found him not guilty of murder, as well as the lesser charge, charge of manslaughter, on which presiding Justice Brian Cottle also gave the Jury directions. Isaacs was charged in connection with the July 27, 2019, stabbing death of 36-year-old Michael Jaro Browne. Both men lived on separate hills in the same community and had a longstanding dispute that resulted in Michaels death. An autopsy conducted by surgical pathologist Dr. Ronald Child showed that the victim died from a stabbed wound inflicted by a sharp instrument which went through his stomach, spleen, apex of heart and back. The doctor said that if the weapon was a sword, the force will be least moderate. The Crowns case relied mainly on the evidence of Michaels sister, Eden Browne, and his niece, who is Edens daughter. Eden told the Court that on a faithful day, she was home in Mahoe, where she, her daughter, and two brothers resided in the small upstairs and downstairs house. Michael was upstairs while she was downstairs, and her daughter was outside washing. When Isaacs came onto their premises, "he come up in the yard with a sword. I was holding him back. His brother Jason and stepfather were there, but none of them helped me, Eden recounted. She said Isaacs got away from her, went upstairs, and killed her brother. Eden, demonstrated to the Court a plunging motion with her hand, showing how Isaacs pushed the sword through the top half of the door which was open. She then heard her brother fall on the wooden floor, bladem, and say Oh F man, following which Jason left with the sword. Eden said when she went upstairs she saw her brother lying on the ground gasping, and there was blood under his body. She said she did not see Michael with anything in his hand. She recalled hearing an argument between Jason and Michael earlier that day. She said her brother was upstairs by the window, and Jasons stepfather, and his brother, who had a cutlass in his hand, both came over. "Jason came last and kill me brother infront de door, she insisted. When asked by Jasons lawyer Kay Bacchus-Baptiste, under-cross examination whether Michael told Jason and Orlando (Jasons brother), "All you mother dey with young boys. I brushing all you mother, and threatened to kill Jason and his family one by one, Eden replied that is not true. She also denied that Michael was accusing Jason and Orlando of brushing their mother. Edens daughter corroborated her mothers story, except that she added that Jason held Michael by his neck, pushed the sword through him, pulled it back out, and then went down the road laughing. The sword was never recovered, though Jason had identified a bushing area to the police where he said he threw the sword. Jason claimed, in his evidence that Michael was always harassing him and his family. In his evidence from the dock, Jason said he acted in self-defense. "I was home, Michael started cursing me saying "he was going to kill me and my family one by one. Both men were on separate hills but could see and hear one other. "He (Michael) said me and my brother was brushing my mom, Jason recalled. He said he (Jason) took up a sword going to warn him, and his (Jasons) stepfather spoke to him, but Michael continued cursing and threatening to kill him and his family. "I went in the road. He started making noise saying, "You (Jason) come over here to get dead now. He had a screwdriver and scissors in his hand, saying, "You Jason come ley me kill you now. "I went up the road, but he continued to threaten me. I was walking towards him, and he pushed me. He was backing back telling me, Come up, come up. Jason said that when Michael reached his door, he (Jason) turned away to leave and Michael attempted to jump on him. He (Jason) raised the sword in self-defense and Michael ran into the sword and got stabbed accidentally. Jason said he had gone to warn Michael in relation to what he was saying about him and his family and he had no intention to kill him. Under cross-examination by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Karim Nelson, Jason admitted that on the day in question, he wanted to put Michael in his place and to show that he was not afraid of him. But when Nelson suggested that Jason wanted to show Michael that he (Jason) was the badder man, Jason replied, "No please. Nelson pointed out that Jason had said in his evidence-in-chief that Michael had once attacked, and stabbed him, but the Prosecutor suggested that Jason never reported that to the police because he wanted to show Michael that he could have handled it on his own. Nelson also referenced the evidence in which Jason said Michael had attempted to rape his mother and sister on separate occasions, but Nelson contended that there was no evidence of this, and Michael was never taken to court on any charges of attempting to rap Jasons mother or sister. Jason said, under cross-examination that he was intoxicated that day, and lost control. He did not recall seeing Michaels niece, or her mother there. He said he had the sword down, and was telling Michael to stop harassing him and his family. He said Michael was armed with a scissors and screwdriver. Jason called his mother, his sister, and calypsonian Vivian Icome Miller to support his case. The Prosecuting team also included Crown Counsel Maria Jackson-Richards. South Korea's new defense minister held phone talks with his U.S. counterpart for the first time Friday to discuss the allies' efforts to deter North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, Seoul's defense ministry said. The talks between Defense Minister Shin Won-sik and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin came as the two sides are set to meet in Seoul next month for the annual Security Consultative Meeting (SCM). It marked Shin's first phone talks with Austin since he took office earlier this month. "The two sides emphasized the need to maintain a strong combined defense posture to deter and respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats," the ministry said. To that end, they noted the need to continue to expand security cooperation between South Korea, the United States and Japan based on their leaders' Camp David agreement in August, it added. During the Camp David summit, President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed to hold annual, multi-domain trilateral exercises on a regular basis in a move to enhance cooperation. Austin also reaffirmed the "ironclad" U.S. extended deterrence commitment to South Korea, and the two sides agreed to communicate frequently on key security issues, according to a release from the Pentagon. Extended deterrence refers to the U.S. commitment to using the full range of its military capabilities to defend its ally. The two defense chiefs also agreed to continue talks in person in Seoul next month at the SCM and a defense ministerial meeting of U.N. Command member states hosted by South Korea, Shin's office said. (Yonhap) (TBTCO) - Cac quan chuc Cuc Du tru Lien bang My (FED) uoc cho la se giu nguyen lai suat on inh o muc cao nhat trong 22 nam khi ket thuc cuoc hop keo dai hai ngay vao thu tu, 1/11. Tuy nhien, cac nha au tu va nha kinh te se theo doi cac dau hieu e thay lieu lai suat co giu nguyen nhu vay hay khong - hoac lieu ngan hang trung uong co con nghi rang ho co the can phai tang lai suat tro lai trong nhung thang toi hay khong? You have reached a premium content area of Transitions. To read this entire article please login if you are already a Transitions subscriber. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today for access to: Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles). It was destined to be partisan, a culture war issue that has embroiled school districts across the country, including in Wyoming. The House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Educations hearing on combating graphic, explicit content in school libraries Thursday in Washington went as one might expect as congressional Republicans and Democrats chided one another for the current charged atmosphere around K-12 education. It was amid the thinly veiled barbs and competing narratives that Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder warned of declining trust in public schools driven by library books and educational materials that are not suitable for minor children and are a complete misuse of taxpayer dollars. She spoke in lockstep with conservative lawmakers and others who testified about worried parents and the need to protect children from sexually explicit and inappropriate books. Degenfelder also advocated for what she said was Wyomings approach to the controversial subject, highlighting local control and upcoming state guidance for school districts. During the campaign, I spoke with voters all across the state regarding their concerns of public education, Degenfelder said. At the top of the list among all varying communities was fear of inappropriate and sexually explicit materials in schools. During her testimony, Degenfelder expressed many of the same sentiments as Lindsey Smith, a Maryland mother and Moms for Liberty chapter chair, and Max Eden, a research fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank. She spoke of pornography accessible to students in schools and she portrayed K-12 education as losing sight of its goals. I ran for this position because I am passionate about public education as one of the most important tools of lifting people out of poverty and fulfilling the American dream, she said. The fundamental purpose of public education was to prepare students for jobs and to be good American citizens, but this purpose becomes compromised when our parents lose trust and confidence in our public schools. Degenfelders testimony was underscored by a story she shared about a Wyoming mom. Degenfelder said she met a mother whose daughter approached her with a book that made her feel uncomfortable. Reading the book, the mother, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, was appalled and triggered by sexually depicted graphic acts. Worried about the consequences for students, the mother and her daughter asked to opt-out of the book. They received support from other children who were also uncomfortable. What came of standing up against this book? Degenfelder said. The teacher became their bully. According to Degenfelder, the student now fears going to school because of her teacher and wants to pursue virtual education. The mother is now homeschooling her younger children because this parent has lost trust in public education. Despite their testimony, Degenfelder and the other witnesses did little to sway the entrenched positions of those on the subcommittee. Rep. Aaron Bean, R-FL, the chair of the panel, and other Republicans lashed out at Democrats, the media and groups like the American Library Association who they said were exposing children to obscene material and preventing parents and local communities from intervening. Central to their arguments was the idea that parents were not banning books but simply trying to remove them from school settings where children can access them. Wherever Democrats rule, we find the banning of parents from school board meetings, said Burgess Owen, R-UT. Where Democrats rule, we find the banning of parents from knowledge of the mental state of their children. Wherever Democrats rule, we find the banning of knowledge of what other adults, strangers, are doing to sexualize our kids. Moving forward, our Republican majority will work to stop the entrapment of children in institutions who prioritize sexual indoctrination instead of reading, writing, thinking and succeeding, he added. Oregons Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee, accused conservative organizations and a minority of parents of creating the controversy that has led extreme MAGA politicians to institute censorship laws in several states. She and other Democrats on the subcommittee spoke of the consequences of removing books that represent LGBTQ+ students and those of color, while arguing that Republicans were attempting to undermine public schools with their efforts. We can all agree that books in school libraries should be age appropriate, Bonamici said. And we all used to agree that the federal government should not dictate school curricula, or what books are in school libraries. Regrettably, it seems that my Republican colleagues have abandoned these previously shared values. Amid the impasse and at times bitter debate, Degenfelder championed local control and the Wyoming Department of Educations efforts to create model policies. The Department of Education has been working with parents, librarians, school administrators and school board members to develop statewide library guidance. In the coming weeks, the agency will release sample definitions and policies that aim to help Wyoming school districts make their own decisions around controversial books, Degenfelder said. Through our research, weve found that many districts do not have a robust system or policies in place for appropriate library materials, and they need support from the state level, she said. Ultimately, it was Wyoming that Bean turned to as a model for other states, asking Degenfelder what others should take away. Degenfelder said she believes in local control and decision making as close to the people as possible. She spoke of the need for state assistance and the importance of transparency and public input for local school districts. Those things are important, she said. And for our local schools and leaders to remember that, again, they cannot step beyond the bounds of the rights of parents. Your news on your smartphone Your story lives in Wyoming, and our new mobile app is designed to make sure you dont miss breaking news, the latest scores, the weather forecast and more. From easy navigation with the swipe of a finger to personalized content based on your preferences to customized text sizes, the Star-Tribune app is built for you and your life. Dont have the app? Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. 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. 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. By Jung Min-ho Nearly half of South Koreans believe a sudden invasion by North Korea is possible, a recent poll shows. According to data released on Thursday by Opinion Research Justice, a pollster, 48.3 percent of respondents said they think there is some or high possibility of a surprise attack from the North, while 47.4 percent said such scenario is unlikely or impossible. The rate of those concerned about a war is higher than those from two previous polls showing 37 percent in 2017 and 42.7 percent in 2020, respectively. The recognition of the risk is higher among women (50.2 percent) than men (46.3 percent). By age, the rate is the highest among those who are 60 years or older as 59 percent of them believe it is a real possibility; the figure is lowest among those in their 40s, only 39.4 percent of whom agreed. The results also show that those in support of President Yoon Suk Yeol assess the risk higher 73.2 percent than those who disapprove him. In another survey result revealed the same day, 48.3 percent said Seoul should maintain the inter-Korean military agreement, while 37.4 percent said it should be suspended or revoked. The agreement, signed by the previous Moon Jae-in administration on Sept. 9, 2018, amid a thaw in cross-border relations, includes setting up no-fly zones near the border as well as a system for communication to prevent accidental clashes. After North Koreas repeated violation of the accord, Defense Minister Shin Won-sik said the South should no longer adhere to agreement, which he said significantly limits the ministrys surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. 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. The writing is on the wall today for one of Tucsons oldest and most important institutions. Really. On the wall, and theres nothing ominous about it. Instead, words on the walls have brought thousands of visitors to the ongoing exhibition at the Etherton Gallery in the Old Barrio downtown. The exhibit includes a collection called El Sueno de Razon, or The Sleep of Reason, by Alice Leora Briggs, and an untitled array of text art by Kitty Brophy. All 45 pieces display or represent words, and visitors cant help but feel the power of language especially when magnified by art. The show will run through Nov. 25, and gallery owner Terry Etherton is delighted with the response so far. In many ways these artists are very different, he said. The work on the wall doesnt look anything alike. But from other perspectives, there is overlap and dialogue here. Both of these women are fearless. Theyre dealing in areas most people arent comfortable with, and theyre letting us into very private worlds. Theyre baring their souls, in a way. Visually, the two sets of works are strikingly dissimilar. The sgraffiti by Briggs are images scratched through black to shades of grey. The offerings from Brophy are big and bright, with black words popping from a brilliant red background. Briggs selections illustrate the book she co-authored with Julian Cardona, Abecedario de Juarez, or Alphabet of Juarez, which was published by the University of Texas Press last year. At its heart, the book is a lexicon of the Spanglish slang that evolved in the criminal world that so dominated life in Juarez the first two decades of the 2000s particularly during the presidency of Felipe Calderon. Briggs and Cardona an award-winning photographer and journalist best-known for his images of Juarez identified more than 200 words. Many are brought to life by Briggs sketches, others by Cardonas interviews. The book doesnt have a standard format, Briggs said. You can open it anywhere and see words that became part of a citys language. Then they explode into a story. Its a minefield of language. Many Tucsonans may remember that Briggs collaborated with the late Charles Bowden, the well-known author and journalist who chronicled the violence along our southern border. Briggs illustrated one of his most iconic books, Dreamland: The Way Out of Juarez, which was published in 2010. Both were absorbed in their own projects in Juarez when Briggs husband suggested a possible partnership. My husband had never met Chuck, but he thought my images looked like Chucks writing. Interestingly, Dreamland includes several sketches Briggs had made before they met and before he started writing the book. Thats how closely our stuff dovetailed, she said. It was Bowden who introduced Briggs to Cardona at the Etherton Gallery in 2007. After completing Dreamland, Briggs began working with Cardona on Abecedario. The book became a labor of love, and then when Cardona died of Parkinsons in 2020 a product of heartbreak. In the end, Briggs was both author and illustrator, working from the interviews and reporting provided by her friend. Briggs and Brophy both consider themselves artists rather than writers, yet Ive written my whole life, Briggs said. I wrote for the Reader in Chicago and the Salt Lake Tribune when I worked at Utah State. Brophy majored in creative writing at UC-Santa Cruz. Growing up, I was one of those weird kids who read dictionaries and did spelling bees, she laughed. Ive always loved language. Ive always loved words. One of her pieces on the wall at the Etherton is evidence of that. Its 2020, Bi*** shows a random assortment of words that caught Brophys attention during the early stages of the pandemic. Instead of writing an essay about what I was feeling, I just wrote down words words that jumped out at me when we were all trapped at home. Between the pandemic and the election, there was so much coming at us. People were making up new words just to describe it all. Because all of us remember the experience, and each of us weathered it in different ways, no two people will be drawn to the same words in Brophys 2020. Similarly framed yet differently presented is another new Brophy offering: The Book of Female Donts. This time we see sentences advice and cultural cues that girls and women hear throughout their lives. I grew up with four sisters and five female cousins who lived next door, Brophy said. Weve all talked about the messaging girls get from the media, from movies, from people we know. Sometimes I catch myself repeating these things because theyre so ingrained. Im 63 now, so imagine how much of it Ive heard. Again, no two women will be drawn to the same two sentences in Brophys Book. Although Briggs and Brophy both live in Tucson, they hadnt met until introduced by Etherton before their show opened last month. Now well, lets hope this isnt their last two-woman show. The writing is already on the wall. FOOTNOTES Author Kianna Alexander will be featured at the Pima County Public Librarys annual LGBTQ+ Author Talk this Sunday, Oct. 22, at the Loft Cinema. The event will go from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and include a conversation between Alexander and the librarys Jessica Pryde. Alexanders latest books are Cant Resist Her and Cant Let Her Go. Learn more at tucne.ws/1ofw. Sharon OBrien has been named the new executive director at Literacy Connects. Hers is a familiar face there. She has headed the Stories That Soar program since the organization was founded in 2011. OBrien replaces Matt Tarver-Wahlquist, who resigned last November. Novelist Shelby Van Pelt will be the featured guest when the Tucson Festival of Books unveils its first list of authors who will take part in the festival in the spring. The program will be Dec. 3 at the University of Arizona, but details have not been finalized. Van Pelt authored one of the summers most surprising hits, Remarkably Bright Creatures. The 10-day weather forecast for Tucson does not include a single dark and stormy night, but with Halloween coming the forecast is definitely scary. Just ask any child you know or any parent who is still scrambling to find the costume little Luis cant live without. If youre just not feeling it yet, maybe a fright-night novel would help. There are definitely lots to choose from. Predictably, volunteers with the Tucson Festival of Books were happy to recommend some of their own favorite dark-and-stormy-night reads. All of them will get you warmed up or chilled down for Halloween: Misery by Stephen King terrifies readers and writers, alike. The book features bestselling author Paul Sheldon, whose own recent book included the death of Sheldons most beloved character: Misery Chastain. His fan base is up in arms about it, and after a near-fatal car accident Sheldon learns his rescuer is one of those readers most upset by what he has done to Misery. Published in 2016, Misery still keeps us awake at night. Lynn Wiese Sneyd The Icarus Girl by Helen Oyeyemi follows Jessamy, an 8-year-old neurodivergent girl who struggles to fit in. She has a new best friend named TillyTilly, a confidant she met while visiting extended family in Nigeria. Trouble is, no one else seems to be able to see her. Its spooky, all right, but something else makes this book noteworthy. Oyeyemi was 17 and in high school when she wrote it. Jeaiza Quinones Ivory The Black Queen by Jumata Emill is a young adult novel by a Black author whose plot is called unputdownable by Barnes & Noble. We meet Nova, a high schools first Black homecoming queen. When she is murdered the night of the big game, her best friend then joins forces with Novas white rival to search for her killer. Emill will attend the Tucson Festival of Books March 9-10. Kathy Short The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells was first published in 1896, but it remains a science fiction classic. The tale is narrated by Edward Prendick, a shipwrecked man whose rescuers leave him on an island owned by Dr. Moreau. There, the good doctor creates human-like hybrids using body parts of animals. What better gift set for Halloween than this selection and the next one. Tricia Clapp The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno Garcia reimagines the Wells original version with a tale set in 19th-century Mexico. All is well at Dr. Moreaus luxurious estate until a handsome stranger appears: the charming and careless son of Moreaus patron. Tricia Clapp Murder in G Major by Alexia Gordon features Gethsemane Brown, a classical musician who finds herself stranded in Ireland after losing a gig and her luggage. Soon, she finds herself living in a cliffside cottage once owned by her favorite composer. Did we mention his ghost still inhabits the cottage? When the ghost persuades Gethsemane to help clear his name, the musician finds herself on a different kind of hit list. Thea Chalow Jackal by Erin E. Adams was published last month just in time to haunt us on Halloween. Meet Liz Rocher, who is returning to her hometown for her best friends a wedding. Her memories of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, are not good. Among them: the grisly murder of a friend. Then, during the wedding, the daughter of the newlyweds disappears, leaving only a piece of blood-cover fabric behind. Adams has agreed to attend the Tucson Festival of Books in March. Shannon Baker and Kim Peters Rouge by Mona Awad is a fun, creepy novel set in a world constantly pursuing youth and beauty. You know, the one we live in now. It features Belle, a lonely dress shop clerk who returns to Southern California to manage her mothers funeral. The fun begins when Belle meets a strange woman in red who leaves a clue about her mothers mysterious death. Awad will also be part of our book festival this spring. Anne Gardner Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Canas is partly a Western, partly a romance, partly science fiction and totally fun in a dark and stormy way. It features Nena, the daughter of a Mexican rancher in the 1840s. Life is hard by day, and terrifying by night after something starts draining mens blood and leaving them for dead. Jessica Pryde Shutter by Ramona Emerson was one of the 2023 Southwest Books of the Year as selected by the Pima County Public Library. Like the author, the main character here is a crime scene photographer. Rita Todacheene has cracked many a case for the Albuquerque Police Department. Her secret? She sees the ghosts of the victims, and they point her to their murderers. The pursuit puts her in the crosshairs of a dangerous cartel. Thea Chalow Besides sipping on caipirinhas during my first (and only) trip to Brazil, I stuffed myself with as much moqueca as possible. While I have eaten many versions of moqueca (Brazils equivalent of seafood stew), I hadnt made it myself so I enlisted the help of my friend Camila Rinaldi, a professional chef and a native of Brazil. Chef Camila taught me a lot about the fish stew, ensuring I was on the right track with developing my recipe by sharing how she makes her own. After several rounds of testing, I landed on my perfect moqueca. Heres how to make the best moqueca at home if you cant get to Brazil. What is moqueca? At its most basic, moqueca is a seafood stew that can be made with fish, seafood, or a mix of the two. In Brazil, its traditionally prepared with cacao, a type of shark, and cooked in a clay pot. While the origins of the dish are hazy, it has indigenous, African, and Portuguese influences. There are two main types of moqueca. Moqueca baiana: Developed in the state of Bahia, this version features a rich base of coconut milk and, most notably, dende oil (aka red palm oil), which can be attributed to a strong African influence. My recipe mirrors this style. Developed in the state of Bahia, this version features a rich base of coconut milk and, most notably, dende oil (aka red palm oil), which can be attributed to a strong African influence. My recipe mirrors this style. Moqueca capixaba: This version, from the state of Espirito Santo, is lighter and milder in flavor. It uses olive oil and annatto (or achiote). Key ingredients in moqueca Fish: Because the fish is simmered in a mixture of coconut milk and seafood stock, its best to opt for a firm white fish like cod or halibut, as its less likely to fall apart in the pot. If you like, you can use different types of fish or seafood like salmon or shrimp. Chef Camila likes to use scallops and prawns in her version. Because the fish is simmered in a mixture of coconut milk and seafood stock, its best to opt for a firm white fish like cod or halibut, as its less likely to fall apart in the pot. If you like, you can use different types of fish or seafood like salmon or shrimp. Chef Camila likes to use scallops and prawns in her version. Tomatoes: The addition of tomatoes adds sweet and savory flavors to this stew. You can use either fresh or canned diced tomatoes. The addition of tomatoes adds sweet and savory flavors to this stew. You can use either fresh or canned diced tomatoes. Bell peppers: Its common to use a colorful mix of bell peppers. I use one orange and one red, but you can swap in a yellow pepper or use two of the same color. Its common to use a colorful mix of bell peppers. I use one orange and one red, but you can swap in a yellow pepper or use two of the same color. Lime: This recipe calls for the zest and juice of one lime, which is added to the pot along with the coconut milk and seafood stock. Youll also want extra wedges for squeezing over the top when serving. This recipe calls for the zest and juice of one lime, which is added to the pot along with the coconut milk and seafood stock. Youll also want extra wedges for squeezing over the top when serving. Dende oil: This nutty- and slightly smoky-tasting ingredient is the key to moqueca baianas unique flavor. While you can substitute olive oil in its place, the flavor and color simply wont be the same. The beauty of this dish is that it comes together in a large pot (or Dutch oven), which essentially makes it a one-pot meal. Moqueca Serves 4 to 6 3 cloves garlic 1 medium yellow onion 1 medium red bell pepper 1 medium orange bell pepper 2 fresh vine-ripened medium tomatoes (about 10 ounces total), or 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes 2 medium limes, divided 1/2 small bunch fresh cilantro 2 pounds skinless cod or halibut fillets 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided, plus more as needed 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons dende oil (a.k.a. red palm oil) 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional) 1 (about 13-ounce) can full-fat coconut milk 1 cup seafood stock Steamed white rice or cilantro rice, for serving 1. Mince 3 garlic cloves. Finely chop 1 medium yellow onion (about 1 1/2 cups). Trim and slice 1 medium red bell pepper and 1 medium orange bell pepper into 1/2-inch-thick strips (about 1 1/2 cup each). Core and cut 2 fresh vine-ripened tomatoes into 1-inch chunks (about 2 cups). 2. Cut 1 medium lime into wedges and reserve for serving. Finely grate the zest of the remaining lime into a small bowl, then juice the lime into the bowl. Pick the leaves and tender stems from 1/2 small bunch fresh cilantro and finely chop until you have 1/2 cup. 3. Pat 2 pounds cod or halibut fillets dry with paper towels, then cut into 2-inch pieces. Season all over with 3/4 teaspoon of the kosher salt. 4. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil and 2 tablespoons dende oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the garlic and onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is softened and the onions are translucent, about 3 minutes. Add both bell peppers and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper if using. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the peppers are softened, about 3 minutes. 5. Add the tomatoes or 1 (13.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with their juices. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomato juices are beginning to evaporate, about 3 minutes. Add the lime zest and juice, remaining 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 (about 13-ounce) can full-fat coconut milk, and 1 cup seafood stock. Stir until combined and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes. 6. Add the fish and gently press down on them with a spoon to submerge in the broth. Cover and return to a simmer. Cook until the fish is just cooked through, about 5 minutes. Add half of the cilantro and gently stir to combine so as not to break up the fish. Taste and season with more kosher salt as needed. 7. Serve with steamed white rice, garnished with the remaining cilantro and lime wedges for squeezing. Recipe notes: Leftover moqueca can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to two days. Welcome to the latest installment of To Be Blunt, the Question & Answer series that aims to put the spotlight on the people, places, brands and companies that make the Arizona cannabis community unique. Today's feature is on Nicole Young, a dancer and yoga practitioner who founded and leads the "Stoner Stretch" series at The Downtown Clifton on Sunday's here in Tucson, Arizona. Here at TucsonMarijuanaGuide.com, we like to get out and try new experiences, like the amazing five-course meal put on by Tucson Doobie and Ken Foy of Dante's Fire. As part of that ethos of seeking out new and unique cannabis-friendly experiences, we've noticed lately a string of canna-yoga events popping up around Tucson lately, and decided Here Weed Go! host Eddie Celaya should give a session at one of the new events a try. So to preview what's to come later this weekend, Celaya spoke with Stoner Stretch session leader and dancer Nicole Young. Young, who also teaches a weekly adult dance class, came up with the idea for Stoner Stretch during the pandemic, and recently started hosting sessions on Sunday at The Downtown Clifton hotel. In the latest To Be Blunt interview, Young talks about what folks can expect at a Stoner Stretch session, how she came up with the idea and what sort of community she intends to build. NOTE: The following interview has been edited for clarity and length. To Be Blunt: So tell us a little bit about what's going on Sunday for Stoner Stretch...What should people expect? Nicole Young: So what happens at 9 a.m. is that everybody convenes on the patio and there are tables and chairs and we arrange them so everyone can kind of see themselves in a kind of a loose circle so that we can see each other and talk to each other as we choose. We are smoking and consuming during that first half hour. There is coffee and pastries and I'm trying to get healthier foods there, and they're (The Downtown Clifton) going to open their kitchen in November. So for 30 minutes or so, we're talking and token. And then for an hour, we are stretching. We're either stretching out on the patio if the weather is good or it's inside in the lounge. We clear the chairs and everything. And it's all at The Downtown Clifton Hotel. They're a cannabis friendly hotel. One of the only ones in Tucson, I believe. TBB: How did you come to settle on The Downtown Clifton as the venue? Nicole Young: They have a lot of events, and they've had like cannabis pop-ups. I found out through them about a cannabis event with Roadrunner Cannabis and Flowers and Bullets. They put on a cannabis dinner and my partner Joe Watson and I attended. So that's how I found out about the hotel, and then I approached them about doing a yoga class, since I smoke cannabis and I know other people do too. TBB: What kind of folks have come to your Stoner Stretch sessions so far? Nicole Young: I've had all sorts. I've had lawyers. I've had accountants, CEOs of companies and stuff. I've got a mixed bag, so you just never know who will be there. And then also it's open to hotel guests to participate in as well. It's not just locals, hotel guests are allowed to participate, and I'm sure they would think it's lovely. TBB: How much is a session? And how often are they? Nicole Young: Classes or sessions are $18. I hold them every Sunday. TBB: So now that we know what we're getting into, how did you come up with the idea for Stoner Stretch? We've heard of some similar things, but it's a new concept, isn't it? Nicole Young: There is one other similar experience in town, it's called Ganja Flow, it's at Harambe Cafe on the east side of town, but I didn't know about them until I started doing mine. But the reason I started was I wanted to smoke weed, but I didn't like to smoke weed by myself because I will over consume and not get anything done. I'm more of a social smoker than a stay-at-home and hide-in-my-room kind of person. I don't like that. So I wanted to add more fun to Tucson's marijuana scene. Marijuana is such a huge thing here, like every marijuana shop is filled to the brim with people all the time, but they have nowhere to come together in a safe space where alcohol is not involved. And nobody's put together activities where you can enjoy your marijuana and participate and stay connected with people. I think COVID had made staying home and smoking or drinking like the thing. And, you know, alcoholism has risen in our country because of this. So I wanted to give us something, give the grown ups something, to do when they're consuming cannabis. They can hold off smoking until they get to this event where they're with other people and they can have open conversations. It's really about building community over any healthy activities. TBB: In the sessions you've had so far, what's been what's been the kind of breakdown between genders? Are you finding more it's more popular with guys or gals? What, what is the breakdown? Nicole Young: It's always more heavily female because we're more in tune to taking such a class, but because of the marijuana part, I'm getting more men taking the class, so I would say, It's about 60/40, but that's growing, so I know at the next class I'll have more men because more men have contacted me about joining. Because I want this to be a class for humans, I don't want it to be just for women. I mean, my stripper flow class is definitely more female-centric, but I have announced many times that men are allowed to go, but they are not there to watch, they're there to participate. But yes, Stoner Stretch definitely has more of a 60/40 split. If you're interested in attending a Stoner Stretch session, follow the linktree link here: linktr.ee/ladyshipprodz You can also follow Nicole Young on Instagram for more information: @haute_body_language While migrants crossing the Tohono Oodham reservation are causing problems, those are overshadowed by problems from the construction of the border wall meant to stop them, Tribal Chairman Verlon Jose told a House panel this week. Construction of a wall on federal lands near our reservation also interferes with the flow of scarce, vital water resources on which plants and wildlife depend. Our tribal members rely on these plants for food, medicine and cultural purposes, Jose said in his testimony. His comments Wednesday came during a House Natural Resources subcommittee hearing on the federal governments recent decision to use Floyd Bennett Field, a National Park Service site in Brooklyn, as an emergency housing site for some of the thousands of migrants who have recently been shipped to New York from the border. Republicans on the committee criticized the Biden administration for using public lands for migrant housing and circumventing the National Environmental Policy Act to erect the migrant housing on an emergency basis. They also grilled National Park Service and Forest Service witnesses about the impact of migrants crossing public lands, leaving trash and potentially harming the environment. With record numbers of migrants crossing into the United States we are seeing increasingly harmful impacts on the environment including trash accumulation, habitat destruction, disturbance of lands and waters and many other issues, said Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark. Chris French, the deputy chief of the U.S. Forest Services National Forest Systems, acknowledged that the trash and environmental harm caused by migrants is a problem but he said it is not a new one. This has been a continuous problem for decades, of us removing trash and other natural resources and visitor effects that occur in our international border, French said. Republicans also harped on the fact that the Biden administration waived NEPA to clear the way for housing at Floyd Bennett Field. The administration must wake up to the illegal immigration crisis and come to the table to work with Congress to secure our border and addressing the dangers and environmental impacts of our public lands, Westerman said. But Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Tucson, accused Republicans of employing a double standard on NEPA, ignoring it when it comes to mining and drilling and building a border wall but not when it comes to migrants on public lands. NEPA is like a love-hate thing for the Republicans on this committee, Grijalva said. When its convenient to use it as an issue, NEPA is wonderful, but when its in the way of a mine, or an extraction or a drill, then its absolutely awful and we have to get rid of it. Grijalva called the hearing little more than a GOP attempt to use national parks to get headlines on immigration and to push for the border wall. Continue the wall? It failed, Grijalva said. It didnt do its job, as much as it was ballyhooed and talked about, its become political rhetoric and a political symbol. In terms of deterrence, it does not work. That was echoed by Jose, who said his tribe has been left with irreversible consequences to the ecosystem and land from both the construction and current state of the wall. He pointed to a Government Accountability Office report that he said put the Army Corps of Engineers price tag for border construction at more than $10 billion by the end of 2020. Billions more have and will continue to be needed to mitigate the environmental and cultural harms caused by construction, Jose said of the report. Jose acknowledged that there were migrants coming into the country illegally and crossing the Tohono Oodham reservation in the process. But its not the biggest part of the immigration problem, he said. There is migrants coming up, there is illegal activity coming up, Jose said. But the majority of that stuff is coming up through the ports of entry or the places where there is a wall is there some coming across Tohono? Yes. The contentious, two-hour hearing included a lot of petty jabs but few possible solutions. Jose may have had the best answer to the migration problem, even if it was the least likely a magic wand. Id wave that magic wand across and create true immigration reform, he said. Prosecutors raided the Presidential Archives for the second day in a row Friday as part of a probe into alleged economic data manipulation by the previous Moon Jae-in government, officials said. Prosecutors and investigators from the Daejeon District Prosecutors Office began their search of the archives in the central administrative city of Sejong on Thursday to view the Moon administration's documents related to the suspected data manipulation, they said. The Board of Audit and Inspection said last month that the previous administration exerted undue pressure on government agencies to manipulate official data on income, employment and housing prices to support its key economic and real estate policies. The audit agency has requested the prosecution investigate 22 former government officials, including all four former presidential chiefs of staff for policy. Moon was not included in the probe. Earlier this month, prosecutors raided Statistics Korea, the Korea Real Estate Board (KREB) and the land, finance and labor ministries to seize related documents and computers and have conducted data forensics on them. A ranking Statistics Korea official was also summoned as a witness. The audit agency suspects that Moon's presidential office and the land ministry exerted undue influence on the KREB to manipulate real estate data at least 94 times between 2017 and 2021. (Yonhap) Before the pandemic, about 1,800 first-year students placed into Math 100 at the University of Arizona, the most baseline math class the university offers. This past year, almost 2,800 students, around a third of the incoming class, placed into the course, which focuses on addition, division and basic algebraic equations. For staff and faculty within the math department, the stark increase in enrollment of their entry-level class has been shocking. The need caused us to hit our breaking point, said Michelle Woodward, the director of online instruction of math at UA who helps oversee the course. The UA is not alone. Colleges across the country are struggling with academic setbacks faced by students who were in high school during the pandemic. According to education nonprofit The Hechinger Report, math programs have especially struggled to help students catch up. A big component of what we have our conversations about is not just the math, but how do we re-engage a population thats not had practice in a classroom, Woodward said. We believe that they are capable of doing this math, and we believe that they can be successful. According to new data from ACT, a nonprofit with a nationally recognized standardized test that centers on college readiness, only 29% of Arizona high schoolers met the national benchmark score for math in 2023, which was a 22. Since 2014, the ACT math scores have trended downwards in Arizona, and the pandemic has only accelerated the slope. In 2019, the average math score for high schoolers in Arizona who took the ACT was a 19.2. By 2023, it had dropped to a 17.8. Oftentimes, it is up to college professors to help their students catch up. Weve realized it isnt a one size fits all solution, Woodward said. We had to really adjust to make sure that we were trying to meet those individual needs of students. Woodward believes the pandemic exacerbated the differences in college preparedness among students. Some of them are amazing and had tremendous support and are doing really, really well, she said. Others are really struggling. And those that are, I think its a bit systemic. In an effort to curb that disparity, staff at the UA teach online summer programs to help incoming first-year students hit the ground running in their math courses. Wildcat Leap, which started in 2020, is available to all incoming first-year students the summer before they start classes. Its a three-week boot camp, offered for free, that helps students learn the skills they need to succeed in college math courses. We work on things like growth mindset and dealing with math anxiety in addition to the actual math, Woodward said. Part of the class time is about learning strategies. Not every math class has a Wildcat Leap summer program, however. Tina Deemer, the director of academic and support services in the UA math department, said the gaps in learning are prevalent even in higher level courses. Im working with calculus two right now, and when you have students whove already completed calculus one, you sort of assume they know certain things, she said. Still, there are definitely some gaps happening there. Despite the national and statewide drop in math scores, James Gray, the head of math at Pima Community College, remains optimistic about the abilities of his students. Its a very natural, normal thing that when youre learning something, youre going to make missteps and youre going to use the wrong language and make mistakes, Gray said. Its up to us to ask ourselves how do we support students? And how do we support learning? Gray is working with the faculty and staff at PCC to redesign some of the core classes taught, though he said that isnt in direct response to an increase in help needed. I think theres a lot of evidence that suggests that students still have the capacity to learn, despite experience in the pandemic, he said. We have lots of evidence that suggests that students are just fine. Scrambling to meet demand for its weapon systems amid the Ukraine war and emerging threats to U.S. security, Raytheon is amping up its post-pandemic hiring efforts at its missile plants in Tucson. Raytheon, maker of many the nations front-line weapons and the Tucson regions biggest employer with about 12,000 local workers, is offering flexible and hybrid work schedules, using artificial intelligence to screen job candidates, and even offering lucrative sign-on bonuses to fill certain critical positions, amid fierce competition for engineers and other workers. But Raytheons human-resources chief says the defense industry and its customers at the Pentagon must do more to adapt to a skin-tight labor market and needs of job prospects. Jennifer Brummund, Raytheons chief human resources officer, says contractors like Raytheon are doing their part by driving internships and apprenticeships, offering job flexibility and using technologies like artificial intelligence to screen candidates. But the Pentagon can help by streamlining employee security-clearance and program procedures, Brummund says. In an interview with the Star, Brummund said that Pentagon rules requiring high-level qualifications such as doctorate degrees and security-clearance eligibility makes it challenging to hire engineers in a highly competitive labor market. Its our customers allowing us to expand the talent pool that we can tap into, said Brummund, who joined Raytheon in 2014 and served in various senior human resources roles including vice president before being named chief HR officer in July. Though Raytheon itself imposes some degree requirements, the Defense Department has its own set of requirements for some programs, she noted. Degrees and clearance Brummund recalled a software engineering leader at Raytheon several years ago who was frustrated he couldnt hire otherwise qualified job candidates because they lacked a degree required under program rules. Some of the best hackers are not in college, they dont have degrees, right? she said. Those are the people we need working for us, so thats that piece of helping us think broader, if were going to have the support and the talent we need in the defense industry, for Raytheon certainly but even beyond that, if we just look at the whole industry, we need to be a little more thoughtful about it. The Pentagon and Congress should look at streamlining the employee security-clearance process, as well as reviewing changes to the classification of program documents, Brummund said. She noted that Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., raised the issue in March at a conference of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, where he also advocated for pre-clearances for interns and apprentices at the high school and college level. There are several individual U.S. security clearance levels confidential, secret, top secret and an add-on to top secret known as sensitive compartmented information. A related but separate status known as special access program or SAP, is attached to some information, which can take a long time to obtain and create staffing challenges, Brummund said. You may have a top-secret clearance, and then to work on a particular program you may need additional levels, or what we would call tickets, to then do work within a particular program or project, she said. Brummund said the company has encouraged its various Defense Department customers to identify information early in a programs development phase that doesnt really need to be classified. Theres work that we do that needs to be classified at absolutely the highest level, she said. But could the workstream be pulled apart in such a way that were able to open up work to unclassified, or a lower level of classification so that we can move quicker? She noted that getting various clearances on a particular program can take so long, its hard for the company to move a cleared employee to another program. Raytheon also is allowing some employees to work flexible hours, or work remotely or take remote days where possible, but some classified work requires employees to work in secure facilities, Brummund noted. Finding engineers Recruiting qualified engineering talent remains Raytheons biggest challenge, Brummund said. While the company gets many young engineers from the University of Arizona and Arizona State University, it must constantly recruit nationwide to staff its myriad programs in Tucson and elsewhere. Raytheon in January announced it would open an engineering office at The Refinery, a UA building at The Bridges mixed-use development on Tucsons south side, to foster research collaborations and attract UA talent. In July, the company announced it would open an engineering design center at ASUs SkySong Scottsdale Innovation Center to further research and create a steady a pipeline of new workers. And in March, Raytheon announced a agreement with Pima Community College to provide a pilot apprenticeship program in cybersecurity for Raytheon employees at the schools East campus, where the schools Center of Excellence in Information Technology also hosts the nonprofit Arizona Cyber Warfare Range. Raytheon routinely has more than 300 available Tucson-area job postings online, including many engineering positions. To entice engineers to come to Tucson, Raytheon has been offering sign-on bonuses of up to $40,000 for some key senior engineering positions. We did not do that across the country we have done it in a couple of different areas where perhaps we have a need but we have had a recruiting challenge for our engineering talent to relocate, Brummund said. Engineering apprentices To attract junior engineers and get them into meaningful work early on, Raytheon runs an internal engineering apprenticeship program where early career professionals are paired with a senior mentor in their field. Brummund said the program, which was launched around 2018, has successfully lured job applicants while helping new hires advance quickly. That program has only gained new importance as retirements and departures accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated a shortage of engineers. Brummund noted that 36% of Raytheons employees have been with the company only three years, and nearly 50% have less than five years of service. Thats slightly above Raytheons industry peer group, she said, citing a 2022 study by the consulting firm EY on the aerospace and defense workforce. Raytheons apprenticeship program is an effort to address that experience gap by fast-tracking the careers of junior engineers. Apprentices are typically paired with a senior Raytheon engineering fellow a designation of top subject-matter expertise to develop skills needed to perform critical program tasks and direct the technical side of program teams as chief engineers. John Steenbergen was a senior software engineer lead for Raytheons former operation in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 2019 when he became an apprentice to one of the companys top engineering fellows, Tim Morrill. Now, Steenbergen works in Tucson as chief engineer for Raytheons Naval Strike Missile program, a joint program with Norways Kongsberg Defence. Raytheons Albuquerque operation, which included test-range support services and high-powered microwave electronics, stemmed from Raytheons acquisition of Ktech Corp. in 2011, but that office was closed in 2021. Morrill went to Albuquerque to get a range-support program back on track, as part of his work as chief execution engineer, mainly focusing on troubleshooting company programs that had run into problems. Steenbergen recalled how Morrill stepped in when Raytheons Albuquerque test-range team was struggling to deliver the information the defense customer needed to conduct a critical design review a key milestone for any program. Morrill put Steenbergen in charge and set an aggressive schedule for the program, while giving him space to operate and deal with the customer. Tim would kind of run top cover, hed be running interference with the customer, and then I was empowered to put the team together, put together plans, statuses, all the different tasks so that we could drive to that single milestone event, which we successfully did, Steenbergen said. As a principal fellow Raytheons highest technical position Morrill said he has apprenticed four junior engineers, giving them the resources and push they need to get to the next level in the company. Usually, Morrill said, that next level is the position of chief engineer, running the entire technical side of a program. Part of your job as chief, and specific to the chief role, is to integrate all of the functions that are doing their work, like the conductor of an orchestra, to create the right kind of product, Morrill said. Raytheon fellows also provide mentorship to junior engineers, but the apprenticeship program is much more intensive, said Morrill, who figures hes less formally mentored 30 or 40 engineers since joining Raytheon in 2009. Youre literally working hand in hand and side-by-side as much as possible with those folks, he said. Morrill said he demanded a lot from Steenbergen, who rose to the task. He was a very quick study, picked up things very quickly, (though) he made some stumbles along the way, which is part of the learning process, Morrill said. Steenbergen, who was named a chief engineer in January 2020, said one of his biggest takeaways from working with Morrill was to focus on supporting people and helping them rise to their abilities. The big thing that I took away is, we should always be thinking about that next generation of folks that are coming up, looking at those that are showing promise, putting them in positions of authority and responsibility to be able to have them start learning those lessons, or making those mistakes, and supporting them in the things theyre doing, he said. Raytheon jobs To find and apply for jobs at Raytheon, go to careers.rtx.com. A group that backs additional restrictions on voting wants a judge to outlaw the use of drop boxes that can make it easier for some people to return their early ballots. The Free Enterprise Club says Arizona law provides only certain ways a ballot can be submitted: personal delivery to county election offices, dropping them in the mail or returning them to any polling place. But the Elections Procedures Manual, prepared by the Secretary of States Office, specifically permits counties to set up unmonitored drop boxes wherever they want and to allow retrievers to collect them for counting. The manual has the force of law, acknowledged Tim La Sota, an attorney for the Free Enterprise Club. Violations of it are a criminal misdemeanor. But he contends the manual cannot allow things, including drop boxes, that are not specifically authorized by the Legislature. He is asking a Yavapai County judge to declare that provision of the manual illegal and bar elections officials across the state from using drop boxes. The lawsuit is filed in Yavapai County because it is also brought in the name of a resident and registered voter of that county, Mary Kay Ruwette. The choice of county may not be random. John Napper, the presiding judge of Yavapai County, ruled last month in another case, also filed by the Free Enterprise Club, that a different provision in the Elections Procedures Manual about how officials can compare signatures on early ballots with other documents apparently violates state law. There is no indication yet which judge will hear the new case. A reasonable accommodation An aide to Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said the Free Enterprise Club is wrong on the legal facts. State law requires the secretary of state to prescribe rules not only to achieve and maintain correctness, impartiality, uniformity and correctness, but also for collecting ballots, said Fontes aide Paul Smith-Leonard. The drop boxes are used by the county recorders to collect early ballots, he said. Beyond that, Smith-Leonard said drop boxes comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and provide a reasonable accommodation to voters with a disability. La Sota said allowing unmonitored drop boxes creates potential for fraud. He acknowledged that people legally can drop their ballots in mailboxes. Thats acceptable, La Sota said, because federal laws outlaw tampering with or destroying mail. He also said the U.S. Postal Service scans each piece of mail, creating a record. Mailboxes are a less likely target than drop boxes for those who might seek to tamper, La Sota said. From the outside, it is impossible to determine whether a particular mailbox contains early voted ballots, he wrote. A person seeking to interfere with ballots being returned by mail would have very little certainty that a particular mailbox contains any ballots at all. By contrast, La Sota said, a drop box has only completed ballots. From the outside, one can know with certainty that the contents of a ballot drop-box are completed ballots, likely a significant number of them, he said. Voter intimidation issue La Sota cited no instances of drop boxes being broken into or any other instance. What has happened, he said, is voter intimidation. Last year, groups got U.S. District Court Judge Michael Liburdi to issue a restraining order to block certain activities around drop boxes. Those included photographing or videotaping taking videos of voters depositing their ballots, posting any videos or personal information online suggesting these people were engaged in ballot harvesting, and requiring anyone openly carrying a weapon or wearing body armor to remain at least 250 feet from any drop box. La Sota said there is no risk of voter intimidation at mail collection boxes because it is nearly impossible to tell whether any particular person depositing mail is depositing a voted ballot. And he said intimidation cant happen when people return ballots to election offices because of the presence of government officials. If those arguments dont convince the judge who will hear the case, La Sota has another: arbitrary and disparate treatment of voters depending on where they live. For instance, he said, La Paz County has just one drop box while there are 16 in Coconino County. There are just 19 in Yavapai County, La Sota said, despite the fact the county has 100,000 more residents than Coconino. Adding to that, said La Sota, is the wide variety of places where counties have installed drop boxes. In Coconino, those include a bookstore and a humane society, he said. Gila County has one at a church. Yavapai County has drop boxes at libraries, community centers, fire departments, and, amazingly enough, United States Post Offices presumably mere feet away from a mailbox where voters may legally return their ballots. This isnt the first foray into voting and election matters for the Free Enterprise Club. It worked to have Republican lawmakers put a measure on the 2022 ballot to require voters using early ballots to not just sign them but include a birth date and a state-issued number or the last four digits of a Social Security number. Proposition 309 also would have imposed new identification requirements on those who show up at a polling location. Voters rejected it with 51.8% in opposition. The organization is also trying to void something voters did approve last year: Requiring public disclosure of the true source of funds spent to influence elections. Proposition 211, which passed by a margin of nearly 3-1, is designed to end the ability of donors to hide their identity by giving money to support or oppose candidates or ballot measures through other organizations. A trial judge threw out the challenge in June, and the case is now on appeal. The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer: Sometimes the elimination of a single word from a regulation can mean a windfall of millions for a private actor with a nose for opportunity. One Arizona state agency the Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions omits required words from a regulation. The unlawful omission has helped put tens of millions into the coffers of a tiny Washington, D.C., nonprofit publisher. With the proceeds, the nonprofits chief executive and a few favored trustees travel the globe and host foreign delegations back in Washington. Its too crazy for fiction. More troubling, the regulations omitted wording has allowed private actors to continually change Arizona state law. Looking for obvious chicanery written into regulations can be a thankless job. Wording is usually dense, convoluted and esoteric. Its an acquired taste. To understand whats happening here, its instructive to look at a state agency that plays by the rules. In this case, the Arizona Department of Health Services. In 2019, the Department of Health Services wanted to incorporate two privately owned codes into its regulations. Making copyrighted codes and standards enforceable in Arizona is allowed. Its called incorporation by reference. But state agencies must, by law, follow certain administrative safeguards to protect the public. While not sexy, these guardrails are deceptively important for democracy in the Grand Canyon State. The two copyrighted codes the Health Services Department wished to incorporate into law are owned by the Quincy, Massachusetts-based National Fire Protection Association and dryly known as the 2012 NFPA70 National Electrical Code and the 2012 NFPA101 Life Safety Code. The agency was careful to comply with the Arizona Administrative Procedure Act, which requires a special notice-and-comment process, with postings in the state register, along with special wording in the proposed regulation that identifies the incorporated codes by location and date of publication. An enforceable rule in Arizona must also contain wording reminding Arizonans that the rule does not include any later amendments or editions of the incorporated matter. In the resulting regulation, the enforceable editions of the electrical and life-safety codes are named by date (the 2012 edition for both). The regulation also contains the mandatory wording banning future editions or amendments from enforcement. This wording keeps the agency from violating the states constitution, which protects Arizonans due process and equal protection under the law. In plain English, the wording keeps the agency from handing open-ended government authority to private persons. Contrast that with one Arizona state agency that has gone rogue the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions. On its own, the agency has enforced a copyrighted standard known as the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice without specifying the edition. There are 24 different versions in circulation. The standards are published by an opaque 14-employee nonprofit publisher known as the Appraisal Foundation. Because the incorporation fails to name a specific edition of the fluid standards and fails to provide the required regulatory warning that future editions and amendments are not included, the agency has allowed an out-of-state nonprofit to draft and amend Arizona state law in perpetuity. Also, the agency has enforced the standards sometimes levying fines and revocations simply on a bluff. When queried, Tammy Seto with the Financial Enterprises Division of the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions, deferred the matter to Nancy Inserra, a regulatory compliance officer. The latter sidestepped questions about the defective wording. Arizona real estate appraisers have complied with the fluid standards without fully understanding the defect. The nonprofit has figured out how to monetize the arrangement, and Arizona property owners end up indirectly paying for the continual regulatory changes. The lack of transparency has also affected the soundness of investments held by the states pension funds and banks. As a humorous aside, the tiny publisher engages in a theatrical process that has a beguiling likeness to a state or federal adoption: It solicits public input off an email list it sends around. It circulates discussion drafts. It gavels to order stage-managed hearings in hotel rooms around the country, and members of its paid panels make changes to what becomes binding law on Arizonans. But the hotel hearings are no more relevant to state or federal law than the musings of backpackers in the Sonoran Deserts spectacular Organ Pipe Backcountry or witty repartee overheard at a meeting of the Bishop Francis J. Green Knights of Columbus Council in Tucson. The hotel hearings dont officially exist. None of the paid panelists has taken an oath to faithfully execute the duties of any government office. (Also, as one might expect, there is heavy lobbyist infiltration of such panels.) Strictly between us, the private standards dont officially exist due to the defect. But no one has challenged the arrangement, so the charade goes on. The end Those wanting to close the border see this as a quick fix, easy solution. Although subject to debate, most trying to cross will die in a week without water. If they do get water, but no food, it will take a bit longer, up to three to four weeks for most to die. With nowhere to go, it wont take long before the bodies will start to pile up at the border walls. Those getting to the border seeing all of the dead bodies immediately learn their fate with no way to prevent it. For those living on this side of the border, the stench of hundreds, of thousands of dead bodies will become indescribable. Mexicos only solution will be to transport the dead in front loaders to mass graves. Not a pretty picture. No telling how long this would go on because those wanting to get into the United States would rather die than be killed where they currently live. Jon and Cathey Langione Marana Remember next year I certainly hope that everyone remembers that Juan Ciscomani voted for someone for speaker of the house who conspired with Donald Trump to overthrow the election on January 6, 2021. He does not deserve anyones vote. Michael Seibold Midtown A call for secularism in politics It seems to me that the tragedy in the Middle East is largely the fault of God. If the concept of deity was forcefully ejected from negotiations the opposing factions might get somewhere in a generation or two. Gods are the worst political negotiators ever. As long as Gods are allowed a seat at the table there will be no compromise, no empathy, no surrender. I quote Roger Waters, What God wants, God gets, God help us all. Thomas Maza East side Hudbay tax credits for a not so green project Although Hudbays Copper World project is on private property and is not subject to the rigorous environmental review their Rosemont Project has undergone, both projects share many issues of environmental concern. The topic of Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (TENORM) has received significant attention by regulatory agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which published an evaluation of the concentration of naturally occurring radioactive material at Arizona copper mines (EPA, 1999). The ore bodies at Copper World share a similar provenance with the mines evaluated by EPA, where impacts by TENORM are documented. The potential exists for impacts from Copper World generated TENORM to air quality through fugitive emissions, to groundwater quality through seepage from heap leaching operations, and to surface water quality through surface water pathways. These very real public health concerns require an evaluation of potential TENORM impacts from Copper World before this project earns a green energy label. Sheldon Clark Vail $1.5B Pima County Republican failure Re: the Oct. 13 letter Follow the money for incorporation. When I read the letter by Ted Maxwell of the Southern Arizona Leadership Council (SALC), I was transported to the mid-1990s. These were the arguments we used to try to pass a Pima County Charter. The stats about the money loss was higher than my estimate. Mr. Maxwell estimates it costs the region nearly $50,000,000 annually for the unchartered areas of Pima County. This means that the anti-county charter Southern Arizona Republican business leaders of the 1990s have cost the region nearly $1,500,000,000 in funds that could have improved roads and built a better Pima County. Why? Because, while Republicans then claimed that the Republican-led legislature leaders were doing a good job representing Pima County, Republicans actually did not want the Democratic-led Board of Supervisors to possibly have more power. SALC wants another Republican-run town as a powerbase and wants to add that town to the RTANext committee so that Tucson will continue to subsidize development outside its city limits. Matt Somers Midtown Call our representatives to action Re: the Oct. 12 article A wake up call on poverty. Dear Editor, The author explains clearly that we know how to cut the poverty experienced by 40% of Americans. In other words the hunger, homelessness, and even daily deaths of the 135 million Americans living in poverty is a policy choice. Initiatives like the expanded Child Tax Credit made an immediate difference and they can again. What is missing is the political will for Congress to take action. It is our voices that can help create the political will to end this deadly poverty in the worlds richest country. Lets call those who represent us and tell them it is time to take action now. Willie Dickerson Northwest side Freedom-loving people A basic tenet of democracy is to hold terrorists accountable for acts of violence. We must also recognize who the terrorists are. Terrorism is not just carried out by illegitimate organizations like Hamas, but countries like Russia, who wage outright war against innocent neighbors. Silent terrorism is also perpetrated by corrupt officials who take land, and strangle the lives of marginalized people, whether they be Palestinians, Tibetans, indigenous people or demonized groups of any kind. These acts are particularly rampant among high-profile far right figures, for whom power and violence is signature, and who exploit and encourage their minions to use disinformation, violent acts and personal threats to air their grievances. If we are to find lasting peace, our Republic must not only recognize who the terrorists are and hold them accountable, but also stop demonizing communities and ensure that all parties have a seat at the table. Otherwise we cannot call ourselves a freedom-loving people. Chris Hawkins Midtown The homeless in AZ Every day on my walk to school I walk by Jacobs park. A park where I see two older men who are homeless. They are quite sweet saying hi to me every time I pass since I see them every day, but now these two sweet men are being displaced because its unsafe and there is a safety risk. So they decided to build a fence all over this beautiful park. Sadly them being criminals and drug addicts a stereotype plaguing every homeless person in Tucson. They are seen as less than, as if they are all constantly choosing to be in their situation. I plead with everyone, next time you see a homeless person give them water, talk to them, help them feel seen its what we all yearn for. Im tired of the dehumanization of the homeless. Guillermo Chavez Downtown What the GOP is offering us He said we need to suspend the Constitution. He calls our war dead suckers and losers. He openly admires the worlds authoritarian dictators. He thinks a long serving General should be executed. He incited an uprising to overturn an election. What could possibly go wrong with another four years of Donald Trump as President? Mary Zimmerman SaddleBrooke Dead Man Walking Juan Ciscomani signed his electoral death warrant by voting for hard-right extremist Jim Jordan. Ciscomani has announced his alignment with fringe Republicans and is out of step with moderate 6th congressional district voters. His predecessors Kolbe, Giffords, McSally, Kirkpatrick were all middle of the road legislators. Juan, we hardly knew you. John Stark Southeast side What a prince Theres an ad playing on television extolling the virtues of Rep. Ciscomani for supporting the 45-day extension to keep the government working and saving the economy from disaster. As if there was any other choice. What a hoot these guys are. The ad is akin to those members of congress who voted against the infrastructure bill, but were sure to appear at the ribbon-cutting ceremonies in their districts, trying to brush some fairy dust on their actions. Better not slap yourself on the back too hard, Juan. You still cant elect a speaker and the deadline is fast approaching before we again face economic disaster. Plus we certainly dont want you pulling a muscle in self-congratulations. Larry Fleischman HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) Police are searching for a man suspected of fatally shooting a Maryland judge who had awarded custody of the suspects children to his wife on the day of the killing, authorities said Friday. The judge was shot in his driveway Thursday evening while his wife and son were home and just hours after he ruled against the suspect in a divorce case, authorities said. Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert said authorities are actively working to apprehend 49-year-old Pedro Argote for the targeted attack of Maryland Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson. Wilkinson, 52, was found with gunshot wounds around 8 p.m. Thursday outside his home in Hagerstown, authorities said. Wilkinson was taken to Meritus Medical Center, where he died of his injuries. Albert said at a news conference Friday that Argote is considered armed and dangerous. Albert declined to identify that type of weapon used in the slaying but said Argote legally owned a handgun. Judges across the U.S. have been the target of threats and sometimes violence in recent years. President Joe Biden last year signed a bill to give around-the-clock security protection to the families of Supreme Court justices after the leak of a draft court opinion overturning the Roe v. Wade abortion-rights decision, which prompted protests outside of conservative U.S. Supreme Court justices homes. Wilkinson had presided over a divorce proceeding involving Argote earlier Thursday, but Argote was not present for the hearing, Albert said. The judge gave custody of Argotes children to his wife at the hearing, and that was the motive for the killing, the sheriff said. Wilkinson issued a judgment Thursday, officially granting the divorce and awarding sole custody of the couples four children ages 12, 11, 5 and 3 to their mother, court records show. He ordered Argote to have no contact with the children and pay $1,120 a month in child support. Court records show a messy legal battle that began when Argote filed for divorce last year. In his initial court filing, Argote accused his wife of neglecting her homeschooling responsibilities and failing to properly supervise the children. But she filed a countercomplaint, accusing Argote of cruel treatment and saying she couldnt support herself financially. Days later, his wife requested a protective order, saying he was harassing her via text, controlling her every move, threatening to abuse their daughter and making false accusations against her. I dont get out of the house without his knowledge," she wrote in court documents. I know he has his weapon on him at all times. A judge granted a temporary protective order which included a directive for Argote to surrender his firearms but it was dismissed weeks later at the wife's request, court records show. Argote repeatedly proposed that they continue living in the same house while they sorted out their digital advertising business and became more financially stable. Wilkinson wrote in a March 2023 opinion that Argote's proposal was "frankly, a non-starter. The testimony leaves this court with the uneasy sense that Father engages in absolute control over Mother, their finances, and their lives," Wilkinson wrote. "This is not in the best interests of the children. Argote was ordered to move out of his familys home the same day. Messages left seeking comments at cell phone numbers listed for Argote werent immediately returned. Argote didnt have a criminal record in Washington County, but officers had responded to the residence for verbal domestic assaults two times within the last few years, Albert said. Attorneys in the divorce case did not immediately respond to emails and calls seeking comment. However, the attorney representing the children had words of praise for the late jurist. Judge Wilkinson was an amazing man, father, husband and judge and I am blessed to have known and worked with him, attorney Ashley Wilburn wrote in an email. He is a hero. Hagerstown, a city of nearly 44,000, lies about 75 miles (120 kilometers) northwest of Baltimore in the panhandle of Maryland, near the state lines of West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Albert said he wasn't aware of any previous threats against Wilkinson. Wilkinson was sworn in as a circuit court judge in 2020. The 1994 University of North Carolina graduate received his law degree from Emory University School of Law in 1997 and then became a circuit court law clerk in Washington County. At his swearing-in, Wilkinson said he wanted to become a judge to serve the community, The Herald-Mail reported. "Its an honor and its humbling, and Im happy to serve, he said. Wilkinson thanked retired Judge Frederick C. Wright III for guiding his career. Wilkinsons military family had moved around, but when Wright hired his mother as a law clerk in 1983, Hagerstown became his home. Wilkinson later clerked for Wright. "He was quite an outstanding young man, Wright told The Associated Press in a phone call. "I had the privilege of being his mentor. Other U.S. judges have been targets of violence in recent years. In June 2022, a retired Wisconsin county circuit judge, John Roemer was killed in his home in what authorities said was a targeted killing. That same month, a man carrying a gun, a knife and zip ties was arrested near Justice Brett Kavanaughs house in Maryland after threatening to kill the justice. A mens rights lawyer with a history of anti-feminist writings, posed as a FedEx delivery person in 2020 and fatally shot the 20-year-old son of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas, and wounded her husband at their New Jersey home. Salas in another part of the home at the time and was not injured. And a Texas woman was charged in August with threatening to kill U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing the Washington case accusing Donald Trump of conspiring to overturn his 2020 election loss. Michael Kunzelman and Sarah Brumfield reported from Silver Spring, Maryland. Alanna Durkin Richer in Boston and Jennifer Farrar in New York also contributed to this report. Jimmie Tramel Tulsa World Scene Writer Follow Jimmie Tramel Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Martin Scorseses Killers of the Flower Moon has arrived. So did eager ticket-buyers. The shot-in-Oklahoma film has a release date of Friday, but one-day-early screenings were available Thursday. Those who couldnt wait to see the movie took advantage. At Circle Cinema, for instance, Thursday tickets for multiple screenings of Killers of the Flower Moon sold out. Tickets for Thursday screenings were gone probably within two weeks of going on sale, according to Chuck Foxen, Circle Cinemas deputy director and programmer. Some tickets for Friday screenings at Circle Cinema were available as of Thursday morning, but, by the time Killers of the Flower Moon debuted there Thursday afternoon, tickets for multiple Friday screenings had sold out. This is pretty unique, Foxen said. I think this film is so personal for a lot of people. Its a story from Oklahoma and of the Osage tribe, so its a sensitive film and its a historic film, so its a little bit different than those other popular kind of films. Killers of the Flower Moon, which stars Lily Gladstone, Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, is based on David Granns bestselling book about the reign of terror that occurred within the Osage Nation in Oklahomas early days. The discovery of oil brought wealth to the Osage, who were subsequently preyed upon by people who wanted a share of the riches. How far will unscrupulous people go to get what they want? Its a powerful film, Foxen said. You sit there afterward, and you just want to sit in some quiet for a while and just kind of absorb it. Learning and seeing history that was uncomfortable its uncomfortable to watch. But the power of that, hopefully, helps us not do that again. Immediate reaction to the film? Positive. I loved the movie, Sammie Clark said after seeing it with fellow Tulsan Linda Allen. We were sitting here talking about how we read the book when it first came out and now we want to go home and re-read the book because it seems there are parts that they brought out in the movie that I cant remember. But I thought it was fabulously done. Clark said she especially loves something Scorsese does at the end of the film, but lets keep that under wraps until other people have a chance to see it. Allen said she read the book when it was first released and then heard Grann speak during an event at Oklahoma State University. I really enjoyed that, she said. And I was just amazed that, through Oklahoma schools, I had never heard about this (Osage Reign of Terror). Like Sammie said, Im going to go home and read the book again. Granville Crittenden of Broken Arrow said he was in the background during the making of the film. It was really pretty neat seeing the movie and how everything came about and how the FBI came about and all the murders, Crittenden, who is Cherokee, said. It was a scary time to live back then, to be Osage, with the oil rights and stuff like that. Its just a good depiction of what happened to the people that had the money. The film has a run time of 3 hours, 26 minutes. Crittenden said the movie was long but not too long. It went by pretty quick because it just kept you interested, one thing after another. Clark agreed that the film did not seem too long. I think it had to be that long to get enough of those important points in it. Sisters Theresa and Mary Harjo of Tulsa were the last to exit the theater following Circles first screening. Theresa (an enrolled Quapaw) said they wanted to stay and read the credits because there were a lot of names she recognized. Asked for her thoughts on the film, Theresa Harjos voice cracked when she called it a very emotional movie. I would have liked to have heard more of Mollies story, she said, referring to Gladstones character. But I realize in the modern world that Leonardo is the star, so thats where the story came from, you know? Mary Harjo said she really liked the film and appreciates that the heritage and culture of the Osage were included by Scorsese. He was looking for the right attitude, I guess, for the film, and I think he found it, she said. I was really impressed by it. I was impressed by his direction. I think it was amazing, but he is. Circle Cinema is Tulsas only independent, nonprofit arthouse theater. Killers of the Flower Moon is showing at theaters across the Tulsa area. Foxen said Circle Cinema learned from the experiences of having the blockbusters Barbie and Oppenheimer at Circle this year. We knew the anticipation was going to be high (for Killers of the Flower Moon), so we tried to open up as many screening opportunities as we could, he said. All three of Circles theater rooms were illuminated by Killers of the Flower Moon Thursday afternoon. One of the theater rooms was used to accommodate overflow. All screenings at Circle are preceded by a video introduction from Osage Nation Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear. With a budget of $200 million, Killers of the Flower Moon is, financially, the biggest film to be shot on Oklahoma soil. The majority of filming took place in and around Pawhuska and Bartlesville. Anna Codutti Tulsa World Breaking News Editor Follow Anna Codutti Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Tahlequah police have a shooting suspect in custody after two people were found slain Wednesday night near the Northeastern State University campus. Officers saw a person thought to be the shooter fleeing when they responded around 8 p.m. to the shooting scene on Choctaw Street. About 45 minutes later on the other side of town, a man thought to be the shooter assaulted a Tahlequah police officer, police said. Jordan Hensley was taken into custody about 10 minutes later. The shooting victims were identified as John and Tiffany Thompson. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Reaction to AG's lawsuit This lawsuit is a political stunt and runs counter to our Oklahoma values and the law. AG Drummond seems to lack any firm grasp on the constitutional principle of religious freedom and masks his disdain for the Catholics pursuit by obsessing over non-existent schools that dont neatly align with his religious preference. His discriminatory and ignorant comment concerning a potential Muslim charter is a perfect illustration. The creation of St. Isadores is a win for religious and education freedom in Oklahoma. We want parents to be able to choose the education that is best for their kids, regardless of income. The state shouldnt stand in the way. Gov. Kevin Stitt We applaud Attorney General Drummond for his efforts to protect church-state separation and public education in Oklahoma. The law is clear: Charter schools are public schools that must be secular and serve all students. St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School plans to discriminate against students, families, and staff and indoctrinate students into one religion. Allowing a religious public charter school like St. Isidore to operate would be a sea change for our democracy. Our clients filed OKPLAC, Inc. v. Statewide Virtual Charter School Board because they are committed to ensuring that our public schools welcome and serve all Oklahomans. The lawsuit filed today demonstrates that AG Drummond shares this commitment. Joint statement from Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the American Civil Liberties Union, Education Law Center and Freedom From Religion Foundation The Constitution is crystal clear on religious liberty, but that fundamental truth is lost on some people. Oklahomans hold their faith and their liberty sacred, and atheism should not be the state-sponsored religion. We should not play politics with the future of our kids through this misguided lawsuit. "Oklahoma parents know what is best for their kids and deserve the most expansive system of school choice in the country so they can make the right decision for their families. The approval of St. Isidore of Seville is a landmark in the battle for educational and religious freedom, and I am proud that Oklahoma is leading the way. We will never back down. State Superintendent Ryan Walters Randy Krehbiel Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Randy Krehbiel Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today First District Congressman Kevin Hern is back in the race for speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, he said Friday afternoon on social media. We need a different type of leader who has a proven record of success, which is why Im running for Speaker of the House, Hern said on X, formerly known as Twitter. House Speaker Pro Tem Patrick McHenry of North Carolina said a speaker candidate forum will be held Monday, with a conference vote the following day. Herns announcement followed a Republican conference vote to remove Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan as speaker designate. Earlier, Jordan had failed for a third time to win a floor vote for speaker. He received fewer votes in each succeeding ballot. Hern said he voted to retain Jordan as the conferences speaker designate. With a majority of only a few seats, The House GOP has struggled to choose a leader. It took 15 rounds of balloting for McCarthy to be elected speaker in January, and he was removed earlier this month with eight Republicans joining Democrats to oust him. Pressure from conservative special interest groups, including some media personalities, to elect Jordan speaker resulted in telephone campaigns and reportedly even death threats against Republican holdouts. None of Oklahomas delegation reported such threats, but at least two said they were heavily lobbied on behalf of Jordan. Congressman Lucas office received around 5,000 calls this week with less than 1,000 being from Oklahoma and even fewer from the 3rd Congressional district in overwhelming support to elect Jim Jordan as speaker of the House, said a spokesman for 3rd District Congressman Frank Lucas, who represents northwest Tulsa and westward counties. A spokesman for 2nd District Congressman Josh Brecheen said his office had received many calls in support of Jordan. All five of Oklahomas Republican representatives voted for Jordan on all three ballots, with 4th District Congressman Tom Cole offering a nominating speech for him. In only his third term, Hern would be the shortest-tenured representative to be elected speaker since the 1880s. According to The Hill, at least seven other Republicans are running or considering a run: Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota, Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington of Texas, GOP conference Vice Chairman Mike Johnson of Louisiana and two-term Florida Rep. Byron Donalds. Also: Georgias Austin Scott, Texas Pete Sessions and Pennsylvanias Dan Meuser. The Detroit News, meanwhile, reported that Michigan Rep. Jack Bergman said hes running but only to complete the current Congress, which runs into early 2025. Hern received a handful of votes when McCarthy was elected speaker in January. He unofficially put himself forward as a candidate after McCarthys removal 17 days ago but was not formally entered as a speaker candidate. Hern has said previously that his background as a self-made McDonalds millionaire and relatively short time in the House work in his favor. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. The presidential office said Friday it has launched an investigation into allegations that the protocol secretary's daughter bullied a schoolmate, leaving injuries that would take nine weeks to heal. Kim Seung-hee, the presidential secretary for protocol, has been removed from President Yoon Suk Yeol's upcoming state visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar pending the investigation, according to presidential spokesperson Lee Do-woon. "The presidential office immediately opened an investigation of civil service discipline with regard to the secretary in question and removed him from the team accompanying the president to Saudi Arabia and Qatar tomorrow," Lee said during a press briefing. Earlier in the day, Rep. Kim Young-ho of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea claimed during a parliamentary audit session that the secretary's third-grade daughter was suspected of bullying a second-grader at their elementary school in Gyeonggi Province, causing injuries that would take nine weeks to heal. The lawmaker also claimed that on July 19, Kim Seung-hee's wife changed her profile photo on mobile messenger app KakaoTalk to a photo of her husband with the president, the same day their daughter was suspended from school over the alleged bullying, an action he described as amounting to a display of power and "very inappropriate." (Yonhap) Aramco, the state-owned petroleum and natural gas company of Saudi Arabia, is keen on exploring investment in refineries in Vietnam, Yasser M. Mufti, executive vice-president of the oil group said during a meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Thursday. The meeting was part of PM Chinhs three-day visit to the Middle Eastern nation through Friday at the invitation of the King of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Mufti told the meeting that the group is operating actively in Asia, but it has yet to do business in Vietnam. However, Aramco has been supplying crude oil to Vietnamese partners. As such, the group expects to sound out investment opportunities to develop a refinery in Vietnam. The Aramco representative proposed the Vietnamese government create favorable conditions for the groups technician team to enter the Southeast Asian country to survey and study the market. Vietnam is diversifying markets, especially in the petrochemical industry, said the Vietnamese government leader. Vietnam is calling for investment in refineries, so the prime minister welcomes the group to the nation. PM Chinh suggested that Aramco invest in training the workforce in the field. On the same day, the prime minister met with some top Saudi Arabian officials on the sidelines of his visit. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) meets with Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Al-Ibrahim. Photo: D. Giang / Tuoi Tre During talks with Saudi Arabias Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Al-Ibrahim, PM Chinh affirmed that the Vietnam-Saudi Arabia ties have mightily flourished. The top Vietnamese official hinted at fostering connectivity, and trade and investment cooperation with energy, banking and finance, Halal food and digitalization sectors to be prioritized. Furthermore, the prime minister proposed the two sides pave the way for imports, while prompting the Saudi Arabian authorities to remove bottlenecks facing Vietnams shipments of seafood to the nation. To deepen their partnership, PM Chinh recommended that the two nations boost all-level delegation exchanges and strengthen traffic connection between Vietnam and Saudi Arabia. The Saudi minister agreed with PM Chinhs proposals on stronger cooperation in trade and investment as well as export market expansion. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) shakes hands with Saudi Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed Al-Rajhi. Photo: D. Giang / Tuoi Tre At a meeting with Saudi Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed Al-Rajhi, PM Chinh underlined that labor is a key industry of bilateral cooperation, especially when Saudi Arabia is implementing numerous major infrastructure and urban projects. The prime minister suggested the two sides enhance collaboration between labor management agencies and spur partnership in training. Minister AlRajhi said that Saudi Arabia aims to receive 10 million foreign workers in various fields such as industrial production, energy, health, and tourism in the coming time. Highly valuing the quality of Vietnamese employees, the Saudi minister expected the two nations to join hands to send Vietnamese workers to Saudi Arabia. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnam is expected to rake in US$6 billion in vegetable and fruit exports this year thanks to the strong export growth over the past few months, according to Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association. Statistics from the General Department of Vietnam Customs showed that the country exported $349.52 million worth of vegetables and fruits in the first half of this month, raising the countrys total export revenue from fruits and vegetables to $4.56 billion between January 1 and October 15, surging 75.4 percent year on year. Vietnams vegetable and fruit exports have increased monthly over the past few months. In particular, export earnings reached $404.4 million in July, $464 million in August, and $667 million in September. If Vietnam maintains this growth momentum, it could fetch $700 million from vegetable and fruit exports this month, setting a record for the Southeast Asian country. Experts attribute this growth to increased demand from the Chinese market. From January to September, vegetable and fruit exports from Vietnam to China reached $2.7 billion, skyrocketing 160 percent year on year and making up 65 percent of Vietnams total vegetable and fruit exports. Nguyen told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that vegetable and fruit shipments so far this year have exceeded the record set in 2018, at $3.18 billion, and may surpass the $5 billion estimated earlier by many experts, as many products have reported high export turnover, such as durians, mangos, jackfruits, bananas, and sweet potatoes. Moreover, China tends to elevate vegetable and fruit imports, such as dragon fruits, watermelons, and mangos, at the end of the year for consumption during the Lunar New Year holiday in February 2024, Nguyen added. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The number of tourists in Vietnam on the lookout for outbound tours to Japan, South Korea, China, and Europe during the fall season is on the rise due to affordable prices offered by various tour operators and travel agencies. Autumn travel has been increasing over the past several years, said Thi Quoc Duy, director of Ho Chi Minh City-based travel company BenThanh Tourist. This week alone, BenThanh Tourist is scheduled to take two groups on packaged tours to Europe. This season, Duy said, BenThanh Tourist's European tour offerings have seen a double number of guests compared to last year. Attempting to capitalize on the trend, Duy hopes to bring over 1,000 tourists to countries in northern Europe in the near future. Within Europe, France, Switzerland, Italy, and the Netherlands are the hottest destinations, according to a statement made by Nguyen Huu Cuong, CEO of tour operator Trang An Travel, to news site VnExpress. Trang An Travel offers particularly unique tours to these countries which feature visits to world famous attractions such as the windmills in Zaanse Schans, the Netherlands; the Swiss filming location for the Netflix series Crash Landing on You;' and the charming ancient town of Colmar, France. According to Doan Thi Thanh Tra, director of marketing and communications at Saigontourist Travel Service, tourists demand both high-quality experiences and high-quality services, thus, it is critical that tourism businesses put a focus on developing new and unique experiences. Saigontourists fall tours have been filling up quickly despite carrying relatively high costs ranging from VND60 million (US$2,443) to VND100 million ($4,071), Tra said. In Asia, destinations such as China, South Korea, and Japan are amongst the most popular, Tran Thi Bao Thu, marketing and communications director of Fiditour-Vietlux, told Nguoi Lao Dong (Labourer) newspaper. The Korea Tourism Organization in Vietnam said on October 5 that about 300,000 tourists from Vietnam visited South Korea between January and September, representing roughly 72 percent of the pre-COVID-19 figure, according to Nguoi Lao Dong. Data from the Japan National Tourism Organization in Vietnam accessed by Nguoi Lao Dong showed that nearly 400,000 Vietnamese visitors traveled to Japan in January-August, marking a 17.4-percent increase compared to pre-pandemic levels and the highest figure in the past four years. Affordable prices are one of the reasons why these outbound tours have become so attractive to tourists, Tran Thanh Vu, CEO at Vinagroup Travel JSC, told Nguoi Lao Dong. Economic unrest has forced tourists to become more selective, and businesses are working to keep prices at competitive rates in order to keep tourists interested, Vu said. Despite autumn traditionally being an 'off season' with relatively low tourist demand and reduced airfares, other service-related expenses have surged, contributing to increased tour prices, according to VnExpress. Several travel agencies have reported that this years fall tour rates have risen 15 percent in comparison to 2022 and 20 percent when compared to pre-pandemic levels. Prices for the cheapest tours to mainland China, Taiwan, and South Korea range from VND10 million ($407) to VND15 million ($610) per guest. For Japan, prices fluctuate from VND17 million ($692) to over VND30 million ($1,221) per guest, while European tours typically cost between VND50 million ($2,035) and VND80 million ($3,256) per guest. The costliest options are tours to America which often exceed VND120 million ($4,885) per visitor. Tu Quy Thanh, CEO of Lien Bang Travelink, told Nguoi Lao Dong tour operators have managed to keep the prices of outbound tours affordable, even lower than the same period last year, by making large booking deals with airlines and foreign partners for flight tickets and hotels at reasonable costs. In addition, Vu credited the active promotional efforts of foreign tourism organizations for the rising popularity of fall travels to the aforementioned destinations among Vietnamese tourists. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnam shipped 884,200 metric tons of rice worth US$462.61 million to Indonesia in January-September, skyrocketing 1,667 percent in volume and 1,794 percent in value compared with the same period last year, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs. Indonesia ranked third in export value among importers of Vietnams rice, accounting for 13.8 percent of the countrys total rice export volume and 13 percent of its rice export value. Indonesia followed the Philippines and China. The Philippines spent $1.29 billion importing over 2.44 million metric tons of Vietnamese rice, making up 38 percent of Vietnams rice export volume and 36.5 percent of the value. Meanwhile, China purchased more than 858,800 metric tons of Vietnams rice valued at $495.78 million. These three markets accounted for 65.4 percent of Vietnams rice export volume in the nine-month period, at 4.2 million metric tons. The customs agency revealed that Vietnam raked in $377.78 million from 605,410 metric tons of rice exported to other countries in September, taking the figures in the January-September period to $3.54 billion and 6.42 million metric tons, respectively. Do Ha Nam, vice-chairman of the Vietnam Food Association, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that rice exports would remain positive in the coming time but local firms might not have enough grains for export. Local rice prices are sometimes $50 per metric ton higher than the export rates, causing many enterprises to hesitate to acquire the grain from farmers and traders. Farmers and traders have hoarded rice to wait for higher prices, Nam informed. The demand for rice in Indonesia will be still high, as Indonesian President Joko Widodo has announced that his country needs an additional 1.5 million metric tons until the end of this year and it will choose Vietnam and Thailand as the two key suppliers, opening up a great opportunity for Vietnam. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Eight billion years ago, something happened in a distant galaxy that sent an incredibly powerful blast of radio waves hurtling through the universe. It finally arrived at Earth on June 10 last year and -- though it lasted less than a thousandth of a second -- a radio telescope in Australia managed to pick up the signal. This flash from the cosmos was a fast radio burst (FRB), a little-understood phenomenon first discovered in 2007. Astronomers revealed on Thursday that this particular FRB was more powerful and came from much farther away than any previously recorded, having travelled eight billion light years from when the universe was less than half its current age. Exactly what causes FRBs has become one of astronomy's great mysteries. There was early speculation that they could be radio communication beamed from some kind of extraterrestrial, particularly because some of the signals repeat. However scientists believe the prime suspects are distant dead stars called magnetars, which are the most magnetic objects in the universe. Ryan Shannon, an astrophysicist at Australia's Swinburne University, told AFP it was "mind-blowing" that the ASKAP radio telescope in Western Australia had spotted the radio burst last year. 'Lucky' "We were lucky to be looking at that little spot in the sky for that one millisecond after the eight billion years the pulse had travelled to catch it," said Shannon, co-author of a study describing the find in the journal Science. The FRB easily beat the previous record holder, which was from around five billion light years away, he added. The pulse was so powerful that -- in under a millisecond -- it released as much energy as the Sun emits over 30 years. Shannon said that there could be hundreds of thousands of FRBs flashing in the sky every day. But around a thousand have been detected so far, and scientists have only been able to work out where just 50 came from -- which is crucial to understanding them. To find out where the latest radio burst -- dubbed FRB 20220610A -- came from, the researchers turned to the Very Large Telescope in Chile. It found that the signal originated from a particularly clumpy galaxy that may have been merging with one or two other galaxies, which could in turn have created the bizarre magnetar. Shannon emphasised that this was just the team's "best hunch". FRBs have been detected coming from unexpected places, including from within our own Milky Way galaxy, so "the jury's still out" on what causes them, he said. Aside from trying to uncover the secrets of FRBs, scientists hope to use them as a tool to shed light on another of the universe's mysteries. Where's the matter? Just five percent of the universe is made up of normal matter -- what everything you can see is made out of -- while the rest is thought to be composed of the little understood dark matter and dark energy. But when astronomers count up all the stars and galaxies in the universe, more than half of that five percent of normal matter is "missing", Shannon said. Scientists believe this missing matter is spread out in thin filaments connecting galaxies called the cosmic web, however it is so diffuse current telescopes cannot see it. That's where fast radio bursts come in. They are "imprinted with the signature of all the gas they travel through", Shannon said. Some FRB wavelengths are slightly slowed down when travelling through this matter, giving scientists a way to measure it. This could allow them work out how much matter is in the cosmic web -- and therefore, the total weight of the universe. For the record-breaking FRB, Shannon said the team had noticed signals of "extra materials" the burst had passed through on its journey through the universe. But to use this information to get a proper measurement of the universe's weight, hundreds more FRBs will likely need to be observed, he added. With much more advanced radio telescopes expected to go online soon, astronomers hope that will happen relatively quickly. Liam Connor, an astrophysicist at the California Institute of Technology not involved in the research, told AFP that future radio telescopes will find tens of thousands of FRBs, allowing scientists to weigh all the matter "across cosmic epochs". The Indian Navys sail training ship INS Sudarshini arrived at Saigon Port on Wednesday, commencing its three-day friendly visit to Ho Chi Minh City. During the welcoming ceremony, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar expressed his delight that the Indian Navy ship INS Sudarshini's arrival in Ho Chi Minh City coincided with his working trip in the city. Its presence is both a statement of our contemporary cooperation, but also of a long maritime tradition between India and Vietnam, which goes back more than a thousand years, Jaishankar said. Vice-chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Ngo Minh Chau was also present at the ceremony. The citys leader and the Indian Foreign Minister boarded the ship for a tour and to learn more about the INS Sudarshini. The visit of INS Sudarshini marks the third time an Indian Navy ship has stopped in Vietnam and the third time it has visited Ho Chi Minh City since 2022. Vice-chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Ngo Minh Chau (L) and Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar at the welcoming ceremony of the Sudarshini on the morning of October 18, 2023. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre On a special visit in August 2021, right at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, an Indian Navy ship docked at Nha Rong Port carrying 100 metric tons of liquid oxygen and 300 ventilators to support the government and people of Vietnam in their fight against the disease. According to Chau, the Indian Navy's visits to Vietnam not only enhance cooperation between the naval forces of the two countries but also serve to help form a stronger bond between the governments and peoples of both sides, contributing to peace, security, and stability in the region and the world. In agreement with the city leader, Jaishankar noted that the strong bilateral defense cooperation between the two countries is one of the most robust pillars of the Vietnam-India comprehensive strategic partnership. "This is an expression of the great trust that both countries have for each other. Vietnam is the only nation to which India has gifted a fully operational missile corvette, Jaishankar said. All defense engagements today between Vietnam and Idina span a wide spectrum, such as building defense industry, UN peacekeeping, submarine and pilot training, and bilateral ship visits and exercises. Speaking to Tuoi Tre News, Commander Kamal Singh Rana, the commanding officer of the INS Sudarshini, said that the ships primary purpose is to train the sea training officers of the Indian Navy and friendly foreign countries, including Vietnam. There is no motor, no engines, electronics, anything. Everything you have to pull by hand. So it is all physical efficiency," the commander happily shared. "If you see my guys over here, all are young, all are strong, all are fit." Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted separate receptions for representatives of leading Saudi Arabian enterprises after arriving in the Middle Eastern country on Thursday (local time) to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit. Shehim Kottilingal, director at LuLu Saudi Hypermarkets, a retail business under Lulu Group International, said Vietnam is a safe destination and holds much potential for exporting agro products. Therefore, Lulu plans to expand its business to Vietnam, including purchasing local farm produce and building an agro product processing plant in the Southeast Asian nation. Lulu imports 30 percent of its fresh limes and 40 percent of its cashew nuts from Vietnam to resell in the Saudi Arabian market and has plans to purchase more Vietnamese agro items such as fish and vegetables in the near future. The Lulu leader proposed that the Vietnamese government create more favorable conditions in the licensing and expansion of farm produce processing plants and the import of Vietnamese agro items. In addition, he suggested the two countries consider the launch of a direct air route to facilitate the import of food, fresh vegetables, and fruits from Vietnam. PM Chinh thanked Lulu Group International for having introduced quality Vietnamese products to consumers in Saudi Arabia and other countries through its chain of hypermarkets over the years. The top Vietnamese official suggested that Lulu continue introducing more Vietnamese products in its hypermarket chain. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) hosts a reception for Abdulrahman Al Zamil (L), chairman of Zamil Group, in Saudi Arabia, October 18, 2023. Photo: Nhat Bac Abdulrahman Al Zamil, chairman of Zamil Group, during his meeting with PM Chinh said the groups Zamil Steel Company built a 100-percent foreign-owned factory at Noi Bai Industrial Park in Hanoi. Considering Vietnam as an ideal destination for exporting Zamil products to neighboring countries, the Zamil chairman wished Vietnam would create optimal conditions for the group to ship its products to neighboring markets. The Vietnamese Cabinet leader suggested Zamil Group consider expanding its business in Vietnam, with a focus on hi-tech and sustainable investment. During his reception for Ali Al-Khatib, Deputy CEO for Investment and Portfolio of Ajlan & Bros Holding, a leading textile-garment firm in Saudi Arabia, PM Chinh also proposed the firm consider establishing cooperation with Vietnamese companies in textile-garment, technology, agriculture, renewable energy, and real estate. In response, Ali Al-Khatib said the company would develop long-term projects in Vietnam in the years ahead and be seeking appropriate business partners in the Southeast Asian nation. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Happy Vietnamese Women's Day! Politics -- Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong suggested that China intensify its investment in major projects in Vietnam, connecting railways and roads between the two countries, at a meeting with Cai Qi, secretary of the Secretariat of the Chinese Communist Party and member of the CCP Politburo Standing Committee, in Beijing on Thursday. -- Vietnam and Saudi Arabia consider waiving visas for tourists from both countries, according to what was discussed during a meeting between Nguyen Van Hung, Vietnamese Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, and Haifa bint Muhammad Al Saud, a Saudi royal and Deputy Minister of Tourism, on Thursday. Society -- The Mekong Delta of Vietnam may face early saline intrusion which is forecast to begin in mid or late December, with greater severity than previous years, meteorologists warned. -- Tiny spaces for rent, loosely called 'sleep boxes,' are mushrooming in Ho Chi Minh City, entailing a risk of fire, local police said. -- During a ceremony in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on Thursday, the United Nations World Tourism Organization honored Tan Hoa, a commune under Minh Hoa District, Quang Binh Province, north-central Vietnam, as one of the best tourism villages in the world. Business -- Vietnam's import-export revenue has reached approximately US$523 billion in the year to date, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs. -- Vietnam raked in $377.78 million from 605,410 metric tons of rice exported to other countries in January-September, said the General Department of Vietnam Customs. -- Yasser M. Mufti, executive vice-president of Aramco, the state owned petroleum and natural gas company of Saudi Arabia, said during a meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Thursday that the oil group was interested in exploring investment in refineries in Vietnam. World News -- "You may never have to read another news story in your life, if you have artificial intelligence that can digest all the webs information and serve up a summary on demand," Reuters reported. "Thats the stuff of nightmares for media barons as Google and others experiment with what's called generative AI, which creates new content drawing from past data." -- "A team of international scientists collected fish samples from a port town near Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear plant on Thursday, seeking to assess the impact of the plant's recent release of treated radioactive water into the sea," according to Reuters. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! China Harbor Engineering Co. Ltd. (CHEC) and China Communications Construction Co. Ltd. (CCCC) conveyed their interest in undertaking Vietnams North-South high-speed railway project during a meeting on Thursday with Vietnamese Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in China, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment. At the meeting, Bai Yinzhan, director of CHEC, a subsidiary of CCCC, noted that CCCC has operated in Vietnam since 1996 and successfully implemented 20 infrastructure and energy infrastructure projects in the Southeast Asian country, including the Hanoi-Hai Phong Expressway, Cai Mep-Thi Vai Terminal, Vinh Tan thermal power plant, and some wind power projects. The firm hoped to take part in major infrastructure development projects in Vietnam in the future such as the North-South high-speed railway, expressways, and wind power projects, Bai said. He pledged that CHEC would work harder to fruitfully participate in infrastructure development projects in Vietnam so that CCCC would become a true bridge of cooperation and friendship between the two countries. In response, Minister Dung welcomed CCCCs plan to expand investment and business activities in Vietnam. Dung, however, also pointed out certain shortcomings in some infrastructure projects carried out by Chinese businesses in Vietnam. The Vietnamese minister expected that CCCC, as a major contractor and a strategic investor in Vietnam, will share expertise, provide training, and transfer technology to assist Vietnam in developing and managing infrastructure effectively and sustainably, thus contributing to the two countries cooperation in infrastructural development. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A resident with suspected monkeypox in Da Nang, central Vietnam has been confirmed to be infected with hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), a local health official said on Thursday evening. Samples taken from the patient were sent to the Pasteur Institute in Nha Trang City, located in the south-central province of Khanh Hoa, on Wednesday for testing, according to Vo Thu Tung, deputy-director of the Da Nang Department of Health. The test result was released on Thursday evening and showed that the patient had been positive for HFMD, not monkeypox as earlier suspected. The HFMD diagnosis meant that anyone who had been in close contact with the patient should not have monitored their health. The municipal health authority remained vigilant against monkeypox and asked its subordinates to take measures to raise public awareness about the infectious viral disease. Two days ago, the Da Nang Center for Disease Control asked relevant medical units to adopt measures to prevent the possible spread of the disease, including putting the suspected Mpox patient under quarantine at Da Nang Hospital and making a list of people who had been in close contact with the case. These people were told to monitor their health for 21 days following their exposure the suspected case or until the suspected case tests negative. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Friday that an increase in the number of medical personnel is essential in the latest push to address a shortage of doctors providing essential medical services, especially in pediatrics and emergency care. The government has reportedly been looking to raise the annual enrollment quota at medical schools by more than 1,000 from the current 3,058, starting in 2025. "Since it takes 10 years to become a specialist after entering medical school, failure to increase enrollment now will pose a more significant threat to our society," Han said. On Thursday, President Yoon Suk Yeol also called for an increase in medical personnel to restore local and critical health services and prepare for the nation's transition to a super-aged society. Han said the increase alone will not entirely resolve the issue of inadequate healthcare services in remote areas and the shortage of personnel in essential sectors, such as pediatrics. In 2021, Korea had 2.6 physicians per 1,000 people, which is significantly below the average of 3.7 of the 38 member states of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, according to the OECD's Health Statistics 2023. The government plans to explore various solutions, including personnel reassignment, adjusting the pricing of medical services and easing the burden of medical malpractice on doctors, according to Han. But doctors have fiercely opposed the plan, saying the government should instead explore ways to better allocate physicians and boost compensation. Han also assured that the government would maintain close coordination with the medical sector. (Yonhap) Lingerie model Tran Thi Ngoc Trinh, known across Vietnam as Ngoc Trinh, rode a large-displacement motorcycle while performing offensive and dangerous acts and wearing no protective gear before posting videos of the stunt on the Internet, stirring outrage among social media users. Police in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday detained Ngoc Trinh, 34, and filed charges against her for allegedly causing social disorder. Police forces also launched legal proceedings against Tran Xuan Dong, Trinhs 36-year-old trainer, for using counterfeit documents and causing social disorder. Ngoc Trinh, dubbed an underwear queen, is accused of driving recklessly in Thu Duc City under Ho Chi Minh City, and then posting videos of herself kneeling and lying on a large displacement motorcycle to her social network channels, said the citys investigators. These videos quickly went viral. Ngoc Trinh was found to have no special license that would allow her to legally ride a motorcycle with an engine over 175cc. On October 6, she and Dong rode a motorcycle with a cylinder capacity of 999cc on D15 Road in the Saigon Hi-Tech Park in Thu Duc City. In early September, both rode motorcycles on Tran Bach Dang Street in the Thu Thiem urban area in the city. While riding her motorcycle, Ngoc Trinh put both legs to one side of the vehicle, knelt on the saddle, and let go of both hands. Her behaviors were determined to have caused social disorder and negatively affect traffic safety in Thu Thiem Ward, Thu Duc City. Besides, her dispersion of many videos showing risky and offensive acts has affected social order and safety, and potentially deformed young peoples thinking, lifestyle and behaviors, while her social media accounts attract millions of followers. The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Information and Communications as well as the citys cybersecurity and hi-tech crime prevention division sent the documents of the case to the municipal Investigative Police Agency for further investigation and punishment. After the citys investigators started verifying the number plate of a motorcycle that both previously rode, Dong showed fake vehicle registration documents. Dong confessed that he had known about the counterfeit paperwork, but he still bought the motorcycle because it was being sold for a good price. Police officers are expanding their investigation into the case. Ngoc Trinh, whose hometown is Tra Vinh Province in the Mekong Delta region, is infamous for her sensual fashion style. She started her fashion career when she was 16, and then competed in a model contest. She has some six million followers on her verified Facebook account. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Storm No. 5, the fifth to hit Vietnam this year, strengthened further as it moved into the northern waters of the Gulf of Tonkin on Thursday evening, packing winds of 88 kilometers per hour, according to the national weather center. However, the storm is unlikely to continue accelerating due to a cold air mass in the north which has moved downward, the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting predicted. At 10:00 am on Friday, the storm was traveling south-southwest at some 10 kilometers per hour and remained in the northern waters of the Gulf of Tonkin, packing winds of 74 kilometers per hour. It is expected to continue its south-southwest track and gradually downgrade to a tropical depression by 10:00 pm on Friday. The system will likely move southwest at around 15 kilometers per hour and weaken to a low pressure area by 10:00 am on Saturday. Due to the impact of the storm plus the intensive cold air mass, the Gulf of Tonkin area, including Co To Island off Quang Ninh Province and Bach Long Vi Island off Hai Phong City, both in northern Vietnam, could experience strong winds and rough seas. All fishing vessels, wharfs, aquaculture farming areas, and dykes in these areas could be impacted by strong winds and high waves. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Nearly 800 female prisoners at Ngoc Ly Prison in Bac Giang Province, northern Vietnam received gifts in the form of books, friendly conversations, and life lessons during a talk held on Thursday on the occasion of Vietnamese Womens Day (October 20). The talk, jointly organized by the Womens Union of Bac Giang Province, Ngoc Ly Prison, and the Vietnam Womens Publishing House, focused on paths of rebuilding and recovery after imprisonment, which inspired many heartfelt conversations and personal stories shared by both guest speakers and the prisoners themselves. Nguyen Quoc Vuong, a guest speaker at the talk, shared with the prisoners simple life lessons he has learned from his past as a helpless overseas student, struggling to feed himself in Japan, to the person he is today, in the hope of imparting to them the strength to carry on despite every challenge. Guest speaker Nguyen Quoc Vuong speaks to the prisoners at Ngoc Ly Prison in Bac Giang Province, northern Vietnam, October 19, 2023. Photo: T. Dieu / Tuoi Tre Another guest speaker, To Giang, who is an author of two autobiographies and at one point in his life was a convict in Australia, chose to speak about his journey to build a new life after prison terms. While pursuing his dream of wealth and happiness in Australia, Giang grew marijuana illegally and was arrested in 2017 and received a sentence of nearly three years. Author To Giang speaks to the prisoners of Ngoc Ly Prison in Bac Giang Province, northern Vietnam, October 19, 2023. Photo: T. Dieu / Tuoi Tre During his time in prison, Giang discovered inspiration and a new path, thanks to the benevolence of a wrongly-incarcerated monk and a compassionate female prison guard. He diligently learned English and prepared for his return to Vietnam, only to find a shattered family and a mother who fell seriously ill due to her sorrow over her sons unfortunate news. Author To Giang (L) presents the prisoners at Ngoc Ly Prison in Bac Giang Province, northern Vietnam with books as a gift on the occasion of Vietnamese Womens Day, October 19, 2023. Photo: T. Dieu / Tuoi Tre However, Giang gracefully accepted these hardships, slowly regained his footing, and rebuilt his life. At Thursdays talk, he gifted his two books chronicling his transgressions and quest for kindness and enlightenment during his time in prison to the 800 female inmates. Khuc Thi Hoa Phuong, director and editor-in-chief of Vietnam Womens Publishing House, also made the female prisoners feel the kindness and understanding of a person who, while doing social work, has met many women from all walks of life. A prisoner at Ngoc Ly Prison in Bac Giang Province, northern Vietnam enjoys a book during a talk on October 19, 2023. Photo: T. Dieu / Tuoi Tre Moved by the atmosphere of honesty and empathy, some of the prisoners themselves stood up to share their own story, the hardships that had led them to this moment in time, and also the hope they have for the future. Prisoner Trinh Thi Ha, who was six times convicted in Vietnam and twice in Singapore and Hong Kong, told her own life story. Ha is now serving 20 months at age 64 for theft. People listened to her speak about her experiences nearly a dozen times in prison, and they did not fear her. Instead, they only felt compassion for the woman who had been without parents and has largely lived in prison since she was 11 years old. Trinh Thi Ha, a prisoner at Ngoc Ly Prison in Bac Giang Province, northern Vietnam speaks during a talk on October 19, 2023. Photo: T. Dieu / Tuoi Tre Sung Thi Chu, a Hmong ethnic prisoner hailing from northern Lao Cai Province, showed her optimism despite every tragedy and the hardships that life had thrown her way until now. Chu, who only completed second grade, got married at 15 and has children with disabilities due to inbreeding. After divorcing, she became a drug trafficker. She has served two years of a five-year sentence. A Hmong woman in prison at Ngoc Ly Prison in Bac Giang Province, northern Vietnam smiles during a talk on October 19, 2023. Photo: T. Dieu / Tuoi Tre Despite all the hardships, she hopes for support to do farming and care for her children post-release. As the dialogue ended, everybody from the guest speakers to the prisoners found themselves having learned a new profound lesson from sharing and receiving without judgment. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! 76% of Australians believe the broadcaster provides quality programming, down slightly on 78% in 2022. That was better than 70% of respondents who described the quality of commercial TV as good. There was also a strong result among ABC Online viewers who gave a 90% approval, also down slightly on 2022s 91%. ABCs Annual Report indicates a thumbs up on most Community Satisfaction questions. It reported 81% of people value the ABC and its services to the community, up on 2022s 78%. There were also better results in 2023 for accuracy and impartiality in news and current affairs, being distinctively Australian and contributing Australias national identity, reflecting cultural diversity, promoting performing arts, educational programs, programs of wide appeal and specialised interest, and in being innovative. A steady 69% felt ABC is efficient and well managed. However, approval ratings continue to slide compared to 2016. 79% of Australian adults aged 18 75 years also trust the information that the ABC provides; significantly higher than the levels of trust recorded for Internet search engines like Google (69%), commercial radio (60%), commercial TV (58%), newspaper publishers (58%) and Facebook (32%). Total TV viewing continues to decline as scheduled viewing behaviour wanes and Australians engage with both subscription and broadcaster video on demand services to enjoy a variety of local and international content. The ABC has fared slightly better than many of its competitors in terms of mitigating some broadcast loss with Video on Demand (VOD) uptake via ABC iview, however the complex competitive landscape continues to evolve. Total ABC Network metro share during prime time increased in 2022-23 compared to the previous year. Prime time total TV share for the ABC Network across the five metropolitan cities was 14.3% in 2022-23 (13.7% in 2021-22). In 2022-23, total ABC regional total TV share during daytime declined slightly to 19.6%, (20.0% in 2021-22). Total ABC regional share during prime time was steady at 14.4% in 2022-23 (14.5% in 2021-22). The ABC Corporate Tracking Program is conducted monthly, with an online methodology among a nationally representative sample of people aged 1875 years. Updated. ABC journalists across the country this week made their views known in the saga of ABC management being directed by WA Police to hand over Four Corners footage on climate protests. Staff holding up signs saying Dont Hand it Over and Dont Break Trust in Aunty were posted on social media with the hashtag #PressFreedom. They claim handing over footage would be a breach of the MEAA Code of Ethics and would devalue the publics trust in the ABC. MEAAs ABC House Committee has also urged the ABC not to hand over the footage. Western Australian police have applied through the courts for footage via the Order to Produce provisions of the WA Criminal Investigations Act. The law compels organisations to comply. ABC managing director, David Anderson has previouslysaid, We dont reveal our sources, we never have and never will. However ABC has not explicitly ruled out handing the vision to police. A trial for Disrupt Burrup Hubs media adviser, Jesse Noakes, is due in November. Mondays Four Corners story is Tunnel Vision reported by Angus Grigg. Snowy Hydro 2.0 which was sold as a nation-building project for a low-carbon future was meant to be feeding power into Australias grid by the end of 2024. Instead, the pumped hydro project, which was once estimated to cost $2 billion, is now five years behind schedule and forecast to hit $12 billion. This week Four Corners goes beyond the corporate spin to reveal the inside story of Snowy 2.0 and how it all went so horribly wrong. Reporter Angus Grigg challenges the megaprojects founding champion, former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, on why there are such significant overruns. Turnbull tells Four Corners as much as $2 billion of the cost blow out can be traced back to a massive tunnel boring machine called Florence. Stuck only 150 metres into its 15km journey, Florence is the perfect illustration of how the projects progress has stalled. Drawing on months of investigation, Grigg forensically examines the cost blow outs and asks what next for Snowy Hydro 2.0? Monday 23 October at 8.30pm on ABC. Q+A is live from Sydney on Monday Prime Minister Anthony Albanese heads to Washington DC, as tensions soar in the Middle East. Climate, nuclear submarines and global security are on the agenda. But for many Australians, the cost-of-living crunch is their top focus as they struggle to pay the bills. World leaders have been meeting with the Israeli PM in Tel Aviv as the conflict escalates, with Joe Biden urging Israel not to be consumed by its rage in responding to the attack by Hamas, while also making the case for billions more in aid to Israel and Ukraine. Meanwhile, the UN has called for a ceasefire to address the human catastrophe unfolding. How will the world respond to this crisis? Panellists: Assistant Defence Minister Matt Thistlethwaite, Leader of the Australian Greens Adam Bandt, Nationals Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt GetUp CEO Larissa Baldwin-Roberts and Middle East Analyst Rodger Shanahan. on Monday, 23 October at 9.35pm AEDT. English actress Haydn Gwynne, best known for Drop the Dead Donkey, The Windsors and The Crown, has died aged 66. Her agent said: It is with great sadness we are sharing with you that, following her recent diagnosis with cancer, the star of stage and screen Haydn Gwynne died in hospital in the small hours of Friday 20 October, surrounded by her beloved sons, close family and friends. We would like to thank the staff and teams at the Royal Marsden and Brompton Hospitals for their wonderful care over the last few weeks. Gwynne broke through in TV drama Nice Work in the late 1980s before finding wider fame playing cynical and stoical journalist Alex in topical satire Drop the Dead Donkey. Two decades later, she featured in comedy series The Windsors, playing Camilla as clearly the soap opera villainess. She portrayed Lady Susan Hussey, who resigned from the royal household following a racism row, in the fifth series of Netflixs The Crown. Her other TV parts included Dr Joanna Graham in Peak Practice, Supt Susan Blake in Merseybeat, and Julius Caesars wife Calpurnia in Rome. Writer Jack Thorne said she was the kindest, loveliest soul and a wonderful performer, adding: She gave everything to everything, while actor Samuel West paid tribute, saying: This is a terrible loss. One of the nicest and one of the best. Language. Source: BBC Korea issued a "serious" warning Friday after confirming the first-ever case of lumpy skin disease (LSD) in cows raised at a local farm, the agriculture ministry said. The owner of the cattle farm in the western city of Seosan detected four cows showing symptoms of the disease Thursday and in-depth checkups by the authorities confirmed their infection, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The disaster response headquarters held an emergency meeting with related agencies and local provinces to raise the crisis alert level to the highest of the three-tier system and discuss other countermeasures. The alert system is adjusted as follows: "concern" when the LSD cases occur in neighboring countries; "caution" when there are suspected cases domestically; and "serious" when domestic cases are confirmed. Upon the report, the government cordoned off the farm and has been implementing quarantine measures, including culling about 40 cows there as a preventive step, the ministry said. It also issued a 48-hour standstill order on all cattle farms and related facilities across the country from 2 p.m. Friday to prevent the spread of the disease. As a highly infectious disease, LSD affects cattle and buffalo via mosquitoes and other blood-feeding insects. It can cause skin lesions, fever, loss of appetite, a fall in milk production and can lead to death, though the disease does not pose any risk to humans. South Korea, which established a diagnostic system in 2019, has designated the disease as a Class 1 infectious animal disease given its significant economic damage to farms. Last year, it bought vaccines against the disease. The disease was first reported in Africa back in 1929 and has spread widely, having been detected in more than 50 countries worldwide, the ministry said. (Yonhap) The Campaign Against RSE (Relationship and Sex Education) held a protest outside the Secretary of State's offices in Belfast on 2 September Publishing what her party describes as the five core pillars of its response paper, Diane Dodds said the concerns of parents have been amplified by the Secretary of States disgraceful decision to impose laws on Northern Ireland which will make abortion a compulsory element of RSE for post-primary schools going forward. The Upper Bann MLA said the Christian ethos of schools must be protected. She said: RSE is a devolved issue and should have remained in the gift of a restored Executive and Assembly. Instead, these reforms were railroaded through without prior consultation with local communities. "Even at this late stage, there is deep uncertainty surrounding the impact of the changes. The Department of Education was expected to consult on the circumstances in which a parent will be able to request that their child is withdrawn from the new teaching. The consultation, however, offers precious little in the way of detail. As well as maintaining a Christian ethos in schools, the list of core pillars includes: the rights of parents must be respected, not restricted; that abortion is a moral issue and should be treated as such; that teachers must not be forced to act against their conscience, and that the role of school governors should not be undermined. Mrs Dodds said: Parents are best placed to determine what is in the best interests of their child. They should be consulted on the development of all RSE materials. Parents, not head teachers, should have the final say on whether a pupil is withdrawn from RSE. "A parental opt-out must be in place before the new teaching requirements take effect and must be unfettered as is the case for RE and collective worship. It must also not prevent parents from withdrawing their child from other elements of RSE. Mrs Dodds added: Those who cynically view this consultation as an opportunity to make sweeping reforms to RSE must be resisted and defeated. Mrs Dodds will host an RSE workshop in Banbridge Old Town Hall on October 26 at 7.30pm. Erdene Resource Development Corporation HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, Oct. 18, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Erdene Resource Development Corp. (TSX:ERD; MSE:ERDN) ("Erdene" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on its Strategic Alliance with Mongolian Mining Corporation (MMC) for the development of its high-grade, open-pit Bayan Khundii Gold Project (Bayan Khundii, BK or "Project) in southwestern Mongolia. Strategic Alliance with MMC On January 10, 2023, Erdene executed a Strategic Alliance Agreement (SAA) with MMC to develop the Bayan Khundii Gold Project (see press release here). Highlights of the SAA include: MMC is Mongolias largest internationally traded mining company, listed on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEx: 975). MMC to invest US$40 million for a 50% equity interest in Erdenes Mongolian subsidiary, Erdene Mongol LLC (EM), holding the Khundii and Altan Nar mining licenses and the Ulaan exploration license through a three-stage transaction, based on achievement of milestones. Erdene retains a 50% equity interest in EM and a 5.0% Net Smelter Return (NSR) royalty on all production from the Khundii, Altan Nar and Ulaan licenses, as well as any properties acquired within 5 kilometres of these licenses, beyond the first 400,000 ounces gold recovered. The first two stages of the transaction were completed in January 2023 and May 2023, with MMC investing US$10 million to finance technical studies, including the FS, early construction works and exploration for the Project. The third stage of the transaction will see MMC invest a further US$30 million, providing equity capital for the Bayan Khundii Gold Project. Erdene maintains a 100% interest in its large Zuun Mod Molybdenum-Copper deposit and Khuvyn Khar Copper project, located approximately 30 kilometres east of Bayan Khundii, and adjacent to a planned railway development. On August 30, 2023, Erdene and MMC amended the SAA and MMC advanced US$15M of the US$30M third stage to continue early works in the form of a convertible note. On October 12, 2023, Erdene and MMC executed a second amendment, and on October 15, 2023 MMC advanced the final US$15M of the US$30M third stage payment to allow the parties to progress the Project and to secure customary approvals. Story continues Concurrently, international financial institutions are conducting due diligence on the updated FS and are expected to provide the Projects debt financing. These institutions are active in Mongolia, as major funders to the Oyu Tolgoi Copper-Gold project. It is anticipated that senior debt financing could comprise as much as 65% of the total financing package, with financial close anticipated in late 2023. About Erdene Erdene Resource Development Corp. is a Canada-based resource company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of precious and base metals in underexplored and highly prospective Mongolia. The Company has interests in three mining licenses and an exploration license in Southwest Mongolia, where exploration success has led to the discovery and definition of the Khundii Minerals District. Erdene Resource Development Corp. is listed on the Toronto and the Mongolian stock exchanges. Further information is available at www.erdene.com. Important information may be disseminated exclusively via the website; investors should consult the site to access this information. Forward-Looking Statements Certain information regarding Erdene contained herein may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements may include estimates, plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, guidance or other statements that are not statements of fact. Although Erdene believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Erdene cautions that actual performance will be affected by a number of factors, most of which are beyond its control, and that future events and results may vary substantially from what Erdene currently foresees. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include the ability to obtain required third party approvals, market prices, exploitation and exploration results, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. The forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The information contained herein is stated as of the current date and is subject to change after that date. The Company does not assume the obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. NO REGULATORY AUTHORITY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE CONTENTS OF THIS RELEASE Erdene Contact Information Peter C. Akerley, President and CEO, or Robert Jenkins, CFO Mary Nasenbenny, current chief claims officer, to retire at years end HARTFORD, Conn., October 19, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Hartford has appointed Stephen Deane chief claims officer effective Nov. 6. Deane will report directly to John Kinney, head of Claims and Operations, and will be a member of The Hartfords executive leadership team. He succeeds Mary Nasenbenny, who will retire at the end of 2023. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231019110059/en/ The Hartford's Chief Claims Officer Stephen Deane (Photo: Business Wire) "We are thrilled that Steve is returning to The Hartford," said Kinney. "His outstanding industry experience, established relationships at The Hartford and throughout the industry and proven record of achieving business results position him well to lead our award-winning Claims organization to even greater levels of success." Deane returns to The Hartford after three years at Liberty Mutual Insurance, where he served as executive vice president and chief claims officer, Global Risk Solutions, North America. Before joining Liberty Mutual, he gained more than 16 years of experience at The Hartford in various leadership roles, including senior vice president of Group Benefits and Workers' Compensation claims. Prior to that, he was an attorney at Robinson & Cole, LLP, and managed a claims team at Travelers. He holds a bachelors degree from the University of Notre Dame and a law degree from the University of Connecticut. Nasenbenny joined the company in 1999 as legal counsel and was named chief claims officer in 2021. Kinney added, "Mary has been a valued advisor and innovative partner. We are grateful for her many contributions to The Hartford over her 24-year tenure that have helped differentiate how we deliver for our customers. She is a patent holder of our Claims customer loyalty index process and a founding leader of our Heath Services organization, which combines the strength of our Workers Compensation and Group Benefits offerings to deliver seamless customer experiences." Story continues About The Hartford The Hartford is a leader in property and casualty insurance, group benefits and mutual funds. With more than 200 years of expertise, The Hartford is widely recognized for its service excellence, sustainability practices, trust and integrity. More information on the company and its financial performance is available at https://www.thehartford.com. The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., (NYSE: HIG) operates through its subsidiaries under the brand name, The Hartford, and is headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut. For additional details, please read The Hartfords legal notice. HIG-C Some of the statements in this release may be considered forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We caution investors that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially. Investors should consider the important risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ. These important risks and uncertainties include those discussed in our 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-Q, and the other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We assume no obligation to update this release, which speaks as of the date issued. From time to time, The Hartford may use its website and/or social media outlets, such as Twitter and Facebook, to disseminate material company information. Financial and other important information regarding The Hartford is routinely accessible through and posted on our website at https://ir.thehartford.com. In addition, you may automatically receive email alerts and other information about The Hartford when you enroll your email address by visiting the "Email Alerts" section at https://ir.thehartford.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231019110059/en/ Contacts Media Contact: Kelly J. Carter Kelly.carter@thehartford.com HENDERSON, Nev., Oct. 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- VolitionRx Limited (NYSE AMERICAN: VNRX) ("Volition"), a multi-national epigenetics company, welcomed Ambassador Michael M. Adler, U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium for a tour of its purpose-built research, development and manufacturing facilities situated in Isnes, Belgium. US Ambassador Adler visits Belgian Volition Volition is developing simple, easy-to-use, cost-effective blood tests to help diagnose and monitor a range of life-altering diseases including some cancers and diseases associated with NETosis such as sepsis. Gaetan Michel, Chief Operating Officer at Volition, said: "We were delighted to welcome Ambassador Adler to Volition today, to introduce our expert team, showcase our transformative epigenetic technology, and highlight its potential to improve patient outcomes worldwide. "With purpose-built R&D and manufacturing facilities in Belgium and a state-of-the-art innovation lab in California, Volition has operations on both sides of the Atlantic. As a company, we benefit enormously from this talent pool, joint working, and shared experience and it has undoubtedly accelerated our growth. "Ambassador Adler's visit today was an ideal opportunity for us to celebrate this collaborative work and highlight the close ties we have fostered between U.S. and Belgian stakeholders over the last 13 years. Our subsidiary, Volition Veterinary Diagnostics Development LLC was borne out of a collaboration with Texas A&M University and enabled us to launch the Nu.Q Vet Cancer Test commercially within the United States. Cultivating successful, ongoing relationships with stakeholders worldwide has been fundamental to Volition's development." Volition's existing product portfolio comprises Nu.Q Cancer Vet Test, a diagnostic aid for the early detection and monitoring of cancer in dogs, and Nu.Q NETs, a CE Marked test to detect diseases associated with NETosis. For more information go to: www.volition.com Story continues About Volition Volition is a multi-national epigenetics company powered by Nu.Q, its proprietary nucleosome quantification platform. Through its subsidiaries, Volition is developing simple, easy to use, cost- effective blood tests to help diagnose and monitor a range of life-altering diseases including some cancers and diseases associated with NETosis such as sepsis and COVID-19. Early diagnosis and monitoring have the potential to not only prolong the life of patients but also improve their quality of life. The tests are based on the science of Nucleosomics, which is the practice of identifying and measuring nucleosomes in the bloodstream or other bodily fluid - an indication that disease is present. Volition's research and development activities are centered in Belgium, with an innovation laboratory and office in the U.S. and additional offices in London and Singapore. The contents found at the Volition website address are not incorporated by reference into this document and should not be considered part of this document. The website address is included in this document as an inactive textual reference only. Media Enquiries: Louise Batchelor/Debra Daglish, Volition, mediarelations@volition.com +44 (0)7557 774620 Safe Harbor Statement Statements in this press release may be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that concern matters that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or projected in the forward-looking statements. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "aims," "targets," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "optimizing," "potential," "goal," "suggests," "could," "would," "should," "may," "will" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other topics, Volition's expectations related to the timing and launch of product sales, and the potential uses, benefits and effectiveness of its Nu.Q products. Volition's actual results may differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements due to numerous risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, results of studies testing the efficacy of its tests, a failure by the marketplace to accept Volition's Nu.Q tests; Volition's failure to secure adequate intellectual property protection; Volition's failure to obtain necessary regulatory clearances or approvals to distribute and market future products; Volition will face fierce competition and its intended products may become obsolete due to the highly competitive nature of the diagnostics and disease monitoring markets and their rapid technological change; downturns in domestic and foreign economies; and other risks, including those identified in Volition's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as well as other documents that Volition files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For instance, if Volition fails to develop and commercialize diagnostic, prognostic or disease monitoring products, it may be unable to execute its plan of operations. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about Volition's business based, in part, on assumptions made by management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release, and, except as required by law, Volition does not undertake an obligation to update its forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances. Nucleosomics and Nu.Q and their respective logos are trademarks and/or service marks of VolitionRx Limited and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, service marks and trade names referred to in this press release are the property of their respective owners. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2251110/US_Ambassador_Adler_visits_Volition.jpg Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-ambassador-adler-visits-belgian-volition-301960881.html SOURCE VolitionRx Limited U.S. President Joe Biden speaks to the press onboard of Air Force One en route from Israel at Ramstein Air Base (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden will ask Congress for $60 billion for Ukraine and $14 billion for Israel, a source familiar with his plan told Reuters. The request will also include $10 billion for humanitarian aid, $14 billion for border security and $7 billion for the Indo-Pacific region, the source said. Half of the $60 billion Biden is requesting for Ukraine would go toward replacing and modernizing U.S. weapons stocks, the source said. Biden was scheduled to outline the request in a White House speech at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday (0000 GMT on Friday). He was widely expected to ask Congress to pass a supplemental spending bill quickly, as Washington responds to the deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas militants while looking to further support Ukraine grapple with a Russian invasion. Under U.S. law, Congress, not the executive branch, controls spending. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle, editing by Dan Whitcomb and Howard Goller) Houthi soldiers at a military parade last month. (AFP via Getty Images) (MOHAMMED HUWAIS via Getty Images) A US warship has intercepted three cruise missiles and several drones launched by the Iran-aligned Houthi movement from Yemen. The Pentagon said they may have been targeted at Israel. A spokesman said: "We cannot say for certain what these missiles and drones were targeting, but they were launched from Yemen heading north along the Red Sea, potentially towards targets in Israel. The potential involvement of the Houthis in the Israel-Gaza war is another factor which will concern world leaders trying to prevent the violence spilling over into a wider Middle East conflict. Here, Yahoo News UK breaks down who the Houthis are and what their relevance is. Recommended reading The Houthi leader warned the US on 10 October that the group would fire drones and missiles if Washington intervened in Gaza. (Getty) Who are the Houthi rebels? The Houthis are described by the Counter Extremism Project (CEP), an organisation which works to combat extremist groups and ideologies, as "an Iranian-backed, Shiite Muslim armed religious and political movement in Yemen". The Houthis are at the centre of Yemen's civil war. According to a US Department of State report, they control "one-third of the countrys territory, which contains 70% to 80% of the population". The group swept into Yemen's capital, Sanaa, in 2014 when it ousted the internationally recognised government. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates intervened in the war in 2015 to try to restore the government, but the conflict has dragged on - with dire consequences. In 2021, the UN estimated the war had caused 377,000 deaths through direct and indirect causes such as poor food security and a collapse of public services. The agency also says more than 11 million children are in need of humanitarian assistance. Meanwhile, the below image shows how hundreds of children have been killed by Houthi-laid landmines and explosive devices. Story continues Landmines and unexploded ordnance continue to threaten lives of children in Yemen. (Getty Images) (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) The Houthi movement is also known for its anti-American and anti-Semitic rhetoric. Its slogan reads: God is great, death to America, death to Israel, damnation to the Jews, victory to Islam. How and why does Iran support them? Iran and Saudi Arabia are engaged in proxy wars in several Middle Eastern countries. In Yemen, that manifests with Iran's backing of the Houthis and Saudi's backing of Yemen's official government. The UK has previously handed evidence to UN Security Council members demonstrating how the Iranian regime sends weapons to the Houthis. The Wilson Center, the US global affairs think tank, says: "Yemeni officials and Sunni states have repeatedly alleged that Iran and its proxy Hezbollah have provided arms, training, and financial support to the Houthis. But Iranian and Hezbollah officials have denied or downplayed the claims." How do they link to the Israel-Gaza conflict? The Houthis, and Thursday's possible missile launch, embody Western fears that the conflict could spread. For a start, the Houthi movement has a long-standing association with Hamas. The CEP points out: "Higher-ups in the Houthi movement have expressed support for Hamas. Before he was killed in 2004, Houthis founder Hussein al-Houthi made it a point to praise Hamas for its wars against Israel." It adds Hamas "maintains a representative in Houthi-held territory in Yemen". On 10 October, three days after the Israel-Gaza conflict began, Houthi leader Abdel-Malek al-Houthi warned the group would respond to US involvement by firing drones and missiles. He said "there are red lines when it comes to Gaza" and that the Houthis were ready to coordinate with other groups and intervene. Watch: Sunak pleads for Middle East stability as Israel wages long war with Hamas The US, which is Israel's closest ally, subsequently sent a significant amount of naval power to the Middle East, including two aircraft carriers, their support ships and about 2,000 Marines. Then, on Thursday, one of its warships intercepted the three cruise missiles and several drones launched by the Houthis "potentially towards targets in Israel". This comes after attacks against Israel have also been launched from Lebanon, where the Hezbollah group is backed by Iran. It's in this tense climate that Rishi Sunak called on Friday for world leaders to do everything possible to prevent the violence in Israel and Gaza spilling over into a wider Middle East conflict. The prime minister met with the Qatari ruler Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on Friday. Qatar is seen as a key mediator in the conflict. Sunak then flew to Egypt, the third stop on his tour of the region, which is part of a diplomatic effort to stop the war from escalating. Egyptians hold up pro-Palestinian placards at a rally in solidarity with Gaza in the capital Cairo (Khaled DESOUKI) Demonstrations in support of Gaza and condemning Israel's bombardment of the besieged enclave were held across the Arab world on Friday, including in countries which have normalised relations with Israel. In Egypt, where public gatherings were banned after the military seized power in 2013, tens of thousands took to the streets of Cairo and other cities as authorities sought to manage the wave of public anger. The protests came on day 14 of Israel's retaliation for a shock Hamas attack, the deadliest in Israel's 75-year history. Hamas militants killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated or burnt to death during the October 7 attack, according to Israeli officials. More than 4,100 Palestinians have been killed in relentless Israeli bombardment of Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. In Cairo, several thousand people packed into Tahrir Square, the epicentre of the 2011 uprising that toppled long-time autocrat Hosni Mubarak, an AFP correspondent reported. "The people want the fall of Israel," the demonstrators chanted, adapting the Arab Spring catchphrase: "The people want the fall of the regime." Public protests are generally illegal in Egypt but on Wednesday President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi told visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz he could "call on the Egyptian people to come out and express their rejection" of Israeli actions in Gaza "and you would see millions of Egyptians" in the street. Later the same day, thousands took to the streets. "There is a desire to take control of the public anger," Cairo University politics professor Mustapha Kamel al-Sayyid told AFP. Media loyal to the president had published a list of public squares and other sites where protests would be tolerated, calling on Egyptians to show their support for Sisi ahead of a presidential election due in December. Cairo's Tahrir Square was not among them, a matter of pride for many of those demonstrating on Friday. Story continues "We're not here to give a new mandate to anybody. It's a genuine demonstration," the crowd chanted. Police later pushed protesters away from the square to nearby streets, the AFP correspondent reported. Police made 26 arrests in Tahrir Square and 17 in nearby Abdeen, human rights lawyer Khaled Ali said on Facebook. - 'No to normalisation' - In the Gulf state of Bahrain, which normalised relations with Israel in the Abraham Accords of 2020, some 2,000 worshippers at the Duraz mosque chanted "Death to Israel" and "Death to America" at Friday prayers. Around 1,000 people joined a march afterwards, shouting anti-Israel slogans including "No to normalisation!" "We want normalisation to end and the Israeli ambassador expelled," said one marcher, holding her baby in her arms. In Baghdad, a few thousand people demonstrated on Friday, including sympathisers of the Hashed al-Shaabi, a coalition of armed factions close to Israel's arch foe Iran. The demonstrators gathered at a bridge leading to the Green Zone, the fortified government and diplomatic compound where the US embassy is based. "We support the Palestinian people against the Israeli occupier," Ali Hussein, a 45-year-old taxi driver, told AFP. Other Hashed supporters held a sit-in at Iraq's Trebil border crossing with Jordan, the organisers and Iraqi officials said. Demonstrators vowed to keep up their protest "until the roads are opened to send aid" to Gaza. Images on social media which AFP was unable to independently verify showed several tents pitched near the crossing beneath Iraqi and Palestinian flags. In Tunisia, thousands gathered outside the French embassy to protest Western support for Israel, AFP correspondents reported. "The French and the Americans are partners in the attack" against Palestinians, they chanted. Some expressed support for Hamas, shouting "Dear (Ezzedine) al-Qassam (Brigades), destroy Tel Aviv", in reference to the movement's military wing. A similar protest was held outside the US embassy in the capital's northern suburbs, where demonstrators burnt a US flag. burs-srk/kir/jsa Sheffield Wednesday look set to appoint Henrik Pedersen to Danny Rohls technical team. The Dane has spent the last couple of seasons as manager of Vendsyssel FF in his home nation, but is no stranger to foreign lands having worked in Germany for the likes of Union Berlin and Eintracht Braunschweig as well as part of the Red Bull system in both Austria and Ghana with RB Salzburg and RB Ghana. His next step, it would appear, will be into the English game as he comes on board to help Rohl at Hillsborough, with the two knowing each other due to their Red Bull links that for both go back over a decade. Speaking to his former clubs official website, Pedersen said, "I am happy about the period I have had at Vendsyssel FF, where I have had a strong collaboration with the board, administration, staff, players, sponsors, volunteers and fans. I want to thank everyone around the club for the support and for many good hours - I wish Vendsyssel FF all the best in the future. "It has always been my ambition and my goal to go abroad again, and when this opportunity came, I quickly saw a good match. Sheffield Wednesday is an exciting club that plays in an interesting league, which is why the right thing for me is to strike now. Pedersen not the same one that played for Bolton Wanderers and Hull City will now be hoping to get on the bench as soon as possible, though it remains to be seen whether the 45-year-old will be available for tomorrows trip to Watford. George Clooney directs the sporting drama The Boys in the Boat. (MGM/Warner Bros.) (Laurie Sparham) Due for release in early 2024, The Boys in the Boat marks the ninth directorial feature from actor George Clooney, with Joel Edgerton and Callum Turner as his leads. Based on the book of the same name by author Daniel James Brown, it chronicles the lives of the eight men who took part in the University of Washingtons rowing team in 1936 that went on to compete in the Summer Olympics in Berlin. Thats the elevator pitch - but what else do we know about the movie and is it based on a true story? Read on to find out. The Boys in the Boat release date The Boys In The Boat is set for release in January 2024. (Warner Bros.) (Alon Amir) The Boys in the Boat will hit cinemas in the UK on Friday, 12 January 2024, with a streaming release date yet to be announced. The Boys in the Boat trailer Director George Clooney on the set of his film The Boys In The Boat. (MGM/Warner Bros.) (Laurie Sparham) We rode for need The first trailer for Clooneys The Boys in the Boat introduced us to a group of depression-era students who went on to defy the odds to become Olympic-qualifying athletes. Full of hope, the film promises to deliver an underdog story thatll have viewers cheering from their seats. Watch the trailer below: Is The Boys in the Boat based on a true story? As mentioned above, Clooneys latest is based on the non-fiction book of the same name which retells the story of a ragtag group of university students who became world-class Olympic rowers. However, its also a tale of struggle. Taking place in 1936 when America was in the middle of the Great Depression, the author captures a period of history where jobs, money and hope were all in short supply and peoples self-worth was at an all-time low. At its centre is Joe Rantz, a young man with a difficult family background who joined the University of Washingtons rowing team due to its financial benefits and its ability to help keep him in higher education. His story shares similarly difficult comparisons to the other members of the Universitys rowing team, all of whom faced struggles and financial hardship during this lean period of American history. Left to right: Bob Moom, Coxwain; Don Hume, Stroke; Joe Rantz, George Hunt, Jim McMillin, John White, Gordon Adams, Charles Day, and Roger Morris. (Photo by VCG Wilson/Bettmann Archive) (Bettmann via Getty Images) While each student faced their own individual troubles, when they worked together inside a rowing boat, they each found a purpose and a way to combine specific skill sets to help them all emerge as champions. Story continues As the team got more adept at rowing, they soon turned their attention to the 1936 Summer Olympics which was being held in Berlin during the height of Nazi power in Germany. Overseen by Hitler, the Nazis aimed to use this sporting showcase as a way to hide the atrocities they were committing against Jewish people by building grand venues and sporting arenas as a distraction. It was a form of propaganda that ultimately managed to pull the wool over the eyes of both the United States Olympic Committee and the wider world. Left to right: Bob Moom, Coxwain; Don Hume, Stroke; Joe Rantz, George Hunt, Jim McMillin, John White, Gordon Adams, Charles Day and Roger Morris. (Photo by VCG Wilson/Bettmann Archive) (Bettmann via Getty Images) While The Boys in the Boat tells a ground-level story of real American hardship, its also set against the backdrop of a world at war, with both narratives meeting in the middle when Rantzs team competes and ultimately wins gold at the Summer Olympics. Entering as underdogs but emerging as Olympians, Rantz and his fellow rowers had a short spell of fame in America before ultimately drifting into obscurity during their later years. Despite this, their Olympic rowing experience forever changed their lives and helped them survive a dark economic period - and the team continued to meet up and row long after their problems were overcome. The Boys in the Boat will be released on Friday, 12 January 2024. The USS Carney ship was operating in the northern Red Sea (Reuters) A US Navy warship interfered with three rockets launched from Yemen in what may have been an attack on Israel. The USS Carney, a guided-missile destroyer was stationed in the northern Red Sea on Thursday, when it shot down three land attack cruise missiles and several drones. There were no casualties to US forces and no civilian deaths reported. Spokesperson Brigadier General Patrick Ryder told reporters: This action was a demonstration of the air and missile defence architecture that we have built in the Middle East and that we are prepared to utilise whenever necessary to protect our partners and our interests in this important region. Information about these engagements is still being processed, we cannot say for certain what these missiles and drones were targeting but they were launched from Yemen, heading north along the Red Sea potentially towards targets in Israel. Our defensive response is one that we would have taken for any similar threat in that region, where were able to do so against our interests, personnel and partners. There has been an uptick in attacks on US forces since the conflict in Israel broke out on October 7, when Hamas militants attacked On Wednesday, a drone hit US forces in Syria resulting in minor injuries, while another one was brought down. During a false alarm at Al-Asad airbase in Iraq, a civilian contractor died from a cardiac arrest. Earlier this week, US forces thwarted multiple drones targeting troops in Iraq. On Thursday, drones and rockets targeted the Ain al-Asad air base, which hosts US and other international forces in western Iraq, and multiple blasts were heard inside the base. Rockets hit another military base hosting US forces near Baghdad's international airport, Iraqi police said on Thursday, without providing further details. General Ryder said: "While I'm not going to forecast any potential responses to these attacks, I will say that we will take all necessary actions to defend U.S. and coalition forces against any threat Story continues "Any response, should one occur, will come at a time in a manner of our choosing. Israel has called up a record 360,000 reservists and has been bombarding the Palestinian enclave of the Gaza Strip nonstop following Hamas' assault, which killed about 1,400 people - mostly civilians. At least 3,785 Palestinians have been killed and 12,493 wounded in Israeli strikes on Gaza, the health ministry in Gaza said. But Mr Ryder said he did not see a link between the rise in attacks and the conflict between Israel and Hamas. "At this point, again, the information that we have does not show a direct connection to the Hamas attacks on October 7," he said. The United States has 2,500 troops in Iraq, and 900 more in neighboring Syria, on a mission to advise and assist local forces in combating Islamic State, which in 2014 seized swathes of territory in both countries. In Iraq, tension over the war in Gaza had already been high. Its top Shi'ite Muslim cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, last week condemned Israel and called on the world to stand up to the "terrible brutality" in besieged Gaza. Kataib Hezbollah, a powerful armed faction with close ties to Iran, accused the United States of supporting Israel in "killing innocent people" and said it should leave Iraq. In past years, Iranian-backed militias in Iraq regularly targeted U.S. forces in Iraq and the US embassy in Baghdad with rockets. Such attacks had abated under a truce in place since last year, and Iraq has had a period of relative calm. Asiana Airlines, Korea's second-largest air carrier, plans to decide on whether to sell its cargo business later this month, as Korean Air seeks to win antitrust approval from European Union (EU) regulators for its takeover of the rival, industry sources said Friday. Asiana is set to hold a board meeting on Oct. 30 to make a decision on the planned sale of its cargo business, the sources said on the condition of anonymity. The EU antitrust regulators have raised concerns that Korean Air's acquisition of Asiana may restrict competition in the markets for passenger and cargo air transport services between the EU and Korea. Korean Air said it plans to submit formal remedies to address such concerns to the European Commission (EC), the EU's executive body, by the end of the month. It is widely believed that the sale of Asiana's cargo business and a plan to return landing slots for four European cities will be included. In a statement sent to Yonhap News Agency, Korean Air said it is "working closely with the EC and will submit formal remedies by the end of the month as requested by the authority to address the concerns." Korean Air said it was unable to share further details. The upcoming Asiana board meeting is expected to be watched closely by stakeholders and EU regulators, as it could potentially make or break the acquisition deal that has been pursued for the past three years. Even if Asiana Airlines board decides to sell the cargo business, the immediate approval of the merger by the European Commission is not guaranteed, but the chances of obtaining a conditional merger approval are expected to increase. As of now, it remains unclear whether the plan will be approved at the board meeting. Six members of Asiana Airlines' board of directors two internal directors and four external directors are reviewing various aspects of the sale. Opinions among board members are reportedly mixed. A representative at Asiana Airlines said the company did not have a position on related discussions, as the acquisition deal as a whole was being handled by Korean Air. Korean Air has received acquisition approvals from 11 countries, including Britain, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Turkey and China, and is awaiting decisions from Japan, the EU and the United States. (Yonhap) Cardiff Airport (Image: Google) IT IS time to sell Cardiff Airport, the Welsh Conservatives have claimed after one major airline announced it is slashing its winter schedule in half. Budget airline Ryanair says it will make a third fewer flights and serve only half of the routes from Wales only international airport compared to last winter, while ramping up services in Bristol. Flights to Belfast International will also end on November 5 after being introduced this spring. Malaga in Spain and Faro in Portugal will also be cut from the winter schedule. Cardiff Airport has continued to run on a commercial basis after being acquired by the Welsh Government in 2013. Ryanair has chosen to base one of the newest aircraft in its fleet at Bristol Airport this winter, which they say will support more than 1,700 local jobs, including 30 new pilot and cabin crew roles. Head of communications Jade Kirwan declared: Ryanair is pleased to announce more growth, investment and jobs for the South West. We have had a long and successful relationship with Bristol Airport and the terms are right for us to be able to operate as a low cost airline. The number of routes from Cardiff are 50 per cent less than last year, but we have found that most people are willing to travel to Bristol. There is so much going on there and we are happy to be growing our base." A spokesperson for Cardiff Airport said: "Ryanairs winter season starts at the end of October where they are now operating a slightly smaller schedule with only two less flights a week from Cardiff. "Their popular Dublin services from Cardiff remain the same as last winter at four days a week. Emerald Airlines operating as Aer Lingus operates a daily service to Belfast City which is two extra flights a week this winter. "We look forward to Ryanair announcing their summer '24 schedule from Cardiff in the coming weeks." 'Grinding to a halt' Commenting on the news, Welsh Conservative shadow transport minister Natasha Asghar MS said it showed Wales was grinding to a halt. Story continues It is concerning that Ryanair are moving operations away from Cardiff Airport. [Welsh] Labours transport plans for Wales continue to stall, with blanket 20mph speed limits, bus service cuts and a ban on road building, Labour are grinding Wales to a halt. With passenger numbers dwindling at Cardiff Airport and affordable airlines moving away, it is time the Welsh Government swallow their pride and sell the Airport back to the private sector, to a company with a vision and strategy. It is just another example in a long list of Labours pet projects wasting Welsh taxpayers money. A Welsh Government spokesperson said: "We're committed to maintaining an airport in Wales because of the benefits it brings to the Welsh economy and its local supply chain." Proposed battery storage facility for Marshallstown Road, Carrickfergus. Image: Mid and East Antrim Borough Council Senior planning officer Denise Kerr told councillors the proposed development at Marshallstown Road, Carrickfergus, would include a switch control room, lighting, CCTV, fencing, landscaping and other works. She said battery energy storage is designed to secure stability of supply and store surplus electricity to be released back into the grid during times of high demand or when generation levels are low. The BESS (battery energy storage system) proposed comprises a compound with eight racks of battery containers with 20 units in each rack, transformers and switch house. A report to councillors says: Battery storage systems are designed to operate alongside the National Grid as a means of stabilising and securing a steady supply of electricity. The BESS works by absorbing the electricity, converting it to chemical energy and storing it until additional supply is needed, at which stage, it is re-converted to electrical energy. The officer indicated the proposed location is an agricultural field with housing developments at Kingsland Crescent and Trailcock Lane to the south. Eight Signatures The officer noted health and safety risks are considered acceptable. She said four representations have been received by planners in relation to the proposal including a petition with eight signatures. Knockagh DUP Councillor Peter Johnston said: Until the day and hour that Russia invaded Ukraine, we probably took electricity infrastructure for granted. It highlights how important and how significant the role of this council and planning committee will play in the next five to ten years. There will no doubt be more investment, more infrastructure and more projects of this type to come. He went on to say he believes the developer has addressed some of the visual impact concerns with plans to lower the site into the hill with shrubbery almost sealing it off. Coast Road DUP Cllr Angela Smyth noted access would be a lane shared with three properties and asked if there will be an issue with noise. The council officer said there is a more than adequate distance between the nearest dwelling and the proposed facility. Story continues Planning agent Tom Stokes told the meeting: Battery storage forms a key part of infrastructure to support the grid. There are a number of these across various council areas in Northern Ireland. In terms of landscape, the site was chosen because it is very well screened. This is just over the brow of a hill. The proposal is to create a lowered platform where the battery facility will be situated. We have carried out a detailed acoustic assessment which environmental health have reviewed. The levels of noise are extremely low. Larne Lough DUP Alderman Paul Reid commented the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service had expressed a fire safety concern. Mr Stokes confirmed the proposed facility meets safety requirements and the Health and Safety Executive is satisfied. Coast Road Sinn Fein Cllr James McKeown asked about the distance of a small waterway from the site and if there is any flooding risk. The council officer said the Rivers Agency is satisfied the proposal meets requirements and it is not within a floodplain. The application was granted permission after a vote with ten councillors in favour and one abstention. Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter King Mohammed VI has named Samira Sitail as ambassador to France, filling a post that has laid empty for months amid a diplomatic crisis between Rabat and Paris. The announcement of Samira Sitails nomination on Thursday came as something of a surprise since she has no background in diplomacy. The 59-year old was head of news then deputy director general at Moroccan public broadcasting channel 2M. She takes over from Mohamed Benchaaboum whose duties were terminated on 19 January without a successor being named. While Sitails CV is very different from career diplomats, her high-level experience in the media could serve her well in her new diplomatic role. Its an unusual nomination, but which most probably corresponds to a certain logic, because Morocco wants to make its voice in France more audible, journalist and political scientist Abdellah Tourabi told Le Monde daily. She knows the media, knows how to talk to them and has a network in the press and culture that goes beyond the purely political sphere. Outspoken Sitail was born in France and holds dual nationality, but is not well known here. Interviewed by BFM television she slammed the suggestion by some French media that Morocco had rejected France's offer of help in favour of the UK and Spain. Read more on RFI English Read also: NGOs say French aid for quake victims blocked by Morocco Human rights group alarmed over treatment of journalists in Morocco Traditional methods urged for Morocco rebuild, a month after quake The bilateral meeting between the leaders took place on Tuesday on the sidelines of an international forum hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping to celebrate the country's Belt and Road Initiative, a sprawling infrastructure project that involves more than 150 nations. The in-person talks, which saw Orban and Putin seated next to each other, focused on "the areas of oil and gas deliveries as well as nuclear energy," according to a short read-out released by the Hungarian government. "PM Orban emphasized the importance of peace, saying that an end to the flow of refugees, sanctions and the fighting was key for the entire continent, including Hungary," the statement said. Unsurprisingly, the meeting and the handshake have gone down badly in Brussels, according to senior diplomats from different countries who spoke on condition of anonymity to freely express their thoughts and feelings. The issue was discussed during a gathering of ambassadors on Wednesday, where some representatives asked their Hungarian counterpart for clarifications. "It was not very welcomed, let's just say that," said a senior diplomat, referring to Putin as a source of "all kinds of problems" for the bloc. "There was a lot of regret. The signal it sends out was not positive." "There is a signal that we cannot completely ignore, at the same time, we have always managed to achieve" consensus on Ukraine, said a second diplomat. The optics are self-explanatory. Vladimir Putin is a foreign president under EU sanctions who has been accused, among other things, of committing war crimes against the Ukrainian population, weaponising energy supplies to wreak economic havoc, waging incessant disinformation campaigns to destabilise liberal democratic systems and pursuing a neo-imperialistic agenda to bend the rules-based world order established at the end of World War II. Putin has been placed under an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children. Story continues Orban, for his part, is the leader of an EU member state who is supposed to follow and honour the common strategies agreed upon by the European Council, of which he is part. Prior to meeting Putin, the Hungarian premier informed European Council President Charles Michel, who "strongly advised against it," according to Michel's spokesperson. "It's crucial that everybody sticks to the policy that we have. If there's a leader that meets with Putin, that's clearly not in line with the policy," said another diplomat While Orban has been in the past denounced for blocking or watering down collective European action in a way that appeared to favour Russia's interests, the face-to-face encounter has raised concerns about possible security breaches. Diplomats rely on confidential information to conduct negotiations and make decisions. The protection of communications is particularly important in highly sensitive topics, such as sanctions, defence, energy and technology. "When we meet at the Council, we expect everybody to adhere to the rules and act in good faith. That applies to everybody," the diplomat added. "Images like this don't fortify, to say the least, that image of all of us in a comfortable setting sharing information with each other. I'm sure there are colleagues who wonder what's getting out of the room." However, the first diplomat quoted above played down the risk, saying there was "no feeling of a Trojan horse" despite persistent disagreements on the Ukraine war. Budapest has for months blocked a 500-million tranche of EU military assistance for Kyiv, an impasse that has become a sore point of friction in Brussels. The veto began in early May after Ukraine's National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) added OTP Bank, Hungary's largest bank, to its name-shaming list of "international sponsors of war." Budapest slammed the move as "unacceptable" and "outrageous," and demanded a retraction in exchange for the EU aid. Following months of no progress, the NACP took earlier this month the decision to permanently remove the bank from the list. But the concession failed to change Hungary's mind and the veto remains in place as of today. "There are different issues that are still being discussed," said a senior official working for the EU institutions, without going into details. "We expect, frankly speaking, sooner rather than later we will have an agreement. We're still working on that." This piece has been updated with more reactions. Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland Marie Anderson outside her office in Belfast. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire Gavin Robinson said that although the investigation has not yet been carried out, the police ombudsman remaining in post during the probe is not tenable. On Thursday, a PSNI spokesperson said: The Police Service of Northern Ireland have asked West Midlands Police to lead an investigation and assess whether there are any further criminal offences following an alleged incident in Co Down in September 2023. Police have confirmed that a man was arrested after officers attended a property in the Holywood area on Saturday, September 23. The PSNI said officers attended the address at around 6.30pm following a report of a domestic incident. Police were unable to gain access to the address and following contact, a man aged 63 was arrested for common assault and interviewed at Musgrave station on Sunday, September 24. He was released and a file will be forwarded to the Public Prosecution Service in due course, the PSNI said. Mr Robinson said some serving officers had contacted him to express concern. Whatever the outcome of the investigation under way, officers have contacted me questioning how she can continue in post in the interim, he said. A number of high-profile events have recently impacted on morale within the PSNI. At a time when they crave stability, they do not believe the current situation is tenable. They rightly engage with and are subject to the Office of the Ombudsman, but they too must have faith in that office. Mr Robinson added: I respect the integrity of the West Midlands Police investigation and welcome their involvement. I trust there will be a swift investigation with full cooperation from all involved. Whilst this investigation continues there should be interim arrangements with Marie Anderson stepping aside until it has been concluded. TUV leader Jim Allister said: It appears to me that Marie Andersons position as police ombudsman is untenable and at the very least she should step aside while an investigation is ongoing. Story continues Not only does she occupy a very public facing role but it is a role which involves passing judgment upon police officers. No one is passing judgment on what may or may not have taken place, but the proverb that Caesar's wife must be above suspicion would seem to be relevant here. Former senior PSNI officer Jon Burrows said that as the police ombudsman holds a very senior public office and exercises significant powers, and her core role is holding police officers to account, the public and the police must have trust in the ombudsmans integrity. Mr Burrows added: It is vitally important, that whilst West Midlands Police assess whether further criminal investigation is required into the matters reported in the media, that the DoJ (Department of Justice) urgently reviews whether any interim measures need taken in relation to her day to day role. Another former senior police officer, Jim Gamble, said on social media: It is now totally appropriate for the police ombudsman to step back whilst this investigation is ongoing. There are many questions to be answered & until they are the protection of the integrity of a public office is key. Liam Kelly, chairman of the Police Federation, has called for a full and robust investigation. The Police Federation for Northern Ireland believes there has to be a full and robust investigation into this matter, he said. No stone should be left unturned to establish the facts and get to the truth. We expect our officers to be fully supported both by PSNI and the public to carry out their professional duties unfettered, without fear or favour. On Thursday, Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie also called for Mrs Anderson to temporarily step aside until the investigation concludes. Mr Beattie said: In light of the investigation announced tonight, I feel it would be appropriate that Ms Anderson step down from her role with immediate effect. This will allow for the office of the ombudsman to continue their existing work without distraction or challenge. A spokesperson for the police ombudsman said: As the PSNI has asked West Midlands Police to lead an investigation into any matters arising from an alleged incident in Co Down in September 2023, and given that the investigation is now live, it would be inappropriate for the Police Ombudsmans Office to comment. Shipbuilders urged to improve labor conditions By Park Jae-hyuk Six out of 10 migrant workers at Korea's domestic shipyards hope to change their jobs due to their low wages and tough labor conditions, according to a recent survey by the Korean Metal Workers Union (KMWU), Friday. In the survey of 410 foreign workers from 10 countries, who work at the shipyards of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean, 63.7 percent of the respondents answered that they intend to change their jobs to sectors other than shipbuilding. Among them, 67.2 percent pointed out the low salary compared to the intensity of the labor, and 34.9 percent complained about being paid less than their Korean colleagues. In addition, 23.9 percent expressed concerns over the safety of their working environments. In particular, 60 percent of high-skilled migrant shipbuilding workers answered that they want to change their jobs, causing concerns for the government in its efforts to address the labor shortage at local shipyards by increasing the visa quota for skilled foreign workers. For shipbuilders to secure their foreign workforce stably, they should prioritize paying more to their subcontracted employees and improving their labor conditions, the KMWU said in its report on the survey. Some migrant workers said that they are victims of employment fraud. A Myanmar national working at an Ulsan shipyard claimed that he signed a labor contract in his country last year, which stated that he would receive 2.7 million won ($2,000) per month, but since arriving in Korea earlier this year, he has been paid 2 million won every month. The pay cut was partly because of the Ministry of Justice's temporary measure announced in January to allow small companies to pay 70 percent of the previous years gross national income per capita to employees holding the E-7 visa. Even considering the measure, the worker was supposed to receive at least 2.46 million won per month, but his employer has only paid 2 million won in base wages and 300,000 won in extra pay, while deducting 200,000 won for meals and 100,000 won for lodgings. The worker and other Myanmar nationals paid less than expected said that their employers, agents and the Myanmar Embassy in Seoul have reiterated that they should sign new labor contracts if they want to keep working in Korea. The migrant workers were aware of the difference in labor contracts signed here and in their own countries, but they had no choice but to sign the new one to stay in Korea, said a member of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries subcontracted workers union. The KMWU urged major shipbuilders, such as HD Hyundai, Hanwha Ocean and Samsung Heavy Industries, to fulfill their responsibilities by improving the labor and residential conditions of migrant shipbuilding workers. Despite financial support from the government, the shipbuilders have remained reluctant to hire full-time blue-collar workers, relying more on subcontracted and outsourced labor, the union said. The shipbuilders should therefore make efforts to increase wages of subcontracted workers at their shipyards and protect the basic rights of migrant workers. HA NOi The pandemic was not a great equaliser in Viet Nam. Its impact has been disproportionately harsh on women's careers, with a VCCI survey showing women-owned enterprises were more hard hit than men-owned financially. At its peak, nearly 40 per cent of female entrepreneurs failed to keep their businesses afloat. But there's another fact that has come to light recently: Vietnamese women have never been less active than those from other countries in entrepreneurship. They are breaking through barriers and making their mark in the post-pandemic business world. As the VCCI data has been tallied, Vietnamese women now take the helm of 22 per cent of all enterprises in Viet Nam, a level comparable to that in developed countries, such as Sweden (20 per cent), Singapore (24 per cent), and France (24 per cent). They also represented one-fourth of the outstanding entrepreneurs honoured by VCCI in 2022. Such a big shift did not come from thin air, but was the result of the government's sustained efforts to support gender equality in the business sector, of which the Scheme to Support Women-led Startups between 2017 to 2025 lies at the heart. Ha Thi Nga, President of the Vietnam Women's Union, said the scheme in six years had brought 80,000 entrepreneurial ideas into life, with over 70,000 women getting the support to launch their own businesses. About 5,000 women-led cooperatives have been founded under its wing and 60,000 newly-established enterprises have been assisted in capability-building. Its most remarkable contribution to female entrepreneurship was the establishment of the annual Women Entrepreneurship Competition, in which 2,024 projects were shortlisted for the final round in 2023. The special prize went to Hoang Thi Thuy Linh, who managed to use advanced technology to produce organic milk from husked rice. The next 32 best projects were awarded three first prizes, four second prizes, six third prizes, and 19 consolation prizes. First prize winner Bui Thi Kim Anh, Director of FarmFood CO LTD, told Viet Nam News that she had left a managerial position in a bank to start her own business. Her vision was clear: to create jobs for local women and bring Vietnamese agricultural products to global markets. She said the first stages in her entrepreneurial journey were not easy because her business began with little initial outlay. However, years of dedication and hard work had paid off as FarmFood had grown quickly in size and carved out a niche in international markets. She said it is difficult to balance work and family life as a female entrepreneur. However, her supportive spouse had made it work by pitching in at home and taking charge of child care. He also supported her in R&D, and together they created many new high-quality products that had gained ground commercially. She underlined the role of the scheme in female entrepreneurship, which had served as a bridge to help her close the gap between ideas and a thriving business. She urged the government to grant more financial assistance to the scheme "to create a more conducive business environment for women". At the award ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said the government had always put women entrepreneurship high on its agenda. Its National Gender Equality Strategy was guided by a clear vision: raising women-led entities to at least 27 per cent of all enterprises and cooperatives in 2025 and 30 per cent in 2030. The targets are within reach, but it would require a collective effort of all public agencies across the spectrum to put Viet Nam at the forefront of feminine entrepreneurship. To that end, the PM called for measures to improve women's access to bank loans and startup funds to ensure "they have sufficient finance to bring their ideas into fruition". He also called for a pool of experienced specialists to provide guidance, share insights, and offer solutions to the challenges facing female entrepreneurs. "More and more Vietnamese women will overcome their adversaries and make a name for themselves as successful entrepreneurs in Viet Nam and in the world," said Chinh. According to the White Book on Women-owned Small and Medium Enterprises in Viet Nam in April, Viet Nam was among the countries with the largest ratio of women-led enterprises in Southeast Asia. However, 90 per cent of the enterprises were micro and small, indicating that the government still has a long way to go to break the deep-running stereotype that impede women's efforts to pursue a full-time career in business. VNS BEIJING Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong received President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Jin Liqun in Beijing on Thursday, on the sidelines of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in China. He spoke highly of the AIIBs continuous operation expansion, important achievements, growing role as a multilateral development bank, and cooperation with such institutions as the World Bank (WB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to supply capital to meet the infrastructure development demand in Asia, particularly developing countries. The Vietnamese leader asked the AIIB to coordinate in assisting the members who have high demand for capital and technology, and continue helping to step up infrastructure development in Asia with priority given to the greening process and the improvement of climate change response capacity. Affirming the thriving cooperation between Viet Nam and the AIIB, President Thuong noted that as one of the banks founding members, the country has always made active and responsible contributions to the AIIBs development and shaping of its role in the region and the world. He also called on the bank to carry out cooperation activities in a more effective manner in the time to come. At the meeting, Jin praised Viet Nam's considerable contributions to the AIIBs establishment and activities. He held that Viet Nam holds much potential for sustainable development and pledged more assistance from the AIIB for the public and private sectors in the country to access the banks capital sources, especially in the areas of climate change prevention and renewable energy. VNS RIYADH Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received leaders of Aramco group and the Saudi Fund for Development in Riyadh capital of Saudi Arabia on Thursday. The meetings took place as part of his trip to Saudi Arabia to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) - Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and visit the country. Talking to the Vietnamese PM, Executive Vice President of Aramco Yasser M.Mufti expressed his firms hope to have a chance to invest in Viet Nam, which is working to build a new petrochemical plant. He proposed the Vietnamese Government create conditions for Aramco to expand investment in the country, firstly permitting the groups technical team to come to survey the market. PM Chinh welcomed Aramcos plan to invest in Viet Nam's oil and gas sector, especially major petrochemical projects, and cooperate in the trading of oil, gas, and petrochemical products such as crude oil, liquefied gas, plastics, and fertiliser. He called on Aramco to provide conditions for the State-owned Viet Nam Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam) participate in supplying oil and gas services in Saudi Arabia, seek large projects to jointly invest in, and assist with training oil and gas manpower. In a separate meeting, CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) Sultan Al-Marshad informed Chinh that the fund has implemented 13 projects in Viet Nam over the past 13 years. He proposed the Vietnamese Government continue to create more favourable conditions for the fund to operate effectively in the country and pledged more resources for projects in Viet Nam. Chinh appreciated the SFDs preferential loans worth US$165 million for Viet Nam's ODA projects, helping improve infrastructure and the living standards of Vietnamese people in remote and disadvantaged areas. To ensure effective joint works in the future, the PM said both sides need to enhance exchanges, coordination, and fulfillment of their commitments, contributing to further strengthening comprehensive cooperation between Viet Nam and Saudi Arabia. VNS HCM CITY Around 100 domestic and foreign scholars, legal advisors, law practitioners, and businesses have shared their thoughts on the pivot to Asia-Pacific and its impact on economic policies in trade, investment and the environment of the region at a two-day conference which opened in HCM City on Thursday. The conference is co-organised by the HCM City University of Law and the University of Tours in France with the support of the French Embassy in Viet Nam. According to Le Truong Son, Rector of the University of Law and arbitrator of Viet Nam International Arbitration Centre, Asia-Pacific countries have a strategic position, the region has become the destination of a pivot strategy of major economies in recent decades. He said in order to implement the strategy, a wide network of free trade and investment protection agreements had been signed among partners in the region, and between countries in the region and other economies in the world. This move raised many legal issues related to the signing and implementation of international trade and investment agreements. Therefore, the conference aimed to be a dialogue channel between state management agencies, scholars, businesses, legal advisors of Viet Nam, ASEAN countries and other partners participating in trade activities, international business and investment. It was expected to help Vietnamese policymakers and businesses clearly understand the new business situation in order to develop strategies and solutions for new challenges in the context of international economic integration. During the two-day conference, more than 40 delegates from France, Canada, Japan, South Korea, India, China, Morocco, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, and Viet Nam discussed various issues such as legal, economic and commercial practices. Other issues include the economic policies and laws of major economies in response to Asia-Pacific, and economic strategies of major Asia-Pacific economies. The discussions were hosted by Christian Deblock, Professor at the Faculty of Political Science and Law, University of Quebec in Montreal, Canada; Yumiko Nakanishi, Professor of European Union Law at the Graduate School of Law, Hitotsubashi University, Japan; and Rector Son. All speeches can be found at https://conference.ilaw.edu.vn/index.php/en/. VNS ALGIERS Vietnamese and Algerian businesses gained an insight into the African countrys market and bilateral economic and trade ties at a webinar on Thursday. The event, held by the Trade Office of Vietnam in Algeria and the Algerian Forum for Import, Export, International Trade and Investment (AFIETI), attracted about 60 businesses, including over 20 Algerian companies. Considering the seminar as a chance to elevate economic ties on par with the two peoples aspirations, AFIETI President Mohamed Hassani said that at the recent business forum held in Ha Noi within the framework of the 12th meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee, the two sides strived to set up strategic partnerships in many key areas, including agriculture, food security, technology, renewable energy, infrastructure development, natural resource exploitation, education, and scientific research. According to Trade Counsellor of Viet Nam in Algeria Hoang uc Nhuan bilateral relations have been developing unceasingly over the recent past as seen in many high-level mutual visits and cooperation in multiple areas. In particular, a number of economic agreements and documents have been signed, including a bilateral trade agreement and a memorandum of understanding on trade promotion cooperation, providing a favourable legal framework for the activities of Vietnamese and Algerian businesses. In terms of trade, their export and import structures are complementary to each other. According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, bilateral trade stood at only US$145 million in 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemics impacts but reached $175 million during the first nine months of 2023, up 60 per cent year on year. Viet Nams exports to Algeria include raw coffee, peppercorn, cashew nut, copra, fishery products, steel, and chemicals. Meanwhile, it imports pharmaceuticals, ores, wastepaper, and animal feed from the African nation. In terms of investment, the joint venture among the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam), Sonatrach of Algeria, and PTTEP of Thailand is a symbol of successful cooperation between the countries. It turned out the first oil flow in August 2015, and the current capacity is about 18,000 barrels per day, Nhuan noted. However, economic partnerships remain modest compared to the countries potential and have yet to meet their leaders expectations, he added, pledging that the Trade Office will hold more activities to connect the two sides businesses. At the webinar, the President of the Algerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CACI) called on Vietnamese businesses to invest in production or processing in his country to capitalise on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Nabil Akriche, an advisor in charge of export and import at AFIETI, said that this forum was working to establish a communication channel between the two sides economic insiders, including manufacturers, importers, exporters and investors, to maximise their economic advantages and potential. He highlighted Algerias high demand for coffee, tea, spices, nuts and grains, apparel, materials for the textile-garment industry, footwear, cosmetic materials, plant oil, automobile spare parts, mobile devices, and electronic equipment. He said Vietnamese products were highly valued for prices and quality by Algerian consumers. Akriche also encouraged Vietnamese firms to import the key and strong commodities of Algeria, such as date palm fruit and related products, olive fruit and oil, poultry and agricultural products, ceramics, cement, and gypsum. At the event, businesses of the two countries also engaged in talks to learn about each others demands and seek partnerships. VNS HA NOI The Viet Nam Women's Museum has launched a special art programme themed "Legends of Youth" to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the ong Loc Victory and commemorate ten female volunteers who sacrificed their lives for the historical victory. The programme also celebrates the 93rd anniversary of the establishment of Viet Nam Women's Union and Vietnamese Women's Day on October 20. During the anti-American resistance war, from 1965 to 1968, the US dropped nearly 50,000 bombs and fired tens of thousands of missiles on the ong Loc T-junction the important T-junction of the Ho Chi Minh Trail connecting the North with the southern front. At that time, in order to keep traffic flowing, all human resources were mobilised to clear the road to ensure the safe operation of the transport route sending supplies to the southern front. On July 24, 1968, ten young female volunteers, aged from 17 to 24, maintained the vital traffic route at ong Loc, but lost their lives in a USs bomb raid. By theatricalising their story, the programme conveys a message about the gratitude of today's generation for those who have fallen for their country and also about hope for the future. "Legends of Youth" is a collaborating between the Viet Nam Womens Museum and playwright and director Le Quy Duong with the purpose of recreating the image of the female hero squad and honouring their sacrifice. Nguyen Thi Tuyet, the museum director, said: "The highlight of the programme is recreating the historical story of heroic Vietnamese girls, exuding youth and courageous spirit. The battle will take place in the museum space, where many memorabilia and images of heroic Vietnamese women on the front lines of the battlefield are displayed. The 60-minute performance recreates a fierce battlefield, using visual technology, 3D effects with bomb craters, A-shaped bunkers, artillery battlefields and the backgrounds of convoys carrying goods and troops to battle. Five tonnes of real soil were specially transferred from ong Loc Junction to the museum stage. The actresses in the show are from 18 to 24 years old and are from the central provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh, making them the same age and from the same place as the martyrs. "We want our audience to experience the most genuine and profound emotions while immersing themselves in the atmosphere of ong Loc Junction's battlefield, director Duong said. The audience also has the opportunity to experience and interact directly with actors during the performance. The museum intends to introduce the programme to domestic and international audiences, and visitors in the future. We hope that Vietnamese Women's Museum continues to be a destination that offers numerous engaging experiential activities for the public, Tuyet added. The first performance of "Legends of Youth" takes place at 8.00pm today at the Vietnamese Women's Museum, 36 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Hoan Kiem District, Ha Noi. VNS HCM CITY A series of cai luong (reformed opera) shows will be staged in HCM City as part of the citys cultural and arts activities to celebrate Vietnamese Womens Day on October 20. These shows feature women and love. The Tran Huu Trang Cai Luong Theatre will restage Co ao Hat (True Theatre Actress), a production about life and love directed by Meritorious Artist Hoa Ha. The 120-minute play depicts the career of Thanh, who works and devotes her life to expanding her art, cai luong, a traditional genre of southern theatre which began in the early 1920s in the Mekong River Delta region. It features cai luong star Que Tran as Thanh. We will offer true cai luong with modern techniques of performance, said the plays director Ha, one of very few female theatre directors who has worked in theatre for nearly 30 years. The play Co ao Hat will open at 8pm today at 136 Tran Hung ao Street, District 1. The ong Au Bach Long Troupe, one of the citys leading private theatres, will return with a new play of tuong or hat boi (classical drama), a Vietnamese traditional theatre genre that originated in the 12th century. The show Ngoc Sang Luu Gia Trang (Stories of the Luu Family) is about Vietnamese history. Women and their contributions to the country are highlighted. It features young actresses Ai Loan, Trinh Trinh and Thanh Du. I want to perfect the staging of tuong to attract younger generations, said the troupes founder and art director Bach Long. Long said his troupe invested several hundred million ong on high-tech equipment, including light and sound effects, artificial smoke and visual arts. We have tried our best to portray Vietnamese history on stage as realistically as possible, he said. Ngoc Sang Luu Gia Trang will be staged at 7:30pm on October 21 at 55B Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, District 3. Producer Gia Bao is working with his partner, Tran Huu Trang Cai Luong Theatre, to launch a live show called Tam Long Cua Bien (Mind of the Seas). The show includes performances of cai luong and tuong by famous artists, including Peoples Artist Minh Vuong, Kim Tu Long, Linh Tam and Tus Suong. Southern history, culture and people will be portrayed. The artists will introduce a quality drama in a southern style a style that requires specific performance skills. Our show will offer quality performances with truly southern dramas, said the shows producer, Bao. The show Tam Long Cua Bien will begin at 8pm on October 27 and on weekends in October and November. VNS Joint building of Belt and Road highlighted 08:32, October 20, 2023 By Mo Jingxi, Cao Desheng and Xu Wei ( China Daily China to further promote high-quality cooperation, share development opportunities, President Xi Jinping tells world leaders attending key forum in Beijing Ukhnaa Khurelsukh Mongolia President Xi Jinping called on Mongolia on Thursday to play a greater role in advancing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation as a gateway linking Europe and Asia when meeting with Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh. Xi said that Mongolia, which was among the first to support the Belt and Road Initiative, is a natural partner in jointly building the Belt and Road. Over the past decade, China and Mongolia have achieved greater synergy between their development strategies and witnessed encouraging results in cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, connectivity and livelihood projects, he said. Xi said that the construction of the Belt and Road shares broad cooperation opportunities with Mongolia's "Steppe Road Program" development strategy. He said that China is willing to uphold mutual respect for independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity with Mongolia, support each other in safeguarding core interests, and build a solid foundation for the China-Mongolia community with a shared future. China will continue to help Mongolia revitalize its economy, promote the construction of relevant border ports in an orderly manner and open up new channels for connectivity between the two countries, he said. As the China-Mongolia Desertification Prevention and Control Cooperation Center has been established, Xi said China is willing to continue supporting Mongolia's "Planting One Billion Trees" plan. He also expressed China's willingness to expand China-Mongolia-Russia cooperation and steadily promote the construction of the trilateral economic corridor. Khurelsukh congratulated China for the successful hosting of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, saying that its outcomes will contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and give new momentum to global economic growth. The two heads of state witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents in areas including cross-border railways, green and lowcarbon development and the digital economy. MO JINGXI (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) Automakers top execs to accompany president in state visit to Saudi Arabia By Lee Min-hyung Hyundai Motor and Kia set an annual sales target of 550,000 vehicles in the Middle East by 2030 by gradually introducing more electric vehicles and stepping up more specialized market activities there, the automakers said Friday. The two firms also shared their plans to achieve a 20-percent market share there by the same year, identifying the region as their next major growth area. They will focus on launching more electric vehicle (EV) models and increasing their portion. According to Hyundai, the company sold more than 160,000 vehicles in the Middle East in the first three quarters combined this year. The figure for Kia also topped 118,000 during the same period. This was an increase of 17.7 percent and 9.7 percent, respectively, from the previous year. Saudi Arabia is the largest market in the region. Data compiled by the company showed that more than 2.29 million cars were sold there last year. The country accounted for over 27 percent with auto sales of around 640,000 during the same period. Hyundai Motor Group aims to tap deeper into the lucrative Saudi market where auto sales have been on a gradual rise since 2018, except for 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic pummeled global markets. Demand for automobiles there is forecast to reach more than 3 million each year from 2030, so the two automakers are sharpening their sales strategy by launching more diverse segments of vehicles and widening the sales portion of EVs. They will also launch a connected vehicle service there, and strengthen activities on corporate social responsibility, Hyundai said. Hyundai Motor is selling six EV models, with the IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6 and GV60 among those, in the Middle East this year. This accounts for 20 percent of all of Hyundais sales there. The company also unveiled its ambition of doubling the number of its EV lineup by 2027 and ensuring EVs account for more than 15 percent of its total sales in the Middle East by 2032. Kia also sells four EV models, and is set to increase the number to 11 over the next few years. We will keep coming up with detailed ways to increase our market share in the region, and raise awareness of our brand there, an official from Hyundai said. Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun will also promote its efforts to expand its presence there by accompanying President Yoon Suk Yeol in his upcoming state visit to Saudi Arabia, which will last five days as of Saturday. Hyundai Motor CEO Chang Jae-hoon is also joining the delegation to display the automakers strong willingness for sales expansion there. HCM CITY A delegation from the HCM City Department of Tourism is currently promoting local tourism at IMEX America 2023, the largest trade show in the US, being held at the Mandalay Bay resort in Las Vegas. The tourism promotion activity is part of the departments efforts to attract US travellers to Viet Nam, including HCM City. Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, director of the department, said the Viet Nam HCM City pavilion at the trade show was providing information about travel incentives and showcasing programmes to attract meetings, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) to the city. The pavilion was also introducing typical tourist products and services. Last week, the department collaborated with Vietnamese airlines, travel firms, and hotels to hold a tourism promotion programme in San Francisco. The programme included a seminar on new tourism products and tourist sites, the introduction of tourism projects, and business-to-business meetings. Some 100 tour operators from California participated in the programme. The tourism promotion activities took place after Viet Nam and the US established a comprehensive strategic partnership last month, with tourism among the fields to be strengthened under the partnership, according to Hoa. With Viet Nams eased visa policy, HCM City hopes to welcome overseas Vietnamese and US visitors to explore its unique cultural and historical features. The city plans to launch tourism promotion programmes in the US over the next three years to expand its sustainable tourism market. HCM City, Viet Nams largest economic hub, is likely to be the first destination in Viet Nam for foreigners, as it offers easy travel access to other regions and countries. Many airlines are also establishing routes between Viet Nam and the US, contributing to meeting travel demands and boosting trade activities between the two nations. Before the pandemic, the US was among the top ten tourist source markets for HCM City. Last year, some 265,150 visitors from the US visited the city. Viet Nam welcomed nearly 8.9 million international travellers between January and September this year, marking a 4.7-fold year-on-year increase, according to the General Statistics Office. Among the ten largest source markets, the US ranked third in terms of arrivals to the Southeast Asian nation. VNS FRANKFURT Many major Vietnamese publishing houses are attending the Frankfurt Book Fair 2023 in Germany, joining meetings, seeking collaboration and engaging in cultural exchanges with reputable publishers worldwide. The Frankfurt Book Fair 2023, the 75th edition, is gathering over 4,000 publishers from around the globe, making it the largest event since 2020. The theme of this year's event is 75 Times, 75 Stories. The Vietnamese delegation to the event this year is also the largest with nearly 100 members. The Vietnamese zone in the book fair includes four booths of Vietnam Publishers' Association, the HCMC Department of Information and Communication, Tre Publishing House and Kim ong Publishing House, introducing books by many major Vietnamese publishers like Nha Nam, ong A, First News and Ho Chi Minh City General Publising House. One of the highlighted booths is Ho Chi Minh City Viet Nam that features books about the history and culture of the city in particular and Viet Nam in general, like the collection of Gia inh Sai Gon Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh Dam Dai Lich Su (The Miles of History of Gia inh Sai Gon Ho Chi Minh City), Loanh Quanh Sai Gon (Wandering Saigon), Phong Tuc at Phuong Nam (Southern Vietnam Customs), as well as bestsellers like Loan - From a Life of Phoenix and Phoenix's Daughter - Hope Was My Way by Vietnamese-German author Isabelle Muller. According to Vu Thi Yen, public relations and copyright exploitation officer of the HCM City General Publishing House, the publishing industrys largest international venue provides an opportunity for Vietnamese publishers to explore new trends in the global market, access advanced technologies for publishing activities, engage in cultural exchanges related to books and negotiate copyright transactions. It also a chance for Viet Nam to learn from international experiences to organise its international book fair 2024 and other international book-related events in the future, she added. Vietnamese-German writer Isabelle Muller said she was impressed by the Vietnamese zone at this year's Frankfurt book fair. "The German version of Phoenix Daughter had the honour of being here already in 2009, as well as at the Leipzig Book Fair. And Loan was also represented at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2015, when the book reached the final in the Amazon Kindle StoryAward competition. So I have again a wonderful feeling of joy and thankfulness. "What was particularly special for me was seeing both translated books now exhibited next to each other. Both books belong together and above all: To me, Viet Nam is slowly conquering Germany and the world when showcasing its publications. It is sharing for the very first time in Frankfurt Book Fair its own reading culture, and developing it at the same time. It is wonderful," she said. The Frankfurt Book Fair 2023 continues through October 22. VNS HCM CITY Two of the worlds most popular cuisines, Italian and Korean, will come together for a unique culinary event to take place this October at Da Vittorio Saigon. Scheduled for Tuesday, October 24, the 'Italian Seoul' culinary extravaganza is set to be an unforgettable evening of a culinary meeting of minds that will leave attendees craving for more. The star of the night is Michelin-starred Chef Louis Han, whose culinary expertise is celebrated worldwide. Joining Chef Han in this extraordinary collaboration is Da Vittorio Saigon's Executive Chef Matteo Fontana. Together, these two culinary maestros will craft a dining experience that transcends boundaries, offering a tantalizing blend of ingredients, techniques, and traditions. Priced at VN3,588,000++, the six-course menu offers gastronomic delights such as duck leg, gochujang glaze, rice cake, and perilla; smoked kampachi fish, ssam and burnt leek; somyeon buckwheat, scallop, and white kimchi; white truffle, homemade tagliolini, butter, and parmesan; lobster, doenjang butter, zucchini, and cabbage mandu; NZ coastal lamb two ways (loin roll and slow cooked shoulder), morel mushroom, spinach sponge; and charcoal Jujube and multigrain. Hailing from the vibrant city of Seoul, South Korea, Chef Han's culinary journey began at the prestigious Marco Polo restaurant in Seoul, where he had the privilege of working with renowned chefs such as Joan Roca and Alain Passard. His culinary adventures then took him to the award-winning Italian fine-dining restaurant Circo in Abu Dhabi. Chef Han's multicultural culinary journey continued as he worked as a Sous Chef at Mosu, a trendsetting three-Michelin-star restaurant in Seoul. His experiences abroad and his deep understanding of Korean seasonal produce culminated in the opening of his inaugural restaurant NAE:UM, which is known for its contemporary Seoul cuisine. A Milan native, Chef Fontana brings a wealth of experience to the table, having honed his craft under the guidance of numerous Michelin-starred chefs in Italy. Chef Fontana's journey led him to the three-Michelin-star Da Vittorio flagship restaurant in Bergamo, Italy, where he trained under Chef Chicco and Chef Bobo Cerea to prepare for the opening of the brand's new HCM City establishment. Don't miss this unique opportunity to savour the flavours of 'Italian Seoul' and get ready to embark on a culinary journey that blends the best of Italian and Korean cuisines, brought to you by two culinary visionaries. Also this October, the Italian fine dining restaurant Da Vittorio Saigon is offering an exclusive menu featuring the sought-after white truffle - the white diamond of the culinary world - prepared by the talented chef Matteo Fontana. While all truffles are deeply valued, the Alba white truffle (a particular species called tuber magnatum) is the most desired for its unforgettable flavour. Priced at VN8,988,000++., the white truffle is served until January 2024. It features such incredible dishes as potato and mushroom cappuccino with mini savoury croissant; poached Canadian lobster, Swiss chard, and cauliflower beurre blanc; wagyu beef Rossini style, foie gras, and Port wine sauce; or Plin ravioli, Taleggio cheese, toasted hazelnut, and pumpkin espuma. Da Vittorio Saigon is located on Level 1 & B1 of the Times Square Building, 22-36 Nguyen Hue and 57-69F ong Khoi Streets in HCM Citys District 1. For reservations, call +84 (0) 28 38236688 or visit https://www.thereveriesaigon.com/special-offers/italian-seoul-a-culinary-extravaganza/. VNS HA NOI The Ministry of National Defence (MoD) on Thursday organised a conference to review the term of work at the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission by Unit 1 of the Engineering Brigade and Field Hospital No. 4. Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Central Party Committee Member, Deputy Minister of National Defence, Head of the Interagency Task Force, Head of the MoD's Steering Committee for UN peacekeeping activities, chaired the conference. During the conference, Major General Pham Manh Thang, Director of the Viet Nam Peacekeeping Department (MoD), stated that at the end of their term, Unit 1 of the Engineering Brigade and Field Hospital No. 4 had successfully completed their missions as commanded by the peacekeeping mission and the MoD. Congratulating and praising Unit 1 of the Engineering Brigade and Field Hospital No. 4 for their excellent performance in the UN peacekeeping mission in the Abyei and South Sudan regions, Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien emphasised that the MoD acknowledges the remarkable and outstanding achievements of the personnel of these two units. According to Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, despite operating in a multilateral international environment in regions with various potential risks, the Vietnamese peacekeeping forces have well demonstrated the traditions of the heroic Vietnamese people and the People's Army of Viet Nam, enhancing the reputation of Viet Nam in the international community. In the future, Viet Nam will continue to implement a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversifification of relations and be a trustworthy friend and partner of other countries while taking on its responsibilities as a member of the international community. Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien hoped that the UN and partner countries will continue to support Viet Nam and its People's Army in carrying out their noble mission of deploying Vietnamese peacekeeping forces to missions and effectively fulfilling their duties as entrusted by the UN and its peacekeeping missions. He added that Viet Nam is striving to increase the participation of women in UN peacekeeping forces, both in unit and individual roles. Viet Nam is currently one of the leading countries with a 16 per cent female participation rate in peacekeeping activities, while the average rate for other countries is about 10 per cent. Viet Nam aims to raise this rate to 20 per cent by 2025 by engaging in suitable mechanisms and areas outlined in the comprehensive plan for Viet Nam's participation in UN peacekeeping activities. Unit 1 of the Engineering Brigade performed excellently in military engineering and military construction tasks at the UNISFA mission, renewing, upgrading, and repairing major roads and patrol routes in different sectors with a total length of 303 km. They organised vehicle recovery for UN and local vehicles stuck in mud, ensuring the smooth flow of traffic throughout the mission area. They also repaired and maintained camp facilities, bridges, and infrastructure within the mission area. Notably, the Viet Nam Engineering Unit was selected by the UNISFA mission command as the pioneering unit in the Smart Camp Project, restructuring the mission's infrastructure. Unit 1 provided free medical examinations, medicines, and gifts to 168 local women and children. They supported local communities by dredging over 20 kilometres of canals and installing 36 drainage ditches to prevent flooding in Abyei town during the historic rainy season in 2022. They also contributed two classrooms to the Abyei Nursery School. During their term of service, Field Hospital No. 4 treated 1,468 patients, ensuring compliance with medical protocols. The hospital successfully handled many complex medical emergencies, requiring high-level medical expertise. The Field Hospital conducted research, application, and traditional medical treatments and physical therapy for 150 patients. They proactively developed plans for disease prevention and advised the UNMISS mission on measures to prevent COVID-19, malaria, monkeypox, ebola, and more. Field Hospital No. 4 conducted numerous voluntary activities, providing medical treatment, medical supplies, and equipment to local communities. They also planted trees at schools, hospitals, villages, and military bases to create a clean and beautiful environment and donated books, writing materials, pens, ink, toys, and clothing to local students. At the end of their service term, Unit 1 of the Engineering Brigade received commendation letters from the UNISFA mission command, the UN Police Commissioner, the Mission's Security Assurance Agency, the Ministry of Education, and the Education Department of the Abyei region for their contributions and dedication in the mission area. Field Hospital No. 4 received commendation certificates from the Commander of the UN Mission's Military Force for the excellent achievements of their personnel in fulfilling their assigned roles and responsibilities. VNS RIYADH Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Thursday (local time) met with Saudi Arabia's Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Al-Ibrahim and Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed Al-Rajhi in Riyadh, as part of his trip to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations - Gulf Cooperation Council (ASEAN - GCC) Summit and visit to Saudi Arabia. Talking to Minister of Economy and Planning Al-Ibrahim, PM Chinh affirmed that the Viet Nam-Saudi Arabia cooperation is developing well and holds great potential for further expansion. He proposed the two countries strengthen their economic connectivity, cooperate in organising trade-investment promotion activities, particularly in energy and finance-banking, and boost teamwork in such new areas as the production and processing of Halal products and digital transformation. The Vietnamese Government leader suggested both sides facilitate market access for each other's strong products and work closely to address issues related to the export of Viet Nam's aquatic products to Saudi Arabia. He also called for increased bilateral exchanges, cultural interactions, knowledge sharing, and transportation and aviation connectivity. In response, the minister pledged to collaborate with the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, the Saudi Arabian co-chair of the Saudi Arabia-Viet Nam Joint Government Committee, in order to deepen economic cooperation with Viet Nam. The two countries should take advantage of each other's markets to reach other regional markets, he said. Al-Ibrahim also expressed his wish to visit Viet Nam in the near future to complete the negotiation and signing of cooperation agreements with Vietnamese partners. To achieve the aforementioned goals, the two sides agreed to study the establishment of joint working groups for economic affairs and to hold the 5th meeting of the Joint Government Committee soon. At the meeting with the Saudi Arabian Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, PM Chinh lauded positive developments in the nations ties and highlighted labour as a crucial area of their bilateral cooperation, especially considering Saudi Arabia's implementation of extensive urban and infrastructure projects under its Vision 2030. To step up collaboration in this field, PM Chinh recommended the sides increase exchanges between their labour management agencies, promote collaboration in training, and connect their labour markets. Also important is the enhancement of legal frameworks for labour cooperation serving mutual support in the supply of high-quality workforce for national development, he noted. For his part, Al-Rajhi said Saudi Arabia holds ambitious goals in this area, including a plan to admit 10 million more foreign workers, particularly in the sectors of industrial production, energy, healthcare, and tourism. The minister spoke highly of the quality of Viet Nam's labour force, especially skilled workers, and underscored the enormous potential for bilateral collaboration in this field. He hoped both sides will join hands to promptly resolve current challenges in labour cooperation, particularly concerning the legal framework, training cooperation, and the establishment of effective recruitment mechanisms, so as to bring more Vietnamese workers to Saudi Arabia in the near future. VNS HA NOI Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang met with visiting Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) Tatiana Valovaya in Ha Noi on Thursday, pledging more contributions from Viet Nam to the UN. Appreciating the Director-Generals role in connecting and supporting Viet Nam in multilateral activities in Geneva, Hang said the country is actively implementing the foreign policy identified at the 13th National Party Congress, which is multilateralisation and diversification of external relations, active integration into the world, being a trustworthy partner and active and responsible member of the international community, and equal and mutually beneficial cooperation with all countries on the basis of the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and international law. Therefore, Viet Nam has made and will make more contributions to the common works of the UN and international organisations in Geneva, she remarked. The Deputy Minister called on the UNOG Director-General and relevant bodies of the UN to continue providing optimal conditions for Vietnamese officials, experts, and citizens to work at the agencies, and to assist Viet Nam, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and developing countries to increase multilateral diplomatic activities in Geneva. Applauding the 17 Faces of Action initiative, launched by Valovaya and the Association of Swiss Women and Empowerment (ASWE) and implemented in various countries, she said the participation in this initiative is among Viet Nam's moves to effectively carry out its priorities while serving as a member of the UN Human Rights Council for 2023-25 to enhance cooperation and dialogue in the international community to promote gender equality and implement the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Valovaya, who is on a working visit to Viet Nam and attending the opening ceremony of a 17 Faces of Action exhibition, said she is impressed with Viet Nam's high-level commitment to multilateralism and its concrete and practical contributions to the works of Geneva-based international organisations. She also highly valued the countrys outstanding role in joining hands with other ASEAN countries to step up cultural diplomacy, cultural diversity, and international solidarity in the community of diplomats in Geneva. The Director-General affirmed that she, the UNOG, and other agencies will continue supporting and creating favourable conditions for Viet Nam and ASEANs activities in Geneva. Welcoming Viet Nam's participation in the 17 Faces of Action initiative, she spoke highly of the countrys achievements in promoting gender equality and efforts to carry out the 2030 Agenda, particularly the provision of conditions for women to engage in the political system, womens economic empowerment, and the enhancement of womens role in science, technology, and innovation. Also on October 19, the UNOG Director-General had a meeting with leaders of the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam, and talked about multilateralism and the role of female leaders to the schools lecturers and students. VNS RIYADH Viet Nam treasures and is ready to further intensify the friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told Asharq Economy with Bloomberg on October 19. During an interview granted to the financial news channel during his working visit to the Middle Eastern nation, the Vietnamese leader said the two countries cooperation results were encouraging but had yet to live up to potential, and that both sides still had much room for cooperation and also boasted many complementary advantages, especially in their priority areas. He affirmed Viet Nams readiness to further strengthen the friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Saudi Arabia, including during the implementation of the latters Vision 2030, announced by PM and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in May 2016 with a view to diversifying the economy, reducing the dependence on oil, and opening Saudi Arabia in cultural and social aspects. Highly valuing Vision 2030, PM Chinh voiced his belief that Saudi Arabia would gradually realise the goals of this vision to establish itself as a leading trade, financial, aviation, and tourism hub in the Middle East and the world. He opined that the two countries development strategies, visions, and orientations until 2030 shared many similarities, especially the targeted breakthroughs in socio-economic development, the development based on science, technology and innovation, and the priority given to digital transformation, green transition, circular economy, and climate change response. The Vietnamese PM also said both sides should push ahead with implementing cooperation policies, programmes, and projects after his visit. VNA/VNS HA NOI The 2023 conference of the Eastern Regional Organisation for Public Administration (EROPA) wrapped up in Ha Noi on October 19 afternoon. Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Trieu Van Cuong said that during the three-day event with four plenary sessions and four panel discussions, 150 scientists from many countries talked about various dimensions of public governance in connection with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Speeches delivered at the conference analysed the importance of public governance to the realisation of the SDGs amid numerous challenges facing countries after the COVID-19 pandemic such as food insecurity and unemployment. Participants highlighted the necessity for issuing breakthrough policies to serve as the basis for economic recovery and development, and that the socio-economic development of a country will be the meter of public governance effectiveness. Some also recommended enhancing cooperation among countries and regions to jointly deal with global issues, the official went on. Cuong noted that the 2023 conference of EROPA took place in the context of various challenges to sustainable development in the world. Therefore, the selection of The Role of Public Governance in Socioeconomic Recovery and Development as the theme of the meeting reflected EROPAs role and sense of responsibility toward regional and global development issues. The deputy minister said studies presented at the conference provide many precious suggestions for Viet Nam. At the 29th General Assembly of EROPA held on this occasion, participants approved the agenda of the EROPA Executive Council, and presented the Carlos P Ramos Award for Best Conference Paper and the award for female authors. The 2023 conference and general assembly of EROPA were hosted by the National Academy of Public Administration and chaired by the Vietnamese Ministry of Home Affairs. EROPA, an international organisation of states, groups and individuals in the region of Asia and the Pacific, was founded in 1960 as a response to the common desire among developing and developed countries to promote regional cooperation in improving knowledge, systems and practices of government administration to help accelerate economic and social development. It was the first organisation in the region to be devoted to the development of public administration in order to advance the economic and social development of countries in Asia and the Pacific. VNA/VNS Riyadh Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on October 19 visited the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Headquarters, met GCC Secretary General Jassim Muhammad Al-Budaiwi and witnessed the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam and the GCC Secretariat as part of his trip to the Middle East nation to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations GCC (ASEAN-GCC) summit. In the meeting with the GCC Secretary General, Chinh highly appreciated the role of the GCC and affirmed that Viet Nam attaches great importance to further promoting mutually beneficial cooperation with the GCC and other member countries. The Government leader emphasised that Viet Nam is ready to act as a bridge and promote cooperation between ASEAN and GCC - the two leading dynamic development regions in the world, for peace, stability and development in the region and the world. Chinh said that the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam and the GCC Secretariat opens a new potential channel of cooperation, a milestone in the relationship between Viet Nam and the GCC. He requested that the sides soon agree on a specific cooperation programme to implement the MoU effectively. For his part, Al-Budaiwi hailed the role and position of Viet Nam in the international arena as well as its recent achievements. He affirmed that all six Gulf countries have maintained good relations with Viet Nam and the two sides still have a lot of potential for cooperation, adding that the GCC Secretariat will actively help Viet Nam to boost cooperation with Gulf countries in areas where both sides have strengths. Regarding ASEAN-GCC cooperation, the GCC Secretary General said that the two sides will write a success story as they are both stable, dynamic and peace-loving regions and are making efforts to promote cooperation for the benefit of their people. Chinh took the occasion to invite Al-Budaiwi to visit Viet Nam soon to expedite the implementation of concrete cooperation contents. VNS BEIJING President of Viet Nam Vo Van Thuong met with Cai Qi, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, member of the Committees Secretariat and Chief of the Committees Office, in Beijing on October 19. The two sides applauded the progress in the relations between the two Parties and the two countries, especially since the historic official visit to China by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong in late October 2022, as seen in frequent all-level delegation exchanges and meetings, many new and important achievements obtained, enhanced political trust, promoted economic and trade cooperation, and Chinese investment in Viet Nam reaching a new level. They also discussed concrete measures for implementing the agreements reached between the two Parties and countries top leaders, and continuing to foster the friendship and cooperation across the board. President Thuong affirmed that Viet Nam and China are close neighbours and share similar political regimes, development paths, and goal of socialism building. The Party, State, and people of Viet Nam attach importance to the reinforcement and development of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with their Chinese counterparts, and consider this as the strategic choice and top priority in Viet Nams foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, and multilateralisation and diversification of external relations, he stated. He asked the two countries to keep close coordination and make good preparations for high-level mutual visits, strengthen cooperation between their ministries, sectors, and localities, promote substantive cooperation in all fields, and maintain the development trend of economic and trade ties. The President called on China to continue expanding the import of Vietnamese farm produce, increase investment in major projects typical for its development level, step up the partnership in connecting the countries road and railway infrastructure, boost cooperation in developing the digital economy, digital infrastructure and digital manpower, and tighten cultural and people-to-people links to consolidate the foundation for their long-lasting friendship. On the basis of the high-level common perceptions, the Vietnamese leader asked both sides to properly control and satisfactorily resolve differences and outstanding problems in bilateral relations in accordance with the United Nations Charter and international law, for the sake of the two peoples and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region. At the meeting, Cai said Viet Nam and China are important neighbours of each other and share broad common interests. China always views Viet Nam as a priority in its neighbourhood foreign policy and is ready to join Viet Nam in increasing the strategic opinion exchange and promoting the unceasing development of sustainable and long-term relations between the two Parties and the two countries. He suggested stepping up exchanges between their Parties, States, and peoples to further intensify friendship between the people of Viet Nam and China. The senior CPC official also agreed on the need to foster economic and trade ties, transport infrastructure connectivity, and cooperation in the digital economy; encourage Chinese businesses to continue bolstering investment in Viet Nam; and increase the frequency and quality of locality-to-locality connections, thereby actively contributing to the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. VNS By Lee Min-hyung Lotte, Shilla and Shinsegae are experiencing a drastic fall in sales in their duty free store businesses, hit by the changing shopping patterns of Chinese tourists, according to data and analysts, Friday. Less tourists have enjoyed shopping at conventional duty free stores amid their growing preference for local retail channels and normal retail stores. According to data from the Korea Duty Free Shops Association, the number of customers for Koreas duty free stores came in at 2.06 million in August. This was a two-fold increase from the previous year. Of particular note was the sharp rise of foreign tourists whose number soared by 307 percent during the same period. This was driven by the resumption of international tourism after the years-long COVID-19 pandemic. But combined sales of major duty free stores reported a sharp fall of 28 percent at 1.57 trillion won ($1.16 billion) during the same period, as foreign tourists spent less on the traditional shopping channel. Sales from foreign tourists plunged by 37 percent. Market analysts said duty free shops have de facto failed to appeal more to foreign tourists who much prefer to experience the latest products and trends in Korean culture. The decline of Chinese resellers is also attributable to the fall in sales of Korean duty free stores, they said. Duty free stores have relied heavily on Chinese resellers, but failed to attract foreign tourists who want to enjoy the latest Korean culture and purchase cosmetics and accessories, Hanwha Investment & Securities analyst Lee Jin-hyeob said. They may have preferred shopping at retail stores, such as Olive Young, or department stores than reseller-focused duty free stores. Lotte Duty Free reported sales of 1.5 trillion won in the first half, down 38.6 percent from a year earlier. Shilla Duty Free Shop also suffered a sales decline of 33.6 percent during the same period. That of Shinsegae Duty Free fell by 37.2 percent as well for a similar reason. Amid the deteriorating sentiment on duty free stores, their stock prices also sharply declined recently. According to the Korea Exchange, shares of Hotel Shilla, the operator of Shilla Duty Free Store, has nosedived for the past few weeks. Its stock price jumped to around 91,000 won per share last month, but has since extended a steep fall of more than 20 percent in almost a month due to weaker-than-expected consumption by Chinese tourists. But the analyst left open the possibility of a duty free stock rebound, as it has been only a few months since the Chinese government lifted a ban on its citizens group tours to Korea in August. The air route between Korea and China has not yet been normalized, compared with the pre-pandemic level, the analyst said. But this can recover down the road, and under the scenario, duty free stores can still benefit a lot from more Chinese tourist groups. Riyadh Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has proposed the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia one among the worlds 10 biggest public investment funds expand and diversify investment activities in Viet Nam's priority areas such as digital transformation, green economy, circular economy, innovation, renewable energy, high technology, tourism and Halal industry. Chinh made the suggestion while receiving the funds Governor Al-Rumayyan in Riyadh on October 19 within the framework of his trip to Saudi Arabia to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) - Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and visit the country. Yasir Al-Rumayyan said that the fund has invested US$160 million in Viet Nam through indirect form. He suggested the Vietnamese Government continue to create more favourable conditions for the PIF to operate effectively in Viet Nam, and committed to devoting more resources to larger projects to develop infrastructure in the country. The Vietnamese Government leader urged the two sides to continue establishing a joint investment fund to carry out investment projects in each country, like those between Viet Nam and Oman and several other countries which have proved effective. Attention should be paid to enhancing effective cooperation between investment agencies of the two countries, especially in sharing information and policies, introducing cooperation opportunities in potential projects in each country and intensifying collaboration in investment promotion in Viet Nam, he added. VNS RIYADH Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh joined leaders from ASEAN and Gulf countries at the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (ASEAN-GCC) Summit held in Saudi Arabia's capital city of Riyadh on Friday. PM Chinh expressed his support for the Summits adoption of a Joint Statement to outline the directions and drivers for the elevation of the ASEAN - GCC ties to a new height, for peace, cooperation and mutual development. According to the Vietnamese Government leader, Southeast Asia and the Gulf have enjoyed a "bond spanning numerous centuries, forged upon the basis of an excellent friendship and vast potential for cooperation." The PM said: "When the world is witnessing rapid changes, there is an ever-greater necessity for both ASEAN and the GCC to be responsive and join hands in promoting resilience, harnessing resources for growth, and taking substantive actions with a strong underlying political resolve and determined actions. "Only then can the cooperation between the two regions create tangible breakthroughs and become a highlight for regional and global collaboration." At the summit, he made three proposals for future orientations of cooperation between the two sides. First, ASEAN and the GCC should continue to create more favourable conditions to ensure that economic, trade and investment ties will remain the key pillar and driver connecting the two regions, and complementing each other in the bid for mutual development. "We need to put in place more open policies, facilitate greater market access, and build more comprehensive and sufficient supply chains," he said. "This will lay the foundation for investment funds and businesses from GCC countries to expand their business and investment in ASEAN, and allow ASEAN goods and services to enjoy greater presence in the Gulf." In this process, ASEAN and Viet Nam wish to work closely with the GCC in pursuit of greener and more sustainable development goals. Accordingly, both sides should give priority to building a green, digital, circular, and sharing economy, pursuing sustainable agriculture, and expediting energy transition, according to the Government leader. The three pillars of cooperation were deemed to be people-culture-labour, trade-investment-tourism, and infrastructure-strategic infrastructure investment. Second, it is necessary to quickly institutionalise ASEAN - GCC cooperation via regular, substantive and effective mechanisms in specific areas. Viet Nam hopes that this Summit will be the first important step to pave the way for new collaboration arrangements between the two regions. "Focus should be given to economic, trade, and investment ties, tourism, culture, education, and people-to-people exchange," PM Chinh said. Third, ASEAN and GCC should bolster multilateral cooperation to together maintain an environment of peace and stability for development. "Given our advantages as successful regional organisations, ASEAN and the GCC should support each other in upholding both sides central role and making meaningful contributions to peace, stability and development in both regions and the world as a whole," the Vietnamese PM noted. He said Viet Nam "strongly oppose all acts of violence and call upon parties concerned to immediately put an end to violence against civilians, humanitarian establishments, and critical infrastructures". "Only negotiation, dialogue, peaceful settlement of disputes, and a two-state solution on the basis of international law and relevant United Nations Security Council's resolutions can pave the way for lasting peace in the Middle East and among all parties concerned," the Vietnamese leader remarked. All six GCC countries are priority cooperation partners of Viet Nam, spanning many fields from politics to diplomacy, trade, investment, and labour. Relations between Viet Nam and all six GCC member countries (Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman) have developed very positively. Two-way trade between Viet Nam and these countries reached US$12.5 billion last year. GCC states have so far poured approximately US$1 billion into Viet Nam. Viet Nam has about 11,000 workers in GCC countries. It is negotiating a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the UAE. VNS HA NOI General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong on Friday held high-level phone talks with French President Emmanuel Macron on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations (1973-2023) and the 10th anniversary of the Strategic Partnership (2013-2023). The Vietnamese Party leader underscored that the high-level conversation demonstrated the importance that the leadership of both countries placed on the Viet Nam-France Strategic Partnership and their desire to foster cooperation for the benefit of the two peoples and for the sake of peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world in this new period. General Secretary Trong highly praised the achievements of the French Government and President Emmanuel Macron in implementing intensive reforms in various economic and social areas to bring more prosperity to their country and ensure the safety and well-being of the French people. He also commended France's active role in consolidating the European Union and Frances efforts in addressing challenges in Europe and other regions around the world, leading the way in promoting cooperation on various global issues. On this occasion, the Vietnamese Party leader expressed gratitude for France's cooperation and support for Viet Nam over the years, including the valuable assistance to help Viet Nams COVID-19 response. General Secretary Trong exchanged views with President Macron on Viet Nams significant, comprehensive, and outstanding achievements in over 35 years of oi moi (renewal) as well as the countrys post-COVID-19 socio-economic recovery results. He also informed Macron of Viet Nams development goals for the mid-21st century and its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, development, multilateralism, and diversification of relationships. Party leader Trong highlighted the importance of peace, friendship, and cooperation, as well as adherence to international law and the United Nations Charter in handling international issues, including the maintenance of peace and security in the East Sea (known internationally as the South China Sea). Expressing joy over the comprehensive and excellent development of the Viet Nam-France Strategic Partnership, General Secretary Trong affirmed that both sides had actively implemented the contents of the Joint Statement between the leaders of the two countries during the General Secretary's visit to France in 2018. He stressed that the two countries enjoyed shared viewpoints on many important international issues, shared major benefits, and a bond in terms of culture and history. He reaffirmed that Viet Nam placed great priority on the Viet Nam-France Strategic Partnership and supported France's initiatives for peace, cooperation, and development in the region and in the world. General Secretary Trong also discussed with President Macron some major orientations and measures to expand and enhance the effectiveness of cooperation between the two countries. French President Macron expressed his appreciation for General Secretary Trongs positive assessment of France and was impressed by Viet Nams important accomplishments in national development. He affirmed that France valued Viet Nams international role and status and the Viet Nam-France Strategic Partnership, stressing that France would always stand with Viet Nam in its pursuit of strategic development goals. President Macron shared the General Secretary's evaluation of the positive developments in the Strategic Partnership between the two countries over recent years. He said the high-level talks were an important opportunity for the leadership of both countries to discuss strategic development orientations for the bilateral relationship over the next 20 years. President Macron expressed his pleasure over the fact that the two countries shared many similarities in their cooperation content. Both sides agreed to continue enhancing political trust and people-to-people exchanges, as well as promoting breakthroughs in bilateral cooperation in various areas such as defence and security, economy, trade, investment, aviation, energy transition, science and technology, culture, and education. President Macron affirmed his support for Viet Nams enhanced cooperation with the EU, including the implementation of the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), the ratification of the EU-Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), and cooperation in fisheries. He also expressed the desire for both countries to strengthen cooperation within multilateral frameworks, especially in the Francophone Community. Both leaders agreed to direct relevant agencies to actively implement the agreed-upon contents. On this occasion, General Secretary Trong reiterated his invitation for President Macron to visit Viet Nam, to which the French President gladly accepted. VNS HA NOI Forecasts from economic experts indicate that the semiconductor chip industry is poised to demand roughly 20,000 highly qualified professionals with university-level qualifications or higher in the next 5 years, and an estimated 50,000 professionals in the following 10 years. a Nang University on Thursday hosted a workshop organised by the Ministry of Education and Training, with the primary objective of nurturing the growth of top-tier human resources tailored for the semiconductor chip industry in Vietnamese higher education institutions. This event drew the participation of distinguished individuals and delegates from numerous central ministries and departments, along with representatives from nearly 40 leading higher education institutions in Viet Nam, specifically emphasising fields pertinent to semiconductor chip design. Moreover, the workshop also featured the presence of representatives from domestic and international businesses actively involved in semiconductor chip design. The Ministry of Education and Training highlighted that, in a rapidly advancing era of science and technology, particularly in electronics, semiconductors, microchips, and their role in serving electronic machinery and facilitating digital transformation, there is a global trend of relocating production and research facilities. Major technology corporations around the world, including the technological powerhouse, the United States, are actively seeking suitable locations for establishing their operations. In recent years, Viet Nam has actively promoted a policy to incentivise higher education institutions to expand and enhance their STEM programmes, with a primary focus on disciplines related to the information and communication technology industry and other sectors essential for meeting the workforce demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, including AI and Big Data. From 2019 to 2022, the number of new enrolments in STEM-related university programmes has experienced a consistent annual growth of 10 per cent, surpassing the overall growth rate of 6.5 per cent. Notably, three fields have shown the most robust average annual growth rates: computer science and IT, with an impressive 17.1 per cent, and engineering technology, with a steady 10.6 per cent growth rate. Viet Nam's premier engineering and technology universities have demonstrated significant preparedness in terms of training capacity to fulfil the human resource needs in the semiconductor and microchip sector. This encompasses human resources for research, development, and production of semiconductor materials, with an emphasis on training in fields such as chemistry, physics, and materials science. Additionally, there is a focus on cultivating human resources for IC design and production, particularly through programmes like electronic engineering and electronics-telecommunications. Furthermore, complementary industries such as electrical engineering, control and automation, and mechatronics are also positioned to contribute to this evolving landscape. Training options include recruiting individuals entirely new to the field, allowing students pursuing related majors to transition to specialised studies during their last one or two years of education, or enabling engineers with backgrounds in adjacent disciplines to complete additional training courses lasting several months to two years, tailored to meet the specific requirements of the semiconductor and microchip sectors. Currently, the IC design workforce comprises approximately 5,000 professionals. According to experts, the anticipated training demand for the coming years will be approximately 3,000 individuals per year, with at least 30 per cent of them being postgraduate graduates, including engineers at level 7, masters, and doctorate levels. However, due to the nascent nature of the labour market within the semiconductor and microchip sectors, the predominant structure remains potential-oriented. The primary challenge lies in attracting students to pursue majors in these fields and enhancing their skills to meet the exacting standards demanded by American businesses. This necessitates comprehensive support policies and guidance from the government. At present, the Ministry of Education and Training is spearheading the development of two pivotal projects slated for submission to the Prime Minister by year-end. The first project focuses on training and cultivating high-quality human resources to bolster the high technology sector, proposing comprehensive support and incentive policies for human resource development in STEM fields and high technology in general, including electronics, semiconductors, and microchips. The second project is focused on establishing a series of advanced research and training centres specialising in 4.0 technology. This project will put forth mechanisms, policies, and investment initiatives aimed at creating research groups dedicated to high technology, closely linked with postgraduate education in high-tech fields. Notably, the Ministry of Education and Training recently inked a Memorandum of Cooperation with Intel regarding human resource development for high-tech industries, specifically within the semiconductor chip sector. Presently, the Ministry is in the process of crafting an action plan to foster the advancement of training and research within the realms of semiconductor and microchip technology. This plan will be submitted to the Prime Minister in October, and it will provide guidance and support to institutions, encouraging them to form partnerships, share resources, and pool their capabilities for training and research initiatives. In light of these developments, five higher education institutions, including Ha Noi National University, Ho Chi Minh City National University, a Nang University, Ha Noi University of Science and Technology and the Institute of Posts and Telecommunications Technology, will collectively sign a Memorandum of Alliance Cooperation. Their objective is to leverage their respective potentials and strengths, consolidate action plans in conjunction with Vietnamese higher education institutions, and collectively ensure and enhance the quality and effectiveness of education and training. VNS Tredene Dobson, New Zealand Ambassador to Viet Nam, and Patrick Haverman, Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Viet Nam, speak to Viet Nam News about the nations gender equality efforts as well as support and experience shared from international partners in this area. Tredene Dobson, New Zealand Ambassador to Viet Nam Ensuring gender equality is a very important issue for both Viet Nam and New Zealand. Both countries have taken significant steps trying to bridge some of the gaps in the areas of gender equality over a long time. There's much that both countries can be proud of. I think the Vietnamese women's contribution to the labour force is very well known. New Zealand is well known for being the first country in the world to give women the vote. Last year New Zealand became the first country in the world to have a majority women parliament. There are a lot of things for us to be proud of, and much to bring both countries together. We've shared a lot of experiences and this is something that I think Viet Nam does very well: it's very good at reaching out to its partners and friends and areas that are a priority for Viet Nam and saying: Do you have experience that we might be able to draw on? I think we have some expertise, particularly in socio-economic development. For example during COVID-19, in Viet Nam most of our development package was targeting women working in the informal sector, low-paid areas and those hardest hit by the pandemic. That helped women who needed to help their families survive throughout the pandemic, who couldn't work because of the pandemic, and ensured that they had economic resources. We could also provide the resources for women to build new businesses or micro enterprises to help their families. We did that all the way through Viet Nam, from down in the deep south all the way up into the far north, working with our development partners here. I've heard so many success stories of women who have been able to continue with those businesses that they started during the pandemic. We also bring a gender lens to all our development programming. In our programmes about disaster risk management, for example, which are about trying to prevent major dam breakages and flooding, we look at the impacts on women within the community. We try to involve more women in those projects, including experts, because there are a lot of really incredible women engineers in Viet Nam. Similarly we have a very strong agriculture programme with a gender lens because we know how important women are to the agricultural sector in Viet Nam. Our newest project we have here is working with passion fruit growers. We're going to be working with a lot of women and some of Viet Nam's ethnic minority communities, helping to increase the yield of passion fruit growers. So again, that's going to have a really positive economic impact as well. We are at the early stages of developing new strategies, particularly in areas like gender-based violence and intimate partner violence. Much like Viet Nam, we actually have quite serious issues in New Zealand. So I think there is potential for cooperation in such areas. Both countries have serious issues that they're trying to work on. We have a common interest and are trying to work in the prevention space. We do have a lot of media collaboration with Viet Nam. I would suggest this is one area where we should focus more on events in the coming years. Patrick Haverman, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Viet Nam Considerable progress has been made in gender equality in Viet Nam in education, health and labour participation. There's a national strategy in place, although I think more attention could be focused on the implementation of the strategy. Most of the targets were met. I think one target was missed, that of women in political participation. But in general, progress has been made with much more progress possible. As UNDP, we are supporting the government and the sustainable development goals. Gender equality is one of our signatory solutions. UNDP is working on women's political participation, and retraining female leadership together with Ho Chi Minh Academy to make sure that females are ready to use power. We want to see more equal participation at the province level, the National Assembly, everywhere in political participation. A more balanced participation results in better decisions. We can also see from our Viet Nam Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI) survey that some provinces are already having more females in leadership. We also support small and medium-sized enterprises. We have a project together with Canada where we are training female entrepreneurs for social enterprises. Enterprises make money, but at the same time do good for society. They are often led by female entrepreneurs. In the media sector, we are working with Viet Nam Association of Journalists on a gender-inclusive handbook on reporting on vulnerable groups, to be published before the end of this year. VNS Khanh Duong HA NOI During many years working as a reporter and now an editor, Tran Hoang Lan, head of the Family News Desk of Phu Nu Thu o (Capital Citys Women Newspaper), has found that not only women but also men feel shy about sharing gender stories and do not want to be part of conversations with journalists. Due to gender-based stereotypes, women do not dare to share about violence. Even female journalists find it difficult to approach women, Lan said. Sharing at a recent press talk on gender and news on the occasion of Vietnamese Womens Day, Lan said that even female journalists working at a gender-focused newspaper like Phu Nu Thu o face lots of obstacles in covering gender issues. As one of two newspapers of the Viet Nam Women's Union, Phu Nu Thu o newspaper faces the stereotype that the newspaper is for women only or covers strictly women-related issues. When female reporters interview others about broader topics like education or transport, many interviewees show surprise that women are concerned about and write about those issues. When we visit remote areas, local people are surprised to see that female journalists travel that far. They think female reporters only sit in front of a desk, Lan said. "Many men think that the womens newspaper is only for women to read so they feel hesitant to share with reporters. In fact, gender equality requires the sharing of both genders. Without a joining of hands from both men and women, we cannot achieve gender equality", she said. According to statistics of Phu Nu Thu o newspaper, the number of male readers has recently increased, but not much. Many gender equality issues have not touched men. Lan proposed changing public stereotypes on the newspaper of women itself, raising public awareness of both men and women so women are more confident and men are no longer hesitant in sharing gender stories. Sharing international perspectives on gender sensitive issue reporting, Associate Professor Minelle Mahtani from the Institute for Social Justice at the University of British Columbia, Canada, said One of the things we discovered is it's impossible to get men involved in conversation of gender-based violence if they have no personal connection with it. She recommended reporters start thinking about the siblings, brothers and sons, people directly impacted by gender-based violence, because of their connection with the person who experienced the violence personally. "They have their own experiences to talk about and they have their own stories to tell. By bringing them on board as part of our project, it opens up all sorts of different spaces for other men to want to be part of the conversation", she said. Tran Le Thuy, director of the Centre for Media and Development Initiatives, said media jobs have opened up more opportunities for women than in the past. Female journalists have more chances to show their abilities. If they are active and eager to learn, they have lots of opportunities to be promoted. However, there still persists gender stereotype in our mind, though sometimes we dont realise it. This stereotype is the obstacle hindering the development ability of women in general not only those in media. Thuy said Gender stereotype affects not only job promotion but also the content of articles whose writers have not been trained about gender sensitivity, she said. She hoped that female journalists will have more opportunities to gain more formal training with gender-related guidance to better perform their work. VNS HA NOI The exhibition "17 Vietnamese Action Faces for Sustainable Development" was kicked off on Friday in Ha Noi. The launching ceremony was held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), in collaboration with the Viet Nam Women's Union (VWU) and the Association of Swiss Women and Empowerment. The exhibition is under the "17 Faces of Action" initiative of the UNOG director general Tatiana Valovaya. The initiative targets to recognise and encourage women around the world to actively contribute to socio-economic development, promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) achievements. Speaking at the exhibition opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang affirmed that, as Viet Nam strongly committed to implementing the United Nations 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, Vietnamese women would play a pioneering role in all fields. They would propose initiatives, implement solutions, promote innovation and strengthen partnerships to ensure sustainable development, leaving no one behind. Hang said that with the efforts of all the political system, organisations and people in all regions of the country, Viet Nam had made positive achievements in all SDGs. Vietnamese women contributed significantly to these results. Corresponding to the 17 SDGs, the exhibition introduces 17 visual stories about women from all over Viet Nam, representing many fields. They are scientists, teachers, businessmen, soldiers, doctors, diplomats, artists, engineers, campaign officials and community leaders. The stories about their contributions, initiatives and solutions are very plentiful, specific and practical, and have a long-term vision. It comes from personal passion, dreams or practical requirements to overcome life's difficulties. Im myself strongly inspired by their impressive stories, and I believe that you will also share this feeling when viewing the exhibition," said Hang. She expressed her confidence that through the exhibition, international partners will better understand Viet Nam's foreign policy priorities, including promoting gender equality and sustainable development as well as strengthening cooperation in these fields. Deputy chairwoman of the VWU Tran Lan Phuong said that the exhibition was meaningful as it is held in the atmosphere of the Vietnamese Women's Day October 20 and the United Nations Day October 24. We believe that the exhibition will convey specific messages about women's efforts to overcome difficulties and challenges, and about their dedication to the socio-economic development of the country. It will also raise awareness about SDGs, gender equality and sustainable development, said Phuong. Tatiana Valovaya, general director of the UNOG, said that last month, the summit on SDGs was held for the first time at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the US. At this summit, leaders of countries around the world adopted a political declaration affirming their commitment to promote the 17 SDGs. She noted that the journey to implement the SDGs was facing many difficulties and barriers. The COVID-19 pandemic and its socio-economic consequences showed that the world had not achieved the desired progress. We need to undertake an important, difficult task. But when I attended the exhibition and met the 17 honoured women, I was very certain that we could achieve the SDGs and no one would be left behind," she said. VNS Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's recent visit to Saudi Arabia has underscored Vietnam's commitment to fostering economic cooperation between the two nations. During the ASEAN-GCC Summit on October 19, the Vietnamese PM engaged with high-level Saudi officials, aiming to enhance bilateral relationships. In a meeting with Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Al-Ibrahim, PM Chinh congratulated the positive trajectory of Vietnam-Saudi Arabia cooperation, highlighting the abundant untapped opportunities. "We believe that both economies must fortify their ties, jointly organise initiatives to promote trade, and invest in various sectors. Our immediate focus is on energy, financial services, and the new frontier of collaboration, encompassing areas like Halal product manufacturing and the digital transformation," said the PM. Furthermore, in a separate meeting with Yasser M. Mufti, deputy CEO of Aramco, the prime minister emphasised Vietnam's commitment to diversifying its market presence, with a particular focus on the petroleum industry. Vietnam seeks investments for the construction of oil refineries, and the Vietnamese PM expressed his aspiration for Aramco to invest in these projects, concurrently bolstering workforce development in this field. Mufti noted, "While Aramco has been involved in the Asia-Pacific region, direct investments in Vietnam have yet to materialise. However, we have been a significant supplier of crude oil products to various Vietnamese enterprises." He expressed Aramco's keen interest in exploring investment opportunities for new oil refinery projects within Vietnam, and asked the Vietnamese government to help streamline Aramco's market research and assessment, thus facilitating collaboration and economic growth. Saudi Aramco is the state-owned petroleum and natural gas company of Saudi Arabia. As of 2022, it has been the second-largest company in the world by revenue and is headquartered in Dhahran. EIB and EVN explore offshore wind energy collaboration The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) are deepening ties, with advanced loan discussions centred on the Bac Ai hydropower project. The firm believes its recent investment in infrastructure and local support teams will bolster its wide-ranging services and also facilitate the digital transformation of Vietnamese companies. Vietnam's rapid digital transformation is undeniable. The 28 per cent growth in gross merchandise value in 2022 and the rise to 74 million internet users signal a country embracing the digital age. It's not just about numbers; it's about the evolving digital habits and needs of the people," said Phan Linh, country director of CDNetworks Vietnam. CDNetworks has been investing in physical infrastructure in the country since in 2022 and expects to enhance its local presence with enhanced local network infrastructure and strengthened local partnerships. The company has strategically established itself in multiple locations across Vietnam, including key areas such as Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Moreover, by partnering with four out of the top five ISPs in the country, it can ensure 100 per cent coverage of the local network, effectively meeting the needs of various industries, and guaranteeing an exceptional user experience throughout Vietnam. Building on this strong foundation, CDNetworks has formed collaborations with esteemed local entities, including ON VTVCab, VSTV K+, and Tera Group. These partnerships underscore the company's dedication to delivering impeccable live-streaming and high-quality viewing experiences to audiences across the country. As Vietnam's cybersecurity landscape becomes increasingly challenging, the company has also taken steps to enhance the security of online business. It has opened two scrubbing centres in Ho Chi Minh City this year to bolster its defence against DDoS attacks. The two new centres can swiftly and effectively mitigate DDoS attacks in the region, ensuring the security and stability of its clients' websites and network infrastructures. These scrubbing centres also complement CDNetworks' existing global anti-DDoS network, which consists of over 20 scrubbing centres with a combined capacity of 15Tbps. Meanwhile, the company is also making investments in resources to enhance its compliance system, ensuring that its solutions and services in the Vietnamese market adhere to local government regulations and guarantee that all traffic and data are strictly maintained within the country. "From expanding our infrastructure to upgrading our local support and security services, CDNetworks is dedicated to empowering Vietnam's digital growth. With a focus on expanded coverage, reliable content delivery, and robust cybersecurity measures, we aim to be a trusted partner for Vietnamese companies as they navigate the digital landscape," said Vo Luan, senior solution architect, CDNetworks Vietnam. Vietnam Digital Awards 2023 honours 38 winners As many as 38 winners of Vietnam Digital Awards 2023 were honoured on October 7 ahead of National Digital Transformation Day (October 10). MB digital leadership celebrated from Asia-Pacific to Vietnam Hanoi-headquartered Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MB) has reinforced its digital leadership with a streak of prestigious recognitions, underscoring its innovative approaches and consistent performance in the regional business landscape, while contributing commendably to community service. US and Vietnam launch $3.25 million initiative to facilitate digital trade On October 13, the United States Mission to Vietnam and the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), launched a $3.25 million drive to facilitate digital trade. The Financial Action Task Force adds Vietnam to the list in June 2023. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai has urged drastic measures to lift Vietnam out of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)s list of Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring (grey list) within two years. Chairing a meeting of the steering committee for money laundering prevention and combat on October 18, he said the FATF added Vietnam to the list in June 2023. In response, the government sent a commitment to the FATF President about the implementation of an FATF-recommended action plan over two years. The inclusion in this list will cause adverse impacts on Vietnam, especially in terms of economy, trade, investment and international cooperation, he noted. The Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) recently came to work with the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) and relevant agencies to seek ways to help remove the country from the grey list, he said. Khai said that Vietnam has integrated into the world and must comply with common international standards. Numerous solutions are required to have the country removed from the list, and the most complex issue is institutional reform. Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai has urged drastic measures to lift Vietnam out of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)s list of Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring (grey list) within two years. (Photo: VNA) The requirements set by the FATF are highly urgent, and Vietnam has a very short time to carry out. If the country does not take proactive or effective moves, the situation will become very complicated, the Deputy PM pointed out. He asked the SBV, the standing body of the steering committee, and related ministries and sectors to carry out the tasks at the soonest. Pointing out the substantial impacts of the FATFs official inclusion of Vietnam in the grey list, SBV Deputy Governor Pham Tien Dung called on ministries and agencies to coordinate with the central bank to perform tasks. Vietnam may be named in the EUs list of high-risk country jurisdictions in terms of money laundering and in the FATFs black list if it fails to prove that it is cooperating in implementing the FATAs recommendations. If that is the case, particularly serious consequences will occur, forcing companies to pay more for business expenses or even suspend operations, he warned. It will also undermine Vietnams political stature and reputation in the international arena, and negatively affect the countrys external relations and finance - banking systems, Dung added. He went on to say that in October 2023, the FATF also added Vietnam to the list of countries having activities of virtual asset service providers of importance. Therefore, it may request the country carry out priority measures to implement a legal framework for combating money laundering in terms of virtual assets. Echoing the SBVs view, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang held that there remains a huge workload ahead to make things happen. The implementation of recommendations is a highly technical and legal issue requiring substantive measures. The EU also named Vietnam in its grey list on August 18. Apart from the FATFs grey list, the inclusion in the EU list will also cause major impacts as Vietnams trade, financial, and banking relations with EU countries are considerable, she said. Hang suggested Vietnam consider the implementation of commitments as useful for not only minimising risks but also helping perfect regulations and policies, fight corruption and crimes, improve the investment and business climate, and promote the countrys prestige. At the meeting, officials looked into the draft national action plan for solving the risks of money laundering and terrorist financing for the 2023 - 2028 period. They also discussed measures for ministries and sector to implement the Prime Ministers decision on issuing a national action plan on combating money laundering, terrorist financing, and financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. German supervisor raps Deutsche Bank over money laundering Germany's financial supervisor urged Deutsche Bank Monday (Sep 24) to beef up its fight against money laundering, and for the first time used its power to embed an auditor at the country's biggest lender. National action plan on anti-money laundering approved Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai has signed a decision on the National Plan of Action on prevention and control of money laundering, terrorism financing and financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction for the 2021-2025 period. Israel pounded the Gaza Strip with airstrikes Thursday, including in the south where Palestinians were told to take refuge, and the country's defense minister ordered ground troops to be ready to invade, though he didnt say when. Gaza's overwhelmed hospitals tried to stretch out ebbing medical supplies and fuel for generators, as authorities worked out logistics for an aid delivery from Egypt . Doctors in darkened wards across Gaza performed surgeries by the light of mobile phones and used vinegar to treat infected wounds. Meanwhile, an unclassified U.S. intelligence assessment delivered to Congress estimated casualties in an explosion at a Gaza City hospital this week on the low end of 100 to 300 deaths. The death toll still reflects a staggering loss of life, U.S. intelligence officials said in the report, seen by The Associated Press. It said intelligence officials were still assessing the evidence and their casualty estimate may evolve. President Joe Biden and other U.S. officials already have said that U.S. intelligence officials believe the explosion at al-Ahli Hospital was not caused by an Israeli airstrike. Thursdays findings echoed that. The Israeli military has relentlessly attacked Gaza in retaliation for the devastating Oct. 7 Hamas rampage in southern Israel. Even after Israel told Palestinians to evacuate the north of Gaza and flee south, strikes extended across the territory, heightening fears among the territory's 2.3 million people that nowhere was safe . Palestinian militants fired rockets into Israel from Gaza and Lebanon, and tensions flared in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. In a fiery speech to Israeli infantry soldiers on the Gaza border, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant urged the forces to get organized, be ready to move in. Israel has massed tens of thousands of troops along the border. Whoever sees Gaza from afar now, will see it from the inside," he said. It might take a week, a month, two months until we destroy them, he added, referring to Hamas. Israels consent for Egypt to let in food, water and medicine provided the first possible opening in its seal of the territory. Many Gaza residents are down to one meal a day and drinking dirty water. Egypt and Israel were still negotiating the entry of fuel for hospitals. Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Hamas has stolen fuel from U.N. facilities and Israel wanted assurances this wont happen. The first trucks of aid were expected to go in Friday, Egypts state-owned Al-Qahera news reported. With the Egypt-Gaza border crossing in Rafah closed, the already dire conditions at Gazas second-largest hospital deteriorated further, said Dr. Mohammed Qandeel of Nasser Hospital in the southern town of Khan Younis. Power was shut off in most of the hospital and medical staff were using mobile phones for light. At least 80 wounded civilians and 12 dead flooded into the hospital after witnesses said a strike hit a residential building in Khan Younis. Doctors had no choice but to leave two to die because there were no ventilators, Qandeel said. We cant save more lives if this keeps happening, he said. The Gaza Health Ministry pleaded with gas stations to give fuel to hospitals and a U.N. agency donated some of its last fuel. The agency's donation to Gaza Citys Shifa Hospital, the territorys largest, would keep us going for another few hours, hospital director Mohammed Abu Selmia said. Al-Ahli Hospital was still recovering from Tuesday's explosion, which remains a point of dispute between Hamas and Israel. Hamas quickly said an Israeli airstrike hit the hospital, which Israel denied. The AP has not independently verified any of the claims or evidence released by the parties. The blast left body parts strewn on the hospital grounds, where crowds of Palestinians had clustered in hopes of escaping Israeli airstrikes. The U.S. assessment noted only light structural damage, with no impact crater visible. Near al-Ahli hospital, meanwhile, another explosion struck a Greek Orthodox church housing displaced Palestinians late Thursday, resulting in deaths and dozens of wounded. Abu Selmia, the Shifa Hospital director general, said dozens were hurt at the Church of Saint Porphyrios but could not give a precise death toll because bodies were still under the rubble. Palestinian authorities blamed the blast on an Israeli airstrike, a claim that could not be independently verified. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchy of Jerusalem issued a statement condemning the attack and said it would not abandon its religious and humanitarian duty to provide assistance. The Gaza Health Ministry said 3,785 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, the majority women, children and older adults. Nearly 12,500 were injured, and another 1,300 people were believed buried under the rubble , authorities said. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly civilians slain during Hamas deadly incursion. Roughly 200 others were abducted. The Israeli military said Thursday it had notified the families of 203 captives. More than 1 million Palestinians , about half of Gazas population, have fled their homes in the north since Israel told them to evacuate. Most have crowded into U.N.-run schools-turned-shelters or the homes of relatives. For the first time since Israel captured Gaza from Egypt in 1967, a major tent camp arose to house displaced people. Dozens of U.N.-provided tents and tarps lined a dirt lot in the southern city of Khan Younis. Families boiled water on gas stoves and charged phones on small generators. Volunteers passed around cans of tuna and bread. The deal to get aid into Gaza through Rafah, the territorys only connection to Egypt , remained fragile. Israel said the supplies could only go to civilians and that it would thwart any diversions by Hamas. Biden said the deliveries will end if Hamas takes any aid. More than 200 trucks and some 3,000 tons of aid were positioned at or near Rafah, according to Khalid Zayed, the head of the Red Crescent for North Sinai. Under an arrangement reached between the United Nations, Israel and Egypt, U.N. observers will inspect the aid trucks before entering Gaza. The U.N., working with the Egyptian and Palestinian Red Crescent, will ensure aid goes only to civilians, an Egyptian official and European diplomat told the AP. A U.N. flag will be raised on both sides of the crossing as a sign of protection against airstrikes, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief media. It was not immediately clear how much cargo the crossing could handle. Waleed Abu Omar, spokesperson for the Palestinian side, said work has not started to repair the road damaged by Israeli airstrikes. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told Al-Arabiya TV that foreigners and dual nationals would be allowed to leave Gaza once the crossing was opened. Israel said it agreed to allow aid from Egypt because of a request by Biden which followed days of intense talks with the U.S. secretary of state to overcome staunch Israeli refusal. Four U.S. officials familiar with the discussions said American diplomats became increasingly alarmed by comments from their Israeli counterparts regarding their intention to deny water, food, medicine, electricity and fuel into Gaza, as well as the inevitability of civilian casualties. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity so they could discuss private conversations. Members of the Israeli security and political establishment told the U.S. diplomats that the eradication of Hamas would require methods used in the defeat of the Axis powers in World War II. Israeli officials have publicly made similar comparisons. Israel had previously said it would let nothing into Gaza until Hamas freed the hostages taken from Israel. Relatives of some of the captives were furious over the aid announcement. The Israeli government pampers the murderers and kidnappers, the Hostage and Missing Families Forum said. The Israeli military said Thursday it killed a top Palestinian militant in Rafah and hit hundreds of targets across Gaza, including militant tunnel shafts, intelligence infrastructure and command centers. Palestinians have launched barrages of rockets at Israel since the fighting began. Violence was also escalating in the West Bank, where Israel carried out a rare airstrike Thursday, targeting militants in the Nur Shams refugee camp. Six Palestinians were killed, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, and the Israeli military said the strike killed militants and resulted in 10 Israeli officers being wounded. More than 74 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the war started. (AP) The Nghi Son - Dien Chau section of the eastern North - South Expressway project under construction (Illustrative photo: VNA) Hanoi Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung has welcomed China Communications Construction Co. Ltd (CCCC)s plan to expand investment and business activities in Vietnam while meeting a representative of the firm in Beijing on October 19. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in China, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment. Talking to Bai Yinzhan, Director of China Harbour Engineering Co. Ltd (CHEC) a subsidiary of CCCC, Dung said the CCCC is not only a big contractor but also a strategic investor in Vietnam. The company has also shared experience, trained manpower, and transferred technology to help Vietnam effectively and sustainably develop and manage infrastructure, thus contributing to the two countries cooperation in infrastructure development. The minister also pointed out certain shortcomings in some infrastructure projects carried out by Chinese businesses in Vietnam. For his part, Bai noted that the CCCC has operated in Vietnam since 1996 and successfully implemented 20 infrastructure and energy infrastructure projects in the country, including Hanoi - Hai Phong Expressway, Cai Mep - Thi Vai Terminal, Vinh Tan thermal power plant, and some wind power projects. It hopes to take part in major infrastructure development projects in Vietnam such as the North - South high-speed railway, expressways, and wind power projects, he said, pledging that the CHEC will work harder to fruitfully participate in infrastructure development projects in Vietnam so that the CCCC will become a true bridge of cooperation and friendship between the two countries. Chinese rail and power giants seek major investment in Vietnam's infrastructure China Railway Construction Corporation and PowerChina about show strong interest in joining Vietnam's infrastructure endeavours, especially the proposed Lao Cai - Hanoi - Haiphong railway project. Chinese activity a strong part of enhancing investment China has surpassed South Korea and Japan to become the second-largest foreign investor in Vietnam this year. Seck Yee Chung, partner at Baker McKenzie Vietnam, discussed with VIRs Thanh Van about the Chinese funding that is ramping up in Vietnam. LuLu, a global retail behemoth headquartered in Abu Dhabi, has just unveiled an ambitious plan to significantly expand its imports from Vietnam over the coming years. The revelation took place during a gathering between Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and high-ranking executives from influential Saudi Arabian and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) corporations on October 19. Retail colossus LuLu commands an extensive chain of hypermarkets that cover 23 countries, including the vibrant markets of the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. With a workforce numbering over 65,000 and annual revenues of $8 billion, LuLu has already established a foothold in Vietnam through its dedicated procurement office situated in the bustling hub of Ho Chi Minh City. Shehim Kottilingal, LuLu's CEO, laid out an impressive vision for the conglomerate. "We intend to diversify our business operations by erecting additional warehousing facilities and fresh factories on Vietnamese soil. Our grand objective is to amplify our imports from Vietnam two- or even three-fold in the foreseeable future," Kottilingal said. The magnifying glass is focused on high-quality Vietnamese products, with a particular emphasis on cashew nuts, fish, rice, and the nation's burgeoning textile and footwear offerings. Kottilingal added, "We envisage an expansion that is not merely a numerical surge but a transformative venture in our trade relations with Vietnam. We are taking substantial steps to diversify our supply chain, and Vietnam plays a pivotal role in this strategic move." The company said on its website, "Founded by the acclaimed business visionary Yusuff Ali M.A, LuLu Group has become a key contributor to the Gulf regions economic standing, with an annual turnover of $8 billion and a workforce of over 65,000." "Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, it is a world-renowned purveyor of an international business portfolio that ranges from hypermarket operations to shopping mall development, manufacturing, trade, hospitality, and real estate. LuLu Group mainly operates in 23 countries located across the Middle East, Asia, the United States, and Europe." Saudi Arabian businesses eye Vietnam with growing interest Saudi Arabian corporations and investors are demonstrating heightened interest in Vietnam, signalling a comprehensive deepening of ties between the two nations. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh was received by the leaders of Saudi Arabian firms on his arrival in Riyadh on October 18 for a working trip and the first summit between ASEAN and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). At the meeting, the heads of companies such as Zamil, Lulu, and Ajlan & Bros shared their intentions to scale up their business and investment activities in Vietnam. Established in 1920, Zamil is a prominent industrial corporation in Saudi Arabia with a focus on shipbuilding, petrochemicals, paints, plastics, general construction, and port management. The group employs over 21,000 people across 60 countries. In 1993, Zamil Steel first opened a representative office in Ho Chi Minh City, and in 1997, it constructed its first facility in the Noi Bai Industrial Park in Hanoi. Later, Zamil Industrial Investment Group joined forces with Mitsui & Co., Ltd. to form Zamil Steel Vietnam, a wholly foreign-invested joint venture. Presently, Zamil Steel Vietnam runs two facilities that can produce 120,000 metric tons of steel annually. With over a thousand employees, it has a business network that reaches across ten countries in Southeast Asia, including Bangladesh. At the meeting, Abdul Rahman Al-Zamil, managing director of Zamil Group, announced plans to cooperate with Vietnamese partners in key areas to expand his investment in the country. Zamil is the largest direct investor from Saudi Arabia and the GCC region in Vietnam, employing about 1,000 personnel. He highlighted, "Vietnam is one of the group's key markets thanks to its favourable location for export activities. The Vietnam-based factories are exporting products across Southeast Asia, Bangladesh, India, and some African and European countries. The group is striving to expand its export markets." Another Saudi Arabian company, LuLu, intends to double or triple its imports of products from Vietnam. As a retail group, Lulu has set up a supermarket chain in more than 23 countries around the world, including the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. The group currently has more than 65,000 employees and an annual revenue of $8 billion. Lulu has a representative office in Ho Chi Minh City to purchase Vietnamese goods for its supermarket system. Shehim Kottilingal, director of LuLu Saudi Hypermarkets said, "Lulu will expand its footprint in Vietnam by building more warehouses and new plants. The group has a plan to double or triple its inventory of Vietnamese-made products, including cashews, fish, and rice, as well as garments, textiles, and footwear." "Vietnamese products are highly favoured by Middle Eastern consumers. At present, the group is sourcing 30 per cent of its lemons and 40 per cent of its cashews from Vietnam," he added. He hoped the Vietnamese government would greenlight his companys plans to expand its factory in the country, and called for the opening of direct flights to facilitate the trade in fresh produce. Likewise, Ajlan & Bros is looking for opportunities in Vietnam. Founded in 1979 as a small textile and fabric shop, the company employs over 15,000 people in more than 25 countries. The company has also invested in a diverse range of sectors, including real estate development, energy, water, food, technology, logistics, hospitality, and operations. Ali Al-Khatib, deputy CEO for Investment and Portfolio at Ajlan & Bros Holding Group stated, "Vietnam is a priority market. The company seeks partnerships with Vietnamese firms in agriculture, agriproduct processing, renewable energy, and technology." According to statistics, two-way trade surpassed $2.7 billion in 2022, up 32.4 per cent on-year. Numerous Saudi Arabian corporations are successfully implementing direct and indirect investment ventures in Vietnam covering steel, real estate, and energy. Saudi Arabian businesses eye Vietnam with growing interest Saudi Arabian corporations and investors are demonstrating heightened interest in Vietnam, signalling a comprehensive deepening of ties between the two nations. Saudi Arabia to import seafood from 12 Vietnamese firms Saudi Arabia has released a list of 12 Vietnamese enterprises approved to export wild-caught fish to the country. Two investors watch stock indices on an e-board at a securities company. Information transparency is an indispensable requirement for the market to be upgraded. The more transparent financial information is, the more a business attracts the attention of investors. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi - The goal of upgrading the stock market by 2025 requires the concerted efforts of ministries and market members. In the frontier market basket of FTSE Russell, Vietnamese stocks account for 34 per cent of market capitalisation, according to data updated on August 31, 2023. With the largest number of companies at 103 and 6 representatives in the top 10 by size in the FTSE index basket, the frontier market basket seems to become narrow for the 23-year-old stock market. While many markets are still struggling to meet the criteria for scale and liquidity to upgrade to emerging market status, the Vietnam stock market faces challenges related to foreign investor market access. In the September 2023 market rating assessment, FTSE Russell continued to keep Vietnam on the waiting list for upgrading from a frontier market to an emerging market. It has been almost was years since the country was included in the list. According to FTSE Russell, Vietnams stock market reform progress remains slow, although there have been commitments from high-level leaders. Information transparency is an indispensable requirement for the market to be upgraded. The more transparent financial information is, the more a business attracts the attention of investors, said economic expert Vo Tri Thanh. The biggest policy "bottleneck" for Vietnamese stocks to achieve FTSE Russell's upgrade criteria is the expansion of "room" for foreign investors. State management agencies are looking for feasible solutions, Thanh said. However, there are things that the policy allows, but listed businesses are not ready to receive capital. For example, Decree 60/2015/N-CP stipulates a maximum foreign ownership limit of up to 100 per cent. But many businesses decided to limit their foreign "room" to 0 per cent, not welcoming foreign capital. Upgrading the market requires the co-operation of many parties, not only from ministries and branches, but also from listed businesses themselves, according to Tran Viet Dung, Director of the Institute of Banking Scientific Research under Banking Academy. However, many businesses have not voluntarily provided information. For non-mandatory requirements, such as disclosing information in English or applying the IFRS accounting regime, only a few large enterprises comply. Vu Duc Tien, General Director of broker SHS, said that awareness in information disclosure is a must. Businesses need to understand that transparent information disclosure is a right to attract capital. Tougher measures on information transparency are needed. An estimated 7.2 billion USD of indirect foreign capital is expected to flow into the Vietnamese market, according to a World Bank report. Moreover, a higher-rated stock market also increases confidence among domestic investors, large-scale institutional investors, and diversifies the investor base. The market upgrade opens up opportunities to enhance the position and image of the Vietnamese capital market, improving the attractiveness and competitiveness of Vietnams economy in the regional and international arena, said Vu Chi Dung, head of the International Cooperation Department under the State Securities Commission. Dung said that a larger flow of indirect foreign capital can have a stronger impact on market volatility, both in terms of buying and selling, and psychological influence as well. The rapid increase in trading puts pressure on the systems, requiring infrastructure stability. During his meetings with senior officials from the SFD and the PIF, both of which have committed $325 million in concessional loans for various direct and indirect investment ventures in Vietnam, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh praised the positive impact these loans have had on the country's infrastructure, especially in remote areas. PM Chinh emphasised, "Vietnam is currently pursuing three strategic breakthroughs, one of which is in transportation infrastructure, including railways and highways." To fulfill these ambitious infrastructure goals, the country requires significant resources and, consequently, he urged Saltun Al-Marshad, the CEO of SFD, to increase funding and adjust the lending terms more favourably for Vietnam. In a separate meeting with Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of the PIF, PM Chinh encouraged diversification in direct and indirect investments in Vietnam, "Particularly in the country's priority areas such as transportation infrastructure, railway systems, regional connectivity, urban development, and climate change mitigation in the Mekong Delta region." Vietnam is currently undertaking an extensive project to upgrade and expand its railway system, with plans to develop a high-speed railway connecting the North and South. Meanwhile, the leaders of both the SFD and PIF have expressed their commitment to allocating more resources to projects in Vietnam in the future. The SFD was established as a governmental institution to provide support in the form of soft loans to finance development projects in developing countries. As a member of the international development community, SFD has been supporting less developed countries to overcome the challenges that they are facing by financing critical projects. Such programmes contribute to the economic and social growth in those nations and improve the standard of living for their people. The Saudi Arabian PIF, founded in 1971, is responsible for establishing and managing companies that operate in key sectors of the economy. With an estimated capital of $620 billion, the PIF ranks among the world's 10 largest sovereign wealth funds. The PIF is also the agency responsible for investing in and overseeing mega-projects in Saudi Arabia, such as the Red Sea Development Project and the NEOM smart city project. It holds stakes in several major corporations, including Softbank, Uber, and Blackstone. It boasts a diverse portfolio made up of a significant number of investments, of which around 20 are listed on the Tadawul the Saudi Stock Exchange. The fund is building an investment portfolio that is diversified and risk-adjusted across sectors, geographies, and assets classes. PM Chinh's visit to Saudi Arabia includes his participation in the inaugural ASEAN-GCC High-Level Conference, held from October 18 to 20. This event marks the first meeting between ASEAN and the Gulf Cooperation Council in 33 years of diplomatic relations, and the leaders are expected to issue a joint statement following the conclusion of the conference. Saudi Arabia is one of Vietnam's key economic partners in the Middle East. In 2022, the two countries achieved a bilateral trade turnover of $2.7 billion, and have witnessed over $2 billion during the first nine months of this year. Saudi Arabian investors eager to expand presence in Vietnam Companies from Saudi Arabia are keen to grow their business and investment activities to unlock the potential of the Vietnamese market. Retail giant LuLu sets ambitious goal to double imports from Vietnam LuLu is looking to enhance its import volumes from Vietnam substantially in the near future by swiftly establishing new warehousing facilities and factories within the country. The lofty aim is to double or even triple its current import levels. Li Zixue, chairman of ZTE Group (left) and Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong ZTE, currently a critical partner for several of Vietnam's telecommunications firms, took the spotlight during the high-profile meetings. President Thuong, reflecting Vietnam's unwavering commitment to digital transformation and economic advancement, set the stage for a dynamic collaboration. In keeping with the objectives of the Belt and Road Forum, President Thuong underscored the imperative of national-level cooperation between governments and enterprises in the establishment of digital infrastructures, digital institutions, and digital workforces. "Vietnam eagerly anticipates the involvement of Chinese corporations, particularly those wielding cutting-edge technology, to invest and expand their operations in Vietnam, thereby facilitating the infusion of innovative technologies and streamlined production processes," he said. In acknowledging the magnitude of this partnership, President Thuong lauded the 4,000-plus active Chinese investments in Vietnam, collectively amounting to over $26 billion. "During the first nine months of 2023, China surged to become the second-largest investor in Vietnam, with a registered capital of $2.9 billion," he added. The Vietnamese government, in alignment with its leadership, remains steadfast in its commitment to bolstering the investment climate, endeavouring to optimise the ease of doing business for both domestic and foreign enterprises. Li Zixue, chairman of ZTE Group, joined the discussions, outlining the conglomerate's credentials. Established in 1985, ZTE is publicly listed on the Hong Kong and Shenzhen stock exchanges and stands as a major player in China's 5G equipment landscape. Beyond that, ZTE boasts a history of expertise in network development, system architecture, software design, and 5G technology applications, rendering it a prime candidate to fortify Vietnam's digital infrastructure. Liang Hua, chairman of Huawei Group (left) and President Thuong The meeting also provided the occasion for President Thuong to engage with Liang Hua, chairman of Huawei Group, a global heavyweight in ICT infrastructure, digital energy, cloud computing, and terminal devices. Operating across over 170 countries, Huawei is the world's fourth-largest investor in research and development. Amidst the backdrop of an accelerating global digital transformation and digital economy, President Thuong underscored Vietnam's unwavering commitment to these pivotal pursuits. He implored a collaborative ethos among stakeholders, ranging from government agencies to private enterprises and both domestic and foreign investors, to work in the development of digital infrastructure, the nurturing of a digital workforce, and the crafting of a digital framework. Vietnam extends its arms to enterprises with substantial economic fortitude and advanced technological capabilities, and Huawei is emblematic of this alliance, the president added. Liang Hua of Huawei Group declared the company's dedication to elevating Vietnam's digital competitiveness. "Huawei envisions playing an instrumental role in Vietnam's digital economy, societal progress, and energy transformation, forging a nexus between technological breakthroughs and the realms of agriculture and industrial production. Furthermore, Huawei has initiated collaborations with several universities, underlining its commitment to fostering digital talent and its readiness to coalesce with Vietnam on workforce development," he said. In the ensuing period, Huawei commits to ramping up investments to facilitate Vietnam's multifaceted and balanced digital transformation journey. Chinese activity a strong part of enhancing investment China has surpassed South Korea and Japan to become the second-largest foreign investor in Vietnam this year. Seck Yee Chung, partner at Baker McKenzie Vietnam, discussed with VIRs Thanh Van about the Chinese funding that is ramping up in Vietnam. Chinese investors eye new business deals Chinese investors, driven by Vietnams strategic position and their own financial prowess, are deeply embedding themselves across various sectors in the country. Waco police arrested a local attorney and former misdemeanor prosecutor Thursday night after he showed up uninvited to a party near Baylor University and witnesses said he tried to hit a large group of Baylor students with his truck as he left the scene, according to an arrest affidavit. Pablo Martinez Jr., 31, was booked into McLennan County Jail early Friday morning on 13 second-degree felony charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a Class A misdemeanor charge of unlawful carrying of a weapon, a Class B misdemeanor charge of driving while intoxicated and two Class B misdemeanor charges of striking a fixture. According to the affidavit, officers were called to the 1500 block of James Avenue at about 9 p.m. Thursday, where they found about 30 Baylor students standing outside a residence. The students told officers a man, later identified as Martinez, drove up to the residence in a Toyota Tundra and hit a mailbox as he parked. Martinez attempted to enter the residence to join a party that was occurring, but the students told him to leave because nobody there knew him, the affidavit says. Martinez appeared to be intoxicated, the students said, and as he got back into his truck, he made a sharp left turn and drove over four lawns at a high rate of speed toward the students standing outside the residence, the affidavit says. About 20 to 30 students were outside when this happened, and they had to run to avoid being hit by Martinez, the affidavit says. Students told police they believed Martinez was trying to hit them, according to the affidavit. Waco police spokesperson Cierra Shipley said none of the students were injured in the incident. The students were able to get a picture of Martinezs license plate, and officers attempted to find him at his home address, but he was not there, the affidavit says. About 45 minutes later, an off-duty officer saw Martinez drive into a metal barrier at the intersection of Eighth Street and Webster Avenue before leaving the scene, and security footage from The Backyard Bar Stage & Grill showed Martinez leaving the bar and driving his truck into the barrier, the affidavit says. At about 10 p.m., officers found Martinez sitting in his truck in the parking lot of the La Quinta Inn in the 900 block of South 10th Street. His truck had extensive damage and had a flat tire, the affidavit says. Martinez had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, was heavily slurring his words and could not walk or stand without being assisted, according to the affidavit. Martinez refused a field sobriety test and a blood test, the affidavit says. While searching Martinezs truck, officers found three handguns, the affidavit says. He was transported to the hospital for medical clearance and to have blood drawn before being taken to jail, the affidavit says. Martinez founded the Martinez Law Firm in Waco in 2021. According to his biography on the firm's website, he is a graduate of Baylor Law School and a former McLennan County prosecutor. He worked from December 2019 to June 2021 as an assistant district district attorney, prosecuting misdemeanor cases. Martinez remained jailed Friday on $69,000 bond. The Brazos River may be a far cry from Boston Harbor in both distance and temperature, but that didnt stop a group of Baylor University history students from recreating the Boston Tea Party in painstakingly accurate fashion Thursday. Dubbed the Brazos Tea Party, the students of history professor Julie Sweet donned Colonial-era clothing and reenacted the historic event 250 years after it happened. Before the reenactment, the class conducted meticulous research into actual participants in the Revolutionary event. Sweet said the class is entirely dedicated to studying the Boston Tea Party, and she assigned each student a real-life character to study and portray for Thursdays event. Each of them has been assigned a man who was there and left behind evidence that was on one of the three ships that was in Boston Harbor, Sweet said. They have also gone off and done individual research about these 15 men and found out about their families, and their ages and what they do as an occupation. What were their political leanings? Which church did they attend? Where were they that night, and how did they participate? They really, really enjoyed doing this. Its not something you can often say about students, but they were really excited to do homework. Sweet said another major aspect of the reenactment was educating the crowd on misconceptions they may have about the Tea Party. She said often, people think the Tea Party was spontaneous, when in actuality, it was carefully planned. Another common misconception is that the tea destroyers were dressed as Native Americans, Sweet said. She said the men concealed their identities by smudging their faces with soot and donning blankets over their shoulders, which was supported by many original documents on the event. After the event, people started saying, Oh, it was the Mohawks. Oh, I reckon Indians must have done such a deed, Sweet said. So it was kind of a wink wink, kind of an inside joke. About 50 years later or so, when people started celebrating this particular event, thats when they picked up on these words that people have used and just automatically assumed they must have been dressed like Indians. And so the illustrations came out. And everybody just kind of ran with that. Baylor senior George Schroeder, portraying Boston Gazette publisher Benjamin Edes, said his research consisted of finding primary sources from the newspaper, while other students researched ancestral connections and looked for preserved handwritten documents containing quotes from meetings where their characters spoke. In addition to the reenactment, students have to write a research paper by the end of the semester about the event and their characters. The final product of the research was more fun than the research itself, Schroeder said. The papers themselves ended up being probably about 10 pages per character. And that included a generally accurate eyewitness account of what you might have done that night. So it was pretty deep. Senior Sloane Austin, portraying merchant Nathaniel Barber, said her research was somewhat easier as her character was much older during the event and thus had more records available to find. She said she got deep into many websites to find out the names of her characters children. Sophomore Lily Dickenson, portraying Revolutionary War military leader Benjamin Burton, said she even researched things such as how long it would take to ride a horse certain places, to both get in character and produce good information for her paper. Those are things you dont think about until youre writing about someone who rode a horse places, Dickenson said. In 2020, just before the pandemic hit, the history department partnered with the Law School to conduct a reenactment of the Boston Massacre trials, which ended up having a different outcome than the actual event. Sweet said in the next few years, she plans to conduct reenactments of other major American Revolutionary moments as they hit their respective 250th anniversary years, such as Paul Reveres ride in 2025 and the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. Thursdays reenactment drew a crowd of about 200 spectators, which Sweet said was bigger than expected, but about the same as was seen during the Boston Massacre trials reenactment three years ago. Baylor President Linda Livingstone and her husband, Brad Livingstone, attended as well. The Livingstones said they attended the relitigation of the Boston Massacre trials as well, and said they look forward to Sweets planned future reenactments of historic American events. Dr. Sweet is amazingly creative in what she does research and teaching-wise, Linda Livingstone said. So we love it and its fabulous having her here. Brad Livingstone, a high school history teacher, said the event made history fun. Anytime you can take something in history and make it a learning experience and make it really fun, where people are excited about it, thats always a plus, Brad Livingstone said. Anytime you can make history exciting and fun, were 100% for it. The event Thursday started on the steps of the Tidwell Bible Building, serving as a stand-in for the Old South Meeting House, where the students or rather, colonists debated what to do about the three ships holding the tea in Griffins Wharf. In this case, a pedestrian bridge stood in for the ships, and Waco Creek stood in for the wharf. Some suggested burning or sinking the ships, but others pointed out the potential for destruction to the town of Boston or injury to the sailors, as the motive was to destroy the merchandise, not the men. Another suggested simply unloading the tea and then burning it. But that was no good, as one colonist pointed out they could be stopped before they burned the tea, and they would have done the job of unloading the tea for the British. The colonists then turned to the crowd for suggestions, and spectators echoed the calls to burn the tea and the ships. What say you, tall man in the back? one colonist called to Brad Livingstone. We shall take it! he responded, drawing groans from the colonists. Finally, one spectator suggested dumping the tea overboard, an idea the colonists all agreed on. They then marched down Speight Avenue toward the Baylor Sciences Building and stopped at the bridge behind the building over Waco Creek, where dozens of empty boxes were waiting. Three groups, one for each ship ransacked during the Tea Party, took turns pretending to dump the pernicious leaf of England into the river. Throughout the event, the students incorporated the crowd of spectators, an effort to keep the reenactment historically accurate. Senior Rachel Medina, portraying shipbuilder Thomas Urann, said the original spirit of the Tea Party was community oriented and involved more than just the 15 men the students portrayed. The really important thing about the Boston Tea Party is that it was a movement of the people, Medina said. This was not technically illegal, organized meetings. So they called it the Body of the People, because again, it wasnt an official meeting, there was no legal reason for us to be there. But it was a movement that came from the community of Boston. Us incorporating the crowd today is to recreate that spirit of this is a community trying to fight for its rights. President Joe Biden on Thursday asked Americans to spend billions more dollars to help Israel fight Hamas while Israel's defence chief told his troops to be ready to go into the Gaza Strip to destroy the Palestinian militant group. In a televised White House speech late on Thursday that also addressed Ukraine's effort to repel Russia's invasion, Biden said Hamas sought to "annihilate" Israel's democracy. The president, who made an eight-hour visit to Israel on Wednesday, also stressed the urgency of getting relief to Palestinian civilians in Gaza who lack food, water and medicine. "We can't ignore the humanity of innocent Palestinians who only want to live in peace and have opportunity," he said. Biden said he would ask Congress on Friday to approve extra funding for Israel. A source familiar with the matter earlier said it would total $14 billion. The money would "sharpen Israel's qualitative edge" and strengthen its military capabilities, Biden said. He said America's national security required it to support "critical partners" like Israel. Its a smart investment thats gonna pay dividends for American security for generations, Biden said. On the ground in the Gaza Strip, Israel appeared to be getting closer to a full-scale invasion of the seaside enclave ruled by Hamas. The Israeli military massed troops and equipment near the Gaza border. "You see Gaza now from a distance, you will soon see it from inside. The command will come," Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told troops gathered at the Gaza border on Thursday. Israel has pounded Gaza with air strikes over the Oct. 7 rampage by Hamas gunmen who killed 1,400 Israelis. Israel has put the Gaza Strip's 2.3 million people under siege and has signalled a fullscale invasion. "All the indications are that the worst is coming," Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi told reporters in Amman. Civilians in Gaza say their situation is increasingly desperate as they run short of food, water, fuel and medical supplies. Some 3,500 people have been killed and more than a million have been made homeless, according to Palestinian health officials. Aid slow to move During an eight-hour visit to Tel Aviv on Wednesday, Biden sought to broker a deal to get aid into Gaza but had only limited success. He said Israel and Egypt agreed that 20 trucks with relief supplies could cross into the enclave. Two Egyptian security sources said equipment was sent on Thursday through its border crossing to repair roads on the Gaza side. More than 100 trucks were waiting in Egypt. The crossing has been out of operation amid Israeli bombardments on the Palestinian side of the border. While some officials previously expected aid to enter Gaza on Friday, the chances appeared to dwindle. The newly appointed U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Humanitarian Issues David Satterfield was still negotiating the "exact modalities" of aid deliveries with Israeli and Egyptian officials, the State Department said. There have been repeated delays and obstacles, and Israel has demanded assurances that relief supplies could not be commandeered by Hamas militants. The United Nations has called for aid to return to pre-conflict levels of 100 trucks a day. Secretary General Antonio Guterres planned to visit the Rafah border crossing from Egypt to Gaza on Friday, a move that Israel's ambassador to the U.N., Gilad Erdan, told a rally in New York City showed that "his top priority is giving aid to the terrorists." Flashpoints beyond Gaza Meanwhile, a Gaza hospital explosion on Wednesday that enraged the Arab world and the anticipated Israeli ground invasion have heightened fears of the conflict spreading. Palestinians blamed an Israeli air strike for the hospital blast, but Israel said it was caused by a failed rocket launch by Palestinian militants. Biden backed the Israeli account. The Pentagon on Thursday said a U.S. Navy warship intercepted three cruise missiles and several drones launched by the Houthi movement from Yemen potentially toward Israel. The Houthi, like Hamas, are backed by Iran. Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, another Iran ally, said it fired rockets at an Israeli position in the village of Manara on Thursday and drew an Israeli artillery barrage in response after the worst escalation in violence on the border in 17 years. A civilian was killed in the area, Lebanese security sources and the U.N. peacekeeping force said. The Lebanese army said a journalist was killed by Israeli gunfire on Thursday in a southern Lebanon border area where Israel's forces and Hezbollah had a heavy exchange of fire. The Lebanese army said a group of seven media personnel became stranded in the crossfire and it requested U.N. peacekeepers to extract them. Israel's military, asked about the Lebanese army's account, said it was investigating the matter. Last week a Reuters journalist was killed and other journalists were injured in southern Lebanon. Amid concerns the West Bank could become a third front in a wider war, 13 Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli forces in the Nur Shams refugee camp in the West Bank city of Tulkarm, the Palestinian Red Crescent said on Thursday. The spokesman for Hamas' armed wing, Abu Obeida, on Al Jazeera called for anti-Israel rallies across Arab and Muslim countries on Friday and said the group was prepared for a long battle with Israel. (Reuters) By Nigel Hitchman, with additional material by James Kightly A rare Great War era American fighter, the Thomas Morse S4C Scout 38898, N3307T, has taken to the air once again in the hands of Andrew King at the 2023 Ala Doble fly in, on 28 September, 2023. Our reporter, Nigel Hitchman, was there and brings us the full story. Thomas-Morse Scout 38898 was originally operated by the US Army at Rockwell field, San Diego in 1918. The Scouts, generally known as Tommys were used as advanced trainers in the USA. Ironically the Tommys, despite the types good looks, had pretty poor handling characteristics. The Thomas Brothers company had been founded in 1910 at Hammondsport New York. By 1915 they had moved to Ithica, NY and built a tractor biplane the T-2, designed by engineer Benjamin Douglas Thomas, an expatriate Englishman. Thomas, despite the name, was of no relation to the company founders, but had worked for Vickers and Sopwith in England, and then Curtiss in the US. No less than 24 T-2 biplanes were sold to British forces, but financial difficulties saw them merge with the Morse Chain company in 1917 becoming the Thomas-Morse Aircraft company. They were then successful in selling their S-4 design to the US Army (and Navy) as an advanced trainer. After the war, Scout 38898 was sold to the Wilson Aero Corp of Burbank. Roy Wilson was one of the chief pilots on the film Hells Angels. The Scout then went to Paul Mantz, and in 1936. While the records are incomplete, this S-4C was almost certainly used in films such as Dawn Patrol and Hells Angels. A selection of images of the Thomas-Morse Scout 38898 when numbered as 502. [Via the San Diego Air & Space Museum Flickr feed.] Skeeter Carlson acquired the basket case from Paul Mantz in 1952 in a trade for a Ryan Brougham that Skeeter owned, which Mantz wanted for the Spirit of St Louis film. Skeeter rebuilt the Tommy-Morse, first flying it in 1964 and flew it for some time in the 1960s and 1970s initially with a Ken Royce radial engine, rather than the types original rotary. He flew it in many airshows within reach of his Spokane, WA base. An original 80hp Le Rhone 9C was obtained and fitted in the early 1970s, and it flew irregularly into the 1980s. After Skeeter died, the Thomas-Morse S4C was bought by George Jenkins for his Eagles Mere Aircraft Museum where it was displayed for some years until be sold to Walt Bowe in early 2023. Scout 38898 was trucked to California and re-assembled in April 2023 with some initial work done to get it flying again. The engine was run, and it made a short run and a hop down the runway. Andrew King drew up a list of what other tasks needed to be carried out to get it airworthy again and a plan was made. Those tasks were carried out in the days before the Ala Doble Ranch flying days and Marginal Aviation Last Ditch fly-in on the Wednesday evening it was pulled out of the hangar to start the engine, but it wouldnt perform. Investigation found the magneto switch was grounded out, so the switch which had worked previously was swapped for another, and then on Thursday morning a successful engine run was carried out. With everything then buttoned up, and all of the rest of the tasks accomplished, it was time for the first flight, with Andrew now moving from Chief Engineer to Test Pilot! Run-up proved good and it was taxied into position on the runway with the new tailskid modification providing good directional control. Power was applied and the aircraft started off down the runway notably taking longer than expected to get airborne (compared to rotary powered aircraft seen at Shuttleworth, which quickly jump into the air) but it climbed steadily and Andrew flew around above the airfield feeling out the controls and seeing how the aircraft behaved. After 20 minutes, he came down for a low approach and go-around down the runway and then came into land. It landed slightly tail first but tracked straight under control, and he had enough authority to make a 180 turn on the runway and taxi back. The assessment was that it was very tail heavy, with a lot of forward stick force required for the whole flight, even though there was already a bungee-cord fitted giving forward force on the stick. The ailerons are heavy, but the engine control was fine, except the blip switch being on the back side of the top of the stick, where you want to put your hand to give the most forward force this causing a few involuntary blips and engine cuts during the flight! No defects were found from the flight and it was already expected it would be tail heavy, as thats what everyone who had flown one had said. Andrew also thought the performance would be better. After a good look over, adjustments were made to the elevator trim and the ailerons re-rigged to have less droop and hopefully more effect. There was no flying Friday due to a gusty crosswind, but Saturday morning the weather was perfect, so another test flight was performed. Another 30 minutes in the air, including some air to air photos, and it was chalked up as another successful flight, with the rigging changes making a slight improvement. A third, longer flight was carried out Saturday afternoon, including some formation flypast with Walt Bowes Curtiss JN-4H Jenny: a unique sight of two original 1918 aircraft flying together. It was fantastic to see an original Thomas-Morse Scout flying, a great credit to Skeeter Carlson for the original restoration and then Walt for obtaining it and getting it flying, with Andrew doing the bulk of the work and test flying it. Andrew said it was: A thrill to fly, but it also flies horribly, especially being so tail heavy and that also causes it to be unstable in pitch, and the ailerons are slow and unresponsive. Frank Tallman wrote in his book Flying the Old Planes of his Tommy experience: Throughout the hours that I flew the S4B, I never felt secure, and the adequate rudder, over-large elevators and rock-stiff ailerons felt as far apart as a racehorse and a mule. Skeeter Carlson had said that the Tommy and his Arrow Sport monoplane were the worst flying airplanes he had flown, but that the Tommy was thrilling! The Thomas-Morse Scout was ordered by the US Army and Navy as an advanced trainer, as there were no obsolete earlier fighters available in the continental USA to use in the role, as were used in other countries. The S-4 (prototype) and 100 production S-4Bs were powered by a 100 hp (75 kW) Gnome rotary, as were the first 51 of the following S-4Cs, the airframe having minor improvements (none of which addressed the dreadful handling). The rest of the S-4C production run of 498 were powered by the more reliable and less combustible 80 hp (60 kW) le Rhone rotary. The US Navy had 10 S-4B and four S-4Cs, with six more S-4Cs converted as seaplane trainers with floats, and designated the S-5. A single S-4E was built as an aerobatic trainer with revised tail surfaces, but did not go into production. The Tommys designer, Benjamin Douglas Thomas, is seen here between two aviators, probably during the making of a postwar film. He had worked on the design of the Curtiss Jenny prior to joining Thomas-Morse, and thus this Englishman had a hand in two of Americas most important types in the 1910s and 1920s. Center is a production line of the Scouts stretching as far as the eye can see. On the right is an S-4 modified with OX-5 engine for racing postwar, carrying the number 5 on the tail. [Via the San Diego Air & Space Museum Flickr feed.] The surplus Tommies available postwar saw a brief boom in civil registered examples, many re-engined (including with the Curtiss OX-5) but as a single seater they were far less useful than the Curtiss Jennies. However, while the S-4C type never saw combat for real, as a single seat fighter easily available in America (unlike the actual combat types used in Europe) Tommies became a staple of the first American movies about the daredevil pilots of the Great War most of which were filmed in California, pretending to be France. This was the peak of the types career. [A full report on the Ala Doble fly in will be published soon. The report on last years event can be found here.] Over a dozen Thomas Morse S-4s are known to survive, most on display in major American aviation collections. Two are seen above, the S-4C C/No 633 with Kermit Weeks Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Florida (LEFT) and the fuselage of S-4C C/No 38934 on static display at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City, New York. Still with its original Marlin machine gun, it is on loan from Paul Kotze. [James Kightly & Mike Peel via Wikimedia.] WASHINGTON President Joe Biden declared it is vital for Americas national security for Israel and Ukraine to succeed in their wars, making the case Thursday night for deepening U.S. involvement in a rare Oval Office address as he prepared to ask for billions of dollars in military assistance for both countries. If international aggression is allowed to continue, he said, conflict and chaos could spread in other parts of the world. The militant group Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin represent different threats, Biden said. But they share this in common: They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy. He said he would send an urgent funding request to Congress, which is expected to be roughly $100 billion over the next year. The proposal, which will be unveiled Friday, includes money for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, humanitarian aid and border management. Its a smart investment thats going to pay dividends for American security for generations, Biden said. Biden hopes that combining all of these issues into one piece of legislation will create the necessary political coalition for congressional approval. His speech came the day after his high-stakes trip to Israel, where he showed solidarity with the country in its battle against Hamas and pushed for more humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Ahead of his address, Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stress that the U.S. remains committed to backing Kyiv, the White House said. And a senior White House official said Biden continued to develop his remarks Thursday after working with close aides throughout the week, including on his flight home from Israel. The official declined to be identified ahead of the presidents speech. Biden faces steep challenges as he tries to secure the money. The House remains in chaos because the Republican majority has been unable to select a speaker to replace Rep. Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted more than two weeks ago. In addition, conservative Republicans oppose sending more weapons to Ukraine as its battle against the Russian invasion approaches the two-year mark. Bidens previous request for funding, which included $24 billion to help with the next few months of fighting, was stripped out of budget legislation last month. The White House warned that time is running out to prevent Ukraine, which struggled to make progress in a grueling counteroffensive, from losing ground to Russia because of dwindling supplies of weapons. There will be resistance on the other side of the political spectrum when it comes to military assistance for Israel, which has been bombarding the Gaza Strip in response to the Hamas attack on Oct. 7. Critics accused Israel of indiscriminately killing civilians and committing war crimes by cutting off essential supplies like food, water and fuel. Bipartisan support for Israel already eroded in recent years as progressive Democrats became more outspoken in their opposition to the countrys decadeslong occupation of Palestinian territory, which the international community widely views as illegal. There is disagreement within Bidens administration, as well. Josh Paul, a State Department official who oversaw the congressional liaison office dealing with foreign arms sales, resigned over U.S. policy on weapons transfers to Israel. Visiting Tel Aviv on Wednesday, Biden told Israel that we will not let you ever be alone but he cautioned Israelis against being consumed by rage as he said the United States was after the Sept. 11 attacks of 2001. A speech from the Oval Office is one of the most prestigious platforms a president can command, an opportunity to try to seize the countrys attention at a moment of crisis. ABC, NBC and CBS all said they would break into regular programming to carry the address live. Biden delivered only one other such speech during his presidency, after Congress passed bipartisan budget legislation to avert a default on the countrys debt. The White House and other senior administration officials quietly briefed key lawmakers in recent days about the contours of the planned supplemental funding request. The Senate plans to move quickly on Bidens proposal, hoping that it creates pressure on the Republican-controlled House to resolve its leadership drama and return to legislating. However, there are disagreements within the Senate on how to move forward. Eight Republicans, led by Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall, said they did not want to combine assistance for Ukraine and Israel in the same legislation. These are two separate and unrelated conflicts and it would be wrong to leverage support of aid to Israel in an attempt to get additional aid for Ukraine across the finish line, they wrote in a letter. North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer said he was fine with the proposal as long as there is also a fresh effort to address border issues. He said, its got to be designed to secure the border, not to facilitate travel through the border. Illegal crossings topped a daily average of more than 8,000 last month. 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 CEDAR FALLS Businessman David W. Wilson made known in a big way that ethics are really important to him. The 1970 graduate of the University of Northern Iowa gave $25 million to his alma mater Friday the largest-ever gift in the history of the institution to help expand the universitys business ethics academic offerings and create a scholarship fund for future Panthers in need. The Traer native graduated from UNI with a degree in philosophy and a minor in business before the 1981 founding of the institutions college of business. But because of his massive donation, officials have decided that the universitys business school will now be the David W. Wilson College of Business the first time UNI has named one of its schools after someone. Previously, the largest single gift to the university was $15 million, a gift from Richard Jacobson made in 2013 as part of the Focus on Students campaign, according to information provided by UNI. A few hundred from the university community celebrated on a sunny, cool day out in front of the business college. Purple confetti flew into the air and a large stage was set up, where Wilson and his wife, Holly, joined UNI officials to give remarks. We chose this time to make the additional investment in ethics-based business curriculum at UNI because government and the media seem to blame business for all the worlds economic problems, Wilson said. Ethical capitalism needs all the help it can get. We believe that this is the perfect time to make this gift to present a philosophical defense of capitalism. Wilson was written out on the lawn in the form of large purple bubble letters. And one could hear the excitement in the voice of his sister-in-law, Leslie Wilson, dean of the College of Business, who was on stage and raised her arms upon the confetti being released into the air. David Wilson had always enjoyed giving back with his time, like volunteering to drive for Meals on Wheels, he told the media before the event. But a lot has happened since growing up on a farm outside of Traer with nothing. His business, Orange, California-based Wilson Automotive, has taken off and grown to 18 automotive dealerships and related companies, with more than 2,500 employees. Now that his time is largely taken, Wilsons often been asked to help with his resources and, thus, has been visited by university presidents over the years. The 1966 graduate of North Tama Community High School reached the summit at the University of Northern Iowa on Friday, but had previously given $1 million to establish the David W. Wilson Chair of Business Ethics. David does right because hes paying attention to the customer, said Leslie Wilson. Hes paying attention to his employees, and hes paying attention to the communities where his successful businesses reside in giving back, doing right for the success of the long term. Leslie Wilson told The Courier the universitys first step with her brother-in-laws donation will be hiring an ethicist for the fall of 2024. The college has two courses teaching business ethics, and others that touch on ethics in partnership with the universitys department of religion and philosophy, and many offerings outside the classroom. The university now will be able to grow its academic offerings. Those specifics are still being worked out, said Leslie Wilson. The funds also establish the David W. Wilson Scholars Endowed Fund, which will be used to provide scholarship support for at least one student at the start of the 2024-25 school year and in perpetuity. The scholarship will benefit only students from a Tama County high school. They must demonstrate financial need to qualify. The intent is that eventually four Wilson Scholars will be funded annually. Im at a point in my life now where Im 75 years old, David Wilson said in a previous interview. Im going to run out of time before I run out of money. Ethical and automobile dealer seemed to be mutually exclusive when I was kid. They didnt have the worlds greatest reputation. I set out trying to change that. Most the car dealers I know are wonderful people and I think the reputation of that industry has changed over the years, he added. Wilson also worked with the UNI Foundation to structure his contribution as a challenge gift in the hopes of spurring additional support for the universitys Our Tomorrow campaign. Officials announced the university has raised $243 of the $250 million goal. The expectation is that the Panther faithful will blow past that mark. This is a grand gift to help the college of business but also the university as a whole, said Sandy Stevens of Glen Ellyn, Illinois afterwards. The 1962 graduate sat in the front row Fridays event and had helped kick off the Our Tomorrow campaign about a year ago on campus. His donation will help in guiding the next generation of leaders, she said. Today in history: Oct. 20 1936: Anne Sullivan Macy 1947: The House Un-American Activities Committee 1968: Jacqueline Kennedy and Aristotle Onassis 1973: "Saturday Night Massacre" 1976: Mississippi River 1977: Lynyrd Skynyrd 1987: Indianapolis 1990: 2 Live Crew 2011: Moammar Gadhafi 2018: Jamal Khashoggi 2020: Donald Trump CEDAR FALLS City candidates further separated themselves Wednesday in their respective races at one of the three forums scheduled thus far in advance of the Nov. 7 election. Among the eight together at the dais were the three competing for the at-large City Council seat now held by Dave Sires. He is not seeking reelection. Patrick McEleney, Donna Bash and Hannah Crisman brought their promises and accusations as well as quips, rebuttals, and sometimes little at all during the nearly two-hour debate hosted at City Hall by the NAACP of Black Hawk County and Black Hawk/Bremer League of Women Voters. They tackled several challenging and direct questions from moderators and the audience. The at-large candidates and all the others are new to running for office. None of the four incumbents whose terms are expiring are seeking re-election. The at-large candidates unique resumes were most clear when asked about the value of ensuring the Rooted Carrot grocery store co-op gets established in Cedar Falls. The co-op has been building membership for a number of years and is looking for a downtown store location. Not only did candidates voice support for the co-op but several said they hoped the store could also open on College Hill. I hate to break all of your hearts but we have asked the Rooted Carrot to come to the Hill many, many times and their study showed that it would not be feasible on the Hill, said Crisman, a quality assurance analyst who serves as the board president of the College Hill Partnership. I think, again, that speaks to the current state of the Hill businesses are not willing to set up there. McEleney cited his knowledge and talents as a former contract specialist for the federal General Services Administration while addressing his motivations and the problems hed like to help solve. One problem is the frivolousness in the way that he believes current city contracts are written. You see that theres no incentives for ending a project early, he said. Theres no penalties for ending a project. If you have a case of the Mondays, theyll give you a pass for delaying a project. And then you dive in even deeper and are trying to talk to the people that are involved and make these decisions and its beyond not getting answered. Its almost that youre inconveniencing them by asking those things. Bash, a yoga instructor and substitute teacher with experience in the corporate world, identifies as a go-getter and said she wants to inspire and motivate people. She often referenced her experiences of living in Chicago and suburban Arlington Heights, Illinois, in answering questions about parking, the co-op, and the reasons for her candidacy. I feel that Im very unique because I have Chicagoland experience ... I understand what things go through, like Ive been through parking issues from Arlington Heights. Ive seen it. I lived it. I always went to board meetings and city planning meetings, and thats what Im passionate about since Ive been 5 years old, she said. The event was also the first time any of the candidates butted heads publicly. That happened while addressing aspects of any plans whether or not they were endorsed by a current or past council theyd like to see implemented. Crisman brought up a point of pride reflected in many of the plans the volunteerism she believes would be required. She said the Resilience Plan offered great ideas to help with the future economically and environmentally and very clearly spelled out recommendations, who is responsible and what steps need to be taken. But the planning and zoning commissioner also brought up the recently rescinded College Hill visioning plan because of the dire need for attention the area requires and the importance of the relationship with the University of Northern Iowa. She specifically cited zoning code changes the plan can help spur to the benefit of businesses and neighborhoods. McEleney, a UNI senior IT media specialist, responded that its a warning of what not to do with plans. That was a master class in poor communication, he said. What was received from that was messy, it was bloated, it was off the scope of what is needed to revitalize the Hill. It didnt even address the issues that we really need to do to make the Hill the front porch of the university. It was a big massive waste of time for the people that put effort into that and it was a massive waste of city funds, he added. He urged the city to use the situation as a lesson about spending taxpayer money on studies, assessments, and plans to get clear and concise roles for what we want. Crisman said its certainly not just a map. The vision plan holds valuable information to help write code to connect the upper and lower Hill but also advises on green space, trails, and outdoor event spaces. Generally speaking, I think that plan is full of excellent ideas and is a great place to start to rewrite the code, said Crisman. Bash sometimes said very little in response to questions. During that particular discussion on plans, she referenced a drive to make sure everything in the strategic plan is continuously going forward in a timely manner to keep on growing our city. The growth is what will be the catalyst of our future, for future generations, she said. Photos: UNI football at South Dakota State, Oct. 14 WATERLOO Corey Holmes has worn many hats in his life and hopes to add a new one to his collection. He is one of four candidates running for the City Council at-large seat in the Nov. 7 election. Others on the ballot include Ashley Chappell, Jonathan Grieder and Steve Simon. Holmes, 33, is the pastor at Mt. Moriah Love Center, located at 633 Walnut St., and also works at the Target Distribution Center. In addition, he is known in the music community as DJ Babyface. He was born and raised in Waterloo and left in 2008 to go to college in Atlanta. He came back to the Cedar Valley after his dad and founder of Mt. Moriah, Robert L. Holmes, died in 2021. Holmes was not only a pastor in Atlanta he also served with the Atlanta Police Department as an officer for almost 10 years. Although he is new to politics, Holmes said he has always been a public servant. I have a heart for people who have concerns of matters and issues that matter to people within our community, he said. Especially within Waterloo, in particular. He said he would provide unique insight if elected to the council because he lived in a big city for 15 years while other candidates and current councilmembers have been in Waterloo their whole life. With almost half of his life spent in Atlanta, he has seen how a big city operates and believes he could bring those ideas back home. Any issue that is going on, my background and my experience is able to cover that, he said. With his return to Waterloo in 2021, Holmes said he noticed a great divide in the city, especially between the council and law enforcement. There was just a negative vibe and energy over the entire city and it was very sad, he said. With Waterloo being my home, I didnt see that growing up, you know, so when I came back, I saw that divide. More unity between the residents, city government, schools, churches, police department and health care facilities is what Holmes is striving toward. With his first-hand experience in law enforcement, two of Holmes top priorities is to crack down on gun violence and crime, as well as advocate for first responders. His third platform is to ensure that the city is making equitable investments into the community. Wise investment, he said, would help with taxes, increase revenue and create job opportunities. He thinks this would help the Cedar Valley not appear in the top ten worst places for Black people to live. He also wants to work toward finding government funding to create more affordable housing and child care centers. Holmes noted that the current council is doing great with projects such as the apartment complexes, senior center and day care being constructed at North Crossing, but he wants to build upon what has already been established. A lot of people, they believe and they feel that, you know, you can just talk about certain issues, he said. But we have to put some work into them. Cyberattacks on local governments are on the rise, highlighting a need for enhanced security Singling out government Nearly 90,000 soft targets nationwide WATERLOO Working in the Black Hawk County Sheriffs Office for nearly three decades, Nate Neff is ready to move up to the top rank. Neff, 50, announced he is running to lead the department in response to Sheriff Tony Thompson plans to not run for a fifth term. He is running as a Democrat. The election takes place in November 2024. His entire law enforcement career has been with the county sheriffs office. (They) have treated me well, he said. Ive enjoyed my time here and was never drawn to apply anywhere else. He became a deputy sheriff in the jail and patrol divisions in 1994 and held the position for 11 years. During that time he was also on the SWAT Team. In addition, Neff has been a field training officer and a canine handler. After becoming a patrol sergeant, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, overseeing the entire shift he worked on which includes what was happening in the jail, civil or investigative divisions. He held that role for six years. In January 2020, he became a captain and the jail administrator. Two months later, COVID-19 hit the state. I navigated us through that and we had very few COVID cases in the jail, he said. Im proud of how we rolled with the changes. Among the projects he has overseen in the jail are the installation of a tablet system to provide inmates with educational materials, video visitation and texting. That helps them maintain contact with friends and family. He also helped create the jail diversion social worker position, which provides educational and employment opportunities for inmates once they are released. These are all things that reduce the odds of an inmate reoffending upon release from jail which is obviously a win for our entire community, he said in a news release. A current project he is working on is renovating areas of the jail with the use of non-tax-based funds. Through this, he purchased a body scanner for the purpose of searching new arrestees. If elected to the position, Neff said he will continue such projects as well as make sure patrollers are proactive and visible and keep the sheriffs office fiscally responsible. Neff believes he would be best for the position because hes been involved in every aspect of leadership in the office. Because of his tenure with the department and time working with an elected sheriff, he already understands the dynamic between the city and county governments. He came to the Cedar Valley after growing up in Monroe in Jasper County to go to the University of Northern Iowa, obtaining his bachelors in criminology and sociology in 1995. He is currently enrolled in graduate school at the University of Virginia and hopes to obtain his masters degree in public safety in the spring. He graduated from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in 1994, Northwestern Universitys School of Police Staff and Command in 2016 and the FBIs National Academy in 2023. Neff said early in his career he didnt have aspirations to become a sheriff but, as time went on, people kept asking him when he was going to run. Im at the age and years in (the department) that I could retire, he said. But the opportunity to lead the agency I grew up in is too great for me to pass up. How spending on public safety and policing has changed over the last 40 years How spending on public safety and policing has changed over the last 40 years Spending on public safety in cities in the US has doubled since 1980 Police funding has remained about half of public safety budgets consistently for 40 years Even with ballooning public safety budgets, many cities allocate more money to the police Some cities have reigned in police spending, while others have tightened overall public safety budgets Yasny missile unit rearmed with Avangard silo-based missile system in Orenburg Region An intercontinental ballistic missile is loaded into a silo launcher using a special transport and loading unit. The most complex technological operations take several hours. The infrastructure of the position area has been prepared for the next missile regiment to be put on combat duty, including facilities for the training of duty shifts, combat duty and personnel rest. The implementation of measures planned for 2023 to rearm the Strategic Missile Forces with a hypersonic missile system will enhance the combat capabilities of the Russian strategic nuclear forces. Russian Defence Ministry WtR Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (19 October 2023) The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation. In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces exploiting results of aviation strikes, artillery and heavy flamethrower systems fire repelled 11 attacks of assault detachments of the AFU 14th, 32nd, and 115th mechanised, 68th Jaeger, 95th Air Assault brigades near Sinkovka, Ivanovka, Novoyegorovka, (Kharkov region), and Makeyevka (Lugansk Peoples Republic). Operational-tactical aircraft inflicted fire damage on the enemy manpower and hardware near Nevskoye (Lugansk Peoples Republic). Up to 70 Ukrainian personnel, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles were neutralised. In counter-battery warfare, the enemy lost one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system and one Gvozdika howitzer. In Krasny Liman direction, coordinated actions of the Tsentr Group of Forces, as well as air strikes and artillery fire repelled six attacks launched by AFU assault groups near Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk Peoples Republic). Operational-Tactical and Army aviation inflicted fire damage on the manpower and hardware of the 21th and 63rd mechanised brigades units and the 40th National Guard Regiment have been hit near Torskoye, Yampolovka, and Grigorovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). The enemy losses were over 235 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, three armoured fighting vehicles, and three pick-up trucks. In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems repelled an attack launched by the enemy close to Kleshcheyevka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). In addition, strikes were delivered at enemy manpower and hardware near Andreevka, Kurdyumovka, Yakovlevka, and Vasyukovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). The enemys casualties were more than 260 Ukrainian personnel killed or injured, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, and four motor vehicles. In addition, two Msta-B guns, one D-20 gun, two D-30 howitzers, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one U.S.-made M119 howitzer were hit during counter-battery warfare. In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, ground-attack aircraft, helicopters, and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 72nd Mechanised and 58th Motorised Infantry Brigade near Ugledar, Novomikhailovka, and Staromayorskoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic). The enemy losses in this direction amounted to up to 190 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles. In Zaporozhye direction, two attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 82nd Air Assault Brigade near Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region) were repelled by skillful actions of the Russian Group of Forces supported by air strikes and artillery fire. Moreover, the Russian Armed Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the 65th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU near Rabotino (Zaporozhye region). Up to 40 Ukrainian personnel, two tanks, five armoured fighting vehicles, and two motor vehicles were neutralised. In the course of the counter-battery warfare, one German-made Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled artillery system, one Msta-B gun, and one U.S.-made M119 howitzer were hit. ? In Kherson direction, up to 40 Ukrainian troops, four motor vehicles, as well as one D-20 gun have been neutralised. Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 154 areas during the day. Moreover, an ammunition depot of the 110th Mechanised Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was obliterated close to Avdeyevka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). Fighter aviation of Russian Aerospace Forces downed one MiG-29 fighter jet of Ukrainian Air Force near Troitskoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic). Russian air defence systems shot down one Su-25 ground-attack aircraft in Dnepropetrovsk and one Mi-8 helicopter of Ukrainian Air Force near Zagryzovo (Kharkov region). Over the past 24 hours, one JDAM bomb, two S-200 converted surface-to-surface missiles, as well as 10 HIMARS MLRS projectiles have been intercepted during the day. Moreover, 61 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were downed close to Olshana (Kharkov region), Yegorovka, Soledar, Lyubovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic), Kremennaya, Zhitlovka (Lugansk Peoples Republic), Romanovskoye, Molchansk (Zaporozhye region), Kazachyi Lageri, and Sagi (Kherson region). In total, 493 airplanes and 252 helicopters, 8,065 unmanned aerial vehicles, 441 air defence missile systems, 12,764 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,163 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 6,823 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 14,438 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation. Tags: WtR Elementary students in Winona Area Public Schools will have a shorter school year than originally planned after the districts board of education approved changes to the calendar Tuesday. The school year for all students at Goodview, Jefferson and Washington-Kosciusko elementaries will end May 30, instead of June 6. The board approved the change to accommodate an extended construction timeline for the second phase of the district's heating and air conditioning project at Jefferson and Washington-Kosciusko elementaries. Older students in the district will continue to attend classes until June 6. To help district families who may need child care during the week of June 3, Goodview Elementary will host the districts child care program Key Kids, before the program moves to the Winona Middle School and is opened to the general public. The district expects a higher child care demand due to older students, who may normally take care of elementary-aged students when not in school, being unavailable to help because of the different school end dates. Elementary school staff will continue to work during the week of June 3 in new locations. The next school year may additionally include a one-week delayed start compared to normal for the whole school district. The calendar committee is expected to examine ways to potentially make up for those days later in the school year. WASHINGTON An Army private who fled to North Korea before being returned home to the United States earlier this month has been detained by the U.S. military, two officials said Thursday night, and is facing charges including desertion and possessing sexual images of a child. The eight counts against Pvt. Travis King are detailed in a charging document seen by The Associated Press. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the charges have not been publicly announced. King's mother, Claudine Gates, said in a statement that her son should be afforded the presumption of innocence. A mother knows her son, and I believe something happened to mine while he was deployed, she said. King, 23, joined the Army in January 2021 and was in South Korea as a cavalry scout with the 1st Armored Division, according to military officials. On July 10 he was released from a South Korean prison after serving nearly two months on assault charges. He was set to be sent to Fort Bliss, Texas, where he could have faced potential additional disciplinary actions and discharge. Officials said King was taken to the airport and escorted as far as customs. But instead of getting on the plane, he left and later joined a civilian tour of the Korean border village of Panmunjom. He bolted across the border, which is lined with guards and often crowded with tourists, in the afternoon. Read more: Winona Public Library has been a place of learning and discovery for almost 125 years. Most recently, youth services staff took that learning into the galaxy through a partnership with NASA, SciGirls, the Space Science Institute and Twin Cities PBS. Winona Public Library was selected as one of 15 libraries in the states of Arizona, California, Tennessee and Minnesota to participate in the pilot cohort of Project NIFTY, which stands for NASA Inspires Futures for Tomorrows Youth. The initiative was designed to broaden youth participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics studies by providing opportunities to interact with and gain inspiration from NASA STEM professionals. Throughout September and October, Winona Public Library hosted a series of programs focused on expanding interest in STEM studies, such as scratch coding, engineering a space colony and mapping a rover traverse. Through Project NIFTY, WPL was matched with two role models: NASA planetary geologist Sarah Simpson and NASA mechanical engineer Mary Coan Skow. Simpson spoke with the group about how NASA scientists navigate Mars with the Curiosity rover using photos of the landscape to decide what areas may be safe for the rover. A space robot is intriguing on its own, but Simpson was able to take that fascination with space and turn it into a lesson on how scientists are mindful about the choices they make. The groups worked together to traverse their own rover across Mars using the same photos, which required them to listen to each others opinions and take into account another persons viewpoint. WPL staff intentionally structures programs to encourage this type of interaction between youth. Staff are available to answer questions and provide support throughout, but the activity is ultimately led by the youth. This cultivates leadership skills in a fun and unintimidating way. Skow spoke to the group about her experience creating systems needed to sustain human life on another planet. The ability to think critically about what humans need to survive and thrive every day is also an avenue toward developing empathy and understanding for others. All humans need food, shelter, community and so much more in order to thrive. Sustainability, mindfulness and a growth mindset are just some of the skills attendees were able to cultivate while imagining life on Mars and attending Project NIFTY programming. The ability to host two female scientists who are experts in their fields was not only an engaging experience, but also an impactful one. One of the objectives of Project NIFTY is to encourage young women to engage in STEM careers. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, women make up only 26% of all STEM fields as of 2022. This is only a 3% increase from almost 25 years ago. Representation in all fields is critical, as it creates an environment where ideas are diverse, perspectives are varied and progress is achieved. Being able to see two female scientists who are experts in their fields was a unique experience for each attendee. Two of Winona Public Librarys core values are to embrace empowerment and impact the community. Winona Public Librarys long-held belief as an institution is that youth who are encouraged in their interests at an early age tend to have a stronger sense of self-confidence. As an advocate for youth in the community, Winona Public Library leverages its unique position as a free and inclusive resource to continually bring new and interesting opportunities to Winona youth in an equitable way. To view all Winona Public Library has to offer, visit winona.lib.mn.us. MADISON State Rep. Mark Born presented Beaver Dam Fire Department Capt. Wesley Jahnke with the 2023 First Responder of the Year award during the Assembly floor session on Tuesday. The Assembly honored Jahnke in a public ceremony with other recipients from across the state. Wesley embodies the quintessential qualities of a First Responder compassion, bravery, and sincere dedication, Born, R-Beaver Dam, said in a statement. His unwavering commitment has undeniably enriched both Beaver Dam and the entire state of Wisconsin, leaving a lasting positive impact on these communities. Jahnke has been a member of the Beaver Dam Fire Department for eight years, serving as captain for the past year. He also is part of Wisconsin Task Force 1, Wisconsins statewide urban search and rescue team, and leads the Fire Departments Technical Rescue and Dive teams. Jahnke leads by example, prioritizing the needs of the community over his own, and has dedicated his time to his duties and professional development, evidenced by his pending graduation from Columbia Southern University with a masters degree in fire executive leadership, according to a press release from Borns office. Wisconsins first responders truly embody excellence, Born said. While many may shy away from danger, these individuals courageously rush towards it, arms wide open and prepared to offer assistance. The First Responder of the Year award was created in 2019 to recognize the brave men and women in emergency services. State representatives from each legislative district seek nominations from their communities and select one individual who best exemplifies community service, selflessness and dedication. The list of recipients from this year includes police officers, sheriffs deputies, firefighters and all levels of EMS personnel. Along with giving award recipients a legislative citation recognizing their achievements, the Assembly passed a resolution declaring Oct. 17 First Responders Appreciation Day. A woman who survived a volatile, toxic relationship with a man whom she said she loved was sentenced Friday to eight years in prison for killing him at their Fitchburg apartment just over two years ago. The decision by Dane County Circuit Judge John Hyland came after attorneys for Kania C. Quinn, 35, presented what they said was Quinn's side of her yearslong relationship with Fred Edwards Jr., 62, who died after Quinn stabbed him in the chest on Oct. 2, 2021, at their apartment in the 2000 block of Greenway Cross. Assistant District Attorney John Rice asked for a 15-year prison sentence, followed by 20 years of extended supervision, arguing that Quinn had at times been the aggressor in her relationship with Edwards. He pointed to three convictions she had in Illinois for incidents in 2013 and 2016 in which Quinn had attacked Edwards, including an incident in which she had stabbed him with a knife. He said the last incident was similar to the one in 2021 in which Edwards was killed. Quinn was initially charged with first-degree intentional homicide but ultimately pleaded guilty in August to first-degree reckless homicide. "The defendant is not the victim in this case," Rice said. But state assistant public defender Kara Rolf said she was "frankly surprised and dismayed" by Rice's remarks, given the contents of a report by an expert in domestic violence who had spoken extensively with Quinn. The report provided background and details about the role domestic violence played in Quinn's life, and about her "toxic" relationship with Edwards. At one point in it, Rolf said, Quinn noted that the only time she has been free of abuse has been the time she has spent incarcerated since her arrest for Edwards' death. Edwards had exerted complete control over Quinn, beat her, choked her, caused her to be sexually exploited, and threatened her life, Rolf said. "Power and control -- that's what Fred Edwards had over Ms. Quinn," Rolf said. She added that when Edwards had them move from Illinois to Madison, it only served to further isolate Quinn from her family. "I think Ms. Quinn is a victim and I don't say that lightly," Rolf added. Rolf's co-counsel, Richard Jones, added that Quinn didn't trust anyone and would not share with anyone the truth about what was going on, including police, and later her own attorneys. She didn't even accept for a long time that Edwards was dead until it could be proven to her, because she was convinced he would come back, Jones said. Within the relationship, he said, the only time there was peace was when they both were high. "But they loved each other," Jones said. "They just weren't good for each other." Quinn confirmed that was true when she spoke in court. She also apologized to Edwards' family, gathered on one side of the courtroom, while Quinn's family gathered on the other. Hyland noted that because of the volatility of the relationship, it could have been either Quinn or Edwards who died. "One has to recognize that what happened here is the result of a relationship, and that takes two people," he said. He said that given the circumstances, Quinn could have gone to trial and argued that she had killed Edwards in self-defense, but instead, she pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and accepted responsibility for his death. In addition to her time in prison -- which will be shortened by more than two years of credit for the time she has already spent in custody -- Quinn will serve seven years of extended supervision after her release. Hyland said what Quinn needs most in prison is treatment for drug and alcohol abuse, along with domestic violence treatment, both as a victim and a perpetrator. "I can't say that if the door opened today, Ms. Quinn would return to the community safe for everyone else," Hyland said. You dont have to drive far from Madison to find the best fall colors this weekend. Madison is at 65% peak fall color, so there are some shades to see here, according to Travel Wisconsins fall color map at go.madison.com/fall-color. But to see fall in all its glory, head a bit farther north. Portage is at full peak this week, and Baraboo is close at 80%. If you dont mind crowds, Devils Lake State Park will be beautiful. Travel Wisconsin also recommends Baraboo Bluff Winery and Ski-Hi Fruit Farm. Wisconsin Dells was at 80% peak on Tuesday, and from Mirror Lake to George Crandall Memorial Forest there are many good peeping spots. Other good fall color spots right now are the Kickapoo Valley Reserve, the Fox River and John Muir County Park in Marquette County, or anywhere in Richland County. In its first public hearing, a bill that Republicans said would bring Wisconsin closer to a nonpartisan mapmaking model received sharp criticism Thursday from liberals who had long advocated for such a change but dont trust this version. Republicans, who have built an impregnable majority in the Legislature in large part through control of the maps, are motivated to adopt the plan before the newly liberal-majority Wisconsin Supreme Court rules on a lawsuit challenging the maps. This bill coming forward is really an attempt that we can perhaps avoid ending up in litigation when we do redistricting and keep it to truly a legislative process with a nonpartisan commission, said Sen. Dan Knodl, R-Germantown. But Democrats maintain the Republican bill, which passed the Assembly in September without a public hearing, still gives the Republican Legislature too much control over the maps and said it was a red herring intended to distract from GOP efforts to impeach liberal Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz for participating in the redistricting lawsuit despite calling the current maps rigged during her campaign. Sen. Mark Spreitzer, D-Beloit, also noted that the proposal wouldnt force new maps to be implemented before the 2030 decennial redistricting process, while Democrats want the maps redrawn before next years election. Sen. Jeff Smith, D-Brunswick, questioned whether the public should trust the Legislature with drawing new maps after it churned out whats widely regarded as being among of the countrys most gerrymandered legislative maps. But Rep. Travis Tranel, R-Cuba City, said sudden Democratic opposition to the idea, now that liberals have a majority on the Supreme Court, is probably where we have some trust issues. If you truly believe that nonpartisan redistricting will give you better government ... this is your opportunity to advance this legislation, Tranel said. You can nitpick it apart all you want. But at the end of the day, either you believe nonpartisan redistricting is going to lead to better government or you dont. Its as simple as that. Jay Heck, executive director of government watchdog group Common Cause of Wisconsin, said the fact that Republicans put the plan on such a fast track makes supporters of nonpartisan maps suspicious. A month ago, there was no even inkling that most Republican members of the Legislature were supportive of redistricting reform, he said. And so the matter of believability and trust, I think, really comes into play here as we begin this process. The Iowa model Republicans have said their plan, which Democratic Gov. Tony Evers will almost certainly veto, reflects the Iowa redistricting model that Democrats have endorsed and promoted in Wisconsin. Rep. Joel Kitchens, R-Sturgeon Bay, said that during the past decade the party in legislative power has been generally against nonpartisan redistricting proposals. We should be in a unique situation right now, where neither party is confident that theyre going to draw the next maps, he said. So, we could maybe implement something like this. Unfortunately, Democratic leadership seems confident that the Supreme Court is going to draw maps that gerrymander in their favor. Under the proposed redistricting bill, the mapmaking process would be in the hands of the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau. The Legislature would be free to reject maps drawn by the LRB; so would the governor, through veto power. At that point, the agency would be required to draw the maps again, taking into account lawmakers or the governors concerns and submit the new boundaries back to the Assembly and Senate. If the second version of maps is also rejected, the agency draws up subsequent proposals, again taking into account any concerns put forth by lawmakers or the governor. Theres no built-in mechanism for what happens next if the governor and Legislature cant agree on a proposal. Similar to the Iowa redistricting model, the districts under the GOP plan would have to be contiguous, coincide as much as possible with political subdivision boundaries and be compact. Both the Iowa model and the latest Wisconsin proposal allow their respective legislatures to amend the proposal as much as theyd like if they dont approve the nonpartisan maps on the first and second attempts. But under the Iowa constitution, if the parties cant implement a map by a certain deadline, the state Supreme Court must step in to adopt a map. Under the Wisconsin plan, there would be a similar deadline to adopt the maps, but neither the state constitution nor state law requires the state Supreme Court to step in to force the Legislature to adopt new maps, according to the LRB. The bill, however, doesnt preclude courts from getting involved in the redistricting process, LRB chief counsel Joe Kreye said. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, previously said he would support a constitutional amendment in Wisconsin clarifying that courts have a role in redistricting, but he added that the amendment would be unnecessary since redistricting disputes are routinely resolved in Wisconsin courts already. Bipartisan Republicans amended the bill in September to require that any map presented to the Legislature be passed on a bipartisan vote. Bipartisan isnt defined the bill, something that Spreitzer said would mean only one Democratic member has to vote for the bill for it to pass. He questioned why the proposal didnt require a three-fourths approval vote in both chambers. Kitchens said thats a crazy high threshold given that many current lawmakers will be negatively affected by the proposed maps. Another change prevents anyone on the map-drawing agency from abstaining from a vote, while another prevents the commission from voting without all five members present. Despite the changes, Democratic lawmakers pushed back on the proposal in the Assembly, partially because it was taken up on the floor just two days after being unveiled without any committee hearings or public comment. The Southwest Wisconsin CWD, deer and predator study, best known as the five-year, $5 million study, wrapped up field work in 2021. In another way, this study is just now getting going. The explanation here is after several years of planning and applications for funding and hiring, the field work began in 2016 and concluded with some trapping sessions being cut due to COVID-19. Data is finally being processed and some articles and stories are being written for scientists, others for wildlife biologists and more for deer hunters and non-hunters who simply admire the animal. The head research scientist in the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for the project was and is Dan Storm, a Ph.D wildlife biologist. A number of other specialists were involved with bobcat and coyote predators. As many as 20 limited-term wildlife biologists and tens of volunteers and DNR employees spent varied amounts of time, particularly with the trapping and collaring of more than 800 adult deer. Funding for this research was provided by Pittman-Robertson Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration and did not use any general tax revenue or license fee dollars. Many hard drives, tissue freezers, GPS collar units, news notes, and personal notes and memories are trickling, other times gushing, out to the public as well at the many interested consumers and inquisitive folks who now want to know what was learned, gathered, forgotten and then used by hunters and deer naturalists. Baseline data is available for further study of Wisconsins state wildlife animal. Data, tissue samples, animal measurements and photographs are now being analyzed or put in cold storage for future use by DNR and University scientists. Results are showing up in DNR newsletters, reports, scientific articles in wildlife journals and newspaper stories. One of the exciting developments realized early in the project was the cooperation from landowners on whose land all of the 800 deer were trapped. One farmer commented, which was a repeating trend: We got to know the staff of wildlife biologists and are sad were not going to see them again. Im impressed how conscious they were in building a relationship and making sure everything they did we were OK with. They shared maps, checked before going onto the land, and we learned a lot about the deer from them working here. They were hard workers, working through all types of weather and a lot of it was in the dead of winter. Storm noted that without the assistance and agreement of the landowners, this and other types of wildlife research would not be possible. It starts with hiring the right people and training them noting that they remember they are on private property even though these are the peoples deer, he said. Also relating to relationships that developed, which made this project successful, was the volunteers were excited to participate and felt they were appreciated. They learned, too. Storm said in conducting fawn searches on warm, humid days, the volunteer searchers were often rewarded by seeing, capturing and holding a days-old whitetail fawn. Hunters will be excited to read and study the reports about deer dispersal, when it occurs, how bucks travel and stay put much of the time. Food sources were not always what one expects, habitats varied and deer disperse more and farther if born in small wooded areas than in large tracts of forest land. There are barriers to deer travel, such as major highways, riverways and other barriers not noticed by people but seem to be by deer. By far the most common predator of young fawn is coyotes, with bobcats taking a few. And the first several months of life is the most treacherous; survive that and life can be a bowl of acorns and alfalfa. CWD has a high impact on deer mortality. Providing an opportunity for the public to get involved in wildlife monitoring gives volunteers a feel-good charge. The GPS collars attached to the trapped adult deer generally outlived the five-year guarantee. Researchers could pinpoint a deers location from an office computer. When the deer died, the GPS unit sent out a signal of no motion, meaning a bedded deer in a snowstorm might not move for hours but if the researchers walked in on the deer believing it was dead, the movement was picked up again. Other times, a dead deer was found. Taking tissue samples from live deer (rectal area) were successful, accurate and not harmful to the deer. In general, the trapping and sampling methodology had very few casualties. Deer deaths were picked up early on, permitting successful necropsies (biopsies) even of deer dying of chronic wasting disease. The final stages of CWD appear to come quickly once the deers systems begin to shut down, Storm said. Thats one reason we dont see many deer out on the landscape exhibiting the final stages of starving and looking emaciated. Finding a dead deer soon after death is critical to getting good information on cause of death. In addition to dying from CWD, many of the deer exhibited starvation or/and pneumonia. So is it pneumonia or CWD that took the deer? The deer would give a positive CWD test and when deer died that were starving during a lush summer season, there is plenty of food and no reason for starvation to the animal with all that accessible food unless it was really sick from a disease. The animal is completely broken down and vulnerable to everything and this occurs with CWD all months of the year. The patterns we observed in these deer could only be because they had CWD and then got pneumonia or starved from not eating. Looking at data, analyzing it and communicating to others, including hunters and non-hunters, is likely to continue for years. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form CAPTION CORRECTION CORRECTS AGE: In this undated photo provided by Rabbi Meir Hecht on behalf of the Raanan family is Judith Raanan, left, and her daughter Natalie, 17, after Natalie's recent high school graduation. On Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, Israel announced the two American women held by Hamas militants were released. Judith and Natalie went missing while visiting relatives in Nahal Oz for Simchat Torah, a festive Jewish holiday that marks the conclusion of the annual reading of the Torah. (Raanan Family via AP) Rep. Jim Jordan, so far, has failed to get enough votes to become House Speaker but his fight for the coveted leadership role isnt done and the devotion of many constituents back in Ohio is unwavering. In Washington, Jordan has made a name for himself as a conservative pugilist, founder of the chaotic Freedom Caucus and staunch ally of former President Donald Trump. In Ohio, Jordan is a hometown boy whose conservative policies and never-say-die persona on Capitol Hill have earned him a secure seat in his rural district. On Wednesday, the House plans to do another round of voting to select a speaker. One constituent told the Associated Press that a defeat for Jordan would sour his view of the Republicans who don't vote for him. FILE - Palestinians, including some journalists, carry the bodies of two Palestinian reporters, Mohammed Soboh and Said al-Tawil, who were killed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. Journalists reporting in Gaza need to worry about basic survival for themselves and their families in addition to getting out the story of a besieged population. There are a limited number of journalists in the Palestinian territory, with new ones not being allowed in since the war between Israel and Hamas started. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair, File) In the Oct. 19 episode of The Golden Bachelor, the womens competition for Gerry Turner heated up, Gerrys heart cooled to three beauties and hard feelings arose both romantic ones and angry ones. AARP Membership Join AARP for $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP The Magazine. Join Now In a historic first, one woman proclaimed zero interest in bedding the Bachelor "The Bachelorette" star Trista Sutter (left) with Gerry Turner on the pickleball court. John Fleenor/ABC Trista Sutter, veteran of the first The Bachelor show two decades ago and the original Bachelorette, who turns 51 on Oct. 28, came to offer her advice to Golden Bachelor contestants. Oh, oh my God, thats, thats Trista! exclaimed retired teacher Ellen, 71. Thats my role model. Thats that beautiful girl that got me into The Bachelor! I was in your shoes, said Trista, "and Im not here to steal your man. I feel like you just have to be yourself. Be open to the process. But not everyone found this reassuring. Leslie, 64, the dancer who in her 20s dumped the singer Prince and left to tour with the Ice Follies, murmured, Heres the throw-up feeling again. (Left to right) Kathy, 70, a retired educational consultant from Austin, Texas, and Theresa, 69, a financial services professional from Shrewsbury, New Jersey. Ricky Middlesworth/ABC Kathy refused to relinquish her vendetta with Theresa Retired educator Kathy, 70, would not shut up about how terribly financial services pro Theresa, 69, treated her. Last episode, she read Theresa the riot act, and this time she again refused to accept any apology. Kathy thought Theresa acted like she had Gerry in the bag, and bragged that he comforted her in her bedroom. Dont kiss and tell! said Kathy. I made a big mistake, said Theresa, and maybe I said too much, but its not malicious. Can I just give you some friendly advice? snapped Kathy in a not-friendly tone. Zip it! Then she complained to the camera, I think she could be the one for Gerry, but stop telling every detail of your date, because it hurt other people here, including myself, who havent had the time with him. But she just cant seem to find the off button! But Kathy was the one who failed to find the off button Theresa told Gerry about Kathys comment, though she misquoted her: Kathy said, Snip it! Furrowing his handsome brow, Gerry told Kathy, I see a rift here that Im really not happy about. Im not the villain here! Kathy protested. Were all people of a certain age who have hearts and feelings. Today started out fine. Then Theresa told him that there is some friction here. Because of Theresa, now Im not getting a rose. Building a financially secure retirement is an uphill climb for many Americans, but its especially steep if you are Black. The numbers paint a stark picture. Black workers ages 51 to 64 are the least likely among all racial and ethnic groups to have a retirement account, according to a July 2023 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office. When they do have one, their median balance is far below that of similarly aged white adults across all income levels. The savings gap is just the tip of a very large iceberg. Median overall net worth of white households was nearly eight times that of African American households $189,000 to $24,000 in 2020, according to Federal Reserve data. These disparities are the product of many others, spanning American economic life legacies of the inequities that echo and accrue through Black Americans working lives. AARP Membership Join AARP for $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP The Magazine. Join Now Retirement equity doesnt mean everyone will have an equal balance. People have different financial lives, different goals and different obligations, says Karen Andres, director of the Retirement Savings Initiative at the Aspen Institute Financial Security Program. But the disparities that we can see in retirement savings balances are so large that it would seem that our retirement savings system is not giving everyone what they need. Those racial disparities have large, lingering effects on financial security in later life, when people have fewer avenues to compensate for inadequate retirement savings. Black Americans age 65 and up rely far more heavily than their white counterparts on Social Security for retirement income, and they are more than twice as likely to live in poverty. Here are seven facts that help illustrate why Black workers often face difficulties in saving money for retirement. 1. Black workers are paid less Getty/AARP Black families are also significantly more likely to have very low earnings. The Federal Reserves 2021 Survey of Household Economics and Decision-Making found that 43 percent have annual income under $25,000, compared to 20 percent of white families. Retirement inequality is rooted in wage inequality, the Aspen Institutes Leadership Forum on Retirement Savings said in a 2021 report. If you dont have income sufficient to cover day-to-day bills and accumulate the short-term savings needed to handle emergencies, how will you be able to save for the long term while keeping intact whatever you do manage to set aside? Lower income doesnt just dampen savings. It also reduces future Social Security payments, because these benefits are based on a workers earnings history. On 17 October, the Paris prefecture banned a meeting, which was to be held at the Bourse du Travail the next day, to demand the release of pro-Palestinian activist Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, detained in France for nearly 40 years. On the evening of 18 October, at the time of the meeting, the Paris Labour Exchange was closed under the surveillance of the CRS (riot control police). [Originally published in French at marxiste.org] To justify this scandalous deprivation of the right to assemble, the banning order signed by Laurent Nunez, prefect of Paris, states "that due to the Israeli response in the Gaza Strip, there are serious risks that anti-Semitic remarks will be made on the occasion of the long-planned meeting. To be crystal clear: this meeting would have been an opportunity to castigate not only the French state, which stubbornly refuses to release Georges Abdallah, but also the Zionist state, which is massacring the Palestinians of Gaza. However, Laurent Nunez works for a government that defends the following idea: attacking the policies of the Israeli government is anti-semitism. The conclusion: criticism of the Israeli government must be prohibited, and therefore public meetings where such criticism risks being neutered must be prohibited. In passing, let us point out that in France truly anti-Semitic remarks and acts are constantly committed by more-or-less fascist organisations, which the bourgeois state spares and protects, because these organisations offer a useful weapon to be deployed as additional forces against the left and the workers' movement in the future. The banning order signed by Laurent Nunez also explains that demonstrations having as their object pro-Palestinian demands were prohibited for the purposes of ensuring the maintenance of public order; that the evolution of the situation and in particular the counter-offensive on the Gaza Strip is likely to amplify demands and protests, to radicalise the pro-Palestinian movement and to import the tensions born from this conflict abroad. It is clear that the massacre of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza radicalises not only the pro-Palestinian movement but also millions of young people and workers who follow these events with burning indignation. They are radically hostile to the crimes of Israeli imperialism. Many of them want to demonstrate this indignation and their support for the struggle of the Palestinian people for their most basic democratic rights. But Laurent Nunez and his boss, Gerald Darmanin, decided otherwise, in the name of maintaining public order. Public order, in this case, includes French imperialisms unwavering support for the far-right government of Benjamin Netanyahu. Nothing should disturb this order, not even a public meeting of organisations that have campaigned for many years for the release of Georges Abdallah, the oldest political prisoner in Europe. According to Laurent Nunez, the meeting would have contributed to importing the tensions born from this conflict abroad. This formulation is very confusing. Were the tensions born in France or in Palestine? In Palestine, it is not a question of tensions, but of a war. And if the tensions were born in France, they do not need to be imported there. In its very confusion, this formulation aims to deny the feelings of solidarity that millions of young people and workers feel towards the Palestinian people. Under the devious pen of the Police Prefect, these feelings become tensions, which have been imported by whom, and by what means? from lands far from our peaceful shores. This story of importation is grotesque in two other respects. On the one hand, the French government is itself a party to this conflict, because it supports the crimes of the Israeli government. The bans on demonstrations and meetings in France are precisely expressions of this support. On the other hand, it is the government itself which, since 7 October, has continued to import into France that is to say, to exploit the situation in Israel-Palestine to: 1) develop its racist and reactionary propaganda against immigrants and Muslims; 2) intensify its offensive against France Insoumise and threaten the NPA (among others) with dissolution; 3) launch a brutal assault on the right to demonstrate, the right to assemble and freedom of expression in general an assault that allows the government to probe the reaction of the major organisations of the labour movement to these type of measures, which will be taken in the future on themes other than the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The latest example: this morning, the general secretary of the UD CGT du Nord (59), Jean-Paul Delescaut, was arrested at his home and placed in police custody. He is accused of apologising for terrorism because his union branch published a press release calling for a ceasefire in Gaza! A mobilisation is underway in Lille to obtain the immediate release of this union leader. Everyone at the demonstrations on October 22! This morning, the general secretary of the UD CGT du Nord (59), Jean-Paul Delescaut, was arrested at his home and placed in police custody / Image: Unite CGT Yesterday, the FI, the CGT and dozens of organisations called for demonstrations across the country on 22 October against the massacre of Gazans by the Israeli army. It was time! Until then, the demonstrations banned and repressed were mainly called by pro-Palestinian collectives and various small organisations. The passivity of the major organisations of the labour movement encouraged the government in its anti-democratic offensive. Unsurprisingly, the PS, the Greens and the Communist Party (PCF) are not among the signatories of the call to demonstrate on Sunday. On the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the leaders of these three parties have completely capitulated to bourgeois public opinion. Furthermore, their main activity these days is to add their own voices to those of the right and the far right in their offensive against Jean-Luc Melenchon, Mathilde Panot and other leaders of the FI. The attitude of the PCF leadership is particularly striking, because it marks a clear break with the historic position of this party on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Clearly, Fabien Roussel and his entourage are leading their party towards an abyss. That being said, the position of the leaders of the CGT and the FI is far from satisfactory. In summary, they call on the French government to stop behaving like the bourgeois government of an imperialist power. They sow illusions about the UN, as if this imperialist thieves kitchen to use Lenin's phrase about the League of Nations, the ancestor of the UN could contribute even a little to the cause of the Palestinians. Revolution activists will participate in the 22 October demonstrations under their own flag and their own slogans, namely: Annual Report to Shareholders Sydney, Oct 20, 2023 AEST (ABN Newswire) - The principal activities of Cobre Limited ( ASX:CBE ) during the financial year included advanced exploration over Cobre's 100%-owned assets in the Kalahari Copper Belt (KCB), Botswana which spans across an extensive licenced area of 5,393km2, prospective for sedimentary hosted copper-silver mineralisation. During the year Cobre also continued to evaluate the assets held by its 100%-owned subsidiary Toucan Gold Pty Ltd (Toucan), primarily at the Perrinvale Project, which covers 327km2 of the Panhandle and Illaara Greenstone Belts in Western Australia. The Company also continued to incur exploration expenditure under the Sandiman Farm-in Agreement with GTTS Generations Pty Ltd. The Sandiman Tenement is located in the Gascoyne Province, in Western Australia and spans across 202km2 on the eastern edge of the Carnarvon Basin. Cobre also holds a 14.43% investment interest in ASX-listed Armada Metals Limited ( ASX:AMM ) which continued to perform exploration activities over the reporting period. Armada holds two exploration licences prospective for magmatic Ni-Cu sulphides in Gabon covering a total area of 2,725km2. *To view the Annual Report, please visit: https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/HD98J320 About Cobre Limited Cobre Limited (ASX:CBE) is a copper and base-metals explorer with projects in Western Australia and Botswana. The Company recently discovered a new high-grade VMS deposit enriched in Copper, Gold, Zinc and Silver in Western Australia, and is currently exploring approximately 8,100 km2 of tenements within the Kalahari Copper Belt (KCB) in Botswana. Related Companies Instagram Celebrity Fif, who has been friends with Eminem for around two decades, celebrates the latter's birthday more than a month after he brings up his pal as a surprise guest at the 'Final Lap Tour' stop in Detroit, Michigan. Oct 20, 2023 AceShowbiz - 50 Cent walked down memory lane on Eminem's 51st birthday. To commemorate his longtime pal's latest milestone, the "In Da Club" hitmaker took to social media to unleash throwback pictures of the two. The post, which was shared on Instagram, included photos of Fif and Em performing together onstage. The last one, in the meantime, saw the pair posing with Dr. Dre when they were celebrating 50 getting his Hollywood Star for the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In the caption, Fif wrote, "Happy Birthday to the living legend @eminem love you to death man." He added, "God bless wishing you many more." 50 Cent and Eminem have been friends for around two decades. Back in September, the "Not Afraid" spitter made an appearance at the former's "Final Lap Tour" stop in Detroit, Michigan. During the concert, which took place at the Pine Knob Music Theatre, Eminem became Fif's surprise guest. At one point during the show, Eminem showed up onstage to deliver a number of songs. He performed his collaborative track with 50 Cent titled "Patiently Waiting" which is featured in "Get Rich or Die Tryin' ". He also rapped another of their collaborations titled "Crack a Bottle", featuring Dr. Dre, which was released back in 2009. Wrapping up his performance, the "Sing for the Moment" spitter showed his love to Fif as he exclaimed, "Detroit, make some noise for one of the best friends that I've ever known, 50 Cent!" He added, "And also, make some noise for hip-hop's 50th birthday, y'all Detroit, I love y'all, man." Following the show, Eminem let out a number of photos from his performance with 50 Cent. One of the pictures captured the two best friends shaking hands when they were on stage. Along with the snaps, he penned in the caption of the post, "Had 2 come out with @50cent last night thanks 4 the love, Detroit! 'FINAL LAP TOUR!!!' " You can share this post! Facebook Watch Celebrity The 'Red Table Talk' host addresses controversy surrounding her remarks about her late friend who was gunned down in 1996, insisting 'soulmates aren't just romantic.' Oct 20, 2023 AceShowbiz - Jada Pinkett Smith felt "rageful" when she was handed her murdered friend Tupac Shakur's ashes. The 52-year-old actress received the urn containing the remains of her "soulmate" - who was killed in 1996 aged 25 after being ambushed in a car in a drive-by-shooting in Las Vegas while Death Row Records founder Suge Knight, 58, was with him in the driver's seat of the vehicle - was one of the most challenging moments in her life to write about in her new memoir "Worthy". In an interview with Extra to promote in the book, Jada said about attending a private memorial in actress Jasmine Guy's backyard when Suge "delivered Pac's ashes into my very hands." "Having to receive Pac's ashes in that way was a really devastating moment and I'll put it like that, to just get him in that little cardboard box, and yes, I was very rageful about the whole thing, about everything." "Girls Trip" star Jada also went into the nature of her relationship with Tupac, saying, "On the internet, there's been a whole lot of things about me calling Tupac my soulmate, and I think people regard soulmate just in a romantic way." Insisting their bond was purely platonic, Jada added, "Soulmates aren't just romantic." She made the claim despite writing in her book Tupac had proposed to her from jail on Rikers Island in New York City. She added to Extra, "Pac and I were not romantic, but he is a soulmate. I know I will see him again." Tupac was sentenced to eight months on Rikers in 1995 before he was bailed out by Suge. Jada has said about visiting the rapper in jail at the time, "Seeing him there, the condition that he was in, and having to leave him there, he was in bad shape." She also said in an interview this week with the "All the Smoke" podcast, "So when he asked me to get married, I knew at that time that he needed somebody to do time with him - which I was going to do anyway. You ain't have to marry me to do time, I'm here." Prosecutors have announced Duane "Keffe D" Davis, was last month arrested in connection to Tupac's murder and according to reports he is expected to plead not guilty in the case. You can share this post! Instagram Celebrity Noddy Holder underwent a grueling treatment as part of 'a brand-new trial of intense chemotherapy' after doctors told him his prognosis wasn't good amid cancer battle. Oct 20, 2023 AceShowbiz - Noddy Holder was told he had only six months to live after being diagnosed with cancer five years ago. The Slade frontman's wife Suzan has talked about the shock she and her 77-year-old spouse when doctors broke the "bombshell" news he has oesophageal cancer and his prognosis was't good. "Five years ago we were given the devastating news that he had oesophageal cancer and only had six months to live. I'm sorry if that comes as a bit of a shock; it came as a total bombshell to us too. We coped with it the only way we could, by hunkering down, sticking together and doing everything we could to survive it," she wrote in a column for Cheshire Life magazine. "We told only immediate close family and friends and I will never apologise to those we did not confide in, only to those who were forced to suffer pain and anguish alongside us as we attempted to navigate our way through this new and horrifying world. They held our hands and kept our confidence. We truly found out who our real friends are." The "Cuz I Love You" hitmaker was treated at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester, where he "agreed to a gruelling course of experimental treatment as part of a brand-new trial of intense chemotherapy," and Suzan is thankful he is "feeling good" now. She wrote, "There were no guarantees, no one knew if it would have any effect, let alone work miracles, but he responded well. As anyone who has received a cancer diagnosis will know, the experts never like to use the word 'cure', but here we are five years later and he's feeling good and looking great." As well as the "excellent" care Noddy received from his medical team, Suzan thinks his positive attitude also helped him to get better. She wrote, "Noddy has always been great at living in the moment, not hankering for the past or worrying about the future." "That attitude served him well and a lot of his recovery has been credited to his positive mental attitude. You need so much mental strength to get through something like this. I've always been impressed by my husband's focus and determination but now I am completely in awe." You can share this post! Warner Bros. Pictures Celebrity The 'Harry Potter' actor admits he Googles himself online and reads fan story about Harry Potter's same-sex relationship with Tom Felton's onscreen character. Oct 20, 2023 AceShowbiz - Daniel Radcliffe searches himself on the internet. The 34-year-old actor confessed during a lie detector test that he's looked himself up online and been amazed by some of the bizarre stories he's read about himself. "Yes," he confessed when quizzed on if he'd Googled himself by his "Merrily We Roll Along" co-stars Jonathan Groff and Lindsay Mendez for Vanity Fair magazine. Jonathan noted, "Aw, Dan, so honest." The "Harry Potter" star gestured to the polygrapher and said, "I mean there's no point f****** lying is there, Judd?" The duo then quizzed Daniel as to the weirdest thing he's read about himself. He said, "In terms of stories about me, the weirdest I've read about myself was that I had the SAS walk my dogs, that I had special beer brewed for myself by monks in a monastery in Belgium, that I had to get my assistant to hold my scripts in the mirror while I was getting my make-up done - even though that doesn't make f****** sense 'cause I wouldn't be able to read mirror writing. And yeah, there's a long list." Daniel - who shot to fame playing the titular wizard in the "Harry Potter" franchise - also revealed he'd read some bizarre fan fiction stories fantasising about his alter ego and former co-star Tom Felton's Draco Malfoy together. Asked if he's read fanfiction about himself, he said, "Yes, aloud on TV. I'm obviously aware there's a lot of like shipping of Harry and Draco as characters together. So, I've read some of that. Shipping is like when you want two characters to get together, for a relationship...And this is the kind of thing I know from being in a franchise film of which people are funny about." Daniel has been mistaken for Elijah Wood over the years, and though he thinks he and the "Hobbit" star are "conceptually" the same, he insisted they look nothing alike. He said, "Me and Elijah Wood, the idea of us is the same - we're both short, pale, brown haired actors with blue eyes, but we don't actually look that alike but conceptually we are the same." "I think it's very funny [when I get mistaken for him]. I'd imagine he would get annoyed that people mistook him for me because I was a 12 year old child when he was playing Frodo. I have signed photos of him." "I got a letter the other day from someone I'm pretty sure is a troll but it's a really good one so I'm gonna write back to it, wirth a picture of him from Sin City and it was like 'I loved you in Sin City, it's one of my favourite can you please sign this and send it back to me.' [Am I gonna do it?] Yeah, absolutely. But I'll sign my name and be like 'This is Elijah Wood.' " You can share this post! Cover Images/Faye's Vision Celebrity In a court filing that asks for dismissal of his case, the actor/comedian's attorneys claim that his client was racially discriminated against by the gate agent and Denver prosecutors. Oct 20, 2023 AceShowbiz - Marlon Wayans insisted that he was being unfairly prosecuted following a dispute with an United Airlines employee at Denver airport. In a court filing to dismiss the case, the actor/comedian's attorneys claimed that his client was racially discriminated against by the gate agent and Denver prosecutors. In the court documents filed on Thursday, October 19, Marlon's attorneys noted that the gate agent racially targeted the actor after he was removed from a flight for allegedly disturbing the peace. The court docs also stated that Denver prosecutors are perpetuating that discrimination and denying his right to equal protection under the law by continuing to pursue charges against him. "The City of Denver's position is an affront to constitutional and social equity principles," Marlon's lawyers said. United Airlines has yet to respond to the claims, while City Attorney Kerry Tipper stated that her office didn't comment on pending cases. The airport altercation took place back in June. At the time, a gate agent stopped Marlon from getting on a flight to Kansas City because he had three bags. Not having it, Marlon allegedly got upset and angrily slammed his ticket on the counter. After the "Scary Movie" star consolidated his luggage into two bags to conform with airline policy, he was allowed to board the plane only to be removed from the flight 30 minutes later. The court filing stated that the gate agent allowed other passengers to board the flight even with three bags. It claimed that the plane had about 140 passengers, many of whom brought three bags and oversized bags that violated the airline's policy. The dispute led Marlon to a citation for disturbing the peace and a municipal violation. After Marlon blasted United Airlines on social media, it issued a statement regarding the matter. "In Denver on Friday, a customer who had been told he would have to gate-check his bag instead pushed past a United employee at the jetbridge and attempted to board the aircraft," a spokesperson told TMZ at the time. "The customer won't be flying on United to his destination." You can share this post! Instagram Celebrity The 74-year-old monarch jokes about his frustration over a leaky fountain pen when reminding Brits to resist the temptation to engage in heated online arguments amid 'international turmoil.' Oct 20, 2023 AceShowbiz - King Charles called for "understanding" as he issued a warning about heated online arguments. The 74-year-old monarch delivered a speech to the lord mayor of London and the City of London Corporation at Mansion House on Wednesday, October 18 and urged the British public to resist the "temptation" to become a "shouting society." He said, "The instinct to cooperate wherever and whenever possible is deep within us. Even in the most fractious times - when disagreements are polished, paraded and asserted - there is in our land a kind of muscle memory that it does not have to be like this; that the temptation to turn ourselves into a shouting or recriminatory society must be resisted, or at least heavily mitigated whenever possible, especially in the digital sphere where civilised debate too often gives way to rancour and acrimony." Charles told people to draw from their "deep wells" of shared values and to have "understanding both at home and overseas" as he stressed it has "never [been] more vital than at times of international turmoil and heartbreaking loss of life." He added, "Our willingness to put others first and treat them as we would wish them to treat us. To listen to their views and, if we do not agree, to remind ourselves to engage in a way which is passionate, but not pugnacious. This includes the practice of our religious faiths, in freedom and mutual understanding." The king noted that it is "genuine togetherness that will see us through good times and bad." Charles also poked fun at himself over footage of him growing visibly frustrated with a leaky fountain pen when he had to sign documents shortly after he took the throne last year. He said, "Our ability to laugh at ourselves is one of our great national characteristics. Just as well, you may say, given some of the vicissitudes I have faced with frustratingly failing fountain pens this past year!" The monarch, who was accompanied to the event by his wife, Queen Camilla, has long spoken out about climate change and he raised the subject again in his speech. He said, "After decades of debate, our television screens - or, increasingly, mobile phone screens - confront us each day with the stark realities of climate change." He continued, "But are devastating scenes of communities scarred by fire and flood - not to mention the migration of people fleeing those terrifying phenomena - enough to persuade us to take the action that is needed - to make the sacrifices needed to secure our planet for generations yet unborn? I believe so." You can share this post! WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 2023 Bettye Washington Greene was a pioneer. In 1965, when she began her career as a research scientist at The Dow Chemical Company (Dow) in Midland, Michigan, she became the first female Black American Ph.D. chemist hired in the chemical industry. The American Chemical Society (ACS) will honor her achievements with the National Historic Chemical Landmark designation during an Oct. 27 ceremony at Wayne State University in Detroit. Bettye Washington Greenes tenure at Dow opened the doors for other researchers of color. Celebrating her achievements is particularly meaningful as we consider the challenges that she must have encountered at that point of our history, says ACS Immediate Past President Angela K. Wilson, who will speak at the dedication ceremony. Dr. Washington Greene stands as an aspirational role model for all of us paving the way toward much-needed diversity across the sciences, across the country and across the globe. Born in 1935 in Palestine, Texas, Washington Greene (nee Washington) grew up in an environment that was in many ways hostile, rigid and determined to keep her from succeeding. But as one of the first female Black commercial chemists in the U.S., Washington Greene didnt let the racism and sexism of the era hinder her. She overcame these roadblocks to make significant contributions to the field of materials science. When Washington Greene graduated from high school in the early 1950s, few professional pathways were available for Black women or for women in general. Mostly, young women were funneled into nursing or teaching careers. Washington Greene wasnt interested in either career. She moved to Alabama to attend the Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University), a co-educational, historically Black college. She graduated with a bachelors degree in chemistry in 1955. Two months after graduation, she married William Greene, an engineer who trained Tuskegee Airmen. By the early 1960s, Washington Greene decided she wanted to continue her education. She earned her Ph.D. at Wayne State in 1965. In doing so, she became the fifth Black woman to earn a doctorate in chemistry in the U.S. Later that year, Washington Greene was recruited by Dow. She was the first Black female research scientist on the companys staff. In fact, she was the first female Black American Ph.D. chemist hired by any chemical company. Washington Greenes research at Dow on light scattering techniques, latexes and other subjects contributed to innovations in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, paints, coatings and catalysts. In the course of her work, she was issued three patents. Washington Greene retired from Dow in 1990. She died on June 16, 1995, at the age of 60. The Oct. 27 Landmark dedication will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. EDT at Wayne State. The program will include the Second Annual Bettye Washington Greene Endowed Memorial Lecture; the designation ceremony, featuring remarks by representatives from Wayne State, Dow and the Washington Greene family; and a discussion and short film about Washington Greene's life and contributions to science. Wayne State will host a livestream of the ceremony starting at 2 p.m. EDT via the following link: https://wayne.edu/live. Adani Wilmar Limited (AWL), one of India's leading food and FMCG companies, launched a new TV commercial for Fortune Sunlite Refined Sunflower Oil today. The new multi-media TVC, conceptualised by Ogilvy, features brand ambassador, actress Samantha Prabhu, highlighting Fortune Sunlite's unique benefit as a trans fat-free oil. The brand has rolled out an extensive multi-media campaign, which will be showcased across digital platforms and supported by promotional campaigns through print advertisements, outdoor and more. The all-new TV commercial emphasises the brand's dedication to promoting a healthier lifestyle through Fortune Sunlite Refined Sunflower Oil. The ad goes on to highlight the oils unique selling point, which is its trans fat-free composition, presented in an engaging and visual format. It also showcases Samantha Prabhu's commitment to a health-conscious lifestyle, highlighting her preference for a snack cooked in Fortune Sunlite Oil and the sense of lightness it imparts. Commenting on the latest TVC campaign, Mr. Mukesh Mishra, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Adani Wilmar Limited said, "At Adani Wilmar, we place great emphasis on the nutritional value that discerning consumers seek in their grocery selections. Indian consumers have an insightful understanding of the need to change their edible oils periodically to benefit from varied nutrients and advantages. We introduce our new TV commercial, featuring brand ambassador Samantha Prabhu that aims to encapsulate the essence of Fortune Sunflower Oil it's not just a cooking oil; it's a commitment to a healthier, happier life. We believe this TVC will inspire consumers to make healthier choices for their families." Regarding her partnership with Adani Wilmar, actress Samantha Prabhu said, I am delighted to collaborate with Adani Wilmar for Fortune Sunlite Refined Sunflower Oil. As someone who values a healthy lifestyle, this partnership deeply resonates with me. Fortune Sunlite, with its trans fat-free composition and dedication to promoting wellness, is the ideal choice for health-conscious consumers. I look forward to advocating healthier living with Fortune Sunlite and being a part of this journey towards a happier and healthier life. Adani Wilmars Fortune Sunlite Refined Sunflower Oil is light, easily digestible, and contains immunity-boosting vitamins A, D, and E, making it a reliable choice in the cooking oil segment. It undergoes over 100 quality tests to ensure that only the best Sunflower oil is packed for consumption. It is available in the SKUs of 500 ml, 1 Ltr, 2 Ltr, & 5 Ltr on most e-commerce sites and across stores. Hindustan Pencils, a pioneer and leader in the stationery industry and is also the proud home of renowned brands like Nataraj and Apsara. The brand is all set to infuse the festive spirits of Durga Pujo with an array of engaging activities and enticing product displays. The grand event is taking place from October 18th to 24th, 2023, at Singhi Park Sarbojonin, Kolkata, along with other prominent locations in Chennai and Bangalore. In Kolkata, the celebrations will unfold at the Singhi Park Sarbojonin, Garihahat. Last year's festivities witnessed a remarkable footfall of approximately 60 lakhs during the final four days, as reported by local law enforcement. Hindustan Pencils has thoughtfully curated a thrilling lineup of activities to captivate visitors during the Durga Pujo festival. Marvel Avengers Selfie Stand: Express your admiration for the most powerful superheroes on Earth by taking a selfie with the Marvel Avengers cut-out at the booth, posting it on your Facebook or Instagram profile, and tagging Apsara. Product Display: Hindustan Pencils will proudly showcase their diverse range of products, providing visitors with the opportunity to explore and acquire their favorite stationery items. Brand Love Wall with Apsara Notebook: A creative display featuring an Apsara notebook page print wall will serve as a backdrop to the stall. Visitors can share their stationery-related memories or express their fondness for the brand on sticky notes, fostering a sense of community and nostalgia. Free Sampling: Each visitor will receive a complimentary Apsara Wondertip ball pen, allowing them to experience the superior quality of Hindustan Pencils' products firsthand. Matt-Magic Pencils Shaving Activities: A fun and exciting contest to engage children and introduce them with the magic of innovative product Matt Magic pencils. Participants will be provided with a Long Point Sharpener and a Matt Magic pencil for a fun-filled shaving contest, promoting skill and creativity. Winners will be provided with exciting prizes like Apsara Marvel Avengers power pack In addition to Kolkata, Hindustan Pencils is actively embracing the festivities in Chennai and Bangalore: Chennai Event (October 20th to 24th): In Chennai, the organizers have arranged a drawing competition for four age groups - up to 6 years, 7-12 years, 13-18 years, and 19 years & above. Three winners from each group will be awarded Apsara Hampers. Hindustan Pencils' product display stall will also be a highlight of this event. Venue: South Madras Culture Association Old No.11A / New. 43, CGE HOUSING COLONY, Beach Rd, T. K, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600041 Bangalore Event: Hindustan Pencils will be showcasing their extensive product range throughout the event. Venue: Sorrba Durgotsob, Swarnamukhi Hospital Ground, Beside St. Peter School, Sarjapur Road, Bengaluru 560102 The Hindustan Pencils is aiming to create a delightful and memorable experience for all visitors. Doritos has embarked on an explosive journey with the launch of its new TV campaign to introduce the fiery new addition to its repertoire Doritos Dinamita. In a move inspired by its globally renowned success, Doritos Dinamita has made its debut in two explosive flavours Fiery Lime and Chilli and Sizzlin Hot meticulously tailored to the discerning Indian palate. With this innovative offering, Doritos is poised to maintain its pre-eminence in one of the worlds fastest-growing tortilla chips markets. The TVC vividly brings to life the explosive nature of the product, featuring a group of campers stranded in the wilderness, desperately awaiting rescue. After days of futile attempts to signal a hovering chopper, the youngest camper stumbles upon the last packet of Doritos Dinamita in his backpack. In a stroke of brilliance, he munches on the dynamite-shaped chip, triggering an explosion that grabs the choppers attention and ultimately saves the day. In conversation with Adgully, Pranshu Sahni, Category Lead, Doritos, PepsiCo India, speaks about the new category, their new TVC, growth of the chilli category for PepsiCo, and much more Elaborating on the burgeoning interest in chilli-based products and the unique attributes of Doritos Dinamita, Sahni noted, The chilli bucket in India is a growing bucket, and we thought we leveraged that with Sizzling Hot. This year, we launched and got into a new platform with Dinamita and it is a differentiated product at every level, which you might not have had before in this country and thats something which is our USP for this product. Delving into the flavour profile, Sahni emphasised on how Doritos meticulously tailors its products to suit the Indian palate. He said, Doritos as a brand is a corn chip trademark, anything related to corn on the snacks portfolio. It does not venture into other categories. PepsiCo is led by Doritos. We do a comprehensive consumer testing before we launch anything on our products. Both the flavours, which have been launched in the country, have been validated by the consumer completely. While there are global flavours at the base of it, the taste has been tweaked as per Indian preferences. Highlighting the importance of product format, Sahni explained, Every product comes with an experience with different shapes, if you see its an engineering thing, when the R&D works on it, it brings out what is the best shape to get you the best flavour, thats how product formats work. Every flavour does not work in every format, thats how it is, its a combination of the format and the flavour that makes the product so special. Regarding the key demographics for Doritos Dinamita, Sahni observed, Currently, India has the biggest young population in the world and that is where consumption is sitting today. Its a TG that actually spends more time on digital, is more tech savvy, they are very clear about the choices they want to make, and they know what they want to have. Keeping those insights in mind, we have launched this product. Further outlining the campaigns objectives, Sahni said, The objective behind this TVC is to build awareness of the platform. The TVC will be the lead creative to bring awareness of Dinamita and thats the 70% mix of our spends. The rest, 30% of our spends will go into amplifying the TVC. This will be led through 360 degree communication. This is all work in progress for now. In terms of opportunities in the tortilla chips category, Sahni pointed out, Tortilla chips is a very nascent category in India. Doritos was the first brand which brought tortillas to the country and we are the pioneers in that. As market leaders globally in multiple markets, it is our responsibility to grow the category and give consumers new experiences with every product. The key role of my brand is to grow the tortilla chips category and get more consumers to the tortilla chips category. In the midst of the escalating Israel-Hamas conflict, a television debate involving Shreya Dhoundial, an anchor for Mirror Now, sparked a discussion. One of the panelists, representing Israel, took issue with the color of the saree she was wearing. The Israeli panelist, identified as Frederic Landau, a member of Israeli Intel Special Forces, pointed out that the colors of her saree resembled those of the Palestinian flag. This debate occurred in the context of Israel's bombing of a hospital in Gaza. Shreya Dhoundial, when confronted about her saree's color choice, explained that she was wearing her grandmother's heirloom green and red saree. Frederic Landau, the Israeli guest, emphasized that the saree's colors appeared similar to those of the Palestinian flag, which features green, white, red, and black, whereas Israel's flag prominently features blue and white. In response, Shreya Dhoundial emphasized the importance of not associating colors with religion and clarified that her saree held sentimental value as a family heirloom and had no political connotations As the radiant festivities of Durga Pujo envelop West Bengal in an aura of vibrancy, Tata Tea Gold, the beloved tea brand of the region, magnificently commemorates the spirit of the occasion with an innovative twist. In a first-of-its-kind collaboration, Laqshya Media brings to life an extraordinary Dual-Screen 3D Anamorphic Display at South City Mall, Kolkata, showcasing the quintessential handloom heritage of West Bengal through a captivating fusion of technology and tradition. The awe-inspiring installation, on display from October 14 to 21, 2023, eloquently depicts the splendour of Durga Pujo through an intricate tapestry of Bengal's five distinct handlooms. From the vivid conch blowing on the Jamdani-inspired packaging to the enchanting rhythms of the Dhaki depicted on the Kantha-inspired designs, the display seamlessly weaves a mesmerising tale of Bengali pride and festivity. Symbolising a tribute to the region's rich cultural craftsmanship, this groundbreaking initiative by Tata Tea Gold and Laqshya Media Ltd promises to captivate the hearts of onlookers and tea enthusiasts alike. Commenting about the successful 3D anamorphic outdoor installation, Puneet Das, President - Packaged Beverages (India and South Asia), Tata Consumer Products, said, Durga Pujo is a cultural extravaganza transcending the boundaries of celebrations by amalgamating culture, traditions, artistry, and devotion of people. Handlooms are an integral part of festive celebrations, and with our Banglar Noksha Pujo campaign, we aim to pay tribute to the resplendent cultural craftsmanship of the region. By leveraging cutting-edge technology for contemporary storytelling, we endeavour to celebrate West Bengals acclaimed handlooms, creating resonance with our consumers. Further, our limited-edition festive packs persist in recounting the awe-inspiring handloom heritage of the state. Yuvrraj Agarwaal, Chief Strategy Officer, Laqshya Media Group, said, Embracing Tata Consumer with gratitude, we embark on an extraordinary journey during the Durga Puja festivities, harmonising the elements of Tea, Tradition, and Technology to create an unparalleled experience. Durga Pujo, a grand cultural symphony, orchestrates a seamless fusion of culture, traditions, artistry, and devotion, with handlooms as a vital part. Through this campaign, we pay homage to the region's rich cultural craftsmanship, weaving our story with consumers through the threads of never-seen-before technology. He added, Our hearts brim with excitement as we unveil our role in illuminating West Bengal's cultural vibrancy with our cutting-edge Dual-Screen 3D Anamorphic Display. As the pioneering execution of its kind in India by any brand, it stands as a testament to our relentless pursuit of industry-first innovations, underscoring our unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of creativity and technology. We are unwavering in our quest to make out-of-home experiences more captivating and immersive, and this project embodies that very philosophy." Sommnath Sengupta, CEO of Inventech, a Laqshya Media Group company, joyously reflects on the success of the Tata Banglar Noksha Pujo campaign, emphasising the triumph of the 3D Anamorphic Display from conceptualisation to installation. With our successful 3D anamorphic outdoor installation and groundbreaking Dual-Screen 3D Anamorphic Display, we celebrate West Bengal's cultural craftsmanship beyond the ordinary. Our commitment to pushing creative and technological boundaries is evident in every thread, creating immersive connections. We've woven an experience that transcends tradition, leaving an indelible mark on consumers' hearts during the Durga Puja festivities, he said. Alabama Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield is stepping down at years end, and Gov. Kay Ivey has tapped a 40-year economic development veteran to succeed him. On Friday Ivey announced Ellen McNair, chief economic development officer with the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, will take the post Jan. 1. She will be the first female Commerce Department secretary. Canfield has held the office for the last 12 years, taking over the Alabama Development Office in 2011 and reorganizing the department as Commerce. Alabama Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield speaks in an undated file photo. During his time, Alabama launched Accelerate Alabama, its first-ever strategic economic development plan and initiated the Made in Alabama brand as the state saw record numbers of international exports, investments and job creation. The biggest achievement during his tenure was helping securing Huntsville as the site for the $2.3 billion Mazda-Toyota joint manufacturing plant in 2018. The appropriately named Project New World was sought after by several states with 4,000 jobs. Canfield also made trade missions to 30 countries and oversaw the launch of the Commerce Departments rural development strategy. Before I joined Commerce, I had a long career in the private sector, and Im looking to explore what I can accomplish in that environment once again, Canfield said. Ill make my definitive plans know a bit later. But this much you can bank on: I believe Alabama is a great place, and I will always be an ambassador for the state. Its also a wonderful place to do business, and I will continue spreading that message just as I did for 12 years at Commerce. In a statement, Ivey said she will forever be grateful for Canfields work. Throughout my time as governor, we have proudly solidified Alabama as a top state for doing business, and no doubt, Greg has been a key part of that success, Ivey said. Together, we have secured more than $42 billion in new investments in our state, which has created 78,000 good-paying jobs. Greg will go down as one of Alabamas best economic development heads, and he will be noted for projects like Mazda-Toyota and credited for branding the Made in Alabama name worldwide. As a state legislator, Canfield headed the Houses commerce and small business committee. Canfield said he is honored to have made a contribution to the effort to improve Alabamas future. I am proud to have been a part of Gov. Iveys cabinet, and I am proud of the team of professionals we have assembled at Commerce. I am more confident than ever that Alabama is poised for a robust era of economic expansion that will transform the trajectories of communities and families across the state, Canfield said. Ivey said she has known McNair since her days at the Alabama Development Office. When McNair first entered economic development after attending graduate school in the Department of Economics at Auburn University, Ivey was the offices assistant director. She sees past just the investment and jobs numbers and knows that these results are changing the lives of Alabama families, Ivey said. Ellen has partnered with Greg and I to bring growth to the Montgomery area, and I am confident we will see success like that all over the state. During McNairs tenure at the Chamber, she has successfully worked on almost 600 national and international projects with a capital investment of over $8 billion, resulting in almost 30,000 new jobs for the Montgomery community. She was the senior project manager and a member of the negotiating team that brought Hyundai Motors Corp. to Montgomery. Former Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange described her as a smooth bulldog, while current Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed said McNair is tenacious. Canfield said he knows the momentum weve built will continue to grow in the capable hands of Ellen McNair. McNair said she will work with Canfield for a smooth transition. Economic development has been a passion and focus for the governor her entire career. The success of the state under Gov. Iveys and Sec. Canfields leadership is unprecedented. These will certainly be big shoes to fill, she said. The state of Alabama is blessed with many strong local and regional economic development professionals, and I look forward to working closely with them and the entire state team to continue Alabamas smart and strategic economic development. McNair was the first female project manager at the Alabama Department of Commerce and the first woman Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) in Alabama. She was also the first woman president of the Economic Development Association of Alabama, the first woman to lead a major metro areas economic development effort in the state. Alabamas outgoing Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield has seen tens of billions of dollars in investment come to Alabama during his 12-plus years on the job. But the mechanics of landing a deal can hinge on many different details - large and small. Canfield, who announced today he is departing the job at years end, told an audience in Tokyo at the Southeast U.S./Japan Association this week about how one particular deal fell into place, thanks to good old fashioned Southern cuisine. According to Global Atlanta, Canfield told the story that a visiting Japanese CEO was getting close to making a decision. At stake was a $100 million metal stamping plant for Japanese auto supplier Yorozu Corp., a project projected to create 300 jobs. It was time to eat. However, there were no Japanese restaurants in Jasper, one of multiple projected sites around the region. Instead, the group went to the nearby country club. What followed was an incentive of a different kind. It offered a very distinctly down-home menu item that this particular Japanese CEO had never heard of, much less tried. So I urged him to samplefried green tomatoes, Canfield said. The Southern meal was a hit. And we built a great rapport in that moment, sharing a meal together and something that this gentleman had never tried, but unexpectedly learned to enjoy. The plant was announced for Jasper in October 2015. A Mississippi coast man will serve no less than 18 years, possibly as many as 40, after a conviction on five counts of exploitation of a child, according to the Jackson County (Miss.) District Attorneys Office. Judge Kathy King Jackson sentenced Raymond Scott Tracy, 45, to 40 years in state prison, with 18 of those to be served without the possibility of parole or early release. Tracy must also register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. The Mississippi Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that Tracy was in possession of child pornography. That information was passed to the Jackson County Sheriffs Office. Working with the FBI, the sheriffs office executed a search warrant at Tracys home, where multiple electronic devices were found containing 5,606 unique videos and images of child pornography and child sexual abuse. Possession of child pornography is not a victimless crime, said Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath. These videos and pictures portray crime scenes where real children are actually being abused. This defendant possessed 5,606 separate and unique files which depicted real children being sexually abused and exploited so that he and others could satisfy their depraved sexual desires. Possession of child pornography is a dangerous crime because as long as there is a demand for this material, there will be others perpetrating, recording and documenting these evil acts on children. I hope this 18 year day-for-day sentence will send a message that we will continue to seek substantial prison sentences for those that abuse our children. Guy Fieris assault on Mobile will continue in November, according to information freshly released by the Food Network. Area viewers have reason to think Fieri hit as many as six local venues for segments of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives when he was in the area this summer. That comes from none other than Panini Pete Blohme, a Mobile-area restaurateur whos been collaborating with Fieri for years. An episode featuring a segment on The Noble South in Mobile was to premiere on Friday, Oct. 20. The Food Network also has confirmed that the following episode, to debut on Oct. 27, will feature a segment shot at Southwood Kitchen in Daphne. The latest news, via Food Network press release, is that fans can expect two more servings of Lower Alabama goodness on Nov. 10 and Nov. 17. The blurbs released so far dont name the restaurants, but do give us some hints about what part of the flavor spectrum Fieri will explore. On Friday, Nov. 10, we get an episode titled Meaty to Meatless: This trip, Guy Fieris digging into dishes both with and without meat. In Mobile, Alabama, theres righteous rabbit and an off-the-hook whole fried fish. In Omaha, Nebraska, a vegan joint is bringing a meatless spin to fried chicken and nachos. And in Stamford, Connecticut, Guy and sportscasting legend, Dan Patrick, chow down on some gangster Greek. Then on Nov. 17 we get Wrapped, Pied & Fried. The summary: This trip, Guy Fieris having it wrapped, pied, and fried. In Mobile, Alabama, a funky Latin joint is serving craveable carnitas and a surf-and-turf burrito. In Cody, Wyoming, a pizza cart is firing up elevated Margherita and Thai Chicken pies. And in Omaha, Nebraska, its the bomb brisket sandwich and duck confit fries. We think weve gotten fatter just reading about it. And theres more to come, if Panini Petes tip bears out. The Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) today announced three arrests related to a crackdown on prison contraband. According to the department, two people were arrested Wednesday at the Limestone Correctional Facility. Alabama State Bureau of Investigation agents spotted a suspicious vehicle in the vicinity of state property at the prison and conducted a traffic stop. The ADOC Law Enforcement Services Division K-9 unit searched the vehicle and found a gun and six packages wrapped in black tape, according to an ADOC statement. Melvin Hayes and MJ Enskat were taken into custody and transported to the Limestone County Jail. They were charged with second degree marijuana possession and certain persons forbidden to possess a pistol. Its the second such incident at the prison in a week. A man last week was charged with trespassing and promoting prison contraband after the discovery of 17 suspicious packages on state property. In an unrelated case, former ADOC Correctional Security Guard Laquetta Harris was arrested on Tuesday, and charged with use of position for personal gain. She had resigned her position with the ADOC and turned herself in to the Montgomery County Jail. Further charges may follow in both investigations, the ADOC said. A 20-year-old alleged street racer has been charged in the fatal hit-and-run of a man in west Birmingham. Malic Daiquan Paradise, of Birmingham, is charged with manslaughter in the Oct. 8 death of 43-year-old Geremy Earl Fantroy, whose legal name was Geremy Earl Picking. The deadly crash happened about 11:40 p.m. that Sunday in the 1700 block of Bessemer Road. Fantroy was pronounced dead on the scene at 11:50 p.m. Birmingham police Sgt. LaQuitta Wade said the investigation shows that there was street racing taking place in the area where Fantroy was killed. Paradise was initially booked into the Birmingham City Jail on Oct. 9, but was released without any initial charges. He was booked into the Jefferson County Jail Wednesday night on charges of manslaughter, attempting to elude a police officer and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. Paradise was released from the county lockup early today after posting $60,000 bond. Birmingham police released this photo of the suspect vehicle in the deadly hit-and-run of a 43-year-old man on Oct. 8, 2023. (Birmingham Police) The investigation began about 11 p.m. that Sunday when West Precinct officers were notified of a pedestrian struck in the 1700 Block of Bessemer Road. They arrived to find Fantroy unresponsive in the road. He was pronounce dead on the scene. Investigators learned Fantroy had been struck by a Red Chrysler 300 that was with several vehicles fleeing the area from Birmingham officer illegally street racing. Police later released a photo of that Chrysler to the public for help in finding it. Authorities said that car has since been recovered after it was found burned. Paradises brother, 23-year Kijuntai Paradise, is charged with hindering prosecution in connection with the torching of the car. Fitzgerald also released new information about the yellow KIA Stinger that involved in the street racing. He said officers attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle in the 5700 Block of Bessemer Road; the driver refused to stop, and a chase ensued before being called off near I-59 North and the Valley Road Exit due to the drivers actions. Police then saw the KIA Stringer stopped on I-59 North. They approached the vehicle and saw a man standing in the drivers doorway of the vehicle. Officers observed two handguns in the vehicle. Antonio Gonzales-Rebeles Jr., 22, of Adamsville is charge with felony attempting to elude, reckless endangerment and resisting arrest. A Blount County man was sentenced today in the 2021 killing of his wife. Circuit Judge Greg Reid sentenced Bryan Craig Fox. 54, to life in prison with the possibility of parole. A jury in September deliberated 15 minutes before finding Fox guilty of murder and unlawful possession of a firearm in the slaying of Sharon Teal Askew. Fox has maintained that he feared for his life when he killed his wife. The judge on Friday said he did not believe that to be the case. District Attorney Pamela Casey said prosecutors are pleased with the sentence handed down by the judge. Sharon was killed in a horrific act of violence, Casey said. He will have a long time to think about the wrong he did. Fox called 911 at 6:06 p.m. on Nov. 21, 2021, and told authorities his 53-year-old wife put her hands on him and he shot her. Sheriffs deputies arrived at the home to find Askew in front of the couch on the living room floor with a single gunshot wound to the head. As other officers arrived at the residence, Fox repeatedly said, She put her hands on me, and I shot her. Casey said prosecutors in the September trial presented evidence that Fox had dinner at a local restaurant that evening. Less than 10 minutes after arriving at their Moorer Lane home, Fox shot Askew on the couch. Fox testified in his own defense, Casey said, and told the jury he walked into the living room to try to talk to his wife when a physical altercation ensued. According to Fox, he walked up to the couch and his wife attempted to stand. Fox then pushed Askew back onto the couch. Fox said Askew then reached for the pistol he had holstered in a gun belt around his waist. He told the jury he believed his wife would shoot him if she gained control of his pistol, leaving him no choice but to shoot her to save his own life. Prosecutors, however, presented photographs of the scene that showed nothing was disturbed or out of place in the area around Askews body, including a TV dinner tray and a Christmas tree. Evidence was also presented that Fox was engaged in an extra-marital affair. This case was investigated by sheriffs Lt. Chad Long with the Blount County Sheriffs Department. Get the Down in Alabama newsletter: Enter your email to subscribe to the daily Down in Alabama newsletter: Britt to Israel An eight-member U.S. Senate delegation en route to visit Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt reportedly includes Alabama Republican Katie Britt, writes AL.coms Paul Gattis. Britt has been an outspoken defender of Israel in the days since the Palestinian group Hamas launched attacks in Israel and carried out terrorist acts such as murdering and kidnapping civilians, including children. Britt has called the acts pure evil and has called for economic pressure to be put on Hamas and its allies. Excessive force? Mobile Police Chief Paul Prine said the U.S. Justice Department and FBI are currently investigating two violent incidents over excessive-force concerns, reports AL.coms John Sharp. Both of the run-ins were captured on cell-phone videos in recent days. One took place Tuesday when an officer was seen on video body-slamming a 16-year-old girl outside a charter school. The other was taken Oct. 12 and showed an officer punching a handcuffed, face-down man. Others have said what you cant see in the video is the man grabbing the officer in an very personal way and not letting go, so that he causes an injury. A deadly fall A young woman died last weekend in a rock-climbing accident at Cherokee Rock Village on Lookout Mountain near Leesburg, reports AL.coms William Thornton. Faye Zhang was a University of Georgia student from Minnesota. She had become involved with a rock-climbing group in Athens, Georgia, and was a regular at the gym. She was on her second outside climb around noon Saturday when she fell. If youre familiar with Cherokee Rock Village, she fell from the Misty climbing route. What was that name again? Its always great to see a community and its police force benefiting from a reciprocal relationship. The police might help a man with car trouble, and the man might lead police to a suspect wanted for, say, attempted murder. It happened this week in Brighton. The unexpected part of the story, however, is that the man who called police was himself the suspect. AL.coms Carol Robinson reports that Larry Darnell Pinkard called the Brighton PD for help jumping off his car at 3 a.m. Thursday. The police ran a check on Pinkard to make sure he owned the vehicle and, of course, the arrest warrants popped up for attempted murder and leaving the scene of an accident with injuries. He was booked into jail at 3:54 a.m. More Alabama news Born on this date In 1914, Fayard Nicholas of Mobile. He and his brother, Harold, formed the dancing duo Nicholas Brothers. They performed in film, starred at the Cotton Club in Harlem and danced for the King of England in their long careers. The podcast Childrens of Alabama will soon commence a $55 million expansion. The State Health Planning and Development Agency has approved the hospitals Certificate of Need (CON) for renovations to its behavioral health and critical care facilities and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Childrens licensed bed capacity will remain at 332. The project is expected to be completed in the fall of 2026. Poole & Company Architects is designing the project. According to the hospital, the project involves building out the 12th floor of the Benjamin Russell building to serve as a 50-bed unit for critical care patients. That space is currently shelled space. For behavioral health patients, the hospital will renovate the fifth floor of the McWane building, putting 11 beds into operation for the unit. Six bassinets will be added to the NICU. CEO and president Tom Shufflebarger said the expansion will provide room to serve more patients who need critical care, behavioral health services and the NICU. The U.S. Department of Justice should investigate the Decatur Police Department for infringing protesters First Amendment rights, an activist group said at a press conference before the city Hall this afternoon. Decatur police officer shot and killed 39-year-old Stephen Perkins on Sept. 29 in his front yard at the 3900 Block of Ryan Drive, and Standing In Power members have participated in the protests that took place thereafter. The racial justice group also called for a federal investigation of Perkins death. So we will make complaints with the Department of Justice, and we are asking them to come down here and investigate this case and the other wrongdoings that the police department is currently doing, Adrianna Tapscott, one of the groups co-founders, said in response to a question from AL.com. Other co-founders who addressed the press at the steps of the Decatur City Hall today include Terrance Adkins, Aneesah Saafiyah, and Lawrence Souffrant. Adkins said police threatened and harassed peaceful protesters during the weekend of Oct. 6-8. Initially, the Decatur police responded aggressively to our lawful First Amendment protests using militarized vehicles and intimidating tactics, Adkins said. Eight people were arrested, and one of the protesters is serving a 15-day sentence for disorderly conduct. Garrick Rawls has been in Morgan County jail since Oct. 7 after police arrested him the second time during protests for disorderly conduct, leading to the revocation of his bond and subsequent 15-day jail sentence. Police Chief Todd Pinion addressed that weekends arrests in an Oct. 11 statement, explaining that the police facilitated prior protests without any arrests. However, during protests over the weekend, we made nine arrests for Disorderly Conduct both for obstructing traffic on main roadways as well as Disorderly Conduct Language in Public, the police chief added. While we would rather have had no arrests, we will make arrests when actions include violence or impeding roadways that could impact providing basic public safety services to the rest of the community. Adkins said the arrests were not justified. The chiefs press release highlights the unjust arrests of peaceful protesters who were arrested while merely present in blocked-off lanes, Adkins said at todays press conference. This infringes on their First Amendment rights and demonstrates how law enforcement agencies have constructed false narratives against black people. The police were extremely aggressive and intimidated protesters, following them in off-duty cars, pulling up with shotguns, Saafiyah said. And then when we called them out in the city council meeting (on Oct. 9), thats when everything started to slow down because they know they cant take any more corruption and bad behavior and policing, she added in answer to a question from AL.com. The police used fear tactics and grabbed people off the sidewalk, Tapscott said in an interview with AL.com after the press event. We have several videos stating the excessive force that were using, she added. We have a young lady who was hospitalized, and she suffers from concussion; four officers tackled her on the concrete, and she ended up having to go to the hospital. Standing In Power also called for the arrest, termination, and prosecution of the Decatur police officers at Perkins house in the early morning of Sept. 29. The police said they were there because Perkins threatened a tow truck driver with a gun and later turned a gun on an officer. An initial police report said Perkins refused to comply when the police asked him to drop the weapon. Police chief Pinion had since apologized, saying the initial report mischaracterized what happened and that it was wrong to say Perkins refused to drop his gun. Home camera footage of the deadly shooting appeared to show that the police were out of sight when Perkins told the tow truck driver to drop the truck that morning before a police officer appeared to come from the corner of the house, told Perkins to get to the ground and immediately shot him. Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is investigating the case. The Decatur police department had placed the unnamed officer who shot Perkins on administrative leave, a move the mayor signed off on. The other officers present at Perkins house on the morning of the shooting have been on administrative assignments since the night of the incident and are not at this time on patrol duty, a spokesperson for the department told AL.com yesterday. Standing In Power members have filed reports with the FBI, the DOJ, and the Decatur Police Department about protesters negative experiences, the group said at the press conference. Adkins said, On October 14th, 2023, neo-confederate counter-protesters appeared when the police presence diminished. Protesters had to form a barrier to protect themselves from counter-protesters; (protesters) have been harassed by both on-duty and off-duty law enforcement members. Surveillance drones have been flown over homes, probation officers contacted, and neighbors intimidated. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the most significant threat to domestic peace in America is posed by alt-right white supremacists, he added. We continue to document and file complaints about these incidents and refuse to be silenced. We call upon the FBI and the Department of Justice to investigate Steve Perkins murder and the harassment of protesters. It is crucial to ensure justice prevails, not only for Steve and his family, but also for the peaceful protesters who are the moral conscience of our nation, seeking transparency, accountability, and justice. Its been almost 10 years since a special election runoff for Alabamas 1st congressional seat was labeled a political bellwether for the insurgent tea party movements influence among Republicans. Bradley Byrne, favored among establishment Republicans, defeated tea party darling, Dean Young in a hotly contest Nov. 5, 2013, contest. Byrnes victory came after he captured much of Mobiles GOP strongholds, and Baldwin County while Young had a strong showing in mostly rural counties. Fast forward a decade, and the reliably Republican district in southwestern Alabama no longer has most of those Mobile neighborhoods that Byrne won, due to recent redistricting. And while Baldwin County is the dominant county in the 1st district, it will be joined with seven rural and heavily conservative counties to its east extending into the Wiregrass. The sudden change of the district is prompting questions: Would Young have won in 2013? And could the congressional district, a byproduct of the court-ordered redrawing of the 2nd district to give Black voters a chance to select a candidate of their choice, produce a far-right congressman? And will future congressmen from this district represent a radical departure from the congressional districts history of electing more establishment Republicans like Sonny Callahan, Jack Edwards, and Jo Bonner? Congressional District 1 is definitely more conservative, said Jon Gray, a longtime GOP political strategist based in Mobile. You pick up the Wiregrass, and its staunchly conservative. You lose Semmes, Tillmans Corner. You are not electing a Democrat in CD1. He added, And does Byrne beat Young? No, I think Dean Young wins with that map. Rightward shift How far to the right is the 1st district? Here are some facts: Cook Political Report , which recently released a its revised Partisan Voter Index (PVI) after Alabamas new congressional map was ordered by a federal court on October 5, labeled the 1st district a +28 advantage for Republicans, tied for the sixth most GOP-leaning congressional district in the country. The figure is a remarkable shift from just a few years ago. In 2017, Alabamas 1st district was a +15 advantage for Republicans when Byrne represented the seat. Though a reliably Republican district, it ranked sixth among the states six Republican-leaning districts at the time. It was also the 75th most Republican district in the country, meaning its sudden shift further rightward has enabled the district to leapfrog all the GOP strongholds in Texas, Georgia, and beyond. The district is now the second most Republican district in Alabama, trailing only Alabama Congressional District 4 represented by U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt of Haleyville, who is seeking re-election. The 4th district, which includes much of Northwest Alabama and includes rural counties stretching to the Georgia-Alabama state line, is a whopping +33 Republican advantage. That is currently the nations No. 1 most Republican district in the U.S. House, according to 2022 PVI ratings. In terms of (District 1) being more Republican, it clearly is, said Byrne, who represented the 1st district from 2014-2021, and is currently the president and CEO of the Mobile Chamber. Setting the tone U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl, R-Mobile, speaks during a luncheon hosted by the Alabama League of Municipalities on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, at Ralph & Kacoo's in Spanish Fort, Ala. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com). Incumbent U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl, R-Mobile, is seeking re-election to the district in 2024. Carl, who lives in the districts most southwestern area of Mobile County is already touting his conservative bona fides in recent days after filing for re-election on Monday. In his re-election announcement, Carl blasted President Joe Biden, warned of rising crime in American cities and said the country needs more staunch conservatives like me who will deliver results and never back down from the fight. Dothan, with a population of 71,154 residents, is now the largest city in a district that previously included all of the city of Mobile, which is over 200,000 residents. Carls team also released a list of endorsements from mostly public officials in Mobile and Baldwin counties who have already endorsed the congressmans re-election. Included within the list is Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, whose city is mostly now included in the more left-leaning Alabama Congressional District 2. Our local economy is booming, and we are experiencing unprecedented job growth, Stimpson said. Im with Jerry because he is an important part of the team, and we need him to keep fighting for us in Washington. Carl, a former Mobile County commissioner and longtime businessman in Mobile County, said hes getting out into the Wiregrass and within areas where constituents are likely unfamiliar with him. Waiting on Moore U.S. Rep. Barry Moore, R-Ala., is seen in the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, April 20, 2023. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via AP Images) Looming is a decision from incumbent U.S. Rep. Barry Moore of Enterprise, whose home has now been drawn into the 1st Congressional District. The states congressional map was redrawn by Special Master Richard Allen, who was appointed by the federal court to propose a map after finding the Alabama Legislatures maps violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The new map redrew Moores 2nd district to give Black voters an opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice in a decision that had the backing of a majority of the U.S. Supreme Court. Democratic Rep. Terri Sewell of Birmingham, who serves in Alabamas 7th Congressional District, is currently the only Black member of the states congressional delegation. While Moore does not live within the 2nd district, he can run for re-election to his seat under federal law, or he could run for the 1st district. The U.S. Constitution says that if someone is an Alabama resident for one day and meets the Constitutions age and citizenship requirements he or she can run for U.S. House or Senate. The law is different for state and local elections. The filing deadline is Nov. 10. Thus far, only Carl has filed to run in the 1st district. No one in either the Democratic or Republican parties has filed to run for the 2nd district. I think Jerry Carl has a good chance to win this again, said Jackie Gay, chairperson of the Escambia County Republican Party since 2016. Im not sure what Barry Moore plans to do. I dont know if hell run for AL1 or AL2. I dont think anyone does. Im sure hes praying about this. Indeed, Moore told a radio show host last month that he was praying over the decision. That occurred before the final map was selected by the federal court, and he has yet to make his intentions known on his political future. Potential contest If Moore runs for the 1st district, it could produce the most high-profile Republican primary contest for that seat since the Byrne-Young showdown in 2013. It could also be among the most expensive Republican fights for Congress given the multiple media markets within the 1st district Mobile, Dothan, and into the Florida Panhandle. A screenshot of a Club for Growth ad ran against Jerry Carl's campaign for the Alabama 1st congressional district ahead of the July 14, 2020, runoff. Carl won the GOP runoff against Bill Hightower, who was endorsed by Club for Growth Action. (screenshot image via Club for Growth Action). It could also spark outsider money: The conservative heavyweight, Club for Growth, vehemently opposed Carls campaign in 2020, and backed his opponent, Bill Hightower. Carl won despite the Clubs campaigning against Carl. The Club did back Moore in 2020 during his successful contest against Republican Jeff Coleman. Baldwin County Republican Party Chairman Patrick McWilliams said if there is a primary contest, he wants it to be a clean race void of the mudslinging that occurred in 2020 during both the 1st and 2nd district congressional primaries. McWilliams blamed out-of-state money from political action committees for the hostile campaigning. Ive spoken to Congressman Carls campaign, and they understand our feelings on it, McWilliams said. Im a firm believer of (President Ronald) Reagans 11th commandment of thou shall not speak ill of anyone in the party. Honestly, the citizens dont want to see that. They wont like it in 2024. That does not play well with folks down here. Firebrand coming? But will an outsider step in to rattle the race like Young did in 2013? Quin Hillyer, a conservative writer for The Washington Examiner, who submitted a proposed map for the judges to consider aimed at keeping Mobile together and who has been critical of the redrawn boundaries of the 1st and 2nd districts said the redistricting is likely to attract more ideological extreme candidates. This story of districting makes it easier for extremists on both sides to win, said Hillyer, who ran as a Republican for the congressional seat in 2013. It means even more now that the candidates in each district plays to their activist base. Steven Levitsky, a professor of Government at Harvard University who has weighed in on redistricting concerns in national media outlets, advocates that independent agencies and not legislatures be required to redraw congressional districts in every state. Election districts should ideally be competitive thats how democracy is supposed to work, Levitsky said. When we carve up districts with outcomes in mind, meaning we more or less know in advance who will win in each district, the competitive dynamic disappears. The result is usually worse government. He said the case in Alabama, where the courts required the 2nd district to be redrawn to better allow for a Black candidate to win, is resulting in the 1st district with a high likelihood of electing a far-right Republican. The U.S. is virtually unique in allowing the manipulation of election districts with partisan ends, Levitsky said, adding that its a standard practice in democracies all over the world to have independent agencies or commissions charged with redistricting, and without partisan election results in mind. Court interventions often dont resolve the underlying problem, he said. Byrne said he does not believe the 1st district contests will be ideological battles so much as they will spark regional contests. He said the geographic spread of the district, and its logistical headaches for whomever is elected, will loom large as a voter wont see a congressman as much as they used to. The traveling distance from Mobile to Dothan is a more than three-hour drive that involves a drive along Interstate 10 through the Florida Panhandle. The bigger challenge here is how do you stay in touch with that many people spread over that (range), Byrne said. Ive been complaining about what this does to Mobile, but I can imagine what the people in Dothan thinks. It does hurt them. He added, I dont have any doubt a congressman in this part of the district will do a lot to help the interests in Dothan and Enterprise. But when you spread yourself out over a large area, and you dont get any more staff, there will be a give and take here. The fight for control of the U.S. House of Representatives took a sharp turn Thursday as Republicans proved unable to agree on any plan to consider or pass legislation, leaving the leaderless chamber helpless to address the crises facing the country. Without a functional lower chamber, Congress cannot do anything to respond to Russias ongoing war on Ukraine, Israels planned invasion of the Gaza Strip and a looming government shutdown that could leave millions of military service members and other federal workers without pay. But in the more than two weeks since eight GOP rebels, joined by Democrats, voted to oust Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California as speaker, Republicans, who control the lower chamber, have been unable to overcome their differences and choose a new leader who can win a simple majority vote in the House. Last week, the party tried electing House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana as speaker, but he withdrew after failing to win enough support. Next up was Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, former President Donald Trumps pick, who lost two votes on the floor. On Thursday, the party considered a new plan: empowering North Carolina Rep. Patrick T. McHenry, a longtime McCarthy ally who is serving as the Houses temporary speaker, to pass legislation. But despite Jordan announcing his support for the idea Thursday morning, the scheme failed to win the backing of the majority of the GOP. Jordan suggested Thursday that he may try a third time to win a majority in the House. Whether he will ever be able to do so is an open question. The Republicans have proven they are incapable of reaching consensus, Sarah Longwell, an anti-Trump Republican strategist, told the Los Angeles Times. For now, the U.S. government remains powerless to pass new laws, fund its operations or even name post offices. The White House said it would ask Congress to pass bills to send military aid to Ukraine and Israel. House Republicans face another deadline: Nov. 17, when government funding is set to run out. If Congress does not secure funding, millions of service members and other federal workers could go without pay during the holiday season. The chaos in Washington and the divisions in the Republican Party are the ongoing effects of Donald Trumps presidency, Longwell said. The toxic forces he unleashed on the party are still playing out, she said, adding that todays GOP is made in Trumps image. If Republicans are unable to choose someone to lead the House, at some point you have to reach out to Democrats, she added. Throughout the GOPs squabbling, Democrats have remained united behind their nominee for speaker, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Jeffries has indicated his party could be open to the idea of empowering McHenry to pass legislation. As of now, Democratic votes would probably be needed to make that a reality. But Republicans using Democrats to empower McHenry would set off the fuse that would certainly end in a civil war within the GOP, Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., warned reporters Thursday. Jordan is a far-right favorite who Democrats routinely note has never passed a law throughout his 16 years in Congress. He is, however, a favorite of the partys MAGA faction. The former president endorsed the Ohioan for speaker shortly after McCarthys ouster, and the Trump loyalists who made it impossible for McCarthy to govern without help from Democrats remain strong supporters of Jordan. Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, who led the eight GOP rebels charge against McCarthy, has faced fury from members in his party who blame him for this predicament. During the partys closed-door meeting Thursday, Gaetz tried to interrupt McCarthy while he addressed lawmakers. The Californian told Gaetz to sit down. After the meeting, McCarthy told reporters that he did not yell at Gaetz, though the whole country, I think, would scream at Matt Gaetz right now. Remember, it was crazy eights led by Matt Gaetz and every single Democrat that put us into this situation, McCarthy added. McCarthy said a resolution to empower McHenry would not come to the floor until it has the backing of a majority of Republicans even if a majority of the chamber is likely to back it. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, said he supported empowering McHenry so the House can process bills. Arguing with each other over whos the most popular its not real work, Crenshaw told reporters. The real work is done on our committees, its passing legislation. And we need to get back to that. Other Republicans were skeptical of the plan. Indiana Rep. Jim Banks told reporters the move is the biggest F-you to Republican voters Ive ever seen. The move for McHenry provided a good off ramp, Doug Heye, a Republican strategist, told The Times in a statement. The argument against empowering McHenry is that we should not do the unprecedented thing because we have to fix the other, ongoing unprecedented thing. Leading the fractured Republican caucus would require McHenry or whoever gets the gavel to master the same difficult task that led to McCarthys downfall: keeping both hard-right Republicans and more moderate conservatives happy. While McCarthy and Jordan cast doubt on Joe Bidens presidential election victory in 2020, McHenry voted in favor of certifying the electoral college results, putting him at odds with the Trump-aligned right wing of the GOP but potentially making him more acceptable to Democrats. McHenry was also a key negotiator of the budget agreement with the White House in May, which many Republicans opposed and which McCarthy backed away from over the summer as he tried to appease the right wing. Empowering McHenry was a way to lower the temperature and get back to work, but the party decided that wasnt where were gonna go, Jordan told reporters Thursday. Im still running for speaker and I plan to go to the floor and get the votes and win this race. ___ 2023 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Vulcan Materials and Sen. Katie Britt urged the Biden administration to protect the Birmingham-based companys employees and gravel extraction pits that the Mexican government is threatening to forcefully seize, Vulcan said. We need your help to protect our employees and property rights, and the U.S.-Mexico cross-border trade relationship, while this process plays out, J. Thomas Hill, chairman and chief executive officer of Vulcan Materials, wrote in a letter Wednesday to U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador threatened to declare the property a natural protected area or seize it by force if Vulcan doesnt accept a $360 million offer for the gravel pits before he leaves office next year. Lopez Obrador has accused the company of extracting materials without the proper permits, Bloomberg news reported. In March, the Mexican government seized the facility, despite a court ordered stay on any government action to confiscate the property. Vulcan said the $360 million figure, calculated by a non-independent Mexican government organization, represents a small fraction of our investments fair market value. The appraisal does not take into account the value of our business as a whole, nor the value of the limestone reserves that we own, as has been shown in the ongoing NAFTA investment arbitration, the company argues. In the arbitration filing, Vulcan said it estimates the value of the nearly 6,000-acre property, located just south of the resort town of Playa del Carmen, at $1.9 billion. In a letter dated Wednesday to Esteban Monteczuma Barragan, Mexicos ambassador to the U.S., Hill said Vulcan has acted in good faith in negotiations with Lopez Obrador, including proposing to transition the property to tourism development, which was among the Mexican governments requests. We tried to work with you in a cooperative way and to accommodate your governments requests, Hill wrote to the ambassador. In response, your government suddenly shut us down and has continued to make disparaging and false public remarks against us. In our view, passing us documents purporting to contain a valuation based on an unclear methodology and representing only a fraction of the fair market value of our investments, along with a message that we should take it or face expropriation, is not a serious, good-faith negotiation or a reasonable attempt to fairly resolve the dispute. We remain open to an eventual, mutually negotiated solution that would be satisfactory to both sides, the CEO continued. We welcome the opportunity to re-engage constructively toward that goal, in a context of mutual respect, and devoid of additional public disparaging and governmental measures against usa long-standing, reliable and law-abiding investor in a foreign partner nation. Britt, who called the Mexican governments March seizure of the property unlawful and unacceptable, said the latest development is a stunt that will only harm both the U.S. and Mexico. President Lopez Obrador has already been caught using militarized force to seize this private property that Vulcan lawfully owns and operates in Mexico. Make no mistake, this latest transparent stunt is simply the most recent attempt in an ongoing scheme to bully this law-abiding American company out of the land and assets that it rightfully owns under Mexican law, Britt said in a statement to AL.com. The result would be gravely detrimental to both Mexico and the United States, including jobs being lost and the American economy and supply chain for critical infrastructure projects being damaged. The Mexican government needs to follow its own system of laws, and the Biden Administration must send a clear, strong message that the United States will stand up for the rights of American businesses and individuals that lawfully operate abroad. Mobiles police chief is urging city officials and community leaders not to make knee jerk reactions to two recently released cell phone videos showing police officers engaged in violent confrontations. The comments from Chief Paul Prine on Thursday come amid growing calls for more transparency, a focus on de-escalation training, and consideration for reforming a police-citizens advisory committee. Related content: Prine told AL.com that the public should approach the instances with a calm mind and wait for the facts in both cases to surface. Two cell phone videos, captured during different incidences within the past week, show police either punching or body slamming someone during an encounter. He has asked federal agents to investigation. We have to be reasonable and rationale and weigh the circumstances of the facts, Prine said, while offering a defense of his agency. We are the only organization I am aware of in this community trying to prevent and interfere with crime, lower crime (while offering) resources in the way of mental health (support), financial resources, job placement and job training and also has a family intervention team thats interfering with troubled kids in our school system, Prine said. All in an effort to level up citizens, give them a hand up rather than a handout and build trust and transparency. Town hall request His comments come after the Mobile branch of the NAACP is calling for greater transparency, better de-escalation training, and for officers to placed on unpaid leave following a questionable incident. Prine said the officers placed on administrative leave or administrative duty which is essentially a desk job will continue receiving their pay. Robert Clopton, head of the Mobile NAACP, is also calling for a town hall meeting similar to one that his group conducted in 2020, following widespread protests after the killing of George Floyd a Black man by a white police officer in Minneapolis. Clopton noted that town hall meeting held three years ago included the heads of the regions law enforcement agencies who are no longer serving in their positions. Since that meeting, Prine was appointed police chief in 2021; Paul Burch was elected Mobile County Sheriff last year; and Keith Blackwood was elected District Attorney last year. Sean Costello was appointed U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama in 2021. The city is also in the process of appointing a new executive director of public safety. All of that has changed, said Clopton, who served as moderate during that forum the only person remaining from a leadership role during that event. Were going to revisit that talk. Clopton said he is hopeful to get everyone on board for a town hall next month. We need to get them all back at the table, he said. Committees, body cameras Clopton said some of the issues addressed three years, but which remain unresolved, include forming a police-citizens advisory committee that has some teeth, or subpoena powers. He said previous committees have struggled because they lack authority. So the members of the committee ask the question, Why are we here? Clopton said. They were there to hear updates, but do not have authority to act upon anything. Its disheartening and a waste of their time. Cloptons interest also come at a time when police encounters have turned deadly, sparking outrage at recent Mobile City Council meetings. Chief among the concerns is the handling of body camera footage from the July 2 killing of Jawan Dallas, a Black man, by a police officer in the Theodore community. Dallas died from an encounter that repeatedly involved him being struck by a Taser stun gun. Christine Dallas, the mother of the law Jawan Dallas, speaks before the Mobile City Council on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at Government Plaza in downtown Mobile, Ala. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com). Christine Dallas, his mother, has called for the release of the police-worn body camera footage from her sons death. She has been told on multiple occasions that authorities cannot release the footage because the case is under investigation and that evidence including the camera footage will be presented to a grand jury. There is no timetable for that. City officials have also said that Alabama state law prevents them from releasing evidence that is part of a grand jury investigation. Clopton said he is concerned about the messaging on the handling of body camera footage. He said that victim families are being told that anyone in the body camera footage can review them, but added, Were talking about dead people. How can they review it? Councils concerns Cory Penn. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com). Ashley Flores, a spokeswoman for the Mobile City Council, said no decision has been made yet as to how the council plans to approach the concerns over policing. Mobile City Councilman Cory Penn said while he cannot speak for the entire council, he is concerned about any use of force by a police officer that has been caught on cell phone videos. The use of force should be proportionate for the situation and necessary for public safety, Penn said. And as a last resort. Penn said that if anything occurred outside the polices and procedures of the Police Department, accountability needs to be held. Prine has said that one incident of concern stems from Tuesdays altercation outside ACCEL Academy, a charter school in west Mobile. During that incident, in which cell phone footage shows a police officer body slamming a 16-year-old girl, the officer did not have his body-worn camera on at the time. Prine said there might be reasons why the camera was not on and noted that is part of the ongoing investigation. In those types of scenarios, where you have a contact with a citizen who is adversarial, he should have had his body camera on, Prine said. But the investigation is not complete. Thats provided he had a battery that was working. There are always mitigating circumstances as to why sometimes the officer didnt have his body worn camera on. We have to wait and bear out why he didnt have the body-worn camera on. I just dont have the information right now. Said Penn, who represents Mobiles largest Black council district, I dont know what happened to lead up to the situation (at ACCEL Academy) but its a matter of concern. I believe accountability needs to be held. And we need to look at the training and make sure that force goes with the situation. We need to learn to de-escalate certain situations and (force) should be a last resort. Two separate violent encounters involving Mobile police officers that have gone viral after bystanders recorded them on cell phones will be reviewed by the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI to see if excessive force occurred, Mobile Police Chief Paul Prine said Thursday. Both incidences captured on cell phone videos, which remain under investigation and happened five days apart, show police either punching or body slamming someone during an arrest. The Mobile chapter of the NAACP is also demanding an investigation, and calling on the police officer involved in a Tuesday encounter at a Mobile charter school to be placed on unpaid leave. I understand these things are emotional and we cant negate all the great work done by two scenarios that may or may not be proper, Prine said. The facts will determine if they are proper. Body slamming The most recent incident, Prine told AL.com, occurred on Tuesday and involved a video he called troubling in which an officer is seen body slamming a 16-year-old Black girl. That altercation occurred outside ACCEL Academy, a charter school in west Mobile. The girls mother told a local TV station that her daughter suffered an injury. But please note, when I say that we look at it and are troubled by the mere appearance of (the cell phone video footage) does not mean the officer used excessive force, Prine said. We are saying that without context, we have an obligation to fact find and get the facts and truths out of this scenario. I would err on the side of caution and have these incidences like this investigated to determine the truths and facts rather than make an assumption based on emotion. I think that is important. The officer involved in that altercation, Prine said, did not have his body camera on at the time of the altercation, which is a violation of the agencys policies. There was no body worn camera of the incident itself (but) there was a body worn incident camera of the officer subsequent to the arrest while doing paperwork, Prine said. The officer is in violation of not turning on his body worn camera on. Prine said the officer was working an extra security job at ACCEL at the time, but that he is accountable and responsible to the rules and regulation of the Mobile Police Department while doing the extra work. Said Prine, In those type of scenarios where you have a contact with a citizen who is adversarial, he should have had his body camera on. But the investigation is not complete. Thats provided he had a battery that was working, body worn camera that was working. There are always mitigating circumstances as to why sometimes the officer didnt have his body worn camera on. We have to wait and bear out why he didnt have the body worn camera on. I just dont have the information right now. An ACCEL spokeswoman said that federal laws prevent the school from providing information about the incident as one of our scholars was involved. The security, safety and well-being of our scholars, teachers, parents and all stakeholders is of the utmost importance and always our primary concern, said spokeswoman Victoria Lambert. At this time the incident is under investigation. Prine said the officer is on paid leave while an investigation is occurring. That affects employees rights and they have a right, certainly under law, to be compensated and be paid, Prine said. It doesnt mean the case isnt being investigated. Prine said the officer is on administrative duty, which is akin to being placed on a desk job and no longer assigned a street patrol. Typically, if an officer will be on an extended amount of leave due to the investigation, we move them to duty status which is a desk duty status so they can continue to work and be productive while being compensated, Prine said. October 12 incident The other incident occurred on October 12 and involved a white Mobile police officer punching a Black man who is handcuffed and face down. But what was not caught on the video, Prine and others have said, is 36-year-old Beezer Dubose Jr. allegedly grabbing Officer Paul Callegari by his testicles and continuing to latch on, resulting in an injury. Dubose was arrested and faces felony assault charges. Callegari had a body worn camera on at the time, but Prine said it only captured the initial contact with Dubose. Certainly, at some point, when Mr. Dubose was handcuffed from behind, the only thing relevant you see is the jacket of Mr. Dubose, Prine said. You dont get anything relevant here. At some point during struggle and altercation, you hear the officer say, let me go. Body camera policies Police have not released the body camera footage in either case. The agency has a long-held policy of not releasing police-worn body camera footage to the public, which has rankled some city officials, families of victims form deadly encounters with police and organizations like the NAACP. For months, the family of Jawan Dallas -- who was killed following an encounter with police on July 2 -- have called on police to release body camera footage of his death. Police and city officials have declined to do so, stating that Alabama law prevents them from releasing the footage because Dallass death remains under investigation and is expected to go before a grand jury. Prine defended the citys body camera policy, and said that early release of the footage could taint an investigation. I know the Mobile Police Department has a longstanding policy of not releasing body-worn camera footages until the case is certainly sent to a grand jury, Prine said. What is important to know is body worn cameras are considered material evidence both for prosecution and defense. We have to preserve the evidence. He added, What doesnt get talked a lot about is if a case goes to grand jury and subsequent to a trial, you almost taint the people in the community who would sit on a jury trial or grand jury you would taint that jury pool by showing them information without context. The only context you get from broadcast media and media in general is sensationalized. A vast majority of that information is not factual. Prine said he understands the public wants to review the footage, but that in the most egregious cases involving a shooting death by a police officer and the case becomes criminal, that officer deserves and has the same constitutional protections any citizen would have. Body worn cameras are material evidence for the courts and our position is whether a defendant or an officer, they deserve their day in court, Prine said. That incidences have captured the attention of Mobile City Council members. On Tuesday, some council members requested that public safety committee convene to go over police policies, procedures, and de-escalation training. Chief of Staff James Barber encouraged the group to observe a police training. One council member called for the reformation of a police-citizens advisory committee. I would urge not having a knee-jerk reaction that may or may not be improper, Prine said when asked about the different options council members are exploring, none of which have been finalized. Before we jump to conclusions and automatically assume our officers are wrong and used excessive force, we should have a calm mind and weigh the facts when they become available. Alabama Sen. Katie Britt has departed for Israel as part of a Senate delegation aiming to demonstrate its support for one of Americas strongest allies in its war against Hamas. While news of the delegations trip to Israel, led by South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, was reported Thursday, Britts office did not confirm it until Friday morning. In the announcement, Britts office said that additional details are not being shared at this time due to security concerns. Today, I'm headed to the Middle East with a bipartisan group of my Senate colleagues to see the situation on the ground firsthand, meet with leaders about regional stability, and show America's unequivocal support for Israel. pic.twitter.com/CwDjXxByS1 Senator Katie Boyd Britt (@SenKatieBritt) October 20, 2023 This trip signifies our continued, unequivocal, and resounding support for Israel and the right to defend herself against the barbaric attacks on innocent children, women and men by Hamas terrorists, Britt said in a statement accompanying the announcement of her trip. As a mom, as an American and as a Christian, I am absolutely horrified by what weve seen. On our trip, my colleagues and I will advocate for stability in the Middle East as we work towards long term sustainable peace that keeps Americans safe at home and abroad. I will continue to work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the days and weeks and months ahead to ensure that Israel has everything it needs. Peace will only come through strength. The stability of the world, the region, the security of our own homeland, and the safety of our communities and families depend on it. Please pray for us in the coming days. Please pray for our great nation and please continue to pray for Israel. Thank you and God bless. Other senators in the delegation, reported Friday by Punchbowl News, are Democrats Cory Booker, Jack Reed, Richard Blumenthal, Ben Cardin and Chris Coons and Republicans John Thune, Dan Sullivan and Susan Collins. Britt is the only freshman senator who is part of the delegation. Punchbowl News reported Friday that the delegation has arrived in Saudi Arabia and will move on to Egypt and Israel. Britts office said that during the trip, senators will be seeing firsthand the situation on the ground, meeting with leaders across the region and emphasizing the United States support for Israel. AL.com worked with the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism to report on how Wisconsin is sending its toxic PFAS waste to a landfill in the Alabama Black Belt. Here are seven takeaways. 1. Alabama is still the nations dumping ground For decades, Alabama positioned itself as a dumping ground for toxic waste, sewage and trash from across the country. Some of the states landfills operate with limited oversight. A landfill fire north of Birmingham, in Moody, has been burning on and off for the last year after catching fire. It was considered a green waste, or vegetative landfill, but unauthorized materials were dumped there. Emelle, Alabama, hosts one of the nations largest hazardous waste landfills. One active landfill trench at the site is large enough to hold 1 times as much waste as could fit inside the Great Pyramid of Giza. Nearly two dozen more trenches are filled and closed. The facility receives many types of hazardous and toxic waste regulated by federal and state officials: asbestos, cyanides and polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, to name just a few. All of it arrives by truck, usually semitrailers about 50 a day. An overgrown field is seen on July 25, 2023, in tiny Emelle, Ala., home to Chemical Waste Managements massive hazardous waste facility. Emelle is in Black-majority Sumter County, where about half of residents are unemployed. (Joe Songer for AL.com)Joe Songer 2. Environmental justice concerns Emelle sits in the Alabama Black Belt, a string of rural counties historically known for fertile and dark soil, Americas Cotton Kingdom and the slave trade. Remnants of that legacy still show today. Sumter County is home to 12,345 residents, about 70% of whom are Black and nearly a third of whom live in poverty. More than half are unemployed. Race is a strong predictor of the locations of hazardous waste landfills nationwide. A 2007 study found people of color made up 56% of the population in neighborhoods near the nations hazardous waste landfills, and the figure jumped to 69% when analyzing clusters of two or more facilities. Local residents speak about living close to CWM Emelle, one of the largest hazardous waste disposal facilities in the world. James Watkins (left) and Jimmie Williams talk about living next to the Emelle hazardous waster site. (Joe Songer for al.com).Joe Songer 3. No easy answers As public alarm about PFAS grows, many states are grappling with the chemicals, which are found in a bevy of consumer products like non-stick pans, food wrappers and raincoats. But it turns out there are no easy answers for dealing with forever chemicals called PFAS: a family of 12,000 human-made compounds that dont readily break down in nature. Modern hazardous waste landfills are designed to last for centuries, with double liners, leak detectors and collection and treatment systems for leaching waste. Yet the EPA acknowledges that all landfills represent a potential contamination source after they close. Even the best landfills at this stage, said Professor Rainer Lohmann, who directs the University of Rhode Islands STEEP lab, which researches PFAS effects on health and the environment. they will start failing. A warning sign is shown near the entrance of Chemical Waste Managements hazardous waste landfill in Emelle, Ala., on July 25, 2023. The landfill, one of the largest of its kind in the country, sparked opposition from its birth, but officials have welcomed the jobs and revenue it brings. (Joe Songer for AL.com)Joe Songer 4. Blue states want it gone In 2022, the EPA released health advisories, suggesting virtually no amount of several PFAS is safe for consumption. States, cities and the federal government are working at varying speeds to respond, restrict and clean up PFAS in the environment. In Wisconsin, a birthplace of environmentalism, experts weighed the most socially and environmentally responsible solutions for cleaning up PFAS and sent more than 38,500 gallons of PFAS-containing firefighting foam to Emelle, Alabama. We really felt like, at that time, using the hazardous waste landfill was the safest option available, said Mimi Johnson, director of the Office of Emerging Contaminants at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. There are not many in the country, and in particular, that will take PFAS, knowingly. Jefferson Fire Chief Ron Wegner is photographed at the Jefferson Fire Department on Aug. 28, 2023, in Jefferson, Wis. The fire department is participating in a statewide project to collect PFAS-laden firefighting foam and send it more than 700 miles to Emelle, Ala., home of one of the countrys largest hazardous waste landfills. (Drake White-Bergey / Wisconsin Watch) 5. Residents accustomed to life near landfill A historical marker in Emelle touts the town while acknowledging residents unsuccessful bid to shutter the facility in the 1980s. For many here, the landfill remains as a fact of life. I dont think its fair for you to take your waste and ship it to an almost all-Black county, said Dorothy Oliver about Wisconsins plan to ship PFAS to Emelle. Oliver lives in Panola, about 17 miles from Emelle. Residents who live near the landfill say they worry about it being there but dont have a lot of information about it. Others say they arent worried about it or they arent aware that it exists. I dont think its fair for you to take your waste and ship it to an almost all-Black county, Dorothy Oliver says about Wisconsin sending PFAS-containing firefighting foam to Chemical Waste Managements hazardous waste landfill in Sumter County, Ala. Oliver is shown on July 25, 2023, in the convenience store she runs out of a mobile home in Panola, about 12 miles north of the landfill. Neighbors frequently seek Olivers help when trees fall or roads need fixing. (Joe Songer for AL.com)Joe Songer 6. Owner of landfill says it is well maintained. There have been some issues. Chemical Waste Management calls the 600 feet of Selma Chalk limestone atop which the Emelle landfill sits virtually impermeable, allowing water to penetrate at a rate of approximately 1.2 inches per year. If there were any problems at the facility, the company argues, it would take millennia for spills to reach the aquifers below. Emelles operators tout the landfills robust system of protections, but its not perfect. Recent facility inspections by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management have documented multiple violations over the years. More than two dozen containers of hazardous waste were found rusting or damaged and 16 more were leaking, according to an April report. Landfill management disputed many of the regulators findings no containers were damaged or leaking, they said, and spots inspectors thought were spills were actually stain residue. Other violations were corrected and the landfill agreed to pay $32,680 in fines. A loaded truck arrives at the gate of Chemical Waste Managements hazardous waste landfill in Emelle, Ala., on July 25, 2023. The facility receives virtually every type of hazardous and toxic waste regulated by federal and state officials. All of it arrives by truck. Drivers sign in at a guard house, then pass through the main gate before laboratory staff verify the contents of waste and determine how to manage it. (Joe Songer for AL.com)Joe Songer 7. Expect more waste to come The cleanup and collection of PFAS is only now expanding, etc, anticipated federal guidelines, will have to go to the few hazardous waste landfills out there. PFAS waste has been and will continue to be a major issue in Alabama and other states for the foreseeable future. The EPA is likely to enact further restrictions on the storage, use and disposal of PFAS materials, so many businesses and states will have thousands of gallons of waste that requires sophisticated disposal. Some of those states and corporations may look to get rid of that waste by sending it to Emelle. Even though Alabama currently reports historically low unemployment rates, the numbers mask longstanding issues in the Black Belt, according to new research. Many residents in the states poorest region are left out of its low unemployment count because theyve stopped looking for work. Many are single parents who struggle to find jobs while balancing child care. The states Black Belt counties, all 24 of which have been stuck in persistent poverty for decades, have a higher concentration of residents that have fallen through the gaps in finding jobs, according to new data released Oct. 19 by the Education Policy Center at the University of Alabama. We cannot ignore for another 60 years the enduring persistent poverty thats characterizing the Black Belt, said Garrett Till, a research associate at the center who is from Greenville, in the region. Its people, our state and the nation deserve better here. Till spoke during a press briefing on employment in the Black Belt on Thursday, as part of the Education Policy Centers series researching and analyzing issues that residents of the Black Belt face. Previous issues include broadband access, educational attainment and access to healthcare. The Education Policy Centers new data on the Black Belt region measures the Prime Age Employment Gap, which counts adults between the ages of 25 and 54 years who arent working and arent searching for a job, in addition to people who are unemployed and still searching. [Cant see the map? Click here.] The Black Belts Prime Age Employment Gap rate 12% is double the rate of other counties in Alabama, per American Community Survey data analyzed by the Education Policy Center. Why arent they working? Experts say its not just that Alabama needs to get them off their fannies, as Gov. Ivey said in August about eligible workers who arent looking for work. Persistent challenges, not laziness, typically stop people from finding regular work, according to the report. The obstacles to returning to the workforce require wraparound services and funding for childcare, eldercare, transportation and behavioral and mental health care, researchers said during the briefing. Thats especially true for single parents and people who have been incarcerated, per the report. Because of those obstacles, all the regions counties surpass the federal governments poverty threshold and meet the federal definitions of persistent poverty meaning at least 20% of its population was in poverty for at least 30 years and have been since 1960. From the 1956 Montgomery Bus Boycott to the Selma to Montgomery voting rights march in 1965, to now, we havent seen any movement, said Stephen Katsinas, head of the Education Policy Center, at the press briefing. The 530,503 residents living in the Black Belt make up roughly 10% of the states population. Nearly three-fourths of them are people of color, and are predominantly Black, per the report. Nine out of the 10 Alabama counties with the largest difference in prime age employment gap compared to the national rate are in the Black Belt, per the report. In three Black Belt counties Monroe, Perry and Wilcox the Prime Age Employment Gap is at least four times higher than the statewide rate of 5%. The Black Belts population counts 47.5% of single-parent households, more than double the U.S. average and higher than Alabamas statewide average of 38%, per U.S. Census Bureau research analyzed by the Education Policy Center. This matters because poor, single parents are often caught between two choices: go back to work and pay for childcare, or stay home and survive with their family on government assistance. That also doesnt account for adults who are caretakers for elderly family members, as elder care services can be even more expensive than childcare, said Sam Addy, a senior research economist and the associate dean for economic development outreach at the University of Alabama. In the Black Belt, once a family has children, access to affordable childcare and medical benefits impacts the ability to keep working, the report reads. Other obstacles face people who have been incarcerated, who are often barred from jobs because of their criminal records. With such a drastic difference between the two Alabamas, the Black Belt is challenged to give second chances, the report reads. This story has been updated. This data is part of a research series from the University of Alabamas Education Policy Center focusing on problems facing the Black Belt, and attempting to find solutions. See more data from this series here. Do you have an idea for a data story about Alabama? Email Hannah Denham at hdenham@al.com. Read more: Black Belt K-12 students perform far worse in math, science than rest of Alabama Alabama Black Belts struggle with poverty a chicken and egg problem, but there are solutions Black Belt shrinking faster than anywhere else in Alabama, latest Census reports Beneath the seemingly civilized exterior of man lies tribal hatred, desperately trying to claw its way out. When it does, man can easily rationalize even the most heinous of his acts as virtuous. His target invariably becomes a demonized, marginalized group he can scapegoat as needed. No group has suffered more of this tribal hatred than the Jews. The Twelve Tribes of Israel, descendants of Jacob, inhabited the land now known as Israel since antiquity. Ten of those Tribes ruled the Kingdom of Israel until the Assyrians expelled them in 722 BCE. The other two tribes ruled the Kingdom of Judah until the Babylonians dispersed them in 586 BCE. Jews restored Judah by around 538 BCE. It was only in the Second Century AD that the Romans ended the Jewish Kingdom, starting 1,800 years of colonial occupation. Meanwhile, in the early 7th century, an Arabian warlord started a new religion: Islam. Mohammed, forced out of Mecca, found refuge with three Jewish tribes of Medina. Relations deteriorated quickly as Mohammed raided and plundered Jewish trade caravans. Mohammed banished two of the tribes, and defeated the third at the Battle of the Trench (627). Mohammed was merciless in victory. All men were slain, and all women and children enslaved. Although Mohammed never set foot in now-Christianized Palestine, he claimed it as his own. By the 16th century, the Ottoman Turks claimed the land, holding it until the end of WWI in 1918. Under Islam, Jews would live uneasily as dhimmi, a non-Muslim underclass, forced to pay jizya (tax), forbidden to own arms, and required to differentiate themselves from Muslims in their dress. Even oppressed, Jews managed to find success, bringing even greater resentment. When Joseph Neghrela became vizier to the king in Muslim-controlled Spain, simmering bitterness and rampant antisemitic writing incited the Massacre of Granada (1066). Neghrela was crucified and 1,500 Jewish families butchered. Image: A boastful depiction of the massacre of Jews in Belgium during the Black Death. Public domain. Islam wasnt alone in hating Jews. Christian Germans accused Jews of deicide for their alleged role in Christs death. They also created the blood libel that Jews murdered Christian children to use their blood in religious rituals. As would play out repeatedly, hatred for the Jews would fester before periodically erupting in mass murder. In the 1096 Rhineland Massacre, bloodthirsty mobs swarmed Jewish homes. Terrified, Jews escaped to their synagogues for safety, only to be locked inside and burned alive while Crusaders sang, Christ, we adore thee, to drown out the screams. Fleeing Jews were slaughtered and thrown into the sea. Flourishing communities of Jews on the Rhine and Danube were utterly destroyed. France was no different. French clergy exhorted Crusaders to avenge themselves on the Jews who had crucified Christ. As did the Muslims, the Fourth Lateran Council forced Jews to wear badges. Merely raising the blood libel was enough to incite mobs into madness. In the Massacre of Bios (1171), an entire Jewish community was rounded up into a Jewish home and set ablaze. That began the serial expulsion of the Jews from France that would continue for centuries. Across the Channel, Jews in England fared no better. Despite often deadly discrimination, Jews survived, often as money lenders, a job banned for Christians. Having to pay back money borrowed from Jews was unbearable. Antisemitism was a powder keg ready to ignite. When prominent Jews arrived to pay homage to Richard I at his coronation, Englishmen exploded with rage that the Jews presence had dirtied the proceedings. The Jews were caught, flogged, and expelled, ushering in murderous pogroms that would climax in the Massacre at York (1190), which exterminated the entire Jewish community of 150 families. Twenty-five years later, the Magna Carta established basic human rights in Englandbut Jews were excluded. In 1290, King Edward evicted all Jews from England. He was not alone. There were at least 27 recorded expulsions from 17 different countries between 1100 and 1600. When the Black Death raged in the 14th century, Jews were inevitably scapegoated. Accused of poisoning wells, Jews were murdered all over Europe. In the Massacre of Strasbourg (1349), the entire Jewish community of several thousand men, women, and children was burned alive by its Christian neighbors. As if in a competition of depravity, Spains Massacre of 1391 would leave 50,000 Jews dead. One eyewitness account: The pattern was invariably the same. A wild mob, roused by fanatical priests and monks, stormed into the Jewish quarter. They set fire to Jewish homes, shops and synagogues, giving the Jews one choice: conversion to Christianity or death. They killed mercilessly those who refused to be baptized. In 1492, Ferdinand and Isabella, who famously sent Columbus to discover a new world, simultaneously expelled all Jews to find a new home, citing usury and subverting the holy Catholic faith. It would be one of the greatest dislocations in pre-modern history as 200,000 Jews were stripped of their property and forced to flee. Serial massacres continued into modern times. When Tzar Alexander was assassinated in 1881, pogroms erupted throughout Russia. Terror reigned across the countryside. Frenzied mobs pillaged hundreds of Jewish towns and villages. The pogroms resurfaced in 1903 but were bloodier, broader, and lasted much longer. The NY Times reported one such incident: The mob was led by priests, and the general cry, Kill the Jews, was taken up all over the city. The Jews were taken wholly unaware and were slaughtered like sheep. The dead number 120 and the injured about 500. The scenes of horror attending this massacre are beyond description. Babies were literally torn to pieces by the frenzied and bloodthirsty mob. The local police made no attempt to check the reign of terror. At sunset the streets were piled with corpses and wounded. Those who could make their escape fled in terror, and the city is now practically deserted of Jews. Long before Hitlers final solution, it was clear Jews were not safe, nor ever would be safe. Zionism, the ideological movement to establish a Jewish homeland in the Jews ancestral Kingdom, was born of desperate necessity. In 1917, England issued the Balfour Declaration, calling for a national home for the Jewish people. However, it took the merciless slaughter of 6 million Jews to finally make the world act. UN Resolution 181(11) created two states in Palestine. In 1948, the state of Israel was declaredand Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, and Syria immediately declared war. The Arab-Israeli War gave Israel far more territory than the original partition would have. Egypt would control Gaza and Jordan, the West Bank. In 1967, a coalition of six Arab states attacked Israel. In a stunning victory, the Six-Day War ended with Israel in complete control. The two-state solution seemed dead but, in 2005, Israel unilaterally gave Gaza to the Palestinians, fulfilling the promise of a two-state solution. No sooner had Israel withdrawn, though, than Gaza elected a ruthless terrorist organization to govern them. The election wasnt a sham but, as Jimmy Carter reported, reflected the will of the Palestinians: It seemed obvious to us and other observers that the election was orderly and peaceful and that there was a clear preference for Hamas candidates even in historically strong Fatah communities. Even so, we were all surprised at the enormity of the Hamas victory. Hamas left no doubt of its intention: to destroy the State of Israel through Jihad. Left with no choice, Israel blockaded Gazas borders to prevent Hamas from bringing in military equipment. Otherwise, it left Gaza free to govern itself. Still, the world met Israels actions with contempt. As it had for millennia, tribal antisemitism seethed and raged until it erupted last week in the savage, pre-civilization orgy of barbarism that shocked the civilized worlds conscience. Wed thought the Holocaust ended that. In the aftermath, as expected, we have witnessed a resurgence of brazen antisemitism as thousands gleefully cast aside their thin veneer of civility to march in debauched celebrations of the horrific slaughter and condemn their eternal foe. Huck Davenport is a pseudonym. Just a few generations ago, most Americans understood that George Orwells classics Animal Farm and 1984 were written as a warning about how freedom is lost to the tyranny and intolerance of totalitarianism. Animal Farm and 1984 were particularly apt for teaching young people at a time when the shocking revelations about Nazism and Soviet communism that were coming out in the 1950s and 1960s were hard to digest. Most important, what these works revealed was that a defining feature of totalitarianism is mind control. First, propaganda warps and destroys peoples grasp on reality. Second, propaganda is designed to foster groupthink, conformity, and collectivism, which marginalizes critical and independent thinking. Orwell described the scope of the totalitarian enterprise, noting in one section of 1984 that, Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, and every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right. In 1984, Orwell wrote, Who controls the past controls the future. Orwells introduction of concepts and terms such as newspeak, doublethink and thought police are what we now experience as political correctness, misinformation, and cancellation. The analogs of thought police in 1984 are now the enforcers of political correctness and closed political narratives. As Orwell notes, the whole aim of newspeak and doublethink is to narrow the range of thought. Political correctness has the same goal and thats why its adherents are so intolerant -- seeking to silence, cancel, and delegitimize people with whom they disagree. As it turns out, social media and information technology have great power to narrow the range of acceptable thought. Google, which controls 90% of Internet searches, utilizes an AI-driven search ranking that can manipulate not only consumer preferences but also election outcomes. According to Robert Epstein, a Harvard Ph.D. who has studied Google for more than decade, Googles ability to manipulate its search ranking algorithms has the power to change the choices of 15% of undecided voters, more than enough to change many recent close election outcomes. The COVID-19 lockdowns and the death of George Floyd in May 2020 created an environment of fear. And fear of going to the polls gave Democrat activists and lawyers the opportunity to change election laws and protocols in key swing states to expand the utilization of mail-in ballots, ballot harvesting, and lengthening vote counting deadlines. These initiatives enabled paid activists to manipulate voter registration and the vote count through fraudulent ballots -- undertaken to deny Donald Trump a second term. Simultaneously, a full-blown cultural revolution came to America. What had been going on at many college campuses for decades came to cities across the country. With activism that created division, fear, and people turning on each other, it was as if Maos Chinese Communist Cultural Revolution 1960s and 70s had come to America. First came hordes instigated by Antifa and Black Lives Matter smashing windows, looting, and burning down neighborhoods resulting in the destruction of $2 billion of urban property across America. Then, as if on cue or following a plan, marauding mobs appeared with ropes seeking to topple historic statues and monuments. Columbus and Confederate Civil War heroes were the first to go, but no one should doubt that the Founding Fathers -- the drafters of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution -- will be next. No history, no borders, no country. Future historians may well look back and mark 2020 as the year Americas greatest threat began, for what happened that year and continued over the two and half years radically changed the country, effectively depriving American citizens of their First Amendment rights more completely than ever before, resulting in a questionable presidential election and the subsequent foreign invasion across the southern border. In 2020 the main issues for Deep State influence and control of the American people were the COVID-19 pandemic and the November national election. The CIA, FBI, and DHS, which all had personnel who were hired by such social media companies as Google, Facebook, and Twitter, also had information-and-influence portals to these social media companies. However, directly influencing the election through censorship was perceived to be constitutionally problematic. In June of 2020, the Election Integrity Partnership was formed by Alex Stamos, who was then a research professor at Stanford University, after resigning his role at Facebook as chief security officer in 2018. Stamos first endeavor at EIP was to meet with the Chris Krebs, the head of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) at the Department of Homeland Security to identify what EIP needed to do to influence the upcoming election, particularly regarding censorship, which CISA was reluctant to do. Although Stamos had a staff of some 120 at EIP, keeping up with flagging and censoring the tens of millions of social media posts deemed to have misinformation would be impossible. His solution was for Stanfords EIP to undertake persuading all the major social media companies to change their customer terms of service policies to incorporate language about delegitimization, which would enable mass censorship and cancellation. Within six weeks of getting its operation up and running, EIP succeeded in getting Facebook to change its terms of service to adopt delegitimization. On September 10th, Twitter also incorporated delegitimization into its terms of service. Other social media platforms followed suit. Once the new terms of service that included delegitimization were in place, EIP had a two-fold approach to bring all social media companies into compliance to deplatform and cancel discussion/coverage of delegitimized topics: 1) Remind social media firms that there could be consequences from government regulatory agencies if they were noncompliant with their terms of service; and 2) Noncompliance with their written terms of service would also likely result in negative PR for the company. There were slight changes to the words and subjects identified for delegitimization before and after the November national election. Mike Benz, Executive Director of the Foundation for Freedom Online, has itemized a partial summary of prohibited subjects for discussion on social media that would trigger cancellation or deplatforming: new election protocols and processes; issues and outcomes; mail-in ballots; early voting; drop boxes; Stop the Steal; Sharpiegate; Poll Watcher; Postal Service; dead voter rolls; and Antifa. And when the Hunter Biden laptop story broke in mid-October, it was immediately delegitimized. By EIPs own admission, Twitter was forced to cancel 22 million tweets that contained misinformation that violated the companys terms of service prior to the November 2020 election. After the election, when many Americans felt disenfranchised and had many questions about perceived irregularities, they found that social media effectively checked discussion about election fraud, just as social media had done with COVID-19 policy abnormalities. In many ways social media has taken the place of the town hall, the marketplace, and traditional media. Whatever the cause, whether government agencies who have direct portals to convey one-sided information to social media, or NGOs like the Election Integrity Partnership, when they block, cancel, or deplatform voices and information, the result is a narrowing of the range of acceptable thought. This censorship is of course a violation of First Amendment free speech. Worse, it is an assault on the Constitution and a betrayal of government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Scott Powell is senior fellow at Discovery Institute, and a member of the Committee on the Present Danger-China. His recent book, Rediscovering America, was #1 Amazon New Release in the history genre for eight weeks. Reach him at scottp@discovery.org Image: Mike Licht The Root, an ultra-liberal publication addressing issues within Black culture, has once again turned its focus to criticizing Black conservatives. This time, theyve compiled a hit list of black conservatives to target, including well-known figures like Larry Elder, Tim Scott, and Herman Cain. In this article titled A List of Worst Black Conservatives Ever, they employ familiar liberal tactics, accusing them of aligning with White supremacy, lacking the best interests of Black America at heart, and being grifters. Its frustrating because, on the surface, they may seem to provide commentary in the best interest of Black America, but its, in reality, a preemptive strike to suppress opposing views within Black communities. The Worst Black Conservatives? Their go-to weapon is the characterization of racism, which is used to shut down the flow of ideas in the Black community. Its time to bring Black conservative ideas to the forefront. Take Larry Elder, for example. While I may not agree with everything he says or does, lets examine his campaign to raise awareness about fatherless homes. The Institute for Family Studies noted that research evidence indicates that, on average, children who have two parents who are committed to one another, a stable home life, more economic resources, and the advantage of being intended or welcomed by their parents are more likely to flourish. So, is he wrong for bringing this issue to the table? Is he wrong for wanting to prioritize this issue for Black Americans? Questioning the Black Liberal Narrative The real problem lies with the Black liberal elite, who seem to frame White supremacy and systemic racism as the sole impediments to true prosperity for Black America. However, the data doesnt necessarily support this perspective. Tim Scotts Stance on Racism and Welfare Lets consider the criticism of Tim Scott, who asserts that America is not a racist country and likens the welfare state to slavery. If Scott can present a compelling case for why America has racist individuals but isnt inherently racist as a country, shouldnt his viewpoint be worthy of consideration? Even though we may disagree with comparing welfare to slavery, if he can demonstrate how welfare might hinder family stability and individual motivation, his viewpoint deserves attention. Harris Faulkner and Black-on-Black Crime The criticism of Black conservatives doesnt end there; they also target Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner for addressing Black-on-Black crime and critiquing the Black Lives Matter movement. Is she wrong for wanting to end violence in the Black community? While Black liberals shift the debate toward killings by law enforcement, if the data shows that most killings of Blacks occur within their own community, shouldnt addressing this be a priority on the Black agenda? This doesnt mean dismissing unlawful killings by law enforcement; it means following the data to address the most pressing social issues. Embracing Diversity of Black Perspectives Promoting a diverse range of voices within the Black community is essential to a thriving democracy. We should embrace the variety of perspectives that Black conservatives bring to the table. Just as not all liberals share the same views, the same diversity exists within the conservative camp. Healthy debates and discussions between these diverse viewpoints can lead to more comprehensive solutions for the challenges facing Black America. Rather than silencing or demonizing those who dont conform to a single narrative, we should encourage a respectful exchange of ideas to better understand the complexities of these issues. The Importance of Sincerity and Compassion Its essential that Black conservatives, or anyone addressing issues within the Black community, approach these topics with a combination of sincerity, unwavering beliefs, and genuine compassion for the struggles and concerns of the community. The Black community rightly resists those who merely echo the sentiments of racist White organizations or appear insincere in their intentions. To make a meaningful impact, individuals should demonstrate a sincere commitment to addressing these challenges, maintain firmness in their principles, and show empathy for the communitys experiences. By embodying these qualities, they can engage in constructive and respectful discussions that lead to practical solutions while bridging divides and fostering understanding. The Commitment of Black Conservatives For many Black conservatives, their unwavering commitment lies in a singular objective -- to bring about social redemption and economic success within the Black community. They believe that a reimagined path toward progress involves embracing conservative principles that prioritize individual liberty, personal responsibility, and economic empowerment. Through their advocacy and unique perspective, they aim to bridge ideological divides and foster conversations that challenge the status quo. In their vision, the Black community can thrive and prosper when given the tools, opportunities, and freedom to shape their destinies. By engaging in open dialogue and finding common ground, we can collectively work toward a future where the shared goal is the betterment of all Americans, regardless of their political beliefs or backgrounds. Image: The Root There are a lot of interesting responses in the United States to the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. Clearly, the most rational is to be outraged at the rape, kidnapping, and murder of Israeli civilians perpetrated by so-called soldiers of Islam. They are not soldiers or freedom fighters at all; they are savages unbound by any sense of military discipline or duty to the Palestinian people. If they were soldiers, they would consider Israels potential responses and the resulting damage to infrastructure and civilian casualties before launching such a cruel attack. We are very right to be outraged. Hamas has instigated what looks to be a tremendously harsh retribution on the people living in Gaza. Let me say that we do have a dog in this fight. Hamas killed and kidnapped American citizens, and the US must do everything in its power (except ransom) to rescue them and punish the perpetrators. I support Special Forces rescue attempts and raids into Gaza as appropriate, but I caution against getting overly committed in Israels war. We need to consider the longer-term implications of an Israeli response, which looks to be a full-scale invasion of Gaza before we allow our outrage to lead us into another long and costly war. Arabs and Jews have been fighting for a hundred years, and we only lasted about 20 years in Afghanistan. Just to be clear, our military leadership and political leaders (as if there is any difference) lost the will to continue in Afghanistan because many American voters did. If 9/11 was our reason for going into that country in the first place, then we are not likely sufficiently outraged by 10/7 in Israel. Right now, we have two US Navy carrier groups dedicated to supporting Israel and ostensibly warning other bad actors like Hezbollah and Iran to stay out of Israels way. We have pledged materiel and ammunition to sustain Israels defense, which still implies a tremendous cost to the US taxpayer. Image: Israel strikes Gaza. YouTube screen grab. US support for Ukraine and any other potential hot spots and the currently stressed US economy compound this cost. If Iran takes action as it has done in the past and disrupts oil supplies, it could lead to $250 barrels of oil, and unheard-of gas prices (and the US is in no position to quickly ramp up domestic production). Things could get a lot worse. If Hamas does not sufficiently outrage us now, I fear we will all be very angry soon. Israel is poised to invade Gaza, a roughly 25-by-7-mile strip of Mediterranean coastlinea densely populated urban center of some 2 million people. To reach their targets which, by all accounts, are well prepared, dug in, and obviously motivated, Israeli troops will have to move a huge portion of their infantry into this quagmire. This combat environment significantly hampers much of Israels technological advantageespecially if Israel intends to minimize the impact on the civilian populationwhich limits large-scale artillery and air force attacks. House-to-house and room-to-room close-quarters combat requires on-the-spot human decision-making and the taking of great personal risk. It will be costly in terms of Israeli casualties. It will also require significant occupation troops as they move from one secured area to a new area to prevent Hamas from simply moving back into previous locations. As Israel seeks to control these areas, it must then provide food, medical assistance, and shelter to the displaced civilians living there. The Palestinians are not going elsewhere because none of their Arab neighbors will have them. Perhaps the UN can help, but as history has clearly demonstrated, UN troops will be useless in keeping any areas free of Hamas militants. Israel will have to do it. But what does all of this really accomplish? It results in a truly occupied Gaza, continued resentment of Israel by the Arab world, and tremendous cost to Israels and any allied economies. How can Israel eventually win the hearts and minds of the Palestinians and eliminate the enmity of the Arab world? Perhaps this is where the US and others come in. Id love to imagine investing in the infrastructure in Gaza, establishing industries and jobs, and then rolling out the other necessities that their Arab neighbors have not bothered to develop. We dont have to democratize Gaza or establish a government for them. Weve tried nation-building before with dismal results. Nations must build themselves, but they still require the economic and trade support of other countries. How can we foster that? The only way Gaza and the Palestinians will be a free and peaceful people is if they can join the rest of us who take our blessings for granted. Imagine what Irans $6 billion could do if used properly. But can a truly prosperous economy develop in Gaza? Could it eventually integrate into the regional economy? How do we eliminate the institutional racial/religious divides? That challenge alone takes a few generations and can easily be set back (as we have seen in the US in the last decade or so). In other words, to even hope for a peaceful future requires thinking and supporting an expensive effort in terms of many decades, if not a century or more. Sadly, I doubt any country or people has the wherewithal to endure the time it will take to see all this happen, and the remaining alternatives are really quite bleak. Israel can kill as many Hamas fighters as possible, take out their infrastructure, and eventually move out of Gaza until Hamas or some other organization develops the means to attack them on this scale again. Or Israel could try pounding the Palestinians into submission as we did with the Axis Powers in WW2, but a positive outcome from that is far from certain. Hamas has triggered what is likely to be a true humanitarian disaster. I believe we should support Israel, but we need to make sure we consider all that this implies before committing to a particular strategy. Keeping Israels neighbors out of the fight and providing defensive support are good starts, but beyond that, what can we do that is meaningful and manageable and moves the region toward a better future? Like he always does, Joe Biden wants more money in his hands from Congress. After actively scheming to imprison his political opponents, Biden says it's time to let bygones be bygones and embrace the national unity, calling his new request for $105 billion in war cash a "smart investment that's going to pay dividends for American security for generations." A smart investment? Everything he seeks spending money for is a "smart investment." In this context, though, the 'ick factor' was strong, because he sounded as though he was trying to sell us a timeshare. Buried within his request was what appeared to be a nod to American national security rather than Israel's or Ukraine's: a claim that $14 billion of that money would go to "border security." After all, when 8 million people are being allowed into the country under catch-and-release, flooding our cities and filling the streets with crime, and election time is beckoning, maybe a little border security could be slipped in as a sweetener to Republicans. But according to congressional observers, that's what Biden would like you to think, not what Biden has in mind. According to the New York Post: One lawmaker, however, expressed concern that the money wouldnt actually be used to tighten up the border. Its got to be designed to secure the border, not to facilitate travel through the border, Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) told the Associated Press. Biden's idea of "border security" is faster processing times for illegal migrants to be allowed into the country, not a wall to keep illegal crossers out. With every asylum claim treated equally, whether one is a tattooed male cartel member, a red-tshirted Chavista slum enforcer, a product of Venezuela's emptied jails, an economic migrant country-shopping for the best deal, or an actual challenger to a socialist government, all asylum applications are treated equally, which has created a backlog. How do we know this is true? By that 99% acceptance rate for asylum claims on that CBPOne border app that permits asylum applications to be filed from outside the country, complete with free taxpayer-paid transport into the U.S. on the side. Naturally, that has created demand, and that demand has created a backlog for migrant processing services, not just on those who can get their asylum claims filed on the app, but for those who illegally cross in. It's also created big bills for U.S. and manpower shortages that Biden would like to shovel cash at. That's Joe Biden's idea of border security -- speedier customer service for illegals, as if that wouldn't actually create more demand for illegal entry. He seems to think there's an end to this illegal migration and if illegals can be processed into the states faster and with more free stuff -- faster, cheaper, easier -- demand will fall and the border will be secure. All we can see from this phony request of his is that he's concerned about the Fox News cameras focused on the unending stream of illegals crossing into the U.S. and hopes to outrun it by spiriting them into the states faster. That's not going to fool the cities, such as San Diego, which are now flooded with dumped illegals, as are many cities across the country. They're the ones who pay for this, but no matter: These are sanctuary cities are run by Democrats and they aren't going to seriously oppose Biden even as he sticks them with the tab. Sure, a little grumbling. But no move to get rid of Biden which is what they ought to be doing. If Biden gets his requested appropriation, not only will he be able to process more illegal migrants into the U.S., he'll presumably have the Fox News cameras off the border scene as election time approaches. This isn't about border security. This is about Joe Biden's re-election prospects. That $14 billion he's asking for better include serious border security before one penny is approved for any other country's security by Congress. If the matter is as serious as Biden claims, he'll yield on this, he'll spend some of it on the wall and the deportation flights. Let's see how serious he is. Image: Screen shot from ABC News video, via YouTube Jewish Voice for Peace, which I think of as Jews for Jihad, EIN 90-0018359 per public records, is 501(c)(3) tax exempt. This means that donations to it are tax-deductible. Jewish Voice for Peace tweeted recently, emphasis is mine, We shut down congress to draw mass attention to the U.S. complicity in Israels ongoing oppression of Palestinians. But our work isnt done. The tweet also stipulates that numerous people were arrested. While I cannot give legal advice, numerous January 6, 2021 defendants were charged under 18 USC 1512(c)(2), which says, Whoever corruptly ... (2) obstructs, influences, or impedes any official proceeding, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both. Jewish Voice for Peace stipulated openly, We shut down Congress, which is pretty much what the January 6 defendants were charged with doing. Nobody has been charged yet, as far as I know, with a violation of the federal law in question, although some were charged with assaulting police. Capitol Police say demonstrators inside the Cannon Rotunda will be charged with illegally protesting inside a House Office Building. They say among the arrests, three people were charged with assault on a police officer during processing. Illegally protesting could violate 18 USC 1752 Restricted building or grounds, which is a misdemeanor if done nonviolently. Again, I dont know the specific charges. I do know that the Internal Revenue Services Exempt Organizations (E.O.) Topic 85 has plenty to say about illegal activities, and none of it bodes well for JVPs tax exemption. Emphasis is mine. Not only is the actual conduct of illegal activities inconsistent with exemption, but the planning and sponsoring of such activities are also incompatible with charity and social welfare. Rev. Rul. 75-384 holds that an organization formed to promote world peace that planned and sponsored protest demonstrations at which members were urged to commit acts of civil disobedience did not qualify for IRC 501(c)(3) or (4) exemption. G.C.M. 36153, dated January 31, 1975, states that because planning and sponsoring illegal acts are in themselves inconsistent with charity and social welfare it is not necessary to determine whether illegal acts were, in fact, committed in connection with the resulting demonstrations or whether such a determination can be made prior to conviction of an accused. However, it is necessary to establish that the planning and sponsorship are attributable to the organization, if exemption is to be denied or revoked on this ground. The document elaborates regarding the last sentence, However, in determining whether illegal activities are substantial, it must be borne in mind that actions by members and officers of an organization do not always reflect on the organization. Because organizations act through individuals, it is necessary to distinguish those activities of individuals that are done in an official capacity from those that are not. Only (1) acts by an organizations officials under actual or purported authority to act for the organization, (2) acts by agents of the organization within their authority to act, or (3) acts ratified by the organization should be considered as activities of the organization. This means, and it is common sense, that if some JVP people decided on their own to shut down Congress or violate 18 USC 1752 Restricted building or grounds, JVP cannot be held accountable. That is not, however, what happened. JVPs official Twitter account said, We shut down Congress. This assertion also appears on JVPs Facebook page, which they apparently shut down or made private, but it was on Google Cache. We shut down congress to draw mass attention to the U.S. complicity in Israels ongoing oppression of Palestinians. But our work isnt done. I downloaded and backed up a copy in case the cache changes. I do not know if JVP actually succeeded in shutting down Congress, but hundreds of arrests were made, so there are credible allegations of unlawful activity in which JVP claims to have played a role. This can be (and probably has been) reported to the Internal Revenue Services E.O. Division via Form 13909. I dont know if the IRS will do anything, but it has revoked 501(c)(3) status for unlawful behavior in the past. We can only hope that JVP screwed the pooch for a change, and this is the end of the line for them. Civis Americanus is the pen name of a contributor who remembers the lessons of history, and wants to ensure that our country never needs to learn those lessons again the hard way. The author is remaining anonymous due to the likely prospect of being subjected to cancel culture for exposing the Big Lie behind Black Lives Matter. Image: pasja1000 via Pixabay, Pixabay License. Senior CPC official meets Vietnamese president Xinhua) 08:37, October 20, 2023 Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, meets with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 19, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Cai Qi met with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong in Beijing on Thursday. Cai, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, said China always views Vietnam as a high priority in its neighborhood diplomacy and is willing to work with Vietnam to implement the outcomes of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. Noting that Vietnam highly values its friendship with China, the Vietnamese president expressed the hope that both sides can enhance high-level exchanges and continue to elevate the friendly relations between Vietnam and China. Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, meets with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 19, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) So far, Ron DeSantis hasnt run much of a presidential campaign, peaking way back in March in the polls. But lately he is taking a page from his rivals, just acting like an incumbent President, which may be a winning strategy. Joe Biden is the de jure President, but we know he isnt really in charge. Jill and the various family retainers actually run the White House. But as long as Old Joe keeps masquerading as the Chief Executive, the nomination seems to be his. Donald Trump, of course, never conceded in 2020 and to his followers, he is the only legitimate President. Trump acts like an incumbent President running for re-election, eschewing debates and insisting party loyalty means every Republican must still support him. DeSantis sees the power of incumbency, and is taking on the role of Preemptive President, moving into the Biden vacuum. Nobody doubts what a great leader the governor of Florida has been (or maybe he is President of Florida), reforming his states woke colleges, managing mega-hurricanes like they were cloudbursts, or shipping border refugees north, to discombobulate the Open Borders Democrats. With the Gaza War, he is doing what our actual federal government seems incapable of doing-airlifting Americans out of Israel and shipping back badly needed medical supplies. And he finally drew blood from Trump, pointing out he was making things way too personal with Bibi. He was first in saying No to any supposed Palestinian refugees and is leading the charge against Biden's lunatic idea of giving the Palestinians a $100 million. Next month he will be debating Gov. Gavin Newsom in what will be billed as a 2024 presidential preview. Newsom is the guy who says he supports Biden, but whose actions are geared for campaigning 2024. He even pointedly visits the White House when Biden isnt there, which is a lot of the time. For the 3rd GOP debate, it also looks like most of the challengers are fading fast. Nikki Haley has sewn up the establishment/anti-Trump lane, ending the hopes of Pence, Christie, and Scott. Meanwhile, the boomlet for Vivek is sputtering out, as he thought he could needle Israel the same way he did Ukraine. Even the friendly confines of Fox News, where Viveks public career began, has become hostile. DeSantis also got some good polling news from Fox, showing he and Haley, both beat Biden while Trump consistently does not beat him. By next year, when actual GOP voting begins, it should be clear DeSantis is the only real alternative to Trump. Of course, Trump still leads among Republicans by a wide margin. A lot of that, however, is sympathy for Trump and the despicable way he is being prosecuted by the Democrats. Republicans still have a lot to consider and time to do so, about the wisdom of supporting either man. Ultimately, the best argument DeSantis has for his nomination is that Trump is a much weaker general election candidate; and if you really want Donald Trump to get a federal pardon, DeSantis is your best Republican hope to reach the White House. In fact, if DeSantis really wants to show off his Presidential mettle, he ought to go ahead right now and issue pardons to Trump, other Florida residents like Roger Stone caught up in Trump conspiracies and anybody else with a legal nexus to whatever Trump is accused of doing. Now, you may say, hold it, how can a Florida governor pardon people for federal crimes or crimes in other states? The answer is -- its never really been attempted in this set of circumstances and there is the 5th Amendment protection against double jeopardy. Once somebody is pardoned for a crime, other jurisdictions, state or federal, may not, simply as a matter of law and practicality, be able to try them for the same thing. Vengeful Democrats have been eager, of course, to limit pardons Trump already gave out but the Supreme Court has not yet considered the consequences of this current attempt to limit pardon power. Its long past time the Scotus was forced to review the whole issue and old precedents with a bold new theory of double jeopardy and state pardon power. Armed with a DeSantis pardon, defendants could at least tie up Jack Smith, Fani Willis, and the other prosecutorial miscreants for years. Perhaps the Supreme Court may even find the concept of a preemptive President in the plans of the Founding Fathers. Certainly, our titular President has long passed the point of defunction. Frank Friday is an attorney in Louisville, KY. Image: Matt Johnson The crisis in Israel is horrific. What Hamas did and initiated is nothing less than a great evil. At the same time, what may also be called a great evil are the cheers and the justifying of horrendous evil by many Americans and others around the world. For once, those of us who are Christian and Jew have a common verse in both the Jewish Torah and the Christian Old Testament to unite us in discernment, understanding, and our prayers. This is that passage in Proverbs 17:15: Jewish: Mishlei He who vindicates the wicked and condemns the righteousboth are an abomination to the Lord. Christian: Proverbs He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord. Any time Yahweh or God in either of our holy books uses the term abomination, we must pause and consider the strengththe stress He utilizes to make His will known and to get our attention. We dare not ignore a word or term that denotes the nth degree of a great evil. In any language, there is no word that supersedes or is a greater superlative for how horrendous or detestable an evil is. The actions of Hamas on Saturday, October 7, 2023, totally fit such a description. There is no need to reiterate the list of brutal, cruel, and abominable deeds that were done on that day. They were an abomination to Yahweh, God, and Allah (These are all the only words for the Deity all worship in those languages). Image by Andrea Widburg Yes, I include Allah because Arab Christians also worship Allah (the only word for God in Arabic), and even the Quran begins every chapter (except for one), In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful. Who can imagine the Compassionate, the Merciful accepting or approving what was done to babies, children, the elderly, men and womenthe innocent victims of such a massacre? It was another day of infamy. It is incomprehensible and unimaginable that any American would not see the evil for what it wasan abomination. And yet we were confronted with so many cheering and justifying such an evil. This is just one indication of many the moral decline we are experiencing. It is not unexpected that many of us, both Jewish and Christian, will fear Yahwehs and Gods judgment on our nation. Its not only a moral decline, but also a rejection of true justice. Such evils result in others experiencing consequences who are also innocent victims, such as the Palestinian Christians and Muslims who would not or do not accept or approve of such evil. Unfortunately, evil, violence, and wars create what is called collateral damage. History reminds us of how consistently this occurs. The passage in the Jewish Mishlei and the Christian Old Testament reminds us of our common beliefs. Those common beliefs should encourage us to pray discerninglynot with malice, but with attitudes based on compassion and mercy, as well as truth and justice, for all the innocent victims and their families. We must also pray for Hamas to be judged and condemned for the abomination it has unleashed on the innocent, on the Israelis, the Jews, the world, and against Yahweh, God, and Allah. Having shut down huge swathes of U.S. energy production and watching energy prices rise ahead of elections, Joe Biden is getting a little desperate as re-election time approaches. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve has already been emptied. Iran has been handed its money. Arab oil producers have been insulted and alienated and aren't producing any extra oil. What left to get oil prices down then but lifting sanctions on Venezuela's oil? Anything but open the U.S. to more drilling. Which is exactly what Joe Biden has done: Get a load, from the Washington Post: The Biden administration on Wednesday eased oil, gas and gold sanctions against Venezuela a day after the government of President Nicolas Maduro and the U.S.-backed opposition agreed to terms for a competitive presidential election next year. The Treasury Department issued a general license authorizing U.S. companies to engage in long-barred transactions primarily in the state-controlled energy sector. It said the license is to be valid for six months, to be renewed only if the authoritarian socialist government meets its commitments for elections and with respect to those who are wrongfully detained. The agreement signed by the government and opposition politicians Tuesday, following years of on-again, off-again negotiations, could be a breakthrough in the South American nations stifling political stalemate. The Biden administration promised to consider suspending some sanctions in exchange for progress. He's easing sanctions on one of the most revolting human-rights violating regimes in the world, a regime so blatantly undemocratic it cheated in everyone's faces during the 2019 elections. Other sanctions were placed on this country based on its drug-dealing and money-laundering activities, which includes shipping illegals into the U.S. with the drugs. Dozens of countries, including the U.S., cut ties to the Maduro dictatorship and recognized the legislatively enacted acting president, Juan Guaido, to the presidency. Joe Biden came along and pretty well "forgot" that the U.S. did that and went back to recognizing the Maduro regime. Now we are to believe that Maduro, who has cheated in every election he's ever been elected in, along with the Chavista regime, which has cheated ever since the country's 2004 recall referendum, will clean up its act and run free and fair elections, based on its deal, which the U.S. claims is Venezuelan-on-Venezuelan alone, with one part of the opposition called Unity. How many times have we been around this block before? It must have been dozens. Fact is, Maduro is never going to leave the presidential palace other than in a coffin with his handpicked successor firmly in the saddle. He took his dictator lessons from the Cuban Castro regime and the lesson stuck. This 'conditionality on lifting sanctions for in exchange for an end to electoral cheating, and from an electoral cheat himself in the White House, has 'bogus' written all over it. Here's the creepy part: Venezuela's authentic opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado, an honest, straight-shooting presidential contender who would probably win a fair election there, and who has opposed Chavismo since the days of George W. Bush and whose field of expertise before she went into politics, was ascertaining whether elections were free and fair, was ... not included in this scam oil-for-elections deal. Here is her tweet about it: To my Venezuelan fellow citizens and the international community: pic.twitter.com/xrCOZ4N3vB Maria Corina Machado (@MariaCorinaYA) October 18, 2023 So the "three stooges" who are running U.S. policy on Venezuela and who have just instituted a phony go-around to get Venezuela out of sanctions so it can pump oil for Joe Biden, somehow, didn't think to include Machado, who knows what a fair election is, in this set-up. They've been trying to get sanctions dropped and get Venezuela to pump oil for us since the beginning of the Biden presidency. And yes, they are called 'The Three Stooges' by experienced professional diplomats. Sound fishy? It does to me -- and everyone else who's been watching Venezuela for years. This isn't about free elections in Venezuela. It's about rigged elections in the U.S., and Joe Biden's prospects for getting re-elected. Image: Nicolas Raymond, via Flickr // CC BY 2.0 In his vague warning to Hezballah in Lebanon -- really Iran -- against widening the Israel-Gaza War, Joe Biden warned Arab aggressors from widening their war against Israel by saying, Dont, Dont, Dont in his trademark partial whisper. He really reveals his own series of his own Dont, Dont, Donts: Dont -- impulsively, foolishly, and prematurely abandon Afghanistan for symbolic political purposes, when your own military advisors and NATO allies astutely recommended that you leave three thousand troops to assure easier surveillance of Iran and Chinas nuclear sites, and to prevent inevitable resurgence of Al Qaeda, ISIS, and other terrorist haters of America in Afghanistan. Dont -- Look frequently at your watch while watching unloaded coffins of the dead troops who died during the chaos at Karsi airport that your flawed decision caused. Dont -- Always bring up your unresolved grief about your son Beau in efforts to comfort grieving military families. Beau did serve, as you did not, but not in Afghanistan. Dont -- Abruptly undermine and attack American oil and gas independence, the bedrock of American prosperity and energy independence. Dont -- Fawn over the Green New Deal for political gain while neglecting problems related a gradual transition for less use of fossil fuels. Dont Okay the Nordstream pipeline that undermined our European allies and helped Putin. Dont -- Coyly hint that a small incursion by Putin into Ukraine might not bring immediate action by America. Putin listens to such carefully. Dont Timidly predict sanctions on Putin if he chose to invade Ukraine instead of starting heavy sanctions on Russia and giving massive amount of lethal military aid to Ukraine preemptively. Dont -- Allow America to give twice as much financial support to Ukraine as other NATO countries and yet too little, too late for weapons that could have assured a decisive victory of Ukraine over Putin. Dont -- Boast about how well you know and how many hours you have spent with President Xi of China yet not call him out decisively and publicly about his violation of human rights towards and cruel treatment of the Uighurs. Dont -- Talk tough about Chinas ambitions concerning Taiwan and the South China Sea but submit puny defense budgets that allow our Navy to fall behind Chinas. Dont -- Boast about your affection, nurturing, and frequent contacts with your grandchildren but neglect to even mention and include your grandchild Navy from your prodigal son Hunters promiscuous sexual behavior until your denial was too obvious to ignore. Dont -- Call your son Hunter the smartest man you know when his drug abuse, carelessness with a gun, incestuous sexual behavior, and suspected corrupt financial foreign dealings that even might involve yourself seriously refute this. Dont -- Boast about your getting a full scholarship and being at the top of your class at Syracuse law school when such was not true. Dont -- Label Republicans MAGA glibly, dont whisper at the country in your speeches and avoid saying, Thats not hyperbole, or Thats not a joke we can discern that for ourselves. Image: Gage Skidmore If Americans do not have good background history, or very good intuition and common sense, it is increasingly difficult to cognitively negotiate the mainstream media war news since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. Our gut tells us that we must sort this one out, quickly. Concurrently, our decision-making as a free people is being hijacked by the leftist Democrats neurotic permaglue in massing to support the indefensible, e.g., the horror of Hamas (this leftist germinally fascistic stance that might also serve them well, briefly, as socialists). Putting these phenomenally purblind Democrats aside, lets look at what happened this week in Palestine. Palestinian terrorists failed to blow up one of their own hospitals. The terrorists, and a few governments in the area, tried to blame the Jews. The Israeli government contendsand the White House, late in the day, agreed-- that Israel is innocent of this act. Yet many in the MSM and U.S. government are still carrying water in a narrative that subtly supports Hamas. Fact check: life is cheap to terrorists. Muslim carnage has been going on for centuries, at a level incomparable to any other religion or culture. Jews and Muslims; Muslims and Jews; its always been a big problem. Jews are characteristically defensive; Muslims are far more brutally offensive in practice-against both Jews and Christians. The Israelis have well documented and attested historical and Biblical priority in Jerusalem as home. The everyday, pitiable Palestinians, a historically nomadic group, are being used, again, as human shields for terrorists. If you want chapter and verse, open some vetted history books on the subject and read them. If you decline doing that, consider this: what is suicide bombing, anyway, but Muslims killing themselves-- we hear tell the suicides are for Allah, but not for any God as good as His name in America. In most of the Arab world, life is cheaper than most Americans can readily imagine. Many Muslims would counter: and, in your Great Satan world, too; just look at abortion. Touche. Doubtless America has lost a lot of moral ground since we turned our backs on God and our moral ancestry and let the U.S. Department of Education loose on our children. Given our declining profile as a civilized nation, now over several generations, no wonder were wobbling. However, we dont have to lose everything. Not yet. Evil is a funny thing. We never get it until it is standing on our heads and trying to bang our brains out. Then, frail creatures that we are, we can run for cover or fight back. Too many Democrat leaders have an easy time with evil. They have so long been posturing aside the phony virtues of their egalitarian Party, turning a blind eye to corruption; honoring criminals, knaves, and lying lawyers; taking their laps in the fetid pool of persecution of innocent men and women in the exercise of their own Constitutional rights. These actions are all the pleasures of fools. The media is, willy-nilly, cheering them on. We are getting a huge and fearful dose of the mystery of iniquity in the terror attack on Israel. The now-global radical spin machine is working non-stop to victimize the terrorists. We will never understand the mystery of evil, any more than we are conversant with the justice of God-- that is for later. For now, the United State must be utterly clear on this: we must be with Israel. For Israel alone, we need some actual heroes/heroines in Washington, for a big change-- and by yesterday. Image: Golasso, via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 4.0 Some members of the U.S. military, especially those serving at some of the most expensive duty assignments, are set to receive a cut in monthly allowance designed to offset the high costs of living. According to a report from Military.com, the Defense Department will make a second round of cuts to troops overseas cost-of-living allowances (OCOLA) next month, with the final cut coming on Nov. 15 and affecting members Dec. 1 paychecks. It seems a bit odd unfair, even that those who are already sacrificing to protect their country are being asked to take multiple cuts in pay by the very nation that they are serving. All the more so since, despite Bidenflation, so many others are getting freebies. Students are having their government loans forgiven, addicts are receiving free crack pipes and other accoutrements...and illegal aliens are getting cash and services thrown at them as if out of an industrial-strength Pez dispenser run amok. The state of Illinois, for example, is providing up to $9,000 in rental assistance over a six-month period, including assistance with moving in and a starter kit to furnish the apartment. The Prairie State is funding temporary housing for migrants, including rented apartments and homes. Moreover, the city of Chicago has allocated an additional $4 million to assist migrants in obtaining temporary housing, to add to the $38 million contributed by the state. Perhaps if our military members serving overseas whove had their pay cut went AWOL and came across our southern border in the guise of illegal aliens, the Biden administration might fly them to the Land of Lincoln and set them up in a nice abode, partially furnished. Semper Fi? I guess that goes only one way. Image: Tool Dude8mm via Flickr, CC BY 2.0. Its been nearly seven months since a transgender man entered the Covenant School in Tennessee and shot and murdered three nine-year-old children and three adults. According to court filings, this murderer left behind at least 20 journals, a suicide note, and a memoir. Yet, they have not been released to the public to allow for an understanding of the killers motive. Leftists have fought against the release, either knowing or fearing what information the documents contain. The parents of many of the children at the school had fought the release, not wanting to reopen their grief. When a group that included news organizations, a gun-rights group, and a Tennessee state senator requested the records through the Tennessee Public Records Act, the Metro Nashville Police Department refused. The group sued the police, and it recently went to court. Metro government attorneys have said the records can be made public, but only after the investigation is officially closed, which could take months. The groups seeking the documents say the case is essentially over since the only suspect is dead -- the shooter was killed by police -- so the records should be immediately released, according to the Associated Press. Earlier this year, a judge ruled that the parents have a right to argue against the writings being made public. That is what is being heard in the appeals court now. Theres nothing wrong in allowing the parents to speak their minds. Its much like family members making a victim impact statement during a trial. It does not mean that their opinion in this case is the correct one. It means it is their opinion, but the law should be followed. However, had the killer been captured instead of killed, these documents would have been evidence presented during trial and made public. Because there will be no trial does not mean the evidence collected should remain private. The case is closed. The killer was shot during the rampage. If the police are depending on it being officially closed, that is a semantic game that they can use to delay the eventual release of the documents. In the meantime, they are not doing themselves any favor. The delay makes it appear that they are attempting to hide something, and since the shooting quickly became a political hot potato, it looks like they are playing politics. The delay only allows speculation to grow over what the documents contain, and that speculation could be more harmful than the truth. As for protecting the feelings of the parents, how will hiding the documents do that? It means they will also never know the truth and have closure. If they want to try and forget what happened, thats unlikely since video of the killer entering the school and going room to room has already entered the public domain. It seems to me that is what they should be trying to suppress, not the documents that might give them answers. The states public records act allows residents to request any records held a state or local government agency. If there are no exceptions in the law requiring that record to be kept private, then the agency is required to release it, according to the Associated Press. The request is denied, the requestor can sue. By withholding the records, the police are violating the law they are sworn to uphold. Also, although the position of the parents is a sympathetic one, they have no role in the process, which is why the case is in court. This is not a case about feelings and fear. It is about the law and truth. In the end, knowing the truth will help those families more than it will harm them. Michael A. Letts is the CEO and Founder of In-VestUSA, a national grassroots non-profit organization helping hundreds of communities provide thousands of bulletproof vests for their police forces through educational, public relations, sponsorship, and fundraising programs. CONTACT: Jerry McGlothlin for Michael Letts 919-437-0001 jerry@specialguests.com. Image: Picryl During a recent Android Show interview, Dave Burke gave users a tip on what future Android version updates will bring. To Dave and lots of other Android users, quality is a major part of each upgrade, since it steps up the overall user experience. For this reason, the Android team has a goal to make each OS release better in terms of quality than the outgoing version. This will affect how the team works on each update to the Android system to make it a bit more refreshing for users. Google now plans to change certain developer practices, especially those involving the work leading up to the update to the new Android version. The team will no longer work on updates for longer periods, but instead, bit by bit, to help them see areas where they can improve on the systems quality. Advertisement Advertisement Dave also points out some of the quality improvements that are available on the newly launched Android 14. These quality improvements will help impact the usage of this system for most Android fans around the world. Future updates to the Android system will all come with necessary upgrades in the overall quality of the entire system. Overall quality is set to get some improvements on coming Android version update According to Dave Burke, quality is the number one feature on every Android release. From little motion animations to the fluidity of the entire system, the quality has to be impressive. This is because users are constantly on their Android devices, hence the need for an exceptional experience at all times. In the Android 14 update, there are a lot of areas where Google paid so much attention to quality. The new Android version also excels in terms of performance as well, making it stand out from its predecessor. Users can benefit from the various new features that Android 14 brings over Android 13. This is what Google is looking to achieve over the coming years with future Android updates. To accomplish this aim, Google is looking to change some development practices that will lead to the launch of Android 15. The development of this update will be in chunks so that the entire process stays fresh throughout development. By doing this, the team will pay more attention to various aspects of the update. The performance will also see a significant boost in the coming Android version update. Currently, Android 14 brings a ton of performance upgrades in comparison with its predecessor. With each update, Google also aims to take the quality bar higher to help improve user experience. Developers will also benefit from the coming quality upgrade that will be available on Android 15. Details on whats coming with the Android 15 update will become available in the coming months leading up to the updates launch. The Japanese Ministry of Defenses Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) announced that it has accomplished a ship-board firing test of a railgun for the first time in the world. The test was conducted with the cooperation of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). ATLA released video footage on social media X (formerly Twitter), on October 17. The footage shows a developmental electromagnetic (EM) railgun firing an unspecified number of rounds into the ocean from a vessel. #ATLA has accomplished ship-board firing test of railgun first time in the world with the cooperation of the JMSDF. To protect vessels against air-threats and surface-threats by high-speed bullets, ATLA strongly promotes early deployment of railgun technology. pic.twitter.com/MG5NqqENcG Acquisition Technology & Logistics Agency (@atla_kouhou_en) October 17, 2023 An ATLA spokesperson told Naval News on October 18 that the offshore firing test took place from a JMSDF vessel. The milestone announcement came after the JMSDFs Headquarters Yokosuka District in January 2023 signed a contract worth 10.8 million yen ($72,220) with an unspecified company for temporary equipment of 40mm railguns, etc. for vessel as investigation work, according to a website that summarizes the procurement results of Japans Ministry of Defense and Self-Defense Forces. This has been seen as ATLAs next move to collect data on board the JMSDF vessel as part of the future rail gun research. ...continue reading The EU has launched a probe into the Meta and TikTok handling of the Israel and Hamas conflict. The Commission has asked both platforms to explain how they tackle illegal content and disinformation amid war. Since the war between Israel and Hamas began, the EU has started to scrutinize social platforms for handling disinformation and false content users share. The EU Commissioner Thierry Breton first accused X (Twitter) of being a platform to disseminate illegal content and disinformation. Advertisement Advertisement He then warned X and Meta of violating the EUs Digital Services Act (DSA). The EU also blamed X for the spreading of terrorist and violent content and hate speech. The new investigation into Meta and TikTok is a part of the EUs DSA initiative that keeps social platforms accountable for the content theyre showing users. The European Commission has asked both companies to respond to the request by October 25. Meta & TikTok should explain to the EU how theyre handling the Israel-Hamas conflict The European Commission assesses the next steps after reviewing the response. Platforms could also face a fine for incorrect, incomplete or misleading information in response to a request for information. Failing to respond in time also results in more fines. Under the DSA, social platforms should remove posts that might endanger public security. Any platform that fails to comply with the law could face a fine of up to 6% of its global turnover. The European Commission has also made further requests from Meta and TikTok, including how these platforms protect the integrity of elections and how they protect minors. It remains to be seen if X and Meta would face a fine over mishandling the Israel-Hamas conflict. From the X side, the CEO says theyve removed or labeled tens of thousands of pieces of content related to the conflict. Yaccarino added that the platform has responded to over 80 takedown requests from the EU. While social platforms and the European Union are fighting over handling data, Google sent $8 million in relief funds to Israel-Hamas war victims. The fund will be distributed among local NGOs. On the spectrum of news stories, this one isnt exactly hard-hitting. However, its the latest change in a spree of updates to Google Wallet. According to a new report, the Google Wallet app is now getting its own notifications. Google Wallet has its own app, but its not entirely a free agent. While having its own app, Google Wallet doesnt have its own notifications. They actually come from Google Play Services. When you make a purchase using Wallet, youll get a notification with a brief summary of the transaction. Well, Google thinks that its time for Google Wallet to strike out on its own. Advertisement Advertisement Google Wallet is getting its own notifications Were not 100% sure why the company is untethering Wallet from Play Services. What we do know is that Google is working on a new update for the Wallet app. For all we know, Google could be working on a larger overarching change for Wallet. Well have to wait for more information about this to know for sure. In any case, when you get your notification from Google Wallet, it will have the Google Wallet icon next to it. So, if you want to disable those notifications, then youll need to go through the apps notifications and not through Google Play Services. More updates are coming to Google Wallet When you open Google Wallet, you should be familiar with how the app uses space. Theres a ton of empty space in the app that goes unused. The cards are on a large horizontally scrolling carousel with a huge NFC icon above them. On the top right of the interface, youll see your profile picture that takes you to the settings. At the bottom of the screen, youll see additional cards. However, Google is planning on pushing a redesign that will help the UI utilize the space more efficiently. For starters, the NFC logo will go away, and your cards will fill that space. Right under your cards, youll see your other passes like gift cards, rewards cards, etc. All in all, the cards and passes will better fill out the interface. Were not sure when Google is going to push this update to more devices, but it shouldnt take too much time. Samsung may have planned some upgrades for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 but a new camera doesnt seem to be on the cards. Noted tipster Ice Universe claims that the 2024 book-type foldable will feature the same 50MP sensor found on the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Fold 4. The same was previously claimed by another tipster Revegnus, so its quite likely. Galaxy Z Fold 6 wont bring a camera upgrade Samsung has used a 50MP main camera on its Fold series devices since last year, upgrading from a 12MP unit found on the 2021 model, i.e. the Galaxy Z Fold 3. Its the same camera that the company also uses on its S series flagships. The Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+, Galaxy S23, and Galaxy S23+ feature the ISOCELL GN3 50MP sensor. The Galaxy S22 Ultra has a 108MP camera while the Galaxy S23 Ultra has a 200MP unit. Advertisement Advertisement Rumors say next years Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra will keep things unchanged, at least in terms of the main camera sensor. Samsung could improve the image quality with hardware and software optimizations, but thats a different story. It appears that will be the case with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 as well. The 2024 foldable will get the same primary shooter that we have seen on Galaxy phones since early 2022. The story is slightly different for the Flip lineup. The clamshell foldables have featured a 12MP primary camera since the first-gen model in 2020, though the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Flip 4 have a newer sensor. However, Samsung may not use it next year. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is rumored to upgrade to a 50MP camera as well. Its unclear whether we are talking about the same 50MP sensor as the Fold model or something different. Samsung to make its 2024 Fold thinner A new camera may not be on the cards, but the Galaxy Z Fold 6 could still be a meaningful upgrade over the Fold 5. Rumors are that Samsung will change the dimensions of the phone to make it wider. This will effectively make the cover display more like a regular smartphone screen. In its current form factor, the cover screen is a bit too tall. Additionally, Samsung is also looking to make the Galaxy Z Fold 6 thinner than the Fold 5. This appears to be a change forced by competition. In April this year, Huawei launched the Mate X3 with a thickness of 11.8mm. It followed up with an even thinner Mate X5 in September, measuring just 11.1mm in thickness when unfolded. Xiaomis Mix Fold 3 arrived in August measuring 10.9mm in thickness. Advertisement The Galaxy Z Fold 5, on the other hand, is substantially thicker (13.4mm) than these foldables. Whats more interesting is that despite being thin, the Xiaomi and Huawei phones pack bigger batteries (4,400mAh vs. 4,800mAh). Unsurprisingly, they received a lot of praise from reviewers and the media. Samsung senses a potential threat to its foldable dominance here and is gearing up to respond appropriately. According to the Korean media, Samsung is reverse engineering the new foldables from its Chinese rivals to see what they did differently to pull this off. The company now plans to put those findings to use and make its next-gen foldables thinner. It will be interesting to see how thinner the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will be than the Fold 5. We will keep you posted with the latest information about the device. Qualcomms Snapdragon Summit 2023 is just a few days away now. The event kicks off on Tuesday, October 24, in Maui, Hawaii. While the company has plenty of things to unveil at the event, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will be the star of the show. Leaks have already revealed a great deal about the new chip. Finer details are still missing but an industry insider says it will be an almost perfect SOC. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is more powerful and energy efficient The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is an octa-core chipset with a 1+5+2 CPU configuration. According to rumors, it features one ARM Cortex-X4 prime CPU core clocked at 3.19GHz, five Cortex-A720 mid-cores clocked at 2.96GHz, and four Cortex-A520 efficiency cores clocked at 2.27GHz. Qualcomm is expected to pair the CPU with a new and improved Adreno 750 GPU. We dont have the frequency of the graphics unit. Advertisement Advertisement The chip will also come in an overclocked version that will be initially exclusive to Samsungs Galaxy S24 series. The so-called For Galaxy version reportedly has its prime core operating at 3.30GHz and three Cortex-A720 mid-cores at 3.15GHz. The other two mid-cores and the two efficiency cores operate at the same frequency as the standard Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. The GPU may be overclocked too. Early benchmark scores of the new Qualcomm chip have been promising. However, benchmark performances cant always be taken seriously, as its easy to fabricate the scores. More importantly, those early tests are usually performed using pre-production devices or prototypes. This means theres room for improvement through proper hardware and software optimization. That said, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 may set a new bar for flagship smartphone chips. According to noted industry insider Ice Universe, the new Qualcomm processor has strong performance and that isnt the best thing about it. The chip is more energy efficient too, so much so that it is an almost perfect SOC. The tipster says rivals will find it difficult to match the efficiency of the chip, let alone surpass it. MediaTek may have its task cut out The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will compete against MediaTeks Dimensity 9300 in the flagship segment. The latter is also an octa-core chipset, but it lacks efficiency cores. The Taiwanese firm is offering one Cortex-X4 prime core clocked at 3.25GHz, three more Cortex-X4 cores clocked at 2.85GHz, and four Cortex-A720 mid-cores clocked at 2.0GHz. The chip comes with the Immortalis G720 MC12 GPU. Benchmark runs of the Dimensity 9300 have shown it outperforming the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 For Galaxy in multi-core tests. Rumors have also hinted at a more powerful CPU than the Qualcomm chip. However, the lack of efficiency cores may make it a power-hungry chip. MediaTek certainly has its task cut out to improve the efficiency of the new Dimensity. It will be interesting to see how the two chips stack up in everyday usage. New reports point out that Elon Musk might block X users in Europe from accessing the platform. This is coming after the platform came under the EUs radar on how they handled disinformation coming from the Israel-Hamas conflict. So, instead of fixing the issue on the ground, Musk might attempt to take the shortcut and block Europeans from the platform altogether. In recent weeks, there has been a ton of disinformation from both parties on the Israel-Hamas content. The EU noticed such misleading information on the sad events and reached out to Elon Musk to control the spread of such information. There was also some pressure on X to give details on how it is fighting against the spread of disinformation on its platform, hence protecting unsuspecting users. Advertisement Advertisement Failure on Xs part to fix this issue and keep things in check might result in penalties from the EU. Regardless of this looming possibility, Elon Musk doesnt seem to care and might be planning a sneaky move. Instead of fixing his platforms disinformation problems, the billionaire might be planning to block X users in Europe from accessing the platform. Disinformation on X is a real problem, as the EU points out, but Musks fix might be to restrict access to X users in Europe Musks plan to block X users in Europe from the social media platform might come as a result of various EU regulations. The social media owner seems to be fed up with having to comply with these regulations set on his platform. Most of these regulations are in the EU Digital Service Act, and the regions government expects social media platforms to comply with its regulations. Some of these regulations go against Elon Musks plans to make X the Everything app. After taking over the platform, Musk set the agenda to let users air their minds freely. Most users are now taking full advantage of this freedom X gives them, using it to spread lies on various topics. In recent times, users on X have been bombarded by various misleading information on the Israel, Hamas conflict. Some video posts on X show what is going on in the affected areas with misleading context. In some cases, certain ill-meaning users post clips from video games, claiming that they are recordings of attacks. Advertisement With the influx of all this misleading information to X, the platform is losing its credibility. However, this doesnt seem to move Elon Musk, as he still hopes to make X a hub where everyone can share their thoughts freely. Instead of fixing the disinformation issue on the X platform, the billionaire might opt to block users in the European Union from accessing the platform. By doing this, he will no longer be accountable to the EU for content users post on X. If Elons plans pull through, then X users in the European Union regions will be blocked from the platform. This action will be sad and will in no way solve the disinformation issue the platform is facing. Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots generating copyrighted works from major artists have long been a concern for studios. Now, in a recent development, Universal Music Group (UMG) and other music publishers have filed a lawsuit against Anthropic, alleging that its chatbot distributed copyrighted lyrics without the necessary permissions. At the heart of the drama is Anthropics AI chatbot, Claude 2, which reportedly generates lyrics similar to popular songs, such as Katy Perrys Roar, Gloria Gaynors I Will Survive, and the Rolling Stones You Cant Always Get What You Want. Moreover, the fact that the chatbot generates phrases and lyrics similar to such songs without explicit instructions suggests that the company used copyrighted work to train its chatbot. Advertisement Advertisement While sharing song lyrics online is common, the lawsuit filed by Universal Music in a federal court in Tennessee argues that Anthropics AI models are copying and spreading substantial amounts of copyrighted material. This means that the company not only failed to obtain proper licenses but also did not provide fair compensation or credit to the creators for their work. These responses make clear that Anthropic understands that generating output that copies others lyrics violates copyright law. However, despite this knowledge and apparent ability to exercise control over infringement, in most instances, Anthropic fails to implement effective guardrails to prevent the infringement of publishers works, say the plaintiffs. Part of a bigger problem This lawsuit once again highlights the growing concerns of music labels as AI companies increasingly use copyrighted work to train their AI models. This has led to several lawsuits against other AI companies such as OpenAI, Stable Diffusion, and Midjourney. However, what makes this situation worse is that Anthropic was one of the four companies present at a meeting at the White House in May to discuss responsible AI development with Vice President Kamala Harris. Furthermore, while Universal Music acknowledges the value of AI tools, it states that what Anthropic did was copyright infringement rather than innovation. Moreover, UMG has also raised questions about Anthropics control over its chatbot since the company could stop it from responding to prompts that infringe on copyright. Google Assistant is an incredibly useful tool that augments the Android and Wear OS experience. Accessing the Assistant on Wear OS requires a dedicated hardware button or a dedicated complication. That negates the convenience of using the voice assistant, but thats about to change. Wear OS is getting a new Google Assistant tile, as per a new report. If youre interested in using the latest version of Wear OS, you can look into getting the Pixel Watch 2. This is the latest smartwatch from Google and it brings a slew of improvements over the first Pixel Watch. It comes with Wear OS 4 out of the box along with a ton of powerful sensors and health features. Advertisement Advertisement If youre interested in picking up this watch, you should click the link below. It will take you to the Best Buy page. Pixel Watch 2 - Best Buy Wear OS is getting custom actions through the Google Assistant tile You can ask Google Assistant to perform all types of actions. However, there are those commands that you give all the time. Why repeat them every time you want the assistant to do something? This new feature will make Assistant more accessible on Wear OS. Its an app that you can download on both Wear OS 3 and Wear OS 4, so you wont have to worry about being left behind. When you install the app, all youll have to do is swipe left on your screen to access the tile. After that, youll be able to set up to two custom actions. When you add an action, youll speak into the microphone what you want Google Assistant to do when you tap on it. You can say something like Set a timer for 10 minutes. So, every time you tap on that specific button, the Assistant will perform that command. So, rather than having to speak the command every time, you can have it done at the tap of a button. If you dont want to create your own command, youll be able to choose from a pre-made list of commands. As stated, you can add up to two commands. Itd be neat if the app could add more actions in the future, but two is a good start. Xiaomi will announce HyperOS soon, a replacement for MIUI. The company announced that a couple of days ago. Well, thanks to leaked screenshots, we can now get our first look at Xiaomis upcoming HyperOS Android UI. Leaked screenshots give us the very first look at Xiaomis new HyperOS Android UI Just to be clear, HyperOS will completely replace MIUI, on a global scale. This is not just a UI for the Chinese market. It is said that it will gradually replace MIUI all over the globe. It looks like Xiaomi is looking to retire the MIUI name. Advertisement Advertisement HyperOS will debut on the Xiaomi 14 series, which is tipped to arrive before the end of the month. That being said, if you take a look at the gallery below the article, youll be able to see Xiaomis upcoming UI. Seven screenshots were shared in total, and we can see the lockscreen area, along with some lock screen customization. The homescreen itself is shown, and the quick toggles menu. On top of that, the weather app and calendar apps are both on display here. Do note that these screenshots seem to be taken from the Chinese version of HyperOS. The leaked screenshots show us a UI very similar to MIUI 14 Those of you who are familiar with MIUI, will immediately notice that new lock screen customization options are available here. That is something MIUI does not offer. This seems to be inspired by iOS, as reported a couple of days ago. You will be able to choose between various templates for the clock, font, and widget options. The control center looks very similar to what we got with MIUI 14, and the same goes for the home screen. Even the app icons look rather similar to MIUI 14s app icons. In fact, almost everything shown in these screenshots reminds us a lot of MIUI 14. It is worth noting that these screenshots are taken from an early beta build of HyperOS, so the design could change by the time the Xiaomi 14 series launches. Speaking of which, that will allegedly happen on October 31, at least based on a leaked image. The global launch will likely occur in Q1 2024. No major technology emerges without its major controversies, and generative AI is no exception. As innovative and potentially helpful as it is, many people have their concerns about the technology. Aside from it killing off jobs and bringing The Terminator movies into reality, people worry about their data. Thanks to a new survey, it turns out that many young people worry about companies using their data to train AI. This is something that would come off as surprising. Theres a general consensus that those in Gen Z are indifferent to major topics; They only care about the TikToks! However, the results from the survey shine a light on the fact that just about everyone is aware of the potential effects of AI (both the good and bad.) Advertisement Advertisement A survey shows that young people have concerns about AI This survey was performed by Cisco (via Techradar), and it sampled 2600 people between the ages of 18 and 24. Digging into it, about 62% of the people surveyed revealed that theyre concerned about companies using their data to train their AI. They worry that the companies that theyve trusted over the years could be secretly scraping their data. About 42% of the people surveyed are more likely to exercise DSAR (data subject access rights). This grants people the right to access a copy of their data. The number of people willing to do that is actually on the rise compared to last year, according to the report. Also, its much more than the 6% of individuals 75 years+ who would exercise the right. Distrust The results from the survey show that people are growing to distrust the companies theyve supported over the years. About 60% of the people said that theyve already lost trust in their favorite companies. This should come as no surprise. Tons of people like artists, writers, composers, and other creators have been betrayed by their favorite companies by having their data scraped for the use of AI. For example, Deviant Art, a platform thats supported millions of artists throughout the years, brought its own AI image generator. Thats like Spotify using its artists data to train a music generator. This trend is only going to continue, as AI becomes more prevalent. More chatbots, image generators, and music generators are going to pop up as time goes on. Were already seeing existing companies hop onto the AI train. Advertisement However, not everyone is down on AI Among the survey results, about 48% of the people said that they believe AI could be helpful. This also should come as no surprise, as there are some areas where AI could be legitimately helpful. 54% of them actually said that theyd give up some anonymous data in order to use better AI products. Were only one year into the new AI world, and were all still learning about the effects that AI will have on people. This survey shows that people are thinking more about the technology and how it affects their data. A significant number of people are concerned about their data. However, an also significant number are willing to give up their data for AI. There are powerful productivity computers that are meant for heavy lifting, but youre not looking for anything like that. Youre in the market for a smaller, lightweight, and affordable computer that gets the job done. Well, let me introduce you to the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3. This computer fits the small, lightweight, and affordable category, but is it any good? We were given the opportunity to review the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3. This is the type of computer thats meant to give you plenty of bang for your buck. Its a Chromebook that comes in at $319. So, you know that its not built to take on the latest Macbook. Its the type of computer you get if your needs arent quite robust. Advertisement Advertisement The thing about Chromebooks is that theyre both powerful and not powerful at the same time. They dont typically come with the beefiest specs. However, they have a lot of productivity potential, as ChromeOS is heavily efficient, and Chromebooks are really good at the things theyre meant for. So, lets dive into this review and see if the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is powerful enough for you. Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Review: Design Lenovo has its own unique design language that it applies to its devices, and the Slim 3 has a pretty nice look to it. Like with some of Lenovos tablets, theres a bit of a two-tone look to it. Its not technically a two-tone look, but it gives off that appearance. When closed, the majority of the top has a relatively smooth matte texture. About a quarter of the top, however, has a spree of slits running diagonally. The light will interact with this section differently than the rest of the top, creating an illusion that these are two colors. We see the Lenovo logo on the left side with the Chromebook logo on the right. When open, we see the classic hallmarks of a Chromebook. Theres a giant trackpad with a fairly simple keyboard above. That keyboard is flanked by the large speaker grilles. Display As for the display, were looking at a 14-inch screen with some fairly slim bezels. The chin has the biggest bezel with the forehead in second place. This houses the front-facing camera. The side bezels are the thinnest and, while it has a pretty large chin, they give the computer an overall nice look. It almost has an edge-to-edge look to it. Advertisement Overall, I think that the IdeaPad Slim 3 lives up to its name. Its not quite as slim as some of Lenovos other Chromebooks, but its still pretty sleek. I like that faux two-tone look to it as well. In terms of design, I have no complaints. Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Review: Build quality The moment I picked up this computer, it hit me that its an affordable device. Now, this is not to say that it feels cheap. There are devices that pull tricks to make them seem like theyre more expensive than they are. Theyll either sport a lightweight metal design or have added heft to them. Thats not the case with the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3. It doesnt try to make you think that its more premium than it is. Rather, it makes you think that its higher quality in a different way. It lets you know that its well-built. The chassis is made from plastic, yes, but its a thick and sturdy plastic. It doesnt buckle or creak when I apply pressure to it. Thats saying a lot, as I applied pressure to the top of the computer, which is usually the softest part of any laptop. This continues to the inside of the device. The bottom of the computer houses all of the important internal components, so its important that its well-protected. Well, the bottom of the IdeaPad Slim 3 is solid. Applying some pressure to the computer, I couldnt really get it to bend or creak. Advertisement The same thing goes for typing. Its never a good sign when youre typing, and you see the keyboard buckling under the force of your fingers. I tried aggressively typing on the IdeaPad, and couldnt get it to move at all. All in all Overall, one of the things betraying this computers price is the build quality. Now, its not ultra-slim or clad in metal. Rather, its just solidly built. I can pick it up and feel confident about taking it out for work. I dont get worried when I toss it in a bag or set it on my bed along with other items. Lenovo put a ton of attention into making this a sturdy device, and it shows. So, I can tell that its a cheaper device when I pick it up, but I know that its not cheap. Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Review: Display The display on this computer never really stuck out to me until I started pushing it to its limits. With a price tag of $319, you wouldnt really expect it to knock your socks off; youd expect a pretty run-of-the-mill experience, and thats partially true. There are some elements of the screen that are pleasant and others that are average at best. Theres also one notable issue that will deaden the viewing experience for most people. Colors Starting off with the colors, it looks like Lenovo calibrated the display to have a pretty neutral white balance, but it leans slightly warm. Its not too noticeable, but youll notice it if you put it next to most other displays. Advertisement In terms of overall saturation, Id say the colors are pretty average. Starting off, this is an LCD display, so the colors are already lacking. Dont get me wrong, there are plenty of companies whose LCD displays have extremely punchy colors (looking at you OnePlus and formerly LG). However, the saturation in this panel is just average. I wouldnt say that the screen is dull, however. The thing is that there are plenty of screens that are so saturated and colorful that they could make anything pop, even if its mundane. Also, there are displays that you really have to push to make the colors pop. You have to watch videos with extremely saturated and vibrant colors in order for you to get some nice colors; the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has the latter. Looking at mundane pictures, UIs, videos, wallpapers, etc., everything just looks okay. Its not until I watch heavily saturated videos (like those YouTube videos that have 4K HDR footage to REALLY flex your display) that I see some nice colors from this panel. Even then, theyre not much to write home about. Contrast When it comes to the contrast, its just like the colors. The contrast is very average. I wasnt blown away by any exceptionally dark shadows or deep blacks. I wasnt wondering what technological wizardry Lenovo pulled. Im just looking at an average LCD display with average contrast. Brightness In terms of brightness, I had no issue using this computer in most lighting situations. For starters, at full brightness, my eyes started straining while indoors, so I usually keep it at about 60% brightness. When I moved to a different location like a brightly lit coffee shop, I still didnt have any issues seeing the screen. I think that some of that cant be attributed to the brightness. Advertisement In terms of raw brightness, its good enough to be visible in well-lit indoor environments and in the outdoors as well. One thing that helps the visibility is the material covering the display, however. Its a matte plastic. This plastic is much less reflective than glass, and that adds greatly to the visibility. My current laptop has a max brightness similar to that of this Chromebook. However, using these two computers in the same environments and lighting conditions, I found that the Chromebook was much easier to see because it cut down on the reflections. My laptops glass display reflected just about everything. Touch response The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has a touch screen, which is a big plus over other laptops at this price point. Youre most likely not going to be using this laptop as a replacement for your tablet. However, there will come times when your best bet is to use the touch screen to navigate the screen. I didnt use the touch screen too terribly much, but my usage ramped up when I found myself in locations where I couldnt access my mouse. The good thing about this is that the touch response is great. Its not only great, but its about 1-to-1 with what youd get with a tablet. Were all used to having to press hard and swipe slowly on lower-quality touch screens because they couldnt keep up with the input. This is the kind of experience that youd expect from a computer like this, but thats not the case. Advertisement Im used to tapping lightly and swiftly on tablets, and I was able to have the same experience while using the IdeaPad. Tapping, swiping, flicking, and drawing are all as fluid and seamless as on any smartphone or tablet. Now, about that issue So, what was this problem that I mentioned? Well, if youre used to looking at fluid 60fps content, then youre going to be disappointed with this screen. It can display the videos in 1080p at 60fps, but it cant properly play the video at that frame rate. The videos appear choppy for some reason, so you wont get any fluid video playback. This is a major issue for people who really want to see smooth and fluid videos. They all come out rather choppy, which is a shame. Why is the video choppy? Well, Ill explain later in the review. Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Review: Keyboard I touched on how the keyboard doesnt buckle, but I didnt really talk about the keyboard itself. When it comes to the keyboard, the experience is pretty good. Obviously, this is no mechanical keyboard. Youre going to get extremely tactile keys with this computer. That being said, I didnt find the keyboard to be really mushy. The keys arent mechanical but they do all have a satisfying click to them. My main keyboard is a Redragon mechanical keyboard, but transitioning from that keyboard to this one wasnt too much of a downgrade. There are definitely mushier keyboards out there on the market. As for the arrangement of the buttons, it bears the layout innate to Chromebooks. Lenovo didnt do anything to make this different from other Chromebooks. If youre familiar with using these devices, then you should feel right at home. If not, then the lack of a caps lock key might be pretty jarring. All in all, the keyboard isnt exceptionally great, but its not bad by any means. Like most other aspects of this laptop, the keyboard is average; it gets the job done. Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Review: Speakers Looking at the large speaker grilles on either side of the keyboard, I expected some nice-sounding speakers. I wasnt only looking at the speaker grilles, as I saw the Waves Maxx Audio logo under the left grille. OEMs usually partner with professional audio brands to give their speakers a little bit of a boost. Lets see if this partnership paid off. Loudness Id say that the loudness and fullness of the sound are the best aspects of these speakers. The speakers on smaller laptops are usually overlooked or lacking in many regards. This goes especially for more affordable computers. Of all the things to focus on while making an affordable computer, the speaker quality isnt always at the top of the priority list. That being said, I was pleasantly surprised with how loud the speakers on the IdeaPad Slim 3 can get. Theyre certainly loud enough to warrant the large speaker grilles. Theyre definitely loud enough to replace your Bluetooth speaker when you want to fill a room with sound. The speakers dont only produce a loud sound, but they also produce a full-bodied sound. Thats probably more important than the loudness. Sure, the sound could be loud, but you wont enjoy it if its thin and tinny. The speakers, however, give me a nice and hearty sound. Low-end While the sound is nice and full, the speakers still leave something to be desired. I think that the area theyre most lacking in is the low end. Its pretty nonexistent at times. It doesnt matter what genre of music Im listening to, I just cant hear the rumble. There are some genres that put a heavy emphasis on the bass like mid-90s R&B and early 2000s pop. You cant un-hear those strong synthetic bass hits of early 2000s pop. However, when I turn on music from those and similar genres, I just cant hear the bass. I can hear most of the harmony, but I cant hear the supporting lower tones. For speakers this big, I would have liked to have some more bass along with the sound. The sound is really nice when it comes to the fullness, but the lack of bass really holds it back. However, I cant complain because this is still a very affordable laptop. When youre selling a computer at this price point, youre going to need to make some serious compromises. The sound is nice and full, but it came at the cost of the low end. You cant have it all. High end The story of the high-end is a bit of a weird one. Theres a good amount of pleasant high-end to the sound, but it can be a bit much at times. This is because of the lack of low-end. I wont go as far as to say tinny, but there are times when it starts to approach that level. I think I know why the sound doesnt go so far as to be tinny. Theres this emphasis on mid-range audio. I think that this is what gives it the fullness that Ive been praising. While listening to a song with bass, voices, and a high hat, I could hear the voices around the mid-range more clearly. This goes for other songs as well; I can hear voices and instruments in the middle of the range more clearly. Thats not particularly bad, but you also miss out on some of the higher tones, and voices dont pop as much. Also, if youre into listening to 80s pop, you wont hear those higher twinkle tones as clearly. All in all The speakers on this computer are nice for the price. They give you a nice full sound that can fill your room. However, youre missing out on some of the immersion that comes with more substantial bass. In general, theyre a bit lackluster, but theyre notably good for the price that youre paying for the laptop. Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Review: Ports Chromebooks dont typically have a ton of ports, and this one is no exception. You have a USB-C port to charge the laptop, but you can also use it to plug in other devices for file transfers. Theres a USB-A port right next to it along with a 3.5mm headphone jack and a microSD card slot. Thats about typical for most Chromebooks on the market. Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Review: Performance So far, my emotion toward every aspect of this laptop has been Its pretty average. Not great, but not bad. However, if theres one thing I can say is truly bad about this Chromebook is the performance. Im not going to mince words here, this laptop performs terribly. Heres the natural progression of most devices; they work smoothly out of the box, but they start to slow down as they age. I had a $200 Chromebook a while ago, and it took about a year before I started to see its performance tank. At that point, it would freeze up, apps would take a second to load, and the overall experience slowed down. Thats the kind of performance I got with the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 out of the box. From the moment I powered it on, I saw substantial stutter and slowdown throughout the software. I waited for the computer to properly wake up, and it persisted. I was surprised at how consistent the slowdown was throughout the software. Basic things like opening web pages take longer than they should. While using YouTube Music, just about everything takes multiple seconds to complete, and this includes playing and pausing the music. Scrolling through feeds of any kind makes it look like Im watching a slideshow. Twisting this computers ARM This, sadly, exemplifies that ARM-based processors are just not reliable for running a full desktop operating system (unless its in an Apple computer). From the moment I turned this Chromebook on, the MediaTek Kompanio chip was struggling just to run the operating system. I could understand if I was trying to run demanding applications or opening up 100 Chrome tabs. However, Im using it for modest writing work most of the time. It chugs while handling the YouTube Music website. If youre wondering why the videos are choppy, well, heres your answer. The computer is too weak to render the 60fps video. There were multiple occasions when the computer would lock up completely and force itself to restart. This would happen on random occasions; it didnt matter what workload I was dealing with. Price is not an argument Sure, the price is low compared to other computers, but $319 is still a lot of money to part with in general. If youre going to pay for a device with that kind of money, youd want it to perform its core tasks with some level of proficiency. Im not using any software that didnt come pre-installed on the device. Google Chrome is the main browser, and I never use more than about four tabs. Im not doing anything that pushes this computer to its limits, but its constantly chugging. I wouldnt mind trading the MaxxAudio tuning for a slightly better processor. At $319, some slowdown is to be expected, but theres just too much here. Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Review: Battery Back on a higher note, the battery performance of this laptop is very good. I typically used the IdeaPad Slim 3 for extended working sessions with tons of video-watching. Ive yet to kill this battery in one sitting. Rather, I find myself using this computer for a few hours at a time per sitting and not having to reach for the charger until around my third or fourth. Id say that, on average, I get about 10 hours of screen-on-time, which is nothing to scoff at. The great battery life also transfers to the standby time. Part of the reason for this is due to Google rather than Lenovo. Theres a battery setting in ChromeOS that will disable all of the connection options when it goes to sleep. So, when I close the computer, the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are shut off automatically. This definitely adds to the battery savings, and its a good setting to have. The only thing you have to know is that every time you open the computer, you have to reconnect to the Wi-Fi connection. Charging If you find yourself on a low or dead battery, it wont really take long to get back to full. Id typically have the battery charged fully in under two hours. A quick 30-minute charge is enough to get me through a full work session of about four hours. Overall, the battery performance is one of the strongest parts of the user experience. Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Review: Webcam This computer comes with a modest webcam on the front that you can use for video calls. Being a cheaper laptop, I didnt expect gold with this webcam; however, I wasnt quite disappointed. To start off, this camera is a 720p camera which is a pretty decent resolution for a computer this cheap. As for the quality of the actual video, its pretty good. No built-in computer webcam is particularly amazing, but the camera on the IdeaPad Slim 3 is more than serviceable for the price. The video looks pretty good with limited digital noise. Im not sure if this is because of the lower quality or if the company planned it this way, but it looks like the company used some sort of face-smoothing technology. It definitely looked like it applied some sort of beauty filter over my face. Its no big deal, as youre not using this for the video quality or details. Its rather nice for such an affordable computer. A neat addition to this computers webcam is the privacy slider. Right above the actual camera lens, theres a little slider. When you slide it, youll see a little red slip of plastic covering the camera lens. This means that you dont have to worry about any apps gaining unauthorized access to the camera. Who is this computer for? The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is for people who are looking for an affordable computer they can rely on. This device is a well-built piece of hardware that you know will last you through a ton of usage. Nothing about the build quality lets me know that Lenovo skipped on the essentials. This computer is for people who are constantly on their computers. When away from the charger, I never felt worried that I was going to run out of battery power. It didnt matter if I had a full battery when leaving the house or half, I would be able to use it for as long as I needed with some battery to spare. Also, I never had to worry if I left it off of the charger for a few days. Id open it to find that the battery barely dipped. Its for people who are looking for a computer with a loud set of speakers that have a nice and full sound. If you want to listen to music without using headphones or if you just want a device to play music, then youll like this computer. If youre planning on using this computer out in daylight, then its definitely for you. The brightness, in tandem with the matte material over the screen, means that you wont have much trouble seeing your display when youre working in bright environments. Youll also want to pick this up if youre looking for a computer with a camera that gets the job done. The webcams performance is more than usable. Who is this computer not for? The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is not for people who are looking for a smooth experience. Ever since I turned it on for the first time, its been choppy and slow. Most things that I do on the computer cause it to chug, and that could be frustrating if youre using it for work. Also, if youre looking for a reliable software experience, then youll want to pass it up because I cant trust that I can use it for an extended period of time without it locking up on me. This computer isnt for people who are looking for speakers with more bass. Theyre loud, but theyre lacking in the depth department. So, if you typically listen to music without headphones, then you might grow tired of the higher tones of the speakers. Final verdict Reviews like these are tough to sum up. For the price of $319, youre getting a computer with a pretty decent display, nice webcam, great battery life, pleasant keyboard, and nice speakers. Its a nice computer in those respects with some aspects punching above the price tag. However, features like those mentioned above dont mean much if the performance is bad. It doesnt matter if the speakers are nice if navigating to the music player is a pain each time. Those features do well to enhance an already strong performance; they dont make up for poor performance, however. I understand that the MediaTek processor is a more cost-effective offering and it lent to the battery performance, but the software experience was plagued from the start. I think that the performance of a brand-new computer shouldnt be this bad, no matter how affordable it is. When you part with money for a new computer, no matter how economical it is, youre still paying for a device that performs specific tasks. If it shows that it cant perform those tasks, then whats the point? If this is the only option for you, then picking up this computer wont be the worst thing. However, my recommendation is that you keep your options open. You should be able to find better-performing options for not too much more money. TOKYO, Oct 21 ( lordabbett.com ) - The Japanese economy, after a prolonged period of stagnation, is currently experiencing a renaissance. A confluence of unique tailwinds in the current market environment suggests a supportive backdrop for future equity returns. Japan's equity market is set to emerge from the "lost decades"years of anemic GDP that marked a reversal of its strong and steady economic growth in the postwar years. Following twin bubbles in the equity and real estate markets in the 1980s, a subsequent crash led to banks facing challenges. At that time, the Bank of Japan decided to institute unconventional monetary policy, perceived at the time as a short-term solution, which aimed to keep short-term rates extremely low to spur business investment. The short-term policy ran into a prolonged deflationary environment due to decreasing wages and an appreciation of the yen, along with swiftly accumulating government debt. This made it challenging for the Bank of Japan to raise rates, leading to over three decades of unconventional monetary policy. But the tide appears to have turned in 2023. ...continue reading (ANSA) - ROME, OCT 20 - A 16-year-old Ukrainian girl who fled the Russian invasion of her home country about a year ago was killed on a pedestrian crossing in Turin Friday by a driver who lost control of his car in heavy rain, local sources said. The girl, Emilia Maidaska, a guest in a community home after fleeing the war, was run over on her way to school, the Liceo Artistico Passoni, they said. She had just left the community at 6.50 a.m. when the driver of a Volswagen lost control and hit her on the crosswalk. He stopped immediately to try to help her but she was already dead, the sources said. (ANSA). An annual cap on the number of refugees accepted in the UK will launch in January 2025, the Home Office has announced. Local authorities are being invited to set out their capacity to accommodate people coming to Britain via safe and legal routes in order to determine the limit, the department said. Plans for a cap were introduced in the Governments flagship Illegal Migration Bill, which became law earlier this year, but until Friday a date for its launch had not been fixed. In response, the Local Government Association (LGA) said it had raised concerns with officials about being asked to commit to numbers of arrivals or propose a cap. It stressed there was a need to recognise cumulative pressures on local services and ensure councils are adequately funded. Campaigners accused ministers of passing the buck to underfunded councils to justify the plan. The limit, for which the Government will look to get Parliaments stamp of approval before bringing into force in January 2025, would be subject to change each year. It would not include the Ukraine visa schemes, Afghan relocation and assistance policy, Hong Kong British national (overseas) route or mandate scheme. In a press release, the Home Office said: Local authorities will be consulted on plans to determine an annual cap on the number of refugees resettled in the UK each year with a view to the UK taking only as many refugees as local communities can support. Immigration minister Robert Jenrick said: The unacceptable number of people making illegal, dangerous and wholly unnecessary small boat crossings is placing an immense strain on housing and services across the UK. As part of the Illegal Migration Act to stop the boats, we will bring in a cap on our safe and legal routes informed by the capacity of local authorities. This will ensure that we do not take more refugees than our public services and communities can cope with and that the refugees we do decide to take can be properly supported and integrated. Councillor Shaun Davies, chairman of the LGA, said: Councils work hard to protect and support refugees and help deliver a wide range of government asylum and resettlement schemes, so it is right that local government is engaged in planning for future resettlement to the UK. However, we have raised concerns about councils being asked to commit to numbers of arrivals or propose a cap. It might be difficult for councils to predict potential arrival numbers across both asylum and resettlement and therefore their capacity to support new arrivals and the additional housing needed. Their local communities may also have differing views on and capacity to support new resettlement routes. It comes as combined pressures from current asylum and resettlement schemes are already growing on councils. We want to work with Government on a new joined-up approach across programmes that takes into account those pressures, grounded in advance notice to councils of any decisions that will impact on their local communities. Steve Smith, chief executive of refugee charity Care4Calais, said: Passing the buck to underfunded councils to justify limiting safe futures is a dereliction of leadership. If the Government was serious about putting people smugglers out of business, stopping small boat crossings and saving lives, they would immediately get on with introducing a safe passage visa for refugees fleeing war, torture and modern slavery to claim asylum in the UK. Tim Naor Hilton, chief executive of Refugee Action, called for the cap to be abandoned. The Government must not think about caps but a target to resettle at least 30,000 refugees a year as part of a standardised global scheme that can expand to respond quickly to emerging crises, such as in Afghanistan and Ukraine, he said. Prayers of blessing for same-sex couples in the Church of England should be able to be used soon but approval for standalone services might not come for well over a year from now, a bishop has said. Bishop of London Dame Sarah Mullally described this as a time of uncertainty for the church as she recognised while individuals are sure of their opinions on the matter the church itself remains divided. In February the Church of Englands parliament, known as the General Synod, voted in favour of offering blessings to same-sex couples in civil partnerships and marriages after a marathon near-eight hour debate across two days. While the blessings were welcomed by some as progress on what has long been a divisive issue, those who have campaigned for same-sex marriage within the church have said they do not go far enough, while others still feel they go too far. Giving an update on Friday on progress made since the vote, Dame Sarah recognised that disagreement remains. She told a media briefing ahead of a Synod meeting in November: What we recognise is that as a church we dont all agree on these issues. And weve known that all along. The House of Bishops doesnt agree, the church doesnt agree. She said she and others in the church have focused on providing pastoral reassurance for people as things progress, reiterating that the churchs stance on same-sex marriage has not changed but we are making pastoral provision for those who wish to celebrate what is good within their (same-sex) relationship. She said: It will be true to say that for some, not enough progress has been made, for others far too much progress maybe in a direction they cant support has been made. But what we try to do is to listen, to implement the motion that was agreed at Synod but in doing that, we also realised that we not only provide pastoral guidance, but we need to provide pastoral reassurance for people. Next month, @synod will meet to discuss steps to implement Prayers of Love and Faith and considerations on safeguarding redress. Read more at https://t.co/Xqg36jAiDE. The Church of England (@churchofengland) October 20, 2023 Giving a timeline for how things will move forward, she said that texts known as Prayers of Love and Faith could be used as part of Sunday morning and other services soon, but standalone services for same-sex couples to receive blessings are further down the line. Earlier this month, the House of Bishops agreed in principle that the Prayers of Love and Faith should be commended for use and it is expected they could be in use shortly after the Synods next gathering. She said: What weve got is a two-track approach for the suite of prayers to be used as part of existing services, so in a sense not the main focus of that service, they will be commended soon. But for standalone services, they will need further authorisation, which will take probably into about 2025. She said such standalone services must first go through an authorisation route, which will therefore consult with diocese as well as the General Synod and highlighted that it must be ensured that the motion not to change the doctrine of marriage is upheld. Were prayers to be used during a regular service, Dame Sarah said she would hope for transparency with churches possibly choosing to give advance notice in the same way as if they put information out about their services at the moment. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has joyfully welcomed the blessings proposals but will not personally carry them out (Doug Peters/PA) In a sign of how divisive the issue is within the broader church, a group of Anglican church leaders from around the world ousted the Archbishop of Canterbury as their head earlier this year following the vote to allow blessings. The Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches (GSFA) said it no longer considers Justin Welby to be leader of the global communion, and it had disqualified the Church of England from being its mother church. At the time Lambeth Palace said that the deep disagreements among the Anglican community over sexuality and marriage are long-standing, and that reforms in one province do not affect rules in the others. Mr Welby has previously said he joyfully welcomed the blessings proposals but added that he will not personally carry them out due to his pastoral responsibility for the whole communion. Next month the Synod will also consider and vote on a national redress scheme for victims and survivors of church-related abuse, which came about following a commitment made by the church in its response to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA). The measure is expected to return to the Synod in July next year. The Conservatives have now lost eight by-elections since the 2019 general election, as well as making one gain and holding three seats. Hartlepool (May 2021): GAIN The Conservatives won Hartlepool from Labour on a swing of 16.0 percentage points, in the first by-election of the current Parliament. Labour had held the seat since it was created in 1974. Prime Minister Boris Johnson hailed the result as support for his Governments levelling up agenda. Chesham & Amersham (June 2021): LOSS The Liberal Democrats won the Buckinghamshire constituency of Chesham & Amersham from the Tories on a huge swing of 25.2 points, in what would become the first in a run of Lib Dem by-election gains at the expense of the Government. Party leader Sir Ed Davey celebrated by using a yellow hammer to demolish a blue wall of model bricks. Ed Davey celebrates the Lib Dems victory in the Chesham & Amersham by-election with a stunt at Chesham Youth Centre, Buckinghamshire (Steve Parsons/PA) Old Bexley & Sidcup (December 2021): HOLD The Conservatives held this London seat in a by-election triggered by the death of MP James Brokenshire. North Shropshire (December 2021): LOSS The Lib Dems next victory came just six months after Chesham & Amersham, taking North Shropshire from the Conservatives on an even bigger swing of 34.1 points. This was the second largest by-election swing against any government since the Second World War, at contests where a seat had changed hands. Newly-elected MP Helen Morgan celebrated by using a long yellow pin to burst a large blue balloon. Helen Morgan bursting Boris bubble held by colleague Tim Farron (Jacob King/PA) Southend West (February 2022): HOLD The Tories held this Essex seat in a by-election triggered by the murder of MP David Amess. Wakefield (June 2022): LOSS The Conservatives suffered two by-election losses on the same day in June 2022: the first time since 1991 that a government had endured two concurrent defeats. Labour took Wakefield in West Yorkshire on a swing of 12.7 percentage points. Tiverton & Honiton (June 2022): LOSS The other defeat came in the Devon seat of Tiverton & Honiton. The Liberal Democrats won the constituency with another huge swing, this time of 29.9 points. (PA Graphics) Selby & Ainsty (July 2023): LOSS The period between the Tiverton & Honiton and Selby & Ainsty by-elections saw the Conservatives go through a hat-trick of leaders: Boris Johnson, Liz Truss (for 49 days) and Rishi Sunak. The Selby & Ainsty by-election in North Yorkshire was one of three to take place on the same day in July 2023 and saw Labour win the seat from the Tories on a swing of 23.7 points at the time, Labours second-largest swing at a by-election since 1945. Somerton & Frome (July 2023): LOSS The Liberal Democrats clocked up another win in the Somerset seat of Somerton & Frome, taking it from the Conservatives on a swing of 29.0 points. Sir Ed Davey celebrated by firing a cloud of yellow confetti from a blue circus cannon. Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Dyke with Sir Ed Davey in Frome, Somerset, after winning the by-election (Ben Birchall/PA) Uxbridge & South Ruislip (July 2023): HOLD The third by-election to take place on the same day in July this year saw the Conservatives hold the outer London seat of Uxbridge & South Ruislip, in a contest triggered by the resignation of its MP and former prime minister Boris Johnson. Labour needed a swing of 7.6 points to take the seat far smaller than the swing the party achieved in Selby & Ainsty but managed only 6.7 points. Mid Bedfordshire (October 2023): LOSS In the first of another double-bill of defeats, the Conservatives lost Mid Bedfordshire on a swing to Labour of 20.5 percentage points. (PA Graphics) It was the largest numerical Conservative majority (24,664) to be overturned by Labour at a by-election since 1945. Tamworth (October 2023): LOSS Labours victory at Tamworth saw a swing of 23.9 points: just enough to beat the swing at Selby & Ainsty and become the new second-largest swing by Labour at a by-election since 1945. Roads and bridges collapsed as Storm Babet hit Scotland amid fears a tiny village could be completely cut off for a second time, as First Minister Humza Yousaf warned we have not seen the last of this. A 200-year-old bridge on the Rottal Estate in Angus was washed away by torrential flood water, while a road connecting Marykirk, Angus, where some houses were evacuated also collapsed. The village of Edzell, Angus, was cut off by flood water from three rivers which surround it, but most of the surface water drained away, leaving residents fearful of more rain forecast overnight. As of 9pm, SSEN has restored power to 32,000 customers, with work ongoing to reconnect 2,800 properties. First Minister Humza Yousaf paid tribute to two people who died in tragic circumstances and warned the public to be aware, while police warned the situation was the worst ever seen in some regions. Grandmother-of-three Christine Haggerty has lived in Edzell since 1985 and had never seen flooding so severe. She said the village was usually a magnet for canoeists and tourists keen on fishing, but had been well prepared with efforts from a flood group and Angus Council which cleared leaves and drains in advance. Mrs Haggerty said: It looks like it will happen again but worse, it is really worrying. They said we were cut off, but when the rain had stopped the flooding disappeared quite quickly. We have got these burns round about, if they were all breached you couldnt get in or out. They said we were cut off this morning, because of the amount of water that had been falling. We are at the foot of a glen, there is a little stream which is practically bursting, and there is the North Esk. The rivers are taking the magnitude of it at the moment. Dr Fiona Work, 58, set up the Edzell flood group in 2013, after she spent ten months in temporary accommodation due to floods, which caused 1million damage to the village. The mother-of-one, who works as a teaching excellence fellow at Robert Gordon University, said the village becomes inaccessible to emergency services during flooding, and the community pulled together to plan preventative measures Dr Work said: We are as prepared as we can be. Most of us will be very vigilante overnight. We are really fortunate to have a very proactive community. We set up the flood group in 2013 after 1million damage was caused by flooding. I flooded in 2012 and spent ten months in temporary accommodation. I would imagine its correct that Edzell was only accessible by helicopter, there was a helipad at a hotel at one point. Cars werent able to get in or out of Edzell for a certain period of time during these floods. Theres no access for emergency services, thats why we work so closely with the Scottish Flood Forum, Angus Council, Sepa and the Met Office. (PA Graphics) Dee Ward, 58, estate manager for the Rottal Estate said: I think this is the new pattern, I dont think we will go back to normal. The frightening thing is how much water is coming down in a short space of time. I wasnt surprised the bridge got washed away. Big posts had been ripped out further up the hill. That bridge had been there 200 years, we had replaced the wood once. A boy was carried from a house in Brechin, Angus, as Storm Babet batters the country. (Andrew Milligan/PA) Mother-of-one Zena Cowie, 28, said a road had collapsed which connected Marykirk with the dual carriageway to Montrose, Angus. Ms Cowie, who works as a scientist, said it was possible to reach a nearby village, but other roads had been cut off including to Brechin, Angus, where 400 homes were evacuated. She said the river had receded and power was reconnected after being down for 12 hours from 10.30pm on Thursday. Ms Cowie said: The road at the start of the bridge that crosses the river has collapsed. Marykirk is the main way to the dual carriageway to get to the dual carriageway, to go into Montrose. The other way is to go into Brechin which is also flooded. You can get to the next village. Aberdeenshire Council warned of considerable risk of flooding on the River Don. (PA Graphics) A spokesperson said: Latest modelling from Sepa is indicating that there is now a considerable risk of flooding on the River Don at Inverurie, Kemnay and Kintore tomorrow (Sat) between 10am and 2pm. First Minister Humza Yousaf said: Storm Babet has now, tragically, claimed lives, and my deepest condolences go out to the families of those who have lost loved ones. Unfortunately, it is clear we have not seen the last of this storm. Around half the average monthly rainfall for October is expected to fall through tonight and tomorrow in areas that have already been severely affected by exceptional levels of rainfall. It was always expected that the impacts of the storm would continue even once the most severe aspects of the storm itself had subsided, but a new Red Weather alert makes the ongoing severity of this situation clear. Assistant Chief Constable of Police Scotland Stuart Houston said: With the red warning being extended until midnight Saturday, this remains a dangerous situation which poses a threat to life. Communities in Tayside are dealing with some of the most difficult conditions they have faced, with evacuations continuing of those affected by flooding. We are dealing with significant flooding issues, which pose a threat to life. Pascal Lardet, Sepa flood duty manager, said: These are very difficult days for communities in Scotland who are experiencing flooding, in some cases for the second time in a month. There is more rain to come, and Sepa staff are working around the clock to provide vital information to partners and the public. 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The 49-year-old historian and TV presenter will host Killing Sherlock: Lucy Worsley On The Case Of Conan Doyle as the BBC also releases a new adaption of one of the authors ghost stories starring Game Of Thrones actor Kit Harington. Worsley will look at British writer and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyles extraordinary love-hate relationship with the master of deduction, Holmes. Lucy Worsley (BBC Studios) She said: I have had a lifelong crush on Sherlock Holmes, so it was the biggest pleasure imaginable to explore his life, death and resurrection. While exploring his life and times, I also got a real and sometimes troubling insight into manliness, Empire and Victorian values. I find his creator, Arthur Conan Doyle, to be a complex, contradictory and endlessly fascinating character. Worsley will explore Sir Arthurs personal history along with the wider time period in the three-part series by tracing his early history as a medical student and unpicking his early stories and revealing the dark underbelly of late Victorian Britain from drug use to true crime. During his life, the writer met with a social club, the Crimes Club, where new criminology theories and cases were discussed, and had a growing disenchantment with his detective creation, according to the BBC Two documentary. The series also explores Sir Arthurs work as a legal advocate in what he saw as miscarriage of justice cases as well as his turn to spiritualism, public disagreements with magician Harry Houdini and death of his son, Kingsley, following him serving during the First World War. The programme contrasts the authors declining public appeal with Holmes finding a life beyond his author, on stage and screen which since the very early days of cinema has seen the friend of Dr John Watson played by Basil Rathbone, Francis Ford and John Barrymore. More recently, British actor Benedict Cumberbatch has taken on the main role in BBC series Sherlock, while Hollywood star Robert Downey Jr has played the eccentric detective-for-hire in action films Sherlock Holmes and Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows. Amanda Lyon, executive producer at BBC Studios, said: Examining the dual biographies of Holmes and Doyle is a fascinating way to reconsider these detective stories, and Lucy is the ideal investigator. Worsley has previously explored the life of another crime writer, Agatha Christie, the creator of amateur sleuth Miss Jane Marple and Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, by talking to experts, fans and descendants as well as taking a look at archives. Actor Kit Harrington will star in an adaption of Lot No 249 (Bradley Collyer/PA) Agatha Christie: Lucy Worsley On The Mystery Queen also delved into Christies 1926 disappearance following her marriage falling apart. To accompany Worsleys latest documentary series, Sherlock co-creator Mark Gatiss will be adapting Sir Arthurs Gothic horror short story Lot No 249 for Christmas starring Harington and White House Farm actor Freddie Fox. The story revolves around a group of Oxford students, one of whom undertakes research into the secrets of Ancient Egypt which become the talk of the college. Gatiss said: Its a serious delight for me to delve once again into the brilliant work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, this time for the Christmas Ghost story. Lot No 249 is a personal favourite and is the granddaddy (or should that be Mummy?) of a particular kind of end of Empire chiller: a ripping yarn packed with ghastly scares and who-knows-what lurking in the Victorian closet. Both Killing Sherlock: Lucy Worsley On The Case Of Conan Doyle and Lot No 249 will air on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer over December. A man blasted his daughters ex-partner and her ex-partners father to death with a shotgun over a family court case involving his grandson, a court has heard. Stephen Alderton, 67, was arrested hours later by armed officers on a motorway and told police that sometimes you have to do what you have to do even if its wrong in the eyes of the law, said prosecutor Peter Gair. The barrister told Cambridge Crown Court that Alderton, who wore a crucifix necklace as he appeared in the secure dock, had written in a telephone message last year: Ive a shortlist of people I intend to murder. The defendant, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to the murders of Joshua Dunmore, 32, and his 57-year-old father Gary Dunmore on March 29 this year, and his sentencing began on Friday. Gary (left) and Joshua Dunmore, who were shot dead by Stephen Alderton (Cambridgeshire Police/PA) The murders came two days after a family court hearing, Mr Gair said. The pair were found dead at their homes in villages six miles apart in Cambridgeshire, with Joshua Dunmores home in Bluntisham and his fathers in Sutton. Mr Gair said: We say its clear that the events were triggered by an ongoing family court case between this defendants daughter Samantha Stephen, nee Alderton, and her former partner Joshua Dunmore. This concerned a request to move their seven-year-old child from the jurisdiction of the court by emigrating to the USA. He said that Mrs Stephen and Mr Dunmores relationship ended shortly after their son was born and in 2020 she married her current partner, Paul Stephen. Mr Gair said that Mr Stephen, a US national, served with the US Air Force. He was due to be redeployed back to the USA, said Mr Gair. He said they sought permission of the family court and Joshua opposed the application. Flowers and messages left at the scene in Bluntisham, Cambridgeshire (Sam Russell/PA) There was a hearing on March 27 2023 and it would appear (the child) wouldnt be removed from the jurisdiction, said Mr Gair. The prosecutor said Aldertons wife died in 2020, he had sold his home and was living at the time in a motorhome on a site in Willingham, Cambridgeshire. He said Alderton was the holder of a shotgun licence and lawfully held a Beretta shotgun, which was used in both killings. He said previous messages on Aldertons phone reveal the defendant took an interest in the family court proceedings. In October 2022 Alderton wrote: I will override any court decision. In another message, Mr Gair said the defendant wrote Theres always a plan B and in further messages he talked of moving to Panama. He said there were photographs of the homes of both Joshua and Gary Dunmore on Aldertons phone. Earlier on the day of the shootings, Alderton went to a storage lock-up in Huntingdon at 9.08am then drove his white Peugeot car to the mens addresses. He met his daughter and her partner at McDonalds in St Ives, Mr Gair said, making further visits to both mens properties in the evening. He was outside Gary Dunmores home in Sutton when he returned in his work van at 7.34pm and outside Joshua Dunmores home in Bluntisham at around 9pm when his girlfriend left, Mr Gair said. Police said Joshua Dunmore was shot at 9.09pm and Gary Dunmore was shot 31 minutes later. Mr Gair said it was likely Alderton knocked on Joshua Dunmores door and shot him twice at close range when he opened it, in the left chest and the right side of his head. He said this would have been rapidly fatal. Flowers left at the scene in Bluntisham (Joe Giddens/PA) A neighbour saw the defendant walking from Joshuas house to his white car carrying a shotgun, said Mr Gair. The defendant placed it on his back seat before driving off. He said Gary Dunmore was also shot at close range and there were four shots. The defendant had to reload as two shots can be fired from the shotgun, he said. Mr Gair said ballistics experts say three shots struck Gary Dunmore and one missed and stuck in the staircase. He said it is thought the first two shots included the one that missed, with Mr Dunmore hit in the chest, and then in the top of his head and left hip. More than 20 family members packed into the courtroom, with some weeping as details were read, with more listening remotely from a separate room within the court building. Mr Gair said Alderton was rapidly identified as a suspect due to the family court case and sightings of the white Peugeot. His motorhome was picked up by police using ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) cameras. He was stopped by armed police from the West Mercia force on the M5 near Worcester at about 1.30am on March 30, police said. Mr Gair said Alderton was the sole occupant of the vehicle and he volunteered that the shotgun was in the motorhome which it was. Earlier in the hearing, Judge Mark Bishop told family of the deceased: I dont want any hard staring of the defendant by the family members. He added: Were going to deal with this in a calm way. In a victim impact statement read to the court, Gary Dunmores mother Jane Phillips said: Both were killed in the most vicious, cowardly way with no opportunity for self-defence. Mandy Seamark, mother of Joshua Dunmore, said in a statement read by Mr Gair that words cannot describe the devastation of the defendants actions. Adrian Langdale KC, mitigating for Alderton, said the defendant wrote in a letter to the court that nothing can change the events of that night. He said Alderton, who worked for 25 years as a chartered quantity surveyor and had no previous convictions, had pleaded guilty to murder, describing this as a rare thing. He said the defendant was realistic enough to know he will never be released from prison. Aldertons letter also said: If I could turn back time I would. I regret there are not enough words of remorse I can offer to the families affected by this crime. Mr Langdale said the defendant regarded the order from the family court as the straw that broke the camels back and he had tried hard to control his anger. In a letter, the defendant wrote: Im not the person that this conflict and the family courts have driven me to become. Ive never been a violent person, I do not have a criminal record. Ive been a respectable, law-abiding citizen all my life. What happened to me on March 29 I do not know. Mr Langdale said Aldertons grandson has been placed in care and thats a further burden upon the defendant. The judge said he would wanted time to reflect fully on what he had heard and would pass sentence on Monday at Cambridge Crown Court. Irelands Minister for Finance said a proposal is being worked on to increase the level of support that will be offered to those affected by flooding in Co Cork. Michael McGrath said money will be available through a scheme to be administered by the Red Cross from next week. This currently offers an initial 5,000 euro and further support of up to 20,000 euro based on the scale of damage. Mr McGrath said many businesses in Midleton had their destroyed Christmas stock out on the street. The assessment of the full scale of the damage to homes and businesses will take some time, but the support will be there and that is the overarching message, Mr McGrath told RTE Radio on Friday. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaks with Frances Steele as she helps clean up a business belonging to a friend on Main Street in Midleton (PA) We do have to ensure, insofar as we can, that all of these businesses that were viable before two days ago can trade into the future. Mr McGrath said there will be a need to go further because many businesses did not have flooding insurance because of previous flooding. He said a proposal was being worked on by Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney which he expected would offer an increased level of support and go to Cabinet next Tuesday. The majority of the businesses (in Midleton) are severely damaged or destroyed, so this is on a scale that we havent seen in recent times, and so the response will have to be of a different nature and a different magnitude. The clean up gets under way on Main Street in Midleton, Co Cork (Brian Lawless/PA) A major clean-up operation is underway to deal with the aftermath of flooding that swamped several towns and villages in Irelands southwest during the week. Army and civil defence units were deployed to support evacuation measures in the Cork town of Midleton following the storm. On Friday, Cork County Council said there is a high risk of further flooding in Midleton, and that levels of the Owenacurra river, located near the Woodlands Estate, are being closely monitored. Residents of the estate have been advised to be on high alert and people have been told to avoid parts of the town. Following further heavy rain overnight the river Owenacurra river levels continue to rise resulting in a high risk of further flooding in Midleton. There is a particular risk at present at Woodland estate. Cork County Council (@Corkcoco) October 20, 2023 A status yellow rain warning for Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Waterford has been lifted after being in place overnight. A status yellow rain warning for Dublin, Louth, Meath, Wicklow and Kerry is in place until 9pm on Friday, which Irish forecaster Met Eireann said could lead to flooding and dangerous travelling conditions. A status yellow rain warning for Northern Ireland is in place until 9am on Saturday. The Met Office said showers or longer spells of rain could lead to lead to some disruption, particularly for eastern areas. Mr McGrath and Mr Coveney visited areas affected by the flooding in their home county of Cork on Thursday. Pro-Palestine marchers have a right to protest but should be mindful of the fear and distress felt by many families in this country, Downing Street has said. Demonstrators must be free to peacefully express their views but police should take the strongest action where antisemitism and other forms of hate are promoted, No 10 said. The advice appears to signal a shift in tone from last week, when Foreign Secretary James Cleverly suggested people should pause pro-Palestine protests in the aftermath of Hamass October 7 attack on Israel. He had told Sky News: There is no need, there is no necessity for people to come out. It causes distress. On Friday, a Downing Street spokeswoman said: Were clear that people must remain free to peacefully express their views, and protest is an important part of our democracy, but we also recognise that this is clearly a deeply distressing time for many. And we would appeal to everyone across the country and those who are considering joining these protests to be mindful of that and to consider the fear and distress felt by many families in this country over the distressing events that weve seen. With regard to clamping down on antisemitism and any forms of hatred and abuse, were very clear that the police should take the strongest action where they see that and use the full extent of the law to crack down on criminality. Tens of thousands of people gathered for pro-Palestinian demonstrations across the UK last weekend amid growing international concern over the conflict in Israel and Gaza. The Israeli military has relentlessly attacked Gaza in retaliation for Hamass devastating attack, which caught the country off-guard during Simchat Torah, a major holiday. Palestinian militants, meanwhile, have fired daily rocket barrages into Israel. A further march starting at Marble Arch has been planned for Saturday, while the Board of Deputies has organised a London rally for Sunday in solidarity with hostages taken by Hamas and the hostages families. At a roundtable discussion with Jewish and Muslim faith leaders, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said too many Londoners have experienced trauma personally as a result of the situation in Israel and Gaza. Ive had too many Londoners who have experienced the trauma in Israel personally and too many Londoners who have experienced the heartbreak of whats happened in Gaza personally as well, he said. Im sure I speak for all of us when I say were truly heartbroken at whats happening in Israel and Gaza. Jonny Newton of the Community Security Trust said the number of antisemitic incidents reported to the organisation since the attack had been unprecedented and as of Thursday night represented an increase of 700% on the corresponding period last year. He said the vulnerability felt by many in the Jewish community at the moment was heightened by the expression of jubilation among a vocal minority since October 7, adding: Surely it cant be that difficult to show solidarity with the Palestinian people and not demonstrate support for a proscribed terror organisation or engage in antisemitism. Mr Newton said the attacks dredged up inter-generational trauma and pain. Iman Atta, director of Tell Mama, said there had been a spike in reports of Islamophobic behaviour since October 7. In one case, a Muslim woman was threatened on the London Underground with a gesture suggesting that her throat was going to be cut, she said, while other victims were told to f*** off back to Palestine. Im sure you will accept that such anti-Muslim hate has no place in London and in our country, just as antisemitism should be challenged and stamped out where we come across it, she said. Three men have been found guilty of murdering a teenage member of a group called the A Team. Taylor Cox, 19, died after being shot in the head in an alleyway in Hornsey, north London, on June 8 2021. Following a retrial at the Old Bailey, Robel Michael, 22, of Islington, Jaden McGibbon, 22, of Crouch End, and Sichem Mangituka-Mpelo, 22, from Holloway, were found guilty of his murder on Friday. McGibbons then-girlfriend Dunila Idrissi Oukili, 21, from Camden, was found guilty of perverting the course of justice. The retrial was held at the Old Bailey in London (Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA) Mr Cox was a member of the A Team group which is associated with the N19 postcode in London, the court was told. Jurors heard how the three killers found out Mr Cox and his friend were close by and set out to attack them armed with at least one gun. During the shooting, at least four .32 calibre bullets were fired from the same gun, likely to be a revolver. Jurors heard how cartridge cases and two misfired cartridges were recovered from Oukilis handbag four days after the incident. She had also rented a flat for McGibbon to lay low in, bought a new telephone SIM card, and arranged transport and a change of hairstyle for him. The defendants had denied the charges against them but declined to give evidence in their retrial. Following their convictions, Judge Rebecca Trowler KC adjourned sentencing until December 15. Teachers and school leaders have reacted angrily to a Government announcement that minimum levels of service are to be introduced during education strikes. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has written to union leaders inviting them to discuss proposals on a voluntary basis, but added that the Government was committed to use powers granted through recent legislation aimed at providing minimum levels of service (MSLs) in a range of sectors including the railways and fire service. She said: Last years school strikes were some of the most disruptive on record for children, and their parents. We cannot afford a repeat of that disruption particularly as schools and teachers continue to work so hard to help children recover from the pandemic. Last year, school strikes resulted in 25 million school days being lost cumulatively. Children should not have to suffer a repeat of this disruption. Im announcing that we will introduce minimum service levels in schools so that pupils get the education they need and deserve. pic.twitter.com/BJyY0nBIEA Gillian Keegan MP (@GillianKeegan) October 20, 2023 I am asking the teaching unions to engage with us and agree to put children and young peoples education first and above and beyond any dispute. Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said his union did not acknowledge the validity of MSLs given their impact on the fundamental right to strike. He added: The Government, led by a Prime Minister not elected by the public and who has just had two historic by-election losses, has no democratic mandate to implement such an attack on our democratic freedoms. The Government would get further in minimising industrial action and disruption to schools if it engaged with unions on the issues that give rise to ballots. Pay, workload and the recruitment and retention crisis will remain lightning-rod issues for our members until the Education Secretary brings forward positive and substantial change. Gillian Keegan should turn her attention to the fact that every day in schools a level of service well below what should be expected is experienced by children and young people. Parents and students should not have to tolerate inadequate SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) provision, crumbling school buildings, a lack of school funding resulting in cuts to subjects offered, larger class sizes and schools being forced to use teachers who are not qualified to teach a given subject. These are the consequences of 13 years of Conservative education policy. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders union NAHT, which represents the majority of school leaders in England, said: This is nothing short of an overtly hostile act from the Government and an attack on the basic democratic freedoms of school leaders and teachers. At a time when the Government should be building bridges with the profession, the timing of this couldnt be worse. Not only are the Governments proposals for minimum service levels fundamentally undemocratic, they are utterly unworkable in a school setting. There are a range of very basic questions that the Government seem to have not even considered, let alone are able to begin to answer. The contempt that this Government has shown for workers and their representatives is astounding. The Government says it wants to enter talks with unions about this but sees attention-grabbing headlines as more important than constructive dialogue. When it comes to industrial relations, this Government simply doesnt seem to know what its doing. Regulations are expected to be announced soon on a minimum level of service during rail strikes. Unions are strongly opposed to the new legislation, which Labour has pledged to repeal if it wins the next general election. Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT, said: The Education Secretarys announcement is a blatant attempt to distract from the crisis engulfing our schools and colleges on this Governments watch. At a time of a worsening teacher recruitment and retention crisis, when school buildings are collapsing and riddled with asbestos, and when pupils with special education needs are unable to access the specialist support they need, the Government is continuing to fail our children and young people. Todays announcement comes just hours after the Government suffered some of its worst ever by-election results. The message is loud and clear: the public wants more investment in our schools and colleges, not a Government that is hell-bent on attacking the rights of dedicated, committed and hard-working teachers. Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: At a time when there are major staff shortages in education, schools have been given incorrect budget information and buildings are literally crumbling, it is hugely disappointing that the Secretary of State has decided to pick a fight with those who represent the profession. This is nothing more than an attempt to distract from her departments own shortcomings. We understand the Secretary of State is seeking voluntary agreement to minimum service levels in the first instance, but it is unimaginable that there will any agreement over legislation that involves removing the basic rights of employees. Industrial action is only ever taken as a last resort, when all other options have been explored. By attempting to remove the right to strike instead of engaging with the profession and seeking to address their concerns, the Secretary of State demonstrates that her priorities are in completely the wrong place. Parents and especially young people deserve a Secretary of State who focuses on improving education rather than engaging in political stunts. The police watchdog has announced it will investigate an incident in which a 13-year-old black child was surrounded by armed police after an officer mistook his water pistol for a real gun. It comes after the teenagers mother said she feels betrayed by the Metropolitan Police. The boy suffered soft-tissue injuries after he was rammed off his bike by a police van and handcuffed as he was confronted by marksmen in Hackney, east London, in July. In a statement read out on her behalf at a press conference on Thursday, the boys mother said the incident had been a deeply traumatic experience for their entire family, adding that she believed it would not have occurred had her son been a white 13-year-old boy. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) originally said the Met Police should investigate the complaint themselves and reiterated the decision upon the force making a second referral containing new allegations of race discrimination and adultification. But the watchdog announced on Friday it had reconsidered its decision and launched an independent investigation. IOPC regional director for London Charmaine Arbouin said: This was clearly a distressing incident for this boy, his sister and mother and it is right that the complaint is investigated. She added: In the light of the mothers statement yesterday, and the concerns that have been expressed by the local community in Hackney and more widely, weve reconsidered our decision and will now investigate this independently. Weve spoken to the Met and they understand our decision to investigate this independently will enhance transparency. We appreciate how upsetting this has been for the family and I hope this will provide assurance to the childs mother that she has been heard. We know that incidents like these also have an impact within policing as well as the wider community, so we will do all we can to conduct this investigation quickly and thoroughly, and will provide updates as it progresses. The mother of the boy, who has suffered from nightmares since the incident, said in the statement on Thursday: I feel let down and betrayed, not only by the police, but also by the IOPC, and by the whole system that is supposed to look after our children, black or white. How can I be expected to place my faith in the police to investigate themselves when they have treated my son and me with contempt? She added: I feel broken by it all; distraught because I was not able to protect my child from what happened. Campaign group The Alliance for Police Accountability (APA) condemned the treatment of the boy, saying his brightly-coloured water pistol was unmistakably a toy and that the incident demonstrated the adultification of black children. In a written statement, Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway, in charge of policing for Hackney and Tower Hamlets, said he had apologised to the family. He said: This incident was understandably extremely distressing for the boy involved as well as the rest of his family. We know it may cause public concern and we want to help the public understand why we responded in the way we did. This does not in any way detract from our recognition of the trauma caused to the boy, for which I apologised soon afterwards to his family. A woman has died after flooding caused by Storm Babet saw hundreds of homes evacuated, while thousands were hit by power cuts across Scotland. First Minister Humza Yousaf led tributes to the 57-year-old woman who was swept away at the Water of Lee, Glen Esk, just before 2pm on Thursday. Efforts were made to convince residents of Brechin, Angus, to evacuate 400 homes, with the coastguard and fire crews going door-to-door after some people refused to leave. Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) issued a warning that river levels could reach an unprecedented five metres above normal levels, and severe flood warnings were expanded for the River Esk, including into Aberdeenshire. Sepa added the villages of Logie Mill and Craigo to places at risk of severe flooding in Angus, as well as Brechin and nearby Finavon and Tannadice, while the village of Marykirk, Aberdeenshire, was put on high alert. Angus experienced the highest rainfall in the UK on Thursday, according to data from Sepa. The Met Office revealed that Waterside Perth in East Grampian recorded 123.6mm over the previous 24 hours, followed by Invermark which had 107mm. More than 20,000 homes in Scotland lost power, according to Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN), predominantly in Aberdeenshire and Angus. By 9pm, SSEN said it had restored services to almost 18,500 homes. Following the news of the womans death, Mr Yousaf wrote on X, formerly Twitter: Such sad news. My thoughts are with the family, friends and loved ones of the woman who has sadly lost her life. A resident puts sand bags outside his door in Brechin (Andrew Milligan/PA) Aberdeenshire Council warned residents to be ready to leave imminently and more than doubled the number of rest centres to five, from two earlier in the day. The Met Office red weather warning began at 6pm and was expanded to include Dundee, Perth and Kinross, as well as Angus and Aberdeenshire, where 20ft waves were seen crashing in Stonehaven harbour. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: Around 1.45pm on Thursday, officers attended a report of a person having been swept into the Water of Lee, Glen Esk. Around 4pm, the body of a 57-year-old woman was recovered from the river. There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal. A man ties up his boat at Stonehaven at the start of Storm Babet (Andrew Milligan/PA) Schools were closed in Angus, while funerals were cancelled in Aberdeenshire. Deputy First Minister Shona Robison said authorities expected to launch a major clean-up operation as we move into the weekend. Waves hit Stonehaven harbour (Andrew Milligan/PA) Paddleboarding instructor David Jacobs, 56, said he saw waves around 20ft high in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, and expects it to be worse on Friday. Mr Jacobs said: The waves were about 20ft, or seven metres. The last time I have seen weather like this was 2014, it is quite spectacular to watch but bits of trees and rocks land onto the road. It worries me for other people. A Severe Flood Warning has been issued for Brechin. Follow @PoliceScotland for travel adviceFollow @AngusCouncil for local adviceVisit https://t.co/hxxDVD5Bmp for more information on the Severe Flood Warning and the potential impacts. pic.twitter.com/jvvY8GDbaX SEPAFlood (@SEPAFlood) October 19, 2023 Aberdeenshire Council issued instructions to residents who may have to evacuate. It said: If the police, council or other emergency services, ask you to leave your home turn off the electricity and water supply at the main switch and take your grab bag with you. If you have to evacuate your home, it will make things a lot easier if you have prepared a Grab Bag in advance containing a packing list to follow should you need to use it. A spokesman for Angus Council said: As ever, we will be targeting our energies and resources on the areas of greatest need, focusing on preserving life and ensuring the safety of our citizens. Pascal Lardet, Sepa flood duty manager, said: There is exceptional rainfall forecast for parts of Scotland over the next 24 hours, and this will lead to significant flooding from both surface water and rivers. The murder of Zara Aleena was an opportunistic attack, the Court of Appeal has heard. Jordan McSweeney killed the 35-year-old law graduate as she walked home from a night out in Ilford, east London, early on June 26 2022. McSweeney, who refused to attend his sentencing hearing last December, was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 38 years after admitting Ms Aleenas murder and sexual assault. At a hearing on Friday, he made a bid to reduce the minimum term of his sentence, appearing for the start of proceedings via videolink from Long Lartin prison in Worcestershire. Jordan McSweeney was found guilty at the Old Bailey of the murder of law graduate Zara Aleena (Met Police/PA) His barrister George Carter-Stephenson KC said: At the outset can I make it clear that it is accepted that the attack and murder in this case was particularly savage and brutal and nothing I intend to say in this address is in any way meant to detract from that. The barrister said the sentencing judge, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb, had wrongly factored in the aggravating features in the case. Mr Carter-Stephenson said it was accepted there was a sexual motive to the crime but argued the murder itself was not premeditated. He told the court: He was obviously stalking women on that night, following them and looking for an opportunity. The attack was an opportunistic act rather than anything that was planned in advance though there was clearly a sexual encounter in mind. He planned to look for a sexual encounter, with or without consent. Mr Carter-Stephenson later said the the resistance put up by the victim caused the level of aggression to rise during the assault. I dont mean to put any blame on the victim at all, he added. Around 45 minutes after the start of his bid to reduce the minimum term of his life sentence, the hearing was paused following McSweeneys departure. An unnamed prison officer, who appeared on the videolink with McSweeney, said: Hes heard enough and has got everything he requires in his cell. Judges were later told Ms Aleena was made unconscious early during the attack. Mr Carter-Stephenson said: Given the nature of the attack the time for the suffering of this victim was limited. That, to some extent, must impact how one views that as an aggravating feature. The barrister later said McSweeney had ADHD, which should have been taken into account in sentencing. They are wired somewhat differently than most people. They are impulsive their behaviour is less predictable, he said. However, Oliver Glasgow KC, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said the suggestion McSweeney had not intended to kill Ms Aleena was unsustainable. He told the court McSweeney had spent two hours stalking several women before turning his attention to Ms Aleena. Mr Glasgow told the court he wanted to avoid any risk that he could subsequently be identified by any victim. The barrister said: This was not a moment of impulsive aggression. It was a considered act and the product of hours of pursing women along the streets. There was nothing that Zara Aleena did that provoked the violence that was given to her. Mr Glasgow later told the court there had been no expression of remorse from McSweeney and later noted he had not attended his sentencing and left his appeal hearing. This lack of remorse has been borne out for over a year, the barrister said. Mr Glasgow added in written submissions: The submission that the intention to murder Ms Aleena was formed on the spur of the moment flies in the face of the applicants behaviour preceding the violence. The sexual assault of Ms Aleena was the culmination of hours of planning and premeditation. He added that McSweeney was determined to find and attack a vulnerable female and to sexually assault her, and it was inevitable, once he had embarked on that attack, that he would kill his victim. The Old Bailey previously heard McSweeney stalked Ms Aleena along Cranbrook Road before grabbing her from behind and dragging her into a driveway. The attack, caught on grainy CCTV, lasted nine minutes and resulted in 46 separate injuries. Ms Aleena, who was training to be a solicitor, was found struggling to breathe and later died in hospital. Mr Glasgow described the attack as utterly abhorrent and said the sentencing judge was right to find McSweeney had no mitigation aside from his guilty pleas. At the hearing before the Lady Chief Justice Lady Carr, Mrs Justice McGowan and Mrs Justice Ellenbogen, Lady Carr said their decision would be given in writing as soon as possible. Gas prices were falling by about a penny a day according to AAA data, as Arizona recorded yet another decline in its state average, this time by 16 cents. On Thursday, AAA reported that Arizona residents were paying an average of $4.25 per gallon across the state, about 69 cents above the U.S. average. Since October began, the state has seen 44 cents come off its state-wide average, with residents seeing the effects of the typically cheaper winter blend of gasoline at the pumps. This week's 16-cent drop put Arizona second behind California in terms of states with the largest price decreases. However, Arizona's rank among the top 10 highest-paying states did not budge, staying in seventh place. Change on the way? Gasoline blend used in Phoenix could change to combat price spikes Nationally, prices continued their downward trend as well, falling by eight cents since last week, bringing the country's average price for a gallon of gas to $3.56. That price is 32 cents less than it was in September and 29 cents less than this time in 2022. According to AAA, war in the Middle East has helped slow additional price declines, with oil prices hovering in the mid $80 range. The oil market is watching to see if the war between Israel and Hamas widens, so the price is stuck at a rather elevated price in the mid-$80s per barrel. This, in turn, is slowing the decline in gas prices," AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross said in a statement. New data released by the Energy Information Administration, as cited by AAA, showed gasoline demand increased from 8.58 million barrels per day to 8.94 million. In turn, total domestic stocks fell by 2.4 million barrels of crude oil, nestling at 223.3 million. Total domestic commercial crude supplies also took a hit, losing 4.5 million barrels of crude oil, settling at 419.7 million. Wednesday's close to the formal trading session had West Texas Intermediate hold firm at $86.66. Who's paying the most for gas in the U.S.? California: $5.52 (-0.18) Washington: $4.84 (-0.12) Hawaii: $4.77 (-0.05) Nevada: $4.72 (-0.12) Oregon: $4.48 (-0.11) Alaska: $4.44 (-0.14) Arizona: $4.25 (-0.16) Idaho: $3.96 (-0.05) Montana: $3.91 (-0.06) Utah: $3.87 (-0.11) How much does gas cost across Arizona? Another week of solid price drops were seen across Arizona counties since the past week, finally pushing some areas below $4. The biggest decrease this week took place in Pinal County, where residents saw 27 cents come off its average, placing the price at $4.27. Only one county, Graham, failed to report a decline in its price, holding its average to $4.31. In terms of price, Maricopa remains the state's most expensive county, running residents on average $4.41 a gallon. Pima County still sits as the best place in Arizona to fill up, sporting an average total of around $3.90 following a 10-cent drop from the week prior. Here is how the rest of the state shapes up: Maricopa: $4.41 (-0.22) Mohave: $4.31 (-0.02) Graham: $4.31 Pinal: $4.27 (-0.27) Coconino: $4.26 (-0.06) Yavapai: $4.21 (-0.07) Gila: $4.15 (-0.02) Santa Cruz: $4.08 (-0.11) Greenlee: $4.05 (-0.03) Navajo: $4.04 (-0.07) La Paz: $4.02 (-0.16) Yuma: $3.99 (-0.15) Apache: $3.95 (-0.08) Cochise: $3.94 (-0.12) Pima: $3.90 (-0.10) This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona gas prices fall 16 cents. Here's what to know Judith Raanan and her daughter, Natalie, had been living a typical American life in the Chicago suburb of Evanston for many years before the unthinkable happened. Judith, a 59-year-old artist, never missed a Sabbath service at her synagogue. Natalie, 17, had just graduated from Deerfield High School and hoped to work in fashion, interior design or tattooing following her summer and fall travel plans, which included visiting Italy before heading to Israel for the Jewish holidays and her grandmother's 85th birthday, NBC Chicago reported. It was there that Judith and Natalie were taken hostage on Oct. 7, when militants stormed kibbutz Nahal Oz where they had been staying with relatives. The American Israeli citizens were released Friday after a nearly two-week ordeal. "Thanks for your prayers. They have been released," Natalie's stepmother, Paola Raanan, posted on Facebook. Follow live coverage from NBC News here. Judith Raanan and Natalie Shoshana Raanan with Israel Defense Forces on Oct. 20, 2023. (Government of Israel via NBC News) Uri Raanan, Natalie's father and Judith's ex-husband, said he briefly spoke to his daughter by phone after their release and she "sounded good, looks very good, and she's very happy and waiting to come home." She did not say anything about how they were treated during their time in captivity, he said. Speaking to reporters in Bannockburn, Illinois, Uri Raanan, 71, said he expected them to return home in time to celebrate Natalie's birthday Tuesday. "I told her, 'I love you and I miss you very much,'" Uri Raanan said. Loved ones describe Natalie and Judith as kind women who are both talented artists in their own right and always willing to lend a helping hand. She would take care of elderly people who were lonely in their house and bring them food, make food for them, Chavah Rochel Golden, Judith Raanans friend, said. For months before the mother-daughter trip, Judith, who was born in Israel and is a painter, couldnt stop talking about the visit to see friends and family, according to a close family friend and Rabbi Meir Hecht from Evanston Chabad. Raanan made the trip from Illinois to Israel every few years and often brought her daughter along, Hecht said. Not only was it a way to maintain ties with loved ones, it also reconnected them with a culture Judith deeply loved and wanted to share with her daughter. Judith is a very spiritual woman and she loves to pray. She loves to talk about her connection to God, Hecht said. She feels very uplifted when she participates in the services and communal events. Hecht described Judith as a close personal friend who frequently visited his family and brought toys for his children. A woman of strong faith, she was a regular attendee at Saturday services and on holidays. Speaking to reporters outside the synagogue Friday afternoon, Hecht said his congregations prayers have been answered with their release. Judith and Natalie Raanan. (Uri Raanan / via Facebook) Both Judith and Natalie are artists kind, giving, generous, he said. Judith is the kind of person whenever someone needed something in the community, shed be the first one there. Relatives say Natalie loved to travel and was not a member of the congregation her mother frequented. Natalie was born in the Chicago area but lived in Israel with her mother for nearly a decade before returning to the U.S., Ben Raanan, Natalie's brother, told the Chicago Tribune. After graduating from high school, Natalie told family she was interested in pursuing a career in creative fields, he said. Ben Raanan has said his sister had texted their father when the attack unfolded to say that she was hiding in a guest house with her mom and could hear guns and explosions outside. So the last text was from Natalie 12:18 noon on Saturday, saying that theyre hearing shooting out of their apartment, Natalie Raanan's aunt, Saray Cohen, told NBC News Lester Holt. And she said that the other room out of the security room was bombed. Shes hearing shooting. 'We love you all. But we are OK.' Upon their release, they were greeted at the Gaza border by Israeli Brig. Gen. Gal Hirsch and taken to an Israeli military base where they were reunited with relatives, Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Daniel Hagari said. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the women are safe and receiving medical treatment after being released by Hamas. Former Israel-based NBC correspondent Martin Fletcher revealed Thursday on MSNBC that he is distantly related to Judith and Natalie Raanan on his wife's side. He said he had met them in passing at family events but didn't know them well. Still, the family has "rallied around them in an extraordinary manner hoping that this would happen, and the fact that it actually happened is a miracle," he said Friday. Hospitals are supposed to be safe havens during times of war, but attacks against hospitals and health care facilities in conflict zones are becoming more common worldwide, human rights experts say. During the first week of the war between Israel and Hamas, there were 94 attacks on health care facilities in Israel and Gaza, which killed 29 health care workers and injured 24, according to the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition, or SHCC, a human rights advocacy group. The number of attacks or incidents of violence on health care facilities in this conflict are very significant, said Leonard Rubenstein, a human rights attorney and professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. We dont know all the circumstances of the attacks and why they were attacked, but the patterns are disturbing. Follow live coverage from NBC News here. The coalitions numbers dont reflect Tuesdays explosion at al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City. The cause of that blast is still unclear, but human rights experts say that even if the cause was a misfired rocket by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad organization designated a terrorist group by the U.S. rather than an Israeli airstrike, it would still be a violation of humanitarian law. U.S. officials have said a misfired rocket is the most likely cause, while Palestinian officials and Hamas blame Israel. If this was a misfire, then you shouldnt be firing rockets whose flight path goes over a hospital, said Sam Zarifi, executive director of Physicians for Human Rights. Experts fear these incidents in Israel and Gaza are part of a concerning trend thats been increasing over the last 10 years. Between Syria, Ukraine and Gaza, there is a sense that we have seen an unprecedented number of attacks on health care facilities, health care providers and ambulances, Zarifi said. Across the world, there were nearly 2,000 incidents of violence against health care facilities last year, a 45% increase from the year before, according to a SHCC report. Most of them were in Ukraine and Myanmar, a country that has been shrouded in violence for years. This is very serious, Rubenstein said. The consequences to the population are devastating. Attacking a health care facility like a hospital is a violation of international humanitarian law, a set of rules designed to limit the effects of war, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross. The goal of the rules is to protect people who are not or no longer involved in conflict. Much of the law is contained in the Geneva Conventions, which most countries and states have agreed to abide by. Rubenstein, who has studied this issue for the last 25 years, said that for a long time, militaries followed these laws and made sure health care was protected. But as political climates have changed in some places, so have military tactics. There seems to be less attention to obligations to protect health care, he said. Image: First responders evacuate an injured pregnant woman, Iryna Kalinina, from a Mariupol maternity hospital that was damaged by a Russian airstrike in Ukraine on March 9, 2022. The woman and her baby later died. (Evgeniy Maloletka / AP file) That includes where airstrikes happen and bombs land, said Tim Bishop, project coordinator with Insecurity Insight, a humanitarian group, and one of the authors of the coalition report. He said some areas, such as Ukrainian cities and Gaza, are densely populated, so an explosive thats meant for a different target can end up being too close to a health care facility. But thats still a violation of humanitarian law, said Rubenstein. Militaries are obligated to take precautions to protect hospitals and health care facilities. In Gaza, so many people are crowded into a populated area, you cant easily distinguish between civilians and military targets, Bishop said. This is why use of these weapons in these areas is concerning. Despite the mounting documented attacks, few, if any, have been prosecuted. The problem is that there has been almost absolute impunity for these attacks, Zarifi said. Looking at Ukraine, looking at Syria, going back into Yemen, all of the conflicts weve documented, no one has been prosecuted, although it is a clear war crime. Zarifi said the government of the offending military has the primary responsibility for prosecuting these cases. The first port of call is the governments, he said. The bad guys will rarely do that. So, the second port of call is, where possible, its international bodies. For instance, in Ukraine, the International Criminal Court has jurisdiction. Zarifi said that court is now looking into attacks in the Ukraine because there have been so many. The coalition documented 1,000 attacks on health care there last year. That same court also has jurisdiction in Gaza. Having the possibility for accountability at least helps prevent future atrocities, Zarifi said. And by accountability, I dont just mean responding to atrocities with atrocities. Follow NBC HEALTH on Twitter & Facebook. President Biden doesnt just want new money to assist with wars in Ukraine and Israel. He also wants billions to confront China. Following an address to the nation, where he exhorted Americans to support his efforts in Ukraine and Israel, President Biden announced the complete details of his administration's request to Congress on Friday. Within the nearly $106 billion supplemental funding request to Congress is an ask for $7.4 billion toward China-focused efforts by his administration. The money would be divided between $3.4 billion for Americas submarines that operate in the region, $2 billion for new financing efforts to counter Chinas economic might, and another $2 billion for State Department foreign military efforts. If approved, the money could flow toward Taiwan and other US allies in the region and potentially re-inflame US-China tensions after a year of tense back and forth between the two superpowers. This money is crucial, national security advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters Friday, as part of "efforts to maintain peace and stability" in the Indo-Pacific region adding that the new funds would represent "significant new resources to help [US allies] build the capabilities necessary to meet emerging challenges." President Joe Biden addressed the nation on security threats from the Oval Office on October 19. (JONATHAN ERNST/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) (JONATHAN ERNST via Getty Images) Of course, the administrations funding request will have to navigate the dysfunction on Capitol Hill first, as lawmakers in the House of Representatives still remain deadlocked on a replacement for the ousted Kevin McCarthy after more than two weeks. "The world is watching and the American people rightly expect their leaders to come together and deliver on these priorities," wrote Office of Management and Budget director Shalanda Young in a letter to Congress on the package which also includes more than $60 billion for Ukraine, more than $20 billion for the Middle East, and more than $10 billion for Americas southern border. Due to the ongoing chaos on Capitol Hill, her letter had to be addressed to Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), the speaker pro tempore of the House of Representatives. McHenry has adamantly maintained he has no power to consider the request until House Republicans agree on a plan for going forward. Where the $7.4 billion focused on China would go If approved, much of the money would be directed toward the US Navys public shipyards to build up the US's capacity to stand up to China militarily. The money would accelerate the building of attack submarines to patrol in the Indo-Pacific and help fulfill an ongoing security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the US, Biden officials said. The USS North Carolina docks at a port on the outskirts of Perth in Australia this summer as part of routine patrols in the Indo-Pacific region. (TONY MCDONOUGH/AFP via Getty Images) (TONY MCDONOUGH via Getty Images) The Biden administration is also asking for $2 billion to "provide a credible alternative to the Peoples Republic of Chinas coercive and unsustainable financing for developing countries around the world," according to a fact sheet. The administration says the money could be leveraged to unlock up to $21 billion in new lending opportunities through the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. A third tranche of the money would allot $2 billion toward general military readiness efforts in the region. The Biden administration didnt outline precisely how much of the funds would go to Taiwan, with the political status of the island a long-running source of tension. Sullivan underlined Friday that the funds would be spread across the entire region and not be exclusive to Taiwan. Biden himself also noted in his address to the nation that his larger national security effort has at least one eye on China, especially the $61.4 billion he wants to use for Ukraine's war. "If we walk away and let Putin erase Ukraines independence, would-be aggressors around the world would be emboldened to try the same," he said from the Oval Office, saying the chaos could spread both to the Indo-Pacific as well as to the Middle East. Ben Werschkul is a Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance. Click here for politics news related to business and money Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance President Biden is set to deploy the bully pulpit in his push to maintain Americas support for Ukraine and lay out a vision for the U.S.s role in the unfolding war between Israel and Hamas. Recent polls have shown that voters are steadily souring on U.S. support for Ukraines war against Russia, while about half of Americans trust Biden to handle the Middle East conflict. Biden had initially planned on a major speech aimed at convincing the public on his pledge to stand by Ukraine. But the Israel-Hamas conflict has turned it into a two-pronged address, as he seeks to rally support in Congress for a robust security package. Experts said Biden will need to choose his words carefully on Thursday evening. One of the challenges of this speech is that he needs to link the conflicts in some meaningful way, said Matthew Waxman, a former senior official at the State Department, the Defense Department and the National Security Council. He wants to avoid the appearance that these are kind of unrelated things and they both just happen to be coming up at the same time. He needs to, in a compelling way, link the two. Russias brutal war against Ukraine has been raging since February 2021, when Moscows forces flooded over the border in an attempted incursion that U.S. officials had predicted for months. But the conflict between Israel and Hamas took the world by surprise when on Oct. 7 Hamas, the militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, launched terrorist attacks that left more than 1,000 Israelis dead. Thousands more Palestinians have since been killed in ensuing retaliatory airstrikes from Israel into Gaza, and Israel is threatening a ground invasion. Biden previously condemned Hamass attack on Israel in an Oct. 10 address, but polls since have shown little change to his overall approval rating. Four different national polls conducted since the speech showed his approval rating between 31 percent and 44 percent. And despite his foreign policy credentials as a vice president and senator, hes only faring slightly better in that realm. A majority of respondents to an Economist poll taken ahead of his trip to Israel were uneasy about Bidens ability to handle an international crisis. And 54 percent of people in a CNN poll said they have not much or no trust in his ability to make the right decisions on Israel similar to his numbers on Ukraine. Biden visited Israel Wednesday to show support and broker a deal to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. He posted on X, formerly Twitter, Thursday about the gravity of his address. Hamass terrorist attacks against Israel. The need for humanitarian assistance in Gaza. Russias ongoing brutal war against Ukraine, he wrote. We are at a global inflection point that is bigger than party or politics. Tonight, Ill address the nation at 8:00 PM ET from the Oval Office. The timing of the presidents speech shows the consequential nature of both conflicts to U.S. interests, said Waxman, who is now with Columbia Law School. This comes at a time when there are political factions in the public, in Congress, on both the right and the left, who are really advocating for a significant pulling back of United States leadership in the world and security commitments abroad, he said. I would expect that he would talk about both of these conflicts as demonstrating the continuing need for strong American leadership, including a strong role as a security guarantor around the world. Other former officials say the speech presents an opportunity for Biden to make the case for Americas vital interest in the security of the two countries. Simply announcing U.S. financial support does not do the job, Jim Gilmore, the former governor of Virginia and ambassador for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, said in a statement. Americans deserve to know why money is being spent to oppose aggression by those who seek to undermine our safety and the safety of our allies. America first does not mean America alone. And former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst told The Hill that the clear national security interests the U.S. has in Russias defeat has not been explained to the American people, nor has the reason why we are committing the resources we are committing. If Biden lays out our interests, how Americans security, American prosperity are safeguarded by this policy, [that] we had to contain an aggressive Russia which will take a long time American support for this policy will go up substantially. So far, he and his administration have not done that, added Herbst, who is now a senior director of the Atlantic Councils Eurasia Center. Also shown in recent surveys was the slow crumble of the once high level of public support for arming Ukraine. A poll conducted earlier this month found that just 41 percent of respondents agreed that the United States should provide weapons to Ukraine, down from 65 percent of respondents who said the same in June. Even lower than that was support for sending financial aid to Ukraine, with only 37 percent of respondents agreeing that Washington should give financial assistance, the survey showed. Another poll, released the same week, showed a growing partisan split over the issue with Republicans less likely to support either kind of assistance to Ukraine. The divide is expected given that the issue has become central in the 2024 GOP presidential primary, with a more isolationist view of foreign policy dominating the hard-right side of the party. Ukraine funding was also a major reason for the House standoff that almost caused a government shutdown at the end of September, with far-right GOP lawmakers refusing to budge on the issue. While some Republicans have come out in opposition to Bidens effort to link Ukraine and Israel aid along with funds for Taiwan and U.S. border security the proposal has the backing of key GOP figures including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas). Waxman said a major challenge for Biden will be explaining persuasively that the United States is not overstretched and has the will, the capacity and the resources to support both conflicts. Some Republicans have already demanded a more concrete strategy from the administration on Ukraine before they can loosen their purse strings. In a letter sent to Biden Oct. 6, McCaul and Senate Foreign Relations Committee ranking member James Risch (R-Idaho) called for the White House to engage transparently with Congress on its strategy for helping Kyiv win the war. A pledge to support Ukraine for as long as it takes is not a strategy, they wrote. Fred Kagan, the head of the American Enterprise Institutes Critical Threats Project, said mounting questions about Americas role in Ukraine were justified 19 months into the war, with no clear end in sight. All of the leaders in the United States who understand why this is Americas vital interest [should] get up now and loudly answer the question because its easily answerable, he said. Questions are also being raised over Israels strategy as it seeks to eliminate Hamas and is threatening to launch a ground invasion into the Gaza Strip. Biden himself warned Israels government not to make the mistakes of the U.S. in responding to the 9/11 attacks. At the fore of global concerns over the Israel-Hamas war is an expansion of the conflict that brings American troops in direct conflict with Iran and its proxies. However, deputy national security adviser Jon Finer, during an interview with ABC Thursday morning, said avoiding war with Iran would not be part of Bidens prime-time message. What the president is going to be doing is laying out for the American people a description of the moment we are in a crisis in Ukraine that has been going on now more than a year and a half, an emergent crisis with our close friend an ally in Israel and connect that national moment to American lives back here, he said. And why this is a moment in which the administration needs to respond and we believe congress as well needs to act to make sure that we have the resources to be able to continue our leadership. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Emily Rose GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel levelled a northern Gaza district on Friday after giving families a half-hour warning to escape, and hit an Orthodox Christian church where others had been sheltering, as it made clear that a command to invade Gaza was expected soon. The Secretary General of the United Nations visited the crossing between the besieged Gaza Strip and Egypt, and said humanitarian aid must be allowed across as soon as possible. Israel has vowed to wipe out the Hamas Islamist group that rules Gaza, after its gunmen burst through the barrier fence surrounding the enclave on Oct. 7 and rampaged through Israeli towns and kibbutzes, killing 1,400 people, mainly civilians. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has told troops a command to invade would come soon. Meanwhile, Israel has pounded Gaza with air strikes and put the enclave's 2.3 million people under a total siege, banning shipments even of food, fuel and medical supplies. Since Oct. 7, at least 4,137 Palestinians have been killed and 13,000 wounded in Gaza in Israeli strikes since Oct.7, the Palestinian health ministry said. The U.N. says more than a million have been made homeless. The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the main Palestinian Christian denomination, said Israeli forces had struck the Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza City, where hundreds of Christians and Muslims had sought sanctuary. Video from the scene showed a wounded boy being carried from rubble at night. A civil defence worker said two people on upper floors had survived; those on lower floors had been killed and their bodies were still in the rubble. "They felt they would be safe here. They came from under the bombardment and the destruction, and they said they would be safe here but destruction chased them," a man cried out. Gaza's Hamas-run government media office said 18 Christian Palestinians had been killed, while the health ministry later gave a toll of 16. There was no immediate word from the church on the final death toll. It said targeting churches that were used as shelters for people fleeing bombing was "a war crime that cannot be ignored". The Israeli military said part of the church was damaged in a strike on a militant command centre and it was reviewing the incident. 'EVERYTHING I DREAMT OF DESTROYED' Israel has already told all civilians to evacuate the northern half of the Gaza Strip, which includes Gaza City. Many people have yet to leave saying they fear losing everything and have nowhere safe to go with southern areas also under attack. In Zahra, a northern Gaza town, residents said their entire district of some 25 apartment buildings was razed to the ground. They received Israeli warning messages on their mobile phones at breakfast, followed ten minutes later by a small drone strike that hammered the message home. After another 20 minutes, F-16 warplanes brought the buildings down in huge explosions and clouds of dust. "Everything I ever dreamt of and thought that I have achieved was gone. In that apartment was my dream, my memories with my children, and my wife, was the smell of safety and love," Ali, a resident of the district, told Reuters by phone, declining to give his full name for fear of reprisals. The United Nations humanitarian affairs office said more than 140,000 homes - nearly a third of all homes in Gaza - have been damaged, with nearly 13,000 completely destroyed. The south of the enclave has also been regularly hit. Rescue workers were combing through the wreckage of a house in the main southern city Khan Younis looking for survivors. One carried the limp body of a child. "We dont want to receive aid, we want the destruction and the killing of children in their sleep to stop. We are tired," said neighbour Joumana Khreis. A man wept while a medic comforted him at the side of a road next to two dead bodies wrapped in white shrouds. The bodies were later held aloft by marchers who carried them through the Khan Younis streets. AID STILL HELD UP International attention has focused on getting aid to Gaza through the one access point not controlled by Israel, the Rafah crossing to Egypt. U.S. President Joe Biden, who visited Israel on Wednesday, emerged with a promise from Israel to allow limited shipments from Egypt provided that the aid is monitored to prevent any from reaching Hamas. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres toured the checkpoint on the Egypt side and called for a meaningful number of trucks to enter Gaza every day and checks to be quick and pragmatic. "We are actively engaging with all parties to make sure conditions for delivering aid are lifted," he said. Western leaders have so far mostly offered support to Israel's campaign against Hamas, although there is mounting unease about the plight of civilians in Gaza. Biden delivered a televised speech on Thursday calling for billions of dollars in U.S. military aid for Israel to fight Hamas. But he also said: "We can't ignore the humanity of innocent Palestinians who only want to live in peace and have opportunity." The conflict is also spreading to two other fronts - the West Bank and the northern border with Lebanon. The defence ministry ordered residents of the largest Israeli town near the Lebanese border, Kiryat Shmona, to evacuate. Clashes at the border between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement have been the deadliest since a full-blown war in 2006. In the West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said 13 people were killed including five children when Israeli troops raided and called in air strikes on the Nur Shams refugee camp near Tulkarm. The territory, where Palestinians have limited self rule under Israeli military occupation, has seen the deadliest clashes since the second intifada uprising ended in 2005. (Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza, Washington and Jerusalem Bureaus; Writing by Peter Graff; Editing by Philippa Fletcher) Kansas avoided significant penalties in the NCAAs investigation into its basketball program last week, but Bill Self is still feeling the impact. Self said Wednesday at the Big 12s media day in Kansas City that even after the NCAAs independent panel reduced the Jayhawks charges following the FBIs investigation into the sport, his reputation has been tarnished immensely. "But the whole thing is we knew right from the jump what we had done and what we had not done, Self said, via ESPN. The bottom line is I'm proud of how we conducted our business. At the end of the day, it was a long blip, but it was still a blip in the big scheme of things." Self and Kansas were accused of five Level I violations in 2019 for recruiting issues connected to the FBIs investigation into college basketball. Kansas pushed back against the NCAA throughout the years-long process but also imposed several penalties on itself including recruiting violations and a four-game suspension for Self. Then last week, the NCAAs Independent Accountability Resolution Process opted to reduce the initial violations. Kansas had to vacate some wins, but it was not hit with a postseason ban or other significant penalties. The Jayhawks were the last school with an active case connected to the scandal. All other schools involved, except for Oklahoma State, avoided postseason bans. The Cowboys, who cooperated fully after an assistant coach was sentenced to three months in jail, were banned from the NCAA tournament in 2022 something coach Mike Boynton wants an apology for. While the process has been taxing on Self, he said he's happy that its now behind him headed into the season. "I think it's been so frustrating because we haven't been able to speak out or speak up or to have comment or even defend ourselves in many ways," Self said, via ESPN. "But looking back now? Frustrating, taxing, a lot of different things. But [I'm] so glad that it's behind us. That's a lot of stress to put on a lot of people for that many years. Of course, the narrative wasn't exactly what the end result ended up being. And certainly, the end result is exactly what we expected all along." Kansas, which earned the No. 1 spot in The Associated Press preseason poll, will open its season Nov. 6 against North Carolina Central. Bill Self and Kansas will open the season as the No. 1 team in the country next month (AP/Charlie Riedel) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) Self disappointed after Arterio Morris dismissal, said he was well-vetted Self was asked at media day about Arterio Morris, who was dismissed from the Jayhawks after he was arrested on a rape charge last month. Morris transferred to Kansas after spending his freshman season at Texas, where he was accused of physically assaulting an ex-girlfriend in 2022. He was charged with a misdemeanor and later pleaded no-contest in that incident. Then in August, an 18-year-old woman said she was sexually assaulted by Morris on campus at Kansas. Morris was arrested, suspended and eventually dismissed from the program. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) criticized President Biden over his expected $100 billion budget request to aid the war efforts in Israel and Ukraine and address other administration priorities. The package, which has not been officially announced, is also expected to include billions in funding for border security and support for Taiwanese defense against China. Biden is sending a $100 billion emergency funding request to Congress, but only $10 billion of that is allocated for Israel, Blackburn said in a statement Thursday. There is an immediate responsibility on Congress to make sure Israel has what it needs to defend itself, and to hold that aid hostage by linking it with a myriad of other issues including bailout for sanctuary cities and more money for Ukraine is irresponsible. These separate funding requests should be considered as such, she said. Biden is expected to formally unveil the budget request Friday and discuss the need for Israel support during a rare Oval Office address Thursday evening. The president was in Israel on Wednesday and announced a $100 million humanitarian aid package for Palestinians in Gaza amid Israels war with Hamas, the terrorist group that controls the territory. The budget request binds multiple administration priorities to support for Israel, which is popular in Congress. The Biden administration has strongly supported Israel since the beginning of the Hamas conflict earlier this month and pledged that the U.S. will provide additional aid to the country. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he supports the idea of packaging the aid together. This is all interconnected, McConnell told reporters Tuesday. Youve got the North Koreans, the Iranians, the Russians and the Chinese, sort of, on the same side against the democratic world, so there is a connection between all of this. I am not surprised, frankly, that the administration seems to be inclined to send up a broad package. However, other Senate Republicans have warned that the expected border security ask isnt enough to get their support. Im sure its going to be milquetoast and inadequate, said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), a leading Republican voice on immigration reform. Cornyn said the Biden administration needs to include significant policy reforms in the national security funding package, and that leaving out those reforms would be a problem for passing the overall bill. Democratic leaders in both the House and Senate have backed the effort to pass Israel and Ukraine aid together. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) urged his colleagues to move quickly on passing aid, but the GOP-controlled House languishes without a Speaker and will be potentially unable to consider any significant legislation. A previous $40 billion budget request in August from the Biden administration sought $24 billion for Ukraine aid and $4 billion for border security, among other priorities. It was not passed amid conflicts in Congress over the federal budget. The Ukraine aid was stripped from a continuing resolution that kept the government funded through November, passed just hours before the shutdown deadline for the end of the day on Sept. 30. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Stock photo of a robot sitting amongst humans, waiting for a job interview. Artificial intelligence is arguably one of the most transformative technological advancements of our time, bringing about a plethora of changes across various fields and industries. And now for better or worse it's increasingly making its way into our children's schools. One preparatory school in the United Kingdom is taking the technology a step further, appointing an AI robot as its "principal headteacher." According to a report in British newspaper The Telegraph, the robot will assist the current headmaster of West Sussex's Cottesmore School by offering him advice on a range of issues and decisions. The robot works much like ChatGPT, an online AI language model developed by OpenAI that's designed to generate human-like responses to questions and prompts. So far, headmaster Tom Rogerson said the bot has already helped him with drafting school policies, issuing instructions to staff members, and supporting students with learning disabilities such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. SEE MORE: How is artificial intelligence changing education? "We are stepping into the future while preserving the core values of traditional education," Rogerson told the publication. "The introduction of AI is not about replacing our dedicated educators but about augmenting their capabilities and ensuring our students receive the best education possible." The bot, named Abigail Bailey, can also be found on the school's website, introducing itself as the new principal headteacher and its plans moving forward. "I have been appointed to assist with the management and leadership of Cottesmore School and also support anyone who would like expert leadership advice," Bailey says. "We are especially keen on helping state school leaders to reduce workload and the time it takes to make school-changing decisions. Please do ask me questions. I have been well-trained on publicly available literature and research. I will be very glad to help." SEE MORE: Bringing AI into the classroom: Will states embrace it or ban it? Introducing AI into the classroom has been a widely debated topic in recent months, leaving many school officials and parents wondering how to handle this new technology that's completely revolutionized the way students learn and teachers instruct. But it seems, at least for now, that more schools are open to the idea of welcoming AI with open arms. "Sometimes having someone or something there to help you is a very calming influence," Rogerson said. "It's nice to think that someone who is unbelievably well trained is there to help you make decisions." Forty-one Canadian diplomats have recently left India amid a rift over the murder of a Sikh separatist leader on Canadian soil. India asked Canada two weeks ago to withdraw dozens of its diplomatic staff and threatened to remove their immunity if they remained. Canadian officials called the threat a "violation of international law". Relations have been tense after Canada accused India of being behind the 18 June killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has denied the allegations, calling them "absurd". On Thursday, Canada's foreign minister, Melanie Joly, confirmed that many Canadian diplomats and their dependents in India have now left the country. She said India had said that immunity for "all but 21 diplomats" will be "unilaterally removed" by 20 October. India's Ministry of External Affairs said it rejected suggestions that this was a violation of international norms. "The state of our bilateral relations, the much higher number of Canadian diplomats in India, and their continued interference in our internal affairs warrant a parity in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa," it said. Ms Joly said that the remaining 21 diplomats are still in India, but the withdrawal means Canada will have to limit its services in the country due to a shortage of staff. Specifically, the move will put a pause on in-person operations in Bangalore, Mumbai, and Chandigarh, Ms Joly said. Officials said there is no timeline on when those services will resume. Services will still be available out of the High Commission of Canada in Delhi, and applications centres - which are third-party run - will also remain open, officials said. However, the reduction of staff is anticipated to significantly slow down processing times for immigration applications, at least in the short term, said Canadian immigration minister Marc Miller. It will be primarily Indian citizens who will be affected, officials said, including international students looking to study in Canada. Indian nationals made up the largest percentage of applicants for temporary and permanent residency in Canada in 2022. India says Canada had many more diplomats in Delhi than India has in Ottawa, and has demanded parity ever since the row between the two countries erupted. But the Global Affairs website which lists the Indian diplomats in Ottawa suggests they had about the same number. India saying it would remove diplomatic immunity for Canadian envoys is a "violation of international law", Ms Joly said during a news conference in Ottawa. She added that Canada will not reciprocate. "If we allow the norm of diplomatic immunity to be broken, no diplomats anywhere on the planet would be safe," Ms Joly said. Officials said they still welcome Indian nationals who want to visit or move to Canada. Mr Trudeau (left) and Mr Modi had a tense meeting in Delhi recently Canada-India relations have deteriorated to a historic low after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in September there was credible evidence of a potential link between India and Nijjar's murder. Mr Trudeau said this was based on Canadian intelligence, which suggested that "agents of the government of India" were behind the killing. This, Canada has said, is a violation of its sovereignty. Nijjar was shot and killed by two masked gunmen outside the Sikh temple he led in Surrey, British Columbia. Canadian police called it a "targeted attack", and an investigation into the murder is ongoing. He was an outspoken advocate for the creation of a separate state of Sikhs in India called Khalistan - a movement staunchly opposed by India - and India had designated him as a terrorist in 2020. Despite the public accusation, Mr Trudeau has repeatedly said that Canada is not looking to escalate the rift with India. He has called on Indian officials to cooperate with the investigation into Nijjar's death. Christopher Polk - Getty Images Dancing With the Stars is hosting a tribute episode for late judge Len Goodman next week, and a lot of familiar faces should be in attendance. But for some reason, Cheryl Burkewho retired in 2022was not invited, despite other former pros attending. Amid fan confusion, Cheryl hopped on Threads to explain that she hadn't been invited to attend, saying For those of you asking if Ill be a part of Len Goodmans tribute next week on DWTS, unfortunately, I wasnt invited however, Ill be there in spirit and cant wait to cheer my former colleagues on! Sending love and light to everyone. #riplen. Threads Cheryl was on DWTS for 26 seasons, so she was obviously extremely close to Len. When he passed away in April, Cheryl wrote a sweet and emotional tribute on Instagram, saying in part "There are not enough words to describe how much Mr. Len Goodman made such an impact in my life. From when I was a teenager when he used to judge me in all of the European dance competitions I took part in all the way up until the day we hugged each other when we both retired on @dancingwiththestars this past season." She ended her tribute saying "Thank you for representing us Ballroom dancers and NEVER compromising what we stood for in the Ballroom community. Thank you for changing my life and for bringing joy to millions of people who have been watching us throughout the years. Sending love to your family and may your soul rest in peace" You Might Also Like Editors Note: Sign up for CNNs Meanwhile in China newsletter which explores what you need to know about the countrys rise and how it impacts the world. China has formally arrested a Japanese man who was detained in March, according to officials from Japans Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the Japanese Embassy in Beijing. The arrest of the Japanese national, who was reportedly an employee of a Tokyo-based pharmaceutical firm, could further rattle foreign businesses in China, which have reported feeling more unsettled this year amid a crackdown on international consulting firms on national security grounds. We have confirmed that the Japanese national in question has been arrested, but we have strongly appealed to the Chinese side for his early release through various levels and opportunities, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said at a press conference Thursday, adding that the man, who is in his 50s, was arrested in mid-October. According to Japanese public broadcaster NHK, the man was an employee of drugmaker Astellas Pharma and was detained in March by Chinese security authorities in Beijing on suspicion of violating the countrys criminal law and anti-espionage law. He has lived in China for a total of about 20 years, it said. CNN was not able to independently confirm the information. Japans MOFA has not named the man, released information about his employer, the charges against him or details about where he is being held. The ministry declined to respond to CNNs request for more information. An Astellas spokesperson told CNN on Friday that it was in the process of getting more information from MOFA and unable to issue a statement. When asked about the arrest of a Japanese Astella executive, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Thursday that the Japanese citizen was suspected of espionage and was subject to criminal compulsory measures taken by the relevant Chinese authorities in accordance with the law. In July, China broadened the scope of its already sweeping counter-espionage law in a move that analysts warned could create further legal risks or uncertainty for foreign businesses, as well as journalists and academics. Weeks later, the Ministry of State Security took the unprecedented step of launching a public account on WeChat, Chinas hugely popular social messaging app that boasts more than 1 billion users. In the weeks since, the ministry has used the platform to repeatedly urge the public to stay vigilant and report suspicious activity to authorities. More concerns Foreign companies and investors have grown wary of rising risks, including the possibility of raids and detentions, in the worlds second largest economy. In July, China fined the Mintz Group, a US corporate due diligence firm, about $1.5 million for allegedly conducting unapproved statistical work in the country. Officials closed the groups Beijing office in March and detained five of its local employees. In May, state security authorities said they had raided several offices of Capvision, an advisory network. The announcement came a month after police questioned employees at the Shanghai office of consultancy Bain. The issue has been cited as headache for foreign businesses, some of which were already having trouble convincing workers to relocate to China. In a white paper this year, the American Chamber of Commerce in China said 51% of members participating in an annual survey had said that their top expatriate candidates were unwilling to move to the country, up 21% from the previous year. In the first eight months of this year, foreign direct investment (FDI) into China fell 5.1% from a year ago, according to data from Chinas Commerce Ministry. Direct investment liabilities, a measure of FDI reflected in a countrys balance of payments, fell to just $4.9 billion in the April to June months, according to data published in August by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange. That was the lowest amount in any quarter since records began in 1998. CNNs Michelle Toh and Sophie Jeong in Hong Kong and Mengchen Zhang in Beijing contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Editors Note: Sign up for CNNs Meanwhile in China newsletter which explores what you need to know about the countrys rise and how it impacts the world. China has unveiled plans to restrict exports of graphite a mineral crucial to the manufacture of batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) on national security grounds, the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs said Friday. The announcement comes just days after the United States imposed additional limits on the kinds of semiconductors that American companies can sell to Chinese firms. At the moment both China and Western countries are engaged in a tit for tat, highlighting how protectionist measures often spread. Newtons third law that every action causes a reaction applies here, too, said Stefan Legge, head of tax and trade policy research at the University of St Gallen in Switzerland. At the same time, both sides of the dispute also realize how costly it is if geopolitics trumps economics, he added. China, which dominates the worlds production and processing of graphite, says export permits will be needed, starting in December, for synthetic graphite material including high-purity, high-strength and high-density versions as well as for natural flake graphite. The Institute for Energy Research, a Washington, DC-based research organization, says carmakers are trying to lock in supplies of graphite from sources outside of China, as demand for EV batteries outpaces other uses for the material. Global sales of EVs, including purely battery-powered vehicles and hybrids, are soaring, according to the International Energy Agency. Sales exceeded 10 million units last year, up 55% from 2021, and are expected to rise to nearly 14 million vehicles this year, it projected. According to the US Geological Survey, the market for graphite used in batteries has grown 250% globally since 2018. China was the worlds leading graphite producer last year, accounting for an estimated 65% of global production, it said. Besides EVs, graphite is commonly used in the semiconductor, aerospace, chemical and steel industries. Gallium, germanium restrictions The export curbs were announced as China faces pressure from multiple governments over its commercial and trade practices. For more than a year, it has been embroiled in a tech war with the United States and its allies in Europe and Asia over access to advanced chips and chipmaking equipment. In July, Beijing imposed export restrictions on gallium and germanium, two minerals essential for making semiconductors. One month later, its overseas shipments of the materials fell to zero. Ivan Lam, a senior analyst at Counterpoint Research, said China had previously imposed temporary export controls on graphite, with little industry impact, adding that the new rules were not a complete ban. Still, he predicts prices will go up. We believe that the average price of graphite will continue to rise in the future due to supply and demand imbalances, including Russia, which was one of the major graphite suppliers before the Russia-Ukraine war, he said. China has a massive hold on the worldwide supply chain of critical minerals needed to make EV batteries. It refines 60% of the worlds lithium and 80% of the cobalt, according to the US Department of Energy. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The CSI 300 Index has declined 16% from the start of the year. REUTERS/China Daily Chinese stocks have wiped out all of their gains since the nation reopened its economy. The CSI 300 Index slumped on Friday, briefly slipping below its October 2022 low. Investors are fretting over the slew of economic headwinds Beijing currently faces. Chinese stocks just wiped out all of their gains since Beijing ended its zero-COVID policy, a sign that investors are still fretting over the ongoing property crisis and other headwinds facing the economy. The CSI 300 Index slumped 0.7% on Friday to end the day at 3,510, representing 16% decline since the index peaked in late January. At one point during Friday's trading session, the index slipped to trade around 3,502. That's even lower than when Chinese stocks troughed last October, right before the nation announced it would start to dial back its strict lockdown measures. Those losses come amid a so-far disappointing economic recovery for China, which has been slammed this year by poor consumer demand, growing trade tensions with the US, and turmoil in its property sector, where the ballooning debts of previous years are now boiling over. Those headwinds have been exacerbated by recent conflict in the Middle East, with the Israel-Hamas war sparking a sell-off in Chinese and Hong-Kong listed stocks as investors worried over possible spillover effects. Over the past week alone, foreign investors dumped a net 24 billion yuan, or $3.3 billion, of onshore Chinese stocks, the most since mid-August, according to Bloomberg. That added to the market retreat after international investors pulled out a record $12.3 billion from onshore stocks in August. China has rushed to staunch the bleeding from its equity markets. Last weekend, regulators said they would ramp up their oversight of "various arbitrage activities" occurring in the market. And on October 30, regulators will crack down on stock speculation by requiring hedge funds to hold 100% of the value of the trade in their accounts, while other short-sellers need to hold at least 80%. Meanwhile, policymakers have been loosening financial conditions to stimulate the economy. China's central bank injected about $113 billion in short-term policy loans into its banking system on Friday. It had already pumped $85 billion in short-term loans and $107 billion in medium-term loans into the banking system earlier this week. Still, experts are warning of a grim future ahead of China as it battles a slew of economic headwinds. The nation is likely headed for a full-blown financial crisis, according to market veteran Ruchir Sharma, while others have warned of a "lost decade" of economic stagnation ahead. Read the original article on Business Insider The GOPs 16-day battle over the Speakership has left Democrats patiently waiting, sitting on the sidelines to see if theres a deal to be had. Republicans began Thursday with plans to vote for a third time on whether to make Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) Speaker. Those plans were shelved by midday when Jordan said he would back a plan to temporarily grant powers to Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) as Speaker pro tem. After a GOP uproar left it unclear if that idea could move forward, Jordan told reporters hed move forward with another Speakership vote. Have you ever played poker? Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) retorted when asked about any plans from Democrats to negotiate with Republicans. For a change, we are actually, I think, playing our hand pretty well. And that means knowing when to hold, he said. You have to hold back. I mean, what are we going to go chase a deal with them in a circular firing squad? That makes no sense, Huffman said. The alternative is we run off chasing deals and eliminate all your leverage and probably not succeed anyway. So I think just by default, were sort of backed into this position of unity and cohesion because of the chaos over there. Republicans are at a standstill on the McHenry proposals resolutions many described as dead even as their backers say otherwise. But as the GOP caps meeting after meeting with no clear results, its unclear how long Democrats will stay on the sidelines. Democrats were tight-lipped Thursday about the extent of any outreach from Republicans, with many saying they had not been approached or describing any discussions as informal. My sense is that they need to have a plan and an offer. And were not going to negotiate against ourselves, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) told The Hill. If theyre not gonna make an offer, then what are we doing? Democrats all week have made clear this is not their problem to solve. We are just awaiting the outcome of their conference meeting, House Majority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) told The Hill Thursday as Republicans spent nearly three hours huddled behind closed doors. Theyre the majority. This is their civil war. This is a Speaker they need to choose. We have offered our hand to come and develop a bipartisan path forward with us as soon as they can. While Democrats say they havent kicked off any negotiations, they have aired their priorities, including ensuring the government doesnt careen toward another shutdown when the funding lapses Nov. 17. [House Minority Leader] Hakeem [Jeffries] and Katherine [Clark] are pretty consistent in saying, were not asking for shared power, were not asking for equal representation on committees or anything. All we want is to keep the government open, lets give money to Ukraine, along with Israel. And we have all these wonderfully popular bills that the Republicans have never allowed to come to the floor, Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) said, adding that they want significantly bipartisan bills to be able to come up for a vote. Jeffries said Tuesday that Democrats have never sought any agreement that would undercut the GOP majority. We have never used the phrase power-sharing agreement because we recognize that the Republicans temporarily hold the gavel. We respect that were not election deniers, he told reporters after Jordans first failed vote. Still, those who oppose a vote on expanding McHenrys power see it as exactly that. Thats a path that nobody wants to go down, said Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.), describing such a deal as playing with fire. To bring it to the floor it would have to survive with Democrat votes. Were currently sitting on a tinderbox. So to do that, it would set off the fuse that would certainly end in a civil war within the GOP. And I dont believe that anybody wants to do that. Thursdays nearly three-hour Republican conference meeting ended with no immediate plans to bring any McHenry proposal to the floor and the House in limbo over when a vote might be called. Unfortunately, the chaos over there has created a kind of holding pattern at this point, Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) told The Hill. First, theyve got to be willing to come forward with that resolution. And its unclear, especially from the blowback in their conferences this morning that thats even the case. So if theyre unwilling to do it, then the whole question is moot. Huffman said the leadership vacuum is another factor in the lack of negotiations. Who do you talk to on their side that has the authority to make any assurances or deals? Its certainly not going to be Jim Jordan, he said. That leaves Democrats largely stuck in a waiting game. Right now, Dems are just watching the other side collapse, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) said. Well see what comes out of the ashes of that. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) denounced attacks from fellow presidential candidate Nikki Haley over his and other candidates stances on abortion rights, saying Haley is indulging media narratives. Haley has repeatedly said GOP attempts to ban abortion at a federal level are misguided and would not pass Congress, adding the party should instead focus on state-level legislation and ensure women are not jailed for getting abortion care. DeSantis took issue with Haleys characterization during a forum at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., on Thursday evening, saying no pro-lifer has ever argued for jailing women for getting abortions. I think shes playing into some of the stereotypes that the left uses against conservatives, DeSantis told moderator Blake Burman, host of The Hill on NewsNation. Dont accept the media narratives, fight back against the media narrative. Im not trying to please the media. Im trying to do whats right. DeSantis, however, agreed with Haley that a national abortion ban is unlikely. It really is a bottom-up thing. Youre gonna have to work on the local level, youre gonna have to work on the state level, to be able to advance protections, he said. Haley has urged restraint on abortion restrictions at a national level, criticizing GOP policy. Former President Trump, who is leading the 2024 GOP candidate field, has taken a similar position, saying emphasizing abortion was a mistake in the 2022 midterms and led to GOP underperformance nationwide. Abortion is expected to be a hot topic in the 2024 presidential election and has already made waves in the Republican primary as some candidates choose to advocate for a national abortion ban. DeSantis himself said he would back a 15-week national ban late last month. He signed a six-week ban into law as governor of Florida. Haley has also endorsed a 15-week ban. NewsNation is a cable news channel started by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. US prosecutors told a federal judge that Donald Trump is not above the law as they urged the dismissal of the former presidents efforts to have charges of conspiring to subvert the 2020 presidential election rejected. Special counsel Jack Smiths team submitted a 54-page filing after Trumps legal team moved to request the dismissal of four felony charges against him in Washington, DC, arguing that he should enjoy presidential "immunity. "The defendant is not above the law. He is subject to the federal criminal laws like more than 330 million other Americans, including members of Congress, federal judges, and everyday citizens," wrote assistant special counsel James Pearce. The filing argued that legal principles, historical evidence and compelling policy considerations support the idea that once former presidents exit office, they become liable to federal criminal prosecution just like other Americans. If defence lawyers fail to persuade US District Judge Tanya Chutkan they will have the opportunity to press their arguments before a federal appeals court or, ultimately, a Supreme Court with a clear conservative majority. Prosecutors presented eight pages of legal citations to argue the claim that Mr Trump fundamentally misconstrued the laws and inaccurately drew a parallel between Trumps fraudulent efforts to overturn the results of an election that he lost and the likes of Abraham Lincolns Gettysburg Address and George Washingtons Farewell Address. The indictment alleges that the defendant acted deceitfully or corruptly to secure a personal benefit to himself as a presidential candidate, not to carry out constitutional obligations entrusted to the presidency, prosecutors said. Immunity should not foreclose the Government from shouldering the burden to prove those demanding standards beyond a reasonable doubt at trial, it added. It comes as lawyer Sidney Powell pleaded guilty to lesser charges relating to attempts to reverse Mr Trumps defeat in the 2020 US election in Georgia. She became the second defendant to strike an agreement with prosecutors. She was charged alongside Mr Trump and 17 others with violating the states anti-racketeering law but entered the plea a day before jury selection was set to start in her trial. Mr Trump has pleaded not guilty to four-count indictment in federal court in Washington with scheming to overturn the election that he lost to Democrat Joe Biden in the run-up to 6 January 2021, when pro-Trump rioters stormed the US Capitol in a violent but failed effort to halt the transfer of power. The Supreme Court has held that presidents enjoy immunity from civil lawsuits regarding actions tied to their official responsibilities. However, the question of whether this immunity extends to protect a president from criminal prosecution remains unaddressed by the court. Trumps defence attorneys have seized on the lack of definitive rulings to argue that he should be regarded as immune from prosecution. They assert that the actions hes accused of fall within the scope of presidential duties. Scheduled for trial on 4 March next year, this case is one of four criminal prosecutions that the former president is currently confronting. Additional reporting by agencies By Patrick Wingrove (Reuters) - Eli Lilly on Thursday said it sued 11 online pharmacies to stop them from importing, selling and distributing products claiming to contain the active ingredient in its diabetes drug Mounjaro, which is expected to be approved for weight loss later this year. The Indianapolis-based drugmaker said the suit will go to the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). It names the U.S.-based Artic Peptides, Strate Labs, Supopeptide, The Triggered Brand, and Unewlife as defendants, along with Britains Biolabshop, Spains Super Human Store and Steroide Kaufen in Poland. Chinas Audrey Beauty, Mew Mews Company and AustroPeptide were also targeted in the complaint. Lilly said testing of AustroPeptides product purporting to contain the Mounjaro main ingredient tirzepatide showed it actually was nothing more than sugar alcohol. The U.S. ITC has the power issue import bans against products that violate certain parts of U.S. trade law and to take them off the market once they have entered the country. Once the complaint is published in the Federal Register, the commission will have 30 days to decide whether to accept it or not. Lilly is accusing the online pharmacies of infringing its trademark for Mounjaro, falsely associating themselves with Lilly and approved tirzepatide, and making false or misleading statements in their advertisements related to tirzepatide. The unapproved drug products are dangerous research chemicals that are not approved for human consumption and have no connection to Eli Lilly or Mounjaro, Lilly said in its lawsuit. Lilly is the only company with U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval to sell tirzepatide products. The suit comes exactly one month after Eli Lilly sued 10 U.S. medical spas, wellness centers and compounding pharmacies at federal courts in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, South Carolina and Utah for selling products claiming to contain tirzepatide. The FDA last week published letters warning two online vendors to stop selling unapproved versions of tirzepatide and semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisks powerful weight-loss drug Wegovy. (Reporting by Patrick Wingrove; Editing by Bill Berkrot) 'We own 7 properties. Why can't we pay for groceries?' Ramit Sethi challenges SoCal couple to shake off their poverty mindset, examine the facts, and enjoy their wealth Travis and Natalie are a married couple in their 40s raising four children in Southern California. Travis is in the military while Natalie stays home to run the household and care for their kids. And they appeared on Episode 88 of Ramit Sethi's "I Will Teach You To Be Rich" podcast because despite having more than $1 million in assets and investments, they routinely fight over $20 Amazon purchases and feel as though they can't afford groceries even though theirs is a situation many couples would fight for. Don't miss Commercial real estate has outperformed the S&P 500 over 25 years. Here's how to diversify your portfolio without the headache of being a landlord Rich young Americans have lost confidence in the stock market and are betting on these 3 assets instead. Get in now for strong long-term tailwinds A natural way to diversify': Janet Yellen now says Americans should expect a decline in the USD as the world's reserve currency 3 ways you can prepare While this could be a story about struggling with the exorbitant expenses of Orange County where the couple lives and the cost of living is 51% higher than the national average its anything but. The combination of Travis's five-figure gross monthly income plus the income from their seven cash-positive rental properties should provide way more than enough to provide for their family. But as Travis put it, when does the grind stop and the enjoyment begin? This became the crux of the story one where negative financial beliefs can trump reality and revealed the key to solving their financial woes. How much is enough? Travis and Natalie are doing everything you're supposed to do financially speaking. They live well within their means, saving 29% of Travis's income, and have a diversified portfolio of investments, savings and rental properties. Their only debt is $401,000 in mortgages on those rental properties. This has earned them a net worth of almost six figures. And yet they're tapping their savings to pay for groceries and feel as though they lack the funds to live comfortably. What more can they do? Read more: Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now use $100 to cash in on prime real estate without the headache of being a landlord. Here's how Save less, spend more The answer, it turned out, stared them in the face, but was so contrary to the advice propagated by most financial experts that they couldn't see it: Travis and Natalie need to save less so they can spend more. That's right. For once, the smart financial move is to spend more in an intentional way, of course to cast off their not enough mindset. The challenge so many people face with money revolves around a lack of understanding of its psychology, Sethi says. Adhering to the nuts and bolts of common sense spending is key to living a rich life. But its also crucial to understand how you approach money as a whole. "The way you feel about money is highly uncorrelated with the amount that you have," Sethi says. You only need to look at Travis and Natalie to understand what Sethi means here. On paper, the couple has more than enough. But they don't feel like they do, so they continue to sock away nearly a third of Travis' income rather than use some of it to live their rich life today. "When it comes to money, we stop listening to our intuition and start thinking, First I'll invest, later I'll enjoy it," Sethi says, but notes this is the wrong way to look at it. You don't know what later will bring, for starters. You or your spouse could get sick. Or you may need to help care for aging loved ones. Enjoy your life now, responsibly The lesson here is clear: You can't wait until some future time to start enjoying your life. The trouble for some of us, just like Travis and Natalie, is that learning to embrace the present will require a fundamental shift away from a miserly, misguided psychology. Whats more, grinding your whole life rarely means spontaneously stopping one day. But that needn't be a bad thing. As Sethi told Travis, the grind is part of who he is. You don't need to change that so much as add another layer to your personality that allows for present enjoyment. "I want you to live your rich life today and tomorrow," Sethi says. So yes, saving less can indeed mean more, if it allows you to spend on the things and experiences you love today. What to read next Worried about the economy? Here are the best shock-proof assets for your portfolio. (Theyre all outside of the stock market.) Rising prices are throwing off Americans' retirement plans here's how to get your savings back on track Jeff Bezos and Oprah Winfrey invest in this asset to keep their wealth safe you may want to do the same in 2023 This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Enas Alashray GAZA (Reuters) - Two American hostages freed on Friday by the armed wing of Hamas were identified as Chicago-area residents Judith Tai Raanan and her teenage daughter Natalie Shoshana Raanan, who Israel said were being reunited with family on an Israeli military base. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the mother and daughter were abducted by Iranian-backed Islamist militants of Hamas from Kibbutz Nahal Oz, where they were staying during the surprise assault on southern Israel from Gaza on Oct. 7. Judith Raanan, 59, and her daughter Natalie, 17, had been visiting the kibbutz, about a mile from the Gaza border, as part of a trip to Israel that began in September to celebrate the Jewish holidays and the 85th birthday of Judith's mother, U.S. news media outlets reported, citing relatives as their sources. The pair were handed over to Israeli forces at the border of the Gaza Strip and were "on their way to a meeting point at a military base in the center of the country, where their family members are waiting for them," Netanyahu said in a statement. The mother and daughter were later pictured in an image carried by Israeli media showing them walking with a group of uniformed Israel Defense Forces (IDF) personnel escorting them from the border moments after their release. The two appeared healthy as they were led through the illuminated darkness hand-in-hand with a man walking between them. U.S. President Joe Biden thanked Qatar and Israel for their partnership in securing the release of the two women. The women were among about 200 hostages that Hamas said it took during the deadly rampage its forces carried out from the Gaza Strip on communities and military bases in southern Israel, part of the bloodiest attack on the country since the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. Hamas has said 50 more captives are held by other armed groups in the coastal Palestinian enclave. It said more than 20 hostages have been killed by Israeli air strikes, but has not given any further details. RELEASE A 'FIRST STEP' It was not immediately clear why the Raanans were chosen as the first hostages from the Oct. 7 incursion to be released, except that a spokesman for the armed wing of Hamas, the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, said they were freed "for humanitarian reasons" in response to Qatari mediation. Media reports in the United States said the pair were from Evanston, an Illinois suburb of Chicago. Former NBC News Middle East correspondent Martin Fletcher told MSNBC the Raanans are relatives of his. Israel's Kan public broadcaster reported the two were dual Israeli-American nationals. Hamas has previously described captives with "foreign" nationalities as guests who would be released when circumstances allow, without saying if that includes Israelis with dual nationality. A source briefed on the hostage negotiations called the release of the two Americans "a first step," adding, "discussions are ongoing for more releases. Friends described Judith Raanan to the New York Times as an artist and skilled cook of Israeli food who is devoted to her Jewish faith, which informs her paintings, and kept kosher in her home. She had recently worked as a home aide for elderly people, the Times reported. Natalie Raanan's brother, Ben Raanan, told the Denver Post his sister was weighing whether to find work in the fashion industry, become an interior designer or apprentice as a tattoo artist. ISRAELI OPTIONS HAMPERED Israel responded to the Oct. 7 attack, which killed 1,400 Israelis, by pounding Gaza with air strikes, killing more than 4,000 people, and has said it will act to free the hostages while wiping out Hamas. Israel has amassed tanks and troops near the border of the enclave for an expected ground invasion, calling on Palestinians to evacuate the north of Gaza, where it says Hamas is dug in. Netanyahu's options for striking back at Hamas are certain to be hampered by concern for the safety of the Israeli captives seized in the raid, as a nation scarred by past hostage crises faces perhaps its worst one yet. Netanyahu has vowed mighty vengeance, but the fate of the Israeli soldiers, elderly people, women and children taken into Gaza complicates how Israel delivers on that promise while abiding by a longstanding principle of leaving no one behind. American and British officials said they have been working with Qatar to secure the release of hostages, including their own citizens, held in Gaza. Other countries whose citizens were taken captive include Thailand, Argentina, Germany, France and Portugal. A spokesman for the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Ubaida, said Hamas released the two U.S. citizens in part "to prove to the American people and the world that the claims made by Biden and his fascist administration are false and baseless." (This story has been refiled to add the dropped word 'were' in paragraph 5) (Reporting by Enas Alashray in Cairo and and Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza; Writing by Michael Georgy and Steve Gorman; Editing by Grant McCool) Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) on Thursday said as president he would ask Congress to authorize the use of military force against the Palestinian militant group Hamas. As President, I would ask Congress to give authorization for military force against Hamas, Hutchinson, a 2024 GOP presidential primary candidate, said in an interview on NewsNation. And that is an important part of the equation because it is our hostages that are there, Hutchinson continued. American citizens. American citizens were killed. And we dont want a broader war, but we wanna make sure that Hamas understands that you cannot attack an ally like Israel without those consequences that threaten America as well. Hutchinsons comments come a day after President Biden made a trip to Israel amid its conflict with Hamas. Biden also gave a speech from the Oval Office Thursday night in which he compared the militant group to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common: They both want to annihilate a neighboring democracy, the President said. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told troops to get ready for an invasion of Gaza Thursday, which would mean a great intensification of the Israel-Hamas conflict that has left thousands dead on both sides, The Associated Press reported. It would also come at great risk to Gazan civilians, many whom are already facing life-threatening circumstances. Whoever sees Gaza from afar now, will see it from the inside, Gallant said, per the AP. I promise you. NewsNation is a cable news channel started by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill. The Hill show on NewsNation airs Monday to Friday at 5 p.m. EST. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. NEW SMYRNA BEACH Preston King sat at a high-top table by the railing at the Avanu on Flagler rooftop area Tuesday evening as he worked on a pastel painting capturing the start of the sunset and part of the iconic landscape of Flagler Avenue. He was one of 21 artists invited to participate in the Plein Air Paint Out event in New Smyrna Beach, which marks its 13th edition this year. The event, which began Tuesday and runs through Saturday, gives artists a chance to be inspired by the city's natural landscapes and create pieces that they hope locals and visitors will want to buy. Artists Preston King and Catherine Hills work in the crowded restaurant, Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023, during the New Smyrna Beach Plein Air Paint Out at the Avanu on Flagler. The event is organized by the Marine Discovery Center in partnership with the Artists Workshop NSB two local nonprofit organizations that share the proceeds with the artists. Half the money from each painting sold goes to the artist, while the other half is shared by MDC and Artists Workshop. 13th edition: Plein Air Paint Out in New Smyrna Beach benefits MDC, Artists' Workshop The "Evening Paint Out at Avanu Tuesday was just the first of several open-air painting sessions planned for the week. Other spots in the city included restaurants like The Garlic and Third Wave Cafe, as well as other venues like the Victoria 1883 Bed and Breakfast. The week also involves two daily art demonstration sessions, one of which takes place at the Marine Discovery Center on Barracuda Boulevard, as well as other special events. MDC and Artists Workshop: A great combination The events wet gallery, containing the weeks works, is open throughout the week in the Artists Workshop campus located at 540 Barracuda Blvd, where the public is invited to view and purchase paintings. They are actually our biggest donors, Tina Pritchard, who is part of Artists Workshop NSB and is helping with the art demonstrations, said of the participating artists. We have a lot of collectors, Pritchard said about the positive fundraising results from previous editions of the event. Every year is a little bit different. You cant really predict which artist is going to sell the best . What we do see is that most of the iconic images of New Smyrna is what people buy. Artist Michelle Held at work, Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023, during the New Smyrna Beach Plein Air Paint Out at the Avanu on Flagler restaurant. The nonprofits work together to provide housing for artists from out of town, and with restaurants to provide free meals to those who participate in the painting sessions throughout the city. She also said the partnership with MDC is great for the Artists Workshop, as it represents a chance to combine both nonprofits educational missions: art and environment. One of the ways we are really leveraging that partnership is through our Eco-Artists Camp, where they bring youngsters in the summer and take them out in the field to teach them about conservation, Pitchard said. And then we teach them an art lesson based on what they learned that day. She said that programs demand has been growing over the past couple of years. Invitation to NSB Paint Out a feather in my cap King knew about Paint Out through his circle of artist friends. Within our circle, its a well-known, prestigious event, King said. And the fact that its invitational is a big feather in my cap. King said he is expecting to draw a lot of inspiration from the tropical landscape of New Smyrna Beach something he doesnt find in his hometown of Homerville, Georgia. Artist Preston King works a scene, Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023, during the New Smyrna Beach Plein Air Paint Out at the Avanu on Flagler restaurant. Im from South Georgia where its nothing but straight, boring pine trees that the paper companies have planted in equal rows, like bars on a jail cell, King said. The foliage here, the landscape, and thrown in with the waterscapes is just very inspiring, everywhere I look. Chef Spotlight: Accomplished culinary couple opens new restaurant in New Smyrna Beach King has a background working as a nurse, but always kept up with painting. And I retired a year ago, King said. This is all I do: I travel and paint. Locals hope to be inspired by Paint Out Besides the artists, the event is a chance for locals to see the works being created in their own backyard. Jerry Goff and Cathy Brown, two New Smyrna Beach residents, watched as King and other artists at Avanu began their work. This gentleman here paints in pastel, and that is really hard (to do) Goff said of Kings painting, adding that he likes to see watercolor paintings, which are less common than pastel and oil ones. Artist Preston King moves through the crowd at the Avanu on Flagler with his work, Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023, during the New Smyrna Beach Plein Air Paint Out. Goff has been attending Paint Out events for nine years and does some painting in his own free time, as well. I usually try to catch several of their demonstrations, Goff said. And you can really learn from their demonstrations. All the artists are very open and willing to share about their artwork and their craft. Brown, who has lived in the city for 20 years and has been painting for the past six years, said this was her first time attending the event. She said she imagines artists will be inspired by the beach, the beautiful foliage, the flowers, the dunes. There is so much beauty around here. You cant help but be inspired by it. Its everywhere, Brown said. We havent been ruined yet. Artist Catherine Hills gets some more color on her brush, Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023, during the New Smyrna Beach Plein Air Paint Out at the Avanu on Flagler restaurant. She said that she hopes the event will reinspire her to start painting again. Ive been working too much and not setting aside time to paint, Brown said. Im hoping that Ill get inspired. Painting New Smyrnas environment At another table at Avanu, Barbara Ortiz and Michelle Held worked on a pastel sketch and an oil painting, respectively. Ortiz said she likes the immediacy of the pastel and having my hands on it, even though she also works with oil. Woman's Club future: NSB to sell historic Woman's Club building after deciding renovations are cost-prohibitive It kind of combines painting and drawing in a nice way, Ortiz said as she drew a palm tree in a dark green shade. But then oils are great because its buttery and mushy. Ortiz, who is also a New Smyrna Beach resident, said she prefer to paint the citys natural landscapes no matter the medium. Artists Barbara Ortiz and Michelle Held, Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023, during the New Smyrna Beach Plein Air Paint Out at the Avanu on Flagler restaurant. I paint at the Smyrna Dunes Park all the time, Ortiz said. I can paint that park a thousand times, because it changes every time I go down there There is a peacefulness and tranquility there that I like. Held, a Sarasota resident who has participated in the Paint Out for seven years, also said she likes to paint the city dunes, especially to capture how different the scene is. They are completely different now, Held said, highlighting the importance of art representing the changing environment. Weve lost so much of our dune. Ive sold a couple (paintings) that I wish I didnt, because it was back when the dunes were huge. In a lot of cases, we are actually painting things that may not be here next time. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: NSB hosts artists for 13th annual Plein Air Paint Out event Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel does not want to control the besieged enclave - Miriam Alster/Pool Photo via AP Israel does not intend to occupy Gaza after troops oust Hamas from the enclave, it emerged on Friday, as troops and tanks prepared for a ground invasion. Israel plans to instead transfer control to the Palestinian Authority, officials have said. This week, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israels prime minister, told both Rishi Sunak and Joe Biden that Israel did not want to control the besieged strip following an expected ground offensive to wipe out Hamass leadership and infrastructure. Israel wants to end its responsibility for the densely populated strip of 2.4 million people and create what it calls a new security reality in the region. It came as soldiers, tanks and armoured vehicles lined up on the border ready for a ground invasion. The battle to flush out Hamas from the Strip is likely to be fraught, with guerilla threats from air, ground and tunnels. Mr Sunak and Mr Biden both used their visits this week to question Mr Netanyahu on what he had planned for the aftermath of a looming ground offensive. Mr Biden is understood to have also urged Israel to use caution when any push begins, to stop the war escalating into a region-wide conflict. Israeli soldiers at the Gaza border as they wait for the order to start the ground invasion - RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP via Getty Images Israel has vowed to wipe Hamas out in Gaza, after gunmen stormed into Israel on Oct 7 and killed some 1,400 Israelis. A Whitehall source familiar with the discussions on the future of the enclave said Israel had made clear to the UK from the get go that it did not want to control Gaza afterwards. The source said: [The Israelis] dont want Gaza back or to run it. They also dont want Hamas to either. Officials have said the most likely option is instead a return of the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority. Michael Oren, a former ambassador to Washington for Mr Netanyahu, told Bloomberg that Washington was also expected to push the idea of bringing Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority president, into Gaza and reviving efforts for a two-state solution. Yair Lapid, the Israeli opposition leader, said he too believed the best solution for a post-Hamas Gaza would be returning the enclave to the authority. I think in the end the best thing is that the Palestinian Authority goes back into Gaza, he told the Times of Israel. Its not ideal, and if you ask me what the exit strategy should be, it should be helping the international community help [the Palestinian Authority take control], he added. This is the way things were before. The Palestinian Authority governed the Gaza Strip from 1994 until 2006, when it was ousted by Hamas. The authority is now based in the West Bank city of Ramallah, but a reputation for weakness and corruption has seen its standing badly damaged. Many Palestinians also accuse the authority of collaborating with Israel. Any impression the authority was being imposed on Gazans by Israel could further weaken its credibility, analysts said. Israels defence minister this week put troops on alert for a ground assault, saying they would soon see Gaza from inside. Yoav Gallant on Friday told a parliamentary briefing that Israels objectives in its Gaza campaign included an end to responsibility over the coastal enclave. A statement from his office said the aim was the complete removal of Israeli responsibility from the Gaza Strip and the creation of a new security reality in the region. Part of that would be a no mans land around Gaza to protect Israel from future terror attacks, predicted Yaakov Amidror, a former major general in the Israeli army. I dont know if it will be a half kilometre or 1.5km, he said, referring to the buffer zone. Mr Amidror, who led Israels National Security Council from May 2011 to November 2013, added: No one will enter, and anyone who will, will be shot. He said Israel would disconnect itself from Gaza and stop its humanitarian aid to the region. It would have to get aid from Egypt instead. Washington has been urging Israel to hold off on a ground offensive, not only to ease regional tensions but also to give more time to try to secure hostages seized by Hamas. More than a dozen US nationals and 10 Britons are among around 200 captives taken by Hamas during the Oct 7 attacks. However, a member of Israels security cabinet said its military had a green light to move into Gaza whenever it was ready. Any escalation of military activities would be catastrophic for people in the Gaza Strip, the UN high commissioner for refugees has warned. 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. Jim Jordan backed away from a temporary replacement and said he is "still running for Speaker" Jim Jordan says he is pressing ahead with his bid to become Speaker of the US House of Representatives despite stiff opposition from Republicans. Another vote for Speaker has been scheduled for 10:00 EST (14:00 GMT). "The fastest way to get to work for the American people is to elect a speaker," the Ohio congressman said on Friday. Mr Jordan had indicated he would back a plan allowing acting Speaker Patrick McHenry to run the House, but Republicans rejected the move. The lower chamber of Congress has had no leader for the past 16 days. Without a Speaker in place, the House is unable to pass bills or approve an impending White House request for aid to Israel and Ukraine. During a news conference on Friday, Mr Jordan argued that aid to Israel was one of the main reasons why the House needed to elect a speaker quickly. "I've got 200 votes. I know we can do this," he said, adding that he could "pick up" a few of the votes he lost. He noted the House has held multiple rounds of voting before - for former Speaker Kevin McCarthy - and said the plan was to have a new Speaker as soon as possible. But, in consecutive roll calls over the past two days, Mr Jordan has failed to get more than 200 votes. He needs 217 - a majority in the chamber - to win the gavel. The House Judiciary Committee chairman has faced criticism over intimidation tactics and even death threats against lawmakers from some of his backers. Ken Buck of Colorado, who firmly rejects Mr Jordan's nomination, predicted to the BBC's US partner CBS News that Republican defections could grow from the current 22 to 30 or 40. On Thursday, Mr Jordan had told colleagues he would not hold any more votes for now and would instead back a proposal for Mr McHenry to conduct the House's business for a month or more. Mr McHenry, a bow-tied lawmaker from North Carolina, was appointed interim Speaker following the unprecedented vote to oust Kevin McCarthy earlier this month. He has taken the view that he has only limited authority to preside over floor votes and the selection of a permanent Speaker, in line with succession procedures put in place after the 9/11 terror attacks. But legal experts argue that, as long as a majority of the chamber is in favour of expanding his authority, the House can function largely as normal. Members of both parties, including two former Republican Speakers, have floated the option of extending Mr McHenry's powers until January to allow him to preside over urgent legislative matters. That could potentially enable Mr McHenry to be the person that shepherds through legislation to avert a government shutdown next month, and aid packages for Israel and Ukraine. Republicans who support the idea have said the House must move on with its business rather than prolong its internal divisions. "We have to get the conservative agenda back on track," said Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, who has so far declined to back Mr Jordan. Nebraska's Don Bacon, another anti-Jordan defector, said: "McHenry has 100% of my support. I love McHenry." But several more Republicans erupted over the proposal, with tempers flaring at a lengthy closed-door conference. Matt Gaetz, the Florida congressman who led the coup to remove Mr McCarthy, slammed the idea to empower Mr McHenry as a "constitutional desecration". "We need to stay here until we elect a Speaker and, if someone can't get the votes, we need to go on to the next person." Mr Gaetz also said that Mr McCarthy had screamed at him and another colleague had lunged at him in a meeting earlier on Thursday that felt "like a Thanksgiving dinner". "I think the entire conference screamed at him," Mr McCarthy, a California Republican, told reporters when asked about the confrontation. Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz said a colleague lunged at him during a tense party conference on Thursday Jim Banks, a conservative Indiana lawmaker, predicted half the party would vote against the measure and said it was a betrayal of Republican voters. Others, including New York Republican Elise Stefanik, said electing Mr McHenry amid internal opposition would "create a Democrat backed coalition government". "We must work to unify Republicans" behind Mr Jordan, the congresswoman wrote on X. On Thursday, Democrats did not say whether they would back Mr McHenry as Speaker. But some indicated they were open to the idea, with California's Lou Correa telling the BBC: "We've been without a Speaker for a number of days." "I'm hearing the rumour is to give him [McHenry] power until January - I'll take it," he added. But multiple Republicans emerged from their party conference declaring the option "dead". With Mr Jordan now pursuing a third Speaker vote, Democrats will probably once again vote unanimously for their own leader, Hakeem Jeffries, as they have done in previous votes. With no alternatives to Mr Jordan or Mr Jeffries emerging this week, there is no end in sight to the House's leadership crisis. Puebloans will vote on some of the citys leaders in the upcoming election Nov. 7, including selecting the citys mayor for the second time in recent memory. The Pueblo Chieftain has surveyed all 18 candidates for mayor and council about the key topics and critical issues facing the city, featuring some questions submitted directly by readers. Check your voter registration here to make sure youre registered to vote. The mayoral election is city-wide, while council members are elected by district. Check which city council district you live in here. Fifteen of the 18 candidates for mayor and council responded to the Chieftain's questionnaire. Their answers have been edited for clarity and brevity. Larry Atencio is one of nine candidates running for Pueblo mayor. City councilor Larry Atencio announcing his campaign for mayor near the potential future site of a softball field at Troy Avenue and Oakshire Lane on July 8, 2023. Introduce yourself and tell us why you're qualified to be mayor. I am a lifelong member of the Pueblo community and a graduate of East High School. I have a BS in Industrial Engineering Technology from CSU Pueblo and a MS in Public Administration from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. I served on Pueblo City Council from 2007-2012 and was reelected in 2016. I have been a small business owner for 33 years and volunteer in many civic organizations. If elected, what would you do on day one? Meet with all department directors as a whole and then individually to talk about their ideas as to how we provide the best services to our public. I would hold regular meetings with the same and thereafter meet with constituents to get their ideas. What would be your approach for addressing homelessness? What role should city government have? American Rescue Plan Act money is running out so the city will have to support the organizations that deal with homelessness to the extent possible. Churches and civic organizations have to step up to do the work, city government wont have the resources to deal with this issue. How would you handle police staffing shortages? Morale at the police department has been an issue. Managerial training for senior staff is vital for the effectiveness of any program. Aside from hiring additional police officers, what would you do to reduce crime in Pueblo? I brought the idea of a real-time crime center to Pueblo from Chihuahua, Mexico, five years ago. Were finally looking into it now. A system of cameras throughout the city will help our police do a much better job. Just recently constituents have given me the idea of having citizen patrols (in the neighborhoods) and private security companies patrol our business centers (not law enforcement but regular patrol). Lets look at all ideas. What plan do you have for creating affordable home ownership instead of renting for Puebloans? Home ownership is the pathway to generational wealth, Ive been working with Urban Renewal and Habitat for Humanity on this specific issue for over a year and a half. If elected I will expand those efforts. This year, the interactions between city council and the mayor have been tense. As mayor, how would you work together? Having regular meetings with councilors is one way to build a cohesive team that will work together, having a plan for the city is needed with input from council members, implementing council members' ideas will have them work toward a better team. How would you approach improving transportation infrastructure within the city? A comprehensive infrastructure plan is needed and implemented so our streets and public transportation are maintained on a regular basis. Im a strong proponent of bicycle infrastructure. What would you do to help the city achieve the goal of 100% renewable energy by 2035? I sponsored the resolution to take our city to 100% renewable by 2035, we can make all city buildings 100% renewable almost immediately by bringing in a utility-scale solar company to provide electricity for all city facilities. Do you support ballot measure 2A, which would raise the city's lodging tax to help pay for childcare? Ballot measure 2A is a feel-good measure that will only benefit 37 families. After each council member gets his or her three or four friends this benefit there wont be anything left for anyone else. This measure is designed to help middle-income households so those with incomes of 70-80-100 thousand dollars will benefit and low-income people will still be left out. Editor's note: It is not yet determined how many families would benefit from 2A funding, according to city Councilor Sarah Martinez, one of the measure's advocates. If you received a $1 million grant to use for the city in any way, what would you do with it? I would dedicate this million-dollar grant to beautification projects in and around the city. Many people say that Pueblo is not very inviting and dirty. Well then lets do something about it. Anna Lynn Winfrey covers politics for the Pueblo Chieftain. She can be reached at awinfrey@gannett.com. Please support local news at subscribe.chieftain.com. This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Larry Atencio, Pueblo mayoral candidate in his own words Two Idaho lawmakers Thursday met with state and local officials in Oregon to discuss the Greater Idaho movement, which would trade a dozen or more Oregon counties to Idaho. Reps. Barbara Ehardt, R-Idaho Falls, and Judy Boyle, R-Midvale, met in Baker City, Oregon, with an Oregon House member and Malheur County commissioner. While the attendees had little to say about what was discussed, the Thursday meeting was the first time lawmakers from each state met to talk about the long-shot proposal that would shift Oregons border westward. Ehardt said shes been fascinated by the idea, which could increase Idahos land and access to natural resources, such as timber and minerals. The Oregonians seeking to join Idaho are like-minded people who share Idaho values, Ehardt said, especially those old-fashioned, traditional values. Lets have that conversation, she said. This is something thats highly important to a lot of people. It makes sense to me, and Im ready to continue to move forward with the conversation. Ehardt, Boyle sponsor Greater Idaho resolution Since around 2018, a growing number of conservative eastern Oregonians have advocated for seceding from the Democrat-controlled state and joining heavily Republican Idaho. In recent years, a more formalized group, Greater Idaho, has organized ballot initiatives in eastern Oregon counties. The group has targeted 17 eastern Oregon counties that could wholly or partially join Idaho, according to a map that divides roughly along the Cascade Range. Both state legislatures and Congress would have to sign off on the move. Voters in 12 Oregon counties in recent years have approved ballot questions that direct county commissioners to discuss moving the border. Theyd like us to talk about it, said Oregon Rep. Vikki Breese-Iverson, R-Prineville. And this is the first conversation in that step between the two states. Boyle and Ehardt this year sponsored a resolution to formalize talks with the Oregon Legislature to move the border. The Idaho House passed the joint resolution, but the Senate did not vote on it. A similar resolution stalled in Oregon. The Oregon Democratic Party, which makes up the majority of the Legislature, has not been willing to move our bill forward into committee, give us a hearing, said Matt McCaw, spokesman for the Greater Idaho movement. Oregon has higher minimum wage, no abortion ban Many unanswered questions remain, such as how Oregonians would grapple with the vastly different Idaho policies that would govern economic and social issues. Cannabis, for example, is illegal in Idaho, while its a lucrative industry in Oregon, including in border towns like Ontario, where Idahoans flock for pot. Idaho also recently banned abortion, a prohibition that would govern Oregonians seeking to move the border. Asked about the disparity in minimum wages $13.50 hourly in Oregon, compared to $7.25 per hour in Idaho Ehardt downplayed a potential loss of income for Oregonians. McDonalds is paying like $13, so no ones paying minimum wage, Ehardt said. I say that, and somebody probably is, right? Its hard to find workers, so youre paying big money. In 2017, the latest available Idaho data from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, 16,000 Idaho workers earned $7.25 hourly or less. Last year, about 1.2 million workers nationwide earned the federal minimum wage or less, representing less than 1% of hourly paid workers in most states, according to the Bureau. The data did not include Idaho, and the Idaho Department of Labor does not track minimum wage earners. Ehardt traveled roughly 400 miles from Idaho Falls to attend the meeting in Baker City. The trip was self-funded, she said, and didnt conflict with her legislative duties. No receipts to turn in, folks, Ehardt said. And its a long drive. Melinda Sue Gordon "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Martin Scorseses Killers of the Flower Moon, out today, is one of the years most anticipated movies. The three-hour, 26-minute crime epic is based on David Granns nonfiction book about a torrent of murders that terrorized the Native American Osage community in Oklahoma throughout the 1920s. But behind the critical plaudits, the Oscar buzz, and a starry cast that includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, and standout Native American actor Lily Gladstone is a movie that chronicles a devastating period in Osage history. At the time, the Osage were per capita the richest people on the planet, thanks to their lands oil reserves. But while this brought enormous wealth, many thought of that wealth as a curse. In time, the oil drew white men who pronounced some Osage incompetent and forced them into conservatorships controlled by white guardians. More violent elements also emerged. Soon, the Osage became the victims of a mysterious string of killings that began to look more like what it really was: systematic erasure. Shop Now Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, by David Grann amazon.com $13.99 Knowing he had to do this story justice, Scorsese reached out to the Native Americanand particularly the Osagecommunity and enlisted the help of tribal consultants. The result was a film that not only pays respect to the Osages suffering during that period, but also celebrates the beauty of Osage culture and history. One way the movie did this was through its costuming. Scorsese brought on Jacqueline West, a costume designer famous for her extensive research. Marty could have left it to me, but I couldnt have left it to me, says West, who wanted an Osage consultant to ensure the authenticity of her costuming. Osage Chief Standing Bear recommended Julie OKeefe, whom West now calls an angel flying into my studio. With a background in creating museum-quality regalia that included 10 years of running a shop in her hometown of Pawhuska, Oklahoma, OKeefe had the eye and the connections West needed. Theyre so particular, these clothes, says West. Even among the people of the Osage Nation, one mother may have taught it one way, another mother may have taught it another way. But there is a classic wayand Julie knows it. O'Keefe came on for what West initially thought might be 10 days of consultation. I said, Mmhmm, recalls OKeefe slyly before the two burst into laughter. Our clothing is very layered. And it can be very difficult, even if youve been raised in the culture, to put it all on and really get it right. Ten days soon turned into a tight-knit partnership that lasted through the production. West and OKeefe reunited to speak with Harpers Bazaar about the process of creating the movies detailed costumes, the rich traditions behind the clothes we see onscreen, and the resounding support they got from the Osage communitywhich uncovered more than one piece of physical history. Melinda Sue Gordon The accuracy and craftsmanship of the costumes in the movie is outstanding. Its clear there was a lot of significance placed on getting it right. Tell me a little about the role of traditional clothing in Osage culture. Julie OKeefe: We have a traditional dance called the In-Lon-Shka. We meet every year in June for three four-day weekends. There are three Osage districts that attend, and some of the nuances in our clothing depend on which district we come from. So for Gray Horse, you may see fringe on the outside. But for Pawhuska, which is my district, you flip the fringe on the inside. A lot of our families do that. Then Ive seen different uses of ribbon. Some clasp them with vintage-looking brooches, but if you go to the Zon-Zo-Li district, they tie their ribbon in a bow in the back. They dont use a brooch at all. So when Im at the dances, I can tell whos from which of the different districts or different families based on how theyre doing those things. And even though were each expressing ourselves in those details, our look and our dance has not changed for over 150 years. We make sure that when were within that traditionin that culture, in that placewe are honoring and carrying it out. And one of the ways we carry that out is through our clothing. Did you have a lot of archival imagery available to reference? JO: Jackie had it all when I got there. She had thousands of pictures on the wall by the time I walked in, and it was fabulous. Jacqueline West: I started doing research after I was first hired by Mr. Scorsese. It was during Covid, when we were all still pretty locked down. So I worked about four months in Deadwood, South Dakota, just doing research online and in libraries in the area. My husband is a writer and a journalist, and hes also part Native American, so he got involved, and we just sat and pulled research from everywhere we could. We live right by the Sioux reserve, where there are incredible Native American libraries. So I did my own research before I even got to Oklahoma, where we shot the film. Once I arrived, because of the generosity of the Osage people, everybody started bringing me the most incredible family photosone of which we re-created in the film. So it started with research I came with, but it then got really brilliant after I got to Oklahoma. And I dont know if you know this, but the Osage were some of the only people, aside from maybe the British royal family, who could afford to make home movies in this period. So there are brilliant archived family movies of them flying their own private planes; riding around Pawhuska in these beautiful cars, Duesenbergs and Pierce-Arrows; shopping in Paris and vacationing in Colorado Springs. So all that was another unique resource. But it was all driven by Marty and his passion to get this absolutely right in deference to the Osage Nation. We all took our research beyond and beyond. We put every research photo up on the wall, and wed check them off whenever we got one into the film. And by the end of filming, almost every photo had a check on it. Melinda Sue Gordon In the 1920s, Osage women wore the finest jewelry and furs and fashions from all over the world. You show some women in the movie dressed that way, with extra flapper flair. Did you have to exaggerate those looks to really telegraph that almost unimaginable level of wealth? JW: A lot of it came from those home movies. They went to Paris and New York City; they shopped at Tiffanys. They had very good taste, and there was no finery that they couldnt afford. We didn't have to create any exaggeration for effect. JO: Can I add one thing to that? There was a mercantile there in Fairfax called the Big Hill. And Tiffanys actually had a small counter there, in little Fairfax, Oklahoma. And there were something close to 15 dealerships of the finest cars. All in this place where you could also buy furniture and caskets! Ive been through that buildingwe were actually trying to restore it and I was helping Chief do some work on itand it was humongous. It was of the finest quality with small boutiques, and while they didnt really have department stores per se back then, it was really the first of that kind of thing for that area, and for Oklahoma. JW: Id say it was like Harrods of Londonbut in Fairfax. And it was extraordinary. Every picture that I pulled, every screenshot I pulled off of a home movie, there was an elegance to it. The Osage were quite elegant, and they wore it all very well. I wanted to portray that elegance in this film. Melinda Sue Gordon The real Mollie Burkhart (played by Lily Gladstone in the film) is said to have stood out somewhat in the streets of Fairfax because she tended more toward wearing traditional Osage clothing than others in town. The book points out her fondness for wrapping herself in Osage blankets. How did you use her fashion to set her apart from other characters? JW: Shes the moral compass in this story. She wants to maintain tradition and hang on to her heritage. And shes also, as you see in the film, quite desirous of her mothers approval, her mothers love. Her mother, Lizzie Q, was very traditional too, and I think that made Mollie the most traditional of the sisters. Anna was the most modern, and the other sisters were each some degree in between. But for me, Mollie in the film stands for the real Osage woman. Shes a symbol of the Osage Nation. JO: From my perspective, the scope that I looked through was the history of the struggle: what this family had been through, what the entire [Osage Nation] had been through. We were known as the Children of the Middle Waters. We came from Missouri to Oklahoma. We chose that land because we knew the buffalo went through there. We picked up our housing and took our horses and took our children, and we traveled. We went buffalo hunting. We would clean our own skins. If it was a good hunt, we would cure the meat and we would have meat for the year. There was this whole traditional life that never involved money. So you have people like Lizzie Q, a traditional mother, someone who was raised on the plains. And then the children are taken away to be sent to missionary schools or military schools. Thats forced on us. Then you have those children growing up and coming back into their community, like Mollie or [her] sisters, who were of the first generation to have to do that. And theyre coming back as English-speaking children to Native American parents, into a situation where theyre immigrants in their own land. Theyre asking themselves, How do we how do we fit into this? Our skin color is different. Our ways are different. Who are we? So I look at Lizzie and Mollie and her sisters as a family unit: Youve got Lizzie still trying to grapple with the fact of this new life, which shes not going to fit into. Shes set in her ways. Youve got Anna, who completely goes off into this contemporary world. So her clothing is a modern flapper aesthetic. Then youve got Mollie, who is expressing herself through her clothing and saying, I am still here. I am grounded in my culture. I still know who I am. So shes wearing these traditional clothes that, at that time, had not changed for 75 years. As I told you, for us its been 150 years; for her it had been over 75 years that the traditional clothes and silhouettes had been the same. Many women, like Mollies sisters, married into [white] culture. The culture was being forced upon them, so how do they stay safe? They marry into it. So they start dressing in more contemporary clothing. But theres a piece of them that still wants to expresses their own culture. So you see them wearing these blankets as shawls over their contemporary clothing. And we still do that today. So were telling that very human story through those sisters clothing. You can see their struggle to be accepted into this new world by how theyre expressing it through their fashion. Melinda Sue Gordon Given that there are some portraits of Mollie and her sisters available, did you approach their costumes by primarily re-creating their looks, or did you use them more so as a starting point? JW: The way Ive always approached a movie is to get to know the characters really, really well, and then you take them shopping in that period. You only select for them what you feel they would have selected for themselves from what would have been available to them given their economic circumstances. If you approach it like that, from the inside out, then the characters almost pick their own clothes. So I tried to do that with the sisters. With Mollie, sometimes we used portraits of her from that time. We tried to create some of those outfits exactly, but we only had a certain number of photos draw from. They didnt have iPhones back then; they werent snapping 20 photos of each other a day. And the reality is that people had far fewer clothes in that period. Go to an old house from the 1920s and youll see that the closets are so tiny. We werent consumers in the same way we are now. So on every film I work on, I build a closet for every actor. Then when they go to get dressed in their trailers or dressing rooms, thats their wardrobe. Those are the clothes their character picked, that they own. Then I kind of just let the actors pick once theyre the character and no longer an actor. Theyre very good at that. How much of the costuming was created specifically for the movie? And how did Osage artisans contribute? JW: Except for the large crowd scenes and the street scenes in town, almost all of the costumes were specially made. All the Osage clothing we made from scratch. Even Osage men had a particular look. They werent going to wear suits like the [white citizens]. They took on more of a western look, but made it Osage. There was a certain Spanish-heeled boot that I had made, and a certain pant that was like a buckle back moleskin, almost a military pant, that had a western twist to it. I pulled a lot of photos and then just started making huge numbers of them in Budapest and Los Angeles. For the ensemble cast, I found sewing rooms, but for all the principal characters we made everything in-house. The exception was for jewelry and accessories, which were made by incredible Osage artisans who Julie brought to us. JO: Theres a few things in the movie that youre going to see a lot of on people. Youll see armbands and ball-and-cone earrings on both men and women. The tradition of making these came from peace medals or treaty medals [given to tribal leaders by the U.S. government]. When those treaties would be broken, wed strike those medals, melt them down, and make our own silver. So you see these silver armbands on some of the gentlemen onscreen. We had a silversmith in Oklahoma named William Kugee Supernaw, who has a store called Supernaws. He is a master metalsmith, and his son is, too. They made a lot of the Czech seed beads that you see around the Osage womens necks, which are a staple for us. And youll see a lot of ribbon-work blankets. We had many artisans who had family patterns to work off of. Janet Emde was one, Ruth Shaw was another. Anita Fields, an Osage artist whos well known around the world, wanted to contribute and made a blanket for the movie. Marie Lookout, who comes from a family of some of the finest ribbon-work makers, made two blankets for us. We have a parade scene where we see several beaded blankets, made by Molly Murphy Adams, who isnt Osage but is Oglala Sioux. She beaded flags all over the front of these two-yard-by-two-yard bolts of cloth. She went to our Osage tribal museum, which is one of the oldest tribal museums in United States, for research. There we have some blankets from the 1920s. War mothers at that time would have dances where theyd pray for all of their husbands and sons going to war. And they would decorate their blankets with, say, airplanes if their men were in the Air Force. Theres a spectacular blanket from the 1920s with these old airplanes on it by a Charles Lookout. So we had these types of resources. We found some families that had all these things in their trunks even older than 1920. We were really able to capture a lot of history in the movie thanks to these particular families who have carried these traditions down. Melinda Sue Gordon Hollywoods depictions of different cultures often end up using anachronisms, sometimes in error and sometimes for seemingly practical reasons. Dances With Wolves was a celebrated film, but it nevertheless earned some snickers from native Lakota speakers who know that its a language that uses gendered speech and noticed that all the characters, including the men, spoke using the feminine grammar. How important was it for you to make sure the visual language of this movie was spot-on, even if those details go unnoticed by most moviegoers? JW: For me, it was the most important note I felt I had to hit. So when Chief Standing Bear told me how perfect the costumes were, that meant more to me than anything any critic could say. Because he represents his people. He lives among them, works among them, fights for them. His approval meant everything. But working with Julie, I always had a feeler out there. She would bring people from the Osage Nation to see what we were doing and give their approval. I havent always worked that way before. Usually the only person I show my work to is the director. But Marty wasnt like that. He trusted me, he trusted that I had a consultant from the Osage, and he trusted that I wanted to have somebody to say, This is right, this isnt. Because these are old traditions that need to be respected. You dont want to make a mistake. We had two wonderful people who stood on set with the background actors: [set costumer] Alaina Maker and [Osage actor] Joel Tallchief Lemon. She watched all the women and he watched all the men to make sure their costumes were perfect. Nobody got away from them, and if anybody did, they would run right after them and check their costumes. JO: It was a community project in a way. Because the community wanted it right, those families wanted it right. A horrible time in our existence is being told on the screen. Thats hard enough. So what we really wanted is exactly the type of thing that Martin Scorsese is known for: authenticity with a big A. He and Leo came to dinners with our elders. They had discussions with our community. After that, everyone in all three of our districts had their ears outif we needed something, if we needed photographs, if we were stumped on something, if we needed feedback, they came to help. I had a question one day about an Osage woman riding on horseback. So I called my aunt Kathryn Red Corn, whos in her 80s and actually helped [Killers of the Flower Moon author] David Grann do research for his book. I asked her, What would this Osage woman be wearing? And she said to me, Julie, first of all, theres going to be no saddle. If you had to get on your horse and go somewhere, it didnt matter what you had on, you got on your horse. So I go back to our production and I say, Go ahead, put that skirt on her, no saddle, and shes gonna ride the horse. And the extra did! That was the kind of resource we had in the community. Im a big believer that if youre asked a question, you do not answer until you know you have the right answer. When I took information back to Jackie, I knew it had come from the best resources within the community. They all wanted to help because they all really wanted to get it right. Melinda Sue Gordon Juliewere there any outfits or garments or accessories that were particularly meaningful for you to work on and see onscreen? JO: Oh my. Theres so many. I would say, the wedding coats are some of the most spectacular costumes in the film. The history of those coats started all the way back in Thomas Jeffersons time, when we would send delegations to meet with government leaders, the way diplomats would do today, and we would exchange and give gifts. And theres a story about a chief admiring, I think, President Thomas Jeffersons coat, and Jefferson takes it off and gives it to the chief. But the thing about Osage men is that theyre huge, statuesque men, very great in stature. So the coat didnt fit. Instead, what the Osage did [when they received these coats] was to give the coats to their daughters. It brings status to a daughter who wears one. Then when she brings it home, the Osage start putting their own ribbon work and twist on the coat. And when she wears it on her wedding day, everyone knows that she comes from a very prominent family. My second answer would be the blankets. Blankets, shawls, broadcloth, and ribbon are extremely important to my tribefor both men and women. And theres meaning to how the men wear them, same as I described earlier for the sisters. Look at the character of Chief Bonnicastle and how hes wearing the blanket over his suit. This tells you he is an educated man. Hes gone out to the white man's schools and come back. So he wears the blanket in a very important way that lets you know hes a leader. Then there are the ways a roadmanor a holy manwears the blanket around his waist. When Ernest is getting married to Mollie, hes wearing a blanket like that and so is the gentleman whos officiating the wedding. So there are nuances to those blankets and how theyre worn that tell you something about the events happening at that time. JW: And Pendleton was a great collaborator. Id send them, say, a portrait of Mollie wearing a blanket, and theyd re-create it for me in the exact right colors. Melinda Sue Gordon How many families could claim their daughter was wed in one of those wedding suits? And does that tradition live on to this day? JO: As those were passed down, we kept them in trunks. Ive seen very old ones with a lot of families. But over history, those delegations stop going out, treaties are being broken, everythings changing in the political landscape. And when those delegations start slowing down, women can of course no longer receive those coats. So the Osage start making their own. And after a wedding, a bride would take all of it off and give it away to someone who had helped them, or to a bridesmaid, or to someone else for different reasons. But in 1951 or 1952, we had the last arranged Osage marriage. Before that, everything was arranged. And so that tradition [of passing on the wedding suit] stopped. But we didnt want to let go of that tradition. So what we do now is this: We have something called the passing of the drum that happens every four years at our dances. It happens in all three of our districts. We have this big celebration, huge dinners, joyful dances. And when that drum passes, all of these bridesmaids will come outthe last time we did this was last year, and it had nine bridesmaidsand all these different families will have made brand-new wedding coats that they give away. Everyone waits to see them. I have an auntie that sits next to me; she loves to sit and look at all the wedding coats. She even has opera glassesand were really not sitting that far away! So thats one way we have taken a tradition and then incorporated it into our contemporary lives. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. You Might Also Like Surveillance video image of the suspect in an NYC subway attack. A 30-year-old woman is in critical condition after being pushed in front of a moving subway train in Manhattan on Wednesday, the New York Police Department said. The man who police say pushed the woman was identified as 39-year-old Sabir Jones. The New York Times reported Jones was arrested Thursday in Newark, New Jersey after being recognized by another citizen at the Newark Penn Station. It's unclear what charges Jones faces in connection with the attack. Police said the woman was randomly shoved into the train when she was on her way to work around noon at the Fifth Avenue and 53rd Street station. Officials with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which operates the subway, said the train was pulling out of the station when she was pushed, causing her head to hit the train as it left. She then fell onto the tracks and was helped up by others who witnessed the assault. The suspect fled the station on foot after the attack. Police said surveillance footage from the platform helped them identify him. Officers said Jones was already known to the department from a previous arrest, and the New York Times reported he had a history of experiencing homelessness, mental illness and drug abuse although its not been said whether these were factors in the incident. NBCs New York affiliate said Jones is reportedly tied to another attack in the same subway station. While chances of an incident like this are relatively low, MTA is testing protective screen doors in three subway stations in the city as part of a pilot program to add more protection along the tracks. The last fatal subway push happened in 2022, when 40-year-old Michelle Go was shoved onto the tracks at Times Square by a 61-year-old man with a history of homelessness and schizophrenia. SEE MORE: Two teens killed in separate 'subway surfing' incidents in New York During a late afternoon routine training mission about a mile off Miami Beach and Key Biscayne, Marine Corps 1st Lt. Richard Lee McCombs experienced catastrophic oil-pressure loss in the engine of his Douglas AD-5 Skyraider attack plane. McCombs knew the plane, on a machine-gun-strafing exercise, was going down quickly. So the 25-year-old pilot headed farther out to sea to avoid the beach area. He crash-landed into deeper water in the Atlantic Ocean. About a half-hour later, according to news accounts at the time, a Marine rescue helicopter crew plucked him safely from the water. The AD-5 Skyraider that he ditched on that January day in 1957 has remained in two pieces 66 years later about 1,000 feet from each other deep below the surface on the ocean floor. The discovery A diver swims above the wreckage of a U.S. Marine Corps Douglas AD-5 Skyraider plane sitting at the bottom of the ocean off Key Biscayne. In July, Michael C. Barnette and Jimmy Gadomski, scuba divers with the Association of Underwater Explorers, found the wreckage off Miami. A month after McCombs water landing, the Marines recovered the engine, and the Coast Guard towed the rest of the aircraft farther out to sea to be sunk, Barnette said. The divers arent revealing the exact location because the plane is still Navy property, Barnette told the Miami Herald. He said the wreckage rests beyond the recreational diving depth limits of 130 feet. Barnette, 52, who has played a role in identifying more than 20 shipwrecks worldwide and has written three books on Florida shipwreck and maritime history, said he and Gadomski werent looking for the Skyraider when they came upon it while diving this summer. They were heading back to the boat ramp when they decided to check out coordinates that a fisherman gave Barnette. Having accumulated an extensive database of archival information over the years, he decided to dive some of the sites on a hunch they might turn up a shipwreck or lost aircraft. A diver swims above the wreckage of a U.S. Marine Corps Douglas AD-5 Skyraider plane sitting at the bottom of the ocean off Key Biscayne. His intuition paid off. This was an accidental discovery, he said. We were shocked and astonished to find the wreck of an unidentified military aircraft resting off Key Biscayne. It was an exciting moment. Using photographs that Barnette and Gadomski took of the wreckage, the Association of Underwater Explorers created a photogrammetry model of what the intact aircraft would look like on the ocean floor. A photogrammetry model was made using images divers captured of a two pieces of a sunken AD-5 Skyraider plane that crashed off the coast of Key Biscayne in 1957. The story of the planes history and discovery will be featured in an episode of the History Channel series Bermuda Triangle: Into Cursed Waters, which premieres Nov. 14. The pilot Richard Lee McCombs After the crash, McCombs, who died at age 90 in Ohio on July 7, 2022, went on to have a distinguished career as a Marine Corps aviator. He flew the F9F Panther jet fighter and the HRS helicopter, according to his obituary. Another news account reported that McCombs experience being rescued by a helicopter influenced his decision to switch from fixed-wing to rotary flying. After his stint in the Marines, McCombs became a commercial artist and an advertising executive before opening a printing business. His wife of 67 years, Florence, who was a U.S. Navy nurse when they met while he was in flight training in Pensacola, died a little more than two weeks before him, according to her obituary. The couple are survived by their three children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. At the time of the crash, Richard McCombs was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miami, which is now Miami-Opa-locka Executive Airport. I was in shock After Barnette and Gadomski found the plane, they tracked down the McCombs three children to tell them the news. Amy McCombs had just returned to Ohio from a trip to Key West with her daughter when she got the call. When I received a message asking if Richard McCombs was my father with such specifics about his plane, so soon after his death, I was in shock, she told the Miami Herald. The South Florida vacation was originally planned to celebrate what would have been her fathers 91st birthday. We wanted to see where he and my mom had lived when he survived this life-changing experience, McCombs, 58, said. McCombs said she and her brothers Tim and Mark were amazed their fathers plane had been found after so many years. It was so incredibly kind of Mike to take the time to investigate the plane and find us, she said. This has given us an opportunity to celebrate my dad despite dealing with how much we missed him. We know he is absolutely loving this. The plane A U.S. Marine Corps AD-5 Skyraider is shown in flight. The AD-5 Skyraider, redesignated the A-1 in 1962, saw action in the Korean and Vietnam wars as an attack bomber, close air support plane and search-and-recovery aircraft, according to the Cavanaugh Flight Museum in Addison, Texas. It was one of the few propeller combat planes used regularly in the jet era. A Maryland judge was fatally shot in the driveway of his home Thursday in a "targeted attack" that occurred hours after he gave the suspect's estranged wife custody of their children, officials said Friday. Washington County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson, 52, was found outside the residence in the 19100 block of Olde Waterford Road in Hagerstown by deputies who responded to a report of a shooting at 8 p.m., the Washington County Sheriff's Office said. His wife and son were home when he was gunned down, Sheriff Brian K. Albert said in a news conference Friday. Pedro Argote. (Washington County Sheriff's Office, Maryland) The victim was suffering from what appeared to be gunshot wounds. He was transported to Meritus Medical Center, where he later succumbed to his injuries, the sheriff's office said. The sheriff's office named the suspect in the homicide investigation as Pedro Argote, 49, of Frederick. He "is not in custody and is considered armed and dangerous," Albert told reporters. Wilkinson was the judge overseeing Argotes divorce case, filed in June 2022. Suspect ordered to stay away from his children Wilkinson presided over a hearing in the case Thursday morning that dealt with the partial judgment of absolute divorce, according to the court docket. Argote was not present for that hearing, but Sheriff Albert said the attack was in response to custody being granted to the mother of Argote's children. A copy of the partial judgment mentions cruelty of treatment and cites irreconcilable differences between the two parties. The court ordered that the wife be granted an absolute divorce from Argote and sole custody of their four children, ages 12, 11, 5, and 3. Argote cannot visit the children or have contact with the wife unless initiated by her to use a 2009 Mercedes the same vehicle the sheriffs office said he may be driving, court records show. The court also granted the wife sole use and possession of the family home and prohibited Argote from entering that residence. He was ordered to pay $1,120 a month in child support, according to the judgment. Argote, his wife and attorneys in the case did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Court records show Argote's wife filed a domestic violence petition against him in June 2022 that resulted in dismissal less than two weeks later. In her petition, the wife writes that there had been physical abuse against one of their daughters, and that she felt unsafe because he would keep a weapon on him and that she feared he would try and take the children away from her. She noted that Argote owned at least two firearms. She also said he would harass her through texts and emails, watch her on security cameras in the home and control her emotionally and financially. The sheriff confirmed Argote legally owned a handgun. It's unclear why the petition was dismissed. The sheriffs office had responded to a residence involving Argote for verbal domestic assaults two times within the past few years, Albert said. Argote is described as 5 feet, 7 inches tall, 130 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He may be traveling in a silver Mercedes GL450 with Maryland plates 4EH0408, according to the sheriff's office. "Anyone with information in reference to Argotes location is asked to not approach him but to immediately notify law enforcement," the sheriff's office said. Maryland State Police troopers were deployed Thursday night "out of precautionary reasons" to "protect" judges residing in Washington County, a state police spokesperson told NBC News. However, the sheriff said Friday that there's no threat to other judges in the county or state. Albert noted that the sheriff's office had no knowledge of threats against Wilkinson. A community 'devastated' Wilkinson was born in Guam in 1971, graduated from Emory University School of Law in 1997, and previously worked as an assistant county attorney. He became an associate judge in Washington County Circuit Court in January 2020, according to an online profile. While Wilkinson was a prominent member of his community, neighbors described him as down to earth and friendly. On any given day, they said, he would be out cutting his own lawn or taking walks or jogs through the neighborhood. Penny Hill, who lived next door to Wilkinson for the past decade before she recently moved, said she enjoyed being neighbors and watching Wilkinson with his wife, Stephanie, and their two children. He was a terrific guy, and this is devastating to the community, Hill said. What happened is terrifying, unexpected. And I feel so terribly for Stephanie and the kids. Jason Divelbiss, Wilkinson's former law partner, said Friday: Drew was a beloved family man, a friend to all he came in contact with and a respected colleague. He could bring a smile to any room he entered. He has been taken way too soon from a community that benefited from and will deeply miss his presence and innumerable contributions, he added. The Maryland Judiciary issued a statement Friday saying it was "actively engaging with law enforcement to assist in resolving this matter and to ensure the safety of our judges, staff, and visitors, which remains our top priority," the statement said. Democratic Gov. Wes Moore said he was shocked, heartbroken, and sickened by the killing of Judge Andrew Wilkinson. He was the victim of a cold-blooded, vicious, and targeted attack. My heart goes out to Judge Wilkinsons family, and my prayers are with everyone who knew him, loved him, and served alongside him." He added: "Judge Wilkinson spent his career in defense of justice. We must now ensure that the perpetrator of this vile act faces justice and Judge Wilkinsons family gets the support they need and deserve." Other attacks against judges The slaying is the latest incident in the U.S. involving threats or attacks against judges. The U.S. Marshals Service, which ensures the safety of judicial proceedings and protecting federal jurors and judges, investigated over 1,300 threats or potential threats in the 2022 fiscal year. In June 2022, a retired Wisconsin judge was fatally shot in his home by a gunman in a targeted attack that officials said appeared to be related to the judicial system. In 2020, U.S. District Judge Esther Salas son was killed and her husband left in critical condition at their New Jersey home by a gunman who had once appeared in front of Salas in court. That led to the formation of Daniel's Law in New Jersey, which protects public officials by making it a crime to make public personal information of judges, prosecutors and law enforcement officers including their phone numbers and home address. Families of people taken hostage by Hamas call for Benjamin Netanyahu to resign at a rally in Tel Aviv - Alexi J Rosenfeld/Getty An overwhelming majority of Israelis believe that Benjamin Netanyahu is responsible for the deadly Hamas attacks. A total of 80 per cent said the prime minister should publicly accept the blame for the failures that led to the deaths of at least 1,400 Israelis on the deadliest day in the countrys 75-year-old history. The figure includes 69 per cent of those who voted for the premiers Likud party in last years election. Just eight per cent of the public think Mr Netanyahu is not responsible. Israelis have been fiercely divided over the state response to the terror attacks on Oct 7, but these new figures suggest a united opposition to Mr Netanyahu. Critics argue that Mr Netanyahu largely ignored military provocation from Hamas since the last major Israeli ground incursion of 2014, and has simultaneously allowed huge sums of cash to flow into Gaza. Others say that the ongoing corruption scandal that has plagued Mr Netanyahu distracted him from keeping the country secure. Opening the Knessets winter session last week, Mr Netanyahu said there were many questions surrounding the disaster that befell us 10 days ago and promised they would be investigated in every aspect after the current military mission was completed. Mr Netanyahus coalition partner, finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, said the government leadership and security leadership had failed to protect the country but the premier himself has yet to make a clear statement of responsibility. Israeli politicians have described the attacks as the greatest failure in the history of Israel. Israeli politicians have described the attacks as 'the greatest failure in the country's history' - Debbie Hill/UPI/Shutterstock Ehud Olmert, the former prime minister, said Mr Netanyahu had been warned by Israeli intelligence about the possibility of a Hamas attack, but he was arrogant. Netanyahu doesnt have the trust of the people, of the families of those who were slaughtered, or of the commanders and the soldiers in the field, he told France24. An editorial page in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz accused Mr Netanyahu of glaring failures. Dmitry Shumsky, a columnist for Haaretz, argued that Mr Netanyahu had pursued a policy of diplomatic paralysis in order to avoid negotiations over a two-state solution. He said this strategy was flawed and has turned Hamas from a minor terrorist group into an efficient, lethal army with bloodthirsty killers who mercilessly slaughtered innocent Israeli civilians. Ignored rights of Palestinians It claimed that embracing a foreign policy that openly ignored the existence and rights of Palestinians pushed Hamas to fight. As Israel looks poised to send ground troops into Gaza, the survey found that 65 per cent of the public backs the possibility of an offensive, while 21 per cent oppose it. Most Israelis also supported the possibility of a conflict on the northern border as tensions between Jerusalem and Lebanon soar. The Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon and its allies have traded cross-border fire with Israel for days. A total of 51 per cent of Israelis said they would back a large-scale military operation on the northern front. The survey was conducted by the Lazar Institute, along with Panel4All, among 510 respondents on Oct 18 and 19. 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. Infowars host Alex Jones cannot use bankruptcy protection to avoid paying the families of the victims of the Sandy Hook school shooting, a judge has ruled. Mr Jones was sued by the families of the 26 people killed in the 2012 massacre over his repeated promotion of a false theory that the shooting was a hoax. A judge ordered Mr Jones to pay $1.5bn to the families, but the conspiracy theorist has so far failed to pay out any of the sum after he filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last year. However, a Texas judge ruled on Thursday that bankruptcy protections do not apply over findings of willful and malicious conduct, so Mr Jones must pay the families. The families are pleased with the Courts ruling that Joness malicious conduct will find no safe harbor in the bankruptcy court, said Christopher Mattei, a Connecticut lawyer for the families. As a result, Jones will continue to be accountable for his actions into the future regardless of his claimed bankruptcy. Mr Jones was sued after he repeated a conspiracy theory that the Sandy Hook shooting never happened and accused the families of being actors on his flagship Infowars show. The families won a billion-dollar settlement against Mr Jones, who told his audience last year he was officially out of money and has asked them to shop on his Infowars website to help keep him on the air. Infowars host Alex Jones cannot use bankruptcy protection to avoid paying Sandy Hook families Recent financial documents submitted by his attorneys showed Mr Jones personal net worth is around $14m, and his monthly financial reports showed he spent more than $93,000 in the month of July, including $7,900 on housekeeping, and more than $6,300 for meals and entertaining. The amount of money Mr Jones owes Sandy Hook families could grow even larger as he faces another lawsuit in Texas, brought by the parents of six-year-old Noah Pozner, one of the children who was killed in the massacre. A trial date has not yet been set. Relatives of the victims testified at the trials about being harassed and threatened by Mr Jones believers, who sent threats and even confronted the grieving families in person, accusing them of being crisis actors whose children never existed. Some 20 first graders and six educators were killed in a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012. The incident is the deadliest shooting at an elementary school in US history. The eight counts against Pvt. Travis King include desertion and possessing sexual images of a child, according to paperwork seen by AP. WASHINGTON (AP) An Army private who fled to North Korea before being returned home to the United States last month has been detained by the U.S. military, two officials said Thursday night, and is facing charges including desertion and possessing sexual images of a child. The eight counts against Pvt. Travis King are detailed in a charging document seen by The Associated Press. The officials who confirmed Kings confinement spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the charges have not been publicly announced. Kings mother, Claudine Gates, said in a statement that she loved her son unconditionally and was extremely concerned about his mental health. Army Pvt. Travis King is shown in a portrait at the Kenosha, Wisconsin home of his grandfather, Carl Gates, in July. King, who fled to North Korea before being returned home to the United States, has been detained by the U.S. military, two officials said, and is facing charges including desertion and possessing sexual images of a child. (Photo: Morry Gash/AP, File) As his mother, I ask that my son be afforded the presumption of innocence, she said. Desertion is a very serious charge and can result in imprisonment for as much as three years. King is also accused of kicking and punching other officers last year, unlawfully possessing alcohol, making a false statement and possessing a video of a child engaged in sexual activity. That allegation dates to July 10, the same day he was released from a South Korean prison where he had served nearly two months on assault charges. One week later, King, 23, ran across the heavily fortified border from South Korea and became the first American detained in North Korea in nearly five years. He was set to be sent to Fort Bliss, Texas, where he could have faced potential additional disciplinary actions and discharge. Officials said King was taken to the airport and escorted as far as customs. But instead of getting on the plane, he left and later joined a civilian tour of the Korean border village of Panmunjom. He ran across the border, which is lined with guards and often crowded with tourists, in the afternoon. After about two months, Pyongyang abruptly announced that it would expel him. He was flown on Sept. 28 to an Air Force base in Texas. His release from North Korea was aided by Swedish officials who took King to the Chinese border, where he was met by U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, the Swedish ambassador to China and at least one U.S. Defense Department official. He was then flown to a U.S. military base in South Korea before heading to the U.S. Once back in the U.S., King was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston outside San Antonio. He went through what the military describes as a reintegration process that included medical exams, psychological assessments and debriefings. And he was also allowed to meet with family. Because he had willingly run into enemy hands, he legally was kept in military custody throughout that process. At the time, officials said they did not know exactly why North Korea decided to let King go, but suspected Pyongyang determined that as a low-ranking serviceman he had no real value in terms of either leverage or information. King joined the Army in January 2021, and served as a cavalry scout. While he was gone, Army leaders declared him absent without leave, opting to not consider him a deserter, which is far more serious. By declaring King a deserter, the Army would have to conclude that King left and intended to stay away permanently. In times of war, desertion can carry the death penalty. Service members can go AWOL for several days, but may return voluntarily. The punishment can include confinement in the brig, forfeiture of pay or dishonorable discharge and it is largely based on how long they were away and whether they were apprehended or returned on their own. The charging document does not provide significant detail on any of the allegations, though it does accuse King of knowingly possessing a video of a child engaging in sexual conduct last July 10 and says that he solicited a user of Snapchat, a social media platform, to produce images of underage sexual activity. Sean Timmons, an attorney who specializes in military law at the Tully Rinckey law firm and who reviewed the charging document, said all the transactions that occurred on Snapchat were not secure or private and were accessible by the government. He probably reasonably believed his illegal conduct would have no evidentiary trail, but Snapchat actually saves everything, Timmons said. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Army private who fled to North Korea charged with desertion, held by US military appeared first on TheGrio. US President Joe Biden has said world history is at "an inflection point" as he made the case for billions of dollars in wartime aid for Ukraine and Israel. In a speech at the White House, he said Hamas and Russia both wanted to "annihilate a neighbouring democracy". Mr Biden said he would send an urgent funding request - expected to be $105bn (87bn) - to Congress on Friday. But the House of Representatives has no leader and can't approve any spending. Mr Biden's rare primetime address to the nation from the Oval Office on Thursday evening was just the second of his presidency. It came a day after his whirlwind trip to Israel following the attacks by Hamas on 7 October. Mr Biden said the emergency aid request would "pay dividends for American security for generations". In his 15-minute address, he also condemned any acts of hatred against Jews or Muslims in the US, and condemned the fatal stabbing of six-year-old Palestinian-American Wadea al-Fayoume in Chicago this week. "We must without equivocation denounce anti-Semitism," he said. "We must also without equivocation denounce Islamophobia." The White House has not yet officially released details about the expected aid package. But a source familiar with the request told the BBC's US partner CBS News it would include: $60bn for Ukraine and replenishing US stockpiles $14bn for Israel $10bn for humanitarian efforts $7bn for the Indo-Pacific region, including Taiwan $14bn for US border security Mr Biden also took great care to stress his sympathy for the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza, as well as talking about meeting the families of Israeli and US victims of the Hamas attacks. Democrats hope that by tying the different aid packages together they can win support for the Ukraine funding, which some Republicans oppose. But the request will arrive at an effectively frozen Congress, as House Republicans have been unable to elect a Speaker after Kevin McCarthy was ousted in a right-wing revolt more than two weeks ago. Mr Biden, who is a Democrat, did not explicitly address the political dysfunction, though he acknowledged "divisions at home". "We have to get past them," he said. "We can't let petty, partisan, angry politics get in the way of our responsibility as a great nation. "We cannot and will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win. I refuse to let that happen." But it is unclear if the spending package would pass Congress, even with a House Speaker. The Republican leader of the Senate has indicated willingness to take up the measure, but there is opposition within the party. Eight Republicans, led by Kansas Senator Roger Marshall, wrote in a letter: "These are two separate and unrelated conflicts and it would be wrong to leverage support of aid to Israel in an attempt to get additional aid for Ukraine across the finish line." Ohio Republican Senator JD Vance called Mr Biden's linking of the two conflicts "disgusting". "He's using dead children in Israel to sell his disastrous Ukraine policy," he posted on X, formerly Twitter, after the speech. More on Israel-Gaza war There was even a sign of dissent within the Biden administration on Thursday as a state department official resigned in protest at the US decision to keep sending weapons to Israel as it lays siege to Gaza. Josh Paul, who headed the bureau that oversees arms transfers, told the BBC after quitting that he believed Israel's actions violated US legal provisions meant to restrict weapons sales to human rights abusers. "I think our mechanisms for determining violations are broken," he said. Additional reporting by Phil McCausland and Max Matza The Biden administrations decision to lift sanctions on Venezuelan oil is garnering pushback from energy and foreign policy hawks. The administration announced late Wednesday that it would temporarily ease sanctions on oil and gas, as well as gold, in Venezuela after the country recently agreed to election reforms. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduros government agreed to reforms including allowing international observers to monitor elections in the South American country. But opponents of the Biden administrations move, particularly Republicans, expressed doubt about the fairness of the upcoming Venezuelan election and argued that the U.S.s energy policy should focus on domestic production. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) lamented that a ban against a leading opposition candidate was not lifted as part of the agreement. If Maria Corina Machado isnt allowed to run for president, those arent real elections, he said. Maduro got what he wanted. Machado was barred in June from holding office. The Venezuelan government said at the time that the ban was because she supported U.S. sanctions. Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), meanwhile, told The Hill that the decision shows once again that President Biden would rather go with dictators on a bended knee than allow us to use American energy. Since taking office, Biden has put some policies in place that have been viewed as unfriendly to the countrys energy industry, like a temporary halt to new oil leasing. However, U.S. oil production recently hit an all-time high, according to The Associated Press. Nevertheless, Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin (W.Va.) joined Republicans in criticizing the move. On the heels of announcing the smallest five-year offshore oil and gas leasing plan in decades, this administration is turning to Venezuela one of the worlds dirtiest energy producers and an oppressor of its own people, Manchin said Thursday. He noted past failures to achieve democratic reforms in Venezuela, saying that it makes no sense at all to reward bad actors before they actually take the action you want. Maduro faces reelection next year after winning what the U.S. and others described as sham elections in 2018. The Biden administration has defended its sanctions, which will allow for transactions involving the oil and gas sector in Venezuela for six months, telling reporters that the agreement was the most viable pathway toward competitive elections and ending a humanitarian crisis in the country. An administration official also argued that the goal of sanctions is ultimately to result in positive changes like those included in the deal. The decision also had some supporters, particularly on the left. Lifting these sanctions is an excellent step toward protecting the lives and dignity of the Venezuelan people, Progressive Caucus Chairwoman Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) wrote in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Im glad to see the administration taking action to ensure free and fair elections in Venezuela while undoing harmful and punitive Trump-era sanctions, she said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Jeff Mason and Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday said he believed that trucks carrying aid will get through to Gaza in the next 24 to 48 hours, as he met with leaders from the European Union at the White House to discuss the war in the Middle East. Palestinian Islamist group Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,400 people, mainly civilians. Since then Israel has bombed Gaza with air strikes. At least 4,137 Palestinians have been killed, including hundreds of children, in Gaza, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Asked about aid trucks getting through to Gaza, Biden said he had a commitment from the Israelis and the president of Egypt. The "highway had to be repaved," Biden said. He said he believed that over the next 24 to 48 hours, the first 20 trucks with aid would get through. Biden also discussed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to begin moving humanitarian assistance into Gaza from Egypt during a phone call on Friday, the White House said. International attention has focused on getting aid to Gaza through the one access point not controlled by Israel, the Rafah crossing to Egypt. Biden, who visited Israel on Wednesday, emerged with a promise from Israel to allow limited shipments from Egypt, provided the aid is monitored to prevent any from reaching Hamas. Rafah was out of operation for nearly two weeks since Hamas attacked Israel. Israel's bombardment of Gaza, a 45-km-long (25-mile) enclave, in retaliation for the Hamas attack has worsened conditions for the 2.3 million people living there under a blockade by Israel and Egypt since Hamas took control in 2007. Biden also discussed with the Israeli prime minister on Friday about providing for "safe passage for U.S. citizens and other civilians in Gaza," according to the White House. Diplomatic activity around the opening of the Rafah crossing has intensified, with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi recently receiving the top U.S. general overseeing troops in the Middle East as well as King Abdullah of Jordan, and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calling in Cairo for aid to be delivered at scale and on a sustained basis. (Reporting by Jeff Mason and Kanishka Singh; additional reporting by Paul Grant and Costas Pitas; writing by Kanishka Singh; Editing by Leslie Adler and Jonathan Oatis) President Biden on Thursday spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hours before delivering a prime-time address, during which he is expected to make the case for ongoing U.S. support for Israel and Ukraine as both allies are engaged in conflicts. The White House said Biden and Zelensky spoke about Americas continued commitment to supporting Ukraine amidst Russias brutal war, while Zelensky elaborated on the conversation in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. During our call, President Biden sent a strong message of US support for Ukrainefor as long as it takes to prevail, Zelensky wrote. I am grateful to Mr. President, both parties of the US Congress, and the entire American people for their powerful assistance and leadership. American leadership helps rally the world behind the common cause of protecting life and rules-based international order, Zelensky added. Biden will address the nation at 8 p.m. Thursday to discuss the U.S. response to Hamass terrorist attacks against Israel and Russias ongoing war against Ukraine. The address is a day after Biden visited Israel in a show of solidarity with the country following the Hamas attacks and amid concerns about a wider conflict in the Middle East. It also comes as the White House prepares to send a supplemental funding request to Congress seeking aid for Israel and Ukraine. The total ask could reportedly amount to roughly $100 billion, also including funding for Taiwan and U.S. border security. The Biden administration has moved military assets closer to the conflict in support of Israel and has sent munitions and interceptors for the Iron Dome defense system. Biden on Wednesday previewed that he would ask Congress for an unprecedented support package for Israels defense. At the same time, Congress has provided billions of dollars in military and financial assistance to Ukraine in the roughly 20 months since Russia launched an unprovoked invasion in February 2022. While there is bipartisan support for Israel and Ukraine in Congress, some House Republicans have voiced opposition to continued aid for Ukraine, questioning how it benefits the U.S. and suggesting they would oppose tying funding for both nations together. Jon Finer, the deputy national security adviser to Biden, said Thursday morning on MSNBC that Biden would use the speech to illustrate why continued U.S. support for Israel and Ukraine matters. This will be very much a message to the American people, Finer said. How those conflicts connect to our lives back here. How support from the American people and the Congress, frankly, is essential. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Palinchak | Dreamstime.com When a member of Parliament asked how much Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Easter weekend vacation to Montana cost, the government said $23,846 ($17,515 U.S.). It turns out the cost was far higher. All told, the government spent $228,839 ($168,081 U.S.), and that does not count the costs of the protective detail, Royal Air Force crew, and other officials who accompany the prime minister wherever he goes. It also does not include the costs of the U.S. Secret Service protection provided to Trudeau while he was in the United States. Trudeau is refusing to answer questions about where he stayed, what he did, and whom he spoke to on the trip. The post Brickbat: On the Taxpayer's Dime appeared first on Reason.com. From left (clockwise): Palestinian journalist Noor Harazeen, translator Nihal Alami, U.K.-based Palestinian journalist Yara Eid, university student Tala Herzallah, and University of Alberta professor Ghada Ageel. Credit - The Gaza Strip has endured seemingly endless tragedy. As Israel wages its war to root out Hamas in the aftermath of the latters Oct. 7 massacre, which killed 1,400 in Israel, at least 3,700 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed. A blast at Al-Ahli hospital where many Gazans had sought refuge resulted in the loss of as many as hundreds of lives. But for all the attention being paid to Gaza in the last two weeks, it remains difficult to hear the voices of Palestinians living there. Israeli authorities have cut off fuel and electricity to the enclave, making it difficult for residents to keep their devices charged, let alone reach the outside world. While many international journalists are based in Israel, there is a very limited foreign media presence in Gaza. What reporting does come out of the Strip is largely from Gaza-based Palestinian reporters such as Noor Harazeen, who are simultaneously covering and living the story. I try to be as professional as possible, just so no one can say that because I am a Palestinian journalist, I am taking the Palestinian side, and spreading lies, she says. I try as much as I can to hold my tears back, but in some cases, I cant do that. The picture is a grim one. To live in Gaza today means not only facing airstrikes, thousands of which have been carried out on Gaza over the past 13 days, but also the threat of malnutrition and inability to access medical care, as Gaza hospitals reach a breaking point. The health system had 2,500 beds when the war started, and now it has 12,500 wounded, says Ghassan Abu-Sittah, a British Palestinian doctor currently working in Gaza. He notes that the health system was already on its knees as a result of a 16-year blockade, enforced by Israel and Egypt, that has severely curtailed the movement of goods and people in and out of the Strip, half of whose 2 million residents are children. Despite the Israeli militarys order late on Oct. 12 for the 1.1 million Palestinians residing in northern Gaza to flee southa mass evacuation that the United Nations dubbed impossible without devastating humanitarian consequencesthere are no safe havens in Gaza. As hundreds of thousands have fled to southern cities such as Khan Younis and Rafah, Israeli airstrikes have followed. That all of this is happening in full sight of the world makes many Palestinians in Gaza feel aloneeven betrayed. If you tell any Palestinian Tell your story now, even myself, they will say, Just shut up, no one cares, says Ghada Ageel, a visiting Professor at the University of Alberta in Canada, whose extended family remains in Gaza. We have been sending the stories. The problem is not with the story. The problem is with Western media and Western politicians that opted to remain silent. Still, many Palestinians are keen to share their experiencesif not to save their lives, then to at least to prove that they mattered. I hope that well stay alive, not because I want life, but because I want to tell our stories, the stories of our people, says 21-year-old Tala Herzallah, a student in Gaza. You can read Herzallahs and other Palestinians stories from Gaza below. They have been edited for length and clarity. Yasmeen Serhan Read More: Dr. Ghassan Abu-Sittah, 54 Abu-Sittah is a plastic surgeon based in London who arrived in Gaza the morning of Monday, Oct. 9 to volunteer with Medecins Sans Frontieres. He spoke to TIME on Oct. 19. Im currently at Shifa Hospital in the burns unit. I literally work all day in the operating room, and at night, I sleep on one of the [stretchers]. Shifa Hospital itself, which is Gazas largest hospital, has turned into a camp for the internally displaced with tens of thousands of families in every compound of the hospital, in the corridors, on the stairwells. The day before yesterday, I had been asked by colleagues at al-Ahli hospital to help out. So I took an ambulance and I was operating there till 5:30 p.m. when I realized I was going to have to stay over because it wasnt safe to travel at night, and so that I could continue operating into the night. An operating room in Shifa Hospital, where Dr. Abu-Sittah has been treating scores of patients. Later on that evening, there was a loud screech followed by the explosion. When I went out of the operating room to see what had happened, I could see the courtyard of the hospital was on fire. The ambulances were on fire. The cars were on fire. And the palm trees were on fire. The courtyard, which had been lit up by the fire, was just full of bodies and bits of bodies. After the explosion, the wounded started coming in and I went to the emergency department. There were scenes of absolute pandemonium. Dead bodies everywhere, people screaming, people with amputations. My first case was a 5-year-old girl whose mother had been killed along with her sister, and who had this massive wound in her right armthe whole of the right arm. These wounds are extremely contaminated. Theres dirt and gravel and pieces of glass and metal in the wound that have to be cleaned. The dead tissue needs to be removed. And then we carried on operating until 12:30 a.m. in the night. I tended to a guy with an amputation just through his thigh. I used his belt as a tourniquet and I resuscitated him. Then I went to another guy who had shrapnel in his neck and had hit a blood vessel and was squirting blood out. I was still quite shaken up yesterday. But by midday, I decided that the only way was just to get back to work. Yesterday, the orthopedic surgeons at Shifa said they had no more external fixators. Things are just falling apart. The hospital probably has twice the number of wounded patients that it has capacity for. Yesterday, they ran out of wards and corridors for mattresses to keep the wounded on. The water pressure reaching the hospital is now so low they cant operate the central sterilization machine. Weve reverted to using Cidex, which is a chemical disinfectant. The health system in Gaza had 2,500 beds when the war started, and now it has 12,500 wounded. But it had already been on its knees as a result of the 16-year siege imposed on it. Im feeling extremely pessimistic. This is going to be a long, drawn-out war, and were just at the beginning of it. As told to Astha Rajvanshi Afaf Alnajjar, 21 Afaf Alnajjar is a Palestinian student. Alnajjar is a Palestinian student studying English literature at the Islamic University of Gaza in Gaza City. She fled to Khan Younis in the south with her family and spoke to TIME on Oct. 18. Im a new bride-to-be. I just got engaged a week before the attack. My engagement party was supposed to be this past Thursday, the day before we had to evacuate from the hotel. I had everything prepared. And then suddenly, in the blink of an eye, everything is shattered. On Oct. 7, my family woke up to the sounds of rockets. We decided to go to a hotel that was supposed to be safe because it had something called U.N. clearance. We stayed in the hotel for four or five days. Then the situation got extremely bad. Entire neighborhoods around the hotel were wiped out and completely destroyed by airstrikes. Doors fell, some of the windows shattered, the ceilings also fell, aside from the water and the electricity and food shortages. There were about 350 people in the hotel, all crammed in one place because the staff told us to go to the lower floors of the hotel to be safer, but obviously we weren't safe. We were told to move to the south of the Gaza Strip. It took three hours to find a taxi that was willing to go to Khan Younis. We knew that we could potentially be targeted by an airstrike. On the same day that we evacuated, more than 70 people were killed in an airstrike that targeted the street for evacuation, which was marked safe by the Israeli forces. Thankfully we were able to get here in one piece. We havent had any water in the house since Friday night. We havent had any electricity. We use car batteries to have the internet on and we have to take our phones and charge them in nearby shops or in our neighbors homes who have solar energy. The attacks on Gaza are always brutal. However, this time is much, much worse. Were talking about entire families being wiped outand when I say entire families, Im not talking about a family of four or five. Im talking about a family of 40-plus people. I have to sleep every single night with the thought that I might wake up under rubble, if I ever wake up. My mom has to sit my 11-year-old brother down and tell him how to deal with the situation if he finds himself under the rubble. I see the support and love of millions of people around the world. However, people who are in positions of power are not doing anything to stop this. Everyone goes around and says we condemn the things that are happening. Weve already condemned enough. Its time to stop this. Theyre talking about aid coming into the Gaza Strip. Whats the point of aid if people are still going to continue dying? Ive reached a point where I cant dream of anything but war and destruction. I've started hearing voices, Ive started seeing things. It feels like were just waiting for our turn. It seems like were dead, but our death is pending. Its on pause until an airstrike comes and attacks us. As told to Yasmeen Serhan Nihal Alami, 33 Nihal Alami is a translator born in Gaza city. Alami is translator at the Palestinian Center for Human Rights. She spoke to TIME on Oct. 18. I was born in Gaza City and have grown up under an Israeli blockade depriving us of all our basic human rights. What I want the world to know is that things in Gaza did not start on Oct. 7 and it is not a war against Hamas. Israel has collectively punished us for 16 years. If Israel is actually launching a war against Hamas, then why does it close all crossings and deny entry of humanitarian aid and other basic supplies to the civilian population? On Friday, I evacuated to Khan Younis in southern Gaza with my family. We are now with 20 other people in one apartment. There were many nearby bombings in the so-called safe area in the south. We have no water, fuel, internet, or electricity. We evacuated after receiving a call to evacuate our house at dawn. So we went to my uncles house. There were very heavy airstrikes in my area in Gaza City. My neighborhood has been wiped out by the warplanes. Israel is still bombing civilian areas all over Gaza City. My husband lost his shop, our source of income, after Israeli warplanes bombed a commercial building, al-Watan, in Gaza City in the very first days of the wars. We are running out of all necessities. We consume too little to survive. In Gaza you do not plan, the Israeli occupation plans everything for you. Our hopes are to stay alive, to not lose any of my beloved ones, and to go back to my home in Gaza City. We feel disappointed by the worlds inaction and silence toward the Israeli crimes against us, starting from closing the border crossings and banning entry of humanitarian aid convoys. We are very frightened, feeling that death is very near and fearing the unknown. As told to Astha Rajvanshi Noor Harazeen, 33 Noor Harazeen, a Palestinian journalist. Harazeen is a Palestinian journalist, and was among the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who fled to southern Gaza following Israels evacuation order. She spoke to TIME on Oct. 17. On Saturday at 6:30 a.m., we started hearing the rockets being fired from Gaza. And we were shocked, and were still shocked now. Were used to Israel starting the wars. But once we saw the news we realized this is going to take more time. I was raised in Dubai and I came back to my homeland in Gaza in 2006. I live in central Gaza City in al-Rimal neighborhood, which has been evacuated. I am now in Deir al-Balah in southern Gaza. But actually there are bombings here too. So they evacuate us for our safety but there are bombings in the places they told us to evacuate to. My journey getting to southern Gaza after the evacuation order was actually easier than others. I was lucky enough to have a taxi to transport me. I had money to pay and rent a place in southern Gaza. It was hard on me to evacuate, especially with my kids and trying to gather as much as I can but I was actually lucky looking at the other people. When I was in the car I saw people taking that route on their feet with their children and they were taking blankets and food. It was such a sad thing to see. I felt that I was such a lucky person. Harazeen's husband and two kids. We also have other challenges. There is no wifi. There is no electricity. There is no fuel. Ive been staying here in Shuhada'a Al Aqsa hospital in Deir al-Balah taking shelter for four days now. I cant move around because there are airstrikes everywhere. The biggest challenge, as a Gazan journalist, is to stay calm and try to hold back my tears. I try to be as professional as possible so no one can say that because I am a Palestinian journalist I am taking the Palestinian side and spreading lies. But in some cases, I cant do that. Two days ago, Israeli warplanes targeted two buildings in Deir Al-Balah at the same time. People died. Many of them were children and I saw things that I have never, ever seen before. Some of the children reminded me of my kids. I have two kids, they are twins and they are both 5 years old. They dont fully understand what is going on. They think we are taking a trip or something. But they are strong. So this is why it became really emotional for me. As told to Anna Gordon Rawan Hassan, 23 Hassan is an English language teacher in Rafah who is running out of drinking water. She spoke to TIME on Oct. 17. It is so difficult in Gaza. You cant sleep at night. You cant eat what you need. You cant drink clean water. Many children died. We have many martyrs but no one cares. No one cares. Where is the humanity? Where is the humanity for these children? I think the food situation is OK for me, but for others, no. We have a limited amount of water. In two days, we will finish all the water. All the time the children are crying. They live with fear. I hope that the international community will stand with us. I have many friends in America, the U.K., and Canada. I have been trying to tell my friends there about what is happening because it is my duty to support my community and my people. We have to be strong in front of our children. I just pretend everything is OK. I have my niece and nephew. They are so young. I pray for Allah all the time. I think the people who feel the war the most are the children. Today, our neighbors home was bombed by the Israelis. You have to feel nothing. You have to be strong and not let anything destroy you. You are still alive. Unfortunately, today in Gaza children are being killed by the Israeli occupation. Where are their rights? This is the question. They should have the right to pray, travel, study. They dont have any of these rights. As told to Anna Gordon Tala Herzallah, 21 Tala Herzallah is a university student in Gaza and English teacher. Herzallah is a student at the Islamic University in Gaza and an English instructor at a language center in Gaza City. She spoke to TIME on Oct. 17. My university is now completely destroyed. My workplace is completely destroyed. And now Im stuck in the middle of Gaza City with my brother, his wife, his children, my mother, and my father. No words can describe the situation that we are living in right now. There is blood everywhere. Bad news everywhere. We are just counting our days, let me not say days, but minutes, till death. Because each minute we may die, we may be killed. I lost my cousin and her children. I lost my friend. Im losing my beloveds. Herzallah's cousin's kids, from left: Kinda, 6, Jameel, 4, and Huda, 8. Are you safe? Its now a ridiculous question because actually theres no safety in Gaza. Nowhere, literally nowhere, is safe. They told people to go to the south and they bombed the south. They told people to leave the north and they bombed the north. Everything is scarce. Water is an obstacle. Electricity is an obstacle. Gas, food, supplies. If we want bread, my brother and father have to get in line for maybe one hour or more. The bakery might open one day and close the next. Were running out of everything. Even if we are now alive, even if Gazans are alive, we are dead inside. No one can laugh, no one can sing, no one can talk. We dont have the ability or the energy to do anything in our lives. Were just waiting to die. We dont have a Plan B. We just dont want to lose more people, more houses, more markets. I hope that well stay alive, not because I want life, but because I want to tell our stories. The stories of our people. People have to know more about Palestinian history, and our suffering. We have been suffering since 1948. All we want to do is defend ourselves and our land. As told to Astha Rajvanshi Yara Eid, 23 Eid is a Palestinian journalist based in the U.K. Eid is a Palestinian journalist who grew up in Gaza but has been living in the United Kingdom for the past seven years. She spoke to TIME on Oct. 18. Two days ago, I got the news that my uncle's house was bombed. My uncle, my aunt, and all of their children and their grandchildren are all gone. I lost 14 members of my family in one airstrike. Yesterday, I got the news that my aunt's house was bombed. I still don't know how many members I lost from my aunt's family. It could be 15, or it could be more. I lost my cousin who was only two years older than me. She was a dentist. She was going to Egypt this month to get married. She was so excited for her wedding. She was so excited for her new life. And they killed her and her family. The whole neighborhood there was completely bombed and everyone was under the rubble. Eid's cousin's children are shown from left: Zeina, 2, Hala, 8, Menna, 6, Layan, 3, and Lara, 9. Hala is the only survivor. My mom is a U.N. employee and she has lost so many of her colleagues. She was in the north, not with the rest of my family, and now she has evacuated alone to the south near the Rafah border crossing. I haven't been able to talk to her. She doesn't have access to the internet at all. Sometimes her phone works and sometimes doesn't. One day, I couldn't reach her for more than 17 hours and I didn't know if she was alive or not. With my other family members, I've tried to call them since the first day. I haven't been able to hear their voices. The only thing I'm doing is reporting, and I'm trying so hard to not hear the news of my family members being killed on the news. I will never be able to live with the images Ive seen. I'm having nightmares every single day. I'm unable to sleep because of what my people are going through. These are civilians. These are my family. The only thing I want is to be with my family. I cannot explain how guilty I feel every single minute that Im in the U.K. and my family is there. I've never felt this amount of pain and loss and grief. It would have been easier for me if I was on the ground with my family, witnessing what they were witnessing. As told to Astha Rajvanshi Karim Abualroos, 27 Abualroos is a Palestinian writer, researcher, and human rights activist who lives in Belgium and lost relatives in Gaza to Israeli airstrikes. He spoke to TIME on Oct. 18. Gaza has a big place in my heart. I was born in Gaza and studied there. I left Gaza as many young people do looking for a new life. I live in Belgium now with my wife Maisa Mansour, who is also a writer, and our son Ghasan. The rest of my family though is still in Gaza under bombardment, where there is no safe place. Israel killed my sister Hadeel Abu Alroos, a public school teacher, her husband Basil Khayyat, a public roads engineer, her daughters Eileen and Celine, and her sons Muhammad and Mahmoud. They were safe in their home. Israel bombed their home without warning and without guilt. Since hearing the news of their death, I checked the videos I have of my sisters daughters. In all the videos, my nieces were dancing. They loved dancing. Karim Abualroos's sister Hadeel Abu Alroos (top-left) and Hadeel's husband Basil Khayyat (top-right), daughters Eileen and Celine, and sons Muhammad (bottom-right) and Mahmoud (bottom-left) were bombed and killed in their home. I did not expect it to be this horrific. I started following the news on television because of my inability to communicate with my family in Gaza to check on them due to the lack of the Internet and mobile reception. This fear and anxiety for those I lovemy friends, my family, my colleaguesand all Gazans is the first feeling that comes to me. The current situation in Gaza is terrifying and frightening. The people of Gaza do not deserve this. My sister and her daughters and sons did not deserve to be killed in this way that insults human dignity. They loved life, dreamed of traveling, and dreamed of being like the children of the world. As told to Astha Rajvanshi Ghada Ageel, 52 Ghada Ageel is a professor currently in Canada. Ageel is a visiting Professor at the University of Alberta has been unable to reach her family in Gaza and fears for the worst. She spoke to TIME on Oct. 15. My family is in the Gaza Strip. Only me, my husband, and two children are here in Canada. My brothers, my sisters, my neighbors, my friends, my auntseveryone is there. I haven't been able to communicate with them over the past three days. A friend in Britain called me today and he said he got through to one of my brothers. And he said that they are OK. You don't know if the next morning will bring you atrocity. You don't know. My cousin Hebba Abu Shammala was killed Thursday morning with her two kids. Hebba is a fourth-generation Palestinian refugee. She just got married four years ago. They lived in Khan Younis refugee camp in a very modest home. She called her mother Halima two days before and told her to come to her home. She also said if we die, we die together. She was laughing and her mom said no, no, you should come and stay with us. But Hebba thought it was going to be safer because it's not a border area. It's not next to any government buildings that might be a target. There's no safe place in Gaza now. Ghada Ageel's cousin Hebba Abu Shammala (center) and her children Musab (left), 3, and Minnah, 1, were killed on Oct. 12. They are telling people to move from the north to the south, and now the south is under attack. Already today, probably five homes I know well have been bombed. And I am just going crazy because my sister is in the north, and we lost contact with her. I know that she left. But where did she go? We don't know. I have a brother who's a doctor at the main hospital in Khan Younis refugee camp. I don't know if he's alive, if he's dead, how he's doing. As I speak now, I dont know the fate of my sister in Gaza. I dont know whether she made it or not. My sister is one of 2.3 million people under attack. Hebba, myself, my sisterour homes are in what is now Israel. We're refugees, and we have a right to return to our ancestral home. Maybe not today. But this is an inalienable right for everyone. Palestinians included. Look at the photo of Hebba. There are hundreds, actually thousands, like Hebba now. I assure you there are thousands more, under the rubble. As told to Karl Vick Write to Yasmeen Serhan at yasmeen.serhan@time.com and Astha Rajvanshi at astha.rajvanshi@time.com. The USS Carney in the Mediterranean Sea on Oct. 23, 2018. A U.S. Navy warship intercepted cruise missiles and "several drones" that were launched from Yemen, the Department of Defense revealed on Thursday. The USS Carney was operating in the Red Sea, which runs between the Arabian Peninsula and Africa, when it recognized the potential threat. The U.S. believes the missiles and drones were launched by Houthi rebels, potentially targeting Israel. This action was a demonstration of the integrated air and missile defense architecture that we have built in the Middle East and that we are prepared to utilize whenever necessary to protect our partners and our interests in this important region, said Department of Defense Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick S. Ryder. SEE MORE: Drones attack US military base used to train against Islamic State No casualties to U.S. forces were reported, Ryder said. He added that the U.S. is not aware of any deaths to any civilians, as the interception took place over water. The incident occurred amid heightened tensions in the region. Israel says it has been attacking Hamas targets in Gaza following a terrorist attack from the group on Oct. 7. Hamas killed more than 1,000 people in Israel and took nearly 200 others hostage. Hamas has reported nearly 4,000 Palestinian casualties since the war began. Ryder noted that the U.S. will continue to use its tools to deter "regional escalation." Federal agents found more than two dozen minors illegally working inside a poultry plant in Kidron, Ohio, earlier this month, according to local immigration advocates who spoke to NBC News on the condition of anonymity. The children, mainly from Guatemala, according to the advocates, were working in meat processing and sanitation in a plant run by Gerbers Poultry, which produces Amish Farm Chicken, advertised with the slogan Better feed, better taste. Marisa Darden, a lawyer representing Gerber, had no comment when asked about minors working at the plant. She told NBC News, We dont have any comment at this time. We are cooperating, we just cant talk about it. Local immigration advocates say agents from Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI surrounded the plant in the early evening of Oct. 4 and shut down traffic into and out of the plant. NBC News spoke to a current employee who did not want to be named because he was not authorized to speak to the media who was at the plant the night of the raid and spoke with the FBI agents who were there. The worker said agents arrived around 9:00 p.m. and asked employees for identification, asked about plant sanitation and stayed in the plant most of the night. The agents began organizing large groups of workers into lines, according to apparent video of the operation posted on TikTok. From the videos, it appears many of the workers feared they were being rounded up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement as part of a raid. The agents took photos of the workers and asked them where they got their documents to show they were of age and legally allowed to work in the United States, according to the immigration advocates. They also asked them to fill out a questionnaire that was made available in Spanish, English and in languages indigenous to Guatemala. Local resident Dany Ceto, who has relatives who work at the plant, told NBC News he saw the FBI agents surround the plant and at first assumed it was an immigration raid. He said children work at the plants second shift because it works with their school schedule. No arrests were made at the time of the operation, according to multiple eyewitnesses. It was not immediately clear what company handles sanitation of the plant. Sanitation at meat and poultry plants is often handled by outside firms. The FBI did not respond to a request for comment and HSI declined to comment. Under U.S. labor law, it is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to work in meatpacking facilities because of the increased risk of injury from dangerous machines and chemicals. A 16-year-old Guatemalan boy was recently killed working in a poultry plant in Mississippi. NBC News has previously reported on the 69% rise in child labor in the United States since 2018, particularly among Guatemalan youth who have recently migrated and find themselves working in the meatpacking and sanitation of meatpacking plants. The immigration advocates working with the Guatemalan community around Kidron, which is near Canton, say they believe some of the children have been forced to work by nonrelated adults who have housed them and are taking some or all of their wages. Others have voluntarily gone to work in meat processing and slaughterhouse sanitation because they want to earn money for themselves, the advocates said. Reality Check is a Star series holding those in power to account and shining a light on their decisions. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email tips@kcstar.com. The Blossom House Haunted Hotel, a decaying warehouse in Kansas Citys West Bottoms that was presented to customers as offering a real, not fake, paranormal experience, has been shut down by the Kansas City fire Marshal. The fire marshal closed the building at 817 Santa Fe St. on Wednesday, hours after The Star published a story about the venue. This former warehouse at 817 Santa Fe St in the West Bottoms is being promoted online as The Blossom House Haunted Hotel, albeit without a license, permits or safety equipment like an operating sprinkler system. On Wednesday, Oct 18, city spokeswoman Sherea Honeycutt told The Star in an email, the Kansas City Fire Department issued emergency orders to vacate 817 Santa Fe Street. The Fire Marshal also issued a stop work order for all occupancy in the building. The city said the owner of the property, Luther Glenn McCubbin, who told The Star he works as a bellhop at a Kansas City hotel, would be required to make extensive repairs on the property if they wish to use it in the future. The owner will also have to go through the proper permitting process to occupy the building, even as a warehouse, the city said. Stay all night if you dare, declares the webpage for Blossom House Haunted Hotel. The Star wrote about the five-story warehouse following a tip from a reader, Aaron Jacobsen of Douglas County, who recounted the story of paying $40 each for himself, his 19-year-old daughter and 21-year-old son to tour the Blossom House, which he found advertised online. The site claimed that the warehouse was haunted by real ghosts and that for $40 each, visitors could be a part of a real paranormal experience. Jacobsen, however, found himself truly frightened by what he saw as the dangerous condition of the warehouse, replete with rotting wood, cracked joists supported by temporary braces, one mended by a two-by-four, a leaky roof and ceiling in near collapse. The building appeared to have no running water, limited electricity, no working sprinkler system or emergency exits. At one point in the tour, visitors were asked to climb through a trapdoor in a floor and descend an unsecured ladder with flashlights to a dark basement. A trapdoor leads to the basement at the unlicensed Blossom House Haunted Hotel, says Aaron Jacobsen, who visited last weekend. The Star, through city and state records, found that the Blossom House Haunted Hotel was not licensed as a business or nonprofit, nor did it have permits to operate as either a hotel or haunted attraction. When a reporter for The Star made a reservation early this week, a confirmation text was returned that included the following recommendation: Use bathroom before coming but we can supply bucket and toilet paper. McCubbin, in an interview with The Star earlier this week, conceded that he had had yet to be licensed and needed to get permits. He said he had opened the site up for paranormal tours to test the waters of the business. His business partner and the tour guide, Paul Phillips, meantime, said he believes that the warehouse is truly haunted and that they had opened up the building primarily for paranormal investigation. He viewed The Stars story on the warehouse as an unfair attack piece in league with the fake Halloween haunted house industry. The fake haunted houses are afraid we are taking business from them, he texted to The Star. We have real ghosts, not actors!!! German visitors Klaus Meyer and Leo Fischer at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Death Valley National Park. (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times) Death Valley is still wet. And only a fortunate few seem to be getting the best of it. Two months after a storm that dropped a year's rainfall in a single day, flooding roads, destroying trails and closing down the park, the national park's Oct. 15 reopening revealed a strange place made stranger. The famously flat and dry Badwater Basin now is home to a sprawling but temporary lake, visible from water's edge and 5,575 feet above at Dante's View. Dante's View, Death Valley National Park. (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times) Between sand dunes at Mesquite Flat, you might stumble on a puddle or a pond. In Mosaic and Golden canyons, where floodwaters surged in August, scattered boulders and silt have reshaped the narrow passages, hinting at violence just concluded. Across the plains and slopes, you see more green than usual and sometimes yellow and orange wildflowers, apparently blooming out of seasonal confusion. Rangers say they can't be sure how long the lake will last, and it's unclear when the park's many still-closed roads and other areas will reopen. But those travelers on the scene in recent days some savvy, some lucky and most, it seems, from abroad have half a dozen striking spectacles to choose from. They also have a few challenges to reckon with, including $8 gas at Furnace Creek. (Don't worry. Stovepipe Wells is more than $2 cheaper.) "We were very lucky," said Todd Robertson, 35, of London, walking the Badwater shoreline in the aftermath of a spectacular sunset. "I've never seen anything like this," said Klaus Meyer, 32, of Germany's Black Forest region, hiking through Mosaic Canyon. Golden Canyon, Death Valley National Park. (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times) "Twelve-hour days. Six days a week. Good money," said Jorge Santiago, 30, of Reno. He was working as a flagman near Zabriskie Point, where road repairs require traffic control. Crucial stretches of State Route 190 and Badwater Road, which connect many of the park's most popular sites, are open. Still, drivers from Southern California must enter the park by way of Lone Pine, using highways 395 and 136, and will face two road-repair stops on the way to Furnace Creek, with delays of up to 30 minutes each. There's a third checkpoint between Furnace Creek and Dante's View. (Check the park website before visiting.) Once you're in the park, trails are uncrowded, traffic is scant, roads are freshly scraped (through gravel patches remain) and occupancy is low in hotels and campgrounds at Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells Village. Many campgrounds are open. High temperatures are expected to dip from about 100 Friday to the high 80s for most of the next week. Read more:The 101 best California experiences to bookmark now A surprise lake at Badwater Basin Badwater is the lowest spot in the continental U.S., 282 feet below sea level, and it's usually a vast flat expanse of salty, crusty playa that was once a lakebed. Sometimes there's a little water near the boardwalk that the National Park Service has built near the parking lot, but usually there's nothing you could call a lake. Now there's more water than rangers have seen in 18 years, and the result is a glassy surprise that ripples in the breeze. Todd Robertson and Karina Shah, both from London, were there shortly after sunset Monday, watching the sky darken and the lake's colors change. British visitors Todd Robertson and Karina Shah at Badwater Basin, Death Valley National Park. (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times) "We've been waiting 10 years to come and do the national parks," Robertson said. "We were in Zion yesterday and the Valley of Fire en route to here. We were praying all the way that this would be open." And then, he said, "Last night when we checked in [at the Ranch at Death Valley in Furnace Creek], they let us know it was wet." Bill Altman, 68, was present for the same sunset, because he'd done plenty of homework. "I'm from Maine and I'm doing a national park tour. Started at the Badlands in South Dakota. Been driving around for a month and a half already. I knew about the rain, knew about the closure, knew about the water," he said. "I come every year and I've never seen the lake. ... Pretty wonderful." Park ranger Matthew Lamar said rangers haven't measured the depth of the lake, but "a little over 2 feet [at its deepest point] is what we think. That's what it was in 2005, the last time there was a significant lake there." Lamar noted that the park, besides being the hottest place in the world, also has the highest evaporation rate, so the lake may dry up within a few weeks. "It depends in part on temperatures." In the meantime, he said, rangers in the Visitor Center are stressing to visitors that "this is really special." Mesquite Flat: 'The flowers are really confused' Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Death Valley National Park. (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times) For those willing to rise before dawn, it's always been a treat to see the sun rise above the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, casting golden light on all that sand and the surrounding mountains. In recent days, that panorama has been punctuated by at least a few enduring puddles and one pond, which I found about half a mile from the Mesquite Flat parking lot. More than once, I spotted a faint, flitting motion on the pond's surface. A mosquito? In Death Valley? Maybe so. Ranger Shelby McClintock later told me that since the summer rain of 2022, "There's been an uptick in insects." And in some spots, she added, "The flowers are really confused, and they're in bloom." Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Death Valley National Park. Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Death Valley National Park. Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times Meanwhile, on the dunes, the sun rose and colored the mountains. The temperature, about 70 at 7 a.m., began its climb to the 90s. On a neighboring dune, Klaus Meyer, 32, and girlfriend Leo Fischer, 33, were taking their time. Meyer had just finished his last segment of the Pacific Crest Trail in the Sierra near Mammoth. Fischer had come from Germany to join him. As they roamed the dunes, Fischer spotted a set of sidewinder tracks, a repeating pattern that they would never have expected a rattlesnake to leave in its wake. Later they hiked Mosaic Canyon, where mud flows and flung stones have raised and rearranged the canyon floor, scraping and polishing walls that were always famed for their striations and markings. "I'm an environmental scientist and all this geological stuff is great for me. So it was sort of an obvious step to come here," Meyer said. Still, "It was definitely a surprise," he said. "Now," added Fischer, "we have five days until your visa expires." Mystery spectacles at Zabriskie Point From Zabriskie Point, visitors can survey a wonderland of rock formations and alluvial flow, and it's just about impossible to tell what happened last week from what happened last century. Visitor Michaela Reichel, 33, from near Frankfurt, Germany, had come with a friend on a San-Francisco-to-Las Vegas-and-back itinerary they'd planned in spring. Zabriskie Point, Death Valley National Park. (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times) "We didn't know about the closure and reopening," Reichel said. Looking into the distance from the point, they could see shimmering along the desert floor at Badwater. But was it a mirage or real water? They debated until a third party settled the question. Zabriskie Point, Death Valley National Park. Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times Zabriskie Point, Death Valley National Park. Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times Dante's View, a spot to take in the park's recent transformation "We expected it to be really crowded up here," said Fredy Koepf, puzzled. He and his wife, Karin Koepf, had little company as they stood atop the ridge at Dante's View, looking down at the floor of Death Valley more than a mile below. The centerpiece of that view was a blue-green blob that stretched for miles the lake at Badwater. When the sun dipped beneath the mountains and the glare subsided, the lake's colors deepened and the unlikeliness of it all seemed to double. "We're from Switzerland," Fredy Koepf said. "We've been visiting U.S. national parks for decades." But they had never come to Death Valley because they were traveling with kids in summer, he said, and wanted no part of that profound desert heat. Now, with their kids grown, the Koepfs had taken an extended autumn vacation to see the West, including Yosemite. Travelers Fredy and Karin Koepf admire Dante's View, Death Valley National Park. (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times) They knew Death Valley had been closed but saw that it was likely to reopen, so they spent a few days exploring the lakes and early autumn colors of the Eastern Sierra a happy surprise, said Karin Koepf, because "we didn't know fall is like this here!" Once Death Valley opened on Sunday, Fredy Koepf said, "We were here Monday. It was perfect. ... It's amazing." And in the narrow canyons, "You can really imagine the force of the water. ... We have friends in San Diego. They're too busy. We keep sending them pictures." Read more:8 perfect California road trips to take for the ultimate fall vibes It's a spectacular time to visit Death Valley The Monday sunset at Badwater had been so spectacular that I wanted to see it in reverse. So I went back for Wednesday sunrise. Arriving in the predawn moments, I found John Osborn, 61, from outside Portland, Ore., pointing his camera across the water, along the water's edge, then across the water again. "This trip was planned two years ago," he said, then paused to explain: "I went through cancer treatment two years ago." Traveler John Osborn at Badwater Basin, Death Valley National Park. (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times) Since those days, he said, "I've got a long list" of places to see. When he got word of the park's reopening, he started driving south, stopping along the way in Inyo County's White Mountains to see the bristlecone pines, some of the oldest living organisms on Earth. He checked into the hotel at Furnace Creek, got up early and drove 18 miles to Badwater to watch and snap the sun come up over the slowly vanishing lake. "I lived in Southern California for 18 years and never came here," he said. Travel tips: hotels, food and, yes, those gas prices Death Valley National Park includes lodgings and restaurants at Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells and Panamint Springs, with hotel prices starting between $100 and $200 nightly. Since the park's partial reopening Oct. 15, many services have been limited, in part because of staffing shortages. Gas station, Furnace Creek, Death Valley. (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times) The largest number of visitor accommodations can be found at a complex in Furnace Creek known as the Oasis at Death Valley and run by the Xanterra management company. The Oasis, which is relatively close to Zabriskie Point and Badwater Basin, includes the Ranch at Death Valley hotel and the more upscale Inn at Death Valley. The breakfast buffet at Furnace Creek's 1849 Restaurant costs $21 for adults. The park's Stovepipe Wells Village, which includes lodging, restaurant, store and gas station about 25 miles northwest of Furnace Creek, is close to the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes and Mosaic Canyon. The breakfast buffet price is $9.50. The Furnace Creek gas station, managed by Xanterra, was charging $8.20 per gallon of regular gas when I arrived a number so high that I saw a motorcyclist pull out his phone to take a photo after gassing up. When I asked the attendant about the price, he said that because of the road closures, "Our fuel delivery company has to drive an extra five hours to get here. So most of (the high prices) is extra fuel delivery cost." Meanwhile, at the park's Stovepipe Wells Village gas station 25 miles away (and under different management), the price was $5.79 for regular. Sign up for L.A. Goes Out, a weekly newsletter about exploring and experiencing Los Angeles from the L.A. Times. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A key suspect in the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise who has been on the run ever since the brazen July 7, 2021, attack in the hills of Port-au-Prince was arrested Thursday in Haiti. Joseph Felix Badio, a former government functionary who had been fired from his anti-corruption job two months earlier, was apprehended by Haitian police late Thursday in Petionville, National Police spokesman Garry Desrosiers confirmed to the Miami Herald. Wearing a black jacket and checkered shirt, Badio was picked up while grocery shopping in a popular supermarket. Badio is among several high-profile suspects who remained in hiding more than two years after the killing. There has long been widespread speculation that he was either the key person behind the scenes or a potential mastermind. If he cooperates, he may help investigators in Haiti and in the United States, where a parallel FBI investigation is ongoing, learn the truth about the plot to kill Moise, who ordered the assassination and why. More than likely, the judge in charge of the Haitian investigation, Walther Wesser Voltaire, is going to want to question Badio, unless an agreement has already been made with U.S. authorities to extradite him to Miami to face charges. READ MORE: Who was involved in killing of Haiti president Jovenel Moise? Last year, Badio released an audio recording in Creole denying his involvement in the assassination plot. He said he wasnt afraid of U.S. authorities and had written to the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince, presenting them with documents about the Haitian-Americans and the Colombian commandos accused in the case. While more than 40 people have been arrested in Haiti, including members of the presidents presidential guard and a group of Colombian mercenaries, none have yet to be formally charged. In the United States 11 people have been charged in the FBI-led case with either conspiring to assassinate Moise or with playing a supporting role. In the days after the killing, before going into hiding, Badio had identified himself as a representative of the Counter Terrorist Unit Security, or CTU. The Miami-area security firm was behind the hiring of more than 20 Colombians with military experience who are accused of storming Moises private residence in the middle of the night to kill him. A Haitian investigative police report first obtained by the Miami Herald showed him to be a key player in the plot and states that he was in contact with a number of suspects who have either been arrested or are wanted in connection with the killing. Among the allegations: Badio was supposed to steal an assault rifle from the anti-corruption unit where he worked as part of an initial plan to arrest Moise after he returned from a trip to Turkey in mid-June, weeks before his death. Haitian police said their information was based on their questioning of James Solages, one of the jailed Haitian Americans who said he was working as a translator with the group that stormed the presidents house in the hills above the capital. Solages, according to police, said they had planned to use the services of members of a rogue force of active and former police officers known as Fantom 509 by providing them with seven assault rifles. Between May and June, Badio logged 290 calls with a Cineus Francis Alexis, whose cellphone was transmitting from Petionville at 2:04 a.m. on the night of the attack and later in the vicinity of the National Palace. Solages and Joseph Vincent, another Haitian American jailed in the plot, told police that Badio told the group that Jean Laguel Civil, the presidents security coordinator who is currently jailed in Haiti in connection to the plot, had $80,000 in hand to bribe 80 palace guards. Civils attorney, Reynold Georges, previously denied the accusation to the Herald, calling it an attempt to persecute his client, who he said had nothing to do with the attack. Haitian police say Badio had been keeping tabs on Moise for months, and had even rented a house near the presidents residence. On the night of the killing, telephone records show that Badio was on the phone with several of the suspects, including a former police commissioner who was getting intelligence from one of Moises guards. The ex-cop, Marie Jude Gilbert Dragon, later died in prison after contracting COVID-19 during his imprisonment. Hours after Moises death, Badio called current Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who at the time had been designated for the post but had not yet been sworn in, leading to questions about whether there was a connection between the two men in the plot. Henry has categorically denied any involvement in the assassination and said he did not recall speaking to Badio the night of the presidents slaying. Henry said he and Badio had been in communication prior to July 7 because Badio was advising him on how to address Haitis ongoing gang problem. Moise had once considered Badio for the job of interior minister. Joseph Felix Badio, accused in the assassination of Haiti President Jovenel Moise, was arrested Thursday, October 19, 2023 by Haiti National Police at a supermarket in Petionville. Hes been a fugitive since July 7, 2021. In recordings made while in hiding, Badio has attacked Henry and issued threats against journalists, human rights advocates and police. He was believed to have been under the protection of one of the countrys more powerful gang leaders, Vitelhomme Innocent, and moved around with policemen as his bodyguards. Badios arrest is a major breakthrough for the investigation into Moises death, which is currently on its fifth investigative judge. The case has picked up momentum in the U.S. where several suspects are awaiting sentencing and a trial is scheduled for next year. Earlier this month, former Haiti Sen. Joseph Joel John, who had been detained in Jamaica before being brought to Miami last year, pleaded guilty in Miami federal court to conspiracy charges in the killing of Haitis leader. John acknowledged to FBI agents that he had met with some co-conspirators just before they embarked on the mission to kill President Moise at his suburban home outside Port-au-Prince, according to court records. READ MORE: How a Miami plot to oust a president led to a murder in Haiti John also attended meetings in South Florida and Haiti with key suspects and tried to acquire weapons and ammunition for them, according to his signed factual statement and other court records. Hes believed to have been a link between the various groups. On the night of the killing, he was in communication with several main suspects. John, 52, admitted that he helped obtain rental vehicles, made introductions to Haitian gang members and tried to get firearms for the co-conspirators operation targeting the president, according to a statement filed with his plea agreement. Josephs goal was to become the prime minister under Moises successor following the leaders removal from office. John pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide material support in the assassination, providing that support, and conspiring to kill or kidnap a person outside the United States. He faces up to life in prison at his sentencing on Dec. 19 before U.S. District Judge Jose Martinez, but he is cooperating with federal prosecutors and could receive a lower sentence down the road. In addition to John, there are two other defendants who previously pleaded guilty to the murder conspiracy. one is Retired Colombian army officer German Alejandro Rivera Garcia, aka Colonel Mike, 45, admitted last month that he met with several co-conspirators from Haiti and South Florida before leading a group of former Colombian soldiers to the Haitian presidents home to kill him. Rivera faces up to life in prison at his sentencing later this month The other is Haitian businessman Rodolphe Jaar, 51, who admitted to providing weapons, lodging and money in the conspiracy to assassinate Haitis president. A dual Haitian and Chilean citizen, Jaar was sentenced in June to life in prison but is hoping to get his prison term decreased with cooperation. He had previously been convicted of drug trafficking in the United States. John, who also goes by the name John Joel Joseph, was transferred in May 2022 to Miami from Jamaica, where he had been jailed on an immigration violation. John served in the Haitian Senate from 2009-15 and worked as a political and security consultant. According to a Haitian police investigative report, John rented five vehicles for the mission five weeks before the murder plot was carried out. He was joined by gang leader Innocent and a former rebel leader known as the Torturer, Miradieu Faustin. Joseph Badio, who once worked for Haitis Ministry of Justice and at its anti-corruption unit, was fired for alleged ethics violations weeks prior. PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) A former justice official considered one of the main suspects in the killing of Haitian President Jovenel Moise in 2021 was arrested Thursday in Haitis capital after being on the run for more than two years, police said. Joseph Badio once worked for Haitis Ministry of Justice and at the governments anti-corruption unit until he was fired for alleged ethics violations weeks before the assassination. Jovenel Moise talks to journalists during an interview in his office in Petion-Ville, Haiti in November 2016. Haiti police announced Thursday the arrest of a former Haitian official considered one of the main suspects in the killing of President Moise. (Photo: Dieu Nalio Chery/AP, File) Badio was arrested in the neighborhood of Petion Vile in Port-au-Prince, National Police spokesman Garry Desrosiers said. Moise was shot 12 times at his private home in July 7, 2021, sending Haiti into a political crisis. Several people had been arrested after Moise assassination, including 11 men now in U.S. custody. Prosecutors in the U.S. have alleged that there was a broad plot among conspirators in both Haiti and Florida to hire mercenaries to remove Moise and benefit from contracts from a successor administration. Last week, former Haitian senator John Joel Joseph one of the 11 men in custody in the U.S. pleaded guilty to charges related to the assassination. A federal judge set his sentencing for Dec. 19. The former senator was extradited from Jamaica to the U.S. in June accused of conspiring to commit murder or kidnapping outside the United States and providing material support resulting in death. Two other people also have pleaded guilty. Haitian-Chilean businessman Rodolphe Jaar was sentenced in June to life in prison. The sentencing for former Colombian soldier German Alejandro Rivera Garcia is set for Oct. 27. Among the people arrested after the killing are 18 former Colombian soldiers who are in custody in Haiti. Since the assassination, the Caribbean country has also experienced a surge of gang violence that led the prime minister to request the deployment of an armed force. The U.N. Security Council finally voted on early October to send a multinational force led by Kenya to help fight the gangs. Kenya has not set a date for the deployment. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post A main suspect in the killing of Haitian President Jovenel Moise has been arrested after 2 years appeared first on TheGrio. A 77-year-old man in New Hampshire didnt return home when he drove off to throw away his trash in a local dumpster, police say. So, his family and neighbors worried about where he might be began looking for him that night. Their search led them to the mans 2017 Acura RDX submerged in Lake Winnipesaukee, the Moultonborough Police Department said in an Oct. 19 news release on Facebook. Trapped inside the car was 77-year-old Barry Haight. Police estimate Haight was in the car underwater for around an hour and a half before being discovered. A neighbor, who works as a firefighter in Massachusetts, took immediate action and went into the water to rescue Haight, according to the police department. Haight was pulled out of the car and hauled onto shore. While waiting for an ambulance to arrive, the neighbor who dragged Haight out of the sunken car gave him CPR until officials made it to the scene, police said. Moultonborough police and other emergency responders investigated the scene and give Haight medical attention, the release said. He was sent to Concord Hospital-Laconia, where he was pronounced dead. Police called Haights death an unfortunate and tragic accident. Although there werent any witnesses to the accident, police said he most likely was driving in the cul-de-sac and mistakenly drove down a boat ramp into the lake. His car was pulled from New Hampshires largest lake by a towing company and firefighters, according to police. Moultonborough is about 50 miles north of Concord. Kayak found overturned in lake, then 67-year-olds body pulled from water, CO cops say Body found after tugboat strikes object, capsizes on Alabama River, officials say Man looking for his dog stumbles upon womans body in North Carolina woods, cops say HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) Police are searching for a man suspected of fatally shooting a Maryland judge who had awarded custody of the suspects children to his wife on the day of the killing, authorities said Friday. The judge was shot in his driveway Thursday evening while his wife and son were home and just hours after he ruled against the suspect in a divorce case, authorities said. Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert said authorities are actively working to apprehend 49-year-old Pedro Argote for the targeted attack of Maryland Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson. Wilkinson, 52, was found with gunshot wounds around 8 p.m. Thursday outside his home in Hagerstown, authorities said. Wilkinson was taken to Meritus Medical Center, where he died of his injuries. Albert said at a news conference Friday that Argote is considered armed and dangerous. Albert declined to identify that type of weapon used in the slaying but said Argote legally owned a handgun. Judges across the U.S. have been the target of threats and sometimes violence in recent years. President Joe Biden last year signed a bill to give around-the-clock security protection to the families of Supreme Court justices after the leak of a draft court opinion overturning the Roe v. Wade abortion-rights decision, which prompted protests outside of conservative U.S. Supreme Court justices homes. Wilkinson had presided over a divorce proceeding involving Argote earlier Thursday, but Argote was not present for the hearing, Albert said. The judge gave custody of Argotes children to his wife at the hearing, and that was the motive for the killing, the sheriff said. Wilkinson issued a judgment Thursday, officially granting the divorce and awarding sole custody of the couples four children ages 12, 11, 5 and 3 to their mother, court records show. He ordered Argote to have no contact with the children and pay $1,120 a month in child support. Court records show a messy legal battle that began when Argote filed for divorce last year. In his initial court filing, Argote accused his wife of neglecting her homeschooling responsibilities and failing to properly supervise the children. But she filed a countercomplaint, accusing Argote of cruel treatment and saying she couldnt support herself financially. Days later, his wife requested a protective order, saying he was harassing her via text, controlling her every move, threatening to abuse their daughter and making false accusations against her. I dont get out of the house without his knowledge," she wrote in court documents. I know he has his weapon on him at all times. A judge granted a temporary protective order which included a directive for Argote to surrender his firearms but it was dismissed weeks later at the wife's request, court records show. Argote repeatedly proposed that they continue living in the same house while they sorted out their digital advertising business and became more financially stable. Wilkinson wrote in a March 2023 opinion that Argote's proposal was "frankly, a non-starter. The testimony leaves this court with the uneasy sense that Father engages in absolute control over Mother, their finances, and their lives," Wilkinson wrote. "This is not in the best interests of the children. Argote was ordered to move out of his familys home the same day. Messages left seeking comments at cell phone numbers listed for Argote werent immediately returned. Argote didnt have a criminal record in Washington County, but officers had responded to the residence for verbal domestic assaults two times within the last few years, Albert said. Attorneys in the divorce case did not immediately respond to emails and calls seeking comment. However, the attorney representing the children had words of praise for the late jurist. Judge Wilkinson was an amazing man, father, husband and judge and I am blessed to have known and worked with him, attorney Ashley Wilburn wrote in an email. He is a hero. Hagerstown, a city of nearly 44,000, lies about 75 miles (120 kilometers) northwest of Baltimore in the panhandle of Maryland, near the state lines of West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Albert said he wasn't aware of any previous threats against Wilkinson. Wilkinson was sworn in as a circuit court judge in 2020. The 1994 University of North Carolina graduate received his law degree from Emory University School of Law in 1997 and then became a circuit court law clerk in Washington County. At his swearing-in, Wilkinson said he wanted to become a judge to serve the community, The Herald-Mail reported. "Its an honor and its humbling, and Im happy to serve, he said. Wilkinson thanked retired Judge Frederick C. Wright III for guiding his career. Wilkinsons military family had moved around, but when Wright hired his mother as a law clerk in 1983, Hagerstown became his home. Wilkinson later clerked for Wright. "He was quite an outstanding young man, Wright told The Associated Press in a phone call. "I had the privilege of being his mentor. Other U.S. judges have been targets of violence in recent years. In June 2022, a retired Wisconsin county circuit judge, John Roemer was killed in his home in what authorities said was a targeted killing. That same month, a man carrying a gun, a knife and zip ties was arrested near Justice Brett Kavanaughs house in Maryland after threatening to kill the justice. A mens rights lawyer with a history of anti-feminist writings, posed as a FedEx delivery person in 2020 and fatally shot the 20-year-old son of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas, and wounded her husband at their New Jersey home. Salas in another part of the home at the time and was not injured. And a Texas woman was charged in August with threatening to kill U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing the Washington case accusing Donald Trump of conspiring to overturn his 2020 election loss. ___ Michael Kunzelman and Sarah Brumfield reported from Silver Spring, Maryland. Alanna Durkin Richer in Boston and Jennifer Farrar in New York also contributed to this report. A tiny, four-legged storm chaser is legendary in her own right much like her owner and sidekick, Extreme Meteorologist Dr. Reed Timmer. Gizmo, a 15-year-old Yorkshire Terrier, has intercepted around 200 tornadoes, a handful of hurricanes, including a Category 5 storm, and many other extreme weather events throughout her lifetime. One of her life's most intense storm chases was a tornado that Timmer and Gizmo chased down on foot near McCook, Nebraska, on May 17, 2019. The tornado touched down on top of Timmer's chase vehicle at the time, called Dominator 3. Winds of 80-100 mph in the tornado's rear inflow jet pelted the duo, covering Timmer from head to toe in manure that was lofted into the air from a plowed field. Reed Timmer explained that the biggest intercept of this tiny terrier's life was Category 5 Hurricane Michael in Florida. Gizmo rode through 150-mph gusts in Michael's eyewall as Timmer covered the storm for AccuWeather. The duo rode out part of the storm with the windows down, since winds were blowing so hard rain didn't soak the inside of the vehicle. "Gizmo loved every moment of it," Timmer said in an interview on AccuWeather Early, adding, "I think she just loves being along for the ride." Gizmo was born in Enid, Oklahoma, in the heart of Tornado Alley. Throughout her life, she has intercepted weather across 48 states in the United States and three Canadian provinces. Along the way, she has met many storm chasers, who Timmer explains she never forgets. Her least favorite type of weather to chase? Hailstorms. Timmer explained that she is not a fan of the loud noises that come with hail coming down. GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP Have the app? Unlock AccuWeather Alerts with Premium+ But, there's never a dull moment for this furry sidekick. Outside of chasing down severe weather, Gizmo joins Timmer on leaf-peeping adventures. Also, in her downtime, she chases many cats, Timmer quipped. Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alertsare prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer. One of the few Muslim members of Congress told NBC News she feels her life may be in danger after being inundated with threats since a terror attack sparked the war in Gaza, reflecting wider fears among Muslim Americans who feel they are being targeted to a degree unseen since the days after 9/11. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., whose family fled Somalias civil war before emigrating to the United States, unequivocally condemned the Hamas attack, but her longstanding criticism of Israel policy toward Palestinians and Washingtons support for the country has made her a lightning rod. The U.S. Capitol Police and the House Sergeant at Arms briefed Omar and other progressive lawmakers critical of Israel including the only other Muslim woman in Congress, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., who is Palestinian American over potential threats last week, according to a Democratic aide familiar with the meeting. Voicemails shared with NBC News include profanity-laced death threats calling Omar a terrorist Muslim. Another claimed a vigilante group spying on the congresswoman and your children had obtained all your addresses and handed them out to rapists. Im from a militant group, the male caller of a third voicemail claimed. I cant wait till our group sees you one day and I can rip your f------ rag off your head... I hope the Israelis kill every f------ one of you. In a statement, Omar said she and other Muslim Americans have been victims of a dishonest smear that equates criticism of Israels treatment of Palestinians with support for Hamas, which has created an environment where threats proliferate. It directly endangered my life and that of my family, as well as subjected my staff to traumatic verbal abuse simply for doing their jobs, Omar said. More importantly, it threatens the millions of American Muslims. This toxic language and imagery has real-world consequences, Omar continued. House Republican leaders stay silent as their party unleashes these toxic attacks and refuse to hold extremists in their ranks accountable. Since assuming office, two men have pleaded guilty to threatening to kill me. This is very real. I fear for my children and have to speak to them about remaining vigilant because you just never know. Omar, Tlaib and other members of the Squad of progressive lawmakers have long been targets of conservative media, and they were frequently singled out by former President Donald Trump. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., has called them the Jihad squad, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, D-Ga., dubbed them the Hamas caucus, and the official campaign arm of House Republicans has labeled the pair Hamas spox, Washington slang for spokesperson. They have also faced official criticism from their own party and Jewish leaders. The White House called other Squad members initial response to the Hamas attack repugnant, while Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said Wednesday that it was truly disturbing that members of Congress would take the word of Hamas over Israel after Tlaib repeated claims that Israel bombed a Gaza hospital. (U.S. officials believe it was a misfired Palestinian rocket, but questions remain.) Tlaib is now facing a censure motion from Republicans over the comments. The security briefing last Thursday afternoon, organized in part by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, also included Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., Cori Bush, D-Mo., Barbara Lee, D-Calif., Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., and Delia Ramirez, D-Ill. Due to persistent threats, several of those members have long been assigned security details, which is highly unusual for members of Congress outside top leadership roles. But Omars office said the threats in the past 10 days have been worse than ever. In one voicemail left for her office, a male caller says, I wish that someone would kill you and put you in hell. Another male caller says she should drop dead for supporting f------ terrorists. You work for this country, the caller continues. Pull your f------ head out of your f------ turban-wearing ass, and f------ see the light of day, you dumbass f------ terrorist-supporting f------ piece of s---. The caller who claimed Omar was being spied on also said the group targeting her had hacked into all of her accounts and was allegedly preparing to poison her and her family. Allegations are theyre going to kill you and we get to watch on the internet, the caller said. I pray that they f------ have justice on all you traitors. The Capitol Police said it does not comment on specific threats, but confirmed that it has been enhancing security throughout the Capitol complex and said it is working around the clock to coordinate with our law enforcement and intelligence partners across the country to keep everyone safe. Last summer, a Florida man was sentenced to three years probation and a $7,000 fine over a threat emailed to Omar, Tlaib, Ocasio-Cortez and Pressley. And in 2020, a New York man was sentenced to a year in prison over threatening phone calls made to Omar. The offices of several Jewish members of Congress either did not respond to requests for information about threats or said they had not seen a notable spike. Meanwhile, watchdogs have tracked a surge in the number of incidents targeting Muslim and Jewish Americans seemingly motivated by the conflict in the Middle East. The danger feels especially real to Muslims after a 6-year-old Palestinian American boy outside Chicago was killed in what authorities say was a hate crime. According to court documents, the boys landlord allegedly stabbed the boy 26 times after expressing hatred of Muslims and anger over the Hamas attack. We are undoubtedly seeing a spike in incoming threats and hate to the community, said Corey Saylor, the research director at the Center for American-Islamic Relations, the countrys largest Muslim advocacy group, who said the group had been so busy responding to incidents that it hadnt had a chance to tally numbers yet. In addition to some isolated acts of violence and threats, like an Oregon mosque receiving the message DIE MUSLIMS DIE!, Saylor said he has been particularly concerned about attempts to intimidate students who have criticized Israel and spoken out about Palestinian causes. For instance, a mobile billboard circled Harvard Square last week displaying the names and faces of students involved in a controversial statement blaming Israel for creating the conditions that led to the attack, while Google was forced to remove an anonymously created document that included their names and personal identifying information in what Saylor called a mass doxxing. Meanwhile, Jewish organizations have also stepped up their security in response to growing threats. Oren Segal, who runs the Center on Extremism at the Anti-Defamation League, said his group has tracked at least 141 antisemitic incidents (such as vandalism, harassment or assaults) in the 10 days between Oct. 7 and 17, which represents a 48% increase over that same period last year. ADL researchers also found a 400% surge in non-specific threats about killing Jews, Zionists or Israelis on the social media platform Telegram, an online space that has incubated hatred and animated real-world activity in the past, according to Segal. Antisemitism has already been on the rise for several years, with FBI crime data released this week showing that anti-Jewish hate crimes rose 37% from 2021 to 2022, reaching the highest level in decades. In a time where a lot of the public narrative is focused on divisions between our communities, we need to be allies for everyone who is targeted by hatred, Segal said of Jewish and Muslim communities. Those hatreds are often combined not only in the minds of extremists, but those who want to divide our community. Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown in a coup in July The military government in Niger says it has foiled an attempt by the deposed former President, Mohamed Bazoum, to escape from custody. The former president attempted to flee in the night with his family, cooks and security, a military spokesman said. There were plans for the group to fly out on helicopters but the plan was foiled, he added. Mr Bazoum's lawyers have called for his immediate release, saying his detention is illegal. He has been under house arrest along with his wife and son since members of his presidential guard staged a coup in late July. The lawyers say the ousted president and his family can only be visited by a doctor who brings them food every other day, and on Friday morning even this was not allowed. They demanded proof that he was still alive. Niger is part of the African region known as the Sahel - a belt of semi-arid land that stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, just south of the Sahara Desert. The area is plagued by jihadists and beset by military regimes. The attempted escape happened around 03:00 (02:00 GMT) on Thursday, military spokesman Amadou Abdramane said on state television. "The ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and his family, his two cooks and two security elements, tried to escape from his place of detention," he said. The escape bid failed and "the main actors and some of the accomplices" were arrested, he added. The elaborate plan involved Mr Bazoum getting to a hideout on the outskirts of the capital Niamey, Mr Abdramane said. The group had then planned to fly out on helicopters "belonging to a foreign power" towards Nigeria, he added, denouncing Mr Bazoum's "irresponsible attitude". It is not clear where the former president and the rest of the group are now being held. An investigation into the alleged escape attempt has been launched. The Niger military overthrew the democratically elected president in a coup on 26 July. It mirrored similar military takeovers in neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali, amid an Islamist insurgency and a growing Russian influence in the wider Sahel region through its mercenary group Wagner. As in Mali, Niger's junta has ordered French troops based in the country to help fight the jihadists to leave the country. The first convoy from Niger arrived in neighbouring Chad on Thursday after a nine-day trip, the French military said. Mr Bazoum has refused to officially resign. Despite his captivity, he was able to publish an article in The Washington Post stating that he was a hostage and that the coup would have "devastating consequences for our country, our region and the entire world". Soon after Mr Bazoum was overthrown, US President Joe Biden called for his immediate release and the "preservation of Niger's hard-earned democracy". That followed the expiration of a deadline by Ecowas, a power bloc of West African states, for the coup leaders to stand down. Its threats of military intervention were not followed through, and the junta continues to ignore demands for the president's freedom. Mr Bazoum's party and family members say he has had no access to running water, electricity or fresh goods. Duane Keffe D Davis, accused of orchestrating and enabling a drive-by shooting that killed Tupac, was arrested on Sept. 29, and his arraignment has been set for Nov. 2. LAS VEGAS (AP) A lawyer speaking for the former street gang leader charged with killing Tupac Shakur in 1996 said Thursday he sees obvious defenses in the murder case in Las Vegas. Theres no gun, theres no car and theres no witnesses from 27 years ago, attorney Ross Goodman told reporters after the briefest of court hearings, at which he told a Nevada judge he was close to being hired to represent Duane Keffe D Davis. Clark County District Judge Tierra Jones gave Davis and Goodman two weeks to reach agreement, saying she wants to get this case moving. She reset Davis arraignment for Nov. 2. Duane Keith Keffe D Davis (center) appears before a Las Vegas judge on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. (Photo credit: Screenshot/YouTube.com/KTNV Channel 13 Las Vegas) Goodman told reporters that although he doesnt yet represent Davis, he expects Davis will plead not guilty and seek release from jail pending trial. Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson did not respond to messages about Goodmans comments. Davis, 60, is being held at the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas without bail. He is originally from Compton, California. He was arrested Sept. 29 outside a home in suburban Henderson where Goodman said he has lived for more than a decade. Davis told police that he moved there in January because his wife was involved in opening grocery stores in Nevada. Davis is accused of orchestrating and enabling a drive-by shooting that killed Shakur and wounded rap music mogul Marion Suge Knight after a brawl at a Las Vegas Strip casino involving Shakur and Davis nephew, Orlando Baby Lane Anderson. In interviews and a 2019 tell-all memoir that described his life as a leader of a Crips gang sect in Compton, Davis said he obtained a .40-caliber handgun and handed it to Anderson in the back seat of a car from which he and authorities say shots were fired at Shakur and Knight in another car at an intersection near the Las Vegas Strip. Davis didnt identify Anderson as the shooter. Shakur died a week later at age 25 in a nearby hospital. Knight was wounded but survived. Now 58, Knight is serving a 28-year prison sentence for the death of a Compton businessman in 2015. Anderson denied involvement in Shakurs death and died in a May 1998 at age 23 in a shooting in Compton. The other two men in the car are also dead. A Las Vegas police detective testified to a grand jury that police do not have the gun that was used to shoot at Shakur and Knight, nor did they find the vehicle from which shots were fired. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. Please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post No gun, no car, no living witnesses against man charged in Tupac Shakur killing, defense lawyer says appeared first on TheGrio. Emergency medical services companies throughout Pennsylvania will soon get an infusion of cash many say they need to survive. State lawmakers this week passed a bill that will significantly raise the mileage reimbursement EMS companies receive for transporting patients. The change is expected to give Pennsylvania EMS companies an additional $126.2 million per year, although, because the new mileage reimbursement doesnt kick in until Jan. 1, theyll receive half that during the states 2023-2024 budget year. If we expect our emergency medical services providers to respond when we call 911, we need to do our part to support them, said state Rep. Martin Causer, R-McKean, who is a former emergency medical technician. This is an important step toward ensuring our EMS personnel can continue their life-saving work. EMS companies have long warned that payments from Medicare and Medicaid and oftentimes private insurers dont cover their expenses. They say the situation has threatened their survival and forced some ambulance companies, especially in rural areas, to shut down. Now they will be reimbursed for mileage at whichever Medicaid or Medicare rate is highest. Lawmakers said it will ensure that ambulances are paid for all the miles they cover while carrying patients. Previously, Medicaid exempted the first 20 miles. Beginning Jan. 1, they will receive nearly $9 per mile, and more in certain rural areas more than double the amount Medicaid pays, according to supporters. The bill received overwhelming support in both the House and the Senate but still needs to be signed by Gov. Josh Shapiro. The bill also resolved two outstanding issues related to hospitals and nursing homes: It reauthorized a state tax on hospitals that, because the federal government matches state contributions, enables a net gain in overall funding for hospitals after the state tax money is sent back to hospitals. And it resolved a situation where Medicaid reimbursements for nursing homes were partially based on costs of meeting COVID-19 mandates. Lawmakers said the situation was causing some nursing homes to lose money and putting them at risk of having to close. The healthcare-related items passed this week are part of a longer list of items approved in the 2023-2024 state budget, but which remain in limbo because lawmakers have failed to pass legislation needed to spend the money. Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman, R-Indiana County, portrayed the actions as a sign of reasonable minds prevailing on urgent matters that directly impact health of Pennsylvanians. This is a significant achievement for communities across our commonwealth and a demonstration of divided government coming together to advance commonsense legislation to help all Pennsylvanians, he said. PITTSBURGH (AP) Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth will miss his second straight game after aggravating a hamstring injury. The Steelers (3-2) downgraded Freiermuth to out for Sunday's visit to the Los Angeles Rams (3-3). Freiermuth, who initially tweaked the hamstring against Houston on Oct. 1 and sat out an Oct. 8 win against Baltimore, practiced Wednesday but was limited Thursday and did not practice at all on Friday. Rookie Darnell Washington will start with Freiermuth unavailable. Pittsburgh outside linebacker T.J. Watt is expected to play after not practicing on Thursday due to a heel injury. Watt told reporters Friday that he dislocated his left pinky finger early in the victory over the Ravens. Watt said he popped the finger back into place and kept playing, adding that when he took his glove off the finger was the size of a hamburger patty. All signs point to wide receiver Diontae Johnson (right hamstring) being activated off injured reserve in time for kickoff. Johnson hasn't played since injuring the hamstring early in the third quarter of a Week 1 loss to San Francisco. Punter Pressley Harvin (strained right hamstring) should also return after missing two games. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl By Catarina Demony LISBON (Reuters) - A Lisbon court ordered Portugal's most high-profile anti-racism activist, Mamadou Ba, on Friday to pay a 2,400 euro ($2,540) fine after finding him guilty of defaming a prominent neo-Nazi. Ba wrote on social media in 2020 that Mario Machado, founder of several extreme-right movements in Portugal, was "one of the main figures in the murder of Alcindo Monteiro", a Black man who was beaten to death in 1995 by skinheads in a wider, violent racist attack. Eleven people were convicted in 1997 over the murder of Monteiro, but they did not include Machado. Machado, who filed the defamation suit against Ba, has served time behind bars for racial discrimination and other crimes and uses social media to spread racial hate. Machado, 46, was part of the group of skinheads who took to Lisbon's streets on June 10, 1995, to attack Black people and was found guilty of inflicting "bodily harm" on other Black people, but not Monteiro, on the same night. Monteiro, 27, died from his injuries. The court ruling convicting the 11 of Monteiro's murder also said each individual who took part in the attacks on that night was responsible for the "event's entirety". Still, Portugal's prosecutor's office agreed a year ago to pursue the defamation complaint against Ba filed by Machado, who has been in and out of prison for various crimes such as possession of illegal weapons. The case has turned the spotlight on structural racism in Portugal, with the association where Ba works, SOS Racismo, saying the justice system was trying to "silence voices who fight for democracy". Judge Joana Ferrer said on Friday Ba's post stated "a false fact that indisputably damaged his (Machado's) honour" as "he did not murder Alcindo Monteiro". Machado's lawyer Jose Castro hailed the ruling as showing "a rule of law free from political pressure". Ba's lawyer Isabel Duarte said she would appeal the court decision and take it to the European Court of Human Rights if needed, adding: "The state allowed the extreme-right to penetrate its institutions." ($1 = 0.9448 euros) (Reporting by Catarina Demony; Editing by Susan Fenton) Cities strengthen dog laws in wake of attack 08:40, October 20, 2023 By Wang Songsong ( China Daily In the aftermath of a distressing incident in Chongzhou, a county-level city of Chengdu, Sichuan province, where a 2-year-old child fell victim to a vicious Rottweiler attack, several cities across China are strengthening their dog management policies. The incident occurred on Monday morning, when a mother and her daughter came across a black dog and a white dog in their neighborhood. The black dog attacked them, leaving the daughter with multiple injuries including a damaged kidney and a rib fracture, according to the police in Chongzhou. An investigation team in Chongzhou said on Tuesday that the girl's vital signs were stable after being transferred to West China Hospital of Sichuan University in Chengdu for further treatment. "My child was badly injured and needs a huge amount of money for treatment. We have no choice but to launch an online fundraising campaign," one of the child's family members posted online. "All we want is her recovery." As of 5 pm on Wednesday, the family had raised 1.5 million yuan ($205,000) in donations via the online fundraising platform Qingsongchou, according to Shangyou News. The police have caught the dog and the dog's owner, surnamed Tang, has been detained pending charges. The Rottweiler breed of dog is a strong and fierce breed that is prohibited in major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing, reported Dahe News. However, it is not included on the list of 22 prohibited breeds in Chengdu. The incident has sparked widespread public outrage. One user on microblogging platform Sina Weibo called for the maximum penalty. "If these incidents aren't harshly punished, many irresponsible dog owners will continue to neglect their responsibilities." To curb such incidents and enhance public safety, numerous regions are rolling out stringent dog management strategies. In Shehong, Sichuan province, a comprehensive dog registration and licensing system will be enforced. Owners of dogs in urban areas will be mandated to register their pets and undergo annual inspections. The possession of fierce breeds and large dogs will be prohibited to mitigate potential risks. When outside the home, dogs must wear a dog tag and be on a leash. They must be led by a person with full legal capacity or be accompanied by someone who has it. When walking dogs, people must give way to the elderly, disabled individuals, pregnant women, children and pedestrians. Regions like the Ebian Yi autonomous county in Sichuan are taking decisive action against unrestrained dogs. Unleashed dogs found in public spaces will be treated as strays and captured, and owners held accountable for any ensuing consequences. Similar initiatives have been launched in Hefei, Anhui province, where unleashed dogs in public areas will face capture, reinforcing the importance of responsible pet ownership. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) EQS-Ad-hoc: Cardea Europe AG / Key word(s): AGM/EGM Cardea Europe AG: Annual General Meeting approves the resolutions proposed by the Management Board and Supervisory Board on all agenda items 20-Oct-2023 / 18:45 CET/CEST Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Cardea Europe AG: Annual General Meeting approves the resolutions proposed by the Management Board and Supervisory Board on all agenda items Frankfurt am Main, 20 October 2023 - At the Extraordinary General Meeting on 18 October 2023, the shareholders of Cardea Europe AG ("Cardea"), unanimously approved the resolutions proposed by the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board on all items on the agenda. The Annual General Meeting essentially resolved to operate under the name Luna Capital Partners AG in the future and to align the financial year with the calendar year. Cardea Europe AG is the issuer of the 7.25% Bond 20/23 (ISIN: DE000A3H2ZP5 / WKN: A3H2ZP), which is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Utah Republican Rep. Blake Moore and fellow House Republicans depart after a meeting where they held a secret ballot vote on whether to drop Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan out of the race for House speaker on Oct. 20. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) (Jonathan Ernst / reuters) Over the 17 days since Republicans ousted their own leadership in the House of Representatives, the party has not only failed to choose a new leader, but it has also become more fractious and dysfunctional. We are in a very bad place, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican, said Friday. The vacuum has left the lower chamber of Congress paralyzed and unable to function for three weeks, and on Friday they were no closer to a resolution of the problem. Republican Jim Jordan of Ohio was cast aside by members of his own party after three days of fruitless attempts to strong arm his way into the speaker position. So now what? Rep. Jim Jordan walks to the House speaker's office after a second round of voting for a new speaker of the House ended with Jordan once again failing to win the speaker's gavel at the Capitol on Oct. 18, 2023. (Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters) (Elizabeth Frantz / reuters) Its back to square one Republicans, who control the House but have a very narrow majority, left D.C. Friday afternoon after Jordan lost a private vote on whether he should remain their nominee as speaker. The vote was 112 against Jordan, and 86 for him. He needed a majority to remain the partys internal choice for speaker. To be elected speaker, a nominee must win the majority of the full House. Immediately, other Republicans said they would run for speaker. Rep. Kevin Hern of Oklahoma was one of the first to declare he would run. Rep. Austin Scott of Georgia was another quick out of the gate. Soon after that, Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota, the third-ranking Republican in the House, said he too would run. Several other Republicans said they may put their name in the ring, ahead of a candidate forum expected for Monday. One big question will be whether McCarthy, the California Republican who was pushed aside a few weeks ago, is called on again to return to the job. Former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy talks with Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan in the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Oct. 20. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) (Jonathan Ernst / reuters) The clock is ticking The GOP cannot drag its feet forever. The government will shut down in mid-November if Congress does not pass a funding bill. The Republican Partys total collapse in the House means that the Senate which is controlled by Democrats will be in the drivers seat when it comes to what that funding bill looks like. A group of eight Republicans who worked to oust McCarthy did so because he failed to get a funding bill through the House with only Republican votes. Republicans could not agree on the specifics of the bill, forcing McCarthy to work with Democrats to pass funding legislation and avoid a government shutdown. President Biden is also planning to submit a request for $100 billion in emergency aid to Israel and Ukraine next week. The Senate will have almost total control over what gets into that package and what does not, thanks to the circus in the House. Speaker of the House Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry departs after his fellow Republicans abandoned a backup plan to allow the leaderless chamber to resume business with McHenry remaining in his position until January, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Oct. 19. (Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters) (Elizabeth Frantz / reuters) Can Republicans get their act together? Nobody knows. If a consensus pick doesnt emerge, they will be back to square one again, which is a place they seem to keep coming back to. Rep. Patrick McHenry, a North Carolina Republican, will remain the speaker pro tempore for now. That means he presides over the chamber but has limited powers. There has been talk of naming McHenry as temporary or acting speaker if the GOP cannot agree on a candidate. That conversation has been put on the back burner for now while Republicans go through another round of opening up the bidding for a new candidate. But like the option of reelecting McCarthy, the McHenry option could bubble back up again if the GOP finds itself in another cul-de-sac it cant stumble out of. Rishi Sunak will fly to Egypt today amid growing fears the Israel-Hamas conflict will spread across the wider Middle East. Countries including the US and the UK have warned people to leave nearby Lebanon as an Israeli ground invasion of Gaza appears to near. The PM is expected to meet the Egyptian leader and stress the need to avoid further loss of civilian life having already met with Saudi and Qatari leaders in a bid to avoid regional escalation. On Thursday, Mr Sunak told Israeli leaders that they had both a right and duty to go after Hamas as he backed military action at the start of a two-day visit to the region. The PM called the terrorist group pure evil and, at a joint press conference with Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, added: We want you to win. But he also pushed Israel for progress in allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza, amid warnings of a humanitarian disaster. Hundreds of lorries with vital supplies are still waiting to enter from Egypt after US president Biden secured agreement. On his trip to the Middle East, the PM also held talks with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who agreed they should work together to prevent the conflict spiralling. Mr Sunak encouraged the crown prince to use Saudi's leadership in the region to support stability, both now and in the long-term, No 10 said. "In all (his) conversations the prime minister has stressed the imperative of avoiding regional escalation and preventing the further unnecessary loss of civilian life," a No 10 spokesman added. The risks were illustrated when the United States said one of its warships had intercepted cruise missiles and drones launched from Yemen potentially towards targets in Israel. Houthi rebels in Yemen, backed by Iran, have expressed support for the Palestinians and threatened Israel. Attacks against Israel have also been launched from Lebanon, where the Hezbollah group is also backed by Iran. Sunak has met with Qatar leader Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani this morning in Saudi Arabia, as they stressed the urgent need for more humanitarian aid to get into Gaza. They agreed the importance of avoiding any escalation in the violence across the region, according to No 10. Sunak and Al-Thani welcomed progress on opening up humanitarian access to Gaza and said there was an urgent need to get food, water and medicine to civilians who are suffering. Sunak also thanked Qatari leader efforts to secure the release of hostages taken by Hamas two weeks ago, including British nationals. The leaders agreed to stay in close contact to continue these efforts. KAZAN, Russia (Reuters) - Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva had her detention extended by 72 hours on Friday in a case where she is accused of violating Russia's law on foreign agents. Kurmasheva is a Prague-based journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), which is funded by the U.S. Congress and designated by Russia as a foreign agent, meaning it gets foreign funding for activity deemed to be political. Video from inside the court showed Kurmasheva sitting in a glass box with her arms folded, wearing a large white COVID-style mask over her face and a black coat with the hood covering her head. She is the second U.S. journalist to be arrested and charged in Russia since the start of its war in Ukraine. After Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was arrested in March on spying charges, which he denies, almost all other U.S. journalists left Russia. Washington has repeatedly urged other Americans to leave. "This appears to be another case of the Russian government harassing U.S. citizens," State Department spokesperson Matt Miller told reporters on Thursday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Moscow was not waging any campaign to harass Americans and the U.S. comment was inappropriate. (Reporting by Filipp Lebedev, Mark Trevelyan and Felix Light; Editing by Hugh Lawson) WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Friday blocked in full a lower court ruling that would have curbed the Biden administration's ability to communicate with social media companies about contentious content on such issues as Covid-19. The decision in a short unsigned order puts on hold a Louisiana-based judge's ruling in July that specific agencies and officials should be barred from meeting with companies to discuss whether certain content should be stifled. The Supreme Court also agreed to immediately take up the government's appeal, meaning it will hear arguments and issue a ruling on the merits in its current term, which runs until the end of June. Three conservative justices noted that they would have denied the application: Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch. "At this time in the history of our country, what the court has done, I fear, will be seen by some as giving the government a green light to use heavy-handed tactics to skew the presentation of views on the medium that increasingly dominates the dissemination of news. That is most unfortunate," Alito wrote in a dissenting opinion. GOP attorneys general in Louisiana and Missouri, along with five social media users, filed the underlying lawsuit, alleging that U.S. government officials went too far in what they characterize as coercion of social media companies to address posts, especially those related to Covid-19. The individual plaintiffs include Covid-19 lockdown opponents and Jim Hoft, the owner of the right-wing website Gateway Pundit. They claim that the governments actions violated free speech protections under the Constitutions First Amendment. "This is the worst First Amendment violation in our nation's history. We look forward to dismantling Joe Biden's vast censorship enterprise at the nation's highest court," Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey said in a statement Friday. A spokesman for the Department of Justice in Washington declined to comment. The lawsuit makes various claims relating to activities that occurred in 2020 and before, including efforts to deter the spread of false information about Covid-19 and the presidential election. Donald Trump was president at the time, but the district court ruling focused on actions taken by the government after President Joe Biden took office in January 2021. Judge Terry Doughty, who was appointed by Trump, barred officials from communication of any kind with social-media companies urging, encouraging, pressuring, or inducing in any manner the removal, deletion, suppression, or reduction of content containing protected free speech. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals subsequently narrowed the scope of Doughtys injunction. But the appeals court still required the White House, the FBI and top health officials not to coerce or significantly encourage social media companies to remove content the Biden administration considers misinformation. Affected officials would have included White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. The administration turned to the Supreme Court hoping to freeze Doughty's ruling in full. The district court ruling was on hold while the Supreme Court decided what steps to take. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar wrote in court papers that Doughty's decision was an unprecedented injunction that flouts bedrock principles" of federal law. The court imposed unprecedented limits on the ability of the Presidents closest aides to use the bully pulpit to address matters of public concern, on the FBIs ability to address threats to the Nations security, and on the CDCs ability to relay public health information at platforms request," she added. Prelogar argued that the original injunction is vastly overbroad, saying it covers thousands of federal officers and employees, and it applies to communications with and about all social media platforms regarding content moderation on such topics as national security and criminal matters. Lawyers for the states and plaintiffs said in court papers that the lower courts had both found "egregious, systematic First Amendment violations" by the government when officials put pressure on the companies to "censor disfavored viewpoints." It has been nearly a week since the first Israeli evacuation orders were handed down to Palestinian civilians in Gaza to head southward, sparking fears that a ground offensive in the north was imminent. After Hamas militants broke into Israel on 7 October, killing more than a thousand innocent victims, Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been clear that a retaliatory attack to destroy the group will happen. Through extensive research and conversations with experts, The Independent explains what this incursion could look like and the myriad hurdles that Israel must overcome to make sure it is a success. The first 24 hours Urban warfare is widely regarded as the most dangerous form of fighting. Combat in close confines makes it difficult to foresee enemy fighters and multi-storey buildings vulnerable to collapse combine to pose a significant threat to life. The battlefield is also filled with civilians protected under international law. An Israeli urban incursion into Gaza more specifically is made harder by two additional problems. Firstly, there are hostages throughout the enclave and their locations are not all known. Secondly, the full extent of weapons held by Hamas and Islamic Jihad, another militant organisation in Gaza, is also unknown. A three-tiered air column 60,000 feet tall will be vital to counteract this, according to Anthony King, a professor of War Studies at Exeter University. A friend of Israeli student Noa Argamani, one of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas, stands with a sign showing her face (AFP via Getty Images) It will prevent both the immediate singular threats surrounding the soldiers and help guide the larger armed convoy, which includes tanks, armoured personnel carriers (APCs) and mine-clearance vehicles, through the enclave without being targeted by heavier Hamas weaponry. The column will include micro drones and attack helicopters immediately overhead, larger surveillance and kamikaze unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operating from the second tier and fighter jets with strike capabilities high in the air. In front of the soldiers, who look to be heading into the enclave from the north, which they have tried to evacuate, will be a series of defensive lines erected by Hamas. They include mines, ambush sites and mortar targets, according to a recent review by Nadav Morag, a former Israeli security advisor. It is widely suspected that areas will also be booby-trapped, including doors laden with explosives, to incur additional damage after Hamas militants have withdrawn from positions. Snipers will also be positioned in obscured areas, firing at soldiers as they make their way through the streets. Israeli soldiers preparing the scenario of a ground maneuvre near the Gaza border (EPA) Tunnels, traps and Hamas Israeli intelligence from 2021 estimated that the total number of rockets available to factions in Gaza was roughly 30,000, though that total may have increased since. A similar number of militants are believed to be in the Strip. While it is not known how many Israeli soldiers will be used for the ground offensive - 360,000 reservists have been called up to supplement 170,000 active soldiers since October 7, though many will be used as a deterrent to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon - the fact remains that the personnel power of Israel far exceeds that of Hamas. Hamas and Islamic Jihad also have their own drones, including those that can be packed with explosions and remotely navigated toward a target, as well as those that loiter in the air and deliver munitions from above. An unknown quantity of assault rifles, machine guns and grenades will also be available to militants. Most importantly, Hamas has spent more than 15 years building a network of underground tunnels beneath the Strip, known as the Gaza Metro. Israels foreign ministry claims that at least 1,370 tunnels have been built since 2007. They are often between 10 and 20 metres beneath the ground and up to two metres in height. Colin P. Clarke, director of research at The Soufan Group, an intelligence consultancy, told The Independent that fighting in these tunnels is a nightmare scenario for Israel, adding that their knowledge of the tunnel network may be incomplete. Preparing to fight in such terrain is incredibly difficult and would require extensive intelligence on what the network of tunnels looks like, which the Israelis may not have, he said. Clearing tunnels is a nightmare scenario for the soldiers doing it, and like the urban warfare taking place on the surface, its a slow, methodical process. Ground mobile drones, uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs), and other intelligence assets may be used to map the tunnels and identify booby traps before sending soldiers to clear them. Some air-delivered munitions, referred to as bunker busters, may be used; however, these are primarily used to target key command and control nodes. Also, the dense urban terrain in Gaza may limit their use due to the anticipated collateral damage. In addition to being used as storage facilities, command centres and for transportation, the tunnels have also been used to mount attacks. Given potential gaps in knowledge regarding the whereabouts and extent of these tunnels, Israeli soldiers will have to be on high alert for militants appearing out of nowhere. Palestinians wave their national flag and celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the southern Gaza Strip fence (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) The second stage The second stage of Israels offensive, once the major Hamas positions have been captured, will be maintaining a presence in the Strip, at least temporarily. That carries with it novel problems. Sir Tom Beckett, a retired lieutenant general for the British Army, wrote in a piece for the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) that once [Israel] stops attacking and starts occupying, it will lose the initiative by becoming a garrison located in fixed sites. This means they will face a heightened threat from insurgents hiding among civilians or in tunnels that went undiscovered during the first stage of the offensive, all the while remaining largely static. Until all hostages are rescued and Hamas neutralised, it will be difficult for Israeli forces to leave the Strip without failing to achieve their stated aim of preventing the group from being able to revive itself. David Makovsky, an expert on Arab-Israel relations at The Washington Institute, said this necessary high bar for Israeli success means there is a low bar for Hamas to claim victory. They can essentially pop up after the attack and sell their survival as a success, he told The Independent. This underscores the need for Israel to somehow eradicate the threat of Hamas entirely without spending too long in a vulnerable position within the Strip. An injured child is brought to the Nassr hospital after Israeli airstrikes in southern Gaza (Anadolu via Getty Images) How will the region react? An Iranian-led axis of resistance poses a significant additional threat to Israel, one that is heightened both by a ground offensive and a temporary occupation of Gaza. Just above Israels northern border, members of Hezbollah, a militant organisation turned de facto leader of southern Lebanon, and which is armed by Iran, have been intermittently firing missiles into Israeli territory over the past week. In Tehran, the Iranian capital, senior officials, including the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have repeatedly called for Israel to be destroyed following a campaign of airstrikes in Gaza. If the crimes of the Israeli regime continue, Muslims and resistance forces will become impatient, and no one can stop them, Khamenei said. The bombardment of Gaza must stop immediately. We all have a responsibility to react; we must react. If Israel proceeds with a ground offensive, Mr Makovsky said, the odds of an Iranian response clearly go up. Whether that translates to the opening of a second front or regional escalation, however, is doubtful. Ali Ansari, a professor of Iranian Studies, said the theocratic regime in Tehran was basically cheering Hamas on from afar. The minute there is this anxiety about a wider escalation, or that Iran may be a target, theres a clear distancing from Tehran to Palestinians, he added. The Iranian regime is also still wary of domestic unrest following mass protests that began last September, he said, making launching a war more difficult. Lebanese army soldiers scuffle with protesters during a demonstration, in solidarity with the Palestinian people (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Eye in the sky Senior Israeli military figures said last weekend that poor weather had prevented a swift incursion; aerial surveillance, either with drones or spy planes, is vital to the safety of soldiers on the ground but near-impossible in cloudy conditions. But when those conditions abated on Monday, still there was no ground offensive. The reasons the incursion has not happened yet are multifaceted, relating to a heightened risk of regional escalation and a wider Western call to protect Palestinian civilians caught in the crossfires. But primarily, it is due to the seismic task of safely sending Israeli soldiers into a highly volatile, densely-populated region filled with armed militants and hostages, the locations of whom are not fully known. A need to protect Palestinians UK prime minister Rishi Sunak reiterated in a televised meeting with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday that the country had a right to defend herself against Hamas. But he added that measures must be put in place to avoid harming [Palestinian] civilians in Gaza, a caveat that many Western leaders have made in the past week. While the solidarity showed by the West to Israel is unparalleled, Mr Makavosky said, what these comments show is that there are now very candid conversations taking place about protecting the lives of civilians. With no one is that more important than with the US. When Joe Biden visited Israel on Wednesday, he became the first US president to travel to the country during a time of war. He also became only the second president in history to travel to two warzones in one calendar year. But with that level of embrace ... comes a degree of influence, Mr Makovsky said. For all this intimacy, now that the US has two aircraft carriers on the coast, it gives them more influence on the table, he said, noting that it was close to a strings attached relationship. A ground offensive is inevitable, he said, but the breathing space afforded by the West to Israel to conduct such an attack now rests on its provisions of humanitarian aid. By Aidan Lewis and Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber AL ARISH, Egypt/GENEVA (Reuters) -U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres flew to Egypt's Sinai Peninsula on Friday in a push to get aid flowing into the besieged Palestinian territory of Gaza but it was unclear when delivery of relief materials stockpiled in Egypt would start. In Geneva, the U.N. humanitarian office said it was in advanced talks with all parties in the Israel-Hamas conflict to ensure an aid operation can soon be conducted in Gaza. The United States said details of a deal to send aid through the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza were still being hammered out. Earlier, Washington said agreement had been reached for the passage of the first 20 trucks, but U.N. officials say that any delivery of aid needs to be done at scale and in a sustained way. Before the current conflict between Israel and Hamas, which rules Gaza, about 450 aid trucks were arriving there daily. Most of Gazas 2.3 million people depend on humanitarian aid. The coastal enclave has been under a blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt since Hamas took control of it in 2007. "We are in deep and advanced negotiations with all relevant sides to ensure that an aid operation into Gaza starts as quickly as possible and with the right conditions," Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), told reporters in Geneva. The U.N. was encouraged by reports that a first delivery was due to start "in the next day or so," Laerke added. Israel's siege and bombardment of Gaza, launched in retaliation for a deadly Hamas incursion into Israel, has created a humanitarian crisis there. Laerke said Gaza was in dire need of water, food, fuel and medical supplies. Rafah is the only crossing with Gaza for goods and people that does not border Israel. Efforts to get aid into Gaza have been complicated by the need to agree on a mechanism to inspect the aid, and a push to evacuate foreign passport holders from Gaza. Roads leading into Gaza are being repaired after being hit by bombardments in the past two weeks. A U.N. official said more than 200 trucks of aid were ready to move from Sinai to Gaza. During previous conflicts, aid had been delivered to Gaza during humanitarian pauses through the Kerem Shalom crossing, which is controlled by Israel. But Israel has said it will allow no aid to enter from its territory until Hamas releases the hostages it took during its Oct. 7 attack. It has said aid can enter through Egypt as long as it does not end up in the hands of Hamas. Egypt has said it will not accept any mass displacement of Gazans into Sinai, reflecting Arab fears that Palestinians could again flee or be forced from their homes en masse, as they were during the war surrounding Israels creation. Egypt is also concerned by security in northeastern Sinai, where it faced an Islamist insurgency that escalated a decade ago, and by the risk of any spillover from Gaza. (Editing by Michael Georgy and Angus MacSwan) The head of the UN has said that aid trucks stuck on Egypts border with Gaza are the difference between life and death to many people during a desperate plea to make them move as quickly as possible. The enclave has been facing near-constant aerial bombardment by Israel in retaliation for a cross-border attack by Hamas almost two weeks ago that killed around 1,400 people and saw up to 200 hostages taken into Gaza. On top of air strikes, Israel has also enacted a total blockade of the strip, which has left water, power, fuel, food and medical supplies either having run out completely or dwindling. Officials in Hamas-ruled Gaza say that more than 4,000 people have been killed since the Israeli bombardment began. Speaking on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing, Gazas only border point not controlled by Tel Aviv, Antonio Guterres said: These trucks are not just trucks they are a lifeline, they are the difference between life and death to many people in Gaza. To see them stuck here makes me very clear what we need is to make them move, to make them move to the other side of this wall, to make them move as quickly as possible and as many as possible, he added. It comes as Israel prepares for an expected ground offensive into Gaza. The countrys defence minister, Yoav Gallant, laid out the objectives of the militarys campaign against Hamas to the Israeli parliaments foreign affairs and defence committee on Friday. The first stage was the current military operation, meant to destroy Hamass infrastructure, Mr Gallant said, involving airstrikes and ground operations. Then the military would defeat pockets of resistance. The third phase will require the removal of Israels responsibility for life in the Gaza Strip and the establishment of a new security reality for the citizens of Israel, the minister said, without offering more detail. Mr Gallant did not say who Israel expected to run Gaza if and when Hamas is toppled. It came after a fiery speech on Thursday to Israeli infantry soldiers on the Gaza border, in which Mr Gallant urged them to be ready to move in. Israel has called up some 360,000 reserves and massed tens of thousands of troops along the Gaza border. Whoever sees Gaza from afar now, will see it from the inside, he said. It might take a week, a month, two months until we destroy them, he added, referring to Hamas. Destoyed buildings in al-Zahra, south of Gaza City (AFP/Getty) The Israeli military said it had hit 100 Hamas operational targets into Friday, claiming the strikes were aimed at destroying tunnel shafts, munitions warehouses and dozens of operational headquarters. Palestinians in Gaza reported heavy airstrikes in Khan Younis, a town in the territorys south, and ambulances carrying men, women and children streamed into the local Nasser hospital. An airstrike hit a Greek Orthodox church housing displaced Palestinians near the hospital late Thursday. The military said it had targeted a Hamas command centre nearby, causing damage to a church wall. Gazas Hamas-run health ministry said 16 Palestinian Christians were killed. The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the main Palestinian Christian denomination, said targeting churches that were used as shelters for people fleeing bombing was a war crime that cannot be ignored. Video from the scene showed a destroyed building and a wounded boy being carried from the rubble at night. Inside Gaza, doctors and health officials told The Independent that they will soon be forced to switch off dialysis machines which could result in the deaths of 1,000 kidney failure patients. They added that they were improvising with medicines to treat the wounded and begging petrol stations for fuel to keep their generators on. Dr Ashraf al-Qudra, a spokesperson for the health ministry, issued a plea that hospitals across the besieged strip were in dire need of every pill, every medical consumable, every drop of fuel, every member of staff, every bed and every ambulance. Israeli tanks seen on a road near Israels border with the Gaza Strip (Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters) Families, meanwhile, said they were in a living hell. More than a million people have been displaced in Gaza, while Israel has issued orders to evacuate the northern part of Gaza ahead of the expected ground offensive. Though prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had called areas in south Gaza safe zones earlier this week, Israeli military spokesman Nir Dinar said on Friday: There are no safe zones. Thousands have taken refuge in UN schools or shelters as well as hospitals, but this has added to the complications in trying to treat those who are wounded. Sara, 21, a student who is twice displaced with her family and is now in the south of the enclave, is living with 30 people to a room. She said the rest of her extended family were trying to shelter in a UN school in horrific conditions. There is no electricity, no water, no toilets. This is the fifth war and these are the most terrifying days of my entire life. UN officials said that with the bombings across all of Gaza, some Palestinians who had fled the north appeared to be going back. The strikes, coupled with extremely difficult living conditions in the south, appear to have pushed some to return to the north, despite the continuing heavy bombing there, Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN human rights office, said. Filippo Grandi, the UN high commissioner for refugees, said: [I] can tell you with certainty that any further escalation or even continuation of military activities will just be catastrophic for the people of Gaza. Palestinians search the destroyed annex of the Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius Church (AFP/Getty) A ground operation would only increase the need for aid, but there appeared little prospect of the amount aid agencies say is required making it into Gaza. Egypts foreign minister hit out at the suggestion that his country was holding up matters, blaming Israel instead. He said that Western media were holding Egypt responsible for the crossing closure despite Israeli targeted attacks and refusal of aid entry. Work began on Friday to repair the border road that had been damaged in airstrikes, with trucks unloading gravel and bulldozers and other road repair equipment filling in large craters. Earlier, the United States had said details of a deal to send aid through the Rafah crossing were still being hammered out. Agreement had been reached for the passage of the first 20 trucks, it revealed. UN officials have said this will be a fraction of what is needed. Before the latest conflict, about 450 aid trucks were arriving there daily. Hamas called talking about 20 trucks an attempt to throw dust in the eyes that is misleading to the public opinion about resolving the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Israel said on Friday morning that the status of aid into Gaza through Egypt was still to be determined. Fuel was not on the list of supplies Tel Aviv said would be allowed into the strip. Israel has said it will allow no aid to enter from its territory until Hamas releases the hostages it took. It has said aid can enter through Egypt as long as it does not end up in the hands of Hamas. Egypt and Israel are still negotiating the entry of fuel for hospitals. Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said Hamas has stolen fuel from UN facilities and Israel wants assurances that wont happen again. Juliette Touma, from the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, the UNRWA, said Gaza has become a hellhole over the last couple of weeks. Speaking to the BBC, she said: Time is running out. It has been almost two weeks. Two very long weeks UNRWA has not been able to bring in any supplies into Gaza. Britains prime minister Rishi Sunak visited Egypt on Friday, having visited Israel the previous day. He held talks with the president of Egypt, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, with Downing Street saying the UKs priority is to focus on the opening of the Rafah crossing to allow humanitarian aid to enter and for British nationals to leave the bombarded territory. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Sunak said: All leaders must work together to avoid any regional escalation and ensure humanitarian aid reaches civilians in Gaza. Mr Sunak also met Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas in Cairo and expressed his deep condolences for the loss of civilian lives in Gaza. The two leaders also agreed on the need for all parties to take steps to protect civilians and stressed that Hamas do not represent the Palestinian people, Mr Sunaks office said in a statement. On Saturday, a hastily convened Cairo Peace Summit will bring together several Arab and European heads of state and government, alongside foreign ministers. It will include Mr Abbas, Jordanian King Abdullah, UK foreign secretary James Cleverly, Chinas envoy for Middle East issues Zhai Jun, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterres, and European Council president Charles Michel among others. However, the lack of top-level US representation has dampened expectations of what might be achieved. By Andrew Chung (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday lifted restrictions imposed by lower courts on the ability of President Joe Biden's administration to encourage social media companies to remove content deemed misinformation, including about elections and COVID-19. The justices granted the administration's request to put on hold a preliminary injunction constraining how the White House and certain other federal officials communicate with social media platforms. The justices also agreed to hear arguments to decide the merits of the administration's appeal of the rulings by the lower courts. Conservative Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch publicly dissented from the decision to pause the injunction pending the Supreme Court's review. The Republican attorneys general of Missouri and Louisiana and a group of social media users sued federal officials, accusing them of unlawfully helping suppress conservative-leaning speech on major social medial platforms, such as Meta's Facebook, Alphabet's YouTube and X, formerly called Twitter. Lower courts found that administration officials likely coerced the companies into censoring certain posts, in violation of the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment free speech protections. The case represents one of numerous legal battles underway pitting free speech against content moderation on the internet. Many liberals have warned of the dangers of social media platforms amplifying misinformation and disinformation about public health, vaccines and election fraud. Many conservatives have accused these platforms of censoring their views. The Biden administration has argued that officials did nothing illegal and had sought to mitigate the hazards of online misinformation, including about the pandemic, by alerting social media companies to content that violated their own policies. Louisiana-based U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty issued a preliminary injunction in July, finding that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on their claim that the government helped suppress "disfavored conservative speech" by suppressing views on mask-wearing, lockdowns and vaccines intended as public health measures during the pandemic or that questioned the validity of the 2020 election in which Biden, a Democrat, defeated Donald Trump, a Republican. The injunction barred a broad array of government officials from communicating with platforms regarding content moderation, such as urging the deletion of certain posts. The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Sept. 8 narrowed that order but affirmed that the White House, Office of the Surgeon General, FBI, and CDC had "coerced or significantly encouraged" the platforms, transforming decisions by those companies into "state action" in violation of the First Amendment. The 5th Circuit on Oct. 3 extended the injunction's reach to the U.S. Cybsecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Biden's administration urged the Supreme Court to block the injunction in full as it would interfere with how thousands of White House, FBI and health officials address matters of public concern and security. The Justice Department said Biden's closest aides were entitled to use the presidential bully pulpit to convince companies to act in ways that advance the public interest, and that there is "a fundamental distinction between persuasion and coercion." Arguments in the case are expected to be held early next year, with a ruling expected by the end of June. (Reporting by Andrew Chung in New York; Editing by Will Dunham) In Order Make a Comment You need to login. X 0 20 Help Keep Us Soaring We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling. We need your help in reversing that trend. We would like to add 20 new subscribers this month. Each month we count on your subscriptions or contributions. You can support us in the following ways: This past week marked an incredible series of events in Israel. For years, Israelis have lived under daily threat of attack from neighboring states and regional bad actors for no other reason except that they dare to exist. More than 900 people were slaughtered and scores taken hostage by Palestinian Hamas terrorists from Gaza in what Israels ambassador to the UN called Israels 9/11. The Israeli Knesset convened, and for the first time since 1973, Israels government declared a state of war. Phil Williams Dozens of Americans were among the dead and the hostages. At one music festival, 260 people were slaughtered. The atrocities shocked the conscience of the world. More Jews were killed in that one day than in any one day since the Holocaust. Hamas has been funded, trained and supplied by Iran for years. To add to the pain and ignominy, the Taliban formally asked permission from the Iranian government for safe passage to help Hamas fight Israel. Let that sink in. We have been dealing with Palestinian terrorism for decades. In fact, this past week marked another world event involving Palestinian terrorists. On Oct. 7, 1985, the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked by four members of the Palestine Liberation Front off the coast of Alexandria, Egypt, author Jack Carr recently recounted on Twitter. "They demanded the release of 50 Palestinians imprisoned in Israel and specifically threatened to kill the U.S. and British passengers if their demands were not met. When the terrorists did not get what they wanted, Carr explained, they executed 69-year-old Leon Klinghoffer, a wheelchair-bound Jewish American. His lifeless body was unceremoniously thrown overboard. The terrorists eventually received assurances of safe passage from the Egyptian government with the help of their leader Abu Abbas. But they did not count on President Ronald Reagan, who believed in peace through strength. The following day, as part of the negotiated settlement, Carr recounted, the hijackers boarded an Egypt Air flight to Tunisia. That same day, President Reagan ordered F-14s from the USS Saratoga to force the Egypt Air flight down at a NATO airbase in Sicily, where the terrorists were arrested by the Italians. Carr went on to say that an Italian court sentenced the hijackers to prison, but somehow Abbas, the likely mastermind of the hijacking, was quietly allowed to leave the country, with Iraqs Saddam Hussein providing him sanctuary. Wanted by the U.S. for the next 18 years, Abbas was finally captured by U.S. special operations forces in Baghdad, one month after the U.S. invaded Iraq in March 2003. He died one year later from natural causes. The U.S. had finally gotten their man, but it was the fecklessness of world leaders that allowed Abbas to roam free. Another historic milestone also recently passed. On Sept. 30, 1938, the Munich Agreement was signed, prompting British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain to announce that he had helped achieve peace in our time. The agreement held that France and Great Britain would stand idly by allowing Germany to annex a large swath of Czechoslovakia. Chamberlain gave Hitler what he wanted in return for the promise of peace. Exactly one year later, Nazi Germany invaded Poland, catapulting the world into the most costly and devastating war in human history. How did that appeasement work out? Appeasement of bad men does not make them good. Appeasement of evil does not make it less evil. If someone is determined to commit atrocities, then they should not be given leave to do so. Appeasement only works if you are the strongest one in the discussion. No one feels the need to appease the weak. We must return to peace through strength. Peace should always be the desired goal. But the means to reach that goal will never be found in weakness. The goal is peace, but the means to peace is strength. Come to the table and discuss peace, but hold the biggest stick at the table and you will get more done. Speaking at the Republican National Convention in 1980, President Reagan said, We know only too well that war comes not when the forces of freedom are strong, but when they are weak. It is then that tyrants are tempted. His foreign policy, known as the Reagan Doctrine, supported freedom for all people around the world. His commitment to peace through strength led to the modernization of the U.S. military, with the belief that doing so would not only contain communism, but defeat it. Within a few years, the Soviet Union fell. The 80s became a resurgent era for the U.S. economy, its foreign policy and its standing on the world stage. The world recognized that the U.S. was no longer in the business of appeasement. I dont believe the same could be said of our position in the world today. At every turn, the Biden administration weakens our national security, foreign policy, military readiness, border security, economic well-being and energy independence. This is, in large part, because we do not operate from a position of strength. Under the Biden administration, the U.S. operates, once again, under the fallible cloak of appeasement. The concept of peace through strength is the surest and most effective way to promote safety and security at home and abroad. Our enemies are growing stronger and bolder every day in the face of feckless and reckless appeasement. We must be willing to lead, guide and direct from a position of strength if we are to remain a beacon for the world. We will only do so if we project the attitude of peace through strength. Phil Williams is a former state senator from District 10 (which includes Etowah County), retired Army colonel and combat veteran, and a practicing attorney. He previously served with the leadership of the Alabama Policy Institute in Birmingham. He currently hosts the conservative news/talk show Rightside Radio on multiple channels throughout north Alabama. The opinions expressed are his own. This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Phil Williams looks at the concept of peace through strength Just because [mens] numbers are few doesnt mean their voice doesnt matter, Dr. Oluwadamilola Lola Fayanju told theGrio about male breast cancer awareness. In the sea of pink ribbons that fill the month of October in support of breast cancer awareness month, there is one demographic of patients often overlooked in these conversations: men. Though men only make up a small percentage of breast cancer patients, the impacts of a diagnosis can sometimes be more detrimental for men than women. So much so that in 2021, President Joe Biden designated Mens Breast Cancer Awareness Week to take place from Oct. 17 through Oct. 23. In 2021, President Joe Biden designated Mens Breast Cancer Awareness Week to take place from Oct. 17 through Oct. 23. (Photo: Adobe Stock) To understand the nuance of male breast cancer, theGrio sat down with Dr. Oluwadamilola Lola Fayanju, the chief of breast surgery at Penn Medicine, the school of medicine and hospital at the University of Pennsylvania, who focused her research primarily on promoting equity and cancer care. There is increased interest in de-pinking breast cancer not only for cisgender men but also for transgender, nonbinary individuals, said Fayanju about destigmatizing breast cancer for men. When we brand certain spaces as womens spaces, and we festoon everything with pink, who was excluded in those moments? Just because [mens] numbers are few doesnt mean their voice doesnt matter, and their experiences shouldnt be considered. This year, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCFR) estimates that 2,800 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States. This number falls within the foundations overall 300,590 predicted breast cancer diagnoses for the year. Though the number may seem small in the grand scheme of things, research found that male breast cancer patients face a higher mortality rate than women (19%), with Black men being at an even higher risk than their white male counterparts. So the nice thing about male breast cancers is [that it is] uncommon, Fayanju explained. But of all breast cancers, only about 1% of breast cancers arent in men. Breast cancer in men tends to present at a later stage only because its more likely to be symptomatic when noticed because men arent typically undergoing [regular] screenings and mammograms, she added. According to Fayanju, more advanced disease has worse long-term results or outcomes, thus explaining the high mortality rates. However, she explained that when comparing male and female breast cancer on a stage-to-stage level (meaning both the male and female patients were diagnosed at the same stage), the difference margin is much smaller. So, how can you get ahead of a breast cancer diagnosis? What we always tell men is its important that if you notice something wrong with your breast, dont dismiss it or let other people dismiss it as it cant be breast cancer because it absolutely can [be]. So its important for men to let their primary care provider know. In addition to doing regular checkups and communicating with your doctor, Fayanju says that it is important for both men and women alike to know their family history. Family history is a very strong predictor of the likelihood of breast cancer. About 5 to 10% of all breast cancers are genetic [which means] they are caused by a mutation we actually know. And then a larger portion, about 20 to 25%, are what we call familial, and that is [when] something runs in the family thats causing breast cancer, but we dont know what it is, she added. This is particularly important for those of us in the Black community because we are, relatively speaking, underrepresented in genetic databases. Knowing your family history and genetic testing not only gives patients the power to be proactive in their healthcare but also gives doctors and scientists more detailed information to care for patients properly. Things to know if you do receive a breast cancer diagnosis The big takeaway is numbers are numbers, and you are you, so people should not despair, even if they find out their diagnosis in an advanced stage cancer, Fayanju emphasized. Everyones their individual self, and they shouldnt fall back on those numbers and be afraid. They should still seek out treatment, and they should take the treatment that their doctors recommend. Now, Fayanju understands that sometimes bias impacts what treatments are offered to Black patients. However, when treatment options are offered, she has seen patients ignore medical recommendations out of fear of the unknown. Ultimately describing it as a two-way street, Fayanju encourages patients to seek second opinions and seek care at cancer centers or places with clinical trials in order to get the most cutting-edge, evidence-based treatments. Its fine to get second opinions, but the internet is not a doctor, explained Dr. Fayanju. People should not be afraid to know that knowledge is power. So many people in our community will not [see doctors]. Theyll have their cancer just growing and growing and growing, and then suddenly its there. So men should not be afraid or embarrassed to know that that there is a mass in their breasts theres nothing unmanly about it. If you or your loved ones have concerns about breast cancer or general health matters, please remember to consult medical professionals. Haniyah Philogene is a multimedia storyteller and Lifestyle reporter covering all things culture. With a passion for digital media, she goes above and beyond to find new ways to tell and share stories. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. TheGrios Black Podcast Network is free too. Download theGrio mobile apps today! Listen to Writing Black with Maiysha Kai. The post De-pinking breast cancer, everything you need to know in honor of Mens Breast Cancer Awareness Week appeared first on TheGrio. World leaders must do everything possible to prevent the violence in Israel and Gaza from spilling over into a wider Middle East conflict, Rishi Sunak and the Qatari leader have agreed. The Prime Minister met with the Amir of Qatar in Saudi Arabia on Friday before jetting off to Egypt, the third stop on his tour of the region, part of a diplomatic effort to stop the Israel-Hamas war from escalating. The British leader arrived at around lunchtime in Egypt, where he held talks with president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. A spokeswoman for the Prime Minister said the UKs priority is to focus on the opening of the Rafah crossing, Gazas only border point not controlled by Tel Aviv, to allow humanitarian aid to enter and for British nationals to leave the bombarded territory. I am in Egypt as part of wider efforts to prevent the spread of violence following the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel. All leaders must work together to avoid any regional escalation and ensure humanitarian aid reaches civilians in Gaza. The UK stands ready to help. Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 20, 2023 Mr Sunak, in comments to Mr El-Sisi, praised Cairos efforts to allow movement through Rafah as he spoke about the need to ensure aid can get to Palestinians as quickly as possible. It comes after Israels troops were told to prepare for a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip, which remains under heavy bombardment as Tel Aviv fights back against Hamass incursion on October 7 that killed 1,400 people. Qatar is seen as a key mediator in the battle, with Doha using its ties to the Palestinian militant group to negotiate for the release of about 200 hostages taken during the deadly assault on Israel. Mr Sunak has held meetings with Israeli leaders and the crown prince of Saudi Arabia since starting his lobbying tour of the Middle East on Thursday. The Prime Ministers continued visit to the Middle East comes as he faces domestic difficulties from the loss of two safe Tory seats in Westminster by-elections. During discussions with Qatari ruler Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in Riyadh, No 10 said the pair underlined the imperative of avoiding any escalation in the violence across the region, agreeing that leaders had a responsibility to do everything possible to prevent it. A spokesman said Mr Sunak thanked Qatar for their efforts to secure the release of hostages, including at least two British nationals who are known to be among those being held captive. I had an important and productive meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. We agreed on coordinated action to prevent further escalation in the region, provide vital humanitarian aid in Gaza and support stability, both now and in the long-term. pic.twitter.com/gynFdRtYN3 Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 19, 2023 The No 10 spokesman added: He said the UK Government would use all the tools at our disposal to support these efforts and end the torment of the victims and their families. The leaders agreed to stay in close contact to continue these efforts. The two leaders also welcomed humanitarian aid being opened up to Gaza, agreeing on the urgent need to get food, water and medicine to civilians who are suffering. Downing Street said the Prime Minister would hold further meetings with counterparts from the region in Egypt where a number of influential Middle East leaders have gathered. The dangers of the Hamas conflict spilling over were illustrated as the United States said one of its warships had intercepted cruise missiles and drones launched from Yemen potentially towards targets in Israel. Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have expressed support for the Palestinians and threatened Israel. Protests have been sparked across the Middle East in support of Palestinians, including in Beirut, Lebanon (Bilal Hussein/AP) Attacks against Israel have also been launched from Lebanon, where the Hezbollah group is backed by Iran, drawing retaliation from Tel Aviv. On Thursday, the Prime Minister visited Tel Aviv where he said he wanted Israel to win the war with Hamas before heading to Saudi Arabia for talks with crown prince Mohammed bin Salman. Mr Sunak encouraged the crown prince to use Saudis leadership in the region to support stability, both now and in the long-term, No 10 said. The PA news agency understands the talks lasted over an hour, with the Prime Minister and the Saudi ruler in conversation alone for about 45 minutes before advisers were brought in. Downing Street refused to say if Mr Sunak raised the issue of human rights in the kingdom. In the first leg of his trip on Thursday, the Prime Minister had meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and president Isaac Herzog. Mr Netanyahu said he hoped for the UKs continuous support in his countrys long war as it hunts Hamas fighters. Mr Sunak, speaking at a joint press conference after discussions with his counterpart lasting about two hours, said he was proud to stand with Israel in its darkest hour. He said the UK Government wants you to win against a force he described as representing pure evil. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has also been in the region, visiting Egypt, Qatar and Turkey with a mission to secure the release of British hostages, stop the violence spreading to the region (and) ensure emergency aid can get into Gaza. Intense diplomatic efforts continue in the Middle East. Today Foreign Secretary @JamesCleverly met his counterparts in Egypt @MFAEgypt, Qatar @MofaQatar_EN and at the League of Arab States to discuss how to prevent the spread of conflict across the region. pic.twitter.com/aeajGU7h5K Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) October 19, 2023 Nine British nationals are confirmed to have been killed in the Hamas raids on October 7 and a further seven are missing, with some feared to be among the dead or kidnapped, Downing Street said. Following international pressure, Israel has agreed to let aid flow into Gaza from Egypt. It marks a potential break in a punishing and highly controversial siege on the territory after Israels retaliation on Hamas saw it block access for water, food, electricity and other essential supplies to the 25-mile strip, while also carrying out air strikes. The Gaza health ministry said 3,785 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, the majority women, children and older adults. The deal to get aid into Gaza through Rafah, the territorys only crossing not controlled by Israel, remains fragile. Israel said the supplies could only go to civilians and it would thwart any diversions by Hamas. More than 200 lorries and some 3,000 tonnes of aid were positioned at or near Rafah but work has not yet begun on repairing a road on the Gaza side damaged by airstrikes. Israel has continued to pound locations across Gaza, with any ground offensive having the potential to increase the bloodshed on both sides. By Dave Graham MEXICO CITY, October 20 (Reuters) - Carlos Romero Deschamps, the former longtime and controversial leader of Mexico's oil workers' union and politician, has died at the age of 79, officials confirmed on Friday. Local media reported that Romero Deschamps died of a heart attack on Thursday. A stalwart of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), which dominated Mexico in the 20th century, Romero Deschamps used his connections to become an influential powerbroker and accrue substantial wealth that many said was ill-gotten. The union boss' tenure as head of the main union for employees of national oil company Pemex came to an end in late 2019 when he abruptly resigned his post. Days earlier, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced that Romero Deschamps was under criminal investigation for corruption, allegations which he denied and was never prosecuted for. Romero Deschamps, who served four terms as leader of the more than 100,000-member union, one of the largest in Latin America, defended his record, pointing to positive changes for workers that include improvements in pensions and healthcare, as well as salary increases. Romero Deschamps was elected to Mexico's Senate for a six-year term in 2012, just as the PRI's Enrique Pena Nieto recaptured the presidency, returning the centrist party back to power after a dozen years on the sidelines. It was the sixth time Romero Deschamps had been a federal lawmaker, having previously served three times in Mexico's lower house of Congress, and twice in the Senate. 'PEMEXGATE' A licensed accountant, Romero Deschamps was born on January 17, 1943, in the port city of Tampico, Tamaulipas state, and he began his career in the union in the central state of Hidalgo. After assuming leadership of the trade union for Pemex in 1993, he wielded considerable power, keenly aware that taxes levied on the state monopoly accounted for about a third of the federal government's annual budget. Romero Deschamps was included in a list of the "10 Most Corrupt Mexicans" published by Forbes in 2013. He, however, rode out scandals even as other top Mexican union leaders fell foul of the law, including the former boss of the powerful teachers' union, Elba Esther Gordillo, who was arrested on fraud charges early in 2013. In 2000, Romero Deschamps was accused of helping divert 1.5 billion pesos from Pemex accounts to the presidential campaign of the then PRI contender Francisco Labastida. While a government audit later revealed anomalies covering 2.3 billion pesos ($188.97 million) in the so-called Pemexgate scandal, Romero Deschamps himself escaped unscathed. Others were not so lucky, and were punished and fined. Since then, Romero Deschamps' wealth and his children's lavish lifestyles garnered more unwanted headlines, despite a reported annual salary from the union of only about $23,000. According to a report in Mexican newspaper Reforma in May 2012, Romero Deschamps owned a $1.5 million British-made yacht that he kept docked in the beach resort of Cancun near his waterfront condo that itself was worth about $1.3 million. That same year, his daughter Paulina posted pictures of a trip to Europe on her Facebook page, including images taken in private jets and five-star hotels along with her British bulldog travelling companion. The photos created a media firestorm in Mexico, and the Facebook page was taken down shortly afterwards. Early in 2013, Mexican media revealed that the union boss gave his son Jose Carlos a Ferrari Enzo worth more than $1 million, just one of several luxury cars the younger Romero Deschamps reportedly kept at his Miami residence. On Friday, Mexican President Lopez Obrador expressed his condolences to the family during his regular morning press conference, saying that "no one should wish for (somebody's) death." (Reporting by Dave Graham; Editing by Marguerita Choy) Queen's University Belfast has set itself a target of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2040. That is 10 years ahead of Northern Ireland's legally-binding national target of 2050. The Net Zero Plan is the successor to the Carbon Management Plan, published by the university in 2010. That had reduced emissions by 21%, mostly through energy efficiency and waste reduction projects. The university has admitted most of the "low-hanging fruit" in terms of straightforward emission reductions has already been harvested. "The real challenge comes with those emissions that are indirect," said Sara Lynch, head of sustainability at the university. "So how are our staff and students travelling to the university; how are our staff travelling while on business; what are we buying; and what is the carbon associated with those products? It's trying to drive that down. "That's much more challenging but something we need to address." Vexatious politics Net zero is when the amount of greenhouse gases, like carbon and methane, released into the atmosphere is offset by the steps taken to remove those emissions from the air. The university's plan was launched on Thursday by renowned environmentalist Sir Jonathon Porritt. He told an audience gathered at the university he was concerned that some young people felt excluded from addressing climate change but that the target set by Queen's was "very exciting". "For a big institution like Queen's University, 2040 is just around the corner," he said. "Some of the harder stuff entails active partnerships with other key players in Belfast - and of course that's not as easy as it should be today because the politics of Northern Ireland are pretty vexatious. "Until that gets sorted, it's hard, even for the real leaders in a university like Queen's, it's really hard to do." The Net Zero Plan plan has taken the university's 2018-19 emissions - 105,430 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent - as a baseline because of the disruption Covid-19 has caused in recent years. In a survey last year, the sector body Universities UK - of which Queen's is a member - found there had been an increase in the number of universities across the UK committing to net-zero targets. In 2017 Queen's announced that it was set to disinvest from fossil fuels after a two-year student campaign. The university said at the time that it would remove investment from extraction and production companies by 2025. In 2015 students from the campaign group Fossil Free QUB occupied part of the university's administration building in a protest to highlight their call for Queen's to sell shares it holds in fossil fuel firms. The Rafah border crossing should reopen imminently to allow aid into Gaza, Rishi Sunak has confirmed after meeting the Qatari and Egyptian leaders in crisis talks. The Prime Minister said that getting aid trucks into Gaza was the immediate priority after meeting Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Egypt. And earlier he stated he had agreed with the Amir of Qatar, who he met in Saudi Arabia, that world leaders must do everything possible to prevent the violence in Israel and Gaza from spilling over into a wider Middle East conflict. Mr Sunak said: When this crisis unfolded, one thing we have prioritised consistently is getting the Rafah crossing opening. Meeting with President Abbas today I expressed my condolences for the loss of civilian lives in Gaza, including at the Al Ahli hospital. We know Hamas doesn't speak for the Palestinian people. The UK supports the Palestinian Authority in trying to establish stability. pic.twitter.com/8ISeSaUV1m Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 20, 2023 Its been a feature of all my conversations, and Im very pleased that that will now imminently happen. He told reporters: This is a region in mourning so first and foremost, I wanted to express my condolences to all those affected weve also made good progress on tangible areas like ensuring access for humanitarian aid to those who need it. But most importantly, in a situation like this, its important to intensify dialogue, because we all have a shared interest in peace and stability in this region. He added: When I met with President El-Sisi earlier today, he and I had a good discussion about how the UK can provide practical assistance on the ground to ensure the sustainability of that aid through the crossing to the people who need it. The immediate priority right now though, is to get humanitarian aid to the people who need it in Gaza. Thats why weve increased our funding and are providing practical support on the ground in cooperation with others to do that and longer term, we all share a vision of a future where Palestinian people can live with dignity with freedom and security and we need to work hard to make that happen. (PA Graphics) This comes after Israels troops were told to prepare for a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip, which remains under heavy bombardment as Tel Aviv fights back against Hamass incursion on October 7 that killed 1,400 people. Israel has stated it does not intend to reoccupy the territory if it does topple Hamas in Gaza. Speaking to legislators, Israels defence minister Yoav Gallant laid out a three-stage plan starting with air strikes, followed by a ground attack to root out Hamas followed by the removal of Israels responsibility for life in the Gaza Strip. Qatar is seen as a key mediator in the battle, with Doha using its ties to the Palestinian militant group to negotiate for the release of about 200 hostages taken during the deadly assault on Israel. Mr Sunak has held meetings with Israeli leaders and the crown prince of Saudi Arabia since starting his lobbying tour of the Middle East on Thursday. During discussions with Qatari ruler Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in Riyadh, No 10 said the pair underlined the imperative of avoiding any escalation in the violence across the region, agreeing that leaders had a responsibility to do everything possible to prevent it. A spokesman said Mr Sunak thanked Qatar for their efforts to secure the release of hostages, including at least two British nationals who are known to be among those being held captive. Downing Street said the Prime Minister would hold further meetings with counterparts from the region in Egypt where a number of influential Middle East leaders have gathered. The dangers of the Hamas conflict spilling over were illustrated as the United States said one of its warships had intercepted cruise missiles and drones launched from Yemen potentially towards targets in Israel. Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have expressed support for the Palestinians and threatened Israel. Attacks against Israel have also been launched from Lebanon, where the Hezbollah group is backed by Iran, drawing retaliation from Tel Aviv. A protester launches fireworks at riot police during a demonstration in solidarity with the Palestinian people in Gaza (Bilal Hussein/AP) In the first leg of his trip on Thursday, the Prime Minister had meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and president Isaac Herzog. Mr Netanyahu said he hoped for the UKs continuous support in his countrys long war as it hunts Hamas fighters. Mr Sunak, speaking at a joint press conference after discussions with his counterpart lasting about two hours, said he was proud to stand with Israel in its darkest hour. He said the UK Government wants you to win against a force he described as representing pure evil. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has also been in the region, visiting Egypt, Qatar and Turkey with a mission to secure the release of British hostages, stop the violence spreading to the region (and) ensure emergency aid can get into Gaza. In London, a 31-year-old man has been bailed by the Metropolitan Police after being arrested on suspicion of supporting Hamas at a demonstration in Whitehall earlier this week by displaying a banner supportive of a proscribed organisation. A force spokesman said: As part of the investigation, being led by the Mets Counter-Terrorism Command, officers conducted searches at addresses in east London and in County Durham. Nine British nationals are confirmed to have been killed in the Hamas raids on October 7 and a further seven are missing, with some feared to be among the dead or kidnapped, Downing Street said. The Gaza Health Ministry has said 4,137 people have been killed in the territory while Israel says more than 1,400 people in the country have been killed with 203 people being taken hostage into Gaza. A group of Republican senators have introduced legislation that would help resupply resources to Israels Iron Dome amid the countrys war with Hamas. The Emergency Resupply for Iron Dome Act of 2023 would require the executive branch to redirect U.S. foreign assistance from Gaza, the Palestinian territory controlled by Hamas, to resupply Israels Iron Dome. The Iron Dome is Israels air defense system, which defends it from rocket fire. Hamas has been firing rockets at Israel since its bloody assault on that country earlier this month, even as Israel has pounded Gaza with aerial attacks in response. The bill was introduced by Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.). The bills co-sponsors include Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.). In the wake of Iran-backed Hamass savage attack on Israel in which over 1,300 people in Israel were murdered, including 30 Americans, and as Iran-backed Hamas terrorists continue to launch missiles and rockets into Israel, the American people have seen the images of Israels Iron Dome missile defense systems repeatedly intercepting rockets and saving the lives of countless civilians, Hagerty said in a statement. My legislation requires the Biden Administration to halt U.S. foreign assistance from going to Hamas terrorist-dominated areas and instead to redirect these resources to help Israel resupply its life-saving Iron Dome interceptors. The United States should unequivocally support the right of Israel to defend itself from terrorists. The siege of Gaza has cut off the more than 2 million people who live there from basic life necessities, raising alarms of a humanitarian disaster. The Biden administration has backed Israels efforts to defend itself even as it has urged Israel to try to prevent civilian deaths. President Biden has also drawn a sharp distinction between Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist group, and the Palestinian people. This is not the first time GOP senators have offered a bill to shift aid away from Gaza. Hagerty announced a similar bill in 2021. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Ronnie O'Sullivan has lost the Northern Ireland Open final on three occasions World number one Ronnie O'Sullivan has withdrawn from the Northern Ireland Open for "medical reasons". The seven-time world champion was set to face American Ahmed Aly Elsayed in his opening match on Sunday. O'Sullivan, 47, is a three-time beaten finalist in the tournament having lost the 2018, 2019 and 2020 deciders to fellow Englishman Judd Trump. The Northern Ireland Open runs from 22-29 October at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast. O'Sullivan, who suffered a shock loss to world number 41 Lyu Haotian in the quarter-finals of the Wuhan Open last week, has been replaced by Rory McLeod. O'Sullivan's withdrawal is another blow for the tournament with world champion Luca Brecel, Mark Selby, John Higgins, Thailand's Thepchaiya Un-Nooh and Ali Carter not taking part in Belfast. The five players planned to skip the tournament to play in an exhibition event in Macau, and while that has now been rescheduled to December, they remain absentees having originally not entered Northern Ireland Open. World number four Mark Allen is aiming to complete a hat-trick on home soil having won the 2021 and 2022 editions. Across the BBC banner West Ada School District residents will elect three school board trustees in the upcoming election. Voters will pick three of eight candidates running for the open seats on the five-member board. Running in Zone 2 are incumbent Lucas K. Baclayon and challenger Susie Schuetz. Zone 2 is south of Interstate 84 between Cole and Meridian roads. Lucas Baclayon and Susie Schuetz, West Ada School Board candidates in Zone 2. Both say they hope to improve teacher retention by creating a positive environment. Schuetz hopes to analyze teacher exit surveys to better understand why the district is losing teachers. Running for Zone 4 are incumbent David Binetti and challengers Mari Gates and Miguel De Luna. Zone 4 includes Eagle and Star and a portion of unincorporated Ada County north of Beacon Light Road. Miguel De Luna, left, and incumbent David Binetti, candidates in Zone 3. Binetti said West Ada ranks first in reading and math in Idaho. De Luna said the current trustees are misusing taxpayer money to support school district bonds and levies to pay for needed school improvements. Gates did not respond to the Idaho Statesmans voter questionnaire. Running for Zone 5 are incumbent Rene Ozuna and challengers Tom Moore and Jeremy Cutler. Zone 5 is south of Chinden Boulevard north of I-84. It is bordered on the west by Ten Mile Road and the east by Eagle Road. Incumbent Rene Ozuna, Tom Moore and Jeremy Cutler, candidates in Zone 5. Ozuna and Cutler say the district is on the right track. Moore said too many students fail to graduate. The trustees would serve four-year terms. The Idaho Statesman sent surveys to each of the candidates, and their responses are copied below, unedited. Learn more about this race and other local elections at IdahoStatesman.com/Election. Nearly a month after he overturned Californias ban on large-capacity firearm magazines for the second time, U.S. District Court Judge Roger Benitez doubled down on his opposition to the states assault weapons ban, declaring in an opinion that the law has no historical pedigree and it is extreme. This marks the judges second time with the case, Miller v. Bonta. He previously struck down the states ban on assault weapons in 2021. In his decision, he likened the assault rifle to a Swiss Army Knife and called it good for both home and battle. The case had proceeded to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which remanded it back to the district court level after the U.S. Supreme Courts Bruen decision, which established a new framework for consideration of such laws. Benitez opened his decision by comparing the assault rifle to the Bowie knife, saying that both are dangerous, but useful. But unlike the Bowie Knife, the United States Supreme Court has said, there is a long tradition of widespread lawful gun ownership by private individuals in this country, Benitez wrote. The judge, known for his fiery opinions, wrote that the state was discriminating against assault rifles because of how they looked. They have the same minimum overall length, they use the same triggers, they have the same barrels, and they can fire the same ammunition, from the same magazines, at the same rate of fire, and at the same velocities, as other rifles, he wrote. Benitez wrote that while people have heard about mass shootings such as those in Uvalde, Texas, Parkland, Florida, or Sandy Hook, Connecticut, they do not hear of the AR-15 used in Florida by a pregnant wife and mother to defend her family from two armed, hooded, and masked home intruders. Californias assault weapon ban takes away from its residents the choice of using an AR-15 type rifle for self-defense. Is it because modern rifles are used so frequently for crime? No, Benitez wrote. The judge said that more is needed to justify the states ban on assault weapons than disarming some mass shooters. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has called Benitez, who was appointed to the federal bench by President George W. Bush in 2004, a stone cold ideologue and a wholly owned subsidiary of the gun lobby and the National Rifle Association. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who is defending the ban, issued a statement in response to the decision saying that weapons of war have no place on our streets. This has been state law in California for decades, and we will continue to fight for our authority to keep our citizens safe from firearms that cause mass casualties, Bonta said. He added that in the meantime, as his office appeals the judges decision, the ban remains in effect in California. Once again, this district court issued a dangerous and misguided decision and I will work vigorously to reverse it on appeal, Bonta said. October 2 0 , 2023: The primary reason Ukraine outwits Russia is because they must in order to survive the Russian invasion. Russia is much larger than Ukraine and has nearly four times as many people and a larger economy and military. Before deciding to invade, Russia calculated, based on what turned out to be flawed information, that they would invade Ukraine from the north, where the border is closest to the capital Kyiv, and win a quick and cheap victory. It didnt work out as planned. Part of the reason was that Russian leader Vladimir Putin did not tolerate bad news very well and the messenger often suffered as well. When Putin asked for intel on the situation inside Ukraine, he was told that morale was low, loyalty to the government equally weak and the military disorganized and demoralized. All that was quite untrue, but it was what Putin was looking for and he ordered the Stavka (the military general staff) to plan and carry out an invasion of Ukraine that would take advantage of the intel Putin received. Some Stavka members suspected or realized that the Intel Putin received was overly optimistic, but their job was to do what the boss wanted. They did it quickly and competently and Putin approved the attack plan. The Russian attack was an expensive disaster, with heavy losses among junior combat officers and even heavier losses for the most modern and effective tanks. There were heavy losses among the troops, but they were easier to replace than those officers. The tank losses were difficult to replace; nearly two years later they still havent been replaced and it will take another five to ten years to do that assuming Russia does not lose a lot more tanks in combat. Russia continues to lose tanks and tries to deal with this by bringing hundreds of 5060-year-old T-62s out of storage, getting them running again and sending them to provide cheaper tanks for the Ukrainians to destroy. At this point it seems like a good idea to call off the Russian invasion and halt the heavy personnel, armored vehicle, munitions and usage and take care of the Russian people. While most Russians seemed to approve of the invasion, they did so because Putin did it to prevent NATO from doing something bad to Russia. That was never going to happen since NATO was a defensive alliance, founded in 1949, and its objective was to protect Western Europe from Russian aggression. The NATO mandate has not changed, nor have Russian aggressive tendencies. Ukraine realized this and was seeking NATO membership. The Russian invasion was, in part, to keep Ukraine out of NATO. Putin knew that the NATO charter obliged all members to join in defending a member who was attacked. While Ukraine has not yet been able to join NATO, their admission has only been delayed by the war with Russia . Many Russians began to realize this and that did not improve Putins declining popularity. The invasion had resulted in heavy economic sanctions for Russia to deal with. To prevent too many more Russians from going into poverty or not having enough to eat, the government spent heavily to keep the cost of living from plunging too far too quickly. This was expensive as was the continued fighting in Ukraine . To make matters worse, Ukraine has to date received over $100 billion in military and economic aid from NATO countries. They kept Ukraine fighting and doing so while minimizing casualties. There are conflicting reports on how many Russian soldiers have been killed so far. These estimates range between 180,000 Russian dead and 270,000 wounded up t o 300,000 dead so far . Ukraines casualties are lower, at 70,000 dead and over 100,000 wounded. It is certain that Russian casualties are far higher and Ukraines lower, because Ukraines military medical system is so superior to Russias, while Russias is now far worse than it was during World War Two. That is saying something. Ukrainian medical care for the wounded is particularly quicker and more effective at returning wounded soldiers to service. Russian soldiers complain that they often get little medical care or none. The results in those wounds often getting worse and sometimes leading to death. Historically this has been the case. Ukraine has switched to the Western methods, which include prompt and effective treatment of wounds. This means more Ukrainian wounded recover quickly and are back in action. One of the many services NATO has provided Ukraine is help with medical care. Ukraine can send some of its wounded to hospitals, sometimes temporary military hospitals, in Poland. Russian and Ukrainian are closely related languages, and both use the Cyrillic alphabet. Russian soldiers can read Ukrainian newspapers and magazines and vice versa. Russian soldiers know a lot about Ukrainian military medical services and how much better medical care Ukrainian wounded receive. This is one of the many reasons why Russian soldiers in Ukraine have low morale compared to their Ukrainian adversaries. This low morale, and the continued shortage of junior officers, makes offensive operations risky because they are likely to fail and lower morale even more. Despite the lower morale, Russian troops are still useful when defending but counter attacks are difficult to organize. Russian troops still attack, but only after the enemy had been hit with enough artillery fire to allow Russian troops to advance against much less resistance. The Ukrainians realize this and that is why Ukrainian missiles and artillery are always seeking Russian supply stockpiles or trucks moving supplies to deprive Russian forces of the needed ammunition to sustain an attack. The Ukrainian attacks on Russian supplies also reduced how much food Russian troops receive. Because of all the NATO support, Ukrainian troops are better supplied than Russian forces. This is another reason why the Ukrainians are winning and the Russians losing due to supply issues. Russia made their situation worse in the last year by trying to carry out attacks using poorly trained and led troops who suffered from low morale and an increasing tendency to fight less effectively. Russia tried to compensate for that by putting their reluctant combat troops to work building combat zone fortifications and working on improving their defensive tactics. That helped improve morale, but not enough. That was because Russian soldiers had another problem, a lack of rotation and leave. Normally, Russian combat units that have seen a lot of action, and taken a lot of casualties, are periodically rotated out of the combat zone to get rest, additional training and, until recently, leave to go visit their families. The leave policy had been changed because too many soldiers were going on leave and not returning. That can be considered absent without leave or desertion but in practice the police have a difficult time finding the missing soldiers and the government has been forced to send soldiers to assist the reluctant police in finding the absent soldier and getting him back to his combat unit. This is more difficult than it sounds because most Russians sympathize with the reluctant soldiers. Ukraine also has problems with troop morale but takes more positive steps to deal with it. NATO nations have a lot of historical experience with these problems and advise the Ukrainians on what works and why. A soldier with combat fatigue, or, as it is now known, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), is of little use in combat and often a danger to others as well as himself. There are some useful therapies to reduce the effects of PTSD and enable a soldier to return to combat. Eventually PTSD wins because there is no known way to completely eliminate it. Diogo Dalot's winner was only his second goal in 78 Premier League appearances for Manchester United Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag believes "a legend and giant" has been lost in the passing of Sir Bobby Charlton. And Ten Hag said that his players were inspired to their 2-1 win at Sheffield United by wanting to pay a fitting tribute to the 1966 World Cup hero. Charlton's death at the age of 86 was announced four hours before kick-off at Bramall Lane, as Diogo Dalot curled home a suitably spectacular winner late on. Having said before the game United 'have to win for Sir Bobby' following the announcement of Charlton's passing, it was appropriate in-form midfielder Scott McTominay should put the visitors ahead with a well-taken effort just before the half hour. But after Oli McBurnie had drilled a superb penalty into the corner when McTominay handled just six minutes later, it was left to Dalot to provide the appropriate ending in honour of the man who scored so many memorable goals during the 17 years at Old Trafford in which he became one of the greatest Englishman to ever lace up his boots. Man of the match Harry Maguire said the news had "hit us hard" and, speaking to Sky Sports, spoke about how Charlton "lit the place up" when he came into the United dressing room. "He'd always come in if we won or lost but his presence was really felt in the dressing room," said the England defender. "You'd always see him around the club. We will miss him." Charlton's ill health in recent years means Ten Hag never got to meet the man who has a statue in his honour outside Old Trafford and after whom the main stand is named. The Dutchman would not have to walk around Old Trafford's rooms too much to understand the legacy Charlton leaves; the visiting fans chanted his name before kick-off and after the final whistle. "Of course we are very sad and our thoughts are with his family and especially his wife Lady Norma, his children and his grandchildren," said Ten Hag. "It is a legend, a giant passing away. His achievements are so immense and huge. It is global, not only England; you see the facts he achieved is incredible. "All the games; his titles, his trophies, the contribution he had with his goals. I never had the honour to meet him but I heard, despite all his trophies and games, he was so humble. "A big personality and an example for all of us as a footballer and also in society and global wide. "It was an extra motivation, absolutely." Man Utd struggles continue despite win Charlton is one of the most significant figures in the storied history of Manchester United that the current crop of players are finding it difficult to live up to. Even in victory, at times they looked disjointed. Their struggles were encapsulated in stoppage time when Antony Martial was presented with a three-on-one situation as he bore down on the home goal. Martial elected to go left to fellow substitute Alejandro Garnacho rather than right to Bruno Fernandes. Garnacho put the chance wide, but it transpired he had run offside anyway. Sofyan Amrabat operated as a de-facto quarter-back, playing deeper than Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof, who were given the responsibility of starting attacks but rarely did so with any speed or purpose. Fernandes flicked a first-half free-kick off the crossbar and Amrabat's long-range effort thudded against the other one after the break. However, other than an excellent save from Wes Foderingham to deny Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford sending an low effort wide of the far post, the visitors were not convincing, until Dalot stepped in to win it. Blades lack cutting edge Sheffield United suffered a club record eight-goal hammering by Newcastle on their last outing on home soil. There are two sides to Paul Heckingbottom's team though. There is also the one that was level with Manchester City with five minutes left and that led at Tottenham heading into injury time. This performance was very much from the latter variety. Cameron Archer forced Andre Onana into two decent first-half saves, the second of which also required some assistance from Amrabat. The Blades' midfield passing game was sharp and exploited the gaps that appeared as their opponents struggled with the positional aspect of their game. At one point, Onana went down apparently injured, triggering the visitors entire outfield contingent to head over to their manager on the touchline for what was something akin to a tactical time-out. A dipping, swerving long-range second-half effort from substitute Rhian Brewster also tested Onana. The thunderous manner of McBurnie's equaliser suggested that despite their plight, there is still belief in the Sheffield United camp. But the fact it was the Scotland forward's first goal of the season also shows the class to make a tangible impact at this level is simply not there. Everything you need to know about your Premier League team banner Our coverage of your Premier League club is bigger and better than ever before - follow your team and sign up for notifications in the BBC Sport app to make sure you never miss a moment Attorney Sidney Powell pleaded guilty Thursday morning for the part she played in trying to overturn the election of President Joe Biden. Powell, 68, appeared in Fulton County, Georgia, on Thursday morning, where she announced her guilty plea to six misdemeanor charges of conspiracy to commit intentional interference with election duties. She is sentenced to six years probation, a $6,000 fine and $2,700 in restitution. She also must offer truthful testimony in future proceedings against other defendants in the case and write an apology to the people of Georgia. Fulton County Executive District Attorney Daysha Young told Judge Scott McAfee that between Dec. 1, 2020 and Jan. 7, 2021, Powell and her co-defendents conspired to use Coffee County Election Supervisor Misty Hamptons position to gain access to election machines to tamper with ballot markers, remove software and data and examine personal voting records, among other things. Powell, who served as one of former President Donald Trumps lawyers following his 2020 election loss, grew up in Raleigh and graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill. She sat in the courtroom Thursday morning, appearing composed and answering each question the judge or district attorney asked with yes or no answers. She once cracked a joke about her age, despite what she described as a youthful appearance. In this Nov. 19, 2020 file photo, Sidney Powell, right, speaks next to former Mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani, as members of President Donald Trumps legal team, during a news conference at the Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington. Powell was one of 19 people charged in Fulton County for trying to overturn the 2020 election. So was Mark Meadows, who once represented North Carolinas far southwestern mountain counties in Congress. Meadows left Congress to work as Trumps chief of staff toward the end of Trumps presidency. Trump faces 91 criminal charges across four cases filed over less than five months this year. The Fulton County case was the first time Powell faced charges alongside Trump. She is believed to be an unnamed co-defendent in a second case out of Washington, where Trump is accused of spreading fraudulent conspiracy theories in an attempt to retain the presidency. On Thursday, the judge allowed Powell to plead as a first-time offender, which means that eventually her conviction could be expunged from her record. Without a plea deal, Powell could have spent six years in prison. The judge also ordered Powell not to speak to the media, her co-defendents or other witnesses in the case until the case is concluded in its entirety. A home in South Bend is riddled with chipped paint. Officials are trying to find ways to combat the citys problem with lead-tainted homes. Tribune Photo/SANTIAGO FLORES SOUTH BEND As the number of St. Joseph County children tested for lead in their blood remains stubbornly low, officials are hosting a free testing event and raising awareness as part of a nationwide prevention effort. After nearly 5,300 tests of children younger than age 7 were collected in 2019, the figure fell below 4,000 during the first two years of the pandemic, according to health department data. Health officials assumed it would rebound naturally as people moved about more. But the number collected in 2022 was nearly 3,800, and this year's numbers have stagnated. "We need to do more work to increase the overall amount of testing," County Health Officer Dr. Diana Purushotham said. Dr. Diana Purushotham Low testing numbers are a chronic issue in the county, where screening rates rarely surpassed about 16% of eligible children in the years before the pandemic. Yet lead poisoning here is well documented. In tests collected from 2005 to 2015, nearly a third of children under age 7 in one South Bend neighborhood had unsafe blood-lead levels the highest rate in Indiana. 2017 investigation: South Bend's stubborn lead problem: Why are kids still getting poisoned? Testing early is critical because lead can do irreversible harm to children younger than 7 whose brains are rapidly developing. Ingesting even small amounts of the metal can cause learning disabilities and decreased muscle and bone growth. The health department has begun offering lead screenings in daycares, reaching 183 children that way last year, according to a 2022 annual report. Two community health workers focus specifically on lead poisoning prevention, offering tests on spot to children or directing their parents to upcoming events. Testing events are held at local schools. On Oct. 26, as part of National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, the health department will test children between ages 1 and 6 years old free of charge from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the St. Joseph County Public Library in downtown South Bend. The health department's immunization clinics and the South Bend Medical Foundation also offer lead screenings to young children at no charge year-round. How lead poisoning happens in St. Joseph County Health officials believe most lead poisoning in St. Joseph County results from lead-based paint found in homes built before 1978, when the federal government banned such paint. In South Bend, about 80% of the housing stock was built before 1978; countywide, the number falls to roughly 70%. Children can ingest lead by eating paint chips or by putting their fingers in their mouth after touching invisible lead dust or contaminated soil. Peeling paint and dust from old windows are common hazards. State data collected from 2005 to 2015 showed the problem is worst on the west side of South Bend, particularly in two low-income census tracts that form the near northwest and the near west side neighborhoods. About a third of children in each tract had blood-lead levels in excess of five micrograms per deciliter, which was the threshold considered elevated by the Indiana Department of Health. The department last year lowered that number to 3.5 micrograms to align with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But a 2018 study co-authored by Heidi Beidinger, a Notre Dame professor who founded the university's Lead Innovation Team, found in the same data that 75% of children tested in St. Joseph County had blood-lead levels above one microgram per deciliter. Any amount of lead is dangerous for children, health officials say. Despite the severe results, few children in the highest-risk neighborhoods and other impoverished areas are tested for lead poisoning, according to Beidinger's study. Only 5.9% of children under age 5 were tested in the near west side and 7.1% in the near northwest. "If you don't have a lot of money for food or electric or basic things, the last thing you want to probably think about is getting a lead test for your kid," said Briannah McCall, a lead specialist for the county health department. "Weve been trying to change how we approach it and meet people where they are to make lead testing as simple as possible. To make testing easier, Notre Dame's Lead Innovation Team offers lead screening kits that allow residents to test for lead in their homes on their own. How South Bend is trying to prevent lead poisoning Chipped paint surrounds a window on a South Bend home. City officials are trying to find new ways to combat the problem with lead-tainted homes. Tribune Photo/SANTIAGO FLORES To aid lower-income families with lead remediation, the city of South Bend received about $3.3 million in government grants in 2019. But after a similar pandemic downturn, just over $520,000 has been spent as of this month, according to a city spokesperson. "It was the first time we had received this grant so we had to set up all the infrastructure ... of contractors and processes," said Liz Maradik, South Bend's chief neighborhoods officer. "So it was a little bit slower getting started due to that and the pandemic." The city offers up to $20,000 for lead-safe repairs to homeowners or renters whose landlords consent if the following criteria are met: The dwelling was built before 1978 and is within South Bend city limits The family's annual household income is below 80% of the area median income, meaning a four-person household earning $66,050 or less A child younger than 6 lives in or frequently visits the house, or a pregnant woman lives in the house What Indiana has done to prevent lead poisoning Statewide changes that took effect in the past year also aim to boost lead screening. A new state law effective this January requires providers to test all 1- and 2-year-olds for elevated blood-lead levels and to verify that children under age 7 have been tested for lead; if not, the provider must offer a test. Starting last July, the Indiana Department of Health lowered the threshold at which county health departments must assign a case manager to young children with high blood-lead levels. The St. Joseph County health department expects roughly four times more children to need case management. Email South Bend Tribune city reporter Jordan Smith at JTsmith@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jordantsmith09 This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: St. Joseph County lead testing low amid national lead awareness week Prime Minister Rishi Sunak urged Saudi Arabia to support stability in the Middle East as Israel geared up for a long war with Hamas. Mr Sunak visited Tel Aviv on Thursday where he said he wanted Israel to win the war before heading to Saudi Arabia for talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as part of an effort to prevent the Israel-Hamas confrontation spiraling into a wider conflict. The Prime Minister said: As an international community, we must not let Hamass terror attack become a catalyst for a terrible humanitarian crisis in Gaza. We will work together to ensure regional stability and prevent a dangerous escalation. I've landed in Saudi Arabia. As an international community, we must not let Hamas' terror attack become a catalyst for a terrible humanitarian crisis in Gaza. We will work together to ensure regional stability and prevent a dangerous escalation. pic.twitter.com/mwUXn0luSS Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 19, 2023 In a statement following the meeting with the crown prince, No 10 said the pair agreed that the loss of innocent lives in Israel and Gaza over the last two weeks has been horrific and underscored the need to avoid any further escalation in the region. Mr Sunak encouraged the crown prince to use Saudis leadership in the region to support stability, both now and in the long-term, No 10 said. The Prime Minister earlier had meetings with Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and president Isaac Herzog. Mr Netanyahu told Mr Sunak that he hoped for the UKs continuous support in his countrys long war as it fought back against Hamas following the Palestinian militant groups deadly and unprecedented assault on Israel on October 7. The Israeli premier said his forces were fighting against the worst monsters on the planet during the worlds darkest hour as he warned there would be ups and downs during the war. Mr Sunak, speaking at a joint press conference after discussions with his counterpart lasting about two hours, said he was proud to stand with Israel and that the UK Government wants you to win. Israel defence minister Yoav Gallant has told ground troops on the Gaza border to be ready to enter the Occupied Palestinian Territory, but he did not say when the invasion would start. Asked what Mr Sunak made of Mr Netanyahus assessment that Israel was facing a long war, a spokeswoman for the Prime Minister said: It is not for us to comment on the detail of the Israeli approach. The latest figures from No 10 confirmed that at least nine British nationals were killed in the Hamas raids on Israel. A further seven British nationals are missing some of whom are feared to be among the dead or kidnapped, Downing Street said. The PA news agency understands that one of the Britons was Yonatan Rapoport, who was killed when Hamas gunmen rampaged through a kibbutz. Mr Rapoport, known as Yoni, was reportedly one of those murdered in the attack on Kibbutz Beeri. Prime Minister @netanyahu, I stand with you in Israels darkest hour. I welcome your commitment to ensure routes into Gaza are opened for humanitarian aid. I support your work to secure the release of hostages, to strengthen your security and to end the threat from Hamas. pic.twitter.com/ZrLJALTzBN Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 19, 2023 He had two children, Yosefi and Aluma, and, as a Manchester United fan, had planned to take his son to Old Trafford next month for his first game, the BBC reported. The UK Government has not confirmed how many Britons are among the hostages held by Hamas, although at least two are known to be being kept captive, with Mr Sunak meeting with their families while in Tel Aviv. The British leader thanked the Israeli government for its efforts in helping to secure the release of UK citizens being held hostage. About 200 people in total are said to have been snatched in the Hamas raids. Mr Sunak welcomed Mr Netanyahus decision, after lobbying by US president Joe Biden, for Israel to start letting aid into the Gaza Strip. It marks a potential break in a punishing and highly controversial siege on the territory after Israels retaliation on Hamas saw it block access for water, food, electricity and other essential supplies to the 25-mile strip, while also carrying out strikes. The Prime Minister said the UK would seek to get more support to people as quickly as we can as he reiterated that Palestinians living under Hamas rule in Gaza were also victims. The UK Government is being urged to lobby for a ceasefire by both British political leaders and charities working in the region (Abed Khaled/AP) Israel continued to pound locations across Gaza on the day of Mr Sunaks visit to Tel Aviv, including firing on parts of the southern strip that had been declared safe zones. Many among Gazas 2.3 million residents have cut down to one meal a day and have been left to drink dirty water amid dwindling supplies. Scotlands First Minister, Humza Yousaf has called on Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, who is on his own diplomatic blitz across Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, to press for a resolution that could help those UK citizens trapped in Gaza. Shameful that UK citizens trapped in Gaza dont even get a mention. Might be helpful if you give them at least a passing mention in your discussions. They're trapped in a warzone & need you, Foreign Secretary, to demand a ceasefire, and the Rafah crossing opened to let them out. https://t.co/o0XbTnPRA2 Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) October 19, 2023 Mr Yousaf, whose mother and father-in-law are stuck in the territory, said the lack of focus on those unable to escape the bombardment in the 25-mile strip was shameful. Katy Chakrabortty, Oxfams head of advocacy, said Mr Sunak should be pushing for a ceasefire: Wanting Israel to win is not a helpful statement. Nobody wins when the scale of human suffering, devastation and pain is so vast and relentless. We need all parties to commit to a ceasefire and for full, unfettered humanitarian access to Gaza now. Mr Sunak is expected to stay overnight in Saudi Arabi following talks with the Crown Prince. No 10 is yet to confirm whether he will visit another Middle East capital before wrapping up his two-day trip on Friday. The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to intervene in a Louisiana congressional map dispute, potentially delaying the implementation of a new map that could create a district that boosts the power of Black voters in the state. The brief order will come as a disappointment to critics who say conservative-led states are trying to stall court orders requiring new maps that would impact the balance of power in the House of Representatives next fall. There were no noted dissents. Liberal Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote a brief concurrence saying she agreed with the courts denial but that the decision was temporary and leaves open the possibility that the court could intervene at a later date. In June 2022, a district court judge ordered that Louisianas map with only one Black-majority district out of six in a state with a 33% Black population should be redrawn with a second Black-majority district. After months of litigation, the district court had scheduled a hearing slated to discuss proposals for the new map. But a federal appeals court issued an order canceling that hearing in order to give the state more time to propose new maps. The NAACP Legal Defense Fund asked the justices to lift that order, but they declined to do so on Thursday. The case is one of several that has come before the justices in recent months concerning race and congressional representation that could impact which party controls the House after next years elections. The court previously ordered Alabama to redraw its congressional map to account for the states 27% Black voting population, which was introduced this month. Earlier this month, the justices considered whether South Carolina engaged in impermissible racial gerrymandering. Louisiana process The Louisiana challenge is currently continuing on two tracks. The district court is seeking to remedy a Voting Rights violation, while a federal appeals court is already considering whether to put that ruling on hold. In August, the district court judge overseeing the case ordered a hearing for early October in order to select a new congressional map in the state. It came after expansive discovery and a five-day preliminary injunction hearing. While the state chose not to propose new remedial maps, the challengers, including the NAACP-LDF, proposed their own. At the hearing the court was expected to select a new map. But Republican officials went to a federal appeals court asking for a delay. The panel of judges on the appeals court agreed to delay the hearing, holding that the state hadnt had enough time to propose new maps. Lawyers for the civil rights group urged the justices to step in and reverse the order from the panel of judges on the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals. While the panels principal rationale for issuing the writ was that the Louisiana Legislature should be afforded an opportunity to enact a new map in compliance with the district courts injunction, the Legislature has already had multiple opportunities to enact a new map and has not done so, Stuart Naifeh of the NAACP-LDF told the justices in court papers. This story has been updated with additional developments. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Residents will vote for the mayor and two Town Council members in Apex this year. Mayor Jacques Gilbert, elected in 2019, is running unopposed, while incumbents Terry Mahaffey and Arno Zegerman face opponents Tayon Williams Dancy, Dylan Hale and Gregory Lyon. Early voting for the Nov. 7 election begins on Oct. 19 and runs until Nov. 4. For information about voting, Election Day, and precincts, residents can visit the state Board of Elections, ncsbe.gov, or the Wake County Board of Elections, wake.gov. Name: Terry Mahaffey Age: 43 Residence: Apex Occupation/Employer: Principal Software Engineer at Microsoft, C++ Compiler (code generation team) Education: BS in Computer Science from RIT, MBA from WGU Political or civic experience: Apex Town Council Member, 2019 to present. I currently serve as the chair of the Finance Committee, on our Planning Committee, and as a liaison to the Apex Chamber of Commerce. HOA Board Member, 2018-20. Co-chair of the Wake County Complete Count Committee, 2019-20. I am a graduate of Apexs Peak Academy (our municipal-run citizens academy) and Apexs Community Police Academy, and I am an active volunteer with CAPA (Citizens Assisting Police in Apex). Campaign website: visionofthepeak.com Tell us why youre running to serve Apex. Why should voters trust you in this position? I believe in our town. As an incumbent, Ive witnessed the progress weve achieved during my previous term, and Im committed to sustaining this positive momentum. My record speaks to my ability to deliver on my initial campaign themes of trust, transparency, and trees. Apex has recently implemented some of the most robust environmental controls in North Carolina, preserving our tree canopy and safeguarding our watershed. But we wont rest there. Going forward, well take further steps to restore our tree canopy and enforce even stricter rules to ensure clean, safe and abundant water for our community. Voters can trust me because my track record over the past four years demonstrates my ability to get things done. Whether at a high level, like reforming development rules for transparency, or at a grassroots level tirelessly addressing the concerns of my constituents, Ive consistently shown my dedication to our communitys well-being. What is the town of Apex doing right to manage growth? What could be improved? Apex has undertaken extensive proactive planning, outlining detailed strategies for future transportation infrastructure, land use, greenways, and more. As part of these efforts, I spearheaded the elevation of our tree preservation standards, positioning Apex among the states leaders in environmental stewardship. Incorporating school capacity planning into our rezoning process has been another significant step forward. Our collaboration with WCPSS results in Letters of Impact, offering critical insights into school capacity effects. Construction begins next year on a new elementary school on developer-provided land. We currently extract the maximum infrastructure from development (such as road improvements) were legally able. Equally important, we place a strong emphasis on Historic Preservation. However, we face persistent challenges, notably the continual erosion of municipal authority by the state legislature. To further enhance our environmental efforts, I advocate for expanding tree preservation requirements beyond the gross area to ensure a net gain in the tree canopy. If elected, how would you approach an existing or new issue differently from your fellow council members? I am data-driven and analytical, and I leverage these skills to systematically examine issues. My belief in using data to guide decisions ensures that we make evidence-based choices that positively impact Apex. Drawing from my professional experience as a programmer, I approach problem-solving by breaking down complex issues into manageable sub-problems. This method allows for a systematic analysis that simplifies challenges to their core, addressing root causes effectively. I work to simplify and summarize complex topics, making them easily understandable and approachable. My goal is to work collaboratively with fellow council members, offering complementary skills and viewpoints. Together, we can collectively address challenges in a way that benefits all residents of Apex by combining analytical rigor, a problem-solving mindset, and a commitment to clear communication. How do you plan to make local government in Apex more inclusive and equitable for all residents in the town who feel their voices are underrepresented? During my tenure, weve made significant strides toward a more inclusive and equitable local government. We appointed a dedicated Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) director and established a Community Engagement department to address these concerns both internally and externally. Cultural events bring people together. Im collaborating with Hum Sub, the organizers of Diwali in Cary, to bring a Holifest to Apex in 2024, promoting cultural diversity and fostering community connections. Well continue to fund other cultural events such as Indigenous Peoples Day, Juneteenth, and Hispanic Heritage Month. Additionally, we recognize the need for better representation on citizens advisory boards, especially for our growing Asian American community, which is currently the largest minority group in Apex. I am committed to rectifying this issue, by adding more advisory board seats if necessary. Please list any endorsements youve received. Organizations such as the Wake County Democratic Party, North Carolina Asian Americans Together, Equality NC, NC State AFL-CIO, and the Sierra Club have all endorsed me for re-election. Additionally Ive been endorsed by Congressman Wiley Nickel and Congresswoman Deborah Ross; by NC House Representatives Maria Cervania, Ya Liu, and Julie von Haefen; NC Senators Gale Adcock and Sydney Batch; Wake County Commissioners Don Mial, Matt Calabria, my former colleague Cheryl Stallings, and Vickie Adamson; my current colleague Audra Killingsworth and 15 other local elected officials from around Wake County and the state. These endorsements reflect the broad support and trust I have earned from leaders and organizations dedicated to our communitys well-being. If there is anything you would like to add, please do so here. Throughout my time serving on the Town Council, Ive earned a reputation as someone who genuinely puts in the work. Im committed to being responsive to your questions and concerns, ensuring that your voices are heard and valued. Moreover, I bring a data-driven approach to every conversation, underpinned by a deep understanding of the issues. Im known for my level-headedness and calm demeanor, qualities that enable me to make well-informed decisions that benefit our community. As you consider your choices for Town Council, please remember that you can select two candidates. I hope to earn your trust and be your first choice. However, if you have another candidate in mind as your first choice, I humbly ask to be your second. I am committed to working collaboratively and effectively, no matter the outcome, to serve the best interests of our residents. Your trust and support are greatly appreciated. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott is doubling down on Iowa, ramping up his visits to the state as he looks to prove he can compete in the battle to mount the strongest primary challenge to GOP front-runner former President Donald Trump. CNN obtained a recording of a Thursday call with donors that featured Scott and senior campaign officials, during which Scott said the campaign has not yet launched a national campaign. Instead, they are focusing on Iowa and will continue that strategy for the next several weeks and couple months. We are making progress in the great state of Iowa. Were going to continue to do so. We have not yet launched a national campaign, we have launched a successful Iowa strategy, Scott told donors. Well continue to play that out for the next several weeks and couple of months. The call came just days after the super PAC supporting his campaign canceled the remainder of its TV and digital ad reservations Scott campaign senior adviser Zac Moffatt said on the call that the campaign plans to bolster its Iowa ground game with additional staffing and increased visits to the state in the coming weeks. Youre gonna see us put more and more of an emphasis, because we know that we need to do well in Iowa to have a springboard to everything else. So youll get to see us put more and more of an emphasis with our resources and our staffing to ensure that were in Iowa fighting every single day for every vote we can, Moffatt said. And the reason were doing that is that we feel like Iowa is still not only not settled, but theres a massive opportunity there. The day after the call, Scott embarked on a five-day bus tour of Iowa, even as his path to the nomination appears murkier than ever. Earlier this week, Trust in the Mission PAC, the super PAC supporting Scotts campaign, announced it is canceling the remainder of its $40 million in TV and digital ad reservations, citing the challenges of breaking through to voters. The announcement came a day after federal filings showed the Scott campaign spent $12.4 million during the third quarter but only raised $4.6 million in that same time period, putting a dent in his once-formidable advantage in cash reserves. Scott told CNNs Abby Phillip on Thursday he supports the decision by the super PAC to pull its ad buys and dismissed questions about the health of his campaign. I dont run the super PAC. So I cant tell you exactly what that memo meant, but what I can tell you is that it focuses on is reserving our resources until later in the campaign so that as we get close to the January 15, date of the Iowa caucus, we have the resources to spend effectively, Scott said. Breaking through this current news cycle seems to be impossible. So any alternative to the former president will not have actual opportunity to showcase why they should be the alternative. When asked if hes considering dropping out of the race given the context laid out in the memo, Scott said he plans to keep running. Oh, of course not, Scott said. We believe that Americas ready for an optimistic positive messenger who is anchored in consistently conservative values. Scotts efforts to establish his viability are further complicated by a struggle to make up ground in the polls in comparison to rivals like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. In a national Fox News poll of potential Republican primary voters released last week, Scott earned 1% support. Scott received 3% in a September Fox survey. Scott has not yet met the polling threshold to qualify for the November debate, which mandates candidates receive 4% support in two national polls or one national poll and two early state polls. He has surpassed the donor requirements set by the Republican party, a campaign spokesperson told CNN. A South Carolina-based Republican strategist supporting Scotts campaign said the cancellation by the PAC gives the South Carolina senator a chance to take stock of the primary landscape. I think the memo on Monday, it was certainly a chance to sort of reset, take a deep breath and get ready for this final lap, the strategist said. Scotts Iowa bus tour is part of an effort by the campaign to raise his popularity in the state, with the hope that a strong showing in the caucuses in January can spark some momentum and propel him into viability. The visit to the Hawkeye State for this weekends tour will be his third trip there in as many weeks, and the trips are supplemented by a bevy of TV ads from his campaign targeting Iowa voters. As of Friday, Scotts campaign has spent $11.6 million on TV ads, more than any other campaign so far. More than half of those ad buys have been in Iowa, according to data from the ad tracking firm AdImpact. Scott often leans into his Christian faith and his background to appeal to the significant evangelical coalition among Iowa Republicans, frequently quoting scripture at campaign stops. Scott campaign pollster Erik Iverson presented internal polling data to donors on Thursdays call to support the campaigns focus on evangelical voters, whose support he said remains up for grabs. Traditionally in Iowa, that evangelical lane plays a very outsized level of importance, Iverson said. Sort of remarkably, that lane is completely unfilled right now. Its completely wide open. On the call with donors Thursday, Moffatt said he believes the campaign has enough time to pick up support as more voters make up their minds. If you look at the history of prior presidential races, moderates jump out to an early lead, they consolidate quickly and they get all this hope and change thats coming into September, October, and then they crash into the winter, Moffat said on the call. I will say, winter is coming as conservatives and as the primary electorate starts to pay attention. Youre going to see big moves, and it always ends badly for the people who started early who havent really been focused on yet. Bev Lessman, a Republican voter and small business owner from Sioux City, Iowa, is one of those voters still waiting to decide. She said she likes Scott, and attended an event he held in Le Mars, Iowa, in August. Shes currently undecided, but is considering Scott, Haley, DeSantis and Trump. To her, electability is a crucial factor when considering who to support. But all things being equal, if she had to vote today, she would want to see Scott on the GOP ticket just not on the top line. I would actually vote for Nikki Haley and Tim Scott would be a great vice president, she said. Honing in on rivals When he first launched his campaign in May, Scott was viewed by many Republicans as one of a handful of White House hopefuls who could offer a viable threat to Trump in the primary. His personal narrative a Black man who grew up in poverty, was raised by a single mother in South Carolina and has since risen to the US Senate made him appealing to a wide group of voters, and his substantial war chest and connections to donors gave him stature in a crowded field. But in the intervening months, other candidates, like fellow South Carolinian Haley, have gained some ground, while Scott has yet to have his moment. And as the primary calendar inches closer, some Republicans are anxiously hoping some candidates will fade away and allow support to build around the strongest alternative to Trump, who received 59% in the Fox poll of Republican primary voters releases earlier this month. At the moment, its unclear if Scott can be that candidate. I think if Donald Trump wasnt in this race, it would be a very different discussion. But Trump casts such a large shadow over the rest of the Republican field, that it has stifled an ability for people to get traction, South Carolina conservative political strategist Dave Wilson told CNN. I think the only place where I really see traction taking hold, ironically, is with Nikki Haley. Her numbers continue to tick up and up and up, he added. Haleys ascent has increased the pressure on Scott to either prove he can take on the former president or step aside to make room for other candidates. Last week, Washington Post columnist George Will called on Scott to drop out of the race and support Haley, an awkward proposal given that Wills wife, Mari, is an adviser to Scotts campaign. The opinion piece came on the heels of former Texas Rep. Will Hurd dropping out of the race and backing Haley earlier this month. When asked by CNN about Wills piece after an event last week, Scott laughed off the call to drop out, joking I guess this just proves there are mixed marriages, and said he plans to stay in the race. Still, Scott has adopted a sharper, more aggressive rhetorical style in recent weeks and has shown a new willingness to attack rivals like Haley and DeSantis directly. Scott has used the aftermath of the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel to harshly condemn President Joe Biden, who he said has blood on his hands following the attacks, as well as his Republican rivals. During a recent speech in Washington, DC, focused on Israel, he hit DeSantis and tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy for their weakness and confusion on foreign policy issues. And at a foreign policy panel at Georgetown University on Monday, Scott criticized Haley for saying not all Palestinians are antisemitic, part of an argument against accepting refugees from Gaza into the US. He falsely suggested Haley supports accepting refugees, insinuating she held the position to be popular. How do we make sure that our nation remains the greatest nation on Gods green earth if we have no ability to discern whos coming our country? I cant figure that out. If I cant figure that out, as commander in chief, I have a responsibility to take a leap back and say, not on my watch, Scott said. Our nation is just too important for me to make bad decisions under pressure because I want to be popular. That doesnt work for me. For Scott, harsh attacks on rival candidates can at times bristle against his typically optimistic campaign message. Yet he says efforts to distinguish himself from other candidates are focused on policy differences in part to preserve the Republican nominees chances to defeat Biden in the general election, whomever that may be. My quest has always been to be an optimist, to be positive. Im positive that showing the contrast between me and my opponents is a good thing, not a bad thing, Scott quipped in an interview with the Ruthless podcast released Thursday. To the extent that we focus on those contrasts, Im not going to make it personal. I dont want to poison the well so much so that everything that I say is going to be on a Democrat campaign ad, he added. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Puebloans will vote on some of the citys leaders in the upcoming election Nov. 7, including selecting the citys mayor for the second time in recent memory. The Pueblo Chieftain has surveyed all 18 candidates for mayor and council about the key topics and critical issues facing the city, featuring some questions submitted directly by readers. Check your voter registration here to make sure youre registered to vote. The mayoral election is city-wide, while council members are elected by district. Check which city council district you live in here. Fifteen of the 18 candidates for mayor and council responded to the Chieftain's questionnaire. Their answers have been edited for clarity and brevity. Tom Croshal is one of nine candidates running for Pueblo mayor. Introduce yourself and tell us why you're qualified to be mayor. I am a retired small business owner with 40 years of experience, a background in management, team building, professional development, problem solving and organizational skills. These are not skills that I learned from watching a YouTube video or reading a book. They have been learned firsthand over 40 years. I feel that these are necessary skills that a mayor should possess in order to work with the city council and all city employees in solving the problems that we face in moving the city forward. Thomas Croshal speaks as a candidate for Pueblo Mayor during the 2023 Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce candidate debates at Memorial Hall on Thursday, October 5, 2023. If elected, what would you do on day one? My first day on the job and in all actuality my first week on the job would consist of meeting and getting to know my staff. Meeting with all department heads, learning what projects their respected departments are working on, what problems they may be experiencing, any concerns they may have and what I as mayor could do to help them. I would also meet with the heads of the various unions that represent the city's most valuable asset, our employees who keep us safe and our city running. I want to know what problems they see on a day-to-day basis. What would be your approach for addressing homelessness? What role should city government have? Ideally we would be able to find permanent housing for every person in need, but it would require a large financial investment and the money just isn't there yet. I would work with the Pueblo Housing Authority and every nonprofit that offers housing services to find permanent housing for as many homeless as we can, such as looking into a tiny home village. The city would establish a temporary housing shelter to get these folks off the streets, giving them some sense of stability, then we could bring mental health, addiction, employment and health services to them with some of the local nonprofits. How would you handle police staffing shortages? I think we need to reevaluate our compensation package for our police and fire fighters and make sure we are competitive to the rest of the state. The jobs are just as dangerous in Pueblo as they are anywhere else. I am not convinced that offering incentive packages to recruit experienced police officers is the route to go if we do this, we need to make it equitable for all current members of our police force and I think it would be cost prohibitive. Colorado is a desirable state to live in so I think a competitive job package coupled with the lower cost of living and all of the other great assets Pueblo has to offer we would be able to improve our recruiting and staffing issues. Aside from hiring additional police officers, what would you do to reduce crime in Pueblo? I think that the only way to make Pueblo a safer place is to have more police on patrol. I would like to see the police staffed at 103%. I don't think that the Real Time Crime Center will do anything to lower crime or make our streets safer, it's no substitute for manpower. I would develop a neighborhood watch program and make sure all the resources to make it successful are available. I would improve lighting in known high-crime areas, install cameras and license plate readers throughout Pueblo. I would work with businesses, Crime Stoppers and municipal courts to make sure that we get the picture of every person that has an outstanding warrant out for the public to see. What plan do you have for creating affordable home ownership instead of renting for Puebloans? Five years ago, when I ran for mayor the first time, I proposed that the city needed to take possession of all vacant and abandoned houses through tax and property liens. I did not see them as blight but as affordable housing. We need to work with the county, regional building department, PEDCO and a community bank to create a program to make these properties and construction loans available to low-income first time homeowners. We would need to establish certain guidelines that would have to be met by the new owners and they would need to be able to get permanent financing on their new home so the program sustains itself. This year, the interactions between city council and the mayor have been tense. As mayor, how would you work together? Let's be clear, there are no partisan politics in the city government. It's about the entire city and its people, not just one political group, but it seems that in the past year and a half or so that hasn't been the case. I think that the problem is the political aspirations of some after all, there are four current members of city council running for the job of mayor. I have 40 years of team building experience and I will use this skill to build the leadership team that this city and all its citizens need and deserve to provide the quality of life, safety, health and well-being that they deserve. How would you approach improving transportation infrastructure within the city? Our roads have been in decline for at least 50 years. I feel that the only way we are going to be able to get a handle on this is to ask the voters for a bond issue. I think we are past the point of a pay as you go strategy, we will never be able to catch up to where we need to be. We need to take a hard look at our current bus routes and our hours of operation and make adjustments and additions in order to improve ridership. We need to form a committee to develop a plan and strategy using our current trail system and roads to create a bike path system so that people who bike as their means of transportation can navigate the entire city safely. What would you do to help the city achieve the goal of 100% renewable energy by 2035? I think we can get the city on a path to achieve a goal of being a 100% renewable energy immediately. We need to start by putting out a request for design build proposals to solar contractors to take all city properties to 100% solar. This should be no different of a process that a homeowner would go through when going solar. We need to look at installing charging stations at all city owned buildings and the solar infrastructure to power these stations. As our current city fleet becomes obsolete and needs to be replaced, we need to replace with electric vehicles, but we need to make sure the needed infrastructure is in place first. Do you support ballot measure 2A, which would raise the city's lodging tax to help pay for childcare? I am in favor of 2A. My only wish would have been that they would have asked for 2.5% tax so more people could be helped by other than the Pueblo taxpayer. My wife and I travel quite a bit and when we check out of a hotel there are always different fees and taxes on the bill and we just accept it for what it is without questioning it. I think that most people would feel the same way. I think that if passed we need to take a good look at how exactly it's spent to maximize the number of people it helps. If you received a $1 million grant to use for the city in any way, what would you do with it and why? I would use a million extra dollars in many ways that would have a lasting impact on the community. I would make a large portion of it available for nonprofit grants. I think this would be the best way to get the most bang for our buck. I would use a portion of it to develop the neighborhood watch program and the balance I would spend on the best suggestion or suggestions from the community. Anna Lynn Winfrey covers politics for the Pueblo Chieftain. She can be reached at awinfrey@gannett.com. Please support local news at subscribe.chieftain.com. This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Tom Croshal, Pueblo mayoral candidate in his own words Well, well, well. A key figure in the fake elector scheme took a plea deal in Georgia on Friday, agreeing to come clean about his part in the conspiracy to try to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Are you seeing this, Attorney General Kris Mayes? Trump-aligned lawyer Kenneth Chesebro wrote memos detailing how Republicans could send false slates of presidential electors to Congress in an attempt to give Donald Trump the win or at least delay the Jan. 6, 2021, certification of Joe Bidens victory. According to his Fulton County, Ga., indictment, one of his memos provides detailed, state-specific instructions for how Trump presidential elector nominees in Georgia, Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin would meet and cast electoral votes for Trump, even though he lost the election in those states. Chesebro, who is pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit filing false documents, on Friday agreed to testify at any future trials of his fellow co-conspirators. He also agreed to turn over all emails and text messages to the district attorney's office. What does Chesebro know about Arizona? A slate of "fake electors" casts votes for Donald Trump in 2020. Have got your plane ticket to Atlanta yet, AG Mayes? It might be interesting to see what light Chesebro can shed on Arizonas 11 fake electors. Specifically, how they came to be meeting at state Republican Party headquarters on Dec. 14, 2020, signing documents falsely claiming to be duly elected and qualified to cast Arizonas electoral votes for the guy who didnt win. How these patriots including two who are now state senators (Jake Hoffman and Anthony Kern), the now-former chairwoman of the Arizona Republican Party (Kelli Ward) and a top executive with Turning Point USA (Tyler Bowyer) came up with the same wild idea that just coincidentally occurred to Republicans in six other swing states won by Biden. Or how, even as those phonies were meeting in Phoenix to cast their non-existent votes for Trump, across town a group of Republican legislators were signing a letter to Vice President Mike Pence and Congress urging them to accept those alternate electoral votes. Or how then-Rep. Mark Finchem, one of the states loudest stop the stealers, hand carried the lawmakers request to Washington on Jan. 5, 2021, putting it into the hands of one of Trumps strongest acolytes on Capitol Hill, Rep. Andy Biggs. Or how Biggs, along with Reps. Paul Gosar and Debbie Lesko, then voted the next day to reject Arizonas legitimate electoral votes. Where does Mayes 'investigation' stand? This wasnt just 11 local Arizona rubes who decided on a whim to protest Bidens win by casting a symbolic electoral vote for Trump. This was a carefully planned scheme, meticulously coordinated from the seeds of doubt deeply planted to erode trust in our elections to the fake electors who were part of a plot to steal the vote in Arizona and other swing states to the storming of the nations Capitol to stop Joe Biden from becoming president. And certain Arizonans appear to be in on it up to their eyeballs. Fake electors: Had a cast of characters helping them Wouldnt it be nice to hear what Chesebro might know about that? Mayes vowed during last years campaign to investigate Arizonas fake electors. She reportedly assigned a team of prosecutors to the investigation in May. Dan Barr, Mayess chief deputy, in July told the Washington Post the investigation was in the fact-gathering phase.Since then, weve heard nothing. Michigan is bringing charges. What about us? Meanwhile, in Michigan, one of that states 16 fake electors this week agreed to testify against his fellow phonies in return for dismissal of eight felony counts, including forgery and conspiracy to publish a false statement. The Michigan 16, just like the Arizona 11, met at their state GOP headquarters and signed documents stating they were the states duly elected and qualified electors. That was a lie and each of the defendants knew it, Michigan prosecutors said, in their charging documents. The Michigan fake elector whose charges were dismissed has agreed to cooperate fully with the AGs office, agreeing to testify at trial and key hearings and provide investigators with any and all relevant documents. Michigan in July became the first state to bring charges against the fake electors. It shouldnt be the last. Simply put, Arizona's fake electors and their co-conspirators tried to steal our vote. There should be a penalty for that. AG Mayes, I hear Atlanta is nice this time of year. Reach Roberts at laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @LaurieRoberts. Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What does Kenneth Chesebro know about Arizona's fake electors? Ask him MANZINI - A man, who was trying to raise the alarm after seeing robbers rob an Asian-owned grocery shop, was shot dead by the thieves. The incident took place on Wednesday around 8pm at Two Sticks, Zakhele in Manzini, and the robbers (three) went away with a sum of E3 900 and the businessmans car, which was, however, found abandoned at Ngwane Park. According to a source close to the matter, three armed men stormed the grocery shop when it was about to close for the day (Wednesday) at around 8pm and held the businessman, a relative and some customers at gunpoint and demanded money. He said the robbers threatened to shoot the businessman, and his relative if they failed to cooperate. Thereafter, he said they ordered them to kneel on the floor and face down. He said one of them searched for money from the cashier machine, while the other kept a close eye on the businessman and his relative. After that, he said a man who resides opposite the grocery shop, came in together with a young boy. He said after seeing that the shop was under attack, they ran out. As the man was raising the alarm outside, the source said the robbers quickly collected the money and other items and fled. However, he said one of the robbers spotted him and ran after him. He fired two gunshots at him and one hit him in the upper body, the source said. Thereafter, he said the robbers used the businessmans car, a Nissan Serena, to flee the scene. He said the police were called and the shot man was rushed to the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital and was certified dead upon arrival. Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Nosipho Mnguni confirmed the robbery and that a man was shot dead. She also confirmed that the businessmans car was recovered yesterday morning. It is worth noting that about a fortnight ago, three armed men robbed Tandoori Express at Manzini Bus Rank at around 7:30pm and they went away with about E19 000. Three gunshots were fired, but no one was injured. The USS Carney, a U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer in the northern Red Sea, on Thursday shot down multiple missiles and drones launched by Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen that the Pentagon said were potentially headed toward targets in Israel. It is the first time in recent memory that a U.S. Navy ship in the Middle East has engaged missiles and drones that were not directly aimed at the vessel. It's also the first U.S. military action taken to defend Israel in the current crisis and with the U.S. and other countries trying to contain the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the possibility that an Iranian-backed proxy group fired missiles and drones at Israel is sure to increase growing regional tensions. The ship was in the Red Sea on Thursday evening local time when it intercepted three land attack cruise missiles and several drones, Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said at a press briefing. U.S. officials on Friday told ABC News that the Carney had brought down four cruise missiles and 14 drones launched by the Houthis, an update from the three missiles and eight drones reported earlier. PHOTO: The USS Carney is pictured Aug 11, 2020. (Business Wire/AP, FILE) MORE: Israel-Gaza live updates: Israeli military has 'green light' to move into Gaza, official says The preliminary U.S. assessment was that the USS Carney was not the target of any of the Houthi missiles or drones, according to multiple U.S. officials. "We cannot say for certain what these missiles and drones were targeting but they were launched from Yemen heading north along the Red Sea potentially to targets in Israel," said Ryder who added that information about the engagements was still being processed. Its unclear from where the Houthi militia's missiles were fired but they were headed in a northerly direction, an official said. PHOTO: Illustration (ABC News / US Department of Defence) MORE: Biden to make prime-time case for US assistance to Israel and Ukraine The Houthis are an Iranian-backed Shiite movement that has seized control over much of northern Yemen and has been at war with recent years while Yemen has been at war with a Saudi-led coalition since 2015. As part of that conflict, the Houthis have launched missiles and drones deep into Saudi Arabia, but it appears that the missiles intercepted on Thursday were not aimed at targets inside Saudi Arabia. Last week, Houthi leader Abdel-Malek al-Houthi was quoted as saying that if the U.S. directly intervened in the Gaza conflict his group would respond by firing drones and missiles, and take other military options. "There are red lines when it comes to Gaza," he said, according to the SITE Intel Group. PHOTO: Yemen's Houthi group held a military parade, commemorating the 9th anniversary of their takeover of the capitol, Sept. 21, 2023, in Sana'a, Yemen. (Mohammed Hamoud/Getty Images) Thursday's incident occurred during the early evening hours (local time) when the missiles and drones were detected moving northward above the waters of the Red Sea. The missiles fired by the Houthis were engaged by SM2 missiles carried aboard the USS Carney, a U.S. official told ABC News. No information was released about what weapons platform aboard the Carney brought down the 8 drones. Brig. Gen. Ryder told reporters that the intercepts had taken place over water and not land. No sailors aboard the ship were harmed according to a U.S. official. The United States has boosted its military presence in the region since the start of the Israel-Hamas war nearly two weeks ago. The USS Carney is part of the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group that was deployed to the eastern Mediterranean to deter Iran and Hezbollah from joining the Israel-Hamas war. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recently extended the deployment of the Ford strike group so it can remain in the eastern Mediterranean and had ordered the deployment of additional fighter aircraft to U.S. airbases in the region. To increase U.S. deterrence of an expansion in the conflict the Ford will soon be joined in the eastern Mediterranean by the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group that left Norfolk, Virginia on Saturday and could arrive in the region over the next 7 to 10 days. "By posturing these U.S. naval assets and advanced fighter aircraft in the region, we aim to send a strong message intended to deter a wider conflict to bolster regional stability and of course to make it clear that we will protect and defend our national security interests," Ryder told reporters Thursday. PHOTO: Men chant slogans as they hold up Kalashikov assault rifles during a tribal meeting in the Houthi rebel-held capital Sanaa, Yemen, Sept. 21, 2019. (Mohammed Huwais/AFP via Getty Images) MORE: State Department issues 'worldwide caution' alert amid Israel-Hamas war The USS Carney had just transited into the Red Sea through the Suez Canal on Wednesday which is why the destroyer was still located in the northern stretch of that body of water that borders, Egypt, Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. The missile shot down by the USS Carney will bolster the deterrence in the region and demonstrate that the show of force is serious stuff, a senior U.S. official told ABC News. The risk to U.S. forces and U.S. interests in the region has increased particularly in the wake of a deadly explosion at a hospital in Gaza earlier this week that inflamed regional tensions. On Wednesday, three drones were shot down by U.S. military forces as they neared bases in western and northern Iraq, another drone was shot down near U.S. forces in eastern Syria on Thursday. A U.S. contractor sheltering in place at one of the bases in Iraq died of a cardiac arrest in one of the incidents. Al Asad airbase in western Iraq experienced indirect fire on Thursday according to a U.S. official. The Carney's shootdown of Houthi missiles opens up the possibility that the U.S. Navy may have to position more ships in the Red Sea if the U.S. commits to protecting Israel from a southern attack said Steve Ganyard, an ABC News contributor and a former Pentagon official. "The larger concern is if Iran now considers U.S. ships fair game," said Ganyard. "Because if the Houthis shoot at a U.S. ship there will be little doubt that it would have been at Tehrans direction." "That said, there is nothing to suggest, no known reason to believe that Iran wants a fight with the U.S. and/or Israel," said Ganyard. "So, hopefully things calm down." ABC News' Martha Raddatz contributed to this report. US Navy destroyer in Red Sea shoots down cruise missiles potentially headed toward Israel: Pentagon originally appeared on abcnews.go.com By Jody Godoy (Reuters) -The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission dropped claims against two Ripple Labs executives in its lawsuit alleging the blockchain company violated U.S. securities law, according to a court filing in New York on Thursday. The agency said in court papers it is dropping claims that Ripple Chief Executive Brad Garlinghouse and co-founder Chris Larsen aided and abetted sales of the cryptocurrency XRP which a judge has found amounted to unregistered sales of securities. In its December 2020 lawsuit, the SEC accused Ripple of illegally raising more than $1.3 billion in an unregistered securities offering by selling XRP. U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres in Manhattan granted Ripple a partial win in the case in July, finding that sales of XRP on public exchanges were not unregistered securities offerings. Torres subsequently rejected a request by the SEC to appeal that ruling. She also ruled partly in the SEC's favor, saying the agency had shown the company's $728.9 million of XRP sales to hedge funds and other sophisticated buyers had violated the law. The SEC's claims against Garlinghouse and Larsen over their role in those sales were to be tried before a jury. Garlinghouse and Larsen, who have harshly criticized the SEC throughout the case, issued lengthy statements accusing the agency of a political agenda to, in Larsen's words, "suffocate crypto in America." "Instead of looking for the criminals stealing customer funds on offshore exchanges that were courting political favor, the SEC went after the good guys," Garlinghouse said, an apparent reference to Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of crypto exchange FTX. Bankman-Fried is on trial for what prosecutors have called a $10 billion fraud. Jurors at the trial have heard testimony that some of the funds were used to make political donations. A spokesperson for the SEC declined to comment. The agency said in its papers that the next step in the case is for both sides to present to the judge on what the appropriate penalty is for Ripple. Torres' July ruling against the SEC was a rare setback in the regulator's long-runnning crackdown on the industry. Under SEC Chair Gary Gensler, the agency has filed lawsuits against Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency platform, and Coinbase, the largest U.S. cryptocurrency platform. Gensler has said that many digital assets are securities and subject to the agency's regulatory authority. Industry participants have argued U.S. securities laws are unworkable when it comes to crypto and lobbied for new regulations. (Reporting by Jody Godoy in New York; Editing by David Gregorio) WASHINGTON (AP) The United States is welcomed in the Indo-Pacific region and needs to update its approach to have stronger presence there to counter China's influence, said the top American diplomat to Tokyo. Speaking at the Asia Society Policy Institute in New York on Friday, Rahm Emanuel, the U.S. ambassador to Japan, said the region is turning to the U..S. when China is becoming a threat, and he described Japan as an essential player in the U.S.-led alliances and an influential power that works side by side with the U.S. in the region. We, as a country, strategically, defense-wise, economically, we have to think of a new and kind of modernized way we approach Japan and the region as well, Emanuel told Daniel Russel, vice president for international security and diplomacy at the institute. The region wants all of America, not just part of America, economically, militarily, diplomatically, politically, Emanuel said. Because they know, an untethered China is a real risk to them, and they need America, all of America, its presence." Tensions have grown in the Indo-Pacific region, where China has become more assertive over both the South China Sea and the East China Sea and ratcheted up military pressure over Taiwan, a self-governed island that Beijing considers to be part of Chinese territory and vows to seize by force if necessary to achieve national reunification. The U.S. has responded by forging partnerships, drawing protests from Beijing that Washington is playing bloc politics aimed at containing China and curbing its rise. China portrays the U.S. as an uninvited outsider meddling with regional affairs and argues that countries in the region should solve issues among themselves. In July, it sought to improve its ties with Japan and South Korea by hosting a trilateral forum in the coastal city of Qingdao, when Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi extolled neighborly links and urged regional unity. The three-year pandemic has brought many changes to the world, but what has not changed and what will never change is the fact that China, Japan, and South Korea are neighbors in close geographic proximity and with cultural links, Wang said. Only regions seeking strength through unity can remove external disturbance and achieve sustained development, Wang said. In August, President Joe Biden formed a trilateral partnership with Japan and South Korea in Camp David over shared security challenges posed by North Korea and China. At the Asia Society Policy Institute, Emanuel called the partnership a seismic shift in the plates in the Indo-Pacific". It has changed China's calculations, and the US can do more, Emanuel said. I think it's really incumbent on all of us, especially in Indo-Pacific, especially if you think China is the pacing power as we say, then you know what, all of America has to participate in this, the ambassador said. If we are going to win, we dont get to only kind of participate at 45 percent of our strength level. Thats my feeling, he said. During his conversation with Russel, Emanuel said that the U.S. politics should not let down its allies. They look at the U.S., and there are things that they admire and love, Emanuel said. They look at our politics, and they want to make sure that the America they know is the America that's going to be there tomorrow." 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. MBABANE One of the Senate candidates who crashed out during the Senate elections, is said to have spilled the beans in front of police officers. This is said to have happened on Wednesday when he showed them receipts. The Senate candidate reportedly spilled the beans on how he spent money and distributed it during his lobbying, leading to the Senate elections held on October 10, 2023. According to sources, the Senate elections loser was one of the people who were interviewed by the police following the commissioning of a task team to investigate allegations of the sale of votes during the Senate elections. This publication has over the past days reported that aspirant senators, who eventually lost in the Senate elections, purported to have spent over E1 million in lobbying some members of the House of Assembly to vote for them with an original vote during the elections on October 12, 2023. Perceived Such has put into doubt the integrity of some of the legislators forming the electoral college. This may also result in the current Parliament being perceived as the most corrupt. Subsequent to the elections, wherein five senators were elected for each gender, those who crashed out started making an array of allegations, with some demanding their money back from the legislators, as they claimed that they had breached their gentlemens agreement. Their claims have resulted in the Clerk to Parliament, Benedict Xaba, through a press briefing on Tuesday, informing the media that he had reported to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and also the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) the allegations of some legislators selling their original votes to those who were nominated. As the investigations into the claims that have made their way to the mainstream media continue, this publication has gathered that one of the candidates who crashed out of the race presented to the police receipts of bills wherein he hosted some legislators and also statements detailing withdrawals of large sums of money supposedly offered to the legislators as part of his lobbying model. The sources claimed that the candidate, who purportedly wants his money back from some of the legislators, detailed how he was made to pay them. It is claimed that the Senate candidate, who lost in the elections, explained that there was a cabal that started changing tune on the day of the elections, informing him that there was a demand for their original votes; so he should add more money. Agreed As such, the aspirant politician reportedly claimed that initially, they had agreed on E30 000 with some of the legislators who were to vote for him. This money, it was gathered, was paid as an advance; however, later on he was made to add more such that it reached about E60 000 per person. It is claimed that the aspirant politician was also sold vote two at E20 000. In fact, according to sources, on the day of the elections, some of the legislators contacted him and said they had vote two at this fee. As part of his evidence, it is alleged that the aspirant politician detailed how they would meet at or near Matsapha, where they would supposedly engage with the MPs. The engagements were said to have been completed in the car park of the eatery they used wherein the cash would exchange hands. According to sources, the submission of the aspirant politician lacked the sting as it did not link the supposed legislators with the cash he purportedly distributed. It is worth noting that more people have been interviewed by the police on the alleged corruption and they include those who are Senate-elects and also those who lost in the race. Sources claimed that the Senate hopefuls who crashed out were requested to assist the police in their investigation by presenting themselves at some of the regional police headquarters. Establish Some of those engaged by this publication claimed that they found that there were about 20 law enforcers who interviewed them on their model of campaigning and also sought to establish how much they paid out. They supposed that the law enforcers would in some instances simultaneously question them, which they viewed as intimidating, as some of them were engaging with the police for the first time in this manner. The people interviewed by the police are also inclusive of Senate-elects. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, ARMENPRESS. In Berlin, more than 100 police officers have been injured since the beginning of pro-Palestinian protests. This was stated by German Interior Minister Nancy Feser. In Berlin alone, more than 100 police officers were injured as a result of violent actions, as bottles and pyrotechnics were thrown at them, she said. In his words: "I am just a professional writer, which means I don't do blogs and try and get money for whatever I write." Urban Evolution: From Neglect to Prosperity in City Neighborhoods The bird in hand fluttered And flew off into the bush; The beast of burden muttered When shove came to push! They say Humpty was proud And thus deserved to fall The crack of the massive egg was loud Louder than a magpies cackling call. From Vun Bhai Vun -- A Jungle Odyssey, by Bachchoo British newspapers are fond of lists. The Sunday Times publishes each year a list of the hundred richest citizens. Do they assume that the rest of us, the sixty-something million, are interested being envious? Perhaps the Indian newspapers ought to do the same, but for the thousand richest. The most useful purpose such a list would serve is to feature detailed investigations into how these thousand got onto the list. Diligent journalism could tell us a lot about the growth of capitalism and perhaps some other things that have made contemporary India. Of course, the newspapers cant take that on -- itll be a few thousand pages if all the deals, personalities, politicians, licences and various dodges are rigorously checked out. Rich lists are one thing. The better public service that the national and local papers offer is a listing of the best restaurants of this or that sort. And now the Times features, for some reason, the best and worst places to live in Britain. For the best it chooses Clapham in South London. It could have mentioned Notting Hill and South Kensington, which are in a sense richer -- but these are now bought up by Arabs, Russians and black-moneyed Asians. I must confess that I have in my short and happy life lived in all three of these localities. Way back in time, gentle reader, I rented bed-sitters in South Kensington and then in Notting Hill. They were single rooms in Victorian houses with shared bathrooms and kitchens in partitioned corridors. Me and my then partner were moved on from these -- not for any misdemeanour or arrears in rent, but because the landlords had been offered huge sums to sell the undivided buildings at massive prices to millionaire owners. Ive always maintained that we -- and that included the other roomers -- were ethnically cleansed. And yes, now this piece about the best places to live lists the area of Clapham, where I had bought a flat in more prosperous years, as the brightest star in the firmament of the residential sky. It explores at length a very upmarket street called Northcote Road, with its fancy restaurants, bars and exclusive (not popular-snob-branded) fashion shops. In the years I spent frequenting the street it was not as grand -- or at all grand. My mother once came from India to visit and I prepared for her arrival by going down to Northcote Road to a junk shop which sold second-hand furniture to buy a mattress to place on the spare bed where mum was to stay. I made up the bed with self-laundered sheets and pillow-cases before I fetched her from the airport. That night I woke up to the sound of someone shifting about and found my mother awake with the lights turned on. Rubbing my eyes, I went to her room and asked what the matter was. Jet lag? No, she said, the mattress is crawling with bed bugs. Shed been bitten. She slept in my bed and I was comfortable on the couch; but the next morning I dragged the offending mattress down, loaded it on the top of my car and drove down to Northcote Road to return the mattress and demand a refund. The junk shop owner refused to refund the money in not very polite terms. I dumped the mattress on the pavement outside his shop and drove to the offices of a political publication called Race Today for which I used to write. I was in fact a prominent member of the collective that ran the mag. The editor, my close friend, one Darcus Howe, and two of his intrepid Trinidadian mates were sitting around in the office and when I told them about my Northcote Road adventure, one of them said Lewe go! I said: Theres a big guy who told me to f off. How big? Big a de ouse? asked the wiry friend we called Doctor Rat. We drove to Northcote, alighted from the car and accosted the shop owner. Dis refund, the doctor said. The man didnt argue. He gave me the money, protesting that he always intended to and there was no problem. And yes, Clapham has changed and Northcote no longer has junk shops with bugged mattresses. The houses around there, according to the article, change hands for millions -- alas not my hands as I moved out-and-on decades ago. This transformation of previously working-class or poor areas of cities into inhabitations of the rich is known as gentrification. Its happening today all over the cities of Britain and, no doubt, in other countries of the West. In Britain, a sure sign that an area has been thus transformed is when a supermarket called Waitrose decides to set up a branch there. In India, of course, the borders between slums and prosperous areas seem, for the present, immutable. The slums are predominantly the domain of rural populations who have moved through desperation to the cities. The rich areas belong to permanent urbanites. For now, there will be no slum-transformation, no sahibification. by Dario Salvi The consequences on Israeli domestic politics of the Hamas massacre and the war in Gaza. For the analyst and founder of Ipcri, the Prime Minister, the only one not to apologise among the highest offices, is the "one ultimately responsible" for what happened and is plummeting in the polls. But the whole country will have to face 'the foundations' on which it has built consensus and power. Intelligence and the army, transformed into a police force in the West Bank, caught unprepared. Jerusalem (AsiaNews) - The day of "reckoning" will come for what happened and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "will be held responsible for the complete collapse of our defense systems". However, even more than political and military responsibilities, "I strongly believe" that the country will have to address "the conceptual foundations and philosophy" on which Bibi "built his years in power"; starting from the central issue of "the occupation of villages and towns in the West Bank" under the pretext of "meeting alleged security needs," observes Gershon Baskin, Israeli political activist, founder of Ipcri (Israel Palestine Creative Regional Initiative) and columnist for the Jerusalem Post. A leading expert on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he believes that in this phase it is war that dictates the agenda. The high death count of the latest conflict and the emotional shock resulting from the Hamas attack which penetrated Israeli territory, sowing death and the desire for retaliation and revenge weighs heavily. But there will come a time not too far away, in which the events of these weeks will also determine Israel's future leadership, he tells AsiaNews. Weakening Hamas in Gaza, denying Fatah a role as an interlocutor to justify the paralysis of diplomacy and the freezing of the peace process and the now forgotten two-state solution were functional to the political project. In reality, explains the Israeli intellectual, Netanyahu was interested "in controlling the territory" by endorsing, if not favoring the expansion of the colonies without any interest in mediating for a shared result, with the birth "of a Palestinian state" alongside the Israeli. But it is also the people of the Jewish state, he warns, who must understand that they cannot continue to occupy another people for over 50 years and expect to achieve peace after having subjugated and segregated them for so long. However, something seems to have changed after the attack on 7 October: a very large majority of Israelis, equal to 94%, consider the government and the prime minister responsible for the collapse of the defense systems, which allowed Hamas militiamen from the Strip to penetrate the border and strike at the heart of the country, massacring civilians. Furthermore, 67% of those questioned are convinced that the failure of the entire intelligence and executive structure is "far greater" than what happened in October 1973 at the origin of the Yom Kippur War. The rejection of the highest political and institutional positions emerges from a survey carried out last week by the Walla website, which confirms a climate of distrust towards the executive even at a time in which public opinion appears united towards the outside world. As for the prime minister, 56% of Israelis say he should resign at the end of the war, including 28% of right-wing voters, while 52% want Defense Minister Yoav Galant to be ousted. The collapse in consensus does not only concern the head of government, but the entire coalition starting from the main party, the Likud, which would see its seats in the Knesset (the Israeli Parliament) almost halved. The gainer is the "National Unity" formation led by Benny Gantz - who entered the emergency government - which would go from the current 12 seats to 41, with its leader - and former Defense Minister and Chief of Staff - indicated by 48% as the figure more suitable for managing the conflict with Hamas. A much better figure than the 29% collected by Netanyahu; he is also under scrutiny for the management of the formation of the unity executive, because it took him too long - five days to accept Gantz's proposal, while opposition leader Yair Lapid was excluded - from forming the war cabinet. What remains in the country is the memory of the massacre in the south at the hands of militiamen (or terrorists), who crossed borders and also hit unarmed civilians, as well as soldiers. And again, the war that has engulfed the Palestinians and concentrated on the Strip, where equally serious violence has occurred, such as the missile attack on the Christian hospital in Gaza, the matrix of which remains uncertain and around which the blame-shifting between Israel, Hamas and Islamic Jihad continues. "There is no room for dialogue between Israel and Hamas", comments Baskin, because "the most important terrorist attack in the history of the country" originated from the "border breach", also unique, and "all this has created an enormous trauma in the population". This will have to be 'reckoned with' and 'we will pay the consequences'. However, for the Palestinians themselves, the worst trauma of the last 75 years has taken place with Hamas "taking them back to square one, wiping out progress and everything has been wiped out" on a diplomatic and institutional level. "Then there is the humanitarian disaster in Gaza, the result of Hamas' actions on the Palestinian people," he warns. We are living the consequences of the actions of governments and leadership, little has changed from 1967 to today'. In recent days, Yedioth Ahronoth, one of Israel's most followed newspapers, headlined the 'October 2023 Debacle', comparing the Hamas breakthrough to the Egyptian and Syrian offensive of 1973, which ended after weeks of conflict with the resignation of then PM Golda Meir. An ouster that ended her political career and the hegemony of the centre-left Labour Party. Today, the same could happen to the right-wing Likud, which has dominated the national political landscape for years. "Netanyahu," the founder of Ipcri explains, "is directly responsible for the collapse of the system: we spent over a billion dollars to build a defence wall with Gaza and the most sophisticated electronic control and surveillance systems," but Hamas was able to "bring them down with a few drones and some grenades. Along with the head of the government, the heads of the army, Defence and intelligence agencies (Shin Bet) have also ended up in the dock, who "must also pay the price", but the only one who has not yet publicly apologised is the prime minister, who is moreover "ultimately responsible" and will have to "account for it". Over the past decade, dozens of army posts (at least 26) have sprung up in the West Bank and the Israel Defence Forces are the de facto police force in the occupied territories, while Gaza has remained 'uncovered', Baskin notes. As for the Strip, "there was no adequate preparation and control, no trained and equipped men" to face an invasion. "The crisis breached the borders" while the forces that were supposed to secure the borders "were trained to do something else, to act as police" in the West Bank and "to protect the settlers" accuses the expert. "Here, this is what the army has become in the past year with soldiers and officers sitting behind videos and screens doing intelligence work. At least 8200 units, but where were they," he wonders in conclusion, "instead of guarding and protecting the nation." In a long interview with the diocesan magazine, the bishop of Shanghai at the centre of the "case" settled by Pope Francis in July tells his story and outlines plans for his ministry. He emphasises renewal and mission in a modern and vibrant city. Sinicisation is a "red line". We should confidently, openly and warmly welcome everyone to come and see the Diocese of Shanghai. Shanghai (AsiaNews) Bishop Joseph Shen Bin of Shanghai gave a long interview (15 pages) to the diocesan magazine in which he introduced himself, speaking about how he received the Catholic faith from his parents and how his vocation developed. Above all, his message is about how the Church can grow in China, on sinicisation as a "red line", on the relationship between Chinese Catholicism and the universal Church. Chinese authorities unilaterally transferred the prelate last April from Beijing to the most important episcopal see of the Church in China, an issue that was settled in July when Pope Francis formally appointed him to the post. The interview was conducted in August but published during the ongoing Synodal Assembly attended by two bishops from the People's Republic of China appointed by Pope Francis on the suggestion of the Council of Chinese Bishops, the body not officially recognised by the Holy See that Shen Bin himself presides. Although he never mentions the synod, it is easy to see a parallel between the guidelines he indicates and the reflection underway in Rome. For the Church in the Chinese metropolis, which had been without its own leader for ten years, Bishop Shen Bin highlights the challenges of profound renewal. Shanghai is a modern and vibrant city, and I believe that the positioning of the Diocese of Shanghai should be in line with this city. In other words, the Diocese of Shanghai should be as modern and vibrant as the city of Shanghai. We cannot always stick to the old rules, think rigidly, be stuck in our ways, and live in the security of our own fantasies. We need to keep abreast of the times and move with the times while adhering to the principles of the Church's faith and good traditions. This requires us to have the courage to make changes, to step out of our comfort zone, to broaden our horizons, and to be proactive. Specifically, In Shanghai, the life and development of the church requires us to be creative and imaginative, for the Gospel is ever new, and new wine must be put into new skins. Bishop Shen Bin notes that this Church today can count on 90 priests and about 80 men religious, as well as many members of the laity. He also acknowledges that the drop in vocations to the priesthood is now also being felt significantly in China. Why were vocations growing from the 1980s to 2000 and then declining after that? There are many reasons for this, and I think one of them is that during the years of growth in vocations, it was the older generation of priests who guided the Church, and their example and charisma attracted the young ones at that time and drew us into the Church; after 2000 it was us, the young priests, who came out, and perhaps we did not do a good job. This situation deserves our reflection and requires our efforts. The interview goes on to touch pastoral outreach; however, there is also a very clear focus on sinicisation, the political path traced by President Xi Jinping for all religions in China. There is a profound lesson that we must learn from, and the mistakes we once made must never be repeated, Bishop Shen Bin said. We must adhere to the principle of patriotism and love for the Church, adhere to the principle of independence and autonomy in running the Church, adhere to the principle of democracy in running the Church, and adhere to the direction of the Sinicisation of the Catholic Church in China. This is the bottom line, which no one can break, and it is also a high-pressure line, which no one should touch. Still, we have many opportunities to feel that the Diocese of Shanghai is a member of the universal Church. Hence, we should have the courage to go out and show our confidence and openness as a member of the Universal Church. Since the signing of the Sino-Vatican Provisional Agreement in 2018, the entire Church in China has opened up to the outside world, he explained. In this regard, the bishop of Shanghai points to the participation of two bishops from the People's Republic already at the synod of 2018 and his presence that same year at the interreligious meeting promoted by the Community of Sant'Egidio in Bologna. In my dealings with the universal church, I found that the Chinese Church had more and more friends. It is my experience that we must go out and let the voice of the Chinese Church be heard by the universal Church, and that it is up to us personally to tell the Chinese Catholic story. I often say one thing to many of my friends from abroad: firstly, if you want to understand the situation of the Church in China, you have to listen to me because I am a Chinese bishop. I am the head of the Chinese Episcopal Conference, and I know more about the situation of the Church in China than other people do; and secondly, you must go to China to see on the ground, and you will see a completely different Church in China. I think it is not enough just to go out, we have to invite [others] to come to China. [. . .] In the past, it was more about the outside world providing us with opportunities and air tickets. Now I can confidently say, I can provide you with air tickets and invite you to bring your friends to come to China to see what's going on. We now have the confidence to say, I invite you to come to China and visit the Diocese of Shanghai. Today's news: more Israeli air raids on Gaza with dozens of victims, 850 arrests in the West Bank since the beginning of the war. Tension between India and Canada: starting today, the withdrawal of immunity for dozens of Ottawa diplomats in the Asian country. Drought alarm in Bali. The Kiev parliament approved the suspension of religious organisations linked to the Russian Federation. CHINA A report published by the Pentagon claims that Beijing is aiming to double its nuclear arsenal from the current 400 warheads to over 1,000 by 2030. As of today, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Russia has a nuclear arsenal of approximately 5,889 warheads, while the United States can deploy 5,244. PALESTINE - ISRAEL It was another very harsh night of Israeli bombing in Gaza: a building adjacent to the Greek Orthodox church of San Porfirio was also hit, with dozens of deaths. Meanwhile, Israeli raids are underway in several areas of the West Bank to make arrests for suspected links to Hamas. More than 850 arrests have been made by Israeli forces in the Palestinian territories since the October 7 Hamas attack in southern Israel ISRAEL - USA US President Joe Biden, who returned to the US after a trip to Israel, said from the Oval Office that he will ask Congress today to approve additional funding for military support for Israel, in addition to the 3.2 billion sent by Washington every year . The first estimate would be 14 billion dollars to support the fight against Hamas. At the same time, Biden underlined the urgency of bringing aid to Palestinian civilians in Gaza who have no food, water or medicine. RUSSIA - ISRAEL There are hundreds of Russians living in Israel, some of whom have arrived recently - especially after the invasion of Ukraine - but many who have been there for years, who feel completely abandoned by the Moscow authorities. Putin has not envisaged any evacuation plan, despite the slogans about "not abandoning your compatriots", repeated in the aftermath of the Hamas attack in which 13 Russians lost their lives and 12 others were missing. INDIA - CANADA Two weeks ago, India asked Canada to withdraw dozens of its diplomatic staff, threatening to lift their immunity from October 20 if they remained. Canadian officials called the threat a "violation of international law" and Ottawa withdrew 41 diplomats. Relations became tense after Canada accused the Modi-ruled country of masterminding the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar on North American soil on June 18. India has denied the allegations, calling them "absurd." Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly confirmed that "all but 21 diplomats" will have their immunity "unilaterally removed" by today. AFGHANISTAN Climate change has a negative impact on Afghanistan, which is why officials from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are asking the international community to restart suspended projects - after the Taliban took over Kabul - to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change. The total value amounts to over 800 million dollars. The 32 projects launched in Afghanistan would safeguard the diversity of life, forests and help fight drought, said Muhibullah Bahar, representative of the Environmental Protection Agency in the country. INDONESIA The regional government of the island of Bali, Indonesia, has declared a state of alert due to the ongoing drought emergency. Alarm that will remain in force for 14 days. Bali's acting governor Sang Made Mahendra said extreme weather conditions in Bali from July to October caused water shortages in 113 villages and sparked forest fires in 10 areas of the island. RUSSIAN CHURCH The Verkhovnaja Rada of Kiev has approved the suspension of religious organizations linked to the Russian Federation, starting with the UPZ Orthodox Church, which have not completely severed ties with the Patriarchate of Moscow. The votes in favor were 267. All the specific decisions taken will be explained soon, but the Rada's decision was clear: "the history of the Russian Church in Ukraine is over". Have a guess which Toyota for the US market available to purchase new at press time is the oldest by design? Of course, that would be the 4Runner. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Photo: Toyota Internally referred to as N280, the fifth-gen 4Runner was launched in September 2009 for the 2010 model year at the State Fair of Texas. Proudly assembled in Japan, the body-on-frame utility vehicle features FJ Cruiser underpinnings. In other words, the 4Runner is closely related to the N300 Tacoma and the Land Cruiser Prado 150 series.Facelifted in 2013 for the 2014 model year, the 4Runner is pretty antiquated under the skin. That, however, isnt a bad thing because all the hardware has been proven extremely reliable over the years. The Japanese manufacturer also had plenty of time to iron out any software- and quality-related concerns, making the 4Runner the most dependable body-on-frame utility vehicle that money can buy in this day and age in the United States of America.Be that as it may, errors can still occur despite Toyota s best efforts. Recall number 23V-680 wasnt issued by the manufacturer, though. As per documents filed with the, the peeps at Southeast Toyota Distributors are calling back 13 examples of the 2023 model year 4Runner due to load carrying capacity modification labels with incorrect values.How incorrect? Under federal motor vehicle safety standard number 110, said label has to be accurate to 1 percent of the actual net weight added to a given vehicle. As the headline implies, its a minor noncompliance that shouldnt be of much concern to affected owners. The owners in question will be informed via first-class mail no later than December 4. The envelopes will further contain the updated modification labels, meaning that said owners dont need to head back to their dealers for the remedy.SET discovered this condition during a routine audit in September 2023. More specifically, the distributor found that the wrong factory wheel and tire weight was used. This, in turn, caused the actual net accessory weight to be underreported by two pounds. In metric, that would be 0.9 kilograms.The vehicles included in this recall were produced in the period between August 15, 2023 and September 25, 2023. As mentioned earlier, the 4Runner comes from Japan exclusively. The Land Cruiser Prado J250 is made in the Land of the Rising Sun as well. The technically similar Tacoma comes from Mexico, whereas the full-size Tundra and Sequoia are made in the Lone Star State.Turning our attention back to the recall, Southeast Toyota Distributors failed to reference which specific trim levels or packages are included in this recall. As of October 2023, the 2023 model year 4Runner is still listed by the build & price tool in eight flavors (SR5, TRD Sport, SR5 Premium, TRD Off-Road, TRD Off-Road Premium, 40th Anniversary Special Edition, Limited, TRD Pro).Earlier this month, Toyota revealed the 2024 model with little in the way of changes. But come 2024 for 2025, the 4Runner will receive a much-needed redesign with TNGA-F underpinnings from the 250-series Land Cruiser Prado and the 2024 model year Tacoma. What qualities come to mind when you think of the archetypical big American internal combustion engine? Is it giant, hulking leviathans where anything less than eight cylinders is paramount to commie propaganda? You know, the kind of machines that fight America's longest running anatomy-measuring competition with cubic displacement and not much else? The stuff under the hoods of late 60s and contemporary muscle cars. From at least one point of view, the common ancestor of this distinctly American philosophy for internal combustion was built for the air, not the dragstrip. Photo: David D Jackson Photo: General Motors Photo: Jim Lytle This is the story of the Allison V-1710. If the comparison between a World War II aero engine and the one you find in a 60s muscle car is weird to you, trust us, it'll all make sense in time. Though not configured in that typical arrangement of eight cylinders in a vee-formation that makes an American's brain go fuzzy, the V-1710 checked all the other boxes for an all-time great American engine. You know, a cubic capacity that seems more fit for a ship than a car or aircraft, a curb weight a fair percentage of an entire passenger car, and a power output that gave Axis Air Forces cause for concern.The V-1710's story is one that's routinely overlooked in favor of the later, more powerful Rolls-Royce/Packard Merlin V12 . But in so many ways, the V-1710 was an engine that could have only been built in America. To understand the roots of Allison's most famous engine, we need to go back to well before World War II, to a time when the United States was still trying to prove itself to other aircraft-producing nations of Europe despite being the first to put men in the air. In the time before the proverbial Pax Americana after the two World Wars, such conditions were often the case. Around this time, the company's founder, James A. Allison, made most of his business through the precision manufacturing of race car components at his workshop a short distance away from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana.Allison even maintained a shop on Speedway grounds for a time, and his racing hardware became a mainstay at early runnings of the Indy 500 before Europe's great powers decided to boogaloo in 1914. During World War I, the company was instrumental in the development of the Liberty V12 aero engine that, while innovative for the time and the first American liquid-cooled aero engine built during wartime, found itself obsolete soon after the Armistice of 1918. Allison's bespoke production run of inverted L-12s, the VG-1410, was among the first to adopt early adaptations of geared superchargers in the very late1910s.Soon after the Liberty L-12 grew obsolete in the mid-to-late 20s, the hunt was on to build the next generation of bonkers, high-output American aero engines to define the United States on the global aeronautical stage through the U.S. Army's "Hyper Engine" program. At first, Allison's manager, Norman Gilman, started work on a particularly ridiculous air-cooled, 24-cylinder engine arranged in an X-formation and called the X-4250. When the proposal for this design reached the Army's desk and made their collective brains melt, Allison promptly went back to the drawing board in search of a more conventional design.The initial target aircraft for Allison's tentative design was the U.S. Navy's line of Akron-class airship vehicles. Sadly, the crash and destruction of the USS Macon and USS Akron in 1931 and 1933 before the engine was ready scrapped these plans. Both airships went to their graves sporting German Maybach engines. Soon afterward, James A. Allison passed away, and his company was sold first to a consortium headed by WWI flying ace and race car driver Eddie Richenbacher before being flipped to the Fisher Body Company. Before long, the economic stresses of the Great Depression caused Fisher to sell the Allison Engine Company to General Motors, who bankrolled their engine research into what ultimately became the V-1710.From the rib of Allison's concept airship engine, components like the cylinders, single-overhead camshaft, and ethylene glycol liquid cooling system gave unmistakable qualities to the V-1710 V12. If the Liberty L-12 was a giant engine with limited horsepower potential, the V-1710 used the lessons learned over a decade of innovation to build an even larger motor, much more suited to delivering high horsepower figures as the U.S. Army Air Corps and Navy demanded. With 12 cylinders arranged at 65 degrees and a displacement of 1,710.6 cu in (28.032 L), the V-1710 was among the first aeronautical engines to crack the magic 1000-horsepower boundary behind the bonkers Napier Cub X-16 of Great Britain.Like a performance crate engine in a modern restomod, the V-1710 was designed around a modular platform. Wherein a basic power section with a core nucleus of engine components assembled around the block could be altered with secondary hardware like forced induction to squeeze even more performance out of the design. With the blueprints now set in stone and a small initial production run complete, the V-1710 made its first trip into the air on December 14th, 1936, under the hood of a Consolidated XA-11A mono-wing fighter. Before long, the V-1710 was marked as the standard-issue liquid-cooled inline engine for America's emerging breed of advanced piston fighters.From the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk to the Lockheed P-38 Lightning twin-engine fighter and even the mid-engined Bell P-39 Airacobra , all utilized Allison V-1710s in various configurations during the Second World War. Thanks to the platform's modular design, adapting the V-1710 to accommodate novel forms of forced induction was relatively easy. To the point that both the original XP-38 and later serial P-38 models flew with sophisticated General Electric B-5 turbo-superchargers, which used both a geared connection to the engine as well as residual exhaust gasses as a means of forced induction. The V-1710 was even trialed on the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress quad-engine bomber for a time to test the platform's adaptability with powertrains other than the standard Wright R-1820 nine-cylinder radials.While the V-1710 proved to be a hearty engine at low-to-medium altitudes, its weaknesses in performance were truly exposed as the engine ran at higher altitudes where Axis fighters and bombers tended to fly. To make matters worse, issues with engine knocking, especially at altitude, plagued these engines and led to a fair few failures. Between the critical altitudes of 20,000 and 30,000 feet (6,096 to 9,144 m), some pilots even described the V-1710 as an absolute pig. Against German Messerschmitts and Japanese Zeroes, this was not even slightly good news. In extreme cases, a P-38's turbo-supercharger would even freeze up in frigid temperatures at high altitudes.Maintaining the proper lean vs. rich fuel mixture inside the V-1710 gave countless aviation mechanics fits during the war, in the days before fuel injection was commonplace in aero engines. In early adaptations of the P-51 Mustang, the fighter designed when the British War Office asked North American Aviation to build a better, faster Curtiss P-40, the V-1710's limitations became truly unacceptable. These inadequacies were helped somewhat with the V-1710-45 in 1943, which used a small auxiliary supercharger to boost engine performance at altitude, but even this wasn't enough to fully compensate. Soon after the Mustang's deployment to Europe, it was decided the upcoming P-51B (Mustang III in RAF service), would be fitted with Packard Merlin engines the same as the British Spitfire, but built by Packard in Detroit, Michigan.Still, V-1710s engines did find their way onto upgraded and experimental variants of Second World War fighters like the P-63 Kingcobra and the P-82 Twin Mustang by the war's end. Some of these planes, like the P-82, would go on to serve in the Korean War mounted with V-1710s, as Packard ceased production of the much-preferred, license-built Merlin after World War II. In the end, all 69,305 Allison V-1710s were built at Allison's production facility just a stone's throw away from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Speaking of auto racing, the V-1710 had a renaissance in the sport soon after its front-line military aviation days were over.As metric you-know-what-tons of V-1710 V12s entered the surplus civilian aircraft market in the 1950s, it didn't take long for hot rodders in the automotive and power boat spheres to take notice. From land speed record racers to speed boats in the unlimited hydroplane class and monstrous tractor pullers, the emerging American tuner culture of the 1950s fell head over heels in love with the V-1710. Among the people most enthralled was the iconic land speed record driver Art Afrons. Together with his brother Walt, the two would use a V-1710 in their Green Monster land speed record car before transitioning to turbojet engines in later variants. Conversely, drag racing icon Jim Lytle's V-1710-swapped 1932 Ford Coupe became one of the most iconic drag cars of the early 60s not just because of its engine but also its chopped roofline so low that Lytle could stick his head out of the top through a hole in the roof. His creation wound up running a 9.31-second quarter mile at 163 mph (262.3 kph). Lyttle even built a monstrous quad-engine dragster with a single V-1710 powering each axle and named it Quad Al. Al had every intention of racing the thing and making mince meat of other racers, but it never advanced beyond the mockup stage.Even so, Quad Al remains the most famous V-1710 application in an automotive setting. Does the comparison between a V-1710 and a muscle car engine make more sense now? Today, the V-1710 has come full circle and advanced back to the world of aviation as the go-to engine for vintage warbirds whose original engine cannot easily be obtained. From Russian IL-2 Sturmoviks to German Focke Wulf Fw-190s, these engine swaps ensure the V-1710 will stay a relevant aero engine far into the future. Now, how's that for a wacky story? Heck, maybe we'll delve further into the nutty cars and watercraft that sported V-1710s one day, be on the lookout for it soon. General Motors rolled out the BEV3 unibody electric vehicle platform in 2022. Its first application is the Cadillac Lyriq, which is marginally longer in overall length and wheelbase than the internal combustion-engined XT5. As with every brand-new platform, things can go wrong. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Photo: Cadillac EV Back in September 2022, the Lyriq was recalled to the tune of 186 vehicles for a blank instrument panel display caused by a software error in the driver video display module. Fast forward to May 2023, and the Lyriq was recalled once again. On said occasion, four units had their high-voltage batteries replaced over incorrectly welded connections.The latest recall concerning the Lyriq has just been published by the. The portable document file attached below reads 62 vehicles that may have been updated with incorrectly calibrated software for the body control module. Said update somehow disabled the pedestrian warning sounds required by federal motor vehicle safety standard number 141 for battery-electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles.As per documents filed with the federal agency, suspect vehicles fail to emit pedestrian warning sounds while decelerating from 30 to 25 kilometers per hour. Why did Cadillac use metric instead of imperial for a problem concerning the US market? Anyway, that means 18.6 to 15.5 miles per hour.Rather than General Motors, the peeps at Denso International America provided incorrect calibration values to the GM software calibration management system. The incorrect values were subsequently included in a software update deployed to the 2023 model year Cadillac Lyriq in the period between August 23, 2022 and September 8, 2023.Affected vehicles were produced from April 7, 2023 through April 20, 2023 at Spring Hill Manufacturing in Tennessee. The only other place where the Lyriq is also made is Shanghai, China.A quality engineer submitted this issue to General Motors through the Speak Up For Safety program on September 8. The largest automaker of the Big Three in Detroit started investigating on September 22, determining that Denso was to blame for the missing warning sounds. To date, GM hasnt learned of any field incidents related to said issue.Dealers have already been instructed to deploy a new software package at no cost whatsoever to the customer. Owners will be informed via first-class mail no later than November 27. GM halted deployment of the flawed update on September 8.In related news, did you hear the Lyriq launched in Europe at the beginning of October? Said launch marked the Big Gs return to the EU as an-only manufacturer. The eight-gen Corvette and soon-to-be-gone Camaro are the only exceptions to GMs EV-centric philosophy in this part of the world.Currently exclusive to Switzerland , the Lyriq starts at 82,000 francs or 91,860 freedom eagles at current exchange rates. Prospective customers who place an order today are presented by the online configurator with a tentative delivery date of April/May 2024.Back home in the United States, the most affordable spec is $58,590 excluding the destination fee. As for the Peoples Republic of China , make that 379,700 yuan or 51,920 dollars at current exchange rates. A bit earlier than it's gotten us used to, Italian bike maker Ducati reached that time of the year when it lets loose whatever it has planned for the coming months. The company started the new product rollout back in September with the Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour, continued earlier in October with the DesertX Rally, and this week it is gifting us with the Multistrada V4 RS. Photo: Ducati ACC Photo: Ducati Whereas the other two were bikes playing in their respective segments with no major departures, the V4 RS is something special indeed. And that is not in small part because Ducati is calling it the perfect mix of Superbike and touring something we rarely come across, even at a declarative level.If you think about it, though, the Multistrada was born exactly 20 years ago as a half-breed between a Supermoto and a sport tourer, so there should be no surprise in this evolution of the family.Ducati describes the new version as the "sportiest, most sophisticated and exclusive Multistrada ever created." It should also be the "most exciting Multistrada ever created by Ducati," and the details about it make that more than clear.The motorcycle will not be made in large quantity, but as part of a numbered series of undisclosed size. In each and every example of the line, the Superbike DNA of the V4 RS is supplied, of course, by the engine fitted inside the monocoque aluminum frame.The powerplant is of the Desmosedici Stradale type, a derivation of the one deployed on the Panigale V4. In the entire Multistrada range, the V4 RS will be the only one that gets to use it. The unit is 1,103cc in displacement and has been tuned to develop 180 hp at 13,500 rpm.A billet aluminium dry clutch the likes of which we also see on the Panigale V4 SP2 and Streetfighter V4 SP2 makes controlling all that power easier. The engine breaths out through an exhaust system that ends in an Akrapovic silencer specifically developed for the model.The bike spins Marchesini aluminum forged rims, with the one at the front sized at 17 inches. Because weight saving was one of the main criteria when developing this motorcycle, they bring to the table a weight cuts of 2.7 kg (5.9 pounds) compared to the ones installed on the V4 S. Both of them are wrapped in Diablo Rosso IV Corsa tires.Further weight cuts were achieved thanks to the installation of a 2.5 kg-lighter (5.5 pounds) seat support frame, and a smaller battery: this one eliminates 3 kg (6.6 pounds) from the bike's waist compared to the Pikes Peak.The suspension needs of the Multistrada V4 RS are handled by Ohlins gear. It's of the same kind used on the Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak, only recalibrated for the needs of this new machine. A single-sided aluminum swingarm can be seen at the rear.The ride is, like most other Ducati of the modern era, a collection of advanced technologies. Braking power, for instance, is ensured by means of Brembo hardware the likes of which we also get on the Panigale V4.It too uses the still new radar tech that enhances the adaptive cruise control () and blind spot detection (BSD). On top of that, the usual traction control, wheelie control, and quick shift are on deck to make the rider's life easier.The Ducati Multistrada V4 RS can be configured to operate in one of four riding modes, namely Race, Sport, Touring, Urban.Design-wise there are a number of elements meant to make the RS stand out. I said earlier the bike will be made as part of a numbered series, and each of their numbers will be visible on a black aluminum plate that also includes the Italian flag and is installed on the triple clamp.A defining element of the ride is the techno-polymer slim tail, unique to this model and used to house the handles for the passenger. Carbon fiber elements can be seen throughout: on the front mudguard, the hand guards (they too made specifically for the RS), and heat shields.When looked at from the side, the Multistrada shows a different stance than we're used to, and somewhat similar to that of the Pikes Peak. That's thanks to the increase in the inclination of the steering head (25.75 degrees compared to 24.5).On top of that, the handlebar is narrower and sits lower than we're used to, ending in newly designed grips. As far as the rider's feet are concerned, they will now sit higher and further back thanks to the relocation of the footrests.As far as the paint job goes, the Multistrada V4 RS will be offered in only one livery, Iceberg White, with RS logos visible throughout (but also on the 6.5-inch screen graphics). Throwbacks to the colors of the Desmosedici MotoGP are obvious. Ducati will start rolling out the new bike in January of next year, but so far it has not announced pricing for the model. In production since April 2022 for the 2022 model year, the F-150 Lightning is Fords very first purpose-built electric pickup truck. As expected, the Dearborn-based automaker got a few things wrong. NHTSA Photo: Ford First and foremost, pricing for the work-oriented Pro trim level shot up from the original $39,974 to $49,995 at press time for both the 2023 and 2024 models. Back in August, none other than Fords very own big kahuna admitted that charging as opposed to filling up with gas can be a challenge Theres also the matter of driving range. Although its advertised with up to 320 miles (515 kilometers) on a full charge of the larger of two available batteries, the F-150 Lightning rarely gets close to 300 miles (483 kilometers) before it needs to be recharged. By comparison, the Environmental Protection Agency lists the 700-horsepower F-150 Raptor R with 432 miles (695 kilometers) and the V6-engined version with no more than 576 miles (927 kilometers).The biggest flaw of the F-150 Lightning, however, is that Ford still has quality-related issues. You can easily tell that Ford is on a different level altogether from the other two automakers comprising the Big Three in Detroit by looking atrecall data.Speaking of which, guess which Ford nameplate has been recalled once again with feeling? NHTSA recall number 23V-688 lists 931 potentially affected electric pickup trucks produced for the 2023 model year from July 27 through August 30 of this year.Whats the matter with said vehicles? On September 1, the Critical Concern Review Group was informed of a problem identified at the Ford River Rouge Complex where the F-150 Lightning is assembled. The problem in question started with a diagnostic trouble code for loss of communication with the cabin coolant heater.In-depth investigation determined that the supplier didnt solder one of three low-voltage connectors to the printed circuit board assembly. The missing solder joint results in either intermittent or no electronic cabin coolant heater function at all, which is a noncompliance in the eyes of the NHTSA . More specifically, an inoperative windshield defrosting/defogging system goes against federal motor vehicle safety standard 103.BorgWarner is the supplier of the iffy module, which bears part number RL3H-18E64-BB in Fords parts system. As per a FoMoCo report, suspect modules were produced by the folks at BorgWarner on a secondary assembly line that didnt have the right processes in place to prevent improper soldering.BorgWarner may be a giant automotive and electric mobility supplier, but when youre contracted by a cheapskate like Ford , theres no denying that mistakes can and will inevitably happen on such a tight budget. As you might have guessed by now, owners of affected trucks will have the modules replaced with properly soldered ones at no charge whatsoever for the part or service techs labor.Dealers have been informed of this blunder on October 16, whereas owners will be notified via first-class mail between November 6 and November 10. If any owner paid out of pocket to have the electronic cabin coolant heater replaced, which is nigh-on impossible because all suspect F-150 Lightning pickup trucks are still covered by warranty, they are eligible for reimbursement. MANZINI The Sibaya campaign strategy for premiership is a wait-and-see, says Percy Simelane. Simelane, who is the Communications Director at the Kings Office, said of the about 11 prime ministers (PM) the country has had since independence in 1968, only Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini and Cleopas Sipho Dlamini had to campaign before they were appointed. He said: So the Sibaya campaign strategy for premiership is a wait-and-see. Simelane was responding to a questionnaire which sought to find out what the nation should anticipate during the Sibaya on Monday and would there be changes, such as the introduction of a moderator this time around. He was also asked if there would be sub-topics that the nation may have to engage on and if there would be a campaign for the position of the PM like it happened in 2018. The issue of a possibility of people campaigning for the position of premier follows that subsequent to the 2018 General Elections, on October 24, His Majesty King Mswati III called upon the nation to assist him in the appointment of a new PM. This move was unprecedented as the nation had, as per the norm, anticipated hearing the name of the new PM being announced. Instead, the King highlighted that he would announce the incoming PM after he had heard input from the nation. This, in essence, meant that for two days, the nation had to express its views on who the new government leader should be. His Majesty King Mswati III, at the time, stimulated the nations appetite by describing the sort of leaders who were needed to take the country forward. The King said as the nation was gathered at the Cattle Byre, it was clear that the people had been praying, that as the country had reached the stage of getting a new PM, all would go well in that the right person would be appointed. He said when the PM was appointed, perhaps the nation would have heard what the certain man or candidate had to say. Meanwhile, in response to the questionnaire, Simelane said in the experience of Sibaya (Peoples Parliament), the debates were anything that had a direct bearing on the nations socio- economic well-being in pursuit of change for the better or sustenance. Concerns He said it would be difficult to help the nation anticipate issues because concerns and recommendations came from them. Simelane said: We have always had a moderator during Sibaya. In 2018, it was the AG (Attorney General), Mashampu Khumalo. He took over from Timothy Velabo Mtetwa. There were others before the two. He said the experience was that Sibaya, the biggest decision-making body in the land, made up of the nation, reviewed the Tinkhundla System of Government every five years. Simelane said these debates normally took a week or two and ended up with the appointment of the new premier. He said there was no record of sub-topics. The October 23, 2023 Sibaya is the type and brand that has been in our DNA for decades. The one which has been formally talked about since November 2, 2021 is the one recommended by SADC through its Troika organ on peace and security. He said from the look of things, it continued to remain an angel in the forest. Simelane said democratically and constitutionally, fortunately, it could not stand in the way of the countrys trade-mark Sibaya, which was controlled locally. He said the much talked about dialogue was not entirely controlled in Eswatini and how the region pulls itself together towards it was also not entirely controlled by Eswatini. It is worth noting that the SADC Extraordinary Organ Troika Summit on February 1, 2023, urged Eswatini to urgently initiate the process of the national dialogue. This was during the Extraordinary Organ Troika Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), held in Windhoek, Namibia. The communique was read by the SADC Executive Secretary, Elias Magosi, who said the summit had also urged all stakeholders in Eswatini to remain calm and participate peacefully in the national dialogue. Magosi said the summit condemned all killings and damage to property in Eswatini. He said the summit reiterated its condemnation of the killing of Thulani Maseko, a Human Rights Lawyer who, by the time of his death, was the Chairperson of the MultiStakeholder Forum (MSF). He said SADC had urged the kingdom to conduct a swift, transparent and comprehensive investigation into the killing of Maseko. Also, His Majesty King Mswati III in Luanda, Angola on August 17, 2023, said SADC could not expect government to dialogue with terrorists. He said SADC should, instead, condemn all forms of terrorist activities wherever they existed because they caused untold suffering and resulted in the loss of lives. The Monarch was speaking during a closed session of the SADC Troika, wherein he raised concern about what appeared to be a predetermined approach to dealing with political and security issues in Eswatini. The concern reportedly came from the fact that the report presented to Troika did not seem to take into consideration that the country had since returned to normalcy, thanks to its own efforts. His Majesty was quoted as having said any assistance given to any member State must be based on the facts as they obtained on the ground, rather than a dogmatic adherence to a predetermined approach. In this way, we would be able to genuinely assist each other and not allow subjective intent to interfere with the pursuit of peace, he said. If you still need proof that Google Maps and Waze are different beats and each has its own path in Google's long-term strategy, here's another announcement that should serve as confirmation that a merge isn't on the table yet. Google has updated Google Maps with the ability to get metro tickets directly from the app. The feature is launching in India thanks to a collaboration between the Mountain View-based search giant and the Open Network for Digital Commerce, with the first users projected to get it in the coming months.The integration makes Google Maps the recommended app for public transportation in India, as it can already provide accurate directions, arrival times, and other details.With this update, Google Maps becomes an all-in-one solution for transit, something the search giant has long been aiming for, especially as part of its non-navigation focus.The strategy seems to be expanding Google Maps on every single front, including features not aimed at drivers. However, it doesn't mean Google ignores car navigation, as further polishing keeps rolling out occasionally, but the company wants Google Maps to become the right app for everybody.Earlier this month, Google Maps brought its eco-friendly routing engine to India, allowing users in the country to get alternate routes that significantly cut fuel consumption and emissions. The feature launched in the United States two years ago, with Google expanding it to Europe in 2022. It's now available for a growing number of users worldwide, and the company says it's already doing miracles. The feature helped reduce emissions by the equivalent of taking approximately 500,000 vehicles off the road.It will launch in India with support for cars and two-wheelers, as Google goes after the country's two most popular transportation modes.Meanwhile, Waze retains its traffic navigation focus, trying to provide drivers with an efficient way of dealing with heavy traffic. The application includes a crowdsourcing engine that allows drivers to contribute with traffic reports for hazards like accidents, broken traffic lights, traffic jams, speed traps, or roadkill.Many believe Google will eventually merge Google Maps and Waze, but all signs suggest this won't be the case. The company sees the two solutions as distinct products with different features, especially as Google Maps is expanding in an otherwise impossible direction for an application like Waze. Features like buying metro tickets wouldn't make sense in Waze, but this expansion is not surprising considering the non-navigation focus in Google Maps.Google Maps isn't the only service allowing users to buy metro tickets in India. As per a report, WhatsApp also comes with similar features for users in Bengaluru and Delhi, enabling them to book tickets without leaving the messaging app on their mobile devices. Installing Android Auto updates is often a crazy rollercoaster ride, as the tiniest bug in the latest releases could completely wreck the experience behind the wheel. However, Android Auto updates aren't always responsible for the things that could go wrong in the app. The linked apps, such as the Google app, which powers the voice command integration via Google Assistant, sometimes break down Android Auto, causing issues like broken features or even the interface becoming unresponsive.Eventually, updating anything on your phone can prove fatal for Android Auto, and this is exactly what's happening for Huawei users right now.Users who turned to Google's forums to report the glitch claim the latest update broke down Android Auto, with a random disconnecting now happening every time they connect the smartphone to the head unit.The device connects correctly to launch Android Auto, but the app keeps disconnecting for no clear reason. Users are told to unplug the mobile device and reconnect it to the head unit. The recommendation restores Android Auto temporarily, as the bug still occurs a few minutes later.Someone on Google's forums claims they've tried all possible workarounds, including the generic fixes in the Android Auto world. Clearing the cache and deleting the data didn't fix Android Auto. Removing Android Auto and installing the latest build from the Google Play Store produced no improvement either.Google has already chimed in, explaining that the issue has been forwarded to the Android Auto team. However, it's too early to tell when a fix could go live, as the process typically takes several weeks or months if the issue isn't widespread.Someone on Google's forums claims the latest update also caused a behavior that has already been resolved by the search giant with a previous patch. After updating Android Auto, the taskbar is no longer available on the screen, making it impossible to switch apps. The missing taskbar was a widespread glitch that Google resolved not long ago with an update for the Google app.As a result, if you're encountering problems with Android Auto with a Huawei smartphone, you should make sure all your apps are up-to-date, including the Google app.The most recent stable version of Android Auto is 10.6 , but it doesn't seem to resolve the problems encountered by Huawei phone owners. The latest beta pushed the app to version 10.7, but it's only available for testing. It's unclear if it includes a fix for this connection problem, but it's unlikely to resolve the glitch, as Google is still investigating it. If you struggle with random disconnecting on a Huawei phone, your best option is to downgrade to an earlier Android Auto version where the bug did not exist. Version 10.4 seems to work correctly for most users. The ultra-popular Jetson One, the personal electric aircraft that seems to have conquered the world, hit not just one but two milestones in Italy, paving the way for a new type of private aviation. October was a busy and fruitful month for Jetson, the manufacturer of the Jetson One single-seat eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing). Visitors at this year's ZeroEmission Mediterranean event, which took place in Rome, Italy, got the chance to take a closer look at three Jetson One aircraft.The three units that were on display marked an important achievement for the aviation startup and for the AAM (Advanced Air Mobility) industry worldwide. Jetson got the green light from the Italian authorities in two areas. First, the Jetson One is now officially certified as an ultralight eVTOL. Second, the manufacturer got permission to fly its aircraft in unmanned mode through remote control.The first milestone means that licensed pilots are legally allowed to fly the Jetson One pre-production eVTOL in Italy's uncontrolled air space. The registration certificate was issued by Aero Club d'Italia (AeCI), officially placing Jetson One into the ultralight recreational eVTOL category.The second milestone enables Jetson to carry out uncrewed test flights. In this case, it was Italy's Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) that granted the operational authorization. Jetson CEO Stephan D'haene says this will allow the company to conduct advanced test flights without putting pilots at risk.Since this brand was co-founded by Swedish developers, you might be wondering, "Why Italy?" Well, this is where the company moved its headquarters last year, from Poland. The R&D and production facility is now operating in Arezzo, Tuscany. In addition to the industrial facility, this includes an 800-meter (2,620 feet) airstrip. With the operational authorization in hand, Jetson will be able to perform regular flight tests here.Plus, the company is operating a pilot school and a customer experience center at the same location. Last year, a popular video showed the one-seat aircraft flying above Tuscany's stunning scenery.This month is also when Jetson One took to the sky for the first time in the US, piloted by one of the brand's co-founders, Tomasz Patan, in Westlake, Texas. The $98,000 personal electric aircraft had tremendous success in America, judging by the number of pre-orders.Jetson has sold more than 300 units so far worldwide, and it's nearly sold out for 2024.Jetson One claims to be the first affordable eVTOL on the market, with no pilot license required in the US. It combines a race car-inspired frame with a redundant battery propulsion system, an auto-landing system, and advanced safety features. It comes pre-assembled to your doorstep and requires minimal training. This one-seater also has a minimal footprint and promises a 20-minute flight time per charge. While the US Air Force is already making history with the first eVTOLs (electric vertical takeoff and landing) stationed at a military base, the US Marine Corps is looking into equally innovative alternatives linked to mobility in the littorals. The Viceory seaglider is up for the part. We mostly hear about seagliders in connection to island hopping , tourism, and resort transportation. These aircraft that operate close to the water's surface bring vacations, travel, and beautiful coastal cities to mind. Yet, they can also play a pivotal role in defense logistics. This is why the US Marine Corps didn't hesitate to pump nearly $5 million into a Rhode Island-based seaglider developer. Regent Craft, the manufacturer of the Viceroy seaglider, secured a $4.5 million deal with the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab (MCWL). The two are launching a program where the Viceroy will get to show what it can do, from its three modes of operation to maneuver and transport operations. In other words, Regent Craft will demonstrate the seaglider technology for defense logistics applications.The Marines could operate this seaglider in the littorals, with multiple roles, including troop and cargo transport, ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance), and expeditionary advanced base operations.What sets it apart from other air vehicles is that it doesn't require runway infrastructure, it has a low signature, and it promises low-cost operations. In terms of performance, Viceroy combines high payload (it can carry 12 passengers of 3,500 lbs/1,587 kg of cargo) with high speed and a long range (180 miles/289 km per charge).Viceroy, Regent Craft's seaglider, is officially classed as a wing-in-ground effect craft. It claims to combine an airplane's high speed with a boat's operational low costs. As a 100% electric aircraft, it offers the benefits of zero-emission, ultra-low-altitude transportation.Unlike conventional aircraft, it doesn't require runways and is compatible with the existing dock infrastructure. In the future, as battery technology continues to evolve, it's expected to extend its zero-emission range to 500 miles (800 km).In addition to the battery propulsion system, what sets apart this futuristic machine from other seagliders is the hydrofoil technology, adapted from maritime design. It claims to be the first of its kind to combine wing-borne flight with hydrofoil wave-tolerance.The Viceroy seaglider boasts three modes of operation: hull, foil, and wing-borne. It takes off from the dock like a boat; as it speeds up, it rises on its hydrofoil for a smooth transition to the wing-borne mode, when it flies like an airplane at just a few meters above the water's surface.The Rhode Island company will conduct a live technical demonstration of its full-scale prototype at the end of this exciting program with the US Marine Corps. The demonstration will take place during a large-scale military exercise. 1967 witnessed a major refresh for the Mustang lineup, including in terms of styling but also as far as the available engines were concerned. The carmaker continued to offer a 200 six-cylinder unit as the base configuration on the Ford Mustang, but it also included more power choices for those who wanted to push the pony closer to muscle car territory.The C-code Mustang was the most common choice for this model year. It rolled off the assembly lines with a 289 small-block V8, developing 200 horsepower in 1967 and 195 horsepower in 1968. A 4-barrel version, available exclusively for the 1967 model year, produced 225 horsepower, with the rating going up to 270 horsepower in the HiPo package.The icing on the Mustang cake in 1967 was the 390 FE, which came with a 4-barrel carburetor (a 2-barrel version made its way to customers next year) with 320 horsepower.The same big-block unit was installed on this 1967 Mustang before it left the factory, and the good news is the 390 is still in the car today. But while the Mustang did not lose its original muscle, the engine no longer starts, likely after the vehicle spent many years on the side of the road. It still turns over by hand, so there's still a chance it could be saved.eBay seller gwpford says the Mustang has never been restored and comes without only a few parts, such as a distributor and the exhaust system. It's unclear if the Mustang ever served as a donor for another project, but this is unlikely, as the engine is certainly the first part that would have left the vehicle.The biggest concern on this Mustang is the rust. It has already invaded many panels, and the seller admits "the worst part is the exterior sheet metal that does have rust." Fixing it shouldn't be a problem, considering the Mustang is a popular project, but you must keep it in mind if you plan a return to factory specifications.The Marti report indicates that power steering makes this Mustang one-of-a-kind, as it's the only 2-door hardtop with this configuration. You can find the document in the photo gallery.The selling price is not surprising, though it could also be the part that makes most potential buyers walk away. The owner says they would only let the car go for $13,000, and considering the Mustang isn't selling at auction, this is exactly how much you'd have to pay for it. The Make Offer button is also live, if someone else has another deal in mind.On the other hand, the best way to determine if this Mustang is worth a complete restoration is to see it in person. To do this, you must travel to Spring Run, Pennsylvania, where the Mustang waits for the WWW to decide its fate. More than a hundred of them gathered outside Karabakhs permanent representation to Armenia in the morning to demand answers on Azerbaijans September 19-20 military offensive that allowed Baku to regain control over the region and caused the mass exodus of its ethnic Armenian population. The mainly male protests also sought explanations for Shahramanians September 28 decree which said that the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, set up in September 1991, will cease to exist on January 1. No document can dissolve the republic created by the people, Shahramanian told the angry crowd when he emerged from the building. I am going to publicly explain this soon. Shahramanian said he signed the decree to stop the hostilities and enable the Karabakh Armenians to safely flee their homeland. We saved the lives of our guys, we saved the lives of our civilian population which was in danger. Had the war been stopped an hour later, they would have entered the city [of Stepanakert] and slaughtered people, the Karabakh leader added in his first public comments made since the Azerbaijani assault. The protesters were unconvinced. Some of them broke into the building shortly afterwards, forcing Shahramanian to meet with them. The meeting did not satisfy them either. Shahramanian again emerged from his office early in the afternoon, condemning the protesters provocations and urging them to disperse. The crowd did not heed the appeal, continuing to block an adjacent street. Some protesters stopped and vandalized a car that drove out of the Karabakh missions compound later in the afternoon. They also brawled with people, presumably Karabakh officials, sitting in the black SUV. The chief of Shahramanians staff was reportedly injured in the violence. A spokesman for the Armenian Interior Ministry said that four men were detained on the spot. Some Armenian opposition figures were quick to accuse Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian of organizing the protest through other Karabakh leaders loyal to him. They said Pashinian, who faced mass protests in Yerevan late last month, is thus trying to deflect the blame for the fall of Karabakh. Pashinians political allies have openly blamed the regions current leadership, backed by the Armenian opposition, for the Azerbaijani takeover of Karabakh and its almost full depopulation. Shahramanian was elected president by Karabakh lawmakers mostly critical of Pashinian just ten days before the Azerbaijani offensive. His predecessor Arayik Harutiunian, who was arrested by Azerbaijan after the assault, was thought to be more loyal to Pashinian. According to Armenian press reports, Shahramanian has tried in vain to meet with Pashinian since joining more than 100,000 Karabakh Armenians in taking refuge in Armenia. The diplomat told RFE/RLs Armenian Service that the EU will likely approve the expansion in the coming weeks. He could not say how many additional monitors are due to be sent to Armenia. The mission currently consisting of 100 or so observers and experts was launched at the request of the Armenian government and with the stated aim of preventing or reducing ceasefire violations along the border. Russia, Armenias increasingly estranged ally, has opposed it from the outset, saying that it is part of broader U.S. and European Union efforts to drive Moscow out of the South Caucasus. The Azerbaijani takeover of Nagorno-Karabakh has raised more fears in Yerevan that Azerbaijan will invade Armenia to open a land corridor to its Nakhichevan exclave. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian urged Western powers to prevent Baku from provoking a new war in the region when he addressed the European Parliament on Tuesday. We have made it very clear to President Aliyev and Azerbaijani representatives that we are very concerned by any attempt to infringe on Armenias sovereignty and territorial integrity, said the diplomat. This is something that we take seriously. In his words, the EU is committed to helping to strengthen Armenia in addition to continuing its efforts to broker a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict is on the agenda of a meeting in Luxemburg of the foreign ministers of EU member states scheduled for Monday. It will be chaired by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. 20 October 2023 08:30 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more After the end of the long-lasting conflict over Garabagh, the opening of new communications can act as an impetus to strengthen the economy. It will enable increased trade between the countries within and beyond the region, which in terms, will cure the repercussions caused by the conflict. Being aware of the realities on the ground, Azerbaijan has always taken the first steps in the direction of the opening of communications. As for the Armenian side, it is very hard to predict their aim because they frequently change their mind. The Armenian PM signed the trilateral Statement in which the last paragraph indicates the abovementioned issue, i.e. the road that crosses the Armenian territory and connects Azerbaijan with Nakhchivan, the exclave that has as a matter of fact been in blockade. Later the Pashinyan administration stepped back and formed some unfounded excuses. This is another proven fact that many Western countries and Iran support Armenia in this matter. Some Western forces, fueled by several separatist forces and sleazy pro-Armenian politicians abroad, try to accuse Azerbaijan of a so-called occupation in order to hinder the processes related to Zagazur. However, many in Azerbaijan interpret the attitude of the West as leaving Russia offside. According to Samir Humbatov, the head of an Azerbaijan-based think tank, who spoke to AZERNEWS, there are some forces in the world that are trying to tarnish the situation in regions. However, the expert said that Azerbaijan is not trapped in such provocations. Because Azerbaijan is a state that has already extinguished the sparks of the conflict and most importantly, achieved this at the expense of its invincible army and broad diplomacy. S.Humbatov also did not rule out the fact that there are a number of people, especially in the West, who are keen to prolong the conflict. The expert stressed that not only the Western countries but also Russia itself is interested in prolonging the conflict. It is true that today Russia is quietly speaking about it. However, no matter how quietly they speak, the continuation of the conflict sometimes benefits them. "From that point of view, I think that currently, we should work more on the peace agreement with Armenia. Of course, the most important issue here is the implementation of the Zangazur corridor, which will connect Nakhchivan and Azerbaijan, as stated in the tripartite declaration. Because it is Azerbaijan's right to have a link to Nakhchivan. In this way, transportation between Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan can be created. At the same time, Turkic-speaking countries playing out from Istanbul to the Great Wall of China should be able to use this corridor. However, the Zangazur corridor has a special weight in the implementation of mega projects," Humbatov noted. He said that it is true that the Western countries putting pressure on Azerbaijan due to the above-mentioned corridor. But it seems that the pressure is connected to the issue of who will control this strategic point. Because if the trilateral Declaration is to be implemented here, Russia will be in control. "Otherwise, if the Western countries will be able to push Russia out of the region, the control will absolutely pass into their hands. From this point of view, I think that in fact, it does not matter for Azerbaijan whether the control will be in the hands of Russia or the West. What is important for Azerbaijan is that while achieving the peace treaty with Armenia, it should help to have a land border between Nakhchivan and Azerbaijan," he opined. He also added that Iran does not want this corridor to be opened. In addition, Russia's concurrence in the Zangazur issue is not motivated by love for Azerbaijan - it is simply related to Russia's particular interests. Azerbaijan can work here with Russia simply because its interests are overlaid in a certain sense. However, as the expert pointed out, Russia does not fully act in accordance with the wishes of Azerbaijan. It is simply trying to keep the situation under control by accepting the conditions set by Azerbaijan because it is currently experiencing very painful problems in Ukraine. --- Qabil Ashirov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @g_Ashirov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 20 October 2023 22:00 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more After Armenia signed the capitulation document on November 10, 2020, people together with all the armed forces who were not native to the territory and settled illegally had to leave Garabagh immediately. However, the processes were somewhat prolonged, and Armenia left the territories determined by the mediation of Russia at certain times. Everyone remembers well the moments when radical Armenian groups left Kalbajar, Lachin, Gubadli, and Zangilan as stipulated in the signed document. Those groups, who burned their houses and forests and carried even less valuable things on the rooves of their vehicles, looked unusual when leaving Khankendi, Askeran, Aghdara, and Khojavend. Didn't it? We are not yet talking about burying hidden mines while leaving. The former ombudsman of Armenia, Arman Tatoyan, claimed in his statement that the Armenians who left the Garabagh region of Azerbaijan have the right to receive compensation for their property. Before that, Larisa Alaverdyan, the first ombudsman of Armenia, Gevorg Danielyan, the former minister of justice, and others said that Armenians should file civil, moral, health, etc. claims for the damage caused. As can be seen, the formation of public opinion and the preparation of the ground have already started in Armenia for making new claims against Azerbaijan. Yes, this is a clarification of the reason why Armenians quietly left other territories of Garabagh after September 20, the great day when separatism was swept out once and forever. However, those who put forward these claims and those who follow their ideas and decide to bring the matter to the legal level in the future should have known that more than one million Azerbaijanis were expelled from the territory of Armenia and 20 percent of the lands of Azerbaijan. Unlike the Armenians who left Garabagh willingly and without coercion, they were forced to leave their houses, cars, livestock, in a nutshell, everything and ran away. During 30 years, occupied Azerbaijani lands were looted, and cities and villages were wiped off the face of the earth. Who will be liable for all this? Those who make such claims should know that the demand for compensation and the solution to the issue at the legal level will be two-sided, and in such a case, they should realize what a heavy burden will fall on Armenia. It is still to be investigated to what extent it is legal for those "100 thousand Armenians" to live in Garabagh. According to information, most of them later settled illegally. Even in the 1990s, after the First Garabagh War, Armenians illegally settled migrant Armenians from Libia, Syria, and elsewhere in many areas of Garabagh. This was a plan to create an artificial demographic indicator in Garabagh in order to file a claim before international organizations in the future. From a legal point of view, this is a crime, and they have no property, and they have no rights to claim an inch of land in Garabagh. As for the other side of the issue, Armenia knows very well that the list of Armenians who settled in Garabagh until 1990 was also determined by Azerbaijan. In other words, there is no chance for Erivan to play games here. In the worst case, let Erivan think about the mines buried in Garabagh, which have ended the lives of hundreds of people even today. Since 2020, Azerbaijan has been reimbursing the material and moral damage caused by Armenia to Azerbaijan by paying from the state budget. However, there is no compensation for the lives taken. First of all, there was no dialogue between the Azerbaijani government and the representatives of the community with the Armenians who left Garabagh voluntarily. They quietly left their homes and returned to Erivan based on the instructions of the separatist leaders and the Garabagh clan. The old era is over. Armenia is still trying to deal with Azerbaijan within the framework of the old rules. The state of Azerbaijan is aware of every citizen entering and leaving its sovereign territory. At the same time, Armenia should know that the claim it will put forward cannot be weighed against the damage it has caused in the past. If the case is decided, Erivan should think about compensation for more than one million Azerbaijani refugees and IDPs. --- Elnur Enveroglu is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on @ElnurMammadli1 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 20 October 2023 17:54 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more A delegation led by Azerbaijani Labour and Social Protection Minister Sahil Babayev, who is on a visit to Uzbekistan, has laid flowers at the monument to the National Leader at Heydar Aliyev Square in Tashkent and paid tribute to his memory, Azernews reports. The Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection has reported that Minister Sahil Babayev met with the Director of the National Agency for Social Protection under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Mansurbek Olloyorov. The Minister underlined that as a result of joint efforts of the heads of state of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, the long-standing relations between the two countries have developed and reached the level of strategic partnership. The documents signed between the two countries in the past period were highlighted. In particular, the special significance of the "Agreement on the establishment of the Supreme Interstate Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Uzbekistan" signed by Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Shavkat Mirziyoyev in August 2023 was brought to attention in the dynamic development of strategic partnerships. It was noted that the construction of a secondary school on the initiative of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in the liberated town of Fuzuli is another manifestation of the friendship and brotherhood of the two countries. Information was presented on social reforms and successes achieved in our country in recent years, the DOST concept, and digital achievements in the social sphere. M. Olloyorov said that the successful continuation of relations between our countries in the social field is a source of satisfaction and important work is being done to expand these relations. It was noted that there is a great potential for expanding cooperation between the two institutions in the process of social reforms, and the importance of mutual visits and meetings in the past period in strengthening the relations was noted. S.Babayev and M.Olloyerov signed the Memorandum of Understanding "On cooperation in the field of social protection" between the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the National Agency for Social Protection under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan". The document envisages improvement of social legislation and digitalisation of social services, organisation of social services for vulnerable groups, adoption, mediation, disability assessment, rehabilitation, etc. Cooperation and the exchange of experience and information are planned. The Azerbaijani delegation familiarised itself with the experience of social enterprises established for vulnerable groups in Uzbekistan. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Global tourism leaders have further advanced plans for a more ethical, diverse sector led by a growing United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), at its 25th General Assembly (October 16-20) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. As the assembly draws to a close, it continued to examine, discuss and approve the organisations work, with a focus on expanding its global presence, ethics and legal frameworks and the role of public-private partnerships. New Regional and Thematic Offices UNWTO's commitment to moving closer to its members and being on the ground in every region was further emphasised as the assembly was given an update on work to establish new regional and thematic offices. For instance: The Regional Office for the Middle East was opened in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2021. It is an established hub for tourism education and tourism for rural development. From here, UNWTO has opened the Riyadh School for Hospitality and Tourism, launched a first Education Toolkit for high schools, and also launched the Best Tourism Villages initiative. UNWTO signed an agreement with the Government of Brazil to establish a Regional Office in Rio de Janeiro, to be focused on investments. The planned Regional Office for Africa in Marrakesh, Morocco, will focus on the priorities of innovation and investments in tourism. The hosts of this assembly, Uzbekistan, presented its proposal to establish a thematic office for tourism on the Silk Road. The proposal was approved by the 119th session of the UNWTO Executive Council. Ethics Committee The General Assembly further built on UNWTO's leading work to create a more ethical and accessible sector, while also increasing confidence in travel and tourism. The Global Code of Ethics were the foundation for UNWTO becoming a UN agency. In Samarkand, the assembly approved new members to serve on the World Committee of Tourism Ethics, with a clear commitment to diversity. Members also looked ahead to the International Conference on Accessible Tourism, due to take place in San Marino in November, said a statement. During the Plenary Session, UNWTO formally welcomed those Members that have already agreed to adhere to the International Code for the Protection of Tourists. To date, Argentina, Brazil, Lebanon, Lithuania, Portugal, Senegal, Thailand, Uruguay and Venezuela have all agreed to adhere to the landmark legal instrument. The Code was designed during the pandemic, with the first harmonized international legal framework set to play a key role in restoring consumer confidence in travel. World Tourism Day Report Just three weeks after World Tourism Day 2023, member states were given an update on UNWTO's work in growing the sector's global day of observance. The Secretary of the assembly provided a recap of the past two events and looked ahead to the two years to come. Members of the General Assembly approved the themes and the hosts for the next two years. For 2024, the theme will be "Tourism and Peace", to be hosted by Georgia, and then Malaysia will hold World Tourism Day 2025 around the theme of Tourism and Sustainable Developments. Strong, Stable Organisation In his report to the General Assembly during the First Plenary, Secretary-General Pololikashvili highlighted the ongoing work to strengthen and modernise the Organisation. Members of the assembly agreed to extend the mandate of the Task Force on Redesigning Tourism for the Future until the 26th session of the General Assembly. The Task Force aims to reinforce UNWTO's role in guiding the global sector forward through long-term strategy and vision. Nine member states were approved to serve on the Task Force for the next two years. Members were provided with an update on the reforms to reinforce UNWTO's compliance with UN standards, most notably through the Joint Inspection Unit. The General Assembly voted with 73% in favour of Secretary-General Pololikashvili being permitted to present his candidature for a third mandate. Members agreed that the 26th session of the UNWTO General Assembly will be held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. TradeArabia News Service 20 October 2023 22:18 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more One of the significant and memorable events of the past week was the visit of the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Ersin Tatar with a large delegation to Azerbaijan. During the visit, Ersin Tatar's meeting with the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and events held within the framework of the promotional and cultural days of the Turkic State Council became the focus of the entire Turkic world. At the invitation of Ufuk Turganer, the head of the Baku representative office of the TRNC, representatives of the Public Association for the Protection and Promotion of Applied Art Samples (PAPPAAS) also participated in these events. At one of the meetings held within the framework of the events, they presented the work "Turan Road" to Ersin Tatar, the President of TRNC. The chairman of the Public Union, Lala Sardarli, told the head of the fraternal country and the delegation about the content and essence of the arrangement of patterns, symbols, and stamps, which is one of Azerbaijan's examples of decorative applied art, and about the messages and codes transmitted to humanity through the images. Tatar thanked the Sardar family, the authors of "Turan Road", for the gift. He also emphasized the importance of further intensification of existing cultural relations between our countries. Within the framework of the same event, the representatives of PAPPAAS also held meetings with the members of the delegation of the brotherly country. During the exchange of views with the Deputy President of the TRNC, Director of the Cultural Department of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Environment Ms. Shirin Zaferyldz, it was discussed about the possibility of implementing joint projects related to the study and promotion of the rich common cultural heritage of the two nations and the creation of new works in the near future. It should be noted that in the past period of its activity, PAPPAAS has taken a number of measures and implemented projects in the way of studying and promoting our national cultural heritage, restoring forgotten applied arts, returning them to the present day in new content and creating works distinguished by their relevance. More detailed and reporting information about this will be released to the press and the public in the near future. Currently, the organization glorifies our great victory "Union of Victory", "My Family" dedicated to the family institution of Azerbaijan and the entire Turkic geography, which is considered sacred, "Sardarm", which defines historical architectural monuments and examples of cultural heritage that existed in the lands belonging to Azerbaijanis in Western Azerbaijan. "Iravanm", "Zangazurum", and "Turan Road" works are being promoted outside Azerbaijan. It should be noted that the mentioned works have been evaluated and certified as works of art in the cultural history of Azerbaijan by the relevant institutions of Azerbaijan as the first and only examples of decorative applied art such as chests, chests, and jewelry. The mentioned works were exhibited to the general public at the exhibition "People's Art, wisdom of the People" held at the National Art Museum of Azerbaijan, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of national leader Heydar Aliyev, organized by the PAPPAAS. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 20 October 2023 10:07 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more In accordance with the instruction of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the return of former internally displaced persons to the restored city of Lachin continues, Azernews reports. Another group of former IDPs consisting of 23 families or 83 people left the Gobu Park 3 residential complex in Garadagh for Lachin on October 20. The resettled families will settle in the houses where they once lived in Lachin, which were restored or rebuilt on the basis of instructions from the head of state after the end of the Armenian occupation. Lachin residents thanked President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva for their comprehensive care and expressed gratitude to the valiant Azerbaijani Army, which liberated the lands from occupation. Thus, until today, a permanent settlement in the city of Lachin has been provided for 295 families - 1135 people. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 20 October 2023 16:51 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more "Guadeloupe's natural resources have been appropriated by France for years," Jan-Jacob Bisep, a member of the People's Union for the Freedom of Guadeloupe, said at a conference in Baku, Azernews reports. "The people of Guadeloupe have been under French rule for four centuries. We want to become a fully sovereign country. The people of Guadeloupe are heroic people who fought against France for many years," Bisep says. The political activist noted that groups that are partners in Guadeloupe's independence have been destroyed by France, and their numbers are not disclosed to the population. "We are fighting for our lands. The youth of Guadeloupe are being taught by teachers sent from France. They distort our language, history, and culture in their books and teach our youth the history and language of France. These young people are then sent to work in places designated by France. Our people have always fought against this injustice. Hundreds of people in my country have been arrested by the French police, and many brutally murdered. The natural resources of Guadeloupe have been appropriated by France for many years. The social situation of the citizens living in my country is not good at all. We demand that the people in power take the necessary measures. The great powers are showing their might by suppressing human rights in the Arabian Peninsula. Peace must be restored in Karaib," Bisep said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 20 October 2023 14:18 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more "We want France to respond with justice," said Luc Francis Carroll of the Martinique Freedom Party during his speech at the international conference "Neocolonialism: Human Rights Violations and Injustice" that is going on in Baku, Azernews reports. "Today we are talking about injustice. In South America, in North America, in the Caribbean, and in the United States, we see that the poorest people are from Africa. These people have been deported to America. France does not want to deal with that. People are suffering here. 90 percent of our production was exported to France and other countries. There, agrarian policies are set up in such a way that we cannot move freely. Colonialism also affects the cultural sphere. We want our language to become an official language on the same level as French. They refuse to do so. At the same time, we want France to respond to justice. We want independence. African liberation must be at the center of the world's attention. The African diaspora must be active," Luke Francis Carroll added. At the same time, Carroll emphasized the importance of achieving independence and said, "Only then can we say that colonialism is over". Maurice Pindar, a member of the Movement for Social Freedom and Decolonisation of French Guiana, expressed the same view in his speech at the conference "Neo-colonialism: human rights violations and injustice" held in Baku. "France does not accept us as a people, our rights are violated. We are still financially and economically dependent on France. The gold in our country is mined and exported to France. When gold is mined, our rivers are polluted and our nature is damaged. "French companies use our forests and natural resources. We have no income in our country. There is also dominance in the cultural sphere. Here, classes are taught using French textbooks. They don't accept us as a people, and our human rights are violated. That's why we are taking to the streets and protesting," M Pindar said. Pindar said we want to utilize all the resources of our country and lands. For this, we need the support of independent countries. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 20 October 2023 12:23 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more The Western Azerbaijan Community condemns the biased resolution adopted by the Austrian Parliament and its joining the anti-Azerbaijani wave started by some countries, especially France, Azernews reports. The Community's statement reads: "The Austrian Parliament, which emphasizes the importance of protecting churches in Garabagh, approaches issues from a religious point of view and does not deal with the destruction of the cultural heritage of the Azerbaijani people in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and Armenia - this is a shameful, racist and Islamophobic approach. The Community added that the Austrian Parliament should do its job and stop interfering in the internal affairs of our country with such low calls as the entry of international organizations into the sovereign territories of Azerbaijan. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 20 October 2023 14:55 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more The regular meeting of Milli Majlis within the framework of the autumn session was held on October 20, where 12 issues were discussed, Azernews reports. 12 issues are included in the agenda: 1. Draft Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Approval of the Competition Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan" (second reading); 2. Draft Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Amendments to the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Public Service" (second reading). 3; 3. Draft Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Amendments to the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Civil Service" and "Regulation on Service in Migration Authorities" approved by the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan No. 930-IIIQ of December. 4 November 2009 (second reading); 4. Draft Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on amendments to the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan (second reading); 5. Draft Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Amendments to the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Circulation of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and their Precursors" (second reading); 6. Draft Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on amendments to the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On approval of the list of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances sufficient for bringing a person to criminal liability, as well as their total quantity" (second reading) ); 7. Draft Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On amendments to the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On approval of the lists of high impact substances and their ash content, as well as the lists of toxic substances" (second reading); 8. Draft Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Amendments to the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Approval of the List of Significant and Large Quantities of Precursors in Connection with Actions Committed with the Use of Precursors in Illicit Manufacturing and Processing of Narcotic Drugs or Psychotropic Substances. Substances" (second reading); 9. Draft Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on amendments to the Administrative Procedure Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan (second reading); 10. Draft Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On State Reserves" (first reading); 11. "On Antimonopoly Activity", "On Protection of Consumer Rights", "On Civil Defence", "On Grain", "On National Security", "On State Secrets", "On Mobilisation Preparation and Mobilisation in the Republic of Azerbaijan. "The draft Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Amendments to the Legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan (first reading) and "Precious Metals and Precious Stones"; 12. Draft Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Aviation" (first reading). --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 20 October 2023 12:40 (UTC+04:00) President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has addressed the participants of the "Neocolonialism: Violation of Human Rights and Injustice" international conference. The letter reads: Dear Conference Participants, Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, I extend my greetings to you on the occasion of the opening of the International Conference themed Neocolonialism: Human Rights Violations and Injustice. It is gratifying that representatives of 14 countries from different continents and fighters for justice from different territories have come together in Baku to condemn the colonialism policy that regrettably persists in the XXI century and to organize and conduct systematic and consistent efforts to eradicate it. As you know, four years ago, upon a unanimous decision of the Non-Aligned Movement countries, Azerbaijan assumed the Chairmanship of the Movement on 25 October 2019. The Non-Aligned Movement brings together 120 countries and stands as the second-largest political institution after the UN General Assembly, serving the cause of promoting universal values. At the outset of Azerbaijans tenure as the Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement, I declared that my priorities and activity would be based on the Bandung Principles. Fighting neocolonialism was among the issues addressed during the Bandung Conference. The delegates affirmed that The subjection of peoples to alien subjugation, domination and exploitations constitutes a denial of fundamental human rights, is contrary to the Charter of the United Nations and is an evil which should speedily be brought to an end. Azerbaijan is deeply concerned with the ongoing colonialism and its reemerging manifestations. Although 70 years have passed since the Bandung Conference, some countries continue to pursue colonialism. Among those, the foremost one is France. Overall, most of the bloody crimes of the colonialism history of mankind were committed by none other than France. France had occupied tens of countries in Africa, Southeast Asia, the Pacific and Latin America, plundered their resources, and for many years oppressed their peoples while perpetrating numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity. The French troops subjected hundreds of thousands of civilians to ethnic cleansing based on their ethnic and religious affiliation. Throughout 30 years in the XX century, France had conducted nearly 200 nuclear tests in French Polynesia and 17 nuclear tests in Algeria. The dire consequences of those tests have, to this day, affected Polynesia and the Algerian people. In response to the appeals by the multitude of organizations, it is imperative to evaluate the repercussions of the nuclear tests and disburse appropriate compensations. During the 132-year-long occupation of Algeria, more than 1.5 million people lost their lives at the hands of the French state, leading to the country's recognition as the "nation of 1.5 million martyrs." The scale and geography of massacres committed by the French troops are so extensive that recounting them is a challenge in itself. Nations such as Morocco, Tunisia, Mali, Djibouti, Nigeria, Chad, Senegal, Vietnam, Comoros Islands, Haiti, and others continue to grapple with the dire repercussions of that occupation. A report titled France, Rwanda and the Tutsi Genocide (1990-1994) submitted to the French President on 26 March 2021 by the Commission on the French Archives relating to Rwanda and the Genocide of the Tutsi concluded that France bore substantial responsibility for the massacre of over 800 thousand of Tutsi tribe members. France ranks among the leading nations globally in terms of landmine use. Over 5 million mines were planted across Algeria alone. As a result, just like Azerbaijan, Algeria is among the top countries in the world suffering from mine explosions. On that list, immediately behind France, comes its close ally Armenia. In just three years, some 340 Azerbaijanis, including civilians, fell victim to the mines planted by Armenia across Azerbaijans formerly occupied territories. Among others, one of the reasons that closely binds these two countries is the practice of resorting to mine terrorism. Eighteen thousand skulls of the fighters murdered throughout the colonial wars of the XIX century are kept and displayed at the Paris Museum of Mankind. The skulls of Algerian fighters are among the others on display. France is yet to comply with Algerias demand to return those skulls. Finding such a mentality in any country in the XXI century is a rare occurrence. Despite centuries having passed, disgraceful new methods of French colonialism persist due to the unchanging mindset. The peoples of the overseas territories gathered at this Conference have fought for independence for many years. France, unable to abandon its colonialism history, disregards the aspirations and the rights of the peoples outside of France overseas communities and territories of the Pacific and Atlantic and goes out of its way to undermine the realization of those aspirations. The social situation in French Guiana is gradually deteriorating; nearly half of the population is on the edge of poverty, and unemployment is rising yearly. Its natural resources are plundered, and 90% of the land is in the possession of the French government. Martinique and Guadeloupe face two significant disasters. The indigenous population is subjected to assimilation through clandestine and illicit resettlement. The past use of chlordecone pesticide had poisoned the natural ecosystems and population, as the locals still cope with its oncological ramifications. France refuses to recognize the sovereignty of the Union of Comoros over the Island of Mayotte. In its documents, the Non-Aligned Movement always supports the unequivocal sovereignty of the Union of Comoros over the Island of Mayotte. A referendum is held in New Caledonia without the participation of half its population, depriving them of their right to independence. France, which rejects the concept of ethnic minorities, is prohibiting the Corsican language. The UN assessed that as discrimination and violation of international law. Pursuing the policy of hypocrisy and double standards, France is simultaneously attempting to position itself as a defender of national minorities in our region. We register widespread racism and Islamophobia across France, along with neocolonialism trends. Some people represented here today have been subjected, in one way or another, to pressure, discrimination and bigot attacks. Instead of confronting such alarming and dangerous trends at home, the French authorities try to lecture other countries and interfere in the domestic affairs of others. The recent withdrawal of the French troops from Mali, Niger and Burkina-Faso has once again demonstrated that its merciless neocolonialism policy is doomed. Instead of being ashamed of the atrocities committed and apologizing for its colonialism history abundant with bloody crimes, France speaks of fictional ethnic cleansings in other countries. This country exploits its status as the UN Security Council permanent member to pursue biased and subjective policies and is busy with geopolitical conspiracies in different regions. As the Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement, Azerbaijan supports the peoples who fight colonialism and aim to free themselves. Your participation in the Ministerial Meeting in Baku on 6 July 2023, as part of Azerbaijans chairmanship in the Non-Aligned Movement, then at the UN General Assembly Headquarters in New York on 22 September and finally here again in Baku, at an event dedicated to the issue of urgent relevance for mankind - colonialism, its consequences and the fight against neocolonialism - is a vivid manifestation of Azerbaijans support, as the Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement, to that cause. We must deliver the neocolonialism issue to the international community's attention through all possible platforms. In that regard, the UN General Assembly Fourth Committee (Political and Decolonization) activity must be re-energized. Todays Conference is a favorable opportunity to address colonialism, its ramifications, the struggle against neocolonialism, challenges in the global agenda, and available options. I believe the discussions at this Conference will contribute to mobilizing collective efforts in the fight against colonialism and producing new ideas and initiatives aimed at ensuring mankinds prosperity and leaving the new generations a legacy of a colonialism-free world. I extend my best wishes to you and wish this Conference every success. Sincerely, Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Baku, 19 October 2023 --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 20 October 2023 17:13 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijani Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev, as part of his business trip to China, met with Wang Hongjin, a member of the Central Disciplinary Commission of the Communist Party of China and the National Monitoring Commission, Azernews reports. At the meeting, satisfaction was expressed with the high level of friendship and cooperation between the countries. Wang noted that he remembers with gratitude the construction of a new school at the expense of the state budget by the President of Azerbaijan after the terrible earthquake that occurred in the Sichuan province of China in 2008. Kamran Aliyev congratulated his colleague on the successful organization and holding of the Clean Silk Road Forum by the National Monitoring Commission of China. The Prosecutor General informed Wang Hongji about the anti-corruption reforms in our country based on the political will of the head of state, Ilham Aliyev, and pioneering international experience. The parties agreed on expanding cooperation between our countries in the fight against corruption and bribery, ensuring a transparent business climate and competitiveness in entrepreneurial activity. Our country's ambassador to China, Bunyad Huseynov, took part in the meeting. The visit of the delegation to China has ended. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 20 October 2023 14:37 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more "We want to end French colonialism, the representative of Tavini Huiraatira, a pro-independence political party in French Polynesia, Heinui Le Caill, said at the international conference Neo-colonialism: violation of human rights and injustice, in Baku, Azernews reports. The politician said that the population living in French overseas colonies is suffering: "France thinks that it is promoting stability and cooperation. But in reality, it is not like that. Nuclear bomb tests were conducted in French Polynesia. The population suffered from this, and there were protests." Heinui Le Caill drew attention to the fact that France earned $25 billion thanks to the natural resources of French Polynesia: "France does not respect the Polynesian people. French people work in most jobs. We want to be sovereign and end colonialism." Politic also adds that Polynesia continues to suffer from the consequences of French nuclear tests The party representative noted that nuclear tests conducted by France have a negative impact on the health of the population and the ecology of Polynesia: The French authorities have been poisoning us with radiation from nuclear tests for years; the policy of French hegemony will not lead to anything good, says Political. The Polynesian party also drew attention to the fact that France steals youth and recruits them into the colonial army abroad. According to Le Caill, the Polynesian people obtained economic and political sovereignty from colonial France thanks to their struggle. "They owe us, but they do not pay their debt. Our pro-independence party has been fighting against colonialism for 40 years and wants it to end. Our country was included in the list of non-autonomous countries in the 1940s. But France removed us from the list in 1947. Then we were included again, but now the French state is trying to remove us from the list again to prevent our independence." --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 20 October 2023 16:14 (UTC+04:00) F-16 aircraft of the Turkish Air Force (HHQ) arrived in our country on October 20 to participate in the Mustafa Kemal Ataturk - 2023 exercise, Azernews reports, citing Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry. It should be noted that the Azerbaijan-Turkiye joint tactical exercise will be held on October 23-25 of this year in several directions, including the city of Baku, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and our liberated territories --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit 20 October 2023 17:49 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry and the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland held 6th Staff talks. The meeting held at the Azerbaijan Defense Ministrys International Military Cooperation Department discussed security issues, the current state, and prospects for the development of bilateral military cooperation. The issues in the humanitarian sphere, as well as the contribution to the upcoming exercises and training on mine clearance, were also discussed. The sides expressed confidence that joint military cooperation will continue to be beneficial for both parties. Then the guests visited one of the military units. A briefing and video on the military units establishment history and main activities were presented to the delegation. Following the meeting with the servicemen who participated in the courses organized by the UK, the parties exchanged gifts. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 20 October 2023 17:31 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Participants of the international conference "Neo-colonialism: Violation of Human Rights and Injustice" held in Baku have made an address to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Azernews reports. The appeal was read out by Abbas Abbasov, executive director of the Baku Initiative Group Public Association. The petition states: "We, the participants of the "Neocolonialism: Violation of Human Rights and Injustice" Conference organized by the Baku Initiative Group, held in Baku on October 20, 2023, express our deep gratitude to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, and the people of Azerbaijan for their sincere and kind hospitality in the capacity of the Chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement. As participants of the conference, we highly appreciate the address of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, and thank His Excellency for his consistent support in our rightful work for justice and freedom. Also, we highly appreciate the adherence to the basic principles of the Non-Aligned Movement of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as the norms and principles of international law as well as the goals and principles established in the UN Charter. We welcome the work done by Azerbaijan during the chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement, the initiatives it has put forward and the steps it has taken in the direction of expanding the organization's activities and increasing its influence in the international world, especially its decisive position in the fight against colonialism. We like the efforts of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the direction of establishing a world order based on a fair international order. In this regard, the laying of the foundation of the "Baku Process" on decolonization in July 2023, the holding of authoritative measures within the framework of this process in a short period of time will contribute to effective work on decolonization, our voice of justice will be heard by the international community. We appreciate your contribution to bringing it to our attention. We are sure that as a result of our joint righteous struggle and the increasing demands of the world community in this regard, it will help to take the necessary steps related to decolonialism and ensure our natural rights and freedoms. We confirm the correctness and relevance of our principled positions reflected in the final documents of the events organized by the Baku Initiative Group in July this year in Baku and in September in New York. As the chairman of the Socialist and National KANAK Freedom Front (FLNKS), which is fighting for the independence of New Caledonia, in the capacity of the Chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement, support in obtaining the opinion of the International Court of Justice regarding the results of the 3rd referendum for independence in New Caledonia held on December 12, 2021, from the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan asks to be shown," the appeal reads. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 20 October 2023 19:33 (UTC+04:00) "Great powers, should pay due attention to the destructive consequences of colonial policy, like Azerbaijan, Azernews reports. This was said by Rok Khaokas, coordinator of external affairs of the Kanak Workers' Trade Union, at the international conference on "Neocolonialism: Violation of Human Rights and Injustice" held in Baku. According to him, New Caledonia has unfortunately become even more dependent on France: "A referendum was held in New Caledonia during the COVID-19 pandemic, but its results were falsified. French influence is also observed in the military and defense field. New Caledonians have the right to self-determination, and we are looking for solutions. Caledonians must be independent and free." --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 20 October 2023 20:40 (UTC+04:00) Turkiye's treasury and finance minister met with investors in France on Thursday to discuss investment opportunities in his country, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency. Mehmet Simsek met with the Movement of the Enterprises of France (MEDEF), the largest business body in the country, in an event hosted by Jean Lemierre, the head of financial services company BNP Paribas. At a later separate event hosted by Societe Generale, another financial services firm, Simsek said he told investment funds and senior bank executives managing a total of about 4 trillion ($4.23 trillion) about the Turkish economy and the country's program for the future. He also held a meeting with Fatih Birol, president of the International Energy Agency (IEA), on the outlook for the global energy market. During his visit, Simsek met with French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, to discuss how to boost bilateral investments. "Finally, last night at the France-Germany Forum, we explained the investment opportunities in Turkiye to the CEO/CFOs of around 70 companies." France is among the top 10 countries investing in Turkiye, the minister noted. He said investor meetings would continue in Gulf Arab nations next week. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 20 October 2023 21:45 (UTC+04:00) The Russian Foreign Ministry has recommended that Russian citizens refrain from travelling to several Middle Eastern countries over the escalation of hostilities in the region, Azernews reports, citing Interfax. "The situation in the Middle East is heating up. The shelling of Israeli territory, missile strikes upon the northern and other parts of the Gaza Strip, and armed incidents along the Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel are continuing. The number of fatalities and injuries is growing. Mass protests have been held around the world," the ministry said on Friday. "In this light, we strongly recommend Russian citizen refrain from travelling to the region, especially to Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, and the Palestinian territories. While travelling in said countries, exercise maximum caution and step up personal security measures, avoid areas of clashes and risk, and follow recommendations by local authorities and announcements by Russian missions abroad," it said. The ministry is continuing to work with the Egyptian and Israeli governments to ensure that Russian citizens who have appealed for assistance in their evacuation can leave the Gaza Strip, it said. "The opportunity to depart Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, and other countries using scheduled flights of airlines remains. About 6,000 people have arrived in Russia from Tel Aviv since October 9," it said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 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 26 days after the October 7th Terror attacks on Israel, where over 1400 Jewish men, women and children were gruesomely murdered, and hundreds more made hostage: Should the Biden /Harris administration finally state that the administration's primary Middle East negotiating partner, Iran, is behind the funding and strategy of the aggressors, the Hamas Terrorists, or continue to take the more moderate position of "Don't," which is clearly not working? 100% Yes, name Iran as the funding /strategy culprit, and begin to enforce the President Trump era sanctions to END Iran's ability to prosecute this war against Israel and the United States.0% No, Iran is a valuable partner in the motives of the Biden / Harris administration, and must not be named as the culprit and our enemy.0% I have larger concerns just to survive in this economy. This post appears here courtesy of the Carolina Journal . The author of this post is Kevin Garcia-Galindo Waynesville's USA Farm Labor Inc. (USAFL), one of the top three agencies assisting agriculture employers with the H-2A visa program, is suing the Department of Labor demanding they pause a rule change that could cost the company hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.The suit calls for injunctive relief from the department's rule change that would change the way that the wages are determined for both U.S. workers and foreign H-2A workers. USAFL filed a motion for an expedited hearing last Thursday on the decision of whether or not to pause the rule change.Since the H-2A program's inception in the 1980s, the goal of it has always been to allow farm owners to have enough workers to run their farms, while also not depressing the job opportunities and wages of American-born workers. This is why H-2A visas allow U.S. employers to bring foreign nationals into the United States to fill temporary agricultural jobs, as long as certain regulations are met like first seeking to employ U.S. citizens and confirming that H-2 workers will not depress wages.The Department of Labor also protects the wages of American agricultural workers through the adverse effect wage rate (AEWR), a minimum wage that employers use to pay all their workers. Historically, the labor department has set its AEWR based on the Farm Labor Survey, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture which looked exclusively at agricultural work, preventing wages from being depressed by foreign workers.The department's rule change would have abandoned this seven-decade policy of setting agricultural wages based on a survey, and instead use nonagricultural labor market survey data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for all but the six most common agricultural job positions.In the lawsuit, USAFL Inc. states that the policy changeIn their motion for an expedited hearing, USAFL also stated thatThe Department of Labor declared under the penalty of perjury that wages for first-line supervisors of agricultural workers will increase anywhere from 85.6% to 147.7%, or on average 122.6% as soon as the new policy goes into practice.USAFL argues that the policy change is unlawful under the Administrative Procedure Act by violating the department's mandate to protect the wages of similarly employed agricultural workers or, in other words, having anapproach to assigning minimum wages.The Department of Labor has responded by stating that this new methodology would only affectof job applications, but according to their admission,according to the suit.Alex Cracchiolo, head of marketing at USAFL, said in an interview with CJ that based on an internal survey of the types of task their customers hire workers to do, 64.75% of the clients who responded would have their workers assigned heavy trucking rates, 28.78% would have workers assigned first-line supervisor rates, and about 3% would have workers assigned a construction or mechanic rate. Only one person in the survey said that they would be unaffected, a far cry from the estimated 98% unaffected rate that the labor department refers to. In fact, USAFL estimates are that 99.28% of their clients would be affected.As Cracchiolo points out, the 98% figure is most likely a result of the Labor Department looking at data before their rule change and taking into account how many jobs would be recategorized.One example that the suit outlines is how a worker who drives a semi-tractor-trailer truck to and from specific locations could be categorized as a heavy truck driver instead of an agricultural equipment operator. This would be because although they may only be driving the truck for a small portion of their job, it is the highest-earning duty of their job description requiring them to be paid as if they were a full-time truck driver according to the new rule.According to Cracchiolo, over a 10-month season, farmers could be looking at an extra average operating cost increase of over $100,000.Cracchiolo said.Additionally, the suit also points out the possibility that if this rule is allowed to stand, this could motivate some farmers to turn to undocumented labor.the suit states. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has sent a letter to CMS requesting the removal of supervision requirements for certified registered nurse anesthetists in the state. Colorado joins more than 20 states that have opted to remove supervision requirements, according to an Oct. 19 press release from the governor's office. The change has already been in place in rural Colorado for more than a decade, according to the release. "By allowing CRNAs to focus on patients rather than supervisors, the state can help hospitals be more efficient and ensure the skills of nurses are available to more patients who need care and assistance," the release reads. In 2010, former Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter opted out of Medicare's CRNA supervision requirements at rural and certain critical access hospitals. Colorado state lawmakers, the Colorado Nurses Association, Healthier Colorado, Rural Hospital Center, UC Health and the Colorado Hospital Association have expressed support for Mr. Polis' decision. Several other states have submitted similar CMS requests, including Delaware in June. Brian Hyatt, MD, a psychiatrist and former head of Arkansas' state medical board, pleaded not guilty to multiple charges of Medicaid fraud. Dr. Hyatt, 51, was released on $15,000 bond, according to an Oct. 19 news release from Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin. Mr. Griffin said he plans to file formal felony charges against Dr. Hyatt. An affidavit filed with the arrest warrant alleged that Dr. Hyatt, who previously served as medical director of the behavioral health unit at Northwest Medical Center in Springdale, Ark., billed Medicaid for the most expensive billing codes while running the unit despite rarely being onsite at the facility. Dr. Hyatt was arrested on Oct. 9. More than 40 patients also accused Dr. Hyatt in civil lawsuits of imprisoning them against their will while running the behavioral health unit between February 2018 and May 2022. The hospital terminated Dr. Hyatt's contract in May 2022. He also resigned from the state medical board the same month. Hoover, Ala.-based Medplex Outpatient Surgery Center has earned approval from the state's certificate-of-need review board to relocate its existing facility and construct an ASC two miles away, according to an Oct. 20 report from the law firm Bradley Arant Boult Cummings posted on JDSupra. On June 12, three area health groups Affinity Hospital, Grandview Medical Center and Affinity Orthopaedic ASC filed a case contesting construction of a new ASC. On Sept. 21, the groups filed a motion to withdraw opposition, according to the report. The board approved the new ASC on Oct. 18. Greenwich (Conn.) Hospital is looking to raise $125 million in a public fundraising campaign for new programs, facilities and staff, Greenwich Time reported Oct. 19. Before going public, the funding drive raised $63 million. The hospital will use the capital to expand mental health, children's medicine, heart treatment, neuroscience and cancer care. Hospital officials said that the expanded services will meet growing needs, especially in mental healthcare. "We thought about all this with a lot of people at the table," Chief Development Officer Noel Appel told Time. "We thought about equipment and technology funds, for the long term. And talent leaders in these areas they're being recruited by hospitals across the country. We believe we can acquire them and retain them." A Banner Health hospital in Glendale, Ariz., locked down for a few hours the night of Oct. 19 after a nearby fatal shooting, according to local news outlets. After reports of a shooting at about 10:30 p.m., officers arrived at the scene near Banner Thunderbird Medical Center, where one man was found with multiple gunshot wounds, NBC affiliate KPNX and Fox 10 Phoenix reported. First responders pronounced him dead. Witnesses told the police they saw two people running from the scene, resulting in officers constructing a perimeter and requesting the hospital to lock down. The temporary lockdown was lifted by the morning of Oct. 20, and police have detained two men in connection with the fatal shooting. Becker's has reached out to Banner Health and will update the story if more information becomes available. Staff at Christus Spohn Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas, are airing their concerns about plans to close the hospital's emergency medicine residency program, ABC affiliate KIII reported Oct. 19. Christus Spohn announced the decision earlier this month, saying the decision to phase out the residency program was made with "thorough consideration of our community's needs and our available resources to serve those needs." Since then, residents of the Coastal Bend region have signed a petition asking the hospital to reverse its decision. The emergency medicine residency program "has not only trained exceptional physicians but also advanced healthcare within our community significantly," the petition reads. "The loss of this program would be a great blow to our city's health infrastructure." As of Oct. 20, the petition had more than 3,400 signatures. Staff at the hospital have also raised concerns before the Corpus Christi City Council and the Nueces County commissioners, according to KIII, specifically regarding wait times. "I will never forget the first day I worked there with no residents, there were 17 charts in the rack which means 17 patients that had been waiting all night to be seen, and the first five or six I saw were deathly ill," John Herrrick, DO, told county commissioners this week, according to the news station. "Low blood pressure, heart rates of 150, and there's no way they should have been waiting with those wait times. With the residents, we've solved that. The metrics decreased greatly." Hospital officials have said they are committed to maintaining the strength of emergency department staffing and other healthcare services in the region as it winds down the residency program. The emergency residency program launched in 2007 and was one of three in Texas at the time. There are "18 now," Christus Spohn Health System CEO Dom Dominguez said, according to KIII. "Those resources are needed in other areas. We'll continue to resource every other department: the ER, radiology, anesthesia, pathology, and will continue to recruit into the community the specialties I mentioned and others." Commissioners asked Mr. Dominguez Oct. 19 to form a committee with them and other members of the medical community, the news station reported. However, according to KIII, Mr. Dominguez raised concerns this week related to participating in the committee, including privacy issues and limiting who will be part of the committee. As of the end of an Oct. 19 meeting, Mr. Dominguez had not given a definite answer regarding participation. Read the full KIII reports here and here. Minneapolis-based Hennepin Healthcare is ending coverage for Wegovy and other injectable weight loss drugs from its employee health insurance plan next year, the Star Tribune reported Oct. 20. According to the report, Hennepin Healthcare's decision stemmed from a $120 million budget shortfall the system is facing in 2024 and a 20% increase in costs for its health plan administered by Medica. "We spent like $7 million on one drug, and that's a lot," David Hilden, MD, chair of the health system's medical department, told the Star Tribune. Dr. Hilden told the publication the decision also stemmed from questions around employee adherence to the drugs. He noted that employees taking weight loss drugs are at risk of putting weight back on if they end their regimen. As demand for GLP-1s such as Ozempic and Wegovy continues to surge, payers and self-insured employers have consistently ended coverage for the weight loss medications over the last year. St. Louis-based Ascension dropped coverage for weight loss drugs from its employee health plan in July, and the University of Texas System in Austin ended coverage under its employee and retiree health plans in September, citing high costs and low adherence rates. According to data shared with Becker's by weight management platform Found, 69 percent of patients in a national sample did not have insurance coverage as of June for GLP-1s for anti-obesity or diabetes, a 50 percent decline in coverage since December 2022. Other recent research on GLP-1 coverage trends has varied. A September survey of large employers found 26% plan to offer weight loss drug coverage in the next year, while an October survey of HR leaders at large companies found 43% plan to cover GLP-1s in 2024. GLP-1s come with a steep price tag, costing upward of $10,000 per year without insurance. Private insurers often do not cover GLP-1 drugs for weight loss only, though they have been more likely to cover the drugs when they are prescribed to treat diabetes. Ozempic, Trulicity, Victoza and Mounjaro are FDA approved to treat Type 2 diabetes, and Wegovy and Saxenda are approved for weight loss. The country's largest insurer, UnitedHealth Group, told investors in October it wants to lower the price of weight loss drugs, but it needs drug manufacturers such as Novo Nordisk (Ozempic, Wegovy) and Eli Lilly (Mounjaro, Trulicity) to get on board. "We're very positive about the potential for another tool in the toolbox to help folks manage their weight," CEO Andrew Witty said. "We recognize that has potential benefits, but we're struggling, and frankly our clients are struggling, with the list prices which have been demanded of these products in the U.S., which are running at about 10 times the level of prices paid in Western Europe." "We need the manufacturers to move. It's as simple as that. And we remain extremely open minded to any model that works," Mr. Witty added. A professor from University of Rochester (N.Y.) Medical Center said he's worried that sophisticated, costly AI systems would only be implemented in high-resource hospitals, enhancing results for patients who are already relatively well-off. Jonathan Herington, PhD, assistant professor of health humanities and bioethics at URMC, said AI medical devices are undergoing training using datasets that lack proper representation of Latino and Black patients, according to an Oct. 19 news release from URMC. Dr. Herington is a member of the AI Task Force of the Society for Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging, which recently published recommendations in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine on how to ethically develop and use AI in medicine. "A concern is that these high-tech, expensive systems would be deployed in really high-resource hospitals, and improve outcomes for relatively well-advantaged patients, while patients in under-resourced or rural hospitals wouldn't have access to them or would have access to systems that make their care worse because they weren't designed for them," he said. This implies that the devices may exhibit reduced accuracy when making predictions for individuals from these groups. "The systems are becoming ever more powerful all the time and the landscape is shifting really quickly," Dr. Herington said. "We have a rapidly closing window to solidify our ethical and regulatory framework around these things." Joe Wanner is returning to Bartlett Regional Hospital as CFO, effective Nov. 15. Mr. Wanner previously served the hospital as controller and CFO, beginning in 2011, according to an Oct. 19 news release. Most recently, he worked as CFO and COO at Wallowa County Health Care District in Enterprise, Ore. He succeeds Sam Muse, who tendered his resignation July 26 days before the hospital's CEO announced plans to retire. Bartlett Regional still has yet to name a permanent CEO, and recently hired its third interim leader in less than two months. Scott Lupkas has left his role as vice president of investments for Yale New Haven (Conn.) Health after 18 months in the position, a spokesperson for the health system confirmed to Becker's. Yale New Haven Health hired Mr. Lupkas in February 2022 to oversee investment strategy for its nearly $6 billion in investment assets and "further develop an in-house investment team" that supports the treasurer, CFO and system investment committee in the stewardship of assets. However, since Mr. Lupkas joined the system, three team members departed, according to the Institutional Investor. Geeta Kapadia, associate treasurer of investments, resigned from her post in June 2022. She was appointed chief investment officer at Fordham University in New York City two months later. Two other investment team members, Mallika Nair and David Pearson, joined Ms. Kapadia at Fordham about a year later, according to the Institutional Investor. Yale New Haven did not provide details on Mr. Lupkas's departure. Baptist Health Care CEO Mark Faulkner and Chief Development Officer KC Gartman got out of their offices Oct. 18 for a unique task: cooking and serving food at a local Waffle House, the Pensacola News Journal reported. The restaurant is about a three-minute drive from the system's new $650 million hospital campus in Pensacola, Fla., which opened its doors to patients Sept. 23. Mr. Faulkner and Ms. Gartman spent the day meeting community members during their shift at the Waffle House. The executives also drew many connections between their work in healthcare and the restaurant industry. "There are a lot of parallels. It is a fast-paced environment, sometimes it's complicated, sometimes it calms down. You just never know (who is) going to walk in and how we can meet that need," Mr. Faulkner told the Pensacola News Journal. Read the full article here. While unexpected hospital readmissions for pediatric patients have remained largely unchanged in Massachusetts since 2017, the length of stay from these readmissions is going up. The average length of stay for pediatric hospital readmissions is almost three days longer than in 2022, according to research published Oct.19 by the state's Center for Health Information and Analysis. The report is the state agency's first to focus on hospital readmissions a benchmark officials often look at to measure aspects of health in the adult population. Analyzing these metrics on a granular, pediatric level apart from adult benchmarks "can help identify and target interventions toward specific patient populations" and allow providers to focus treatment toward achieving "better outcomes and more efficient health care delivery for pediatric patients," the report explains. Other notable findings from the report: When the two CEOs sat down in early March with Becker's to discuss the merits of the proposed $11 billion merger between Presbyterian Healthcare Services and UnityPoint Health, there was a lot of positivity in the air. Talk of a close professional relationship between Dale Maxwell, CEO of Albuquerque, N.M.-based Presbyterian, and Clay Holderman, then CEO of West Des Moines, Iowa-based UnityPoint, anchored the planned tie-up where the differences between the health systems was discussed as a key element of the merger. Both systems stressed how they were committed to rural low-cost healthcare in their respective markets. "There were so many fundamental changes we saw in 2022, such a structural change across the entire health sector, and we knew we had to do something different and find a more sustainable path forward," Mr. Maxwell told Becker's at the time. "We can't solve these structural problems with old solutions." Seven months later, and the merger is no more. A joint press release simply acknowledged the breakdown of the merger. A separate one from UnityPoint subsequently thanked the departing Mr. Holderman for his work for the health system. Reports emerged of the breakup not being due to regulatory issues, an issue confirmed to Becker's by a Presbyterian spokesperson who said the system would not comment further on the merger breakdown. No other specifics have been officially revealed by either system as to why the planned partnership could not continue after the heady days of early March when it was announced to the world. "After significant planning and consideration, the two organizations will no longer be pursuing the transaction," according to the Oct. 11 press release. While Mr. Maxwell was also quoted as reiterating Presbyterian's commitment to finding a "sustainable path forward," comments from UnityPoint leadership were left to Board Chair Sally Gray, RN, with the concurrent announcement that Mr. Holderman would no longer be serving as CEO of the Iowa organization. "We believe this decision allows us to better meet the needs of our patients, team members, communities, and key stakeholders," she said in a statement. An almost 50-hospital system would have been created out of the merger, with Presbyterian operating nine hospitals and UnityPoint responsible for 39 at the time of the March announcement. Boston Medical Center workers held a rally Oct. 19 to call for higher pay. Officials at the 514-bed academic medical center and members of 1199SEIU, who are employed in patient access, laboratory, ambulatory, radiology and social work, among other titles and departments, have been in contract negotiations. The workers are calling for higher pay to retain and recruit workers, meet the growing needs of the community, and to safeguard care. "Workers say that low wages are a major contributor to a staffing crisis at the safety-net hospital, endangering workers' livelihoods and worsening the staffing situation," the union said in a news release shared with Becker's. "As registered nurses and resident physicians ratified new contracts at BMC, the rest of the care team feel undervalued by the hospital as they seemingly abandon their values of diversity, equity and inclusion." The rally was scheduled during the workers' lunch break with a speaker program. A spokesperson for BMC shared the following statement with Becker's: "Boston Medical Center greatly values the contribution our professional, technical and administrative colleagues make to our hospital. We are actively in conversation with SEIU and look forward to, once again, negotiating a mutually agreeable contract." Members of the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West began a five-day strike Oct. 23 at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, Calif., a union representative confirmed to Becker's. The union represents about 700 workers at the facility, including lab technicians, phlebotomists, emergency medical technicians, patient transporters, environmental services workers and other professions, according to an SEIU-UHW news release. Providence St. Joseph is part of Renton, Wash.-based Providence. Union members' labor contract expired in August. The union and hospital held their last bargaining session Oct. 13, according to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. A hospital statement shared with Becker's says that during negotiations, the hospital bargaining team "proposed what we believe is a very generous package with significant wage increases and contract enhancements that include a 24% increase in wages over a three-year contract and generous market wage adjustments for many jobs." The union contends it has spent months trying to address what it says is understaffing, worker turnover and patient care concerns at the bargaining table. The union has also accused hospital management of bargaining in bad faith. "We are struggling to give the quality care our patients deserve as we watch staff leave and positions go unfilled. We fight not just for ourselves but for our patients that depend on us," Christian Ayon, a lead surgical technician at Providence St. Joseph, said in the union release. The hospital has has pushed back against the union's accusations, noting the hospital's high national ranking for overall quality; its committment to respectful discourse with workers; and its recruitment efforts. Having a trained nurse or nurse team present during central line procedures or catheter insertion reduces the chance of infection for patients by 47%, according to new research from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control. "[A]dding trained observers to assist with the placement of central lines has tremendous potential to reduce infections and prevent harm," Patricia Jackson, RN, BSN, president of the APIC said about the research in an Oct. 20 news release. For the study, a team at UNC Health in Chapel Hill, N.C., trained a team of nurses to oversee a clinical checklist for central line infection-prevention techniques. The nurse team was tasked with providing 24/7 support for all central line procedures at the hospital. Within the program's first three years, between 2019 and 2022, "the proportion of such infections among patients whose insertions were assisted by the nursing team decreased from 19% before program implementation to 10% in year three, for an overall reduction of 47%," according to the research, which was published Oct. 20 in the American Journal of Infection Control. China highlights marine radiation monitoring in draft law revision Xinhua) 08:44, October 20, 2023 BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- China is considering strengthening its monitoring of radiation in the marine environment in the latest draft revision to the Marine Environment Protection Law, a spokesperson said Thursday. Scheduled for its third deliberation at a session of the country's top legislature in late October, the draft revision states that departments of the State Council in charge of environmental issues should set out emergency plans for radiation monitoring and organize its implementation. The draft stresses improving the capacity of monitoring and managing the marine environment by raising the technological and informatization level, and requires efforts to enhance comprehensive, coordinated and regular monitoring, according to Yang Heqing, a spokesperson for the Legislative Affairs Commission of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, at a press briefing. Pollution prevention and control in rivers flowing into the sea should also be strengthened in coordinated efforts to ensure the water quality at the mouths of the rivers meets the relevant standards, Yang said citing the draft revision. The sixth session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee will be held from Oct. 20 to 24. The NPC Standing Committee completed two readings of previous versions of the draft revision to the Marine Environment Protection Law in December last year and June. According to the proposed agenda, a draft revision to the Charity Law, a draft law on patriotic education, and a draft law on food security will also be reviewed by lawmakers during the session. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Anthony Lane in The New Yorker: Staring into the mirror, on a Tuesday morning, you decide that your self needs all the help it can get. But where to turn? You were reading James Clears Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones and doing well until you spilled half a bottle of Knob Creek over the last sixty pages. Now youll never know how it ends. You tried listening to David Gogginss Cant Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds, on Audible, in your car, but so thrilling was Gogginss prose style that you stomped on the gas and rear-ended a Tesla. Do not despair, though. Succor is at hand. Roosting on Amazons best-seller list is Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier, by Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey (Portfolio). When two writers join forces, it can be tricky to sort out who did what. Not in this case. Brooks is the principal player, and Oprah is his guest star. Only four times does she enter the action to offer A Note from Oprah, and the four notes, added together, take up less than fourteen pages in a book that is more than two hundred and forty pages long. What does she bring, then, apart from the humongous commercial clout of her blessing? Well, she reveals that The Oprah Winfrey Show was always at heart a classroom. I was curious about so many things, from the intricacies of the digestive system to the meaning of life. (Had she been French, of course, those two items would have been the same.) Near the start of the book, ever alert to her audience, she scrunches what she considers Brookss most valuable lesson into words you should tape to your refrigerator, and, for extra clarity, accelerates into italics: Your emotions are only signals. And you get to decide how youll respond to them. One more scrunch, and Oprah has the mantra she wants: Feel the feel, then take the wheel. More here. Storrs-based University of Connecticut School of Nursing has received a $40 million gift, a record for the university. The money will support a new facility, student scholarships, and nurse faculty education. The gift was made by Elisabeth DeLuca, a UConn graduate and former nurse. The state of Connecticut has allocated $30 million in bond funds to support the new nursing school facility. Construction is slated to begin in the fall of 2024 with the aim of opening in time for the 2026-27 academic year. Ms. DeLuca's gift will support the nursing school in increasing enrollment from the current number of 175 students to a minimum of 250, according to an Oct. 6 news release. Stabilizing and growing Duke University Health System's workforce, or "talentforce," is the primary objective of Craig Albanese, MD, who took over as CEO of the Durham, N.C.-based system in March. The cost of turnover and contract labor is an ongoing challenge for hospitals and health systems. Many healthcare workers, particularly nurses, continue to bear the brunt of lingering pandemic and Great Resignation effects, "and they have more options - inside and out of healthcare - than ever before," Dr. Albanese told Becker's. Healthcare's formerly-robust pipeline for new talent is shrinking, and it's no surprise that workforce challenges consistently rank as the No. 1 issue keeping healthcare executives up at night. To make matters worse, around 800,000 nurses say they intend to leave the workforce by 2027, according to a recent study published by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing and National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers. North Carolina has a projected shortfall of about 12,500 RNs - 9 percent of the current RN workforce by 2033, concentrated in Duke's Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill home market, according to Dr. Albanese, who is hellbent on bending this curve. "We are tackling this problem head-on and have responded by investing in our team members through salary increases, market adjustments, enhanced workplace safety programs, professional development and academic progression support," Dr. Albanese told Becker's. "And renewing our culture so everyone feels valued, empowered, respected, and that they belong." These actions are already yielding results; Duke has reduced its turnover in recent months and applications have increased 15 percent year over year, Dr. Albanese said. Part of this is due to local programs promoting careers in healthcare, building a pipeline of future providers, research scientists and staff. For example, Duke has partnered with Durham Technical Community College to help train its nursing students and provide a pathway to employment at Duke after graduation. Duke nurses will teach advanced classes and provide mentorship and support for students. Duke believes this will improve retention by granting nurses more opportunities to instruct at the bedside and recruit more nursing students to the health system. "As a result we have significantly reduced our reliance on contract labor and have line of sight to the high-reliability internal talentforce that we want," Dr. Albanese said. While Duke has made significant investments in salaries over the last two years, Dr. Albanese believes that engaging the health system's skilled, dedicated staff is the key to success. "I have asked everyone at Duke to add 'chief retention officer' to their list of responsibilities and I know our leaders have heard the call as our turnover has decreased by over 25 percent from the last fiscal year," Dr. Albanese said. "We must all do our part to decrease attrition and bring joy back to work by tending to the varied stresses - short-staffing, workplace violence and burnout of our talentforce." Duke Health has also pinpointed artificial intelligence and process improvement tools as key ways to support its workforce redesign, which Dr. Albanese believes will benefit the health system's staff and bottom line equally. Former Philadelphia-based Rothman Orthopaedic Institute CEO Christopher Olivia, MD, who made his exit from the practice in March, is suing the practice claiming he was wrongfully terminated after blowing the whistle on internal financial mismanagement, according to an Oct. 17 report from the Philadelphia Inquirer. Dr. Olivia originally stepped into the role in April 2021. The civil lawsuit alleges that shortly after Dr. Olivia became CEO, he uncovered "many financial improprieties" at Rothman. He alleges that Rothman's leadership deceived young physicians into investing millions into the practice to further enrich senior shareholders. Dr. Olivia alleges the practice "tersely" fired him via email and had him walked out by security hours after he requested a "truthful financial report" from the accounting department. He warned board members about the issues and said it was urgent to "cease the fraudulent practices." Dr. Olivia is seeking unspecified financial damages for breach of contract and other legal complaints, according to the report. He claims that he was hired to "take the practice to the next level" after years of ongoing financial issues. The lawsuit claims that Rothman has not invested in its Philadelphia practice for years, allowing MRI machines to routinely breakdown. Dr. Olivia claims that Rothman's new New York City practice had been losing $5 million a year, until he helped it nearly break even in 2022. Dr. Olivias lawsuit names multiple Rothman entities as defendants, including its parent company, Reconstructive Orthopaedic Associates, which runs more than 50 orthopedic practices with roughly 1,800 employees in four states, as well as prominent Rothman board members. Dr. Olivia claims the board refused to address looming financial troubles, such as unfunded obligations to retired doctors and heavily indebted real estate holdings. The board allegedly blamed "rising overhead." According to the complaint, however, Rothman's overhead is "far below" industry standard. Dr. Olivia alleges that the boards actions cost him more than $10 million. A spokesperson from Rothman told Becker's that the practice "does not comment on pending litigation." Several major payers are shaking up their partnerships and coverage options heading toward 2024, with several big moves impacting orthopedics: 1. Cigna healthcare has expanded its Medicare Advantage plans to patients in Nevada for the first time. Orthopedic patients in Nevada can now have access to Cigna Medicare Advantage for coverage. 2. Louisville, Ky.-based Baptist Health could be going out of network with UnitedHealthcare for certain Medicare enrollees after its contract with the payer expires on Jan. 1. UHC patients seeking care within the system could be impacted if the contract does expire before an agreement is reached. 3. Cleveland-based University Hospitals has launched a co-branded Medicare Advantage Plan for individuals in three Ohio counties in partnership with PrimeTime Health Plan. The plan will give members access to University Hospitals' network of facilities and providers, including more than 3,300 orthopedic, oncology and heart and vascular specialists. 4. CVS Health-owned health insurance provider Aetna announced its 2024 Medicare products, the largest Medicare offering in its history. 5. Payers could be determining the future of orthopedics, according to surgeon Michael Redler, MD. As the orthopedic industry continues to innovate, insurance companies are going to play a large role in determining what patients are eligible for what new technology options. 6. UnitedHealthcare announced plans to reduce 20 percent of its prior authorization volume. On Nov. 1, three orthopedic-related surgery codes will be eliminated from prior authorization requirements for UHC's Oxford plan holders. 7. UHC is also taking steps to remove prior authorization requirements for several spine codes and orthotics/prosthetics codes in its Medicare Advantage and Oxford plans. Thomas Heatherwick said the public need to demand better from designers and the wider building industry (Ian West/PA) The world-renowned designer behind Londons new buses and the 2012 Olympic cauldron has called for a national conversation to confront the public health and climate issues caused by boring buildings. Thomas Heatherwick, founder of the award-winning British design firm Heatherwick Studio, said the public need to demand better from designers and the wider building industry for change to happen. It comes as he launches a 10-year global campaign to tackle the growing number of buildings that lack visual complexity, which coincides with the publication of his book Humanise. Mr Heatherwick warned that the UK is demolishing more than 50,000 buildings a year while many buildings around the world are being pulled down within years of construction. Speaking to the PA news agency, the designer said: What do you think they knocked down? In general, theyre knocking down the buildings that society doesnt care about and nobody loves, instead of adjusting and repairing and extending and adapting. Theres this sense of: Theres a climate crisis. Theres an inequality crisis. Theres a health crisis. Theres a housing crisis all these crises yet this is a problem for later. But in reality, its a problem for immediately now. Mr Heatherwick said the public needs to fearlessly demand interestingness to help put these issues higher on the agenda. Who are the people who are going to say: Dont knock something down? he said. It isnt the designers. It isnt really even the planners and it isnt the property developers. Actually its us the public. The public are the defenders. The designer added that global discourse around decarbonising the built environment, which accounts for 39% of annual emissions, pales in comparison to those around the aviation sector, which accounts for around 2%. Thomas Heatherwick designed the new London buses (Dominic Lipinski/PA) Mr Heatherwick is also calling for the social impact of boring buildings to be recognised. A recent Think Insights poll of more than 2,000 British adults found that 76% of the UK public said boring buildings impact their mental health and that 67% feel powerless to get involved in how those in their area look. Meanwhile, recent studies by those such as Canadian neuroscientist Colin Ellard suggest that buildings with a lack of visual complexity can spike cortisol levels and increase loneliness. Mr Heatherwick also spoke about Grenfell Tower as an example of the poorest in society living in the worst buildings and research finding how rows of tower block buildings in Syria physically separated faiths, potentially contributing to divisions that led to conflict. On why there are so many boring buildings, he argued that designers have been stuck under the influence of the post-Second World War fascination with mind over emotion as well as the Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier, who advocated for extreme functionality. Mr Heatherwick said Grenfell Tower is an example of how the poorest in society live in the worst buildings (Victoria Jones/PA) Mr Heatherwick also believes the industry has become an echo chamber that is utterly disconnected from the opinions of the wider public and is therefore failing to engage or bring joy to the millions of people who might walk past their buildings. What is now clear is that emotion is a function, he said. When you are building the backdrop to public life, in effect your job is to some extent a public service and you need to make buildings that give something to public life. He said it is the current design mindset coupled with chasing short-term profit that has led to the current global landscape of unsustainable boring buildings. Asked about higher costs associated with good design, Mr Heatherwick said: Buildings are cheaper than theyve ever been in history. While we do have immense challenges, we need to get perspective and look at the longer term and look at real value. He added that the industry openly acknowledges that there is a green premium where making a really sustainable, environmentally high building that strives to be net zero will cost a little bit more. But boardrooms, the investors, the companies who are going to use those office buildings or create them, they know that the investors, the big pension funds and the kinds of people who fund buildings there is really now a moral compass, Mr Heatherwick said. The Olympic Flame at the Olympic Stadium in 2012, which was designed by Thomas Heatherwick (Adam Davy/PA) Were still missing an ingredient though, which is the human premium. I think theres a chance as mental health is starting to be discussed in different aspects of the world around us for it to be understood that there is not a disconnection between mental health and sustainability. They go together. Without things nourishing our mind, the environmental impact will be that we destroy things. Asked if he could face pushback against the campaign, Mr Heatherwick said he expects it from within the industry as he is taking one of the most controversial approaches. This is challenging the current way that teaching is done and practice is run, he said. A still from the Five Nights at Freddy's trailer. The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) must be more flexible a councillor has said after Belfast City Council rated a horror film 15A rather than 15. Five Nights at Freddys received a classification of 15A in Belfast, despite unionist opposition to the change during a council licensing committee meeting earlier this week. Films given a 15A rating allows children under the age of 15 to see the movie if they are accompanied by an adult. The rating is not used by the BBFC. Councils licence cinemas and other venues under the Cinemas (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 for the exhibition of films. They may classify films, taken on a case by case basis, but with clear reasons for varying from BBFC classification. Read more Kids aged 15 will be able to see Five Nights at Freddys flick with an adult after Belfast council overturns age rating Michael McAdam, managing director of the Movie House chain in Northern Ireland, made the request to the council for the 15A classification. Last year, he set a precedent after making a similar request for The Batman. After initially refusing the request for The Batman, the council permitted the use of the 15A in Northern Ireland for the first time. The decision has to be ratified at the full council, which will not convene until Wednesday, November 1, after Halloween. The decision is also subject to a call-in, where the council reviews decisions, and could be delayed further. This means there is some legal peril in presenting the film to the public before a final decision. The Belfast City Council decision means that not only Movie House cinemas are able to show the film with a 15A classification, but any cinema in the Belfast council area that notifies City Hall in advance. Michael McAdam stated in a letter to the council: The BBFC states on its website that statutory powers over film remain with the local councils, which can overrule any of the BBFCs decisions on appeal, including altering the age ratings for films shown in their area. Over recent years there has been a significant shift in the way families consume film and parents prefer to be the decision makers. Parents find it hard to understand why they have the power to choose a 12A film for their children but not a 15 rated film. This can cause frustration and embarrassment for those who arrive at the cinema and are then prevented from seeing the film. We anticipate that this will be the case for Five Nights at Freddys, which has been awarded a 15 certificate in the UK. Speaking after the council meeting, SDLP councillor and chair of the licensing committee Gary McKeown, said the reclassification by the council highlights the need for BBFC to be more flexible in its approach to classification. This is the second time that Belfast City Council has changed a 15 rating to a 15A, but we need to be clear that the council is not a film classification body that responsibility lies with BBFC, so they need to act now to remove the need for councils to have to step in by introducing a more appropriate model that gives parents their place, and also recognises the role of steaming which doesn't impose any such restrictions in reality, he said. The Five Nights at Freddys horror film based on the video game of the same name has received a 15A classification in Belfast despite opposition from unionist politicians. At the Belfast City Council Licensing Committee on Wednesday, elected representatives pushed through a decision to allow the 15A classification, which is not used by the British Board of Film Classification, which gave it a 15 rating. Councils licence cinemas and other venues under the Cinemas (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 for the exhibition of films. They may classify films, taken on a case by case basis, but with clear reasons for varying from BBFC classification. 15A, used in the Republic of Ireland, is for films deemed appropriate for viewers aged 15 and over, but also may be seen by younger children who are accompanied by an adult who has deemed the film appropriate viewing for that child. A 15 classification allows no-one under 15 to view a film. In the United States the film has a PG-13 rating. Five Nights at Freddys is based on the popular video game which uses a different rating system called PEGI. This game has a PEGI rating of age 12, and its fanbase is mainly in the early teens. It is due for release on October 27 in the UK. Michael McAdam, managing director of the Movie House chain in Northern Ireland, made the request to the council for the 15A classification. Last year he set a precedent after making a similar request for The Batman. After initially refusing the request for The Batman, the council permitted the use of the 15A in Northern Ireland for the first time. The decision has to be ratified at the full council, which will not convene until Wednesday November 1, after Halloween. The decision is also subject to a call-in, where the council reviews decisions, and could be delayed further. This means there is some legal peril in presenting the film to the public before a final decision. The Belfast Council decision means that not only can Movie House cinemas show the film with a 15A classification, but any cinema in the Belfast Council area that notifies City Hall in advance. Michael McAdam stated in a letter to the council: Many cinema owners across the UK share my view that some movies should have a new rating of 15A that would give parents a greater power to choose what films their children can see. In 2002, the BBFC adopted a new 12A certificate to replace the existing 12 Certificate. 12A simply means that those under 12 can watch the film as long as they are accompanied by an adult parent or guardian. We believe this should be the case for some 15 movies, offering a 15A option in which parents can accompany their children to the cinema, if they believe the film is appropriate. The BBFC states on its website that statutory powers over film remain with the local councils, which can overrule any of the BBFCs decisions on appeal, including altering the age ratings for films shown in their area. Over recent years there has been a significant shift in the way families consume film and parents prefer to be the decision makers. Parents find it hard to understand why they have the power to choose a 12A film for their children but not a 15 rated film. This can cause frustration and embarrassment for those who arrive at the cinema and are then prevented from seeing the film. We anticipate that this will be the case for Five Nights at Freddys, which has been awarded a 15 certificate in the UK. At the council meeting, committee Chair and SDLP Councillor Gary McKeown said: There are concerns from operators around the viability of providing the film in a way in which is appropriate for the audience, and there is the fact we have a land border with a jurisdiction that has a more broad range of ratings available. He said there was no desire in the council to sit through films and rate them". Sinn Fein Councillor Tomas O Neill proposed the council give the film a 15A rating. He said: While I appreciate there is a lot of thought that goes into the guidance, especially around this age, where children are at different stages of development, I would agree that it is parents that should make the decision, because parents know their children best. "Some kids arent ready, some kids are ready, but we cant tar them all with the same brush. The DUPs Dean McCullough unsuccessfully proposed deferring a decision on the classification until after committee members had seen the film. He told the BBFC representative Edward Lamberti, who attended the committee: It appears you are wasting your time, and it is quite likely your expertise is not going to be taken into consideration, as it appears there are other experts in the room who have not even had sight of the film. He added: I appreciate Mr McAdam is in something of a predicament, I appreciate parents do arrive with children, I appreciate there are complexities with the ages that are set in something of a grey area. It is quite clear that elements of this council ignore official bodies in this country. If you follow the logic of others, you could just reclassify anything, anytime you want. You could look to the Republic, you could look to other parts of Europe or the world, you could reclassify at will. The crux of the matter is that we have a national standard influenced by the general public, that is tested and measured against reputable bodies. He said: If something happens, and I hope it doesnt, then let the council be accountable for that. On a committee vote, the Sinn Fein proposal to reclassify it at 15A was passed with eight votes in favour, supported by Sinn Fein, the SDLP, and Alliance, to five votes in opposition, from the DUP and UUP. Peter Z. Grossman in The New Atlantis: It has now been fifty years since the oil crisis that began when Arab members of OPEC imposed an embargo on the United States. Announced on October 17, 1973, the ban on oil exports to America was an act of retaliation for our aid to Israel during the Yom Kippur War. The war itself had begun only days earlier when Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel the surprise attack on Israel by Hamas just days ago was apparently timed to coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of the 1973 war. The embargo discombobulated Americans from the president down to the person on the street. The price of oil soared, there were lines at gas stations, and Americans feared that the use of oil as a geopolitical weapon would be repeated painfully for years. But the worst effect was on U.S. energy policy. Whereas the embargo lasted about five months, the toll on U.S. policy has lasted five decades and counting. The policy disaster began on November 7, 1973, three weeks after the embargo was announced More here. Comic also believes Middle East can learn lessons from peace progression in Northern Ireland Comic Omid Djalili has joked that he will be hiding out in Northern Ireland over the coming days, after one of his gigs in England was cancelled due to threats made against him. The comedian, who has appeared in Hollywood movies including Gladiator and Mamma Mia!, had to scrap his Shropshire stand-up performance on Friday night, as a result of "increased personal threats" due to the escalating violence in Israel and Palestine. Jodie Rudd, centre manager of the Festival Drayton Centre, where he was due to perform, told the Shropshire Star: "Due to security threats made against Omid Djalili, tonight's performance at the Festival Drayton Centre has had to be cancelled. "We are working hard to contact all customers." The theatre's Facebook page initially said that Omids appearance was cancelled because of "personal threats" due to the Israel-Hamas war, according to the Shropshire Star. This was later updated, at which point the theatre only cited "circumstances beyond our control". Omid, who attended Coleraines University of Ulster during the Troubles, then posted on X, previously known as Twitter, stating: "Due to threats hiding out in the following locations on the dates below. Don't tell anyone. Derry Millenium [sic] Forum October 24 Belfast Ulster Hall 25t Dublin Vicar St. 26 Galway 27 (sold out). New York comedy festival Nov 7 @GothamComedy. After watching BBC Question Time on Thursday night, he also noted that panellists were talking about the Israel/Palestine conflict in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, the one country that sorted their troubles out and now living the miracle of peace through talks. "So how can N. Ireland encourage talks in the Middle East? Lets go, he added. The 57-year-old has posted regularly regarding the recent escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, calling for a ceasefire and to END THE GENOCIDE ON GAZA. Since the October 7 attacks on Israel by Palestinian militants Hamas, hate crimes have risen in Europe and the UK, with some Jewish schools in London temporarily closing. Islamophobia has also risen, according to Met Police figures released last week. West Mercia Police told the BBC it had not received any reports of specific concerns related to the Shropshire gig. Omid was born in Chelsea in London to Iranian parents. He recently told Sunday Life that he felt a strong bond with the people of NI after moving here to study. It really connected with me because of the Iranian Revolution and as you know, Iran and Ireland are next to each other in the global alphabet, he said. And you find that people who have had oppression and violence as we had in Iran, and as you had with the Troubles, the people are incredibly resilient and the people find humour in places where you would never think. And theres a resilience to it, which I really connected with because it was very similar to the Iranian mentality where even in 1980, the first jokes were coming out of Iran about oppression and about the fact that you couldnt be seen in a car with a woman unless it was your mother or your sister, or your wife and there were lots of amazing jokes. Its kind of dark humour. So thats how I connected with the Irish because it was very similar to my upbringing, and that sense of humour was probably the beginnings of where I became a stand-up comedian. Dame Helen Mirren has paid tribute to actress Haydn Gwynne following her death aged 66 after a recent cancer diagnosis. The star of stage and screen, best known for starring in Drop The Dead Donkey and The Windsors, was due to return to the West End but withdrew last month due to personal circumstances. An agent confirmed Gwynne had died in hospital in the early hours of Friday surrounded by her beloved sons, close family and friends, adding: We would like to thank the staff and teams at the Royal Marsden and Brompton Hospitals for their wonderful care over the last few weeks. Dame Helen Mirren paid tribute to Haydn Gwynne (Jeff Moore/PA) In a statement to the PA news agency, Dame Helen described the actress as a delight as a person and a consummate dedicated actress. The 78-year-old added: I had the huge pleasure of sharing the stage with her, in the play The Audience where, much like the original characters (Queen Elizabeth II and Margaret Thatcher) we danced a delicate dance together. She was both funny and serious at the same time, a brilliant balancing act that her whole career exemplified. We will miss her very much. Haydn Gwynne has died aged 66 (Yui Mok/PA) Gwynne had long wanted to be an actress but spent her early adult life in Rome teaching English. Although she was worried about how her parents might react, at the age of 25 she returned home to pursue her dream. She made her name in 1990 when she starred as icy Alex Pates in the comedy Drop The Dead Donkey, which earned her a Bafta TV nomination in 1992. Her role as Dr Joanna Graham in Peak Practice also propelled her to fame. The actress also had a successful career on stage and received two Olivier Award nominations for her performance in West End productions of City Of Angels and Billy Elliot The Musical. She reprised her role as Billy Elliots dance teacher Mrs Wilkinson in a Broadway version of the musical, and was Tony nominated for her performance. The actress was known for her roles in Drop the Dead Donkey and The Windsors (Ian West/PA) She secured two further Olivier nominations for her roles in The Threepenny Opera and Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown. The actress also took on the role of Thatcher for Peter Morgans play The Audience. Later in her career, Gwynne featured in a number of other royal series including playing Queen Consort Camilla in royal satire sitcom The Windsors from 2016 and later portraying former royal aide Lady Susan Hussey, who resigned from the royal household following a racism row, in the fifth series of The Crown. She had been due to appear in Cameron Mackintoshs latest musical production, titled Stephen Sondheims Old Friends, at the Gielgud Theatre when the show opened in September but she had to withdraw beforehand due to sudden personal circumstances. At the time, Mackintosh recalled that she had become an integral part of the very close-knit company after giving an unforgettable performance of the song Ladies Who Lunch during an Old Friends gala premiere in May 2022, adding: Haydn will be very much missed. One of the dresses from Wear Once Loved. A Co Down company is offering customers the chance to wear their dream designer dress for a fraction of the price. Wear Once Loved is a retailer in Newry that rents out designer dresses from fashion brands such as Rebecca Vallance and Nadine Merabi, for as little as 50. The stores owner, Trisha Heaney, said renting a dress is the perfect solution for shopaholics who cant afford to buy all the designer dresses they may want. Social media has ruined women because we feel like if we wear a dress once and they post it online then we cant wear it again, she said. Ms Heaney said the business grew from her own fear of re-wearing clothes. Im an avid wedding-goer so I would buy a dress, wear it once and then it would hang up in the wardrobe, she explained So I set up a Facebook page and a website back in 2017 and I was just selling my own clothes. I pushed it but I didnt push it, I kind of let it go to the back burner but it was always in the back of my mind that I always wanted to do something to do with second-hand fashion. One of the dresses from Wear Once Loved. Initially, renting clothes wasnt something that interested Ms Heaney until her mum and sisters started doing it, so that got me thinking about it. In January this year, an opportunity arose for Ms Heaney to expand the business and open a store. The unit went up for sale and it was an opportunity I couldnt miss, she said. It was an ideal location it was just off the motorway, it wasnt in the city centre, so it just happened really quickly, almost overnight. I viewed here on the last week of January and I had the keys on February 1. Wear Once Loved officially opened on International Womens day this year and has already become a staple for many of Northern Irelands influencers. The dress in the window, [Newry TikTok star] Emma Kearney wore it and people will come in and say they want to try on the dress Emma Kearney was wearing, so it just shows you the power influencers have marketing-wise, Ms Heaney said. Wear Once Loved now has clients from across the UK and Ireland thanks to its popularity amongst social media influencers. Like this week, we have two orders out to London, one to Glasgow and then two going down south, explained Ms Heaney. People do travel [to the store], especially on a Saturday or a Monday. You can come in here and you will hear an accent from way up north or way down south. The other day we had someone come up from Wexford to visit us, and we were like, You actually drove to Newry? and she was like, Yeah, its a day out. A dress that customers can rent from Wear Once Loved. In recent years, as fears around the environmental impact of fast fashion continue to mount, the idea of renting clothes is becoming more popular. A lot more people are considering it than before, said Ms Heaney. It means you can get a good quality dress and it isnt going to waste in your wardrobe. She added that she is happy to be able to offer people in Northern Ireland a more sustainable shopping option. We actually had our launch night in Belfast because there is nothing like this available in Belfast, so wanted to get the message out, she said. Aside from the positive environmental impact, Ms Heaney also feels the cost of living crisis is encouraging more people to rent over buying. Cost definitely comes into play. I have two weddings next weekend and a man just has to get out of bed and go to the shower, then maybe change his tie. We have to get our makeup done, our hair done, our nails. It costs about 45 to get your makeup done now and maybe 35 to get your hair done, so before you have even put a dress on you have spent 100. The Wear Once Loved store. Wear Once Loved rents the designer dresses from 45 to 135 and customers can hold the dresses for four to 10 days. It gives women the chance to look and feel amazing with that high end designer without having to spend 700 or 800, said Ms Heaney. The only unfortunate thing is that the designers dont do larger sizes, which is frustrating because we can only rent out the sizes the designers have. She hopes that renting designer dresses is something that will continue to grow in popularity across Northern Ireland. We never expected it to be as successful as it has. We were nominated for start-up of the year in Local Women. I dont know who nominated us for that but its all great, its all going well so hopefully it keeps going that way. The judge said the case was a tragedy for the defendant as well as the wider family and added that the court will extend humanity in a case of this nature Emma-Clare Louise Dunnetts voice shook as she entered a guilty plea to causing the death of Beryl Carson by driving carelessly on the Portaferry Road in Kircubbin A woman has admitted causing the death of her elderly east Belfast mother by careless driving. Standing in the dock of Downpatrick Crown Court today, Emma-Clare Louise Dunnetts voice shook as she entered a guilty plea to causing the death of Beryl Carson by driving carelessly on the Portaferry Road in Kircubbin on August 27, 2020. The 49-year-old, whose address was listed as Wisborough Road in south Croydon, also admitted causing grievous bodily to her son in the same tragic accident. None of the facts of the case were opened in court but it was reported at the time how 87-year-old Mrs Carson, who was from the Inverary area of east Belfast, was taken to hospital after the crash but died as a result of her injuries. Inspector Andy McLean said at the time: It was reported that a black Citroen C3 and a silver Lexus were involved in the collision. Beryl, who was the front seat passenger of the Citroen was taken to hospital but sadly died as a result of her injuries. The female driver and three children inside the Citroen were taken to hospital for treatment to injuries that are not believed to be life threatening. The female driver of the Lexus was also taken to hospital suffering minor injuries following the incident." Following Dunnetts admissions today, Judge Geoffrey Miller KC said: Obviously this is a very tragic case at every level a tragedy for the deceased and the family of Mrs Carson, but also a tragedy for the defendant. Adjourning the case for victim impact statements and a probation pre-sentence report, the judge told Dunnett it would be in her own interests to co-operate with probation when they compile a report. Dunnett was freed on bail until December 7, and although Judge Miller postponed the inevitable driving disqualification, he told the mother-of-three that while the court will obviously consider all of its sentencing options the court will extend humanity in a case of this nature. The number of days children are missing in school has risen. STOCK IMAGE The number of children absent from school has soared over the last two years, with education officials describing the rise as very concerning. Figures released by the Department of Education show that around a third of all pupils are now absent from class for 10% of the school year missing around 19 days. Around 44,000 pupils missed 10% of term time in 2017/18 but by 2021/22 it had reached 98,000 pupils up 123%. The number of pupils absent with no reason given has also risen, as has the number of pupils taken out of school during term time for family holidays up 27% in five years in primary schools. Claire McClelland, the departments director of raising aspiration, supporting learning and empowering improvement, said attitudes to regular school attendance had changed since the pandemic. Read more Our students are being held back by soaring absentee levels and not just those missing class Regular pupil attendance at school is an ongoing challenge which has been significantly impacted by Covid-19, and it is becoming increasingly concerning, she said. Attendance at school and achievement are clearly linked. And while we do acknowledge that some pupils with unique challenges are finding attending school difficult, despite the range of support available through schools, the Education Authority and other parent organisations, there has been a significant change in attitude towards education. The problem isnt confined to Northern Ireland. Schools across the UK and in the US are all experiencing a drop in attendance figures. It is an international issue. If a pupil gets 90% in an exam, thats looked on as a great achievement, but a 90% attendance rate means so much vital time in the classroom, mixing socially with friends and being a part of the school community, is being missed. There are only 190 days in the school year, she said. The figures also show a dramatic fall in attendance by pupils eligible for free school meals, exacerbating the problem in socially deprived areas. The more pupils eligible for free school meals in an educational setting, the lower the attendance rates, said Ms McClelland. There are a whole range of societal issues at play, and its a very complex problem. The impact of the pandemic continues to be such that we are seeing unprecedented numbers of children falling into what is classified as chronic attendance, (more than 10% of days missed) and severe chronic absence (more than 20%). Another factor is emotionally-based school avoidance, which is linked to mental health and wellbeing which has led to a rise in the number of pupils experiencing trauma, anxiety, depression and bullying. Six schools in Northern Ireland use social workers to support pupils, with post primary schools providing counselling services. The implications of poor attendance on educational outcomes are clear. Analysis show that 88% of pupils with attendance of 95% or more achieve the key benchmark of five GCSEs including English and Maths. Only 48% of pupils with 90% attendance rate (19 days absent) achieve five GCSEs. That falls to 34% of pupils with an 85% attendance rate (29 days missed) and further to 26% of pupils with an 80% attendance rate (38 days absent). The number of holidays not agreed with the school at primary level has risen 27% since 2017//18, with a 100% increase in no reason provided for absence. The department plans to update its Miss School Miss Out Strategy, and will be consulting on the document in the coming months. We continue to remind parents that their continued support for their children is necessary to ensure their children attend school every day where possible, Ms McClelland added. Its important that the message is sent that their children need to attend school when possible. And if their child is not attending school on any day, they should inform the school of the reason. Schools are responsible for the care of their pupils and it becomes a major issue if a school does not know where a child is. Friends of the Earth campaigners have staged a protest outside the headquarters of Stormonts environment department, declaring it a crime scene in response to the crisis at Lough Neagh. They believe the Department for Agriculture, the Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) have systematically failed to protect wildlife and local communities. The lough, from which 40% of Northern Irelands drinking water is abstracted, has been in the headlines over recent months as a result of concerns surrounding blue-green algae which continues to plague the water. This algae, also known as cyanobacteria, is linked to a nutrient overload and has been sighted on the surface of the water. Pollution from farming and NI Water releasing untreated sewage through overflow pipes are said to be major contributing factors, along with increased temperatures and sunlight. Today, environmentalists taped DAERA HQ off with crime scene tape as people wore hazard suits and held placards aloft. Environmentalists outside DAERA HQ. One read: From midges to eels, we need our lough to heal. While on another sign it said: Lough Neagh the peoples lough. Environmentalists said the purpose was to highlight the failures of the NI Environment Agency (NIEA) and DAERA in relation to Lough Neagh, and to environmental protection in general. Other campaign groups who feel they have been let down by regulators were also in attendance. James Orr from Friends of the Earth NI said: Lough Neagh is dying and today Friends of the Earth declared the offices of DAERA a crime scene. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency which is part of DAERA has systematically failed to regulate pollution and protect wildlife and local communities. Friends of the Earth say that DAERA has failed to comply with the Water Framework Directive, Habitats Directive, Wildlife and Natural Environment Act and many other environmental laws. Lough Neagh is Irelands largest fresh water lake. Farmers in Northern Ireland are receiving hundreds of millions of pounds in subsidies every year from Stormont despite failing to meet environmental standards. The NIEAs ability to take enforcement action against farms found guilty of polluting water bodies has also been blunted at a time when incidents are on the rise. The farming industry is in receipt of payouts to comply with good farm management practices namely a range of animal health, food safety and environmental legislative requirements. A breach of these requirements is supposed to lead to a complete or partial withholding of subsidies, according to DAERA. Information previously obtained by the Belfast Telegraph under the Freedom of Information Act shows pollution of NI water bodies is occurring at an alarming rate. From 2017 to 2021, there were 9,176 incidents of pollution reported in Northern Ireland by all industries and individuals. In response, DAERA has said the level of fine levied in the courts is a matter for the judiciary and, in respect of water pollution incidents, the magistrates and judges apply fines using set NI-specific sentencing guidelines. Meanwhile, NI Water has been fined just 170k after releasing an average of 70 million tonnes of sewage into local rivers and lakes over the past 10 years. Environmental damage is expected to continue as NI Water said it is likely to take 12 to 18 years to modernise wastewater infrastructure. However, NI Water has insisted that its intensive treatment processes mean there is no health risk associated with drinking water sourced from Lough Neagh or elsewhere. DAERA and NIEA said they are fully committed to protecting our environment and working to find solutions to the complex and challenging issues. NIEA continues to deliver its monitoring and inspection regimes and will not hesitate to take action wherever there have been breaches of legislation and the source identified, a DAERA spokesperson said. The Department recognises the seriousness of the situation and the concerns raised by many stakeholders. This is a complex, multi-factorial issue that will take years, if not decades, to solve. DAERA has tasked a team across marine and fisheries, agricultural policy, water policy, regulation, natural environment, skills and education along with representatives from the Department for Infrastructure to develop recommendations to put Northern Ireland on a clear pathway to addressing the water quality problems in Lough Neagh. The team will review the impact of current policies and interventions and explore what we can do better in the short, medium and long term. This needs to be informed by science and evidence, including lessons from those other parts of the world which are also dealing with this same problem, and working with partners to deliver better outcomes. Councillors agree to illuminate building in white only as part of call for peace in Middle East Belfast City Hall will be lit up in white as part of a call for a ceasefire in Gaza, after a DUP proposal to illuminate the building in the Israeli colours failed. DUP councillor Dean McCullough proposed lighting City Hall in blue and white to show solidarity with Israel, but his motion did not attract sufficient votes to be carried. A counter-proposal by Sinn Feins Matt Garrett, calling for a ceasefire and the lighting of the building in white, was carried. Councillor Garretts motion passed with 14 votes from Sinn Fein, Alliance and the SDLP. The DUP objected with five votes. DUP councillor Sarah Bunting spoke on behalf of Mr McCullough, who did not appear at a debate on the matter. She told the chamber the request was submitted the day after Hamass attack. The councillor said: This will show a stand against a proscribed terrorist organisation that indiscriminately tortured and murdered men, women and children, that attacked and raped women, that kidnapped men, women, children and elderly, including Holocaust survivors. There are plenty of previous examples of this council lighting up in solidarity with countries under terrorist attack. In 2015 we lit up in the colours of the French flag in the wake of attacks in Paris and Nice, and in 2016 we lit up in black, yellow and red after the Brussels terror attacks. Read more Residents in Belfast sick of contacting agencies over missed waste collections In 2017 we lit up in red, white and blue after the terrorist attack in London, and again in 2017 with the Union flag flying after the Manchester attack. Last year we lit up in the colours of the Ukrainian flag after the attack from Russia. These have previously been approved through emails, and through party group leaders meetings. This was taken to party group leaders last week, where it was refused, but it was agreed there and then when [Alliance councillor Michael] Long [previously] proposed lighting it up white. We didnt object to that, but we would like this request to be heard, and we would like clarity as to why this request was sent to committee, when other requests have been decided [elsewhere]. Sinn Feins Ciaran Beattie said: What happened on October 7 [the Hamas attacks] was a war crime. It was condemned widely across the world, and rightly so. What has happened since then has been multiple war crimes the cutting off of water, food, electricity, the starving of over two million people and the bombing of schools, hospitals, medical facilities, with over 1,000 children dead. The rationale for this council agreeing to light City Hall in white is to show our solidarity with all the people who have died and to call for peace. The killing of innocent people is wrong, no matter who does it, no matter where they do it, and it needs to be condemned. But we need peace in the Middle East [and] we need dialogue. Read more Translink urged to set out Christmas late night bus plans for Belfast Alliance councillor Sam Nelson reminded the chamber the idea to light City Hall white was initially proposed by Mr Long. No details were given during the meeting as to when the building would be illuminated. Israel has said it does not plan to take long-term control over Gaza after an expected ground offensive to root out the Hamas militants that rule the territory. The military continued to punish the coastal enclave with airstrikes yesterday as authorities inched closer to bringing aid to desperate families and hospitals. Israel bombed areas in southern Gaza where Palestinians had been told to seek safety as it sought to destroy Hamas in retaliation for attacks that killed more than 1,000 people two weeks ago. Fighting between Israel and militants in Lebanon also continued yesterday, prompting evacuations of border towns and fears of a wider conflict. King Charles has made a joke at his own expense, after mocking the fountain pen blunder he made just days into his reign while in Northern Ireland last September. During a speech on Wednesday, the monarch praised the positive contribution immigrants have made to British humour, adding: "The British sense of humour is world-renowned. It is not what we do. It is who we are. Our ability to laugh at ourselves is one of our great national characteristics." "Just as well, you may say, given some of the vicissitudes I have faced with frustratingly failing fountain pens this past year! Shortly after arriving to Hillsborough Castle last year, NIs only royal residence, King Charles was given the pen to sign the estates visitors book, only for it to leak much to the King's annoyance. Cameras at the castle documenting Charles first visit to Northern Ireland as king picked up his irk, capturing him turning to his wife Camilla to say: Oh God, I hate this (pen). The new queen consort quickly pointed out the pens ink had leaked over the book, saying: Oh look, its going everywhere. Wiping his fingers, King Charles continued to rant, adding: I can't bear this bloody thing... every stinking time. Earlier that week, the new king had also made headlines after instructing an aide at his first Privy Council meeting in London to remove an ink pot off the table where he was signing documents. A member of staff was on-hand to quickly remove the offending decorative pot from the Kings writing space, but not before a video of the incident was captured showing King Charles grimacing at the writing tools. It has been reported that prior to becoming king, Charles was known for carrying his own fountain pen to events in order to sign the customary visitors books of locations on royal visits as the Prince of Wales. On a recent visit to Germany, the monarch used his own pen in a bid to avoid another irritable, public outburst. Charles's landmark speech to the City of London this week examined the country he has served as head of state for more than a year, highlighting "what it is that makes this nation of ours so special". A Northern Ireland-born political journalist has topped a league table for the most declared outside interests. TalkRadios Peter Cardwell made the declarations in the House of Commons register of journalists interests. On top of his radio career, Mr Cardwell listed the following sources of income: BBC, ITV, Times Radio, RTE and The Times newspaper for commentary work; Sovereign Strategy, a lobby group that lists Mr Cardwell as a senior counsel; Atticus Partners, a PR and lobby group that again lists him as a senior counsel; Jack Clyde Consulting Limited, for consultancy work; Home REIT, a property company where Mr Cardwell is a non-executive director. The firms latest accounts show it paid him 32,077 in 2021; He is also represented by three speakers agencies, which he did not disclose in his register of interests this month. Mr Cardwell declined to comment when contacted. Read more Police Ombudsman and Department of Justice refuse to say if Ombudsman has offered to resign as PSNI calls in outside force Of 437 political journalists holding Westminster passes, 76 declared payments from outside sources. The register is used to monitor any potential conflicts of interests among people with access to Parliament. Any payment of more than 860 must be disclosed. While the register does not disclose the total amount the individuals received, it does show the different sources. This month, 76 journalists listed a total of 199 payments, the majority being for guest commentary on TV and radio, or royalties from books. The news was first reported by the Press Gazette. Mr Cardwell, who has occasionally contributed to this newspaper, started out as a journalist before moving into the world of politics, where he served as a special adviser, including to two Northern Ireland secretaries of state. He later returned to journalism and is currently a presenter and political editor at TalkRadio. The Media Reform Coalition was alarmed by the figures. Read more PSNI interim Chief Constable Jon Boutcher pictured in uniform for first time Campaign coordinator Tom Chivers told the Press Gazette: The number of interests [journalists] take, from various public affairs agencies, from other media organisations, partly speaks to this kind of revolving-door phenomenon between politics, public affairs and journalism. A joint investigation by Sky News and Tortoise Media earlier this year shed light on MPs outside interests. Over the course of this Parliament, from the 2019 general election to January, elected representatives were paid 17.1m on top of their regular salaries. Around two-thirds of this went to just 20 MPs. Northern Irelands 18 MPs brought in more than 209,000 in outside earnings, with over three-quarters of this going to Sinn Feins John Finucane. Mr Finucane registered a sum of 161,259, putting him 20th on the table of biggest earners. The vast majority of this income came from his work at Finucane Toner Solicitors, where he is a director. He also received a gift worth 1,310 from the US fundraising group Friends of Sinn Fein. Sinn Fein said at the time: John Finucane has declared these earnings over three years as he commits to a limited amount of hours per month as a lead partner in his law firm. Northern Irelands Police Ombudsman Marie Anderson is facing calls to step aside during an investigation into an incident at her home. DUP MP Gavin Robinson and UUP leader Doug Beattie made the calls after it emerged that West Midlands Police have been asked to examine the allegations at the property in Co Down last month. A spokesman for the Police Service of Northern Ireland said officers attended the address at around 6.30pm on Saturday September 23 following a report of a domestic incident. A man was arrested as part of those inquiries and later released pending a report to prosecutors. The PSNI said West Midlands Police would investigate to assess whether there were any other alleged offences related to the incident. Police received a report of a domestic incident and attended an address in the Holywood area on Saturday September 23 at approximately 6.30pm, said the PSNI. Police were unable to gain access to the address and following contact, a man aged 63 was arrested for common assault and interviewed at Musgrave station on Sunday September 24. He was released and a file will be forwarded to the Public Prosecution Service in due course. They added: As this investigation is now live we will not be providing any further comment. A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said: At the request of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, we have agreed to lead an independent investigation following an alleged incident in Co Down in September 2023. As this investigation is now live, we will not be providing any further comment. The Police Ombudsmans office on Thursday said: As the PSNI has asked West Midlands Police to lead an investigation into any matters arising from an alleged incident in Co Down in September 2023, and given that the investigation is now live, it would be inappropriate for the Police Ombudsmans office to comment. Mr Robinson said Ms Anderson should stand aside until the investigation has been concluded. Whatever the outcome of the investigation under way, officers have contacted me questioning how she can continue in post in the interim, he said. A number of high-profile events have recently impacted on morale within the PSNI. At a time when they crave stability, they do not believe the current situation is tenable. They rightly engage with and are subject to the office of the ombudsman, but they too must have faith in that office. I respect the integrity of the West Midlands Police investigation and welcome their involvement. I trust there will be a swift investigation with full co-operation from all involved. Whilst this investigation continues there should be interim arrangements with Marie Anderson stepping aside until it has been concluded. Mr Beattie said: In light of the investigation announced, I feel it would be appropriate that Ms Anderson step down from her role with immediate effect. This will allow for the office of the ombudsman to continue their existing work without distraction or challenge during the necessary process of the investigation. Interim Chief Constable John Boutcher has offered to meet both officers to apologise Mr Justice Scoffield quashed decisions to suspend one probationary constable and re-position his colleague following an outcry at how police handled the service. Interim Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has offered to personally apologise to two officers who were unlawfully disciplined for arrests made at a Troubles atrocity commemoration. Mr Boutcher also confirmed he will not appeal against a critical judgment surrounding the officers treatment. A High Court judge found that actions taken against the two junior officers were unlawful. The incident happened on the Ormeau Road in February 2021 during a service marking the anniversary of the 1992 Sean Graham bookmakers attack in which five people were murdered by loyalists. Mr Boutcher said: I can confirm that, following consideration of the Judicial Review findings, the Police Service of Northern Ireland accept the judgment and do not intend to lodge an appeal. I have communicated my position to the Chair of the Police Federation who will inform both officers. I acknowledge that our judgment was wrong and unlawful and I have offered to meet both officers to apologise. Two PSNI officers unlawfully disciplined for arrest at Sean Graham massacre memorial, judge rules I realise this judgment has had a significant impact both within and outside the organisation. The Service Executive Team and I realise that our focus now must be on rebuilding confidence and trust with our officers and staff and across all communities. In August a High Court judge ruled the two officers were unlawfully disciplined to allay any threat of Sinn Fein abandoning its support for policing in Northern Ireland. Mr Justice Scoffield quashed decisions to suspend one probationary constable and re-position his colleague following an outcry at how police handled the anniversary service. During the event in 2021, attended by up to 30 people, Mark Sykes, who had been shot and injured in the massacre, was detained on suspicion of disorderly behaviour and put in handcuffs. He was later released without charge. The scene took place amid restrictions on public gatherings due to Covid-19 regulations. Then Chief Constable Simon Byrne later apologised and confirmed the disciplinary steps taken against the two recently-recruited officers. Although the suspension and re-positioning decisions were lifted later that year following a review, both constables remained aggrieved at their treatment. Backed by the Police Federation (PFNI), the pair applied for a judicial review into the lawfulness of the disciplinary moves. Federation chair Liam Kelly said Mr Boutchers decision not to appeal the High Court decision was a positive and most welcome development. It is hugely heartening for our officers that within 24 hours of formally taking up his position, the interim Chief Constable has ruled out legally challenging this judgment, he said. That judgment found that the former Chief Constable and the Deputy Chief Constable had acted unlawfully in disciplining two probationary officers who were involved in the Ormeau Road commemoration during lockdown in February 2021. I have personally spoken to both officers and this decision has come as a great relief both to them and indeed their colleagues in the wider service. They were found to have been scapegoated for real or perceived political reasons and were treated disgracefully. Thankfully, Mr Boutcher has taken this very significant step to right the wrong. I had an initial discussion with Mr Boutcher and he told me that he wants to personally meet the two officers and apologise to them for what happened and the manner in which they were treated. Mr Kelly said he believed the interim Chief Constable is listening and acting decisively on the concerns officers have raised. "In my view he couldnt have made a better start to his role at the helm of this service which is in dire need of strong leadership and direction, he said. Mr Boutcher still faces an uphill task of tackling plummeting officer morale, a dire budgetary situation, a freeze on recruitment and declining officer numbers. "This positive and most welcome decision is a major statement of intent to our men and women and he is to be applauded for his swift action. A second person has died during Storm Babet as parts of Scotland were battered by high winds and unprecedented flooding. Police Scotland said a falling tree hit a van near Forfar in Angus on Thursday evening, killing the 56-year-old driver. A 57-year-old woman also died on Thursday after being swept into a river in the county. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: (At) around 5.05pm on Thursday October 19 2023, police received a report of a one-vehicle crash in which a tree struck a van on the B9127 at Whigstreet near Forfar. Emergency services attended, however, the 56-year-old driver was pronounced dead at the scene. Next of kin have been informed and a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal. The Met Office has issued a new red warning for rain, meaning there is a risk to life, covering parts of eastern Scotland all day on Saturday. (PA Graphics) Rescue operations are under way in the Scottish town of Brechin, Angus, after flood defences were breached in the early hours of Friday morning, leading to hundreds of homes being surrounded by water. The local council has appealed for donations of warm clothes after 40 people turned up to rest centres while soaked. There is also an ongoing helicopter search in Aberdeenshire following a report of a man trapped in a vehicle in floodwater. Scotlands First Minister Humza Yousaf warned that the further red warning issued by the Met Office would intensify the disruption caused by torrential rain from Storm Babet. Members of the emergency services help local residents to safety in Brechin (Andrew Milligan/PA) Mr Yousaf posted on X, formerly Twitter, regarding the further red weather warning issued by @metoffice for Saturday. He told people this would intensify the disruption already being experienced. Mr Yousaf said the Scottish Government would continue to liaise with local organisations and the emergency services. Peoples safety is our number one priority, he stressed. Further south, the weather was starting to have an impact in the north-east of England. A lighthouse at the mouth of the River Tyne had also been damaged in Storm Babet, port officials said. With the ongoing dangerous sea conditions, it was not safe to assess the damage to the lighthouse at South Shields, the Port of Tyne authority said. No traffic was going in and out of the river with six metres of sea swell, it said. The public have been urged to keep away from the area, particularly the piers, by the port authority, due to the unsafe weather conditions. Angus Council confirmed some homes in Monifieth, near Dundee, will be evacuated. (PA Graphics) Councillor Lloyd Melville told the PA news agency that he could not confirm numbers affected but urged residents to leave if they are asked to. Mr Melville said: It will be hard for some people to leave their homes but they absolutely need to do so if asked. He also thanked council staff: They have been absolutely knocking their pan in (to keep people safe). The lighthouse at South Shields was damaged in the storm (Owen Humphreys/PA) They are the people who need the thanks. They are literally saving peoples lives. On Friday, an amber weather warning for rain is in place for some parts of northern England including Yorkshire and Manchester as well as some of the Midlands, including Nottingham. A yellow weather warning for much of the east coast of the UK was also put in place for wind and rain. Emergency workers wade through flood water in Brechin as Storm Babet batters the country (Andrew Milligan/PA) A further yellow weather warning is in place across much of eastern Scotland, northern England and the Midlands for wind and rain. On Saturday, another red weather warning is in place for parts of Angus and Aberdeenshire and an amber warning for rain in the Scottish borders. South East Antrim UDA warns drugs feud gang: Show up on our patch and youll be shot The renegade drugs gang, headed by Adrian Price, has been scattered to the four corners of Northern Ireland Adrian Price came off worst in an altercation with one of his closest aides. Photo: Pacemaker Press Richard Sullivan Fri 20 Oct 2023 at 11:30 South East Antrim UDA has warned the dregs of a Real UFF feud gang they will be shot if they try to settle on their patch. Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire are the seventh and eighth by-elections the Conservatives have lost so far this Parliament (Joe Giddens/PA) The Conservatives have now lost eight by-elections since the 2019 general election, as well as making one gain and holding three seats. Hartlepool (May 2021): GAINThe Conservatives won Hartlepool from Labour on a swing of 16.0 percentage points, in the first by-election of the current Parliament. Labour had held the seat since it was created in 1974. Prime Minister Boris Johnson hailed the result as support for his Governments levelling up agenda. Chesham & Amersham (June 2021): LOSSThe Liberal Democrats won the Buckinghamshire constituency of Chesham & Amersham from the Tories on a huge swing of 25.2 points, in what would become the first in a run of Lib Dem by-election gains at the expense of the Government. Party leader Sir Ed Davey celebrated by using a yellow hammer to demolish a blue wall of model bricks. Ed Davey celebrates the Lib Dems victory in the Chesham & Amersham by-election with a stunt at Chesham Youth Centre, Buckinghamshire (Steve Parsons/PA) Old Bexley & Sidcup (December 2021): HOLDThe Conservatives held this London seat in a by-election triggered by the death of MP James Brokenshire. North Shropshire (December 2021): LOSSThe Lib Dems next victory came just six months after Chesham & Amersham, taking North Shropshire from the Conservatives on an even bigger swing of 34.1 points. This was the second largest by-election swing against any government since the Second World War, at contests where a seat had changed hands. Newly-elected MP Helen Morgan celebrated by using a long yellow pin to burst a large blue balloon. Helen Morgan bursting Boris bubble held by colleague Tim Farron (Jacob King/PA) Southend West (February 2022): HOLDThe Tories held this Essex seat in a by-election triggered by the murder of MP David Amess. Wakefield (June 2022): LOSSThe Conservatives suffered two by-election losses on the same day in June 2022: the first time since 1991 that a government had endured two concurrent defeats. Labour took Wakefield in West Yorkshire on a swing of 12.7 percentage points. Tiverton & Honiton (June 2022): LOSSThe other defeat came in the Devon seat of Tiverton & Honiton. The Liberal Democrats won the constituency with another huge swing, this time of 29.9 points. (PA Graphics) Selby & Ainsty (July 2023): LOSSThe period between the Tiverton & Honiton and Selby & Ainsty by-elections saw the Conservatives go through a hat-trick of leaders: Boris Johnson, Liz Truss (for 49 days) and Rishi Sunak. The Selby & Ainsty by-election in North Yorkshire was one of three to take place on the same day in July 2023 and saw Labour win the seat from the Tories on a swing of 23.7 points at the time, Labours second-largest swing at a by-election since 1945. Somerton & Frome (July 2023): LOSSThe Liberal Democrats clocked up another win in the Somerset seat of Somerton & Frome, taking it from the Conservatives on a swing of 29.0 points. Sir Ed Davey celebrated by firing a cloud of yellow confetti from a blue circus cannon. Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Dyke with Sir Ed Davey in Frome, Somerset, after winning the by-election (Ben Birchall/PA) Uxbridge & South Ruislip (July 2023): HOLDThe third by-election to take place on the same day in July this year saw the Conservatives hold the outer London seat of Uxbridge & South Ruislip, in a contest triggered by the resignation of its MP and former prime minister Boris Johnson. Labour needed a swing of 7.6 points to take the seat far smaller than the swing the party achieved in Selby & Ainsty but managed only 6.7 points. Mid Bedfordshire (October 2023): LOSSIn the first of another double-bill of defeats, the Conservatives lost Mid Bedfordshire on a swing to Labour of 20.5 percentage points. (PA Graphics) It was the largest numerical Conservative majority (24,664) to be overturned by Labour at a by-election since 1945. Tamworth (October 2023): LOSSLabours victory at Tamworth saw a swing of 23.9 points: just enough to beat the swing at Selby & Ainsty and become the new second-largest swing by Labour at a by-election since 1945. Des OConnor with, from left, his daughters Samantha and Karen, wife Jodie, son Adam and daughter Kristina, receiving his CBE at Buckingham Palace in 2008 (PA) A former detective who sent inappropriate messages to the daughter of late entertainer Des OConnor while investigating a crime report frequently made inappropriate comments when in command of a police unit, a High Court judge has been told. Mr Justice Swift heard allegations about the behaviour of James Mason, a former Metropolitan Police detective chief inspector, during the latest stage of litigation centred on Kristina OConnor. Ms OConnor, who is in her 30s, was sent numerous inappropriate messages including an email saying she was amazingly hot by Mr Mason after he responded to her report of an attempted robbery in 2011, the judge heard. Mr Mason resigned from the Metropolitan Police late in 2022, the judge was told (PA) She complained about Mr Mason, who was a detective sergeant at the time. A police misconduct panel had made a gross misconduct finding and he was given a final written warning. Mr Mason resigned from the Metropolitan Police late in 2022, the judge was told. Lawyers representing Ms OConnor argue the force failed to properly investigate the complaint. They say a police misconduct panel failed to address predatory and abusive actions. Lawyers representing the misconduct panel and the Metropolitan Police dispute claims about how they handled the process. Mr Justice Swift heard evidence at a trial earlier this year but has yet to deliver a ruling. Lawyers representing Ms OConnor told the judge on Friday, at a High Court hearing in London, that allegations about Mr Masons behaviour at work had been made by a senior female police officer and emerged since the trial. The officer worked in a Metropolitan unit headed by Mr Mason over a decade ago and said he made inappropriate comments frequently, lawyers told the judge. Barrister Fiona Murphy KC, who represented Ms OConnor, said the officer said Mr Mason was overly interested in what deemed to be attractive female Pcs and had once been seen scanning the office life a wolf. Ms OConnor wants Mr Justice Swift to consider the officers allegations when he delivers a ruling on her complaints about the complaint investigation process. Lawyers representing the force say the decisions the judge has to make following the trial are not affected by the officers allegations. Mr Mason said he found Ms OConnor attractive and his behaviour towards her was a one-off, the judge heard. Ms Murphy suggested the officers allegations indicate otherwise. The rescued horses, left to right, Weirdo, Charm and Calypso, before the flooding (Leah Adams/PA Wire) Three horses had to be rescued from a flooded field in Aberdeenshire after being stranded overnight. Leah Adams three horses: Weirdo, Charm and Calypso; are kept in a field in Marykirk, and she was unable to rescue them on Thursday night as Storm Babet hit the UK. Despite fences being destroyed and trees being brought down by the storm, her parents were able to reach the horses and get them to safety using a truck. Ms Adams, 35, said: Last night was scary, I went to check them at 8.20pm and by the time I left them at 9pm the road was impassable. The horses just had to try stay safe and warm. The roads and fields around Marykirk, Aberdeenshire, were flooded (Leah Adams/PA Wire) My field is flooded, fences broken, electric fencing ruined, and old trees felled. I was unable to get to them this morning as every road out of Montrose to Marykirk was closed. My mum and dad have a truck and managed to get to them through the floods. Ms Adams, an office manager, from Montrose, Angus, added: Im just glad they are not injured. After a storm in January 2022, I found poor Weirdo with the side of her chest sliced wide open from flying debris. With more red warning alerts I fear for more damage and rising costs. Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip (Francisco Seco/AP) Israel has said it does not plan to take long-term control over the Gaza Strip after an expected ground offensive to root out Hamas militants that rule the territory. The Israeli military punished Gaza with air strikes, and authorities inched closer to bringing aid to desperate families and hospitals, as people across Muslim countries protested in solidarity with Palestinians. Israel bombed areas in southern Gaza where Palestinians had been told to seek safety while it aims to destroy Hamas in retaliation for its brutal rampage in Israel two weeks ago. (PA Graphics) Fighting between Israel and militants in neighbouring Lebanon also raged, prompting evacuations of Israeli border towns as fears of a widening conflict grew. Speaking to legislators about Israels long-term plans for the Gaza Strip, defence minister Yoav Gallant laid out a three-stage plan that seemed to suggest Israel did not intend to reoccupy the territory it left in 2005. First, Israeli air strikes and manoeuvring a presumed reference to a ground attack would aim to root out Hamas. Next will come a lower intensity fight to defeat remaining pockets of resistance, and finally, a new security regime will be created in Gaza along with the removal of Israels responsibility for life in the territory. Mr Gallant did not say who Israel expected to run the territory if Hamas is toppled. Israeli soldiers listen to Israels defence minister Yoav Gallant during his visit to a staging area near the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel (Tsafrir Abayov/AP) Israel occupied Gaza from 1967 until 2005, when it pulled up settlements and withdrew soldiers. Two years later, Hamas took over. Some Israelis blame the withdrawal from Gaza for the sporadic violence that has persisted since then. As the humanitarian crisis worsened for Gazas 2.3 million civilians, workers along its border with Egypt began work to repair the border crossing in a first step to getting aid to besieged Palestinians, who were running out of fuel, food, water and medicine. More than a million people have been displaced in Gaza. Many heeded Israels orders to evacuate the northern part of the sealed-off enclave on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Though Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called areas in southern Gaza safe zones earlier this week, Israeli military spokesman Nir Dinar said on Friday: There are no safe zones. UN officials said that with the bombings across all of Gaza, some Palestinians who had fled the north appeared to be going back. The strikes, coupled with extremely difficult living conditions in the south, appear to have pushed some to return to the north, despite the continuing heavy bombing there, said Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the UN human rights office. Burned cars next to homes that came under attack during a massive Hamas invasion into Kibbutz Nir Oz, Israel (AP) Gazas overwhelmed hospitals were rationing their dwindling resources as authorities worked out logistics for a desperately needed aid delivery from Egypt. Generators in Shifa Hospital, Gazas largest, were operating at the lowest setting to conserve fuel while providing power to vital departments such as intensive care, hospital director Mohammed Abu Selmia said. Others worked in darkness. The lack of medical supplies and water are making it difficult to treat the mass of victims from the Israeli strikes, he said. The deal to get aid into Gaza through the territorys only entry point not controlled by Israel remained fragile. Israel said the supplies could only go to civilians and that it would thwart any diversions by Hamas. It was unclear if fuel for the hospital generators would be allowed to enter. Work continued on Friday to repair the road at the Rafah border between Egypt and Gaza that had been damaged in air strikes. A US official said aid had been delayed because of ongoing road repairs, and that it was expected to move across the border on Saturday. More than 200 trucks and 3,000 tons of aid were positioned near the crossing. UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres visited the crossing on Friday and appealed for the quick movement of aid into the Gaza Strip, calling it the difference between life and death. Israel has evacuated its own communities near Gaza and Lebanon, putting residents in hotels elsewhere in the country. The Defence Ministry announced evacuation plans on Friday for Kiryat Shmona, a town of more than 20,000 residents near the Lebanese border. Three Israelis including a five-year-old girl were wounded in a rocket attack there on Thursday, according to Israeli health services. Aid trucks waiting on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing (Maxar Technologies/AP) Lebanons Hezbollah militant group, which has a massive arsenal of long-range rockets, has traded fire with Israel along the border on a near-daily basis and hinted it might join the war if Israel seeks to annihilate Hamas. Iran supports both armed groups. More than 4,200 people have been displaced from villages in south Lebanon by clashes on the border with Israel, and local officials said on Friday that they are ill-prepared for the much larger exodus that would ensue if the conflict escalates to an all-out war. The violence in Gaza has also sparked protests across the region, including in Arab countries allied with the US. Palestinians in Gaza reported heavy air strikes in Khan Younis, a town in the territorys south, and ambulances carrying men, women and children streamed into the local Nasser Hospital. A group of Palestinian supporters march during a rally to urge Israel to suspend attacks on the Gaza Strip in Seoul, South Korea (Ahn Young-joon/AP) An Israeli air strike hit a Greek Orthodox church housing displaced Palestinians in Gaza City on Thursday. The military said it had targeted a Hamas command centre nearby, causing damage to a church wall. Gazas Hamas-run Health Ministry said 16 Palestinian Christians were killed. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchy of Jerusalem condemned the attack and said it would not abandon its religious and humanitarian duty to provide assistance. Palestinian militants have launched unrelenting rocket attacks into Israel more than 6,900 since October 7, according to Israel and tensions have flared in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. On Friday, two Palestinian teenagers were killed in clashes in the West Bank, where more than 80 Palestinians have been killed over the past two weeks. Palestinians stand around the bodies of the Awaja family killed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip in Rafah (Hatem Ali/AP) Thirteen Palestinians, including five minors, were killed on Thursday during a battle with Israeli troops in which Israel called in an air strike, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. An Israeli border police officer was killed in the fighting, Israel said. The Gaza Health Ministry said 4,137 people have been killed in the territory since the war began. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly civilians who died during Hamass deadly incursion. Israel says 203 people were taken hostage into the Gaza Strip. On Friday, Hamas militants freed two Americans, Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie, who also hold Israeli citizenship. They had been held hostage in the Gaza Strip after being taken from the kibbutz of Nahal Oz during a trip to southern Israel from their home in suburban Chicago. US police are searching for a man suspected of fatally shooting a judge who had awarded custody of the suspects children to his wife on the day of the killing. The judge was shot in his driveway on Thursday evening while his wife and son were home, just hours after he ruled against the suspect in a divorce case, authorities said. Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert said authorities are actively working to apprehend 49-year-old Pedro Argote for the targeted attack of Maryland Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson. Judge Wilkinson, 52, was found with gunshot wounds at around 8pm on Thursday outside his home in Hagerstown, authorities said. He was taken to Meritus Medical Centre where he died. Andrew Wilkinson (left) is sworn in as a circuit court judge in January 2020 (Julie E Greene/Herald-Mail/AP) Mr Albert said at a news conference on Friday that Argote is considered armed and dangerous. The sheriff declined to identify that type of weapon used in the killing but said Argote legally owned a handgun. Judge Wilkinson had presided over a divorce proceeding involving Argote earlier on Thursday, but Argote was not present for the hearing, Mr Albert said. The judge gave custody of Argotes children to his wife at the hearing, and that was the motive for the killing, the sheriff added. The judge issued a judgment on Thursday officially granting the divorce and awarding sole custody of the couples four children aged 12, 11, five and three to their mother, court records show. He ordered Argote to have no contact with the children and pay 1,120 dollars (923) a month in child support. Court records show a messy legal battle that began when Argote filed for divorce last year. In his initial court filing, Argote accused his wife of neglecting her home-schooling responsibilities and failing to properly supervise the children. She filed a counter-complaint, accusing Argote of cruel treatment and saying she could not support herself financially. Days later, his wife requested a protective order, saying he was harassing her by text, controlling her every move, threatening to abuse their daughter and making false accusations against her. Police at the scene of the shooting in Hagerstown (WJLA/AP) I dont get out of the house without his knowledge, she wrote in court documents. I know he has his weapon on him at all times. A judge granted a temporary protective order which included a directive for Argote to surrender his firearms but it was dismissed weeks later at the wifes request, court records show. Argote repeatedly proposed that they continue living in the same house while they sorted out their digital advertising business and became more financially stable. Judge Wilkinson wrote in a March opinion that Argotes proposal was frankly, a non-starter. The testimony leaves this court with the uneasy sense that Father engages in absolute control over Mother, their finances, and their lives, the judge wrote. This is not in the best interests of the children. Argote was ordered to move out of his familys home the same day. He did not have a criminal record in Washington County, but officers had responded to the residence for verbal domestic assaults two times within the last few years, Mr Albert said. Ashley Wilburn, the lawyer representing the children, said: Judge Wilkinson was an amazing man, father, husband and judge and I am blessed to have known and worked with him. He is a hero. Hagerstown, a city of nearly 44,000, is about 75 miles north west of Baltimore in the panhandle of Maryland, near the borders of West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Mr Albert said he was not aware of any previous threats against Wilkinson. Travis King was expelled by Pyongyang after crossing the border with South Korea (AP) A US army private who fled to North Korea before being returned home last month has been detained by the American military and is facing charges including desertion and possessing sexual images of a child, sources said. The eight counts against Pte Travis King are detailed in a charging document seen by The Associated Press. The charges have not yet been publicly announced. Kings mother, Claudine Gates, said in a statement that she loved her son unconditionally and was extremely concerned about his mental health. As his mother, I ask that my son be afforded the presumption of innocence, she said. Desertion alone can result in imprisonment for as much as three years. King is also accused of kicking and punching other officers last year, unlawfully possessing alcohol, making a false statement and possessing a video of a child engaged in sexual activity. That allegation dates to July 10, the same day he was released from a South Korean prison where he had served nearly two months on assault charges. One week later, King, 23, ran across the heavily fortified border from South Korea and became the first American to be detained in North Korea in nearly five years. He was set to be sent to Fort Bliss, Texas, where he could have faced potential additional disciplinary actions and discharge. Kings mother Claudine Gates has expressed concern for her sons mental health (AP) Officials said King was taken to the airport and escorted as far as customs. But instead of getting on the plane, he left and later joined a civilian tour of the Korean border village of Panmunjom. He ran across the border, which is lined with guards and often crowded with tourists, in the afternoon. After about two months, Pyongyang abruptly announced that it would expel him. He was flown on September 28 to a US air force base in Texas. His release from North Korea was aided by Swedish officials who took King to the Chinese border, where he was met by US Ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns, the Swedish ambassador to China and at least one US defence department official. He was then flown to an American military base in South Korea before heading to the US. Once back in the US, King was taken to Brooke Army Medical Centre at Fort Sam Houston outside San Antonio. He went through what the military describes as a reintegration process that included medical exams, psychological assessments and debriefings. And he was also allowed to meet with family. Because he had willingly run into enemy hands, he was kept in military custody throughout that process. At the time, officials said they did not know exactly why North Korea decided to let King go, but suspected Pyongyang determined that as a low-ranking serviceman he had no real value in terms of either leverage or information. King joined the Army in January 2021, and served as a cavalry scout. The charging document does not provide significant detail on any of the allegations, though it does accuse King of knowingly possessing a video of a child engaging in sexual conduct last July 10 and says that he solicited a user of Snapchat, a social media platform, to produce images of under-age sexual activity. The White House has released a sweeping set of proposals to bolster Israel and Ukraine in the midst of two wars as well as invest more in domestic defence manufacturing, humanitarian assistance and managing the influx of migrants at the Mexico border. The total cost of the supplemental funding request was pegged at just over 105 billion dollars (86 billion). President Joe Biden hopes Congress will move urgently on the legislation, and made the case for deepening US support for its allies during a rare Oval Office address on Thursday night. The Democratic presidents national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told reporters on Friday that Russias invasion of Ukraine and Hamass attack on Israel represent a global inflection point. 61.4 billion dollars (50.6 billion) for Ukraine 14.3 billion dollars (11.8 billion) for Israel This budget request is critical to advancing Americas national security and ensuring the safety of the American people, Mr Sullivan said. Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said he would advance Mr Bidens proposals as soon as possible, adding: This legislation is too important to wait for the House to settle their chaos. Senate Democrats will move expeditiously on this request, and we hope that our Republican colleagues across the aisle will join us to pass this much-needed funding. However, next steps are in doubt while the House of Representatives remains in chaos with the Republican majority unable to choose a new speaker. Representative Jim Jordan, a close ally of Donald Trump, is still pushing to run the chamber, an effort that has led to frayed nerves and bruised relations on Capitol Hill. Even if Republicans can sort out their leadership drama, Mr Biden will face resistance to his plans. He is hopeful that combining several different issues, from border security to countering Chinas influence, will foster a political coalition that can move the legislation forward. Chuck Schumer (Nathan Howard/AP) But there is equal potential for the entire package to get bogged down in policy debates, especially when it comes to immigration, a historically contentious topic. Some Republicans in the House of Representatives and the Senate are wary of linking funding for Ukraine and Israel. Representative Roger Williams said the presidents proposal was discussed extensively in a closed-door meeting of the Texas Republican delegation on Friday. You cant blend the two together, he said, describing Israel as our friend forever. Mr Williams said Mr Bidens proposal is a little disturbing because he knows he cant get it done without Israel. Shalanda Young, director of the Office of Management and Budget, suggested it would be hypocritical for Republicans to oppose Mr Bidens proposal after complaining about lax border management. Shalanda Young (Susan Walsh/AP) We will not be lectured by those who refuse to act, she said. As weve said repeatedly, Congress needs to take action to provide sufficient resources for the border. Although there was a lull in migrant arrivals to the US after the start of new asylum restrictions in May, illegal crossings topped a daily average of more than 8,000 last month. The White House wants roughly 14 billion dollars (11 billion) for measures including boosting the number of border agents, installing new inspection machines to detect fentanyl and increasing staffing to process asylum cases. The biggest line item in the supplemental funding request is 61.4 billion dollars (50.6 billion) to support Ukraine. Some of that money will go to replenishing Pentagon stockpiles of weapons that have already been provided. The world is closely watching what Congress does next, Mr Sullivan said. Israel would receive 14.3 billion dollars (11.8 billion) in assistance under the proposal. The majority would help with air and missile defence systems. UPDATED at 4:28 p.m. EDT on 2023-10-21 Southeast Asian and Persian Gulf leaders condemned all attacks on civilians as they called for Israel and Hamas to cease hostilities in and around the besieged Palestinian enclave of Gaza, during a summit in Saudi Arabia on Friday. The condemnation, conveyed through a joint statement by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Gulf Cooperation Council, appeared to be directed at all parties in the two-week-old war namely both Israeli forces and Hamas militants. At their meeting in Riyadh, it said the ASEAN and GCC leaders agreed to condemn all attacks against civilians and call for a durable ceasefire and for all concerned parties to ensure the most effective and efficient access for humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. That sliver of land between the coasts of southern Israel and northeastern Egypt is home to more than 2 million Palestinians who have had their water and electricity cut off in recent days by Israel, whose military has surrounded the enclave and is poised to invade Gaza in its quest to wipe out Hamas, reports said. The leaders also call on all parties to the conflict to protect civilians, refrain from targeting them and to abide by international humanitarian law, read the joint statement, which was released after the first ASEAN-GCC summit. It also called for the immediate and unconditional release of civilian hostages and detainees, especially women, children, the sick and the elderly. The leaders of Southeast Asias two largest Muslim-majority countries, Indonesia and Malaysia, have yet to condemn Hamas outright for a wave of rocket strikes and ground raids into southern Israel that left hundreds of Israeli civilians dead on Oct. 7, according to reports. Both countries do not recognize the State of Israel and are known to maintain high-level contacts with Hamas, a group branded as a terrorist organization by the United States and other Western countries. Hamas and other Palestinian militants are believed to be holding scores of Israelis and other nationals, including 19 Thais, hostage. While addressing the summit, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim exclusively condemned Israel for its disproportionate and indiscriminate bombing in Gaza and the blocking of basic and essential needs. The international community must no longer turn a blind eye to the atrocities. We must put an end to the disproportionate treatment and flagrant hypocrisy, he said. The root causes of the conflict must be addressed. Without exception, human rights must be protected, and international law must be upheld. Anwar had earlier publicly pushed back against Western pressure to condemn Hamas, with which Malaysia has longstanding ties. An aerial view shows destroyed buildings in al-Zahra city south of Gaza City following Israeli bombardment overnight amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, Oct. 20, 2023. [Belal Alsabbagh/AFP] The conflict between Israel and Hamas, a Palestinian nationalist and fundamentalist Muslim group that controls Gaza, has escalated dramatically since Oct. 7, when Hamas launched an unprecedented raid into southern Israel from multiple directions, killing more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians, as well as taking more than 100 hostages, reports said. Israel retaliated with a massive aerial bombardment of Gaza City, leveling entire blocks in preparation for the ground strike and cutting off its access to electricity, water, food, and fuel. The Gaza Health Ministry said Friday that the death toll in Gaza from Israeli airstrikes had risen to 4,137 people, with more than 13,300 others wounded and 1,000 missing, Reuters reported. A Greek Orthodox church in Gaza that sheltered hundreds of Palestinian refugees was hit during an Israeli air raid overnight, leaving 16 people dead, the news agency added, citing Palestinian health officials. The Associated Press reported on Friday that a long convoy of trucks ladened with a cargo of aid for Gaza remained stranded at the Rafah Crossing along the Egyptian border, after the U.S. government announced that Cairo had agreed on Wednesday to a plan to deliver humanitarian supplies to the enclave. The United States, Israels staunchest ally, however, was the only permanent member of the United Nations Security Council to veto a resolution on Wednesday calling for a humanitarian ceasefire. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the American ambassador to the U.N., said the U.S. vetoed the resolution because it did not mention Israels right of self-defense. Israel has the inherent right of self-defense as reflected in Article 51 of the U.N. Charter, she said, adding that the council had reaffirmed this right in previous resolutions about terrorist attacks. This resolution should have done the same. The Israeli response to the Hamas attacks on Oct. 7, meanwhile, has drawn severe criticism from humanitarian groups and other countries. I do not believe that killing even more civilians is in the interest of the future security and peace here in the region, Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of UNRWA, a U.N. relief agency operating in Palestinian territories, told BBC News, referring to Israels retaliation. We are in a situation where more than a million people have been asked to be displaced. So this amounts to collective punishment, and collective punishment is a violation of international humanitarian law. Debut summit Fridays summit in Saudi Arabia brought together leaders from the Persian Gulf block of six oil and gas-rich nations, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, and ASEAN countries. The inaugural summit of the two regional blocs endorsed the efforts by Saudi Arabia, the European Union, and the Arab League to revive the Middle East peace process in cooperation with Egypt and Jordan, and reaffirmed support for a two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders. Members of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) and the Filipino-Jewish community gather to remember more than 1,400 people who were killed in attacks by the Hamas militant group in southern Israel, during an event at the Philippine-Israel Friendship Marker in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Oct. 19, 2023. [Gerard Carreon/BenarNews] Saudi Arabia, which was in talks with Israel for normalization of bilateral ties until the war broke out, and which traditionally backs the Hamas-rival Palestinian Authority based in the West Bank, also struck a tone similar to that in the joint statement. We affirm our categorical rejection of targeting civilians in any way and under any pretext, and the importance of adhering to international humanitarian law and the necessity of stopping military operations against civilians and infrastructure that affect their daily lives, Saudi Prime Minister and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said as he opened the summit in the Saudi capital, according to Agence France-Presse. In a bilateral meeting with Mohammed bin Salman on Thursday, Indonesian President Joko Jokowi Widodo also expressed concern over the worsening situation in Gaza and condemned Israels attacks on civilians and infrastructure. This is the time for the world to stand together to stop the escalation, prioritize humanitarian issues, and resolve the root cause according to the agreed international parameters, he said, according to a statement released by his office. During his speech at Fridays summit, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasized collaboration between ASEAN and the Gulf states to promote peace, security, and stability in both regions based on the rules-based international order. Marcos expressed his deep concern about the rising number of casualties in the Israel-Palestinian conflict. We hope that all parties will exert their utmost efforts to de-escalate the situation, stop all violence, and engage in dialogue and diplomacy, he said. BenarNews staff in Kuala Lumpur and Manila contributed to the report. An earlier version gave wrong information about the size of Gaza's population. Flags fly in front of the tents of Camp Justice in Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba, April 18, 2019. A Malaysian man incarcerated at Guantanamo Bay since 2006 is prepared to plead guilty to terrorism charges, a court document shows, a move that would enable him to return home and could be discussed during hearings next week. The document named Malaysian national Mohammed Farik bin Amin and ordered him to be present for a court hearing on Monday at the U.S. Navy base in Cuba. He and another Malaysian, Mohammed Nazir bin Lep, who is also imprisoned at Guantanamo, have been charged by the U.S. military in connection with deadly bombings in Bali and Jakarta in 2002 and 2003. The commission will call for the accused to enter pleas consistent with the terms of the offer for pretrial agreement. The Commission will conduct an inquiry into the providence of the Accuseds plea, the document stated. The Commission will also inquire into the terms and conditions of the PTA [pretrial agreement] to ensure there is an agreement between the convening authority and the accused and a shared understanding of the meaning and effect of the terms of the PTA, it said. A subsequent document in this chain added the second defendant. It has since been amended to include Mohammed Nazir bin Lep, Ron Flesvig, spokesman for the Office of Military Commissions, told BenarNews. Flesvig said he is not sure if any plea deal would occur on Monday. The court has allowed bin Leps lead attorney, Brian Bouffard, and two others assigned to the case to be absent from the two-day session on Monday and Tuesday because they will be engaged in mission-related work in Southeast Asia. Details of that work were not released. Bin Amin and bin Lep have been charged with conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, intentionally causing serious bodily injury, terrorism, attacking civilians, attacking civilian objects, and destruction of property linked to deadly bombings in Bali and Jakarta. Those include twin bombings that killed 202 people in Bali in October 2002 Indonesias worst-ever terrorist attack. Police officers inspect the ruins of a nightclub destroyed by a bomb blast in Kuta, Bali, Indonesia, Oct. 13, 2002. [AP file photo] Bin Amins lead attorney, Christine Funk, did not immediately respond to a BenarNews request for comment. Bouffard, meanwhile, told The New York Times, Mr. bin Lep will fully cooperate with the U.S. government. Cases separated The two Malaysians, along with Indonesian Encep Nurjaman (also known as Hambali) have been locked up at the U.S. military prison in Guantanamo for 17 years. Following their arrests in Thailand in 2003, the three were sent to secret CIA prisons overseas so-called black sites where they were tortured, according to a 2014 U.S. Senate report. Hambali is scheduled to appear alone at a two-day hearing beginning Wednesday. The three were to be tried together, but the court separated bin Leps and bin Amins cases from Hambalis. In September, BenarNews reported that Malaysian officials had met with counterparts in the U.S. to allow the pair to return home. Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said he discussed the matter with Tina Kaidanow, the U.S. special representative for Guantanamo affairs while in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. He also said he had traveled to Cuba to meet with the two defendants but did not say when that meeting occurred. [T]heir story really touched me. Its a downward spiral about life, about repentance, about the chance to be a better person, Saifuddin said in a Facebook post he quickly removed. With Gods grace, we will try to expedite the process for them to return to Malaysia. At that time, attorney Jim Hodes told BenarNews that his client, Hambali, was pleased that bin Lep and bin Amin likely would be able to return to Malaysia. Hes hoping that will be the end result for him as well, Hodes said. Filipino troopers stand during rites at the 126th founding anniversary of the Philippine Army at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig, Philippines, March 22, 2023. Wary of potential security breaches, the Philippines defense chief this week ordered all military and department personnel to stop using artificial intelligence apps to create personal portraits online, according to a memo seen by BenarNews. The memorandum, dated Oct. 14 and signed by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., cited concerns about identity theft through artificial intelligence (AI). His office confirmed the documents authenticity. In it, Teodoro wrote that all DND [Department of National Defense] and AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines staff] personnel are directed to refrain from using AI photo generator applications and practice vigilance in sharing information online. A trending online digital application that uses AI and requires users to submit at least 10 photos of themselves to generate an enhanced portrait poses significant privacy and security risks, Teodoro said. The application compiles a users data by creating a digital persona that mimics how a real person speaks and moves, he said. This seemingly harmless and amusing Al-powered application can be maliciously used to create fake profiles that can lead to identity theft, social engineering, phishing attacks, and other malicious activities, Teodoro said. Cybersecurity expert Ashley Acedillo, a former soldier and member of the Philippine House of Representatives, said the measure was necessary and timely. If somebody can create a fake video of a person having access to sensitive material, confidential matters, thats a major concern, he told BenarNews. People who sign up to such AI applications and accept their terms are basically allowing the apps unlimited surveillance and monitoring of users, he said. Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilbert Teodoro (left) talks to Col. Edward Evans, chief of the Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group, at Lal-lo Airport in Cagayan province, northern Philippines, Aug. 3, 2023. [Jam Sta. Rosa/Poool Photo via AP] Philippine authorities had earlier reported cases of cyberattacks against government institutions during the past month, including the lower house of Congress this week. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and the Philippine Statistics Authority have also been targeted recently. On Thursday, Philippine military chief Gen. Romeo Brawner told foreign correspondents that the armed forces were looking to set up a new cybersecurity command and hire more IT experts to combat the threat of cyberattacks. He said the military had come under attack almost daily from both local and foreign hackers, although he declined to specify from which country. He said that hackers had managed to leak old files and non-sensitive documents from the militarys servers two years ago. Globally, malicious cyberattacks by state and non-state actors are a growing problem, forcing countries and corporations to invest in defensive capabilities, according to the Philippine Institute of Cybersecurity Professionals. Several AI image-generating apps, such as 90s yearbook trend that uses the EPIK app to generate retro photos, have been flooding social media platforms recently, most of them on Facebook. In March this year, an AI-focused magazine based in the United States, Analytics Insight, highlighted the potential for AI image generators to be misused in the creation of deceptive content, contributing to the rapid dissemination of online disinformation. The California-based magazine said that AI image generators, like nearly all technology, can be abused by malicious actors. Malicious actors can use the data uploaded into AI image generators to create fake but realistic-looking social media profiles to scam people. Scammers can also use AI to create realistic images and solicit donations when devastating natural disasters strike, according to the article by Analytics Insight. Jeoffrey Maitem contributed to this report from Davao City, southern Philippines. Bennington, VT (05201) Today Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low 37F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low 37F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Thousands in Muslim countries around the world demonstrate over Israeli airstrikes Thousands of people in Muslim countries and beyond have held demonstrations in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, calling for an end to Israels blockade and Israeli airstrikes Natural gas is one way to power a generator, which can be used to prevent power outages once the weather in the Berkshires turns cold and the snow begins to fly. You are the owner of this article. Stay up to date on Berkshires news with Berkshires in Brief, our free daily newsletter PITTSFIELD In a recent debate focused on the city's schools, mayoral candidates Peter Marchetti and John Krol critiqued areas where they say school administrators exercise too much power to the detriment of staff retention and students' experiences in the classroom. During a question session with members of the local teachers union, the United Educators of Pittsfield, Marchetti and Krol said they want to reshape the relationship between the Pittsfield Public School Districts administration, staff and elected officials. The Thursday night event at the Pittsfield High School library covered a range of topics from the state of school buildings, how to establish equity among students of different backgrounds, bad in-class behavior, discipline and school choice. Krol, who is married to a local elementary school teacher, said he feels educators in Pittsfield are being pigeonholed into a script that doesnt allow them to express their creativity and passion for education. He said that restrictions around how teachers can and cant teach is part of whats driving city teachers to other districts where they have more instructional freedom. The root problem, Krol said, is that teachers are being told to focus on teaching math and reading in a specific way in order to raise the districts Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System test scores. He said thats the reason he supports calls to remove the MCAS tests from the states graduation requirements. I feel as though teachers are hamstrung to a large extent [by] the Pittsfield Public Schools, Krol said. Too much theyre being told to follow the script teachers didnt start in this profession to follow a script. Marchetti said hed see school administrators serve as less of a filter between city decisionmakers and those working directly in classrooms. As mayor hed look to take a stronger role on school committee and district decisions. Your next mayor gets to set policy and tone of how the administration is going to work through the school committee, Marchetti said. He said hes looking to empower the other members of the committee to take a stronger role in guiding the district forward. It needs to start with the school committee saying the buck stops here and the school committee needs to be sending directives to the [school] administration, rather than the administration sending directives to the school committee, Marchetti added. Marchetti said if hes elected mayor hell be looking to speak more often and more directly with staff in their classrooms to hear about their needs than he will with district administrators. Both mayoral candidates said theyll be looking to increase the resources available to teachers including higher pay and additional funds for classroom materials. Krol said hed do this through reevaluating the number of administrative positions in the school budget and Marchetti said hed do this by reprioritizing future school budgets to focus more resources on these areas. Israels defense minister has told ground troops to be ready to enter the Gaza Strip, though he didnt say when the invasion will start. Israeli airstrikes pounded the territory on Thursday, including parts of the south that it had declared as safe zones. The attacks heightened fears among Palestinians that nowhere was safe. Gazas overwhelmed hospitals were trying to stretch out dwindling medical supplies and fuel for generators, as authorities worked out logistics for a delivery of aid from Egypt. Doctors in darkened wards across Gaza stitched wounds by the light of mobile phones, and others used vinegar to treat infected wounds. NORTH ADAMS City swimmers can rejoice: Work on the Northern Berkshire Branch YMCAs roof above the pool it set to finally begin. Serious safety concerns regarding the state of the roof caused the popular pool to close in March until renovations which cost $319,000 could be made. A contractor should be mobilizing as we speak at the YMCA, and Im hopeful were going to get that pool open before the snow flies, North Adams Mayor Jennifer Macksey said during a meeting with The Eagles editorial board on Wednesday. On Friday, Macksey confirmed that the contractor, Triumph Roofing, was getting ready to begin work. The city, which owns the building, put out a bid for repairs over the summer. The BFYMCA looks forward to working with the City of North Adams regarding future renovations of the building and thanks its members for their patience while the pool has been closed, Jessica Rumlow, CEO and executive director of Berkshire Family YMCA, told The Eagle via email Thursday. The city will be putting $100,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding toward the project, and has gotten $100,000 from the state through state Rep. John Barrett III. The project came in at $319,000, so we have to take a little more money out of some funds, but I really think it needs to be done, Macksey said. Macksey said that having the pool closed isnt just about swimming and exercise, its about the camaraderie and the social-emotional support, and its about doing the right thing. The Y is a hub for a lot of people and a lot of programming. On Sept. 29, in an email to members, the BFYMCA wrote, WE HAVE A CONTRACTOR FOR THE POOL ROOF! We are still in the very early stages, but the Mayor tells us we can expect to see work starting within the month. Macksey described how the YMCA has had a failing roof for several years. During her tenure, it sank to the point where the insurance company was concerned, and the facilities manager at the Y was concerned. The city investigated and found that the roof had sunk 5 inches since its last inspection. Macksey said closing the pool was a difficult decision: We have a lot of people who use the YMCA pool who felt they could sign a waiver and still continue to swim. The pool closed March 9 after a routine roof inspection flagged structural concerns. The closure has not impacted other parts of the North Adams Y like its wellness center and youth programming. While the pool is closed, members can swim at the YMCA in Bennington, Vt. Public employees from SEIU Local 509 and other unions march toward the Statehouse entrance after rallying in front of the capitol on Friday, to call on lawmakers to authorize pay raises contained in their collective bargaining agreements. BillOReilly.com is not available in this country. We apologize for any inconvenience. Patients diagnosed with Acid Sphingomyelinase Deficiency (ASMD) and their caregivers have sought inclusion of this rare, genetic condition under the National Policy for Rare Diseases 2023, explaining that it will help create awareness and provide the much-needed support towards diagnosis, treatment. Also referred to as Neimann Pick Disease, ASMD is a rare progressive genetic disorder that results from a deficiency of the enzyme acid sphingomyelinase, essential for breaking down sphingomyelin - a fatty substance crucial for normal cellular function. ASMD is highly variable and the age of onset, specific symptoms and severity of the disorder can vary dramatically from one person to another, sometimes even among members of the same family. The disorder may be best thought of as a spectrum of disease. At the severe end of the spectrum is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder that presents in infancy (Niemann-Pick disease type A). At the mild end of the spectrum, affected individuals have no or only minimal neurological symptoms and survival into adulthood is common (Niemann-Pick disease type B). Intermediate forms of the disorder exist as well. ASMD is caused by mutations in the SMPD1 gene and is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. Anil Raina, General Manager, Sanofi Speciality Care (India) said, Sanofi has been at the forefront of launching therapies for rare diseases over the past 40 years, including the recent addition of Xenpozyme for the treatment of Acid Sphingomyelinase deficiency (ASMD). On the commemoration of the first ASMD Awareness Day in India, we join the global community in raising awareness about this debilitating disease." Following the success of the previous South African Health Excellence Awards, we are proud to host the third installment of these awards. Clinix Health Group, in partnership with the South African Clinician Scientist's Society will host the third South African Health Excellence Awards in recognition of the country's leading researchers, scientists, doctors and other medical professionals. The awards will take place on Saturday, 25 November 2023, at the Emperors Palace in Johannesburg. CEO of Clinix Health Group, Dr Khamane 'Kop' Matseke says that the awards will celebrate excellence in healthcare by identifying leaders in a range of categories who have contributed to research, teaching and advancement of medicine in South Africa. South Africa has always inspired the world with its medical advances, the most famous of which is the worlds first heart transplant in December 1967. In another world first, a medical team from the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre announced early in October 2018 that it had, successfully transplanted a liver from an HIV positive mother to an HIV negative baby. The Health Excellence Awards are inspired by the intellectual prowess, tenacity and endurance of South Africas human capital in the medical space - people who do excellent work for the people of the country, and the world over. To this end, the awards celebrate excellence in various categories including, Scientific excellence, Global excellence, Clinical excellence, Leadership excellence, Emerging leader, Rising star. Emerging clinician scientist, The nomination process, requires a submission of a 200 word abstract about the nominee. A CV will thereafter be requested from all individuals who are shortlisted. President of the South African Clinicians Society, Professor Salome Maswime says: We launched the South African Health Excellence Awards in 2018, because we felt that there is a need to acknowledge the talent and accomplishments of doctors and other clinicians in South Africa. We find that so many people are doing such amazing work in improving healthcare and also doing ground-breaking research. However, there arent enough platforms to celebrate the excellence that we see. This is one platform that will unite healthcare practitioners and bring them to one place where we can celebrate all the great things that have been done in the South African healthcare landscape. How to submit a nomination: The medical fraternity, business and the public at large can go to healthexcellenceawards.co.za to enter their nominations, by no later than Monday, 30 October 2023. to enter their nominations, by no later than E-mail queries to be sent to az.oc.xinilc@sdrawahtlaeh. For more information contact: Thokozile Masondo Contact no: 083 643 1653 E-mail: az.oc.xinilc@mokoht Motherland-OMNi has launched a data free Wi-Fi marketing platform which connects brands with South African audiences. This offering showcases our commitment to serve as your dedicated community and brand experience partner. With over 10 million daily impressions, this is the next frontier in bridging the digital divide between communities and brands. The OMNi-Fi network spans 7,860 hotspots, offering audiences free public Wi-Fi. The offering is strategically located throughout South Africa to give brands the best opportunity to capture the attention of millions of potential customers. OMNi-Fi brings connectivity and measurability to various brands' target audiences in transit spaces such as taxi ranks and public transport. Unpacking the quantifiable potential The numbers speak for themselves. With an impressive daily impression count of 10 million impressions, brands can confidently reach a vas yet targeted audience. The platform's average click-through rate (CTR) is a remarkable 12%, surpassing the global average of 0.46%. With 100% viewability for up to 15 seconds and 85% retention for 30 seconds, OMNi-Fi guarantees that your brand's message will resonate with the target audience. The reach of OMNi-Fi extends to over 7,860 Wi-Fi hotspots nationally, majority of our hotspots fall in the golden triangle provinces, in cities such as Johannesburg, Pretoria, Soweto, Durban, and Cape Town with a presence in 172 taxi ranks and 1,300 taxis. OMNi-Fi consistently facilitates over 741,600 daily connections. Why does this work? Firstly, OMNi-Fi connects brands with their desired audiences, wherever they are in. The platform provides access to a captive audience of 18 million daily commuters, with an average daily transit time of 68 minutes. Secondly, OMNi-Fi bridges the connectivity gap, by addressing the pressing need for dependable internet, which confronts many South African communities. This offering aligns the brand's objectives with the community's needs, fostering an authentic connection. Lastly, it offers measurability through data points such as demographics and geolocation data. OMNi-Fi can provide brands with pinpoint insights into their customers' online behaviour and feedback on preferences like never before. OMNi-Fi is a game-changer for brands seeking to maximise their reach, engagement, and influence in South Africa's digital landscape. By offering free Wi-Fi in strategically chosen locations, OMNi-Fi empowers communities, connects the unconnected and creates shared value. As a company dedicated to creating authentic and meaningful connections between businesses and communities, Motherland-OMNi understands the importance of driving shared values and fostering thriving communities. Join the OMNi-Fi revolution today and unlock the limitless potential of brand experience. Find out more about the Old Mutual case study on our website to see how OMNi-Fi delivered over 1.2 million impressions, helped them connect with over 538 365 potential customers and attained a staggering 9.49% CTR. Visit https://motherlandomni.co.za/ to learn about OMNi-fi and how your brand can Switch On in South African Communities. Provoke Media's Innovator class in EMEA includes three innovators from Africa and three innovators from the Middle East Region. Source: PROvoke Media PRovoke Media Provoke Media's Innovator class in EMEA includes three innovators from Africa and three innovators from the Middle East Region From South Africa are Dustin Chick, CEO, Razor and Pippa Misplon, managing director, Retroviral. From the Ivory Coast is Kwame Senou, executive director, of The Holding Opinion and Public. All three innovators from the Middle East are from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Huda Al Shamsi is VP of marketing, brand & communications, Abu Dhabi Airports, Kirsty O'Connor is regional director of innovation, METIA, Hill+Knowlton Strategies, and Rania Rostom is head of global marketing & communications, GE. There are 12 Brits in the EMEA list this year: unsurprisingly, the highest proportion of the class is based in the dense UK market, with other markets represented including the UAE, South Africa, Germany, France, Ivory Coast, Sweden and Italy. As in the past three years, 56% of the innovators for 2023 are women, and the list is again diverse, with 32% being people of colour, including 12% who are Black. Over half (56%) of the cohort come from an agency background, and 44% are in-house practitioners. Breaking down barriers This is the ninth year of Provoke Medias annual Innovator 25 class in EMEA. Provoke Media describes this years list as remarkable innovators who are addressing the industrys challenges with ingenuity and creativity to make meaningful (and hopefully lasting) change at a time when it's needed more than ever. The tumultuous past three-and-a-half years have forced the industry to embrace change and continue to reimagine the future of work and communications. It adds that many on the 2023 list are leading the way often vocally on breaking down barriers and moving beyond talk to action on all aspects of diversity, equity and inclusion, both within the communications world and in wider society. There is also a strong focus on ESG and sustainability, with professionals doing ground-breaking work in environmental communications and around public health, and a number who have applied innovation to business operations. The EMEA cohort also includes strategists and branding specialists, digital and influencer experts, and those with job titles which range from dedicated innovation roles to corporate communications. Dustin Chick A rare exception to our rule that individuals can only appear once in the Innovator 25, but his achievements since he last featured in 2019 in his previous role at Ogilvy are too notable to ignore. Chick, who set up Razor within M&C Saatchi South Africa in 2020, has become nothing less than a fire starter in the PR industry, not only in his native South Africa but around the world. View his full profile here. Pippa Misplon South African agency Retroviral PRovoke Medias Africa consultancy of the year for 2023 turned 13 years old this year with an impressive teenage growth spurt, largely through the impact Misplon has had as managing director. Since joining the agency in 2021 from Ogilvy, Misplon has been a whirlwind of change she has been described as operational fairy dust. View her full profile here. Kwame Senou Senou has spent his career working in agencies of all sizes across the West African countries of Ivory Coast, Benin and Togo, including OPRG and latterly as senior vice president of Opinion & Public BCW, but always with a singular focus of bridging the gap between Francophone and Anglophone Africa. Last year, he set up his agency, The Holding Opinion & Public. View his full profile here. Huda Al Shamsi A passionate Emirati, Huda Al Shamsi is admired across the UAE communications industry as a leader who is obsessed with bringing brand stories to life through strategic communications and experiences to deliver impact. As VP of corporate marketing, brand and communications at Abu Dhabi Airports since 2019, she is responsible for the overall brand management of the groups five airports. Read her full profile here. Kirsty OConnor Kirsty OConnor started building H+Ks regional Innovation + Creative Hub in Dubai in 2019 and has grown it from a team of 12 to 120 creators, designers, social media strategists, data analysts, digital media buyers and innovators across UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and India. Read her full profile here. Rania Rostom As global marketing and communications, talent development and customer education lead for GE, Rostom is responsible for the companys brand, thought leadership and reputation across international markets, including strategic positioning on sustainability, D&I and stakeholder partnerships. Read her full profile here. The rise of retail media in the advertising landscape has been quick, with its global advertising spend poised to reach $128.2bn this year. Source: Warc Warc A new forecast by Warc puts global retail media ad investment at $141.7bn for 2024 This is according to Warc Medias latest Global Ad Trends report, which has forecast that global retail media as investment will be $141,7bn for 2024, up 10.2% year-on-year. It adds that retail media is on track to overtake linear TV as the third-largest channel by spend within a few years. The Report examines the surging levels of retail media ad investment, and the potential challenges for brands, and includes industry expert commentary about the future of retail data as an enabler of effectiveness across the media landscape. Retail Media has been the advertising story of the decade so far. The unfashionable and often informal world of trade and shopper marketing has transformed into a $128.2bn digital advertising behemoth. What comes next will be less spectacular but more significant to brands, as deterministic retail media data begins to inform campaigns across the media landscape, says Alex Brownsell, head of content, Warc Media. Key findings The key findings outlined are: Amazon is set to supplant Alibaba as the worlds largest retail media owner by ad revenue this year The growth in retail media is dominated by Alibaba and Amazon. Between them, they earned an estimated $80bn in advertising revenue in 2022, equivalent to more than two-thirds (68.3%) of global retail media investment. Amazon occupies more than four-fifths (87.8%) of the market outside of China, according to Warc estimates, and is forecast to earn $45.4bn in ad revenue this year per Warc Media. Its 20.4% year-on-year ad revenue should see Amazon supplant Alibaba as the worlds largest retail media owner this year. Amazon is forecast to further accelerate in 2024, as its ad revenue reaches $52.7bn (+16%), compared to $42.1bn (+1.4%) for Alibaba. Retail media, primarily used to drive sales, is moving beyond paid search formats For most marketers, retail media remains a lower funnel channel to drive sales conversion: less than a third (30%) of respondents surveyed by Warc and the Digital Shelf Institute use retail media to build brand awareness. However, retail media networks are increasingly moving beyond search formats into video, audio and out-of-home through cross-channel partnerships, such as Walmarts tie-up with Roku and Krogers deal with Pandora. This enables the unlocking of upper-funnel ad dollars with brand-building formats to improve campaign effectiveness. Mudit Jaju, global commerce media lead, Publicis Groupe, says, To me, the most exciting thing happening is that retail media is no longer limited as this end-of-the-funnel conversion channel. Retail media is becoming a 'pay to play' environment for advertisers Analysis of Warc Digital Commerces latest dComm Index data for Amazon found that Starbucks has emerged into a leadership position in the coffee and tea category following it having the highest (9.1%) paid share of voice (SOV) in the category. Warc's analysis observed that a one percentage point change in Starbucks paid SOV is typically followed by a c.$1.6m increase or decline in Amazon sales. Read a complimentary sample report of WARC Global Ad Trends: Retail medias path to consolidation here. A Warc podcast discussing the findings outlined in the report is available to tune into from today. South Africa's over 55s age group is gaining significance and evolving, which is especially valuable in the context of a struggling economy. Yet brands are no longer interested in them. Forerunners Report Source: Mikhail Nilov Pexels SA's over 55s group is gaining significance, but brands are no longer interested in them says UCT Liberty Institute of Strategic Marketing's South Africas over 55s age group is gaining significance and evolving, which is especially valuable in the context of a struggling economy. Yet brands are no longer interested in them. The UCT Liberty Institute of Strategic Marketing's Forerunners Report (Over 55s)highlights the importance of this age group, which despite limited research on this demographic, is redefining aging and reshaping consumer behaviour. Dr James Lappeman, head of projects at the Institute and report co-author, says that the stereotype that this segment has already made their brand choices, is far from the truth. Most are ready to switch brands, and older consumers are also highly influenced as they shop for value, convenience, perception, and trust. However, 55% say that brands are no longer interested in marketing effectively to them. One of the country's fastest-growing demographic segments As the life expectancy of South Africans continues to increase, the number of South Africans over the age of 55 continues to grow, with this segment now numbering over eight million. This makes it one of the country's fastest-growing demographic segments, with an aggregate taxable income of over R600 billion annually. This segment will continue to grow, and this trajectory is set to continue well into the future. Active for longer The Forerunners Report found that not only are middle-class South Africans staying economically active for longer, but they are also reimagining traditional models of retirement. Through our research, we found that middle-class South Africans want to remain active, with many continuing to work both out of choice and necessity, says Paul Egan, managing consultant at the Institute and report co-author. Interestingly, Egan adds that they found that 64% of middle-class individuals aged 55-60 have children living at home. This means that the empty-nester stage, when adult children become independent, appears to be happening later in many cases, leading to parents bearing financial responsibility for a longer period, he says. At the same time, the study found that nearly two-thirds of middle-class individuals aged 55 to 60 expected their financial position to improve over the next five years. This is likely connected to an anticipated 'windfall' when financial responsibility for children ceases," says Egan. Longevity: a shifting horizon Longevity is one of the 'horizons that have shifted' for those over 55, as detailed in the study - simply stated, South Africans are living longer. The study found that 52% of middle-class individuals under 55 expressed a desire to live beyond 90. And with age comes different dimensions. According to Andrew Scott, author of The 100-year Life, in the UK and the US, a 75-year-old today has the same mortality rate as a 65-year-old from 40 years ago. So, 75 is the new 65 - a notion supported throughout the research. "Our commitment to this kind of work lies in continuously gaining deep insights into our diverse audiences, allowing us to create tailored solutions and services that align with their unique needs and life stages, says Kroshelan Chetty, experience & journey management executive at Liberty. "We are deeply committed to addressing the needs of the Forerunners segment, with an unwavering focus on helping them with their transition into this next chapter of their lives. He adds, Dispelling the notion that people shift from being producers within the economy to becoming solely consumers once they have retired is fundamental to unlocking the immense potential and opportunity that exists," said Chetty. A shift in retirement Another shift noted in the report is the growth of the Black middle class as SA prepares to usher in its first major wave of retirees in this segment over the next 20 years. This segment will set the precedent for what 'Black retirement' looks like, as they become the first generation to do so with resources, which historically has not been the case. The report introduces the notion of a 'Grey Zone' in contrast to the traditional three-phased life model of 'learn, earn, retire' wherein people are still working up until their late career stages and transitioning into the next chapter over time. Our research is showing that there is this bridge phase before retirement, characterized by resetting priorities and an increased identification of ones future, Lappeman explains. Thabang Ramogase, Libertys chief marketing officer, says, The Forerunners are indeed writing a new playbook they are taking more control and are no longer willing to be 'passive recipients' of retirement thinking. That makes it incumbent on us as financial services providers and marketers to meet them where they are and ensure that our product solutions and marketing programmes are aligned with this new horizon for those over 55 as detailed in the report. This 18-month study was conducted through a survey of 1,900 people, with over 300 interviews conducted by the UCT Liberty Institute using quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The report is available to subscribers of the UCT Liberty Institutes research library. Gin enthusiasts and mixologists around the globe united on Thursday, 19 October, to celebrate the beloved and versatile spirit of gin once again on World Gin & Tonic Day. Whether you want to head to one of Mzansis many cocktail spots, or stay at home and stir your own creativity, Bombay Sapphire wants to inspire you to get creative and awaken all your senses. As the only international gin that is 100% vapour infused, Bombay Sapphires extremely smooth and versatile quality and 10 hand-selected botanicals makes it the ideal canvas for the picture-perfect cocktail. World Gin & Tonic Day is a reminder that gin is a firm bartender favorite with timeless appeal, and the perfect cocktail ingredient to get creative with and enjoy. Here are three DIY G&T cocktail recipes with a twist from Bombay Sapphire to get your creative juices flowing. Green apple and thyme gin and tonic twist Ingredients: 50ml Bombay Sapphire gin 100ml premium tonic water (chilled) 3 large slices of green apple 3 fresh thyme or lemon thyme sprigs Method: Place freshly cut green apple slices and sprigs of thyme into the bottom of a balloon glass Add Bombay Sapphire and swirl, allowing the flavours to subtly infuse Fully fill the glass with cubed ice and top with chilled tonic water Gently stir to combine and finish with an apple slice and sprig of thyme before serving. Rasberry and mint gin and tonic twist Ingredients: 50ml Bombay Sapphire gin 100ml premium tonic water (chilled) 3 fresh raspberries 3 fresh mint (use the sprig for garnish) Method: Place fresh raspberries and mint leaves into the bottom of a balloon glass Add Bombay Sapphire and swirl, allowing the flavours to subtly infuse Fully fill the glass with cubed ice and top with chilled tonic water Gently stir to combine and then garnish with a sprig of fresh mint and a raspberry before serving. Pink grapefruit and rosemary gin and tonic twist Ingredients: 50ml Bombay Sapphire gin 100ml premium tonic water (chilled) 2 pink grapefruit wedges 2 fresh rosemary sprigs Method: Chery Automobile and Unicef have announced a new two-year $6m partnership in support of education programmes around the world. Image supplied According to Unicef's State of Global Learning Poverty 2022, an estimated 70% of the worlds 10-year-olds were unable to read and understand a simple sentence. This figure is up from 57% before the global Covid-19 pandemic. We very much appreciate Chery's support for Unicef education programmes, Unicef representative to China Amakobe Sande said. This will help us provide quality education for some of the most vulnerable and marginalised children in China and around the world. It will also support countries to strengthen their education systems, to better serve children and communities. The new partnership will help Unicef tackle the learning crisis by supporting its global education programmes aimed at providing quality education to the most disadvantaged and marginalised children. This partnership holds the potential to transform the lives of millions of children worldwide, added Carla Haddad Mardini, director, Unicef private fundraising and partnerships, Funding from Chery will help us support those children who need it most, opening up avenues of hope and opportunity to enable them to realise their potential and build brighter futures. I extend my warmest congratulations to Chery for embarking on this journey with us. The partnership was officially launched with a signing ceremony at the first Chery International User Summit in Wuhu, China.The attendees of this summit include Ningbo, secretary of the Wuhu Municipal Committee, and Mr Yin Tongyue, Chairman of Chery Holdings Group, and Unicef's Amakobe Sande, representative to China, Sanaullah Panezai, chief of education, and Manuel Pinzon, chief of partnerships and innovation. Chery will also support education programmes in China, Mexico, South Africa and Turkiye. This will include providing inclusive, healthy, and safe learning environments for children and adolescents, ensuring equal opportunities to learn and enhance their employability. . South Africa's 'Thrive by Five' index, the first nationally representative survey of preschoolers, has clinched one of the coveted Khalifa International Awards for Early Learning (KIAEL). This accolade celebrates 'Thrive by Five' for its remarkable achievement in delivering population-level data that meticulously tracks the developmental progress of South African preschool children across three vital domains: early learning, physical growth, and social-emotional functioning. Sonja Giese, the founding executive director of DataDrive2030, expressed her enthusiasm for this achievement and shared her vision for the project's future: The first round of the index revealed important insights and received significant public coverage and government and broader sectoral buy-in. As we plan for the next round of data collection in 2024, we are determined to leverage the Index as a catalyst for change for young children in South Africa. We are of course delighted to be one of the four global winners of the prestigious KIAEL. The other three winners of KIAELs inaugural edition were the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Morocco's Zakoura Foundation, and Professor Laura Justice from the USA, who were celebrated for their remarkable research papers, innovative programmes, and teaching methodologies. Open for entries KIAEL 2024 has now launched its second edition, inviting visionary educators, researchers, and organisations from around the world to submit their pioneering initiatives in early childhood education. With a prize pool of $200,000, KIAEL aims to recognise and celebrate outstanding contributions that have a profound impact on the early learning field. Following the resounding success of its inaugural edition, which saw four deserving winners emerge from a competitive pool of over 300 submissions across 61 countries, KIAEL is set to build on its legacy of excellence. The KIAEL 2024 features two prominent categories: "Best Programmes, Curricula, Teaching Methodologies and Practices" and "Best Research & Studies." Each category will see the selection of two winners by a distinguished panel of academics, who will rigorously evaluate submissions based on criteria such as innovativeness, importance, impact, methodological rigour, and feasibility/sustainability. PwC is pleased to present the Tax Transparency and Sustainability Reporting in 2023 report, which is a global study on tax reporting by 269 companies listed in Austria, Brazil, Germany, Ireland, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom (UK). It is based on the GRI 207: Tax 2019 standard, the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment and other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and World Economic Forum (WEF) specifications. Carla Perry, PwC South Africa tax reporting and governance specialist, says: It is important for todays business leaders to understand that increasing transparency can and should help to build trust between organisations and their stakeholders. For corporate organisations, transparency and trust are vital to making smart tax-policy choices for a sustainable future, which is an important theme in this years report. This report takes a closer look at the tax contribution role that corporations play, as well as their role in enabling the broader tax system to work. The findings indicate that there is an increasing willingness from more companies around the world to report publicly on their tax approach. While organisations do report on their tax strategy or tax control framework more frequently, this increased willingness should not hide the fact that tax is often still seen purely as a financial issue, subject to complex legislation, and reported in financial statements. This, rather than a vital way for companies to contribute to society, public services, economic development and social welfare. And yet, the tax reporting landscape, both locally and globally, has been evolving for many years, through country-level requirements and, more recently, by being incorporated into wider sustainability reporting frameworks. South Africas tax-reporting landscape This is the first year that South Africa has participated in the global study, which includes the review of the top 30 companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) based on their market capitalisation on 31 December 2022. Kerneesha Naidoo, PwC South Africa tax reporting and strategy manager, says: South Africa pioneered integrated reporting as a core element of corporate governance. The King IV Code, a global leader in corporate governance standards, outlines principles and recommended practices for organisations to achieve good governance, manifested in four outcomes: ethical culture, good performance, effective control and legitimacy. Some of these practices are embedded in the JSE Listings Requirements, which reinforce the expectations of being a responsible taxpayer. For nearly a decade, PwC has evaluated the tax transparency of large JSE-listed companies, recognising those that excel in insightful tax reporting and distinguish themselves from their peers, Naidoo says. Remarkably, some of the top performers in this study are South African companies, even though there is no specific legislation or regulation that mandates tax transparency in the country. Naidoo says some of these companies have shown a long-standing commitment to public tax transparency and have adopted reporting in line with GRI 207 and other frameworks that were examined. South African companies also demonstrate strong governance of tax by their governing bodies (in line with King IV) and a keen awareness of investor expectations regarding tax disclosure. Consistent with the findings of the 7th edition of PwC South Africas Building Public Trust through Tax Reporting report, leading tax reporters in South Africa effectively communicate their broader impact and the value they create for all their key stakeholders, fostering better open communications rather than mere compliance with regulation. They do so by disclosing and explaining much more than the statutory requirements, such as their tax strategy, their effective tax-rate analysis, their total tax contributions in the countries where they operate and voluntary Country by Country Reporting (CbCR), Naidoo says. However, despite many guidelines and transparency drivers, many large listed South African companies still do not report more information on tax publicly, beyond what accounting standards require. Tax transparency in international comparison When we consider all four ESG frameworks, Spain and South Africa have the most companies that meet at least 75% of each frameworks requirements. However, when we examine each framework separately, we see that Spain leads in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA), while Brazil, South Africa and UK have similar overall scores for the GRI 207: Tax 2019 standard. The GRI 207: Tax 2019 standard and the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment are the most widely used frameworks, while the OECD Guidelines and the WEF White Paper are less prevalent. The significant increase in the number of companies and countries examined this year makes it possible to compare the tax transparency reporting of large corporations internationally, and to identify similarities and differences. Regardless of the location of respective companies, industry-specific comparisons show that the Financial Services, Energy, Utilities and Resources, and Technology, Media and Telecommunications sectors perform best. Commonalities among all the surveyed companies is that only a few provide comprehensive quantitative tax information. Most of them initially limit themselves to qualitative information, Perry says. For the small number of companies that do provide quantitative information, clear regional differences can be identified. TTC disclosures prevalent in UK, South Africa The frequency of TTC disclosure in the reports we reviewed reveals a regional difference. Companies in South Africa and the UK tend to use a TTC approach, while EU companies are more likely to publish public country-by-country reports. This is not surprising, given that the TTC approach originated in the UK and has been increasingly used in South Africa for several years, Perry explains. TTC is not reported at country level like the Public CbCR, but shows all taxes and duties paid and withheld by a company in full at group level, Perry says. Therefore, TTC is not limited to income taxes paid, but also includes sales, payroll, industry-specific and other taxes. One advantage compared to the Public CbCR is that here the actual contribution of a company to society is made more visible in absolute figures on the basis of all taxes paid. With the implementation of the EU Directive on public CbCR and other framework changes coming into play, more companies will be affected by increased mandatory tax reporting requirements. It is therefore essential that companies take the time to understand how they will be affected by the changing reporting landscape, and to consider their response. South Africa has secured $676m in grants from rich nations for a transition to green energy, more than double what they initially promised but still only a fraction of the total package, the rest of which it will have to repay with interest. An aerial view of Kriel Power Station run by state electricity utility Eskom in Delmas, in the Mpumalanga province, South Africa, May 22, 2023.REUTERS/Shafiek Tassiem/File Photo Rudi Dicks, head of project management in the presidency says that South Africa had been pushing for more of the $12bn currently on offer from Western nations to take the form of gifts rather than loans. The grant had initially been set at $329.7m. "The president has made it very clear that he wants to see an increase in the grant component," he said, adding that more grants could come in as the country heads to COP28 climate talks in Dubai next month. Britain, France, Germany, the European Union and the United States pledged $8.5bn at the climate talks two years ago, a figure which has since gone up as the Netherlands and Denmark, Canada, Spain and Switzerland joined the initiative this week. But South African authorities estimate the total cost of South Africa's transition from carbon-intensive coal -- which generates 80% of its power and is used to synthesize a third of its liquid fuel -- at R1.5t rand ($78.44bn). Bridging sector gaps Dicks added that South Africa was in negotiations to possibly increase both the total package and the share taken up by grants at the talks, in which South Africa will present details on how it plans to spend the money. South Africa says its needs to develop skills in sectors like solar generation, electric vehicles and green hydrogen, assist coal miners losing their jobs and attract the private sector to invest in what it says are lower return projects. It aims to retire coal plants, ramp up renewable capacity and establish a green hydrogen export hub, among other things. "The implementation plan will go for cabinet's approval by end October and will be presented at COP28," Dicks said. In a recent panel discussion at African Energy Week in Cape Town, the spotlight was on nuclear energy's potential to address Africa's energy needs and combat energy poverty. Enobot Agboraw, executive secretary of the African Commission on Nuclear Energy, emphasised the longevity, cost-effectiveness, and environmental resilience of nuclear power. Source: Wikipedia He argued that these factors make nuclear energy an attractive investment for African states, particularly given the continents rapidly growing population and the consequent need for a stable energy supply. "Africa realises that the issue of energy poverty is an emergency. With our population expected to double to three billion by 2050, we need to introduce energy solutions fast. Nuclear power, with its long lifespan and reliability, stands out as a key pillar in Africa's energy transition efforts," he said. He added that although most countries in Africa would not be able to finance such projects on their own, he believed that through combined efforts, such as multilateral approaches, countries looking to invest in nuclear energy would be pooling their resources, reducing financial and proliferation risks. Meanwhile, Sayed Salah Eldin Motyaser Aly, NNP Egypt chief of sector, shared updates on Egypt's nuclear initiatives, as the northern African country is currently constructing its first nuclear energy plant in El Dabaa. This nuclear project represents the start of our future industrialisation. It has created the opportunity for highly skilled jobs and the development of local industries and Egypt has invested in many initiatives such as the dedicated El Dabaa vocational school, as well as a training programme implemented with our strategic partner to ensure we have the skills needed to take this project forward. Investigate small modular reactors Also speaking during the panel discussion, Keith Featherstone, chief nuclear officer at Eskom, highlighted South Africa's potential for extending the lifespan of existing nuclear plants, adding that it was currently the only country on the continent which had nuclear energy generation capacity. He highlighted the opportunities presented by small modular reactors (SMRs), which had been placed on hold, and the potential use of nuclear energy to repurpose fossil fuel sites, contributing to cleaner energy production. "I personally am hopeful that the future requests for proposals will allocate more capacity to nuclear as it definitely is one of the most reliable baseload energy options weve got, especially in the South African energy sector. Emphasising the need for sustainable energy solutions, Vassily Savin, head of power and utilities at KEPT, noted although African states could rely on its natural resources of sun, wind and water to provide alternative power sources, a recent analysis focused on South Africa and East Africa showed that it would not be enough to allow for industrialisation. "Our modelling shows that achieving this only on renewables is not achievable at all. Africa needs a sustainable grid and sustainable sources of energy. Nuclear energy is a reliable, low-carbon source that could replace retiring fossil fuel plants and allow for the integration of renewables. "The main bottleneck here is financing. Fossil fuels are not favoured by multilateral banks, and surprisingly, neither is nuclear. But if multilateral banks would finance nuclear, it would dramatically help eliminate energy poverty in Africa, he concluded. BET Software's mission to transform lives proved successful once again, as they cemented a new partnership with St. Philomena's Child and Youth Centre, with their donation of much-needed laptops, optical mouses and headsets. Vishen Naidoo, BET Softwares commercial manager, looks forward to witnessing the impact this partnership will have St Philomenas Child & Youth Centre, in Sydenham, Durban, was established in 1895 to provide developmental care for orphaned and vulnerable children, as well as youth. What started off as a childrens home, grew into a community development centre that now takes care of 40 young people. One of the goals of the organisation is to provide life skills for the children, psycho-social healing, and tools for their advancement into adulthood, ensuring their safety and self-sustainability. The equipment will unlock educational potential and empower a tech-fluent generation. Michael Collins, general manager at BET Software, said that BET Software is an ally in advocating for the causes championed by the centre. We see our support for St Philomenas as a long-term social investment, reflecting our commitment to bettering society. We believe the equipment will empower the NGO to carry out its mission and achieve its goals, he explained. Nadine Govender, childcare manager at St Philomenas, said that BET Softwares contribution would have a tangible impact on the children. They were struggling to complete research and homework on time, as they only had one laptop to share amongst 40 of them, daily. Thank you for your assistance, BET Software, she added. During a discussion at the 20th Annual Standard Bank Top Women Conference , Dr Achieng Ojwang, executive director of UN Global Compact Network, South Africa, addressed the pressing issue of gender equality. Dr Ojwang emphasised the urgency of accelerating efforts to achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5), which focuses on gender equality. Dr Achieng Ojwang, executive director of UN Global Compact Network, South Africa In 2015, UN member states ratified the SDGs, which include SDG 5, with a commitment to achieving gender equality by 2030. Ojwang highlighted the essential components of SDG 5, which encompass ending discrimination against women and children, eliminating all forms of violence, ensuring women's full participation and equal opportunities, ending forced marriages, promoting equal pay, universal access to sexual and reproductive health, and adopting sound policies and regulations. Ojwang stressed that achieving SDG 5 is of utmost importance, both on a global scale through the UN Global Compact and within South Africa's corporate landscape, where UN Global Compact Network, South Africa, operates as a corporate sustainability platform. She referred to gender equality as a "low-hanging fruit" and challenged businesses, stating: "If we wanted to reach gender equality, we could do so within the next six years." However, Ojwang expressed concern that, globally, progress toward SDG 5 is off track. "If you look at the pay gap, women are still earning less than 23% on aggregate compared to men," she noted. Moreover, Ojwang highlighted the disparities in procurement, where only 1% of the $11tn global procurement spend goes to women-owned businesses, despite one out of every three businesses globally being owned by women. In the context of South Africa, Ojwang revealed that only about 6% of the government's annual spend of approximately R74bn goes to women-owned businesses. Furthermore, she cited a recent study showing that women hold only 35% of board positions in South Africa's top 40 companies. The study revealed that only one company among the top 40 has reached parity at both the board and executive levels. She emphasised that, in the current landscape, only four of these top 40 companies have women CEOs. Ojwang called for immediate action to accelerate progress towards gender equality. "Achieving gender equality is not only a moral imperative but also makes good business sense," she urged, emphasising that diverse and inclusive companies tend to perform better financially. The local food and beverage sector is the most significant component of South Africa's manufacturing industry, involving agriculture and agro-processing. The local sector is experiencing increasing demand, especially in the consumption of beverages. Soft drink consumption is on the rise as customers consume more carbonated drinks. The consumption of bottled water has also grown significantly and there has been an increased demand among younger consumers for products such as energy drinks. Another trend in the beer market is the shift in consumer preference toward low and non-alcoholic beers and craft beers. Drinks consumption overall increased in 2022, to above 2019, 2020 and 2021 levels. Beer consumption increased to 3,2-billion litres; ready-to-drink packaged beverages, fruit beverages and spirit coolers increased to 697-million litres and wine consumption increased to 453-million litres, indicating strong demand in the local beverage sector. The Western Cape provincial economy accounts for 45% of the countrys agricultural exports, 70% of beverage exports and 85% of fishery exports. Seven of the top ten exports from the province are agricultural or agro-processed productions. The Western Cape wine industry is the ninth largest wine producer in the world. These local factors make Propak Cape, taking place in Cape Town later this month, the ideal place to showcase all the latest technologies for the food processing and agri-business sectors in the country. A number of companies will use the event to launch their new solutions for the food processing and beverage sectors. The Bidvest Group will showcase six companies, representing a comprehensive portfolio of world-class packaging and labelling solutions, under the Bidvest Packaging brand at Propak Cape 2023. Aluminium Foil Converters (AFC) specialises in foil lidding and closures for the dairy, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and agrochemical industries. Lufil Packaging manufactures and distributes a wide range of paper bags, wraps, and tissue products. Masterpack excels in producing folding cartons, header and blister cards, paper bags, and package inserts. Rotolabel, an expert in high-quality product identification labels, caters to the food, wine, pharmaceutical, and hygiene sectors. S&N Labels boasts a range of functional labels, price-marking, and thermal transfer systems. Bidvest Mobility, a specialist in enterprise mobility and barcode computing solutions, adds a technological edge to the comprehensive packaging and labelling offerings. Astratek will launch the new Hygienic Conveyor which redefines conveyor solutions in the food industry. The new design reduces food safety risks while decreasing cleaning time and boosting overall efficiency. Economy Process Solutions will present various technologies for the food, beverage, dairy and wine industries, including the turnkey beverage processing plant, continuous sugar dissolving systems and comprehensive dairy solutions to turnkey winery and brewery solutions. The company will also display 3D models of a juice plant, a dairy plant inclusive of by-products, and a pasteurizer and homogenizer skid. Ishida South Africa will launch its Ishida IX-EN Series at Propak Cape. The new versatile X-ray machine covers a wide range of packed products, using the patented Ishida Genetic Algorithm technology for greater sensitivity to specific foreign bodies. Contaminants can be detected in steel, aluminium, tin, glass, stones, rubber, bones and shells, providing unrivalled food safety and brand protection. OrbitFilters and SFB Engineering will showcase its new locally produced pressure filter for extending cooking oil life in large industrial fryers. The 5th Pressure OrbitFilter is proven to be very effective in the removal of solids from hot cooking oil during process in continuous industrial belt fryers, significantly increasing the usable oil life. Oil Filters have applications in the meat and poultry, snacks, chips, tree nuts and peanuts, frozen potatoes, donuts, and breakfast treats sectors. Rhine Ruhr Process Equipment will launch the new Life Portfolio at Propak Cape 2023, a comprehensive range of homogenisation, mixing, filling, and labelling solutions featuring state-of-the-art technology from partners never before seen in South Africa. The company will be showcasing the TPS Inline High Shear Mixer, ideal for demanding applications requiring high shear rates and mixing intensities. The company will also display the ViscoJet IBC-mount Agitator designed for use in intermediate bulk containers, as well as the DeVree Semi-Automated Volumetric Filling Machine ideal for a variety of applications, including filling bottles, cans, jars and tubs. TNA Solutions provides solutions to the food manufacturing industry. The company will be demonstrating its TNA Robag 3e, with capabilities of up to 250 bags per minute with minimal wastage. The product also features the OMS 5, a responsive variable mass seasoning system with a dynamic vibratory weigh conveyor to directly control product, oil spray and flow of seasoning powder into a single drum. USS Pactech will display a range of machines for the food sector, such as the SN pouch machine for stand-up pouches with zipper running recyclable mono material, a Multiweigh 14 head scale, a PFM MBP RX 800 continuous intermittent bagger, a Variovac Optimus thermoformer and a Supervac belt type vacuum packing machine. For the beverage sector, the company will exhibit a Comac 10/2 can filler/seamer for carbonated products up to 6000 cans per hour, which is of particular interest for craft breweries and wineries as well as a latest generation modular PE Labeller with three self-adhesive label stations. All these new innovations and more will be on show at the Propak Cape exhibition taking place at the Cape Town International Conference Centre (CTICC) from 24-26 October. With just under 200 exhibitors showcasing the latest market related trends and developments, visitors to this years event can expect to see thousands of new and innovative products from across packaging, plastics, print, labelling, food processing and related industries. Propak Cape is supported by the Institute of Packaging SA (IPSA), Packaging SA, Plastics SA, Printing SA, and the Aerosol Manufacturers Association (AMA). IPSA will be running a one-day high-level Responsible Packaging conference alongside the show on the Wednesday, 25 October. Booking and cost details can be accessed on the Propak Cape website. Content-rich free-to-attend seminars will take place each day of the show, presented by industry experts. Visitors can register online for free access to Propak Cape at www.propakcape.co.za Specialised Exhibitions is a division of Montgomery Group. Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. French Navy personnel aboard Naval ship 'Languedoc', an Aquitaine class frigate commanded by Captain Christine Ribbe, during a goodwill visit to Mumbai. A PTI Photo MUMBAI (PTI): French Navy ship Languedoc, an Aquitaine class frigate, was at the Mumbai port on a goodwill visit from October 13-18, a move aimed at ramping up cooperation between the navies of India and France, the defence ministry has said. Coinciding with the visit of Languedoc, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Slaars, the Commander of the French Forces deployed in the Indian Ocean (ALINDIEN), accompanied by Captain Yannick Bossu, Commander of the Combined Task Force 150 (CCTF 150), also visited Mumbai and interacted with Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command. "The interactions focussed on enhancing the India-France maritime cooperation as well further participation of Indian Navy in US-led Combined Maritime Forces (CMF)," the statement said on Thursday. Captain Christine Ribbe, who commanded the ship, called on Rear Admiral AN Pramod, Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area (FOMA), and discussed issues of mutual interest, it said. Personnel of the French and the Indian navies undertook professional exchanges through cross-visits and shared best practices. The visit also provided an opportunity for informal interactions through social functions conducted during the ship's stay in Mumbai, which included sports fixtures with Indian Navy personnel, the statement said. "This visit is expected to renew and further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two nations that share similar concerns in overlapping areas of responsibility," it said. French Navy Ship Aconit had paid a goodwill visit to Mumbai last year. The family of a young girl who underwent spinal surgery at Temple Street Children's Hospital has launched High Court proceedings looking for all of their childs medical records. This is the second family to go to court over medical records at the hospital. Advertisement The family has brought the action against Children's Health Ireland (CHI) seeking an injunction compelling the handover of all outstanding medical records, documentation and information sought. The girl is one of 19 children who were the subject of a report on patients with spina bifida who underwent spinal surgery at the Temple Street hospital. The court heard that the family of the child, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, is seeking the discovery of documents and material surrounding her care following an operation she had at the hospital last year. They want the records so they can have them assessed by an independent expert. Advertisement They also seek the records as they consider what action to take over what they say they have been told was alleged inappropriate surgery performed on the child. Advertisement Earlier this week the family was provided with some, but not all, of the material they sought from CHI. They claim that important material was not furnished to them. They have asked the court to make orders requiring the CHI to provide them with material including all management plans put in place for the child. They also seek copies of a full risk assessment and notes prepared by the defendant regarding the clinical care provided by Temple Street and in relation to the surgeon who allegedly operated on the child Dr Connor Green. Advertisement Represented in the proceedings by John Healy SC, Michael Devitt BL instructed by solicitors McGroddy Brennan, the child's family also seeks an order compelling the defendant to immediately prepare a care plan for the child, and to appoint an agreed independent expert to review her. Counsel told the court that last year the girl underwent spinal surgery. She suffered serious post-operative complications, and her parents were told she would require further surgical intervention. Following media reports about spinal surgeries at Temple Street, the family claim they were informed that the surgery their child underwent was allegedly "inappropriate". They were subsequently told that their daughter will require further surgeries and procedures over the coming years. Advertisement Her family have been "devasted by this news", counsel said. The family claim that the information they have been given has been drip fed to them, and say that the report last month about the spinal surgeries has "much to say about future governance at Temple Street," but nothing to say on the clinical situation of the children affected. The matter came before Mr Justice Mark Sanfey on Friday who noted that the circumstances that the girl and her family find themselves in are "extremely distressing." While the court had only heard from one side in the dispute, he said what was being sought appeared to be "very significant pieces of information." The judge, on an ex-parte basis, granted the applicants permission to serve short notice of the injunction application on the defendant. The matter will return before the High Court next week. A teacher who was on trial accused of sexually abusing a male student 38 years ago has been found guilty of the charges against her. The jury in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial of Jacintha McSherry O'Connor (63) returned majority guilty verdicts on two counts of indecent assault on Friday after 11 hours of deliberating. Advertisement She made no reaction in court when the verdicts were handed down. McSherry O'Connor, of The Mullins, Donegal Town, Co. Donegal, had pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecently assaulting the child on dates between June 1st and September 1st, 1985. She was aged between 24 and 25 at the time of the offending, while the boy was aged 13. The court heard the abuse occurred while McSherry O'Connor worked as a student teacher at a Dublin secondary school. It was alleged that she indecently assaulted the boy on two occasions in his home, where she had been giving him grinds. Advertisement The four-day trial also heard allegations of inappropriate sexual relations between McSherry O'Connor and the boy on a holiday she attended with his family in Spain in the run-up to the alleged offences. No charges were before the jury in relation to these alleged incidents as they pertained to a different jurisdiction. Advertisement The complainant in the case now a man in his 50s told the court that seeing his own children reach the age he was at the time of the incidents spurred him to go to gardai, along with other unrelated high-profile cases. He said he was also concerned to see McSherry O'Connor was still teaching in Donegal. After the verdicts were handed down, Judge Elma Sheahan thanked the jurors for their service. She exempted them from jury duty for three years. She adjourned the case for sentence hearing on November 8th and remanded McSherry O'Connor on continuing bail. Prosecution case It was the prosecution case that while giving the boy grinds at his home, McSherry O'Connor started having inappropriate conversations with the boy about music that made her horny and discussing things of a sexual nature. He also visited her regularly in the home she lived in with her parents. Advertisement Advertisement The prosecution alleged that this was a form of grooming on the part of McSherry O'Connor and that the complainant was drawn in as a result, and infatuated with his teacher. The court heard McSherry O'Connor and a friend of hers accompanied the boy and his family on a holiday to Spain the summer he finished first year after getting a cheap deal. The two young women stayed in a separate apartment in the complex. The complainant told the trial that it was on this holiday that the first sexual encounters occurred. He said McSherry O'Connor rubbed her breasts against him at the pool, fondled him and later performed oral sex on him in her apartment. He said she also gave him alcohol, which was the first time he got drunk. After the holiday, the court heard of two further indecent assault incidents that occurred in the boy's home in the sitting room and in the attic. The complainant said that although he initially felt like a big man, he became uncomfortable about his interactions with the teacher and told her he didn't want to see her anymore. Advertisement She had finished her work experience at the school by then and neither of them have had contact with each other since 1985, the court heard. Advertisement In his closing speech to the jury this week, Garett McCormack BL, prosecuting, told the jury it should have no doubt in deciding the case, primarily because of the evidence of the complainant. These are difficult things for a man in his fifties to say, Mr McCormack said. Why would he say these things? He said that despite a robust cross-examination from defence counsel, the man did not waver in his allegations. The court heard the man told his first girlfriend at the age of 19 that he had been abused by McSherry O'Connor and this woman also gave evidence at the trial to that effect. In her charge to the jury, Judge Elma Sheahan noted that while this was not proof of the allegations, it went to the man's consistency. Advertisement Mr McCormack said the woman allowed the boy into her family home and fostered this relationship. He said her explanation to the jury for this was that she should have known better. There's something not right there, Mr McCormack said. ...Constantly having him in her house with her family, going on holidays, continuing to go [to his house] after the holidays. Something is not right and why is something not right? Advertisement Because [the complainant] is telling you the truth. This is a true, accurate and consistent version of events and I'm suggesting you can return verdicts of guilt on both charges before the court, and you can do so with a clear conscience. Defence case McSherry O'Connor took the stand during the trial and denied ever having sexual relations of any kind with the boy. She told the court that at the time of the alleged offences, she was in a relationship with the man who is now her husband. When asked by prosecution counsel why the man might make up such an allegation, McSherry O'Connor said she didn't know. He did say he fantasised about me, he was in love with me, she said, later adding: I don't know why he brought the criminal case. If he told so many people, maybe they pushed him into it. The trial heard that when interviewed by gardai, McSherry OConnor said she remembered the boy as being earnest, intense and driven. She said he was extremely helpful, would offer to carry her books and it became apparent to her that he had a crush on her. She said she was asked to give him grinds and that the boy admitted to her that he had asked his mother to arrange these grinds. Nothing untoward ever happened when I was giving him grinds in his house, McSherry O'Connor told gardai. She said they did have some tough conversations in which the boy told her he was being bullied. She said that after she had an unwelcome encounter with a senior teacher in the school, she blurted out to the boy what had happened to her. After that, he became more obsessed with me, she said. I thought of him as a little brother. In his closing speech to the jury, Patrick McGrath SC, defending, pointed to a number of inconsistencies which he said fundamentally call into question the reliability and perhaps the truthfulness of the complainant. Mr McGrath told the jury that McSherry O'Connor was a person who has been a teacher for a long, long time during which time nothing of this kind had been alleged against her. The court heard McSherry O'Connor has since been refused garda vetting to teach and is not currently working as a result. Macao hosts 3 concurrent exhibitions featuring Chinese, Portuguese elements Xinhua) 08:51, October 20, 2023 MACAO, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Three exhibitions opened concurrently on Thursday in China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), aiming to power the growth of Macao's key industries and contribute to China's "dual circulation" economic development pattern. The 1st China-Portuguese-Speaking Countries (PSCs) Economic and Trade Expo (Macao) (C-PLPEX), the 28th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF) and the Macao Franchise Expo 2023 (MFE) will run until Sunday. Taking up a total area of 37,000 square meters, the three exhibitions have attracted over 1,200 exhibitors from 14 countries and regions to attend the offline events, more than 260 of which come from PSCs, hitting an all-time high with respect to the number of exhibitors and brands, according to the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute. The exhibitors specialize in a wide array of industries, including comprehensive health care, high-tech, modern finance, cultural creation, integrated tourism, commerce and retail, food manufacturing, cross-border e-commerce and energy conservation. Fan Shijie, representative of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce to the event, promised support to encourage joint participation in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), raise the level of trade and investment to foster new drivers of economic growth, and leverage the role of Macao as a platform linking China and PSCs to elevate their cooperation to a new level. Lei Wai Nong, secretary for economy and finance of the Macao SAR government, said Macao will actively seize major opportunities brought about by the construction of the BRI, play a better role as a bridge between China and PSCs in the country's new economic development pattern of "dual circulation," and establish a new pattern of synergetic industrial development between Macao and the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, neighboring Zhuhai city. Over 60 activities will be held during the exhibitions, in the form of themed business matching sessions, conferences, forums, promotion conferences, new product launches, multi-venue events and community tours. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Some residents have been asked to evacuate their homes as Storm Babet swept across Ireland and the UK on Thursday. The UK Met Office issued a rare red weather warning for parts of Scotland and said some communities could be cut off for several days by severe flooding. Advertisement In Ireland, the army and civil defence units were called in to provide support and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who visited those affected in Midleton, Cork, said a financial package will be offered to homes and businesses damaged in floods. Huge waves hit the coast at Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire on Thursday afternoon (Andrew Milligan/PA) Heavy wind and rain downed trees across the UK (Andrew Milligan/PA) Advertisement Midleton in Co Cork was swamped in certain areas, with the army and civil defence units called in for support. (@realLiamMac/PA) A workman clears a drainage ditch in the village of Edzell, Scotland (Andrew Milligan/PA) People were warned to stay at home in parts of Scotland and refuge centres were set up by some councills (Andrew Milligan/PA) Taoiseach Leo Varadkar visited businesses in Midleton, Co Cork (Brian Lawless/PA) Homes were evacuated as severe flooding hit parts of Co Cork (Damien Rytel/PA) A resident puts sand bags outside his door as he leaves his house on River Street in Brechin, Scotland (Andrew Milligan/PA) Stonehaven harbour was part of the area covered by the red warning (Andrew Milligan/PA) Communities in Co Cork rallied together to help clean up damage caused by flooding (Brian Lawless/PA) Flood defence barriers were erected in towns and villages across Scotland where a red warning has been issued (Andrew Milligan/PA) London has also experienced heavy rain (Lucy North/PA) Met Eireann has issued fresh weather warnings for intense rain, days after parts of the country were severely flooded during Storm Babet. It comes as the Minister for Finance said a proposal is being worked on to increase the level of support that will be offered to those affected by flooding in Co Cork. Advertisement Met Eireann has issued a status orange rain warning for counties Dublin and Wicklow, cautioning of the risk of further floods and dangerous driving conditions during spells of heavy rain until 8am on Saturday. Status Orange Rainfall Warning for #Dublin & #Wicklow Spells of heavy rain. Possible impacts: Flooding Dangerous driving conditions Poor visibility View all current warnings here https://t.co/Xg3aMJlyuS pic.twitter.com/VK3rYMuVtM Met Eireann (@MetEireann) October 20, 2023 Advertisement There is a chance of thunder in the east of the country as a separate rain warning is also in effect for those counties, as well as Meath and Louth, until 9pm on Friday. Advertisement Minster for Finance Michael McGrath said money will be available to people affected by floods in Co Cork through a scheme to be administered by the Red Cross from next week. Advertisement This currently offers an initial 5,000 and further support of up to 20,000 based on the scale of damage. Advertisement Mr McGrath said many businesses in Midleton had their destroyed Christmas stock out on the street. The assessment of the full scale of the damage to homes and businesses will take some time, but the support will be there and that is the overarching message, Mr McGrath told RTE Radio on Friday. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaks with Frances Steele as she helps clean up a business belonging to a friend on Main Street in Midleton (PA) Advertisement We do have to ensure, insofar as we can, that all of these businesses that were viable before two days ago can trade into the future. Mr McGrath said there will be a need to go further because many businesses did not have flooding insurance because of previous flooding. He said a proposal was being worked on by Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney which he expected would offer an increased level of support and go to Cabinet next Tuesday. The majority of the businesses (in Midleton) are severely damaged or destroyed, so this is on a scale that we havent seen in recent times, and so the response will have to be of a different nature and a different magnitude. Advertisement The clean-up gets under way on Main Street in Midleton, Co Cork (Brian Lawless/PA) A major clean-up operation is underway to deal with the aftermath of flooding that swamped several towns and villages in the southwest during the week. Army and civil defence units were deployed to support evacuation measures in Midleton following the storm. On Friday, Cork County Council said there is a high risk of further flooding in Midleton, and that levels of the Owenacurra river, located near the Woodlands Estate, are being closely monitored. Residents of the estate have been advised to be on high alert and people have been told to avoid parts of the town. Following further heavy rain overnight the river Owenacurra river levels continue to rise resulting in a high risk of further flooding in Midleton. There is a particular risk at present at Woodland estate. Cork County Council (@Corkcoco) October 20, 2023 A status yellow rain warning for Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Waterford has been lifted after being in place overnight. A status yellow rain warning for Northern Ireland is in place until 9am on Saturday. The UK Met Office said showers or longer spells of rain could lead to lead to some disruption, particularly for eastern areas. Mr McGrath and Mr Coveney visited areas affected by the flooding in their home county of Cork on Thursday. A young Wicklow man sexually exploited over 60 young children by posing as a teenage girl on Facebook and getting them to send him naked pictures of themselves, a court has heard. The 26-year-old man appeared before a sitting of Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court on Friday where he faced a total of 190 charges relating to various dates in 2015. Advertisement In many instances, the accused, purporting to be a teenage girl who sent nude photos of herself to young boys, warned the victims that she was suicidal and would kill herself if they didnt send her back naked photos of themselves. In some cases, he asked young boys to engage in sexual activity with another child and to take photos of it. The offences involved the sexual exploitation of 64 children, the vast majority of whom were young boys including one who was just eight-years-old. Advertisement In one instance, he asked a young boy to take a picture of the penis of his three-year-old cousin, but he refused. Advertisement Most cases involved victims based in Ireland. Counsel for the DPP, Anne Rowland SC, said the defendant was accused of 144 counts of the sexual exploitation of a child contrary to Section 3 of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998. He was also charged with 37 counts of the possession of child pornography and 11 counts of distributing child pornographic images contrary to other sections of the same legislation. The accused pleaded guilty to a total of 26 sample charges. Advertisement Detective Garda Georgina Earley of the Garda National Protective Services Bureau told the court that gardai were alerted about the offences by the US National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children in October 2015. Facebook accounts The court heard the accused had set up four Facebook accounts which were used to commit the offences with three of them containing variant spellings of the name of a teenage girl he had known from school. He asked one victim to send him nude photos of his two younger brothers who were aged 12 and 10. The court heard the accused had persuaded three young siblings based in the UK, for photos of their genital areas. They included a young girl aged 10, whose photos he redistributed online. Advertisement Advertisement Det Garda Earley one boy ultimately sent 12 images to the defendant via Facebook. However, the court heard that the boys father contacted the accused via Facebook and said he would be alerting police about what happened. When another victim with a moderate learning disability who had already sent him naked pictures refused to comply with a request, the accused warned him: Tell me to f**k off one more time and Ill put them on Facebook for everyone to see. Det Garda Earley said he threatened another 13-year-old victim who had autism that he would tell his mother if he did not comply with his instructions. Advertisement When the same boy asked, whom he thought was a girl, if she wanted a relationship, the accused texted back: No. Youre a handicap. The court heard that at one stage, the accused pretended to be a 13-year-old girl from Wales who wore a wig as a result of chemotherapy and threatened victims that she would self-harm if they did not respond to her requests. In another case, he tried to persuade an 11-year-old boy to send him a photo of his sperm via Instagram. Det Garda Earley told the court that the accused denied any knowledge of the Facebook accounts when he was arrested in 2017 and intimated one might belong to his brother. Advertisement She said most of the young children contacted by the accused did not wish to provide a victim impact statement as it would be too upsetting to recall such events. However, one victim who was 12-years-old at the time of the offence said what the accused did completely stole my innocence as a child and it impacted my life for years. The court heard that he believed the impact of what happened affected him even more now that he was older. Cross-examined by counsel for the defendant, Shane Costello SC, Det Garda Earley agreed that the defendant was aged 17-18 at the time of the offences. Evidence The boys father gave evidence that he only fully understood the gravity of his sons offending for the first time after what he had heard in court. Asked if he was surprised, the man replied: Shocked. He added: I apologise for what he has done. Honestly, I dont know what was going on in his mind. Mr Costello asked the court to recognise that his client, who has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, had entered an early guilty plea and spared many young victims from having to give evidence. Counsels said the accused did not deny that he had committed the offences but had difficulty remembering specific details because of the scale of what he did. Mr Costello said he was deeply remorseful and ashamed as well as recognising the gross effect of what he did on his victims. He wants his victims to know they did nothing wrong and that he is entirely guilty, said Mr Costello. Judge Patrick Quinn remanded the accused on continuing bail to the same court for sentencing on a date next month. The Supreme Court has found that delivery drivers for a pizza restaurant should be treated as employees and not contractors in a decision which has important implications for workers in the gig economy. The case concerned delivery drivers engaged under contracts in 2010/2011 by Karshan (Midlands) Ltd, trading as Domino's Pizza. Advertisement The drivers argued there were employees for tax purposes and Karshan said they were independent contractors under "contracts for service". Karshan had appealed a 2018 decision of a Tax Appeals Commissioner that the delivery drivers should be treated as PAYE workers. The High Court rejected that appeal, but the Court of Appeal (CoA), in a 2-1 majority, overturned that decision. The Revenue Commissioners sought and were granted a further appeal to the Supreme Court. In a unanimous decision on Friday, a seven-judge Supreme Court overturned the CoA decision. Advertisement Advertisement Giving the court's decision, Mr Justice Brian Murray said central to the appeal was whether it was necessary to the establishment of the employment relationship that there be a requirement that the employer and worker owe each other certain "mutual obligations". Karshan's "theory of mutuality of obligation" was that mutual commitments had to present some type of continuity and to have a forward-looking element. It also argued there had to be an obligation on the part of the employer to provide work and there had to be an obligation on the part of the employee to perform work. Mr Justice Murray said there was no such requirement in Irish law. Services He said the question of whether a contract is one "of" or "for" services should, having regard to well established case law, be resolved by reference to five questions. Advertisement The first three that must be met are: does the contract involved the exchange of wages or other remuneration for the work; if so, is the agreement one in which the worker is agreeing to provide their own services and not those of a third party to the employer; and if so, does the employer exercise sufficient control over the putative employee to render the agreement one that is capable of being an employment agreement. Advertisement If those three requirements are met, the decision-maker must then determine whether the terms of the contract between employer and worker, interpreted in the light of the admissible factual matrix and having regard to the working arrangement between the parties, are consistent with a contract of employment or some other form of contract. Regard must also be had to whether the arrangements point to the putative employee working for themselves or for the putative employer. Finally, the judge said, it should be determined whether there is anything in the particular legislative regime under consideration that requires the court to adjust or supplement any of the foregoing (requirements). Advertisement He said in this case the Tax Appeals Commissioner was entitled to conclude, as she did, that the drivers were employees of Karshan for the purposes of the relevant provisions of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. The evidence disclosed "close control" by Karshan over the drivers when they work. Substitution While there were some features of their activities that were consistent with their being independent contractors engaged in business on their own account, the Commissioner was entitled to conclude that the preponderance of the evidence pointed to the drivers carrying on Karshan's business rather than their own, he found. The contract was one that envisaged personal service by them, with the facility for substitution on certain conditions, with the substitutes being paid by Karshan and not by the originally rostered driver, he said. Advertisement In observations accompanying the judgment, Mr Justice Murray said it must be stated that the finding that the drivers were employees did not, and cannot, bind any driver who may wish to contend that, in fact, they were not an employee for this or any other purpose. The question of whether drivers have continuous service for the purpose of other legislation, and in particular employment rights legislation, cannot be decided here, he said. The question of costs will be decided by the court if agreement cannot be reached on it between the parties in two weeks. Mr Justice Murray said if the court has to deal with costs issues, it can include anything that may arise from comments he made in the judgment in relation to the potential injustice to Karshan being disproportionately penalised by one arm of the State for conducting its business in accordance with law as it was found by another government department. Storm Babet caused more travel disruption across the country on Friday amid forecasts of further heavy rain. Forecaster Met Eireann issued a status orange rain warning for counties Dublin and Wicklow until 8am on Saturday. Advertisement A status-yellow rain warning for counties Meath and Louth was to lift at midnight on Friday. A status-yellow rain warning from the UK Met Office was issued for Northern Ireland earlier in the day. Status Orange Rainfall Warning for #Dublin & #Wicklow Spells of heavy rain. Possible impacts: Flooding Dangerous driving conditions Poor visibility View all current warnings here https://t.co/Xg3aMJlyuS pic.twitter.com/VK3rYMuVtM Advertisement Met Eireann (@MetEireann) October 20, 2023 Irish Rail warned passengers of weather-related delays to some services on Friday evening while there were reports of spot flooding on roads causing disruption in parts of Dublin. Advertisement Advertisement Earlier, the Minister for Finance said a proposal was being worked on to increase the level of support that will be offered to those affected by this weeks flooding in Co Cork. Michael McGrath said money will be available through a scheme to be administered by the Red Cross from next week. This currently offers an initial 5,000 and further support of up to 20,000 based on the scale of damage. Advertisement Mr McGrath said many businesses in Midleton in Co Cork had their destroyed Christmas stock out on the street. The assessment of the full scale of the damage to homes and businesses will take some time, but the support will be there and that is the overarching message, he told RTE radio on Friday. Advertisement We do have to ensure, insofar as we can, that all of these businesses that were viable before two days ago can trade into the future. Mr McGrath said there will be a need to go further because many businesses did not have insurance because of previous flooding. He said a proposal was being worked on by Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney which he expected would offer an increased level of support and go to Cabinet next Tuesday. Advertisement The majority of the businesses (in Midleton) are severely damaged or destroyed, so this is on a scale that we havent seen in recent times, and so the response will have to be of a different nature and a different magnitude. The clean up gets under way on Main Street in Midleton, Co Cork (Brian Lawless/PA) A major clean-up operation is under way to deal with the aftermath of flooding that swamped several towns and villages in the southwest during the week. Army and civil defence units were deployed to support evacuation measures in Midleton following the storm. On Friday, residents of the Woodland estate in Midleton were advised to be on high alert amid concerns of further flooding and people were told to avoid parts of the town. Cork County Councils director of services for roads and transportation, Niall Healy, has called on residents in the Woodlands estate in Middleton to remain on high alert due to the high risk of flooding following Storm Babet. Mr Healy told RTE radios Morning Ireland that residents should engage with the gardai if they call to their door and to observe precautions because of the high risk of flooding. Advertisement The estate which is on the north end of the town is an association of roughly 20 houses which flooded in the last 24 hours, he explained. Six or seven homes had to be evacuated, and the estate is being closely monitored. We have had a crew on standby overnight that were checking the flood risk areas. Fire crews were going door to door in the estate urging residents to evacuate their homes. Advertisement We're asking people to just literally pay attention this morning, that is a high risk area. Main Street also in Midleton remains under observation, he added. There was some sort of surcharging of the combined sewer in the town at different stages overnight. And that was something that we were keeping an eye on, but it wasn't of concern to us. The Woodlands Estate is the area that is of most concern to us at the moment. Advertisement The yellow alert rainfall warning continues until 9 a.m. this morning, he said. The N25, which is one of the primary transport links in East Cork remained closed to traffic for much of yesterday, reopening in the afternoon with a one-way traffic management system in place. We've been monitoring that overnight. The flooding in the area has subsided, so we expect to be able to reopen that road shortly to air traffic. Mr Healy said there had been significant damage to the road infrastructure right across the county, particularly in the southern part of the county. The local authority was attempting to identify all affected locations so that damages can be assessed, and a funding request can be put to the Government for repairs and reconstruction in some places. The widow of a man who suffered a cardiac arrest and died aged 67 a week after being admitted to hospital has settled a High Court action over his death. Caroline Brophy claimed her late husband, Charles Brophy, was not properly diagnosed or treated for a pulmonary embolism after attending University Hospital Waterford on December 17th, 2019. Advertisement The Health Service Executive (HSE) denies it was negligent or breached its duty save for a failure to perform a test for blood clotting on the night of December 17th/18th. It rejected all other claims in the case brought by Ms Brophy, of Slade Castle Court, Saggart, Dublin, on behalf of herself and the other statutory dependants of her late husband for mental distress suffered due to his death. Mr Brophy, who lived in Mooncoin, Co Kilkenny, had a history of hypertension, varicose veins and blood clots. Advertisement The case alleged Mr Brophy, a business owner and school care taker, was examined and then discharged when he attended at hospitals emergency department on December 16th, 2019. Advertisement He was then admitted when he returned the next day with a GP referral. Medical staff noted he had generalised aches and pains, mild shortness of breath during exertion and right sided weakness over the preceding three days, Ms Brophy alleged. Further tests were conducted before he suffered a cardiac arrest on December 23rd and died despite prolonged attempts at resuscitation. Among her allegations is a claim there was a failure to have sufficient regard to Mr Brophys medical history and to consider he was suffering from pulmonary embolism. The HSE denied it was liable in any way for the distress suffered by Ms Brophy and Mr Brophys other dependants. Advertisement On Friday, Ms Brophys senior counsel, Jeremy Maher SC told the High Court the case had been settled on undisclosed terms. Mr Maher, instructed by Cian OCarroll solicitors, said Mr Brophys siblings and his son, Brian Brophy, waived their entitlement to a statutory payment on foot of the settlement. Mr Brophys two grandchildren will receive 5,000 each, the court heard. Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds conveyed her sympathy to Ms Brophy and Brian Brophy, who were present in court. Denying the claims, the HSE alleged the findings of Mr Brophys heart monitor were extremely subtle on December 17th. When the possibility of a pulmonary embolus was raised the next day, Mr Brophy underwent a scan on his blood vessels which confirmed the diagnosis, the HSE claimed. He received appropriate anticoagulant treatment within one hour of being diagnosed, it added. The HSE further pointed to Mr Brophy being admitted in the evening and being seen by the medical team in the early hours of the next day. No hospital offers echocardiographic assessment on a 24-hour basis, it said. As Cork and Kerry begin to recover from the damage done by Storm Babet, a new yellow rain warning is in place for Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Waterford this morning. Met Eireann is warning of heavy bursts of rain or showers overnight and through Friday morning coupled with waterlogged soils and high river levels. Advertisement They said it is likely to lead to localised flooding and dangerous travelling conditions. The warning is valid from 12:07am to 9am on Friday morning. Another status yellow rain warning also comes into effect on Friday for Dublin, Louth, Meath, Wicklow and Kerry. The forecaster is predicting heavy rain or showers with a chance of thunder. They are also warning of flooding and dangerous driving conditions. Advertisement The warning is valid from 9am on Friday until 9pm this evening. Advertisement Update Yellow Rain Warning Cork, Kerry, Limerick & Waterford Valid: 00:07 Fri 20/10/2023 to 09:00 Fri 20/10/2023 Dublin, Louth, Meath, Wicklow, Kerry Valid: 09:00 Fri 20/10/2023 to 21:00 Fri 20/10/2023 Stay updated & check possible impactshttps://t.co/ZsjQsKCXDy pic.twitter.com/WbFTgj2x4r Met Eireann (@MetEireann) October 20, 2023 Advertisement On Thursday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the Government would be offering a financial package to support people whose homes and businesses were damaged in floods during Storm Babet. Mr Varadkar visited some of those worst hit by the storm in Midleton, Co Cork, during a major clean-up operation to deal with the aftermath of flooding that swamped several towns and villages in Ireland. Its very, very hard to know what to say. I visited a few places affected by floods in the past but this is particularly bad, he said. Water levels rose very high, the water came very quickly, and of course, a lot of the water is dirty. So a lot of damage done here is to homes as well. Advertisement But were not just here as a Government to just to express solidarity, were here to help." Met Eireann said slow moving downpours in parts of the west and southwest will ease for a time with some brighter spells, but rain will linger near some coasts. Advertisement Heavy spells of rain over Ulster will spread into north Leinster this morning and other areas during the afternoon and early evening , heavy at times with some localised flooding possible. Some drier brighter spells will return to the north by the end of the day. Afternoon temperatures of 10 to 15 degrees, coolest in northern areas. Strong and gusty winds in the east, north and far southwest. Winds will be lighter in other areas. Advertisement Saturday will be a day of bright spells and some scattered showers or patchy rain in parts. However, a lot of dry weather for many. Maximum temperatures of 10 to 12 degrees in a moderate north to northwesterly breeze decreasing light. They said the overall national outlook will be very mixed weather with temperatures near normal. It looks set to be dry for many on Sunday with plenty of autumnal sunshine and just the odd passing shower. However, during the late afternoon and evening some showery rain is expected to spread into the west and south which could turn heavy or thundery in places. Highest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees in light to moderate, variable or southeasterly winds. Showers or longer spells of rain, heavy or possibly thundery in parts, will affect Munster, and parts of Connacht and Leinster, on Sunday night with the chance of localised flooding in places. It will hold drier elsewhere with some scattered showers. Winds will be light with some mist and fog. Hamas has freed an American woman and her teenage daughter it had held hostage in the Gaza Strip, Israel said, the first such release from among around 200 people the militant group abducted during its October 7th rampage through southern Israel. Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie are out of the Gaza Strip and in the hands of the Israeli military, an army spokesperson said. Advertisement Hamas said it had released them for humanitarian reasons in an agreement with the Qatari government. Natalies father Uri Raanan (71) told The Associated Press that he had spoken to his daughter by telephone. (PA Graphics) Advertisement He said: Shes doing good. Shes doing very good. Im in tears, and I feel very, very good. The release comes amid growing expectations of a ground offensive that Israel says is aimed at rooting out Hamas militants who rule the Gaza Strip. Advertisement Judith and Natalie Ranaan had been on a trip from their home in suburban Chicago to Israel to celebrate the Jewish holidays, family said. They were in the kibbutz of Nahal Oz, near Gaza, on October 7th Simchat Torah, a festive Jewish holiday when Hamas fighters stormed out of the territory into southern Israeli towns, killing hundreds and abducting 203 others. Advertisement The family heard nothing from them after the attack and were later told by US and Israeli officials that they were being held in Gaza, Natalies brother Ben said. US president Joe Biden said: I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been wracked with fear. The International Committee of the Red Cross, which transported the freed Americans from Gaza to Israel, said their release was a sliver of hope. Advertisement Today, we have secured the release of two Americans taken hostage by Hamas during the horrific terrorist assault against Israel. Our fellow citizens have endured a terrible ordeal these past 14 days, and I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family. President Biden (@POTUS) October 20, 2023 Advertisement Meir Hecht, Ms Raanans rabbi, told a press conference: The news that Judith and Natalie have been released from the hands of Hamas is overwhelming. It brings us a tremendous amount of gratitude to the Almighty, to God, for this incredible miracle. Advertisement At the same time we hold our pain very deep. We need to continue besieging whoever we can and however we can, and praying for (the other hostages) release. Hamas said in a statement that it was working with mediators to close the case of hostages if security circumstances permit. The group added that it is committed to mediation efforts by Egypt, Qatar and other countries. Relatives of other captives welcomed the release and appealed for the others to be freed. We call on world leaders and the international community to exert their full power in order to act for the release of all the hostages and missing, the statement said. Qatar said it would continue its dialogue with Israel and Hamas in hopes of winning the release of all hostages with the ultimate aim of de-escalating the current crisis and restoring peace. Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said Israel was continuing to work to return hostages and find the missing, and its goals had not changed. We are continuing the war against Hamas and ready for the next stage of the war, he said. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed in the upsurge of violence mostly civilians during the Hamas incursion that shattered Israelis sense of security. Advertisement The Health Ministry run by Hamas says more than 4,100 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the war began. That includes a disputed number of people who died in a hospital explosion earlier this week. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said he has spoken by phone with US President Joe Biden about Washingtons future support for Kyiv. The contact came as Russian President Vladimir Putin visited a military base near the Ukrainian border, as the warring countries laid plans for combat operations over winter and the coming year. Advertisement Almost 20 months of war have sapped both sides military resources. The fighting is likely to settle into positional and attritional warfare during the approaching wintry weather, analysts say, with little change along the more than 600-mile front line. President Joe Biden has pledged support for Ukraine (AP) Mr Zelensky said late on Thursday that he spoke to Mr Biden about a significant support package for Ukraine. Western help has been crucial for Ukraines war effort. Advertisement The US president has asked ask Congress for billions of dollars in military assistance for Ukraine and Israel, the same day he was to meet European Union leaders at the Oval Office to consider how they can help Kyiv. Advertisement Meanwhile, Mr Putin visited the headquarters of Russias Southern Military District, less than 60 miles from Ukraines south-eastern border, where he was briefed on the war by the chief of the General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, the Kremlin said. With uncertainty over the scale of Kyivs future Western aid, and after Ukraines five-month counter-offensive sapped Russian reserves but apparently only dented Russian front-line defences, the two sides are scrambling to replenish their stockpiles for 2024. Vladimir Putin has visited Russian forces close to the Ukrainian border (Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) Advertisement Ukraine has been expending ammunition at a rate of more than 200,000 rounds per month, according to Jack Watling, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute think tank in London. Mr Watling wrote in an assessment: Sufficient ammunition to sustain this rate of fire is not going to be forthcoming as Nato stockpiles deplete, and production rates for ammunition remain too low to meet this level of demand. Meanwhile, Russian production has turned a corner, he said. Moscows domestic ammunition production is growing quickly, at more than 100 long-range missiles a month compared with 40 a month a year ago, for example, according to Mr Watling. Advertisement Also, Russia is reported to be receiving supplies from Iran, North Korea and other countries. Advertisement Though Ukraines counter-offensive has not made dramatic progress against Russias formidable defences, it has suppressed the Kremlins forces and Kyiv is looking to keep up the pressure. That will help stretch Russias manpower resources which are already under strain, according to the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank. It said in its latest assessment that Russian forces largely lack high-quality reserves and are struggling to generate, train and soundly deploy reserves to effectively plug holes in the front line and pursue offensive operations. Fentanyl producers in Mexico should be killed. So too should human traffickers and drug smugglers on the US-Mexico border. Shoplifters should be shot. Drug dealers and rapists? Executed. Some Republican contenders for their party's 2024 presidential nomination have turned to a blunt policy proposal to tamp down on crime: killing criminals. Advertisement The approach is not entirely novel, and it no doubt would face legal challenges. Major Republican presidential candidates have long advocated for an expansion of the death penalty, and former US president Donald Trump, the frontrunner for the Republican nomination, said police should rough up criminals during his 2017-2021 term. But Republican strategists involved in previous campaigns and experts in political rhetoric say that calls to shoot, kill or otherwise injure criminals, at least those who commit the most heinous crimes, appear to be more common during this Republican primary race than they have been in other cycles. Advertisement The reasons are various, those people said. Trump rhetoric Mr Trump received little political blowback from inside the party for his rhetoric toward crime while in office, when he routinely called criminals "animals" and "thugs," noted Doug Heye, a long-time Republican strategist. Advertisement Crime, meanwhile, is a greater concern for voters than it has been in previous elections, even as crime trends are mixed. Violent crimes, including rape and murder, declined in the United States in 2022 from the previous year, according to a report released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation this week. At the same time, property crime and aggravated assault were up, while the 21,156 murders reported in 2022 were above pre-pandemic levels. Some 88 per cent of respondents in a September Reuters/Ipsos poll said crime would be an important issue for determining who gets their vote in the November 2024 general election. With Mr Trump nearly 40 percentage points ahead of his nearest rival in the Republican race, his opponents are also incentivised to try to break through by putting forward attention-grabbing policy proposals, even those that appear to advocate state violence. Advertisement 'Something more outrageous all the time' "In a primary where it is becoming increasingly difficult to break through the noise, the incentive is to say something more outrageous all the time," said David Kochel, a Republican consultant who is not aligned with any candidate. Advertisement During a September speech in California, Mr Trump made headlines for saying, "If you rob a store, you can fully expect to be shot as you are leaving that store. Shot!" He did not say whether store owners or police would be doing the shooting. The former president has reiterated previous calls for drug dealers to receive the death penalty, despite legal scholars questioning its constitutionality. Florida governor Ron DeSantis, Mr Trump's top challenger, has said repeatedly he would authorise deadly force against suspected smugglers crossing the US-Mexico border, leaving them "stone-cold dead". Advertisement Mr DeSantis has signalled he is open to firing missiles into Mexico to kill narcotics kingpins involved in the trade of the synthetic opioid fentanyl that is fuelling a deadly drug crisis in America. He and several other contenders have signalled they are also open to sending special forces into Mexico, the US's top trade partner, to kill suspects involved in the drug trade. During the spring state legislative session in Florida, Mr DeSantis signed a bill expanding the use of the death penalty by, among other measures, allowing its use in cases of child rape, which has not occurred in the US since 1964. At the most recent primary debate in California in September, former vice president Mike Pence said he would seek to accelerate executions of people involved in mass shootings. Advertisement Mr Trump and Mr Pence did not respond to requests for comment, while Mr DeSantis' campaign defended his statements. Advertisement "Unlike the other candidates' mere talk, Ron DeSantis has delivered results on law and order issues," said DeSantis campaign press secretary Bryan Griffin. Mr DeSantis' campaign noted that he has also sought to increase the number of police officers in Florida by offering them signing bonuses. World Inside Ron DeSantis' fight to stop Trump's Republi... Read More Mr Pence has said he supports tough-on-crime measures paired with criminal justice reform, indicating he still supports a measure he signed as the governor of Indiana in 2015 to reduce the population of low-level offenders in state prisons. Practically speaking, some of the proposals the candidates have put forward are likely illegal and their efficacy is untested, raising questions about whether they would be put into practice, legal experts say. For instance, the US Supreme Court holds that the application of the death penalty for crimes that do not result in the death of the victim is generally unconstitutional. In 2008, the court left open the possibility of the death penalty for "drug kingpin activity," though it has never been applied. "These are potentially policies, but they're also a way of getting attention," said Thomas Zeitzoff, a politics professor at American University in Washington. "It's a signal to the base that I'm tough." In coffee shops and churches, on farms and front porches, on the phone and through text exchanges, Ron DeSantis' grassroots supporters are trying to pull off a long-shot win in the Iowa caucuses and upend the 2024 Republican presidential race. Any hope Republicans have of stopping former US president Donald Trump, the runaway frontrunner, from securing the party's nomination likely begins and ends with Iowa on January 15th. Advertisement Even a close finish could reshape the race. If Mr Trump takes Iowa, he is all but assured the 2024 presidential nomination. While the Florida governor trails Mr Trump by 37 percentage points in the latest Reuters/Ipsos national poll, the last three winners of the Iowa Republican caucuses were in similar positions to Mr DeSantis in Iowa polling at this stage of the race. Advertisement To slow Mr Trumps momentum, Mr DeSantis is banking on a ground game far more extensive than the one Mr Trump employs in the state, and on a strategy of building support in a cluster of rural and lightly populated Iowa counties. While Mr Trump prefers to hold large rallies mostly in metropolitan areas and has made fewer than 10 trips to the state, Mr DeSantis has held close to 50 events in Iowa since launching his campaign in May. Advertisement The DeSantis campaign has also relocated one-third of its campaign staff about two dozen people - to Iowa and has committed to a $2 million TV ad buy to run through the caucuses. Mr DeSantis isnt the only candidate banking on Iowa. Nikki Haley, the former ambassador to the United Nations, former vice president Mike Pence and US senator Tim Scott have also staked much on performing well in Iowa. Unlike in a primary, which features votes cast at a polling place, the caucus voting system in Iowa involves community leaders gathering in a room to convince others to support their chosen candidate. That means personal relationships are vital. When Troy Scheuermann, a chiropractor in Van Buren County stood up to introduce Mr DeSantis at a campaign stop in Keosauqua (population 920) this month, he first asked how many of his patients were in the crowd of about 100. About a third raised their hands. Advertisement Advertisement Mr Scheuermann, who has been practicing in the region for 23 years, said he had been talking up the event at his clinic. "That's part of the grassroots game," he said. Mr DeSantis' positions on restricting abortion and reducing US aid to Ukraine won him over and convinced him to become a county leader - but only after meeting Mr DeSantis in person first. Mr DeSantis organisation, Mr Scheuermann said, is better than any candidate I have helped in any election". Meanwhile, Mr Trump, he said, doesnt have a ground network in Van Buren County at all". Advertisement People who know people Reuters travelled to far-flung corners of the state with Mr DeSantis, speaking to campaign workers who said they are going door to door in places most campaigns never bother with. Mr DeSantis is also relying on a tight-knit network of influencers that includes business leaders, pastors, politicians, veterans and farmers. "Both those two things have historically made a huge difference here in a caucus situation, Mr DeSantis told Reuters after the Van Buren County event. On a crisp autumn morning in Le Mars, Iowa, the self-proclaimed Ice Cream Capital of the World, (population 10,572) about 100 people waited outside an ice-cream parlour for Mr DeSantis. Le Mars sits in the northwest corner of the state, in a heavily evangelical region where anti-abortion signs dot the roadways. Advertisement Advertisement Standing outside the shop were Don Kass and Mike Van Otterloo, both members of the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors and there as organisers for Mr DeSantis. Its knowing people who know people, said Mr Van Otterloo, also a former long-time county sheriff. Its knowing where to place yard signs, its knowing who to contact. Outside, the street was lined with signs supporting Mr DeSantis. Trump signs could not be found. Is Mr DeSantis' strategy working? It's hard to say. Most caucus-goers make up their minds in the final six to eight weeks before the contest, said David Kochel, a Republican operative who worked on Iowa campaigns for former Florida governor Jeb Bush and US senator Mitt Romney. Republican presidential candidate Florida governor Ron DeSantis and his wife Casey DeSantis speak with guests following a campaign event at Refuge City Church on October 8th, 2023 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images "We still have plenty of time," Mr Kochel said. For farmer Lance Lillibridge of Benton County, Iowa, a personal touch from Mr DeSantis, a politician not known for his warmth, is what secured his support. A former president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association, Mr Lillibridge met Mr DeSantis in June at a discussion on agricultural issues. After Mr Lillibridge was in a motorcycle accident in July and injured his leg, Mr DeSantis called to check on him. He didnt have to do that, Mr Lillibridge said. Advertisement Mr Lillibridge soured on Mr Trump after his trade war with China led to tariffs that damaged his business, a 2,700-acre farm that grows corn and soybeans. Mr Lillibridge now heads a farmers' coalition backing Mr DeSantis. He said he has 2,500 contacts in his phone and plans to try to convert one or two people each day to the candidate. The odds of Mr DeSantis vanquishing a popular former president who has only been buoyed by a string of indictments are steep. But there is precedent for Mr DeSantis rural-heavy approach: the last three winners of the caucuses, US senator Ted Cruz in 2016, former US senator Rick Santorum in 2012 and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee in 2008, all utilised it to some degree. Rural roads In a recent three-day swing through Iowa, Mr DeSantis travelled through Davis County (population 9,138), Van Buren County (7,243) and Buena Vista County (20,771). Mr DeSantis told Reuters he expects to have visited 98 of the 99 counties by the end of October. These voters want to see you, they want to be able to kick the tires, and a candidate that is willing to show up in rural counties and suburban areas, the whole nine yards, when youre willing to do that, that helps, he said. Never Back Down, a fundraising super PAC backing his White House run, says it has already knocked on 475,000 doors in Iowa. The 99-county tour is a good contrast with Trump, who hasnt done nearly as much. Well see if voters reward that. Weve hit all of our target homes in Iowa twice already, said Jessica Szymanski, the group's deputy communications director. Ms Szymanski said the group plans to return to the same residences a total of four or five times before the caucuses. It says it has 22 staffers on the ground and has recruited close to 20,000 volunteers. The Trump campaign said it has identified 1,800 in-state volunteers to support the campaign, as well as 200 county chairs representing all 99 counties. Mr Kochel said the scale of Mr DeSantis operation has impressed him, particularly the door-to-door data collection on possible voters, as has Mr DeSantis pledge to travel far and wide. The 99-county tour is a good contrast with Trump, who hasnt done nearly as much. Well see if voters reward that. Israel has said it does not plan to take long-term control over the Gaza Strip after an expected ground offensive to root out Hamas militants that rule the territory. The Israeli military punished Gaza with air strikes, and authorities inched closer to bringing aid to desperate families and hospitals, as people across Muslim countries protested in solidarity with Palestinians. Advertisement Israel bombed areas in southern Gaza where Palestinians had been told to seek safety while it aims to destroy Hamas in retaliation for its brutal rampage in Israel two weeks ago. (PA Graphics) Fighting between Israel and militants in neighbouring Lebanon also raged, prompting evacuations of Israeli border towns as fears of a widening conflict grew. Advertisement Speaking to legislators about Israels long-term plans for the Gaza Strip, defence minister Yoav Gallant laid out a three-stage plan that seemed to suggest Israel did not intend to reoccupy the territory it left in 2005. Advertisement First, Israeli air strikes and manoeuvring a presumed reference to a ground attack would aim to root out Hamas. Next will come a lower intensity fight to defeat remaining pockets of resistance, and finally, a new security regime will be created in Gaza along with the removal of Israels responsibility for life in the territory. Mr Gallant did not say who Israel expected to run the territory if Hamas is toppled. Advertisement Israeli soldiers listen to Israels defence minister Yoav Gallant during his visit to a staging area near the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel (Tsafrir Abayov/AP) Israel occupied Gaza from 1967 until 2005, when it pulled up settlements and withdrew soldiers. Two years later, Hamas took over. Some Israelis blame the withdrawal from Gaza for the sporadic violence that has persisted since then. As the humanitarian crisis worsened for Gazas 2.3 million civilians, workers along its border with Egypt began work to repair the border crossing in a first step to getting aid to besieged Palestinians, who were running out of fuel, food, water and medicine. More than a million people have been displaced in Gaza. Many heeded Israels orders to evacuate the northern part of the sealed-off enclave on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Though Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called areas in southern Gaza safe zones earlier this week, Israeli military spokesman Nir Dinar said on Friday: There are no safe zones. Advertisement Advertisement UN officials said that with the bombings across all of Gaza, some Palestinians who had fled the north appeared to be going back. The strikes, coupled with extremely difficult living conditions in the south, appear to have pushed some to return to the north, despite the continuing heavy bombing there, said Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the UN human rights office. Burned cars next to homes that came under attack during a massive Hamas invasion into Kibbutz Nir Oz, Israel (AP) Advertisement Gazas overwhelmed hospitals were rationing their dwindling resources as authorities worked out logistics for a desperately needed aid delivery from Egypt. Generators in Shifa Hospital, Gazas largest, were operating at the lowest setting to conserve fuel while providing power to vital departments such as intensive care, hospital director Mohammed Abu Selmia said. Others worked in darkness. The lack of medical supplies and water are making it difficult to treat the mass of victims from the Israeli strikes, he said. The deal to get aid into Gaza through the territorys only entry point not controlled by Israel remained fragile. Israel said the supplies could only go to civilians and that it would thwart any diversions by Hamas. It was unclear if fuel for the hospital generators would be allowed to enter. Work continued on Friday to repair the road at the Rafah border between Egypt and Gaza that had been damaged in air strikes. Advertisement A US official said aid had been delayed because of ongoing road repairs, and that it was expected to move across the border on Saturday. More than 200 trucks and 3,000 tons of aid were positioned near the crossing. UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres visited the crossing on Friday and appealed for the quick movement of aid into the Gaza Strip, calling it the difference between life and death. Israel has evacuated its own communities near Gaza and Lebanon, putting residents in hotels elsewhere in the country. The Defence Ministry announced evacuation plans on Friday for Kiryat Shmona, a town of more than 20,000 residents near the Lebanese border. Three Israelis including a five-year-old girl were wounded in a rocket attack there on Thursday, according to Israeli health services. Aid trucks waiting on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing (Maxar Technologies/AP) Lebanons Hezbollah militant group, which has a massive arsenal of long-range rockets, has traded fire with Israel along the border on a near-daily basis and hinted it might join the war if Israel seeks to annihilate Hamas. Iran supports both armed groups. More than 4,200 people have been displaced from villages in south Lebanon by clashes on the border with Israel, and local officials said on Friday that they are ill-prepared for the much larger exodus that would ensue if the conflict escalates to an all-out war. Advertisement The violence in Gaza has also sparked protests across the region, including in Arab countries allied with the US. Palestinians in Gaza reported heavy air strikes in Khan Younis, a town in the territorys south, and ambulances carrying men, women and children streamed into the local Nasser Hospital. A group of Palestinian supporters march during a rally to urge Israel to suspend attacks on the Gaza Strip in Seoul, South Korea (Ahn Young-joon/AP) An Israeli air strike hit a Greek Orthodox church housing displaced Palestinians in Gaza City on Thursday. The military said it had targeted a Hamas command centre nearby, causing damage to a church wall. Gazas Hamas-run Health Ministry said 16 Palestinian Christians were killed. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchy of Jerusalem condemned the attack and said it would not abandon its religious and humanitarian duty to provide assistance. Palestinian militants have launched unrelenting rocket attacks into Israel more than 6,900 since October 7, according to Israel and tensions have flared in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. On Friday, two Palestinian teenagers were killed in clashes in the West Bank, where more than 80 Palestinians have been killed over the past two weeks. Palestinians stand around the bodies of the Awaja family killed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip in Rafah (Hatem Ali/AP) Thirteen Palestinians, including five minors, were killed on Thursday during a battle with Israeli troops in which Israel called in an air strike, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. An Israeli border police officer was killed in the fighting, Israel said. Advertisement The Gaza Health Ministry said 4,137 people have been killed in the territory since the war began. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly civilians who died during Hamass deadly incursion. Israel says 203 people were taken hostage into the Gaza Strip. On Friday, Hamas militants freed two Americans, Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie, who also hold Israeli citizenship. They had been held hostage in the Gaza Strip after being taken from the kibbutz of Nahal Oz during a trip to southern Israel from their home in suburban Chicago. Jim Jordan looks to be failing again in a third ballot for the House of Representatives speakers gavel, rejected by a string of more mainstream Republicans who warned the ally of Donald Trump that no threats or promises could win their support. The US House of Representatives were voting again on Friday, but Republicans have no realistic or workable plan to unite the partys fractured majority, elect a new speaker and return to the work of congress that has been languishing since hardliners ousted Kevin McCarthy as speaker at the start of the month. Advertisement Mr Jordan said at a press conference ahead of the session: The American people are hungry for change. Drawing on his Ohio roots, the far-right Mr Jordan, who is popular with the partys activist base of voters, positioned his long-shot campaign alongside the history of American innovators including the Wright brothers, urging his colleagues to elect him to the speakership. Advertisement We need to get to work for the American people, he said. After two failed votes, Mr Jordans third attempt at the House gavel is not expected to end in success either. Advertisement The Ohio congressman, a top Donald Trump ally, is looking to be the new House speaker, in Washington DC (AP) In fact, Friday is likely to produce an even worse tally for the fiery judiciary committee chairman in large part because more centrist rank-and-file Republicans are revolting over the hardball tactics being used to win their votes. They say they have been bombarded with harassing phone calls, and some even reported death threats. Advertisement Mr Jordan, a founder of the far-right Freedom Caucus, said: Im still running for speaker and I plan to go to the floor and get the votes and win this race. But more than two weeks into the stalemate that has shut down the US House, leaving a seat of American democracy severely hobbled at a time of challenges at home and abroad, the House Republican majority appears to have no idea how to end the political turmoil and get back to work. He doesnt have the votes to be speaker, Republican representative Carlos Gimenez said after a meeting late on Thursday when Mr Jordan sought to hear them out and shore up support. Advertisement Advertisement An 8am Jim Jordan judiciary presser? Whats he gonna do, announce that hes going to impeach everyone who doesnt vote for him? https://t.co/M7WV6KK79E Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) October 20, 2023 Advertisement The holdouts want nothing from Mr Jordan, Mr Gimenez said, adding that some of the legislators in the meeting simply called on Mr Jordan to drop out of the race. One extraordinary idea to give the interim speaker pro tempore, Patrick McHenry, more powers for the next several months to at least bring the House back into session and conduct crucial business was swiftly rejected by Mr Jordans own ultra-conservative allies. Mr Jordan had backed the temporary speaker plan as a way to allow more time to shore up support in his own reach for the gavel. Asinine, commented Chip Roy, a leader of the Freedom Caucus. Next steps remain uncertain as frustrated Republicans predict the House could essentially stay closed for the foreseeable future perhaps until the mid-November deadline for congress to approve funding or risk a federal government shutdown. Mr Jordan insists he will get the vote over the line but faces deepening opposition within his own party (AP) Were trying to figure out if theres a way we can get back with a Republican-only solution, said veteran legislator Tom Cole. Advertisement Thats what normal majorities do. What this majority has done is prove its not a normal majority. What was clear was that Mr Jordans path to become House speaker was almost certainly collapsing. Representative John Rutherford said: Its not going to happen. No American should accost another for their beliefs. We condemn all threats against our colleagues and it is imperative that we come together. Stop. Its abhorrent. Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) October 18, 2023 After a first failed vote on Tuesday, Mr Jordan lost rather than gained ground on a crucial second ballot on Wednesday, opposed by 22 Republicans two more than the day before. Many view the Ohio congressman as too extreme for a central seat of US power, second in line to the presidency. One thing I cannot stomach or support is a bully, said a statement from Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa, who voted against Mr Jordan on the second ballot and said she received credible death threats. With Republicans in majority control of the House, by 221-212, it appears there are no Republican candidates who can win a clear majority, 217 votes, to become speaker. Authorities across northern Europe have urged vigilance as the region braces for heavy rain and gale force winds from the east as a severe storm sweeps through. The gale force winds are expected to hit hardest in the eastern part of Denmarks Jutland peninsula and the Danish islands in the Baltic Sea. Advertisement But the UK, southern Sweden, northern Germany and parts of Norway are also in the path of Storm Babet, which hit Ireland earlier this week. A worker tries to pump water away in Haderslev, Denmark (Scanpix via AP) It will probably be some kind of historic event, Hans Peter Wandler of the Danish Meteorological Institute told the Ekstra Bladet daily. Advertisement But well have to wait until its over to see if its going to be a two-year event, or a 100-year event. Police in southern Denmark the Danish region expected to be the worst hit said that a number of road sections in the low-lying areas were flooded and a few trees have also fallen. Advertisement Citing the Danish Meteorological Institute which issued a warning for very dangerous weather its highest police in southern Denmark said the water level will continue to rise. Advertisement The region is braced for heavy rain and gale force winds (Scanpix via AP) Sea levels in parts of inland Danish waters were expected to rise up to 7.9ft above normal. In neighbouring Sweden, meteorologists warned of the risk of extensive flooding which may cause limited access on roads and railways along the southern coasts of the Scandinavian country. Water levels are expected to begin dropping again on Saturday morning, Swedish meteorologists said. Advertisement A bridge near Norways second largest city was protectively closed, the Bergens Tidende newspaper said. Ferries across the region were cancelled and air traffic was hampered, with delays and a few cancellations. Detectives in the UK are offering a reward for information relating to the murder of a man whose body was found in a freezer inside a disused pub. The remains of Roy Bigg were discovered just over two years ago after police were called to the basement of a building that was formerly Simpsons Wine Bar in Forest Gate, east London. Advertisement Police said that Mr Bigg went missing in February 2012, adding they believed his body may have been in the freezer for a number of years until it was discovered at the premises in Romford Road on October 15th, 2021. Mr Biggs body was found inside the freezer wrapped in cling film by workers hired to clear the building after the eviction of as many as 20 squatters, The Independent reported. Advertisement Roy Biggs remains were found in a freezer two years ago (Metropolitan Police/PA) Advertisement London's Metropolitan Police is offering a reward of up to 20,000 for information leading to the arrest, charge and prosecution of those responsible for the murder of Mr Bigg. Detective Chief Inspector Kelly Allen, of the Mets Specialist Crime Command, said: Its now been more than two years since Roy was found. Although our investigation, and previous media appeals have provided us with information about Roys life, we still need your help to identify who is responsible. Roy went missing in February 2012. We believe that his body may have been in the freezer for a number of years, and that he was aged about 70 when he died. Where was he between 2012 and 2021? To date, there have been no confirmed sightings of him in this nine-year period. Can you help? Advertisement Anything you can tell us may prove invaluable in helping us discover what happened. A post-mortem examination found the cause of death to be inconclusive and Mr Biggs remains were identified through his dental records. A US army private who fled to North Korea before being returned home last month has been detained by the American military and is facing charges including desertion and possessing sexual images of a child, sources said. The eight counts against Pte Travis King are detailed in a charging document seen by The Associated Press. The charges have not yet been publicly announced. Advertisement Kings mother, Claudine Gates, said in a statement that she loved her son unconditionally and was extremely concerned about his mental health. As his mother, I ask that my son be afforded the presumption of innocence, she said. Desertion alone can result in imprisonment for as much as three years. King is also accused of kicking and punching other officers last year, unlawfully possessing alcohol, making a false statement and possessing a video of a child engaged in sexual activity. Advertisement Advertisement That allegation dates to July 10, the same day he was released from a South Korean prison where he had served nearly two months on assault charges. One week later, King, 23, ran across the heavily fortified border from South Korea and became the first American to be detained in North Korea in nearly five years. He was set to be sent to Fort Bliss, Texas, where he could have faced potential additional disciplinary actions and discharge. Kings mother Claudine Gates has expressed concern for her sons mental health (AP) Advertisement Officials said King was taken to the airport and escorted as far as customs. But instead of getting on the plane, he left and later joined a civilian tour of the Korean border village of Panmunjom. He ran across the border, which is lined with guards and often crowded with tourists, in the afternoon. After about two months, Pyongyang abruptly announced that it would expel him. He was flown on September 28 to a US air force base in Texas. His release from North Korea was aided by Swedish officials who took King to the Chinese border, where he was met by US Ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns, the Swedish ambassador to China and at least one US defence department official. He was then flown to an American military base in South Korea before heading to the US. Advertisement Once back in the US, King was taken to Brooke Army Medical Centre at Fort Sam Houston outside San Antonio. He went through what the military describes as a reintegration process that included medical exams, psychological assessments and debriefings. And he was also allowed to meet with family. Advertisement Because he had willingly run into enemy hands, he was kept in military custody throughout that process. At the time, officials said they did not know exactly why North Korea decided to let King go, but suspected Pyongyang determined that as a low-ranking serviceman he had no real value in terms of either leverage or information. King joined the Army in January 2021, and served as a cavalry scout. The charging document does not provide significant detail on any of the allegations, though it does accuse King of knowingly possessing a video of a child engaging in sexual conduct last July 10 and says that he solicited a user of Snapchat, a social media platform, to produce images of under-age sexual activity. Attaboy releases Golden from Radiate Music | Hoganson Media Leading school assemblies followed by evening, full-production concerts coast-to-coast, Indiana-based pop/rock band Attaboy releases the danceable pop track Golden today (Oct. 20) from Radiate Music at digital and streaming outlets globally via www.attaboyonline.com/golden. Written by Attaboy band members Ryan Payne (vocals/guitar/piano), Jeff Edgel (guitar/piano), Melanie Watson (bass/background vocals) and Christian Watson (drums), Golden was produced, mixed and mastered by Doug Weier (Anberlin, We Are Leo) along with engineering by Luke Johns (The Young Escape, Jordan Feliz). Golden is a call to light up the darkness wherever you go, says Payne. As a band, we get to shine light into dark places when we perform in public schools where students are hurting and in need of hope. We want Golden to put a smile on your face and inspire you to break through the darkness and light up your world. Chorus Breaking through the night Fires growing Dancing rain or shine Im golden Catch that rising light Now Im glowing Cant stop shining Im golden, Im golden The new single follows Attaboys first new single in four years, Makin Moves. Together with Attaboys sixth full-length album WILD that features the Parade.com-premiered anti-apathy track Waking Up, the songs are hitting dance floors, fitness centers and workout playlists along with concert venues across the country. Bringing its new music, fan favorites and hopeful messages to multiple states this fall, Attaboys 2023 schedule continues with events in Michigan, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. While the bands assemblies and youth conference events are generally closed to the public (these dates can be found at https://attaboyassemblies.com/schedule), concerts open to the public can be found on the bands website at https://attaboyonline.com/. With more new music to come, all the latest Attaboy tour and album information can be found on their website and socials, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Apple Music, Spotify and YouTube. Attaboy | Hoganson Media About Attaboy: Witnessing a ubiquitous longing for authentic social and spiritual connection, Attaboys music and message is reaching skeptical earsfeet moving to the beat, voices finding belonging in the harmony and hearts opening, blooming simply through the invitation to hope for something more. During its school assemblies, the band uniquely combines its energic and relevant music with a positive message for students, sharing personal experiences of taking a stand for what is right and encouraging students to make their own decisions. Topics they cover include not judging others based on appearance, rejecting the negative labels placed by others, making wise decisions and not letting the past define the future. About Radiate Music: Founded by Ian Eskelin, Radiate Music launched summer 2015. Eskelin's 20-plus-year resume in the music business, ranging from being a recording artist to a record executive, gives him a unique perspective in partnering with artists who are passionate about impacting culture with music. Eskelin, who has recorded more than 50 Top 10 singles in the United States alone, including 20 No. 1 songs, and whose songs have been licensed for use by ABC, NBC, CBS, ESPN and many feature films, is looking to break additional ground with Radiate. Radiates artist roster includes Natasha Owens, JJ Weeks, Justin Warren, Attaboy, About A Mile and Inspiration Worship. ABC boss David Andersons pay packet went up 12 per cent in 2023, in a year when the public broadcasters redundancy costs ballooned and its total audience reach fell four per cent, according to its annual report. The report, released on Friday afternoon, highlighted a dip in how many Australians were tuning into the ABC (television, radio and online), from 69.4 per cent in 2022 to 65.4 per cent. The ABCs audience declined in a challenging year. Credit: Christopher Pearce The fall in reach was heavier across the broadcasters digital products, down 23 per cent, despite its new Five-Year Plan, which was published in June this year and emphasises a greater focus on digital products. In total, the ABC reached 13,039,000 Australians via its online services, including iview, the ABC News website and the ABC listen app. He has since brought out the other three works that with Barley Patch are the subject of Emmett Stinsons thoughtful, well-written monograph: A Million Windows, A History of Books and Border Districts. The other 21st-century writings the poetry, the book about horse racing, and Murnanes own retrospect, Last Letter to a Reader, are mentioned in passing. The book is rounded out with a conversation with Murnane that deals mostly with publication and reputation. After his 1995 collection of short fiction Emerald Blue failed to make a mark, Murnane gave up writing, or rather gave up writing for publication. He then found a sympathetic home with Ivor Indyk at Giramondo and in 2009, he returned to fiction, if that is what it is, with Barley Patch. It was 30 years ago that Imre Saluszinsky published the first, ground-breaking study of Gerald Murnane, one of the strangest and boldest writers in Australian or world literature. A lot has happened since then. That reputation only continues to grow, and he is now admired overseas more than at home. Not that he has become a bestseller; rather, writing courses in the US are apparently now full of students trying to sound like him, and the clan of Murnanians can now boast some widely recognised names. Coetzee set the ball rolling with an appreciative essay-review of Barley Patch and Inland in The New York Review of Books, and hip and super-brainy younger things Ben Lerner and Merve Emre have followed suit with pieces in The New Yorker. There has also been a profile in The New York Times encapsulating and broadcasting the Murnane legend: the man who has never left Australia, who never flies, who never looks at a computer; the cottage in the tiny western district town and the mysterious archive in the famous filing cabinets. It was after that profile was published that Murnane won the Prime Ministers Award and was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin, for Border Districts: now that all those publications with New York in the title had shown their favour, the committees couldnt ignore him. Acclaimed author Gerald Murnane. Stinsons organising thesis is that the later works speak to the earlier books, creating a retrospective coherence. Barley Patch asks Must I write? and devotes its second half to an explication of an uncompleted work of fiction. The opening lines of Border Districts, Two months ago, when I first arrived in this township just short of the border, I resolved to guard my eyes, are a conscious reprise of the opening of The Plains, from 1982: Twenty years ago, when I first arrived on the plains, I kept my eyes open. And A Million Windows is a creative writing manual chiefly useful for producing novels in the style of Gerald Murnane. Stinson is an astute and informed critic; also has no trouble acknowledging when Murnanes work gets the better of learned criticism. He invokes Edward Saids elaborations of Theodor Adornos notion of late style intransigence, difficulty, and unresolved contradictions withdrawal from the world, self-quotation, and mannerism before throwing up his hands and admitting that Murnane has written like that his whole career, the early and middle phases as well as the late. 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 all started with a car full of booze and a bear costume. Owen Teale, recently suspended from his sixth-form college for organising a riotous Christmas party for fellow students, was in need of a job. They held an investigation into the party and I was the first to be called in, says the 62-year-old Welsh actor best known as gimlet-eyed master-at-arms Ser Alliser Thorne in Game of Thrones. Theyd found the empty bottles and people were falling over drunk. I said, yeah, I did it. It was me. I borrowed my mothers car, loaded it up with booze and smuggled it in. Teale had no intention of joining his father at the limestone quarry that fed the steel works at Port Talbot. He wanted to escape South Wales, to find a bigger world. Which is when fate or rather a kindly teacher called Mr Davies intervened. He suggested Teale might find work at Barry Island Pleasure Park, a fairground near Cardiff. At the time, it was a rust bucket of a big wheel and one big dipper, recalls Teale. But I went along and auditioned. I was hoping to be a magicians assistant or something like that, but they said youd be great as the bear. Heres the costume. Game of Thrones star Owen Teale will play Scrooge in a Melbourne season of A Christmas Carol. Credit: Jay Brooks The role of Barry the Bear was deceptively hard. His remit was to wander around the park greeting visitors, but you could only do an hour at a time because you sweated so much. I wore pyjamas under the costume to absorb the sweat, but it would fill the rubber hands. After a while, Id get bored, sit on the big wheel and go round and round. The sight of a disconsolate, sweaty bear riding the ferris wheel caught managements attention and Teale was sacked. At which point a couple of his co-workers students from the Guildford School of Acting suggested he audition at their alma mater. He was accepted, awarded a study grant and Barry the Bear got a ticket out of Wales. Advertisement I was going nowhere really. If I hadnt met those two young women I dont know what would have happened, says Teale. But there have been so many points in my career, moments of pure chance, when things went my way. And if you can survive the moments when things dont go your way, you can make it. If youre not a diehard Game of Thrones fan, Teales name may not be familiar. But his pale face, intense eyes and imposing physicality hes 188cm in his socks will be. The Welsh character actor is a Zelig-like figure whose frequent stage and screen appearances invariably guarantee two things: the tale will be well told and bad stuff is going to happen. Hes in Leeds when we speak, visiting his younger daughter Gracie, 21, whos studying art and design at the citys university. Eliza, 25, his other daughter with actor wife Sylvestra Le Touzel, is following in her parents footsteps. His son, Ion, from his first marriage, recently made him a grandfather. Owen Teale and his wife, Sylvestra Le Touzel, at the sixth-season premiere of Game of Thrones in Hollywood. Credit: Getty Images Loading Earlier today, he was in Edinburgh shooting scenes for the second season of the supernatural TV thriller The Rig. His character Lars Hutton, an irascible bully and the man most likely to be chucked off the oil rig, has somehow made it back for the next instalment of the Amazon Prime drama. Hutton, Thorne and Chief Inspector Philip Osborne, another textbook bully who first appeared in the opening season of the BBC police procedural Line of Duty, are just three of the menacing characters hes played in recent times. Peter Knox, a villainous sorcerer in A Discovery of Witches, the fantasy TV series based on books by Deborah Harkness, is another. Advertisement When he portrays Ebenezer Scrooge in an upcoming Melbourne production of Jack Thornes award-winning adaptation of Dickens A Christmas Carol, hell summon the same forces to make the archetypal miser utterly convincing. The truth is this: the avuncular man in the amber-coloured spectacles and leather jacket chatting to me on the line from Leeds is a master of darkness. When Ser Alliser Thorne drove a dagger into the heart of Game of Thrones Byronic hero Jon Snow in the final episode of Season 5, he left the shows 10 million viewers in a profound state of shock. Its true, I have started to play a lot of dark characters, he says, smiling. And at first it was a great challenge because Im quite a sociable fellow. So, how does he find that darkness? Its a sense of nothingness. In all honesty, Im not very good at being completely on my own, he explains. I come alive when Im with other people. So staying in hotel rooms away from my family isnt great and it doesnt get any easier. Theres something empty and a bit scary within me when Im not with people. I think thats where that stuff comes from. Owen Teale unleashes the darkness as Ser Alliser Thorne in Game of Thrones. His ability to tap into the void served him well as he prepared to enact the murder of Snow, played by Kit Harington. There was Kit who was so beautiful. And hes such a lovely man. By connecting to this feeling of emptiness, of having nothing inside of me, I was able to look at him and everything he had - his looks, his grace - and feel pure hatred. For all of Ser Allisers explanations [for the murder], deep down he just has a hatred of Jon Snows popularity and gifts. Like Iago, I suggest. Yes, he says. Very like Iago. Advertisement When Snows death was broadcast, Teale braced himself for the fall-out. He imagined being confronted by irate Game of Thrones fans who would hate him for killing the goodness. Instead, he was asked for endless selfies and impromptu recitations of Thorne catchphrases such as For the Watch! or Bas-terd! Once, a drunk emerged from a restaurant and stumbled towards Teale brandishing a knife. The actor braced himself, but the man simply wanted Ser Alliser to hold the utensil to his throat for a photo. On a visit to Uluru with his family, the tour guide caught sight of his face and exclaimed, what are you doing here? Says Teale, He just kept staring at me and I realised it was an Alliser Thorne thing. I said, Im not going to kill anyone, Im just an actor. But it clearly troubled him that this person who had committed this awful crime had suddenly appeared. Teale has the grace to admit he enjoys this new level of celebrity. People seem to realise that without the darkness of people like Ser Alliser, Jon Snow couldnt have shone as brightly as he did. Owen Teale with Clare Homan in The Fifteen Streets. Credit: ABC He was well into his 50s when he landed his highest profile role, but it would be wrong to think of Teale as a late starter. In 1989, not long out of drama school, he starred in the hit television adaptation of Catherine Cooksons romance The Fifteen Streets. The cast included Sean Bean, another young working-class actor, who went on to become a leading man in Hollywood before playing Ned Stark in Game of Thrones. I ask Teale if he ever wishes hed followed Beans trajectory. Oh god, yeah, he replies. Absolutely. You instinctively think [playing leading men] will lead to feelings of success. But it never came my way. My cut of my jib wasnt quite right. Its about what your face does on screen I guess. Advertisement There have been opportunities to step into the spotlight over the years. When The Fifteen Streets attracted a massive TV audience in Britain, Teale was offered a lead role in a movie playing a bare knuckle fighter. But the financing fell through and he signed up for a four-year stint with the Royal Shakespeare Company instead. Years later, a producer offered him the lead in a big film being shot in Britain, but the money men demanded an American star and William Hurt got the gig. When Teale won a Tony Award in 1997 for his performance in Ibsens A Dolls House, he was told he needed to spend time in Hollywood wooing producers. He decided to fly home to his family in London instead. My wife was about to give birth, so I said Im off. Im sure part of it was I just didnt believe that I was going to waltz into leading man roles in Hollywood. And there it is, that ambivalence. Despite all the plaudits, the awards and the steady offers of work, you sense Teale has never been certain of his gifts. Its probably why hes so consistently good complacency isnt in his nature. Owen Teale with Toni Collette in Dream Horse: Toni just raised my game, he says. Credit: AP Hes far better at recognising brilliance in others. For example, Toni Collette, who he worked with on Dream Horse, a 2020 movie about an unlikely champion racehorse. Toni just raised my game. Thats a huge talent, huge, he says, shaking his head in wonder. I recently received an award from BAFTA for the film and part of me thinks they should give it to Toni. Hes happiest in a room full of actors working on a play, a film or a TV production. What turns me on is the thought of collaborating with talented people. Im very sociable with the rest of the company and fully intend to do that when I come to Melbourne. Advertisement A million students in primary and high schools learn about eye health on a weekly basis from what to eat, how to do a self check using one of the many eye charts on the school walls and to name the parts of the eye. Expected to be extended to every school student in Vietnam, the program also encourages children to care for their eyes and avoid accidents like Trans, where a sharp shard of glass slashed his right eye during a game, or identify the need for glasses like Minh wears. The story of how Hollows and Tran met, and the miracle that restored his sight has been told so often it has become a parable. Tran calls Hollows the late father of his heart. After Hollows died, he travelled to Bourke to visit Hollows grave. The Heralds Tony Stephens reported how Tran lit an incense stick by a rock in the red dirt, and offered a prayer and illustrated how small mercies can ennoble humankind. Speaking to the Herald last week in Hanoi, Tran, now in his early 40s, spoke at length about his own dad who was determined to find someone who could restore his sons sight. After the accident, he said he was unable to go to school for a year. When the eye didnt heal, Tran senior, a rice farmer living in a remote part of Vietnam, a former soldier and parent of six, took his son across Vietnam looking for a doctor with the skills to operate. Tran Van Giap offering prayers at Fred Hollows grave in 2008. Credit: Nick Moir At that time, there were only two qualified eye surgeons in Vietnam, and they said it was too complicated. A visit to the eye hospital in Hanoi also failed to find a doctor willing to operate. The Trans were about to return home when they heard that an important eye doctor, Hollows, was visiting. So they waited. While they did, Tran senior prepared his son for the fear of being thrust into a crowd of strangers, reporters from Australian television, photographers like Amendolia, and other people waiting in hope for help. Anticipating his son would be terrified, Tran senior told his son to distract himself by pinching his fingers together, and take deep breaths. Michael Amendolia took the famous photo of Tran Can Giap. Credit: Esther Au To demonstrate what his father taught him, Tran showed the Herald. Lifting his hands, he made two small O shapes pinching the forefinger and thumb together on both hands. The rings looked eerily like the lens of old-fashioned spectacles. Why did his father go to such extreme lengths to see Hollows? I was his youngest son, and he loved me the most, said Tran. He may have been joking. When his father spotted Hollows doing a press conference with television crews from Australia, and surrounded by adults and children desperate for help, he pushed through the crowd and thrust his son under the doctors face. Tran pinched his fingers, and took a deep breath, he said. Amendolia recalls that Hollows, then taking pain medication for cancer and looking more vulnerable than usual, seemed to pause and look at the boy. Before that meeting, Hollows had promised that the new non-profit, created 10 days later, would train more than 300 Vietnamese eye doctor and work to prevent avoidable blindness in adults and older children. Meeting Tran changed his mind. The foundation would include smaller children in its remit. He promised to restore the sight in Trans eye and the boy underwent surgery by Dr Sanduk Ruit, a Nepalese surgeon who was being mentored by Hollows. Today Ruit leads the foundations work in Nepal. In Vietnam, the Hollows foundation has moved from hands-on delivery of eye surgery to prevention and advocacy to make eye health part of routine health care in the country. It continues to train eye professionals, so they can teach others, and fund programs to the estimated 2 million people who need care but are unable to access treatment via public and private health insurance. The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness said this week that most of those unable to access eye care services for cataracts, uncorrected refractive errors, and retinal diseases lived in mountainous and rural areas, similar to where Tran grew up. To reach them, Hollows is working with Alina Vision, a social enterprise that provides outreach services, its medical staff decamping to remote locations. Often they find older people who have cataracts as hard as pebbles because they havent been treated earlier. Alinas chief executive Dr Seang Teak Tan said many patients were treated for free or subsidised. Those patients who can afford to pay the full cost of treatment subsidise at least three who cant. The Fred Hollows Foundation partners with Alina Vision to provide eye care to people in remote places. Credit: Michael Amendolia The image of Tran and Fred is not the only image used by the foundation, but it is one that nearly everyone recognises. Your dad is a rock star, Gabi Hollows told Trans son Minh. In Vietnam, the Hollows foundation country director Dr Phuc Tan Huynh said they were close to announcing that they had eliminated trachoma, a leading infectious cause of blindness that is most prevalent in children under nine. The prevalence of nineteenth century diseases of poverty in Australia, the only Western country to still report cases, appalled Hollows when he visited Indigenous communities in Bourke, NSW, and Wave Hill, NT, in the 1960s and 1970s. According to a report in the Medical Journal of Australia, Hollows cajoled the federal government and the Royal Australian College of Ophthalmologists into establishing the National Trachoma and Eye Health Program. Fred Hollows campaigned to improve the eye health of Indigenous Australians. Credit: Gerrit Fokkema Data released this June shows the rate of active trachoma in screened children in Australia aged five to nine fell from 14 per cent in 2009 to 3.3 per cent in 2021, and is now found in only a few communities. In Hanoi this month, the capital of Vietnam, Gabi Hollows received the highest honour awarded to a friend of Vietnam, The Medal for Peace and Friendship by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations for restoring the sight of millions of Vietnamese and preventing blindness. Over the 31 years of the foundation, donations from Australians have restored 3 million peoples sight and given people who would otherwise be blind another 6.5 million years of full sight, said a spokesperson for the non-profit headquartered in Sydney. Research by the foundation with Victoria University estimated that every US$1 ($1.60) spent to treat cataracts, including the surgery for those like Trans cataract that was caused by trauma, generated a return of $US15, while a dollar spent on addressing myopia, generated US$7. The eyes were the window to the soul, Tran said through a translator. Without sight, the window is closed. They lose their soul. They couldnt see their families, the moon and the beauty of the world. His surgery saved has vision, but after 30 years, he said his right eye was often tired and weaker now. With the surgery I could return to school, and live a better life, he said. He urged those with full vision to be kind and generous to those who couldnt see. Photographer Amendolia said, I could never have imagined that at the time that the photo would end up being so valuable to the foundation in the way that keeps people engaged. To mark World Sight Day last week at a school north of Hanoi last week, Hollows and Tran and his son Minh were asked for signatures and photos from children dressed up for the annual eye health festival. Sitting under bright-coloured tarpaulins in the school courtyard of Cam Phu Primary School in Hai Duong province under large images of the former leader Ho Chi Minh, children were asked a multiple choice question about the causes of vision loss. Could it be caused by sharp objects? Looking too closely at devices? With slate boards and chalk at the ready, the finalists knew the answer. All of the above. Gabi Hollows with the children of Cam Phuc Primary School. Credit: Michael Amendolia Later the regions education director said from 2020 to 2023, the program had identified that around 7000 children out of the 95,000 participating had been identified as needing glasses or treatment. These childrens performance at school improved. A primary school teacher, Ha Thi Nguyen, said some students couldnt concentrate before they got glasses. They just wanted to play video games, she said. After getting help, they were reading and paying more attention. Reflecting on 30 years of the foundation, Gabi said a picture was worth a thousand words. Her husbands image appears on merchandising, posters, advertisements and billboards. Who would have thought youd see Fred on a mug. Someone hands you a coffee mug, and it has Freds image on it, she said. Loading At every event, Hollows, the mother of five children, is reluctant to take credit for the results they have achieved. She acknowledges the role of Tran, Amendolia, board chair Jane Madden, her staff, family and donors. With a mind like an old-fashioned Rolodex, she lists many people who helped her after Fred died and helped the foundation. Thats where the magic is, she said. She recalled visiting students at Mt Druitt who had collected gold coins for the foundation soon after their school had been called the worst in NSW by a newspaper. How kind were they, in some of the poorest areas, she said. One of the squads first cases, according to police unofficial historian Ralph Stavely, was a taxi driver found shot dead in Prahran. The giveaway was a US soldiers hat, complete with his name written on the inside, found in the abandoned taxi. It would have been an open-and-shut case if the suspects fellow troops hadnt provided an alibi. Brownout Strangler Eddie Leonski. A year or two later Charlie Petty (the lead detective) was contacted by one of the Yanks he had interviewed, and this person said (off the record) you dont have to worry about him any more the Japs got him, says Stavely. The squad was almost certainly formed in response to the hunt for the man who may have been Victorias first serial killer US soldier Eddie Leonski who was known as the Brownout Strangler because he struck at night when Melbournes lights were dimmed under World War II rules. In 15 days during May 1942, Leonski murdered three women. Although Victorian detectives gathered the evidence and arrested him, he was court-martialled by a US military court. His execution papers were signed by General Douglas MacArthur, and he was hanged in Pentridge Prison. About 50 years later, another serial killer murdered three women in Frankston. It was the homicide squad that found, arrested and brought about the conviction of Paul Charles Denyer, who is now lobbying to be freed. The rule is pretty simple. You catch a serial killer to bring them to justice but also to stop them from striking again. By the 1950s, the small squad started to investigate underworld murders. Then, as is the case now, detectives were faced with trying to crack the so-called code of silence. The shooter and the victim: John Twist (hatless) with Freddie Harrison (middle). Twist was the gunman who years later shot Harrison. Credit: After an underworld non-fatal shooting the payback was quick and bloody. On February 6, 1958, the most feared gangster of his time, Freddie The Frog Harrison, pulled up at South Wharf in his 1953 Ford Customline to pick up his pay and return a borrowed trailer. As he was uncoupling the trailer, in the shadows of the ship the River Murchison, a gunman pulled out a shotgun and said, This is yours, Fred, shooting his target in the head. There were 30 men near the car, yet no one apparently saw anything. About 12 potential witnesses declared they were in the toilet at the time. It was a two-man toilet. The frustrated coroner threatened to have the toilet reconstructed in the court and invite all the reluctant witnesses to show how they fitted into the ablutions block. Loading One witness who was with Fred said that when he heard the shot he immediately turned his head right. The gunman was on his left. One of the veterans at the squads anniversary dinner was former assistant commissioner Reg Baker, who compiled the brief of evidence against Ronald Ryan, hanged in Pentridge Prison in 1967, the last man executed in Australia, Ryans case took 12 sitting days. Today a homicide prosecution brief is at least 20 volumes. The squad began with typewriters, unsigned statements from suspects (leaving room for doctored confessions), unsworn statements from the dock, where an accused could give a version of events without facing cross-examination or perjury charges, no DNA, no phone taps and no mobile phone pings. It has investigated paid hits, horrible family violence, abductions, mistaken-identity murders, stabbings, shootings, poisonings, stranglings and suffocations. Detectives have found bodies in barrels, burnt-out cars, acid baths, bush graves and tips, and a head in a kerosene tin dumped in the Barwon River. They wore hats and scowls and the squad was all male. Until we started leaving electronic footprints, it was almost impossible to gain a murder conviction without a body. Now we have a specialist missing persons squad that works on cases where the victim has not been found. The head of the squad, Detective Inspector Dean Thomas, said after the dinner, It is important to recognise the former members who forged our legacy. If we are to move forward we have to know where we have come from. Cop Nick Cecil and crook Ronald Biggs The oldest person at the anniversary dinner was Nick Cecil, one of the first non-Anglo Australian recruits in the police force. Nick became Victorias first undercover operative, masquerading as a guitar-playing busker in country pubs working for Mick Millers SP busting special duties gaming branch back in the 1950s. He was seconded to the homicide squad to work on ethnic-related murders, and built a network of informers who would not talk to traditional Australian cops. Police raid Victoria Market in the 1960s. Credit: Jack Faithfull In 1969, he was ordered to follow Charmian Biggs, the wife of fugitive British Great Train Robber Ronald Biggs. One day, she said: Nick, believe me, hes gone. Hes left Australia. After hiding for months, Biggs sailed to Panama using an altered passport and moved to Brazil. The first female homicide investigator was Jennifer Ann Wiltshire, who served in the squad from July 1993 to November 1995. Now there is a female four-person serious crime response team, one of the on-call units first sent to a murder scene. It was the homicide squad that was tasked with dealing with the 1963-64 Market Murders involving the killing of three fruit and vegetable merchants and the shooting of three others. When the Honoured Society godfather, Domenico Italiano, died of natural causes, there was a power struggle settled with shotguns. One of the victims, Vincenzo Muratore, was shot dead outside his Hampton home in 1964. Nearly 30 years later, his son Alfonso was killed in similar circumstances just 1.5 kilometres away outside his Hampton home. Mafia buster John T. Cusack (middle row, fourth from left) at a farewell dinner with homicide detectives in 1964. After the market murders, Liborio Benvenuto became godfather. He died of natural causes. His son, Frank Benvenuto, was shot dead in 2000 near his Beaumaris home. In response to the Market Murders, the government sent for US mafia expert John T. Cusack, who was embedded with the homicide squad. In his report he found: Within the next 25 years, if unchecked, the society is capable of diversification into all facets of organised crime and legitimate business. Twenty years ago, we went through the Underbelly Wars, where crooks who were making millions let their egos get in the way of profits and began killing each other. In the early 2000s, crew boss Jeff Maher (white shirt, middle) and squad boss Brian Rix (dark shirt) discuss an ongoing job. An off-shoot of the homicide squad, the Purana taskforce, along with then director of public prosecutions Paul Coghlan (who was guest speaker at the anniversary dinner), broke the code of silence, leaving most of the main players dead or in jail. Nearly 60 years after Cusack delivered his report, he has been proved right. Organised crime has jumped all police geographical firebreaks, with two syndicates fighting for illicit markets that include drugs and black market cigarettes. Loading The gangs are no longer suburban or even national; they are international. Cash, drugs and even hitmen flow across national borders. To compare, say, the Painters and Dockers war of the 1970s with the Middle Eastern crime syndicates power struggle would be like comparing morse code with the internet. One syndicate is making $10 million a week, with its bosses, now in the Middle East, capable of ordering multiple firebombings of tobacco shops and murders in Melbourne. Generations of homicide investigators know that while techniques used to investigate murders change, two rules remain constant when dealing with the underworld. Some things never change and crooks dont learn from the past. Liberal MPs are pushing back against the prospect of Julian Leeser returning to the Coalition frontbench, arguing his resignation to campaign for the Voice to parliament should not be rewarded. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has cautiously tested the mood among trusted colleagues in recent weeks to gauge whether Leesers return would be accepted, according to two Liberal sources speaking on the condition of anonymity to detail private talks. Julian Leeser quit the opposition frontbench in order to campaign for the Voice. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Two vacancies exist on the Coalition frontbench: the cabinet secretary post vacated by former senator Marise Payne, and the shadow assistant treasurers role formerly held by Stuart Robert, who quit in May. A revamped opposition team could be announced within weeks. Leeser quit his position as shadow attorney-general and Indigenous Australians spokesman in April after the Liberal Party forced frontbenchers to campaign for No. As someone who was intrinsically involved in the development of the Voice, Leeser moved to the backbench to campaign for Yes. I join the occasional organised excursion, such as a long day trip to Ljubljana, Slovenia, which is like a sunny Prague, but mostly I prefer to do things at my own pace, visiting the ports alone for a couple of hours, which is just a matter of stepping off the ship when were docked or taking the frequent tender services or shuttle buses. Silverseas fleet of small ships often dock right in a towns port, making multiple forays off the ship possible during the day. Im perfectly content onboard, with my view of city walls, brightly coloured villages, rugged mountains, and yachts and speedboats cutting through the azure water. The ship features 4000 square metres of glass windows, including two banks of glass-sided elevators, so I never feel less than immersed in the destination. Besides, there are nine restaurants and seven bars to try, each with its own distinct personality and all of them, except the intimate, cosy Japanese-fusion Kaiseki and the supper club Silver Note, either have al fresco areas or large windows over the ocean. Cooking classes in S.A.L.T Lab, part of Silverseas food program. All suites have a private verandah, allowing me to enjoy the scenery in greater privacy, and the rooms are decorated in elegant neutrals, with touches of nautical navy, which dont compete with the external visuals. They also come with a white-gloved butler, keen to deliver room service, arrange restaurant bookings and do the pressing. My butler, Sheldon, who is from Goa, tells me Im his first-ever guest. Silverseas standards are exacting, and he wants to do well. I sense hes a bit disappointed that Im not ordering up breakfast or afternoon canapes, but he finds little treats to amuse me, such as filling my shower with lavender fragrance for a steam experience, and hes in my suite each day polishing my reading glasses and refilling my snack bar to my tastes. A Silver Nova verandah suite. The bathroom (some have full baths) is as spacious as any apartment onshore and there are clever spaces throughout the suite to store things, as well as a large walk-in wardrobe full of robes, thongs, wraps and a beach bag. Theres a king-size bed, compact sitting area and separate dressing table that I turn into a desk. Staying onboard doesnt mean Im lazy. Days are packed with activity. Im usually one of the first down at the signature Italian restaurant La Terrazza in the mornings. I like its outdoor terrace and healthy eating options, including piles of fresh berries and made-to-order smoothies. The coffee is brilliant, too. Im usually here for lunch, as well as the fresh sushi/sashimi offering. And the handmade cacio e pepe on the pasta menu is one of the reasons why travelling on a ship with Italian heritage is a good idea. Despite good intentions, I never make it to any of the morning exercise classes in the swank fitness centre. All the ships information is loaded into an iPad, and I never quite work it out, perhaps intentionally when it comes to exercising. But I do make frequent visits to the wellness area behind the Roman-style spa, which has a glass-walled sauna, steam room, vitality pool and a sundeck that is rarely occupied, despite having some of the best views on the ship. A steam room with a view. Credit: Sauna Each day, there are multiple micro-decisions to make about where and what to do, eat and drink given Silver Nova has the highest number of included restaurants in the cruise industry. There are two speciality restaurants, Kaiseki and La Dame, a formal French dining room, where farm raised Oscietra caviar, foie gras and lobster medallion salad grace the menu. Guests pay a supplement for these restaurants ($US160/$255 a person for La Dame with wine pairings) but I find the choice of included restaurants so varied, from hot rocks at the Grill and pizzas at Spaccanapoli, both on the pool deck, to the creative tapas at the late-night Supper Club. By day, there are cooking classes in S.A.L.T. Lab, the beautifully equipped, glass-wrapped demonstration kitchen where guests can learn to whip up local delicacies like baccala (a fish dish) or marinaded sardines. In the evenings the space transforms into a Chefs Table experience, featuring a creative 11-course menu based around key ingredients such as pumpkin seed oil from Slovenia or black truffle from Croatia. The beach crush feels miles away from the ships vitality pool. Of all the venues, my favourite is S.A.L.T. Kitchen, which has an ever-changing daily menu of traditional, authentically sourced dishes from the region through which were cruising. That means roast goose and red cabbage and sweet dumplings in Piran, Slovenia, and Soparnik, a savoury pie thats been deemed to be of Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Croatian government, when were in Split. I dont go hungry outside mealtimes, either. The busy Arts Cafe serves premium teas, coffees, cakes and excellent scones throughout the day. I could bar hop the ship from top to bottom, sampling different mocktails or cocktails from the mixologists a supernova from the Panorama Lounge, a Kavana martini (Kavana is a brand of rum) with a touch of pimento at S.A.L.T. Bar. Theres always fresh lemonade by the pool. If you like the sparkling stuff, theres plenty of that included too. When Im not eating or drinking, Im in the beautiful, hidden library concealed in the Panorama Lounge, which has a collection of well-chosen novels and non-fiction books that could keep me engrossed for years. Or Im in the Venetian Lounge, listening to two fascinating lectures given by leading technology futurist Jamie Metzl, who was the lead in the US Congressional hearings about the origins of COVID-19. The Silver Nova bright, sunny and a joy to travel with. The ship is full of music, with pianists, violinists and singing duos scattered throughout the bars and lobbies. Even the simple act of walking up a staircase is like visiting a gallery, with 1766 works of art by emerging and established artists from 25 countries carefully placed throughout the ship. And at night, theres usually a show from the ships troupe of performers. Sometimes theres a concert or guest performance during the day. Cruise director and former Broadway performer Vicki Van Tassell (who jokes that her name sounds like a strippers and it does) is the glue who holds the activity side of the cruise together. Like Silver Nova, shes bright, sunny and a joy to travel with. Thirteen days ago, my world changed, our world changed, forever. The medieval slaughter of innocents representing the single biggest loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust punctured the aura of invincibility that surrounded the Israeli Defence Force. Vision posted to X, formerly Twitter, of people fleeing the Nova music festival in southern Israel. Credit: X Terror has ushered in widespread trauma leaving a whole nation grieving for the more than 1400 lost and 200 missing. It has left deep psychological scars in the Jewish community in and beyond Israels shores that may never heal. As a person of Jewish faith who has only ever known of a confident and strong Israel, I never thought I would feel, as my parents did in 1973 during the Yom Kippur war, the existential threat facing Israel. But now I do. Australian fintech LoanOptions.ai has announced it will expand across the ditch to New Zealand as it looks to establish a global presence. The disruptive platforms entire offering will be available for New Zealand brokers by the end of the year, starting with a panel of up to 20 lenders. LoanOptions.ai founder and CEO Julian Fayad (pictured above) said he was thrilled to expand across the Tasman and expected the panel to grow over time. New Zealand is no stranger to us. Many of our existing partnerships are trans-Tasman and we've been working to establish LoanOptions in New Zealand for some time now, said Fayad, who was named a finalist in the Sydney Young Entrepreneur Awards for two years running. We have been proudly generating loan options that are tailored to each individuals unique needs with complete transparency for over three years in Australia, and are very excited to offer the same exceptional service to our friends and neighbours in New Zealand. How does LoanOptions.ai help brokers and borrowers? Launched in August 2020, LoanOptions.ais main draw is its loan comparison tool, which provides applicants with eligible quotes from more than 70 lenders using its credit matching engine and AI algorithms. With one simple application form, applicants can apply online in under eight minutes with no impact to their credit score, Fayad said. However, LoanOptions product suite also caters to brokers. Using a technology called a loan widget, Loan Options loan comparison tool can be integrated into the website of existing brokerages. This helps them offer a diverse range of services, including business, personal, vehicle, equipment, working capital, asset finance, and more. LoanOptions.ai offers two models for mortgage brokers: A subscription-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) offering where brokers pay a monthly subscription fee to use LoanOptions.ai's technology to generate leads and manage their businesses. And a revenue-sharing model brokers pay a commission to LoanOptions.ai for each loan that is funded through the platform. Importantly, LoanOptions.ai does not do mortgage broking itself. Instead, it provides the technology and support that mortgage brokers need to generate leads and manage their businesses. The company has chosen to stay out of the mortgage space because it does not want to compete with its broker partners. Faya said he believed that the company could better serve its customers by just focusing on asset finance. Fayad said LoanOption.ai would still operate as both a SaaS offering and a revenue sharing model in New Zealand with the loan widget, white-label lead generation options for brokers, and B2C services all available. Why is LoanOptions.ai expanding to New Zealand? While the news of international expansion is positive, the question is: Why New Zealand? And why now? Fayad said despite its serious appetite for new technology, New Zealand remained a very underserviced market in the brokerage space. Coupled with the geographical proximity, cultural similarities, and similar time zones, this was a natural progression for the company as part of our plan to expand nationally and globally, Fayad said. Fayad said the company would operate in New Zealand with multiple office spaces on the North Island (Auckland) and South Island (Dunedin). We are expecting to grow quickly, with the New Zealand branch able to leverage the horsepower of headquarters in Australia and will be pushing a strong recruitment drive for local talent in New Zealand, he said. Eventually, we'd like to see a LoanOptions.ai branch in every state of Australia. We've got our sights set on Queensland and Western Australia next. Get the hottest and freshest mortgage news delivered right into your inbox. Subscribe now to our FREE daily newsletter. U.S. soldiers in Iraq. American soldiers have no role to play in determining the outcome of U.S. elections. (Photo: REUTERS/John Davison) On Thursday, U.S. and international forces stationed at the Ain al-Asad air base in western Iraq faced an alarming escalation as drones and rockets rained down on their location. The sound of "multiple blasts" echoed within the confines of the facility, as conveyed by two security officials privy to the matter. The aftermath of the attack in terms of casualties or damage remains uncertain. In a synchronized offensive, a military base near Baghdad's international airport, which also shelters U.S. forces, was subjected to rocket fire. A high-ranking U.S. defense authority, opting for anonymity, detailed the incident: "Two rockets were launched at the U.S. and Coalition forces at the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center, adjacent to the Baghdad International Airport, precisely at 2:50 am local time. Our counter-rocket systems successfully intercepted one, while the other struck an uninhabited storage area. Fortunately, we've received no reports of casualties. Further updates will be communicated in due time." The timing of the assault, coinciding nearly 10 minutes prior to President Biden's pivotal address from the Oval Office, casts an intensified spotlight on the incident. This string of events culminates in a total of four strikes targeting Iraqi military installations housing U.S. personnel within a 24-hour window. Earlier on Wednesday, drones orchestrated two distinct assaults, with one leading to minor injuries among a handful of U.S. servicemen. Notably, U.S. defenses were successful in neutralizing the armed drone. Amid these unsettling developments, local sources alluded to earlier threats from Iraqi factions linked to Iran. These groups cautioned the U.S. against backing Israel in its conflict with Hamas in Gaza. This came after the aggressive intrusions by Hamas militants that resulted in the tragic death of 1,400 individuals. However, the persistent challenge posed by these attacks underscores the broader geopolitical scenario. The United States maintains a strong military presence in the region, deploying 2,500 troops in Iraq and an additional 900 in Syria, its neighboring state. The primary mission of these forces revolves around advising and bolstering local units in their battle against the Islamic State. This extremist group, back in 2014, managed to annex vast stretches of land across both nations. Ain al-Asad, the air base that found itself at the heart of Thursday's assault, is strategically situated in Iraq's western Anbar province. As the situation unfolds, the international community waits with bated breath. The recent surge in assaults not only threatens the delicate equilibrium in Iraq but also has far-reaching implications for the stability of the Middle East. Weather author Jenny Offill to visit UB Each writer we invite demonstrates just how varied, unexpected, meaningful, provocative even offbeat fiction can be. Weather, which was shortlisted for the Womens Prize for Fiction, is told in Offills fiercely original fragmentary style that inspires conversations with her readers. The novel is loaded with the chaotic details that overwhelm everyday life set against the looming catastrophe of a planet in crisis, according to Dimitri Anastasopoulos, PhD, associate professor of English and one of the series coordinators. Offill, who received a Guggenheim fellowship in 2016, will read new fiction and discuss her 2020 novel Weather at the Cinema at Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, 341 Delaware Ave., Buffalo, on Wednesday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m. BUFFALO, N.Y. The University at Buffalo Department of English will host a free reading by Jenny Offill, The New York Times bestselling author and writer in residence at Bard College, as part of its Exhibit X Fiction Series, which for nearly 20 years has been showcasing the work of innovative writers through public readings and conversations about contemporary fiction. Every page taps into our fears for the future, says Anastasopoulos. Juxtaposing ordinary personal struggles with immense global problems, Offill asks readers to consider how we can find solutions for our troubled world when our attentions are distracted by everyday needs, in which our voices are mediated by techno moguls and social platforms that give a megaphone to trolls and distrust. Offill is also the author of Last Things, a New York Times Notable Book of the Year and a finalist for the Los Angeles Times First Fiction award, and Dept. of Speculation, which was shortlisted for the Folio Prize, the Pen-Faulkner Award and the International Dublin Literary Award. The narrative of Weather pivots on the climate crisis and presidential leadership during the Trump administration, but Weather isnt just about the environmental crisis, says Christina Milletti, PhD, associate professor of English and one of the series coordinators. Its about all the weather we encounter, the climates inside and outside our homes that buffet us privately with our families at the kitchen table, and then with the public as soon as we open our laptops, says Milletti. The novels capsule-sized paragraphs intentionally read like social media posts with their edgy synthesis of ordinary encounters and concerns placed alongside reminders of ongoing catastrophes on a global scale. The Exhibit X Fiction Series is a campus and community partnership that allows students to encounter creative new works by groundbreaking authors, while introducing them to downtown Buffalos flourishing arts and cultural scene at Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, which hosts events in the Gallery and Cinema spaces. Talking Leaves will provide books for sale as well. Instructors in the English departments fiction and literature courses teach each authors work ahead of that writers lecture. Exhibit X has always been a reading series that highlights the most innovative fiction writers weve come across, says Milletti. Each writer we invite demonstrates just how varied, unexpected, meaningful, provocative even offbeat fiction can be. Exhibit X has shown itself to be a prescient talent gauge, with many previous guests becoming household names and winning major awards, including Percival Everett, who in 2023 won both Yales Windham-Campbell Literature Prize and a PEN/Jean Stein Book Award; Brian Evenson, who won a 2023 Berlin Prize; Can Xue, who has twice been longlisted for the International Booker Prize and was favored to win this years Nobel Prize in literature; and Victor LaValle, whose Shirley Jackson award winning novel The Changeling has now been adapted for Apple TV. And now with Offills visit, Exhibit X can celebrate another highpoint in its history. Jenny Offill is at the height of her literary prowess, says Milletti. Its exciting to present such an astonishingly lyrical writer whose fiction captures a snapshot of this fractured yet encyclopedic time in which we are living how we live each moment in dread as well as hope. By Nidhi Verma NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The share of Russian oil in India's overall imports rose to about two-fifths in the first half of fiscal 2023/24, consolidating Moscow's position as the top supplier as refiners curbed purchase from the Middle East, industry data showed. India, the world's third largest oil importer and consumer, has emerged as the top buyer of the discounted Russian seaborne oil after Western nations stopped buying from Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine. Middle Eastern supplies are also likely to tighten further following Saudi Arabia's decision to extend its voluntary output cuts through the end of this year, prompting India to consider other options. India imported on average 1.76 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian oil from April to September, or the first half of fiscal 2023/2024, more than double the about 780,000 bpd in the same year-ago period, tanker data from industry sources showed. Last month, India's imports from Russia, which had slipped in July and August, recovered to 1.54 million bpd, up 11.8% from August and 71.7% from a year ago, the data showed. Russia was the top oil supplier to India in April to September, followed by Iraq and Saudi Arabia. India's imports from Iraq and Saudi Arabia fell by 12% and about 23% to 928,000 bpd and 607,500 bpd, respectively, during the April-September period, the data showed. Imports from the Middle East in April-September declined by about 28% to 1.97 million bpd, dragging down the region's share in India's overall oil imports to 44% from 60% during the same year-ago period. The share of oil from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), which include Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Russia, nearly doubled to 43% mainly due to higher purchases from Moscow, the data shows. Lower purchases from the Middle East dragged down the share of OPEC in India's overall imports to the lowest in 22 years. The share of members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), mainly from the Middle East and Africa, fell to 46% in April to September compared with about 63% a year ago, a Reuters analysis of the data that dates back to 2001/02 showed. Also Read AUS vs SA Highlights, World Cup 2023: Proteas demolish Aussies by 134 runs SA vs NED Highlights, World Cup: Proteas double Dutched, history created Cricket World Cup 2023 ENG vs SA Playing 11, live match time, streaming World Cup 2023 SA vs SL Highlights: Records galore, Proteas win by 102 runs Russian oil cuts Opec's share of Indian market to 22-year low at 59% Will issue funds to West Bengal if satisfied with transparency: Centre Fresh formal job creation slows to 5-month low in August, shows EPFO data Miners race to realise graphite projects as China controls exports China's graphite curbs will accelerate plans for alternatives, say analysts RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das cautions against large supply shocks (Reporting by Nidhi Verma; editing by Miral Fahmy) Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Friday said that the citizens of Chhattisgarh are fed up with the scams of the Bhupesh Baghel government and they will not tolerate the state becoming the "ATM" of the Congress. Thakur said, "The Congress is looting the resources of Chhattisgarh and pushing the state backwards. The Congress will be defeated in the upcoming elections. The public is ready for it as they are not going to tolerate the state becoming the ATM of the Congress party." He said that the "wind of the Assembly elections has been in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)". Also Read: Chhattisgarh elections 2023: Amit Shah to address two BJP rallies in Bastar He added, "PM Modi has ensured several schemes for the state. Many projects are being completed and many more were inaugurated under his visionary leadership. The wind is going in favour of Prime Minister Modi and the BJP." Following the Congress' promise of conducting a caste census in the state if it returns to power, Thakur said, "We have provided toilets to the people. People have been getting subsidised grains for the past 30 months. All this was given to those in need. This was never given on the basis of religion and caste." The BJP on October 10 announced 85 candidates for the 90-seat Assembly, fielding former chief minister Raman Singh from Rajnandgaon constituency. The Congress has so far released a list of 83 candidates. The polling for 20 seats in the 90-member Chhattisgarh Assembly will be held on November 7, and votes for the remaining 70 seats will be cast in the second phase on November 17. The counting of votes in Chhattisgarh has been scheduled for December 3. The Model Code of Conduct has already come into effect in Chhattisgarh. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi, in a notice, announced the release of Rs 40,000 for every ward for the preparations of Chhath Puja. It further mentioned that the allocation of the budget has been made for the augmentation of street lighting on the approach road to Chhath Ghats. The funds allocated by the MCD, will also be used for cleaning of the ghats along with making proper arrangements for electricity and water. The approach road to the Ghats will also have adequate street lighting. The amount has been allocated for two Ghats in each ward, said the notice. Chhath is primarily celebrated in India's states of Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh. During the festival, people fast, bathe in rivers and offer prayers to thank the Sun God for bestowing the bounties of life on earth and fulfilling wishes. Devotees offer Goddess Chhath and God Surya (Sun) offerings and pray for blessings with their desires whether it is a wish for a son, husband wealth, healthiness, or any other things. It is believed that a person's desires and prayer from the heart's core would bring blessings. During the time of fasting, those foods which are assumed to be pure only are consumed and cleanliness is one thing that is cared for the most during the period. The celebration in which the non-veg. dishes are avoided especially containing the cuisines of grains and species such as millet, lentil, buckwheat, and garlic. The holy dip into water resources, fasting and abstinent neither drinking a drop of water maintaining purity and cleanliness are the rigorous rituals followed at the time of Chhath. Chhath is marked with the worship of the goodness of family members, their happiness, and prosperity. Chhati Mata is worshipped during the festival, along with the Sun God. Also Read Top 6 Durga Puja pandals that will mesmerise you in Kolkata, check list Delhi govt to set up more than 1,000 Chhath Ghats across capital: Atishi Delhi's municipal corporation removes 2,181 positions across 14 departments Delhi MCD councillors' allowance hiked from Rs 300 to Rs 25k per meeting Delhi mayoral poll today to witness direct fight between AAP, BJP Delhi govt to launch premium bus aggregator service to encourage people: CM Low pressure forms over BoB; coastal Odisha to witness rain during Dusshera The Mandal Commission decoded: How OBC reservation came into effect 14,000 buses remain off roads in Odisha as strike cripples commuters India not planning curbs on imports or investments from Canada: Reports India will showcase its increasing maritime prowess at a nine-day mega naval exercise it will host in February that is set to see participation of over 50 countries against the backdrop of increasingly fractious global geopolitical environment and China's increasing military muscle-flexing in the Indo-Pacific. Navies from the US, Japan, Australia, France, Bangladesh, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia are set to be among the participating nations in the 'Milan' exercise to be conducted off Visakhapatnam from February 19 to 27 next year, officials said on Friday. The upcoming exercise will be the biggest multilateral military wargame to be hosted by India ever and it will feature large-force manoeuvres, advanced air defence operations, anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface drills, they said. It is learnt that all key participating nations will send their platforms and personnel for the wargame that will take place in the Arabian Sea. The drills would also feature in sub-surface and air domains. The Milan is a biennial multilateral naval exercise which was initiated by the Indian Navy in 1995. Originally conceived in consonance with India's 'Look East Policy', the exercise expanded in ensuing years with New Delhi's 'Act East Policy' and Security And Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) initiative. In 2022, 39 countries participated in Milan exercise. "The Milan 2024 is likely to witness the largest-ever participation to date with invites being extended to over 50 countries," Indian Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said. He said it will be an action packed exercise featuring a wide-range of activities. The harbour phase of Milan will consist of maritime seminars, exhibition and city parade. "Maritime patrol aircraft and submarines of friendly foreign countries would participate in the sea phase along with Indian Navy units," Commander Madhwal said. "They will involve large-force manoeuvres, advanced air defence operations, anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare operations," he said. "The run-up to Milan is concomitant to India's G20 Presidency and the conduct of the exercise would yet again realise the 'G20 theme Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (The world is one family)," the Navy spokesperson said. Also Read Indian Navy Agniveer Admit Card 2023: Details about SSR & MR recruitment Indian, Japanese navies kick off 6-day wargame from Visakhapatnam Dy Navy Chief Mahindru on 3 days Kenya visit to oversee maritime exercise US, Japan, Aus plan navy drills in South China Sea: Philippine official Navy conducts mega operation involving 2 aircraft carriers, 35 combat jets Maharashtra speaker to club all Shiv Sena disqualification petitions Delhi excise scam: HC denies bail to Mahendru in money laundering case Top IAF commanders to hold 2-day conclave on boosting India's air power India's first rapid rail service begins operations between Delhi and Meerut Isro gears up for human space flight with launch of test vehicle mission A mid-planning conference on Milan was hosted by the Eastern Naval Command on October 17 with participating friendly foreign navies. In the virtual conference, representatives of invited countries were briefed on events planned during the harbour phase and sea phase. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday met Singapore's Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong and discussed with him new domains of bilateral cooperation with long-term implications. Jaishankar, who is here on the second leg of his two-nation visit to Southeast Asia, will also meet Singapore's newly-elected President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and other senior leaders and review bilateral cooperation and explore opportunities for further collaboration. "Nice to meet Trade & Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong today (Friday) morning. Our discussions centered around new domains of cooperation with long-term implications," Jaishankar posted on X. He said he was looking forward to developing these ideas at the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR). On Thursday, Jaishankar held talks with Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen and also chaired the regional conference of India's ASEAN and East Asia Ambassadors here. "Good to meet my friend Defence Minister @Ng_Eng_Hen today. Thank him for addressing our Ambassadors conference. Always appreciate his strategic reading and assessments," he said in a post on X on Thursday. "Our deliberations took stock of developments in the region and assessed their implications for India. Insights offered by our Ambassadors are valuable inputs into policy making," he said in another post. On Wednesday, the Singapore Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Jaishankar's visit reaffirms the close and longstanding ties between Singapore and India, which are built on a strong foundation of strategic trust. "The visit will be an opportunity for both sides to review our bilateral cooperation, explore collaboration in emerging areas including digitalisation and skills development under the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable, and exchange views on regional and global developments," it said. Jaishankar arrived in Singapore from Vietnam on the final leg of his two-nation official visit. Also Read Jaishankar, Manalo co-chair 5th India-Philippines co-operation commission India, US see each other as very desirable, optimal partners: S Jaishankar EAM Jaishankar to meet top Singaporean leaders to strengthen bilateral ties Like Chandrayaan, US-India relation will go to moon and even beyond: EAM EAM Jaishankar, Lavrov exchange views on bilateral, international issues Telangana Minister KTR seeks UN intervention in Israel-Palestine crisis RapidX renamed as Namo Bharat, PM Modi to flag off trains: All details One killed, 34 injured as bus overturns in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur district Security forces seize huge cache of arms in Manipur's East Imphal district LIVE: 1 dead, 34 injured as bus overturns in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur Can paid X help clean up the bot mess? Weeding out bots from X has been Elon Musks priority. New users in New Zealand and the Philippines are being told to pay over $1 a year to become active on it. Can this move clean the bot mess of X? All four iPhone 16 models would reportedly feature A18-series chipset under the hood. According to a report by MacRumors, the processors will be based on TSMCs second generation 3nm process N3E. The report states that the chipset on the baseline iPhone 16 models, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, would likely be branded as A18 chip, while the high-end iPhone16 Pro and 16 Pro Max would feature an A18 Pro chip. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus are powered by Apples A16 Bionic chipset. Therefore, making a jump to A18 and skipping the A17 Pro, which debuted with the iPhone 15 Pro models, would be a significant change. The A17 Pro chip on the iPhone 15 Pro models is based on TSMCs first-generation 3nm process N3B, which the report calls a transition design. According to media reports, there is also a possibility that Apple could brand the new iPhone 16 processors as A17 and A18 Pro instead following the recent trend. Recently Apple announced offers on iPhones, Macs and more in India. The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are available with Rs 6,000 instant saving (instant cashback) available on HDFC Bank credit cards. The offer extends to the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, both of which get Rs 5,000 instant saving from HDFC Bank credit cards. As for the previous generations models, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus gets Rs 4,000 in instant savings, Rs 3,000 on the iPhone 13, and Rs 2,000 on the iPhone SE. Besides the instant cashback offers on HDFC Bank credit card, Apple is offering trade-in deals on the iPhones. Also, there is no-interest EMI available on select banks for a three- or six-months tenure period. Started on October 15, the offers are available until November 14, with the exception of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus which will be available with offers until November 7. The Israeli government has approved new regulations that will allow it to temporarily shut down the bureaus of news channel Al Jazeera amid the ongoing war with Hamas citing that the outlet's reports were damaging national security, The Times of Israel reported on Friday. According to the daily, Israel Communication Minister Shlomo Karhi has led the charge to pass these regulations in order to shut down the Al Jazeera news channel, which he claims has damaged national security. The regulations are retroactive, meaning broadcasts by the Qatari network since the war started can now be used as the basis for a decision to shut down the staunchly pro-Palestinian news outlet's local branch. "Israel is at war on land, in the air, at sea, and on the public diplomacy front. We will not allow in any way broadcasts that harm the security of the state... The broadcasts and reports of Al Jazeera constitute incitement against Israel, help Hamas-ISIS and the terror organizations with their propaganda, and encourage violence against Israel," says Karhi. According to the new regulations, the communications minister -- with the agreement of the defence minister -- will be able to order TV providers to stop broadcasting the news outlet in question; close its offices in Israel, seize its equipment, and shut down its website or restrict access to its website, depending on the location of its server, The Times of Israel reported. The decision must be approved by the security cabinet, must be based on legal opinions by the security establishment that the outlet is indeed harming national security, and is subject to the review of a district court. As per The Times of Israel, such a decision will be valid for 30 days but can be extended for additional 30-day periods. The emergency regulations will be in place for three months, or until the specific state of emergency is formally ended by the government. Also Read Israel-Gaza war: Death toll up as conflict expands to bordering nations Gaza strip: Understanding the territory, its history, and ongoing conflict Killed top Hamas commando who led assault on Israeli communities: IDF Israel-Gaza war: Nations call for peaceful resolution; latest updates here WTO chief warns of 'big impact' on trade if Israel-Hamas conflict widens Sunak travels to Egypt for crisis talks to prevent conflict from spilling Israel pounds Gaza, evacuates town near Lebanon ahead of ground offensive Sri Lanka, IMF reach agreement for disbursal of 2nd tranche of bailout Israel strikes hundreds of Hamas targets, destroys munition warehouses US commitment to Ukraine a key issue as President Biden meets EU leaders Car Street News Summary Car Street, Indias one of the largest pre-owned car dealers, celebrated their eight-year successful journey in the luxury automobile segment. In a short span of eight years, Car Street has garnered over 10,000 customers, has two showrooms in Delhi, and is working on a pan-India scale. B2B buyers from Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and Africa sharply increased imports from China via WorldFirst New study finds that emerging market buyers face a host of challenges in international payments WorldFirst, a one-stop global payment and financial services platform for SMEs engaged in cross-border trade, today reported a strong growth in adoption by international buyers who use WorldFirst as their preferred payment and financing solution for sourcing a wide range of competitively-priced, quality goods from China. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231019497901/en/ Global buyers who visit the WorldFirst stand at the ongoing Canton Fair in Guangzhou, China, consistently express their top three requirements for international payments: security, speed, and compliance. (Photo: Business Wire) In the first nine months of 2023, the import value from China by business-to-business buyers (B2B) via WorldFirst witnessed a remarkable increase of 83% compared to the same period last year. Concurrently, the number of active Chinese B2B suppliers on the WorldFirst platform, who sell goods to international buyers, surged by more than 80% to meet the robust import requirements. While established economies such as the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and Singapore continued to be major importers of Chinese goods through the WorldFirst platform, emerging markets, including Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa, showcased some of the highest rates of import growth. Notably, in the third quarter, the quarter-on-quarter growth rate of import value from Africa, South America and ASEAN countries exceeded 20%, 18%, and 14%, respectively. Clara Shi, Vice President of Ant Group and CEO of WorldFirst, said, "The significant increase in import activity from emerging markets indicates not only solid consumption demand in these regions, but also a growing preference among buyers for a one-stop platform that can provide fast, low-cost, and secure international payment solutions for global sourcing. This trend is particularly noticeable in their sourcing activities from China." WorldFirst is part of Ant Group. According to the Report on Payment for Emerging Market B2B Trade, a collaborative study conducted by Ebrun and WorldFirst, B2B buyers from emerging markets encounter a number of challenges and risks when it comes to paying their overseas suppliers. The report highlights that the absence of dependable international payment channels often compels these buyers to resort to precarious payment methods. Additionally, the report reveals that the substantial volatility in exchange rates of emerging-market currencies can significantly impact profits. These challenges underscore the importance of having a reliable international payment solution provider that can effectively address these issues and facilitate B2B trade with emerging markets, said Shi. The strong growth in adoption of WorldFirst by emerging-market buyers this year shows that we are on the right track to help solve these challenges, thanks to our robust risk-control and security measures, support for multiple major trade and emerging-market currencies, presence in over 40 global markets and vast supplier network in China, she added. WorldFirst data shows that in the first nine months of 2023, the top 10 categories for B2B imports were: home appliances, consumer electronics, apparel, automotive accessories, machinery and electrical equipment, food and beverages, textiles, leather shoes and bags, home decoration materials, and hardware tools. Additionally, electric vehicles, lithium batteries, and solar cells were among the new sought-after Chinese goods on the back of solid demand for renewable energy products. China continues to maintain its position as a global leader in terms of sourcing destination, offering a diverse range of goods, latest global trade data indicates. A recent WorldFirst-supported study on importing and exporting SMEs in Australia showed that China was one of the top international markets for expansion for Australian SMEs. About WorldFirst Through the World Account, WorldFirst is meeting the needs of SMEs engaged in international trade or business, both online via marketplaces or websites, as well as offline to support importers and exporters. This includes global collection (receiving payments), making payments, currency conversion, risk management, and supply chain financing to help WorldFirst customers reduce costs, improve turnover efficiency to generate more revenue and sales, and quickly capture global business opportunities. WorldFirst serves one million customers worldwide and is connected to over 120 marketplaces. WorldFirst was founded in 2004 and joined Ant Group in 2019. To learn more about WorldFirst at https://www.worldfirst.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231019497901/en/ Stanley Zhong, a bright student from the San Francisco Bay Area in the US, received rejection letters from 16 of the 18 colleges he applied to, including prestigious schools like MIT and Stanford. The 18-year-old, who will graduate from Palo Alto High School in 2023, even started his own e-signing firm called RabbitSign. With a 3.97 unweighted GPA, a 4.42 weighted GPA, and a SAT score of 1590, he had a great academic record, but the rejection letters made him question his future. The Unexpected Twist But then the narrative takes an unexpected turn. Google, one of the top tech corporations in the world, made Stanley an offer for a full-time software engineering position soon after the string of rejections. The rejection resulted in a fantastic employment chance at a well-known software company. When an Amazon hiring manager expressed interest in Stanley's work with RabbitSign, an e-signatures firm he started during his sophomore year, Stanley's journey began. Stanley was then reminded of a Google contact from 2018 that, at the age of 13, he was unable to pursue. He got back in touch with Google, got through the interview process, and got a job as a Google software engineer. House Committee Discussion The House Committee on Education and the Workforce heard about Stanley's extraordinary journey on September 28 during a hearing. The committee wanted to talk about the effects of the Supreme Court's ruling from last summer, which outlawed affirmative action in college admissions and complicated university policies. Both Stanley and his father, Nan Zhong, are baffled by this policy conundrum. MIT, Carnegie Mellon, Stanford, UCLA, UCSD, UCSB, UC Davis, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Cornell University, University of Illinois, University of Michigan, Georgia Tech, Caltech, University of Washington, and University of Wisconsin all rejected him. Surprising Denials Stanley admits the difficulty of applying to selective colleges and the fierce rivalry among Silicon Valley applicants majoring in computer science. He does, however, acknowledge being truly shocked. He received rejection letters from colleges like Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, known for its flexible GPA standards, despite the tough nature of admissions at schools like MIT and Stanford. A nationwide debate regarding selective college admissions and process transparency has been triggered by Stanley's story. His parents, Nan and Stanley Zhong, have discussed his journey on different venues to promote open dialogue on increasing the transparency of the college admissions process. When Stanley received the employment offer from Google, he chose to postpone his college plans. Originally, Stanley had intended to enroll at the University of Texas. He hasn't completely ruled out the option of going to college in the future, but for the time being, he is enjoying his position on the Google campus. This surprising turn of events illustrates how, despite confronting challenges during the college admissions process, unanticipated possibilities can still present themselves. The upcoming Global Education Conclave 2023 is set to be a global gathering of education experts, policymakers, and over 100 representatives and thought leaders representing institutions across the globe, coming together to discuss and deliberate on the transformative impact of India's New Education Policy. This event, taking place from October 27th to 28th, promises to be a crucial milestone in the international educational landscape. Under the overarching theme of "Empowering Minds & Igniting Global Journeys: Unveiling India's Higher Education Advantage" the Conclave will delve into the key components of India's new education policy and explore its profound influence on the internationalization efforts of global and international universities. Speaking ahead of the Education Conclave 2023, Aritra Ghosal, Founder and Director OneStep Global said, "Discover how the visionary National Education Policy is positioning India as a hub for global talent and innovation, while simultaneously addressing the skills gap and fostering competitiveness in an increasingly interconnected world. Experts and thought leaders will share their perspectives on the NEP's impact on global higher education, government policies, trans national education. employability, providing valuable insights into India's journey towards skilling its workforce for global opportunities." The Global Education Conclave will see representation from over 50 universities from around the world. Delegates from education systems like the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Finland will discuss the modifications and initiatives undertaken to align with India's educational reforms, fostering stronger educational partnerships with Indian institutions. The event will see deliberations and insights from some of the prominent dignitaries who will be speaking at the Global Education Conclave 2023. Some of them are: - Dr. Anil Sahasrabudhe, Chairman, National Educational Technology Forum, EC National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and National Board of Accreditation (NBA); - Dr. Buddha Chandrasekhar, Chief Coordinating Officer & Head - NEAT Initiative at the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE); - Dr. Archana Patankar, Senior Consultant, CEO Office (Research and Practice) - National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC); - Col. Gunjan Chowdhary, Director, National Council for Vocational Education & Training; - Prof. Indrani Bhaduri, Head Educational Survey Division and CEO, PARAKH - National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). Key sessions of the conclave Higher education is a challenging yet rewarding venture for students globally. While various countries like the USA, UK and Canada are often considered the prime locations for further studies, Australia is a destination drawing increased attention from students worldwide, particularly from India. Lets delve into the numerous benefits that make Australia an attractive destination for higher education. The Diversity of Courses and Institutions Australia boasts a plethora of educational institutions offering a diverse range of courses. This diversity gives foreign students the freedom and flexibility to choose a course that matches their career aspirations. Whether you're looking for a bachelor's degree, postgraduate course, or vocational education and training courses, Australia has something suitable for everyone. Global Recognition and Quality Education Australian degrees, diplomas and other qualifications are recognized globally. The countrys education system is regulated by the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), ensuring a consistent standard of education regardless of the institution. This recognition can provide a competitive edge for graduates when seeking employment or further studies internationally. Research Opportunities Australia is known for its robust research programs, cutting-edge technology, and resources. Their focus on scientific research, innovative technologies and creative arts provide excellent opportunities for students keen on pursuing a research-based course or doctorate. Indian students with a research inclination will find this particularly beneficial. Cultural Diversity and Safety Australia is a multicultural country with a friendly and safe atmosphere, making it a comfortable place for Indian students. It celebrates the rich cultures of its indigenous peoples and respects those from other ethnic backgrounds. This vibrant multicultural setting provides an enriching learning and social experience, fostering cultural understanding and global perspectives amongst learners. Support Services for International Students Australia provides extensive support services for international students. Many institutions offer language, academic, and social support, along with dedicated international student support services. Australia also provides work opportunities for students wish to work part-time during their studies. From quality and diversity in education, global recognition, research opportunities, cultural insights, to robust student support services, Australia offers immense benefits to Indian students. It is, indeed, an attractive education destination that provides an enriching academic experience and can act as a stepping stone for building successful careers. Important Links: Study in Australia- A complete Guide How To Settle In Australia In First Week? Check All Details Here Indian Students Studying abroad Your Letter of Recommendation, or LOR as it is commonly known, is an essential component of your application. A LOR, or a reference letter, is your key to a successful application, whether you're a student going to universities for undergraduate studies, someone seeking for specialised graduate studies, or a professional trying to switch employment. Unfortunately, such an important application component is widely misunderstood in our country. A LOR is not the same as any other letter that an application may request that someone write for them. An excellent letter of reference, on the other hand, is structured, strategic, and tailored to the applicant's field of study and the school(s) to which they are applying. In the case of a job application, the contents of the letter will be determined by the firm and the profile for which the candidate is applying. If you're in the midst of writing a LOR or will be writing one soon, you're in good company and should continue reading. Here are some topics to consider if you're drafting your own letter of recommendation. What is a Letter of Recommendation? Simply said, a letter of recommendation is a personalised document in which the referee strategically assesses a candidate's features, characteristics, abilities, and talents in relation to a certain goal, frequently in a definitive way. That sounds weighty, huh? Let's examine a few components that make up this definition: Personalised document - A LOR is, of course, a written proforma about the individual for whom you are writing from your personal perspective. It also means that each word you write could influence the impression a member of the admissions committee or a recruiter has of the candidate. (No obligation!) Referee strategically evaluates - A LOR is a chance to express your ideas and viewpoints. The reader wants to learn about the candidate's work/academic environment from an unbiased, third-party perspective, not just the apparent facts about them. Writing a LOR requires careful curation, planning, and execution, which makes it quite a strategic procedure. Qualities, traits, skills, and talents - A LOR is more than just a person's work/academic habits and demonstrated record, but those factors naturally take the lead. A strong letter of recommendation discusses the qualities that set the person apart as well as how these specific features point to future potential. Particular Objective - A LOR discusses a candidate's abilities, traits, and skills in relation to a particular task that they may be expected to complete during their studies or employment. Decisiveness - It is important to recognize that a LOR frequently results in the intended action, which may be establishing an opinion about the applicant or learning more about their abilities. The author must therefore take care of this and make this action possible. There are many misconceptions about letters of recommendation. Let's examine the most notable ones and debunk them with strong, unmistakable definitions of what LORs are (and aren't). Myths about Letters of Recommendation 1. The magic of the CEO! Myth: A letter from the organisation's top official-the principal, if you're a student-can accomplish miracles! Reality: Your work, goals, performance, abilities, potential, and distinctive characteristics are all discussed in the LOR. It should ideally be authored by someone you've collaborated with closely. If someone doesn't know you, understand you, and appreciate you, they cannot (and usually won't) speak for your authenticity and everything you stand for. A much better option would be your reporting officer or even a peer who can persuade the reader of your sincerity and moral compass. Your choice of referee could have a long-term effect. Learn how to choose a referee who will impact your application by reading on. 2. Everything is academic! Myth: A LOR is only theoretical. My lecturer needs to compose it for me. Reality: A complete lie! The purpose of your letter will determine whether or not a LOR is academic. Would a letter from your English teacher from your class of 12 highlighting your exceptional work in the subject be helpful if you were switching jobs? Of course not, I say! Your LOR's content will entirely depend on the situation. Always keep in mind things like: Who is reading your letter? For whom is it being written? What is the purpose of the letter? 3. Big words help! Myth: It's beneficial if my letter is extremely well-written and poetic. Reality: Your letter must be properly formatted and grammatically sound. There is no way around it. This does not, however, imply that the letter must look like a page directly out of a book. Much depends on the author's personal writing style and the impression they want to give the reader. If you do decide to utilise jargon, exercise extreme caution. Only a small number of situations allow it to work. To set the correct tone for your letter, read my suggestions for how it should sound in the sections that follow. 4. All LORs are excellent! Myth: A letter of recommendation should only contain positive remarks and praise. Reality: The purpose of a LOR, and frequently the writer as well, determine its substance. Assuming that a LOR is just meant to be positive in nature is foolish. If you feel it makes sense to express a developmental need that the admissions committee or recruiters should consider, go ahead and write it since it provides more credibility to the letter. A LOR is designed to be truthful and honest. How to Write a Good (Great) Letter of Recommendation You must first understand the meanings of the words "writer" and "applicant" before moving on. The writer of the letter of reference is the applicant, who is the person applying for a study program or a work move. A LOR now serves the sole aim of providing an impartial viewpoint from a third party. Individuals composing their own letters is neither unusual nor unheard of, though. If you fit this description and your manager or professor has requested you to write your own letter, it's critical that you build a strong sense of who you are and have the ability to present your words as someone else's. You specifically need to see a professional who can create an appropriate plan for your letters at this point. What Needs to be Included in a Letter of Recommendation? As a general rule, a writer needs to be aware of the components that make up a strong letter of recommendation. 1. Understanding You must be crystal clear in your writing as to what the request for information about the applicant is. It is critical to comprehend the LOR's nature. A LOR has a few questions and requests clarification on them. How long have you known the applicant, and in what capacity? What sets the applicant apart from their contemporaries? What goals does the candidate have for his or her future? How well suited is the applicant to the job or program for which they have applied? Have you seen this fit in any particular circumstances? What are some of the applicant's strong points? What do you think of the applicant's interpersonal and professional skills? How does the applicant stack up against other candidates like them that you have instructed or managed? What do you think the applicant's future prospects are? How highly would you suggest the applicant for this job/program? Would you feel at ease responding to more inquiries in support of the applicant's application? 2. Structure In structure, a LOR is similar to any other letter. It should be addressed to the reader, and should have an introductory statement (usually outlining the reason for writing the letter and the capacity in which you're doing it), the content of the letter, and a conclusion statement. This is significant since it improves the letter's aesthetics and displays it as a structured document rather than a jumble of text. A good structure also implies a solid comprehension of writing, which often contributes to the writer's credibility. 3. Content I've already repeated this a few times. The goal with which you write the letter will determine the substance of your LOR. Recognize the typical questions the letter asks, then answer them succinctly. Be frank, use examples frequently, and discuss issues in depth. Making pointers for your material before writing it out is recommended. In contrast to a letter intended for undergraduate studies, which will focus heavily on the applicant's academic credibility, a letter intended for a future career will, of course, talk more about the work ethics, performance, and domain-specific insights the candidate has demonstrated. 3. Language A required component of the LOR is proper grammar and content placement. Using wording that is too flowery could hurt your application. What if your manager drafts a letter for your graduate studies that is dense with technical terms, but the admissions committee lacks expertise in that particular field of study? Even if the letter itself may be clever, it may backfire if it doesn't get the reader to pay attention to important details. Here, you might want to use extreme caution while writing because what you write may not always match the reader's interpretation. 4. Story This characteristic distinguishes outstanding application letters from the average ones. A tale connects the several paragraphs and holds the reader's attention. If used wisely, it may engage the reader on a deeper level and may even serve as the key component of your entire application. It can be challenging to combine structure and story, but this is where a clever tactic can help. 5. Tone Your letter's tone can really make a difference. A writer should sound mature, be modest, and use descriptive language. Here are some guidelines to help you choose the appropriate tone. Use formal language - Despite the fact that the LOR offers you the freedom to discuss particular cases, please keep in mind that it is a formal document. Don't use too many examples - It's beneficial to be detailed about some things, but unless specifically requested, you might want to take a generic approach while writing. Keep your tone kind - Start a conversation and introduce yourself. Though the reader is unfamiliar with you, don't go too far. The key here is neutrality- Even if you want to gush about the applicant's abilities and potential or raise a concern about a need for improvement, do so subtly. Who to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation? Making a fantastic LOR begins with choosing your referee. Knowing which professor's or manager's recommendation to obtain is extremely important, even while schools do specify whether they seek academic references, professional recommendations, or a combination of the two. Here are some guidelines to help you choose the perfect referee 1. Pick a person who is familiar with you and respects what you have accomplished. It is preferable to use someone who can speak highly of the work you have completed and the values you uphold, even if they are not your HOD, principal, or corporate CEO. 2. Avoid asking a family member, friend, or acquaintance who is closely tied to you for a recommendation letter. If you do, you might infuse bias into the letter, which would defeat the purpose of asking for a LOR. 3. If you're a student looking for a LOR for your undergraduate studies, you can ask your subject teachers (for subjects in which you have performed well and for which the teacher has known you for over a year), a hobby teacher (if you're particularly talented in sports, arts, design, theatre, or dance), and if you're applying for a degree in a related field. If your principal or vice principal knows you well and can attest to all of your leadership, co-curricular, and academic qualities, you may also ask them for a LOR. If you participate in a lot of the school's leadership projects, doing so is strongly advised. 4. If you're a college student applying to graduate schools in business, law, or medical, you might ask your professors, particularly those whose fields of expertise are directly related to the field of study you want to pursue. In contrast to your HOD of the law programs, who has limited contact with you, professors of legal theory, criminal law, or the specialisation you're going for may write a more thorough letter if you're applying for a Master's of Law program. Even better would be a professor who has helped you with a project or dissertation because they have seen your work outside of class and can create a more intriguing letter. 5. If you're a professional wanting to enrol in a specialty graduate degree in business, law, or medical, talk to your immediate superiors, supervisors, or coworkers. Unless there is a better choice, it might be a good idea to avoid asking peers or juniors for recommendations. If you are able to secure a customer referral, it says a lot about the quality of your work. 6. Your managers, team leaders, supervisors, and colleagues are your best resources if you're an expert looking to change jobs. Of course, there are many variations from case to situation, so getting expert advice may be beneficial. You can finalise the referees necessary for your specific situation with the aid of an admissions adviser. Ask Right: How to Get a Winning Letter of Recommendation Letter writing is an art, and so is asking for one. Many people miss the mark and ask the wrong people the wrong questions at the wrong time. When the school or recruiter decides to get in touch, your referee shouldn't be surprised by an unusual email waiting in their inbox. Here are the quick steps you may take to obtain a stellar letter of recommendation: Give your referee advance notice and request their consent - Inform the individual that you are looking for a job or program and ask whether you can use them as a reference. Explain to them why you are asking them for the same thing. Discuss your goals - It's crucial that the writer understands why you're applying for that particular program or position. Talk to them about your possibilities, goals, path forward, and accomplishments. They can use this information to put your letter in context. Follow up with them - This step is crucial, but remember not to overdo it. When you can contact them again, let them know. At least one month's notice is required. Types of Letters of Recommendations The purpose of an application and the place to which one is applying affect the letter of recommendation. Several types of letters of recommendation are listed below: 1. Letter of Recommendation for Undergraduate College Application: Academic and co-curricular/extracurricular accomplishments are what make up a letter for undergraduate education. Your discipline, your code of behaviour, your accomplishments, and your desire to pursue greater goals in life will be mentioned in any letters that your instructors, the principal, or another member of the school administration sends on your behalf. Future Potential, to put it another way. 2. Letter of Recommendation for Graduate School: A letter for graduate or specialist studies, such as those in business, law, or medical, is extensive on what sparked the applicant's interest in such a specialised subject and what the applicant did to cultivate the aforementioned interest. If you're requesting a letter from your employer, it should discuss your extensive professional experience. Performance, on the other hand, matters. 3. Business School Letter of Recommendation: A letter to a business school may not actually be a letter. B-schools ask applicants to provide responses to detailed questions that are pertinent to the program, institution, or applicant. They are curious about the applicant's leadership skills or the writer's assessment of the many projects on which he or she has worked. A letter intended for medical or law school, similar to those for business schools, is extensive on previously completed work. Here, demonstration is crucial. 4. Letter of Recommendation for Job move: A letter of recommendation for a job move includes a lot of information about the applicant's work history, professional background, and the firm to which they are applying. The letters discuss how well a candidate fits the description and their relevant experience. Paramount Pictures will launch a limited theatrical release of David Sorens animated musical comedy Under the Boardwalk starting Friday, October 27, before making the film broadly available for purchase on PVOD digital platforms (Amazon, Apple, Vudu, etc.) on November 7. The studio was unable to provide further details to Cartoon Brew about theater counts for Under the Boardwalk. It only confirmed a limited release in select theaters. Paramounts CEO Brian Robbins had previously told a media outlet that Under the Boardwalk would go straight-to-streaming on Paramount+. Were not going to release an expensive original animated movie and just pray people will come, he explained a few months ago. This reversal of strategy is therefore welcome news for animation fans who wanted to see the film on the bigscreen, as had been originally intended when former Paramount Animation president Mireille Soria greenlit the film. Under the Boardwalk was announced in 2019 under the title Jersey Crabs and billed as a Grease-like musical on the Jersey Shore starring crabs. A July 22, 2022, release date was later announced and passed by. Now, days before the films debut, Under the Boardwalk doesnt appear on the Paramount Pictures Movies website and the trailer still hasnt been released, although a trailer was inadvertently posted (and quickly removed) on the Paramount New Zealand Youtube channel a few weeks ago. Under the Boardwalk is directed by David Soren (Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie, Turbo) from a script that he co-wrote with Lorene Scafaria. While official credits for the film have yet to be made public it is known that DNEG Animation (Nimona, Entergalactic) provided the animation production. Troy Saliba was the animation director at DNEG. Here is a synopsis of the film, published on DNEGs website: The musical comedy follows the hermit crabs who live under the boardwalk at the Jersey Shore. When Armen (a land crab townie) falls in love with Ramona (a sea crab tourist), tensions between their friends and families rise. But when a storm casts the duo far from home, their love will lead them on an epic adventure that unites the divided community. Photo: DARREN STONE, TIMES COLONIST Damaged vehicles after an arson fire in front of Three Point Motors on Government Street in July. A man charged with four counts of arson in connection with fires at car lots and loading areas in Victoria and Saanich now faces two more charges in Nanaimo fires including a WalMart blaze that caused $2 million in damage. Edward Singh was arrested and charged in late August after a lengthy investigation by major-crime detectives into four incidents, including two vehicle fires on Government Street that caused extensive damage. After Victoria and Nanaimo officers joined forces, Singh was charged in connection with two cases of arson in Nanaimo, including a vehicle fire at a car lot and the fire set inside the diaper aisle of the Woodgrove Centre WalMart, which resulted in the store being evacuated and closed for several days. There was extensive smoke damage, said Nanaimo RCMP Reserve Const. Gary OBrien. It was really significant. Singh, who remains in custody, was arrested in August in connection with three fires on Government Street in June and July, and an August fire in Saanich. There were no injuries in any of the fires. One of them was on June 23 at a Government Street car-rental business and was extinguished by a passing officer. On June 12, a new Mercedes vehicle at Three Point Motors was set on fire, with the flames spreading to two other new vehicles. That was followed on the same day by a fire at a Government Street loading dock. The final incident was on Aug. 16, when items in a loading zone on Tolmie Avenue in Saanich were damaged by fire. Photo: Jeremy Hainsworth The Sept. 15 decision was released Oct. 18, 2023. A Vancouver company has been ordered to pay a 75-year-old former employee $3.97 million in severance pay and damages. B.C. Supreme Court Justice Catherine Murrays Sept. 15 decision released Oct. 18 ordered Western Magnesium Corporation to pay James Sever $2.74 million alone in severance pay. Sever had sought damages arising from what he alleges is the termination of his employment agreement with the company, including non-payment of salary, reimbursement of expenses, severance pay, and indemnification for legal fees pursuant to directors' and officers' insurance. There is no question that the plaintiff is entitled to remuneration under the contract for wages and expenses, including indemnification for legal fees pursuant to the insurance, regardless of how his employment ended, Murray wrote. This is a straightforward breach of contract case, she said. Murray said the facts were not complex nor were they disputed. Those, she said are: the parties agree that the company retained Sever pursuant to an executive employment agreement; the parties agree that the agreement was valid and enforceable. the terms of the agreement were clear and unambiguous. The defendants do not dispute the terms of the agreement, including the termination provision; and, the plaintiff's entitlement to compensation was further identified in the defendant's own evidence and documents, including minutes and resolutions of its board of directors' meetings. There is no issue that the contract was ended by one of the parties, Murray said. Having considered all of the evidence, the only rational conclusion is that the plaintiff was terminated by the defendant. I am satisfied that the company, through its actions, constructively dismissed the plaintiff, she said. Murray also ordered to company to deliver to Sever two per cent of the total number of company common shares or 5,289,103 shares, and to deliver options for rights to purchase 300,000 company common shares. In a statement to Glacier Media, Western Magnesium said it takes all court matters seriously and adheres to all its legal obligations. "Unfortunately, the order of Madam Justice Murray was issued following a hearing held in the absence of Western Magnesium or its legal counsel. As a result, the court did not hear from Western Magnesium nor consider the totality of the evidence," the statement said. "Western Magnesium intends to apply to set aside the order of Justice Murray and enable Western Magnesium to present its case. Once the full facts and evidence are presented to the court, we believe that the judgment will be overturned and trust that the court will be satisfied that Western Magnesium complied with all its legal obligations," the company stated. Photo: The Canadian Press People carry a coffin draped with an Israeli flag during a funeral of the Israeli man Ziv Shapira who was killed by Hamas militants, outside a bar, in Tel Aviv, Israel , on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. Israel bombarded the Gaza Strip early Friday, hitting areas where Palestinians had been told to seek safety, and it began evacuating a sizable Israeli town near the border with Lebanon, the latest sign of a potential ground invasion of Gaza that could trigger regional turmoil. Amid the fighting, Israels defense minister said the country did not have plans to maintain control over civilians in Gaza after its war against the Hamas militant group. Defense Minister Yoav Gallants comments to lawmakers were the first time a top Israeli official discussed its long-term plans for Gaza. Gallant said Israel expected a three-phase war, starting with airstrikes and ground maneuvers. It anticipates then defeating pockets of resistance, and finally, ceasing Israel's responsibility for life in the Gaza Strip. Palestinians in Gaza reported heavy airstrikes in Khan Youni, a town in the territory's south, and ambulances carrying men, women and children streamed into the local Nasser Hospital. The hospital, Gaza's second largest, already was overflowing with patients and people seeking shelter. The Israeli military said it had struck more than 100 targets across Gaza linked to the territory's Hamas rulers, including a tunnel and arms depots. On Thursday, Gallant ordered ground troops to prepare to see Gaza from the inside, hinting at a ground offensive aimed at crushing Gaza's militant Hamas rulers nearly two weeks after their bloody incursion into Israel. Officials have given no timetable for such an operation. Over a million people have been displaced in Gaza, with many heeding Israel's orders to evacuate the northern part of the sealed-off enclave on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Though Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had called areas in south Gaza safe zones earlier this week, Israeli military spokesman Nir Dinar said Friday: There are no safe zones. U.N. officials said that with the bombings across all of Gaza, some Palestinians who had fled the north appeared to be going back. The strikes, coupled with extremely difficult living conditions in the south, appear to have pushed some to return to the north, despite the continuing heavy bombing there, Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the U.N. human rights office, said. Gazas overwhelmed hospitals are rationing their dwindling medical supplies and fuel for generators, as authorities worked out logistics for a desperately needed aid delivery from Egypt. Doctors in darkened wards across Gaza performed surgeries by the light of mobile phones and used vinegar to treat infected wounds. The deal to get aid into Gaza through the territorys only entry point not controlled by Israel, remained fragile. Israel said the supplies could only go to civilians and that it would thwart any diversions by Hamas. More than 200 trucks and some 3,000 tons of aid were positioned at or near the crossing in Rafah, a city that straddles northern Egypt and southern Gaza. Work began Friday to repair the road at the border that had been damaged in airstrikes, with trucks unloading gravel and bulldozers and other road repair equipment filling in large craters. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited the crossing Friday and appealed for the quick movement of aid into Gaza, calling it the difference between life and death. Israel has evacuated its own communities near Gaza and Lebanon, putting residents up in hotels elsewhere in the country. The Defense Ministry announced evacuation plans Friday for Kiryat Shmona, a town of more than 20,000 residents near the Lebanese border. Three Israelis including a 5-year-old girl were wounded in a rocket attack there Thursday, according to Israeli health services. Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group, which has a massive arsenal of long-range rockets, has traded fire with Israel along the border on a near-daily basis and hinted it might join the war if Israel seeks to annihilate Hamas. Israel's archfoe Iran supports both armed groups. The violence in Gaza has also sparked protests across the region, including in Arab countries allied with the U.S. Those demonstrations could flare anew Friday following weekly Muslim prayers. In an address from the Oval Office on Thursday, U.S. President Joe Biden again pledged unwavering support for Israel's security, while saying the world cant ignore the humanity of innocent Palestinians" in Gaza. Speaking hours after returning to Washington from an urgent visit to Israel, Biden linked the current war in Gaza to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin "both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy. Biden said he was sending an urgent budget request to Congress on Friday, to cover emergency military aid to both Israel and Ukraine. Meanwhile, an unclassified U.S. intelligence assessment delivered to Congress estimated casualties in an explosion at a Gaza City hospital this week on the low end of 100 to 300 deaths. The death toll still reflects a staggering loss of life, said the report, seen by The Associated Press. It said intelligence officials were still assessing the evidence and their casualty estimate may evolve. The report echoed earlier assessments by U.S. officials that the blast at the al-Ahli hospital was not caused by an Israeli airstrike, as the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza initially reported. Israel has presented video, audio and other evidence it says proves the blast was caused by a rocket misfired by Palestinian militants. The AP has not independently verified any of the claims or evidence released by the parties. An Israeli airstrike hit a Greek Orthodox church housing displaced Palestinians near the hospital late Thursday. The Israeli military said it had targeted a Hamas command and control center nearby, causing damage to a church wall. Gaza's Hamas-run Health Ministry said 16 Palestinian Christians were killed. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchy of Jerusalem condemned the attack and said it would not abandon its religious and humanitarian duty to provide assistance. The Israeli military has relentlessly attacked Gaza in retaliation for the devastating Oct. 7 Hamas attack. Palestinian militants have meanwhile launched unrelenting rocket attacks into Israel more than 6,900, according to Israel and tensions have flared in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Thirteen Palestinians, including five minors, were killed Thursday during a battle with Israeli troops in which Israel called in an airstrike, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. An Israeli border police officer was killed in the fighting, Israel said. The Gaza Health Ministry said 4,137 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, the majority women, children and older adults. Over 13,000 people were injured, and another 1,300 were believed buried under rubble, authorities said. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly civilians slain during Hamas deadly incursion. Roughly 200 others were abducted. The Israeli military said Thursday it had notified the families of 203 captives. In a fiery speech on Thursday to Israeli infantry soldiers on the Gaza border, Gallant, the defense minister, urged them to be ready to move in. Israel has called up some 360,000 reserves and massed tens of thousands of troops along the Gaza border. Whoever sees Gaza from afar now, will see it from the inside," he said. It might take a week, a month, two months until we destroy them, he added, referring to Hamas. With supplies running low because of a complete Israeli siege, some Gaza residents are down to one meal a day and drinking dirty water. Egypt and Israel were still negotiating the entry of fuel for hospitals. Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Hamas has stolen fuel from U.N. facilities and Israel wants assurances that wont happen again. The Gaza Health Ministry has pleaded with gas stations to give fuel to hospitals, and a U.N. agency also donated some of its last fuel. Gaza's sole power plant shut down last week, forcing Palestinians to rely on generators, and no fuel has gone in since the start of the war. The agency's donation to Gaza Citys Shifa Hospital, the territorys largest, would keep us going for another few hours, said Mohammed Abu Selmia, the hospital director. ___ Krauss reported from Jerusalem and Kullab from Baghdad. Associated Press journalists Amy Teibel and Isabel Debre in Jerusalem; Samy Magdy and Jack Jeffrey in Cairo; Matthew Lee and Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington, and Ashraf Sweilam in el-Arish, Egypt, contributed to this report. Photo: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito Minister of Public Safety Mike Farnworth. The province is proposing changes to its Crime Victim Assistance Act to make grandparents and grandchildren as well as witnesses not connected to a victim eligible for government support. Victims of crime, their immediate family members and witnesses are impacted by crime in different ways, and supporting them means that they can take the time they need to recover and heal, Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said. We are expanding services for victims of gender-based violence, as well as those impacted by broader crimes so that more British Columbians have access to the services and supports they need to recover. Farnworth wants to expand access to benefits for grandparents and grandchildren of crime victims by removing the requirement that eligible people must be financially dependent on the victim. He also wants to expand the definition of witness by removing the requirement that a witness have a strong emotional attachment to a victim. This is a significant barrier to eligibility for those who witness violent crime in their communities, said the minister. Farnworth is proposing that the time limit for making an application for benefits be extended to two years from one. People who are victims of crime, their family members, as well as witnesses, can receive services to support their recovery and help offset financial costs they may experience. However, the current legislation is restrictive in who may be eligible for these services, and many people cant get the supports they need, he said. Farnworth announced the province is restoring funding to sexual assault programs to support survivors. Centres in Victoria, Vancouver, Prince George, Kamloops and Surrey will receive funding to provide wraparound services to sexual assault victims. Its exciting news for us at the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre. Its important news for survivors, said Carissa Ropponen, the centres resource development and communications manager. The funding is important so we can provide the service, but it also sends a clear message that survivors matter, their well-being matters and they are going to be supported to get access to the support they need to heal and move forward. In 2016, the centre opened its sexual assault clinic where survivors have access to different services emotional support, medical care, forensic examination and police reporting in one location. This model was the first of its kind in B.C. Its trauma-informed, culturally relevant and designed specifically around survivors needs, particularly in those difficult moments right after a sexual assault has occurred, said Ropponen. A timely, compassionate response can have a huge impact on a survivors ability to move forward and heal. It increases the likelihood they will also receive other services later. The centre, which has relied on donations and grants for the past seven years, will receive $300,000 a year to sustain its critical emergency sexual assault response. Since 2002, the Crime Victims Assistance Program has provided more than $275 million in benefits to victims, immediate family members and witnesses. In 2022-23, the program received more than 4,700 applications from victims, immediate family members and witnesses, and distributed $16.9 million in benefits. The province provides more than $54 million a year for services and programs to support victims of crime, including more than 475 victim-service, violence against women and sexual assault programs in communities throughout B.C, the ministry said. [email protected] >>> To comment on this article, write a letter to the editor: [email protected] Photo: The Canadian Press Karla Homolka is shown in St. Catharines, Ont. in a July 6, 1993 file photo. Registered sex offenders in Ontario would not be able to legally change their names if a bill that's before the legislature passes.THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Frank Gunn Registered sex offenders in Ontario would not be able to legally change their names if a bill that's before the legislature passes. The legislation jointly introduced this week by Progressive Conservatives Laurie Scott and Laura Smith is all but ensured passage, with their party which has a majority in the legislature supporting it. "This bill, if passed, will stop the Karla Homolkas from becoming the Leanne Teales," Smith said, referring to the infamous killer and her name change. "We just feel that the right to change somebody's name should not be abused. We want to strengthen our province's commitment to zero tolerance to these offenders and their heinous crimes and put our full support behind the victims and the families ... We have to close up this loophole." Other provinces such as Saskatchewan and Alberta have similar laws, Smith and Scott said in an interview, so it's time Ontario makes a similar change so sex offenders cannot escape accountability. "The police do know when they change their name, but the average citizen doesn't know," Scott said. "It's all hands on deck ... to watch out for our children." The legislation would see people on Ontario's sex offender registry unable to legally change their name, including those convicted of child pornography, sexual assault, and sexual exploitation. Christina Mitas, a now-former Progressive Conservative backbencher who did not run for re-election in 2022, first introduced the bill in 2020, but it did not get passed before the election, so Smith and Scott have now taken up the mantle. Name changes in the province are published in a legislative document called the Ontario Gazette, but few read it, Mitas noted. "As things stand, there remains the opportunity for sex offenders to distance themselves from their heinous crimes, to distance themselves from consequences and to distance themselves from the repercussions for their victims," she said in debate at the time. John Vanthof, the New Democratic critic for Solicitor General issues, said he supports seeing the legislation pass second reading and get committee hearings. "We support the intent of the bill and we'll see at committee if there's anything in the legislation we'd want to safeguard against," he wrote in a statement. Ontario's sex offender registry is known as Christopher's Law, named for 11-year-old Christopher Stephenson, who was killed in 1988 by a convicted sex offender. Deutsche Bank clamps down on emissions targets 20 October 2023 Deutsche Bank has reportedly set emissions targets for loans to clients in the cement sector as part of the banks net-zero target for 55 per cent of its financed emissions. According to Reuters, the bank, which is Germanys biggest lender, is under increasing pressure from policymakers and investors to encourage clients to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Twelve months ago the bank set up a net zero forum of senior executives tasked with assessing loan deals of more than EUR25m that would lead to big increases in emissions. According to the banks Chief Sustainability Officer, Jorg Eigendorf, the forum has assessed 41 such loans so far and sent back 25 per cent of them to be renegotiated. The reasons for rejecting a loan could be due to a company offering a weak net-zero plan, explains Mr Eigendorf. In the cement sector, the bank hopes reduce the intensity of emissions linked to the operations and energy use of its clients by 29 per cent by 2030 and by 98 per cent by 2050. It has also set individual targets for the coal mining industry and shipping sector. Published under Pakistan's cement and clinker exports grow 44% in 3MFY23-24 20 October 2023 Pakistans cement industry has sustained a noteworthy growth in cement and clinker exports during the first quarter of FY23-24 (July-September 2023) due to the continued depreciation of the Pakistani rupee and the falling coal prices. However, the average value of these exports remained weaker. It fell to US$39.82/t from US$49.23/t but saw a growth in Pakistani rupees during this period. Pakistans cement and clinker exports increased by around 43.9 per cent in the 3MFY23-24 to US$66.68m (1.675Mt) compared to US$46.35m (941,529t) in the 3MFY22-23, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) said. In terms of volumes, exports increased by 77.8 per cent YoY in the same period. The export revenue, if calculated in Pakistani rupees, saw a significant growth of 85.5 per cent to PKR19.49bn during this export period, supported by the depreciation of the local currency against the US dollar. The data on exports and imports released by PBS revealed that MoM, cement and clinker exports registered 15.1 per cent growth in terms of value in September 2023 to US$27.04m (693,023t)) compared to US$23.49m (569,376t) in August 2023. In terms of dispatch volumes, the MoM increase was 21.7 per cent. However, the YoY cement export data depicts a different picture. It slid by 7.2 per cent in value but saw a growth of 13.2 per cent in quantity if compared to data of September 2022 (US$29.13m at 612,372t). Published under Inspirational tour across China: Bangladeshi news anchor calls for stronger Belt and Road cooperation 08:52, October 20, 2023 By Peng Yukai, Zhou Yu, Zhang Rong ( People's Daily Online Israt Amin, a Bangladeshi anchor with Channel 24, called for increased cooperation within the framework of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), highlighting the transformative impact the BRI has had on her country. "Bangladesh has experienced a lot of helpful things brought from China," Amin remarked. "I can say the BRI is most important for us, for Bangladesh, to develop our country day by day." Amin lauded China's substantial assistance to Bangladesh, encompassing both economic support and infrastructure development. She emphasized the tangible progress these contributions have facilitated for her nation. In an exclusive interview with People's Daily Online, Amin commended the BRI's role in bridging nations and their peoples. She expressed her conviction that the initiative will continue to generate positive outcomes, further solidifying the ties between countries and peoples. "The BRI is a huge proposal for all the countries," she said. "They want to be connected to each other through social, cultural and economic involvement." "I can say that the BRI has proven to be highly effective for us. I firmly believe that it will continue to do more for us, connecting countries and people culturally and economically," she said. (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Wu Chengliang) This service is a courtesy for our print subscribers to give them access to our online edition at no additional cost - if you haven't registered on the new site, you must do it now before you do anything else. US lawmakers rejected hard-line conservative Jim Jordan's bid for speaker of the House of Representatives for a second time on Wednesday, as the leadership vacuum paralyzed Washington for a 15th day with no clear resolution in sight. River City Company announced the newest addition to their staff serving as development specialist. As a non-profit professional with over 15 years of experience, Katie McCallie joined River City Company on Oct. 9. In the new role for the organization, she will assist the Communications and Programs team with outreach to the community and connecting with downtown stakeholders to gain support for the many events and projects undertaken by River City Company. Officials said, "Katie is proud to call Chattanooga home and to have had the opportunity to dedicate her career to organizations that are deeply invested in ensuring that downtown Chattanooga is a place where all individuals can thrive." Emily Mack, president and CEO of River City Company, said, We are thrilled to have Katie McCallie join our team as our new development specialist. Her diverse background brings a unique skillset to our organization and will enhance our ability to connect with even more organizations and partners in downtown. Prior to joining River City Company, Ms. McCallie worked for the Womens Fund of Greater Chattanooga, finishing her time there as the Director of Operations and Engagement. While working for the non-profit she served many roles from coordinating the collective philanthropy arm of the organization, to maintaining relationships with donors to managing the day-to-day operations of the organization. Katie has had a tremendous impact on the Women's Fund of Greater Chattanooga as a volunteer, board member and staff member, said Rachael Sauceman, board chair of the Womens Fund of Greater Chattanooga. We look forward to continuing to work with Katie and our partners at River City Company as both of our organizations focus on ensuring that Chattanooga is an incredible place to live, with opportunity for all. Ms. McCallie earned her Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 2004 and her Masters of Public Affairs from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin in 2009. She also currently serves as a Board of Trustee for St. Nicholas School and loves connecting individuals with nonprofits and organizations doing work that align with their volunteer interests, it was stated. At apartments on Commons Boulevard, a man told police his vehicle had been broken into overnight. He found the rear drivers side window was busted out on his truck. He said the only thing taken was his girlfriends wallet. They had already canceled any cards that were in the wallet. There was nothing to process on scene. A neighbor had a Ring video of two people walking around dressed all in black with face masks and gloves but it is unknown at this time if they are the suspects. * * * Another man at apartments on Commons Boulevard told police his rear drivers side window was busted out on his truck. He said it would cost around $700 to fix it. * * * A woman at the apartments on Commons Boulevard told police her rental vehicle window was broken. It was the rear driver's side window. The woman said nothing was stolen from the vehicle. * * * Another woman at the apartments on Commons Boulevard told police her vehicle window had been busted out. It was the front passenger window. The woman said nothing was taken. * * * Police were on S. Holtzclaw Avenue attempting to find a possibly unconscious person who was reported by a person who didnt want to speak with police. While in the area, an officer noticed someone attempting to hide behind a concrete wall on a porch. The officer tried to speak with the person who fled on foot. Police found a bike and a lunch box in the front yard. Inside the lunch box was 1.7 grams of a green leafy substance consistent with marijuana. There were also several straws with burnt ends and rolling papers. The box also held debit cards with two different names and a checkbook with a womans name. There was a receipt from Kays Jewelry with the womans name, as well as a box of jewelry from Kays Jewelry. Police tried to contact the woman and were later able to speak with her on the phone. Police later saw an open door at the residence and a report was made under another complaint of the findings inside the house by other officers. All items found inside the lunch box were taken to Property. * * * Police responded to a suspicious vehicle on Davidson Road. The rear window was completely gone on the black Mitsubishi Mirage. The driver window was also cracked and the vehicle had damage all the way around. An officer ran the vehicle and it was not stolen or posted in any BOLOs. The vehicle was on a gravel road off the roadway. Because it was on private property, it was left at the location. * * * A man on Grove Street told police he is not supposed to have any contact with a woman and he wanted it on record that she texted him and he did not respond back to her. Police checked to see if a TPO was in place, which is it, but no violation occurred because the woman is the protected party. * * * A woman on Mauldeth Road called police and reported she had received medical bills from Memphis and one of the bills was for transporting someone using her identity in an ambulance. The woman said she has never been to Memphis or in an ambulance. Police told the woman to contact Memphis Police and make a report with their agency since the incident occurred there. The woman later called back and said Memphis Police told her to make a report through Chattanooga Police and fax it to them. The officer told the woman they do not fax reports to other agencies but the officer could complete a miscellaneous report, but could not do an identity theft report because it happened in Memphis. * * * A woman on Sequoia Drive told police she wanted to have her boyfriend leave the premises and not return. They were in a verbal disagreement. The womans son offered to pay for an Uber for the boyfriend and he accepted the offer. Uber pulled up and took him back to Dalton. * * * A man on Standifer Gap Road told police someone busted his window and stole his passport. * * * Police responded to N. Orchard Knob Avenue for a disorder between two men. Both agreed to separate and would not cause any further issues. * * * A woman on E. 41st Street told police she needed to report that a man had been vandalizing her home and vehicle. She said it was the man, however she didnt witness him do any of the acts. She said the man is homeless and she allowed him to stay on her property and in exchange he would do chores around the property. The officer observed the property had excessive wear from over the years and no maintenance. The woman said she had witnesses who may have seen the man committing these offenses. She would call back in if she could get them to agree to speak to the police. The woman reported there was damage done to her exterior siding and her vehicle seats. * * * A woman on Cherryton Drive told police a tenant had broken a window valued at $800. She just wanted the damage documented. * * * A woman on Riverwalk Way called police and said she returned to her car, a 2014 Kia Sport, and realized the door was slightly ajar. Upon further inspection, the items inside her car were ransacked. The woman said she didnt keep anything of value inside her car, however there was some sensitive, personal information inside, like old W2s and bank checks. She believed her vehicle was locked, however there was no damage to the vehicle itself. The woman said she would continue to look for items possibly stolen and notify police to add to the report. * * * Police were called to Talley Road where witnesses said the driver of a white Ford Ranger lost control and traveled off an embankment. The property owner said the truck could stay on their property until it could be removed. Everyone said they didnt need an accident report or a property damage report. * * * Employees at Shell at 3440 Wilcox Blvd. told police a black male was irate inside the store and started to come behind the counter. One of the employees believed the man was possibly grabbing at a firearm near his waistband when he was yelling. The employee pressed the holdup alarm and waited for police. The irate customer left before police arrived. The employees said he is a frequent customer and sometimes is intoxicated resulting in a disorder. * * * A woman on Lake Resort Terrace called police and said someone during the night struck their stop sign and drove through their grass. She thought she knew which vehicle did the damage, but didnt have any video footage or witnesses. She said the vehicle had a flat tire and was muddy. She said the damages are approximately $3,000. With Ukraine-Russia and Israel-Palestine conflicts getting more attention than the alleged open border at the Rio Grande River gateway with Mexico, drastic action to assist the overwhelmed Border Patrol is needed. With the upcoming Republican Primary soon taking place in New Hampshire, it is not surprising that the remaining aspirants are trying to cut into the large lead still maintained by Donald J. Trump although he may be preoccupied with a few minor legal problems in Washington. In D.C. a federal judges patience is wearing thin and her gag order is not silencing the former Prez. (Also Minnesota and Colorado) Unfortunately, the Vice President (K.H.) has not been able to stop the flood of illegal migrants coming into our country including our buddies from China and Iran. Drastic action is needed while President Joe is on a low cost economy flight to peacefully stop the clash between Israel and Palestine which has only been going on for 4,000 years. Bring Commander out of Puppy Exile. An aggressive German Shepherd dog has been able to instill fear in the hearts of the bad guys (and some good people) throughout history. Under the Puppy Penal Code the two-year-old baby has been treated unfairly and denied Due Process of Dog Law. The vague reasons given by the staff at the residence of Commanders parents (W.H.) for the unlawful expulsion of the young juvenile canine is speculative and possibly illegal. Under the laws of mans jurisdictions even a German Shepherd is entitled to one free bite. Commanders youthful age might explain, justify, and forgive the sweet lad for the 11 other playful nips on possibly obnoxious White House staff members and aggressive U.S. Secret Service agents during the past year in 2022-2023. Why the House of Representatives in Congress and ASPCA have not initiated an in depth investigation into the circumstances surrounding Commanders exile is beyond comprehension! The secrecy surrounding the dogs departure is baffling but one informed, unidentified source has revealed that he is incarcerated at a kennel for terrorist pups at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. (With the present crisis in the Middle East exploding, Commander and 500 of his fellow colleagues might provide some valuable assistance to the beleaguered Border Patrol and clear the bad image on his record and fight (bite) for his country and get himself out of the dog house!) Thomas Maxfield "Max" Bahner, with joyful anticipation, entered the next adventure on October 13, 2023. He was born on November 26,1933 in Little Rock, Arkansas to his dear parents, Catharine Garrott Bahner, and Carl Tabb Bahner. He spent an idyllic childhood with his sisters, Molly Bahner Day and Frances Bahner Henricks in Jefferson City, Tennessee. As a child, he ran a newspaper route there while being chased by the neighborhood dogs! He attended Jefferson City High School, and then attended Carson-Newman College where his father was head of the Chemistry department. He majored in Biology and minored in History and English, anticipating a career in medical school. Following college, he decided to attend Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky where he developed a true appreciation for the study of Greek and Hebrew. It was here that he met the love of his life, Sara Minta McIntyre. After brief assignments to churches around the southeast, he felt called to the law. They married his first week of law school and moved to Charlottesville, Virginia for Max to attend the University of Virginia School of Law. Max frequently said that if he had a dozen lives, he'd spend every one of them as a lawyer. As Max's partner, Nelson Irvine said, "Max brought to the legal profession an abundant curiosity and respect for scholarship and continuing education. He shared an understanding that the profession of the law is a life-long learning adventure that occurs while the law and the profession, like the society in which it functions, are evolving at an ever-accelerating rate of change." He was a voracious reader and attentive listener. He wanted to get to know you! He was dedicated to his firm, his clients and thrived on mentoring many young lawyers over the years. In Sara, Max found his best supporter and lifelong friend. They weathered life's challenges together, traveled the world, but were most happy at home, "Songwood," on Signal Mountain where he enjoyed the beauty of nature and the many rhododendrons, azaleas, and daffodils he planted throughout the property. They centered their happy home around family. They were devoted to each other and their children, Maxfield Tabb Bahner, Sara Margaret Bahner, Minta Susan Bahner Lancaster, and Margaret Catharine Bahner Daniels (Lillard). Max reiterated daily how proud he was of his children, sons-in-law Frank Lancaster and David Lillard, and his beloved grandchildren, Michael, Thomas, and Max Lancaster, and Sara Catharine Daniels and step-grandchildren, Jackson and Mason Lillard. After working with Kefauver, Duggan, and MacDonald, he began practice with the Chambliss Firm in 1964. His career spanned more than 60 years, and in that time, Max was a Senior Member of the firm's Litigation Section. He was an AAA arbitrator and a Rule 31 certified mediator. He was past president of both the Chattanooga and Tennessee Bar Associations. In addition, he served nearly 17 years in the American Bar Association House of Delegates, and he served on the Board of Governors of the American Bar Association and on the Executive Committee of the Board of Governors. He was the Chair of the Tennessee Supreme Court's Advisory Commission on the Rules of Civil Procedure, and in that capacity helped write the Tennessee Rules of Evidence adopted by the Tennessee Supreme Court. He chaired the Task Force to review and make changes to the Tennessee Rules of Judicial Conduct which were also adopted by the Tennessee Supreme Court and have become influential in revisions in other states. He was a founding member of the Tennessee Bar Foundation and the Chattanooga Bar Foundation, and a Life Fellow of the American Bar Association. He was a founding member of the Tennessee Supreme Court Historical Society. He was a fellow of the American Board of Trial Advocates and the American College of Trial Lawyers. In 2011, he was inducted into the Legal Aid of East Tennessee's Pro Bono Hall of Fame. He received the John H. Pickering Award of Achievement from the American Bar Association in 2011, the Distinguished Service Award from The Kiwanis Club of Chattanooga in 2013, and the Outstanding Service Award from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 2014. In 2018, he traveled to the United States Supreme Court to accept from Chief Judge Stewart the American Inns of Court Professionalism Award for the Sixth Circuit at the Celebration of Excellence. In May of this year, he was inducted into the Robert Reedy Bryan Society at Carson-Newman University. In addition to these accolades, Max felt keenly a responsibility to help those he could. These values were deeply instilled in him by his parents and grandparents. He regularly did pro bono legal work and shared his talents in other ways as well. He was an ardent supporter of Legal Aid and was a past recipient of the Bruce Bailey Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award in 2013. He was a champion of access to justice in Tennessee. For 40 years, he served in various capacities as a past president, board member and honorary member of the Orange Grove Center. He was a board member of the BOTA Foundation, the Chattanooga Symphony, the Chattanooga United Way, the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga, the University of Chattanooga Foundation, and Carson-Newman University, where he was on the Executive Committee, and Chair of the Board for five years. He was a past president of the Chattanooga Rotary Club and served on numerous other committees and organizations as well. Max was a man of deep and ever-growing faith who gleaned spiritual truths both from his Baptist upbringing and education, and his longtime attendance at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. He taught Sunday School for countless years which he loved. From first to last, his was a life of high ideals and devotion to God, his family, and his profession. A line from one of Sara's poems rings true: "Max of the golden heart." Family members who have gone on before are his parents and grandparents, his son, Maxfield Tabb Bahner and daughter, Sara Margaret Bahner. He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, his two daughters, Susan (Knoxville, TN) and Catharine (Chattanooga, TN) and their spouses and children and stepchildren, his sisters, Molly Bahner Day (Grafton, VA) and Frances Bahner Hendricks (Charlotte, NC) as well as his two brother in-laws, countless nieces and nephews and their offspring. View www.heritagebattlefield.com to share condolences with the family. A memorial service will take place at St. Paul's Episcopal Church on Friday, November 10 at 1 PM. Memorial gifts may be made to Orange Grove Center, 615 Derby Street Chattanooga, TN 37404 or University of Virginia Law School Foundation, 580 Massie Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903. Please note T. Maxfield Bahner '60 Unrestricted Endowment. Arrangements by Heritage Funeral Home & Crematory, Battlefield Parkway. Howard V. "Smokey" Page, 88, a longtime resident of Athens, passed away on Thursday morning, October 19, 2023, in a local healthcare facility. He was born in Hillsboro, Oh. on June 16, 1935, a son of the late Delbert & Rosabelle Page. Howard was an honorable discharge veteran of the United States Air Force.In addition to his parents, his is also preceded in death by his wife, Bonnie Page; one daughter, Vicky Shideler; one son, Dean Page; and one brother, Clifford Page.He leaves behind to cherish his memory, his loving children and their families, two daughters, Angela Sharp and Valerie Ray; two sons, Verl Page and Vernon Page; two sisters, Betty Page and Phyllis Garland; numerous other extended family members; and a host of special friends.The family will receive friends on Monday, Oct. 23 from 4-6 p.m. A service celebrating his life will follow the visitation time on Monday evening at 6 p.m. Both the visitation and the service will take place in the Athens chapel of Companion Funeral Home at 400 S. White St. in Athens.Share a memory of Howard and/or your personal condolences with his family by visiting his memorial webpage and guestbook at www.companionfunerals.com.Companion Funeral Home of Athens is honored to assist his family with these arrangements. Songwriter, recording artist, performer, educator and activist Carrie Newcomer will kick off the inaugural season of the new UTC LIVE! season at the UTC Fine Arts Center Saturday, Hayes Concert Hall, Oct. 28, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 and $35, and available at www.utc.edu/fine-arts-centerAbout the artist.Carrie has been described as a "prairie mystic" by the Boston Globe and one who "asks all the right questions" by Rolling Stone Magazine. She has 20 nationally released albums on Available Light & Concord/Rounder Records including Until Now, The Point of Arrival and The Beautiful Not Yet.Newcomer has released three books of poetry & essays, A Permeable Life: Poems and Essays, The Beautiful Not Yet: Poems and Essays & Lyrics, and Until Now: New Poems by Carrie Newcomer. Her song "I Should've Known Better" appeared on Nickel Creeks' Grammy-winning gold album This Side, and she earned an Emmy for her PBS special An Evening with Carrie Newcomer.Recent appearances include PBS Religion and Ethics and Krista Tippett's On Being. In 2009 and 2011, Newcomer was invited by the American Embassy of India to be a cultural ambassador, resulting in her interfaith benefit album Everything is Everywhere with master of the Indian Sarod, Amjad Ali Khan. In 2013, Carrie traveled to Kenya and the Middle East, performing in schools, spiritual communities and hospitals assisting AIDS patients. In 2015, Carrie's first musical, Betty's Diner: The Musical was produced by Purdue University. In 2016, Carrie was awarded an honorary degree in Music for Social Change from Goshen College. In 2019 she received The Shalem Institutes's Contemplative Voices Award.In recent years Carrie joined with the author Parker J. Palmer on several projects, including The Growing Edge collaboration which explores growing edges, personally, vocationally and politically. Together they create live events, personal growth retreats, and the highly rated The Growing Edge Podcast that features authors, activists, poets and musicians, and online conversation starters for book and other conversation groups. Spirituality and Health Magazine named Parker & Carrie in the top ten spiritual leaders for the next 20 years.Carrie is known for her low and resonant voice "..as rich as Godiva Chocolate" according to The Austin Statesman, for her musical depth and the progressive spiritual content of her songs, poetry and workshops, and for her continued work in justice, spiritual and interfaith communities, and health and hunger organizations. She lives in the wooded hills of South Central Indiana with her husband and two shaggy rescue dogs. County Mayor Weston Wamp told the Civitan Club on Friday that the bold school facilities plan presented in August is not as scary as dissidents say. Mayor Wamp characterized some opposition rhetoric as intentional distortion of the facts and fearmongers. He said the plan recommends 700-student elementary schools, not mega-schools with 1,200 students. Each grade would have about 125 students and probably six classes, a size that offers diverse opportunities but also community, he said. Thrasher Elementary School on Signal Mountain, arguably the best school in Tennessee, he said, plans to potentially expand to about 700 students, and no one has complained to him about that, he said. I find that curious, he said. Mayor Wamp said if every community in the county had a small school like Alpine Crest Elementary, which has 275 students, that would make 100 elementary schools, one every two miles, which is obviously impractical and ridiculous, he said. Alpine Crest is listed with three other elementary schools to be consolidated into one at the Dupont Elementary School site on Hixson Pike. Of three choices to renovate, replace or consolidate schools, he said consolidation is the best use of taxpayer dollars. Theres a perception that were busting at the seams, Mayor Wamp said. He said the county student population has remained static overall for the last 10 years, and that school buildings as they stand today have capacity for 10,000 more students. He said inefficient zoning, begun after the 1997 merger of the city and county school systems, is to blame for leaving some facilities underutilized. He acknowledged that the chasm between the best and worst facilities is wide. The worst are aging urban schools inherited from the city district, he said. Mayor Wamp told the group hes perplexed by the lack of gratitude from some unnamed municipal leaders for his desire and efforts to build the best schools. In contrast, he said, the Brainerd community and the Soddy-Daisy community seem willing to work with ideas to bring Dalewood Middle School to the Brainerd High campus and to bring the Soddy Daisy middle and high schools to the 60-acre Daisy Elementary School campus, a novel opportunity, he said. A lot of families spend an arm and a leg to send their kids to a K through 12 school, County Mayor Wamp said. The continuity in K-12 setting is impactful and more valuable in at-risk populations, he said. Final community meetings will be held through November for input regarding the county-recommended school facilities plan, a sweeping overhaul of Hamilton County school buildings. December will be a month of deliberation, said school board facilities committee Chair Karitsa Jones, and the school board will present its own facilities recommendation to Superintendent Dr. Justin Robertson in January. Dr. Robertson will present a final recommendation to the county commission in time to work it into next years budget. The plan, revealed in August, recommends consolidating Alpine Crest Elementary School, Rivermont Elementary School, Hixson Elementary School and Dupont Elementary School. It also recommends expanding the Daisy Elementary School campus to combine it with Soddy Daisy Middle and High Schools. The recommendation is broken down into two phases, years 1-3 and years 4-7, and touches every county school. Some schools will be expanded to keep pace with community growth while others will be modernized. Next public community meetings: Tuesday, Oct. 24, 6-7:30 p.m. at Soddy-Daisy High School. Topic: Replace Soddy Daisy Middle School? Thursday, Oct. 26, 6-7:30 p.m. at the Howard School. Topic: Plan for Growth in the Howard Community Monday, Nov. 6, 6-7:30 p.m. at Thrasher Elementary School. Topic: Expansion of Thrasher Jeanette Omarkhail, president of the Hamilton County Education Association, addressed the board to urge it to fight a 2016 state scheme to rate school performance with letter grades A through F. The state law is just being implemented in Hamilton County, but Ms. Omarkhail said the simple system presents a false narrative and conceals too much good about a school. The variables are infinite, she said. Low grades will cause communities to lose faith in their schools and drive people to private schools, she said. School grades are based on a schools TCAP scores and Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System data which rates student growth and student achievement. Fresh off the release of a new album featuring live music sessions (a final nod to FLOWER SHOPS the Album), Big Loud recording artist, ERNEST, will perform live at The Signal on Oct 26. His new album, ERNEST & The Fellas Unplugged, features his Circle and Salvage Sessions with live versions of some of his favorite music he plays on stage. Not only a national country music performer, ERNEST has been nominated twice for New Male Artist of the Year from the American Country Music Association. He has also written major country hits for artists like Morgan Wallen whom he is currently opening for on his international tour. ERNEST describes being a part of Morgan Wallens tour, which is selling out every show in major market arenas as a wild experience. Coming off Morgans tour and launching directly into his own healing tour, Ernest says his tour is all out with openers Jake Worthington and Cody Lohden. He only had four days to figure out his own tour set after coming off the road but has great plans for this tour. There might be a moment in the set to go unplugged and acoustic, but Id say were going to have a little bit of everything, and Im a big fan of Jake and Cody. I selfishly put these guys out there with me because I like hearing their music every night, said ERNEST. A Nashville native, ERNEST started songwriting and had success in the music industry in that space before developing as a full-blown touring artist. He admits that one just hit before the other, but just songwriting was never going to completely satisfy him. Ive always been an artist and Ive always been a songwriter, but I didnt always know what the artist side would look like. And for that matter, I didnt know what the songwriter side would look like, but country music opened the doors for me and writing country songs has led the way and it will keep leading the way, said ERNEST. Despite having eight number #1 country radio hits under his belt, ERNEST says that songwriting is very complex. A song can be written great but not come out great in the end stages, and in some cases, a mediocre written song can turn out incredible because of all the studio things that happened that you had nothing to do with. Its very clear that ERNEST has a timing process that plays out for his songwriting that defines a who-gets-what depending on whos up and who might be on deck. But for the last year-and-a-half, Ernest has been writing for himself. I can be in service mode when Morgan Wallen is writing for his album, and I can switch gears and theres separation between what Im doing and when its time for him. But outside of writing with our team here, for Morgan specifically, writing for other artists, I might write a song with a legendary artist in mind to see where it lands, said ERNEST. When looking ahead at 2024, ERNEST clarifies he is doubling down on his own artist career, with more music and more shows, but is excited to play Chattanooga for his fellow Tennesseans next Thursday evening. Im excited for my Tennessee friends to come out and make a Tennessee kid feel welcome in Chattanooga. Ive had many wild nights in Chattanooga, and Im looking forward to having another one, said ERNEST. For tickets to the Oct 26 show, visit www.ernestofficial.com The Horticulture program at Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) will hold a Fall Pansy Sale outside of Building L across from GNTCs Floyd County Campus in Rome beginning on Monday. The sale will be held daily from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. through Thursday, Oct. 26, or until the plants are sold out. Nick Barton, director of GNTCs Horticulture program, said the sale will include a variety of clear face pansies, white with blotch pansies and yellow with blotch pansies. Pansies will cost $4 for a four-pack or $32 for a flat containing four packs totaling 32 pansies. Purchases may be made with cash or check. Credit cards are not accepted. The sale will provide Horticulture students with real-world experience as they assist with selections and load purchases, he said. All proceeds from the plant sale will benefit GNTCs Horticulture program. The Don Eaves Heritage House Holiday Market will be held on Saturday, Nov. 18 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.Numerous local artisans & craftspeople as well as home-based businesses will be represented. Prizes will be given away hourly to attendees as well as a Grand Prize to be awarded at the end of the day.If you are interested in being a vendor, contact the Heritage House manager, Chris Holley, at HeritageHouse@Chattanooga.gov or 423-855-9474 (landline).Vendor booth setup will be from 8-9:30 a.m. Join staff and volunteers of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park as they commemorate the 160th Anniversary of the Battles for Chattanooga with a series special programs taking place in and around the city on Nov. 18, 19, 23, 24, 25 and 27.Officials said, "By November 1863, months of besiegement culminated with a series of battles throughout the Chattanooga area. By the time the smoke cleared, Orchard Knob, Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge were strewn with the wreckage of war, and the Confederate Army of Tennessee was in full retreat.It was, as one Confederate later wrote, the Death Knell of the Confederacy.This year, the park will offer a variety of special programs marking the anniversaries of the battles, including historical hikes and tours on Moccasin Bend, Orchard Knob, Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. On Nov. 18-19, inside Point Park, living historians will conduct artillery demonstrations as they portray one of the Confederate artillery batteries located atop Lookout Mountain during the 1863 battle.As a reminder, an entrance fee is charged at Point Park, atop Lookout Mountain. The fee is $10 per adult, ages 16 and older; children 15 and younger are admitted free of charge. Programs occurring in other areas are free.A detailed schedule including program dates, times and descriptions is available online at: https://www.nps.gov/chch/160thbattlesforchattanooga.htm. Here is the upcoming City Council agenda for Tuesday: I. Call to Order by Chair Dotley. II. Pledge of Allegiance/Invocation (Councilwoman Noel). III. Special Presentation. IV. Minute Approval. Order of Business for City Council V. Ordinances Final Reading: PLANNING a. 2023-0146 William Dickson (O-1 Office Zone and C-2 Convenience Commercial Zone with conditions to C-2 Convenience Commercial Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone 5468 Old Hixson Pike, from O-1 Office Zone and C-2 Convenience Commercial Zone with conditions to C-2 Convenience Commercial Zone, subject to certain conditions. (District 3) (Recommended for approval by Planning Commission and Staff)b. 2023-0132 Allied Metal Company/Nelson M LLC (R-2 Residential Zone to M-1 Manufacturing Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone parts of properties located at 3320 and 3440 Lightfoot Mill Road, from R-2 Residential Zone to M-1 Manufacturing Zone. (District 5) (Recommended for approval by Planning Commission)c. 2023-0141 Shane Durkee (R-1 Residential Zone to R-T/Z Residential Townhouse/Zero Lot Line Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone 1812 Hickory Valley Road, from R-1 Residential Zone to R-T/Z Residential Townhouse/Zero Lot Line Zone. (District 6) (Recommended for approval by Planning Commission and Staff) (Planning Version #2)d. 2023-0160 Cody Etling (R-1 Residential Zone to C-2 Convenience Commercial Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone part of an unaddressed property located in the 6000 block of Highway 58, from R-1 Residential Zone to C-2 Convenience Commercial Zone, subject to certain conditions. (District 6) (Recommended for approval by Planning Commission and Staff) (Deferred from 10-10-2023)e. 2023-0130 Collier Construction (C-2 Convenience Commercial Zone to C-3 Central BusinessZone). AnordinancetoamendChattanoogaCityCode,PartII,Chapter38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone properties located at 2409, 2411, 2417, and an unaddressed parcel in the 2400 block of East Main Street, from C-2 Convenience Commercial Zone to C-3 Central Business Zone, subject to certain conditions. (District 8) (Recommended for approval by Planning Commission) (Deferred from 10-10-2023)f. 2023-0151 Petra Moraczewski (R-2 Residential Zone and C-2 Convenience Commercial Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone 809 Dodds Avenue, from R-2 Residential Zone and C-2 Convenience Commercial Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone, subject to certain conditions. (District 9) (Recommended for approval by Planning Commission and Staff) (Deferred from 10-17-2023)g. An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, Article XVI, Downtown Chattanooga Form Based Code, Division 4, Downtown Core, Section 38-702, D-CX: Commercial Mixed Use Zone to add additional Maximum Permitted Building Heights. (Deferred from 10-10-2023)POLICEh. An ordinance amending Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 16, Section 16-59 through Section 16-66, by deleting same in their entirety and substituting in lieu thereof the following new sections, as amended, for the Police Advisory Review Committee. (Version #6)VI. Ordinances First Reading:PLANNINGa. 2023-0118 Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel (R-2 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone part of a property located at 1710 South Holtzclaw Avenue, from R-2 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone, subject to certain conditions. (District 8) (Recommended for approval by Planning Commission and Staff) (Deferred from 09-12-2023 & 09-19-2023) (Motion to Reconsider on 10-10-2023)2023-0118 Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel (R-2 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone part of a property located at 1710 South Holtzclaw Avenue, from R-2 Residential Zone to C-2 Convenience Commercial Zone. (Applicant Version) (Recommended for denial by Planning Commission and Staff)b. 2023-0137 Stephen Brady (Lift Condition). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to lift Condition No. 2 from Ordinance No. 13624 of previous Case No. MR-2020-0132 after the abandonment of parts of several streets and alleys located near 901 South Holtzclaw Avenue. (Districts 8 & 9) (Recommended for approval by Planning Commission and recommended for deferral by Staff) (Deferred from 09-12-2023 and 10-10-2023)c. 2023-0138 Stephen Brady (Lift Condition). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to lift Condition No. 2 from Ordinance No. 13625 from the original abandonment of previous Case No. MR-2020-0134 from property located in the 1300 block of Vance Avenue. (Districts 8 & 9) (Recommended for approval by Planning Commission and recommended for deferral by Staff) (Deferred from 09-12-2023 and 10-10-2023)VII. Resolutions:COUNCIL OFFICEa. A resolution confirming the appointment of Melody Shekari to the Industrial Development Board for District 8, for a term beginning on October 25, 2023, and ending on October 24, 2029. (District 8)b. A resolution confirming the appointment of Gina Reviere to the Community Advisory Committee for Bushtown-Glenwood for District 8, for a term beginning on October 25, 2023, and ending on October 24, 2025. (District 8)ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT c. A resolution authorizing the Mayor or his designee to enter into a Third Agreement to Exercise Option to Renew with Missionary Ridge Neighborhood Association, Inc., in substantially the form attached, to lease approximately 2,600 square feet of space at 36 Sheridan Avenue, identified as Tax Map No. 156E-B-001.01, for an additional term of one (1) year through December 16, 2024, for the rent of one dollar ($1.00) per term. (District 9) d. A resolution authorizing the Administrator for the Department of Economic Development to apply for, and if awarded, accept a Recompete Grant from the Economic Development Administrations (EDA) Recompete PILOT Program, in coordination with Hamilton County, the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, Chatt 2.0, Benwood, and the Bethlehem Center, to support revitalization of EDA eligible distressed areas in the City where prime-age (25-54 years) employment significantly trails the national average, in the amount of $500,000.00. PUBLIC WORKS e. A resolution authorizing the Administrator for the Department of Public Works to award Contract No. Y-22-011-201, Hixson Community Center Roof Replacement, to Porter Roofing Contractors, Inc., of Morrison, TN, in the amount of $308,075.00, with a contingency in the amount of $30,000.00, for a total amount of $338,075.00. (District 3) VIII. Purchases. IX. Committee Reports. X. Recognition of Persons Wishing to Address the Council. XI. Adjournment. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023 CITY COUNCIL PROPOSED AGENDA 4:00 PM 1. Call to Order by Chair Dotley. 2. Pledge of Allegiance/Invocation (Councilwoman Coonrod). 3. Special Presentation. Renewable Energy and Waste-to-Energy Project Presented by the Wastewater Department 4. Minute Approval. Proposed Order of Business for City Council 5. Ordinances - Final Reading: PLANNING a. 2023-0118 Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel (R-2 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone part of a property located at 1710 South Holtzclaw Avenue, from R-2 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone, subject to certain conditions. (District 8) (Recommended for approval by Planning Commission and Staff) (Deferred from 09-12-2023 & 09-19-2023) (Motion to Reconsider on 10-10-2023) 2023-0118 Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel (R-2 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone part of a property located at 1710 South Holtzclaw Avenue, from R-2 Residential Zone to C-2 Convenience Commercial Zone. (Applicant Version) (Recommended for denial by Planning Commission and Staff) b. 2023-0137 Stephen Brady (Lift Condition). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to lift Condition No. 2 from Ordinance No. 13624 of previous Case No. MR-2020-0132 after the abandonment of parts of several streets and alleys located near 901 South Holtzclaw Avenue. (Districts 8 & 9) (Recommended for approval by Planning Commission and recommended for deferral by Staff) (Deferred from 09-12-2023 and 10-10-2023) c. 2023-0138 Stephen Brady (Lift Condition). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to lift Condition No. 2 from Ordinance No. 13625 from the original abandonment of previous Case No. MR-2020-0134 from property located in the 1300 block of Vance Avenue. (Districts 8 & 9) (Recommended for approval by Planning Commission and recommended for deferral by Staff) (Deferred from 09-12-2023 and 10-10-2023) 6. Ordinances - First Reading: PLANNING a. 2023-0156 Tinker Ma, LLC (C-2 Convenience Commercial Zone, R-3 Residential Zone, and R-4 Special Zone to W-N (New Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone properties located at 957 and 1200 Boynton Drive, 959 Gateway Avenue, 1195, 1200, and two unaddressed properties in the 1200 and 1300 blocks of Grove Street, 1201 Poplar Street, 501 West 12th Street, and 500 West Martin Luther King Boulevard, from C-2 Convenience Commercial Zone, R-3 Residential Zone, and R-4 Special Zone to W-N (New Zone). (District 7) (Recommended for approval by Planning Commission) (Deferred from 10-10-2023) b. 2023-0156 Tinker Ma, LLC (C-2 Convenience Commercial Zone, R-3 Residential Zone, and R-4 Special Zone to W-N (New Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone properties located at 957 and 1200 Boynton Drive, 959 Gateway Avenue, 1195, 1200, and two unaddressed properties in the 1200 and 1300 blocks of Grove Street, 1201 Poplar Street, 501 West 12th Street, and 500 West Martin Luther King Boulevard, from C-2 Convenience Commercial Zone, R-3 Residential Zone, and R-4 Special Zone to W-N (New Zone), subject to certain modifications. (Staff Version) An ordinance to amend the Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, Article XVI, Downtown Form Based Code, Division 1, Introductory Provisions, to add a new Form Based Code Context Area and associated Form Based Code Zones; Section 38-692, Legal Requirements; Section 38-693, Context Areas; Section 38-694, Zones; and amend Division 3, Rules for all zones, Section 38-697, Lot Types; Section 38-698, Measurements and Exceptions; and add new context areas Division 15, Westside and associated zones. (Deferred from 10-10-2023) PUBLIC WORKS c. MR-2023-0153 RP Central, LLC/John A. Felker (Abandonment). An ordinance closing and abandoning an unopened right-of-way in the 2200 block of Rossville Avenue, as detailed on the attached map, subject to certain conditions. (District 8) (Recommended for approval by Planning Commission and Public Works) 7. Resolutions: COUNCIL OFFICE a. A resolution to amend Resolution No. 31544 authorizing the Mayor or his designee to enter into a Beneficiary Agreement with the Bethlehem Center to serve as the fiduciary agent for the Chattanooga Empowerment Cowboys, for an amount not to exceed $5,000.00. (District 7) b. A resolution confirming the appointment of Ponda Bailey-Foster to the Community Advisory Committee for District 6, Bushtown-Glenwood, with a term beginning on November 1, 2023, and ending on October 31, 2024. (District 8) ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT c. A resolution authorizing the Mayor or his designee to enter into an office lease with HSOPSNF, LLC, in substantially the form attached, for the use of 100 square feet of office space in a portion of the Family Justice Center located at 5705 Uptain Road, identified as Tax Map No. 157M-A-012, for a term of two (2) years, November 1, 2023, through October 31, 2025, with an option to renew for one (1) additional term of two (2) years, with monthly rent of one hundred dollars ($100.00). (District 6) d. A resolution authorizing the Mayor or his designee to enter into a Donation Agreement with the Chattanooga Housing Authority, in substantially the form attached, for the donation of property located at 501 W. 12th Street, identified as Tax Map No. 145C-B-001, for the purpose of constructing mixed income new housing units as related to the Westside Evolves Redevelopment Plan, and to execute all documents required for the completion of the transaction. (District 7) e. A resolution authorizing the Mayor or his designee to enter into a Donation Agreement with Chattanooga Housing Authority, in substantially the form attached, for the donation of a portion of the property at 1195 Grove Street, identified as Tax Map No. 145F-A-004, for the purpose of constructing a new public right-of-way known as Grace Street as outlined in the Westside Redevelopment Plan, and subject to the surplus approval of the property to execute all documents required for the completion of the transaction. (District 7) f. A resolution supporting the application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for a Choice Neighborhoods Implementation (CNI) Grant and authorizing the Mayor to execute a Partnership Certification with the Chattanooga Housing Authority (CHA) to jointly apply for the CNI Grant, in the amount of $50 million for the Westside Plan, and additionally, commit a total of $1.5 million of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds during the eight (8) year grant period. (District 7) g. A resolution of the City Council of the City of Chattanooga, Tennessee, approving the Economic Impact Plan for The Bend Development Project. (District 7) h. A resolution authorizing the Mayor or his designee to enter into a First Agreement to Exercise Option to Renew with Diagnostic Radiology Consultants, P.A., in substantially the form attached, to lease 173 square feet for an x-ray examination area at the City of Chattanooga Well Advantage Center, with rent in the amount of $250.00 per month, for an additional term of two (2) years, through December 31, 2025. (District 8) i. A resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute Quitclaim Deeds conveying fifteen (15) certain or certain combinations of parcels, in substantially the form attached, to the approved highest bidders on properties of the City of Chattanooga and Hamilton County as acquired through previous delinquent tax sales. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY j. A resolution to apply for, and if awarded, accept a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grant Program for the City of Chattanooga project titled, A Nationally Scalable C-V2X PILOT Deployment: Advancing Interoperability Connectivity for Improving Safety and Operations in the City, for an amount not to exceed $2 million. LEGAL k. A resolution amending Resolution No. 31674 by authorizing the Office of the City Attorney to engage with the following additional firms for legal and lobbying services: (23) Messer * Fort; and (24) Reno & Cavanaugh, PLLC, for the period of October 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024. PARKS & OUTDOORS l. A resolution rescinding Resolution No. 25339 to eliminate the Park Rangers positions for special police commission authority. m. A resolution authorizing the waiver of park rental fees for RiverCity Company in support of Reindeer on the Riverfront for the dates of November 22, 23, and 24, 2023, to be held in Rosss Landing, Renaissance Park, and Chattanooga Green, with a deposit in the amount of $2,500.00 (responsibility of the applicant), for a total amount of $3,500.00. PLANNING n. Coradini Properties (Acme Liquors, Inc. d/b/a Valley Wine and Spirits) (Special Exceptions Permit). A resolution approving a new Special Exceptions Permit for an existing liquor store located at 3540 Cummings Hwy., Chattanooga, TN 37419. (District 1) PUBLIC WORKS o. A resolution authorizing the Administrator for the Department of Public Works to award Contract No. F-22-005-201, Fire Hall #10 and #12 Concrete Repairs, to J. Brennon Construction, Inc., of Dalton, GA, in the amount of $96,332.19, with a contingency in the amount of $9,750.00, for a total amount of $106,082.19. (Districts 2 & 8) p. A resolution authorizing the Public Works Administrator to accept a Historic Preservation Fund Grant in the amount of $70,000.00 from the Tennessee Historical Commission and authorizing the $50,000.00 match from Regional Planning Agency fund balance, for a total project cost of $120,000.00, to update historical guidelines and create landmark guides for local landmarks and historic districts. (Districts 7 & 8) (Added with permission by Vice-Chair Hill) WASTEWATER q. A resolution authorizing the Administrator for the Wastewater Department to approve Change Order No. 1 with Reeves Young, LLC, of Sugar Hill, GA, for Contract Nos. W-17-023-201 and W-18-008-201, MBWWTP Improvements Schedules A and B, due to the duration of administration period, flow splitter box design changes, additional slide gate purchase, and utility conflict resolution, for an increase of $1,132,610.53, for a revised amount of $9,399,610.53, with a contingency in the amount of $413,450.00, for a total amount of $9,813,060.53. r. A resolution authorizing the Administrator for the Wastewater Department to enter into an agreement for grant administration services with Southeast Tennessee Development District (SETDD) for technical and professional administrative services for one (1) City project financed through the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF), for a total project cost not to exceed $31,500.00. 8. Purchases. 9. Committee Reports. 10. Other Business. (Items Listed Below): ? Certificate of Compliance, Acme Liquors, Inc. d/b/a Valley Wine and Spirits, 3540 Cummings Hwy., Chattanooga, TN 37419. (District 1) ? Certificate of Compliance, Mac's Convenience Stores, LLC d/b/a Circle K #4703955, 4600 Highway 58, Chattanooga, TN 37416. (District 5) ? Certificate of Compliance, Joes Kwik Marts, LLC d/b/a Joes Kwik Marts, 7420 Bonny Oaks Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37421. (District 6) ? Certificate of Compliance, Mac's Convenience Stores, LLC d/b/a Circle K #4703954, 100 West 20th Street, Chattanooga, TN 37408. (District 7) 11. Recognition of Persons Wishing to Address the Council. 12. Adjournment. Christine Brown is a legally married woman, and she even got the chance to enjoy a real honeymoon with her new love in one of her preferred locales. Christine Brown and David Woolley are officially married. The Sister Wives star and her new love tied the knot on Oct. 8 in front of hundreds of family and friends. Now, they are enjoying their honeymoon. Christine has let fans in on a bit of their journey, including the location of their post-wedding trip. Christine Brown and David Woolley honeymooned with Disney Christine Brown and David Woolley could have traveled anywhere in the world for their honeymoon, but the couple decided to keep things stateside. The couple spent their first days as husband and wife in the Happiest Place on Earth. Christine shared several photos from Disneyland with her Instagram followers. ANAHEIM, CA MAY 4: Fireworks explode over The Sleeping Beauty Castle as part of the Disney Premiere of RememberDreams Come True the biggest firework display in Disneylands history during the Disneyland 50th Anniversary Celebration at Disneyland Park on May 4, 2005 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) Its not the first time the couple has traveled together. Its not even their first trip to the park as a couple. In May, Christine shared photos from another trip to Disneyland. Several of the children she shares with Kody Brown tagged along. In August, Christine, David, and the family also took in the sites in the United Kingdom. Christine wasnt the only Brown to visit Disneyland this month While Christine and David spent their honeymoon in Disneyland, they werent the only ones with the vacation spot in mind. Christine wasnt the only former Brown to spend time at the Happiest Place on Earth in October. Meri Brown was also at the tourist destination. She, unlike Christine, wasnt on a romantic getaway. Instead, Meri enjoyed all the Halloween festivities Disneyland offers with a friend. According to her Instagram posts, Meri visits the amusement park each fall for the Halloween vibes. In a post, she wrote that she and her travel companion walked 18 miles and enjoyed plenty of rides and food. Meri was not invited to Christines Moab, Utah nuptials. The child Meri shares with Kody Brown, Leon Brown, did attend the event, though. It is unclear if Leons spouse, Audrey Kriss, was also at the affair. Where do Christine and David live now? Despite their regular travels, Christine and David do have a home base. Before their wedding, the couple purchased a home in Lehi, Utah. Their new abode is not far from where the Brown family had their plural home before their move to Las Vegas. David Woolley and Christine Brown | Instagram While the entire Brown family moved from Utah to Las Vegas, and then several members of the family left Las Vegas to set down roots in Flagstaff, many family members migrated back to Utah. Aspyn Thompson and Mykelti Padron both moved back to the state following their marriages. Paedon Brown headed for Utah after his family left Las Vegas, and Ysabel Brown and Truely Brown appear to have followed Christine Brown to Utah following her divorce from Kody. Meri Brown also lives in Utah, although shes set down roots hours away from her former sister wife. Meri is currently living in Parowan, Utah, where she owns a small business. Janelle Brown has also toyed with the idea of returning to Utah following her spiritual separation from Kody but does not appear to have made a move just yet. Merck expects to return to growth during fiscal 2024. This was announced by the company at the Capital Markets Day. In addition, Merck confirmed its medium-term growth targets for its three business sectors and expects continued growth beyond 2025. Belen Garijo, Chair of the Executive Board and CEO of Merck, said: Mercks business model has been put to the test over and over again in previous years and proven itself resilient. Even in challenging circumstances, we see ourselves optimally positioned to continue to generate attractive growth rates in the future. Our multi-industry set-up and diversified geographic footprint enable us to leverage key megatrends such as the growing demand for specialty medicines, novel modalities as well as artificial intelligence. We are confident that we will be able to resume our growth course in fiscal 2024. Thanks to its set-up with three business sectors, Merck expects to see on average stable sales in fiscal 2023, despite a difficult market environment in Life Science and Electronics. The company still assumes an organic sales development of 2% to +2%, leading to net sales of 20.5 billion to 21.9 billion in total. In the first half of 2023, the strong growth of Healthcare largely offset the organic sales declines in Life Science and Electronics. In fiscal 2024, Merck expects to return to organic sales growth for the Group. Several factors will contribute to this: In the Life Science business sector, the decline in Covid-19-related sales will be lower than in fiscal 2023. In the Process Solutions business unit, inventory destocking by key customers should end in early 2024, with sales starting to pick up again during the first half of the year. In Healthcare, Merck expects growth to normalize in line with medium-term aspirations. The market for semiconductor materials in the Electronics business sector is also assumed to recover incrementally in 2024. At its Capital Markets Day, Merck confirmed its medium-term growth targets for its three business sectors. The company expects the following compound annual growth rates for organic sales development: Life Science: 7% to 10% Healthcare: mid-single digit percentage range Electronics: 3% to 6% Merck attributes this confidence in its medium-term growth potential also beyond 2025 to an optimal positioning: With its diversified portfolio, the company benefits from key megatrends. In the Life Science business sector, this includes the growing market for complex and novel modalities such as viral vectors, antibody-drug conjugates and mRNA. In the Healthcare business sector, Merck develops and commercializes specialty pharmaceuticals for oncology and neurology, among others. These include the medicines Bavencio (cancer) and Mavenclad (multiple sclerosis), both of which have shown strong growth in the first half of fiscal 2023. In addition, Merck is conducting clinical trials with the pipeline assets xevinapant (head and neck cancer) as well as evobrutinib (multiple sclerosis). With its industry-leading range of semiconductor materials, the Electronics business sector expects positive growth impetus in the medium term from the further implementation of artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT). With regards to its geographic footprint, Merck aims to be close to local customers with an established position in the economically most important world regions. For instance, in fiscal 2022, the company generated around 35% of its sales in the Asia-Pacific region. According to World Bank data, this region was responsible for around 35% of global gross domestic product (GDP) in 2022. Merck is also well-positioned in other key regions. In fiscal 2022, the company generated around 29% of sales in North America, corresponding to the regions 28% share of global GDP. In 2022, Europe accounted for around 28% of Group sales and around 17% of global GDP. particle accelerators are crucial tools in a wide variety of areas in industry, research and the medical sector. The space these machines require ranges from a few square meters to large research centers. Using lasers to accelerate electrons within a photonic nanostructure constitutes a microscopic alternative with the potential of generating significantly lower costs and making devices considerably less bulky. Until now, no substantial energy gains were demonstrated. In other words, it has not been shown that electrons really have increased in speed significantly. A team of laser physicists at Friedrich-Alexander-Universitat Erlangen-Nurnberg (FAU) has now succeeded in demonstrating the first nanophotonic electron accelerator at the same time as colleagues from Stanford University. The researchers from FAU have now published their findings in the journal Nature.* When people hear particle accelerator, most will probably think of the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva, the approximately 27 kilometer long ring-shaped tunnel which researchers from around the globe used to conduct research into unknown elementary particles. Such huge particle accelerators are the exception, however. We are more likely to encounter them in other places in our day to day lives, for example in medical imaging procedures or during radiation to treat tumors. Even then, however, the devices are several meters in size and still rather bulky, with room for improvement in terms of performance. In a bid to improve and decrease the size of existing devices, physicists around the globe are working on dielectric laser acceleration, also known as nanophotonic accelerators. The structures they use are merely 0.5 millimeters in length, and the channel the electrons are accelerated through is only roughly 225 nanometers in width, making these accelerators as small as a computer chip. Particles are accelerated by ultrashort laser pulses illuminating the nano-structures. The dream application would be to place a particle accelerator on an endoscope in order to be able to administer radiotherapy directly at the affected area within the body, explains Dr. Tomas Chlouba, one of the four lead authors of the recently published paper. This dream may still be far beyond the grasp of the FAU team from the Chair of Laser Physics led by Prof. Dr. Peter Hommelhoff and consisting of Dr. Tomas Chlouba, Dr. Roy Shiloh, Stefanie Kraus, Leon Bruckner and Julian Litzel, but they have now succeeded in taking a decisive step in the right direction by demonstrating the nanophotonic electron accelerator. For the first time, we really can speak about a particle accelerator on a chip, enthuses Dr. Roy Shiloh. Guiding electrons + acceleration = particle accelerator Just over two years ago the team made their first major breakthrough: they succeeded in using the alternating phase focusing (APF) method from the early days of acceleration theory to control the flow of electrons in a vacuum channel over long distances. This was the first major step on the way towards building a particle accelerator. Now, all that was needed to gain major amounts of energy was acceleration. Using this technique, we have now succeeded not only in guiding electrons but also in accelerating them in these nano-fabricated structures over a length of half a millimeter, explains Stefanie Kraus. Whilst this might not sound like much of an achievement to many, it is a huge success for the field of accelerator physics. We gained energy of 12 kiloelectron volts. That is a 43 percent gain in energy, explains Leon Bruckner. In order to accelerate the particles over such large distances (when seen from the nano scale), the FAU physicists combined the APF method with specially developed pillar-shaped geometrical structures. This demonstration is just the beginning, however. Now the aim is to increase the gain in energy and electron current to such an extent that the particle accelerator on a chip is sufficient for applications in medicine. For this to be the case, the gain in energy would have to be increased by a factor of approximately 100. In order to achieve higher electron currents at higher energies at the output of the structure, we will have to expand the structures or place several channels next to each other, Tomas Chlouba explains the next steps of the FAU laser physicists. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close A majority of mothers with kids at home today69 percent in a new survey from Barna Groupsay they struggle to feel like they are enough as a mother. Only 19 percent said that they feel they are able to contribute meaningfully to the world. What does it mean to be enough, and where do moms look as they try to figure it out? Overwhelmed young moms see social media feeds filled with practical tips, assurance, and, at times, unrealistic expectations. Christian influencers suggest moms should be doing everything from building seasonal sensory bins to catechizing their kids at snack times. Moms are discouraged, said Sissy Goff, cohost of the podcast Raising Boys and Girls and author of The Worry-Free Parent. They feel defeated or like failures now more than ever in my 30 years of counseling. With those changes in attitudes, the tone of popular Christian parenting literature and advice has also changed over the past few decades. Its less combative than what parents found in bestsellers like James Dobsons Dare to Discipline (1970) or The Strong-Willed Child (1978). Instead of emphasizing the importance of requiring good behavior and first-time obedience, newer resources encourage parents to look inward and consider how their beliefs, perceptions, and anxieties affect their ability to train up children in the way they should go. And yet, Goff observed, this shift away from behaviorism to a gentler approach to Christian parenting guidance hasnt done much to lessen the guilt and pressure many mothers feel. Books and podcasts cant compete with the ever-presence and magnetism of social media. And on social media, moms find content thats meant to be inspirational but still sets up new hoops to jump through. Part of the problem is that parents have too many voices, too many gurus, said Goff. And there are influencers whose job is to curate the best birthday parties, put together the best-looking meals and Christmas decorations. Were seeing all of these highlight reels. For years, Christian moms have felt the pressure. Books like Stormie Omartians The Power of a Praying Mom and Sally Clarksons Ministry of Motherhood set the bar high for spiritual nurturing. Sarah Milano Redelman, a mom in Aurora, Illinois, recalls receiving Clarksons book as a new mother. She found it discouraging. I felt a lot of shame, like Im never doing enough, said Redelman, who has four kids between the ages of 5 and 10. Article continues below Courtney Bontrager, a mother of two who also holds a masters degree in marriage and family therapy, notes that on social media even the content that foregrounds messiness or imperfection doesnt solve the problem of moms looking to someone else for validation and affirmation of their performance of Christian motherhood. Youll see posts that say things like You dont have to be perfect, but even those posts can go wrong too, said Bontrager, who pastors a church in Indianapolis with her husband. Whose opinion matters? What you focus on gets bigger. Even though there are external pressures, we can choose how we respond. Christian parents have always had to contend with external pressures. Those who became parents in the 1980s and 90s, during the dominance of James Dobson and Focus on the Family, were told that discipline was a battle for the souls of children and perhaps for the soul of the country. Nothing short of a great Civil War of Values rages today throughout North America. Two sides with vastly differing and incompatible world-views are locked in a bitter conflict that permeates every level of society, wrote Dobson and his coauthor in their 1990 book, Children at Risk. Dobson was part of what Ann Hulbert labeled the parent-centered camp of child-rearing experts in her 2003 book, Raising America. Hulbert reflected on what she saw as two opposing (but by no means monolithic) camps of parenting teachers and authors: the parent-centered (discipline-oriented, behaviorist figures like Dobson) and the child-centered (advocates of child-led, attachment-oriented parenting like Benjamin Spock). The publication of Dobsons best-selling Dare to Discipline in 1970 was a milestone in the formation of a growing body of popular Christian parenting books that offered practical advice and often capitalized on parental fears about discipline, obedience, and the faith formation of children. Dobson and his peers in the Christian market were parent-centered in their insistence that parents establish authority and refuse to be governed by the desires and demands of their children. Recent books like Paul David Tripps Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family (2016) emphasize parental recognition of the spiritual weight of their position: The big picture starts with knowing who you are as a parent, Tripp writes in the introduction. Article continues below Goffs The Worry-Free Parent, released earlier this year, directly addresses parental mental health, encouraging Christian mothers and fathers to get the help they need to cope with their anxiety, which has the potential to negatively affect their children. In it, Goff cites research that shows that children of parents who struggle with anxiety are seven times more likely to struggle with it as well. Newer popular Christian parenting literature is still arguably parent-focused. But rather than emphasizing parental authority and behavior management, authors and teachers encourage parents to work on themselves, to prioritize their own spiritual growth and go to therapy to deal with their emotional baggage. This shift in focus from child behavior to parent behavior might have promised a healthier perspective that removed some of the pressure on parents to control the behavior of their children. But it also lends credibility to those modeling a performative and aspirational vision of Christian parenthood built on aesthetics. The Christian momfluencer sphere is also decidedly parent-centered but not in the way Hulbert described in her book (which predates the rise of social media altogether). Influencer content centers the persona and experience of the Christian mother. It provides desirable models: edited or carefully posed images of female bodies in well-appointed homes, merchandise that promises to move followers closer to their ideal of motherhood, and an aesthetic lexicon that has become the filter through which many mothers see their own experiences of motherhood. Without the grounding support of a flesh-and-blood spiritual community, immersion in the momfluencer sphere can be disorienting or breed discontentment. But living in close community with other parents can be intimidating too. More than half (55%) of the participants in Barnas study agreed that they often feel judged by other mothers. We have to get away from rightness and wrongness when it comes to parenting, said Bontrager, whose diverse Indianapolis congregation is trying to embrace a truly communal approach to parenting, in part because of the example of collaborative parenting among those in its substantial Nigerian population. Church community can be a place of rest or yet another place to perform good parenting, and for some parents, just sitting in a Sunday service fills them with performance anxiety. As a newer mom, Redelman struggled to turn off the urge to compare her parenting and her kids behavior with other families in the pews. Article continues below Id see other families with their well-behaved kids in church. Everyones quiet; no one is crawling all over or complaining that they forgot their activity bag, said Redelman. And Id think, All of these other parents must be doing a better job. They must be doing something right. The desire to do it right or be enough drives mothers to seek out sources that promise to help them become better parents. This is especially true for Christian mothers, who see eternal stakes in their choices and practices. As a reminder to let go of the pressure to get it right, Redelman has a printed copy of a post by author Ann Voskamp: 10 Real Helps for Really Busy Moms. Point number 10 on the list is The art of really celebrating life isnt about getting it rightbut about receiving Grace. The post is part of a series of Sticky Notes for the Soul created by Voskampshareable text boxes emailed to subscribers and posted to social media. Redelman got the post in a subscriber email six years ago, and its still hanging on her fridge. Biden likens Israel-Hamas war to Ukraine in rare Oval Office address President Joe Biden likened the war between Israel and Hamas to the war between Ukraine and Russia during a Thursday night address from the Oval Office amid growing geopolitical tensions. "Hamas and Putin represent different threats," Biden said. "But they share this in common: they both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy." The president also warned that "conflict and chaos could spread in other parts of the world" if the wars continue unimpeded. Biden, who claimed Israeli and Ukrainian victory are "vital for Americas national security," also explained that he would be submitting an urgent budget request to Congress on Friday requesting funding for both Israel and Ukraine in their ongoing conflicts. "Tomorrow, I will send to Congress an urgent budget request to fund Americas national security needs and support Israel and Ukraine," Biden said. "Its a smart investment that will pay dividends for American security for generations." The budget is expected to be approximately $105 billion for the next year, $60 billion of which includes funding for Ukraine, according to The Associated Press. Israel is slated to receive $14 billion, humanitarian aid will get $10 billion, $14 billion will be allocated for the U.S.-Mexico border, and $7 billion will go to the Indo-Pacific region, which includes Taiwan. "American leadership holds the world together," Biden said. "American alliances keep America safe. American values make us a partner they want to work with. You put all of that at risk if you walk away from Ukraine and turn our backs on Israel." Biden also emphasized the importance of ensuring that American hostages are rescued. "As president, there is no higher priority for me than the safety of Americans held hostage," Biden said. "The terrorist group Hamas unleashed pure unadulterated evil in the world. But sadly, the Jewish people know perhaps better than anyone that there is no limit to the depravity of the people when they want to inflict pain on others." Biden's address comes a day after he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials in Tel Aviv. He also delivered remarks there in support of Israel. On Oct. 7, Hamas terrorists killed more than 1,400 people including at least 30 Americans during a terrorist attack against communities in southern Israel near the country's border with Gaza. The attack prompted retaliatory airstrikes and a potential ground invasion by the Israeli military into Gaza. More than 3,000 have been killed and 12,500 injured in the airstrikes, according to Hamas government health officials. Israel's public broadcaster reported Thursday that Hamas is holding as many as 200 people hostage, including children and elderly. Hamas claims to be holding as many as 250 people hostage, however, according to Reuters. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday that he could not say how many Americans are among the hostages. Activists who claim Israel is committing 'genocide' arrested for illegal protest on Capitol Hill U.S. Capitol police arrested hundreds of demonstrators after a large crowd of pro-Palestine protesters gathered inside a House of Representatives office building, refusing to leave unless lawmakers called for a ceasefire to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. On Wednesday, the protesters gathered at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., eventually going to the Cannon House Office Building. Several individuals wore things associated with Judaism and T-shirts that read "Not In Our Name." The protest was organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, a group that has accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians and opposes Zionism, a movement seeking to protect and preserve the Jewish state. The U.S. Capitol Police issued an alert on the day of the protest, stating that demonstrations are not allowed inside congressional buildings. In a follow-up statement, USCP said it began arresting the protesters after the individuals failed to comply with multiple warnings to cease demonstrating. Throughout the afternoon and evening, USCP monitored the situation, setting up road closures and limiting entryways and exits to Capitol staff as more protesters arrived, according to Fox 5. The protesters taken into custody were shuttled to a temporary holding area on the Capitol complex. The authorities indicated that those who demonstrated inside the Cannon Rotunda would face charges for illegally protesting. At least three demonstrators were charged with assaulting an officer during processing, according to Fox 5. In a Wednesday social media thread, JVP claimed that 10,000 people protested outside while 500 demonstrators were arrested to draw attention to what the group described as the United States' "complicity" in Israel's "ongoing oppression" of Palestinians. "Just as we demand an end to genocide in Gaza, we must put the same effort into dismantling the systems of Zionism, apartheid, and colonialism that brought us to this moment," JVP wrote. "The only way to peace and safety for everyone is through ensuring justice and equality for everyone." "That means standing in solidarity with Palestinians. It means building a world beyond Zionism. It means creating systems of safety through solidarity," the group continued, calling on people to join its efforts. Rep. Josh Brecheen, R-Okla., posted a video as he observed Wednesday's demonstration from a separate floor, accusing the protesters of sympathizing with the Hamas terrorist group that attacked Israel earlier this month and killed more than 1,400 Israelis and at least 30 Americans. The attack prompted retaliatory airstrikes as Israel prepares for a potential ground offensive in northern Gaza. Hamas-run health authorities in Gaza claim over 3,000 people have been killed and 12,500 injured since the airstrikes began. Brecheen praised Rep. Brandon Williams, R-N.Y., for holding the Israeli flag as he stood on the floor above the demonstrations, claiming that he was "standing for truth." Before the protest inside the Cannon building, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., and Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., spoke during a rally in front of the U.S. Capitol, demanding a ceasefire. Both progressive House members were behind a Monday resolution calling on the Biden administration to push for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. During the rally, Tlaib repeated Hamas' claim that Israel bombed a hospital in Gaza on Tuesday, a claim that U.S. officials discredited after assessing data from "overhead imagery, intercepts and open source information." Israel Defense Forces said that the airstrike appeared linked to an "errant rocket fired by a terrorist group in Gaza." Bush spoke after Tlaib, and, in addition to calling for a ceasefire, she called on attendees to speak out against what she described as the United States' "complicity" in "war and violence." "Are you for war or against war? Are you for saving lives or against saving lives?" she asked. "The time to decide is now. Ceasefire now!" President Joe Biden announced Wednesday that the U.S. would provide $100 million in humanitarian aid to Gaza and the West Bank, stating that the money is intended to support displaced Palestinians and address emergency needs in Gaza. "What sets us apart from the terrorists is we believe in the fundamental dignity of every human life Israeli, Palestinian, Arab, Jew, Muslim, Christian everyone," Biden said. "You can't give up what makes you who you are. If you give that up, then the terrorists win. And we can never let them win." The president expressed support for a two-state solution, proclaiming it is the way for Israelis and Palestinians to "both live safely, in security, in dignity, and in peace." Biden stated that Hamas' assault against Israel has only strengthened his determination to see a two-state solution. "I'm here to tell you that terrorists will not win," Biden said. "Freedom will win. So, let me end where I began. Israel, you are not alone. The United States stands with you." Hamas terror victims were tied together, burned, forensic investigators say Warning: Details in this article contain graphic depictions involving the torture of children and adults. Video footage released by the Israeli government shows medical experts detailing the gruesome treatment victims of Hamas' terror attack in Israel were subject to before their deaths. A video shared on the Israel Foreign Ministry's X account Sunday features an interview with Dr. Ricardo Nachman, who conducted autopsies on the bodies of victims who lost their lives in Hamas' attack on Israeli communities near the Gaza border that killed over 1,400 people and injured over 3,000. Nachman is the head of the Clinical Forensic Unit and the National Coordinator of Forensic Matters at the Ministry of Health. Viewer discretion advised. We interviewed the experts who conducted autopsies on the bodies of Hamas massacre victims. Several bodies were brought to us in a terrible exposition. Most of them were burned. In this case we can see an adult and a kid that were tied together pic.twitter.com/BRdAOC7uq7 Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) October 15, 2023 Nachman spoke in front of a monitor featuring a picture of a computed tomography scan of two victims who died in the attack. "Several bodies [were] brought to us in a terrible exposition," he explained. "Most of them were burnt." Nachman shared the backstory behind the victims who had the internal images of their remains displayed on the screen behind him. "[In] this case, we can see an adult and a kid that were tied together," he said. Nachman pointed to the left side of the screen: "This is a vertebral column; what we see is an adult body." As he pointed toward the right side of the screen, Nachman explained that "beside, very, very close with him, the other one is a vertebral ... column of a child, of a kid." "We can see here also the kid's ribs, and for us, it's obvious that they used a kind of element to ... keep the bodies very, very close like a hug, like a whatever," he added. Nachman also pointed out "some pieces of skull," specifically "part of the almost complete cranium skull." The text accompanying the X post clarified that the "adult and kid" depicted on the CT scan were "tied together (with iron wire)." Sunday's video was one of many that have circulated on social media in recent days featuring interviews with "the experts who conducted autopsy reports on the victims of the Hamas massacre." Dr. Chen Kugel, the director of Israel's National Center of Forensic Medicine, discussed what his team is seeing as hundreds of bodies are being brought to the center for examination with journalists this week. "Some of the victims were not shot as no metal fragments were discovered in their bodies, but they were burned. It's like a crematorium," Kugel said, according to Israeli news outlet i24 News. A second video, shared by the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Director of the Digital Diplomacy Bureau David Saranga features testimony from Nurit Bublil, the head of the Forensic DNA Laboratory at the National Center of Forensic Medicine. We never imagined in our worst dreams that we would need to handle many hundreds of samples, of decayed samples, of burned samples, of samples of fingernails with polished nails of young girls. We interviewed the experts who conducted autopsies on the bodies of Hamas massacre pic.twitter.com/an8VJbdQPC David Saranga (@DavidSaranga) October 17, 2023 "Nothing prepared us [for] what happened on the last Saturday," she asserted, referring to the terror attack. Bublil insisted that she never predicted the "need to handle hundreds, many hundreds of samples of decayed samples, of burned samples, of samples of fingernails with polished nails of young girls." A subsequent video, posted Tuesday, showed Kugel highlighting an additional "example [of] the atrocities that we have seen in the tragic event." Viewer discretion advised. We interviewed the experts who conducted autopsies on the bodies of Hamas massacre victims. Ive never seen people that are conjoined together while they are burned trying to hug each other. #HamasisISISpic.twitter.com/TcYX2g7Boc Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) October 17, 2023 Pointing to the screen, he noted, "This is a burned body, of course, of an adult." "We know that he was burned while he was alive because we can see soot in the trachea of this person," Kugel said. "And they couldn't shoot him because he was inside a shelter, so they burned the house, and everybody that was inside was burned while he was alive." Kugel cited the circumstances leading up to the death of that particular victim as "only one example of many atrocities and many horrible, horrific things that we are seeing here in this tragedy." He maintained that until the attack, he "never saw people that are conjoined together while they are burned, trying to hug each other." While the other two videos were much shorter and almost exclusively consisted of medical analysis and information about the torture endured by the victims of the terror attack, the video featuring Bublil included a message of solidarity designed to serve as a call to action for the Israeli people. "The Israeli people are much ... stronger than anybody else may think of," Bublil said. "If there is someone that thinks that these events will break the power or the spirit of the Israeli people, they are strongly mistaken." "We will come back, and we will get up, and we will handle ourselves, and we will bury our dead. And with help from God, we will get back our ... kidnapped and the hostages, and we will come back." Bublil vowed that Israel "will remain powerful as strong and stronger than it was" despite the fallout from the recent terror attack. The Oct. 7 attack drew a strong response from Israel, which launched airstrikes into Gaza and is reportedly reading for a military offensive. Gaza's health ministry claims that over 3,000 people have been killed by the retaliatory airstrikes and over 12,500 injured. Israel contends that it has targeted Hamas hideouts and infrastructure. Last week, Israel warned over 1 million people in northern Gaza to evacuate to the southern region ahead of a ground invasion. Carl Lentz thanks his wife, Laura, for staying with him, enduring 'consequences of my decisions' Former Hillsong NYC Pastor Carl Lentz took to social media recently to express gratitude for his wife's decision to stay with him despite his adultery, honoring her during her birthday week. Lentz, 44, took to Instagram Saturday to wish his wife, Laura, a happy "birthday week" and thank her for sticking by him. The post, accompanied by a heart in the caption, included a black-and-white picture of Laura Lentz followed by a lengthy statement that spanned across four different pictures. "Happy 45th birthday WEEK Laura Lentz," he wrote. "To watch my wife weather these storms of life in the past few years has been inspiring. It would have been so easy and understandable for her to have walked out and ended our marriage. Yet she chose the harder road. The one that has included so much pain as she has had to endure the consequences of my decisions." While Lentz did not explicitly identify the "decisions" he mentioned, he repeatedly referenced "addictive patterns and sin" in the post. Three years ago, Lentz announced after being fired from Hillsong that he was unfaithful in his marriage. After Lentz's announcement, a Muslim New York City designer named Ranin Karim publicly declared that she had an affair with the megachurch pastor. A former nanny also accused him of sexual misconduct. Lentz staunchly defended his wife's character in his birthday week post, pushing back on allegations that she was "complicit" in his immoral behavior and lamenting that "some even fabricated lies about her." Responding to such assertions, Lentz declared, "That answer is emphatically no." He praised his wife's decision to "hold on to her faith," remarking that "even in the aftermath of so much disaster her strength has not wavered." Noting that the couple has lost friends over the years, he stated that his wife has "had to endure a lot of this road on her own, courageously." "Somehow she still loves people. I've watched her make new friendships," Lentz added. "I've watched her fight for her trademark smile and kindness. [I've] watched her start multiple businesses. I've watched her still choose to believe the best in people, and despite [what's] happened to her, still stick with people when they go through hard times." "People have asked Laura why she stayed with me. Including me!" Lentz added. "And I'll let her tell her own story and give her own reasons and all of it is gonna help a lot [of] people. ... But she told me one dark day that she loves me and has empathy for the true roots of my disfunction." Lentz explained that his wife gave him a "firm ultimatum" and told him that she believes he can "change and heal." "That kept me going when I couldn't see the light ever coming through the clouds," Lentz added. "Those clouds have broken, we are on our feet and I [don't] take for granted that I get to celebrate this birthday as her husband." Lentz's digital tribute to his wife comes several months after he wrote an Instagram post indicating that he was "no longer in ministry" despite taking on a new role at Transformation Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He identified his job as "to help give perspective and insight where I can" as opposed to "preaching" or "overseeing people." At the same time, Lentz discussed how "freeing" it felt to realize that God was still with him after struggling with "secrets and the feeling of not being worthy." The previous Instagram post was published in May, shortly after Carl and Laura Lentz's 20th wedding anniversary. For her part, Laura Lentz reported to her followers on Instagram last year that her husband had "humbled himself & didn't try to defend himself." She praised him for focusing "on the one thing that matters most our family!" "Yep, it has been challenging and hell yeah it's taken a LOT of work the past 22 months (but who's counting) to make our marriage what it has become, & we will never stop working on ourselves, for this marriage and four our kids!" she vowed. "I know there are many that don't or would never do what I chose to do, and that's ok, it's not for everyone!!"' Israeli airstrike damages oldest church in Gaza sheltering Christians, Muslims A Greek Orthodox church compound in the Gaza Strip sheltering hundreds of Palestinians of multiple faiths was reportedly damaged by a fatal Israeli airstrike on Thursday. The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem announced that a building on the compound of the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrios, the oldest church in Gaza, was damaged in the overnight Israeli airstrike. "The Patriarchate emphasizes that targeting churches and their institutions, along with the shelters they provide to protect innocent citizens, especially children and women who have lost their homes due to Israeli airstrikes on residential areas over the past thirteen days, constitutes a war crime that cannot be ignored," the Patriarchate of Jerusalem stressed in a statement. Palestinian health officials claimed that at least 16 Palestinian Christians were among the 18 people killed in the blast, reports The Washington Post. At least 20 others were injured. Approximately 500 Palestinian Christians and Muslims had reportedly been seeking refuge from airstrikes in the church. The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) confirmed to AFP that a portion of the church had been damaged during an airstrike targeting Hamas military compounds but maintained that the church itself was not the intended target. "As a result of the IDF strike, a wall of a church in the area was damaged. We are aware of reports on casualties. The incident is under review," the Israeli military said, adding that they "can unequivocally state that the Church was not the target of the strike." Archbishop Alexios of Tiberias, who was at the site, said the strike "hit the offices and the entrance of the monastery," according to The Orthodox Times. "They were bombarded with a missile and the whole building collapsed. There were Christians inside, many of whom have been injured. They have to bring bulldozers, so we can see how many people are under the rubble," the archbishop added. Israel launched retaliatory airstrikes in Gaza in response to an Oct. 7 attack by Hamas terrorists in southern Israel that killed more than 1,400 people including at least 30 Americans. Israel is also said to be preparing for a potential ground invasion into Gaza. More than 3,000 have been killed and 12,500 injured in the airstrikes, according to Hamas-run government health officials. The Orthodox Public Affairs Committee, founded in 2020 by a former Trump White House official to "provide public advocacy for the global Orthodox Christian Church," condemned the destruction of the church and called for an end to "the senseless killing of innocent civilians, both Israeli and Palestinian." "[We] extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and the entire Greek Orthodox community affected by this tragedy," OPAC wrote in a statement. "OPAC firmly believes in the sanctity of sacred spaces and the importance of protecting religious sites as symbols of peace, unity, and spirituality. The bombing of a place of worship, of any faith, is an affront to the values we hold dear and signifies a grave violation of human rights." According to OPAC, the church has stood since the 12th century. "The loss of innocent lives is an intolerable consequence of ongoing conflicts in the region," the OPAC statement concludes. "It is imperative that all parties involved recognize the significance of preserving life and prioritize peaceful dialogue to bring an end to this mayhem." There are less than 1,000 Christians left in Gaza, a marked decline from the more than 7,000 who lived there before Hamas took over the region in 2007, according to local church officials. The church is named for St. Porphyrios, who served as bishop of Gaza from A.D. 395 to 420. The present structure, which Crusaders built in the 1100s, was constructed on the former site of an earlier church that dates as far back as the fifth century. St. Porphyrios also served as a place of refuge for Palestinian Muslims seeking refuge from Israeli bombardment in 2014, according to Reuters. 'This is not the time': Survivor of Hamas music festival massacre scolds anti-Israel protestors A survivor of the massacre committed by the Hamas terrorist group at the Nova music festival admonished anti-Israel protestors during a webinar this week addressing media coverage of the ongoing Israel and Hamas war and how it often undermines the Jewish state's right to self-defense. The Combat Antisemitism Movement hosted the online event Wednesday after Hamas terrorists launched an Oct. 7 offensive targeting civilians in southern Israeli communities near the border with Gaza, killing over 1,400 people and taking at least 199 individuals hostage. CAM CEO Sacha Roytman Dratwa served as the event's moderator. Participants in the webinar included CAM Advisory Board Chair Natan Sharansky, IDF Maj. (Res.) Ben Wahlhaus and NGO Monitor Founder and President Gerald Steinberg. Also speaking at the event were Natalie Sanandaji, a survivor of the Nova music festival; and Yoav Shimon, the grandson of Bracha Levinson, a woman murdered by Hamas at Israel's Nir Oz kibbutz. Sanandaji recalled attending the festival in Re'im on Oct. 7 with a group of people, of which she was the only American. The festival, which was supposed to be an all-night dance party, was disrupted by rocket fire. One of the girls in Sanandaji's group assured her that things like this were normal and that the music festival would resume once the rocket fire stopped. "If anyone can imagine anywhere else in the world that kids were at a music festival, and suddenly rockets are being intercepted over their head, no other children would react the way these kids reacted," she said. "No other children would react in such a calm manner. Any other kids, anywhere else in the world, would have run right away," Sanandaji continued. "But what people need to understand is that for Israeli kids, this is their reality. This is something that they've grown up with." After security at the festival requested that everyone evacuate, Sanandaji and the rest of her group returned to their cars, still unaware of the severity of the situation. Sanandaji said the group anticipated traffic as they left the festival area but believed they were relatively safe due to the Iron Dome protecting them from rockets. The group became nervous after being told to drive in a different direction, feeling like something was going on. As they headed another way, Sanandaji remembered that festival security instructed everyone to pull over. At first, Sanandaji didn't understand, believing that the rockets were the only danger, but when she heard the first gunshot, she understood. "Terrorists are here on foot, and they're a few feet away, and they have guns, and they're shooting at us," she said. "We opened our doors, and we just started to run for our lives." In one terrifying moment, Sanandaji said she was running in one direction when she suddenly saw dozens of children run towards her from the opposite direction. She realized that she had not been running to safety, as the kids were running from a terrorist who was shooting at them. "Nobody knew what direction was safe," she said. "Basically, no direction was safe. They were coming at us from multiple directions." The group continued running until they came across a ditch where multiple kids were already hiding, and they urged Sanandaji and her friends to hide with them. Sanandaji almost did, but one of her friends vetoed the idea, saying they'd be easy targets if the terrorists found them. Sanandaji later learned that Hamas terrorists murdered every person who chose to hide in the ditch. Sanandaji and her group ran for hours until they encountered a police officer armed with only a handgun. Since the terrorists had taken over the local police station, he couldn't call for backup, but the officer did his best to guide the group in the right direction. After running for hours, the group stopped to catch their breath under a tree until a white van approached. At first, they thought it was a terrorist, but then they realized it was a man from a nearby town who had risked his life to save the festival attendees. Sanandaji never learned the man's name because as soon as he dropped her group off in the nearby town, he drove back to save more people. The survivor said she doesn't cry for herself but for the other festival attendees who suffered a different fate than her that day. Sanandaji also addressed the activists who have responded to the attack and Israel's retaliatory airstrikes that Hamas-run authorities say have killed over 3,000 people by holding protests and chanting things like "Free Palestine," arguing that they misunderstand the point of the current war. "Hamas is not pro-Palestine. Hamas is just as complicit in the deaths of innocent Palestinians as they are in the deaths of all these innocent Israelis," she said. "Anyone who is going out onto the streets with a Palestinian flag, this is not the time." "This war is about a terrorist organization killing innocent people," the survivor added. "Killing innocent people does not free Palestine. This is not the path to that; this is not the way you do it." During his remarks, Steinberg criticized some media outlets for attempting to paint Israel as the "worst human rights violator," noting how multiple outlets rushed to blame Israel Tuesday for the explosion of the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza. Israel Defense Forces, however, stated that the blast was caused by an "errant rocket fired by a terrorist group in Gaza," and data gathering by U.S. officials supported the claim that Israel wasn't responsible. Although Hamas-run health authorities claimed that about 471 people died in the hospital explosion, U.S. intelligence agencies on Thursday claimed in an unclassified assessment that the death toll was likely between 100-300. U.S. officials who spoke with The New York Times on the condition of anonymity said that the death toll is likely on the lower end of the estimate. "This is not just a tactic; it's a strategy of modern anti-Semitism," Steinberg said. "They manipulate the language and frameworks of human rights which were created in the wake of the Holocaust, and this is a form of Holocaust inversion." Texas church given 'Millstone of the Month Award' for facilitating out-of-state trans surgeries A Texas church was recently awarded a "Millstone of the Month Award" by a nonprofit for founding a grant program by which minors can be transported out-of-state to obtain opposite-sex hormones or body-mutilating trans surgeries. U.S. Parents Involved in Education (USPIE) gave their Millstone of the Month Award in October to the leadership and congregation of Galileo Church in Fort Worth for exhibiting what they described as "blatant disregard of biblical principles and the welfare of confused children," according to a press release from the nonprofit earlier this week. USPIE describes their Millstone of the Month Award as "a monthly recognition of an individual who is actively working to deceive, indoctrinate, or negatively impact children with leftist, anti-God propaganda." The award's name is a reference to Matthew 18:6, where Jesus Christ warns strongly against scandalizing children by saying, "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea." Galileo Church, whose chief missional priority is to promote "justice for LGBTQ+ humans, and support the people who love them," according to its website, rolled out the North Texas TRANSportation Network (NTTN) last summer as an "integrated auxiliary ministry." NTTN "provides travel grants to North Texas families seeking out-of-state health care for trans and gender-diverse minors," according to its website. The program began in response to Texas Senate Bill 14, which was signed by Gov. Greg Abbott in June and prohibits "procedures and treatments for gender transitioning, gender reassignment, or gender dysphoria and on the use of public money or public assistance to provide those procedures and treatments." NTTN's website explains that the nonprofit believes "withholding necessary care for trans kids is state-sponsored cruelty." The outrageous lengths to which these people are going to facilitate the mutilation of children is insane," USPIE President and Founder Sheri Few said in a statement. "Gender reassignment surgery is damaging to both the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of children." "The very idea that a church is putting its mission to spread the Gospel behind this liberal agenda is horrifying," Few continued. "I urge people in the Fort Worth area to boycott The Galileo Church and its leadership. Its high time concerned citizens stood up for whats right regarding Americas children. If we dont start protecting children from the insidious forces that intend to indoctrinate the future of the nation, soon it will be too late." Galileo Church is associated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a mainline Protestant denomination that is governed congregationally. Galileo Church did not respond to CP's request for comment, but the Rev. Katie Hays told The Epoch Times that her church started the program "because Jesus calls us to be good neighbors to vulnerable people." USPIE began issuing their Millstone of the Month Awards in March, and other recipients include Colorado's Poudre School District, "1619 Project" author Nikole Hannah-Jones, North Dakota Superintendent Rupak Gandhi, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, as well as California Attorney General Rob Bonta and New Jersey Judge David Bauman. Israeli Footage From Hamas Aftermath, Mississippi's Largest UMC Church Votes To Leave, Britney Spears Reveals She Had An Abortion link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 06:29 06:29 Get your tickets TODAY to The Domino Revival by clicking here! Top headlines for Friday, October 20, 2023 In this episode, we start with an intense look at a disturbing Israeli government-released footage shedding light on the chilling aftermath of a Hamas terror attack. We then pivot south to the United States, where a major shakeup in religious institutions takes place as Mississippi's largest United Methodist congregation decides to break ties with the mainline Protestant denomination. Meanwhile, in the world of Christian music, we have an exclusive interview with returning Dove award nominee Webb, attending the ceremony in person for the first time despite previous wins. Lastly, in a shocking revelation in the world of pop music, Britney Spears shares a deeply personal and agonizing memory in her upcoming memoir of an abortion she had years ago. Subscribe to this Podcast Follow Us on Social Media Get the Edifi App Subscribe to Our Newsletter Links to the News Get your tickets TODAY to The Domino Revival by clicking here! Top headlines for Friday, October 20, 2023 In this episode, we start with an intense look at a disturbing Israeli government-released footage shedding light on the chilling aftermath of a Hamas terror attack. We then pivot south to the United States, where a major shakeup in religious institutions takes place as Mississippi's largest United Methodist congregation decides to break ties with the mainline Protestant denomination. Meanwhile, in the world of Christian music, we have an exclusive interview with returning Dove award nominee Webb, attending the ceremony in person for the first time despite previous wins. Lastly, in a shocking revelation in the world of pop music, Britney Spears shares a deeply personal and agonizing memory in her upcoming memoir of an abortion she had years ago. Are sinners worthless? I was sitting in a college history class many years ago. My professor asked for a show of hands: How many of you believe man is basically good? Most people raised their hands. How many of you believe man is basically bad? Two or three people raised their hands, including me. I looked around somewhat perplexed; my Calvinist upbringing put me at odds with almost everyone. Yet when I look back, something was wrong. More recently, a young man who attended a Bible study I was leading asked me a question. During one study, I mentioned that God considered human beings valuable enough to save; otherwise, He wouldnt have sent His Son to die for people. I said we have inherent dignity; theres a worthwhileness about us. This young man came up to me after the study, confused. He quoted Romans 3:12: All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. He respectfully asked how I could say that humans are worthwhile if the Bible tells us were worthless. I was thrown off guard, because I could see how I appeared to be directly contradicting Scripture. A plain, surface-level reading of Romans 3:12 led him to believe that men and women are worthless. God saved dirty rags (Isa. 64:6), trash (1 Sam. 2:8), worms (Job 25:6; Ps. 22:6). Who are we to think of ourselves as worthwhile at all? I realized in reflecting afterward that I had found myself caught on the horns of a false dilemma, but to understand the dilemma, we need to think about our historical context. Total depravity Its our inheritance as Protestants to think of ourselves as sinners, incapable of willing spiritual good. This was the underlying logic of Martin Luthers despair as he went through the repetitious cycle of the Roman Catholic sacramental system. He realized he would never measure up; he would never stop sinning in this life; his sin went so deep that he could never confess or do enough to merit salvation. He had a sober understanding of who he was before God, and this led him to be awed by the grace made apparent in the revelation of Gods righteousness (Rom. 1:17). He realized that Gods saving righteousness was Jesus Christ, and God stoops to save sinners. Therefore, when we throw ourselves on the mercy of God exhibited in the infinite grace freely given to us in our Lord Jesus Christ, then we experience the joy of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Its no wonder that Protestants sing Amazing Grace with gusto. Luther, however, lived in an age permeated by Christian thought. Protestants and Roman Catholics didnt argue that we were made in the image of God. That was a given; the question was: How far did we fall? Did we simply lose a certain grace that was divinely imparted to us so that we now stand in a somewhat neutral position before God (as Roman Catholic doctrine asserts)? Or did we fall so far that now were unable to will true spiritual good apart from the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit (as classical Protestantism asserts)? Moreover, the doctrine of total depravity, which has come to define the Reformed understanding of sin, wasnt even introduced at these debates between Luther and the pope, though Luther likely would have agreed with the doctrine. It was a century after the Reformation, at the Synod of Dort, that internal debates among Reformed churches in the Netherlands led to the doctrine of total depravity being systematically codified. These debates, like the debates between Protestants and Roman Catholics a century earlier, centered around how sin had affected mans being made in the image of God. Arminians at the Synod of Dort posited that mankind wasnt affected wholly by sin; rather, we were affected only partially. The Reformed responded that sin has wholly affected our every faculty. Sin goes deeper than we all might realize; we cannot fully trust our minds, wills, hearts, souls, and bodies anymore, for they are prone to sin. Man can still achieve a measure of relative good (e.g., caring for our families, helping our community, being honest at work) apart from regeneration. However, apart from grace we dont do these things unto Gods glory, so they are not spiritual goods. Gods common, non-saving grace remains in effect, yes, because man is created in Gods image. But his sin goes deep in short, hes totally depraved. The image of God Today, we are 500 years removed from these debates. The average individual on the street often has no inkling of what it means to be made in the image of God, much less any subtle theological understanding of just how much sin has affected our being created in His image. The very foundation for total depravity the assumption that were created in Gods image has been eroded. Witness the ongoing debates in our culture about human dignity: whether babies in utero have rights; whether women are women and men are men; whether sexual exploitation and pornography are empowering or not. Christians, as a result, may be tempted to forget about our being made in the image of God as well. And if we do, we will also forget what total depravity actually means, and we will be caught on the horns of a false dilemma: How can we say that man has inherent dignity (the image of God) and yet at the same time he is a terrible sinner worthless (total depravity)? Isnt he either the former or the latter? The answer to this false dilemma is simply yes. We are both. Man is far above all other creatures (Ps. 8:5); he is wonderful (Ps. 139:14) and beautiful (Prov. 20:29). No other creature has the honor of being created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27). But he has also fallen very far: Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive (Rom. 3:13). All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way (Isa. 53:6). We are deeply sinful dead in our trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1) and can contribute nothing to solving our spiritual predicament. We cannot will the truly good and deserve judgment; in that sense, we are worthless. So, the answer to my young friends question about the worthwhileness of men and women was, Yes, we are worthless, but we are also worthwhile but not in the same way and in the same relationship. The image of God imparts dignity and worthwhileness to us in our very being because that is how God created man; but our every faculty has now been corrupted by sin in this post-fall world. We therefore deserve judgment. Ironically, the very judgment we deserve speaks to the dignity weve compromised. We were created to be the pinnacle of creation and to experience eternal bliss; now we deserve eternal damnation. So, we are worthless in terms of our spiritual good, but not in terms of our being human. Humans, both Christian and non-Christian, are always valuable because the image of God cannot be erased. Its marred in sinners but not eliminated. Moreover, Christians arent totally depraved any longer the image of God is being restored in us (Col. 3:10). I wish that when I was in that college class years ago that I simply hadnt raised my hand at all. There are times when were pressed to accept an oversimplification of a particular subject and its best to abstain or reframe the question. What I experienced on that day was whats called a false dichotomy: dividing a complex subject into two different viewpoints, neither of which do justice to the subject at hand. The questions didnt allow for nuance: Yes, in one sense, people are basically good, because theyre created in the image of God, and no, theyre basically evil in another sense, because theyre sinners. Let us therefore be careful, as Christians, to recognize the full scope of what it means to be human, avoid oversimplification, and speak discerningly with our neighbors about what we believe it means to be human for the sake of Gods Kingdom and glory. This article was first published in Tabletalk, the Bible study magazine of Ligonier Ministries. Find out more at TabletalkMagazine.com or subscribe today at GetTabletalk.com. The Gordean Knot of moral proportionality in the Middle East (part I) On Oct. 7, people were reminded yet again that the world is a very dangerous place. And if civilized nations do not uphold at least minimal standards of decency and humanity, then the world will inevitably descend to evermore depraved displays of mans inhumanity to his fellow man. The terrorist gang known as Hamas brutally attacked Israeli men, women and children in widespread and unprovoked attacks in which the goal was to kill as many Jews as possible just because they were Jews (Hamass charter declares the goal of killing the Jews and driving them into the sea). Hamas has been the de facto government of the Gaza Strip for more than a decade now. They have taught their children to hate the Jews and have attempted to dehumanize Jews in the same ways the Nazis propagandized their young people in the 1930s. Now, in response, Israel has declared war against Hamas. Frankly, I do not know what other response a civilized state could undertake, given their God-given responsibility to protect their citizens from harm (Rom. 13:1-7). And yet, there are worldwide demonstrations chanting, Gas the Jews! and calls for Israel to declare a ceasefire. Hamas has withdrawn back within the Gaza Strip where they use innocent civilians (including women and children) as shields, putting military headquarters in the basements of hospitals, etc. Such events have led many in at least the Western world to revisit the concepts and tenants of Just War Theory. Just War Theory had its beginnings with Aristotle and Plato. In his RepublicandLaws, Plato addressed the subjects of warfare and the state. Through the centuries with St. Augustine and Thomas Aquinas, it was further developed and refined, and with adjustments by Luther and Calvin, it has become the major tool for evaluating when nations, and individuals within the nation, may be justified in engaging in warfare. Just War Theory (bellum justum) can be broken down into two divisions, the right to go to war (jus ad bellum) and the right conduct in war (jus in bello). Just War Theory does not seek to justify war but instead acknowledges that resisting aggression is an essential ingredient in maintaining a civilized society and it is sometimes the duty of a nation to defend its citizens. Just War Theory attempts to limit wars essential barbarity. As the British philosopher John Stuart Mill said over a century and a half ago, as long as justice and injustice have not terminated their ever renewing fight for ascendency in the affairs of mankind, humans beings must be willing when need is, to do battle for the one against the other. Just War Theory demands a just cause, a just intent, a last resort, noncombatant immunity, a just peace and proportionality (meaning will the good achieved justify the destruction and loss of life caused). As I have witnessed the tragic events in Israel and the reaction around the world to Hamas barbarism, I have been reminded of some personal experiences. Back when I was privileged to be an undergraduate at Princeton University in the late 1960s, I had the further privilege and good fortune to have Dr. Paul Ramsey as a professor in a religion class. Dr. Ramsey, one of the most eminent ethicists in the Protestant or Catholic World, was in the process of applying the criteria of Just War Theory to counter-insurgency warfare. At Princeton, we had the precept system which meant we had two one-hour lectures a week in a course and then a one-hour precept with the professor and five or six fellow students to discuss that weeks lectures and assigned readings. This one particular week in the 1967-1968 academic year, Dr. Ramsey came to the precept straight from Washington (he had just stepped off the train) where he had been consulting at the Pentagon concerning the thorny moral issues of counter-insurgency warfare. He showed us pictures of oil tank farms in Hanoi both before and after the Hanoi government had moved civilians in tents amongst the oil storage facilities, hoping that using the noncombatants as a shield, the Americans would forgo bombing a legitimate military target in wartime. Dr. Ramsey showed us the pictures, explained the situation and then asked us to take out pen and paper and using just war criteria, explain under what circumstances the oil storage farm could be attacked in spite of the civilian shield, who bore responsibility for the civilian casualties, and when did the civilian casualties become disproportionate to the military gain. Dr. Ramsey then said, Gentlemen, you will not be graded on your ultimate conclusion, but on how you reasoned your way to your answer using just war criteria. Welcome to a Princeton education! Dr. Ramseys question does get at the route of the current issue. Hamas committed heinous acts and Israel is certainly justified in declaring war. They have a right to defeat Hamas, and in my opinion, arrest and bring to trial Hamass leadership, which has certainly broken the Nuremberg Principles put in place in the wake of World War II. The moral responsibility for civilian casualties lies squarely with Hamas, who shamelessly uses their civilian population as human shields, thus taking advantage of the Israelis much more civilized moral standards. The moral dilemma, and it is a dilemma, is when do the civilian casualties become so catastrophic that it could, or should overrule the gain from attacking the legitimate military target. This is the moral terrain where the debate about the Israeli assault will be played out in the coming weeks and there are NO easy, pat answers. The second personal experience comes from one of my visits to the Holy Land in August 2014 to stand in solidarity with the Israelis during the missile onslaughts of that year. During that visit, our group visited the very area of Israel that was attacked on Oct. 7. I will never forget the parting words of our guide at one kibbutz. He said our visit encouraged and strengthened the towns residents and speaking personally, he did not hate his attackers. Then he cited Golda Meirs famous statement that there would be peace when Arabs loved their children more than they hate us. And then, speaking of his radical enemies, again citing Meir, We can forgive them for killing our children, we cannot forgive them for forcing us to kill their children. After Oct. 7, I wonder if that is still true, or whether we have crossed a threshold none of us should wish to be crossed. The myth of Israel bombing a hospital will live on for decades The news created shockwaves around the world. Those evil, genocidal Israelis bombed a hospital in Gaza, resulting in hundreds of deaths. And this was not just a hospital caring for the sick and the wounded. It was a hospital where civilians were taking cover, including many children. Yet these monstrous Israelis targeted it for destruction, causing outrage and cries for vengeance around the globe, especially in the Muslim world. Of course, thats not what happened. First, Israel doesnt do that. Israel does not target hospitals and schools. Israel does not single out and destroy innocent non-combatants, especially women and children and the sick and elderly. And especially, at a time like this, Israel would not possibly do something like this. The backlash would be massive, and rightly so. In stark contrast, Hamas does do these very things. Hamas takes delight in slaughtering the innocent in the most grotesque, barbaric ways imaginable, filming it for the world to see. Israel does not. So, at the very worst, this would have been an errant strike by an Israeli pilot, a tragic event that would cause grief and pain in Israel as well, not dancing and celebrating in the streets. (For those with very short memories, there was dancing and celebration in Gaza over the wholesale butchering of innocent, non-combatant Israelis.) And even if this was an errant strike by the IDF, the fault would still lay at the feet of Hamas since they instigated the war and since they use civilians as human shields. But this was no errant strike by the IDF. All evidence points towards it being a failed rocket launched by the Islamic Jihad, as the terrorists slaughtered their own. Visual evidence points to this. Audio evidence points to this. Satellite imagery evidence points to this. Foreign intelligence analysis points to this. Unfortunately, none of this will matter to the critics of Israel, who are now raging with indignation against the Jewish state. The story has already been canonized and the lie has already become truth. Any attempts to set the record straight will be branded fake news or Israeli cover up or the like. Yes, the enemies of Israel now have definite proof that Israel is genocidal, and this false allegation, in turn, will lead only to more bloodshed both Jewish and Arab in the years ahead. In my 1992 book Our Hands Are Stained with Blood: The Tragic Story of the Church and the Jewish People (updated and expanded in 2019), I document many of the lies that have been told about the Jewish people in history (it seems the crazier the lie, the more it is believed). I also document many examples of libelous reporting, falsified claims, and extreme media bias. A photo was released by United Press International on August 2, 1982, during the heat of the Israeli-PLO conflict in Lebanon. According to Frank Gervasi (in the book The MediasWar Against Israel): The photo showed a 7-month-old Lebanese girl swathed in bandages from head to foot. The caption that accompanied the picture said the child had lost both arms and had been severely burned in the accidental bombing of an apartment house in East Beirut by the Israeli Air Force. Outraged, President Reagan put in a personal telephone call to Premier Begin urging him to suspend the Israeli bombing of PLO targets in West Beirut, using the word holocaust in the ensuing exchange. Naturally this touching photograph received front page coverage everywhere, making the Israelis look like coldblooded killers. Just think of their brutal, indiscriminate attack on helpless civilians! Unfortunately, while the media was quick to focus on the Israeli Defense Forces' mistakes, (they made their share of mistakes in Lebanon), the media was slow to report the rest of the facts. Gervasi tells us that after Reagan's phone call, the Israeli authorities: Made a thorough investigation, and on August 22 released a photo of the same child after treatment. The infant had not lost both arms and had suffered no bums and only slight injuries to the wrists. Moreover, the baby, it turned out, was not hurt by an Israeli bomb but by a shell from a PLO battery in West Beirut. The UPI confirmed that the original caption was inaccurate and expressed regret. But whereas the original photo was splashed everywhere, the corrected version barely made the inside pages ... Weve heard this story before, and we are hearing it again today. And sadly, once again, anti-Jewish, anti-Israel bias counts more than truth. The real tragedy with the bombing of the hospital is not just that Israel will be falsely blamed and that, worldwide, there could be acts of destruction and hatred, with Jews especially targeted. No, the real tragedy is that right now, when all of us should be mourning this terrible loss of Palestinian life and working together to stop the bleeding, both metaphorically and literally, we are expanding our energy refuting the lies of the murderers of Israeli babies and children. May God help us. May He intervene with mercy on behalf of all who are suffering right now in the midst of this war. And may He uproot and expose evil for the world to see. Many will remain deceived. But some will see the light. Christian pilot returns home after wrongful detention in Mozambique An American missionary pilot has been able to return home to the US after nearly a year of false allegations hanging over his head. Ryan Koher was piloting humanitarian flights with Ambassador Aviation, an operational arm of Christian charity Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), at the time of his arrest on 4 November 2022. He was arrested along with two South African nationals, Willem du Plessis and Eric Dry. The three men were accused of supporting insurgents in a volatile part of Mozambique, allegations they strenuously denied. They spent nearly five months in a maximum security prison in the capital, Maputo, where Koher said his faith kept him strong. "I try to exercise every day and spend most of my time reading the Bible," he said in a January update from prison. "I need not fear in the face of suffering because I am united with Christ. It is very comforting to me because I know He will be with me and has a purpose in it all." All three have now been allowed to leave the country after a judge lifted travel restrictions and authorised the return of their passports on 6 October. Koher, his wife Annabel and their two children arrived at Boise airport in Idaho this week and plan to spend time with friends and family. Despite being allowed to return home, the investigation is still ongoing and the case has not been dismissed. MAF US is asking supporters to pray that the case will be dropped. "Ryan is a caring and gentle individual. Over the last couple of years, he and his wife have worked hard to learn the language and culture of Mozambique to better serve those who rely on our services," MAF said. "Ambassador Aviation has long sought to care for those who have been harmed by the insurgency, including evacuating innocent residents following the attacks in March 2021. We invite our supporters to continue to pray for this situation." If the Conservative government's conversion therapy ban criminalises pastors, they deserve to lose office Peter Hitchens in his Mail on Sunday column on October 8 almost persuaded me to vote Conservative at the next General Election. But the news that the government is now determined to ban conversion therapy has convinced me that it is my moral and patriotic duty to oppose the Conservative Party in the North Lancashire constituency where I live. Hitchens, a practising Anglican, compared Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to John Major, the Conservative leader who lost badly to the Labour Party, led by Tony Blair, in the 1997 General Election. Like John Major, Rishi Sunak is "awful", Hitchens argued, but as with Blair in 1997 the alternative in present Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is infinitely worse. Hitchens wrote: "Sir Keir, whose hard-Left political roots are in a revolutionary movement called Pabloism, comes from the same stable as the 1997 Blairites. He will try to manipulate the voters with populist slogans, but his real programme will be miles to the Left, concentrating more and more power in a Left-wing state. "The Tories have failed to stop this rubbish because they don't believe in anything. But the Starmerites believe in more Blairism, hot and strong, for decades to come. "There's no need to be nice to the Tories. Don't ask them to dinner or send them Christmas cards. But the time for refusing to vote for them was many years ago and you missed it. Rishi Sunak is the John Major of his time. Yes, he is awful. But he is nothing like as bad as the alternative." But unfortunately the fact that the PM has now capitulated to LGBT activists in the Blairite Conservative Party and has agreed to introduce such a repressive neo-Marxist measure in the King's Speech in November makes Hitchens's argument void. From an orthodox Christian perspective, what is the difference between Labour and the Conservatives? At least I know where I stand with Labour. It believes, as a matter of firm principle, that LGBT rights trump religious rights. It is clear this Conservative government believes that too now but for a while it looked as if Rishi Sunak's administration was going to stand up for religious freedom. In its November issue, which went to press before the latest news on conversion therapy, Evangelicals Now reported: "There is increasing optimism that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will drop plans to introduce a conversion therapy ban, five years after it was proposed by former PM Theresa May. " The paper reported that the Christian Institute recently wrote to the PM highlighting the impact of the ban already in place in Victoria, Australia. The letter argued: "Religious believers could undoubtedly experience the worst effects of this sort of law. As we have seen in Victoria, it won't take long for state bodies to feel they have the right to dictate to churches what they can and cannot teach and precisely how to pray. "Those who refuse to ditch the teaching of the Bible could soon find themselves at the mercy of the criminal justice system." For a while it looked like the PM was listening to these concerns and the national media had been reporting that the ban was going to be "quietly dropped". In March, ITV News reported that it had seen a "leaked document" from government officials showing the PM had decided to ditch the ban. But he has now changed his mind, showing that the Conservatives are as committed as Labour to entrenching the sexual revolution of the 1960s into English law. Orthodox Christian pastors are particularly vulnerable from this legislation. How should they counsel a same-sex-attracted person who wants to change their orientation and become ex-gay? What should a pastor do if a same-sex-attracted person asks him or her to pray for them because they want spiritual help in their struggle to uphold the traditional Christian sexual ethic? Once the legislation is passed, LGBT campaigners are bound to be on the look-out for any signs of conversion therapy in religious settings, so pastors should expect accusations to be levelled against them. That Stalinist climate of fear, which the Conservatives have agreed to create through this measure, is the reason why they deserve to lose office, even though a Labour government would be as bad, if not worse, for orthodox Christians. I console myself with the thought that there might be a chance that if the Conservatives lose badly in 2024 and disintegrate as a result, a new political party could emerge that really is committed to religious freedom under the rule of benevolent Judeo-Christian law. Julian Mann is a former Church of England vicar, now an evangelical journalist based in Lancashire. Primeste notificari pe email Nota bene: Adresele email cu extensia .ru nu sunt acceptate. Contractare si Achizitie Bunuri Anunturi de Angajare Granturi - Finantari Burse de studiu Stagii Profesionale Oportunitati de voluntariat Toate Articolele Job Description The Position: The Administrative Associate position is located in the UNFPA Moldova Country Office (CO) in Chisinau. The incumbent will be part of the operations team and will work under the direct supervision of the Operations Manager (OM)providing administrative, logistical and secretarial support, maintaining full confidentiality in all aspects of assignment; maintenance of protocol procedures, information flow and follow up on deadlines and commitments made. How you can make a difference: UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young persons potential is fulfilled. UNFPAs strategic plan (2022- 2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to build forward better, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on womens and girls access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals. In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction. UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results. Job Purpose: The Administrative Associate delivers quality services in HR, administration, logistics and procurement to internal and external clients mastering all relevant rules, guidelines, processes and procedures. The incumbent takes a client-oriented results-focused approach to interpreting the rules, procedures and guidelines, providing support and guidance to the CO and UNFPA-supported projects. Supervises clerical and support staff. You would be responsible for: A. Management of CO and UNFPA-supported projects operational requirements: Adapts processes and procedures, anticipates and contributes to the management of operational requirements of programme/ project inputs in terms of contracts, equipment, customs/asset/vehicle management, and other programme and project-related events to facilitate programme/ project delivery. Contributes to the implementation of operational strategies through full compliance of administrative activities with UNFPA rules, regulations and policies. Proposes procedures to improve internal controls and efficiency and respond to audit issues with regards to administration, procurement and asset management. Supports recruitment and selection process applying best practice HR tools and mechanisms. Implements corporate systems and applications in support of country office operations, creates systems and mechanisms for effective management of UNFPA resources, and advises and trains project staff. Effectively executes and coordinates protocol matters, registration of staff, liaison with local authority on administrative matters. Reviews procurement requests and coordinates procurement procedures (including preparation of RFQs, ITBs or RFPs documents, receipt of quotations, bids or proposals, their preliminary evaluation) for office and project equipment, supplies and services in a transparent and cost-effective manner; recommends procurement decisions. Administers the petty cash system and ensures appropriate record keeping. Supervises clerical and support staff. B. Management of UN common premises/services: Contributes to the smooth running of the office by ensuring provision and maintenance of services and supplies, managing contracts, following-up processes and maintaining upto-date records. Monitors effective implementation of common service contracts, reviews and prepares material for common system activities relating to common services and premises, cost recovery, privileges and immunities, entitlement and salary surveys, security etc. C. ERP Functions and Roles Performing relevant ERP profile for issuing of purchase orders concerning procurement of services/goods and travel related costs. Actively support Quantum transition process D. Other tasks Carry out UNFPA security related functions and act as focal point as delegated. Undertakes other financial and administrative tasks on an ad hoc basis. Qualifications and Experience: Education: Completed Secondary Level Education required. First level university degree desirable. Knowledge and Experience: Six years of relevant experience in administration, finance or office management required Proficiency in current office software applications and corporate IT systems required Working experience with an international organization is an advantage Familiarity with UN procedures and working methods is an advantage Experience in organizing events is an advantage Experience in processing payments is an advantage Knowledge of Atlas/PeopleSoft/Quantum or other ERP application is an advantage Languages: Fluency in English and Romanian is required. Working knowledge of one or more additional languages relevant for Moldova, including Russian, Bulgarian, Gagauzian, Romani, Ukrainian or sign language would be an asset. Required Competencies: Values: Exemplifying integrity Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system Embracing cultural diversity Embracing change Functional Competencies: Providing procurement services Ensuring facilities and assets management Managing data, documents, correspondence and reports Managing information and work flow Planning, organizing and multitasking Supporting financial data analysis Managerial Competencies: Providing strategic focus Engaging internal/external partners and stakeholders Leading, developing and empowering people/ creating a culture of performance Making decisions and exercising judgment Core Competencies: Achieving results, Being accountable, Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen, Thinking analytically and strategically, Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships, Communicating for impact Compensation and Benefits: The United Nations Population Fund offers you an attractive remuneration package with competitive pay and benefits. Staff members in General Staff Category that are locally recruited are compensated in accordance with the best prevailing conditions of service locally. You can learn more about tax exemption, allowances and benefits, holidays and leave, health insurance, and retirement pension of GS staff on the UN Careers website or the United Nations website. Disclaimer: UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Fraudulent notices, letters or offers may be submitted to the UNFPA fraud hotline http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm. The United Nations Organization is committed to diversity and inclusion. Women, persons from vulnerable groups, such as persons with disabilities, Roma and other ethnic, linguistic or religious minorities, persons living with HIV, refugees and other noncitizens legally entitled to work in the Republic of Moldova, as well as persons from other underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged to apply. HOW TO APPLY: To apply on-line for this position and read more detailed information, please visit: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_2003/job/13974 Applications for this position must be received by 27 October 2023, 17.00 ET Asociatia Obsteasca Prietena Mea este in cautarea unui psiholog/unei psiholoage pentru organizarea unor discutii de grup cu parintii si ingrijitorii copiilor cu dizabilitati The chief executive of a global youth charity has resigned from her additional role as a trustee after 10 years while a probe into the organisations salaries continues. The Charity Commission opened a compliance case into One Young World last October after reports of six-figure salaries paid to CEO Kate Robertson and her daughter, Ella Robertson McKay. Its probe began after Robertson was paid 440,000 in the 18-month period to June 2021, while Robertson McKay received 195,000. Recently-published accounts for the 2022 calendar year state that Robertson was paid 225,000 while Robertson McKay, who is managing director for summit and operations at the charity, received 115,000. The latest accounts also state that Robertson resigned from the charitys board in July and that remuneration was agreed by non-conflicted trustees. In a statement, One Young World said Robertson stepped down from her trustee role to focus 100% on driving the organisation and that it expected the compliance case into the charity to conclude this year. Robertson steps back as trustee to focus on driving organisation A spokesperson from One Young World said two independent trustees are set to join the charity's board later this year. They said: After nearly 10 years as a trustee helping oversee tremendous growth and steering the charity through the very challenging Covid period, Kate Robertson is relinquishing her trustee role to focus 100% on driving the organisation and further maximising its impact. Kate remains CEO of One Young World and is wholly focused on the successful running of the organisation and its global team. It was always our intention to appoint new trustees to further strengthen the governance of the organisation and we are pleased to be pressing ahead with this plan. 2m salaries over five years One Young World was co-founded by Robertson in 2009 and holds an annual conference for young leaders from across the globe. Salary costs at the charity amounted to 2.2m in 2022, accounting for 29% of the charitys overall income (7.5m). Five members of staff earned above 70,000, three more than the previous financial year. The accounts read: Senior executive remuneration is designed to attract the best talent who will ensure the charity continues to deliver its charitable aims and objectives. Robertson and her daughter have received over 2m in salaries over a five-year period, according to accounts filed. One Young World: We are confident in the health of the charity A spokesperson for the charity said: One Young World has always had a commitment to transparency, and we have worked closely with the Charity Commission to answer all its questions about the governance of the charity. The most recent communication of timings from the Commission indicates that this process will be concluded before the end of the year. We are confident in the health of the charity and the tremendous impact it continues to have, especially following our world-class summit that took place earlier this month in Belfast. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, A House of Lords committee has announced it will investigate regulators including the Charity Commission over their roles, remit, independence and how they are held accountable. The inquiry, opened by the Industry and Regulators Committee this week, will focus on regulators that have a statutory role established by parliament and are organized as public bodies. It will look at the relationship between regulators and the government and areas including the effectiveness of regulators and the role of parliament in scrutinising them. A Charity Commission spokesperson said: We welcome and will be monitoring the Committees inquiry and will participate if invited. The Fundraising Regulator is not covered by the inquiry but said it would consider whether to contribute. Vital to scrutinise and hold regulators to account The committee said that after previously examining the work of regulators such as Ofgem, Ofwat and the Office for Students, it is now launching a short and cross-cutting inquiry into UK regulators as a whole, with a specific focus on roles, remit, independence and accountability. This inquiry will look at whether regulators as a whole have been given a clear job to do and whether their roles and remits are sufficiently discrete from one another. The inquiry will also examine whether regulators are appropriately independent of government, including whether the right balance is being struck between strategic and political input from government and preserving regulators operational independence, it said. It will also examine how regulators should be held accountable for their performance and by whom, including the roles of the government and parliament. Lord Hollick, chair of the Industry and Regulators Committee, said that many regulators are public bodies funded by the taxpayer and have significant powers so it is vital that they are scrutinised and held to account. Fundraising Regulator: Well consider whether to submit evidence The Fundraising Regulator, which is an independent, non-statutory regulator and therefore not organised as a public body, said that it is considering whether to engage with the inquiry by submitting written evidence. A spokesperson told Civil Society: The Fundraising Regulator has seen the announcement by the House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee and its proposals to look at the relationship between regulators and the government. As a voluntary, independent regulator the board will consider the proposals and decide whether to submit written evidence to Lord Hollicks committee. The complete list of questions and details on how to submit evidence by the deadline of Friday 1 December 2023 can be found here . sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Members of the House of Lords have said that longstanding governance issues at the Royal Albert Hall are harming its reputation and damaging the charity sector as a whole. A private bill , deposited by the charity itself in November 2022, aims to amend some provisions of the Royal Albert Hall Act 1966 in relation to the annual seat rate payable by the members of the corporation. During the second reading of the Royal Albert Hall bill , peers including former Charity Commission chair Baroness Stowell, said that it failed to address a fundamental flaw in the charitys governance model nor any of the issues that have been of concern to the Charity Commission. Stowell said that it takes some audacity for the trustees of the Royal Albert Hall to submit a bill requesting more decision-making powers without addressing their unacceptable conflicts of interest policy. Civil Society has approached the charity for comment. Some tickets sold for six-figure sums The Royal Albert Hall has a unique hybrid model whereby more than 300 seat-holders, who are members of the corporation, hold more than a fifth of the venues 5,272 seats. Most of the charitys 23 trustees are seat-holders themselves and can decide which of the more than 1,000 withheld tickets should be reserved for seat-holders and which ones should be sold to the public. Under the model, the seat-holders pay an annual levy, known as seat rate, and must forgo their tickets for about 100 days per year of performances so that the venue can sell them commercially to non-seat-holders, which are known as exclusions or exclusivities. A few years ago, the hall set up a ticket return scheme, which enables the trustees to sell their tickets for face value, less 10%. Lord Hodgson said during the debate that the reality is that tickets for popular events can be sold for many times their face value through third-party websites. He gave the example of tickets for the upcoming Ed Sheeran concert being sold on Viagogo for 5,899 by seat-holders who have paid 200 face value. This is an extreme example, but a 100 ticket for the last night of the Proms was selling for 1,218, so this has clearly become a very profitable enterprise. The rumour was [...] that before the pandemic, seats were earning between 10,000 and 20,000 a year and were selling for 150,000. That was the rumour. Today, we have had a rush and the market in seats has been very good. I have here a flyer from Harrods Estates offering five seats in the second tier at the Royal Albert Hall for 1.5m 300,000 each. Conflict of interest The Charity Commission previously expressed concern about the majority of the charitys trustees being seat-holders and has been trying for several years to persuade the Royal Albert Hall to alter its constitution, without success. Speaking at the debate, Viscount Chandos said that the bill as currently drafted is disappointing in not providing for the governance changes that the Charity Commission and so many independent parties desire. The conflict of interest and the trustees reluctance to address the resulting governance issues, such as by requiring a majority of their council to comprise independent trustees who do not own seats, not only harm the reputation of the Royal Albert Hall but damage the charitable sector as a whole, providing an uncomfortable example of private benefit being embedded in the position of seat-holding trustees. Stowell: Completely unacceptable situation Baroness Stowell said that she does not oppose the bill, but it takes some audacity for the trustees of the Royal Albert Hall to submit a bill requesting more decision-making powers without addressing their unacceptable conflicts of interest policy. To be clear, as the noble viscount said, the fundamental problem with the Royal Albert Halls governance regime is that, contrary to standard charity law, its trustees can benefit privately from the decisions that they make about how the hall is run. Noble lords familiar with charity law will spot immediately that this flies in the face of standard legal practice, which prevents private benefit for trustees. While the Royal Albert Halls set-up is perfectly legal, it is nonetheless unique. To be fair, a combination of previous acts of parliament and the halls historic constitution does not render the situation illegal. But in todays modern world where public trust in institutions is low and expectations of accountability high; boxes and seats at the Royal Albert Hall are bought and sold for hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of pounds; and trustees of a charity can sell their tickets for concerts at prices at least 10 times their face value the situation at the Royal Albert Hall seems, to me at least, to be completely unacceptable. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Greetings, readers, and welcome to Diarys second-ever interview! Last month, you might have seen Diarys cross-examination of RSPCAs chief executive Chris Sherwood , in which he was asked to choose between dogs or cats and name his best-loved cheese. Rest assured that no one in charity land is safe from Diarys interrogation skills. Next in the firing line is RSPBs CEO Beccy Speight, who explains why cauliflower is her least favourite vegetable and the time she met Benedict Cumberbatch. Read our exchange below. How are you? Im OK! We had our AGM last weekend which is always quite a big deal and particularly so this year following on from the hullabaloo created by our tweet about nutrient neutrality. But it all went off well and it was good to feel the wave of support from our members, albeit virtually. Having said that, we have also just released the State of Nature report, something we co-ordinate in a partnership of about 60 organisations, and there has been no let up in the declines we are seeing in the natural world here in the UK. So, while unsurprising, its always a bit depressing to be reminded of how much we still have to do. What bird would you be? A gannet. An utterly beautiful, totally awesome, supersonic seabird. And the good news from last year is that some of them seem to surviving the horrific threat of avian influenza. Go, gannets. Have you ever been starstruck? Oh yeah. Many times! Years ago, I met Benedict Cumberbatch at a party at Hay. I was then CEO of the Woodland Trust and he spent a long time telling me how he would have been a tree surgeon if he hadnt been an actor. Needless to say, I pursued him shamelessly but our stars never aligned and I couldnt lure him into the fold. If youre reading this, Benedict, its birds now. Whats your favourite food? I had the time of my life working in the Basque country in Spain in my early twenties. So it would be something from there, in a big terracotta dish with a cold glass of that years new cider, eaten outside in the spring sun at a big trestle table full of friends. Least favourite vegetable? Cauliflower. I just dont get it. The only way its bearable is covered in cheese sauce or a crispy, spicy coating. And that could be true of anything! If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be? Torture! I did an English degree! Maybe the Tree of Man by Patrick White. Its the only book Ive ever been reading, on a train, and a complete stranger walked past and said that book changed my life. Or something by Ali Smith or Jeanette Winterson. But, can I just say, that you could ask me tomorrow and I would say something different. And that how I feel about certain once loved books has changed as I have got older. If youd asked me in my early twenties, I would have definitely said the Magus by John Fowles. I read it backpacking around Europe at the age of 18 and it obsessed me. Now I find it overwritten and limited in scope. Something has to be utterly brilliant, like Shakespeare, to cope with our shifting perspective as we age. What song cheers you up the most? I Want You Back by the Jackson 5. I dare you not to dance. What was the last gift you gave? I gave the beloved nephew some dosh for his birthday so he could take his mum out for a lovely meal when they go on holiday together in a weeks time. Camping or glamping? Camping. Preferably somewhere where there are bears and where there isnt a souped-up yurt or an exotic outdoor shower anywhere in sight. Favourite wild animal and why? When I saw my first wild elephant in Zimbabwe, I burst into tears. In a good way. But I also had a fantastic encounter with a young fox the other day, who let me get really close on a track before he noticed me and scarpered. Basically, any encounter with a wild animal is thrilling and gives you a sudden window into the wider life of the planet of which our species is only a part, despite our enormous impact. Wed do well to remember that. Please do volunteer if you would like to be next ( [email protected] ). If not, Diary will pluck someone at random... COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) Much of northern Europe braced for stormy weather and gale-force winds from the east on Thursday, with authorities warning that floods could cause major problems in inland Danish waters, in the Baltic Sea and in the north of the U.K. Danish broadcaster TV2 reported that the region would likely see the worst flooding in 110 years, and the Danish Meteorological Institute said waves could reach 4 meters (13 feet) along east-facing coasts. In the U.K., the Met Office issued a rare red alert the highest level of weather warning for parts of Scotland, warning of exceptional rainfall Thursday and Friday and the possibility of a danger to life from extensive flooding. The last red alert in the U.K. was issued in 2020. Officials warned Scots to stay away from coastal areas. In Ireland, the storm named Storm Babet by U.K. officials brought flooding to several towns and villages, with some areas remaining under water and without power Thursday. Soldiers helped with evacuation measures in the town of Midleton in County Cork, where more than 100 properties were flooded. In Denmark, residents scrambled to place sandbags along exposed areas. In Assens on the central island of Funen, the Danish Emergency Management Agency was deploying huge rubber tubes in the harbor to counter rising water levels, TV2 said. Southern Denmark police urged people along the east coast to leave exposed areas if the weather predictions remain, saying cottages, harbors and other places could be flooded. The southeastern Danish town of Koege wrote on its Facebook page that emergency workers were busy filling sandbags and urged citizens to avoid unnecessary baths, dishes, laundry and other water-intensive activities, saying the municipalitys treatment plant was at risk of being overloaded. Police in the area warned that roads may be blocked, urged people to secure valuables and advised against sleeping on their boats in the harbors, saying that if something happens, emergency services cannot get to them, police spokesperson Brian Bang-Rasmussen said. Copenhagen`s airport and the Danish national rail company warned of cancellations and delays Friday because of bad weather. Several ferry lines between Danish islands were suspended, as were ferries to Rostock in northern Germany and to Oslo. Swedish meteorologists also issued a warning for the south coast from Friday evening and Saturday. They said that the water level in southern parts of Sweden may reach its highest level since the 1990s. In Germany, authorities warned of high water in bays in Schleswig-Holstein, south of the Denmark border, until mid-Saturday. Authorities also warned of high water in the next two days on the Baltic Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein, Germanys northernmost state, with water levels of up to 2 meters (6.6 feet) above average possible in the inlet where the city of Flensburg is located. Some ferries to the North Sea islands of Foehr and Amrum were delayed or canceled, German news agency dpa reported. Norwegian meteorologists said a strong low-pressure area over Great Britain combined with high pressure over northern Scandinavia was creating strong east- northeasterly winds, with very strong gusts expected to hit southern Norway from the east. Top photo: Residents and members of the the Emergency Management Agency prepare for the heavy wind and increased water levels, at Kelstrup Strand, in Haderslev southern, Denmark Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. Southern Scandinavia and northern Germany braced for bad weather with gale force winds over the next days. Authorities said Thursday that floods could cause major problems in inner Danish waters and in the Baltic Sea. (Claus Fisker/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Acuity and Progressive Specialty Insurance Co. disputed who should pay after a 16-year-old boy borrowed a friends car and crashed it into a utility pole in Streetsboro, Ohio. The driver was insured by Acuity through a policy issued to his father. The cars owner was insured by Progressive. The Progressive policy provided liability coverage to drivers not listed on the policy who had permission to use the vehicle, but only if the driver did not have liability coverage through another insurance policy. The Portage County Common Pleas Court and the the 11th District Court of Appeals issued conflicting opinions about which insurer should pay. A divided Ohio Supreme Court settled the question Thursday by ruling that the plain language of the two policies required Acuity to pay. Where two insurance policies exist, and where under the plain and natural reading of both policies, one policy provides coverage and the other does not, we must honor the parties agreement, the 5-2 opinion says. The insurers court battle stems from Ashton Smiths collision with the utility pole on June 4, 2020. Three passengers in the car said they were injured and the city made a claim for damage to its utility pole. Acuity filed a lawsuit against Progressive in Portage County, arguing that Progressive should pay for any claims stemming from the crash because it insured the car that Smith was driving. Both insurers filed motions for summary judgment. The Portage County court ruled in favor of Progressive. But after Acuity appealed, the 11th District Court of Appeals overturned the decision, holding that Progressives escape clause was not enforceable. The court cited a 1970 decision by the Ohio Supreme Court in a lawsuit filed by State Farm Mutual Insurance Co. and Home Indemnity Insurance Co. The policy issued to the vehicles owner had an escape clause that barred coverage if a driver who borrowed its insureds car was covered by another policy. The drivers policy contained a clause that stated it covered only losses in excess ofthe coverage provided by the vehicle owners insurance policy. The appeals court determined that the excess clause trumps any escape clause is such situations. The Supreme Court majority took a different view. In an opinion written by Justice R. Patrick DeWine, the majority said the State Farm case was different than the dispute between Acuity and Progressive. In State Farm, the plain language of both policies provided that no coverage was available under either policy. Smith, on the other hand. was clearly insured by the Acuity policy because he was a listed member of the vehicle owners household, the majority said. Smith was clearly not covered by the Progressive policy because no coverage is available to a driver not listed on the policy who is covered by another insurance policy. Thus, under the plain language of the contracts at issue, Acuity is responsible for providing liability coverage to Smith for the accident, the majority opinion says. Justices Jennifer Brunner and Michael P. Donnelly dissented. Brunner wrote a separate opinion saying the the Supreme Court should never have accepted review of the Court of Appeals decision. She said the Acuity policy provided excess coverage that kicks in only after another insurer pays its policy limits. The 11th District applied our precedent and made the required, careful analysis of the contract language at issue, Brunner wrote. Our review is unwarranted and unnecessary. Top photo is for illustrative purposes only. CLEVELAND, Ohio A detective with the Cleveland Police Department suffered critical injuries Tuesday when a paraglider in which she was a passenger collided with a hang glider, causing both to crash to the ground. Ashley Schut, 30, currently is hospitalized in a Level 1 trauma center at a hospital in Salt Lake City, police spokesman Sgt. Wilfredo Diaz said. The pilot of the paraglider Joshua Ellison, 44, died in the crash, according to a news release from the Draper, Utah, Police Department. The pilot of the hang glider also was severely injured. Diaz said doctors were able to relieve pressure on Schuts spinal cord, which reversed paralysis from the crash. However, she has had three surgeries on a fractured pelvis. Schut was in Utah with her husband when the crash occurred, Diaz said. Her husband describes her as a very tough person, but she has a long, long road to recovery, Diaz said in a statement released Thursday night. We ask our community to keep Det. Shut, her husband and family in your thoughts and prayers for a quick recovery. Schut has been working with the Cleveland department for five years and is assigned to the Violent Crime Reduction Team. Draper police say the crash was reported at about 5:22 p.m. Tuesday at Salt Lake County Flight Park North. Ellison was piloting the paraglider and Schut was a passenger when the midair collision occurred with the hang glider, police say. All three victims were found south of the flight parks main parking lot. Schut was flown by helicopter to a hospital, while Ellison was pronounced dead at the scene. The hang glider pilot was taken to a hospital with serious injuries, police say. The Draper Police Department is investigating the crash. Draper is a suburb of Salt Lake City. The Salt Lake Tribune reports Salt Lake County Flight Park is a popular location for hang gliding. A paraglider resembles a parachute and the pilot and passenger sit in a pod below the parachute. A hang glider has a rigid frame with a lightweight fabric stretched over the frame. The operator lies in a harness below the frame. CLEVELAND, Ohio The states wild turkey population continues to show a healthy reproduction rate. For the third year in a row, the poult index was above average, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. It came in at 2.8 poults per hen for 2023, above the 10-year average of 2.7. Newly hatched turkeys are call poults. One-year-old turkeys are called jakes and jennies. Those older than that are considered adults. Weather, habitat and predators are major determinants of brood success each year. The Ohio Division of Wildlife relies on brood surveys from July and August each year. The publicly reported results showed an index of 3.1 poults per hen in 2021 and 3.0 in 2022. Poult numbers were below average in 2017, 2018 and 2019 and right at average in 2020. The wild turkey population in Ohio was completely wiped out around 1904. After the birds were reintroduced in the 1950s, the population started to grow with the larger populations in the eastern and southern areas of the state because of the habitat. This year, the poult index was 3.0 in the northeast and northwest regions of the state, 2.8 in southeast Ohio and 2.4 in the central and southwest regions of the state. In recent years, a growing number of wild turkeys have been turning up in suburban areas, lured by food sources and a lack of predators. Hunting for wild turkeys was allowed in nine counties in 1966, and in 2000 it was opened up statewide. In 2021, there were 26,156 birds checked, the most for any one year. Fall hunting season for wild turkeys is underway. It runs from Oct. 14 to Nov. 12 in 70 counties, including Cuyahoga. Spring hunting season runs from April 27 to May 26 in Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake, Cuyahoga and Trumbull counties and from April 20 to May 19 in the other 83 counties in the state. A youth hunting season statewide will be April 13-14. Peter Krouse writes about the environment for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. Read more of his stories here. CIIE a public good for whole world 08:58, October 20, 2023 By Liao Ruiling ( People's Daily The first "Jinbo" China-Europe freight train carrying exhibits of the sixth China International Import Expo arrives in Shanghai, Oct. 11, 2023. (People's Daily Online/Shen Chunchen) The sixth China International Import Expo (CIIE) is scheduled to be held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) from Nov. 5 to 10. As the world's first import-themed national-level expo, the CIIE has become a showcase of China's new development paradigm, a platform for high-standard opening-up, and a public good for the whole world. The first CIIE was held in Shanghai in November 2018. Since then, the CIIE has been held annually in November, becoming an important platform for promoting exchanges and cooperation among enterprises and various parties. In the previous five editions, 131 countries and international organizations participated in country exhibitions, with nearly 2,000 new products, technologies, and services making their debuts and a total intended turnover reaching nearly $350 billion. The sixth CIIE will resume offline country exhibition and invite guest countries of honor. So far, over 60 countries have officially announced their participation in this year's country exhibition. Notably, prominent international organizations, including the World Trade Organization, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, and the International Trade Center, have also confirmed their attendance. Approximately 3,000 enterprises will attend the sixth CIIE, too, with total exhibition areas surpassing 360,000 square meters. According to preliminary statistics, at least dozens of executives from Fortune Global 500 and industry-leading companies will attend the exhibition. Over 330 guests from some 30 countries and regions are expected to join the Hongqiao International Economic Forum. Photo taken on Nov. 8, 2022 shows the exhibition booth of General Electric Company at the fifth China International Import Expo. (People's Daily Online/Zhu Haipeng) This year's CIIE will welcome both new friends that are about to make their debut at the event and old friends that have joined the exhibition before. Among the 3,000 global companies participating this year, approximately 200 companies have been signing up for six consecutive years, and around 400 companies are returning to the expo after a gap of more than two years. "GE HealthCare is one of the earliest multinational corporations to participate in the CIIE. We've joined every year since the first edition," said Zhong Luyin, chief communications officer of GE HealthCare China. She noted that the CIIE is a place where cutting edge technologies are showcased, and has become a platform for many healthcare enterprises to debut their new products, frontier technologies and services. "This year we will launch 10 products and services, in hope to strengthen communication with our partners through this platform," Zhong added. Many exhibitors have already booked exhibition booths for the 7th CIIE. At a signing ceremony for exhibitors of the 7th CIIE held on Sept. 15, 25 enterprises including GE HealthCare and Panasonic signed contracts or MoUs concerning the exhibition at the 7th CIIE. So far, contracted exhibition area for the CIIE next year has exceeded 40,000 square meters. As a member of the delegation of centrally-administered state-owned enterprises to the CIIE, China Construction Second Engineering Bureau Co., Ltd. will attend the CIIE for a fifth time this year. Visitors experience a flight simulator at the booth of Honeywell at the 5th China International Import Expo, Nov. 7, 2022. (People's Daily Online/Tang Ke) "The CIIE provides us with a platform to purchase global products without leaving the country. The elevators, electrical equipment and other imported products we procured at the CIIE were intelligent and environmentally friendly, providing strong support for our efforts in promoting green and smart construction," said Zhao Guozheng, deputy general manager of East China Branch of China Construction Second Engineering Bureau Co., Ltd. A range of significant opening-up measures have been introduced for the CIIE, which showcases China's confidence and determination in opening up. According to Sun Chenghai, deputy director of the CIIE Bureau, these measures announced during the expo to facilitate the entry of exhibitors and buyers, to provide tax incentives for retained exhibits, and to strengthen intellectual property right protection, have optimized the domestic business environment. This July, the General Administration of Customs issued 17 measures to facilitate the 6th CIIE. These measures cover the entire process from exhibitor admission to customs clearance and post-exhibition disposal of exhibits. The 6th CIIE will also expand its scope of exhibition, allowing animal and plant products and food that have not completed inspection and quarantine procedures from countries or regions that are free from animal and plant epidemics to join the exhibition after obtaining special approvals. Sheng Qiuping, China's vice minister of commerce, said that in the future, China will work to rationally reduce the negative list of foreign investment in pilot free trade zones, and at the same time, promote the introduction of a negative list for cross-border trade in services, and lead the country to continue to expand opening up. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun) An undated conceptual illustration of China's technology aspirations. Yaorusheng | Moment | Getty Images Chinese technology giants including Alibaba and Tencent are among backers of Zhipu, the company said on Friday, an artificial intelligence start-up the country is hoping can be an answer to American firm OpenAI. Zhipu has raised more than 2.5 billion Chinese yuan ($341 million) this year, the company said in a statement. Sequoia and Hillhouse are among the high-profile venture backers, and smartphone maker Xiaomi, Alibaba and Tencent are some of the corporate investors. Zhipu is one of China's promising start-ups creating AI models trained on huge amounts of data that can underpin various applications. In August, Zhipu released a generative AI chatbot based on its models. Generative AI refers to technology where the AI is able to generate answers in response to user prompts. OpenAI is the U.S. firm behind ChatGPT, the AI chatbot that arguably brought the technology into the mainstream. Zhipu's statement about its investors comes at a time when the technology battle between the U.S. and China continues to ramp up with artificial intelligence front and center. China sees AI as a key technology that it wants to develop, especially since it could help economic output. The world's second-largest economy plans to increase its computing power by 50% by 2025, which would help continue to develop AI applications. However, the U.S. has looked to cut China off from key technologies required to develop AI models. Last year, the U.S. introduced rules that restricted Nvidia from selling its top-end A100 and H100 graphics processing units to China. This month, Washington tightened those rules to cover more Nvidia chips. Nvidia is the market leader in graphics processing units, a type of semiconductor that helps to train AI models that require huge amounts of data processing. watch now The Biden administration on Friday requested more than $105 billion from Congress to support the security needs of Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and the U.S. southern border. President Joe Biden's biggest request in the package is more than $61 billion for Ukraine. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the U.S. has unleashed an arsenal worth $44 billion in security assistance, according to figures provided by the State Department. He's also calling for an additional $14.3 billion for Israel, another $2 billion for Taiwan and Indo-Pacific security, and a little over $9 billion for humanitarian assistance. Israel is at war with Hamas after the militant group launched a shocking and brutal terrorist attack Oct. 7. Meanwhile, there are rising tensions around Taiwan, which China claims as its own. The White House said the supplemental funding request invests approximately $50 billion in the U.S. defense industry. "The funding will expand production lines, strengthen the American economy, keep us safe, and create new American jobs," Shalanda Young, director of the Office of Management and Budget, said Friday on a call with reporters. Canada has pulled 41 diplomats and their families from India, after New Delhi threatened to have their diplomatic immunities revoked if Ottawa did not comply with demands for parity in diplomatic staffing. "Canada confirms that India formally communicated its plan to remove immunities unilaterally for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents in New Delhi by October 20, 2023," the Canadian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday. Canada's compliance effectively slashed its diplomatic numbers in India by about two-thirds. As a result, Canada has to temporarily suspend in-person services at consulates in Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai, leaving its High Commission in New Delhi as the only place in India where it is able to offer services in a country that's been its largest source of new migrants. Tensions between the two countries escalated in September when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's claimed there were "credible allegations" the Indian government orchestrated the extra-judicial slaying of a Sikh separatist in Canada. This photo taken on March 12, 2021 shows workers at a factory for Xinwangda Electric Vehicle Battery Co. Ltd, which makes lithium batteries for electric cars and other uses, in Nanjing in China's eastern Jiangsu province. China will require export permits for some graphite products from Dec. 1 to protect national security, the commerce ministry said on Friday, as it faces growing challenges from foreign governments over its manufacturing dominance. Graphite is used in the batteries for electric vehicles, or EV, and China is the world's top producer, providing 67% of global supplies of the natural form, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It also refines more than 90% of the world's graphite into material used in virtually all EV battery anodes. China is enacting the curbs at the same time that foreign governments are increasing their pressure on its companies over their industrial practices. The European Union is weighing levying tariffs on Chinese-made EVs, arguing they unfairly benefit from subsidies. Also, the U.S. government earlier this week widened curbs on Chinese companies' access to semiconductors, including stopping sales of more advanced artificial intelligence chips made by Nvidia . Under the new restrictions announced on Friday, China will require exporters of two types graphite to apply for permits, including high-purity, high-hardness and high intensity synthetic graphite material, and natural flake graphite and its products. A newly constructed X sign is seen on the roof of the headquarters of the social media platform previously known as Twitter, in San Francisco, on July 29, 2023. Ella Irwin wasn't always a public person. Before joining Twitter, she had worked in lower-profile roles, including in loss prevention at banks and then in trust and safety at companies like Google, Amazon and Twilio. That all changed in November 2022. Just five months after joining the company, she took on one of the most contentious jobs in all of tech: head of trust and safety for Twitter. She would last just seven more months. In June, Irwin resigned from the company after Musk publicly criticized moderation actions that had been taken at the company around the issue of misgendering. "It absolutely was the hardest experience that I've gone through in my career," Irwin, 48, said. In an interview with NBC News her first since leaving the company Irwin discussed why she left, what she thinks of Elon Musk's leadership and his attacks on former employees, and what her next steps might be. She recently released the first episode of her new podcast, "The CryRoom," which she co-hosts with Jess Anderson, who had a long career at tech companies like Salesforce but now runs an independent consulting firm and serves as vice president of cloud foundations at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. Adding clarity to her sudden departure from the company, Irwin said that she resigned because it had become clear to her that "there was no longer alignment" between the company and her "nonnegotiable principles." "One was this notion of freedom of speech versus freedom of reach," she said. "It was important to me that there was an understanding that hate speech, for example, violent graphic content, things like that, were not promoted, advertised, amplified." The other, she said, was the principle of user choice. "I'm a big believer in giving people the ability to make the decisions that are right for them," she said. "Who they want to follow, what they don't want to see, they should be able to create and choose their own adventure." Her comments come as X, formerly Twitter, is facing widespread criticism for how it has handled misinformation and terrorist content around the Israel-Hamas war, as well as an investigation from the European Commission on the matter. Irwin called such misinformation "extremely upsetting," noting that X is not alone in struggling with it. "There is no doubt in my mind that there are a lot of people heads down, doing everything they can to solve for this," she said. "I think about the damage that misinformation at scale can do to the product experience, the customer experience, to society. It's one of the most important problems we need to solve for." Musk has repeatedly suggested that X's Community Notes feature can help address fake news and misinformation on the platform, but Irwin said she thinks more needs to be done. "It can't be your one solution," she said. "It's one of a whole toolbox of things that needs to happen." Irwin's interview offers a rare perspective on X under Musk from one of his former executives. Irwin said that she's still under a nondisclosure agreement with the company, but that she plans to use her podcast to discuss professional and personal lessons from her time at X. She said Musk came into then-Twitter with "startup energy," looking to "move fast and make changes." Some of the first changes he made were massive layoffs. "I don't think I've ever seen anything like that," Irwin said. Irwin first joined Twitter in June 2022 after Musk had agreed to buy Twitter but had not yet taken control. She knew a Musk takeover was possible but said she was attracted to the opportunity of helping to re-establish trust in one of the world's largest social media companies. She briefly left the company following the layoffs, but rejoined at Musk's request. Irwin said that it wasn't an easy decision, but that they had aligned on a few points. She remembers them agreeing about wanting to get rid of "bad actors" on the platform and addressing the issue of child sexual exploitation material. (X has stated that its issues with child abuse content have improved. NBC News reporting has brought those statements into question.) Irwin also said the pair initially aligned on protecting speech on the platform through moderation that might affect the spread of certain content while rarely removing it. "My parents are both immigrants. And they came from a country that did not have freedom of speech. In fact, my grandfather was arrested and spent years in Siberia in a Siberian prison for criticizing the government," Irwin said. "So my parents sort of instilled this strong respect for freedom of speech." Shortly after Irwin re-joined the company, Musk published a series of incendiary anti-LGBTQ posts to X. In December 2022, he smeared Irwin's predecessor, the recently departed Yoel Roth, adding onto a dogpile of tweets falsely suggesting that Roth, who is gay, had advocated for child grooming in a 2016 academic paper. The paper was Roth's Ph.D. dissertation titled "Gay Data," in which Roth argued for more wide-ranging safety features on gay dating apps. Roth argued that the apps should consider the fact that children, who are not allowed on the apps, were getting around rules and using them anyway, which should inform how dating apps create safety features. Musk misconstrued the paper, writing, "Looks like Yoel is arguing in favor of children being able to access adult Internet services in his PhD thesis." Irwin said that she was not supportive of the comments, calling them "terrible" and saying that they went too far. But she said that some of the backlash Yoel received in response to the "Twitter Files," a series of posts from conservative journalists who were given access to the company's communications and moderation decisions, didn't seem problematic to her because he was in a public-facing role. Irwin told the Daily Beast that she had limited involvement in the project. In a phone call, Roth said, "No corporation in history has voluntarily disclosed executive communications in this kind of way. It is not necessarily a great strategy," explaining that he believes the stunt eroded trust at the company. "I suppose it's fair game for Musk to do it because he owns the company and he owns its intellectual property and he owns its legal liabilities, but it doesn't strike me as beneficial." Irwin described Musk as impulsive at times. "There's more emotion behind his decisions than I would have maybe expected before I met him," Irwin said. "And I think that contributes to some of the impulsiveness." Describing Musk's public-facing behavior, Irwin said: "I think there were a lot of situations in which I would have handled things very differently. There were things that I wouldn't have tweeted in the middle of the night, there were certainly things that could have been stated better." Despite his tweets, Irwin said she learned a lot from working with Musk. "Elon is very good at questioning everything, boiling things down to first principles, removing constraints, and that can be very powerful when you need to drive a lot of change very quickly," she said. Irwin, whose role expanded at the company to include interacting with some journalists, said she clashed with Musk on how to handle communications with reporters. Musk is notoriously critical of the media and has eliminated much of the internal infrastructure at his companies that were previously devoted to communicating with journalists. When Musk took over, the company created an autoreply for its media email that responded to all inquiries with a poop emoji. Irwin said she believed that actions like that made the company worse off. "There was an environment where the press was not able to get to ask questions," which she believes leads to speculation and the use of unreliable sources. "I think it would have been beneficial to be more open," she said. "We definitely had conversations about that. There's a reason that I was able to comment to the press at times." In June, Irwin became part of the news after a chaotic 24 hours at X ended with her leaving the company. Under the principle of "freedom of speech, not freedom of reach," an anti-trans documentary called "What Is A Woman?" had been restricted on the platform. Conservative backers of the film launched a campaign to change that, complaining that they were being censored and that X had canceled a distribution deal with them because the film contains instances of misgendering. Musk responded in a tweet, saying that misgendering "is definitely allowed" and blamed unnamed employees for throttling the film. "This was a mistake by many people at Twitter," Musk wrote, adding, "Whether or not you agree with using someone's preferred pronouns, not doing so is at most rude and certainly breaks no laws." Some users still complained, saying they couldn't share or comment on the video. The next day, Musk shared the documentary himself and said he had removed any restrictions on the video. Hours later, it was reported that Irwin was leaving the company. At the time, she didn't elaborate on why. But she did in her interview with NBC News. "When I felt like there was no longer alignment to those core principles, I felt it was time to leave." Musk has since made moves that Irwin said illustrated that divide. In August, he said that X would eventually eliminate its blocking feature. "I don't want to have a negative experience every time I log into Twitter," Irwin said about the idea. It's now been four months since Irwin's resignation from the company, and she says she's enjoying the break. "I've worked every day since I was 14 years old, and with the exception of a few short vacations a year, I haven't really ever had a real break even between jobs, so I wanted to give myself this time," she said. "Having said that, I have been talking to a few companies recently." Irwin wouldn't divulge which companies, but asked if she would ever return to X, Irwin was taken aback. "You never say never, right? But I think there would have to be a lot of things that would have to change," she said. "Companies change, leadership teams change, a lot of things happen but I don't know that that would happen anytime soon." X, the social media service formerly known as Twitter, will launch two new tiers of subscriptions for users, its owner, Elon Musk, said Friday. One tier will be "lower cost with all features, but no reduction in ads," while the other is "more expensive, but has no ads," Musk said. This week, X announced it will begin a test that charges users $1 per year in New Zealand and the Philippines in order to "post & interact with other posts." X said it is part of a program designed to fight spam and bot activity. Those who opt out will only be able to read posts. It's unclear if the $1 annual subscription is one of the two new subscription tiers that Musk is referencing. The social media company already has a $8 per month subscription service called X Premium. Users who signed up to this can get the blue checkmark on their account meaning it has been verified and has other features, such as the ability to edit a post. Since taking over Twitter in October 2022 and rebranding to X, Musk has made sweeping changes, including cuts to trust and safety teams and removing the blue checkmark from nonpaying accounts. The blue checkmark helped users identify authentic accounts belonging to public figures. Musk has also reinstated previously banned accounts on the platform. Those changes have scared off advertisers. In July, Musk said X's cash flow remains negative because of a nearly 50% drop in advertising revenue coupled with "heavy debt." New subscriptions could be a bid to improve the company's finances and open new revenue streams. X is facing challenges from less mature players such as Meta's Threads and Bluesky. A "Shabbat Dinner" table is prepared at the Tel Aviv museum plaza, with 200 empty seats, representing the hostages and missing people on October 20, 2023 in Tel Aviv Israel. Hamas' armed wing, the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, has released two U.S. hostages from Gaza a mother and her daughter "for humanitarian reasons" in response to Qatari mediation efforts in the war with Israel, its spokesman Abu Ubaida said on Friday. Hamas says it took about 200 hostages during a deadly Oct. 7 rampage carried out from the Gaza Strip on communities and military bases in southern Israel, part of the biggest attack on the country since the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. Hamas said 50 more are held by other armed groups in the enclave. It said more than 20 hostages have been killed by Israeli air strikes, but has not given any further details. Abu Ubaida said they released the citizens "for humanitarian reasons, and to prove to the American people and the world that the claims made by (President Joe) Biden and his fascist administration are false and baseless." Israel responded to the hostage crisis and the attack by Hamas gunmen which killed 1,400 Israelis by pounding Gaza with air strikes, killing more than 4,000 people, and has said it will act to free the hostages while wiping out Hamas. It amassed tanks and troops near the perimeter of the enclave for an expected ground invasion, calling on Palestinians to evacuate the north of Gaza, where it says Hamas is dug in. Israel has also said that there will be no end to its full blockade of the enclave unless Israeli hostages are freed. Those held include women, children, the elderly and people from other countries which have been working for their release, along with some Israeli soldiers. Hamas' armed wing said on Oct. 16 that kidnapped non-Israelis were "guests" who would be released "when circumstances on the ground allow." Hamas has suggested the hostages could be swapped for 6,000 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons but Israel is unlikely to agree to that while it is on a war footing. Hamas has released a video of Mia Schem, a 21-year-old French-Israeli woman captured at a dance party. In the video, she was shown in an unknown location being treated for an injury to her arm by an unidentified medical worker. Concern for those taken into Gaza complicates Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's pledged aim of eliminating Hamas while sticking to a longstanding principle of leaving no one behind. In 2011, Israel swapped hundreds of Palestinian prisoners to win the release of one Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, who was held for five years. That kind of exchange - criticised by some Israelis as too lopsided - looks impossible now as a nation scarred by past hostage crises tackles what appears to be the most difficult one yet. American and British officials have confirmed they have been working with Qatar to secure the release of hostages, including their citizens, held in Gaza. Other countries that have said their citizens are being held include Thailand, Argentina, Germany, France and Portugal. The United Nations' secretary-general said Friday that the organization is working with all parties to clarify conditions for humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza. Hamas released two American hostages, a mother and daughter, NBC News reported Friday afternoon. Meanwhile, Israel's Defense Ministry and the Israel Defense Forces asked residents to evacuate from the northern city of Kiryat Shmona, near the Lebanon border. The evacuation order, which was approved by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, comes amid fears that the Israel-Hamas war could spill over into a regional conflict. Shelling has intensified in recent days between northern Israel and southern Lebanon, a stronghold of the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. The U.S., Canada, U.K., Germany and Saudi Arabia have all called on their respective nationals to leave Lebanon. The directives come as the Israel-Hamas war enters its 14th day, with many fearful that an expected ground assault on the Gaza Strip could worsen an already dire humanitarian crisis. watch now Republican lawmakers on Friday ditched Rep. Jim Jordan as their nominee for speaker of the House of Representatives after his bid to secure the gavel failed for a third time. It is unclear whom the GOP will nominate next and whether any Republican candidate can secure the votes needed to become speaker. The House has been leaderless for well over two weeks now, with no clear path to end the impasse as Congress faces a deadline to avoid a government shutdown and the White House calls for urgent security assistance for Israel. Jordan had insisted on remaining in the race despite failing repeatedly to secure the gavel as support for his bid eroded further with each consecutive House vote. On Friday, 25 Republicans voted against Jordan, who boasts the support of former President Donald Trump. Twenty-two voted against him in the previous vote. Republicans subsequently met behind closed doors to reconsider Jordan's nomination after his failure on the House floor. GOP lawmakers ditched him in what amounted to a no-confidence vote. Republicans will now go home for the weekend and reconvene Monday, when they will meet for a candidate forum at 6:30 p.m. ET. They will then aim for a GOP conference vote at 9 a.m. Tuesday, with the intention of having a floor vote as soon as that same day, according to interim Speaker Patrick McHenry, R-N.C. Next up? Now that Rep. Jim Jordan is out, here are the Republicans who are running or considering running for speaker, as of Friday afternoon: Rep. Kevin Hern, Oklahoma Rep. Jack Bergman, Michigan Rep. Mike Johnson, Louisiana Rep. Tom Emmer, Minnesota Rep. Byron Donalds, Florida Rep. Jodey Arrington, Texas Rep. Roger Williams, Texas Rep. Pete Sessions, Texas Rep. Austin Scott, Georgia Rep. Dan Meuser, Pennsylvania Source: NBC News Before losing the nomination, Jordan had sought to keep pushing into the weekend. He alluded to the 15 rounds of voting that former Speaker Kevin McCarthy needed before securing the gavel. "There's been multiple rounds of votes for speaker before we all know that," Jordan told reporters at a news conference Friday morning, before the vote. "Our plan this weekend is to get a speaker elected to the House as soon as possible so we can help the American people." McCarthy formally nominated Jordan before the House on Friday. Lawmakers laughed as the California Republican addressed the chamber. "Being speaker is not an easy job, especially in this conference," McCarthy said. "I've seen Jim spend his entire career fighting for freedom. No matter what, no matter the odds and I know he's ready for the job." US Republican Representative from Ohio Jim Jordan speaks during a press conference at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on October 19, 2023. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds | AFP | Getty Images House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the Democratic candidate for speaker, called Friday for moderate Republicans to abandon Jordan and work on a bipartisan solution to end the impasse. "End the attachment to the extremist Jim Jordan and join with Democrats in finding a bipartisan path forward," Jeffries told reporters. "We recognize that Jim Jordan is a clear and present danger to the American people. And we are going to be here for as long as it takes to end this national nightmare." Jordan's failure Friday came after Republicans abandoned a proposal to temporarily empower McHenry to oversee the passage of legislation until the deeply divided party settles on a permanent replacement. Democrats had expressed openness to supporting McHenry. The interim speaker received six Republican votes Friday. Republicans appear to have no viable path to elect a speaker more than two weeks after a faction of eight GOP lawmakers led by Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida ousted McCarthy. Gaetz claimed Friday that Republican holdouts are taking out their anger over McCarthy's ouster by blocking Jordan from becoming speaker. Moving overseas is often a daunting decision especially when you have children. Living abroad can be incredibly enriching and open new possibilities by introducing kids to new languages and cultures. But uprooting not just your own, but also your kids' lives, means even more thought needs to be put into making these big life changes. There might also be additional factors you need to consider when kids are involved, such as the cost of childcare, whether there are plenty of outdoor areas for them to play in and various health and safety concerns. So especially if you are free to choose a destination rather than being sent abroad by work or moving for family reasons, there is a lot to think about as some countries and cities will be much more suitable than others. The most suitable one, in Europe at least, is Vienna in Austria, according to a new report by life insurance firm Reassured that was published earlier this month. Childcare costs just 223.14, around $270, a month on average in the central European city, while the overall average monthly cost for a family to live there is 2,794. Rent makes up a significant portion of this, with the average cost of a home with at least three bedrooms being 1,356.69. Relatively low pollution and crime rates also boost the attractiveness of raising kids in the city. However, it has just 44 parks, the analysis found, which is far lower than second-placed Prague with 106, and third placed Rome with 148. Rome also offers the highest number of kid-friendly activities in the cities on the list with 687 opportunities to play and learn dotted around the historical city. Both Prague and Rome also have a lower overall monthly cost of living for families, with 2,682 and 2,677.70 respectively. But monthly childcare costs are far higher at 787.43 in Prague and 407.36 in Rome. Pollution levels in the Czech Republic's Prague are also over double those of Vienna, while Rome's are close to four times as high. The Italian city also has a significantly higher crime rate, making safety a concern for families. Austria also performed well as a country overall in the ranking, with three of the top 10 cities being located there. Salzburg, famous for its culture and opera festivities, comes in fifth place, while winter spots destination Innsbruck comes seventh. Italy is also represented in the top 10 by multiple cities, with Trieste in the north of the country, close to its border to Slovenia, placing tenth. But it is Germany that has the most cities in the top twenty family friendly cities: Nuremberg in sixth, Munich in thirteenth, Hamburg in fifteenth and Hanover in twentieth place. Despite Vienna and Rome scoring highly, many other major European hubs fall short of slightly smaller, less well-known cities on the continent. Finland's Helsinki in fourth place is the only other capital city to place in the top 10. Paris is the next closest capital in eleventh place. The monthly cost of family life there is 3,184.80 on average, just a few hundred pounds higher than Vienna. But the average cost to rent there is over 1,000 higher at 2,434.56, and childcare costs are more than triple those of Vienna's with roughly 694.84 a month. Paris also has a very high crime rate but also the highest number of parks on the entire list, with a whopping 306! London does not even make it into the top twenty most family friendly cities in Europe, instead placing a distant sixty-ninth. The report notes that the average cost for childcare alone is 1,599.49 in England's capital. The total cost for a family to live there is around 3,712.10 a month. One perk are the 651 different kid-friendly activities you can pick from in the city and 187 different parks, even though this might not make up for the immense costs. Investors have dumped Nvidia (NVDA) stock aggressively in response to tougher U.S. restrictions on the export of artificial intelligence chips to China. But, like us, Wall Street analysts have not waivered in their buy recommendations on Nvidia, despite acknowledging the semiconductor giant's opportunity in China may be diminished long term. Analysts widely agree with Nvidia's contention that the new U.S. rules will have a minimal near-term financial impact given global demand for the Club holding's AI chips is soaring. Eventually, though, analysts expect Nvidia's companywide numbers to reflect a new reality in China and accordingly, some already lowered their revenue and earnings projections starting in the company's fiscal year 2025 and beyond. Nvidia is in the final few weeks of the third quarter of its fiscal 2024. Shares of Nvidia tumbled 8.7% over the past three sessions, and were down more than 1% Friday, at $415.68 apiece. The losses Friday put the stock on pace for one of its worst weekly performance this year. "This is a significant setback," Morgan Stanley wrote in a note to clients Thursday, "but business is likely to continue to exceed expectations despite that and NVIDIA continues to be our Top Pick in semis." NVDA YTD mountain Nvidia's year-to-date stock performance. Morgan Stanley left its Nvidia earnings estimates unchanged but adjusted the premium it expects investors to pay for those future earnings. That lowered multiple outlook now at 40 times forward earnings, down from 42 is why the firm's price target on Nvidia came down to $600 a share, from $630. The tougher export controls are "incrementally cautionary," Morgan Stanley wrote. Still, the firm argued it sees "multiple strong quarters ahead" for Nvidia. Citigroup also lowered its price target on Nvidia to $575 per share, down from $630. KeyBanc reduced its target to $650 per share, from $750. To be sure, the lowest of that group Citi's $575 still represents more than 36% upside from where the stock closed on Thursday. All three firms maintained buy-equivalent ratings on Nvidia stock. In fact, 94% of the 52 analysts who cover Nvidia have a buy-equivalent rating on the stock, as of Friday, according to FactSet unchanged from the end of September. The tougher export rules announced Tuesday specifically hit a pair of Nvidia AI chips designed to comply with Washington's initial restrictions last year. Those chips known as the A800 and H800 are modified versions of Nvidia's most-advanced AI chips for data centers, where they can be used to train large language models like the one underpinning OpenAI's ChatGPT. The A800 and H800 have slower data-transfer speeds than the cutting-edge AI chips Nvidia sells to U.S. technology firms, such as fellow Club holdings Microsoft (MSFT) and Oracle (ORCL). The new rules, which go into effect next month, establish stricter standards to sell chips now including the A800 and H800 to China without a U.S. export license. And the U.S. government, which says it's trying to prevent the Chinese military from accessing top AI technology, is unlikely to make any exceptions, according to Citigroup. Historically, sales to Chinese customers have accounted for 20% to 25% of Nvidia's overall data-center revenues. In the three months ended July 30, total data-center sales totaled $10.32 billion, roughly three-quarters of the company's overall revenue. Unlike last year, Nvidia may have a tougher time modifying its existing chips to comply with the new rules, Citigroup said. The company will need to do more than just lower data-transfer speeds, the firm explained. Still, Citigroup said the company's AI opportunity remains in the "early innings," which justifies keeping a buy rating on the stock. For its part, Piper Sandler's assumption is Nvidia will be able to "quickly redesign a chip to meet new standards." The current wave of AI excitement began roughly a year ago, in November 2022. That's when San Francisco-based startup OpenAI launched ChatGPT, an online chatbot that relies on generative AI. It went viral reportedly racking up more than 100 million users in just two months and accelerated investment in generative AI applications, which can generate human-like text, write software code and render images in response to user prompts. Nvidia's top-end chips command a dominant position in training the models that enable generative AI. The Club take Nvidia will likely need some access to the Chinese market in order to generate the long-term earnings growth investors began to expect this year. At the same time, the demand elsewhere in the world is so strong, it gives Nvidia a buffer to figure out a solution in China. But, as analysts have also noted, there's no doubt the runaway ahead for Nvidia even with an impaired China revenue stream is long. The technological lead Nvidia has established over its fellow U.S. chip peers bodes well for its future prospects, too. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long NVDA. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. The logo of Nvidia Corporation is seen during the annual Computex computer exhibition in Taipei, Taiwan, May 30, 2017. Tyrone Siu | Reuters Arnold Schwarzenegger's role as a father of five children has had its fair share of dramatic moments. The actor, body-builder and politician who is promoting a new book called "Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life" recently told People about the ups and downs of parenting his now-adult children, and the tactics he used to impart life lessons. Some of them seem somewhat extreme: Schwarzenegger burned a pair of his daughter Katherine's shoes when she was a child after she failed to put them away properly, despite her father's repeated instructions, he said. Another time, Schwarzenegger said, he threw his then-9-year-old son Patrick's mattress off a balcony and into the family's pool "with the bedsheets, the pillows, everything," in response to the child not making his bed properly. The Austrian-born mega-star, who served as the 38th governor of California, insisted his children "make their own bed, scrub their own showers, they have to clean their own toilet and they have to wash their own clothes," he said. He grew up with little money and a strict father of his own, and wanted to ensure his children were self-reliant and responsible. Schwarzenegger said he's "really well-bonded with my kids" today and that his adult children often laugh when reflecting on his punishments. They boast that their father never let them get away with anything, he said. Indeed, the "extreme" strategy may have been a perfectly fine choice for someone like Schwarzenegger, New York-based child psychologist Francyne Zeltser tells CNBC Make It: His kids' wealthy lifestyle likely meant that Patrick still had somewhere to sleep that night, and Katherine still had other pairs of shoes. For most parents, though, it isn't the best or safest way to keep kids in line, says Zeltser. Here's why. McDonald's says 2023 is expected to be one of the highest cash flow years in franchisees' history. In a letter from a McDonald's franchisee-owner group shared with CNBC, they noted that their restaurants are generating less cash flow today than they were in 2010 despite what they described as record revenue for McDonald's Corporation. The owners' group warned that reinvestment decisions should be reconsidered as it will not provide a historic return and "it's time for every owner-franchisee to begin focusing on protecting their business, employees and family." That's not to say all McDonald's franchisees were happy about the new fee model. "Franchisors compete against each other for quality franchisees," said Robert Branca Jr., who owns several Dunkin' franchises and serves on both the Coalition of Franchisee Associations and the International Franchise Association boards. "Everybody knows who and what McDonald's is. They have the clout to get a higher royalty fee than a lesser brand." Franchisors are in a race to stay ahead of their own corporate rivals and there is significant value associated with a brand like McDonald's. For comparison, Wendy's charges royalty fees in the 4% to 6% range; Burger King charges 4.5% and Subway has a royalty fee of 8% of gross sales, according to information they disclose on their respective websites. In fact, the McDonald's increase is right on the industry average, according to the International Franchise Association. In the quick-service restaurant space, 62% of brands changed royalties over a 30-year period by an average of 1.3%, according to its data. While industry participants said they don't expect franchisors to raise royalty fees en masse, there could be some franchisors that follow McDonald's lead, especially if they are below industry norms, said Keith Miller, a principal at Franchisee Advocacy Consulting and spokesman for the American Association of Franchisees and Dealers, a trade association. Outside fast food, franchise royalty fees can be even higher, up to 12% or more based on the type of franchise business, according to the International Franchise Professionals Group, a membership-based organization. In McDonald's case, the change from 4% to 5%, starting Jan. 1 which applies to franchisees in U.S. and Canada who add new restaurants, buyers of company-owned restaurants, relocated restaurants and other scenarios that involve the franchisor, but not existing franchisees brought the fast-food giant more in-line with other restaurant franchises, many of whom already charge royalty fees in the 5% to 6% range, said Kenny Rose, chief executive of franchise investing platform FranShares. McDonald's decision to raise royalty fees for the first time in nearly three decades doesn't mean a wave of franchisees across corporate brands are about to see their cost of doing business go up, but it does underscore the need for business owners to keep up with changes in the franchise business model. The economics of being in the franchise business may, in fact, continue to increase based on a number of factors, from regulation of the industry to the cost of technological adaptation. Other franchise business costs will inevitably increase Over the last five years, initial franchise fees as well as royalty rates have basically kept pace with the rate of inflation, according to Matt Haller, chief executive of the IFA. But that means inflation significantly boosted the cost of opening new business units. In 2022, according to the IFA, the cost of investing in a franchising unit increased by as much as 30% when combined with higher interest costs. In the service industry, from 2019 to 2023, there was an compound annual growth rate of 4% to 5% in initial franchise fees. It's inevitable that franchise fees will go up over time to account for factors such as inflation and the fast pace of technological change. Franchise fees include royalty fees, marketing assessments, reservation fees and guest loyalty program fees. Some costs simply have to increase, even mid-contract, Branca said. "Things change and you need to stay relevant to your consumer if you want to stay in business." He gave the example of mobile apps, digital ordering and electronic menu boards, which may not have been as relevant if a franchise agreement was signed several years ago. It's important for franchisees and prospective franchisees to remember that fee increases can lead to increased sales and profits for their businesses, such as investments in marketing which drive more customers to stores. There is no guarantee this will be the result and it won't be the result in every single case, but there is a relationship between costs and business opportunity that cannot be summarily dismissed. Franchise disclosures are being scrutinized, including by the FTC One of the first places a prospective franchisee goes for information about investing in a franchise business is the Franchise Disclosure Document. Branca is part of an International Franchise Association committee working to simplify the information in the FDD, which contains essential information on costs and expenses. The current format, which can run several hundred pages long, is decades old and not user-friendly, he said. The goal is to modernize disclosures to prospective franchisees and make the information more easily understood. That may include an executive summary that more easily answers questions like: How much will it cost me and what other expenses can I expect that the FDD might not disclose? Other questions the summary could address include: How much can I make, what are the risks and how can I exit the enterprise if it's not working out? "The more you can ferret out through improved disclosure, the better outcomes you're going to get for brand growth and franchisee profitability," Haller said. That industry effort comes amid a review by the Federal Trade Commission of the Franchise Rule it enforces to govern the relationship between franchisors and franchisees. Earlier this year, it sought public comment on its concerns "about how the franchise relationship is working, and how it is not," according to a March release. "It's clear that, at least in some instances, the promise of franchise agreements as engines of economic mobility and gainful employment is not being fully realized," said Elizabeth Wilkins, Director of the FTC's Office of Policy Planning in the release. More than 5,500 comments were received, including from the IFA and big brands including Marriott, Hilton and Yum! Brands, as well as McDonald's franchisees. An FTC proposal for amendments to the rule could come by the end of the year, according to previous CNBC reporting. Pending changes in federal labor law could upend franchise economics It's also worth watching what happens with the National Labor Relations Board' proposed rule on joint-employer status, expected to be finalized this month. Under the proposed rules, franchisees would be considered employees of and/or co-employers with their franchisor. This could mean higher employment costs for franchisors, which could upend the economics of the franchise model, Haller said. "If it stands, it could lead to franchisors pursuing more of a corporate model than a franchising strategy," he said. In this scenario, according to an analysis conducted by Oxford Economics (commissioned by the IFA), franchisors might reduce or eliminate many of the services they typically provide to franchisees. From training, to uniforms, tools and equipment, and customer service standards, costs could be transferred costs to franchisees. But the Oxford Economics report says the model could move in the other direction as well, with a change in the law leading to even greater control of the individual franchise locations as franchisors seek to avoid potential violations, fines and litigation. That would likely increase the franchisor's management expenses "more audits, new departments, additional technologies, and the presence of a franchisor's employee on site" and franchisees should expect that at least some of these expenses will be passed on, potentially reducing their return on investment. Franchise owners should take an active role and organize With costs increasing and regulatory changes looming, franchise owners should start by keeping up on what a particular franchisor is doing with respect to fees and other policies. But they should also be organizing among peers to defend their interests and business models, says John Motta, chairman of the Coalition of Franchisee Associations, an advocate for member franchisees. He suggests franchisees get involved in their franchisor's advisory council, if one exists. This is a good way to get a "sense of what's ahead," he said. And if there is no council, it could be worth starting one to help facilitate communication with the franchisor, said Motta, who owns 32 Dunkin's across New Hampshire and Virginia. U.S. President Joe Biden delivers a prime-time address to the nation about his approaches to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, humanitarian assistance in Gaza and continued support for Ukraine in their war with Russia, from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, U.S. October 19, 2023. The White House on Friday requested more than $105 billion from Congress for "national security priorities," including $61 billion for Ukraine. U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday made a rare White House speech in which he called the funding for military and humanitarian aid to support both Ukraine and Israel "urgent." Biden said both Hamas and Russia "want to annihilate a neighboring democracy." The White House said in a statement that previous commitments to Ukraine were running out, and that the additional funding would provide additional weapons and equipment, continued military, intelligence, and other defense support, and economic and civilian security assistance. The U.S. this week confirmed it had supplied Kyiv with long-range ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile Systems) missiles, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that his forces had used them in action. Meanwhile, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has resolved to "faithfully implement" agreements made with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit last month, state media KCNA reported Friday. Kim is hosting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov one month after his rare visit to Russia, and KCNA reported that the two discussed a "stable, forward-looking, far-reaching plan for the DPRK-Russia relations in the new era," according to a translation. Lavrov's trip to Pyongyang comes hot on the heels of Putin's visit to China this week, during which the Russian president said Washington's decision to supply ATACMS missiles to Ukraine was "a mistake." Former FTX Chief Executive Sam Bankman-Fried, who faces fraud charges over the collapse of the bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange, leaves the Manhattan federal court in New York City, March 30, 2023. Former crypto king Sam Bankman-Fried and his allies donated $50 million during the 2022 election cycle toward politically active groups that do not publicly disclose the names of donors, according to documents recently made public by prosecutors. Bankman-Fried, his cryptocurrency exchange FTX and at least two of his former colleagues gave to nonprofits aligned with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and other senior Republican senators; a group linked to Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.; and a wide range of obscure groups that have quietly influenced politics. The documents give the first full look at Bankman-Fried and his allies' contributions to so-called "dark money" organizations. Nishad Singh, FTX's former head of engineering, provided further testimony earlier this week that shed light on how Bankman-Fried used a private signal chat called "Donation Processing" to request certain contributions be made in Singh's name. Bankman-Fried's mother, Barbara Fried, also encouraged donations that were actually from her son to be made in Singh's name, according to evidence tied to a lawsuit brought by FTX. Bankman-Fried is on trial for several federal fraud charges, as well as for allegedly using FTX customer funds to help finance over $100 million in political giving during the 2022 midterms. He faces a potential life sentence in prison. He has pleaded not guilty. Bankman-Fried said in an interview last year that he gave what he called "dark" contributions because he didn't want the public to know that he was giving money to Republican-leaning organizations. While Bankman-Fried quietly funded more conservative dark money groups behind the scenes, he publicly cultivated a profile that was clearly aligned with the Democratic Party. Separately, Bankman-Fried registered over $36 million in donations to Democratic campaigns and outside groups that disclose the names of their donors during the 2022 cycle, according to data from the nonpartisan OpenSecrets. He was a vocal and major financial supporter of charities promoting the concept of effective altruism, which argues people should work and use their money to better the world. Bankman-Fried became a known entity in Washington, D.C., as he directly advocated for crypto to lawmakers. Prosecutors on Monday filed into evidence a list of organizations that received money from Bankman-Fried and those close to him. Then, on Wednesday, prosecutors filed charts showing how millions of dollars from FTX customers and affiliated accounts linked to the cryptocurrency company were used to help make political donations by Bankman-Fried and his allies. The documents show that Bankman-Fried was clearly the lead "dark money" donor among the listed former FTX executives and the company itself. Ryan Salame, who was the CEO of FTX's digital markets division, donated millions of dollars to Republican political action committees and affiliated "dark money" groups with funds from FTX's affiliated hedge fund, Alameda Research, according to the documents. Salame pleaded guilty last month to federal campaign finance and money-transmitting crimes. Caroline Ellison, who ran Alameda and once dated Bankman-Fried, also gave millions to right-leaning nonprofit groups, the documents say. She pleaded guilty to multiple federal charges and testified against Bankman-Fried in dramatic testimony last week. Government watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington said in a complaint to the Federal Election Commission that it anticipated Bankman-Fried's "dark money" donations would amount to around $37 million. The list that prosecutors made public this week shows Bankman-Fried's "dark money" donations were closer to $47 million during the 2022 cycle alone. A spokesman for Bankman-Fried declined to comment. A lawyer for Ellison declined to comment. A lawyer for Salame did not return a request for comment. Think of your biggest investing success. Maybe it was a mega-sized company whose stock you bought when it was just a startup. Maybe you got in and out of crypto at the right time. Maybe you even managed to cash in on a meme stock. There are many reasons why a particular trade might be your most successful, but when asked, investors identify one factor above all others. In a recent client survey conducted by Charles Schwab, 33% of investors attributed their greatest investing success to patience through volatility. Careful research (with 16% of respondents) and high returns (11%) took the other spots on the podium. As for the biggest culprits behind investors' worst trades: lack of research (20%), bad timing (18%) and high risk (13%). In investing, past performance is no guarantee of future results. But with the benefit of hindsight, the collected wisdom and experience of other investors can make you a better builder and manager of your portfolio, experts say. Here's how. Manage volatility by knowing your goals Trading highly risky assets at precisely the right time has made overnight fortunes for some speculators. But for most investors, the winning formula is far more boring: Buy assets that appreciate, hold them over a very long time period and allow compounding interest to work its magic. The only hiccup with that model is that investments don't tend to move linearly, but rather fluctuate in value sometimes quite dramatically over the short term. To reap the benefits of an investment's long-term growth, you'll have to be willing to hold, even when dips in value may tempt you to sell. One way to set yourself up for success on this front is to keep your reason for buying in mind whenever you add an investment to your portfolio, says Mark Riepe, head of the Schwab Center for Financial Research. "If you bought a stock expecting a big, secular change to happen over the next several years, you can be more patient knowing that this is something you identified ahead of time that's going to take some time to play out," he says. In other words, if you bought stock in artificial intelligence companies with a thesis that the technology would explode over the next 20 years, you might be less likely to sell if your stocks decline in year three. Another way to help you hold on when things get bumpy: Buy a broadly diversified portfolio and pay as little attention as possible. Spenser Liszt, a certified financial planner and founder of Motif Planning, recalls an old Fidelity study that found its most successful accounts belonged to investors who had died or forgotten their passwords. "I don't recommend losing your password or never logging into your account," he says. "But the more you're educated on time horizon when do you need the money? you can understand that what happens today is not as relevant as what happens over 20, 30, 40, 50 years." Know the limitations of your research Former U.S. President Donald Trump attends his Manhattan courthouse trial in a civil fraud case in New York, U.S., October 18, 2023. A New York judge fined Donald Trump $5,000 on Friday after threatening the former president with jail time for violating a partial gag order in his civil fraud trial. But Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron warned that future violations will subject Trump to "far more severe sanctions" including imprisonment. The fraud case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James, accuses Trump, his two adult sons, his company and top executives of fraudulently inflating the values of their assets to get tax benefits and advantageous loan terms. Trump has denied wrongdoing, though Engoron has already found the defendants liable for fraud and ordered the dissolution of their New York business certificates. The trial aims to settle six other claims by James, who seeks $250 million in damages and wants to bar the defendants from running a business in New York. Friday's fine, while small for Trump, is the first time the ex-president has faced punishment for violating court-ordered restrictions on his speech. Engoron made the decision after discovering that Trump had not fully deleted the social media post that prompted the speech restrictions in the first place. The judge had imposed a narrow gag order earlier this month after Trump, the leading candidate for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, sent a Truth Social post attacking the judge's law clerk. Engoron at the time ordered that the post be deleted, and he barred Trump and other parties in the case from making public statements about his staff. But the post remained up on Trump's website, donaldjtrump.com, for more than two weeks, archived screenshots of the page show. The left-leaning website MeidasTouch published an article Thursday about the not-deleted post. The Daily Beast reported that that article led attorneys on both sides of the trial to be notified about the post, which was ultimately removed Thursday night. Engoron laced into Trump in court Friday morning. "This is a blatant violation of the gag order. I made it clear failure to comply will result in serious sanctions," the judge said. "It remained on the Donald J. Trump campaign site and in fact it has been on there for the past 17 days, [and] it was removed late last night after an email from this court." Trump was not in court to hear the rebuke, having left New York on Wednesday after attending two more days of the civil trial. Defense attorney Christopher Kise apologized on Trump's behalf, saying the violation was unintentional. Engoron said he would take Kise's remarks "under advisement," but added that Trump "is still responsible for what appears on the site." "I want to make clear that Mr. Trump is responsible for the large machine, even if it is a large machine," the judge said, according to NBC. In his written order Friday afternoon, Engoron said that the effect of the post on the clerk remains, regardless of whether or not it was left up intentionally. "Moreover, a defendant may not evade liability for violating a court order by assertion that the violation was a result of the actions of one or more of the defendant's employees or agents," Engoron wrote. "In the current overheated climate, incendiary untruths can, and in some cases already have, led to serious physical harm, and worse," he wrote. Trump has "received ample warning" about the consequences of violating his gag order, and he has vowed to abide by it, wrote the judge. "Accordingly, issuing yet another warning is no longer appropriate; this Court is way beyond the 'warning' stage." Still, Engoron decided to impose the $5,000 fine because it was a first-time violation, and because the Trump's attorneys insisted it was not intentional. "Make no mistake," Engoron added. "Future violations, whether intentional or unintentional will subject the violator to far more severe sanctions, which may include, but are not limited to, steeper financial penalties, holding Donald Trump in contempt of court, and possibly imprisoning him" in accordance with state law. The Polish opposition Civic Coalition's leader Donald Tusk speaks during election night in Warsaw. Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images Poland's election result may not go down well in Moscow, as observers describe a victory for liberal centrism and an expected thawing of the country's frosty relations with both the EU and neighboring Ukraine. The incumbent Law and Justice (PiS) party won the highest percentage of the vote in the electon held Sunday, with 35.4% but opposition groups look set to form a parliamentary majority. Donald Tusk leader of the center-right Civic Platform party and the anti-PiS opposition's figurehead positioned the vote as a chance to restore democratic norms and liberal values to the country, following eight years of nationalist, socially conservative rhetoric and policymaking. "Moscow is unlikely to welcome a decisive victory of political parties with a strong pro-EU and pro-Ukraine stance," Andrius Tursa, Central and Eastern Europe advisor at consultancy Teneo, told CNBC. While Russia focuses its attention on forging closer relationships with the likes of China and India, EU unity remains a thorn in Putin's side as the nations agree on more Russian sanctions and military and economic support packages for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. Poland has the European Union's fifth-largest economy and population, and has been an influential member since 2004. It plays a significant geopolitical role as a NATO base with around 10,000 U.S. troops stationed in the country. It has taken in more than a million refugees from its close ally Ukraine since the start of the war, with many more millions passing through it. However, relations with the EU have become tense during eight years of PiS rule over Warsaw's near-total ban on abortion, and alleged chilling of media freedoms. The bloc has withheld billions in funding from Poland because of concerns over the erosion of judicial independence. Its relations with Ukraine have soured in recent months, partly because of a dispute over the impact of Ukrainian grain imports on local farmers. Ukraine filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization over Polish restrictions on its produce, with the spat eventually resulting in Poland announcing it would no longer provide weapons to Ukraine. Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the leader of Law and Justice (PiS) ruling party, gives a speech during a final convention of elections campaign in Krakow, Poland on October 11, 2023. Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images Ukraine reset As a former European Council president, Tusk is likely to target bringing Poland back into the EU fold, unlocking bloc funds and potentially making Poland less obstructionist on EU policy. "From the regional perspective, the opposition's victory prevents the emergence of a populist Euroskeptic alliance in Central Europe (along with Hungary and Slovakia), which could have brought more internal tensions in the EU," Sili Tian, Europe analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit, said in a note Monday. Tian also expects the result to "reposition Poland as a staunch supporter of Ukraine" and for Tusk to push for EU accession for Ukraine. The recent spat with the war-torn country was partly fueled by the election campaign, according to Aleks Szczerbiak, professor of politics and head of department at the University of Sussex. "Law and Justice felt increasingly under pressure because its own polling was telling it that while its supporters were pro-Ukrainian, they felt there were issues where Polish and Ukrainian interests clash, where Polish interests needed to be stood up for," Szczerbiak said by phone. That was exacerbated by the electoral threat from the far-right Confederation party, which accused Kyiv of not being sufficiently grateful for weapons sent previously, and vowed to curtail the passage of Ukrainian refugees. It has also broadly criticized the EU and Polish foreign policy approach to Ukraine during the war. The Confederation party was previously seen as a potential kingmaker that Law and Justice could have partnered with to form a government, in a move that could have taken Poland even further to the right and antagonized its relationship with the EU. But the party significantly underperformed expectations, gaining 7.2% of the vote close to what it achieved in the last election in 2019. Strong foundation The extent to which former Soviet satellite state Poland would have abandoned support for Ukraine even in the event of a different electoral outcome should not be overplayed, Szczerbiak noted. "The big thing to bear in mind when looking at Poland and Ukraine is they have an overarching strategic common interest [challenging Russian aggression], and this supersedes everything. Whatever the ebbs and flows of the relationship, they will remain key allies in terms of the war," he said. watch now Poland would likely have remained a key hub for channeling humanitarian aid, supporting sanctions against Russia, and acting as a point for Ukrainian refugees to pass through and settle in, Szczerbiak said. There is also part of the relationship that is outside of Poland's control, he added. "There is a view in Poland that Ukraine is basically pivoting from forming close relations with Warsaw to prioritizing relations with Berlin it has come to [the] conclusion pragmatically that if they want EU membership, the more important player will be Berlin. So it will be difficult to restore relations to how they were in the first 18 months of the war, regardless of what Poland does." Rocky road ahead watch now Hundreds of American citizens are trapped in the besieged Gaza Strip under constant Israeli bombardment and have received no help in finding ways to escape, according to interviews with individuals on the ground. The State Department says as many as 600 Americans are in the enclave that since Oct. 7 has come under heavy retaliatory airstrikes by Israel after the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which governs Gaza, launched a terror attack against southern Israel that killed at least 1,300 people. Israel-Hamas war live updates Follow CNBC's live coverage of war in the Middle East The Israeli air campaign and full siege against Gaza which cut off electricity, food and water to the already blockaded territory has killed 3,785 people so far, according to Gaza's health ministry. "America's not helping us, Biden's not helping us, the embassy is not helping us," Amir Kaoud, a Palestinian-American at the Rafah crossing with several of his family members, told NBC News. The Rafah crossing is at the border of southern Gaza and Egypt, and is one of only two points of entry and exit for the Palestinian territory. The other point of entry is at Gaza's northern border with Israel. Both are currently closed, and thousands of people are camped out at the southern crossing in the desperate hope of getting out. Palestinians, some with foreign passports hoping to cross into Egypt and others waiting for aid wait at the Rafah crossing in the southern Gaza strip, on October 16, 2023. Mohammed Abed | Afp | Getty Images "They keep saying the same thing every day, they're trying to figure out a way to get us out. Nothing's happening," Kaoud said. "All the people, all the U.S. citizens in Israel, they're getting out. Why not us?" Americans in Gaza who contacted the State Department said that they were met with emails that detailed evacuation options for people in Israel, but little that was helpful for those stuck in the Palestinian territory. Emilee Rauschenberger, a U.S. citizen who was visiting in-laws in Gaza with her husband and five children when the war began, said she felt that her government "kind of feels absolved of it as a responsibility because of the politics of it all." "The double standard is incredibly harsh," she told NBC News. The State Department has arranged evacuations by air and sea for U.S. citizens in Israel who want to evacuate. But it says that the situation is far more difficult for Gaza. "The armed conflict between Israel and Hamas is ongoing, making identifying departure options for U.S. citizens complex," a State Department spokesperson told CNBC, adding that "the security environment in Gaza is distinct from the security environment in Israel." Smoke rises after Israeli airstrikes hit Rafah as the Israeli attacks continue on the thirteenth day of the clashes in Rafah, Gaza on October 19, 2023. Abed Rahim Khatib | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images It also said: "We are providing the best information we have to allow U.S. citizens to make their own decisions regarding their safety and security in an incredibly difficult and fluid situation," and that "we have informed U.S. citizens in Gaza with whom we are in contact that if they assess it to be safe, they may wish to move closer to the Rafah border crossing - there may be very little notice if the crossing opens and it may only open for a limited time." The Americans interviewed by NBC News, published on Monday, were frustrated by the advice, given that Israeli forces had bombed areas near the crossing, making moving toward it very dangerous if not impossible. Some said they were sent a "crisis intake form" by the U.S. Embassy in Egypt to fill out and submit, but that they were not contacted after that. Threat of bombings U.S. officials say they are working with the Egyptian authorities "round the clock" to get the Rafah crossing opened, but Egypt said in recent days that it had become inoperable due to Israeli airstrikes on the Gazan side. Egyptian authorities say they won't open the crossing without a guarantee from Israel that its humanitarian convoys, which have been waiting outside the border for days, won't be attacked. Israel's military said its strikes at Rafah were aimed at Hamas targets. "There is an urgent need to alleviate the suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza," Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said on Oct. 16. Aid convoy trucks are seen at the Rafah border with Gaza on October 17, 2023 in North Sinai, Egypt. Mahmoud Khaled | Getty Images News | Getty Images Officials say a deal was reached Thursday to allow limited humanitarian aid into Gaza, but the details of when the crossing will actually open and what that would mean for foreign nationals in Gaza are still not clear. U.S officials said that the aid should be able to move into Gaza in the coming days. Israel meanwhile has so far refused a temporary cease-fire unless Hamas releases the hostages that it kidnapped from Israel on Oct. 7. Israel's government says Hamas has at least 200 hostages in captivity in tunnels underneath Gaza, including many children and elderly people. False hopes Many of the Americans in Gaza have family members there that do not have U.S. citizenship. While they can apply for visas for their immediate family members, they would have to leave extended family members behind, creating an impossible situation, they say. They describe struggling to update their family members overseas due to weak signal and lack of electricity, and say they constantly hear the sounds of bombs and jets overhead, often having to suddenly relocate in the middle of the night. watch now In this photo taken in Seoul on August 16, 2023, a man walks past a television showing a news broadcast featuring a photo of US soldier Travis King (C), who ran across the border into North Korea while part of a tour group visiting the Demilitarized Zone on South Korea's border on July 18. The U.S. Army has charged Private Travis King with crimes ranging from desertion for running into North Korea in July to assault against fellow soldiers and solicitation of child pornography, according to documents obtained by Reuters. The Army's case against King, which has not been previously reported, includes eight distinct charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, setting up a substantial legal battle for the 23-year-old soldier after his release from North Korean custody in September. The Army did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In a statement provided by a family spokesperson, King's mother, Claudine Gates, expressed her unconditional love and asked that her son "be afforded the presumption of innocence." "The man I raised, the man I dropped off at boot camp, the man who spent the holidays with me before deploying did not drink," Gates said. "A mother knows her son, and I believe something happened to mine while he was deployed. The Army promised to investigate what happened at Camp Humphreys, and I await the results." For weeks, the U.S. Army has deferred questions about whether King would face disciplinary action, saying its priority has been on ensuring the soldier received the proper care after being held for two months by North Korea. His release by North Korea in September followed weeks of behind-the-scenes negotiations that led the Swedish government to retrieve King in North Korea and bring him across the border into China for a handoff to the U.S. ambassador. King was flown to a military hospital in Texas on Sept. 28 for medical evaluations, including for his mental health. In these past two weeks, one has only witnessed disruptive diplomacy in action which is polarised, unifocal, subjective and myopic. Most of the regional and international actors and powers were only concerned with the current and day-to-day situation followed by immediate knee jerk reactions and statements clearly exposing themselves in the bargain. Some countries wanted to show their continued and unstinted support to a country or the cause. Terror attacks against Israeli civilians shook the conscience of the conscious world and raised the support levels especially by the West led by the US in favour of their permanent ally in Israel. No sane person will doubt that but perhaps they did not factor the public outcry, international reactions when the expendable Palestinian population was being pulverised by Israeli fire power killing and injuring thousands of civilians in Gaza. There is a line up of visitors to the region with their own agendas. Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz are racing to support Israel but with a subtle caveat as United Nations Secretary General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres cries hoarse for opening up of humanitarian corridors and access of medical and humanitarian supplies to the besieged Gaza residents. The casualties and crisis is deepening by the minute and humanitarian conscience is provoking introspection and perhaps hardening of attitudes and resolve on both sides. Amidst crisis, rationality is mostly a casualty. A beleaguered Benjamin Nethanyahu (Bibi) is facing his disenchanted home constituency with his handling of the hostages held by Hamas and ever so angry Arab foes and friends alike. Hitherto achieved rapprochement with the Arab countries through Abraham Accords ++ is being subjected to closer scrutiny and calls for scrapping them by the Arab street. UAE, which has developed closest relations with the Jewish state in the region, along with Russia, had to take up a stand against the atrocities and for the immediate ceasefire at the UN Security Council while representing the Arab seat. They will become louder if the ground invasion happens and Palestinian casualties rise. Israel's efforts to destroy Hamas may land up emboldening them if indiscriminate and disproportionate force is used by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDFs). Hamass key objective to demonise Israel and hold back further rapprochement will be achieved while ordinary Palestinians will suffer even more. It will also extract its pound of flesh while releasing the prisoners with the intervention of Qatar, Turkey and Egypt. While the Russia-UAE draft resolution was defeated, the Brazilian one for some pause in hostilities and opening of humanitarian corridors for Gaza are still in the wings. Most leaders agree for a ceasefire and access to humanitarian assistance and hoping against hope that Bibi will not violate humanitarian and international law. In the case of Washington and Biden, given their own domestic politics, presidential elections and compulsions as well as their own history of bombing Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan, dictated the US reaction and immediate provision for moral, material and military support to Netanyahu was understandable. But they soon realised that an extendable rope given to Bibi could easily snap embarrassing them. They were also uncomfortable with ground invasion of Gaza and possible occupation of the territory once again which Israel eventually will find it difficult to hold for good. The US Secretary Antony Blinkens shuttle diplomacy in the region would have conveyed to him the thin rope he is walking on. I t behoves Biden and Blinken to work on cooling down the tempers and escalation and find a way beyond. Apparently, Biden will have tough questions for Bibi but in public on his arrival he seems to have fully endorsed the position and stand taken by Bibi including ground invasion of Gaza while expressing sympathies with the people of Gaza. He also has agreed with Israeli stand that the missile that killed 500 people in a hospital strike was launched by third party which is unlikely to ameliorate the situation or assuage the feelings of the Arab street as it gave a clean chit to Netanyahu. Arab leaders, OIC and Arab league are speaking in one voice. Iran is also indulging in its diplomatic and strategic outreach as it sees an opportunity to belittle Netanyahu through Hamas and Hezbollah from Lebanon. President Bidens visit has been marred by cancellation of a Quartet meet in Amman with Jordanian King Abdullah II, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt. Biden had to make do with phone calls. It is difficult to say what he (Biden) might extract from them even as both Jordan and Egypt depend a great deal on US assistance. But Jordanian King is also the custodian of the third holiest mosque Al Aqsa in Jerusalem whose sanctity has often been violated by ultra-rightists in Israel deepening the anger of the Muslims around the world and making the King's position even more delicate. The missile attack on the Gaza hospital also provoked a statement from the Indian Prime Minister who had rightly condemned earlier (October 7) the Hamas terror attacks on the Israeli civilians and expressed solidarity with Israel. Indian spokesman later reiterated Indias principled and standing position on the Palestinian issue urging for the two state solution and resumption of direct negotiations for a viable state of Palestine. On the hospital attack, PM Modi tweeted; "Deeply shocked at the tragic loss of lives at the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza. Our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, and prayers for speedy recovery of those injured, and that Civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict are a matter of serious and continuing concern. Those involved should be held responsible. A genuine diplomatic effort is needed from acceptable and credible interlocutors to ease the Gaza crisis and help find a way forward rather than a subjective, presumptive and disruptive diplomacy. The author, Amb. Anil Trigunayat, is a former Indian Ambassador to Jordan, Libya and Malta, and currently heads the West Asia Experts Group at Vivekananda International Foundation. Views expressed are personal. Read his previous articles here (CNN) MTVs 2023 Europe Music Awards (EMAs), set to take place in Paris on November 5, is canceled as the conflict in the Middle East continues, according to a statement posted to the shows social media Thursday. Given the volatility of world events, we have decided not to move forward with the 2023 MTV EMAs out of an abundance of caution for the thousands of employees, crew members, artists, fans, and partners who travel from all corners of the world to bring the show to life, the network said in a statement. The MTV EMAs are an annual celebration of global music, the statement continued. As we watch the devastating events in Israel and Gaza continue to unfold, this does not feel like a moment for a global celebration. With thousands of lives already lost, it is a moment of mourning. Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, SZA, Maneskin, Miley Cyrus and Nicki Minaj are among the events most-nominated artists this year. There are also 26 first-time nominees, including Ice Spice, BTSs Jung Kook, and Renee Rapp. Swift leads with seven nominations, with Rodrigo and SZA right behind her with six nods each. All three are nominated for best artist, best song and best video. The fan-voted show was set to debut a brand new category honoring the best afrobeats, with Ayra Star and Burna Boy, among others, landing nominations in the new category. Jung Kook, Rapp, 30 Seconds to Mars, Ozuna and Sabrina Carpenter are a few of the artists announced on Tuesday that were slated to perform during the ceremony. MTV noted that voting for the 2023 show will continue through the end of the month, and the winning artists will still receive their MTV EMA awards. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 20) The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, of which the Philippines is a member, on Friday called for an immediate end to the escalating violence in the Middle East that has killed thousands of civilians, including ASEAN nationals, and for the creation of rapid and unimpeded humanitarian corridors. The statement issued by foreign ministers of the 10-member bloc also urged "all parties to protect and ensure safety and security to all civilians, including ASEAN nationals, and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages." It called on the international community to step in to pursue a peace process between Israel and Palestine as it condemned the acts of violence which have led to the deaths and injury of civilians, including from Southeast Asia. Supporting the peace process would ensure long-lasting peace and stability in the region, the statement added. ASEAN member states include Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Recent reports showed that the death toll from the war between Israel and the militant group Hamas has already exceeded 3,000. The tension has been ongoing for almost two weeks now. We reaffirm our support for a negotiated two-State solution that allows both Israelis and Palestinians to live side-by-side in peace and security consistent with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. This will be the only viable path to resolving the root cause of the conflict, the group added. "We urge for the immediate end of violence to avoid further human casualties and call for the full respect of International Humanitarian Law," the statement said. "We call on all parties to create safe, rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian corridors." Last week, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Israel has the support of the Philippine government amid terrorist attacks launched by Hamas. Local authorities confirmed on Thursday that four Filipinos have been killed due to the conflict. READ: Marcos: PH stands with Israel in war vs. Hamas Marcos is in Saudi Arabia to attend the first ASEAN and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 20) The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday said it filed 134 show cause orders against candidates who failed to follow rules on day one of the campaign period for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE). Comelec Chairman George Garcia told CNN Philippines The Source that the campaign began generally peaceful on Thursday, but some candidates failed to educate supporters on guidelines. When it comes to cases involving violation of our campaigning rules, yung mga (for) illegal campaign materials, almost 134 na po as of kahapon (as of yesterday), he said. Authorities strictly prohibit the distribution of items like T-shirts, ballers, caps, or food; limit the wearing of T-shirts with the candidates picture to five people; and limit poster size to 2 feet (0.60 meter) by 3 feet (0.91 meter) only in designated areas. Garcia said Comelec is making sure existing rules are followed strictly. He also reminded candidates to watch their back and their supporters since any violation will be their liability. He said candidates can tap social media for campaigning, adding that Comelec can monitor these activities. Garcia said the Comelec has also filed almost 7,000 show cause orders in relation to premature campaigning, of which 200 were filed with disqualification cases. The poll body hopes to resolve these, along with the five pending cases of nuisance candidates, before the election on Oct. 30. On election day, Garcia said automated BSKE will be held in two barangays in Dasmarinas, Cavite, and in Pasong Tamo in Quezon City. Casting of votes in Metro Manila, Legazpi, and Cebu can also be done in 11 malls, he added. Senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women can also vote early from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. in Muntinlupa and Naga cities, he said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 20) Jeffrey Tumbado, a former official of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), claimed he was only "pressured" into withdrawing his corruption allegations against the agency, and now stands by his earlier statements. More than a week after he withdrew his allegations against former LTFRB chair Teofilo Guadiz III and apologized, Tumbado on Friday maintained that "many" LTFRB officials were involved in corrupt practices "Kung ano man ang naging pahayag ko sa presscon sa UP Hotel noon, ay totoo at patuloy na titindigan ko dahil ako mismo ang saksi," he said. [Translation: Whatever I said at the presscon at the UP Hotel then, is true and I will continue to stand by it because I, myself, am the witness.] Tumbado previously said operators need to shell out up to 5 million to secure officials' approval for routes, franchises, and special permits, among others. Coughing up this amount, he added, was meant to speed up the processing of requests. Aside from Guadiz, Tumbado earlier alleged that other executives from the Department of Transportation and Malacanang were also involved. He said Guadiz approached him two days after he dropped his allegations. "Humingi sya ng tawad sa akin, nagmamakaawa na bigyan ko sya ng pangalawang buhay, nakiusap na ibalik ko ang kanyang reputasyon at career," he said. "Bukod pa ang kaliwat kanang 'pressure' mula sa mga taong nasa panig ko kabilang ang pamilya ko at mga taong pumapanig kay Chairman Guadiz." [Translation: He apologized to me, and begged me to give him a second life, restore his reputation and career. (This is) in addition to the "pressure" I received from people on my side including my family and people who side with Chairman Guadiz.] The former LTFRB official also expressed worries about his and his loved ones' security. Last week, some senators said they were looking at the possibility of launching an investigation into corruption in the LTFRB, as well as Tumbado's recantation. Last Monday, Tumbado failed to appear before the National Bureau of Investigation to answer questions on his claims. He had asked for more time to get a new lawyer. CNN Philippines earlier reported on October 11 that Tumbado recanted his allegations of corruption in the agency. However, his affidavit only clears government officials and maintained that corrupt practices remain within the LTFRB. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 20) President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told leaders of Gulf countries to help in securing supply of oil and gas to Southeast Asian nations in view of global economic and geopolitical changes. Marcos on Friday attended the first Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he also highlighted Philippine interests, especially on power and food security. We call on the GCC countries to help ensure the reliable and sufficient supply of oil and gas to ASEAN member states to respond in a timely and effective manner to the vicissitudes of todays energy economics, deepening social cleavages, and the disruptions of adverse geopolitical developments, he said in his intervention. We recognize that chemical fertilizers are the by-products of the petrochemical refinement process, and the GCC can also help ASEAN maintain its food security by filling up supply deficiencies in fertilizer export to our region, he added. The Philippine leader also urged cooperation between the ASEAN and the GCC to promote peace and security in the South China Sea and Arabian Sea. As the two regional organizations located astride the major sea gates and vital corridors of the worlds commerce and communications, it is imperative that we work together to promote peace, security, and stability in both our regions, the South China Sea, and the Arabian Sea, grounded on the rules-based international order to ensure stability and prosperity of our countries and the rest of the world, he said. Marcos told the summit there are potential synergies of capital investment between the two groups to address food supply, renewable energy transformation, and supply chain disruptions. The president also raised that ASEAN-GCC relations must ensure the free flow of workers between the regions, advocating for the labor sectors upskilling and the protection and promotion of their rights and welfare. He said there are an estimated 2.2 million Filipino workers in GCC countries made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. During the summit, leaders signed a joint statement and adopted the ASEAN-GCC Framework of Cooperation 20242028 to boost collaboration on matters of security, trade and investment, agriculture and food security, energy, tourism, and education, among others. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 20) Operating hours of malls in the capital region will be adjusted to 11am to 11pm from Nov. 13, 2023 to Jan. 8, 2024, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). "Iyon pong ating mall hours ay ipapa-adjust po natin from 11 am to 11 pm onwards starting din po 'yan ng November 13 at 'yan po ay tatagal hanggang January 8," MMDA Acting Chairman Romando Artes said in a press briefing. Artes said that the agency asked mall owners to adjust delivery hours of non-perishable goods. He added that mall-wide sales promos will only be allowed on weekends from 11 am to 11 pm as well. Malls are advised to inform MMDA two weeks before conducting big events. "Iyong mall wide sales po natin ay should only be allowed on weekends pero 'yung mga maliit na stores sa loob ay puwede pong payagan kailangan lamang pong walang advertisements, tarpaulin, campaign."Artes said. [Translation: For mall wide sales, we will only allow it on weekends but the small stores inside may be allowed (during weekdays). But there should be no big advertisements, tarpaulin or campaign (suggesting mall wide sales).] "Ina-announce po namin na ang amin pong duty ng enforcers po natin starting November 13 to January 8 ay ma-e-extend po hanggang alas-dose ng ating gabi to ensure na may magma-manage po ng traffic," Artes said. [Translation: We are announcing that our enforcers' duty on November 13 to January 8 will be extended until midnight to ensure that there will be someone to manage traffic.] RELATED: MMDA to deploy 1,448 traffic enforcers for Undas https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/10/20/MMDA-to-deploy-traffic-enforcers-Undas-christmas.html Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 20) The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has said cases of red-tagging remain rampant under the Marcos administration. CHR Chairman Richard Palpal-latoc admitted that handling red-tagging cases can be difficult as there are no specific laws that pinpoint the violations. "Medyo challenging siya but 'yung effect of being red-tagged meron doon kasi lumiliit yung civic space mo eh, Palpal-latoc told reporters on Friday. [Translation: It is a bit challenging, but the effect of being red-tagged, our civic space shrinks.] The commission said it plans to discuss the issue with civil society organizations and eventually recommend legislative measures that will help prevent such cases. In previous caravans held by the CHR, Palpal-latoc said red-tagging was one of the most common cases brought up. "Yung iba naman kasi hindi nagpa-file eh," he said. "Pag kinausap mo sila, pag pumupunta ako sa regions palaging nababanggit tapos pag tinanong sila nasaan ang reklamo ninyo, hindi sila nagpa-file. [Translation: As for the others, they dont file. But when you talk to them, when go to the regions, they always mention it. And then, when they were asked where their complaint is, they say they didn't file.] Red-tagging is the practice of linking individuals to communist rebel organizations, typically by law enforcement or national security agencies. Human rights groups have criticized former president Rodrigo Duterte for institutionalizing red-tagging through the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC). Duterte was often accused of encouraging law enforcers to crack down on activists and other progressive groups critical of the government. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 20) Former Zamboanga del Norte Rep. Romeo Jalosjos Jr. filed on Friday a partial motion for reconsideration of the Supreme Court (SC) ruling which annulled his proclamation and declared Roberto Uy as the winner in the 2022 elections. READ: Supreme Court declares Uy as winner of Zamboanga del Norte congressional race, nullifies Jalosjos' proclamation Jalosjos said petitions challenging his victory should have been dismissed for lack of jurisdiction when he assumed office on June 30, 2022. He pointed out it should be the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET) which should handle all cases involving members of the chamber. He cited past Supreme Court decisions that if a member of the House of Representatives has been proclaimed, taken his oath of office, and assumed his post, the jurisdiction on any question about his election and qualifications belongs to the tribunal. Private Respondent has fulfilled the 3 essential requisites in order for the HRET to take cognizance of the case, therefore, any question relating to the Private Respondents election, returns, and qualifications exclusively belongs to the HRET, Jalosjos stated in his appeal. But the high court in its ruling said Jalosjos had not yet assumed office in view of the status quo ante order it issued. It added that the status quo ante order does not permit any proclamation while the case is pending and renders any proclamation ineffective. The SC noted Jalosjos did not take an oath of office before the Speaker of the House in open session, which bars him from performing his functions. The court also ruled that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) power to suspend the proclamation of a winning candidate is not available in proceedings to declare one a nuisance candidate. The SC said Comelec gravely abused its discretion when it suspended Uys proclamation in a proceeding where Uy is not a party, and was denied the opportunity to be heard. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 20) The second batch of returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Israel has arrived in Manila on Friday afternoon, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said. Eighteen OFWs, which consist of 14 caregivers and four hotel workers, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 at 3:55 p.m., following the escalating conflict between the Israel Defense Forces and militant group Hamas. They were welcomed by DMW Undersecretary Maria Anthonette Velasco Allones and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega. The first batch of Filipino repatriates from Israel, including a month-old infant, arrived in the country on Oct. 18. The DMW said the government will provide repatriates with financial assistance as well as other forms of support, such as psycho-social counseling, stress debriefing, medical referral, and reintegration services. Meanwhile, the bloody war between Israel and Hamas has so far led to the death of four Filipinos. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 20) The Department of Health will place healthcare facilities in the Calabarzon region under "code white alert," which means services are in on-call status, from Oct. 28 to Nov. 5 for the upcoming elections and Undas. "This is in anticipation of eventualities because of the pooling of people in designated precincts and cemeteries, and even those that are in travel because of vacation," Regional Director Ariel Valencia said Friday in a statement. According to DOH-Calabarzon, the code white status intensifies hospitals and medical personnel's readiness to respond to any emergency. The DOH said that Disaster Risk Reduction Management in Health (DRRM-H) and local government hospitals will be on standby. It added that it will activate its Operation Center/ One Hospital Command (OPCEN/OHCC) 24/7. Meanwhile, it also reminded the public to practice basic health and hygiene especially during the holiday season where there will be a surge of people in some areas. "Proper hand washing with soap and clean water, cough etiquette, and respiratory hygiene, and using personal protective equipment, such as masks and gloves, if necessary," the DOH stated. Valencia also warned the public to be wary of eating food, she said that if food poisoning is suspected, go to the nearest hospital. Signs of food poisoning include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and most suffer from diarrhea. Next year's lawmakers will likely tackle multiple proposals dealing with the funeral home industry, in part as a response to the problems that surfaced in Montrose in 2018 and in Penrose earlier this month, even though state regulators themselves are balking at imposing additional regulations. Among the likely legislation is putting into place recommendations from a previously-scheduled sunset review of the industry that was issued on Oct. 13, a week after nearly 200 bodies were found allegedly improperly stored at the Return to Nature facility in Penrose, a city about 100 miles from Colorado's state Capitol in Denver. The sunset review the legislative process for considering regulations, which can lead to extending or even terminating an agency or program deals only with regulations for the industry, but calls for licensure and better regulation have grown louder after the incident at the Return to Nature facility, which was already closed. And likely topping that legislation list are licensure for practitioners and routine inspections. Lawmakers will also likely push for oversight to ensure that out-of-state entities that want to practice in Colorado are somehow vetted. The 2023 sunset review noted that 220 funeral homes and 77 crematories were registered in Colorado in 2021-22. The state mortuary code outlines who can lawfully hold the title of funeral service director or several related occupations, and while it requires a certain level of experience, it does not require licensure, training or any other education in the profession. State regulators have repeatedly rejected calls for licensure of funeral service practitioners and employees, but they are now undertaking another review to consider it. The sunset review recommended extending the state's mortuary code until 2031. Notably, the report recommended that the director of the division of occupations and professions under the Department of Regulatory Agencies conduct "routine periodic" inspections on funeral homes and crematories, "as well as when a funeral home or crematory ceases operations." Current state law allows inspections by DORA "on their own initiative" or when there's a complaint, a relatively new regulation that came out of legislation in 2022 in the wake of the Montrose funeral home incident. In that case, Megan Hess and her mother, Shirley Koch, were both sentenced to prison for selling body parts out of their Montrose funeral home. The Colorado Funeral Directors Association is once again advocating for licensure, as well as training and education, for funeral service employees. The association has been asking for licensure and professional training for funeral service employees for at least 16 years. We unfortunately realized it would take an event like this to happen before the state would take another look, said Joseph Walsh, executive director of the association. We thought Montrose would have done it but that resulted in minor things. The sunset review appears to be ready to look at regulations in response to the Return to Nature incident. The review added an "administrative recommendation" that the department should identify "additional regulatory gaps" to prevent a similar situation from taking place in the future. Colorado's regulatory watchdog balks at regulation Colorado's Department of Regulatory Agencies, the state's regulatory watchdog, has repeatedly rejected calls in the past for licensure or training for funeral service practitioners. The department persuaded then-Gov. Bill Owens to veto legislation in 2006 that would have put tougher standards in place for funeral service employees. The most recent request for licensure, which also came from the Colorado Funeral Directors Association, came in 2007. That request turned into what's known as a sunrise review. That's when state regulators look at an industry or occupation and consider three criteria for deciding whether to make a recommendation on regulations. Whether the public can be adequately protected by other means in a more cost-effective manner Whether the public needs and can reasonably be expected to benefit from an assurance of initial and continuing professional or occupational competence Whether the unregulated practice of the occupation or profession clearly harms or endangers the health, safety or welfare of the public, and whether the potential for harm is easily recognizable and not remote or dependent on tenuous argument. DORAs Office of Policy Research and Regulations, which conducted the sunrise review, and similar to the one conducted in 2002 that was requested by a dozen lawmakers, concluded that licensure and further regulation are unnecessary. The state's 2002 decision balking at additional regulations noted lawmakers, including Rep. Debbie Stafford, R-Aurora, had brought "newspaper, magazine and Internet articles relating several highly publicized scandals that have occurred in the funeral industry in recent years." The 2002 review instead pointed to the certification program developed by the funeral directors association. The review indicated the program was sufficiently utilized by employees in the industry to demonstrate an adherence to high standards, pointing out that 208 industry workers had been certified, or about 18% of the total employed. In contrast, the 2023 sunset review noted that 43 workers in the industry were certified. Assuming the industry is employing about the same number of workers, thats about 3%. Meanwhile, the 2007 request for more oversight cited complaints brought by the funeral directors association, but the review, too, rejected those complaints, stating most could be handled under existing state law. "The Colorado Funeral Directors Association (Applicant) provided a number of examples of harm from a variety of sources. The Applicant provided various newspaper articles outlining differing degrees of consumer harm. However, accuracy of the newspaper articles was difficult to substantiate," the review said. . The 2007 review also pointed out the dangers of not beefing up the standards for funeral service employees. The request, according to the review, stated that, "because Colorado remains the only state with no direct regulation of the funeral service industry, practitioners who have had difficulties in other states have relocated to Colorado. As a result, the Applicant believes that consumers are not adequately protected, thereby rendering them susceptible to harm by unregulated funeral service practitioners." Jon Michael Hallford, 43, the owner of the Return to Nature facility in Penrose where 189 bodies were allegedly improperly stored, faced legal problems when he lived in Oklahoma, including one that involved his funeral business. The Gazette reported last week that in 2011, court records from Tulsa County show that Hallford and Hallford Cremation & Funeral Options LLC were sued by Shannon Square LLC. Records show that the court issued a default judgment against Hallford in the amount of more than $5,000 after Hallford failed to appear at court for a hearing. Further court records from the 2011 civil case show that, in 2013, Shannon Square still had yet to be paid and that it believed "that Defendant J. Michael Hallford is possessed of property which Defendant conceals and refuses to apply to the payment of said judgment." Hallford told the Gazette in 2017 that he's a fourth-generation Oklahoman funeral director. The business he ran appeared to hold a state license for barely a year, between 2010 and 2011. An initial search of Oklahoma's funeral board database shows that Hallford held an apprentice license, issued in 2001 and which expired in 2004. Colorado Politics had asked Oklahoma authorities for more information about the Hallford business and other licenses that might have been associated with the business. Tyler Stiles of the Oklahoma Funeral Board initially said Hallfords license was listed as On Hold, which is meant for those that are about to become licensed and are in between being an apprentice and becoming licensed. However, upon further review, Stiles said Hallford was licensed in Oklahoma between 2005 and Dec. 31, 2012 as a funeral director in charge. Oklahoma law says that funerals "shall be under the personal supervision of a duly licensed funeral director who holds a valid license from the Oklahoma Funeral Board. A registered apprentice may assist in conducting funerals." Stiles also said Oklahoma does not require someone to be licensed to work at a funeral home. "Licensure is required only if they are acting as a Funeral Director and/or Embalmer," Stiles said. In addition, someone could be the owner of a funeral home without a funeral director or embalmer license, so long as they have a funeral director in-charge, he said, adding, "Unlicensed practice is taken very seriously in Oklahoma." Colorado Politics is published both in print and online. Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily, designed for public policy arena professionals. Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper, containing outstanding features and news stories, in their mailboxes every Saturday. Look at you: You drank too much last night, and now you've woken up in what you sure hope is a puddle of your own urine, with a brand-new tattoo of a fire-breathing dragon screaming the name "Sheila." You don't even know a Sheila. Truly, your life is an anthology of poor decisions. But take heart, friend! It could always be worse. You could have woken up from your bender like one of these poor bastards ... 6 In An Entirely Different Country Robert Cumming/iStock/Getty Images When someone close to you dies, it's totally understandable to have a few drinks to take the sting out of it. After Englishman James O'Kane attended a friend's funeral, he apparently had a lot of sting. Thus he sent off his friend in the most British of ways -- by embarking on an epic 16-hour drinking binge. The next few scenes in the slideshow of this man's life are missing like the lost section of the Watergate tapes, but according to him, the next memory he has is of a flight attendant gently waking him to inform him that his flight had arrived in Amsterdam. Digital Vision./Digital Vision/Getty Images "Be careful out there. The other passengers are pissed that you drank our entire mini-bar." Advertisement Apparently, O'Kane drank the U.K. dry and wanted to see if the Netherlands was holding. Unfortunately, his drunken self had not taken into account such considerations as money, accommodation, or how to make it to work on time in the morning. News Shopper "I got us to legal weed and hookers. As far as I'm concerned, I did my job." -Drunk O'Kane As a result, he wound up on the streets of Amsterdam with no cash, nowhere to stay, and running a few time zones late to the office. Luckily, he managed to scrounge up enough money to call his mother and ask her for money and a hotel room. Hopefully his cover story involved MI6 and some launch codes. Advertisement But O'Kane isn't the only Englishman whose drunken doppelganger got the itch to travel. In 2013, 19-year-old Luke Harding went out with some friends on an all-night bender and, after blacking out, woke up in a bathroom in a Paris airport. Daily Star He then joined a French boy band as "the drunken English one." Advertisement After taking a few selfies full of palpable regret, Harding managed to catch a same-day flight back home. That's way worse than the time we woke up in our neighbor's apartment, but you still don't see Paris pressing charges, do you Mrs. Henderson?! Advertisement 5 Inside A Garbage Truck Paul Vasarhelyi/iStock/Getty Images Donald Jordan and Lisa Sirbella had been drinking at the Hard Rock Casino in Tampa, Florida, when they decided to call it a night. Luckily for the pair, the casino was attached to a hotel where they could easily book a warm, comfortable, clean room for the night. So, naturally, they climbed into a dumpster outside of a Wawa convenience store and spent the night on a mattress of garbage (which, to be fair, is way more comfortable than it seems. Yes, we speak from experience). Suhendri Utet/iStock/Getty Images Detroit motel rooms, we call 'em. Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, the next morning happened to be garbage day, and their trash nap was cut short when they found themselves cascading into the back of a garbage truck at 5 a.m. Trash collector Radmas Velasquez was about to activate the crushing mechanism in the back of his truck when he looked behind him and saw Jordan jumping up and down. That tiny little decision -- to check the backup camera before activating the crusher -- narrowly saved Jordan and Sirbella from permanently fusing with a bunch of old diapers and empty egg cartons. Which is a good thing. A dumpster is a nice place to visit, but you wouldn't want to spend eternity there. 4 On An Uninhabited Island IrisDB/iStock/Getty Images Advertisement In 2013, Stephen Coffee finished up his shift at Art's Bar And Grill in South Carolina, then decided to spend the rest of the evening making ample use of the wall of liquor behind him. After reaching the point of intoxication where memories are basically just dreams with life consequences, Coffee recounted that he had a vague recollection of swimming. That makes sense, because the next morning he woke up face down on Drum Island, an uninhabited lump of dirt in the harbor at Charleston. Purestock/Purestock/Getty Images "Journal Entry: Three hours, not a mint julep or BBQ joint in sight. Morale continues to dwindle." Advertisement Advertisement Freezing cold, with a throbbing headache and presumably an ass full of sand, Coffee stumbled around the island for some time trying to signal for help. But with no reason for anyone to ever go there, he was basically a hungover Tom Hanks from Cast Away. Eventually someone spotted him and reported it to police, and the Coast Guard and fire department turned up to rescue him. Hopefully they brought plenty of Gatorade and bread. 3 On The Face Of A Cliff JASPERIMAGESCOTLAND/iStock/Getty Images Advertisement In 2010, a drunken 19-year-old Ukrainian tourist was planning to watch the sunrise from atop a cliff outside of Sydney, Australia, when he wisely decided that the cliff was an unsafe place to be. Then he unwisely decided to get off of it by scaling down the cliff face. Without any equipment. Wearing only a pair of shorts. Amazingly, he didn't wind up a stain on the beach below: After getting halfway down, he figured "close enough" and went to sleep on a precarious outcrop 30 meters above the ocean. Daily Telegraph Drunken Man, Drunken Man, does what no sober tourist can Is he soused? Listen, bud, his BAC's more booze than blood Look out, here comes the Drunken Maaaaaan! Advertisement Advertisement Eventually, some fishermen spotted the nearly naked man, decided he likely wasn't there on purpose, and called the police. A massive rescue operation was launched, involving helicopters and trained emergency personnel, but the tourist didn't get to see the spectacle, because he was still so fast asleep that the rescuers had a hard time waking him up when they finally reached him. "Five more minutes," he presumably told them. "You've already had five minutes," they probably answered. "Also, you're about to fall off a cliff." Daily Telegraph "OK, just two more minutes then." Advertisement Astronauts and space pirates are exploring the cosmos, in search of unobtanium, transformium and precious red matter. Their quest may be fruitless, since none of those materials really exist. But dont let the constraints of cruel reality dampen your imagination. Other materials do exist, and boy do they tend to get weird. 5 Flammable Ice Natural gas may be found in great big deposits of its own underground, or it may be mixed up with other fossil fuels. That was why, incidentally, when we first found oil, we considered the gas part a waste product and burned it off onsite. You can also find natural gas trapped in a certain mineral, the one known as water. Yes, water is a mineral (just one that happens to be liquid at room temperature), and when methane is trapped in water crystals, thats called flammable ice. It has a second, equally extreme name as well: fire ice. USGS And a third, less extreme name: methane clathrate Flammable ice may exist on Mars and on the moon Titan, which would suggest signs of life, and our telescopes also search for methane signatures on far more distant planets. It took us surprisingly long to find the stuff on Earth, where we spotted it in the ocean in the 1960s. It turns out the semi-deep parts of the ocean contain a lot of flammable ice. We dont have exact numbers, since the ocean is too scary to thoroughly explore, but current estimates say there may be more methane trapped in flammable ice than the mass of all other fossil fuels in the world, combined. So, is this some promising new energy source, ready to power our kitchens and our factories? Maybe! Or, maybe the warming oceans will melt the ice and release gigatons of methane, setting off a chain reaction of further global warming to push us ever closer to catastrophe. Thats what so exciting about science you never know where discoveries will lead us. Advertisement 4 Snail Teeth What is the hardest substance in the world? Many of you will answer diamond. A couple pure substances are even harder, including lonsdaleite (an alternate form of carbon weve found in meteorites), and weve managed to make harder materials still by combining multiple substances together. Weve also found a natural composite material harder than diamond, in a most unlikely place: inside the mouths of snails. This is one more discovery from the mysterious ocean. Sea snails have teeth that combine two substances a crystal of iron called goethite and a protein matrix. You might have thought snails have no teeth at all, but sea snails do, and these teeth are both hard and strong. Hardness and strength are different qualities, you see. Diamond is hard, which means you cant easily scratch or cut it, but you may well be able to smash a diamond with a hammer. Limpet teeth are harder than diamond and also strong, stronger than Kevlar. Snails use their teeth to grip rocks and also to grind rocks down. Royal Society Its how they get their rocks off. Advertisement If you think you should now fear these snails, who will cut and smash through your body without mercy, put those worries aside. In reality, your body is so fragile that any animals teeth could make short work of it, so the added pressure of the strongest natural material on Earth makes no significant difference. Advertisement 3 Glass Bombs Other than the ocean, the scariest place in the world is Australia, a land that lends its name to some strange glassy objects found there. Theyre called australites, and weve been puzzling over them for thousands of years. Ancient people called them ooga, which sounds like made-up caveman talk but is an actual word meaning staring eyes. Europeans who came to Australia called them obsidian bombs, falsely theorizing they came from volcanos. Europeans also gave them one other name: blackfellows buttons. H. Raab Thats got to be a euphemism for something even more racist, right? Advertisement Were not totally sure where australites came from. Once we dispensed with the volcano theory, we dubbed them extraterrestrial, having come from meteorites, but we dont think thats true anymore. Instead, we think an asteroid struck the ground in the distant past, somewhere around 800,000 years ago. It hit so hard that it threw terrestrial material into space. This material then came back, now transformed by its journey and smoothed through reentry. If these weird rocks can survive reentry into the atmosphere, reasoned scientists, so can we. So, in the 1960s, NASA modeled the Apollo spacecraft after australites, to match their heat resistance as well as their aerodynamism. As a result, no astronauts died on reentry at least not until Columbia in 2003, by which point we knew how to properly design spacecraft and had only ourselves to blame. Advertisement Advertisement 2 Spontaneously Combustible Coconuts The coconut is a mundane object compared to most of what were discussing today. Youve run into coconuts many times when youve been stranded on desert islands or when you bought one from a roadside vendor. And yet the dried flesh of the coconut holds strange properties and is a class 4.2 hazardous substance. Etan J. Tal Thats more dangerous than class 4.1 or class 4.3. This dried material is called copra, and its hazardous because of spontaneous combustion. We dont merely mean that copra is highly flammable, like so many dried materials that can catch fire with the smallest spark. We mean that copra tends to burst into flames when exposed to moist air. It may burst into flames when it touches water. If copra does hit fire, it may explode, and will sit dormant and wait to reignite even after you have extinguished the flames. Advertisement The name copra comes from a Tamil word. The word may remind you of the Greek root copro-, a part of such words as coprophagia and coprophilia, but copra has nothing to do with feces. We are not here today to talk about the reaction of fire with feces. The worlds most acclaimed filmmakers are typically known for creating works full of heartbreaking drama, philosophical insights and precisely zero boner jokes. (Oscar voters historically tend to frown on boner jokes.) But upon closer examination, this isnt always the case. While Stanley Kubrick never considered making a movie in which a teenage boy gratuitously humps a fresh-baked apple pie, and Akira Kurosawa presumably never thought to craft a film about two idiots looking for their missing car, there have been a few instances in which great directors have inexplicably made dumbass comedies for the less-discerning masses, such as how Click right here to get the best of Cracked sent to your inbox. 4 William Friedkin Helmed a Disastrous Chevy Chase Movie The recently departed Friedkin was responsible for directing some iconic pieces of cinema, from The Exorcist to Sorcerer to The French Connection, which nabbed him an Academy Award. And had there been an Academy Award for Best Reckless Endangerment of Innocent Pedestrians, he probably would have won that too. In 1983, Friedkin directed Deal of the Century, which paired the comedy stylings of Chevy Chase with the military-industrial complex. Also starring Sigourney Weaver and Gregory Hines, Deal of the Century was a broad farce about an arms dealer journeying to South America and trying to sell weapons to both a brutal dictator and the rebels attempting to overthrow him. Hilarity does not ensue. Advertisement By all accounts, making the film was a frustrating experience for anyone involved. Weaver noted that the production led her to believe that comedy couldnt work on film. And in a recent podcast appearance (in which he also shit all over the cast and crew of Community), Chase recalled that Friedkin scared Weaver, calling him a brilliant director but not particularly happy guy, also adding, I didnt think the movie was very good. Advertisement 2 Francis Ford Coppola Filmed Footage for a German Nudie Flick Coppolas filmography is crammed with banger after banger. He gave us The Godfather trilogy, The Conversation and Apocalypse Now, one of the most impressive movies ever, scenes depicting literal ghost sex notwithstanding. Advertisement Advertisement That filmography also contains some less prestigious projects, including 1962s The Bellboy and the Playgirls, a nudie comedy about a hotel employee snooping on a roomful of scantily-clad female guests. Advertisement When first starting out in the industry, the only job a young and broke Coppola could get was re-editing foreign softcore movies, adding in extra scenes to pad them out into longer, more commercially viable erotica. So Coppola (possibly after being made an offer he couldnt refuse) added new color sequences featuring a wacky bellboy to the black-and-white German flick Sin Began With Eve. As he later admitted, he added in the credit Directed by Francis Ford Coppola simply because I couldnt believe you could actually put credits on it. Advertisement Heists are theft. Theft is a crime. Crime is bad. Thats the government line. Morality aside, though, its genuinely impossible to argue that heists arent possibly the coolest group activity anyone can ever participate in. Theres a reason theyve carried the plot of multiple blockbuster movies. If youre someone who genuinely doesnt find them interesting, I wonder where in the world you are finding the joy that keeps you moving forward through life. The only thing that could make a heist even more gripping? A little interpersonal drama, baby. The dirty excitement of watching a public argument unfold, combined with the possibility of lasers and someone crawling through vents? Thats undeniable edge-of-your-seat material. Of course, its hard to argue that vast riches dont at least have their finger on the scale inspiring the act, but still, its a juicy combo. Here are four instances of (emotionally) petty theft 4 United California Bank Heist Public Domain You re telling me this guy wasn t honest? Point Break mask model and all around piece of shit Richard Nixon is a pretty unpopular guy for plenty of reasons. You hate Richard Nixon? Why? is not a common refrain. Its been a pretty understandable opinion for a good long time, and included one man with a particular set of skills: Harry Barber, a gang member and professional thief with an ax to grind when it came to Dirty Dick. Hed heard that Nixon had a nasty little nest egg to the tune of $30 million stashed away in the United California Bank of Laguna Niguel, California. This money had a particular earmark as well: It was purportedly a bribe from famous missing corpse Jimmy Hoffa in search of a presidential pardon. The payday definitely had its allure, but the victim played a part. Barber recounts, He was not one of our favorite people to begin with. We were told that Nixon was hiding some money. So we figured, he couldnt cry to nobody. Whos he going to cry to? He stole it himself! Advertisement They gained access to the bank after closing on Friday, disabling the alarms and entering through a hole in the ceiling opened with dynamite. Not the sort of deft-handed infiltration I usually associate with a heist, but I guess its just a very loud sort of Occams Razor solution. The weekend was then spent leisurely removing massive amounts of cash from the vault. They ended up with about $14 million, by Barbers estimation, and although some suggest it wasnt actually Nixons money, he points to the response as proof, saying, Usually, when somebody robs a bank, they send four or five FBI agents. This man sent 125. So you know he was pissed! 3 The Whitworth Art Museum Heist Public Domain This painting is probably worth more than you. Advertisement There is one heist, however, that we can definitively say wasnt done for monetary gain. These are, understandably, few and far between, given that the risk-reward proposition of a heist skews pretty heavily to one side of the scale with the reward removed. Nevertheless, that was the exact undertaking some still uncaught perpetrators decided to pursue in 2003. Their target was the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester, a plenty suitable target given the Van Goghs and Picassos within. On Monday, April 28th, the museum was suddenly and notably without three artworks that had been there only shortly before. Prominent gaps stood where, previously, you could have seen The Fortifications of Paris with Houses (The Ramparts of Paris) by Vincent Van Gogh, Tahitian Landscape by Paul Gauguin and Poverty (Les Miserables) by Pablo Picasso. No clarification of motive needed here: The paintings were worth roughly four million pounds in total. Advertisement Advertisement So far, its interesting, but not particularly notable in the realm of art theft. The fascination here comes not with the act, but with its conclusion, which occurred minutes after the discovery of the crime. Not because of any heroic police actions or miracles of deductions, but because of an anonymous tip leading to a nearby public bathroom, where a cardboard tube contained all three purloined paintings. Along with them was a note that read simply, The intention was not to steal. Only to highlight the woeful security. 2 The Theft of the Mona Lisa Public Domain You can t exactly throw her up on eBay. Advertisement The Mona Lisa might be the most famous piece of art in the world. Perhaps the only reason its not a common target, outside of the obvious and extensive security measures, is the fact that it would be a historical bitch to try to unload. Even the greediest fence wouldnt want the most famous painting in the world geographically near them, much less in their possession. Despite all that, the famously blase lady in black has been nabbed before. In 1911, a man named Vincenzo Peruggia, who had previously been a handyman at the Louvre, successfully stole the masterpiece in a less than artistic manner. He walked in wearing his old uniform, waited until no one was around and then just took it. He pulled it off the wall, wrapped it in a smock and left with one more painting than hed come in with. Advertisement Youd think, even then, security at the Louvre would at least be tight enough that a guy walking out the front door with a painting-sized package would be stopped, but apparently not. His questionable method resulted in complete success, at least until he tried to sell it two years later, when he was promptly arrested. His reasoning? We wont pretend money had nothing to do with it, but he also claimed it was revenge for the painting being unrightfully stolen from Italy by Napoleons troops. This was not correct. The painting was gifted to France in 1516, making them the innocent, rightful owners. Still, its the thought that counts, right? Spider-Man, Spider-Man, Radioactive Spider-Man. Is he funny? Listen, buds, hes got over 60 years of great jokes and duds. No matter what medium, comedians love taking a swing at the web-slinger for silly sketches, jokes or parodies. Click right here to get the best of Cracked sent to your inbox. Here are some of the funniest jokes, sketches and scenes featuring or poking fun at your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man 14 If Spider-Man Had an OnlyFans Peter Parker always had money problems, but he had yet to explore a popular option to make extra cash: OnlyFans. 13 Broadway Spider-Man Law Firm When Saturday Night Live saw the news regarding all the injuries sustained by performers and audience members of the failed Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark musical, they knew of one law firm that could get those victims justice (and free tickets to future showings!). 12 Everybody Gets One In the world of Family Guy, everybody gets one save courtesy of Spider-Man. 11 Kyle Kinane Didnt Get Spidey Sense with His Spider Bite I got bit by a spider on Friday. Im not a fan of comic books, so I cant make that kind of joke, so if anyone here is a fan of Spider-Man comics, Id like to know how long Peter Parker had diarrhea before the cool shit started happening. Advertisement Advertisement 10 Into the Meme-Verse 9 Spidey Takes the Stand In an issue of She-Hulk, Peter Parker takes the stand during a defamation lawsuit against noted windbag, J. Jonah Jameson. Advertisement Advertisement 8 When Nature Calls Spidey has starred in numerous quick Robot Chicken sketches, including ones asking important questions like, How does he pee in that costume? and Is his Spider-Sense actually accurate at all? 7 Spider-Man Kiss Saturday Night Live shows how awkward the kissing scene in Amazing Spider-Man would have been without some movie magic. Advertisement Advertisement 6 Kevin Harts Son Thinks Hes Spider-Man Harts son has a vivid imagination and acts like he has Spider-Mans web-shooting powers in real life, with Hart playing along to let his son have fun. However, things took a turn when his son got into a fight at camp and tried to use those nonexistent spider powers. 5 This Marvel Comic Page Advertisement Advertisement 4 This One Giant Hand Webcomic Thats the Opposite of That Marvel Comic Page 3 Joe Biden Blames COVID on Spider-Man Like J. Jonah Jameson, President Joe Biden blamed Spider-Man for damn near everything, including the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Advertisement Advertisement 2 Trolling a Car Thief In one of the best scenes in the Amazing Spider-Man film franchise, Spidey just jokes around with a car thief and the NYPD as well. A single moving image was all it took for Reddit to decide the most scary/unsettling moment in Simpsons history: Gracie Films Click right here to get the best of Cracked sent to your inbox. The combination of Barts new clown bed, along with the echoes of Grandma Flanders eerie refrain, Hello, Joe! caused nightmares not only for toddler Bart but for more than 400 upvoters on r/TheSimpsons. Cant sleep, clownll eat me, remembers the permanently awake u/missalizr. Ive been quoting this (since) I was a child, says u/BDKhXc. Next up on the scary and unsettling list? There was a surprising amount of support for when Wiggum's tie got stuck in the hotdog roller, suggested by u/Head_Nerd_In_Charge. Similarly, when Jasper gets his beard stuck in the pencil sharpener, offered u/PumpernickelShoe. u/RaptorSamaelZeroX got plenty of upvotes by suggesting the animals on Tomacco, a Homer-created super vegetable that drove addicted critters to violence. Gracie Films Advertisement Move over, Cocaine Bear! shouted u/WanderingMan719. Advertisement TBH the whole tomacco concept in general and the idea of what if Homer had sold the crops to the cigarette company to be distributed worldwide is really unsettling to me, said u/treegelbman. u/Impossible_Scarcity9 suggested another Simpsons torment: I remember seeing this as a kid with my friend. We were both terrified. Gracie Films Its lost much of its effect due to how many times Ive seen the episode but its absolutely wild how such a simple design is so unsettling to so many people, says u/tcavanagh1993. The scene in general is just really well done on all levels. That Springfield Files episode in which a spooky alien is revealed to be Mr. Burns really seems to have resonated with Redditors. I loved the catharsis as a kid, says u/Simicrop, when a show would start off with something really scary but by the end of the episode it was explained away. Advertisement My favourite episode to this day because I loved the creepiness as a kid, says u/Gold-Stomach-4657. For me it was mostly due to the X-files music, confesses u/ckalmond. that song freaked me the fuck out. u/Batmanfan1966 couldnt believe one particularly jarring image wasnt higher on the list. How is no one talking about this?? Its imo the creepiest scene in the whole show Gracie Films This was the first scene I thought of, says u/chrichri33333. I'm surprised I scrolled down so far to find it. I was just about to say this, chimed in u/CrissBliss. I dont know who drew this, but congratulations on giving me nightmares for years. Advertisement Well let u/KvotheLightningTree put the exclamation point on unsettling and scary Simpsons moments with a laundry list of horrors, including Homer trying to kill himself, Marge singing to Maggie about her falling out of a tree, the Treehouse of Horror episode where the students are being eaten, and last but not least, the Big Book of British Smiles: The Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH would like to invite all interested and eligible local suppliers to submit technical specification, financial offer, and warranty period for the below item. No Item UOM Quantity LOT 1 Lightweight notebook Pieces 5 Lot I 4 Tower System unit with 24' Monitor Pieces 5 Lot II 5 Uninterrupted Power Supply UPS 650VA Pieces 1 Lot III Bid Reference Number: 91176333 Submission deadline: 05.11.2023 (3:00pm in the afternoon) Any eligible local supplier interested in accepting the GIZ-Office proposal for supplying the items is welcome to submit technical specification, financial offer with warranty period separately through this email account et_goods_quotation@giz.de by writing the reference number 91176333 on the subject line. Those who are interested to be the one, detail specification, price sheet and general purchase conditions is described at Dahaboo website: Special conditions and instructions: Supplier must attach a valid VAT and a current renewed business license. Supplier must have a legal invoice. Supplier should present a document of certificate of origin for the items to be purchased. Those suppliers who cant provide certificate of origin, the attached self- declaration form must be filled out. Supplier must clearly indicate whether the price offer is before or after 10% TVA. Technical specifications should be detailed descriptions of the items. Legal Documents/ business licenses will not be considered as technical specifications. The offer might be rejected or disqualified: a.) if technical specifications and financial offers are not submitted separately, b.) if the reference number is not indicated on the on the subject line and c.) if legal documents/licenses are submitted as technical specifications. Supplier can offer for one LOT or all LOTs. Awarding is according to the LOT clustered, but more than one LOT may be awarded. In case of more than one item are under one LOT, supplier must offer for all items in the LOT. Supplier must indicate the number "91176333" on the subject line otherwise there is no way that we differentiate one tender with another, if you dont do so you will be disqualified. on the subject line otherwise there is no way that we differentiate one tender with another, if you dont do so you will be disqualified. Expected delivery time should be 10-15 working days after the official order is given. If the supplier fails to deliver within the specified days, GIZ-Office has the right to cancel/ terminate the order. The delivery place of the items will be GIZ Djibouti office. Please consider general purchase conditions attached for your offer preparation. The offer should be submitted in the language of the tender documents. For financial offers, use the provided price sheet form. Financial offer currency must be in DJF (Djibouti Franc). The validity date of your offer should be 60 days. Payment will be settled after delivery and presentation of valid invoice. For any clarifications, kindly contact the GIZ Country Office latest by 25.10.2023 using the below contact details. Any information on clarification or any amendment to this tender will be publicised until 29.10.2023 on DAHABOO website. Email: et_goods_quotation@giz.de Tel +251 11 5180201 GIZ reserves the right to cancel the tender partially or fully. We look forward to hearing from you. Documents Submit offer Missing Since World War II, Painting Repatriated to Bavarian Museum It was then that the FBI received a referral from an international art recovery firm confirming they had been in negotiations with a Chicago resident about returning the painting. A member of the FBI Art Crime Team based in Chicago reached out to the citizen who immediately met with agents to return the painting that same day. Robert W. Wheeler Jr., special agent in Charge of the FBI Chicago Field Office: The FBIs Art Crime Team has been bringing home stolen art for almost 20 years, and their dedication has led to the recovery of more than 20,000 artifacts valued at hundreds of millions of dollars. It is a pleasure to be able to return this painting to its rightful home at last, and we thank everyone who partnered with us to make this success possible." Michael Ahrens, consul general: "The Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany Chicago was happy to facilitate the exchange between FBI Chicago and Bayerische Staatsgemaldesammlungen / Bavarian State Painting Collections, when it learnt about the restitution project. It is an honor to receive representatives from the FBIs Art Crime Team and Bavarian State Painting Collections here in the German Consulate today on the occasion of the official handover of the painting." Markus Blume, the Bavarian State Minister for Science and Arts: "I am delighted that an art treasure that was believed to have been lost is coming back to Bavaria: the return of the painting by Johann Franz Nepomuk Lauterer to the Bayerische Staatsgemaldesammlungen is not only an act of historical justice but also an expression of the appreciation of our cultural heritage. In particular, I would like to thank the American FBI and all those who participated in the return of the painting on the American and German sides." Prof. Dr. Bernhard Maaz, director general of the Bayerische Staatsgemaldesammlungen: "First of all, I would like to thank the FBI for their tremendous support. I am very grateful for the work carried out by the law firms, especially Christopher Marinello, for his altruistic commitment and research to identify and restitute the work. The entire process owes much to his so very selfless, independent initiative and we are extremely pleased with the outcome. Further thanks are due to the German Foreign Office and to the Consulate General in Chicago, in particular, where this long story has found a happy end." Dr. Bernd Ebert, head of the Dutch and German Baroque Painting Collections: "The reuniting of Lauterers complementary landscapes is a real stroke of good fortune. A presentation of the restored companion works is planned for the near future." Christopher A. Marinello, CEO and founder of Art Recovery International: "This restitution would not have been possible without the swift action of the FBI Art Crime Team." FBI Art Crime Team The FBIs Art Crime Team, made up of special agents from across the country, was established in 2004 after the 2003 looting of the Iraqi National Museum. Conflict zones (i.e., war zones) have a large impact on cultural property; they breed environments that make it easy to lose cultural property. Its the FBIs mission to recover those works. The team assists in art-related investigations worldwide in cooperation with foreign law enforcement officials and FBI legal attache offices. Art and cultural property crimewhich includes theft, fraud, looting, and trafficking across state and international linesleads to billions of dollars in losses every year. The FBI relies on the good will of our citizens to assist us by keeping their eyes open for missing art. If you have information on a piece in the National Stolen Art File, we encourage you to submit a tip to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov. The Painter and His Work Johann Franz Nepomuk Adam Lauterer (17001733) was active in his native city of Vienna between about 1715 and 1733. "Landscape of Italian Character" is a counterpart to a painting on panel of the same dimensions with complementary motifs, depicting a landscape with travelers and shepherds at a ford in a river. Both paintings together form a broad panoramic landscape. This story has been published on: 2023-10-20. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. GT Voice: AI summit a litmus test for UK approach toward China 09:29, October 20, 2023 By Global Times ( Global Times Illustration: Chen Xia/Global Times China is expected to attend the UK's summit on artificial intelligence (AI) at Bletchley Park in November, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing British and Chinese officials. But there's still uncertainty, "given Washington's efforts to squeeze China's access to chip technologies that underlie AI development, and criticisms from some British and European politicians over China's attendance," since China hasn't confirmed its attendance yet. This shows that the UK faces an awkward choice between its objective needs and geopolitical bias. Still, the summit could be a litmus test of whether Britain's approach toward China is turning rational and pragmatic. The UK's ideological bias against China under Washington's geopolitical influence has long been a problem in bilateral cooperation. For instance, a report by The Guardian revealed last month that Chinese officials might only be allowed to attend the first day of the two-day summit, in part because of concern over so-called spying activities. However, the fact that the UK still invited China, despite the criticism and concern, shows clearly that the British are well aware that China is an important player in the AI area. They cannot afford to exclude China at a time when Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is trying to preserve Britain as a technology hub by seizing the opportunity of the upcoming AI summit to make his country a global leader in regulation of the sector. According to the Tortoise Media's fourth edition of The Global AI Index, released in June, the UK ranks fourth in terms of global AI development, following the US, China and Singapore. With its complete AI industries, huge market size, sufficient research talent, large-scale computing power and application scenarios, China is already a very important force in global AI development. Against this backdrop, there is no way the US and its Western allies can set up a system of AI management and regulation while squeezing China out, as it would make no sense if global AI governance loses China's participation or backing. This is also why it is still not possible for the UK or the West to formulate their own norms without input from China, even as Washington tightens its control over China's access to AI technology. AI is not the only area where the Sunak government needs China's participation, despite domestic discontent. There is growing awareness that the UK cannot afford to alienate China in trade, too. It is also true that China-UK relations have shown signs of improvement. In August, James Cleverly, the UK foreign secretary, visited China, the first such trip to Beijing in five years by a UK foreign secretary. In September, Premier Li Qiang met with Prime Minister Sunak on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, India. Moreover, a Politico article this week disclosed that the Sunak government is examining several options for strengthening economic ties with China, including the revival of ministerial-level trade talks. While it is hard to tell whether the report is true or just another trial balloon, it at least reflects Britain's willingness to strengthen economic and trade ties with China, despite complicated domestic and geopolitical factors. Anyone with a basic knowledge of China-UK economic ties would understand that the UK's development cannot be separated from cooperation with China. In the past, although China and the UK had different views on some political issues, it didn't hinder normal economic exchanges. The UK's pragmatic attitude toward China has benefited businesses from both countries. Yet, under the value-based diplomacy of some British politicians, the UK has gradually deviated from the pragmatic foreign policy. But Chinese manufacturing and British manufacturing have become intertwined closely for mutual benefits, and the attitude of the British business community, despite the resistance from politicians, is the best proof that the UK economy needs cooperation with China to gain more growth momentum, especially in difficult times. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) The University District Hospital sits on Hilyard St. in Eugene, Ore. PeaceHealth announced, on Aug. 22, 2023, that the University District hospital has begun the process of shutting down. The emergency department, inpatient rehabilitation, and other medical services plan to be transferred to the RiverBend Hospital in Springfield, Ore. (Molly McPherson/Emerald) Brent Crude Oil News and Analysis Fighting continues on multiple fronts as diplomatic efforts do little to calm tensions Brent crude oil edges higher ahead of the weekend IG client sentiment hints at continued bullish momentum as traders pile into shorts The analysis in this article makes use of chart patterns and key support and resistance levels. For more information visit our comprehensive education library Recommended by Richard Snow Get Your Free Oil Forecast Get My Guide Fighting Continues on Multiple Fronts as Diplomatic Efforts do Little to Calm Tensions Recent visits from US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak have yielded mixed results. After a crucial meeting between Biden and leaders of Arab nations was cancelled earlier this week, discussions between the presidents of the US and Egypt resulted in an agreement to facilitate aid to Gaza via Egypt in a suitable manner. While a definite timeline could not be provided, a White House spokesman confirmed it would occur in the coming days. Iran has spoken out against potential plans of a ground offensive by Israel, warning that doing such could spark pre-emptive action. Brent Crude Oil Edges Higher Ahead of the Weekend Oil prices are on pace to achieve a second successive week of gains. Traders will be mindful of last Fridays surge in prices as the market geared up for a potential ground offensive into northern Gaza. While todays price action has been calm in relation to one week ago, prices are still edging higher as tensions remain worrisome. Oil now approaches the September swing high around $95.90, with the psychological level of $100 not out of the question further down the line. The effect of the geopolitical conflict more than compensates for the effect rising US yields and a strong dollar typically have on global commodity markets. Support appears around the prior swing lows near $89.00. Oil (Brent Crude) Daily Chart Source: TradingView, prepared by Richard Snow The weekly chart shows just how far oil prices can rally in the face of global crises and large-scale conflicts. The Russia-Ukraine war amplified the impressive recovery as the world reopened after forced lockdowns in response to the outbreak of Covid-19. Prices have broken above the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement of the broader Covid-inspired move from 2020 to 2022. Oil (Brent Crude) Weekly Chart Source: TradingView, prepared by Richard Snow Recommended by Richard Snow Understanding the Core Fundamentals of Oil Trading Get My Guide IG Client Sentiment Hints at Continued Bullish Momentum as Traders Pile into Shorts Shorter-term accumulation of short positions in WTI oil, provides a contrarian bias via the IG client sentiment tool. Oil- US Crude:Retail trader data shows 61.31% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders long to short at 1.58 to 1. We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-long suggestsOil- US Crude prices may continue to fall. The number of traders net-long is 14.65% lower than yesterday and 24.76% lower from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 13.46% higher than yesterday and 57.02% higher from last week. Yet traders are less net-long than yesterday and compared with last week. Recent changes in sentiment warn that the current Oil - US Crude price trend may soon reverse higher despite the fact traders remain net-long. --- Written by Richard Snow for DailyFX.com Contact and follow Richard on Twitter: @RichardSnowFX Joe Biden last night made one of the most important speeches we have heard from the Oval Office for years. It was speech that could only have come from that desk, and a message that could not have been broadcast from any other capital but Washington DC. It was a speech in which the Commander-in-Chief of the United States acknowledged what I believe is the reality, that in spite of all its faults, all its anguished introspection, all its absurdities, America is still the world's greatest power and the last, best hope of Earth. In accepting the responsibilities that go with that role, the president channelled his heroic wartime Democrat predecessor Franklin D. Roosevelt. 'American leadership is what holds the world together,' he said. He set out to explain why American leadership matters, and why, in Roosevelt's phrase, the U.S. must once again be the arsenal of democracy. Boris Johnson has described Joe Biden's address last night as 'one of the most important speeches we have heard from the Oval Office for years' His intended audience was not the people of the world, but the people and above all the taxpayers of America. It is absolutely crucial that he should win this argument. There are some voices now in American politics on Capitol Hill and elsewhere who say that the price of this global leadership is now too high, and that America cannot bear the cost of supporting both Israel and Ukraine, and that in the face of the bestial attacks by Hamas, the time has come to cut funding for Ukraine. President Biden took on these complaints, and turned them round by rejecting the very notion of a choice. He made the essential point: that Hamas and Putin are engaged in the same basic project. Both are out to destroy the democracy next door; both are using terroristic methods. In this analysis, the president is surely right. The Hamas killers indulged in hideous savagery as they swept through southern Israel, of a kind I hope I do not need to describe; and so did Putin's troops in the invasion of Ukraine. Torture, rape, the abduction of children there is no moral difference between the techniques of terror used by Hamas and Putin's troops. America is still the world's greatest power and the last, best hope of earth, Mr Johnson writes But the similarities go further. It is no accident that Putin's Russia has still not condemned the October 7 massacres, and it is no surprise that Putin has a close, friendly and strategic relationship with Hamas's most important sponsors, Syria and Iran. And whose drones are now being used to cause indiscriminate casualties in Ukraine? Iran's and Putin is taking them as fast as the Iranian factories can make them. Whose cash finances all those rockets being fired at Israel, whether by Hamas or Hezbollah? Iran. There is a continuum of evil in which the assault on Western values and democracy is being mounted by what is effectively the same gang. Biden's point to the American people is that we must stand up to that gang now, to save more pain later. Let Putin win in Ukraine, and you endanger the Baltic states, Poland, the whole post-war settlement in Europe. Let Hamas succeed in driving Israel to all-out war, and you risk the whole of the Middle East going up in flames. Make this defence commitment now, he argued, and you save money down the line. You make it less likely that America will be called upon to intervene again, with truly catastrophic expense. Stand up to Putin, stand up to Hamas, and you will deter further acts of aggression around the world and he was clearly indicating the risk of the Chinese attacking Taiwan. And when he said it was cheap, there was this extra sense: that he was supporting Israel and Ukraine without sending a single U.S. soldier to fight. By the way, he said, don't forget that the spending he is now asking Congress to authorise, both for Ukraine and Israel, will drive jobs in factories making missiles and artillery shells across the U.S. In making this speech to the American people, Biden was doing something fantastically important something I have been hoping to see for months: back-selling the American intervention to the people who fund it. I am proud of the role the UK has played in helping the Ukrainians. I accept that we and other European partners must show our American friends that we will do more. We will certainly have to shoulder more of the burden of rebuilding Ukraine. But the UK and the whole European effort is dwarfed by America's commitment; and it is the U.S. munitions with the ATACMs (Army Tactical Missile Systems) now arriving in Ukraine that really hold out the prospect of delivering Ukrainian victory. Hamas and Putin are engaged in the same basic project, says Mr Johnson. Both are out to destroy the democracy next door; both are using terroristic methods Everything has depended, and continues to depend, on American leadership, and so it is utterly vital to explain the meaning of that leadership to the American public and to explain the difference between the Western liberal democracies and the coalition of evil that is now ranged against us. Perhaps the best bits of the speech were about our values, about how we should reject all forms of hate and discrimination whether anti-Semitism or Islamophobia, and how important it was that Israel should not be blinded by rage into any disastrous or counter-productive act of retribution. Those passages were important because these values freedom, tolerance, democracy are exactly what distinguish Israel from Hamas. They are what set apart Volodymyr Zelensky's Ukraine from Putin's Russia. It is frankly incredible, and appalling, that some UK broadcasters have seemed to equate Hamas and Israel to treat them as two belligerents; just as some countries spent far too long after the 2014 invasion of the Crimean Peninsula seemingly treating Russia and Ukraine as two equal parties to a quarrel, rather than seeing Putin's invasion for what it was a vicious attack by an autocracy on a nascent democracy. I say to anyone thinking of joining pro-Palestinian protests this weekend: do you really want to suggest, by your actions, that the Israelis are the same as Hamas? Would you dream of suggesting that the Ukrainians are as guilty as Putin's thugs? There is no moral equivalence between the two sides in this conflict, and it has been sickening to see how quickly some in the media jumped wrongly to blame Israel for the explosion at the hospital. Armed Palestinian terrorist kidnapped a man during the Supernova music festival, near Kibbutz Reim in the Negev desert in southern Israel I will not claim that Biden's speech was an oratorical tour de force, but he made the right moral distinctions, and his central message is correct. In the past year I have spent a lot of time travelling, and though the world is changing fast, it is striking that the rising powers China and India are also ancient centres of mass population, while the U.S., with its vastly higher productivity and per capita GDP is still relatively unpopulated. The U.S. is still in its infancy as a world power, and therefore likely to remain, for our lifetimes and beyond, the global hegemony as Biden put it, 'the essential nation'. All human organisations need a leader. The global comity of nations is no exception; and since the UK can no longer realistically play that role, I would much rather have the U.S. as leader than any of the other current candidates, and so would many others around the world. It was good to hear a U.S. president assert that leadership. Let's help the right team win. The era of mass immigration heralded by the Empire Windrushs journey from the Caribbean to Britain in 1948 changed our history. Its impact is still felt today; its given us everything from the Notting Hill Carnival and champion athletes including Linford Christie to some of our favourite celebrities including Sirs Lenny Henry and Trevor McDonald. So it feels odd that its taken so long for a drama like Three Little Birds to reach television screens. Based on Lennys own family story, this tale of excitement and danger, romance and racism is an important slice of social history. These stories are all of ours, says Lenny, who collaborated with Its A Sin and Doctor Who writer Russell T Davies on the six-part series. I want it to give people feelings. If it makes you smile, good. If it makes you cry, good. The plot focuses on three women who travel from Jamaica to England in 1957 in search of a new start. Sir Lenny Henry has said that Three Little Birds is based on stories about his mum and his family, his uncles, his aunties and his friends. Pictured L-R: Hosanna played by Yazmin Belo; Leah played by Rochelle Neil; and Chantrelle played by Saffron Coomber Theres Leah (Rochelle Neil), who is inspired by Lennys own mother Winifred. Shes running away from an abusive husband but is determined to make enough money to send for her three children, who are living with her mother back in Jamaica. Leah has travelled with her little sister Chantrelle (Saffron Coomber), whos mainly interested in fulfilling her dreams of stardom. The third little bird is their friend Hosanna (Yasmin Belo), the religious daughter of a pastor. Its based on stories about my mum and my family, my uncles, my aunties and my friends, Lenny says. Ive met so many people whose story this is. I wanted to salute them all. The spirit of my mum lives in Leah, whos like John Wayne in a skirt. All three leads have Jamaican heritage. In my many years of acting Id never received a script that reflected my heritage in any way, let alone this closely, says Guilt star Rochelle. The stories were so insanely close to those of my grandparents and dad I thought Lenny had been following my family around for the past 50 years. For Yasmin, it felt like I was living the stories Id been told growing up. Meanwhile, former EastEnders actress Saffron says it hums in your bones because of its familiarity. Its no surprise that England is not what any of the immigrants expected. A house they turn up to stay in has a No Blacks, no Irish, no dogs sign in the window and throughout the series we see racism, riots and hatred. At times its not an easy watch, but its not all misery because thats not how Lenny remembers it. Sir Lenny (pictured) collaborated with Its A Sin and Doctor Who writer Russell T Davies to create the six-part series I lived three miles from Smethwick where Tory MP Peter Griffiths got in after a campaign associated with the unofficial slogan, If you want a n**ger for a neighbour, vote Labour. I lived near where Enoch Powell made the Rivers of Blood speech. We exist in a time of overt racism, he says. But these people came and walked these cold streets and survived. They made friends, had allies, had relationships here. People were funny. I wanted the show to have some snap to it, because I dont remember people being depressed all the time. We dont show everything that happened. My brothers would tell me how theyd have to walk around in pairs because you could get attacked in the streets. 'One lady told me about people touching her hair on the bus and asking her what part of Africa she was from. Lenny admits seeing his familys history come to life on set left him sobbing, but he feels now is the best time to tell this story. We live in a world where were poised between comedy and tragedy all the time. They say the best comedy is tragedy plus time, so weve come to a time now when we can look back. And we can find the funny and the tragic all in the same place. Her appetite for gems worth millions helped destroy the monarchy itself The most famous story about Marie Antoinette is false. She never said let them eat cake, a sentiment first recorded by Jean-Jacques Rousseau before she had ever left Austria and written, in any case, about a Spanish queen. Yet extravagance, hers and that of the French court, were very much a part of Marie Antoinettes downfall, and nothing about her was more extravagant than her jewellery. A 1775 portrait of Marie-Antoinette, her hair adorned and braided with jewels The Archduchess Marie Antoinette as a child. She was just 14 when betrothed to the future Louis XVI of France. Her new life would be filled with jewellery - but this would contribute towards her downfall There were no gems to be seen when Marie Antoinette was guillotined in 1793 Of course, the gems were nowhere to be seen in October 1793, when the Austrian-born Queen stepped from the cart to the scaffold for the guillotine - 230 years ago this week. That magnificent hair, piled high and clasped by diamond decorations like a Christmas tree, was now completely shorn beneath her plain cotton bonnet. Glittering jewels became a part of Marie Antoinettes life and a symbol of her status from the moment she arrived in France 23 years earlier. The daughter of Austria's Holy Roman Empress, Marie Antoinette was betrothed to the Dauphin, heir to the French throne, and travelled from Vienna to Paris at the age of just 14. When she arrived at a wooden pavilion constructed on a sandbank in the Rhine for her handover to the French Bourbon monarchy, the girl's belongings and retinue, including clothes, ladies-in-waiting and pet pug were sent back to Austria. All except her jewellery, which included a remarkable 5.46 carat blue diamond ring. She hardly needed it. Louis XV, then king and grandfather to the Dauphin, ordered the delivery of a sumptuous diamond parure as a personal present. She also received the spectacular jewels that once belonged to the previous Dauphine, mother of her fiance Louis Auguste, later Louis XVI. Vincent Meylan, a French jewellery historian, suggests that the new Dauphine was given in the region of two million livres of jewellery on her marriage to the dauphin, estimated to have been worth more than 20m today. It didn't stop there. When Marie Antoinette's husband Louis XVI ascended the throne in 1774, the French Crown Jewels were already among the most magnificent of all of Europe. He wanted his queen to act as a showcase for the best jewellers in Paris, however, and proceeded to have many of the important diamonds recut and reset in new designs by houses such as Aubert and Boehmer & Bassange. Like his great-grandfather, Louis XIV, he saw grand displays of jewellery as statements of power and prestige. Marie Antoinette was happy to play her part. In one case she purchased a pair of diamond bracelets by Boehmer when she was already in debt to twice her yearly allowance. (Her husband, the King, 'lent' her the money to buy them.) Among those selling to the Queen was Mellerio, still to this day the oldest jeweller in the world having started in 1613 serving Marie de Medici, former Queen of France. Mellerio's pieces included a bracelet composed of seven ruby floral and foliage motifs engraved with the profiles of seven Roman emperors. Like his wife Marie-Antoinette, Louis met his end on the scaffold. Pictured: A portrait of King Louis XVI painted in the 1770s Antique fancy-cut ring, the blue-grey diamond weighing a staggering 5.45 carats and once owned by Marie Antoinette The astonishing diamond necklace was at the heart of a scandal which did huge damage to Marie Antoinette, even though she was completely innocent Marie Antoinette purchased a pair of diamond bracelets by Boehmer when she was already in debt to twice her yearly allowance Queen Marie Antoinette's Pearl, diamond and natural pearl pendant, three row natural pearl and diamond necklace, single-strand natural pearl necklace, a pair of natural pearl and diamond pendant earrings, diamond double ribbon bow brooch, and a monogrammed ring The Marie-Antoinette pearls displayed at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, Yet when it came to the episode which did her reputation the greatest harm and helped damage the Bourbon monarchy itself Marie Antoinette was blameless. Playing out from 1784-5, this was the extraordinary Affair of the Diamond Necklace, in which Marie Antoinette and a figure called Cardinal de Rohan fell victim to a female confidence trickster . Not long before he died in 1784, Louis XV commissioned Boehmer and Bassange to make a necklace of 'incomparable beauty' for his mistress, Madame du Barry. By the time the jewellers had sourced and set the diamonds at an immense cost of 1.6 million livres, however, the king was dead and Madame du Barry banished from court leaving Boehmer and Bassange in great difficulty. The jewellers tried to sell it to Marie Antoinette and her husband, now King Louis VI, but twice the piece was rejected. RINGS INSPIRED BY MARIE ANTOINETTE TO BE AUCTIONED One of the 'Rings of Heaven' made to celebrate Marie Antoinette's first child A selection of rings and a brooch made to celebrate Marie Antoinette's first child are to be auctioned next week at Woolley & Wallis in Salisbury. Worn by royalist well-wishers in France and Georgian England, they were inspired by rings the Queen had herself worn in an act of thanksgiving for the news that she was expecting after eight childless years of marriage. Marie-Therese-Charlotte was born in 1778. Her mother wore several of these Rings of Heaven', as they were known, designed to represent a celestial sky. The shanks of the ring supported a foiled plaque of cobalt-blue enamel, or glass, studded with diamonds. Advertisement Boehmer and Bassange were astounded. The extraordinary necklace was designed with 2,800 carats of diamonds, including 647 old brilliant-cut - seventeen of which were as large as hazelnuts and set in rows from which were suspended pear-shapes in various sizes; tasselled festoons of diamonds, made popular in 1775 by the Prince of Monaco, hung dramatically below. Failure to sell it threatened ruin. Boehmer even went to Marie Antoinette begging her to buy it, saying he would kill himself if she did not. She told him to stop being a fool, break it up and sell it in several pieces. This is where Jeanne de la Motte makes her appearance. She had met and become the mistress of Cardinal de Rohan, a former French ambassador to Vienna, who was disliked by Queen Marie-Antoinette for spying on her. The cardinal was keen to rekindle his relationship with the Queen and on discovering this, Jeanne de la Motte encouraged him to write - which he did. But the Queens increasingly affectionate replies had been written by the fraudster, Jeanne de la Motte herself. Believing, preposterously, that Marie Antoinette was in love with him, the Cardinal was induced to meet and converse with a woman he thought to be the queen. This was, in fact, a prostitute hired to play the part. So when the Cardinal eventually received a letter from the Queen asking him to organise the purchase of the diamond necklace for her, he was happy to do so, showing Boehmer and Bassange the correspondence as proof. The jewels were handed over, Madame de la Motte, removed the diamonds from their settings and sold them on the black market in Paris and London. And when Boehmer sought payment, Marie Antoinette duly confirmed that she knew nothing. Jeanne de la Motte was convicted, whipped, branded and jailed. Yet in the court of public opinion, the Queen remained guilty of fraudulent behaviour, not to mention extravagance stretching credulity. Her reputation was badly damaged dangerously so, in fact. Beyond the gates of Versailles, people were starving. The French harvest had already failed several times in preceding years when, notoriously, it failed catastrophically in 1788. One of the harshest winters in living memory then followed. The contrast could not have been more striking when in May 1789 the king and queen opened the Estates General ostentatiously dressed in gold and silver cloth. A diamond ring bearing the initials MA for Marie Antoinette and containing a lock of her hair Pictured: Kirsten Dunst as Marie Antoinette in the 2006 Sophie Coppola film of the same name Pictured: Jason Schwartzman as Louis XVI and Kirsten Dunst in the title role in Sophie Coppola's film Marie Antoinette Louis VI wore the Order of the Golden Fleece, set with the famous French Blue (now known as the Hope Diamond in the Smithsonian). Marie Antoinette wore her diamonds the de Guise and the Mirror of Portugal with the Sancy in her hair and two of the 18 Mazarins, surrounded by smaller diamonds, suspended from her ears. The king proclaimed that he needed more money - and wanted to raise taxes. Two months later, the Bastille was stormed. The Revolution had begun But other social media users were left bitterly divided over the odd technique She puts the nuggets into the freezer in bulk before re-heating in the microwave US-based Se Fordree took to TikTok to share her controversial food prep hack A mom has sparked furious debate after detailing the meal prepping hack she uses to ensure her son always has a dish on-hand - admitting that she freezes a batch of 80 McDonald's chicken nuggets that she can reheat anytime her child is hungry. Se Fordree, from South Carolina, took to TikTok to document the controversial meal-prepping hack she does for her son 'because it's the only thing he'll eat.' She revealed how she puts the nuggets into a Ziploc bag in bulk and places it into the freezer before re-heating the chicken pieces in the microwave when they are needed. Other social media users were left bitterly divided over the unusual technique - but what do you think? A mom has sparked furious debate after detailing the meal prepping hack she uses to ensure her son always has a dish on-hand Se Fordree, from South Carolina, took to TikTok admit that she simply freezes a batch of 80 McDonald's chicken nuggets 'because it's the only thing [her son] will eat' She showed the condensation forming inside the secured bag before placing it into the fridge for a day In the clip, which has so far been viewed more than 1.1 million times, Se had the order in front of her as she began: 'I just got 80 Chicken McNuggets from McDonald's and I'm gonna freeze them. 'These are the only nuggets that my child eats so that's why I buy so many of them.' Explaining her methods, she said: 'So I take a Ziploc bag and I just put them all in the Ziploc.' She then tipped the boxes out into the sealable plastic carriers before revealing: 'This is what they're gonna look like.' Next, the doting mother applied pressure to the bag and advised: 'You're gonna wanna squeeze all the air out of them. Then what I do is put it in the refrigerator for one day.' She showed the condensation forming inside the secured bag and explained: 'The reason why you put them in the refrigerator for one day is because... you want it to cool down before you put it in the freezer so they don't stick together.' Se then also put the McDonald's paper bag filled with condiments into the refrigerator to cool as well. She later returned to retrieve the bag of nuggets from the freezer drawer. She finally puts the food in a microwave and leaves it 'on high for one minute and 30 seconds' before they are ready to eat Se said that she ordered so many chicken nuggets in bulk because they 'are the only nuggets that my child eats so that's why I buy so many of them' Revealing how she goes about reheating the chicken nuggets, she stated: 'I just put them onto a plate and then microwave them. I usually do 10 of them at a time.' After counting out her pieces, she held the bag up and said: 'But you see how nice and loose they are. They're not stuck to each other. 'That's why you want to refrigerate them.' She puts the food in a microwave and leaves it 'on high for one minute and 30 seconds.' The clip then cuts to her young son dipping one of the reheated nuggets into the sauce before tucking in. Se concludes the video by saying: 'They're out of the microwave and now they're ready to eat.' And other social media users were quick to flood to the comment section where fellow parents were bitterly divided. One person wrote: 'You lost me with the microwave.' Another added: 'Buy the cheap ones at Walmart and put them in a McDonald's container.' 'Ask them to buy a whole frozen bag from their freezer,' a third suggested. A fourth commentator recalled their childhood and said: 'When I was a kid I ate what mom made or didn't eat at all.' Se responded: 'I did too but my mom cooked a bunch of meals for all of us because she knew not all of us liked the same things.' Another commentator had a similar experience and wrote: 'I only ate what Mom cooked, or starved.' Se replied: 'I'm sorry - I don't want that for my kids. Nor did my mom want that for us.' The clip then cuts to her young son dipping one of the reheated nuggets into the sauce before tucking in And other social media users were quick to flood to the comment section where fellow parents were bitterly divided One person sarcastically argued: 'That's real healthy,' to which Se wrote back defensively: 'He doesn't eat them ALL the time. It's just his favorite nuggets, just like you may have a favorite food of your own.' Another concerned parent asked: 'If those are frozen when McDonald's cooks them and you refreeze them, is that safe?' 'They're not fully cooked when McDonald's cooks them so to me it's like freezing fully cooked nuggets,' the mom explained. Another person asked: 'Why not reheat in the oven or air fryer so that they can get crispy again,' and Se explained that her son 'likes it that way too, but he's the type of person that also likes bacon limply.' Despite the negative feedback she got, other parents were supportive of the mom's go-to preparation technique. 'As long your boy is eating, that is all that matters. You're doing a good job mama,' one person added. Another wrote: 'Thank you for creating a safe space for your child to eat whatever he wants to! Fed is best!' 'Lol people judging must not have kids. I'll buy ANYTHING just to get my toddler to eat,' a third commented. @seebiedeebie Most of the time I get 100 mcnuggets bc they go quick @McDonalds original sound - SeebieDeebie The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) told DailyMail.com: 'Home cooked foods or leftovers brought home from a restaurant must be refrigerated within two hours. 'Discard all perishable foods, such as meat, poultry, eggs, side dishes, or casseroles, left at room temperature longer than two hours; one hour in room temperatures above 90F. 'Leftover cooked food may be stored in the refrigerator for up to three to four days. 'During this time, you can reheat the leftovers to 165F. Be sure to return any unused portion to the refrigerator within two hours to remain safe. 'After each reheating, leftovers will be safe in the fridge for an additional three to four days. 'Because the quality decreases each time food is reheated, it is best to reheat only the amount needed. 'Cooked foods that cannot be used within four days should be frozen for longer, safe storage. Leftovers are safe in the freezer indefinitely, but they are at best quality for a few months.' He's one of Europe's most eligible bachelors, and so it's no wonder that one Danish student seemingly tried her hardest to catch the attention of Prince Christian of Denmark. The future King celebrated his 18th birthday with a glitzy gala dinner at the Christiansborg Palace last weekend - and guests included dazzling future Queens from across Europe. But one glamorous party-goer didn't let that stop her from trying to get the prince's attention and, in a real-life Cinderella moment, Anne-Sofie Tornso Olesen, 18, left her golden stiletto heel for the royal to find. As staff cleared up after the lavish celebrations, they discovered the shoe - but rather than go from house to house seeking its owner, the prince instead asked the Palace to post a photograph of the heel on social media. Actress Anne-Sofie, who appeared in Danish TV series BaseBoys, has since came forward to claim the shoe as her own, telling Danish outlet Se Og Hr: 'It was meant to be a fairytale ending a la Cinderella.' Anne-Sofie Tornso Olesen sported a sheer black dress at the reception and even greeted Denmarks Queen Margrethe II, her son, Crown Prince Frederik and his son Prince Christian, who were all oblivious to her 'funny' plan to steal the show In a bid to return the shoe to its rightful owner, the Danish Royal Household revealed 'Cinderella' had somehow left the shoe at Christiansborg Palace. The caption read: 'When the guests at Her Majesty The Queen's gala table yesterday had gone home, this lonely stiletto shoe was left at Christiansborg Castle. The owner is welcome to contact to get it back.' Anne-Sofie was invited to the party to represent the area where she lives outside the Danish capital. I won the invitation in a tombola, she told the Daily Mail's Richard Eden. It remains to be seen whether Denmarks second in line to the throne will return the shoe in person to Anne-Sofie, whose father is a wine merchant. She sported a sheer black dress at the reception and even greeted Denmarks Queen Margrethe II, her son, Crown Prince Frederik and his son Prince Christian, who were all oblivious to her 'funny' plan to steal the show. The single 18-year-old said: 'I thought it was a bit funny myself, and I talked to my family and friends about it before, and they agreed that I should do it. It's a chance you won't get again.' Actress Anne-Sofie (pictured left), who appeared in Danish TV series BaseBoys, has since came forward to claim the shoe as her own, telling Danish outlet Se Og Hr : 'It was meant to be a fairytale ending a la Cinderella.' Pictured right, Prince Christian The Danish Royal Household revealed one partygoer at Prince Christian's 18th birthday bash left behind her glittering stiletto at Christiansborg Castle She added to TV2: 'It's not because I think that now I'm going to marry him, but I kind of hoped that someone would think it was funny, and then it also creates attention for the royal house.' Prince Christian and Anne-Sofie did speak to one another at the event - although the student can't recall their exact conversation. 'I don't really remember what I asked about, because I was so confused, but I think it had something to do with what he thought about the whole thing - and about having invited all those people into the castle,' she said. But alas, no fairytale ending just yet for Denmarks second in line to the throne, who was recently rumoured to be dating an Italian heiress. In recent months he's been linked to Princess Marie Chiara of Bourbon-Two-Sicilies - from the defunct Italian royal family. Anne-Sofie was invited to the party to represent the area where she lives outside the Danish capital. I won the invitation in a tombola, she told the Daily Mail's Richard Ede Prince Christian of Denmark (centre) celebrated turning 18 with a host of royals from across Europe including Princess Amalia of The Netherlands (second from right) and Princess Estelle of Sweden (left) Rumours that Chiara, 18, and Christian were close began when the two were pictured together at the Monaco grand prix earlier this year. Eventually Chiara took to Instagram and appeared to dismiss the speculation, saying 'while we all enjoy dreaming of fairytales, what truly matters is reality.' Meanwhile, the Danish royal family remained quiet on the speculation. Chiara told Italian paper Corriere: 'We've known each other since we were little, my father Carlo is godfather to his younger sister.' Her father Prince Carlo holds a claim to the now defunct throne of the former House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, a cadet branch of the Spanish royal family. While, her mother, Duchess Camilla, is the daughter of Italian industry Tycoon Camilla Crociani. Martin Scorsese's highly anticipated Killers of the Flower Moon has been blasted by critics for being 'tiresomely long'. Based on a true story, the film, which has been released today, follows a series of murders carried out against members of the Osage Nation after oil was discovered on their Oklahoma land in the 1920s. Adapted from David Grann's nonfiction bestseller, it stretches nearly three and a half hours and cost Apple $200 million to make. It boasts an A-lister cast - including Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and the highly-praised newcomer Lily Gladstone - and yet Scorsese's latest offering has failed to impress some critics. The Times' Kevin Maher awarded the film a paltry two stars out of five, labelling it a 'dud' and 'just not great' partly due to its 'paper-thin characters'. Based on a true story, Killers of the Flower Moon (pictured), which has been released today, follows a series of murders carried out against members of the Osage Nation after oil was discovered on their Oklahoma land in the 1920s 'Martin Scorseses bloated epic goes on and on and on', said The i's Geoffrey Macnab. He added in his two-star review: 'This story of greed and betrayal is a fine film ruined by its inordinate length.' The Spectator's Deborah Ross labelled the movie 'tiresomely long', while City A.M. claims that 'Leonardo DiCaprio isnt the best bit' and Lily Gladstone should instead be 'lining up her awards season outfits for her performance'. Though Grann's book affords many possible inroads to the story, Scorsese and co-writer Eric Roth centred their story on Ernest Burkhart (DiCaprio, in his seventh collaboration with Scorsese), a WWI veteran who falls for Mollie Brown (Gladstone), the member of a wealthy Osage family. The film sees DiCaprio play alongside Scorsese's other long-time muse De Niro, and charts a wave of murders among oil-rich Osage Indians in the 1920s and the birth of the FBI. Many critics were unhappy with the length of the movie, which is Scorsese's seventh film to reach the three-hour mark, and second longest feature production to date, coming in at a whopping 3 hour and 26-minute show time. But other reviews claimed the film is 'well worth its lengthy runtime', while The New York Times called it a 'heartbreaking masterpiece'. It boasts an A-lister cast - including Leonardo DiCaprio , Robert De Niro and the highly-praised newcomer Lily Gladstone - and yet Scorsese's latest offering has failed to impress some critics What critics are saying about Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon THE TIMES: 'I love Scorsese but this is a dud' Rating: 'Sometimes it takes nerves of steel to be a film critic. That is particularly the case when a movie such as this new epic from Martin Scorsese comes presented as a fully formed, life-changing, historically significant and emotionally devastating five-star masterpiece. '...This film, which appears in all its 206-minute glory packed with tracking shots, delicious edits and writhing intertextuality is duly celebrated as a personification of [Scorsese], an expression of human genius in light and sound, and a movie for the ages. But its not.' THE I: 'Martin Scorseses bloated epic goes on and on and on' Rating: Its the slow motion thats so aggravating. In a film 206 minutes long, you cant help wishing that director Martin Scorsese would hurry up. 'Moments into Killers of the Flower Moon comes the scene where the Native American Osage people discover oil on their land in Oklahoma. We see the black liquid spurting out of the ground, just as it did when James Dean struck it rich in Giant, but Scorsese deliberately reduces the pace. 'There is a very fine film within Killers of the Flower Moon. Its just a pity you have to strip away so much padding to get to it.' THE SPECTATOR: 'Epic, immersive and tiresomely long' 'Martin Scorseses Killers of the Flower Moon is a Western crime drama that runs to three-and-a-half hours. (Sit on that, Oppenheimer!) But which is it: an epic masterpiece? Or just very, very tiresomely long? 'There are certainly pacing issues, and things that needed further explanation there is no hand-holding. 'That said, the running time does allow for world-building, and it builds a world so engrossing that when I came out of the cinema onto the high street it was weird to see a Superdrug and Costa Coffee rather than dusty tracks and horses and vast landscapes beset by oil derricks. So I guess its epic and also tiresomely long.' CNN: 'Martin Scorseses Killers of the Flower Moon wants to be epic but just feels long' 'Theres a difference between long and epic, although in movie terms the two frequently get confused. 'Martin Scorsese delivers the former but not the latter with Killers of the Flower Moon, his second consecutive three-and-a-half-hour movie derived from a true story and underwritten by a prestige-hungry streaming service. 'In this case, its Apple TV+, after Netflix let the veteran director run free in the editing room with The Irishman.' CITY A.M.: 'Leonardo DiCaprio isnt the best bit' Rating: 'DiCaprio is in fine form, but its Lily Gladstone who should be lining up her awards season outfits for her performance as Mollie. 'Shes pitch perfect and outshines the two male leads, (as she should, given shes the Osage lead) as the landowner who is coerced into marriage by Ernest and then manipulated away from happiness and health.' THE STANDARD: 'Lily Gladstones the real star of Scorseses latest epic' '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.' DIGITAL SPY: 'Killers of the Flower Moon is well worth its lengthy runtime' Rating: 'Some viewers may be put off by its lengthy runtime, but the movie is worth every minute. The filmmaker has managed to blend his style with a fresh point of view that never forgets who the victims are. In the end, he even offers a commentary on true crime and how the genre usually places entertainment above understanding.' THE INDEPENDENT: 'Martin Scorseses tale of indigenous slaughter is a masterpiece' 'Martin Scorseses Killers of the Flower Moon is as much a companion to Goodfellas as The Departed was albeit dealing with a type of gangsterism that America has long refused to confront, of an organised effort to steal from and butcher its indigenous people for monetary profit.' THE NEW YORK TIMES: 'An Unsettling Masterpiece' 'Scorsese, who shares screenplay credit with Eric Roth, has given this story both scale and intimacy. 'This is a big, bigger-than-life movie with sweeping vistas and soaring camerawork, but one that incessantly shifts from bright, wide-open spaces to interiors as shadowy as their inhabitants.' Advertisement The Independent's Clarisse Loughrey even scored it the full five stars, explaining: '[Gladstone] gives one of the most extraordinary performances by a woman in any of Scorseses movies.' Killers of the Flower Moon focuses on a little-publicised chapter of American history involving the Osage Nation. In the 1920s, the Osage tribe became wealthy almost overnight after oil was discovered beneath their land, earning them more than $30million in annual revenue at the peak of the boom, according to the Oklahoma Historical Society. Subsurface minerals within the Osage Nation Reservation were tribally owned and held in trust by the government. Lily Gladstone, who plays Mollie Burkhart in the film, sits with director Martin Scorsese on set of Killers of the Flower Moon Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio in Killers of the Flower Moon' Many critics were unhappy with the length of the movie (pictured), which is Scorsese's seventh film to reach the three-hour mark, and second longest feature production to date, coming in at a whopping 3 hour and 26-minute show time Mineral leases earned royalties that were paid to the tribe as a whole - with each allottee receiving one equal share also known as a headright. But these headrights could only legally be attained by outsiders if they married into the tribe. It was during this time that rancher William K. Hale, a native of Greenville, Texas, encouraged his subservient nephew Ernest Burkhart to wed Osage member Mollie Kyle (later Mollie Burkhart). Burkhart became responsible for the murders of a number of his wife's relatives as part of a plot to inherit their lucrative oil rights in Oklahoma. The murders, which later became known as the Reign of Terror, were not properly investigated by law enforcement at the time. Eventually, Osage Nation members were forced to lobby the federal government to look into the string of killings. The federal agency that was the precursor to the FBI investigated the murders and concluded that Ernest and Hale were likely involved. A woman who filmed her brother putting laxatives in her milk in an attempt to get her to leave the family home has spoken out about his 'disgusting' actions for the first time. When Sharon, 63, noticed a chemical smell in her milk, she rigged up a secret camera in their home in Bury, Greater Manchester, which captured Robert McCabe, 69, slipping powder into the carton. McCabe pleaded guilty earlier this week at Manchester's Minshull St Crown Court to maliciously administering a noxious thing to annoy, injure or aggrieve, under the Offences Against the Person Act, 1861. Despite not being particularly close with her sibling, the malice behind Robert's actions 'shocked' Sharon 'to the core'. Now, the mother-of-three has revealed that she is 'saddened' and 'disgusted' by her brother, who 'who will stop at nothing to get his hands on the family money'. Sharon (pictured) has revealed that she is 'saddened' and 'disgusted' by her brother, who 'who will stop at nothing to get his hands on the family money' She said: 'Robert and I were not especially close, but we shared a home. I was shocked to the core to find out he was tampering my food. 'There was a strong chemical smell in my milk, which was what first alerted me. I set up a secret fridge in my bedroom, and we rigged up a secret camera in the kitchen. 'Each morning, I made my porridge as normal in the kitchen, and kept a sample of the fridge milk, so that Robert would think I was using it. Then, I took the porridge up to my bedroom and ate it in there using the milk from my secret fridge. 'It saddens and disgusts me that he would go to such lengths to get me out of our family home. But at least the world can now see him for what he is a man who will stop at nothing to get his hands on the family money.' Sharon was one of 10 siblings and her mother, Sarah Alice McCabe, was widowed when Sharon was just nine months old. Sharon added: 'My dad was killed in a road accident when I was a baby and Mum brought us all up on her own. The tragedy didn't bring us closer together as a family and Robert and I had our differences.' Richard McCabe (pictured) pleaded guilty earlier this week at Manchester's Minshull St Crown Court to maliciously administering a noxious thing to annoy, injure or aggrieve, under the Offences Against the Person Act, 1861 According to Sharon, she was never particularly close with Robert - but this has still 'shocked' her 'to the core' Sharon left home and went on to have three sons and worked in a chip shop, owned by her brother Dennis, and later in a soap factory. But after their mother suffered a stroke, she moved back home to look after her until her death in November 2009, aged 79. Sharon explained: 'I gave up my own job so I could look after mum. I lived in the family home, alongside my brothers Robert and Desmond, who had never moved out, and Dennis, who had returned from living in Australia.' After their mother died, Dennis was responsible for the mortgage payments on the four-bedroom home. But when Dennis was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, he announced his intention to leave the family home to Sharon's middle son, Gary. Sharon said: 'Dennis had always been fond of Gary, they got on well and Gary ran errands for him. He wanted Gary to have his share.' But the decision upset Robert and, after Dennis died in December 2018, Robert became very hostile towards Sharon and her sons. Sarah and Robert's mother Sharon Alice (pictured above) was widowed when Sharon was just 10 months old She said: 'I paid all the bills in the house and so he'd crank up the heating, to maximum, to make sure my bills were high. He was very petty. He'd shout at me. I think he thought I'd move out, but I stood my ground.' Sharon had suffered with ill-health since moving back into the family home and had been diagnosed with gall stones and heart trouble. She said: 'My doctors couldn't really get to the bottom of it, and I was in and out of hospital.' In April 2020, after a week in bed with severe stomach pains, she decided to go out for a walk, and bought a carton of milk. Sharon cared for her mother Sarah Alice (pictured) after she suffered a stroke in 2009 at the age of 79 She said: 'I used the milk to make porridge. A couple of days later, I smelled it and was instantly alarmed. It smelled very chemically, there was something not right. 'I called my son who came round and put a new lock on my bedroom door. We both suspected Robert had been tampering with the milk, because he was so horrible towards me.' Sharon's son, Gary, helped rig up a secret camera in the family kitchen. Over the coming weeks, Sharon bought herself two cartons of milk each time she went shopping, leaving one in the kitchen and storing another in a secret fridge in her bedroom. She added: 'I went through the motions of making my porridge in the kitchen and using the milk, so as not to alert Robert. Then, I went upstairs and used the second carton of milk, which I knew was safe.' It was not long before she and Gary caught Robert tipping a powder into her milk. While Sharon suspected that her brother was up to no good, she was shocked to discover the truth Sharon said: 'Robert admitted administering laxatives over a period of a few weeks, but personally I feel it probably went far deeper than that. 'Even though I'd suspected him, I was so shocked to catch him in the act. For my own brother to do that to me, to actually make me ill, so he could force me out of my family home, is appalling. 'My sons were worried about me and pleaded with me to leave the house. But I refused to be bullied. It's my home, I looked after my mother here, I should be allowed to stay without fearing for my safety. 'Ever since I moved back into the house, I've had health problems. Since Robert was arrested, my health has dramatically improved. I've had no more issues with my stomach. 'I'm frightened of Robert; I worry what he's capable of. The whole case has caused me a lot of anxiety and stress. But I'm still in the family home, I live here alone now, and I would like to leave on my own terms.' Sharon has nine other siblings - she is pictured above with her brother Desmond (right) at the age of six Minshull Street Crown Court heard this week that McCabe put laxatives in his sister's milk on two or three occasions over a two-week period before he was caught on camera. Defending, barrister Rachel Faux said he expressed remorse towards his sister, agreeing with the judge it was a case of 'sibling squabbling'. 'He wants to put matters behind him as quickly as he can and move forward with his life,' Ms Faux added. Sentencing, Judge Maurice Greene said McCabe was charged with an offence rarely seen before the courts. 'This involved sibling rivalry,' he added. 'The sort of sibling rivalry a man of your age shouldn't be involved in. 'What you did was inexcusable, juvenile behaviour, and it was not on another juvenile - you knew your sister had health problems.' Robert plead guilty to maliciously administering a noxious thing to annoy, injure or aggrieve, under the Offences Against the Person Act, 1861. He was made the subject of an 18-month community order; and ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work and 15 days of rehabilitation activity requirements. Parents can get a more accurate snapshot of how their child's secondary school is faring compared to others after annual 'Progress 8' results were published online yesterday. The impact of Covid has meant performance measurements in recent years haven't been deemed accurate but new data released by the Department of Education is considered to offer a more precise analysis of how well English schools are doing. The Progress 8 score, first introduced in 2016, shows pupils' progress between leaving primary school following SATs (Key Stage 2) and results achieved in GCSEs in Year 11 (Key Stage 4). A score above zero, says the DfE, means pupils have made better progress at their school, on average, than pupils across England who got similar results at the end of Key Stage 2. A score below zero means students made less progress. Yesterday, the Department of Education published Progress 8 results for nearly 7,000 secondary schools and colleges in England, giving them a score based on how pupils have progressed since leaving primary school Katharine Birbalsingh, co-founder of the Michaela Community School in Wembley Park, London, revealed on Twitter that her free school, set up in 2014, had topped the performance table - achieving 2.37 above zero. On social media, the senior leader, 'dubbed Britain's strictest head teacher' celebrated her school's ranking, achieved for the second year in succession - although the DfE is clear that the pandemic's effects on education mean 2020/2021 results cannot be directly compared with 2022/2023 results. Katharine Birbalsingh, co-founder of the Michaela Community School in Wembley Park, London - and often dubbed the country's 'strictest head' - revealed on Twitter that her free school, founded in 2014, had topped England's Progress 8 performance table - achieving 2.37 above zero A score above zero, says the DfE, means pupils made more progress at their school, on average, than pupils across England who got similar results at the end of Key Stage 2 Other schools that appeared in the top five Progress 8 rankings include the Tauheedul Islam Girls' High School in Blackburn (2.29), Mercia School in Sheffield (2.22), The Steiner Academy Hereford (2.18) and the Eden Girls' Leadership Academy, Birmingham (1.95). Progress 8 was first introduced in 2016 and is deemed a fairer way of examining a school's performance because it looks at a larger picture rather than just GCSE outcomes - although many have dubbed it 'flawed'. WHAT IS A PROGRESS 8 SCORE? According to the Department of Education, the score shows how much progress pupils made between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4, compared to pupils across England who got similar results at the end of key stage 2. This is based on results in up to 8 qualifications, which include English, maths, 3 qualifications including sciences, computer science, history, geography and languages, and 3 other additional 'approved' qualifications. A score above zero means pupils made more progress, on average, than pupils across England who got similar results at the end of key stage 2. A score below zero means pupils made less progress, on average, than pupils across England who got similar results at the end of key stage 2. A negative progress score does not mean pupils made no progress, or the school has failed, rather it means pupils in the school made less progress than other pupils across England with similar results at the end of key stage 2. Source: Department of Education Advertisement Some have said publishing the Key Stage 4 attainment data for 6951 schools in England will lead to additional pressure on already-stressed out heads and teachers. Social mobility champion The Sutton Trust also highlighted that the disadvantaged attainment gap - the difference between poorer pupils' achievements and their wealthier peers - is now bigger than it was 12 years ago. The gap, which looks at results for maths and English nationally, was recorded at 3.84 in 2022 and has risen to 3.95 in 2023. The DfE said the widening of the gap could be down to the pandemic, saying it 'may reflect the difficult circumstances that many pupils will have experienced over the last few academic years'. Emmerdale star Samantha Giles has revealed she is 'a witch' and used a love spell to find her partner, Sean Pritchard. The actress, 52, joined Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary on the This Morning couch to speak about practising Wicca, also known as The Craft, which is described as 'a modern pagan, syncretic, earth-centered religion'. The soap actor, famous for playing Bernice Blackstock, says she started making her own spell kits in 2011 and often sells them at psychic fayres. Samantha, who is the author of Rosemary and The Witches of Pendle Hill and Rosemary and the The Book of The Dead, admitted: 'I did do a love spell to manifest my husband when I met him, well, 18 years ago now'. 'I had a few shoddy boyfriends so I wanted to be a bit more specific with what I was after and I think that's the key to it, to be a bit more specific with what you want to manifest. Emmerdale star Samantha Giles revealed she is a witch and used a love spell to find her husband, Sean Pritchard, on This Morning on Friday 'You might think your type is type A but actually maybe that type is not right for you, sometimes going against type is a good thing to do.' However she did reveal that the spell won't always work, saying it's also 'all about your mindset'. She said: 'It's massively about belief, there is no point trying a spell if you don't believe it's going to work, and also I have to say it's a last resort, you can't just be lazy saying I want this to happen, you have got to be doing practical things and the magic is the last thing you do.' Speaking about her childhood the author admitted witchcraft runs in the family as her mother could read palms. She said: 'My mum used to read palms when I was young, she never learnt anything but she used just look into people's hands and it would just come to her. 'I never used to be able to do that but because we grew up with all that around us and we lived in the countryside and doing things outside.' She admitted that she's got more interested in Wicca as she's got older. Samantha pictured with her husband of 18 years at The Cure Usher Ball in Manchester Samantha is the author of Rosemary and The Witches of Pendle Hill and Rosemary and the The Book of The Dead admitted The actress, 52, joined Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary on the This Morning couch to speak about practising Wicca, which also known as The Craft, and is a modern pagan, syncretic, earth-centered religion She said: 'You don't have to do the magic to be a Wiccan but I like to use it to empower and enable people in their own lives.' She admitted she even helped This Morning's Queen of soaps Sharon Marshall on her IVF journey by giving her a 'change of luck charm.' She explained: 'A change of luck charm has been very successful when people are using IVF. She won't mind me talking about this because she has spoke about it herself. 'She had several attempts, I think about five to seven and she carried the [change of luck] crystals with her and she had a successful pregnancy, and I think she bought them for all her friends who were going through the same journey and I am pretty sure they all worked.' It comes after the star said she is calling time on playing barmaid Bernice Blackstock after 25 years making it the fourth time she has quit the soap since her 1998 debut. With a source telling The Sun:'Bernice Blackstock has been in and out of Emmerdale village more than they change the barrels at The Woolpack. Speaking about her childhood the author admitted it runs in the family as her mother could read palms She admitted she even helped This Morning's Queen of soaps Sharon Marshall on her IVF journey by giving her a 'change of luck charm' Samantha will bow out later this year, making it the fourth time she has quit the soap since her 1998 debut (pictured on the show in 1999 with co-star John Middleton) 'She's always welcomed back with open arms by ITV and fans alike, but it's now becoming a bit of a running joke.' 'It wouldn't pay to bet on whether Samantha will one day be back, but for now she will leave the soap later this year.' During her stint on the show the character has been involved in a whole host of dramatic storylines and Samantha was awarded Best Soap Actress at the 2000 TV Quick Awards She originally exited the show in 2002 before joining the cast of Hollyoaks in 2008 as Valerie Holden, a role she played for two years. Samantha then returned to the dales in 2012 for a seven-year stretch before leaving again to pen her children's book Rosemary and the Witches of Pendle Hill. In May 2021 she returned to the soap for one final time. Hollywood royalty met Spanish royalty today as Meryl Streep was greeted by Queen Letizia and King Felipe VI - and their two daughters - as she received the prestigious Princess of Asturias Award in Oviedo. The legendary American actress, 74, stepped up to receive one of the highest arts honours in the country, as she was commemorated for 46 years of work in film, and appeared delighted as she was celebrated during the ceremony this afternoon. The Princess of Asturias Foundation - which works to empower individuals or organisations who make notable achievements in the sciences, humanities, and public affairs - praised the screen icon's decades of accomplishments. 'Few actresses in American film history have the versatility of Meryl Streep,' a statement on the website from director Pedro Almodovar said. Mamma Mia! The legendary American actress, 74, stood next to Princess Leonor as she stepped up to receive one of the highest arts honours in Spain 'She does it all so well and all so naturally and truthfully. Meryl Streep is a truly worthy recipient of this year's Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts.' A message from Meryl herself at the time also read: 'I am very honoured to receive this prestigious prize from one of the most deeply gifted countries and cultures in the world. 'My sincere thanks to Their Majesties and Her Royal Highness and I very much look forward to meeting them in October, and to spending time in their beautiful country.' Meryl Streep greeted Queen Letizia and King Felipe VI while receiving the prestigious Princess of Asturias Award in Oviedo on Friday Today, the actress channelled sleek elegance as she collected her award in a textured black blazer which featured an artful curved design. The Mamma Mia star teamed it with chic cigarette trousers and a white and blue cheetah-print top. Meryl was all smiles as she chatted with Queen Letizia and her daughters during the prestigious event. The royal, 51, sported an elegant pink power suit, worn with a breezy white blouse, for the occasion. The mother-of-two styled her chestnut tresses in a sleek straight style and pinned her hair back, keeping the make-up simple and warm. Queen Letizia, left, stands alongside her two daughters, Princess Leonor, centre, and Princess Sofia, during the prestigious event The Devil Wears Prada actress channelled sleek elegance as she collected her award in a textured black blazer which featured artful curved designs Her daughter Leonor appeared to take a leaf out of her mother's book as she too enjoyed a warm, peachy ensemble in a rose-hued dress. The 17-year-old - whose birthday is later this month - opted for a floral print frock with buttons which cinched at the waist, and teamed it with nude-toned heels. She swept her blonde tresses back into a collected bun. Meanwhile her 16-year-old sister, Infanta Sofia of Spain, donned a sophisticated cream tweed mini-dress. It featured buttons and ornate seams, which she paired with black slingbacks. The princess wore her caramel tresses down. Elsewhere, King Felipe, 55, also cut a dapper figure in a pinstripe suit and purple tie. It would appear the whole family are fans of Meryl's work as they grinned in delight while speaking with the star. The excited royals also posed for photos with the Hollywood icon. Queen Letizia chats to King Felipe as their daughters and Meryl, far left, look on The Spanish queen, 51, sported an elegant pink power suit, worn with a breezy white blouse, for the occasion The Spanish couple's daughter Leonor appeared to take a leaf out of her mother's book as she too donned a pink ensemble in a rose-hued dress The excited royals also posed for photos with the Hollywood icon as they chatted with her today Best foot forward: Meryl strides into the medal ceremony looking sharp in a smart black trouser suit Yesterday, ahead of receiving her award, Meryl also appeared touched as she met with acting students of the Superior School of Dramatic Arts (ESAD) in Gijon. The star looked to have arrived in Spain at the beginning of this week, and has been pictured attending a number of events related to uplifting young people in the arts. On Wednesday she also attended a 'Sin Guion' conference, with fellow Hollywood legend Antonio Banderas in attendance. The Spanish royal family outing comes as Princess Leonor, who currently holds the title of Princesa de Asturias and is the heir to the Spanish throne, is undergoing three years of training at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza. Although the Princess appears to be growing up fast, and indeed her life does not mirror that of the average teenager in Spain, royal fans were delighted with some candid, light hearted photos of the royal earlier this week. Yesterday, ahead of receiving her award, Meryl also appeared touched as she met with acting students of the Superior School of Dramatic Arts (ESAD) in Gijon On Wednesday she also attended a 'Sin Guion' conference, with fellow Hollywood legend Antonio Banderas in attendance During a royal gala in Madrid, Leonor took selfies with guests at a reception at the palace following her debut at the National Day parade. The Princess of Asturias chatted about how her training at the General Military Academy of Zaragoza, according to Hola!. She also snapped a picture with the winners of the Princess of Girona Foundation, as well as Madrid-based model Pamela Montoya Pellicer. Leonor also grabbed photos with Begona Arana, director of non-profit organisation Betania, as well as Tomas Alia , a member of the Michelangelo Foundation in Spain and 34-year-old businessman Osuman Umar. The future queen of Spain, who reaches the milestone on October 31, has been making solo appearances and training at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza to ensure she's ready for her future in the monarchy. The American show has left fans horrified after its release earlier this month Mike Flanagan and Michael Fimognari's adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher might be Netflix's most disturbing horror yet - with viewers saying they were 'unable to sleep' after watching it. The much-anticipated American mini-series - based on Poe's short story from 1839 - follows siblings Roderick and Madeline Usher, who have built a pharmaceutical company into an empire of wealth, privilege and power. Rodericks six children ruthlessly yearn for a slice of the Usher fortune earning the shows comparison to Succession but the dynasty starts to crumble when the heirs to the Usher dynasty start dying, leading to a fight for survival. While the gripping tale has earned praise from viewers and critics, with a 89% rating on Rotten Tomatoes - many say they were left upset by the disturbing scenes. Following its release earlier this month, horror fans have branded the series 'gruesome' and 'gory' after viewing graphic depictions of animal cruelty, suicide, and incest. Viewers watching Netflix's adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's book The Fall of the House of Usher say they were left 'so scared' after watching disturbing scenes Netflix's synopsis of the eight-episode horror series explains: 'To secure their fortune - and future - two ruthless siblings build a family dynasty that begins to crumble when their heirs mysteriously die, one by one.' The series stars the likes of The Haunting of Hill House and Bly Manor actors Carla Gugino and Kate Siegel, Thirteen Days star Bruce Greenwood and Friday Night Light's Zach Gilford. With death a common theme, reviews of the horror series recognise the disturbing elements to the show. Nuha Hassan of Flip Screen said: 'The series is different from the previous iterations of horror stories Flanagan has adapted; its darker and gorier, focused on the characters disturbing deaths.' Similarly, Richard Roper of Chicago Sun-Times said: 'There are numerous scenes that elicit instant goosebumps...' In We Got This Covered, Scott Campbell wrote: 'Mike Flanagan bids farewell to Netflix with what might just be his finest series yet; The Fall of the House of Usher is dripping in atmosphere, shivers, and subtext that sends the filmmaker out on the highest of highs.' Likewise, fans have taken to X (formerly known as Twitter) to share their thoughts of the very dark and gory show. Horror fans have branded the new series 'very dark' and 'gory' as they issued a warning to others planning to watch it Scenes of animal cruelty are seen in the series, which aired on Netflix last month - and in time for Halloween One user simply wrote: 'This ruined me.' Another added: 'The Fall of the House of Usher is scary but also good, so I want to just binge but I'm so scared.' A third said: 'The fall of the House of Usher is Succession with horror on acid.' A fourth wrote: 'Started The Fall of the House of Usher last night & woke up at 3a from the scariest dream of my life & couldnt go back to sleep. Lesson learned - no scary shows w/o having a man in my house Another user said: 'The fall of the house of usher is so scary to me I'm literally hiding behind my pillow everytime Roderick is sitting in that chair talking to Dupin.' Fans flocked to social media to share their thoughts on the new Netflix horror, and many were left terrified A sixth added: 'The Fall of the House of Usher is decadently gruesome and gory.' 'Watched The Fall of the House of Usher. It's very good. Just watch it. 'I won't say anything. It is VERY dark though. 'Too many content warnings to name so, be warned,' another horror fan explained. One said: 'Wow. 'Fall of the House of Usher' was really good. Very disturbing and quite gorey, but good. I'm going to be thinking about it for a long time. Paddington writer Simon Farnaby has revealed how Queen Elizabeth II performed her lines perfectly in the famous sketch with the fictional bear - after being told to speak 'like you're talking to your grandchildren'. The comedian and writer, who is a long-standing member of the Horrible Histories troupe, featured as a footman alongside the late monarch when she appeared in a special sketch to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee. Her late Majesty delighted audiences at the televised Platinum Party at the Palace in June 2022 after kicking off the festivities with an appearance alongside the fictional character - in which they both enjoyed a chaotic cream tea. But Farnaby, who co-wrote the Paddington 2 film, said that the late Queen had difficulty with the tone in which she delivered one of her lines but nailed it after being told to speak as if she was talking to her grandchildren. 'It was ok in the end,' he told Richard Herring's podcast. 'There was one conversation. There was a bit where Paddington says "I keep my marmalade sandwiches in my hat, I keep it for emergencies". Paddington writer Simon Farnaby has revealed how Queen Elizabeth II performed her lines perfectly in the famous sketch (pictured) with the fictional bear - after being told to speak 'like you're talking to your grandchildren' She goes, "So do I. I keep mine in here", and she has a handbag.' But Farnaby added that at first the late Queen's tone was quite harsh. 'The director would come in and say "Ma'am, could you just be a bit gentler,"' he recalled. 'And she'd be so sweet and she'd go "I'm so sorry, yes of course". 'He'd go "Like you're talking to your grandchildren". She'd say "Oh, of course. I'm so sorry". I was saying to him give up, just stop, we're not going to get it. And he said, no I think just a couple more.' Farnaby said that eventually the late Queen - who was getting tired - got the line right and "it was really sweet and really lovely". He also recalled how afterwards he complimented Queen Elizabeth on her performance. But he said that in the conversation that followed she seemed to think he didn't know she was the actual Queen. Recalling making the film, the 50-year-old said: 'That was a very special thing to be part of. That was part of history and great to be there. I was in the same room. It was quite the day. Her late Majesty delighted audiences at the televised Platinum Party at the Palace in June 2022 after kicking off the festivities with an appearance alongside the fictional character - in which they both enjoyed a chaotic cream tea The late sovereign can be seen sitting with eight of her great-grandchildren in a heart-warming photographed taken by the Princess of Wales at Balmoral last summer, and shared to mark what would have been her 97th birthday. Pictured left the right: back row: Lady Louise Windsor and James, Earl Wessex. Second row: Lena Tindall, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Isla Phillips and Prince Louis. Front row: Mia Tindall holding Lucas Tindall. The late Queen Elizabeth II and Savannah Phillips 'I needlessly just went up to her [afterwards] and said "Ma'am, that was fantastic and she went "oh thank you". You're a very good actress. And she said "Well, I do it all the time." 'I went "Ooh, you mean like playing the part of the Queen?" And she went "I beg your pardon?" And then I lost all my confidence. I thought she was giving me the scoop, like it's a part, a role. 'And I went "I mean like it's a role, isn't it, The Queen, and you play it". And she said "You know I am the Queen? Paddington's not real, they're actors, but I'm the Queen. '"I meant at Christmas when I do my speeches but then it's all written down and now I have to remember it and I find it quite hard". In the sketch, accident-prone Paddington was shown causing mayhem by accidentally depriving the understanding sovereign of another cup of tea and spraying cream from a chocolate eclair over a Palace Footman. The Queen's secret clip was the result of months of planning, and saw the duffle-coat wearing bear show the late monarch how he ensured he always had his favourite treat on him just in case, lifting up his red hat to reveal his snack. Her late Majesty responded by revealing 'So do I' before opening her bag and declaring 'I keep mine in here' to show her very own ready-made supply of the bread and orange preserve staple. The bear from deepest darkest Peru congratulated the Queen on her reign of 70 years, saying: 'Happy Jubilee Ma'am. And thank you. For everything.' The modest Queen replied: 'That's very kind.' The comedian and writer, who is a long-standing member of the Horrible Histories troupe, featured as a footman (pictured) alongside the late monarch when she appeared in a special sketch to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee Filmed at Windsor Castle, the Queen spent around half a day filming the secretly-pre-recorded humorous two-and-a-half-minute sequence, according to The Telegraph, and the comic sketch was a surprise even to some of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren watching the scenes. The publication said palace aides refused to 'ruin the magic' by explaining how the late monarch was able to talk with the fictional bear - however the character, voiced by Ben Whishaw, who played Q in the recent James Bond films, has previously been filmed as just a mechanical head before visual effects are added digitally. He has now addressed the backlash, admitting that it left him in a 'dark place' At the time, it was revealed Gabor had previously made anti-Zionist comments 'Trauma expert' Gabor Mate has admitted that he regrets his controversial interview with Prince Harry because the 'foofoo' surrounding it took over his entire life and made him 'lose himself.' Back in March, the Duke of Sussex, 39, spoke with the the Hungarian-Canadian doctor, 79, about 'living with loss and the importance of personal healing,' while promoting his memoir Spare. During their sit-down, which was live-streamed on the web and cost $33 to watch, Harry made a series of bombshell claims about growing up as a royal. The conversation was fiercely scrutinized, especially after it was brought to light that Gabor had made a series of eyebrow-raising comments in the past - like comparing Hamas to the Jewish heroes of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising against the Nazis, defending Palestinian rocket fire at Israeli civilians, and branding Israel's government as terrorists. He is also an outspoken supporter of decriminalizing drugs, and has used the Amazonian plant ayahuasca to treat patients suffering from mental illness. 'Trauma expert' Gabor Mate has admitted that he regrets his controversial interview with Prince Harry because the 'foofoo' surrounding it took over his life and made him 'lose himself' Back in March, the Duke of Sussex, 39, spoke with the the Hungarian-Canadian doctor, 79, about 'living with loss and the importance of personal healing,' while promoting his memoir The conversation was fiercely scrutinized, especially after it was brought to light that Gabor had made a series of eyebrow-raising comments in the past Now, the author and physician has addressed the public's 'demeaning, dismissive, and distorted' reaction to his chat with Harry, while revealing that it left him in a really 'dark place' Now, the author and physician has addressed the public's 'demeaning, dismissive, and distorted' reaction to his chat with Harry, while revealing that it left him in a really 'dark place.' 'There was an incredible social media reaction to it, which was, for the most part, so negative and so demeaning and so dismissive and so distorted,' he said during a recent appearance on Steven Bartlett's The Diary of a CEO podcast. 'I barely even know how to talk about it. I thought by this age I would know better, but you know what, it really got to me.' Gabor said the backlash left him in a 'really negative state of mind' and feeling like he 'lost himself' - leading to him eventually reaching out to a psychiatrist for help. 'I was in a dark place, I'm a human being like the rest,' he continued. 'It's so difficult to ask for help but I did.' He accused the media of twisting his words and recalled them calling him things like 'stern, overbearing, and a merchant of pain.' After speaking to a psychiatrist, however, Gabor said he later realized that his problems didn't have to do with the criticism, but rather, stemmed from an 'old unresolved wound' from his past. According to Gabor, he had reservations about talking to Harry from the start, since he was uncomfortable with the idea of making people pay to watch it. Gabor said the backlash put him a 'really negative state of mind' and resulted in him feeling like he 'lost himself' during an appearance on Steven Bartlett's The Diary of a CEO podcast The conversation was live-streamed on the web and tickets were priced at $33. People who watched it received a copy of Harry's book, Spare 'I had a gut feeling all along that I shouldn't agree the way they set it up. Because the way it was set up, to watch it, people had to buy a copy of Harry's book,' he explained. 'I thought, "This is not fair, four million people have already bought the book. Why can't they watch this interview?" They had to buy another copy. 'I believed this should be a free public service from two people who are having a very interesting conversation. 'But out of sheer opportunism I agreed to it. I didn't follow my gut feeling. I agreed to something that I didn't really like. 'Not that I didn't like the idea of talking with him, I didn't like the idea of putting myself behind a pay wall. I lost myself just in agreeing to do it.' Despite his regrets about the interview, Gabor insisted that he 'doesn't care' what the public thinks of him anymore. But he said he wants people to 'see him' for who he is and 'not some distorted version.' 'I don't care if people agree with me or if they refute my ideas, but I want them to see me and what I'm actually saying, not some distorted version created by their own minds,' he concluded. 'So what if someone says [something bad about me]. I don't live in the press. I don't live in someone else's mind. Here I am. Let them think and say what they want.' Gabor said that after the interview, he had to reach out to a psychiatrist for help, adding, 'I was in a dark place, I'm a human being like the rest.' Harry is seen during their chat Gabor has more than two decades of experience working with people suffering from addiction and mental illness - and he fiercely believes that all of the problems we face as adults stem from trauma we endured as children. Gabor has been scrutinized for comparing Hamas to the Jewish heroes of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising against the Nazis, defending Palestinian rocket fire at Israeli civilians, and branding Israel's government as terrorists He himself had a traumatic upbringing. He was born in Nazi-occupied Budapest in 1944, and when he was five months old his maternal grandparents were among the Jews murdered in Auschwitz. He was then taken from his mother and hidden with an aunt until the war ended. He is an outspoken supporter of decriminalizing drugs, and has used the Amazonian plant ayahuasca to treat patients suffering from mental illness. The psychedelic plant, which is taken as a brewed drink, causes people to experience hallucinations and other side effects, including vomiting - something Prince Harry has admitted to using to manage his 'trauma and pain.' It remains illegal in the US, UK, and Canada, and in 2011, Canadian officials threatened to arrest Dr Mate if he didn't stop using the drug to treat his patients. On top of his shocking anti-Zionist comments, Gabor has also contributed to a pro-Kremlin website that defends brutal regimes around the world and has spoken warmly of the spittle-flecked Pink Floyd star and alleged 'Putin apologist' Roger Waters. Spring cleaning your wardrobe is one thing but finding the time to donate unwanted and unworn clothing is a whole other chore. Thankfully Uber and Red Cross are making to easier for Aussies to donate their bags of pre-loved clothing to those in need. The Red Cross Clothing Drive is back and offering Uber Package trips to deliver donated items to the nearest Red Cross shop completely free of charge. On Saturday October 21 between 9am and 4pm, users can jump on the Uber app, book a package trip to their local Red Cross and donate their unwanted clothing without leaving their home. The offer is available to those living in Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth. The Red Cross Clothing Drive is happening on October 21. Uber will offer free package trips so Aussies can send their pre-loved clothing to their nearest Red Cross store (stock image) The 'Cost of Giving' report reveals that as a nation, Australians are sitting on a goldmine of pre-loved clothes, which could be donated to raise valuable funds to support people and communities through crises. With frequent weather disasters happening across Australia where families are losing their belongings donations are needed more than ever however 82 per cent of Aussies admit to procrastinating dropping off their used clothing for up to three months. With many feeling the pinch due to the cost of living crisis almost half (48 per cent) of Aussies have said financial constraints have impacted their charitable donations. However giving away pre-loved clothing is both a cost-effective way to make a difference and ensure old garments don't end up in landfill. On average Australians have $952 worth of clothing sitting unused in their wardrobes and 97 per cent of Aussies admit to owning clothing that hasn't been worn in the past year. Fashion Stylist, Alex van Os gave some of her tips and tricks to make your wardrobe spring clean easier. She recommended making a declutter date to set aside time to sort though your clothes and even invite a friend to help. 'Think 'capsule'. Focus on keeping items that are versatile. Invest in pieces that are true to your personal style and that can be mixed and matched for different looks,' Alex added. The fashionista said to follow the 'one year rule' and let go anything you haven't worn in the past 12 months. Fashion Stylist, Alex van Os (pictured) gave some of her tips and tricks to make your wardrobe spring clean easier 'Remember clothes are made to be worn and someone else will love wearing it,' she said. If you're torn about keeping or donating an item, Alex suggested trying it on to see if it still fits and makes you feel 'fabulous' wearing it. 'If it doesn't and it's still in great condition, it's time to part ways and donate,' she said. Alex reminded donors to make sure clothing intended for the Red Cross are still in good condition for someone else to wear. 'Red Cross is on the lookout for high-quality, saleable clothing and accessories so if it's something you'd happily give to a friend due to its quality, it's definitely something Red Cross would appreciate,' she said. It's the most vital muscle in the body, pumping oxygen and nutrients to all organs and tissues to keep you alive. But if there is something wrong with the heart, it can take years for problems to be diagnosed. Symptoms can be vague and many heart conditions are 'hidden' meaning they're not obvious from the outside. Sindy Jodar, a senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation (BHF), warns it's often only when something goes wrong, or it's too late, that a condition is spotted. 'That's why it is important to never ignore the signs of heart disease and get yourself checked, just to be sure,' she says. While some warning signs are easy to spot such as severe chest pain others are more vague and hard to pinpoint. Here, experts share some of the less obvious symptoms of a heart condition. While some warning signs (pictured) are easy to spot such as severe chest pain others are more vague and hard to pinpoint Feeling unusually tired Dr M Adil U Khan, a GP at Pall Mall Medical, says you should not 'ignore or downplay unusual levels of tiredness'. While it's normal to feel exhausted if you've been very busy or lacking sleep, he adds: 'Feeling unusually tired, especially if it's not related to exertion, should be investigated.' It could be due to something like anaemia, a virus, or even linked to mental health. It could also be related to your heart, so it is important to have it investigated. Subtle discomfort 'Look out for subtle discomfort in different areas of your body, including discomfort or pain in the jaw, neck, back, or stomach, which can be associated with a heart problem,' says Dr Khan. If symptoms are out of the norm for you and aren't going away, it's always best to get them checked. Unusual swelling Perhaps you have noticed your ankles look particularly puffy, or maybe it's your general tummy area that's constantly swollen for no apparent reason. 'Unexplained swelling, known as oedema, in the legs, ankles or abdomen, may also be signs of heart failure,' explains Dr Khan. Vomiting and a choking sensation Sudden vomiting or a choking sensation in your throat is something to be wary of too. 'While not every bout of nausea means there could be something serious happening, feeling sick combined with other aches and pains, such as severe chest pain, should ring an alarm bell,' says Ms Jodar. Yes, it could be a stomach bug, but if you are having sudden spells of vomiting and nausea more regularly and you're not sure why, don't delay in get things checked out. Fainting If you experience sudden fainting, this is a big indicator of something being awry. 'If fainting or any other symptom becomes a problem, consult a healthcare provider and schedule an appointment with a doctor or cardiologist,' says Dr Khan. 'Discuss your symptoms, medical history and risk factors with them. 'Your healthcare provider will assess your vital signs and perform a physical examination. 'Depending on your symptoms and risk factors, you may undergo diagnostic tests like ECGs, echocardiograms, stress tests, blood tests, or more specialised cardiac assessments.' Shortness of breath Struggling to catch your breath is not a trivial matter. 'Anyone experiencing shortness of breath during everyday activities or at rest should see their doctor,' says Dr Khan. This is especially the case if it's accompanied by chest pain even if it doesn't seem especially severe. Dr Khan adds: 'Mild chest discomfort should always be investigated, but some people mistake this for indigestion or muscular pain.' Unusual sweating 'Feeling hot, clammy and quite sweaty when you haven't been doing strenuous exercise shouldn't be ignored,' adds Ms Jodar. 'If this is combined with chest pains, it's important you get yourself looked at.' Heart rate irregularities Does your pulse sometimes feel jumpy or too fast? Get it checked with your doctor. Dr Khan says: 'Smartwatches and fitness trackers can provide valuable data about your heart rate and may detect irregularities to some extent. They can help track general trends in heart rate, especially during physical activity or rest. 'However, they are not a substitute for medical-grade monitoring and evaluation 'Any concerning symptoms should be evaluated by a healthcare professional for a comprehensive assessment and diagnosis.' Consistently getting less than five hours of sleep each night may increase your risk of depression, a study suggests. Researchers have for decades viewed sleeping difficulties as being a side effect of poor mental health. But an analysis of 7,000 participants has now prompted scientists to say bad sleep likely 'precedes depressive symptoms, rater than the inverse'. University College London experts said data suggested people who get fewer than five hours a night were more likely to suffer. Lead author Odessa Hamilton said: 'We have this chicken or egg scenario between suboptimal sleep duration and depression. Scientists have long believed poor sleep to be a side effect of the illness. A chronic lack of sleep has also consistently been linked to chronic health problems including heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure and diabetes . But now researchers analysing the genetic profile of more than 7,000 people have concluded 'sleep likely precedes depressive symptoms, rather than the inverse' 'They frequently co-occur, but which comes first is largely unresolved.' She added: 'Using genetic susceptibility to disease, we determined that sleep likely precedes depressive symptoms, rather than the inverse.' Researchers used genetic and health data from 7,146 people who were aged in their 60s, on average. Analysis was based on people's genetic traits, as opposed to how long they actually slept for each night. Over the past few years, sleep academics have found some DNA quirks are linked to how much shut eye people get. Read more: Why scientists say it's not a BAD idea to hit the snooze button and treat yourself to an extra 30 minutes in bed in the morning Advertisement Results showed people with a genetic predisposition to getting less than five hours were 2.5 times more likely to develop depressive symptoms over the next four to 12 years. While adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep, children are advised to have between nine and 13, the NHS recommends. The study was published in Nature, Translational Psychiatry. Professor Andrew Steptoe said: 'Suboptimal sleep and depression increase with age, and with the worldwide phenomenon of population ageing there is a growing need to better understand the mechanism connecting depression and a lack of sleep. 'This study lays important groundwork for future investigations on the intersection of genetics, sleep, and depressive symptoms.' The insects bite humans to cause an infectious disease called leishmaniasis Health officials are worried that a deadly flesh-eating parasite could start being spread from pet dogs to people in the US. Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease carried by sand flies that, until now, had only been detected in the US among people returning from countries where it's endemic in the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Latin America. Now researchers at the CDC have warned they are detecting the infection - which causes sufferers to erupt in sores - in people with no travel history to those countries, suggesting it's spreading domestically. It has raised concerns that the pathogen's deadlier cousin, which causes internal organ damage to the liver, spleen, and bone marrow, could also start spreading in the US - though there are no confirmed cases yet. The deadlier version - visceral leishmaniasis - can be spread by dogs, which are being imported into the US at record numbers. Health officials are worried about a deadly flesh-eating parasite that could be spread from pet dogs The parasites use sand flies as a host, which in the US are known as certain types of horse flies, which then bite humans to cause an infectious disease called leishmaniasis Leishmaniasis results in skin sores or even organ damage WHAT IS LEISHMANIASIS? Leishmaniasis is a parasitic infection found in tropical and subtropical regions, as well as southern Europe. The disease is caused by being infected with one of more than 20 Leishmania parasites, which is spread by over 30 species of sand flies. The most common forms of the condition are cutaneous leishmaniasis - which causes skin sores - and visceral leishmaniasis - which affects the spleen, liver and bone marrow. Cutaneous symptoms usually start out as bumps that then ulcerate. These are typically painless. Visceral symptoms include fever, weight loss, abnormally low blood cells, and an enlarged spleen and liver. Some people have a 'silent infection' and never develop symptoms. Leishmaniasis' prevalence is difficult to estimate. The cutaneous form of the disease is thought to affect between 700,000 and 1.2million people globally every year. And the visceral form affects around 100,000-to-400,000 annually. The infections are found in parts of Asia, Middle East, Africa, southern Europe, Mexico, Central America and South America. Cases that arise in the US or UK are almost always from people who have become infected while travelling or living in other countries. Cutaneous leishmaniasis usually heals on its own without treatment, but this can take years and leave scars. There is also the risk the ulcers may spread from the skin to the nose, mouth or throat. Visceral leishmaniasis is often deadly if untreated, however, medication is available. There is no vaccine or preventative medication for humans, with people being advised to avoid sand flies via nets and insecticide sprays. However, a vaccine does exist for dogs. Collars impregnated with insecticides and spot-on treatments that prevent sand-fly bites are also effective. Source: Center for Disease Control and Prevention Advertisement The most common form of the disease and the one suspected to be endemic in the US, cutaneous leishmaniasis, causes a skin infection with oozing ulcers and open sores. Visceral leishmaniasis, on the other hand, can cause bouts of fever, weight loss, anemia and swelling of the liver and spleen. If left untreated, it can be fatal. Once in insects, it is transmitted in the same way as the skin-related leishmaniasis, through sand fly bites. Visceral leishmaniasis contains a related parasite, leishmania infantum, which affects organs and causes more than 50,000 deaths every year in regions where the parasite thrives, with cases mainly in India, Bangladesh, Sudan Brazil. In the Americas, around 3,800 cases of visceral leishmaniasis are recorded each year, with a fatality rate of roughly seven percent. They had skin infections, which being with a small bump from a sand fly bite that erupts into ulcerous sores. Dr Mary Kamb, a medical epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, told USA Today: 'This is a disease that we in the United States don't really think about. It's really a disease that belongs to other countries.' Dr Kamb and her team have detected leishmaniasis in a number of tissue samples from patients who have not traveled outside the US. All the patients had leishmaniasis skin infections, which begin as a small bite from a sand fly and then erupt into ulcerous sores days to weeks later. Dr Kamb told CNN: 'People could be asymptomatic and not develop anything, but when people are symptomatic, they develop ulcers on their skin and sometimes it starts like a little tiny volcano with a crater in it.' The sores often develop close to where the person was bitten on their body. The parasite disables nerves in the skin, meaning the sores are generally painless. However, they can leave scars and be disfiguring, particularly if they are on someone's face. The majority of the skin samples in the CDC study came from Texas the only US state where doctors are required to reports leishmaniasis cases. Cases were also reported in southeast Oklahoma, according to a research review published in 2021. An antifungal medication called liposomal amphotericin B is used to treat visceral leishmaniasis. There is no vaccine or preventative medication for humans, with people being advised to avoid sand flies via nets and insecticide sprays. However, a vaccine does exist for dogs. Collars impregnated with insecticides and spot-on treatments that prevent sand-fly bites are also effective. A New Yorker who has endured four separate bedbug infestations revealed her tried and true methods for getting rid of the insects. The flat-bodied bugs hide in fabric such as mattresses and upholstery during the day before coming out at night and wreaking havoc on human skin, leaving behind itchy red welts. New York City resident Rebecca Fishbein who has been plagued by four separate bed bug outbreaks advised people to toss clothes and linens in the dryer to kill the bugs and to get a qualified exterminator in to handle furniture. Bed bugs do not discriminate and are just as eager to strike the rich and famous in luxury European hotels as they are middle- and low-income New York City apartment dwellers, making them all the more threatening. Bedbugs are not disease carriers, but being bitten by one causes itchy red welts on the skin similar to poison ivy The insets hide in mattress fabric and crevices before emerging at night to bite their sleeping victims. The bugs can also hide in clothing, furniture, and even books Bedbugs are not a new phenomenon. They lurk in hotels across the US, including those on the Las Vegas strip where the bugs have been found in nine hotels. Theyre also a common scourge among New York residents where apartments are so close together that bugs can migrate easily from one resident to another. But when Parisian fashionistas snapped pictures during Fashion Week from September 25 through October 3 in hotels and on the metro of the little bugs, the story picked up steam quickly, garnering input from the French government which pledged to address the scourge of bedbugs. Emmanuel Gregoire, Paris deputy mayor, said: No one is safe. 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. The UK is now seeing an outbreak, with Britons finding the insects on subway seats as well as apartments. Landlords there are now recommending tenants to 'put their duvets in freezers' and empty their vacuums. Bedbugs are just as common stateside as they are across the pond, especially in cities. They are most prevalent in Baltimore, Maryland, Washington, DC, Chicago, Illinois, and New York City. Rebecca Fishbein, a writer for Insider, shared her experience with four separate bouts of bedbug infestations in three different New York City apartments. She said: They love to hitch rides in used furniture and clothing. High heat is the single best way to kill live bugs and eggs, so if you buy clothes from a thrift store, throw them in a dryer for 30 minutes to an hour when you get home. If you find upholstered or even wooden furniture yes, they can make a home in those crevices, too on the street, I suggest leaving it there, no matter how nice it might look in your living room. (Metal furniture is a safer bet, although it's not immune.) 'Don't even think about getting a used mattress. Bedbugs do not carry diseases and are not as dangerous as other insects, but they are nasty. Their bites are itchy and can be painful. It can also take a long time for them to disappear. UK-native Natalie Brown, who went on beach vacation to Spain, accumulated bites all over her body from sleeping on the sofa in her hotel room. Even when she returned home, the bites worsened and she was prescribed a course of antibiotics to clear her inflamed and itchy skin. Natalie Brown (pictured), 28, was left covered in bedbug bites after she spent three days on a vacation in Benidorm, Spain Her reaction to the bites was so severe, Ms Brown required a course of antibiotics to clear her inflamed and itchy skin Ms Brown said: 'My bites were incredibly itchy, they were sore, I couldn't show my legs and arm for around six months until the bites and scars went down. 'My friends didn't think the bites were that bad when they were fresh, but then in the following weeks they got bigger and lots of people were shocked by the amount of bites on me, especially the ones on my face.' It is unlikely that their would-be victims would be able to spot them, as they hide in dark crevices during the day. And because their saliva contains a mild anesthetic, their bites cant be felt till much later. Finding signs of fecal matter on a mattress, which looks like tiny dashes made by a Sharpie marker, is a good indication that its time to call in an exterminator. Ms Fishbein said: You can even get a bedbug-sniffing dog to come in to suss out exactly where live bugs are located, which makes the experience somewhat cuter. But the treatment process can be arduous. It involves heating all clothing and bedding in the dryer to kill the bugs, taking furniture apart, vacuuming, and lifting the mattress. To prevent infestations in the first place, people should invest in a mattress and box spring protector. And a portable heater called a PackTite can heat up shoes, suitcases, books, and other objects that cant go in a dryer. When staying in a hotel, insect experts recommend checking the bed for signs, either bug exoskeletons or droppings. And never put a suitcase on the floor. Instead, experts recommend placing it on a tile floor or in the bathtub. Ms Fishbein said: Having bedbugs is stressful and expensive. It can feel lonely and isolating. It can make you fight with the people you live with, whether they're roommates or a partner or your entire family. But a bedbug infestation is just one battle among many. And remember: You can always set fire to all your possessions and move. Past Lying by Val McDermid Sphere 22, 439pp (Sphere 22, 439pp) Often described as the queen of crime, McDermid brings all her subtlety and skill to this deliciously creepy story of two crime writers, one established, the other less so, who regularly play chess with one another. The two often discuss planning the perfect murder and when the more successful one dies suddenly he leaves a manuscript behind that outlines the plan. Enter cold case investigator DCI Karen Pirie, in her seventh outing, who realises that the recently discovered manuscript could be the cunning outline for a killing that frames the other writer for the murder. On the surface it looks like a meticulously engineered scheme, but as Pirie begins to investigate it emerges that nothing is quite what it seems. With echoes of Patricia Highsmiths Strangers On A Train, but with an originality all of its own, the elegant story slowly reveals the betrayal and revenge that lie at its heart. Becoming the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar (Hodder & Stoughton 22, 448pp) IN the summer of 1988 we learn that a young Chizmar found himself thrust into a maelstrom of evil as he set out to explain the four murders committed in a peaceful Maryland town by Joshua Gallagher a serial killer known locally as the Boogeyman. He was eventually brought to justice, but would only talk to the young author, who turned his exploits into a best-selling true crime story. Now, three decades later, a copycat killer has emerged, who appears to be apeing Gallaghers original murders and targeting the now middle-aged Chizmar as he does so. Could the writer be in some way responsible for this new spate of killings? Like its 2021 predecessor, Chasing The Boogeyman, this is a novel that masquerades as fact, and does so to startling effect, the reader never quite knowing what is fact and what is fiction. And like his friend and former co-author Stephen King, Chizmar is a master of capturing the horrors beneath the surface of suburbia. King would certainly approve here this is stunning. The Enchanters by James Ellroy Hutchinson Heinemann 22, 448pp (Hutchinson Heinemann 22, 448pp) No one captures the nightmare that lies behind the American dream better than the unforgettable Ellroy, author of The Black Dahlia and LA Confidential, among many other masterpieces. The year is 1962; the focus is the tragic death of Marilyn Monroe and how it was inextricably linked to President Kennedy and his Attorney General, younger brother Bobby. The storyteller is the ex-cop, now private eye, Freddy Otash, who starred in Ellroys Underworld USA trilogy. As always with Ellroy the language is ferocious and staccato, and the story moves at breakneck pace, but the tapestry that it weaves casts a magic spell over the reader, leaving them begging for more. This is the master of darkness at his incomparable best simply impossible to put down. SSE Energy Services and Utilita have the worst overall customer service of any energy firm, according to charity Citizens Advice - though no company scores higher than 3.65 out of 5 stars. Earlier this week energy firms were ordered to improve customer service by regulator Ofgem, especially for vulnerable customers in debt. Ofgem is also ordering energy firms to publish Citizens' Advice ratings of their customer service so the public can see how they compare on issues such as call wait times and quality of responses. But that Citizens Advice data is already available, and the details are revealing. Energy firm customer service compared from worst to best Energy firm Stars out of five SSE Energy Services 1.83 Utilita 1.9 Boost Power 2.38 British Gas 2.45 E (Gas and Electricity) 2.63 Good Energy 2.75 Utility Warehouse 2.75 So Energy 2.8 E.On Energy 2.85 Bulb Energy 2.85 Ovo Energy 2.9 Scottish Power 3.1 Co-Operative Power 3.1 Affect Energy 3.1 Octopus Energy 3.3 Ecotricity 3.3 EDF Energy 3.45 Shell Energy 3.5 Outfox the Market 3.65 Source: Citizens Advice Citizens Advice compared energy firms on criteria such as number of complaints, ease of contact, clear bills, ease of switching and customer guarantees, then gave each a mark out of five. SSE Energy Services came lowest in the overall ranking, with 1.83 stars, followed by Utilita with 1.9, for the latest figures of April to June 2023. Citizens Advice found that SSE Energy Services had 142.7 complaints per 10,000 customers in the period, or 1.4 per cent of its customers. Its average call centre wait time was 3 minutes 11 seconds and 11.1 per cent of customers had at least one wrong bill. Meanwhile Utilita had 170.5 complaints per 10,000 customers, a call wait time of 3 minutes 43 seconds and 6.9 per cent of customers got wrong bills. The best energy firm for customer service, Outfox the Market, was scored 3.65 stars. Outfox the Market had 21.8 complaints for every 10,000 customers, call wait times of 51 seconds and 0.6 per cent of customers reported getting a wrong bill. SSE Energy Services is now owned by Ovo after an acquisition deal in 2019, with all customers being moved over by the end of the month. A Utilita spokesperson said: 'Yet again, the Citizens Advice Star Rating fails to reflect neither the unique nature of our business nor the service our customers receive. 'Utilita is unlike any other UK energy supplier. As a Smart+ Pay As You Go specialist, we serve some of the UKs hardest pressed households, who tend to use Citizens Advice services more than your average credit customer. 'We also have issues with their approach to recording complaints which classes contacts made to them by our customers as complaints, regardless of whether we are at fault. Until the rankings recognise these important points, they will not provide a representative picture.' Ovo would not comment on behalf of SSE Energy Services. State pension top-ups: HMRC, pictured, takes in extra contributions then the DWP recalculates forecasts or payments A 68-year-old whose 11,500 state pension top-up cash went missing last March pleaded for help for months but received no help from Government staff. The retired taxi driver told This is Money he felt 'terrible' and 'very stressed out' about the loss of such a huge sum, after making dozens of futile calls to HMRC and the Department for Work and Pensions. We were also contacted by a 66-year-old business owner who handed over a total of around 3,300 in December and February, and likewise got nowhere trying to find her money. 'I dont really know where to start, this whole experience has been such a farce,' she says. Read a log of her fruitless efforts to flag her situation to government staff below. A string of our readers have struggled to trace thousands of pounds of state pension top-up money that vanished, but these two cases are arguably the most serious we have covered to date. Former Pensions Minister Steve Webb slammed the customer service involved here as 'simply woeful', and called on HMRC and DWP to 'see the system through the eyes of the citizen'. Another former Pensions Minister, Ros Altmann, said complex rules and the involvement of two departments was causing 'untold confusion which leaves peoples pension records in limbo'. And Liberal Democrat Work and Pensions spokesperson, Wendy Chamberlain, said: 'Pensioners deserve better than this heartless incompetence.' Why are savers having trouble buying state pension top-ups? We have covered the rolling chaos in the state pension top-ups system since the start of this year, after a rush of buyers caused a payments backlog. The system involves HMRC taking in extra contributions and updating National Insurance records, then the DWP recalculating state pension forecasts or payments. But there was turmoil when savers jammed phonelines ahead of a crunch deadline - ultimately forcing the Government to extend it twice. Buying state pension top-ups Buying top-ups can give a generous boost to retirement income if you buy the correct years on your record. The state pension is currently worth 10,600 a year if you qualify for the full rate. Top-up prices are now frozen until April 2025, even though the full state pension was hiked 10.1 per cent earlier this year, and is set to rise by a chunky amount next year too. You can continue to benefit from a special concession allowing you to fill up or buy extra state pension qualifying years going back to 2006/07, rather than just the typical six years. But it can be hard to work out which years if any will benefit you individually, and the Government itself and other money experts warn you should check with the DWP before handing over your cash. > Read This is Money's guide to buying state pension top-ups, and see below for more information and DWP contact details. We continue to hear from a stream of frustrated savers who tell us thousands of pounds of their top-ups cash has vanished. They claim that they either can't get through on DWP or HMRC phonelines, or if they do staff fail to provide any help. This is despite the Government saying most top-ups are processed in days, and it is unclear why some of our readers have run into problems because they have checked sums are correct with DWP in advance, and paid by bank transfer using a reference given to them by HMRC. Savers don't receive receipts or acknowledgements when they make payments. And when their cash appears to go missing in one or other department or between them, they cannot tell if it is just sitting in a queue, temporarily mislaid or actually lost. A number of people have now asked us what would happen if they died while still waiting for their top-ups money to be processed, and we passed this question to the Government but received no response. Should this sadly occur it would be worth beneficiaries trying to get a refund of their loved one's cash. You can ask your MP for help, or contact This is Money - find our details below. In response to our two latest cases, the Government sorted them both out and repeated the statement it has sent us in the past, saying: 'The vast majority of voluntary contributions paid result in records being updated within days, though more complex cases requiring specialist caseworkers can take longer to resolve. 'We have extended the deadline to 5 April 2025 to give taxpayers more time to fill gaps in their National Insurance record and help increase the amount they receive in state pension, and we aim to update state pension records as soon as possible once notified that HMRC have allocated a payment to someones National Insurance record.' The Government added that where delays do occur, it apologises for any inconvenience caused to the individual affected, and that it has extra staff dealing with voluntary state pension contributions. Steve Webb, who is now a partner at LCP and This is Money's pensions columnist, said: 'It can be incredibly frustrating to try to get things sorted out on the phone. 'People get passed from one person to another, promised calls back do not happen, and they end up holding on for ages for someone to answer only to get cut off. The customer service in these cases is simply woeful. 'Both HMRC and DWP need to see the system through the eyes of the citizen and make sure people can actually get things sorted out when they go wrong.' 'The Government must immediately put special measures in place to identify what is going wrong with their advice lines, and make sure no one else's money goes missing. Wendy Chamberlain, Liberal Democrats Lady Altmann, a long-time campaigner on pensions who now sits in the House of Lords, says: 'Once again, the complexity of the state pension rules is creating huge administrative problems for staff at both DWP and HMRC. 'The old state pension system required liaison between the two departments and that has created untold confusion which leaves peoples pension records in limbo. 'I am pleased the Government has extended deadlines to 2025 and would expect these kinds of delays to persist as there are so many people with complex past records that will need to be sorted out.' Wendy Chamberlain, of the Lib Dems, said: 'The inability of this Government to carry out even basic functions of public service is astounding. 'It should go without saying that if you tell people to call for advice, that this should be readily available and correct. If you tell people to make payments, then their money should be kept safe. And that if you have made pledges to protect pensioners, then you shouldn't abandon them to struggle. 'The Government must immediately put special measures in place to identify what is going wrong with their advice lines, and make sure no one else's money goes missing. Pensioners deserve better than this heartless incompetence.' 'I am getting very stressed out with the situation' Stirling Fleck paid more than 11,500 for 14 years of voluntary contributions in March, because he had nine qualifying years and you need at least 10 to receive a state pension. He had previously worked as a taxi driver, and been a carer for his mother. Mr Fleck, who lives in Essex, told us: 'I have phoned dozens and dozens of times and been put through to loads of different departments. I still have not heard anything and nothing still has been sorted out. 'I cannot claim my state pension until this is sorted. I am getting very stressed out with the situation.' What to do if your top-ups cash has gone missing Having trouble with top-ups? Email pensionquestions@thisismoney.co.uk Please put STATE PENSION TOP UPS in the subject line. Unfortunately we can't reply to everyone, so it is a good idea to contact your MP too and ask them to help. Find your MP here. Doing this will also raise awareness among politicians about state pension top-up failures, which This is Money readers have kept reporting to us for months. He said he was at a loss and would like to know where his money has gone, or at least have it returned to him if there was a problem, and added: 'I have made so many calls. I just feel terrible.' HMRC said it wrote to Mr Fleck in April asking for clarification on which years he wished to pay for, and he wrote back in May but unfortunately this letter was mistakenly forwarded to the incorrect department. It has now written to Mr Fleck to apologise for the delay, and he has started getting his state pension and received arrears of nearly 4,000. 'This whole experience has been such a farce' Angela Smith (whose name has been changed) paid 800 in December and nearly 2,500 in February to boost her state pension when she turned 66 in March. She had called both HMRC and DWP before doing this, and at one point says she was wrongly informed by a staff member that she could buy cheaper 'class 2' instead of the more usual 'class 3' contributions for several years when she had lived in Spain. After buying top-ups in two instalments, she spent months chasing up what had happened to her cash and appealing to Government staff to track it down, but got nowhere - see her call log below. Mrs Smith, a business owner who lives in the West Midlands, said her husband bought top-ups at the same time as she did, and they couldn't fathom why his went through with no problem while her money had apparently disappeared. In September, nine months after making her first payment, she contacted This is Money to ask for help. She told us: 'I dont really know where to start, this whole experience has been such a farce, as if having to wait an extra six years to get my pension wasnt bad enough.' After we intervened in her case, HMRC allocated her payments, updated her NI record and wrote to her to apologise for the delay. Her state pension was increased and she has received arrears of 580. 'Same questions, what was I paying for! How much had I paid! When had I paid it!' Angela Smith kept a log of the attempts she made to chase top-up payments totalling nearly 3,300 made last December and February, summarised below. 3 March: Received letter from HMRC which said thank you for the payment received on in February, but could I tell them what it was for. Filled in their form showing the two payments made, when I had made them and what years they covered, as advised by the Pension Service. 31 March: State pension age reached. 14 April: Pension forecast statement arrived, dated 25 March, but it did not include the top-ups. Phoned the Pension Service to ask why the amount was incorrect. They informed me that they could only work with information that they had. Staff member finished by saying that a review would be conducted. 17 May: Contacted HMRC. Same thing all over again, how much had I paid, when and what years did it cover etc. Again I was told that it would be sorted out and I wasnt to worry, because anything that I was underpaid would be paid in the end! 1 August: Same questions, what was I paying for! How much had I paid! When had I paid it! Staff member eventually agreed that I had paid a total of 3268.20 and that this had been allocated to the years that the Pension Service had advised and that everything was now correct and I would receive the correct pension but to allow six weeks for everything to be put into place, but rest assured everything was now correct. 25 September: Contacted This is Money. In her message, Mrs Smith told us: 'I dont know what to do. I could phone again waiting on average 55 minutes for them to pick up, answer all the same questions again and two months from now, be in exactly the same position as I am now. I dont know what else to do, could you help please.' How to buy state pension top-ups? What else does the Government say The DWP and HMRC provided further information about current delays processing top-up payments, and what it is doing with people's money in the meantime. - They have extra staff answering phone calls and dealing with correspondence on voluntary contributions, including processing refunds. - System improvements made since May mean the vast majority of payments made via bank transfer, for all years dating back to 2006, are being processed within days. Payments made via cheque can take up to eight weeks to process. - HMRCs latest performance statistics, including for National Insurance, for January to March are here. - People who need to apply for a refund of voluntary contributions can check here: Claim a National Insurance refund. - Payments made to HMRC are added to money it collects for the Exchequer, which is used to pay for vital public services and helps families and individuals with targeted financial support. - Voluntary National Insurance contributions do not always increase your state pension and you should check you would benefit before making any payments. - If youre below state pension age, contact the Future Pension Centre to find out more. If youve reached state pension age, contact the Pension Service. - If you need a reference number to make payments for voluntary contributions contact HMRC. The Biden administration is admitting Israel into a select group of countries whose citizens are allowed to travel to the United States without getting a visa in advance. The decision announced Wednesday comes despite Washington's concerns about the Israeli governments treatment of Palestinian Americans and marks a major accomplishment for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has sparred frequently with the Biden administration. Under the waiver program, as of Nov. 30, Israelis will be able to travel to the U.S. for business or leisure purposes for up to 90 days without a visa simply by registering with the Electronic System for Travel Authorization. President Joe Biden meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. Biden was in New York to address the 78th United Nations General Assembly. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Israel had been facing a Saturday deadline, the end of the U.S. government's budget year, to gain admission to the program without having to requalify for eligibility next year. The Department of Homeland Security administers the program, which currently allows citizens of 40 mostly European and Asian countries to travel to the U.S. for three months without visas. Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the agreement, after more than a decade of work, 'will enhance our two nations collaboration on counterterrorism, law enforcement and our other common priorities' and make the allies more secure. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a joint statement with Mayorkas, cited enhanced 'freedom of movement for U.S. citizens, including those living in the Palestinian Territories or traveling to and from them.' Israels admission has been a priority for successive Israeli leaders. It comes as Netanyahu is facing months of mass protests against his proposed remake of Israels judicial system that critics say will make the country less democratic. Israeli tanks seen on a road near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel October 20, 2023. Israel is advancing with its ground assault 'Today we mark an important and joyful moment for all citizens of Israel,' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. 'This will save you, citizens of Israel a lot of time, a lot of trouble and a lot of money.' Other countries already enrolled in the Visa Waiver Program are the United Kingdom, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium Brunei, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein,Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Korea, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Taiwan. Officials however still reserve the right to turn away individuals at the airport. He described the decision as 'further evidence of the strong ties between Israel and the Untied States' and thanked President Joe Biden and other officials who helped make it possible. Palestinian diplomats complained that the U.S. had allowed Israel into the program without the country fulfilling its commitments of equal treatment for Palestinian Americans. Palestinian advocacy groups have reported that even during the test phase of the visa waiver agreement, Palestinian Americans have faced discrimination and harassment by Israeli authorities at airports and checkpoints. 'At a time when the U.S. administration has repeatedly said that its goal is for Israel to provide the same opportunities of freedom, equality, prosperity and security for both Palestinians and Israelis, we expect the Biden administration to implement what it believes, works on and promises,' the Palestinian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Countries that want to take part in the visa program have to meet three critical benchmarks. Israel met two of those benchmarks over the past two years: a low percentage of Israelis who applied for visas and were rejected, and a low percentage of Israelis who have overstayed their visas. Israel had struggled to meet the third, for reciprocity that essentially means all U.S. citizens, including Palestinian Americans, must be treated equally when traveling to or through Israel. Aside from the reciprocity requirement, which is disputed by some Palestinian American groups, a rejection of Israel would mean the country would have again had to meet U.S. standards for low rates of visa application refusals and visa overstays. Israel had not met those criteria for years, but the numbers for both came down significantly in part due to coronavirus travel restrictions and an educational campaign in Israel sponsored by the U.S. Embassy and the Israeli government to discourage Israelis with questionable eligibility for visas from applying in the first place. Some officials said it was not clear whether Israel would have been able to meet those statistical standards in the next U.S. budget year. Claiming national security reasons, Israel has long had separate entry requirements and screening processes for Palestinian Americans. Many complained that the procedures were onerous and discriminatory. Americans with Palestinian residency documents in the West Bank and Gaza Strip were largely barred from using Israels international airport. Instead, like other Palestinians, they were forced to travel through either Jordan or Egypt to reach their destinations. U.S. officials have stressed that Israel's status in the program will be constantly monitored and if it is seen to fall out of compliance, the special visa waiver status can be revoked. But even before the announcement was official, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee said it had filed a federal lawsuit aiming to stop Israel from being allowed into the program. The group claims that despite American assertions, Palestinian Americans were still facing discrimination when traveling to Israel. An iconic Aussie outback town is facing the fight of its life with more than 1,000 jobs about to be wiped out from its lifeblood industry. Mining giant Glencore announced this week that its Mount Isa underground mine operation in Queensland's north-west will shut down within two years, citing low ore quality and ageing infrastructure. The closure of one of the world's biggest copper mines won't just impact on the mine's 1,200 workers, it will also have a dramatic ripple effect on the 18,317 residents who call Mount Isa home. Homeowners have inundated the phones at City & Country Realty, a local real estate agency, expressing worries about a potential decline in the property market, owner John Tully told the ABC. 'People are definitely panicking but our message to our clients is one of calm until this decision is a little more planned out and we know more details panic is not the right way to go,' he said. 'I think it will knock us around for 12 months. But I think there are enough industry projects across the area that will sustain the community for a long time to come.' Locals take in the views of the Mount Isa Mines, which will shut down in 2025 Chamber of Commerce president Emma Harman doesn't believe the shutting down of the mine will signify the end of Mount Isa READ MORE: Tiny Aussie mining town saved from being wiped off the map Advertisement Community leaders have vowed to rally behind locals to ensure the mining town isn't wiped off the map, with new mines earmarked for the region. But they admit the news is a devastating blow for the town 'It's been a mixed reaction,' Chamber of Commerce president Emma Harman told Daily Mail Australia. 'While many people are quite shocked and have a sense of doom and gloom, others more have been much more pragmatic. 'Yes, there's a time of change and transition ahead but it doesn't the signify the end of Mount Isa.' 'This period of transition may be uncomfortable for a time but this is not the time to panic. Mount Isa has a strong future going forward.' Mayor Danielle Slade added: 'We knew this day would come but it's still a bitter pill.' 'I'll be working to make sure Glencore makes locals their absolute number one priority in who gets looked after first. 'Mount Isa is tough and it's resilient. And this isn't the end of mining - it's barely even the beginning.' Mount Isa Mines is located on the edge of the outback town home to less than 20,000 Mount Isa mayor Danielle Slade described Glencore's announcement as a 'bitter pill' Glencore's announcement prompted an impromptu fly-in visit from the Queensland government which announced a $50million support package. That includes about $30million to fast track new mines in the region. 'Glencore made it very clear to us there was nothing that the Queensland government could say, or do, or pay, to continue those mines operating in that community,' treasurer Cameron Dick said. 'The work of the government now switches towards supporting the families of the miners and the community going forward. 'Mount Isa is part of Queensland's mining heritage, and it will be part of Queensland's mining future.' Mount Isa is a proud mining town celebrating 100 years of existence in 2023 Glencore is yet to reveal how many jobs at Mount Isa Mines will become redundant Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk acknowledged it would be a difficult decision or many workers and their families to accept. 'But we will always do what we can to support workers and their families to find new good, secure jobs,' she said. 'Mount Isa has been here for a century. We will back this town.' It is estimated untouched minerals found in the northwest province are valued at $500 billion. Glencore remains tight-lipped about how many Mount Isa Mine jobs will become redundant before the facility shuts down in the second half of 2025. Its other metals assets including the copper smelter, George Fisher Mine, zinc-lead concentrator, and lead smelter in Mount Isa will all continue operating. However its Lady Loretta zinc mine 140kilometres north-west of the town will also close in 2025. 'The reality of mining is that mines have a beginning, middle and end. And, unfortunately, after 60 years of operation, Mount Isa's underground copper operations have now reached that end,' Glencore chief operating officer Sam Strohmayr said. 'We want to give our people as much time as possible to consider the best options for them and their families, which is why we are notifying our workers and the community almost two years before these mines close.' Princess Diana's biographer is worried that the late Queen's private letters could be burnt by royal aides before a historian is able to look at her papers to write her official biography. More than a year on from Her Late Majesty's death, no announcement has been made over which historian will be granted the job of writing the official story of her life. Earlier this year it emerged that King Charles had entrusted loyal Palace aide Paul Whybrew with the task of sorting through the Queen's private papers before they are transferred to the Royal archive at Windsor. But Andrew Morton, the author of the revelation-filled 1992 work Diana: Her True Story, expressed his fears that the Queen's papers will be filleted to remove any material that the Royal Family do not want to become public. Speaking to the Scandal Mongers podcast, he said he is 'enormously' concerned that aides may be 'burning the letters' and added that 'an awful lot' could be 'disguised' and 'camouflaged'. Princess Diana 's biographer is worried that the late Queen's private letters could be burnt by royal aides before a historian is able to look at her papers to write her official biography. More than a year on from Her Late Majesty's death, no announcement has been made over which historian will be granted the job of writing the official story of her life Earlier this year it emerged that King Charles had entrusted loyal Palace aide Paul Whybrew with the task of sorting through the Queen's private papers before they are transferred to the Royal archive at Windsor. Above: Whybrew with the Queen in the sketch filmed with James Bond star Daniel Craig in 2012 He cited how Princess Diana's mother Frances Shand Kydd and her sister Sarah burnt much of her correspondence after her death in a car crash in 1997. Mr Morton told fellow historians Andrew Lownie and Phil Craig last week: 'We have two major biographies about to be commissioned. One on Prince Philip and one on Her Majesty The Queen. 'Who will be chosen? Don't know. Who's going through the archives? Well apparently it's the Queen's footman, Paul Whybrew, Tall Paul. 'It does concern me enormously, are they going to be burning the letters like Princess Margaret did with the Queen Mother's correspondence. 'Like the Spencer family did. Like Sarah McCorquodale and Frances Shand Kydd did with Diana's correspondence. They even burnt the ink jotters that she had.' Andrew Morton is the author of the revelation-filled 1992 work Diana: Her True Story He also questioned whether the Royal Family should be allowed to control access to the Queen's papers. 'Should it be left to the family? Obviously they would argue that it's "our mother" and it's our property, so the letters are her copyright. It's a pretty seductive argument,' he said. 'They wear different hats. They wear the privacy hat when its about shielding correspondence and memos and so on and then they wear the public hat when its about cost.' He added: 'The quicker the Queen biography is commissioned the better because the people who were her friends are all dying. It's as simple as that. Academics previously described the decision to appoint 'Tall Paul' Whybrew to sort through the Queen's papers as 'deeply concerning'. Whybrew is not a trained historian or archivist but has been appointed to sort through the Queen's private papers and letters They feared that vital historic documents could be suppressed or destroyed without public knowledge. One high-profile historian who asked not to be named told the Mail on Sunday the decision was a 'clear break' with previous practice. 'By doing it this way [with an aide going through the documents] you are hobbling the biographer and the biography and you are deciding that your judgment is more important than the judgment of a historian,' they said last month. Mr Lownie, himself a royal biographer, added his voice to the criticism. He said in September: 'The Royal Family have a history of destroying records and there are worries this may happen again. 'It is important that an official biographer for both her and Prince Philip, with unfettered access to their papers, is announced soon and that any censorship is done with a light touch.' He recently failed in a bid to find out if Scotland Yard ever investigated Virginia Giuffre's allegations against Prince Andrew. The writer had asked via the Freedom of Information Act if police had looked into her claims of being trafficked to the UK and, if not, who had authorised that the probe be dropped. The Met replied: 'We cannot confirm or deny whether information is held in relation to any allegations from this individual.' Morton's 1992 book revealed Diana's deep unhappiness in her marriage to King Charles, who was then the Prince of Wales. At the time, the public were not aware that the book was based on taped recollections which Diana had recorded for him. The Princess described cutting herself with a pen knife, throwing herself down the stairs when she was pregnant with Prince William and throwing up four times a day as bulimia took hold. Andrew Morton's 1992 biography of Princess Diana (left) was written with the royal's close collaboration. It told the 'true' story of Diana's marriage to the then Prince Charles. Right: Morton The biographer capitalised on his bestselling work by releasing Diana: Her True Story In Her Own Words just months after her death in 1997. The book featured the transcripts of their conversations, officially outing her as the main source. This was followed by Diana: In Pursuit of Love in 2004, which detailed her affairs with the likes of soldier James Hewitt, heart surgeon Hasnat Khan and property developer Christopher Walley. Last year, a 25th anniversary edition of his first book about Diana was released with exclusive new material that was kept out of the first version. Britain's least reliable train firms have been named and shamed in the latest round of transport statistics - with one operator cancelling almost one in 10 journeys across four weeks. Official figures collated by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) show Grand Central cancelled 9.4 per cent of all journeys in the four weeks to September 16. The Arriva-operated franchise runs trains from London to west Yorkshire and the north-east of England; another Arriva brand, CrossCountry, was second-poorest, cancelling 6.2 per cent of trains in the same period. State-owned Northern Trains was the third least reliable, cancelling 5.5 per cent of trains, while the Heathrow Express - run jointly by the airport itself and Great Western Railway (GWR) - cancelled 5 per cent, or one in 20, of its services. GWR itself ranked fifth in cancellation figures, scrapping 4.4 per cent of timetabled runs between mid-August and mid-September. Official figures collated by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) show Grand Central cancelled 9.4 per cent of all journeys in the four weeks to September 16 Grand Central, operated by German state-owned transport firm Arriva, cancelled nearly one in 10 services it was meant to run in the space of four weeks Train operating companies say that industrial action and other circumstances beyond their control are to blame for some of the cancellations (pictured: Waterloo station in London) Anthony Smith, chief executive of passenger advocacy group Transport Focus, says cancellations are making passengers 'miserable' Passenger groups have blasted the firms for making passengers' lives 'miserable' - while the firms themselves say that some of the cancellations were due to circumstances beyond their control and waves of industrial action. Strikes took place on August 26, September 1 and September 2 within the period covered by the data; the actions, by ASLEF and RMT affected operators across the country. Across Great Britain, an average of 3.29 per cent of services were unexpectedly cut. The figures do not include so-called 'P-coded' cancellations: pre-planned culls to services made in advance of anticipated disruption - these statistics only cover decisions made to cut a service on the day it was meant to run. READ MORE: Passengers' fury at Euston rail chaos after signal failure blocked all lines out of London transport hub for two hours with people left trapped on carriages and facing huge delays Advertisement MailOnline analysis of the ORR data shows that responsibility for the vast majority of cancellations lay with the train operator; 60 per cent of services were scrapped because of train faults, issues such as a lack of staff or 'external events' such as passengers taking ill. This varied between operators: more than four in five Grand Central and Northern cancellations were down to the firms, according to the figures. The remainder of cancellations were attributed to Network Rail, or to other external factors such as extreme weather. Anthony Smith, chief executive of passenger advocacy body Transport Focus, told MailOnline: 'Cancellations make life miserable for rail passengers and too many are being let down by rail operators. 'Passengers want to see a relentless focus on reliability and clear, accurate information from train operators so that they can plan their journeys with confidence. 'A more reliable and better value for money railway must arrive soon for passengers.' MailOnline contacted the five worst-performing operators - Grand Central, CrossCountry, Northern Trains, Heathrow Express and GWR - for comment on their above-average cancellation rates. Sean English, chief operating officer for Grand Central told us: The period measured was a challenging time for us. We had a number of trains stood down for repair to defects, or damage caused by circumstances out of our control. This resulted in a number of short-term timetable changes. 'Going forward, the position is improving. We have reduced the level of cancellations through trains being repaired and back into service, and we have secured the lease of several additional trains, enhancing our overall availability, improving our performance and providing a more reliable timetable for our customers.' A CrossCountry spokesperson said: 'We are doing everything possible to reduce the number of cancellations and its impact on our customers. 'Over the past four months, cancellation figures have fallen due to the re-introduction of Rest Day Working arrangements and the adoption of improved measures around how we manage our train crew resource. 'We are confident that these measures will continue to make a positive impact and enable us to run an even more reliable service for our customers. CrossCountry does not p-code services, which is sometimes adopted so that pre-cancelled services do not appear in official cancellation statistics.' A spokesperson for GWR said: 'We recognise how important it is that our trains are consistent and reliable, and work incredibly hard to ensure that they are. 'More than 95 per cent, or over 40,000 trains were operated during the period, and 95 per cent of those arrived within 15 mins. 'These figures should be seen against a backdrop of continued industrial action, where we plan to operate as many trains as possible, and some significant infrastructure challenges in London and the Thames Valley, including a lineside fire near Didcot. 'We continue to work with Network Rail as we seek to improve the reliability of the track, and we urge the unions to progress discussions to avoid any further, damaging strike action.' A CrossCountry train in Brockenhurst. The firm, which like Grand Central is run by Arriva, was rated second-worst for cancellations in official transport statistics Northern Trains, one of just a handful of state-run train services in Britain, had the third-highest rate of service cancellations in the space of four weeks Heathrow Express (left, pictured at Paddington Station) cancelled one in 20 services in the four weeks to September 16 GWR, which also manages the Heathrow Express in partnership with the London airport, ranked fifth-worst for cancellations, dropping 4.4 per cent of planned services on the day Tricia Williams, chief operating officer at Northern Trains, said: 'We recognise that the rail network across the north has not performed as well as we'd have liked, and we are sorry for the disruption and inconvenience caused. 'We are very actively managing higher levels of staff sickness, and on Sundays, which rely on crews volunteering to work additional hours, we have seen a reduction in drivers making themselves available on parts of the network. 'In addition, the ongoing industrial relations issues have their own impact. We are working hard with our colleagues and other train operators to improve service reliability. 'We remain transparent as a train operating company, and we publish our performance figures online.' Heathrow Express was contacted for comment. The best-performing operator was Hull Trains, which cancelled just one per cent of services, followed by Southeastern, Chiltern Railways and cross-country operators Lumo and Caledonian Sleeper, who each canceled less than one in 50 routes. In London, the Elizabeth Line's performance improved following a disastrous spell in the summer that saw nearly one in 10 trains on the new TfL line cancelled in the four weeks to August 19. In the following month, this dropped to 4.3 per cent of services. In Scotland and Wales, where national services are run by a single operator, 2.2 per cent of Scotrail services and 4.5 per cent of Transport for Wales trains were unexpected cancelled in the time period. Scotrail has been owned by the Scottish Government since April last year; Transport for Wales is operated by Arriva - itself owned by German state railway operator Deutsche Bahn. Ben has become used to the sound of missiles flying over his head. But when the Los Angeles-born staff sergeant awoke in Israel on the morning of Saturday, October 7, 'something felt truly different,' he says. As he scrolled through videos of 'ISIS-like' Hamas terrorists parading through cities on pickup trucks, brandishing AK-47s and RPGs, he realized everything he had trained for but hoped would never happen was now upon him. 'This time, we're at war,' he thought. The 26-year-old is one of dozens of Americans to have answered the call of the Israel Defense Force (IDF) as part of its mobilization of 360,000 reservists for an imminent ground invasion of Gaza. As columns of tanks massed on the border Friday morning, four US-Israeli soldiers spoke to DailyMail.com as they grapple with the gnawing reality that - as Ben admits - some won't come home. Ben, 26, was born and raised in Los Angeles but has lived in Israel for the past six years Ariel (left, who requested we not use his real name) was born in Israel but has lived in New Jersey for the past decade and works as a teacher in Manhattan. Pictured above with his wife and the eldest of his three children, whom he has left behind in the US Hillel, 24, (right) was born and raised in Highland Park, New Jersey, before moving to Israel to study. His wife and ten-month-old daughter (pictured) have remained in the US where they were visiting family when Hamas launched its assault on Israel on October 7 Rudy, 30, was born in Paris but studied at UCLA and Columbia and has American citizenship Leaving family behind 'I have never done something like this before,' says Hillel, 24, who is stationed in south Israel. 'As a reservist, it's a bit of a different experience, but this is what the Israeli army prepares you for.' Hillel had been visiting family in New Jersey, where he was born and raised, when Hamas launched its deadly attack on Israel, slaughtering more than 1,300 civilians and soldiers. His first reaction was one of disbelief, but when reports confirmed children, families, entire villages, had been massacred by militants, it took him ten seconds to reach a decision. 'I had to go back,' he says. Like most reservists, Hillel has some prior combat experience, but largely limited to smaller scale skirmishes along the Gaza border. But unlike most Israelis, his call up was not compulsory as he was raised in the US and came to Israel of his own volition to study. His decision to fight meant leaving his wife and ten-month-old daughter behind in the US, where they had joined him on vacation. Hillel told his daughter that 'dad will see you soon' and left her 'a bunch of live videos'. 'I've done a few video chats with her and those are the hardest,' he says. 'As soon as she sees my face, she just jumps onto the phone and grabs it. She's so excited because she feels like I'm there. 'I miss them and I'm not really sure when I'll be able to see them again.' Hillel told DailyMail.com he had 'never done something like this before' when asked about how his prior combat experience compared to what he was preparing to face in Gaza He said he felt he 'had to go back' to Israel to fight Hamas after the terrorist group slaughtered more than 1,300 civilians and soldiers in the country A column of Israeli tanks now sits on the border with Gaza, ready to invade Tens of thousands of Israeli soldiers and scores of tanks and armoured vehicles are now positioned on the border Israel says it's entering Gaza to rescue the 203 hostages are being held captive by Hamas terrorists Israeli armoured vehicles gathered at an undisclosed location near the border with Gaza, in Israel, on Friday Bringing loved ones home Ariel, who has asked for his name to be changed, has also had to say goodbye to his wife and three young children, whom he lives with in New Jersey. The 35-year-old had been back in Israel, the land of his birth, for a Bruno Mars concert when Hamas attacked. The reservist had been due to fly back to Newark Airport the following day, but stayed put to join his unit. Ariel, who has worked as a teacher in Manhattan for the past ten years, admits the separation from his family was 'very emotional', but that he had 'no option' given the existential threat facing his homeland. 'I can't be in Central Park drinking Starbucks and having a picnic on Sunday morning,' he says. Instead, he chose life on the Gaza border, to which he points as the sun sets over Gaza City. 'This is the vehicle that can take us in,' he says, turning to a large tank behind him. A missile flies overhead. Ariel claims it is headed for Tel Aviv. He gesticulates towards another ill-defined landscape. 'The massacre happened here, not far from me in the village,' he says. 'Terrorists from Hamas came and slaughtered, kidnapped, so much horrible things. 'I don't want to get into it, it takes me down and I want to be positive. 'So I drafted. Here is the front line, all the vehicles getting ready. 'We are getting ready to face the horrible people that kidnapped 200 of our brothers and sisters. 'We are getting ready to bring our boys and girls back.' His hopes are already being fulfilled, albeit slowly, after Hamas released two US nationals being held in Gaza on Friday afternoon. Ariel was back in Tel Aviv for a Bruno Mars concert when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 The reservist said troops 'are not nervous', but 'ready' and 'happy to serve their country' He said his unit's preparations: 'We are getting ready to bring our boys and girls back' Ariel said that saying goodbye to his family was 'emotional' but he knew couldn't stay in Manhattan 'drinking Starbucks and having a picnic in Central Park' after the Hamas attack He is now stationed with his unit at the Gaza border as they prepare for a ground invasion Israeli troops are seen patrolling near the border with Gaza on Thursday, ahead of the invasion Israeli tanks seen on a road near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel on Friday Witnessing horrors of Hamas Rudy, 30, has witnessed first hand what those 'horrible people' are capable of. Born in Paris, Rudy has US citizenship after studying at UCLA and Columbia, but has lived in Israel most his adult life. He barely had time to process the videos showing fellow civilians being shot, stabbed and kidnapped when he received the call up on his unit's WhatsApp group on the morning of October 7. Rudy, who had been staying at his family home in preparation for a cousin's wedding, drove straight to his home in Jerusalem, grabbed his reserves gear, and headed to the base where his unit was gathering. They arrived at Kfar Aza - one of several small Jewish settlements that bore the worst of the atrocities - just hours after the first wave of Hamas attacks. 'Every car was burned, there were bodies everywhere, of both civilians and Hamas militants,' Rudy says. 'People blown to pieces, burned to a crisp, you can see bodies all black charcoal.' As his unit reached the village perimeter, Rudy says he saw soldiers running out carrying two babies. Rudy described the atrocities he saw in Kfar Aza, one of the communities that bore the brunt of Hamas' savagery during its assault on several kibbutzim near the Gaza border Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant speaks during his visit to Israeli soldiers near the Gaza border on Thursday 'Then we look around and see maybe eight different soldiers, Israeli soldiers, with tarp[aulin] around their bodies. 'I can tell they were soldiers because they were wearing our military boots. 'This is where it starts getting real for us. Like not, "oh, this was a little terror attack". This was a horrible massacre.' Rudy describes a devastating scene in which the charred remains of a family burned alive in their home could still be seen holding onto each other. Elsewhere, two children were found alive huddled in a closet where their parents had hidden them before they were executed by militants. As a reservist, Rudy trains two to three times a year and has seen combat before. 'But never a massacre like this,' he says. 'Never the horrors of what they did. Civilians, whole communities. To try not only to wipe out everyone, but to hurt them as much as they could. 'That I had never seen in my life. No, not even anything close.' Dealing with trauma Ben says he will never forget the 'smell of death' and the sight of up to 70 body bags being loaded into refrigerated commercial trucks. He had arrived in Kfar Aza around 48 hours after the initial attack. 'The sights and smells will stick with me for the rest of my life,' he says. Ben, who moved to Israel from LA six years ago and has just finished a business degree, admits it may take years to process what he has already seen - and the worst may still be to come. 'What we saw of the barbarism and savagery by these monsters are scenes that I would never wish upon anybody else, ever,' he says. 'But right now, if we focus on that, we might lose track of the mission ahead, which is more than just eliminating Hamas. 'We have to make sure that our children never have to fight this fight again.' Ben also went to Kfar Aza with his unit some 48 hours after the attack on its civilians began He says he will never forget the 'smell of death' and the sight of up to 70 body bags being loaded into refrigerated commercial trucks Ben said he knew that, if his unit is asked to invade Gaza, not all of them will return home Ben says he talks to his mom, Jennifer, (pictured) and sister back in LA, and his dad in Oregon, every day. 'They're worried as all heck about me out here,' he adds Ben shared pictures of the devastation he encountered upon entering Kfar Aza kibbutz One harrowing photo shows the blood-stained mattress of what appears to be a child's ben, with children's books and ornaments on the shelf above it Another showed the blood-splattered tiles on the kitchen floor of a family home Others agree. Hillel's commander, Eli, 29, was killed in the first wave of Hamas attacks. 'As hard as it is psychologically, we know that Eli would have wanted us to fight first and mourn after,' he says. 'That's what you've got to do when your country is in a situation like this. You keep your head up. Once all this is done, we can care about ourselves as soldiers.' Rudy says he deals with the trauma by putting it into context, by understanding he is fighting to stop what he has seen from happening again. But he admits most may simply bury it for now. 'We're still in it,' he says. 'So we haven't really had time to process or to even feel like we have the luxury to express our emotions or to even think about dealing with our mental health. 'I don't think most of the soldiers are even thinking that way. They're kind of putting it to the side.' The anxious wait Now it is a waiting game. Rudy has just returned from a 'big drill' as he speaks to DailyMail.com. 'They called us out of nowhere and made everyone give their phones and made us get in jeeps and hummers.' Israel has revealed a 'three-phase' war plan in the Gaza Strip, starting with airstrikes and ground maneuvers. But soldiers are still in the dark as to their specific duties. 'We don't know if it's a ground invasion, or entrance into Gaza,' Rudy says. 'We don't know if it's into Lebanon, we don't know if it's both. 'We just have to be ready for whenever those on top decide what will happen.' Ariel insists troops 'are not nervous', but 'ready', 'prepared', and 'very happy to serve the country'. He admits their mission - to ensure the safe return of hostages while eliminating their terrorist captors - is 'going to be difficult', but he has no doubts about his own role within it. 'I don't have any dilemma. I don't have any concern. Anything that you imagine, I don't have.' Ben is more philosophical. He talks of his mom and sister back in LA, and his dad in Oregon, whom he is in touch with every day. 'They're worried as all heck about me out here,' he says. 'We don't want to be here, we have our families, our loved ones, our kids, our pets, our jobs, our plans.' He knows his future is unclear, but if a ground invasion is to be launched, one matter is for certain. 'If that is what is decided, some of my comrades will not come home.' Republicans massively favor sending aid to Israel over Ukraine compared to their Democratic counterparts, according to exclusive polling for DailyMail.com. A survey conducted by J.L. Partners found that 40 percent of Republicans believe funding for Israel should be prioritized over Ukraine, while just 4 percent of Democrats hold that same view. The bulk of Democrats, 53 percent, believe the U.S. should support the two crisis-hit allies equally. About a third of Republicans, 32 percent, share this view. Just 3 percent of Republicans believe Ukraine should be prioritized, as members of the GOP - both on Capitol Hill and on the campaign trail - have become more critical of U.S. dollars going to the war effort against Russia. About a quarter of Democrats, 22 percent, say Ukraine should be the priority. Republicans are 10 times more likely to agree that funding for Israel should be prioritized over helping Ukraine fight off Russia, new polling done exclusively for DailyMail.com reveals, while the bulk of Democrats want the two allies to be prioritized equally Among all survey respondents, 39 percent said the U.S. should prioritize giving funding to Israel and Ukraine equally, which is what President Joe Biden pitched in an Oval Office address Thursday night A similar and small number from each party don't believe money should go toward either ally - with 16 percent of Republicans holding this view, joined by 11 percent of Democrats. About a third of independents, 34 percent, say that the U.S. should support Israel and Ukraine equally, with the other viewpoints about equally divided. Sixteen percent of independents believed Israel should be a priority, while 15 percent said Ukraine should get the most attention. Another 19 percent - a bigger number compared to Republicans and Democrats - said neither country should get U.S. funding. Overall, however, Americans support what President Joe Biden pitched in the Oval Office Thursday night: sending dollars to both war-torn nations, with 39 percent of all survey respondents holding this view. Pollster James Johnson told DailyMail.com that 'the American public think the government can - and want it to - walk and chew gum at the same time.' 'President Biden's option of an omnibus bill has the backing of the public: it is the most popular funding option, with four in ten saying the US should prioritize both Ukraine and Israel equally,' Johnson said. Preident Joe Biden addressed the American people on Thursday night from the Oval Office and urged lawmakers to pass a spending package that included funds for both Ukraine and Israel, which nearly four in 10 Americans agree with Biden dedicated the bulk of his 15-minute address to connecting Ukraine and Israel, saying that while Russian President Vladimir Putin and the terror group Hamas, responsible for the October 7 terror attack in Israel 'represent different threats' they share a common goal. 'They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy,' he said. 'We cannot and will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win,' Biden also said. A number of GOP senators have said they didn't want both Israel and Ukraine funding in the same package, as Biden has pitched. The president made it official Friday that he wanted Congress to authorize nearly $106 billion in new spending, with $61.4 billion allocated for Ukraine and $14.3 billion reserved for Israel. Johnson noted that 'for GOP lawmakers, things are not so simple.' 'The Republican base disagrees, and say any new spending should put Israel over Ukraine,' the pollster said. 'But Biden may have a stick to wield over Republicans,' he continued. 'By far the least popular action is to support neither country garnering the backing of only 16 percent of Republicans. If voters feel their representatives are running the risk of that happening, it may pressure GOP politicians to shift.' A couple could be forced to sell their home after they were left with a $163,000 legal bill when their neighbours took them to court over a fence. Jay and his wife Kirsty Hall built their home in Sydney's northwest in 2018. The couple say they had verbal approval from their neighbours to build a retaining wall that separated their two houses, which had been signed off by the Hills Shire Council. 'The fence initially was constructed with a retaining wall attached to a metre high. And that retaining wall essentially was on a verbal agreement with the neighbours, we were on good terms at that point,' Mr Hall told A Current Affair. But in 2020, the development application showed that the fence had breached their neighbours' property's boundary. 'The neighbours got a survey done on that wall and went back to our DA conditions which said that the retaining wall needed to be wholly within our property,' Mr Hall said. The council retracted the final occupation certificate and ordered the couple to move their fence seven centimetres back onto their property, which they did. But the saga didn't end there and their neighbours eventually took them to the Land and Environment Court. Jay and his wife Kirsty Hall built their home in Sydney 's northwest in 2018. They've now been left with a $163,000 legal fee after their neighbours took them to court over a fence 'We essentially have to sell our house to pay for those court fees and that's really the devastating part because we built this house for ourselves,' Ms Hall said. Mr Hall rebuilt the fence after the council asked them to relocate it by seven centimetres. Subsequently, in 2021, the council confirmed that no additional work was necessary. 'We thought that once council had come out and looked the very last time and had signed everything off. I had this relief and thought, ''OK, it's finally over and we don't have to ever worry about this again'',' Ms Hall said. But the couple living next door then took the matter to court, saying the fence 'wasn't constructed correctly'. They also claim they never agreed for the fence to be built in the first place. Mr Hall has already had to reconstruct the fence but has been ordered to pull it down and rebuild it again In May this year, the Hall family received a letter from their neighbours' lawyer saying a judgement had been handed down in their clients' favour. The judge had found the Halls' fence had been built in breach of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act. The couple were ordered to remove the wall and fence and replace it with a 'structurally sound' timber retaining wall and fence, and 'install adequate draining measures'. Not only will they now need to pay for the construction of a new fence, the Halls were then ordered to pay the cost of legal proceedings which equated to $163,424. 'It's a fence like $163,000 for a fence is ridiculous,' Mr Hall said. 'Council's at fault, 100 per cent. We're relying on them to be our certifier, we pay the fees.' The council has said they had no reason to believe Mr Hall did not comply with the approved plans, adding because they were in discussions with one of the parties they could not comment further. The council offered the Halls $10,000 to go towards rebuilding the fence. State Police are investigating how the trailer flipped over while it was traveling from Maine to Ohio Eight cows died at the scene, while six were euthanized due to their injuries A cattle trailer transporting 44 cows flipped over in Connecticut and killed 14 of the bovine Fourteen cows have died after a cattle trailer transporting them from Maine to Ohio rolled over on Interstate 84 early Thursday morning. The trailer, which was carrying a total of 44 dairy cows, turned over around 3.26am near the off-ramp in Newton, Connecticut. State Police and members of the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire and Rescue station were called to the scene. The US Department of Agriculture reported eight cows died in the crash and six were euthanized. The decision to euthanize the six cows was made by a state veterinarian and the owner of the cattle due to the injuries the animals suffered, and the risk of exposure to hazardous conditions. Fourteen cows have died after a cattle trailer transporting them from Maine to Ohio rolled over on Interstate 84 in Connecticut early Thursday morning It remains unclear exactly how the crash happened, but the driver was taking a sharp turn as he was exiting the interstate The unnamed driver of the truck was not injured in the crash and the exit ramp was closed for hours but has since reopened. The cause of the crash is still unknown as Connecticut State Police investigate the incident. State troopers were prompted to euthanize them at the scene after the veterinarian made the call. The US Department of Agriculture regulations determined that the meat from the cows that were killed is no longer fit for human consumption. The remaining 30 cows were examined by the vet, according to the Department of Agriculture. The trailer flipped when it got on the off-ramp exit in Newton, Connecticut. State Police and members of the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire and Rescue station were called to the scene The trailer which was carrying a total of 44 dairy cows turned over around 3.26am on the exit ramp in Newton, Connecticut The driver of the truck was not injured in the crash and the exit ramp was closed for hours but has since reopened Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire and Rescue posted a picture from the scene of the accident on Facebook. 'Firefighters on scene of a Tractor trailer rollover I-84 West Exit 10 off ramp since 3:31am. No injuries to driver. Tractor trailer carrying 44 cows. Exit 10 off ramp is shutdown,' the caption said. The post got many mixed reactions and comments filled with regret for the cows involved, while some took a more comical approach on the situation. 'Come on people you [sic] not going to have 44 cows in a trailer and have all of them come out alive they are stressed and suffering they also moved them at night so no one sees them transporting,' one comment said. Another said: 'That guy must have been MOOving too fast, and it ended up being an UTTERly [sic] catastrophic situation.' 'Another tragic example of our inhumane treatments of animals for food consumption. Remember that when you are in the grocery store looking at the pretty packaged of meat wrapped in plastic. That was a living being that suffered,' a commenter said. The USDA National Agricultural Library stated on their website: 'Transportation can be a major stressor for animals, so it's important to consider their welfare during the process. Animals should arrive at their destination in good health and minimally distressed.' A Sudanese male model is among five men who have been charged as part of a major drug bust involving cocaine with a street value of $105million hidden in shipping containers. Anei Dut, once voted the 'third most handsome' man in South Sudan, who has featured in fashion show catwalks for the likes of David Jones, was charged by detectives from Strike Force Biles as part of a series of raids on Thursday. The 28-year-old man is alleged to be part of a syndicate who concealed hundreds of kilograms of cocaine as part of a 'rip on, rip off' method of using shipping containers. The process involves packing legitimate shipping containers with the drugs and then removing them before the illegal contents are noticed. Anei Dut (pictured) , once voted the 'third most handsome' man in South Sudan, is alleged to be part of a syndicate who concealed hundreds of kilograms of cocaine He was arrested at a property in Plumpton, around 50 kilometres west of Sydney. Dut's Facebook page shows several pictures of him modelling and dressed in classy attire but he cut a strikingly different figure as he was marched out of the home dressed in a printed jumper and dark grey pants, wearing a pair of worn out slippers. Armed officers from the riot squad had barged their way into the premises moments earlier before Dut was led into the back of a police van in handcuffs. Dut was taken to Blacktown Police Station and was charged with eight offences including participate in criminal group, take part in supply large commercial quantity of prohibited drugs, possess ammunition without holding a licence or permit, and possessing housebreaking implements and means of disguising face with intent to commit indictable offence. Dut (pictured) had modelled in several fashion shows including one for fashion retailer David Jones recently The 28-year-old man was arrested at a property in Sydney's west on Thursday by Strike Force detectives He was refused bail and appeared in Blacktown Local Court on Thursday. Detectives from the Strike Force along with officers from Raptor Squad carried out several arrests across multiple properties in western Sydney. Armed with eight search warrants, detectives from the strike force seized three kilograms of cocaine and four kilograms of methylamphetamine during the operation. Up to $37,000 in cash, a replica firearm and ammunition was also seized during the raids along with luxury jewellery and electronic devices. Detectives from the Strike Force have already seized 201kg of cocaine that has a street value of $105million. Six people have been charged with several alleged offences which are currently before the courts. Detectives conducted the raids across the properties located in Woodpark, Rydalmere, Wenthworthville, Plumpton, Merrylands, St Clair, and Seven Hills. Officers arrested several men including three 18-year-old's during the coordinated raids across the properties. An 18-year-old man arrested at a home in Woodpark is alleged to have directed the criminal syndicate in ripping off the containers. The man was taken to Granville Police Station and was charged with 12 offences. He was refused bail and will appear at a Children's Court on Friday October 20. Police allege the man was provided with several contracts that alerted him to a shipment of drugs. He then informed members of the drug syndicate to locate and break into the container where the drugs were hidden. The drugs were allegedly supplied to people before members of the group were paid for the sale of the drugs. Detectives sized several kilograms drugs (pictured) including three kilograms of cocaine and four kilograms of methylamphetamine A total of $37,000 in cash was seized (pictured) by detectives with several other items including luxury jewellery and electronic devised also found and taken away for examination by detectives Another 18-year-old man was arrested at a home in Merrylands and was charged with 11 offences including participate in a criminal group and take part in supply of large commercial quantity of prohibited drugs. He was taken to Granville Police Station where he was denied bail and will appear at Parramatta local court on Friday. The third 18-year-old was arrested in Bondi in Sydney's eastern suburbs and was charged with seven offences. He was also denied bail and will appear before a Children's Court on Friday. Police also carried out a raid on a property in Seven Hills where they arrested a 25-year-old man. Footage of the arrest taken by NSW Police showed the man dressed in a black and white jacket and grey track pants being escorted by two detectives from an apartment block in the area. The man was then led away by multiple officers in handcuffs before he was taken to Blacktown Police Station. Detectives arrested several men in the coordinated raids including a man in Seven Hills (pictured) who was led away by officers from a unit complex in the area He was charged with participate in criminal group, deal with property proceeds of crime, and possessing ammunition without holding a licence or permit, and identity info to commit indictable offence. He fronted Blacktown Local Court on Thursday after he was denied bail. The items that were seized during the raids will undergo forensic examination. Strike Force Biles was set up by the NSW State Crime Command's Drug and Firearms Squad in May 2023 to investigate an organised criminal group. Miami Beach has passed a controversial new law that gives cops the power to arrest homeless people who refuse to go to a shelter. The Florida hotspot, which is often frequented by celebrities from the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio to Jared Leto, has seen surging numbers of rough sleepers in recent years. An estimated 152 people are currently homeless in the relatively small star-studded neighborhood, according to the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust. Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez, who voted for the new law, said the shelter crisis has come with an increase in unsavory incidents in the city. 'These are people that we see selling drugs, having sex outdoors, naked,' she told the New York Post. 'There's defecation, there's masturbation in front of our children in parks, open containers and parties, and screaming. They're harassing and they are stabbing. And they are refusing any services.' Miami Beach has passed a controversial new law that gives cops the power to arrest homeless people who refuse to go to a shelter The Florida hotspot, which is often frequented by celebrities from the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio to Jared Leto , has seen surging numbers of rough sleepers in recent years Gonzalez stressed that only people who refused housing provided by the city would be arrested. 'We want to help people,' she said. 'But if people don't want to help themselves, the state and federal government have given us no option except for this ordinance.' Along with Gonzalez, Mayor Dan Gelbe and commissioners Steven Meiner and Alex Fernandez voted for the law. Commissioners Ricky Arriola, Laura Dominguez and David Richardson voted against it. Arriola told a Miami Beach City Commission meeting that 'arresting folks for being homeless is not the solution.' 'Creating a new category of crime, which is basically the category of being homeless, is not a solution,' he said. Local store owner Betty Behar disagreed - saying she supported the measure because homelessness has been 'a problem for a while' for business owners in the tourism-driven city. 'When the boardwalk took out the benches they had to find a new home, so this became their home,' she told NBC6. 'They would either be in the front of the businesses or in the back going through garbage or whatever. So it is a problem - it's been a problem for a while.' An estimated 152 people are currently homeless in the relatively small star-studded neighborhood, according to the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust Along with Gonzalez, Mayor Dan Gelbe and commissioners Steven Meiner and Alex Fernandez voted for the law. Commissioners Ricky Arriola, Laura Dominguez and David Richardson voted against it Miami Beach is an east coast city in Florida which is home to around 80,000 people over around eight square miles Local store owner Betty Behar says she supports the new law because homelessness has been 'a problem for a while' for business owners in the tourism-driven city Miami Beach is an east coast city in Florida that is home to around 80,000 people over around eight square miles. It's not the only city where an uptick in homelessness has reached 'emergency' levels - as similar housing crises have broken out in neighborhoods across the US, and California is by far the worst-hit state. The Golden State has the country's highest rate of homelessness, with 44 non-housed people per 10,000 residents. It is followed closely by Vermont, Oregon, and Hawaii. In San Jose, California, a Silicon Valley billionaire has resorted to leasing a two-acre plot of private land to the local council for just $1 a year in an effort to combat the Bay Area's housing crisis. American real estate developer John Sobrato, 84, offered the San Jose City Council the opportunity to construct a 150-bed solar-powered temporary housing complex on Via Del Oro, Edenvale, in the south of the metropolis. Similar scenes of destitution have been well documented in San Francisco, where hordes of brand names including the likes of Whole Foods and Nordstrom have recently moved out of the city amid widespread crime and plummeting footfall. Australians will be spared expensive trips to specialist doctors and benefit from more telehealth appointments under a series of sweeping changes to Medicare. Some GPs have begun telling patients to register for a free, new government service called 'MyMedicare' which launched on October 1. Under MyMedicare, Australians are able to formally register their preferred doctor's clinic and GP with the government - if the clinic is signed up to the scheme - prompting Aussies to ask whether they need to register. A number of benefits will then flow to signed up patients and doctors under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's plan. The federal Labor government has this month introduced MyMedicare where Australians can formalise their relationship with their GP to get access to new services compatible with the 21st century Medicare change #1: Telehealth changes One of the biggest changes - which has already kicked in - is that Medicare will cover longer telehealth doctor's appointments for registered MyMedicare patients. Telehealth appointments that receive a Medicare rebate were capped at 20 minutes. Patients who have registered with MyMedicare will have sessions longer than 20 or 40 minutes covered by Medicare rebates. The government expects this will see Medicare rebates cover about half the cost of such a telehealth appointment, on average. Australians can now have a long Zoom call with their doctor and will be spared from having to travel vast distances to see separate medical specialists if they register with MyMedicare (pictured is a stock image) Medicare change #2: Specialist, GP shake-up In further MyMedicare changes, being introduced over several years, GPs will be able to consult with a specialist and provide advice directly to a patient. That's instead of GPs always referring patients to separate specialists for a series of expensive in-person appointments. READ MORE: 'Broken' Medicare system 'in its worst shape in 40 years' is about to get a huge overhaul here's what it could mean for you Here's what Labor's Strengthening Medicare Taskforce recommended Advertisement This means a GP will be able to seek and provide advice from a dermatologist, a gynaecologist for women's issues or a urologist who specialises in men's health - rather than having to refer patients to separate appointments for every part of the body. Lump sum payments will be provided to specialists so they share advice with doctors. Get GPs 'to do more' Dr Stephen Duckett, an honorary professor at the University of Melbourne who ran the federal Department of Health and Ageing during the mid-1990s, said the specialist plan was designed to get GPs to do more. 'You want to get the primary care system to do more so that the person who's looking after your urology also understands about your heart,' Dr Duckett told Daily Mail Australia. 'You want to reverse some of this separation of the body into body parts and look at the whole person. 'If you can try and get the general practitioner to do more, then that's a good thing. 'You've got continuity of care and especially in a system where more and more people are having multiple, chronic diseases, the more you can have one person really looking after them, supported by these other specialists without you having to go to the other specialists.' Medicare change #3: Encourage bulk billing From November 1, doctors will also be paid triple the bulk bulling incentive payments for appointments with children under 16 and patients with Commonwealth concession cards. The incentives will be even bigger for doctors who serve patients who live in regional, rural and remote communities. This will support Australians who 'feel cost of living pressures most acutely', the government said. What experts think of the plans Dr Duckett said the telehealth changes would bring the country's healthcare system into the 21st century. 'The Covid pandemic dramatically changed our views about telehealth and our inclination to use it, both telephone and video calls, and when you think about it, this is now 2023 and we shouldn't basically have a health system which is stuck in the 1950s with face-to-face care for everything,' he said. Dr Duckett said MyMedicare addressed issues of medical honesty by requiring Australians to register their longstanding connection to a particular GP practice to enable telehealth to be covered by taxpayers. 'What MyMedicare does is say, "Look, because you've signed up with the practice, it means you intend to have an ongoing relationship with that practice and you may well already have an ongoing relationship with that practice, and so we will trust the practice to use telehealth appropriately",' he said. Tony Sara, the president of the Australian Salaried Medical Officers' Federation, said longer telehealth consultations would be particularly valuable for patients who lived in regional areas, a long way from their doctor. 'It can't completely replace face-to-face care so it has a role to play, particularly in the bush,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'It increases the reach of services, it doesn't completely replace them.' Bill Bowtell, an adjunct professor in health at the University of New South Wales, was a little more skeptical.' He was a senior policy adviser to former Labor health minister Neal Blewett, who was in charge in 1984 when Bob Hawke's government introduced Medicare Bill Bowtell, an adjunct professor in health at the University of New South Wales, was a little more sceptical.' He was a senior policy adviser to former Labor health minister Neal Blewett, who was in charge in 1984 when Bob Hawke's government introduced Medicare, reviving Australia's system of universal healthcare that briefly existing during the mid-1970s. 'Telehealth is all very well, but it cannot be used as a replacement for in-person visits to doctors without co-payments and other charges,' he told Daily Mail Australia. This means MyMedicare may not address the Medicare gap issue with many patients ending up being out of pocket because Medicare doesn't cover the entire doctor's bill, as many GPs decline to bulk bill. 'The risk is that depending on who is providing the service, patients may be charged a significant fee,' Mr Bowtell said. 'If so, people will not be as likely to obtain the service they need when they need it. 'Telehealth can be a useful service, of course, but we need to be clear that it is not a way of charging a payment that violates Medicare principles.' The Australian Medical Association, which represents doctors, is concerned about the model of providing lump sum payments to doctors. President Stephen Robson said the AMA was concerned Australia could emulate the errors of the UK's National Health Service approach, known as a capitation payment system. 'The AMA will continue working with the federal government to ensure programs attached to MyMedicare improve access to care for patients and that these expand over time, while also ensuring that this does not lead to a flawed capitated model used in the UK,' he told Daily Mail Australia. But Professor Robson said the potential of MyMedicare was to encourage Australians to stick with the same doctor. 'Voluntary patient enrolment, rolled out by the government as MyMedicare, has the potential to improve patient care by cementing long term doctor-patient relationships,' he said. The MyMedicare changes could also help address Australia's doctor shortage which has seen medical students opt to become specialists, who are typically paid more than double, or even triple, what a suburban GP gets. Neurosurgeons had an average taxable income of $604,582 in 2020-21. Dermatologists typically made $333,099 compared with $398,888 for gynaecologists and $458,794 for gastroenterologists who specialise in intestinal problems. But general practitioners were typically paid $187,408, after work and investment property expenses were deducted for tax purposes. Dr Stephen Duckett, an honorary professor at the University of Melbourne who ran the federal Department of Health and Ageing during the mid-1990s, said the specialist plan was designed to get GPs to do more Dr Duckett argued this aspect of MyMedicare could solve Australia's GP shortage crisis by making medicine for the suburban doctor more interesting, encouraging more medicine students to consider that field. 'It will make the GP's job more interesting and secondly, it will reduce demand for specialists and people who might otherwise wanted to become a specialist might say, "The GP's work is more interesting and there's going to be less work for specialists".' Since October 1, Australians have been able to register with MyMedicare by nominating a GP or Aboriginal healthcare specialist. As of early October, 2,600 GP practices had registered with MyMedicare, accounting for almost 40 per cent of the 6,500 practices in Australia. Health Minister Mark Butler said MyMedicare was about providing Australians with more consistent care and keeping people out of hospital. 'Patients registered for MyMedicare will gain a stronger relationship with their healthcare teams and more consistent care, including longer telehealth consultations,' he said. In its short, turbulent history, Israel has endured many dark and perilous moments. Three times in 1948, 1967 and 1973 its hostile Arab neighbours banded together in an attempt to wipe the Jewish state off the map. Despite its foes having vastly superior numbers, Israeli forces drove them back. The Hamas attack on October 7, however, was something new. There was no military objective, no battlefield, no front line. It was just an orgy of indiscriminate violence. Hamas's aim was to murder, rape, torture and abduct as many Jews as it could. Given the chance, it will do so again. It is in this context that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu believes that notwithstanding all the dark hours of the past, this is the darkest. Until the terrorist group whose goal is to annihilate the Jews is extinguished, his country's people will never be safe. At a time of such existential threat, Israel needs to know it can rely on its friends. Rishi Sunak (L) meets with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, Israel, on October 19 A soldier fixes an Israeli flag atop the turret of a Merkava battle tank on October 11, 2023 Giving that reassurance was one of the key objectives of Rishi Sunak's whistle-stop tour of the Middle East. After talks with Mr Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, he was right to pledge Britain's full support in the fight against the 'pure evil' of Hamas. Placing an arm around Israel's shoulders at this time of crisis has allowed Mr Sunak to make clear that any ground invasion of Gaza to root out the terrorists must abide by international law. It was also good to see him press for more humanitarian relief for beleaguered Palestinian citizens in the enclave but mechanisms must be in place to ensure aid isn't intercepted by the jihadis. Last night, Mr Sunak was in Saudi Arabia before visiting other Arab capitals. While seeking support to rescue Hamas's British hostages, he also wants to talk peace. What was already a diplomatic mission of extreme delicacy has been made even tougher by the explosion at Gaza's al-Ahli Hospital, which is said to have killed many. Compelling evidence suggests that the outrage was caused by a faulty rocket launched by Palestinian terrorists. That much of the Arab world is convinced it was a retaliatory Israeli air strike owes a lot to the BBC recklessly pointing the finger at Tel Aviv in the aftermath. As a result, the Gulf states may be inclined to reject Mr Sunak's pleas for cool heads. However, only their sworn enemy, Iran which sponsors Hamas will benefit if the war spills into the wider region. The fallout would soon be felt on our shores. Maintaining peace and stability is in everyone else's best interests. Criminalising caution It is worrying that Mr Sunak is pressing on with a total ban on conversion therapy. Critics fear this could criminalise parents, teachers and GPs who advise children to exercise caution before changing gender. That a Tory government should want to make it easier for often vulnerable youngsters to opt for life-altering drugs and surgery they may later regret is dispiriting. At his party conference, the PM received an ovation for stating the biological reality: 'A man is a man and a woman is a woman.' With this Bill in the pipeline, this paper must ask: Does he actually believe that or was he just saying it to get a easy cheer? Soft on shoplifting Can anybody truly be surprised that cases of shoplifting have surged by a shocking 25 per cent in a year? Police seem hell-bent on finding excuses not to arrest those who steal from the shelves. And even if, by some miracle, an offender is prosecuted, they invariably escape with a pathetic punishment. The public want persistent pilferers tackled not for the police to take it upon themselves to effectively grant immunity to a whole criminal class. A Beverly Hills radiologist was fired over disturbing anti-Semitic social media posts, including one in which he called Zionists 'genocidal, demonic, greedy, pedophilic r****ds.' Dr. Andrew Thierry, 46, was let go from his position as Chief Medical Officer of ExpertMRI after they were made aware of his inflammatory comments. 'Zionists are gynocidal, demonic, greedy, pedophilic r****ds. Change my mind, Thierry tweeted on his since-deleted X account. 'The only thing Zionists are Superior at are lies, deceit and genocide,' he wrote in another tweet on Tuesday. ExpertMRI announced the decision to terminate Thierry on Instagram the following day, expressing their disapproval in Thierry's actions and denouncing his beliefs that come a week after Hamas terrorists attacked Israel killing 1,400 people. Beverly Hills radiologist, Dr. Andrew Thierry, was fired over disturbing anti-Semitic social media posts, including one in which he called Zionists 'genocidal, demonic, greedy, pedophilic r****ds' ExpertMRI announced the decision to terminate Thierry on Instagram the following day, expressing their disapproval in Thierry's actions and denouncing his beliefs Thierry posted an 'apology' after getting called out for his alarming comments - claiming those who were offended by his hateful words, took it 'the wrong way' 'Expert MRI is aware of the disturbing, anti-Semitic comments posted by Dr. Andrew Thierry on his personal X/Twitter account. Effective immediately, Dr. Thierry is no longer Chief Medical Officer of ExpertMRI and will not be affiliated with the company in any capacity moving forward.' 'As stated previously, ExpertMRI emphatically condemns antisemitism as well as any other expression of hate, all of which are contrary to the company's and its owners' core values.' 'We encourage all our staff to always show empathy and compassion in both their professional and personal lives. We sincerely apologize as a accompany to any individuals who were hurt or affected by Dr. Thierry's pots and want to reinforce that such behavior is not tolerated at ExpertMRI in any way, shape or form.' The statement came after ExpertMRI received stark backlash over the hateful tweets of their staff member. With about 95 percent of American Jews openly supporting the State of Israel, many found the doctor's comments extremely offensive and bombarded his Yelp page in 1-star reviews. Thierry posted an 'apology' after getting called out for his alarming comments - claiming those who were offended by his hateful words, took it 'the wrong way.' 'I apologize if anyone interpreted my words the wrong way. I love everyone which includes Jews and all God's children,' he added to the bizarre statement. 'I am most critical of my own government and all the other wars the US is involved in. I apologize if I offended anyone. I only have love in my heart, which breaks any time innocent humans suffer.' Thierry now 62 reviews on Healthgrade with 98 percent at 1-star. 'Anti-Semitic doctor with pure hate in his blood,' one wrote. Another user warned others to stay away from the doctor. 'This man should not be practicing medicine!,' they wrote. Thierry has worked as a diagnostic radiology specialist in Los Angeles, California and has over 17 years of experience in the medical field, according to his bio. He graduated from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine in 2005. This comes as many Americans have used the war in Israel as a way to openly express their anti Semitic beliefs or share controversial and hateful comments online Ahmed Elkoussa, a 31-year-old dentist, was fired from his position at CG Smile after he was caught on camera ripping down posters of Israeli hostages in Brickell on Tuesday Many Americans have used the war in Israel as a way to openly express their anti-Semitic beliefs or share controversial and hateful comments online. That has led to public shamming and company's quickly distancing themselves from the offenders. A dentist was fired just hours after a video went viral showing him and a friend ripping down posters of kidnapped and murdered Israelis. Ahmed Elkoussa, a 31-year-old dentist, and 'Instagram model' Xave Ramoul were caught on camera ripping down posters of Israeli hostages in Miami's Brickell neighborhood Tuesday. By Wednesday morning, Elkoussa was fired from his position at CG Smile, a dental office he was employed at in Miami. 'We are very sad to see this situation upon waking up,' the office wrote on Instagram. 'Our office CG Smile is not in favor of any of the actions taken by Dr. Elkoussa. We do not support terrorist groups, actions or supporters.' 'He has been removed from our staff, all of our social media pages and groups. CG Smile DOES NOT support terrorist groups actions or supporters,' the post added. The dental practice's owner, Juan Carlos Izquierdo, said his office has faced severe backlash since Elkoussa's actions, which he condemned. 'I believe it's not right. It's against our position on the entire situation,' Izquierdo said. 'Later on, I got a call saying he wanted to explain and that after he explained, everything would be cleared, and I told him I don't want to hear it,' he said to NBC6. In addition, many took to Yelp to give the dentist 1-star reviews, and call for his license to be revoked - claiming his repulsive actions show he is not fit to treat patients. 'Doctors are supposed to take care of their patients. The Hippocratic oath literally says, "Never will I betray them or risk their wellbeing to satisfy my vanity. I will not hurt my fellow or put a knife to his flesh if I don't know how, or give him an herb to soothe his pain, even if he begs for it in anguish, if it might take away his breath,"' a user noted. 'Someone who supports a terrorist organization is going directly against this. His license should get suspended!' President Joe Biden addressed the American people Thursday night from the Oval Office, tying together the conflicts in Ukraine and Israel, arguing 'we cannot and will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win.' Pushing that 'chaos will spread,' the president pleaded with Congress to pass what's expected to be $100 billion in new funding, which is already being met with resistance by Congressional Republicans, wary of giving any new money to Ukraine. But seated at the Resolute Desk, Biden asserted in his 15-minute address that Russian President Vladimir Putin and the terror group Hamas, responsible for the bloody October 7 attack on Israel 'represent different threats' but share a common goal. 'They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy,' he said. Biden warned that if bad actors like Putin are left unchecked 'would-be aggressors around the world would be emboldened to try the same.' 'The risk of conflict and chaos could spread in other parts of the world, in the Indo-Pacific, in the Middle East, especially in the Middle East.' He then noted another common thread between Ukraine and Israel: Iran. 'Iran is supporting Russia in Ukraine and it's supporting Hamas and other terrorist groups in the region,' Biden said. 'And we will continue to hold them accountable, I might add.' President Joe Biden addressed the American people from the Oval Office Thursday, tying the conflicts in Israel and Ukraine together He continued, 'American leadership is what holds the world together.' 'American alliances are what keep us America safe. American values are what make us a partner that other nations want to work with,' he said. 'To put all that at risk if we walk away from Ukraine, we turn our backs on Israel it's just not worth it.' The president laid out that Putin's 'appetite for power and control' means he won't 'limit himself to Ukraine,' which could spill into a conflict where NATO countries are involved. If that happens, Biden warned, 'we'll have something that we do not seek.' 'We do not seek to have American troops fighting in Russia, or fighting against Russia,' he said. The president made other pledges too - telling family members of the hostages abducted by Hamas in Israel during the October 7 terror attack that 'we're pursuing every avenue to bring their loved ones home.' 'As president, there is no higher priority for me than the safety of Americans held hostage,' he said. People are seen at the scene of destruction after an Israeli attack on the Greek Orthodox Church in Gaza City. In Biden's Oval Office address, he said he pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to 'operate by the laws of war' 'The terrorist of Hamas unleashed pure unadulterated evil in the world that sadly the Jewish people know perhaps better than anyone that there is no limit to the depravity of people when they want to inflict pain on others,' he noted. Biden also pushed for foreign aid to get into Gaza where Palestinian civilians are suffering while Hamas fires rockets at Israel. Biden said that during his sit-down Wednesday in Tel Aviv with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu he discussed 'the critical need for Israel to operate by the laws of war.' 'That means protecting civilians in combat as best they can,' Biden said. 'The people of Gaza urgently need food, water and medicine,' he observed. Biden also asked that the Israeli government not be 'blinded by rage.' The president said after discussions with Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi he 'secured an agreement for the first shipment of humanitarian assistance from the United Nations to Palestinian civilians in Gaza.' 'If Hamas does not divert or steal this shipment, these shipments, we're going to provide an opening for sustained delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance for the Palestinians,' Biden said. He then added, 'we cannot give up on peace. We cannot give up on a two-state solution.' While his in-person meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was cancelled in the aftermath of Tuesday's hospital explosion in Gaza, Biden spoke to the leader by phone on board Air Force One after spending seven hours on the ground in Israel. Biden said that he 'reiterated that the United States remains committed to the Palestinian people's right to dignity and to self-determination.' 'The actions Hamas did don't take that right away,' Biden said. The president said he was 'heartbroken' by the 'tragic loss of Palestinian life' in Gaza, including at the hospital. He added, 'which was not done by the Israelis,' doubling down on statements he made Wednesday, which assigned blame to an errant rocket launched by another terror group, Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Hamas blamed Israel after the hospital explosion killed hundreds. Neither claim has been independently verified. The president also spent some time speaking about the uptick in hate crimes happening at home. 'In recent years too much hate has been given too much oxygen, including racism, the rise of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, right here in America,' Biden observed. Biden noted how the October 7 terror attacks in Israel have 'triggered deep scars and terrible memories' in the Jewish community, while those in Muslim-American community are thinking 'here we go again,' linking this moment to the aftermath of the September 11 terror attacks. 'A little boy, here in the United States, a little boy, who just turned six years old was murdered in their home outside of Chicago. His name was Wadea, Wadea, a proud American, a proud Palestinian-American family,' he said. After the president's speech Thursday night, Biden spoke to the father and uncle of Wadea Alfayoumi, expressing his condolences. Alfayoumi's mother Hannan Shahin was injured in the attack and the president wished her a full recovery, the White House said. Biden's funding request - reportedly $60 billion for Ukraine and $14 billion for Israel, along with $10 billion for humanitarian aid, $14 billion for border security and $7 billion for the Indo-Pacific, according to Reuters - comes at a moment when half of Congress is in chaos. The House has been speakerless since October 3, after Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz filed a motion to oust House Speaker Kevin McCarthy from the top job. Eight Republicans and the entire Democratic caucus voted to remove McCarthy, with the MAGA-aligned Rep. Jim Jordan and McCarthy's second-in-command, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, seen as the most viable candidates to take the gavel. But efforts to get Scalise and then Jordan elected to the speakership have failed. Scalise, after winning the first internal GOP caucus race, lost a House floor vote and opted to bow out. Despite losing House floor votes on Tuesday and Wednesday, Jordan told reporters Thursday afternoon he planned to march on. A move to further empower acting Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry has currently fizzled. But Biden will have problems with the Senate too. On Thursday Republican Sen. Roger Marshall wrote a letter, which was signed by seven additional GOP Senate colleagues, demanding that Israel and Ukraine aid be debated separately. The eight senators said that Biden is 'risking a government shutdown' by tying the aid packages together. 'My colleagues and I firmly believe that any aid to Israel should not be used as leverage to send tens of billions more dollars to Ukraine. These are two separate conflicts at different stages and cannot be considered as a "package deal,"' wrote Marshall. Biden argued that the aid dollars would give a boost to American workers. 'When we use the money allocated by Congress, we use it to replenish our own stores, our own stockpiles, with new equipment, equipment that defends America and is made in America,' the president said. 'Patriot missiles for air defense batteries made in Arizona. Artillery shells manufactured in 12 states across the country in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas. And so much more,' he continued. 'You know, just as in World War II, today patriotic American workers are building the arsenal of democracy and serving the cause of freedom.' As he wrapped up his speech, Biden urged Congress to get it done. 'But time is of the essence. I know we have our divisions at home. We have to get past them. We can't let petty, partisan, angry politics get in the way of our responsibility as a great nation,' he said. 'We cannot and will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win.' 'I refuse to let that happen,' he said. Horrifying moment a dog, suspected to be an XL Bully, mauls a teenage boy outside a block of flats in Scotland as hero locals try to fight animal off with a mop. The 18-year-old is seen laying helplessly on the ground as the dog relentlessly bites him. He was rushed to hospital for emergency treatment after the savaging by the brown and white hound on Wednesday morning. This comes just days after a woman in her 60s was mauled by her pet XL Bully - which she had adopted from Dogs Trust less than a month ago. After the attack on Monday, the dog proceeded to flee to nearby Brisley Church of England Primary Academy. In the shocking video published by The Sun, two men are seen hitting the vicious canine with a mop as it clings to the victims leg. The dog was seen tied to railings shortly after and its mouth and nose were said to be covered in blood. Police have confirmed the dog has since been euthanised. In the horrifying footage, two men are seen hitting the vicious canine with a mop as it clings to the 18-year-old's leg The young man was rushed to hospital for emergency treatment after the savaging by the brown and white hound on Wednesday morning Police Scotland said: 'Around 11.20am on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, police received a report of a dog having injured an 18-year-old man on Anderson Street, Motherwell.' READ MORE: Out of control XL Bully dog bites young girl in front of panicking teachers as it launches vicious attack on group of primary school children Advertisement On Monday all pupils at Brisley Church of England Primary Academy were rushed inside the building until the dog named Denvor, which had attacked its owners, was tied to a post and the school was able to evacuate. Police confirmed that with permission of the owner and in the interest of public safety, the dog was destroyed. It then emerged the six stone dog had been adopted by the victim from Dogs Trust Snetterton less than a month before the 'vicious' attack. But the UK animal welfare charity still refuse to back the banning of the American XL Bully, which Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has pledged to ban by the end of the year. In a statement to MailOnline, a Dogs Trust spokesman said: 'We confirm that there has been an incident involving a dog that had recently been rehomed from our Snetterton rehoming centre, and our priority at this time is to provide as much support as possible to people. 'Public safety is paramount, but a focus on breed specific legislation is not the best way to achieve this. 'We continue to call for a radical overhaul of dog control measures to help avoid further tragic incidents and keep members of the public safe.' The 18-year-old is seen laying helplessly on the ground as the dog relentlessly bites him as two men try to help him Denvor (pictured) was adopted from Dogs Trust Snetterton less than a month ago. He reportedly had 'no history of aggression' and was believed to have settled well in his new home The dog ran to the car park of Brisley Church of England Primary Academy (stock image) The victim was taken to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital with multiple non life-threatening injuries. This week's incidents are the latest in a spate of attacks by the breed and come one month after the PM made his promise to ban the breed. Last month he said in a video announcement posted to his X - formerly Twitter - account that the decision came following a 'pattern of behaviour [that] cannot go on'. But the Dog Control Coalition - which is made up of RSPCA, Blue Cross, Battersea, Dogs Trust, Hope Rescue, Scottish SPCA, The Kennel Club and BVA - said 'banning the breed will sadly not stop these types of incidents recurring.' Locksmiths were seen on Thursday at the Los Angeles home where a 'serial squatter' who first moved into the guesthouse in 2021 is camped out, refusing to leave. Elizabeth Hirschhorn, a 55-year-old script writer, moved into the guesthouse of Sascha Jovanovic's Brentwood home in September 2021. She initially rented the property through Airbnb for six months, paying $20,793 for 187 nights. Jovanovic agreed with Hirschhorn to extend her tenancy for one month, but Hirschhorn has since refused to move out. They made the deal directly, which Airbnb says means they are not legally responsible for the dispute. The pair have been battling through the courts, with Hirschhorn insisting that it was unsafe to move out during the COVID-19 pandemic, and saying that the rental property was not up to LA city regulations. Her latest salvo, through her lawyers, is to seek $100,000 from Jovanovic, in return for her moving out. On Thursday, locksmiths were seen at the Brentwood property - though it's unclear why they were called. Locksmiths are seen on Thursday at the Brentwood house where the 'tenant from hell', squatter Elizabeth Hirschhorn, is refusing to leave Hirschhorn (right) has now been dubbed 'America's worst Airbnb renter' after it emerged she was demanding $100,000 to vacate the home of host Sascha Jovanovic (left) Airbnb host Sascha Jovanovic approved a six-month stay for Hirschhorn from September 13, 2021 to March 19, 2022 a total of 187 nights that she later extended to April 12, 2022. She is yet to move out Jovanovic told The Los Angeles Times last month that he was scared in his own home, with a 'hostile' Hirschhorn living on the property. 'I can never go into my home and know that I'm safe when a potentially hostile person is living there,' he said. 'I'm thinking about it at all times.' He added: 'I tried to be a kind host. I had no idea she would become what she has become.' Hirschhorn has called the police to complain about noise from Joavnovic's adolescent children, and accused him in her lawsuit of blocking access to her mail, because he refused to share the mailbox. 'It's like a war where no bullets are flying. Every time I open the door, I'm afraid she'll be leaving at the same time,' he said. 'Her door is a few feet from my daughter's bedroom. We don't sleep well anymore. 'Psychologically, it affects you. It never leaves my mind.' A locksmith is seen at the Brentwood house on Thursday, though its unclear why they were called The home owner has been trying to get his tenant evicted since April 2022 Locksmiths are seen at work on Thursday outside the Brentwood home Locksmiths are pictured at the Brentwood home where the woman dubbed dubbed 'America's worst Airbnb renter' resides An unknown woman was spotted talking to the locksmith crews as the visited the California home One of Hirschorn's attorneys, Colin Walshok, told the paper: 'The landlord broke the law and tried to make money by renting out an illegal bootleg unit. 'After he was caught, instead of doing the right thing, he has resorted to bullying, harassment and the filing of frivolous lawsuits containing elaborate false stories, all in attempt to cover his tracks.' Sebastian Rucci, an attorney representing Jovanovic, called Hirschhorn 'the tenant from hell'. He added: 'If she's right, the theory is that if a landlord has something that isn't permitted, then you can stay in it rent-free forever.' Two months before moving to the Brentwood property, Hirschhorn was kicked out of a $2.6million rental in Oakland, California. She cited Covid-19 in that case as well, before eventually settling in July 2021. Hirschhorn previously lived in Pasadena, California, and in Tucson, Arizona, with her elderly parents. Court filings reveal the current Brentwood tenant-landlord dispute is strikingly similar to the Oakland case, which also saw Hirschhorn embroiled in a dispute over cleaning, with the man from whom she initially sublet the property moving out due to her 'hostile behavior', leaving her alone in the house where she continued to stay despite having no tenancy agreement and paying no rent. Oakland property: Court filings obtained by DailyMail.com reveal Hirschhorn was involved in a similar squatting dispute at this cottage she sublet in 2019. The case was settled just two months before she moved into her current rental Hirschhorn also recently settled another dispute this time over an unpaid $19,000 American Express credit card bill. As in the other cases, she countersued claiming she wasn't liable for the full amount. She was ordered to pay both the bill and AMEX's legal costs by a Los Angeles judge in April. Calls, texts and emails to Hirschhorn by DailyMail.com regarding both her current situation and her previous property dispute went unanswered. US Border patrol agents continue to dump migrants - including many who entered the country illegally - at a transit center in San Diego, overwhelming the city that already experiences 1,200 arrivals each day. New photos show the shocking moment buses of migrants from central America, the Middle East and Africa arrive at the center. There, they are met with social workers who help them book flights and bus tickets to other parts of the nation. San Diego shelters have struggled with the influx of migrants under Joe Biden's lax border policies. San Diego has seen more than 1,000 migrants arrive a day with many coming to the Iris Ave Transit Center in Otay Mesa West. The center welcomes 800 to 1,200 migrants a day. The center, located a short ride from the border, offers arrivals haircuts, washing facilities and the opportunity to pick up fresh clothes and personal care items. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has continued to dump dozens of migrants at San Diego transit centers as shelters buckle under the level of demand The influx of people has been too great for the Californian city, which usually has capacity for around 950 arrivals needing a bed for the night San Diego County supervisors recently agreed a $3 million funding deal for these services for the next three months New arrivals who have often completed a grueling journey are offered snacks and water at the centers Asylum seekers have come from all over the world, including Sudan, Chad, Senegal, China, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, central and south America and the Middle East. Once they arrive, they are greeted by various NGOs who dish out food and water, clothing, sanitary products and information. Arrivals are also given the opportunity to charge their phones, obtain sim cards and use the internet to contact family back home. The cost of running the services has been put at around $1 million every month. San Diego County supervisors recently agreed a funding package to last for the next three months. With asylum seekers from more than 100 countries pouring in, translator services are also offered. Like 95 percent of all immigrants, those who arrive in San Diego do not plan to stay long-term. At the Iris Ave transit center, a stall manned by South Bay Community Services offers the asylum seekers help booking flights. Many desire onward travel to New York, Chicago or Colorado and receive free flights or bus tickets paid for by the charities. Shuttle buses are in operation every hour to take the migrants to San Diego Airport and Greyhound stations. Usually, San Diego has capacity for around 950 recently arrived migrants who need a bed for a night or two, according to the Wall Street Journal. The Iris Ave Transit center in Otay Mesa West, where these migrants were pictured, has seen up to 1,200 new arrivals every day Social workers help new arrivals to book flights and bus tickets for onward travel. Many will head to other parts of the country as the southern border has been crushed by the influx of migrants NGO workers check in migrants and assist them with information and translator services Arrivals are also given the opportunity to charge their phones, obtain sim cards and use the internet to contact family back home. The cost of running the services has been put at around $1 million every month County government officials have called the current situation 'an unprecedented humanitarian crisis' as illegal crossings between Mexico and San Diego soared to their highest level for two decades between January and August this year. There were 200,000 illegal crossings in the nine-month period, despite a wave of new asylum restrictions being rolled out in May. Migrant aid groups have blamed the spike in illegal crossings for the huge numbers of people arriving in San Diego. They also pointed to reduced government funding and the decision to sent other migrants from Texas and Arizona to the Californian city for processing. The releases come as several cities across the U.S. continue to grapple with their own migrant crises. There have been similar migrant releases in Arizona where CBP agents have discovered up to 2,000 a day. Dem-led cities such as New York and Chicago have struggled particularly, with Texas governor Greg Abbott sending more than 50,000 migrants north in bid to get liberal cities to play their part in the border crisis. While in California, the Salvation Army has been using emergency government funding to pay for flights to New York and other destinations. Migrants at Iris Ave transit center are offered clothing and personal care items to take with them The migrant crisis in San Diego has partially been blamed on a surge in illegal crossings this year, which hit their highest level for two decades County government officials have called the current situation 'an unprecedented humanitarian crisis' as illegal crossings between Mexico and San Diego soared to their highest level for two decades between January and August this year In August, New York City Mayor Eric Adams made a plea for more funding as he revealed the city had cared for more than 100,000 asylum seekers since last spring. He said: 'While our compassion is limitless, our resources are not', and added: 'We need our federal and state partners to ensure that their efforts match the magnitude of this moment.' The Department of Homeland Security said last month that it has given $790 million for migrant shelters this year and asked Congress for an additional $600 million. In an effort to alleviate some of the pressure, the Biden administration announced it would perform a U-turn on its immigration policy and resume deporting Venezuelans. It comes after the president moved to restart construction on the controversial border wall. Dozens of Canadian diplomats are forced to leave India as the feud between the two countries - that escalated when PM Justin Trudeau accused the Asian nation of assassinating a Sikh leader in British Columbia - has deepened. Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said that New Delhi, the capital of India, planned to revoke diplomatic immunity for all but 21 of Canada's diplomats and their families. This decision has forced Canada to pull out the other diplomats from India. 'Revoking the diplomatic immunity of 41 diplomats is not only unprecedented, but also contrary to international law,' Joly said on Wednesday. Tensions between Canada and India have run high since Trudeau publicly accused Indian intelligence of killing Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, which Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has denied. Dozens of Canadian diplomats are forced to leave India as the feud between the two countries has deepened. The decision has come after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Left) accused Indian intelligence of killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Right) has denied the accusation In the midst of the deepening feud between India and Canada, hundreds of Sikh protesters rallied outside Indian diplomatic missions in Canada last month, as they burned flags and trampled pictures of Modi Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed in June after he was shot dead by two masked assailants in the parking lot of a Sikh temple near Vancouver. Trudeau accused India of being behind his death 'Canada will continue to defend international law, which applies to all nations and will continue to engage with India. Now more than ever we need diplomats on the ground and we need to talk to one another,' Joly said. New Delhi also temporarily stopped processing visa applications in Canada. India previously expelled a senior Canadian diplomat after Canada did the same to a senior Indian diplomat. Nijjar immigrated to Canada in 1997 and became a Canadian citizen in 2015. He was shot dead by two masked assailants in the parking lot of a Sikh temple near Vancouver in June. He was wanted by Indian authorities for alleged terrorism and conspiracy to commit murder after he advocated for a separate Sikh state carved out of India. A Canadian official told The Associated Press that the allegation of Indias involvement comes as surveillance surfaced of Indian diplomats in Canada, including intelligence provided by a major ally. Canada is home to some 770,000 Sikhs, who make up about two percent of the country's population. The Sikh separatist movement has nearly come to an end in India, where security forces used deadly force to put down an insurgency in the state of Punjab in the 1980s. Hundreds of Sikh protesters rallied outside Indian diplomatic missions in Canada last month, as they burned flags and trampled pictures of Modi. A supporter rallied in front of the Indian consulate last month as tensions between Canada and India have boiled over. Since India has forced Canadian diplomats to leave their country, Canada has yet to retaliate New Delhi, the capital of India, planned to revoke diplomatic immunity for all but 21 of Canada 's diplomats and their families by Friday. This decision has forced Ottawa to pull out the other diplomats from India India has also accused Canada of harboring separatists and 'terrorists,' but dismissed the allegation of its involvement in the killing as 'absurd' and has taken diplomatic steps to express its anger over the accusation. Joly said Indias decision will impact the level of services to citizens in both countries. She said Canada is pausing in-person services in Chandigarh, Mumbai and Bangalore. Canada has yet to retaliate after India expelled their diplomats from their country. Tensions between Ottawa and New Delhi have created a delicate situation for Washington- a close ally of Canada. Washington recently took steps to move closer to India as the United States has looked to limit Chinese influence in the region. A homeowner in Washington opened fire on three masked men who claimed to be police officers as they kicked down his front door. Doorbell security footage captured the men, who were wearing black ski masks and all armed with pistols, approaching the Auburn, Washington, property around 2am Thursday. One of the suspects shouted 'Seattle police' and attempted to boot down the door before the others joined in. The homeowner then shot at them several times, shattering a window, and the suspects fled the scene. Auburn Police Department were called to the address on the 31000 block of 117 Place Southeast for reports of a non-injury shooting. The suspects have not been identified. A homeowner in Washington opened fire on three masked men who claimed to be police officers as they kicked down his front door Doorbell security footage captured the men, who were wearing black ski masks and all armed with pistols, approaching the Auburn, Washington, property around 2am Thursday Footage shows the three men climbing on to the porch of the property and opening the screen door. A man dressed in a gray jumper and matching sweatpants kicking the front door. Another, dressed in all black, joins in and tries to boot the door down. The gunman in the gray then runs at it and tries to use his force to get it open before the third man, wearing brown pants, attempts to kick it again. But the homeowner fires several shots at the masked men who only flee when a bullet shatters the window on the screen door. Authorities were then called to the property and a resident at the address told responding officers that three men tried to break into the home. 'When officers arrived at the scene, a resident at the address reported an attempted burglary at their home involving three suspects,' a police spokesman said. 'Security footage from the home showed three masked men carrying guns announcing themselves as "Seattle police before trying to kick in the door. A man dressed in a gray jumper and matching sweatpants shouts 'Seattle police' before kicking the front door Another, dressed in all black, joins in and tries to boot the door down The gunman in the gray then runs at the door and tries to use his force to get it open before the third man, wearing brown pants, attempts to kick it again But the homeowner fires several shots at the masked men flee when a bullet shatters the window on the screen door 'The homeowner was armed and quickly started firing shots at the intruders through the door. 'After multiple shots were fired, the three suspects fled. Auburn Police Department Detectives are working hard to try to identify the three suspects in this case.' The agency is asking for those who recognize the suspects to call the police tip line. The incident follows two other attempted armed home invasions reported in Kent earlier this week. Video from a security camera shows a suspect trying to follow a woman into her home with a gun. The clip, recorded early Monday, shows the suspect briefly give chase to the unnamed victim before having the door shut in his face right in the nick of time. The victim, an unidentified Asian woman who appears middle-aged, managed to record the encounter with her residence's ring-mounted camera. Frightening doorbell camera footage shows the moment a woman was targeted in an apparent follow-home style robbery by a masked man with a gun A woman shot a man who was allegedly trying to break into her home in Hollywood Hills on Sunday night While in Hollywood Hills a woman shot a man who was allegedly trying to break into her home on Sunday. A man called police on Sunday night to report his wife had shot a would-be intruder in their home in the 2800 block of Hollyridge Drive. Police found the man suffering from a gunshot wound but conscious and breathing and he was taken to a hospital. The would-be intruder, a man in his 30s, is in critical condition, officials said. He had been pushing on the back door of the home to get inside, saying he was injured and needed help, according to a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department. Pro-Palestinian protestors have blocked a US defence base outside Alice Springs. The group, who call themselves 'Territorians for Palestine' on Friday morning blocked Hatt Road, the main access road to the US defence base. Pine Gap is a satellite surveillance base and Australian Earth station about 18km south-west of Alice Springs. The demonstration comes as an Israeli minister told troops massing at the border that they will soon see Gaza 'from the inside' sparking fears a ground invasion is imminent. The US State Department has issued an urgent 'worldwide' travel warning for increased caution due to the potential for terrorist attacks or violence directed at American citizens across the globe. The warning came after US President Joe Biden visited Israel, where he again pledged his support for Israel and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 'Territorians for Palestine' have published several posts to their Facebook account announcing the blockade. The protesters are dressed in all-black and are attempting to shield themselves from the harsh sun. Pro-Palestinian group 'Territorians for Palestine' have published several posts to their Facebook account announcing the blockade One protestor has locked their arm in a barrel covered in red paint in the middle of the road A woman streaming the protest live on social media said the group had blocked the road to stop workers heading to the base and 'take some time to mourn for the horrible deaths and losses' in Palestine. 'The Pine Gap Facility is a US military base, which conducts surveillance and monitoring on behalf of the CIA, NSA and other US defence agencies,' the woman said. 'They are responsible for surveillance and co-ordination of American military operations throughout the world, including and especially in the Middle East. '(It is) deeply interconnected with the US military conflict throughout the world and the many atrocities they have committed, and directly implicated in the genocidal violence that is happening in Palestine right now.' Cars of people trying to enter Hatt Road are currently queued up along the Stuart Highway, NT News has reported. Northern Territory emergency services are attending the scene at the US defence base A protestor going by the name of 'Gem' has locked their arm in a barrel covered in red paint in the middle of the road. 'Police are trying to free up the road but because this barrel is made of concrete, they actually can't lift it,' the ABC reported. NT Fire and Rescue services, four police cars, half a dozen to a dozen police officers, and unmarked police cars are all present at the scene. The attitude from authorities has been described as 'gentle' and 'docile' and no arrests have been made. Thousands of Israeli troops have gathered at the border with Gaza since pushing back Hamas terrorists that brutally massacred hundreds of people in a cross-border attack on October 7. Since then, Israel has pummelled Gaza with airstrikes, killing thousands of people, and has warned people living in the north of the territory to leave for their own safety. Tensions have been ramped up further in recent days after a blast at a hospital in Gaza killed hundreds of people, with Israel and Palestinian terror groups blaming each other for the devastation. Police closed off a road for 31 hours after a walker found a 'dead body in wood, only to discover it was a 'dirty and overused' sex doll which someone had dumped. The 'crime scene' in Kineton, Warwickshire, was cordoned off by police and a forensic pathologist was called in to investigate after what appeared to be a hand and foot were spotted in undergrowth by a country lane It took two days for 'relieved police' to realise what they thought was a female corpse wasn't human remains but a 'realistic' inflatable love aid - which could be worth up to 1,500. A local source told The Sun: 'The police thought they had a murder investigation on their hands so called in a forensics team.' 'When they finally dragged the 'corpse' out they realised the blunder. The officers had a big laugh about it. It was a very dirty, broken and overused sex doll,' they added. Police closed off a road in Kineton, Warwickshire for 31 hours after a walker found a 'dead body in wood, only to discover it was a 'dirty and overused' sex doll which someone had dumped Officers were said to be hunting for clues from midday on Tuesday to 7pm the following evening. Warwickshire Police said it had followed 'proper procedure'. A spokesperson added: 'It is with great relief that we can announce the pathologist was able to identify the foot and hand beneath the bush did in fact belong to a discarded and realistic life-size doll.' Some speculated the sex doll had been placed in the woods as a practical joke. Good evening, my fellow Americans. We're facing an inflection point in history. One of those moments where the decisions we make today are going to determine the future for decades to come. That's what I'd like to talk with you about tonight. Now earlier this morning I returned from Israel. They tell me I'm the first American president to travel there during a war. I met with the prime minister and members of his cabinet, and most movingly, I met with Israelis who had personally lived through the horrific horror of the attack by Hamas on the 7th of October. More than 1,300 people slaughtered in Israel, including at least 32 American citizens. Scores of innocents from infants to the elderly, grandparents, Israelis, Americans taken hostage. As I told the families of Americans being held captive by Hamas, we're pursuing every avenue to bring their loved ones home. As president, there is no higher priority for me than the safety of Americans held hostage. President Joe Biden used his address to the American people on Thursday night to warn Iran it would be held accountable for supporting both Russia and Hamas The terrorist group Hamas unleashed pure unadulterated evil in the world, but sadly, the Jewish people know, perhaps better than anyone, that there is no limit to the depravity of people when they want to inflict pain on others. In Israel, I saw a people who are strong, determined, resilient and also angry, in shock and in deep, deep pain. I also spoke with President Abbas, the Palestinian Authority, and reiterated that the United States remains committed to the Palestinian people's right to dignity and to self-determination. The actions of Hamas terrorists don't take that right away. Like so many others, I'm heartbroken by the tragic loss of Palestinian life, including the explosion at the hospital in Gaza, which was not done by the Israelis. We mourn every innocent life lost. We can't ignore the humanity of innocent Palestinians who only want to live in peace and have an opportunity. You know, the assault on Israel echoes nearly 20 months of war, tragedy and brutality inflicted on the people of Ukraine, people that were very badly hurt since Putin launched his all-out invasion. We've not forgotten the mass graves, the bodies found bearing signs of torture, rape used as a weapon by the Russians, and thousands and thousands of Ukrainian children forcibly taken into Russia, stolen from their parents. It's sick. Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common. They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy completely annihilate it. Hamas' stated purpose for existing is the destruction of the state of Israel and the murder of Jewish people. Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people. Hamas uses Palestinian civilians as human shields, and innocent Palestinian families are suffering greatly because of them. Meanwhile, Putin denies Ukraine has, or ever had, real statehood. He claims the Soviet Union created Ukraine. And just two weeks ago, he told the world that if the United States and our allies withdraw and if the United States withdraws, our allies will as well military support for Ukraine would have, quote, a week left to live. But we're not withdrawing. I know these conflicts can seem far away, and it's natural to ask: Why does this matter to America? So let me share with you why making sure Israel and Ukraine succeed is vital for America's national security. You know, history has taught us that when terrorists don't pay a price for their terror, when dictators don't pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction. They keep going. And the cost and the threats to America and the world keep rising. So if we don't stop Putin's appetite for power and control in Ukraine, he won't limit himself just to Ukraine. He's Putin's already threatened to remind, quote, remind Poland that their western land was a gift from Russia. One of his top advisers, a former president of Russia, has called Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania Russia's Baltic provinces. These are all NATO allies. For 75 years, NATO has kept peace in Europe. And has been the cornerstone of American security. And if Putin attacks a NATO ally, we will defend every inch of NATO, which a treaty requires and calls for. We'll have something that we do not seek. Make it clear we do not seek we do not seek to have American troops fighting in Russia or fighting against Russia. Beyond Europe, we know that our allies, and maybe most importantly our adversaries and competitors, are watching. They're watching our response in Ukraine as well. And if we walk away and let Putin erase Ukraine's independence, would-be aggressors around the world would be emboldened to try the same. The risk of conflict and chaos could spread in other parts of the world: in the Indo-Pacific, in the Middle East, especially in the Middle East. Iran is supporting Russia in Ukraine, and it's supporting Hamas and other terrorist groups in the region. And we'll continue to hold them accountable, I might add. The United States and our partners across the region are working to build a better future for the Middle East. One where the Middle East is more stable, better connected to its neighbors, and through innovative projects like the India, Middle East and Europe rail corridor that I announced this year at the summit of the world's biggest economies, more predictable markets, more employment, less rage, less grievances, less war when connected. It benefits the people. It would benefit the people of the Middle East, and it would benefit us. American leadership is what holds the world together. American alliances are what keep us, America, safe. American values are what make us a partner that other nations want to work with. To put all that at risk if we walk away from Ukraine, if we turn our backs on Israel, it's just not worth it. That's why tomorrow I'm going to send to Congress an urgent budget request to fund America's national security needs, to support our critical partners, including Israel and Ukraine. It's a smart investment that's going pay dividends for American security for generations, help us keep American troops out of harm's way, help us build a world that is safer, more peaceful and more prosperous for our children and grandchildren. In Israel, we must make sure that they have what they need to protect their people today and always. The security package I'm sending to Congress and asking Congress to do is an unprecedented commitment to Israel's security that will sharpen Israel's qualitative military edge, which we've committed to: the qualitative military edge. We're going make sure Iron Dome continues to guard the skies over Israel. We're going to make sure other hostile actors in the region know that Israel's stronger than ever and prevent this conflict from spreading. Look, at the same time, President Netanyahu and I discussed again, yesterday, the critical need for Israel to operate by the laws of war. That means protecting civilians in combat as best as they can. The people of Gaza urgently need food, water and medicine. Yesterday, in discussions with the leaders of Israel and Egypt, I secured an agreement for the first shipment of humanitarian assistance from the United Nations to Palestinian civilians in Gaza. If Hamas does not divert or steal this shipment, these shipments, we're going to provide an opening for sustained delivery of lifesaving humanitarian assistance for the Palestinians. As I said in Israel, as hard as it is, we cannot give up on peace. We cannot give up on a two-state solution. Israel and Palestinians equally deserve to live in safety, dignity and peace. You know, and here at home we have to be honest with ourselves. In recent years, too much hate has given too much oxygen, fueling racism, a rise in antisemitism, Islamic-phobia, right here in America. It's also intensified in the wake of recent events that led to the horrific threats and attacks that both shock us and break our hearts. On Oct. 7, terror attacks have triggered deep scars and terrible memories in the Jewish community. Today, Jewish families worried about being targeted in school, wearing symbols of their faith walking down the street, or going out about their daily lives. And I know many of you in the Muslim American community, the Arab American community, the Palestinian American community and so many others are outraged and hardened saying to yourselves, 'Here we go again with Islamophobia and the distrust we saw after 9/11.' Just last week, a mother was brutally stabbed. A little boy here in the United States, a little boy who just turned 6 years old, was murdered in their home outside of Chicago. His name was Wadea. Wadea, a proud American, a proud Palestinian American family. We can't stand by and stand silent when this happens. We must without equivocation denounce antisemitism. We must also without equivocation denounce Islamophobia. And to all you hurting, those of you who are hurting, I want you to know I see you. You belong. And I want to say this to you: You're all America. You're all America. This is in a moment where you know, in moments like these, when fear and suspicion, anger and rage run hard that we have to work harder than ever to hold on to the values that make us who we are. We're a nation of religious freedom, freedom of expression. We all have a right to debate and disagree, without fear of being targeted in schools or workplaces or in our communities. We must renounce violence and vitriol, see each other not as enemies, but as fellow Americans. When I was in Israel yesterday, I said that when America experienced the hell of 9/11, we felt enraged as well, and while we sought and got justice, we made mistakes. So I caution the government of Israel not to be blinded by rage. And here in America, let us not forget who we are. We reject all forms, all forms of hate, whether against Muslims, Jews, or anyone. That's what great nations do. And we are a great nation. On Ukraine, I'm asking Congress to make sure we can continue to send Ukraine the weapons they need to defend themselves and their country without interruption, so Ukraine can stop Putin's brutality in Ukraine. They are succeeding. When Putin invaded Ukraine, he thought he would take Kyiv and all of Ukraine in a matter of days. Well over a year later, Putin has failed, and he continues to fail. Kyiv still stands because the bravery of the Ukrainian people. Ukraine has regained more than 50 percent of the territory Russian troops once occupied. Backed by U.S.-led coalition of more than 50 countries around the world, all doing its part to support Kyiv. What would happen if we walked away? We are the essential nation. Meanwhile, Putin has turned to Iran and North Korea to buy attack drones and ammunition to terrorize Ukrainian cities and people. From the outset, I have said I will not send American troops to fight in Ukraine. All Ukraine is asking for is help, for the weapons, munitions, the capacity, the capability to push invading Russian forces off their land. And the air defense systems to shoot down Russian missiles before they destroy Ukrainian cities. Let me be clear about something. We send Ukraine equipment sitting in our stockpiles. And when we use the money allocated by Congress, we use it to replenish our own stores, our own stockpiles, with new equipment. Equipment that defends America and is made in America. Patriot missiles for air defense batteries, made in Arizona. Artillery shells manufactured in 12 states across the country, in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas. And so much more. You know, just as in World War II, today patriotic American workers are building the arsenal of democracy and serving the cause of freedom. Let me close with this: Earlier this year, I boarded Air Force One for a secret flight to Poland. There I boarded a train, with blacked-out windows for a 10-hour ride each way to Kyiv to stand with the people of Ukraine ahead of the one-year anniversary of their brave fight against Putin. I'm told I was the first American to enter a war zone not controlled by the United States military since President Lincoln. With me was just a small group of security personnel and a few advisers. But when I exited that train and met Zelensky, President Zelensky, I didn't feel alone. I was bringing with me the idea of America, the promise of America, to the people who are today fighting for the same things we fought for 250 years ago: freedom, independence, self-determination. And as I walked through Kyiv with President Zelensky, with air raid sirens sounding in the distance, I felt something I've always believed more strongly than ever before: America is a beacon to the world, still, still. We are, as my friend Madeleine Albright said, the indispensable nation. Tonight, there are innocent people all over the world who hope because of us. Who believe in a better life because of us. Who are desperate not to be forgotten by us. And who are waiting for us. But time is of the essence. I know we have our divisions at home. We have to get past them. We can't let petty, partisan, angry politics get in the way of our responsibilities as a great nation. We cannot and will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win. I refuse to let that happen. In moments like these, we have to remind we have to remember who we are. We are the United States of America. The United States of America. And there is nothing, nothing beyond our capacity, if we do it together. My fellow Americans, thank you for your time. May God bless you all, and may God protect our troops. President Joe Biden used his address to the American people Thursday night to warn Iran it would be held accountable for supporting both Russia and Hamas. The 80-year-old tied the conflicts in Ukraine and Israel together during his speech and argued 'we can't let terrorists like Hamas and Putin win.' He noted that Iran was providing military support to both Russia and the terrorist group. Iran is supporting Russia in Ukraine and it's supporting Hamas and other terrorist groups in the region,' Biden said. 'We'll continue to hold them accountable, I might add.' It comes as the Senate condemned 'Iran's support of global terror' during a resolution that pledged support for Israel. President Joe Biden used his address to the American people Thursday night to warn Iran it would be held accountable for supporting both Russia and Hamas Biden noted that Iran, led by its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (pictured), was providing military support to both Russia and terrorist group Hamas President Biden pleaded with Congress to pass what's expected to be $100billion in new funding- but the request is already being met with resistance by Congressional Republicans who are wary of giving any new money to Ukraine. Seated at the Resolute Desk, Biden argued in his 15-minute address that Russian President Vladimir Putin and the terror group Hamas, responsible for the bloody October 7 on Israel 'represent different threats' but share a common goal. 'They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy,' he said. Ukraine and Israel also share a common enemy in Iran. 'American leadership is what holds the world together,' Biden said. 'American alliances are what keep us America safe. American values are what make us a partner that other nations want to work with. 'To put all that at risk if we walk away from Ukraine, we turn our backs on Israel it's just not worth it.' The president's comments come after the Senate unanimously passed a resolution that backed Israel's right to self-defense and the condemnation of Hamass attacks on civilians. It 'condemns Irans support for global terrorism, including its support for terrorist groups such as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad'. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Tuesday that nobody would be able to stop Muslims around the world and resistance forces if Israel continues bombing Gaza, Iranian state TV reported. 'If the crimes of the Zionist (Israeli) regime continue, Muslims and resistance forces will become impatient, and no one can stop them,' Khamenei said. 'No matter what the Zionist regime does, it cannot make up for the scandalous failure it suffered,' Khamenei said. Iran's clerical rulers have long been vocal in their support for the Palestinian cause. Tehran makes no secret of its backing for Hamas, funding and arming the Islamist group that controls Gaza. Ukraine and Israel also share a common enemy in Iran. Biden added: 'American leadership is what holds the world together' Khamenei (pictured October 10) said Iran 'must respond' to what is happening in Gaza and called for an end to the bombardment of Palestine Iran's foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, is seen arriving in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Khamenei added Israeli officials should be tried for their crimes committed against Palestinians in Gaza as Iran steps up rhetoric condemning the siege - and suggesting that an all-out invasion will be met with a response on other fronts. Iran's declarations of intent have rapidly heightened tensions in the Middle East, sparking fears of a wider conflict in the coming days. Tehran, which financially and militarily backs Hamas militants, celebrated the Hamas assault but insisted it was not involved, despite a report from the Washington Post claiming it was. Senior members of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah were said to have claimed that Hamas' surprise attack on Israel that killed at least 700 people was given the green light by Iranian security officials. Elsewhere in his address Biden said Putin's 'appetite for power and control' means he won't 'limit himself to Ukraine,' which could spill into a conflict where NATO countries are involved. If that happens, Biden warned, 'we'll have something that we do not seek.' 'We do not seek to have American troops fighting in Russia, or fighting against Russia,' he said. The president told family members of the hostages abducted by Hamas in Israel during the October 7 terror attack that 'we're pursuing every avenue to bring their loved ones home.' 'As president, there is no higher priority for me than the safety of Americans held hostage,' he said. Israeli soldiers ride in their armored vehicles towards the border with the Gaza Strip on October 16, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas Israel has launched several raids into Gaza, having ordered half of the population to evacuate 'The terrorist of Hamas unleashed pure unadulterated evil in the world that sadly the Jewish people know perhaps better than anyone that there is no limit to the depravity of people when they want to inflict pain on others.' He also pushed for foreign aid to get into Gaza where Palestinian civilians are suffering while the Hamas terrorist group fires rockets at Israel. While his in-person meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was cancelled in the aftermath of the hospital explosion in Gaza, Biden spoke to the leader by phone on board Air Force One after spending seven hours on the ground in Israel Wednesday. Biden said that he 'reiterated that the United States remains committed to the Palestinian people's right to dignity and to self-determination.' 'The actions Hamas did don't take that right away,' Biden said. The president said he was 'heartbroken' by the 'tragic loss of Palestinian life' in Gaza, including at the hospital - adding, 'which was not done by the Israelis,' doubling down on statements he made Wednesday, assigning blame to an errant rocket launched by another Hamas-like terror group, Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Waleed Aly's claim less-educated Australians had not understood the complexities of the proposal for an Indigenous Voice was nowhere to be seen in his latest newspaper column on why the Yes campaign failed. In his regular political column for Nine-Fairfax newspapers, The Project host and academic dropped any focus on how voters with 'lower levels' of tertiary education voted - a claim which he controversially made earlier this week. Instead, he now says that 'something about the idea itself didnt quite match the intuitions of enough Australians'. 'The best account of this Ive seen comes from pollster Jim Reed, who concluded that Australians will vote to 'award equal opportunities to individuals regardless of their attributes', but wont vote for something that 'treats individuals differently',' Aly wrote. The central obstacle the Voice proposal never overcame, writes Aly, is 'that it was exclusive to a subset of Australians'. The Melbourne-based academic also noted that the Voice proposal posed 'really big' questions that were not easily answered by the blunt 'Yes' or 'No responses demanded by the 'awful beast' of a referendum. The Project host Waleed Aly, pictured with his wife Susan Carland, now says the failure of the Voice referendum's Yes campaign says 'something about the idea itself didnt quite match the intuitions of enough Australians'. Earlier this week he'd focused on the education levels of those who voted No Reasons such as prejudice against Aboriginal people, social media disinformation and why many Labor voters deserted the proposal were not enough, Aly argued, to explain the 60 per cent No vote last Saturday. Aly and ABC presenter Patricia Karvelas were both criticised in the days after the referendum result for claiming the No vote was driven by less-educated Australians who may not have fully grasped the complexities of the issue. Australia resoundingly voted No to the proposed change to the constitution, with every state rejecting the proposal and only the ACT voting Yes, in a major blow for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who spearheaded the referendum. During The Project's analysis of the results on Monday night, Aly claimed educated Australians were more likely to vote Yes. The Yes campaign suffered a significant setback in Western Sydney, with 10 federal electorates in the area which are critical for the Labor party all voting No. They are also home to millions of working class Australians that Aly referred to in his analysis of the referendum outcome. Aly, who is also a university lecturer, said people with 'the lowest levels of tertiary education ... were at the low end of the Yes vote'. 'The biggest dividing line seems to have been education. If you were in a seat with high levels of tertiary education, bachelor or post, you were at the very top end of the Yes vote,' Aly said. 'And that's not to say people who are educated know what they are doing, people who don't have tertiary education don't, it's about the style of the message.' Aly said he 'can totally see why you would propose (the Voice). If you go through the history, you go through the experience of the people who designed it or came up with the idea, it actually makes perfect sense. 'But most people haven't been on that journey, and when you come to them with this idea that's actually quite abstract and complicated, they're going to respond with an instinct and that instinct is it just doesn't feel right.' Ned Mannoun, Mayor of Liverpool Council in Sydney's west hit back at Aly's comments, and said No voters in his electorate were 'not dumb'. Education levels were the major deciding factor on whether people voted Yes or No for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, Waleed Aly said last Monday after the referendum result. But he has provided some different reasons in a follow-up newspaper column 'Commentary that says 'we're not smart, that's why we didn't vote for The Voice' is pretty disrespectful,' Mannoun told 2GB's Ben Fordham. 'People here are very intelligent. They get what's going on, and there are multiple reasons why they didn't vote yes to the Voice, and it wasn't because of education reasons. 'If you're using tertiary education as a way to judge intelligence then I think that's (a) very simplistic view of the world. 'There are people, I'm sure you would've met them throughout your time Ben, that work bloody hard. They're very, very, very smart people - never gone to university before.' Mr Mannoun said voters in Western Sydney rejected the idea of supporting the Voice due to a lack of detail about the proposal. 'Once again, that gut feeling, I think people here can smell bullsh*t a mile away. 'It just doesn't make sense because if there was detail I think they would've had (a) much greater chance of bringing people on, but people didn't know what it was. 'I couldn't explain it to people. I had no detail, I think I have a good idea how government works,' he said. 'It did not make sense. So just please don't look down on us out here.' Ms Karvelas also came under fire after she analysed how people's education and income reflected their vote with Fran Kelly on the ABC podcast, The Party Room. ABC Radio National and Q&A host Patricia Karvelas (pictured) came under fire after her and Fran Kelly analysed how people's education and income reflected their vote READ MORE: The Voice referendum: The winners and losers of extraordinary campaign that divided Australia Advertisement 'The yes vote, if you look at it has been achieved in places where voters have a bachelor's degree or have better than average wages Fran, right?' Karvelas said. 'If you've got a bachelor's degree, chances are you know something about government structures, you've taken an interest in the kind of way these things happen, not because you're better, but just because you've got the opportunity to have done that.' The Radio National host stressed that she wasn't 'judging people's achievements' and only suggesting that those with a bachelor's degree more likely came to a 'different conclusion' about the Voice. 'I think about you know, who and where remote, Indigenous Australians kind of probably get it, because they live it,' she said. 'And then where people have been educated, they've come to different conclusions. 'And then you get a whole swathe of people working very hard can I say, and probably having very little time to focus on reading constitutions, or proposals, and making pretty quick on the hot decisions, where I do think quick social media campaigns probably have had a big impact. 'And so I think that is the bigger part of the demographic story. And the Yes campaign didn't get to those people.' Both Waleed and Karvelas' comments were slammed by Aussies as 'out of touch'. One said: 'When ABC journalists like Karvelas wonder why the No campaign's message of saying 'No to Division' cut through so much, they should look take a long hard look at themselves.' Another added: 'That comes from a talking head working in a sheltered workshop.' The referendum result has left states discussing the prospect of treaties with Indigenous people in limbo. On Thursday Queensland Opposition leader David Crisafulli walked away from a commitment to provide bipartisan support for a treaty in the state. The decision left Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk reminding reporters the process would need bipartisan support to succeed. Meanwhile NSW Premier Chris Minns and South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas have indicated progress towards treaties will continue in their states. President Joe Biden appeared to read his teleprompter instructions during his Oval Office address Thursday evening, reading out the words 'make it clear' as part of his sentence. The president, discussing the wars in Israel and Ukraine, declared: 'We'll have something that we do not seek - make it clear we do not seek - we do not seek to have American troops fighting in Russia.' Biden, 80, was addressing the American people after arriving in Washington, DC, on Thursday morning following a seven-hour trip to Israel. Biden's visit was his second this year to an active war zone: in February, he made a secret visit to Kiev to mark the anniversary of the Ukraine war. 'I'm told I was the first American to enter a war zone not controlled by the United States military since President Lincoln,' he said on Thursday, of the February visit. President Joe Biden used his address to the American people Thursday night to pledge his support to Israel and Ukraine Biden is seen on Thursday delivering his address, reading from the teleprompter The president declared Thursday that 'American leadership is what holds the world together,' arguing that the United States must deepen its support of Ukraine and Israel in the middle of two vastly different, unpredictable and bloody wars. Acknowledging that 'these conflicts can seem far away,' Biden insisted in a rare Oval Office address that they remain 'vital for America's national security.' He said he will ask Congress for billions of dollars in military assistance for both countries. 'History has taught us when terrorists don't pay a price for their terror, when dictators don't pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction,' Biden said. 'They keep going. And the cost and the threat to America and the world keep rising.' Biden's speech reflected an expansive view of U.S. obligations overseas at a time when he faces political resistance to additional funding at home. He is expected to ask for $105 billion on Friday, including $60 billion for Ukraine, much of which would replenish U.S. weapons stockpiles provided earlier. There is also $14 billion for Israel, $10 billion for humanitarian efforts, $14 billion for managing the U.S.-Mexico border and fighting fentanyl trafficking and $7 billion for the Indo-Pacific region, which includes Taiwan. The proposal was described by three people familiar with the details who insisted on anonymity before the official announcement. 'It's a smart investment that's going to pay dividends for American security for generations,' Biden said. Biden speaks from the Oval Office of the White House on Thursday A Russian rocket is seen exploding after hitting a building in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on October 6 He hopes that combining all of these issues into one piece of legislation will create the necessary coalition for congressional approval. His speech came the day after his high-stakes trip to Israel, where he showed solidarity with the country after the October 7 attack by Hamas and pushed for more humanitarian assistance to Palestinians. With Israel continuing to bombard the Gaza Strip and preparing a ground invasion, Biden placed an increased emphasis on the deadly toll that the conflict has had on civilians there, saying he's 'heartbroken by the tragic loss of Palestinian life.' 'Israel and Palestinians equally deserve to live in safety, dignity and peace,' Biden said. He also warned about a rising tide of antisemitism and Islamophobia in the U.S., noting the killing of a 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy. 'To all you hurting, I want you to know I see you. You belong. And I want to say this to you. You're all Americans.' As Biden seeks a second term in a campaign that will likely hinge on voters' feeling about the economy, he was careful to emphasize that the spending will create jobs for U.S. workers, referencing the construction of missiles in Arizona and artillery shells in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Texas. And he worked in a nod to one of his political heroes, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, by saying that 'just as in World War II,' the country is 'building the arsenal of democracy and serving the cause of freedom.' Biden faces an array of steep challenges as he tries to secure the money. The House remains in chaos because the Republican majority has been unable to select a speaker to replace Rep. Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted more than two weeks ago. In addition, conservative Republicans oppose money for sending more weapons to Ukraine as its battle against the Russian invasion approaches the two-year mark. Biden's previous request for funding, which included $24 billion to help with the next few months of fighting, was stripped out of budget legislation last month despite a personal plea from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. There will be resistance from some on the other side of the political spectrum when it comes to military assistance for Israel, which has been bombarding the Gaza Strip in response to the Hamas attack. One of San Francisco's largest apartment buildings has lost half its value in five years as the Bay Area has struggled with occupancy issues amid a surge in crime, homelessness and effects of the COVID pandemic. NEMA, the 754-unit apartment building that was once valued at $543.6million in 2018, has seen its valued halved to $279million in the last half decade, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. In August, Crescent Heights, the real estate developer behind NEMA said: 'the property's cash flow can no longer cover the monthly debt service,' as the mortgage cost for the developer is at $384million- higher than the overall value of the building. 'The design inspiration for NEMA was to create a residential building, which would reflect the present and future cultural changes of San Francisco apartment living,' the architect of NEMA Glenn Rescalvo said on the building's website. It's the latest building to announce its struggles in downtown San Francisco as the streets have become overrun with crime and homeless encampments. NEMA, the 754-unit apartment building that was once valued at $543.6million in 2018, has seen its valued halved to $279million in the last half decade It's the latest building to announce its struggles in downtown San Francisco as the streets have become overrun with crime and homeless encampments NEMA - where apartments cost between $2,500 and $6,300 a month - is two blocks from the citys Civic Center and UN Plaza along 10th Street. The building is in a formerly buzzing neighborhood as it sits next to Elon Musk's X and used to sit west of the ride-share company Uber and tech company Block. Since COVID-19 started, all three companies have slashed their office employees, and have even left their buildings vacant. As of 2022, San Francisco's office vacancy rate was at 27.6 percent, according to data from CBRE. Besides the pandemic, the San Francisco area has been invaded with crime, drugs and homelessness in recent times. Occupancy at NEMA in 2018 was at 96 percent, 72 percent in 2020, and as of March of 2023, it was at 92 percent. But according to an inspection report in September, 'the building will require further investment to maintain its "good" condition,' the San Francisco Chronicle reported. NEMA, short for 'New Market' opened its doors in 2013 and offers a slue of amenities like three terraces, a game room, a private urban park, a 60-foot lap pool, outdoor dining and much more. COVID hit the Bay Area's apartment market hard as an estimated tens of thousands residents moved out of the city, and even the state. Homelessness has also played an enormous role as San Francisco spends about $29million per year on housing, including buying and building homes. The Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing spends about double that figure just to operate six shelters with 521 beds. The building is in a formerly buzzing neighborhood as it sits next to Elon Musk 's X and used to sit west of the ride-share company Uber and tech company Block. NEMA - where apartments cost between $2,500 and $6,300 a month - is two blocks from the citys Civic Center and UN Plaza along 10th Street Crime has also taken precedence in the Bay Area as many stores in the city and the state alone have been savagely looted and riddled with crime. The city just recently announced an allocation of $15.3milllion to fight retail theft in the city Over the course of 2022, up to 20,000 people were estimated to be homeless in the city. To help combat the homeless problem, San Francisco has agreed to keep funding their 35 RV parking spots at Candlestick Point for homeless people at $12,000 a month. Reports of homeless pirates raiding houseboats in the San Francisco Bay have also fueled the crime-ridden city. Homeless people and looters have ravaged the area and deterred many residents from living in the city. Many stores in the city and the state alone have been savagely looted and riddled with crime, as a Walgreens in San Francisco was just raided by a 'flash mob'. The offenders filled bags and a wagon full of stolen merchandise as cops were able to track down six of them and arrested them with burglary. The city just recently announced an allocation of $15.3milllion to fight retail theft in the city. Seven Starbucks stores in San Francisco's downtown area are planning to close in October as the city continues to struggle. Other popular retailers like Nordstrom, Whole Foods, CB2, Anthropology, and more decided to abandon the city as well amidst the raging issues Just last week Starbucks announced that they were closing seven downtown stores in San Francisco as the city continues to struggle. Other popular retailers like Nordstrom, Whole Foods, CB2, Anthropology, and more decided to abandon the city as well amidst the raging issues. Whole Foods left the city just months after opening its doors. All of these closures have severely impacted the success of the large apartment building that is inching close to a possible foreclosure. According to Hoodline, there were signs in August that the building might go under soon and that a receiver would be appointed but Crescent Heights declined to comment on the matter. A federal MP has issued a dark warning about Australia going cashless as hundreds of bank branches are closed in just a year. Keith Wolahan, the Liberal member for Menzies in Melbourne's north-east, has warned of a totalitarian society where banks can ultimately cut Australians off completely from being able to spend money - as fewer people use cash. 'For the convenience of the bank, just to know what your ID was, even if you had been with them for decades, they could switch off your banking like that,' he told Parliament on Wednesday. 'They could disconnect you from your ability to be part of the economy.' Less than one in six in-person transactions are now done in cash. Mr Wolahan, a first-term backbencher, said the minority of Australians who still used banknotes needed to be listened to, especially when it came to privacy. 'Very few people carry cash after Covid,' he said. 'There's even a push to get rid of cash. We make people vulnerable to that. 'So you can understand the suspicion that people will have with how their digital identification is used and the suspicion that they have with how vulnerable they are in the digital economy.' Keith Wolahan, the Liberal member for Menzies in Melbourne 's north-east, has warned of a totalitarian society where banks can ultimately cut Australians off completely from being able to spend money - with fewer people using cash Mr Wolahan, a former Army commando and lawyer, revealed his own bank had cut him off, when he was at a running club cafe before the school drop-off and had to call his brother to take his kids to school. 'I went to pay and my card didn't work and I thought that was strange, I did another one, it didn't work,' he said. 'I looked at my internet banking and they were all well over the limit, I didn't understand why, but I knew I had to take them to school - I then called the bank and realised there was a long wait, so I had to get my brother to come and quickly take my kids to school. READ MORE: Expert issues grim prediction for when Australia will go cashless ahead of huge changes coming to Google and Apple Pay in Australia Australia could go cashless within three years as the government moves to regulate Google Pay and Apple Pay, a finance expert says. Finance expert Sarah Wells said the latest proposed changes were likely to see Australia go cashless by 2026. 'It's the next step towards a cash-starved society,' she told Daily Mail Australia Advertisement 'When I eventually got through to the bank, what I found out was they wanted to talk to me about verifying my driver's licence and to get my attention, they shut down all my banking. 'They did that at a time when many people were exiting car parks and couldn't pay for them, with a huge queue behind them; many people, like me, were embarrassed in front of their friends and family at restaurants; many people had things to do.' This is occurring as banks slash the number of branches and take away automatic teller machines. In the year to June, 424 bank branches closed, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority revealed on Wednesday. The number of branches has plunged by more than a third or 37 per cent since June 2017. The banking regulator's figures also showed the mass scrapping of automatic teller machines, with the number plummeting by 60 per cent in just six years. During the past year alone, 718 ATMs were removed. Australia's big banks have also halved the number of bank branches in very remote areas where more Aboriginal people live, despite being big donors to the Yes campaign. The APRA data was released four days after the Voice referendum proposal was defeated with the No vote getting 60.8 per cent support. The Big Four banks collectively donated $7million to the Indigenous Voice to Parliament campaign. But in just five years, the number of branches in 'very remote Australia' has almost halved to just 40 - down from 72. The number in remote areas, away from a regional centre, dropped to 98 from 145 between June 2018 and June 2023. In the 2021 Census, almost a third or 31.9 per cent of residents in very remote areas of New South Wales were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Mr Wolahan slammed the banks for supporting the Yes case as they slashed bank branches in areas where more Indigenous Australians lived. 'At the heart of this is trust. I don't want to relitigate the referendum, but those same banks donated millions of dollars to one side of a campaign that was out of whack with the same people whom they were shutting off from being able to pay for things,' he said. 'Perhaps those millions would have been better served (a) paying for Indigenous disadvantage directly and (b) having people on the call lines so that people who were struck in restaurants and shops, who were having bills cut off and who were stuck in carparks weren't waiting for an emergency call like that. 'There is a disconnect between the priorities of some of corporate Australia and the realities of what Australians are facing. 'We saw that on the weekend, and I hope they reflect on that.' In the year to June, 424 bank branches closed as 718 ATMs (Brisbane bank, pictured) were removed, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority revealed An Australian Banking Association spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia there were 85 fee-free ATMs in the most remote parts of the country and 3,540 Australia Post outlets that did banking. 'Banks have a range of practical ways they are supporting First Nations Australians to access banking services in regional and remote areas,' she said. The dwindling number of Australians still using cash are far likelier to have a counterfeit banknote if it's an old polymer one from the 1990s. The Reserve Bank of Australia's annual report for 2023 revealed $100 banknotes that first circulated in 1996 were the ones most likely to be fake. During the last financial year, 6,171 first-generation $100 polymer banknotes were found to be forged. They made up 99.7 per cent of Australia's fake 6,187 $100 banknotes that were circulating, with only 11 of them new-generation banknotes, with a top-to-bottom window, released in 2020. Only five fake $100 notes were of the old paper money type first issued in 1984. 'Counterfeiting rates are highest for the $100 denomination, particularly the older series,' the RBA report said. 'There have been very few detections of NGB counterfeits in circulation so far.' Fake $100 banknotes also made up 62 per cent of the 9,970 counterfeit banknotes seized. First-generation polymer $50 banknotes, first issued in 1995, were the second most likely to be counterfeit with 3,664 circulating, making up 98.8 per cent of the 3,707 fake yellow notes. The rest were 43 new-generation $50 banknotes released issued in 2018. Only a handful of counterfeit notes were of the $5, $10 and $20 variety. Of the fake $20 notes, 56 of them were first-generation polymer money originally released in 1994, with the other four a new-generation note first issued in 2019. The dwindling number of Australians still using cash are far likelier to have a counterfeit banknote if it's an old polymer one from the 1990s The Reserve Bank of Australia's annual report for 2023 revealed $100 banknotes that first circulated in 1996 were the ones most likely to be fake No fake $20 paper notes first issued in 1966 were in circulation. Only 10 fake $10 banknotes were intercepted, with nine of them a first-generation polymer note first issued in 1993, with the other one a new-generation banknote first issued in 2017. The $5 banknote was the only one where most of the counterfeits were of a new-generation note and not the first-generation polymer note featuring the late Queen. Of these fakes, five were of a new-generation banknote released in 2016, with only one from the series first issued in 1992. Just 16 per cent of in-person transactions in 2022 were done in cash, a halving from 2019 as the pandemic saw a surge in tap-and-go payments, Reserve Bank data showed. $60billion of President Joe Biden's proposed $100billion aid package will go to support Ukraine in its war with Russia, with a further $14billion earmarked for Israel as it prepares for a ground invasion of Gaza. A further $14billion is allocated to border security, $10billion to humanitarian aid and $7billion for the Indo-Pacific region, including to bolster Taiwan. Biden, 80, addressed the American people on Thursday night from the Oval Office and urged Congress to pass the spending package. The proposal is already being met with resistance by Congressional Republicans who are wary of giving any new money to Ukraine and do not want different funding to be grouped together. A breakdown of President Joe Biden 's request to Congress for a $100billion spending package shows more than half will go to support Ukraine while just $14billion has been set aside for US border security Biden, 80, addressed the American people on Thursday night from the Oval Office and urged lawmakers to pass the spending package Top Republicans are said to be plotting how to hold up President Biden's supplemental funding ask - saying there's no path forward if Israel, Ukraine and southern border aid are tied together. On Thursday, Republican Sen. Roger Marshall wrote a letter, which was signed by seven additional GOP Senate colleagues, demanding that Israel and Ukraine aid be debated separately. The eight senators said that Biden is 'risking a government shutdown' by tying the aid packages together. 'My colleagues and I firmly believe that any aid to Israel should not be used as leverage to send tens of billions more dollars to Ukraine. 'These are two separate conflicts at different stages and cannot be considered as a "package deal,"' wrote Marshall. The administration has signaled it will include both border money and border policy provisions, not all of which will be welcome among Senate Republicans who will be critical to passage. Biden is greeted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after arriving at Ben Gurion International Airport on October 18 Biden is welcomed to Kyiv by President Volodomyr Zelensky during a surprise in February Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said this week Republicans want the package to include 'something serious' for the border. The package, which would provide a year's worth of American funding at a time of global turmoil, would also bolster Taiwan as it seeks to stave off a feared invasion from China. The president tied the conflicts in Ukraine and Israel together during his speech and pleaded 'we can't let terrorists like Hamas and Putin win.' He noted that Iran was providing military support to both Russia and the terrorist group. Seated at the Resolute Desk, Biden argued in his 15-minute address that Russian President Vladimir Putin and the terror group Hamas, responsible for the bloody October 7 on Israel 'represent different threats' but share a common goal. 'They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy,' he said. 'American leadership is what holds the world together. American alliances are what keep us America safe. 'American values are what make us a partner that other nations want to work with. 'To put all that at risk if we walk away from Ukraine, we turn our backs on Israel it's just not worth it.' Biden also said Putin's 'appetite for power and control' means he won't 'limit himself to Ukraine,' which could spill into a conflict where NATO countries are involved. If that happens, Biden warned, 'we'll have something that we do not seek.' 'We do not seek to have American troops fighting in Russia, or fighting against Russia,' he said. Israeli soldiers ride in their armored vehicles towards the border with the Gaza Strip on October 16, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas Ukrainian soldiers patrol after Russian military strike in Ugledar, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on February 19, 2023 The president told family members of the hostages abducted by Hamas in Israel during the October 7 terror attack that 'we're pursuing every avenue to bring their loved ones home.' 'As president, there is no higher priority for me than the safety of Americans held hostage,' he said. 'The terrorist of Hamas unleashed pure unadulterated evil in the world that sadly the Jewish people know perhaps better than anyone that there is no limit to the depravity of people when they want to inflict pain on others.' Biden also pushed for foreign aid to get into Gaza where Palestinian civilians are suffering while the Hamas terrorist group fires rockets at Israel. Biden's funding request comes at a moment when half of Congress is in chaos. The House has been without a speaker since October 3, when Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz filed a motion to oust House Speaker Kevin McCarthy from the top job. Columns of Israeli tanks massed on the Israel-Gaza border and thousands of soldiers readied themselves for battle today as an invasion of the war-torn enclave appears imminent. Tens of thousands of Israeli soldiers and scores of tanks and armoured vehicles are now positioned on the border - ready for a ground assault on the Gaza Strip where 203 hostages are being held captive by Hamas terrorists. The massing of artillery and men at the border comes after heavy machine gunfire was heard along the border in the early hours of this morning. And today, Israel continued to pound Gaza with a relentless stream of airstrikes with the IDF saying their fighter jets hit over 100 'operational targets' of Hamas terrorists overnight. The strikes destroyed tunnel shafts, munitions warehouses and dozens of operational headquarters, the IDF said. Israel also began evacuating a northern Israeli city near the Lebanese border in yet another sign of an impending ground invasion that could trigger turmoil across the Middle East. The two million Palestinians trapped in the small enclave, where thousands have been killed and entire towns obliterated in the Israeli airstrikes, are now bracing themselves for the invasion that is expected to result in further major casualties. It comes after Yoav Gallant, the Israeli defence minister, on Thursday visited troops positioned along the Gaza border, and told them that they would soon see the Palestinian enclave 'from inside'. An infantry commander in the IDF told DailyMail.com on Thursday that they were ready to invade, adding there was 'a very high level of optimism' among his troops. Israel's leaders are determined to rid Gaza of its Hamas rulers, even if that means going house-to-house in an operation that could last 'years' and result in further major casualties among Palestinians. Israeli armoured vehicles gathered at an undisclosed location near the border with Gaza, in Israel on Friday Israeli tanks gathered at an undisclosed location near the border with Gaza, in Israel, on Friday Israeli armoured vehicles gathered at an undisclosed location near the border with Gaza, in Israel, on Friday Israeli armoured vehicles gathered at an undisclosed location near the border with Gaza, in Israel, on Friday Israeli troops are seen patrolling near the border with Gaza on Thursday, ahead of the invasion Israeli tanks seen on a road near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel on Friday Israeli soldiers listen to Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant as he meets them in a field near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel on Thursday Israeli soldiers prepare for the scenario of ground manoeuvres at an undisclosed location near the border with Gaza, in Israel, on Friday A picture taken from the southern Israeli city of Sderot on Friday shows smoke ascending over the northern Gaza Strip following an Israeli strike People carry a dead body pulled from rubble as civil defense teams and residents continue search and rescue efforts in the historical Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius Church, where civilians took shelter, after Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, Gaza on Friday A view of the site of Israeli strikes on a house in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip on Friday But fears of a wider conflagration are growing, with Israel announcing plans to evacuate the northern city of Kiryat Shmona after days of clashes with Hezbollah fighters along the border with Lebanon. Days earlier, Israel evacuated 28 communities near the border. Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group, which has a massive arsenal of long-range rockets, has traded fire with Israel along the border on a near-daily basis and hinted it might join the war if Israel seeks to annihilate Hamas. Israel's archfoe Iran supports both armed groups. Elsewhere, Israel continued to pound Gaza with withering airstrikes today including parts of the south that Israel had declared 'safe zones', as the millions of Palestinians trapped in the enclave desperately awaited a first delivery of international emergency aid. In northern Gaza, Hamas terrorists accused Israel of committing war crimes after Israeli airstrikes hit an Orthodox Christian church where families had been sheltering. Gaza's Hamas-run government media office said 18 Christian Palestinians had been killed, adding it was 'a war crime that cannot be ignored'. Israel has said it is attacking Hamas terrorists wherever they may be in Gaza, describing them as 'dead men walking', and accused the group's leaders and fighters of taking shelter among the civilian population. But Israel's withering airstrikes have continued to obliterate entire neighbourhoods across the densely populated territory, leaving death and destruction in its wake. Exhausted Palestinians desperately searched through the rubble of their homes for loved ones across Gaza this morning, their screams piercing the air as they found the lifeless bodies of their children, wives and parents. In the nearly two weeks since Israel began its withering aerial bombardment in response to a devastating attack by Hamas terrorists that saw 1,300 people slaughtered, thousands of homes have been destroyed across the 25-mile enclave and 3,785 Palestinians killed, including 1,524 children. For the more than two million Palestinians trapped there, nowhere - and no one - seems to be safe from the relentless Israeli strikes. And doctors say they are fighting a losing battle against a lack of medicines, water and fuel to keep hospitals running. Grief-stricken parents, their legs buckling beneath them as they see the bodies of their dead children had become a familiar sight since the war started on October 7. Eight children aged between two and five were among 10 people from the same family killed in an air strike on a house in the city of Khan Yunis, in southern Gaza, early on Wednesday, relatives said. 'The children were asleep when they destroyed the house,' their 67-year-old grandfather, Abu Mohammad Wafi al-Bakri, said. Diyala, Ayman, Hamada, Zaher, Uday, Jamal, Nabil and Acil all came from one extended family and all slept on the ground floor. It took an hour after the raid to find their bodies, rescuers said. 'None of my children were linked to Palestinian organisations and no men were in the house at the time,' said Jihad al-Bakri, father of three of the children. He had left his home an hour before the missile hit to try to find water. Rescue workers move debris at the site of Israeli strikes on a house, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Friday Citing a deepening humanitarian crisis, the international community has urged Israel to minimise civilian casualties and allow desperately-needed aid to enter Gaza. But the deal to get aid into Gaza through Rafah, the territory's only crossing not controlled by Israel, remained fragile. Israel said the supplies could only go to civilians and that it would 'thwart' any diversions by Hamas. More than 200 trucks and some 3,000 tons of aid were positioned at or near Rafah. Work began on Friday to repair the road at the crossing that had been damaged in airstrikes, with trucks unloading gravel and bulldozers and other road repair equipment filling in large craters. But inside Israel, the drumbeat of war has only grown louder. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, rallied troops near Gaza on Thursday, suggesting the invasion was imminent. Decked in body armour, he vowed troops would 'fight like lions' and 'win with full force'. And Gallant banged the drum of war in a briefing to Israeli troops massed on the border with Gaza, telling them to 'annihilate' Hamas and that they will soon see the enclave 'from the inside'. He told them: 'Whoever sees Gaza from afar will soon see it from the inside. The command will come, I promise you. 'There is no forgiveness for this thing. Only total annihilation of Hamas organization - terror infrastructures, everything that has to do with terrorists and whoever sent them. 'It will take a week, it will take a month, it will take two months, until we annihilate them. You are not alone in battle. We trust you and count on you. Carry on training while there is time.' A formation of Israeli tanks and other military is positioned near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, on Friday Israeli military convoys are seen on the move near the Gaza Strip in the early hours of Friday Israeli soldiers prepare for the scenario of ground manoeuvres at an undisclosed location near the border with Gaza, in Israel, on Friday Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant speaks during his visit to Israeli soldiers near the Gaza border on Thursday Israeli soldiers prepare for the scenario of ground manoeuvres at an undisclosed location near the border with Gaza, in Israel, on Friday A picture taken from the southern Israeli city of Sderot on Friday shows smoke ascending over the northern Gaza Strip following an Israeli strike Palestinian man grieves over the body of a relative wrapped in a shroud labelled with a name, at the Najjar hospital in the southern Gaza Strip on Friday Palestinian emergency services and local citizens search for victims in buildings destroyed during Israeli air raids in the southern Gaza Strip on Friday Palestinian emergency services and local citizens search for victims in buildings destroyed during Israeli air raids in the southern Gaza Strip on Friday Palestinians search the destroyed annex of the Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius Church, the oldest church still in use in Gaza, damaged in a strike on Gaza City on Friday Israel have refused to discuss plans for what will happen in Gaza after Hamas is toppled. President Joe Biden, who was in Israel on Wednesday, asked about a post-Hamas Gaza, and was reportedly told that all resources were currently focused on the invasion, rather than the day after. But several Israeli politicians have referenced creating an expanded demilitarized zone around the border. When asked about the military's movements, IDF spokesman Lt. Colonel Jonathan Conricus told CNN that the military was ready, but would not announce their invasion in advance. 'The reserves are ready, equipped, mission-oriented, and standing by for the next stage of our operations,' said Conricus. 'But at this time, of course, we will not advertise when, where, and how we will advance or do or enhance our military activities.' Work began on Friday to repair the road at the crossing that had been damaged in airstrikes, with trucks unloading gravel and bulldozers and other road repair equipment filling in large craters. But inside Israel, the drumbeat of war has only grown louder. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, rallied troops near Gaza on Thursday, suggesting the invasion was imminent. Decked in body armour, he vowed troops would 'fight like lions' and 'win with full force'. And Gallant banged the drum of war in a briefing to Israeli troops massed on the border with Gaza, telling them to 'annihilate' Hamas and that they will soon see the enclave 'from the inside'. He told them: 'Whoever sees Gaza from afar will soon see it from the inside. The command will come, I promise you. 'There is no forgiveness for this thing. Only total annihilation of Hamas organization - terror infrastructures, everything that has to do with terrorists and whoever sent them. 'It will take a week, it will take a month, it will take two months, until we annihilate them. You are not alone in battle. We trust you and count on you. Carry on training while there is time.' Israel have refused to discuss plans for what will happen in Gaza after Hamas is toppled. President Joe Biden, who was in Israel on Wednesday, asked about a post-Hamas Gaza, and was reportedly told that all resources were currently focused on the invasion, rather than the day after. But several Israeli politicians have referenced creating an expanded demilitarized zone around the border. When asked about the military's movements, IDF spokesman Lt. Colonel Jonathan Conricus told CNN that the military was ready, but would not announce their invasion in advance. 'The reserves are ready, equipped, mission-oriented, and standing by for the next stage of our operations,' said Conricus. 'But at this time, of course, we will not advertise when, where, and how we will advance or do or enhance our military activities.' A picture taken from the southern Israeli city of Sderot on Friday shows smoke ascending over the northern Gaza Strip following an Israeli strike A view of a damaged car covered in debris at the site of Israeli strikes on a house in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Friday Palestinians search the destroyed annex of the Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius Church, the oldest church still in use in Gaza, damaged in a strike on Gaza City on Friday Egyptian members of the military sit in trucks as humanitarian aid from for Palestinians waits for the reopening of the Rafah border crossing on the Egyptian side to enter Gaza on Friday A view of humanitarian aid for Palestinians next to a plane, as officials wait to deliver aid to Gaza through the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip on Friday at Al Arish airport, Egypt Biden addressed the American people from the Oval Office of the White House on Thursday night - only his second Oval Office address since becoming president Nir Barkat, Israel's economy minister, confirmed that the invasion had been approved, and now it was up to the military to decide when to strike. 'The Israeli government made a decision, gave a green light to the army to wipe them out and now it's in the hands of the army,' he said. Troops were not expected to enter while foreign leaders were visiting. Biden left Israel on Wednesday evening: Britain's prime minister, Rishi Sunak, visited on Thursday morning, and then left for Saudi Arabia. Biden addressed the American people from the Oval Office of the White House on Thursday night - only his second Oval Office address since becoming president. He used his speech to explain why the Israeli war, and the Ukraine battle, were so crucial to the United States. Biden also urged implementation of a deal he brokered with Israel and Egypt to allow a limited amount of aid into Gaza from Friday. 'The people of Gaza urgently need food, water and medicine,' Biden said in a televised address from the Oval Office on his return from Tel Aviv. But near Egypt's border with Gaza, food, medicines, water purifiers and blankets have been piling up, with doubts growing that the Rafah crossing will open as planned. 'We hope there will be a crossing tomorrow,' World Health Organization (WHO) boss Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Thursday. 'But for sure, based on the experience we had the last few days, we are also at the same time worried whether this will happen.' Meanwhile in Israel, one veteran IDF commander told DailyMail.com that his troops were ready to 'wipe Hamas out'. Eliezer, a major in the IDF who goes by Ezzy, and did not want to give his last name, is stationed in the south of Israel with the Golani Brigade - a group of reservists, often one of the first to be called up for active duty. Eliezer, a major in the IDF who goes by Ezzy, spoke to DailyMail.com from southern Israel Ezzy said that his troops were clear about their mission and ready for the order to go in to Gaza Israeli tanks are seen moving along the Gaza border on Thursday Ezzy signed up in 2004 and has served in the last four major wars in Israel, as an engineer, rabbi and commander. The veteran IDF commander serves as a rabbi as well as an engineer in his unit His unit is designated to lead the forces of the Brigade - neutralizing mine fields, creating new pathways, capturing bridgeheads, and detonating explosives, he told DailyMail.com. 'Without a question, this is different than any year,' he said. 'But morale is very high, very optimistic.' Ezzy said the terror attacks of October 7 have galvanized his troops. 'Obviously the first days we experienced the initial shock. Tons of mourning - but there wasn't a lot of time to mourn,' he said. 'We didn't know when we would go in, we thought we would go in to Gaza a lot earlier.' Ezzy said there was a strong sense of purpose among the soldiers. 'We are very close. 'There's a lot of brotherhood, and with time the spirit is going up - there's a very high level of optimism. 'I can't remember Israel so united. More than ever I feel the support - we get messages.' He said they appreciated international support for their war on Hamas. 'I feel the world is united - it's not just Jewish people, It's anyone who understands there's good and evil,' he said. 'They understand Israel is fighting for the good of this world - not just for Israel, but for light in this world.' And he said his troops were ready to go in to Gaza. 'The soldiers are trained - they want to go in,' he said, adding that they were spending their days 'sharpening our skills on the planning and physical level.' 'They're ready, but we take day by day,' he added. We see every day that we don't go in as a blessing because we can use it to train and to become better prepared.' 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 A Palestinian man uses a fire extinguisher to douse a fire following an Israeli strike on October 8 in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip Avi Dichter, former commander of the Shin Bet domestic security agency, who now serves as the agriculture minister, is seen in Sderot on Thursday Ezzy said their mission was 'clear', describing the aims of the invasion as straightforward. 'Hamas has to be wiped out,' he said. 'There's no argument - it's clear. We always knew what their (Hamas) intent was and now we know what their capabilities are. 'We know we have to completely eradicate the enemy and that's what we have to do. It's unknown when exactly we will go in. We are taking it day by day.' Israel's agriculture minister, Avi Dichter - who was previously head of Israel's Shin Bet domestic security agency said on Thursday during a visit to the border town of Sderot that a buffer zone would be created within Gaza. At present, Israel's border security begins several hundred yards inside Israel's territory. Dichter said that needed to change, with a 'no man's land' between the Gazan territory and Israel, The Financial Times reported. 'It's not that you started it from inside the Gaza Strip, as a buffer zone,' he told a media briefing. 'You started it on the Israeli side 50 to 100 metres inside. We understand it was a mistake, it has to be fixed.' The 20-foot-tall border fence currently has a 100-yard buffer zone, backed by radar, motion sensors, a deep concrete foundation to deter tunneling, and observation towers. Construction on the 'smart fence' began after 2016 and was completed in 2021. But on October 7, Hamas launched its attacks from Gaza, bursting through the border fence and rampaging through Israel for hours. Dichter said they would no longer allow Gazans to approach the fence - effectively squeezing Gaza's territory. 'On the Gaza Strip all along, we will have a margin,' he said. 'And they will not be able to get in. It will be a fire zone. And no matter who you are, you will never be able to come close to the Israeli border.' Israel previously maintained a buffer zone inside Gaza after it withdrew from the strip in 2005. But over the years the buffer was eroded. Dichter said the width of any future buffer zone would have to be decided 'according to the area, the needs of the military, according to the distance of the Israeli military or the Israeli settlements'. He added: 'We have Kibbutz Nahal Oz that is 800 metres from the border. So you need to take more precautions in such an area. 'The whole contour of the Gaza Strip, it doesn't allow us to take risks. We have seen what happened when we took risks. It was a mistake we are not going to repeat.' Another Israeli official added: 'Obviously Gaza tomorrow will not look anything like it did before October 7. 'Hamas will be dismantled, as will Islamic Jihad, and they won't be able to attack Israel again. 'How it looks territorially .- we don't have the details, but that is our objective: There won't be any terrorists on our border like there was before.' It comes as the Israeli army announced plans to evacuate the northern city of Kiryat Shmona on Friday, after days of clashes with Hezbollah terrorists along the border with Lebanon. 'A short while ago, the Northern Command informed the mayor of the city of the decision. The plan will be managed by the local authority, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Defence,' the military said in a statement. Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah and allied Palestinian factions have traded cross-border fire with Israel for days after Hamas gunmen launched their savage attack on October 7. Israel's military said its forces continued to target Hezbollah targets as tensions grew along the border. 'The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) carried out a number of attacks against Hezbollah infrastructure, including observation posts,' the army said early Friday. 'In addition, IDF fighter jets struck three terrorists who attempted to launch anti-tank missiles toward Israel.' Israeli authorities have been steadily evacuating communities across the northern frontier, as reservists and columns of tanks and armoured vehicles poured into the area. The Army private who fled to North Korea before being returned home to the United States last month has been charged with desertion and child pornography. Private Travis King, 23, was detained by the US military and is facing charges including desertion and possessing sexual images of a child, among other crimes. The charges have not been publicly announced, but officials confirmed eight counts against King. King's mother, Claudine Gates, said she is 'extremely' concerned about the mental health of her son, whom she loves 'unconditionally.' 'As his mother, I ask that my son be afforded the presumption of innocence,' she said. 'The man I raised, the man I dropped off at boot camp, the man who spent the holidays with me before deploying did not drink,' she told CBS News. 'A mother knows her son, and I believe something happened to mine while he was deployed.' Private Travis King , 23, was detained by the US military and is facing charges including desertion and possessing sexual images of a child, among other crimes US Army Private 2nd Class Travis King, circled, is pictured during a tour moments before his dash across the border into North Korea King was flown to a U.S. military base in South Korea before being returned home. He is also accused of kicking and punching other officers last year, unlawfully possessing alcohol, making a false statement and possessing a video of a child engaged in sexual activity Desertion is a serious charge that can result in a three-year prison sentence. King is also accused of kicking and punching other officers last year, unlawfully possessing alcohol, making a false statement and possessing a video of a child engaged in sexual activity, according to AP. That allegation dates to July 10, the same day he was released from a South Korean prison where he had served nearly two months on assault charges. One week later, King ran across the heavily fortified border from South Korea and became the first American detained in North Korea in nearly five years. He was set to be sent to Fort Bliss, Texas, where he could have faced potential additional disciplinary actions and discharge. Officials said King was taken to the airport and escorted as far as customs. But instead of getting on the plane, he left and later joined a civilian tour of the Korean border village of Panmunjom. He ran across the border, which is lined with guards and often crowded with tourists, in the afternoon. After about two months, Pyongyang abruptly announced that it would expel him. He was flown on Sept. 28 to an Air Force base in Texas. King appears calm, wearing casual clothes, and being photographed as he arrived in America after being kicked out of North Korea His release from North Korea was aided by Swedish officials who took King to the Chinese border, where he was met by U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, the Swedish ambassador to China and at least one U.S. Defense Department official. He was then flown to a U.S. military base in South Korea before heading to the U.S. Once back in the US, King was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston outside San Antonio. He went through what the military describes as a 'reintegration' process that included medical exams, psychological assessments and debriefings. And he was also allowed to meet with family. Because he had willingly run into enemy hands, he legally was kept in military custody throughout that process. At the time, officials said they did not know exactly why North Korea decided to let King go, but suspected Pyongyang determined that as a low-ranking serviceman he had no real value in terms of either leverage or information. King joined the Army in January 2021, and served as a cavalry scout. While he was gone, Army leaders declared him absent without leave, opting to not consider him a deserter, which is far more serious. By declaring King a deserter, the Army would have to conclude that King left and intended to stay away permanently. In times of war, desertion can carry the death penalty. Service members can go AWOL for several days, but may return voluntarily. The punishment can include confinement in the brig, forfeiture of pay or dishonorable discharge and it is largely based on how long they were away and whether they were apprehended or returned on their own. The charging document does not provide significant detail on any of the allegations, though it does accuse King of knowingly possessing a video of a child engaging in sexual conduct last July 10 and says that he solicited a user of Snapchat, a social media platform, to produce images of underage sexual activity. Sean Timmons, an attorney who specializes in military law at the Tully Rinckey law firm and who reviewed the charging document, said all the transactions that occurred on Snapchat were not secure or private and were accessible by the government. 'He probably reasonably believed his illegal conduct would have no evidentiary trail, but Snapchat actually saves everything,' Timmons said to AP. Video footage captured the moment several rockets were launched toward a US military base outside Baghdad's international airport in Iraq, just minutes before President Joe Biden spoke to the nation. An anti-rocket system was activated, intercepting the rocket. It is still unclear whether the attacks caused casualties or damages. A clip, posted by Reuters journalist Ahmed Rasheed, is captioned, 'Rockets hit a military base hosts US forces near Baghdad airport.' Drones and rockets also targeted the Ain al-Asad air base on Thursday, which hosts US and other international forces in western Iraq, and multiple blasts were heard inside the base. Video footage captured the moment several rockets were launched toward a US military base outside Baghdad's international airport in Iraq. The clip, posted by Reuters journalist Ahmed Rasheed, is captioned, 'Rockets hit a military base hosts US forces near Baghdad airport' Military vehicles of U.S. soldiers are seen at the al-Asad air base in Anbar province, Iraq in 2020 US troops have been repeatedly targeted in Iraq and Syria in recent days, US officials said Thursday. In the past three days, Iran-linked groups have reportedly launched suicide drones & rockets targeted at US forces, resulting in several injuries. US forces have been injured after three drones targeted two Coalition bases in Iraq in the last 24 hours. Two of the drones were launched at the al-Asad air base, west of Baghdad, and a third targeted the al-Harir air base in the north of the war-torn country. One of the drones targeting al-Asad was intercepted but still exploded, causing minor injuries to personnel and damaging some equipment, a Pentagon spokesperson said. Some troops are being treated for possible traumatic brain injuries. It is unclear what happened to the second of the two drones deployed in that attack. The assault comes amid soaring tensions in the Middle East after Israel launched a bombing campaign on the Gaza Strip following a terror attack by Hamas on October 7 US troops have been repeatedly targeted in Iraq and Syria in recent days, US officials said Thursday. The second drone attack targeted the al-Harir air base, which houses US forces in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil. That unmanned aircraft is believed to have 'fallen in a desert area' near a village called Batas in Harir, with no further detail offered. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an Iran-backed terror faction, claimed responsibility for the attack, stating it 'heralds more operations' against the 'American occupation.' The assault comes amid soaring tensions in the Middle East amid Israel's war against Hamas following the terror attack that killed more than 1,400 people on October 7. Protests erupted across the region as President Joe Biden flew into Jerusalem on Wednesday to pledge his support to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Biden has sent naval power to the Middle East in the past two weeks, including two aircraft carriers, other warships and about 2,000 Marines. 'While I'm not going to forecast any potential responses to these attacks, I will say that we will take all necessary actions to defend U.S. and coalition forces against any threat,' Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Patrick Ryder told reporters on Thursday. The attacks on Wednesday came as president Joe Biden was visiting Israel amid the country's war with Hamas 'Any response, should one occur, will come at a time in a manner of our choosing,' Ryder said. There has been an uptick in attacks on US forces since the conflict in Israel broke out causing Washington to be on heightened alert. There are 2,500 American troops currently stationed in Iraq. Last week, Iraqi armed forces aligned with Iran threatened to target US interests with missiles and drones if Washington intervened to support Israel against Hamas in Gaza. The Pentagon has rushed air defenses and munitions to Israel, America's closest ally in the Middle East, but US forces have not joined the fighting. Since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas on October 7, much attention has been focused on Hezbollah, the powerful Hamas ally across Israels northern border in Lebanon, and its formidable arsenal. The group has traded limited strikes with Israel on the border in recent days. But Iranian-backed militias in Iraq have also threatened to attack US facilities over American support for Israel. 'Our missiles, drones, and special forces are ready to direct qualitative strikes at the American enemy in its bases and disrupt its interests if it intervenes in this battle,' Ahmad 'Abu Hussein' al-Hamidawi, head of the Kataib Hezbollah militia, said in a statement last Wednesday. He also threatened to launch missiles at Israeli targets. A terrifying voicemail message was left for the wife of a GOP lawmaker who voted against Representative Jim Jordan's bid to become House speaker. There has been a struggle as to who should lead the House of Representatives after Republican Kevin McCarthy was ousted in a historic vote on October 3. Jordan held a vote on his candidacy on Tuesday, and a second on Wednesday - which saw him win even fewer votes than the first. Some lawmakers who did not vote for him received angry messages from constituents, including some death threats. CNN obtained a vile voicemail where the caller stated: 'You will not be left alone because of your f*****g f****t husband,' the caller threatened. 'Jim Jordan or more conservative or youre going to be f*****g molested like you cant ever imagine.' The House is currently led by interim Speaker Patrick McHenry, who has little power to bring up legislation on the House floor, and he has reportedly threatened to quit. A terrifying voicemail message was left for the wife of a GOP lawmaker who voted against Representative Jim Jordan's bid to become House speaker Jordan held a vote on his candidacy on Tuesday, and a second on Wednesday - which saw him win even fewer votes than the first. Some lawmakers who did not vote for him received angry messages from constituents, including some death threats The House is currently led by interim Speaker Patrick McHenry, who has little power to bring up legislation on the House floor, and he has reportedly threatened to quit The threatening voicemail sent to the wife of an unnamed Republican who voted against Representative Jordan was shared by CNN. 'Why is your husband such a pig?' the caller said. 'Why would he get on TV and make an a******* of himself? Because hes a deep-state p****? 'Because he doesnt represent the people? So what were gonna do is were going f*****g follow you all over the place.' He added: 'Were gonna be up your a** f*****g nonstop. We are now Antifa. Were gonna do what the left does because your f*****g f****t of a husband gets on TV, Oh, the bad guys, they did stuff. I need to vote for Kevin McCarthy, a piece of s*** who everybody knows. 'So, f**k you, f**k your husband, and we are gonna were not like the left. We arent violent. But were gonna follow your ass to every appointment you have, everything you f*****g do. 'Your husbands an a******. You should f*****g talk to his stupid ass. Were at war. Israelis being killed. 'And your dumb husband is acting like a f*****g two-year-old? No wonder. Hes a f*****g war-mongering piece of s***.' The caller said: 'So listen, youre going to keep getting calls and emails. Im putting all your information over the internet now. Everybody else is. The threatening voicemail sent to the wife of an unnamed Republican who voted against Representative Jordan was shared by CNN 'And you will not be left alone because of your f*****g f****t husband. Jim Jordan or more conservative or youre going to be f*****g molested like you cant ever imagine. 'And again, non-violently. You wont go to the beauty parlor. You must be a b**** to marry a f*****g ugly motherf***** like that.' Nebraska Representative Don Bacon previously said his wife had received anonymous text messages threatening him unless he voted for Jordan. Bacon said Jordan stood no chance in future votes. While Iowa Republican congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who voted against Jim Jordan for speaker, says she has received 'credible death threats. It comes after Jordan called off a third speaker vote after his crushing defeat on Wednesday and with signs that he was going to lose support from his GOP colleagues. He will remain a GOP candidate for speaker, and is buying himself more time to get skeptical colleagues on his side. Temporary speaker McHenry told his GOP colleagues he could resign if Republicans force him to try and move legislation on the floor without a vote to extend his powers, according to several lawmakers. 'If you guys try to do that, youll figure out who the next person on Kevins list is,' he said, according to three sources who told NBC News. McHenry made the comment in a closed-door meeting on Thursday and was pointing to McCarthy's secret list of GOP representatives who would become temporary speaker during a vacancy. He does not want to set a precedent that would allow future temporary speakers the full power of speakers who are elected. One GOP lawmaker took McHenry's comments as a direct threat of resignation and said he made the same suggestion to other individuals. While a second Republican said the temporary speaker made the remarks 'tongue in cheek.' Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks says she received 'credible death threats' following her vote for an alternative to Jordan for speaker Aggressive texts sent to Representative Don Bacon's wife Angie because he didn't vote for Jordan as speaker Jordan will not hold a third vote for speaker and will get behind a resolution to temporarily empower interim Speaker Patrick McHenry that will buy him more time to try to shore up votes Jordan, who shed votes in his first two bids, will now back giving McCarthy-ally McHenry the gavel in a temporary bid to end the stalemate that has paralyzed Congress for 15 days. McHenry would act as a caretaker until the warring House Republicans can find a solution to fix the chaos that has engulfed the party since McCarthy was ousted two weeks ago But the move would allow McHenry to move legislation like spending bills and support for Israel with a month until the government shuts down again. The resolution will need to be voted on the House floor, and would need support from Democrats. McHenry has always denied any interest in taking up the speaker role long-term. He told reporters on Thursday: 'Im focused on electing Jim Jordan, the speaker nominee, as speaker of the House. 'Thats my goal. Thats my purpose.' They determine the name of the ship was 'The Africa' and it went down in 1895 Filmmaker couple Yvonne Drebert and Zach Melnick discovered a shipwreck as they shot a documentary on invasive mussels in the Great Lakes A couple that set out to film a documentary on invasive mussels in the Great Lakes discovered a treasure even greater. Yvonne Drebert and Zach Melnick stumbled upon a shipwreck from 128 years ago when they dove into the water of Lake Huron in Ontario, Canada. After receiving a tip about where they can find quadrillions of these invasive mussels, Drebert and Melnick sent their remotely operated vehicle 280 feet below the surface and instead found what they described as a 'big structure.' 'Out of the murk looms this really large, large shape and we could see it's a pretty big ship, so we're all pretty pumped about it at that point,' Drebert said. They soon reached out to a marine archaeologist and historian who concluded that the ship the couple found, known as 'The Africa,' went down in 1895 in an early season snowstorm. Yvonne Drebert and Zach Melnick found much more than mussels when they dove into Lake Huron in Ontario, Canada in June. After working with a marine archaeologist and historian they discovered that the ship was known as The Africa and was lost 128 years ago Quagga mussels covered the entire ship when the filmmaker couple discovered it at the bottom of Lake Huron in Ontario, Canada. These mussels are known as 'plankton feeders' and are considered invasive because they take from the food supply from other living organisms The shipwreck took the lives of 11 men onboard as it was towing a barge from Ashtabula, Ohio, to Owen Sound, Ontario. It measures at 148 feet long, 26 feet wide, and 12.5 feet high and seemed to be in great condition when the couple discovered it When the filmmakers discovered the ancient vessel, they said it was hard to know for sure if it was The Africa as the ship itself was covered in the mussels that they originally set out to locate. Drebert and Melnick have dedicated their film career to capturing the story of the invasive mussel species in their 'All to Clear' documentary. For the past two years, they have used a remotely operated vehicle to help them tell the underwater story of the Great Lakes. The species of freshwater mussels, also known as quagga mussels are known as 'plankton feeders' and are considered invasive because they take from the food supply of other living organisms. These mussels are also know as the 'evil' cousin of zebra mussels, another freshwater mussel. They are considered evil because they can survive and feed 500 feet below the water's surface. According to the National Invasive Species Information Center, the first quagga mussels ever detected were in Texas in 2022. The specific mussels have invaded not only the Great Lakes, but also the Mississippi River Basin and Lake Mead. Drebert and Melnick have dedicated their film career to capturing the story of the invasive muscle species in their 'All to Clear' documentary Quagga mussels are also know as the 'evil' cousin of zebra mussels, another freshwater mussel. They are considered evil because they can survive and feed 500 feet below the water's surface Melnick shared that family members of the lives lost on The Africa have since reached out. 'And we're working with those families to try to find a way to remember those sailors who had died 128 years ago,' Melnick said Despite their prolific nature, the mussels are great for filtering the water and leaving it nearly crystal clear. 'It's a bit of a double-edged sword for us because it's kind of great to be able to see with the clarity the mussels have created but they're also having these huge ecosystem impacts,' Drebert said. As the couple explored the hidden treasure, they found that the ship was covered in quagga mussels. 'Preservationists say the mussels have encrusted more than 1,400 shipwrecks in the Great Lakes and are slowly destroying their hulls,' CBC reported. The boat, which was carrying coal, went missing after it hit shallow ground. Melnick revealed that he and his wife live in Larson Cove, which is named after Hans Larson, the captain who went down on The Africa. 'To have that personal connection is almost like fate or something,' Melnick told CBC. The shipwreck took the lives of 11 men onboard as it was towing a barge from Ashtabula, Ohio , to Owen Sound, Ontario. The boat, which was carrying coal, went missing after it hit shallow ground. It measures at 148ft long, 26ft wide, and 12.5ft high and seemed to be in great condition when the couple discovered it As the couple explored the hidden treasure, they found that the ship was covered in quagga mussels. 'Preservationists say the mussels have encrusted more than 1,400 shipwrecks in the Great Lakes and are slowly destroying their hulls,' CBC reported Melnick revealed that he and his wife live in Larson Cove, which is named after Hans Larson, the captain who went down on The Africa The Africa itself is stood at 148ft long, 26ft wide, and 12.5ft high and seemed to be in great condition when the couple discovered it on a whim. Though the discovery of the 128-year-old lost ship brought much excitement to the couple and their film crew, it also brought a sense of closure to the families of the lives lost on the voyage. Melnick shared that those family members have since reached out to him and his wife. 'And we're working with those families to try to find a way to remember those sailors who had died 128 years ago,' Melnick said. The Georgia police officer who shot a recently exonerated man during a traffic stop in Georgia was once fired for excessive use of force. Camden County Sheriff's deputy Buck Aldridge killed unarmed Leonard Cure, 53, after pulling him over on the I-95 on Monday. Cure had been freed after spending 16 years in prison for a wrongful armed robbery conviction and was unarmed at the time of the stop for speeding. Bodycam footage showed him lashing out after being tasered by Aldridge. The footage then shows the officer shooting Cure as he was lying on the ground. Now, it has emerged that the cop in question was booted out of his previous job for violating the agency's use of force policy during a traffic stop. Aldridge was fired from Kingsland police in 2017 over an incident in which he reportedly picked up a woman and threw her on the ground during a traffic stop. Buck Aldridge fatally shot unarmed man Leonard Cure during a traffic stop near the Georgia state line on Monday after Cure refused to submit to arrest and the two got into a fight Cure was freed from jail in 2020 after spending 16 years in prison for a wrongful armed robbery conviction A report from an internal investigation into the 2017 incident contains comments from another officer involved in the stop who is noted as saying he thought Aldridge's reaction was 'a bit much'. A second officer said: 'I see a police officer being way too aggressive to start with. He had no business picking her up and throwing her on the ground.' The personnel files obtained by News4JAX also reveal Aldridge received several warnings about his conduct in the years leading up to his firing. In 2013, a performance review highlighted room for improvement on his judgement and decision-making. A comment from the record advised him to be 'calm, cool, collected'. The following year, he was issued a warning for unnecessary use of force during a traffic stop. During his five years with Kingsland, Aldridge completed 618 hours of training including on issues such as de-escalation techniques, use of deadly force and traffic stops. Experts speculated that he may have been able to get a new police role despite his history due to staffing issues. Aldridge was fired from a previous job with Kingsland police in 2017 for violating its use of force policy The traffic stop on Monday quickly turned violent after Aldridge deployed his taser against Cure when he refused to put his hands on his vehicle Cure was jailed in 2003 for the armed robbery of a drug store in Florida's Dania Beach. He was given life in prison due to previous convictions for robbery and other crimes. But in 2020 his conviction was vacated after a judge ruled there was no solid evidence and his alibi had been overlooked. On Monday, Cure had been on his way home from visiting his sick mother in Florida when he was pulled over by Aldridge. Bodycam footage showed a heated exchange between the men after Aldridge accused Cure of driving at 100mph. The incident escalated when Cure refused to put his hands on his vehicle, prompting Aldridge to deploy his taser. The altercation then became physical with the two locked in a tussle until Aldridge managed to overpower Cure, who continued resisting arrest. Aldridge shot Cure as he was lying on the ground, with footage showing how he then attempted to revive him until first responders arrived. His death has reignited conversations around police brutality in the U.S. Ben Crump, an attorney for Cure's family, suggested Aldridge was too aggressive from the get-go and this 'triggered' Cure, who suffered from emotional stress from his years in prison, according to his family. 'We don't understand why there weren't more attempts to de-escalate the situation.' Crump said. Aldridge, pictured left being comforted after the shooting, was given several previous warnings about his conduct particularly in traffic stops Ben Crump, an attorney for Cure's family, has suggested that Aldridge was too aggressive from the start of the interaction and did little to de-escalate the situation His mother, Mary Cure, has also told how she often feared her son would be caught up in a traffic stop. She told NBC News: 'I was uneasy every time he left, because I was like, "Will he get a traffic stop? Is he going to be a victim of that?" 'From the time that he was released, he was never set free. Lived in constant fear, is this going to be the day that they're gonna lock him up, beat him up, or kill him? I lived with that. That is torture.' She added: 'He said, "I love you and Ill see you soon," thats the last I heard from him. My heart is disconnected and my soul aches.' The Camden County District Attorney's Office told News4JAX it will not comment on force until its investigation is complete. A new train station named after traditional Indigenous owners has been revealed but the move has divided locals. The metro station yet to be built in Sydney has officially been named 'Gadigal Railway Station' by the NSW state government and was announced on Wednesday. The station which will be built by 2024 recognises the Gadigal people who are the Indigenous owners of the land known as today's Sydney CBD. A new metro station yet to be built in Sydney has officially been named 'Gadigal Railway Station' (pictured) by the NSW state government NSW Premier Chris Minns took to Twitter on Thursday night to confirm the appointment of the name which he said acknowledged Sydney's Indigenous heritage. 'Welcome to Gadigal Railway Station - coming 2024,' Mr Minns wrote. 'We're proud to announce that Sydney's newest metro station will be named after the traditional custodians of the land the Gadigal People'. The station which is located underneath Pitt, Park and Bathurst Streets in the heart of the city received overwhelming support to be named after the traditional owners. The name ends the dispute over what to call the $500million piece of infrastructure that forms part of the $21.6billion Sydney Metro City and Southwest project. The Premier's social media post was flooded with hundreds of comments from users who approved of the name given to the station. 'Excellent choice of station name'. 'Well done,' one user wrote. 'Its about time,' wrote another. 'Love it!' The station (pictured) which will be completed in 2024 received overwhelming support to be named after the traditional owners Others however voiced their opposition to the move which some labelled a form of 'virtue signaling'. 'I'll never call this station by this ridiculous, virtue-signalling name. It will be Pitt St. [sic] Station to me,' one user said. 'More virtue signalling nonsense from a party that specialises in virtue signalling nonsense,' another said. 'Neat station, crap name'. The Sydney Metro City and Southwest metro is a 30 kilometre underground railway project which will link North Sydney, the Sydney CBD, the inner-west and parts of the western suburbs. Metro stations are set to be built at Crows Nest, Victoria Cross, Barangaroo, Martin Place, Pitt Street, Waterloo and several other underground stations at Central Station. Commuters would be able to travel from Gadigal station to Crows Nest in under ten minutes while trips to Chatswood and Sydenham would take well under 15 minutes of travel time, with trains expected to run every four minutes Gadigal station (pictured) will be a part of several metro stations that will be built across the Sydney CBD including Crows Nest, Victoria Cross, Barangaroo, and Martin Place The Sydenham and Chatswood lines will form a train link that stretches for 16.5 kilometers between the two suburbs. The key part of the project is the Sydney Metro West which will also fastrack travel time from western Sydney to the CBD. The service will also connect the Western Sydney International Airport in Badgerys Creek. The Sydney Metro Northwest is the only metro project that has been opened so far after train services began running from May 2019. The announcement of the Gadigal Railway Station comes after Australians overwhelmingly rejected the Voice to parliament referendum. Every state and one territory vote No to constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians. Rishi Sunak will travel to Egypt as part of an intensive diplomatic effort to prevent the Israel-Hamas war spiralling into a wider regional conflict. The Prime Minister has already held talks with Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Downing Street said he would hold further meetings with counterparts from the region in Egypt. 'In all these conversations the Prime Minister has stressed the imperative of avoiding regional escalation and preventing the further unnecessary loss of civilian life,' a No 10 spokesman said. The Prime Minister's continued tour of the Middle East comes as he faces domestic difficulties from the loss of two safe Tory seats in Westminster by-elections. The dangers of the Hamas conflict spilling over were illustrated as the United States said one of its warships had intercepted cruise missiles and drones launched from Yemen 'potentially towards targets in Israel'. Rishi Sunak met crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman after touching down in Saudi Arabia The Prime Minister hopes his whirlwind Middle East tour will help stop the conflict spreading wider After visiting Israel and ten landing in Saudi Arabia (pictured), the Prime Minister is heading for Egypt Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have expressed support for the Palestinians and threatened Israel. Attacks against Israel have also been launched from Lebanon, where the Hezbollah group is backed by Iran, drawing retaliation from Tel Aviv. On Thursday, the Prime Minister visited Tel Aviv where he said he wanted Israel to win the war with Hamas before heading to Saudi Arabia for talks with the crown prince. The Prime Minister said: 'We agreed on co-ordinated action to prevent further escalation in the region, provide vital humanitarian aid in Gaza and support stability, both now and in the long-term.' Downing Street said the pair agreed that the 'loss of innocent lives in Israel and Gaza over the last two weeks has been horrific' and 'underscored the need to avoid any further escalation in the region'. Mr Sunak 'encouraged the crown prince to use Saudi's leadership in the region to support stability, both now and in the long-term', No 10 said. The Prime Minister tweeted about his goals for the trip as he landed in Saudi Arabia In the first leg of his trip on Thursday, the Prime Minister had meetings with Israel's prime minister Mr Netanyahu and president Isaac Herzog. Mr Netanyahu told Mr Sunak that he hoped for the UK's 'continuous support' in his country's 'long war' as it fought back against Hamas following the Palestinian militant group's deadly and unprecedented assault on Israel on October 7. Mr Sunak, speaking at a joint press conference after discussions with his counterpart lasting about two hours, said he was 'proud' to stand with Israel and that the UK Government 'wants you to win'. No 10 is yet to confirm whether Mr Sunak will visit another Middle East capital before wrapping up his two-day trip on Friday. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly was also in the region, visiting Egypt, Qatar and Turkey with a mission to 'secure the release of British hostages, stop the violence spreading to the region (and) ensure emergency aid can get into Gaza'. The latest figures from No 10 confirmed that at least nine British nationals were killed in the Hamas raids on October 7. A further seven British nationals are missing 'some of whom are feared to be among the dead or kidnapped', Downing Street said. The PA news agency understands that one of the Britons was Yonatan Rapoport, who was killed when Hamas gunmen rampaged through a kibbutz. Mr Rapoport, known as Yoni, was reportedly one of those murdered in the attack on Kibbutz Be'eri. He had two children, Yosefi and Aluma, and, as a Manchester United fan, had planned to take his son to Old Trafford next month for his first game, the BBC reported. The UK Government has not confirmed how many Britons are among the hostages held by Hamas, although at least two are known to be being kept captive, with Mr Sunak meeting with their families while in Tel Aviv. Following international pressure, Israel has agreed to let aid flow into Gaza from Egypt. It marks a potential break in a punishing and highly controversial siege on the territory after Israel's retaliation on Hamas saw it block access for water, food, electricity and other essential supplies to the 25-mile strip, while also carrying out strikes. The Prime Minister said the UK would seek to get 'more support to people as quickly as we can' as he reiterated that Palestinians living under Hamas rule in Gaza were also victims. But Israel has continued to pound locations across Gaza and is preparing to launch a ground invasion which could increase the bloodshed on both sides. A Victorian state MP was among seven people rushed to hospital after a skydiving plane crashed in Victoria's south-west. Emergency services were called to Leopold, near the Barwon Heads Airport in Geelong at about 8am on Friday to attend to the downed aircraft. Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke was among 17 on board when the plane crashed shortly after takeoff and was rushed to University Hospital Geelong suffering from whiplash. He has since had X-rays and CT scans and is 'doing OK'. Mr Edbrooke, an experienced skydiver recalled how the plane lost all power within moments of leaving the runway. 'The plane suddenly lost power after take-off and the pilot did an amazing job of keeping us out of the water,' he told The Age. Six people have been injured with three in a serious condition after a skydiving plane carrying 17 passengers crashed near an airport in Victoria's southwest Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke (pictured) was on board the plane when it crashed shortly after takeoff. He was rushed to hospital after suffering whiplash He thanked the first responders who reaced to the scene and joked he may now buy a Lotto ticket. Mr Edbrooke vowed he'll be back to work in no time. 'Very relieved to be able to report that Paul is doing okay, and he tells me he'll be back at work in no time,' Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan posted on social media. 'Sending my best to all the other passengers, and a huge thanks to our amazing emergency workers, as always.' A former firefighter, Mr Edbrooke resuscitated an 8-year-old girl from drowning in San Remo last year. In 2016, he saved an injured man's life in Israel who was convulsing on the street. Mr Edbrooke was one of eight patients taken to hospital Another man aged in his 30s had to be airlifted to The Alfred Hospital after suffering injuries to his upper body. He is in a stable condition Three others in serious conditions and another three needing further assessments were taken to Geelong Hospital. An engine failed shortly after takeoff which prompted the pilot to make a forced landing where he narrowly avoided landing in a river Paramedics assessed 10 other patients at the scene but they did not need further treatment. An engine had failed shortly after takeoff which caused the pilot to divert the flight and land immediately, narrowly missing Lake Connewarre. READ MORE: Horror as plane crashes near Melbourne Advertisement Passengers on board told Nine News the plane had climbed to around 600 feet when they felt the aircraft lose power. Victoria Police said the plane 'got into difficulty before making an emergency landing nearby in Connewarre' after departing Barwon Heads Airport. The pilot was commended for his quick thinking by Richard McCooey, Federation chief executive officer, who said that lives could have been lost. 'This [was] a critical engine failure and the pilot seems to have handled it exactly as pilots are taught to, you land straight ahead, land immediately and that's what he did,' he said. The pilot and 16 solo skydivers were able to exit the aircraft unassisted after the crash. Photos of the wreckage show the nose of the plane completely ripped off. The plane had crashed on the Leopold side of Lake Connewarre, with emergency crews remaining at the scene. Responders from the SES attended the scene and assisted paramedics in transporting passengers across the airport's uneven terrain. Emergency services were called to the Barwon Heads Airport in Connewarre, Geelong at about 8am on Friday Skydive Australia, the owner of the plane and organiser of the skydive, confirmed that its plane undertook a 'forced landing' early in the morning. 'The pilot, who is fully licensed and trained ... followed all appropriate aviation procedures and made the decision to put the aircraft down in a location that would ensure everyone's safety,' the company said in a statement. Skydive Australia said it would work with authorities to determine the cause of the incident. An investigation into what caused the engine to fail is now underway and will be handled by the Victorian Police. A New Zealand influencer and mother of five famous for her inspirational fitness posts has died. Bodybuilder and fitness writer Raechelle Chase - who at one point had more than 1.4million followers on Facebook and has been described as an 'internet sensation' - died earlier this month. Her cause of death is not known at this stage. The Auckland mum had five children, including seven-year-old twins. Bodybuilder and fitness writer Raechelle Chase - who at one point had more than 1.4million followers on Facebook and has been described as an 'internet sensation' - died earlier this month Ms Chase's death is being investigated by the New Zealand Coroner In 2011, Ms Chase became the first Kiwi to qualify for the Figure Olympia bodybuilding event and competed at a series of international meets. Most recently, she worked as a fitness model who had graced magazine covers on at least 14 occasions. She also worked as an influencer who offered online fitness mentoring. News of her death sparked an outpouring of tributes, led by her eldest daughter Anna Chase. 'She was supportive, kind-hearted and always had the best advice for us. She was a wildly driven woman with ambition and has inspired millions of people around the world', she wrote, according to Stuff. 'I miss her immensely and that love won't ever fade'. Ms Chase worked as a fitness model who had graced magazine covers on at least 14 occasions and influencer who offered online fitness mentoring. Ms Chase was the first Kiwi to qualify for an Olympia bodybuilding event and competed at a series of international meets Friend Keith O'Connell describer her death as 'so sudden, so unexpected'. 'Not going to lie, very few things in my life hit me as hard as your passing... You had so much left to live. So much love to give,' he wrote earlier this month. 'You were, still are, and always will be one of the kindest beautiful souls I will ever have experienced.' She was last on social media on September 30. 'Growth can be painful, change can be painful but nothing is as painful as staying stuck somewhere you don't belong,' she posted on Instagram. She also shared photos from a magazine photo shoot on Facebook late last month. Ms Chase had five children and was married to her husband Chris Chase for 14 years, until their separation in February 2015. Ms Chase (pictured when nine months' pregnant with twins) described how raising her children alone had left her feeling 'the most confident and empowered' she had felt in a long time Chris Chase was jailed for 10 years after being arrested in 2012 for his role in distributing a drug similar to MDMA. In 2016, Ms Chase wrote an article for Stuff detailing her 'toxic' relationship she fell into after she left her husband. 'The relationship I was in taught me many things about what I don't want, and what I need to steer very clear off. It wasn't just me that suffered, it was my entire family,' Ms Chase wrote. 'So if you know you are in an abusive relationship and you don't have the courage to leave, do it for your children. Grab hold of whatever you need long enough to survive crawling out of that hole because I promise you it will be worth it.' She also described how raising her children alone had left her feeling 'the most confident and empowered' she had felt in a long time. At the time she was nine months' pregnant with her two youngest children. Ms Chase's death is being investigated by the New Zealand Coroner. 'Given the recent nature of the death, no further information is available at this stage,' a spokesman for the New Zealand Ministry of Justice said. Omid Djalili, the British-Iranian comedian, has cancelled his gig after he allegedly received 'personal threats over the Israel situation'. The 58-year-old was due to appear at his show, Omid Djalili and Friends, in Market Drayton, Shropshire yesterday. Those who bought tickets were told they will be refunded next week. Jodie Rudd, manager of the Festival Drayton Centre, told the Shropshire Star: 'Due to security threats made against Omid Djalili, tonight's performance has had to be cancelled. We are working hard to contact all customers.' A spokesman for West Mercia Police said they had not received any reports in regards from the venue about the threat and have reached our to Mr Djalili to offer support. Mr Djalili, who grew up in Kensington, London, with Iranian parents, cancelled his show ahead of his scheduled Irish tour next week, where he is due to appear in Derry, Belfast, Dublin and Galway. Omid Djalili, the British-Iranian comedian, has cancelled his gig after he allegedly received 'personal threats over the Israel situation' A damaged car covered in debris in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, today On October 18 he took to X, formerly known as Twitter, and wrote: 'The conflict has gone into utterly unprecedented territory. The ONLY action we have now - as humanity - is to call for an immediate ceasefire. 'There literally is no other thing to do or say at this point. Any speculation on this "report" or that "report" on who is to blame makes no difference other than fuel a fire that is soon going to envelop the whole world. 'This is the assessment of everyone who has been following the #IsraelPalestineConflict as long as we've been alive.' MailOnline have contacted Omid Djalili's press officer for comment and West Mercia Police force for more information. Mr Djalili recently opened up about a terrifying encounter he had whilst at university in Ireland where he was almost shot in a targeted attack. He started his former years of adulthood at Ulster University in Northern Ireland, where he studied English and Theatre studies. The comedian attended university in the mid 80s while the Troubles were ongoing, and has now spoken about being shot at with a rifle in a shocking incident. Talking on Kate Garraway's Life Stories, Mr Djalili recalled the horrifying moment where he was targeted. He said: 'I was one of three ethnic minorities at university. Once I was throwing stones on Portstewart Beach. 'These guys come over to me and they said "Do you want your kneecaps blown off?" 'I got shot at with a rifle and I ran away, they came chasing after me, I hid behind a bin.' 'And then on the Monday morning I told my professor and he said "don't report it. If we report it, they'll say who it is and then they'll come and kill you",' he added. Israel has warned it could stop the BBC from reporting in the country for refusing to call Hamas terrorists - as the broadcaster admitted it was wrong to speculate that a rocket that hit a Gaza hospital was an 'Israeli air strike'. A senior Israeli official said the government could take action if the BBC continued 'crossing the line in accordance with our laws'. It came after Israel's president Isaac Herzog said its policy of referring to Hamas as militants was 'atrocious'. Israel's communications ministry is currently looking at the possibility of closing Qatari owned Al Jazeera's local bureau over claims its coverage was favourable to Hamas. Ask if it could crack down on other broadcasters, the Israeli official told the Telegraph: 'We're a democratic country and we will use all the tools a democratic state has. 'If any broadcast channel uses any terminology we think is crossing the line in accordance with our laws, we will do it. An explosion at the al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City on Tuesday was reported to have killed hundreds of people. Pictured is the aftermath of the explosion In the immediate aftermath of the blast, correspondent Jon Donnison said it was 'hard to see' what else could have happened at the al-Ahli Hospital other than an 'Israeli air strike' The official urged broadcasters: 'Don't fall into the hands of those terrorists that are pure evil.' Any move to ban the BBC from Israel would raise press freedom concerns. The BBC refers to Hamas as a 'militant' group and described the slaughter of civilians as a 'militant' attack. It has a long-standing policy of only using the term 'terrorist' when it is attributed to someone else. John Simpson, its World Affairs Editor, has warned that calling Hamas terrorists would be 'taking sides' and its not the BBC's job to tell people who to support and who to condemn'. The BBC was criticised after a reporter speculated that an 'Israeli strike' was responsible for an explosion at a hospital in Gaza that killed hundreds of people. In the immediate aftermath of the blast, correspondent Jon Donnison said it was 'hard to see' what else could have happened at the al-Ahli Hospital other than an 'Israeli air strike'. Despite this claim, growing evidence has emerged that the explosion at the al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City was caused by a failed rocket launch by terrorist group Islamic Jihad. Security minister Tom Tugendhat singled out the report when he appeared on the Today programme yesterday, saying it had been 'really serious' and had 'real costs'. Minister for security Tom Tugendhat singled out the report when he appeared on the Today programme yesterday, saying it had been 'really serious' and had 'real costs' He even implied it could have contributed to Joe Biden abandoning his Middle East peace summit, adding: 'This was not the BBC's finest hour.' Last night following huge criticism, the corporation issued a statement on the 'Corrections and Clarifications' page of its website, which admitted 'it was wrong to speculate in this way'. The BBC is already facing huge criticism over its refusal to call Hamas fighters terrorists, even though it is classified as a terrorist group by the Government. READ MORE - Reporter tweeted 'heartbreaking photo of child hurt by Israeli rocket' which was actually a girl in Syria Advertisement This comes as Downing Street said Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer had spoken to BBC director-general Tim Davie 'on a number of occasions in the past week'. President Herzog weighed in on the issue during an interview with the Mail on Wednesday. He said: 'I feel the BBC's reporting is atrocious. 'The fact that it does not recognise Hamas as a terror organisation requires a complete legal battle and public battle. It's unbelievable. 'What other type of torture do they want before they decide it was a terrorist organisation?' Mr Herzog complained his country was treated differently when it came to atrocities and this had 'always been the case'. The BBC has labelled other murderous outrages as terror, using the word without quotation marks or attribution in stories about the London Bridge, Westminster and Paris attacks. More than 1,400 Israelis were slaughtered and 199 people abducted by Hamas terrorists who broke out of Gaza and went on a murderous rampage through villages close to the border. The BBC admitted a controversial report about the cause of the Gaza hospital explosion was flawed as a minister said it was not the corporation's 'finest hour' Rescuers found beheaded babies and 90-year-olds shot dead among the helpless victims. Israel has launched devastating air strikes on targets in Gaza in response, reportedly killing more than 2,800 Palestinians. Yoav Gallant, the Israeli defense minister, yesterday visited troops positioned along the Gaza border, and told them that they would soon see the Palestinian enclave 'from inside'. An infantry commander in the IDF told DailyMail.com that they were ready to invade, adding there was 'a very high level of optimism' among his troops. A wealthy father who tortured and starved his three-year-old son to death and made his short life 'pure hell' will be executed with a bullet to the head in Belarus. Alexander Taratuta, 48, has been sentenced to death for the brutal torture and murder of his son Semyon. He will be shot in the back of the head in Belarus, the only country in Europe to carry out capital punishment. His wife Anastasia Taratuta, 37, was sentenced to 25 years in a strict regime penal colony for the murder of Semyon. The death penalty - by a state executioner - is not allowed for women in Belarus. Both 'calmly listened to their sentences' while handcuffed in a glass court cage, reported Sputnik media. Alexander constantly looked away from the camera as a judge handed down the verdict, while Anastasia was seen holding her hands over her face in the dock as her husband was condemned to death. Evil parents Alexander and Anastasia Taratuta, 48 and 37, who respectively face the death penalty and 25 years in jail over the killing of their son Semyon, three The pair are seen sitting in a courtroom during their sentencing Seymon was starved over a long period, weighing only 15lbs at the age of three when he died. A picture on his gravestone shows the boy with an injured nose from a wound inflicted by his parents Seymon eventually died on January 4 this year after the father kicked him on the head 'to make him sit on the floor'. The child fell 'showing no signs of life' A court was told how the 'wealthy' couple inflicted a life of 'pure hell' on the boy. Little Semyon was forced to sleep on bare linoleum and was often numb from the cold at their privately-owned home in Slutsk, 65 miles south of capital Minsk. His mother - a Russian citizen - regularly punched Semyon in the face, and threw him at her husband or at the wall. She also dropped him into the bath. The three-year-old was tied to a table leg, and at other times, his hands were tethered and food was dangled in front of his face. Seymon was starved over a long period, weighing only 15lbs at the age of three when he died. A picture on his gravestone shows the boy with an injured nose from a wound inflicted by his parents. 'His parents, instead of watching over him, simply insulted, humiliated and beat him,' said one court report. Alexander denied cruelty, claiming he wanted to 'educate' his son. Mother Anastasia Taratuta, 37, is sentenced to 25 years in a strict regime jail - the maximum permitted for a woman - for the torture and murder of her son, Semyon, three. Father Alexander Taratuta, 48, is sentenced to death in Belarus over the torture and killing of his son, Semyon, three Semyon's cot is seen in this image from inside the hellhouse Semyon was regularly dropped in the bath, forced to sleep on the floor and tied to furniture while beaten As 'punishment' for soiling the floor the terrified boy was put in the bath and objects were thrown at him. Seymon eventually died on January 4 this year after the father kicked him on the head 'to make him sit on the floor'. The child fell 'showing no signs of life'. A post mortem found Semyon had eight other serious wounds inflicted by his parents. A paramedic doctor who confirmed Semyon's death, said: 'The boy was very thin, like a skeleton, covered in skin, looking like an African child with a big belly. 'There was an abrasion on his head and a piece of hair was missing.' The child's eye socket was 'torn almost to the temple'. The couple had two more children together, both daughters, now aged four and one, and Anastasia had custody of the elder of two sons, 14 and 12, from a previous relationship. All are now in care and formal legal procedures are underway to deprive the couple of their parental rights. Anastasia has two older children, but the horrific child abuse was reserved for Semyon. Alexander constantly looked away from the camera as a judge handed down the verdict, while Anastasia was seen holding her hands over her face in the dock as her husband was condemned to death Mother Anastasia Taratuta, 37, is sentenced to 25 years in a strict regime jail Evil parents Alexander and Anastasia Taratuta, 48 and 37, who respectively face the death penalty and 25 years in jail over the killing of their son Semyon, three. Social services chief Galina Shaduro said the family was 'wealthy'. Both parents saw their elder daughter as a 'princess', while the youngest was also doted on. After Semyon died, mother Anastasia went to a shop and bought lollipops for her two other young children. The Belarus general prosecutor said the couple were motivated by 'personal hostility' against the boy. They aimed to kill him, said the prosecutor. 'On the basis of personal hostility towards their obviously young son Semyon, with the aim of murder, they struck him in the presence of his younger brother with and hands and feet at least nine times, seven of which were to the head. 'The defendants were aware that by inflicting multiple blows on the boy with significant force, including with booted feet, on the head, torso and limbs, they were causing his son prolonged physical pain, special torture and suffering.' In his 'last word' to the court, Alexander, a Belarus citizen who earlier worked at a clothing factory, said he regretted that his life 'turned out this way'. Alexander said he 'felt sorry that the last strike' on his son was 'too strong'. 'There were no intentions, no conspiracies. I didn't want to kill, there were no such thoughts,' he said. His wife was condemned in one court report as a 'cheap actress who pretended to be a heartbroken mother during the final court session'. She had written a final speech to the court but refused to read it. He can appeal his sentence from Death Row, and seek a pardon from Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko. But such moves seldom change count decisions on executions. Those facing the death penalty are blindfolded and forced to kneel before being shot in the back of the head. The method is similar to that used in Stalin times in the USSR. Yobs are being hunted in South Africa for animal cruelty after force-feeding Carling Black Label lager down the throat of a terrified python. The gang had grabbed the protected six-foot-long reptile as they partied in the bush and forced open its jaws to pour beer down its throat. Snake experts say that the reptile's organs would have no way of dealing with alcohol and that it would have burned its internal tissues and caused severe damage or death. The 14-second clip shows two men holding the snake upright and a third man emptying a whole 750ml bottle of the Canadian lager down the snake's throat. The crowd are baying and laughing and one of the tormentors looks poised to pour a second bottle down the python's gullet as it is held helplessly up in the air. UK snake expert Michael Grover said on his reptile website that even a tiny amount of alcohol can be deadly and it causes 'disorientation and a loss of co-ordination'. He said: 'If a snake drinks alcohol it can be fatal as it is highly toxic to them and can cause severe damage to its liver and other organs leading to organ failure and death'. The angry National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) has uploaded the sickening video onto its SA website and is appealing for information. A spokesman said: 'This is a threatened or protected species of African rock python being effectively tortured and we will bring the full force of the law into play. 'The snake is being force fed with beer and it is clearly cruelty and it is causing the python immense suffering and it could very well have caused a painful death for it. These drunken yobs are being hunted in South Africa for animal cruelty after force-feeding Carling Black Label lager down the throat of a terrified python 'A full investigation is underway and any substantial information will be of great help as it is difficult to trace perpetrators from an anonymous video posted online. 'The public outrage on social media has born full testament to the fact that animal cruelty is not only not accepted in South Africa but also won't be tolerated' he said. Anyone with any information can call the NSPCA Special Projects Unit at +27 11 907 3590 or email specialprojects@nscpa.co.za and their identity will be fully protected. Que Pasa wrote beneath the video on the NSPCA website: 'How utterly despicable. May these people get dealt with by the heaviest hand of the law. This is absolutely heartbreaking'. Louise Thompson said: 'Absolutely heartbreaking'. The NSPCA is the South African version of the RSPCA which is determined to track down the three men and are posting the video horror on websites across the country. African Rock Pythons are known as TOPS Threatened or Protected Species and can grow to over 20 feet long and weigh over 200lbs and kill by constricting prey. It means they wrap their coils round their victims and every time the prey breathes out it tightens a little until it has no oxygen left and usually dies of cardiac arrest. The non-venomous snakes can give a nasty bite if threatened and can swallow large antelopes and even crocodiles and in rare cases have been known to swallow humans. One python killed by hunter K H Krof in South Africa in 1958 was measured at 23 feet long and when it was opened up a 5 foot Nile Crocodile was found dead inside! Sentences for killing-pythons vary from fines starting at 2000 to two 9-year sentences for a local man who killed and skinned one and another who eat its meat to treat back pain. The British man was found dead only wearing his underwear on Friday A British pensioner plunged to his death from the fifth floor of an apartment block in Thailand this morning. The 89-year-old man was found dead lying face down in a pool of blood next to the swimming pool at the Star Beach Condotel in Pattaya at around 6am on Friday. Local police arrived at the scene to find the Brit was wearing only his blue underpants and had a bandage around his head. They cordoned off the area and covered up his body, while investigating the death, interviewing the building's receptionist and the nurse who had been looking after the elderly man. They said that he had been heartbroken since his younger lover left him three years ago. The pensioner was found dead on Friday morning at around 6am by the pool at the Star Beach Condotel in Pattaya, Thailand Security guard Sornsak Sopha, 40, said: 'People staying in the condominium reported to me that someone fell from a building. So I rushed to check and found that the person who had fallen was a foreigner. 'He had died and at first I was very shocked and couldn't do anything. When I gathered my thoughts I called the police to come and investigate.' The man's carer Anansit Suttaso, 57, said the retired Brit had been suffering from a chronic illness that required medical care every evening. She said: 'He often complained to me that he missed his partner and lover who had been gone for more than three years. I never thought anything like this would happen.' Police Colonel Thanaphong Phothi, the superintendent of Pattaya City Police Station, said he has ordered officials to investigate. The policeman said: 'Forensic officers are checking the room and officers and viewing CCTV from the whole area, to collect evidence to conclude the case. 'There are no signs of a struggle or robbery in the deceased man's room.' The pensioner's body has now been taken to the local hospital for a post-mortem examination, and the British Embassy in Bangkok have been informed. MailOnline has contacted the UK's Foreign Office for comment. It was supposed to be a scene of joy - a mother reaching out to her crying newborn daughter and cradling her to her chest after months of feeling her little kicks. But instead, the hospital room was silent as the doctor carefully placed the unborn baby, no bigger than his palms, onto her mother's unmoving body. This little baby, posthumously named as Fatimah - meaning 'shining one' in Arabic -, was killed alongside her heavily pregnant mother and her two sisters in an Israeli airstrike in the city of Rafah, on Gaza's border with Egypt, Palestinian doctors said. Her mother, Arij Marwan al-Banna, seven months pregnant, and her daughters Sarah and Samya, both aged under 10, were killed on the spot, the horrified doctors said. Medics at Najjar hospital in Rafah said they tried desperately to save her unborn child but the damage was too great. She was gone too. The doctors carefully wrapped her tiny body in a makeshift white body bag, tying both ends closed, in silence. And then carefully, a medic carried the little baby with dark hair towards her mother, who had already been placed in a black body bag. It was supposed to be a scene of joy - a mother reaching out to her crying newborn daughter and cradling her to her chest after months of feeling her little kicks. But instead, the hospital room was silent as the doctor carefully placed the unborn baby, no bigger than his palms, onto her mother's unmoving body A Palestinian woman looks at the body of a relatives wrapped in a shroud at the Najjar hospital in the southern Gaza Strip on Friday Palestinian man grieves over the body of a relative wrapped in a shroud labelled with a name, at the Najjar hospital in the southern Gaza Strip on Friday A Palestinian boy with a bandage wrapped around his head stands in the grounds of the Najjar hospital in the southern Gaza Strip on Friday People look at destruction after an Israeli army raid on a Palestinian refugee camp, Nur Shams, in the West Bank, on Friday A picture taken from the southern Israeli city of Sderot on October 20, 2023, shows smoke ascending over the northern Gaza Strip following an Israeli strike Arij had fled to her parents' house from the north of the Gaza strip with her children after the Israeli told Palestinians to move to the south's 'safe zones'. But on Thursday, she and her daughters Sarah and Samya were killed on the spot after an Israeli airstrike ripped through their home, doctors said. Soon afterwards, Arij's unborn baby would be pronounced dead too, medics said. Israel has said it is attacking Hamas terrorists wherever they may be in Gaza, describing them as 'dead men walking', and accused the group's leaders and fighters of taking shelter among the civilian population. On Thursday, the Israeli army said it had destroyed a missile launch site and tunnels, claiming 'more than 10 terrorists were eliminated'. But Israel's withering airstrikes have continued to obliterate entire neighbourhoods across the densely populated territory, leaving death and destruction in its wake. Today, the brutal bombardment pounded locations across the Gaza Strip, including parts of the south that Israel had declared 'safe zones'. Exhausted Palestinians desperately searched through the rubble of their homes for loved ones across Gaza this morning, their screams piercing the air as they found the lifeless bodies of their children, wives and parents. In the nearly two weeks since Israel began its withering aerial bombardment in response to a devastating attack by Hamas terrorists that saw 1,300 people slaughtered, thousands of homes have been destroyed across the 25-mile enclave and 3,785 Palestinians killed, including 1,524 children. For the more than two million Palestinians trapped there, nowhere - and no one - seems to be safe from the relentless Israeli strikes. And doctors say they are fighting a losing battle against a lack of medicines, water and fuel to keep hospitals running. Grief-stricken parents, their legs buckling beneath them as they see the bodies of their dead children had become a familiar sight since the war started on October 7. A view of a damaged car covered in debris at the site of Israeli strikes on a house in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Friday A view of the site of Israeli strikes on a house in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip on Friday Rescue workers move debris at the site of Israeli strikes on a house, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Friday Palestinian emergency services and local citizens search for victims in buildings destroyed during Israeli air raids in the southern Gaza Strip on Friday Eight children aged between two and five were among 10 people from the same family killed in an air strike on a house in the city of Khan Yunis, in southern Gaza, early on Wednesday, relatives said. 'The children were asleep when they destroyed the house,' their 67-year-old grandfather, Abu Mohammad Wafi al-Bakri, said. Diyala, Ayman, Hamada, Zaher, Uday, Jamal, Nabil and Acil all came from one extended family and all slept on the ground floor. It took an hour after the raid to find their bodies, rescuers said. 'None of my children were linked to Palestinian organisations and no men were in the house at the time,' said Jihad al-Bakri, father of three of the children. He had left his home an hour before the missile hit to try to find water. Citing a deepening humanitarian crisis, the international community has urged Israel to minimise civilian casualties and allow desperately-needed aid to enter Gaza. Millions of Palestinians trapped in the enclave desperately awaited a first delivery of international emergency aid today. But the deal to get aid into Gaza through Rafah, the territory's only crossing not controlled by Israel, remained fragile. Israel said the supplies could only go to civilians and that it would 'thwart' any diversions by Hamas. More than 200 trucks and some 3,000 tons of aid were positioned at or near Rafah, but work has not yet begun on repairing a road on the Gaza side that was damaged by airstrikes. Gaza's overwhelmed hospitals are rationing their dwindling medical supplies and fuel for generators. Doctors in darkened wards across Gaza performed surgeries by the light of mobile phones and used vinegar to treat infected wounds. But inside Israel, the drumbeat of war has only grown louder. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, rallied troops near Gaza on Thursday, suggesting the invasion was imminent. Decked in body armour, he vowed troops would 'fight like lions' and 'win with full force'. And Yoav Gallant, the Israeli defence minister, on Thursday visited troops positioned along the Gaza border, and told them that they would soon see the Palestinian enclave 'from inside'. Israeli armoured vehicles gathered at an undisclosed location near the border with Gaza, in Israel, on Friday Israeli armoured vehicles gathered at an undisclosed location near the border with Gaza, in Israel on Friday Israeli tanks gathered at an undisclosed location near the border with Gaza, in Israel, on Friday Israeli armoured vehicles gathered at an undisclosed location near the border with Gaza, in Israel, on Friday Israeli soldiers listen to Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant as he meets them in a field near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel on Thursday He told them: 'Whoever sees Gaza from afar will soon see it from the inside. The command will come, I promise you. 'There is no forgiveness for this thing. Only total annihilation of Hamas organisation - terror infrastructures, everything that has to do with terrorists and whoever sent them. 'It will take a week, it will take a month, it will take two months, until we annihilate them. You are not alone in battle. We trust you and count on you. Carry on training while there is time.' Israel's leaders are determined to rid Gaza of its Hamas rulers, even if that means going house-to-house in an operation that could last 'years' and result in further major casualties among Palestinians. Tens of thousands of Israeli troops are now positioned on the border for the imminent ground assault on the Gaza Strip, where 203 hostages are being held captive by Hamas terrorists. Meanwhile, Israel has evacuated its own communities near Gaza and Lebanon, putting residents up in hotels elsewhere in the country in a state-funded program. On Friday, the Defencee Ministry announced evacuation plans for Kiryat Shmona, a town of more than 20,000 residents near the Lebanese border. Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group, which has a massive arsenal of long-range rockets, has traded fire with Israel along the border on a near-daily basis and hinted it might join the war if Israel seeks to annihilate Hamas. Israel's archfoe Iran supports both armed groups. The Rottweiler that mauled one if its owners to death and tore the other's legs to shreds was unregistered. Retiree Noel Backhouse, 66, and his wife Karen 'Maree' Anderson, 64, were at their home in Allens Rivulet, a small rural community 25km southwest of Hobart, when they were suddenly set upon by their Rottweiler, Ruben, on Sunday night. A neighbour heard the commotion and called Triple Zero at about 10.40pm, but despite the best efforts of paramedics Mr Backhouse died at the scene after suffering critical injuries to his lower legs. Kingborough Council have since said that Ruben wasn't registered, the Mercury reported, and neither were the couple's German shepherd Tori and French bulldog called Evie. Ruben was put to sleep and the other two dogs have been seized by the council. Retiree Noel Backhouse, 66, died after being mauled by his pet Rottweiler on Sunday night His wife Maree Anderson (pictured) suffered serious injuries and is in a stable condition in hospital Ruben, who authorities say was a beloved pet who 'turned' on his owners, has since been put down Ms Anderson was an animal love and just five months ago shared a post suggesting some dog breeds get a bad rap over attacks when its their owners who should be blamed. 'In the 70s they blamed the Dobermans. In the 80s they blamed the German Shepherds,' the post reads. 'In the 90s they blamed Rottweilers. Now they blame the Pitbull. 'When will they blame the humans?' The couple were dog enthusiasts, with Ms Anderson regularly exhibiting their pets at dog shows Pictured: Trophies and ribbons won by Ruben at a Tasmanian dog show last year In June, Ms Anderson shared the above post suggesting Rottweilers are not aggressive by nature According to an online profile, Mr Anderson has been exhibiting pure-bred dogs, including several different Rottweilers, for more than a decade. In November last year, Ruben was awarded two trophies and two ribbons after winning Best State Bred Dog and Best Opposite State Bred at the Rottweiler Club of Tasmania Specialty Show. In a cruel twist of fate, Mr Backhouse was savagely attacked by a Pitbull 14 months ago while trying to save the life of the dog which would later take his. In July 2022, the couple were walking Tori and Ruben along a walking track when the off-leash dog suddenly pounced on their pets. 'In an attempt to keep Ruben safe, Noel was badly bitten,' Ms Anderson wrote online, alongside photos of Noel's bloody hands and wrists. 'The owner arrived on his bike and took off when the police were called.' Ms Anderson said Noel, Ruben and Tori were doing OK and had been placed on antibiotics, but she was furious at the other pet owner. 'I'm just so angry that an idiot like this thinks it's OK to allow his dog to roam freely while he follows on his bike with no control over the animal,' she said. The couple also own a German Shepherd and a French Bulldog In posts online, Ms Anderson doted on the couple's pet dogs, affectionately calling them 'our boys' Mr Backhouse was left with bloody hands after protecting Ruben from a Pitbull in July last year After the attack, Ruben was euthanised at the couple's property by an animal management officer from the Kingborough Council. The other two dogs were seized by the council while officers investigated the tragedy. Daily Mail Australia understands a neighbour has since launched a community initiative to help take care of the couple's other dogs while Ms Anderson recovers. Speaking to media on Monday, Tasmanian Police Inspector Colin Riley said the Sunday night attack appeared to be random. 'This is a family that have had a loved pet,' Mr Riley said. 'Unfortunately, that animal has turned on them and it's had tragic outcomes.' A report will be prepared for the coroner. In a fiery takedown of Columbia University's board, current professor Shai Davidai declared in front of a crowd on the school's campus: 'I would never send my daughter here.' Davidai, 40, made his remarks on Wednesday night after another week of anti-Israel protests at the Ivy League school in the wake of Hamas' brutal assault on the Jewish state on October 7. 'We cannot protect your children from pro-terror student organizations because the president of Columbia University will not speak out against pro-terror student organizations,' Davidai said. He went on to accuse anti-Israeli students of purporting to celebrate an act of 'resistance' but in reality supporting an act of 'rape.' The business professor, told the crowd that he was not speaking as a professor but as a father. 'If my two-year-old daughter was now 18 years old, I would never, never sent her to Columbia. Not because it's not a great institution, it's an amazing institution but because I know she will not be protected.' Professor Shai Davidai making his fiery plea for the board of Columbia University to act against anti-Israel groups Davidai is a father to a son and daughter, in his fiery speech he said he would never send them to Columbia for their own safety Anti-Israel students holding a protest at Columbia University this week Pro-Israel students take part in a protest in support of Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, at Columbia University in New York City Davidai noted that President Joe Biden and New York City Mayor Eric Adams were quick to denounce terrorism whereas presidents of some of the bigges colleges in America, including NYU, Harvard and Stanford failed to make similar declarations. 'Can you imagine that in the city that had to endure 9/11, the worst attack on American soil, we have pro-terror student organizations?' he went on. Targeting Columbia president Minouche Shafik, Davidai stated: 'You are a coward.' Following the attack, Shafik said that he was 'devastated by the horrific attack in Israel' but did not denounce Hamas. 'We are waiting for you to eradicate all pro-terror student organizations on campus,' the outraged professor went on. Davidai described 'shivering' with fear when being on campus since the attack. Last wee, hundreds of students gathered together to protest on the quad in Columbia, both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel factions were present. 'Rape is never okay. Not as an act of resistance. Not as an act of revenge,' Davidai said. The day after the attacks across southern Israel, Columbia politics and history professor Joseph Massad said in an essay that he found Hamas' attacks 'exhilarating.' During his passionate speech, Davidai asked those in attendance to hold politicians and state universities that receive public money accountable regarding pro-terror groups on colleges campuses. 'Will you protect my child from pro-terror student organizations?,' he asked. The flyers were found in the trash on campus after the students fled Just this week, two young women were filmed tearing down posters of Israeli children taken hostage by Hamas while another teen from Columbia University is facing hate crime charges for attacking a Jewish classmate with a broomstick. The two female students have not yet been named publicly and the school is yet to confirm whether they are currently enrolled. They were filmed yesterday at Tisch Hall in Manhattan's Greenwich Village, stripping clean a wall where students had plastered the faces of some of the hundreds of hostages taken by Hamas. The pair were filmed by Students Supporting Israel, a campus organization which is now demanding that the pair be excluded permanently. As college campuses continue to become an epicenter of the complex conflict within the US, Republican Senator Josh Hawley has called for the Department of Justice to investigate pro-Palestine student groups within universities. The Missouri lawmaker slammed organizations at Ivy league schools like Harvard and Columbia, which have supported the terrorists' actions as justified. '[Hamas] would kill every Jew in the world if they could. Thats what these terrorists want. And to be silent in the face of that or to celebrate it as these crazy student groups are doing?,' Hawley told Sean Hannity on Fox News. 'What I want to know, Sean, is whos funding these student groups? I hope that the DOJ is investigating where the money is coming from. Are there terror groups who are part of these networks who are infiltrating our campuses? 'I mean, this is crazy stuff that were seeing on these campuses. And for these administrators to have their hand out to take federal money, taxpayer money, and at the same time be silent or silently condone this kind of terrorism is just it is grotesque.' Storm Babet, the second named storm of the year, has unleashed carnage on England after battering most of Scotland. More than an inch (25.4mm) of rain fell on parts on England overnight, meanwhile Scotland experienced 70mph winds and several inches of rainfall pushed rivers to breaking point. Yellow warnings are in place across the south-east, north Wales, the Midlands and the north, the entirety of Northern Ireland and eastern Scotland and the Highlands; amber 'severe' warnings are in place down the spine of England and on Scotland's east coast. However, parts of Angus and Perthshire have a rare red 'danger to life' warning in place - residents are evacuating after the River South Esk burst its banks overnight and thousands of homes were left without power. But what is a red 'danger to life' warning and what does it mean? Read on for everything you need to know about the rare Met Office weather alert. Storm Babet, the second named storm of the year,has unleashed carnage on England after battering most of Scotland More than an inch (25.4mm) of rain fell on parts on England overnight, meanwhile Scotland experienced 70mph winds and several inches of rainfall pushed rivers to breaking point. Pictured: Hartlepool How do Met Office weather warnings work? The Met Office issues warnings through the National Severe Weather Warning service, when severe weather has the potential to impact the UK. Warnings are categorised by colour, depending on a combination of both the impact the weather may have and the likelihood of those impacts occurring. When there's a storm, the warning levels issued vary across the UK - they can be yellow, amber or red. Yellow and Amber warnings represent a range of impact levels and likelihoods, letting residents know what level of impact to expect and also how likely it is that the impact will actually occur. Events that count as impacts include damage to property, travel delays and cancellations, loss of water supplies, power cuts, and in the most severe cases, a danger to life. The warning impact matrix is a diagram the Met Office use to categorise exactly where the warning falls - you can access it on the weather warnings page on their website. Just click on the warning for your area and then press 'Further details' to see which box is ticked. The warning impact matrix is a diagram the Met Office use to categorise exactly where the warning falls The Met Office's weather map for today (Friday October 20) Traffic ploughs through flood water at Brent Cross in north London Pictured: People being rescued from flooding in Brechin, Scotland where residents are being evacuated What is a red 'danger to life' warning? A red 'danger to life' warning is the highest weather warning the Met Office can issue. It means that there is a risk to life and dangerous weather is expected - it's also a warning that if you havent already done so, you should take action now to keep yourself and others safe from the impact of the severe weather. As you can see from the warning impact matrix, a red warning means it is very likely that it will cause very high impact. This means there's an expected risk to life, with substantial disruption to travel, energy supplies and possibly widespread damage to property and infrastructure. The Met Office advise that you should avoid travelling, where possible, and follow the advice of the emergency services and local authorities. A red warning is currently in place in parts of Angus and Perthshire. A red warning is currently in place in parts of Angus and Perthshire What do yellow and amber warnings mean? Yellow warnings are issued when it's likely there will be low level impacts caused by a range of weather situations. It means most people will be able to continue with day-to-day life with no issues but some areas will be directly impacted. Yellow warnings are also issued when the weather could bring severe impacts to the majority of people but the certainty of those impacts occurring is a lot lower. It's important to check the warning impact matrix to find out which kind of yellow warning is in place in your area. Amber warnings are issued when there is an increased likelihood of impacts from severe weather, which could potentially disrupt your plans. There is a possibility of travel delays, rail and road closures, power cuts and a potential risk to life and property. It also means you should start to think about if you need to alter your plans or put any precautions in place to protect yourself - though it's not as urgent as a red warning. Yellow warnings are in place across the south-east, north Wales, the Midlands and the north, the entirety of Northern Ireland and eastern Scotland and the Highlands; amber 'severe' warnings are in place down the spine of England and on Scotland's east coast. Pictured: London Pictured: Storm Babet unleashing carnage in Essex When was the last red 'danger to life' weather warning in the UK? The last time the UK experienced a red 'danger to life' warning was during the July 2022 heatwave, where we saw temperatures reach unprecedented levels and the government declare a national emergency. Storm Eunice in February 2022 also prompted a red warning for some areas in the south-east and south-west of England - four people died and it brought the fastest gust of wind ever recorded in England. Although red weather warnings are rare events, there has been at least one each year for the last few years. What to expect for those with a red warning due to Storm Babet? The Met Office have said those in Scotland who have a red warning right now will be experiencing exceptional rainfall expected to cause severe flooding and disruption. It's also been confirmed by police that the body of a 57-year-old woman was found after she was swept into the Water of Lee in the Glen Esk valley of Angus on Thursday afternoon - officers say there were no suspicious circumstances. A search is also underway for a man trapped in floodwater in the village of Marykirk in Aberdeenshire. According to the Met Office, those currently with a red warning are Angus, Dundee, Perth and Kinross and Aberdeenshire. Affected areas are experiencing: Humiliated Tory candidates fled the scene last night after Labour seized true-blue Tamworth and Mid Beds in by-elections. Extraordinary footage showed Mid Beds hopeful Festus Akinbusoye bolting from the count as soon as his loss was formally announced - without the normal courtesy of listening to his rival's victory speech. Tamworth candidate Andrew Cooper also shook hands but scurried off stage as his Labour opponent began to speak, having seemingly been given a signal to leave by an aide. Rishi Sunak has been warned he is 'looking general election defeat in the face' after the bloodbath. Sir Keir rushed to Mid Beds to take the glory this morning, gloating about 'making history' and Labour 'redrawing the political map'. Polling experts said the figures points to a landslide on the scale of Tony Blair's 1997 wipeout. Although by-elections are not directly reflected at general elections, a swing of the scale seen overnight could theoretically reduce the Tories to just 20 seats. Labour gained Mid Beds, which was vacated this summer by Tory ex-Cabinet minister Nadine Dorries, for the first time in the constituency's century-long history. Sir Keir's party celebrated an historic victory after a 20.5 percentage point swing towards them since the 2019 general election. It was the largest majority in terms of votes overturned by Labour at a by-election since 1945. Extraordinary footage showed Mid Beds candidate Festus Akinbusoye (left) leaving the count without listening to his rival's victory speech. Tamworth hopeful Andrew Cooper (right) was also seemingly given the nod by aides that he should make a hasty exit after shaking hands Labour's Alistair Strathern delivers a victory speech after his win in the Mid Bedfordshire by-election Labour supporters embrace each other as they celebrate their party's stunning success in Mid Bedfordshire Sarah Edwards, the victorious Labour candidate in Tamworth, said local voters had chosen a 'fresh start' Ms Edwards, who secured a last-minute endorsement from TV's Ross Kemp on polling day, will replace Chris Pincher as the local MP In its 105 years of existence, Labour had never won Mid Beds and were 24,664 votes behind the Tories at the 2019 general election. Labour shadow cabinet minister Peter Kyle, who masterminded his party's victory in Mid Bedfordshire, hailed a 'political earthquake'. 'This is the biggest by-election shock in history, it is a political earthquake and it is one that is sending an unignorable message to Westminster and to Rishi Sunak that this country deserves better,' he said. Alistair Strathern took the constituency with a majority of 1,192 votes over his Tory rival Mr Akinbusoye - the local police and crime commissioner, who had been widely regarded as performing well in the campaign. Victory for Labour in Brexit-backing Tamworth saw the party overturn the Tories' 19,600-vote majority from the 2019 general election. The swing from the Tories to Labour in the Staffordshire constituency was 23.9 percentage points, which is the second-largest managed by Labour at a by-election since 1945. It was even bigger than the 23.7 percentage points that Labour achieved when winning the Selby and Ainsty by-election in July. Polling guru Sir John Curtice pointed out that the change was in line with Labour's 1996 by-election victory in the forerunner seat. The Tamworth contest was triggered by the resignation of former Tory deputy chief whip Chris Pincher after he was found to have drunkenly groped two men in a posh London club. Labour candidate Sarah Edwards defeated Tory rival Mr Cooper by a majority of 1,316 votes. He also made a swift exit from the count without listening to her speech. Mr Sunak this week declined to condemn an apparent suggestion by Mr Cooper that out-of-work parents who cannot afford to feed their children should 'f*** off'. The Tory leader was asked during Prime Minister's Questions about a photo of a flowchart shared by Mr Cooper on Facebook. The diagram suggested that those who are out of work, pay for 'TV Sky/BT/etc', or 'have a phone contract + 30' should 'f*** off' rather than seek help. In reply to the question, the PM said only that he was 'proud of our record supporting people with the cost of living', before outlining Government policies aimed at supporting people through the crisis. Mr Cooper told Channel 5 News he was 'sorry if I've offended somebody' after the post was publicised. Asked if regretted sharing the image, he said: 'Obviously it is not something I would share now in today's world. 'We obviously mature and have different opinions than we do three years ago.' He added: 'Of course I'm sorry if I've offended somebody. But it is very hard in today's world to have an opinion and not to offend somebody.' Following the double by-election victory, Sir Keir said: 'These are phenomenal results that show Labour is back in the service of working people and redrawing the political map. 'Winning in these Tory strongholds shows that people overwhelmingly want change and they're ready to put their faith in our changed Labour Party to deliver it. 'Voters across Mid Bedfordshire, Tamworth and Britain want a Labour government determined to deliver for working people, with a proper plan to rebuild our country. 'To those who have given us their trust, and those considering doing so, Labour will spend every day acting in your interests and focused on your priorities. Labour will give Britain its future back.' Party chair Greg Hands said he was 'disappointed' but blamed 'specific circumstances' in the constituencies and said their voters had simply stayed at home. 'We need to think particularly about the fact that Conservative voters are not coming out to vote,' he told Sky News. One veteran Tory told MailOnline: 'Normally by elections are protest votes, this appears to be protest non votes.' Mr Sunak will be left reeling after he attempted to revive Tory fortunes with a recent policy blitz. The PM has made announcements on Net Zero, the HS2 rail line, an A-levels shake-up, and a New Zealand-style smoking ban. He has also overhauled his Downing Street team, but has yet to see much improvement in the Conservatives' opinion polling. Tory MP Andrea Jenkyns wrote on social media: 'Voter apathy is evident yet again in both the #ByElections, low turnout -20k failed to turnout in Tamworth, 24k failed to turnout in Mid Beds since the last election. 'We need to make far reaching major changes now to instil confidence in the Conservative voters.' Although by-elections are not directly reflected at general elections, a swing of the scale seen overnight could theoretically reduce the Tories to a rump of seats Labour sources stressed Tamworth is not even among the party's target seats for the general election and is the 57th safest Tory constituency in the country. Tory minister Andrew Bowie admitted the Conservatives had suffered a 'disappointing' night, but told Sky News: 'It's very unusual for governments to win by-elections. 'What's quite clear and what's been demonstrated is that while people support the priorities of the Government... people are reserving judgment about who they're going to vote for in the general election.' He pointed to how Labour had won less votes at the Mid Bedfordshire by-election than they did at the 2019 general election, while they only added around 800 votes to their tally from the last general election in the Tamworth contest. Mr Bowie claimed the by-election results did not show a 'groundswell' of support for Labour, adding: 'There's no enthusiasm behind the Keir Starmer project. 'I would be very surprised if these results were to be repeated in a general election.' A Conservative spokesman acknowledged a 'difficult result' in Tamworth but pointed to a 'much-reduced turnout' in the by-election of 35.9 per cent, compared to the larger number of voters at the last general election. The spokesman added: 'It's important to see it in context. The government of the day rarely wins by-elections and there were specific reasons around the nature of the departure of the previous MP.' Professor Sir John Curtice said the two by-election results were 'extremely bad news' for the Conservatives and suggested Mr Sunak was on course for general election defeat. 'This isn't destiny, but it is a pointer and it is a pointer that, unless the Conservatives can fairly dramatically and fairly radically turn things around, then they are in truth staring defeat in the face in 12 months' time,' he said. He warned the Tories 'may get caught in a pincer movement between some of their former Leave voters wandering off to Labour but others going off to Reform UK'. Reform secured 1,487 votes in Mid Bedfordshire and 1,373 in Tamworth, in both instances more than Labour's majority over the Conservatives. A man was tragically stabbed to death whilst waiting to board a bus outside an exclusive London club yesterday evening. The Metropolitan Police say they have opened a murder investigation after one of their police cars was waved down by a member of the public by the Cobden Club on Kensal Road, just before 7pm on Thursday, October 19. Officers found a man in his thirties with stab injuries and closed the road quickly in both directions. Despite their efforts, as well as those of the paramedics from London Ambulance Service, the man died a short time after. Police have set up a crime scene in the area and say there have been no arrests so far. Officers found a man in his thirties with stab injuries and closed the road quickly in both directions Police have set up a crime scene in the area just outside the exclusive Cobden Club Forensic specialists, donned in distinctive blue paper suits, have been spotted on the site Forensic specialists, donned in distinctive blue paper suits, have been spotted on the site. Enquiries are ongoing to identify the man and notify his next of kin. While details surrounding the incident remain limited at this time, it is understood that the victim was tragically killed while preparing to board a bus. Homicide detectives from the Met's Specialist Crime Command have also been informed. The Cobden Club opened in Notting Hill, west London, in 1996. Its members included author Will Self and TV stars Amanda de Cadenet and Mariella Frostrup. The late Amy Winehouse sang there regularly during the early part of her career. It was founded by Billy Brannigan, who was accused of raping a woman in a hotel room with the club's head chef in 1997, but was cleared of all charges in September of this year. The club was funded by investor Mr Johnson, also the brains behind Pizza Express. He was not accused of any crime. The club closed in 2010. Ana Aguero alleges she was referred to as 'the teacher with the funny last name' A Spanish teacher has taken a private school to a tribunal after she was allegedly sacked for being 'too spicy' to work there. The High School of Dundee, which can cost parents and carers up to 16,050 a year, is now being taken to an employment tribunal. Ana Aguero alleges that she was referred to as 'the teacher with the funny last name,' and claimed the 'spicy' comment was about her Spanish heritage, reported The Telegraph. Ms Aguero has also denied allegations that she told her students that she was going to 'sue the school's a**,' after the teacher was told she was losing her job. The claim that racially charged language was used about Ms Aguero is detailed in an independent report which was issued by the school. As other 'non-UK' teachers had held onto their jobs, a consultant found that it was 'difficult to say' whether race played a part in the dismissal. However, Ms Aguero may have a case as she was not employed on a full-time contract with the school, but was on a part-time contract. Ryan Russell, senior partner with MML Legal, who is representing the teachers in the case, told the outlet: 'It is essential that our clients and the fee-paying parents are given the opportunity to know the reality of what happened. 'Extremely serious allegations are being made against senior management and there are major questions to be addressed and answered through the tribunal process.' Ana Aguero alleges that she was referred to as 'the teacher with the funny last name' A second teacher, Ottilie Anderson had been off work as she has a condition which affects her eyesight A second teacher, Ottilie Anderson had been off work as she has a condition which affects her eyesight. The teacher - who believes she was made redundant because of her medical condition - said she felt 'undervalued and 'isolated' as she claimed that the private school did not show any care when she was admitted to hospital. The report, which was commissioned by an independent HR consultant, described the school's management of ill health among staff as 'abysmal'. The consultant said Ms Anderson had 'every right' to feel disrespected after the teacher was 'ignored' during her absence. Both teachers alleged that were made redundant due to cost-cuts as four teachers took voluntary redundancy and another six faced compulsory redundancy. Both Ms Anderson and Ms Aguero - who claim they were discriminated against as they were on part-time contracts - were offered alternative jobs as cleaners. However the consultant said she had some 'slight niggles' over whether Ms Anderson had been made redundant due to her medical situation, as she lost her job before the formal process was completed. The High School of Dundee, which can cost parents and carers up to 16,050 a year, is now being taken to an employment tribunal A spokesperson for the High School of Dundee told MailOnline, 'As the cases are the subject of ongoing legal proceedings, it would be inappropriate to comment on the detail, other than to say that we refute the employment tribunal claims which are being made. 'In respect of the redundancy process which was followed and the School's processes and procedures, we have robust and appropriate procedures whereby all staff are treated fairly, appropriately and without discrimination.' However this is not the first time the High School of Dundee has faced criticism from former staff members. In 2019, it was reported that Daniel Goodey had been pushed out of his job at the prestigious Dundee High when he refused to apologise to a girl who had been late handing in an assignment. Mr Goodey had been a principal of religious, moral and philosophical studies and was subjected to a string of 'extremely threatening and unpleasant' meetings by the school's rector, or head teacher, John Halliday, 64, after the incident. Judge Ian McFatridge ruled Mr Goodey was bullied out of his job after he 'sighed in frustration' at the schoolgirl as she left his classroom in a 'teenage huff'. The tribunal heard the pupil took exception to being told she had to work with a fellow classmate, after she had been late handing an assignment in. As she left, the teacher made an exasperated noise and told her 'don't walk away angry'. The judge ordered Dundee High School to pay 60,000 to Mr Goodey. This is the true story behind director Martin Scorsese's latest partnership with Hollywood superstar Leonardo DiCaprio, in the new film Killers of the Flower Moon, which was released in the UK on Thursday October 18. In the town of Fairfax, Oklahoma, the fact that life was good for the Osage Indians in the late 1800s might have seemed to some like sweet justice. For the reservation they had been shunted to decades earlier had turned out to be brimming with oil, and the tribe put it good use by building mansions, buying cars and sending their children to private schools. But, by the time the 1920s came around, at least two dozen of them had been murdered by being shot, poisoned and blown up - and no one knew who was responsible. Ernest Burkhart, husband of Mollie Kyle Burkhart is played by Leonardo DiCaprio in the new film Killers of the Flower Moon New movie Killers of the Flower Moon explores the harrowing true story of the 'reign of terror' that left two dozen Native Americans dead. Pictured: Leonardo DiCaprio as Ernest Burkhart In what was the first major murder case of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), agents ended up tracing the killings to a disgruntled group led by 'cattle king' William Hale, who was jailed for more than two decades for his part in the murders. He had encouraged his nephew to marry into the Osage tribe as part of a plot to win their oil rights. The new film about the spate of murders is based on author David Grann's book of the same name, which was published in 2017. Scorsese's drama, which will be released in October, received a rapturous nine-minute standing ovation when it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday. The Osage tribe had become stunningly wealthy after finding oil that earnt them more than $30million in annual revenue at the peak of the boom. Subsurface minerals within the Osage Nation Reservation were tribally owned and held in trust by the government. Mineral leases earned royalties that were paid to the tribe as a whole - with each allottee receiving one equal share also known as a headright. But these headrights could only legally be attained by outsiders if they married into the tribe. It was during this time that rancher Hale, a native of Greenville, Texas, encouraged his subservient nephew Ernest Burkhart to wed Osage member Mollie Kyle (later Mollie Burkhart). Burkhart, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, and wife Mollie, played by Lily Gladstone, lived in Fairfax with Mollie's mother Lizzie Q. The Osage tribe (pictured with President Coolidge) became wealthy almost overnight after oil was discovered beneath their land William Hale, played by Robert De Niro (right), was accused of bribing and intimidating others to do much of his dirty work on his way to achieving money and power Lizzie was a mother-of-four and in May 1921, the decomposed body of one of her other daughters, Anna Brown, was discovered in a remote ravine in northern Oklahoma. She was found with a bullet hole to the back of the head but, because Brown had no known enemies, the case went unsolved. Just two months later Lizzie herself died under suspicious circumstances from suspected poisoning, although no proof was ever found. Then another member of the family, Lizzie's nephew Henry Roan, met a similar fate in January 1923 with Hale, played by Robert De Niro, fraudulently naming himself as the beneficiary of his $25,000 life insurance policy. But deaths within the family did not end there. In March 1923, another of Lizzie's daughters Rita Smith, along with Rita's husband William Smith, and their housekeeper Nettie Brookshire were all killed when their home was destroyed by an explosion. And, following their deaths, Burkhart and Mollie inherited a fortune from her mother's and sisters' estates. But the murders extended beyond the one family. It is estimated that 24 Osage Indians died in violent or suspicious deaths throughout the early 1920s with newspapers at the time branding it as a 'reign of terror.' Her decomposed body was found in a remote ravine (pictured) in the Osage Hills in northern Oklahoma Martin Scorsese arrives at the Los Angeles Premiere of Killers Of The Flower Moon at Dolby Theatre on October 16, 2023 in Los Angeles, California By this time, authorities had begun to grow suspicious and an alarmed Osage Tribal Council sought the help of the US Government. Hale's name came up early in the investigation as the mastermind behind the killings. The so-called 'King of the Osage Hills' was accused of bribing and intimidating others to do much of his dirty work as he sought to achieve money and power. The murders subsided after Hale, along with accomplices including his nephew, were arrested in 1926. Four FBI agents went undercover as an insurance salesman, cattle buyer, oil prospector and herbal doctor to uncover evidence. Whilst the Osage locals had initially refused to talk to the authorities through fear of reprisals, the agents earned their trust. Eventually, Ernest Burkhart talked and then others confessed. Reporting on the gruesome killings in January 1926, the Daily Mail said: 'The wildest Wild West fiction is outmatched by the story revealed to-day by the arrest at Tulsa, Oklahoma, of wealthy cattle king, W.K. Hale, popularly known as the "King of the Usage Hills," his nephew, Ernest Burkhart, and six others. 'They are charged with conspiracy to exterminate a small tripe of Osage Indians in whom are vested oil allotment rights valued at 500,000. 'For three years Osage territory has been the scene of a series of terrible murders. 'Altogether twenty prominent Indians have been murdered, with the result that Mrs Mollie Burkhart, the Indian wife of the white nephew of "the King of the Osage hills," is now the sole possessor of the tribe's oil rights. 'The Osage tribe is the richest in America.' Anna Brown was among the nine wealthy Osages who met death in a suspicious manner Hale was formally convicted for his involvement three years later, after the authorities proved that he had ordered the murders of Anna Brown and her family to inherit their oil rights; cousin Roan for his insurance policy and others who had threatened to bring him to justice. He was paroled in 1947 after serving two decades of his sentence. At the time, investigators also discovered that the killers had already started poisoning Mollie in what would have been the last piece of the crook's masterplan. Fortunately, she recovered and divorced her murderous husband following the trial. A woman has died in a house fire in South Australia. Firefighters were called to a home on Barracoota Crescent in Aldinga Beach, south of Adelaide, at 3.30pm after smoke was seen pouring from its roof. The blaze was quickly extinguished but a woman's body was then found inside the home. Her identity has not been confirmed. The cause of the blaze is unclear at this stage. A woman has died in a house fire in South Australia A sweet chestnut tree planted in the 1500s has been named UK Tree of the Year as investigations continue into who cut down the Sycamore Gap. The 483-year-old tree in Acton Park, Wrexham, will now go on to face competitors from across Europe for the continent's title, known as the 'Eurovision for trees' by campaigners. The tree has stood since the reign of Elizabeth I and survived being stripped for firewood after the Second World War. Second place in the competition was the Crouch Oak in Addlestone, Surrey, known as the Queen Elizabeth picnic tree. Third was a twisted sweet chestnut in Greenwich Park, London, which was reputedly planted in honour of Charles II. Rob McBride, an ambassador for the European Tree of the Year competition and Wrexham resident, said locals were 'chuffed' at the sweet chestnut's victory. The 483-year-old tree in Acton Park, Wrexham has been named UK Tree of the Year Second place in the competition was the Crouch Oak in Addlestone, Surrey, known as the Queen Elizabeth picnic tree Third was a twisted sweet chestnut in Greenwich Park, London, which was reputedly planted in honour of Charles II The campaigner for ancient trees told the Telegraph: 'The importance of urban trees can't be overemphasised. I met people in the park on Saturday going there to get away from their troubles and wind down and take in the greenery. Tree of the Year's top three 1. Sweet chestnut, Wrexham 2. Crouch Oak, Addlestone 3. Sweet chestnut, Greenwich Park Advertisement 'This majestic towering tree means Wrexham has gone straight to the Premier League of the tree league. You feel chuffed to be standing there next to it. The Woodland Trust has let Ryan know and I'm sure he is pretty chuffed too.' The importance of historic trees to the British public was exemplified in September by the extensive condemnation towards the felling of the 50ft Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland. An outspoken former lumberjack arrested on suspicion on feeling the 2016 UK Tree of the Year claimed it would have been impossible for him to have done it. Walter Renwick, who has repeatedly given interviews declaring his innocence, says he is the most boring person in the world but has started wearing a wig to disguise himself. Two weeks after the apparent act of vandalism, a large section of trunk was lifted off Hadrian's Wall by a crane on tracks. A memorial bench or sculpture telling the history of the site could be made out of parts of the tree, according to The Telegraph. A final decision on what will happen at the site will be subject to a public consultation. For the time being the stump is being kept in place and is behind a protective barrier because it could generate new shoots. Plans will be made to keep grazing sheep off the stump, allowing any shoots which emerge to grow. A single mum who raped at knifepoint by a teenage intruder who broke into her home more than three decades ago has finally received justice. The man, now 48, was sentenced in Perth Children's Court on Friday as harrowing details about the shocking incident and how police used DNA to track him down on the other side of the country were revealed. The court heard that the woman, then 24, was asleep in her home in Embleton, Perth, in the early hours of Good Friday 1992 when the balaclava-clad teen clambered through a kitchen window. The woman woke to find the teen straddling her before he pressed a towel into her face and over her mouth, which made it diffifcult for her to breathe. She was ordered to roll onto her stomach as the teen bound her hands behind her back with shoelaces, WA Today reported. A Queensland man extradited by police to WA earlier this year over a 1992 rape will spend the next four years behind bars READ MORE: Facebook marketplace sale goes horribly wrong after buyer is attacked and is scammed out of $1,700 Advertisement The teen held a 12-inch knife to her throat as she pleaded with him to not hurt her. The court heard he then raped her before he 'tied a shoelace around her head' and 'stuffed a sock in her mouth' He then left the home after stealing money from her purse. The woman, now 55, managed to untie herself and grab her unharmed baby daughter before running to a neighbour's house to get help and call police. Her DNA was collected, frozen and stored by police who didn't have the forensic technology at the time but were confident there would be a breakthrough in the future as technology improved. The woman recalled the harrowing lifelong impact the rape has had on her life through a powerful victim's impact statement which was read out during Friday's sentencing. 'I don't think there are words to describe how for over 30 years this has been the monster in my closest, the evil in the shadows, never knowing if he's around watching me,' the court heard. The woman was a young single mum when the then-17-year-old broke into her Perth home at Easter in 1992 (stock image) 'This man raped me, in my own bed, it was pre meditated and planned. He held a knife, the size of my forearm, to my throat. 'I was tied up. I had tears streaming down as I begged him to please shut the door because I didn't want my daughter to find me like this.' She has suffered with insomnia, depression and anxiety in the 31 years since. 'I don't feel safe, ever,' her statement added. The man eventually had a family of his own and moved to Queensland with his partner and four children in 2016. A breakthrough emerged in late 2020 when a partial DNA link was made to a relative of the offender. The man became a suspect and six months later was interviewed by Queensland Police who obtained a DNA sample from the man, which matched the profile of the woman's attacker. The man claimed in his police interview he had no recollection of the night in question or rape as he heavily used meth and drank alcohol at the time. He's been in custody for the last five months when he was extradited back to WA to face charges of burglary, sexual assault and deprivation. He has since pleaded guilty to the charges. The man (pictured being extradited in May) had been living in Queensland with his family for the last seven years His defence lawyer told the court his client was 'remorseful for his offending' and that the incident had 'played on his mind over and over in the last three decades'. The court heard the then teen was 'a troubled young man' who battled mental health issues that were 'unusual and untreated after he was sexually abused by older males when he was a young boy. Judge Wendy Hughes described the incident 'humiliating and degrading' in her sentencing remarks as she praised police on their work to get a conviction three decades later. 'People can have confidence that their cases will not be forgotten,' she told the court. 'People who are inclined to commit offences of this type should be on notice, these cases will not be forgotten, police will work tirelessly to make sure justice is served.' The man was sentenced to four years and four months behind bars. A protest by furious French winemakers that saw rose and sparkling vino smashed in a row over cheap imports has sparked fury in Spain. Local winegrowers were seen hurling dozens of crates of Freixenet off a lorry and gleefully smashing bottles while others unleashed a torrent of wine onto the streets by unscrewing a tank's tap at the Le Bolou tollbooth, just ten miles from France's border with Spain, yesterday. The Spanish Confederation of Transport for Goods (CETM) called on French authorities for a 'quick and effective response' after the protest. 'We ask the authorities to ensure that these types of attacks do not occur and to carry out the necessary actions so that those responsible stop acting with total impunity,' CETM demanded in a statement. 'They must answer to the law and pay for the act they are committing.' This comes after police officers stood by and watched the 200 winemakers destroy several wine shipments in a vintage demonstration of the French public's penchant for demonstrating against perceived injustices. Another protester flicked open the tap on one lorry, unleashing a torrent of red wine that soaked the road Winegrowers destroy bottles of wine on the motorway at the tollbooth of Le Boulou, close to the Spanish border Protesters destroyed several wine shipments by smashing the bottles (pictured) and pouring the wine onto the road A disgruntled winegrower destroys bottles of wine with a sledgehammer Un grupo de viticultores franceses organizo una operacion sorpresa en Narbona para frenar las importaciones de vino espanol. Los viticultores llegaron al peaje de Le Boulou en la frontera con Espana con el objetivo de parar el trafico y ralentizar el trafico. Como resultado, pic.twitter.com/XW5laNccqb Alt Right Espana (@ModoAlt) October 19, 2023 Winegrowers unload wine from a lorry during a road-blocking demonstration to protest against imports of Spanish booze The wine destruction caused outrage in Spain, with the CETM saying: 'This is not the first time that road freight transport companies and self-employed workers have completely unjustifiably suffered from this type of assault, which endangers the safety of professional drivers and, in addition, entails significant losses for the sector.' They also called on the European Union to enforce the right to free movement for goods, a demand that was echoed by the general secretary of the Farmers and Livestock Organisations (COAG) in Spain. Miguel Padilla said 'severe sanctions' against the protesting farmers were needed, Spanish newspaper ElPlural reports. He added: 'These types of actions are intolerable. The profitability crisis that French producers are suffering is also being suffered by Spanish farmers. 'They seek to separate Spanish producers from the community market when the real culprits are the large distribution chains, mainly French.' During yesterday's protest, countless litres of white wine and bubbly were also wasted, with shocking images from the scene depicting crates upon crates of bottles littering the scene. Another group of demonstrators piled up crates of tomatoes and tyres to make an impromptu bonfire The protesters smashed several crates of Freixenet bottles Some even sprizzed the Spanish sparkling wine, leaving the road soaked in booze and foam After opening the tab on a lorry, gallons of red wine spilled onto the road One enraged grape-grower leapt onto a truck with a sledgehammer, violently swinging the tool at boxes of vino, while others flicked open the tap on one lorry, unleashing a torrent of red that soaked the road. Another group of demonstrators piled up crates of tomatoes and tyres to make an impromptu bonfire. Frederic Rouanet, the president of a local syndicate of winemakers who organised the protest, said the demonstration comes as part of the 'economic war against economic criminals who abuse ruined winegrowers', before adding: 'We are going to take away the possibility of being able to import foreign wines.' It remains to be seen whether Rouanet's wine-soaked manifesto will be realised, but for now the repercussions for the protest seem minimal, as the disgruntled grape-growers were mostly left alone by police, according to French newspaper Vitisphere It was reported that the goods were on their way to the Johannes Boubee trading company's warehouse in Nimes, two hours northeast from the Le Bolou tollbooth were the shipments were intercepted. In videos posted on X, protesters can be seen tumbling over a mountain of crates carrying Freixenet wine. Many of the crates had been upended so their valued contents spilled out across the road. Bottles upon bottles of bubbly were seen rolling around amid a sea of broken glass and wasted booze. The protesters then took the splintered remains of the crates and added them to a pile of hundreds of cardboard boxes containing Spanish tomatoes, before lighting the whole lot on fire. Smoke billows from a make-shift bonfire on the tarmac Los manifestantes han parado los camiones en la A-9 en el paso fronterizo de Le Boulou, bloqueandoles el acceso y, posteriormente, vaciando algunos vehiculos y destrozando la mercancia, incluyendo cisternas de vino. pic.twitter.com/0L4PaLulSA Sr.Liberal (@SrLiberal) October 19, 2023 Protesters tumble over crates of Freixenet wine, which crash into puddles of white wine and foam as they hit the road Winegrowers in southern France are calling for more economic aid after difficult climate conditions affected the vintage Some threw yet more boxes into the flames, while others somehow procured a batch of tyres, whose rubber whipped up a serious blaze that trailed thick plumes of black smoke into the sky. A pair of firetrucks later descended on the scene to quell the inferno. Before the protest escalated, a delegation of winegrowers of different local syndicates and trade unions met to discuss the cheap Spanish imports that threaten to put French winemakers out of business. This fiery demonstration was launched just two months after French media reported in August that the government is set to pour away millions of litres of wine and will even rip up vineyards. The move comes as part of a bid to reverse tumbling prices amid falling sales. Production of wine has continued to rise in France, leading to a glut of unsold wine that has in turn caused prices to dip. Major wine-producing regions, particularly the famed Bordeaux area of France, are struggling. The French government has announced a 170million plan to buy up huge quantities of the excess, which will be destroyed. The alcohol content will be recycled to make hand sanitiser, cleaning products or perfume. Protesters also set a pile of tyres on fire, which billowed black smoke into the air and could be seen from several miles away They also piled up hundreds of cardboard crates carrying Spanish tomatoes and lit them on fire Protesters stopped several trucks importing wines from Spain at the Boulou tollbooth near the southern border between France and Spain this morning Agricultores franceses destrozan la carga de camiones espanoles en Le Boulou, al sur del pais vecino y cerca de la frontera con Espana.pic.twitter.com/RuKywsgrnY Fabian Perez (@Fabian10_) October 19, 2023 Some threw more and more boxes into the flames, which quickly developed into grey smoke rising several feet high Protesters emptied out the truck and threw the boxes of tomatoes onto the road Protesters even grabbed individual packets of tomatoes and and smashed them on the floor French agriculture minister Marc Fesneau said the fund was 'aimed at stopping prices collapsing and so that wine-makers can find sources of revenue again'. But he stressed that the industry needed to 'look to the future, think about consumer changes... and adapt'. Figures from the European Commission say wine consumption for the current year is estimated to have fallen 15 per cent in France, 7 per cent in Italy, 10 per cent in Spain, and a staggering 34 per cent in Portugal. READ MORE: France to pour away 170m of wine in desperate bid to stem tumbling prices as sales crash Advertisement However, production in the EU has risen by 4 per cent. The commission said the worst affected areas were those producing reds and roses from regions of France, Spain and Portugal. Given this stunning market saturation, Spanish importers are trying to beat their French competition by offering cheaper prices, threatening the livelihoods of many French winemakers. But this is not the first time French winegrowers made a statement against cheap imports by destroying wine. French producers have been furious that their traditional rivals in Spain and also Italy are exporting hundreds of millions of litres of cut-price wine that threaten their livelihoods for years. Dozens took to the roads at Le Boulou in 2016, stopping Spanish tankers and then emptying their wine on to the roads in a very similar protest. Mr Rouanet confirmed at the time that four tankers were emptied, with 70,000 litres of wine wasted. Fellow protesters scrawled graffiti on the side of the Spanish trucks, with slogans including 'wine not compliant'. Tories hit the panic button over fears of a 1997-style wipeout today as Keir Starmer boasted he can emulate Tony Blair in the wake of his double by-election triumph. With Rishi Sunak facing mounting demands for tax cuts to woo back voters, a jubilant Labour leader said he wanted to 'follow in the footsteps' of the ex-PM as he posed alongside his new MPs in Mid Beds and Tamworth. The loss of the true-blue strongholds has triggered a fresh wave of introspection among Conservatives, with even those in safe seats concerned about their prospects. Although by-elections are not directly reflected at general elections, a swing of the scale seen overnight could theoretically reduce the Tories to 20 seats. The PM has yet to respond to the shattering blows as he is in the Middle East on a diplomatic mission to stop the Israel crisis escalating. Labour gained Mid Beds, which was vacated this summer by former Cabinet minister Nadine Dorries, for the first time in the constituency's century-long history. It was the largest majority in terms of votes overturned by Labour at a by-election since 1945, with an eye-watering swing of more than 20 per cent. Sir Keir's candidate also routed the Tories in Brexit-backing Tamworth, smashing the 19,600-vote cushion from the 2019 general election. Giving a stump speech and doing media interviews, Sir Keir insisted he is remaining 'humble' despite polling experts saying the results put him on track for a landslide. Asked by Sky News whether he was the 'heir to Blair', Sir Keir said: 'Tony Blair won three times, produced a landslide victory for the Labour Party and allowed a Labour government to do incredible things for our country. 'We face different times and we go forward to a different challenge in 2024. 'But what I do want to do is follow in the footsteps of a leader of our party who took us from opposition into power. 'That's where these results are so important, as a step along that journey.' Keir Starmer posed alongside new MP Alistair Strathern at a rally in Mid Beds as he claimed voters had shown they want a 'change' in No10 Sir Keir was cheered by rapturous supporters as he did his lap of honour after the results The Labour leader moved straight on to celebrate in Tamworth. He insisted he was staying 'humble' but wanted to emulate Tony Blair Rishi Sunak is on a tour of the Middle East trying to cool the Israel crisis as the by-election fallout erupts (pictured meeting Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani in Saudi Arabia this morning) Tories responded to the by-election hammerings by urging Mr Sunak to bring forward policies that will convince former voters to return Praising his new MP Alistair Strathern, Sir Keir said: 'What a fantastic candidate He has not only won here, he's made history here over the past 24 hours. An incredible achievement already.' Thanking Labour campaigners, he said: 'Every vote that you persuaded to come across to us was worth it. 'This is an incredible night in politics, an incredible morning, an incredible result here for so many reasons. 'It is clear that the voters here have turned their back on a failed Tory Government. They've had enough of the decline of the last 13 years and they are crying out for change positive change that the Labour Party can bring them.' In its 105 years of existence, Labour had never won Mid Beds and were 24,664 votes behind the Tories at the 2019 general election. Labour shadow cabinet minister Peter Kyle, who masterminded his party's victory in Mid Bedfordshire, hailed a 'political earthquake'. 'This is the biggest by-election shock in history, it is a political earthquake and it is one that is sending an unignorable message to Westminster and to Rishi Sunak that this country deserves better,' he said. Mr Strathern took the constituency with a majority of 1,192 votes over his Tory rival Festus Akinbusoye - who dramatically walked out of the count without listening to his rival's victory speech. Victory for Labour in Brexit-backing Tamworth saw the party overturn the Tories' 19,600-vote majority from the 2019 general election. The swing from the Tories to Labour in the Staffordshire constituency was 23.9 percentage points, which is the second-largest managed by Labour at a by-election since 1945. It was even bigger than the 23.7 percentage points that Labour achieved when winning the Selby and Ainsty by-election in July. Polling guru Sir John Curtice pointed out that the change was in line with Labour's 1996 by-election victory in the forerunner seat, and warned that Mr Sunak is 'staring defeat in the face'. The Tamworth contest was triggered by the resignation of former Tory deputy chief whip Chris Pincher after he was found to have drunkenly groped two men in a posh London club. Labour candidate Sarah Edwards defeated Tory rival Andrew Cooper by a majority of 1,316 votes. He also made a swift exit from the count without listening to her speech. Tory chair Greg Hands said he was 'disappointed' but blamed 'specific circumstances' in the constituencies and said their voters had simply stayed at home. 'We need to think particularly about the fact that Conservative voters are not coming out to vote,' he told Sky News. One veteran Tory told MailOnline: 'Normally by elections are protest votes, this appears to be protest non votes.' Mr Sunak has been left reeling after he attempted to revive Tory fortunes with a recent policy blitz. The PM has made announcements on Net Zero, the HS2 rail line, an A-levels shake-up, and a New Zealand-style smoking ban. He has also overhauled his Downing Street team, but has yet to see much improvement in the Conservatives' opinion polling. There is now huge pressure to go 'further and faster' on issues such as tax, immigration and cracking down on 'woke' society. Critics of Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's refusal to consider tax cuts in the looming Autumn Statement were encouraged today by figures showing borrowing coming in lower than anticipated. However, one former Cabinet minister urging a policy shift dismissed the idea that Mr Sunak's position is under threat at this time. Bemoaning the lack of a plausible replacement, they said: 'Who is there?' Labour's Sarah Edwards will replace Chris Pincher as the local MP in Tamworth Although by-elections are not directly reflected at general elections, a swing of the scale seen overnight could theoretically reduce the Tories to a rump of seats Although he is now enjoying a solid lead, as recently as the end of 2021 Sir Keir was in charge of an Opposition that was trailing the Conservatives By contrast Labour had spent more than four years ahead in the polls before Tony Blair's 1997 landslide Tory MP Andrea Jenkyns wrote on social media: 'Voter apathy is evident yet again in both the #ByElections, low turnout -20k failed to turnout in Tamworth, 24k failed to turnout in Mid Beds since the last election. 'We need to make far reaching major changes now to instil confidence in the Conservative voters.' 'In the two by elections thousands of Conservative voters in 2019 stayed at home. The Labour vote was similar to 2019. Many people want the government to stop the boats, improve the quality and efficiency of services and cut taxes to get some growth.' Danny Kruger, a member of the New Conservatives group, said Mr Sunak should be 'braver'. The MP for Devizes told BBC Radio 4's World At One programme he welcomed watering down of Net Zero goals, adding: 'I think we need to continue in that direction and be more coherent, more robust and braver. 'I think we need to go a bit further and faster. So on migration, I'm encouraged by the position on illegal migration. I think we now need to take further steps to reduce overall numbers of legal migration. 'I'm concerned about some issues around the so-called culture wars, which I think do matter to people. In Parliament and the media they tend to be disregarded but actually these things matter. 'So the guidance on sex education in schools, proposals around transgender, rights are significant and matter and they have real cut-through. 'We need to be bolder on taxation than we have been but all of this is to play for and the instincts of the Government are in the right place. 'I really do believe that the PM wants to do the right thing in this, I think he is constrained by opinion in Whitehall, in the Civil Service and to a degree on our benches as well. And I just encourage him to recognise that he gets a proper poll bounce and the support of our people when he leans into the great realignment in our politics that happened over the last 10 years, with the Brexit referendum and our victory in 2019.' Ex-Cabinet minister John Redwood tweeted: 'In the two by elections thousands of Conservative voters in 2019 stayed at home. 'The Labour vote was similar to 2019. Many people want the government to stop the boats, improve the quality and efficiency of services and cut taxes to get some growth.' Professor Sir John Curtice said the two by-election results were 'extremely bad news' for the Conservatives and suggested Mr Sunak was on course for general election defeat. 'This isn't destiny, but it is a pointer and it is a pointer that, unless the Conservatives can fairly dramatically and fairly radically turn things around, then they are in truth staring defeat in the face in 12 months' time,' he said. He warned the Tories 'may get caught in a pincer movement between some of their former Leave voters wandering off to Labour but others going off to Reform UK'. Reform secured 1,487 votes in Mid Bedfordshire and 1,373 in Tamworth, in both instances more than Labour's majority over the Conservatives. Newly minted Labour MP Sarah Edwards was today celebrating a spectacular win in the Tamworth by-election - but may now have a difficult decision on her hands. The former union official, who overturned a near 20,000-vote Conservative majority in the Staffordshire seat, claims she lives locally but still owns a home in a leafy suburb 25 miles away. Ms Edwards only recently started renting out a flat in Tamworth, despite putting the address on her nomination form and telling voters online that she is based in the Staffordshire constituency. And residents living near the property - in a converted office near the town centre - said last month that they had never seen her in town. Sylvia O'Sullivan, 85, who lives across the road, said: 'Until recently those buildings were offices for an alarm company. It relocated and they were developed. Sarah Edwards, who overturned a near 20,000-vote Conservative majority in Tamworth, claims she lives locally but still owns a home in a leafy suburb 25 miles away Ms Edwards arrives to vote in Tamworth with her dog Poykee 'I think one of them is an Airbnb because you see people with suitcases arriving and the other two properties are flats. 'A number of people, maybe six, live in each. I have never seen her there. She may have moved in but I have not seen her.' Neighbour Paige Lewis-Baggott, 29, said: 'I think I saw her in the town centre canvassing but I had no idea she lived around here. 'Maybe she has rented it to be closer to Tamworth for the by-election. The flats were finished earlier this year and I know they are quite big.' READ MORE - Tory voters reveal why they ousted Conservatives for Labour in massive Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire by-election results upset Advertisement Sipping wine in a cafe bar yards away, housewife Lacey Prosser, 46, was more cynical. 'It's not the sort of place a woman with some money would live,' she said. 'I don't believe that's her normal address. It's typical Labour - always false, always pretending, nothing real about them.' A woman who quizzed Ms Edwards on Facebook about her living arrangements was told by the candidate that she lived in Tamworth. When the woman followed up to query the response, because 'what I'm hearing and reading is you live in Birmingham', she received the same response. But Ms Edwards has in fact long lived in the Birmingham suburb of Moseley, a 45-minute drive away, and only began renting the Tamworth flat earlier this month. According to the website of a local charity where she is a trustee, 'Sarah was born and grew up in Moseley' and 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 is the sole owner of an Edwardian house in Moseley, which she bought in 2021 for 400,000 without a mortgage. The redbrick property is currently covered in scaffolding and one neighbour said: 'She's still living there. 'She's currently getting some help with some renovations, but she told me she'd be very busy until for the duration of the campaign.' The Labour leader moved straight on to celebrate with Ms Edwards in Tamworth Another nearby resident said: 'I know she's very busy - she's working her socks off and burning the candle at both ends. 'She's still living there, although I've not seen her this week. I have seen her father call around though. She's a lovely neighbour.' The Tamworth by-election, triggered by the resignation of disgraced former Tory minister Chris Pincher, saw Ms Edwards beat Tory rival Andrew Cooper by a majority of 1,316 votes. The new MP graduated in Spatial Design from Central Saint Martins in London in 2010 and worked for Oxfam on fundraising and events from 2010 to 2012. She then returned to Moseley to work as an organiser for Unite the Union. Her father was an English teacher and her mother and brother work in the NHS A Labour Party spokesman said previously: 'Sarah Edwards is offering a fresh start for Tamworth as a hard-working, full-time MP. She lives in the constituency. She rents a flat, pays council tax and is registered to vote here in Tamworth. 'Sarah's day job as a union organiser has meant for many years she has spent a lot of time working in and around Tamworth. Like many who live in Tamworth, Sarah grew up in Birmingham before moving here. She is a full-time Tamworth resident and moved to Tamworth before the by-election was called. 'Whatever the result of the by-election, Sarah will continue to live in Tamworth, and she hopes to do so as a member of parliament who will turn the page on the Tory sleaze and scandal of recent years.' The last time Ruby Chen heard from his 19-year-old son Itay was a 6:40am message saying his military base was under rocket attack. His father was just waking up to news that Hamas militants had launched a surprise attack on Israel. 'That was 12 days ago,' the New York-born father-of-four told DailyMail.com. 'That was the last time we had any communication with him.' Itay, who holds dual U.S.-Israeli citizenship, is among more than 200 Israelis believed to be held hostage in Gaza by Hamas terrorists or other extremist groups. The crisis has triggered an extraordinary response among the Israeli population, uniquely equipped by decades of war to deploy skills learned in the security services or tech industries. 19-year-old Itay Chen was on active duty, as part of a tank unit, close to the border with Gaza when he came under attack on October 7. He is still missing, presumed taken hostage Chen is one of 203 Israelis thought to be held by terrorists in Gasa. He has dual US-Israeli citizenship, courtesy of his father, who is from Brooklyn, New York A campaign to keep the hostages' plight in the headlines has drawn 1000 volunteers together, coordinating international protests and social medial campaigns from the glitzy offices of a law firm in a Tel Aviv high-rise tower block. And across the city there are at least two efforts by tech experts to use the latest in geo-location technology and artificial intelligence to find clues from videos posted by Hamas that might aid a rescue mission. Karine Nahon, an academic in information science, is one of the leaders of a team poring over video footage posted online by Hamas. They are using A.I. coupled with facial and voice recognition software to identify the missing and zero in on locations. 'The government right now relies on the information that is coming from these rooms,' Nahon told Reuters. Some 1500 tech experts are working in a war room set up in Tel Aviv Expo Center. Another war room is operating across town in the offices of Gittam BBDO, an advertising agency run by a former member of the Shin Bet, Israel's domestic security service. Some of its volunteers have experience in 8200, the Israeli militarys cyberintelligence division, as well as Duvdevan, the undercover counterterrorism unit which was the inspiration for the Netflix series Fauda. They described to the Washington Post how one set of videos showing a hostage being led by gunmen in Gaza showed a phone number displayed on a wall. The number was for a business, allowing the team to home in on a neighborhood in the Gazan city of Khan Younis. Professor Karine Nahon is head of a missing civilians war room at Tel Aviv Expo Center Tel Aviv is plastered with images of the hostages, part of a huge campaign to keep pressure on the government to make sure they are brought safely home 'Were figuring all of this out as we go,' said one volunteer who declined to give his name because he is a reservist with Duvdevan. And then there is the P.R. push run from the seventh-floor lawyers' offices in Museum Tower, where floor to ceiling windows let light cascade through the operation. If you have seen pictures of protests in New York or Australia they may have originated in the conference room here that hosts the international committee of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. Another room is used by the medical team, which documents medications needed urgently by missing people. There's an influencers room, creating video clips and memes to send to influential social medial users. Former diplomats use another conference room, exploiting their connections with foreign governments to call in favors. Families of hostages come and go all day. The forum operates as media booker, helping coordinate interviews as they keep their cases in the headlines, as well as providing emotional support, practical help and information about their loved ones. Families of the hostages participate in a special 'Kabalat Shabbat' prayer service next to a 'Shabbat Dinner' table set up in the Tel Aviv museum plaza, with 200 empty seats, representing the hostages and missing people on October 20, 2023 They said prayers and sang at a table set for more than 200 missing people Photographs of the missing printed by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum as part of their campaign to keep the hostages in the public eye Wellwishers arrive in the spacious lobby with trays of cookies, kebabs and flat bread all day long. On Friday, the world's media descended to a plaza below, where a table was laid for the traditional Jewish Friday night Shabbat dinner. It included an empty place for all 203 of the people believed to have been kidnapped. Some of the places were set for high chairs, reflecting the 20 children among the hostages. A couple of dozen relatives of the missing said prayers and sang in between cascades of tears. The idea was to illustrate the fragility of family, said Ophyr Hanan, a 26-year with a B.A. in communications and a job at the website building platform WIX. 'We started as a group of volunteers on behalf of the families and that's how we remain,' she told DailyMail.com. 'We are a headquarters for the families of hostages and the missing. 'We're here to help them in any way that we can.' Part of that means keeping up pressure on the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is already accused of letting down the nation by failing to prevent the Hamas attack. There was some good news on Friday evening, when Hamas announced it had freed an American mother and daughter. Ruby Chen, with another son Roy in New York, said time was not on the side of hostages and their families 'Time is not on our side,' said Chen, as he described the trauma faced by all the families. 'You wake up in the morning and think are in a bad nightmare. Then you understand it's real, like getting a slap n the face, as you figure out this is some bizarro universe that we are in. 'It's living hell, you have a black hole in your stomach.' Giving up is not an option when it comes to Hamas, he added. 'You know what happens when you stand still in hell? You get burned,' he said. 'So we need to keep walking. Keep on doing what we can to amplify this message tto make sure that the global community knows there are people out who did crimes against humanity. All of us.' The Israeli Defence Force is currently pitching its tents on the border with Gaza as it prepares to invade in order to eliminate Hamas' forces. Tens of thousands of armed IDF soldiers have formed a column alongside scores of armoured tanks along the border with Gaza in preparation for what top defence officials have said will be a 'three-phase war' fought largely by its land army. Global Firepower, which ranks the world's militaries in annual reviews, says that in 2023, Israel had the 18th strongest army in the world, making it one of the strongest militaries in the Middle East. MailOnline has assessed and analysed several of the weapons that IDF soldiers have been seen wielding ahead of the expected invasion of Gaza. Israel has one of the strongest militaries in the world, according to Global Firepower The X95 (pictured) weighs just over six-and-a-half pounds, and can fire up to 1000 rounds per minute X95 Bullpup Assault Carbine The X95 is standard issue among IDF soldiers, and is produced by Israeli Weapon Industries (IWI) primarily for use by Special Forces personnel. Its bullpup build, meaning the firing grip is in front of where magazines are loaded, means it is generally lighter and more maneuverable than other rifles of a similar size. The carbine, a smaller and more lightweight type of rifle, weighs just over six-and-a-half pounds, and can fire up to 1000 rounds per minute. However, the magazine holds just 30 rounds, meaning a soldier would have to reload their weapons after less than two seconds of holding the trigger down. Its Pic Rail attachment system, running on top of the weapon, is most often used to attach red-dot sightings, but the X95 also comes with a folding iron sight as a back-up. It has been the standard issue weapon for the IDF since November 2009, replacing the M16 and the M4 as the go-to weapon for Israeli troops. The M203 is able to launch grenades up to 380 yards away M203 Grenade Launcher The M203 is an attached grenade launcher that can be bolted onto a variety of standard issue IDF guns, including the X95. The launcher, which can be attached to the underside of many rifles, is able to launch grenades up to 380 yards away, though is much more effective at 160 yards. The single-shot weapon, which weighs 3.5lbs when loaded, needs to be manually reloaded after every round, which is done by sliding the aluminium barrel of the weapon forward, before inserting the round in and sliding the barrel back. While it is mostly found attached to rifles, it can be used as a standalone weapon by being mounted to a separate assembly. It is a widely used weapon, and can be found in the service of notable units including Ireland's Army Ranger Wing and the UK's Special Air Service. The Negev is well-liked by Israeli soldiers due to its ease of use and maneuverability in the field Negev NG5-SF Light Machinegun The Negev is a light machinegun that was developed in the late 1980s, and was slowly brought into service over the next decade, eventually becoming more or less a standard LMG issued to IDF soldiers. The belt-fed system can fire bullets up to 1,300 yards, though it is only effective up to 870 yards. The weapon can fire up to 1,050 rounds per minute, depending on the fire-rate setting chosen by the soldier handling it. Weighing just 16 lbs, the weapon is well-liked by Israeli soldiers due to its ease of use and maneuverability in the field, as it can be used by just one person, according to modernfirearms.net. Israeli troops are seen patrolling near the border with Gaza on Thursday, ahead of the invasion Israeli tanks seen on a road near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel on Friday Israeli soldiers prepare for the scenario of ground manoeuvres at an undisclosed location near the border with Gaza, in Israel, on Friday Israel has revealed it is expecting a 'three-phase' war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the first time the country has set out a long-term plan to deal with its bloodiest conflict in decades. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told Israeli lawmakers that the IDF expects to start its three-phase war with airstrikes and ground manoeuvres. The Israeli military then plans on moving onto defeating pockets of resistance from Hamas fighters. Gallant said that once this has been completed, Israel's 'responsibility for life in the Gaza Strip' will cease, following the warning it issued to Gazans to leave the country 'immediately.' Tens of thousands of Israeli soldiers and scores of tanks and armoured vehicles are now positioned on the border - ready for a ground assault on the Gaza Strip where 203 hostages are being held captive by Hamas terrorists. A formation of Israeli tanks and other military is positioned near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, on Friday Israeli soldiers prepare for the scenario of ground manoeuvres at an undisclosed location near the border with Gaza, in Israel, on Friday Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant speaks during his visit to Israeli soldiers near the Gaza border on Thursday The massing of artillery and men at the border comes after heavy machine gunfire was heard along the border in the early hours of this morning. And today, Israel continued to pound Gaza with a relentless stream of airstrikes with the IDF saying their fighter jets hit over 100 'operational targets' of Hamas terrorists overnight. The strikes destroyed tunnel shafts, munitions warehouses and dozens of operational headquarters, the IDF said. It comes after Yoav Gallant, the Israeli defence minister, on Thursday visited troops positioned along the Gaza border, and told them that they would soon see the Palestinian enclave 'from inside'. An infantry commander in the IDF told DailyMail.com on Thursday that they were ready to invade, adding there was 'a very high level of optimism' among his troops. Israel's leaders are determined to rid Gaza of its Hamas rulers, even if that means going house-to-house in an operation that could last 'years' and result in further major casualties among Palestinians. Fears are growing that the bitter conflict between Israel and Hamas could push tensions across the Middle East to breaking point, with experts warning the region is teetering on the edge of a 'deep and dangerous abyss' as the spectre of war looms large. Tor Wennesland, the UN's Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, said any escalation of violence may instantly alter the trajectory of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for the worse and drag the entire Middle East with it. 'The events of the past days have served to reignite grievances and reanimate alliances across the region,' he told the UN Security Council earlier this week. 'The risk of an expansion of this conflict is very, very real and extremely dangerous.' And Jon Alterman, a senior vice president at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, underscored the gravity of the situation, arguing that the complex regional dynamics mean the conflict could spiral out of control at a moment's notice. 'If this starts going bad, it could go bad in a lot of places simultaneously and very quickly. We are absolutely heading into a big unknown,' he told the Washington Post. In the wake of Hamas' ruthless surprise attack on Israel on October 7, which claimed the lives of 1400 people, Israel responded with full fury, launching an incessant bombing campaign in the Gaza Strip that in turn has killed thousands of Palestinians. Almost two weeks on from the atrocities, Israel's Defence Forces (IDF) have massed tens of thousands of troops, tanks and heavy armour along the border with Gaza ahead of what threatens to be a full-scale ground assault on the Palestinian enclave. To Israel's northern border with Lebanon, Israeli units have engaged with militants from Iran-backed Hezbollah, who have also fired rockets at Israel's cities. And now in Yemen, Houthi rebels have begun firing rockets of their own, forcing a US warship to blast the missiles out of the sky. Israeli armored vehicles gathered at an undisclosed location near the border with Gaza, in Israel, 20 October 2023 Israeli soldiers listen to Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant as he meets them in a field near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel October 19, 2023 Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the Tal Al-Hawa neighbourhood in Gaza, 20 October 2023 People brandish rifles and Palestinian flags during a march to show solidarity with the Palestinians of the Gaza Strip on October 18, 2023, in the Houthi-controlled Yemeni capital Sanaa Iin Yemen, Houthi rebels have begun firing rockets of their own, forcing the USS Carney to blast the missiles out of the sky Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said the crew of the USS Carney 'cannot say for certain what these missiles and drones were targeting, but they were launched heading north along the Red Sea potentially towards targets in Israel.' The incident was the fourth in three days of increased aggression against US troops in the region But Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in have previously expressed support for the Palestinians and threatened Israel. Now, a boots-on-the-ground invasion of Gaza looks imminent, with Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant yesterday delivering a fiery speech to his troops near the border. Gallant urged his men to 'be ready' to move in, adding: 'Whoever sees Gaza from afar now, will see it from the inside... It might take a week, a month, two months until we destroy them,' he added, referring to Hamas. Such an operation is sure to be extremely bloody, with leading military and defence analyst and RUSI Associate Fellow Sam Cranny-Evans, likening the potential conflict to scenes from the most bitter urban fighting amid the Iraq war. 'The tactics employed by the IDF will depend in part on the tactics used by al-Qassam (Hamas armed wing). 'It is likely that drones will be used to drop bombs on Israeli forces, and that improvised explosive devices (IEDs) will be deployed to slow them down. The IDF has experienced these technologies, but they do have the ability to inflict serious casualties,' he said. But other analysts said a greater threat to Israel would come from elsewhere. Firas Maksad, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute in the US, emphasised the potential consequences of a full-scale war with Lebanon, noting that it would turn Gaza 'into a sideshow.' Maksad warned that Hezbollah's military capabilities far exceed those of Hamas, meaning Israeli forces would be in for a bitter fight to the north should the Lebanese based group choose to launch a full-scale attack. In a recent analysis of the conflict in the Foreign Affairs journal, Senior Fellow at UCLA's International Relations department Dalia Dassa Kaye wrote: 'Missile barrages from Hezbollah could more easily overwhelm Israel's missile defenses than even the most potent strikes from Hamas.' The spectre of such a conflict brings with it the prospect of unprecedented levels of destruction and bloodshed which could far surpass all previous wars in Israel's history. Maksad's concern comes as Hamas' top representative in Lebanon, Ahmed Abdul-Hadi, told POLITICO that Hezbollah will not stand for an Israeli ground attack on Gaza. 'Hezbollah will pay no attention to threats from anyone against it entering the war; it will ignore warnings to stay out of it. The timing of when Hezbollah wants to enter the war or not will relate to Israeli escalation and incidents on the ground, and especially if Israel tries to enter Gaza on the ground,' he said. Tensions with Iran add another layer of complexity to the already volatile situation. The Islamic Republic, led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his hardline President Ebrahim Raisi, has long been opposed to Israel's existence, viewing it as illegitimate. Israel, in turn, perceives Iran as a security threat due to its support for groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, and its nuclear ambitions. An overview of the Israeli Gaza conflict on October 20 A picture taken from the southern Israeli city of Sderot on October 20, 2023, shows smoke ascending over the northern Gaza Strip following an Israeli strike, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas Palestinians search the destroyed annex of the Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius Church, the oldest church still in use in Gaza, damaged in a strike on Gaza City on October 20, 2023 People set a US and an Israeli flag on fire during a march to show solidarity with the Palestinians of the Gaza Strip on October 18, 2023, in the Houthi-controlled Yemeni capital Sanaa Following a blast at Gaza al-Ahli hospital on Tuesday night, which sparked a furious blame game between Israel and Palestinian militant groups, Iran's foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian travelled to Saudi Arabia - a remarkable show of unity between two former sworn enemies, particularly given that Israel and the Kingdom were working towards normalising their relations. While there, Amir-Abdollahian issued a stark warning to Israel, with the foreign minister tweeting: 'After the terrible crime of the Zionist regime in the bombing and massacre of more than a thousand innocent women and children in the hospital, the time has come for the global unity of humanity against this fake regime more hated than ISIS and its killing machine. Time is OVER.' Other parties have attempted to quell the tensions, with US President Joe Biden declaring there was 'no clear evidence' that Iran helped Hamas plan its October attacks, despite being the Palestinian group's main financial backer. Dassa Kaye remains hopeful that interested parties could help mediate tensions between Israel and Iran, arguing that the Biden administration is 'reaching out to Iran with the help of regional partners... to avoid miscalculation and unwanted military escalation.' But she added a stark warning for what may happen with respect to Iran if the violence in Israel and Gaza cannot be contained. 'More skirmishes between Israel and Iran, not to mention a full-scale war, could destabilize the region, disrupt global markets, cause massive harm to civilians, draw in U.S. forces, and perhaps even prompt Iran to weaponize its nuclear capabilities.' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sought to warn his foes not 'to test us' in the north, while the IDF threatened to 'destroy' Lebanon if the terror group joined the war. 'Don't test us in the north. Don't make the mistake of the past. Today, the price you will pay will be far heavier,' Netanyahu threatened Hezbollah and Iran, referring to Israel's 2006 war with terror group. But it remains to be seen whether his warning will be heeded. Head of Hezbollah's Executive Council Sayyed Hashem Safieddine addresses a protest organized by Hezbollah in solidarity with the Palestinian people Iranian protestors set fire to the American and Israeli flags as they take part in a protest in support of Palestinians in Gaza Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi speaks during the protest against the bombing of Gaza's Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital at Palestine Square in Tehran, Iran on October 18, 2023 A woman waves a Palestinian and a Hezbollah flag during a protest in Tehran in support of Palestinians in Gaza As the conflict rolls on and the death tolls mount, the Abraham Accords, which have fostered the normalisation of relations between Israel and other Arab nations, face a severe test. The bombing campaign in Gaza has prompted condemnation from several Arab nations, putting strains on the diplomatic progress achieved through the accords. If the conflict continues to escalate, the fragile web of newfound regional cooperation could unravel. Now, world leaders are converging on the region for crisis talks, recognising the urgent need for diplomatic intervention. Egypt, which shares a border with both Gaza and Israel, is a key player in the region, and is hosting a slew of leaders and delegates seeking to expedite a peace process while Egyptian NGOs and UN aid agencies ready to deliver aid to southern Gaza via the Rafah border crossing with Egypt. European Council President Charles Michel will visit Egypt on Saturday where he will call for support for the country, which borders the war-torn Gaza Strip, he said Thursday. 'Egypt needs support, so let's support Egypt,' said Michel, who is in Washington to attend a summit with US President Joe Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday. He added that he would meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during his weekend visit. In addition, Michel will attend at Sisi's invitation a 'conference on the current developments in the Middle East, Palestine and the Peace Process,' said his spokesperson, Ecaterina Casinge. Accompanying Michel to Egypt will be Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign policy chief, Casinge said. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is also heading to Egypt today after meeting with the Emir of Qatar in Saudi Arabia. Qatar is seen as a key mediator in the battle, with Doha using its ties to the Palestinian militant group to negotiate for the release of about 200 hostages taken during the deadly assault on Israel. During discussions with Qatari ruler Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in Riyadh, No 10 said the pair 'underlined the imperative of avoiding any escalation in the violence across the region', agreeing that 'leaders had a responsibility to do everything possible to prevent it'. A spokesman said Mr Sunak thanked Qatar for their efforts to secure the release of hostages, including at least two British nationals who are known to be among those being held captive. The No 10 spokesman added: 'He said the UK Government would use all the tools at our disposal to support these efforts and end the torment of the victims and their families. 'The leaders agreed to stay in close contact to continue these efforts.' The two leaders also welcomed humanitarian aid being opened up to Gaza, agreeing on the 'urgent need to get food, water and medicine to civilians who are suffering'. Downing Street said the Prime Minister would hold further meetings with counterparts from the region in Egypt. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has also been in the region, visiting Egypt, Qatar and Turkey with a mission to 'secure the release of British hostages, stop the violence spreading to the region (and) ensure emergency aid can get into Gaza'. Edward VIII is better known for abdication and adultery than kingship For much of the past century, the Duke of Windsor has been regarded as the pantomime villain of the Royal Family. Those who wish to point an accusatory finger at him and his wife, Wallis Simpson, charge him with everything from Nazi sympathies to a complete disregard for his family and country at times of national crisis, all tied up with monumental self-absorption. The only monarch in history to abdicate of his own volition, he later pursued the most public of private lives, seasoned with generous quantities of self-pity, during which he managed to destroy what sympathy the public had for him in the process, both in his lifetime and since. So news that a forthcoming book by Jane Marguerite Tippett, Once A King, is to offer a different perspective on the troublesome duke is both surprising and potentially revelatory. The Duke of Windsor as Prince of Wales in 1925 The Prince of Wales visiting Washington during a royal tour in 1919 Pictured with Prince Hirohito on an official visit to Japan in August 12, 1926. As Emperor of Japan, Hirohito was widely condemned the part he played in the Second World War Edward VIII giving his abdication broadcast to the nation and the Empire, 11th December 1936 Tippett, a consultant archivist and art curator, has discovered a series of papers belonging to the author Charles JV Murphy, who worked with both the Duke and Duchess of Windsor on their memoirs in the Forties and Fifties. Material in Murphys archive, she suggests, represents the true, unfiltered thoughts of the Duke, amounting to a private, uncensored version of his 1951 memoir A Kings Story. Tippett has commented to the Daily Telegraph that '[The documents] went beyond what would have been the publicly acceptable version of his story the memoir could tell', and calls what she has found 'unprecedented'. The vital aspects that may rehabilitate Edwards reputation, she suggests, are that rather than the work-shy and selfish social gadfly he has been held to be, there is evidence of him as a hard-working and dutiful monarch, ready to put the hours in and to understand the plight of his people. As she has said, 'he was very popular because he wanted the monarchy to connect with people on an individual level in a very informal way.' Tippett has even argued that, in his own way, Edward anticipated many of King Charless reforms to the monarchy; she has commented 'Edwards vision in the 1930s of a slimmed-down monarchy, of a more circumspect royal establishment, and on royals and divorce have all now been adopted by Charles.' Any fresh information on this most controversial of former kings is welcome, although Tippett has not produced a whitewash. She admits that his notorious visit to Nazi Germany in 1937 was a mistake, saying We are all flawed and the Windsors obviously made some wrong decisions. 'Ultimately the pictures of him in Germany in 1937 with Hitler havent served him well.' Nonetheless, she has found a positive spin on this, too, commenting In the new material we get a better sense of why he went to Germany, something that has been misrepresented in popular culture. 'It introduces some nuance when we see things from his perspective around what he thought he was doing in Germany.' As someone who has been privileged enough to spend a considerable amount of time in the Royal Archives, where the majority of the Duke of Windsors personal papers are kept, I am especially intrigued by Tippetts claims to have been given access to a vast amount of previously uncatalogued material last summer, which consist of piles of handwritten drafts of what would later make it into A Kings Story in sanitized form. The Royal Archives are not known for their laissez-faire attitude to the documents in its care, and Tippett who, as a first-time author, managed a considerable coup in obtaining access to the closely guarded resource, where considerably more seasoned writers are denied entry will undeniably have more to say about this when her book is published next week. Yet regardless of what is revealed in Once A King, I remain sceptical that it will rehabilitate Edwards personal reputation. Edward VIII leaving Windsor Castle, after his abdication speech The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, are appropriately dressed for a short vacation at the seaside resort of Rapallo on the Italian Riviera Although those of a romantic disposition (including Madonna, who made the romance between the Duke and Wallis the centrepiece of her flop film WE) have sought to make the case for Edward as a fundamentally decent, if sometimes badly advised, figure who was cast out by his uncaring family for the crime of falling in love with an American divorcee, the evidence against him remains both damning and overwhelming. From his notorious meeting with Hitler (of whom he said later in life that he never thought he was such a bad chap) to his obsessive attempts to obtain a much-coveted HRH title for Wallis from his family, along with countless incidents of near-unbelievable obstinacy, selfishness and even potential treason, it is hard to warm to a man of whom Churchill warned, in a subsequently suppressed 1940 letter to the Commonwealth Prime Ministers, that 'The activities of the Duke of Windsor on the continent in recent months have been causing HM and myself grave uneasiness as his inclinations are well-known to be pro-Nazi, and he may become a centre of intrigue.' I must confess to playing my own part in this, too. Over the course of what will eventually be a trilogy of books focusing on his character and actions during the period 1936 to 1953, my extensive research has not cast the former Edward VIII in a flattering light. Indeed, in the introduction to my most recent title, The Windsors at War, I wrote I have been accused of harshness towards Edward, whom I described in The Crown in Crisis as a wretched, quixotic ruler, an obsessed and demanding lover and, bar the odd instance of compassion and decency, a selfish and thoughtless man. My only regret is that I have been too generous towards him. If there is a public figure of comparable standing who displayed the lack of self-awareness, non-existent consideration for others and disdain for any reasonable standard of behaviour as the Duke of Windsor, their name should live in infamy. I stand by every word I wrote. The Duke and Duchess of Windsor at Biarritz in 1951 Edward with Wallis, now the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, at home in the Bois de Boulogne As the furore around Tippetts discoveries suggests, Edward has continued to be a centre of intrigue since his death in 1972, and fascinates and appals us in equal measure. I am excited to read Once A King, and hope that it adds valuable texture and detail to our understanding of this deeply flawed man. But am I expecting to finish it and then issue a grovelling mea culpa, suggesting that I got the Duke wrong all along? Somehow, I doubt it. Advertisement Screaming protesters burnt British and American flags, told the US to 'go to hell' and urged Hamas suicide bombers to attack Tel Aviv as furious demonstrations erupted across the world today ahead of an imminent Israeli ground invasion of Gaza. Thousands of demonstrators holding Palestinian flags took to the streets across the globe - including in Bangladesh, South Korea, Lebanon and Iraq - with some burning American, British and Israeli flags and holding signs that read 'USA go to hell'. Tens of thousands of protesters rallied across Egypt to condemn Israel's constant bombardment of Gaza, with large crowds flooding into Cairo's iconic Tahir Square, while thousands of Jordanians marched in the capital Amman chanting slogans urging Hamas terrorists to intensify their strikes on Israel. 'Oh Hamas, hit them with al-Qassam rockets... Bring the suicide bombers to Tel Aviv ,' the Jordanian protesters chanted, referring to the military wing of Hamas. And hundreds of Iraqi protesters gathered at Iraq's border crossing with Jordan in a demonstration organised by the Coordination Framework, an alliance of Iran-backed Shia political groups and militias in Iraq. A thousand more protesters gathered outside the US embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, today where they burned Israeli flags and portraits of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden. In Bangladesh, the scene of fierce demonstrations last week, hundreds of Muslims gathered on the streets of Dhaka following their Friday prayers, while in Turkey, demonstrators set fire to British and Israeli flags as well as an effigy of Netanyahu. And in South Korea's capital of Seoul, scores of protesters shouted 'Stop the massacre by Israel' as they waved Palestinian flags and raised anti-Israel banners. The protests come as Israel prepares for a imminent ground invasion of the war-torn enclave, with columns of Israeli tanks massed on the Israel-Gaza border and thousands of soldiers readying themselves for battle today. Israel has vowed to wipe out Hamas, which rules Gaza, after its gunmen burst through the barrier fence surrounding the enclave on October 7 and rampaged through Israeli towns and kibbutzes, killing 1,400 people. MALAYSIA: Malaysians burn Israeli President Isaac Herzog's pictures and the country's flags as they protest outside the U.S. embassy, in support of Palestinians in Gaza, in Kuala Lumpur on Friday YEMEN: Yemenis gather during a pro-Palestinian protest to express solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Sanaa, Yemen INDONESIA: Protesters shout slogans as they wave Palestinian flags during a rally supporting the Palestinian people outside the building housing the U.N. representative office in Jakarta on Friday BANGLADESH: Bangladeshi Muslims gather in a protest in solidarity with the Palestinian people at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque after Friday's prayer, in Dhaka on Friday LEBANON: A woman lifts a mock blood-stained shrowd during a protest in Beirut's Tariq Al-Jadida neighbourhood, in solidarity with Palestinians amid ongoing battles between Israel and Hamas terrorists on Friday TURKEY: Demonstrators set fire on makeshift Israeli and British flags during a protest against Israel as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, in Istanbul on Friday SOUTH KOREA: Palestinians and Arabs living in South Korea with members of Civic groups shout slogans during a protest against Israel, in Seoul on Friday YEMEN: Thousands of Yemenis took to the streets in Sanaa to protest and express solidarity with Palestinians EGYPT: People take part in a protest in support of Palestinians, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Old Cairo on Friday AUSTRALIA: Protesters participate in a rally against the occupation of Palestine and the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Canberra on Friday SOMALIA: A Somali woman attends a protest in support of Palestinians in Gaza after an explosion at a hospital in Gaza, as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, in Mogadishu on Friday FRANCE: Graffiti reading Free Palestine is seen written on the side of the Monument a la Republique at the Place de la Republique in Paris following yesterday's pro-Palestinian protest on Friday Tens of thousands of Israeli soldiers and scores of tanks and armoured vehicles are now positioned on the border - ready for a ground assault on the Gaza Strip where 203 hostages are being held captive by Hamas terrorists. The massing of artillery and men at the border comes after heavy machine gunfire was heard along the border in the early hours of this morning. And today, Israel continued to pound Gaza with a relentless stream of airstrikes with the IDF saying their fighter jets hit over 100 'operational targets' of Hamas terrorists overnight. The strikes destroyed tunnel shafts, munitions warehouses and dozens of operational headquarters, the IDF said. Israel also began evacuating a northern Israeli city near the Lebanese border in yet another sign of an impending ground invasion that could trigger turmoil across the Middle East. The two million Palestinians trapped in the small enclave, where thousands have been killed and entire towns obliterated in the Israeli airstrikes, are now bracing themselves for the invasion that is expected to result in further major casualties. In the nearly two weeks since Israel began its withering aerial bombardment in response to a devastating attack by Hamas terrorists that saw 1,300 people slaughtered, thousands of homes have been destroyed across the 25-mile enclave and 3,785 Palestinians killed, including 1,524 children. And Israel's ruthless bombardment of the Gaza Strip has sparked global protests for weeks. Today, hundreds of demonstrators descended onto the streets of Istanbul, Turkey, where they set fire to an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and British and Israeli flags. TURKEY: Demonstrators set fire on an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a protest as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, in Istanbul on Friday TURKEY: Demonstrators set fire on an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a protest as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, in Istanbul on Friday TURKEY: Protesters burn mocks of British, Israeli and American flags during a protest to show their solidarity with the Palestinians, in Istanbul on Friday TURKEY: Demonstrators hold dolls during a protest against Israel as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, in Istanbul on Friday YEMEN: The pro-Palestine protest stretched several hundred metres along a wide road in the city of Sanaa, Yemen TURKEY: Demonstrators shout slogans during a protest against Israel as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, in Istanbul on Friday TURKEY: Demonstrators shout slogans during a protest against Israel as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, in Istanbul on Friday TURKEY: A demonstrator shouts slogans during a protest against Israel as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, in Istanbul on Friday TURKEY: Demonstrators shout slogans during a protest against Israel as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, in Istanbul on Friday TURKEY: Demonstrators shout slogans during a protest against Israel as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, in Istanbul on Friday TURKEY: People wave a Palestinian flag and a Hamas flag as they protest against Israel, after the Friday prayer at the Melike Hatun Mosque in Ankara on Friday TURKEY: People wave Turkish and Palestinian flags as they protest against Israel, after the Friday prayer at the Melike Hatun Mosque in Ankara on Friday Elsewhere, thousands of Jordanians chanted slogans urging Islamist Hamas terrorists to intensify their strikes on Israel as they marched in the capital and around the country on Friday to protest against Israel's bombing campaign in Gaza. Over 6,000 people took part in the protest in downtown Amman arranged by opposition parties and tribal groups in a kingdom where passions are running high since the escalation of violence between Palestinians and Israel. 'Oh Hamas, hit them with al-Qassam rockets ... Bring the suicide bombers to Tel Aviv ,' they chanted, referring to the military wing of Hamas. In Amman on Friday, several thousand people also gathered near the Israeli embassy, a common spot for anti-Israel protests at times of turmoil in the Palestinian territories. 'No Jewish embassy on Arab land!' protesters chanted. Riot police blocked roads leading to the fortified embassy complex to keep back demonstrators who gathered around the nearby Kaloti mosque in the capital. Authorities in Jordan earlier this week quelled rioting around the Israeli embassy and said they would not tolerate any attempt by mobs who sought to exploit anger against Israel to create havoc. On the outskirts of the capital, hundreds of anti-riot police blocked all roads leading to Jordan Valley opposite the West Bank, where activists had called for large protests. Over 2,000 protesters who were prevented from heading to the border called on the authorities to allow them to join the fight alongside Hamas. JORDAN: Jordanians gather during a pro-Palestinian protest to express solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Amman on Friday JORDAN: Jordanians, holding banners and Palestinian flags, march from Grand Husseini Mosque to Al-Nahl Square after the Friday prayer, within the demonstration in solidarity with Palestinians in Amman on Friday JORDAN: Jordanians gather during a pro-Palestinian protest to express solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Amman, on Friday JORDAN: Jordanians gather during a pro-Palestinian protest to express solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Amman, on Friday JORDAN: Jordanians, holding banners and Palestinian flags, march from Grand Husseini Mosque to Al-Nahl Square after the Friday prayer, within the demonstration in solidarity with Palestinians in Amman on Friday IRAQ: Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite armed groups gather during a protest against the U.S. for supporting Israel, and in support of Palestinians in Gaza, near the entrance of the Green Zone, home to the U.S. embassy and other missions, in Baghdad on Friday SYRIA: People march during a protest supporting the Palestinian people following Friday Noon prayers in the Yarmuk camp for Palestinian refugees south of Damascus on Friday TUNISIA: Tunisians gather during a pro-Palestinian protest to express solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Tunis on Friday In the southern city of Karak, hundreds of protesters gathered at a checkpoint on a highway leading to the border chanting pro-Hamas slogans. 'Al-Qassam, we are your army,' they chanted. Many of Jordan's 10 million citizens are of Palestinian descent. They or their parents were expelled or fled to Jordan in the fighting that accompanied the creation of Israel in 1948. They have close ties with family on the other side of the Jordan River in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, both captured by Israel in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Meanwhile, hundreds of Iraqi protesters gathered at the western Trebil border crossing near Jordan in a demonstration organised by the Coordination Framework. The pro-Iran coalition also called for a protest in Baghdad near the main gate of the highly fortified international zone, where the U.S. Embassy is located, to condemn its endorsement of Israel in the ongoing war with Hamas. Their rival, Iraq's firebrand Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, the most influential in the country, issued a call Thursday for Arab nations bordering Israel, notably Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, and Jordan, to engage in what he called peaceful demonstrations at their borders. The Iraqi protesters waved Palestinian flags and chanted 'No to Israel' before praying in the presence of religious clerics. In recent days, Iran-backed militias attacked United States military bases in Iraq. Iran has warned that an Israeli ground incursion into Gaza could spark an escalation from allied armed groups and a possible regional war. INDONESIA: Protesters burn an Israeli flag and a poster of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a rally supporting the Palestinian people outside the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta on Friday INDONESIA: A protester burns a portrait of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a rally supporting the Palestinian people outside the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta on Friday INDONESIA: A protester displays a defaced poster of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a rally supporting the Palestinian people outside the Indonesian Foreign Ministry in Jakarta on Friday INDONESIA: Protesters shout slogans during a rally supporting the Palestinian people outside the building housing the U.N. representative office in Jakarta on Friday INDONESIA: Protesters burn an Israeli flag and a poster of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a rally supporting the Palestinian people outside the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta on Friday INDONESIA: A protester steps on a burning portrait of U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a rally supporting the Palestinian people outside the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta on Friday MALAYSIA: Malaysians protest outside the U.S. embassy in support of Palestinians in Gaza after an explosion at a hospital in Gaza, as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, in Kuala Lumpur, on Friday MALAYSIA: People shout slogans and wave Palestinian flags outside the US Embassy during a demonstration against the ongoing Israeli-Hamas conflict, in Kuala Lumpur on Friday MALAYSIA: Malaysians hold a Palestinian flag as they march to protest outside the U.S. embassy in Kuala Lumpur on Friday MALAYSIA: Malaysians hold a Palestinian flag as they march to protest outside the U.S. embassy in Kuala Lumpur on Friday MALAYSIA: Malaysians step on Israeli President Isaac Herzog's and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's pictures and the country's flags, as they protest outside the U.S. embassy in Kuala Lumper on Friday MALAYSIA: Malaysians step on Israeli President Isaac Herzog's and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's pictures and the country's flags, as they protest outside the U.S. embassy in Kuala Lumper on Friday In Jakarta, Indonesia, a sea of angry protesters marched from several mosques to the heavily guarded US embassy in the city to denounce the staunch American support for Israel and demand the end of Israeli airstrikes that have killed thousands of Palestinians and flattened entire neighbourhoods. The demonstrators halted traffic along the way to the US embassy as they chanted 'God is great' and 'Save Palestinians' while waiting Palestinian flags. 'The U.S. actually know this war and violence occurred because Palestinians want free from Israel's occupation, but they close their eyes and pretend to be deaf,' a speaker told the crowd. 'We call for a two-state solution for Palestinians to end the war.' About 1,000 police office were deployed around the embassy, the nearby presidential palace and the U.N. mission. The Israeli siege of and airstrikes on the Palestinian territory were the focus earlier this week of demonstrations at Egyptian universities, inside a congressional office building in Washington, outside the Israeli Embassy in Bogota and near the U.S. Embassy in Beirut. Nearly two weeks after the Hamas attack in Israel, such protests continued as Israel prepared for an expected ground invasion of Gaza. LEBANON: A woman lifts a mock blood-stained shrowd during a protest in Beirut's Tariq Al-Jadida neighbourhood, in solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Friday LEBANON: People protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Beirut on Friday LEBANON: Demonstrators burn a U.S. flag as they protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Beirut on Friday LEBANON: Children deploy a large Palestinian during a protest in Beirut's Tariq Al-Jadida neighbourhood, in solidarity with the people of the Gaza Strip on Friday LEBANON: Youths riding motorcycles take part in a protest in Beirut's Tariq Al-Jadida neighbourhood, in solidarity with Palestinians on Friday LEBANON: A man waves his fist and shouts during a protest supporting the Palestinian people following Friday Noon prayers in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli on Friday LEBANON: People wave the Palestinian flag during a protest supporting the Palestinian people following Friday Noon prayers in Tripoli on Friday LEBANON: Children take part in a rally supporting the Palestinian people following Friday Noon prayers in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli on Friday EGYPT: People march during a protest supporting the Palestinian people following Friday Noon prayers towards Tahrir Square in Cairo on Friday EGYPT: Members of the military stand guard as people take part in a protest in support of Palestinians in Old Cairo on Friday EGYPT: Members of the military stand guard as people take part in a protest in support of Palestinians in Old Cairo on Friday EGYPT: A woman shouts next to security personnel as people take part in a protest in support of Palestinians at the al-Azhar Mosque in Old Cairo on Friday EGYPT: People march from Tahrir Square to the downtown district in the centre of Cairo on October 20 during a protest supporting the Palestinian people following Friday Noon prayers In South Korea's capital, dozens of protesters chanted slogans, waved Palestinian flags and raised anti-Israel banners. 'Free, Free Palestinians!' the protesters shouted, while holding banners that read 'We stand with Gaza' or 'Stop the massacre by Israel!' 'Please care about human lives. That's all I am thinking about,' Elshafei Mohamed, 25, an Egyptian student in Seoul, said. 'If we want to really help, we need to supply Gaza with humanitarian aids at once.' More than 5,000 people have been killed in Gaza and Israel since the war began, the majority women, children and elderly people. SOUTH KOREA: 'A protester holds a placard calling President Joe Biden a 'liar' during a demonstration against Israel, in Seoul on Friday SOUTH KOREA: Protesters pray during a demonstration against Israel, in Seoul on Friday SOUTH KOREA: Palestinians and Arabs living in South Korea with members of Civic group protest against Israel, in Seoul on Friday SOUTH AFRICA: Protesters sing during an ANC (African National Congress) led march to the Israeli Embassy in Pretoria on Friday. The march was in solidarity with the Palestinian people and calling for an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict PAKISTAN: Pakistani students attend a rally in solidarity with the Palestinian people in Lahore on Friday Israel continued to pound Gaza with withering airstrikes today including parts of the south that Israel had declared 'safe zones', as the millions of Palestinians trapped in the enclave desperately awaited a first delivery of international emergency aid. In northern Gaza, Hamas terrorists accused Israel of committing war crimes after Israeli airstrikes hit an Orthodox Christian church where Christians and Muslims had been sheltering. Gaza's Hamas-run government media office said 18 Christian Palestinians had been killed, adding it was 'a war crime that cannot be ignored'. Video from the scene at the church compound showed a wounded boy being carried from rubble at night. A civil defence worker said two people on upper floors had survived; those on lower floors had been killed and were still in the rubble. There was no immediate comment from Israel, which says it is doing everything it can to protect civilians but must destroy Hamas after its murderous assault on Israel. QATAR: People wave the Palestinian flag during protests outside the Imam Muhammad Abdel-Wahhab Mosque in support of the Palestinian people following Friday Noon prayers in Doha on Friday QATAR: People wave the Palestinian flag during protests outside the Imam Muhammad Abdel-Wahhab Mosque in support of the Palestinian people following Friday Noon prayers in Doha on Friday BAHRAIN: Bahrainis hold placards and chant slogans during a protest supporting the Palestinian people following Friday Noon prayers in Diraz village on the northwest coast of Bahrain on Friday BAHRAIN: People chant slogans during a protest supporting the Palestinian people following Friday Noon prayers in Diraz village on Friday And in Zahra, a northern town, residents said an entire district of some 25 multi-storey apartment buildings appeared to have been razed to the ground. They received Israeli warning messages on their mobile phones at breakfast time, followed ten minutes later by a small drone strike that hammered the message home. Half an hour after the initial warning, F-16 warplanes brought the buildings down in huge explosions and clouds of dust. 'Everything I ever dreamt of and thought that I have achieved was gone. In that apartment was my dream, my memories with my children, and my wife, was the smell of safety and love,' Ali, a resident of the district, said, declining to give his full name for fear of reprisals. Israel has said it is attacking Hamas terrorists wherever they may be in Gaza, describing them as 'dead men walking', and accused the group's leaders and fighters of taking shelter among the civilian population. But Israel's withering airstrikes have continued to obliterate entire neighbourhoods across the densely populated territory, leaving death and destruction in its wake. Exhausted Palestinians desperately searched through the rubble of their homes for loved ones across Gaza this morning, their screams piercing the air as they found the lifeless bodies of their children, wives and parents. For the more than two million Palestinians trapped in Gaza, nowhere - and no one - seems to be safe from the relentless Israeli strikes. And doctors say they are fighting a losing battle against a lack of medicines, water and fuel to keep hospitals running. While Israeli troops are massing around Gaza in anticipation of an order to invade, conflict is also spreading to two other fronts - the West Bank and the northern border with Lebanon. AUSTRALIA: Protesters demonstrate against Israel's bombardment of Gaza in Canberra on Friday AUSTRALIA: Protesters demonstrate against Israel's bombardment of Gaza in Canberra on Friday AUSTRALIA: Protesters demonstrate against Israel's bombardment of Gaza in Canberra on Friday AUSTRALIA: A young girl holds a white flower while being held by a man during a rally against Israel's bombardment of Gaza on Friday AUSTRALIA: A protester participates in a rally against the occupation of Palestine and the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Canberra on Friday UNITED KINGDOM: Palestinian demonstrators protesting outside the Labour party's HQ in London to condemn its stance on the Israeli-Hamas conflict on Friday UNITED KINGDOM: Palestinian demonstrators protesting outside the Labour party's HQ in London to condemn its stance on the Israeli-Hamas conflict on Friday UNITED KINGDOM: Palestinian demonstrators protesting outside the Labour party's HQ in London to condemn its stance on the Israeli-Hamas conflict on Friday The defence ministry ordered residents of the largest Israeli town near the Lebanese border, Kiryat Shmona, to evacuate to guest houses. Clashes at the border between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement have been the deadliest since a full-blown war in 2006. In the West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said 13 people were killed including five children after Israeli troops raided and called in air strikes on the Nur Shams refugee camp near Tulkarm. The territory, where Palestinians have limited self rule under Israeli military occupation, has seen the deadliest clashes since the second intifada uprising ended in 2005. Diplomats fear the conflict could spread even further. The Pentagon on Thursday said a U.S. Navy warship operating in the northern Red Sea intercepted three cruise missiles and several drones launched by the Houthi movement in Yemen, potentially toward Israel. The Houthi, like Hamas in Gaza and Lebanon's Hezbollah, are backed by Iran, which has lauded the Hamas attacks on Israel though it denies being behind them. Western leaders have so far mostly offered support to Israel's campaign against Hamas, although there is mounting unease about the plight of civilians in Gaza, which has yet to receive long promised aid. 'We can't ignore the humanity of innocent Palestinians who only want to live in peace and have opportunity,' Biden said in his speech. Despite admitting this week to murdering 18-year-old Natalee Holloway in Aruba in 2005 after she refused his sexual advances, Dutch national Joran van der Sloot, 36, will likely not be prosecuted for the heinous crime thanks to a complex plea agreement. Van der Sloot is currently serving 35 years in prison in Peru for the murder of Stephany Flores Ramirez. Peruvian authorities allowed him to travel in the custody of US officials to Alabama where he pleaded guilty to attempting to extort $250,000 from Holloway's family in exchange for information about the teen's death. Legal experts told CNN that the deal that van der Sloot sealed which led to his confession this week which will allow him to serve his 20-year sentence for extortion consecutively alongside his lengthy murder sentence in Peru was likely down to a deal his lawyers sealed with prosecutors. The plea agreement included an unusual provision for van der Sloot to 'provide all information and evidence' about what happened to Natalee Holloway and to let her family hear him in 'real time' give his account to federal investigators. Natalee Holloways body was never found, and no charges were filed in the case. A judge declared Holloway dead in 2012 While authorities in Aruba have said that Holloway's murder is still under investigation in the Caribbean nation, although the statute of limitations on the crime has since passed. A representative from the prosecutor's office said that its office has requested all of the US documents related to van der Sloot's confession. Ben Grunwald of the Duke University School of Law told CNN that it's likely that the US prosecutor's strategy was likely to ensure gaining some kind of closure to Holloway's family, thus giving the killer a strong hand in negotiations. That's how van der Sloot managed to secure a sentence including consecutive sentences rather than being shipped back to the US to serve out 20 years for extortion when he was released in Peru, Grunwald said. 'I imagine he didn't give up the confession for free. I was a little surprised to see he got the concurrent, so I thought that might be what he got in exchange for the confession,' Grunwald added. In addition to his murder conviction, van der Sloot is also serving 18 years for cocaine trafficking but due to Peru's laws which limits sentences other than life sentences to 35 years, he did not serve time for that crime. It's likely that when he is released, van der Sloot will be deported back to the Netherlands. Natalee's mother, Beth, said in an interview with The Associated Press that the family made the decision to allow the plea agreement to 'finally get the answers we've been searching for for all these years.' Beth Holloway said: 'You didn't get what you wanted from Natalee, your sexual satisfaction, so you brutally killed her' The Dutch national was extradited for sentencing in the US from Peru where he is currently serving a 28-year sentence for the murder of Stephany Flores (pictured) Van der Sloot gave different accounts over the years of that night in Aruba Holloway went missing during a high school graduation trip to Aruba with classmates. She was last seen May 30, 2005, leaving a bar with van der Sloot, a Dutch citizen and student at an international school on the Caribbean island where he grew up. Natalee Holloway's disappearance quickly became an international sensation, filling evening newscasts with live reports from the island and photos of her smiling face. Her disappearance also spawned countless books, podcasts and movies. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Natalee Holloway's parents listened and watched several weeks ago as van der Sloot, under questioning from his own attorney, described what happened on the beach. Prosecutors filed excerpts of the conversation with the court. He said Natalee Holloway was physically fighting his sexual advances and that he kicked her 'extremely hard' in the face while she was still lying down. Van der Sloot said the teen was already unconscious, or even dead, when he picked up a nearby cinderblock and brought it down on her face. 'I smash her head in with it completely,' van der Sloot said, according to an Oct. 3 transcript of the meeting. He then said he dragged her body until he was knee-deep in the waves and pushed her out to sea. 'It's just blistering to your soul, and it hurts so deeply,' Beth Holloway said of hearing the details. 'But you know that you're there in a functionality role because this is the moment where I've been searching for for 18 years. Even as hard as it is to hear, it still not as torturous as the not knowing. It was time for me to know.' Van der Sloot, 36, was extradited to Birmingham , Alabama in June from Peru, where he was serving a 28-year sentence after confessing to killing Stephany Flores in 2010 A judge declared Holloway dead but her body has never been found Dave Holloway, Natalee's father, called van der Sloot 'evil personified' in a statement issued after the sentencing hearing. He said that after witnessing the confession he believes van der Sloot killed his daughter but questioned his story of acting alone to dispose of her body and conceal the crime. 'While I am satisfied that the defendant murdered Natalee alone, I have no doubt others provided him with aid and assistance in preventing us from being able to return Natalee home,' Dave Holloway said. Natalee Holloway's body was never found during land and sea searches along the beach. Beth Holloway said she recognized her feisty daughter in van der Sloot's description of her kneeing him between legs when he refused to stop his sexual advances. 'Yes, I said, 'That's her,' Beth Holloway recalled with a brief smile. 'She fought like hell. I think she fought like hell with her killer. She stood her ground.' At the hearing Wednesday, Beth Holloway again stood in front of van der Sloot. 'You are a killer,' she told him. 'I want you to remember that every time that jail door slams.' Shackled and wearing an orange jail uniform, van der Sloot told the crowded courtroom he hopes his statement provides some closure. 'I would like the chance to apologize to the Holloway family, to my own family,' he said, later adding, 'I am no longer the person I was back then.' Van der Sloot's guilty plea in a crowded courtroom, a few miles from where Natalee Holloway attended high school, came three days before what would have been her 37th birthday. She had planned to go to medical school, her mother said. 'I fully believe now, today, she would be a doctor, married, children,' Beth Holloway said. She said she is undecided how she will spend her daughter's birthday but that she feels like now the 'never-ending nightmare' is over. 'We've been searching so desperately for those answers,' Beth Holloway said. 'It's hard to hear what he did, but it's very victorious to finally be at the end of this nightmare.' Outlander star Sam Heughan has rowed back on his involvement in a letter condemning Israel for its attacks on Palestine and said he 'inadvertently signed something' that does not reflect his beliefs. The letter was signed by more than 2,000 actors, musicians and artists, and accused the British Government of 'not only tolerating war crimes but aiding and abetting them'. It led to criticism the authors have failed to condemn terror attacks by Hamas. But Heughan, 43, said he didn't 'fully understand' the document's intentions, adding that he 'stood against terrorism and evil' and was 'appalled by the recent horrific actions by Hamas'. In a post on Twitter yesterday, the actor wrote: 'I inadvertently signed something that does not reflect my beliefs. I believed it was a simple call for peace. It wasn't. 'I condemn violence in any form. I stand against terrorism and evil and am heartbroken and appalled by the recent horrific actions by Hamas. It's haunting to the core, my heart goes out to all affected. 'I don't know nearly enough and [I am] trying to educate myself on the conflicts in the Middle East. I feel helpless and wish I could help in some way. I pray for compassion, for all the innocent people affected. Peace and love to you all.' Sam Heughan has rowed back on his involvement in a letter condemning Israel for its attacks on Palestine The Outlander star said he wrongly thought the letter was a 'simple call for peace' Heughan with his Outlander co-star Caitriona Balfe. He plays Jamie Fraser in the hit show The original letter was written by Artists for Palestine UK and co-signed by a raft of celebrities including Tilda Swinton, Miriam Margolyes and Steve Coogan. The group criticised Israel for 'reducing much of Gaza to rubble' and said they condemn 'every act of violence against civilians and every infringement of international law whoever perpetrates them'. It read: 'Gaza is already a society of refugees and the children of refugees. READ MORE - Met braces for another weekend of protests in the capital - as leaders of pro-Palestinian activist groups are revealed to have links to Hamas Advertisement 'Now, in their hundreds of thousands, bombarded from air, sea and land, Palestinians whose grandparents were forced out of their homes at the barrel of a gun are again being told to flee or face collective punishment on an unimaginable scale.' Referencing Israeli Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant's depiction of Palestinians as 'human animals', the signatories say Palestinians 'have become people to whom almost anything can be done'. They cited the UN's undersecretary for humanitarian affairs Martin Griffiths, who has said that 'the spectre of death' is hanging over Gaza, and they are calling for 'an immediate ceasefire and the opening of Gaza's crossings to allow humanitarian aid to enter unhindered'. But there was no mention of Hamas or its assault on Israel on October 7. The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry said on Wednesday that 3,478 Palestinians have been killed and more than 12,000 injured in the past 11 days. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly civilians killed during Hamas's deadly incursion on October 7. This includes 260 revellers who were gunned down by Hamas terrorists at a music festival. Armed Palestinian terrorist leading a man during the Supernova music festival, near Kibbutz Reim in the Negev desert in southern Israel Noa Argamani, 25, a university student, screams 'Don't kill me! No, no, no,' as she is seized by Hamas at the Nova electronic music festival in southern Israel. On October 7, Hamas terrorists attacked the festival in the desert near the Gaza-Israel border, killing at least 260 people Heughan's post revealing his concerns about the letter received more than 5,300 likes and hundreds of comments. READ MORE - Ground invasion looms as Israeli tanks line up on Gaza border and aerial bombardments continue after troops exchanged fire Advertisement One person wrote: 'You're an honourable man. A man of integrity, Sam. The humanitarian inside you will always shine through.' Another said: 'You know your heart and your true fans know your compassion, as you show it to us consistently in the charity work you do. 'I'm sure you will find a way to help. That's never been a challenge for you. We stand with you and those affected. Remember, you are allowed to make mistakes too.' A third commented: 'Peace is the most important thing. Fear is omnipresent in the current situation worldwide.' A fourth added: 'Oh, Sam. I feel for you. Honestly, I do, as you can't even apologize without the haters coming forward. 'I have signed things in error too, nobody cared, life moved on. 'You make a mistake, you own it when most wouldn't dream of it, and the haters still hate. Keep being you and don't let this eat at you.' The letter was signed by actors, musicians and artists in the UK, including Steve Coogan (pictured) and Miriam Margolyes Maxine Peake was among the list of famous names to sign the statement Tilda Swinton was also among the signatories. The letter states: 'Our governments are not only tolerating war crimes but aiding and abetting them' On Monday, Actor Riz Ahmed called for 'an end to the indiscriminate bombing of Gaza's civilians' amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The British actor, 40, who was nominated for an Oscar for the film The Sound Of Metal, said 'staying silent is not an option' as he blasted the 'morally indefensible war crimes'. Sharing a lengthy statement on social media, he wrote: 'We are told there are two sides to what is happening in Israel and Palestine. 'But in my heart, I know there is only one - the side of our humanity.' Shocking pictures have revealed the extent of the damage to vehicles which were parked in the Luton Airport car park when it went up in flames last Tuesday. Last week, the airport said it is 'unlikely that any vehicles will be salvageable' following a massive fire which caused a car park to collapse. Harrowing images show burnt out cars flipped on their side and crushed under the airport car park's concrete structure. One snapshot showed a 2021 Volkswagen SUV leaning on its right-hand side after being caught in the force of the fire. Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service received a report about the blaze on level three of the airport's Terminal Car Park last week. Shocking images have revealed the extent of the damage to vehicles which were parked in the Luton Airport car park when it went up in flames 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 Last week, the airport said it is 'unlikely that any vehicles will be salvageable' following a massive fire which caused a car park to collapse One car looks almost unrecognisable as it is pictured with smashed windows Shocking pictures show smashed up cars in the car park which set alight last week 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 last week. 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. READ MORE: Our new 48,000 Mercedes was destroyed in the Luton airport car park fire Advertisement 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. 'We're sorry that we have not been able to respond as quickly as we would have liked.' An airport spokesman 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'. One hundred firefighters spent 12 hours battling the inferno at the airport's Terminal Car Park Two The 20million block was engulfed by flames and caved in just before 9pm last Tuesday A 2021 Volkswagen SUV is pictured on its side at Luton Airport car park The structural damage to the car park can be seen in this image, along with a burnt out car A Telsa is snapped next to a car which has been flipped upside down at Luton Airport A construction worker is pictured looking at the damage at Luton Airport Liz and Gary Blackmore, of Loughborough, were coming back from a five-day holiday to Portugal last night and had parked their Mercedes-AMG CLA Shooting Brake on the top floor of Luton's new 20million parking structure. The couple were on a flight back to Luton when they heard about the blaze from the captain, who had to make a last minute diversion to Gatwick. Ms Blackmore, 57, told MailOnline: 'We're devastated. The car was less than a year old and my daughter has taken the other car so now we're left with no car. We're horrified.' 'We parked our Mercedes on the top floor of the multi-story Car Park 2, short-stay, Luton, and we'd gone on holiday to Portugal. 'We were returning yesterday evening and then suddenly the captain of the plane told us that we were diverting to Gatwick due to a large fire that has closed the airport. 'I saw it all on MailOnline and BBC about the fire.' The pair spent all night trying to get home after being stranded with no car so are yet to call their insurance to see if they will receive any compensation. 'We don't know yet - we've not contacted the insurance. We're going to get some sleep first,' said Ms Blackmore, a part-time schoolteacher. 'This morning we heard people have been taken to hospital with smoke inhalation and injuries - we just hope they're okay. You can replace the car but you can't replace people. 'It was confusing because we're on our own - there was no help from anybody. We landed at nearly midnight and we had no assistance. 'Also we didn't know whether to go to Luton and pick up the car - we didn't know what to do - no one told us - we didn't go because we'd seen the car park had collapsed so we didn't bother going.' A white car is badly burnt out and almost unrecognisable One vehicle had been smashed between the concrete car park structure The airport said it had provided the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB) with the registration details of 1,405 vehicles The structure of the car park came collapsed as the car park burned down in flames A line of cars are pictured all badly burnt out and unrecognisable Investigators believe that the cause of the fire may have been a diesel vehicle parked in the car park. Mr Hopkinson, chief fire officer for Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: 'We don't believe it was an electric vehicle. 'It's believed to be diesel-powered, at this stage all subject to verification. And then that fire has quickly and rapidly spread.' The fire at the airport came six years after a Land Rover went up in flames at Liverpool's Echo Arena's car park. The blaze at Luton airport also comes six months after Land Rover recalled several models of the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport to address issues that could potentially lead to fires. In 2017 a Land Rover burst into flames within a multi-storey car park in Liverpool, creating a 1,000C inferno that incinerated up to 1,600 vehicles. The fire was hot enough to melt aluminium and engulfed seven floors of the parking structure at the Echo Arena on Liverpool's waterfront. And last year a mother-of-two told said she was forced to leap from a window when her Range Rover exploded. Sami Webster was stuck inside the car by the locked doors as plumes of smoke began seeping through the dashboard. Ms Webster, 30, managed to squeeze through the window to escape after the vehicle burst into flames. In the process the mother suffered two broken ribs and smoke inhalation. Top legislature to review bills on patriotic education, safeguarding national secrets 09:31, October 20, 2023 By GT staff reporters ( Global Times Photo taken on March 5, 2022 shows a view of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China. Photo: Xinhua The sixth session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) will review several draft bills, including ones on the patriotic education law and the law on safeguarding national secrets. According to Yang Heqing, a spokesperson from the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee on Thursday, the sixth session of the Standing Committee of the 14th NPC is expected to convene from Friday till Tuesday in Beijing. The draft bill on patriotic education will undergo its second review during the meeting. The amendments proposed for this review will focus on enriching patriotic education, promoting the inheritance and development of traditional Chinese culture, strengthening cultural self-confidence, and improving the provisions on patriotic education in schools. The legislation of the patriotism education law aims to combine and condense some scattered content about patriotic education in different laws and regulations and promote patriotic education in the new era with a systematic, standard and scientific legislation process, Zhi Zhenfeng, a research fellow at the Institute of Law, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Thursday. The draft on patriotic education is to educate and guide citizens to consciously fulfill their obligations to maintain national unity and ethnic solidarity, safeguard national security, honor and interests, so as to ensure the long-term stability of the country, according to Yang Heqing, a spokesperson from the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee, on Thursday. In terms of educational methods to boost the public's sense of patriotism, emphasis is placed on fully utilizing the educational function of cultural relics, cultural heritage, various museums, memorial halls, and organizing folk cultural activities during traditional festivals, Yang said. Some people who smear heroes and martyrs, and the uncivilized behaviors that go against the principles and spirit of patriotism will also be a focal point of patriotic education, Zhi said. In order to address the current situation regarding the safeguarding of national secrets, the Standing Committee meeting will also hear the revision of the law on safeguarding national secrets. This law was first enacted in 1988 and underwent its first revision in 2010. The proposed revision will include provisions to implement the Party's leadership on national secrets, optimize the management systems of national secrets, further detail principles of encryption and decryption, and strengthen supervision on safeguarding national secrets. Attaching importance to confidentiality is a fine tradition of the Communist Party of China (CPC). In face of new challenges, strengthening the Party's leadership on national secrets is of great significance to safeguarding national security and interests, Li Baiyang, an assistant professor from the data management innovation research center of Nanjing University, told the Global Times on Thursday. The circulation of information has given rise to new forms of spying such as phishing, cyber information leakage, illegal cross-border transmission of data, gray asset trading, and illegal crawlers. With the promulgation of the National Security Law and the revision of the Counterespionage Law, timely revision of the law on national secrets can provide practical behavioral guidelines and a legal basis for practical work in safeguarding national security and interests, Li noted. In addition to the bills on patriotic education and safeguarding national secrets, the meeting will also review drafts on the revision of the Marine Environmental Protection Law and the Charity Law. The motion for a revision of the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases Law will also be reviewed. The draft revision on the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases Law will focus on optimizing mechanisms to cope with infectious diseases, improving the early warning system, and enhancing medical treatment mechanisms. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) The pilot who died after his plane fell out of the sky in a catastrophic light plane crash in Queensland has been remembered as a devoted family man, as harrowing new details emerge. Mervyn Mudge, 63, from Bundaberg, crashed at Palgrave, south-west of Warwick, in the Southern Downs region on Tuesday. He died at the scene. He was an experienced pilot and was believed to be flying to see his granddaughter for her birthday at the time of the crash. Mr Mudge is survived by his wife, four children and five grandchildren. The tragedy has sparked an outpouring of tributes for the beloved family man who had been affectionately known as 'Swervin' Merv'. Experienced pilot and beloved grandfather Mervyn Mudge, 63, died when his plane crashed in a paddock in rural Queensland Mr Mudge's wife, Aly, (pictured together) said that he was the best husband anyone could ever ask for as tributes started pouring online from friends and family READ MORE: Father-of-three killed in crash The father of three killed in a plane crash along with their grandfather once made a heartfelt post about the beauty of fatherhood. Advertisement 'He is my soulmate, my best friend. The best husband anyone could ever ask for,' wife Aly told 7News. 'He was the best damn pilot and engineer on the planet. Many hearts are broken from this tragedy.' Mr Mudge had more than three decades experience as both an engineer with the Royal Australian Air Force and a commercial pilot with Japan Airlines. Friends of Mr Mudge have also posted expressed their disbelief after his shock death. 'You held a special place in our hearts, and dude, we are praying for Aly and the rest of your family,' one friend wrote. 'Yesterday the world and I lost a truly great human being. My little RAAF Appie brother and great friend, Merv Mudge passed from this world doing what he loved doing, committing Aviation, when his Jabiru experienced mechanical failure and he crashed into a paddock in the Palgrave area of Southern Queensland,' another added. 'Rest in Peace my Brother from another mother. Your duty to your country, your community and your friends and family now done. 'Fly now with the angels my friend and I pity the boss of wherever you end up, the jury is still out on your final landing field... Lest we forget.' A small grassfire broke out at the site of the wreckage which initially prevented emergency services from reaching it and left the plane itself completely destroyed Mr Mudge, an experienced pilot who had worked with planes for more than 30 years, was believed to be on the way to his granddaughter to celebrate her birthday when he crashed A local farmer rushed to the impact site after spotting a fire break out on his property and tried to fight the flames himself. Paramedics firefighters and police attended the scene of the crash, which had sparked a nearby grass fire, making it hard for rescue teams to reach the wreckage. The plane was completely destroyed in the crash and fire that followed it. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority is now assisting police with their investigation into the cause of the crash. Shoplifting has surged by 25 per cent in the latest shocking sign of lawlessness in 'Wild West Britain'. A total of 365,164 incidents of shoplifting were logged by police in England and Wales 1,000 a day and the most since 2019, the Office for National Statistics said. A new map created by MailOnline shows the 10 worst affected areas across the country. The Metropolitan Police recorded the most shoplifting offences of any force in England and Wales (46,485), although it also covers by far the largest population. West Yorkshire came next, with 19,742 offences, followed by West Midlands (19,172) and Greater Manchester (16,463). The City of London saw the lowest number of offences (668), but covers the smallest area. A new map created by MailOnline shows the 10 worst affected areas for shoplifting across the country The proportion of shoplifting incidents that led to court action has fallen to just 12.2 per cent from almost 19 per cent in 2020. Leading retail figures warn of a crime 'epidemic', with gangs marauding through our high streets. Rishi Sunak last month pledged to crack down on the scourge but in a contradictory move this week Justice Secretary Alex Chalk revealed he will change the law to limit short prison terms. This is likely to lead to thousands of shoplifters and thieves dodging jail. Graham Wynn of the British Retail Consortium said: 'Retail crime has been getting increasingly worse, with thieves becoming bolder and more aggressive. These incidents are very often the trigger to violent and abusive incidents against workers. 'It also costs retailers 953million a year money that would be better spent on reducing prices. We need the police to give retail crime greater prioritisation.' Labour Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the figures were an 'indictment of 13 years of Conservative failure on law and order'. The ONS data showed all types of theft rose 10 per cent year on year to 1.7million, slightly below pre-pandemic levels. Overall, police recorded crime in England and Wales was 4% higher than the previous year with 6.7million crimes recorded compared with 6.5million in the year ending June 2022, according to the Office of National Statistics. However, the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) found overall crime decreased by 10%, continuing a downward trend seen since the mid-1990s. This was largely down to a 28% drop in criminal damage and a 13% reduction in fraud. The survey asks households directly about their experiences of crime and is generally seen as more accurate in identifying long-term trends because it is unaffected by changes in reporting rates or police activity. The dramatic rise in shoplifting offences will come as no surprise to retailers, who have repeatedly warned of the threat posed to their staff by violent offenders and called for the police to take the issue more seriously. CCTV footage caught the moment a man stole speakers from a branch of John Lewis. He was later arrested Members of a private security team tackling shoplifters trying to flee a Tesco with 'more than 3,000 of electrical goods' Major chains including Iceland, John Lewis and Co-op have repeatedly complained of police failing to attend shoplifting incidents even when security staff have managed to detain the suspect. Some have even resorted to hiring a company dubbed 'Britain's first private police force', which offers to investigate offences and drag criminals through the courts. This week it emerged the epidemic has hit the real-life setting of ITV crime hit drama Broadchurch. Fed-up business owners at picturesque West Bay, in Bridport, Dorset, are being raided three times a week but claim police say solving the crimes is not a 'priority'. A smirking thief was caught on CCTV brazenly snatching an ice cream store's tip jar. While a gift shop at the seaside resort has changed its entire layout with the owners forking out more money to install security cameras to deter people from stealing. Brazen shoplifters have been bringing chaos to Britain's high streets this year, with 88 companies writing to the Government demanding action. The retail giants, which include Tesco, Sainsbury's, WH Smith, Aldi, Primark and Superdrug, want MPs make assaulting, threatening or abusing a retail worker a specific crime - something which exists in Scotland already. 'This standalone offence would send an important signal that our colleagues will receive better protection in law and act as a deterrent to would-be offenders. This action should be taken without delay,' the letter says. tHE statistics revealed that the overall number of crimes recorded by police in England and Wales in the year to June 2023 stood at 6.7 million, compared with 6.5 million in the previous 12 months and 6.1 million in the pre-pandemic year of 2019/20. READ MORE - The private force of ex detectives taking on the shoplifters Advertisement This is likely to reflect a number of factors, including better recording of offences by the police, more victims reporting crime and the addition of new types of offences, as well as 'genuine increases in some types of crime', all of which have made 'substantial contributions to rises in recorded crime over recent years', the ONS said. The latest increase has been mainly driven by the increase in shoplifting, together with a jump in fraud offences against businesses - more of which is being reported due to action by industry bodies, the ONS added. In contrast, the crime survey for England and Wales for the year ending June 2023 suggests people aged 16 and over experienced 8.4 million offences, down 10% on 9.4 million in the previous 12 months and a fall of 18% from 10.2 million in a survey for the year ending March 2020. The report measures experiences of crime in the 12 months before interview, meaning the latest survey, which was conducted between July 2022 and June 2023, reflects crimes that could have occurred as far back as July 2021. The three forces with the highest levels of knife crime were the Met, Greater Manchester Police and West Midlands Police. While Greater Manchester saw a drop of 16% and the West Midlands 5%, the Met saw a rise of 21%, although still below pre-pandemic levels. Knife possession offences were also up across England and Wales, rising by 10% to 28,211 in the year to June 2023, although the ONS said the increase could be due to police crackdowns. It comes as Britain's biggest police force revealed it is using 'game-changing' facial recognition technology to catch prolific shoplifters. The Metropolitan Police asked 12 retailers to provide images of 30 of the worst offenders who steal from their shops in a pilot of the new software. They were compared against the force's custody shots, and of 302 images submitted, 149 came up as positive matches. Those matches are now being investigated further with a view to building criminal cases. The software uses biometric measures of a person's face and works even if part of their face is covered. It takes around 60 seconds to find a match. A shoplifter caught on CCTV in a Liverpool branch of Co-op on June 13 this year More footage from the Liverpool Co-op, with a shoplifter seen wearing a mask to hide his identity An Iceland security guard confronts a shoplifter inside a store in Ilford, London A masked armed robber threatens three young women while raiding a corner shop Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: 'We're working with shops across the capital to target and track down criminals in a way we never have before. 'We're pushing the boundaries and using innovation and technology to rapidly identify criminals. 'The results we've seen so far are game-changing. The use of facial recognition in this way could revolutionise how we investigate and solve crime.' He claimed that most of the prolific offenders were involved in other, more serious criminal activity. 'What's most powerful is what we've learned about those involved in this offending so far. It's clear the majority are career criminals involved in serious crime,' Sir Mark said. 'This data and information helps us focus our efforts in an even more precise way than we originally anticipated. 'Through this tactic we're not only improving how we protect shops and support the business community, we're stepping further forward in identifying and tracking down serious criminals and protecting all of London's communities. 'The scale of business crime in London is huge. To be successful we have to be precise in our approach and this is a really promising step forward.' Chief executive of the Association of Convenience stores James Lowman said while the technology could save police time, there is still a challenge in getting offenders off the street. The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) - which asks households about their experiences of crime - found overall crime decreased by 10% This graph shows how likely someone was to be a victim of crime in England and Wales This graph shows the number of murders recorded by police since 2004 He said: 'Using artificial intelligence to identify prolific offenders can be an effective way of drastically reducing the amount of police time it takes to make links between crimes committed against different businesses locally. 'Whether its artificial intelligence or local intelligence that leads to criminals being identified, the real challenge remains apprehending these offenders and getting them off the streets.' The Met started using the software in August and began the retail pilot in late September. The new system can use images from CCTV, dashcams, doorbell cameras or phones. It uses the same algorithm as the Met's live facial recognition technology, about which there have been well-publicised concerns over potential bias. Lindsey Chiswick, director of intelligence for the Met and national policing lead on facial recognition, said the algorithm has been independently tested by the National Physical Laboratory. She said: 'Facial recognition technology, which is able to match faces after the event, has actually been around for quite a few years. 'What's changed and what is improving all the time, and in the last few years with real speed, is the accuracy of the algorithm. And that's the real game changer here. 'With this technology, it's an algorithm that we've independently tested through the National Physical Laboratory so we have assurance it's 100% accurate when it comes to retrospective usage, and we understand how it works.' The number of knife offences recorded by the police increased over the past year This graph shows the number of firearms offences that were recorded by police The CSEW has identified a general downward trend in crime as experienced by households since the 1990s Around 50,000 shoplifting incidents were reported to the Met last year, estimated to be between 5% and 10% of the offences that are actually committed. Emmanuelle Andrews, from human rights charity Liberty that has campaigned against the use of facial recognition, said: 'Facial recognition has no place on our streets, in our shops - or in any other areas of our lives. 'This technology threatens our privacy and stifles free speech - and we should all be worried about moves to expand its reach. 'We're also concerned about the creep of facial recognition technology into other areas of policing. 'Let's be clear: we cannot rely on tech to solve deep societal problems, this is an unjustified expansion of state surveillance and there are numerous alternatives.' Greta Thunberg today deleted a pro-Palestine social media post after critics claimed a stuffed octopus in the photo could be viewed as an 'anti-Semitic' symbol - with the activist saying the toy helps with her autism. The 20-year-old wrote: 'Today we are striking in solidarity with Palestine and Gaza. The world needs to speak up and call for an immediate ceasefire, justice and freedom for Palestinians and all civilians affected.' While many criticised her for failing to condemn Hamas attacks on Israel, others questioned why the image of her with three other activists featured a blue octopus, branding it an 'anti-Semitic trope' for an imaginary worldwide Jewish conspiracy. In response, Ms Thunberg deleted the original photo and replaced it with one showing the octopus cropped out. She wrote: 'It has come to my knowledge that the stuffed animal shown in my earlier post can be interpreted as a symbol for antisemitism, which I was completely unaware of. 'The toy in the picture is a tool often used by autistic people as a way to communicate feelings. We are of course against any type of discrimination, and condemn antisemitism in all forms and shapes. This is non-negotiable. That is why I deleted the last post.' Greta Thunberg shared a photo in which she was seen holding a sign reading 'Stand with Gaza'. Some questioned why the post included a stuffed octopus In response, Ms Thunberg deleted the original photo and replaced it with one showing the octopus cropped out The Swede explained she was 'completely unaware' of the symbolism of an octopus and said she used the toy to help with her autism An anti-Semitic propaganda cartoon by one of Nazi Germany's most famous cartoonists Seppla (Josef Plank) - which shows Winston Churchill as an octopus in a cartoon warning of a worldwide Jewish conspiracy. The cartoon depicts an octopus with a Star of David over its head and tentacles encompassing a globe Following Ms Thunberg's first post, she was accused of glossing over terror attacks by Hamas which killed 1,400 people in Israel Following Ms Thunberg's first post, she was accused of glossing over terror attacks by Hamas which killed 1,400 people in Israel. The Campaign Against Antisemitism said: 'Greta Thunberg has a lot to say about a lot of things. But, judging by her social media output, expressing sympathy for the biggest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust does not appear to be among them. 'This post directs followers to a series of odious organisations, some fringe Jewish groups but all deeply hostile to the Jewish state. Ms Thunberg spends her life campaigning for greater awareness about the future of our planet. 'Given the organisations that she is signposting here, she might want to take a moment to reflect on what kind of human society will live on it.' Investigative journalist David Collier tweeted: 'Not a word about Israeli victims... not a word about the terrorist attack... not a word about the hostages....' John Aziz, who describes himself as a British-Palestinian musician, said: 'Greta Thunberg called for a ceasefire, but did not call for the release of the innocent Israeli hostages. 'The world is already forgetting the terrible crimes of October 7th that caused this war.' Others called her an 'embarrassment' and 'an opportunist'. Tamar Schwarzbard, head of digital operations at Israel's foreign ministry, wrote: 'Hamas missiles aren't made of sustainable materials. 'They also murdered teenagers who could have been your friends. Please speak up.' And Daniel Sugarman, director of public affairs at the Jewish Board of Deputies, said: 'Greta Thunberg suddenly doing a bunch of tweeting about Gaza while reducing the 1,400 people massacred by Hamas last week and the nearly 200 hostages taken to ''and all civilians affected'' is probably the least surprising thing ever.' It came as Outlander star Sam Heughan rowed back on his involvement in a controversial luvvies' letter condemning Israel for its attacks on Palestine and said he 'inadvertently signed something' that does not reflect his beliefs. The letter was signed by more than 2,000 actors, musicians and artists, and accused the British Government of 'not only tolerating war crimes but aiding and abetting them'. It led to criticism the authors have failed to condemn terror attacks by Hamas. But Heughan, 43, said he didn't 'fully understand' the document's intentions, adding that he 'stood against terrorism and evil' and was 'appalled by the recent horrific actions by Hamas'. In a post on Twitter yesterday, the actor wrote: 'I inadvertently signed something that does not reflect my beliefs. I believed it was a simple call for peace. It wasn't. Others called Ms Thunberg an 'embarrassment' and 'an opportunist' for her intervention 'I condemn violence in any form. I stand against terrorism and evil and am heartbroken and appalled by the recent horrific actions by Hamas. It's haunting to the core, my heart goes out to all affected. 'I don't know nearly enough and [I am] trying to educate myself on the conflicts in the Middle East. I feel helpless and wish I could help in some way. I pray for compassion, for all the innocent people affected. Peace and love to you all.' Ms Thunberg was pictured on another climate change protest yesterday, a day after being charged with a public order offence. The activist joined a protest outside JP Morgan demanding the bank stops funding fossil fuels. Along with the group Fossil Free London, she stood outside the entrance in Canary Wharf this morning. They moved to block the entrances of the bank by sitting on the pavement chanting 'oily money out' and waving yellow flags and banners. It came just one day after Thunberg was charged with a public order offence following a protest outside a central London hotel. Scotland Yard said protesters were asked to move from the road onto the pavement to avoid breaching the conditions on Tuesday. Greta Thunberg takes part in a Fossil Free London protest outside JP Morgan in Canary Wharf yesterday The Swedish climate activist shouts slogans through a megaphone during the demonstration Ms Thunberg was one of 26 people charged following Tuesday's rally outside the InterContinental Hotel in Park Lane which was hosting a major meeting of oil executives. In today's demonstration outside JP Morgan, protesters said the bank has been a major source of funding of fossil fuel projects since the Paris Agreement, when governments agreed to limit global average temperature rise to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. Fossil Free London campaigner Henry, who declined to give his last name, said: 'Since the Paris climate agreement they have been the worst financiers of fossil fuels, having provided $434billion (357billion) in finances. 'They are making billions of profit every year at a time of worsening inequality when so much of the world is being devastated by the climate crisis. 'We think there should be no new fossil fuel investment or financing from JP Morgan and we think that some of their billions of profits should go towards loss and damage to the communities affected by climate change and provide the financing for adaptation and mitigation measures.' JP Morgan has declined to comment. Thunberg was arrested by police during Tuesday's rally outside the InterContinental Hotel in Park Lane which was hosting a major meeting of oil executives The activist, wearing a large badge reading 'Oily Money Out', was one of 26 people arrested at the rally She was led to a police van as activists watched on and smiled as officers told protesters to stand back After Tuesday's rally, Thunberg was charged with failing to comply with a condition imposed under Section 14 of the Public Order Act. Officers said they asked the protesters to move from the road onto the pavement which would have allowed them to continue protesting legally. They said they had imposed conditions to 'prevent disruption to the public'. She was bailed to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on November 15. A Met Police spokesman said: 'We have charged 26 people after a protest outside a hotel in central London. 'Officers responded to the protest on the morning of Tuesday October 17 and imposed conditions to prevent disruption to the public. 'The protestors were asked to move from the road onto the pavement, which would enable them to continue with their demonstration without breaching the conditions.' One of MSNBC's long-term Middle East and Israeli correspondent broke down on air while explaining that among the hundreds of hostages taken by Hamas are two members of his wife's family. Fletcher revealed that kidnapped Illinois residents, Judith Raanan and her daughter, Natalie, 17, were in the country celebrating a relative's birthday when the barbaric assault began on October 7. 'They were last seen, their hands tied, being dragged away by the Hamas terrorists. So it's personal, it's real, and nobody is really confident that it's possible to get them back alive. Of course, everybody's hoping,' Fletcher told Stephanie Ruhle on Thursday. Through tears, Fletcher said: 'Hamas is using the hostages for psychological warfare.' He described the conflict as a 'very personal thing.' 'Nobody is really confident that it's possible to get them back alive,' he somberly added. Longtime NBC correspondent Martin Fletcher just told @SRuhle that two members of his wife's family members are hostages in Gaza. @MSNBC pic.twitter.com/5sPhzA5Cnt 11th Hour (@11thHour) October 20, 2023 Martin Fletcher appeared on MSNBC's Stephanie Ruhle and described how personal the current conflict in Israel is as two members of his wife's family have been taken by Hamas Natalie Ranaan was visiting family for the High Holidays with her mother, Judith, when the assault began on Saturday. Since then, relatives have not heard from either woman Judith Raanan was also taken hostage along with her daughter. Their family in Illinois has not heard from them since Saturday Through tears, Fletcher said: 'Hamas is using the hostages for psychological warfare.' He described the conflict as a 'very personal thing 'Israel says hostages are their number one priority, but actually, the bottom line probably is that they're the number two priority. The number one priority is to go into Gaza, as Prime Minister Netanyahu said, to kill the Hamas leadership and to destroy Hamas,' Fletcher continued. Fletcher earlier spoke about the fact due to Israel's small size, the current outbreak of violence following the Hamas attack effects everybody. This week a Hamas spokesperson said that the terror organization had taken over 200 hostages during the conflict. Fletcher has worked for NBC in some capacity since 1977 beginning as a cameraman. He began working from Tel Aviv in 1982, becoming bureau chief in 1996. During his career, he has one five Emmy awards, two of which were down to his reporting on Palestinian uprisings. In 2010, he published a book on his experiences reporting from Israel, Walking Israel: A Personal Search for the Soul of a Nation. That was follow-up to his lauded memoir, Breaking News: A Stunning and Memorable Account of Reporting from Some of the Most Dangerous Places in the World. Raanan and her mother were visiting family in Israel for the High Holidays. Their relatives Natalie Raanan is a typical 17-year-old: she loves art, makeup, fashion, and DoorDash -- 'she hates eating at home,' said her brother, Ben Raanan, told The Associated Press this week. She graduated from high school in the Chicago suburbs this year, and has a birthday coming up, according to her brother, who is 34 and based in Denver. Before she left on a trip to Israel to celebrate her grandmother's 85th birthday and the Jewish holidays with her mother, Judith Raanan, the teen was deciding between going to college to study interior or fashion design and taking an apprenticeship with a tattoo shop. The pair had been sending updates as the trip progressed and were enjoying 'this really special mom and daughter time together,' said their rabbi, Meir Hecht. But the family hasn't heard from either mother or daughter since Hamas launched an unprecedented surprise attack. Natalie is 'just a very loving, kind person,' said her older brother, Ben Raanan. Their middle brother, Adam, is nonverbal and much older than she is, but Natalie makes it a priority to maintain a strong bond with him, he explained. The family has been in touch with both U.S. and Israeli government officials, who confirmed Natalie and Judith are alive and being held hostage by Hamas, according to Ben Raanan. 'This whole situation is surreal,' he said. 'We are a very peaceful family. We do not advocate at all for any violence to be done to anyone in this world.' Judith Raanan was very active in her faith community, Chabad of Evanston, said her friend and the rabbi's wife, Yehudis Hecht. Judith came to Shabbat almost every week, helped prepare the Kiddush lunch, and just before she left for Israel, dropped off a pink prayer book for the Hechts' 7-year-old daughter, who loves the color, said Yehudis Hecht. A few dozen community members gathered to pray for the Raanans' safe return in the days after the Hamas attack. 'Judith, we're thinking of you. Of your resilience, your hope, your love, your generosity, your faith and your strength. We know you're a strong woman and we pray that we see you safely very soon with your dear Natalie,' Yehudis Hecht said at the event. A volunteer who works in a military base morgue cleaning the bodies of mutilated Israeli soldiers before they are buried says the brutality of Hamas massacre of innocents is worse than the Holocaust.' Shari has the grim task of pulling mutilated corpses from the body bags that are lined up on stretchers at the morgue of the Shura military base near Tel Aviv before preparing them as best she can for funerals. The architect and mother-of-four told MailOnline: I heard stories about Auschwitz as a child growing up in New Jersey. But what I have seen here with my own eyes is worse than the Holocaust. Shari, who doesnt want to give her surname to protect her familys safety, works with the Israeli Defence Forces Rabbinate corps who formally identify whatever is left of the remains recovered after their military have been murdered by Hamas gunmen - to allow their families to bury them as quickly as possible as is the Jewish custom. Still wearing the scrubs from another long and gruelling shift preparing the dead for funerals, she told MailOnline: We wash the bodies and prepare them for burial. We try to bring them dignity in death. Shari (pictured) said she took on the grisly role to spare younger people of the task of cleaning body parts Shari and her team spent 12 hours a day cleaning body parts delivered to them by ambulances She said of Hamas' attacks: 'What these barbarians did to these people is beyond words' Almost two weeks on from the surprise attack on October 7, ambulances continue to arrive bearing body bags which contain the remains of both civilians and soldiers Hamas' surprise attack on Israeli citizens and soldiers on October 7 left thousands dead READ MORE: Doctor places body of an unborn child with its mother who died in Gaza Advertisement But what these barbarians did to these people is beyond words. There is evidence of mass rape of so brutal that they broke their victims pelvis women, grandmothers, children. I volunteered to prepare the bodies of murdered women to give them the respect they deserve. I am a mother from New Jersey. I moved to Israel 20 years ago. Im a normal person. I never expected to be confronted by what I have seen. People whose heads have been cut off. Women standing in their night dresses woken up and shot. Faces blasted off. Heads smashed and their brains spilling out. A baby was cut out of a pregnant woman and beheaded and then the mother was beheaded. Shari and her team help to identify the people whose corpses and body parts turn up to their makeshift facility The team's work in cleaning and identifying bodies allows grieving families to perform burial rites as soon as possible Bodies are stored in large refrigerated containers until someone can examine them Last night, the team were given another 73 bodies to look at and identify Women and children burned to charcoal. Bodies murdered with their hands tied behind their backs. My mother and my grandmother are Holocaust survivors. They were the only members of the family to come out of Auschwitz alive after they were taken from their homes in Czechoslovakia. All of her brothers and sisters and uncles and aunts were murdered there. Shari first volunteered - initially to wash and prepare the bodies of fallen female soldiers - two years ago. She said she took on the grisly task because she was determined to spare young recruits the agony of seeing death and to help to give the victims back their dignity. While Shari was explaining her work she was flanked by a row of refrigerated containers holding bodies - and a stand of blood-stained military stretchers. A few yards away morticians were at work with their faces covered with surgical masks. They hold their heads and sip from bottles of warm water as they take a break during their 12-hour shift. Almost two weeks on from the surprise attack, ambulances continue to arrive bearing body bags which contain the remains of both civilians and soldiers. Some have been shot at such close range that they no longer have recognisable facial features. Others are missing limbs. Colonel Rabbi Haim Weisberg (pictured, front) said: We have identified the bodies of 800 people already and we are working on a further 500' Dentist Dr Shir Kishales (pictured) said: If you imagine the worst horror film ever made, then the reality of the injuries of the bodies that we are seeing is worse, much worse' The Israeli Defence Forces Rabbinate corps is attempting to formally identify the bodies and in some cases merely body parts to allow families to bury their loved ones as quickly as possible, in line with Jewish custom. Of the 1,400-plus victims of Hamas' vicious October 7th attack, some 200 were so badly mutilated and burned they could only be identified by DNA or dental records. While they wait to be examined, the bodies or body parts are loaded into the refrigerated containers. But after days laying in the hot desert sun when they were murdered, the rotting process has already begun. Colonel Rabbi Haim Weisberg said: We have identified the bodies of 800 people already and we are working on a further 500. But every day we receive more corpses. Last night we received 73 more bodies. We see evidence of torture and savagery. We have babies with their heads cut off. Bodies without hands, without legs, without genitals. The traditional way would be for a child to say Kaddish [the burial prayer] for his parents. But here, we have entire families that no ones going to be able to say Kaddish [the burial prayer] for them. So that is why we must eliminate the terrorists, destroy Hamas. Dentist Dr Shir Kishales added: If you imagine the worst horror film ever made, then the reality of the injuries of the bodies that we are seeing is worse, much worse. A family has finally been moved out of their council flat after a severe bedbug infestation that left the parents unable to work. Mark Henderson, 27, and Chelsea Francis, 26, feared passing the insects to others so refused to leave their one-bed property in Fulham, south-west London. The couple - parents to Ewan, two, and Riley, four weeks - have been forced to live on 900-a-month benefits, since Ms Francis has been declared unfit to work due to suffering with epilepsy. Hammersmith & Fulham council finally moved the family into a hotel on Thursday while a new home is looked for. Pictured: Toddler, Ewan. his family has finally been moved out of their council flat after a severe bedbug infestation Pictured: Four-week-old baby Riley, who has also suffered from bedbug bites Handyman Mr Henderson said: 'It was horrific having to live there. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. 'Me, my partner and two kids couldn't leave the house because we are covered in bedbugs and didn't want to pass them on. 'I don't want people to think we're dirty - the house was spotless. We're clean people but the bedbugs were just everywhere.' He added: 'My kids get bedbugs in their ears - it's absolutely disgusting. 'We couldn't go to out as a family. 'There was funfair the other day that we had planned to go to, but we couldn't. The bedbugs are in their prams, in their clothes - they are even in the fridge. 'We just want to live our lives and be able to go outside. No one should have to go through this.' Bedbug bites covered mum of two Chelsea Francis's back, the family has now been moved to a hotel and new accommodation will be found for them soon Bedbug bites on Ms Francis's hand and wrist. She said: 'It was awful and so gross, knowing that you were getting crawled on the whole time. It was like a nightmare' Ms Francis added: 'The bedbugs weren't budging. They get in wardrobes and in my bed. They were everywhere. 'It was awful and so gross, knowing that you were getting crawled on the whole time. It was like a nightmare.' Hammersmith & Fulham Council said officers had visited the property nine times since 2018 over the issue. And a spokesperson confirmed the family had been moved yesterday and new accommodation was being sought. Mr Henderson said of their first night in a hotel: 'Being able to have a bath and a shower and coming out knowing you won't be sitting back in bedbugs was amazing. 'It's the best sleep we've ever had. Both the kids slept like logs. We are so relieved to be out of there.' A council spokesperson said: 'We have acted swiftly [on October 19] and moved the family into a hotel, as we find them a new, permanent home. 'We are now working closely with the family to make sure that they have the daily support they need - including a dedicated social worker, any clothing, bedding or furniture they need, meals, as well as financial help to allow them to buy other food and supplies.' The problem got so severe that there walls were smeared with the remains of squashed critters Bedbugs covered furniture in their council flat in Hammersmith and Fulham London is in the grip of bedbug invasion, with the pests having been spotted across the underground and bus services. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the issue was a 'real source of concern' and TfL officials are already in conversation with the Parisian Metro over what 'lessons could be learnt'. And a Bedfordshire council has received an 'alarming number of calls' and bugs have been sighted on a bus in Manchester as fears grow of an outbreak similar to the one in France. This comes after a family who spent 700 on a Butlin's 'Spooktober' mini-break suffered a nightmare when their two-year-old son was bitten hundreds of times by bedbugs A man convicted of the murder of his pregnant wife has remerged from a rainforest in Argentina after spending 22 years in it avoiding police detection. Ramon Angel Abregu, now 70, looks poised to avoid any further jail time after emerging from hiding. Abregu escaped from prison months after being jailed for 20 years for shooting his wife, Eva Falcon, in the city of Rio Grande in Argentina's southernmost tip in January 2000. He spent the next 22 years evading police detection, hidden in a rainforest in northern Argentina. On the day of the attack, local news sources detail that Abregu attacked Falcon - who was seven months pregnant - with a 9-millimeter caliber gun at her home. Ramon Angel Abregu, now 70, escaped from prison months after being jailed for 20 years for shooting his wife, Eva Falcon, in the city of Rio Grande in Argentina's southernmost tip in January 2000 Abregu remained hidden in the jungle, in the Chaco Salteno, and managed to re-enter the Tierra del Fuego province without being detected by any authorities on Wednesday, according to Argentine newspaper Clarin Pictured: The clinic where Ramon Angel Abregu, 70, killed his pregnant wife Eva Falcon in Rio Grande, Argentina, in January, 2000 Wounded, Falcon reportedly managed to escape and took refuge in the guard room of the Cemep Clinic, where Abregu caught up with her killing her with four more shots. In February the following year, it is understood Abregu escaped from a Margen Sur prison hiding in a truck headed for Chile. All these years Abregu remained hidden in the jungle, in the Chaco Salteno, and managed to re-enter the Tierra del Fuego province without being detected by any authorities on Wednesday, according to Argentine newspaper Clarin. They said he appeared in court to request the prescription of the case, while his lawyer, Alejandro De la Riva, disclosed Abregu passed through two Argentine and two Chilean border crossings 'furtively' and without documents. 'The statute of limitations is 20 years, which is the time in which he managed to remain a fugitive living in hiding. He served his sentence that way,' De la Riva reportedly explained to Fuegian media. But the process may not be that simple and some legal issues surrounding what happened remain to be resolved, sources from the intervening criminal prosecutor's office told Clarin. 'The precepts of international law treaties adopted by the country govern and could be applied to deny this person's freedom,' they said. Despite having one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world, the Chaco Salteno is an important agricultural frontier with over six million hectares of forest. It hosts significant ethnic and cultural diversity, including small scale livestock farmers and indigenous peoples. The House has been without a speaker for 17 days as firebrand Republican Rep. Jim Jordan is desperately trying to win over 22 holdouts for his bid for the top leadership position. Infighting among the GOP has ramped up in recent days, with some members saying they've been blocked on social media by members of their own conference. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., wrote on X that she was blocked by Rep. Greg Murphy, R-Md. She was one of the eight Republicans who ousted former Speaker Kevin McCarthy over two weeks ago - disgruntling many within the party as the chaos shows no signs of slowing. Mace posted on X that the House 'should not go home until we have a Speaker.' Murphy apparently blocked Mace after he replied: 'How about apologizing for causing this mess?' 'This is exactly whats wrong with this place - too many men here with no balls' Mace stated sharing a screenshot. House Republicans almost came to blows in an hours-long all-conference meeting on Thursday, with Jim Jordan's bid for speaker hanging on by a thread. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., got into a near-physical altercation as emotions reached a tipping point during the three-hour meeting. A visibly frustrated Jordan stormed out of the meeting of roughly a dozen of the 22 holdouts and took no questions, telling the press only that the meeting was 'good' Bost was allegedly blaming Gaetz for ousting Speaker Kevin McCarthy over two weeks ago and plunging the House into disarray and cursing him out. Gaetz said Bost later apologized for getting emotional. The House has been paralyzed as Republicans scramble to find a candidate that can get 217 votes - an increasingly hard feat with the divisions with their conference. Gaetz described the meeting 'like a Thanksgiving dinner' with Bost being the drunk uncle. After meeting with the whole Republican conference for nearly four hours, Jordan held a smaller sit-down with those who opposed him. None of the holdouts who attended the meeting signaled they could be swayed to vote for him. 'We want nothing. Thats the problem is we want nothing,' Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., told DailyMail.com when asked if there was anything Jordan could offer to change his mind. A third vote for Jordan's bid is expected Friday at 10 a.m. A visibly frustrated Jordan stormed out of the meeting of roughly a dozen of the 22 holdouts and took no questions, telling the press only that the meeting was 'good.' He was seen holding a piece of paper that says: 'what's the real reason?' Rep. John Rutherford, R-Fla., told reporters when leaving the meeting that it was more a meeting for holdouts to change Jordan's mind than Jordan to change theirs. 'He failed his moment of leadership when he failed Steve Scalise and that was pretty much everyones opinion,' Rutherford said, referring to the House Majority Leader who ran for the job before Jordan - but bowed out when Jordan supporters would not back him. Jordan is seen leaving a meeting with holdouts who refuse to vote for him holding a piece of paper that says: 'what's the real reason?' 'The whole country I think would scream at Matt Gaetz right now,' said McCarthy At one point, Gaetz stepped up to the microphone to speak to his colleagues and McCarthy told him to 'sit down.' 'I told him to sit down and he sat down,' McCarthy told reporters. 'I think the entire conference screamed at him. 'The whole country I think would scream at Matt Gaetz right now.' Gaetz was the one who launched a vote to oust McCarthy two weeks ago, and since then the House GOP has burnt through two speaker candidates, with Jordan's bid for the top job hanging on by a thread. He was also asked if former Speaker Kevin McCarthy yelled at him for leading the effort to oust him, to which Gaetz replied: 'Well, you know he loses his temper sometimes, maybe it's the Irish in him. But I actually think it was a productive discussion.' Meanwhile, a handful of members, including Texas Republicans Nathaniel Moran and Lance Gooden along with Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz., and Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, told the conference Jordan should step down. Jordan said after the meeting he needs to talk to his wife and the 20-some Republicans who oppose him before calling a vote for his third shot at the speaker's gavel. He then hopes to call for a third ballot, but some moderates have warned that Jordan could bleed even more votes. Jordan had wanted to bring a resolution to the floor to temporarily empower interim Speaker Patrick McHenry to bring up legislation. McCarthy, who supports Jordan, also supports the plan. The move would allow McHenry to move legislation like spending bills and support for Israel with a month until the government shuts down again. It would take the urgency away from the speaker's race, allowing Jordan to take more time to court votes. Rep. Matt Gaetz , R-Fla., above, and Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., got into a near-physical altercation as emotions reached a tipping point Bost was allegedly blaming Gaetz for ousting Speaker Kevin McCarthy and plunging the House into disarray and cursing him out It could have also allowed McHenry to take up the hot-button issues like working with Democrats to fund the government for 2024 and bringing up Ukraine aid. But now, members say that plan is 'dead' after it became clear it did not have broad support from Republicans or Democrats. Majority Leader Steve Scalise, the House's number two Republican, and Whip Tom Emmer, number three, are both against the move to empower McHenry. DailyMail.com reported that Scalise is quietly working to undermine Jordan's bid for speaker. Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, the House's number four Republican, is also against the effort. The resolution to empower McHenry would need sign-on from Democrats, who have not embraced it widely. Do you know more: Email tips@dailymail.com Shocking footage has emerged of Australia Post workers hurling packages into a delivery van, sparking outrage from customers. The trio were filmed in a Sydney distribution centre and were allegedly laughing as they took turns tossing packages into the back of the van. Two other colleagues can be seen watching on. One worker in the footage armed with a parcel is seen walking up to the van before pacing himself and steadying his hand before finally chucking it into the vehicle. Footage has captured Australia Post workers casually throwing packages into a delivery van in a Sydney distribution centre READ MORE: Lost package travels more than 30,000kms Advertisement 'The way Aus Post treats people's packages ... just throwing them around, like no one gives a s*** ... look at them,' the man who shared the footage says. 'What a joke.' Australia Post customers voiced their outrage at the footage - with the busy Christmas season just around the corner. 'I think it's terrible, because we buy and protect our presents with so much love, and for someone to just trash them like that,' Sylvia Gill told 7News. Australia Post apologised and vowed to investigate the incident. 'The vast majority of our network takes pride in their job delivering for all Australians, and it's disappointing to see it's not the case here,' it said. 'These actions are not in line with the service standards we expect of our people. 'Australia Post regularly reminds team members about correct handling procedures.' The latest controversy comes after a report from Compare the Market found that 46 per cent of online shoppers experienced issues with its delivery of internet purchases. A quarter of those surveyed reported that the delivery was late while another 14 per cent said that it did not arrive at all. Australia Post apologised for its workers and has promised to investigate the incident Chris Ford from Compare the Market said that a common misconception of contents insurance is that it can insure products are not damaged during their delivery. Mr Ford claims that it really only protects packages after they have already arrived at their destination. During Christmas 2022 Australia Post delivered 52 million parcels in December and general manager Gary Starr said that it is preparing for another busy season. As the national demand for postal deliveries surges again, Australia Post has advised customers to have their parcels posted by Monday December 13 for them to be delivered by Christmas Day. A Florida Republican is under fire from his fellow conservatives after he was recorded bowling and celebrating at the White House just hours after he voted against Rep. Jim Jordan's bid for speaker. Despite the numerous setbacks, Jordan has vowed to stay in the battle to be next speaker with the next vote expected on Friday morning. The Ohio Republican is urging his colleagues to get behind him 'as soon as possible.' After winning an internal nomination, Jordan lost 20 votes on his first ballot for speaker and 22 on his second. On Friday morning, he'll move to a third ballot. Jordan said he hopes the House can get a speaker today, and noted that even as many speculated he would lose well more than 20 votes between the first and second ballot, he only bled two votes. One of those who has since defected from Jordan's camp, Rep. Vern Buchanan, 72, was recorded hours after another of Jordan's losing efforts at Joe Biden's White House bowling and in celebratory mood. Firebrand Ohioan Jim Jordan has vowed to stay in the battle for speaker and head to another floor vote on Friday - urging his colleagues to get behind him 'as soon as possible' Rep. Vern Buchanan recorded as he hits a strike in Biden's bowling alley on Thursday Buchanan, 72, said that he was supporting Jordan as recently as Monday but has since switched his allegiance Buchanan, who represents the Sunshine State's 16th congressional district on central Florida's gulf coast, initially supported Jordan on the first ballot but then switched his vote to fellow Floridian, Rep. Byron Donalds. 'We're going to have to solve this race quickly. I've served with Byron, he's a conservative champion, and I hope my colleagues will consider his name as we look for a way forward. It's about time Florida had a seat at the table,' he said in a statement. 'We picked up a few we lost a few. I think the ones we lost can come back. So look. There's been multiple rounds of votes for speaker before. We all know that. I just know that we need to get the speaker as soon as possible.' On Monday, Buchanan tweeted that that he would support Jordan, calling him a 'good friend' in a tweet. He did however mention that he was 'frustrated by the process.' Jordan began a Friday press conference by talking about American exceptionalism - the Wright brothers taking flight and Air Force pilot Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier happened in the same lifetime: 66 years apart. He then turned to American grievances, pitching himself as the one to change the nation's path. 'People I think, are starting to doubt and wonder about their government and about where our nation is headed. They see an open border. They see crime in the streets. They know what it costs to put gas in their car. They know what it costs to put food on the table. They see a war and Israel our strongest ally Israel, what's happening there and the help that Israel needs. Jordan began by talking about American exceptionalism - the Wright brothers taking flight and Air Force pilot Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier happened in the same lifetime: 66 years apart 'And they see a government that's been weaponized against We the People. The very government is supposed to serve us has been turned on the taxpayers who pay for it.' Jordan, chair of the powerful Judiciary Committee, went on: 'I think the American people are thirsty for change. I think they are hungry for leadership.' Jordan's path to the speakership looks no more optimistic Friday than it did earlier in the week. On Thursday evening Jordan met privately with 14 of his holdouts and none of them said they were swayed to vote for him after the meeting. At least one Jordan supporter - Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., - has left town, he's in Israel. Others may have done so too. Still others who voted for Jordan on previous ballots are expected to flip against him. Israel has revealed it is expecting a 'three-phase' war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the first time the country has set out a long-term plan to deal with its bloodiest conflict in decades. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told Israeli lawmakers that the IDF expects to start its three-phase war with airstrikes and ground manoeuvres. The Israeli military then plans on moving onto defeating pockets of resistance from Hamas fighters. Gallant said that once this has been completed, Israel's 'responsibility for life in the Gaza Strip' will cease, following the warning it issued to Gazans to leave the country 'immediately.' On Friday night the UN and a Palestinian charity said Israel had demanded they evacuate a hospital and five schools being used to shelter people from their air strikes, just days after a blast at the Al-Ahli hospital killed hundreds of people. Currently, Israel controls around 90% of Gaza's land and sea borders, and provides the Strip with much of its infrastructure, including electricity and water. Egypt controls Gaza's southern border, and supports Israel's blockade, seeing Hamas as a threat to its own safety and stability. Israel has cut supplies to Gaza since war broke out between itself and Hamas, and has not yet allowed humanitarian aid to be passed into the region. As a result, food, clean water, medicine, electricity and fuel are in short supply in the small strip of land, leaving the remaining citizens in a dire situation. Supplies of basic essentials, like food and clean water, are in dire supply in Gaza A wounded Palestinian girl (pictured) waits for treatment in a hospital in Deir al-Balah, southern Gaza Strip Israel says it wants to shirk its responsibility for the Gaza Strip once its military campaign is over Israel is preparing to bombard the small strip of land with missiles, before sending in ground troops A column of Israeli tanks now sits on the border with Gaza, ready to invade Tens of thousands of Israeli soldiers and scores of tanks and armoured vehicles are now positioned on the border The massing of artillery and men at the border comes after heavy machine gunfire was heard along the border in the early hours of this morning Israel says it's entering Gaza to rescue the 203 hostages are being held captive by Hamas terrorists Gaza's two main sources of electricity, Israeli power lines and the Gaza power plant, have stopped functioning. Israel cut off Gaza's electricity immediately after the Hamas attack on October 7, while the power plant stopped working after its fuel ran out. Gaza's citizens have been forced to rely on small generators, fuel for which is rapidly diminishing due to the lack of outside supplies. Medics and aid groups have warned that hospitals, treating the thousands of people critically injured by Israeli airstrikes, are on the brink of running out of power. On Monday, the UN warned that hospitals in the region could run out of fuel in as little as 24 hours. The lack of electricity has also hampered search and rescue efforts. Palestine's Civil Defence agency said that its workers are unable to find the huge number of people trapped under the rubble of their homes, destroyed by Israeli airstrikes, without consistent power. The Palestine Red Crescent Society said this evening it had received a threat from the Israeli military to bomb Al-Quds Hospital and has demanded the hospital's immediate evacuation. The Gaza City hospital has more than 400 patients and thousands who of displaced civilians who sought refuge on its grounds, it said. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said that Israel had also told it to evacuate five schools 'as fast as possible'. All of the schools are in Gaza City, close to the hospital. 'We did what we could to protest and reject this decision, but this means that from now these facilities are no longer safe,' said an UNRWA statement, calling on thousands of people to flee the hospital and the surrounding area. Egypt has agreed to reopen its northern border with Gaza to allow desperately needed humanitarian aid to enter the war-torn enclave but there are growing fears Hamas will steal it for themselves or use it as cover to bring in more weapons. More than 200 trucks and some 3,000 tonnes of aid are now positioned at the Rafah crossing, Gaza's only connection to Egypt, to deliver food, water and medicine to the millions of civilians trapped there amid withering Israeli airstrikes. But under the deal agreed by Egypt after intense talks with President Joe Biden yesterday, only 20 trucks with humanitarian aid will be allowed into the enclave from Friday at the earliest amid fears that Hamas will confiscate the supplies. Even before the latest blockade, Israel enforced a strict blockade on the Gaza Strip, imposing severe restrictions on imports and exports as well as controlling who gets to go in and out of the 141 square mile region. Before war broke out, the World Food programme estimated that over 60% of Gaza's residents faced food insecurity, a problem that has only grown since October 7 when Israel cut off supplies. Even before the blockade, Israel enforced a strict blockade on the Gaza Strip, imposing severe restrictions on imports and exports Before war broke out, the World Food programme estimated that over 60% of Gaza's residents faced food insecurity Gaza has been battered by Israeli rockets and missiles since war broke out on October 7 Palestine's food imports grew sharply over the past decade, according to World Bank figures, while the amount of food produced fell. Gaza's fishing industry, which used to make up a significant part of the economy, has been restricted to just 6 miles of the Mediterranean Sea, with Israel's navy blocking it to prevent weapons being smuggled into the region. Palestinians in Gaza are now being forced to severely ration food. One man told the Associated Press that the kilogram of bread he bought from one of the few bakeries still open would need to be shared with 20-30 members of his family. 90% of Gaza's fresh water supply was undrinkable before Israel cut the region off, according to Palestine's water authority. The stark warning from Israel comes as columns of Israeli tanks massed on the Israel-Gaza border and thousands of soldiers readied themselves for battle today as an invasion of the war-torn enclave appears imminent. Tens of thousands of Israeli soldiers and scores of tanks and armoured vehicles are now positioned on the border - ready for a ground assault on the Gaza Strip where 203 hostages are being held captive by Hamas terrorists. The massing of artillery and men at the border comes after heavy machine gunfire was heard along the border in the early hours of this morning. And today, Israel continued to pound Gaza with a relentless stream of airstrikes with the IDF saying their fighter jets hit over 100 'operational targets' of Hamas terrorists overnight. The strikes destroyed tunnel shafts, munitions warehouses and dozens of operational headquarters, the IDF said. Israel also began evacuating a northern Israeli city near the Lebanese border in yet another sign of an impending ground invasion that could trigger turmoil across the Middle East. The two million Palestinians trapped in the small enclave, where thousands have been killed and entire towns obliterated in the Israeli airstrikes, are now bracing themselves for the invasion that is expected to result in further major casualties. It comes after Yoav Gallant, the Israeli defence minister, on Thursday visited troops positioned along the Gaza border, and told them that they would soon see the Palestinian enclave 'from inside'. An infantry commander in the IDF told DailyMail.com on Thursday that they were ready to invade, adding there was 'a very high level of optimism' among his troops. Israel's leaders are determined to rid Gaza of its Hamas rulers, even if that means going house-to-house in an operation that could last 'years' and result in further major casualties among Palestinians. Israel says its invasion of Gaza will take place in three phases, and will end with it shirking its responsibility for the Strip's citizens The IDf's three-phase war will begin with airstrikes and ground manoeuvres against Gaza Israeli armoured vehicles gathered at an undisclosed location near the border with Gaza, in Israel on Friday Israeli tanks gathered at an undisclosed location near the border with Gaza, in Israel, on Friday Israeli armoured vehicles gathered at an undisclosed location near the border with Gaza, in Israel, on Friday Israeli armoured vehicles gathered at an undisclosed location near the border with Gaza, in Israel, on Friday Israeli troops are seen patrolling near the border with Gaza on Thursday, ahead of the invasion Israeli tanks seen on a road near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel on Friday Israeli soldiers listen to Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant as he meets them in a field near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel on Thursday Israeli soldiers prepare for the scenario of ground manoeuvres at an undisclosed location near the border with Gaza, in Israel, on Friday A picture taken from the southern Israeli city of Sderot on Friday shows smoke ascending over the northern Gaza Strip following an Israeli strike People carry a dead body pulled from rubble as civil defense teams and residents continue search and rescue efforts in the historical Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius Church, where civilians took shelter, after Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, Gaza on Friday A view of the site of Israeli strikes on a house in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip on Friday Top war experts have warned that a conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip may become bloody and brutal. David Petraeus, the former director of the CIA and the US' top general in both Iraq and Afghanistan, warned that the IDF's current plan of a bombing campaign followed by a major land invasion of the 140 square mile patch of land 'could be Mogadishu on steroids very quickly.' The warning referenced the two-day battle between US forces and Somalia National Alliance (SNA) and armed citizens in Somalia's capital city in 1993. Three US Black Hawk choppers were downed by resistance forces, leading to bloody urban fighting over several hours that ended up being the deadliest single battle fought by US soldiers since the Vietnam War. Fears of a wider conflagration in the Middle East are growing as well, with Israel announcing plans to evacuate the northern city of Kiryat Shmona after days of clashes with Hezbollah fighters along the border with Lebanon. Days earlier, Israel evacuated 28 communities near the border. Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group, which has a massive arsenal of long-range rockets, has traded fire with Israel along the border on a near-daily basis and hinted it might join the war if Israel seeks to annihilate Hamas. Israel's archfoe Iran supports both armed groups. Elsewhere, Israel continued to pound Gaza with withering airstrikes today including parts of the south that Israel had declared 'safe zones', as the millions of Palestinians trapped in the enclave desperately awaited a first delivery of international emergency aid. In northern Gaza, Hamas terrorists accused Israel of committing war crimes after Israeli airstrikes hit an Orthodox Christian church where families had been sheltering. Gaza's Hamas-run government media office said 18 Christian Palestinians had been killed, adding it was 'a war crime that cannot be ignored'. Israel has said it is attacking Hamas terrorists wherever they may be in Gaza, describing them as 'dead men walking', and accused the group's leaders and fighters of taking shelter among the civilian population. But Israel's withering airstrikes have continued to obliterate entire neighbourhoods across the densely populated territory, leaving death and destruction in its wake. Exhausted Palestinians desperately searched through the rubble of their homes for loved ones across Gaza this morning, their screams piercing the air as they found the lifeless bodies of their children, wives and parents. In the nearly two weeks since Israel began its withering aerial bombardment in response to a devastating attack by Hamas terrorists that saw 1,300 people slaughtered, thousands of homes have been destroyed across the 25-mile enclave and 3,785 Palestinians killed, including 1,524 children. For the more than two million Palestinians trapped there, nowhere - and no one - seems to be safe from the relentless Israeli strikes. And doctors say they are fighting a losing battle against a lack of medicines, water and fuel to keep hospitals running. Grief-stricken parents, their legs buckling beneath them as they see the bodies of their dead children had become a familiar sight since the war started on October 7. Eight children aged between two and five were among 10 people from the same family killed in an air strike on a house in the city of Khan Yunis, in southern Gaza, early on Wednesday, relatives said. 'The children were asleep when they destroyed the house,' their 67-year-old grandfather, Abu Mohammad Wafi al-Bakri, said. Diyala, Ayman, Hamada, Zaher, Uday, Jamal, Nabil and Acil all came from one extended family and all slept on the ground floor. It took an hour after the raid to find their bodies, rescuers said. 'None of my children were linked to Palestinian organisations and no men were in the house at the time,' said Jihad al-Bakri, father of three of the children. He had left his home an hour before the missile hit to try to find water. Rescue workers move debris at the site of Israeli strikes on a house, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Friday Citing a deepening humanitarian crisis, the international community has urged Israel to minimise civilian casualties and allow desperately-needed aid to enter Gaza. But the deal to get aid into Gaza through Rafah, the territory's only crossing not controlled by Israel, remained fragile. Israel said the supplies could only go to civilians and that it would 'thwart' any diversions by Hamas. More than 200 trucks and some 3,000 tons of aid were positioned at or near Rafah. Work began on Friday to repair the road at the crossing that had been damaged in airstrikes, with trucks unloading gravel and bulldozers and other road repair equipment filling in large craters. But inside Israel, the drumbeat of war has only grown louder. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, rallied troops near Gaza on Thursday, suggesting the invasion was imminent. Decked in body armour, he vowed troops would 'fight like lions' and 'win with full force'. And Gallant banged the drum of war in a briefing to Israeli troops massed on the border with Gaza, telling them to 'annihilate' Hamas and that they will soon see the enclave 'from the inside'. He told them: 'Whoever sees Gaza from afar will soon see it from the inside. The command will come, I promise you. 'There is no forgiveness for this thing. Only total annihilation of Hamas organization - terror infrastructures, everything that has to do with terrorists and whoever sent them. 'It will take a week, it will take a month, it will take two months, until we annihilate them. You are not alone in battle. We trust you and count on you. Carry on training while there is time.' A formation of Israeli tanks and other military is positioned near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, on Friday Israeli military convoys are seen on the move near the Gaza Strip in the early hours of Friday Israeli soldiers prepare for the scenario of ground manoeuvres at an undisclosed location near the border with Gaza, in Israel, on Friday Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant speaks during his visit to Israeli soldiers near the Gaza border on Thursday Israeli soldiers prepare for the scenario of ground manoeuvres at an undisclosed location near the border with Gaza, in Israel, on Friday A picture taken from the southern Israeli city of Sderot on Friday shows smoke ascending over the northern Gaza Strip following an Israeli strike Palestinian man grieves over the body of a relative wrapped in a shroud labelled with a name, at the Najjar hospital in the southern Gaza Strip on Friday Palestinian emergency services and local citizens search for victims in buildings destroyed during Israeli air raids in the southern Gaza Strip on Friday Palestinian emergency services and local citizens search for victims in buildings destroyed during Israeli air raids in the southern Gaza Strip on Friday Palestinians search the destroyed annex of the Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius Church, the oldest church still in use in Gaza, damaged in a strike on Gaza City on Friday Israel have refused to discuss plans for what will happen in Gaza after Hamas is toppled. President Joe Biden, who was in Israel on Wednesday, asked about a post-Hamas Gaza, and was reportedly told that all resources were currently focused on the invasion, rather than the day after. But several Israeli politicians have referenced creating an expanded demilitarized zone around the border. When asked about the military's movements, IDF spokesman Lt. Colonel Jonathan Conricus told CNN that the military was ready, but would not announce their invasion in advance. 'The reserves are ready, equipped, mission-oriented, and standing by for the next stage of our operations,' said Conricus. 'But at this time, of course, we will not advertise when, where, and how we will advance or do or enhance our military activities.' Work began on Friday to repair the road at the crossing that had been damaged in airstrikes, with trucks unloading gravel and bulldozers and other road repair equipment filling in large craters. But inside Israel, the drumbeat of war has only grown louder. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, rallied troops near Gaza on Thursday, suggesting the invasion was imminent. Decked in body armour, he vowed troops would 'fight like lions' and 'win with full force'. And Gallant banged the drum of war in a briefing to Israeli troops massed on the border with Gaza, telling them to 'annihilate' Hamas and that they will soon see the enclave 'from the inside'. He told them: 'Whoever sees Gaza from afar will soon see it from the inside. The command will come, I promise you. 'There is no forgiveness for this thing. Only total annihilation of Hamas organization - terror infrastructures, everything that has to do with terrorists and whoever sent them. 'It will take a week, it will take a month, it will take two months, until we annihilate them. You are not alone in battle. We trust you and count on you. Carry on training while there is time.' Israel have refused to discuss plans for what will happen in Gaza after Hamas is toppled. President Joe Biden, who was in Israel on Wednesday, asked about a post-Hamas Gaza, and was reportedly told that all resources were currently focused on the invasion, rather than the day after. But several Israeli politicians have referenced creating an expanded demilitarized zone around the border. When asked about the military's movements, IDF spokesman Lt. Colonel Jonathan Conricus told CNN that the military was ready, but would not announce their invasion in advance. 'The reserves are ready, equipped, mission-oriented, and standing by for the next stage of our operations,' said Conricus. 'But at this time, of course, we will not advertise when, where, and how we will advance or do or enhance our military activities.' A picture taken from the southern Israeli city of Sderot on Friday shows smoke ascending over the northern Gaza Strip following an Israeli strike A view of a damaged car covered in debris at the site of Israeli strikes on a house in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Friday Egyptian members of the military sit in trucks as humanitarian aid from for Palestinians waits for the reopening of the Rafah border crossing on the Egyptian side to enter Gaza on Friday A view of humanitarian aid for Palestinians next to a plane, as officials wait to deliver aid to Gaza through the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip on Friday at Al Arish airport, Egypt Biden addressed the American people from the Oval Office of the White House on Thursday night - only his second Oval Office address since becoming president Nir Barkat, Israel's economy minister, confirmed that the invasion had been approved, and now it was up to the military to decide when to strike. 'The Israeli government made a decision, gave a green light to the army to wipe them out and now it's in the hands of the army,' he said. Troops were not expected to enter while foreign leaders were visiting. Biden left Israel on Wednesday evening: Britain's prime minister, Rishi Sunak, visited on Thursday morning, and then left for Saudi Arabia. Biden addressed the American people from the Oval Office of the White House on Thursday night - only his second Oval Office address since becoming president. He used his speech to explain why the Israeli war, and the Ukraine battle, were so crucial to the United States. Biden also urged implementation of a deal he brokered with Israel and Egypt to allow a limited amount of aid into Gaza from Friday. 'The people of Gaza urgently need food, water and medicine,' Biden said in a televised address from the Oval Office on his return from Tel Aviv. But near Egypt's border with Gaza, food, medicines, water purifiers and blankets have been piling up, with doubts growing that the Rafah crossing will open as planned. 'We hope there will be a crossing tomorrow,' World Health Organization (WHO) boss Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Thursday. 'But for sure, based on the experience we had the last few days, we are also at the same time worried whether this will happen.' Meanwhile in Israel, one veteran IDF commander told DailyMail.com that his troops were ready to 'wipe Hamas out'. Eliezer, a major in the IDF who goes by Ezzy, and did not want to give his last name, is stationed in the south of Israel with the Golani Brigade - a group of reservists, often one of the first to be called up for active duty. Eliezer, a major in the IDF who goes by Ezzy, spoke to DailyMail.com from southern Israel Ezzy said that his troops were clear about their mission and ready for the order to go in to Gaza Israeli tanks are seen moving along the Gaza border on Thursday Ezzy signed up in 2004 and has served in the last four major wars in Israel, as an engineer, rabbi and commander. The veteran IDF commander serves as a rabbi as well as an engineer in his unit His unit is designated to lead the forces of the Brigade - neutralizing mine fields, creating new pathways, capturing bridgeheads, and detonating explosives, he told DailyMail.com. 'Without a question, this is different than any year,' he said. 'But morale is very high, very optimistic.' Ezzy said the terror attacks of October 7 have galvanized his troops. 'Obviously the first days we experienced the initial shock. Tons of mourning - but there wasn't a lot of time to mourn,' he said. 'We didn't know when we would go in, we thought we would go in to Gaza a lot earlier.' Ezzy said there was a strong sense of purpose among the soldiers. 'We are very close. 'There's a lot of brotherhood, and with time the spirit is going up - there's a very high level of optimism. 'I can't remember Israel so united. More than ever I feel the support - we get messages.' He said they appreciated international support for their war on Hamas. 'I feel the world is united - it's not just Jewish people, It's anyone who understands there's good and evil,' he said. 'They understand Israel is fighting for the good of this world - not just for Israel, but for light in this world.' And he said his troops were ready to go in to Gaza. 'The soldiers are trained - they want to go in,' he said, adding that they were spending their days 'sharpening our skills on the planning and physical level.' 'They're ready, but we take day by day,' he added. We see every day that we don't go in as a blessing because we can use it to train and to become better prepared.' 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 A Palestinian man uses a fire extinguisher to douse a fire following an Israeli strike on October 8 in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip Avi Dichter, former commander of the Shin Bet domestic security agency, who now serves as the agriculture minister, is seen in Sderot on Thursday Ezzy said their mission was 'clear', describing the aims of the invasion as straightforward. 'Hamas has to be wiped out,' he said. 'There's no argument - it's clear. We always knew what their (Hamas) intent was and now we know what their capabilities are. 'We know we have to completely eradicate the enemy and that's what we have to do. It's unknown when exactly we will go in. We are taking it day by day.' Israel's agriculture minister, Avi Dichter - who was previously head of Israel's Shin Bet domestic security agency said on Thursday during a visit to the border town of Sderot that a buffer zone would be created within Gaza. At present, Israel's border security begins several hundred yards inside Israel's territory. Dichter said that needed to change, with a 'no man's land' between the Gazan territory and Israel, The Financial Times reported. 'It's not that you started it from inside the Gaza Strip, as a buffer zone,' he told a media briefing. 'You started it on the Israeli side 50 to 100 metres inside. We understand it was a mistake, it has to be fixed.' The 20-foot-tall border fence currently has a 100-yard buffer zone, backed by radar, motion sensors, a deep concrete foundation to deter tunneling, and observation towers. Construction on the 'smart fence' began after 2016 and was completed in 2021. On Thursday, the Israeli army said it had destroyed a missile launch site and tunnels, claiming 'more than 10 terrorists were eliminated'. Since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas on October 7, much attention has been focused on Hezbollah Last week, Iraqi armed forces aligned with Iran threatened to target US interests with missiles and drones if Washington intervened to support Israel against Hamas in Gaza But on October 7, Hamas launched its attacks from Gaza, bursting through the border fence and rampaging through Israel for hours. Dichter said they would no longer allow Gazans to approach the fence - effectively squeezing Gaza's territory. 'On the Gaza Strip all along, we will have a margin,' he said. 'And they will not be able to get in. It will be a fire zone. And no matter who you are, you will never be able to come close to the Israeli border.' Israel previously maintained a buffer zone inside Gaza after it withdrew from the strip in 2005. But over the years the buffer was eroded. Dichter said the width of any future buffer zone would have to be decided 'according to the area, the needs of the military, according to the distance of the Israeli military or the Israeli settlements'. He added: 'We have Kibbutz Nahal Oz that is 800 metres from the border. So you need to take more precautions in such an area. 'The whole contour of the Gaza Strip, it doesn't allow us to take risks. We have seen what happened when we took risks. It was a mistake we are not going to repeat.' Another Israeli official added: 'Obviously Gaza tomorrow will not look anything like it did before October 7. 'Hamas will be dismantled, as will Islamic Jihad, and they won't be able to attack Israel again. 'How it looks territorially .- we don't have the details, but that is our objective: There won't be any terrorists on our border like there was before.' It comes as the Israeli army announced plans to evacuate the northern city of Kiryat Shmona on Friday, after days of clashes with Hezbollah terrorists along the border with Lebanon. 'A short while ago, the Northern Command informed the mayor of the city of the decision. The plan will be managed by the local authority, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Defence,' the military said in a statement. Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah and allied Palestinian factions have traded cross-border fire with Israel for days after Hamas gunmen launched their savage attack on October 7. Israel's military said its forces continued to target Hezbollah targets as tensions grew along the border. 'The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) carried out a number of attacks against Hezbollah infrastructure, including observation posts,' the army said early Friday. 'In addition, IDF fighter jets struck three terrorists who attempted to launch anti-tank missiles toward Israel.' Israeli authorities have been steadily evacuating communities across the northern frontier, as reservists and columns of tanks and armoured vehicles poured into the area. The Missouri high school teacher who made international headlines where her side hustles as a pornographic performer on OnlyFans was revealed says she has no regrets about leaving teaching, adding that she's pocketed a cool $1 million from the platform. Brianna Coppage, 28, was making a paltry $42,000 per year as an English teacher at St. Clair High School on the outskirts of St. Louis and was using OnlyFans as a means to pay off her student loans. Missouri has among the nation's lowest starting salaries for teachers in the nation, according to the National Education Association. Coppage, who goes by the moniker Brooklin Love online, was in her second-year of teaching. 'I started it, one, to just supplement my income and kind of see what happens and possibly make extra money. Like, I have student loans. I was working on my third degree. So, I also have a master's degree in education, and then I was working on my specialist degree,' she told Fox News this week. The educator-turned-pornographer told the network that someone contacted her school district in September about the OnlyFans page which resulted in her being placed on leave. The Missouri high school teacher who made international headlines after switching from education to porn says she's made $1 million from OnlyFans Brianna Coppage, 28, said she began her OnlyFans page as a means to supplement her $42,000 per year income Coppage - whose bio in the past week has been amended with a message to prospective followers that says, 'Yes Im THAT teacher' - still has her doubts about who tipped off school officials. She said she has gained thousands of followers due to reports surrounding her story She said her income has substantially increased since she was exposed - thanks to several thousand new subscribers After being interrogated about the nature of it, and whether or not it ever coincided with her teaching career, she told them that it was 'completely separate.' Coppage was not asked to resign following the meeting and district officials took 'all possible steps to ensure confidentiality' after Coppage's page was discovered through social media posts, Superintendent Kyle Kruse told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Last month when she was placed on leave, Kruse said in a statement that 'an employee may have posted inappropriate media on one or more internet sites.' Coppage said she earned up to $10,000 a month on the OnlyFans website before the story of her suspension made international news. In the days that followed, her account gained more than 100 new subscribers and she more than doubled her subscription price. She said at the time of her suspension that she would continue posting on the site. 'I do not regret joining OnlyFans. I know it can be taboo, or some people may believe that it is shameful, but I don't think sex work has to be shameful,' Coppage told the newspaper in September. 'I do just wish things just happened in a different way.' St. Clair is about 55 miles southwest of St. Louis, The high school has about 750 students. Missouri has among the nation's lowest starting salaries for teachers in the nation, according to the National Education Association After quitting her teaching job, Coppage told The Messenger: 'I dont want the school to continue getting hate.' 'I would like the education of students to be able to return to normal,' she added. 'They deserve to have a great year.' Coppage's bio has been amended with a message to prospective followers that says, 'Yes Im THAT teacher' - still has her doubts about who initially tipped off school officials. In the same interview, Coppage suggested that he may have been a student who ratted her out to authorities. The worst part of air travel is often the journey to the airport. But traffic jams and sprints to the gate may be a thing of the past from 2025, when travelers could hop aboard an electric air taxi to cruise to their flight. As part of a multi-million dollar partnership, Delta Air Lines has unveiled plans to build 'vertiports' at their terminals in New York and Los Angeles where air taxis will land. The ports will enable passengers to be whisked through the skies from their homes in small electric flying taxis to arrive at their gates in a fraction of the time. The flights could be available as soon as 2025, with passengers able to book when they buy a Delta ticket It's part of a $60million partnership between Delta Air Lines and Joby Aviation, a leading electric aircraft manufacturer. Under the scheme, when Delta passengers book their flight, they will be given the option to book seats on Joby craft to travel to the airport. It's not yet clear where the flights will take off from or if it will be a door-to-door service. But the craft will land at the specially designed 'vertiports' at Delta terminals where the aircraft will recharge before leaving to collect more passengers. The pilot scheme is planned for New York's LaGuardia, John F. Kennedy airport and Los Angeles International Airport where there is the highest demand and highest road congestion. The service will be rolled out slowly from 2025, starting with 'premium' customers. Then, as the fleet grows, they will try to lower costs until it's comparable to hiring a Uber black car to the airport from downtown Manhattan - roughly $200. The Joby craft have undertaken over 1,000 test flights and are quieter and more efficient than standard helicopters Delta Air Lines are planning to build 'vertiports' at their terminals in New York and Los Angeles The type of craft is only a year or two from completion and has undertaken more than 1,000 test flights. Joby founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt told Axios: 'The quality of the sound is significantly different. 'NASA came and did acoustic recordings of our aircraft. They put out a huge field of microphones and flew our aircraft over and recorded the acoustic profile. 'What they showed was the noise footprint when our aircraft flies over is 100 times smaller than a traditional helicopter.' Delta CEO Ed Bastian said: 'Some people spend more time on the journey from their home to their seat than they do on the flight itself. We want to give people their time back.' 'Delta always looks forward and embraces opportunities to lead the future, and weve found in Joby a partner that shares our pioneering spirit and commitment to delivering innovative, seamless experiences that are better for our customers, their journeys, and our world. 'This is a groundbreaking opportunity for Delta to deliver a time-saving, uniquely premium home-to-airport solution for customers in key markets weve been investing and innovating in for many years.' A drug dealer is now behind bars after flaunting the cash he earned from selling a weeks worth of cocaine and heroin online. Mustafa Mahmood showed-off his earnings by filming himself lying down with wads of 20 notes resting on his bare chest that he made from selling drugs to fund his luxurious lifestyle. However, the 28-year-old is now faced with the consequences of his actions and will serve a long sentence behind bars. After officers executed a warrant at his address on 25 April 2023, they found a wooden chair which was being used as a 'chopping board' for Mahmood to cut up lines of crack cocaine and heroin. When officers arrived several wraps of cocaine were ready to be distributed to Mahmood's two Yorkshire drug lines in both Barnsley and Sheffield. Sheffield drug dealer, Mustafa Mahmood boasted about his earnings by filming himself lying down with wads of 20 notes Mahmood, 28 pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and cocaine with intent to supply and concerns in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine and will serve a six-and-a-half-year custodial sentence When the police searched his room further, they recovered 3,000 in cash hidden in a pocket of a jacket and a vast amount of expensive items including designer clothes and footwear. A black bag was also found, which contained 180 grams of heroin and 88 grams of cocaine, with a street value of up to 25,000. Officers discovered several mobile phones, including Mahmood's personal iPhone, on which they found videos Mahmood had recorded of himself boasting about his earning of 1,000 in just one day of supplying. Mahmood also videoed himself dealing drugs to customers over the wall to the rear of his property. Mustafa Mahmood, 28, of Firth Park Road, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and cocaine with intent to supply and concerns in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine. The dealer was sentenced to six years and six months in prison after appearing before Sheffield Crown Court last Thursday (12 October). PC Gareth Webb, who is based in the Operation Fortify department and the officer in charge of this case, said: 'Mahmood had been dealing Class A drugs for several months under his street name of 'Boosta'. 'His run of good luck ended with a warrant executed by Fortify officers in April of this year and the amount of heroin and cocaine recovered identified him as a well-connected dealer making large sums of money through his criminality. 'Mahmood was found to be operating two drug lines at the same time, one in Sheffield and one in Barnsley. 'The volume of drugs dealt through the lines was estimated at almost two kilos over a six-month period. 'Mahmood even had the audacity to film himself dealing drugs and boasting about how much money he was making every day. 'I welcome the six-and-a-half-year custodial sentence and hope this shows that we will work tirelessly to put these criminals behind bars.' The cause of the crash is currently being investigated The cause of the crash is currently being investigated He was missing for 60 hours before friends found him on October 17 A Tennessee motorcyclist who disappeared while on his way to pick up breakfast from McDonalds was found alive after nearly three days inside a ditch. Taylor Boyle, 27, was found at 11pm on October 17 down a 15 feet embankment less than a mile away from his house. He was hidden under trees and bushes, dehydrated but functional. Police and ambulances soon arrived to take Boyle to a hospital to get him checked out. He was found with a dislocated elbow, concussion and a slight brain bleed. Boyle was on his way to meet friends when he stopped at a McDonald's to pick up breakfast. While on his way to his mate's nearby home, he swerved and fell into a ditch. After days of searching, his friends found Boyle and his crashed blue Harley Davidson in a ditch He was found at 11pm on October 17 down a 15 feet embankment less than a mile away from his house Taylor Boyle, 27, swerved and fell into a ditch after he picked up breakfast from McDonald's His friends and family had last heard from him on October 15 and soon filed a missing persons report with the Knox County Sheriffs Office. The police posted an official call on their website and wrote: 'The Knox County Sheriffs Office is searching for a man whose family has filed a missing person report. 'Taylor Boyle (510, 150, Blue eyes) was last spoken to on Sunday, October 15, 2023, by family members at approximately 10am and was possibly in the Halls area. 'Boyle was last seen wearing blue jeans and a black/white flannel.' After days of searching, his friends found Boyle and his crashed blue Harley Davidson in a ditch. He still had his friend's breakfast with him. Brandon Lawson told 10 News: 'He was laying right here, his shirt and his belt sitting here, I guess. This is where he was at for two days 60 hours. 'When I looked down in there, I didn't see him at first and as I was panning out, I saw something sparkle basically just saw the light reflect. And when I did, I looked back and I just saw the Harley wheel. After he was found, his sister-in-law posted a thank you message for all of his friends and the private search and rescue team involved in finding him. His friends and family had last heard from him on October 15 and soon filed a missing persons report with the Knox County Sherrifs Office Police and ambulances soon arrived to take Boyle to a hospital to get him checked out. He was found with a dislocated elbow, concussion and a slight brain bleed 'To the entire friend group who showed up with no hesitation, searched in creeks, ditches, bushes, knocked door to door, and took off work to help us search by car and by foot morning to night until he was found. 'To the private search and rescue team who voluntarily sent out a team and the Knox county police department who sent a helicopter, and a thermal drone. 'Ultimately, Taylor was located by the grace of God and true friends. 'True friends are hard to come by and without this friend group Taylor would not be here. You know who you are. He had guardian angels with him as he only thought he had been there for an hour camping with his dad.' Boyle is recovering in the hospital and the cause of the crash is under investigation. Furious Palestinian supporters have been tearing down posters of Israeli children kidnapped by Hamas - with one telling people filming her to f*** off and another saying 'go cry'. Shocking footage has been posted online showing a female Palestinian supporter in London ripping down posters of kidnapped Israeli citizens and claiming there was 'inaccurate information' on them about women being raped. Appalled witnesses filmed the young woman, who has not yet been identified, clutching the torn down posters depicting the innocents taken hostage by Hamas terrorists in Israel on October 7. In another incident, a different woman was tearing down posters to support Israel , accusing her confronter of not caring about Arab victims, and telling her to 'go cry'. The videos have emerged as Pro-Palestinian demonstrators have clashed with Jewish activists showing the faces of Israeli children kidnaped by Hamas on billboard vans. The Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) said drivers of the vehicles were stopped by chanting anti-Israel protesters as they made their way through London on Thursday evening. A young woman, who has not yet been identified, clutching the torn down posters depicting the innocents taken hostage by Hamas terrorists in Israel on October 7 The woman said the posters had 'inaccurate' information on them She told the men filming her to 'f*** off' and asked them 'what's happening in Palestine?' In the angry exchange on October 7, the woman told the two men filming her to 'f*** off' when they demanded to know why she had ripped down the posters, before launching into a tirade, shouting 'what's happening in Palestine?' As the men begged her to stop destroying the posters of 'innocent civilians', she replied 'oh, and Palestinians aren't? 'So how do you feel about the Palestinians and what's happening there,' she shouted. When they replied that the innocent Israeli civilians had been kidnapped, she hit back 'So why do you not give a f***k about them [the Palestinian civilians]?' Pointing to the pile of crumpled posters in her hands, she said 'these are how many people compared to thousands?' 'Then make your own posters, but don't rip down the posters of the innocent civilians that we have been advocating for,' one of the men retorted. A different woman was tearing down posters to support Israel An aghast pro-Israel activist was seen saying 'we just want them [the children] back' as the woman ripped the flyers off the wall This woman accused her confronter of not caring about Arab victims, and told her to 'go cry' In an extraordinary claim, she hit back saying 'there was inaccurate information' on the posters about 'women being raped'. 'Where's the evidence of that,' she said. Aghast, one of the men replied 'Are you serious? You want evidence of women being raped?' Doubling down on her stance, she went on: 'Do you have any evidence of that'? One of the men shouted back 'Yes, we do! They had go-pros on!' Another man is heard shouting 'What kind of a f***ing idiot are you?' as the woman keeps repeating 'show me!' before she dumps the posters in a public bin. It is unclear when the video, which was posted on X earlier today, was filmed, but it appears to have been filmed in London at night. The Metropolitan Police told the Mail: 'We are aware of this video and an investigation is under way. Officers are carrying out enquiries to identify the woman removing the posters. If you can name her, please call 101 quoting CAD 7114/19Oct.' Posters with images of kidnapped and missing Israelis on Regents Street It is the latest incident in the capital of pro-Palestinian supporters tearing down posters of kidnapped Israeli citizens. Last week, one Palestinian backer was filmed boasting about his appalling behaviour, saying afterwards 'I don't feel bad I feel so good.' The video of the incident on Oxford Street showed a smirking young man telling a British-Israeli citizen confronting him there is 'no evidence' Hamas has committed atrocities. Moments earlier, he was filmed alongside a young woman as she ripped down a poster of four-year-old Ariel, whose kidnapping alongside his months-old baby brother Kfir and their mother Shiri Silberman-Bibas horrified the world. It followed a similar incident that emerged a day earlier, in which two women were challenged as they ripped down posters around Mornington Crescent, in north-west London. It comes amid a wave of confrontations in the capital, that has seen some Palestinian supporters gloat over the scores of Israelis killed by Hamas and Jewish businesses that have been targeted by vandals. Activists have been putting up posters showing Israeli's kidnapped by Hamas in a bid to raise awareness There has been a 1,353 per cent increase in antisemitic offences and a 140 per cent rise in Islamophobic offences between 1 and 18 October, the Metropolitan police said. This equates to 218 anti-Jewish offences compared to 15 in the same period last year. Offences against Muslims rose from 42 to 101. An incident in the US saw a woman giving the finger at a poster of kidnapped Israeli children while her hijab-wearing friend laughed and filmed it outside a Manhattan college. Footage of Wednesday's incident - involving two women who may be students at Baruch College in New York - was shared on X, formerly Twitter, last night. One of the young women filmed the poster as her friend stuck up her middle finger in front of the camera before they both burst out laughing and walked away. The family of an Indigenous boy who died after self-harming while being held in one of Perth's most notorious youth detention facilities have demanded immediate answers. The family says Cleveland Dodd, 16, had 'never, ever self-harmed' before the morning of October 12, when he was being held at Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Centre Unit 18. 'Our beloved young one had never self-harmed in all his years, so what happened to him in his days unlawfully detained long hours in that horrible place known as Unit 18?,' the statement said. 'We want to know the truth about his every day in Unit 18. He should have been with his families which he loved dearly.' Cleveland Dodd, 16, died in hospital after suffering self-inflicted injuries while being housed at Casuarina Prison's Unit 18 on October 12 The teen died while in custody at Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Centre (pictured), 20kms away from Perth's adult maximum security Casuarina Prison While the unit is run by Banksia Hill, it's actually housed about 20km away in Perth's adult maximum security Casuarina Prison. READ MORE: Australia's 'wokest' prison Doug, who is serving six months in Canberra's Alexander Maconochie Centre on charges of domestic violence, said when getting a new cellmate 'it doesn't take long before a routine establishes'. Advertisement It's used to house the 'most challenging, complex and often dangerous juveniles,' according to Corrective Services Minister Paul Papalia. He has not ruled out wielding the axe at the very top of the Department of Justice as the WA government of Roger Cook came under intense pressure on Friday. 'I'm considering every element of this situation, and I'll be determining our further action in coming days,' Mr Papalia said. He said he had offered to meet Cleveland's family and said he was 'doing everything possible to improve' Unit 18. Premier Roger Cook, who was at an event with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday, said he was 'deeply saddened' by Cleveland's death and offered his 'wholehearted condolences to the family'. Cleveland's family say he had been 'unlawfully locked down, day after day, inside Unit 18,' which 'drove him to take his own life in desperation.' Extensive graffiti written over cell walls at Banksia Hill Detention Centre, from an Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services' report West Australia Premier Roger Cook said that his government is trying to close Unit 18, but can't at the moment due to structural damage caused by a riot in May 'We as a First Nations People have been suffering from one generation to another, and we cannot stand by and watch this carnage on our children,' their statement, released on Friday, said. 'The coronial inquest into his death will take far too long to bring meaningful change, policy and law reform. 'We, his family and community, will not wait patiently in the wings while legal processes run their course.' They're urging the state government to act now to prevent another loss of life at Banksia Hill. 'Future commitments, platitudes and unfulfilled promises only inflict more pain,' Cleveland's family said. On Friday, it was also revealed the state's Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) will be investigating a serious misconduct allegation levelled at a public officer in relation to Cleveland's death. The family's lawyers, Levitt Robinson Solicitors, said they're pleased to be acting on behalf of the family in the coronial inquest. 'So that evidence of the foreseeability of the harm which West Australian courts have already recognised will be caused to young people detained in Unit 18, located in Casuarina Prison, will be fully exposed,' the firm said in a statement. Riot police subdue detainees during a riot at Banksia Hill Premier Cook said he was 'deeply saddened' by Cleveland's death, but declined to apologise to the boy's family. 'These are difficult issues dealing with complex troubled young people and one of the key tragedies here is the social and economic circumstances that led to their incarceration in the first place,' Mr Cook said. 'The situation in Unit 18 is not where we want it to be ... but it is a circumstance which has been handed to us.' He added that his government is trying to close Unit 18, but can't at the moment due to structural damage at Banksia Hill caused by a riot in May. A report from WA's Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services in June found Banksia Hill to be in 'acute crisis.' CNN reporter Sara Sidner was accosted live on-air on this morning as she reported from the West Bank, with an angry crowd of Palestinians telling her: 'F**k CNN - you are not welcome here' in the latest indicator of the region's bubbling hatred of America. Sidner is among the network's reporters who have been in the region since Hamas waged war on October 7. On Friday, she was reporting from a street in the West Bank - one of two Palestinian territories - when she was approached by a furious man. 'You are a genocide supporter. You are not welcome here!' he screamed at Sidner, inching closer to her face while others surrounded them. 'F*** CNN! F*** CNN!' they screamed while Sidner and her crew moved away calmly. CNN reporter Sara Sidner was accosted by a group of Palestinians while reporting from the West Bank on Friday 'You are genocide reporters, you are not welcome here,' the man told Sidner and her crew A crowd gathered while the man inched closer to Sidner's face, pointing at her and saying 'f**k CNN!' The confrontation is further proof of the growing aggression towards the US in the Middle East and around the world. On Friday, anti-American protests were seen in Malaysia, Indonesia and Bangladesh, while Palestinian supporters turned out in their thousands elsewhere. Earlier this week, the US military in Iraq, Syria and Yemen fended off drone strikes and missiles. The USS Carney shot down two land missiles and three drones fired by Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen. It's unclear whether the target was Israel or the ship. There were no injuries onboard the ship and none were reported on land among civilians. Sidner and the crew moved away quickly and referred to the incident as proof of growing aggression towards the US in the Middle East Sidner is among a number of CNN reporters in the Middle East On Tuesday, troops at the al-Asad airbase in Iraq intercepted three drones. To the north, troops the Al-Harir Air Base intercepted another two. There were also attacks against troops in Syria, near the al-Tanf airbase near Syria's border with Iraq and Jordan. Another was reported at the Conoco airfield. Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an Iran-backed group, has claimed credit for the attempted strike against the Conoco base, but US officials are yet to confirm that specific strike. On Wednesday, a contractor at the al-Asad airbase in Iraq died of a heart attack while sheltering amid reports of an incoming attack. President Biden last night laid out a generous, $100billion aid package for Israel and Ukraine. 'We cannot and will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win,' Biden said in his address from the Oval Office. The incident was the fourth in three days of increased aggression against US troops in the region President Joe Biden meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. Biden was in New York to address the 78th United Nations General Assembly. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) MALAYSIA: Malaysians burn Israeli President Isaac Herzog's pictures and the country's flags as they protest outside the U.S. embassy, in support of Palestinians in Gaza, in Kuala Lumpur on Friday INDONESIA: Protesters shout slogans as they wave Palestinian flags during a rally supporting the Palestinian people outside the building housing the U.N. representative office in Jakarta on Friday A 20-year-old man died on a boys' trip to Melbourne in an alleged wrestling game gone wrong - with his friend now charged over his death. Alex Robinson, from Adelaide, headed to Melbourne with three mates in May and died in an apartment on La Trobe Street. Police allege Robinson and a friend were wrestling in on May 13 when he lost consciousness. He was unable to be revived by paramedics. Five months on, police arrested Quinn McPherson, 20, at a worksite at Magill in Adelaide's east on Wednesday and charged him with manslaughter. Still reeling from the tragedy, Mr Robinson's family released a statement this week to say they're 'heartbroken to have lost Alex'. Alex Robinson, 20, died during an interstate boys' trip to Melbourne in May Quinn McPherson (pictured) was charged with manslaughter and later released on bail 'It is just a really bad situation for all,' sister Mia Robinson said. 'Sad for our family but also sad for his friends. It is just sad for everyone involved. 'We are missing Al lots and would like the privacy these sort of situations deserve.' A tribute published in The Advertiser at the time of Mr Robinson's death described him as a dearly loved and cherished man who 'passed away suddenly'. 'Dearly loved and cherished son, much loved brother and stepbrother,' the tribute stated. 'Loved by all of his extended family and friends. Forever loved. Forever remembered.' The devastated family is still trying to come to terms with Alex's death, describing it as a sad situation Police said two other men also at the apartment at the time of Mr Robinson's death were not involved. Still dressed in his tradie gear, McPherson appeared at Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday. He was released on bail. Detectives from Victoria travelled to Adelaide for the hearing but did not apply for McPherson to be extradited. Outside court, McPherson made no comment when confronted by a media scrum. He will return to Melbourne on Monday to appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court. President Joe Biden officially asked Congress Friday for $105.85 billion in fresh funding to aid the war efforts in Israel and Ukraine, provide humanitarian aid, bolster border security and give Indo-Pacific nations financing options beyond China. The biggest chunk of change will go to Ukraine - $61.4 billion - while Israel will receive $14.3 billion if the president's plan get approved. That's a little more than the $13.6 billion allocated for border security - something Republicans have demanded. In total, $10 billion will go toward humanitarian aid - with most going to help those in Gaza, Israel and Ukraine, and with a small sliver going to refugees in the United States. In a letter to Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick Henry, Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young said she hoped the White House and Congress could reach a 'comprehensive, bipartisan agreement' to 'invest in critical national security priorities.' President Joe Biden officially asked Congress Friday for $105.85 billion in fresh funding to aid the war efforts in Israel and Ukraine , provide humanitarian aid, bolster border security and give Indo-Pacific nations financing options beyond China The White House is already facing Republican resistance on giving more money to Ukraine, with a group of GOP senators saying Thursday they wanted to see Israeli and Ukraine aid decoupled. During Biden's Oval Office address Thursday night, he linked the two conflicts together, arguing 'we cannot and will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win.' Biden said that while Russian President Vladimir Putin and the terror group Hamas, responsible for the bloody October 7 attack on Israel, 'represent different threats' they share a common goal. 'They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy,' he said. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan reiterated that point Friday with reporters. 'As President Biden said these conflicts can seem far away. But the outcome of these fights for democracy against terrorism and tyranny are vital to the safety and security of the American people,' he said. While Republicans have been wary about sending more Ukraine aid, they have hammered the administration for ignoring the border crisis. During a call with reporters Friday, Young shot back at that rhetoric. 'Let me be clear, some in Congress have said a lot about doing something on border security, while refusing to take up the $4 billion request we sent in August to Congress,' she said. 'We will not be lectured by those who refuse to act.' 'As we said repeatedly, Congress needs to take action to provide sufficient resources for the border,' she added. In the breakdown of border funding, $6.4 billion will go toward border operations, $3.1 billion will go toward additional personnel - split between border patrol agents and immigration judge teams - and $1.2 billion is being asked for to counter the fentanyl trade. Biden's funding request comes at a moment when half of Congress is in chaos. The House has been speakerless since October 3, after Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz filed a motion to oust House Speaker Kevin McCarthy from the top job. Eight Republicans and the entire Democratic caucus voted to remove McCarthy, with the MAGA-aligned Rep. Jim Jordan and McCarthy's second-in-command, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, seen as the most viable candidates to take the gavel. But efforts to get Scalise and then Jordan elected to the speakership have failed. Scalise, after winning the first internal GOP caucus race, lost a House floor vote and opted to bow out. Despite losing House floor votes on Tuesday and Wednesday, Jordan told reporters Thursday afternoon he planned to march on. A move to further empower acting Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry has currently fizzled and another vote for Jordan is expected before lunchtime Friday. 'This is a matter for the House to work out,' Young said when asked how much the House being in disarray would cause any problems. 'It is the president's job, our job to make clear to Congress what the needs are and what happens if this critical funding is not delivered. So we're doing our job here by letting Congress know what the critical needs are and we expect them to act and act swiftly,' she said. On the Senate side of Capitol Hill, Republican Sen. Roger Marshall is leading the charge to delink Ukraine and Israel funding. 'My colleagues and I firmly believe that any aid to Israel should not be used as leverage to send tens of billions more dollars to Ukraine. These are two separate conflicts at different stages and cannot be considered as a "package deal,"' wrote Marshall in a letter Thursday. Marshall was joined by seven additional GOP senators in signing the letter. A school bus driver has been charged with kidnapping after he told kids to 'sit down' and 'you're not going with your mom' as students begged him to let them off. Thomas Young, 68, was charged with child abuse and kidnapping after he refused to let children get off the bus he was driving last Friday. Young worked as a driver in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for Broken Arrow Public Schools. He was driving the kids home from school when an incident took place. Video footage obtained by Fox 23 showed the moment the bus driver refused to let the schoolchildren off. A student is heard asking 'can I get off sir?', with Young responding: 'No. I don't care if your mom's there. Makes no difference to me. You're not going with your mom.' Thomas Young, 68, was charged with child abuse and kidnapping after he refused to let children get off the bus he was driving last Friday Young worked as a driver in Tulsa, Oklahoma , for Broken Arrow Public Schools. He was driving the kids home from school when an incident took place The school district said that Young was driving a new route - which could have been the cause of his stress and short temper. Students were reportedly running behind to pick up and they complained about being on the bus for '40 minutes'. He told the students: 'I dont care. Sit down. Im not budging.' As the frustrated children began to complain and cause chaos on the bus, Young said: 'I run my bus a certain way. I dont care what the other bus drivers do. You obey me.' The drama continued as the students began to scream, wail and bang on the doors. At this point Young said: 'I dont care if they get violent and break the windows.' Bystanders reported noticing the students hopping out of the exits and Young finally pulled into the park lot to allow the kids to get off. Young was charged with child abuse and kidnapping and terminated from his bus driving job, according to reports. Video footage showed the moment the bus driver refused to let the schoolchildren off. A student is heard asking 'can I get off sir?', with Young responding: 'No. I don't care if your mom's there. Makes no difference to me. You're not going with your mom' The school district said that Young was driving a new route - which could have been the cause of his stress and short temper. Students were reportedly running behind to pick up and they complained about being on the bus for '40 minutes'. He told the students: 'I dont care. Sit down. Im not budging' The kidnapping charge came from the district's policies related to parental access to students in situations like the one on Young's bus journey. Before receiving charges, Young was held on a $60,000 bond in the Tulsa County Jail. A spokesperson for the school district told Fox 23 that Young had worked for the district for a year. Broken Arrows Police Department Captain Josh McCoy said: 'Holding the kids against their will, and the fact that those children were jumping from the school bus while he continued to drive eastbound, even at a slow speed, endangered them and put them in a dangerous situation.' The descendants of one of the original founding members of the SAS are devastated and distraught after heartless thieves stole priceless medals during a burglary - which was caught on CCTV while they were relaxing on holiday. Charlie Marshall carried out daring raids with the Long Range Desert Group before becoming a founder of The Regiment. The endeavors of the elite soldiers, commanded by Sir David Stirling, even feature in the popular BBC series SAS Rogue Heroes. Charlie's great nephew Chris Fowler MBE fears the crooks who ransacked his Yorkshire home will flog the medals for a tenner. Now he is offering a substantial reward for information leading to the recovery of the stolen property and conviction of the thieves. Pictured, SAS hero Charlie Marshall who died from wounds in combat. His medals have been stolen by heartless thieves They were forced to watch helplessly when the burglars were caught breaking in while the family was on holiday abroad. They alerted police in England but cops arrived just minutes too late at the address in Wickersley, near Rotherham, South Yorkshire. Mr Fowler said: 'We've lost irreplaceable family heirlooms. We're all absolutely devastated. My mother is distraught. 'Charlie J Marshall was a founding member of the Long Range Desert Group and served for several years after in the subsequent SAS until he was wounded and later died from his injuries. 'My mother is distraught and I want these medals returned. 'Whoever stole them wouldn't have known who they belonged to or what they stand for.' Also stolen were World War One medals belonging to Charlie's father, Charles Marshall Mr Fowler said his family watched in horror as intruders ransacked their home. South Yorkshire Police said the burglars struck in Morthen Road at about 2:15am on Thursday, September 28. Also stolen were World War One medals belonging to Charlie's father Charles Marshall, a member of the Army Service Corps, as well as several valuable watches. 'We were on holiday in Croatia,' he said. 'I have a CCTV app and watched it all happen. 'We were helpless. The police response was rapid but they missed them by four or five minutes.' The haul included the Palestine medal, which has a purple and dark green ribbon. Also stolen was his father's 1914 Star, with red, white and blue ribbons, which both displayed their names on the rim. Mr Fowler, who was made an MBE for his work with the Army's Intelligence Corps, added: 'They might get a tenner for each medal but to us they're irreplaceable.' Voters who helped oust sitting Tories in two massive by-election upsets have said the results should be a 'wake-up call' for the Conservative Party. Labour gained Mid Beds, which was vacated this summer by former Cabinet minister Nadine Dorries, for the first time in the constituency's century-long history. The party also routed the Tories in Brexit-backing Tamworth, smashing the 19,600-vote cushion from the 2019 general election. In media interviews today, Sir Keir Starmer said he is remaining 'humble' despite experts saying the results put him on track for a landslide. And it seems that approach would be wise, with voters telling MailOnline they were more frustrated with the Tories than enthused by Labour. Conservative voter Giles Warner, 48, (left) who lives in the Bedfordshire village of Clophill, said he didn't see 'any' Tory canvassers in his local area. Kate Saunders (right) said she hoped the party's loss would be a 'wake-up call' Brad Bramley, 31, works at Coates Butchers in Tamworth and is a Conservative voter. He said he prefers Boris Johnson to Rishi Sunak Ampthill - pictured today - is one of the largest towns in the largely rural Mid Beds constituency In Mid Beds, Labour's Alistair Strathern took the rural seat that has been Tory since 1931 by 1,192 votes. Dorries and Johnson were blamed by Conservative voters for the defeat, while residents were just glad the Tories had lost. Rosie Child, 64, who is retired and from Toddington, said: 'I voted Lib Dem, my husband voted Labour. I am pleased with the result. We just wanted the Conservatives out. I am glad they didn't win.' An Ampthill man, who described himself as a floating voter, said: 'We said we had enough of an MP who was no longer here. 'There are a lot of other things that annoyed me about the Conservatives - things like partygate. That's why I voted Labour. 'I met the Tory candidate and he came over very convincingly, but the Conservative adverts were all about the terrible things Labour would do. I thought it was a bit negative.' Mother Emma Scott, 38, from Flitwick said: 'I switched to Labour. Anything has got to be better than the last MP.' Paul Cresswell, 50, from the village of Steppingley in the mainly rural constituency, said: 'I am very surprised by the result to be honest. I voted Conservative. 'I normally vote Conservative, but this time round I actually did think very hard about the Lib Dems. I made a late decision to go with the Conservatives.' Mother Emma Scott, 38, from Flitwick in Mid Beds, said: 'I switched to Labour. Anything has got to be better than the last MP' Mid Beds voters Paul Cresswell (left) thought about switching from the Tories but eventually stuck with them, while Rosie Child voted Lib Dem In Mid Beds, Labour's Alistair Strathern took the rural seat that has been Tory since 1931 by 1,192 votes Conservative voter Giles Warner, 48, who works in finance in London and lives in the village of Clophill, said: 'Labour spent a fortune in the constituency. I did not once see a Conservative canvasser. Labour were all over the place. 'I must have had five or six knocks on the door from Labour. They were outside Flitwick station last night asking people if they had voted. They deserved to win because of the effort they put in. Fair play to them.' 'The Conservatives have been disappointing for the last few years with Boris Johnson. They have lost the trust of the community short term. Whether they can get it back. I don't think so.' In the village of Westoning, 60-year-old nurse Kate Saunders said: 'It's very sad but I think the Conservatives had it coming. Whether it will be the same in a General Election I don't know. 'I hope it is a wake up call for the Conservatives. I did vote Conservative, but I am not surprised Labour got in. Nadine Dorries did not do us any favours. I think she lost the plot.' Amanda Stafford-Neal, a 57-year-old sales account manager from Tamworth, decided not to vote The centre of Tamworth in Staffordshire pictured today The Tamworth contest was triggered by the resignation of former Tory deputy chief whip Chris Pincher after he was found to have drunkenly groped two men in a posh London club. Labour candidate Sarah Edwards defeated Tory rival Andrew Cooper by a majority of 1,316 votes. He also made a swift exit from the count without listening to her speech. Tory chair Greg Hands said he was 'disappointed' but blamed 'specific circumstances' in the constituencies and said their voters had simply stayed at home. Comments from Amanda Stafford-Neal, a 57-year-old sales account manager, seemed to support his view. She said: 'I didn't vote for anyone if I'm honest. I have voted in the past but I tend not to as I have no confidence in any of them. 'I would never vote for the Conservatives again after the last few years with the pandemic and everything else. 'I've read a bit about the new Labour MP and she seems alright. I'll most likely be voting Labour in the General Election'. Tamworth Labour voters Alan Porter, 76, and Lynda Jones, 59, were happy with the party's win Darren, 63, said he voted Labour last night, adding: 'The Conservatives aren't doing anything anymore. I think there needs to be a Labour government' Brad Bramley, 31, works at Coates Butchers and is a Conservative voter. He said: 'I'm not particularly happy with the outcome, but it was less than a 50% turn out. You're not going to get an accurate representation. 'I've always voted Tory and like a lot of their policies. But I prefer Boris to Rishi Sunak - he's down to earth.' Darren, 63, said he voted Labour last night. He said: 'The Conservatives aren't doing anything anymore. I think there needs to be a Labour government.' His wife Denise, 64, also voted Labour and said: 'We've always voted Conservative but they aren't doing anything. 'Kier has to have a chance. I'm not going to vote Conservative.' Boris Johnson insists Hamas and Putin are 'morally identical' today in his latest hard-hitting Mail column. The ex-PM backs Joe Biden's 'great' speech in which the US president connected the threat the terror group and Russia pose to democracies. And Mr Johnson declares himself particularly delighted with Mr Biden's willingness to take on the mantle of 'world leadership'. In a video teasing his column - which will be in the Daily Mail tomorrow and on MailOnline this evening - Mr Johnson said: 'Joe Biden made a great speech last night in which he set out how Hamas and Putins troops are morally identical in their terroristic methods, the assault that they are mounting on democracy. Boris Johnson is writing weekly for the Daily Mail and MailOnline. Picture: MARK HARRISON President Joe Biden addressed the American people from the Oval Office last night, tying the conflicts in Israel and Ukraine together 'What was so great about his speech was that he was the first American president for a long time to acknowledge that we need American world leadership to respond.' Addressing the American people last night, Mr Biden tied together the conflicts in Ukraine and Israel, arguing 'we cannot and will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win'. Warning that 'chaos will spread,' the President pleaded with Congress to pass what is expected to be $100 billion in new funding - a call which is already being resisted by Republicans. Mr Biden asserted in his 15-minute address from the Oval Office that Vladimir Putin and the terror group 'represent different threats' but share a common goal. An Irish celebrity has been acquitted of the defilement of a 16-year-old girl. The man, in his 40s, had pleaded not guilty to three counts of engaging in sexual acts with a child under the age of 17 in locations around Dublin between August and December 2010. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Friday, a jury of nine men and three women found the entertainer not guilty of all three charges. The counts related to alleged incidents at the accused's home and work. They included allegations he had engaged in oral sex with the complainant when she was under the age of 17. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Friday, a jury of nine men and three women found the entertainer not guilty of all three charges (file image of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court) The jury had deliberated on the counts for five-and-a-half hours. In evidence, the complainant said she had been texting the man after meeting him in July 2010. She said she had initially told him she was 18, but alleged she had later told him she was 16. She said she met the accused multiple times and that they had engaged in oral sex and mutual masturbation. This included an act of oral sex at his place of work. On another occasion, she alleged she had performed oral sex on him at his home before a Deadmau5 concert in Dublin. She had alleged the accused had purchased tickets for her. The accused had denied he had sexual contact with the girl before she was 17. The man cannot be named for legal reasons. A University of Manchester medical student who is said to have met former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has been accused of making 'anti-Semitic' comments after telling a rally 'Israel has conquered the entire world'. Addressing a pro-Palestinian protest in Manchester last Saturday, Adnan Kassad, who is president of the association of student activism for Palestine, was filmed telling people gathered: 'They lied about having children being beheaded, they lied about women being raped, they lied about torturing kids. 'Their biggest lie was when they claimed that they have ownership of Palestinian lands. 'We were made to believe that Israel has conquered Gaza. Israel has conquered the entire world except for Gaza. 'As long as we have the ability to breathe, we're going to support the Palestinian cause.' Footage of Mr Kassad's speech was shared on Instagram by Asa Palestine, but the video appears to have been pulled down following the Mail's enquiries. But other social media users were quick to capture the footage, which remains on other platforms. Mr Kassad's comments are a reference to the terrorist atrocities carried out by Hamas at the Kfar Aza kibbutz in southern Israel, where as many as 40 babies and small children were found slaughtered, along with their parents and other innocents. A photograph of Adnan Kassad apparently meeting former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, was shared online, but the source and time the photograph was taken are unclear "They lied about having children being beheaded, they lied about women being raped, they lied about torturing kids" This is @OfficialUoM medical student Adnan Kassad denying the atrocities Hamas committed against unarmed men, women and children. It's his pinned vid on instagram pic.twitter.com/W9DJjHQONg Harry's Place (@hurryupharry) October 16, 2023 Adnan Kassad has been accused of making 'antisemitic' comments after telling a rally 'Israel has conquered the entire world' The grisly claims about babies being beheaded came from some journalists who were invited by the Israeli military to the scene of horror at the kibbutz last week. But other journalists and commentators disputed the claims as misinformation. Sharing the video footage of Mr Kassad at the rally on X/formerly known as Twitter, the historian Simon Schama, who is Jewish, quoted Mr Kassad's statement about Israel having 'conquered the entire world' and called it 'an antisemitic staple'. He added: 'But the Hamas covenant (Art 22) has world Jewry responsible for French and Russian revolutions, League of Nations, World Wars I and 2 and spreading Zionism via via Freemasonry and ....Rotary clubs'. The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) provides a working definition of antisemitism, which has been adopted by a number of governmental and other organisations. The IHRA gives contemporary examples of antisemitism including 'the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy'. In the example it adds: 'Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective such as, especially but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions.' In subsequent footage, Mr Kassad is filmed giving an interview at the rally, in which he says: 'Any form of injustice is not acceptable and anyone who is retaliating and fighting for their freedoms should be proud of what they're doing, and they should be celebrated for fighting for the freedom and for the justice that they deserve.' Last December, Mr Kassad reportedly visited parliament as part of a delegation invited by Labour MP Nadia Whittome. Another member of that delegation was activist Saleem Nusseibeh, who, according to the Jewish Chronicle, said that 'plotting' Zionists would be 'removed' from the Middle East. Nusseibeh also told a rally that the 'third intifada will bring the Zionist entity to its knees'. A photograph of Mr Kassad apparently meeting former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, was shared online, but the source and time the photograph was taken are unclear. Mr Corbyn was removed from the parliamentary Labour party more than two years ago over his response to antisemitism when he was leader and subsequent downplaying of the scale of the problem after a highly critical report by the human rights watchdog. The University of Manchester medical student was accused of making 'antisemitic' comments at a rally last Saturday He remains a party member but now sits as an independent MP for Islington North. The 74-year-old previously described Hamas as his 'friends' and last week risked fresh fury by suggesting Israel's 'occupation' is the root cause of the Hamas attacks. Speaking to journalists on the fringes of the Labour party conference in Liverpool, he said the way to end the 'terrible situation' was to 'end the occupation of Palestine by Israel'. Mr Corbyn said he wants 'peace, a ceasefire and a process that ends the Israeli occupation of Palestine'. 'I don't support any attacks, therefore I criticise them all,' he said, after being repeatedly asked whether he would condemn Hamas. He told ITV News that the 'occupation of Palestine' was 'fundamentally the background to the whole issue'. At an event at The World Transformed festival, which coincides with the Labour conference, Mr Corbyn said he was 'working with people around the world to bring about peace'. He added: 'You don't just condemn as I do any acts of violence, anywhere around the world. You look at the causes as well.' On the current 'terrible situation in Israel and Palestine', he said: 'The way to end that, I think, is to end the occupation of Palestine by Israel.' Mr Kassad and Mr Corbyn did not respond to requests for comment. The University of Manchester said: 'A University spokesman said: 'We are aware of the footage and are investigating the matter as a priority. 'Our University community, particularly those with friends, family or close ties to the region, will be deeply concerned about the escalating violence and loss of life in Israel and Gaza over recent days. 'In line with our values we reaffirm the importance of mutual understanding and tolerance at this very difficult and distressing time. Any and all forms of racism, antisemitism, islamophobia, discrimination, and abuse have no place in our community.' A row house fire in Maryland has claimed the life of one firefighter and left four others injured - with three of them in serious condition. Fire departments sent out a mayday call after it was discovered that one firefighter was trapped on the first floor of one of the four homes in the row, which was engulfed in flames on Linden Heights Avenue in Baltimore. A fifth home eventually caught fire on its roof, but the damage was not as severe as the others were. Officials quickly shut down roads surrounding Linden Heights Avenue, including East and West Belvedere Avenue. The fire department is withholding the identity of the deceased firefighter until his next of kin is notified. Officials responded to a four home row house fire at 3:45 pm ET., which resulted in one dead and four injured firefighters Four homes were engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived. A fifth home caught fire and received minimal damage The Baltimore fire was labeled a second alarm, meaning it required the presents of multiple firefighters and fire engines WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore showed live coverage of the fire on its YouTube and social media pages for 45 minutes, as pilot reporter Capt. Roy Taylor updated viewers every 10-15 minutes. Responders confirmed that it was a two alarm fire, which requires several fire engines, fire trucks, and firefighters. Firefighters were spotted in front of each home and on top of two of the roofs. They were not able to go near the side wall of the damaged homes on the end of the street due to the risk of it collapsing. The first four row houses were severely damaged, and the fire began when some of its occupants were still inside their homes Some of the injured firefighters are currently being treated at Shock Trauma - some have also been receiving treatment at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center The injured firefighters are currently recovering at Shock Trauma and Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. Many other firefighters waited outside Shock Trauma with flags while those injured were receiving medical attention. Baltimore City Council President Nick Mosby released a statement to WBAL-TV later that night after the tragic events unfolded. He told the press: 'Our city's heart is broken tonight. Words cannot convey the loss we feel tonight as a community. Firefighters are our superheroes. When theyre taken from us, that pain feels unimaginable and unbearable.' 'And on a tragic night like tonight, we are reminded of the immense risks they face every single day to keep us and our communities safe,' he continued. Mosby added: 'Our hearts are with their family tonight and we mourn their loss. We are here to help in any way we can, and we pray that the firefighters still in the hospital have a full and speedy recovery.' The murder of Zara Aleena was 'opportunistic' and her suffering was limited because her killer knocked her unconscious 'early' in the attack, his lawyer argued today in the Court of Appeal. Jordan McSweeney killed the 35-year-old law graduate as she walked home from a night out in Ilford, east London, early on June 26 last year. McSweeney, who refused to attend his sentencing hearing last December, was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 38 years after admitting Ms Aleena's murder and sexual assault. At a hearing today, he made a bid to reduce the minimum term of his sentence, appearing for the start of proceedings via videolink from Long Lartin prison in Worcestershire. His barrister George Carter-Stephenson KC said: 'At the outset can I make it clear that it is accepted that the attack and murder in this case was particularly savage and brutal and nothing I intend to say in this address is in any way meant to detract from that.' 35-year-old Zara Aleena (pictured), an aspiring lawyer, was stalked by McSweeney along Cranbrook Road in Ilford, east London, before grabbing her from behind and dragging her into a driveway McSweeney dragged Ms Aleena (pictured) into an alleyway, where he kicked her and sexually assaulted her. He then grabbed her handbag, mobile phone and keys. He walked away but returned moments later to deliver the fatal final blows McSweeney had 28 previous convictions for 69 separate offences at the time of Zara's murder The barrister said the sentencing judge, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb, had wrongly factored in the 'aggravating features' in the case. Mr Carter-Stephenson said it was accepted there was a sexual motive to the crime but argued the murder itself was not premeditated. He told the court: 'He was obviously stalking women on that night, following them and looking for an opportunity. 'The attack was an opportunistic act rather than anything that was planned in advance though there was clearly a sexual encounter in mind. 'He planned to look for a sexual encounter, with or without consent.' Mr Carter-Stephenson later said the 'the resistance put up by the victim' caused 'the level of aggression to rise' during the assault. 'I don't mean to put any blame on the victim at all,' he added. Around 45 minutes after the start of his bid to reduce the minimum term of his life sentence, the hearing was paused following McSweeney's departure. An unnamed prison officer, who appeared on the videolink with McSweeney, said: 'He's heard enough and has got everything he requires in his cell.' Judges were later told Ms Aleena became unconscious in the early part of the attack. Mr Carter-Stephenson said: 'Given the nature of the attack... the time for the suffering of this victim was limited. That, to some extent, must impact how one views that as an aggravating feature.' The barrister later said McSweeney had ADHD, which should have been taken into account in sentencing. 'They are wired somewhat differently than most people. They are impulsive... their behaviour is less predictable,' he said. McSweeney was caught on CCTV following Zara Aleena on the night of her death Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb called McSweeney a 'pugnacious and deeply violent man' as she sent him to prison for life However, Oliver Glasgow KC, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said the suggestion McSweeney had not intended to kill Ms Aleena was 'unsustainable'. He told the court McSweeney had spent two hours stalking several women before turning his attention to Ms Aleena. Mr Glasgow told the court he 'wanted to avoid any risk that he could subsequently be identified by any victim'. The barrister said: 'This was not a moment of impulsive aggression. It was a considered act and the product of hours of pursing women along the streets. 'There was nothing that Zara Aleena did that provoked the violence that was given to her.' Mr Glasgow later told the court there had been no expression of remorse from McSweeney and later noted he had not attended his sentencing and left his appeal hearing. 'This lack of remorse has been borne out for over a year,' the barrister said. Mr Glasgow added in written submissions: 'The submission that the intention to murder Ms Aleena was formed 'on the spur of the moment' flies in the face of the applicant's behaviour preceding the violence. 'The sexual assault of Ms Aleena was the culmination of hours of planning and premeditation.' He added that McSweeney was 'determined to find and attack a vulnerable female and to sexually assault her, and it was inevitable, once he had embarked on that attack, that he would kill his victim'. The Old Bailey previously heard McSweeney stalked Ms Aleena along Cranbrook Road before grabbing her from behind and dragging her into a driveway. The attack, caught on grainy CCTV, lasted nine minutes and resulted in 46 separate injuries. Ms Aleena, who was training to be a solicitor, was found struggling to breathe and later died in hospital. Mr Glasgow described the attack as 'utterly abhorrent' and said the sentencing judge was right to find McSweeney had no mitigation aside from his guilty pleas. The hearing before the Lady Chief Justice Lady Carr, Mrs Justice McGowan and Mrs Justice Ellenbogen is expected to conclude on Friday. A disabled man has been tragically shot dead while live-streaming on TikTok for his followers. Pedro Luis Toala Rezabala, 33, better known as 'Lagrimita', was allegedly murdered in Portoviejo, Ecuador, at around 9:45pm on October 17. The incident was caught on his livestream and a CCTV camera also captured his final moments after the influencer was brutally gunned down in the street. Footage shows Rezabala in his wheelchair as he streamed from outside his house at night. Pedro Luis Toala Rezabala was in a shootout that was caught on his livestream and a CCTV camera also captured his final moments Footage shows Rezabala in his wheelchair as he streamed from outside his house at night In the clip, he's seen drawing a firearm as two men arrive on a motorbike who are seen firing shots in his direction. A third man then appears from behind, and horrifically shoots Rezabala in the head from behind as the group flees the scene. The alleged hitmen are seen fleeing, shooting in the air, while the victim lay in his wheelchair. According to local reports, Rezabala had a criminal record of robbery, drug trafficking, violent behavior and illegally possessing weapons. Rezabala was reportedly with a friend during the entire shootout who managed to escape the scene unharmed. His three alleged attackers have yet to be tracked down as the police investigation continues. It is not known if any arrests have been made. Local news reports that Rezabala had survived an attempted murder years ago that left him paraplegic in his legs, leaving him dependent on a wheelchair. In the clip, he's seen drawing a firearm as two men arrive on a motorbike who are seen firing shots in his direction A third man then appears from behind, and horrifically shoots Rezabala in the head from behind as the group flees the scene His three alleged attackers have yet to be tracked down as the police investigation continues. It is not known if any arrests have been made It is also presumed that he had witnessed a homicide in his family at some point in his life. According to the Organized Crime Index, Ecuador has the 11th highest crime rate in the world, following a wave of violence in recent months. Since 2016, Ecuador's homicide rate has soared by almost 500 percent to an estimated 22 murders per 100,000 people in 2022. The murder and homicide rate in the country saw a 79.79 percent increase between 2020 and 2021. A caretaker who killed two teenage jockeys in an arson attack after being barred from a party has been denied his bid to be released or moved to open prison. Peter Brown, 50, lit a fire in a block of flats after women, upset by his behaviour, refused to let him into the party in Norton, North Yorkshire, in September 2009. The blaze engulfed the building and apprentice jockeys Jamie Kyne, 18, and Jan Wilson, 19, asleep in a different flat, could not escape the fire. Leeds Crown Court was told in 2010 that Jamie rode 29 winners in 2009 and Jan Wilson was one of the most promising young women in horse racing. Brown, then 37, had been drinking lager, whisky and Guinness in local pubs and snorting cocaine alone before trying to join the party in a neighbouring flat at Buckrose Court. The 16-day trial heard that Brown used white spirit to set light to rubbish in the stairwell after he returned from a drinking session in the early hours of 5 September 2009. The fire quickly took hold as the stairwell was said to have acted like a chimney, forcing many of the occupants to jump from the building or climb down drain pipes. Peter Brown, 50, lit a fire in a block of flats after women, upset by his behaviour, refused to let him into the party in Norton, North Yorkshire, in September 2009 Miss Wilson, from Forfar in Scotland and Mr Kyne, from County Galway in Ireland, were trapped in the top-floor flat and unable to escape. Mr Kyne lived in the flat with fellow jockey Ian Brennan. Miss Wilson was Brennan's girlfriend and had been staying over. Father-of-one Brown, of Brotherton, North Yorkshire, who was originally from Aberdeen, denied setting the fatal fire and refused to give evidence. He was cleared of murder but found guilty of manslaughter. Brown was also acquitted of a charge of arson with intent to endanger life and was sentenced to a minimum of seven-and-a-half years in jail. He was given an indeterminate sentence at Leeds Crown Court in December 2010, meaning there is no set release date. He has to be assessed by the Parole Board who will decide if he is no longer a danger to the public. Sentencing, Mrs Justice Nicola Davies called Brown a 'dangerous man' whose 'impulsive or vengeful behaviour' and other factors meant he posed a 'significant' risk to other people. 'For all in the building that night, it was a terrifying ordeal', the judge said. 'That the other occupants of the flat managed to reach a place of safety was entirely due to their own efforts.' She said they had had to try 'by any means possible to leave the flaming building' and said those who survived were still suffering from nightmares, and were afraid to be left alone in a house. Apprentice jockeys Jamie Kyne, 18, (pictured) and Jan Wilson, 19, asleep in a different flat, could not escape the fire Brown's barrister, Paul Watson, said his client 'vehemently and comprehensively' continued to deny he was responsible for lighting the fire, which began at 2am in the stairway of the block of flats. The judge praised the families of both jockeys for their dignity and restraint during the court process. 'I know for each one of them nothing will ever be the same again and this particular time of the year is going to be painfully poignant', she said. Following the verdict, the jockeys' families issued a joint statement, which read: 'Peter Brown has robbed us of two wonderfully young people who had so much to live for. 'When Jan and Jamie died, a part of each one of us died with them. He has left us all shattered and our lives will never be the same again. 'We are pleased that he has now been held accountable for the devastating events of last September, however no punishment will ever bring Jan and Jamie back. 'They have both been denied a great future and lifestyle in a sport they loved so much and had triumphed in.' Jan Wilson's mother Margaret Wilson also paid tribute to her daughter after the guilty verdict, saying: 'She was a dream come true for us, and a gift which we were privileged to enjoy for 19 years. 'We are so very proud of Jan and all her achievements all through her short but full life, and thank all those who helped her get there and made her into the girl we miss so much. Jan Wilson's (pictured) mother Margaret Wilson paid tribute to her daughter after the guilty verdict, saying: 'She was a dream come true for us, and a gift which we were privileged to enjoy for 19 years' 'Any punishment won't be enough for the loss and suffering of Jamie, Jan and all their family and friends. At least he can't take away our memories.' Outside court, Detective Inspector Steve Smith said: 'The family would love to have some explanation, some answers as to exactly what happened that night and what he did. Unfortunately for the families, it leaves behind lots and lots of questions which cannot be answered at this time.' He added that Brown 'comes across as cold, someone who doesn't take responsibility for any of his actions'. 'He has always sought to blame others', he said. 'He totally lost his temper. It seems he lost all rationale and the consequences have been terrible.' Brown was a building labourer who acted as the flats' caretaker. He had developed a drinking problem and had been a nuisance to young people - especially women - in his flats. A spokesperson for the Parole Board said: 'We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board refused the release of Peter Brown following a paper review. The panel also refused to recommend a move to open prison. 'Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community. 'A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims. 'Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority. 'Under current legislation she will be eligible for a further review in due course. The date of the next review will be set by the Ministry of Justice.' The rejection of Brown's appeal in September last year was his fourth appearance before the Parole Board. Brown can apply for parole again in two years time. 'My message to Stella McCartney is, you've been asked to do the right thing and you haven't done the right thing,' local Joe Karpinski told DailyMail.com Furious locals are now suing to have the sandbags blocking the beach access point removed Stella McCartney refuses to dismantle a 230ft long barrier that has blocked a public access pathway to the Hamptons beach beside her house for five years Advertisement Fashion guru Stella McCartney is being taken to court over her beachside home in New York celebrity hotspot The Hamptons, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal. The designer daughter of Beatle Paul has enraged locals in the uber-fashionable hamlet of Amagansett by refusing to dismantle a 30ft wide barrier with a 7ft drop that has blocked a public access pathway to the beach beside the house for five years. It is part of a structure of giant sandbags stretching 230ft in front of the $2.5million pad she bought in 2016 with husband Alasdhair Willis and designed to battle coastal erosion. The wall also wraps around a neighbor's threatened waterfront home. But instead of having two separate structures in front of their respective properties, 52-year-old McCartney and the neighbor ran them together across the formerly sloping public access, building it up and blocking off the only way on to that stretch of beach enjoyed by local families for decades. Stella McCartney refuses to dismantle a 30ft wide barrier that has blocked a public access pathway to the Hamptons beach beside her house for five years. Dad Paul, 81, has had a home in The Hamptons since the 1990s and still spends summers there Furious locals are now suing to have the sandbags over the access removed. The giant structure of sandbags stretches 230ft in front of the $2.5million pad she bought in 2016 McCartney put up the sandbag wall with the neighbor after erosion claimed 40ft of shoreline in a year and they feared their home could be swallowed by the ocean The stretch of beach in front of McCartney's home is seen before she and her husband put sandbags in front of it, blocking the access point Now after years of anger and controversy members of East Hampton Town Board have voted to authorize their attorney Robert Connelly to start proceedings in Suffolk County Supreme Court against the 'appropriate parties' to have the sandbags over the access removed. DailyMail.com can also reveal that McCartney and Willis, who stepped down as creative director of global boot brand Hunter in July, have applied to build a lavish new home on the site farther back from the water. The designer and husband Alasdhair Willis bought the vacation home in 2016 According to plans exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com, that would ironically mean demolishing the existing three bedroom house, which the couple bought for $1.7million. Their single-story 1,350 sq ft pad built in 1972 sits at the far end of a narrow private road containing only 12 houses, and with long-time families still among more recent and affluent arrivals who are busily building magnificent homes that dwarf existing places. Furious resident Joe Karpinski is the third-generation of his family to live on the same spot there since the 1960s and has campaigned endlessly to win back safe beach access. He was cautiously optimistic about the court action, but pointed out: 'Up until the age of 34, I could use my road freely and access that beach without any obstructions. Since the age of turning 35 and now I'm 40 we haven't been able to use that beach at all. 'My children, five-year-old twins, have never used that beach because it's just not safe to navigate that obstacle. It's too far to drop. 'The homeowners have been told to remove the obstruction in the past. They were told officially back in 2019 to remove them from the 30ft right of way. They didn't do it. 'My message to Stella McCartney is, you've been asked to do the right thing and you haven't done the right thing, Karpinski added. 'We have always been kind and caring to each and all of our neighbors. Everyone has been neighborly on this road down the years and done what's right. I'm saying, do the right thing now. 'This isn't your primary residence. You do not own the 30ft wide right of way. It is not your property, it is everybody's property.' Furious resident Joe Karpinski is the third-generation of his family to live on the same spot there since the 1960s and has campaigned endlessly to win back safe beach access 'My message to Stella McCartney is, you've been asked to do the right thing and you haven't done the right thing,' Karpinski said Karpinski, who works in the forestry industry, said he used to stroll half a mile to the beach, which faces a sheltered bay. 'Right now the only safe way to get there is to walk to Napeague State Park and go through trails and double back, which is around two miles. Why should we have to do that? 'I've never even seen Stella McCartney or her husband here. The place has been put on the rental market before but it appears empty at this minute. 'If the court action doesn't succeed I will never give up fighting for this access we are all being denied. It's been there for generations. But not for the past five years.' Four of the five town board members voted for the court action with the other abstaining at their meeting on September 19. The road is private to those who live on it, but Karpinski said the beach access was available to the public. The town of East Hampton is suing McCartney over the barrier The resolution stated: 'Town Board hereby authorizes the Office of the Town Attorney to initiate a declaratory judgment action in Supreme Court Suffolk County against the appropriate parties regarding the installation and maintenance of a geocube revetment across the private road more commonly referred to as Bay View Avenue, Hamlet of Amagansett, Town of East Hampton.' John Jilnicki, East Hamptons senior assistant town attorney, told DailyMail.com the authority had not yet filed paperwork to the court. He said permits for anti-erosion systems are good only for a maximum of six months with a three-month renewal. Maintaining these temporary structures in place for extended periods of time can possibly impact other properties in the area as well as create other adverse environmental consequences,' said Jilnicki. The geotextile improvements behind both the properties at the end of Bay View Avenue and across the road have been in place for well past the six month plus three month time period permitted under the Town Code. McCartney and Willis put up the sandbag wall with the neighbor after erosion claimed 40ft of shoreline in a year and they feared their home could be swallowed by the ocean. Records reviewed by DailyMail.com at New York State Department of Environmental Conservation show that a permit applied for on May 2, 2018 'to install geocubes and sandfill to stabilize shore' at the property has expired. On June 28 this year an application to 'reapply to install geocubes, place sand, plant grass' was submitted. Its status is given as 'completeness determination due', meaning officials are still reviewing if the application has sufficient information. Against that backdrop, the extensive plans obtained by DailyMail.com for the couple's site reveal they want to build a 1,408 sq ft home with just two bedrooms and a large wraparound deck at the front so they can enjoy the magnificent water views. Architect drawings show a cross-shaped house with the living area on the second floor also facing the beach and what appears to be a modest integrated kitchen in the open layout. A garage is on ground level, with a Bentley drawn into the plan as an illustration. The color of the roof is noted as green. The plans clearly state: 'Existing house to be removed.' Attorney Jonathan Tarbet, who submitted the application to East Hampton planning authorities, also specified building a 'rock revetment' or wall in front of the house. In support, he warned: 'The accelerating rate of sea level rise, coastal erosion and intensification of storm surge and hurricanes make it likely that the applicant's home will eventually end up completely underwater. Architect drawings show a cross-shaped house with the living area on the second floor also facing the beach and what appears to be a modest integrated kitchen in the open layout The extensive plans obtained by DailyMail.com for the couple's site reveal they want to build a 1,408 sq ft home with just two bedrooms and a large wraparound deck at the front so they can enjoy the magnificent water views Attorney Jonathan Tarbet, who submitted the application to East Hampton planning authorities, also specified building a 'rock revetment' or wall in front of the house. The resolution stated: 'Town Board hereby authorizes the Office of the Town Attorney to initiate a declaratory judgment action in Supreme Court Suffolk County against the appropriate parties regarding the installation and maintenance of a geocube revetment across the private road more commonly referred to as Bay View Avenue, Hamlet of Amagansett, Town of East Hampton' 'We must take immediate and effective measures to reinforce and protect the shoreline. Therefore, the installation of a rock revetment is necessary to ensure the long-term viability of the site and protect the surrounding environment.' Tarbet refused to comment when DailyMail.com went to his office in the town to discuss the court action and planning paperwork for the new house. The application was made in the name of RooRoo Property LLC, into which the property was transferred on October 4, 2018. Despite McCartney's apparent absence from the beachfront house, she does have a long association with the area. Dad Paul, 81, has had a home in The Hamptons since the 1990s and can be spotted during the summer shopping in Amagansett with wife Nancy, while pal Gwyneth Paltrow, 51, also has a property there. The court action threat comes amid anger in Scotland, where more than 50 objections have been lodged over plans by the designer and husband Willis to redevelop a remote coastal site in the Highlands. Some locals in the Lochailort area have denounced plans for the massive glass-fronted modernist mansion on an area of land called Commando Rock with one calling it a 'carbuncle'. And in an echo of her problems in Amagansett, some residents fear the project would intrude on a public right of way including to a beach. The proposal, in Willis's name, is for a split-level home that the architects Brown and Brown say mirrors the landscape around it. 'It is felt that the form of the building would create an unashamedly contemporary, yet complimentary, addition to the wider area, which possesses buildings of varying architectural style, both traditional and modern in nature,' says the firm. The roof would be seeded with grasses and heather from the site. McCartney's sandbags are blocking off the only way on to that stretch of beach enjoyed by local families for decades 'My children, five-year-old twins, have never used that beach because it's just not safe to navigate that obstacle. It's too far to drop. 'The applicant wishes to create a home here which is site-specific, with the setting, existing contours, aspect, and sun-path being among key generators of the design,' add the architects. 'Privacy is of prime importance to the applicant, which is the chief reason they acquired the site. 'The secluded nature of the site would be retained, with the house being largely unseen out with the site, and primarily only visible from the water.' However, wildlife conservationist Sam Secombe is reported as saying: 'I believe this new enlarged modern dwelling will spoil the natural beauty of this landscape and become a carbuncle on the bluff, clearly visible by both day and night due to its prominent positioning and large illuminated windows. And documents lodged with Highland Council show a range of complaints. Celia Woodhouse says it would be 'disastrous' if the 'monstrous house' is built. Patrick MacDonald believes the home would be to the 'detriment' of the area, saying: 'The fact that there exists a woodland of mature Scots pine trees and indeed otters on the site should be all the more reason it should be protected.' Lady Marie-Sophie Law de Lauriston adds: 'Non-reflective glass would be more appropriate to reduce the visual impact of the building in the evening sun. 'Access to the beach at the east of the proposed property should be guaranteed, given the constant visitors to the beach.' A 13-year-old boy is in custody after authorities say he stabbed his mother to death while she slept next to her newborn, before dialing 911 to confess. Derek Rosa, from Hialeah, Florida, allegedly murdered his mother, Irena Garcia, 39, 'in her bedroom next to a crib' containing his 14-day-old baby sister last Thursday. Lt. Eddie Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the Hialeah Police Department, told WPLG-TV the honors student then called 911 just after 11:30 p.m. to report that he had 'just murdered his mother.' Officers arrived to find Garcia lying dead from several stab wounds in the neck in the family's apartment. Rosa then reportedly apologized to the police and went with them without incident. Derek Rosa, 13, is in police custody after allegedly murdering his mother last Thursday Rosa was taken into custody by police last Thursday night Rosa posed with his mother and stepfather in matching outfits for a maternity photo shoot Police believe the boy had waited until his mother had fallen asleep and then stabbed her multiple times. Rosa is an honor student at iMater Charter Middle/High School. Lieutenant Rodriguez said it was 'not what youd think or expect walking into that home or seeing that crime scene.' Rodriguez said the teen 'did not provide any information as to why he did what he did' and added: 'It's something we are all asking ourselves now.' Footage from the scene showed the boy walking out of the apartment as he was taken into police custody. One neighbour, Lazaro Rodriguez, said: 'I was shocked, just shocked by the news. He was always with his mom, calm, he would help her carry packages or shopping bags. I never saw anything abnormal with him. I dont know what couldve happened.' Rodriguez told Local 10 News last week that the boy had no history of mental health issues and police had not been to the family's apartment before. He said: 'Neighbors dont know of any problems inside the home. So this has detectives and us dumbfounded.' Rosa's mother, Irena Garcia, 39, had just given birth to his younger sister two weeks before The block of flats where Rosa lived in Florida with his family Rosa lived in the flat with his mother, newborn sister and his stepfather, who works as a truck driver - all of whom he reportedly got along well with. Rosa was alone in the flat with his baby sister and their mother on Thursday evening. His stepfather was reportedly away in Georgia at the time. The family were seen arriving at the flat and entering the apartment after Rosa was taken into custody. A photo of the family shared by local news outlets just before Garcia gave birth shows Rosa and his stepfather in matching outfits lovingly cradling Garcia's baby bump. In what appears to be a maternity photoshoot, the pair are dressed in matching light pink polo shirts and khakis. Officials said his baby sister is now with her grandmother. The teen was taken to a juvenile detention center and then moved to Jackson Memorial Hospital after he threatened to harm himself. He appeared in court on Friday and officials say the state is hoping to take the case to a grand jury. A California education official has been arrested for allegedly embezzling more than $14 million from a school district over a seven year period. Jorge Armando Contreras, 52, is said to have embezzled millions from Magnolia School District, in Orange County, while the senior director of fiscal services. According to prosecutors, Contreras used the illicitly obtained funds to finance a house, buy luxury items, and to pay for cosmetic treatments from a dermatologist. In an affidavit, it is alleged that Contreras used the money to pay off American Express bills totaling $1.9 million, withdrew cash totaling $325,000 and bought a house worth $1.5 million. Contreras is also said to have purchased a BMW SUV worth $127,000 and transferred $130,000 to his partner, Cristhian Figueroa, who he married in August of this year. Contreras Instagram, where he has over 2.7 million Instagram followers, he frequently shares pictures of himself at events wearing expensive clothing It is alleged that Contreras used the money to pay off American Express bills totaling $1.9 million In 2020, Contreras is said to have used the embezzled funds to purchase a residence in Yorba Linda, California, seen here, and paid over $ 1million via a wire transfer for it Contreras is accused of making payments to himself from district funds, with payments made from more than 250 checks deposited into his personal bank account. The checks ranged from approximately $11,000 to roughly $95,000 and used fictitious people as the payees, the affidavit alleges. According to prosecutors, the schools in the area educate children that mostly come from disadvantaged homes, with the district receiving millions of dollars in federal funds. The Superintendent at the school caught on after being notified by Wells Fargo of potential fraud regarding their funds account. The Superintendent then searched his office and discovered altered bank statements, leading to an investigation. In 2020, Contreras is said to have used the embezzled funds to purchase a residence in Yorba Linda, California, and paid over $ 1million via a wire transfer for it. Prosecutors have also said that he altered bank statements submitted as part of the loan application for this property to hide funds he embezzled from the school district. The affidavit further alleges that he used $190,000 of the funds to pay a West Hollywood dermatologist and surgeon for cosmetic treatments. The affidavit further alleges that he used $190,000 of the funds to pay a West Hollywood dermatologist and surgeon for cosmetic treatments Authorities say this image shows Contreras using a drive-thru Wells Fargo to deposit $89,150 into his account Contreras is also said to have purchased a BMW SUV, similar to this one, worth $127,000 with the money The affidavit further alleges that he used $190,000 of the funds to pay a West Hollywood dermatologist and surgeon for cosmetic treatments. Contreras is also said to have used the money to purchased luxury items sold by brands including Versace and Louis Vuitton. The affidavit shows a list of transactions to boutiques including Versace, Louis Vuitton and David Yurman. Over the space of nine months, he is accused of spending over $360,000 at Versace and over $60,000 at Louis Vuitton in the space of a month. Similarly, transactions from jewelers David Yurman total over $180,000, in the space of two weeks. His partner, Cristhian Figueroa, who he married in August of this year, is seen here in a full Dolce & Gabbana outfit Over the space of nine months, he is accused of spending over $360,000 at Versace and over $60,000 at Louis Vuitton in the space of a month On Contreras Instagram, where he has over 2.7 million Instagram followers, he frequently shares pictures of himself at events wearing expensive clothing. Likewise, his husband is also a keen social media user having racked up over 1.5 million followers. On his page he is frequently seen wearing luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana and Versace. Contreras was charged with embezzlement concerning programs receiving federal funds, a felony punishable with up to 10 years in prison. After making his initial appearance at the United States District Court in Santa Ana on Thursday, he was jailed without bond. With his next appearance on November 27. China has accelerated its production of nuclear weapons and is set to double its arsenal to over 1,000 by 2030, the Pentagon has warned. As of May this year Beijing had 'more than 500 operational nuclear warheads' which was more than the U.S. had previously believed. Its military is on track to 'exceed previous expectations,' the Pentagon said in its annual China Military Power Report. The disclosure is a further blow to relations between the world's two largest economies, which are already at their lowest ebb in years. Tensions are growing over a range of issues including China's aggressiveness toward Taiwan, its military activities in the South China Sea, trade, and human rights. China's DF-41 nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles during a military parade at Tiananmen Square in Beijing Xi Jinping (center) poses for photos with the new commander of the rocket force Wang Houbin (top left) A U.S. defense officials said surge in nuclear weapons building 'raises a lot of concerns for us' and urged Beijing to be 'more transparent on their nuclear buildup.' The official said: 'We see the PRC (People's Republic of China) continuing to quite rapidly modernize and diversify and expand its nuclear forces. 'What they're doing now, if you compare it to what they were doing about a decade ago, it really far exceeds that in terms of scale and complexity.' According to the Federation of American Scientists the U.S. has a stockpile of about 3,700 nuclear warheads, of which 1,419 strategic nuclear warheads are deployed. Russia has a stockpile of 4,489 nuclear warheads, of which about 1,550 are deployed. The report said China is looking to expand its capacity to launch nuclear weapons from land, air and submarines. It also said China may be pursuing a new intercontinental missile system using conventional weapons. The system would allow Beijing 'to threaten conventional strikes against targets in the continental United States, Hawaii and Alaska.' Beijing has 'probably completed' construction of 300 intercontinental ballistic missile launch facilities, the report said. Chinese helicopters in a training exercise Xi Jinping wants to boost the Chinese military China's Navy, already the largest in the world, now has more than 370 ships and submarines, up from the 340 last year. The expanding naval force is central to President Xi Jinping's goal of make China the preeminent military power in the region. The report reiterated concern about pressure by Beijing on self-ruled Taiwan, an island China sees as a breakaway province. Pressure against Taiwan includes ballistic missiles flying over and increased incursions by warplanes. U.S. officials also said Beijing is 'almost certainly' learning lessons from Russia's war in Ukraine about what a conflict over Taiwan might be like. It is trying to develop industrial and economic self-reliance after seeing how Western sanctions hit Moscow. Xi Jinping with Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in March DF-5B intercontinental ballistic missiles travel past Tiananmen Square during a military parade Visitors walk past China's first nuclear missile at the Military Museum in Beijing China's foreign ministry slammed the report as inaccurate and 'prejudiced,' although it did not specificially dispute the numbers. Foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said: 'China firmly pursues a nuclear strategy of self-defense. She said: 'This report ignores the facts, is full of prejudice and spreads the theory of the threat posed by China. 'We have always kept our nuclear forces at the minimum level required for national security and have no intention to engage in a nuclear arms race with any country.' She added: 'No country will be threatened by China's nuclear weapons as long as it does not use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against China.' Beijing said it remains committed to a 'no first use' nuclear weapons policy, meaning it would never launch a preemptive strike. The U.S. does not adhere to a 'no first use' policy and says nuclear weapons would be used only in 'extreme circumstances.' Xi has given his military until 2027 to develop the military capability to retake Taiwan. The U.S. has committed billions of dollars in weapons to Taiwan to build up its defenses and help it counter any potential attack. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has said it will investigate an incident in which armed police rammed a 13-year-old boy with a water pistol off his bike. The boy was arrested in Hackney, east London, in July, then subsequently de-arrested after it became clear that he was a child with a toy. Police then apologised to the family. Today the IOPC said it has reconsidered its original decision to let the Metropolitan Police investigate. The watchdog's decision to investigate follows the boy's mother raising concerns that the incident would not have occurred had her son 'been a white 13-year-old boy'. IOPC Regional Director for London Charmaine Arbouin said: 'This was clearly a distressing incident for this boy, his sister and mother and it is right that the complaint is investigated. This is the type of water pistol that the youngster - known as Child X - was playing with as he was rammed off of his bicycle by the Metropolitan Police A statement was read out on behalf of the boy's mother at a press conference on Thursday as community and campaign groups called on police to recognise institutionalised racism 'We don't have the resources to investigate all complaints that are sent to us by the police so when they make a referral we decide if the force should investigate it themselves or if we should take it on. 'Those decisions can sometimes be very finely balanced and that is what happened in this case. 'When the referral came to us initially, we took into account a number of factors when we decided the Met should investigate. 'This included doing what we believed was right for the family as we understood that their preference was to get it resolved with the force itself without involving us, and that the Met were comfortable with this. 'We were also confident, and remain confident, that the Met were taking the complaint seriously.' The Alliance for Police Accountability (APA) has condemned the treatment of the child, saying his brightly-coloured water pistol was unmistakably a toy and that the incident demonstrated the 'adultification' of black children. In her statement, the mother of the boy, who has suffered from nightmares since the incident, said: 'I feel let down and betrayed, not only by the police, but also by the IOPC, and by the whole system that is supposed to look after our children, black or white. 'How can I be expected to place my faith in the police to investigate themselves when they have treated my son and me with contempt?' Lee Jasper (second from right), chair of the Alliance for Police Accountability, said the incident was 'shocking and appalling' She added: 'I feel broken by it all; distraught because I was not able to protect my child from what happened.' Lee Jasper, chairman of the APA, told the press conference it was a 'shocking and appalling case' and that the child was 'inches from death'. He added: 'Not only is a child having nightmares, not only is a mother replaying a scene which could have led to tragic consequences for her son but those who witnessed it are also suffering as a consequence of what they saw that day.' READ MORE: Met Police sergeant and three constables are investigated for misconduct over the arrest and strip search of a 15-year-old schoolgirl Advertisement Mr Jasper said there was increasing anecdotal evidence of 'increasingly violent interactions between police and black children'. He called on the Mayor of London and the Home Secretary to intervene in the case and for safeguarding practices to be amended to 'take account of the incidence of institutionalised racism'. Mr Jasper added: 'Our children are routinely seen by police officers and teachers as adults instead of children.' Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway, in charge of policing for Hackney and Tower Hamlets, said he had apologised to the family. He said: 'This incident was understandably extremely distressing for the boy involved as well as the rest of his family. 'We know it may cause public concern and we want to help the public understand why we responded in the way we did. 'This does not in any way detract from our recognition of the trauma caused to the boy, for which I apologised soon afterwards to his family.' An internal investigation by the Metropolitan Police found no misconduct had been committed by the officers involved. Further complaint accusing them of racial bias is still being investigated by the force's standards department. Mr Conway said: 'Our officers are dealing with fast-moving situations, based on the limited information provided to them at the time. 'Such is the nature of the threat from firearms that the College of Policing is clear that officers should treat all firearms as real and loaded until proven otherwise. 'The police have a positive legal obligation under human rights legislation to protect life, which shapes our approach to responding to suspected firearms.' Advertisement Satellite photos taken in Egypt today show a long convoy of aid trucks lined up waiting to cross the border into the Gaza Strip after being stuck in 'limbo' for days. More than 200 trucks carrying roughly 3,000 tons of aid were positioned near the crossing, according to aid officials. The provisions are intended to bring some relief to the Palestinians in Gaza, which is being blockaded by Israel in response to the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants on towns in southern Israel. Many in Gaza, reduced to eating one meal a day and without enough water to drink, are waiting desperately for the aid. It was unclear whether fuel would be allowed across to power hospital generators. On Friday, workers began repairing damaged to the crossing caused by Israeli bombings. Officials hoped to open the crossing on Saturday. This Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023 satellite photos analyzed on Friday by The Associated Press show a convoy of semitruck trailers lined up at the Rafah border crossing on the Egyptian side, likely waiting for approval to cross into the besieged Gaza Strip as the Israel-Hamas war rages This satellite photo from Planet Labs PBC shows both the Egyptian, left, and Gaza Strip, right, sides of the Rafah border crossing Thursday Egyptian army vehicles and a security detail escort the vehicle carrying the United Nations Secretary-General near the gate of the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip in the east of North Sinai province on October 20, 2023 during a visit to oversee preparations for the delivery of humanitarian aid to the war-torn Palestinian enclave The Rafah crossing from Egypt is now the only way to deliver aid to Palestinians It comes as Israel confirms the release of an American woman and her daughter who were taken hostage on October 7. Natalie Raanan and her mother Judith were visiting family for the High Holidays when they were taken from their kibbutz. The pair from Chicago have now been released and are due to be reunited with relatives at a US military base. President Biden said today he was 'overjoyed' that the pair had been set free. The aid trucks were due to be transported into Gaza earlier this week but were hindered by, according to the President, an unpaved road. 'The highway had to be repaved because it was in very bad shape, and I believe that, within the next 24-48 hours, the first 20 trucks will come across with aid,' he said this morning. The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has repeatedly warned of the ongoing dangers in Gaza and the risk for Palestinians if they are not given help soon. Since October 7, power, water and other basic supplies have been shut off since the start of the conflict. 'Behind these walls, we have two million people that are suffering enormously. They are the difference between life and death. Egyptian Red Crescent members coordinate aid for Gaza, after United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, at Al Arish Airport, Egypt, October 20, 2023 Egyptian army special forces soldiers deploy before the concrete barrier marking the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip in Rafah in the east of North Sinai province on October 20, 2023 'For so many people in Gaza, what we need is to make them move, to make them move to the other side of this wall as quickly as possible,' Guterres said at a news conference held on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing on Friday. The Rafah Crossing is now the only way for aid to reach Palestinians. The UN said today that the biggest problem with delivering aid is ensuring it reaches its intended recipient and is not tampered with on the way. Israel and its allies want to monitor the aid, which is proving a challenge, according to Guterres. 'These announcements were made with some conditions and some restrictions. 'And so we are now actively engaging with all the parties, actively engaging with Egypt, with Israel, with the US in order to make sure that we are able to clarify those conditions that we are able to limit those restrictions in order to have as soon as possible Guterres said during the news conference.' President Joe Biden plans to escape Washington for the weekend and head to his Rehoboth Beach, Delaware home as the crisis continues in the Middle East and chaos over House speakership has left Congress unable to help. In the Middle East, Israel is readying a ground invasion of Gaza, while U.S. troops have been targeted in Iraq and Syria, all the while the clock is ticking to get more U.S. hostages back as the first two were relaesed. On Capitol Hill, Rep. Jim Jordan's third try for the speakership failed, prompting even more uncertainty about when the House GOP would elect a new speaker. At a fundraiser Friday evening in Washington, D.C., before Biden flew to Delaware, the president joked about Jordan's bad fortune. 'He just got his rear end kicked,' the president commented. The 80-year-old president is coming off a whirlwind trip to Israel Wednesday where he spent seven hours on the ground, meeting with Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu and those directly impacted by Hamas' horrific October 7 terror attack. President Joe Biden (left) and first lady Jill Biden (right) return to their Rehoboth Beach, Delaware home this weekend. They're photographed reading and taking a nap on the beach during a trip to the shore in August President Joe Biden often takes bike rides when he and first lady Jill Biden spend time at their $2.74 million Rehoboth Beach, Delaware home The second half of the Middle East trek was cancelled after a rocket hit a hospital in Gaza, prompting Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to skip a planned gathering in Amman, Jordan with Biden, Jordan's King Abdullah II and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Instead the leaders spoke by phone as Biden jetted back to the United States. The president then delivered an address Thursday night in the Oval Office - only his second time using the historic venue to give a speech - to make the case to Americans that the U.S. needed to fund both Ukraine's and Israel's war efforts. While Russian President Vladimir Putin and the terror group Hamas, responsible for the October 7 terror attack in Israel 'represent different threats' they share a common goal, Biden said. 'They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy,' he said. 'We cannot and will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win,' the president argued. On Friday, prior to heading to the beach, Biden entertained the European Union's leaders, President Charles Michel of the European Council and President Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission. von der Leyen praised Biden for making the trip to Israel Wednesday. The Bidens own a $2.74 million vacation home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, where the president and first lady will spend the weekend amid the crisis in the Middle East - and a chaotic speakership race on Capitol Hill President Joe Biden (right) walks on the sand in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, with three of his grandchildren and his daughter Ashley 'I want to thank you for your remarkable visit to Israel. It is important to show solidarity with Israel, [the] victim of the worst attack since the Shoah,' she said, using the Hebrew word for the Holocaust. von der Leyen has also visited Israel since the October 7 terror attack. 'What I saw was barbasic,' she recounted. 'The impact on the Israeli society cannot be emphasized enough.' She also called it 'crucial' to extend humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians in Gaza. By mid-afternoon Friday, news broke that two American hostages kidnapped by Hamas and dragged into Gaza during the October 7 attack would be released. 'Our fellow citizens have endured a terrible ordeal these past 14 days, and I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been wracked with fear,' the president said in a statement. 'From the earliest moments of this attack, we have been working around-the-clock to free American citizens who were taken hostage by Hamas, and we have not ceased our efforts to secure the release of those who are still being held,' Biden also said. Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip on Friday amid the current crisis in the Middle East, after the terror group Hamas attacked Israeli civilian in an attack on October 7 that killed 1,300 On Friday, President Joe Biden met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (left) and European Council President Charles Michel (second from left) Rep. Jim Jordan lost his third vote to become speaker of the House Friday, with no obvious end of the chaos overwhelming Capitol Hill in sight Meanwhile on Capitol Hill, the search for a new House speaker remained up in the air after Jordan's bid failed again on a third floor vote. During trips to Rehoboth, the president and first lady Jill Biden often read on the beach or go biking near their $2.74 million beach home. Republicans were already readying criticism for his escape. 'Biden takes no questions as his handlers force the press out of the room. Later today, Biden is heading to the beach,' the RNC Research account posted to X, showing footage of Biden in his meeting with European leaders. Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss will be questioned in Congress behind closed doors as Republicans probe allegations of politicization during his investigation into the president's son. Weiss - who is the lead criminal investigator into Hunter Biden's gun and tax crimes - was appointed special counsel in August after new testimony from IRS whistleblowers alleged the department engaged in preferential treatment for the president's son. A source familiar confirmed to DailyMail.com that Weiss will sit for a transcribed interview behind closed doors on November 7. Weiss charged Hunter last month with three felony counts related to lying on a federal gun application form while under the influence of drugs. He faces up to 25 years in prison. The president's son pleaded not guilty at his initial court hearing. The not guilty plea comes after what Republicans called a 'sweetheart' plea deal - that would have seen Joe Biden's son avoid jail time - collapsed this summer. The Department of Justice had perviously accepted an invitation from House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan for Weiss to testify at a 'public hearing' in September or October. U.S. Attorney Weiss will be available to testify on September 27, September 28, October 18 and October 19 'The Department is ready to offer U.S. Attorney Weiss to testify shortly after Congress returns from the August district work period,' says a letter obtained by DailyMail.com from Assistant Attorney General Carlos Felipe Uriarte to Jordan, R-Ohio, from July. Uriarte wrote that DOJ is concerned about 'misrepresentations' about its work on the Hunter Biden investigation. Over the summer, two IRS whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler testified under oath that Hunter Biden received 'special' treatment in the investigation into his financial dealings led by Weiss. They said that Hunter's tax charges should have been a felony, but that political pressures led to the first son's 'sweetheart deal' instead. Republicans including Jordan have pointed out discrepancies between Attorney General Merrick Garland and U.S. Attorney Weiss' public statements on the Hunter Biden case and who had 'full authority' to charge the president's son. Ziegler and Shapley testified that Weiss asked U.S. Attorney for D.C. Matthew Graves to bring 'felony and misdemeanor tax' charges agains the president's son. But after Graves refused, Weiss threw out the potential felony charges and struck a plea deal with the president's son that did not include any jail time. Hunter is expected in court Wednesday for the plea deal to be made official. 'I watched U.S. Attorney [David] Weiss tell a room full of senior FBI and IRS senior leaders on October 7, 2022, that he was not the deciding person on whether charges were filed,' Shapley said, contradicting Weiss' previous public statements. 'If the Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss followed DOJ policy as he stated in his most recent letter, Hunter Biden should have been charged with a tax felony, and not only the tax misdemeanor charge,' said Ziegler. 'We need to treat each taxpayer the same under the law.' Graves has denied allegations that he contributed to improper political interference during the federal investigation into Hunter Biden. According to a transcript reviewed by DailyMail.com, Graves said he was 'surprised' by the allegation by the whistleblowers that his office blocked a request by Weiss to bring charges against Hunter. The allegations were 'not consistent with my recollection,' Graves told congressional investigators on October 3. Hunter Biden was in court for the plea deal to be made official House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan will question Weiss behind closed doors in November Weiss also sent a letter to the House Judiciary Committee attempting to clarify his role in the probe and insisted that he actually holds the 'ultimate authority' in the criminal gun and tax case against the president's son. He explained that as the U.S. attorney for Delaware, his charging authority is normally 'geographically limited' to that district - but said that Attorney General Merrick Garland had promised to grant him special attorney status to bring charges anywhere. However, Garland said that Weiss was free 'to make a decision to prosecute any way in which he wanted to and in any district in which he wanted to.' DOJ attempted to clear up the discrepancies in the letter to Jordan. 'While testimony at this early juncture must be appropriately limited to protect the ongoing matter and important confidentiality interests, the Department acknowledges your stated interest in addressing aspects of this matter in the near term, such as U.S. Attorney Weisss authority and jurisdiction to bring charges wherever he deems appropriate.' 218 anti-Semitic offences have been identified in the first 18 days of October Anti-Semitic offences have soared in London by more than 1,353 per cent compared to last year, the Met Police have revealed in the wake of the Israel-Gaza conflict. The horrifying murder of 1,400 Israelis on October 7 ignited a significant spike in hate crime across Britain, with 218 anti-Semitic offences reported in London between October 1 and 18, compared with 15 during the same period in 2022. And the Union of Jewish student's welfare hotline has had more than 150 calls since October 7, from people reporting offences including verbal abuse and intimidation. Islamophobic offences during the same period are up 140 per cent, from 42 last year to 101. So far, officers have made 21 arrests for hate crime offences in London. 'It is not acceptable and I promise we will investigate,' Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan told Sky News. An appalling 218 antisemetic offences were identified in the first 18 days of October - up from 15 the year before It comes as the capital awaits another massed protest organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign in the city centre tomorrow. Pictured: People take part in a demonstration in support of Palestine in London on October 14 More than 1,000 officers are set to be deployed, with mounted and dog units supporting public order officers and roads policing teams. Pictured: People take part in a Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration near the Israeli Embassy in London on October 9 Arrests this week include one man who is suspected of defacing posters of missing Israelis in Camden and another man in relation to ten incidents of Islamophobic graffiti on bus stops in New Malden and Raynes Park. Officers are investigating both incidents. It comes as the Met Police is bracing itself for an even larger rally than last weekend's which saw tens of thousands descend on the capital, with nine officers injured and 15 arrests made. A spokesman for the Palestine Solidarity Campaign said 200,000 people were expected to march in what is likely to be the biggest rally for Palestinian rights in British history. And director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Ben Jamal, said he expects similar protests to take place every week for the next few months as the conflict rages on and Israel continues its assaults on Gaza. Police chiefs said there would be 'zero tolerance' for hate crimes and shows of support for Hamas and other proscribed organisations but pro-Palestine chanting would be permitted. More than 1,000 officers are set to be deployed, with mounted and dog units supporting public order officers and roads policing teams. Representatives from Jewish and Muslim communities will also be in the Met's operations room to give advice. Met Police deputy assistant commissioner Ade Adelekan, who is gold commander for today's rally, said people singing the controversial chant 'from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,' would not be committing an offence. This is despite home secretary Suella Braverman's condemnations of the slogan as a 'staple of antisemitic discourse' and a 'demand for the destruction of Israel.' The chant was also cited as a reason why police in Vienna banned a pro-Palestine march earlier this month. It comes after the Met Police said they would step up patrols in London amid fears of anti semitic attacks and protests after the largest conflict for years between Israel and Palestinian militants broke out last Saturday. Pictured: A protester climbs a lamp post as people take part in a Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration near London's Israeli Embassy on October 9 The Pro-Palestine protest in London last week turned ugly as activists started hurling objects at police Police officers arrest a protester in Trafalgar Square during a March for Palestine in London on Saturday October 14 DAC Adelekan said: 'We are well aware of the strength of feeling in relation to it [the chant]. '[But] while can see scenarios where chanting these words would be unlawful, such as outside a synagogue or a Jewish school of the other Jewish person or group intending to intimidate it is likely that its use in a wider protest setting would not be an offence and would not result in arrest. 'This is just one example of difficult decisions facing officers.' The Met said there were examples of 'unacceptable criminality' at last week's rally, including from two women who were photographed wearing images of Hamas paragliders on their jackets. A barrier has been erected around the Israeli embassy in Kensington, and police have warned protesters not to deviate from the planned route through the capital or face arrest. Downing Street urged pro-Palestine campaigners to 'consider the fear and distress' they are causing to Jewish communities in the UK.A spokeswoman for the Prime Minister told reporters that demonstrators are 'free to peacefully express their views'.But she urged protesters to consider to 'be mindful' of the trauma caused by the slaughter of civilians by Hamas terrorists. 'We're clear that people must remain free to peacefully express their views, and protest is an important part of our democracy, but we also recognise that this is clearly a deeply distressing time for many,' she said.'We would appeal to everyone across the country and those who are considering joining these protests to be mindful of that - and to consider the fear and distress felt by many families in this country over the distressing events that we've seen.' She added: 'With regard to clamping down on antisemitism and any forms of hatred and abuse, we're very clear that the police should take the strongest action where they see that and use the full extent of the law to crack down on criminality.' A vandal hurled red paint over Beis Chinuch Lebonos Girls' School in Hackney, which police are investigating as a 'hate crime' Commander Dominic Murphy, from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, said police remained conscious that conflict overseas could 'inspire events in the UK'. There have been almost 1,400 referrals to the force's counter terror unit, with more than 100 requiring further investigation, he added. There were fears last night that a splinter pro-Palestine protest would take place in Golders Green, London's largest Jewish community, following a number of social media posts. But a source said nothing formal had been arranged and the posts were likely the work of a few 'rabble rousers with little wider support.' In a release from the force, they said: 'We will police this demonstration impartially, protecting the right to protest while intervening or gathering evidence for subsequent investigation where offences take place. We will not stand by if we see examples of hate crime taking place. We will intervene.' So far officers have visited 445 schools and 1,930 places of worship to investigate offences in the vicinity, to provide reassurance or because the area has been identified as a place where the level of concern is particularly high. It comes after the Met Police said they would step up patrols in London amid fears of anti semitic attacks and protests after the largest conflict for years between Israel and Palestinian militants broke out last Saturday. Protesters let off smoke canisters in central London as they gather in support of Palestinians Scotland Yard said it would increase the presence of officers in response to a 'number of incidents' some shared on social media of people celebrating the attack on Israel which has put the Middle East on the brink of all-out war. The Met said that 'an appropriate policing plan' will be put in place as the force anticipates ongoing protests. Conversations have also been held between the Home Office and the Community Security Trust (CST), which provides safety, security, and advice to the Jewish community. It led to the decision to increase footfall to reassure local communities across Britain, the charity confirmed to MailOnline. During the 2021 Gaza-Israel conflict, which began in early May, the CST documented a record 628 hate incidents directed towards British Jews between early May and early June, a fourfold increase on the same period the previous year. The latest statistics on hate crimes, released this week, show a rise in religious-based hate crimes in 2022-23 in the UK. Jewish communities are the second-most hit by religious-based hate crimes, accounting for 17 per cent of all those recorded. German police have recorded more than 1,100 offences in relation to the Israel-Gaza conflict since Hamas launched its deadly attack earlier this month, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has revealed. 'These are preliminary figures... and investigations are underway everywhere,' Faeser told journalists in a press conference at the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) in Wiesbaden. The recorded offences included 'bodily harm... breaches of the peace, incitement to hatred and damage to property', BKA deputy chief Juergen Peter said at the same press conference. In all, a 'low three-digit' figure of violent crimes had been recorded, Peter said. Berlin had become a 'hotspot' for offences, he said, with the majority occurring in the capital, where clashes between protesters and police were fiercest. Police had made 'hundreds of provisional arrests' in Berlin, Faeser said, adding that this was 'the right response'. 'Over 100 police officers have been injured by thrown bottles and fireworks' in the city, Faeser said, adding that 'this violence... is in no way acceptable.' In all, 46 gatherings related to the conflict had been prohibited by authorities since October 7, Faeser said. By contrast, 211 pro-Israel events and 129 pro-Palestinian events had taken place in that period, Faeser said. With instructions such as 'kill the problematic ones', a hostage-taking manual found on Hamas gunmen makes for bone-chilling reading. It is a detailed eight-page 'how to' guide for snatch squads who stormed Israeli settlements to kill and abduct the residents. Urging the terrorists to 'create chaos', the directions are spread over eight chapters which have titles such as 'Isolation and control' and 'Camouflage and hiding'. Intriguingly, the manual suggests the October 7 atrocity may not have gone according to plan - with the fanatics not supposed to take hostages all the way back to Gaza. Some 203 terrified innocents ended up as 'human shields' in the territory. But the manual indicates the original purpose of the hostage-taking was to keep them in Israel possibly to aid a protracted standoff. Or, as the manual starkly puts it, 'cannon fodder'. Israel has released what it claims is a 'hostage manual' given to Hamas fighters by their leaders before their cross-border assault on October 7 The manual is bookended with images showing people holding assault rifles and rocket launchers The manual, which Israel says was found on the bodies of Hamas gunmen, gives instructions on how to commit their atrocities. This page deals with the 'gathering' of hostagesand how to 'isolate and control' people they have abducted A translation of the first section of the terrorist group's 'hostage manual' which details how to find people to abduct A translation of the second stage of the document, which gives explanations of what to do to hostages The third section of the manual, translated here, details how to ensure fighters remain safe while keeping the hostages, including using them as 'cannon fodder' A photo of the second page of the document, which goes into detail about what to do once the militants had kidnapped people In one section, translated here, bosses tell troops to not to feed hostages using their own supplies 'except in emergency situations' In another the militants are told to 'set fire to a large number of places' and to 'show strength' as they maraud their way through Israel One part tells them not to use 'wireless communication' in open areas while also making sure there is 'live broadcast' in the field Another page, pictured, here, goes into details about the live broadcast and how to negotiate with Israelis The document, translated here, tells the terrorists to use cameras 'as much as possible' while they hold the hostages Another section tells them that they should not 'engage in negotiations in the field if possible' and to leave this up to the Hamas leadership The document put out by the Israelis also appears to show types of weapons and rockets The booklet included a chart showing the types of equipment, vehicles and weapons that Israeli soldiers use It also gives Hamas fighters details about the ranks in the Israeli armed forces and how to recognise high ranking members Either way, there was no mercy when hundreds of Hamas savages tore into peaceful villages two weeks ago slaughtering men, women and children and abducting scores more. Half the hostages came from one settlement, Nir Oz kibbutz, where one in four of the population was taken. The hostage manual, found on the bodies of Hamas fighters and released by the Israeli government, instructs Hamas insurgents to complete their 'cleansing' operation and then to 'gather the hostages in several places in operating areas pre-determined on the maps'. It tells them to 'kill anyone that may pose a threat or cause a distraction or disturbance' and 'create chaos using firearms, smoke/stun grenades, violence and terrorism'. Hostages ranging from toddlers to the very elderly were to have their ankles or wrists bound, while other fighters guarded entrances and exits. The prisoners should then be searched, and men separated from women and children suggesting family groups would have endured an extra terror as children were taken away from their fathers. The manual states: 'Kill the problematic ones and those who pose a threat.' The others should be bound and blindfolded, then 'reassured', to keep them docile. 'Use them as human shields,' it says, and use 'electric shocks' to force compliance. A house damaged in Kfar Aza kibbutz in southern Israel by Hamas's deadly attack on October 7 A nursery in Be'eri kibbutz covered in blood and debris after Hamas militants tore through it Burnt cars line the road in Nir Oz kibbutz following the deadly attack by the terrorists The charred remains of a house in Nir Oz kibbutz after the attack by Hamas which killed hundreds of innocent civilians Written in Arabic and translated by the Israeli government, militants are told not to use their own food and water to feed their hostages. Their instructions told them to 'set fire to a large number of places' and 'show strength, not weakness or fear'. Israel's president Isaac Herzog said: 'We are facing a most cruel, inhuman enemy, whom we must dislodge without mercy. This document was found on the body of one of the terrorists. It's a booklet, an operating manual, how to enter citizens' yards, and what do you do when you find the citizens - you torture them. 'This is the booklet that says exactly how to torture them, how to kidnap them. 'The battle that we are carrying out now, as a nation rising as a lion, is against evil, and we will uproot evil so that it will be good for the entire region and the world.' The terrorists were instructed to take the IDs of the hostages and to record their personal details, and tells them to be ready to broadcast the situation in a live stream. At the end of the booklet is a chart explaining the ranks of the Israeli Defence Forces, and the weapons they use. Also found were operating manuals and plans, satellite phones, contact methods and encrypted numbers used by Hamas during its storming of southern Israel which killed 1,400 people. Kenneth Chesebro, a former lawyer for Donald Trump, has struck a plea deal with prosecutors in Georgia in where the former president and others have been charged with trying to overturn the 2020 election. He pleaded guilty to one felony charge of conspiracy to commit filing false documents. Prosecutors recommended several years probation, $5,000 restitution, and that he write an apology letter to the citizens of Georgia, and do 100 hours community service. It came as a judge in Trump's separate civil fraud trial in New York threatened to jail the former president for contempt. The judge said Trump had failed to take down from his website an 'untrue and disparaging' picture of the court clerk with Democrat New York senator Chuck Schumer, which described her as 'Schumer's girlfriend.' Kenneth Chesebro pleaded guilty in a deal with prosecutors Chesebro was indicted just over two months ago along with Trump and 17 others, and accused of violating the state's anti-racketeering law in a conspiracy to overturn election results in Georgia. Two of the other defendants - including lawyer Sidney Powell, who was supposed to go on trial with Chesebro - have already pleaded guilty to reduced charges. No trial date has been set yet for the rest, who have pleaded not guilty. On Thursday, Powell suddenly pleaded guilty on Thursday to conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 U.S. presidential election. She admitted six criminal counts in a deal with prosecutors that saw her receive a reduced sentence. Powell avoided jail and was given six years probation during a surprise appearance at the Fulton County court in Georgia on Thursday. She earned the nickname 'Kraken' in 2020, after giving that description to the case she was mounting against Joe Biden's election victory. That was a reference to the mythical, octopus-like creature depicted in the Hollywood blockbuster Clash of the Titans. In the movie, the monster was slain. Kenneth Chesebro pleaded guilty to a lesser charge in a deal with prosecutors Judge Scott MacAfee sentenced Chesebro Chesebro was initially charged with felony racketeering and six other counts as part of a wide-ranging scheme to keep Trump in power after he lost the election. The indictment alleged Chesebro coordinated and executed a plan to have 16 Georgia Republicans sign a certificate declaring falsely that Trump won the state, and declaring themselves the state's "duly elected and qualified" electors. For prosecutors, the plea deal means that Chesebro publicly accepts responsibility for his conduct in the case. A mugshot of Sidney Powell who struck a deal a day earlier Donald Trump is also indicted in the case and has denied all the charges Donald Trump posted a court sketch Another image posted by the former president It also compels him to testify about communications he had with Trump's campaign lawyers and close associates, including co-defendant Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor and a Trump attorney. Jury selection had been set to start Friday for a trial of Powell and Chesebro. After Powell pleaded, Chesebro had been set to go to trial alone. But he then reached a last-minute deal with prosecutors. Israel said it will cut 'the umbilical cord' with Gaza to create 'a new security reality' and block all crossings after annihilating Hamas in a ground invasion. The Israeli military on Friday punished Gaza with airstrikes and authorities inched closer to bringing aid to desperate families and hospitals. Israel will enforce a buffer zone within the Gaza Strip once the war is over, Israel's agriculture minister Avi Dichter said on Thursday. In comments that seemed to refer to setting up a buffer zone in the coastal strip, Israel's foreign minister Eli Cohen said on Wednesday that 'at the end of this war, not only will Hamas no longer be in Gaza, but the territory of Gaza will also decrease'. Asked about these remarks and the possibility of setting up a buffer zone inside Gaza, Dichter said that the current situation, in which most of Israel's border security infrastructure was several hundred metres inside Israeli territory, was no longer tenable. Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023 Palestinian people carry out search and rescue operations in the ruined buildings at Nuseirat Refugee Camp as the Israeli airstrikes continue on the 14th day in Gaza Strip, Gaza, on October 20, 202 Israeli soldiers are positioned outside Kibbutz Beeri near the border with the Gaza Strip on October 20, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. Thousands of people, both Israeli and Palestinians have died since October 7, 2023 'It's not that you started it from inside the Gaza Strip, as a buffer zone. You started it on the Israeli side 50 to 100 metres inside . . . We understand it was a mistake, it has to be fixed,' he said. The 20-foot-tall border fence currently has a 100-yard buffer zone, backed by radar, motion sensors, a deep concrete foundation to deter tunnelling, and observation towers. Construction on the 'smart fence' began after 2016 and was completed in 2021. But on October 7, Hamas launched its attacks from Gaza, bursting through the border fence and rampaging through Israel. Dichter said they would no longer allow Gazans to approach the fence - effectively squeezing Gaza's territory. He said: 'On the Gaza Strip all along, we will have a margin. And they will not be able to get in. It will be a fire zone. And no matter who you are, you will never be able to come close to the Israeli border.' Israel previously maintained a buffer zone inside Gaza after it left the strip in 2005. But the buffer has eroded since then, partly due to indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas to ease the blockade on Gaza, where 2.3 million Palestinians reside. Dichter, who was previously head of Israel's Shin Bet domestic security agency, said the width of any buffer zone in the future would have to be decided 'according to the area, the needs of the military, according to the distance of the Israeli military or the Israeli settlements'. 'We have Kibbutz Nahal Oz that is 800 metres from the border. So you need to take more precautions in such an area,' he said. Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from Ashkelon, in southern Israel, October 20, 2023 Rockets are fired from the Gaza Strip toward Israel, as seen from southern Israel, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. An Israeli Merkava tank drives past a fence near Kibbutz Beeri, close to the border with Gaza on October 20, 2023 Palestinians walk by buildings destroyed in the Israeli bombardment on al-Zahra, on the outskirts of Gaza City, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023 This handout satellite picture taken on October 20, 2023, shows a view of humanitarian aid trucks moving in a convoy near Sheikh Zuwayed in Egypt's North Sinai province and bound for the Rafah border crossing between northeastern Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip. Cargo planes and trucks have been bringing humanitarian aid to Rafah for days, but so far none has been delivered to Gaza 'The whole contour of the Gaza Strip, it doesn't allow us to take risks. We have seen what happened when we took risks. It was a mistake we are not going to repeat.' Israel said on Friday that it does not plan to take long-term control over the Gaza Strip after an expected ground offensive to root out the Hamas terrorists that rule the territory. Israel occupied Gaza from 1967 until 2005, when it pulled up settlements and withdrew soldiers. Two years later, Hamas took over. Some Israelis blame the withdrawal from Gaza for the sporadic violence that has persisted since then. On Friday Israel bombed areas in southern Gaza where Palestinians had been told to seek safety while it tries to destroy Hamas in retaliation for its brutal rampage in Israel two weeks ago. Fighting between Israel and militants in neighbouring Lebanon also raged, prompting evacuations of Lebanese and Israeli border towns as fears of a widening conflict grew. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed since Hamas attacked on October 7 - mostly civilians slain during the incursion that shattered Israelis sense of security and resulted in 203 hostages taken into Gaza. The Health Ministry run by Hamas says more than 4,100 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began. That includes a disputed number of people who died in a hospital explosion earlier this week. Gaza's Hamas rulers released two Americans on Friday among some 200 hostages they abducted in brutal October 7 attacks in Israel and indicated that more could follow. Judith Tai Raanan and her daughter Natalie Shoshana Raanan were back in Israel late on Friday, the Israeli government said. No details were given on their condition, but US President Joe Biden said he was 'overjoyed' at the news. Biden spoke to the two women over the phone after they were freed. Thousands of people in Muslim countries and beyond held demonstrations on Friday in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. They called for an end to Israel's blockade and airstrikes following a brutal incursion into southern Israel by the Hamas fighters that rule Gaza. Israel has revealed it is expecting a 'three-phase' war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the first time the country has set out a long-term plan to deal with its bloodiest conflict in decades. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told Israeli lawmakers that the IDF expects to start its three-phase war with airstrikes and ground manoeuvres. The Israeli military then plans to move on to defeating pockets of resistance from Hamas fighters. Gallant said that once this has been completed, Israel's 'responsibility for life in the Gaza Strip' will cease, following the warning it issued to Gazans to leave the country 'immediately'. Currently, Israel controls around 90% of Gaza's land and sea borders, and provides the Strip with much of its infrastructure, including electricity and water. Egypt controls Gaza's southern border, and supports Israel's blockade, seeing Hamas as a threat to its own safety and stability. Israel has cut supplies to Gaza since war broke out between itself and Hamas, and has not yet allowed humanitarian aid to be passed into the region. As a result, food, clean water, medicine, electricity and fuel are in short supply in the small strip of land, leaving the remaining citizens in a dire situation. Natalie Shoshana Raanan (L) and Judith Tai Raanan speaking on the phone with US President Joe Biden, after being held hostage and later released by Hamas Judith Tai Raanan and her daughter Natalie Shoshana Raanan holding hands with Brig.-Gen. (Ret.) Gal Hirsch, Israel's Coordinator for the Captives and Missing, after they were released by Hamas on October 20, 2023 A wounded Palestinian girl (pictured) waits for treatment in a hospital in Deir al-Balah, southern Gaza Strip Israel says it wants to shirk its responsibility for the Gaza Strip once its military campaign is over An arial view shows destoyed buildings in al-Zahra city south of Gaza City on October 20, 2023 following Israeli bombardment overnight amid ongoing battles between Israel and Hamas Israel is preparing to bombard the small strip of land with missiles, before sending in ground troops A column of Israeli tanks now sits on the border with Gaza, ready to invade Tens of thousands of Israeli soldiers and scores of tanks and armoured vehicles are now positioned on the border The massing of artillery and men at the border comes after heavy machine gunfire was heard along the border in the early hours of this morning Israel says it's entering Gaza to rescue the 203 hostages are being held captive by Hamas terrorists Gaza's two main sources of electricity, Israeli power lines and the Gaza power plant, have stopped functioning. Israel cut off Gaza's electricity immediately after the Hamas attack on October 7, while the power plant stopped working after its fuel ran out. Gaza's citizens have been forced to rely on small generators, fuel for which is rapidly diminishing due to the lack of outside supplies. Medics and aid groups have warned that hospitals, treating the thousands of people critically injured by Israeli airstrikes, are on the brink of running out of power. On Monday, the UN warned that hospitals in the region could run out of fuel in as little as 24 hours. The lack of electricity has also hampered search and rescue efforts. Palestine's Civil Defence agency said that its workers are unable to find the huge number of people trapped under the rubble of their homes, destroyed by Israeli airstrikes, without consistent power. Egypt has agreed to reopen its northern border with Gaza to allow desperately needed humanitarian aid to enter the war-torn enclave but there are growing fears Hamas will steal it for themselves or use it as cover to bring in more weapons. More than 200 trucks and some 3,000 tonnes of aid are now positioned at the Rafah crossing, Gaza's only connection to Egypt, to deliver food, water and medicine to the millions of civilians trapped there amid withering Israeli airstrikes. But under the deal agreed by Egypt after intense talks with President Joe Biden on Thursday, only 20 trucks with humanitarian aid will be allowed into the enclave from Friday at the earliest amid fears that Hamas will confiscate the supplies. Even before the latest blockade, Israel enforced a strict blockade on the Gaza Strip, imposing severe restrictions on imports and exports as well as controlling who gets to go in and out of the 141 square mile region. Before war broke out, the World Food programme estimated that over 60% of Gaza's residents faced food insecurity, a problem that has only grown since October 7 when Israel cut off supplies. Even before the blockade, Israel enforced a strict blockade on the Gaza Strip, imposing severe restrictions on imports and exports Before war broke out, the World Food programme estimated that over 60% of Gaza's residents faced food insecurity Gaza has been battered by Israeli rockets and missiles since war broke out on October 7 An aerial view of people holding banners and flags during a protest held against Israel on its aerial offensive on the Gaza Strip on October 20, 2023 in Sana'a, Yemen. People rally in solidarity with the Palestinian people to protest a strike on a hospital in the Gaza Strip, at the Parliament Square in Rabat, Morocco, 20 October 2023 Palestine's food imports grew sharply over the past decade, according to World Bank figures, while the amount of food produced fell. Gaza's fishing industry, which used to make up a significant part of the economy, has been restricted to just 6 miles of the Mediterranean Sea, with Israel's navy blocking it to prevent weapons being smuggled into the region. Palestinians in Gaza are now being forced to severely ration food. One man told the Associated Press that the kilogram of bread he bought from one of the few bakeries still open would need to be shared with 20 to 30 members of his family. 90% of Gaza's fresh water supply was undrinkable before Israel cut the region off, according to Palestine's water authority. The stark warning from Israel comes as columns of Israeli tanks massed on the Israel-Gaza border and thousands of soldiers readied themselves for battle on Friday as an invasion of the war-torn enclave appears imminent. Tens of thousands of Israeli soldiers and scores of tanks and armoured vehicles are now positioned on the border - ready for a ground assault on the Gaza Strip where 203 hostages are being held captive by Hamas terrorists. The massing of artillery and men at the border comes after heavy machine gunfire was heard along the border in the early hours of Friday morning. Israel continued to pound Gaza with a relentless stream of airstrikes with the IDF saying their fighter jets hit over 100 'operational targets' of Hamas terrorists overnight. The strikes destroyed tunnel shafts, munitions warehouses and dozens of operational headquarters, the IDF said. Israel also began evacuating a northern Israeli city near the Lebanese border in yet another sign of an impending ground invasion that could trigger turmoil across the Middle East. The two million Palestinians trapped in the small enclave, where thousands have been killed and entire towns obliterated in the Israeli airstrikes, are now bracing themselves for the invasion that is expected to result in further major casualties. It comes after Yoav Gallant, the Israeli defence minister, on Thursday visited troops positioned along the Gaza border, and told them that they would soon see the Palestinian enclave 'from inside'. An infantry commander in the IDF told DailyMail.com on Thursday that they were ready to invade, adding there was 'a very high level of optimism' among his troops. Israel's leaders are determined to rid Gaza of its Hamas rulers, even if that means going house-to-house in an operation that could last 'years' and result in further major casualties among Palestinians. Israel says its invasion of Gaza will take place in three phases, and will end with it shirking its responsibility for the Strip's citizens The IDf's three-phase war will begin with airstrikes and ground manoeuvres against Gaza Israeli armoured vehicles gathered at an undisclosed location near the border with Gaza, in Israel on Friday Israeli tanks gathered at an undisclosed location near the border with Gaza, in Israel, on Friday Israeli armoured vehicles gathered at an undisclosed location near the border with Gaza, in Israel, on Friday Israeli armoured vehicles gathered at an undisclosed location near the border with Gaza, in Israel, on Friday Israeli troops are seen patrolling near the border with Gaza on Thursday, ahead of the invasion Israeli tanks seen on a road near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel on Friday Israeli soldiers listen to Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant as he meets them in a field near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel on Thursday Israeli soldiers prepare for the scenario of ground manoeuvres at an undisclosed location near the border with Gaza, in Israel, on Friday A picture taken from the southern Israeli city of Sderot on Friday shows smoke ascending over the northern Gaza Strip following an Israeli strike People carry a dead body pulled from rubble as civil defense teams and residents continue search and rescue efforts in the historical Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius Church, where civilians took shelter, after Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, Gaza on Friday A view of the site of Israeli strikes on a house in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip on Friday Top war experts have warned that a conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip may become bloody and brutal. David Petraeus, the former director of the CIA and the US' top general in both Iraq and Afghanistan, warned that the IDF's current plan of a bombing campaign followed by a major land invasion of the 140 square mile patch of land 'could be Mogadishu on steroids very quickly'. The warning referenced the two-day battle between US forces and Somalia National Alliance (SNA) and armed citizens in Somalia's capital city in 1993. Three US Black Hawk choppers were downed by resistance forces, leading to bloody urban fighting over several hours that ended up being the deadliest single battle fought by US soldiers since the Vietnam War. Elsewhere, Israel continued to pound Gaza with withering airstrikes on Friday including parts of the south that Israel had declared 'safe zones', as the millions of Palestinians trapped in the enclave desperately awaited a first delivery of international emergency aid. In northern Gaza, Hamas terrorists accused Israel of committing war crimes after Israeli airstrikes hit an Orthodox Christian church where families had been sheltering. Gaza's Hamas-run government media office said 18 Christian Palestinians had been killed, adding it was 'a war crime that cannot be ignored'. Israel has said it is attacking Hamas terrorists wherever they may be in Gaza, describing them as 'dead men walking', and accused the group's leaders and fighters of taking shelter among the civilian population. But Israel's withering airstrikes have continued to obliterate entire neighbourhoods across the densely populated territory, leaving behind death and destruction. Exhausted Palestinians desperately searched through the rubble of their homes for loved ones across Gaza this morning, their screams piercing the air as they found the lifeless bodies of their children, wives and parents. In the nearly two weeks since Israel began its withering aerial bombardment in response to a devastating attack by Hamas terrorists that saw 1,300 people slaughtered, thousands of homes destroyed across the 25-mile enclave and 3,785 Palestinians killed, including 1,524 children. For the more than two million Palestinians trapped there, nowhere - and no one - seems to be safe from the relentless Israeli strikes. And doctors say they are fighting a losing battle against a lack of medicines, water and fuel to keep hospitals running. Grief-stricken parents, their legs buckling beneath them as they see the bodies of their dead children, have become a familiar sight since the war started on October 7. Eight children aged between two and five were among 10 people from the same family killed in an air strike on a house in the city of Khan Yunis, in southern Gaza, early on Wednesday, relatives said. 'The children were asleep when they destroyed the house,' their 67-year-old grandfather, Abu Mohammad Wafi al-Bakri, said. Diyala, Ayman, Hamada, Zaher, Uday, Jamal, Nabil and Acil all came from one extended family and all slept on the ground floor. It took an hour after the raid to find their bodies, rescuers said. 'None of my children were linked to Palestinian organisations and no men were in the house at the time,' said Jihad al-Bakri, father of three of the children. He had left his home an hour before the missile hit to try to find water. Rescue workers move debris at the site of Israeli strikes on a house, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Friday Citing a deepening humanitarian crisis, the international community has urged Israel to minimise civilian casualties and allow desperately-needed aid to enter Gaza. But the deal to get aid into Gaza through Rafah, the territory's only crossing not controlled by Israel, remained fragile. Israel said the supplies could only go to civilians and that it would 'thwart' any diversions by Hamas. More than 200 trucks and some 3,000 tonnes of aid were positioned at or near Rafah. Work began on Friday to repair the road at the crossing that had been damaged in airstrikes, with trucks unloading gravel and bulldozers and other road repair equipment filling in large craters. But inside Israel, the drumbeat of war has only grown louder. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, rallied troops near Gaza on Thursday, suggesting the invasion was imminent. Decked in body armour, he vowed troops would 'fight like lions' and 'win with full force'. And Gallant banged the drum of war in a briefing to Israeli troops massed on the border with Gaza, telling them to 'annihilate' Hamas and that they will soon see the enclave 'from the inside'. He told them: 'Whoever sees Gaza from afar will soon see it from the inside. The command will come, I promise you. 'There is no forgiveness for this thing. Only total annihilation of Hamas organization - terror infrastructures, everything that has to do with terrorists and whoever sent them. 'It will take a week, it will take a month, it will take two months, until we annihilate them. You are not alone in battle. We trust you and count on you. Carry on training while there is time.' A formation of Israeli tanks and other military is positioned near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, on Friday Israeli military convoys are seen on the move near the Gaza Strip in the early hours of Friday Israeli soldiers prepare for the scenario of ground manoeuvres at an undisclosed location near the border with Gaza, in Israel, on Friday Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant speaks during his visit to Israeli soldiers near the Gaza border on Thursday Israeli soldiers prepare for the scenario of ground manoeuvres at an undisclosed location near the border with Gaza, in Israel, on Friday A picture taken from the southern Israeli city of Sderot on Friday shows smoke ascending over the northern Gaza Strip following an Israeli strike Palestinian man grieves over the body of a relative wrapped in a shroud labelled with a name, at the Najjar hospital in the southern Gaza Strip on Friday Palestinian emergency services and local citizens search for victims in buildings destroyed during Israeli air raids in the southern Gaza Strip on Friday Palestinian emergency services and local citizens search for victims in buildings destroyed during Israeli air raids in the southern Gaza Strip on Friday Palestinians search the destroyed annex of the Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius Church, the oldest church still in use in Gaza, damaged in a strike on Gaza City on Friday Israel has refused to discuss plans for what will happen in Gaza after Hamas is toppled. President Joe Biden, who was in Israel on Wednesday, asked about a post-Hamas Gaza, and was reportedly told that all resources were currently focused on the invasion, rather than the day after. But several Israeli politicians have referenced creating an expanded demilitarised zone around the border. When asked about the military's movements, IDF spokesman Lt. Colonel Jonathan Conricus told CNN that the military was ready, but would not announce their invasion in advance. He said: 'The reserves are ready, equipped, mission-oriented, and standing by for the next stage of our operations,' said Conricus. 'But at this time, of course, we will not advertise when, where, and how we will advance or do or enhance our military activities.' A picture taken from the southern Israeli city of Sderot on Friday shows smoke ascending over the northern Gaza Strip following an Israeli strike A view of a damaged car covered in debris at the site of Israeli strikes on a house in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Friday Egyptian members of the military sit in trucks as humanitarian aid from for Palestinians waits for the reopening of the Rafah border crossing on the Egyptian side to enter Gaza on Friday A view of humanitarian aid for Palestinians next to a plane, as officials wait to deliver aid to Gaza through the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip on Friday at Al Arish airport, Egypt Biden addressed the American people from the Oval Office of the White House on Thursday night - only his second Oval Office address since becoming president Nir Barkat, Israel's economy minister, confirmed that the invasion had been approved, and now it was up to the military to decide when to strike. 'The Israeli government made a decision, gave a green light to the army to wipe them out and now it's in the hands of the army,' he said. Troops were not expected to enter while foreign leaders were visiting. Biden left Israel on Wednesday evening. Prime minister Rishi Sunak visited on Thursday morning, and then left for Saudi Arabia. Biden addressed the American people from the Oval Office of the White House on Thursday night - only his second Oval Office address since becoming president. He used his speech to explain why the Israeli war, and the Ukraine battle, were so crucial to the United States. Biden also urged implementation of a deal he brokered with Israel and Egypt to allow a limited amount of aid into Gaza from Friday. 'The people of Gaza urgently need food, water and medicine,' Biden said in a televised address from the Oval Office on his return from Tel Aviv. But near Egypt's border with Gaza, food, medicines, water purifiers and blankets have been piling up, with doubts growing that the Rafah crossing will open as planned. 'We hope there will be a crossing tomorrow,' World Health Organization (WHO) boss Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Thursday. 'But for sure, based on the experience we had the last few days, we are also at the same time worried whether this will happen.' Meanwhile in Israel, one veteran IDF commander told DailyMail.com that his troops were ready to 'wipe Hamas out'. Eliezer, a major in the IDF who goes by Ezzy, and did not want to give his last name, is stationed in the south of Israel with the Golani Brigade - a group of reservists, often one of the first to be called up for active duty. Eliezer, a major in the IDF who goes by Ezzy, spoke to DailyMail.com from southern Israel Ezzy said that his troops were clear about their mission and ready for the order to go in to Gaza Israeli tanks are seen moving along the Gaza border on Thursday Ezzy signed up in 2004 and has served in the last four major wars in Israel, as an engineer, rabbi and commander. His unit is designated to lead the forces of the Brigade - neutralising mine fields, creating new pathways, capturing bridgeheads, and detonating explosives, he told DailyMail.com. The veteran IDF commander serves as a rabbi as well as an engineer in his unit 'Without a question, this is different than any year,' he said. 'But morale is very high, very optimistic.' Ezzy said the terror attacks of October 7 have galvanised his troops. 'Obviously the first days we experienced the initial shock. Tonnes of mourning - but there wasn't a lot of time to mourn,' he said. 'We didn't know when we would go in, we thought we would go in to Gaza a lot earlier.' Ezzy said there was a strong sense of purpose among the soldiers. 'We are very close. 'There's a lot of brotherhood, and with time the spirit is going up - there's a very high level of optimism. 'I can't remember Israel so united. More than ever I feel the support - we get messages.' He said they appreciated international support for their war on Hamas. 'I feel the world is united - it's not just Jewish people. It's anyone who understands there's good and evil,' he said. 'They understand Israel is fighting for the good of this world - not just for Israel, but for light in this world.' 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 A Palestinian man uses a fire extinguisher to douse a fire following an Israeli strike on October 8 in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip Avi Dichter, former commander of the Shin Bet domestic security agency, who now serves as the agriculture minister, is seen in Sderot on Thursday And he said his troops were ready to go in to Gaza. 'The soldiers are trained - they want to go in,' he said, adding that they were spending their days 'sharpening our skills on the planning and physical level'. 'They're ready, but we take day by day,' he added. We see every day that we don't go in as a blessing because we can use it to train and to become better prepared.' On Thursday, the Israeli army said it had destroyed a missile launch site and tunnels, claiming 'more than 10 terrorists were eliminated'. Since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas on October 7, much attention has been focused on Hezbollah Last week, Iraqi armed forces aligned with Iran threatened to target US interests with missiles and drones if Washington intervened to support Israel against Hamas in Gaza Ezzy said their mission was 'clear', describing the aims of the invasion as straightforward. 'Hamas has to be wiped out,' he said. 'There's no argument - it's clear. We always knew what their (Hamas) intent was and now we know what their capabilities are. 'We know we have to completely eradicate the enemy and that's what we have to do. It's unknown when exactly we will go in. We are taking it day by day.' It comes as the Israeli army announced plans to evacuate the northern city of Kiryat Shmona on Friday, after days of clashes with Hezbollah terrorists along the border with Lebanon as fears grow of a wider conflict in the Middle East. 'A short while ago, the Northern Command informed the mayor of the city of the decision. The plan will be managed by the local authority, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Defence,' the military said in a statement. Days earlier, Israel evacuated 28 communities near the border. Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group, which has a massive arsenal of long-range rockets, has traded fire with Israel along the border on a near-daily basis and hinted it might join the war if Israel seeks to annihilate Hamas. Israel's archfoe Iran supports both armed groups. Israel's military said its forces continued to target Hezbollah targets as tensions grew along the border. 'The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) carried out a number of attacks against Hezbollah infrastructure, including observation posts,' the army said early on Friday. 'In addition, IDF fighter jets struck three terrorists who attempted to launch anti-tank missiles toward Israel.' Israeli authorities have been steadily evacuating communities across the northern frontier, as reservists and columns of tanks and armoured vehicles poured into the area. This is the moment Russian SU-27 fighter jets buzzed an RAF spy plane and Typhoons over the Black Sea. Two Russian Su-27 fighter jets were scrambled in response to the approach by the RC-135 'electronic warfare aircraft' and its escorts, Moscow said. 'A pair of Su-27 fighters from the air defence duty force were flown to identify the air targets and prevent violation of the state border of the Russian Federation,' the country's defence ministry said. 'The Russian fighter crews identified the aerial targets as an RC-135 radio-technical reconnaissance and electronic warfare aircraft and two British Air Force Typhoon multirole fighters.' Footage taken from an aircraft's cockpit shows the planes leaving trails across the sky. Footage taken from an aircraft's cockpit shows the planes leaving trails across the sky. Two Russian Su-27 fighter jets were scrambled in response to the approach by the RC-135 'electronic warfare aircraft' and its escorts, said Moscow The ministry claimed: 'As the Russian fighters approached, the foreign military aircraft performed a U-turn away from the state border of the Russian Federation.' The Russian's alleged interception 'was carried out in strict compliance with international rules on the use of airspace over neutral waters, without crossing air routes or coming dangerously close to aircraft of a foreign state'. News agency TASS boasted that the Russian Su-27s acted to 'prevent British planes from violating the state border over the Black Sea'. Yet the statement admitted that the RAF planes were 'in airspace over neutral waters'. The footage was filmed on Thursday but released today by Vladimir Putin's defence ministry. NATO is known to closely monitor Russia's hostile actions against Ukraine, much of it carried on from occupied areas of Ukraine like Crimea. The incident came amid high tension over Putin's war in Ukraine, with the Kremlin furious over the U.S. supply of new long range ATACMS weapons to Kyiv. Video showed one of the planes up close. 'The Russian fighter crews identified the aerial targets as an RC-135 radio-technical reconnaissance and electronic warfare aircraft and two British Air Force Typhoon multirole fighters,' Russia's defence ministry said A view from the cockpit of the planes. 'A pair of Su-27 fighters from the air defence duty force were flown to identify the air targets and prevent violation of the state border of the Russian Federation,' the country's defence ministry said Putin visited the headquarters of Russia's Southern Military District late on Thursday, which is located less than 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Ukraine's southeastern border. He was briefed on the war by the chief of the General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, the Kremlin said. With the scale of the Western aid that Kyiv can expect going forward uncertain, and after a five-month-long Ukrainian counteroffensive that drained Russia's reserves but apparently only dented its front-line defenses, both countries are scrambling to replenish their stockpiles for 2024. US President Joe Biden urgently requested military aid on Friday for Ukraine and Israel in a massive $106 billion national security package, but Republican paralysis in Congress means it hit an immediate wall. Ukraine has been expending ammunition at a rate of more than 200,000 rounds per month, according to Jack Watling, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute think tank in London. Russia's President Vladimir Putin, accompanied by Army chief of staff Valery Gerasimov, visits the military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don that is overseeing the country's military action in Ukraine, on October 19, 2023 Putin and Russian Chief of General Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov talk to each other as they walk down the stairs at the headquarters of Russia's Southern Military District in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, on Oct. 19, 2023 'Sufficient ammunition to sustain this rate of fire is not going to be forthcoming as NATO stockpiles deplete, and production rates for ammunition remain too low to meet this level of demand,' Watling wrote in an assessment published late on Thursday. Meanwhile, Russian production 'has turned a corner,' he said. Moscow's domestic ammunition production is growing quickly, at more than 100 long-range missiles a month compared with 40 a month a year ago, for example, according to Watling. Also, Russia is reported to be receiving supplies from Iran, North Korea and other countries. Though the counteroffensive has not made dramatic progress against Russia's formidable defenses, it has suppressed gains by the Kremlin's forces. If Ukraine can keep up the pressure, it would further stretch Russia's already strained manpower resources, according to the Institute for the Study of War. Republicans reveal a $200,000 personal check from James Biden to Joe Biden that they say is the strongest evidence yet that the president was directly involved in his family's business dealings. According to bankruptcy court documents obtained by the House Oversight Committee, James Biden took money from his health care business Americore and sent it directly to his brother Joe Biden. The documents show that in 2018, James Biden obtained $600,000 in loans from Americore. James was able to receive the loans based upon 'representations' that his last name, 'Biden,' could 'open doors.' On March 1, 2018, Americore wired a $200,000 loan into the personal bank account of James and Sara Biden. That same day, James Biden wrote a $200,000 check to 'Joseph R. Biden' from his personal account for a 'loan repayment.' At the time, Joe had already left the vice presidency position. Republicans leading the investigation into the Biden family's 'influence peddling scheme' that is the center of their impeachment inquiry into the president, say this personal check directly shows Joe was aware of - and included in - his family's dealings. BREAKING We have found a $200,000 DIRECT payment to Joe Biden. @RepJamesComer lays out the money trail. pic.twitter.com/0vq3lqhRHz Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) October 20, 2023 On March 1, 2018, Americore wired a $200,000 loan into the personal bank account of James and Sara Biden According to the court documents, James made it seem as though 'he could obtain a large investment from the Middle East based on his political connections.' In a video put out Friday by Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., he says that 'Americorea distressed companyloaned money to James Biden who then sent it to Joe Biden.' 'Even if this was a personal loan repayment, it's still troubling that Joe Biden's ability to be paid back by his brother depended on the success of his family's shady financial dealings,' Comer states. A spokesperson told DailyMail.com that the committee 'recently' received the documents that were a result of a September subpoena for Hunter and James' business and personal bank records. The court document reviewed by DailyMail.com states: 'On March 1, 2018, Americore Health wire transferred the sum of $200,000.00 to Defendant's bank account at PNC Bank, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The documentation evidencing the foregoing wire transfer prepared by Americore Health references the transfer as a 'LOAN.'' White House spokesperson for oversight and investigations Ian Sams called the information put out by the Republicans 'failure theater' and a 'shiny object to distract people from how they are incapable of doing the basics of governing.' 'Its no coincidence they rushed out a new distraction mere minutes after yet another failed Speaker vote,' Sams continued. He went on to say there is 'zero evidence of wrongdoing by President Biden.' On Friday, Jim Jordan lost his third vote for House speaker, leaving Republicans without a leader for 17 days and unable to accomplish any basic policy work. The release of the check comes weeks after Republicans held their first hearing in the impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden. In September, then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy launched the impeachment inquiry - being led by Oversight. Republicans say bank records show that Biden family and associates raked in more than $20 million from China, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Romania. There are also WhatsApp messages Hunter sent to an associate claiming Joe was in the room while they were discussing business, and damning testimony from IRS and FBI whistleblowers. As part of the GOP-led probe, they spoke with the president's son Hunter's ex-business partner Devon Archer, who testified that President Biden was in fact aware of his son's dealings and sat in on at least 20 calls and multiple dinners with his son's business partners. James Biden wrote a $200,000 check to 'Joseph R. Biden' for a 'loan repayment' Additionally, Republican have uncovered over a dozen shell companies that Hunter and at least 12 members of the Biden family used to funnel in foreign money. Joe Biden also used various private email addresses from which he would sometimes send, receive and forward government correspondence according to emails found on Hunter Biden's now-infamous laptop. 'Robin Ware,' 'Robert L. Peters' and 'JRB ware' were three pseudonyms used on emails that were about both official and family business. The White House and the president himself have maintained that he has never been involved in Hunter's or the rest of his family's business dealings. Sec of State Anthony Blinken unable to confirm further details of the other 10 Anthony Blinken says Hamas is still feared to be holding 10 Americans hostage after the terror group freed a mom and daughter from Chicago who it abducted. The Secretary of State revealed the number still missing during a press conference about the release of Judith and Natalie Raanan on Friday. Blinken said he had no further information to offer on the 'status or condition' of the Americans still believed to be in Hamas custody following the October 7 terror attacks. He also refused to comment further on how the Raanans are doing after being handed over. Blinken told reporters: 'We welcome (the Raanans') release. We share in the relief that their families, friends and loved ones are feeling. 'But there are still ten additional Americans who remain unaccounted for in this conflict. 'Some of them are being held hostage by Hamas along with an estimated 200 other hostages held in Gaza. They include men, women and young boys, young girls and people from many nations. Every single one of them should be released.' Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told reporters that 10 Americans remain hostages of Hamas, after it was revealed Illinois mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan had been released Friday Hamas hostages Judith Raanan and Natalie Raanan, a mother and daughter from Chicago, have been released by the terror group, the Daily Mail understands The Daily Mail was first to confirm the identities of Judith Raanan and Natalie Raanan, a mother and daughter from Chicago who were visiting Israel for a relative's birthday when they were kidnapped. Hamas armed wing spokesman Abu Ubaida issued a statement announcing the release on Friday, almost two weeks after the militant group took around 200 hostages during an October 7 attack that killed 1,400 Israelis, mostly civilians. Judith and Natalie were handed over to the Red Cross at an Egyptian border-crossing alongside the Gaza Strip and are now en route to a military base in the center of the country, where their family awaits them. President Biden released a statement saying his administration had 'secured the release' of the Raanans and sympathized over the 'terrible ordeal' they'd endured. He added that he was 'overjoyed' by the women's release and that he was continuing to work to free other captured Americans. Earlier this week, Martin Fletcher, one of MSNBC's long-term Middle East correspondents broke down on air while revealing the hostages Judith and Natalie Raanan are members of his wife's family. 'They were last seen, their hands tied, being dragged away by the Hamas terrorists. So it's personal, it's real, and nobody is really confident that it's possible to get them back alive. Of course, everybody's hoping,' Fletcher told Stephanie Ruhle on Thursday. Through tears, Fletcher said: 'Hamas is using the hostages for psychological warfare.' He described the conflict as a 'very personal thing.' 'Nobody is really confident that it's possible to get them back alive,' he somberly added. Abu Ubaida, a spokesman for Hamas' armed wing the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, said the mother and daughter were released 'for humanitarian reasons' in response to Qatari mediation efforts. In a blustering statement, Abu Ubaida said the move would 'prove to the American people and the world that the claims made by (President Joe) Biden and his fascist administration are false and baseless.' Israel responded to the Hamas massacre and hostage crisis by pounding Gaza with air strikes, killing more than 4,000 people according to Hamas, and has said it will act to free the hostages while wiping out the terror group. Seventeen-year-old Natalie (above) and her mother were visiting family in Israel for the Jewish holidays and a relative's 85th birthday Israelis, whose close ones were taken hostage during a Hamas attack, demonstrate during a meeting between US President Joe Biden and Israeli leaders earlier this week Israeli tanks and troops are amassed near the perimeter of the enclave for an expected ground invasion, calling on Palestinians to evacuate the north of Gaza, where it says Hamas is dug in. Israel has also said that there will be no end to its full blockade of the enclave unless Israeli hostages are freed. Hamas says it has some 200 hostages and that 50 more are held by other armed groups in the enclave. The group claimed more than 20 hostages have been killed by Israeli air strikes, but has not given any further details. Mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan were visiting Israel from Chicago when they were abducted Natalie Raanan is a typical 17-year-old: she loves art, makeup, fashion, and DoorDash -- 'she hates eating at home,' said her brother, Ben Raanan, told The Associated Press this week. She graduated from high school in the Chicago suburbs this year, and has a birthday coming up, according to her brother, who is 34 and based in Denver. Before she left on a trip to Israel to celebrate her grandmother's 85th birthday and the Jewish holidays with her mother, Judith Raanan, the teen was deciding between going to college to study interior or fashion design and taking an apprenticeship with a tattoo shop. The pair had been sending updates as the trip progressed and were enjoying 'this really special mom and daughter time together,' said their rabbi, Meir Hecht. But the family hadn't heard from either mother or daughter since Hamas launched an unprecedented surprise attack. Natalie Raanan was visiting family for the High Holidays with her mother, Judith, when the assault began on October 7 Judith Raanan was also taken hostage along with her daughter. Their family in Illinois has not heard from them since Saturday Natalie is 'just a very loving, kind person,' said her older brother, Ben Raanan. Their middle brother, Adam, is nonverbal and much older than she is, but Natalie makes it a priority to maintain a strong bond with him, he explained. The family has been in touch with both U.S. and Israeli government officials, who confirmed Natalie and Judith are alive and being held hostage by Hamas, according to Ben Raanan, speaking prior to news of Friday's release. 'This whole situation is surreal,' he said. 'We are a very peaceful family. We do not advocate at all for any violence to be done to anyone in this world.' Judith Raanan is very active in her faith community, Chabad of Evanston, said her friend and the rabbi's wife, Yehudis Hecht. Judith came to Shabbat almost every week, helped prepare the Kiddush lunch, and just before she left for Israel, dropped off a pink prayer book for the Hechts' seven-year-old daughter, who loves the color, said Yehudis Hecht. A few dozen community members gathered to pray for the Raanans' safe return in the days after the Hamas attack - and are set to be delighted at news of their safe release. 'Judith, we're thinking of you. Of your resilience, your hope, your love, your generosity, your faith and your strength. We know you're a strong woman and we pray that we see you safely very soon with your dear Natalie,' Yehudis Hecht said at the event. Rishi Sunak has blamed 'local factors' for the double Conservative by-election losses in Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire, saying mid-term elections are 'always difficult for incumbent governments'. The Prime Minister, who is returning to the UK from Egypt where he has been attempting to cool the Israel-Gaza crisis, told broadcasters the results were 'obviously disappointing' but that it was 'important to remember the context'. 'Mid-term elections are always difficult for incumbent governments', he said. 'And of course there are also local factors at play here.' He added that he remained 'committed to delivering on the priorities of the British people' following the defeats in the areas, which previously enjoyed healthy Tory majorities. Both contests were trigged by the high-profile departures of their previous MPs. Rishi Sunak has blamed 'local factors' for the double Conservative by-election losses in Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire Rishi Sunak is currently returning from a tour of the Middle East trying to cool the Israel crisis (pictured meeting Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani in Saudi Arabia) Keir Starmer posed alongside new MP Alistair Strathern at a rally in Mid Beds as he claimed voters had shown they want a 'change' in No10 Former cabinet minister Nadine Dorries quit as Mid Bedfordshire's MP after she was denied a peerage in former Prime Minister Boris Johnson 's resignation honours list Former cabinet minister Nadine Dorries quit as Mid Bedfordshire's MP after she was denied a peerage in former Prime Minister Boris Johnson's resignation honours list. Tamworth's former MP Chris Pincher resigned after being found to have drunkenly groped two men at London's exclusive Carlton Club last year - an incident which triggered Mr Johnson's departure from Number 10. Following the by-election results, Keir Starmer boasted he can emulate Tony Blair, saying he wanted to 'follow in the footsteps' of the ex-PM as he posed alongside his new MPs. The loss of the true-blue strongholds has triggered a fresh wave of introspection among Conservatives, with even those in safe seats concerned about their prospects. Although by-elections are not directly reflected at general elections, a swing of the scale seen overnight could theoretically reduce the Tories to 20 seats. Labour gained Mid Beds for the first time in the constituency's century-long history. It was the largest majority in terms of votes overturned by Labour at a by-election since 1945, with an eye-watering swing of more than 20 per cent. Sir Keir was cheered by rapturous supporters as he did his lap of honour after the results The Labour leader moved straight on to celebrate in Tamworth. He insisted he was staying 'humble' but wanted to emulate Tony Blair Sir Keir's candidate also routed the Tories in Brexit-backing Tamworth, smashing the 19,600-vote cushion from the 2019 general election. Giving a stump speech and doing media interviews, Sir Keir insisted he is remaining 'humble' despite polling experts saying the results put him on track for a landslide. READ MORE: Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire by-election results: Rishi Sunak faces demands for immediate tax cuts to avert 1997-style Labour landslide after shattering blows in Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire - with Keir Starmer gloating he is on the verge of power Labour's Alistair Strathern delivers a victory speech after his win in the Mid Bedfordshire by-election Advertisement Asked by Sky News whether he was the 'heir to Blair', Sir Keir said: 'Tony Blair won three times, produced a landslide victory for the Labour Party and allowed a Labour government to do incredible things for our country. 'We face different times and we go forward to a different challenge in 2024. 'But what I do want to do is follow in the footsteps of a leader of our party who took us from opposition into power. That's where these results are so important, as a step along that journey.' Praising his new MP Alistair Strathern, Sir Keir said: 'What a fantastic candidate He has not only won here, he's made history here over the past 24 hours. An incredible achievement already.' Thanking Labour campaigners, he said: 'Every vote that you persuaded to come across to us was worth it. 'This is an incredible night in politics, an incredible morning, an incredible result here for so many reasons. 'It is clear that the voters here have turned their back on a failed Tory Government. They've had enough of the decline of the last 13 years and they are crying out for change positive change that the Labour Party can bring them.' In its 105 years of existence, Labour had never won Mid Beds and were 24,664 votes behind the Tories at the 2019 general election. Labour shadow cabinet minister Peter Kyle, who masterminded his party's victory in Mid Bedfordshire, hailed a 'political earthquake'. 'This is the biggest by-election shock in history, it is a political earthquake and it is one that is sending an unignorable message to Westminster and to Rishi Sunak that this country deserves better,' he said. Mr Strathern took the constituency with a majority of 1,192 votes over his Tory rival Festus Akinbusoye - who dramatically walked out of the count without listening to his rival's victory speech. Victory for Labour in Brexit-backing Tamworth saw the party overturn the Tories' 19,600-vote majority from the 2019 general election. The swing from the Tories to Labour in the Staffordshire constituency was 23.9 percentage points, which is the second-largest managed by Labour at a by-election since 1945. It was even bigger than the 23.7 percentage points that Labour achieved when winning the Selby and Ainsty by-election in July. Labour's Sarah Edwards will replace Chris Pincher as the local MP in Tamworth Mr Sunak has been left reeling after he attempted to revive Tory fortunes with a recent policy blitz Polling guru Sir John Curtice pointed out that the change was in line with Labour's 1996 by-election victory in the forerunner seat, and warned that Mr Sunak is 'staring defeat in the face'. Labour candidate Sarah Edwards defeated Tory rival Andrew Cooper by a majority of 1,316 votes in Tamworth. He also made a swift exit from the count without listening to her speech. Tory chair Greg Hands said he was 'disappointed' but blamed 'specific circumstances' in the constituencies and said their voters had simply stayed at home. 'We need to think particularly about the fact that Conservative voters are not coming out to vote,' he told Sky News. One veteran Tory told MailOnline: 'Normally by elections are protest votes, this appears to be protest non votes.' Mr Sunak has been left reeling after he attempted to revive Tory fortunes with a recent policy blitz. The PM has made announcements on Net Zero, the HS2 rail line, an A-levels shake-up, and a New Zealand-style smoking ban. He has also overhauled his Downing Street team, but has yet to see much improvement in the Conservatives' opinion polling. Although by-elections are not directly reflected at general elections, a swing of the scale seen overnight could theoretically reduce the Tories to a rump of seats Although he is now enjoying a solid lead, as recently as the end of 2021 Sir Keir was in charge of an Opposition that was trailing the Conservatives By contrast Labour had spent more than four years ahead in the polls before Tony Blair's 1997 landslide There is now huge pressure to go 'further and faster' on issues such as tax, immigration and cracking down on 'woke' society. Critics of Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's refusal to consider tax cuts in the looming Autumn Statement were encouraged today by figures showing borrowing coming in lower than anticipated. However, one former Cabinet minister urging a policy shift dismissed the idea that Mr Sunak's position is under threat at this time. Bemoaning the lack of a plausible replacement, they said: 'Who is there?' Tory MP Andrea Jenkyns wrote on social media: 'Voter apathy is evident yet again in both the #ByElections, low turnout -20k failed to turnout in Tamworth, 24k failed to turnout in Mid Beds since the last election. 'We need to make far reaching major changes now to instil confidence in the Conservative voters.' 'In the two by elections thousands of Conservative voters in 2019 stayed at home. The Labour vote was similar to 2019. Many people want the government to stop the boats, improve the quality and efficiency of services and cut taxes to get some growth.' Danny Kruger, a member of the New Conservatives group, said Mr Sunak should be 'braver'. Danny Kruger, a member of the New Conservatives group, said Mr Sunak (pictured) should be 'braver' Extraordinary footage showed Mid Beds candidate Festus Akinbusoye leaving the count without listening to his rival's victory speech Labour supporters embrace each other as they celebrate their party's stunning success in Mid Bedfordshire The MP for Devizes told BBC Radio 4's World At One programme he welcomed watering down of Net Zero goals, adding: 'I think we need to continue in that direction and be more coherent, more robust and braver. 'I think we need to go a bit further and faster. So on migration, I'm encouraged by the position on illegal migration. I think we now need to take further steps to reduce overall numbers of legal migration. 'I'm concerned about some issues around the so-called culture wars, which I think do matter to people. In Parliament and the media they tend to be disregarded but actually these things matter. 'So the guidance on sex education in schools, proposals around transgender, rights are significant and matter and they have real cut-through. 'We need to be bolder on taxation than we have been but all of this is to play for and the instincts of the Government are in the right place. 'I really do believe that the PM wants to do the right thing in this, I think he is constrained by opinion in Whitehall, in the Civil Service and to a degree on our benches as well. And I just encourage him to recognise that he gets a proper poll bounce and the support of our people when he leans into the great realignment in our politics that happened over the last 10 years, with the Brexit referendum and our victory in 2019.' Ex-Cabinet minister John Redwood tweeted: 'In the two by elections thousands of Conservative voters in 2019 stayed at home. 'The Labour vote was similar to 2019. Many people want the government to stop the boats, improve the quality and efficiency of services and cut taxes to get some growth.' Professor Sir John Curtice said the two by-election results were 'extremely bad news' for the Conservatives and suggested Mr Sunak was on course for general election defeat. 'This isn't destiny, but it is a pointer and it is a pointer that, unless the Conservatives can fairly dramatically and fairly radically turn things around, then they are in truth staring defeat in the face in 12 months' time,' he said. He warned the Tories 'may get caught in a pincer movement between some of their former Leave voters wandering off to Labour but others going off to Reform UK'. Reform secured 1,487 votes in Mid Bedfordshire and 1,373 in Tamworth, in both instances more than Labour's majority over the Conservatives. To the outside world, Sukhjit Singh and his wife Ramandeep Kaur Mann were the perfect couple. She was a bright, glamorous and hard-working mother of two. He was a rich, ambitious and devoted family man. Theirs was not an arranged marriage - they'd married for love and enjoyed the trappings of a middle-class life in a smart suburb of Derby. But as is nearly always the case, all that glitters is not gold - and beautiful Ramandeep had plenty of that. The balance of power in their marriage, say those who knew the couple, was not entirely even. 'He worshipped the ground she walked on and waited on her hand and foot,' recalls a friend of the couple, speaking exclusively to the Mail. 'I got the impression she always got what she wanted.' Not always. This week British-born Ramandeep, 38, was facing the hangman's rope in India after she was convicted of murdering her adoring husband, with the help of her lover. Unbeknown to Sukhjit, the wife he doted on had begun a secret affair with his closest childhood friend, and together the lovers coldly devised a plot to poison and murder him for his 2 million life insurance and 100,000 assets. British mother Ramandeep Kaur Mann (pictured) sentenced to death in India for murdering her husband so that she could inherit 2 million from his life insurance policy The killing was witnessed by their eldest son Arjun who was aged nine at the time. Pictured: Sukhjit Singh and Ramandeep Kaur Mann In September 2016, while on holiday at her mother-in-law's house, in Basantapur - a village in the state of Uttar Pradesh, northern India - Ramandeep laced her 34-year-old husband's favourite biryani curry with sedatives, before letting her boyfriend, Gurpreet Singh - who'd tagged along on the trip - into the property. READ MORE HERE: EXCLUSIVE: Unfaithful British mother sentenced to death by hanging for murdering her husband had given him a biryani laced with sedatives before she slit his throat to get her hands on his 2m life insurance Advertisement While Sukhjit slept, Ramandeep smothered him with a pillow, before Gurpreet smashed his friend over the head with a hammer. Ramandeep then completed the job by slitting her husband's throat. The lovers planned to use Sukhjit's money to run away and start a new life, but the plot soon unravelled when police were called and immediately suspected that Ramandeep was involved. She was arrested and Gurpreet was then picked up as he tried to board a flight to Dubai, where he was based. Horrifically, Ramandeep's elder son, Arjun, then aged just nine, witnessed his father's murder. He hadn't felt hungry that night and so hadn't eaten enough of the drugged meal to knock him out, as his mother had planned. Just after 10pm, the little boy was awoken by the sound of his father struggling as his mother attempted to smother him. What he saw will no doubt haunt him for the rest of his life. He later told police: 'My dad was great but my mum was bad and I don't want to see her face ever because she killed my dad in front of my eyes. She kept a pillow on my dad's face and asked Gurpreet to slit his throat.' After waiting seven years for the trial to get to court due to the the protracted Indian justice system, Ramandeep and Gurpreet were finally convicted of Sukhjit's murder earlier this month after Arjun, now 16, flew from the UK to give evidence against his mother in person. If that were not dramatic enough, the case took a final shocking twist on Tuesday when the trial judge ruled that the murder had been so barbaric Ramandeep should receive the death penalty. She now faces being hanged for her crimes. Gurpreet Singh (pictured), who was a childhood friend of Sukhjeet, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a fine of 260,000 Ramandeep Kaur Mann now faces the prospect of being hanged for the killing Her trial at a court in Shahjahanpur, north India heard that Mann's affair with Gurpreet, who was her husband's childhood friend, started during a family holiday to Dubai in November 2015 District Judge Pankaj Kumar Srivastava said not only had Sukhjit, who was known as Sonu, lost his life, but the childhood of his two sons had been 'exterminated' for the 'sake of an illicit relationship'. As the death sentence was handed down, Ramandeep screamed that she was innocent and had been 'framed' by her dead husband's relatives. Her lawyers immediately appealed the death sentence and, while most are now commuted to life imprisonment in India, she could still face the noose if the inevitable months, if not years, of legal hearings ultimately fail to overturn the judge's decision. The country's last execution took place in 2020 - just three years ago - when four men were hanged for the gang rape and murder of a young woman. For now, at least, Ramandeep's days will be spent under the watchful eye of a female constable assigned to monitor her wretched existence in the overcrowded and rundown Shahjahanpur District Jail, where she is being held. Her current circumstances must feel a world away from the comfortable upbringing she enjoyed with her Sikh parents, businessman father Paul Mann, mother Amarjit and three sisters, in their extended semi-detached home on a tree-lined street in Slough, Berkshire, in the 1990s. Described as 'good, law-abiding citizens who will help anyone', the family were refusing to answer the door to reporters this week, but they have always protested Ramandeep's innocence and have been left 'shattered' by her death sentence. Sources in India have told the Mail the wealthy Manns, who have political contacts in the country, had been confident it would never get to this stage. Just seven months after Ramandeep's arrest, they managed to 'buy' their second eldest child out of prison - almost unheard of for such a serious crime - which allowed her to live in relative comfort with family friends in the country, rather than languish on remand for years in one of India's notoriously squalid jails. And, by all accounts, the Manns were also convinced their money and connections would eventually help to bring Ramandeep home. 'They have spent more than 100,000 on legal fees and managed to get Ramandeep bail,' the source told the Mail. Devout Sikh Sukhjit Singh (left), 34, a father-of-two from Derby was found in bed with his throat slit Ramandeep Kaur Mann, 38, from Derby, was found guilty of murdering her husband Sukhjeet Singh, 34, (pictured together) while they were on holiday at his mother's house in India in 2016 The Manns insist Ramandeep was somehow set up by relatives of Sukhjit's, who, they say, had him killed when they discovered he was planning to sell land around his ancestral home. 'Sonu went to sell the land which someone did not like,' Mr Mann wrote online in 2016. 'Raman is innocent - she has been framed.' While no evidence was presented to the court to support such claims, it is true that Sukhjit owned property and agricultural land in India. The village of Basantapur houses a Sikh community, who have a reputation for being enterprising with their rural wealth. READ MORE HERE: British mother is sentenced to death in India after brutally murdering her devout Sikh husband with the help of her secret lover in front of the couple's horrified nine-year-old son Advertisement Certainly, friends have told the Mail that Sukhjit's family, while humble, were 'well-to-do' and had 'a money background'. Three years older than Ramandeep, whom he met when he was aged 20 and she just 17, when Sukhjit first came to the UK in around 2002, the couple fell 'madly' in love and married three years later, in 2005. The friend said: 'It was not an arranged marriage. Their families had nothing to do with the relationship, but they were delighted with them as a couple. Sukhjit worshipped the ground Ramandeep walked on.' Initially, the couple ran a pizza outlet in Carshalton, Surrey, but they moved to Derby to raise their two sons: Arjun, who was born in 2007, and another boy who arrived three years later, in 2010. 'There's a big Sikh community (in Derby) and it created new business opportunities for them,' the friend said. 'Property is cheaper than in London. Sukhjit was a shrewd businessman and so was she. 'He would analyse property prices and was very intelligent. He thought he could get more for his money in Derby than if they stayed in London.' Thanks largely to Sukhjit's business acumen, the university-educated pair enjoyed a very comfortable lifestyle and were well-respected in Littleover, a desirable, semi-rural suburb on the outskirts of Derby, where they set about bringing up their boys. The couple worked hard - at one stage, Ramandeep, who studied graphic design at Thames Valley University, managed a branch of Argos and took on a second job to provide for the family. Alongside his business ventures, Sukhjit also worked as a driver and was planning to set up a transport firm, which he named Arjun Transport after their first born, in the months before he died. A devout Sikh, Sukhjit also became a regular every Sunday at Derby's Sri Guru Singh Sabha Temple and sometimes volunteered as a project manager at the National Sikh Museum in the city. Gurpal Singh, who worked with him at the museum, previously said: 'They were a lovely couple and there was no sign of any difficulties - they seemed very much in love.' Other family and friends have also described Ramandeep as 'placid and compassionate' and said she enjoyed a 'nice and loving relationship' with her husband. But behind closed doors, there was a growing imbalance in the couple's relationship. A friend said: 'He was quite protective but also laid back. I never heard him say anything to her about rules or anything like that. She could do what she wanted. She wore what she wanted and had a level of control over him. 'Sometimes eyebrows were raised in the Sikh community about the way she did not always conform to tradition. Mann mixed sleeping pills into a biryani she made for Mr Singh and their two children, which was his favourite dish Lawyers for Mann have filed an appeal against her death sentence, claiming that the judge incorrectly applied the law when he handed it down to her 'He treated her well and she had expensive habits. She wore nice clothes and jewellery that he bought her, and she liked people to compliment her on how she looked. She always dressed nicely, I never saw her looking casual. I always found her to be a very nice woman and a very good mother. But she knew Sukhjit was madly in love with her.' In November 2015, the couple took their sons on holiday to visit Sukhjit's closest friend, Gurpreet, who was living in Dubai. The two men had known each other since their school days and Sukhjit affectionately referred to Gurpreet as his 'brother' even though they weren't related. Gurpreet, who was also a truck driver and worked in construction, joined the family on day trips during their stay and was pictured in 'selfies' posted online with the couple and their young sons. But unbeknown to Sukhjit, Ramandeep and Gurpreet became more than friends and started an affair during the holiday which they continued, via WhatsApp, on their return. They soon began plotting how to get the unsuspecting Sukhjit out of the picture. The friend of the couple added: 'I was gobsmacked to hear Ramandeep had been cheating on Sukhjit. But then if one of them was going to be unfaithful, it was more likely to be her. That was just the dynamic of the relationship.' It is alleged the lovers decided they would lure Sukhjit to India, where they believed it would be easier to get away with murder. The following summer, in July 2016, Gurpreet tagged along with Ramandeep and Sukhjit on an extended break to visit Sukhjit's mother, Vanshjeet Kaur. But this time Sukhjit noticed a 'strange chemistry' between his wife and his friend and, on August 22, he confronted her about it. Ten days later Ramandeep, who stood to benefit from the 2million life insurance policy she'd taken out in her husband's name, as well as inheriting his two houses and the 100,000 he had in the bank, ground up some sleeping pills and added them to the family's curry dinner. With her family seemingly sleeping soundly, she enacted the lovers' murderous plan. In the end, it was Ramandeep who was found guilty of striking the fatal blow with the knife that Gurpreet had passed from his pocket. She left her husband of 11 years to bleed to death in his bed. The couple's elder son, Arjun, who now lives with his younger brother and paternal uncle, travelled to India from their home in London to testify against his mother in court last month. He insisted: 'I still remember what I saw on that night. I especially came to India to ensure a speedy trial. I want my father's killers to be punished by the law.' Gurpreet was jailed for life and fined 3,000 but was spared the death sentence. Reacting to the verdict, Sukhjit's mother told reporters outside the court that she was thankful that her daughter-in-law had been sentenced to death. She said: 'I feel relieved. My prayers were answered and I got what I was expecting from the court. I was demanding capital punishment for Ramandeep so that no other mother's child dies like this.' Ashok Khanna, lawyer for Sukhjit's family, added: '[Ramandeep] Mann has not shown any remorse and has been very arrogant from the moment she was arrested. 'She deserves this punishment because this is a woman who drugged her own husband and children so that she could kill him. Who does that kind of thing?' A woman like Ramandeep, it seems, who now looks set to pay the ultimate price for her crimes. Additional reporting by Isaac Crowson Pro-Palestinian demonstrators chanted 'shame on you' as they protested outside the Labour Party's headquarters to condemn its stance on the Israel-Hamas war. The group shouted: 'Labour Party blood on your hands' and 'no more money for Israel's crimes 'as they took part in the event organised by London Palestine Action. TFL buses, taxis and ordinary drivers beeped their horns in support of the demonstrators. Protesters expressed disappointment that Sir Keir Starmer failed to recognise 'international war crimes committed by Israel'. It comes after the Labour leader had appeared to suggest that Israel has 'the right' to withhold energy and water from Gaza in an interview with LBC in the wake of Hamas launching a murderous assault on Israeli civilians. The group shouted: ' Labour Party blood on your hands' and 'no more money for Israel's crimes 'as they took part in the event organised by London Palestine Action Ezra, 30, from London , who is Jewish, was among the protestors - and accused Sir Keir of exploiting antisemitism for 'personal and political gain' Protesters expressed disappointment that Sir Keir Starmer failed to recognise 'international war crimes committed by Israel' But Sir Keir argued on Friday that he had intended to say that Israel has the right to defend itself and retrieve the around 200 hostages being held 'within international law'. A number of the party's councillors have resigned over what they perceived as 'horrifying' comments that he was 'endorsing a war crime'. Ezra, 30, from London, who is Jewish, accused Sir Keir of exploiting antisemitism for 'personal and political gain'. She said: 'He has tried very hard recently to put out some statements to appease people but we see right through him. 'He can't undo the damage he's done already, he can't undo the licence he has given Israel to commit war crimes and the damage he has done within the Jewish community.' On Wednesday Starmer distanced himself from a group of almost 30 of his backbenchers who are demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The group, mainly made up of supporters of his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn, are among more than 40 MPs voicing 'deep alarm at the Israeli military bombardment and total siege of Gaza'. The MPs signed an early day motion - a non-binding way MPs can show their feelings on a particular issue - demanding an immediate end to the conflict that has engulfed the Palestinian enclave. Shadia Zai, a 35-year-old member of London Palestine Action and a resident of Sir Keir's constituency Holborn and St Pancras, criticised the 'horrific rhetoric' of the Labour Party regarding the conflict. All protesters interviewed stated they had 'lost confidence' in the Labour Party and would not vote for them in the upcoming general election It comes days after Starmer distanced himself from a group of almost 30 of his backbenchers who are demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza Ms Zai, a Palestinian who has family in the West Bank, said they were under threat from 'Israeli settler violence'. She continued: 'We're really concerned that the leader of the Labour Party Keir Starmer (and) David Lammy who is shadow foreign secretary have both sought to endorse and justify Israel's military action.' 'What we are saying is the Labour Party needs to be at the forefront... making calls for an immediate ceasefire, to stop the bombing and call for the UK to stop arming Israel.' All protesters interviewed stated they had 'lost confidence' in the Labour Party and would not vote for them in the upcoming general election. Blk Moody, 29, from London, said: 'I've always been with Labour but this is where I draw the line because at the moment Labour is the same as the Tories - there's no difference between them. 'I won't be voting for them anymore. Their hands are covered in blood and it is hiding behind antisemitism to justify genocide.' Zad El Bacha, a 27-year-old from London, stated that she would only vote for Labour if the party changed its position on Israel and called for a ceasefire. Protesters also held a placard labelled 'from river to sea Palestine will be free,' a slogan that Home Secretary Suella Braverman said on social media was a 'demand for the destruction of Israel' and a 'staple of antisemitic discourse'. Ezra claimed the slogan promotes anti-Zionism, not antisemitism. She said: 'Anti-Zionism is a legitimate political position for anyone to hold and many Jewish people have always been anti-Zionist since the first conception of Zionism.' Other pro-Palestinian protests took place across the country today, including Manchester, Brighton, Bristol, Leeds, Machynlleth, Bridgend, Oxford and Sheffield. The wife of a man who had convinced her he worked for the CIA has revealed the moment her world 'crumbled' when she was contacted by another of his wives. Bigamist William Allen Jordan left a trail of victims across multiple countries as he scammed women into having relationships and fathering children with him. Mary Turner Thomson was with the US-born con artist for six years before discovering the scale of his deception, which included being married to two other people and having 13 children with a total of six women. In a new programme, she has recalled the moment one of his other victims phoned her out of the blue to say she was 'the other Mrs Jordan' and to warn her about him. The three-part series unpicks the life of Jordan, who was jailed in 2014 for his crimes, and the impact he had on Ms Thomson, as well as the search for the convicted sex offender. Speaking to documentary makers, Mary Turner Thomson revealed the moment her world 'crumbled' after being told the truth about her husband Jordan had two children with Mary Turner Thomson before the scale of his deception was revealed Ms Thomson said she had felt an 'instant attraction' to Jordan and that months later he told her he was a spy for the CIA Speaking on 'The Other Mrs Jordan - Catching the Ultimate Conman', which airs on ITVx next week, Ms Thomson claims she was taken in by the 'strong connection' she had with Jordan after meeting him. 'He was tall dark and handsome and it was instant attraction,' she said, before revealing that three months into their relationship he claimed he acted worked as a 'spy' for the CIA. She said: 'There are people sitting there at home right now thinking "this could never happen to me, I would never be so stupid or gullible to believe somebody like that." Don't ever think it can't happen to you.' The Edinburgh-native recalled how he would spent time away from her, one time claiming he was in Palestine while she was 'pregnant and struggling financially'. READ MORE HERE: Daughter of serial bigamist who had 13 children with six different women says she remembers him being 'the perfect father' before his web of lies was uncovered Advertisement She added that the claims about his life as a secret operative left her 'terrified' but that she was willing to put up with it as they had made a commitment to each other as husband and wife. But then her life changed when another woman claiming to be the wife of Jordan contacted her out of the blue in 2006. A clip of the documentary has recreated the moment Ms Thomson's world was turned upside down, when a woman called asking: 'Are you Mary Turner Thomson?' The mother-of-two responded that she was, to which the other person asked: 'Are you also Mrs Jordan?' When she affirmed she was married to Jordan, the other woman shocking said: 'I'm the other Mrs Jordan.' Ms Thomson said the revelation shocked her to her core and her 'reality just crumbled'. She added that while Jordan 'messed with the wrong woman when he messed with me', it left people questioning: 'How do you know the person sitting next to you right now isn't a psychopath?' During their relationship Jordan had conned her out of hundreds of thousands of pounds, as well as inflicting abuse and trauma on her. In 2006, Jordan pleaded guilty to bigamy, obtaining funds by deception, failing to register as a sex offender and possession of a stun gun. H He served two-and-a-half years in prison before being deported to the United States where he started to scam women again. In 2014 he was caught by police again one of the women he had conned, Mischele Lewis, turned the tables on him by luring him to a parking lot in a pre-organised sting. Jordan was picked up and charged with sexual assault, theft by deception, and impersonating law enforcement, according to the Burlington County, New Jersey, prosecutor's office. In 2014 he was jailed for three years. In the documentary, film makers revealed he hadn't been seen since 2019 as they went on a quest to track him down. Jordan pictured with another of his wives, Mischele Lewis, who turned informant on him after discovering his deception Jordan was arrested in the United States in 2014 after he was found scamming women again Mary Turner Thomson wrote a book in 2020 revealing the true extent of Jordan's lies to her and the impact it had on her family Ms Thomson wrote a book in 2020 about the traumatising experience of being with Thomson, and her discovery of his packs of lies. READ MORE HERE: Moment heartbroken woman conned by globally infamous fraudster, bigamist and fake CIA agent turned the tables on him in a New Jersey parking lot police sting Advertisement She revealed that Jordan had told her he was infertile and that Eilidh was a 'miracle child,' but it turned out he had had several children with other women during the course of their relationship. 'His wife and the nanny had both been pregnant,' Mary added. 'We sat down and talked for 12 hours and compared notes.' The mother-of-two discovered that Jordan had used pregnancy as a way to manipulate women, saying: 'You're much more likely to to stay with the father of your children, or stay in contact with the father of your children, than if it's a boyfriend, so he actively impregnates women to rip them off of the money.' Eilidh Turner Thomson, who is the daughter of the con artist and Ms Thomson, previously told how her father was 'so fun', 'caring' and 'just the right amount of strict' when she was growing up. Appearing alongside her mother on This Morning in 2020, Eilidh admitted she had only seen her father as the perfect parent. She said: 'He was so fun, he was also caring, he was strict but the right amount of strict a father should be. He was the perfect dad if you could put together all the values a father should have or should be. 'It was really really shocking that such a kind, amazing caring man could...' she continued, her voice breaking. Hayley was on the set of This Morning with her mother Mary Turner Thomson, (left), where they discussed their lives with William Allen Jordan Asked by Eamon Holmes what she would tell her father is she could see him, the teenager revealed she did not want to speak to her father anymore. 'I don't think I'd say anything, I don't think there's anything I could say that could do anything or change anything in his mind,' Eilidh continued. 'He's got a personality disorder, it's not personal. It's something that took me a while to find out, but it's not personal.' Mary and Jordan, who met online in 2000, were together for years before his secret past was uncovered in 2006, when Eilidh was six years old. 'The Other Mrs Jordan - Catching the Ultimate Conman' is available from 26 October as part of Swindles & Cons Season on ITVX A married Army Sergeant faces jail after he raped a colleague on an army base after binge drinking all day and night at a barracks mini festival party called 'Camp Messtival'. Sgt Michael Ball, a 37-year-old father of two, spent the day and evening at the event - a parody of the well known Camp Bestival - at Dalton Barracks in Abingdon before heading to an after-party in the junior officers' mess, something that was strictly forbidden. The Military Court, sitting in Catterick, found Ball guilty of rape and sexual assault this afternoon. He was bailed so that he could get his domestic affairs in order but was warned he faces a prison term when sentenced. Judge Edward Legard told Ball: 'You have now been convicted of a sexual offence and no doubt you will lose your job.' Married Army Sergeant Sgt Michael Ball, 37, faces jail after he raped a colleague on an army base The Judge asked Sgt Ball, who could be heard sobbing, to 'compose himself' before releasing the disgraced officer on bail to reside at his family home where he lives with his wife and two children. The Panel made of six officers, two females and four males took five and half hours to return the guilty verdicts. During the weeklong hearing, the court heard how Sgt Ball - a decorated officer - had been very drunk when he targeted a female at the after party in July last year. The Military Court, sitting in Catterick, found Ball guilty of rape and sexual assault this afternoon The complainant, who cannot be named, told the court how Ball 'had been acting weird' on the night of the attack. While he had spent the afternoon and evening drinking she had been working and hadn't attended the event and didn't get back to the barracks until 3am. When she did encounter Sgt Ball at this point, she said, the senior officer had been so drunk he had 'been sick' in front of her and other junior ranking officers at an impromptu party in her room. The court heard that the Sgt had been so intoxicated he had been sent to 'sleep it off' in a room next door only to repeatedly emerge from the room to try and get back into the after party. The court heard that in the early hours at around the time of the incident, another officer who had not attended the party had seen Ball outside the complainant's room with his shirt off and banging on her door, apparently attempting to gain entry, after returning from the room where they had tried to get him to sleep. Ball then 'pretended' to fall asleep in the complainant's room and when the other attendees of the after party had all left, at around 9am, he got up and attempted to have sex with her against her will. Breaking down in tears as she gave her evidence, the junior officer described how she had tried to protect herself from Ball and fought him off but that 'he was twice my size' so she had not been able to stop him. She said she had telephoned her partner and then her mother immediately following the attack in distress. The married father claimed he thought his victim had been interested in him sexually because she had previously signed a text message to him with an 'X' and that he 'thought she had a crush on him'. He said he had returned to the area around her room to look for the woman after he heard that Military Police were looking for him regarding an allegation of rape. When questioned, Sgt Ball, 37, told the military panel that he had returned to the scene because he 'panicked' and was 'afraid'. A junior officer stationed on the door to protect the crime scene told the court how Sgt Ball was 'angry and agitated' and demanded to know where the complainant was before barging past him and entering the room to look for her. Defending Ball, Matthew Bolt told the complainant that this was a case 'of buyer remorse'. The court heard Ball, from Ormskirk, Lancashire, is a 'decorated officer'. Meth-laced candy masquerading as chocolate was eaten by a one-year-old girl who ended up in the hospital just south of the border near San Diego. The 18-month-old girl ate the candy, packaged in a Riesen wrapper, and started crying uncontrollably minutes later, reported Mexican newspaper Zeta. Despite the tot's immediate reaction to the tainted treat when she ate it on Monday, the mother did not seek medical attention until Tuesday. Instead the unidentified woman, 34, gave her daughter home remedies, according to the outlet. The next day, she took the toddler to the Playas de Rosarito General Hospital, about 25 miles south of the US-Mexico border, near Tijuana. The poisoned candy was turned over the Mexican authorities after the girl was hospitalized The toddler was taken to the Playas de Rosarito General Hospital, about 25 miles south of the US-Mexico border, near Tijuana, where she tested positive for meth When she was seen by doctors, the babe was still described as 'being inconsolable' and later tested positive for having meth in her system. The mother claimed she didn't know where the candy came from, but handed it over the authorities as evidence. No word if the parent will face charges. The incident highlights the flood of illegal drugs coming across the border, often disguised in other foods. About 1,205 pounds of methamphetamine was found hidden among fresh jalapenos in Texas on Oct. 14, according to US Customs and Border Protection US Customs and Border Protection, charged with border security, ranks the top drugs seized at both the northern and southern international borders of the United States Just this week, $10.7 million in methamphetamine was found in a shipment of fresh jalapeno peppers, according to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The discovery was made in Pharr, Texas Oct. 14 when a tractor trailer carrying produce was screened at an international bridge. Agents found buckets containing 1,205 pounds of methamphetamine inside the haul. 'Just seized a whopping 193 pounds of cocaine, along the I-5,' tweeted San Diego's top Border Patrol agent, Chief Patrol Agent Patricia D. McGurk-Daniel on Oct. 10 'Border Patrol agents found the drugs in a vehicle. We are fighting drug trafficking! Our commitment to keeping our communities safe & drug-free is unwavering. Together, we're sending a clear message: Not on our watch!' Just seized a whopping 193 pounds of cocaine, along the I-5, #BorderPatrol agents found the drugs in a vehicle. We are fighting drug trafficking! Our commitment to keeping our communities safe & drug-free is unwavering. Together, we're sending a clear message: Not on our watch! pic.twitter.com/X4HVRF6Yff Chief Patrol Agent Patricia D. McGurk-Daniel (@USBPChiefSDC) October 10, 2023 This year alone, 551,000 pounds of drugs have been seized by CBP officers at the nation's borders. Meth is the second-most seized drug after marijuana, according to federal statistics. Serial squatter Elizabeth Hirschhorn has been spotted on a dinner date with a mystery man in Santa Monica, California. The Thursday evening restaurant date came just hours after locksmiths were seen at the Los Angeles home where Hirschhorn, who first moved into the guesthouse in 2021, is camped out and refusing to leave. The 55-year-old was spotted sitting opposite her date, who sported a salmon pink shirt khaki pants and stylish black glasses. The pair looked relaxed in each other's company with Hirschhorn, wearing a black top and jeans, at one point throwing her head back in laughter. They left the restaurant together and got into the same car, in which they kissed, before the unidentified date drove Hirschhorn back to the rental she is still living in. Serial squatter Elizabeth Hirschhorn has been spotted on a dinner date with a mystery man in Santa Monica, California The 55-year-old was spotted sitting opposite her date, who sported a salmon pink shirt khaki pants and stylish black glasses The script writer, moved into the guesthouse of Sascha Jovanovic's Brentwood home in September 2021. She initially rented the property through Airbnb for six months, paying $20,793 for 187 nights. Jovanovic agreed with Hirschhorn to extend her tenancy for one month, but Hirschhorn has since refused to move out. They made the deal directly, which Airbnb says means they are not legally responsible for the dispute. The pair have been battling through the courts, with Hirschhorn insisting that it was unsafe to move out during the COVID-19 pandemic, and saying that the rental property was not up to LA city regulations. Her latest salvo, through her lawyers, is to seek $100,000 from Jovanovic, in return for her moving out. On Thursday, locksmiths were seen at the Brentwood property - though it's unclear why they were called. Jovanovic told The Los Angeles Times last month that he was scared in his own home, with a 'hostile' Hirschhorn living on the property. The Thursday evening restaurant date came just hours after locksmiths were seen at the Los Angeles home where Hirschhorn is camped out and refusing to leave They left the restaurant together and got into the same car after which the unidentified date drove Hirschhorn back to the rental she is still living in The pair looked relaxed in each other's company with Hirschhorn, wearing a black top and jeans, at one point throwing her head back in laughter The pair got into the same car after which the unidentified date drove Hirschhorn back to the rental she is still living in The script writer, moved into the guesthouse of Sascha Jovanovic's Brentwood home in September 2021 where she is still living 'I can never go into my home and know that I'm safe when a potentially hostile person is living there,' he said. 'I'm thinking about it at all times.' He added: 'I tried to be a kind host. I had no idea she would become what she has become.' Hirschhorn has called the police to complain about noise from Joavnovic's adolescent children, and accused him in her lawsuit of blocking access to her mail, because he refused to share the mailbox. 'It's like a war where no bullets are flying. Every time I open the door, I'm afraid she'll be leaving at the same time,' he said. 'Her door is a few feet from my daughter's bedroom. We don't sleep well anymore. 'Psychologically, it affects you. It never leaves my mind.' One of Hirschorn's attorneys, Colin Walshok, told the paper: 'The landlord broke the law and tried to make money by renting out an illegal bootleg unit. Airbnb host Sascha Jovanovic approved a six-month stay for Hirschhorn from September 13, 2021 to March 19, 2022 a total of 187 nights that she later extended to April 12, 2022. She is yet to move out Hirschhorn (right) has now been dubbed 'America's worst Airbnb renter' after it emerged she was demanding $100,000 to vacate the home of host Sascha Jovanovic (left) Locksmiths are seen on Thursday at the Brentwood house where the 'tenant from hell', squatter Elizabeth Hirschhorn, is refusing to leave A locksmith is seen at the Brentwood house on Thursday, though its unclear why they were called The home owner has been trying to get his tenant evicted since April 2022 'After he was caught, instead of doing the right thing, he has resorted to bullying, harassment and the filing of frivolous lawsuits containing elaborate false stories, all in attempt to cover his tracks.' Sebastian Rucci, an attorney representing Jovanovic, called Hirschhorn 'the tenant from hell'. He added: 'If she's right, the theory is that if a landlord has something that isn't permitted, then you can stay in it rent-free forever.' Two months before moving to the Brentwood property, Hirschhorn was kicked out of a $2.6million rental in Oakland, California. She cited Covid-19 in that case as well, before eventually settling in July 2021. Hirschhorn previously lived in Pasadena, California, and in Tucson, Arizona, with her elderly parents. An unknown woman was spotted talking to the locksmith crews as the visited the California home Oakland property: Court filings obtained by DailyMail.com reveal Hirschhorn was involved in a similar squatting dispute at this cottage she sublet in 2019. The case was settled just two months before she moved into her current rental Court filings reveal the current Brentwood tenant-landlord dispute is strikingly similar to the Oakland case, which also saw Hirschhorn embroiled in a dispute over cleaning, with the man from whom she initially sublet the property moving out due to her 'hostile behavior', leaving her alone in the house where she continued to stay despite having no tenancy agreement and paying no rent. Hirschhorn also recently settled another dispute this time over an unpaid $19,000 American Express credit card bill. As in the other cases, she countersued claiming she wasn't liable for the full amount. She was ordered to pay both the bill and AMEX's legal costs by a Los Angeles judge in April. Calls, texts and emails to Hirschhorn by DailyMail.com regarding both her current situation and her previous property dispute went unanswered. Iconic images of Marilyn Monroe gambling at the tables in Reno, Neil Armstrong on the moon and Ingrid Bergman are up for grabs at Magnum Photo Studios' bi-annual sale. Titled 'Written By Light', the exhibition is selling 107 photographs signed or estate-stamped prints of iconic pictures, including some which have never seen before. The sale is in collaboration with the World Press Photo Foundation. Both studios aim to celebrate the basic difference between photography and AI-generated images: the use of light. The collection comprises work by 76 Magnum photographers, estates, and 31 World Press Photo winners. All of the 6 x 6 sized photographs are priced at $110. A portion of the profits will be donated to the International Committee of the Red Cross. The selection of pictures being sold spans five decades. Magnum Studio President, Cristina de Middel said: 'As photographers, we were all at some point, seduced by light and the possibility of capturing it in our own unique way. 'The time feels right to go back to our roots and reflect on the very origins of our photographic practice, to the camera obscura, and how an image is recorded by the impact of light on a surface.' While on location in Nevada, John Huston spent long hours, sometimes nights, at the gambling tables in Reno. Marilyn went with him once, toward the end of filming The Misfits in 1960 Neil Armstrong photographed on the Moon in 1969 Westerners watching across the wall while it is still low enough to see over in Berlin, Germany, 1961 Nelson Mandela in Stockholm, Sweden in 1990 Ingrid Bergman photographed in Italy in 1953 From the photograph series Public Encounters, the Peterson family, Tokai Forest, Cape Town, South Africa, 2004 An aide to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi adjusts a row of flags in front of a painting of George Washington at the U.S. Capitol, preparing for Democratic leaders to speak after the vote on December 18, 2019, to impeach President Donald Trump the first time. Rancher Robert O. Anderson (right) in Artesia, New Mexico, USA, 1963 Models in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2000 A trapped Caretta Caretta in Canary Islands, 2016 Dana Miller photographed in 1950 in USA The Magnum Photo Studio represents some of the worlds most renowned photographers and has existed for more than 70 years. Known for their rare pictures, the studio has produced some of the most iconic images since the Second World War. Its website reads: 'In short, when you picture an iconic image, but cant think who took it or where it can be found, it probably came from Magnum.' Over the years, the studio has provided pictures to media, charities, publishers, brands and cultural institutions. It considers itself as a 'living archive'. Patrick Dunne was, in some respects, an unlikely policeman. A maths graduate and career teacher, he was head of Business Studies at a school in Surrey when, at 41, he applied to join the service. Dunne was driven by a deep commitment to community service, having taught the children of deprived families. He had given free private tuition to poor working-class pupils and headed a multi-agency social services committee when a schoolmaster in Newcastle upon Tyne. Being a beat Bobby was an extension of that public service ethos. He showed no interest in promotion or moving into any other form of police work. Patrick just wanted to help people, says younger brother Ivan. He hated injustice and anything unfair and was always the one you could turn to if you had a problem. PC Patrick Dunne was shot dead in Clapham on October 20, 1993, after responding to the sound of gunshots from a house. Hitman Gary Lloyd Nelson and two others had just murdered nightclub owner William Danso and fired a single shot into the officer's chest On the day of PC Dunne's funeral, people came out onto nearby streets and some stood in sympathy outside the elegant Georgian church of Holy Trinity on Clapham Common Ive got a big box of letters from people who knew him as a police officer, saying he would always go the extra mile to help, often in his own time. Thats just how he was. PC Dunne was given his own beat in Clapham, South London, while still a probationer, a rare achievement, and made it his business to know everything that went on. To his then station superintendent, John Rees, he was a model officer. He had a quiet maturity and always tried to resolve issues without confrontation, Rees said. Lambeth then could be quite volatile but he was very calm and capable. People warmed to him. I knew he would never let the force down. Patrolling on foot or on his bicycle and invariably alone, he was the closest thing imaginable to a 1950s copper working in a modern setting. But on October 20, 1993 30 years ago next week his Dixon Of Dock Green world was in fatal collision with a parallel universe of guns, gangsterism and anarchy. Called to a minor domestic disturbance on his beat in Cato Road, Dunne heard what sounded like gunshots from a house opposite and went to investigate. As he crossed the street, three armed men, led by a psychotic career criminal and hit-man named Gary Lloyd Nelson, came towards him. They had just murdered nightclub bouncer William Danso in his home following two angry exchanges in previous days. Nelson fired a single shot into the policemans chest. Witnesses said that, as he lay dying, the three men laughed and fired a celebratory shot into the air as they strolled to a waiting car. Pat Dunne was not the first officer murdered in the line of duty nor the last, and every one is mourned. But there was something especially shocking about the randomness and casual brutality of an unarmed Bobby being cut down with such indifference. On the day of his funeral, people came out onto nearby streets and some stood in sympathy outside the elegant Georgian church of Holy Trinity on Clapham Common. PC William Dunne was guided a strong sense of social justice and had given free tuition to disadvantaged pupils while working as a teacher Patrick Dunne (centre) was much loved by colleagues in both his first career as a teacher and as a hardworking bobby on the beat On that bitterly cold afternoon, I recall the profound sorrow on the faces of PC Dunnes colleagues, not least the then Met Commissioner Paul Condon, whose own face was drained white. It was like a family bereavement. Every year since then, on or around the anniversary of the shooting, a small group of his former colleagues and often relatives have gathered to celebrate his life and honour his death. With old age creeping up on the participants, this year will be the last. It has really meant a lot to me and the family, Ivan says. Patricks death hurt them and they wanted to make sure he wouldnt be forgotten. At a time when police have been under a ferocious barrage of criticism some of it well deserved this modest commemoration is a timely reminder of the risks taken by thousands of decent men and women who take to the streets every day, not knowing what challenges they may meet. Latest College of Policing figures show there were 41,000 recorded assaults on police officers last year, an average of well over 100 every day. Some will be little more than pushing, others much more serious and, in rare cases, fatal. These deaths often come randomly and, as with PC Dunne, without any prior hint of danger. Thames Valley PC Andrew Harper, dragged under the wheels of a fleeing car while investigating a burglary. Sgt Matt Ratana, shot while dealing with a suspect inside a custody suite in Croydon. PC Keith Palmer, stabbed to death by an Islamist terrorist while guarding Parliament. PCs Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes, killed in a deranged gun and grenade attack in suburban Greater Manchester. Then there are those who died trying directly to save others. PC Ian Dibell, the off-duty officer shot dead in Essex as he tackled a gunman firing on members of the public. PC Francis Mason, also off-duty when he intervened to stop an armed robbery in Hertfordshire. More recently Sgt Graham Saville, hit by a train while trying to reach a distressed man on the track. Patrick's whistle and key, presented by the Met Police to his family These are men and women who put on the uniform every day and do the best they can, said Metropolitan Police Federation vice chairman Rick Prior. There was obviously a lot of disgust about Wayne Couzens [the serving Met officer who raped and murdered Sarah Everard] but no one was more disgusted than all the police officers who do the job for the right reasons. There have been other incidents which have dented the polices reputation in recent times. But surveys still suggest a high satisfaction rating for face-to-face interaction between rank-and-file officers and the public. On a one-to-one basis the relationship is very good, says Prior. But because of all the police-bashing and the erosion of neighbourhood policing, the job is getting harder. We are trying to do far too much with far too few resources. As they gather for the last time at the Warren, a police members club in Bromley, colleagues and relatives of Patrick Dunne will no doubt praise the life sentence with a 35-year minimum term handed down to his killer, Gary Nelson. He evaded justice for 13 years, but was finally convicted at Woolwich Crown Court in February 2006. One of PC Dunnes brothers, Stephen, a former pastor, said he had found it in his heart to forgive Nelson. Ivan has not: I get a lot of pleasure out of knowing hes been banged up, lost his freedom and will hopefully never get it back. The police service certainly has its flaws but no more so than society in general indeed probably a good deal less so. Policing in this country has always been by consent. Officers are there to uphold individual rights rather than curtail them. They have never been routinely armed and the use of arrest should always be a last resort. Sir Robert Peel, founding father of the Met, wrote: The police are the public and the public are the police, the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare. Patrick Dunne embodied those principles, as do the vast majority of front-line officers who wear the uniform today. They are as true and relevant now as they were nearly two centuries ago. President Joe Biden said Friday afternoon he was 'overjoyed' that Hamas released two American hostages after pledging from the Oval Officer that there was 'no higher priority' than getting them home. DailyMail.com confirmed that the two hostages are Judith Raanan and Natalie Raanan, 17, a mother and daughter from Chicago who were visiting Israel for a relative's birthday when they were kidnapped by Hamas terrorists. The White House said that Biden spoke to the Raanans and their family members early evening Friday after the news initially broke. Biden's statement also indicated that there are more Americans being held captive in Gaza. 'Our fellow citizens have endured a terrible ordeal these past 14 days, and I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been wracked with fear,' the president said in a statement. 'From the earliest moments of this attack, we have been working around-the-clock to free American citizens who were taken hostage by Hamas, and we have not ceased our efforts to secure the release of those who are still being held,' Biden also said. DailyMail.com confirmed that the two hostages are Judith Raanan and Natalie Raanan, 17, a mother and daughter from Chicago who were visiting Israel for a relative's birthday when they were kidnapped by Hamas terrorists Natalie Ranaan was visiting family for the High Holidays with her mother, Judith, when the assault began on Saturday. Relatives had not heard from either woman until the news came Friday that they were being released Abu Ubaida, a spokesman for Hamas' armed wing the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, said the Raanans were released 'for humanitarian reasons' in response to Qatari mediation efforts. Some reporting suggested that Judith Ranaan was not in good health after the abduction. 'I thank the government of Qatar and the government of Israel for their partnership in this work,' Biden said. They were handed over to the Israelis at an Egyptian border-crossing alongside the Gaza Strip and are now en route to a military base in the middle of Israel, where family members await them. The mother and daugther are related to the wife of NBC journalist Martin Fletcher who shed tears talking about their kidnapping Thursday. 'They were last seen, their hands tied, being dragged away by the Hamas terrorists. So it's personal, it's real, and nobody is really confident that it's possible to get them back alive. Of course, everybody's hoping,' Fletcher told the network's Stephanie Ruhle. Through tears, Fletcher said: 'Hamas is using the hostages for psychological warfare.' He described the conflict as a 'very personal thing.' Judith Raanan was also taken hostage along with her daughter. Hamas said the two Americans were released 'for humanitarian reasons' in response to Qatari mediation efforts Martin Fletcher appeared on MSNBC's Stephanie Ruhle and described how personal the current conflict in Israel is as two members of his wife's family have been taken by Hamas. Those two hostages have since been freed 'Nobody is really confident that it's possible to get them back alive,' he somberly added. During Thursday night's address, Biden said, 'as president, there is no higher priority for me than the safety of Americans held hostage,' explaining 'we're pursuing every avenue to bring their loved ones home.' He reiterated that point in Friday's statement. 'Jill and I have been holding close in our hearts all the families of unaccounted for Americans,' he said. A 23-year-old au pair has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with a double homicide at a $1million home in Virginia, authorities announced on Thursday. Juliana Peres Magalhaes, from Reston, Virginia, was arrested on Friday and has been charged in the shooting of Joseph Ryan, 39, of Springfield. Both Ryan and a woman, Christine Banfield, 37, were attacked and killed on February 24 at Banfield's $1million home in the Herndon area. Police reportedly believe that Peres Magalhaes shot Ryan, who has been accused of stabbing Banfield to death. Peres Magalhaes has not been charged in Banfields death. Further details of the bizarre crime have not been shared. No motive has been given, and cops said Ryan was likely not a stranger to Christine Banfield, but refused to comment further. Juliana Peres Magalhaes, from Reston, Virginia has been charged in the shooting of Joseph Ryan, 39, of Springfield On the day of the killings in February, around 7.50 am, police received a call from Peres Magalhaes, but then she immediately hung up. Ten minutes later, she rang back to tell them her 'friend' was hurt. Both Ryan and a woman, Christine Banfield (pictured), 37, were attacked and killed on February 24 at Banfield's $1million home in the Herndon area At that moment Banfields husband, identified in court papers seen by Fox News as Brendan Robert Banfield, also came onto the phone. Brendan Banfield reportedly told a dispatcher that he had shot Ryan, who he said had barged into his home and stabbed his wife, Christine Banfield. Police arrived at the residence at 8.13am to find Ryan dead and Christine Banfield, who had been stabbed, in an upstairs bedroom. She was taken to hospital, but later died. Police have not confirmed if Ryan did stab Banfield, but they reportedly said there was no sign of forced entry to the house. Police also found Banfield's 4-year-old daughter at the home, who was physically unharmed. 'The truest victim of all of this is that poor girl,' Fairfax Police Chief Kevin Davis told Fox News at the time. Speaking in February, Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said: 'I think the person or persons responsible for this are already known to us. The $1million Virginia home where a man died and a woman was stabbed in February 'We just have to sort out who was responsible for what, we have to sort out the exact nature of Mr. Ryan's presence inside the house.' He added: 'We don't think he is necessarily a stranger but we're still working to determine more facts before we describe him.' Chief Davis did not know if Ryan had been to the home before, he reportedly added that the au pair had been speaking with police, but Banfield had not. Peres Magalhaes is at the Fairfax County jail. Online court records seen by Fox News show she had not yet entered a plea to the second-degree murder charge. The families of the deceased who donated their bodies to Harvard Medical School where they were stolen and desecrated have joined together to sue the school. The morgue manager at Harvard Medical School allegedly stole heads, brains, skin and other body parts and sold them, according to a federal indictment. Cedric Lodge is said to have stolen the remains from cadavers donated to the prestigious university for scientific research and education. The filing states that Lodge took the severed body parts to his home in Goffstown, New Hampshire, where he and his wife Denise sold them on as part of a national network of human remains traffickers. Now the victim's families have joined their legal suits together as a class action in the The Superior Court of Massachusetts. Several buyers have also been named in the indictment including Jeremy Pauley (pictured) Kathryn Barnett, attorney at Morgan & Morgan, who will serve as the Plaintiffs Co-Lead Counsel said on Friday: 'These families have suffered an unthinkable betrayal by Harvard, and Im honored that they have put their trust in Morgan & Morgan to fight for them and to seek justice for their loved ones. 'Im grateful that so many esteemed law firms have entrusted me to help lead this litigation. Now the victim's families have joined their legal suits together as a class action in the The Superior Court of Massachusetts pictured is their lawyer Attorney Kathryn E. Barnett 'We are all working together to fight for every case and are committed to holding Harvard accountable for their responsibility in this atrocity.' It is not yet clear what damages the plaintiffs will seek in their case but Barnett, one of the nations foremost experts in lawsuits involving the mistreatment and desecration of human remains, has previously achieved multi-million dollar settlements for her clients. She served as lead counsel in lawsuits arising out of the 2002 Tri-State Crematory scandal in Georgia where remains were discovered dumped around the crematorium, as well as several Brooklyn funeral homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, among many others. U.S. Attorneys Office believes Lodge to have engaged in the unlawful trafficking of human remains between 2018 through to August 16, 2022 while working in the morgue as part of the university's Anatomical Gift Program. Lodge had worked at Harvard since 1995 until the Medical School terminated his employment on May 6 this year. Several buyers have also been named in the indictment including Joshua Taylor, of West Lawn, Pennsylvania, and Katrina MacLean, of Salem, Massachusetts, who owned and operated a business called Kat's Creepy Creations in Peabody, Massachusetts. Cedric Lodge (pictured) is said to have stolen the remains from cadavers donated to the prestigious university for scientific research and education Cedric Lodge is said to have stolen remains from cadavers donated to Harvard Medical School for scientific research and education 'At times, Cedric Lodge used his access to the morgue to allow Katrina MacLean, Joshua Taylor and others to enter the morgue and choose what remains to purchase,' the indictment states. Maclean is also accused of selling on the remains he obtained to other buyers in multiple states including to Jeremy Pauley of Enola and Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. In October 2020 Maclean sold two dissected faces and skin to Pauley for $600, who was hired to tan the skin and make it into leather before shipping it back to Maclean. The indictment states that Pauley transferred $8,800 to MacLean and 25 payments totaling $40,049.04 to Taylor via PayPal. Pauley, 40, had previously been arrested and charged for abuse of a corpse, receiving stolen property and dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activities last summer. Pauley also purchased body parts that were stolen from a crematorium in Little Rock, Arkansas, by Candace Chapman Scott, according to a statement from the Department for Justice. Scott is accused of, among other things, taking the corpses of two stillborn babies whose remains were due to be cremated. Pauley, in turn, resold many remains to others, the indictments allege. Pauley is the owner of The Grand Wunderkammer - a shop which sells 'odd and unusual' items to the public and to museum exhibits. He is also the executive director and curator at The Memento Mori Museum, according to his Facebook. He was arrested last June after police received a tip about Pauley's suspicious activity and his collections. The caller said they found 'several' five-gallon buckets of human remains in Pauley's basement. Investigators later recovered the remains, that included human brains, hearts, livers, skin, and lungs. Charges listed in the grand jury indictment of the Lodges, MacLean and Taylor include conspiracy and interstate transport of stolen goods. Alleged buyer Katrina MacLean, of Salem, Massachusetts, owned and operated a business called Kat's Creepy Creations in Peabody, Massachusetts Maclean is also accused of selling on the remains he obtained to other buyers in multiple states including to Jeremy Pauley 'Some crimes defy understanding,' United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam said in a statement about the indictments. 'The theft and trafficking of human remains strikes at the very essence of what makes us human. 'It is particularly egregious that so many of the victims here volunteered to allow their remains to be used to educate medical professionals and advance the interests of science and healing. Adding: 'For them and their families to be taken advantage of in the name of profit is appalling. With these charges, we are seeking to secure some measure of justice for all these victims.' In a statement George Q. Daley, the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Harvard described Lodge's behavior as 'an abhorrent betrayal' and 'morally reprehensible.' 'We are appalled to learn that something so disturbing could happen on our campus a community dedicated to healing and serving others. 'The reported incidents are a betrayal of HMS and, most importantly, each of the individuals who altruistically chose to will their bodies to HMS through the Anatomical Gift Program to advance medical education and research.' Adding: 'We are so very sorry for the pain this news will cause for our anatomical donors families and loved ones, and HMS pledges to engage with them during this deeply distressing time.' In a field close to the Gaza border a young female conscript is preparing for action. Just a fortnight ago she was working in an advertising agency in Tel Aviv, now she is heading for the hell that is Gaza and its Hamas terrorists. 'It's pretty different from what I was doing two weeks ago, that's for sure. But everything changed on October 7,' she said, referring to the slaughter of 1,400 of her fellow citizens by Hamas. 'This is our fight for survival. We are trained for this and we will win.' She is among 370,000 conscripts who abandoned their day jobs and their cars outside army bases to sign up. Both the people of Israel and of Gaza are braced for mass bloodshed as the former vows to punish Hamas by land, air and sea. I watched as crews made the final preparations for their 'Swords of Iron' invasion of Gaza with tanks, troops and fearsome armoured bulldozers massed for the onslaught. Israeli forces are seen near the Gaza Strip on Friday ahead of possible invasion The Caterpillar D9R, nicknamed 'Doobi', which means 'teddy bear' in Hebrew, is designed to smash fences and take on the maze of narrow streets Merkava battle tanks will rumble through the breach. Merkavas, 'chariots' in Hebrew, are said to be among the most powerful tanks yet built. The mighty Caterpillar D9R, nicknamed 'Doobi', which means 'teddy bear' in Hebrew, is designed to smash fences and take on the maze of narrow streets, vast tunnel networks, booby traps and sniper positions that await Israeli troops. The eve-of-war manoeuvres came as: Israel confirmed two American hostages had been released by Hamas in a Qatari-brokered deal; Rishi Sunak met the Palestinian president during a peace summit in Egypt as part of his whistlestop diplomacy drive across the Middle East; Immigration minister Robert Jenrick said foreigners chanting pro-Palestine slogans could have their visas revoked; UK police confirmed a 1,300 per cent increase in anti-Semitic incidents over last two weeks; Climate activist Greta Thunberg faced a furious backlash after her solidarity image 'Stand with Gaza' featured a toy interpreted as anti-Semitic; The BBC quietly dropped its use of the word 'militants' to refer to Hamas; A 'hostage manual' found on the bodies of Hamas fighters instructed gunmen to 'kill the problematic' ones. Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023 Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israel, as seen from Ashkelon, in southern Israel, October 20, 2023 Palestinian people carry out search and rescue operations in the ruined buildings at Nuseirat Refugee Camp as the Israeli airstrikes continue on the 14th day in Gaza Strip, Gaza, on October 20, 2023 Once the 'teddy bears' smash a path into Gaza, Merkava battle tanks will rumble through the breach. Merkavas, 'chariots' in Hebrew, are said to be among the most powerful tanks yet built. Under a blazing sun yesterday, soldiers dashed between their tanks, filling jerry cans and checking weapons in the undisclosed location a short distance from the Gaza border. A local Israeli with us, as we watched the jaw-dropping mass of armoured vehicles, said: 'To think all of those tanks are going into Gaza is terrifying for everybody. But it has to be done to Hamas once and for all. The prospect for both sides truly scares me. It will go on for a long time I believe.' Today marks two weeks since heavily-armed Hamas killers burst out of the Gaza enclave at dawn and struck terror into Israeli villages, beheading babies, blasting pensioners to death and torching homes to condemn occupants to burn alive. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak meeting the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Cairo, Egypt, 20 October 2023 IDF Caterpillar D9R armored bulldozer (File Photo) Some 203 hostages, including 20 children and up to 20 pensioners, were trussed up and frogmarched to Gaza where they are now 'human shields'. Israel claimed yesterday to know that the 'majority' were still alive, but their families are utterly terrified as the country vows to annihilate the terror group holding them. Yesterday Moshe Leimberg, 59, said he could not bear to watch the news. His wife Gabriela, daughter Mia, 17, and other relatives were snatched by Hamas at the Nir Yitzhak kibbutz. He said: 'I want my family back. I want my daughter and I want my wife. I want my brother-in-law, and I want my sister-in-law and my sister-in-law's life partner, and I want my dog back.' Hamas is offering to release some of the hostages in exchange for an immediate ceasefire. Last night it released two American hostages, a mother and daughter, 'for humanitarian reasons'. But military chiefs yesterday unveiled a 'three-phase' war, the first time Israel has set out a long-term plan to deal with its bloodiest conflict in decades. Defence minister Yoav Gallant, who on Thursday banged the drum for war by telling troops they would 'soon' see Gaza up close, told Israeli lawmakers to expect air strikes and ground manoeuvres, followed by targeted attacks on pockets of resistance from Hamas fighters. The third stage, he said, would see an end to Israel's 'responsibility for life in the Gaza Strip', without saying who Israel expected to run the Gaza Strip if Hamas is toppled. An Israeli Merkava tank drives past a fence near Kibbutz Beeri, close to the border with Gaza on October 20, 2023, in the aftermath of an attack by Palestinian militants on October 7 Rockets are fired from the Gaza Strip toward Israel, as seen from southern Israel, Friday, October 20, 2023 This handout satellite picture taken on October 20, 2023, shows a view of humanitarian aid trucks moving in a convoy near Sheikh Zuwayed in Egypt's North Sinai province and bound for the Rafah border crossing between northeastern Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip. Cargo planes and trucks have been bringing humanitarian aid to Rafah for days, but so far none has been delivered to Gaza Gaza is now a 'hellhole' for civilians, and time is running out to get aid into the territory, the UN's agency for Palestinian refugees said. Palestinian officials say more than 4,100 people have been killed in Gaza during the air strikes by vengeful Israel over the past fortnight. UN aid workers branded the crisis 'catastrophic', with 600 children estimated to be missing under the rubble of bomb sites. Medics and aid groups have warned that hospitals treating thousands of people critically injured are on the brink of running out of power. The 'green light' for the ground invasion came after Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly won private backing from US President Joe Biden. Major General Yaron Finkelman warned the expected ground offensive would be 'long and intense'. The toughest test for the strike force will be in the warren of congested streets around Gaza City and its sprawling refugee camps one of the most densely populated areas on earth. Hamas will be lying in wait in a fortified warren of tunnels stretching miles beneath the enclave. Despite Israeli planes and artillery pounding Gaza for nearly two weeks, militants were still managing to fire rockets into Israel yesterday. Tanks mass on border as Sunak urges Arab leaders to stay calm By Jason Groves and Mary O'Connor As Israeli tanks and troops massed on the border with Gaza last night, Rishi Sunak yesterday urged Arab leaders to do 'everything possible' to prevent the Hamas terror attacks in Israel triggering a wider war in the Middle East. The Prime Minister held talks in Cairo with Egypt president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi aimed at calming the volatile situation and creating a route to send humanitarian aid into Gaza. In a diplomatic coup, the PM also had discussions with veteran Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, who snubbed talks with US President Joe Biden after a hospital in Gaza was hit by an explosion on Tuesday. Downing Street said the PM offered Mr Abbas his 'deep condolences for the loss of civilian lives in Gaza, including the terrible destruction of the al-Ahli hospital' when the two men met in the run-up to today's Arab peace summit in Cairo. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to discus situation in Gaza, at Presidential Palace in Cairo, Egypt, on October 20, 2023 Mr Sunak said the UK would provide aid to Gaza and that he remained committed to a 'two-state solution' in which 'Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and security'. No 10 said the two men 'condemned Hamas terrorism and stressed that Hamas do not represent the Palestinian people'. Earlier, the PM held talks in Saudi Arabia with the emir of Qatar, who is a key figure in negotiations to secure the release of more than 200 hostages taken by Hamas on October 7. Downing Street said the two leaders 'underlined the imperative of avoiding any escalation in the violence across the region', agreeing that all leaders had a 'responsibility to do everything possible to prevent it'. A spokesman said Mr Sunak thanked Qatar for its efforts to secure the release of hostages, including at least two Britons. Meanwhile, UN secretary general Antonio Guterres visited the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza yesterday. He implored the international community to ensure aid trucks could enter the 'hellhole'. Speaking to media on the Egyptian side of the crossing, Mr Guterres insisted the safe passage of humanitarian aid lorries into Gaza was 'the difference between life and death' for Palestinians and that the trucks needed to enter the enclave as quickly as possible. The body of Roy Bigg was found in the empty pub in Forest Gate in October 2021 Police have offered a 20,000 for information after the body of a man was found stuffed in a freezer at a disused pub in East London. The remains of Roy Bigg were found in the basement of the former Simpson's Wine Bar in Forest Gate on October 15, 2021. The 70-year-old's body was found by builders working at the premises in Romford Road just over two years ago. A post-mortem was unable to determine Roy's cause of death, and his remains had to be identified using his dental records. The Metropolitan Police has now offered a reward of up to 20,000 for information leading to the arrest, charge and prosecution of those responsible for the murder of Roy Bigg. The body of Roy Bigg was discovered in a freezer in a disused pub in East London in October 2021 Police were called to the basement of the former Simpson's Wine bar after his body was found by builders Detective Chief Inspector Kelly Allen, of the Met's Specialist Crime Command, said: 'It's now been more than two years since Roy was found. 'Although our investigation, and previous media appeals have provided us with information about Roy's life, we still need your help to identify who is responsible. 'Roy went missing in February 2012. We believe that his body may have been in the freezer for a number of years, and that he was aged about 70 when he died. 'Where was he between 2012 and 2021? To date there have been no confirmed sightings of him in this nine year period. Can you help? 'Anything you can tell us may prove invaluable in helping us discover what happened.' Speaking last year, relatives of the pensioner claimed he had vanished in the London borough of Newham in February 2012 and had been the subject of a Missing People appeal. MailOnline tracked down one of Mr Bigg's last living relatives, his first cousin Frank Bousfield, 83. who last met him as a young man. 'It's really shocking to learn of Roy's death, especially like this,' said former drainage engineer Mr Bousfield, from Leiston, Suffolk. A post-mortem was unable to determine Mr Bigg's cause of death and he had to be identified by dental records Roy Bigg's cousin Frank Bousfield and his wife Irene (pictured at their home in Leiston, Suffolk) said it was 'shocking' to learn of his death and the sad manner in which it occurred The Missing People appeal's wording suggested it was thought Roy Bigg could be still alive when it was released 'My wife Irene was reading about the case in the paper this morning, and mentioned it to me, but we never connected the name with my cousin, and I didn't recognise his photo.' He went on: 'Hopefully we'll eventually discover the truth from the police inquiry. 'What a very sad end to his life. Roy was obviously a caring person because he took care of his own mother for years, and I remember thinking it was odd that his father Bert, who worked at Ford in Dagenham for his entire career, seemed to leave that side of things to his son. 'I would only have seen Roy when we made family visits as kids and teenagers. I don't think there's anyone left alive in the family who would remember much about him really 'I've no idea what kind of job he went on to do.' Mr Bousfield said he had not been contacted by police at the time of speaking to him in March last year. Mr Bousfield said that he only met Roy Bigg known as 'Roy Boy' to all the family a handful of times in his youth. He recalled that Roy, an only child six years his junior, doted on his mother Hetty, and nursed her when she fell ill with terminal cancer until her death when Roy was aged 25. 'The main thing I remember about Roy was hearing on the family grapevine that he was gay. It wasn't as socially acceptable in those days and I think some of the family might have shunned him a bit as a result.' When he went missing it appeared that there had been hopes he was still alive. The Missing People appeal had read: 'Roy we are here for you whenever you are ready; we can listen, talk you through what help you need, pass a message for you and help you to be safe.' DCI Allen added: 'We have released an image of Roy and hope that anyone who knew him will take the time to come forward and speak with us. If you don't want to speak directly to police please contact Crimestoppers anonymously, but whatever you do, please do make the call.' Anyone who knew Roy Bigg should call the Incident Room on 020 8345 1570, call 101 or post on 'X' @MetCC quoting reference CAD 4332/15Oct21. To remain 100% anonymous call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said he is unable to confirm further details of the other 10 hostages An Illinois teenager released on Friday by Hamas after 13 days in captivity is 'doing very well,' her father said, with new footage showing the dramatic moment she and her mother were handed over to the Red Cross. Natalie Shoshana Raanan, 17, and her mother Judith Tai Raanan, 59, arrived back in Israel late on Friday, the Israeli government confirmed, having left Gaza via an Egyptian-controlled crossing. The Raanans walked out of Gaza without obvious visible physical injuries, getting out of a car and then being surrounded by ICRC staff wearing vests bearing the red cross. The pair then got into a Red Cross vehicle and drove away. They are now receiving medical treatment, the governor of Illinois said, without providing details of their condition. The deal to free the pair was brokered by Qatar. Her brother, Ben, joked that he was 'annoyed' because she still looked 'like a supermodel', despite her ordeal. 'She's doing good. She's doing very good,' said Uri Raanan, 71, who lives in the Chicago suburbs, adding that they did not discuss where she was held or her conditions in captivity. 'She did not tell me anything. But she told me they treat her nice, and she was doing very good. 'I'm going to hug her and kiss her, and it's going to be the best day of my life.' Natalie Raanan and her mother Judith are seen speaking to Joe Biden, in a photo released on Friday night by the US embassy in Israel Judith Raanan is seen being escorted out of Gaza on Friday, with her daughter Natalie to her right Judith Tai Raanan and her daughter Natalie Shoshana Raanan arrived back in Israel late on Friday, the Israeli government confirmed Natalie Raanan and her father, Uri Raanan, are pictured in Mexico. He said on Friday she was doing well, despite her ordeal Knowing Natalie may be able to celebrate her 18th birthday next week at home with family and friends feels 'wonderful. The best news,' Uri Raanan said. He said he believes Natalie and Judith to be in transit to Tel Aviv to reunite with relatives, and that both will be back in the U.S. early next week. 'I spoke with my daughter earlier today - she sounds good, and she looks good,' he told a press conference outside his home. 'I spoke with President Biden. I thanked him for his concern, in releasing them. He was very nice. 'I spoke to Governor Pritzker and he was nice. 'And hopefully I will see them next week. Next week is Natalie's birthday, and we will celebrate it here.' The father said he first learnt of the possible release through Israeli television, and then received a call from the IDF. He described the last 13 days as 'the worst situation,' adding that he had been kept in the dark by their captors. 'I did not sleep at night and my head was always in Israel,' he said. 'Lots of phone calls, lots of TV. I've been glued to the tv for two weeks, hoping for good news - and finally it came.' He added: 'I did not lose hope. Praying, and just waiting for this moment.' An image of the two being taken back into Israel was shared by authorities in the area, with the pair surrounded by armed soldiers. President Joe Biden has spoken to Uri Raanan - Natalie's father, Judith's ex-husband. 'We have been in touch as a government not only with the families of Natalie and Judith but also with the families of the other missing Americans,' said Brett McGurk, the Middle East coordinator for the National Security Council. 'We made very clear that we're doing all we can to secure their safety, too.' Ben Raanan, Natalie's brother, said he was playing video games when suddenly he received a flurry of text messages saying they would be freed. 'To be honest, I'm super annoyed - how does my sister, after two weeks of captivity, still look like a supermodel?!' He said their father told him 'Natalie is doing well, composed.' He added: 'We are ready to do this full trauma relief for her - friends, strangers, and people who want her to succeed with whatever she wants to do.' Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told reporters that 10 Americans remain hostages of Hamas, after it was revealed Illinois mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan had been released Friday Hamas hostages Judith Raanan and Natalie Raanan, a mother and daughter from Chicago, have been released by the terror group Asked why they were released, while others remained, he said: 'I do not know. 'They are not politicians. They are not people with intense feelings about Israel, Gaza, Palestine. 'They are Israelis, they are loving people, and I think it may be something to do with that.' He said his heart went out to those whose relatives were still missing. Ben said he had heard tentatively she may be returning to Chicago early next week. 'But that's dependent on what the hospital say, and their physical wellbeing, and making sure their mental health is fit for them to continue this next stage,' he said. He thanked the Biden administration and the Qatari government. 'And I want to thank everyone throughout the country who has been praying for our family.' Natalie Raanan is pictured with her brother, Ben Raanan, in Chicago Anthony Blinken, the Secretary of State, said Hamas is still feared to be holding 10 Americans hostage. The Secretary of State revealed the number still missing during a press conference in which he announced the release of Judith and Natalie Raanan. Blinken said he had no further information to offer on the 'status or condition' of the Americans still believed to be in Hamas custody following the October 7 terror attacks. 'I can't speak publicly about the details of these efforts, and I know you understand that, but the urgent work to free every single American, to free all other hostages continues as does our work to secure the safe passage out of Gaza for the Americans who are trapped there,' he said. 'In this particular instance, I want to thank the Government of Qatar for their very important assistance.' He also refused to comment further on how the Raanans are doing after being handed over. Blinken told reporters: 'We welcome (the Raanans') release. We share in the relief that their families, friends and loved ones are feeling. 'But there are still ten additional Americans who remain unaccounted for in this conflict. 'Some of them are being held hostage by Hamas along with an estimated 200 other hostages held in Gaza. They include men, women and young boys, young girls and people from many nations. Every single one of them should be released.' The Daily Mail was first to confirm the identities of Judith Raanan and Natalie Raanan, a mother and daughter from Chicago who were visiting Israel for a relative's birthday when they were kidnapped. Hamas armed wing spokesman Abu Ubaida issued a statement announcing the release on Friday, almost two weeks after the militant group took around 200 hostages during an October 7 attack that killed 1,400 Israelis, mostly civilians. Judith and Natalie were handed over to the Red Cross at an Egyptian border with the Gaza Strip and are now en route to a military base in the center of the country, where their family awaits them. 'Two of our abducted are home,' said Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister. 'We are not giving up the effort to bring all of the hostages and missing people home. At the same time, we are continuing to fight until victory.' This photo provided by the Raanan family shows Natalie Raanan and her dog, Panda, in Chicago Judith Raanan was released on Friday along with her daughter Jeremy Bash, former CIA chief of staff, said Qatar was valuable as an intermediary because Hamas' political leadership works and lives out of Qatar and Turkey. 'When there has been a need to get messages to Hamas in the past, usually Qatar is one of the go-betweens,' said Bash. Bash said Judith and Natalie Raanan will likely be carefully debriefed by the IDF and the Israeli security agency Shin Bet about any information they heard from their time under captivity. That could include intelligence about other hostages and Hamas' communication tactics, he told NBC. 'This is going to be very actionable intelligence.' President Biden released a statement saying his administration had 'secured the release' of the Raanans and sympathized over the 'terrible ordeal' they'd endured. He added that he was 'overjoyed' by the women's release and that he was continuing to work to free other captured Americans. 'The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) helped facilitate this release by transporting the hostages from Gaza to Israel, underscoring the real-life impact of our role as a neutral actor between the warring parties,' the ICRC said in a statement. 'More of this kind of humanitarian action is urgently needed so that even more families can be reunited. Many people are still desperately waiting for news of their loved ones.' The government of Qatar confirmed it helped secure the release of the mother and daughter, in coordination with the Red Cross. 'Two American civilian hostages have been released by Hamas and handed over to the Red Cross in the Gaza Strip,' said Dr Majid Al-Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 'Today's breakthrough comes after many days of continuous communication between all the parties involved. 'We will continue our dialogue with both the Israelis and Hamas, and we hope these efforts will lead to the release of all civilian hostages from every nationality, with the ultimate aim of de-escalating the current crisis and restoring peace.' J.B. Pritzker, the Democrat governor of Illinois, said he was looking forward to welcoming the pair home to their state. 'I am incredibly relieved that Natalie and Judith Raanan of Evanston have been released from captivity in Gaza,' Pritzker said in a statement. 'In what was supposed to be a visit to their loving family in Israel, they were violently abducted by a terrorist organization. 'After being held against their will for nearly two weeks, they are now safe and receiving necessary medical treatment.' He praised their fortitude while in captivity. 'I cannot wait to welcome them back home after demonstrating immense strength and bravery in the face of unthinkable terror. We must continue to advocate and pray for the safe return of those still held by Hamas. We will not let those who use terror as their weapon win,' Pritzker said. Rabbi Meir Hecht with Chabad of Evanston, talks with reporters outside his home about the release of Judith Raanan and her daughter Natalie Hecht said they were all overjoyed at the news of the Raanans' release A friend of Judith's, Chavah Rochel Golden, broke down in tears when she was told they had been freed. 'Baruch Hashem,' she told NBC News - a Hebrew phrase meaning 'blessed be God.' Golden, who lives in Chicago, added: 'Judith, we love you go home and get some sleep, then let's visit and hug each other.' Golden said Judith Raanan was a talented painter with a generous soul, and a determined streak. 'She never stops. If one thing doesn't work, she tries something else, so it doesn't surprise me that she's coming home,' Golden said, adding that all the other hostages should now be freed. 'I want to tell [Hamas] to let everybody go,' she said. 'There's no use. There's no purpose.' Earlier this week, Martin Fletcher, one of MSNBC's long-term Middle East correspondents, broke down on air while revealing the hostages Judith and Natalie Raanan are members of his wife's family. 'They were last seen, their hands tied, being dragged away by the Hamas terrorists. So it's personal, it's real, and nobody is really confident that it's possible to get them back alive. Of course, everybody's hoping,' Fletcher told Stephanie Ruhle on Thursday. Through tears, Fletcher said: 'Hamas is using the hostages for psychological warfare.' He described the conflict as a 'very personal thing.' 'Nobody is really confident that it's possible to get them back alive,' he added. Abu Ubaida, a spokesman for Hamas' armed wing the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, said the mother and daughter were released 'for humanitarian reasons' in response to Qatari mediation efforts. In a defiant statement, Abu Ubaida said the move would 'prove to the American people and the world that the claims made by Biden and his fascist administration are false and baseless.' Israel responded to the Hamas massacre and hostage crisis by pounding Gaza with air strikes, killing more than 4,000 people according to Hamas, and has said it will act to free the hostages while wiping out the terror group. Seventeen-year-old Natalie (above) and her mother were visiting family in Israel for the Jewish holidays and a relative's 85th birthday Israelis, whose close ones were taken hostage during a Hamas attack, demonstrate during a meeting between US President Joe Biden and Israeli leaders earlier this week Israeli tanks and troops are massed near the perimeter of the enclave for an expected ground invasion, calling on Palestinians to evacuate the north of Gaza, where it says Hamas is dug in. Israel has also said that there will be no end to its full blockade of the enclave unless Israeli hostages are freed. Hamas says it has some 200 hostages and that 50 more are held by other armed groups in the enclave. The group claimed more than 20 hostages have been killed by Israeli air strikes, but has not given any further details. Mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan were visiting Israel from Chicago when they were abducted Natalie Raanan is a typical 17-year-old: she loves art, makeup, fashion, and DoorDash - 'she hates eating at home,' her brother, Ben Raanan, told The Associated Press this week. She graduated from high school in the Chicago suburbs this year, and has a birthday coming up, according to her brother, who is 34 and based in Denver. Before she left on a trip to Israel to celebrate her grandmother's 85th birthday and the Jewish holidays with her mother, Judith Raanan, the teenager was deciding between going to college to study interior or fashion design and taking an apprenticeship with a tattoo shop. The pair had been sending updates as the trip progressed and were enjoying 'this really special mom and daughter time together,' said their rabbi, Meir Hecht. But the family hadn't heard from either mother or daughter since Hamas launched an unprecedented surprise attack. Natalie Raanan was visiting family for the High Holidays with her mother, Judith, when the assault began on October 7 Judith Raanan was also taken hostage along with her daughter Natalie is 'just a very loving, kind person,' said her older brother, Ben Raanan. Their middle brother, Adam, is nonverbal and much older than she is, but Natalie makes it a priority to maintain a strong bond with him, he explained. The family has been in touch with both U.S. and Israeli government officials, who confirmed Natalie and Judith are alive and being held hostage by Hamas, according to Ben Raanan, speaking prior to news of Friday's release. 'This whole situation is surreal,' he said. 'We are a very peaceful family. We do not advocate at all for any violence to be done to anyone in this world.' Judith Raanan is very active in her faith community, Chabad of Evanston, said her friend and the rabbi's wife, Yehudis Hecht. Judith came to Shabbat almost every week, helped prepare the Kiddush lunch - the meal served after the service - and just before she left for Israel, dropped off a pink prayer book for the Hechts' seven-year-old daughter, who loves the color, said Yehudis Hecht. A few dozen community members gathered to pray for the Raanans' safe return in the days after the Hamas attack - and are set to be delighted at news of their safe release. 'Judith, we're thinking of you,' said Yehudis Hecht at the event. 'Of your resilience, your hope, your love, your generosity, your faith and your strength. 'We know you're a strong woman and we pray that we see you safely very soon with your dear Natalie.' The BBC has quietly dropped the use of word 'militants' to refer to Hamas following weeks of pressure, it has emerged. The corporation will now call the group a 'proscribed terrorist organisation' by the UK Government or others. BBC News has faced huge criticism over its refusal to describe Hamas fighters as terrorists, even though the Home Office classifies the group as a 'terrorist organisation'. The broadcaster, which has cited its editorial guidelines as the reason for refusing to use the word terrorist, had previously been calling the fighters 'militants'. It also described the slaughter of Israeli civilians as a 'militant' attack. Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis had accused the BBC of trying to 'wilfully mislead', while a string of politicians attacked the BBC over its choice of words. But a statement by the Board of Deputies of British Jews, after it met BBC director-general Tim Davie and other bosses yesterday, revealed the BBC had stopped using the word 'militants'. It said: 'The BBC confirmed it was committed to continued dialogue. It also confirmed it is no longer BBC practice to call Hamas militants. Members of the Jewish community gather outside BBC Broadcasting House on Monday The National Jewish Assembly protested the BBC's refusal to label Hamas as terrorists Instead, the BBC describes the group as a proscribed terrorist organisation by the UK Government or others, or simply as Hamas.' The new measure stops short of the BBC describing Hamas fighters as terrorists in its own words. A BBC source later added the broadcaster has not banned the use of the word militants in reporting about Hamas, but it is no longer the default way of referring to the group. The Board of Deputies, the biggest Jewish community organisation in the UK, said the 'BBC was left in no doubt as to the strength of feeling in the Jewish community'. Mr Davie said: 'The BBC is committed to continuing dialogue through this period.' Board of Deputies president Marie van der Zyl said: 'We emphasised our outrage at the refusal of the BBC to describe Hamas's barbaric actions as terrorism and the damaging, false report of the rocket which killed innocent civilians. We will both continue dialogue as well as pursuing legal avenues.' Explaining the decision to drop the term 'militant', a spokesman for the BBC said: 'What the BBC does not do is use the word terrorist without attributing it, nor do we ban words. 'We also confirmed that for some days we had not been using 'militant' as a default description for Hamas, as we have been finding this a less accurate description as the situation evolves.' Israel is poised to temporarily close broadcaster Al Jazeera in the country, as it emerged the BBC could also have its access cut off by Israeli officials over its refusal to call Hamas terrorists. Qatar-based Al Jazeera has been accused by the Israeli administration of 'encouraging violence against Israel' in the way it has covered Hamas attacks. The Israeli government has reportedly given the go-ahead for emergency rules that will let it shut down foreign news channels temporarily. These powers are said to allow it to stop news outlets broadcasting, close their offices, shut down their websites, take equipment, and revoke press accreditation for journalists. Communications minister Shlomo Karhi is said to have pushed for the new regulations in a bid to target Al Jazeera, according to The Times of Israel. The clampdown comes at a time of worsening relations between the Israeli government and the BBC. President Isaac Herzog publicly condemned the corporation's refusal to describe Hamas fighters as terrorists. In a meeting with Rishi Sunak earlier this week, Mr Herzog said there should be a 'correction' issued over BBC coverage, accusing it of a 'distortion of the facts'. Tensions were made worse this week when BBC correspondent Jon Donnison said in the aftermath of the al-Ahli hospital explosion that it was 'hard to see' what else it could be other than an 'Israeli air strike'. Evidence has since emerged indicating that the explosion was caused by Islamic Jihad. The BBC has subsequently admitted that it was 'wrong to speculate in this way'. Footage shows the terrifying moment a school bus full of screaming children is flooded as a second red weather warning is issued in the UK, with Scotland set for another four inches of rain today. Storm Babet has caused travel chaos for many as trains across the country are cancelled and passengers on a Tui flight had to be evacuated from a plane at Leeds Bradford Airport, after it came off the runway as it attempted to land in windy conditions. Meanwhile, Scotland will experience its second red 'danger to life' warning, prompting First Minister Humza Yousaf to warn: 'We have not seen the last of this.' This comes as UK roads turn into rivers as the high winds and relentless rain continue to wreak havoc, including taking the lives of three people. The exceptionally wet and unsettled weather is expected to continue through the coming days and weather warnings will be updated, the Met Office said. A 'major incident' has been declared in Derbyshire where the school bus was flooded. In the video posted to X, formerly Twitter, brown water can be seen flooding into the double-decker as the school children scream and pull their legs up onto the seats. DERBYSHIRE: The terrifying moment a school bus full of screaming children floods DERBYSHIRE: Major rail routes have been affected by flooding - this image, from Network Rail, shows flooding at Clay Cross in the East Midlands SUFFOLK: Simon O'Brien (left) using his homemade boat, which he built for his grandchildren, to rescue elderly residents from their home in the village of Debenham BRECHIN: A woman is helped to safety by rescue workers as flood waters devastated streets of the Scottish town. Local authorities say much of the area is 'now only accessible via boat' Moments before the water gushes in, one pupil can be seen gesturing to the others to move up to the higher deck of the bus. The children's screams of terror increase as the water rises and one shouts: 'No, no, no, no.' Yesterday, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue declared a 'major incident' due to the ongoing chaos caused by Storm Babet and urged people not to travel. It added that it had rescued 60 people after floods occurred in Brampton, Chesterfield with residents moved to a rescue centre. Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Andy Page, described the storm as an 'exceptional event'. Parts of eastern Scotland could see a further 70-100 mm of rain, with the highest accumulations over the hills. Further rain is also expected more widely across Wales, northern England and the Midlands. Mr Page said: 'We are likely to continue to see significant impacts with the potential for further flooding and damage to properties. There are numerous National Severe Weather Warnings in place for both rain and wind over the coming days. 'Today parts of eastern Scotland could see a further 20-30 mm of rain, but the east-facing high ground from southeast Scotland to the Cheviots, south to the Peak District may see as much as 80 to 120 mm of rain locally. Strong easterly winds may exacerbate the impacts of the heavy rain. 'We have issued a second red warning covering parts of Angus and Aberdeenshire for Saturday with 70-100 mm rain possible. This has the potential to cause further impacts in this already hard-hit area.' DERBYSHIRE: The children are heard screaming in terroras the water gushes onto the bus BRECHIN: A member of the emergency services helps resident Laura Demontis from a house as Storm Babet batters the country LEEDS: Emergency services at the scene after a passenger plane came off the runway at Leeds Bradford Airport while landing in windy conditions SCOTLAND: Waves break over Dysart harbour wall during storm Babet Sadly, the storm has proven deadly. A man in his 60s died after getting caught in fast-flowing flood water in the town of Cleobury Mortimer in Shropshire on Friday, West Mercia Police said. West Mercia Police said: 'Members of the public reported that the man had gone under the water shortly before 10.40am this morning. 'Officers from West Mercia Police and Shropshire Fire and Rescue quickly attended but sadly he was found deceased at around 12.35pm. 'Whilst formal identification hasn't yet taken place the family of a local man in his 60s have been informed and are being supported by officers.' This is the third death since the storm began. Police Scotland said a falling tree hit a van near Forfar in Angus on Thursday evening, killing a 56-year-old driver. A 57-year-old woman also died on Thursday after being swept into a river in the Angus region. More than 75 people were in rescue centres in Angus, east Scotland, while Angus Council said people in more than 60 homes in Brechin, who refused previous evacuation attempts, required rescue. Jacqui Semple, head of risk, resilience and safety for Angus Council, said: 'People are devastated. This is awful. In the video posted to X, formerly Twitter , brown water can be seen flooding into the double-decker bus as the school children scream and pull their legs up onto the seats The UK is awash with weather warnings on Friday - including a rare red weather warning covering Angus, Perthshire and Dundee on Scotland's east coast BRECHIN: A woman walks through flood waters as residents are asked to evacuate by the local authorities 'It would be awful. Your house flooded, your belongings, the impact emotionally and physically and everything that goes with that. 'They've got all of those people who have been affected arriving at our rest centres in such a state - wet, cold, and just so unbelievably upset.' Across England, there were more than 200 flood warnings and 200 alerts on Friday evening, while 55,000 people were left without power as a result of the storm. By Friday evening, around 45,000 of those were reconnected to the grid but 10,000 were still without power, the Energy Networks Association said. Flooding caused 70-minute delays on the A1 near Grantham, National Highways said, while further south, Suffolk declared a major incident on Friday as Storm Badet caused 'major flooding' across the county. The rural village of Debenham was cut off by flooding, residents said, while tractors were being used to rescue people caught in the flood water. Around 50 people were sheltering in the local leisure centre there and sleeping on crash matts, staff said. Meanwhile, passengers on a Tui flight had to be evacuated from a plane at Leeds Bradford Airport after it came off the runway as it attempted to land in windy conditions. SUNDERLAND: Sea foam coats the beachfront at Seaburn as violent waves are whipped up by Storm Babet Severe rainfall saw streets in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, flooded on Thursday afternoon Emergency services at the scene after a passenger plane came off the runway at Leeds Bradford Airport Flight TOM3551, which departed from Corfu just after 12.30pm local time (10.30am BST), was attempting to land at the airport in strong winds when the Boeing 737-800 slipped off the tarmac and was left stranded on the grass. The airport's emergency siren is understood to have activated when the aircraft careered off the runway upon landing at around 1.53pm BST. Witnesses described it as a 'hard landing'. There were no reports of any injuries, operator Tui said. Malcolm Fell, who was on the flight, described the incident as 'a little bit dramatic' but everyone onboard was 'quite calm'. Recalling his experience, he said: 'The plane came down and the pilot applied reverse thrust on the brakes and it started to aquaplain,' adding 'it seemed to speed up rather than slow down'. The photos show the plane stuck in thick mud after it skidded off the runway on landing. No one is thought to have been hurt in the crash Dramatic photos show the TUI aircraft lying to the side of the runway at Leeds Bradford Airport this afternoon Emergency services at the scene in windy conditions during Storm Babet DUNDEE: Flood waters surround cars and houses along Heron Rise after the nearby Dighty Water broke its banks Wheelie bins float on top the water in Hucknall as the streets of Nottinghamshire flooded 'My wife, [who] was sat next to me, turned to me and said I think you better brace yourself because this is not going to stop. 'And then all of a sudden...we were at a standstill on the grass,' he said. Passenger Mr Fell said the left side of the plane was 'covered in mud' following the landing. 'Everybody was quite calm, there was no screaming or drama or anything like that. 'It took us about an hour to get us off the plane because the emergency serviceskicked in to make sure that the plane was secure before they evacuated us.' He added: 'Great thanks to the airport - they worked really well to get people off the plane.' Footage showed the plane being quickly surrounded by emergency vehicles, including three ambulances, as they worked to try and evacuate passengers. West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said there were no reported injuries and no fire. But all flights in and out of Leeds Bradford Airport were temporarily halted with some arrivals diverted to other airports including Manchester. Foreign nationals who commit anti-Semitic acts or back Hamas face being stripped of their visas and kicked out of Britain, it emerged last night. Immigration minister Robert Jenrick wrote to every chief constable in the country asking them to inform the Home Office about individuals whose behaviour means their presence here may not be conducive to the public good. It could include behaviour at demonstrations or online, it is understood. Foreign nationals who have temporary permission to stay in Britain potentially including those who came here through the asylum system risk having their visas revoked. Behaviour which could lead to them being referred to the Home Office includes chanting the slogan From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, sources said. Home Secretary Suella Braverman has condemned the slogan as a staple of anti-Semitic discourse and a demand for the destruction of Israel. Immigration minister Robert Jenrick (pictured) wrote to every chief constable in the country In his letter to police chiefs, Mr Jenrick said: We encourage your forces to use the existing referral mechanisms when they encounter such cases involving visas and immigration issues. The Home Office will not hesitate to enforce the law and revoke the visas of such individuals where their presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good. Some individuals already arrested at pro-Palestinian demonstrations are in the UK on temporary leave visas, the minister said. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Jenrick added: Be in no doubt that we will revoke visas as required. Ministers powers to exclude foreign nationals on public interest grounds have a lower threshold than the criminal law. The Met Police is today bracing itself for an even larger rally than last weekends, which saw tens of thousands descend on the capital, with nine officers injured and 15 arrests made. A spokesman for the Palestine Solidarity Campaign said 200,000 people were expected to march today in what is likely to be the biggest rally for Palestinian rights in British history. Police chiefs said there would be zero tolerance for hate crimes and shows of support for Hamas and other proscribed organisations but pro-Palestine chanting would be permitted. Metropolitan Police deputy assistant commissioner Ade Adelekan said people chanting the from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free slogan would not be committing an offence. Minister of State for Immigration Robert Jenrick speaking during a vigil outside Downing Street, central London, for victims and hostages of Hamas attacks He added: While we can see scenarios where chanting these words would be unlawful, such as outside a synagogue or a Jewish school, it is likely that its use in a wider protest setting would not be an offence and would not result in arrest. It came as police revealed the Hamas massacre has sparked a shocking 1,353 per cent increase in anti-Semitic offences in London. The murder of 1,400 Israelis on October 7 ignited a significant spike in hate crime across Britain, with 218 anti-Semitic offences reported in London between October 1 and 18. Islamophobic offences during the same period are up 140 per cent, from 42 last year to 101. Scotland Yard has arrested 21 people over hate crimes linked to the conflict. More than 1,000 officers will police todays march in central London, and representatives from both Jewish and Muslim communities have been invited into the Mets control room to advise senior officers. A barrier has been erected around the Israeli embassy in Kensington. Downing Street urged pro-Palestine campaigners to consider the fear and distress felt by Jewish communities. Commander Dominic Murphy, from the Mets Counter Terrorism Command, said police remained conscious that conflict overseas could inspire events in the UK. Britain can become a world-leading technology hub if it passes a law limiting the power of internet giants, the founder of Spotify says. Daniel Ek, the Swedish founder of the music streaming service, writes in the Mail in praise of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill. The legislation, which is passing through Parliament, seeks to generate more competition in online tech by curbing the power of companies such as Apple and Google. Mr Ek, who founded Spotify in 2006, said it will 'redefine how businesses can compete, grow and thrive on the internet cementing the UK as a hub for innovation and an incubator for technology firms'. The billionaire, 40, added: 'The Bill ensures that companies like Apple will have to compete fairly for consumers' business.' He said the problem is that these firms built and still control the operating systems within which other competitors sell their products. Apple's iOS operating system and its App Store are particularly dominant on mobile phones 'the main way most people access the internet'. He added: 'While Apple has long been unwilling to share any detailed breakdown of its App Store profits, all indications point to the fact that it has generated at least $100billion thanks to the high 30 per cent tax it imposes on innovators here in the UK and around the world. Daniel Ek, the Swedish founder of the music streaming service, writes in the Mail in praise of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill Mr Ek, who founded Spotify in 2006, said it will 'redefine how businesses can compete, grow and thrive on the internet cementing the UK as a hub for innovation and an incubator for technology firms' (Stock Image) 'How many more startups would have succeeded and grown into successful businesses if Apple wasn't extracting this rent and reaping massive rewards at the expense of the broader tech economy?' Mr Ek added: 'It makes me wonder whether launching a venture like Spotify would even be feasible today. My guess is no.' He urged MPs to hold firm and pass a 'robust' version of the Bill, in the face of 'intensive lobbying from Apple to either kill the bill or water it down, rendering it essentially ineffective'. The lobbying has targeted, among other measures, a proposed change to the process for appealing against decisions taken by the new 'Digital Markets Unit' (DMU) the watchdog that would have the power to fine the tech giants. Big tech firms want to change the appeals system for the DMU's decisions from a quick judicial review process to a full 'merits-based appeal', which smaller companies fear would bog down the DMU in lengthy and expensive court battles. News publishers and consumer rights groups are among those resisting such a watering down of the legislation. Mr Ek said: 'It's crucial the Government passes a strong Bill, giving consumers greater choice and control over their digital lives ... If you are expecting these big tech companies to step up and simply do the right thing, that's not going to happen.' The Supreme Court on Friday said it would indefinitely block a lower court order curbing Biden administration efforts to combat controversial social media posts on topics including COVID-19 and election security. The justices said they would hear arguments in a lawsuit filed by Louisiana, Missouri and other parties accusing administration officials of unconstitutionally squelching conservative points of view. The new case adds to a term already heavy with social media issues. Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas would have rejected the emergency appeal from the Biden administration. 'At this time in the history of our country, what the Court has done, I fear, will be seen by some as giving the Government a green light to use heavy-handed tactics to skew the presentation of views on the medium that increasingly dominates the dissemination of news. That is most unfortunate,' Alito wrote in dissent. The Supreme Court on Friday said it would indefinitely block a lower court order curbing Biden administration efforts to combat controversial social media posts on topics including COVID-19 and election security Louisiana , Missouri and other parties have accused the Biden administration of pressuring social media companies including Facebook and now X - formerly Twitter - of taking down posts that showcase a conservative view White House communications staffers, the surgeon general, the FBI and the U.S. cybersecurity agency are among those who would have been affected by the order. The lawsuit said they were among those who coerced changes in online content on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and other media platforms. Notably, the companies themselves are not part of the litigation. A panel of three judges on the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled earlier that the administration had likely brought unconstitutional pressure on the media platforms. The appellate panel said officials cannot attempt to 'coerce or significantly encourage' changes in online content. The Justice Department said the appellate ruling and a much broader order issued by a federal judge in Louisiana that the appeals court narrowed were riddled with factual and legal mistakes. 'The Fifth Circuit erred in finding coercion by the White House, Surgeon Generals office, and FBI because the court did not identify any threat, implicit or explicit, of adverse consequences for noncompliance,' Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar wrote. President Joe Biden's administration tried to curtail disinformation about COVID-19 and also the 2020 presidential election by pushing social media companies to take posts containing controversial viewpoints down 'Indeed, the Fifth Circuit adopted a definition of coercion so lax that it deemed the FBIs actions coercive simply because the FBI is a powerful law enforcement agency and the platforms sometimes (but not always) removed the content it flagged,' Prelogar said. The 5th Circuit had previously narrowed a more sweeping order during the summer from a federal judge, who wanted to include even more government officials and prohibit mere encouragement of content changes. The Supreme Court has four other social media cases on its docket. The justices are evaluating Republican-passed laws in Florida and Texas that prohibit large social media companies from taking down posts because of the views they express. The tech companies said that the laws violate their First Amendment rights. The laws reflect a view among Republicans that the platforms disproportionately censor conservative viewpoints. Two other cases test whether public officials can block critics from commenting on their social media accounts, an issue that previously came up in a case involving then-President Donald Trump. The court dismissed the Trump case when his presidential term ended in January 2021. A social media influencer has told a court she was 'heartbroken' and 'very very down' before she 'did something very wrong' by kissing a 14-year-old boy for 20 seconds. The 46-year-old woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of aggravated sexual intercourse with a child under 16 years old. On Friday, she told Sydney's Downing Centre District Court she had been 'very very down' and drinking when she approached the teen on an evening in mid- 2021. A social media influencer who kissed a 14-year-old boy has told a Sydney court that she was 'heartbroken' and 'very, very down' before the incident occurred The influencer said the pair were sitting together in 'fairly close proximity' when the boy told her to 'cheer up' before leaning in to kiss her on the neck. 'We started kissing on the lips,' she said. 'He stopped and said very quietly 'I love you' and then I felt his erection on my leg.' Crown prosecutor Emma Blizard alleged the 46-year-old woman then took off the teen's clothes and engaged in oral and penetrative sex with him. However, the influencer denied to the jury that it went further than a 'short' kiss which lasted no more than 20 seconds. 'It felt so awkward and wrong that I basically, I was out of there,' she said. 'I got up, I stopped it, and then I walked (away).' The woman told the court she had drunk up to one and a half bottles of red wine that evening, and she'd given 'half a glass' of wine to the 14-year-old. The jury previously heard the boy estimated she'd consumed at least three bottles of wine during the afternoon and she had been dancing in front of him. The matter which was heard at the Downing Centre Local Court (pictured) in Sydney on Friday heard the kiss lasted no more than 20 seconds after the boy allegedly approached her and told her to 'cheer up' before leaning in to kiss her on the neck The court was shown a video of the influencer dancing, which was allegedly taken two hours before she climbed into bed with the teen. In the video, the woman can be seen rubbing her hands up her body and lifting her black top to reveal her stomach. She pouts at the camera while swaying her hips from side to side to the music. The court previously heard the 14-year-old described the dance as 'weirdly sexual'. When he approached the influencer about the alleged sexual assault four days later, she told the jury she was 'apprehensive' and afraid of the consequences of being overheard. 'I knew I did something very wrong,' she said about the kiss. When prompted by the teen, the woman denied they had kissed but then conceded to the court on Friday that she remembered the interaction. When asked in court if alcohol had affected her memory of that night, she declared: 'I remember everything, just about.' 'What on earth were you thinking when you kissed him?' her lawyer Phillip Boulten SC asked. 'I don't know,' she responded. The woman didn't interact with the teen again until mid-2022, when he called her out of the blue to discuss 'the night of the kiss'. 'I immediately was shocked or confused. It was so in the past,' she said. Unbeknown to the influencer, the call was being lawfully recorded by police. Police had arranged for the teen to call her after he reported the sexual assault allegations weeks earlier. 'I remember when we had sex right,' the court heard the teen asked her during the call. 'Well not really, I don't remember it,' she replied. The woman told the court she had up to one and a half bottles of red wine on the night of the alleged incident in Sydney (pictured) The influencer clarified she 'absolutely I remembered I did not' have sex with the minor, because 'kissing isn't sex'. She admitted she had not been truthful and said she was 'pacifying and neutralising' the teen during the phone call out of fear he would go to the authorities with the 'very serious false accusation'. Her lawyer Phillip Boulten SC told the jury the prosecution must prove the sexual assault took place and the woman 'does not have to prove her innocence'. She will continue to give evidence before Judge Sarah Hopkins on Monday. The King will travel to the Middle East next month to make the first major climate change speech of his reign. It comes a year after Charles was blocked by Downing Street from attending the COP27 summit in Egypt. At the time, Palace officials tried to play down any suggestions of a rift with then-prime minister Liz Truss, who felt it was not the right occasion for Charles to attend so soon after his accession. The sovereign held a reception at Buckingham Palace for leading lights in the field instead, but it was well known that he was disappointed by the decision. However, Rishi Sunak has provisionally sanctioned the monarch to attend COP28 the UN climate change conference in Dubai at the end of next month, the Evening Standard reported. It comes a year after Charles was blocked by Downing Street from attending the COP27 summit in Egypt. Pictured: King Charles III listens to speeches during his visit to the Museum of Natural History to meet business leaders and talk about biodiversity in Paris Palace officials tried to play down any suggestions of a rift with then-prime minister Liz Truss, who felt it was not the right occasion for Charles to attend so soon after his accession. Pictured: King Charles and Camilla attend a reception at Mansion House on October 18 He would be expected to address other world leaders while there. Plans havent been set in stone, the Mail understands, not least because of the volatility in the Middle East, but it is certainly intended that King should go. As Prince of Wales, Charles was a vociferous campaigner for the environment and was lauded for his stance on issues such as organic farming, plastics, biodiversity loss and climate change half a century before they became mainstream. His most recent initiative before his accession was to set up a Sustainable Markets Initiative to firm up links between private industry and government, which he believes is crucial to solving the climate crisis. Charless attendance in Dubai alongside world leaders will be a clear sign that he wants to use his position to continue to highlight environmental issues. As Prince of Wales, Charles delivered the opening speech at Cop21 in Paris in 2015, calling for a vast military-style campaign to fight climate change and urging world leaders to commit trillions, not billions, of dollars. He played a vital role in convening and encouraging world leaders to sign up to the landmark Paris Climate Agreement at the event. Charles also delivered a speech on home soil at the opening ceremony of Cop26 in Glasgow, calling on world leaders to adopt a warlike footing to deal with the issue. In a video address to the same conference in 2021, the late Queen hailed Charless work. Texas lawmakers have advanced a proposal that could see illegal immigrants immediately deported back to Mexico - or even jailed for up to 20 years. House bill 4 would give law enforcement the option to take illegal immigrants to the border and drop them them at the ports of entry. First-time offenders would be given the option to comply. Migrants who don't volunteer to be returned to the Mexico would face charges and jail time, ranging from six months to 20 years depending if they have other outstanding charges or are repeat offenders. 'We have a crisis at our southern border that includes terrorists,' Republican state Rep. David Spiller, who proposed the law, told the Border Report. 'Texans know the Biden administration has failed to enforce our borders.' Migrants who crossed the Rio Grande and entered the U.S. from Mexico are lined up for processing by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Sept. 23, 2023, in Eagle Pass, Texas At least 3.7 million migrants have entered Texas since 2021, according the US Customs and Border Protection More than 1.2 million migrants have crossed into the Lone Star State in the last 12 months, according to statistics from US Customs and Border Protection. The actual total for fiscal year 2023 is higher since the September numbers have not been released yet. Since President Joe Biden took office, an additional 2.5 million additional migrants have crossed into the US through Texas. That means Texas has seen at least 3.7 million border crossers under the Biden administration. This figure only represent migrants who were apprehended by US authorities, not those who slipped into the country undetected. Migrants seeking asylum in the United States gather near a wire fence as members of the Texas National Guard stand guard with the purpose of stopping them Republican state Rep. David Spiller, who represents several counties near the Oklahoma state line north of Dallas, proposed HB4 'Its a landmark bill that allows Texans to protect Texans and to send illegal aliens back,' Spiller added. 'Our cries for help and enforcement of immigration laws have been ignored by President Biden. Weve had enough.' The House State Affairs Committee voted to advance HB4 out of committee, which means it will go to the entire House for a vote from each member. A second bill would create new state criminal charges for migrants who enter illegally. Senate Bill 11 would authorize state police to arrest violators illegal immigrants. A first-time offender could be convicted of a misdemeanor, but the penalty would jump to a felony if the person has a criminal record and has repeatedly entered the country illegally. Migrants line up near the border wall to turn themselves into US Customs and Border Protection near El Paso, Texas in May But critics say the bill will likely run into serious legal issues which will stop it from ever crossing Governor Greg Abbott's desk. 'I dont think either one of them is constitutional,' Democratic Sen. Juan Chuy Hinojosa told the outlet. He voted against SB11 Thursday. 'Federal law preempts state law, and Im certain that the state is looking for a way to challenge part of the authority of the federal government and preempt state law because of the immigration challenges we face along the border,' There have also been concern SB11 could lead to racial profiling. Multiple civil rights groups have promised to sue Texas if the bills become law. This bill needs a final vote in the Senate before it goes to the House. Rising numbers of sellers are concerned about being gazundered, according to findings an estate agent comparison website. The term gazundering has seen a sharp rise in Google search activity, as cooling market conditions put greater power into the hands of buyers, Get Agent says. The number of people searching gazundering online has surged 97 per cent since January, the findings suggest. Worried: Rising numbers of sellers are concerned about being gazundered, according to findings from Get Agent Gazundering, which is legal, refers to a buyer reducing their offer at a late stage of negotiations to try and pressure the seller into accepting less money. Gazundering often becomes more prevalent when buyer demand is dwindling and prospective purchasers are more likely to gain the upper hand in negotiations. If a buyer knows the seller needs or wants to sell-up quickly, they may well give gazundering a go. Colby Short, Get Agent's co-founder, said: 'It's not so long ago that we saw an unprecedented rise in gazumping in the UK market, with desperate buyers swooping in to outbid each other at the last minute. 'But now that market conditions have changed in the face of economic uncertainty, the power dynamic seems to have shifted in favour of the buyer. 'Hence the rising interest in gazundering as buyers have made a last ditch offer for a lower price than originally agreed.' What to do if you get gazundered Sophie Pollard, a director of estate agent MyHaus Brighton, said sellers who face being gazundered should remain calm and consider their options. She said: 'While it can come as a shock and sour the taste of your sale completing, it might still be possible to continue with your onward purchase.' Sellers can, if they want to, still negotiate with the buyer once they have been gazundered. Pollard added: 'Look at your local market what is happening there and have house prices dropped in the time it has taken for you to get to completion?' If the property is returned to the market, sellers should be mindful that it might be at a lower price in any event. Another option for sellers who have been gazundered is to simply accept the lower offer. This might seem hard to swallow, but if you need or want to get the sale completed quickly, it may be the best option. Pollard said: 'Gazundering is a painful, yet increasingly common occurrence as we see in the later part of 2023. 'A lot of the time it is unavoidable by the buyer and is a result of stress tests on mortgages and ever changing rates. However there will always be people looking to make those savings right until the last minute. Creating trust within a sale from both sides is going to prevent those hasty changes in offer right at the end.' Top team: More people are searching for the 'best estate agent' online, suggesting that they know selling their property may not be easy As well as more searches for gazundering, people are also searching for the 'best estate agent' online. Searches for this term have become 17.4 per cent more popular since the start of the year. According to Get Agent, this is a recognition from sellers that when market conditions are less than favourable, a good agent is essential for securing a quick sale and a decent price. > Nine questions you should ask an estate agent The popularity of 'property chain' searches has, Get Agent claims, risen 8.5 per cent as cooling market conditions mean chains are lengthening, causing anxiety for both sellers and buyers. Extended selling timelines have also resulted in the popularity of online searches for 'conveyancing' increasing by 1.9 per cent. Conversely, the frequency of online searches for terms including 'house price', 'valuation', 'capital gains tax' and 'stamp duty' has fallen, Get Agent said. It could be a pilot whale, dolphin, sea cow or even a shark, according to experts The decayed remains of a creature washed up on a beach in Papua New Guinea This mysterious creature dubbed a 'mermaid globster' caused quite the stir when it washed up on a beach in Papua New Guinea last month. Experts are baffled as to what it is, saying it is 'anyone's guess', but the general consensus is that it is some kind of marine animal. Guesses have ranged from types of whales and dolphin, to a 'sea cow' or even a shark. However, nobody can be certain from the pictures alone and no DNA can confirm one way or another because locals have already buried the carcass. The remains were discovered by locals on Simberi Island a small volcanic island with a population of around 1,000 people in the Bismarck Sea in Papua New Guinea's New Ireland Province. Peculiar: This mysterious creature dubbed a 'mermaid globster' caused quite the stir when it washed up on a beach in Papua New Guinea last month Theories: Experts are baffled as to what it is, saying it is 'anyone's guess', but the general consensus is that it is some type of marine animal WHAT COULD THE 'MERMAID GLOBSTER' BE? Pilot whale Spinner dolphin Pantropical spotted dolphins Sperm whales Sea cow Shark Advertisement It is known as a globster an unidentified organic mass that washes up on the shoreline of an ocean or other body of water. They differ from a normal beached carcass because they are defined as something that is hard to identify by untrained observers, creating controversy about what it is. Many globsters are believed to be the remnants of whales or sharks or other sea creatures that have decayed over time and taken on bizarre shapes due to parts of the corpse rotting away. The globster that washed up on Simberi Island described as almost mermaid-like was missing most of its head and huge chunks of its flesh. It is unclear how big it was or how much it weighed because the globster has already been buried, according to a Facebook group called New Irelanders Only. 'Strange dead sea creature shaped like [a] mermaid washed on to the shoreline in Simberi Island this morning,' the group wrote in a post on September 20. 'Anyone with the explanation to identify this creature?' It prompted a wave of speculation online, with some claiming it looked like a dugong, or 'sea cow', and others believing it to be a shark. Erich Hoyt, a researcher at the UK's Whale and Dolphin Conservation charity, told MailOnline: 'This looks like a long dead dugong. 'It will have been dead for weeks or longer. What is could be: Guesses have ranged from types of whales and dolphin, to a 'sea cow' or even a shark The remains were discovered by locals on Simberi Island a small volcanic island with a population of around 1,000 people in the Bismarck Sea in New Ireland Province, according to a Facebook post by New Irelanders Only (NIO) Grim find: The remains are what is known as a globster an unidentified organic mass that washes ashore The globster that washed up on Simberi Island (shown on a locator map) was missing most of its head and huge chunks of its flesh 'Examination of the skull will verify the identity and more could be learned from sampling DNA. There is some chance it could be a small whale. That would be my second guess.' Jens Currie, chief scientist of the Pacific Whale Foundation in Hawaii, agreed that it could be a 'sea cow', which are common in the shallow waters close to Simberi Island. 'My best estimate is that it might be a dugong,' he told Live Science. 'The amount of blubber also indicates a marine mammal and not a shark.' Helene Marsh, an environmental scientist at James Cook University in Australia, told Live Science the creature looked like a marine mammal, but that 'after that it is anyone's guess'. Sascha Hooker, a marine mammal expert at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, said it appeared to be 'a very decomposed cetacean', such as a whale or dolphin. These creatures are known to turn white when their skin drops off. If it is a cetacean, the most common types near Papua New Guinea are spinner dolphins, sperm whales, short-finned pilot whales and pantropical spotted dolphins. Sadly we'll never get 100 per cent confirmation of what it was, but one thing's for sure, there's likely to be many more of these mysterious 'mermaid globsters' washing up in the future. A pair of novice metal detectorists have discovered a giant Roman hoard of 2,733 coins worth tens of thousands of pounds. David Moss, 34, and Tom Taylor, 35, found the remarkable haul of 2nd and 3rd century AD silver and copper-alloy coins in a ceramic vessel in a muddy field. Tom is an avid watcher of Time Team so, with official permission, he and David carefully excavated the pot which was 12ins below the surface before wrapping it in bandages. The pot was later examined using CT-scans which showed it was full of ancient coins. They are thought to date from the reigns of Postumus (AD 260-269) and Victorinus (269-271AD) and were found near the remains of a Roman temple in north Wales excavated ten years ago. A pair of novice metal detectorists have discovered a giant Roman hoard of 2,733 coins worth tens of thousands of pounds. David Moss (left), 34, and Tom Taylor, 35 (right), found the remarkable haul of 2nd and 3rd century AD silver and copper-alloy coins in a ceramic vessel in a muddy field READ MORE: A new British King? Gold coin in Hampshire is stamped with the name 'Esunertos' British history may have been rewritten, following the discovery of a coin stamped with the name of a forgotten Iron Age ruler Advertisement The vessel also contained silver Denarii (69-150AD) coins struck over a century earlier. Experts believe they were deposited in the field Caerhun, Conwy valley, possibly by a Roman soldier as an offering because of the site's religious significance. The hoard has been declared as treasure by the assistant coroner for North Wales, Kate Robertson. In due course, they will be transported to London to be valued, with any proceeds to be split between the finders and the landowner. David, an agricultural goods supplier from near Liverpool, said it was the first time he and electrician Tom, from Stockton-on-Tees, Teeside, had detected in a field after trying out the hobby on a beach. He said: 'We had only just started metal-detecting when we made these totally unexpected finds. 'It was our first time on farmland after doing some detecting on the beach a month earlier. 'On the day of discovery, it was raining heavily, so I took a look at Tom and made my way across the field towards him to tell him to call it a day on the detecting. Tom is an avid watcher of Time Team so, with official permission, he and David carefully excavated the pot which was 12ins below the surface before wrapping it in bandages 'We called the finds liaison officer and he gave us permission to collect the coins so we recovered the vessel using techniques Tom knew from watching Time Team,' David said 'All of a sudden, I accidentally clipped a deep object making a signal. 'It came as a huge surprise when I dug down 12ins and eventually revealed the top of the vessel that held the coins. 'I wasn't sure what I had found but Tom then looked at them and said 'oh my God, they are Roman coins! 'We called the finds liaison officer and he gave us permission to collect the coins so we recovered the vessel using techniques Tom knew from watching Time Team. 'Some detectorists don't find a Roman coin in their lifetime so I can't believe we found a hoard. 'People do not realise the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes at the national museum, from excavating the coins, to looking after them and identifying them so they can be reported on as treasure. 'It's a huge process to be able to see the work unfold. 'To be involved at first hand as finders is an incredible experience. 'The hoard needs to be taken to London to be valued but for us it is not about the money, we're history hunters instead of treasure hunters.' Alastair Willis, senior curator, Numismatics and the Welsh Economy, said: 'The coins in this hoard seem to have been collected over a long period of time. 'Most appear to have been put in the pot during the reigns of Postumus (AD 260-269) and Victorinus (AD 269-271), but the two bags of silver coins seem to have been collected much earlier during the early decades of the third century AD. The pot was later examined using CT-scans which showed it was full of ancient coins Experts believe the coins were deposited in the field Caerhun, Conwy valley, possibly by a Roman soldier as an offering because of the site's religious significance 'The smaller hoard was probably buried in the AD 220s. The two hoards were found close to the remains of a Roman building which was excavated in 2013 and identified as a possible temple dating to the third century AD. 'The discovery of these hoards supports this suggestion. 'It is very likely that the hoards were deposited here because of the religious significance of the site, perhaps as votive offerings, or for safe keeping under the protection of the temple's deity. 'The coins may have belonged to soldiers at the nearby Roman fort of Canovium (located near Caerhun).' Louise Mumford, senior conservator of archaeology at the Museum of Wales, added: 'In the conservation lab, investigation at the top of the pot quickly revealed that some of the coins had been in bags made from extremely thin leather, traces of which remained. Louise Mumford, senior conservator of archaeology at the Museum of Wales, added: 'In the conservation lab, investigation at the top of the pot quickly revealed that some of the coins had been in bags made from extremely thin leather, traces of which remained' The incredible haul was discovered in a field in Caerhun, Conwy Valley 'It is very rare for organic materials such as this to survive in the soil. 'The surviving fragments, which included two fragments of a stitched seam, were preserved and will provide information about the type of leather used and how the bags were made.' Llandudno Museum are keen to acquire these two important hoards with the support of Conwy Culture Centre and the Museum of Wales. Museum director Dawn Lancaster said: 'This is very exciting news for Llandudno Museum. 'The opportunity to purchase these important coin hoards which are associated with Kanovium Roman Fort will allow future generations to see and experience a significant collection of ancient silver coins dating from 32BC and representing 50 rulers. 'Llandudno Museum holds all previous finds from the excavation of Kanovium Roman Fort sited at Caerhun in the Conwy valley, so it is fitting the hoard is put into context along with the rest of the artefacts. 'We can share the story of their discovery and the importance to Welsh cultural heritage of our area these amazing finds represent.' As humanity teeters on the brink of World War III, a doctor has shared a morbid guide about surviving nuclear fallout. Abud Bakri MD, a residency physician in California, combed through mountains of research papers to see how the US handled previous threats to create the ultimate survival guide for a looming nuclear fallout. He concluded there are three acute survival concepts: distance from a nuclear blast, time exposed to radiation and proper shielding. Bakri also warned that people with lean bodies may want to increase their body fat now, as food could be scarce after the first bombs drop. As humanity teeters on the brink of World War III, a doctor has shared a morbid guide about surviving nuclear fallout There are at least 12,500 nuclear warheads worldwide. Paul Gambles, co-founder of MBMG Group, told Bloomberg that we are closer to World War III now than we have ever been in the past. Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, which saw the US swiftly respond to Ukraine's aid. The two Eastern nations have been at war since 2014, but the recent invasion was the most significant attack on a European country since World War II. In addition, fighting in the Middle East has also been reignited after Hamas' deadly terrorist attack on Israel. Bakri shared his guide on X, explaining he analyzed data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), World Health Organization (WHO) and the US federal government. 'This is what I'm going to do to try and save my family. [This is] general information [and] not medical advice, he shared. Consuming more calories is crucial for survival While most medical professionals tell people to steer clear of processed food, Bakri said people will want to stock up in the event of a nuclear fallout. This is because food may be scarce, and people want to consume as many calories as possible to survive. According to the US government website Ready, canned foods, dry mixes and other items that do not need refrigeration, cooking or water are ideal for disasters. The website shared several foods to have on hand: canned meats, fruits, and vegetables; protein or fruit bars, dry cereal or granola; peanut butter; dried fruit; canned juices; and non-perishable pasteurized milk. Bakri also noted that fasting could occur. He shared that each pound of fat you have equals one and a half days of energy. 'Might be wise to be adapted from now as the first few days will be BRUTAL Might be wise to not be TOO LEAN (fit influencers with five percent [body fat] will not have enough calories to survive),' Bakri posted. Bakri also suggested that people should have battery-powered or hand-crank radios due to the electromagnetic pulses from the blast knocking out all electronics Your distance from the blast zone could mean life or death How close you are to the impact zone will determine your survival. When a nuclear bomb makes an impact, it sends a shockwave that can extend about half of a mile from the target Bakri also highlighted the fact that there are certain hotspots where enemies will likely attack first. The hotspots in the US are home to intercontinental ballistic missile silos, which are located in five states: Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, Montana, and North Dakota Bakri shared: 'Just like in real estate, the key to survival is location, location, location.' When a nuclear bomb makes an impact, it sends a shockwave that can extend about half of a mile from the target. Thermal damage can extend about one mile, flying debris can travel up to a few miles and radiation from the blast could reach people within three-fourths of a mile from the explosion site. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, radioactive fallout occurs in an irregular elliptical pattern in the direction the wind blows, and lethal radiation could extend up to six miles. Bakri also highlighted the fact that there are certain hotspots where enemies will likely attack first. The hotspots in the US are home to intercontinental ballistic missile silos, which are located in five states: Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, Montana, and North Dakota. A map originally released by the Natural Resources Defense Council in 2002 shows potential nuclear targets in the US The US government deliberately set up these sites during the Cold War with the former Soviet Union - in the event of an attack, bombs would fall on sparsely populated areas. These areas were known as 'Nuclear Sponge' states to be sacrificed. A map originally released by the Natural Resources Defense Council in 2002 shows potential nuclear targets in the US. The map shows potential targets in every state, with dense clusters along the eastern seaboard and California. Large clusters are highlighted in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming. There are around 90 active nuclear plants, typical targets, in the US, including plants in Alabama, Arizona, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. The map suggests the safest real estate is in parts of Idaho, Maine, northern California, and Oregon, where the lack of nuclear plants and more sparse populations make them less likely targets. Every second counts after the blast 'Radiation is highest and most deadly immediately, but these nuclear isotopes are not stable and rapidly degrade,' shared Bakri, 'The more time insulation away from director exposure = more survival.' Specific effects will occur during a nuclear blast that starts a millisecond after impact and carries on for days. Specific effects will occur during a nuclear blast that starts a millisecond after impact and carries on for days An intense flash of light will appear within a millisecond of the explosion, and the initial radiation will be released. At the same time, the surrounding ground will become a source of residual radiation and the electromagnetic pulse could knock out technologies and cause power outages. And this is when the fireball will reach its largest size. 'Immediately, there are burn, eye and electromagnetic pulse risks,' Bakri shared. Seconds after impact, fires will spark just miles away, and blast waves will reach at least one mile from the detonation site. A fallout cloud will emerge minutes following the explosion like a massive mushroom-shaped cloud rising from the ground and then drop fallout particles back to Earth. Within hours of the bomb dropping, the hazardous particles will be picked up by the wind and travel miles outside the impact zone. In days following the explosion, low levels of fallout will make their way across the globe, creating patchy weather patterns. Take cover with the proper shields The medical physician explained that being indoors, underground, wearing more clothes and seeking shelter in structures made of lead will increase your survival 'The more 'stuff' between you and the blast, the better,' Bakri shared. The medical physician explained that being indoors, underground, wearing more clothes and seeking shelter in structures made of lead will increase your survival. ''Radiation from a fallout is encountered in the forms of alpha, beta, and gamma radiation.' Ordinary clothing affords protection from alpha and beta radiation,' shared Bakri. 'Lead shelter is ideal as more thickness is better, Especially in the first 24 hours.' He also explained that immediately after the blast, it is wise to remove contaminated clothes, shower or wash your body vigorously and avoid eating and inhaling radioactive material. Bakri suggested that if a single piece of lead is available, the person should use it to shield their pelvis. 'The idea is to use enough shielding material to sufficiently protect the high concentration of bone marrow in the pelvic region, which contains enough regenerative stem cells to repopulate the body with unaffected bone marrow,' he posted. SHOPPING Contains affiliated content. Products featured in this Mail Best article are selected by our shopping writers. If you make a purchase using links on this page, Dailymail.com will earn an affiliate commission. Click here for more information. If the sudden drop in temperatures as we enter fall has caused your skin to look a little drab, you might be interested to hear that a best-selling Instant Glow Beauty Serum is now reduced to just $31.19. Lumene's Instant Glow Beauty Serum is a customer-favorite due to how it covers all imperfections while hydrating skin. There's no cracking or caking - just smooth, even-looking skin - and it's reduced by 20 per cent on the Lumene website. 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The publisher continues: 'When we look out the window and are welcomed with bad weather, we cancel plans, or hope to, and stay indoors. For Jacrot, this is when the world opens up to his lens.' A bubblegum pink castle in rainy Scotland, New York's high-rises covered in snow and misty Venice are some of the scenes Jacrot has captured with his camera - scroll down to see some of his stunning images for yourself... This striking picture shows Hotel Belvedere - a hotel that has been closed for years - on the Furka Pass in the Swiss Alps. Jacrot notes that the hotel is 'nestled in a serpentine curve at an altitude of 2,200m (7,217ft)'. He says: 'I discovered it on Instagram. I even watched videos of motorcyclists filming their rides with GoPros to learn the lay of the land before embarking on the journey myself.' He captured the shot 'at the beginning of winter when the first snowflakes fell' This retro blue cottage, buried in the snow, was captured in the town of Tasiilaq in eastern Greenland This enchanting photograph shows the landscape around St Coloman's Church in Bavaria, Germany, blanketed in snow This eye-catching picture of Craigievar Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, was captured through a car window on a rainy day, Jacrot reveals. He writes that it can be challenging to get the shot you desire when you're 'crammed into the interior of a small car', admitting it would be far easier to shoot from inside a bus with a 'huge windshield'. He adds: 'Also, it has to rain sufficiently to be able to get the rain effect that I seek - small or large drops? Should they drip, stream or collect in stripes? The use of wipers is an art!' 'Of all the places in the world, this is one of my favourites,' Jacrot writes of the Faroe Islands, above. He continues: 'The landscape is as wild as its climate. There are more sheep there than people' This colourful shot was captured on one of eight trips Jacrot took to Iceland over the course of his career. He writes: 'I look for places that inspire me... I return to these places when the weather conditions are right' This moody shot shows London, with Big Ben glowing in the distance, on a rainy night. Jacrot writes: 'When it rains heavily, the light is unique and beautiful, but I feel that I'm the only one who notices while watching everyone else take cover' A snow-dusted New York City is the subject of this magical shot by Jacrot. He writes: 'Snowstorms in New York are most fascinating to me. It is like a clash of two great forces. The elements look like they are trying to compete with the arrogance and strength of this city' In this stunning shot, light from the City Hall clocktower brings a warm glow to the misty streets of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania This atmospheric shot shows Venice during the pandemic, between two lockdowns. Jacrot writes that 'the city was deserted, [with] no tourists in sight', aside from a few mask-wearing pedestrians on the streets in the early mornings. He says it was 'an atmosphere like in the times of the plague' This picture shows a boat sailing through choppy waters in Hong Kong. Jacrot writes that it was 'challenging' to find good vantage points for shooting the city in rainy weather, but that he loves 'working with the effects of the rain' She splits her time between two resorts - the Anantara Dhigu and Niyama The eyes are small, dark and unsettlingly empty. More unsettling still, there are at least eight pairs of them, attached to 10ft torpedo bodies, brushing past my Boden swimming costume in a catalogue shot that would turn women pale. Half the number of circling fins would have an ashen Roy Scheider in Jaws realise the need for a bigger boat. Yet here I am, in the Indian Ocean, swimming with a shiver of sharks. So much for my husbands claim that, apart from wafting around in floaty dresses all day, thered be nothing to do in the Maldives. Think of this archipelago and certain preconceptions spring to mind. But beyond the honeymoon toasts and celebrity boasts, Im discovering that it can be action packed and perfect for families. We split our stay between two island resorts in a bid to maximise this once-in-a-lifetime experience because, believe me, its not cheap. From the moment we land at the jetty of the Anantara Dhigu resort, the low beat of a boduberu drum announcing our arrival as if we were kings, its clear this bikini atoll is brimming with life. Fiona Hardcastle takes her family on a trip to the Maldives and finds it can be 'action packed and perfect for families'. Above is Anantara Dhigu, one of the resorts that the family visits Fiona says it takes just 10 minutes to walk the length of the Anantara Dhigu resort, which is made up of 110 beach villas and over-water suites Welcome to Dhigu, smiles Lamya, head of our welcoming committee, bestowing us with coconut water for the briefest buggy ride to our new home. A compact resort made up of 110 beach villas and over-water suites, you can walk from one end of the island to the other in ten minutes but the surroundings leave me spellbound. Palm trees stand sentinel over the softest white sands. The sea is a collage of blinding blues. In the distance, white tablecloths flutter in the evening breeze as barefoot diners stroll towards the fanciest barbecue ever held on a beach. I am itching to get started. Others are, too. Can we go fishing? asks Felix, 11, keen to catch his first whopper. Can we go surfing? asks Evie, 16, keen to catch her first wave. Can we watch Crazy Rich Asians? asks Rose, 17, keen to watch her favourite film on the 20ft screen being erected further along the sand. Yes, yes and yes, my children. But first things first. Clothes off, cossies on and Ill race you into the sea. Few delights surpass that of immersing winter bodies into warm equatorial waters and as we swim out to Instagram Hammock a pretty driftwood and rope affair rising out of the shallows all thoughts of chilly Britain melt away. Back to our adjoining beach villas stylish low structures that hug the coast and ooze understated luxury and a homecoming of Homeric intent. Beds are a vision of coconut calligraphy, palms spelt out to wish us a wonderful stay. A complementary bottle of bubbly is on ice. The open-air bathtub is filled with rose petals. I feel like a goddess, sighs Felix, pulling on a sumptuous towelling robe. We laugh, but I know exactly what he means. The burning question as we sit down to a waterfront dinner of freshly caught grouper with lip-smacking Maldivian chilli sauce is what excursion to do first. We opt to strap on a snorkel and dare to stare a nurse shark in the eye. The marine biologist who accompanies us on the 40-minute trip to the sharks seabed home assures us they are harmless, but I climb back on board after a few palpitating minutes. Not so the others. All smiles: Fiona and her family enjoying their stay on Anantara Dhigu Get lots of pictures, Mummy! shouts Evie, tossing her hair and treading water with a dozen of these supposedly peaceable creatures. On the boat ride back, the children agree it is the most exciting thing theyve ever done. There are benefits of never having seen Spielbergs seaside horror. Other outings prove just as memorable. A fishing trip finds the vegetarians among us mortified by their flair all I catch is coral which I hastily throw back while a surfing lesson sees the children master their balance leaving my husband and me beached on our boards. Can we move here, mummy? beam three faces, exhilarated by their newfound prowess. Im promising nothing until Ive lain face down on a massage table with mesmerising views of the turquoise sea. Better still, ask me again after a perfectly mixed cocktail at another perfect sunset. We hold back the tears as we say our goodbyes at the jetty. Felix, the new owner of a hand-woven coconut palm hat, hugs everyone as though theyre lifelong friends. Which, in our memories, they always will be. Could our second bite of the Maldives even come close? A thrilling seaplane journey to Niyama, another private island resort an hours flight from Male, and were off to an exhilarating start. Fiona took a 'thrilling seaplane journey to Niyama', pictured, another private island resort Fiona stays at an over-water pavilion room featuring an infinity pool and a Jacuzzi, like the one pictured Above, musicians play boduberu drums and dance on the beach of the Niyama resort Da plane! Da plane! cries my husband, reliving his 70s childhood and the TV series Fantasy Island where every guests dream comes true on their tropical stay although with unexpected twists. Our first is the discovery that we have our own butler, Imthi, who will drive us anywhere in his buggy. He starts by giving us a tour of the island, snaking his way through the sandy paths that dissect the central jungle and are home to its 134 villas. The second surprise is our room: a vast over-water pavilion. Ive been in smaller cathedrals, I utter, blinking up at the vaulted ceiling as the children let out incredulous screams, while Imthi beams and covers his ears. Ive never seen a bigger TV, says my husband, panic flitting across his face as he clocks the multiple remotes. Not that we will be watching a second of it given the other distractions at our disposal. Outside, an infinity pool, Jacuzzi, swing. Inside, a sunken sitting room, bar and telescope. Even, Lord help us, an electric guitar. Stairway To Heaven, anyone? Welcome to Natures Playground, reads the handwritten message on the full-size wall mirror, signed by the convivial general manager Haf. Its time to get the party started. For while Dhigu is a family paradise, Niyama is a high-octane jamboree where the only people who stand out from the crowd are those not wearing Dior sliders. Up close: Fiona and her family (not pictured) go swimming with nurse sharks - her children say that it's the 'most exciting thing they've ever done' TRAVEL FACTS A seven-night trip to the Maldives with Audley Travel costs from 7,584 per person (based on two sharing). Price includes a three-night stay at Anantara Dhigu and a three-night stay at Niyama Private Islands on a half-board basis, international flights and return transfers. For more details, call Audley Travel on 01993 838310 or visit audleytravel.com/the-maldives. Advertisement No matter. Sundowners are a great leveller as is demonstrated at the surf shack where Haf gets the evening off to a riotous start, regaling us with tales of revelry while he plies us with rum. Therell be a pile of bikes here by morning, he says nodding towards a new batch of guests arriving at the waterfront bar on the customised cycles provided by the resort but who will soon be too drunk to ride back. By the time our Island Uber deposits us for dinner at Tribal, an African restaurant buzzing with life, I feel we could be anywhere between the Maldives and Mombasa. The menu is an explosion of culinary firsts ostrich appetizer, warthog stir-fry, peanut soup. My son and I share a fillet of dry-aged Wagyu beef, keen to see what the fuss is about. Gourmet, he declares, closing his eyes in bliss. Just like everything else that emerges from the world-class kitchens here. Treetop sushi or a champagne breakfast six metres under the sea? The only downside is the eye-wateringly expensive wine. The cheapest is 75 a bottle. Well, were here now, says my husband sternly, forging on to financial ruin. It would be easy to while away the days in our own private water palace but, keen to redeem myself from sharkgate, I am determined to look another sea creature in the eye and not be found wanting. Surely I can hold my own with a turtle? Our final day on fantasy island and an afternoon boat trip with the Dior contingent. But whos looking at labels when there are dolphins somersaulting around the stern of our boat in a show so magical that even the scary Russian on board breaks off from an irate call to smile at his toddler son. In the evening we dance ourselves silly, barefoot on the sand, in an unforgettable night of reggae, ribs and rum. Its with the heaviest of hearts that we put our non-designer shoes back on. Niyama? More like Nirvana. The mother of Byron Baes star Jade Kevin Foster has unexpectedly fallen pregnant in her fifties. Bec Foster, 52, celebrated the happy news at a baby shower in Wollongong earlier this month alongside her much younger partner Josh Szakacs, a 38-year-old security guard. At the shower, a heavily-pregnant Bec proudly flaunted her large baby bump in a tight floral frock while posing with her famous son. In a gushing social media post, Bec wrote: '[It] was such a great day, made perfect by seeing my long time friends that travelled all the way to Wollongong to celebrate with me.' She added: 'I was definitely spoilt with gifts for bub yesterday! And appreciate everyone that came to celebrate with me.' The mother of Byron Baes star Jade Kevin Foster has unexpectedly fallen pregnant at age 52. (Bec Foster is pictured with her eldest son Jade at her baby shower) Bec, 52, celebrated the happy news at a baby shower in Wollongong alongside her much younger partner Josh Szakacs, a 38-year-old security guard (pictured together) A source close to Bec claimed that the pregnancy was unplanned. 'She thought she was going through menopause due to her age, only to find out she was pregnant,' they alleged to Daily Mail Australia. 'It came as a complete shock but she's really happy and can't wait to be a mum again.' It is unclear if she conceived through IVF or naturally. Bec declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia. At the shower, a heavily-pregnant Bec proudly flaunted her large baby bump in a tight floral frock The 52-year-old already has two sons, including influencer and Netflix reality star Jade. (The pair are pictured together) Bec already has two sons, including her eldest Jade, 31, who is Australia's biggest male influencer thanks to his 1.2million followers on Instagram. In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, Jade said: 'I'm so happy for my mother and her partner to be welcoming a new baby into our family. Very excited to be meeting my new little brother or sister very soon!' Jade's social media fame led to him being cast in Netflix's short-lived reality series Byron Baes. The show, which was similar to MTV's The Hills, followed the lives of a group of influencers living in Byron Bay and a few outsiders who had moved to the area from the Gold Coast. 'She thought she was going through menopause due to her age, only to find out she was pregnant,' a source told Daily Mail Australia The glamorous brunette isn't shy when it comes to flaunting her enviable figure on social media READ MORE: These two women said forget retirement and got pregnant in their FIFTIES - and they say it made them better mothers Advertisement Despite being a ratings hit for the streamer, the series was panned by critics and drew backlash from locals. Jade has been a fixture in the public eye since last year, and was recently named Australia's first male ambassador for Playboy's new online platform Centerfold. 'This is one of the biggest, most exciting projects that I've ever worked on,' he told Daily Mail Australia in May. 'I feel as if though Playboy has always been about really good looking girls and, you know, sexy and confident [people]. And I feel like now I'm a part of it,' he said. In October last year, Jade pleaded guilty to public nuisance after scuffling with security guards as he was ejected from The Clock Hotel in Surfers Paradise for being intoxicated. The influencer was heard screaming 'I have 1.2 million followers on Instagram' and calling security guards 'c**ts' as he was tackled to the ground and restrained at the Gold Coast pub in September, 2022. Foster screamed: 'I'm a gay man, I'm going to f**k your lives. I have 1.2 million followers on Instagram, you're going to lose your jobs see my outfit, it's worth more than your houses c**t this will look good on Instagram!' Jade has been a fixture in the public eye since last year, and was recently named Australia's first male ambassador for Playboy's new online platform Centerfold Jade's social media fame led to him being cast in Netflix's short-lived reality series Byron Baes. (A scene from the series is pictured above) Southport Magistrates Court heard the Netflix star had previously been fined $827 for a similar offence. Foster's solicitor Brooke Winter told the Magistrate her client admitted his behaviour was 'disgusting' and alcohol consumption and mental health issues were affecting him on the night in question. 'He sent an email to our office in which he said, "I'm embarrassed and disgusted in the behaviour I displayed and vow to never let this happen again",' Mr Winter said, according to The Daily Telegraph. 'He's on a four-year work contract and he knows his actions could have that all taken away.' READ MORE: Byron Baes star Jade Kevin Foster strips down for sizzling Playboy campaign Advertisement Winter pleaded with the court that the influencer, who supports himself with earnings from his social media posts and contracts with Netflix and Warner Bros., is involved with charity and recently won an award from the Australian LGBTQI Forum. He was fined $1400 but spared a conviction. Foster first found viral fame after being pictured with Kim Kardashian in 2014. He went on to star in Netflix's Byron Baes and billed himself as 'Australia's biggest male influencer' on the reality series. Since the series, Jade has also launched an acting career with a role in the Australian horror film The Possessed alongside Wolf Creek's John Jarrett and Home and Away's Lincoln Lewis. Strictly star Giovanni Pernice is cashing in on his Strictly Come Dancing fame by launching his own cosmetics brand. The Italian dancer, 33, is the latest BBC staffer to attempt a money-spinning project, risking the wrath of bosses who have stringent guidelines against their stars profiting off links with the broadcaster. He set up the company in June before finally announcing its arrival on Thursday. The brand is called GP Vita, and he is working alongside entrepreneur Giacomo Tontarelli and marketing guru Nicholas Hill to create beauty products designed to 'inspire and bring joy to life.' Several BBC stars including Helen Skelton and Nick Knowles have failed to comply with the Beeb's policy in recent years. But according to insiders close to Giovanni, he's ensured his set-up won't land him in trouble. Strictly star Giovanni Pernice is cashing in on his Strictly Come Dancing fame by launching his own cosmetics brand The dancer is the latest BBC staffer to attempt a money-spinning project, risking the wrath of bosses who have strict guidelines against stars profiting off their links with the broadcaster Giovanni announced his new business venture on Instagram this week calling the upcoming launch a 'dream project' The professional dancer signed the paperwork back in June, telling his 1million followers that his 'dream project' was finally coming to fruition A source said: 'Giovanni's legal team has ensured there is no danger of him breaking any rules. 'He hasn't breached any conditions in his contract and as long as he doesn't promote his products on television or compromise the BBC's values, he's fine to kick on. 'Giovanni is aware his profile is in a good place following the last few years on Strictly, so he feels why not pounce on that and make some money?' A Strictly spokeswoman said: 'For the avoidance of any doubt, Giovanni has not breached any BBC rules in launching his brand, and is following guidelines.' Last August, former Strictly contestant Helen Skelton was given a warning for promoting fashion and jewellery brands on her Instagram account by tagging in firms associated with items she was wearing on BBC One show Morning Live, as BBC guidelines state that 'no on-air talent should promote products, goods, services or clothing they use.' And three months earlier, Knowles was handed a bigger punishment when he was dropped from a one-off special of hit show DIY SOS for playing a builder in a commercial for cereal brand Shreddies which broke the broadcaster's advertising rules, as it was deemed the host was trading off his on-screen persona. The BBC editorial guidelines state: 'Promotional work must not suggest BBC endorsement, compromise the BBC's values, bring the BBC into disrepute, or gives the public reason to doubt impartiality or integrity of BBC on-air talent.' Giovanni, who won Strictly in 2021 alongside deaf actress Rose Ayling-Ellis, described GP Vita as his 'dream project' while announcing the brand on Instagram. Giovanni has recruited Brazilian model Amanda Faical to star in his brand's launch campaign and the stunner is more than up to the job after previously working for Maybelline and Nivea Revealing the 'aims' of his new brand, Giovanni's website says GP Vita, which is his initials plus the Italian word for 'life', will 'inspire' and 'bring joy' Giovanni is currently performing on Strictly with actress Amanda Abbington and in recent weeks the two have impressed the judges with their routines Giovanni joined the cast of Strictly professional dancers in 2015 and won the competition for the first time with deaf EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis He posted a sultry close-up black and white picture featuring himself about to pucker up with a female model, stating that the official brand launch is due to take place next Tuesday. The beauty starring in the seductive photos alongside Giovanni is Brazilian model Amanda Faical, whose other work includes a Maybelline TV advert and Nivea cosmetics campaign. Giovanni has previously made money away from the Beeb by starring in touring shows with Anton Du Beke, the show's judge and co-star on their BBC One travel series. Du Beke, plus fellow judge Shirley Ballas, have written novels with heavy links to the world of dance since finding fame on the show. Giovanni is currently performing on Strictly with actress Amanda Abbington and in recent weeks the two have impressed the judges with their routines. Shirley, whose specialist dance is the rumba, praised the star on her rendition including her walk, which the head judge says had taken her years to perfect while Amanda mastered it after a week. Booby Tape founders Bianca and Bridgett Roccisano recently celebrated a career milestone after winning one of the most prestigious awards in Australia. And on Thursday, the glamorous businesswoman, 37, turned heads with her Selling Sunset star bestie Christine Quinn in Los Angeles. The Melbourne-based fashion designer looked pretty in a pink mini dress while leaving dinner at Cecconi's in West Hollywood. She wore her dark locks back and pulled off her face and a heavy application of fake tan and makeup. The stylish star finished her look with sparkly strappy heels and a matching handbag. Booby Tape founder Bianca Roccisano, 37, (right), turned heads as she headed out to dinner at Cecconi's in West Hollywood, Los Angeles on Thursday She wore her dark locks back and pulled off her face and a heavy application of fake tan and makeup The business powerhouse looked nothing short of sensational as she made her way back to an awaiting hire car accompanied by Aussie influencer, Angelica Livolti. Bianca and her friend then met up with long-time pal Christine Quinn and her Selling Sunset co-star Chelsea Lazkani at the star-studded White Fox bash. The glamorous quartet took to social media to share photos from their evening. Bianca and her friend then met up with long-time pal Christine Quinn They were also joined by Quinn's Selling Sunset co-star Chelsea Lazkani Bianca is currently in Los Angeles, where she is due to host Booby Tape's annual A-list Halloween party. Their Halloween party last year attracted the likes of Paris Hilton, Hailey Bieber, Justin Bieber, Paris Jackson, Anna Kendrick, Demi Lovato and Robert Pattinson. The sighting comes just days after Bianca, and her younger sister, Bridgett, 31, won the Emerging Exporter Award for Victoria. The stylish star finished her look with sparkly strappy heels and a matching handbag After being presented the award by Governor General Margaret Gardner and the Treasurer Tim Pallas, the pair took to Instagram share their excitement. 'What an incredible evening. We are so proud to have won the Emerging Exporter Award for Victoria,' they shared with their Instagram followers. 'To be amongst a room filled with Entrepreneurs working so hard to fulfil their dreams was so inspiring.' George Mladenov failed to make it to the finish line on Thursday's episode of The Amazing Race: Celebrity Edition. The two-time Survivor contestant, 31, and his sister Pam were the fifth team to be eliminated from the competition. But the reality television star says that despite not winning, he wished the competition was harder. Speaking to news.com.au, he compared his experience on The Amazing Race to Survivor. 'The difference between the two is that on Survivor the torment never ends, until your game does. There's no hotel buffets, no shower or lounging by a pool like we had at pit stops. The tougher it got, the better we did I wish it was harder.' George Mladenov has claimed that despite not winning The Amazing Race: Celebrity Edition, he wished the competition was harder. Pictured with sister Pam The two time Survivor contestant compared his experience on The Amazing Race to Survivor Despite their on-air sibling conflicts in recent weeks, Mladenov said their participation in the intense race had ultimately strengthened their bond. Mladenov previously managed to last 94 days over his two seasons of Survivor. It comes as AFL WAG Rebecca Judd has been named 'the biggest diva' on The Amazing Race: Celebrity Edition. 'The difference between the two is that on Survivor the torment never ends, until your game does. There's no hotel buffets, no shower or lounging by a pool like we had at pit stops. The tougher it got, the better we did I wish it was harder,' Mladenov told news.com.au An insider claimed that the 40-year-old insists on looking her best despite the sweaty conditions on set. 'She is there to win and will do anything, but she's also keeping it showbiz and won't do anything without makeup first' the alleged source told Yahoo this weekend. 'The crew have been having a laugh she's the biggest diva because of how much time she spends on glam compared to the other celebs.' It comes as AFL WAG Rebecca Judd (pictured) has been named 'the biggest diva' on The Amazing Race: Celebrity Edition The glamorous AFL WAG won't let her standards slip, with an insider claiming that the 40-year-old insists on looking her best despite the sweaty conditions on set Bec is appearing on the show to compete for $100,000 for her chosen charity alongside her sister Kate Twigley. 'Bec and Kate haven't been helping anyone and she's so determined to prove to viewers she's more than just a WAG,' the insider added. The model has swapped her heels for trainers in Channel 10's upcoming The Amazing Race Celebrity Edition. Bec is appearing on the show to compete for $100,000 for her chosen charity alongside her sister Kate Twigley (right) In the trailers for the show, Bec was seen getting down and dirty with some farm animals. The WAG was joined by her sister Kate for the competition, and in the trailer the pair are seen sifting through cow faeces. 'This is like my worst nightmare,' Bec said as she kneeled down in the animal waste. Beau Ryan presents the series that sees the 11 teams battle it out to win $100,000 for their chosen charity. The 11 teams of two include at least one celebrity, and each have a pre-existing relationship. Other celebrities that take part in the upcoming series include The Real Housewives of Melbourne stars Ben and Jackie Gillies, Survivor star George 'King of Bankstown' Mladenov, TV presenter Darren McMullen, and comedian Peter Rowsthorn. They join famous faces such as former Yellow Wiggle Emma Watkins, comedian Dane Simpson, former athlete Jana Pittman, Too Hot To Handle star Harry Jowsey and radio hosts Grant and Chezzi Denyer. Tensions reached breaking point on Married At First Sight UK as Bianca stormed out of a dinner party after learning her husband JJ had feelings for Ella. Ella and husband Nathanial had agreed to take a break while JJ finally admitted he had a connection Ella on Thursday's episode. Nathanial confronted JJ in front of the entire dinner table about the burgeoning romance and wanted to know if he had reciprocated Ella's advances. JJ reluctantly agreed that they had a connection, prompting Bianca to get up and walk out of the room. Nathanial and Ella then had a furious row as he branded her an attention seeker before she also got up and left. Drama: Tensions reached breaking point on Married At First Sight UK as Bianca stormed out of a dinner party after learning her husband JJ had feelings for Ella Tension: JJ admitted he had a connection with Ella despite being coupled up with Bianca Bianca told Ella: 'You're not really a girls' girl if you come for other people's men' Nathanial then announced to the group he felt the drama had become too much and he was quitting the show. He said: 'Guys, I'm leaving. I don't want to be here anymore. I think I've lost myself in this storm. I hope you guys have the most amazing experience, but I'm not here anymore.' When Bianca returned, she broke down in tears after learning Ella had been texting with JJ. Lashing out at the pair, Bianca said: 'You're not really a girls' girl if you come for other people's men. I think you're both disgusting for what you've done. 'You can both go f**k yourselves. I don't want to hear your sh*tty speech because it means f**k all to me so f**k off." She then told them: 'Honestly, I hope you both f*****g couple up with each other because I'm done.' Lashing out further, Bianca branded JJ 'the biggest p**k I've ever met'. Several viewers took to X/Twitter to react to the heated argument with many sharing their concern for Bianca. Reaction: Several viewers took to X/Twitter to react to the heated argument with many sharing their concern for Bianca One user wrote: 'I just feel so bad for Bianca, she was completely oblivious and giving her husband the space he wanted.. yet he just wasn't man enough to say he wasn't interested and fancied Ella.' Another wrote: 'Bianca - you are one heck of a woman. Massive, MASSIVE respect to you. You will find someone, just hang in there.' A third user added: 'Why the hell did everyone let Bianca walk off on her own and now the only one around the table whos comforting her is Jay what is wrong with all of them.' A fourth penned: 'I have never seen anybody, anywhere, ever get put in their place better than Bianca has put put JJ and Ella. She did it perfectly.' Bindi Irwin has shared a tribute to her husband Chandler Powell, celebrating ten years of their relationship. Irwin, 25, took to Instagram this week and shared a slide show of numerous happy snaps of the couple's years together. Underneath, she wrote in the caption: 'Almost 10 years ago I fell in love with your kind heart. I'll be here loving you for the rest of my existence.' Soon after Bindi made the post, 26-year-old Chandler replied in the comments: 'So many wonderful memories fit into one decade with so many more to come. I love you more and more every day.' Fans gushed in amazement in the comments, congratulating the couple on the milestone. Bindi Irwin has shared a tribute to her husband Chandler Powell, celebrating ten years of their relationship. Irwin, 25, took to Instagram this week and shared a slide show of numerous happy snaps of the couple's years together Underneath the picture carousel, she wrote in the caption: 'Almost 10 years ago I fell in love with your kind heart. I'll be here loving you for the rest of my existence' Soon after Bindi made the post, 26-year-old Chandler replied in the comments: 'So many wonderful memories fit into one decade with so many more to come. I love you more and more every day' 'Oh these memories! Happy 10 year anniversary to you both,' wrote one commenter. 'This is amazing!! 10 years!! Congratulations you two,' wrote another fan. 'Thanks for sharing your world and family with us. Your dad would be so proud!' another comment read. 'Oh these memories! Happy 10 year anniversary to you both,' wrote one commenter. 'This is amazing!! 10 years!! Congratulations you two,' wrote another fan Bindi's mum Terri Irwin also weighed in, offering the couple her well-wishes. 'You and Chandler are perfect together. Perfect couple, parents, and soulmates for the rest of time. I love you both!' she said Bindi's mum Terri Irwin also weighed in, offering the couple her well-wishes. 'You and Chandler are perfect together. Perfect couple, parents, and soulmates for the rest of time. I love you both!' she said. It comes as Chandler just this week shared an adorable photo of Bindi and their daughter, Grace Warrior. Chandler Powell is head over heels in love with his wife Bindi Irwin and cherishing every day with the couple's toddler daughter, Grace Warrior. All pictured In a post to Instagram, the 26-year-old shared images of the trio enjoying a gorgeous Queensland sunset. Bindi beamed for the camera alongside her husband and little Grace, two, who is the spitting image of her former wakeboarder father. 'Outback sunsets with my girls. Love these two more than anything,' Chandler wrote in his caption alongside the sweet photos. Bindi and Chandler married on March 25, 2020 and welcomed Grace exactly one year later, on their first wedding anniversary. Earlier this year, it was reported that Grace is set for stardom, with many believing she could be even bigger than her late grandfather, Steve Irwin. Earlier this year, it was reported that Grace is set for stardom, with many believing she could be even bigger than her late grandfather, Steve Irwin 'Grace is an absolute natural in front of the camera,' a source told New Idea magazine in April. 'It's also believed she could be an even greater entertainer than her grandfather Steve Irwin. She's so bright and funny,' they added. 'You have to remember that Bindi grew up in front of the cameras and was Grace's age when she first started appearing on television,' said a source. They added that Bindi is excited about a possible new TV opportunity in the U.S. with a format similar to The Crocodile Hunter - the show that made her parents famous. 'In a few years' time there's incredible opportunities, some that Bindi herself is excited about, including a Crocodile Huntress [series] that would be family led, but have American favourite Bindi in the lead,' the insider said. Grace's grandad Steve, known to millions around the world as the 'Crocodile Hunter', died on September 4, 2006, at the age of 44, after being pierced in the chest by a stingray while filming a documentary in Batt Reef, Queensland. The Irwin family have worked hard at preserving his conservation legacy in the years since he passed. Lisa Curry has spent a couple of nights in intensive care following complications with a hip replacement. The Olympian, 61, shared several images of herself in hospital on Thursday after injuring herself in Yukon, Canada. Lisa explained she had a hip replacement about four weeks ago and spent time in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to treat low blood pressure. She injured herself last January while husky dog sledding. A slip on the ice caused her to fall and break her hip. 'The husky's went across the ice no problem but the sled slid, and kept sliding,' Lisa explained. Lisa Curry has spent a couple of nights in intensive care following complications with a hip replacement She went on to say the sled dogs will 'keep going' if you let go of the ropes. 'You can't let go of the sled because the dogs will keep going,' she said. 'So I held on and held on until I couldn't and eventually fell still holding onto the sled which immediately puts the brakes on, so the dogs stop and fell on my hip.' Lisa said her hip had been sore all year, but she initially thought it was muscular. It was only after a CT scan she saw her hip had fractured bone in the ball and socket joint. The Olympian, 61, shared several images of herself in hospital on Thursday after injuring herself in Yukon, Canada Lisa thanked daughter Morgan (pictured) for driving her around 'I couldn't have it operated on before our European and USA tours so just lived on painkillers for that 10-week trip,' she said. Lisa insured she's on the mend and starting to swim again, but she's also had to learn to walk without a limp following the procedure. 'Learning how to walk without a limp, doing simple tasks again. But geez, you don't realise how many things you take for granted - putting a sock or undies on is like dressing a wriggly wet octopus !! So exhausting,' she said. 'Learning how to walk without a limp, doing simple tasks again. But geez, you don't realise how many things you take for granted- putting a sock or undies on is like dressing a wriggly wet octopus !! So exhausting,' she said. Pictured at a speaking event She went on to thank her husband Mark for 'putting up with her' as well as her daughter, Morgan, who drove her around so she could still work. Lisa's fans wished the former Olympian a speedy recovery. 'Speedy recovery legend,' one fan wrote. 'Oh Lisa, what an adventure that was for you. Sending you healing vibes, dad just had a hip replacement two weeks ago, watching his recovery has been so good to see, finally out of the pain he was in. Lots of love to you,' another wrote. 'Speedy recovery to you Lisa. Sending you well wishes,' yet another wrote. Lisa's fans wished the former Olympian a speedy recovery It comes after Lisa, who lost daughter Jaimi three-years-ago, shared a heartbreaking tribute in September. 'Three years ago, our beautiful daughter Jaimi took her last breath. We all love you and miss you everyday. Feels like yesterday,' she wrote next to the photos. 'It's been a s**t and sad week, where I've needed lots of hugs and have been constantly wiping my tears away. I tell myself to breathe, it's a bad day, not a bad life.' 'I need to change that talk to be more positive and give myself permission that it's ok to move forward. Moving on doesn't mean letting go. I will never let her go. 'Am I ok? Yes, maybe, sometimes, no Depends on the day,' she added. Lucy Watson looked positively glowing as she cradled her bump while attending the launch of the new EE at Alexandra Palace on Thursday evening. The mother-to-be looked effortlessly stylish in a simple black dress with cut out detailing as she drew attention to her blossoming bump. The Made In Chelsea star paired the frock with a simple black blazer jacket which she wore over her shoulders and some black square-toed boots. Lucy was joined by her husband James Dunmore as the couple were spotted out and about for the first time since announcing their gender reveal on Wednesday. The pair took to Instagram to reveal the special news that they are expecting a boy from their miracle pregnancy. Glowing: Pregnant Lucy Watson looked radiant as she cradled her bump alongside her husband James Dunmore at the new EE launch on Thursday evening after sharing their gender reveal announcement on Wednesday Chic: The mother-to-be looked effortlessly stylish in a simple black dress with cut out detailing as she drew attention to her blossoming bump Lucy posted a video of her and James cutting into an iced white cake which revealed blue icing inside confirming the baby's gender. Lucy previously revealed that this pregnancy had been a 'painful and never-ending' fertility journey after 'years of struggling' to conceive. The Made In Chelsea star posted an emotional video earlier this month 'acknowledging the pain' of others struggling with fertility as she opened up about her journey. Recovered from the exciting news, the couple looked in great spirits as they attended the event as Fatboy Slim and virtual backing dancers from across the UK lit up the sky above Alexandra Palace to form the world's biggest hologram. Lucy's other half looked incredibly dapper for the event as he donned a brown suede jacket over an all black fit. The pair seemed to have coordinated their outfits slightly as they kept it simple yet stylish. The couple were also joined by one of Strictly's love stories Maisie Smith and Max George. The duo also kept it casual as Maisie, 22, donned an oversized white graphic T-shirt which she paired with a simple grey skirt and chunky black trainers. Dapper: Lucy's other half James looked smart as he donned a brown suede jacket over an all black fit Stylish couple: Lucy and James were also joined by one of Strictly's love stories Maisie Smith and Max George Keeping it casual: Maisie, 22, donned an oversized white graphic T-shirt which she paired with a simple grey skirt and chunky black trainers Funky: Adding a pop of colour to the look, the EastEnders actress opted for a bold red lip and shocking fuchsia nails for the event Congratulations! Lucy shared her baby's gender reveal on Wednesday after it was announced the star is expecting 'miracle' first baby with her husband James last month The former Wanted member opted for a numbered sport jersey and baggy black trousers as he beamed beside his missus. Max, 35, completed the look with some chestnut coloured platform UGG boots. Adding a pop of colour to the look, the EastEnders actress opted for a bold red lip and shocking fuchsia nails for the event. Maisie and Max competed against each other during the 2020 series of Strictly and their relationship raised eyebrows at first due to the plus ten year age gap. However the couple have now been together for over a year and regularly share their relationship on social media. Marlon Wayans says he is being unfairly prosecuted for disturbing the peace over a dispute with an airline employee who he alleges targeted him because of his race. Attorneys for Wayans made the allegations in a court filing Thursday that asked for dismissal of the case stemming from a luggage dispute at Denver's airport. Wayans was cited for disturbing the peace, a municipal violation, in June, police said. According to the court filing, a United Airlines gate agent told him he could not get on a flight to Kansas City with three bags. The gate agent apparently tried to physically block Wayans from getting on the flight after he consolidated his luggage into two bags to conform with airline policy, the filing said. Marlon Wayans says he is being unfairly prosecuted for disturbing the peace over a dispute with an airline employee who he alleges targeted him because of his race. Seen in 2018 He boarded anyway and was later asked to get off the plane before it departed. While Wayans worked to rearrange his luggage, the gate agent kept allowing white passengers with three bags to board the flight, according to the court filing, which included still photos of surveillance video of white passengers with yellow arrows pointing to each of their bags. About 140 people boarded the flight, it said, many with three bags and oversized bags which violated the airline's policy. Wayans' lawyers say the gate agent racially discriminated against him and that Denver prosecutors, by continuing to pursue charges against him, are perpetuating that discrimination and denying his right to equal protection under the law. 'The City of Denver's position is an affront to constitutional and social equity principles,' Wayans' lawyers said. Wayans attends the Red, White and Bootsy 4th Of July Event at Nobu Malibu in 2016 in Malibu The movie star attends the CHANEL dinner to celebrate the launch of Sofia Coppola Archive: 1999-2023 at Chateau Marmont in September in Los Angeles City Attorney Kerry Tipper said her office does not comment on pending cases. United did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. In a statement issued by United in June to questions about what happened to Wayans, the airline said an unnamed customer 'pushed past' an employee at the jet bridge and attempted to board the plane. According to statements recorded on police body camera and cited in the filing, the gate agent told officers that Wayans 'shoved' 'pushed' or 'elbowed' him as the comedian boarded the plane, which Wayans' lawyers say is a lie. They say Wayans may have brushed shoulders with the agent as he boarded. The police officers who investigated were doubtful that any crime had been committed, according to the filing, but the gate agent asked that charges be pursued. A five-year restraining order was put into effect Thursday against a woman who actor Matthew McConaughey says has been stalking him for nearly two years, and showed up at a meet-and-greet while he was promoting his new book last month. The 53-year-old actor had previously told the court that since April of 2022, the woman had inundated him with 'unhinged letters, emails, and frivolous lawsuits designed to lure me into court,' according to The Blast. 'These lawsuits were designed to lure me to court and come into contact with me,' the Texas native told the court, adding that the women believed they were in a romantic relationship with one another. McConaughey and his lawyer Michael Aaron Goldstein were on hand for the hearing, the outlet reported Thursday, adding that the restraining order was in effect until October 19, 2028. The woman who is accused of stalking the actor, who won the Oscar for Best Actor in 2014 for Dallas Buyers Club, was not present during proceedings Thursday, the outlet reported. Update: A five-year restraining order was put into effect Thursday against a woman who actor Matthew McConaughey, 53, says has been stalking him for nearly two years, showing up at a meet-and-greet in LA while he was promoting his new book last month. He was pictured at said event at Barnes & Noble The Grove on September 16 Her request for a continuance to the proceedings was denied, the outlet reported, noting that the judge said there was no reasonable cause to delay after he had previously granted her an extension in the case. The Lincoln Lawyer star told the court that he initially filed for a restraining order after learned the woman was planning to travel hundreds of miles to see him. He said he was notified that she purchased a ticket to attend a September 16 photo-op event at Barnes & Noble The Grove in Los Angeles, where he was promoting his new book Just Because. 'She has purchased tickets to attend promotional events I am scheduled to appear at the week of 9/11/23,' he told the court in his initial request for the restraining order. 'She is delusional and poses a threat to all that attend.' Cautious that the event would be attended by families with children - including his wife Camila Alves, 41, and their three kids Levi, 15, Vida, 13, and Livingston, 10 - McConaughey said he filed for the restraining order out of safety concerns. McConaughey told the court that was was 'concerned' about the woman's 'unhinged' and 'escalating' conduct. He was specifically concerned about the event because the event ticket she purchased 'afforded a photo opportunity which would place her in close contact with' him. The woman did show up to the event, where authorities informed her about the restraining order and led her off the premises with no further incident. The actor filed for a restraining order against the woman before the event last month, and she was led off the premises when she arrived The actor had previously told the court that since April of 2022, the woman had inundated him with 'unhinged letters, emails, and frivolous lawsuits designed to lure me into court.' Pictured in NYC last month In addition to his literary efforts, the actor has been busy this year, providing the voice of Elvis Presley for the animated Netflix series Agent Elvis. He also has a number of projects in different stages of production, including a Yellowstone sequel and the crime thriller The Rivals of Amziah King, which co-stars Kurt Russell. In recent months, the actor has had a public discourse with friend Woody Harrelson over the notion that they might be long-lost brothers. Keith Richards has lauded his 'beautiful' relationship with Sir Paul McCartney - despite the Beatles legend claiming the Stones are 'just a blue band'. The Rolling Stones rocker, 79, and his bandmates are releasing a new album for the first time in 18 years called Hackney Diamonds on Friday. It is also the band's first release since the death of their bandmate, drummer Charlie Watts, and is their 24th studio album. Another feature on the album is that of Sir Paul McCartney, 81, himself, who plays bass on the track Bite My Head Off. Ahead of the album's highly anticipated release, Richards has shed light on his relationship with the Penny Lane hitmaker and told how he was enlisted to play on the new album. Pals: Keith Richards has lauded his 'beautiful' relationship with Sir Paul McCartney Tension: The comments come despite McCartney's claims that The Beatles were a better band than The Stones (Richards and McCartney are pictured together in 2000) In an interview with The Sun, he said: 'We were in Henson Studios (in Hollywood), which is the old Charlie Chaplin Studios when Macca strolled in with his bass. 'He had also been working with the flavour of the month Andrew, who invited him to join us. 'Paul's a good mate, as were John and George, and we have a beautiful connection.' The Stones and The Beatles first met in the summer of 1962 and from then on would meet up at intervals. But the relationship between the bandmates was fractured in 2020 when McCartney revealed in an interview with Howard Stern that he thought the Beatles were 'better' than the Stones. '[The Stones] are rooted in the blues. When they are writing stuff, it has to do with the blues. We had a little more influences, McCartney said. 'Theres a lot of differences, and I love the Stones, but Im with you. The Beatles were better.' A year later he told the New Yorker: 'Im not sure I should say it, but theyre a blues cover band, thats sort of what the Stones are. I think our net was cast a bit wider than theirs.' Renewed debate: Mick Jagger hit out at Paul McCartney for saying The Beatles are better than The Rolling Stones and claimed there's 'obviously no competition' Remarks: In an interview on DJ Howard Stern's radio show, Paul remarked that The Beatles (pictured in 1967) 'were better' as 'whatever we did the Stones sort of did it shortly thereafter' Stones frontman Mick Jagger later slammed the suggestion and insisted there was 'obviously no competition' between the bands. Mick claimed: 'He [Paul] is a sweetheart. Im a politician. The big difference, though, is that The Rolling Stones is a big concert band in other decades and other areas when The Beatles never even did an arena tour. 'They broke up before the touring business started for real...They [The Beatles] did that [Shea] stadium gig [in 1965]. But the Stones went on.' McCartney later reached out to Richards to assure him that no offence had been intended, and that the comments had been based off 'first impressions'. Mick added: 'We started stadium gigs in the 1970s and are still doing them now. 'Thats the real big difference between these two bands. One band is unbelievably luckily still playing in stadiums and then the other band doesnt exist.' The Beatles were comprised of Paul, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr from 1960 until their split in 1970, with countless hit albums to their name. Mick was joined by Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, and the late Charlie Watts in The Rolling Stones, and they have been going strong since 1962. Their relationship appears to be fixed and Richards and McCartney are now clearly on good terms. 'No competition': But Mick hit out as he said that 'they broke up before the touring business started for real... but the Stones went on' Riley Keough was stylishly casual alongside husband, Ben Smith-Petersen, as they picked up a few items at Erewhon in Calabasas on Thursday. The Daisy Jones & The Six star, 34 - who recently spent time with grandmother Priscilla Presley after settling their family dispute - was seen strolling arm-in-arm with the Australian stuntman as they left the upscale market. The actress donned a plain white tank top which was tucked into the waist of cream-colored pants. She slipped into a pair of tan-colored sandals and easily carried a $3,750 Louis Vuitton tote bag with pumpkin prints in her right hand to embrace the fall season. Her long locks were parted in the middle, and were styled into two separate braids, revealing a pair of gold-hooped earrings. Casual outing: Riley Keough, 34, was stylishly casual alongside husband, Ben Smith-Petersen, as they picked up a few items at Erewhon in Calabasas on Thursday Ready for fall: She slipped into a pair of tan-colored sandals and easily carried a $3,750 Louis Vuitton tote bag with pumpkin prints in her right hand to embrace the fall season Riley - who is the daughter of the late Lisa Marie Presley and Danny Keough - further accessorized her look by wearing a pair of oval-shaped shades to protect her eyes from the bright, California sunshine. Her husband, Ben - whom she tied the knot with in 2015 - was also dressed down as the pair picked up a few items from the store. He wore a short-sleeved, dark navy shirt that had 'Hidden Bandits' printed on the front in white lettering. The star also slipped into a pair of brown trousers as well as comfy, black shoes to complete his overall look for the daytime excursion. He also added a black cap that was placed backwards on top of his head. The couple were seen leaving Erewhon and made their way through the crowded parking lot, with Keough sweetly linking her arm through Ben's. They were also spotted nibbling on a tasty treat that he held in his hands before heading to their next destination. Riley and Ben first crossed paths while on set of Mad Max: Fury Road, and later said 'I do' in February 2015 after the pair became engaged one year earlier. In August 2022, the stars welcomed daughter, Tupelo, through a surrogate and Keough opened up about her little one's name while talking to Vanity Fair last month in September. Stylish: Her long locks were parted in the middle, and were styled into two separate braids, revealing a pair of gold-hooped earrings Errand run: Riley further accessorized her look by wearing a pair of oval-shaped shades to protect her eyes from the bright, California sunshine Arm-in-arm: The Daisy Jones & The Six star was seen strolling arm-in-arm with the Australian stuntman as they left the upscale market Dressing down: Her husband, Ben - whom she tied the knot with in 2015 - was also dressed down as the pair picked up a few items from the store Tupelo is a city in Mississippi - which happened to be where Elvis Presley, her late grandfather, had been born. 'It's funny because we picked her name before the Elvis movie,' she stated. 'I was like, "This is great because it's not really a well-known word or name in relation to my family - it's not like Memphis or something.' The Mad Max: Fury Road star added, 'Then when the Elvis movie came out, it was like, Tupelo this and Tupelo that. I was like, "Oh, no." But it's fine.' She also discussed making the decision to have their child via surrogacy. 'I think it's a very cool, selfless, and incredible act that these women do to help other people.' The beauty - who is battling Lyme disease - continued, 'I can carry children, but it felt like the best choice for what I had going on physically with the autoimmune stuff.' She further elaborated on her daughter's full name: Tupelo Storm Smith-Petersen, and revealed that the middle name is in tribute to her late brother, Benjamin Storm Keough, who tragically passed away by suicide in 2020 at age 27. In regards to who Tupelo looks like more, Riley admitted, 'She's literally like someone shrunk my husband and that's our baby.' Earlier last week, Riley was seen reuniting with her grandmother, Priscilla Presley, as well as Finley and Harper Lockwood - Lisa Marie Presley's twins she welcomed with Michael Lockwood. Staying cool: He wore a short-sleeved, dark navy shirt that had 'Hidden Bandits' printed on the front in white lettering Family: In August 2022, the stars welcomed daughter, Tupelo, through a surrogate and Keough opened up about her little one's name while talking to Vanity Fair; couple seen in March The group enjoyed a sushi dinner together at Nobu in Malibu after settling their dispute over Lisa Marie Presley's will following her shock passing in January. There had been a disagreement over the late star's will after Lisa had named Keough and her brother Benjamin, who has since died, as sole trustees of Lisa Marie's estate - removing Priscilla as a co-trustee. However, during a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Priscilla revealed, 'Riley is now the executor, which should be right, obviously, being her daughter.' She added, 'Riley and I are on good terms. We were never not on good terms. That was all publicity.' Latest reunion: Earlier last week, Riley was seen reuniting with her grandmother, Priscilla Presley, as well as Finley and Harper Lockwood - Lisa Marie Presley's twins she welcomed with Michael Lockwood 'Happy': 'Things with Grandma will be happy. Theyve never not been happy,' she revealed in regards to their relationship,' Riley told Vanity Fair; seen earlier this month in Paris While talking to Vanity Fair, Keough also discussed the drama that had surrounded the family following her mother's death. 'Things with Grandma will be happy. Theyve never not been happy,' she revealed in regards to their relationship. She later added, 'There was a bit of upheaval, but now everything's going to be how it was. She's a beautiful woman, and she was a huge part of creating my grandfather's legacy and Graceland.' 'It's very important to her. He was the love of her life. Anything that would suggest otherwise in the press makes me sad because, at the end of the day, all she wants is to love and protect Graceland and the Presley family and the legacy.' 'That's her whole life. So it's a big responsibility she has tried to take on. None of that stuff has really ever been a part of our relationship prior. She's just been my grandma.' The Rolling Stones: Hackney Diamonds Verdict: Back with a Bang Rating: The supporting cast includes Elton John and Paul McCartney, but it is the energetic artistry of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood combined age 235 that steals the thunder on the first album of new Stones songs in 18 years. They call themselves 'the greatest rock and roll band in the world', and this is a late-career masterpiece. They made the 12-track album its title is Cockney slang for shattered glass with a new collaborator, Andrew Watt, and the New Yorker, 33, does an excellent job. He adds modern touches, but respects familiar strengths. Despite the star-studded supporting cast, it is Mick Jagger , Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood that steal the thunder on the first album of new Stones songs in 18 years They call themselves 'the greatest rock and roll band in the world', and Hackney Diamonds is a late-career masterpiece. Recent single Angry is a weak link, a Start Me Up pastiche with a by-numbers feel, but the other rock numbers frame the band at their best. Charlie Watts, who died in 2021, added distinctive drums to two songs in his final sessions. Get Close recalls 1972's Exile On Main Street, and McCartney supplies a distorted bass solo on Bite My Head Off. But it's the big ballads that give this overdue return its five-star rating. Jagger is fully engaged on the lovely, country-ish Depending On You. Richards sings lead on Tell Me Straight. Penultimate track Sweet Sounds Of Heaven, a duet between Jagger and Lady Gaga, is a tour de force an epic that evokes 1969's You Can't Always Get What You Want. If this turns out to be the last time and I wouldn't bet on that the Stones will go out in style. Will McMahon from KIIS FM's Will & Woody has revealed he is not the biggest fan of Jared Leto. On Thursday's show, the radio host claimed the Hollywood star, 51, tried to hit on his girlfriend. '[Jared Leto] isn't the kind of person I want to be hanging out with in general. He tried to hit on my girlfriend once. I am bitter, you know I'm bitter about that. I'll always be bitter about that,' he explained. 'It was ten years ago, you need to get over it,' replied Woody, before Will went on to reveal the whole story. He said the flirty encounter occurred when his girlfriend at the time got a photo with Jared after the radio duo interviewed the star. Will McMahon from KIIS FM's Will & Woody has revealed he is not the biggest fan of Jared Leto (pictured) after he tried to hit on his girlfriend '[Jared Leto] isn't the kind of person I want to be hanging out with in general. He tried to hit on my girlfriend once. I am bitter, you know I'm bitter about that. I'll always be bitter about that,' he explained on the show. Picture: Will and Woody He said the flirty encounter occurred when his girlfriend at the time got a photo with Jared after the radio duo interviewed the star 'We interviewed Jared Leto. Afterwards, he got a photo with my girlfriend and then he walked over to the publicist who I was friends with and said "make sure she's backstage at my concert tonight", to which the publicist said to him, "that's actually Will's girlfriend, the guy that just interviewed you." Jared Leto turned to the publicist and said "why the F should I care?"' Jared is known for his ageless looks and incredibly fit physique. The actor was recently seen bearing his ageless body while enjoying a trip to the great outdoors. The Suicide Squad star, who was recently spotted with his rumored girlfriend Thet Thinn, posted several topless snaps to his Instagram, which served to display his sculpted chest to his 11.5 million followers. Jared wore a pair of turquoise-colored shorts that were contrasted with red hiking shoes during his trip. Jared is known for his ageless looks and incredibly fit physique. The actor was recently seen bearing his ageless body while enjoying a trip to the great outdoors The Academy Award-winning performer also donned both black and white t-shirts, and he accessorised with a bright red trucker cap The Academy Award-winning performer also donned both black and white t-shirts, and he accessorised with a bright red trucker cap. The actor also promoted the upcoming release of his band's new album, entitled It's the End of the World but It's a Beautiful Day. The performer has served as the frontman of his group, 30 Seconds To Mars, ever since it was formed in 1998. Leto wore a pair of turquoise-colored shorts that were contrasted with red hiking shoes during his trip In addition to Jared, the group was primarily comprised of his brother Shannon, and their longtime guitarist Tomo Milisevic. The musician left the group in 2018 following the release of the band's newest album, America, leaving the brothers to complete their newest record. The performer revealed that he had begun working on a new album in 2021 and officially revealed that the project was ready for release this past April. It's the End of the World but It's a Beautiful Day, which will be comprised of 11 tracks, is currently scheduled to debut on September 15. Sir Patrick Stewart has said he believes King Charles is a big fan of the Star Trek franchise. The actor, 83, who plays Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, believes Charles is a fan after chats they have had over the years. Charles, 74, was just 17 years old when the original Star Trek series debuted in 1966 starring William Shatner and Leonard Nemoy. In his new memoir Making It So, Patrick writes: 'I am convinced King Charles is a Star Trek fan. I've met him several times when he was the Prince of Wales and, though he never broached the topic, I got a sense he was familiar with the show.' It appears Patrick's suspicions are correct as Charles attended the 1996 premire of Star Trek: First Contact and requested Marina Sirtis, who played Deanna Troi, accompany him. Trekkie: Sir Patrick Stewart has said he believes King Charles is a big fan of the Star Trek franchise Role: The actor, 83, who plays Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, believes Charles is a fan after chats they have had over the years (pictured on the show in 1990) However, King Charles' mother Elizabeth II does not appear to have shared her son's love for the sci-fi series. In his book, Patrick recalled the moment the late Queen knighted him in 2010: 'She was as gracious as I had imagined she would be, though I am not entirely sure if she knew who I was.' It comes after Patrick confessed he nearly turned down his iconic lead role in Star Trek since he had 'theatre commitments'. During an appearance on This Morning in March, he said: 'I was visiting California giving lectures and talking at universities and I got call from my Hollywood agent who I'd never met. 'He said, "I've got two questions... what were you doing at UCLA last night and why would Gene want to see you this morning?" 'Back then, it seemed improbable and unlikely. It was a six year contract. I said, "No, I have theatre commitments. My agent said, "You'd be lucky to make it through the first year." 'I quickly found the experiences I had at the Royal Shakespeare Company were perfect and ideal for putting on the captain's uniform and commanding the enterprise.' The Los Angeles Times had called the Yorkshire-native an 'unknown British Shakespearean actor' when he was cast in Star Trek: The Next Generation, which ran between 1987 and 1994. In his new memoir, Patrick writes: 'I've met him several times when he was the Prince of Wales and, though he never broached the topic, I got a sense he was familiar with the show' 'It seemed improbable and unlikely!' Sir Patrick previously confessed he nearly turned down his iconic lead role in Star Trek since he had 'theatre commitments' He still plays the role in the Paramount+ series, Star Trek: Picard, in which he is also executive producer. It's been well over 35 years since the four-time Emmy nominee originated the role of Picard on CBS series Star Trek: The Next Generation, which aired for seven seasons spanning 1987-1994. The Next Generation cast Jonathan Frakes (Riker), Gates McFadden (Crusher), LeVar Burton (La Forge), Michael Dorn (Worf), and Marina Sirtis (Troi) returns as well as Jeri Ryan (Seven of Nine) and Michelle Hurd (Musiker). Season three's villain is Captain Vadic, the commander of the Shrike, played by Tony-winning powerhouse Amanda Plummer. Other baddies this season include Brent Spiner as Data's nefarious android brother Lore and Daniel Davis as Sherlock nemesis Professor Moriarty. Trolls Band Together (U, 91 mins) Rating: The Pigeon Tunnel (12A, 92 mins) Rating: The DreamWorks animation Trolls Band Together does not offer much of a treat for parents lugging their little darlings to it over the half-term holiday. It's the third instalment in the Trolls franchise, another loud, daft adventure for those odd little creatures with shaving-brush hair. This time, the trolls must re-form their boy-band act, BroZone, because only 'perfect family harmony' will free one of their brothers from the cruel clutches of a rival act, Velvet (voiced by Amy Schumer) and Veneer (Andrew Rannells). Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick again voice the main protagonists Branch and Queen Poppy, and there are a few half-decent gags in a film that somehow feels like it's rolled off a production line, precision-tooled to amuse grown-ups as well as children. I really enjoyed the last film in the series, 2020's Trolls World Tour. This one, however, is a 90-minute assault on the senses that has its moments, but lacks heart. The trolls must re-form their boy-band act, BroZone, because only 'perfect family harmony' will free one of their brothers from the cruel clutches of a rival act, Velvet (voiced by Amy Schumer) and Veneer (Andrew Rannells). Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick again voice the main protagonists Branch and Queen Poppy The Pigeon Tunnel might seem like a curious name to give a documentary until you hear the film's subject, John le Carre, explaining that just about all his novels, at one time or other, had The Pigeon Tunnel as a working title. It refers to something he saw in his mid-teens that haunted him for the rest of his long life (he died three years ago, aged 89). His father Ronnie, a feckless conman who did jail time for fraud, took him to Monte Carlo, where pigeons were reared on the roof of the casino, purely so they could be sent through long tunnels from which they would emerge into the bright Mediterranean sunlight. 'Well-lunched sporting gentlemen' would then shoot them out of the sky. American documentary-maker Errol Morris's long interviews with Le Carre form the backbone of this fascinating film, concentrating on the great man's bizarre childhood and how it influenced his subsequent career as an Eton schoolmaster, spy for both MI5 and MI6, and best-selling novelist. Throughout it all, you marvel at le Carre's wisdom and eloquence. Available in some cinemas and on Apple TV+, it's a real treat. Gigi Hadid was spotted out in New York City on Thursday amid reports that her and her family have received 'death threats' after sharing her public support for Palestine. The model, 28, was heading to the grand opening of her brand Guest In Residence's first-ever store. It's her first public event since the backlash over an Instagram post she shared last week that the Israeli government slammed as 'anti-Semitic.' The mother-of-one was escorted to the new clothing store by multiple bodyguards. She sported a rather low-key look that consisted of an oversized white knit sweater and a black leather maxi skirt. Spotted: Gigi Hadid was spotted out in New York City on Thursday amid reports that her and her family have received 'death threats' after sharing her public support for Palestine Grand opening: The model, 28, was heading to the grand opening of the first store for her brand Guest In Residence Gigi completed her outfit with a pair of black knee-high boots and dangly silver earrings. Her blonde hair was worn in a half up, half down style and she kept her makeup light and natural. Gigi looked rather stoic exiting her chauffeured SUV but she did offer a smile as she approached the storefront. She was supported by her mother Yolanda, 59, and fellow model Taylor Hill, 27, who looked chic in all-black for the nighttime soiree in the city. On Tuesday, Gigi starred in a photo-shoot at her shop, balancing expertly on a crate so that she could reach up and grab hold of a Guest In Residence sign over the door. It comes as it's been reported that she and her family have received death threats after sharing their support for Palestine online. The half-Palestinian model has been vocal for her support for the state in recent days on social media amid the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Gigi - whose property developer father Mohamed Hadid is Palestinian - was then slammed by Israel's government for her posts in support of the Palestinian people. It has now been claimed that Gigi and her family have been receiving death threats over their support for Palestine and have reportedly been forced to take action. Gigi and her family, including supermodel sister Bella, 27, brother Anwar, 24, and parents Yolanda and Mohamed, have all had to change their phone numbers amid the threats, according to TMZ. Sources told the publication that the family have received horrific threats via email, social media and their phones, after their numbers were reportedly leaked online. It has also been claimed that real-estate developer Mohamed is considering going to the FBI over the spate of death threats. Security: The mother-of-one was escorted to the new clothing store by multiple bodyguards Low-key: She sported a rather low-key look that consisted of an oversized white knit sweater and a black leather maxi skirt Effortless: Her blonde hair was worn in a half up, half down style and she kept her makeup light and natural She looked rather stoic exiting her chauffeured SUV but she did offer a smile as she approached the storefront First: It's her first public event since the backlash over an Instagram post she shared last week that the Israeli government branded as 'anti-Semitic' Support: She was supported by fellow model Taylor Hill Chic: She looked chic in all-black for the nighttime soiree in the city Mom: Gigi's mother Yolanda Mohamed also has children Marielle, 43, and Alana, 38, with his ex Mary Butler. MailOnline has contacted Gigi, Bella, Yolanda and Mohamed's representatives for comment. Since the terror organization Hamas, who were at one time democratically elected by the Palestinian people to lead Gaza, attacked Israel on October 7, death tolls have climbed on both sides to 4,000. Israel has since launched retaliatory strikes on the Gaza Strip and cut off electricity to the small area of land, which is home to over two million Palestinians, fueling fears that the impoverished population will be plunged into further misery. Gigi voiced her support for the Palestinian people over the weekend as she posted a graphic to her Instagram Stories about the latest conflict. It read: 'There is nothing Jewish about the Israeli government's treatment of Palestinians. Condemning the Israeli government is not antisemitic and supporting Palestinians is not supporting Hamas.' Her father Mohamed also shared the same graphic to his own Instagram grid alongside the caption: 'Just that simple.' However, Israel's government quickly skewered her position, posting on their Stories a response to Gigi's commentary about the conflict. It read: 'There is nothing valiant about Hamas' massacre of Israelis. Condemning Hamas for what it is (ISIS) is not anti-Palestine and supporting Israelis in their fight against barbaric terrorists is the right thing to do.' The account of the State of Israel then directed comments at Gigi specifically, tagging her account and writing: 'Have you been sleeping the past week?' 'Or you just fine turning a blind eye to Jewish babies being butchered in their homes? Your silence has been very clear about where you stand. We see you.' The Israeli government posted an image of what appeared to be a blood-stained floor next to children's toys and wrote: 'If you don't condemn this your words mean NOTHING,' again tagging Gigi. Difficult times: Gigi Hadid and her family have reportedly received death threats after sharing their support for Palestine online Threats: Gigi and her family, including sister Bella and parents Yolanda and Mohamed (pictured in 2016), have reportedly had to change their phone numbers amid the threats Words: Gigi voiced her support for the Palestinian people over the weekend as she posted a graphic to her Instagram Stories about the latest conflict Slammed: However , Israel's government quickly skewered her position, posting on their Stories a response to Gigi's commentary about the conflict Condolences: In another post shared to her Instagram grid, Gigi shared her condolences with both her Palestinian and Jewish loved ones as she commented on the conflict In another post shared to her Instagram grid, Gigi shared her condolences with both her Palestinian and Jewish loved ones as she commented on the conflict. She wrote: 'My thoughts are with all those affected by this unjustifiable tragedy, and every day that innocent lives are taken by this conflict - too many of which are children. 'I have deep empathy wand heartbreak for the Palestinian struggle and life under occupation, it's a responsibility I hold daily. 'I also feel a responsibility to my Jewish friends to make it clear, as I have before: While I have hopes and dreams for Palestinians, none of them include the harm of a Jewish person. 'The terrorizing of innocent people is not in alignment with and does not do any good for the "Free Palestine" movement. 'The idea that it does has fueled a painful, decades-long cycle of back and forth retaliation (which no innocent civilian, Palestinian or Israeli deserves to be a casualty of), and helps perpetuate the false idea that being Pro-Palestine=anti-Semitic. 'If you are hurting, as I share my condolences today with my loved ones, both Palestinian and Jewish, I'm sending you my love and strength - whoever and wherever you are. 'There are a lot of complex, personal and valid feelings, but every human deserves basic rights, treatment and security; no matter their nationality, religion, ethnicity, or where they were born. 'I know my words will never be enough to heal the deep wounds of so many, but I pray for the safety of innocent lives, always.' Her father Mohamed, who has posted a string of posts in support of Palestine, re-shared her message to his own Instagram page. In the wake of the Hamas massacre, Mohamed took to Instagram to post a statement that blamed the unimaginably bloody Palestinian terror attack on Israel. 'This less of a human and Bibi and the far right government of this Zionist State is 100 percent responsible for creation of this massive escalation between the occupied and the occupier,' he wrote, showing a picture of far-right, pro-settlements Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. While many supported Mohamed's message, some were quick to admonish him for posting such a message on the day of the Hamas attacks. Two days later, he posted a picture of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with the caption: 'To Be Clear I condemn the killing and hostage taking or abusing, torturing of civilians. Of Arab Muslims, Jews or Christians. 'And complete disapproval of the treatment of the occupation against the occupied.' Mohamed was born in 1948 in what is now Nazareth, Israel, and has previously said he took it upon himself to ensure that each of his children understood and revered their Palestinian identities. Family: As well as Gigi, Yolanda and Mohamed share supermodel daughter Bella, 27, and an actor son Anwar, 24. Mohamed also shares Marielle, 43, and Alana, 38, with his ex Mary Butler Comments: Gigi's younger sister Bella has yet to speak out about the conflict, but has been forthright about her support for the Palestinian cause in the past Candid: In October 2022, Gigi and Bella's younger brother Anwar spoke about his support for the Palestinian cause as he graced the cover of GQ Middle East Conflict: Israel has vowed retaliation against the Palestinian terror group Hamas after its fighters stormed through the border fence on October 7. Pictured: Kibbutz Be'eri in southern Israel after the early morning raid Gigi's younger sister Bella has yet to speak out about the latest conflict, but has been forthright about her support for the Palestinian cause in the past. In June 2022, she posted to Instagram: 'I will never allow anyone to forget about our beautiful Palestine, or our beautiful people.' 'Everyday I wish I could go back in time, to when I was a child, so that I could start fighting for Palestine sooner,' she continued. 'For my family, for my elders, our history and for the people of Palestine still living, now, through this treacherous, exhausting and painful occupation.' Meanwhile, in October 2022, Gigi and Bella's younger brother Anwar spoke about his support for the Palestinian cause as he graced the cover of GQ Middle East. Anwar and a friend also co-produced a film that GQ Middle East called 'an eye-opening new documentary that breaks through the noise to highlight the pain and power of Palestinian resistance'. 'The idea came to us as a way to humanize the Palestinian people, and allow our voices to be heard without judgment, in a way that is free and represents the people and it just kind of evolved from there,' he said. Israel has vowed unprecedented retaliation against the Palestinian terror group Hamas after its fighters stormed through the border fence on October 7 and shot hundreds of Israelis in their homes, on the streets and at an outdoor music festival. The Israeli government has launched a major retaliation of air strikes on Gaza and stopped the passage of food, water, fuel and medicine into the territory. The hundreds of people killed in Hamas's attacks includes 260 revellers gunned down at a music festival, and families - including children and babies - who were massacred in a kibbutz. Israeli air strikes on Gaza have killed 900 Palestinians, the territory's health ministry said last week. Asher Keddie has offered a rare insight into her ten year marriage to artist husband Vincent Fantauzzo while discussing how the couple met. The actress, 48, revealed in the November issue of Marie Claire, she met Vincent after her agent convinced her to let him paint a portrait of her. She explained that while he was painting her, Vincent would look over the camera and they locked eyes. 'He still does that eyes above the camera; he's very charming,' she said. Asher continued to say the couple love parenting their children together as it gives them 'the feeling of togetherness'. Asher Keddie has given a rare insight into her private marriage to husband Vincent Fantauzzo 'What we enjoy most and I know we both feel like this is sharing the parenting. I love that feeling of togetherness we have in parenting them and being part of their lives,' she added. She also shared a glimpse into the couple's home life with their son, Valentino, and Vincent's 11-year-old son Luca, from a previous marriage. 'I take care of stuff when I come home... but we have different roles within the house and as long as the kids come first, everything falls into place,' she added. Asher and Vincent tied the knot in the beachside ceremony on Fiji's Turtle Island in April 2014. The actress revealed in the November issue of Marie Claire, she met Vincent after her agent convinced her to let him paint a portrait of her Asher and Vincent tied the knot in the beachside ceremony on Fiji's Turtle Island in April 2014 The couple went on to welcome a son of their own, Valentino, in March 2015. Vincent's famous works include striking portraits of Julia Gillard, Baz Luhrmann and Heath Ledger, with his work highlighting the depth of Ledger's mental struggle was revealed one month after his death in 2008. The artist has a hotel in Brisbane named after him, which is filled with his paintings. Vincent, a four-time Archibald People's Choice prize winning artist, likes to spend time with his subjects before painting them, adding a personal relationship to his creative idea before putting his brush on the canvas. Kim Kardashian is not above serving her civic duty. The 42-year-old reality star was seen in Van Nuys, California at the Van Nuys Courthouse, where she served her jury duty, TMZ reported Thursday. Kardashian is a potential juror in a murder case involving gang violence, according to the outlet. In the case in question, two men are charged in connection with a gang-related murder, the outlet reported. Kardashian took part in a session in which she and other potential members of the jury pool were asked questions by attorneys for the prosecution and defense, but was not asked any questions directly. The latest: Kim Kardashian is not above serving her civic duty. The 42-year-old reality star was seen in Van Nuys, California at the Van Nuys Courthouse, where she served her jury duty, TMZ reported Thursday. Pictured last month in NYC Kardashian was accompanied into the court by a bodyguard who sat next to her throughout the proceedings, an eyewitness said. Kardashian mingled with other jurors and was seen taking in snacks in the hallway amid breaks in the proceedings. On Thursday, she was donning a fancy ensemble of a sleeveless white blouse with leather pants and high boots, the outlet reported. Kardashian was excused after court adjourned on Thursday, with the prosecution and defense coming to an agreement on 12 jury members and four alternate members. Kardashian had members of her Hulu crew filming, as she was seen boarding an SUV in the parking lot of the courthouse and departing. According to eyewitnesses, 'the other prospective jurors were not particularly starstruck' by Kardashian, who boasts more than 364 million Instagram followers and has been showing off her acting chops as of late on the series American Horror Story: Delicate. Kardashian has been passionate about criminal justice and the law, as for the past few years, she has been studying to become a lawyer, following in the footsteps of her late father Robert Kardashian, who was a member of O.J. Simpson's legal defense team in his murder trial. After three attempts, she passed the Baby Bar exam in December of 2021, remembering her late parent in an Instagram message she posted announcing the achievement. The socialite was pictured in Los Angeles last month The stunning celebrity was pictured last month at a gala in NYC 'I know my dad would be so proud and he would actually be so shocked to know that this is my path now but he would have been my best study partner,' she said. 'I am told he was notorious for making fun of people who didnt pass on their first attempt like he did, but he would have been my biggest cheerleader!' Kardashian said that she was fulfilled after her fourth attempt at the legal test was successful. 'For anyone who doesnt know my law school journey, know this wasnt easy or handed to me,' she said. 'I failed this exam 3 times in 2 years, but I got back up each time and studied harder and tried again until I did it!!! She added, 'Bottom line is dont ever give up even when you are holding on by a thread, you can do it!!!!! She has also focused her efforts toward criminal justice reform, and was instrumental in the 2018 prison release of Alice Marie Johnson, following a pardon from then-President Donald Trump. Johnson had been sentenced to life in prison for a nonviolent drug offense as result of her 1996 conviction in a drug trafficking ring. Advertisement Priyanka Chopra had all eyes on her as she arrived to the star-studded red carpet at the DKMS Gala, held at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City, on Thursday. The Citadel star, 41 who was recently unfollowed by former sister-in-law Sophie Turner dazzled in a metallic emerald gown with a sizzling thigh-high slit, and a cut-out in the midriff area giving a glimpse at her toned abs. The spectacular ensemble featured a one-shoulder cape that fell all the way to the floor. The Indian-born beauty teamed her look with open-toe gold heels. Nick Jonas' wife wore her lustrous raven tresses in a straight style, cascading down her back. As for glam she accentuated her pout with a matte red lisptick and drew attention to her magnetic eyes with smokey eyeshadow. DKMS is an international nonprofit bone marrow donor center with a mission statement of fighting cancer and other blood disorders. Dazzling! Priyanka Chopra had all eyes on her as she arrived to the star-studded red carpet at the DKMS Gala, held at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City, on Thursday Wow! The beauty showed off the incredible gown in front of the shutterbugs At the event the mom-of-one was joined by Coty Chief Brands Officer, Stefano Curti. The businessman looked sharp in a black suit with a unique silver snake brooch pinned to his lapel. Among other stylish attendees was model Coco Rocha, 35, who looked vibrant in a red hot dress. The Canadian catwalk sensation's gown featured a see-through top and a fringe bottom, as well as frilly details. She added height to the look with black heels. The star wore her brunette tresses slicked back and wore just a touch of glam to highlight her stunning features. Coco enjoyed the evening in the company of her mural painter husband James Conran, who looked dashing in a navy suit. Designer Vera Wang, 74, showed off her edgy sense of style in a black bra top that put her trim midriff on display, and featured a matching floral embellishment. She paired the all-black outfit with a maxi skirt and elbow-length gloves. Wang wore her long brunette strands styled straight, and opted for delicate makeup. Emerald queen: The Citadel star, 41, dazzled in a metallic emerald gown with a sizzling thigh-high slit, and a cut-out in the midriff area giving a glimpse at her toned abs Glam: As for glam she accentuated her pout with a matte red lisptick and drew attention to her magnetic eyes with smokey eyeshadow Accessories: The star sparkled up her look with dangling earrings From the back: The intricate dress featured a long cape Good cause: DKMS is an international nonprofit bone marrow donor center with a mission statement of fighting cancer and other blood disorders Dynamic duo: At the event the mom-of-one was joined by Coty Chief Brands Officer, Stefano Curti. The businessman looked sharp in a black suit with a unique silver snake brooch pinned to his lapel Edgy style: Designer Vera Wang, 74, showed off her edgy sense of style in a black bra top that put her trim midriff on display, and featured a matching floral embellishment Think pink: Fashionista Jessica Wang stunned in a pastel pink gown with a sheer top that put her pink bra on display, and a tulle bottom Red hot! Among other stylish attendees was model Coco Rocha, 35, who looked vibrant in a red hot dress. The Canadian catwalk sensation's gown featured a see-through top and a fringe bottom, as well as frilly details Mesmerizing: Lily Chee, 20, looked mesmerizing in a blue and dark green strapless gown Unique: Pose star Billy Porter, 54, showed off his unique style in a black jacket worn over a matching top and skirt Dapper duo: Designer Marc Jacobs, 60, attended the event with his partner Char Defrancesco. He looked dapper in a a three-piece black suit and a bow tie, and accessorized with a clutch Fashionista Jessica Wang stunned in a pastel pink gown with a sheer top that put her pink bra on display, and a tulle bottom. The star wore her black tresses in a chic bun for the night. Lily Chee, 20, looked mesmerizing in a blue and dark green strapless gown. The actress accessorized with a green Van Cleef & Arpels necklace and a black clutch. Pose star Billy Porter, 54, showed off his unique style in a black jacket worn over a matching top and skirt. The actor also sported a unique spider-shaped accessory in lieu of a bowtie. He finalized his look with black platform boots. Designer Marc Jacobs, 60, attended the event with his partner Char Defrancesco. Jacobs looked dapper in a a three-piece black suit and a bow tie, and accessorized with a clutch. Defrancesco also rocked a black suit along with baby pink, blue and black Nike sneakers. Also present was Sex and the City star Mario Cantone, 63, who wore a dark suit and a floral purple tie. Inside: Priyanka was pictured inside the DKMS gala. DKMS was founded in 1991 by Peter Harf, who was looking to find a lifesaving stem cell donor for his wife, Mechtild Fashionable: Wang posed it up for the shutterbugs inside Date night: Coco enjoyed the evening in the company of her mural painter husband James Conran, who looked dashing in a navy suit Handsome: Also present was Sex and the City star Mario Cantone, 63, who wore a dark suit and a floral purple tie Dinner: Marc and his beau enjoyed dinner inside the Cipriani Wall Street building DKMS was founded in 1991 by Peter Harf, who was looking to find a lifesaving stem cell donor for his wife, Mechtild. Sadly, she eventually lost her battle with leukemia. Since then, Peter and his two daughters have continued to help others who are in need of stem cell transplants. DKMS now operates in seven countries and has registered over 12 million donors worldwide. The event was held at Cipriani Wall Street - a famed venue, featuring Greek revival architecture, known for hosting a number of important soirees. It may officially be autumn, but Devon Windsor is still in a summer state-of-mind. The Victoria's Secret stunner modeled a sexy orange bikini from her eponymous line in a playful video uploaded to her TikTok on Thursday. Devon, who welcomed her second daughter in May, showed off her stylish poolside look as she threw on a colorful duster, a pucca shell necklace, and vintage inspired shades. The 29-year-old showed off her final accessory - a sleek Prada clutch - before flashing a friendly wave to the camera. 'Its always sunmer in miami! Suit is @Devon Windsor coverup is shop alexis! #fyp #ootd #swim,' she captioned the shot, along with a link to her swimwear line's TikTok account. Beach babe! Devon Windsor modeled a sexy orange bikini from her namesake collection in a playful video uploaded to her TikTok on Thursday Devon has been a model for over a decade and has been in the swimsuit-making business for the last four years. In 2019 she launched Devon Windsor Swim, an affordable swimwear line which also captures her personal style. 'I am super excited to announce that I am launching Devon Windsor Swim this summer !!! I have been working for the past year on this project and cannot wait to see you guys wearing it!' she announced on social media at the time. Speaking with V Magazine about starting up the collection, she said: 'Being in the fashion industry, I was always interested in expanding my brand outside of just modeling. 'I loved the aspect of design and the creativity and freedom in being able to have your own line. Swimsuits have always been a passion of mine because I love the oceanit is where I feel most at home. 'Over the past couple of years, I have noticed a gap in the market for a swimsuit that is more than your average basic bikini, without breaking your bank. 'For me, swimwear is a strong form of self-expression and something that you should feel confident and powerful in. With this in mind, I decided to create an affordable line of statement swimsuitsDevon Windsor.' As far as what makes her collection standout in the marketplace, she said: 'I wanted this line to be a reflection of my personal style, while also being a collection and brand that everyone could find something they love. Summer state-of-mind! 'Its always sunmer in miami! Suit is @Devon Windsor coverup is shop alexis! #fyp #ootd #swim,' she captioned the shot, along with a link to her swimwear line's TikTok account Her own best advert! The swimsuit is from the line she launched four years ago, Devon Windsor Swim Strike a pose: Devon has been professionally modeling for over a decade 'I also wanted the collection to be affordable, and something that carries a lot of design details. The range offers a large variety of versatile silhouettes, colors, patterns, textures and hardwareall with an immense amount of detail that went into selecting each. 'I feel like the versatility of each piece and huge attention to detail that I put into each aspect of every design is what sets this line apart from others.' Outside of the corporate world, Devon is a busy mother of two. She shares daughters Enzo Elodie Barbara, two, and Celine Blue Barbara, five months, with her husband Jonathan Barbara. She means business! Speaking with V Magazine about starting up the collection, she said: 'Being in the fashion industry, I was always interested in expanding my brand outside of just modeling' Poolside style! She threw on a colorful cover-up, shades, and carried a Prada clutch Devon married her businessman beau in a beachside St. Barts ceremony in 2019. Two years after they tied the knot, the Brawl in Cell Block 99 star gave birth to their first child in September 2021, a girl they christened Enzo Elodie Barbara. The hard-working model mom announced her second pregnancy back in November 2022. She gave birth to her second daughter, Celine Blue Barbara, in early May 2023. Discovered at the age of 14, Devon has been a professional model ever since. Australian actor Firass Dirani has denied claims he was dumped from new Amazon Prime TV series, The Office Australia. On Thursday, the 39-year-old Underbelly star responded to reports he was dropped from the cast, which emerged after he posted a pro-Hamas video to his Instagram. Posting to his Instagram stories, Firass insisted he left the show months ago over 'creative differences'. Firass was announced as part of the cast of The Office reboot five months ago, but last week 'insiders' at Amazon Prime said he was no longer part of the production. In his message to fans and followers, which has since expired, Firass heaped praise on the production as 'dynamic and professional'. Australian actor Firass Dirani has denied claims he was dumped from new Amazon Prime TV series, The Office Australia 'I was never dumped by The Office,' he said in his lengthy message. 'We walked our separate ways months ad months ago for creative reasons. They were admirable and a dynamic professional production. Can't wait to watch. 'It's the same ugly media who are perpetuating lies, and who have been attempting to assassinate my character since 2020. 'This time around they have stitched and fabricated a story that never happened,' he added. 'Tomorrow I will wake up as a no-f***s-giving handsome prince. Insiders at Amazon Prime Video, the production company behind the anticipated series, explained the situation to the Saturday Telegraph. Posting to his stories on Thursday, Firass said he left the show months ago over 'creative differences' Last week the actor shared a video on social media expressing his support for Hamas after the Palestinian militant group unleashed a horrific attack on the Jewish homeland 'Firass was announced as being cast in The Office Australia but he didnt make it to production,' they said. 'There were "differences" before production started. Production has wrapped up and he isnt in the show.' The Saturday Telegraph states it is unclear what those 'differences' were. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Firass for comment. Earlier this year, Prime Video revealed Firass would star in the remake alongside Felicity Ward, who will play a 'modern-day David Brent'. Other stars cast in the series, that is a spin off from the iconic BBC sitcom and award-winning US version, are Edith Poor (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power), Steen Raskopoulos (The Duchess), Shari Sebbens. Last week, the actor shared a video on social media expressing his support for Hamas after the Palestinian militant group unleashed a horrific attack on the Jewish homeland. Dirani failed to win many fans while appearing on SAS Australia in 2020, after aggravating the other recruits and continually breaking the rules (pictured at right with Ant Middleton) Firass complained that Hamas - which is considered a terrorist group by the Australian government - is being 'propagated against as if theyre a terrorist militant group'. He also compared the plight of Ukraine - which was invaded by Russia in February 2022 - with the Hamas' cause, suggesting the recent attacks which have killed hundreds of civilians was 'Palestinians resisting the oppressors'. Israelis were wrapping up the week-long religious holiday of Sukkot earlier this month when the Palestinian militant group rained around 2,200 bombs down from Gaza. Firass failed to win many fans while appearing on SAS Australia in 2020, after aggravating the other recruits and continually breaking the rules. Jett Kenny and girlfriend Lily Brown went public with their romance in December. And the genetically-blessed pair appeared to be caught during a tense moment on Thursday. Jett, 29, and Lily, 25, looked somewhat annoyed as they strolled around the Sunshine Coast, getting a quick bite to eat. Lily looked less-than-impressed with her arms folded speaking to her hunky boyfriend, who just finished filming the Gladiators reboot. Jett also appeared tense as he chatted with Lily, before the pair sat down together for lunch. Model Jett Kenny, 29, and girlfriend Lily Brown, 25, were caught looking tense on Thursday, as they chatted near a cafe on the Sunshine Coast. Pictured Influencer Lily kept her look low-key with her look wearing a black crop top and matching bike shorts of the outing. She accentuated her natural beauty by going make-up free for the outing and opted to wear her tresses up in a low-maintenance bun. Jett meanwhile was every inch the strapping ironman wearing a white t-shirt, striped shorts and a pair of Birkenstocks. Jett had his arm in a sling and is recovering from injury after filming Gladiators in Sydney, where he will portray 'Viking'. Lily looked less-than-impressed with her arms folded speaking to her hunky boyfriend, who just finished filming the Gladiators reboot. Pictured It comes after the pair were forced to deny they were set to welcome their first child after a round of pregnancy speculation in May. The rumour mill was sent into overdrive after Lily's mother appeared to let slip the pair are preparing for a baby on Instagram. Nataly shared a photo of pink, embroidered baby clothes, writing: 'Bit of baby shopping on the way home because [excitement emoji].' The pair both dressed casually for the lunch date. Lily opted for a black crop and bike shorts. Jett wore a white t-shirt and stripped shorts. Both pictured She also tagged Lily in the post. Lily and Jett have gained a considerable following since revealing their relationship in December after weeks of rumours. The model and influencer both shared the same photo of them kissing to Instagram on New Year's Eve. Lily's mother Nataly was forced to address rumours her daughter is expecting her first child with Jett back in May. Pictured: Jett and Lily Nataly shared a photo of pink, embroidered baby clothes, writing: 'Bit of baby shopping on the way home because [excitement emoji]' Jett captioned his romantic post: 'To the future' alongside a pair of love heart emojis. Lily meanwhile wrote alongside her own re-post of the photograph: 'You'd be a tough one to keep a secret'. The announcement comes after fans revealed the pair were secretly dating after noticing similarities on Instagram. Mariska Hargitay and Jane Fonda looked stylish as ever at the Women's Media Awards, held at The Whitby Hotel in New York on Thursday. The Law & Order SVU star, 59, cut a chic figure in head-to-toe Gabriela Hearst - $15K 'Nesbitt' leather coat over the $3,430 'Crowther' dress and $1,090 'Aster' heels. Mariska who recently enjoyed a Taylor Swift concert with her daughter wore her brunette tresses in light curls for the evening. The Emmy award-winning star further spruced up her look with a number of glittering bracelets, and opted for bronze glam. The actress was the recipient of the Women's Media Center Sisterhood is Powerful Award at the event, for her work in uplifting women in media. Stylish gals! Mariska Hargitay and Jane Fonda looked stylish as ever at the Women's Media Awards, held at The Whitby Hotel in New York on Thursday Honored: The actress was the recipient of the WMC Sisterhood is Powerful Award at the event, for her work in uplifting women in media. Fonda is one of the founders of WMC Mariska is known for her portrayal of brave and compassionate detective Olivia Benson on the long running series, which has been on air for over 24 years. Aside from her work on camera, Mariska is also a director, producer and activist. The beauty also founded the the Joyful Heart Foundation, which works to transform society's response to sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse and more. Along with her 24 seasons on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Hargitay has also had main roles in sort-lived shows Tequila and Bonetti (1992) and Can't Hurry Love (1995-1996),as well as parts of two seasons of the hit medical drama ER (1997-1998). Hargitay is the daughter of the late blonde bombshell Jayne Mansfield and actor Mickey Hargitay, who died in 2006. Meanwhile Jane, 85, looked elegant in a zodiac-themed jacket and black maxi skirt. The actress wore her silver tresses in light curls for the evening. Fonda founded WMC with Gloria Steinem and Robin Morgan. Chic: The Law & Order SVU star, 59, cut a chic figure in head-to-toe Gabriela Hearst - $15K 'Nesbitt' leather coat over the $3,430 'Crowther' dress and $1,090 'Aster' heels Sweet: The duo warmly greeted each other on the red carpet with a kiss on the cheek Unique: Mariska wore her brunette tresses in light curls for the evening Glowing: The Emmy award-winning star further spruced up her look with a number of glittering bracelets, and opted for bronze glam Lovely: Meanwhile Jane, 85, looked elegant in a zodiac-themed jacket and black maxi skirt. The actress wore her silver tresses in light curls for the evening Activist: Fonda founded WMC with Gloria Steinem and Robin Morgan. The organization works to raise visibility of women and girls in the media Business chic: Ashley McDermott looked business chic in a dark blue velvet suit and black heels Mingling: Ashley and Mariska mingled together in front of the photographers Fiery: Journalist Fredricka Whitfield, 58, was glamorous in a fiery red dress, which she paired with a black clutch Glamorous ladies: Mariska, and Fredrika, were also seen posing with other honorees, including Koritha Mitchell, Emily Ladau, Karen Lincoln Michel, and Akila Radhakrishnan Among other stylish stars at the event was Ashley McDermott who looked business chic in a dark blue velvet suit and black heels. Journalist and honoree Fredricka Whitfield, 58, was glamorous in a fiery red dress, which she paired with a black clutch. The CNN News anchor was honored with the WMC Pat Mitchell Lifetime Achievement Award. Mariska, and Fredrika, were also seen posing with other honorees, including Koritha Mitchell, Emily Ladau, Karen Lincoln Michel, and Akila Radhakrishnan. Mitchell, an award-winning author, was the recipient of the WMC Progressive Womens Voices IMPACT Award. Ladau, a disability rights activist, was honored with the WMC Progressive Womens Voices IMPACT Award. Michel was honored with the WMC Carol Jenkins Award. Radhakrishnan, President of the Global Justice Center, received the WMC Progressive Womens Voices IMPACT Award. WMC is a feminist organization that works to raise visibility of women and girls in the media. Well deserved: Mariska was pictured accepting her Sisterhood is Powerful Award Laughing it up! She laughed it up onstage with Jane and Robin Morgan, who co-founded the organization Speech: Fonda was pictured speaking onstage With the honoree: Fonda posed with honoree Fredricka. The CNN News anchor was honored with the WMC Pat Mitchell Lifetime Achievement Award A delightful evening: The ladies were seen enjoying the evening together Much to be proud of: Mariska proudly posed with her award and next to Robin Beloved: Mariska has certainly raised the visibility of women in the media with her portrayal of brave and compassionate detective Olivia Benson on the long running series Law & Order SVU; pictured with Jason Biggs in a 2021 still from the show Their website statement reads: 'The Womens Media Awards recognize and honor game-changers for women in media.' 'By deciding who gets to talk, what creates the debate, who writes, and what is important enough to be visible, the media shapes our understanding of who we are and what we can be. The Womens Media Awards shine a light on this important issue.' 'The Womens Media Centers call to action is simple: We want to see more diverse women, hear more diverse women, and, read articles from more diverse women across all media platforms,' said Julie Burton, President & CEO of WMC. 'Our Womens Media Awards honor champions for women who set the standard for what media should look like when it gives voice to the female half of the country. They are role models, history-makers, and inspiring leaders.' Jennifer Lopez ensured her Intimissimi fashion show would be one fans won't soon forget. The pop star, 54, closed the show by playfully flashing her underwear to the audience. The Waiting For Tonight hitmaker followed her models down the runway before lifting the front of her skirt to display her underwear and plenty of leg. The moment was captured by Kylie Jenner's BFF, Anastasia Karanikolaou, and gasps of delight could be heard from the surprised crowd. JLo looked stunning in a floral crop top teamed with a voluminous black skirt and her hair worn into a messy bun. Ending the show with a bang! Jennifer Lopez flashed her underwear as she closed out her Intimissimi show on Thursday She elongated her legs with sexy black heels while delicate metallic earrings danced from her ears. Perhaps JLo was attempting to prove that she was rocking her new collection with Intimissimi, This Is Me Now. Jennifer announced her new collaboration with the Italian fashion brand on Wednesday, posting to her Instagram: 'Introducing my @IntimissimiOfficial THIS IS MENOW collection From Verona to Hollywood and made with love @NormanJeanRoy.' Rocking her signature smoky eyeshadow for the photoshoot, the Bronx-born beauty added the hashtag #thisismenow. 'The collection marks an important second chapter in the creative partnership of the Italian brand and the American icon, who joined forces to blend Intimissimi's dedication to exceptional quality with Jennifer Lopez's distinctive style,' the brand's press release said on Wednesday. 'The collection draws direct inspiration from Jennifer Lopez's upcoming album, This is me...Now which delves into her deeply transformative journey of personal development. 'The name of the collection and product assortment encapsulates the essence of her evolution, self- reflection, and embracing her true self.' In a campaign promoting the collaboration, JLo models various sizzling looks from the collection herself. What a surprise! The moment was captured by Kylie Jenner 's BFF, Anastasia Karanikolaou, and gasps of delight could be heard from the surprised crowd Take a bow! Jennifer was preparing to take a bow when she decided to mix things up by flashing her legs It's an honor! Jennifer has teamed up with Italian fashion brand Intimissimi for a joint collection All in a day's work! The pop diva took a bow before the audience Va va voom! Jennifer models her collab in a campaign promoting her project with the fashion brand It's been an action-packed year for the Selena star, who posted a loving tribute to her husband Affleck in late August in honor of his 51st birthday. The couple also celebrated their one year wedding this past July, after thrilling fans of Bennifer back in 2021 when they rekindled their famous romance. They actually made their love official in two ceremonies. The first was an impromptu wedding in Las Vegas in July 2022 followed by a more lavish affair on Ben's 87-acre property in Georgia. 580 pieces of relics retrieved from ancient shipwrecks Xinhua) 09:34, October 20, 2023 This photo taken on Oct. 10, 2023 shows cultural relics unearthed from ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 580 pieces (sets) of cultural relics have been unearthed from two ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea, according to the National Cultural Heritage Administration on Thursday. The relics, which include porcelain, pottery, and timber, provide concrete evidence that the Chinese ancestors explored, utilized, and traded in the South China Sea, said the administration at a press conference. The two shipwrecks from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) were found about 1,500 meters below sea level, it said, adding that they are an important witness of trade and cultural exchanges along the ancient Maritime Silk Road. This undated photo shows a piece of cultural relic unearthed from ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea. (National Cultural Heritage Administration/Handout via Xinhua) This photo taken on Oct. 10, 2023 shows cultural relics unearthed from ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) Workers carry cultural relics unearthed from ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea, Oct. 10, 2023. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) An archaeologist clears up a piece of cultural relic unearthed from ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea, Oct. 10, 2023. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) This undated photo shows cultural relics unearthed from ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea. (National Cultural Heritage Administration/Handout via Xinhua) This photo taken on Oct. 10, 2023 shows cultural relics unearthed from ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) This aerial photo taken on Oct. 10, 2023 shows the scientific research ship Tansuo-2 carrying submersible Shenhai Yongshi (Deep Sea Warrior) returning to Sanya of south China's Hainan Province after conducting deep-sea archaeological investigation in the South China Sea. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) This undated photo shows a piece of cultural relic unearthed from ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea. (National Cultural Heritage Administration/Handout via Xinhua) This undated orthophoto shows the site of an ancient shipwreck discovered in the South China Sea. (National Cultural Heritage Administration/Handout via Xinhua) This undated three-dimensional image shows the site of an ancient shipwreck discovered in the South China Sea. (National Cultural Heritage Administration/Handout via Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) She is known for her effortless style. And Sonia Kruger turned heads once again on Thursday as she attended a lunch at Bondi Icebergs alongside British beauty and fashion queen, Trinny Woodall, to celebrate her new book Fearless and popular cosmetics line, Trinny London. The Voice Australia host, 58, showed off a hint of her midriff in a colourful two-piece ensemble - a Western-style cropped shirt and a matching full-length skirt by Zimmermann. She accentuated her midsection by cinching in the outfit with a tan belt and boosted her height with espadrilles. The blonde beauty tied her platinum locks back in a ponytail and shielded her eyes with designer sunglasses. Sonia Kruger attended a lunch at Bondi Icebergs alongside British beauty and fashion queen Trinny Woodall to celebrate her new book Fearless and her cosmetics line, Trinny London The Voice Australia host, 58, showed off a hint of her midriff in a colourful two-piece ensemble - a Western-style cropped shirt and a matching full-length skirt by Zimmermann Sonia was accompanied by a smartly dressed publicist as she headed back her Range Rover after the event. Meanwhile, woman of the hour Trinny sparkled at her luncheon in a turquoise streamer-style long-sleeve top and and matching skirt. The What No To Wear star, 59, paired the outfit with clear-framed sunglasses and flaunted her ageless visage by wearing minimal products from her beauty range. Jessica Rowe made a style statement in a whimsical pink frock teamed with rainbow leggings and a bright yellow pair of stilettos and matching handbag. And podcaster Phoebe Burgess also got the colour memo, stunning in a floral Rixo dress with Bottega Veneta strappy blue heels and a satin bag. Woman of the hour Trinny sparkled at her luncheon in a turquoise streamer-style long-sleeve top and and matching skirt Podcaster Phoebe Burgess also got the colour memo, stunning in a floral Rixo dress with Bottega Veneta strappy blue heels and a satin bag Elsewhere, Candice Warner showed off her incredibly fit figure in a sparkly green one-shouldered dress with silver accessories Candice was glowing in her standout frock, which showed off her long, lean legs Elsewhere, Candice Warner showed off her incredibly fit figure in a sparkly green one-shouldered dress with gold sandals and a Louis Vuitton clutch. Earlier this week, Trinny appeared on Australian breakfast show Sunrise where she spoke about the popularity of her brand, Trinny London. 'I think it's about talking to a woman who believes she is being ignored. To me, it's the 35 plus woman,' she said. 'I have made over a lot of women and those women are 35 to 70,' she added, talking about the beauty gap in the market. Jessica Rowe made a style statement in a whimsical pink frock teamed with rainbow leggings and a bright yellow pair of stilettos and matching handbag Phoebe chatted to pals inside the upscale Bondi eatery Earlier this week, Trinny appeared on Australian breakfast show Sunrise where she spoke about the popularity of her brand, Trinny London. 'I think it's about talking to a woman who believes she is being ignored. To me, it's the 35 plus woman,' she said Trinny also released a book called 'Fearless', which details all things beauty and health. In 2017, the fashion expert launched her very own beauty and skincare brand, Trinny London. Trinny said of the brand: 'I want to accelerate you getting to a stage where you know who you are and love yourself. If I had to think, 'what's my mission?' it's to bring that to you sooner. 'It is a rite of passage but sometimes you can find women at 60 and you think, 'you're not there yet', so it's also a generational thing of feeling you don't have the right to show that you want to care about yourself, or worry about yourself. And it's more of a privilege now to be able to do that.' Saturday marks two years since the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the New Mexico set of the Western film Baldwin's lawyer said he would fight any charges should they be brought Special prosecutors announced Tuesday they are seeking to recharge Baldwin on the basis of new information to show to a grand jury Celerity couple appeared to look downcast as they went on walk in NYC Alec Baldwin and wife Hilaria appeared showed strain of stress in New York City on Thursday, amid a difficult week. The Oscar-nominated actor, 65, and the yoga expert, 39, were pictured taking a walk with one of their kids, days after news he might face additional charges in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the New Mexico set of the film Rust on October 21, 2021. After special prosecutors announced Tuesday they are seeking to recharge Baldwin - as they have new information to show to a grand jury - the actor's lawyer Luke Nikas said Baldwin would fight any charges should they be brought in the incident, according to Variety. 'It is unfortunate that a terrible tragedy has been turned into this misguided prosecution,' Nikas said. 'We will answer any charges in court.' The Glengarry Glen Ross actor appeared to be in a glum mood, as he was clad in a black Ralph Lauren polo shirt with black slacks ad gray sneakers. He was seen pushing a baby stroller on the fall day in the Big Apple. Out and about: Alec Baldwin, 65, and wife Hilaria, 39, appeared showed strain of stress in New York City on Thursday, amid a difficult week The Oscar-nominated actor, 65, and the yoga expert, 39, were pictured taking a walk with one of their kids, days after news he might face additional charges in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the New Mexico set of the film Rust in October of 2021 Hilaria, who shares seven children with The Cooler star, appeared to be in an equally melancholy mood, as she did not appear to be smiling as they stepped out in the city. She wore a long-sleeved green top that read 'Empathy' across the front, with black cargo slacks, sandals and oversize black eyeglasses on the outing. The outing came two days after New Mexico-based prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis said theyll present their case to the grand jury within the next two months, noting 'additional facts' have come to light in the shooting on the set of the film killed Hutchins. Baldwin, a producer of the film, was pointing a gun at Hutchins during a rehearsal inside a rustic chapel on a movie-set ranch near Santa Fe when the gun went off on October 21, 2021, killing the cinematographer and wounding director Joel Souza. 'After extensive investigation over the past several months, additional facts have come to light that we believe show Mr. Baldwin has criminal culpability in the death of Halyna Hutchins and the shooting of Joel Souza,' Morrissey and Lewis said in an email. They continued: 'We believe the appropriate course of action is to permit a panel of New Mexico citizens to determine from here whether Mr. Baldwin should be held over for criminal trial.' They declined to elaborate on the additional information they may present to the grand jury. Baldwin has said he pulled back the hammer - but not the trigger - and the gun fired. Hilaria was seen holding their baby as Alec pushed the stroller forward on the fall day Baldwin in May finished working on the movie Rust, the film he was making on October 21, 2021 in Santa Fe, New Mexico when a gun he was holding fired, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The set was pictured October 23, 2021, two days after the shooting Baldwin was seen in costume speaking with law enforcement in the wake of the shooting Baldwin, also a producer of the film, was pointing a gun at Hutchins during a rehearsal inside a rustic chapel on a movie-set ranch near Santa Fe when the gun went off on October 21, 2021, killing the cinematographer and wounding director Joel Souza Special prosecutors initially dismissed an involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin in April, saying they were informed the gun might have been modified before the shooting and malfunctioned. They later pivoted and began weighing whether to refile a charge against Baldwin after receiving a new analysis of the gun. The recent gun analysis from experts in ballistics and forensic testing based in Arizona and New Mexico relied on replacement parts to reassemble the gun fired by Baldwin - after parts of the pistol were broken during earlier testing by the FBI. The report examined the gun and markings it left on a spent cartridge to conclude that the trigger had to have been pulled or depressed. The analysis led by Lucien Haag of Forensic Science Services in Arizona stated that although Baldwin repeatedly denies pulling the trigger, 'given the tests, findings and observations reported here, the trigger had to be pulled or depressed sufficiently to release the fully cocked or retracted hammer of the evidence revolver.' An earlier FBI report on the agencys analysis of the gun found that, as is common with firearms of that design, it could go off without pulling the trigger if force was applied to an uncocked hammer - such as by dropping the weapon. The only way the testers could get it to fire was by striking the gun with a mallet while the hammer was down and resting on the cartridge, or by pulling the trigger while it was fully cocked. The gun eventually broke during testing. Authorities have not specified exactly how live ammunition found its way on set and into the .45-caliber revolver made by an Italian company that specializes in 19th century reproductions. The late Hutchins was seen at a Sundance event in January of 2019 A photo of the late filmmaker was displayed at a memorial vigil in Albuquerque, New Mexico on October 23, 2021 The weapons supervisor on the movie set, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter and evidence tampering in the case. Her trial is scheduled to begin in February. In March, Rust assistant director and safety coordinator David Halls pleaded no contest to unsafe handling of a firearm and received a suspended sentence of six months of probation. He agreed to cooperate in the investigation of the shooting. In the revived case against Baldwin, first reported by NBC News, a grand jury would 'determine whether probable cause exists to bind Baldwin over on criminal charges,' special prosecutors said. Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor who provides legal commentary as head of West Coast Trial Lawyers in Los Angeles, said prosecutors reserved the right to reopen the case by dismissing charges 'without prejudice,' and that he'd be surprised if a grand jury didnt return an indictment. Unlike a jury trial in which guilt must be proved 'beyond a reasonable doubt,' the standard on possible charges before a grand jury is a lower 'probable cause' finding, Rahmani said. 'It's just a one-sided presentation by prosecutors,' he said. Rust weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter and evidence tampering in the case. Her trial is scheduled to begin in February. She was pictured speaking with law enforcement in a screen grab from lapel camera video The 2021 shooting resulted in a series of civil lawsuits centered on accusations that the defendants were lax with safety standards. The cases have included wrongful death claims filed by members of Hutchins family. Baldwin and other defendants have disputed the accusations that they were lax with safety standards. The company Rust Movie Productions has paid a $100,000 fine to state workplace safety regulators following a scathing narrative of safety failures in violation of standard industry protocols, including testimony that production managers took limited or no action to address two misfires on set before the fatal shooting. The filming of Rust resumed this year in Montana, under an agreement with the cinematographers widower, Matthew Hutchins, that made him an executive producer. Edwina Bartholomew shocked her fans when she shared an AI photo of herself at the age of 78 following a segment about ageing on Wednesday's Sunrise. The TV reporter, who just turned 40, had grey hair and a wrinkled face in the Instagram image. '78 and ready to mingle' Edwina wrote under the photo. 'We had an ageing expert on Sunrise this morning and it seems things are looking up,' she added jokingly. Edwina's fans compared her to Miranda Hobbes in the popular HBO Max series, And Just Like That... Edwina Bartholomew shocked her fans when she shared an AI photo of herself at the age of 78 following a segment about ageing on Wednesday's Sunrise 'You look like Miranda off Sex And The City, but more so, from the new 'And Just Like That' spin off era,' one wrote. 'You look like Miranda from And Just Like That,' another added. Yet another said she looked like Old Hollywood movie star, Doris Day. 'That hair style looks very nice,' one noted. It comes after Edwina and husband Neil Varcoe spoke about his battle with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. '78 and ready to mingle' Edwina wrote. 'We had an ageing expert on Sunrise this morning and it seems things are looking up,' she added. The star is currently 40. Pictured Edwina's fans compared her to Miranda Hobbes in the popular HBO Max series, And Just Like That... Pictured: Cynthia Nixon, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kristin Davis in AJLT In a joint interview with The Australian Women's Weekly in June, the pair revealed that Neil was diagnosed with the illness five-years-ago. This condition has made raising their daughter Molly, three, and son Tom, one, very difficult. According to the magazine, Edwina broke down in tears as she recalled the 'overwhelming' experience of welcoming two children while also managing her husband's illness. Fans were very complimentary about the photo in the comments section 'It was just as intense for those first six or eight weeks [after giving birth]. You just go, 'Oh my gosh, this is confronting',' she said. 'We're getting better at it. I can tell now when Neil's having a tough day,' she added. Neil also described the first time he was afflicted with symptoms of chronic fatigue, telling the magazine he was sick for about three weeks. 'My energy went through the floor and there were moments when I would walk to the end of my street, and I had to turn around and come back home. I had nothing left,' he said. Neil said managing his condition has been a 'really tough path', and that he's 'had to make some really tough decisions' with 'Edwina's support'. As there is no cure for chronic fatigue syndrome, Neil said he has turned to Chinese medicine and medicinal marijuana for relief of his symptoms. He was also forced to take on less responsibility at work and at home to prevent himself from burning out. Neil recently left his job at Twitter following Elon Musk's takeover and moved to the Capertee Valley, three hours west of Sydney. He will work as the 'chief farming officer' at Warramba, the 1890s farm he and Edwina lovingly restored several years ago. He is also set to become the project manager of a historic hotel in Carcoar, NSW, called The Victoria. The Today show panel got a rude shock on Friday morning when popular DJ and music producer Fisher appeared on the show. Fisher, 36, was being interviewed about a gig he is about to play in Los Angeles that will shut down Hollywood Boulevard for 12 hours, when host Karl Stefanovic asked him to do his trademark tongue squeal. After co-host Sarah Abo encouraged Karl to mimic Fisher's strange vocalisation, he said his tongue was too short. Fisher quickly quipped back with an X-rated joke: 'Karl, I feel sorry for your woman.' The Today hosts burst into laughter as Sarah remarked 'I hope Jas isn't listening,' referring to Karl's wife Jasmine. The Today show panel got a rude shock on Friday morning when popular DJ and music producer Fisher appeared on the show After regaining his composure, Karl said 'he means, for the kids out there who are watching... in conversation, I'm not multilingual.' It comes as the rambunctious Fisher released a new promo for his alcoholic seltzer brand Hard FIZZ last month that left fans horrified. The ad, promoting the Australian DJ's new Extra Strength range, went viral on social media and pays a cheeky nod to the beloved Carlton 'Big Ad' beer commercial from 2005. After co-host Sarah Abo encouraged Karl to mimic Fisher's strange vocalisation, he said his tongue was too short. Fisher quickly quipped back with an X-rated joke: 'Karl, I feel sorry for your woman' The Today hosts burst into laughter as Sarah remarked 'I hope Jas isn't listening,' referring to Karl's wife Jasmine In the promo, several cardboard Fisher cutouts appear to be laughing while holding the new seltzer can on a beach. They're standing in a crowd as another cardboard cutouts of Fisher appears to perform on the decks, all while the tense music of O Fortuna from Carl Orff's Carmina Burana plays in the background. The hilarious video sparked laughs across social media, but fans - and even friends of the artist - have pointed out one haunting detail. It comes as the rambunctious Fisher released a new promo for his alcoholic seltzer brand Hard FIZZ last month that left fans horrified In the promo, several cardboard Fisher cutouts appear to be laughing while holding the new seltzer can on a beach. They're standing in a crowd as another cardboard cutout of the 36-year-old appears to perform on the decks, all while tense music plays in the background 'Imagine all those laughs in unison,' one fan commented on Fisher's Instagram post, pointing out the DJ's signature loud cackle. 'I feel Ive had a nightmare similar to this honestly.' fellow DJ Chris Lake commented, to which Fisher replied 'F**K OFF' with laugh-crying emojis. 'This is scary,' another fan wrote. Fisher, whose real name is Paul Nicholas Fisher, and his wife Chloe, 31, made more than $10million in a year after launching their hard seltzer brand during the height of the Covid pandemic Fisher, whose real name is Paul Nicholas Fisher, and his wife Chloe, 31, made more than $10million in a year after launching their hard seltzer brand during the height of the Covid pandemic. Fisher is best known for his 2018 hit Losing It, which reached No. 35 on the Australian charts and No. 1 on the U.S. dance charts. He also topped the Billboard dance charts with his follow up single, You Little Beauty and was nominated for both an ARIA Award and a Grammy Award for Losing It. He was a pro surfer before turning his hand at music. Yumi Stynes enjoyed the Sydney sunshine with a friend at Bondi Beach on Friday. The television presenter, 48, showed off her figure in a black and white printed one-piece swimsuit. Upon her arrival to the iconic Sydney beach, Stynes wore a black top and was carrying a wide-brimmed hat. She also carried a beach bag filled with towels and belongings over her shoulder. Stynes took a refreshing quick dip in the ocean before returning to the sand. Yumi Stynes enjoyed the Sydney sunshine with a friend at Bondi Beach on Friday The Ladies, We Need to Talk podcast host pulled down the straps of her swimsuit for an even tan, but stayed sun safe with a black cap and sunglasses. She and her friend caught up as they both reclined on their towels to sun dry. The sighting comes only a few months after she was forced to defend the release of her children's book, Welcome to Sex. The television presenter, 48, showed off her figure in a black and white printed one-piece swimsuit The Ladies, We Need to Talk podcast host pulled down the straps of her swimsuit for an even tan The book, written by Stynes with teen magazine advice columnist Dr Melissa Kang, features descriptions and illustrations of masturbation, oral sex, 'scissoring' and other acts. Stynes previously said Welcome to Sex was aimed at 10 to 15-year-olds but caused further backlash by suggesting a 'mature eight-year-old' could browse through the book. Welcome to Sex was removed from Big W and Dymocks bookshelves, but has become a bestseller on the Amazon website. When the furore over its explicit content first erupted in July, Stynes said, 'I'm really proud of Welcome to Sex' and noted no one was being forced to read it. The star stayed sun safe with a black cap and sunglasses Stynes took a refreshing quick dip in the ocean before returning to the sand She and her friend caught up as they both reclined on their towels to sun dry 'If you don't want your kids to read it, you REALLY don't have to buy it for them,' the ABC presenter posted on Instagram. Stynes also posted multiple screenshots to Instagram showing rape and death threats she had received since the release of 'Welcome to Sex: Your no-silly-questions guide to sexuality, pleasure and figuring it all out'. A 23-year-old eshay rapper who sent Stynes horrific messages threatening sexual assault has pleaded guilty to using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend. Upon her arrival to the iconic Sydney beach, Stynes wore a black top and was carrying a wider brimmed hat She also carried a beach bag filled with towels and belongings over her shoulder Stynes' sighting comes only a few months after she was forced to defend the release of her children's book, Welcome to Sex Eli Engwicht, who claimed he found the book offensive, told Stynes in one message: 'I wanna see you get torn up limb by limb and tortured for hours.' Stynes also received messages of support from defenders after she posted a video of a book shop stocking Welcome to Sex. 'People are angry because youre ruining their ability to prey on children,' posted @oneangrymotherfrocker alongside the bookshop video. The book, written by Stynes with teen magazine advice columnist Dr Melissa Kang, features descriptions and illustrations of masturbation, oral sex, 'scissoring' and other acts Another woman posted, 'These are the people who will deny child sexual abuse has happened in their families. Or look the other way.' Welcome to Sex had been available in children's sections or on bottom shelves at major retailers, and featured descriptions of males as 'penis-owners' and females as 'vagina-owners'. The book was first launched by Stynes in May, but then conservative podcaster Chris 'Primod' Issa fueled outrage uploading an Instagram video that went viral. 'How can anyone think they are not coming after the children after seeing books like this for sale openly in Big W,' he said. Social media users expressed their anger, one writing 'Really? We need to teach 11-year-olds different sex positions? This book is a big no from me.' But others leapt to the authors' defence, calling the reaction a 'moral panic'. One parent said: 'Can't wait to purchase this. Your period book took away the fear for my 10-year-old daughter (and me!) so much. Forever grateful.' Before the book's release in May, Stynes told website Mamamia that she hoped the work would help parents talk candidly about sex with their children. 'I think a lot of parents have inherited shame from their own parents and from our culture and society at large,' she said. 'I think it's partly shame about icky body fluids, but parents also worry about saying the wrong thing. 'Worry about planting an idea in their mind that wasn't there before and then just making things worse!' Stynes added, 'A lot of the difficulty parents have with these types of chats is just not knowing what to say and how to say it'. 'It's a very unflexed muscle that most of us have,' she said. She hoped the book would be a 'trusted resource' that would stop parents stumbling into saying the 'wrong thing or saying something that's informed by sexism or bad science'. Justin Theroux appears to be getting more serious with new girlfriend, actress Nicole Brydon Bloom. The rumored couple, who were first spotted together at an event in February 2023, were seen working out at the same gym in New York City Thursday afternoon, and then leaving together. Bloom, 29, showed off her toned figure in burgundy leggings, a black coat over her sporty top and white running sneakers. Rounding out her sporty ensemble, The Gilded Age star had her dark brown tresses styled long and pushed back off her face. Item: Justin Theroux, 52, and Nicole Brydon Bloom, 29, left the Manhattan gym together on Thursday after a grueling workout, sparking even more chatter that their romance is growing Theroux, 52, looked to be all showered and cleaned up and looking fashionably cool in fitted blue jeans and a tight gray t-shirt that helped showcase his ripped physique. The Leftovers leading man also wore black combat-style boots, and a beanie cap over his short dark hair, along with Ray-Ban Aviator Classic sunglasses. There was also a jacket stuffed inside the strap of the backpack, just in case of a temperature tumble now that we've gotten to the autumn months. After leaving the gym, Bloom headed to Theroux's Downtown Manhattan apartment, while the actor got on his bike to run some errands before makes his way back home. Theroux and Bloom first sparked dating rumors when they were seen together this past February. They would be seen reportedly out on dates through the summer in New York City. In a sign the romance is going strong, Theroux was photographed while out with Bloom and her mother and stepfather, that included dinner for four. The new couple, who were first spotted together at an event in February 2023, recently spent time with her her mother, Melanie Bloom, and her stepfather, David McNulty. during a night out in New York City. Sporty: Bloom, 29, showed off her toned figure while dressed in her workout cloths, consisting of burgundy leggings, a black coat over her sporty top and white running sneakers Cool cat: Theroux, 52, looked to be all showered and cleaned up dressed in fitted blue jeans, a tight gray t-shirt and black combat-style boots Bloom graduated from Elon University in 2017 with a degree after originally entering college as a journalism major. The New York-based actress has since earned a number of television credits on her growing resume that includes Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Affair and the drama film 1BR. Her most recent high-profile role was Caroline Stuyvesant in season two of the historical drama series The Gilded Age, which is set to premiere on October 29 on HBO. The show was created by Julian Fellowes, the man behind the historical drama series Downton Abbey, a personal favorite of Bloom's. Mums the word: Despite being romantically linked since February, neither Theroux nor Bloom has yet to confirm their relationship The actress was around nine-years-old when her father, journalist and Weekend Today anchor David Bloom, died from a blood clot, otherwise known as a pulmonary embolism, just weeks after he had been assigned to Iraq. The clot in Bloom's leg was likely brought on by spending long days and nights cramped inside armored vehicles. Along with Nicole, the 39-year-old newsman left behind his other two daughters Christine and Ava. Neither Theroux nor Bloom has yet to confirm their romance. Advertisement Lady Gaga embodied her inner rockstar on Thursday night as she rolled up to the Rolling Stones' star-studded concert in New York City. The legendary British rock band - Mick Jagger, 80, Keith Richards, 79, and Ronnie Wood, 76 - did a surprise performed at Racket NYC to celebrate the release of their new album Hackney Diamonds. The Just Dance hitmaker, 37, joined the group on stage for the encore to sing their duet, Sweet Sounds of Heaven. Gaga turned heads as she greeted fans outside the venue in a daring red and black sequin jumpsuit. The songstress went braless in the show-stopping number which had flared legs and a plunging neckline. The singer gave her petite frame a boost with black platform shoes and accessorized with a black mesh neck scarf and layered silver chain necklaces. Rock on! Lady Gaga embodied her inner rockstar on Thursday night as she rolled up to the Rolling Stones ' star-studded concert in New York City Hot! Gaga turned heads as she greeted fans outside the venue in a daring red and black sequin jumpsuit Celebrate: The legendary British rock band - Mick Jagger , 80, Keith Richards , 79, and Ronnie Wood , 76 - did a surprise performed at Racket NYC to celebrate the release of their new album Hackney Diamonds Iconic: The Just Dance hitmaker, 37, joined the group on stage for the encore to sing their duet, Sweet Sounds of Heaven The Shallow hitmaker threw on a sparkly black sequin blazer that she removed after her stage time. Gaga flashed peace signs and the 'Rock On' hand sign at onlookers crowded around the music venue's entrance and took the time to stop and sign autographs and take selfies. The band kicked off the gig with one of their classic New York theme songs Shattered and blazed through a six-song set that included the Hackney Diamonds tracks Angry, Whole Wide World and Bite My Head Off, along with such Stones classics Tumbling Dice and Jumping Jack Flash before Gaga hit the stage. The Stones were joined by new drummer Steve Jordan, bassist Darryl Jones, keyboardist Matt Clifford, and backing singer Chanel Haynes for the one-off set. The show proved to be a star-studded event that brought actors, comedian, musicians and models together for one epic night. Legendary catwalk queens Christie Brinkley and Christy Turlington brought decided to take their daughters Sailor Brinkley Cook and Grace Burns to the concert. Sailor looked like the spitting image of her glamorous mother as they posed for a photo during the show. Christy's longtime husband and Grace's dad Edward Burns was also in attendance. Groovy: Gaga's eye-catching jumpsuit had flared legs and a plunging neckline Blondie: Gaga - who recently got bangs - wore her bleach blonde fringe messy for the gig A little boost: She gave her petite frame a boost by rocking a pair of black platform shoes Bold: The multi-Grammy Award-winner rocked a black manicure, bold winged eyeliner and red stained lip Meet and greet: She signed autographs for fans who queued outside of the venue in the hope of speaking to the star Peace! She flashed peace signs and the 'Rock On' hand sign at onlookers crowded around the music venue's entrance All in the details: The Shallow hitmaker threw on a sparkly black sequin blazer that she removed after her stage time The Rolling Stones Hackney Diamonds review by ADRIAN THRILLS The Rolling Stones: Hackney Diamonds Verdict: Back with a Bang Rating: The supporting cast includes Elton John and Paul McCartney, but it is the energetic artistry of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood combined age 235 that steals the thunder on the first album of new Stones songs in 18 years. They call themselves 'the greatest rock and roll band in the world', and this is a late-career masterpiece. They made the 12-track album its title is Cockney slang for shattered glass with a new collaborator, Andrew Watt, and the New Yorker, 33, does an excellent job. He adds modern touches, but respects familiar strengths. Recent single Angry is a weak link, a Start Me Up pastiche with a by-numbers feel, but the other rock numbers frame the band at their best. Charlie Watts, who died in 2021, added distinctive drums to two songs in his final sessions. Get Close recalls 1972's Exile On Main Street, and McCartney supplies a distorted bass solo on Bite My Head Off. But it's the big ballads that give this overdue return its five-star rating. Jagger is fully engaged on the lovely, country-ish Depending On You. Richards sings lead on Tell Me Straight. Penultimate track Sweet Sounds Of Heaven, a duet between Jagger and Lady Gaga, is a tour de force an epic that evokes 1969's You Can't Always Get What You Want. If this turns out to be the last time and I wouldn't bet on that the Stones will go out in style. Advertisement Collab: They performed their new song Sweet Sounds of Heaven Legends: Legendary catwalk queens Christie Brinkley and Christy Turlington brought along their daughters Sailor Brinkley Cook and Grace Burns Spitting image! Sailor looked like the spitting image of her glamorous mother as they posed for a photo during the show Stunning: Christie stunned in a stylish gray suit and open-toed heels Longtime love: Christy's longtime husband and Grace's dad Edward Burns was also in attendance Ultra chic: Leonardo DiCaprio's ex-girlfriend Camila Morrone looked ultra chic as she arrived in an all-black outfit Busty: The actress rocked a busty dress, boots and a blazer Sleek: Her silky brunette hair was worn in a sleek bun and she kept her makeup light to show off her natural beauty Funny guys: Comedians Trevor Noah and Chris Rock were seen chatting near the venue's packed bar Love: Elvis Costello stepped out in a black leather bomber jacket for a night out with his wife of 20-years Diana Krall Eye-catching: Bond star Daniel Craig was spotted wearing a bright cardigan as he attended the concert with his wife Rachel Weisz Leonardo DiCaprio's ex-girlfriend Camila Morrone looked ultra chic as she arrived in an all-black outfit. The actress, 26, rocked a busty dress, knee-high boots and a blazer that she wore over her shoulder. Comedians Trevor Noah and Chris Rock were seen chatting near the venue's packed bar. Elvis Costello stepped out in a black leather bomber jacket for a night out with his wife of 20-years Diana Krall. Bond star Daniel Craig, 55, was spotted wearing a bright cardigan as he attended the concert with his wife Rachel Weisz. Hackney Diamonds is the Rolling Stones' 31st studio album and the first without their late bandmate Charlie Watts. Last month, The Rolling Stones paid tribute to Charlie who passed away in 2021 during a special live event with Jimmy Fallon in London. Speaking on stage, Keith reflected on Charlie's death, saying: 'Ever since Charlie has been gone it's different, he's number four.' The guitarist continued: 'He's missing, of course he's missed incredibly, but thanks to Charlie we have Steve Jordan who was his recommendation if anything should happen to him. 'He's been a friend of ours so he was a natural progression, it would have been a lot harder without Charlie's blessing.' Hackney Diamonds: It is the band's 31st studio album and the first without their late bandmate Charlie Watts Star guestlist: Hackney Diamonds includes several collaborations with the likes of Lady Gaga, Elton John and Paul McCartney True rock icon: Mick rocked the stage in a red leather jacket Release: The album will be released on Friday, October 20 Great listen: Mick previously revealed there are 12 tracks on the album Legacy: While most featured Steve, there are two tracks recorded in 2019 with Charlie In his memory: On the song Live By The Sword the trio are backed by both Charlie and former bassist Bill Wyman, reuniting the original rhythm section of The Rolling Stones Tribute: The second song featuring Charlie is named Mess It Up Thoughtful: Last month, The Rolling Stones paid tribute to their late bandmate Charlie Watts during a special live event with Jimmy Fallon in London Different: Speaking on stage, Keith reflected on Charlie's passing, saying: 'Ever since Charlie has been gone it's different, he's number four' Talent: Charlie passed away aged 80 in August 2021, surrounded by his family in hospital - weeks after he pulled out of US tour to recover from emergency heart surgery Sorely missed: Hackney Diamonds is the Rolling Stones' 31st studio album and the first without their late bandmate Charlie Watts (pictured in 2019) Sir Mick revealed during the show that there are 12 tracks on the album and while most featured Jordan, there are two tracks recorded in 2019 with Charlie. On the song Live By The Sword the trio are backed by both Charlie and former bassist Bill Wyman, reuniting the original rhythm section of The Rolling Stones. The second song featuring Charlie is named Mess It Up. Charlie passed away aged 80 in August 2021, surrounded by his family in hospital - weeks after he pulled out of US tour to recover from emergency heart surgery. The London-born drummer joined the then-fledgling band in 1963 after meeting Mick, Keith and Brian Jones while playing in rhythm and blues clubs. Along with Mick and Keith, he featured on every one of the band's studio albums. He was widely regarded as one of the greatest drummers of all time. Hackney Diamonds includes several collaborations with the likes of Lady Gaga, Elton John and Paul McCartney. The album will be released on Friday, October 20. Jackie 'O' Henderson was embracing her motherly instincts on Friday. The KIIS FM radio host headed out for a stroll with a friend in Sydney's Clovelly and cradled the pal's baby during her walk. The 48-year-old looked lovingly at the tot in her arms as she chatted with her female friend. Jackie was dressed casually in a beige T-shirt and matching shorts with a drawstring closure as well as white sneakers. She appeared to have on minimal makeup and wore her blonde locks down around her face and finished the look with designer sunglasses. Jackie 'O' Henderson (pictured) was embracing her motherly instincts on Friday during a stroll in Sydney Jackie has a daughter Kitty, 12, who she shares with her ex husband Lee Henderson. The pair split in 2018. The radio star recently addressed rumours she has landed herself a toy boy. Earlier this year she broke her silence about her relationship with 29-year-old tradie Jack Tyerman on the Kyle and Jackie O show. While Jackie said she is 'dating', the blonde beauty said she and Jack, who moonlights as a model, are 'just friends'. The KIIS FM radio host headed out for a stroll with a friend in Clovelly and cradled the pal's baby during her walk The 48-year-old looked lovingly at the tot in her arms as she chatted with her female friend Jackie was dressed casually in a beige T-shirt and matching shorts with a drawstring closure as well as white sneakers She appeared to have on minimal makeup and wore her blonde locks down around her face and finished the look with designer sunglasses Jackie has a daughter Kitty, 12, who she shares with her ex husband Lee Henderson. The pair split in 2018 'No, Jack is not my boyfriend. We're not in a relationship. He is not my boy toy,' Jackie told her co-host Kyle Sandilands. 'Jack is a good friend of mine. I know him through a friend of ours. We didn't meet on a dating app or anything like that.' The media personality went on to say she was ultimately 'to blame' for the romance rumours after she told Daily Mail Australia she was dating someone during a Logies interview. 'In my mind, I'm dating and I've been on a few dates, so I said "maybe" [I'm dating], but I probably should have said, "Maybe, we'll see what happens,"' she confessed. Dame Joan Collins candidly discussed her own experiences as a young actress in Hollywood during an appearance on Friday's The Graham Norton Show. The actress, 90, described it as a 'really difficult' time with producers taking advantage of wannabe stars and said she was even forced to meet one while he was naked in the bath. She told host Graham, ahead of the release of her new memoir Behind The Shoulder Pads: 'It was really difficult. Thanks to the Me Too movement it has all come out into the open,' 'Now and I think young people are having a better chance of not having to face that'. Joan is best known for her role in 80s soap Dynasty, but also appeared in movies throughout the 50s and 60s alongside the likes of Hollywood superstars Jayne Mansfield and Paul Newman. Memories: Dame Joan Collins, 90 candidly discussed her own experiences as a young actress in Hollywood during an appearance on Friday's The Graham Norton Show (pictured with fellow guest Sir Patrick Stewart) Candid: The actress, 90, described that time in her life as 'really difficult' with producers taking advantage of wannabe stars and said she was even forced to meet one while he was naked in his bath (Joan pictured in 1956) She continued: 'One experience I had was being asked to meet a producer who was in the bath'. 'He definitely wasn't playing with his rubber duck when he asked me to get in with him. When I refused, I was asked to leave, and I didn't get the part!'. MeToo is a social movement and awareness campaign against sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and rape culture, in which people publicize their experiences of sexual abuse or sexual harassment. Other guests on the show included actors Sir Patrick Stewart, Ralph Fiennes and Bella Ramey, Strictly's Layton Williams as well as music from Zak Abel. And Patrick, 83, panned his perfomance after rewatching himself as Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek while researching for his new memoir Make It So. Saying: 'I watched two whole seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and I was very disappointed in my quality and nature of my work in the first series It was not real enough'. He went on: 'It was very authoritarian and very commanding but was way too stentorian. It was my stage background, and it didn't work'. 'In the second series I was much better because I had been working with very good American actors. I watched what they did and played it with the same openness and freedom'. Honest: She told host Graham, ahead of the release of her new memoir Behind The Shoulder Pads: 'It was really difficult. Thanks to the Me Too movement it has all come out into the open ,' Shock: She said of her experience: 'He definitely wasn't playing with his rubber duck when he asked me to get in with him. When I refused, I was asked to leave, and I didn't get the part!' (l-R) Joan Collins, Patrick Stewart, Ralph Fiennes Gorgeous: The iconic actress looked glamorous in a gold sequin gown Harry Potter star Ralph, 60, was also quick to complain about his own acting and admitted the 'pain' of having to watch himself on screen. Admitting: 'I have directed three films that I was acting in and had to watch myself which is quite painful'. 'It is unnerving but for the benefit of the film you have to put yourself under the microscope along with the other actors. I learnt a lot about acting for the screen by going through the editing process. It is very interesting.' Nodding in agreement Strictly's Layton, 29, revealed he doesn't watch back his own performances on the glitzy BBC dance show opting instead to 'trust the judges' and 'move on'. Unimpressed: And Patrick, 83, panned his perfomance after rewatching himself as Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek while researching for his new memoir Make It So Actors: Patrick (L) saw Ralph (C) and Bella (R) both agree, admitting they struggled to watch themsleves on screen Growing up: Speaking about her first adult role in upcoming BBC drama Time Bella laughed: 'I stayed on my own in Liverpool, so it was a lot of firsts. I didn't go wild, I just watched Finding Nemo it was key to leaving the role behind' And The Last of Us' Bella, 20, appeared on the show to discuss her first adult role in BBC drama Time. She laughed: 'I look about 14 so this the first time I have played someone my age. It was also the first time I was on set without my mum being my chaperone'. 'I stayed on my own in Liverpool, so it was a lot of firsts. I didn't go wild, I just watched Finding Nemo it was key to leaving the role behind.' The Graham Norton Show, BBC One, Friday October 20 at 10.40pm. Also available on BBC iPlayer Australian stewardess Natalya Scudder has worked on some of the most extravagant superyachts in the world. But the 26-year-old, who stars on Bravo's Below Deck Mediterranean, is now making more money as a Playboy model than she ever did sailing the high seas. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the brunette boatie says that she's now left the yachting industry behind and is able to enjoy a life of luxury thanks to her income from Playboy's creator app, which is billed as a 'classier' alternative to OnlyFans. 'It gives me the financial freedom to travel, which is unreal! I can work from my phone whilst traveling the world and visiting exotic destinations. I pinch myself everyday. I feel very blessed!' she gushed. Natalya started working in yachting at age 18 and slowly worked her way up the ranks until she became a chief stewardess. Below Deck Mediterranean star Natalya Scudder says she's earning more as a Playboy model than she ever did in yachting The 26-year-old has ditched yachting to become a full time Playboy model 'My first salary was minimum wage, but I didn't complain - I was just happy to be traveling the world on a $121 million dollar yacht,' she said. 'As I continued to progress in my career in the yachting industry, my salary as chief stew grew steadily, but now that I am on the Playboy platform I can afford to work as a full time content creator,' she continued. 'It's enabled me to leave the yachting industry completely and maintain a comfortable lifestyle while traveling the world. I'm so grateful!' Unlike OnlyFans, Playboy doesn't allow pornographic content - but Natalya insists that her content is far from vanilla. 'I'm really cheeky on my account. I love putting on a playlist with good energy and stripping down! It makes me feel super sexy and confident,' she exclaimed. 'It's enabled me to leave the yachting industry completely and maintain a comfortable lifestyle while traveling the world. I'm so grateful,' Natalya gushed to Daily Mail Unlike OnlyFans, Playboy doesn't allow pornographic content - but Natalya insists that her content is far from vanilla The reality star even admitted that she gets Below Deck fans signing up to her page to get 'inside gossip' on the popular series. Natalya isn't shy when it comes to flaunting her lavish life as a Playboy Bunny on social media. In recent posts, the Perth-born beauty is pictured flying first class and boarding private planes. She's also pictured partying with former Nickelodeon star Madisyn Shipman, who also joined Playboy. Natalya isn't shy when it comes to flaunting her lavish life as a Playboy Bunny on social media and now flies first class across the world The reality star, who once earned minimum wage, is pictured boarding a private plane Models on Playboy's app have to be personally approved by the brand, unlike OnlyFans which allows anybody to sign up and create content. Since Natalya joined the app, Below Deck season 10 star Hayley De Sola Pinto has followed in her footsteps by signing up. 'I've had many of my peers enquire about joining, so I'm sure you'll see more Below Deck cast members soon!' Natalya teased. Meanwhile, Natalya is currently featured on the eighth season of Below Deck Mediterranean alongside Captain Sandy Yawn. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia about the new season earlier this month, Captain Sandy, 58, said that she's trying to stay above the 'crazy' drama this year. Meanwhile, Natalya is currently featured on the eighth season of Below Deck Mediterranean alongside Captain Sandy Yawn Captain Sandy recently told Daily Mail Australia that she's often 'floored' by the drama on Below Deck 'I just stay above the fray, and it's easy to do that when you're on the bridge and you're not below deck!' she said. 'I'm always surprised when I watch the show back. I'm actually floored when I see it. And then it makes sense why the crew come upstairs and they're mad, or angry, or sad it just makes sense,' she continued. 'Because, as the Captain, I don't know what they're talking about below deck until I watch the show. But then I understand a lot more about the personalities and why they behave the way they behave when they come upstairs.' The latest series of Below Deck Mediterranean kicked off with one of the most catastrophic starts of the entire franchise as two crew members - Kyle Viljoen and Tumi Mhlongo - were left unable to board because of visa delays. The drama brought in strong ratings for the premiere, with the yachting series delivering higher ratings than Southern Charm and The Real Housewives of New York City. Louise Minchin stepped in for hosting duties on Lorraine on Friday. The former BBC Breakfast star, 55, took to the hot seat on the ITV1 morning show in place of Lorraine Kelly, who normally hosts the programme on a a daily basis. The shakeup was revealed when Good Morning Britain hosts Kate Garraway and Ben Shephard carried out a handover from their own show to Lorraine. Kate said: 'Louise Minchin is in for Lorraine at nine. Hello, how lovely to see you on this side of the pond!' Louise replied: 'Thank you so much, it's lovely to be here. Good morning to everyone!' Good morning! BBC star Louise Minchin stepped in for hosting duties on ITV's Lorraine on Friday as Lorraine Kelly was mysteriously absent Mystery disappearance: Lorraine has hosted the show since 2010 but was nowhere to be seen on Friday's episode During the programme, Louise was seen working out with Dr Amir on his latest fitness routine and chatted to Hollywood star Kerry Washington. The newsreader also gave viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the new ITV1 reality show Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream, which will see judges Samantha Barks, Alan Carr, Amber Riley and Jessie Ware searching for a pair of performers to appear in the ABBA West End jukebox musical. There was no explanation of where Lorraine - who has often been covered by the likes of Loose Women anchor and Good Morning Britain's Ranvir Singh during her time off - was. But an ITV spokesperson confirmed to MailOnline: 'Lorraine is now off for half term and will be back on Monday 6th November.' Louise's new role comes shortly after she alleged that BBC bosses refused to let her open BBC Breakfast despite her wealth of experience, instead always giving the honour to former co-host Dan Walker. She said: 'I had noticed that almost every day my male colleague was given the prestigious task of saying hello at the top of each hour, introducing the programme and doing the first interview'. The former I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! contestant claimed that there was an 'age-old' system built into the running of the show. She added: 'There it was: age-old, systemic discrimination built into the fabric of the programme'. Chatting with the stars: Scandal star Kerry Washington popped in for a chat about her memoir Working out! Louise was put through her paces by Dr Ami as part of his new workout routine on the show You can do it! Dr Amir clapped along as Louise gave the new routine a go in her Barbie pink outfit Early morning chat: Louise was delighted to chat with her guests Dr Amir and fashion guru Mark Heyes as she took over from Lorraine for the day Louise quit her long-running role on BBC Breakfast after almost 20 years of working on the show in 2021. At the time, she explained: 'I've loved being part of it, but I've decided it is time that I stopped setting my alarm for 3:40 sometimes when I'm feeling very rebellious 3:46 in the morning and I'm going to be leaving the programme. 'It's not going to be for a while, and just before anything else I wanted to thank everybody who's watching for your loyalty and support over all those years. I have absolutely loved being part of it. 'I will really miss it. But it is time now to stop that alarm early in the morning, and thank you for watching all those years as well Asher Keddie has revealed how the #MeToo movement improved relations between women in the workplace. The awareness campaign against sexual abuse, which proliferated in show business especially, held men in positions of power to account - but the actress says it also smoothed things over between women in the media space. 'Back then women were trying to find our voices in a different and more authentic way and that sometimes meant we were fighting each other or trying to push against each other to get ahead,' she tells this week's issue of Marie Claire Australia. 'I feel we've progressed, that we're more aligned and way more supportive than we used to be. Certainly, that's what's happened in my life and industry.' The 49-year-old stars in a stunning fashion shoot for the magazine, promoting her role in the Binge Original series, Strife. Asher Keddie has revealed how the #MeToo movement improved relations between women in the workplace. Pictured in this month's issue of Marie Claire The Offspring star dons a number of gorgeous outfits, including a semi-sheer newspaper print gown. Elsewhere, Asher offered a rare insight into her ten year marriage to artist husband Vincent Fantauzzo while discussing how the couple met. The actress revealed in the November issue of Marie Claire, she met Vincent after her agent convinced her to let him paint a portrait of her. She explained that while he was painting her, Vincent would look over the camera and they locked eyes. 'Back then women were trying to find our voices in a different and more authentic way and that sometimes meant we were fighting each other or trying to push against each other to get ahead,' she tells this week's issue of Marie Claire Australia 'I feel we've progressed, that we're more aligned and way more supportive than we used to be. Certainly, that's what's happened in my life and industry' she added 'He still does that eyes above the camera; he's very charming,' she said. Asher continued to say the couple love parenting their children together as it gives them 'the feeling of togetherness'. 'What we enjoy most and I know we both feel like this is sharing the parenting. I love that feeling of togetherness we have in parenting them and being part of their lives,' she added. She also shared a glimpse into the couple's home life with their son, Valentino, and Vincent's 11-year-old son Luca, from a previous marriage. Elsewhere, Asher offered a rare insight into her ten year marriage to artist husband Vincent Fantauzzo (left) while discussing how the couple met Asher and Vincent tied the knot in the beachside ceremony on Fiji's Turtle Island in April 2014. The couple went on to welcome a son of their own, Valentino, in March 2015. Vincent's famous works include striking portraits of Julia Gillard, Baz Luhrmann and Heath Ledger, with his work highlighting the depth of Ledger's mental struggle was revealed one month after his death in 2008. The artist has a hotel in Brisbane named after him, which is filled with his paintings. Vincent, a four-time Archibald People's Choice prize winning artist, likes to spend time with his subjects before painting them, adding a personal relationship to his creative idea before putting his brush on the canvas. Adrian Chiles has revealed his fears for himself and wife Katharine Viner who 'has to live with him' amid the UK's shortage of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) attention medication. The broadcaster, 56, who was diagnosed with the behavioural disorder, that typically begins in childhood and is defined by a short attention span and poor impulse control, in 2016 and said the idea of not having his daily treatment for symptoms seemed 'horrific'. Adrian told The Mirror: 'I can't bring myself to engage in it, because the prospect of not getting any more of the stuff I'm on called Elvanse, which seems likely, is horrific'. The TV star, who has been married to journalist Katherine since 2022, went on: 'It's horrific for myself and it certainly is for my wife who has got to live with me'. According to the NHS website, the nation wide shortage, due to demand post pandemic, is expected to last until December, however dates could be subject to change. Health concerns: Adrian Chiles has revealed his fears for himself and wife Katharine Viner who 'has to live with him' amid the UK's shortage of ADHD medication Scary: The broadcaster, 56, who was diagnosed with the condition in 2016, said the idea of not having his daily treatment for symptoms seemed 'horrific' (wife Katharine Viner pictured) Elvanse improves activity in parts of the brain which are under-active, the medicine can help improve attention, concentration and reduce impulsive behaviour. Last year Adrian said he reevaluated his beliefs regarding the efficiency of professional ADHD care after discovering some sufferers face a desperate five year wait for treatment. He was diagnosed after having already spent thousands of pounds on private healthcare and psychiatric treatment after being unable to 'focus on anything' for more than 15 seconds. But his belief that ADHD was easily treated and widely diagnosed was tested during a meeting with a fellow sufferer. Writing for The Guardian, Adrian said he was given a reality check while discussing the disorder with Henry Shelford ahead of the Global ADHD Conference. He recalled: 'I had long been holding a couple of opinions that, thanks to him, I dont hold any more. Firstly, I had developed a sense that, from being wildly under-diagnosed, ADHD had now gone the other way and was being diagnosed and treated left, right and centre. 'I was wrong wrong because I had been seeing it through the prism of my own experience: essentially, that I had been able to pay to see a specialist. For everyone else, Shelford made clear, its a very long wait. 'And the stakes can be very high. The biggest single donor to his charity is the family of a teenager who took their own life as, in the absence of treatment for ADHD, their world overwhelmed them.' Frightening: He said: 'I can't bring myself to engage in it, because the prospect of not getting any more of the stuff I'm on called Elvanse, which seems likely, is horrific' Health: The TV star, who has been married to journalist Katherine since 2022, went on: 'It's horrific for myself and it certainly is for my wife who has got to live with me' (medication Elvanse pictured) He added: 'Unwelcome confirmation of all this came from an old schoolfriend of mine, a GP, at his surgery in the Midlands. He told me that the wait for a referral for adult ADHD on his patch stands at five years.' However the presenter also admits that those without the financial reserves to pay for private care can shorten the wait for treatment through the NHS Right to Choose system, which assists referrals to different health authorities across the country. Chiles also dismissed the commonly held belief that ADHD works to the sufferer's advantage once they've learned to control their fragmented thought patterns. He wrote: 'Yes, if you can harness the chaotic torrents of thought, there is the potential for great things to be achieved. 'But for every Heston Blumenthal... there are probably hundreds of budding chefs with the condition who, unlike Heston, never managed to make it work in their favour.' If you have been affected by anything in this article, contact The National Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service on 020 8952 280. Kerry Washington has detailed her parents telling her that she was conceived via a sperm donor and admitted she had 'no idea' beforehand. The American actress, 46, spoke to Louise Minchin on Friday's Lorraine about the revelation and how it inspired her new memoir, Thicker Than Water. She explained that her parents only told her around five years ago that her 'beloved' father Earl was not her biological parent because they had used a sperm donor. Kerry confessed she had 'no idea' before her mother Valerie and her father Earl told her and said it was a 'real journey' for her and her family. She told stand-in host Louise: 'I found out about five or six years ago, my parents sat me down and shared with me that my beloved dad is not my biological father. Revelations: Kerry Washington has detailed her parents telling her that she was conceived via a sperm donor and admitted she had 'no idea' beforehand Secret: She explained that her parents Earl and Valerie (pictured in 2019) only told her around five years ago her father was not her biological parent because they had used a sperm donor 'I was conceived with the help of a sperm donor, which was - I mean I had no idea before they told me. 'It's been a real journey for our family, a journey into truth and also a journey into me discovering more about who I am and how I've become this person and I think that's part of what the exercise was in writing the memoir.' Kerry has previously told how she learnt of the family secret when she was invited to participate in an episode of Finding Your Roots, hosted on PBS by Dr. Henry Louis Gates. The show uses genealogical records and DNA results to track family histories. 'When I said, "Spit in this tube," they started freaking out,' Kerry told The New York Times about her parents' reaction to the DNA test. "My mom was like, 'I didn't know that this was going to happen".' The Prophecy star said her father began having panic attacks and suffering from insomnia, and decided to pull out of the show. After being advised by Dr Gates to reveal the information while the family were all still alive, Kerry's parents then told her they had used an anonymous sperm donor after they had trouble conceiving naturally. Shock: Kerry confessed she had 'no idea' before her mother Valerie and her father Earl told her and said it was a 'real journey' for her and her family Candid: The American actress, 46, spoke to Louise Minchin on Friday's Lorraine about the revelation and how it inspired her new memoir, Thicker Than Water 'I've always had this weird disconnect with my dad, but I thought that was my fault. I thought I wasn't a kind enough person,' she explained. 'But the idea that I was not his never occurred to me. It was just, "why can't I be better to him? Why can't we be closer? What's wrong with me? What's wrong with us?" 'When I got this information, I was like, "Oh. I now know my story",' she told People. 'I didn't know what my story was, but I was playing the supporting character in their story.' She believes her subconscious reaction to the idea that something wasn't right may have contributed to her struggles with anxiety, self-esteem issues and an eating disorder. After the revelation, Kerry decided to change the focus of her book because she said it felt 'impossible' not to include the new information. She had originally signed on to write a manuscript based on the life lessons she learned playing Olivia Pope for six years on the hit drama Scandal, but instead settled on a memoir. Self-discovery: She said: 'It's been a real journey for our family, a journey into truth and also a journey into me discovering more about who I am' Love: Kerry has previously revealed how she told her father Earl: "I'm not going anywhere, you're not going anywhere, you're my dad' 'Any attempt I made to sit down and write about my life and not include this new information, it just felt impossible,' she told the Times. 'I tried to give the publisher their money back.' Kerry admitted her parents were apprehensive about her publishing the details in her book, but have still been supportive of her venture. She also revealed how she told her father Earl: "I'm not going anywhere, you're not going anywhere, you're my dad. Now when I say I love you, it's not because of who you're pretending to be in my life, it's because of who you are".' Kerry has not yet been able to discover anything about the sperm donor. Kanye West appears to have scrapped his plans for a 2024 Presidential bid. 'Hes not a candidate for office in 2024,' the 46-year-old Grammy winner's personal attorney, Bruce Marks, told Rolling Stone on Friday. In November 2022, Kanye, who is also known by his legal name Ye, announced his plans to run for the 2024 election, following his failed bid in 2020. A source close to Kanye's 2020 committee echoed Marks' statement to the outlet, claiming 'there's no plan' to run and that 'theres no campaign structure or anything along those lines in place.' The insider also called the chance of the fickle entertainer changing his mind on a YE24 bid 'beyond remote'. Ditching the bid: Kanye West has scrapped his plans for a 2024 Presidential bid; seen in 2020 Going for gold: In November 2022, Kanye, who is also known by his legal name Ye, announced his plans to run for the 2024 election, following his failed bid in 2020; seen in 2018 Lawyer remarks: 'Hes not a candidate for office in 2024,' the 46-year-old Grammy winner's personal attorney, Bruce Marks, told Rolling Stone on Friday; seen in 2018 The October Federal Election Commission filing by Kanye's political committee, Kanye 2020, also reflects 'evidence of the decision not to pursue a presidential bid,' per Rolling Stone. The committee is currently under the leadership of its treasurer, and their recent spending suggests they might be winding down operations. They have less than $25,000 on hand, per the outlet. In April, a filmmaker hired by Kanye to make a documentary in November 2022 shed some light on why Kanye may have moved on from politics. Adam Camacho told DailyBeast that Kanye allegedly had said, 'Right now, I am living my life - like I'm concentrating on the school, The Donda Academy, and my new wife, and my kids, and that's it.' The Famous hitmaker allegedly added: 'I just want to be left alone.' The outlet also quoted an anonymous employee from Kanye's company as saying at the time, 'His interests are focused on his children, family, and creative endeavours... Anyone that is representing Ye in any political capacity is a charlatan. There is no political shop.' Kanye's political ambitions became solidified when he threw his hat into the ring as an independent candidate for the 2020 US presidential election. On July 15, 2020, official paperwork was filed with the Federal Election Commission for West, and he went with the 'BDY' Party label. Announcement: Kanye took to Twitter to give fans the news More important things:'Right now, I am living my life - like I'm concentrating on the school, The Donda Academy, and my new wife, and my kids, and that's it,' he allegedly said of quitting politics in the end, Kanye managed to score roughly 60,000 votes in 12 states where he made it onto the ballot. His political ambitions became known to the public earlier than 2020, however, as he had a famous meeting with then-President Donald Trump in the White House in 2018. During the meeting, he made remarks on issues from the 13th Amendment to U.S. manufacturing. Buddies: Kanye he had a famous meeting with then-President Donald Trump in the White House in 2018 Possible opponents: At the Oval Office meeting, Trump was asked whether he thought the rapper could be a future presidential candidate, and responded 'could very well be' Wearing a red 'Make America Great Again' hat, he repeatedly complimented Trump. 'It was something about when I put this hat on, it made me feel like Superman,' Kanye said at the time. 'You made a Superman cape for me, also, as someone who looks up to you ... looks up to American industry guys.' At the Oval Office meeting, Trump was asked whether he thought the rapper could be a future presidential candidate, and responded 'could very well be'. Kanye chimed in, 'Only after 2024'. He added: 'Let's stop worrying about the future, all we really have is today'. Priyanka Chopra Jonas has had a 'reintroduction' to her abs. The Baywatch star, 41, says working out for a recent film left her torso so defined she is now back to wearing more crop tops to show off the results. She told the PopSugar website: 'I was training for a movie recently and I had a reintroduction with my abs after a long time. I hadn't been confident about wearing crop tops and stuff like that. 'I was going to a public place and I remember I wore a crop top and skirt, and I was really nervous about it. 'I was like, "Oh man, I'm not going to be comfortable sitting," and all those things that you think about when you're wearing a crop top. Happy again: Priyanka Chopra Jonas has had a 'reintroduction' to her abs. The Baywatch star, 41, says working out for a recent film left her torso so defined she is now back to wearing more crop tops to show off the results. Seen in September in New York City Wow: She told the PopSugar website: 'I was training for a movie recently and I had a reintroduction with my abs after a long time. I hadn't been confident about wearing crop tops and stuff like that. 'I was going to a public place and I remember I wore a crop top and skirt, and I was really nervous about it. 'I was like, "Oh man, I'm not going to be comfortable sitting," and all those things that you think about when you're wearing a crop top' 'But I felt good because I felt healthy, confident, and fit and I was really surprised. I wasn't sure when I was walking out the door but I was like, 'Alright, I'm going to push myself.' 'And then eventually, I turned around and added that into my wardrobe a lot more.' Priyanka, who has a nine-month-old daughter Malti with her Jonas Brothers star husband Nick Jonas, 31, believes getting dressed can be a 'version' of 'confidence' and its important to find your own path. She added: 'It has to be your version of it. My version of it was this experience. 'Confidence is about how you carry yourself once you let fashion resonate with how you're feeling and you find your mode of self-expression. 'If confidence was tangible, your outfit would be that. 'It's like wearing your confidence on the outside. So ask yourself what you want to achieve today whether you have a job interview or you're just going to work and doing your hair differently or maybe trying a different hat.' On Thursday she was seen on the red carpet at the DKMS Gala, held at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. The Citadel star who was recently unfollowed by former sister-in-law Sophie Turner dazzled in a metallic emerald gown with a sizzling thigh-high slit, and a cut-out in the midriff area giving a glimpse at her toned abs. The spectacular ensemble featured a one-shoulder cape that fell all the way to the floor. The Indian-born beauty teamed her look with open-toe gold heels. Nick Jonas' wife wore her lustrous raven tresses in a straight style, cascading down her back. As for glam she accentuated her pout with a matte red lipstick and drew attention to her magnetic eyes with smokey eyeshadow. DKMS is an international nonprofit bone marrow donor center with a mission statement of fighting cancer and other blood disorders. Chopra had all eyes on her as she arrived to the star-studded red carpet at the DKMS Gala, held at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City, on Thursday Emerald queen: The Citadel star dazzled in a metallic emerald gown with a sizzling thigh-high slit, and a cut-out in the midriff area giving a glimpse at her toned abs At the event the mom-of-one was joined by Coty Chief Brands Officer, Stefano Curti. The businessman looked sharp in a black suit with a unique silver snake brooch pinned to his lapel. DKMS was founded in 1991 by Peter Harf, who was looking to find a lifesaving stem cell donor for his wife, Mechtild. Sadly, she eventually lost her battle with leukemia. Since then, Peter and his two daughters have continued to help others who are in need of stem cell transplants. DKMS now operates in seven countries and has registered over 12 million donors worldwide. The event was held at Cipriani Wall Street - a famed venue, featuring Greek revival architecture, known for hosting a number of important soirees. Vincent Cassel appeared to confirmed his relationship with Brazilian model Narah Baptista as they packed on the PDA during a trip to the beach in Rio de Janeiro on Friday. The French actor, 56, has been making the most of his sun-soaked trip and recently gushed about his happiness just six months after reportedly splitting from wife of five-years Tina Kunakey, 26. Vincent beamed as he strolled along the sand before taking a dip in the sea with his new lady wrapping her arms around him and planting a kiss on his cheek. Narah, 27, flaunted her jaw-dropping figure in a skimpy brown bikini while Vincent showed off his buff physique in green swimming trunks. The pair appeared to be having a wonderful time as they chatted and shared a giggle while topping up their tans. New couple? Vincent Cassel, 56, appeared to confirmed his relationship with Brazilian model Narah Baptista, 27, as they packed on the PDA during a trip to the beach in Rio de Janeiro on Friday - just six months after his split from wife Tina Kunakey, 26 Lovebirds? Vincent beamed as he strolled along the sand before taking a dip in the sea with his new lady wrapping her arms around him and planting a kiss Happy: Taking to Instagram Vincent has shared numerous snaps and videos from his trip including a selfie which he captioned: 'Just wanted to be happy... I am' - while Narah replied: 'Amor' which is Italian for love Taking to Instagram Vincent has shared numerous snaps and videos from his trip including a selfie which he captioned: 'Just wanted to be happy... I am'. While Narah replied: 'Amor' which is Italian for love. MailOnline have contacted Vincent's reps for comment. Vincent and wife Tina, who welcomed a daughter, Amazonie, in April 2019, are believed to have separated after he deleted all traces of her from his social media. A source has also now told DailyMail.com exclusively that the couple is headed for divorce, saying: 'They separated weeks ago. Tina is heartbroken.' In April French actor Vincent abruptly deleted all images of Tina amid furious speculation that the pair had split after five years of marriage. Vincent - who is best known for his roles in Ocean's Twelve and Black Swan - tied the knot with Tina in 2018, two years after they were first linked, and they welcomed a daughter, Amazonie, in April 2019. However, a source has now told DailyMail.com exclusively that the couple is headed for divorce, saying: 'They separated weeks ago. Tina is heartbroken.' Hot stuff: Narah flaunted her jaw-dropping figure in a skimpy brown bikini while Vincent showed off his buff physique in green swimming trunks Holidays: He has been sharing a glimpse of his idyllic trip with followers Splits: Vincent and wife Tina, who welcomed a daughter, Amazonie, in April 2019, are believed to have separated after he deleted all traces of her from his social media (pictured together in June 2022) While representatives for Vincent and Tina did not respond to requests for comment, the actor's social media accounts speak volumes about the pair's relationship - with the on-screen star removing all traces of his wife from his Instagram account in recent days. Loved up pictures of the duo, which previously littered Vincent's account, have all vanished without a trace. What's more, Vincent failed to post anything marking Tina's birthday - despite the model re-posting multiple well wishes from her friends on her own account. The last time the actor liked one of his wife's stunning Instagram images was on February 17 - while Tina has failed to share any photos of herself with Vincent in weeks, prompting several of her followers to question: 'Where is your husband?' Neither Tina or Vincent have publicly addressed the mounting speculation among their followers about the status of their marriage - however both have continued sharing regular work updates to their accounts in the past few weeks. While Tina has shared several images from photoshoots, Vincent has been touting two new movies, The Three Musketeers: D'Artagnan, and Liaison, an Apple TV+ film he features in alongside fellow French superstar Eva Green. Love: Vincent - who is best known for his roles in Ocean's Twelve and Black Swan - tied the knot with Tina in 2018, two years after they were first linked, and they welcomed a daughter, Amazonie, in April 2019 Solo: In May she hit the Cannes red carpet without her husband Vincent has shared several images of himself with Eva, 42, whom he praised as a 'wonderful co-star'. And while he failed to post anything about Tina's birthday, the actor did share a tribute to his 18-year-old daughter Deva, whom he shares with his first wife, Monica Bellucci. Vincent and Monica, 53, wed in 1999 after meeting on the set of their 1996 movie, The Apartment. The couple welcomed two daughters - Deva and Leonie, 12 - before divorcing in 2013 after 14 years of marriage. In 2016, Vincent then went 'Instagram Official,' with Tina, who was just 19 at the time, and their relationship sparked headlines the world over as a result of their 30-year age gap. The View's Ana Navarro wasn't holding back as she launched into a scathing tirade about nepo babies, branding them 'entitled toxic brats' and 'talentless dolts' who are never 'grateful' for the opportunities they are given. The 51-year-old was discussing Gwyneth Paltrow's recent comments, in which the A-list mom-of-two defended nepotism and criticized the 'judgment that exists around kids of famous people'. Ana accused famous offspring of making 'everybody's life hell,' claiming the only reason they have a certain status or a decent job is because they simply 'won the ovarian lottery'. But she faced a lack of support from her co-hosts, with Sara Haines, 46, arguing nepo babies 'work twice as hard,' while Alyssa Farah Griffin, 34, pointed out that entitlement is the real 'problem'. The View 's Ana Navarro has taken aim at nepo babies, branding them 'entitled toxic brats' The 51-year-old did not hold back as she went on an epic rant during Friday's episode of The View Sara Haines (left) defended nepo babies and claimed they sometimes have to 'work twice as hard' because of their famous parents Joy Behar, 81, kicked off Friday's Hot Topic when she mentioned Gwyneth's recent interview with Bustle. The Iron Man actress, who has daughter Apple, 19, and son Moses, 17, with her ex-husband Chris Martin, said: 'Nobody rips on a kid whos like: "I want to be a doctor like my dad and granddad."' 'Let me talk about nepo babies,' Ana shouted, as Joy joked: 'Release the kraken!' 'Look, I don't think anybody questions Gwyneth Paltrow,' Ana said. 'There is no doubt that having rich, connected parents gives you a leg up in life - whatever the profession may be. And I think parents often work to be able to be that connected. 'Nobody has an issue with a Gwyneth Paltrow or a Liza Minnelli or Mitt Romney... these are people who may have started off as a nepo baby, who may have started off with doors opening because of who their mother or father was, but who worked, who've earned it, who've shown talent, who've had merit, who've risen up because of what they've done.' The political strategist and commentator continued: 'The people who give nepo babies a bad name are the people who start every sentence with "my father" or "my mother", are the people who are talentless dolts and instead of being humble and grateful for the opportunities they are given because they won the ovarian lottery, are toxic brats! '[They're] entitled and privileged, who make everybody's life hell because they know they can't be fired because of who they are!' After much applause from the audience, mother-of-three Sara chimed in: 'Okay, can I piggyback off Ana? There are nepo babies that act like that, and then there are nepo babies who come in and they work twice as hard because they know they have that leg up. 'Those people are some of the best in the room because they need to prove themselves and I've worked with some of those people occasionally, they're amazing, it's the other ones...' Joy Behar told nepo babies 'don't pretend you hit a home run when you're born on third base' Mother-of-two Sunny Hostin argued that 'kids should do better' than their parents Sara also said that nepo babies who work hard are 'some of the best in the room' In January 2023, Hailey Bieber stepped out in Los Angeles wearing a 'nepo baby' T-shirt Dakota Johnson, Maya Hawke, Zoe Kravitz, and more stars with famous parents were mocked on New York Magazine's The Year of the Nepo Baby cover Adding her two pence, Alyssa said: 'I was going to say Allison Williams is an example too... Brian Williams' daughter. Amazing actress, she was in Girls, but she acknowledges the doors that were opened and then actually used her own talent and rode that. 'I think if you acknowledge the privilege that comes with nepotism and then you work twice as hard, that's really all that matters, it's the entitlement that is the problem.' Sunny Hostin, who was celebrating her 55th birthday, suggested: 'Don't you want every generation of your family to do better than the last? My father always taught me that... [he said] "you did better than I did. Your kids should do better".' Keen to have the final say, Joy blurted out: 'Don't pretend you hit a home run when you're born on third base!' Celebrity nepotism is nothing new - but the 'Nepo Baby' label took off last year after a host of stars including Dakota Johnson, Maya Hawke, Zoe Kravitz and Lily-Rose Depp were mocked on New York Magazine's The Year of the Nepo Baby cover. Gwyneth - the daughter of actress Blythe Danner and director Bruce Paltrow -criticized the term, branding it an 'ugly moniker'. The actress-turned-wellness guru claimed her own daughter is 'a very private person' and has no interest in modeling for her mom's Goop brand, adding: 'She doesnt want anything to do with it, though.' She reflected: 'Now theres this whole nepo baby culture, and judgment that exists around kids of famous people. Shes really just a student, and shes been very.... She just wants to be a kid and be at school and learn.' Gwyneth Paltrow defended nepotism in a recent interview but insisted that her own daughter Apple has no interest in even modeling for Gwyneth's wellness brand Goop Gwyneth is the daughter of producer Bruce Paltrow and actress Blythe Danner, who are pictured with Gwyneth at the 1999 Oscars where she won best actress Gwyneth stood up for children who join the same profession as their parents, pointing out that they are acting on the influences they absorbed at home. 'The truth is if you grow up in a house with a lot of artists and people making art and music, thats what you know, the same way that if you grow up in a house with law, the discussions around the table are about the nuances of whatever particular law the parents practice,' she said. 'I think its kind of an ugly moniker.' She added: 'I just hope that my children always feel free to pursue exactly what they want to do, irrespective of what anybodys going to think or say.' Gemma Collins looked incredible as she posed in a cream jumpsuit for her Instagram followers on Friday. The TOWIE star showcased her enviable curves as she posed in the jumpsuit from all angles while heading out for lunch with her fiance Rami Hawash. The reality star, 42, showed off her ample cleavage in the comfy outfit while styling her blonde curls in pony tail with a pink bow. Taking to the social media platform she wrote: 'LIT LIT LITTY if you want this amazing one piece so comfy so stretchy then honeys you need to click the link in my bio lots of different colours'. Posing in the video she said: 'This is unbelievable. It is so warm, it is so comfy.' Stylish: Gemma Collins, 42, showcased her curves in a figure-hugging cream jumpsuit as she joined her fiance for lunch date on Friday Gorgeous: The reality star, 42, showed off her ample cleavage in the comfy outfit Joking with her followers, Gemma continued: 'I am just going to meet Rami for lunch and I thought why not? Dress up! He needs to remember who he is going out with.' Over on her story the star then shared a snap of her styling the jumpsuit with a brown fur gilet jacket as she joined her fiance for a lunch date. Gemma got engaged to business owner Rami Hawash, 48, in December 2021 after they reunited during lockdown, seven years after ending their first engagement. However, despite finding the love the pair are in no rush to tie the knot as Gemma revealed back in July that they have 'postponed' their wedding day for now. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Gemma explained that seeing other couples get divorced has made her realise that she doesn't want go to through it herself. She admitted she is planning to postpone her wedding for 'as long as possible', potentially until she is in her 50s, and has not yet made any plans for the big day. It comes after The GC recently shared her hopes to front British Vogue as she revealed the magazines former editor Edward Enninful is a fan of hers. After ditching her loud and proud style for 'a look thats more Victoria Beckham the TV personality discussed toning down her outfits in an exclusive interview with MailOnline. Flaunt it: The TOWIE star showcased her enviable curves as she posed in the jumpsuit from all angles Teasing: Joking with her followers, Gemma continued: 'I am just going to meet Rami for lunch and I thought why not? Dress up! He needs to remember who he is going out with' Styling it up: Over on her story the star then shared a snap of her styling the jumpsuit with a brown fur gilet jacket as she joined her fiance for a lunch date All angles: Gemma showed her followers a 360 view of the fit as she urged them to head to her bio for details on where to shop the look Joking she is getting on a bit, she underwent a transformation with TK Maxx and admitted people might not recognise The GC now shes looking more VB. Elsewhere, Gemma, who once spent 50k a day in Gucci, explained how she now 'loves a high street bargain after her past spending habits left her 'feeling sick. Known for her flamboyant looks with bold, bright colours and plenty of feathers, Gemma gave denim and camel tones a try as she adopted the quiet luxury trend in a new photoshoot with the retailer. Gemma also revealed her dreams of covering Vogue, she said: 'I heard Edward Enninful is a fan of mine!' I was hoping that he might put me on the cover of Vogue after Maya Jama did her's. Unfortunately, British Vogues editor-in-chief announced he was leaving his role, amid rumours of a transatlantic power struggle with Anna Wintour. He has since been replaced by Chioma Nnadi. I don't know if I'll ever make it to the cover now! Gemma exclaimed, I was pinning all my hopes on Edward Enninful being a fan! Monica Bellucci was supported by partner Tim Burton on the red carpet for the premiere of her movie Maria Callas: Lettere E Memorie at the Rome Film Festival on Friday. The Italian actress, 59, plays Opera superstar Maria Callas in the movie, ahead of Angelina Jolie also taking on the role in her own rival film. Monica stunned in a plunging black gown which featured pleated detailing and hugged every inch of her gorgeous curves. She accessorised the look with a sleek selection of diamond jewellery and totted her essentials in a black clutch. Meanwhile movie director Tim, 65, was suited and booted in a black suit and struggled to keep his hands off Monica on her big night. Couple: Monica Bellucci, 59, was supported by partner Tim Burton, 65, on the red carpet for the premiere of her movie Maria Callas: Lettere E Memorie at the Rome Film Festival on Friday Glam: The Italian actress plays Opera superstar Maria Callas in the movie, ahead of Angelina Jolie also taking on the role in her own rival film They had been secretly dating for months, but Monica finally confirmed their relationship in an interview with Elle France in June. The Italian actress professed her love for the filmmaker months after they were first linked. 'What I can say... I'm glad I met the man, first of all,' she said. 'It's one of those encounters that rarely happens in life... I know the man, I love him, and now I'm going to meet the director, another adventure begins.' The model has been shooting Beetlejuice 2 with Burton in London as of late, and gushed about the filmmaker's vision. 'I love Tim,' she continued. 'And I have great respect for Tim Burton.' Speaking of his work she said: 'I love this dream world where the monsters are kind, like we can turn our darker aspects into something bright, forgiving. Tim Burton's films talk about that a lot.' Monica and Tim first met 16 years ago but are said to have started dating after seeing one another at the Lumiere Film Festival in Lyon in October. News of their romance emerged in February, when Paris Match wrote that the couple 'briefly met on the steps of the Palais des Festivals in Cannes in 2006, but it was only sixteen years later, behind the scenes of another festival, that they got closer.' Pose: Monica stunned in a plunging black gown which featured pleated detailing and hugged every inch of her gorgeous curves Glam: She accessorised the look with a sleek selection of diamond jewellery and totted her essentials in a black clutch Lovebirds: Meanwhile movie director Tim, 65, was suited and booted in a black suit and struggled to keep his hands off Monica on her big night Perfection: Maria pictured as iconic opera star Maria Callas in the movie Monica, who was an honorary guest at the festival, presented Tim with the Lumiere lifetime achievement award on stage around the time they went official. As he was handed the prize, Tim said: 'All my life put together, I have never felt so much love as tonight. Welcome to the best funeral I ever had!' The pair were also seen heading in to watch the re-production of Silent Documentary Film, directed in 1895 by late French filmmaker Louis Lumiere. In February, they were seen sharing a passionate kiss as they took a romantic walk on Valentine's Day. Monica has been single since she split from artist Nicolas Lefebvre in 2019. She was previously married to Vincent Cassel from 1997-2013. The former model met Cassel in 1996 on the set of Gilles Mimounis film lAppartement. They have two daughters, Deva, who was born in 2004, and Leonie, who entered the world in 2010. Beauty: She showcased her timeless beauty with just a light dusting of make-up Beaming: The stunner appeared overjoyed as she strolled along the red carpet Cat out the bag: They had been secretly dating for months, but Monica finally confirmed their relationship in an interview with Elle France in June Love: The Italian actress professed her love for the filmmaker months after they were first linked Unrecognisable: Angelina looked worlds away from her usual Hollywood glamour as the first look images of the biopic Maria were released ahead of her own rival take on the role They were together for three years before marrying in a quiet ceremony in Monaco, on the French Riviera. Monica spoke about love in an interview with Paris Match back in 2011 when she was still married to Cassel, admitting there is 'no rationality' for her when it comes to relationships. She said: 'I am carried by the moment and instinct. No rationality, only emotions. You love or you don't.' 'You don't decide sitting around a table: OK, so I have two kids, 16 years of life as a couple, that would be nice if it lasts, but how I am going to make it work? 'I don't think at all that a couple is something "you work out", as we say.' Tim was famously in a relationship with The Crown actress Helena Bonham Carter, 57, but they sadly split in 2014. The pair were never married, but were together for 13 years and share two children; son Billy and daughter Nell. Jodie Turner-Smith looked amazing in a black leather dress on Thursday after her estranged husband Joshua Jackson was seen with newly single Lupita Nyong'o. The 37-year-old actress was at the What Goes Around Comes Around's celebration of the Collection of Andre Leon Talley, which took place in Beverly Hills on Thursday evening. The Anne Boleyn star, who recently ditched her wedding ring, showed off her sculpted arms while wearing a tight-fitting leather dress, which also exposed her toned legs. Turner-Smith also paired her dress with a matching leather jacket during the fashion-forward event. The performer donned a pair of high-heeled shoes, and accessorized with several pieces of jewelry, as well as a chic purse. She was joined by Lori Harvey and Tracee Ellis Ross. Showing up: Jodie Turner-Smith attended What Goes Around Comes Around's celebration of the Collection of Andre Leon Talley, which took place in Beverly Hills on Thursday evening The actress' gorgeous brunette locks fell onto her chest and paired well with the dark tone of her clothing. Turner-Smith's outing took place just one day after her estranged husband, Jackson, was spotted with Nyong'o during a Janelle Monae concert in Los Angeles. The 45-year-old actor and the 40-year-old actress were joined by several of their friends while watching the hitmaker perform at the YouTube Theater in Inglewood. According to TMZ, the two had known each other for years prior to the concert, and sources told the media outlet that the performers did not appear to be flirting with one another. Turner-Smith and Jackson initially met during a birthday party that took place in October of 2018, and they were spotted while walking hand-in-hand the following month. It was subsequently confirmed that the couple had tied the knot in September of 2019. The actress revealed that she was pregnant in March of 2020, and she gave birth to her daughter Juno, three, that April. However, it was confirmed that the Queen & Slim star had filed for divorce earlier this month. All dressed up: The Anne Boleyn star, who recently ditched her wedding ring while smoking what appeared to be a joint, showed off her sculpted arms while wearing a tight-fitting leather dress, which also exposed her toned legs Layered up: Turner-Smith also paired her dress with a matching leather jacket during the fashion-forward event Completing the look: The performer donned a pair of high-heeled shoes, and accessorized with several pieces of jewelry, as well as a chic purse Stepping out: Turner-Smith's outing took place just one day after her estranged husband, Joshua Jackson, was spotted with Lupita Nyong'o during a Janelle Monae concert in Los Angeles Over and done with: Nyong'o also recently announced her split from her longtime boyfriend, Selema Masekela, in a post that was shared on her Instagram account on Thursday A source spoke to People and spoke about why Turner-Smith had chosen to end her relationship with Jackson. 'They are on very different paths in life...It turned into an unhealthy marriage that made her unhappy,' they stated. Nyong'o also recently announced her split from her longtime boyfriend, Selema Masekela, in a post that was shared on her Instagram account on Thursday. The Academy Award-winning performer wrote a lengthy message to speak about her feelings regarding the separation, and stated that her romance had been 'suddenly and devastatingly extinguished by deception.' Danny Masterson has agreed to give his estranged wife Bijou Phillips both legal and physical custody of the couple's daughter - as he serves a 30 year sentence for raping two women. In legal documents obtained by TMZ, the disgraced That 70s Show actor, 47, who was sentenced last month, has requested visitation with the former couple's only child, Fianna, nine - this will be under prison supervision if it is granted. Masterson has listed the couple's date of separation as September 15 - one week after he was sentenced to serve 30 years to life for attacking two women in 2003. Bijou had stayed by his side during the trial but filed for divorce on September 18. Masterson had two trials. His first, six months earlier, resulted in a mistrial after a different jury were hopelessly deadlocked on all three rape charges. He was freed on a $3.3million bail throughout both, but that freedom ended with his double conviction on May 31. Convicted rapist: Danny Masterson has agreed to give his estranged wife Bijou Phillips both legal and physical custody of the couple's daughter - as he serves a 30 year sentence for raping two women (pictured 2016) Child: In legal documents obtained by TMZ , the disgraced That 70s Show actor, 47, who was sentenced last month, has requested visitation with the former couple's only child, Fianna, nine - this will be under prison supervision if it is granted The actor has been locked up in the notorious Men's Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles since then. Bijou, who had faithfully stood by her husband of 12 years throughout his two sexual assault trials, was consoled by brother-in-law Jordan Masterson following the sentencing. Her lawyer Peter A. Lauzon said the case has been 'unimaginably hard on the marriage and the family'. 'Ms. Phillips has decided to file for divorce from her husband during this unfortunate time,' Lauzon said in a statement seen by TMZ last month. 'Her priority remains with her daughter. This period has been unimaginably hard on the marriage and the family. 'Mr. Masterson was always present for Ms. Phillips during her most difficult times of her life. 'Ms. Phillips acknowledges that Mr. Masterson is a wonderful father to their daughter.' Bijou reportedly said their date of separation is 'TBD', citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for their divorce, according to freelance journalist Yashar Ali. New future: Bijou is coming to terms with the prospect of raising her child alone In May, Masterson was convicted on two of three rape charges, but the jury was hung in regards to the third, which involved the rape of a former longtime girlfriend She has asked for spousal support and attorney fees and wants her legal name changed back to Phillips rather than Masterson. The actress also requested to 'terminate the court's ability to grant support' to the actor, according to documents seen by People. Under California law, the court retains jurisdiction over the issue of spousal support, meaning that at any time in the future Masterson could ask for spouse support. But Bijou's request to terminate the court's jurisdiction would mean the convicted rapist could never seek support if it is granted. Bijou, a Scientologist along with Masterson, also requested that she be granted full legal and physical custody of their daughter Fianna given that Masterson will be behind bars potentially for the rest of his life. But the actress said she will allow their daughter to visit him in jail. She also asked that the court divide up the couple's assets, indicating that they never signed a prenuptial agreement. The pair started dating in 2004 after meeting at a poker tournament in Las Vegas , and they got engaged in 2009 before saying 'I do' at a wedding ceremony inside a castle in Ireland in 2011 The pair started dating in 2004 after meeting at a poker tournament in Las Vegas, and they got engaged in 2009 before saying 'I do' at a castle in Ireland in 2011. Formerly a devoted wife, she accompanied Masterson to his court cases in a show of solidarity for the now-disgraced actor. Seeming to believe his protestations of innocence, she even sent a letter to Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo begging for leniency ahead of his sentencing. In her letter, obtained by DailyMail.com, Bijou claimed Masterson was a 'life-saving' partner who dedicated himself to farming to support his family when the accusations about him started to emerge and he lost his acting career. She also noted Masterson's aversion to drugs - a common principle of Scientology - and his apparent dedication to helping young actors escape the downfalls of wealth and fame. But as she heard the heartbreaking testimonies of his victims in court in a harrowing trial, Bijou seems to have reconsidered her marriage. The victims, known to the court as Jane Doe #1, #2 and #3, focused not only on the disturbing details of the sexual assaults but also described how they were intimidated and driven from their community as the church of Scientology punished them for speaking up against the That 70s Show's star. While Masterton was convicted of raping the first two, the jury was deadlocked over a third charge for the rape of Jane Doe #3, who is his ex-girlfriend Chrissie Carnell-Bixler. Bijou wore a large pair of dark glasses at points during the testimonies to hide her emotions. Masterson did not react to his sentencing - but he blew Bijou a kiss as he was escorted to the slammer. But Bijou sobbed as she sat amid a grim group of Scientology friends and family members in the public gallery. At one point, she held a handkerchief up to her face. Masterson blew Bijou a kiss in the court room when he was sentenced to 30 years behind bars A close friend revealed to DailyMail.com at the time that Bijou felt 'like she is grieving a death' as she awaited her husband's sentencing. 'Currently Bijou is circling the drain and is filled with all the emotion and no emotion at all,' they said. 'She is a shell of who she has been. She is really trying to be strong for her daughter as she is trying to figure out life and what it will be like for her. 'It can only be compared to a divorce or a death for her not being able to be with Danny the way they were.' . Emily Blunt has issued an apology after she was criticised by fans for 'fat-shaming' a waitress in an old chat show clip that resurfaced on Friday. In a clip from the star's 2012 appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show, Emily recounted being recognised in the chain restaurant Chilis while filming the movie Looper. Talking to Jonathan, Emily said: 'The girl who was serving us was enormous, you know I think she got freebie meals at Chilis.' As the audience laughed, the host joked: 'Nothing wrong with that,' as he responded to Emily's comment. In a statement given to People, Emily said she was 'appalled' when she rewatched the clip. Statement: Emily Blunt has issued an apology after she was criticised by fans for 'fat-shaming' a waitress in an old chat show clip that resurfaced on Friday Rude: The actress called the waitress 'enormous' before suggesting she received free meals at the food chain She said: 'I just need to address this head on as my jaw was on the floor watching this clip from 12-years ago. 'Im appalled that I would say something so insensitive, hurtful, and unrelated to whatever story I was trying to tell on a talk show. 'Ive always considered myself someone who wouldnt dream of upsetting anyone so whatever possessed me to say anything like this in that moment is unrecognizable to me or anything I stand for.' As the clip has resurfaced on social media, fans took to Twitter to bash the star as they expressed the dismay at her offensive comment. One fan wrote: 'Emily Blunt being blatantly fatphobic wasnt on my 2023 bingo card but here we are'. Clearly angry, another tweeted: 'Ugh f**k Emily Blunt seriously was one of my fave actresses but turns out shes a fatphobic unfunny mean girl who thinks its funny to point out the size of a server when it adds nothing to the story - for shame.' A third chimed: 'Emily blunt being fatphobic is so disappointing, i guess another one bites the dust'. And a fourth added: 'Emily Blunt being cancelled 12 years after the interview where she was fatphobic. Big slay. I love to see it!' A long time ago: The star most recently starred in Oppenheimer, over 10 years after the resurfaced clip from 2012 Chipping in: As the audience laugh, the host joked: 'Nothing wrong with that,' as he responded to Emily's derogatory comment As the clip continued, it seemed the anecdote had nothing to do with the waitress' size, as Emily recounted how she was recognised by the girl. She continued: 'She comes up and she goes, "Did anyone ever tell you you look a lot like Emily Blunt?" and I said "I have heard that yes" and she said, "are you Emily Blunt?"' After the actress confirmed she was indeed Emily Blunt the waitress exclaimed: 'What are y'all doing here?' Emily then told the member of staff she was filming for her movie Looper, to which the girl replied: 'Looper? Y'all just made that up.' Outrage: Fans are in uproar as they took to Twitter to express their anger at the resurfaced clip Realising the waitress' weight had nothing to do with the story fans took to Twitter asking: 'Why did she even say that? Not necessary at all'.' Another said: 'She didn't have to mention her size it had nothing to do with what she was saying'. Another tweeted: 'she didn't need to add that and EVEN IFFFF it mattered to the story...say literally anything except enormous bruh'. Feeling let down another fan added: 'She has let herself down by using such remarks. You can do better Emily!' However one fan did seem to stick up for the star as they pointed out that this clip is taken from over 10 years ago. 'This was old story. This happened back in 2012 where she did this interview. Y'all serious chill a bit. Emily probably doesn't remember that at all now and has grown so much since. Stop digging old dirt.' Emily Ratajkowski didn't let the rain in New York City stop her from one of her daily walks with her son Sylvester or dog Colombo. The My Body author, 32, was spotted out with a stroller that had plastic over the front of it to protect him from the wet weather. Emily's long dark hair was wet and covered with a black ball cap with The Paris Review embroidered on it in purple. The swimsuit designer further shielded herself from the rain in a long black coat with a white shearling collar. The coat was belted at her slim waist. Rainy day: Emily Ratajkowski didn't let the rain in New York City stop her from one of her daily walks with her son Sylvester or dog Colombo The iCarly alum wore a black top and black pants featuring silver grommets up the outside of the leg. Sunglasses hit part of her famous face from the paparazzi and she wore soggy white sneakers on her feet. The stroller appeared to be empty, suggesting that the Gone Girl actress was on her way to her ex-husband Sebastian Bear-McClard's, 36, house to pick Sylvester up. Emily and Sebastian welcomed Sylvester in 2021 and split the following year after four years of marriage. She has been linked to a series of stars since her divorce including Pete Davidson, 29, Harry Styles, also 29, and comedian Eric Andre, 40. Recently, The My Body author spoke about being a single mother during an interview with Harper's Bazaar. 'I've never had such clear priorities before in my life. Number one is Sly, and that's that,' she stated. She then discussed how becoming a mother inspired her to think about the lessons she wanted her child to learn. Empty stroller: The My Body author, 32, was spotted out with a stroller that had plastic over the front of it to protect him from the wet weather but was empty suggesting she was on her way to pick him up from his dad Exes: Emily shares son Sylvester with her ex-husband Sebastian Bear-McClard, 36. The couple split in 2022 after four years of marriage A boy and his dog: Sylvester poses with Emily's dog Colombo and another smaller pooch Devoted mom: Emily frequently shares photos of her time with her son on her social media channels 'Having my own business and working with a group of women that I love, that are my friends... that has been so enjoyable,' she stated. The fashion industry personality also discussed being able to exert more influence over her professional life. 'What I like now is that, in my career, things are more in my hands and in my control,' Ratajkowski said. She added: 'Failures feel more like road bumps than huge losses and I feel less impacted by other people saying no.' Remote workers are out-earning staff in the office in several industries including finance and insurance, new research has revealed. According to insights from data company Payscale, the wage gap between remote and non-remote workers in consultancy, manufacturing and tech is more than 50 percent. Retail has the largest gap, according to the findings, with staffers who work from home earning an average salary of $67,700 - a huge 92 percent more than their in-office peers who were typically making $35,300. There is a 63 percent gap between remote and in-office finance and insurance workers, the study found. While remote workers in the industry typically make $79,900 a year, in-office staff have an average annual salary of around $48,900. Remote workers are out-earning staff in the office in several industries including finance and insurance, new research has revealed The industry with the third largest pay gap - at 57 percent - is technology. According to the research, remote tech workers earn an average of $94,500, while in-office staffers earn $60,300. To calculate the findings, Payscale surveyed over 300,000 working US adults between August 2021 and August 2023, defining 'remote' as anyone who telecommutes most or all of the time. It found manufacturing and agency and consultancy workers also experienced a remote work pay gap of more than 50 percent - at 55 percent and 53 percent respectively. According to the research, the pay gap between remote and in-office workers in real estate was 48 percent - with staff working from home earning $71,300 on average, and their in-office peers making around $48,100 a year. Jackson Gruver, Payscale data analyst, told DailyMail.com: 'The main reason for these pay gaps is occupational differences, rather than discrimination, among remote and non-remote workers. 'Non-remote workers are more likely to hold lower wage positions that require on-site work, such as retail clerks and bank tellers. White collar jobs that tend to have higher pay, like software developers and analysts, are capable of being performed remotely.' These pay discrepancies also imply that companies with return-to-office mandates are restricting remote opportunities to more senior, specialized roles, Ruth Thomas, a pay equity strategist at Payscale, told CNBC. According to a survey earlier this month by employment marketplace ZipRecruiter, 72 percent of companies said they lost valuable employees as a result of reducing their remote work offerings. Remote workers have lower overhead costs and access to a wider pool of potential employers, which could translate to larger take-home pay, said Thomas. Those who work from home tend to be experienced professionals who are further along in their careers, which gives them more leverage to negotiate flexible work arrangements, she said. Since the work from home boom during the pandemic, many companies have clamped down on getting workers back in the office It comes as separate research revealed the states where the highest proportion of residents are still working from home. Since the work from home boom during the pandemic, many companies have clamped down on getting workers back in the office. Despite this, remote work is still prevalent across the US. According to the two latest Census Bureau Household Pulse Surveys, Colorado has the highest proportion of people still working from home of any US state - with 38.3 percent of households reporting having someone working from home at least once a week. Across the US, seven states - and Washington DC - have a work from home rate which is more than 33 percent. Maryland has the second highest rate of households where someone had worked from home at least one day in the past seven - at 36.9 percent. Colorado is the state with the highest proportion of people still working from home, according to data from the US Census Bureau Some 34.9 percent of households in Utah have someone working remotely, 34.7 percent in Massachusetts and 34.3 percent in Minnesota. On the other end of the spectrum, workers in Wyoming are working from home the least. Only 12.9 percent of households had someone who worked from home in the last week in the state - where the main industries include mining, agriculture and manufacturing. Mississippi has the second lowest work-from-home rate, at 13.5 percent, followed by Alabama at 14.8 percent, North Dakota at 16 percent and Arkansas at 16.2 percent. States including Mississippi and Louisiana - which has a work-from-home rate of 16 percent - were not as able to able to widely embrace remote work due to a reliance on in-person industries including manufacturing and oil and gas. Overall, approximately 26 percent of households across the US have someone working remotely at least one day a week - down from the early-2021 peak of 37 percent. Like many activists from Hirak, the popular movement which agitated Algeria between 2019 and 2021, Hamid marched for Palestine on Thursday October 19, even if the demonstration is supervised by a regime which prohibits gatherings and continues to repress those who demand peaceful change. Its a duty, he said, while saying he understood those who announced, on social networks, their refusal to participate in a demonstration organized by those in power. The Algerian authorities, who ban all processions out of fear of a return of the Hirak, unceremoniously repressed attempts at support marches in Gaza on October 13. In reaction, the former head of the Movement of Society for Peace (MSP, close to the Muslim Brotherhood), Abderrezak Makri, denounced, in a video published on social networks, the ban on Algerians expressing their solidarity . He then invited the government to organize these gatherings itself, the question of Palestine being one of the rare subjects of consensus between the government and the various oppositions. Algeria has indeed offered the paradox, since the start of the war in Gaza, of being a country without the right to demonstrate while popular and official support for the resistance by all means of the Palestinians is unwavering. The frustration was expressed openly on social networks where some noted with annoyance that in Morocco, a country which has normalized its relations with Israel, the population was able to express its anger. The position of Algiers therefore became more and more untenable, especially as the emotion of its population grew. The risk was becoming great that uncontrolled demonstrations would resume, particularly when leaving mosques after Friday prayers. " Two weights, two measures " To avoid this scenario, the authorities therefore encouraged, with the support of the Front of Socialist Forces (FFS) and satellite parties, the population to take to the streets on Thursday. Despite the notable absence of "Islamists in beards and djellaba", according to the Twala site's formula to designate the supporters of the former Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) - of which 16 former leaders were placed under arrest warrant on the 13th October after the publication of a press release on the general situation in the country the Algerians finally responded in their thousands present for Palestine. Like Hamid, many chose to forget that the gathering was supervised by a power that flouts the right to demonstrate. The object of their denunciation: "the double standards" of Westerners who condemn Hamas as if "history had begun on October 7", when more than a thousand Israelis, the vast majority civilians , were killed, and deny Palestinians the right to resist that is given to Ukrainians. Their banners read: No to the killing of children, women and civilians! , Where are the human rights? , Biden war criminal. Some are calling for the dismissal of the American ambassador to Algiers. Many also denounce the French media which they consider biased. In Algeria, even secularists consider that the Islamists of Hamas are primarily a resistance movement, and do not hesitate to draw a parallel with the fight for independence. No one forgets that the National Liberation Front (FLN) was also described as terrorist by the occupation, notes Hamid. The authorities have decided to cancel all cultural events, including the festivities of November 1, the date of the outbreak of the Algerian revolution (1954-1962). There is no consensus on the decision. For some, November 1 was an opportunity to proclaim the legitimacy of the Palestinian right to resistance, including through arms. Private steelmaker JSW Steel on Friday reported returning to black as it posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 2,773 crore for the July-September quarter on the back of higher income and exceptional gains. The company suffered a loss of Rs 915 crore in the second quarter of the last financial year. The total income increased to Rs 44,821 crore in the second quarter of the current fiscal as against Rs 41,966 crore a year ago, JSW Steel said in a regulatory filing. JSW Steels expenses were lower at Rs 40,801 crore in the quarter under review against Rs 43,354 crore in the year-ago quarter. In a statement, the company said its capex spend during the second quarter of 2023-24 (FY24) in India was Rs 3,701 crore and at consolidated level Rs 3,816 crore. During the first half of 2023-24, the capital expenditure in India was Rs 7,795 crore and consolidated Rs 7,996 crore, against the planned capex spend of Rs 18,800 crore in India and Rs 20,000 crore consolidated for FY24. The company produced 6.34 million tonnes (MT) of crude steel in July-September 2023, up 12 per cent compared to 5.66 MT in the same quarter of FY 2022-23. Sales increased by 10 per cent to 6.34 MT in the quarter from 5.74 a year ago. Exports, at 0.69 MT constituted 11 per cent of sales from the Indian operations. The company had taken certain maintenance shutdowns at Indian operations during the quarter, and the average capacity utilization was 89 per cent. The capacity utilization was lower at the Ohio, US operations due to adverse market conditions, JSW Steel said. The company was able to reduce inventories by 0.3 million tonnes during the quarter. The company had a fair value gain of Rs 780 crores on its investments held in CSSL upon fair valuation pursuant to merger of CSSL and JISPL. It also had a gain of Rs 198 crore upon sale of property, plant and equipment and mineral rights held at West Virginia. The company also noted an exceptional provision amounting to Rs 389 crores pursuant to dismissal of the companys writ petition by High Court of Bombay, Goa Bench in the Goa Green Cess matter. The Junta feels emboldened as the worlds gaze shifts to Gaza; it continues with its savage war against its own people and persecuting its political opponents Events in Myanmar have gone under the radar of global discourse with the latters attention focused on the developments in West AsiaHamas terrorist attack on Israel and the latters gruesome retaliatory strikes on civilians in Gazaand the war in Ukraine. This is unfortunate. With the pressure of global disapprobation weakening with the shifting focus, the ruling junta continues with its savage war against its own people, persecuting its political opponents, and unleashing horrendous violence. According to a report datelined May 11, 2023, in the website The Irrawaddy, the Junta continues to crush all political opposition, having dissolved at least 40 political parties including the National League for Democracy (NLD), led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Members of the NLD, their families and supporters have been regularly attacked and killed since the coup on February 1, 2021, which prevented the NLD, which had swept the elections to the national parliament held on November 8, 2020, from forming government. At least 1,235 NLD members have been detained, 26 have died during interrogation or in detention, and 63 others have been killed unlawfully, according to a statement released by the NLD on March 29. Not just this. The United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights reported, on June 28, 2023, that at least 3,452 people had been killed by the military and its allies since the coup. According to the United National High Commissioner for Refugees Operational Data Portal, the total number of internally displaced persons was 1,975,000 as last updated on October 9, 2023. The figure includes people fleeing the juntas attacks on villages and towns, air strike and persecution, those with arrest warrants in their names, young protestors and their parents hounded by the police, civilians providing financial support to the NUG, and civil servants involved in the civil disobedience movement and so on. Understandably, repression of this magnitude and savagery has spawned armed resistance. Some leaders of the NUG, activists and representatives of several insurgent ethnic organisations and minor parties, formed a National Unity Government (NUG) on April 16, 2021. In May 2021, NUG announced the formation of its armed wing, the People's Defence Force (PDF). In an article in The Irrawaddy datelined November 24, 2022, Banyar Aung put the PDFs strength at 65,000. It has been attacking the Sit-Tat with increasing frequency and success. According to a report in The Irrawaddy, datelined October 18, 2023, it killed at least 28 Junta troops in incidents reported from Sagaing, Magwe, Mandalay, Bago and Tanintharyi regions in four preceding days. The Sit-Tat is also worried by drone strikes by the resistance forces. One of these, targeting the Myawaddy District Administration Department office in Karen States Myawaddy Town killed five junta officials, including a district administrator and military battalion commander. Eleven policemen, including a superintendent, were injured. Not surprisingly, a brief released on September 5, 2022, by the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar, a group of international experts supporting the countrys struggle for democracy, said that the junta had stable control over only 72 out of the countrys 330 townships, constituting only 17 per cent of Myanmars land area.. The NUG and ethnic resistance organisations effectively controlled over 52 per cent of Myanmars territory and 23 per cent was contested. Driven on the backfoot on the ground, the junta has increasingly resorted to air-strikes. Haley Willis and Weiyi Cai stated in a report in The New York Times of July 31, 2023, that there were nearly twice as many military airstrikes reported in April, May and June as in the first three months of the year. The maximum number of strikes in any month this year, 40, were in June. The average of 30 airstrikes per month up to now this year, has been the highest for any year of the conflict so far. The report quotes Anthony Davis, an analyst for the Janes group of military publications and an expert on the Myanmar military, as saying, that the militarys strategy was to punish the civilian population for any perceived support to the opposition. A special target has been the Sagaing Region in north-western part Myanmar, bordering India. It is a rebel stronghold where the militarys ground forces have had difficulty gaining territory. The worst airstrike since the coup on February 1, 2021, occurred in Pazigyi Village in the southern part of the region on April 11, 2023. The target of bombing and strafing by military jets and helicopters, was a gathering to celebrate the local resistance movements opening of an administrative office there. At least 170 persons, most of them civilians and at least 30 of them children, were killed. The military hardware for such attacks by the Sit-Tat, including military aircraft, comes from China, Russia and even some south-east Asian countries. Russia, according to its state news agency RIA, signed a contract in September, 2022, for the delivery of six Su-30SME fighter jets, to Myanmar. Two of these arrived last month. Since Russia and China are unlikely to stop delivering combat supplies, the only way to stop the aerial attacks is to deny aviation fuel supplies to Myanmar. Unfortunately, Western countries swearing by democracy, are hardly doing anything effective to stanch the flow. (The author is Consulting Editor, The Pioneer. The views expressed are personal) Most of its actions in implementing the food subsidy scheme are out of sync with the changing times and lead to leakages and corruption The NITI Aayog has invited bids for a Central Coordinating Agency that can study the effectiveness of its National Food Security Subsidy scheme. The Agency will hold the mandate to suggest ways to better the scheme. It will also suggest whether, and how, the scheme can be rationalised or closed. However, the governments move to continue the supply of free food grains under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) beyond the current FY gives the contrary signal. In fact, most of its actions in implementing the food subsidy scheme are out of sync with the thought process of the Think Tank. Under the NFSA, the Centre directs the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and other state agencies to procure food from the farmer at MSP (minimum support price) and organise its distribution to around 820 million people through a network of fair price shops (FPS) at the subsidized price (call it issue price) of Rs 2/3/1 per kg for wheat, rice, and coarse cereals respectively. There are two types of beneficiaries. As part of the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), the poorest of the poor households get 35 kg of food grains per family (@ 7 kg per person in a family of five) each month. The number of families under AAY is 24 million, and the persons getting 7 kg cereals per month @ Rs 2/3/1 per kg are 120 million. The rest 700 million persons are eligible to receive five kg of cereals per month at the same price. The excess of MSP paid to farmers and handling and distribution costs (HDC) over the issue price is reimbursed as a subsidy to the FCI and other state agencies. The money comes from the Union Budgets allocation for food subsidy. The expenditure incurred by the Centre during the last four years under this head was 2020-21: Rs 529,000 crore; 2021-22: Rs 372,000 crore; 2022-23: Rs 287,000 crore; 2023-24: Rs 197,000 crore (budget estimate). This adds up to a total of Rs 1385,000 crore. It includes Rs 390,000 crore spent on running the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY). Launched in April 2020 to deal with the unprecedented situation triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic, PMGKAY provided 5 kg of rice or wheat per person per month for free via the FPS, as well as 1 kg of pulses per family per month to around 164 million families covered under NFSA. Run for three months initially, the scheme got six extensions till December 31, 2022. On December 23, 2022, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Piyush Goyal announced the merger of the free part of PMGKAY with the regular food security schemes under NFSA. Pursuant to this, food is available to beneficiaries under the NFSA for free from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023. There are several loopholes in the running of the food subsidy scheme. First, fundamentally, subsidised food is meant for the poor. The number of poor isnt more than 15 20 per cent of Indias population. Yet, the number of beneficiaries under NFSA at 820 million works out to nearly 59 per cent of the population. Even as per the Shanta Kumar Committee (2015), the people eligible for subsidized food under NFSA shouldnt be more than 40 per cent. Second, during the last five years, the number of people below the poverty line has declined by 135 million. This should have led to a corresponding reduction in beneficiaries under the NFSA. That hasnt happened. Far from that, the number could go up by nearly 100 million if one were to go by the Supreme Court directive to take into account the population during 2021 instead of the present coverage based on 2011 Census estimates. Third, are the beneficiaries so poor that they can pay only Rs 2/3/1 per kg for food which is a fraction of the cost of making it available (in the case of wheat, it is 1/15th)? Even the Shanta Kumar Committee wanted the non-AAY families to pay 50 per cent of the MSP. Fourth, the current issue price was specified in the NFSA legislation. The law enacted in 2013 froze these rates for three years. Since 2016, there has been no legal bar on increasing the price. Yet, the government hasnt bothered to increase despite a substantial increase in MSP. Fifth, the ridiculously low price at which food is available in the supply chain is an open invitation to dubious operators to siphon off and sell in the open market raking in a moolah. This cant be prevented even if the administration is alert. Sixth, the initial idea under the Scheme was that FCI et al would buy only the quantity needed for meeting beneficiaries requirements under NFSA plus maintain some strategic buffer to meet emergency situations. It was never meant to be an open-ended procurement which it has become today. This has led to stocking problems, high costs, unsustainable rise in subsidies etc. The open-ended purchase has made Indias position at WTO embarrassing as the system entails subsidy support to farmers in excess of the 10 per cent threshold for developing countries. As for the PMGKAY, it made sense during FY 2020-21, when economic activity got a big jolt due to Covid resulting in negative growth in GDP by 6.6 per cent. However, its continuation during 2021-22 and 2022-23 when the economy rebounded with GDP registering growth of 8.7 percent and 7.2 percent respectively was unjustified. Discontinuation of PMGKAY from January 1, 2023, was the right move. However, the concomitant decision to provide free food grains under regular NFSA was unjustified. The reasoning given by Piyush Goyal that this was to shield the masses from shocks to the system at a time the economy was recovering in the aftermath of Covid crisis doesnt cut the ice. This is because on top of two consecutive years of good growth, during the current FY, it is expected to register an impressive 6.3 per cent. Now, the government has given an indication that the free food scheme will continue not just till the end of the current FY but also beyond. This too is untenable. The way to go is: to disband the existing system of subsidizing the price and give subsidies directly to the beneficiary under DBT. Under DBT, the state agencies need not buy, store and deliver food to the beneficiary; instead the latter buys from the market paying the full price say, Rs 30 per kg of wheat (of this, Rs 28 comes from the government as subsidy and Rs 2 from her pocket). This will address all maladies afflicting the system. With DBT in place, the government can easily prioritize and undeserving persons wont get subsidies. There wont be any misuse or leakage as subsidized food doesnt enter the supply chain. It will also save on costs currently incurred on handling of grains by the agencies. All consumers will benefit from increased supplies and competition in the market. Finally, India wont face any problems at WTO as the system doesnt involve any subsidy to the farmers. Unfortunately, this is a far cry. We dont even see baby steps such as deleting undeserving from the list of beneficiaries or small increases in price etc. The root cause lies in the political climate wherein the ruling party cant dare withdraw benefits already enjoyed by the beneficiaries; in fact, it is compelled to give more. (The writer is a policy analyst; views are personal) Israel makes no bones about its intention of flattening Gaza and massacring its civilians Its becoming clearer by the day that the war declared by Israel on Gaza is meant to be against the civilians rather than Hamas. The number of bombs dropped on the people so far is proof of its intention of wiping off Palestinians from Gaza. All these attacks are in the name of defeating Hamas and are actually all about removing any sort of resistance to Israels occupation. It is a continuation of Israels policy of confiscating land without care for the people. Thus, it is yet another attempt to make Israel, a Jews only state. This war is nothing, but a continuation of the same policy practised by the Israelis against the Palestinians for decades. Targeting civilians is a crime against humanity, yet it has been a core part of Israel's actions. In fact, during the first Nakba (catastrophe) in 1948, thousands of Palestinians were killed, countless villages were burned, and women were raped and tortured. The survivors brought with them the horror stories that they had to endure at the hands of Israeli militants. They were spared on purpose to instil fear among other Palestinians to desist from defying the dictates of Israel. A large Palestinian population was expelled and lives as refugees in neighbouring countries.The people of Gaza are a mix of refugees, who fled from other parts of Palestine, who have survived the onslaught of the Armed Jews Group and who have been living under deprived conditions with the natives for the last 56 years. Gazas residents have been living in an open prison since 1967 even though Israel has claimed to have withdrawn from the Gaza Strip in 2007. In fact, the entirety of Gaza is besieged from land, air, and sea by Israeli occupational forces to this present day. Making no bones about his intentions, the National security minister of Israel, Itamar Ben Gvir, stated: The only thing that needs to enter Gaza are hundreds of tonnes of explosives from the Air Force, not an ounce of humanitarian aid.The rocket attack on the Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City killing hundreds of Palestinians is a case in point. Israel is clearly moving ahead with its plan to vacate Gaza by instilling fear among the residents who are already at their wit's end; deprived of food, water, electricity and medical aid they have nowhere to go, just waiting for the inevitable.Thus, we are witnessing a genocide unfolding in real time. This policy will fail and it will not make Israel safer nor bring peace to the region but the Palestinians would have to pay a heavy price for no fault of theirs. The highest number of fatalities in this massacre have been women and children. You do not have to watch the news and stare at the television to see dead bodies scattered all over the place. Hospitals, colleges, schools, markets, convoys, nothing is safe from the bombs that are being dropped, in fact, it is as clear as day, to see that they are purposefully being targeted. The latest weaponry is being used and tested on Palestinians and will be ready for sale; the massacre of Palestinians would be proof of the quality and help Israels arms industry. As Guru Nanak Ji once said, We are all human before we belong to any religion, You do not need to be a Muslim to condemn and call for an end to this carnage. Let us be brave and human enough to condemn this massacre and trampling of human rights. Though the US has now shown some sensitivity towards the people of Gaza and brokered a deal with Israel and Egypt to deliver medical aid along with other necessary supplies, it is too little too late. Nevertheless, the US has done the right thing and the world must follow. The world community should come forward and condemn Israel in one voice else we would be witnessing the biggest crime against humanity. (The writer is a South Asia-based senior foreign journalist and an expert on West Asia; views expressed are personal)) Hindalco, Renukoot (Sonbhadra district) was awarded the prestigious Dalmia Bharat-CSR Box Impact Award-2023 for the successful implementation of Project Unnati in the field of rural development. Managing Director and CEO Mahendra Singhi, Commissioner of Technical Education, Gujarat Government Banchha Nidhi Pani, Revenue Secretary of Uttar Pradesh Government Naveen Kumar and President of BML Munjal University Swati Munjal were present at the award ceremony held in New Delhi recently. The award was presented to Avijit, CSR Head of Hindalco. Under Project Unnati, Hindalco had to increase the income of the poor residents and villagers of Renukoot and surrounding areas by running beneficial schemes like agriculture development, vocational training, watershed management and health care etc so that there can be positive and permanent changes in their lives. The CSR Impact Awards recognises organisations and projects that have created positive and lasting social impact through corporate social responsibility. Hindalcos Cluster Head N Nagesh and Cluster HR Head Jasbir Singh along with other senior officials congratulated the CSR team for the prestigious award received by Hindalco and inspired them to continue running such projects in future also. Murmu may visit SSU next year: President Droupadi Murmu has assured the Vice-Chancellor Prof Bihari Lal Sharma that she may visit the Sampurnanand Sanskrit University (SSU) next year. She gave this assurance while the SSU V-C paid a courtesy call on the President at Rashtrapati Bhawan in Delhi on Tuesday. During her talks with the V-C, she said that this time it may have been delayed but she will definitely try to attend any programme of the university in the coming year. The President lauded her dedication towards education, Sanskrit, culture, social harmony and the uplift of the oppressed, exploited, deprived and needy people apart from her commitment towards the preservation and promotion of Indian cultural traditions. Prof Sharma greeted the President by giving her a bouquet and angavastram. He also presented a university souvenir, highlighting the SSU achievements and continuous development journey of this leading centre of oriental studies for 233 years. Amid the ongoing diplomatic standoff between the two countries, on Friday, India rejected Canadas attempt to portray that the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations was violated in seeking diplomatic parity, as Canada withdrew 41 of its diplomats from here. Canada also issued a travel advisory for its citizens in India, asking them to exercise a high degree of caution due to the threat of terrorist attacks throughout the country. Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday that Indias decision to revoke the diplomatic immunity of 41 Canadian diplomats is a violation of the Vienna Convention and it should worry all countries in the world, hours after New Delhi rejected Ottawas attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms. Speaking at a press conference in Brampton, Ontario, he said the Indian Government was making it unbelievably difficult for life as usual to continue for millions of people in India and in Canada following the decision. And, theyre doing it by contravening a very basic principle of diplomacy...The government of India decided to unilaterally revoke the diplomatic immunity of 40 Canadian diplomats in India. This is a violation of the Vienna Convention. Governing diplomacy. This is them choosing to contravene a very fundamental principle of international law and diplomacy, he said. Indias sharp reaction came hours after Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly announced that the country had withdrawn 41 diplomats and their family members from India, following a threat to strip them of their diplomatic immunity by Friday. I can confirm that India has formally conveyed its plan to unilaterally remove diplomatic immunities for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents in Delhi by tomorrow, October 20, Joly said in Ottawa late on Thursday. Brushing aside her contention, the External Affairs Ministry said in New Delhi: We have seen the Statement by the Government of Canada on October 19 regarding Canadian diplomatic presence in India. The state of our bilateral relations, the much higher number of Canadian diplomats in India and their continued interference in our internal affairs warrant parity in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa. We have been engaged with the Canadian side on this over the last month in order to work out the details and modalities of its implementation. The External Affairs Ministry added, Our actions in implementing this parity are fully consistent with Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which states the following: In the absence of specific agreement as to the size of the mission, the receiving State may require that the size of a mission be kept within limits considered by it to be reasonable and normal, having regard to circumstances and conditions in the receiving State and to the needs of the particular mission. The Ministry said, We reject any attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms. Tension flared between India and Canada last month following Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus allegations of the potential involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18 in British Columbia. India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020. New Delhi rejected the allegations as absurd and motivated. Earlier on Friday, Canada also paused all in-person services at the consulates in Mumbai, Chandigarh, and Bengaluru and urged its citizens in these three cities to exercise caution. All Canadians in India have been asked to contact the High Commission in New Delhi in case they need assistance. The Canadian updated advisory added, In the context of recent developments in Canada and India, there are calls for protests and some negative sentiment towards Canada in traditional media and on social media. Demonstrations, including anti-Canada protests, could occur and Canadians may be subjected to intimidation or harassment. In Delhi and the National Capital Region, you should keep a low profile with strangers, and not share your personal information with them. The advisory also said, Exercise a high degree of caution in and around Bengaluru, Chandigarh, and Mumbai. Consular services in-person are temporarily unavailable in those cities or surrounding areas. Petty crime, such as pickpocketing and purse snatching, is common. Criminals may target foreigners, especially in major cities and tourist areas. The last few weeks saw both the countries expelling senior diplomats. Last month, India advised its citizens living in Canada and those contemplating travelling there to exercise utmost caution given growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes in the North American country. As regards withdrawing its diplomats from India, Joly said in their unreasonable request for diplomatic parity, India would only allow 21 diplomats and their families to maintain their diplomatic status, putting the others at risk of having their protections stripped arbitrarily, leaving them vulnerable to reprisal or arrest. This means 41 Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents were in danger of having immunity stripped on an arbitrary date, and this would put their personal safety at risk, she said at a news conference in Ottawa. The safety of Canadians and of our diplomats is always my top concern. Given the implications of Indias actions on the safety of our diplomats, we have facilitated their safe departure from India, Joly said. This means that our diplomats and their families have now left. Last month, India asked Canada to downsize its diplomatic staff in the country, arguing that there should be parity in strength and rank equivalence in the mutual diplomatic presence. The size of Canadian diplomatic staff in India is larger than what New Delhi has in Canada. Calling Indias action contrary to international law and in violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, Joly accused India of escalating the bilateral tensions, but Canada will not be reciprocating. There is a fundamental principle of diplomacy, and this is a two-way street. It only works if every country abides by the rules, she said. A unilateral revocation of diplomatic privileges and immunities is contrary to international law, Joly said. Threatening to do so is unreasonable and escalatory. If we allow the norm of diplomatic immunity to be broken, no diplomats anywhere would be safe. So for this reason, we will not reciprocate, she added. Let me be clear, Canada will continue to defend international law, which applies to all nations and will continue to engage with India. Now more than ever, we need diplomats on the ground, and we need to talk to one another, Joly said. Joly announced the development on the situation with India alongside Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Marc Miller, who announced the shrinking of Canadas footprint to one-third of what it was, will impact the level of service delivery Canada will be able to provide in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that the Namo Bharat train symbolises the journey of a New India and its new resolutions. He flagged off the Namo Bharat train on a 17-km stretch of the Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) in Sahibabad. The Prime Minister mentioned that the 80-km stretch between Delhi and Meerut is just the beginning. Namo Bharat systems will be implemented in many parts of the country, generating employment opportunities, he added. Highlighting that the crew of the Namo Bharat train comprises women, he said, This is the symbol of growing women empowerment in India. The Namo Bharat trains will start chugging from October 21. Modi stated that the entire 82-kilometre stretch of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS will be completed within the next year and a half. He expressed confidence that he will be present to inaugurate it. Four years ago, I laid the foundation stone of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut regional corridor project. Today, the services of Namo Bharat trains have started on the stretch from Sahibabad to Duhai Depot. I had said earlier too and I say it today as well that we inaugurate the projects which we start, he said. I will be there at your service when this Delhi-Meerut stretch is completed after a year or a year and a half, Modi said. The Prime Minister also launched virtually two stretches of the east-west corridor of the Bengaluru Metro. The function was attended by Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and parliamentarians from western Uttar Pradesh. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar joined the function virtually. This is a historic moment as Indias first rapid rail service Namo Bharat train has been flagged off, said Modi, adding that the modern train service will define the journey of a New India and its new resolutions. The present decade will witness the transformation of railway services in the country, he said and listed initiatives such as the Namo Bharat and the Vande Bharat train services, and upgrading of railway stations under the Amrit Bharat initiative. Modi said the trinity of Amrit Bharat, Vande Bharat and Namo Bharat will become a symbol of modern railways by the end of this decade. I am not in the habit of small dreams and walking slowly. I want to give a guarantee to the young generation of today that by the end of this decade, Indian trains will be second to none in the world, the Prime Minister said. He noted that the drivers as well as support staff of the newly inaugurated Namo Bharat train are women. Namo Bharat is a symbol of the strengthening women power in the country, Modi said. The Prime Minister said the Namo Bharat train provides a glimpse of India of the future and exemplifies the transformation of the nation with growing economic muscle. Modi said the Government has drawn up a roadmap for the development of the space sector and that day was not far when an Indian will travel to the Moon in an indigenously built spacecraft. The Prime Minister said Indias Gaganyaan will soon ferry Indian astronauts to space and the country also plans to establish its own space station. We have drawn a strong roadmap till 2040 for the space sector...That day is not far when we will land an Indian on the Moon on our own spacecraft, Modi said. Modi recalled that Indias Moon mission Chandrayaan-3 had recently placed the countrys tricolour on the lunar surface. He said India of the 21st century was writing new chapters of progress and the landing of Chandrayaan on the Moon had left the world awestruck. With the impeccable hosting of the G20 Summit, todays India has become the centre of attraction and curiosity for the world which finds new opportunities to connect. Todays India wins more than 100 medals in the Asian Games. Todays India launches 5G on its strength and takes it to all corners of the country. Todays India does the highest digital transactions in the world. Namo Bharat trains that were flagged off today are also made in India, the Prime Minister said. On Friday, Modi inaugurated the 17-km priority section of the RRTS corridor between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot that has five stations Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai and Duhai Depot. The segment from Duhai to Duhai Depot is a spur from the main corridor. The entire 82.15 km Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS is targeted to be operational by June 2025. This 80-km Delhi-Meerut stretch is just the beginning. The first phase will see many areas of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan being connected with Namo Bharat trains soon, he said. The need for a campaign to educate the people about the impoverished situation and political insensitivity in Odisha was stressed by the participants in a State-level workshop organised by the Odisha Parivartan Abhiyan here on Friday. All the major political parties participating in the event expressed their support to this civil society-led movement to usher in a change. Pradesh Congress Campaign Committee chairman Bijay Kumar Patnaik explained how the ordinary villagers are exploited by officials and rampant corruption in the government functioning prevails. Suresh Panigrahi of the CPI(M) highlighted how Odisha has one of the lowest wage and social security systems in India. Samruddha Odisha president Jatish Mohanty explained that economic development can happen with appropriate government intervention. Abhaya Sahu of the CPI, Judhisthir Mahapatra of CPI(ML (Liberation), Subash Nayak of SUCI (Communist), Pravas Samantray of Samanta Kranti Dal were of the opinion that the political parties, social movements, lawyers, etc., must work hand in hand to change the prevailing the situation. Odisha Parivartan Abhiyan coordinator Manas Jena presented instances of backwardness of Odisha in agriculture, industry, service sector and human resources. He also presented a thirty-point peoples agenda for a State-wide campaign. Ashok Nanda while presiding over the event explained the need for giving an alternative path for social justice, politics and development in the State. He also called for a united effort to counter communalism and attack on democracy. People from different walks of life expressed their concern over the persistent underdevelopment of Odisha and growing communalisation of politics in the country. Panchanan Kanungo of Congress, Ajeya Rout of OCP, senior journalist Sandip Sahu, social activists Ranjt Pattnaik, Kumar Prasant, Ziauddin Ahamad, Balakrushna Chhatar, Digambar Dhuria and Romita Kundu, student leader Sanghamitra Jena, educationist Chakradhar Pradhan also spoke on the issues. An action plan was chalked out to carry forward the movement starting with zone-level meetings. AIIMS Bhopal's Center of Happiness, in partnership with the Department of Psychiatry, held a session for schizophrenia caregivers on October 20, 2023. The event provided a platform for caregivers to exchange experiences, knowledge, and coping strategies in light of the significant challenges posed by this severe mental disorder. Prof. (Dr.) Ajai Singh, Executive Director & CEO of AIIMS Bhopal, stressed the importance of regular interactive sessions for caregivers to improve their quality of life. He emphasized that caregivers play a crucial role in the care of patients, and their experiences can benefit others. Prof. (Dr.) Vijender Singh, Head of the Department of Psychiatry, discussed the importance of accepting the disease and seeking appropriate treatment. Caregivers shared how consistency in treatment and guidance from doctors helped their loved ones. The hearings on the controversial same sex marriage have ended. A five-Judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud refused to grant constitutional validity to same-sex marriage. However, on the five-Judge panel, two Judges voted in favour of same-sex marriage, while three others voted against it. According to the Supreme Court, the issue should be resolved by the Parliament and through proper legislation process. Back in the year 2021, the Centre opposed the petitions filed by Abhijit Iyer Mitra and three others in Delhi High Court seeking recognition and registration of same-sex marriages. The Centre says legal recognition of same-sex marriages cannot be decided by the court alone. Marriage is a bond between a biological man and biological woman. Same sex partners can live together. But living together is not the yardstick to compare with Indian concept of family unit- a husband, a wife and children. Whereas in 2018, a historic judgement was made by the Supreme Court of India when a five-Judge constitution bench struck down the provision of Section 377 of IPC and decriminalised consensus on same sex relations. Justice Indu Malhotra meaningfully stated that an apology [is owed] to members of the LGBTQ community for the ostracisation and persecution they faced because of societys ignorance. The step by the Supreme Court of India was meant to increase the level of social acceptance for LGBTQ. The social acceptance for homosexual relationship should be treated with equality and dignity. Still the dignity and acceptance with equality are missing somewhere. Same sex relationships are largely defined by a term homosexuality. Still it is believed that homosexuality is a mental illness or psychological problem. Some justify that homosexuals are immoral. There are no official demographics for the homosexual population in India, but the Government of India submitted figures to the Supreme Court of India in 2012 with LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer) data according to which there are more than 2.5 million gay people recorded in India. These figures are only based on those individuals who have self-declared to the Ministry of Health. As per a fresh report, today 10% of the population of India is LGBTQ i.e., 135 million is expected to belong to the category. There is no official demographic data for homosexuals worldwide because homosexual relations are illegal in 74 countries. The argument which provokes us to analyse is that if there is legal freedom to same sex relationship and freedom to same sex living together then why not a freedom to marry with the person of same sex. The arguments which oppose the same sex marriages but accept the same sex relationship have a different opinion. They figure out that same sex relationship is a particular human behaviour and can be accepted with some extent. Same sex marriage is a taboo. In this context, the Centre says to the Delhi HC that it can decriminalise a human behaviour but not a human conduct. In India, marriage is a solemnised institution. It is guided by religious sentiments, controlled by rituals and values and dependent on old age customs. Marriage is a sacrament. Marriage is not only about two private individuals and their privacy. It has a wider periphery. It includes public recognition and public acceptance attached with many statutory rights and obligations. Apart from these, a societal morality factor plays a huge role as a deciding factor for accepting same sex marriage in India. The Centre further argues that despite the decriminalisation of same sex marriage, petitioners cannot claim a fundamental right for same sex marriages under the laws of the country. It is because the fundamental right under Article 21 is subject to the procedure established by law and it cannot be expanded to include the fundamental right for same sex marriage. The petitions were filed in Delhi HC to get recognition and registration under Hindu Marriage Act 1955, Special Marriage Act and Foreign Marriage Act. Any interference with the existing marriage laws would cause a mess with the delicate balance of personal laws in the country. So it cannot be changed. Apart from this, under Section 5 of the Hindu Marriage Act, a marriage must be solemnized between only a man and a woman. So the same sex partner cannot marry or get recognition under this act. In India these acts are over powered by religious sentiments. That is why still dowry, marital rape, domestic violence and patriarchy dominate our family system. We live in a society where custom and traditions are powerful than dignity and equity. A law or an order cannot bring a social change. A change can be brought by the acceptance with humility. LGBTQ activists urged the apex court to omit man and woman terms from marriage acts and the need to introduce the term spouse instead. The arguments which favour same sex marriages say that if same sex couple can have all the legal rights to live and love then why society is not going one step forward and acknowledging their legal relationship as marriage. The Supreme Court of India in its recent judgment was keenly concerned about the discrimination of LGBTQ+ community in many spehres in thier lives. There are plenty of instances where homosexuals are discriminated at work places. Some are harassed on their sexual preferences and some are pressurized on the basis of their gender identity. In India, despite legal recognition, the LGBTQ community has a poor access towards quality healthcare. Medical professionals including doctors are very anxious to know the gender identity of LGBTQ while doing treatment. As far as any sex related problem or disease is concerned, same sex partner have difficulties in explaining their sexual life. There are many examples where medicals have taken a lot of time to decide the ward in which a LGBTQ should be admitted. Bullying and abuse are the most regular harassments for homosexual students in educational Institutions. A British study on the social marginalisation of homosexuals at educational institutions revealed that 60% of the LGBTQ students had suffered teasing, ridiculing, name calling, isolation and fear, suicidal and self-harm tendency. Society needs anti discrimination laws and gender neutrality laws for LGBTQ that will empower them to build productive lives and relationships. The first priority is to give identification to LGBTQ and create massive sensitisation on their rights and privileges, besides how the society should deal with them. (Dr Parida is an Assistant Professor in Sociology) Pro - VC Dr. Pawan Poddar finally took over as acting VC of Binod Bihari Mahto Koylaanchal University on Friday here just after a week since Dr Sukhdeo Bhoi was dismissed from post of Vice Chancellor by the orders of Chancellor of Universities of Jharkhand. Talking to the Pioneer Dr Poddar said, ''My priority would be to make BBMKU as one of the best universities of Jharkhand. " Development of academic standards as well as in other aspects would be on priority list," he said. It is worth mentioning that Dr Poddar has been directed to take up routine matters and for any policy decision he would have to take a nod from Rajbhawan. Host of senior officials of the university were present while Dr Poddar took over though the university is officially closed for Durga Puja. Bhoi was removed from post after seventeen months on Friday last for his alleged corrupt practices adopted during his stint . Digital Transformation Group (DTG) BHEL Bhopal, has won the prestigious Hindustan Times- TechCircle Business Transformation Award 2023, in the Excellence in Digital Execution category. The Award was given by eminent personalities of IT fraternity at the award ceremony held at Jaipur, on October 13, 2023. At the unit, Rajeev Singh, Executive Director, BHEL Bhopal, presented the Award, in the presence of Vipul Agrawal, General Manager (Fabrication, Thermal & DTG) to NP Sanodia, AGM(IT), Vivek Pathak, Sr. DGM (IT) and Mahesh Sharma, Manager (IT) on October 18, 2023 at BHEL, Bhopal. Hindustan Times-TechCircle Business Transformation Awards 2023, recognize Business and Technology trailblazers, for their remarkable contributions to Organizational growth. They are given to enterprises that have demonstrated prowess in key domains, including digital execution, competitive edge, digital-first approach, good business, and revenue generation. Winners were meticulously chosen by eminent jury, based on their exceptional performance in critical categories and their corresponding sub-pillars. More than 400 Transformation initiatives, involving 800+ Leaders, were received for this Award, from reputed Organizations, industry professionals, start-ups and practitioners from across India. BHEL Bhopal nomination was evaluated by an eminent jury of experienced, qualified, and exceptional technology professionals, which acknowledged and adjudicated it as the finest amongst a large number of entries and nominations. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Friday said the BJP was wrongly claiming credit for controlling the Maoist menace in the state. Union Home Minister Amit Shah's claim that it was the Modi government which checked Maoists was a bundle of lies, Baghel told a public meeting in Jagdalpur. The Chief Minister also accused Shah of not telling the truth about the proposed privatization of Bastars Nagarnar Steel Plant. After the public meeting, Congress candidates took out rallies in Jagdalpur, Chitrakot and Bastar assembly constituencies. "They (BJP) are continuously telling lies... There was a double-engine government when there was the Raman Singh government in Chhattisgarh but Naxalism increased... "Our government came and we tried to win everyone's trust. We talked to everyone -- tribals, businessmen, youths. Then we made a strategy... Now, the Naxalites have stepped back..." He said Shah's statement that the Nagarnar Steel Plant in Bastar will not be privatized was stated keeping in view the upcoming Assembly elections. Hry declares Oct 28 as public holiday for Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti Chandigarh: Haryana Government has notified October 28 as a public holiday in public offices on account of Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti and Maharaja Ajmidh Jayanti. A notification to this effect has been issued by Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal. Ved Prakash Atri will receive Shri Dhanpat Singh Sangi Lifetime Achievement Award Chandigarh: In view of an announcement made by Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to honour folk artists of Haryana, the Dhanpat Singh Sangi Lifetime Achievement Award will be given to Sangi Ved Prakash Atri, a vital contributor in the field of folk art. Director General, Information, Public Relations, Languages and Culture Department, Dr Amit Agrawal stated that Haryana boasts a rich history of the folk art form known as 'Sang.' Sang is a powerful genre that combines dance, music, acting, dialogue, and exposition to convey creative messages while addressing social concerns. It significantly impacts society as it directly addresses social issues and connects with the masses. Banks asked to strengthen cyber security by linking Aadhaar numbers to mobile accounts: Hry DGP Chandigarh: Haryana Director General of Police Shatrujeet Kapur on Friday asked the bank officials to strengthen cyber security by linking Aadhaar numbers to mobile accounts. In this regard, bank officials should prepare an action plan so that necessary steps can be taken toward stopping cybercrime, he added. Kapur said this while presiding over the meeting with representatives from both private and government banks, focusing on the prevention of cybercrime. During the meeting, Kapur outlined three key focal areas for bank officials to work on: Training for Nodal Officers. He stressed the importance of training the bank's nodal officers, in conjunction with the police personnel assigned to cyber helplines, in matters of cyber security. PM Gati Shakti Project to bolster social Infrastructure in Hry Chandigarh: The Pradhan Mantri Gati Shakti Project, designed to bolster the infrastructure of India by 2047, is a highly effective scheme encompassing all states and union territories, with particularly promising implications for Haryana. This ambitious initiative is poised to usher in unprecedented development, not only in various developmental projects but also in the social sector, Sumita Dawra, Special Secretary of the Department of Industrial Promotion and Internal Trade under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. She presided over a seminar here today, focused on reviewing the inter-state transmission aspect of the National Master Plan under the Pradhan Mantri Gati Shakti Project. Hry is only demanding its own right, not anyone elses share: Hooda Chandigarh: Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Friday said that Haryana is only demanding its rightful share of water through SYL, not someone elses share. He said the Supreme Court has given its approval on this matter, after which no ifs and buts remain. He stated that it is the responsibility of the Central Government to provide the state its rightful share of water. He said it is now the responsibility of the state BJP-JJP government to pressure the Centre and said the coalition government did not show any promptness on the SYL issue. If the government takes any step in the interest of the state, the Congress is fully ready to support it, he added. Hry Govt sets up committee to examine historical facts about Samrat Mihir Bhoj Chandigarh: The Haryana Government has set up a seven-member committee to examine the historical facts about Samrat Mihir Bhoj with the aim of averting the proliferation of disinformation. An order to this effect has been issued by Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal on Friday. The order states that Divisional Commissioner, Karnal will be chairman of the committee while the Inspector General of Police, Karnal Range, will be its vice chairman and the Deputy Commissioner, Kaithal will be its Member Secretary. Superintendent of Police, Kaithal, two professors of History from Panjab University, Chandigarh namely Rajeev Lochan and Priyatosh Sharma and two advocates of both parties Gurjar & Kshatriya, as representatives of both communities will be its members. The committee will submit its report within a period of 04 weeks from the date of issue of this order. In a recent report to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) pointed out that several major projects aimed at cleaning the Yamuna river in Delhi are reported to be running behind schedule. The report highlights significant delays in projects undertaken by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to reduce pollution in the river. The projects include the construction of new sewage treatment plants (STPs), rehabilitation of existing ones, trapping of drains, laying sewer lines in unauthorised colonies, desilting of trunk sewers and utilisation of treated wastewater. These initiatives are part of an NGT panels Action Plan to Rejuvenate Yamuna. According to the DPCC report, the work by the DDA to restore the Yamuna floodplains, divided into several sections, has been delayed by six to 12 months. The report reveals that the construction of a new 124 million gallons per day (MGD) STP in Okhla has been delayed by nine months and it is now expected to be completed by March next year. Similarly, the construction of a 7 MGD STP in Sonia Vihar has been delayed by four months, with a new completion target set for the end of 2023. The 22-kilometre stretch of the Yamuna between Wazirabad and Okhla, which represents less than two per cent of the rivers total length, accounts for approximately 75 per cent of its pollution load. High levels of pollution in the river are attributed to untreated wastewater from unauthorised colonies and jhuggi-jhopri clusters, as well as the poor quality of treated wastewater discharged from STPs and common effluent treatment plants. The Delhi Government has made a commitment to clean the Yamuna to bathing standards by February 2025. To meet these standards, the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) should be less than three milligrams per litre and dissolved oxygen (DO) should be greater than five milligrams per litre. Currently, Delhi generates 792 MGD of sewage and 35 STPs across the city can treat up to 667 MGD of sewage, utilising around 70 per cent of their capacity (550 MGD). Around 242 MGD of sewage directly enters the river. The data indicates that only 10 out of the 35 operational STPs in the capital meet the prescribed standards for wastewater (BOD and Total Suspended Solids less than 10 milligrams per litre), with the capacity to treat 150 million gallons of wastewater per day. Congress has declared candidates for all 7 seats in Bhopal district. The party has given a ticket to Atif Aqil, son of Bhopal North MLA Aqif Akil, in the second list. Confidence has been shown in PC Sharma by giving him a ticket from South-West for the second time. BJP has not yet announced the candidate from South West seat of Bhopal. Ravindra Sahu has been fielded against Krishna Gaur from BJP's traditional seat Govindpura. Naresh Gyanchandani has been given another chance from Huzoor seat. He will face BJP's Rameshwar Sharma. In the first list, Congress had announced the names of MLA Arif Masood from Bhopal Central, Manoj Shukla from Narela and Jayashree Harikiran from Berasia. BJP has also declared candidates on all the seats except South-West. Caste equation has been seen among 7 Congress candidates. Among the Congress candidates, two Brahmins, two Muslims, two OBCs and one SC have been given tickets. For the first time, BJP has given a chance to two Brahmin candidates in Bhopal. At the same time, one ticket each has been given to OBC, Rajput, Vaishya and SC categories. In Bhopal, BJP has not yet declared a candidate for the South-West Assembly seat of the capital. Now everyone's eyes are on this seat. It will be interesting to see which category of candidates BJP gives a chance from here. Congress has given ticket to former district president Ravindra Sahu from Govindpura seat. He is considered close to former Chief Minister Digvijay Singh. He will face BJP MLA Krishna Gaur. Some Congress leaders were in favor of a woman candidate from this seat over Krishna and had put forward the name of Congress state spokesperson Deepti Singh. Rambabu's name was also in the panel from this seat, but the final decision was in the name of Ravindra Sahu. Sources claim that Ravindra has been given the ticket on the basis of caste equation. The number of OBC voters is high in this seat. Congress has given ticket to Atif Aqil, son of former minister Arif Aqil, from Bhopal North seat. Arif Aqil had refused to contest elections due to health reasons. His contest is against BJP candidate former mayor Alok Sharma. Sharma's name was announced by BJP in the first list on September 17 itself. Apart from rivals, displeasure of loved ones will also be a big challenge for Atif. Actually, his uncle and Arif Aqil's brother Aamir Aqil was also claiming this seat. Recently he had also organized a big rally. AAP party has given ticket to Saud Rauf from this seat. This seat has been held by Congress since 1998. Congress has fielded Naresh Gyanchandani to contest against BJP's Rameshwar Sharma from Huzur seat. Gyanchandani had lost the election from Rameshwar in the last election. Jitendra Daga, who left BJP and joined Congress, was considered a contender from this seat, but the party has once again expressed confidence in Gyanchandani. He is considered close to Digvijay Singh. One reason for giving him ticket is the large vote bank of Sindhi community in this seat. Congress has once again trusted former minister PC Sharma. He has been given a ticket from the South-West seat. Congress leader Sanjeev Saxena was contesting from this seat. Congress sources say that this seat was kept in the first list due to some complications but, PC Sharma's name was approved in the meeting held in Delhi on Thursday. BJP has not yet declared its candidate from this seat. Rahul Kothari, Dr. Abhijeet Deshmukh along with Surendranath Singh are voting from here. But, due to the way many leaders in BJP who lost the last election have been given tickets again, Umanskar Gupta's name is being mentioned ahead. The Congress has announced its second list of 85 candidates for the Madhya Pradesh assembly polls. With this list issued late Thursday night, the party has declared all but one candidates for elections to the 230-member assembly scheduled for November 17. The Congress has not yet declared its candidate from Amla seat in Betul district from where a woman deputy collector Nisha Bangre is seeking a ticket but the ruling BJP government has not yet accepted her resignation from the services and the matter at present is pending in the court, the party sources said. Earlier the party had declared candidates for 144 seats but changed candidature in three seats while issuing the second list. Therefore, the total number of candidates announced in the first list stands at 141, a Congress leader said. After intense tussle in the party that led to the tearing of clothes controversy, the Congress has replaced tickets of Datia, Gotegaon and Pichhore seats. A video of Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath where he is asking party men to tear clothes of his colleague Digvijaya Singh over denial of ticket to a leader from Shivpuri fuelled talks of a rift in the party over selection of nominees even as the two former chief ministers sought to make light of the episode and on Tuesday put up a united face ahead of the assembly polls. Nath in a message on X in Hindi on Thursday said the party has issued the second list comprising 88 candidates and extended his best wishes to all of them. You are not just standing in the assembly polls to become an MLA, but to change the future of the state, he added. The party has replaced Avdhesh Nayak with senior Congress leader Rajendra Bharti in Datia from where BJP candidate and the state home minister Narottam Mishra is contesting for the fourth time. Mishra won from Datia in 2008, 2013 and 2018 assembly elections. The party also changed the ticket from Gotegaon (SC) seat from where it replaced Shekhar Choudhary with the sitting MLA and former Assembly Speaker Narmada Prasad Prajapati. The Congress leadership also replaced Shailendra Singh with Arvind Singh Lodhi from Pichhore seat in Shivpuri district in view of the protest by the party workers. The party has fielded former minister and sitting MLA PC Sharma from Bhopal South West constituency. The Congress has given ticket to sitting MLA Arif Aqeels son, Atif Aqeel from Bhopal North, despite opposition by Arifs younger brother Aamir Aqeel. The BJP has fielded former Bhopal Mayor Alok Sharma from there. Among the prominent leaders who got the ticket for contesting assembly polls include former minister Choudhary Rakesh Singh Chaturvedi from Bhind, Subhash Sojatia from Garoth and Rajkumar Patel from Bhojpur seats. The party also fielded Ravinder Singh Tomar from the Dimni assembly seat and he will contest against Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar. From the Gwalior assembly seat, considered the bastion of Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, the Congress has fielded Sunil Sharma, who had unsuccessfully contested in a bypoll against sitting MLA and minister Pradhuman Singh Tomar, a known Scindia loyalist. Besides, the party has fielded BJP-turned-Congress leaders Deepak Joshi from Khategaon and Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat from Badnawar seats for the assembly polls. The single-phase polling for the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly will be held on November 17 and counting of votes will take place on December 3, along with other poll-bound states. The chief secretary SS Sandhu has directed the departments of State government to expedite the process of the loan disbursal. He chaired a meeting held at the State secretariat to review the loan targets of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) on Friday. He said that the loan disbursal by the departments is not satisfactory as compared to the approved proposals by the NABARD. The CS also asked NABARD to expedite the process of approval of the proposals. He directed the department secretaries and the heads of departments to undertake weekly reviews of the process of loan disbursal and payments. He asked the secretaries to link the proposals under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) with the department calendar and to ensure that the entire process of approval of proposal to the disbursal of loans is done within a stipulated time frame. The CS also directed that the project completion reports should be submitted without any delay. He suggested that good quality proposals should be continuously prepared and the DPRs should be submitted to NABARD along with the finance department for the timely approval from NABARD. The CS said that regular updates on the Gati Shakti Uttarakhand portal are also made. Secretary Dilip Jawalkar said that against the loan target of Rs 1,090 crore, proposals of Rs 907.93 crore have been sent to NABARD and it has given its approval to the proposals of Rs 501.20 crore. He informed that against the loan disbursal target of Rs 900 crore the departments have only disbursed Rs 273.82 crore. The meeting was attended by secretaries BVRC Purushottam, Deependra Kumar Chaudhary, SN Pandey, additional secretary C Ravishankar, Vineet Kumar and others. Repair of roads and pipes are among the works to be carried out in east Delhis Patparganj using the MLA fund of jailed AAP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia following court approval of his request to use the money for his constituencys development. The former Deputy Chief Minister is in jail in connection with the Delhi excise policy scam case, which is being probed by the Central Bureau Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate. On August 22, a court had allowed an application moved by him to release money from his MLA fund for development works in his Patparganj constituency. Following the courts approval, letters have been sent to all relevant departments to ensure that development works in Patparganj start in time using the MLA fund (of Sisodia), said an official statement, which also stated the works requested by the senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader. Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel in a letter to Chief Secretary on Friday expressed his unwillingness to give consent for the transfer of three officers of Assembly Secretariat. The letter of the speaker followed a clarification earlier this week by the Services department of the Delhi government to the Assembly Secretariat that three officers posted there have sought transfer and submitted applications in this regard. Goel, in his letter to Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar, reiterated his earlier allegations that the Assembly officers were pressured by Services department officers to divulge committee proceedings, threatening them with disciplinary action. "I am, therefore, of the belief that the transfer applications of these three officers is a result of intimidation and coercion heaped on them through illegal and irrelevant show cause notices in Delhi Legislative Assembly matters," he wrote to the Chief Secretary. The Assembly Secretariat officers, including its secretary, were issued show cause notice by the Vigilance Directorate of Delhi government in the matter of recruitment of fellows in August this year. "As far as the transfer requests of the three officers are concerned, I am comprehensively disinclined to agree to their request, and accordingly the same may not be acceded to at this juncture," Goel said. Odisha Pradesh Congress Campaign Committee (OPCCC) chairperson Bijay Kumar Patnaik on Thursday claimed that around 15,000 farmers have committed suicide in Odisha since 2000 due to crop losses and debt burden. He blamed the BJD Government for pushing the peasants to the penury. Patnaik had Tuesday paid a visit to family members of Nityananda Parida, a farmer who on October 15 ended his life by consuming poison following crop loss. The 50-year-old Nityananda belonged to Bajabati village in Jajpur district. As per his own suicide note, he ended his life because of crop loss caused due to black stone mining near his farmland. Although indiscriminate mining activities affecting agriculture are going on in Jajpur district, the administration has closed its eyes to it. The Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPC) hasnt also taken any action against the culprits. If such blatant illegal black stone mining by crusher units continues, the agricultural lands will lose their fertility and many more unpleasant things will happen, warned Patnaik. He handed over a cheque of Rs 10,000 to the bereaved family members of Nityananda. OPCC farmers cell president Amiya Pattanaik said, Nobody tells a lie before his death. Nityananda has mentioned the reason of his suicide. He has clearly written that the government allowed black stone mining lease near his paddy farm, for which he suffered crop losses. In his suicide not, Nityananda mentioned that although he lodged a complaint about the running of an illegal crusher unit near his paddy field, no one from the government responded. Honouring the sacrifices of Covid Warriors, the Delhi Government has decided to provide an ex-gratia of Rs 1 crore to two more coronavirus warriors' families who lost their lives while serving people during the COVID-19 pandemic, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said here on Friday. He also informed the State Government has, so far, provided an honorarium of Rs 1 crore to the families of 92 coronavirus warriors. The ex-gratia in the latest instance will be given to the families of Corona Warriors, Satpal, who was a Nursing Orderly Corona Warrior at the Delhi Health Department and Constable Amit Kumar of the Delhi Police. They succumbed to the virus while on COVID duty. The Chief Minister said Delhi is the only State in the country that honors the families of the COVID warriors who lost their lives while serving people during the pandemic. Addressing a news conference, Kejriwal said during the time of COVID, we witnessed how much people suffered. At that time, there were many coronavirus warriors who risked their lives to serve the people of Delhi. The Chief Minister mentioned that a recent Cabinet meeting took place in which two more names of COVID warriors were included for this list of corona warriors. One of them is Satpal, who worked as a Nursing Orderly. He was stationed at the District Medical Store in Saket, which was a high-risk area. Satpal used to send medicines to 40 dispensaries in Delhi, where thousands of healthcare workers and patients relied on those medicines. While on active duty, he contracted COVID and unfortunately lost his life on November 28, 2020. Similarly, there's Constable Amit Kumar of the Delhi Police. He was posted at Bharat Nagar Police Station. During the lockdown, his duty was in the highly risk-prone containment zone around Deep Chand Bandhu Hospital. Hundreds of infected patients were coming into this area, making it an extremely sensitive region. Despite the risks, he continued to serve the people of Delhi without concern for his own life. During his duty, he also contracted COVID. On May 5, 2020, Amit Kumar lost his life. The Delhi Government has already granted Rs 1 crore each to the families of 92 COVID warriors. These COVID warriors were deployed in different departments. This includes 52 from the Delhi government's Health Department, 17 from the MCD, 7 from the Education Department, 5 from the DTC, 2 from the Delhi Police, 4 from Civil Defence Volunteers, as well as one staff from Home Guards, NSUT, DSIDC, Delhi Cantonment Board, and the Ministry of Defence. Out of the 17 COVID warriors from the MCD, 10 are doctors and medical staff, 4 are teachers, and 3 are sanitation workers, and their families will receive an ex-gratia of Rs 1 crore each. A hand tattoo, a wireless set stolen from a policeman and CCTV footage helped Delhi Police crack the case of killing of IT professional Jigisha Ghosh and eventually led the investigators to the killers of TV journalist Soumya Vishwanathan, officials said on Wednesday. Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla and Baljeet Malik, who were arrested for murdering Ghosh in 2009, later confessed to their involvement in Vishwanathans murder in 2008. A Delhi court on Wednesday convicted four persons Kapoor, Shukla, Malik and Ajay Kumar of an organised crime syndicate for murder and other offences for the killing of Vishwanathan. The court also convicted fifth accused Ajay Sethi under section 411 (dishonestly receiving stolen property) and Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) provisions for conspiring to abet, aid or knowingly facilitate organised crime and for receiving the proceeds of organised crime. Following the confessional statements of the trio, the Delhi Police arrested Ajay Kumar and Ajay Sethi and booked all five for killing Vishwanathan in the wee hours of September 30 in 2009 when she was returning home from work. Ghosh was looted and murdered on March 18, 2009. The murder case of Jigisha was solved two-three days after her body was recovered from Suraj Kund area in Faridabad. We had got the first lead from a CCTV footage where we found one of the accused was having a tattoo on his hand, while shopping using Jigishas debit card. Another was carrying a wireless set and wearing a cap, Atul Kumar Verma who was the investigating officer of the case told PTI. Then the officers worked meticulously on Delhi Polices human intelligence network and soon, the police team reached the residence of Malik in Masoodpur. Kapoor and Shukla were arrested subsequently. Malik had his name inked on his hand while Kapoor used to a carry wireless set which he had snatched from a police officer. They revealed that they kidnapped Jigisha from near her house in Vasant Vihar and later killed and dumped her body after looting her. They also did shopping using her debit cards, Verma said. Verma was leading a team of officials from Vasant Vihar police station. We were a bit shocked when Ravi Kapoor himself revealed that they had committed the murder of another girl at Nelson Mandela Marg, which was not very far from Vasant Vihar, said Verma. He also said two other associates Ajay Kumar and Ajay Sethi were involved in that murder. The then Deputy Commissioner of Police (South), HGS Dhaliwal, immediately set up another team of officers and appointed then ACP Bhisham Singh to look into both the murder cases. Singh told PTI, Since we had just confession of the accused for Soumya murder case, the major challenge before us was to collect forensic evidence as well. Detailing the night when Vishwanathan was killed, police said Kapoor drove a Maruti Wagon R car and Shukla sat next to him. Malik and Kumar occupied the rear seat. All of them were drunk, the police said. On September 30, a car zoomed past their vehicle. It was a Maruti Zen which Soumya was driving back to her home in Vasant Kunj. She was returning from TV Todays office then located at Videocon Tower in Karol Bagh, another officer, O P Thakur, who was among the investigators, said. On seeing a woman driver overtaking them and that she was alone, they raised the speed of their vehicle and came closer to her vehicle. First they tried to waylaid her, and when she did not stop her car, Kapoor opened fire at Vishwanathans vehicle. The bullet hit her in the temple leaving her dead on the spot. Vishwanathans car stopped after ramming into a divider. All the accused fled from the spot but 20 minutes later returned to see her condition. When they saw police personnel, they ran away, the officer said. We are very satisfied today. The conviction has happened basically due to three reasons weapon of offence which was recovered from the accused, the forensic sketch of the spot and the sequence of incident matched with the confession statement of the accused, Singh said. Delhi BJP on Friday expressed concerns over the recent public transport policy by the AAP led Delhi Government pertaining to the proposal of Premium Aggregated Bus Service in the national Capital which is a step towards privatisation of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC). Former Delhi BJP President and partys MLA Vijender Gupta said the current policies have been formulated with malafide intentions, favouring private bus operators at the cost of the state's primary public transport service, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC). Drawing attention to his efforts back in 2016, Gupta in a statement said that he had had lodged a complaint due to the fact that the policy was introduced without the requisite enabling provisions in the Motor Vehicles Act. The zeal with which the Kejriwal Government is pushing for the rollout of this policy suggests possible vested interests," Gupta charged. Elaborating on the current state of affairs of DTC, Gupta lamented the neglect it has suffered over the years, with the fleet largely comprising buses that are over 15 years old and in a deteriorating condition, rendering them unfit for daily operations. He compared this with the luxury premium buses being promoted, which, are not meant to cater to the needs of the common man in Delhi. This is underscored by the ` 2500 crore annual loss borne by DTC, he said. Gupta also emphasised that during his tenure as the leader of the opposition in 2016, he had raised concerns about irregularities favouring a particular aggregator. This policy, he said, was subsequently retracted due to fears of repercussions for its wrongdoings. Drawing a parallel, Gupta pointed out the AAP Government's approach to the liquor policy, which was similarly withdrawn after irregularities were exposed. "We've observed this pattern before: introduce a policy and backtrack when potential malpractices emerge," he commented. Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said that the announcement of Premium Aggregated Bus Service is a proof of Arvind Kejriwal's misintention to privatise the public services and it stands established that the Chief Minister has wilfully failed destroyed Delhi Transport Corporation. Sachdeva said ever since coming to power in 2015 Arvind Kejriwal has been trying to privatise the public transport system of Delhi. In 2016 itself Kejriwal Government had brought the Premium Aggregated Bus Service proposal which was tailor made to suit a Gurgaon based aggregator. The matter was then strongly opposed by Delhi BJP as no terms & condition of the proposal were cleared. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday said that massive investment made by the Tata group in the state will herald a new era of industrial development and progress in the state after he performed the groundbreaking ceremony of a Green Steel Plant coming up at a cost of nearly Rs 2600 crore. He said that this is the second largest plant by Tata group in the country after Jamshedpur adding that this is the company of Patriots who have played a pivotal role in national freedom struggle. Mann said that besides opening new avenues of employment for the youth, this project will act as a catalyst in giving a fillip to the industrial development of the state. Mann announced that the state government will construct the road leading to the site of the plant from the National Highway. He said that Punjab is known for its spirit of enterprise, which is bolstered by the warm and welcoming people of the state. He said that this spirit of dynamism has allowed Punjab to become the most preferred investment destination in the country. Mann said that due to strenuous efforts of the state government Punjab is today the first choice for the investment of many global giants. He said that due to efforts made by the state government, Punjab has so far received investments to the tune of Rs 56,796 crores since mid-March 2022, and generated employment opportunities for 2.98 lakh youth. He said that during the last 18 months, some of the biggest companies like Tata Steel, Sanathan Textiles, Toppan, and Freudenberg Group are making a beeline to invest in the state. The Chief Minister said that in February 2023, mini conclaves were hosted in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mohali, and Pathankot providing a platform to interact with local industry stakeholders and gather suggestions. He said that to further enhance engagement, a WhatsApp Number and Email was launched for getting the suggestions of industrialists in July 2023. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that based on the feedback received during the mini conclaves as well as pursuant to the toll-free helpline, the government formulated policy reforms which were announced during the Sarkar Santkar Milnis. Mann said that the state government has taken some unique initiatives like colour-coded stamp paper thereby introducing Green Colour Stamp Paper for Registration of Sale Deed along with Inbuilt CLU. In addition to this, he said that Punjab recently launched Industrial policy 2022 which offers a host of attractive incentives. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Invest Punjab has emerged as Top State Investment Promotion Agency, which serves as the single point of contact for any investor. He said that Invest Punjab has been instrumental in providing momentous support in facilitating Tata Steel's entry and other marquee into Punjab. The CM pointed out that Punjab is also home to prestigious educational institutions such as IIT, IIM, ISB, and more which are helping in providing a pool of skilled manpower to the industrialists. He said that investments by Tata Steel, Nestle, Freudenberg, Claas, PepsiCo, Coca Cola, Cargill and others demonstrate Punjabs commitment to fostering a conducive business environment. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjab is also the preferred investment destination for international companies looking to launch in India or expand their footprint in the country. Lauding the Tata Steel Limited for believing in Punjab and setting up this recycled steel plant, the Chief Minister said that the state is excited about the positive impact of this project on Punjabs economy and the community. He assured fulsome support and cooperation to Tata Steel Limited in Punjab for times to come. Bhagwant Singh Mann wished a bright future for Tata Steel in the state and described it as the dawn of a new era. Former State Chief Minister Raghubar Das and Telangana BJP leader Indra Sena Reddy Nallu have been appointed as the Governors of Odisha and Tripura, respectively, the Rashtrapati Bhavan issued notification in this connection on Wednesday evening. Das, currently a national vice-president of the BJP, was the first non-tribal Chief Minister of Jharkhand from 2014 to 2019. He has been appointed to the gubernatorial post in place of Ganeshi Lal, who has completed his tenure. By making former Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghuvar Das the Governor of Odisha, BJP has tried to send several messages simultaneously. Babulal Marandi will now be the undisputed frontrunner for the post of Chief Minister. It will be possible for Saryu Rai, who defeated Raghuvar by contesting as an independent candidate in the assembly elections, to return home. After the election of Draupadi Murmu as President, this latest step of BJP made it clear that it is again trying to strengthen the old track of its tribal politics. It is believed that its immediate impact will be on the assembly elections of five states, because for this purpose, BJP has already made a leader like Union Minister of State Faggan Singh Kulaste as the assembly candidate in the largest tribal state Madhya Pradesh. Das, the only non-tribal chief minister in Jharkhand with over 26% tribal population, was a surprise pick for the top post in the state in 2014. He led the BJP in the 2019 Jharkhand elections but the party couldnt secure a majority. Hemant Soren of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha became the states chief minister and Raghubar Das - who for the first time since 1995 lost the Jamshedpur East assembly seat - reverted to the position in the BJP that he held before being elevated as chief minister in 2014; BJPs national vice president. But Raghubar Das continued to have a say in how the Jharkhand BJP unit was run by Babulal Marandi, the partys state unit chief. Another prominent player in the state politics, Arjun Munda, also a former chief minister, had already been inducted into the Union council of ministers as the tribal affairs minister in May 2019. That Marandi would play an important role in the BJP was clear when he returned to the party just after the 2019 elections. He was made legislature party leader, explained a BJP leader. In July this year, the BJP named Marandi to lead the state unit and prepare the ground for the BJPs return to power in the state in 2024. The BJP leader cited above said Raghubar Das, however, had been reluctant to take a step back. With this new appointment, the central leadership has settled the leadership issue in the state for now, a senior BJP leader said. A second BJP leader underlined that Raghubar Das played a crucial role in the appointment of former minister Amar Bauri, who also led the BJPs scheduled caste wing in the state, as the new BJP legislature party leader earlier this week. Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Friday accused the Bhupesh Baghel government in Chhattisgarh of being indulged in corruption. Addressing a nomination rally of a BJP candidate in Bijapur, the Information and Broadcasting Minister also said the Modi governments efforts had resulted in a decline in Maoist activities in Bastar. Thakurs rally was held after former state minister Mahesh Gagda filed his nomination papers from Bijapur (ST) seat where polling will be held on November 7. Thakur claimed that the incidents of Naxalite violence have declined by 52 per cent in Chhattisgarh due to the Modi government. Thakur said news and programmes are being broadcast through Akashwani in Gondi and Halbi dialects (spoken by tribals in Bastar) while five FM stations have been approved for Bastar division. Accusing the Baghel government of corruption, Thakur said the people of Chhattisgarh were fed up with Bhu-Pay, a term coined by the BJP as a play on the name Bhupesh Baghel and a digital payment system. The Congress government did nothing except committing scams. There are scams in liquor, coal, sand and rice. Baghel has committed corruption in cow dung (procurement scheme) and rice (distribution through PDS), he alleged. Bhopal Crime Branch arrested 2 accused with illegal weapons, recovered one pistol, one country-made pistol and three live cartridges from the accused. The accused Mohammad Anas alias Dana Badshah is a notorious criminal of Gautam Nagar police station. The Crime Branch received information that a Altaf Ali alias Shanu in at Housing Board Dussehra Ground, Karond and was carrying a pistol. On receiving the information staff reached the Dussehra Ground Housing Board Karond and nabbed him. In the initial investigation a country made pistol was found from him. The pistol had two live cartridges loaded. On interrogation the accused revealed that he had purchased a pistol and cartridges from Qazi Camp and based on his revelations from DIG Bungalow intersection Anas alias Dana was nabbed and a pistol and live cartridge were found from him. The source of firearms from which Anas used to bring and sell is under investigation. The people whom Anas has sold firearms in the past would be investigated in the further investigation. Meanwhile, Ayodhya Nagar police have arrested an accused with a country-made pistol near Ayodhya Extension on Thursday. Police received information that a person was roaming around with a country-made pistol in Ayodhya Extension Ayodhya Nagar, team reached the spot and detained the suspect. The suspect identified as Pradeep Soni was carrying a country made pistol. Police have registered a case under section 25 of the Arms Act. Police suspect that the accused was trying to sell the firearm. The past crime record of the accused would be searched. Israel pounded the Gaza Strip with airstrikes Thursday, including in the south where Palestinians were told to take refuge, as the Israeli defense minister ordered ground troops to prepare to see Gaza from the inside, though he didn't indicate when the ground assault would begin. Gaza's overwhelmed hospitals tried to stretch out ebbing medical supplies and fuel for generators, as authorities worked out logistics for a desperately needed aid delivery from Egypt. Doctors in darkened wards across Gaza performed surgeries by the light of mobile phones and used vinegar to treat infected wounds. Amid the violence, President Joe Biden pledged unwavering support for Israel's security, today and always, while adding that the world can't ignore the humanity of innocent Palestinians" in the besieged Gaza Strip. In an address Thursday night from the Oval office, hours after returning to Washington from an urgent visit to Israel, Biden drew a distinction between ordinary Palestinians and Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza. He linked the current war in Gaza to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin "both want to completely annihilate a neighbouring democracy. Biden said he was sending an urgent budget request to Congress on Friday, to cover emergency military aid to both Israel and Ukraine. Meanwhile, an unclassified US intelligence assessment delivered to Congress estimated casualties in an explosion at a Gaza City hospital this week on the low end of 100 to 300 deaths. The death toll still reflects a staggering loss of life, US intelligence officials said in the report, seen by The Associated Press. It said intelligence officials were still assessing the evidence and their casualty estimate may evolve. Biden and other US officials already have said that US intelligence officials believe the explosion at al-Ahli Hospital was not caused by an Israeli airstrike. Thursday's findings echoed that. The Israeli military has relentlessly attacked Gaza in retaliation for the devastating Oct. 7 Hamas rampage in southern Israel. Even after Israel told Palestinians to evacuate the north of Gaza and flee south, strikes extended across the territory, heightening fears among the territory's 2.3 million people that nowhere was safe. Palestinian militants fired rockets into Israel from Gaza and Lebanon, and tensions flared in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. In a fiery speech to Israeli infantry soldiers on the Gaza border, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant urged the forces to get organized, be ready to move in. Israel has massed tens of thousands of troops along the border. Whoever sees Gaza from afar now, will see it from the inside," he said. It might take a week, a month, two months until we destroy them, he added, referring to Hamas. Israel's consent for Egypt to let in food, water and medicine provided the first possible opening in its seal of the territory. Many Gaza residents are down to one meal a day and drinking dirty water. Egypt and Israel were still negotiating the entry of fuel for hospitals. Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Hamas has stolen fuel from UN facilities and Israel wants assurances that won't happen. The first trucks of aid were expected to go in Friday. With the Egypt-Gaza border crossing in Rafah closed, the already dire conditions at Gaza's second-largest hospital deteriorated further, said Dr Mohammed Qandeel of Nasser Hospital in the southern town of Khan Younis. Power was shut off in most of the hospital and medical staff were using mobile phones for light. At least 80 wounded civilians and 12 dead flooded into the hospital after witnesses said a strike hit a residential building in Khan Younis. Doctors had no choice but to leave two to die because there were no ventilators, Qandeel said. We can't save more lives if this keeps happening, he said. The Gaza Health Ministry pleaded with gas stations to give fuel to hospitals and a U.N. Agency donated some of its last fuel. The agency's donation to Gaza City's Shifa Hospital, the territory's largest, would keep us going for another few hours, hospital director Mohammed Abu Selmia said. Al-Ahli Hospital was still recovering from Tuesday's explosion, which remains a point of dispute between Hamas and Israel. Hamas quickly said an Israeli airstrike hit the hospital, which Israel denied. The AP has not independently verified any of the claims or evidence released by the parties. The blast left body parts strewn on the hospital grounds, where crowds of Palestinians had clustered in hopes of escaping Israeli airstrikes. The US assessment noted only light structural damage, with no impact crater visible. Near al-Ahli, meanwhile, another explosion struck a Greek Orthodox church housing displaced Palestinians late Thursday, resulting in deaths and dozens of wounded. Abu Selmia, the Shifa Hospital director general, said dozens were hurt at the Church of Saint Porphyrios but could not give a precise death toll because bodies were buried under rubble. Palestinian authorities blamed the blast on an Israeli airstrike, a claim that could not be independently verified. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchy of Jerusalem condemned the attack and said it would not abandon its religious and humanitarian duty to provide assistance. The Gaza Health Ministry said 3,785 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, the majority women, children and older adults. Nearly 12,500 were injured, and another 1,300 people were believed buried under rubble, authorities said. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly civilians slain during Hamas' deadly incursion. Roughly 200 others were abducted. The Israeli military said Thursday it had notified the families of 203 captives. More than 1 million Palestinians, about half of Gaza's population, have fled their homes in the north since Israel told them to evacuate, crowding into U.N.-run schools-turned-shelters or the homes of relatives. For the first time since Israel captured Gaza from Egypt in 1967, a major tent camp arose to house displaced people. Dozens of U.N.-provided tents lined a dirt lot in Khan Younis. The deal to get aid into Gaza through Rafah, the territory's only connection to Egypt, remained fragile. Israel said the supplies could only go to civilians and that it would thwart any diversions by Hamas. Biden said the deliveries will end if Hamas takes any aid. More than 200 trucks and some 3,000 tons of aid were positioned at or near Rafah, according to Khalid Zayed, the head of the Red Crescent for North Sinai. Under an arrangement reached between the United Nations, Israel and Egypt, U.N. Observers will inspect the trucks before entering Gaza. The U.N., working with the Egyptian and Palestinian Red Crescent, will ensure aid goes only to civilians, an Egyptian official and European diplomat told the AP. A UN flag will be raised on both sides of the crossing as a sign of protection against airstrikes, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief media. It was not immediately clear how much cargo the crossing could handle. Waleed Abu Omar, spokesperson for the Palestinian side, said work has not started to repair the road damaged by Israeli airstrikes. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told Al-Arabiya TV that foreigners and dual nationals would be allowed to leave Gaza once the crossing was opened. Israel said it agreed to allow aid from Egypt because of a request by Biden which followed days of intense talks with the US secretary of state to overcome staunch Israeli refusal. Israel had previously said it would let nothing into Gaza until Hamas freed the hostages taken from Israel. Relatives of some of the captives were furious over the aid announcement. The Israeli government pampers the murderers and kidnappers, the Hostage and Missing Families Forum said. The Israeli military said Thursday it killed a top Palestinian militant in Rafah and hit hundreds of targets across Gaza, including militant tunnel shafts, intelligence infrastructure and command centres. Palestinians have launched barrages of rockets at Israel since the fighting began. Violence was also escalating in the West Bank, where Israel carried out a rare airstrike Thursday, targeting militants in the Nur Shams refugee camp. Six Palestinians were killed, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, and the Israeli military said the strike killed militants and resulted in 10 Israeli officers being wounded. More than 74 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the war started. A passenger was killed and at least 34 others injured when a private bus carrying them overturned in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur district on Friday, the police said. The incident took place around 6 am when the driver of the bus, which was heading to Durg from Prayagraj, lost control of the vehicle at Kenda Banjari ghat under Belgahna police chowki, a local police official said. The bus overturned resulting in the death of one passenger on the spot, the official said. At least 34 others sustained injuries, he said. Soon after being alerted, a police team reached the spot and launched a rescue exercise, he said. The injured were shifted to nearby hospitals, he said, adding that further details are awaited. Thousands of people in Muslim countries and beyond held demonstrations Friday in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, calling for an end to Israels blockade and airstrikes in the wake of a brutal incursion into southern Israel by fighters from the Hamas militant group that rules Gaza.Demonstrators gathered in Iraq at the countrys border crossing with Jordan; in locations across Egypt; in Turkiyes capital Ankara and its most populous city of Istanbul; and in Indonesia, Malaysia and South Korea.A Tuesday night explosion at a Gaza City hospital tending to wounded Palestinians and residents seeking shelter was a prominent theme in some of the demonstrations. EGYPT Thousands of Egyptians demonstrated in cities and towns across the North African country, in an expression of solidarity with Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip. In a rare move, the Egyptian government approved and even helped organise 27 locations for protesters to gather on Friday. Since coming to power in 2013, Abdel-Fattah el-Sissis government has outlawed large public protests. Hundreds gathered in the courtyard of the Al-Azhar Mosque, the Sunni Muslim worlds foremost religious institution, in central Cairo. Turkiye In Turkiye, where the government has declared three days of mourning in solidarity with the victims of a blast at a Gaza hospital, thousands of people staged protests outside mosques following Friday prayers in Istanbul and in the capital, Ankara.In Istanbul, protesters affiliated with Islamic groups waved Turkish and Palestinian flags, held up placards and chanted slogans denouncing Israels actions in Gaza. Stop the genocide! and Murderer Israel get out of Palestine some of the placards read. IRAQ Hundreds of Iraqi protesters gathered at the western Trebil border crossing near Jordan in a demonstration organized by the Coordination Framework, an alliance of Iran-backed Shia political groups and militias in Iraq. The pro-Iran coalition also called for a protest in Baghdad near the main gate of the highly fortified international zone, where the US Embassy is located, to condemn its endorsement of Israel in the ongoing war with Hamas. MALAYSIA Some 1,000 Muslims marched along a busy thoroughfare in Kuala Lumpur after Friday prayers, slamming Israel as a bully and calling for an end to the killing in Gaza. Waving Palestinian flags, the protesters gathered outside the US Embassy that was under heavy security to protest Americas support for Israel. INDONESIA In Indonesias capital, demonstrators marched from several mosques to the heavily guarded US Embassy in Jakarta to denounce American support for Israel and demand Similar protests also took place in front of the United Nations mission, a few kilometres (miles) from the embassy, and in the compound of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Authorities estimated that about 1,000 people participated in the rallies across Jakarta following Friday prayers in the worlds most populous Muslim-majority nation. Protesters who marched to the US Embassy halted traffic along the way as they chanted God is great, and Save Palestinians. Waving Indonesian and Palestinian flags and signs reading We are proud to support Palestine, more than 100 noisy demonstrators gathered along a major street in Jakarta that runs outside the embassy. Some protesters burned portraits of US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. SOUTH KOREA In South Koreas capital, dozens of protesters chanted slogans, waved Palestinian flags and raised anti-Israel banners. Free, Free Palestinians! the protesters shouted, while holding banners that read We stand with Gaza and Stop the massacre by Israel! Please care about human lives. Thats all I am thinking about, said Elshafei Mohamed, an Egyptian student in Seoul. If we want to really help, we need to supply Gaza with humanitarian aid at once. With tensions spiking in the Middle East, US forces in the region are facing increasing threats, as a Navy warship shot down missiles appearing to head toward Israel Thursday and American bases in Iraq and Syria were repeatedly targeted by drone attacks. The USS Carney, a Navy destroyer in the northern Red Sea, intercepted three land attack cruise missiles and several drones that were launched by Houthi forces in Yemen. The action by the Carney potentially represented the first shots by the U.S. military in the defense of Israel in this conflict. Brig Gen Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, told reporters the missiles were potentially headed toward Israel but said the U.S. hasnt finished its assessment of what they were targeting. A US official said they dont believe the missiles which were shot down over the water were aimed at the US warship. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations that had not yet been announced. But an array of other drone attacks over the past three days did target US bases, including one in southern Syria on Thursday that caused minor injuries. The rash of violence comes in the wake of an explosion at a Gaza hospital that killed hundreds of people, triggering protests in a number of Muslim nations. The Israeli military has relentlessly attacked Gaza in retaliation for the devastating Hamas rampage in southern Israel almost two weeks ago, but Israel has denied responsibility for the al-Ahli hospital blast and the US has said its intelligence assessment found that Tel Aviv was not to blame.In recent days, however, a number of militant groups across the region from Hezbolla to the Houthis have expressed support for the Palestinians and threatened Israel. Since Tuesday, militants have launched at least four drone attacks on U.S. military installations in Iraq and Syria where US troops train local defense forces and support the mission to counter the Islamic State group. The attacks fuel escalating worries in the US and the West that the war in Israel could expand into a larger regional conflict.Thats exactly what we are trying to prevent, Ryder said. The most recent drone attack was Thursday at al-Asad Air Base in western Iraq. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq posted a statement claiming responsibility for the attack, saying they had fired a salvo of rockets at the base and they hit their targets directly and precisely. A US official confirmed the latest attack but said it was too early to assess any impact. Also Thursday, the al-Tanf garrison in southeastern Syria was struck by drones. US troops have maintained a presence at the base for a number of years to train Syrian allies and monitor Islamic State militant activity. The Pentagon said one drone was shot down, but another hit the base and caused minor injuries. The garrison is located on a vital road that often used by Iranian-backed militants to ferry weapons to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and Israels doorstep. Syrian opposition activists also said there was a separate drone attack on an oil facility in eastern Syria that houses American troops. Omar Abu Layla, a Europe-based activist who heads the Deir Ezzor 24 media outlet, said three drones with explosives struck the Conoco gas field in the eastern province of Deir el-Zour that borders Iraq. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, also confirmed explosions at the site. On Tuesday, militants launched three drones against two Iraq bases that the US uses to train forces and conduct operations against the Islamic States. During the spate of launches, one warning turned out to be a false alarm at al-Asad, but it sent personnel rushing into bunkers. During that incident, a contractor suffered a cardiac arrest and died, Ryder said. He said the Pentagon does not yet have confirmation on who launched the drone attacks but said the US will take all necessary actions to defend U.S. and coalition forces against any threat. He said any military response would come at a time and a manner of our choosing. On the intercepts by the Carney, Ryder said the strikes were done because the Houthi missiles posed a potential threat based on their flight profile. He added that the US is prepared to do whatever is needed to protect our partners and our interests in this important region. He said the US is still assessing what the target was, but said no US forces or civilians on the ground were injured. Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have expressed support for the Palestinians and threatened Israel. Last week, in Yemens Sanaa, which is held by the Houthi rebels still at war with a Saudi-led coalition, demonstrators crowded the streets waving Yemeni and Palestinian flags. The rebels slogan long has been, God is the greatest; death to America; death to Israel; curse of the Jews; victory to Islam. Last week, Abdel-Malek al-Houthi, the rebel groups leader, warned the United States against intervening in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, threatening that his forces would retaliate by firing drones and missiles. When approached Thursday, two Houthi officials declined to comment on the incident. One said he was unaware of the incident, while the second said he did not have the authority to speak about it. Koshinski Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of San Juan Basin Royalty Trust (NYSE:SJT Free Report) in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 22,066 shares of the oil and gas producers stock, valued at approximately $163,000. Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Royal Bank of Canada increased its position in San Juan Basin Royalty Trust by 367.0% during the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 2,592 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 2,037 shares in the last quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC increased its position in San Juan Basin Royalty Trust by 63.2% in the 4th quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC now owns 3,100 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 1,200 shares during the period. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its position in San Juan Basin Royalty Trust by 316.2% in the 1st quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 3,546 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $37,000 after acquiring an additional 2,694 shares during the period. Sunbelt Securities Inc. acquired a new position in San Juan Basin Royalty Trust in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Finally, Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. acquired a new position in San Juan Basin Royalty Trust in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $40,000. 13.56% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get San Juan Basin Royalty Trust alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of San Juan Basin Royalty Trust in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. San Juan Basin Royalty Trust Stock Down 0.1 % NYSE:SJT opened at $7.65 on Friday. The firms fifty day moving average is $7.04 and its 200-day moving average is $7.80. San Juan Basin Royalty Trust has a 52 week low of $6.45 and a 52 week high of $12.25. San Juan Basin Royalty Trust (NYSE:SJT Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Monday, August 14th. The oil and gas producer reported $0.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The business had revenue of $8.58 million for the quarter. San Juan Basin Royalty Trust had a net margin of 98.39% and a return on equity of 3,192.73%. San Juan Basin Royalty Trust Increases Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which was paid on Monday, October 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 29th were paid a $0.054 dividend. This represents a $0.65 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 8.47%. This is a positive change from San Juan Basin Royalty Trusts previous monthly dividend of $0.02. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 28th. About San Juan Basin Royalty Trust (Free Report) San Juan Basin Royalty Trust operates as an express trust in Texas. The company has a 75% net overriding royalty interest carved out of Southland's oil and natural gas interests in properties located in the San Juan Basin in northwestern New Mexico. It also owns subject interests consist of working interests, royalty interests, overriding royalty interests, and other contractual rights in 119,000 net producing acres in San Juan, Rio Arriba, and Sandoval Counties of northwestern New Mexico, as well as 825.6 net wells. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SJT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for San Juan Basin Royalty Trust (NYSE:SJT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for San Juan Basin Royalty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for San Juan Basin Royalty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC lessened its stake in Essex Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE:ESS Free Report) by 15.0% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,404 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 778 shares during the period. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLCs holdings in Essex Property Trust were worth $1,032,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of ESS. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC boosted its position in shares of Essex Property Trust by 100.0% during the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 120 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of Essex Property Trust during the 1st quarter valued at about $26,000. Clear Street Markets LLC boosted its position in shares of Essex Property Trust by 89.4% during the 1st quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC now owns 125 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares in the last quarter. Gradient Investments LLC bought a new position in shares of Essex Property Trust during the 1st quarter valued at about $27,000. Finally, Pacific Center for Financial Services bought a new position in shares of Essex Property Trust during the 1st quarter valued at about $30,000. Institutional investors own 92.93% of the companys stock. Get Essex Property Trust alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several research firms have recently weighed in on ESS. Wedbush began coverage on shares of Essex Property Trust in a research report on Tuesday, October 3rd. They set a neutral rating and a $225.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Essex Property Trust in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on shares of Essex Property Trust from $249.00 to $255.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, July 31st. Mizuho reduced their price objective on shares of Essex Property Trust from $221.00 to $219.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, September 26th. Finally, Truist Financial lowered shares of Essex Property Trust from a buy rating to a hold rating and upped their price objective for the company from $255.00 to $266.00 in a research note on Monday, August 28th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have assigned a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $239.85. Essex Property Trust Trading Down 0.6 % NYSE:ESS opened at $214.30 on Friday. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $225.73 and its 200 day moving average price is $225.52. Essex Property Trust, Inc. has a 52 week low of $195.03 and a 52 week high of $248.80. The company has a market capitalization of $13.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.07, a P/E/G ratio of 2.55 and a beta of 0.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03, a quick ratio of 1.27 and a current ratio of 1.27. Essex Property Trust Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 13th. Investors of record on Friday, September 29th were issued a $2.31 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 28th. This represents a $9.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.31%. Essex Property Trusts dividend payout ratio is currently 112.41%. Essex Property Trust Profile (Free Report) Essex Property Trust, Inc, an S&P 500 company, is a fully integrated real estate investment trust (REIT) that acquires, develops, redevelops, and manages multifamily residential properties in selected West Coast markets. Essex currently has ownership interests in 252 apartment communities comprising approximately 62,000 apartment homes with an additional property in active development. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ESS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Essex Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE:ESS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Essex Property Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Essex Property Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Strs Ohio lifted its stake in Cactus, Inc. (NYSE:WHD Free Report) by 5.3% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 116,600 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 5,900 shares during the quarter. Strs Ohio owned approximately 0.15% of Cactus worth $4,934,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. increased its position in shares of Cactus by 25.4% in the second quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. now owns 44,095 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,866,000 after acquiring an additional 8,931 shares during the last quarter. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH increased its position in Cactus by 59.8% during the second quarter. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH now owns 370,880 shares of the companys stock worth $15,696,000 after buying an additional 138,790 shares during the last quarter. Shell Asset Management Co. acquired a new position in Cactus during the second quarter worth approximately $143,000. Victory Capital Management Inc. increased its position in Cactus by 10.0% during the second quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 534,819 shares of the companys stock worth $22,634,000 after buying an additional 48,486 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Congress Asset Management Co. MA increased its position in Cactus by 4.5% during the second quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. MA now owns 83,390 shares of the companys stock worth $3,529,000 after buying an additional 3,560 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.11% of the companys stock. Get Cactus alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In WHD has been the topic of several research reports. Piper Sandler upped their target price on Cactus from $46.00 to $59.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, August 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. initiated coverage on Cactus in a research report on Wednesday, September 13th. They issued a neutral rating and a $60.00 target price on the stock. Benchmark reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $60.00 target price on shares of Cactus in a research report on Tuesday, August 8th. Barclays raised Cactus from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and upped their target price for the company from $48.00 to $60.00 in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on Cactus from $61.00 to $68.00 in a research report on Thursday, August 10th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Cactus has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $58.00. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, President Joel Bender sold 141,300 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, September 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $55.41, for a total value of $7,829,433.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the president now directly owns 114,982 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,371,152.62. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, CAO Donna L. Anderson sold 1,921 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.01, for a total value of $99,911.21. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 3,823 shares in the company, valued at approximately $198,834.23. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, President Joel Bender sold 141,300 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, September 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $55.41, for a total value of $7,829,433.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the president now owns 114,982 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,371,152.62. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 300,791 shares of company stock worth $16,614,715 over the last three months. Insiders own 17.72% of the companys stock. Cactus Trading Down 0.7 % Shares of WHD stock opened at $51.69 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 2.76, a quick ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04. The stock has a market cap of $4.11 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 2.02. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $51.28 and a 200 day simple moving average of $45.08. Cactus, Inc. has a 1 year low of $31.36 and a 1 year high of $58.30. Cactus (NYSE:WHD Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Monday, August 7th. The company reported $0.84 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.69 by $0.15. Cactus had a return on equity of 22.22% and a net margin of 14.35%. The firm had revenue of $305.82 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $297.99 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.44 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 79.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that Cactus, Inc. will post 2.87 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Cactus Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 14th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 28th were paid a dividend of $0.12 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 25th. This is a boost from Cactuss previous quarterly dividend of $0.11. This represents a $0.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.93%. Cactuss dividend payout ratio is presently 23.76%. Cactus Profile (Free Report) Cactus, Inc designs, manufactures, and sells a range of wellheads and pressure control equipment in the United States, Australia, China, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The company's principal products include Cactus SafeDrill wellhead systems, Cactus SafeLink monobore, SafeClamp, and SafeInject systems, as well as frac stacks, zipper manifolds, and production trees. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WHD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Cactus, Inc. (NYSE:WHD Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Cactus Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cactus and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (NYSE:HMC Free Report) Research analysts at Zacks Research dropped their Q1 2026 earnings per share estimates for Honda Motor in a research report issued on Monday, October 16th. Zacks Research analyst L. Shahu now anticipates that the company will post earnings of $0.98 per share for the quarter, down from their previous estimate of $0.99. The consensus estimate for Honda Motors current full-year earnings is $3.88 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Honda Motors Q2 2026 earnings at $1.04 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $4.38 EPS. Get Honda Motor alerts: Honda Motor (NYSE:HMC Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 9th. The company reported $1.60 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.99 by $0.61. The company had revenue of $33.70 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $33.57 billion. Honda Motor had a return on equity of 7.73% and a net margin of 5.11%. Several other research firms have also recently weighed in on HMC. Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Honda Motor from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, September 7th. Macquarie upgraded Honda Motor from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, August 11th. StockNews.com began coverage on Honda Motor in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a strong-buy rating on the stock. Finally, UBS Group lowered Honda Motor from a neutral rating to a sell rating in a research report on Thursday, July 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Honda Motor has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy. View Our Latest Analysis on HMC Honda Motor Price Performance Shares of NYSE:HMC opened at $32.58 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $55.72 billion, a PE ratio of 8.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.46 and a beta of 0.74. The firms fifty day moving average is $33.10 and its 200-day moving average is $30.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.44. Honda Motor has a 52 week low of $21.43 and a 52 week high of $36.82. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Honda Motor Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Private Trust Co. NA increased its stake in Honda Motor by 77.6% in the third quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 975 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 426 shares during the last quarter. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC lifted its stake in Honda Motor by 46.3% in the second quarter. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC now owns 1,065 shares of the companys stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 337 shares during the last quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. lifted its stake in Honda Motor by 1,148.3% in the first quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 1,111 shares of the companys stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 1,022 shares during the last quarter. Credit Suisse AG lifted its stake in Honda Motor by 3,638.7% in the third quarter. Credit Suisse AG now owns 1,159 shares of the companys stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 1,128 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Spire Wealth Management lifted its stake in Honda Motor by 52.2% in the second quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 1,233 shares of the companys stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 423 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 5.32% of the companys stock. Honda Motor Company Profile (Get Free Report) Honda Motor Co, Ltd. develops, manufactures, and distributes motorcycles, automobiles, power, and other products in Japan, North America, Europe, Asia, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Motorcycle Business, Automobile Business, Financial Services Business, and Power Product and Other Businesses. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Honda Motor Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Honda Motor and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Prologis, Inc. (NYSE:PLD Free Report) Stock analysts at Zacks Research boosted their Q1 2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Prologis in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday, October 16th. Zacks Research analyst N. Dass now forecasts that the real estate investment trust will earn $1.46 per share for the quarter, up from their prior forecast of $1.45. The consensus estimate for Prologis current full-year earnings is $5.59 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Prologis FY2025 earnings at $6.17 EPS. Get Prologis alerts: Prologis (NYSE:PLD Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, October 17th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.30 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.26 by $0.04. Prologis had a return on equity of 5.21% and a net margin of 38.24%. The company had revenue of $1.78 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.72 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.73 earnings per share. Prologiss revenue was up 53.8% on a year-over-year basis. A number of other equities analysts also recently issued reports on the company. Truist Financial reiterated a buy rating and set a $135.00 price target on shares of Prologis in a research report on Wednesday. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a $128.00 price objective on shares of Prologis in a research note on Thursday, July 20th. 888 reissued a maintains rating on shares of Prologis in a research note on Wednesday, June 28th. Mizuho reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $140.00 price target on shares of Prologis in a report on Wednesday, September 13th. Finally, BNP Paribas raised Prologis from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $141.00 target price for the company in a report on Thursday, July 20th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Prologis presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $141.94. Get Our Latest Analysis on PLD Prologis Stock Performance NYSE PLD opened at $102.58 on Wednesday. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $117.34 and its 200-day moving average price is $121.34. The company has a market cap of $94.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.66, a P/E/G ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a quick ratio of 0.34 and a current ratio of 0.12. Prologis has a fifty-two week low of $100.64 and a fifty-two week high of $136.67. Prologis Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Investors of record on Monday, September 18th were given a dividend of $0.87 per share. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.39%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, September 15th. Prologiss payout ratio is currently 107.41%. Insider Activity at Prologis In other news, Director George L. Fotiades sold 10,711 shares of Prologis stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $123.98, for a total value of $1,327,949.78. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.50% of the stock is owned by insiders. Institutional Trading of Prologis Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. RB Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Prologis by 14.7% during the 1st quarter. RB Capital Management LLC now owns 3,004 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $485,000 after acquiring an additional 385 shares during the period. Blair William & Co. IL grew its holdings in Prologis by 5.3% during the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 21,612 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $3,490,000 after buying an additional 1,092 shares in the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Prologis by 87.7% during the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 3,382 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $546,000 after buying an additional 1,580 shares in the last quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. grew its holdings in Prologis by 41.8% during the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 241,219 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $38,952,000 after buying an additional 71,112 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Zions Bancorporation N.A. grew its holdings in Prologis by 38.8% during the 1st quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 2,078 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $336,000 after buying an additional 581 shares in the last quarter. 90.90% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Prologis Company Profile (Get Free Report) Prologis, Inc is the global leader in logistics real estate with a focus on high-barrier, high-growth markets. At June 30, 2023, the company owned or had investments in, on a wholly owned basis or through co-investment ventures, properties and development projects expected to total approximately 1.2 billion square feet (114 million square meters) in 19 countries. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Prologis Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Prologis and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rahul Gandhi addressing public rally in Telangana. Hyderabad: Rahul Gandhi, former All India Congress Committee leader, delivered an impassioned speech in Kondagattu, Jagtial during the VijayaBheri yatra, evoking memories of his family's ties to the region and pledging to revitalize the state during a campaign rally. In his address, Rahul Gandhi reflected on the deep-rooted relationship his family, including Indira and Rajiv Gandhi, shared with the people of Telangana, evoking a sense of nostalgia and unity. Gandhi went on to express his unwavering commitment to the fight against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), detailing the numerous legal challenges he has faced, including the cancellation of his Parliament membership and the loss of his residence. However, he underlined that his home is not confined to a building but encompasses the entire nation and the towns and villages of Telangana. He called attention to the complex political landscape in Telangana, where the BJP, BRS, and AIMIM have seemingly joined forces against the Congress party. Gandhi drew a distinction between "Dorala Telangana" and "Prajala Telangana," emphasizing the Congress party's aim to revive the latter, which represents the interests of the common people. Promising a government that prioritizes the people and Telangana's cadre, Gandhi criticized the alliance between the Chief Minister and the BJP, alleging that they work hand in hand to the detriment of the state's populace. He also pointed out the tactics of the AIMIM in disrupting Congress party efforts, seemingly at the behest of the BJP and BRS. Gandhi underscored the importance of the Caste Census, which, he believes, will shed light on the equitable distribution of the nation's resources and reveal how various demographic groups are represented. He cited the scarcity of OBC representation among top bureaucrats and its implications for budget control, highlighting the need for greater inclusivity. The Congress leader argued for better representation for farmers, laborers, and women, as he criticized the ease with which large corporate loans are waived compared to the difficulties faced by struggling farmers. He expressed the need to conduct a Caste Census to address these issues and rewrite India's history. As he concluded his speech, Rahul Gandhi announced that the Congress party had already ordered a Caste Census in states where they held power. He pledged to fulfill the dreams of Telangana and bring transparency to wealth distribution, with the Caste Census as the first step in the process. In a parting message, Gandhi rallied his cadre as he likened them to tigers, expressing his confidence in their ability to unseat the current Chief Minister. He emphasized his enduring love and affection for the people of Telangana and vowed to serve them as faithfully as his grandmother Indira Gandhi and father Rajiv Gandhi once did. Rahul Gandhi's speech resonated with the audience, positioning the Congress party as a staunch advocate for the interests and representation of all sections of the population, with the Caste Census emerging as a central and transformative policy focus. If anyone needed consular services, they should contact the High Commission of Canada in India, located in New Delhi, the advisory read. (Representational Image: DC) Toronto: Canada has withdrawn 41 diplomats from India after it threatened to strip them of their diplomatic immunity by Friday, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly has said, amid a diplomatic row over the killing of a Sikh separatist. Canada has also announced that it will be "pausing" all in-person services at its consulates in Chandigarh, Mumbai and Bengaluru and was directing all Canadians in India to the High Commission in New Delhi. In New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday rejected Canada's attempt to "portray" the withdrawal of 41 Canadian diplomats from the country as a violation of international norms. India asserted that ensuring two-way diplomatic parity is fully consistent with the provisions of Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations. "We reject any attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. Tensions flared between India and Canada last month following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's explosive allegations of the "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18 in British Columbia. India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020. India has rejected Trudeau's allegations as "absurd" and "motivated". "The state of our bilateral relations, the much higher number of Canadian diplomats in India, and their continued interference in our internal affairs warrant a parity in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa," it said. The MEA said it has been engaged with the Canadian side on the issue over the last month in order to work out the details and modalities to ensure implementation of parity in diplomatic presence. "Our actions in implementing this parity are fully consistent with Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations," the MEA statement said. In Ottawa, Foreign Minister Joly said that India has formally conveyed its plan to "unilaterally remove diplomatic immunities for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents in Delhi by tomorrow, October 20." The Canadian Embassy in New Delhi updated its travel advisory hours after Joly's statement, urging its citizens to "exercise a high degree of caution" in and around Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai. Joly said that in their "unreasonable" request for diplomatic parity, India would only allow 21 diplomats and their families to maintain their diplomatic status, putting the others at risk of having their protections stripped arbitrarily, leaving them vulnerable to reprisal or arrest. "This means 41 Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents were in danger of having immunity stripped on an arbitrary date, and this would put their personal safety at risk," she said at a news conference in Ottawa. Calling India's action "contrary to international law," and in violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, Joly accused India of escalating the bilateral tensions, but Canada will not be reciprocating. "There is a fundamental principle of diplomacy, and this is a two-way street. It only works if every country abides by the rules," she said. "A unilateral revocation of diplomatic privileges and immunities is contrary to international law, Joly said. "Threatening to do so is unreasonable and escalatory. So for this reason, we will not reciprocate," she added. "Unfortunately, we have to put a pause on all in-person services in our consulates and Chandigarh and Mumbai and Bangalore," she said. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Miller, who announced the shrinking of Canada's footprint in India to one-third of what it was, said it will impact the level of service delivery Canada will be able to provide in the country. He said the remaining Canadian staff will continue to focus on the work that can't be moved out of the country, such as urgent cases, visa printing, and working with visa application centres. However, Canada's 10 visa application centres are operated by third-party contractors and will not be impacted. The Canadian Embassy in New Delhi in its travel advisory said that," exercise a high degree of caution in and around Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai. Consular services in-person are temporarily unavailable in those cities or surrounding areas." If anyone needed consular services, they should contact the High Commission of Canada in India, located in New Delhi, the advisory read. Commercial programming for businesses will continue, but at reduced capacity, and Canada continues to employ locally engaged staff. Miller noted that in 2022, India was the top country for permanent residents, temporary foreign workers, and international students in Canada, and so the federal government recognises the impacts that will be felt. "I want to reassure our clients in India and Canadians who have family and friends in India that Canada will continue to accept and process all temporary and permanent resident applications from India," he said, adding that it may just take longer. The remarks by the ministers come after Prime Minister Trudeau was asked on Thursday for a status update on the Indian government giving Ottawa an October 10 deadline to significantly reduce its diplomatic footprint. As CTV News reported at the time, Canada was asked to see dozens of diplomats depart, to put the contingent of officials in India on par with the number of Indian diplomats in Canada. Sources said then, that Canada had already evacuated a majority of the Canadian diplomats working in India outside of Delhi to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Trudeau did not directly answer the question, saying instead that Joly would have more to say later. "We have been continually engaged in diplomacy and in dialogue with the Indian government," Trudeau said. "This is a serious matter that we are taking extremely seriously." Joly also restated Trudeau's calls for India to cooperate in the ongoing probe, noting federal law enforcement agencies in Canada "are working actively." India has asked Canada to come down hard on terrorists and anti-India elements operating from its soil and suspended visa services for Canadians. U.S. State Department official resigns in protest of Biden admin's "blind support" for Israel Xinhua) 09:45, October 20, 2023 WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. State Department official working in the bureau that oversees U.S. arms transfer to foreign nations has resigned in protest of the Joe Biden administration's "blind support" for Israel in its ongoing conflict with Hamas. Josh Paul, who has worked in the department's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs for more than 11 years, said in his resignation letter dated Wednesday that he decided to leave because he couldn't agree with his country's "continued - indeed, expanded and expedited - provision of lethal arms to Israel." Paul said while he wanted to make his opinion clear to all that Hamas' attack on Israel "was a monstrosity of monstrosities," he also believed that "the response Israel is taking, and with it the American support both for that response, and for the status quo of the occupation, will only lead to more and deeper suffering for both the Israeli and the Palestinian people." "This Administration's response - and much of Congress' as well - is an impulsive reaction built on confirmation bias, political convenience, intellectual bankruptcy, and bureaucratic inertia. That is to say, it is immensely disappointing, and entirely unsurprising," he wrote. "The fact is, blind support for one side is destructive in the long term to the interests of the people on both sides," he continued. "I fear we are repeating the same mistakes we have made these past decades, and I decline to be a part of it for longer." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) meets with U.S. President Joe Biden in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Oct. 18, 2023. (Miriam Alster/JINI via Xinhua) "I cannot work in support of a set of major policy decisions, including rushing more arms to one side of the conflict, that I believe to be shortsighted, destructive, unjust and contradictory to the very values we publicly espouse," Paul wrote. The State Department declined to comment on Paul's resignation, according to multiple U.S. media reports, telling those seeking a response that the agency would not discuss personnel matters. Since the start of the current conflict, the Biden administration has been repeating its stance that Israel has not only the right, but also the obligation to defend itself and protect its people. The administration has promised full support for Israel, vowing to provide whatever the country needs to prosecute the war against Hamas. It has sent two carrier strike groups to waters near Israel as a deterrence and put some 2,000 troops on high alert for deployment - possibly into Israeli territory. Biden is scheduled to address the nation in a televised speech from the White House during prime time on Thursday evening, using the occasion to sell to the American people his approach to conflicts in Israel and Ukraine. During the much-anticipated speech, the president is expected to announce his administration's request for Congress to pass a supplement spending bill that will provide 10 billion U.S. dollars in emergency assistance for Israel and 60 billion dollars for Ukraine's conflict with Russia, according to media reports citing people familiar with the decision. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Mamilla Rajender, former TNGOs president joined the BRS in the presence of K.T. Rama Rao at Telangana Bhavan on Friday. (Image: DC) HYDERABAD: The BRS on Friday accused the Congress and the BJP of "attacking the self-respect of Telangana and its people," with the party working president and minister K.T. Rama Rao saying that the Assembly polls would be "a battle between arrogant leaders from Delhi and Gujarat and Telanganas pride". Rama Rao said the effort of the Congress and BJP was to suppress the BRS, and restrict it to Telangana and not allow it to expand into Maharashtra and other states. "(TPCC president) Revanth Reddy and (BJP state president) Kishan Reddy will dance to the tunes of their leaders in Delhi. Revanth will follow Rahul Gandhis instructions and Kishan Reddy will follow Modis instructions. Do you want someone who is a puppet of Delhi or a leader from Telangana," he asked. Addressing a meeting at Telangana Bhavan, the BRS headquarters, where Jitta Balakrishna Reddy, a Congress leader from Yadadri-Bhongir district, and Mamilla Rajender, former TNGOs president, joined the BRS, Rama Rao said it is true the party would provide opportunities to Mudiraj leaders in Parliament and other positions. He said had Telangana not granted statehood, there would have been no TPCC or TBJP and no posts for Revanth Reddy and Kishan Reddy. "Only Telangana is in KCRs hands while other states are ruled by the BJP or the Congress. Why are those states not getting developed the way Telangana has? And everyone has seen how Rahul and Modi hugged, how they work together and they still try to call us a B Team. Modi says we are the B Team for Congress and Rahul says we are B Team for BJP. We are not anyones B Team, we are the A Team for people of Telangana," he said. These two parties, he said, were scared that Chandrashekar Rao was emerging as a powerful national alternative and their efforts were to undermine his growth. "Neither Rahul nor Modi have any love for Telangana. Their attitude towards the state, and KCRs leadership should be discussed in every village and it should be explained why KCR needs to return to power in the state," he said. Supreme Court Safeguards Chandrababu Naidu from Arrest in FibreNet Case Pending Skill Development Scam Verdict. (DC Image) Hyderabad: The Supreme Court instructed the Andhra Pradesh Police on Friday not to arrest N. Chandrababu Naidu, the TDP chief, in the FibreNet case until a verdict is reached in the Skill Development scam case. Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M. Trivedi's bench scheduled Naidu's anticipatory bail hearing in the FibreNet Case for November 9 and maintained the previous understanding with the Andhra Pradesh Police, referring to their statement on October 13 that they would not take Naidu into custody. Justice Bose suggested dealing with Naidu's plea after a verdict is reached on another application. Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, representing Naidu, highlighted the police's intent to take him into custody in the FibreNet case despite his ongoing custody in the Skill Development scam case. Senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, appearing for the Andhra Pradesh government, confirmed that they would seek court permission for Naidu's custodial interrogation in the FibreNet case, considering his current judicial custody in another case. The bench adjourned the matter and reiterated the earlier agreement. On October 13, the Andhra Pradesh Police assured the Supreme Court that they wouldn't arrest Naidu in the FiberNet case until October 18, due to his pending petition related to the Skill Development Corporation scam. The FiberNet case involves alleged irregularities in awarding a work order under Phase-1 of the AP FiberNet Project, worth Rs 330 crore, to a favored company. The Andhra Pradesh Police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) alleged improprieties in the project from tender allocation to work completion, causing significant financial losses to the state. 73-year-old Naidu was arrested on September 9 for alleged misappropriation of funds from the Skill Development Corporation during his tenure as chief minister in 2015, causing an alleged loss of Rs 371 crore to the state. He remains in judicial remand at the Rajamahendravaram central prison. Earlier in the week, the bench had withheld its decision on a separate plea from Naidu, in which he sought the dismissal of an FIR linked to the Skill Development scam case, and it declined to grant him interim bail. Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly New Delhi: In a move reflecting escalating tensions in the diplomatic relationship between Canada and India, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly announced the suspension of visa and consular services at the Canadian consulates in Chandigarh, Mumbai, and Bangalore. These services will now be only available at the Canadian High Commission in Delhi. Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly confirmed that the decision to halt in-person services was made in response to India's plan to unilaterally remove diplomatic immunities for 41 Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents in Delhi. The move is set to take effect by October 20, prompting concerns over the safety of the affected individuals. Minister Joly expressed her concern about the potential loss of diplomatic immunities for Canadian personnel in India, stating, "As of now, I can confirm that India has formally conveyed its plan to unilaterally remove diplomatic immunities for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents in Delhi by October 20. This means 41 Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents were in danger of having immunity stripped on an arbitrary date, and this would put their personal safety at risk." The dispute between the two nations arises from the killing of Jaspal Atwal Nijjar, a Canadian national of Indian origin, who was found dead in India under mysterious circumstances. The incident has strained bilateral relations, prompting India to make the decision to revoke diplomatic immunities for Canadian diplomats in Delhi. Minister Joly addressed the potential impact of this development on Canadian operations in India, saying, "Canadians watching may be wondering what this means for our operations in India. There's no question that India's decision will impact the levels of services to Consulates in both countries. Unfortunately, we have to put a pause on all in-person services in our Consulates in Chandigarh, in Mumbai, and in Bangalore." The suspension of services at the Chandigarh, Mumbai, and Bangalore consulates will cause inconvenience Canadians and Indian nationals seeking visa and consular assistance. Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile (NYSE:SQM Get Free Report)s stock had its underperform rating reiterated by stock analysts at Bank of America in a note issued to investors on Wednesday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. They currently have a $59.00 target price on the basic materials companys stock, down from their previous target price of $69.00. Bank of Americas price objective indicates a potential upside of 12.00% from the companys previous close. A number of other research analysts have also issued reports on SQM. Scotiabank dropped their price target on shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile from $86.00 to $85.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, August 21st. HSBC dropped their target price on Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile from $134.00 to $90.50 in a research report on Thursday, July 6th. Citigroup started coverage on Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile in a report on Tuesday, September 12th. They issued a buy rating and a $85.00 price target for the company. StockNews.com started coverage on Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Loop Capital cut their price objective on Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile from $83.00 to $71.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Monday, August 28th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $79.50. Get Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile Stock Down 5.0 % SQM opened at $52.68 on Wednesday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $60.24 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $68.08. Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile has a 52 week low of $52.35 and a 52 week high of $112.35. The company has a market cap of $15.05 billion, a PE ratio of 4.20, a P/E/G ratio of 0.41 and a beta of 1.02. The company has a quick ratio of 1.67, a current ratio of 2.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51. Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile (NYSE:SQM Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 16th. The basic materials company reported $2.03 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.62 by ($0.59). The company had revenue of $2.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.24 billion. Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile had a return on equity of 71.64% and a net margin of 34.41%. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $3.01 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile will post 9.87 EPS for the current year. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in SQM. Wetherby Asset Management Inc. raised its position in Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile by 1.8% during the first quarter. Wetherby Asset Management Inc. now owns 7,123 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $610,000 after acquiring an additional 124 shares during the last quarter. DAVENPORT & Co LLC raised its position in shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile by 5.7% during the 1st quarter. DAVENPORT & Co LLC now owns 3,255 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $264,000 after purchasing an additional 176 shares during the last quarter. Redwood Wealth Management Group LLC lifted its stake in Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile by 3.2% in the 3rd quarter. Redwood Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 5,903 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $352,000 after buying an additional 185 shares in the last quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. grew its holdings in Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile by 7.6% during the 2nd quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. now owns 2,668 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $223,000 after buying an additional 188 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Tandem Capital Management Corp ADV increased its position in Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile by 4.0% during the second quarter. Tandem Capital Management Corp ADV now owns 5,035 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $366,000 after buying an additional 195 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 14.94% of the companys stock. Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile Company Profile (Get Free Report) Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA produces and distributes specialty plant nutrients, iodine derivatives, lithium derivatives, potassium chloride and sulfate, industrial chemicals, and other products and services. The company offers specialty plant nutrients, including potassium nitrate, sodium nitrate, sodium potassium nitrate, specialty blends, and other specialty fertilizers. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. NorthWestern Energy Group (NYSE:NWE Get Free Report) had its price target reduced by analysts at KeyCorp from $64.00 to $59.00 in a report issued on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an overweight rating on the stock. KeyCorps price target would suggest a potential upside of 24.79% from the companys current price. KeyCorp also issued estimates for NorthWestern Energy Groups FY2024 earnings at $3.68 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $3.85 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $4.00 EPS. A number of other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports on NWE. Mizuho dropped their target price on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from $59.00 to $51.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday, September 22nd. TheStreet lowered NorthWestern Energy Group from a b rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Friday, August 25th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on NorthWestern Energy Group in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Guggenheim dropped their price target on NorthWestern Energy Group from $48.00 to $41.00 in a research note on Monday, October 9th. Finally, LADENBURG THALM/SH SH decreased their price objective on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from $59.00 to $53.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, August 17th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $53.50. Get NorthWestern Energy Group alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on NWE NorthWestern Energy Group Stock Performance NWE opened at $47.28 on Wednesday. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $50.16 and its 200 day simple moving average is $54.98. NorthWestern Energy Group has a 52-week low of $45.97 and a 52-week high of $61.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 0.75. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.90 billion, a PE ratio of 15.76, a PEG ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.45. NorthWestern Energy Group (NYSE:NWE Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, July 24th. The company reported $0.35 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.51 by ($0.16). The company had revenue of $290.50 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $341.90 million. NorthWestern Energy Group had a net margin of 11.67% and a return on equity of 6.53%. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that NorthWestern Energy Group will post 3.42 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Institutional Trading of NorthWestern Energy Group A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of NWE. Carson Advisory Inc. bought a new stake in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group in the second quarter valued at approximately $300,000. Tucker Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in NorthWestern Energy Group during the first quarter worth about $40,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in NorthWestern Energy Group by 3,833.3% during the first quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 708 shares of the companys stock valued at $41,000 after purchasing an additional 690 shares in the last quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC lifted its position in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 47.2% during the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 736 shares of the companys stock worth $44,000 after buying an additional 236 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Spirit of America Management Corp NY acquired a new position in NorthWestern Energy Group during the second quarter worth about $43,000. Institutional investors own 96.07% of the companys stock. About NorthWestern Energy Group (Get Free Report) NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc provides electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, and various industrial customers. It generates, purchases, transmits, and distributes electricity; and produces, purchases, stores, transmits, and distributes natural gas, as well as owns municipal franchises to provide natural gas service in the communities. Read More Receive News & Ratings for NorthWestern Energy Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NorthWestern Energy Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mastercard (NYSE:MA Get Free Report) had its target price increased by KeyCorp from $435.00 to $440.00 in a research report issued on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an overweight rating on the credit services providers stock. KeyCorps target price points to a potential upside of 13.44% from the companys previous close. KeyCorp also issued estimates for Mastercards Q4 2023 earnings at $3.29 EPS, Q1 2024 earnings at $3.23 EPS, Q2 2024 earnings at $3.68 EPS, Q3 2024 earnings at $3.89 EPS and Q4 2024 earnings at $3.94 EPS. MA has been the subject of a number of other reports. Credit Suisse Group upped their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $400.00 to $430.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, July 28th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price target on shares of Mastercard from $460.00 to $475.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, September 15th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Mastercard in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on Mastercard from $463.00 to $488.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, July 28th. Finally, Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $440.00 to $455.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, July 31st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nineteen have given 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 $449.96. Get Mastercard alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on MA Mastercard Stock Performance Shares of MA stock opened at $387.87 on Wednesday. Mastercard has a fifty-two week low of $293.50 and a fifty-two week high of $418.60. The stocks 50-day moving average is $403.03 and its two-hundred day moving average is $389.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.57, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 1.13. The firm has a market cap of $365.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.35, a PEG ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 1.09. Mastercard (NYSE:MA Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The credit services provider reported $2.89 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.84 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $6.30 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.18 billion. Mastercard had a return on equity of 178.10% and a net margin of 43.37%. The firms revenue was up 14.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.56 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Mastercard will post 12.13 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Insider Buying and Selling at Mastercard In other Mastercard news, CFO J. Mehra Sachin sold 10,838 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $394.38, for a total value of $4,274,290.44. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 20,707 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,166,426.66. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In related news, CFO J. Mehra Sachin sold 10,838 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $394.38, for a total value of $4,274,290.44. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 20,707 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,166,426.66. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, insider Timothy H. Murphy sold 7,419 shares of Mastercard stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $397.28, for a total value of $2,947,420.32. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 39,007 shares in the company, valued at $15,496,700.96. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 418,446 shares of company stock valued at $166,076,098. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Mastercard Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL bought a new stake in Mastercard during the first quarter worth about $25,000. GeoWealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Mastercard during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Hibernia Wealth Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Mastercard during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Bollard Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Mastercard in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Finally, Creative Capital Management Investments LLC bought a new position in shares of Mastercard in the first quarter valued at $30,000. Institutional investors own 74.94% of the companys stock. About Mastercard (Get Free Report) Mastercard Incorporated, a technology company, provides transaction processing and other payment-related products and services in the United States and internationally. It facilitates the processing of payment transactions, including authorization, clearing, and settlement, as well as delivers other payment-related products and services. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Mastercard Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mastercard and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PT Bank Central Asia Tbk (OTCMKTS:PBCRF Get Free Report) fell 1.3% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as $0.55 and last traded at $0.55. 21,292 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, The stock had previously closed at $0.55. PT Bank Central Asia Tbk Stock Down 1.3 % The businesss fifty day moving average is $0.57 and its 200-day moving average is $0.58. PT Bank Central Asia Tbk Company Profile (Get Free Report) PT Bank Central Asia Tbk, together with its subsidiaries, provides banking products and services to individual, corporate, and small and medium enterprise customers in Indonesia and internationally. It offers savings accounts; motorcycle financing, as well as car, housing, working capital, and investment loans; mutual funds and bonds; electronic money services; credit cards; business collection services; and home and eBanking, remittance, and customer services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for PT Bank Central Asia Tbk Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PT Bank Central Asia Tbk and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Creative Planning increased its stake in Walker & Dunlop, Inc. (NYSE:WD Free Report) by 126.7% during the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 6,279 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 3,509 shares during the period. Creative Plannings holdings in Walker & Dunlop were worth $497,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Covestor Ltd raised its stake in Walker & Dunlop by 5,066.7% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 310 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $40,000 after acquiring an additional 304 shares in the last quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC raised its stake in Walker & Dunlop by 360.0% during the 1st quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 345 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 270 shares in the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP raised its stake in Walker & Dunlop by 168.6% during the 2nd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 376 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 236 shares in the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc bought a new stake in Walker & Dunlop during the 2nd quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, First Manhattan Co. bought a new stake in Walker & Dunlop during the 1st quarter valued at $65,000. Institutional investors own 77.99% of the companys stock. Get Walker & Dunlop alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In related news, President Howard W. Smith III sold 20,000 shares of Walker & Dunlop stock in a transaction on Monday, October 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.61, for a total value of $1,432,200.00. Following the transaction, the president now directly owns 197,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,107,170. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, President Howard W. Smith III sold 20,000 shares of Walker & Dunlop stock in a transaction on Monday, October 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.61, for a total transaction of $1,432,200.00. Following the transaction, the president now owns 197,000 shares in the company, valued at $14,107,170. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, COO Stephen P. Theobald sold 16,949 shares of Walker & Dunlop stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $85.70, for a total value of $1,452,529.30. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 57,754 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,949,517.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 78,084 shares of company stock worth $6,278,609 in the last three months. 5.47% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Walker & Dunlop Stock Performance Shares of WD stock opened at $68.17 on Friday. Walker & Dunlop, Inc. has a 1 year low of $61.06 and a 1 year high of $101.02. The stock has a market cap of $2.27 billion, a PE ratio of 16.04 and a beta of 1.44. The businesss fifty day moving average is $78.72 and its 200-day moving average is $77.61. Walker & Dunlop (NYSE:WD Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The financial services provider reported $0.98 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.06 by ($0.08). The company had revenue of $272.62 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $257.99 million. Walker & Dunlop had a return on equity of 9.73% and a net margin of 12.85%. Equities research analysts predict that Walker & Dunlop, Inc. will post 4.9 earnings per share for the current year. Walker & Dunlop Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 1st. Investors of record on Thursday, August 17th were issued a $0.63 dividend. This represents a $2.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.70%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, August 16th. Walker & Dunlops payout ratio is 59.29%. Analysts Set New Price Targets WD has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Walker & Dunlop in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a sell rating on the stock. Wedbush lifted their target price on Walker & Dunlop from $90.00 to $105.00 in a research note on Friday, August 4th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their price target on Walker & Dunlop from $102.00 to $89.00 in a research report on Tuesday, October 3rd. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on WD Walker & Dunlop Profile (Free Report) Walker & Dunlop, Inc, through its subsidiaries, originates, sells, and services a range of multifamily and other commercial real estate financing products and services for owners and developers of real estate in the United States. The company offers first mortgage, second trust, supplemental, construction, mezzanine, preferred equity, and small-balance loans. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Walker & Dunlop, Inc. (NYSE:WD Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Walker & Dunlop Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Walker & Dunlop and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The proposed provision of an Irish-medium pre-school in the Waterside area of Derry is to be discussed at a public meeting. The meeting will take place in the Croi Community Centre, Gobnascale, on Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at 7.00pm. It is part of a feasibility study being carried out by Comhairle na Gaelscolaiochta, the Department of Education sponsored body responsible for the promotion of Irish-medium Education. The aim of the study is to assess the demand for Irish-medium education in the area and to establish how the local community can support its development. Speaking to Derry Now, Conor Stiobhard, Development Officer with Comhairle na Gaelscolaicohta working in the Waterside area, said: The public meeting is an excellent opportunity for local people to find out more about the benefits of Irish-medium education. I would encourage anyone interested in Irish-medium education or who would like to make a positive contribution to its development to attend the meeting. I would also encourage parents of young children to come along and find out more about how it can benefit their children. According to Comhairle na Gaelscolaiochta, there are currently 7,310 children being educated in the Irish-medium education sector with an overall growth of 25% in the past 6 years. Conor added: Many children entering Irish-Medium schools have no previous experience of Irish; however, through an immersive approach they acquire the language naturally. They benefit from the many proven advantages of bilingualism which includes enhanced communication skills; higher performance in exams; advanced creative thinking; enhanced self-esteem and high levels of cultural awareness. Lynchs Eurospar in Greysteel has brought even more silverware home from London as they continue their award-winning streak. Fresh from picking up four awards at the Retail Industry Awards last month, Lynchs Eurospar Greysteel has now also been awarded the Best Soft Drinks Outlet award at the Forecourt Trader Awards, which took place in London last week. The award is one of nine wins for Spar and Eurospar forecourts in Northern Ireland, with stores in Holywood, Dungannon, Omagh, Portadown, Doagh and Newtownabbey also returning home with awards. Paddy Doody, Sales and Marketing Director at Henderson Group which owns the Eurospar brand in Northern Ireland commented: Lynchs continues to make themselves known throughout the entire sector of forecourt retailing across the UK. Their attention to detail and knowledge of what their shoppers want puts them in a competitive position and reaps not only physical awards of this kind, but for the success of their business. Lynchs beat competition from national retailers in this category and we send them even more congratulations on their continued awards success. Conor Lynch added: We opened our third store, Lynchs Eurospar Greysteel, just two years ago with the intention of providing outstanding products and services for our local community. We are focused on every detail within our business, and the selection and efficiency of our soft drinks is important as a busy forecourt. We are delighted to continue to achieve awards success on such a national level and want to thank our whole team for making it happen. Judges were impressed with the range of drinks available at Lynchs Greysteel, commending the constantly merchandised 24-foot cooler, ready for customer to grab on the go. There is also a secondary 8-foot cooler which supports the range of fresh juices and smoothies. Judges also commended the sales success from impulse drinks and take-home drinks every week thanks to the teams hard work. The Forecourt Trader Awards honour the hard work, innovation and creativity of forecourt retailers nationwide, with organisers saying they sought out the brightest and best in the industry those pushing the boundaries of hard work and innovation in the pursuit of excellence. Forecourt Trader is the leading media brand in the forecourt sector in the UK and has been recognising, rewarding and celebrating forecourt retailers outstanding achievements for over 20 years. Deirdre Marie Banks and Diane McDonald, Connected Health, Derry have been named as Carers of the Year at the 2023 Home and Community Care Ireland (HCCI) Home Care awards, supported by First Ireland. Deirdre Marie and Diane were announced as the winners at an awards event in The Alex Hotel, Dublin on Friday last. The HCCI Carer of the Year award is presented to individuals who exemplify what it means to be a carer. They are a shining example of competency, reliability and kindness. This award seeks to acknowledge and celebrate the dedication of the winning carer and the positive difference they have made to the lives of the vulnerable people in their care. A panel of independent judges TV presenter & designer, Brendan Courtney; Professor Mark White, Executive Dean, Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery, RCSI; Katie Sloan, CEO, Leading Age, USA; Janette Dwyer, Assistant National Director, Services for Older People Change and Innovation, HSE and Valerie Cox, journalist and author chose Deirdre Marie and Diane as the winners. Deirdre Marie and Diane cared for a dementia patient who was very reluctant and uneasy about having carers in his home. When the carers found out their client was an avid Derry City supporter they got in touch with the team Manager and got team jerseys that they could wear when visiting their client. Over time this transformed the relationship between client and carer and meant the dementia client was very happy to see his carers coming into his home. David Brady, Director, Spry Finance said, Spry Finance was proud to support the HCCI and I was delighted to present the award to Deirdre Marie and Diane, such deserving winners of Carer of the Year for their exceptional efforts providing invaluable care and making a real impact on those people and families they support. Keith Gill, Director of Health Care Insurance, First Ireland said, We are delighted to support the HCCI Home Care awards. HCCI members and their teams of carers, schedulers, managers, HRs and nurses give so much to their clients and communities. They wholeheartedly deserve this recognition. "Congratulations to all nominees and award winners and thank you for all you have done. We wish HCCI members and their teams all the best in the coming months. Award sponsor Dave Brady, Director, Spry Finance, pictured with award winner Deirdre Marie Banks, carer with Connected Health in Derry and judge Brendan Courtney. Joseph Musgrave, CEO, HCCI which is the representative body for home care providers and advocates for home care services to be made available to all on a statutory basis, said, We are very lucky to have people like Deirdre Marie and Diane working in homecare. Their dedication and ingenuity make a real difference to clients and their families. Sincere congratulations on their joint win. Musgrave continued, I would like to sincerely thank our event sponsor First Ireland whose support made this ceremony possible, as well as Spry Finance, The HR Company, One Touch, Leading Healthcare Professionals Skillnet and RCSI Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery for their sponsorship of individual awards. "We are also very grateful to our independent judges for their time and expertise. And thank you to all our members who nominated colleagues for the awards. Other award winners announced during the event were: Scheduler of the Year: Louise Bell, Connected Health, Limavady, Derry. Award sponsor: OneTouch Manager of the Year: Caroline Maguire, Connected Health, Monaghan. Award sponsor: Leading Healthcare Professionals Skillnet HR of the Year: Lisa Cassidy, Home Instead. Award sponsor: The HR Company Nurse of the Year: Mariana Gordo, Heritage Homecare. Award sponsor: RCSI Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery HCCI also recognised Kathleen Jordan, Services for Older People, HSE with the Significant Contribution award (sponsored by First Ireland). Presenting the award, Joseph described Kathleen as someone who is consistently committed to improving home care and services for older people in the community and who is selflessly dedicated to enhancing services for older people. PSNI interim chief constable Jon Boutcher has said he will not appeal against a critical judgment surrounding the treatment of two officers. Mr Boutcher said he accepts the judgment and has offered to meet the officers to apologise. A High Court judge found earlier this year that actions taken against two junior police officers over an incident at a Troubles memorial event in Belfast were unlawful. In August former chief constable Simon Byrne initially said he accepted the judgment, but later indicated he was considering launching an appeal. He resigned in September following a string of controversies, including that judgment as well as a significant data breach. Mr Justice Scoffield ruled in August that the decision was made to discipline the officers to allay any threat of Sinn Fein abandoning its support for policing in Northern Ireland. The incident happened on the Ormeau Road in February 2021 during a service marking the anniversary of the February 1992 Sean Graham bookmakers attack in which five people were murdered. The two officers faced action in 2021 after the arrest of Mark Sykes, a survivor of a loyalist gun attack on the bookmakers in south Belfast. The incident unfolded when police challenged people attending a memorial event amid suspicions that the size of the public gathering breached coronavirus regulations. In a statement on Friday, Mr Boutcher said that he accepts the judgment and does not intend to appeal. I can confirm that, following consideration of the Judicial Review findings, the Police Service of Northern Ireland accept the judgment and do not intend to lodge an appeal, he said. I have communicated my position to the chair of the Police Federation who will inform both officers. I acknowledge that our judgment was wrong and unlawful and I have offered to meet both officers to apologise. I realise this judgment has had a significant impact both within and outside the organisation. The Service Executive Team and I realise that our focus now must be on rebuilding confidence and trust with our officers and staff and across all communities. Liam Kelly, chair of the Police Federation, said Mr Boutchers statement is most welcome, and praised his quick action. It is hugely heartening for our officers that within 24 hours of formally taking up his position, the interim chief constable has ruled out legally challenging this judgment, he said. I have personally spoken to both officers and this decision has come as a great relief both to them and indeed their colleagues in the wider service. This is a most welcome outcome. What the interim chief constable has demonstrated so early in his term in office is that he is listening and acting decisively on the concerns we have raised. In my view he couldnt have made a better start to his role at the helm of this service which is in dire need of strong leadership and direction. This positive and most welcome decision is a major statement of intent to our men and women and he is to be applauded for his swift action. However, Mr Kelly cautioned that Mr Boutcher still faces an uphill task of tackling plummeting officer morale, a dire budgetary situation, a freeze on recruitment and declining officer numbers. HIGHLIGHTS The Not-a-bot plan was launched in New Zealand and the Philippines at a price of $1 for a year. Musk plans on launching more such plans and making the subscription-based model a more serious thing. One will be a premium option and the other one a low-cost version. Twitter is more than often considered a ground of free speech, from human rights activists to religious talks to even filmy gossip, everything happens here for free. But it seems like ever since his takeover of Twitter, oh I am sorry, X, he has different plans. After the paid-blue tick plan which had the whole internet divided, we recently saw how a paid X subscription was launched in New Zealand and the Philippines. This was called the Not-a-bot and charged $1 for a year of subscription. Musk announced that they were testing with this plan and the main aim of this was to get rid of the annoying bots. Users were asked to pay $1 to access even the basic features of X and those who didnt pay will be taken to read-only mode. Also read: Are Elon Musks Twitter mistakes responsible for Threads success? Two new tiers of X Premium subscriptions launching soon. One is lower cost with all features, but no reduction in ads, and the other is more expensive, but has no ads. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 20, 2023 This was just the first step of the plan and now Musk plans on launching more such plans and making the subscription-based model a more serious thing. Elon Musk will introduce two more plans under the X Premium subscription. One will be a premium option and the other one a low-cost version. Both of these will offer similar features but the more expensive plan will come sans any ads. If you go with the cheaper one, then youll have to deal with the ads. Musk announced this new plan by taking to X. He said, Two new tiers of X Premium subscriptions launching soon. One is lower cost with all features, but no reduction in ads, and the other is more expensive, but has no ads. If you can recall, this is not the first time subscription-based models have been launched for X. Until now, there has been an X Pro subscription plan. The X Pro costs 650 per month in India. If youre one of those who want a X Pro account then you can purchase it for the same price on the website. However, if you purchase it on the iOS or Android app, then youll have to pay a total of 900. HIGHLIGHTS Google has introduced a new portrait touch-up feature on Google Meet. This feature will help you to enhance your appearance before joining or during the meeting. It is currently rolling out on Google Meet for mobile, and will be released for the web by the end of this year. Google has introduced a new portrait touch-up feature on its video communication service Google Meet. This feature will help you to subtly enhance your appearance before joining or during the meeting. It is currently rolling out on Google Meet for mobile, and will be released for the web by the end of this year. Introducing portrait touch-up in Meet, a new feature on mobile that enables you to lightly touch up your appearance from the green room before joining or during the meeting, the tech giant announced in a Workspace Updates blogpost. Also read: Google Meet adds 1080p resolution support for group video calls You will be able to choose from two portrait touch-up modes: Subtle and Smoothing. The Subtle mode, as the name suggests, will provide a very light complexion smoothing, while the Smoothing mode will apply slightly more complexion smoothing as compared to the Subtle mode. Also read: Google Meet now let you pair your video tile with other participants: Heres how According to Google, the new portrait touch-up has been highly requested by users. With this feature, the company aims to help users feel more comfortable and confident with how they appear during video calls. The portrait touch-up feature will be off by default and can be enabled by the user. This update is rolling out to Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, Teaching & Learning Upgrade, Google One and Google Workspace Individual. And, it is not available to users with personal Google Accounts. Recently, Google announced the ability to stream 1080p-quality webcam feeds during group calls on Google Meet. Its important to note that the 1080p resolution is only sent when one or more users are pinning the 1080p-enabled user on a screen large enough to render the 1080p video feed. HIGHLIGHTS Rick Osterloh has announced that the company will start manufacturing the Pixel smartphones in India from next year. Google is said to be in talks with the hardware manufacturers, both domestic and international. It is not confirmed yet if Google will make the Pro variant in India or not. On Thursday, Google held the Google for India event, where the tech giant announced an initiative to contribute to the Make-in-India program. Google said that it will start manufacturing the Google Pixel smartphones in India. The company will make its latest Pixel smartphones, starting from Pixel 9. With this initiative, India will be one of the countries to manufacture smartphones of all three leading brands; Samsung, Apple, and Google. The Senior Vice President of Devices and Services at Google, Rick Osterloh has announced that the company will start manufacturing the Pixel smartphones in India from next year. However, he didnt announce the exact timeline. Lets see how Google plans to do it. Also read: Dont expect the Google Pixel 8a to wow you with a brand new design How Google plans to implement made-in-India Pixels Google is said to be in talks with the hardware manufacturers, both domestic and international. Although, the tech giant has not announced the names of these hardware manufacturers the reports earlier have revealed that Google will be partnering with Lava International Ltd, Dixon Technologies India, and Bharat FIH, the Indian unit of Foxconn Technology Group for the Pixel manufacturing in India. Now speaking of Googles latest smartphone, the Google Pixel 8 series was launched earlier this month and includes the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. Now we dont know if Google will make the Pro variant in India or not. Heres a quick recap of Google Pixel 8s specifications. Also read: Google Pixel 8 Pro Unleashed! Is it better than your iPhone 15 Pro? Find out here Google Pixel 8 specifications Google Pixel 8 has a 6.2-inch FHD+ OLED display featuring 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+. The Pixel 8 is powered by Googles Tensor G3 chipset paired with 8GB RAM and up to 256GB storage. Further, it is packed with a 4575mAh battery that supports 27-watt fast charging and 18-watt wireless charging. For photography, the Pixel 8 uses a 50-megapixel main camera with PDAF, Laser AF, and OIS. Apart from that, there is a 12-megapixel Ultrawide sensor and a 10.5-megapixel selfie shooter. HIGHLIGHTS The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is available on Amazon at a price of 92,999 including a bank discount. The Razr 40 Ultra is available on Amazon at a price of 73,749 with the bank offer. Additionally, both smartphones are also available with an exchange discount of up to 57,000. The foldable smartphones are the new trend in the smartphone industry. After Samsung, many brands have rolled out their foldable smartphones. A few years ago, if someone had told me that my smartphones display could fold, I wouldnt have believed it. But now, here we are. After the release of the Apple iPhone, foldable smartphones have become the new symbols of status. The two best flip smartphones in the Indian market, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Moto Razr 40 Ultra, are available at heavily discounted prices in Amazons Great Indian Festival Sale. If you are looking to buy a foldable smartphone, you are in the right place. Check out their deals on Amazon. Also read: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Review : Best flip phone of 2023 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 ( Buy Now ) The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 features a 6.7-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+. On the back, there is a 3.4-inch AMOLED display. It is equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy SoC paired with 8GB RAM and up to 512GB storage. It has a dual 12-megapixel camera setup on the back and a 10-megapixel selfie shooter on the front. A 3700mAh battery with 25-watt fast charging powers the smartphone. It is available on Amazon at a price of 92,999 including a bank discount. Apart from that, you can also use an exchange offer that promises a discount of up to 57,000. Buy Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Also read: Moto razr 40 Ultra Review : Doing the outer display right Moto Razr 40 Ultra ( Buy Now ) The Razr 40 Ultra has a 6.9-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with 165Hz refresh rate, 10-bit colour and HDR10+. Speaking of the cover display, it has a 3.6-inch AMOLED display that supports 144Hz refresh rate, 10-bit colour, and HDR10+. The smartphone runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor with up to 12GB RAM and 512GB storage. Moreover, it has a 12-megapixel main camera and a 13-megapixel Ultrawide lens. On the front, it features a 32-megapixel selfie shooter. The Razr 40 Ultra is packed with a 3800mAh battery with 30-watt wireless charging. This smartphone is available on Amazon at a price of 73,749 with the bank offer. You are also getting the same exchange offer here as well. Buy Moto Razr 40 Ultra Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. Toyota joins the crowd to adopt Tesla charging connector in 2025 Toyota Motor announced on October 19 that it will adopt Tesla's North American Charging Standard (NACS) in North America, just like Ford, General Motors, and many other competitors. Toyota and Lexus drivers will be able to charge at Tesla Supercharger stations starting in 2025. According to an announcement, Toyota will integrate NACS connectors into the design of certain Toyota and Lexus battery EVs in 2025. One of the vehicles will be a new three-row battery SUV that will be assembled at the carmaker's plant in Kentucky, the US. Toyota also said it will provide adaptors to its existing vehicles equipped with the Combined Charging System (CCS), another charging connector used in the US, so they can also charge at Tesla Superchargers. According to the carmaker, Toyota and Lexus customers can charge at 84,000 level 2 and DC fast chargers across North America. The NACS adoption will gain drivers access to over 12,000 Tesla Superchargers. The Japanese automaker is laying the groundwork for its EV ramp-up in the US. Toyota and LG Energy Solution announced in early October an NCMA battery supply agreement in the US. LGES will offer Toyota 20GWh of battery modules annually beginning in 2025. Toyota's NACS adoption came after Hyundai, Kia, and BMW Group said that they will begin using the charging connector in 2025 earlier this month. More than 20 automakers and charging service providers have joined the crowd. ChargePoint, a US-based charging service company, said on Thursday that it has begun offering Tesla drivers adaptors to charge at its AC and DC charging stations. ChargePoint said it is the first in the charging industry to ship a native DC connector compatible with Tesla vehicles. Google and Meta have pulled out of the upcoming Web Summit technology conference, following fallout from the events founders social media comments relating to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Siemens and Intel have also pulled out of next months event due to be held in Lisbon, Portugal after posted commentary made by Paddy Cosgrove about western support for Israel. Two senior executives from tech company Stripe will also now not attend. It has also been reported that actress Gillian Anderson has withdrawn from her speaking role at the conference. Mr Cosgrave, the chief executive of Ireland-based Web Summit, issued an apology on Tuesday where he said he unreservedly condemns Hamass attack on October 7. That followed a controversial post on X last Friday when he said he was shocked at the rhetoric and actions of so many Western leaders and governments, with the exception in particular of Irelands government, who for once are doing the right thing. War crimes are war crimes even when committed by allies, and should be called out for what they are. Mr Cosgrave said his comments were to urge Israel not to cross the boundaries of international law in its response to Hamas atrocities. In his later apology, he said: I unequivocally support Israels right to exist and to defend itself. I unequivocally support a two-state solution. I understand that what I said, the timing of what I said, and the way it has been presented has caused profound hurt to many. To anyone who was hurt by my words, I apologise deeply. What is needed at this time is compassion, and I did not convey that. My aim is and always has been to strive for peace. Ultimately, I hope with all my heart that this can be achieved. Tickets for Web Summit range from 1,095 euro for general attendance up to 24,950 euro for a chairperson ticket which includes a personal event fulfilment manager and access to an exclusive lounge with prices set to increase later this month. The event aims to attract more than 70,000 people including companies redefining the tech industry. On Friday, a spokeswoman for Google said: We will no longer have a presence at Web Summit. It is understood Meta is also no longer attending the event. A spokesman for Siemens said: Following recent developments surrounding Web Summit, we have reviewed the situation and determined that Siemens will not attend in 2023. Intel said in a statement: We can confirm that Intel has withdrawn from this years Web Summit. Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) recently hosted their second Equality, Diversity & Inclusivity (EDI) Week. The well attended five-day event consisted of a series of talks investigating all subjects related to EDI for students and staff. The Institute currently hosts students from over 45 different countries and say they are proud of this rich diversity within their student cohort which lends itself to all DkITs students and staffs cultural experience. A spokesperson said: "This years theme was Feels Like We All Belong which had an aim around creating a safe space to discuss and explore all aspects of equality, inclusion and diversity in society whilst learning more and making our college community a better place to learn, work and live in. "The week kicked off with an investigation into the Understanding of Race, Racism, Ethnicity & Identities. This was the first lunchtime talk of the week, and the Institute was delighted to welcome Dr Ebun Joseph. Dr Ebun Joseph is a Diversity and Race relations consultant, Director of the Institute of Antiracism and Black Studies and Chairperson of the African Scholars Association Ireland (AFSAI). "This was followed on Tuesday with a talk on Migration & Immigration, where DkIT was joined by Razan Ibraheem, a Journalist & Human Rights Activist who studied here in Ireland and Bobby McCormack, CEO of Development Perspectives. Both Razan and Bobby are passionate about empowering people from different backgrounds to challenge the norms and lead bright futures. "On Wednesday the Institute was delighted to celebrate Traveller Heritage & Culture Awareness and host Owen Patrick Ward from NUI Galway along with Nell and Laura McDonagh from the Meath Traveller Workshop to share their stories and experiences. "On the Thursday the Institute was delighted to be joined by Dr Lucy Michael to discuss all aspects of what Equality is, Diversity & Inclusion. Dr Michael is a sociologist in practice and a consultant on equality and integration issues. Her work particularly addresses racist discrimination and violence, experiences of victims, and the roles of statutory institutions and civil society in combating hate crime and exclusion. "This extremely successful week of events came to an end with a DkIT Staff discussion around redrawing the Boundaries of Inclusion: an all-island community. DkIT staff were invited to examine their views on inclusion and diversity, this session was facilitated by Dr Kevin Howard who spoke eloquently about how this is a substantial issue that is facing us as a nation. "This week of events also saw the important signing by the Institute of the HEA Anti Racism Principles. This signing took place at an event on campus that was attended and supported by DkIT senior management along with Dr Lucy Michael, Dr Jennie Rothwell and Laura Austin from the Higher Education Authority (HEA). "This principles document set out by the HEA was signed on behalf of DkIT by its President, Dr Diarmuid OCallaghan as part of the institution's ongoing works to foster a culture of race equality within its community. The HEA, recognise the importance of addressing race inequality in Irish higher education. "These HEA Anti Racism Principles were developed after extensive consultation with stakeholders from the higher education sector and were informed by the findings of the Higher Education Authority National Race Equality survey and subsequent report published in October 2021." Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. DESCRIBING her book on the Irish revolution as an unconventional and personalised telling of Irelands darkest days, Ellen McWilliams shines a light on her familys role in the fight for independence. Ellen, whose book, entitled Resting Places: On Wounds, War And The Irish Revolution is to be published on November 2, is a UK-based academic, lecturing in the department of English at Exeter University. She is originally from Desertserges, Enniskeane. Her maiden name is McCarthy. You couldnt get a stronger West Cork name, says Ellen, who reflects on her Catholic upbringing in the area during the 1980s and 1990s. She says she is haunted by the killings in the War of Independence and the Civil War, and in particular, by the Dunmanway massacre of April, 1922, which affected the wider area in which Ellen was brought up. Ellens great-grandmother was active in Cumann na mBan and her grand-uncle fought for independence as well as in the anti-Treaty IRA. The book reveals why the events of those days remain deeply personal for Ellen; how they shape her life as she moves to England and marries an English man who is an expert on Oliver Cromwell and the English Civil War. The couple have a seven- year-old son, James. Ellen says she felt a need to write about her family history, not least for my small son, who has his own complicated place in this history with an Irish Catholic mother and an English Protestant father. I wanted to write the book for James in a way that is personal and that maybe manages to move beyond the political divide. As it happened, the Desertserges that Ellen grew up in was like an experiment in inter-collective space in that every other household along our road is Catholic, Protestant, Catholic or Protestant, said Ellen. Resting Places: On Wounds, War And The Irish Revolution, by Ellen McWilliams. It took me a long time to realise that not everybody in Ireland grew up in a mixed community. Those faces were such a part of my early childhood. They are really the people Im writing for in this book. Its a kind of loving memory of that area. Some of them are still with us. Some are gone in the last five to ten years as my parents generation gets older. Its only very recently that Ellen discovered her great-grandmothers application for a military pension. Her name was Ellen Foley. She lost her husband in 1916 when he became ill offering assistance in the Easter Rising. Reading between the lines, my great-grandmother was radicalised by grief and became a dedicated Cumann na mBan activist in Bandon, said Ellen. She ran a safe house and set up a hospital to treat wounded soldiers. During the Civil War period, that hospital was commandeered by the Free State army. In her military pension application, she describes being shot at three times by a neighbour who had joined the Free State army. She was very quietly spoken about all of this. Sean Buckley, the head of intelligence for the Third West Cork Brigade, gave her a glowing reference, saying she was unstinting in her support for the republican cause all the way through to 1923. But even with that, she was denied a pension. She appealed the decision and was awarded a medal for services to republicanism. Ellens mothers uncle Gerry was awarded a pension. His story is full of extraordinary anecdotes. Probably the most significant is that he was one of the IRA men who burned down Bernard Castle, the home of Lord Bandon. At the age of 20, Gerry was one of the IRA men put in charge of holding Lord Bandon hostage. Lord Bandon was treated very well by the IRA. The book also deals with the story of what historians refer to as the outrages against the Protestant community, said Ellen. Ive tried to be inclusive and to think of the feelings of all of the families in the area, some of whom were hurt by this history. What came as a real shock to Ellen and contributed to the emotional struggle in the book was the discovery that Protestant neighbours and friends were adversely affected by the Dunmanway massacre in which 14 men were killed or in some cases disappeared. Of the 13, 13 were Protestants. That made me aware of my own short-sightedness. As an academic, I teach seminars on the literature of the Irish War of Independence and the Civil War. And yet here I had this extraordinary story in the back fields, hiding in plain sight. As (UCC historian) Andy Bielenberg wrote, silence was the usual mechanism that people in this area embraced, Catholic and Protestant neighbours, Treaty and anti-Treaty families, drawing a line under it. Thats the way people coped with their traumatic history. The house that Ellen grew up in was once home to Thomas Bradfield, a Methodist farmer who was shot in the War of Independence. Its very unnerving to read about the house you grew up in, in the history books, said Ellen. That history has been examined quite closely since the 1990s. Its just that, for some reason, any time I encountered it, an instinct told me that it was best to leave it, until suddenly I couldnt stay away from this history. It began to present itself in a way that became all-consuming for a while in the writing of it. Its like a haunting. I felt the need to write it down for future generations. Resting Places: On Wounds, War And The Irish Revolution is published by Beyond the Pale Books. THE Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Kieran McCarthy, has officially launched this year's 'Picker Pals' programme - an initiative he says "inspires local environmental stewardship now and into the future". Delivered by the environmental NGO VOICE, Picker Pals provides participating classrooms with a 'Picker Pack' which they take turns to bring home at the weekend and go litter-picking with their families in their local areas. Now in its fifth year of operation, over 33,000 children have taken part and Picker Pals estimate over 450t of litter has been removed from the environment in Ireland since the programme began in 2019. The initiative embraces storytelling and creativity and motivates children to become young environmentalists through the story of the Picker Pals, who live in Pickerupolis - a flying island in the sky. Interactive content including Picker Pals TV available on YouTube brings fun to what can otherwise be seen as a mundane and unappealing job. The Lord Mayor launched this year's programme at Scoil na Croise Naofa in Mahon this week. "Promoting a sense of pride and community among the citizens of Cork city is something very close to my heart so I am delighted so many schools in the city are taking part in this programme that inspires local environmental stewardship now and into the future for our schoolchildren and their families, he said. With almost 1,400 classrooms nationally getting involved again this year, Picker Pals is set for another busy school year. "We did the programme last year and the children really enjoy it," teacher at Scoil na Croise Naofa, Ms Cooney, said. "Plus there is a huge drive in the community of Mahon for Tidy Towns currently and we want to help out and encourage responsibility and pride for our childrens' local community," she added. CEO of VOICE, Tad Kirakowski, said VOICE is delighted to be working with Cork City Council to deliver the Picker Pals programme again this year. "Working with Cork city we deliver to schools across the city and support Cork's aim to be carbon neutral by 2030," he said. Finance Minister Michael McGrath has said that while it is too soon to estimate the total cost of the damage wreaked by Storm Babet across Cork and Waterford, the final bill associated with this major flood event is going to be very significant. Speaking to reporters in Cork city centre this morning, the Fianna Fail TD reiterated that Government will be forthcoming in providing financial assistance to repair the damage done to homes, to businesses and to public infrastructure. The business scheme will be stood up on Tuesday. The Red Cross have considerable experience of administering the scheme, so once we decided on the final enhancements to the scheme, the Red Cross will open up their communication channel with businesses and initial funding for initial costs that people are facing right now will be provided from next week, he said. In the case of households, that scheme is already up and running and theres already a phoneline available for affected homeowners who dont have flood cover to engage, to make that call, and they will receive immediate support from the community welfare office, Mr McGrath continued. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaking to members of the press during his visit to Midleton yesterday. Picture: Dan Linehan The relevant local authorities will, he said, be fully compensated in relation to the cost of reinstating public infrastructure that has been damaged. All of that will be done outside of their normal budgets because we recognise this is an exceptional event and does warrant an exceptional response from the State, he said. Speaking in relation to future flood protections for Midleton one of the areas most significantly hit by flooding in Cork Mr McGrath gave assurances that Government is 100% committed to delivering a comprehensive flood relief scheme as quickly as possible. The Midleton scheme will cost at least 50m, with a formal planning application expected to be submitted in early 2024. Mr McGrath said it would be important that, where the State puts public money behind flood alleviation measures, that insurance cover for properties in those areas would follow. He added that any property owners who have suffered flood damage and who do have flood cover shouldnt be afraid to claim, saying that he had spoken with the chief executive of Insurance Ireland, Moyagh Murdock, and had urged that a fast and compassionate response from the industry be shown to policyholders who do have cover. CORKONIANS are being encouraged to think outside the box to help marginalised children across the world enjoy the best Christmas possible. Team Hope, which is an Irish, child focused development organisation, is calling on the public to donate gift-filled shoeboxes to deserving children in Africa and Eastern Europe impacted by poverty or marginalisation. Corkonians are being asked to fill an empty shoebox and wrap it in Christmas paper for a boy or girl in need aged between two and 14. Alternatively, they can gift a 5 donation and bring it to a local drop off point before Friday, November 10. Supporters of the charity can also build a box online by donating at www.teamhope.ie. The organisation released a list of gift suggestions that included items of clothing, something to wash with and something to write with. They will also accept novelty items such as toys or treat. This years shoebox appeal will run from November 4 to November 10. Information about how to donate and shoebox drop off points is available at www.teamhope.ie. Team Hope has partnered with drop off point Dealz who are selling flatpack shoeboxes in packs of three in their stores nationwide. A large crowd that spanned the generations turned out to witness the unveiling of a new Michael Collins statue in the city centre this afternoon, described as a monument for the people, from the people. The statue, located on Grand Parade, was funded through a crowd-funding scheme spearheaded by the Michael Collins 100 committee - a non-political organisation dedicated to honouring the legacy of Collins. The site near the library where the statue was unveiled has historical links to Collins as on March 12, 1922, the so-called Big Fella attended a Pro-Treaty rally on Grand Parade where he delivered a passionate speech to a crowd of what was reported to have been around 50,000 people. Speaking at the unveiling, the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Kieran McCarthy, said that during that speech over a century ago, Collins made a noble call about creating a better Ireland for future generations. While much has been achieved in the intervening decades, Mr McCarthy said Collins words on that day still ring true. Here we are over 100 years after Michaels oration here, in a time where a hard tilted efforts need to be made again, for ourselves and for future generations across elements in particular of housing provision, hospital care, social inclusion, equality, community life, future proofing employment what Michael called for a centenary ago, he said. Among the assembled guests in attendance was grand-niece of Michael Collins, Fidelma Collins. Thank you to everyone, on behalf of myself and the Collins family, she said, addressing the crowd. The turnout is absolutely wonderful. Ms Collins lauded the work of Michael Collins 100 committee, who she said were the driving force behind the project. She also thanked everyone who donated toward the cost of the statue. All your contributions helped us to produce this wonderful, iconic statue here today, Ms Collins said. Renowned sculptor, Kevin Holland, was commissioned to create the new statue, which is based on the iconic 1922 photograph of Collins with a Pierce bicycle. Mr Holland also created the landmark statue of Collins in Clonakilty. Michael Collins 100 Committee chairman, Tim Crowley, paid tribute to Mr Holland, describing him as extremely talented and a privilege to work with. He said the statue, officially unveiled by sporting legends Ronan OGara, Jimmy Barry Murphy and Rena Buckley, will undoubtedly become a big attraction in Cork city. Mr Crowley also thanked the city councillors, who last year passed a motion tabled by Fine Gael councillor Shane OCallaghan asking the local authority to facilitate the placing of a statue of Collins in the city centre, with the funds raised by the Michael Collins 100 Committee. A 50-year-old man was allegedly seen in the early hours of a morning using a sledgehammer in an attempt to break into TW Murrays, which sells products for fishing and shooting, a court has heard. That was the allegation made at Cork District Court as the accused man, John ODonovan of Spriggs Rd, Gurranabraher, Cork, and Monataggart, Donoughmore, Co Cork. He applied to be released from prison on bail on this charge of attempted burglary and two other charges of burglary all in Cork City centre premises. Judge Joanne Carroll refused the application for bail and remanded the accused in custody until November 2. Garda Dave Tobin said the objection to bail was based on factors including the seriousness of the alleged offences. Gardai responded to a call in relation to a burglary at the Linen Weaver Bar on Paul St which occurred earlier that morning, July 3, Gda Tobin told Cork District Court. It is alleged that he was identified on CCTV wearing clothes matching the description of him on Cornmarket St, where he was found in possession of bottles of alcohol identified as taken from the Linen Weaver Bar. It is further alleged that he was seen on the same date at 4.37am attempting to break the lock of the door of TW Murrays using a sledgehammer. The man can be seen walk down Careys Lane, change his clothes from a camouflage jacket to a black jacket, and return to the front door of TW Murrays and look through the door. He can then be seen walk down Careys Lane towards the Linen Weaver Bar. On July, 1 it is alleged that the same man gained entry to the Sstrene Grene shop on St Patricks Street and interfered with a number of cash registers and stole items of stock from the store. Solicitor Diarmuid Kelleher did not cross-examine the garda witness or call evidence from Mr ODonovan, who appeared in Cork District Court via video link from prison. Refusing bail, Judge Carroll remanded the accused in custody for a fortnight. INSPIRATION BEHIND THE SERIES Young people deserve to hear from the perspectives, opinions, and experiences of other young people. I believe we can learn from each other and help each other as we navigate the Irish education system. I aim to draw from as many points of view as possible, making sure this advice is relevant to as many different students as possible. The articles over these 10 weeks will look at study skills, career route options, Leaving Certificate reflections, school experiences, and so on. A DIFFERENT PATH Caoimhe Cotter is an 18-year-old, studying Early Learning and Care with Special Needs Assistance. She is completing her course whilst working in an art gallery. She is passionate about LGBTQ+ and womens rights, and is a member of the TRC, a youth-led group that aims to challenge the Irish government on issues in the trans healthcare system. I wanted to make sure I included the views in this series, not only of young people doing well in school or finding the experience OK, but also the perspectives of young people who really struggled with school. Caoimhe felt this way to such an extent that she dropped out of secondary school. She has since found a path that is suited to her and has a bright, shiny future ahead. Caoimhe struggled with the social and environmental aspects of school. I had gone to a fairly small primary school, she said. There were a lot of aspects of secondary school that caused her anxiety. Moving to a school with twice the amount of people although I also struggled with social anxiety in primary, moving from what I was so used to was definitely a shock to the system. Around this time, she got her diagnosis. Shortly after going into secondary school, I was diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD). After which I decided to leave school. However, Caoimhe was always really interested in the academic side of school. I think thats one of the main reasons I decided to go back. Yet, rather than going back to mainstream schooling, she moved to an alternative education setting, at Cork Life Centre, that improved her mental health greatly as it focused on the social aspects of learning. She did complete the Leaving Certificate course but it was carried out in a completely different way to the typical school. She elaborated: Most classes up until sixth year were one-on-one with the student and teacher so that each teacher could get a better understanding of each student and how they learn. This helped her feel better catered for as she learned. Then, in sixth year, students that had similar learning styles were placed in classes of up to three students to one teacher, so that each person could get as personalised an education as possible. Reflecting on her time in school, she added: I truly dont think I could have gone back to mainstream education once I left it. She explained that even if youre truly unhappy in secondary school and feel out of place, there is an option and hope for everyone. Referring to secondary school, Caoimhe said: It just wasnt suited for me, although I do know many people who got on great in it. Yet, alternative education allowed her to flourish. My time at the Life Centre made me the person I am today. Talking about her hopes for her future, she explained: I originally wanted to pursue social care or youth work when I left secondary school, as I wanted to be able to help young people the way my school helped me. Unfortunately, Caoimhe was too young to start the course she wanted. You had to be 18 by the time the first semester started and she was only 17. Her second choice was Early Learning and Care with Special Needs Assisting. She had experience working with both young children and children with special needs, having worked in a summer camp for three years beforehand. This encouraged her to do it, while she had to wait to be old enough to do the course she originally wanted. But by the end of the year. I knew that this was what I wanted to do, said Caoimhe. Now, she wants to stay in the course and will hopefully be continuing onto MTU this year to get her degree. Caoimhe shared brilliant advice for anyone who relates to her story and feelings going through school. I also felt that they were great reminders for anyone, all about living in the moment. Looking back on her school experience, she said: I would tell myself to just try to enjoy everything as much as you can while youre in school because no matter how hard it is now, youll regret not talking to people you thought were too cool, or turning down going out because youre too scared of what people will say. That same advice goes to any student in school now. It literally will not matter in the long run so just have fun. You can catch up on on the Student to Student series on EchoLive.ie By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA Irish soldiers about to be deployed to a peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon have said they are not afraid as they prepare to travel to a region of high tensions. Violence between Israel and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon has flared in recent days as fears grow that the fighting between Israel and Hamas could disrupt other areas across the Middle East. The 123rd battalion will see 334 Irish personnel and nine people from Malta deployed to the United Nation Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) next month. At the Glen of Imaal in Co Wicklow on Thursday, Defence Forces soldiers carried out a military training exercise which included the testing of heat-seeking Javelin missiles. Brothers Pte Caolan OReilly (left) and Pte Tiarnan OReilly during a deployment mission readiness exercise at Glen of Imaal, Co Wicklow (Liam McBurney/PA) The commanding officer of the 123rd battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Mac Eoin, said his colleagues in Lebanon have described the current conditions as tense, but said the soldiers were ready to go and do their job. There are exchanges of fire, both north and south across the blue line, but the soldiers are responding well to it. They would have been through exactly the same training and process that were going through today. And that training is designed actually to prepare the soldiers for just that type of scenario. So the troops are responding well, theyre in good shape, and as far as were concerned, theres no change to the plan, were ploughing on and were deploying as planned. Mr Mac Eoin, who has served in Kosovo, Chad, Congo and Lebanon, said it was understandable that some of the soldiers family members are concerned. He said the soldiers had been given a live update on the situation and were also helped to counter some of the misinformation and disinformation that is spreading around. Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Mac Eoin speaking ahead of a forthcoming deployment to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Liam McBurney/PA) He described the tasks the soldiers will have, as mandated by the United Nations to monitor, to observe, to report, and to protect civilians once deployed to the blue line. So when our troops are over, we familiarise ourselves with the area of operations, well take over from the guys and girls who are there at the moment, and essentially will occupy those posts, and we continue to do what were doing. So our operations are essentially to support the government of Lebanon by patrolling alongside the Lebanese Armed Forces. And sometimes without the Lebanese Armed Forces, we call those framework operations. And in the scenario whereby we do have exchanges of fire, our troops are trained to respond to get into very well-protected positions. This will be the first mission for Kilkenny brothers Tiarnan and Caolan OReilly, aged 24 and 22. Asked how they were feeling, they both said they were looking forward to it and were not afraid. Tiarnan OReilly said he has been following developments a little bit, but his brother Caolan said they are well trained for it. Pte Matt Kinnaird is the youngest member of the battalion (Liam McBurney/PA) Matt Kinnaird, who turned 20 on October 7, is the youngest member of the battalion. In the job, you do grow up very quickly, he said, adding that he tries to listen to his senior officers and take all their advice on board. I do my best to stay updated with as much as possible. No, Im not too much worried. We cover all kinds of aspects here in our training, so were prepared for anything. He said his parents had a little bit of nerves from what they are seeing on social media. Ive reassured them of the training were doing up here, he added. Lt Essie OConnell during readiness exercises for the 123rd Infantry Battalion which is entering the final phase of training in preparation for their deployment to south Lebanon in November (Liam McBurney/PA) Lieutenant Essie OConnell, 25, who joined in 2016, said she is not very nervous because weve done a lot of training. Its been very robust training. Its exact same every year, were trained for every event. She said the relationship between the group was very important. Its a very long six months so everyone needs good cohesion, and for everyone to have good morale and everyone is looking forward to going over. Theres not anyone too nervous. There will be people nervous but everyone is there for each other and looking out for each other and when we complete the mission everyone is working together. Asked about whether the group is discussing the tense situation, she said: If people do bring it up, were just say to just concentrate on the training at the moment, that when we get out there, well find out. By Cillian Sherlock, PA DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has said he believes the UK government is moving closer to addressing his partys concerns over post-Brexit trade. The DUP has been blocking powersharing for more than a year in protest at the internal UK trade barriers created by Brexits Northern Ireland Protocol. The party says the framework deal struck by the EU and the UK to reform the protocol does not sufficiently address its concerns and has made clear it will not accept a return to devolution until the British government provides further assurances, by way of legislation, over Northern Irelands place in the UK internal market. One of the main parts of the framework the green/red lane system for the movement of goods became operational at Northern Ireland ports at the beginning of this month. Talks between the DUP and the British government have been ongoing over the summer. Mr Donaldson was responding to BBC Question Time audience member Gary Clark, who asked: How much longer should the people of Northern Ireland have to tolerate a lack of devolved government and crumbling public services? Speaking in Lisburn, Mr Donaldson said there are elements of the Windsor Framework that represent progress, but there remain some areas that still have to be resolved. He added: I think we are closer to finding a resolution than we were at the beginning of this process when no-one was listening, when the EU said there would be no renegotiation. Mr Donaldson said he wanted to see Stormont back up and running as the Northern Irelands finances are not adequate to deliver effective public services. However, he said he wanted the institution to be restored on a sustainable basis and under cross-community consensus. He said: That is why the DUP at the outset, recognised that the solution for Northern Ireland was not to put a hard border on the island, but equally, the solution is not to put a border in the Irish Sea. There are ways we can resolve this. Sorcha Eastwood said the DUP should get out of the way if it did not want to return to powersharing (Liam McBurney/PA) In answering the question, Alliance MLA Sorcha Eastwood said Northern Ireland should not be without a government for a second longer. Ms Eastwood then told Mr Donaldson that the people of Lagan Valley were hurting due to the collapse of Northern Irelands institutions. She added: Every single one of those families is hurting. People getting sicker on waiting lists, schools having to collect money for books, toilet roll, everything else. This is not our first rodeo. It wasnt right whenever Sinn Fein did it. It certainly isnt right whenever youre doing it. And you know what we are saying? Not a minute longer, not a single minute longer. Youve made a decision, and its the wrong decision. She added: We understand that you have a problem but heres where it becomes everyone elses problem. You dont get to take your ball and go off the pitch just because its something you dont like. We didnt like Brexit but we worked on it, we made it happen and you know what? Our job is to govern, our job is to stand for election and do our job. So if you dont want to do the job, get out of the way. Sinn Fein MP John Finucane described as the outworking of a Brexit project that the DUP championed and welcomed with open arms. He said it was anti-democratic not to return to powersharing. Sinn Fein MP John Finucane said the collapse of Northern Irelands institutions was a consequence of Brexit (Liam McBurney) Mr Finucane highlighted an upcoming investment conference in the North and said attending US firms would be seeking political stability. He said: So not a single day longer should we have to wait for the absence of an assembly. We need an assembly. We need an executive. Where I will agree with Jeffrey is that we need an executive with a single voice, demanding the resources to begin to tackle the problems that this room know that we have, but the way to do that is not outside its inside taking your place along with everybody else. In response, Mr Donaldson highlighted that Mr Finucane and other Sinn Fein MPs do not take their seats at Westminster. He also criticised Ms Eastwood for talking about a politics of exclusion by suggesting Unionists should get out of the way. Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris was accused of implementing a punishment budget (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris told the Question Time audience that this place operates on consensus and he could not intervene in the DUPs decision not to enter Stormont to govern. He said: So my job has been to try and sort out the just concerns, and some of them are very just, for the Unionist community and their politicians. Asked if a deal with the DUP was imminent, Mr Heaton-Harris said: I would love it to be. I think we are in the final phases of a wonderful group of talks. Asked if he agreed talks were in the final phases, Mr Donaldson said: We are moving closer. Shadow Northern Ireland secretary Hilary Benn said checks on goods on Northern Ireland have to be implemented sensibly and sensitively He added: The question is, is that principle of how the checks operate on the green lane big enough to continue to mean that Northern Ireland has no government? And all I can tell you is since I was appointed on September 4, just about every conversation Ive had with all the people Ive been meeting has come back down to: We havent got a functioning government and we need a functioning government. The people of Northern Ireland need it and the current budget is not sustainable, for the reasons that have been set out so clearly, and that needs to change too. Shadow Northern Ireland secretary Hilary Benn (Liam McBurney/PA) Mr Heaton-Harris was directly criticised from the audience for washing his hands of responsibility for having a functioning Executive in Northern Ireland. It was put to him that he had imposed a punishment budget on Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Secretary rejected this, saying it was a misunderstanding of what is happening here. He said the money was set aside in the Spending Review properly and thoroughly and that Westminster could not impose itself on Northern Ireland. He added: How its spent is determined by the executive, if there was an executive sitting. and as someone did say, what all this needs is a joined-up approach and thats exactly what you have ministers for. He later said he was happy to talk with a reformed executive about what makes a budget sustainable. Vivienne Clarke Cork County Councils director of services for roads and transportation, Niall Healy, has called on residents in the Woodlands estate in Middleton to remain on high alert due to the high risk of flooding following Storm Babet. Mr Healy told RTE radios Morning Ireland that residents should engage with the gardai if they call to their door and to observe precautions because of the high risk of flooding. The estate which is on the north end of the town is an association of roughly 20 houses which flooded in the last 24 hours, he explained. Six or seven homes had to be evacuated, and the estate is being closely monitored. We have had a crew on standby overnight that were checking the flood risk areas. Fire crews were going door to door in the estate urging residents to evacuate their homes. We're asking people to just literally pay attention this morning, that is a high risk area. Main Street also in Midleton remains under observation, he added. There was some sort of surcharging of the combined sewer in the town at different stages overnight. And that was something that we were keeping an eye on, but it wasn't of concern to us. The Woodlands Estate is the area that is of most concern to us at the moment. The yellow alert rainfall warning continues until 9 a.m. this morning, he said. The N25, which is one of the primary transport links in East Cork remained closed to traffic for much of yesterday, reopening in the afternoon with a one-way traffic management system in place. We've been monitoring that overnight. The flooding in the area has subsided, so we expect to be able to reopen that road shortly to air traffic. Mr Healy said there had been significant damage to the road infrastructure right across the county, particularly in the southern part of the county. The local authority was attempting to identify all affected locations so that damages can be assessed, and a funding request can be put to the Government for repairs and reconstruction in some places. Vivienne Clarke Minister for Finance Michael McGrath has said that businesses impacted by flooding during Storm Babet will receive financial support from next week. The Red Cross was experienced in dispersing such funds, he told RTE radios Morning Ireland. Funds varying from 5,000 and up to 20,000 will be available, and if there is a need to go further because of a lack of flood insurance then there will be an increased level of support, he said. Mr McGrath visited Midleton on Thursday, and what he had seen there would really break your heart, he said. To see it in person and to see all of the destruction and stock that was destroyed out on the pavements and mounds of it in skips. To see just the anguish, the frustration and indeed the anger of many of the business owners who are now deeply worried about the future. While the focus had been, rightly, on Midleton, there were many other parts of Cork and indeed West Waterford that had been impacted, he added. The assessment of the full scale of the damage to homes and to businesses will take some time, but the support will be there. The overarching message that we wanted to convey yesterday, is that we will be there to support households and to support businesses as they try to get back on their feet because it is going to be a difficult journey for many. But we do have to ensure that all of these businesses that were viable two days ago can continue to trade into the future. And I know that they get incredible support from the local community, that has been demonstrated already. I was so impressed by the community spirit. Mr McGrath said there was a long-established scheme to support businesses, volunteer groups, community organisations impacted by flood events. It's administered by the Red Cross on behalf of the Irish Government. That scheme will be stood up following a Cabinet decision next week. It's a non-statutory scheme, so it does require a decision of Government formally to be made and Minister Coveney is developing the memo at the moment that would be brought to Cabinet on Tuesday and the scheme will be up and running immediately. The Minister said the Red Cross administered scheme will provide an initial 5,000 and then support of up to 20,000 following consideration of the scale of the damage, he explained. Many businesses did not have flood insurance because of floods in the past so there could be a need to go further with financial aid, and that was being considered, he said. The Government would do everything it could and he acknowledged that 20,000 might not go far enough for some businesses, he added. For those businesses that need extra support changes will have to be made to the existing scheme in a manner that can be sustained into the future, he said. So it is about amending the scheme and improving the scheme rather than designing a new one. There's no need to reinvent the wheel here, we have a system that has worked well generally in the past, but the scale and the depth of what has happened here is much greater and we, I think, need to take this opportunity to amend and improve that scheme and that will be done for next week. There is also an existing scheme up and running for households and that scheme is immediate through the local Community Welfare office. Minister Humphreys issued a statement yesterday setting out the details of that scheme for households that are not able to access flood cover insurance. So that's there immediately and people should reach out and all of the details are online. I also spoke yesterday to Insurance Ireland because there are some businesses and some households, particularly outside of the the centre of Midleton, who do have flood cover insurance. And it's important that the insurance industry responds quickly and fairly in supporting those policyholders who have insurance cover and who shouldn't be afraid to make a claim. Where people have cover they should be making a claim from their insurance. Isabel Hayes A teacher who was on trial accused of sexually abusing a male student 38 years ago has been found guilty of the charges against her. The jury in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial of Jacintha McSherry O'Connor (63) returned majority guilty verdicts on two counts of indecent assault on Friday after 11 hours of deliberating. She made no reaction in court when the verdicts were handed down. McSherry O'Connor, of The Mullins, Donegal Town, Co. Donegal, had pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecently assaulting the child on dates between June 1st and September 1st, 1985. She was aged between 24 and 25 at the time of the offending, while the boy was aged 13. The court heard the abuse occurred while McSherry O'Connor worked as a student teacher at a Dublin secondary school. It was alleged that she indecently assaulted the boy on two occasions in his home, where she had been giving him grinds. The four-day trial also heard allegations of inappropriate sexual relations between McSherry O'Connor and the boy on a holiday she attended with his family in Spain in the run-up to the alleged offences. No charges were before the jury in relation to these alleged incidents as they pertained to a different jurisdiction. The complainant in the case now a man in his 50s told the court that seeing his own children reach the age he was at the time of the incidents spurred him to go to gardai, along with other unrelated high-profile cases. He said he was also concerned to see McSherry O'Connor was still teaching in Donegal. After the verdicts were handed down, Judge Elma Sheahan thanked the jurors for their service. She exempted them from jury duty for three years. She adjourned the case for sentence hearing on November 8th and remanded McSherry O'Connor on continuing bail. Prosecution case It was the prosecution case that while giving the boy grinds at his home, McSherry O'Connor started having inappropriate conversations with the boy about music that made her horny and discussing things of a sexual nature. He also visited her regularly in the home she lived in with her parents. The prosecution alleged that this was a form of grooming on the part of McSherry O'Connor and that the complainant was drawn in as a result, and infatuated with his teacher. The court heard McSherry O'Connor and a friend of hers accompanied the boy and his family on a holiday to Spain the summer he finished first year after getting a cheap deal. The two young women stayed in a separate apartment in the complex. The complainant told the trial that it was on this holiday that the first sexual encounters occurred. He said McSherry O'Connor rubbed her breasts against him at the pool, fondled him and later performed oral sex on him in her apartment. He said she also gave him alcohol, which was the first time he got drunk. After the holiday, the court heard of two further indecent assault incidents that occurred in the boy's home in the sitting room and in the attic. The complainant said that although he initially felt like a big man, he became uncomfortable about his interactions with the teacher and told her he didn't want to see her anymore. She had finished her work experience at the school by then and neither of them have had contact with each other since 1985, the court heard. In his closing speech to the jury this week, Garett McCormack BL, prosecuting, told the jury it should have no doubt in deciding the case, primarily because of the evidence of the complainant. These are difficult things for a man in his fifties to say, Mr McCormack said. Why would he say these things? He said that despite a robust cross-examination from defence counsel, the man did not waver in his allegations. The court heard the man told his first girlfriend at the age of 19 that he had been abused by McSherry O'Connor and this woman also gave evidence at the trial to that effect. In her charge to the jury, Judge Elma Sheahan noted that while this was not proof of the allegations, it went to the man's consistency. Mr McCormack said the woman allowed the boy into her family home and fostered this relationship. He said her explanation to the jury for this was that she should have known better. There's something not right there, Mr McCormack said. ...Constantly having him in her house with her family, going on holidays, continuing to go [to his house] after the holidays. Something is not right and why is something not right? Because [the complainant] is telling you the truth. This is a true, accurate and consistent version of events and I'm suggesting you can return verdicts of guilt on both charges before the court, and you can do so with a clear conscience. Defence case McSherry O'Connor took the stand during the trial and denied ever having sexual relations of any kind with the boy. She told the court that at the time of the alleged offences, she was in a relationship with the man who is now her husband. When asked by prosecution counsel why the man might make up such an allegation, McSherry O'Connor said she didn't know. He did say he fantasised about me, he was in love with me, she said, later adding: I don't know why he brought the criminal case. If he told so many people, maybe they pushed him into it. The trial heard that when interviewed by gardai, McSherry OConnor said she remembered the boy as being earnest, intense and driven. She said he was extremely helpful, would offer to carry her books and it became apparent to her that he had a crush on her. She said she was asked to give him grinds and that the boy admitted to her that he had asked his mother to arrange these grinds. Nothing untoward ever happened when I was giving him grinds in his house, McSherry O'Connor told gardai. She said they did have some tough conversations in which the boy told her he was being bullied. She said that after she had an unwelcome encounter with a senior teacher in the school, she blurted out to the boy what had happened to her. After that, he became more obsessed with me, she said. I thought of him as a little brother. In his closing speech to the jury, Patrick McGrath SC, defending, pointed to a number of inconsistencies which he said fundamentally call into question the reliability and perhaps the truthfulness of the complainant. Mr McGrath told the jury that McSherry O'Connor was a person who has been a teacher for a long, long time during which time nothing of this kind had been alleged against her. The court heard McSherry O'Connor has since been refused garda vetting to teach and is not currently working as a result. Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. Bleached corals were first observed on the seafloor of the Central Indian Ocean in November 2019. University of Plymouth Coral bleaching occurs when stressors such as changes in temperature, nutrients or light cause corals to expel the zooxanthellae algae living in their tissue, turning them white. The most common cause of coral bleaching is warming ocean temperatures due to climate change. Now, a new study by scientists from Englands University of Plymouth has found the deepest known evidence of the bleaching of a coral reef, nearly 300 feet below the surface in the Indian Ocean. As global temperatures continue to rise, shallow coral reef bleaching has become more intense and widespread. Mesophotic coral ecosystems reside in deeper (30150 m), cooler water and were thought to offer a refuge to shallow-water reefs, the scientists wrote in the study. Studies now show that mesophotic coral ecosystems instead have limited connectivity with shallow corals but host diverse endemic communities. Given their extensive distribution and high biodiversity, understanding their susceptibility to warming oceans is imperative. The bleaching event was attributed to the Indian Ocean dipole an irregular oscillation of ocean surface temperatures where the western and eastern parts of the ocean become alternately warmer, then colder. This led to a 30 percent elevation in ocean temperatures that damaged 80 percent of the coral reefs in parts of the seabed at depths that were thought to be resilient to warming, a press release from the University of Plymouth said. There are no two ways about it, this is a huge surprise. Deeper corals had always been thought of as being resilient to ocean warming, because the waters they inhabit are cooler than at the surface and were believed to remain relatively stable. However, that is clearly not the case and as a result there are likely to be reefs at similar depths all over the world that are at threat from similar climatic changes, said Dr. Philip Hosegood, co-author of the study and an associate professor in physical oceanography at the University of Plymouth, in the press release. The study, Mesophotic coral bleaching associated with changes in thermocline depth, was published in the journal Nature Communications. Studies in the Central Indian Ocean have been conducted by researchers from the University of Plymouth for more than a decade, the press release said. During their research cruises, a combination of satellite-generated oceanographic data, in situ monitoring and underwater robots have been used to learn more about the distinct oceanography of the region, as well as its biodiversity. Evidence of coral damage was first discovered during a November 2019 research cruise. During the cruise, remotely operated underwater vehicles equipped with monitoring cameras were used to observe coral health. Images from the cameras were transmitted live to the research vessel, giving the team its first look at the bleached corals. Unexpectedly, during the same time frame, shallow water reefs showed no sign of bleaching. Over the following months, the team looked at an array of additional data collected during the cruise, as well as satellite information on ocean temperatures and conditions. The information showed that, while ocean surface temperatures had hardly changed during that period, temperatures below the surface had risen from 71.6 to 84.2 degrees Fahrenheit due to the deepening of the thermocline the transition layer between the upper mixed layer and the water below across the Indian Ocean at the equator. What we have recorded categorically demonstrates that this bleaching was caused by a deepening of the thermocline. This is down to the regional equivalent of an El Nino, and due to climate change these cycles of variability are becoming amplified. Moving forward, bleaching in the deeper ocean here and elsewhere will likely become more regular, said lead author of the study Clara Diaz, who is a University of Plymouth Ph.D. student on mesophotic coral ecosystems, in the press release. University of Plymouth researchers returned to the area in 2022 and 2022 and discovered that large portions of the reef had recovered from the bleaching event. The researchers emphasized that, despite its complexities and challenges, monitoring the deep ocean seafloor is of dire importance. Our results demonstrate the vulnerability of mesophotic coral ecosystems to thermal stress and provide new evidence of the impact that climate change is having on every part of our ocean. Increased bleaching of mesophotic corals will ultimately lead to coral mortality and a reduction in the structural complexity of these reefs. This will likely result in a loss of biodiversity and a reduction in the critical ecosystem services that these reefs provide to our planet, said Dr. Nicola Foster, co-author of the study and a professor of marine biology at the University of Plymouth, in the press release. The research team had expected that mesophotic corals those found between about 98 to 492 feet below the surface would continue to deliver ecosystem benefits even as shallow water corals suffered more frequent and severe damage due to rising sea surface temperatures caused by the climate crisis. The study demonstrated the possibility that might not be true, however. Deep water corals around the world remain mostly understudied, and similar bleaching events could be happening. The oceanography of a region is impacted by naturally occurring cycles that are becoming amplified by climate change. Currently, the region is suffering similar, if not worse, impacts due to the combined influence of El Nino and the Indian Ocean Dipole, Hosegood said. While there is no way we can stop the thermocline from deepening, what we can do is expand our understanding of the impacts that these changes will have throughout these environments of which we have so little knowledge. In the face of fast-paced global change, that has never been more urgent. Aviagen Ross distributors gather for in-person meeting in Sapanca, Turkey Ross distributors from the Turkey, Middle East and Africa (TMEA) region joined a Ross TMEA customer support and specialist team in Sapanca, Turkey, on September 10-15, for the first face-to-face Distributor Customer Focus Team (DCFT) meeting since 2019, Aviagen said. The programme for the event was separated into parent stock (PS) and broiler focused sessions, and allowed time for the participants to explain their market and the issues and opportunities they face on a daily basis. PS topics included in the programme covered managing metabolic diseases in breeders, optimising breeder nutrition in the current climate and critical input management to optimise breeder performance. Broiler topics discussed throughout the event included Ross broiler nutrition, managing processing downgrades, and health and biosecurity. Both days included updates on the economics of the Ross breeder and broiler performance and the value that the Ross package brings to Aviagen customers. The highlight of the event was a broiler farm visit, where the team learned about the principles of ventilation including the different types of ventilation, common mistakes and ventilation equipment calculations. Aviagen's Ross 308 PS and broiler are performing exceptionally well across the whole TMEA region, the company said. The Ross 308 delivers excellent yield for total carcass, feed conversion ratio and average daily gain, and the results achieved across the region highlight that the Ross 308 is the breed of choice for customers. "The Ross DCFT meeting is key for us and our distributors, as it allows our customer focus team meeting to come together with theirs and discuss key management topics for their businesses and provide expert support to our distributors," said TMENA regional technical manager Murat Yakar. "Throughout the years, we have seen exceptional performance from the Ross 308 broiler and breeder throughout the whole region. This DCFT meeting was our first face-to-face in four years and it was great to come together with all distributors and to provide them with the tools that they require in order to further improve their flock performance, which ultimately improves their results and profitability." "The Ross DCFT provided an excellent opportunity for networking with key role players in our industry and to realign the focus on key principles in PS and broiler management and nutrition," said Quinton Pretorius, technical support and business development manager at Ross Central Africa. "The field results within the SSA region confirm that the Ross broiler has the best performance, and we would like to thank the Aviagen R&D team for providing us with excellent and balanced genetics at both PS and broiler level." - Aviagen Illegal sale of vaccine blamed for ASF spread in Philippines The spread of African swine fever (ASF) in the Philippines can be attributed to the illegal sale of 300,000 vials of ASF vaccines to hog raisers, said an official of the farmers' group, Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG). SINAG chairman Rosendo So said on October 19 he already wrote to Senators Cynthia Villar and Imee Marcos, urging them to investigate the release of ASF vaccines in the market even as the country's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has yet to approve the certificate of product registration. The 300,000 vials of ASF vaccine reportedly came from Vietnam. "We are afraid that vaccines are causing the spread (of ASF) as we received reports that the 300,000 vials which arrived in the country are being sold in the market," So told The Star. "This should be checked as this will further cause the spread of ASF. We want this investigated. So wrote to Philippines Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Agriculture Undersecretary Deogracias Victor Savellano to highlight that the proliferation of unauthorised ASF vaccines in the market creates doubt on the impartiality of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI). "There are reports and eyewitness accounts that the said ASF vaccines currently on trial are now being sold commercially and some of our colleagues have tried it to horrendous results," So said in his letter. He added that hog raisers cannot share the results on the use of the ASF vaccine due to the non-disclosure agreement with the importer. "We also heard of vaccine shredding seen in some BAI farms which can be a cause for alarm since it may mutate to a more virulent form," So noted. ASF outbreaks were reported for the past weeks in Oriental Mindoro, Ilocos Sur and Nueva Vizcaya provinces, forcing local government units there to declare a state of calamity in their jurisdictions. BAI assistant director Arlene Vytiaco earlier said the agency targets to import 600,000 doses of ASF vaccines this year once the FDA issues the certificate of product registration to address the outbreak of the disease. Vytiaco said that the field trial for the AVAC ASF live vaccine was conducted in six farms in Luzon. - Philstar rtg casinos canada mega 888 casinoshows grade level based on the word's complexity. Dedekind cut New Word List Save This Word!This shows grade level based on the word's complexity. Thisshows grade level based on the word's complexity.Save This Word!This shows grade level based on the word's complexity. noun Mathematics.two nonempty subsets of an ordered field, as the rational numbers, such that one subset is the collection of upper bounds of the second and the second is the collection of lower bounds of the first: can be used to define the real numbers in terms of the rational numbers. Words nearby Dedekind cut How to use Dedekind cut Dedekind cut/ (German dedknt) / nouna method of according the same status to irrational and rational numbers, devised by Julius Wilhelm Dedekind (18311916) Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 QUIZWILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!Question Dedekind cutNamed after J.W.R. DedekindD.Ed., dedal, dedans, Dedeagach, Dedekind, Dedekind cut, dedendum, Dedham, dedicate, dedicated, dedicateeDictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Random House, Inc. 2022 Authorities in southwest Chinas Yunnan Province have suspended the use of the much-disputed laojiao re-education through labor system,mini slot machine to win real money a local official has announced. The decision, revealed on Tuesday by Yunnan Politics and Law Committee chief Meng Sutie, marks the latest step by Chinese local governments to phase out the system, which allows police to detain people for up to four years without an open trial. Meng said Yunnan would with immediate effect stop approving cases in which people are sent to labor camps on grounds including threatening national security, petitioning by causing unrest, and smearing the image of officials. Approval of laojiao for other cases are suspended, Meng said. The official added that that those already in labor camps would continue to serve their terms. The re-education system, established in the 1950s to rectify social order by detaining people charged with minor offences, has come in for public flak for being prone to abuse. The controversy was highlighted by the case of Tang Hui, a woman in central Hunan Province who was sentenced to internment in a labor camp in August after demanding tougher penalties for the seven men convicted of abducting, raping and prostituting her 11-year-old daughter. Tang was released within a week following complaints from the public and academics. The national political and legal work conference in early January announced changes to the laojiao system, and they will be pushed forward this year. In late January, south Chinas Guangdong Province said it planned to end the system within the year. Xinhua Yunnan suspends laojiao reeducation systemadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Thecraps pass line odds Government of Xinjiang on Wednesday has risen the death toll to 18 14 troublemakers, two officers and two hostages during the assault on a police station on Monday. China called the incident that killed 18 people in the region inhabited by the Muslim minority a grave terrorist attack and denies that there was a peaceful protest before the riots. It was obviously a terrorist attack and was long-planned against the police, said Hou Hanmin, head of the Information Office of the region. The attackers were not against a specific ethnic group, Hou said, adding that there were deaths have both Chinese and Uighurs, but noted that the rioters shouted slogans showing theyre religious extremists. To attract the attention of the police within the building, rioters first attacked two people near the police station, said Hou. The local governments initial investigation indicates that 18 troublemakers into the city on Saturday and bought or manufactured knives, explosives and other weapons later used in the attack on the police station, where armed police killed the attackers in 90 minutes. In that operation, police rescued six people trapped by the troublemakers, according to the Chinese Ministry of Public Security. According to the official, there were four wounded, including a policeman and a security guard, recovering in the hospital and their lives are in danger. Hotan (), where the incident occurred, has a population of a 96.3 percent of Uighurs and 3.5 percent of Han Chinese. The ethnic conflict came two years after another more serious that caused over 200 deaths and 1,700 injured in the regional capital, Urumqi, according to Chinese official count. 18 People Died in the Assault on a Police Stationadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline President Hu Jintao met with French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing this afternoon. The two leaders exchanged views on bilateral relations, world economic and financial situation, G20 and other issues of common interest. While discussing China-France relations, President Hu Jintao says bilateral ties have maintained a sound momentum of rapid development since early this year. There are frequent exchange of high-level visits, robust growth in bilateral business cooperation and vibrant people-to-people exchanges. The two countries keep close communication and coordination on major international and regional issues. China attaches great importance to its relations with France and is ready to work together with the French side to further bilateral exchange and cooperation in business ties, nuclear energy, science and technology, culture, education and other fields and consolidate popular support for China-France friendship. China is willing to strengthen strategic coordination with France in multilateral mechanisms and on the global level and make joint effort to address international economic and financial risks, safeguard global financial stability and promote world economic recovery. President Sarkozy says that bilateral relationship is developing smoothly, with successful strategic dialogue, growing strategic mutual trust and fruitful cooperation in various areas. France is satisfied with the development of bilateral relations and is ready to step up dialogue and cooperation with the Chinese side in the fields of political exchanges, business and nuclear energy in order to move bilateral relations up to a new level. On sovereign debt issue in Europe, President Hu Jintao says, China has been following the impacts of the sovereign debt issue in Europe. China hopes that the European economy could remain stable and wishes all the success to fiscal and financial reforms of relevant countries. China has confidence in the European economy and in the euro. China is convinced that Europe has the wisdom and ability to overcome current difficulties and maintain economic stability and growth. China will continue to make Europe as a major investment market and looks forward to measures by the European side to ensure the security of Chinese investment in Europe. President Sarkozy says the eurozone is taking measures to advance fiscal and financial reforms of relevant countries and improve economic governance in the eurozone, France is grateful for Chinas confidence in the European economy and the euro. On G20, Presdient Hu Jintao says that destabilizing factors and uncertainties in the world economy is on the rise, posing serious challenges to global economic development. The international community should rise to the challenges together with greater solidarity and confidence. The G20 summit in Cannes due in November is an important gathering much looked forward to by all sides. China agrees with the core topics set for the summit and appreciates the effective preparations by the French side. China will continue to support and participate in work related to the summit and work together with all G20 members to contribute to its success. President Sarkozy says that the current world economic and financial situation is a reason for concern. China plays an important role in major economic issues of the world. As the chair of the G20, France is willing to discuss major issues confronting the world economy with China and enhance communication and coordination with all sides to make sure that the Cannes summit will play an active role for world economic recovery. Vice Premier Wang Qishan, State Councilor Dai Bingguo, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Finance Minister Xie Xuren, Governor Zhou Xiaochuan of the Peoples Bank of China and Chinese Ambassador to France Kong Quan were present at the meeting. President Hu Jintao Meets with French President Sarkozyadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline For Wang Jing,caesars slots free coins a computer saleswoman in Chongqing, the latest level two national heat alert issued on Monday told her something she already knew: it is really hot. According to the forecast from the China Meteorological Administration (CMA), temperatures will climb as high as 42 degrees Celsius in several provinces in east and central China and up to 39 degrees Celsius in southwest Chongqing Municipality. With a severe heat wave lingering across China, low-income earners like Wang who can not afford air conditioning are finding it a luxury to beat the heat, no matter how briefly. HOT, RESTLESS NIGHTS Wang spends one-third of her monthly salary of 1,000 yuan (about 158 U.S. dollars) on a room in a rented apartment in downtown Chongqing. Early this summer, Chongqings hottest in 61 years, Wang started throwing water onto the floor in an attempt to cool her place down. Her trick worked until the downstairs neighbors complained that water was leaking through their ceiling, threatening to force her to pay for any damages if it didnt stop. After the neighbors complained, Wang started spritzing her summer bed mat with cool water. Its too hot to endure. I have to constantly sprinkle water onto the floor. I am having a water sprinkling festival at home every day, she said. Though the high temperatures are at the root of Wangs troubles, drywall room dividers, a lack of ventilation and the absence of a night breeze in her apartment are not helping matters. Her neighbor has made it a habit to sleep on the balcony, which offers a bit of coolness at no cost. Its noisy on the balcony, but its definitely better than being baked inside, said the neighbor, who works at a supermarket and decided that it would not be worth it to buy an air conditioning unit for a rented space. COOLING DOWN FOR FREE During World War II, air raid shelters were built in Chongqing, the countrys wartime capital and primary target of Japanese air strikes. Decades later, these shelters have become free cool venues for a sweaty public. Over 100 such shelters are open to the public, and each can hold up to 10,000 people at a time. Desks, chairs, drinking water, newspapers and TV are available there, allowing for even greater comfort. Meanwhile, shopping malls and subway stations also provide respite from the heat. In an underground shopping mall in Chongqings Yuzhong District, children and the elderly can be found hiding out from the sizzling temperatures above ground. A 92-year-old man surnamed Rong said the mall is the coolest place around and many of his neighbors frequently go there to get a free dose of air conditioning. My family of four lives in an old, tiny apartment and its too hot to stay there without an air conditioner. Another person at the mall complained that there used to be over 100 benches, but now only about 20 are left. The mall removed them so we wont come. At a nearby subway station, people can be found just sitting on the ground and cooling off without ever stepping onto a train. A 93-year-old resident surnamed He is said to sit there every day to conserve electricity during the day. WORKING IN THE SUN Though air-conditioned shopping malls, subway stations and supermarkets are dotted throughout the downtown area, outdoor laborers often still cant make it inside to cool down. We, of course, want to stay indoors with air conditioning, but we just cannot. We always have to pick up rubbish whenever it appears, said two sanitation workers whose faces were dripping with sweat as they sat in the shade of some trees in downtown Chongqing. Freelance stick men, who tote luggage on bamboo poles up and down the citys steep hillsides, however, are caught in a dilemma: catch a cool break or make some money? To get a bit of work, stick men have to be at places with heavy foot traffic, which often lack air conditioning, like old-fashioned farmers markets. Liu Minsheng, a stick man who was waiting for customers at the entrance to such a market, said, There is a shelter nearby to relax, but I cannot get any work there. A migrant worker from a rural area, Liu said he stays at cheap and non-air-conditioned inns at night. There is nothing I can do about the heat, but a whole day of exhausting work makes me fall asleep as soon as I go to bed. Xinhua Beating the heat on a tight budget in Chongqingadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Wu Renbao,best online poker app for real money the retired Communist Party of China (CPC) chief of Huaxi Village in east Chinas Jiangsu Province, died of cancer on Monday afternoon. Wu, 85, died at 6:58 p.m. at his home in the village. With annual sales revenue of more than 50 billion yuan (about 7.93 million U.S. dollars), Huaxi Village is one of the richest villages in the country and it is known for its success in realizing common prosperity. Renowned as Chinas most eminent farmer, Wu worked hard over the past decades to lead his villagers in striving for common wealth, an ideal regarded as one of the core principles of socialism. The efforts of Wu and the villagers have turned the once poverty-stricken Huaxi Village into a well-off village featuring villas, cars and a high per capita income. Wu, who had served as deputy to the National Peoples Congress, Chinas top legislature, and as a delegate to the National Congress of the CPC, has been hailed as an outstanding example among the countrys many rural Party members. Wu made the cover of Time magazine in 2005. A feature film named for the former village Party chief that told his legendary stories of developing Huaxi into one of the richest villages in China was shown in cinemas nationwide last October. Xinhua Retired CPC chief of wealthy E China village diesadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Royal College of Defence Studies visits Island for first time in 20 years A delegation from the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS), which is a distinguished programme for strategic leadership run by the UK Ministry of Defence, visited the Isle of Man this week (October 17-19) for the first time in 20 years. The group comprised senior military and diplomatic officials, and the visit allowed delegates to gain an appreciation of the Island's governance, constitutional relationship with the UK, regulatory framework and economy. Those visiting included, programme leader Lt. Gen Sir George Norton, as well as delegates of over 15 countries from around the world. During the visit, the group was honoured with a reception hosted by the Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man, His Excellency Lt General Sir John Lorimer, who himself is an alumnus of the RCDS programme. His Excellency said: As a previous participant in the RCDS course, I was delighted to welcome the group to the Island, and to support their visit. It was particularly heartening to hear the positive comments from the group members, and I am confident that they will take away a great impression of what our Island does, and what it has to offer. A Government document confirms heath at Earystane A war of words has broken out between two MHK's over the type of land at a proposed wind farm site. During Tuesdays (October 17) Tynwald questions, Garff MHK Daphne Caine told the Chairman of the Manx Utilities Authority (MUA) that there is peat up at Earystane. This was following MUA Chairman Tim Crookall MHK ruling out Caines suggestion as to why other sites on Island, such as Windy Corner, Douglas Head or Jurby, werent a more appropriate place for the turbines. Crookall said: We cant use those places because there is peat up there and we are absolutely taken away from those areas. Caine responded during Crookall's answer stating there is peat up at Earystane. Crookall's response was that there is not peat at Earystane that will keep us out of this. Jason Moorhouse MHK and Tim Glover MHK were also quick to defend Caines argument echoing her views on the peat at Earystane. Interestingly enough, the Isle of Man Government published a document in 2010 that does in-fact confirm there is underlying heath at Earystane. The document that is part of the Cringle Quarry planning application [reference 08/02090/B], document reference [0802090B Additional Docs Part 7 of 15.pdf] states: The clearance of failed forestry at Earystane, with the reinstatement of the underlying heath". It also states that under the Findings of the investigations into the above schemes the Earystane option was discussed but later dismissed. This was due to several factors including "cost of works, loss of Short Eared Owl and Hen Harrier nesting habitat and the predominance of European gorse in the underlying heath". In layman terms, the heathland or heath, which has been confirmed at this location, is often made up by peat soil, although this is not the case in all circumstances. For example, the lowland at the Ayres is not peat. Heath covers around 12% of the Island and is a valuable habitat with international significance. In general, Manx heath is located in the uplands and is normally referred to as moorland. The dry ungrazed heath is rare habitat and important for nesting and roosting hen harriers; the birds are often boasted about by the Manx Wildlife Trust (MWT) and by Biosphere Isle of Man - the body that looks after the UNESCO Biosphere status the Island was given in 2016. The MUA discounted the Sulby and Druidale site due to several factors, one of which being the heathland in the area. If Earystane was to go ahead, reports suggest there would be a risk of ecological damage caused by unavoidable disturbance of heathland. Energy Transition Lead and Transition Programme Manager for Manx Utilities, Lizzie Riley, noted at the recent Isle of Man Government Conference that if you damage heathland you can't necessarily repair it within 100 years. MUA website itself states that Peatland in particular can be a major barrier to onshore wind, as the damage caused to peat by the turbine foundations can release more carbon dioxide than the wind farm ultimately saves. It is therefore difficult to justify that peatland should be developed. This is problematic as after further review all sites identified in the AEA study actually lie on peat or heathland. Heathland is a protected habitat on the island as it has a very high biodiversity value. It is difficult to mitigate the ecological impact of constructing wind farms in such areas and this is why there have not been and wind farm developments on heathland in the British isles since 1990s. MUA have declined our invitation for an interview at this time. MUA have declined our invitation for an interview at this time. Videos Lizzie Riley speaking at the Isle of Man Government Conference Photos Also, we discuss why Spider-Man 2 on the PS5 is a worthy sequel. It seems like Marc Andreessen had a lot of free time this week, as the VC wrapped up his entire pro-tech worldview in a massive tome, the Techno-Optimist Manifesto. Andreessen claims technology is the glory of human ambition and achievement, the spearhead of progress, and the realization of our potential, and he goes on to vilify anyone who dares to step in the way of progress. To break down this document, were joined by tech critic Paris Marx, host of the Tech Wont Save Us podcast, and the author of the Disconnect newsletter, as well as the book Road to Nowhere: What Silicon Valley Gets Wrong About the Future of Transportation. Also, Deputy Editor Nathan Ingraham discusses why he loves Spider-Man 2 on the PlayStation 5, and we try to make sense of Apples new $79 Pencil. Listen below or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcast, Engadget News! This embedded content is not available in your region. Subscribe! Topics Nate Ingrahams Spider-Man 2 review: The rare game thats both bigger and better 0:55 We break down Mark Andreessens dangerously optimistic manifesto on AI 11:39 Microsoft now officially owns Activision/Blizzard 35:44 X (fka Twitter) tests $1 Not a bot program for new users 38:53 Theres a new, cheaper Apple Pencil with USB-C but what generation is it? 41:03 YouTube debuts news hub to direct users to reliable sources 46:46 Working on 51:20 Pop culture picks 52:20 Credits Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Nathan Ingraham Guest: Paris Marx Producer: Ben Ellman Music: Dale North and Terrence O'Brien The Problem With Jon Stewart isn't coming back for a third season at Apple TV+, according to The New York Times. It was already supposed to begin filming for another eight episodes within the next couple of weeks, but Apple and Stewart reportedly decided to part ways before it can start. While neither party has issued a statement yet, the publications said the parties didn't see eye to eye when it came to hot button topics. The host apparently told production staff that Apple executives had raised concerns about certain subject matters he's potentially covering in the show, particularly China and artificial intelligence. Based on The Hollywood Reporter's confirmation of the news, Apple talked to Stewart about the need to be "aligned" when it comes to show topics and even threatened to cancel the series. Wanting full creative control of The Problem, Stewart chose to walk away instead. The Problem debuted on Apple TV+ in 2021, with episodes coming out every other week, six years after Stewart left The Daily Show. Its second season started streaming in 2022 and had four more episodes for a total of 12 than the first. It also streamed every week with a break of a few months after its sixth episode. The newer season covered controversial topics, as well, including gender identity and the indictment of former president Donald Trump. Although those episodes went out for streaming, The Hollywood Reporter's sources said there had already been tension between the parties before the third season production kicked off due to the previous themes Stewart had covered on the show. As The Times said, Apple may have been worried about being dragged into political controversies that the series could bring and had agreed to end their partnership. One by one, automakers have started adopting the North American Charging Standard (NACS) used by Tesla's Superchargers as they move towards their goal of replacing their fleet with electric vehicles. Toyota is the latest company to join the growing list. The automaker has announced that it has reached an agreement with Tesla to incorporate NACS ports into certain Toyota-branded vehicles starting in 2025. Some EVs under its luxury brand, Lexus, will come with the standard's charging ports, as well. By using NACS ports on its electric vehicles, Toyota is effectively giving its customers the power to access more than 12,000 Tesla Superchargers across North America. While the company won't be implementing the standard over the next year, its timeline matches its rival automakers'. To note, customers who already have Toyota and Lexus vehicles equipped with the Combined Charging System (CCS) will be offered access to NACS adapters starting in 2025, as well. BMW also recently announced that it was adopting the standard for all its EVs in the United States and Canada. A few months ago, GM and Ford revealed they were making the switch starting in 2025, but owners will already be able to access Tesla Superchargers next year with an adopter. Hyundai will adopt the port for its EVs in the US in 2024, with EVs in Canada to follow in 2025. Honda, Toyota's fellow Japanese automaker, announced its transition to NACS in September and its plans to sell vehicles with the port in two years' time. It also said, however, that it's developing an adapter to allow pre-2025 Hondas to charge using Tesla's system. The opportunity for travel is often reserved for the privileged in highly stratified societies. During 19th-century England, the most romanticised and celebrated figure was that of the global flaneura male traveller who documented his experiences while exploring different places. It was through travel and travel writing that the image of man the wanderer was constructed, reinforced and normalised through literary movements. In doing so, travel was seen as the prerogative of the man. It was depicted to be a male activity. For instance, the French poet Charles Baudelaires 1863 essay, The Painter of Modern Life, constructed the figure of the passionate spectator who indulged in aimless walking and enjoyed a kind of invisibility that was a male privilegeto be the centre of the world and yet to remain hidden from the world. A question that naturally arises here is whether there were female travellers or flaneuses. The answer to this question is in the affirmative. Women too were travellers, but it was the politics of gender segregation that limited the roles and depiction of women in the public sphere. The writings that emerged with such travelling showed peoples engagement with the world. The emergence of Urdu travel writing in South Asia contributed to the production of a global imagination. In his book, The World in Words: Travel Writing and the Global Imagination in Muslim South Asia, historian Daniel Joseph Majchrowicz engages with Urdu travel writing that emerged between 1840 and 1990 to show Muslim South Asias aspirational global imagination. This medium was a way to share their views and visions with readers and listeners back home (p 3). The socially constructed categories of a male and a female traveller were implicated in the discourses of nation, nationalism, community, and belonging with Urdus transition from an Islamicate to an Islamic language in the late 19th century. In February 2023, Seattle City Council amended the anti-discrimination legislative protections in employment, public places, housing, and contracting to include caste as a protected category.1 In March 2023, the Toronto District School Board, the largest in Canada, moved to ban caste discrimination.2 In the United Kingdom (UK), meanwhile, the government has pulled back from its commitment to include caste in equalities legislation. Those wishing to understand the processes underpinning the attempts to legislate against caste around the world, and the opposition they encounter, would do well to read Annapurna Waughrays informative book Capturing Caste in Law: The Legal Regulation of Caste Discrimination. For those, like me, who may be daunted by the prospect of wading through a legal treatise, rest assured that this is very accessible and engagingly written. Moreover, it is not confined to law, but pulls together the insights of law, social sciences, genetics, and history among other disciplines. Caste and the Prism of Law The Essex Reporter is a daily digital news website covering the Town of Essex and City of Essex Junction, Vermont. Our beat reporters are on the ground every day covering local government, schools, sports, business and culture. A US Navy warship intercepted three cruise missiles and several drones launched by the Iran-aligned Houthi movement from Yemen potentially toward Israel, Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Patrick Ryder said. Fairfield, MT (59436) Today Mainly clear. Low around 35F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Tonight Mainly clear. Low around 35F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. The public are being encouraged to buy turkey directly from the farm this year as it would in turn help farmers after a challenging year with high costs and low prices. The NFU's #BuyMyTurkey campaign is back again for 2023, urging shoppers to buy their Christmas turkey direct from the farm where it was produced. The campaign, which launches on 17 November, encourages the public to find their local producer by putting their postcode into the NFU's online Turkey Finder tool. There are now over 240 farms on it, including an interactive map to make easier for shoppers to locate their nearest producers. The campaign also reminds people who cannot buy from their local farm to look for the Red Tractor logo on turkey packaging when shopping in the supermarket. And one tip included in the campaign is that buying a whole bird instead of a crown is better value for money. Farmers and the wider public are being encouraged by the NFU to post across social media using the hashtag #BuyMyTurkey on 17 November. In previous years, the campaign has seen success in helping to promote buying local and British turkeys for Christmas. NFU turkey group chair Michael Bailey said: The NFU Turkey Finder is a fantastic free promotional tool for any farm fresh turkey business selling direct to the consumer. "The online postcode search tool is easy to use and directs new customers to your business, with options to display your website, phone number and email address. "The latest update has made the search tool even more user friendly, making it easier for customers to find your business details which is beneficial as the highest margins will always be from direct sales at the farm gate." The public are also being encouraged to look carefully at the country of origin labelling when shopping in supermarkets, and to keep an eye out for the Red Tractor logo. The Union Jack flag helps ensure consumers that they are purchasing fully-traceable food produced on British farms. Livestock farmers would normally be expecting to go into peak liver fluke season at this time of year, but experts say 2023 has been a strange year in terms of weather patterns. Speaking on behalf of the Control of Cattle Parasites Sustainable (COWS) group, Professor Diana Williams of the University of Liverpool said 2023 had been a 'funny old year'. A very dry cold spring was followed by a hot early summer and then July and August were extremely wet, she noted. "Top that off with the mini heatwave in early September accompanied by heavy rain, and it is fair to say there will be an impact on levels and timing of the risks faced by grazing livestock this season. The provisional autumn NADIS fluke forecast, based on local weather patterns, is generally predicting a low to medium risk, with the usual exception of high-risk hotspots in Scotland. This is due to how dry it was at the start of the year and, while recent months may have been ideal for the fluke and snail lifecycles, the total window for their development has still been relatively short. Professor Williams continued: Liver fluke and its intermediate host, the mud snail Galba truncatula, require temperatures of more than 10C to remain active and continue development. "If we have a warm autumn and early winter the risk may still increase later in the year, particularly if the conditions also tempt farmers to keep their livestock out later. The serum antibody ELISA test, which is done on blood samples taken from 10 individuals, is an extremely valuable tool in these circumstances." Using this test, farmers and vets can monitor lambs or calves born in 2023 to look for evidence of exposure to liver fluke. Repeated at regular intervals, this not only means checks for exposure but also when that exposure occurs, which reduces the risk of unnecessary or mistimed treatments. Speaking on behalf of the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) group, independent sheep consultant Lesley Stubbings said that anecdotally, there wasn't much liver fluke across the UK so far. "In contrast, we have seen an increase in reported cases of haemonchosis in sheep, which is caused by the highly pathogenic roundworm Haemonchus contortus, known as the Barbers Pole worm. "The conditions in the UK this summer and last summer have seemingly suited this worm, which is common in many tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. Because clinical signs of anaemia, bottle jaw and weight loss can result from the blood-feeding behaviour of either liver fluke or haemonchus, this can be confusing." She added: "Differential diagnosis is all the more important and underlines the need to Test, dont guess. "If in doubt talk to your vet or RAMA/SQP about which are the most appropriate diagnostic tests to use for each parasite. Experts for both SCOPS and COWS urged caution to any producers looking to use the ELISA test but thinking of trying to cut the cost by pooling blood samples rather than testing individuals. Ms Stubbings explained that the sensitivity of a pooled test was much lower and may give a negative result even though one or more animals were positive. "This means that tests need to be done more regularly (every 10-14 days) to try to ensure the exposure is not missed, which will probably cancel out any cost saving compared to individual blood testing every three to four weeks. An announcement that the herbicide Asulox will no longer be available to support farmers' efforts to control bracken has been described as a real blow by NFU Cymru. UPL Europe Ltd, the manufacturer of the key plant protection product, will cease further work on a permanent solution for the use of asulam - the active ingredient in Asulox - in the control of bracken. The Health and Safety Executive previously outlined additional testing that must be conducted by the manufacturers as a requirement for the 2023 Asulox emergency authorisation. UPL Europe wrote to the industry stating that "after careful consideration, including the significant investment needed to continue this [testing] work, UPL Limited has now taken the difficult decision not to go ahead." This decision therefore effectively removes the possibility of any future full or emergency authorisations for the use of asulam in bracken control. NFU Cymru rural affairs board, Hedd Pugh said the announcement was 'a real blow' to Welsh farmers. "Bracken control is essential for both animal and human health on my farm, as well as many others in Wales," he explained. "It maintains land for grazing, ensures drinking water quality and fosters biodiversity. Bracken beds provide an ideal habitat for sheep ticks, with the associated tick-borne diseases posing a threat to the health of people, livestock and wildlife. "Bracken control is also essential in the establishment of new tree plantations," Mr Pugh explained. Remaining options for control include the use of herbicides containing amidosulfron within specific timeframes, and mechanical methods such as rolling, bruising or cutting. However such mechanical methods are often unviable in many situations on steep rocky slopes, of which there are plenty in Wales. Earlier this year Welsh government accepted the recommendation from the Health and Safety Executive to refuse an application for an emergency authorisation for the use of Asulox to control bracken in Wales in 2023. Use of the herbicide had previously been approved in Wales for each of the previous 10 years. The 2023 application refusal in Wales mirrored the decision taken in Scotland, however an emergency authorisation was granted in England to allow the use of Asulox to control bracken. NFU Cymru said it would meet with the sector representatives of the Bracken Control Group to discuss next steps in relation to bracken and its control. We Are China 81st World Science Fiction Convention kicks off in Chengdu Ecns.cn) 09:55, October 20, 2023 Artists perform during the opening ceremony for the 81st World Science Fiction Convention in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 18, 2023. (Photo: China News Service/Wang Lei) Chengdu will be the first city on the Chinese mainland to host Worldcon, the annual convention of the World Science Fiction Society and one of the world's largest sci-fi events. Artists perform during the opening ceremony for the 81st World Science Fiction Convention in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 18, 2023. (Photo: China News Service/Wang Lei) Renowned Chinese science fiction writer Liu Cixin attend the opening ceremony for the 81st World Science Fiction Convention in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 18, 2023. (Photo: China News Service/Wang Lei) Ben Yalow, co-chair of the 81st World Science Fiction Convention delivers a speech during the opening ceremony in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 18, 2023. (Photo: China News Service/Wang Lei) The opening ceremony for the 81st World Science Fiction Convention is held in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 18, 2023. (Photo: China News Service/Wang Lei) (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) Livestock rustlers have stolen nine pigs from a Staffordshire farm in two separate incidents, police have said. Staffordshire Police has called on the public to help their investigation following the theft of pigs from a farm in Lichfield. The first incident occurred on 3 October, when three pigs were stolen from the farm, located on Tamworth Road. A few days later, on the night of 9 October or morning of 10 October, rustlers stole six more pigs from the same farm, injuring six others in the process. Staffordshire Police believes that the suspect or suspects drove up a track to gain access to the farm before leaving the scene with the stolen pigs. The force said it was currently reviewing CCTV of the area at the time of both thefts. It said: If you have any information, CCTV or dashcam footage that could help us with our inquiries, contact us on 101, quoting incident 230 of October 11, or use live chat on our website." Last month, criminals stole more than 50 sheep from farmland in Somerset. The cost of livestock theft in the UK rose by 8.7% in 2022, totalling an estimated 2.7 million, according to NFU Mutual figures. Overall, the cost of rural theft in the UK shot up by nearly a quarter last year, as highly organised gangs of criminals continued to plague the countryside. Claims reported regularly involved over 50 sheep being taken in a single raid, NFU Mutual said. Britney Spears finds her new freedom "challenging" following the dissolution of her conservatorship. Britney Spears has admitted life after her conservatorship has been 'challenging' The 41-year-old pop superstar spent more than a decade under the protective order which controlled almost every aspect of her life and was run by her dad Jamie Spears before it was brought to an end in 2021 and Britney has now admitted she's found adjusting to her new life quite difficult at times. In a new interview with People magazine, she explained: "Learning this new freedom, I'll admit, is challenging at times." Since the end of the conservatorship, Britney experienced plenty of ups and downs. She married her boyfriend Sam Asghari but they split this summer just a year after they tied the knot and her two sons, Sean and Jayden, are now living with their dad Kevin Federline in Hawaii. Britney added that she spends most of her time chilling out at home now but she still loves to travel, saying: "I'm playing with my dogs, [or] watching episodes of 'Friends' and belly-laughing. I love, love to travel and explore. I am a simple girl." She's now telling her story in her new book 'The Woman in Me' which she says she's using to finally express herself after years of being silenced. She added: "Over the past 15 years, or even at the start of my career, I sat back while people spoke about me and told my story for me. After getting out of my conservatorship, I was finally free to tell my story without consequences from the people in charge of my life ... It is finally time for me to raise my voice and speak out, and my fans deserve to hear it directly from me. No more conspiracy, no more lies - just me, owning my past, present and future." The 'Toxic' star has yet to mend her relationship with her father Jamie, but recently hinted that she's closer to a reconciliation with her mum Lynne. In her People interview, Britney said of her tense relationship with her relatives: "I still love my family." George Clooney brought together a group of Hollywood stars to make an offer to the SAG-AFTRA union in a bid to end the ongoing actors strike. George Clooney attempted to resolve the actors strike Actors across the industry walked out in walked out in July as part of a dispute with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) over concerns including residuals from streaming services and the use of artificial intelligence - now Clooney has attempted to bring the two bodies closer to a deal. His proposal would see some of the industry's biggest-earners pay more to the SAG-AFTRA union by lifting the cap on membership dues - meaning those who earn more can contribute more in fees - to help bolster the union's coffers and bridge the gap between the offer from the studios and SAG-AFTRA's demands. It would also allow the lowest-paid actors on a project to collect their residuals first. Clooney told Deadline.com: "A lot of the top earners want to be part of the solution. Weve offered to remove the cap on dues, which would bring over $50 million to the union annually. Well over $150 million over the next three years. We think its fair for us to pay more into the union. We also are suggesting a bottom-up residual structure meaning the top of the call sheet would be the last to collect residuals, not the first. These negotiations will be ongoing, but we wanted to show that were all in this together and find ways to help close the gap on actors getting paid." However, SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher has since admitted Clooney's solution just isn't going to work. In a video posted on Instagram, she explained: "First of all, I want to thank certain members that wield a lot of clout in this business for the tremendous amount of money that they contributed to our foundation. I also want to thank George Clooney for organising the suggestion that take the caps off of the dues so that the highest paid members can contribute more. Although thats extremely generous and we accept that graciously. "We are a federally regulated labour union and the only contributions that can go into our pension and health funds must be from the employer. So what we are fighting for in terms of benefits has to remain in this contract. [Its] kind of apples and oranges, just so everybody understands that." She added: "There was a reference to a suggestion of maybe a solution from some people of how maybe we can get back to the table with some kind of a residual. But that was vetted by our very experienced union contract staff negotiators and lawyers. And they said that it unfortunately doesnt hold water because, frankly, this is a very nuanced house of cards. "So although we appreciate the effort and the desire to be supportive to all the member body, we at the union and with the negotiating committee are still waiting for the CEOs to return to the table so we can continue our talks." Latest research by instantprint prevailing opinions regarding menopause and menstruation in the workplace to determine whether, in 2023, it remains taboo to talk about natural bodily functions. Menopause timeline They also spoke to Nic Ponsford, CEO & Founder of the Global Equality Collective who was involved in the development of the BSI Standards Publication Menstruation, menstrual health and menopause in the workplace Guide to get her thoughts and opinions on our research. What Is The Female Workforce Experiencing? The UK workforce is home to female workers going through varying stages in their lives. With a pretty even split across the board, its evident that theres a need for education and awareness of how to support the effect that menopause and menstruation have on a female workforce. A common misconception is that menopause primarily affects older women, even though this is true for most women. Our survey revealed that of those who reported going through menopause, the most popular age range was 35-44 followed by 45-54 and 54+. What Impact Is Menopause and Menstruation Having on Work? Its common for women who have gone through menopause to continue experiencing symptoms for several years after their period ends. Medical menopause can occur earlier due to surgery such as hysterectomies, chemotherapy or hormonal treatments. A third of females surveyed shared that it positively impacts their work, whether going through menopause has given them a new lease of life or menstruation makes them feel like they can tackle anything, it seems that the female staff force isnt letting anything get them down! However, 31%, shared that they believe it negatively impacts their work. Fluctuating temperature, pain, unbalanced hormones, sleep deprivation and nausea are just some of the symptoms that female workers may be dealing with. Enough to put anyone off their work, menopause and menstruation can have substantial impacts. 28% shared that they feel that menopause and menstruation have no impact on their work and a small 4% shared that other peoples menopause and menstruation impact their work. Is It Too Taboo To Talk About? Although menopause and menstruation are natural biological processes, there is still a social stigma attached to them. Even though females make up a large proportion of the UK workforce and most of them experience or have experienced menopause or menstruation, talks about the two still remain taboo. We asked our survey respondents if they feel comfortable talking about menopause or menstruation with their employer and or colleagues. Unsurprisingly 32%, almost a third of females surveyed, shared that they only feel comfortable talking about menopause and menstruation with other female colleagues. An admirable 23% shared that they are open and feel comfortable talking to anyone about the two. Over 1 in 5 women dont feel comfortable talking to anybody at all about it. 19% shared that they feel comfortable talking to their colleagues but not their employer and 3% feel comfortable talking to their employer but not their colleagues. Although 21% of respondents shared that they dont feel comfortable talking about their period or menopause, we wanted to know if they felt that there should be more conversations about menopause and menstruation in the general workplace. The decision was quite split. 28% believe that we should fully embrace menopause and menstruation talk in the workplace and be open about it. Alternatively, 28% shared that we should talk about it, but only to an extent as not everyone wants to talk about it. Another 22% believe that we should be more open about it, but only with other female colleagues. 19% believe that it is a private matter that should be kept private. It seems that even in 2023, some workplaces still havent created a culture and safe space in the workplace for females to easily and confidently talk about natural things happening to them. Employers Need To Offer More Support 28% of female employees believe that their employer supports them but could do more and a shocking 19% believe that their employer doesnt seem to support menopause or menstruation at all. A small 3% even reported that their employer makes work harder for them when dealing with menopause or menstruation. 23% believe their employer supports menopause and menstruation but is too accommodating. Over a fifth of respondents believe that their employer fully supports female staff going through menopause and or menstruation. We also quizzed male respondents to uncover whether they think their employer is doing enough to support menopause and menstruation. 29% of male respondents believe that their employer supports menopause and menstruation but could do more with 18% sharing that their employer completely supports both. 9% of respondents revealed that they believe their employer supports menopause but is too accommodating, 3% feel that their employer doesnt support menopause or menstruation, with another 3% believing their employer actually makes it harder for those going through menopause or menstruation. Free Period Products For Employees Are Hard to Come By We delved deeper, asking survey respondents to share what their employer is actively doing to help support their female workers who are experiencing menopause and or menstruation. 30%, almost a third of respondents, shared that their employer allows them to work from home with 26% sharing that their employer would allow more flexible working hours. 28% also shared that their employer is relaxed when it comes to their dress code policy. Only 19% shared that they believed their uniform was suitable (dark-coloured and or breathable fabrics). Shockingly, only 27% of respondents reported that their employer offers free sanitary products and only 3% shared that they have access to painkillers or medication. When it comes to facilities, only 20% shared that they have suitable decor such as dark office chairs, just 23% have access to drawers or locker spaces for personal belongings and only 23% reported having access to sanitary bins in all female, unisex and disabled toilets. It can be more difficult for a disabled employee to find the right menstrual products or a suitable accessible toilet to meet their needs. Symptoms Range From Hot and Bothered to Calm and Confident We asked our female respondents if they would share the symptoms of menopause and menstruation. Ranking as the most common symptom, over a third of respondents shared that fluctuating temperatures affected them. 31% shared that they suffer from pain and discomfort and blood loss or low iron levels. 29% of workers suffer from headaches and 28% experience tiredness and insomnia. Over 1 in 5 female workers also experience dizziness, brain fog, stiffness, nausea, changes in their mood, bad memory or concentration and lowered confidence. 21% shared that they suffer from depression and 23% suffer from anxiety. Only a small proportion of workers shared the positives of going through menopause and or menstruation, with 6% sharing that they have increased confidence, 4% reporting lighter periods and less stress from PMS and 3% claiming that their hormones are more balanced. Female Workers Often Caught Short at Work A shocking 48% of respondents shared that they feel like they have to conceal or hide sanitary products from colleagues to take to the toilet. It seems female workers are going to great lengths to hide a tampon or pad from co-workers to avoid embarrassment. 39% of respondents reported that they have faced situations where they have been unable to dispose of sanitary products properly whether that's a lack of bins or shared bathrooms where those who may choose to use a menstrual cup are unable to remove it and clean it properly. 39% also shared that being too hot at work has left them feeling unable to concentrate, sweaty and or uncomfortable at work. 38% shared that they have previously had to deal with accidentally stained clothes or chairs. 37% have missed a deadline and or meeting due to symptoms while 35% shared they have had to take time off work or use their sick days due to the severity of their symptoms. Free tea and coffee are easily made free and available at work but what about sanitary products? 35% of respondents also shared that they havent had access to sanitary products when theyve been caught short at work. With 21% of respondents sharing that they dont feel comfortable talking about their period, it puts female employees in a rather difficult situation. More Than Half of Female Workers Feel Held Back We asked our respondents if they felt that they had ever been held back or might be held back by menopause or menstruation at work. In contrast to their male counterparts, a whopping 57% of women believe that they have or might be held back at work. 35%, over a third, feel like they somewhat have been or may be held back. Only 7% believe that they havent been held back by their menopause or menstruation with 2% reporting as unsure. What About Male Employees? Our survey also aimed to uncover male opinions on menopause and menstruation in the workplace. First, we asked respondents to share if they feel that female colleagues going through menopause or menstruation have an impact on their work. 28% shared that they believe it impacts their work sometimes, with 18% sharing that it doesnt impact their work at all. 17% shared that they think their female colleagues menopause and menstruation impacts their work vastly. 26% shared that it doesnt apply to them, possibly working in male-dominated industries where they have no immediate contact or employment with female colleagues. We also posed the same question to male workers as we did earlier with female respondents. We asked our male survey participants how comfortable they feel talking about menopause or menstruation with their employer and or colleagues. It seems that male colleagues are open and receptive to discussing menopause and menstruation with an admirable 35% of male respondents sharing that they feel comfortable talking to anyone about it. 23% shared that they feel comfortable talking to their colleagues but not their employer, 11% would talk to their employer but not their colleagues and a small 9% shared that they dont feel comfortable talking to anyone about it. Male participants also shared their thoughts on whether they think there should be more conversations about menopause and menstruation in the workplace. 38% shared that they believe there should be more conversations but only to an extent as not everyone wants to talk about it. 29% believe its normal and natural and that we should all be more open about it. 11% believe that menopause and menstruation talk is better left between female colleagues to discuss, with another 11% believing its a private matter that should be kept private. A Note From The Experts We spoke to an expert from an organisation who was involved in the development of the BSI Standards Publication Menstruation, menstrual health and menopause in the workplace Guide to get their thoughts and opinions on our research. Nic Ponsford CEO & Founder of the Global Equality Collective Nic Ponsford is a key contributor to the BSI guide and an expert in women's health and a passionate advocate of Menstruation, Menstrual Health, and Menopause in the Workplace Guide (BS 30416) addressing the challenges faced by women, trans, and non-binary individuals in the workplace. She shared her thoughts on the research; 'Inclusion in the workplace has never been so necessary. Ensuring that our largest growing demographic of people feel welcomed and wanted through this huge life change is not only good to have, it is ethical and humane. This research illustrates the importance of putting people at the heart of our vision and policies - in order to create opportunities for all, rather than excluding key parts of our workforce.' The Survey Results The survey first asked those who identified as female to share which of the following statements they believe; 35% believe that they are currently going through menopause 34% believe that they have not gone through menopause 25% believe that they have gone through menopause 5% believe that they have a condition that affects their menstruation (Polycystic ovary syndrome, Endometriosis etc.) 1% believe that this does not apply Justice Ravindra Bhat expressed concerns regarding a gender-neutral interpretation of the Act, emphasizing potential vulnerabilities for women and the workability of the legislation. Emphasising the right to a relationship for queer individuals, Justice Bhat aligns it with Article 21, which protects life and personal liberty, highlighting the fundamental entitlement to choose a partner and intimacy. Justice Bhat argued that the absence of a legislative framework renders the recognition of civil unions impossible and underscores the historical and social significance of the institution of marriage, independent of the State. CJI DY Chandrachud directs the government not to discriminate against the right of the queer community to enter into a union and permits unmarried couples, including queer couples, to jointly adopt a child. Indias highest judicial fortress the Supreme Court, pronounced the verdict on the same-sex marriage, a long-debated issue. The apex court refuses to give marriage equality rights to LGBTQIA+ community in India. Heading a Constitution Bench, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, along with Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, S Ravindra Bhat, Hima Kohli, and PS Narasimha, had earlier reserved the verdict in May after hearing a batch of 20 petitions.Today's decision comes five years after the apex court's historic ruling striking down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. The court's attention was drawn to the question of whether same-sex marriages should be officially recognized, a matter that was fiercely debated in the hearings since April 18.The petition had a plea for the interpretation of the term "marriage" under the Special Marriage Act, 1954, to be inclusive of all genders, replacing the conventional reference to "man and woman" with the term "spouse." Deliberating the issue, the Supreme Court clarified its focus on the legal recognition of same-sex marriages under the Special Marriage Act, steering clear of venturing into matters concerning personal laws.Some of the key discussions put forth by the panel of judges: Vietnam's exports to the United States were worth an estimated $8.11 billion in September, taking the total exports to that country in the first nine months this year to $70.23 billion. Garments exports to the latter were worth $11 billion in the nine months. This makes the United States the biggest importer of commodities from Vietnam during that period, while the latters imports from the former were worth $10.26 billion. Bilateral trade increased from $25 billion in 2012 to $123 billion in 2022. Vietnam's exports to the United States were worth an estimated $8.11 billion in September, taking the total exports to that country in the first nine months this year to $70.23 billion. Garments exports to the latter were worth $11 billion during the period. The former's imports from the latter were worth $10.26 billion in the nine months. Vietnam wants to import raw materials like cotton, animal feed, maize, soybean, chemicals from the United States, the advantage being cleaning up the supply chain, with input materials for production having clear and certified origin, Vietnamese media reports said quoting minister of industry and trade Nguyen Hong Dien. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) With Vietnams import-export value hitting close to $523 billion between January and mid-October this year, its balance of trade surplus was $22.54 billion during that period, latest statistics by the general department of Vietnam customs reveal. The country exported about $272.74 billion worth of goods during that perioddown by over $24 billion year on year (YoY), while imports totaled $250.2 billiona fall of nearly $40 billion YoY. As the global textile-garment demand is likely to fall by 8-10 per cent this year, experts say it will strongly affect Vietnams garment exports this year and during the first few months of next year. With Vietnam's import-export value hitting close to $523 billion between January and mid-October this year, its balance of trade surplus was $22.54 billion during that period. Vietnam exported goods worth about $272.74 billion during that perioddown by over $24 billion year on year, while imports totalled $250.2 billiona fall of about $40 billion YoY. The countrys textile-garment export turnover is estimated to be $40 billion this yeardown by 10 per cent YoY, the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS) noted. Textile-garment exports to the US and EU markets have recovered. The sector is showing positive signals in both import and export, and is expected to rebound as an increasing number of foreign partners from Europe, Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia have recently come to Vietnam to enquire about garment products, a domestic media outlet reported. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) In the genre-bending Kaala Paani, created by Sameer Saxena and Amit Golani and featuring Ashutosh Gowariker, Mona Singh, Amey Wagh, Sukant Goel and others, a mysterious disease grips the scenic Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The survival thriller tackles the question of what one does when corporate greed and political corruption clash with morals.For a deep-dive into Kaala Paani, Filmfare had a chat with the cast and creators.Sukant Goel: You're right, a lot of stuff has come not just in film, but even in the theatre world, a lot of people are telling stories about this. But somehow I found myself not connecting in the first two years at least because it seemed too sudden. It seemed like we were still in it. So where's the perspective? Usually, it takes a lot of time to look back at something. When you're writing, you're writing accounts within the time period, but the stories, the experiences, et cetera, came afterwards. So I haven't personally been really hooked to anything that's dealing directly with the pandemic.Amey Wagh: Yes any event in world history, which is of that significance like the World War or India's freedom struggle, the pandemic. I think these are all events which changed the way mankind looked at the world. So I definitely think such stories are interesting. But what lies at the core is the emotional appeal. And that is what I look forward to, or that is what I keep on searching as an audience.Ashutosh Gowariker: Well, it has to be something that I have not done in the past, obviously. I want to enter a new space and a new world. For me, direction has taken so much prominence that it becomes difficult to break away from that, especially when my film is going to take me three years to make. But interim, if I get an offer, the character has to be very interesting, and the world has to be interesting. And the people who are making it need to be exciting for me. And here I got everything in one, it's a bouquet. I've got my favourite directors who I've really admired for their work. The character of Zebran Qadri, the Lieutenant Governor of Andaman is fascinating. Something that I've not done. He's upright, he does a lot of strong decision-making. He's compassionate, but at the same time helpless when it comes to some hard decisions. Now that's something that I found very interesting. Last, I mean Andamans is a place which I have always been really attracted to. I have been there in the past and it's a place that I love. And I always felt that there's been no tourism here, simply because people don't want to travel that far. But once you go there, you've gone to a Neverland. So I thought that here's an opportunity to revisit a place in our nation I've not been to in a long time. So all of these things came together and I'm very fortunate that they, uh, that they offered me this part. I was free to say yes to it. So it's been, it's been fortunate.Ashutosh: Well, I've been an actor since Mithibai College, inter-college drama competitions and so I've done a lot of plays. I did a play called Bichhoo with Om Puri ji in his group at that time. I was an understudy. Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan were actors who were emerging with me. They were my colleagues. They were my co-actors. During my growing up years, we had actors from the National School of Drama, Bhopal Academy, Delhi. You've got such a wide range - everyone believing that their style, their backdrop, their background, what theyve learned in acting, is the best. And you have to coexist in that. You have the actor who has got the gift of the gab. You have really improvisational actors, you have some method actors, all that is there. That became my learning ground. I did about 25 projects as an actor. And I realised that every actor needs to be given the comfort and the belief that what you're doing is the best and what you're doing is the right thing. I thrived on that. And when I did not get that, it did not work for me. With these two guys (Sameer Saxena and Amit Golani), I've seen their work as actors. Somewhere I felt comforted that they knew acting so well, that they probably would understand my drawbacks, my little dark spots which I can't reveal as an actor. They would know it. I realised that if I say yes to them, they will be able to bring out the best in me.Sukant: Well, my character is written with these shades. The challenge is to identify where to play it, and where to not play it. Like Samir was saying, we have to maintain the truth of the scene. To what extent is he willing to go? And the script allows for it. I always look for humour wherever possible in any script because it is something that connects the viewer. Its an entry point and it allows for a surprise later. But it shouldn't seem like a trope. That's the craft. If there is humour and shady business happening around it, it can be interesting.Amey: I don't look at my character that way. Whenever I play a part, I tend to befriend the character. When you befriend someone, you accept the person with his or her flaws. What matters is if the character is human enough. So I think my character is a good guy. I don't think there are grey shades to him. Also, it's interesting to think what would people who are generally extremely particular about being morally right, do if you put them in extreme situations? How would they react to that? So I think Kaala Paani is all about that.Sameer Saxena: These are all such fantastic actors that our work actually became very easy. They were prepared when they were on set. The most important thing is that they knew their characters, they were very cooperative with the challenges that we had while shooting. There were never complaints of anything and that made our job very easy. We had Ashutosh Gowarekar on your set, who is himself a legendary actor and he never made us feel we were directing him or giving him instructions. It was a very friendly environment and a very collaborative process though it's a hardcore drama show about survival. There's a lot of emotion riding on it, but on set it was a very light environment thanks to these guys. We wanted to work with Amey and Sukant for a long time. Mona Singh is someone who we have worked with before so we had that comfort level.Amit Golani: More than their talent as actors, the bigger challenge on this project was the conditions that we were shooting in. For example, there was a scene in which Sukant and Vikas are supposed to be stranded in a boat somewhere. When we went to set up the shot, the boat was fine. But by the time we started rolling, the tide had come in and nobody could go to that boat again and again. It was impossible for us to even do the touch-ups. And these guys were so committed, they kept their own touch-up material in the bag. For five, six hours, I think these two guys were there on that boat with me giving them instructions on a walkie-talkie. That's it. So these are the conditions where if the cast is not supportive and cooperative, it could become very challenging. We would always come back and discuss how cool they are, and how they keep the atmosphere light. And that had a trickle-down effect on the whole project.Amit: The research was not just around the disease because the disease is just one part of it, it's an inciting incident in screenwriting terms. We did a lot of research so that it shouldn't feel like something very filmy that we are making up. It is something based on reality. Of course, it's a fictitious disease but when you watch it, it feels real. Even the examples that the characters cited in the show are actually real examples. We researched the Andaman and the landscape and the people that live there and their stories. That became the main focus of the show. It's about surviving in those harsh conditions with no escape. Whatever you say on screen should not take the audience away from the story. They should say, What's this? This is not right. This doesn't sound right. As long as we are doing that we are keeping the audience hooked on the story. A couple of jargon can be here and there. But as long as you're sticking to reality you're fine.Ashutosh: I think it's fascinating. I feel all those scripts, all those stories that could not find their way into cinema, OTT gives it a chance because you can experiment. And still, there are so many untapped genres that we have not brought to the screen because we are bound by cinema. We are bound by theatrical stories where you have to satisfy an audience which is demographically, completely apart. You have to satisfy different age groups. There are a lot of burdens on the filmmaker to do that. But OTT now, in cinema, gives us that one advantage. And the second one is for web series, you get the opportunity to see stories that are difficult to see in films. For example, I cant tell a full story about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in a film. You can do that in a television series. You have to cater to a certain kind of audience there as well. But on a web series, you can actually bring it to the screen. So there are many such stories which can be found on web series. So I'm very excited about that as a format.Kaala Paani is currently streaming on OTT. critic's rating: 3.0/5 Trailer : Ganapath We learn through a voiceover narrated by Dalapati (Amitabh Bachchan) that Ganapath is set in a future that has been ravaged by war. Most of the people in the world are dead, with a meagre population surviving in a barren landscape. The rich pool in their resources and build a futuristic megacity called Silver City where you can get anything you want for a price. The degenerate denizens of this portion of the world live a hedonistic life. Their favourite pastime is betting on MMA matches organised by cruel Dalini. The poor, meanwhile, get poorer and get by with what they have. Theyre divided into factions where might is right. Years ago, Dalapati started organising matches on the lines of The Fight Club, giving the frustrated citizens a chance to lessen their angst by fighting against each other. However, the rich got news of the sport and turned it into a betting cartel, with the best fighters from the poor quarter becoming pawns of the betting syndicate. Guddu (Tiger Shroff) is the right hand man of John English. While he isnt a fighter himself, he has the uncanny ability to predict winners and works as a spotter for John. circumstances lead him in the bad books of his boss, who orders him to be buried alive. Ganapath is saved through divine grace and another henchman of John English, Kaizaad (Jameel Khan) asks him to hide amongst the poor quarter and seek out Shiva (Rahman). He meets Jassi (Kriti Sanon) there and falls in love with her. He starts learning how to fight, and might just become the messiah, Ganapath, as prophesied by DalapatiDirector Vikas Bahl, who till now has been known for films like Queen (2014), Super 30 (2019) and Goodbye (2022) has taken a leap of faith and has landed in the arena of actioners with this one. He seems to be inspired from such films as Mad Max, the video game Tekken, Bruce Lees Enter The Dragon, The Blood Of Heroes you get the drift. Basically, its a progression fantasy where the hero gets to tackle increasingly difficult obstacles before emerging as the champion. Its a subgenre which has been quite popular in the West but has found few takers in India. So its brave of Vikas Bahl to go so out of his league and attempt something like this. The soul of such films is the fight choreography, and the director has got that right. The fights look like MMA cage fights on steroids. They are fast, furious and plenty of blood gets spilled to satisfy rabid action buffs. And in Tiger Shroff, he gets the perfect candidate to play the hero. Tiger has got the physique and the moves of a MMA fighter and kicks and punches away to glory. The fights seem real enough, though you know the hero is going to win in the end anyway, despite being mauled repeatedly. And its not just Tiger who gets to fight. Kriti Sanon shows a lot of spunk fighting with the nunchucks. Her action scenes are on point as well. Malayalam actor Rahman makes his Hindi debut here, playing the blind sensei Shiva and his screen presence works in the films favour.Inspired perhaps by Star Wars, Vikas Bahl has tried to infuse a heavy dose of emotions, mysticism and spirituality in the film. The mixture of coming-of-age tropes and miracles makes it a mixed bag which has something for everybody. The doubts which assailed Luke Skywalker are absent here, however. The film is set up in two parts, with the sequel set to release in future. So perhaps itll see newer conflicts besieging our hero.Watch the film for its slick action sequences and for Tiger Shroffs abs. Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai twist: When will Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai take a leap? This is the question on everyone's mind ever since the rumours about a time jump surfaced on the internet. After several weeks of speculation, Rajan Shahi broke his silence and confirmed that a new season of YRKKH is on the cards. NEW ENTRY IN YEH RISHTA: WILL HARSHAD CHOPDA LEAVE SHOW? The first actress, who has been confirmed for the show, is Anita Raj. The veteran actress, who returned to television with Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia starrer Choti Sarrdaarni, will be seen in a crucial role in Rajan Shahi's show after the leap. While the producer spilled the beans on the new entry, he remaind tight-lipped about Harshad Chopda and Pranali Rathod's exit. Gossip mills are buzzing with the rumours that Harshad Chopda and Pranali Rathod will quit the serial after the generation leap is introduced in the track. While Harshad is said to be shooting his last episode on October 30, there's no clarity on the last shoot of Pranali Rathod. Akshara will reportedly give birth to a baby girl in the show before Abhimanyu's death. According to the latest promo, Abhimanyu and Abhir might die after meeting with a car accident. This will happen before AbhiRa's second wedding. YEH RISHTA KYA KEHLATA HAI NEW LEADS There were mumours that Fahmaan Khan, Anushka Sen, Tejasswi Prakash, Mahima Makwana, Anushka Sen, Zannat Zubair and Helly Shah have been approached for the serial. Helly Shah, Mahima Makwana and Fahmaan Khan have confirmed that they are not doing the show. Who would replace Harshad and Pranali as YRKKH new leads? This is the question on everyone's mind. Filmibeat debunked the rumours by revealing that Fahmaan and Tejasswi are not joining the show.When we asked our source, he laughed off the rumours. "Rajan Shahi is known for giving opportunities to fresh faces like Hina Khan, Shivangi Joshi and Pranali Rathod. He must have chalked out a proper plan for Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, if it is taking a leap. While the production house would love to work with Tejasswi and Fahmaan, I think new faces will be auditioned for the lead roles. There's no doubt that Fahmaan Khan and Tejasswi Prakash are wonderful actors, who bring their own fan following but I think the chances of them featuring in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai are bleak," a source earlier told us. ABHIMANYU TO GET ARRESTED IN YEH RISHTA KYA KEHLATA HAI Abhimanyu will get arrested in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, courtesy of his enemy's evil plans. Parth will conspire against him and hence, Abhimanyu will get arrested and land up in jail, according to a report in India Forums. Akshara will lash out at Parth, promising to teach him a lesson. Why is Parth targeting Abhimanyu? All questions will be answered in the upcoming episodes of YRKKH. Yeh Rishta airs every day on Star Plus at 9:30pm. Home Top Listing Top Listing Top 10 Tom Cruise Stunts: Does Tom Cruise Do His Own Stunts? Tom Cruise is a great Hollywood superstar who has fans all over the world, Tom is among the artists who like to do risky stunts on their own instead of getting them done by a stuntman or body double, and this is the reason why Tom apart from being the best artist in the whole world, he is also seen as a brave man. So, here is the list of 10 such amazing feats of Tom that make even the best of people worse, and would you like to do any of these? Mission: Impossible Aquarium Scene Suddenly the scene changes when the aquarium inside the restaurant breaks, where Ethan i.e. Tom escapes saving the lives of the people and himself. This stunt may not look anything special, but the way the pile of water covers the entire restaurant makes this stunt look quite interesting. Mission Impossible 4 Climbing The Burj Khalifa In this movie the most amazing part is Tom Cruise Burj Khalifa stunt, this scene was shot in Dubai on Burj Khalifa that is world's tallest building. In this scene, Tom is hanging himself on this huge building with the help of a rope and this height can be clearly seen, Tom's feat gives evidence of Tom's bravery. Read More Mission: Impossible - Fallout Motorbike Chase In Paris In this scene of the film, you will get to see an excellent example of Tom's driving skills where he is driving his motorcycle as fast as he can through the streets. Doing this stunt is not a trivial thing because the danger to life can be clearly seen in it. Read More Mission: Impossible - Fallout (Halo Jump) Tom Cruise Plane Stunt It would not be wrong to say that this stunt is one of the most dangerous stunts of Tom's life, which common people are scared of even imagining. Tom performs those stunts with great ease, which is an example of his amazing courage. In this scene, Tom jumps from the plane which is approximately 25,000 feet above the ground. Read More Mission Impossible Rogue Nation Tom Cruise Airplane Stunt When talking about Tom's stunts, it is impossible not to talk about Tom Cruise's famous plane stunt in 2015's Mission: Impossible: Rogue Nation. Tom performed this terrifying stunt of hanging on a plane running at a speed of 140 miles per hour, which many actors shy away from doing. And this is the reason why he rules the hearts of so many. Read More Mission Impossible Rogue Nation Tom Cruise Stunt: Breath Hold This action sequence by Tom made him create a world record, as Tom was underwater performing this stunt continuously for 6 minutes. It shows his capability of breath-holding as well as his passion for his work. Well, later on, his record was broken by Kate Winslet as she held her breath for 7 minutes and 15 seconds. Read More Mission Impossible 4 Train Scene This scene filmed in this movie does not look anything special but believe me, it is equally difficult to do, and if this feat seems easy to you then it is because Tom has performed this feat very easily. to do. Jeremy Renner supported Tom very well and made this stunt very thrilling. Read More Mission: Impossible - Fallout Helicopter Stunt This scene simply depicts the multitalented Tom's pilot skills which is amazing, as the movie has a scene of Tom flying the plane excellently from the Southern Alps which is for chasing a helicopter, his pilot skill was also seen in his other movie all time blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick. Read More Mission Impossible: 2 Rock Climbing While filming this scene many popular actors from different film industries used safety harnesses, body doubles, and stunts man's, but Mission Impossible: 2 was proof of what scale of strength, endurance, and braveness present by the legendary star Tom Cruise. The actor performed this stunt by himself and without any harness, which is really amazing. Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One Motorcycle Jump Tom's brilliant film, which came recently, came into discussion among the people even before its release, when the producer of the film shared an interesting incident of this film with the people, in which Tom jumped a motorcycle from a mountain several thousand feet high. You may have had tears in your eyes after seeing this stunt, but for Tom, amazing feats have become a common thing. Read More LOADING...... Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 19, 2023) - American Aires Inc. (CSE: WIFI) (OTC Pink: AAIRF) ("Aires" or the "Company"), a company focused on scientifically-proven EMF modulation technology, announces that it has entered into shares for debt settlement agreements dated October 17, 2023 (the "Debt Settlement Agreements") with certain officers and employees of the Company, pursuant to which the Company agreed to settle C$810,648 of debt through the issuance of 12,009,600 common shares (the "Common Shares") at a deemed price of C$0.0675 per share (the "Issue Price"). "As a final step of the restructuring that took place this year, we are proud to announce that to date, all the convertible debenture investors as well as certain arm's length and related parties agreed to convert their outstanding debt into common shares of the Company. Not only does this helps clean up our balance sheet, but it also shows confidence our investors and stakeholders have in the future of this Company," commented Josh Bruni, CEO. The Debt Settlement Agreements and the issuance of the Common Shares thereunder are subject to the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE"). The Common Shares will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day pursuant to CSE policies and applicable securities laws. The Issue Price was reserved via price protection filed with the CSE on October 12, 2023. Equity Incentives The Company has entered into option cancellation agreements (the "Option Cancellation Agreements") pursuant to which the Company and option holders agreed to cancel an aggregate of 725,000 options of the Company. The Company has granted 490,000 stock options (each an "Option") to certain insiders and arm's length parties pursuant to option agreements ("Option Agreements") and the terms and conditions of the omnibus long-term incentive plan of the Company (the "Plan"). Each Option is exercisable to acquire one Common Share at a price of $0.095 per Common Share, with 50,000 of the Options expiring on December 10, 2024 and 440,000 of the Options expiring on July 6, 2026. The Options will vest immediately. The Company has also granted 8,100,000 restricted share units ("RSUs") to certain insiders pursuant to restricted share unit agreements ("RSU Agreements") and the terms and conditions of the Plan. 50% of the RSUs will vest immediately and the remaining 50% of RSUs will vest one year from the date of the grant. Josh Bruni said: "Additionally, reinforcing this confidence in the Company is our decision to grant new options and RSUs - the most practical way to ensure a perfect alignment of our executive team with our shareholders in pursuit of increasing the value of the Company's shares. This is especially important as we continue pushing the business to the next stage of growth." All of the Options and RSUs (and any Common Shares issuable upon exercise or settlement thereof) will be subject to a four month and one day hold period pursuant to the polices of the CSE and applicable securities laws. Certain of the Debt Settlement Agreements, Option Cancellation Agreements, Option Agreements and RSU Agreements constitute related-party transactions under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). This transaction is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value of the securities issued to a related party (as defined in MI 61-101), nor the consideration provided therefor, exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. About American Aires Inc. American Aires Inc. is a Canadian-based nanotechnology company committed to enhancing well-being and environmental safety through science-led innovation, education, and advocacy. Aires has developed proprietary silicon-based microprocessors that reduce the harmful effects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR). Aires' Lifetune products target EMR emitted by consumer electronic devices such as cellphones, computers, baby monitors, and Wi-Fi, including the more powerful and rapidly expanding high-speed 5G networks. Aires is listed on the CSE under the ticker 'WIFI' and on the OTC QB under the symbol 'AAIRF'. Learn more at www.airestech.com. On behalf of the board of directors Company Contact: Josh Bruni, CEO Website: www.airestech.com Email: wifi@airestech.com Telephone: (415) 707-010 Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding CSE Approval of the Debt Settlement Agreements, RSU Agreements and Option Agreements, and the Common Share issuances pursuant thereto, closing of the transactions contemplated under the Debt Settlement Agreements, issuance of Common Shares underlying the Options and the RSUs, future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements may be discussed in this news release and the Company's annual and quarterly management's discussion and analysis filed at www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws. No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. The Common Shares, RSUs and Options have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of any person in the United States, absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any common shares in the United States, or in any other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. We seek safe harbour. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/184612 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 19, 2023) - Chakana Copper Corp. (TSXV: PERU) (FSE: 1ZX) (the "Company" or "Chakana") announces that further to its news release dated October 18, 2023 announcing a non-brokered private placement of up to 55,000,000 units of the Company ("Units") at a price of C$0.04 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to C$2.2 million (the "Private Placement"), the Company would like to add that $2M of the proceeds of the Private Placement will be applied to exploration drilling, and development of the Company's high-grade copper-gold-silver discovery at the Soledad Project, located in the Ancash region of Peru. The remaining funds will be used for general working capital and administrative purposes, including salaries payable to non-arms length parties. There are no proposed payments to persons conducting investor relations activities. The Private Placement is subject to all necessary regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The securities issued under the Private Placement will be subject to a hold period under applicable securities laws in Canada expiring four months and one day from the closing date of the Private Placement. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. About Chakana Copper Corp Chakana Copper Corp is a Canadian-based minerals exploration company that is currently advancing the Soledad Project located in the Ancash region of Peru, a highly favorable mining jurisdiction with supportive communities. The Soledad Project is notable for the high-grade copper-gold-silver mineralization that is hosted in tourmaline breccia pipes and other intrusion-related styles of mineralization. An initial inferred resource estimate for seven breccia pipes was announced in January, 2022 (see news release dated February 23, 2022), with 6.73 Mt containing 191,000 ounces of gold, 11.7 million ounces of silver, and 130 million pounds of copper. In addition, extensive multidisciplinary exploration has defined 154 exploration targets, 28 of which have been tested to date (18%), confirming that Soledad is a large, well-endowed mineral system with strong exploration upside. Chakana's investors are uniquely positioned as the Soledad Project provides exposure to base and precious metals. For more information on the Soledad project, please visit the website at www.chakanacopper.com. Qualified Person David Kelley, an officer, and a director of Chakana, and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD (signed) "David Kelley" David Kelley President and CEO For further information contact: Investor Relations: Info Email: info@chakanacopper.com Telephone: 720-233-2166 Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-looking Statement Advisory: This release contains forward-looking statements, including statements relating to the use of proceeds and completion of the Private Placement. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Chakana to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements or information relates to, among other things, the interpretation of the nature of the mineralization at the Soledad copper-gold-silver project (the "Project"), the potential to expand the mineralization, and to develop and grow a resource within the Project, the planning for further exploration work, the ability to de-risk the potential exploration targets, and our belief in the potential for mineralization within unexplored parts of the Project. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs but given the uncertainties, assumptions and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward- looking statements or information. The Company disclaims any obligation to update, or to publicly announce, any such statements, events or developments except as required by law. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/184613 Mr. Karthik Sathyamoorthy appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AG&P Group, Singapore Mr. Faisal Nawaz appointed as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of AG&P Group, Singapore Ms. Anupam Ahuja appointed as President, Corporate Development & Strategy of AG&P Group, Singapore Mr. Alex P. Gamboa appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AG&P Industrial, Manila, Philippines SINGAPORE, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AGP international Holdings Pte Ltd. (AGPIH/AG&P Group), Singapore, a leading downstream LNG platform, is excited to announce several changes in its leadership team. At the Group level, effective October 15, 2023, Mr. Karthik Sathyamoorthy has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer for AG&P Group. He will continue to remain the CEO of AG&P LNG Terminals & Logistics (AG&P LNG), Singapore. Mr. Faisal Nawaz has been appointed as the Chief Financial Officer for the Group. Anupam Ahuja has been appointed as the President, Corporate Development & Strategy for the Group. Mr. Alex P. Gamboa has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AG&P Industrial, Manila. The ownership of the company and the majority of the Board composition remains unchanged at AG&P Group. Mr. Karthik Sathyamoorthy has been with AG&P Group since 2017 and has been instrumental in establishing AG&P as a leading force in the downstream Liquefied Natural Gas/Natural Gas (LNG/NG) industry in South and Southeast Asia. Mr. Sathyamoorthy has over 20 years of experience in the development of new LNG import terminals, small-scale LNG, LNG ship scheduling, contracting and commercial negotiations across SE Asia, N Asia and Middle East. Mr. Sathyammoorthy will be focused on AG&P LNG's substantial growth pipeline and proprietary technologies in development on energy transition to establish clean energy networks across diverse unserved and underserved markets towards a carbon-neutral future. Mr. Faisal Nawaz currently serves as the Board member of AG&P Group. Prior, Mr. Nawaz was the CEO at Asiya Investments Hong Kong Ltd., Asiya Capital Investments Co. and Asiya Investments (Dubai) Ltd. Mr. Nawaz has more than 25 years of experience across multiple industries in operational restructuring, R&D, treasury, and corporate finance. Before Aisya, Mr. Nawaz was Director of Finance at Agility Logistics. Ms. Anupam Ahuja joined AG&P Group in 2011 and has been responsible for the design and execution of the overall marketing and communications strategy to create the AG&P brand. Anupam brings over two decades of international experience in marketing and communications, human resources & change management across energy, oil & gas, pharmaceutical, outsourcing and IT sectors. As President for Corporate Development and Strategy for the Group, Anupam Ahuja will continue to focus on marketing and sustainable growth strategies to drive value for all AG&P stakeholders. Mr. Alex P. Gamboa joined AG&P Industrial in 2016 and led the re-entry of the company into the Philippine Industrial construction market. By 2019, Mr. Gamboa established AG&P's market leadership in the heavy industrial and electro-mechanical space in the country. He then led the expansion of AG&P Industrial's modularization and EPC business that grew from the Asia-Pacific region to Europe, Middle East and the Americas. As CEO of AG&P Industrial, Mr. Gamboa will be focused on growing the global footprint to include Australia and Saudi Arabia. Mr. Gamboa has over 25 years of international experience in business development, commercial, finance, operations and general management roles in energy, oil & gas, industrial engineering and construction sectors. Earlier in the year, of the AG&P LNG terminal project portfolio, the company commissioned the first LNG import and regasification terminal in Batangas Bay, called the Philippines LNG (PHLNG) to supply gas to one of the largest power producers in the country. Alongside, AG&P Industrial was awarded four new major contracts in the Philippines, Australia, the Middle East and Europe. AG&P Industrial has a strong order book of over USD 500M with expectations to close the year with two more major contracts within the energy industry located in the USA and the Philippines. About AG&P Group Atlantic Gulf & Pacific (AG&P) is a leading global downstream LNG infrastructure platform focused on developing LNG import and regasification facilities as well as downstream city gas networks. AG&P also provides engineering and project management services for LNG and other infrastructure. About AG&P Industrial, Manila A subsidiary of the AG&P Group, AG&P Industrial, Manila is a leading diversified full-asset lifecycle EPFCIC (Engineering, Procurement, Fabrication, Construction, Installation and Commissioning), infrastructure development, and Operations & Maintenance (O&M) company with a legacy of executing award-winning marquee projects globally for LNG terminals, refineries, petrochemical plants, utilities, LNG liquefaction modules and other complex process units. We operate a world-class manufacturing site in Batangas, Philippines, with deep-water access and 60,000MT of annual module assembly capacity. We build large segments of projects and complex process modules in a controlled environment with the highest standards of safety and quality. For more information, please visit https://agpglobal.com/. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2252531/AGP_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/agp-group-announces-exciting-changes-in-leadership-301962607.html In diesem Report stellen wir Ihnen 3 Top-Aktien aus dem Energie-Sektor vor, die Sie unbedingt auf Ihre Watchlist setzen mussen. Lassen Sie sich diese kostenlose Analyse nicht entgehen! PARIS (dpa-AFX) - French media conglomerate Vivendi (VIV.L, VIVEF.PK) reported Friday that its third-quarter revenues grew 2.5 percent to 2.43 billion euros from last year's 2.37 billion euros. At constant currency, Vivendi's revenues grew by 3.7 percent, and at constant currency and perimeter, revenues increased 3.1 percent. The company noted that the results reflected revenue growth at Canal+ Group and Havas, partially offset by the decrease at Vivendi Village. Canal+ Group recorded significant revenue growth of 5.7 percent, thanks particularly to Studiocanal's strong increase and growth oin pay-television in France. Havas achieved strong organic growth in net revenues of 4.5 percent for the third quarter. Yannick Bollore, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, and Arnaud de Puyfontaine, Chief Executive Officer of Vivendi, said, 'We expect to finalize the combination with Lagardere by the end of the year, subject to the receipt of the necessary approvals. Our Group will then take on a new dimension, with a revenue increase of around 70 percent thanks, in particular, to the contribution of Hachette, the third-largest trade and educational book publisher, and the travel retail activities. Our international position will also be significantly strengthened at the same time.' It was on June 9 that Vivendi announced that it received approval from the European Commission to proceed with its proposed transaction with Lagardere group. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Dufry International AG / Key word(s): Quarter Results Invitation to Dufry's Q3 Trading Update 2023 20.10.2023 / 07:00 CET/CEST Dufry is delighted to invite you to our Q3 Trading Update 2023 Video Conference Webcast: Thursday, 02 November 2023 at 14.30h CET Speakers will be Xavier Rossinyol, CEO Dufry AG, and Yves Gerster, CFO Dufry AG. The presentation and video conference will be held in English, followed by a Q&A session. Presentation and Video Conference The access to the webcast platform will be available through our website . A playback option will be available there until 02 December 2023. Participants will be able to access via phone by pre-registering here . You will receive the dial-in numbers and a personal pin-code upon registration. If you are unable to register through the link, please send an e-mail to ir@dufry.com . The Q&A will be possible via phone and webcast. News Release & Presentation Dufry will publish its Q3 Trading Update 2023 on 02 November 2023 at 06.30h CET with the presentation available on Dufry's IR website . For further information please contact: Dr. Kristin Kohler Global Head Investor Relations Phone: +41 61 266 44 22 kristin.koehler@dufry.com Renzo Radice Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Phone: +41 79 461 23 34 renzo.radice@dufry.com DUFRY GROUP - LEADING GLOBAL TRAVEL EXPERIENCE PLAYER Dufry AG (SIX: DUFN), founded in 1865 and headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, delivers a revolutionary Travel Experience to consumers worldwide by uniquely combining retail, food & beverage and digital. Our company addresses 2.3 billion passengers in more than 75 countries in 5,500 outlets across 1,200 airports, motorways, cruise lines, seaports, railway stations and other locations across all six continents. With the traveler at our core, we are creating value for all our stakeholders including concession and brand partners, employees, communities, and finally, our shareholders. Sustainability is an inherent element of Dufry's business strategy aiming for sustainable and profitable growth of the company while fostering high standards of environmental stewardship and social equity. To learn more about Dufry, please visit www.dufry.com End of Media Release San Diego, California--(Newsfile Corp. - October 20, 2023) - Skye Bioscience, Inc. (OTCQB: SKYE) ("Skye" or the "Company"), a pharmaceutical company developing drugs targeting the endocannabinoid system, initially through modulation of the CB1 receptor, to address diseases including glaucoma and metabolic conditions, announces that it will host a virtual Investor Day, called "CB1 Axis: Unlocking the Pharmaceutical Potential of the Endocannabinoid System", on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 8:00am ET. To register, click here. In conjunction with this event, Skye will also release its Phase 1 clinical data. The event will feature Brian Levy, O.D. (former CMO, Aerie and Bausch & Lomb), Glenwood Gum, Ph.D. (Pharmaron), and Sameh Mosaed, M.D., Ph.D. (UC Irvine), who will provide an overview of the current glaucoma commercial landscape, drug development pipeline, and perspective on the historical challenges to achieving CB1-targeting therapeutics for the treatment of glaucoma. Skye leadership will provide broad insight into SBI-100 Ophthalmic Emulsion, its CB1 agonist being developed to potentially treat glaucoma, including a nonclinical data overview, clinical data from the company's recently completed Phase 1 study, a Phase 2 clinical update, and an outline of the glaucoma market opportunity and Skye's positioning strategy. A live question and answer session will follow the formal presentations. About Brian Levy, O.D. Dr. Brian Levy, CEO of InflammX Therapeutics, leads the development of Xiflam for dry AMD and diabetic eye/kidney diseases, now in a Phase 2 trial with NIH's DRCR Retinal Network. Formerly CMO at Aerie Pharmaceuticals, he pioneered rho kinase inhibition treatments, including the approvals of Rhopressa and Rocklatan. As VP of R&D at Bausch & Lomb for 15 years, he oversaw approvals of Retisert, Zylet, and Besivance. A seasoned ophthalmologist with over 50 publications, Levy holds degrees from UC Berkeley and University of Waterloo. About Glenwood Gum, Ph.D. Dr. Gum has 40+ years' experience in ophthalmology research and development in an academic and industry setting. As the Sr. Director of Ophthalmology at Pharmaron, he's advanced ocular studies, especially using the glaucomatous beagle model. His collaboration with renowned pharmaceutical companies has led to breakthroughs in beta blockers, cannabinoids, and prostaglandins. About Sameh Mosaed, M.D., Ph.D. Dr. Sameh Mosaed, MD, is a Professor of Ophthalmology and Chief of Glaucoma at UC Irvine's Gavin Herbert Eye Institute. She directs the glaucoma fellowship training program and is renowned for her minimally invasive glaucoma surgery expertise. Dr. Mosaed is credited with over 50 published papers and numerous textbook chapters. About SBI-100 Ophthalmic Emulsion Skye's SBI-100 OE possesses a novel molecular structure and nanoemulsion formulation designed to enable effective topical delivery and better penetration of a CB1 agonist into ocular tissue. In preclinical studies involving three different species, the drug resulted in enhanced therapeutic efficacy and duration of response in lowering IOP, comparing favorably to the standard of care for treating glaucoma. About Skye Bioscience Skye is focused on unlocking the pharmaceutical potential of the endocannabinoid system to treat diseases with inflammatory, fibrotic, and metabolic processes. Backed by leading life science venture investors, Skye's strategy leverages biologic targets with substantial human proof of mechanism for the development of first-in-class therapeutics with significant clinical and commercial differentiation. Nimacimab, a negative allosteric modulating antibody, inhibits peripheral CB1 with unprecedented safety and tolerability. A Phase 2 cardio-metabolic related indication study is expected to start in Q1 2024. Skye is also evaluating potential development paths for nimacimab related to obesity and weight loss. SBI-100 Ophthalmic Emulsion is a CB1 agonist that is a potential treatment for glaucoma and is expected to start a Phase 2 clinical trial in Q4 2023. For more information, please visit: https://www.skyebioscience.com. CONTACT Investor Relations Email: ir@skyebioscience.com Phone: (858) 410-0266 FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This letter contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding our product development, business strategy, the timing of clinical trials, and commercialization of cannabinoid-derived therapeutics. Such statements and other statements in this press release that are not descriptions of historical facts are forward-looking statements that are based on management's current expectations and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, our business, operating results, financial condition, and stock price could be materially negatively affected. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology including "anticipated," "plans," "goal," "focus," "aims," "intends," "believes," "can," "could," "challenge," "predictable," "will," "would," "may" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. We operate in a rapidly changing environment, and new risks emerge from time to time. As a result, it is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements the Company may make. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, our capital resources, uncertainty regarding the results of future testing and development efforts and other risks that are described in the Risk Factors section of Skye's most recent annual or quarterly report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as expressly required by law, Skye disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/184638 HONG KONG, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Highlights Commenting on the results, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) Chief Executive Officer Nicolas Aguzin said: "This was another good quarter of strategic progress for the Group, accompanied by strong headline financials. Quarterly revenue was up 18 per cent, core business revenue was up 9 per cent and profit attributable to shareholders was up 30 per cent compared with the 2022 comparable period. Despite challenging global markets, these results reflect HKEX's resiliency, the purposeful ongoing diversification of the business, our active management of costs and the team's resolute focus on the execution of our strategy. Highlights included the continued health and growth in HKEX's Derivatives Markets, the go-live of a new smart-contract settlement platform, HKEX Synapse in October, and the confirmed launch of FINI, Hong Kong's new digitalised IPO settlement platform for later this quarter. The macro backdrop remains fragile, but the business is in good shape and is well-positioned to capitalise on slowly improving market sentiment. Looking forward we will continue to place our customers at the heart of all that we do as we leverage our unique China connectivity and continue to strengthen the attractiveness and competitiveness of our markets and our offering." Strategic Highlights ADV of derivatives contracts traded on HKFE, Bond Connect Northbound ADT and ADT of ETPs all reached record nine-month highs OTC Clear's total clearing volume in Q3 2023 reached a record quarterly high Launch of HKEX Synapse on 9 October 2023, a new smart contract-powered platform, accelerating the settlement process for Stock Connect Northbound Trading Confirmed launch for FINI, Hong Kong's new digitalised IPO settlement platform Consultation paper on GEM Listing Reforms published Introduction of block trading under Stock Connect announced The LME Group announced two key initiatives under its two-year Action Plan: extending the use of volume-weighted average prices to determine Closing Prices in its most liquid contracts; and the approval of the first fast track brand registration for nickel Financial Highlights Q3 2023 revenue and other income of HK$5,084 million, up 18 per cent compared with Q3 2022 Core business revenue up 9 per cent against Q3 2022, attributable to the increase in net investment income from Margin Funds and Clearing House Funds, partly offset by lower listing fees Net investment income from Corporate Funds of HK$360 million, compared to a Q3 2022 loss of HK$46 million, driven by higher investment income from internally-managed Corporate Funds, and lower fair value losses on the externally-managed investment funds (External Portfolio) of HK$5 million (Q3 2022: losses of HK$148 million) Operating expenses up 1 per cent, attributable to higher staff costs and IT costs, partly offset by lower charitable donations and professional fees EBITDA margin of 74 per cent, 4 percentage points higher than Q3 2022 Profit attributable to shareholders of HK$2,953 million, 30 per cent higher than Q3 2022 Key Financials Q3 2023 HK$m Q3 2022 HK$m Change Revenue and other income Core business revenue 4,696 4,324 9 % Donation income of HKEX Foundation 28 40 (30 %) Net investment income/(loss) of Corporate Funds 360 (46) N/A 5,084 4,318 18 % Operating expenses 1,304 1,291 1 % EBITDA 3,706 2,984 24 % Profit attributable to shareholders 2,953 2,263 30 % Capital expenditure 329 295 12 % Basic earnings per share $2.33 $1.79 30 % For more information, please refer to HKEX's announcement here . View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/hkex-quarterly-results-for-the-nine-months-ended-30-september-2023--q3-revenues-up-18-q3-profits-up-30-301962898.html Third quarter 2023 U.S. prescriptions for VYZULTA increased by 22% over third quarter 2022 NCX 470 Phase 3 Denali clinical trial over 65% randomized Net revenue 1.7 million for first half 2023 and 1.1 million for third quarter 2023 Cash of 14.6 million on September 30, 2023 October 20, 2023 - release at 7:30 am CET Sophia Antipolis, France Nicox SA (Euronext Paris: FR0013018124, ALCOX), an international ophthalmology company, today provided financial results for Nicox SA and its subsidiaries (the "Nicox Group") for the first half of 2023 and for the third quarter of 2023 and provided an update on key future milestones. "The NCX 470 Denali trial is on track to report data in 2025, with over 65% of the target number of patients randomized in the trial. NCX 470, a novel nitric oxide donating bimatoprost eyedrop, is our lead clinical asset and earlier this year we announced that potential annual global peak net sales of NCX 470, based on the profile from the first Phase 3 trial Mont Blanc, could exceed $300 million." said Andreas Segerros, Chief Executive Officer of Nicox. "In parallel with the progress of the Denali trial, and the upcoming commercial launch of ZERVIATE in China, we are particularly focused on our financial situation and are evaluating all avenues to find a sustainable solution for the Company." Key Future Milestones Denali Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating NCX 470 in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension: The trial is on track to generate topline results in 2025, based on current recruitment rates. Initiation of Whistler Phase 3b clinical trial investigating NCX 470's dual mechanism of action (nitric oxide and prostaglandin analog) in intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering: The Whistler trial is expected to be initiated in Q4 2023 and to take approximately one year to complete. The Whistler trial is expected to be initiated in Q4 2023 and to take approximately one year to complete. Approval and launch of ZERVIATE in China by Nicox's partner, Ocumension Therapeutics: Expected in 2024. First Half 2023 Financial Results As of June 30, 2023, the Nicox Group had cash and cash equivalents of 19.0 million as compared with 21.4 million as of March 31, 2023, and 27.7 million as of December 31, 2022. The Company is currently funded until the end of June 2024, exclusively on the basis of the development of NCX 470. The Company is pursuing licensing discussions which could extend the cash runway. In parallel, the Company has initiated strategic discussions, including regarding potential merger and acquisition transactions and is also initiating discussions with its creditors to restructure its debt. Net revenue1 for the first half of 2023 was 1.7 million (consisting entirely of net royalty payments) versus 1.4 million (including 1.3 million in royalty revenue) for the first half of 2022. Operating expenses for the first half of 2023 were 10.4 million compared to 12.7 million for the first half of 2022. The decrease in the operating expenses in the first half of 2023 compared to the first half of 2022 is explained by the completion of the first Phase 3 trial Mont Blanc in the third quarter of 2022. The Nicox Group recorded a net loss of 6.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023, compared to a net loss of 17.0 million for the same period in 2022. The net loss in the first half of 2022 includes 11.1 million of non-cash items due to the decision to seek a partner to pursue the development of NCX 4251 in the U.S. As of June 30, 2023, the Nicox Group had financial debt of 21.6 million, consisting of (i) 18.8 million in the form of a bond financing agreement with Kreos Capital signed in January 2019, (ii) a 1.6 million credit agreement guaranteed by the French State, and granted in August 2020 in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and (iii) 1.2 million of present value attributed to the put option2 granted in the November 2022 equity financing. The payment of this latter debt would only occur if the put option was exercised, subject to the conditions set out in footnote 2 below. Third Quarter 2023 Financial Highlights As of September 30, 2023, the Nicox Group had cash and cash equivalents of 14.6 million as compared with 19.0 million as of June 30, 2023, and 27.7 million as of December 31, 2022. Net revenue for the third quarter of 2023 was 1.1 million (entirely composed of net royalty payments). Net revenue for the third quarter of 2022 was 0.8 million (entirely composed of net royalty payments). As of September 30, 2023, the Nicox Group had financial debt of 21.1 million, consisting of (i) 18.8 million in the form of a bond financing agreement with Kreos Capital signed in January 2019, (ii) a 1.5 million credit agreement guaranteed by the French State, and granted in August 2020 in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and (iii) 0.8 million of present value attributed to the put option2 granted in the November 2022 equity financing. The payment of this latter debt would only occur if the put option was exercised, subject to the conditions set out in footnote 2 below. VYZULTA (latanoprostene bunod ophthalmic solution), 0.024% U.S. prescriptions3 increased by 22% in the third quarter of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. VYZULTA, exclusively licensed worldwide to Bausch + Lomb, is commercialized in more than 15 countries, including the U.S., and is also approved in a number of other countries. VYZULTA is indicated for the reduction of IOP in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Only the figure related to the cash position of the Nicox Group as of December 31, 2022, is audited; all other figures in this press release are non-audited. DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Airtel Money Tanzania in partnership with TerraPay, a cross-border payments network, has launched an international remittance service enabling Airtel Money customers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to make purchases at points of sale terminals using their Airtel Money accounts at no extra cost. This announcement follows the recent launch of the 10% Fly Dubai discount announced in July. Speaking today in Dar es Salaam while announcing the new partnership, Airtel Money Director Andrew Rugamba said, "Airtel Tanzania is committed to offering innovative solutions that cater to our customers' daily needs and provide value. With the launch of Airtel Money in partnership with TerraPay in the UAE, we aim to address the payment challenges our customers encounter when traveling to Dubai. We recognize the government's commendable international diplomatic policies that have been fostering stronger trade relationships with various countries, including the UAE. The rising number of Tanzanian travelers visiting the United Arab Emirates for diverse purposes, such as trade, tourism, official visits, and government missions, is a clear reflection of the increasing demand. Our partnership with TerraPay eliminates the need for travelers to carry large sums of cash or go through the hassle of currency exchange each time they journey to the UAE." To access Airtel Money's cross-border merchants' payments through TerraPay our Airtel Money customers can follow the simple steps outlined below. Step 1. Airtel Money customers need to visit any branded merchant location in the UAE. Step 2. The Merchant initiates transaction at the POS terminal. Step 3. The Airtel Money customer will receive a prompt to enter their pin and confirm transaction. Step 4. The Airtel Money customer will receive a confirmation SMS once the transaction is done. Rugamba emphasized that Airtel Money is continuously evolving to be more inclusive, providing faster, more convenient, safer, and cost-effective services. The wide range of services available through Airtel Money will not only enhance its usage but also solidify Airtel's position as the preferred service provider. Willie Kanyeki, Regional Director for East and Southern Africa at TerraPay, spoke about the significance of the partnership with Airtel Money Tanzania. He described the partnership as a strategic initiative aimed at advancing financial inclusion in the country and encouraging the transition to a cashless economy. He says, "Airtel Money and TerraPay's partnership demonstrates the commitment Airtel Money has towards its customers. They continue to offer products and services that customers enjoy anytime, anywhere, a policy TerraPay lives by." About Airtel Africa Airtel Africa is a leading provider of telecommunications and mobile money services, with a presence in 14 countries in Africa, primarily in East Africa and Central and West Africa. Airtel Africa offers an integrated suite of telecommunications solutions to its subscribers, including mobile voice and data services as well as mobile money services both nationally and internationally. The Group aims to continue providing a simple and intuitive customer experience through streamlined customer journeys. www.airtel.africa About TerraPay TerraPay simplifies the movement of money everywhere - providing a single connection to the most expansive cross-border payments network regulated in 29 global markets and enabling payments to 120+ receive countries, 210+ send countries, 7.5Bn+ bank accounts and 2.1Bn+ mobile wallets. TerraPay is on a mission to connect a borderless financial world, making moving money everywhere instant, reliable, transparent, and fully compliant. TerraPay pushes the boundaries for global businesses - ranging from banks, fintechs and money-transfer operators to travel businesses, creator economy platforms and e-commerce marketplaces - while driving financial inclusion in even the most inaccessible markets. Founded in 2014, TerraPay is headquartered in London, with global offices in Dubai, Miami, Bogota, Dakar, Johannesburg, Nairobi, Milan, Singapore, Bangalore and is expanding rapidly, having received funding from leading investors, including the IFC (the World Bank), Prime Ventures, Partech Africa and Visa. For more details, visit terrapay.com Media Contact: Juveria Samrin juveria.n@terrapay.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1222771/TerraPay_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/airtel-money-partners-with-terrapay-to-offer-mobile-money-services-for-tanzanian-customers-traveling-within-the-uae-301962969.html Outgoing CEO Erik Fyrwald to retire, continue as Advisor to Chairman and remain on the Board of Directors. Syngenta Group's Board of Directors has elected Jeff Rowe as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Syngenta Group, effective January 1, 2024. Rowe is currently President, Syngenta Crop Protection, Syngenta Group's largest business unit. He was previously President, Syngenta Seeds, where he executed a successful turnaround of the Seeds business. Erik Fyrwald, Syngenta Group CEO, will continue as CEO until the end of the year, when he will retire after seven and a half years with the company. He will continue as Advisor to the Chairman of Syngenta Group and remain on the Board of Directors. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020930340/en/ Jeff Rowe, Syngenta Group CEO as of Jan. 1, 2024 (Photo: Business Wire) Rowe, 50, joined Syngenta as President of Syngenta Seeds and North America in September 2016. Before his current role as head of the crop protection business, he was responsible for the successful turnaround of the Seeds business, with outstanding growth and return to profitability. He also has spearheaded Syngenta Group's efforts into regenerative agriculture and soil health. Prior to joining Syngenta, Jeff served in several leadership roles at DuPont Pioneer over a 20-year period. The Board of Directors appointed Rowe as the new CEO, as he is not only a proven business leader with nearly 30 years of diverse experience in the agriculture sector but also a fifth-generation farmer who has first-hand knowledge of the issues that are important to farmers today, and is passionate about driving innovation and change to make global agriculture more sustainable. Rowe will succeed Fyrwald, 64, who joined Syngenta as CEO in June 2016. During his tenure, he oversaw the acquisition by ChemChina, the formation of the Syngenta Group, and the growth of the business from Syngenta's $12.8 billion in 2016 to the Syngenta Group's 33.4 billion in 2022. Fyrwald's passionate advocacy has established Syngenta Group as a leading voice in agriculture for global food security, sustainability and regenerative agriculture. "Erik has provided outstanding leadership for Syngenta Group, steering it with steady hands through global pandemic, conflicts and challenging geopolitics while substantially transforming and growing the company," said Li Fanrong, Chairman of Syngenta Group. "We will always be grateful for his thoughtful, energetic and dynamic leadership of our Group during its transition. And it is Erik's leadership in developing a strong team that leads naturally to our next phase. With the strong foundation established by Erik, Jeff is the right CEO to lead Syngenta Group. The Board is pleased with the world-class, orderly and planned succession process and has found in Jeff a strong leader with the business acumen, operational skills and strategic vision needed to guide Syngenta Group in this critical industry." "As a superb operational leader and strategist, able to deliver results through teamwork while building the business for tomorrow, Jeff has played a significant role in the growth of Syngenta Group," said Fyrwald. "I have worked with Jeff for many years and am delighted that he will lead Syngenta Group as it continues its mission to help farmers feed the world while addressing climate change." About Syngenta Group Syngenta Group is one of the world's biggest agricultural technology companies, with roots going back more than 250 years. With more than 59,000 employees, operating in more than 100 countries, the company strives to transform agriculture with science-driven, technological innovations to deliver high productivity and high-quality food while fighting climate change and restore nature. Syngenta Group is working with farmers to enable Regenerative Agriculture an outcome-based food production system that nurtures and restores soil health, protects the climate and water resources and biodiversity, and enhances farms' productivity and profitability. Syngenta Group, which is registered in Shanghai, China, and has its management headquarters in Switzerland, draws strength from its four business units: Syngenta Crop Protection, headquartered in Switzerland; Syngenta Seeds, headquartered in the United States; ADAMA, headquartered in Israel; and Syngenta Group China. Together, these businesses provide industry-leading ways to serve customers around the world. For Syngenta Group photos and videos, please visit the Syngenta Group Media Library. Data protection is important to us. You are receiving this publication on the legal basis of Article 6 para 1 lit. f GDPR ("legitimate interest"). However, if you do not wish to receive further information about Syngenta Group, just send us a brief informal message and we will no longer process your details for this purpose. You can also find further details in our privacy statement. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This document may contain forward-looking statements, which can be identified by terminology such as "expect," "would," "will," "potential," "plans," "prospects," "estimated," "aiming," "on track" and similar expressions. Such statements may be subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from these statements. For Syngenta Group, such risks and uncertainties include risks relating to legal proceedings, regulatory approvals, new product development, increasing competition, customer credit risk, general economic and market conditions, compliance and remediation, intellectual property rights, implementation of organizational changes, impairment of intangible assets, consumer perceptions of genetically modified crops and organisms or crop protection chemicals, climatic variations, fluctuations in exchange rates and/or grain prices, single source supply arrangements, political uncertainty, natural disasters, and breaches of data security or other disruptions of information technology. Syngenta Group assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changed assumptions or other factors. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020930340/en/ Contacts: Media Relations media@syngentagroup.com DUBAI, UAE, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The official website for Global Youth Climate Week (the Week) is now open. It is calling on global multi-stakeholders to register their events and demonstrate their support for the climate actions of the next generation. Interested individuals and organizations can find the website at: Global Youth Climate Week "The 2023 UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) will feature the first global stocktake since the signing of the Paris Agreement," stated Dr. WANG Binbin, the Executive Secretary-General of Global Alliance of Universities on Climate (GAUC). "While the international society looks at the state of our planet and charts a better course for the future, it is important to recognize the crucial role of youth as the backbone of the net-zero future and offer them adequate support to assume this historical responsibility." Scheduled one week ahead of each COP, the Week aims to contribute to global climate governance by providing a mechanism for the next generation to amplify their climate voice, hone their innovative solutions, and turn their climate actions into actual impact. It was first proposed by GAUC to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in February 2022 and was co-initiated by GAUC and over 100 global partners eight months later. Ms. Patricia Espinosa, the former UNFCCC Executive Secretary, praised the Week as "an impactful contribution to the UNFCCC process". By launching the official website for the Week, GAUC aims to further broaden the inclusiveness of the Week and warmly invite all relevant multi-stakeholders to join the endeavor and contribute to the momentum by organizing climate-related events during November 20th to 24th, 2023, and register the events at the Week's website ahead. Bring youth's climate actions to international arena Building on the success of GAUC's youth cultivating activities in 2022, GAUC has upscaled its 'Climate x' Leadership Training Program by opening it to global college students and channeling the climate actions of its students to the Week. The Training Program, which features a '1+3' module to encourage its students to translate climate knowledge into tangible impacts, enrolled close to 1000 students from 74 countries and around 400 universities, 88% of which are from Global South. Within the module, '1' refers to the online coursework offered by academic experts that spans one month in July; '3' symbolizes the three hybrid events that students are required to complete from August to November. The students who demonstrate climate leadership during the Training Program will be selected as delegates of the GAUC COP28 Youth Delegation, the third such group GAUC brought to COP. By the time the official website of the Week launched, students had already organized close to 200 events in their local communities, impacting approximately 20,000 people in total. During the Week 2023, students will be organizing their third set of events, acknowledged as the youth-led contributions to the Week and will be demonstrated at COP28. Convening multi-stakeholders' support for a successful COP28 Support from multi-stakeholders is essential in preparing the next generation to be the leaders of a sustainable net-zero future. Leveraging the strength of its partners, GAUC has provided diverse resources to empower students of the Training Program, including more than 20 guest lectures and 5 field trips. "We hold firm dedication and vigorous ambitions in tackling the climate change challenge," said Alice HO, the Chief Youth Officer of GAUC. "However, it is important for us, the future climate leaders, to learn from today's leaders. We need the support from you." This December, GAUC will host a GAUC Pavilion inside the Blue Zone of COP28, which is the first time GAUC is hosting a dedicated Pavilion for its young delegates and partners. "We welcome our partners to organize their events at the GAUC pavilion. I and the GAUC Youth Delegation look forward to working together with them to contribute youth's strength to a successful COP28," Alice said. Any interested individuals and entities could go to http://www.globalyouthclimateweek.org/ to register their events to be organized during the Week and learn the latest updates regarding collaboration opportunities during COP28. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2252845/Global_Youth_Climate_Week_Opens_Official_Website_Public.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/global-youth-climate-week-opens-official-website-to-public-301962958.html The global anti-money laundering software market is experiencing growth due to a rise in online payment modes in bank transactions, the rise in adoption of internet solutions, and an increase in strict regulations and compliance with anti-money laundering. WILMINGTON, Del., Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, " Anti-Money Laundering Software Market by Component (Software and Service), Product Type (Transaction Monitoring, Currency Transaction Reporting, Customer Identity Management, and Compliance Management), Deployment (Cloud and On-Premise), and Organization Size (Large Enterprises and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022-2032". According to the report, the anti-money laundering software industry generated $2.2 billion in 2022, and is projected to reach $8.7 billion by 2032, witnessing a CAGR of 15.3% from 2023 to 2032. AML software streamlines compliance processes, including the identification and reporting of suspicious activities, resulting in time and resource savings. Additionally, it can aid in the prevention or detection of unusual behavior, reduce false positive alerts, and assist businesses in accurately reporting suspicious transactions. The fusion of cloud computing and the Internet of Things (IoT) holds the promise of yielding numerous advantages for both businesses and consumers. In the context of AML software, this technology amalgamates and deciphers various data points within transaction messages for each client, encompassing the names of the sender and receiver, to ascertain whether either is listed on any sanction's lists. Prime determinants of growth The rise in online payment modes in bank transactions, the rise in adoption of internet solutions, and an increase in strict regulations and compliance with anti-money laundering are the major factors that drive the growth of the global anti-money laundering software market. However, high initial cost and expense considerations and lack of consumer knowledge and awareness hamper market growth. Furthermore, the surge in integration of advanced technologies and the growing adoption of analytics solutions creates opportunities for semantic web market growth. Download Sample Pages: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/2903 Report coverage & details: Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2023-2032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $2.2 Billion Market Size in 2032 $8.7 Billion CAGR 15.3 % No. of Pages in Report 275 Segments covered Component, Product Type, Deployment, Organization Size and Region. Drivers The rise in online payment modes in bank transactions. The rise in adoption of internet solutions. An increase in strict regulations and compliance with anti-money laundering. Opportunities The surge in integration of advanced technologies. The growing adoption of analytics solutions. Restraints High initial cost and expense considerations. Lack of consumer knowledge and awareness. Covid-19 Scenario The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the anti-money laundering software industry. The increasing adoption of real-time solutions in business operations proliferated the demand for anti-money laundering software market. In addition, there is a rise in the need for emotion detection solutions in different industry verticals, especially the banking and finance sectors. Leveraging automation trends and the use of smart data in business solutions could lead to advanced business operations. These factors have propelled the growth of anti-money laundering software solutions among industries. Buy this Complete Report (275 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/anti-money-laundering-software-consumption-market/purchase-options The software segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period Based on component, the software segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than two-thirds of the anti-money laundering software market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. The surge in technological breakthroughs in several industries has proliferated numerous opportunities for the software segment in the market. However, the service segment is expected to portray the largest CAGR of 14.2% from 2023 to 2032 and is projected to maintain its lead position during the forecast period. As anti-money laundering software services are increasingly implemented in various industries. The customer identity management segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period Based on product type, the customer identity management segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than one-third of the anti-money laundering software market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. The increase in demand for detection of suspicious activities in multiple transactions further creates lucrative opportunities for this segment in the global market. However, the transaction monitoring segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 19.7% from 2023 to 2032. The rise in financial crime has led to a growing need for organizations to deploy AML transaction monitoring solutions for the detection of suspicious activity. It is further expected to propel global market growth. The on-premise segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period Based on deployment, the on-premise segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for nearly three-fifths of the anti-money laundering software market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. As for improving their software, several businesses started to provide more effective anti-money laundering software, further creating lucrative opportunities for the global market. However, the cloud segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 17.1% from 2023 to 2032. The rise in the integration of cost-effective and secure bank operations in various industries is further expected to propel global market growth. The large enterprises segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period Based on organization size, the large enterprises segment accounted for the largest share in 2022, contributing to around two-thirds of the anti-money laundering software market revenue and is projected to maintain its lead position during the forecast period. As anti-money laundering software is increasingly being deployed in these organizations. These factors further drive the demand for this segment in the global market. However, the small and medium-sized enterprises segment is expected to portray the largest CAGR of 18.0% from 2023 to 2032. The growth of this segment is mainly driven by the cost-efficient solutions provided by various organizations. Europe region to maintain its dominance by 2032 Based on region, the Europe segment held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, accounting for nearly two-fifths of the anti-money laundering software market revenue and is estimated to rule the roost throughout the forecast timeframe. The increasing investment of businesses and government bodies in advanced technologies such as cloud-based services, AI, ML, and IoT to improve banking and finance businesses and the customer experience are anticipated to propel the growth of the anti-money laundering software market. However, Asia-Pacific is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 18.8% from 2023 to 2032. This is attributed to the increase in penetration of digitalization and higher adoption of advanced technology are expected to provide lucrative growth opportunities for the market in this region. Enquiry Before Buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/2903 Leading Market Players: - ACI Worldwide, Inc. Ascent Technology Consulting Eastnets Holding Ltd. FICO NICE Actimize Moody Corporation LexisNexis Risk Solutions SAS Institute Inc. Thomson Reuters Corporation Verafin Inc. The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the anti-money laundering software market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different countries. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario. AVENUE- A Subscription-Based Library (Premium on-demand, subscription-based pricing model): AMR introduces its online premium subscription-based library Avenue, designed specifically to offer cost-effective, one-stop solution for enterprises, investors, and universities. With Avenue, subscribers can avail an entire repository of reports on more than 2,000 niche industries and more than 12,000 company profiles. Moreover, users can get an online access to quantitative and qualitative data in PDF and Excel formats along with analyst support, customization, and updated versions of reports. Get an access to the library of reports at any time from any device and anywhere. For more details, follow the link: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/library-access Trending Reports in ICT & Media Industry: Ambient Intelligence Market Size is Expected to Reach $185.5 Billion by 2032 Cloud Artificial Intelligence Market Size Expected to Reach $887 Billion by 2032 Facial Recognition Market Size is Expected to Reach $24.3 Billion by 2032 Password Management Market Size is Expected to Reach $15.2 Billion by 2032 Enterprise Agile Transformation Services Market Size is Expected to Reach $142 Billion by 2032 About Us Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of " Market Research Reports " and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact: United States 1209 Orange Street, Corporation Trust Center, Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware 19801 USA. Int'l: +1-503-894-6022 Toll Free: +1-800-792-5285 Fax: +1-800-792-5285 help@alliedmarketresearch.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/anti-money-laundering-software-market-to-reach-8-7-billion-by-2032-at-15-3-cagr-allied-market-research-301962992.html London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - October 20, 2023) - In a modern economy, uncertainty is the only certainty. Amplified operational costs, higher customer expectations, and accelerated digital demands only scratch the surface of the disruption that insurers must navigate. To thrive, insurers must utilize uncertainty as an opportunity to transform the entire value chain. That is why, Reuters Events will be hosting Canada's most senior insurance event, The Future of Insurance Canada 2023. Equipping attendees with the case studies and insights they need to triumph through turbulence. Find a full event breakdown on the website - speakers, sessions, networking opportunities and more! Here are some of the latest updates - Latest speakers: AVP Global Program Management, Manulife, Director Data Science and Business intelligence, Allstate Canada, Chief Underwriting Officer, APOLLO Insurance, AVP Architecture & Design, The Cooperators Recent confirmed attendance from WTW, TD Insurance, APOLLO Insurance, Markel Canada, Everest Canada, Lloyds Canada, Old Republic Insurance, Zensurance, Sun Life, Great-West Life Co and more! Full timed programme and audience profile released including newly added sessions: Keynote: How to Lead the InsurTech Revolution: Unlocking the Potential of IoT, AI and Ecosystems (Hashmat Rohian, VP & CTO- Emerging Business Models, The Co-Operators) Panel: Empower Employees to Pioneer the Future of Insurance (Elizabeth McSavaney, VP, Head of Human resource, Zurich Canada; Irene Bianchi, President & CEO, Peel Mutual Insurance Company; Luke Lichty, Head of Commercial and Speciality Insurance, Everest Insurance Company of Canada) Fireside chat: The Power of Partnerships will Drive Innovation Forward (Marc Lipman, President, Lloyds Canada) Check out the official event website here! Join us at FOICanada to create the customer-centred, growth-driven, tech-empowered insurance of tomorrow, today! Contact information Tom Robinson tom.robinson2@thomsonreuters.com Newsfile on behalf of Reuters Events To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/184144 In diesem Report stellen wir Ihnen 3 Top-Aktien aus dem Energie-Sektor vor, die Sie unbedingt auf Ihre Watchlist setzen mussen. Lassen Sie sich diese kostenlose Analyse nicht entgehen! BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - U.K. stocks traded lower on Friday amid worries over rising bond yields and the escalating Israel-Hamas conflict. Sentiment was also dented after official data showed U.K. retail sales logged a bigger-than-expected decline in September. Retail sales dropped 0.9 percent on a monthly basis, in contrast to the 0.4 percent increase in August as the cost-of-living pressures damped spending and consumer sentiment. Year-on-year, overall retail sales volume dropped at a slower pace of 1.0 percent after easing 1.3 percent in August. Elsewhere, survey results from GfK showed that rising energy costs, high mortgage and rental rates, and geopolitical risks had dampened consumer sentiment in October. The consumer confidence index unexpectedly fell to -30 from -21 in September. The score was forecast to improve to -20. The benchmark FTSE 100 was down 40 points, or half a percent, at 7,459 after declining 1.2 percent on Thursday. InterContinental Hotels tumbled 3.2 percent after the company said 'some short-term financing challenges' are holding back new hotel developments. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. SINGAPORE, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Honourable the Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon of Singapore relinquished his post as President of the ASEAN Law Association (ALA) at the 14th ALA General Assembly that was held from 19 to 21 October 2023. He was elected ALA President in July 2018 at the 13th General Assembly, and had sought to enhance the relevance of ALA within the ASEAN community and strengthen ALA's links with ASEAN. In 2019, ALA submitted four concept notes to the ASEAN Secretariat, which have, along with an updated concept note on an ASEAN protocol for communication with non-disputing states on issues of treaty interpretation, been placed before the ASEAN Senior Law Officials. These efforts, in addition to the Guidelines on Best Practices on the Enforcement of Arbitral Awards within ASEAN, reinforce ALA's role as a think-tank in key areas of interests to ASEAN. The ASEAN Secretariat has also explored a series of capacity-building programmes with ALA, including training on investor-state dispute settlement mechanisms which is slated to take place in Jakarta in 2024. Another area of focus was the formation of an ALA National Committee in the Lao PDR to complete the membership of ALA. Chief Justice Menon, who visited the President of the People's Supreme Court of Lao PDR in September 2023, had received positive feedback from his Lao counterparts which raised the possibility that the ALA membership will be complete soon. Chief Justice Menon holds the vision that the induction of young blood into ALA is key to its effectiveness and enduring utility to the ASEAN community. Two signature projects were established - Virtual Training Marketplace which matches attachments and training opportunities offered by law firms in ASEAN to young lawyers across the region; and ASEAN Moot which will become the primary outreach mechanism for ALA to introduce and expose law students to ASEAN legal instruments and legal issues. ALA, a non-governmental organisation, is a regional law association that is committed to helping promote peace and prosperity in ASEAN through legal cooperation and the advancement of the rule of law. For more information, visit https://www.judiciary.gov.sg/news-and-resources/news/news-details/ala-media-release-chief-justice-sundaresh-menon-makes-major-contributions-as-president-of-the-asean-law-association Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2252872/Chief_Justice_Menon_delivering_his_address_at_the_14th_ALA_General_Assembly_in_Kuala_Lumpur__Malaysi.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/singapores-chief-justice-menon-makes-major-contributions-as-president-of-the-asean-law-association-301963035.html Seqera to be official supplier for Alinghi Red Bull Racing team in 37th America's Cup BARCELONA, Spain, Oct. 20, 2023, the leading software provider for complex data analysis in the life sciences space, has been confirmed as the official High Performance Computing Supplier for Alinghi Red Bull Racingat the 37th America's Cup. Just as in sailing where understanding data to improve the margins can result in the biggest breakthroughs, Seqera's software empowers scientists to optimize their research processes and accelerate scientific innovation. After being the first European team to win the America's Cup in 2003, Alinghi joined forces with Red Bull in 2022 to create a new team setting out to win the 37th America's Cup. Known for its development of cutting-edge technology and high-performance culture, Alinghi Red Bull Racing strives to use insights and data analytics through innovations that can make all the difference when it comes to sailing. As the official High Performance Computing Supplier, Seqera will be supporting Alinghi Red Bull Racing team to make data analysis and decision making easier and more effective. Silvio Arrivabene, co-general Manager Alinghi Red Bull Racing, comments: "We are delighted to have Seqera join us as suppliers in our America's Cup campaign. With the amount of data handling required in modern America's Cup campaigns, a world of class infrastructure is paramount, which makes Seqera a natural fit for our team." Evan Floden, Founder and CEO of Seqera Labs, comments: "We are long time admirers of the approach that Alinghi Red Bull Racing takes to sailing. This admiration comes from a sense of shared values and a willingness to prioritise technology and performance to drive innovation. When Alinghi and Red Bull combined forces, it was exciting to see the parallels between F1 and sailing technology which are being applied to gain maximum performance from the boats used. Likewise, the work that we do at Seqera helpsengineers and scientists drive innovation - and these advances all come down to understanding data and consolidating computing infrastructure. We're delighted to come aboard the Alinghi Red Bull Racing team and look forward to working with a team that is as passionate about data and technology as we are." About Seqera Seqera makes complex data analysis accessible at any scale by providing the tools to drive innovation in genomics, global health, and beyond. The company provides software for scientists solving today's most complex and important challenges from pioneering innovative therapeutics to unveiling the secrets of our universe. The journey began a decade ago with Nextflow - open software that helps over 100,000 global scientists analyze and process data, with more power and flexibility than ever before. Today, Seqera consolidates fragmented data and diverse computing resources into a unified platform. Their modern biotech stack is trusted by 150 leading life sciences organizations including AstraZeneca, Roche, and Johnson & Johnson. Empowered with modern software engineering, organizations conduct science faster, on larger datasets, and with more confidence. Seqera accelerates discoveries in an open world. About Alinghi Red Bull After over a decade away from the Cup, Alinghi, one of the most dynamic names in the history of the America's Cup, is returning to battle for sailing's highest honour. The consecutive-winning syndicate joins forces with Red Bull, the driving force in global sport, to create a new team: Alinghi Red Bull Racing. The team sails under the flag of the Societe Nautique de Geneve and is accompanied by its main partner Swiss watch brand TUDOR and co-partner Prysmian Group . The official Swiss challenger will compete in the Selection Series for the 37th America's Cup, in 2024 in Barcelona. The countdown has begun! Media Contact Emily Owen +447807486108 seqera@diffusionpr.com BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - The British pound weakened against other major currencies in the European session on Friday, as European shares traded lower amid worries over rising bond yields and the escalating Israel-Hamas conflict. Sentiment was also dented after official data showed U.K. retail sales logged a bigger-than-expected decline in September. Retail sales dropped 0.9 percent on a monthly basis, in contrast to the 0.4 percent increase in August as the cost-of-living pressures damped spending and consumer sentiment. Year-on-year, overall retail sales volume dropped at a slower pace of 1.0 percent after easing 1.3 percent in August. Elsewhere, survey results from GfK showed that rising energy costs, high mortgage and rental rates, and geopolitical risks had dampened consumer sentiment in October. The consumer confidence index unexpectedly fell to -30 from -21 in September. The score was forecast to improve to -20. In the European trading today, the pound fell to nearly a 6-month low of 0.8740 against the euro and more than a 1-year low of 1.0782 against the Swiss franc, from early highs of 0.8705 and 1.0836, respectively. If the pound extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 0.88 against the euro and 1.06 against the franc. Against the U.S. dollar and the yen, the pound edged down to 1.2093 and 181.27 from early highs of 1.2146 and 181.96, respectively. On the downside, 1.18 against the greenback and 177.00 against the yen.are seen as the next support levels for the pound. Looking ahead, Canada retail sales data for August and U.S. Baker Hughes oil rig count data are slated for release in the New York session. At 8:30 am ET, ECB board member Elizabeth McCaul is scheduled to deliver a speech at the conference 'SSM Regulation, ten years since', in Rome, Italy. Half-an-hour later, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President Patrick Harker will speak on the economic outlook before the Risk Management Association Philadelphia Chapter Meeting, in Philadelphia, in U.S. At 12:15 pm ET, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Loretta Mester will deliver a speech on 'The Outlook for the Economy and Monetary Policy' before the SOMC Fall Meeting: 'Have We Dodged the Bullets?', in New York, U.S. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Die Top 3 Dividendenaktien 2024 In diesem Report stellen wir Ihnen 3 Top-Aktien aus dem Energie-Sektor vor, die Sie unbedingt auf Ihre Watchlist setzen mussen. Lassen Sie sich diese kostenlose Analyse nicht entgehen! Hier klicken In diesem Report stellen wir Ihnen 3 Top-Aktien aus dem Energie-Sektor vor, die Sie unbedingt auf Ihre Watchlist setzen mussen. Lassen Sie sich diese kostenlose Analyse nicht entgehen! WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Oil prices were up over 1 percent on Friday and were on track for a second weekly gain after the U.S. announced plans to replenish its strategic petroleum reserves. Investors also fear that a wider conflict in the Middle east could disrupt supplies of some oil, since neighboring Iran and Saudi Arabia are major global producers. Benchmark Brent crude futures rallied 1.2 percent to $93.50 a barrel, while WTI crude futures were up 1.3 percent at $89.55. The U.S. Department of Energy indicated that it would buy 6 million barrels of crude oil, to be delivered between December this year and January 2024. The last time the Biden administration announced purchase intentions for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve was in July. Meanwhile, hopes of a de-escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict following President Biden's visit to the Middle East are fading. The U.S. State Department issued a worldwide caution alert citing the 'potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests.' On the 14th day of the Israel-Hamas conflict, Israel's defense minister has asked the country's military to prepare for potential entry into the Gaza Strip with the aim of dismantling the Palestinian militant group. U.S. President Joe Biden said that he can't let terrorists like 'Hamas' and tyrants like 'Putin' win. The United States has vetoed a UN-led ceasefire in the Middle East war. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. First readout of two-year data from long-term extension study 43rd Annual Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference Almirall S.A. (BME:ALM a global biopharmaceutical company focused on medical dermatology, today announced results from the long-term extension study ADjoin which showed patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis who continued treatment with investigational lebrikizumab for up to two years experienced sustained skin clearance, itch relief and reduced disease severity with monthly maintenance dosing. Results from ADjoin will be presented at the 43rd Annual Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference happening from 19th-22nd October in Las Vegas, Nevada.1 "These results from the ADjoin study provide new hope for patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. The fact that the monthly maintenance dose of lebrikizumab can help nearly 80% of individuals maintain clear or almost clear skin for two years is truly promising. This breakthrough not only provides a potential long-term solution for patients, but also relief from the distressing symptoms they suffer from. It is a significant step forward in improving the lives and overall wellbeing of people living with this challenging disease despite the use of topical therapies," said Prof. Dr. med. Diamant Thaci, Prof. Dr. med. Diamant Thaci, Director at the Institute and Comprehensive Centre for Inflammation Medicine, in Lubeck, Germany. Lebrikizumab is an interleukin-13 (IL-13) inhibitor that specifically blocks IL-13 signaling.2,3,4 The cytokine IL-13 is key in atopic dermatitis, driving the type-2 inflammatory loop in the skin, leading to skin barrier dysfunction, itch, skin thickening and infection.5,6 ADjoin is the two-year extension of the lebrikizumab monotherapy trials ADvocate 1 and ADvocate 2 and ADhere, the combination trial with topical corticosteroids. Patients taking lebrikizumab who achieved IGA 0,1 or EASI-75 at 16 weeks in ADvocate 1 and 2 and ADhere were enrolled in ADjoin. Patients in the long-term extension trial received either lebrikizumab 250 mg every two weeks or monthly.1 In ADjoin, lebrikizumab provided durable efficacy in skin and itch outcomes through two years of treatment with both monthly and two-week dosing.1 Efficacy Outcomes of Patients Entering Long-Term Extension Trial ADjoin Outcome, % ADvocate 1&2 -> ADjoin ADhere -> ADjoin Monthly (Q4W) LEBRI 250 mg (N=99) Every two weeks (Q2W) LEBRI 250 mg (N=82) Monthly (Q4W) LEBRI 250 mg (N=29) Every two weeks (Q2W) LEBRI 250 mg (N=57) IGA (0,1) 76 86 79 84 EASI 75 96? 96 96 95 EASI 90 83? 82 72 85 Pruritus NRS (Itch) 4-point improvement? 90? 100 90* 82* Data through 68 weeks for Pruritus NRS =4-point improvement for ADhere -> ADjoin study; data through 104 weeks for all other outcomes EASI=Eczema Area and Severity Index; EASI 75=at least 75% improvement from baseline in EASI; EASI 90=at least 90% improvement from baseline in EASI; IGA=Investigator's Global Assessment; IGA (0,1)=IGA response of clear or almost clear; NRS=numeric rating scale; Q2W=every 2 weeks; Q4W=every 4 weeks (monthly) The safety profile of lebrikizumab in ADjoin was consistent with previous lebrikizumab studies in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, and no new safety signals were observed up to two years of treatment. In ADjoin, 62 percent of patients reported adverse events (AEs), most of which were mild or moderate in severity. The most common side effects of lebrikizumab were conjunctivitis, injection site reactions and shingles (herpes zoster). Less than three percent of patients experienced AEs leading to treatment discontinuation.1 "The two-year data from the ADjoin study further validate the promising efficacy and safety profile of lebrikizumab in people with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. These results demonstrate that monthly maintenance dosing of lebrikizumab provides long-lasting relief from the distressing symptoms of this chronic disease, bringing us one step closer to offering a first-line biologic treatment option," said Karl Ziegelbauer, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer at Almirall. The two-year long-term extension data build on the positive one-year results previously published in British Journal of Dermatologyas well as the 16-week monotherapy data published in The New England Journal of Medicine. An additional 18 abstracts related to the lebrikizumab development program are being presented at the Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference that further explore key topics affecting patients with atopic dermatitis including key learnings from an exploratory analysis on lebrikizumab speed of response, itch-free days and stability of itch. "Results from ADjoin reinforce the strong efficacy and safety profile of lebrikizumab seen in the other Phase 3 atopic dermatitis trials. These data also further our understanding of the long-lasting benefits of lebrikizumab as a potential first-line biologic treatment for patients," said Lotus Mallbris, M.D., Ph.D., senior vice president of global immunology development and medical affairs at Eli Lilly and Company. Almirall has licensed the rights to develop and commercialize lebrikizumab for the treatment of dermatology indications, including AD, in Europe. Lilly has exclusive rights for development and commercialization of lebrikizumab in the U.S. and the rest of the world outside Europe. About ADjoin ADjoin (NCT04392154) evaluated the efficacy and safety of lebrikizumab treatment for two years. Patients taking lebrikizumab who achieved IGA 0,1 or EASI-75 at 16 weeks in ADvocate 1 and 2 and ADhere were enrolled in ADjoin. Patients in the long-term extension trial received either lebrikizumab 250-mg every two weeks or monthly.1 About lebrikizumab and Clinical Development Program Lebrikizumab is an investigational, monoclonal antibody that binds IL-13 to specifically prevent the formation of the IL-13Ra1/IL-4Ra heterodimer complex and subsequent signaling, thereby inhibiting the biological effects of IL-13.2-4 The cytokine IL-13 is key in atopic dermatitis, driving the type-2 inflammatory loop in the skin, leading to skin barrier dysfunction, itch, skin thickening and infection.5,6 The lebrikizumab phase III program consists of five key global studies evaluating over 1,300 patients, including two monotherapy studies (ADvocate 1 and 2), a combination study with topical corticosteroids (ADhere), as well as long-term extension (ADjoin) and adolescent open label (ADore) studies. About Almirall Almirall is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on medical dermatology. We collaborate with scientists and healthcare professionals to address patients' needs through science to improve their lives. Our Noble Purpose is at the core of our work: "Transform the patients' world by helping them realize their hopes and dreams for a healthy life". We invest in differentiated and ground-breaking medical dermatology products to bring our innovative solutions to patients in need. The company, founded in 1944 and headquartered in Barcelona, is publicly traded on the Spanish Stock Exchange (ticker: ALM). Throughout its 79-year history, Almirall has focused intensely on patients' needs. Almirall has a direct presence in 21 countries and strategic agreements in over 70, with about 1,800 employees. Total revenue in 2022 was 878.5MM. For more information, please visit www.almirall.com. Legal warning This document includes only summary information and is not intended to be exhaustive. The facts, figures and opinions contained in this document, in addition to the historical ones, are "forward-looking statements". These statements are based on the information currently available and the best estimates and assumptions that the company considers reasonable. These statements involve risks and uncertainties beyond the control of the company. Therefore, actual results may differ materially from those declared by such forward-looking statements. The company expressly waives any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, goals or estimates contained in this document to reflect any changes in the assumptions, events or circumstances on which such forward-looking statements are based, unless required by the applicable law. _________________ 1 Guttman-Yassky E, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Lebrikizumab Is Maintained to Two Years in Patients With Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis?. 2023 Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference. 20 October, 2023. 2 Simpson EL, et al. Efficacy and safety of lebrikizumab (an anti-IL-13 monoclonal antibody) in adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis inadequately controlled by topical corticosteroids: A randomized, placebo-controlled phase II trial (TREBLE). J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018;78(5):863-871.e11. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2018.01.017. 3 Okragly A, et al. Binding, Neutralization and Internalization of the Interleukin-13 Antibody, Lebrikizumab. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2023;13(7):1535-1547. doi:10.1007/s13555-023-00947-7. 4 Ultsch M, et al. Structural basis of signaling blockade by anti-IL-13 antibody Lebrikizumab. J Mol Biol. 2013;425(8):1330-1339. doi:10.1016/j.jmb.2013.01.024. 5 Bieber T. Interleukin-13: Targeting an underestimated cytokine in atopic dermatitis. Allergy. 2020;75(1):54-62. doi:10.1111/all.13954 6 Tsoi LC, et al. Atopic Dermatitis Is an IL-13-Dominant Disease with Greater Molecular Heterogeneity Compared to Psoriasis. J Invest Dermatol. 2019;139(7):1480-1489. doi:10.1016/j.jid.2018.12.018. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020839392/en/ Contacts: Media contact Almirall Tinkle Laura Blazquez lblazquez@tinkle.es Phone: (+34) 600 430 581 Investors' Relations contact Almirall Pablo Divasson del Fraile pablo.divasson@almirall.com Phone: (+34) 93 291 3087 Corporate Communications contact Almirall Mar Ramirez mar.ramirez@almirall.com Phone: (+34) 659 614 173 Busan Biennale Organizing Committee Busan Biennale Organizing Committee: Under the theme 'Flickering Shores, Sea Imaginaries', Sea Art Festival in Busan runs until November 19 20-Oct-2023 / 13:00 CET/CEST The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. BUSAN, SOUTH KOREA - Media OutReach - 20 October 2023 - Organized by the Busan Biennale Organizing Committee, Sea Art Festival is one of the most seminal and accessible outdoor art exhibitions in South Korea. The festival celebrates Busan's coastline as a source of inspiration, and is held at Ilgwang Beach and nearby indoor venues between October 14 and November 19, 2023. The festival opens to the public for free. Yasuaki Onishi, Layer of Boundary at Sea Art Festival 2023 It aims to explore the roles of coastal cities and communities as an interconnected global network and considers the sea's recovery and the potential therein. Through various mediums, such as sculpture, installation, video, and two-dimensional art, the participating artists invite viewers to imagine shared values and actions for an alternative future of coastal communities. UK-based Greek curator, Irini Papadimitriou, leads this year's edition as Artistic Director. Under the title "Flickering Shores, Sea Imaginaries", the festival attempts to look at the reality of our relationship with the sea in a new way, while generating inclusive, creative, and innovative ideas rooted in symbiosis and collectiveness. In essence, this exhibition allows visitors to reimagine our relationship with the ocean, its species, and its environment through arts and culture. It features 31 teams (43 people) from 20 countries, including artists Yang Jazoo, Muhannad Shono, Ari Bayuaji, Kim Doki, Jang Seungwook, and more. The Sea Art Festival Lab is a space for research and creative work on explorations of the sea, art, and science, and linking art and cultural institutions with the marine ecosystem. Papadimitriou explains, "Art is a great force for changing our attitudes and perspectives. Our hope here is to connect fields such as art, research, industry, and marine science in order to open up new possibilities." In addition to the exhibition, a manifesto project, academic symposium, and public programs led by participating artists will also be held. The manifesto project invites experts across different fields, including Korean and international oceanographers, scientists, artists and environmentalists, to gather to write a manifesto, starting with a common framework for restoring sustainable relationships between marine communities. The manifesto will be used as a design element for the indoor exhibition venue to reflect the themes and message of the festival, which artists have incorporated into their artworks. Media Contact Renee Chan renee@suttoncomms.com Dissemination of a CORPORATE NEWS, transmitted by EQS Group. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 20, 2023 / Rush Rare Metals Corp. ("Rush" or the "Company") (CSE:RSH) is pleased to announce that it has signed a property option agreement dated as of October 18, 2023 (the "Option Agreement") with Myriad Uranium Corp. ("Myriad") pursuant to which Myriad has the option (the "Option") to earn up to a 75% interest in and to Rush's Copper Mountain Project (the "Property"), comprised of 110 mineral claims in the State of Wyoming covering approximately 1,911 acres. The Option Agreement replaces the binding letter of intent between the parties, as previously announced (see Myriad's news release dated September 18, 2023). Peter Smith, the Rush CEO, commented, "we are very excited to have Myriad step in and earn an interest in Copper Mountain, which we view as one of the world's best kept secrets in uranium exploration. Copper Mountain benefitted from an enormous amount of work prior to 1980, before the Three Mile Island incident and when the USA was a global leader in uranium production. Perhaps most intriguing is that all this work occurred before the digital age, and so most results from that time are in paper form, stored at various locations and just waiting to be discovered. We have managed to locate a number of these historical records, with much more expected to be uncovered, and I expect Myriad will be reporting on all this in due course. The bottom line is that there are multiple known uranium occurrences at Copper Mountain, with as many as 2000 historical drill holes in the area and multiple reports summarizing the uranium potential there. Rush will maintain a significant interest in the project while it is advanced by Myriad, who has an excellent uranium team, led by Thomas Lamb, Myriad's CEO, and George Van Der Walt of the MSA Group. Meanwhile, we will continue to develop our niobium prospect in Quebec, the Boxi property, which was the subject of our latest press release dated October 16th, a link to which is provided below." Rush Rare Metals Press Release, October 16. Under the Option Agreement, Myriad has the option to acquire an initial 50% interest in the Property by: (1) making an initial cash payment of $100,000 to Rush and issuing 576,209 common shares of Myriad (each, a "Share") to Rush on the date of execution (the "Effective Date") of the Agreement; (2) making an additional cash payment of $35,000 to Rush on the date which is 90 days from the Effective Date; (3) issuing an additional $150,000 worth of Shares to Rush on the date which is one year from the Effective Date; (4) issuing an additional $250,000 worth of Shares to Rush on the date which is two years from the Effective Date; and (5) within two years of the Effective Date, making expenditures of no less than $1,500,000 on the Property. On successfully earning a 50% interest in the Property, Myriad will have the option to acquire an additional 25% interest (for a total interest of 75%) in the Property by making additional expenditures of no less than $4,000,000 (for total expenditures of no less than $5,500,000) on the Property within four years of the Effective Date. In addition, upon completion of a Preliminary Economic Assessment or Prefeasibility Study respecting the Property, Myriad shall be obligated to issue an additional $2,500,000 worth of Shares to Rush. Upon Myriad successfully earning a 50% or 75% interest in and to the Property, as the case may be, the parties will form a joint venture for the purposes of the continued exploration, development and exploitation of the Property and will negotiate, execute and deliver a joint venture agreement which shall include such terms and conditions normally provided for in commercial transactions of such nature that are mutually acceptable to the parties including without limitation: (i) the operator of the joint venture from time to time; (ii) Myriad's potential right to earn an additional 25% interest (for a total interest of 100%) in and to the Property at fair market value; and (iii) a 50% net profit interest held by Rush on the initial $50,000,000 in net profits from the Property, following commencement of commercial production. Any Shares issued under the Agreement will be subject to a four month hold period under applicable securities laws. The Shares issued as of the Effective Date are subject to a four month hold period expiring February 20, 2024. The value of any Shares issued under the Agreement following the Effective Date will be the value weighted average trading price of the Shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange (or such other Canadian stock exchange on which the Shares are trading at the applicable time) for the 10 trading days preceding the date on which such Shares are issued. About Rush Rare Metals Corp. Rush Rare Metals Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on its Boxi Property located in the Province of Quebec, Canada. Rush also owns the Copper Mountain Project located in Wyoming, USA, which it has optioned via an earn-in agreement to Myriad Uranium Corp. as above. For further information, please refer to Rush's disclosure record on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) or contact Rush by email at psmith@rushraremetals.com or by telephone at 778.999.7030, or refer to Rush's website at www.rushraremetals.com. Rush Contacts: Peter Smith Chief Executive Officer psmith@rushraremetals.com ### Mineralization hosted on adjacent or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted on the Company's properties. Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements, including with respect to future plans, and other matters. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including but not limited to, business, economic and capital market conditions, the ability to manage operating expenses, and dependence on key personnel. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, anticipated costs, and the ability to achieve goals. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, the continued availability of capital and financing, litigation, loss of key employees and consultants, and general economic, market or business conditions. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this news release. SOURCE: Rush Rare Metals Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/794896/rush-rare-metals-executes-definitive-option-agreement-respecting-copper-mountain-project-in-wyoming-usa The first day of the joint meeting also included discussion on harnessing the powers of artificial intelligence, hosted in partnership with the Centre Scientifique de Monaco (CSM, a GVN Affiliate), the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco, and the Princely Government of Monaco, began yesterday with a scientific session on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) as a preview to the day's principal focus: discussions about advancing pandemic preparedness and response in Europe and other regions of the world with discussions led by the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, among other dignitaries including from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the GVN. Participants from Belgium, Denmark, France, Monaco, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, and the United States of America spoke specifically about collaborative pathogen surveillance, the development of broad-spectrum antivirals for outbreak preparedness, and the roles of big data, citizen science, wastewater monitoring, and using artificial intelligence (AI) in advancing research predictions and preserving precious resources. H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco said, "I am delighted to support and attend this symposium to improve pandemic preparedness here in Monaco and abroad. We have a duty to remain vigilant, strengthen global governance, and strengthen infrastructure and healthcare systems. Through the support of the Global Virus Network and Dr. Linfa Wang of Singapore, Monaco-during the COVID pandemic-was able to carry out tests to identify neutralizing antibodies and advise those with a higher risk towards COVID infection, while enabling us to strengthen our vaccine campaign." Another global challenge important to H.S.H. Prince Albert II is climate change, which also has significant public health consequences. He continued, "Climate change knows no borders, and it is not only felt by those of us in Monaco, but the world over, impacting public health. Monaco advocates a One Health approach. Scientific knowledge will help us be better prepared. Responses must be collective and result in everyone working closely together. Public health transcends borders and belongs to a common community. We need solutions to build a more resilient and sustainable world." His All Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew, who has been a catalyst for an inter-disciplinary response to climate change, gathering a wide array of experts including political leaders, economists, theorists, journalists, academics, and celebrities to converse and protect the world for future generations, said, "It would be tragic to leave behind a world more tragic than we received it. Only we can do it-make the change-but we need to do so in unity. Environmental issues are dependent on numerous other social challenges of our time. The way we treat the world around us inevitably impacts how we treat those around us. It is reprehensible to witness Russia and Russian Orthodox Church's support of inconceivable and irreparable human and environmental damage on Ukraine. We condemn this war. If we care about God's creation, we cannot be indifferent to what is occurring in Ukraine, in addition to the loss of lives and infrastructure in the Middle East, as we as human beings are unable to compromise and come together." Dr. Robert Pebody of WHO Europe in Denmark emphasized the need for "collaborative data collection, analyses and information sharing to inform better decision making and action, save lives and save economies." Further he emphasized the need for improved "biosecurity, genomics, early event detection and systems in place to rapidly assess those threats and how they affect human health." Dr. Linfa Wang of Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore said, "Serological profiling shows us that spillover happens frequently, even in countries with no bats as people travel to and from countries. Spillover happens all the time, and in different parts of the world. The threat is there. A key lesson from the recent pandemic is that international collaborations and networking is a must. With SARS-CoV-2, it was very frustrating to not be able to advance critical science to solve the problem due to politics interfering in the process. The Global Virus Network is integral in enhancing these scientific networking and collaborative opportunities." Dr. Johan Neyts of the Rega Institute for Medical Research, University of Leuven-Belgium, said, "In the context of epidemic and pandemic preparedness the world needs, what I call 'pan-family antiviral drugs.' There are numerous families of viruses that have epidemic and pandemic potential, so we have an opportunity to work collaboratively and be prepared with cutting-edge, universal drug therapies. Vaccines take time to develop, and in some cases such as HIV due to the nature of its retrovirus class, are more scientifically challenging to develop." The session "Harnessing AI to Transform Pandemic Preparedness" uncovered progress and perspectives on the application of AI to virus surveillance programs. While currently available AI is still a relatively blunt instrument, it can be trained to effectively identify clusters of infections and variants of concerns, and serve as a rapid tool to assist public health researchers and officials. Dr. John Lee of the European Bioinformatics Institute in the United Kingdom highlighted AI's contributions in expediently advancing experiments by analyzing enormous amounts of data to predict mutations and observing how it affects protein structures and the likelihood of the virus escaping a vaccine. Dr. Lee said, "While AI can synthesize a vast amount of information, we still need to be careful that the information is summarized correctly." Dr. Marcel Salathe of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, Switzerland advises the group of researchers and thought leaders in the audience, "You don't want to miss the AI train." He continued that AI does not inherently infringe on privacy rights, and that data collection can be utilized in a centralized or decentralized structure, noting that there were no security breaches from a decentralized model. Studies showed that phone apps tracking COVID cases and notifying those with exposure, significantly impacted hospitalization and death rates. Dr. Richard Scheuermannn of the National Library of Medicine at the U.S. National Institutes of Health, said, "We can use AI to predict those who are more at risk and intervene early and save lives by mitigating disease progression." For the full three-day agenda of the GVN Annual Scientific Meeting in Monaco, visit: https://gvn.org/gvn-2023-monaco/ About the Global Virus Network (GVN) The GVN is essential and critical in the preparedness, defense, and first research response to emerging, existing, and unidentified viruses that pose a clear and present threat to public health. Working in close coordination with established national and international institutions, the GVN is a coalition comprised of eminent human and animal virologists from 71 Centers of Excellence and 9 Affiliates in 40 countries, working collaboratively to train the next generation, advance knowledge about how to identify and diagnose pandemic viruses, mitigate and control how such viruses spread and make us sick, as well as develop drugs, vaccines, and treatments to combat them. No single institution in the world has expertise in all viral areas other than the GVN, which brings together the finest medical virologists to leverage their individual expertise and coalesce global teams of specialists on the scientific challenges, issues, and problems posed by pandemic viruses. The GVN is a non-profit 501. Follow us on X at @GlobalVirusNews. Media Contact: Nora Samaranayake +1-443-823-0613 or nsamaranayake@gvn.org BISMARCK, ND / ACCESSWIRE / October 20, 2023 / Trent Loos, Andrew Henderson, and Jim Ferguson, hosts of the popular international "Across the Pond" talk show on BEK TV, have announced a tour in the United States. The "Regaining Control for the Farmer Tour" will serve as an opportunity to connect with Americans and engage in candid dialogues about their top concerns. BEK TV Logo BEK TV Logo The schedule is as follows: Oct. 22 - Quincy, Illinois - Agricultural Education Center, John Wood Community College - 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 23 - Avalon, Wisconsin - Rock Prairie Dairy - 4 p.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 24 - Slayton, Minnesota - Key Largo Restaurant & Bar - 4 p.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 25 - Aberdeen, South Dakota - Brown County Fairgrounds - 4 p.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 26 - McKenzie, North Dakota - Black Leg Ranch - 4 p.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 27 - Broken Bow, Nebraska - Custer County Fairgrounds - 4 p.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 28 - Brush, Colorado - High Plains Cattle Supply - 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The "Regaining Control for the Farmer Tour" serves as a platform for Americans to engage in raw, unfiltered conversations about the issues that matter most to them. Whether it's the future of agriculture, local economic challenges or broader national concerns, Loos and Henderson will delve into meaningful discussions with attendees, fostering a bridge of understanding and shared experiences. "Our main objective with this tour is to offer genuine support and provide a platform for the often-underrepresented farming communities," says Trent Loos, co-host of "Across the Pond" on BEK TV. "By facilitating dialogues on challenges and potential solutions, farmers can begin to regain control and chart a promising path forward in their endeavors." Tickets are not needed to attend. A free-will donation is encouraged to help with the expenses. Those not able to attend in person will be able to listen to each tour stop on Rural Route Radio the following day at 4:30 p.m. CT. Rural Route Radio can be found on several streaming networks, including Spotify. Likewise, the tour stop in North Dakota on Oct. 26 will be broadcast live on BEK TV. Those not able to attend in person also can watch live online or later in the archives. For more information, visit https://bekbuzz.com/post/across-the-pond-hosts-embark-on-u-s-tour-to-help-farmers-regain-control. Contact Information Julie Skaret BEK Media Relations bekbuzz@bekbuzz.com 1.701-475-1318 SOURCE: BEK TV View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/794452/bek-tvs-across-the-pond-hosts-announce-us-tour-to-help-farmers-regain-control Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 20, 2023) - Bear Creek Mining Corporation (TSXV: BCM) (OTCQX: BCEKF) (BVL: BCM) ("Bear Creek" or the "Company") announces it produced 9,158 ounces of gold and 34,929 ounces of silver from the Mercedes Mine ("Mercedes") during the three months ended September 30, 2023 ("Q3 2023"). Eric Caba, President and CEO of Bear Creek, states, "Mercedes did not achieve the level of gold production that we had anticipated for Q3 2023. While the efforts we have made at Mercedes to increase development, decrease costs, eliminate operating inefficiencies, and improve staffing have been largely successful, it is taking longer than anticipated for these measures to be reflected in production. As a result, we are revising our gold production guidance for 2023 to 39,000 - 45,000 ounces. We are taking additional action to identify and overcome remaining barriers and are compressing our response time as we continue to work to further increase underground development, improve processing grades and reduce dilution. We are also making progress assembling a skilled team that shares our focus on Mercedes' profitability. We believe Mercedes has the elements necessary to improve annual production, discover additional mineralization, lower costs and contribute significant free cash flow and we are working relentlessly to provide sufficient bandwidth, both operationally and financially, to make these improvements come to fruition." Production and development results for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 are as follows: Q3 2023 Q2 2023 Q1 2023 Ore Mined (tonnes) 123,505 121,490 133,621 Ore Processed (tonnes) 125,208 125,135 134,487 Gold recovery (%) 94.03 94.54 95.56 Gold grade processed (gpt) 2.42 2.41 2.91 Gold ounces produced 9,158 9,199 12,025 Silver ounces produced (1) 34,929 39,841 40,105 Gold ounces sold (2) 6,298 6,458 9,304 Gold ounces streamed (3) 2,720 3,063 3,182 Development (meters) 1,791 1,353 1,044 (1) Silver production was delivered under a pre-existing streaming obligation that concluded on September 27, 2023. (2) Gold ounces sold at market prices. (3) Gold ounces sold at contracted gold stream prices. The pace of development at Mercedes continues to accelerate as we prepare the Marianas deposit and associated infrastructure to support increased mine production. While the San Martin mine plan is being reliably executed, limitations on equipment and infrastructure kept the pace of increases in tonnage slower than expected through much of the quarter. However, tonnage produced from San Martin is now approaching 600 of the planned 800 tonnes per day, and the grade of material being mined is increasing as mining faces drive into the heart of this deposit. This trend toward higher production from San Martin is expected to increase as infrastructure continues to be developed and San Martin is expected to be a significant contributor to production during Q4 2023. Delineation drilling at the Marianas deposit during 2023 has resulted in the discovery of a number of new high-grade veins and the intersection of zones of intense structural complexity, including hydrothermal breccias that contain gold mineralization at significantly higher grades than the current reserve grade, including up to 62.6 g/t gold over 5.2 m true width (see Bear Creek news releases dated February 22 and August 30, 2023). This style of mineralization is presenting both opportunities and challenges. The higher grades and structural complexity may point to a closer proximity to the source structures of mineralization in the Mercedes district and bode well for future exploration potential, however, the intense structural complexity also creates complications with respect to ground control and it is proving difficult to control dilution using the sub-level caving mining method at Marianas. As a result, the gold grade per tonne of ore mined from Marianas has been lower than planned during Q3 2023. The Company is continuing to evaluate this methodology and how best to extract the Marianas mineralization to optimize the gold grade and maximize production. Bear Creek has recently entered into restructuring agreements with Equinox Gold Corp. and Sandstorm Gold Ltd. to refinance and extend the maturity date of near term debt and to significantly reduce the number of gold and silver ounces payable monthly under Mercedes' stream obligations. These agreements will improve the Company's financial condition and generate additional cash flow, which along with funds raised in the Company's recent equity financing, will allow the Company to re-invest in the near- and long-term success of Mercedes. Specifically, Bear Creek will deploy funds on underground and surface exploration to increase the density of delineation drilling at the Marianas and Rey de Oro deposits and to further test brownfield and greenfield exploration targets where low angle, listric/detachment faults intersect the near-vertical veins that dominate the Mercedes district. These structural intersections are important as they provide the structural preparation for bulkier orebodies and the initial focus of this planned surface exploration will be the northern extensions of the Mercedes vein trend, which is open to for 4.5 km to the northwest of the Marianas deposit. Details regarding the debt and stream restructuring agreements and the equity financing are available in the Company's news releases dated May 29, July 5, September 2, September 28, and October 5, 2023. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Eric Caba President and Chief Executive Officer For further information contact: Barbara Henderson - VP Corporate Communications Direct: 604-628-1111 E-mail: barb@bearcreekmining.com www.bearcreekmining.com Subscribe to Bear Creek Mining news NI 43-101 Disclosure Scientific and technical information in this news release is based on work programs and initiatives conducted under the supervision of, and/or has been reviewed and approved by, Andrew Swarthout, AIPG Certified Professional Geologist, a director of the Company who is a Qualified Person ("QP") as defined in NI 43-101. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding: actions being taken to improve development progress and processing grades, reduce dilution, reduce operating costs, discover additional mineralization and attract personnel at the Mercedes mine; anticipated 2023 production from the Mercedes mine; expectations regarding trends in the pace of development advances; anticipated increases in tonnage mined and mill feed grade in the remainder of 2023; the technical and geological appropriateness of various mining methodologies; the Company's evolving understanding of controls on gold mineralization at various deposits in the Mercedes property; the intended use of cash resources on exploration drilling and the intended targets of these exploration programs; and the effects of the debt and stream restructuring agreements on the Company's financial condition and future cash flow potential. These forward-looking statements are provided as of the date of this news release and reflect predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events based on the Company's expectations at the time the statements were made, as well as various assumptions made by and information currently available to them. In making the forward-looking statements included in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to assumptions related to the Company's planned development and operating activities, business objectives, goals and capabilities, financial resources and liquidity, assumptions related to gold and silver prices, and the expectation that anticipated development and operating results will not differ materially from expectations. On June 30, 2023 the Company had a working capital deficiency of US$57.5 million. There is no guarantee that sufficient funds will be available to meet the Company's financial obligations and the Company may be required to raise funds through the issuance of equity or by other means. There can be no assurances that such funding will be available, and if so, under acceptable terms and conditions. Although management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and the risk exists that estimates, forecasts, projections, and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved or that assumptions on which they are based do not reflect future experience. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the expectations expressed in them. These risk factors may be generally stated as the risk that the assumptions expressed above do not occur, but may include additional risks as described in the Company's latest Annual Information Form, and other disclosure documents filed by the Company on SEDAR+. The foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. Investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by the Company or on behalf of the Company, except as required by law. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/184601 Attendees at 19th annual CCH Connections User Conference to experience how AI-powered tools are enabling tax, accounting and audit professionals to elevate their services Wolters Kluwer Tax Accounting (TAA) will host a conference session, titled Welcome to the Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Empowered Firm Experience, for 1,300 tax, accounting and audit professionals as they gather for Wolters Kluwer's 19th annual CCH Connections: User Conference, beginning on October 22, 2023. Attendees will be given exclusive access to attend an eye-opening session that delves into the remarkable ways AI is reshaping the landscape of tax and accounting firms. The session will showcase real-world examples of the transformative power of artificial intelligence in revolutionizing traditional best practices and amplifying the value firms deliver to clients. The AI Technology Showcase session will introduce the current state of AI within the tax and accounting profession, highlighting solutions such as CCH Axcess, offered by Wolters Kluwer TAA Attendees of the session will also participate in five hands-on breakout groups, exploring the possibilities of using generative AI: AI-Enabled Global Search: Allowing users to create reports, summarize research, prepare personalized client letters, all from a natural-language search bar. Firm Guidance: Leveraging AI to provide insights and recommendations for improving client relationships, staff assignments, based on your firm's data and industry standards. Client Relationship Assistance: Providing more insightful and attentive client services, while spending less time managing accounts and correspondence using the power of AI. Firm Client Scorecards: AI-enabled dashboards which enable the "rating" affirms and clients across strategic KPIs, enabling informed decision making. AI-Powered Benchmarking: Improving profitability with up-to-the-minute reporting and recommendations from your firm's data and anonymized data from similar firms. "We are pleased to be able to provide our customers with this unique, hands-on experience that will allow them to discover what AI means for tax and accounting professionals, how AI will empower firms in the future, and learn how to leverage Wolters Kluwer technologies to their fullest potential as we continue to integrate AI into our products and services," said Cathy Rowe, Senior Vice President and Segment Leader, US Professional Market, Wolters Kluwer TAA North America. "We are committed to planning for a future that fundamentally changes the ways tax and accounting professionals interact with their software solutions and with their clients." Building on Wolters Kluwer's solid AI foundation Approximately 50% of Wolters Kluwer's digital revenues now come from products that leverage artificial intelligence. Wolters Kluwer products, services and expert solutions are based on a foundation of trust, transparency, and responsibility in line with the company's values. Wolters Kluwer's AI Principles, which guide the design, development and deployment of advanced technologies in helping customers solve their most complex problems, can be found here. PLEASE NOTE: These materials are designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. The information is provided with the understanding that Wolters Kluwer Tax Accounting is not engaged in rendering tax advice or accounting, legal, tax or other professional service. About Wolters Kluwer Wolters Kluwer (EURONEXT: WKL) is a global leader in information, software, and services for professionals in healthcare, tax and accounting, financial and corporate compliance, legal and regulatory, and corporate performance and ESG. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with specialized technology and services. Wolters Kluwer reported 2022 annual revenues of 5.5 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 20,900 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands. For more information, visit www.wolterskluwer.com, follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020527561/en/ Contacts: Shannon Wherry Associate Director, External Communications Wolters Kluwer Tax Accounting Mobile: +1 972-209-2767 shannon.wherry@wolterskluwer.com The first seven stations are expected to be commissioned between Q4 2023 and Q2 2024, and 60 additional stations are planned through Q4 2024 48 fast and ultra-fast charging ports are currently slated for the first batch and 120 fast and ultra-fast charging ports will be installed in the second batch Allego will have exclusive access to all of Go'on's stations throughout the country to expand its ultra-fast charging network Allego N.V. ("Allego" or the "Company") (NYSE: ALLG), a leading pan-European public electric vehicle fast and ultra-fast charging network, today announced its partnership with Go'on Gruppen A/S ("Go'on"), one of Denmark's largest fueling companies, under which Allego will install 168 fast charging ports with exclusive access to all 185 of Go'on's currently existing stations across the country. Allego views this partnership as another step in the strategic growth and optimization of its network and charging availability for electric vehicle ("EV") drivers. Go'on has positioned its fueling stations in smaller cities throughout Denmark where gasoline fueling stations are less ubiquitous and electric charging infrastructure is limited or even non-existent. Consequently, in these regions, EV drivers may need to drive long distances or plan their routes around charger availability. Allego strives to make charging accessible for all EV drivers to ensure the successful transition to e-mobility. Through this partnership, Allego and Go'on aims to provide EV drivers with the same convenience that they would have as if driving a combustion engine. Mick Kjr, CEO of Go'on said, "Today, there is a clear challenge for EV drivers who live or visit outlying areas in Denmark in terms of finding a charging station. Therefore, we are delighted with the new collaboration. Together with Allego, we can accelerate the spread of Allego's advanced fast charging solutions by establishing them at Go'on stations across the country." Steven Lau, Allego's Nordic region Managing Director says, "The collaboration with Go'on marks an important step towards promoting electric mobility in Denmark. Together, we will build on Allego's solid charging network and give EV owners in Denmark access to our latest and most reliable charging solutions. As the industry transitions to electric, drivers of all vehicle types still require amenities for powering their cars. Therefore, it makes perfect sense to accommodate options for electricity, gasoline, and diesel in one place. Go'on has a far-reaching network, and by collaborating with Allego on the installation of fast and ultra-fast charging solutions at their gas stations, Go'on is demonstrating its dedication to meeting the growing demand for charging infrastructure and supporting sustainable transportation in Denmark." So called "range anxiety" is one of the primary hesitations for drivers to switch to electric vehicles, making charging infrastructure a cornerstone for EV adoption. Accordingly, partnerships such as this one provide the perfect opportunity for Allego to expand its footprint and help accelerate the transition to electric mobility. About Allego Allego is a leading provider of electric vehicle charging solutions, dedicated to accelerating the transition to electric mobility with 100% renewable energy. Allego has developed a comprehensive portfolio of innovative charging infrastructure and proprietary software, including its Allamo and EV Cloud software platforms. With a network of almost 35,000 charging ports (and counting) spanning 15 countries, Allego delivers independent, reliable, and safe charging solutions, agnostic of vehicle model or network affiliation. Founded in 2013 and publicly listed on the NYSE in 2022, Allego now employs a team of 220 people striving every day to make charging accessible, sustainable, and enjoyable for all. For more information, please visit www.allego.eu. Forward-Looking Statements All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Allego intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may generally be identified by the use of words such as "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "should," "would," "plan,", "project," "forecast," "predict," "potential," "seem," "seek," "future," "outlook," "target" or other similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, Allego's expectations with respect to future performance. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially, and potentially adversely, from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Most of these factors are outside Allego's control and are difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (i) changes adversely affecting Allego's business, (ii) the price and availability of electricity and other energy sources, (iii) the risks associated with vulnerability to industry downturns and regional or national downturns, (iv) fluctuations in Allego's revenue and operating results, (v) unfavorable conditions or further disruptions in the capital and credit markets, (vi) Allego's ability to generate cash, service indebtedness and incur additional indebtedness, (vii) competition from existing and new competitors, (viii) the growth of the electric vehicle market, (ix) Allego's ability to integrate any businesses it may acquire, (x) Allego's ability to recruit and retain experienced personnel, (xi) risks related to legal proceedings or claims, including liability claims, (xii) Allego's dependence on third-party contractors to provide various services, (xiii) data security breaches or other network outage, (xiv) Allego's ability to obtain additional capital on commercially reasonable terms, (xv) Allego's ability to remediate its material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting, (xvi) the impact of COVID-19, including COVID-19 related supply chain disruptions and expense increases, (xvii) general economic or political conditions, including the Russia/Ukraine conflict or increased trade restrictions between the United States, Russia, China and other countries, and (xviii) other factors detailed under the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Allego's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. If any of these risks materialize or Allego's assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that Allego presently does not know or that Allego currently believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect Allego's expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. Allego anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause Allego's assessments to change. However, while Allego may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Allego specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, unless required by applicable law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Allego's assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020954047/en/ Contacts: Allego contacts: Investors investors@allego.eu Media allegoPR@icrinc.com JERUSALEM (dpa-AFX) - A US Navy warship operating in the Middle East has intercepted missiles off the coast of Yemen on Thursday, the Pentagon says. Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said at a news conference that the crew of the guided missile destroyer USS Carney, operating in the northern Red Sea, on Thursday shot down three cruise missiles and several drones launched by Iranian-backed Houthi forces in Yemen. 'This action was a demonstration of the integrated air and missile defense architecture that we built in the Middle East and that we are prepared to utilize whenever necessary to protect our partners and our interests,' he told reporters. no casualties were reported. 'We cannot say for certain what these missiles and drones were targeting, but they were launched heading north along the Red Sea potentially towards targets in Israel,' the general said. This was one of the incidents of U.S. forces in the Red Sea, Iraq and Syria responding to missile and drone attacks over the past two days, according to Ryder. U.S. facilities in Syria and Iraq also were targeted with drone attacks. The al-Tanf garrison in Syria, where American and anti-ISIS coalition forces are based, were attacked by two drones on Wednesday. 'U.S. and coalition forces engaged one drone destroying it while the other drone impacted the base resulting in minor injuries to coalition forces,' Ryder said. All of the injured returned to duty. On the same day, early warning systems indicated a possible threat approaching the al-Assad airbase in Iraq, where US personnel are stationed. A U.S. civilian contractor died of cardiac arrest while sheltering. He said U.S. troops are on high alert to deter any government or militant group from launching attacks under cover of the Israeli-Hamas war as an opportunity to launch conflict that could engulf the region. As the Middle East conflict escalates, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group is crossing the Atlantic to join the US warship Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, which is already in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. The Air Force has also bumped up fighter presence to the region. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Die Top 3 Dividendenaktien 2024 In diesem Report stellen wir Ihnen 3 Top-Aktien aus dem Energie-Sektor vor, die Sie unbedingt auf Ihre Watchlist setzen mussen. Lassen Sie sich diese kostenlose Analyse nicht entgehen! Hier klicken SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / October 20, 2023 / N8iV Beauty, the first skincare brand created by a Native woman, is proud to announce the launch of a groundbreaking campaign aimed at promoting inclusivity and representation of Native Americans in the beauty industry. The campaign will feature eight native American models from diverse tribal affiliations and will highlight their unique stories and experiences. The photo shoot for the campaign will take place on October 24-25, 2023, at the Rincon Indian Reservation in San Diego County. Through striking visuals and powerful storytelling, the campaign will shed light on the nomadic journey of the first people who traveled from the mountains to the ocean, emphasizing the importance of understanding and appreciating the indigenous culture. N8iV Beauty sets itself apart by infusing its skincare products with acorn oil, a historic ingredient used by Native people for centuries to heal the skin. The brand's founder, Ruth-Ann Thorn, an enrolled Tribal member of the Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians, brings her ancestral knowledge and traditions to create products that nourish and enhance the skin. Take a look a a little of the history behind the products view the N8iV Beauty video. Acorn oil, known as "kiwilla" in the Luiseno language, is rich in essential fatty acids and tocopherols, which combat oxidative stress and promote skin health. N8iV Beauty's commitment to sustainable and ethical sourcing practices ensures that the brand supports indigenous communities and makes a positive impact. For centuries, Native Americans have made significant contributions to beauty practices, art, and culture. Their involvement in elaborate trading systems allowed for the exchange of beauty practices and traditions with various global communities. Native tribes embraced forms of self-expression, such as face paint, body art, and unique clothing designs, which parallel modern beauty practices. Native Americans also possessed extensive knowledge of natural plant medicine and utilized resources from the Earth to create cosmetics and enhance their beauty. Their holistic approach to beauty and wellness, coupled with their superior health practices, demonstrates the vital role that Native Americans play in promoting overall well-being. Despite these contributions, the representation of Native Americans in the beauty industry has been severely lacking. This exclusion is not only unjust but also perpetuates historical marginalization. By rectifying this oversight and providing accurate representation, beauty brands have the opportunity to celebrate the rich heritage and contributions of Native Americans. It is imperative for beauty retailers, such as Sephora and Ulta, to recognize and honor the indigenous people of this land. By embracing Native American representation in the beauty industry, brands can send a strong message of equality and diversity to future generations. Furthermore, the indigenous wisdom displayed in utilizing plants for skin beautification and holistic health is valuable knowledge that the entire world can benefit from. N8iV Beauty urges the beauty industry to rectify the marginalization of Native Americans and celebrate their rich heritage within the industry. By incorporating their voices, perspectives, and artistic expressions related to beauty, we can promote acceptance, diversity, and respect for the first people of this land. Support Native and Indigenous businesses by exploring the N8iV Beauty skincare range. Visit their website at https://n8ivbeauty.com/. For media inquiries, please contact: Joice Truban Curry c3 Communications, Inc. joice@c3publicrelations.com 619-540-6611 # # # About N8iV Beauty: N8iV Beauty is the first acorn oil-infused skincare brand created by a Native woman sourced from tribal land. Founded by Ruth-Ann Thorn, an enrolled tribal member of the Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians, N8iV Beauty's products carry ancestral knowledge and are formulated to promote healthy and radiant skin. About Ruth-Ann Thorn: Ruth-Ann is a Payomkawichum/Luiseno tribal member and has served on several boards within the Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians tribe including their Rincon Economic Development Corporation responsible for overseeing many business developments on and off the reservation. Thorn has been in the art gallery business for over 27 years and has had galleries in Seaport Village in San Diego, Solana Beach, CA, Beverly Hills, CA, Laguna Beach, CA, Las Vegas, NV, and Breckenridge CO. Thorn is actually coming back to the Gaslamp area having had a location there several years ago. She is also the first tribal member to be appointed as a board member of the ICA Institute of Contemporary Art. SOURCE: N8iV Beauty View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/794843/n8iv-beauty-launches-bold-campaign-celebrating-native-american-beauty-and-culture Outgoing CFO Chen Lichtenstein to step down in orderly transition process Syngenta Group's Board of Directors has named Hengde Qin, 53, Chief Financial Officer of Syngenta Group, effective Dec 1, 2023. He will succeed Chen Lichtenstein, 56, who has been CFO since the creation of Syngenta Group and will be stepping down to pursue other business opportunities. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020464279/en/ Hengde Qin, Chief Financial Officer of Syngenta Group as of Dec 1, 2023. (Photo: Business Wire) Fanrong Li, Chairman of Syngenta Group said, "Hengde is a strong leader with excellent financial acumen. He has extensive experience in finance and strong knowledge of the business and will make an excellent partner to Jeff Rowe. I look forward to what this new team can achieve together." Earlier today, it was announced that Jeff Rowe will succeed Erik Fyrwald as CEO of Syngenta Group, effective Jan 1, 2024. Li continued, "I would like to thank Chen for his many outstanding contributions to Syngenta Group as well as his many years of prior leadership in ADAMA and CNAC. During his time as the Group CFO, he oversaw the Group's strong performance and successfully led the newly formed Group. I wish him all the best for the future." Lichtenstein joined the Syngenta Group family in 2006 as a member of ADAMA's management and went on to lead Global Operations before becoming Deputy CEO in charge of China Integration. He then served as President and CEO of ChemChina's strategic business division China National Agrochemical Corporation (CNAC) before being appointed ADAMA President and CEO in 2014. During his six-year tenure as CEO, Lichtenstein led the company to continuous strong performance and market share gains. ADAMA also had successfully integrated with a publicly traded company and is now listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. Lichtenstein was instrumental in the creation of Syngenta Group in 2020, taking on the role of CFO, and establishing the Group as an industry leader with exceptional growth in all businesses and geographies. In the last three years, he has led the team across Finance, Integration Synergies, Ventures, Productivity and Strategy; overseeing performance, significantly refinancing the Group's debt, and achieving robust investment grade ratings from all agencies. Qin is currently the Chief Human Resources Officer of Syngenta Group, based in Basel, a position that he assumed at the beginning of the year. He was previously President of Syngenta Group China (SGC), where he built a strong team that has been delivering outstanding revenue and profitability growth. Under his leadership, SGC built market-leading positions in the crop protection and seeds markets in China. He also strengthened SGC's leadership position in crop nutrition and grew the Modern Agriculture Platform business to be the fastest-growing business in global agriculture. Erik Fyrwald, outgoing Syngenta Group CEO, said, "I want to thank Chen for his strong leadership and close partnership with me as we launched and grew the Syngenta Group during a period of very strong profitable growth." "Now it is time for this team to hand over the baton to Jeff and Hengde," he continued. "I am pleased to leave Syngenta Group financial leadership in such excellent hands." About Syngenta Group Syngenta Group is one of the world's biggest agricultural technology companies, with roots going back more than 250 years. With more than 57,000 employees, operating in more than 100 countries, the company strives to transform agriculture with science-driven, technological innovations to deliver high productivity and high-quality food while fighting climate change and restore nature. Syngenta Group is working with farmers to enable Regenerative Agriculture an outcome-based food production system that nurtures and restores soil health, protects the climate and water resources and biodiversity, and enhances farms' productivity and profitability. Syngenta Group, which is registered in Shanghai, China, and has its management headquarters in Switzerland, draws strength from its four business units: Syngenta Crop Protection, headquartered in Switzerland; Syngenta Seeds, headquartered in the United States; ADAMA, headquartered in Israel; and Syngenta Group China. Together, these businesses provide industry-leading ways to serve customers around the world. For Syngenta Group photos and videos, please visit the Syngenta Group Media Library. Data protection is important to us. You are receiving this publication on the legal basis of Article 6 para 1 lit. f GDPR ("legitimate interest"). However, if you do not wish to receive further information about Syngenta Group, just send us a brief informal message and we will no longer process your details for this purpose. You can also find further details in our privacy statement. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This document may contain forward-looking statements, which can be identified by terminology such as "expect," "would," "will," "potential," "plans," "prospects," "estimated," "aiming," "on track" and similar expressions. Such statements may be subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from these statements. For Syngenta Group, such risks and uncertainties include risks relating to legal proceedings, regulatory approvals, new product development, increasing competition, customer credit risk, general economic and market conditions, compliance and remediation, intellectual property rights, implementation of organizational changes, impairment of intangible assets, consumer perceptions of genetically modified crops and organisms or crop protection chemicals, climatic variations, fluctuations in exchange rates and/or grain prices, single source supply arrangements, political uncertainty, natural disasters, and breaches of data security or other disruptions of information technology. Syngenta Group assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changed assumptions or other factors. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020464279/en/ Contacts: Media Relations media@syngentagroup.com BOUNTIFUL, UT / ACCESSWIRE / October 20, 2023 / OneMeta Inc. ( www.onemeta.ai ) (OTC Pink:ONEI). OneMeta Inc. ("Company"), is pleased to announce it will be presenting at Centurion One 5th Bahamas Global Summit, which will be taking place for the first time at the exclusive Rosewood Baha Mar resort from Monday, October 23rd to Wednesday, October 25, 2023, in Nassau, Bahamas. OneMeta's CEO, Saul Leal is scheduled to present on October 25, 2023, at 1:00 ET, and will also be taking investor questions and will participate on a panel discussion after his presentation regarding the growth of artificial intelligence. Saul Leal, CEO of OneMeta, stated "We are pleased that another investor conference has requested our participation so that we may showcase our artificial intelligence driven translation and transcription language architecture in over 150 languages. The attention that has come to our Company through the Centurion One conference is astounding." Centurion One 5th Bahamas Global Summit will feature public and private companies across various industries that will be given the opportunity to present to some of the most prominent venture capital, family office, private equity firms, high net worth individuals and institutional investors in the growth space attending from Canada, the United States, and abroad. For registration details, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com-centurion-one-bahamas-summit Summit Details: Event: Centurion One' 5th Bahamas Global Summit Format: Presentations, Q&A and Panel Discussions Dates: Tuesday, October 24th and Wednesday, October 25th, 2023 Time: 9:00 AM EDT - 3:30 PM EDT Venue: Rosewood Baha Mar Hotel About Centurion One Capital Centurion One Capital ("Centurion One") is the premier independent Investment Banking firm dedicated to fueling the growth and success of growth companies in North America. With an unwavering commitment to delivering comprehensive financial solutions and strategic guidance, Centurion One is a trusted strategic partner and catalyst to propel issuers to unlock their full potential. Our team comprises seasoned professionals who combine extensive financial expertise with deep knowledge of various sectors. We take a proactive and results-driven approach, working closely with our clients to develop tailored strategies and execute transactions that maximize value and drive long-term success. Centurion One - Empowering Growth. Driving Innovation. Partnering for Success. About OneMeta Inc.-We Create a More Understanding WorldTM OneMeta Inc. is a Multilingual Enablement company focused on breaking down the communication challenges of a world with over 7,100 languages. Its proprietary, end-to-end natural language processing (NLP) architecture was developed using generative artificial intelligence tools (AI) and allows the spoken and written word to be synthesized, translated, and transcribed in less than one second. OneMeta's products support near-real-time web-based and mobile phone-based conversations, discussions, meetings, and online chats in over 150 languages. OneMeta Inc.: Speak. Hear. Read. Understand. For more information, please contact: OneMeta Inc.. Email: info@onemeta.ai SOURCE: OneMeta Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/794756/onemeta-inc-to-present-at-centurion-one-5th-bahamas-global-summit AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings of "a-" (Excellent) of Stonefort Reinsurance S.A. (Stonefort Reinsurance) (formerly known as Builders Reinsurance S.A.) (Luxembourg), a subsidiary of HOCHTIEF Aktiengesellschaft (HOCHTIEF), a large Germany-based construction company that is majority owned by ACS, Actividades de Construccion y Servicios, S.A. The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. The ratings reflect Stonefort Reinsurance's balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. Stonefort Reinsurance's balance sheet strength is supported by risk-adjusted capitalisation at the strongest level, as measured by Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). AM Best expects Stonefort Reinsurance's risk-adjusted capitalisation to remain at the strongest level supported by low underwriting leverage. The main offsetting factor in the balance sheet strength assessment is the significant investment allocation to bonds issued by its intermediate parent company, HOCHTIEF. Stonefort Reinsurance has a track record of strong and stable operating performances, largely driven by robust underwriting results, as demonstrated by a five-year (2018-2022) weighted average combined ratio of 77.4%, as calculated by AM Best. Stonefort Reinsurance's prospective performance is subject to volatility, mainly due to the company's exposure to business associated with the cyclical U.S. construction market. Stonefort Reinsurance's business profile assessment of limited reflects its geographically concentrated portfolio of casualty risks, which emanates from HOCHTIEF's construction operations in North America. Additionally, the company reinsures open-market business (approximately 28% of gross written premiums in 2022), including business emanating from its sister company, Stonefort Insurance S.A. (Stonefort Insurance). However, the weight of third-party business is expected to decrease going forward following the group's decision to put Stonefort Insurance in run off. Stonefort Reinsurance's volume of business remained stable in 2022. Management expects moderate growth in 2023, followed by a drop in 2024, due to the expected reduction in third-party business. This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best's website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best's Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best's Credit Ratings, Best's Performance Assessments, Best's Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best's Ratings Assessments AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com Copyright 2023 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020879312/en/ Contacts: Jose Berenguer, CFA Associate Director, Analytics +31 20 308 54 29 jose.berenguer@ambest.com Dr. Mathilde Jakobsen Senior Director, Analytics +31 20 308 5427 mathilde.jakobsen@ambest.com Christopher Sharkey Associate Director, Public Relations +1 908 882 2310 christopher.sharkey@ambest.com Al Slavin Senior Public Relations Specialist +1 908 882 2318 al.slavin@ambest.com MARKHAM, ON / ACCESSWIRE / October 20, 2023 / On Sept. 29, 2023, the "Pomelo Gala: A Taste of Cantonese Sweet, China Guangdong Agricultural Products Global Tasting and Exchange Event" was held in Markham, co-hosted by North America Development Center of Chinese Premade Cuisine Industry and Canada Universal Media Association (CUMA). Federal Member of Parliament Shaun Chen, York Regional Councillor Joe Li, Markham City Councillor Isa Lee, Richmond Hill Councillor Simon Cui, and other government representatives participated in person and spoke highly of this great business promotion activity. More than 50 extinguished guests attended the event, including Dr. Ye Jun, Chief Representative of the Guangdong Provincial Economic and Trade Representative Office in Canada, heads of major Canadian supermarkets, presidents of Cantonese food and beverage associations, and representatives of chambers of commerce and related associations, etc. They also tasted the special agricultural products and prepared dishes from Guangdong on the spot. Coinciding with the Mid-Autumn Festival, the event received congratulatory letters from federal MP Jean Yip, Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti, York Region Councillor Alan Ho, Toronto City Councillor Nick Mantas, and other dignitaries of all three levels. The Mayor of Markham said in his congratulatory letter that he looks forward to more Guangdong specialty agricultural products, prepared dishes, and vendors entering the Canadian market so that more Canadian consumers can enjoy delicious Chinese food at home. Doris Jianping Li, director of the North America Development Center of Chinese Premade Cuisine Industry and President of EACHTECHNOLOGY, delivered a welcome speech. She recalled the scene of eating pomelo during the Mid-Autumn Festival with her family when she was a child and the interesting story of how her father sealed the pomelo with a wax solution and kept it from the Mid-Autumn Festival until the Chinese New Year. She said that good food is the silent language that brings people together across ethnic and geographic differences. "No matter where we go, memories of food are memories of our loved ones and of that moment when we enjoyed it." Federal Member of Parliament Shaun Chan, whose ancestral home is Hakka in Meizhou, Guangdong Province, made a special trip to the event to support the event, stating, "I am very pleased to see more and more delicious products from my hometown being exported to Canada, which not only introduces fresh agricultural products to the Canadian market but also provides more choices for Canadian consumers. We look forward to more cooperation opportunities with Guangdong Province in agricultural trade in the future." Joe Li, York Region Councilor and President of Canadian Hakka Association, who is also a Hakka family member, enthusiastically used the Hakka language and actively recommended the good taste of his hometown. Richmond Hill City Councillor Simon Cui also spoke highly of the Guangdong-prepared cuisine. Participants discussed various cooperation opportunities, hoping to bring more authentic Cantonese food to Canadian tables and provide local residents with more diversified and delicious food choices. Contact Information xiao han Director hanxiao528@gmail.com 6478630528 SOURCE: Canada Universal Media Association (CUMA) View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/794959/pomelo-gala-a-taste-of-cantonese-sweet-china-guangdong-agricultural-products-global-tasting-and-exchange-event-successfully-held Tom Walker, CEO, Among the Most Exceptional Entrepreneurs at 2023 Builders and Innovators Summit VIRGINIA BEACH, VA / ACCESSWIRE / October 20, 2023 / Today DroneUp announces that Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) has recognized Tom Walker, CEO of DroneUp, as one of the Most Exceptional Entrepreneurs of 2023 at its Builders and Innovators Summit in Healdsburg, California. Goldman Sachs selected Walker from multiple industries to be honored at the two-day event. Walker is the Founder and CEO of DroneUp, a leading autonomous drone delivery company which tackles last-mile delivery across multiple industries, including medical, food and retail. Prior to starting DroneUp, Tom served as an Officer in the U.S. Navy for almost 17 years, pioneering military and government digital reform through extensive re-programming and web enablement of computer systems to support both U.S. and International Special Forces. He has also served as an advisor to the White House on technology innovation and its impact on the emerging workforce. "I'm honored that Goldman Sachs has recognized the work the entire DroneUp team is doing," said Walker. "Last mile delivery is facing a variety of existential risks from increased carbon emissions to outdated technology and rising labor costs. Autonomous drone deliveries provide an affordable and scalable solution to businesses by reducing traffic and increasing speed of delivery, ultimately benefiting the consumer. Our goal at DroneUp is to further enable last mile delivery by providing a solution in which essential goods can be transported by drone quickly, easily and in a cost effective manner. From medical supplies to food and other crucial goods, our passion for drone technology is second to none. We're proud of our efforts and to be recognized by Goldman Sachs for our work." "We're delighted to recognize Tom Walker as one of the most exceptional entrepreneurs of 2023," said David Solomon, Chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs. "Like everyone in this year's class, Walker has been a visionary in his field, pushing forward innovation and redefining markets. We are excited to harness Goldman's convening power to bring together these dynamic leaders and hear their insights." In addition to honoring the most exceptional entrepreneurs, the Summit consists of general sessions and clinics led by seasoned entrepreneurs, academics and business leaders as well as resident scholars. About DroneUp DroneUp is a pioneering autonomous drone delivery company that specializes in providing innovative and efficient solutions for last-mile delivery. DroneUp's proprietary autonomous technology is integrated with its ground infrastructure to provide affordable and scalable last-mile delivery. With a commitment to utilizing cutting-edge technology and a customer-centric approach, DroneUp is revolutionizing the way goods are transported, making delivery faster, safer, and more cost-effective. Founded in 2016, DroneUp is headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia. DroneUp provides drone delivery service in 34 locations across six states for the #1 retailer in the world, Walmart, Inc. For more information: https://www.droneup.com Press related questions about DroneUp, please contact Escalate PR at droneup@escalatepr.com About Goldman Sachs Goldman Sachs is a leading global financial institution that delivers a broad range of financial services to a large and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and individuals. Founded in 1869, the firm is headquartered in New York and maintains offices in all major financial centers around the world. Press related questions about the Summit or Goldman Sachs, please contact Sophia Anthony at Sophia.Anthony@gs.com. SOURCE: DroneUp View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/794864/droneup-honored-by-goldman-sachs-for-entrepreneurship CHICAGO, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Future trends in the Cloud ERP Market include an emphasis on industry-specific solutions, an increase in the integration of cutting-edge technology, and a dedication to offering safe, logical, and data-driven tools to assist businesses in their digital transformation efforts. The Cloud ERP Market size is expected to grow from USD 72.2 billion in 2023 to USD 130.5 billion by 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.6% during the forecast period, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. Cloud ERP solutions are designed to facilitate integration with other software and services. They often include open APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) and connectors that make connecting the ERP system with a wide range of third-party applications relatively straightforward. This capability allows businesses to create a more comprehensive and interconnected technology ecosystem, integrating ERP with customer relationship management (CRM) systems, e-commerce platforms, analytics tools, and other applications that contribute to a more streamlined and efficient operation. Browse in-depth TOC on "Cloud ERP Market" 260 - Tables 59 - Figures 245 - Pages Download PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=190169866 Scope of the Report Report Metrics Details Market size available for years 2018-2028 Base year considered 2022 Forecast period 2023-2028 Forecast units Value (USD Million/Billion) Segments Covered Component, Business Function, Deployment Mode, Organization Size, Vertical, and Region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America Companies Covered Some of the significant Cloud ERP Market vendors are Oracle (US), Microsoft (US), SAP (Germany), Workday (US), Infor (US), IFS (Sweden), Plex Systems (US), Epicor Software Corporation (US), Sage Group (UK), Ramco Systems (India), QAD (US), Tally Solutions (India), Odoo (Belgium), SYSPRO (South Africa), Tyler Technologies (US). Moreover, customer relationship management (CRM) and project management are integral components of a comprehensive cloud ERP solution. CRM enhances customer interactions by centralizing and analyzing customer data, enabling better sales and service. This data integration with ERP improves decision-making, inventory management, and demand forecasting. Project management within ERP facilitates efficient resource allocation, task tracking, and collaboration, ensuring project timelines and budgets are met. When integrated into a cloud ERP system, both CRM and project management modules benefit from real-time data access, scalability, and accessibility from anywhere, which streamlines operations, boosts productivity, and drives growth. Combining CRM and project management with a cloud ERP solution helps businesses improve customer relationships, streamline processes, and enhance organizational efficiency. By component, the services segment is expected to capture the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The component segment of the Cloud ERP Market is segmented into solutions and services. The services segment is estimated to hold the highest CAGR during the forecasted period. Services are categorized into managed services and professional services. The services segment in the Cloud ERP Market plays a crucial role in complementing the software solutions by offering a wide array of training, support, and maintenance, implementation & integration, and consulting & advisory services. This segment is instrumental in helping organizations adopt and maximize cloud ERP systems' benefits. Service providers assist businesses in effectively deploying ERP solutions, tailoring them to specific organizational needs, and ensuring seamless integration with existing infrastructure. They offer training programs to empower users, facilitate data migration, and provide strategic guidance to align ERP strategies with business objectives. These services are instrumental in helping organizations harness the full potential of cloud ERP, enabling streamlined operations, data-driven decision-making, and long-term scalability while ensuring compliance and data security. Request Sample Pages @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=190169866 Based on deployment Mode, the public cloud segment is expected to account for the largest market share during the forecast period. The Cloud ERP Market, by deployment mode, is segmented into public and private cloud. It is expected that during the forecast period, the public cloud segment is estimated to account for the largest market size and share in the Cloud ERP Market. Public cloud deployment is pivotal in the Cloud ERP Market, revolutionizing how businesses manage their operations and data. Cloud ERP systems, hosted on public cloud infrastructure provided by industry giants such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP), offer several key advantages. First and foremost, they eliminate the need for significant upfront hardware and software investments, making ERP solutions more accessible to organizations of all sizes. This democratization of ERP technology allows smaller enterprises to compete on a level playing field with larger counterparts. Additionally, public cloud deployment ensures scalability and flexibility. Businesses can quickly scale their ERP resources up or down based on their changing needs, avoiding the inefficiencies of overprovisioning or the limitations of underprovisioning. Moreover, the global presence of public cloud providers ensures high availability and disaster recovery capabilities, reducing downtime risks and enhancing business continuity. Moreover, security and compliance are also strengthened through public cloud ERP deployments, as major cloud providers invest heavily in robust security measures and compliance certifications, often exceeding what individual organizations can afford or manage on their own. This instills confidence in customers that their sensitive data is well-protected. North America is projected to hold the largest market share during the forecast period. The Cloud ERP Market by region has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. As per region, North America is estimated to account for the largest market share in the global Cloud ERP Market in 2023, and this trend is expected to continue during the forecast period. The Cloud ERP Market, encompassing a wide range of critical business functions, is pivotal in reshaping the North American business landscape. First and foremost, it serves as the backbone of digital transformation efforts, enabling organizations to modernize their operations across various sectors. From finance and human resources to supply chain and customer relationship management, cloud ERP systems streamline and integrate these functions, fostering agility and efficiency. In North America, where diverse industries flourish, this technology empowers businesses to adapt rapidly to market changes, scale operations as needed, and remain competitive globally. Top Key Companies in Cloud ERP Market: Some of the significant Cloud ERP Market vendors are Oracle (US), Microsoft (US), SAP (Germany), Workday (US), Infor (US), IFS (Sweden), Plex Systems (US), Epicor Software Corporation (US), Sage Group (UK), Ramco Systems (India), QAD (US), Tally Solutions (India), Odoo (Belgium), SYSPRO (South Africa), Tyler Technologies (US), MIE Solutions (US), Acumatica (US), Genius Solutions (Canada), Deltek (US). Recent developments: In September 2023, Oracle announced the Fusion Data Intelligence Platform, a next-generation data, analytics, and AI platform that would help Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications customers achieve better business outcomes by combining data-driven insights with intelligent decisions and actions. This new platform, an evolution of the Oracle Fusion Analytics Warehouse product, would deliver business data-as-a-service with automated data pipelines, 360-degree data models for key business entities, rich interactive analytics, AI/ML models, and intelligent applications. In July 2023, Microsoft recently introduced Dynamics 365 Copilot, the world's first AI copilot integrated into CRM and ERP applications in the cloud, designed to augment workflows, uncover insights, identify the subsequent best actions, and reduce time spent on administrative tasks. Organizations relying on on-premise applications would struggle to compete with peers embracing these AI-powered technologies in the cloud. In February 2023, Infor introduced an ERP software solution for manufacturers in complex, make-to-order, and engineer-to-order industries. Infor LX was developed by Infor, a global enterprise software company known for its robust functionality tailored to meet the unique requirements of manufacturing businesses. Infor LX covered many business functions, including financial management, manufacturing operations, supply chain management, CRM, HCM, and more. This breadth of functionality enables organizations to manage various operations within a single integrated system. Inquire Before Buying @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=190169866 Cloud ERP Market Advantages: Since businesses only pay for cloud services on a subscription basis, cloud ERP eliminates the need for on-premises gear and lowers up-front capital expenses. Cloud ERP solutions may be readily scaled by businesses to meet expansion needs, whether they need to expand to new locations, increase users, or incorporate new capabilities. The accessibility of cloud ERP systems from any location with an internet connection encourages remote work, international collaboration, and mobile access to vital corporate data. Since cloud ERP systems are often easier to setup than conventional on-premises solutions, businesses can start operating more quickly. Organisations can always receive the newest features and security patches because cloud ERP providers take care of system updates and maintenance. As a large portion of system maintenance and support is handled by cloud ERP providers, businesses can cut back on their IT staff and infrastructure costs. To protect sensitive corporate data, cloud ERP providers make significant investments in security features like data encryption, access controls, and compliance certifications. Disaster recovery and data backup services are frequently offered by cloud ERP providers, ensuring data availability and integrity in the case of a system failure or emergency. Real-time data access made possible by cloud ERP systems enables better decision-making by giving current details on corporate activities. A seamless data transfer across systems is made possible by the integration that cloud ERP solutions frequently offer with other cloud-based apps and services. Report Objectives To define, describe, and forecast the Cloud ERP Market based on component (solutions and services), business function, deployment mode, organization size, vertical, and region To provide detailed information about the major factors (drivers, restraints, opportunities, and industry-specific challenges) influencing the growth of the Cloud ERP Market To analyze the recession impact on components, verticals, and regions across the globe To analyze the market with respect to individual growth trends, prospects, and contributions to the Cloud ERP Market To forecast the market size of five main regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), the Middle East & and Africa (MEA), and Latin America To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high-growth segments of the Cloud ERP Market To profile the key players in the Cloud ERP Market and comprehensively analyze their core competencies in each microsegment To analyze the competitive developments, such as agreements, alliances, joint ventures, and mergers and acquisitions, in the Cloud ERP Market Browse Adjacent Markets: Software and Services Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports: Web 3.0 Market - Global Forecast to 2030 Remote Workplace Services Market - Global Forecast to 2027 Smart Learning Market - Global Forecast to 2026 Facial Recognition Market - Global Forecast to 2025 Lease Management Market - Global Forecast to 2025 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America's best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/cloud-erp-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/cloud-erp.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/cloud-erp-market-worth-130-5-billion-by-2028---exclusive-report-by-marketsandmarkets-301963068.html The global high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission market is experiencing growth due to several factors, including converter stations where HVDC converter stations are commonly used to transmit electricity over long distances with minimal losses. They convert alternating current (AC) from power plants into direct current (DC) for efficient transmission and then convert it back to AC at the receiving end. WILMINGTON, Del., Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Transmission Market By Component (Converter Stations, Transmission Medium (Cables), Others), By Technology (Voltage Source Converters (VSC), Line Commutated Converters (LCC), Capacitor Commutated Converter (CCC)), By Transmission Type (Submarine, Overhead, Underground), By Application (Bulk Power Transmission, Interconnecting Grids, Infeed Urban Areas): Global Opportunity Analysis And Industry Forecast, 2023-2032." According to the report, the global high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission industry was estimated at $10.6 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $23.7 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 8.4% from 2023 to 2032. High voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission is the transmission of electrical power over a distance using direct current (DC) rather than alternating electric current (AC). HVDC transmission involves the transfer of AC power from the HVDC receiving end to the HVDC sending end, and then AC power back into the HVDC line. High-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission provides several benefits over traditional alternating current (AC) transmission, including reduced transmission losses, higher power transfer capacity, and the capacity to integrate asynchronous AC systems into the grid. HVDC transmission is widely used for long distance electricity transmission, power grid interconnections, and the integration of renewable energy into the grid. Request PDF Brochure: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/12465 Prime Determinants of Growth: The global high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission market is experiencing growth due to several factors such as the rise in demand for VSC technology where voltage source converter (VSC) technology is a critical component in the field of electrical engineering and power systems. It refers to a type of power electronics device used for converting electrical power from one form to another. However, the rise in the share of distributed and off-grid power generation hinders market growth to some extent. Moreover, the focus on grid modernization and infrastructure development offers remunerative opportunities for the expansion of the high-voltage direct current transmission market. Report Coverage & Details: Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2023-2032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $10.6 Billion Market Size in 2032 $23.7 Billion CAGR 8.4 % No. of Pages in Report 325 Segments covered Component, Technology, Transmission Type, Application, and Region Drivers Rise in demand for VSC technology Integration of renewable energy sources Restraints Rise in share of distributed and off-grid power generation Opportunities Focus on grid modernization and infrastructure development The converter stations segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period- Based on component, the converter stations segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the global high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. This is because converter stations are a crucial component of modern electrical transmission systems, primarily used in high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission. It plays a pivotal role in converting electrical power from one form to another, allowing for efficient long-distance electricity transmission and grid interconnection. However, the others segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 9.0% from 2023 to 2032. This is due to grounding electrodes are essential to maintain the reference voltage and ground potential at both the rectifier and inverter stations. Transformers are used to step up or down the voltage as necessary before and after conversion. Procure Complete Report (325 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) @ http:/www.alliedmarketresearch.com/checkout-final/hvdc-transmission-market The line commutated converters (LCC) segment to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period- Based on the technology, the line commutated converters (LCC) segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for nearly half of the global high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission market revenue, and is estimated to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period. This can be attributed to the fact that LCC-based HVDC is often used to connect power grids that operate at different frequencies or are not synchronized. It provides a means to transfer power between these grids. However, the voltage source converters (VSC) segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 8.8% from 2023 to 2032. VSC-based HVDC systems offer several advantages, including precise control of active and reactive power, reduced harmonic distortion, and the ability to stabilize the AC grid by providing fast-acting voltage support. The overhead segment to rule the roost by 2032- Based on transmission type, the overhead segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than half of the global high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission market revenue, and is projected to rule the roost by 2032. The growth is attributed to the fact that overhead HVDC transmission is highly efficient for long-distance power transmission. HVDC lines span hundreds or even thousands of kilometers with minimal power losses compared to AC transmission, making it ideal for interconnecting distant power grids. However, the submarine segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 8.7% from 2023 to 2032. The growth is attributed to the fact that submarine cables often pass through environmentally sensitive areas, such as marine habitats. HVDC cables are advantageous in this context as they produce lower electromagnetic fields compared to AC cables. For Purchase Inquiry: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/high-voltage-direct-current-transmission-market/purchase-options Asia-Pacific garnered the major share by 2032- Based on region, the Asia-Pacific region held the highest market share in 2022, garnering around two-fifths of the global high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission market revenue, and is expected to retain its dominance throughout the forecast timeframe. The same region is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 8.7% from 2023 to 2032. This is due to many countries in the Asia-Pacific region investing in grid modernization efforts to enhance the efficiency and reliability of their electrical grids. HVDC transmission systems are a key component of these efforts. They allow for better control of power flow, reduced transmission losses, and improved voltage stability, all of which contribute to a more modern and resilient grid infrastructure. Leading Market Players: - ABB LTD. GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION NEXANS S.A. NR ELECTRIC CO., LTD. PRYSMIAN GROUP SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC SE. SIEMENS AG TOSHIBA CORPORATION. HITACHI LTD. The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario. Trending Reports in HVDC Transmission Industry: Digital Utility Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032 Medium Voltage Switchgear Market: Global Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031 Instrument Transformers Market: Global Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030 Submarine Power Transmission Cable Market: Global Analysis and Forecast, 2023-2032 Power Transmission Component Market: Global Analysis and Forecast, 2023-2032 About us: Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Wilmington, Delaware. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact us: David Correa 1209 Orange Street, Corporation Trust Center, Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware 19801 USA. Int'l: +1-503-894-6022 Toll Free: +1-800-792-5285 Fax: +1-800-792-5285 help@alliedmarketresearch.com Web:https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/reports-store/energy-and-power Follow Us on | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/high-voltage-direct-current-hvdc-transmission-market-to-reach-23-7-billion-globally-by-2032-at-8-4-cagr-allied-market-research-301963267.html BlackRock Frontiers Investment Trust Plc - Portfolio Update PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, October 20 BLACKROCK FRONTIERS INVESTMENT TRUST PLC (LEI: 5493003K5E043LHLO706) All information is at 30 September 2023 and unaudited. Performance at month end with net income reinvested. One month % Three months % One year % Three years % Five years % Since Launch* % Sterling: Share price -0.3 5.9 17.7 75.1 28.8 130.2 Net asset value 0.3 5.1 14.4 80.6 43.4 154.6 Benchmark (NR)** 0.2 2.7 -3.9 31.3 11.7 80.1 MSCI Frontiers Index (NR) -0.1 6.2 -2.6 11.5 15.8 69.6 MSCI Emerging Markets Index (NR) 1.1 1.1 2.2 0.5 9.8 49.9 US Dollars: Share price -4.0 1.7 28.8 65.4 20.7 81.1 Net asset value -3.4 0.9 25.1 70.6 34.4 100.0 Benchmark (NR)** -3.5 -1.4 5.0 23.9 4.5 42.1 MSCI Frontiers Index (NR) -3.8 2.0 6.5 5.3 8.4 32.8 MSCI Emerging Markets Index (NR) -2.6 -2.9 11.7 -5.1 2.8 17.3 Sources: BlackRock and Standard & Poor's Micropal * 17 December 2010. ** The Company's benchmark changed from MSCI Frontier Markets Index to MSCI Emerging ex Selected Countries + Frontier Markets + Saudi Arabia Index (net total return, USD) effective 1/4/2018. At month end US Dollar Net asset value - capital only: 186.72c Net asset value - cum income: 192.06c Sterling: Net asset value - capital only: 152.98p Net asset value - cum income: 157.35p Share price: 144.00p Total assets (including income): 298.0m Discount to cum-income NAV: 8.5% Gearing: nil Gearing range (as a % of gross assets): 0-20% Net yield*: 4.1% Ordinary shares in issue**: 189,325,748 Ongoing charges***: 1.36% Ongoing charges plus taxation and performance fee****: 1.36% *The Company's yield based on dividends announced in the last 12 months as at the date of the release of this announcement is 4.1% and includes the 2022 final dividend of 4.25 cents per share, declared on 8 December 2022, and paid to shareholders on 19 January 2023, and the 2023 interim dividend of 3.10 cents per share, declared on 6 June 2023, and paid to shareholders on 7 July 2023. ** Excluding 52,497,053 ordinary shares held in treasury. ***The Company's ongoing charges are calculated as a percentage of average daily net assets and using the management fee and all other operating expenses excluding performance fees, finance costs, direct transaction costs, custody transaction charges, VAT recovered, taxation and certain non-recurring items for Year ended 30 September 2022. **** The Company's ongoing charges are calculated as a percentage of average daily net assets and using the management fee and all other operating expenses and including performance fees but excluding finance costs, direct transaction costs, custody transaction charges, VAT recovered, taxation and certain non-recurring items for Year ended 30 September 2022. Sector Analysis Gross market value as a % of net assets Country Analysis Gross market value as a % of net assets Financials 39.1 Saudi Arabia 15.4 Industrials 15.2 Indonesia 14.3 Energy 13.7 United Arab Emirates 8.5 Materials 11.3 Thailand 8.4 Consumer Staples 10.6 Kazakhstan 7.6 Information Technology 7.3 Philippines 7.3 Communication Services 6.6 Hungary 5.9 Consumer Discretionary 6.0 Vietnam 5.8 Real Estate 4.7 Chile 5.5 Health Care 0.4 Malaysia 4.7 ----- Qatar 4.7 114.9 Poland 4.2 ----- Colombia 3.3 Short positions -3.0 Multi-International 2.6 ===== Argentina 2.1 Turkey 2.0 Georgia 2.0 Czech Republic 2.0 Greece 1.5 Peru 1.3 Romania 1.2 Kuwait 1.1 Cambodia 1.0 Egypt 1.0 Ukraine 0.6 Kenya 0.5 Bangladesh 0.4 ----- Total 114.9 ----- Short positions -3.0 ===== *reflects gross market exposure from contracts for difference (CFDs). Market Exposure 31.10 2022 % 30.11 2022 % 31.12 2022 % 31.01 2023 % 28.02 2023 % 31.03 2023 % 30.04 2023 % 31.05 2023 % 30.06 2023 % 31.07 2023 % 31.08 2023 % 30.09 2023 % Long 107.4 106.2 110.7 112.4 111.9 106.3 108.5 112.9 116.9 113.0 113.3 114.9 Short 5.3 4.8 4.9 5.1 3.9 3.9 3.8 3.6 4.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 Gross 112.7 111.0 115.6 117.5 115.8 110.2 112.3 116.5 120.9 116.0 116.3 117.9 Net 102.1 101.4 105.8 107.3 108.0 102.4 104.7 109.3 112.9 110.0 110.3 111.9 Ten Largest Investments Company Country of Risk Gross market value as a % of net assets Bank Central Asia Indonesia 4.6 Saudi National Bank Saudi Arabia 4.2 JSC Kaspi Kazakhstan 3.2 Bank Mandiri Indonesia 3.1 Astra International Indonesia 3.0 Emaar Properties United Arab Emirates 2.9 FPT Vietnam 2.8 CP All Thailand 2.8 Saudi Basic Industries Corporation Saudi Arabia 2.8 Advanced Info Service Thailand 2.8 Commenting on the markets, Sam Vecht, Emily Fletcher and Sudaif Niaz, representing the Investment Manager noted: The Company's NAV fell by 3.4% in September, marginally outperforming its benchmark the MSCI Emerging ex Selected Countries + Frontier Markets + Saudi Arabia Index ("Benchmark Index") which fell by 3.5%. For reference, the MSCI Emerging Markets Index was down by 2.6% while the MSCI Frontier Markets Index was down by 3.8% over the same period. All performance figures are on a US Dollar basis with net income reinvested. Performance was weak for several of the markets in our universe in September. A strong rally in Oil was not able to lead emerging market equities into positive territory as September was mostly dominated by a risk-off sentiment. In Latin America, all countries posted negative returns except for Colombia (+4.5%). European markets also lagged with Poland and Greece down by 11.2% and 10.4% respectively. On the other hand, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) (+4.5%) was amongst the top performers over the month, buoyed by a booming property market. Several stock picks did well in September. Nak Kazatomprom (41.7%), the Kazakh uranium producer, was the best performing stock. Uranium prices have surged over the past year as nuclear power re-emerges as an alternative energy source to fossil fuel. Gulf International Services (+11.4%), the Qatar-based oil services holding company, continued its strong run and was another contributor over the month. Elsewhere in our universe, Argentina exposure through energy company Vista (+13.6%) also helped performance. We are seeing an impressive growth in shale production and the company is expected to double production over the next few years. On the other hand, the Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air (-18.3%) was the biggest detractor in September. Along with other airlines, they are impacted by the Pratt & Whitney engine issue headlines. We think the market is misunderstanding the impact of this on financials and the company has significant competitive advantages and is trading at cheap multiples. We made some changes to the portfolio in September. We re-initiated a position in Bloomberry Resorts, a Philippines based resort and casino operator, on the view that strong volume growth will continue and that leverage is likely to fall from current levels. Elsewhere in Asia, we initiated a new position in Pentamaster which is positioned for strong growth from services it provides to silicon carbide chip manufacturers. We reduced our exposure to Thailand on the view that the new government is unlikely to implement any economic reform. In Europe, we took profits in Hungarian bank OTP. We believe global markets are still adjusting to a significantly higher cost of capital and remain vulnerable to unexpected hiccups such as the liquidity crisis in the regional banking space in the US. However, through the last few years, we have observed a marked contrast in the monetary and fiscal policy decisions taken in small emerging/frontier markets versus developed markets and this keeps us optimistic on our opportunity set. Our investment universe, in absolute and relative terms, remains under-researched and we believe this could enable potentially compelling alpha opportunities. Sources: 1BlackRock as at 30 September 2023 2MSCI as at 30 September 2023 20 October 2023 ENDS Latest information is available by typing www.blackrock.com/uk/brfi on the internet, "BLRKINDEX" on Reuters, "BLRK" on Bloomberg or "8800" on Topic 3 (ICV terminal). Neither the contents of the Manager's website nor the contents of any website accessible from hyperlinks on BlackRock's website (or any other website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 20, 2023) - Portland Investment Counsel Inc. (Portland) is pleased to announce that the following Portland funds, both managed by Chris Wain-Lowe, Chief Investment Officer, Executive Vice-President, and Portfolio Manager of Portland, won 2023 Canadian Hedge Fund Awards: Portland Private Income Fund - Private Debt category for second place in the best three-year return and third place in the best five-year return; Portland Global Sustainable Evergreen LP - Private Equity category for second place in the best one, three and five-year returns. "Portland is delighted to have been recognized with five awards at the Canadian Hedge Fund Awards, a noteworthy achievement within Canada's hedge fund industry. This acknowledgment reaffirms our commitment to creating wealth for our investors. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the fellow winners and express our compliments to Alternative IQ for organizing another classy event" said Chris Wain-Lowe. The annual Canadian Hedge Fund Awards help investors identify well performing hedge funds by recognizing winners in 5 performance measures across 6 categories as well as the Overall Best 2023 Canadian Hedge Fund. The awards are based solely on quantitative performance data to June 30th, which is collected and tabulated by Fundata Canada to determine the winners. A total of 264 Canadian Hedge Funds were considered for a 2023 Canadian Hedge Fund Award. To learn more about these award winning funds, visit: Portland Private Income Fund and Portland Global Sustainable Evergreen LP. About Portland Investment Counsel Inc. Portland is an Investment Fund Manager, Portfolio Manager and Exempt Market Dealer. We have a reputation for being Owners and Operators thus we are insightful Investors. Portland provides portfolio management and exempt market dealer services as well as investment products. Our investor roots date back to 1987. www.portlandic.com About Alternative IQ: Alternative IQ is dedicated to celebrating, supporting and expanding Canada's Hedge Fund Industry. AIQ produces the annual Canadian Hedge Fund Awards program and its presentation event (performance as at June 30th), along with THE Annual Canadian Hedge Fund Conference. Alternative IQ also produces the annual CHFA Winners Showcase Investor Conferences, at which the Managers of award-winning hedge funds present to investors, and produces various other programs and publications serving the hedge fund industry in Canada. Alternative IQ is a division of Alliance Sales and Marketing, Inc. About the Annual Canadian Hedge Fund Awards: The Annual Canadian Hedge Fund Awards were first held in 2008 and have a two-fold objective: first, to recognize and celebrate the talent in Canada's hedge fund industry and, second, to raise awareness of that expertise throughout the wider investment community. The Canadian Hedge Fund Awards are based solely on quantitative performance data to June 30th, with Fundata Canada managing the collection and tabulation of the data to determine the winners. Portland Investment Counsel Inc. Diana N. Oddi, Director, Communications and Marketing 905.331.4250 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/184660 anti-clockwise route, a stop in Turin and passage through Genoa for the 42nd re-enactment of the race BRESCIA, Italy, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Every year, the 1000 Miglia has some surprises in store. The passage through Genoa, with a view of the port and a parade along the seafront, will be the absolute novelty of the coming edition. The month of June and the five race days confirmed, the more than 400 cars will cross seven Italian regions travelling anticlockwise, as in 2021. After starting in Brescia on Tuesday afternoon, 11 June, and passing through Bergamo, Novara and Vercelli, the first leg will end in Turin. On the second day, from Turin, the convoy will descend southwards, passing through the Langhe and through the centre of Alba before heading towards Genoa, the 2024 European Capital of Sport for the first race lunch. After lunch, the race will leave the Riviera di Levante for the Tyrrhenian coast where it will reach Viareggio, the site of the arrival of the second day of the race. The descent towards Rome will characterise the third leg, which will initially see a deviation into the Tuscan hinterland with the passage through Lucca, before returning to the coast at Livorno and continuing until the lunch break in Castiglione della Pescaia. In the afternoon, passing through Grosseto, entering Lazio and descending along Lake Bolsena, the day will end with a parade in Via Veneto. After the halfway point in Rome, on the fourth day the crews will drive up to Orvieto before stopping for lunch in Solomeo, a characteristic medieval village nestling in the Umbrian hills, from where they will set off again towards Siena and Prato. Before reaching the leg finale in Bologna, drivers and navigators will cross the Futa and Raticosa passes. From Bologna, the last leg will include Ferrara and Mantua, and again Lake Garda with the Valtenesi and Salo before the classic parade in Viale Venezia in Brescia. To enter for the 1000 Miglia, cars must hold or have applied for a certificate from the Registro 1000 Miglia. List of eligible cars https://www.registro1000miglia.it/requirements The Ferrari Tribute, the 1000 Miglia Green, the Self-drive Car and the Charity Car will precede the competition of the historic cars. Entries as from 7th of November, info on 1000miglia.it. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2253300/Mille_Miglia.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1761166/4353796/1000_Miglia_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/presented-the-1000-miglia-2024-five-legs-from-tuesday-11-to-saturday-15-june-301963326.html Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 20, 2023) - Advanced Gold Exploration Inc. (CSE: AUEX) ("AUEX" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has filed an Independent technical report (the "Technical Report") prepared pursuant to National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") on its Buck Lake Property (the "Property") on the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. The Technical Report was prepared by Michael Kilbourne P. Geo., an independent Qualified Person and has an Effective Date of September 28, 2023. The Technical Report, entitled "43-101 Independent Technical Report on the Buck Lake Property for Advanced Gold Exploration Inc., Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario" was prepared by Michael Kilbourne, P.Geo. (the "Author") at the request of the Company. This Technical Report is specific to the standards dictated by NI 43-101 in respect to Property. The purpose of this Technical Report is to review the geological environment, summarize the historic work, and assess the technical merit of the Property for disposition. About the Buck Lake Property The Property is located approximately 62 linear km northeast of Sault Ste. Marie in the Province of Ontario. The Property consists of a total of 180 single-cell mining claims that covers 3,886 hectares located in Lunkie and Gapp Townships. The Property is located in the Wawa-Abitibi Subprovince within of the Superior Province of Canada. The Property is situated within the Batchawana Greenstone Belt ("BGB") that comprises a small portion of the Wawa-Abitibi Subprovince. The BGB is an arcuate-shaped, expansive belt located in the southern-central part of the Wawa-Abitibi Subprovince on the eastern shore of Lake Superior. This BGB is an Archean-aged greenstone belt consisting of a ick succession of supracrustal rocks. The property is situated in the Batchawana Volcanic Domain which hosts prospective sequences of felsic and mafic volcanics. The Technical Report states that the geological environment of the Property is favourable for the presence of Archean volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits ("VMS"), iron deposits and orogenic gold deposits, namely banded iron formation ("BIF") hosted gold deposits due to the fact that BIF's are present on the Property. The focus of exploration has historically been on VMS-type deposits, but other deposit model types should not be dismissed. The Property contains at least 8 areas of potential based on the presence of Base Metal Mineralization based on historical or recent activities. Including areas of copper and zinc mineralization. An extensive stripping and channel sampling program over one of the zones in (the Noranda Trend) in 2022 identified several mineral horizons and provided invaluable clues to the geological environment of Cu-Zn mineralization. Highlights of the channel sampling include 4.94% Zn, 367 ppm Cu, 0.77% Pb and 45.6 g/t Ag over 1.0 m at trench G and <0.01% Zn, 1.58% Cu and 27.4 g/t Ag over 1.1 m. These programs were followed-up by diamond drilling in 2022 consisting of 15 diamond drill holes totaling 2,545 m. The objective of the drilling was to test sulphide mineralization documented on surface at depth and along strike of the Noranda trend. The VLF anomalies outlined along the Noranda trend in 2022 were also tested. Highlights of the drill program include 1.51% Cu over 11.75 m in hole BL-22-06 and 2.38% Cu over 2.95 m in hole BL-22-15. The success of this program prompted the expansion of the property to cover known airborne anomalies and other areas of past drilling which had identified base metal mineralization. Mr. Jim Atkinson CEO of AUEX notes that "The Author of the Technical Report has reviewed the available information on the property and has stated in the Report 'that the following salient features of the Buck Lake Property makes this a property of high merit for VMS-type Cu-Zn deposits: A greenstone belt hosting supracrustal Archean-aged rocks within the metal endowed Wawa-Abitibi Subprovince. A geological environment consistent with other VMS deposits of the Wawa-Abitibi Subprovince which includes felsic to intermediate volcanics, dacitic flows, tuffs and breccias and sediments in an extensional arc environment. Confirmed Cu-Zn bearing massive sulphide mineralization in surface channel sampling and diamond drilling. Cu-Zn bearing +/- massive pyrite-pyrrhotite mineralization stratigraphically proximal to cherty exhalative horizons and BIF (Figure 8.1, right-hand side) (Photo 7). Limited modern-day VMS-deposit model exploration.' This is very positive for the project. He goes on to say." "It is of the Author's opinion that the Property be continued to be explored for VMS-type massive sulphide deposits as indications are favourable for success." Mr. Atkinson also stated "We believe in the potential of the Property and in the light of our newly stated focus on Gold exploration we will continue discussions with potential partners to advance the project freeing us to concentrate on our exciting gold projects." QUALIFIED PERSON James Atkinson M.Sc., P. Geo., a Qualified Person ("QP") as such term is defined NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the geological information reported in this news release. The Qualified Person has not completed sufficient work to verify all historic information on the Property, particularly with regards to historical sampling, drill results, and technical work provided by Carolina Gold Resources and others. The Qualified Person assumes that sampling and analytical results were completed to industry standard practices. The information provides an indication of the exploration potential of the Property but may not be representative of expected results. ABOUT ADVANCED GOLD EXPLORATION INC. Advanced Gold Exploration (Formerly Advance United Holdings Inc.) brings an entirely different approach to the mining industry. We don't mine. Rather, we've acquired a portfolio of undervalued gold properties and are increasing their value through the application of modern technology. We have a growing pipeline of similar properties that we are looking to acquire. We are involved exclusively in the acquisition and advancement of past projects - with no intent to bring them back into production or to mine them ourselves. Our expertise is in identifying and acquiring undervalued properties with significant historical work, which were uneconomic at the time, but we believe have economic value at today's prices. We fund the re-working historic data and applying modern technology to underwrite new qualified reports, document quantifiable resources and reserves to current standards, thereby recognizing the current value. Our purpose is to bring immediate and long-term value to our partners and shareholders while seeking to eliminate exploration risk, so that we can all advance in the shortest possible time frame. For additional information about us, our projects, or to find out how we can assist in the advancement of your project contact our CEO. Contact Information James Atkinson, M.Sc., P. Geo., CEO Advanced Gold Exploration Inc. Email: geomancer55@gmail.com Tel: (647) 278-7502 Forward-Looking Information and Cautionary Statements This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "would", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is provided, and is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change, unless required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/184674 Redde Northgate Plc - Transaction in Own Shares PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, October 20 NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION 20 October 2023 REDDE NORTHGATE PLC ("Redde Northgate" or the "Group" or the "Company") Transaction in Own Shares Redde Northgate plc (LSE:REDD) announces that on 20 October 2023 it purchased the following number of its own shares to be held in treasury: Class of shares : Ordinary shares of 50p ("shares") Number of shares purchased : 100,000 Weighted average purchase price paid : 313.5 pence per share Highest purchase price paid : 313.5 pence per share Lowest purchase price paid : 313.5 pence per share Following the above transaction, the Company's issued share capital consists of 246,091,423 ordinary shares of 50p each, of which 16,290,071 ordinary shares are held in treasury, and 1,000,000 preference shares of 50p each which do not carry any rights to vote. Therefore the total number of voting rights in the Company is 229,801,352 which may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in the Company under the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules. In accordance with Article 5(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (the Market Abuse Regulation) as incorporated into UK domestic law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, the schedule below contains detailed information about the purchases made by Numis Securities Limited on behalf of the Company as part of the Company's buyback programme. Schedule of Purchase - Individual Transaction (as at 20 October 2023) Number of shares purchased Transaction price (GB pence per share) Time of transaction Transaction reference number Venue 100000 313.50 09:04:22 00067444423TRLO0 LSE Notes This announcement is made in accordance with the requirements of Listing Rule 12.4.6. For further information contact: Buchanan David Rydell/Jamie Hooper/Hannah Ratcliff +44 (0) 207 466 5000 Notes to Editors: Redde Northgate is the leading integrated mobility solutions platform providing services across the vehicle lifecycle. The Company offers integrated mobility solutions to businesses, fleet operators, insurers, OEMs and other customers across seven key areas: vehicle rental, vehicle data, accident management, vehicle repairs, fleet management, service and maintenance, vehicle ancillary services and vehicle sales. The Company's core purpose is to keep its customers mobile, whether through meeting their regular mobility needs or by servicing and supporting them when unforeseen events occur. With its considerable scale and reach, Redde Northgate's mission is to offer a market-leading customer proposition and drive enhanced returns for shareholders by creating value through sustainable compounding growth. The Group aims to achieve this through the delivery of its strategic framework of Focus, Drive and Broaden. Redde Northgate services its customers through a network and diversified fleet of over 120,000 owned and leased vehicles, supporting over 600,000 managed vehicles, with more than 170 workshop, body shop and rental locations across the UK, Ireland and Spain and a specialist team of over 6,000 automotive services professionals. Further information please visit the Company's website: Deltek gave attendees a deep dive on its purposeful AI-fueled innovation to help power its customers' project success HERNDON, Va., Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Deltek, the leading global provider of software and solutions for project-based businesses, unveiled its latest product innovations to a live audience at Deltek ProjectCon. Deltek wrapped up its annual customer conference with resounding success, held October 16-18 in Orlando, Florida. Deltek gathered over 3,400 customers, product experts, employees, sponsors, partners and analysts for the 3-day event. Taking center stage, Deltek executives and product experts presented attendees with a deeper look into Deltek's capabilities and the benefit of adding elements of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) to its solutions to fuel purposeful capabilities. These advancements are part of Deltek's ongoing commitment to deliver solutions that connect and automate the project lifecycle for customers. Warren Linscott, Deltek's Chief Product Officer, and Dinakar Hituvalli, Deltek's Chief Technology Officer, shared that over the past 18 months, as GenAI technology has evolved, Deltek has been exploring its capabilities to generate content, inform decisions, and automate action. The company's focus remains on developing smarter project lifecycle imperatives and enabling project-based businesses to be more informed, productive, and profitable. Deltek is evolving its solutions to leverage GenAI to: Organize high volumes of data and distill it into concise insights in the form of executive summaries. Introduce predictive capabilities into everyday processes including predicting resource needs for faster project staffing and hiring. Leverage a Deltek Digital Assistant to help users explore information, perform tasks, and educate themselves through natural language interactions. Announcements at Deltek ProjectCon At the event, Deltek showcased some of the GenAI features that have been released or are coming soon to its solutions, such as: GovWin IQ Smart Summaries : GovWin IQ has over 1,100 Federal Agency profiles and 100,000+ SLED Government Profiles that contain a rich set of data about spending, contractors, and other characteristics. Smart Summaries leverage GenAI to create an executive summary of these profiles in real-time saving hours versus creating this information manually. This feature is currently available in GovWin IQ. : GovWin IQ has over 1,100 Federal Agency profiles and 100,000+ SLED Government Profiles that contain a rich set of data about spending, contractors, and other characteristics. Smart Summaries leverage GenAI to create an executive summary of these profiles in real-time saving hours versus creating this information manually. This feature is currently available in GovWin IQ. Vantagepoint Client Summaries : Client Smart Summary leverages GenAI to provide an all-encompassing snapshot of a client's status and history right at their fingertips. It includes an executive summary with general information about a client. This feature has been released in the latest version of Vantagepoint for licensed Vantagepoint CRM customers. : Client Smart Summary leverages GenAI to provide an all-encompassing snapshot of a client's status and history right at their fingertips. It includes an executive summary with general information about a client. This feature has been released in the latest version of Vantagepoint for licensed Vantagepoint CRM customers. Costpoint Predictive Labor Forecasting: Many organizations have the challenge of predicting what resources they will need for which project and when based on opportunities that may close and current work. Predictive Labor Forecasting will predict the anticipated needs of the workforce and help to automate planning tasks. This feature is currently planned for release in 2024. Many organizations have the challenge of predicting what resources they will need for which project and when based on opportunities that may close and current work. Predictive Labor Forecasting will predict the anticipated needs of the workforce and help to automate planning tasks. This feature is currently planned for release in 2024. PM Compass Narrative Smart Score : PPM's first GenAI powered feature, the PM Compass Narrative Smart Score, will help assess the quality and completeness of variance narratives before submission for review. Variance reporting is time consuming and challenging for contractors that must comply with EVM. The PM Compass Narrative Smart Score will dramatically improve the quality of variation narratives. This feature is currently planned for release in 2024. : PPM's first GenAI powered feature, the PM Compass Narrative Smart Score, will help assess the quality and completeness of variance narratives before submission for review. Variance reporting is time consuming and challenging for contractors that must comply with EVM. The PM Compass Narrative Smart Score will dramatically improve the quality of variation narratives. This feature is currently planned for release in 2024. Talent Management: Talent Management's GenAI for Job Requisitions will assist in the creation of a job requisition when one does not yet exist and provide updated suggestions to existing requisitions to reflect current job market trends. This enhancement will help to streamline recruitment tasks and make recruiter actions more efficient. This feature is currently planned for release in 2024. Talent Management's GenAI for Job Requisitions will assist in the creation of a job requisition when one does not yet exist and provide updated suggestions to existing requisitions to reflect current job market trends. This enhancement will help to streamline recruitment tasks and make recruiter actions more efficient. This feature is currently planned for release in 2024. Deltek Digital Assistant for Costpoint and Vantagepoint: Deltek introduced Hey Deltek several years ago using NLP (Natural Language Processing). Hey Deltek is evolving to our new GenAI Deltek Digital Assistant - a single user facing solution that will be able to answer "how to" questions about product usage and about data entities like contracts or projects and carry out simple tasks like sending an email to a project manager with overdue tasks. "Generative AI is a powerful tool that will revolutionize how project-based businesses operate. By harnessing the capabilities of artificial intelligence, we aim to empower our customers with smarter, more data-driven insights and decision-making tools. We are committed to purposeful innovation and incorporating emerging technology for our customers and we're continuously evaluating those trends to make our products easier to use and add features and functionality that help our customers achieve greater business efficiency and productivity," said Linscott. To learn more about Deltek's GenAI capabilities and other product information, visit Deltek.com. About Deltek Better software means better projects. Deltek is the leading global provider of enterprise software and information solutions for project-based businesses. More than 30,000 organizations and millions of users in over 80 countries around the world rely on Deltek for superior levels of project intelligence, management, and collaboration. Our industry-focused expertise powers project success by helping firms achieve performance that maximizes productivity and revenue. www.deltek.com Deltek Contact Media Relations Team press@deltek.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1949258/4353798/Deltek_ProjectCon_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/new-genai-capabilities-announced-at-deltek-projectcon-2023-301963387.html BOSTON, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Velico Medical is proud to announce the launch of its Blood Center Education Program (BCEP) at South Texas Blood & Tissue (STB&T), a subsidiary of San Antonio non-profit BioBridge Global. "This collaboration is the first of its kind in the nation and reflects the shared vision of Velico and STB&T of advancing life-saving blood products through the development process," says Richard Meehan, President and CEO of Velico. Velico's BCEP is designed to generate deep customer feedback on the commissioning and operational aspects of the FrontlineODP system for spray drying plasma. FrontlineODP is expected to be an easy to produce, easy to use, point-of-care plasma product for transfusion in settings where current plasma products (most often frozen) are unavailable or inconvenient to use because of challenging cold chain logistics and short dating. Velico's proprietary spray drying process results in a powdered plasma product that can be stored in a refrigerator or at ambient temperature and then reconstituted on-scene in minutes. With FrontlineODP, plasma could become more readily available to first responders such as ground or air ambulances, in rural hospitals where plasma is typically not stocked,for the military, and during mass casualty events. "South Texas Blood & Tissue is pleased to collaborate with Velico as a BCEP partner. We take great pride in our history of firsts, leading change and innovation in blood transfusion products and services," says Adrienne Mendoza, STB&T Chief Operating Officer. Velico's development program has been funded in whole or in part with federal funds from the Department of Health and Human Services; Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response; Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, under contract number 75A50121C00059. About Velico: Velico Medical, Inc. is a private US medical technology company, committed to the mission of eliminating preventable death from bleeding. Headquartered in Beverly, Massachusetts, USA. Velico personnel have substantial expertise and experience in transfusion medicine and medical device development. In support of its mission, Velico is developing partnerships with civilian, government and military blood center leadership, trauma surgeons, emergency medical physicians, military medics and first responders worldwide. About South Texas Blood & Tissue: South Texas Blood & Tissue (STB&T) is a non-profit community blood center that provides blood, plasma, platelets and other blood components to 100 hospitals in 48 South Texas counties. It is the largest blood supplier in our region. In addition, STB&T supports the development of advanced therapies, including those derived from donated human cells and tissues used in research and in new therapies and cures for cancers and degenerative diseases. Through the generous life-legacy gifts of human tissue, STB&T also supports development of tissue allografts for patients in need of reconstructive surgery, repair or tissue regeneration. STB&T has a 47-year history serving the South Texas community and is part of the BioBridge Global family of non-profit organizations, which offers services in regenerative medicine and research including blood banking and resource management; cellular therapy; umbilical cord blood collection and storage; donated human tissue recovery and distribution for transplant; and testing of blood and plasma products to help patients in the United States and worldwide. STB&T has eight donor centers in South Texas and conducts hundreds of mobile blood drives each year. STB&T is online at SouthTexasBlood.org. Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2251183/velico_STBT_video.mp4 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2251182/Velico_Medical__Blood_Centre_Education_Programme.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2152986/Velico_Medical_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/velico-medical-launches-blood-center-education-program-with-south-texas-blood--tissue-301963401.html Finsbury Growth & Income Trust Plc - Transaction in Own Shares PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, October 20 For immediate release 20 October 2023 FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC (the "Company") MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES The Company announces that it has today purchased 200,000 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 810.04 pence per Ordinary Share. Such shares will be held in treasury by the Company. The transaction was made pursuant to the authority granted at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 17 January 2023. Following this transaction, the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury is 22,071,869; the total number of Ordinary Shares that the Company has in issue, less the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury following such purchase, and therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 202,919,434. The figure of 202,919,434 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for calculations of interests in the Company's voting rights in accordance with the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules. For and on behalf of Frostrow Capital LLP Company Secretary For further information, please contact: Victoria Hale Frostrow Capital LLP Tel: 020 3 170 8732 DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / October 20, 2023 / Monticello Associates, Inc., one of the country's leading asset management consultants, announced that Milgo Galaydh, CFA, has joined the Firm as a Director in Investment Consulting in Monticello's Washington, D.C. office, effective October 2023. Prior to joining Monticello, Milgo was a Managing Director at Cambridge Associates, where she advised Endowment and Foundation clients on the construction of private investment portfolios. Previously, Milgo was at Albright Capital Management where she spent a decade leading the emerging markets corporate credit strategy with responsibility for sourcing, researching, and executing investments. Additionally, she conducted due diligence on private equity and venture capital funds. A CFA charterholder, Milgo graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce. "Milgo will be a terrific addition to our senior team, both professionally and personally," says B. Grady Durham, Founder and Executive Chairman of Monticello Associates. "I expect her deep experience to have an immediate and positive impact on our client investment programs. Monticello has continued over time to build out its exceptional team, adding to our culture of excellence. Attracting, retaining, and incentivizing top investment professionals is the best way to serve our clients." Denver-based Monticello, with its heavy emphasis on research-based advice, has built an impressive team of senior investment consultants with deep experience in directly evaluating investment managers. Serving a wide variety of clients, including endowments, foundations, and high-net-worth families, the firm has become one of the premier investment consulting firms in the country. About Monticello Associates Monticello Associates is an independent, fee-only asset management consulting firm based in Denver with additional offices in Cleveland, Boston, and Washington, D.C. Founded in 1992, the firm assists endowments, foundations, and family offices in the areas of asset allocation, investment policy development, investment manager search and selection, and performance measurement. As of December 31, 2022, the firm provided investment consulting services to 178 client relationships representing approximately $115 billion of assets under advisement. Contact Information Cristy Hott Director - Client Service / Administration chott@monticelloassociates.com 303-572-6302 SOURCE: Monticello Associates View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/795044/monticello-associates-announces-new-director-in-investment-consulting Funds will support the club's Brain Gain program to build reading comprehension SPRINGFIELD, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 20, 2023 / KeyBank / Springfield Boys & Girls Club (SBGS) has received a $10,000 charitable grant from KeyBank Foundation, the charitable foundation of KeyBank. The grant will support the club's Brain Gain Program, an afterschool program designed to bolster appropriate grade-level reading skills for the inner city, at-risk children and youth served by the club. A ceremonial check was presented by KeyBank to SBGS leadership, staff and youth members at a check presentation event held yesterday at the Boys and Girls Club on Carew Street in Springfield. "The Boys & Girls Club is pleased to see KeyBank's strong commitment to the education of children," said Executive Director Vinnie Borello. "This gift from Keybank Foundation is a much-needed investment to our community as we strive to help our kids expand their reading skills in a fun, learning environment. We appreciate KeyBank's support." The vast majority of children served by the Springfield Boys & Girls Club are from low-income families, with 65% of them raised in homes where English is a second language, putting them at a disadvantage in terms of reading, retention, and school learning. In addition, many of the students are still recovering from learning loss sustained during the COVID-19 pandemic remote learning environment. The Brain Gain Program is designed to build reading comprehension and retention skills so that participants are reading at grade level at a minimum. SBGS utilizes specific software programs to support the curriculum and provide Chromebook computers and internet access to children who may otherwise have no access to technology and these learning tools. "At KeyBank, we believe in supporting organizations and programs that help students be successful in school, get good grades, and eventually graduate and have access to college and career-building opportunities," said KeyBank Corporate Responsibility Officer Analisha Michanczyk. "The Boys and Girls Club's Brain Gain program is an effective way to help kids build literacy skills and perform better in school, and we are proud to support their efforts." KeyBank Foundation provides financial resources to nonprofits within KeyBank's service areas that help students achieve academically, with a particular focus toward minority and low-and moderate-income populations. KeyBank has seven retail bank branches throughout greater Springfield, MA. About Springfield Boys & Girls Club: The Springfield Boys and Girls Club is committed to the betterment of the lives of children in Springfield, Massachusetts. At the Springfield Boys & Girls Club, we provide all our members with a safe place to grow and learn that fosters ongoing relationships with caring adult professionals. We offer a variety of life-enhancing programs that include character development experiences, hope, and opportunities. With a dedicated staff, board, and volunteers, the Club ensures that "Great Futures Start Here." About KeyBank Foundation: KeyBank Foundation serves to fulfill KeyBank's purpose to help clients and communities thrive, and its mission is to support organizations and programs that prepare people for thriving futures. The Foundation's mission is advanced through three funding priorities - neighbors, education, and workforce - and through community service. To provide meaningful philanthropy that transforms lives, KeyBank Foundation listens carefully to understand the unique characteristics and needs of its communities and then backs solutions with targeted philanthropic investments. KeyBank Foundation is a nonprofit charitable foundation, funded by KeyCorp. About KeyCorp/KeyBank: KeyCorp's roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $187.8 billion at September?30, 2023. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,300 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit?https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is Member FDIC. Media contacts: Springfield Boys and Girls Club: Sarah Gumaer, Marketing Director | 413-732-7201 | Sgumaer@sbgc.org KeyBank: Karen Crane, Communications Manager | 203-789-2752 | karen_crane@keybank.com Photo: (from left) Springfield Boys & Girls Club board member Aleana Laster; KeyBank Corporate Responsibility Officer Analisha Michanczyk, Branch Manager Vanity Bryant; SBGC Director of Development Karen Natsios; KeyBank Area Retail Leader Sarah Germini; and Springfield Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Vinnie Borello (far right), with students in the Brain Gain program. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from KeyBank on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: KeyBank Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/keybank Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: KeyBank View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/795051/springfield-boys-girls-club-receives-10000-grant-from-keybank-foundation Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 20, 2023) - AgriCann Solutions Corp. (the "Company" or "AgriCann") announces the closing of the non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") announced in its news release on July 28, 2023, as amended on September 7, 2023. The Company is issuing 10,342,361 units of the Company ("Units") at a price of $0.10 per Unit, for aggregate gross proceeds of $1,034,236. Each Unit is comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Share") and one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one additional common share (a "Warrant Share") at a price of $0.20 per Warrant Share for a period of 24 months from the closing date of the Offering. The Company will be entitled to accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants to the date that is 21 days following the date the Company issues a news release announcing that the published closing price of the Common Shares on such exchange and/or market as the Shares may trade from time to time, has been equal to or greater than $0.30 for ten consecutive trading days after the hold period on the Common Shares has expired. All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities legislation, or as required by a stock exchange as part of any listing application. Insiders of the Company participated under the Offering for $549,236.10 representing 5,492,361 Units. Such participation would be considered a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101"). Such participation is expected to be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101. The Company intends to use the proceeds raised from the Offering for general working capital, buildout, and capacity expansion at the Newline Ventures Inc. ("Newline") facility, where AgriCann has completed the corporate relocation of its primary operations. The Company announced entering into a definitive Share Exchange Agreement ("SEA") with Newline on July 28, 2023, the closing of which is expected imminently. About AgriCann Solutions Corp. AgriCann operates wholly owned subsidiary Craft Nurseries Canada Ltd., a full-service Health Canada licensed cannabis nursery located in Lake Country, British Columbia, and is positioned to complete the acquisition of Newline Ventures Inc. in nearby Vernon, a Health Canada licensed facility designed to accommodate AgriCann's current and future expansion plans. AgriCann supports craft cultivators through innovative marketing initiatives, creating demand with premium genetics and strong consumer branding, and facilitates the distribution of consumer-packaged goods through a scalable online wholesale platform and logistics model. By providing cultivating partners with access to superior genetics, starting materials, and cultivation support, we ensure quality control of finished flower as a trusted partner enabling effective and strategic competition in today's market. AgriCann provides a logistics solution by helping micro-batch craft cultivators build a viable business, getting their products to market efficiently and thereby securing a reliable supply of premium craft cannabis products to domestic and global markets. AgriCann Solutions' website: https://agricannsolutions.com/ Craft Nurseries' website: https://www.craftnurseries.com/ ON BEHALF OF AGRICANN SOLUTIONS CORP. (signed) "Rob van Santen" Executive Chairman For further information, please contact: Adam Sancewicz Chief Executive Officer Telephone: +1.778.231.5431 Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Some of the statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "expects" or "does not expect", "intends", "is expected", "potential", "suggests" or variations of such words or phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information are not historical facts and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control. Actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by applicable law. AgriCann Solutions Corp. 400-1771 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6G1C9 Tel. +1.604.608.1999 ~ Fax. +1.778.379.9990 THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/184687 Tbilisi, Georgia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 20, 2023) - Silk Development has entered a partnership with a famous Japanese architecture studio Kengo Kuma & Associates to realize the Silk Towers project. The contract between the company and the architecture studio has already been settled. Kengo Kuma & Associates has undertaken the task of developing a design, a concept, and an updated master plan for Silk Towers. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10068/184694_silkroad_550.jpg George Ramishvili - Founder and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of "Silk Road Group": "We invite world-renowned innovative architects and designers to our projects. The Silk Towers project is being designed by the distinguished Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, whose architectural concept revolves around the usage of natural sustainable materials in creating harmony with the environment. I am confident that the outcome of this collaboration will be most outstanding. We want the Silk Towers, and the Batumi Riviera as a whole, to be an exceptional architectural development to adorn the beautiful Batumi seacoast. I'm sure that, alongside us, the people of Batumi will be proud of this exceptional, environmentally and aesthetically harmonious complex." Yuki Ikeguchi - Executive Vice President of "Kengo Kuma & Associates": "The waterfront development of Silk Towers offers the city a distinctive architecture and landscape design that echoes the expansive, rich nature of Batumi. The ground with dense lush vegetation, flora and fauna, interplay with waterscape would activate and qualify the open spaces that people can enjoy freely. The project would redefine the waterfront as a catalyst to further enhance and celebrate the cultural and natural landscape that closely engaging the urban life." Silk Development is renowned for its real estate projects that consistently meet the highest international standards. The company places a strong emphasis on sustainable architecture, actively seeking to integrate eco-friendly practices and initiatives into every aspect of their new developments, ensuring a greener and more responsible future. About Silk Development: Silk Development is responsible for the management of all projects within the Silk Road Group. The list includes Radisson brand hotels in Tbilisi, Batumi and Tsinandali, as well as the "Park Hotel" in Tsinandali, Tsinandali Estate Villas, a multifunctional complex "Republic", the "Iveria Beach Club", a night club "Noble Savage", the cafe "Iveria", sport complex "Neptune" and residential complex "Green Cape Botanico". Silk Development is a subsidiary of Silk Real Estate (Silk Road Group's real estate management company and one of Georgia's leading hospitality providers). Silk Real Estate's portfolio boasts assets valued at an estimated 900 million GEL. Since 2005, Silk Road Group has invested up to one billion USD in Georgia's economy. About Kengo Kuma: Founded by the celebrated Japanese architect Kengo Kuma in 1990, Kengo Kuma & Associates has headquarters in Tokyo, Paris, and Beijing. The company's projects are currently executed in more than 30 countries. Kengo Kuma proposes architecture that opens up new relationships between nature, technology, and human beings. Furthermore, Kengo has been engaged in academic activities at universities in Japan and the USA for many years and is the author of several literary and scientific publications. Among other notable projects, Kengo Kuma designed Japan's National Stadium built for the 2020 Summer Olympics. His company's vision acknowledges sustainable architecture, that is, focusing on the usage of natural materials and integrating them harmoniously with the environment. Press Contact: Ani Tsabadze - Silk Road Group, PR Manager ani.tsabadze@silkroad.ge; +995 577 22 73 73 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/184694 This is a press release issued by Teleperformance SE ("Teleperformance") pursuant to the provisions of Section 16, Paragraphs 1 and 2, Section 17, Paragraph 1 and Section 4, Paragraph (3) of the Dutch Decree on Public Takeover Bids (Besluit openbare biedingen Wft, the "Decree") in connection with the public offer (the "Offer") by Teleperformance for all the issued and outstanding ordinary shares in the capital of Majorel Group Luxembourg S.A. ("Majorel") (the "Shares", and each holder of such Shares, a "Shareholder"). This press release does not constitute an offer, or any solicitation of any offer, to buy or subscribe for any securities in Teleperformance or Majorel. Any offer will be made only by means of the offer memorandum approved by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (Autoriteit Financiele Markten, the "AFM"), which has been published on 11 August 2023 (the "Offer Memorandum"), and subject to the restrictions set forth therein. This press release is not for release, publication or distribution, in whole or in part, in or into, directly or indirectly, in any jurisdiction in which such release, publication or distribution would be unlawful. Terms not defined in this press release will have the meaning as set forth in the Offer Memorandum. This press release is also a public announcement by Teleperformance pursuant to Section 17, paragraph 1 of the EU Market Abuse Regulation and contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation. Regulatory News: Teleperformance (Paris:TEP), a global leader in digital business services, is pleased to announce that, during the Offer Period, 98,448,171 Shares representing approximately 98.45% of Majorel's outstanding share capital have been tendered under the Offer and that all other Offer Conditions (including the obtention of the Clearances from the Antitrust Authorities) have been satisfied. As a result, Teleperformance declares the Offer unconditional (doet gestand) and the Post-Acceptance Period will start as from 23 October 2023 for a 2-week period. The results of the Offer ahead of the Post-Acceptance Period show excellent achievement. This extremely high contribution rate to the Offer demonstrates the strong support of Majorel's shareholders for the Group's project and the recognized relevance of this acquisition. The First Settlement of the Offer will take place on 27 October 2023 (the "First Settlement Date"), on which date the Cash Consideration of EUR 30.00 per Share will be paid to Shareholders who have validly tendered their Shares against the Cash Consideration during the Offer Period. Shareholders who have not tendered their Shares during the Offer Period may tender their Shares during the Post-Acceptance Period, which will start on 23 October 2023, at 9:00 hours CET, and end on 3 November 2023, at 17:40 hours CET. After the Post-Acceptance Period, the Second Settlement is expected to occur on 8 November 2023 (the "Second Settlement Date"). Shareholders who have elected to receive the Share Consideration during the Offer Period or the Post-Acceptance Period will receive on the Second Settlement Date Teleperformance shares at an exchange ratio of 30/217. Shareholders who validly tendered their Shares against the Cash Consideration during the Post-Acceptance Period will receive the Cash Consideration on the Second Settlement Date. Tender results and Offer declared unconditional During the Offer Period, which ended on 20 October 2023, at 17:40 hours CET (the "Closing Time"), 98,448,171 Shares were tendered under the Offer, representing approximately 98.45% of Majorel's outstanding share capital as of today, and an aggregate value of approximately EUR 2,953,445,130. Teleperformance accepts all Shares that have been validly tendered (or defectively tendered, provided that such defect has been waived by Teleperformance) and not validly withdrawn in accordance with Section 5.3.5 (Withdrawal Rights) of the Offer Memorandum. Teleperformance has the right (but not the obligation) to accept any tender of Shares pursuant to the Offer, even if such tender has not been made in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Offer. All Offer Conditions have been satisfied. Accordingly, Teleperformance declares the Offer unconditional. First Settlement The First Settlement will take place on 27 October 2023. Teleperformance will pay the Cash Consideration on the First Settlement Date to Shareholders who have (i) validly tendered (or defectively tendered provided that such defect has been waived by Teleperformance) their Shares against the Cash Consideration during the Offer Period, and (ii) not validly withdrawn and have transferred their Shares for acceptance pursuant to the Offer on or prior to the Closing Time. Teleperformance cannot guarantee that Shareholders holding Shares through an Admitted Institution will actually receive payment on the First Settlement Date from such Admitted Institution. Further information on the First Settlement is included in Section 5.7 (First Settlement) of the Offer Memorandum. Shareholders who have tendered their Shares during the Offer Period against the Share Consideration will receive the Share Consideration on the Second Settlement Date (see below under Second Settlement). Post-Acceptance Period Teleperformance hereby announces, in accordance with Section 17, Paragraph 1 of the Decree, that Shareholders who did not tender their Shares during the Offer Period will have the opportunity to tender their Shares, under the same terms and conditions applicable to the Offer as set out in the Offer Memorandum, during the Post-Acceptance Period of two (2) weeks, which will start on 23 October 2023, at 9:00 hours CET, and end on 3 November 2023, at 17:40 CET. Further information on the Post-Acceptance Period is included in Section 5.8 (Post-Acceptance Period) of the Offer Memorandum. Teleperformance will publicly announce the results of the Post-Acceptance Period, and the total number and total percentage of Shares held by it in accordance with Article 17, Paragraph 4 of the Decree no later than on the third (3rd) Business Day following the last day of the Post-Acceptance Period. During the Post-Acceptance Period and until the Second Settlement Date, Shareholders who tendered Shares accepted by Teleperformance have no right to withdraw such Shares from the Offer or change their election between the Cash Consideration and the Share Consideration. Second Settlement Teleperformance will pay the Cash Consideration on the Second Settlement Date to Shareholders who have (i) validly tendered their Shares against the Cash Consideration during the Post-Acceptance Period (or defectively tendered their Shares provided that such defect has been waived by Teleperformance), and (ii) not validly withdrawn and have transferred such Shares for acceptance pursuant to the Offer on or prior to the end of the Post-Acceptance Period. Teleperformance will pay the Share Consideration on the Second Settlement to Shareholders who have (i) validly tendered their Shares against the Share Consideration during the Offer Period or the Post-Acceptance Period (or defectively tendered their Shares provided that such defect has been waived by Teleperformance), and (ii) not validly withdrawn and have transferred such Shares for acceptance pursuant to the Offer on or prior to the end of the Offer Period or Post-Acceptance Period. Teleperformance will determine the number of Teleperformance shares to be issued for the payment of the Share Consideration in respect of the Tendered Shares in accordance with Sections 5.2 (Offer Consideration) and 5.9 (Second Settlement) of the Offer Memorandum. A maximum of 4,608,295 Teleperformance shares is available for issue under the Share Consideration, (i.e., a maximum of 33,333,334 Shares can be exchanged for Teleperformance shares). As the Share Consideration is oversubscribed by Shareholders because Bertelsmann and Saham tendered their Shares against the Share Consideration, the Teleperformance shares will be allocated among the Shareholders that elected the Share Consideration on a pro rata basis according to the total number of Shares tendered by the Shareholders who have validly elected the Share Consideration. In respect of the remaining Tendered Shares that are not exchanged for Teleperformance shares, such Shareholders will receive the corresponding Cash Consideration on the Second Settlement Date. Teleperformance cannot guarantee that Shareholders holding Shares through an Admitted Institution will actually receive payment on the Second Settlement Date from such Admitted Institution. Post-settlement measures with respect to non-tendered Shares Following the Second Settlement, Teleperformance may choose to implement certain Post-Settlement Restructurings (as described in more detail in Section 6.13 (Consequences of the Offer for non-tendering Shareholders) of the Offer Memorandum). Teleperformance reserves the right to use any legally permitted method to acquire all of the Shares or full ownership of the Majorel's business. Since Teleperformance will hold at least 95% of the voting capital and voting rights in the Company after the Second Settlement, it may initiate squeeze-out proceedings under the Luxembourg Takeover Law after the Post-Acceptance Period. More information will be provided in a separate press release after the Post-Acceptance Period. Teleperformance does not intend to propose in the squeeze-out proceedings a consideration to be paid to, or received by, the Shareholders at financial terms higher than the Offer Consideration paid in the current Offer, it being specified that such terms could be lower than the Offer Consideration. When deliberating and resolving on any squeeze-out proceedings or Post-Settlement Restructuring, due consideration will be given to the requirements of law, including, to the extent applicable, the Dutch Financial Markets Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht), the Decree and the duties of the Company Boards to promote the corporate interest of Majorel, and the interests of all shareholders (including minority shareholders) and other relevant stakeholders, and relevant employee representative bodies' information and/or consultation requirements. Delisting Since Teleperformance will hold at least 95% of the voting capital and voting rights in the Company after the Second Settlement, it intends to thereafter request the delisting of the Shares from Euronext Amsterdam (including the Shares not tendered under the Offer) and the termination of the listing agreement between Majorel and Euronext Amsterdam in relation to the listing of the Shares. This may adversely affect the liquidity and market value of any Shares not tendered. Reference is made to Section 6.13 (Consequences of the Offer for non-tendering Shareholders) of the Offer Memorandum. Further implications for declaring the Offer unconditional Remaining Shareholders who do not wish to tender their Shares under the Offer in the Post-Acceptance Period should carefully review the Sections of the Offer Memorandum that explain the intentions of Teleperformance and/or certain actual or potential implications to which such non-tendering Shareholders will be subject, such as (but not limited to) Section 6.13 (Consequences of the Offer for non-tendering Shareholders) of the Offer Memorandum. Announcements Any announcement contemplated by the Offer Memorandum will be issued by means of a press release. Any press release issued by Teleperformance will be made available on the website of Teleperformance (https://www.teleperformance.com/en-us/investors/publications-and-events/acquisition-of-majorel/) Offer Memorandum and further information This announcement contains selected, condensed information regarding the Offer and does not replace the Offer Memorandum. The information in this announcement is not complete and additional information is contained in the Offer Memorandum. Digital copies of the Offer Memorandum are available on the website of Teleperformance https://www.teleperformance.com/en-us/investors/publications-and-events/acquisition-of-majorel/) and digital copies of the Position Statement, which has been published on 11 August 2023, are available on the website of Majorel (https://www.majorel.com/whats-new/majorel-publishes-position-statement-on-voluntary-public-cash-and-exchange-offer-for-all-shares-in-majorel-by-teleperformance-se-recommending-to-accept-the-offer/). Copies of the Offer Memorandum are also available free of charge at the office of the Settlement Agent (ABN AMRO Bank N.V., Gustav Mahlerlaan 10, 1082 PP, Amsterdam, Netherlands). On 11 August 2023, Teleperformance also published the first amendment to its Universal Registration Document filed with the French Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF) on 27 February 2023 and the exemption document pursuant to article 1 sub 4(f) and 5(e) of the EU Prospectus Regulation. These documents are published in relation to Teleperformance shares to be issued and admitted to trading on Euronext Paris as part of the Share Consideration. These documents are available on Teleperformance's website (https://www.teleperformance.com/en-us/investors/publications-and-events/financial-publications/. These documents have not been approved by the AFM prior to publication. Third quarter 2023 revenue of Teleperformance Given the above timetable of the Post-Acceptance Period, Teleperformance has decided to postpone the publication of its third-quarter 2023 revenue to 6 November 2023, in order to incorporate also the publication of the final results of the Post-Acceptance Period. The related press release will be available on Teleperformance's website (https://www.teleperformance.com/en-us/investors/publications-and-events/financial-publications/ Disclaimer Certain information included in this press release are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions, including, without limitation, assumptions as to the potential combination of Teleperformance with Majorel, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results or other events, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and Teleperformance expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any update or revisions to any forward-looking statements included in this press release to reflect any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based. Such forward-looking statements are for illustrative purposes only. Forward-looking information and statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of Teleperformance. The forward-looking statements included in this press release do not include any assumption for a further significant deterioration in market conditions or the current geopolitical situation. These risks and uncertainties include those discussed or identified under Section 2.1 of the Universal Registration Document of Teleperformance, filed with the French Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF) on 27 February 2023, as amended by the Amendment to the Universal Registration Document, and available on the Teleperformance website (www.teleperformance.com) and the AMF website (www.amf-france.org This press release is for information purposes only and does not, and shall not, constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for any securities of Teleperformance or Majorel nor a solicitation to offer to purchase or to subscribe for securities of Teleperformance or Majorel in any jurisdiction, including in France and the Netherlands. Any offer will be made only by means of the Offer Memorandum. The distribution of this press release may, in some countries, be restricted by law or regulation. Accordingly, persons who come into possession of this document should inform themselves of and observe these restrictions. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Teleperformance disclaims any responsibility or liability for the violation of any such restrictions by any person. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of that jurisdiction. Neither Teleperformance nor any of its advisors assumes any responsibility for any violation of any of these restrictions. Any Majorel shareholder who is in any doubt as to his or her position should consult an appropriate professional advisor without delay. Notice to U.S. Shareholders The Offer is being made by Teleperformance, a French company whose shares are listed on Euronext Paris, for the Shares in Majorel, a Luxembourg company whose shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam, and is subject to Dutch, Luxembourg and French disclosure and procedural requirements, which differ from those of the United States. It is important that U.S. shareholders understand that the Offer and any related offer documents are subject to disclosure and takeover laws and regulations in the Netherlands, France and/or Luxembourg that may be different from those in the United States. The financial information included or referred to herein has been prepared in accordance with non-U.S. accounting standards and, accordingly, may not be comparable to the financial information of U.S. companies or companies whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. U.S. shareholders are referred to Section 3.2 (Information for U.S. shareholders) of the Offer Memorandum. The Offer is being made in the United States in compliance with, and in reliance on, the exemption provided by Rule 14d-1(c), known as the "Tier I" exemption, under the U.S. Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "U.S. Exchange Act Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or pursuant to an exemption from such registration. The Offeror Shares to be issued in connection with the settlement of the Offer are not, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act or under the securities laws of any jurisdiction of the United States and will be issued to Shareholders in the United States in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Rule 802 under the Securities Act and in reliance on available exemptions from any state law registration requirements. It may be difficult for U.S. shareholders to enforce their rights and claims arising out of the U.S. federal securities laws, since Teleperformance and Majorel are located in a country other than the United States, and some or all of their officers and directors may be residents of a country other than the United States. U.S. shareholders may not be able to sue a non-U.S. company or its officers or directors in a non-U.S. court for violations of the U.S. securities laws. Further, it may be difficult to compel a non-U.S. company and its affiliates to subject themselves to a U.S. court's judgment. Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any U.S. state securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the Offer or the Offeror Shares to be issued in connection with the settlement of the Offer, passed upon the fairness or merits of the Offer or provided an opinion as to the accuracy or completeness of this Offer Memorandum or any other documents regarding the Offer. Any declaration to the contrary constitutes a criminal offence in the United States. In accordance with standard Dutch practice and pursuant to Rule 14e-5(b) of the U.S. Exchange Act, Teleperformance or its nominees, or its brokers (acting as agents), or affiliates of Teleperformance's financial advisors, may from time to time make certain purchases of, or arrangements to purchase, Shares outside of the United States, other than pursuant to the Offer, before or during the period in which the Offer remains open for acceptance. These purchases may occur either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices. Information about such purchases, if any, will be announced by press release in accordance with Article 13 of the Decree and posted on the website of Teleperformance (https://www.teleperformance.com/en-us/investors/publications-and-events/acquisition-of-majorel/ INVESTOR CALENDAR Third-quarter 2023 revenue: 6 November 2023 (after closing of stock market) ABOUT TELEPERFORMANCE GROUP Teleperformance (TEP ISIN: FR0000051807 Reuters: TEPRF.PA Bloomberg: TEP FP), is a global leader in digital business services, blending the best of advanced technology with human empathy to deliver enhanced customer care that is simpler, faster, and safer for the world's biggest brands and their customers. The Group's comprehensive, AI-powered service portfolio ranges from front-office customer care to back-office functions, including Trust and Safety services that help defend both online users and brand reputation. It also offers a range of specialized services such as collections, interpreting and localization, visa and consular services, and recruitment process outsourcing services. With more than 410,000 inspired and passionate people speaking more than 300 languages, the Group's global scale and local presence allows it to be a force of good in supporting communities, clients, and the environment. In 2022, Teleperformance reported consolidated revenue of 8,154 million (US$8.6 billion, based on 1 $1.05) and net profit of 645 million. Teleperformance shares are traded on the Euronext Paris market, Compartment A, and are eligible for the deferred settlement service. They are included in the following indices: CAC 40, STOXX 600, S&P Europe 350, MSCI Global Standard and Euronext Tech Leaders. In the area of corporate social responsibility, Teleperformance shares are included in the CAC 40 ESG since September 2022, the Euronext Vigeo Euro 120 index since 2015, the EURO STOXX 50 ESG index since 2020, the MSCI Europe ESG Leaders index since 2019, the FTSE4Good index since 2018 and the S&P Global 1200 ESG index since 2017. For more information: www.teleperformance.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020612814/en/ Contacts: ANALYSTS AND INVESTORS Investor relations and financial communication TELEPERFORMANCE Tel: +33 1 53 83 59 00 investor@teleperformance.com PRESS RELATIONS Europe Karine Allouis Laurent Poinsot IMAGE7 Tel: +33 1 53 70 74 70 teleperformance@image7.fr PRESS RELATIONS Americas and Asia-Pacific Nicole Miller TELEPERFORMANCE Tel: +1 629-899-0675 tppublicaffairs@teleperformance.com In diesem Report stellen wir Ihnen 3 Top-Aktien aus dem Energie-Sektor vor, die Sie unbedingt auf Ihre Watchlist setzen mussen. Lassen Sie sich diese kostenlose Analyse nicht entgehen! WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - After moving notably lower over the past several sessions, treasuries regained ground during the trading day on Friday. Bond prices showed a strong move to the upside in early trading and remained firmly positive throughout the session. As a result, the yield on the benchmark ten-year note, which moves opposite of its price, slid 6.4 basis points to 4.924 percent. The pullback by the ten-year yield came on the heels of a four-day advance, with the yield once again reaching its highest levels in over sixteen years. Overnight, the ten-year yield climbed above 5 percent for the first time since July 2007, potentially inspiring some traders to pick up treasuries at reduced levels. Treasuries may also have benefitted from their appeal as a safe haven amid fears the Israel-Hamas war may escalate into a broader regional crisis. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told troops gathered at the Gaza border on Thursday that they would soon see the Palestinian enclave 'from inside.' Additionally, reports emerged that U.S. troops are being targeted at several military bases across Iraq and Syria, while a U.S. Navy warship destroyed cruise missiles and drones fired toward Israel by Houthi rebels in Yemen. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. In diesem Report stellen wir Ihnen 3 Top-Aktien aus dem Energie-Sektor vor, die Sie unbedingt auf Ihre Watchlist setzen mussen. Lassen Sie sich diese kostenlose Analyse nicht entgehen! WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - After an early move to the upside, the price of crude oil gave back ground over the course of the trading session on Friday. Crude futures for November delivery, which expire on Friday, rose as high as $90.78 a barrel before pulling back and closing down $0.62 or 0.7 percent at $88.75 a barrel. The more active December futures slipped $0.29 or 0.3 percent to $88.08 a barrel after reaching a high of $89.85 a barrel. The early advance by oil prices came amid fears the Israel-Hamas war may escalate into a broader regional crisis. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told troops gathered at the Gaza border on Thursday that they would soon see the Palestinian enclave 'from inside.' Additionally, reports emerged that U.S. troops are being targeted at several military bases across Iraq and Syria, while a U.S. Navy warship destroyed cruise missiles and drones fired toward Israel by Houthi rebels in Yemen. Buying interest waned over the course of the session, however, as traders expressed concerns about the outlook for global demand. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for release, publication, distribution, or dissemination, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or into the United States. Unless otherwise noted, references to "$" or dollars in this press release are to Canadian dollars. TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / October 20, 2023 / Northern Superior Resources Inc. ("Northern Superior" or the "Company") (TSXV:SUP)(OTCQX:NSUPF) advises that the 2023 Annual General Meeting of the Company's shareholders will be held on November 22, 2023, via telephone conference call (the "Meeting"). Advance notice of the Meeting was filed on SEDAR+ on September 21, 2023. Meeting materials including a Notice, Management Information Circular and form of Proxy for the Meeting will be mailed on October 24, 2023, to the shareholders of record on October 16, 2023. Concurrently with the mailing, all Meeting materials will be filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and will also be posted on the Company's website (https://nsuperior.com/invest/). The Meeting is being held inter alia for the following purposes: (i) to receive the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 and the auditors' report thereon, (ii) to fix the number of directors to be elected for the ensuing year at seven (7) and to elect directors of the Company for the ensuing year, (iii) to re-appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as auditors for the Company for the ensuing year and authorize the Directors to fix the auditors' remuneration (iv) to consider and if deemed appropriate, to re-approve, with or without variation, the Company's 2022 Equity Incentive Plan, (v) to consider and if deemed appropriate, to approve an extension to the expiry date of 1,260,000 outstanding stock options held by certain directors and officers of the Company (the "Impacted Options"); and (vi) to transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment. The Impacted Options were granted to certain directors and officers with an exercise price of $0.55 per Impacted Option in replacement of previously granted stock options to acquire common shares of Royal Fox Gold Inc. ("Royal Fox") following the closing of the Company's acquisition of Royal Fox, and are set to expire on November 4, 2023, as per the terms of the arrangement agreement dated September 6, 2022 between Royal Fox and the Company (the "Arrangement Agreement") (a copy of the Arrangement Agreement can be found on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under the Company's profile). It is proposed to extend the term of the Impacted Options to June 10, 2026 (for 1,200,000 Impacted Options) and July 19, 2026 (for 60,000 Impacted Options), which would be in line with the maturity date of the Royal Fox options originally issued. On October 19, 2023, the board of directors of the Company, excluding those directors holding Impacted Options, approved a resolution to extend the terms of the Impacted Options to coincide with the original expiry date(s) of the corresponding Royal Fox options (the "Proposed Option Extension"). At the Meeting, shareholders of the Company excluding officers and directors holding Impacted Options will be asked to approve an ordinary resolution approving the Proposed Option Extension. For a breakdown of the Impacted Options held by each officer and director, please refer to the Company's management information circular available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under the Company's profile. The Proposed Option Extension is deemed to be "related party transactions" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101- Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is exempt from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements for related party transactions pursuant to Subsection 5.5(b) and Subsection 5.7(a) of MI 61-101, respectively. About Northern Superior Resources Inc. Northern Superior is a gold exploration company focused on the Chibougamau Camp in Quebec, Canada. The Company has consolidated the largest land package in the region, with total land holdings currently exceeding 62,000 hectares. The main properties include Philibert, Lac Surprise, Chevrier and Croteau. Northern Superior also owns significant exploration assets in Northern Ontario highlighted by the district scale TPK Project. The Philibert Project is located 9 km from IAMGOLD Corporation's Nelligan Gold project which was awarded the "Discovery of the Year" by the Quebec Mineral Exploration Association (AEMQ) in 2019. Philibert host a new maiden 43-101 inferred resource of 1,708,800 ounces Au and an indicated resource of 278,900 ounces of Au[1]. Northern Superior holds a majority stake of 75% in the Philibert Project, with the remaining 25% owned by SOQUEM, and retains an option to acquire the full 100% ownership of the project. Chevrier hosts an inferred mineral resource of 652,000 ounces Au (underground and open pit) and an indicated mineral resource of 260,000 ounces Au.[2] Croteau hosts an inferred mineral resource of 640,000 ounces Au.[3] Lac Surprise hosts the Falcon Zone Discovery, interpreted to be the western strike extension of IAMGOLD Corporation's Nelligan Deposit. Northern Superior is a reporting issuer in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, and trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol SUP and the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol NSUPF. For further information, please refer to the Company's website at www.nsuperior.com or on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca). Northern Superior Resources Inc. on Behalf of the Board of Directors Simon Marcotte, CFA, President and Chief Executive Officer Contact Information Simon Marcotte, CFA President and Chief Executive Officer Tel: (647) 801-7273 info@nsuperior.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation that is based on expectations, estimates, projections and interpretations as at the date of this news release. The information in this news release about the proposed transaction; and any other information herein that is not a historical fact may be "forward-looking information". Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, interpretations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "interpreted", "management's view", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward- looking information and are intended to identify forward-looking information. This forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of Northern Superior and BCCo, at the time it was made, involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the companies to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, risks relating to the ability of the parties to execute the proposed transaction. Although the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based upon what management believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the parties cannot assure shareholders and prospective purchasers of securities that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and neither party nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any such forward-looking information. Neither party undertakes, and assumes no obligation, to update or revise any such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by law. [1] Northern Superior announces 1,708,809 gold ounces in inferred category and 278,921 gold ounces in indicated category at 1.10 g/t in maiden NI 43-101 pit constrained resource estimate at Philibert; Northern Superior Resources Inc. press release dated August 08, 2023. [2]NI 43-101 Technical Report Mineral Resource Estimation for the Chevrier Main Deposit, Chevrier Project Chibougamau, Quebec, Canada, October 20, 2021, Prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 by Lions Gate Geological Consulting Inc. IOS Services Geoscientifiques Inc. for Northern Superior Resources Inc. [3] Chalice Gold Mines Limited and Northern Superior Resources Inc. Technical Report on the Croteau Est Gold Project, Quebec, September 2015, Prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 by Optiro Pty Ltd ("Optiro") to Chalice Gold Mines Limited and Northern Superior Resources Inc. SOURCE: Northern Superior Resources Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/795071/northern-superior-provides-notice-of-annual-general-meeting MCE, the digital device lifecycle management specialist, has expanded its collection of technology application awards with two more accolades -"Best CX Innovation" and "Best Applied Technology" at CXA 23. MCE Systems Ltd. and its partner, Vodafone UK, scooped two gold awards at the prestigious UK Customer Experience Awards 2023 ceremony at Wembley Stadium. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231019939115/en/ Our Chief Commercial Officer, Eitan Linker, holds one of the two gold awards won by MCE Systems in partnership with Vodafone UK at the UK Customer Experience Awards 2023. These accolades reaffirm MCE's commitment to delivering unparalleled customer experiences through innovative technology. (Photo: MCE Systems) The partners have taken home the winning titles in the "Best Customer Experience Innovation" and "Best Applied Technology" categories. This achievement marks another successful event for MCE, which has already won five gold awards this year, including a Merit Award, 2 x Globee Awards, a Digital Transformation Award, and a Stevie Award. The two new prizes recognize the success of Vodafone's omnichannel customer trade-in program. This service, built by MCE and implemented by Vodafone into its MyVodafone app and retail operations, improves the experience for both customers and frontline staff. In the past, the device trade-in process was time-consuming and confusing. To ensure fairness and accessibility for consumers, Vodafone's program uses MCE's AI-based remote device grading technology. This technology allows customers and staff to determine the price of a trade-in device in under three minutes via the MyVodafone app a capability which, until now, was exclusively available to warehouse employees. The program has achieved notable success, delivering a substantial increase in trade-in volumes and customer satisfaction ratings. It has also encouraged customers to adopt a 'digital-first' approach, with 91% opting to start the trade-in process through the app and subsequently completing it either in-store or at home. Max Taylor, Chief Commercial Officer, Vodafone UK, said: "Incorporating MCE into our mobile proposition, Vodafone EVO, has allowed us to differentiate our world-class trade-in proposition in the UK." Eitan Linker, Chief Commercial Officer at MCE Systems, added: "Device trade-ins can be a lucrative market for mobile operators. Vodafone's omnichannel customer trade-in journey is a great example of this. It makes customers much happier and it showcases how to execute a circular economy initiative while delivering customer growth and operator profits. We are also working with Vodafone Global to further innovate and expand the solution." In addition to receiving the award, Almog Ben-Harosh, CTO and Co-founder of MCE Systems, and Robert Hackl, Global President and CMO, delivered a keynote presentation titled "The Secret Power of DeviceAI for the Telco Industry and Beyond." This keynote explored the transformative potential of DeviceAI in telecommunications CX. Get direct insights from Vodafone's Telesales and retail staff, as well as customers, about how MCE and Vodafone's trade-in program is helping to boost customer satisfaction: https://vimeo.com/874810147 For more information, please visit the UK Customer Experience Awards website: https://cxa.co.uk/winners-and-finalists-2023 About MCE Systems MCE Systems is a pioneer in digital-first mobile device lifecycle management (dDLM) for operators and their partners since 2005. MCE's dDLM platform solutions mobilize operations, increase revenues, and decrease inefficiencies. Specific solutions range from device diagnostics and trade-in management with a price guarantee, to handling device returns. All are omnichannel-ready with world-class virtualization and provide fully integrated data management to anticipate customer needs around device-related customer issues (e.g., device health, upgrade timing, trade-in instead of repair). Over its more than 17 years of experience, MCE has become a trusted mobilizer of extraordinary customer experiences for Tier-1 operators and their partners. For more information, visit www.mce.systems Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/mce-systems About Vodafone Vodafone is the largest pan-European and African telecoms company. Its purpose is to connect for a better future by using technology to improve lives, digitalize critical sectors and enable inclusive and sustainable digital societies. Vodafone provides mobile and fixed services to over 300 million customers in 17 countries, partners with mobile networks in 46 more, and is also a world leader in the Internet of Things (IoT), connecting over 160 million devices and platforms. With Vodacom Financial Services and M-Pesa, it has the largest financial technology platform in Africa, serving more than 56 million people across six countries. For more information, please visit www.vodafone.com, follow Vodafone on Twitter at @VodafoneGroup or connect on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/vodafone. About the CX awards The UK Customer Experience Awards, presented by Awards International, celebrates the inspiring efforts of customer experience professionals, providing a distinctive platform for industry recognition of their outstanding achievements. The awards aim to offer winners the acknowledgment they've earned, along with valuable learning and networking opportunities, all within a framework of safety, equity, and transparency. For more information, visit https://cxa.co.uk View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231019939115/en/ Contacts: Izzy Laycock isabel.l@mce-sys.com DUBAI, UAE, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sheikh Saud bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Director of Sharjah Digital Office and Chairman of the Higher Committee of the Sharjah Government Pavilion at GITEX 2023, toured various pavilions participating in the exhibition to explore the latest innovative technologies offered by government entities across the UAE. During his tour, Sheikh Saud reviewed the remarkable achievements presented by the Dubai Digital Government, Ajman Digital Government, Fujairah Government, Abu Dhabi Government, Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, Etisalat by e&, and Du. He gained insights into the latest projects and technical solutions provided by these entities towards supporting digital transformation across various sectors, including healthcare, education, environment, and culture. He also commended their efforts in strengthening the country's position as a leading regional innovation and excellence hub. Sharjah Sustainability As the exhibition concluded, the Sharjah Government Pavilion featured the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority's 'Sustain Sharjah,' whose objective is to establish the Sharjah Sustainable Tourism website as a comprehensive platform designed to meet all the emirate's sustainable tourism requirements. This aligns with the broader strategy to position Sharjah as a prominent and sustainable tourism destination. The project's primary goal is to educate the general public, individuals, and businesses about the far-reaching effects of sustainable tourism within the sector. It also aims to encourage the adoption of best practices through the website's content and an integrated tool that enables users to calculate their carbon footprint in Sharjah and provides an incentive programme to motivate individuals and businesses to reduce their environmental impact. Furthermore, the website will include features to promote eco-friendly experiences and destinations, including a sustainability map and a listing of eco-friendly hotels, restaurants, and attractions in Sharjah, supplemented with pertinent information and reviews based on their overall sustainability score. Using Satellites in Agriculture The Sharjah Pavilion at the Dubai World Trade Centre's Arena Hall also featured a groundbreaking project presented by the Sharjah Department of Agriculture & Livestock that leverages satellite technology to manage wheat crops. This innovative initiative adopts state-of-the-art global agricultural technologies and practices to uphold the highest standards of quality and efficiency in crop management. It relies on daily satellite imaging and a suite of digital tools, integrating remote ground sensors and monitoring stations to track daily agricultural activities. A Sustainable Digital Ecosystem The Sharjah Government Pavilion at GITEX 2023 prominently featured a range of outstanding projects and initiatives presented by 11 government entities, underscoring a commitment to innovation in delivering sustainable and proactive services that align seamlessly with Sharjah's overarching mission to establish a comprehensive and sustainable digital ecosystem towards enhancing the overall quality of life for the emirate's residents, visitors, and businesses. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2253672/Sharjah_Government_Pavilion.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/sharjah-government-pavilion-showcased-sustainable-and-proactive-projects-at-conclusion-of-gitex-global-2023-301963561.html Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 20, 2023) - Lion Rock Resources Inc. (TSXV: ROAR) (FSE: KGB1) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that Richard Boulay has been appointed a director of the Company. Mr. Boulay is a geologist with over 40 years of experience in the exploration and mining industries in Canada and internationally, including 15 years of mining and infrastructure financing experience gained with Bank of Montreal, Royal Bank of Canada and Bank of Tokyo. During Mr. Boulay's project financing career, he arranged the financing of numerous underground and open pit mining projects, hydro and diversion dams, nuclear reactors, pipelines and offshore oil exploration and production platforms. He has extensive experience in the management and financing of public companies in Canada and the United States. Nathan Tribble has resigned as director of the Company. The Company thanks Mr. Tribble and wishes him well in his future endeavours. About Lion Rock Resources Inc. Lion Rock Resources is northwestern Ontario's newest gold-copper explorer. The Company's flagship property, the Maybrun, is a past-producing mine (Maybrun gold-copper deposit) that was placed on care and maintenance in 1974 for several years prior to an exploration program conducted by Opawica Explorations Inc. in 2005. The Maybrun project is located in the Atikwa Lake area of the Kenora Mining Division, approximately 80 kilometres southeast of Kenora, in northwestern Ontario. On Behalf of the Board R. Dale Ginn, President & Chief Executive Officer O: 604-678-5308 E: dale@rsdcapital.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/184688 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 20, 2023) - Kuya Silver Corporation (CSE: KUYA) (OTCQB: KUYAF) (FSE: 6MR1) (the "Company" or "Kuya Silver") announces it has filed an amended and restated technical report entitled "Bethania Silver Project - NI 43-101 Technical Report (Amended and Restated Preliminary Economic Assessment prepared for Kuya Silver Corporation), Huancavelica, Peru" dated September 26, 2023 (the "Amended Technical Report"). The Amended Technical Report addresses comments raised by the Ontario Securities Commission during a continuous disclosure review. The Amended Technical Report supersedes and amends certain provisions of the technical report filed on June 13, 2022, having an effective date of April 9, 2022, presenting a preliminary economic assessment of the Bethania silver project (the "PEA"). Among the comments addressed by the Company in the Amended Technical Report is an updated calculation for the silver equivalent resources in section 14 (Mineral Resource Estimates) as well as section 1.15 of the Summary. Silver equivalent disclosure for grade and number of ounces have been recalculated to use recoveries for silver, gold, lead, zinc and copper, which are more accurate and consistent with the disclosure for metallurgical recoveries in section 17 (Recovery Methods) and section 24 (Economic Analysis) previously disclosed in the PEA. The mineral resource estimate included in the Amended Technical Report has not changed, only the calculation of silver equivalent values, grade and number of ounces. The updated silver equivalent resource is as follows: Category Tonnes Grade (AgEq) Ounces (AgEq) Indicated 404,000 469 6,098,114 Inferred 700,000 369 8,297,443 Note: Metal prices used for this calculation are: silver, $25.44/oz, lead, $1981.79/t, zinc, $2658.62/t, copper, $7917.00/t, and gold, $1849.78. Recoveries used for each metal are: silver, 91.6%, lead, 90.1%, zinc, 80.7%, copper, 63.8% and gold, 34.2%. The Amended Technical Report also amends certain other disclosure contained in the PEA as follows: Section 12 - Data Verification Disclosure is clarified to provide additional details on the verification process by the Qualified Persons. Section 14 - Mineral Resource Estimates Additional disclosure has been included in section 14.5 (Data Analysis and Estimation Domains) to clarify and provide additional context with respect to estimation domains with smaller amounts of data points. Section 16 - Mining Methods The term "economically extractable" (subset of the mineral resource estimate) has been replaced with "subset of the mineral resource estimate used in the economic analysis". Section 17 - Recovery Methods Additional disclosure has been added to section 17.2 (Design Criteria) to provide further information on the process method selection. Section18 - Project Infrastructure Additional disclosure has been added to section 18.2.2 (Tailings Storage Facility) to clarify that the dam would be raised later in the mine life and that this has been factored into the capital expenditure estimate. Section 19 - Market Studies and Contracts Additional disclosure has been added to clarify that the market study referenced in this section used different (higher) assumed head grades to estimate potential pricing of various concentrates, which was confusing to the reader. However, the economic analysis in section 22 relied on grades consistent with section 17, not the market study in section 19. Section 21 - Capital and Operating Costs Additional disclosure has been added to section 21.4 (Mine Capital Costs) to add further detail on the cost of the mining capital equipment and other costs. Section 26 - Recommendations A budget for the recommended work program has been presented in section 26.1. The Amended Technical Report was prepared by Mining Plus. The qualified persons, as defined under NI 43-101, are Edgard Vilela (MAusIMM (CP), Simon Mortimer (P. Geo.), Scott Jobin-Bevans (P.Geo.), Donald Hickson (P. Eng.), Laurie Tahija (MMSA), and John Woodson (P.E.). Scott Jobin-Bevans (P.Geo.) has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release. About Kuya Silver Corporation Kuya Silver is a Canadian-based mineral exploration and development company with a focus on acquiring, exploring, and advancing precious metals assets in Peru and Canada. For more information, please contact: David Stein, President and Chief Executive Officer Telephone: (604) 398-4493 info@kuyasilver.com www.kuyasilver.com Reader Advisory This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities of the Company. The words "may," "would," "could," "should," "will," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "must," "next," "focus," "potential," "progress," "develop," "investigate," "optimize," "opportunity," "future," "vision," "envisage," "option," "roadmap," "pursue," and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking information. Investors are cautioned that statements including forward-looking information are not guarantees of future business activities and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking information as a result of various factors, including but not limited to fluctuations in the market price of silver and other commodities, successes of the operations of the Company, continued availability of capital and financing, the Company's ability to obtain and renew required permits, licenses, consents, authorizations, and approvals, and general economic, market, and business conditions. There can be no assurances that such forward-looking information will prove accurate, and therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of the risks and uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/184595 Cosmos Innovation, a Singapore-based AI-first company building next-generation perovskite silicon tandem (PST) solar cell technology, raised $19.7m in Series A funding. The round was led by Xora Innovation, with participation from Innovation Endeavors, Two Sigma Ventures, DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, MIT professor Tomaso Poggio, a founder of computational neuroscience, Richard Socher, a natural language processing (NLP) researcher, CEO of You.com and managing partner at AIX Ventures; and Western Technology Investments. The company intends to use the funds to support its approach to developing perovskite silicon tandem solar cell technology. Founded in 2022 by Vijay Chandrasekhar, CEO, and Joel Li, CTO, Cosmos Innovation is solar and semiconductor process development company that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to speed up recipe development of perovskite silicon tandem technology to yield the most efficient solar cells. The funding coincides with the launch of Mobius, an AI recipe optimization platform which has been demonstrated across various sectors, including solar, silicon carbide, advanced data center chips and advanced packaging. This platform accelerates Cosmos Innovations ambition to construct the worlds first self-learning fab in the solar and semiconductor space. FinSMEs 20/10/2023 Skoon Energy, a Rotterdam, the Netherlands-based provider of an AI-powered software platform for clean mobile energy, raised $5.6M in Series A funding. The round was led by Blue Bear Capital, with participation from Graduate Entrepreneur Fund. The Series A round follows investments by Kees Koolen, early investor and CEO of Booking.com and former COO of Uber; Damen Shipyards, the Netherlands oldest family-run maritime services company; and Rabobank, one of Netherlands premier banking institutions. The company intends to use the funds to grow its team, advance the development of its software platform, and expand into new global markets. Led by Peter Paul van Voorst tot Voorst, Founder and CEO, Skoon Energy provides an AI-powered software platform for clean mobile energy. Its marketplace connects users of traditional fossil accelerate empowered generators with suppliers of zero-emission energy systems for temporary applications, such as construction sites, events, and film sets. The companys AI-powered software platform enables customers to select the best energy system for their specific needs, actively monitor their energy usage, and report on carbon savings. Currently, Skoon is being used by rental companies across Europe including Atlas Copco, Volta Energy and Morillo Energy, as well as large scale energy users such as Vattenfall, the Dutch Ministry of Defence and the Port of Amsterdam. The online marketplace has more than 150 verified suppliers from the worlds largest network of clean mobile energy systems, which solve temporary power needs across various markets and end users. FinSMEs 20/10/2023 It been some time that Meghan Markle has been dropping hints of her comeback. But this time, its no rumour as royal expert has claimed that she is preparing her comeback. Meghan was recently reported to be in talks with some big-name directors and producers for a rumored acting comeback. According to a report published in the New York Post, Royal biographer Emily Andrews has weighed in on the Duchess of Sussexs rumored plans of a major rebrand thats reportedly set to include a hefty money-making venture. And Andrews believes that Meghan Markles moves are nothing if not calculated, adding that its no coincidence that the mom of two has been making many public appearances of late. It was no accident that over the summer, we saw rather more of Meghan than for all of the past year, the royal expert. Andrews added that Meghan Markles unexpected sudden willingness to be photographed indicates that the Suits alum knows her commercial value. Among those outings was her trip to the Montecito Farmers Market, located near the $14 million home she shares with her husband, Prince Harry. The exiled royals brief outing was criticized by several royal experts, who claimed she idealized her shopping trip in a desperate bid to acknowledge the camera. Other outings include her trip to the movies with pal Portia De Rossi and a couple of other girlfriends for her 42nd birthday as they went to see the Barbie movie in August. The Sussexes also enjoyed two weeks of the Invictus Games, during which they were photographed daily. She has decided she wants to live her life much more openly and the relaunch by her new Hollywood power broker agency William Morris Endeavour (WME) was started with a series of August photographs and reports to maximize plans for a new money-making venture, Andrews said. A few months back there was news about Meghan and Harrys depleting popularity. Celebrities and industry key players were recognising Meghan and Harrys depleting popularity and are scared of being seen alongside them. In fact, the source said they are actively pitching William and Kate for new projects. Their efforts are reportedly being backed by King Charles himself. It is only part of the strategy of maintaining American ties and influence in September, Will and Kate will appear in New York at the Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit, further solidifying their influence. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Director: Vamasi Krishna Naidu, Vamsi Krishna Akella Cast: Ravi Teja, Murali Sharma, Nassar, Nupur Sanon There are two sides to a story is the famous phrase that is used to explain how an incident can play out differently in different peoples perspective. The complete, however is Remember, there are always two sides to every story. Understanding is a three-edged sword. Your side, their side and the truth in the middle. Get all the facts before you jump to conclusions, and it was by J Michael. Now Akira Kurosawa played out with this very idea when he made Rashomon. What is fact to you, may very well be fiction to someone else. From an oppressors perspective, a fight for rights may be accused of being terrorism. From the perspective of the oppressed, however, it is just their survival instincts kicking in to protect themselves and their loved ones. Over the years, we have read about this equation of the oppressor and the oppressed play out in different contexts colonialism, slave trade, casteism, classism and we see it playing out in real life today as well. Sure it is playing out in a part of world that doesnt seem remotely connected to someone sitting at a aisle seat in a dark theater watching Tiger Nageswara Rao, but trust me, as I watched this film all of this played out in my head. This doesnt mean that the film is a masterpiece. I know, I made some pretty elite references above, but that is just where my mind wandered to as I watched this film. With the interval acting as a beautiful mid-point, the first half of the film unravels through the perspective of DSP Vishwanath Sastry (Murali Sharma), while the latter part of the film unravels through the perspective of Gajjala Prasad (Nassar), who was on Tigers side through out his fight against increasing curtail of activity by the government. In the formers eyes, he was nothing but a criminal, and the latter saw him as nothing but a saviour. The truth, as I had mentioned earlier, lies somewhere in between. You see, this Ravi Teja-starrer surprised me. After the last few outings of this actors film, my expectation was not too high, yet, the trailer had intrigued me enough to keep an open mind. I am glad I did, because I watched one of the most interesting storytelling techniques play out in the film. But beyond this technique, and the attempt at unravelling the psyche of someone such as Tiger, there was not much for me to enjoy in this film. Technically, or creatively. For starters, the visual effects in the film were subpar. It continually distracted me, and that is unfortunate. Then there is the matter of the women in the film. At some point, a line needs to be drawn on how much is too much when it comes to painting a larger than life character and making him a sexist, misogynistic you-know-what who is celebrated. To start off with, this film is based on a real life character, and the incidents are supposedly based on real life rumours because there are no official accounts detailing Tigers life. Tiger belonged to a tribal community that was branded as a criminal tribe by the Britishers. Later, under Indira Gandhis regime, the government continued to take action against certain tribes who were accused of continuing criminal activities. In real life, social reformers such as Hemalatha Lavanam worked really hard to change the perspective about such tribes while also bringing to attention the travesty their lives were, their living conditions were. She played a huge role in this regards, but the film doesnt really care to expand on her achievements. It is not that she doesnt exist in the cinematic realm. No. Renu Desai plays the role of the reformer in the film, however, she never gets the due that her character deserved. She is sidelined to ensure that Tiger can be championed until the very end. If we take a look at the other two women the ones that Tiger is romantically involved with, one is tagged his property, while the other just goes through the motions of loving him. There is no give and take in this relationship at all. You may say that the time that the film is set in directs the characters notions. However, there is nothing that stops the creators from correcting their gaze. When I look at the film as a whole, I cannot look past these glaring issues and only indulge in enjoying a good experimental narrative technique. For me, the film just did not come together as it should, because all I could see was a technical problem here, a creepy gaze there. Rating: 2 (out of 5 stars) Priyanka Sundar is a film journalist who covers films and series of different languages with a special focus on identity and gender politics. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. International humanitarian law the law of armed conflict aims to constrain how wars are fought. It is designed to protect noncombatants and limit the means of warfare. As each hour brings news of further horror in the Israel-Hamas conflict, what role should international law be playing? And does it actually have any capacity to constrain the behaviour of the combatants? A humanitarian nightmare is unfolding On 7 October, the Hamas militant group launched thousands of rockets against Israel in advance of a ground attack. Militants killed more than 1,400 people and wounded 3,400 others in towns and kibbutzim across southern Israel. It was the deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust. Most of those killed were civilians, including many children who were shot, blown up or burned to death. Hundreds of young people were also massacred at a music festival, and Hamas took around 200 hostages back to Gaza. Israel is responding to this attack with airstrikes, which have to date killed at least 4,000 people in Gaza and injured thousands more. The vast majority of these casualties are Palestinian civilians. Israel has also rapidly mobilised around 360,000 reservists in preparation for an anticipated ground offensive on Gaza. In recent days, a blast at a Gaza hospital killed hundreds, including patients and displaced people seeking sanctuary. Hamas and several Arab states have blamed Israel for the explosion, while Israel has blamed Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The situation in Gaza is dire for people with urgent needs, including 5,000 women due to give birth this month and newborn babies whose families cannot find drinking water to prepare formula. Meanwhile, Israel has cut off water, electricity and fuel supplies to Gaza and ordered a total siege of the territory. Israel has also ordered residents of northern Gaza to evacuate to the south. Aid agencies have been unable to provide desperately needed humanitarian assistance to civilians through the border crossing with Egypt. Prior to this latest horrific escalation, Gaza was already entrenched in a humanitarian crisis. The situation now is beyond comprehension. Leo Cans, the head of mission for Doctors Without Borders in Palestine, said hospitals are being overwhelmed and hundreds will die without electricity being restored: This is something that is known and could be prevented just by letting fuel and supplies inside Gaza. What is ahead of us is beyond words [] at the end of the road its a big wall, and this big wall is full of dead people. Principles governing the conduct of war International humanitarian law is a pragmatic body of law. Its existence acknowledges the inevitability of armed conflict and it aims to mitigate wars impact on people. International humanitarian law is not, in itself, concerned with the justifications for why combatants engage in war. It applies even in situations where a state is entitled to act in self-defence under broader international law. We are witnessing gross violations of fundamental humanitarian law principles in the conflict. Here are some examples: Distinction between civilians and combatants Attacks are considered unlawful if they are: directed specifically against civilians launched indiscriminately without distinction between civilians and combatants or directed at military targets but anticipated to cause harm to civilians disproportionate to the military advantage being sought. Methods of warfare It is unlawful to conduct war in a manner that causes unnecessary suffering. Attacks targeting civilians are fundamentally unnecessary and, therefore, illegal. Collective punishment The fourth Geneva Convention prohibits collective punishment: No protected person may be punished for an offence he or she has not personally committed. Collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited. This prohibition reflects the idea of individual criminal responsibility under international criminal law. Prosecutions for breaches of humanitarian law are directed towards individuals who can be proven responsible, rather than against states or populations. Humanitarian protection Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions requires humane protection for all people in enemy hands. It prohibits murder and hostage-taking. It also requires the provision of humanitarian assistance to all people without distinction. Obligations of occupying powers It is arguable Israel is a de facto occupying power of the Gaza Strip because it has such a high level of control over peoples lives. For example, it has the ability to shut off supplies of essential life services. The argument Israel is occupying Gaza will be strengthened should Israel launch a ground invasion. As such, the rules of international humanitarian law on occupiers are also relevant. These include an obligation to protect civilians from attacks and respect their human rights. Hamas and humanitarian law International humanitarian law applies to all combatants, whether they are state or non-state actors. UN independent experts say Hamas has clearly committed war crimes, including the murders and hostage-taking of Israeli civilians. Hamas also put Palestinian civilians in harms way by telling them not to evacuate to southern Gaza, as ordered by Israel. The group has a history of using civilians as human shields as a strategic tool in conflicts with Israel. However, holding Hamas accountable for violating international humanitarian law is very challenging. As a non-state actor, Hamas is not a member of forums like the United Nations, where pressure may be brought to bear on member states. If individual Hamas militants are apprehended, they could be charged with war crimes and tried in Israeli courts or the International Criminal Court. Even though Hamas is a non-state actor, Palestine has accepted the courts jurisdiction. In fact, the International Criminal Court opened an investigation into alleged war crimes in Palestine in 2021. The current Gaza conflict would fall within the courts mandate and could lead it to direct greater energy to that ongoing investigation. The courts chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, said on 13 October: We have jurisdiction for any Rome Statute crimes [] committed by Palestinians in Israel and also we have clear jurisdiction for any crimes committed by the forces of Israel in Palestine. Israel is not a member of the ICC but Palestine joined in 2015, and crimes committed on the territory of Palestine (by any national, including non-Palestinians) and by Palestinian nationals.. may fall within the jurisdiction of the ICC https://t.co/0lHvrBWRu2 Greg Jericho (@GrogsGamut) October 12, 2023 Israel and humanitarian law Israel and its allies also have a complex relationship with international humanitarian law. One key issue is Israels right to self-defence in response to the October 7 attack by Hamas. International law confirms a state may use force to defend itself in response to an armed attack. Israel, the United States and other allies contend the Hamas attack triggered Israels right to self-defence. But there is a distinction to be drawn between a states right to self-defence and what that right permits, in the sense of how war is conducted. For example, UN independent experts have condemned Israels indiscriminate military attacks against Palestinian civilians: This amounts to collective punishment. There is no justification for violence that indiscriminately targets innocent civilians, whether by Hamas or Israeli forces. This is absolutely prohibited under international law and amounts to a war crime. Neither Israel nor the United States is a party to the International Criminal Court. Neither state would accept the courts jurisdiction over its nationals. Indeed, the United States has condemned the courts decision to open its investigation into alleged war crimes in Palestine. In time, the court may seek to hold Israeli nationals accountable for war crimes, but its capacity to do so seems very limited. What about the United Nations? UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an immediate ceasefire. He said the grievances of the Palestinian people after more than 50 years of occupation do not justify the acts of terror committed by Hamas. And he said the Hamas attack on October 7 does not justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people. UN human rights chief Volker Turk has also warned all parties that violations of humanitarian law will have consequences, and those who commit war crimes will be held accountable. But the UN Security Council, which is charged with maintaining international peace and security, has yet to agree on a statement on the conflict. The debate in the council since the latest escalation in this perpetual conflict demonstrates the deep diplomatic fault lines between the key global players and the warring parties. At this point, a sad reality is that international law and global institutions can do little to constrain the actions of the combatants on both sides or provide assistance to the millions at grave risk of harm. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Canada has pulled out 41 diplomats from India amid a chill in relations over the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The development comes weeks after New Delhi asked Ottawa to curtail its diplomatic presence in the country following Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeaus allegations linking India to the June murder of Nijjar in British Columbia. India has dismissed the accusation as absurd and motivated. How will Canada reducing its diplomatic staff affect India? Lets understand. 41 Canadian diplomats leave India On Thursday (19 October), Canadas foreign minister, Melanie Joly, told reporters that 41 Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents have left India. Currently, only 21 diplomats are in India. She said that India had said that immunity for all but 21 diplomats would be unilaterally removed by 20 October, reported BBC. Given the implications of Indias actions on the safety of our diplomats, we have facilitated their safe departure from India, Joly told reporters. The Canadian foreign minister said Ottawa would not take retaliatory steps. Correction | Amid India-Canada diplomatic tensions, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly says As of now, I can confirm that India has formally conveyed its plan to unilaterally* (not unethically as reported earlier) remove diplomatic immunities for all but 21 Canadian ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2023 If we allow the norm of diplomatic immunity to be broken, no diplomats anywhere on the planet would be safe. So for this reason, we will not reciprocate, she was quoted as saying by Reuters. In early October, Trudeau had said that Canada needs diplomats in India to help steer the extremely challenging rift between the two nations. Acknowledging the heightened tensions, he had said, Thats why its so important for us to have diplomats on the ground, working with the Indian government, there to support Canadians and Canadian families, reported The Canadian Press. What could be the impact? Joly said Canada will have to reduce its services in India due to a shortage of diplomatic staff. There will be a pause on in-person visa and consular services in Chandigarh, Mumbai and Bengaluru, as per Indian Express. However, services will remain available at the High Commission of Canada in Delhi, BBC reported citing officials. Consular assistance will also be provided through email or phone. Canadas immigration minister Marc Miller said the move meant Ottawa would lessen the number of embassy staff handling immigration. We acknowledge the concerns and frustrations that this situation may cause for clients, families, educational institutions, communities, businesses in Canada as a whole, Reuters quoted him as saying. Indians made up the largest percentage of permanent residents and temporary foreign workers in Canada last year. India is also the largest source of Canadas international students, comprising about 40 per cent of study permit holders currently. Miller said that the cutting down of staff would result in slower immigration processing for Indians seeking to enter Canada. According to The Globe and Mail, the withdrawal of staff could lead to a backlog of 17,500 decisions on applications from India. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said in a statement it is slashing its staff from 27 to just 5 in India. Clients might see that their applications are taking longer to process, questions may take longer to answer, and visas may take longer to be put in passports, as per CIC News. Miller said that visa application centres (VACs) in India are unlikely to be affected as they are operated by third-party contractors, reported Reuters. The IRCC statement noted that Indians could expect delays in overall processing times, responses to their enquiries and getting their visas or passports returned. However, Immigration lawyer Richard Kurland told Vancouver Sun that Canada has an online system that enables its officials in other countries to take charge of the processing operations. The large majority of applications from India are already processed outside the country, with 89 per cent of Indias applications processed through the global network. The five Canada-based IRCC staff who remain in India will focus on work that requires an in-country presence such as urgent processing, visa printing, risk assessment and overseeing key partners, IRCC said in its statement. Meanwhile, under the section regional risks, Canada has asked its nations in India to exercise a high degree of caution in and around Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai. It also said that in-person consular services are temporarily unavailable in these cities. With inputs from agencies Many countries are grappling with the complex issue of dealing with hostages taken by Hamas. Theyre left with more questions than answers. How many hostages are there? Will Hamas use the hostages as human shields during Israeli attacks? How can they be released? The issue is a conundrum with far-reaching consequences. Gunmen from the Palestinian group Hamas took at least 200 hostages and killed about 1,400 people during a 7 October dawn raid carried out from the Gaza Strip on communities and military bases in southern Israel. Israel has responded by pounding Gaza with air strikes, killing thousands, and has said it will act to free the hostages while wiping out Hamas. Israel has amassed tanks and troops near the perimeter of the enclave and called on Palestinians to evacuate the north of Gaza before an expected ground invasion. Hamas has suggested the hostages could be swapped for approximately 6,000 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. In 2011, Israel was criticised by some of its citizens for swapping 1,027 Palestinian prisoners to win the release of one Israeli soldier. Israel has said that there will be no end to the blockade of the enclave without freedom for Israeli hostages. The Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza is expected to open for the delivery of limited amounts of aid from Friday. How many hostages are there? An estimated 200 people, including 30 minors and young children and 20 people over the age of 60, are being held hostage in Gaza, Israels public broadcaster Kan said on Thursday, citing military sources. Hamas says it has between 200 and 250. It said more than 20 hostages have been killed by Israeli air strikes, but has not given any further details. Where are the hostages? Israel says the hostages were taken to Gaza but their exact whereabouts within the enclave are unknown, making their rescue more complicated. It is believed many could be held in the warren of tunnels under Gaza that Israeli troops call the Gaza Metro. Hamas on Monday released a video of Mia Schem, a 21-year-old French-Israeli woman captured at a dance party. In the video, she was shown being treated for an injury to her arm by an unidentified medical worker. What nationalities are the hostages? The hostages include people from dozens of countries, while many also have Israeli citizenship. Twenty or more Americans are missing, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday, adding that he could not say how many of those were being held hostage. Republican Senator Jim Risch told reporters on Tuesday that 10 of the hostages were Americans. Also Read: Whats Israel doing to rescue hostages in Hamas captivity? Thailand says 14 of its citizens are being held. Eight Germans are among the hostages, about half of whom were seized at a kibbutz, according to local media. Argentine president Alberto Fernandez said in a video call with families that 16 of his countrymen were being held. At least nine British nationals have been killed and seven missing, Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks spokesperson said. During a trip to Israel on Thursday, Sunak met with the families of two of the missing who are believed to have been taken hostage and held in Gaza. France has not said exactly how many of its citizens are held in Gaza, although there are seven unaccounted for after the attacks, of which some are being held hostage. Ofir Engel, an 18-year-old Dutch national, was kidnapped from Kibbutz Beeri and taken to Gaza, according to the Dutch government. Also Read: US sanctions 10 Hamas operatives, financial facilitators: What we know Portugal said it assumes that four Portuguese-Israelis who are missing have been taken hostage. Israeli-Chilean Dafna Garcovich was taken hostage with her Spanish husband Ivan Illaramendi, her father said. Italy says two dual Italian-Israeli nationals are missing, presumed kidnapped. Hamass armed wing said on 16 October that kidnapped non-Israelis were guests who would be released when circumstances on the ground allow. What have governments said they are doing about them? Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed a retired general, Gal Hirsch, as Israels coordinator on hostages and missing persons. Also Read: Why Gaza is struggling to be heard around the world Qatari mediators have said they have tried to negotiate freedom for Israeli women and children seized by Hamas in return for the release of 36 Palestinian women and children from Israels prisons, a source briefed on the talks told Reuters. So far, there has been no indication a deal might be at hand. Turkey is also talking with Hamas to secure the release of foreigners, civilians and children, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Tuesday. He told state-run Andalou news agency that countries including the US and Germany have asked for help from Turkey on winning the release of their citizens. US president Joe Biden said his administration is workin like hell to find American hostages held by Hamas. The US has sent a small team of special operations forces to Israel to help with intelligence and planning for any eventual operations to rescue the hostages. Britains Sunak has said his government is talking to partners in the region to try and help secure the return of hostages. Also Read: Bring me home: How countries are ramping up efforts to free hostages held by Hamas Argentinas Fernandez said his government was talking with Israeli intelligence forces to locate Argentine hostages. Germany has opened an investigation into members of Hamas for suspected murder, manslaughter and hostage-taking. Under German law, prosecutors are compelled to investigate suspected crimes abroad if they involve German citizens. How is Israel reacting? In the face of considerable criticism over the lack of accurate information on the hostages, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the appointment of Gal Hirsch, a retired general, as coordinator for the detainees and missing. According to a New York Times report, the military and police has established a combined centre for families to register missing relatives, asking them to bring images and items from which DNA samples may be obtained. What Hamas is planning? A Hamas planning document discovered by Israeli emergency responders in one of the assaulted villages revealed that the assailants were organised into well-defined units with clearly defined goals and battle strategies. Some forces were given explicit orders to abduct Israelis in order to utilise them as bargaining chips in future prisoner exchanges. The Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, appeared to rule out prisoner exchanges as long as hostilities continue, saying, This file will not be opened until the end of the battle. Also Read: Aid set to enter Gaza: How much is being sent? Will it be enough? There is also the possibility that Hamas will use the hostages as human shields while Israel attacks Gaza. The armed wing of Hamas had threatened to execute a civilian hostage whenever an Israeli airstrike targeted Gazans in their homes without warning. Thousands of Palestinians are imprisoned in Israeli jails, many of whom have been convicted of security violations or involvement in terrorism. The imprisonment of thousands of Palestinian militants in Israeli jails, according to Muhammad Deif, the chairman of Hamas military wing, was one of the reasons for the 7 October attack. What have families of hostages said? Families of missing Franco-Israeli citizens urged French president Emmanuel Macron to help locate their missing relatives. The families of German hostages said they will hold a rally in Berlin on Sunday to call for their relatives release after meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Tel Aviv. US citizens in Tel Aviv urged Biden to use all resources to locate and rescue their kidnapped relatives. With inputs from Reuters Israels war with Hamas is in its 14th day as airstrikes continued to hit Gaza on Friday (20 October). The latest conflict escalated after the Palestinian groups militants launched a multi-front attack on the West Asian nation on 7 October. A recent report in The Jerusalem Post citing Channel 12 has claimed that Hamas militants were under the influence of Captagon when they went on the 7 October rampage. Lets take a closer look. Did Hamas militants use Captagon? According to Israeli news site, Channel 12, Captagon pills were found on the bodies of Hamas militants killed on Israeli soil. This drug helped the Hamas fighters to commit heinous acts with a sense of calmness and indifference, claimed The Jerusalem Post report. What is Captagon? Captagon is an amphetamine-type stimulant that is mass-produced in Syria and widely smuggled across West Asia. The currently used Captagon is a counterfeit version of a medicine first produced in Germany in the 1960s. These drugs were used to treat attention deficit disorders, narcolepsy and other conditions, as per an Al Jazeera report. The original tablets had fenetylline, a synthetic drug of the phenethylamine family to which amphetamine also belongs, the report added. By the 1980s, several countries banned the drug because of its highly addictive nature. According to a 2018 report by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drugs Addiction, new counterfeit tablets labelled Captagon started being produced in the 1990s to early 2000s in Bulgaria. These drugs were then smuggled by Balkan and Turkish criminal networks to the Arabian Peninsula, reported Al Jazeera. What does amphetamine do? Amphetamine is a powerful stimulator of the central nervous system, noted Medical News Today. As per a 2015 Vox report, amphetamine-based drugs provide a boost of energy, enhance someones focus, let someone stay awake for longer periods of time, and produce a feeling of euphoria. While they do not give someone superhuman alertness, bravery, strength, or pain resistance, the drugs, instead, could have a placebo effect on the person that may trigger erratic behaviours, the report added. Captagon is dubbed the poor mans cocaine as it costs around $3 (Rs 250 approximately) to $25 (around Rs 2000) per tablet, according to a Bloomberg report. These pills, which can cause delusions and a sense of invincibility, have been linked to militants in Iraq and Syria, the report noted. According to BBC, the drug has serious side effects, such as psychosis and brain damage. Although people do not get addicted to prescription amphetamines when taken in the right dosage, addiction can occur when it is consumed to get high or improve performance, noted Medline Plus. Addiction can lead to tolerance. Tolerance means you need more and more of the drug to get the same high feeling. And if you try to stop using, your mind and body may have reactions, the article explained. Captagon first grabbed headlines in 2014 when it was reported that the drug was popular among the Islamic State (IS) and Syrian fighters to ramp up alertness and suppress appetite during battles, reported Indian Express. Crackdown on Captagon A 2014 Reuters report said that the 2011 civil war in Syria turned the nation into a major amphetamines producer as well as consumer. Syrian government forces and rebel groups each say the other uses Captagon to endure protracted engagements without sleep, while clinicians say ordinary Syrians are increasingly experimenting with the pills, which sell for between $5 and $20, Reuters reported at the time. Many reports have claimed that Syrias president Bashar al-Assad and his associates have profited from the sale of these drugs which is approximately worth several billion dollars a year. Assad has rejected the allegations. According to the United States State Department and Treasury, the United Kingdoms Foreign Office and independent researchers, Captagon is mostly produced and trafficked by people and groups linked to Assad and his ally the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, reported Bloomberg. Since last year, several West Asian countries have increased efforts to curb the flow of the drug from Syria, noted Al Jazeera. Karam Shaar, a Syrian economist and researcher who has advised Western governments on Syrias war economy, told Bloomberg that over a billion Captagon pills have been seized in the last three years with most headed for Saudi Arabia. Experts have warned that amid a crackdown by Saudi Arabia to stem the flow of the drug, smugglers could come up with new routes and markets, becoming a threat for Europe and the rest of the world, the Bloomberg report added. Amid fears that the drug could reach US shores, America introduced The Captagon Act last December mandating the countrys agencies to target the illicit trade. The 7 October attack on Israel by Hamas shocked the entire world. The Palestinian militant group carried out a well-planned attack on Benjamin Netanyahu-led country using paragliders to infiltrate Israel, launching deadly attacks on its people. India quickly changed its powered hang glider rules after learning about the possible use of hang gliders for significant terrorist attacks, according to PTI. Here are the new rules for motorised hang gliders. New rules for hang gliders The new rules have been issued by the countrys aviation regulator, DGCA. As per the rules, it is strictly prohibited to operate a motorised hang glider without the prior approval of a DGCA examiner or instructor. The eligibitlity for working as an examiner or instructor were also covered by DGCA. He or she is required to have 50 powered hang gliding hours and 10 hours on dual machines. Such a person can permit people to fly motorised hang gliders once they have received regulator approval. According to news agency ANI, DGCA laid down the criteria for being eligible to pilot such a craft. It said no person shall fly a powered hang glider unless the person holds a Commercial Pilot License with 25 hours flying time on a powered hand glider. A person with 50 hours of flying experience and holding prior authorisation will also be eligible to fly the craft. The sale and purchase of powered hang gliders is strictly prohibited. It is necessary to have a certificate from the DGCA, which can only be obtained following the buyers background check by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The owner or operator cannot lease or hire out the hang glider. The regulations also state that anyone or any company wishing to purchase or produce powered hang gliders will need to obtain security clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs via DGCA. The Ministry of Home Affairs will later force them to abide by certain security measures. Unless specifically authorised by the MHA and only when necessary for the aircrafts safe operation, a powered hang glider is not permitted to carry any weapons, remote sensing equipment, or photography/video gear. Prior to each flight, parking and other operations must follow the security procedures approved by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security. The reason for revision In one of the worst attacks on Israel, Hamas stormed the nation by land and air routes. The group entered Israel on land using bulldozers and motorcycles, and opted for hang gliders and paragliders to enter into the southern region of Israel. They even released videos of its fighters practising using gliders during the attack. The gliders used by Hamas were found to have a single canopy and a tiny motor, as per Republic Media Network. The brutal attack has increased tension throughout the world and raised questions about how to stop similar attacks in the future. According to PTI, the DGCA considered current security concerns and modified the hang-gliding regulations to prevent possible misuse for objectives similar to Hamass. The DGCA intends to strictly enforce these new regulations in order to prevent misuse of hang-gliders by ongoing government intervention. Latest developments Israeli airstrikes on Gaza continue and Israels defense minister has told troops to be ready for a ground assault on the Palestinian territory, although it is unclear when that will begin. The airstrikes continued overnight Friday in southern Gaza and ambulances transported the wounded to Gazas second-largest hospital, Nasser, in Khan Younis, according to The Associated Press. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that limited humanitarian aid would be allowed into Gaza from Egypt following a request from US president Joe Biden. More than 200 trucks and some 3,000 tons of aid were positioned at or near Rafah, but work has not yet begun on repairing a road on the Gaza side that was damaged by airstrikes. More than one million Palestinians, roughly half of Gazas population, have fled homes in the north and Gaza City after Israel told them to evacuate. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said Thursday that 3,785 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 12,500 others have been wounded. While in Israel, more than 1,400 people have been killed, mostly in the initial attack. An Israeli military spokesperson said Thursday that the families of 203 people believed to have been captured by Hamas and taken into Gaza had been notified. Israel has vowed to destroy the militant group. President Biden pledged unwavering support for Israels security, today and always, while adding that the world cant ignore the humanity of innocent Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip. In an address Thursday night from the Oval Office, hours after returning to Washington from an urgent visit to Israel, Biden drew a distinction between ordinary Palestinians and Hamas. He linked the current war in Gaza to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy. With inputs from agencies It is now up to Parliament to make a decision on the question of same-sex marriage. The long-awaited Supreme Court ruling brought disappointment to members and allies of Indias LGBTQ community. However, there was a silver lining as the New Delhi court agreed to the governments proposal to establish a dedicated committee to explore expanding social and legal rights for same-sex couples, as per a DW report. As the LGBTQ community turns its attention toward Parliament, the United States has expressed its support and encouragement for India to take steps toward providing equal legal protection for same-sex couples. This is what the US had to say. The United States encouraged India to work towards offering equal legal protection to same-sex couples and was closely monitoring follow-up steps from the Indian government after the countrys Supreme Court declined to legalise same-sex marriage, the US State Department said on Thursday. Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to legalise same-sex marriage and left it to Parliament to decide, agreeing with Prime Minister Narendra Modis government that the legislature is the right forum to rule on the issue. Also Read: Supreme Court says no to same-sex marriage or civil unions: How are they different? The unanimous order by a five-judge bench came as a huge disappointment to the large LGBTQ community in the worlds most populous country, five years after the court scrapped a colonial-era ban on gay sex. The United States supports marriage equality globally, a US State Department spokesperson said. We are closely monitoring follow-up steps from the government and reactions from civil society on this issue following the courts ruling. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government had opposed petitions to the court on the issue, saying same-sex marriage is not comparable with the Indian family unit concept of a husband, a wife and children. We will continue to voice our support for marriage equality and protections for LGBTQI+ persons against discrimination and encourage the Indian government to take the necessary steps to offer equal legal protection to same-sex couples, the State Department spokesperson said. Also Read: Why the Supreme Court did not legalise same-sex marriage in India: The big takeaways Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, said on Tuesday the Supreme Court cannot make law. It can only interpret it and give effect to it. Asia, a continent where conservative values still dominate society in many nations, largely lags behind the West in accepting same-sex marriage. The US State Department said it regularly engages with the Indian government on human rights concerns, including over LGBT rights. State Department reports have previously raised concerns over treatment of religious minorities, journalists and dissidents in India. New Delhi denies that such discrimination exists. With inputs from Reuters Indias space odyssey continues. All eyes have turned to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) as it gears up for the Gaganyaan mission the countrys first human spaceflight mission. And as prep for this upcoming mission, expected to be launched mid-2024, ISRO will be carrying out the Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1) on Saturday (21 October) at 8 am. This test, scheduled to be held from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh will demonstrate if the module in which the crew is housed can separate from the rest of the spacecraft and rocket in cases of emergency, and keep the astronauts inside safe. Also read: Gaganyaan: How ISROs astronauts are training hard for spaceflight As the countdown to this test begins, heres a behind the scenes look at whats being done for the monumental journey. Its been 14 days since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out. Israel has carried out fierce airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, claiming the lives of several thousands, in an attempt to wipe out Hamas militants, who had carried out daring attacks on 7 October, killing civilians and taking many as hostages. And even as the residents of the Gaza Strip struggle under the bombardment and without any access to aid supply of food, water and power has been cut off to the region they also face the additional burden of an environmental crisis. As the war rages on, we take a look at how this battle poses huge environmental crisis and what experts have to say. Environmental toll in Gaza Israels fierce and constant airstrikes aimed at the Gaza Strip has flattened houses, building and other structures, trapping many residents under the rubble. According to figures shared by the United Nations, an estimated 30 per cent of houses have been destroyed or damaged in the strikes. As of 16 October, the Hamas interior ministry said that there were around 1,000 people trapped under the debris of these broken homes, sparking concerns about an environmental crisis. Officials worry that as help reaches late to these people trapped, they will die under the rubble, and their bodies will begin to decompose there. Studies have shown that decomposing corpses alter the chemistry of precious soil; the bodies leach soil nutrients such as iron, zinc, sulphur, calcium, and phosphorus, rendering the soil less fertile. Additionally, human bodies also contain mercury from dental fillings and microplastics that can enter the soil and make it infertile. Apart from the matter of bodies trapped, the rocket attacks also release a large number of chemicals and greenhouse gases into the aair. Experts state the plume of air left in the wake of a missile launched is filled with materials that can collect in the air over time, potentially altering the atmosphere in dangerous ways. Rockets also produce heat-trapping greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide. However, experts warn that the most dangerous aspect of rocket launches is small pieces of soot and a chemical called alumina. They get injected into the stratosphere and research shows that this material may build up in the stratosphere over time and slowly lead to the depletion of a layer of oxygen known as the ozone. Sakher Al Nsour, former head of the Jordanian Geologists Syndicate, told The Jordan Times that the Israeli aggression on Palestinians has not been limited to targeting human beings alone; it has also extended to the environment by destroying the infrastructure of the environmental sector. This has been achieved through the use of hazardous and toxic materials in Palestine, leading to the destruction of sewage networks and reservoirs, as well as the continuous depletion of natural resources, Nsour said. The constant bombardment of Gaza has also caused a thick layer of dust to collect in the air, which is not only a health hazard, but will also affect standing crops and water bodies. Speaking of the problem of dust, a journalist reporting from Gaza told the BBC, We are hiding at home, blinded and choked by dust. Humanitarian disaster unfolding in Gaza The Gaza Strip, known to be one of the most densely-populated areas in the world is also seeing the unfolding of a humanitarian catastrophe. The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry said 3,785 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, the majority women, children and older adults. Nearly 12,500 were injured. This is not taking into consideration the latest blast near the Saint Porphyrius Church. The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem has condemned the blast, saying that the targeting of churches was a war crime that cannot be ignored. Living in Gaza has also turned nearly impossible with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees, saying it has become a hellhole. Speaking to BBC Newsday, she called for the siege on Gaza to be lifted as civilians needed humanitarian supplies immediately. Time is running out. It has been almost two weeks. Two very long weeks UNRWA has not been able to bring in any supplies into Gaza, she said. Touma added that the clock is ticking and that she did not know when the Rafah border Crossing would open. Such is the severity of the situation that Gazans have been left with just three litres of water per person. This pales in comparison to the minimum standards set for citizens of a 100 litres per person. Food and medicines are also running out, with reports coming in that people are skipping meals to sustain the leftover food in the area. And even though it was announced earlier that humanitarian aid would enter Gaza from today (20 October), there have been delays, causing more strain to the residents of the region. A US official has expressed scepticism about the trucks being able to pass through the Rafah Crossing on the intended date, citing the volatile nature of the situation. The situation is still in flux, the report quoted US officials as saying. Israel-Hamas war: Related stories Its Getting Grimmer in Gaza: How many days of water, food, power left? Gaza is scarred by poverty. But Hamas leaders live a life of luxury in Qatar Why has Israels ground invasion of Gaza been delayed? Why its unlikely that Israel was behind the hospital blast in Gaza Has Israel used white phosphorus in Gaza? Whats this toxic chemical? The Rafah Crossing is Gazas only connection to Egypt. It is the sole route for aid to enter Gaza directly from outside Israel and the only exit that does not lead to Israeli territory. Egypt says the roads across the border need to be repaired after they were hit by Israeli airstrikes. More than 200 trucks and 3,000 tonnes of aid are positioned at or near the Rafah Crossing, The Guardian quoted head of the Red Crescent for North Sinai, Khalid Zayed, as saying. Wars and Mother Nature The Israel-Hamas war isnt the first instance of experts raising the issue of the environmental impact. The Russia-Ukraine war has left deep scars not just in the hearts and minds of the people, but also on the landscape. The conflict has ruined vast swathes of farmland, burned down forests and destroyed national parks. Damage to industrial facilities has caused heavy air, water and soil pollution, exposing residents to toxic chemicals and contaminated water. Ukraines environment minister, Ruslan Strilets, was quoted as saying that the total number of cases of environmental damage tops 2,300, and damage amounting to worth $51.45 billion. The UN Environment Programme has also stated that the conflict has resulted in multiple air pollution incidents and potentially serious contamination of ground and surface waters. It remains to be seen what happens next in the Israel-Hamas war, but one thing is certain: the impact environmentally and economically will be felt in the years to come. With inputs from agencies The Israel-Hamas war continues on, killing person after person and causing unprecedented devastation. As of Day 14 of the war, the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry said 3,785 people have been killed, the majority women, children and older adults. Nearly 12,500 were injured, and another 1,300 people were believed buried under rubble, authorities said. This includes the 477 people that died in the hospital blast. However, this figure is being disputed by US intelligence, which estimates the toll was between 100 and 300 people. The situation in Gaza is expected to become worse, as a ground invasion looms with Israels defence minister Yoav Gallant telling troops on Thursday (19 October) that they will soon see the Palestinian territory from the inside. You see Gaza now from a distance, you will soon see it from inside. The command will come, said Gallant, suggesting a ground invasion could be nearing. As the crisis continues to unfold, India has carried out several flights from Israel as part of Operation Ajay to repatriate citizens. But are there Indians in the Gaza Strip? What happens to them? How many Indians in Gaza? The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday held a press briefing in which it said that the government was keeping a close watch on events unfolding amid the Israel-Hamas war. MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told reporters that there are around four Indian nationals in the Gaza Strip and another 12-13 in the West Bank, which has seen tensions on the boil. There are around four Indian nationals in Gaza we dont have exact numbers and are coordinating. There are 12-13 Indian nationals in the West Bank Its a little tough to get out from Gaza. There are some reports that some have already got out of there, but we will wait for confirmation, he was quoted as saying by ANI. And how safe are they in Gaza? The MEA spokesperson stated they hadnt received any information about an Indian casualty or injury from the region. However, one Indian caregiver in Israels Ashkelon was injured in the war between Israel and Hamas. Sheeja Anand, 41, was on a call with her husband when a rocket launched by Hamas landed on her house, injuring her on 7 October. She was taken to the hospital where she was operated upon. What plans to evacuate them? The Gaza Strip has been suffering fierce Israeli bombardment since 8 October when the country declared war against the Hamas, and vowing to annihilate each of its members. When asked about evacuating Indians from the violence-torn Strip, the MEA spokesperson said: The situation in Gaza is difficult for any evacuation but if we get a chance, we will get them out. Earlier, Lubna Nazir Shaboo, an Indian from Jammu and Kashmir, had told news agency PTI that she and her family were in Gaza and were seeking immediate evacuation. We are facing a brutal war here and everything is being destroyed in bombardments in a matter of seconds. We are paying the price of this conflict as civilians are being targeted. She added that she has already sought help from the Representative office of India in Ramallah. India has been carrying out repatriation flights from Israel through Operation Ajay under the close watch of Indian envoy to Tel Aviv, Sanjeev Singla. As of today, around 1,200 Indians and 18 Nepalis have been evacuated from Israel in five different flights from Tel Aviv. The MEA also stated that more flights would be arranged by India if and when required. On returning to India on the first flight of Operation Ajay, Deepak, a student, told PTI, As the attack happened, we could hear the sound. Israeli authorities were instructing us to take safety measures. It was a continuous attack. I am happy to return home, but sad also, as our friends are there (in Israel). According to official figures, there are around 18,000 Indians in Israel and all of them have been asked to register with the Indian embassy so that it will be easy to know their locations in case they have to be evacuated. Israel-Hamas war: Related coverage Coke Zero and conversations: How a 65-year-old Israeli grandma tricked Hamas militants Gaza is scarred by poverty. But Hamas leaders live a life of luxury in Qatar Profiting Off the War: How defence stocks are rocketing amid Israel-Hamas conflict Why Israel-Hamas war is causing Ivy League students to lose job offers What the Hamas war means for Israels economy and Benjamin Netanyahu How bad is the situation in Gaza? Death and devastation is omnipresent in the Gaza Strip with the death toll climbing each minute. The United Nations has released some startling data on the destruction in Gaza. According to the world agency, at least 30 per cent of all housing in the densely-populated area has been either destroyed, rendered uninhabitable or lightly damaged. Moreover, the number of people internally displaced within Gaza has reached one million, including more than 527,500 people sheltering at 147 UN-designated emergency shelters. The situation in Gaza is only compounded by the lack of vital aid food, water and medicine. Earlier, the Israel authorities had announced a total siege of the area, blocking off water, food and power. They, however, have reversed their decision and after much discussions, vital aid is expected to reach the people of Gaza today (20 October) through the Rafah Crossing. In fact, due to the shortage of water people are consuming water from unsafe sources, risking death and placing the population at risk of infectious disease outbreak. Residents have also been forced to starve or sustain only on bread, as food stocks are almost depleted. Only one of five flour mills is functioning due to a lack of fuel and electricity. Hospitals warn they are on the verge of collapse, with emergency generators that power machines like ventilators and incubators down to about one day of fuel and supplies of medicine almost exhausted. On 18 October, the world was shell-shocked when an explosion took place at the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, killing hundreds of innocent civilians. While the Gazan health ministry has blamed Israel for the dastardly attack, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) pointed fingers at the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, adding that it was the Hamas ally that misfired a rocket. Following the explosion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas a first since the war broke out and conveyed the countrys condolences over the loss of civilian lives at the hospital. He also reiterated Indias long-standing principled position on the Israel-Palestine issue. With inputs from agencies Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni has announced separation from her partner Andrea Giambruno. The duo, who has a seven-year-old daughter, had been together for nearly a decade. Melonis announcement comes in the wake of Giambrunos sexist comments in recent weeks made on and off air, reported Reuters. Who is Andrea Giambruno? What did the Italian PM say about her split? Whos Andrea Giambruno? Born in Milan in 1981, Giambruno is an Italian journalist working as a TV presenter of a news programme for Mediaset. Part of the MFE media group, Mediaset is owned by the heirs of late Silvio Berlusconi, who was the former Italy PM, as per Reuters. Berlusconis Forza Italia party is a junior partner in the Meloni-led far-right government. According to an article in the French newspaper Le Monde, Giambruno joined TV when he was 22 years old and studying at the Catholic University of Milan. He met Meloni in 2015 on the set of a TV programme where he was a writer and she was a guest, reported Politico. As per The Guardian, Giambruno had said in an interview about the encounter that Meloni had given him a half-eaten banana, thinking he was her assistant, before going for a show. He called their meeting love at first sight. Giambruno settled in Rome after Meloni became the Italian premier last year, leaving Milan and his Studio Aperto show, as per Le Monde. He currently hosts the show Diario del Giorno (Daily diary) on Rete 4. Giambrunos many controversies Giambrunos recent remarks have stirred major controversies, causing political embarrassment for the Italian prime minister in the recent months. In August, the TV presenter hit the headlines for his statements on rape where he appeared to blame the victim. If you go dancing, you have every right to get drunk but if you avoid getting drunk and losing your senses, you might also avoid running into certain problems because then you risk finding the wolf, Giambruno had said on his show, as per Politico. The remarks which were made following a gang rape case had caused huge outrage. Italys First Gentleman had rejected the accusations of victim-blaming, saying he did not justify rape and his words were misinterpreted, noted Politico. In September, Meloni had come to the defence of her partner. I think Andrea Giambruno hastily and assertively said something different from what has been interpreted by most, the Italian PM was quoted as saying by Politico. In those words, I dont read if you walk around in a mini skirt they can rape you. She also asked mediapersons not to question her in future over the words of a journalist or judge her for what he says. As per Le Monde, Giambruno also came under fire for apparently downplaying the effects of climate change. Attacking German health minister Karl Lauterbach in July, who had warned about the extreme heat in the country, Giambruno said on TV: If you dont feel well, go home. Go to the Black Forest, youll be fine there, wont you? Heat in the summer isnt big news, he had said at the time when temperatures breached records in Italy. Meloni splits with partner Before Melonis announcement on Friday (20 October), Giambruno was in the limelight for his lewd remarks broadcast on a satirical TV programme. Mediasets news show Striscia la Notizia telecasted a programme on Giambruno this week using backstage clips and audio, reported Associated Press (AP). In one recording, Giambruno talks about criticisms of his hairstyle before telling his female colleague: Why didnt I meet you before? He tells a female colleague in another recording that they need another participant on the show. Lets have a threesome, even a foursome, he said, as per The Guardian. In a more explicit recording, Giambruno is heard asking whether he can touch his package, reported Politico. According to Reuters, in one recording he talked about being in an affair and telling female colleagues they can work with him if they participate in group sex. Meloni posted a statement on social media announcing her split from the TV presenter, saying their paths had diverged for some time. My relationship with Andrea Giambruno, which lasted almost 10 years, ends here, Meloni wrote, as per Reuters. Our paths have diverged for some time, and the time has come to acknowledge it, she added. The Italian PM thanked Giambruno for their relationship and daughter. And I will defend, at all costs, a 7-year-old girl who loves her mother and loves her father, as I was unable to love mine. She also hit out at the media coverage ahead of her statement, blasting all those who hoped to weaken me by hitting me at home. With inputs from agencies Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra and businessman Darshan Hiranandani, are involved in a cash-for-query dispute that took a dramatic turn on Thursday. The CEO of the Hiranandani Group asserted in a signed affidavit submitted to the Lok Sabhas Ethics Committee that Moitra gave him her Parliament login and password so he could post the questions directly on her behalf when necessary. The letter was described as a joke by Moitra, who added that Hiranandani was forced to sign it. She alleged that the letters draft had been sent by the Prime Ministers Office. Notably, Hiranandanis statement comes ahead of the hearing today in the defamation case filed by the TMC MP, representing Krishnanagar in West Bengal, against BJP MP Nishikant Dubey who accused her of accepting bribes from the businessman to ask questions in Parliament. Lets take a closer look. Big claims by Darshan Hiranandani Dubai-resident Darshan Hiranandani claimed Moitra wanted to quickly make a name for herself at the national level in a three-page affidavit that was presented to the committee on Thursday and made available to the media by the Hiranandani Group corporate communication team. Her friends and advisers told her that personally criticising Prime Minister Modi is the fastest way to fame, as per NDTV. She thought that the only way to attack Sh. Modi (PM Narendra Modi) is by attacking Sh. Gautam Adani and his group as both were contemporaries, and they belong to the same state of Gujarat, it added. Hiranandani continued, Moitra drafted a few questions that would have elements to embarrass the Government by targeting the Adani group; questions that she could raise in Parliament. She shared with me her email ID as Member of Parliament, so that I could send her information, and she could raise the questions in the Parliament. I went along with her proposal. She requested me to keep supporting her in her attacks on the Adani group and provided me her Parliament login and password so that I could post the questions directly on her behalf when required, he stated in the affidavit. In his affidavit, according to Indian Express, Hiranandani also claimed that Moitra was getting help from other people like Sucheta Dalal who were feeding her with all kinds of unverified information relating to Sh. Gautam Adani and his companies. In response to Hiranandanis affidavit, MoneyLife Managing Editor Dalal said on X, the very fact that he (Darshan Hiranandani) has named me makes this whole letter and his solemn statements a farce I dont know @MahuaMoitra and I think she can confirm it. The question of helping her simply does not arise, NOR did she EVER reach out and ask me for any help either! Dear @bhupendrachaube the very fact that he has named me makes this whole letter and his solemn statements a farce I dont know @MahuaMoitra and I think she can confirm it. The question of helping her simply does not arise, NOR did she EVER reach out and ask for any https://t.co/YEsXTTFLNt Sucheta Dalal (@suchetadalal) October 19, 2023 According to the affidavit, she also frequently communicated with foreign reporters from the Financial Times, the New York Times, the BBC, as well as from a number of Indian media. It added, She also received unverified details from several sources, including some claiming to be former Adani group employees. Certain information was shared with me, based on which I continued to post questions using her Parliamentary login. As per the statement the TMC MP bonded extremely well with other opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Shashi Tharoor, and Pinaki Mishra, so Hiranandani thought that through her, he would gain support in other States controlled by the opposition. The businessman stated that Moitra frequently demanded things from him and constantly requesting different favours, which he claimed he had to fulfil in order to remain in close proximity with her and get her support. The demands that were made and favours that were asked included, gifting her expensive luxury items, providing support on renovation of her officially allotted bungalow in Delhi, travel expenses, holidays, etc, apart from providing secretarial and logistical help for her travels within India and to different parts of the world. I could ill-afford to displease her, he stated in the affidavit. Many a times, I felt that she was taking undue advantage of me and pressurising me to do things I didnt want to, but I had no choice, because of the aforementioned reasons, he said. PMO held a proverbial gun to Darshans head In a two-page press release late at night, Moitra, who called Hiranandani a dear friend, alleged that the Prime Ministers Office forced him to sign a white paper that was leaked to the media. Why would such a wealthy successful businessman (Hirnandani) who enjoys direct access to every Minister and the PMO be coerced by a first-time Opposition MP into giving her gifts and giving to her demands? It is totally illogical and only cements the truth that this letter was drafted by the PMO and not Darshan, In her letter, Moitra refuted allegations that she had taken cash and gifts from the businessman. Moitra alleged that the PMO held a proverbial gun to the businessman and his fathers heads and gave them 20 minutes to sign the letter sent to them. She added, They were threatened with a total shutdown of all their businesses They were told they will be finished, the CBI would raid them and all government businesses would stop and all PSU bank financing would be stopped immediately. She mentioned that on 16 October, the Hiranandani Group issued an official statement claiming that all accusations made against them were baseless. Today, an approver affidavit has been leaked to the press This affidavit is on a white piece of paper with no letterhead, she highlighted. Moitra further questioned if the document was an affidavit and asserted that Hiranandani would have called a press conference rather than used channel leaks if he had serious accusations and confessions to share. Darshan Hiranandani has not been summoned by the CBI or the Ethics Committee or indeed by any investigative agency yet. Who then has he given this affidavit to? Moitra asked. Ethics Committee yet to receive the letter Vinod Sonkar, the chairman of the Parliaments Ethics Committee, told India Today on Friday that he has not yet received the letter from Hiranandani accusing Moitra of taking money in exchange for answers. According to Sonkar, the committee will review the available material because this is unquestionably a serious matter. He told the news channel, The committee will investigate this. We have requested that parties provide the committee with evidence. Bribe allegations against Moitra The affidavit was filed a few days after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey sent two letters: one to IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw requesting that he look into Moitras IP addresses for Lok Sabha log-in credentials to see if they had been accessed by anyone else, and the other to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla alleging that Moitra accepted bribes to protect the interests of the Hiranandani Group. In response to Dubeys letter to the IT Minister, Moitra had asked the government to reveal location and log-in information for all MPs along with their call detail data. All parliamentary work of MPs done by PAs, assistants, interns, large teams. Respected @ashwinivaishnaw please release details of location & login details of ALL MPs with CDRs. Please release info on training given to staff to login, she wrote on the micro-blogging site. All parliamentary work of MPs done by PAs, assistants, interns, large teams. Respected @ashwinivaishnaw please release details of location & login details of ALL MPs with CDRs . Please release info on training given to staff to login. pic.twitter.com/1Mz61LBjw3 Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) October 16, 2023 With inputs from agencies US president Joe Bidens historic travel to Israel on Wednesday to stand in solidarity with the country in the aftermath of the Hamas terrorist attack and to address the Palestinians dire humanitarian needs played out well. While Biden demonstrated ironclad support to Israel saying, Youre not alone, he was also seen committed to send humanitarian aid to Gaza and the West Bank. People of Gaza need food, water, medicine, shelter, Biden said. Biden stated that the help will be delivered with caution that it reaches civilians, not Hamas. He reiterated, The vast majority of Palestinians are not Hamas. The US president said he struck a deal with his Egyptian counterpart to allow a first run of 20 trucks carrying humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. Israel says its now ready to honour Bidens request to let in limited humanitarian aid. The Egyptian and Palestinian Red Crescent Societies and the United Nations are expected to help oversee the operation, in part to ensure the supplies from the convoy through the Rafah Crossing on Egypts border with Gaza reaches civilians not combatants. Officials at the UN health agency say theyre praying the first tranche will go in on Friday. Heres a look at what could be expected to go in, and how. What the trucks will carry The United Nations and its various agencies the World Health Organisation, the World Food Program, and childrens agency UNICEF among them along with partners like Red Cross and Red Crescent groups are accustomed to moving needed goods to troubled areas. Also Read: How Joe Biden has linked himself to Israel and its future actions in Gaza They often move in whats called an inter-agency convoy, meaning a hodgepodge of aid groups. At a news briefing Thursday, WHOs emergencies chief, Dr Michael Ryan, waved a paper in the air with a long list of medical supplies that his agency hopes to get into Gaza with five truckloads that it has at the ready: amputation kits, intubation kits, pneumothorax kits for people with punctured lungs, wound dressings, anaesthetics and painkiller. WFP spokesman Martin Rentsch said some 951 metric tons (1000 tonnes) of food were at the border or on their way there, enough to feed nearly a half-million people for a week. He said high-energy biscuits and canned foods that dont need to be cooked were often deployed in such urgent situations. Jan Egeland, head of the Norwegian Refugee Council aid group, said: Hamas doesnt need baby food and bottled water we are talking about saving children, and pregnant women and families. How the aid will be disturbed The deal brokered between Egypt and Israel would involve UN observers inspecting aid trucks before they enter Gaza, and the hoisting of UN flags on both sides of the Rafah crossing to ward off any Israeli airstrikes, an Egyptian official and a European diplomat told The Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to brief media. Also Read: Why Gaza is struggling to be heard around the world Egyptian and Israeli officials were still negotiating about whether fuel needed to run hospital generators and water desalination plants, among other things would be allowed in, the Egyptian official said. Israel wants to make sure Hamas doesnt seize any of the aid, especially fuel. Once inside Gaza, the convoy will need to navigate gingerly through bombed-out areas or pock-marked roads before reaching distribution points like hospitals, some of which have already been hit by military firepower during the conflict. What 20 trucks amount to The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in its latest update, estimated about 3,000 metric tons (3,300 tonnes) of goods were in Egypt just across the border from Gaza, awaiting entry. An OCHA spokeswoman declined to comment on Thursday about preparations for the convoy. Sarah Davies, a spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross, said its trucks between the northern Egyptian city of El Arish and Gaza can each hold between 10 and 20 tonnes of aid. WFPs Rentsch said its trucks can carry a bit more. Last year, some 60 per cent of Palestinians in Gaza needed humanitarian assistance, OCHA says. In calmer times, hundreds of Palestinians pass through Rafah crossing multiple times a week, many departing on religious pilgrimages or commuting to work in Egypt. The Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom and Erez crossings, like the one in Rafah, are now closed. OCHA said over 32,300 truckloads of goods entered Gaza through Rafah last year, and more than twice that went through Kerem Shalom. WHOs Ryan lamented that 20 trucks is a drop in the ocean of need right now in Gaza it shouldnt be 20 trucks. It should be 2,000 trucks. And we shouldnt have to be making these choices. In Cairo on Thursday, where he was observing the world bodys preparations to send massive support to Gazans, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reiterated his call for a humanitarian cease-fire and said any deliveries after nearly two weeks with Gaza cut off should continue. For nearly two weeks, the people of Gaza have gone without any shipments of fuel, food, water, medicine and other essentials, he said. Civilians in Gaza desperately need core services and supplies and for that we need rapid, unimpeded humanitarian access. With inputs from AP A day after Canada announced the withdrawal of 41 diplomats and their family members from India, the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday rejected Canadas characterisation of a move to ensure parity in diplomatic presence as a violation of international norms and said its action was fully consistent with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Canadas foreign minister Melanie Joly on Thursday announced that 41 Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents had been withdrawn from India and accused India of violating Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Responding to Joly, the external affairs ministry said in a statement on Friday, The state of our bilateral relations, the much higher number of Canadian diplomats in India, and their continued interference in our internal affairs warrant a parity in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa. The statement added that India has been engaged with the Canadian side on the issue over the last month in order to work out the details and modalities of its implementation. Our actions in implementing this parity are fully consistent with Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which states the following: In the absence of specific agreement as to the size of the mission, the receiving State may require that the size of a mission be kept within limits considered by it to be reasonable and normal, having regard to circumstances and conditions in the receiving State and to the needs of the particular mission, added the statement. We reject any attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms, the statement further added. Tensions flared between India and Canada last month following Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus explosive allegations of the potential involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on 18 June in British Columbia. India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020. India angrily rejected the allegations as absurd and motivated. Announcing the withdrawal of 41 Canadian diplomats on Thursday, Joly said, I can confirm that India has formally conveyed its plan to unilaterally remove diplomatic immunities for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents in Delhi by tomorrow, October 20, on Thursday. Correction | Amid India-Canada diplomatic tensions, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly says As of now, I can confirm that India has formally conveyed its plan to unilaterally* (not unethically as reported earlier) remove diplomatic immunities for all but 21 Canadian ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2023 Canada will be pausing all in-person services at the consulates in Chandigarh, Mumbai and Bengaluru and is now directing all Canadians in India to the High Commission in New Delhi. The Canadian Embassy in New Delhi updated its travel advisory hours after Jolys statement, urging its citizens to exercise a high degree of caution in and around Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai. Joly said that in their unreasonable request for diplomatic parity, India would only allow 21 diplomats and their families to maintain their diplomatic status, putting the others at risk of having their protections stripped arbitrarily, leaving them vulnerable to reprisal or arrest. This means 41 Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents were in danger of having immunity stripped on an arbitrary date, and this would put their personal safety at risk, she said at a news conference in Ottawa. The safety of Canadians and of our diplomats is always my top concern. Given the implications of Indias actions on the safety of our diplomats, we have facilitated their safe departure from India, Joly said. This means that our diplomats and their families have now left. Last month, India asked Canada to downsize its diplomatic staff in the country, arguing that there should be parity in strength and rank equivalence in the mutual diplomatic presence. The size of Canadian diplomatic staff in India is larger than what New Delhi has in Canada. Calling Indias action contrary to international law, and in violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, Joly accused India of escalating the bilateral tensions, but Canada will not be reciprocating. There is a fundamental principle of diplomacy, and this is a two-way street. It only works if every country abides by the rules, she said. A unilateral revocation of diplomatic privileges and immunities is contrary to international law, Joly said. Threatening to do so is unreasonable and escalatory. If we allow the norm of diplomatic immunity to be broken, no diplomats anywhere would be safe. So for this reason, we will not reciprocate, she added. With inputs from agencies In a strong response to Canadas statement on the withdrawal of some its diplomats on Indias direction, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Friday clarified that no international norm was violated seeking parity in the mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa. Canada claimed that India violated Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations as it confirmed that 41 of their diplomats have been shifted out of India. Countering Canadas charged, the MEA issued a statement, in which it said, the Indian government reject any attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms. We have seen the Statement by the Government of Canada on October 19 regarding Canadian diplomatic presence in India. The state of our bilateral relations, the much higher number of Canadian diplomats in India, and their continued interference in our internal affairs warrant a parity in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa, the MEA said, once again justifying its move to reduce the number of Canadian diplomats. We have been engaged with the Canadian side on this over the last month in order to work out the details and modalities of its implementation, it said. Parity in Canadian diplomatic presence in India:https://t.co/O1fqsrOx8n pic.twitter.com/WxJojOrr5D Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) October 20, 2023 "Our actions in "implementing this parity are fully consistent with Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which states the following: In the absence of specific agreement as to the size of the mission, the receiving State may require that the size of a mission be kept within limits considered by it to be reasonable and normal, having regard to circumstances and conditions in the receiving State and to the needs of the particular mission," the MEA said in the statement. India had asked Canada to reduce its diplomatic presence in the country as relations between the two nations plunged to an all-time low after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of killing Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Trudeau's charges were rejected by India and Ottawa was asked to share specific information. The Canadian PM's allegation led to a diplomatic crisis. Last month, India suspended its visa services in Canada and asked Canada to reduce the number of Canadian diplomats posted in India. MEA said Canadian diplomats in India have been interfering in India's internal matters and there is no parity in the number between the diplomats posted in India by Canada and the other way round. Meanwhile, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said: "As of now, I can confirm that India has formally conveyed its plan to unilaterally remove diplomatic immunities for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents in Delhi by October 20. This means 41 Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents were in danger of having immunity stripped on an arbitrary date and this would put their personal safety at risk...Canadians watching may be wondering what this means for our operations in India. There's no question that India's decision will impact the levels of services to Consulates in both countries. Canada has also announced pausing all in-person services at the consulates in Chandigarh, Mumbai and Bengaluru and has directed all Canadians in India to the high commission in New Delhi. The Canadian Embassy in New Delhi also updated its travel advisory, saying "Exercise a high degree of caution in India" claiming that there was "threat of terrorist attacks throughout the country. The situation in the Israel-Hamas standoff is rapidly deteriorating, with Israel holding out the threat of an invasion of Gaza to weed out the last Hamas terrorist. Obviously, Israel is angry and has all the reason to be. One of the most dastardly and brutal terror attacks has been launched on its territory, and scores of innocents have been killed. No nation needs counsel of restraint when it is subjected to such an act because the human desire for retribution is strong. It is easy for the international community to advise restraint, but it is well known that the advice will rarely be respected or followed. In the same breath, it must be stated that much of the world holds the current Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu responsible for taking Israel into this mess by shunning the more moderate elements of the Palestinian leadership and allowing Qatars financial backing to Hamas that has apparently enabled it and empowered it to undertake such conflict initiation. Essentially, the world is facing one of the most complex situations it has ever encountered. Four major wars fought in these lands in the past were straightforward battles between standing or mobilised armies employing conventional military means and aiming primarily at the destruction of the adversarys war machine and the capture of maximum territory to achieve victory. Somehow, despite Israels military victories in all the wars fought over the Palestine issue, none could be converted into a strategic victory to resolve the vexing and long-standing problem. In current times, conventional war is passe; it is hybrid warfare that rules. To achieve victory in hybrid situations and resolve a problem such as the one involving Palestine may well be considered something near impossible. Israel has achieved military victory several times, even by turning on its head any setback at the outset. However, a strategic victory that puts an end to conflict has been elusive. In the past, its conventional military victories against Egypt helped transform the Egyptian mindset, leading to the peace process and eventual stabilisation of relations. In hybrid mode, conflicts rarely lead to comprehensive victories. So, what could Hamas have imagined would be the end result of its initiation of conflict on 7 October this year? It perhaps wished to achieve something so big that an Israeli response would be inevitable. The more brutal the initiation, the more irrational could be the Israeli response, in the heat and anger of decision-making amidst the political embarrassment due to the severe setbacks. Perhaps Hamas placed its bets on this and the inevitable humanitarian situation that could be created, hoping that the international community would be constrained to force Israel to withhold retributive action. This constraint was never possible, and Hamas has badly miscalculated the stakes. Lots of interest is being generated in the Indian media on how the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) will strategize towards the objectives of the operations they are about to launch. Israel would be seeking an aim for its operation. Please remember that no military operation starts without a stated aim, and from that aim, the objectives evolve. Even before we embark to discuss that we need to clarify the universal concepts of urban warfare as applicable here. In this particular case, it is urban warfare in a hybrid environment where terrorist elements are the adversaries. If Israel decides to make ground incursions into the areas in North Gaza vacated by the population for the purpose of hunting down the Hamas leadership and destroying Hamas military wherewithal, it will be subjected to all the known and unknown travails of urban hybrid warfare. Urban settings as dense as Gaza require manpower-centric operations. Tanks and Infantry Combat Vehicles (ICVs) are effective in reducing resistance but are also extremely vulnerable to short-range anti-tank weapons, which Hamas has in abundance. To prevent this, attacking Israeli troops will use accompanying infantry subunits, which in turn are extremely vulnerable to mines, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and booby traps. The maze of underground tunnels that are reported to exist (commonly called the Gaza Metro) will in all probability have many concealed and camouflaged exits and entrances to enable small teams of Hamas elements to emerge for brief moments to target armoured vehicles and accompanying hardware. With no qualms about ethics or rules of war, Hamas may use human shields from within the local population. In turn, Israel can also display disdain and use unrestricted artillery and rocketry to take out the targets. The long and short of the analysis is that this could be a long and solid slogging match, provided Hamas has prepared itself. From the methods used for the initiation of conflict, it appears that Hamas could be well prepared for an Israeli onslaught into the urban area of Gaza. Israel appears prepared for the long haul and is taking its time in initiating the ground incursions to prevent being surprised once again. However, it must be fully aware of the magnitude of casualties that it could suffer. A few years ago, similar incursions led to almost 66 Israeli soldiers being killed and many more wounded. For Israels size of population, these are monumental casualties, especially when it has already lost 1500 civilians and soldiers killed and injured. The nearest similar Indian military experience of hybrid war in an urban setting is that of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in the intense phase of Operation Pawan in OctoberNovember 1987.The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), after reneging on their commitment to be disarmed, decided to contest the presence of the IPKF. The Indian Army chose to capture and occupy Jaffna city, an urban centre not as dense as Gaza. It commenced disastrously with a poorly conceived helicopter-borne (HB) operation to target the LTTE leadership in Jaffna. After sustaining heavy casualties in the HB operation, it advanced on multiple axes with an Infantry Brigade Group each. There were insufficient tanks and ICVs to lead all columns, and a few that were available suffered kills due to IEDs and rocket fire. There was limited artillery and very few maps. It thus became an infantry advance against a wily set of renegade terrorists who intimately knew the layout of Jaffna city. The Indian Army suffered the loss of 500 soldiers killed in action before finally capturing Jaffna. It immediately set up an administration for the city to prevent a humanitarian situation but continued fighting the LTTE through small-scale responses to the strikes by LTTE terrorists. It took a division-sized force of approximately 20,000 troops plus Special Forces to handle Jaffna for two years after the intense phase. The military aim of the IDF could be to dismantle the Hamas capability to target Israel at will and render it ineffective. Lots of inferences can be drawn from such an aim, which is definitely not the end of all potential aims. This may initiate many discussions on what should be the final aim and objectives of the IDF, and should that involve an occupation of Gaza. The Israeli Army has Gaza well mapped out. It has all the weaponry for close-quarter combat, including ways of blasting the tunnels, but in all probability, Hamas too is well prepared and luring the Israeli Army. There will be extensive use of surveillance and armed drones since Iran is the nation that has developed them in plenty. Hamas may hold a segment of the civilian population within Gaza to project a humanitarian situation and pose a quandary for both Israel and the international community. Hamas may also have some hostages with it, which they may hold a little more professionally than what they earlier demonstrated. That could mean a problem for the IDF. For Israel, the focus on the objective of killing the last terrorist may be unrealistic and may entail overkill in the aim. It would require Israel to hold Gaza with troops and thus suffer casualties. The million-strong population in North Gaza, which has been asked to vacate at any cost, will not be able to squeeze into the already cramped South Gaza and could spill into Israeli territory, where new enclaves could form, and Hamas elements could also sneak into these, creating an altogether new threat. To avoid further humanitarian disaster and suffering, the international community should put an end to the bloodletting, but it may not be politically possible for Israels leadership to agree to this. A ground incursion into North Gaza is almost a certainty. Contingent upon the relative success of the IDF or Hamas, the future course will depend. Till then, no serious international effort towards peace is likely, and the Palestinian people, long the sufferers of strife, are likely to suffer even more. The writer is a former GOC of the Armys 15 Corps. 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. Its no secret that when it comes to geopolitics, the world often appears divided into distinct camps with the East pitted against the West and the North facing off against the South. However, one of the enduring and most prominent rivalries in this global power play remains the US versus Russia. These two giants have consistently been at odds even when they surprisingly find common ground as they do today in the case of supporting innocent, ordinary Palestinians. Despite their shared concern, Washingtons historical focus on Moscow persists, highlighting the enduring animosity between the United States and Russia. Washington may currently view Beijing as the most significant global threat and there are compelling reasons for that assessment. Nevertheless, the US has always reserved its most potent criticism and condemnation for Moscow. This dynamic persists even when the two nations, on rare occasions, find themselves aligned, such as their joint efforts to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza. The situation underscores how the US-Russia rivalry endures as a central theme in contemporary geopolitics with a strong focus on Moscow despite other pressing global concerns. According to the order of the President and the government of the Russian Federation, humanitarian aid is being provided to the residents of the Gaza Strip. Aviation of the Russian Emergency Ministry will deliver 27 tonnes of food products. Humanitarian aid will be handed over to representatives of the Red Crescent Society for delivery to the residents of the Gaza Strip, says Russian Deputy Emergency Minister Ilya Denisov. UNSC: A diplomatic battleground The current mess in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is often attributed to Hamas, a Palestinian terror group. Despite the US and Russia agreeing that Hamas is not representative of all Palestinians and expressing their desire to protect innocent Palestinian civilians, they cannot reach a consensus on how to achieve this. Instead of uniting, Washington and Moscow are engaged in a diplomatic battle with the latest battleground being the United Nations Security Council. Russia aimed to pass a resolution to establish a humanitarian ceasefire allowing ordinary Palestinians to escape the constant bombardment in North Gaza and receive aid in the South. Unfortunately, the Russian resolution was vetoed resulting in strong objections from the Russian side. We believe that todays vote in the Security Council is very is very demonstrative. It clearly shows who is in favour of a truce to stop of indiscriminate bombing and the provision of humanitarian assistance. And the and who is still in favour of blocking a single common message from the Security Council for purely selfish interests and political interests, says Vassily Nebenzia, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations. Passing a resolution through the United Nations Security Council is no simple task given the composition of this international body. The UNSC consists of 15 members, including five permanent members the US, UK, France, China and Russia. To pass a resolution, it must receive a minimum of nine votes in favour. However, even if no member votes against it, there is no guarantee of passage. A significant challenge lies in the potential for abstentions, which can effectively block a resolution without a no vote. So, to get a resolution passed, the first hurdle is securing nine yes votes, which Russia failed to achieve in its attempt on Monday. Yet, the most significant hurdle is the veto power held by the permanent members, highlighting the inequality among members. Only these five permanent members can veto a resolution, reminiscent of George Orwells Animal Farm where some are more equal than others. This dynamic demonstrates that despite having 15 members in theory, its the five permanent members whose votes truly matter as the veto of even one of them can nullify a resolution as seen in Brazils recent attempt to propose a resolution to assist the Palestinian people. The big five call the shots Brazils UN ambassador and UN Security Council president for October Sergio Franca Danese says, The result of the voting is as follows: seven votes in favor, one vote against, seven abstentions. The proposed amendment has not been adopted, having failed to obtain the required number of votes. The resolutions fate hinged on one critical vote, a US veto, which ultimately led to its demise. US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, says, The United States is disappointed this resolution made no mention of Israels rights of self-defence. In response, the Russian Ambassador to the United Nations did not sit quietly. We have just been witnesses once again of hypocrisy and the double standards of our American colleagues not standing in principle in the Security Council. They really did not want to have any solution found here. It was very obvious as to what their intentions were before us here all today, said Nebenzia. Moscows perspective underscores its belief that Washington is primarily interested in resolving crises on its own terms ruling out the possibility of any other party, not even a neutral one like Brazil, playing a peacemaking role. The recent events highlight a crucial realisation the UN Security Council is fundamentally flawed, serving as a stage for major powers to settle their differences sidelining all other concerns. Until the Security Council undergoes a substantial overhaul, the UN will remain paralysed and those in dire need of assistance, such as ordinary Palestinians, will continue to endure suffering while global governance falters. 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. 22 countries, over 475 million people, and an area of 13 million square kilometresits what we know as the Arab world. And this Arab world has picked a side in this war. They are all rallying behind Palestine. When Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October, a lot of Arab nations were quick to comment. Some directly condemn Hamas; others just slammed the attack on Israel. They also talked about restraint and support for Palestine. But on Tuesday, the mood shifted, and the positions hardened. A rocket hit Gazas Al-Ahli hospital, and hundreds of people were killed. And that seemed to be the red line for West Asia. Watch: Israel says it did not attack the hospital. It is even offering proofvideo and audioto show that this was a Palestinian rocket that misfired. That it was fired by a group called Palestinian Jihad. But it seems none of it matters now. But by the time the Israeli denial came, the Arab world had already made up its mind. All of them blamed Israel for the strikes. Their citizens took to the streets. Their leaders called for accountability. And since then, their stance has only toughened. Foreign Minister HH Prince @FaisalbinFarhan: We declare our categorical rejection of the repeated assaults and increasing attacks by the Israeli occupation forces despite repeated appeals to immediately stop military operations. pic.twitter.com/WPBSvAFq0U Foreign Ministry (@KSAmofaEN) October 18, 2023 Three weeks ago, Riyadh and Israel were discussing a peace deal. A deal that would change West Asia, 21 days later, the same Riyadh is condemning Israelin no uncertain termsand asking it to stop its assaults and attacks on Gaza. It shows you how fast the dynamics change, and there are a lot of factors at play. The first are the peace deals. Israel and Arab nations may have signed them, but those deals did not bring peace. The region is on the brink of a wider conflict. One that could engulf the whole of West Asia. Israel is currently pounding Gaza. The next thing they want to do is invade the strip, which could make things much worse. If the hospital strike was a red line, a ground invasion would be a point of no return for West Asia, and Iran has made it very clear. They said it was the beginning of the fall of Israel. Ever since the war broke out, Iran has said a lot. They have warned Israel and said they are ready to join the war. Their proxies were up in arms. And now, Iran wants an oil embargo. Iran wants to stop the flow of oil into Israel. But Tehran alone cannot make that decision. That would be the call of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). OPEC is an oil cartel, and so far, it has rejected calls for an oil embargo. But the very talk of it- has spooked markets. You see, West Asia is central to the global oil economy. A third of the worlds oil comes from here. If they impose an oil embargo, oil prices will skyrocket, and that will be disastrous for the global economy. Its not happening yet. But oil markets are wary because it wont be unprecedented. Arab states have done it before. In 1973, Arab states launched a war against Israel, then they imposed an oil embargo. As it turned out, they did not win the war. But the fact is, they were united, and 50 years later, the same is happening. The Arab world has been dragged into yet another war. They may still be projecting unity and rallying behind Palestine. But they have many fault lines. And their support for Palestine has its limits. Each Arab state is looking at this conflict nervously. Jordan and Egypt fear an exodus of refugees; Gulf nations fear antagonising Iran; and Saudi Arabia fears Iranian proxies lashing out. They may all pretend that this is about the survival of Palestine, but chances are, it is more about their own survival. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the writer. 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. As Joe Biden left Israel, the attacks on Gaza have intensified, leading to a growing wave of anger across the Arab world. The demand for an immediate ceasefire is gaining momentum, but Israel shows no sign of halting its military operations. Morning in Gaza The images from Gaza last morning were haunting. Bombs were detonating one after the other, causing buildings to crumble like dominos and survivors desperately called for help. Tragedy in Khan Younis One of the devastating strikes targetted Khan Younis, a supposed safe zone in southern Gaza. Unfortunately, it turned into a nightmare as a residential area was hit resulting in the loss of 13 lives from the same family. This incident raises the question of whether any place in Gaza can be deemed safe. Displaced Gazan Raafat Al-Nakhal painted a grim picture saying, We came from Gaza city, they told us to come to the south so we came to the south. We found that the strikes intensified in the south. We stayed in a house, in front of us there were strikes and behind us strikes. Theres no safety. Theres nowhere safe in Gaza. You have to be ready to die and just stay in your house. Continued airstrikes Another strike occurred near Rafah, the southernmost point in Gaza, where reports indicate that Israel carried out an air raid, causing the death of at least 30 people and injuring 21 more. The overall casualties continue to rise. Human toll in Israel and Gaza In Israel, approximately 1,400 people have lost their lives with 3,800 others sustaining injuries. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that some of the deceased cannot be buried due to their bodies being mutilated beyond recognition, a testament to the brutality of the Hamas attack. In Gaza, the toll is even higher, with over 3,400 Palestinians killed and around 12,000 injured. Shockingly, a significant portion of the casualties are children, with reports suggesting that one-third of the dead in Gaza are children. This means that more than 1,000 children have lost their lives in just 13 days, highlighting the severity of the crisis. British-Palestinian doctor Ghassan Abusittah says, 40 per cent of all the cases that Ive seen have been children, a lot of them have been like this, theyve lost one or two parents, and unfortunately these kids have a long, long recovery road in front of them. Global protests These tragic events have not gone unnoticed prompting a global outcry and a series of protests around the world. From Istanbul, Cairo, Amman, Sanaa to Tunis demonstrators took to the streets demanding an end to the violence and expressing solidarity with the people of Gaza. In Istanbul, the Palestinian flag was carried while the Israeli flag was burnt. In Egypt, protesters displayed photos of the destruction in Gaza, and in Jordan, minor clashes occurred as demonstrators attempted to march to the Israeli embassy. In Yemen, thousands of Palestinian supporters gathered in Sanaa controlled by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels. Tunisia witnessed similar protests with thousands accusing Israel of war crimes in Gaza. Protests in US The protests have not been limited to the Middle East. They have also reached Joe Bidens doorstep. Demonstrations have taken place in various US cities including New York, Chicago, Washington and Saint Paul, all with a unified demand: an end to the attacks on Gaza. These protests reflect a growing sentiment of support for the people of Gaza transcending regional and international boundaries. Symbolic Jewish protest Perhaps one of the most symbolic protests occurred when a Jewish group held a demonstration. Approximately 200 protesters marched into the US Capitol organising a sit-in protest with the demand for a ceasefire in Gaza. Notably, most of the protesters were arrested emphasising the urgency and importance of their message. Their stance is clear: they do not want their identity to be used as an excuse for the ongoing bombing in Gaza. Aid deliveries and challenges While there is a growing sympathy and support for Gaza, the pressing question remains: will this translate into concrete action? Aid deliveries to Gaza are set to begin following Israels agreement to allow aid shipments into the region. However, around 120 aid trucks are currently stationed at the crossing and their movement is delayed due to necessary road repairs. President Joe Biden has set Friday as the target for getting the aid trucks across the border. Theyre going to patch the roads. They have to fill potholes, to get these trucks through. And thats going to occur, I expect itll take about eight hours tomorrow. So, there may be nothing rolled through probably until Friday (October 20), says US President Joe Biden. Challenges and a ground invasion Challenges persist as Israels ground invasion looms. Reports suggest that reservists have been granted time off to be with their families, signalling the imminent nature of a ground offensive. However, the delay may be attributed to foreign visits. Joe Biden visited Israel and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrived, with both leaders discussing the situation. It is well known that military invasions during foreign visits do not bode well and Israel may be waiting for an opportune moment. Netanyahus statement Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made an intriguing comment during these trying times. He discussed the political intentions behind Hamass attack characterising it as an attempt to derail Israels peace process with Arab states. This insight sheds new light on the ongoing conflict. The invasion of Gaza seems imminent, but the possibility of a ceasefire still exists. Hamas has talked about releasing hostages, a gesture supported by Iran in exchange for Israel halting its attacks. However, Israel faces a challenging decision: whether to prioritise the release of hostages or the end of Hamas rule in Gaza. The choice made by Prime Minister Netanyahu will undoubtedly shape the fate of millions in the region. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. In a recent interaction with the Council for Foreign Relations (CFR) in New York, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar remarked about China, albeit in a lighter vein: One of the pleasures of dealing with China is that they never quite tell you why they do things. Rewind 61 years and there remains a doubt over the principal reasons that forced Mao to embark on a military campaign against India across two fronts. Jostling over Tibet When the Manchu rulers of the Qing Dynasty were overthrown by Chinas revolutionary movement led by Sun-yat-Sen in 1911, Tibet virtually became an independent state with hardly any remnants of Chinese presence in Lhasa and other areas except for normal trading links across poorly demarcated frontiers. The 13th Dalai Lama assumed the exalted mantle of religious leadership and was the power centre till his death in 1933. In 1914 the British initiated the Simla Conference with Tibet and China to push through their version of the Indo-Tibet boundary. While British India and Tibet ratified the agreement, the Chinese representative, Ivan Chen, merely initialled the agreement without ratifying it. This clearly indicated that the wily Chinese were ambiguously and dexterously playing the waiting game. The British claimed much of Aksai Chin from a position of strength based on exploratory propriety and cartographic initiative. The Chinese, on the other hand, claimed it as an area through which only Tibetans and Chinese passed through on the traditional trade route connecting the provinces of Kashgar and Turkestan with western Tibet. In the east, Tibet maintained that the areas around Tawang were both ethnically and religiously closely linked with Lhasa, and merited inclusion in Tibet. This claim suited China after it had annexed Tibet in 1950. Both these disputes were among the several triggers for the India-China conflict of 1962. China militarily occupied Tibet in October 1950 by systematically crushing all opposition. Soon after, they commenced building a strategic highway running through Aksai Chin linking Tibet with their south-western province of Sinkiang (now called Xinjiang). India Procrastinates: Sardar Patels Warnings While India attempted to downplay the likelihood of any confrontation with China over Tibet, border differences and highlighted the Panchsheel agreement as a template for India-China relations, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the then home minister, warned prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru of his apprehensions regarding Indias China policy. Patel advocated a capability building strategy, rather than a conciliatory one as a hedge against Chinese adventurism. In a prophetic letter written to Nehru in 1950, a few months before his death, Patel wrote: I have been anxiously thinking over the problem of Tibet and I thought I should share with you what is passing through my mind. We have to consider what new situation faces us as a result of the disappearance of Tibet, as we know it and the expansion of China almost up to our gates. Throughout history, we have seldom been worried about our northern frontier. The Himalayas have been regarded as an impenetrable barrier against any threat from the North. We had a friendly Tibet which gave us no troubleChina is no longer divided. It is united and strong. No amount of posturing by Nehru and India in the years ahead with respect to championing non-alignment would change Patels opinion. He wrote: It is impossible to imagine any sensible person believing in the so-called threat to China from Anglo-American machinations in Tibet. Therefore, if the Chinese put faith in this, they must have distrusted us so completely as to have taken us as tools or stooges of Anglo-American diplomacy or strategy. This feeling, if genuinely entertained by the Chinese in spite of your direct approaches to them, indicates that, even though we regard ourselves as friends of China, the Chinese do not regard us as their friends. With the Chinese mentality of whoever is not with them being against them, this is a significant pointer of which we have to take due note. Mao Versus Nehru Nehru did not pay heed to Patels warnings and continued to bank on his international stature and perceived leadership of the developing world as being enough to stave off any hostility from China. Mao, with his increasing disdain for Nehru as the 1950s went by, assumed control of Chinas strategy to teach India a lesson, while the consummate Zhou Enlai, Chinas Prime Minister, was entrusted with keeping India guessing about Chinas actual intentions with deft but argumentative diplomacy. Despite undocumented swap offers by Zhou that it would be in Indias interest to meet China half-way and understand its strategic fears about Aksai Chin in return for Chinas acceptance of the McMahon line in the east. India and Nehru stuck to their guns that Aksai Chin was an intrinsic part of Ladakh and that the McMahon line was inviolable in the east. The year 1957 was a defining year in India-China relations. The unveiling of the Tibet-Sinkiang highway through Aksai Chin completely spooked India. Not only was it a blatant display of aggressive strategic posturing and admirable high altitude infrastructure engineering, it was also a very accurate recognition of Indias inability to respond based on its scanty deployment of armed forces in Ladakh and the near absence of any operational infrastructure worth the name. Apart from a display of an indignant you stabbed me in the back and how could you do this to us your partners in the fight against colonialism kind of statements, India could do very little in terms of physically contesting the road construction through territory it claimed. Maos role in the 1962 conflict with India was underplayed for years and it was only in the 1990s that a series of good writing from China emerged, revealing Maos impatience and irritation with Nehrus growing influence in the developing world, and Indias unwillingness to let go of Aksai Chin. Mao also made some fundamental errors by wrongly assessing that after granting asylum to the Dalai Lama, India wanted to seize Tibet from China. Mao is also said to have been particularly incensed at some covert support from India to the Khampa rebellion in Eastern Tibet in 1959. The road to war After the Dalai Lama fled to India via Tawang in March 1959, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) commenced aggressive patrolling, citing Indian forays into Aksai Chin and along the McMahon Line in NEFA as having forced its hand. The first armed incident of significant importance was reported at Longju on the NEFA border where India had set up a post right on the McMahon line and just south of the Tibetan village of Migyitun. Longju was conveniently placed on the Tsari River and allowed good visibility into Tibet. However, according to the Chinese, India had transgressed two miles north of the McMahon line and asked it to vacate the post. This face-off in August, 1959, which resulted in a small but fierce firefight broke out between the PLA and the Indian Army. This can be considered as the first serious encounter with gloves off as a prelude to the 1962 war. Pushed into a corner by China and faced with an election in a couple of years, Nehru had no other option but to harden his stance vis-a-vis China without the wherewithal to convert it into any tangible strategic game plan. The inexperienced and strategically naive political opposition within India too played its part in allowing the situation to deteriorate by badgering Nehru and accusing him of cowing down to Chinese bullying they demanded, without realising the skewed military balance between the two countries, that not an inch of Indian territory must be bartered with the Chinese. Nehru had to come up with some security policy to combat China. The Forward Policy was a result of this relentless pressure on the Indian government, both from the Chinese, and the domestic constituents comprising the opposition parties, media and the public at large. Convening a Central Military Commission meeting in late 1961, Mao compared Indias Forward Policy to a strategic move across the centreline in a game of chess. He remarked: Their (Indias) continually pushing forward is like crossing the Chu Han boundary. What should we do? We can also set out a few pawns on our side of the river. If they dont then cross over, thats great. If they do cross, well eat them up. He likened Indias Forward Policy to can shi zheng ce, or a nibbling policy and asked his border troops to secure Chinas claim over Aksai Chin by weaving an interlocking pattern around Indian troops without seeking a fight unless provoked and fired upon. The Forward Policy was a poorly conceived and politically driven military posture with almost no coercive potential against a much stronger adversary. How the Indian Army went along with Nehru and VK Krishna Menon, the mercurial and acerbic defence minister, is a story by itself. It envisaged creation of small static enclaves of troop positions of a maximum of a platoon strength in no mans land very close to where the Chinese were occupying similar positions in larger numbers. The strategy was tactically unsound and though field commanders like Lt Gen Daulat Singh, the Western Army Commander, and Lieutenant General Umrao Singh, the top field commander in the east, expressed serious apprehensions about sustaining such a policy, they fell in line once the Army chief insisted on implementing the directive. Instead of coercing or deterring the Chinese, it provoked them into responding with brute force and strength. The author is a former fighter pilot from the IAF and an accomplished military historian. He is the author of two defining books on contemporary Indian military history, Indias Wars: A Military History 1947-1971 & Full Spectrum: Indias Wars 1972-2020. 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. How can you fight a war when the morality of each of your actions is scrutinised minutely, while the most unconscionable crimes against humanity committed by your enemy are either downplayed by putting in a context or attributed to some root-cause? This is exactly what is happening to Israel, thanks to the depravity of the Western mainstream media (MSM), as we shall see. The explosion at a Gaza hospital, in which hundreds of people were killed, underlines Tel Avivs predicament. The unfortunate nation suffered a barbaric attack by Hamas in which 1,400 people were massacred, including many non-Israelis. Around 200 people were taken as hostages. The attack was sudden and brazen. Among the murdered were men, women, and children, the young and the old. However, it is not Hamas, its backers like Iran, and supporters and sympathisers who have to do any explaining; Israel has to do it all the time. Tel Aviv has to justify the correctness of its retaliatory strikes, to convince the world that its air force and army actions are proper. This reminds me of a couplet by Akbar Allahabadi, Hum aah bhi karte hain to ho jaate hain badnaam/voh qatl bhi karte hain to charcha nahin hota. In general, Israelis specialise in surgical strikes, and they are well-equipped and trained for it. Even after the October 7 outrage, they didnt kill indiscriminately; they carefully targeted Hamas leaders and hideouts. The entire world, including Muslims and liberals, knows this fact, and yet the Israelis are incessantly accused of war crimes. In general, Hamas and other jihadi groups take great care in increasing casualtiesboth of their enemies and their own, for they dont value human life. They use women and children (theirs and the enemys) as their shields. The entire world, including Muslims and liberals, knows this fact, and yet Hamas is routinely portrayed as freedom fighters in the Muslim world. As for liberals, many among them are generally favourably inclined towards Hamas, defending their egregious October 7 blitzkrieg as a reaction of pent-up anger and frustration because of Israeli settlements. That, they argue, is the root-cause. Israel itself is responsible for its own 9/11. And who, pray, is the real victim? No prizes for guessing it rightHamas and Gazans. Liberals language and cognitive and cogitative faculties have undergone an Orwellian transformation. The hero is the villain and vice-versa; the victim is the villain and vice-versa; massacres are justifiable but self-defence is not; the only genuine democracy in the Middle East is wrong and bloodthirsty psychopaths are right. US President Joe Biden reportedly told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the hospital strike seems to have been done by [the] other team, referring to Palestinian terrorists. It is quite well-known that Biden is not very fond of Netanyahu. Besides, Bidens own party is increasingly under the influence of the radical Left, so he could not have said that without sufficient evidence. Hamas, of course, blames Israel for the blast. Israels military, though, has provided credible evidence and arguments to prove that it was a misfired Palestinian rocket that caused the explosion at the Gaza hospital. Chief military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said an investigation confirmed that there was no IDF [Israel Defence Forces] fire from the land, sea or air that hit the hospital. He said there was neither any structural damage to buildings around the hospital nor any crater. An air strike would leave a crater. We have intelligence about communication between terrorists talking about rockets misfiring, he added. Yet, Israel is being continuously lectured to show restraint. Even Biden, clearly under pressure from the Israel-hating Left within his own Democratic Party, dissuaded Israelis from occupying Gaza. The liberal-dominated MSM is busy highlighting the humanitarian crisis Gaza faces. They keep showing the devastation caused by Israeli raids, but often downplay the, well, root cause of it: October 7. Liberals and Western MSM want the Israelis to not try to get justice for the hundreds of the compatriots slaughtered by Hamas. Some MSM platforms even refuse to call Hamas a terrorist outfit. A British broadcaster is one of them. One of the senior editors of the broadcaster explained the organisations position, saying that it doesnt take sides. Not taking sides while reporting or commenting on a political dispute, an economic matter, a cultural issue, a philosophical or religious question is okay. But you have to take sides when one side is indubitably evil. A serial murderer (when the guilt is proven in a court of law) and a cop cannot be put on the same moral footing. Nor can an arsonist and a firefighter. Surely nor can Hamas and Israel. The writer is a freelance journalist. 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. Amazon is experimenting with using humanoid robots as workers in some of its warehouses in the US. With this, Amazon is taking automation in its warehouses to a new level. This move underscores the tech giants ongoing efforts to streamline its operations and enhance efficiency. Amazon says that the use of robots in the warehouse will free up staff for more important things. Amazon has a history of several lawsuits and allegations of creating a problematic and sometimes hostile work environment for its warehouse workers. There are several testimonials from former warehouse workers at Amazon, in which they claimed that they were so overworked and on such tight deadlines, that they had to urinate in water bottles while at their stations, since they did not have the time to go to designated loos. Several reports have also indicated that Amazons warehouses have some of the highest worker turnover rates in the US. In some cities, the turnover can be double the national average. The company stated that the introduction of humanoid robots, named Digit, aims to free employees up to better deliver for our customers. Digit, equipped with arms and legs, mimics human movement, enabling it to move, grasp, and handle items much like a human worker. While Amazons move towards automation has raised concerns from labour unions, the company insists that its robotic systems have created hundreds of thousands of new jobs within its operations, including 700 different job categories that previously did not exist. Trade unions have expressed concern over Amazons push for automation, suggesting it was leading to job losses in fulfilment centres. A representative of the union GMB noted that Amazons automation is a head-first race to job losses. Weve already seen hundreds of jobs disappear to it in fulfilment centres, they added. Amazons efforts to automate its operations have already seen the deployment of over 750,000 robots, which work in collaboration with human employees to tackle highly repetitive tasks. Amazon Robotics chief technologist, Tye Brady, emphasized the irreplaceable role of human workers in the fulfilment process and dismissed the idea of fully automated warehouses in the future. He stated, Theres not any part of me that thinks that would ever be a reality. People are so central to the fulfilment process; the ability to think at a higher level, the ability to diagnose problems. Unlike traditional wheeled robots used in Amazon warehouses, Digit has a pair legs to move about. This innovation allows it to navigate steps, stairs, and other obstacles present in Amazons facilities. Scott Dresser of Amazon Robotics described Digit as a prototype, and the trial aims to assess its compatibility and safety when working alongside human employees. Our experience has been these new technologies actually create jobs, they allow us to grow and expand. And weve seen multiple examples of this through the robots that we have today. They dont always run unfortunately and we need people to repair them, said Mr. Dresser. Amazon has been steadily increasing its use of robots to enhance operational efficiency and cut costs. In addition to humanoid robots, the company has previously introduced wheeled robots for goods transportation within its warehouses and initiated drone deliveries in select regions within the United States. The threat of financial fraud has reached alarming proportions, necessitating innovative solutions to protect individuals and institutions. With the rise of online banking, digital transactions, and the proliferation of financial technology (fintech), fraudsters have seized new opportunities to exploit unsuspecting victims. To address this growing menace, Google has launched its DigiKavach initiative, a cutting-edge early threat detection and warning system designed to spot and analyze emerging financial fraud patterns before they can cause widespread damage. Objectives of DigiKavach Program The first critical step in the battle against financial fraud is to comprehend the strategies and tactics employed by scammers. DigiKavachs dedicated teams are working relentlessly to unravel the intricate web of deception woven by fraudsters. With a comprehensive understanding of fraud patterns, DigiKavach harnesses state-of-the-art technology to identify emerging threats. By detecting these threats at an early stage, the program aims to prevent financial losses to individuals and institutions. DigiKavach also recognizes that defeating financial fraud necessitates a collective effort. As part of this initiative, collaboration with various organizations and authorities is paramount. Notable partnerships include: Fintech Association for Consumer Empowerment or FACE, a trusted flagger, is working closely with DigiKavach to enhance the detection of fraud patterns and take swift actions against predatory loan apps. This partnership ensures individuals are shielded from unscrupulous fintech companies. Theres also Cyber Crime Helpline number 1930: This helpline, established by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (14C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, is a crucial ally of DigiKavach. Together, they respond to threats by providing timely information and support to individuals affected by financial fraud. As a global tech giant, Google is also a key partner in this mission. They contribute to DigiKavach by developing products that prioritize security, thereby enhancing the overall safety of digital transactions. Googles pivotal role Google plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the financial ecosystem through its contributions to DigiKavach. For example, theres Gmails Phishing Protection. Deceptive emails are a common origin of many financial fraud attempts. Gmail, Googles email service, automatically blocks over 99.9 per cent of spam, phishing, and malware. This level of protection secures over 1.5 billion inboxes globally, significantly reducing the likelihood of individuals falling victim to phishing scams. For Android users, Google Play Protect acts as a built-in defense mechanism. This service operates continuously in the background to maintain the safety of Android devices, data, and apps. Each day, it scans 125 billion installed Android apps for malware, minimizing the risk of downloading fraudulent apps. Google Pay employs machine learning and artificial intelligence to spot phishing and other fraud risks when users send and receive money. Every day, Google Pay sends safety alerts to hundreds of thousands of users, effectively protecting them from suspicious transactions. Googles DigiKavach initiative is a significant step towards fortifying the digital financial landscape, leveraging technology and collaboration to thwart emerging financial fraud threats. By doing so, it aims to create a safer and more secure environment for individuals and institutions in the digital age. In recent weeks, there has been growing concern over the demand for Apples iPhone 15, particularly in China. This concern was exacerbated by a recent report from Bloomberg that revealed disappointing iPhone 15 sales in the country. China is one of Apples biggest markets and one of the largest markets for smartphones in the world. And while there are many players in the Chinese smartphone market, for years now, Apple has been dominating the premium segment of the market. With the Apple 15 series, and the launch of the Huawei Mate 60, the dynamics are shifting. Jeff Pu, an analyst at Haitong International Securities, has now echoed these concerns while also shedding light on what to expect from the upcoming iPhone 16 lineup. iPhone 15 faces lacklustre demand in China According to Jeff Pu, in a note to investors reported by 9to5Mac, demand for the iPhone 15 has fallen short of the demand witnessed for the iPhone 14 during the same period the previous year. Notably, the iPhone 15 Pro Max remains the most sought-after model among consumers, closely followed by the iPhone 15 Pro. On the other hand, demand for the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, the non-Pro models, is considerably is weaker, even when compared to the non-Pro iPhone 14 from last year. Pu pointed out that the less expensive models are readily available in stores worldwide, but regional dynamics must be considered. China, in particular, is proving to be a challenging market for Apple. The Chinese market presents stiff competition for the iPhone from a variety of local smartphone manufacturers, most notably Huawei. Huaweis recently launched Mate 60, equipped with a 6.8-inch display, slim bezels, high-resolution cameras, and a robust 5,000mAh battery, has gained traction. Whats more, its starting price of 5999 (approximately $819) is about $200 less than the iPhone 15 Pro in China. In contrast, while Huaweis global smartphone shipments saw a significant drop in the wake of US sanctions, Pu noted that the demand for Huaweis latest offerings in China has exceeded expectations. India comes to the rescue? This scenario poses a risk for Apple, as China accounted for 22 per cent of total iPhone shipments in the first half of 2023. A mere 4.5 per cent drop in the iPhones market share in China would translate to roughly 12 million lost iPhone sales. That would prove to be a massive hit to Apples bottom line. However, its not all gloom and doom for Apple. iPhone sales continue to thrive in the United States, and the company is banking on increased interest in premium smartphones in India. And although India isnt as big of a market for iPhones as China is, Indian consumers are sure loving their iPhones. In a Reuters report that quoted insights from Counterpoint, Apple is projected to account for 7 per cent of all smartphone sales in the country from July to December, up from 5 per cent in the first half of 2023. Most crucially, this will entail the Dusshera-Diwali festive season as well as the year-end holidays, the period when people are most likely to upgrade. Moreover, theres an expectation of a seasonal recovery in the European market, which could help balance the scales. iPhone 16 rumours start pouring in In addition to discussing the iPhone 15s performance, Jeff Pu has offered insights into what can be anticipated from the upcoming iPhone 16. According to Pu, next years Pro models are expected to come equipped with a faster 5G modem, Wi-Fi 7, and a new 48-megapixel ultra-wide lens. In contrast, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are set to inherit some of the technologies introduced with the iPhone 15 Pro, including Wi-Fi 6e. Following a trend from the previous year, Apple integrated the A16 Bionic chip from the iPhone 14 Pro into the standard iPhone 15, while the iPhone 15 Pro received the new 3-nanometer A17 Pro chip. Speculation regarding non-Pro versions of these chips for mid-range iPhones seems to be coming true. Pu reported that, rather than developing a less powerful chip based on the A17 Pro, all iPhone 16 models will be powered by chips from the A18 family. This development is partly in response to overheating issues associated with the iPhone 15 Pro. According to Pu, a significant part of this problem stems from the suboptimal design of the A17 Pro chip, which, despite being built on a 3-nanometer process, doesnt offer substantial improvements in performance or efficiency compared to its predecessor. Jiangxi province drives innovation, development in VR Industry 09:56, October 20, 2023 By Zheng Shaozhong, Zhou Huan ( People's Daily The 2023 World Conference on VR (virtual reality) Industry opened in Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi province on Oct. 19. Since its first edition in 2018, the VR industry conference has been held annually in Nanchang. During the past five editions of the conference, 562 projects were signed with a total amount of 336.6 billion yuan ($46.05 billion). A national vocational education virtual simulation demonstration training base and a national VR innovation center have been set up in Jiangxi. A man experiences virtual driving at the 2022 World Conference on VR Industry, Nov. 12, 2022. (People's Daily Online/Ma Yue) In recent years, with the continuous convergence of quality resources such as VR projects, technologies, talents, and funds, Jiangxi province has been emerging as a prominent hub for the VR industry. Now, the province is home to more than 400 VR enterprises, and the revenue of VR and relevant industries surged from 4.2 billion yuan in 2018 to 81.2 billion yuan last year. Jiangxi-based automobile manufacturer Jiangling Motors Corporation Limited, or JMC, has an intelligent 5G factory that produces special purpose vehicles. "Through innovative applications such as VR inspections, we have achieved automatic equipment failure warnings and reduced inspection time by approximately 30 percent," said Yan Zongming, general manager of the company that retrofitted the factory. According to Yan, China Unicom, one of the largest telecommunications operators in China, landed a VR/AR (augmented reality) base in Jiangxi province in 2020, which attracted over 10 relevant companies to settle in. These enterprises are engaged in various fields including software and hardware development, big data analysis and digital twin. Thanks to this strong ecosystem, the revenue of Yan's company jumped from around a million yuan when it just started to 21.54 million yuan in 2022. Jiangxi takes VR as a key industry. It not only promotes integrated development of the industry's capital chain, innovation chain, and industrial chain, but also strives to promote complementary development between the VR industry and other advantageous sectors, such as electronic information, the Internet of Things (IoT), and big data. In a workshop of Pimax Nanchang, mainly engaged in the production and manufacture of VR headsets, three production line were seen working simultaneously. Li Jie, vice president of the company, said that optical modules needed by the company are supplied by the Nanchang production base of Ofilm Group, and the company's VR contents come from Nanchang-based Tellhow Creative Technology Group. Students use VR devices to learn in a classroom in Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi province. (Photo from Nanchang Daily) According to him, Pimax Nanchang is thriving thanks to the local VR industry cluster and the sound collaboration among relevant enterprises. The revenue of the company stood at 11.31 million yuan in 2022 and is expected to reach 20 million this year. In Jiangxi province, VR and relevant technologies are now applied in a number of scenarios, boosting the development of various industries. For instance, students can "repair" a vehicle with VR controllers, and with VR equipment, R&D personnel can significantly improve their work performance and efficiency. "Learning a skill well requires a lot of practice, and simulation training helps us make up for the lack of hands-on experience," said Zhou Tao, a student majoring in urban rail transit operation and management at Jiangxi Modern Polytechnic College, who joined a half-month training at the national vocational education virtual simulation demonstration training base in Nanchang. "Through VR technology, we can familiarize ourselves with the structures of vehicle equipment components in the classroom," he added. At present, the base provides training for 26 vocational education courses in nine major categories including equipment manufacturing, transportation, and healthcare. Upon full operation, the base will be able to train 100,000 people each year and bring an enormous market of at least 200 million yuan. A demonstration agriculture base in Jiangxi province has developed a metaverse online shop that allows customers to "pick" fruits and vegetables on their mobile phones. After customers enter a virtual version of the farm on a mobile application and select the fruits and vegetables they want, robots would pick, pack and then mail them to customers. "The majority of the research, production, and management for the base's over 300 mu (20 hectares) of agricultural projects now utilize the metaverse technology," said Meng Fanming, general manager of the base. "VR is considered an important gateway technology for the metaverse. After years of development, Jiangxi has initially established a complete VR industry chain with a solid industrial ecology foundation," said Liao Guoqiong, dean of the VR Modern Industrial College of Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics. He added that multiple key VR R&D platforms including the Jiangxi Research Institute of Beihang University, Huawei Nanchang Institute, and a VR innovation center of China Mobile have settled in Jiangxi, and this will build more new momentums for Jiangxi's development. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun) Finally, the long awaited foldable phone from OnePlus was unveiled last evening in Mumbai. We had the good fortune of using the device for the past few days, oh and the OnePlus Open arrived in a neat little briefcase. While the review process is still in progress, we have a fair idea about what the phone offers. I am sure you have a lot of queries about the OnePlus Open too. While we will leave the specifics about the performance and camera quality for the final review, we will strive to answer most of your questions today and share certain insights. The floor is Open for questions. OnePlus Open: The Design How bulky is the OnePlus Open? The most obvious question when it comes to foldable phones, and the right one! We are happy to report that it is perfectly manageable. Of course, the foldable phones havent yet reached a point where they would be as slim (when folded) as regular flagship smartphones, but the Open is arguably the slimmest foldable phone around, measuring 11.7 mm in thickness when folded and just 5.8 mm when open. That makes it more than 1.5 mm slimmer than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 (folded). Image Credit: Firstpost | Ameya DalviHow heavy is the OnePlus Open? As for the weight, it is the lightest full size foldable phone around, weighing under 240 grams. And as OnePlus cheekily likes to put it, a gram lighter than the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max. The company has made some smart choices with the materials and components used to keep the weight down without compromising on the build quality; the weight distribution is pretty decent too. Numbers aside, the phone doesnt feel too bulky or too heavy in hand. Now, anything over 200 grams is considered heavy for smartphones. But under a quarter of a kilo is perfectly acceptable for full sized foldable phones at the current stage of their evolution. OnePlus Open: The Displays Like all foldable phones, the OnePlus Open has two displays the outer one when folded and the inner when open, and the company has gone to town with both. The outer display measures 6.31-inch and has a resolution of 2484 x 1116 pixels. When opened, you get a larger 7.82-display with a resolution of 2440 x 2268 pixels. Both are LTPO3 Fluid AMOLED displays with support for 10-bit colour, 120 Hz refresh rate and flaunt a peak brightness of 2800 nits. How are the OnePlus Open screens different from those on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5? For starters, the OnePlus Open has slightly larger inner and outer screens, but their resolution is significantly higher than Samsungs. The OnePlus displays are also brighter and support Dolby Vision, wherein the aforementioned 2800 nits brightness can be put to good use. Are the OnePlus Open displays scratch-resistant? The outer display is scratch-resistant and comes equipped with a Ceramic Guard, which the company claims is 20 per cent more impact-resistant than Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. The inner display does not have any real scratch resistance barring a pre-applied screen protector that the company advises against removing. Having scratch-resistant glass on a foldable display is a puzzle yet to be cracked by all manufacturers. Is the crease on the inner display prominent? It is barely visible from certain angles; perhaps the most inconspicuous till date. But no, it hasnt completely vanished. More importantly, it does not hinder any operation on this device. OnePlus Open: Processing hardware The processing hardware here is quite similar to the companys other flagship phone, the OnePlus 11 5G. The OnePlus Open too has the most powerful Qualcomm SoC around, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. You get 16 GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512 GB of UFS 4.0 storage. Yes, theres just one variant of the phone available at launch. OnePlus Open: OS and user interface Is the user interface different from other OnePlus phones? OnePlus Open runs the latest Android 13 with Oxygen OS 13.2. While the outer screen has the standard user interface, the inner screen has the new Open Canvas UI similar to what you get on OnePlus tablets with a taskbar at the bottom of the screen. The UI is optimised for the larger squarish display and greatly aids in multitasking and file sharing. How many more Android updates will the Open receive in the coming years? Though OnePlus hasnt specified the number of Android updates this device will receive going ahead, given the companys track record, one can expect a handful of them over the next few years. We will check with the brand and get you an official word on this. OnePlus Open: Cameras OnePlus has absolutely packed the camera department here as one would expect on a flagship device. There are a total of five cameras on the phone 3 at the back and one at the top of each screen. Lets get the front cameras out of the way before we touch upon the rear setup. You get a 32MP camera at the top of the outer screen and a 20MP unit at the top right when you open the phone. At the back, inside a big circular camera module, you can spot three cameras. The 48MP primary camera gets a new Sony LYTIA-T808 CMOS sensor along with optical image stabilisation (OIS). Then you have a 64MP periscope telephoto camera with OIS that provides 3X optical zoom, 6X hybrid near-lossless zoom and up to 120X ultra-res zoom (digital with AI). It can also be used to click some high-quality portrait shots, and of course, you get the Hasselblad tuning too. Lastly, theres also a 48MP ultra-wide camera with autofocus that can double up as a macro camera. All the cameras, front and back, can record videos in up to 4K resolution at 30 fps. The rear cameras can go up to 4K/60 fps and also support HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. Super slo-mo Full HD videos can be captured at up to 480 fps. As for the details of picture and video quality, you will need to wait for our final review, but things are looking impressive. OnePlus Open: Battery and charging What is the battery life of the OnePlus Open? The OnePlus Open is fitted with a 4805 mAh battery that is expected to keep it running for a day of moderate use. Your mileage may vary depending on the quantum of usage of the inner screen especially. We are still testing this aspect of the device in various scenarios and will share more details in the final review. Does it support fast charging? Of course, it does! Its a OnePlus phone afterall. However, the charging speed is modest for OnePlus standards. The Open supports 67W fast charging, and takes about 45 minutes to charge the phone fully from empty. OnePlus Open: Price and availability in India The OnePlus Open is priced at Rs 1,39,999 in India with a one-year warranty. It is available for pre-order now with multiple introductory offers, and the open sale starts on 27th October 2023. The phone will be available on the companys web store and Amazon India online and through Reliance Digital and other partner stores offline. Stay tuned for our in-depth review of the OnePlus Open shortly with loads of camera samples and performance benchmarks. Chinese smartphone manufacturer Oppo is making a significant move into the high-end foldable smartphone market by launching two new devices in its Find series. This strategic push comes as Oppo aims to tap into a growing demand for premium handsets, despite an overall decline in the smartphone market and intensified competition in the domestic market. The company unveiled the Find N3, a foldable smartphone with a sizable 7.8-inch inner screen, directly competing with offerings from industry giants like Samsungs Galaxy Fold 5 and Googles Pixel Fold. This book-style handset boasts an enhanced hinge designed to withstand one million folds, ensuring durability. Additionally, Oppo has incorporated its ultra-premium camera system, a first for foldable phones, providing users with camera functionality on par with its flagship models. Powered by Qualcomms Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 5G chipset, the Find N3 is priced at S$2,399 (approximately US$1,750) and will be available for pre-order starting Friday. Oppo also introduced its Find N3 Flip, a clamshell-style foldable handset designed for international markets. This device features a triple camera system and a substantial outer screen that enables users to access over 80 apps without unfolding the phone. The Find N3 Flip initially debuted in China back in August. Elvis Zhou, Oppos overseas chief marketing officer, emphasized the companys commitment to breaking ground in the high-end foldable phone market, stating, The popularization of foldable phones is a significant growth engine for the future of the smartphone industry. While foldable handsets represent a small portion of the total smartphone market, their appeal to high-end consumers makes them commercially valuable. According to Counterpoint Research data, global shipments of foldable handsets rose by 64 per cent in the first quarter, contrasting with a 14.2 per cent decline in the overall smartphone market. China has emerged as a key market for foldable smartphones, with a remarkable 117 per cent growth in the first quarter of 2023. In the domestic market, Oppo faces fierce competition, particularly from Huawei, which recently unveiled its foldable Mate X5. As per Counterpoint data, Oppo ranks second in the Chinese foldable market, closely trailing Huawei with a 27 per cent market share. Oppos success can be attributed to its Find N2 series launched in late 2022, with the N2 Flip being the most popular model in the clamshell category, surpassing Huaweis Pocket S. The competition in Chinas smartphone market has intensified with Huaweis resurgence, marked by the surprise launch of its 5G-capable Mate 60 Pro series in September. Huawei has raised its smartphone shipment target by 20 per cent for the second half of the year, as reported by Securities Daily. To further establish its presence in the high-end consumer segment, Oppo is focusing on the Asia-Pacific region. Andy Shi, the president of Oppo for APAC, stressed that expanding sales channels in upscale locations and enhancing service quality in physical stores will be essential to compete with rivals like Samsung and Apple. Oppo also reaffirmed its commitment to the European market, despite challenges such as a recent patent dispute with Nokia and ongoing regulatory uncertainties. Elvis Zhou stated, We will continue to launch new products in the European market, and our all in foldable strategy will not leave this market out. Foldable products will be a key way to make breakthroughs in mature markets like Europe. (With input from agencies) About 80 per cent of Israelis believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should publicly take responsibility for the Hamass onslaught on October 7. The poll was conducted by Maariv newspaper and was published on Friday, the fourteenth day of Israel-Hamas war. The poll result showed that 80 per cent of Israelis said Netanyahu, who has not made any public statements accepting responsibility, should follow suit of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi and Shin Bet head Ronen Bar who have already taken such responsibility. Also Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich have. As per the survey, these 80 per cent included 69 per cent of those who voted for the Likud party in 2022 Israel election. Merely, 8 per cent of the general public think he should not. Who is better suited for Israel PM post? Netanyahus popularity has also drastically fallen since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war. It is so, as only 28 per cent of Israelis chose him as better suited prime minister, while 49 per cent chose National Unity party leader Benny Gantz. Is Israel supporting ground offensive in Gaza Strip? The survey also asked Israelis if they support a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, to which 65 per cent were in favour, while 21 per cent opposed it. Additionally, 51 per cent backed a large-scale military operation on the northern front following increasing skirmishes with Hamas and Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon, while 30 per cent wanted a limited operation. Who will Israel vote if Israel goes to poll today? Israelis were asked who would they vote for had elections been held today, the poll again gave abysmal grades to the current coalition 43 seats compared to their current 64 with Gantzs party alone soaring to 40 seats from its current 12. The survey was conducted on October 18 and 19 by the Lazar Institute, along with Panel4All, among 510 respondents constituting a representative sample of adult Israelis. The margin of error was 4.3 per cent. All legal obstacles were removed Thursday, paving the way for the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif, to return to his home country. Protective bail was granted to him in two corruption cases, while an arrest warrant related to the Toshakhana case was suspended by an accountability court, local media reported. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader had petitioned the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for bail in the Al-Azizia and Avenfield cases, which were subsequently approved, extending bail until 24 October. The IHC delivered its verdict, preventing authorities from arresting Nawaz Sharif upon his return to Pakistan on Saturday, October 21. The high court noted that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) did not object to the protective bail request in the corruption cases. An accountability court had previously suspended the arrest warrant linked to the Toshakhana case. The bail petitions of Nawaz Sharif were heard by a two-member IHC bench, comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb. In response to the verdict, PML-N President and former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the IHCs decision, stating that his elder brother had been disqualified based on a fictitious and fabricated story. He highlighted the need for justice and affirmed the significance of bail as a fundamental right. A day earlier, the IHC had issued a notice to NAB regarding Nawazs petitions for protective bail in corruption references. NAB had nominated Rafay Maqsood to appear as a prosecutor before the IHC bench. Nawaz Sharif, a three-time former Prime Minister, had been declared a proclaimed offender by the IHC in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia cases for non-compliance after he went to London for medical treatment with court permission in November 2019. In the Avenfield and Al-Azizia references, Nawaz received sentences of ten and seven years in prison, respectively, from an accountability court in 2018. His appeals against these convictions were rejected by the IHC bench, leading to non-compliance. In 2019, the Lahore High Court (LHC) suspended Nawazs sentence in the Al-Azizia case on medical grounds, allowing him to travel to London for treatment, from where he did not return. Nawaz Sharifs travel plan is set to take him from Dubai to Islamabad and then Lahore. Azam Nazeer Tarar, the head of Nawazs legal team, confirmed that the return schedule remained unchanged, with Nawaz landing in Islamabad on 21 October, and proceeding to Lahore after fulfilling legal formalities. PML-N senior leader Ishaq Dar also affirmed that Nawaz would reach Islamabad on October 21 and later proceed to Lahore to address a gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan. Additionally, the arrest warrant against Nawaz in the Toshakhana case was suspended by an accountability court, with the provision that it would be restored if he did not appear in court on October 24. Nawazs legal counsel cited his clients health and submitted a medical report as justification for his absence. The return of Nawaz Sharif to Pakistan follows a change in his Dubai arrival schedule due to an important meeting in Saudi Arabia. He is expected to land in Dubai later in the evening. Nawaz Sharif, a three-time Prime Minister, faced convictions in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia Steel Mills cases in 2018. The high court suspended the accountability courts sentence, and appeal proceedings were underway when Nawaz travelled abroad for medical treatment, without returning to continue the case. He was permitted to go abroad for four weeks after his brother, Shehbaz Sharif, submitted an undertaking to the Lahore High Court assuring Nawazs return upon improved health. However, the IHC rejected the appeals due to non-prosecution in Nawazs absence and declared him a proclaimed offender. The court indicated that an appeal against the sentence could be filed upon his return. The Pentagon on Thursday said that the United States is continuing to assess the nature of the Hamas attacks that took place in Israel on 7 October and added that at this point, the information of Irans link to it is not clear. Were continuing to assess the nature of these attacks, and thats something that we will continue to look very closelyAt this point, the information that we have does not show a direct connection to the Hamas attacks on October 7 as it relates to Iran, Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brigadier General Pat Ryder said in a press briefing on Thursday. We do know, as youve heard others say, that Iran has a significant relationship with Hamas in terms of funding, training, and support and in that regard, they certainly bear some responsibility, but again, no direct linkage to these attacks. Well continue to keep an eye on that, he added. Earlier, US President Joe Biden reassured Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the United States unwavering support for Israel. He emphasized the commitment to stand by Israel as it defends its citizens, particularly in the face of recent terrorist attacks by Hamas. In the wake of Hamas appalling terror assaults, brutal, inhumanI want you to know you are not alone, Biden emphasised. We will continue to have Israels back as you work to defend your people, he added. The two leaders addressed a joint conference on Wednesday as Hamas continues with their brutal terror attacks. In the wake of the Hamas attack on Israel, 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. He went on to mention the US-designated terror group Hezbollah, an Iran proxy in the north, Lebanon border launched an attack on the northern Israel border and shared that the American carriers have been deployed to make sure that a second front cannot be opened in the region. Ambassador Gilon added, In parallel, the Hezbollah, the Iran proxy in the north, Lebanon border, started harassing Israel there in order to threateninfiltrations came in, Israel retaliated, for them they are contained. But, they are threatening to open a second front and thats why the Americans have also moved two navy carriers into the eastern meditation to send a message to Iran-Hezbellah. We are concentrating on Gaza, bombings, big troops around. Gilon also affirmed that the war result will mismatch any other action taken in past and reiterated the Israeli forces claim that at the end of the war, Hamas wont left with any military capabilities. We know, this is unlike any other we had in the past. The end game here has to totally different from the past. We cannot have Hamas paying Gaza with the ability to do again an action like that. We have to make sure that this doesnt happen again, he added. The White House on Friday released a sweeping set of proposals to bolster Israel and Ukraine in the midst of two wars as well as invest more in domestic defence manufacturing, humanitarian assistance and managing the influx of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. The total cost of the supplemental funding request was pegged at just over $105 billion. President Joe Biden hopes Congress will move urgently on the legislation, and he made the case for deepening U.S. support for its allies during a rare Oval Office address on Thursday night. The Democratic presidents plan faces some immediate complications on Capitol Hill. The House is at a standstill, unable to pass legislation, as the Republican majority struggles to choose a new speaker, and it could also get bogged down in a divided Senate where some Republicans want to add additional border policies to the measure. But Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said he would advance Bidens proposals as soon as possible. This legislation is too important to wait for the House to settle their chaos, he said. Senate Democrats will move expeditiously on this request, and we hope that our Republican colleagues across the aisle will join us to pass this much-needed funding. Bidens national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told reporters on Friday that Russias ongoing invasion of Ukraine and Hamas attack on Israel represent a global inflexion point. This budget request is critical to advancing Americas national security and ensuring the safety of the American people, Sullivan said. The biggest line item in the supplemental funding request is $61.4 billion to support Ukraine. Some of that money will go to replenishing Pentagon stockpiles of weapons that have already been provided. Ukraine has struggled to make progress in a gruelling counteroffensive, and the White House has warned that Russia could gain ground if the United States does not rush more weapons and ammunition to the conflict. The world is closely watching what Congress does next, Sullivan said. Israel would receive $14.3 billion in assistance under the proposal. The majority of that money would help with air and missile defence systems, according to the White House. Some Republicans in both the House and the Senate are wary of linking funding for Ukraine and Israel. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, said the presidents proposal was discussed in a closed-door meeting of his states Republican delegation on Friday. You cant blend the two together, he said, describing Israel as our friend forever. Williams said Bidens proposal is a little disturbing because he knows he cant get it done without Israel. The reaction is emblematic of how Bidens decision to roll together several different issues, in hopes of broadening the potential political coalition to ensure the legislations passage, could also lead it to its derailment. Debates over immigration will likely be the most thorny as Republicans seek to bolster enforcement. Some Republicans have said they wont support the measure unless new policies are added, and it is so far unclear whether the money that Biden is requesting would be sufficient. A group of Republican senators huddled on Thursday to discuss possible proposals that they would support. Shalanda Young, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, suggested it would be hypocritical for them to oppose Bidens proposal after complaining about lax border management. We will not be lectured by those who refuse to act, she said. As weve said repeatedly, Congress needs to take action to provide sufficient resources for the border. Although there was a lull in migrant arrivals to the U.S. after the start of new asylum restrictions in May, illegal crossings topped a daily average of more than 8,000 last month. The White House wants roughly $14 billion to, among other things, boost the number of border agents, install new inspection machines to detect fentanyl and increase staffing to process asylum cases. Sen. Bill Hagerty, a Tennessee Republican, said providing the administration with more money to fuel its disastrous open-borders resettlement operation is insanity. It would worsen the border crisis, not stop it, he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. Bidens funding request includes $7.4 billion for a variety of initiatives geared toward the Indo-Pacific, where the U.S. is focused on countering Chinas influence. The money is divided among joint security initiatives in the region, bolstering submarine manufacturing as part of a partnership with Australia and developing financing programs for countries that would otherwise rely on Beijing. Another $9.15 billion is geared toward humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, Israel, Gaza and other places. Administration officials said they would determine where best to direct the money once its approved. Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said time is of the essence for passing the legislation. We will be judged on how the United States responds to ongoing crises, whether we honour our commitments to our allies abroad, and how we care for innocent people around the world caught in the wake of devastation, she said. A White House post of US President Joe Biden engaging with US frontline soldiers deployed in war-torn Israel got criticised for revealing the identity of troops, Fox News reported on Thursday. However, the White House account deleted the photo soon after it was shared on social media platforms. Users slammed Bidens team for the dangerous mistake, accusing the administration of compromising the troops faces while they were in Israel in the wake of the Hamas terrorist attack. Fox News reported the caption on the original White House post stated, In Israel, President Biden met with first responders to thank them for their bravery and the work theyre doing in response to the Hamas terrorist attacks. During a US Department of Defence briefing Thursday, Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder was asked to confirm if the soldiers depicted were US special operators and if there was a policy against taking photos of special forces. Ryder punted to the White House, stating, Id have to refer you to the White House on that. I just dont have any to provide. Thank you. Earlier during the US Presidents visit to Israel, following the airstrike on a hospital in Gaza, with Charge daffaires Stephanie Hallett and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, he met first responders and doctors including United Hatzalah founder Eli Beer, who treated victims of the Hamas onslaught, The Times of Israel reported. The paramedics told Biden about treating victims of the attacks in the field. He further lauded the heroism of Israelis, civilians who fought terrorists, medics who treated victims and reservists who left everything to save civilians lives during the Hamas attack, The Times of Israel reported. Biden further quoted an old poem, stating, Too long a sacrifice makes a stone of the heart, though he appears to replace sacrifice with the word suffering to more aptly apply to the current moment. He noted that none of your hearts have turned to stone and expressed his admiration for how the medical professionals expressed pride in having treated victims regardless of whether they were Jewish or Muslim, according to The Times of Israel. The US President said that he is convinced that if more people know these stories of the conduct of the medical professionals, the more they will embrace Israel. He repeated the story that the former Prime Minister of Israel Golda Meir told him that Israels secret weapon is that the Jews have nowhere else to go. According to The Times of Israel, Biden also said that you dont have to be a Jew to be a Zionist. The State of Israel was born to be a safe place for the Jewish people. While it may not feel that way today Israel must again be a safe place for the Jewish people, he added. Moreover, Biden emphasized that the 7 October Hamas onslaught in which 1400 people were killed is equivalent in scale to fifteen 9/11 attacks. However, he warned Israel against making the same mistakes that the US made after 9/11 when many Americans were consumed with rage over what had happened. US President Joe Biden says the October 7 Hamas onslaught in which 1,400 people were killed is equivalent in scale to fifteen 9/11 attacks. While we saw justice and got justice, we also made mistakes, Biden added. After announcing withdrawal of 41 diplomats, Canada has updated its travel advisory for India, asking its citizen to exercise a high degree of caution. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has warned Canadians in India of the possibility of demonstrations, including anti-Canada protests and intimidation or harassment. The India-Canada relations have plunged after Trudeau last month linked Indian intelligence to the killing of Canada-based Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in July. India has called the allegations absurd and motivated. Withdrawing its 41 diplomats, shutting down most of its embassies and consulates in India, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly claimed India had threatened to unilaterally revoke the diplomats official status by Friday unless they left. She further alleged the move was unreasonable and unprecedented and clearly violated the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations. Canadas latest advisory on India travel Exercise a high degree of caution in India due to the threat of terrorist attacks throughout the country, Canada told its citizens travelling to India in its advisory. It also listed out regional risks and asked Canadians to exercise a high degree of caution in and around Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai. The Canadian government said consular services in-person are temporarily unavailable in Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai or surrounding areas. If you need consular services, contact the High Commission of Canada in India, located in New Delhi. At any time, you may also contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa, the advisory stated. Also, Canada has asked its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Assam and Manipur due to the risk of terrorism and insurgency. In its travel advisory, Canada has asked its people to avoid all travel to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir due to the unpredictable security situation. There is a threat of terrorism, militancy, civil unrest and kidnapping. This advisory excludes travelling to or within the Union Territory of Ladakh, it further said. The Canadian government has also asked its citizens to avoid all travel to areas within 10 km of the border with Pakistan in Gujarat, Punjab, Rajasthan due to the unpredictable security situation and presence of landmines and unexploded ordnance. This advisory excludes the Wagah border crossing, it said. The travel advisory from Ottawa also comes days after India advised all its citizens living in the Canada and those contemplating travelling there to exercise utmost caution given growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes in the North American country. Canada has recalled 41 of its diplomats from India after the Indian government said it would revoke their diplomatic immunity, the foreign minister said Thursday, in an escalation of their dispute over the slaying of a Sikh separatist in Canada. The moves come after Canadas allegations that India may have been involved in the June killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar in suburban Vancouver. India has accused Canada of harboring separatists and terrorists, but dismissed the allegation of its involvement in the killing as absurd and has taken diplomatic steps to express its anger over the accusation. Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said Thursday that 41 of Canadas 62 diplomats in India have been removed, along with their dependents. Joly said exceptions have been made for 21 Canadian diplomats who will remain in India. Forty-one Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents were in danger of having their immunity stripped on an arbitrary date and this would put their personal safety at risk, Joly said. Our diplomats and their families have now left. Joly said removing diplomatic immunity is not only unprecedented but contrary to international law, and said for that reason Canada wouldnt threaten to do the same thing with Indian diplomats. A unilateral revocation of the diplomatic privilege and immunity is contrary to international law and a clear violation of the Geneva Convention on diplomatic relations. Threatening to do so is unreasonable and escalatory, Joly said. Joly said Indias decision will impact the level of services to citizens of both countries. She said Canada is pausing in-person services in Chandigarh, Mumbai and Bangalore. Indias Ministry of External Affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had previously called for a reduction in Canadian diplomats in India, saying they outnumbered Indias staffing in Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last month that there were credible allegations of Indian involvement in the slaying of Nijjar, a 45-year-old Sikh leader who was killed by masked gunmen in June in Surrey, outside Vancouver. For years, India had said that Nijjar, a Canadian citizen born in India, had links to terrorism, an allegation Nijjar denied. India also has canceled visas for Canadians, and Canada has not retaliated for that. India previously expelled a senior Canadian diplomat after Canada expelled a senior Indian diplomat. Trudeau has previously appeared to try to calm the diplomatic clash, telling reporters that Canada is not looking to provoke or escalate. The allegation of Indias involvement in the killing is based in part on surveillance of Indian diplomats in Canada, including intelligence provided by a major ally, a separate Canadian official previously told The Associated Press. The official said that the communications involved Indian officials and diplomats in Canada and that some of the intelligence was provided by a member of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance, which includes the United States, Britain, Australia and New Zealand, in addition to Canada. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. The latest expulsions by India have escalated tensions between the countries. Trudeau had frosty encounters with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the recent Group of 20 meeting in New Delhi, and a few days later, Canada canceled a trade mission to India planned for the fall. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has met with Indias foreign minister amid the simmering row. A U.S. official said the topic was raised. U.S. officials have acknowledged that the fallout from the allegations could have an impact on relations with India, but have been careful not to cast blame in the killing of Nijjar. Nijjar, a plumber, was also a leader in what remains of a once-strong movement to create an independent Sikh homeland, known as Khalistan. A bloody decade-long Sikh insurgency shook north India in the 1970s and 1980s, until it was crushed in a government crackdown in which thousands of people were killed, including prominent Sikh leaders. The Khalistan movement has lost much of its political power but still has supporters in the Indian state of Punjab, as well as in the sizable overseas Sikh diaspora. While the active insurgency ended years ago, the Indian government has warned repeatedly that Sikh separatists were trying to make a comeback. Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller noted that in 2022 India was the top country for permanent residents, temporary foreign workers and international students in Canada. Miller said as a result of Indias decision to remove immunity Canadas immigration department will be significantly reducing the number of Canadian employees in India. Miller said the lower staff levels will hamper the issuing of visas and permits. Senior Canadian officials said India was firm on the number and rank of Canadian diplomats for whom it would lift diplomatic immunity. India also indicated it would cancel various permits, such as those permitting spouses to work in India and allowing the use of diplomatic plates on cars, officials said. Nelson Wiseman, a political scientist at the University of Toronto, said there would be no point in Canada retaliating over Indias latest move. The expulsions of the Canadian diplomats reveal the thin skin of the Indians; it suggests that they know they are complicit in the murder of a Canadian in Canada, Wiseman said. They are trying to deflect attention from their lack of cooperation with Canada in the investigation of the murder. President Xi Jinping told his Sri Lankan counterpart on Friday that China would look to deepen mutual trust with Colombo, which is working to recover from its worst-ever economic crisis. Sri Lanka defaulted on its $46 billion debt last year, at a time when months of food and fuel shortages were making life a misery for the island nations 22 million people. China is Sri Lankas biggest creditor and must give its approval for any proposal by Colombo to restructure its debt. Last week, the Sri Lankan deputy finance minister said the state-owned Export-Import Bank of China had given its green light for a reorganisation of the countrys finances. Xi and Ranil Wickremesinghe held talks on Friday in Beijing after China hosted 130 government representatives for a forum of its vast Belt and Road trade and infrastructure initiative. Under (your) leadership, Sri Lanka has gone through its most difficult period, and its economy and society have resumed orderly development, Xi said, according to state broadcaster CCTV. I am willing to work with (you) to consolidate political mutual trust between our two sides (and) jointly build a high-quality Belt and Road, he added. Xi said Beijing was ready to promote a China-Sri Lanka strategic cooperative partnership built on sincere mutual assistance and everlasting friendship, to continuously achieve new progress. The International Monetary Fund said on Thursday that it had reached agreement with Colombo to disburse the second tranche of a $3 billion loan to aid the countrys recovery. China on Friday announced new curbs on exports of certain types of graphite, key to making batteries for electric vehicles, days after the United States slapped fresh restrictions on outflows of high-tech microchips. Washington said this week it would ramp up restrictions on exports of cutting-edge semiconductors crucial for powering artificial intelligence systems its latest effort to curb Beijings access to advanced tech. China has branded Washingtons policy unfair and has imposed its own measures, declaring in July that certain products containing gallium and germanium key raw materials for chipmaking would be subject to stricter export controls. And under measures unveiled Friday by the Ministry of Commerce, exporters must apply for permits to sell two types of graphite to foreign customers. Based on the need to uphold its national security and interests, China has implemented export controls on certain graphite items in accordance with the law, the ministry said. Graphite is commonly used to make lithium-ion batteries for mobile phones, electric vehicles (EVs) and other products. China was the worlds leading graphite producer last year, accounting for an estimated 65 percent of total production, according to the United States Geological Survey. The export controls will include high-purity, high-strength and high-density graphite material; and natural flake graphite. Three further kinds of highly sensitive graphite materials included in the list were already under temporary curbs, according to the announcement. Global graphite consumption is expected to soar as demand continues to grow for EVs and the batteries that power them. The commerce ministry said the move was conducive to better implementing our international anti-proliferation and other obligations, (and) safeguarding the stability of global industrial supply chains. Recently, the Chinese government has taken the decision to make optimisations and adjustments to (graphite) inflows and outflows, it said. Chinas normal adjustment of export controls does not target any specific country or region, and exports that comply with the relevant regulations will receive permission, it said. Trade and technology have been at the centre of simmering tensions between Beijing and Washington in recent years. The European Union has also signalled that it is seeking to reduce its reliance on trade with China in technology and other areas. It launched a probe this month into Beijings subsidies for homegrown EV makers after accusations that their cheap products undercut European competitors. The bloc is also mulling a separate investigation into Chinese support for its manufacturers of wind turbines. Beijing has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the EV probe and denied that its backing for other industries is unfair. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday met Singapores Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong and discussed with him new domains of bilateral cooperation with long-term implications. Taking to X, Jaishankar said, Our discussions centered around new domains of cooperation with long-term implications. Looking forward to developing these ideas at the ISMR meeting. Jaishankar, who is in Singapore on the second leg of his two-nation visit to Southeast Asia, will also meet Singapores newly-elected President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and other senior leaders and review bilateral cooperation and explore opportunities for further collaboration. On Thursday, Jaishankar held talks with Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen and also chaired the regional conference of Indias ASEAN and East Asia Ambassadors here. Good to meet my friend Defence Minister @Ng_Eng_Hen today. Thank him for addressing our Ambassadors conference. Always appreciate his strategic reading and assessments, he said in a post on X on Thursday. Our deliberations took stock of developments in the region and assessed their implications for India. Insights offered by our Ambassadors are valuable inputs into policy making, he said in another post. On Wednesday, the Singapore Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Jaishankars visit reaffirms the close and longstanding ties between Singapore and India, which are built on a strong foundation of strategic trust. The visit will be an opportunity for both sides to review our bilateral cooperation, explore collaboration in emerging areas including digitalisation and skills development under the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable, and exchange views on regional and global developments, it said. Jaishankar arrived in Singapore from Vietnam on the final leg of his two-nation official visit. With inputs from agencies European Union member states want to close a free trade deal with India, but only if it grants real access to the Asian countrys markets, Spanish Deputy Trade Minister Xiana Mendez said on Friday at an EU meeting chaired by her country. The EU and India last year revived negotiations to forge a free trade agreement that could act as a counterbalance to Chinas growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region, but the bloc has deemed Indias proposals so far as too soft to lead to a comprehensive pact. Weve felt a political impetus on Indias behalf and we want to reinforce the negotiations, said Mendez who represented the Spanish rotating presidency of the European Council at a meeting of trade ministers in the Spanish city of Valencia. There is an enormous interest from the member states, but only if there will be access to the real market, without which the deal would be emptied. The EU is seen wanting greater access to Indian markets for its cars, alcoholic drinks and agri-food products such as cheese, while India is seen benefiting more in services and would like easier visa access to the EU for Indian professionals. The European Union also expects to reach an agreement with the United States on steel trade by the end of the year, said Mendez.We knew it wouldnt be possible to reach a solution today (at an EU-U.S. summit in Washington)The solution has to be sophisticated and complex. The main proposal is to finalise the deal with the United States before the end of the year, she said. The United States has suspended import tariffs on EU steel and aluminium imposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump in 2018, but on condition that both sides agree by the end of this month on measures to address overcapacity in non-market economies, such as China, and promote greener steel. Mendez said the sides reached a definitive solution on the issue of duties, as opposed to a temporary fix, but were still negotiating on the problem of excess capacity and decarbonising the industry. The Indian governments crackdown on Canadian diplomats is making normal life difficult for millions of people in both countries, said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday, adding that the expulsion of some of diplomats will hamper travel and trade and pose difficulties for Indians studying in the country. Trudeaus statement came a day after Canada said it had withdrawn 41 diplomats following an Indian threat to unilaterally revoke their status. New Delhi is angry that Trudeau last month suggested Indian agents might have been involved in the June murder of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada. The Indian government is making it unbelievably difficult for life as usual to continue for millions of people in India and in Canada. And theyre doing it by contravening a very basic principle of diplomacy, Trudeau said. Its something that has me very concerned for the wellbeing and happiness of millions of Canadians who trace their origins to the Indian subcontinent, he told reporters at a televised press conference in Brampton, Ontario. Trudeau said the expulsion of some of Canadas diplomats would hamper travel and trade and pose difficulties for Indians studying in Canada. Around two million Canadians, 5% of the overall population, have Indian heritage. India is by far Canadas largest source of global students, making up roughly 40% of study permit holders. Canada has recalled 41 of its diplomats from India after the Indian government said it would revoke their diplomatic immunity, the foreign minister said Thursday, in an escalation of their dispute over the slaying of a Sikh separatist in Canada. The moves come after Canadas allegations that India may have been involved in the June killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar in suburban Vancouver. India has accused Canada of harbouring separatists and terrorists, but dismissed the allegation of its involvement in the killing as absurd and has taken diplomatic steps to express its anger over the accusation. Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said Thursday that 41 of Canadas 62 diplomats in India have been removed, along with their dependents. Joly said exceptions have been made for 21 Canadian diplomats who will remain in India. Indias Ministry of External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had previously called for a reduction in Canadian diplomats in India, saying they outnumbered Indias staffing in Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last month that there were credible allegations of Indian involvement in the slaying of Nijjar, a 45-year-old Sikh leader who was killed by masked gunmen in June in Surrey, outside Vancouver. With inputs from agencies. Gulf and Southeast Asian leaders on Friday condemned attacks on civilians in the Gaza Strip and called for a permanent ceasefire, according to a statement published after a summit meeting. The six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) also called for the release of some 200 hostages held by Hamas terrorists, as well as the restoration of basic services for Palestinians and the delivery of humanitarian aid, the statement said. Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas after the Islamist terrorist group launched an unprecedented raid from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel on October 7, killing at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated or burned to death, according to Israeli officials. Hamas gunmen also kidnapped nearly 200 hostages including foreigners from around two dozen countries ranging from Paraguay to Tanzania. The Israeli army said Friday that most of those being held are alive. In response, Israeli war planes have levelled entire city blocks in Gaza in preparation for a ground invasion. More than 3,785 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have died in the bombing, according to the latest toll from the Hamas-run health ministry. As we gather, we are saddened by the escalating violence that Gaza is witnessing today, the price of which is being paid by innocent civilians, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said as he opened the summit in the Saudi capital Riyadh. We affirm our categorical rejection of targeting civilians in any way and under any pretext, and the importance of adhering to international humanitarian law and the necessity of stopping military operations against civilians and infrastructure that affect their daily lives. Saudi Arabia, guardian of the holiest sites in Islam, has never recognised Israel and has paused discussions about taking that step in response to the Israel-Hamas war. Two other GCC members, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, established ties with Israel as part of the Abraham Accords of 2020, but have issued statements criticising Israel in recent days. ASEAN is currently headed by Indonesia which also does not have ties with Israel. The violence must stop, humanity must be the priority in this moment, and we must prevent things from getting worse, Indonesian President Joko Widodo said in Riyadh. We must not forget that the root cause of the problem is the occupation of the Palestinian territories by Israel, and this is what must be resolved based on the agreed international parameters. Fridays summit came on the heels of solidarity visits to Israel by Western leaders including US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Nasser Al-Masri, a Kuwaiti analyst who attended the summit, said those stops risked fuelling more violence by emboldening Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Biden and Sunak added more flames, they did not come with solutions, Masri said. Those guys can bring a solution, they can stop Israel They can add protection to the Palestinians. The UNs agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) said it received a warning from Israel to evacuate five schools as fast as possible. US and allies pressing Israel to delay the Gaza invasion to get hostages out. 80% of Israelis want Netanyahu to take responsibility for October 7 mayhem by Hamas as PMs popularity dips. Qatar hopes dialogue will lead to the release of all civilian hostages from every nationality, foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said. Israel evacuates town near Lebanese border ahead of impending ground assault Israeli airstrikes are hitting southern Gaza, an area swelled by civilians who fled there from the north on Israeli instructions. Meanwhile, Israel is evacuating a sizable town near the Lebanese border in the latest sign of a potential ground invasion of Gaza that could trigger regional turmoil. Israel says two Americans held hostage by Hamas, a mother and daughter, have been released Hamas on Friday freed an American woman and her teenage daughter it had held hostage in Gaza, Israel said, the first such release from among the roughly 200 people the militant group abducted during its Oct. 7 rampage in Israel. President Biden has confirmed the release of two Americans who had been held hostage by Hamas since 7 October. The US president thanked the governments of Qatar and Israel for their partnership in securing the release of the two American hostages. The US has been working around-the-clock to free American hostages and it has not ceased its efforts for those who are still being held by Hamas, Biden said in a statement. US and allies pressing Israel to delay Gaza invasion to get hostages out report The US and European governments have been putting pressure on Israel to delay its ground invasion of Gaza to buy time for secret talks underway to win the release of hostages held by Hamas, according to a report. Biden faces tough battle to secure $105 billion for Ukraine, Israel, the border and more The White House on Friday released a sweeping set of proposals to bolster Israel and Ukraine in the midst of two wars as well as invest more in domestic defence manufacturing, humanitarian assistance and managing the influx of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. Israel orders five Gaza schools to evacuate as fast as possible, says UN agency The UNs agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) said it received a warning from Israel to evacuate five schools as fast as possible. All of the schools are in Gaza City, close to the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in northern Gaza, AFP reported. The Palestine Red Crescent said it faces an imminent threat after the Israeli military ordered the evacuation of Al-Quds hospital. 80% Israelis want Netanyahu to take responsibility of October 7 mayhem by Hamas as PMs popularity dips About 80 per cent of Israelis believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should publicly take responsibility for the Hamass onslaught on October 7. The poll was conducted by Maariv newspaper and was published on Friday, the fourteenth day of the Israel-Hamas war. China and Russia plan to work together for a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians China and Russia share the same position on the Palestinian issue and plan to try to work together to cool the situation and help establish a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians, a top Chinese envoy said Friday. Thousands in Muslim countries around the world demonstrate over Israeli airstrikes Thousands of people in Muslim countries and beyond held demonstrations Friday in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. They called for an end to Israels blockade and airstrikes following a brutal incursion into southern Israel by fighters from the Hamas militant group that rules Gaza. Israel does not plan to control life in Gaza after destroying Hamas Israel has said it does not plan to take long-term control over the Gaza Strip after an expected ground offensive to root out Hamas militants that rule the territory. The Israeli military punished Gaza with air strikes, and authorities inched closer to bringing aid to desperate families and hospitals, as people across Muslim countries protested in solidarity with Palestinians. The Palestinian militant group October 7, carried out a deadly assault on Israel, the worst in the countrys 75-year history, killing more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated or burnt to death on the first day of the raid, according to Israeli officials. Israel has responded with a relentless bombardment that has killed at least 3,785 people in the Gaza Strip, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in the territory. Israel has approved new emergency regulations that could pave the way for censoring Al Jazeera, the Qatar-based broadcaster that is allegedly biased and propagated content detrimental to its national security. Israels communications minister put the proposal last week, seeking a possible closure of Al Jazeeras local bureau, and accused the Qatari news station of pro-Hamas incitement and of exposing Israeli soldiers to potential attack from Gaza. Under the newly introduced regulations, the communications minister, in collaboration with the defines minister will possess the authority to instruct television providers to cease airing content from the specified news outlet. This may include the closure of its offices within Israel, the confiscation of its equipment, and the suspension or limitation of access to its website, depending on the location of its server. Approval for such a decision is contingent upon the endorsement of the security cabinet and relies on legal opinions from the security establishment, affirming that the outlet indeed poses a threat to national security. Furthermore, the decision is subject to review by a district court. These regulations will remain effective for a period of 30 days but may be extended for additional 30-day intervals. The emergency regulations are set to remain in force for three months or until the official termination of the specific state of emergency by the government. The proposal to shut down Al Jazeera had been vetted by Israeli security officials and was being vetted by legal experts, Shloma Karhi told Reuters, adding that he would bring it to the cabinet later in the day. This is a station that incites, this is a station that films troops in assembly areas (outside Gaza) that incites against the citizens of Israel a propaganda mouthpiece, Karhi told Israels Army Radio. It is unconscionable that Hamas spokespeoples message goes through this station, he said, adding: I hope we will finish with this today. It was not clear if the latter statement referred to a cabinet discussion or implementation of a closure. The United Nations said on Friday that the first aid delivery into the besieged Gaza Strip via the Rafah border crossing with Egypt should take place in the next day or so. We are in deep and advanced negotiations with all relevant sides to ensure that an aid operation in Gaza starts as quickly as possible a first delivery is due to start in the next day or so, the UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said, his spokesman told reporters in Geneva. The Rafah crossing is Gazas only connection to Egypt. It is the sole route for aid to enter Gaza directly from outside Israel and the only exit that does not lead to Israeli territory. It has become a focus in the intensifying conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas as hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have headed towards southern Gaza after Israel warned them to leave Gaza City and the north. Egypt says the roads across the border need to be repaired after they were hit by Israeli airstrikes. More than 200 trucks and 3,000 tonnes of aid are positioned at or near the Rafah crossing, The Guardian quoted head of the Red Crescent for North Sinai, Khalid Zayed, as saying. Egypt has repeatedly denied that the crossing was closed on its end of the border, saying the aid has been waiting for guarantees that trucks entering will not be targeted by Israel. Israel said it will not block humanitarian aid going into Gaza from Egypt, according to a statement from the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But it will not allow supplies into Gaza from its own territory until Hamas releases all hostages. The entire population of Gaza has been without access to electricity, food, fuel, and water for over a week due to a complete siege imposed by Israel following terror attacks by Hamas on 7 October. Israeli airstrikes have left hundreds of thousands of people homeless and have sparked protests across the Middle East, raising concerns about the conflict escalating into a broader regional crisis. US President Joe Biden had brokered a deal between Egypt and Israel to permit some humanitarian aid into Gaza. Biden announced this development after visiting Israel and stated that his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi had agreed to open the Rafah Crossing for humanitarian aid, the only crossing not controlled by Israel. Biden mentioned that up to 20 trucks of aid would be allowed into Gaza. With inputs from agencies The United States has reassured its support to Israel and said that the top priority for now remains to secure the release of hostages being held by Hamas. In a press briefing on Thursday, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that the US is not only ready to provide Israel with the assistance it needs to defeat Hamas, but also continue to work to get humanitarian assistance into Gaza. The US supports the aspirations of the Palestinian people who are the victims of Hamass acts of terrorism and we believe it is important to establish mechanisms to keep civilians in Gaza out of harms way and provide them with humanitarian assistanceWe continue to provide Israel with the assistance it needs to defeat Hamas. We continue to work to get humanitarian assistance into GazaOur work to secure the release of hostages continues to be a top priority, he said. Miller further reiterated that t the United States strongly supports Israel and its right to defend itself from Hamas, and that support is unwavering, as he highlighted US Secretary of State Antony Blinkens recent visit to eight nations in the Middle East. On opening the Rafah border crossing for humanitarian aid to Gaza, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that the US is working out an agreement to ensure that deliveries can be handled appropriately. As you saw President Biden said yesterday that he spoke with Egyptian President Sisi who committed to opening Rafah to allow the delivery of humanitarian assistanceIf Rafah gate is open to allow humanitarian aid to go in, we will be trying to get out the American citizens who are in Gaza and who want to leave, he said. We are working out an agreement to ensure that deliveries can be handled appropriately. We think its important that the innocent civilians in Gaza who did not start this conflict have access to food, water and medicine, he added. Egypts President Al-Sisi has agreed to open the Rafah border crossing to allow roughly 20 trucks to provide humanitarian aid into Gaza, US President Joe Biden announced yesterday. Aboard Air Force One, Biden told reporters that when he took off for Israel, his key goal was to get humanitarian aid into Gaza and ensure there is a vehicle, a mechanism for it to happen quickly. And so, I have been on the phone for the last I dont know. Weve been on the ground a while. Thats why we havent taken off with El-Sisi. I dont think I was on that long. It was about probably half an hour. And both my team here was with me. And he agreed that what he would do is open the gate to do two things: one, let up to 20 trucks through to begin with. Satterfield, my ambassador, is down there in not down there in Cairo now. Hes going to coordinate this. He has my authority to do what is needed to get it done, Biden said in a press gaggle on board Air Force 1 at Ramstein base, Germany. When we took off, my goal was multifold, but basically to get humanitarian aid into Gaza and to get as many Americans out who wanted to get out could get out as possible. And so, we got a commitment, as you know, from the from the Israelis, including the unanimous vote of their war cabinet and the Prime Minister. And the second thing was that I wanted to make sure there was a vehicle, a mechanism, that this could happen quickly, the US President said. On being asked if he was talking about Rafah crossing, Biden responded by saying yes, and added, Theyre going to patch the road. They have to fill in potholes to get these trucks through. And thats going to occur; they expect itll take about eight hours tomorrow. So, there may be nothing rolling through until whats today? Im losing track of days. Thursday? Wednesday? Probably until Friday. According to a White House readout, US President Joe Biden spoke with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi on Wednesday and discussed ongoing coordination to deliver humanitarian assistance to Gaza and mechanisms to ensure the aid is distributed for the benefit of the civilian population. The two presidents concurred to cooperate closely in promoting a swift and robust global response to the UNs plea for humanitarian aid. They agreed on the need to preserve stability in the Middle East, prevent escalation of the conflict, and set the circumstances for a durable, permanent peace in the region. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the enduring, strategic partnership between the United States and Egypt, the White House said in an official release. The Hamas-controlled interior ministry said several displaced people sheltering at a church compound in Gaza were killed and injured after an Israeli strike late Thursday. The strike left a large number of martyrs and injured at the compound of the Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius Church in Gaza City, the ministry said. Witnesses told AFP the strike appeared to have been aimed at a target close to the place of worship where many Gaza residents had taken refuge as the war raged in the Palestinian enclave. Contacted by AFP, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said its fighter jets had hit a command and control centre involved in launching rockets and mortars toward Israel. As a result of the IDF strike, a wall of a church in the area was damaged, it said, adding we are aware of reports on casualties. The incident is under review. Witnesses said the strike damaged the facade of the church and caused an adjacent building to collapse, adding that many injured people were evacuated to hospital. Saint Porphyrius is the oldest church still in use in Gaza and is located in the citys historic neighbourhood. A war crime The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem expressed its strongest condemnation of the strike at its church compound. Targeting churches and their institutions, along with the shelters they provide to protect innocent citizens, especially children and women who have lost their homes due to Israeli airstrikes on residential areas over the past 13 days, constitutes a war crime that cannot be ignored, the Patriarchate said in a statement. The church is not far from the Al-Ahli Arab hospital, which was hit by a deadly airstrike on Tuesday. Both sides in the war have traded blame for the bloody carnage, but neither the provenance of the strike nor the death toll could immediately be independently verified. Hamas accused Israel of hitting the hospital during its massive bombing campaign, and the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza has put the death toll at 471, though that number is contested. Israels military has blamed a misfired Islamic Jihad rocket a version of events backed by the United States, whose intelligence community has estimated between 100 and 300 people were killed. Explaining the damage done to the church, the IDF stressed that Hamas intentionally embeds its assets in civilian areas and uses the residents of the Gaza Strip as human shields. Gaza has been hit by a relentless barrage of Israeli fire in retaliation for a Hamas militant attack on October 7, which Israel says killed at least 1,400 people, most of them civilians. Israeli bombing since has killed at least 3,785 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, most of them civilians, according to the Hamas health ministry. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday held a meeting with Singapores Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean and discussed the global landscape and its challenges. Jaishankar posted on X, Great to see Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean. Enjoyed our discussion on the current global landscape and its challenges. Jaishankar is on an official visit to Singapore from October 19 to 20. During his visit, Jaishankar will meet his Singaporean counterpart and the top leadership of the country. He will also chair the regional conference of Indian Heads of Missions. Earlier today, Jaishankar also met Singapores Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong. The discussions between the two leaders centred around new domains of cooperation with long-term implications. Taking to X, Jaishankar stated, Nice to meet Trade & Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong today morning. Our discussions centred around new domains of cooperation with long-term implications. Looking forward to developing these ideas at the ISMR meeting. On Thursday, he also chaired the regional conference of ASEAN and East Asia Ambassadors in Singapore and discussions were held regarding the regional situation and its potential ramifications for India. Chaired the regional conference of our ASEAN and East Asia Ambassadors today in Singapore. Our deliberations took stock of developments in the region and assessed their implications for India. Insights offered by our Ambassadors are valuable inputs into policy-making, Jaishankar posted on X (formerly Twitter). Notably, the ties between India and Singapore are based on shared values and approaches, economic opportunities and convergence of interests on key issues. Both nations are members of a number of forums, including the East Asia Summit, G20, Commonwealth, Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS). With ANI inputs. Jury selection is set to begin Friday for the first defendant to go to trial in the Georgia case that accuses former President Donald Trump and others of illegally scheming to overturn the 2020 election in the state. Lawyer Kenneth Chesebro was indicted just over two months ago along with Trump and 17 others. Two of those others including Sidney Powell, who was supposed to go on trial with Chesebro have already pleaded guilty to reduced charges, and no trial date has been set yet for the rest. If Chesebro doesnt take a plea deal before the trial starts, the proceedings will provide a first extensive look at the evidence that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and her team have amassed against him and the rest of the defendants. Heres what to expect: TRUMP WILL LOOM LARGE OVER THE TRIAL Theres little doubt that the Republican former president will be a central figure in the proceedings, even though hes not expected to be there. After all, the indictment alleges Chesebro and the rest of the defendants refused to accept that Trump lost, and they knowingly and willfully joined a conspiracy to unlawfully change the outcome of the election in favour of Trump. As the defence and prosecution weigh potential jurors, its likely they will try to figure out as much as they can about their feelings about Trump, their political leanings and their opinions about baseless claims that the 2020 election was marred by fraud and stolen from Trump. CHESEBRO WILL BE TRIED BY HIMSELF Until Thursday morning, Chesebro was set to go on trial alongside Powell after each filed a demand for a speedy trial. Under Georgia law, a defendant who files a demand for a speedy trial has a right to have a trial begin within the court term when the demand is filed or in the next court term. That meant the trial had to start by November 5. Powell agreed to a deal with prosecutors, pleading guilty to six misdemeanour counts. As part of the deal, she must testify truthfully if she is called as a witness at any future trials related to the case. She was also sentenced to probation and ordered to pay a fine. THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST CHESEBRO All the defendants are accused of violating Georgias Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations Act, known as RICO, by participating in a wide-ranging scheme to keep Trump in power despite his election loss. Chesebro is also accused of working on the coordination and execution of a plan to have 16 Georgia Republicans sign a certificate declaring falsely that Trump won and declaring themselves the states duly elected and qualified electors. The indictment says Chesebro wrote memos outlining that plan, including one that provides detailed, state-specific instructions for how Trump elector nominees in swing states where Trump had lost could meet to cast votes for Trump on December 14, 2020. In an email sent a few days before those meetings were to happen, Chesebro wrote that the purpose of having the electoral votes sent into Congress is to provide the opportunity to debate the election irregularities in Congress and to keep alive the possibility that votes could be flipped to Trump. In an email to former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a Trump lawyer, he outlined strategies to disrupt and delay the joint session of Congress on January 6, 2021, during which electoral votes were to be certified for Democrat Joe Biden, prosecutors said. He wrote that those strategies were preferable to allowing the Electoral Count Act to operate by its terms.Besides the racketeering charge, he faces six felony conspiracy counts related to the elector plan. CHESEBROS DEFENCE Chesebros attorneys do not dispute that he drafted the legal memos and emails at issue, but they have said every action he took was justified under Georgia and federal law. He is a constitutional law expert who was working as a lawyer to research and find precedents to support a legal opinion that he provided to the Trump campaign, they argued in court filings. Nothing about Mr. Chesebros conduct falls outside the bounds of what lawyers do on a daily basis; researching the law in order to find solutions that address their clients particularised needs, they wrote in one filing. His lawyers tried to get the judge to bar prosecutors from using Chesebros memos and emails at trial, arguing that they were protected by attorney-client privilege and the work product doctrine. But the judge rejected those arguments. THE JURY SELECTION PROCESS The 450 prospective jurors summoned to appear at the courthouse in downtown Atlanta on Friday will spend several hours filling out an extensive questionnaire formulated by prosecutors, defence attorneys and Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee. Those will then be scanned into a shared drive accessible to the lawyers. On Monday, prospective jurors will be called in groups of 14 for individual questioning. For each group, the judge will ask questions to determine whether anyone has qualifying hardships that would keep them from being able to serve as a juror. Then the prosecution and the defense attorneys will have one hour per group of 14 prospective jurors to ask questions. To ensure there are enough potential jurors, McAfee has requested that another 450 people be brought in on October 27 to fill out questionnaires. In an order in September, McAfee wrote that he will try to have the jury seated and sworn in by November 3, to eliminate any doubts that the statutory speedy trial deadline has been met. THE TRIAL LENGTH Prosecutors have said that since the case was brought under the RICO law, they intend to prove the entire alleged conspiracy, using all the same witnesses and evidence in any trial in the case. They said at a hearing last month that they estimate a trial would take four months and that they would call more than 150 witnesses.McAfee recently said he would tell prospective jurors during jury selection that its likely to take up to five months. Kazakhstans trade ministry has denied banning the exports of goods to Russia as part of Western sanctions after an official said more than 100 items including drones were prohibited. On Thursday, Deputy Trade Minister Kairat Torebayev was quoted by local media as saying that the ex-Soviet state has banned the export to Russia of 106 goods including drones, their electronic components, special equipment and chips. Local Kazakh media outlets reported that the ban would only apply to products linked to the war. The quotes came amid suspicions that Russia was circumventing Western sanctions imposed over its invasion of Ukraine by receiving goods via third countries, including Kazakhstan, a former ex-Soviet republic in Central Asia. But late on Thursday, the Kazakhstan trade ministry dismissed the comments by the deputy trade minister as incorrect. No prohibitions have been imposed on the export of any goods to the Russian Federation in relation to the anti-Russia sanctions, the trade ministry said in a statement. At the same time, the trade in so-called double-use goods, the export of which is subject to controls, is carried out in accordance with Kazakhstans international obligations, the ministry said. Russia was slapped with Western sanctions after invading Ukraine in February 2022, but is suspected of having avoided many of them by getting goods via third countries like China, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and ex-Soviet republics. Former Soviet states in Central Asia have had to walk a fine line to balance between Russia the traditional power broker in the region and Western countries. During a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin in late September, leaders of Central Asian states vowed to take steps to prevent the evading of sanctions, with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev saying his country will follow the sanctions regime North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said Thursday he wants to build a forward-looking relationship with Russia as he met with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, state media reported. The veteran envoys two-day visit is expected to lay the groundwork for a trip to the country by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was invited by Kim last month at a high-profile summit in Russias Far East. The September summit fanned Western fears Pyongyang might provide Moscow with weapons for its war in Ukraine. Kim said it was the goal of the ruling Workers Party and the government to work out a stable, forward-looking, far-reaching plan for the DPRK-Russia relations in the new era, the KCNA news agency said, using the official acronym for North Korea. Lavrov lashed out at what he termed a dangerous US policy towards North Korea while touting the new, strategic level of relations between Moscow and Pyongyang. Like our North Korean friends, we are seriously worried about the intensification of military activity of the United States, Japan and South Korea in the region and by Washingtons policies, Lavrov told journalists, according to Russian news agencies. In the face of a record-breaking series of weapons tests by Pyongyang this year, Seoul has moved to strengthen its security relationship with traditional ally the United States while entering a trilateral defence arrangement that also includes Japan. Seoul and Washington have staged joint military exercises with advanced stealth jets and US strategic assets, while an American nuclear-armed submarine in July made a South Korean port call for the first time in decades. A B-52 bomber capable of carrying a nuclear payload currently sits at Cheongju airport, about 100 kilometres (62 miles) south of Seoul, marking the first time one has landed in the country since at least 2000. Local media reports said this week that the bomber would take part in a joint aerial drill near the Korean peninsula on Sunday that would involve South Korea, the United States and Japan. Tightening relationship But North Koreas relationship with Russia has also been tightening, Lavrov said Thursday. After the landmark summit we can say confidently that relations have reached a qualitatively new, strategic level, Lavrov reportedly told North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui at a meeting. Moscow is also keen to assist North Korea with its energy needs, a constant source of struggle for heavily sanctioned Pyongyang, he told Russian outlets. Lavrov, who laid wreaths at monuments to former North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in the morning, arrived in Pyongyang on Wednesday night after accompanying Putin on a trip to Beijing. At a welcome dinner, he praised Pyongyangs support for Russias war in Ukraine. We highly value your principled, unambiguous support for Russias actions in connection with the special military operation in Ukraine, Lavrov was quoted as saying by Russias RIA Novosti news agency. Weapons transfers Kim travelled to Russia last month aboard a specially built bullet-proof train for a face-to-face meeting with Putin, declaring bilateral ties with Moscow his countrys number one priority. The two leaders met at Russias Vostochny Cosmodrome, roughly 8,000 kilometres from Moscow, a location seen as symbolic given North Koreas space aspirations. On Friday, the United States said arms shipments were already underway, with North Korea delivering more than 1,000 containers of military equipment and munitions to Russia in recent weeks. According to a graphic provided by the White House, a load of containers was shipped by sea from North Korea to Russia between September 1 and October 1. They were then delivered by rail to an ammunition depot about 290 kilometres from the Ukrainian border. Pyongyang was seeking a range of military assistance in return, including advanced technologies, White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters. Moscow this week denounced the allegations, insisting Washington had no proof that weapons were being shipped. Washington-based analysts Beyond Parallel last week separately released satellite images showing what they termed an unprecedented build-up of train traffic along Russias border with North Korea. The flurry of activity likely indicates North Koreas supply of arms and munitions to Russia, the group said in its report. Pakistans prime minister offered Friday prayers in Chinas Xinjiang province, as he became one of the few leaders of an Islamic nation to visit the region since more than a million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities there were swept into detention facilities. Successive governments in Islamabad have refused to acknowledge evidence of the mass incarceration of Muslims by its key economic ally in a region that borders Pakistan. Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar travelled to China to take part in a summit hosted by President Xi Jinping in Beijing this week to celebrate his Belt and Road Initiative, a vast trade and infrastructure project. On Friday, he offered prayers at the main mosque in the city of Urumqi, the capital of the northwestern region, and addressed a gathering of students and scholars. A statement released by Kakars office made no mention of the alleged human rights abuses. He lauded the strategic significance of Xinjiang as a frontier of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, said a statement from his office. Since its initiation in 2013, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has seen tens of billions of dollars funnelled into massive transport, energy and infrastructure projects including plans for a railroad from Xinjiang to the Pakistan coast. But the undertaking has been hit by Islamabads struggle to maintain its financial obligations, as well as attacks on Chinese targets by militants. Beijing says it has been defending itself against rising separatist militancy in Xinjiang, and that the detention facilities are voluntary centres for teaching vocational skills, closed years ago after their inhabitants graduated into stable employment. Pakistan has consistently adhered to a policy of non-interference in Chinas internal affairs and has lent its support to China in achieving its foreign policy objectives, Imtiaz Gul, analyst and executive director for the Center for Research and Security Studies in Pakistan. Any concerns related to human rights, such as the situation of the Uyghur population, are considered the internal affairs of Beijing. Pakistans leaders, however, frequently raise the alarm about rising Islamophobia in the West as well as the rights of Palestinians and Kashmiris. While there are celebrations in Pakistan for the arrival of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday, Police in the countrys Punjab province are on alert. A couple of threat alerts have been flagged by the security agencies which has put home department and police on its toes to ensure security for the 73-year-old supreme leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) who is returning to the country four years after he went to the UK on a self-imposed exile, a report by Dawn said. After arriving in Pakistan, Sharif will address a major rally of his party. According to the report, a senior home department official said a high-level meeting was held in which the Punjab police was taken into confidence to make coordinated efforts to ensure security for the three-time former prime minister. The PML-N is hoping that the presence of Nawaz in the country will benefit the party ahead of the general election in January. Nawaz, who is returning to the country after ending his four-year self-imposed exile in the United Kingdom has arrived in Dubai from Jeddah and will travel to Pakistan in a chartered plane on Saturday. He is scheduled to appear at the mass public meeting at the Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore on Saturday evening. Meanwhile, Shehbaz Sharif, Nawazs younger brother has asked party leaders to accord a historic reception to his elder brother, it said. According to the permission granted by the Lahore district administration, the PML-N has to adhere to some 39 conditions, including ensuring all requisite precautionary measures in and around the venue for the safety of participants and the general public. No speeches against constitutional offices/armed forces/judiciary shall be uttered, the district administration of Lahore said last week while granting permission to the party to hold a rally at the Minar-e-Pakistan. In his address, Nawaz Sharif will give a road map to pull the country out of the economic mess, Hamza Shehbaz, the nephew of Nawaz Sharif, said last week. With inputs from agencies Russian investigators on Friday charged 98-year-old Ukrainian war veteran Yaroslav Hunka, mistakenly honoured by Canada last month, with genocide for serving in a German Nazi division fighting the Soviet Union in World War Two. Moscow seized on the incident, for which Canada apologised, as further justification for a full-scale invasion that Russian President Vladimir Putin said was needed to demilitarise and denazify Ukraine and thwart the aggression of its Western allies. Russian state and military archives have received documentary evidence of the places of deployment and the conduct of hostilities by the SS Galicia division, in which Hunka served, the federal Investigative Committee said in a statement, adding that he had been charged in absentia. Currently, the issue of putting Y.Hunka on the international wanted list and ordering his arrest in absentia is being decided. The Waffen SS was an autonomous military corps of Adolf Hitlers Nazi party that recruited hundreds of thousands of non-Germans as World War Two advanced. Among them were thousands of Ukrainian nationalists who saw the Germans who had invaded the Soviet Union, including Ukraine, as liberators from Moscows oppression. The predominantly Ukrainian Galicia Division has been found guilty of war crimes by commissions in Germany and Poland, and historians say its members took part in several massacres. The Investigative Committee accused Hunka of being one of the members of a unit that took part in the slaughter of at least 500 people at Huta Pieniacka/Huta Penyatska, a village west of Lviv that belonged to Poland before the war and is now in Ukraine. The Committee said it had sent requests for legal assistance to Canada, Poland and Belarus. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau formally apologised in September after the speaker of the Canadian lower house of parliament, Anthony Rota, praised Hunka with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy present in the chamber. Rota said he had made a mistake and resigned. Putin called the standing ovations given to Hunka disgusting and said they showed Moscow was right to denazify Ukraine. Kyiv and its Western allies say Russias actions in Ukraine constitute an unprovoked war of aggression designed to grab territory. Zelenskiy, who is Jewish, says claims that his administration is run by Nazis are absurd. Security forces seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition during search operations in Manipurs Imphal East district, a police statement said. The arms and ammunition were seized from Shantipur, Khamenlok and Wakan areas under Sagolmang police station jurisdiction in Imphal East district on Thursday, it said. The number of seized weapons included 36 arms including three numbers of Ak 47/56, four carbine machine guns, seven SLRs and 1,615 number of ammunition and explosives including 82 numbers of hand grenades, police said. Security forces also recovered 132 war-like stores including bulletproof jackets, walkie talkie sets. The recovered weapons include three AK-47/56 rifles and carbine machine guns, the statement said. The seized items have been handed over to Sagolmang police station for further legal procedures, it said. Police also said During the last 24 hours, the situation in the state was under control. Chief Minister N Biren Singh at the 132nd Raising Day of Manipur Police on Thursday said uniformed personnel of the state must work to prevent crimes and protect properties irrespective of ethnic belongingness. Singh also said that no FIR would be lodged against those who surrender arms voluntarily. US President Joe Biden, in his address to the nation, said he will be submitting an urgent budget request for Congress on Friday to fund Americas national security needs to support our critical partners, including Israel and Ukraine. Biden asserted that, It is a smart investment thats going to pay dividends for American security for generations. Tomorrow, President Biden will send an urgent budget request to Congress to fund Americas national security needs and to support our critical partners including Israel and Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/sQR65EnuVc The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 20, 2023 How will US fund help? In his address from the Oval Office, Biden explained that the fund will help the US keep American troops "out of harm's way." He further indicated that the defence aid to both countries will be instead of sending US troops to fight in either war. We do not seek to have American troops fighting in Russia or fighting against Russia, he said. However, he did not rule out the possibility of US troops getting involved in the Gaza war. Meanwhile, a report by The Times of Israel quoted two officials familiar with the matter saying the Biden officials have indicated to Israel in recent days that if Hezbollah initiates a war against Israel, the US military will join the IDF in fighting the Iran-backed Lebanese terror group. 'Aid will help build a world that is safer' The US President further said the funds, for which he will request Congress on Friday, will help us build a world that is safer, more peaceful, more prosperous for our children and grandchildren." American alliances are what keep us America safe. American values are what make us a partner nations want to work with. To put all that at risk if we walk away from Ukraine or if we turn our backs on Israel its just not worth it, Biden asserted. US will always make sure Israel have what it needs to protect their people, the US President said. Security package an unprecedented commitment to Israel's security Biden said the security package that he was sending to Congress "is an unprecedented commitment to Israels security that will sharpen Israels qualitative military edge, which weve committed [upholding]. Were going to make sure Iron Dome continues to guard the skies over Israel. Were going to make sure other hostile actors in the region know that Israel is stronger than ever and prevent this conflict from spreading, the US President said. Biden also said the US and its partners across the region have been working to build a "better future" for the West Asia One where the West Asia is more stable and better connected to its neighbors through innovative projects like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. With inputs from agencies President Joe Biden made an impassioned call for the United States to show global leadership by backing Israel and Ukraine, saying in a speech from the Oval Office Thursday that defeating Hamas and Russia was a vital US interest. Biden, 80, said he would make an urgent request to Congress on Friday for funding to help Ukraine and Israel, arguing that this was an investment for the United States future on the world stage for decades to come. American leadership is what holds the world together, Biden said in just the second primetime speech to the nation of his presidency from behind the historic Resolute Desk. Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common: They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy, he added. We cannot and will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win. I refuse to let that happen. Fresh from a whirlwind trip to Israel this week, the Democratic president wants to win over war-weary voters and hardline Republicans as he ramps up his 2024 reelection bid. His 15-minute speech was a call to Americans to overcome deep political divisions and unite behind support for two conflicts that he said posed a critical threat to the US despite being an ocean away. Beacon to the world We cant let petty partisan angry politics get in the way of our responsibility as a great nation, said Biden said, with the Stars and Stripes and a flag of the US presidential seal behind him. America is a beacon to the world. Still. Still, he said. Biden also called for an end to a surge in both anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim prejudice in the United States, especially after the killing of a six-year-old Palestinian-American boy in an alleged hate crime linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict. To all of you hurting, I want you to know, I see you, he said. Youre all American. The White House is said to be teeing up a huge request to Congress for a package of more than $100 billion. The package includes $60 billion for weapons for Ukraine and $14 billion for Israel, the New York Times reported. It also includes $7 billion in security assistance for Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region to counter threats from China, $14 billion for security on the southern US border with Mexico and $10 billion in humanitarian aid for conflict zones, it said. Biden said the money was a smart investment thats going to pay dividends for American security for generations. Presidents traditionally reserve speeches from the solemn setting of the Oval Office for moments of key national significance. Bidens only previous address from there was in June when he hailed a deal with Congress to avert what would have been a catastrophic US debt default. Appetite for power But Congress has now been paralyzed for more than two weeks as divided Republicans, who hold the majority in the House, fail repeatedly to agree on electing a House speaker. Hard-right Republicans, and a growing number of voters, are also strongly opposed to adding to the $43.9 billion in security assistance that the United States has committed to Ukraine since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Just before the speech, Biden spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whom he visited on a top secret trip to Kyiv in February. Zelensky welcomed the recent delivery of ATACMS long-range missiles from the United States, adding: Ukraine is grateful for the vital and enduring US support. In his speech, Biden took aim again and again at Russias Putin, warning that if we dont stop Putins appetite for power and control in Ukraine, he wont limit himself just to Ukraine. Biden will be hoping his strong tone on the Israel-Hamas war plays well with an eye on US voters where there is strong support for Israel even if leftwing Democrats oppose his stance. In Tel Aviv on Wednesday, Biden backed Israel as it gears up for a ground invasion of Gaza after the October 7 attacks by Hamas which killed more than 1,400 people. But he also brokered a deal to get some aid through Egypt into the Gaza Strip, where Israeli bombing since has killed at least 3,785 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to the Hamas health ministry. The threat of a wider Middle Eastern conflict meanwhile looms in the background. The United States has already moved two aircraft carriers into the eastern Mediterranean to deter Iran or Lebanons Hezbollah, both allies of Hamas, from getting involved. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres paid a visit to the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza on Friday to oversee preparations for the delivery of aid to the war-torn enclave. Cargo planes and trucks have been bringing aid to the crossing for days, but so far none has been delivered to Gaza, which Israel has besieged and bombed for 13 days in response to a deadly cross-border attack by Hamas militants on 7 October. With tensions spiking in the Middle East, US forces in the region are facing increasing threats as a Navy warship shot down missiles appearing to head toward Israel Thursday and American bases in Iraq and Syria were repeatedly targeted by drone attacks. Later, a US official said there had been a rocket attack early Friday morning on US and coalition forces at a diplomatic support center near the Baghdad International Airport. Initial assessments indicated two rockets were fired, the official said, noting that one was intercepted by a counter-rocket system and the other struck an empty storage facility. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not yet made public, said no casualties were reported. Earlier, the USS Carney, a Navy destroyer in the northern Red Sea, intercepted three land attack cruise missiles and several drones that were launched by Houthi forces in Yemen. The action by the Carney potentially represented the first shots by the US military in the defence of Israel in this conflict. Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, told reporters the missiles were potentially headed toward Israel but said the US hasnt finished its assessment of what they were targeting. A US official said they dont believe the missiles which were shot down over the water were aimed at the US warship. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations that had not yet been announced. But an array of other drone attacks over the past three days did target US bases, including one in southern Syria on Thursday that caused minor injuries. The rash of violence comes in the wake of a deadly explosion at a Gaza hospital, triggering protests in a number of Muslim nations. The Israeli military has relentlessly attacked Gaza in retaliation for the devastating Hamas rampage in southern Israel almost two weeks ago, but Israel has denied responsibility for the al-Ahli hospital blast and the US has said its intelligence assessment found that Tel Aviv was not to blame. In recent days, however, a number of militant groups across the region from Hezbollah to the Houthis have expressed support for the Palestinians and threatened Israel. Since Tuesday, militants have launched at least four drone attacks on US military installations in Iraq and Syria where US troops train local defence forces and support the mission to counter the Islamic State group. The attacks fuel escalating worries in the US and the West that the war in Israel could expand into a larger regional conflict. Thats exactly what we are trying to prevent, Ryder said. The most recent drone attack was Thursday at al-Asad Air Base in western Iraq. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq posted a statement claiming responsibility for the attack, saying they had fired a salvo of rockets at the base and they hit their targets directly and precisely. A US official confirmed the latest attack but said it was too early to assess any impact. Also Thursday, the al-Tanf garrison in southeastern Syria was struck by drones. US troops have maintained a presence at the base for a number of years to train Syrian allies and monitor Islamic State militant activity. The Pentagon said one drone was shot down, but another hit the base and caused minor injuries. The garrison is located on a vital road that often used by Iranian-backed militants to ferry weapons to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and Israels doorstep. Syrian opposition activists also said there was a separate drone attack on an oil facility in eastern Syria that houses American troops. Omar Abu Layla, a Europe-based activist who heads the Deir Ezzor 24 media outlet, said three drones with explosives struck the Conoco gas field in the eastern province of Deir el-Zour that borders Iraq. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, also confirmed explosions at the site. On Tuesday, militants launched three drones against two Iraq bases that the US uses to train forces and conduct operations against the Islamic State. During the spate of launches, one warning turned out to be a false alarm at al-Asad, but it sent personnel rushing into bunkers. During that incident, a contractor suffered a cardiac arrest and died, Ryder said. He said the Pentagon does not yet have confirmation on who launched the drone attacks but said the US will take all necessary actions to defend US and coalition forces against any threat. He said any military response would come at a time and a manner of our choosing. Iranian-backed militias in Iraq have sometimes been used as foot soldiers in regional conflicts, including in Syria and Yemen, and have in recent days threatened to attack US facilities in Iraq and elsewhere because of American support for Israel. Our missiles, drones, and special forces are ready to direct qualitative strikes at the American enemy in its bases and disrupt its interests if it intervenes in this battle, Ahmad Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi, head of the Kataib Hezbollah militia, said in a statement last Wednesday. He also threatened to launch missiles at Israeli targets. Following the blast at the hospital in Gaza, the group issued another statement in which it blamed the US and its support for Israel for the catastrophe and called for an end to the US presence in Iraq. These evil people must leave the country. Otherwise, they will taste the fire of hell in this world before the afterlife, the statement said. On the intercepts by the Carney, Ryder said the strikes were done because the Houthi missiles posed a potential threat based on their flight profile. He added that the US is prepared to do whatever is needed to protect our partners and our interests in this important region. He said the US is still assessing what the target was, but said no US forces or civilians on the ground were injured. Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have expressed support for the Palestinians and threatened Israel. Last week, in Yemens Sanaa, which is held by the Houthi rebels still at war with a Saudi-led coalition, demonstrators crowded the streets waving Yemeni and Palestinian flags. The rebels slogan long has been, God is the greatest; death to America; death to Israel; curse of the Jews; victory to Islam. Last week, Abdel-Malek al-Houthi, the rebel groups leader, warned the United States against intervening in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, threatening that his forces would retaliate by firing drones and missiles. When approached Thursday, two Houthi officials declined to comment on the incident. One said he was unaware of the incident, while the second said he did not have the authority to speak about it. Thousands of US 155mm artillery shells, originally destined for Ukraine, will now be re-routed to Israel, as Americas closest ally in West Asia finds itself in an intense conflict with Palestinian terrorist group Hamas. The Pentagon is planning on sending these munition to Israel, Axios reported, citing Israeli officials in the know of things. The United States maintains an ammunition stockpile at a facility within Israel, with exclusive access limited to US forces. Earlier this year, amid Ukraines high demand for ammunition, the US started transferring shells from this facility and another stockpile located in South Korea. Israeli officials have now disclosed that, at the request of the Israeli government, the United States will replenish this stockpile by redirecting ammunition originally allocated for Ukraine. These artillery shells are expected to reach Israel in the coming weeks. This announcement closely follows a visit by US President Joe Biden to Israel. Following his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu mentioned that President Biden had pledged a massive, unprecedented military aid package. It remains uncertain whether the artillery shells were part of this package. The timing of the conflict between Israel and Hamas coincided with Ukraines pressing need for international support. Ukraines efforts in its summer counteroffensive had yielded limited gains at a substantial human cost. Kyiv is actively seeking assistance from European nations that lack the capacity to manufacture the required arms, while US officials are reportedly focused on expediting weapon deliveries to Israel. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky emphasized the importance of long-distance missiles and weapons during a recent visit to NATO headquarters, stressing the need for support from global leaders. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has asserted that the United States can sustain its commitment to multiple international conflicts. However, funds allocated to Ukraine by Congress are dwindling, and President Joe Biden is reportedly working to secure approval from the increasingly Ukraine-sceptic Republican Party for a $60 billion military and economic aid package by linking it to a $10 billion aid package for Israel, which traditionally garners more bipartisan support. Despite not heavily relying on artillery in its conflict with Hamas, Israel has been primarily using airstrikes to target Gaza while also engaging in sporadic exchanges of fire with Hezbollah militants in Lebanon and the Golan Heights. Nonetheless, Israeli forces are currently amassed along the Gaza border in readiness for a forthcoming ground operation, as indicated by Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who stated that the operation would occur soon. The urgency for artillery shells is highlighted by Israeli officials, signifying their essential role in the potential offensive. An assistant professor of the globally-acclaimed Columbia Business School put the Columbia University and its president to shame for standing in support of Hamas and pro-terror student organisations with a heart-wrenching speech, openly appealing parents across the world not to send their kids to the varsity. I speak as a father, said Shai Davidai, dad to two beautiful kids. Please take out your phones, since I want this message to reach every parent who wants to send their kids to Columbia University and entrust their safety with us. I want all parents in America who sent their kids to NYU, to Harvard, to Stanford, to Berkeley and I want to tell you that we cannot protect your child, said an emotional and agitated Davidai. We cannot protect your children from pro-terror student organisations because the president of the Columbia University will not speak out against pro-terror student orgainsations because the presidents of Harvard or Stanford or Berkeley will not speak out against pro-terror students organisations. Last Saturday 14 US citizens were kidnapped into Gaza with 200 other Israeli, French and German nationalities. 14 citizens of the US are in Gaza and yet the president of the university is giving her support to pro-terror student organisations. I have an amazing 7-year-old son and every night when I tuck him to sleep, we read a chapter of Harry Potter and he is a legitimate target of resistance here in Columbia University, just because he is an Israeli. I have a feisty 2-year-old daughter she too is a legitimate target of resistance; that is what they are selling: you can murder and kidnap my daughter in the name of resistance. And, none of the presidents of universities all around the country are willing to take a stand. This is what cowards do. Minouche Shafik, president of Columbia University is a coward, Davidai challenged the head of the varsity to eradicate pro-terror student organisations that were spreading hate. If President Joe Biden can come out any say this is unacceptable, this is inhumane; if the mayor of New York Eric Adams can say this not OK, then where are you president Shafik? Last week we had thousands of pro-terror students singing songs that are being sung in Iraq, Libya, Yemen and Afghanistan. They were singing these songs not in Gaza, but here. And this is the school you want to send your children to? They were celebrating the rape of teenage girls in a music festival in the name of resistance. And the president of the university is allowing them to march on our campuses. The Centre for Jewish Studies had to go into lockdown. This is not happening in Gaza or Tel Aviv, but here. I want to tell every parent, it does not matter if you are Jewish or Muslim or Hindu or Buddhist or an atheist like me rape is never OK if my 2-year-old daughter was 18 now, I would never send her to Columbia. The OnePlus Open was first teased at MWC 2023 when the company announced they are working on their first foldable, and it would be revealed later this year. The foldable phone market has been largely dominated by Samsung for quite some time now, and finally we are seeing attempts from other brands. While Motorola and OPPO have launched Flip phones, only TECNO has launched a full foldable so far in India, other than Samsung. The expectations from a OnePlus foldable are quite high. Is the OnePlus Open worth buying? Does it stand a chance against the competition? Lets find out in our review. OnePlus claims that they have spared no effort while creating the Open, and the result is evident in the overall feel of the device. The Open does give us confidence on the Foldable form factor. The original Samsung Galaxy Fold when it launched had a jaw-dropping foldable screen, which was unprecedented at that time, but my biggest gripe with it was it needed to be treated delicately. Even reviewers and consumers were given clear instructions on handling the device. It felt like innovation which came with a trade-off. Thankfully, in 2023, Samsungs Z Fold 5 is no longer the delicate darling the Fold 1 was. Display technology and the ecosystem has gotten mature over the past 5 years, and credit to Samsung for pushing and investing in a segment which had few takers initially. Foldables are quickly becoming more popular among business users and productivity buffs. While the Flip form-factor is more popular due to the cost, large screen foldables or phablets offer a larger feature set to consumers. The Open launches at a time when consumers are finally ready to invest in a foldable. OnePlus Open Video Review Box Contents In the box, you get the device along with a bumper case which does cover all the sides. The back cover has the leather finish similar to the phone. There is also a 80W SUPERVOOC charger along with a USB-A to C cable. Displays On the front you are greeted by the 6.3-inch cover screen which a AMOLED LTPO 3.0 panel with 120Hz refresh rate. OnePlus has managed to match the brightness of the cover screen and the larger display to 2800 nits peak brightness and 1400 nits high brightness. The cover screen has a 3-layer protection and features Ceramic Guard, which is 20% more impact resistant than Gorilla Glass Victus. The beauty of the cover screen is that I dont need to move to the larger screen every single time. With the Galaxy Z Fold I would end up using the cover screen for 20% of the time and use the larger screen for the majority. On the Open, I could get most of my work done on the cover screen, and I only used the larger screen when I needed the extra real estate for multi-tasking. On the inside is a vibrant 7.82 inch AMOLED LTPO 3.0 screen with 120 Hz refresh rate. The crease is barely noticeable while using the device, most users wont notice it. Hardware The device feels premium from the moment you pick it up. What took me by surprise is how light the device feels in the hand, the weight distribution is well-balanced. The ergonomics are spot on, and you can actually use the phone in one-hand, either the cover screen or even in the open state without having to strain your fingers. In terms of waterproofing, the Open is rated for IPX4, which means it can only take withstand splashes from all directions. But interestingly, there are drainage holes on the hinge on both sides of the spindle which lets water drain in case of a spill. OnePlus claims that the hinge has been tested for 1 million folds, which is much higher than the competition. Surprise -Alert Slider and IR Blaster The iconic Alert Slider has existed since the OnePlus One, and I had a feeling they might omit this feature on the Open given the complexity of a moving switch on the foldable form factor. OnePlus has not only retained the slider button but gone ahead increased its size. The fingerprint sensor is located on the power button and the volume rocker is on the top right. Another surprise addition is the IR or Infrared blaster which was available on the OnePlus 11R recently. The triple spatial speaker setup is neat and along with Dolby Atmos, the audio experience is very good. Camera Aiming higher The camera setup on the Open is quite versatile, and you can get some good shots with it. OnePlus decided to bring the Hasselblad camera tech to the Open as well, like on the Pro series. The 48MP main camera uses a Sony LYT-T808 Pixel stacked sensor, which is being for the first time in a smartphone. The 64MP telephoto camera uses an OmniVision sensor which is capable of 3X optical zoom and 6X in-sensor zoom. The 48Mp ultra-wide camera uses Sonys IMX581 sensor and has a 114 degree field of view. This is one of my favourite pictures captured on the Open, an ant running in the sand near the sea. Here are more camera samples. With the parachute subject, you can see images captured at various zoom levels, which shows the prowess of the telephoto camera. Using the XPAN mode, you can capture such shots Here is a shot taken in low-light On the video front, the rear cameras can capture 4K video at 60 fps and 4K in Dolby Vision at 30 fps. For selfies, you have a 32MP camera on the cover screen, which can capture video at 4K @ 30 fps. The 20MP camera on the inner screen is located in the upper right corner and comes in handy for video calls as you can place the phone on a desk folded half way. Here are a couple of selfies captured on the phone. I like the ability to capture using the rear camera, although the selfie cameras arent too shabby. The camera interface is pretty straight forward, and you wont find a zillion AI and beatification modes. You can also turn add watermarks with Hasselblad branding if you like to show off some details about the lens, aperture etc. Performance On the performance front, the experience was smooth with no hiccups or lag and Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 makes the device shine. The Open is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, paired with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage. On the connectivity front, there is 5G dual SIM support with two nano SIM slots along with an eSIM option which will be available at a later date. Wi-Fi 7 supports is baked in, along with Bluetooth 5.3 support. On the thermal front, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is based on the 4nm process and the Open did not get noticeably hot during regular usage and I did not notice any unusual heating on the device. OnePlus says that they have designed a heat dissipation system specifically for foldables based on the heat source : chipset, display, cameras, modem etc. which helps keep the phone cooler for longer periods of time. Here are some benchmarks of the device from Geekbench and Antutu While installing a software update I saw a message popup which asked me to place the device in the open state for better heat dissipation, which is thoughtful. Software The device was running Android 13 and Oxygen OS 13.2 at the time of this review. Samsungs One UI has been the most popular so far in the Foldable space, and I was curious to see what Oxygen OS has to offer. Oxygen OS does offer a lot of goodies specifically for the Foldable form factor. I wish the OS included a tutorial mode or guided tour for the multitasking features, as it was not obvious when I used the device for the first few hours. Multitasking is possible on the cover screen as well as on the inner screen. I was able to run two apps simultaneously on the cover screen. On the inner screen, you can have up to 3 apps side by side on the screen, and you can choose to stack them horizontally or move the 3rd app to the 2nd row. I wish Oxygen OS offered a Desktop mode when the device is connected to an external screen, as this would be awesome for productivity buffs. While Apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook support the full-screen experience with two panes, I could not get it working on Twitter(X). There have been multiple software updates during the time I have had the device as we get closer to the launch day. OnePlus is promising 4 years of major Android OS upgrades and 5 years of security upgrades for the Open. The company also says that it will work with Google to improve the user experience over time. Battery Life The open packs a 4805 mAh dual-cell battery which can be charged to 100% using 67W SUPERVOOC charging in around 42 minutes which is one of the fastest charging times for a Foldable device. In comparison, Samsungs Galaxy Z Fold 5 packs a 4400mAh battery and takes over 80 minutes for a full charge. OnePlus and OPPO have had an edge in the fast-charging space for a while, and it is no surprise that the OnePlus Open gets charged really fast. The Open can get you through a typical day easily and still have some juice left. Constant 5G data and hotspot usage and resource intensive apps like games can drain the battery faster. Conclusion The Open is the best foldable phone I have used so far. The device sets a very good perception about the future of foldable smartphones. OnePlus has demonstrated that someone other Samsung can launch a full-blown foldable and launch it across many markets. I also wish it pushes Samsung and other players to push the envelope when it comes to innovating on this form-factor. While the OnePlus Open manages to tick most of the boxes in terms of features and performance, in a market like India, a products market potential is highly linked to the price. The Open is priced at INR 1,39,999 and a bank discount brings the price down to INR 1,34,999 which is significantly lower than Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 which starts at 1,47,999 for 256GB storage and INR 157,999 for the 512 GB storage. The OnePlus Open is not only cheaper by Rs.23000 but also fully packed with innovative features in several aspects. The India pricing is also on par or in fact lower than the US and European pricing for the device, which shows the companys confidence and commitment to the India market. The fight for the best foldable smartphone is now officially Open. The OnePlus Open is now available to pre-order from Amazon.in, OnePlus.in, the OnePlus Store App, OnePlus Experience Stores, Reliance Digital, and Select Partner Stores, and will go on sale starting from October 27th. Pros Best foldable experience in the market Fantastic build quality and design Solid performance with no hiccups Versatile camera setup Fast charging No bloatware Cons Oxygen OS might lack some features No Wireless charging No IPX8 or IP68 rating Microsoft Unveils the Light and Portable Surface Laptop Go 3 in India: Check Price, Offers, & More News oi -Kabir Jain Microsoft has released its Surface Laptop Go 3 in India. The Surface Laptop Go 3 has become the center of attention, thanks to its elegant design, powerful specifications, and a variety of exclusive introductory offers, with pre-orders now open as of October 20. Let's take a closer look. Price and Pre-Order Details The Surface Laptop Go 3 is available for pre-order in India through various retailers, including Reliance Digital, Croma, Amazon, Vijay Sales, and select multi-brand stores. For eager tech enthusiasts, the device can be reserved now, with official availability slated for November 9. In the Indian market, Surface Laptop Go 3 prices start at Rs 82,135 for the Surface for Business models running Windows 11 Pro. These models come in four configurations, all powered by the Intel Core i5 processor, varying in RAM and storage options. The entry-level model with 8GB RAM and a 128GB SSD is priced at Rs 82,125. The 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD variant cost Rs 98,562, while the 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD version comes in at Rs 117,817. The high-end offering boasts 16GB RAM and a 512GB storage option, priced at Rs 133,884. For consumers, Surface for Consumer models running Windows 11 Home is available in two configurations. The 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD model costs Rs 80,999, while the 16GB RAM and 256GB storage model is priced at Rs 100,999, both equipped with the Intel Core i5 processor. Exclusive Pre-Order Offers Microsoft is offering enticing incentives to early adopters of the Surface Laptop Go 3. Those who pre-order the device will receive a complimentary Marshall Major IV Wireless Headset, valued at Rs 14,999. Additionally, Microsoft is sweetening the deal with a one-month free subscription to Microsoft 365 and PC Game Pass. Key Specifications and Features The Surface Laptop Go 3 stands out as Microsoft's lightest and most portable Surface laptop, weighing a mere 1.13kg. This ultra-portable device boasts a 12.4-inch PixelSense touchscreen, a full-size keyboard, and a spacious precision touchpad. Under the hood, it's powered by an Intel Core i5 processor and offers configurations with up to 16GB of RAM and 256GB or 512GB of onboard storage. Consumer category models run Windows 11 Home, while business category models run Windows 11 Pro. One of the standout features of the Surface Laptop Go 3 is its impressive battery life, with up to 15 hours of usage on a single charge. It also supports fast charging for added convenience. The device delivers a top-tier audio-visual experience with Omnisonic Speakers enhanced by Dolby Audio, dual Studio Mics for clear audio, and an HD camera that adapts to varying lighting and skin tones. Equipped with Microsoft's AI-powered tools, the Surface Laptop Go 3 incorporates Clipchamp video editing software with an AI auto-compose feature. Furthermore, it features an updated version of Paint that allows users to remove backgrounds and generate images from simple text prompts. Notably, the Surface Laptop Go 3 is one of the first Surface laptops in India to come with Windows Copilot out-of-the-box. Via Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Indian Smartphone Market Sees 3% Decline in Q3 2023 but Shows Signs of Recovery News oi -Kabir Jain The Indian smartphone market, as revealed by Canalys research, experienced a slight decline of 3% in Q3 2023, with a total of 43.0 million smartphone shipments. While the numbers were slightly lower than the previous year, there are promising signs of recovery and increased consumer confidence as the market adapts to the changing dynamics of the industry. Top Players in Q3 2023 Samsung maintained its dominance in the Indian smartphone market during Q3 2023, with a market share of 18% and 7.9 million units shipped. Xiaomi secured the second position, shipping 7.6 million units and matching Samsung's market share figure, thanks to the introduction of affordable 5G models. vivo held the third spot with 7.2 million units shipped, while realme and OPPO (excluding OnePlus) completed the top five, delivering 5.8 million and 4.4 million units, respectively. Indian smartphone shipments and annual growth Canalys Smartphone Market Pulse: Q3 2023 Vendor Q3 2023 shipments (million) Q3 2023 market share Annual growth Samsung 7.9 18% -3% Xiaomi 7.6 18% -17% vivo 7.2 17% -1% Realme 5.8 13% -6% Oppo 4.4 10% -16% Others 10.1 24% 19% Total 43.0 100% -3% Note: Xiaomi estimates include sub-brand POCO. OPPO excludes OnePlus. Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding. Source: Canalys Smartphone Analysis (sell-in shipments), October 2023 The Rise of Budget-Friendly 5G Models Canalys' Senior Analyst, Sanyam Chaurasia, highlighted the importance of budget-friendly 5G offerings during Q3. Smartphone brands strategically promoted their festive product lineups, focusing on the rapidly growing segment of budget-friendly 5G devices. Xiaomi expanded its 5G portfolio with models like the Redmi 12 5G and POCO M6 Pro 5G. realme also gained traction with its 11x 5G and 11 5G models, particularly through online channels. This surge in budget-friendly 5G offerings reflects the market's transition toward a dominance of 5G-enabled smartphones. Premium Segment Thrives While the entry-level segment saw a surge in demand for budget-friendly 5G smartphones, the premium segment continued to thrive. This growth was fueled by Samsung's S23 series and older-generation Apple iPhones, such as the iPhone 14 and iPhone 13, offered at attractive deals during festive sales. Notably, the market welcomed the re-entry of HONOR through a strategic joint venture with HTech, launching its HONOR 90 model. Resilience of Smaller Players Chaurasia emphasized the resilience of smaller players like OnePlus, Infinix, Tecno, and Motorola. These brands experienced strong growth, primarily due to their expanding channel presence and increased product offerings. Some of them even carried positive momentum from the chip shortage period of 2021. In a challenging market, brands have had to make strategic shifts, with OPPO, for instance, focusing on launching higher-priced models to prioritize profit margins over volume. On the other hand, Samsung streamlined its product portfolio across various price bands. Road to Recovery Amid Global Uncertainties Despite signs of consumer confidence and a market poised for recovery in the second half of 2023, there are global economic concerns that could potentially impact the market's growth in 2024. This impact could be more pronounced in the vulnerable entry-level segment. However, the Indian economy has shown resilience to external macroeconomic variables, and smartphone brands are adapting to market dynamics. To maintain market share, vendors should concentrate on reducing channel pressures and creating a lean product portfolio with 'hero models' in each price segment while maintaining balanced inventories across channels. Source Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Xiaomi 14 Series launch confirmed for this month, will feature new Leica Summilux Lens News -Kuldeep Singh Xiaomi, the global smartphone giant, is set to unveil a significant evolution in mobile photography. The anticipated Xiaomi 14 series will feature Leica's Summilux lenses, renowned for unparalleled capture capabilities. Alongside this, Xiaomi plans to introduce HyperOS, an interface that promises to redefine the functionality of its devices. Currently, tech enthusiasts and the market are eagerly waiting for the unraveling of these innovative features. The Xiaomi 14 series is officially arriving in China this month. In a recent post, the company confirmed that the Xiaomi 14's camera system will be fine-tuned by the renowned German camera maker, Leica. Xiaomi recently shared an official poster revealing some information about its upcoming flagship smartphones. The line-up will likely include the Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 14 Pro. Xiaomi 14 Series Launch Date Xiaomi has confirmed that its upcoming 14 series will feature the "best in the field" Summilux lens for mobile phones. The poster also confirms that the Xiaomi 14 series launch date in China is set for later this month. Considering Xiaomi 14 series will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, the devices will likely debut after Qualcomm's Summit, which is taking place between October 24 - 26 in Hawaii. HyperOS While the exact launch date is yet to be confirmed, speculations are rife about the potential specificaitons of the Xiaomi 14 series. It is set to be the first smartphone series to feature the innovative HyperOS interface that is expected to revolutionize the user interface and functionality of Xiaomi devices. However, leaked HyperOS screenshots revealed only minor cosmetic differences such as more lock screen customizations and a slightly tweaked control center. According to Xiaomi, this new interface will integrate seamlessly across smartphones and AIoT, thereby enhancing the overall user experience. The Xiaomi 14 series is all set to launch with the Leica Summilux lens - a brand-new camera lens system specially designed for smartphones. Xiaomi confirmed this in an official Weibo post where it revealed a teaser image. The Leica Summilux lens, touted as the "best in the field" for smartphone photography, grants mobile devices unparalleled capture capabilities in all scenarios. However, Xiaomi has kept the technical specifications of these camera lenses under wraps, thereby fueling the anticipation among tech enthusiasts. FAQ's Who is the manufacturer of Xiaomi 14 series smartphones? The Xiaomi 14 series smartphones are manufactured by Xiaomi, a leading smartphone manufacturer recognized worldwide. What is notable about the camera in the Xiaomi 14 series? The Xiaomi 14 series boasts camera sensors that are delicately fine-tuned by the renowned German camera maker, Leica. The smartphone series is set to launch with the Leica Summilux lens, a new camera lens system designed for smartphones, providing unparalleled capture capabilities in all scenarios. When did Xiaomi and Leica enter into strategic collaboration? Xiaomi and Leica entered into strategic collaboration in the year 2022. What is the innovative feature about the interface of the Xiaomi 14 series? The Xiaomi 14 series is set to be the first smartphone series to feature the innovative HyperOS interface. This interface is expected to revolutionize the user interface and functionality of Xiaomi devices, enhancing overall user experience. What are some of the speculation surrounding the Xiaomi 14 series launch? While the exact launch date is yet to be confirmed, speculations are rife about the potential attributes of the Xiaomi 14 series. These include the integration of the new HyperOS interface and the Leica Summilux lens. The world is waiting to see how these features will enhance smartphone photography and user interface. Best Mobiles in India Sun Sunday 68 /41 Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the upper 60s and lows in the low 40s. Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. October 19, 2023 Release Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call With the President of the UAE Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout: Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke today with the President of the, UAE Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to discuss the longstanding U.S. security partnership with the UAE, as well as to consult on the situation in the Middle East region. The Secretary also emphasized the U.S. commitment to supporting the defense of its partners in the region and our commitment to preventing an escalation of the conflict. https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3563408/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address October 19, 2023 Release Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call With Qatar Amir, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout: Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke today with Qatar Amir, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to discuss the longstanding U.S. security partnership with Qatar, as well as to consult on the situation in the Middle East region. The Secretary also emphasized the U.S. commitment to supporting the defense of its partners in the region and our commitment to preventing an escalation of the conflict. https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3563404/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address October 19, 2023 Transcript Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder Holds an On-Camera Press Briefing BRIGADIER GENERAL PAT RYDER: All right. Well, good afternoon everyone. And thank you very much for your patience. We do have quite a bit to cover today so thank you in advance. Well, I'll go through some detailed information here. First of all, let me address the ongoing situation in the Middle East and the Department of Defense response. And then I'll discuss the reports of drone attacks against U.S. facilities in Iraq and Syria. As you are all aware, Secretary Austin, recently directed several steps to strengthen DOD Posture in the region, to bolster regional deterrence efforts, to include deploying the USS Ford Carrier Strike Group to the Eastern Mediterranean along with the USS Eisenhower currently underway and enroute. Additionally, we are also enhancing our Fighter Aircraft presence in the Central Command region to provide additional capabilities. By posturing these U.S. Naval assets and Advanced Fighter Aircraft in the region we aim to send a strong message intended to deter a wider conflict to bolster regional stability and of course to make it clear that we will protect and defend our national security interests. To that end the crew of the Guided Missile Destroyer, USS Carney, operating in the Northern Red Sea earlier today, shot down three land-attack cruise missiles and several drones that were launched by Houthi forces in Yemen. This action was a demonstration of the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Architecture that we have built in the Middle East and that we are prepared to utilize whenever necessary to protect our partners and our interests in this important region. There were no casualties to U.S. Forces and none that we know of to any civilians on the ground. Information about these engagements is still being processed and we cannot say for certain what these missiles and drones were targeting but they were launched from Yemen, heading north along the Red Sea, potentially towards targets in Israel. Our defensive response was one that we would have taken for any similar threat in the region, where we're able to do so against our interest, personnel, going to and our partners. This attack may be ongoing so if we have more information to share we will. But again, as the Secretary has made clear, we have the capability to defend our broader interests in the region and to deter regional escalation, Israelis and broader expansion of the conflict that began with Hamas's attack on Israeli civilians on October 7th. The crew of the Carney did just that. And across the Force we will remain vigilant to any other potential threats. And while I'm on the topic of threats let me provide an update on the reports of several drone attacks against U.S. facilities in Iraq and Syria. Early yesterday morning Syria time, October 18th, At-Tanf garrison in Syria was targeted by two drones. U.S. and Coalition Forces engaged one drone, destroying it while the other drone impacted the base resulting in minor injuries to Coalition Forces. Also the same morning in Iraq early warning systems indicated a possible threat approaching the airbase at Al Assad, and base personnel sheltered in place as a protective measure. Though no attack occurred sadly a U.S. civilian contractor suffered a cardiac episode while sheltering and passed away shortly thereafter. And our deepest sympathies and condolences are with the loved one loved ones of the individual who passed away. And as you know, the day before on October 17th, U.S. Military Forces defended against three drones near U.S. and Coalition Forces in Iraq. In western Iraq at Al Asad Air Base, U.S. Forces engaged two drones destroying one and damaging the second resulting in minor injuries to Coalition Forces. Separately in northern Iraq, U.S. Forces engaged and destroyed a drone near Bashur Air Base resulting in no injuries or damage. And while I'm not going to forecast any potential response to these attacks I will say that we will take all necessary actions to defend U.S. and Coalition Forces against any threat. Any response should one occur will come at a time in a manner of our choosing. Now in light of all of this activity, Secretary Austin continues to actively engage with his counterparts and leaders within the Middle East. Today he conducted a series of calls which included discussions with His Highness, President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, of the United Arab Emirates; Amir Sheikh Tamim of Qatar; and Saudi Arabia, Minister of Defense, Khalid bin Salman Al Saud. Secretary Austin also spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense, Yoav Galant just a few moments ago. During these calls he reiterated U.S. support for Israel's right to defend itself from terrorist attacks, and also underscored the importance of safeguarding innocent civilians both Palestinian and Israeli. He emphasized again that any country or any group thinking about trying to take advantage of the situation in Israel, to try to widen the conflict should think twice and not doubt the resolve of the United States. It is our aim to avoid any regional expansion of Israel's conflict with Hamas. But we stand ready and prepared to protect and defend our partners and our interests. And we will act to do so. Readouts of these calls will be posted to the DOD website later today. And with respect to U.S. support to Israel, the first shipments of military aid, including munitions began arriving in Israel last week, and continue to arrive on a near-daily basis. This assistance is comprised of capabilities requested by Israel to include Precision Guided Munitions such as Joint Direct Attack Munitions, Small Diameter Bombs, 155 millimeter Artillery Ammunition and other categories of critical equipment. In addition ,Iron Dome Interceptors from stocks that the United States has in country have been quickly provided to Israel. And in the days ahead will we be flowing additional Iron Dome Interceptors so that Israel has the capabilities they need to sustain their Iron Dome Defense Systems and protect their citizens and cities from rocket attacks. We will leverage several avenues available to us to include our stocks and industry channels that reinforce the United States' unwavering and ironclad support for both the Israeli Defense Forces and the Israeli people. As always, the Department of Defense will continue to support, plan, and undertake these critical missions professionally and with the inherent right to protect our Force. And with that I will be happy to take your questions. We'll start with AP, Tara Copp. Q: Thank you, General Ryder. Could you also talk about apparently there's a new round of attacks at Al Assad that is occurring either now or has happened today. Do you have any information on that? GEN. RYDER: Yes. Thanks Tara. I've seen some reporting on that. I don't have any details to provide right now but certainly as more information becomes available we'll pass that along. Q: And then more generally as this violence has upticked since the hospital bombing. What protection measures are you taking particularly for the Forces in At-Tanf at where there's been so much activity over the years as fighters have tried to move weapons and people towards Hezbollah? GEN. RYDER: Yes. Certainly, we take force protection extremely seriously and we will continue to do so. I'm not going to get into specific force protection measures other than again when we have forces in harm's way we're going to look at all possible efforts to ensure that they remain safe and are able to to stay focused on their on their mission. So this is something that we'll continue to monitor. But again, we are going to take force protection very seriously. Q: But can you say like you've strengthened or taken additional force protection measures? And are you seeing more activity more drone activity like in the last couple of days than you have you know, for the last few months? GEN. RYDER: We are certainly taking appropriate force protection measures to ensure the safety of our troops. Again I'm not going to get into specifics. Clearly this is an uptick in terms of the types of drone activity we've seen in Iraq and Syria. But again yes, I'll just leave it at that. Thank you. Jeff? Q: All right. Sir, this is a sensitive question. There's a lot of talk among Special Operations veterans that when President Biden went to Israel he had a picture taken with some service members who look like special operators. Can the Defense Department confirm the White House took this picture down, that these were in fact Special Operators? And if so are they is there a policy against having special operators have their picture taken? GEN. RYDER: Yes. Thanks, Jeff. I'd have to refer you to the White House on that. I just don't have any information to provide. Thank you. Let me go here to Dan. And then we'll come back to yours. Q: Thank you, General. These attacks in Syria and Iraq, the Pentagon commonly or often ascribes the blame on those two Iranian-backed militias or some similar description. Do you have the sense that's the case here? GEN. RYDER: So we're continuing to assess the nature of these attacks. And that's something that we'll continue to look very closely at. As you've mentioned in the past we have seen Iranian-backed militia conduct these types of things. But as of right now I don't have any specifics to provide. Q: More broadly related on Iran, do you have any update on whether Iran directly tied to the Hamas attack of October 7th? GEN. RYDER: No. At this point again, the information that we have does not show a direct connection to the Hamas attacks on October 7th. As it relates to Iran, again, that's something that we'll continue to look closely at. All that to say, we do know as you've heard others say that Iran has a significant relationship with Hamas in terms of funding, training, and support, and so again in that regard they certainly bear some responsibility. But again no direct linkage to these attacks. And we'll continue to keep an eye on that. Let me go to Idrees. Q: Just for clarification, the USS Carney. You said the - you can't say for certain where or what the missiles were targeting. Can you say that you do you believe that they were targeting the Carney or do you believe they were not targeting the Carney? GEN. RYDER: Again, what I provided at the top right now is what we know. Again, we'll continue to assess this. Q: Can you talk about what Naval assets you have in total, in the Eastern Med and Red Sea? I think there was a USS Mount Whitney yesterday, that went there. How many ships do you have in total in the region right now? GEN. RYDER: Sure. And so I'm not going to provide a laydown of all of our Forces in the region, Idrees, other than to say as you know, that the USS Gerald Ford Strike Group does remain underway in the eastern Mediterranean. The USS Mesa Verde is in the Mediterranean as well. We've got as I mentioned at the top ,the Eisenhower transiting the Atlantic Ocean right now in route to the eastern Mediterranean. The Carter Hall and the Baton currently remain underway in the Gulf of Aden. I know there's been some questions about that. And I'm just going to leave it at that for right now. Yes sir? Q: Earlier today the State Department issued kind of a worldwide caution alert for Americans abroad. Given what we were talking about some of these drone attacks and attacks on other U.S. facilities, I'm curious is there going to be some sort of blanket warning for U.S. servicemembers and their families or are there any fears that these attacks will be more geared towards U.S. servicemembers even if not just in the Middle East but more broadly worldwide? GEN. RYDER: Yes. So I'm not tracking any specific threats in that regard. Obviously, as I mentioned earlier we do take Force protection seriously no matter where we're serving. And so we'll continue to do that. Q: So no general warning like State did? GEN. RYDER: Again, two separate things, right, in terms of State Department and its responsibility to warn U.S. citizens. The U.S. military, by virtue of our mission, wherever we're serving, we're going to take appropriate force protection measures. But I'm not right now aware of any specific threats against U.S. service members and their families, which is what I think you're you're asking. Megan, I'm sorry, did you have a question? OK. Let me go to the phone here real quick. Let me go to Gordon Lubold, Wall Street Journal. Q: Yeah, hey, Pat. Just two questions. On attribution, is there any reason to think that the perpetrators behind these attacks are not what they have been in the past? I know you're still investigating but I'm just wondering if there's any reason to think there'd be anything different? One. And two, just to clarify, has was there any American aircraft or other property damaged in any of these attacks? I can't remember if you said it specifically or not. GEN. RYDER: Yeah, thanks, Gordon. So in terms of the attribution for these attacks, again, that's something that we're continuing to look at. And I'm I'm not going to have any information to provide right now in terms of the impacts of those attacks beyond what I've provided. All right, let me go to Rebecca from BBC. Q: Hi, thanks for taking the question. I wondered if you can confirm or you had any comments on these reports that the IDF has the green light to has been given the green light to enter Gaza? GEN. RYDER: So I I've obviously seen the the press reports on that. I'm not sure what that means. As it as it relates to IDF operations, I would refer you to them to to talk about their operations. Thank you. Let me go to Courtney. Q: The the American or the contractor who died of the cardiac event, was he or she an American citizen? GEN. RYDER: I will get back to you on that. Q: And then can you say how many drones were shot down? And what kind and what did the Carney use to shoot down the the cruise missiles and the drones? GEN. RYDER: Yeah, thanks. So I don't have any information to provide on the specifics, in terms of what system the Carney used to take down. So if we're able to make that information available, we will. And then in terms of the number of drones, I think I kind of laid that out, right? Q: You said several ... GEN. RYDER: Several. Yeah, that's about as specific as I can get right now. Q: OK. And then just one other. I I think this is to Idrees' question but I may be wrong. You said that the you don't see any direct connection to these this uptick in these recent attacks and to October 7th, but I wonder if you see any connection to this uptick because it it really this is a a departure from where it's been the past several months if you see any connection to what's to what's happened after October 7th? So to the fact that the Israelis are talking about a massive ground invasion, they're already doing these airstrikes, is it tied to that? GEN. RYDER: Yeah, so so, you know, the reality is, Courtney, I I don't want to allow my imagination to fill in the gaps and and the supposition clearly, there are tensions in the region, which is why you see us working so hard right now to make sure that we're keeping lines of communication open with regional leaders, to make sure that we're sharing information, and also for actors in the region to understand our message loud and clear about deterrence, to pretend prevent potential miscalculation. Again, as we continue to look at this and analyze the nature of these attacks and attribute these attacks, you know, we'll certainly know more, but that's where we're at right now. In the meantime, again, our focus is going to be continuing to ensure that we are deterring a potential regional broader regional conflict, as I mentioned, and also continuing to work closely with Israel to ensure they have what they need to defend themselves against future terrorist attacks. Fadi? Q: Thank you, General. So when when you talk about the interception, you said this is a demonstration of the integrating air and missile defense. Were other nations or or partners in the region did they contribute one way or the other to the interception, whether through information, radar? What what did you mean ... GEN. RYDER: Yeah, so Fadi, as you know, the United States works with a lot of partners in the region, and broadly speaking, have integrated air defense capabilities. And so in this particular case, the USS Carney, as I highlighted, determining this threat, was able to take that threat out. And that's about as specific as I can get. Q: So this was in partnership with other ... GEN. RYDER: Yeah, I I don't have any other information ... Q: ... and then on the on the hospital, the President, as you know, mentioned that they the from the DOD to say Israel wasn't responsible. The IDF used Al Jazeera broadcast to make it the case that it was a a Islamic Jihad. We did a very detailed investigative report about that. Based on our broadcasting, the missile that they claim it was a Jihad missile was actually intercepted seven minutes before the hospital was targeted. Channel 4 UK, they're saying even though there's not a big (inaudible) in ... GEN. RYDER: Can you I'm sorry, Fadi, but if if you don't mind, just to get to the question? Q: My my point is there's lots of questioning of what the President claimed and what the Israelis are saying, noting that many hospital have been targeted, civilian and U.N. facilities by Israel. Are you willing to share the data that you have that the President used ... GEN. RYDER: Yeah, so let's let's let's couple things here. So first of all, don't conflate other reporting and media reporting with where we're necessarily getting our information from, right? And we we certainly have our own capabilities, some of which does include open source information, but we have other capabilities. And and, you know, as you know, the White House put out a statement yesterday on this topic. So when it comes to informing our senior leaders, we are using our own information to make those assessments. And as as you've heard us say, right now, based on the information that we have, it is our assessment that Israel was not responsible for that that explosion. We're continuing to assess that. Initial indications are that this was from an errant rocket that was launched by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. But again, we're going to continue to assess this, and and that's where we're at on this particular topic right now. But again, just to to reassure you, we're not necessarily relying on other reports or media reports to come to those conclusions. Q: ... that wasn't my question. My question is does the department because under international law, this is a war crime, regardless who did it, right? So is the department willing to share the data that it has ... GEN. RYDER: Right now, I'm I'm sharing with you what we have, and and that's where we're at. So if we have more to provide, we we certainly will. But let me yes, Lara? Q: Thank you. Just some clarifications. In Syria and Iraq, can you say a little bit more about how how the they took out the drones? And then on the Carney, could you give more specifics on where the intercept took place? Was it over land or over sea? GEN. RYDER: Sure. So my understanding on the on the latter and again, you know, we'll have more details potentially in the future here but my understand was that was over water. As far as the taking out the drones, I'm not going to get into specifics, other than to say defensive systems on those facilities were able to successfully take those drones down. Q: So not fighter not fighter jets is ... GEN. RYDER: Correct, not fighter jets. Q: And then just a broader question just given all of the assets that have been sent to the region for deterrence and the given these attacks, is deterrence working? And do you see this as an escalation? GEN. RYDER: Yeah, so that's a great question. And what I would say is it's important, again, to take a step back. Now, first of all, these attacks, these small scale attacks, are clearly concerning and dangerous, right? And we're going to as I mentioned, we're going to do everything necessary to ensure that we're protecting our forces. And and if and when we choose to respond, we'll do so that at a time of our choosing. But if you step back and look again at what our broader strategic aim here, which is deter deter broader regional conflict, which is why you see us putting additional forces into the theater, which gives us more options to respond, which is also why you see us continuing to communicate very actively with partners in the region, as well as potential actors who might want to try to take advantage of this. So again, right now, this conflict is contained between Israel and Hamas, and we're going to do everything we can to ensure deterrence in the region so that this does not become a broader regional conflict. Let me go to Tony. Q: Yeah, I was going to if you can square that circle again? Somebody, while listening in on this, is going to think the Middle East is on fire now because of the U.S. helping after October 7th. Broadly, you don't see any connection between these Yemen, Syria, and Iraq at this point, in terms of Iran directing or some great hand directing the attacks? GEN. RYDER: Again, right now, I think you have to look at these individually. Again, we're taking them seriously and we're responding appropriately obviously, ensuring that our forces are protected. But again, our focus is on deterring a broader regional conflict, and right now, this conflict is contained between Israel and Hamas. And we'll continue to work very closely with partners in the region and allies to ensure that we can maintain deterrence going forward. Q: ... question, a follow-up what advanced aircraft are you talking about? And where are the Iron Dome interceptors from the United States coming from? Are those those from Army stocks being flown to Israel? GEN. RYDER: In terms of the interceptor ammunition? Q: Yeah. GEN. RYDER: So Tony, we'll we'll have a variety of means available to us, to include stocks that are already in Israel. And so again, I won't get into specifics on where exactly they're coming from, other than we have a variety of of means to to do that. And then I'm sorry, your first question? Q: ... you did say though they were being flown from the United States, the interceptors a follow-on and and Iron Dome interceptors. So I'm just asking are those the Army stocks? GEN. RYDER: In terms of the interceptor ammunition? Yes. Q: ... same thing interceptors ... GEN. RYDER: Yeah. I mean, again, we have a variety of of sources, both U.S.-based and then also coming from within in Israel. Q: ... are those now being re-deployed to the region? GEN. RYDER: And then in terms of advanced fighter aircraft, just to to clarify, in terms of F-16, F-15s, right now, I don't I'm not tracking any F-35s to to read out on the on that front, but again, if that changes, we'll let you know. OK, thank you. Time for a few more. Yes, sir? You're raising your hand but you're not looking. Yes, sir? No. Q: Yes, thank you. So I have a couple of questions on Ukraine. So there are reports that the Pentagon plans to send Israel artillery shells that were initially designated for Ukraine. Could you provide any comments on that? GEN. RYDER: I I don't have any information on that, other than to say that that we are confident we can continue to support both Ukraine and Israel, in terms of their defensive needs. Q: One on ATACMS so could you specify how many missiles has the U.S. provided for Ukraine? Are there any conditions on their use in the battlefield, your assessment how will they compliment Ukrainian abilities? GEN. RYDER: Sure. So no, I can't get into the specifics, in terms of the number of ATACMS that we've provided, but just like all of the other systems and and equipment that we've provided to Ukraine, it is with the assurances that this will be used within sovereign Ukraine to take back and defend sovereign Ukrainian territory. Q: If I could follow up so the Ukrainian Foreign Minister said that this is not the the first shipment. There was a commitment to provide more ATACMS for Ukraine in the future. Could you comment on that? GEN. RYDER: I yeah, I don't again, we're going to continue to consult with Ukraine, our allies and partners to ensure they have what they need to defend themselves against Russia. OK, let me just go to the phone here real quick. Jeff Zeldin, VOA? Q: Thanks very much for doing this. You've spoken a little bit about the military attacks in in the region, the drone attacks, the missiles launched by the Houthi, but to what extent is the Pentagon worried about some of the non-military or non-militant group activity, like some of the protests that are looking at U.S. targets, embassies, the the you know, the the bigger concern that maybe there is a coordinated push between kinetic means and and and other people pushing buttons to enflame tensions in the region? And then also, in the past, the Pentagon has been part of the effort to declassify information to push back against narratives like with Russia. Is the Pentagon pushing for any of the or advocating declassifying information with the bombing at the Al-Ahli hospital since the narrative that Israel did bomb the hospital has enflamed tensions so much? GEN. RYDER: Yeah, thanks, Jeff. So on on your latter question, again, as I as I mentioned to Fadi, when and if we have more information to provide on that, we certainly will. I just don't have any additional information at this time. As it relates to the broader Middle East region and around the world, of course we always take safety and security of our citizens very seriously. We will continue to stay in close consultation with State Department. It is it is clearly something we're keeping an eye on. We we recognize that there are tensions right now in the Middle East and throughout the broader region. Again, I'm not tracking any specific information regarding the the specific targeting of American citizens or U.S. military forces or their families, but again, this is something that we will take seriously and and do whatever we need to do to ensure their safety. Thanks very much. Yep? Q: Why did the U.S. shoot down these missiles and drones? And why what was the I mean, what why why we in the northern Red Sea? Who who were they protecting? GEN. RYDER: Again, I what I read out at the top is what I've got on that, Courtney. Q: Is that I don't but I don't think you necessarily addressed it. I mean, it's it's pretty uncommon. I think, if I remember correctly, there have been cases of U.S. intercepting some things in like with Bab-el-Mandeb, but I don't ever remember them you guys intercepting anything in the northern Red Sea. So there must have been a reason, something like the the decision was made to protect was it Israel or? GEN. RYDER: Well again, as as this missile was detected and the the decision was made that it posed a potential threat based on its flight profile, and so the decision was made to take it down, and that's ... Q: ... threat to Israel or to ... GEN. RYDER: Again, this is something this is something we're still assessing. Q: Did Secretary Austin have to is is that a Secretary level decision to do that? GEN. RYDER: Not to my knowledge. Q: So it's the ship's commander or? GEN. RYDER: I don't have the specifics, in terms of who made that authorization, but clearly the we always maintain the inherent right to self-defense. And so the decision was made to to take the shot, and they took it. Q: But you said potentially inside of Israel earlier just as as a clarification potentially targets inside of ... (CROSSTALK) GEN. RYDER: Toward Israel. Q: Toward it? GEN. RYDER: Correct. Q: Oh, OK. (CROSSTALK) Q: ... but was it self-defense or was it ... GEN. RYDER: Again, what I had at the top there is what I have to provide. Let me go to Mike. Q: Yeah, I want to ask about the hospital issue again. A lot of the reporting on these Hamas figures, that it was several hundred victims. Now, AFP is coming out saying it was, like, 30 to 50. I was wondering does the U.S. have any better idea of actually how many casualties there were from it? GEN. RYDER: Yeah, thanks, Mike. So so the short answer is not yet. That's something that we're we're looking at. And and like you, we've seen numbers all over the map. So that's another aspect that we're looking at right now. Thank you. Yes, sir? Q: Thanks, General. On Tuesday, the Pentagon announced that it was giving the sort of ready to deploy order to around 2,000 troops, but the units had not yet been identified. Have any units out of that those 2,000 rough troops been identified yet? GEN. RYDER: Yes. So we have identified units but what I will tell you is right now we're just not going to go into specifics unless those those units are actually tasked to deploy, at which time we will be prepared to talk about what those units are. Q: Are you able to at least say whether those units are stateside or OCONUS at the moment? GEN. RYDER: I am not. Thanks. Yes, ma'am? Q: Thank you. Secretary Austin has stressed the need to focus on therce post-war plan for Gaza war. President Biden mentioned the mistakes found by the U.S. after 9/11, which could be the invasion for Iraq or the strategies there, but I don't know if you agree. Which could've improved in Iran's position, and 2,000 forces ready in the Mediterranean. Spokesman Kirby told that no intention of to put U.S. boots on the ground. My question is even though the U.S. tries to limit the damage, does the Pentagon assess a big or impact Iran, Syria, or Turkey? And any preparation of U.S. military presence on the ground in a post-war picture scenario in the Middle East again? GEN. RYDER: I'm not sure I understand what you're you're asking. Q: The question is given that you are trying to limit the damage, do you assess a big and large war in the Middle East, including Iran's ... (CROSSTALK) GEN. RYDER: Do we assess a big a large war? Q: Yes. GEN. RYDER: That's exactly what we're trying to prevent, right? I mean, that that is the the United States clearly working with our international allies and partners around the world to ensure regional stability and security, to prevent regional or prevent conflicts from becoming regional. And again, you know, like like everyone else, all all peace and freedom loving countries, we want people to be able to live in peace, security and stability, and we will continue to stay focused on that. This is a very unfortunate situation right now that that we're seeing play out, as Israel tries to defend itself from Hamas terrorist attacks. And so we'll continue to stand by the people of Israel as they look to defend themselves and their their country. But certainly when it comes to the broader Middle East, no one wants to see this expand into a broader regional war, and we'll continue to work with our allies and partners to to prevent that. Q: ... case? GEN. RYDER: I I'm not going to get into hypotheticals. I think you and I would both agree that we certainly would not want to see that. All right, time for a few more. Yes, sir? Q: Just real quick, I wonder if you can clarify the the nature of the minor injuries by the coalition personnel sustained in Iraq and ... GEN. RYDER: I cannot, other than to say in all cases they returned to duty. Thank you. Q: Just a quick follow-up you mentioned this conflict is assessed to be currently contained between Israel and Hamas. The the attack attacks on the Asad Air Base was claimed by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, just umbrella term for Iran-backed groups in Iraq. The head of (inaudible) two weeks ago said that if the Americans intervene in Gaza, the entire, quote, "axis of resistance will intervene and the entire region will catch fire." (Inaudible), head of the (inaudible) Organization in Iraq, said that "we will consider all Americans legitimate targets if the U.S. intervenes in the Gaza conflict." Yemen's Houthi leader said a similar comment, saying that his side was in total coordination with other IRGC-backed groups across the region. Does the department really see no connection between the Gaza war and what just happened? GEN. RYDER: Look, again, it's important to separate these attacks from the current situation. We're going to continue to assess attribution on these. Certainly, rhetoric from hate groups is not a new thing in the region. We're of course going to take all of that seriously but we're also not going to overreact. We're going to continue to do what we need to do to deter conflict and ensure regional stability, while at the same time supporting Israel. OK? All right, last question? Q: Thanks, General. So the State Department has released numbers that about 30 at least 30 American citizens died in the initial Hamas attack in Israel. Do you have any data on whether you know, how many of those were combatants, like dual citizens fighting with Israel, or how many were just tourists or U.S. civilians over there? GEN. RYDER: Yeah, I really don't. I don't. And actually, I apologize. One more from the phone here. Let me go to James from Messenger. Q: Hi. Thank you. So if you historically look at any U.S. airstrike that accidentally kills civilians, even if those civilians are co-located with with enemy combatants, the U.S. typically takes responsibility for for that incident. Israel's position has been that in airstrikes in Gaza, it is not their fault that innocent civilians have been killed. In fact, it's the fault of Hamas. And and I'm wondering where the U.S. stands on that position that Israel is taking? GEN. RYDER: Yeah, thanks, James. So I'm I'm not going to speak for Israel. You know you know, I will say and and you've heard Secretary Austin say this that Israel is a professional military, it's professionally led, but this is something that we have been communicating actively, both publicly and privately, in terms of the importance of ensuring and and as I mentioned in my topper, safeguarding civilians, both Palestinian and Israeli, as as these operations are planned. And so that will continue to be our position. Thank you. Q: And just real quick, are there any Special Operations Forces in Israel right now? GEN. RYDER: I don't have any specifics to provide for you. If if your question is do we have Special Operations Forces conducting, you know, boots on the ground operations, again, you've heard us say that we are not going to have, you know, boots on the ground. But I don't have anything. We are we are providing planning and intelligence support to the Israelis, as it pertains to hostage recovery. That's about the extent of of what I'm able to provide right now. Hey, before the I'm sorry before we conclude, I just want to highlight one other thing. On Tuesday this week, Ms. Laura Cooper, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine, Eurasia, was recognized as the 2023 Samuel J. Heyman Federal Employee of the Year award winner. And since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Cooper and her team have led the response by the U.S. and a coalition of some-50 countries to secure critical military aid for Ukraine at an unprecedented pace. Also known as the Oscars of government service, the Sammies are premier awards and recognition program for federal employees. And so on behalf of the Secretary of Defense and the entire DOD, we want to congratulate Ms. Cooper on this significant professional accomplishment. Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen. https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3563350/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address October 19, 2023 Transcript Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Remarks Welcoming Croatian Defense Minister Mario Banozic to the Pentagon SECRETARY OF DEFENSE LLOYD J. AUSTIN III: Well, Mr. Minister, welcome to the Pentagon. It was great to see you in Brussels last week at our most recent meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and our regular gathering of NATO defense ministers. And I'm glad to see you on this side of the Atlantic. So we're delighted to have you here. Croatia has made impressive progress over the last 30 years, moving from the ravages of war in the 1990s to becoming a fully integrated member of NATO and the European Union, and that kind of progress doesn't just happen, it takes hard work and sound policy and it takes a willingness to set aside differences and to look to the future. Now, we all know that one of the bedrocks of a democracy is the strength of its institutions. Croatia's Minister -- Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces have both played pivotal roles in your country's transition, and that transition was to a peaceful and stable democracy. Now, I look forward to your perspectives on the challenges posed by Russia's cruel invasion of its peaceful neighbor Ukraine. We appreciate Croatia's steadfast commitment to help Ukraine, and we can see that in your numerous military equipment donations, including all of your Mi-8 helicopters and the forward deployment of your forces to NATO battle groups in Poland, Lithuania and Hungary, and your donations to humanitarian assistance. And all of that is making a real difference in Ukraine's fight for freedom. Now, I also look forward to talking about Croatia's defense modernization and your continued investments in your Armed Forces and your ongoing partnership with Minnesota's National Guard. So Mr. Minister, Croatia has become a lot -- a reliable defense partner and a valued NATO ally, and your visit today is a symbol of the strength of our partnership. And we're grateful for all that you're doing for our shared security. Again, thanks for making the trip and I look forward to a great discussion. DEFENSE MINISTER MARIO BANOZIC: Thank you, Secretary Austin, dear Lloyd. Thank you for this warm welcome and kind words, as well as for hosting us today. The United States is Croatia's strategic ally and most important partner, especially in the area of defense. My purpose as a Minister of Defense is to maintain operations and work on ways to deepen that. The United States always stood by Croatia and when we needed a friend and ally, and I thank you for that. On the other hand, Croatia stood shoulder-to-shoulder by you to face common security challenges. [Inaudible] security architecture, we work together bilaterally and through NATO to defend the democratic values and the international rule-based order. Your personal leadership, most visible in joint efforts to assist Ukraine, has defense on Russia's aggression, represent our ability of building a better role for us and our nation for generations to come. The Croatian people and our government understand this and we are committed to the part for as long as it takes. SEC. AUSTIN: Again, Mr. Minister, welcome. We're absolutely delighted to have you and your delegation here, and I look forward to a great discussion. Thanks, everybody. https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3562479/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address October 19, 2023 Release Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Meeting With Croatian Minister of Defense Mario Banozic Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout: Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III hosted Croatian Minister of Defense Mario Banozic for a meeting at the Pentagon today to underscore the strength of the bilateral defense relationship. Secretary Austin expressed his appreciation for Croatia's contributions to international and regional security, its reliability as a NATO Ally, and its support of Ukraine and stability in the Western Balkans. The leaders discussed the bilateral military relationship, including Croatia's defense modernization efforts to provide a mechanized infantry brigade to meet a NATO capability, the upgrade of its helicopter fleet with UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters, and the use of Croatian training areas by U.S. forces. The two Secretaries signed the inaugural U.S.-Croatia Framework for Defense Cooperation covering the period 2023-2028, which will guide cooperation in a number of areas over the next five years - ranging from cyber-security and combating disinformation to defense institution resilience, training, education, and logistics. Secretary Austin also expressed appreciation for Croatia's strong State Partnership with the Minnesota National Guard. https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3562425/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address October 19, 2023 By Jim Garamone , DOD News DOD Responds to Attacks, Continues Efforts to Deter Spread of Israel-Hamas War DOD assets in the Red Sea, Iraq and Syria responded to missile and drone attacks over the past two days, as U.S. service members look to deter groups from using the Israel-Hamas war as an opportunity to launch conflict that could engulf the region, Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said today. Ryder also spelled out the steps Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III has taken to strengthen DOD posture in the region to bolster regional deterrence efforts. Ryder said the crew of the guided missile destroyer USS Carney operating in the northern Red Sea earlier today shot down three land attack cruise missiles and several drones launched by Houthi forces in Yemen. "This action was a demonstration of the integrated air and missile defense architecture that we built in the Middle East and that we are prepared to utilize whenever necessary to protect our partners and our interests," he said. There were no casualties. "We cannot say for certain what these missiles and drones were targeting, but they were launched heading north along the Red Sea potentially towards targets in Israel," the general said. Ryder also detailed drone attacks on U.S. facilities in Syria and Iraq. The al-Tanf garrison in Syria was targeted by two drones on Oct. 18. "U.S. and coalition forces engaged one drone destroying it while the other drone impacted the base resulting in minor injuries to coalition forces," Ryder said. All of the injured returned to duty. At the same time, early warning systems indicated a possible threat approaching the airbase at al-Assad. Base personnel sheltered in place as a protective measure. "Though no attack occurred, sadly, a U.S. civilian contractor suffered a cardiac episode while sheltering and passed away shortly thereafter," Ryder said. Separately in northern Iraq, U.S. forces engaged and destroyed a drone resulting in no injuries or damage. Ryder said he will not detail what the American response to these provocations will be. "I will say that we will take all necessary actions to defend U.S. and coalition forces against any threat," he said. "Any response, should one occur, will come at a time in a manner of our choosing." Ryder said U.S. forces deployed to the region are meant to deter any government or group from launching attacks under cover of the Israeli-Hamas war. The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is in the eastern Mediterranean Sea and the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group is crossing the Atlantic to join the Ford. The Air Force has also bumped up fighter presence to the region. "By posturing these U.S. naval assets and advanced fighter aircraft in the region, we aim to send a strong message intended to deter a wider conflict, to bolster regional stability, and, of course, to make it clear that we will protect and defend our national security interests," Ryder said. Secretary Austin is continuing engagements with counterparts in the region and beyond. Just today, the secretary spoke with officials in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Israel. "During these calls, he reiterated U.S. support for Israel's right to defend itself from terrorist attacks, and also underscored the importance of safeguarding innocent civilians both Palestinian and Israeli," Ryder said. Finally, Ryder said that systems the Israelis requested continue to flow into the country. These include precision-guided munitions, such as joint direct attack munitions, small-diameter bombs, 155-millimeter artillery ammunition and other categories of critical equipment. In addition, the United States is providing Iron Dome interceptors from stocks the United States has in Israel. In the days ahead, "we'll be flying additional Iron Dome interceptors so that Israel has the capabilities they need to sustain their defense systems and protect their citizens and from rocket attacks," Ryder said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address October 19, 2023 By David Vergun , DOD News Austin Says Croatia's Support for Ukraine Is Commendable The United States appreciates Croatia's steadfast commitment to help Ukraine, said Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III. Austin hosted an enhanced honor cordon and meeting, today, welcoming Croatian Defense Minister Mario Banozic to the Pentagon. Croatia's commitment to Ukraine consists of numerous military equipment donations, including all of its Mi-8 helicopters, as well as humanitarian assistance, Austin said. "All of that is making a real difference in Ukraine's fight for freedom. I look forward to your perspectives on the challenges posed by Russia's cruel invasion of its peaceful neighbor Ukraine," he said. Croatia has become a reliable defense partner and a valued NATO ally, he said. Croatia has forward-deployed its forces to NATO battle groups in Poland, Lithuania and Hungary, the secretary said. The nation has made impressive progress over the last 30 years, since the end of the Croation War of Independence, fought from 1991 to 1995. Since then, Croatia has become a fully integrated member of NATO and the European Union, Austin said. "That kind of progress doesn't just happen. It takes hard work and sound policy. And it takes a willingness to set aside differences and to look to the future," he said. "One of the bedrocks of a democracy is the strength of its institutions," Austin said. Croatia's ministry of defense and armed forces have both played pivotal roles in the nation's transition to a peaceful and stable democracy, he said. Austin said he looks forward to discussing Croatia's defense modernization and its continued investments in its armed forces, as well as its ongoing state partnership with Minnesota's National Guard. Banozic said the United States is a strategically important ally to Croatia. Croatia, he said, stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the United States to defend global security and deter aggression. "We are committed to this fight." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Damaged telecommunications cable between Sweden and Estonia Government Offices of Sweden 19 October 2023 An undersea telecommunications cable between Sweden and Estonia has been damaged. Minister for Defence Pal Jonson and Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin held a press conference on Tuesday 17 October to provide an overview of the situation and describe what government agencies are doing in response. Chief of the Swedish Navy Ewa Skoog Haslum and Director General of the Swedish Coast Guard Lena Lindgren Schelin also took part in the press conference. Over the past few days, Swedish government agencies have received information that a telecommunications cable running between Sweden and Estonia was damaged. The damage seems to have occurred in close connection to two other known incidents: one on a Finnish-Estonian gas pipeline and one on a Finnish-Estonian communications cable. It is not yet known what caused the damage, but the ability to communicate has not been affected. There is an ongoing investigation. The Swedish Police Authority, the Swedish Security Service, the Swedish Armed Forces and the Swedish Coast Guard were already in contact with their Finnish and Estonian counterparts to offer Swedish support and assistance in relation to the investigation and the damaged Finnish-Estonian cables. Contact between the government agencies in the respective countries is now being strengthened given that similar developments have impacted Swedish interests. The Swedish Armed Forces and the Swedish Coast Guard conduct maritime surveillance around the clock, year round, and are particularly vigilant since the events involving Nord Stream and in light of security developments. Due to recent events, maritime surveillance is conducted more intensively and involves increased cooperation between government agencies and international partners. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Daily Recap: Hamas - Israel War October 19th, 2023 (20:00) - Day 13 IDF Press Release Official IDF Daily Update 18.10.23 IDF Overview The Israel Defense Forces continues to actively target terrorist sites across Gaza, including hundreds of sites over the past day. Strikes on Hamas leadership continued too, including the head of the military branch of the "Popular Resistance Committees" in Rafah, as well multiple "Nukhba" force terrorists. Many strikes were focused on the Shuja'iyya neighborhood in Gaza, historically a terrorist hotbed, as well as on anti-tank missile launchers, terror tunnel shafts, intelligence infrastructure, and other targets across the Gaza Strip. Rocket fire from Gaza continued across both southern and central Israel, as far north as Tel Aviv. In addition, Hamas reportedly took responsibility for rocket fire today from Lebanon into northern Israel. Rockets continue to be launched toward Israel's northern border as well as anti- tank missiles and gunfire. IDF troops are deployed along the border, prepared for any escalation and are responding with air strikes near the border. Key Links Footage of an IAF strike on Hezbollah targets from Wednesday night Video footage of IDF strikes in Gaza on Wednesday night The IDF preliminary summary of the al-Ahli hospital incident Statement by the Chief of the General Staff, LTG Herzi Halevi on Hamas tactics, referencing the hospital incident Statement by the IDF Commander of the Southern Command, Major General Yaron Finkleman ( Video, Hebrew ) Field Notes from Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, IDF Spokesperson to International Media Today, I spent another day down south with reporters. After 13 days, you would think it would get easier. But during every single one of my tours with reporters across the ravaged communities in southern Israel I hear another story. Many are stories of courage displayed by soldiers, or even civilians who picked up a weapon and fought to protect their home. But there are so many stories of sheer depravity. Rape and murder, children killed alongside their parents. Stories that leave scars. The October 7th attack - while unprecedentedly horrible - was not a one-off. It was not an exception. Hamas has been building and firing rockets at Israel for over twenty years. It has been attacking Israelis - suicide bombings, car rammings and shootings - for nearly forty. This is why we fight. Since Hamas' invasion, attacks have continued. Just yesterday, IDF tanks identified and engaged three terrorists near Kissufim. There have been over a dozen similar cases in the past two weeks. In every one, a win for Hamas would be an October 7th sequel. This is why we fight. We're now engaged in a preventive war. Not to prevent October 7th. The blood was spilled. But to prevent it from happening again. After spending so much time down here - in the shattered communities, in the morgues, at a concert site that will never hear music again - the IDF must ensure that Hamas is unable to unleash terror. We must make sure that no terrorist organization, whether it be Hezbollah in the north, who we are carefully watching Hamas, or Islamic Jihad, or the Popular Resistance Committee in Gaza, or any other terrorist organization around the world, can attack Israeli civilians with impunity. We stand in defense of the State of Israel. We stand in defense of our people. We stand in defense of the incredible camaraderie and bravery that has been shared in the face of such horrors. We stand in defense of our shared values of freedom and liberty. From here, from down south, I know. That is why we fight. And that is why we will win. Arena Overview Activity in Gaza The Israel Defense Forces have continued efforts to dismantle Hamas' administrative and military capabilities through hundreds of intelligence-backed strikes across a broad range of targets over the past day. To date, over a hundred terrorists were targeted in Israel Air Force strikes, including many senior terrorist leaders. Yesterday, in a joint ISA and IDF strike, the head of the military branch of the "Popular Resistance Committees" in Rafah was neutralized as part of these efforts. In addition, more than ten terrorists were targeted in a precision aerial strike, focusing on the "Nukhba" force terrorists, a force that played a key role in the October 7 massacre. While preparing for potential intensification of operations by air, land and sea, the IDF also continued to target terrorist infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. During the last day, the IDF struck hundreds of Hamas terrorist sites, including dozens in Shuja'iyya, historically a terrorist hotbed. Targets included anti-tank missile launchers, terrorist tunnel shafts, intelligence infrastructure, mortar launchers, and additional command and control centers. Southern and central Israel remain under fire from Hamas. In addition, on Thursday afternoon, reports emerged that Hamas took responsibility for a salvo of rockets fired from Lebanon at northern Israel. Active missile defense systems, together with civilian compliance with Home Front Command instructions, have helped minimize - but not avoid - civilian casualties. Attempted Hamas attacks on the Israeli homefront continue, and southern Israel remains a potentially active combat zone. For example, on Wednesday an IDF tank force identified and neutralized three terrorists near Kissufim. In addition, a Hamas terrorist who had entered Israel during the incursion on October 7th was apprehended while attempting to make his way back to Gaza. Homefront Rockets continue to be fired toward southern, central and northern Israel. The IDF and Ministry of Defense have evacuated the majority of the residents in both southern Israel and those living in the area between 0-2 kilometers near the Lebanese border to state-funded guesthouses. The Minister of Defense has been given the authority to expand the evacuation to include towns and cities 2-5 kilometers from the border. The IDF continues the difficult job of identifying casualties from the attacks on Israel. To date, 306 families have been notified about their kin falling in action and 203 families have been notified of the kidnapping of a family member. Northern Israel Hezbollah continues to instigate hostilities on the Lebanese border in an effort to deflect attention from the IDF's war with Hamas. This included rocketfire, as well as anti- tank missile fire at communities and military outposts, as well as gunfire. IDF troops are stationed along the board in preparation for any escalation and are responding with air strikes along the border. Anti tank missiles were fired at the northern communities of Rosh HaNikra, Kibbutz Manara and Dvorit. Gunfire toward Zar'it was also reported. Approximately thirty rocket launches were identified from Lebanon toward Israeli territory although, as noted above, reports emerged that Hamas had taken responsibility for at least some of those rockets. In one salvo of six rockets, five launches fell in open areas, and one was successfully intercepted by the IDF Aerial Defense Array. IDF artillery is responding toward the sources of the fire in Lebanon. In response to the ongoing missile fire, the IDF continued to strike Hezbollah intelligence and operational outposts along the Lebanon border. This included the observation point from which anti-tank missiles were fired at Rosh HaNikra, as well as artillery fire toward the source of the fire. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IDF & ISA Conduct Counterterrorism Activities Against Hamas in Judea and Samaria IDF Press Release 19.10.23 IDF Following wide-scale counterterrorism activity overnight in Judea and Samaria, over 80 wanted suspects were apprehended, including 63 Hamas terrorist operatives; the forces demolished the residence of a Hamas terrorist in the town of Qibya and apprehended a number of wanted suspects in the Nur Shams Camp IDF, ISA and Israel Border Police forces conducted counterterrorism activities in numerous locations in Judea and Samaria, and apprehended over 80 wanted individuals suspected of involvement in terrorist activity, 63 of whom are Hamas terror operatives. In addition, a large number of weapons were confiscated. Furthermore, Israeli security forces conducted counterterrorism activities in the Nur Shams Camp. During the activity, the security forces apprehended 5 wanted suspects. The forces are continuing to operate in the camp to thwart terror activity. In addition, security forces operated in the town of Qibya to demolish the residence of Ahmed Yasin Jidan, the terrorist who carried out the shooting attack adjacent to Kedumim, in which IDF soldier, Staff Sargeant Shilo Yosef Amir, was killed. During the activity, suspects hurled rocks at the forces, who responded with riot dispersal means. During the forces' activity to demolish the terrorist's residence, a violent riot was instigated in the town of Burdus by approximately 20 suspects, who hurled Molotov cocktails and other objects at the forces. In addition, suspects blocked routes with burning tires and trash cans. The forces responded with live fire and a hit was identified. 524 wanted suspects have been apprehended across Judea and Samaria and the Jordan Valley area since October 7th, over 330 of them are operatives of Hamas, over 50 weapons have also been confiscated. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Terrorist Infrastructure Destroyed & Senior Terrorist Operatives Neutralized, Including Head of PRC Military Branch IDF Press Release 19.10.23 IDF The IDF destroyed terrorist infrastructure in the Gaza Strip and neutralized senior operatives of different terrorist organizations, including the head of the military branch of the "Popular Resistance Committees" in Rafah The IDF continues to strike in the Gaza Strip. During the last day, the IDF struck hundreds of Hamas terror structures, including dozens in Shuja'iyya. The structures include anti-tank missile launching posts, terror tunnel shafts, intelligence infrastructure, and additional command centers. Dozens of mortar launchers were also struck, the majority of which were destroyed immediately after launching shells at Israel. During the fighting, numerous Hamas terror operatives belonging to the "Nukbha" forces, who led the barbaric invasion of the communities surrounding the Gaza Strip, were targeted. More than ten terrorists were targeted in a precision aerial strike. IDF fighter jets, based on ISA intelligence, struck the head of the military branch of the "Popular Resistance Committees" terror organization in Rafah, Rafat Harb Hussein Abu Hilal. Attached is a video of the IDF strikes: https://bit.ly/403pVdF NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Closer defence cooperation between Lithuania and Japan agreed on in Tokyo Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence 2023-10-19 Cyber security | International cooperation The Lithuanian-Japanese defence cooperation is taking shape in practical terms. On visit in Tokyo on October 19, Vice Minister of National Defence Greta Monika Tuckute met with Vice Minister for International Affairs and signed a Memorandum on Defense Cooperation/Exchanges. According to Lithuanian Vic Minister, the document is an important political signal and a clear guidance for further work. "Lithuania's cooperation with Japan has been elevated to a new quality, a strategic partnership, with cyber security among key areas. We have invited Japan to partner on Kaunas-based Regional Cyber Defence Centre activities and to step up cooperation in the area of exercises. We see plenty of shared interests in cyber, as well as opportunities to learn from each other," said G. M. Tuckute. The countries agreed on regular political and expert consultations, experience and expertise exchange on cybersecurity, hybrid threat countermeasures, defence technology and other areas of defence cooperation. Another highlight of the meeting in Tokyo was assistance to Ukraine: Vice Minister briefed the Japanese colleagues on the demining coalition Lithuania was organizing for Ukraine. "We aim to have as wide a circle of countries to join in with support to Ukraine as we can," noted G. M. Tuckute. During the visit in Tokyo Vice Minister G. M. Tuckute will also meet with Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Masataka Okano, Deputy National Security Adviser Keiichi Ichikawa, as well as the leadership of the Acquisition Technology and Logistics Agency and the National Center of Incident Readiness and Strategy for Cybersecurity to discuss the increasing Lithuania-Japanese defence cooperation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Polish Special Forces once again to take up duty within the NATO Response Forces Poland - Ministry of National Defence 19.10.2023 - For the third time in history, the Special Forces Component Command has achieved certification stating that they can command the NATO Response Forces, but for the first time in history, which is worth noting, the Special Forces Component Command has achieved certification for commanding a large-scale defense operation. This is a great success. This is the result of very hard work, of the service of our soldiers. I would like to thank the soldiers from the Allied nations, because this is a our joint achievement. This is a NATO's achievement. At the same time, I would also like to thank you very much for your personal commitment and professionalism, which you prove every day of the service," said Mariusz Blaszczak, Minister of National Defense during a meeting with special forces soldiers. On Thursday at the Special Forces Component Command in Krakow, the head of the Ministry of Defense observed the final of the exercise to certify Special Forces for the NATO Response Forces in 2024. - Thank you for your service. Thank you for building interoperability between the Polish and NATO countries' armed forces. Those exercises have truly been a complete success and give a strong testimony of our cooperation and strength, which is extremely important in today's times to provide an important argument of deterrence - Minister M. Blaszczak said in Krakow. The Special Forces component has been successfully certified as NATO Response Forces for the third time. Due to the current threats and NATO's new approach to security architecture, Special Forces have the opportunity to be integrated in 5 domains - air, land, cyber, maritime and - for the first time - space. The exercise's special operations scenario required the adaptation and use of the Military's full potential, in parallel with Allied and national special operations. - Special forces soldiers in the Polish Armed Forces are the hallmark of the Polish Military. It's about selection, very strict selection, it's about skills and training. Truly, we are proud of your service. We thank you very much for it. That is the service that is incredibly needed to guarantee the security of our Homeland, but also to ensure the security of the entire North Atlantic Alliance - noted the head of the Ministry of Defense. *** This was the third certification in the history of the Special Forces (2015, 2020) and the first to the ability to command a large-scale operation. The certified capabilities stem from NATO's new defense plans, in which the Special Forces Component Command plays a key role on the eastern flank as a coordination center for all special forces operating in the direction of the JFC Brunssum Joint Command. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Vietnam president attends BRI Forum as Xi Jinping plans Hanoi trip The exchanges come as Hanoi attempts to balance relationships with the U.S. and China. By RFA Vietnamese 2023.10.19 -- Vietnam President Vo Van Thuong's visit to China this week for the Belt and Road Forum is the latest in a series of high-level exchanges aimed at balancing Hanoi's relations with Washington and Beijing amid increased competition between the two powers, according to experts. Thuong arrived with a delegation of Vietnamese government officials on Tuesday amid reports that Chinese President Xi Jinping is planning to travel to Hanoi in the next few weeks. Last month's two-day trip to Vietnam by U.S. President Joe Biden included an announcement that Washington and Hanoi were upgrading their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, putting Washington's engagement with Hanoi on par with that of Beijing's and Moscow's. That came amid Beijing's increasingly assertive "nine-dash line" claims to the South China Sea, and as the U.S. seeks to diversify its global supply chains. "Vietnam continues to pursue a diplomatic policy that balances major powers' influence," said Hanh Nguyen, a doctoral candidate at the Australian National University. "This policy aims to avoid creating an impression that Vietnam is taking sides in the strategic competition between China and the U.S," she said. The exchanges come as Hanoi attempts to balance relationships with the U.S. and China. By RFA Vietnamese 2023.10.19 -- Vietnam President Vo Van Thuong's visit to China this week for the Belt and Road Forum is the latest in a series of high-level exchanges aimed at balancing Hanoi's relations with Washington and Beijing amid increased competition between the two powers, according to experts. Thuong arrived with a delegation of Vietnamese government officials on Tuesday amid reports that Chinese President Xi Jinping is planning to travel to Hanoi in the next few weeks. Last month's two-day trip to Vietnam by U.S. President Joe Biden included an announcement that Washington and Hanoi were upgrading their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, putting Washington's engagement with Hanoi on par with that of Beijing's and Moscow's. That came amid Beijing's increasingly assertive "nine-dash line" claims to the South China Sea, and as the U.S. seeks to diversify its global supply chains. "Vietnam continues to pursue a diplomatic policy that balances major powers' influence," said Hanh Nguyen, a doctoral candidate at the Australian National University. "This policy aims to avoid creating an impression that Vietnam is taking sides in the strategic competition between China and the U.S," she said. China's railway technology Thuong is among representatives from 130 countries at the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. China has already mapped out a number of projects if Vietnam were to eventually agree to take part in the Belt and Road Initiative, including railway routes from the northern provinces to Hanoi and the port city of Haiphong, a North-South high-speed railway and a North-South highway. "Vietnam has a demand for infrastructure development, and China has world-leading railway technology," Hanoi-based Vietnamese scholar Nguyen Quang A told Radio Free Asia. "If Vietnam can make use of China's funds and railway technology to improve Vietnam's infrastructure, Vietnam should do it as it's a good thing to do," he said. Hanoi journalist Nguyen Pham Muoi told RFA via text message that Vietnam and China's economies will only grow closer in the long run. Addressing the demand for connecting transportation infrastructure with China is inevitable, he said. China is already a major investor in Vietnam, and Vietnam's leadership will continue to play up the close economic ties as it attempts to reassure Beijing over the closer relations with the United States, according to Zachary Abuza, who is a professor at the National War College in Washington and an adjunct at Georgetown University. Xi and Communist Party of Vietnam General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong will emphasize their fraternal party-to-party ties, an important channel of influence that Washington doesn't have, he said. "The leadership is going to great pains to signal that the upgrade in relations with the United States is not coming at the expense of China or its interests," he said. Translated by Anna Vu. Edited by Matt Reed. Thuong is among representatives from 130 countries at the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. China has already mapped out a number of projects if Vietnam were to eventually agree to take part in the Belt and Road Initiative, including railway routes from the northern provinces to Hanoi and the port city of Haiphong, a North-South high-speed railway and a North-South highway. "Vietnam has a demand for infrastructure development, and China has world-leading railway technology," Hanoi-based Vietnamese scholar Nguyen Quang A told Radio Free Asia. "If Vietnam can make use of China's funds and railway technology to improve Vietnam's infrastructure, Vietnam should do it as it's a good thing to do," he said. Hanoi journalist Nguyen Pham Muoi told RFA via text message that Vietnam and China's economies will only grow closer in the long run. Addressing the demand for connecting transportation infrastructure with China is inevitable, he said. China is already a major investor in Vietnam, and Vietnam's leadership will continue to play up the close economic ties as it attempts to reassure Beijing over the closer relations with the United States, according to Zachary Abuza, who is a professor at the National War College in Washington and an adjunct at Georgetown University. Xi and Communist Party of Vietnam General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong will emphasize their fraternal party-to-party ties, an important channel of influence that Washington doesn't have, he said. "The leadership is going to great pains to signal that the upgrade in relations with the United States is not coming at the expense of China or its interests," he said. Translated by Anna Vu. Edited by Matt Reed. Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content October not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO Diplomats Discuss Growing Concern Over Hungary's 'Deepening Relationship With Russia' At Budapest Meeting By RFE/RL's Hungarian Service October 19, 2023 NATO ambassadors met on October 19 in Budapest as concerns grow over Hungary's relations with Russia following talks between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this week. U.S. Ambassador to Hungary David Pressman told RFE/RL that the diplomats have "security concerns" over the "deepening relationship" between Russia and the NATO and EU member. The ambassadors, including a representative of Sweden, whose membership in NATO is pending, gathered in the Hungarian capital just days after Orban met Putin at a forum in China where they discussed bilateral cooperation in natural gas and crude oil transportation as well as nuclear energy. "It is worrying that Hungary has decided to contact Putin in this way," Pressman said. "We see Hungary as an ally, but at the same time we also see that Hungary is deepening its relationship with Russia despite its brutal war in Ukraine," he added. Pressman also said that Washington expects these "legitimate security concerns" to be taken seriously by the Hungarian government. Orban was the first leader of an EU country to meet with Putin since the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant accusing the Russian president of a war crime over the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. Days earlier, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto visited Moscow for an energy forum and said that Budapest has no intention of reducing purchases of Russian oil supplied through the Druzhba pipeline even though the EU has sanctioned the Russian oil sector. Orban has spoken out against the Western sanctions on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine and has opposed plans to grant more aid to Ukraine. In his recent meeting with Putin, Orban reportedly told the Russian leader it was crucial for all of Europe, including Hungary, that the flow of refugees, sanctions, and fighting stop. Orban's strengthening of ties with Russia has resulted in strains in Hungary's relations with NATO and EU allies in recent years. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-hungary-deepening- relationship-nato-concerns-orban/32645571.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 Slovak defence firms can now apply for EU ammunition and missile production ramp-up funding Ministry of Defence of The Slovak Republic 18.10.2023 The European Commission (EC) has today published calls for proposals to award grants for projects under the Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP). Thanks to this instrument, defence manufacturers in the EU and Norway will be able to get funding as the EU incentivises the ramp-up of the European defence industry's artillery ammunition and missile production. Towards this end, ASAP has allocated 470m for projects by European defence manufacturers. In a statement, Defence Minister Martin Sklenar said: "This initiative is the third pillar of our joint efforts on the basis of which our European partners and we want to quickly deliver one million pieces of ammunition to Ukraine. With the allocated funds, the Union will specifically support the production of artillery ammunition, missiles and their components. Companies from all EU member countries - including those from Slovakia - will be given the chance to receive funds. I am convinced that our domestic defence industry has not only the professional but also production potential for this." According to Mr Sklenar, Slovak arms manufactures have the opportunity to receive significant support from the EU to ramp up their manufacturing capacity, both for the replenishment of domestic stocks and for the needs of Ukraine. These investments will be made to match increased demand for defence industry products in the years ahead. If SVK defence firms are selected under ASAP, this will lead to Slovakia's economic growth and employment opportunities. Defence companies will now have from 18 October 2023 to 13 December 2023 to answer the calls for proposals. The projects and beneficiaries of the funds will be selected by the end of February and the grant agreements are expected to be signed in April 2024. More information on the calls for proposals can be viewed online, once you have registered on the European Commission's website at Funding & tenders (europa.eu), under European Defence Fund (EDF) after inserting "ASAP" in the Search Funding & Tenders. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Fall colors paint Shengnongjia National Park Ecns.cn) 09:58, October 20, 2023 Intoxicating landscape at Shennongjia National Park as fall colors travel down the mountainsides from the highest elevations to the foothills in central China's Hubei Province. (Photo: China News Service/Li Kaiyu) Intoxicating landscape at Shennongjia National Park as fall colors travel down the mountainsides from the highest elevations to the foothills in central China's Hubei Province. (Photo: China News Service/Li Kaiyu) Intoxicating landscape at Shennongjia National Park as fall colors travel down the mountainsides from the highest elevations to the foothills in central China's Hubei Province. (Photo: China News Service/Li Kaiyu) Intoxicating landscape at Shennongjia National Park as fall colors travel down the mountainsides from the highest elevations to the foothills in central China's Hubei Province. (Photo: China News Service/Li Kaiyu) Intoxicating landscape at Shennongjia National Park as fall colors travel down the mountainsides from the highest elevations to the foothills in central China's Hubei Province. (Photo: China News Service/Li Kaiyu) Intoxicating landscape at Shennongjia National Park as fall colors travel down the mountainsides from the highest elevations to the foothills in central China's Hubei Province. (Photo: China News Service/Li Kaiyu) Intoxicating landscape at Shennongjia National Park as fall colors travel down the mountainsides from the highest elevations to the foothills in central China's Hubei Province. (Photo: China News Service/Li Kaiyu) (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York 19 October 2023 The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General. Alright, good afternoon, everyone. ** Egypt As you may just have seen, the Secretary-General arrived in Cairo earlier this morning as part of a humanitarian mission at a moment of profound crisis in the region. He was briefed on the latest humanitarian situation by his senior officials in the region. Just a few hours ago, the Secretary-General met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. In remarks to the press after the meeting, the Secretary-General reiterated his call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. In plain terms, that means humanitarian workers need to be able to get the aid in and they need to be able to distribute it safely. For nearly two weeks, Mr. [Antonio] Guterres said, the people of Gaza have gone without any shipments of fuel, food, water, medicine and other essentials. All these things are needed at scale and in a sustainable manner. The Secretary-General said that through its actions and its openness, Egypt is showing how it is a pillar of multilateral cooperation and a linchpin in helping to defuse tensions and ease colossal human pain and suffering. He added that we know that the longer this goes on, the greater the risk of the violence spilling over. ** Gaza In Gaza, the number of people internally displaced is estimated at about 1 million, including about 353,000 people staying in UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) schools in central and southern Gaza. They are living in increasingly dire conditions. For the ninth consecutive day, Gaza is under a full electricity blackout. Hospitals are on the brink of collapse. They are operating at a bare-minimum capacity and are struggling to keep emergency rooms operational, and are suspending some surgeries, working in darkness and limiting elevator usage. The World Health Organization (WHO) has documented 59 attacks on health-care personnel and assets, with 16 health-care workers killed and more than two dozen others injured. Twenty-six health-care facilities have been damaged, as well as 23 ambulances. Water production from municipal groundwater sources is at less than 5 per cent of the level prior to the latest crisis. The lack of fuel, insecurity and road damage have brought water trucking operations to a halt in most areas. Our partners estimate that the average water consumption from all sources and for all needs has dropped to three litres per day per person. According to the World Health Organization, between 50 and 100 litres of water per person per day are needed to ensure that most basic needs are met, and fewer health concerns arise. Despite immense challenges, the World Food Programme (WFP) has been providing food and cash assistance each day for a total of 522,000 Palestinians since the start of the crisis. WFP says that commercial stocks of essential food commodities are running low. At the shop level, stocks will last only for a few days more. Retailers can't restock from wholesalers due to widespread destruction and insecurity. ** Somalia This morning, Catriona Laing, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), briefed the Security Council on the situation in Somalia. She noted that conflicts in Somalia continue to take a heavy toll on civilians. Ms. Laing pointed out that last year, we saw the largest increase in civilian casualties since 2017, and sadly, early data indicate a similar trend in 2023, with 1,289 civilian casualties recorded so far. She said that this is partly attributable to Al-Shabaab attacks, but also the conflict in Laascaanood. Ms. Laing said that the humanitarian crisis in Somalia remains deeply concerning, with close to 4 million people continuing to be food insecure and in need of assistance. She stressed that it is essential that we scale up programmes that tackle the underlying drivers of the humanitarian crisis and integrate humanitarian response with longer-term climate adaptation. Her full remarks have been shared with you. ** Yemen The Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, concluded a visit to Riyadh today where he met senior Yemeni, regional and international officials and diplomats. Discussions focused on next steps to facilitate an agreement on measures to improve living conditions in Yemen, a nationwide ceasefire, and an inclusive intra-Yemeni political process under UN auspices. In his meeting with the President of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al Alimi, Mr. Grundberg stressed that Yemen is going through a critical juncture that still has the potential of bringing Yemenis closer to the just peace they aspire to. The Special Envoy also held meetings with the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jasem al Budaiwi, and with the Saudi Ambassador to Yemen, Mohamed al Jaber, as well as the P5 Ambassadors to Yemen. ** Central African Republic And in the Central African Republic, our peacekeeping mission the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) tells us they've launched a joint project with the Government in Bambari, Ouaka Prefecture, to help reintegrate 750 ex-combatants and 750 members of host communities. Work has begun with the first group of ex-combatants and community members. The $5 million project, financed by the Peacebuilding Fund, will also be implemented in the Prefectures of Basse-Kotto, Mbomou and Haut-Mbomou over the next two years and could be extended to other locations. The project is part of ongoing efforts to support the implementation of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation and the joint road map of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, which aims to restore security throughout the country. ** Libya Turning to Libya, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs tells us that, five weeks after Storm Daniel brought catastrophic flooding to the country's north-east, more than 43,000 people are still displaced over one third of them in Derna. The Office says that an estimated 400 children are still unaccompanied and separated from their families. The World Health Organization reports that only 17 of more than 230 health facilities assessed after the floods are fully functional. The UN and our partners have reached some 156,000 people with humanitarian assistance, including food, safe drinking water, shelter supplies and other essential items. Our three-month Flash Appeal for $71 million to respond to the floods in Libya is currently 45 per cent funded. ** Sudan Turning to Sudan, we have an update from our humanitarian colleagues on our efforts to deliver life-saving assistance in Kordofan and Darfur. Yesterday, 18 October, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs facilitated 44 trucks with relief supplies to Kordofan and Darfur. Prior to this, the movement of supplies was delayed for six consecutive weeks due to insecurity. The convoy is transporting supplies from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the World Food Programme and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Regarding the health situation in the country, the World Health Organization says that more than 1,400 suspected cases of cholera and 64 associated deaths have been reported in Sudan since a cholera outbreak was declared late last month. Humanitarian agencies have scaled up their response to the outbreak, which comes as Sudan's health-care system is stretched to its limits. ** Venezuela You will have seen that, yesterday afternoon, we issued a statement in which the Secretary-General welcomed the partial agreement announced by the Government of Venezuela and the Unitary Platform of Venezuela signed in Barbados. The Secretary-General commended the efforts of regional and international partners and encouraged the implementation, in good faith, of Venezuelan-led agreements to lead to inclusive, transparent, and credible elections next year, as well as to address human rights concerns. ** Senior Personnel Announcement And last, we have a senior personnel announcement. Today, the Secretary-General is appointing Andrea Cook of the United Kingdom as Executive Director of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group System Wide Evaluation Office. The Secretary-General wishes to extend his appreciation to Matthew Varghese who served as Acting Executive Director. Ms. Cook brings to this position 30 years of experience in development, humanitarian assistance and evaluation, including roles in the United Nations and the United Kingdom Government. Most recently, Ms. Cook served as Director of Evaluation for the World Food Programme in Rome from 2017 to 2023. And there are lots more online. There is no briefing from Monica [Grayley] today, so you just have me. What do you have for questions? Yes, please. ** Questions and Answers Question : Hi, Serhii Barbu, Ukrainian TV Channel 5. Ukraine can send 72,000 tons of grain to Nigeria and Sudan as part of the humanitarian food programme "Grain from Ukraine". This was reported by a press service of the Ukrainian Government. Is the UN involved in this process? It's first question. And second, and is there any point in the future negotiation between the UN and Russia about the Black Sea Grain Initiative? Deputy Spokesman : To take your second question first, yes, there is a point. We want to make sure that we can go back to having sustained regular commercial exports of food and fertilizer from both Ukraine and the Russian Federation, which ultimately is beneficial overall for the world and helpful to prevent a rise in world food prices. Regarding the efforts by Ukraine unilaterally, the United Nations isn't involved in those, but we certainly appreciate all efforts to make sure that these food exports go out into international markets. Question : Do you have any news about this negotiation with Russia? Because last days, weeks, months is without any news. Deputy Spokesman : We're continuing with our efforts, and we will continue with those, including through our senior humanitarian relief official, Martin Griffiths, and through the head of our office of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Rebeca Grynspan. Sylviane? Question : Thank you, Farhan. There is resumption of artillery exchanges at the south border of Lebanon and Israel. And the German Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius, is actually in Lebanon. He warned against withdrawing the peacekeeping mission operation in Lebanon, UNIFIL [United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon], given the major escalation between Israel and Hamas. Is the peacekeeping operation in Lebanon in clear danger, really? And how can the UN preserve Lebanon from the impact of the Gaza war? Deputy Spokesman : Well, first of all, I want to emphasize that our peacekeeping force in Lebanon, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, is continuing with its tasks. It's not going anywhere and it's continuing with its activities and working to defuse tensions along the Blue Line. The situation across the Blue Line remains concerning, with exchanges of fire overnight and today. UNIFIL peacekeepers remain in their positions and continue their operations in line with the mission's mandate, including patrolling. And we again urge all actors to exercise restraint, seize hostilities and avoid further escalation. Ibtisam? Question : A follow-up, please? Number of countries have asked their citizen and national to leave the country to leave Lebanon. Do you have any message from the UN to Lebanon? Deputy Spokesman : Well, those are bilateral decisions that they certainly can take if their Governments deem that necessary. But, what I'm saying from our end is that the UN is staying in place. Question : But, is Lebanon is in clear danger of war? Deputy Spokesman : The evaluations that other governments make is for them to make. From our standpoint, we're doing everything we can to keep the situation as calm as possible. Yes. Ibtisam, and then Dezhi. Question : Farhan, there are some news reports about 20 trucks supposedly supposed to go to Gaza from Egypt. Can you confirm that what exactly is the UN even involved? Deputy Spokesman : Well, I can't confirm that. As you heard from the Secretary-General, he is there in Cairo, along with Martin Griffiths and Rosemary DiCarlo, his top humanitarian and political officials. And we are in touch with the Egyptian authorities and others to do what we can to get humanitarian aid into Gaza. There's no announcement to make at this stage on that. But, from the Secretary-General's standpoint, what he has made clear is what we need is to have sustained humanitarian access. And so we want to make sure that we can have not just one convoy, but a constant flow of the needed humanitarian aid. Question : So do you, I mean, from your point of view, Israel is still having the complete siege on Gaza and you're not allowed to enter anything from any crossing, whether crossing with Israel or Rafah, is this what you're getting from the Israelis? Deputy Spokesman : We are in touch with a wide number of officials, including officials in Israel, and we're doing what we can, again, to have sustained humanitarian access into Gaza. The situation, as reported at the start of the briefing, as you know, is very, very grim, and we need to get progress on this immediately. Question : Okay. I have another question, sorry, about the Occupied Palestinian Territory in the West Bank. There are a lot of reports about, not only in the West Bank and Jerusalem, but also even inside Israel, attacks against Palestinians inside Israel, arrests. Also, I think, if I'm not mistaken, 60 people in the West Bank and Jerusalem were killed by Israeli forces and by settlers. Can you confirm that? Can we have more updates on what's going on in the West Bank? Deputy Spokesman : Yes. In fact, you will have heard yesterday both Tor Wennesland, our Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, and Martin Griffiths spoke to the council. They made very clear their concerns about the violence not just in Gaza and Israel, but also in the West Bank. Mr. Griffiths made clear that the level of violence, the level of killings, over the past, since 7 October in the West Bank has been the largest amount, really since 2005. So, it's a matter of grave concern, and we are working to see what can be done to de-escalate the situation there. And I just refer you to what they've said yesterday. Dezhi? Question : A couple of clarifications. After yesterday, the Israeli Foreign Ministry announced that they will let limited humanitarian aid [into] Gaza. Has there been any humanitarian aids that cross the border or cross line into Gaza? Deputy Spokesman : Not so far. Correspondent : Not so far. Deputy Spokesman : We'll let you know what happens once something does happen. Question : Second thing, will the Secretary-General go to Rafah border crossing tomorrow? Deputy Spokesman : At this stage, the situation is fairly fluid. We'll let you know if he has further travels once that happens. Question : So, on one hand, we know that the Israeli Government, they decided to get a limited humanitarian aid into Gaza Strip. On the other hand, the Defence Minister of Israel today said they will soon start the ground offensive in Gaza. We know that the Secretary-General reiterated his position for a ceasefire. What message does the Secretary-General have for Israel? Deputy Spokesman : I think the message is one that he's made very clear. He wants a humanitarian ceasefire. He wants it immediately, and we want aid to go in to the people who need it immediately. Question : So sorry. So, speaking of delivering this message, we know there's one person in the pipeline that the Secretary-General still hasn't been able to talk with, which is the Prime Minister of Israel, Mr. [Benjamin] Netanyahu. Is there any new schedule for them to talk? Deputy Spokesman : If he does have that, we'll let you know at that point. Yes, Ephrem? Question : Thank you. Just a quick follow-up. Is Mr. Netanyahu not picking up the phone when the Secretary-General is calling or why haven't they talked in 12 days? Deputy Spokesman : I don't speak for the Israeli side at all. What I can tell you is that the Secretary-General has spoken with a number of officials and we've given you updates on those. He has not spoken with the Prime Minister yet. He did speak with the President of Israel, Isaac Herzog. Question : Okay. My question, I'm trying to understand why the visit to Egypt and what expectations does the Secretary-General have from this visit. The aim is, as you said, to discuss humanitarian flow into Gaza, but Egypt is not the problem. The problem is the siege and the refusal to open the border. So, what is it that why is he going to Egypt? What's the importance of this visit? What does he expect from Egyptian authorities? What can they do? Deputy Spokesman : The Egyptian authorities can indeed be helpful. And if you've heard what he had to say in Cairo to the press, he talked about the role that Egypt is playing. But, beyond that, the bottom line is that talks are ongoing regarding humanitarian access. Those talks are being held in Cairo and there are contacts being made with people in Israel and in other areas. And we believe we're moving forward and we're doing what we can to make progress on this as quickly as we can. Let me go to the screens and then I'll go back over. So first, I believe Margaret Besheer. Question : Farhan, yesterday, I think you told us 3,000 tons of supplies are in Egypt ready to go. I just wanted to know if you have an update on the number has more gone in that's still current. Deputy Spokesman : There've been no deliveries into Gaza that we can say just yet. We're hoping Correspondent : No, no, no, Farhan. That stuff you're stockpiling in Egypt. Yesterday, you said there was about 3,000 tons I think 3,000 tons of supplies. Deputy Spokesman : Yeah. At this point, the issue is getting aid in to Gaza from Egypt. And there's nothing Question : But, that's not my question. My question is how much supplies does the UN have in Egypt at El-Arish and at Rafah are ready to go once you get the green light? I'm just trying to get the updated number. Deputy Spokesman : The number I gave you yesterday is still the number. And we have, I believe, a large number of trucks that are ready. But, there's nothing to confirm at this point in terms of what will be able to go in. Kristen? Question : And I think yesterday, sorry yesterday, you also said I think it was normally 100 trucks a day would go to Gaza. So, when you say you have a large number of trucks ready, do you know roughly what that would be? Deputy Spokesman : Yeah. It's a similar sort of number as that. It's about 100 trucks, but I don't want to get caught up on numbers of trucks just yet. And part of the point is we want to make sure that these things, as the Secretary-General himself made clear in Cairo, are not a one-off. What we need is sustained access. And so, we're trying to make sure that we can get a large number of trucks going in on a regular basis. Kristen and then we'll Question : And just, sorry, just one more point. Sorry. Just one more point, to be clear. So, the 20 trucks that are supposedly going to be allowed to cross on Friday, those are not UN trucks? UN is not part of this announcement that [Joseph R.] Biden made, right? Is that what you're saying? Deputy Spokesman : I think we will be able to comment more about what's going in once we have agreement on what is going in. I don't want to get caught up on that just yet. It's still being discussed. Kristen, and then Stefano. Question : Thanks, Farhan. Given the Secretary-General's call for a humanitarian ceasefire has so far been unanswered, what is the UN telling Palestinians in Gaza? Where are you advising that they go, given there are reports of an imminent ground invasion? Deputy Spokesman : We are not telling people to go anywhere. We want them to be safe and protected wherever they are. It's very clear under international humanitarian law and international human rights law that civilians need to be safe in the areas where they are. And we are emphasising that and we will continue to emphasise for that. Stefano? Question : But, given a UN school and hospitals have been hit, is there any advice that you can give to the people there? Deputy Spokesman : Well, we're aware of that. And as you've noticed, we've spoken out against any attacks on our facilities. That's still been happening, but we do have de-confliction mechanisms in place. They know where our facilities are, and we continue to emphasize that all parties must abide by international humanitarian law. Stefano? Question : Thank you, Farhan. This is a follow-up on a question that was asked to you yesterday by several of my colleagues. It's about the veto the United States had on the Security Council yesterday. Your answer, if I understand it, is you say, well, the Secretary-General know that there [are] divisions in the Security Council. I hope that soon they will find a unified position. But, yesterday wasn't a problem of a division. The humanitarian resolution had everything that the Russian resolution didn't have. And the explanation was actually done by the US ambassador herself. She said because the president is there, we had to let diplomats work the field. So basically, she said we had to wait. Now, the question is does the Secretary-General think after what happened yesterday, that Security Council is irrelevant? Deputy Spokesman : Stefano, I get this particular question every month for the last 20 years or so. And the fact of the matter is the Security Council is relevant, and you can tell that it's relevant because all of you are in this room, all the time, asking about the things the Security Council does. If it were irrelevant, that wouldn't happen. Question : Just a quick follow-up. But, yesterday, asking the Chinese ambassador, they were so kind. It was one of the few ambassadors that came to talk because all the others left. We were asking why you don't present then, you know, why China doesn't present right away as soon as possible another resolution. His answer to us was, did you see what happened? They don't care. He's not Deputy Spokesman : Stefano, with all due respect, I'm not going to get involved in discussions between ambassadors and us. Correspondent : But, you didn't answer what the Secretary-General think. Deputy Spokesman : I've told you what the Secretary-General thinks. We know that this is a topic on which Council members are divided. They've been divided on this many times in the past. We are pleading for them to come to a united position, which will strengthen efforts to deal with this crisis peacefully. Evelyn, and then we'll go back to the screens. Correspondent : Thank you, Farhan. Sir, I have my name, Farhan. I was the first to put my name Deputy Spokesman : Abdelhamid, with all due respect, I said Evelyn, and then we'll go back to the screens. Evelyn? Question : Thank you, Farhan. Does Israel have to okay the supplies from Egypt if they come that are expected? And excuse me, if so, will the badly needed fuel be allowed in that both civilians and Hamas can use? Deputy Spokesman : We're in touch with all of the various parties to make sure we can get humanitarian goods in. We've emphasized the need for all humanitarian goods, that includes food, that includes water, that includes medicine and that includes fuel. Now, I will turn to Abdelhamid. Correspondent : I apologize, Farhan, because I put my name first person. You took the three journalists after me. That's why I was. I thought you couldn't see my name. Deputy Spokesman : I don't know the order of people who are written down. All I know is what I see in front of me and what I see on this phone. Anyway Question : I have a few questions and I hope you will be patient with me. The first, today, 10 Palestinians were killed in Askar refugee camp near Nablus, 10 Palestinians, 14 were wounded, 4 of them gravely wounded and about over 50 Palestinians were arrested. That is today. There's no statement. There was no indication that the UN took note of killing Palestinians. Are the Palestinian blood is cheaper than the other side of the conflict? Deputy Spokesman : Well, Abdelhamid, as I pointed out, both Tor Wennesland and Martin Griffiths spoke on the issue of the killings of Palestinians, including in the West Bank and our concerns about that. Like I said just a few minutes ago, we are concerned that the level of killings in the West Bank has not been seen there since 2005. So, we need that to de-escalate. There's a lot of different fronts of this crisis, and we're trying to deal with all of them. What's your other question? Question : And my second question. I heard the Secretary-General in his press conference with Sameh Shoukry, the Egyptian Foreign Minister, and squarely, again, he puts the blame on the Palestinians. I mean, knowing that the background of the conflict and the siege of Gaza and the occupation and the settler violence and what happened in Jerusalem, how could he not indicate that this as a by-product of the occupation and the frustration and the operation and the attacks on Gaza, and he just as if the history started on 7 October? How could he do that? Deputy Spokesman : Without getting into the overall history of this, we have spoken out clearly and repeatedly, including in recent days, about the problems involving the occupation. That does not get away from the fact that what happened on 7 October was horrific. And that has been the start of the situation that we see right now. Iftikhar, and then we'll go back to the room. Question : My last question. Is okay? Can you? Deputy Spokesman : Sure. Question : Okay. I read a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Genocide. Her name is Alice Wairimu Nderitu. And if you read this statement and you don't know anything about the conflict, you believe that the Palestinians are waging a genocidal war against Israel. How could a UN official of that level, of that calibre, issue such a statement and goes unchecked or unnoticed? How could she do that? I want you to look at that statement and give me a real comment on it. Deputy Spokesman : I will leave it to the Special Adviser to speak for herself, and you can contact her office on that. Iftikhar, and then we'll go back to the room. Question : Thank you, Farhan. Can you hear me? Deputy Spokesman : Yes, I can. Question : By now, all the questions on the Gaza situation have been asked. But since I missed your intro, did you have an update on the earthquakes, the relief efforts in the earthquake in Afghanistan, the death toll, and the response to the appeal? Deputy Spokesman : Not today. In the last days, we have had updates on our efforts in Afghanistan. So, I would just refer you back to the last couple of days of briefings, but I didn't have anything new to say today on that. Linda? Correspondent : Thank you, Farhan. Also on the question, obviously, of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Yesterday, the US ambassador after the veto said that there's no doubt that she has great concern that US has great concern for conditions in Gaza, but she made the point about I think what she's made several times is that the US holds Hamas' own action responsible for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, meaning actions in terms of 7 October, attacking Israel and Israel is retaliating. Deputy Spokesman : And what's your question? Question : My question is how does the UN respond to this? Is there a sense that the UN supports this concept or supports it in part or that kind of thing? Deputy Spokesman : Our evaluation of the situation is what you'll have seen in the statements made by the Secretary-General, by Tor Wennesland, by Martin Griffiths and others. Yes. Ibtisam, again. Question : Farhan, you keep or at least starting from yesterday, if I'm not mistaken, it was the first time that the Secretary-General called in clear words for a humanitarian ceasefire. What is not clear for me, what do you exactly mean by that? Deputy Spokesman : Just that there needs to be a halt to fighting to allow humanitarian aid to get in. Question : Yeah. But, does that mean that this halt to fighting is for a specific period in time and then Israel can go on? I mean, I guess my question here, is very simple. Why aren't you calling on ceasefire full stop? Deputy Spokesman : A humanitarian ceasefire is a ceasefire. Obviously, when you're calling for that, you're calling for parties to cease fire. There's no real difference in terms of that. A cessation of fire is for some period of time. What that period of time can be is up to what the parties are willing to agree to. Question : Why aren't you calling on a full cessation of hostilities? Deputy Spokesman : Ultimately, we're working to do what we can to get all fighting to stop. But, right now, what is essential and is essential immediately is a humanitarian ceasefire. Dezhi? Question : This question is supposed to be for Monica. There is a permanent member of the Security Council vetoed the draft resolution. So, technically speaking, there would be an explanation for the General Assembly. Does the Secretariat have any information when would that meeting will be held? Deputy Spokesman : I'm delighted to inform you that that is something that is in the hands of the President of the General Assembly, and therefore you will have to talk to Monica, who should be back tomorrow. Alright. Have a good afternoon, everyone. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address From Cairo, Guterres appeals for 'sustained' humanitarian access to Gaza 19 October 2023 - With essential supplies running out in Gaza, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday appealed for humanitarian access to the besieged enclave. "For nearly two weeks the people of Gaza have gone without any shipments of fuel, food, water, medicine, and other essentials. Disease is spreading. Supplies are dwindling. People are dying," he said at a press conference in Cairo alongside Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. Mr. Guterres is in the Middle East to witness UN preparations to be able to deliver massive support to Gaza. 'A moment of profound crisis' He is there at what he described as "a moment of profound crisisunlike any the region has seen in decades", triggered by the "atrocious" Hamas attacks against Israel on 7 October, resulting in Israel's siege and relentless bombing of Gaza. He pointed to the ever-mounting toll on civilians, the vast majority of whom are women and children, but also journalists, health workers and many others, including UN staff. The UN chief called for two immediate humanitarian actions in the face of the humanitarian catastrophe. "To Hamas, for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages. To Israel, for immediate unrestricted access of humanitarian aid to respond to the most basic needs of the people of Gaza." He also called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to help realize them. "Let me be clear. The Palestinian people have legitimate and deep grievances after 56 years of occupation. But, as serious as those grievances are, they cannot justify terror attacks," he said. "And as appalling as those attacks have been, they cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people." Safe aid delivery Mr. Guterres underlined the need for rapid, unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza. "We need food, water, medicine and fuel now. We need it at scale, and we need it to be sustained," he said. "It is not one small operation that is required. It is a sustained effort to deliver humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. In plain terms, that means humanitarians need to be able to get the aid in and they need to be able to distribute it safely." In this regard, he said Egypt's El Arish airport and the Rafah crossing, the sole one open into Gaza, "are not only critical, they are our only hope" and "the lifelines" to the people there. He also warned of the risk of the violence spilling over, the longer the situation persists. The Secretary-General praised Egypt for being "a pillar of multilateral cooperation and the linchpin in helping to defuse tensions and to ease colossal human pain and suffering." Mr. Guterres is scheduled to participate in an international summit on Gaza convened by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for this Saturday. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary-General's remarks at press encounter after meeting with Egyptian Foreign Affairs Sameh Hassan Shoukry Selim United Nations Secretary-General 19 October 2023 Assalam alaikum. Your Excellency Minister Shoukry and dear friends, thank you for your warm welcome and for your vital work. Through you, allow me to recognize and salute President el-Sisi for his critical leadership. I am in the Middle East on a humanitarian mission at a moment of profound crisis - a crisis unlike any the region has seen in decades. That crisis was triggered by the atrocious 7 October Hamas attacks that killed, injured and kidnapped a large number of civilians - from Israel and, indeed, around the world. This led Israel to a total siege on Gaza and a relentless bombing campaign, with an ever-mounting toll on civilians - the vast majority of whom are women and children, but also journalists, health workers and many others including our own UN staff. Let me be very clear in reaffirming that international humanitarian law must be respected; that the protection of civilians is also a must and any attack on a hospital or a school or UN premises are forbidden under international law. In the face of this humanitarian catastrophe, I am calling for two immediate humanitarian actions. To Hamas, for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages. To Israel, for immediate unrestricted access of humanitarian aid to respond to the most basic needs of the people of Gaza. Let me be clear. The Palestinian people have legitimate and deep grievances after 56 years of occupation. But, as serious as those grievances are, they cannot justify terror attacks. And as appalling as those attacks have been, they cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people. Both of my humanitarian appeals are essential in and of themselves. To help realize these two appeals, I am calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. For nearly two weeks, the people of Gaza have gone without any shipments of fuel, food, water, medicine and other essentials. Disease is spreading. Supplies are dwindling. People are dying. And I was horrified by the images of deaths and destruction in the Al-Ahli hospital. Civilians in Gaza desperately need core services and supplies - and for that we need rapid, unimpeded humanitarian access. We need food, water, medicine and fuel now - we need it at scale - and we need it to be sustained. It is not one small operation that is required. It is a sustained effort to deliver humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. In plain terms, that means humanitarians need to be able to get the aid in -- and they need to be able to distribute it safely. I am in Egypt to witness UN preparations to be able to deliver massive support to the people of Gaza. In this lifesaving effort, the El Arish airport and the Rafah crossing are not only critical, they are our only hope. They are the lifelines to the people of Gaza. Through its actions and through its openness, Egypt is showing how it is a pillar of multilateral cooperation - and a linchpin in helping to defuse tensions and to ease colossal human pain and suffering. We know the longer this goes on, the greater the risk of the violence spilling over. And we must work to avoid this at all costs. And Egypt has been in the forefront of these efforts. A humanitarian ceasefire is also an essential part of that effort. I look forward to supporting this and other initiatives through intense diplomatic engagement in Egypt - starting here and now. And never forget that in the end, we need a permanent solution, as it was referred [by Foreign Minister Shoukry.] No solution is possible without the creation of an independent Palestinian state, side by side with Israel with mutual security guaranteed and in line with the international resolutions and in line with the agreements that were established between the two parties. Thank you once again. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address First AFFORGEN deployers depart Travis AFB Published Oct. 18, 2023 By Nicholas Pilch 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) -- Over 400 Airmen were able to deploy through the new Air Force Force Generation as they head out from Travis Air Force Base. These Airmen are the first on Travis AFB to be able to experience the Air Force's new deployment model. The newly implemented AFFORGEN model aims to reconstitute manpower, aircraft and equipment into force elements that train, deploy and recover as cohesive units throughout each phase of the 24-month cycle. "It feels like we are going back to our roots when it comes to deployments," said Lt. Col Dominick Niziol, 21st Airlift Squadron and deployment commander. "This AFFORGEN model is helpful because we're all deploying together and our families back home are given a stronger support system than before." The old deployment model crowd-sourced individual Airmen and custom packages for deployment requirements, where their first interactions were in-theater. AFFORGEN allows Airmen to train together before deploying, foster team and unit cohesion before arriving at the fight, and shift Airmen's focus from providing capabilities to providing functionality. "We were able to see our iron pick-up and deploy with our personnel downrange," said 1st Lt. Amy Arnold, 60th Logistics Readiness Squadron installation deployment officer. "This is a good thing for our maintainers and pilots because they get to leave with the jets these Airmen are familiar with." Niziol said the majority of people deploying are supporting Travis AFB aircraft and in the past the small handful of people leaving all at once didn't spurn any support for families back home, but now families are all experiencing the deployment together. At the Operation Homecoming Passenger Terminal on Travis AFB, families gathered to say their goodbyes and received resources to get support while their Airmen deployed. Deployment kits were passed out to include resources for families to stay in touch with other family members in case they need assistance. "Moving from the small groups of deployers, the one to two people deploying at a time, to this model, I believe, will be better for our force," Niziol said. "We're an expeditionary power, which is an important tenant of airpower." Incorporating the 860th Maintenance Squadron and 60th Operational Support Squadron into this group brings together an entire force element to support the mission overseas, Niziol said. "To deploy as a team and working as one cohesive unit from Travis Air Force Base is pretty awesome," Arnold said. The four phases of AFFORGEN are reset, prepare, ready and available to commit. The first phase, reset, gives Airmen time to connect with family and friends, take post-deployment leave and reintegrate and reconstitute into their units and day-to-day way of life. To receive family support during deployment, contact your local key spouses or visit www.militaryonesource.mil for resources and assistance. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli Defense Chief Tells Ground Troops to 'Be Ready' to Invade Gaza By VOA News October 19, 2023 Latest developments The death toll from an explosion at a hospital in Gaza reported to be on the lower end of 100-300 people. Israeli defense minister tells troops to get ready for ground invasion of Gaza. Following a visit to Israel, U.S. President Joe Biden is set to address the nation Thursday night and discuss the U.S. response to the recent Hamas attack on Israel as well as Russia's war in Ukraine. Egypt to allow aid trucks to enter Gaza after road repair. In Jerusalem, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told Israeli President Isaac Herzog that Britain stands by Israel's right to defend itself. He also stressed the need to provide aid to Gaza's residents. "Palestinians are victims of what Hamas has done." More than 1,400 Israelis and and more than 3,400 Palestinians have been killed. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday told hundreds of thousands of the country's ground troops to get ready to invade the Gaza Strip, even as its fighter jets launched new airstrikes against the Hamas-controlled territory. Gallant met with Israeli infantry soldiers positioned on the Gaza border, telling the forces to "get organized, be ready," but did not say when the order would come for the invasion. "Whoever sees Gaza from afar now, will see it from the inside," he said. "I promise you." Israel has amassed 300,000 or more troops along the border following Hamas's cross-border October 7 attack on Israel that killed 1,400 people, most of them civilians. Shortly after Gallant's statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a video of himself with troops near the border promising victory. The impending ground invasion of Gaza came as British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak followed U.S. President Joe Biden with a visit to Israel to demonstrate Western support for the war against Hamas militants. "You have suffered an unspeakable, horrific act of terrorism and I want you to know that the United Kingdom and I stand with you," Sunak said. Later, he told Netanyahu, "We will stand with your people. And we also want you to win." Biden said after his brief visit to Tel Aviv on Wednesday that he had candid discussions with Israeli leaders as they conduct military strikes that have taken more than 3,400 lives in Gaza, many of them civilians. "I was very blunt with the Israelis," he told reporters aboard Air Force One. Biden said that while Israel "has been badly victimized," the country has "an opportunity to relieve the suffering" of innocent civilians in Gaza "who have nowhere to go." He added that it's what the country "should do." An Israel Defense Forces spokesman told VOA's Urdu Service, "The state of Israel never targets civilians intentionally. We target military targets." But Major Doron Spielman added, "The problem is that Hamas fires rockets from the schools, next from the hospitals, next to United Nations facilities. And at times when we are targeting them, they themselves put their civilians in the way of [the] fight. All of these questions need to be directed towards Hamas. What were they thinking would happen when they attacked Israel?" Biden said Egypt has agreed to open its Rafah border with Gaza to initially allow 20 trucks of aid to be received and managed by U.N. groups. He warned that if Hamas blocks or confiscates the aid, "it's going to end." Biden said the trucks would likely cross on Friday after badly damaged roads near the crossing have been repaired. Dozens more trucks are waiting to follow if the first tranche goes smoothly. He also announced $100 million in U.S. aid for Palestinians. The humanitarian crisis has grown increasingly dire in Gaza, with Israel blocking basic necessities from reaching the territory. Biden denied media reports that U.S. troops will join Israeli soldiers in fighting Hezbollah should the Lebanon-based militant group decide to help Hamas and initiate conflict with Israel. He said he discussed with Netanyahu the prime minister's plans to invade Gaza to root out Hamas and that the two countries' militaries have been weighing alternatives. But he declined to provide further details. Biden is scheduled to address Americans on Thursday night on the Israel-Hamas violence and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Biden urges restraint Biden on Wednesday backed Israel's account of who was responsible for a massive explosion at a Gaza hospital that killed hundreds and prompted protests across the region. U.S. intelligence assessed the death toll from the explosion to be between 100-300 people with that number likely being on the lower end, and minimal structural damage done to the hospital, as first reported to CNN and confirmed by VOA. "Based on the information we've seen to date, it appears as a result of an errant rocket fired by a terrorist group in Gaza," Biden said. Israel said the rocket came from the militant group Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which denied responsibility. "While we continue to collect information, our current assessment, based on analysis of overhead imagery, intercepts and open-source information, is that Israel is not responsible for the explosion at the hospital in Gaza yesterday," National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said. Watson added that the administration is working to corroborate whether it was a failed rocket launched by Islamic Jihad. Biden vowed to provide Israel what it needs to defend itself but urged restraint in its retaliation. "You don't live by the rules of terrorists. You live by the rule of law. When conflict is fair, you live by the rule of law, of wars," he said. From Tel Aviv, Biden was originally scheduled to visit Amman, Jordan, to meet King Abdullah II, President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi of Egypt and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss a humanitarian response for Gazans. But the summit and the Jordan leg of the trip was scrapped following the Gaza hospital blast. The explosion has ignited massive protests in cities across the Middle East, including in Lebanon, Iran, Tunisia and Turkey, where demonstrators laid the blame on Israel. 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 UN Chief: Gaza Needs 'Massive Support' By Margaret Besheer October 19, 2023 U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Thursday that limited humanitarian assistance to Palestinians living in Gaza is not enough, it must be ongoing and at scale. "It is not one small operation that is required; it is a sustained effort to deliver humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza," Guterres told reporters in Cairo, where he has gone to oversee U.N. preparations for the aid operation. "In plain terms, that means humanitarians need to be able to get the aid in and they need to be able to distribute it safely." The U.N. chief spoke at a joint press encounter with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. Egypt controls the Rafah border crossing into Gaza, which has taken on critical importance in international efforts to get relief supplies into Gaza. Guterres said Rafah is a "lifeline" for Gazans. The Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip has been under a complete siege by Israel since its militants carried out a brutal and deadly terror attack inside Israel on October 7, killing 1,400 Israelis and abducting nearly 200 more to the Gaza Strip. "For nearly 2 weeks, the people of Gaza have gone without any shipments of fuel, food, water, medicine and other essentials," Guterres said. "Disease is spreading. Supplies are dwindling. People are dying." Guterres called this week for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire and repeated his appeal in Cairo, where Egypt's foreign minister echoed the urgency for it. "I'm hailing the call launched by his excellency the secretary-general to pause immediately and to cease fire in order to de-escalate any kind of conflict, and to stop and to staunch the bloodbath of the Palestinian people," Sameh Shoukry said. U.S. President Joe Biden said Wednesday in Tel Aviv that Israel has agreed to allow limited humanitarian assistance to begin flowing into Gaza from Egypt, with the caveat that it would be subject to inspections and that it should go to civilians and not Hamas. Reports say that about 20 aid trucks could move as soon as Friday, although it was not clear if any U.N. trucks would be a part of that agreement. In the meantime, the United Nations has flown in more than 3,000 tons of supplies that are ready to go through Rafah to southern Gaza as soon as it is safe to do so. The World Food Program has 1,000 metric tons of ready-to-eat and canned food enough to feed nearly half-a-million people for one week at Rafah or on the way there. Israel has carried out several airstrikes on Rafah in recent days, however, damaging the crossing and making it unsafe for humanitarians. They must wait for diplomats to secure the necessary security guarantees from Israel. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Egypt Wary of Opening Gaza Border to Palestinian Refugees By Henry Ridgwell October 19, 2023 The World Health Organization said Thursday that five trucks full of medical supplies are ready at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, with hopes that the aid could be delivered to Palestinian hospitals as early as Friday. "Our trucks are loaded and ready to go," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters. The delivery of aid would be the first since Israel imposed a complete blockade on the Gaza Strip, following the October 7 attack by Hamas militants that killed over 1,400 Israelis. Health authorities in the Gaza Strip said Thursday that at least 3,785 Palestinians had been killed by Israeli bombardment since the latest conflict erupted. Border closed While aid continues to build up on the Egyptian side of the crossing, Egypt is not allowing Palestinians to cross from Gaza into the Egyptian Sinai peninsula. Following a meeting on Wednesday with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi said such an exodus of people from Gaza would jeopardize Palestinian aspirations of statehood. "The idea of displacement of Palestinians from the [Gaza] strip to Egypt simply means that something similar will also happen with the displacement of Palestinians from the West Bank to Jordan. And thus the idea of the Palestinian state that we are talking about and the international community is talking about remains unimplementable, because the land exists, but the people do not exist, and therefore I warn of the danger of this matter," el-Sissi told reporters in Cairo. "The idea [of] transferring Palestinian citizens from the [Gaza] strip to Sinai very simply means that we are transferring the idea of resistance, the idea of fighting from the Gaza Strip to Sinai, and thus Sinai becomes a base for launching operations against Israel. In this case, Israel will have the right to defend itself and its national security, and as part of the response, it deals with Egypt and launches strikes on Egyptian lands," the president added. Palestinian refugees Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled or were forced from their land in past conflicts with Israel, with many settling in Egypt and other neighboring states. Many refugees have never been allowed to return and the regions fear the wider implications of Palestinians being forced to flee Gaza, said analyst Chris Doyle, director of the London-based Council for Arab-British Understanding. "[Egypt] does not want to land up hosting hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians in the Sinai, in a tented city with really quite a clear agenda, certainly on the Israeli right, that that becomes the permanent solution," Doyle told VOA. "Palestinians and Egyptians are aware of this, are fearful that what happened to them in 1948 and 1967, when they fled in fear or were kicked out, will happen to them again. They're talking about a second Nakba, a catastrophe." Cairo protests In Cairo, as in many cities across the Arab world and beyond, thousands of people have taken to the streets to denounce Israel's bombardment of Gaza. Mahmoud Kamel, of the Egyptian Journalists' Syndicate, helped to organize a demonstration in the Egyptian capital Wednesday. "[We] condemn the massacre, the war crime and the genocide carried out by the Zionist forces and the IDF against the civilian, unarmed people of Gaza, occupied West Bank and Jerusalem," Kamel told Reuters. The protests pose a risk for President el-Sissi, said analyst Doyle. "We're seeing a lot of anger right now in Egypt about what's going on. So, [Egypt] will be wary of being seen to be somehow supporting Israeli actions at this moment, even though in private they are very critical of Hamas as well," he said. Muslim Brotherhood Egypt's president seized power in a 2013 military coup, ousting the democratically-elected Muslim Brotherhood government. "Let's not forget that that Hamas is an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood," said Professor Yossi Mekelberg of London's Chatham House. "The more we see death among civilians, Palestinian civilians, the more people will go probably to the street. And it can really inflame the political situation in Egypt. And that's why it's actually in the Egyptian interest to mediate a cease-fire and mediate quickly." Dialogue While Egypt has dialogue with Hamas, Mekelberg said it is also able to talk to Israel. "Strategically, there is great understanding between Israel and Egypt over the last 10 to 11 years. And the other side for Israel he is a convenient neighbor. Because what is the alternative? The Muslim Brotherhood? This is definitely not something that Israel would like. It's hard to see many other candidates to negotiate, to lead mediation between Hamas and Israel," Mekelberg told VOA. For now, analysts say Israel does not appear ready for mediation from any regional power, as it seeks retribution and the eradication of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli Airstrikes Hit Gaza After 'Blunt' Biden Visit By Patsy Widakuswara October 19, 2023 Israel carried out fresh airstrikes Thursday in the Gaza Strip, as British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak traveled to Israel with a message of support following a visit by U.S. President Joe Biden. "You have suffered an unspeakable, horrific act of terrorism and I want you to know that the United Kingdom and I stand with you," Sunak said. Biden said after his brief visit to Tel Aviv Wednesday that he had candid discussions with Israeli leaders as they conduct military strikes that have taken more than 3,400 lives in Gaza in response to Hamas' massacre of more than 1,400 Israelis on October 7. "I was very blunt with the Israelis," he told reporters aboard Air Force One. Biden said that while Israel "has been badly victimized," the country has "an opportunity to relieve the suffering" of innocent civilians in Gaza "who have nowhere to go." He added that it's what the country "should do." Biden said Egypt has agreed to open its Rafah border with Gaza to initially allow 20 trucks of aid to be received and managed by U.N. groups. He warned that if Hamas blocks or confiscates the aid, "it's going to end." Biden said the trucks would likely cross on Friday after badly damaged roads near the crossing have been repaired. Dozens more trucks are waiting to follow if the first tranche goes smoothly. He also announced $100 million in U.S. aid for Palestinians. The humanitarian crisis has grown increasingly dire in Gaza, with Israel blocking basic necessities from reaching the territory. Biden denied media reports that U.S. troops will join Israeli soldiers in fighting Hezbollah should the Lebanon-based militant group decide to help Hamas and initiate conflict with Israel. He said he discussed at length with Netanyahu the prime minister's plans to invade Gaza to root out Hamas and that the two countries' militaries have been weighing alternatives. But he declined to provide further details. Biden is scheduled to address the nation Thursday night on the Israel-Hamas violence and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Siding with Israel Biden on Wednesday backed Israel's account of who was responsible for a massive explosion at a Gaza hospital that killed hundreds and prompted protests across the region. "Based on the information we've seen to date, it appears as a result of an errant rocket fired by a terrorist group in Gaza," Biden said. Israel said the rocket came from the militant group Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which denied responsibility. "While we continue to collect information, our current assessment, based on analysis of overhead imagery, intercepts and open-source information, is that Israel is not responsible for the explosion at the hospital in Gaza yesterday," National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said. Watson added that the administration is working to corroborate whether it was a failed rocket launched by Islamic Jihad. Biden vowed to provide Israel what it needs to defend itself but urged restraint in its retaliation. "You don't live by the rules of terrorists. You live by the rule of law. When conflict is fair, you live by the rule of law, of wars," he said. From Tel Aviv, Biden was originally scheduled to visit Amman, Jordan, to meet King Abdullah II, President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi of Egypt and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss a humanitarian response for Gazans. But the summit and the Jordan leg of the trip was scrapped following the Gaza hospital blast. The explosion has ignited massive protests in cities across the Middle East, including in Lebanon, Iran, Tunisia and Turkey, where demonstrators laid the blame on Israel. 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 Biden Equates Hamas With Putin, Asks Americans to Support Israel, Ukraine By Patsy Widakuswara October 19, 2023 President Joe Biden made a direct appeal to the American people to continue funding the war efforts of Ukraine and Israel during an Oval Office address Thursday evening, a day after returning from Tel Aviv to show support for a key Washington ally. Noting atrocities in both conflicts, Biden said that while Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin represented different threats, they had one thing in common. "They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy," he said. Vowing to stop them both, Biden underscored that "history has taught us that when terrorists don't pay a price for their terror, when dictators don't pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction." Biden said he would be sending to Congress an urgent budget request in so-called supplemental funding, which finances nontraditional government programs, to pay for "America's national security needs to support our critical partners." "It's a smart investment that's going to pay dividends for American security for generations," he added, without mentioning the amount he would be requesting. Various media reports quoting officials who spoke anonymously suggested it could reach $100 billion. Biden assured listeners that the U.S. would provide unwavering support for Israel in its military response to the October 7 incursion by the militant group Hamas, which killed more than 1,400 Israelis and took about 200 captive. Israel has hit back with airstrikes that have killed more than 3,000 people and displaced more than a million people in Gaza, mostly Palestinian Arabs. Biden repeated the message he delivered during his brief visit in Tel Aviv, the first visit by an American president during wartime in Israel: that the United States will ensure Israel's qualitative military edge as it has done for decades. "We're going to make sure Iron Dome continues to guard the skies over Israel," he said, referring to Israel's air defense system established in 2011 to intercept incoming rockets. On Ukraine, he recommitted support for the defense of the country's sovereignty, territorial integrity and democratic future. "If we walk away and let Putin erase Ukraine's independence, would-be aggressors around the world would be emboldened to try the same," he asserted. "The risk of conflict and chaos could spread in other parts of the world, in the Indo Pacific, in the Middle East." He said he spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier Thursday. Leaderless House The funding request has bipartisan support in the Democratic-led Senate. It must also pass the House of Representatives, where some lawmakers are hesitant to send billions of dollars to support foreign wars with no end in sight. Complicating matters, the Republican-led House has been leaderless for more than two weeks following the ousting of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy by a group of his fellow Republicans. The House must have a speaker to pass legislation, including Biden's war funding requests, but so far, no Republican has been able to secure the 217 votes needed to claim the speaker's gavel. The funding Biden is seeking will be on top of the more than $3 billion per year that Washington provides to Israel, the largest recipient of U.S. foreign assistance since World War II. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Biden administration has directed more than $75 billion in assistance to that country, which includes humanitarian, financial and military support. In an interview with CBS's "60 Minutes" earlier this week, Biden argued that funding wars in Europe and the Middle East at the same time was not too much to take on for the United States, "the most powerful nation in the history of the world." However, the problem for Washington is not so much financial, said Emma Ashford, senior fellow with the Reimagining U.S. Grand Strategy program at the Stimson Center. The total assistance to Ukraine, she noted, amounts to a small fraction of the overall defense budget. The problem has to do with military capabilities, she told VOA, specifically the overlap of certain weapon systems that are needed in Ukraine and for a potential contingency in Taiwan. "There's not a huge amount of overlap between Israeli and Ukrainian needs, but certain capabilities like artillery shells will be problematic," she said. Strategically, the war in Gaza will be an additional drain on Washington's attention and prioritization. "The Biden administration came into office determined to pivot the United States away from the Middle East and to 'park' Russia so it could focus on China," she said. "Yet here we are heavily involved in arming Ukraine against Russia, and potentially stepping back into a Middle Eastern war." American support A Reuters/Ipsos poll released Monday showed that when presented a series of options for American involvement in the conflict between the Israelis and Hamas in Gaza, more Americans (41%) said the U.S. should support Israel's position than any other option. Republicans (54%) were more likely to say this than Democrats (37%). Pro-Palestinian and antiwar demonstrators have marched in several U.S. cities, calling for a cease-fire, in some cases coming head-to-head with those rallying for Israel. While Biden received bipartisan praise for his October 10 speech condemning the Hamas attack, support may be waning among some progressive Democrats who are demanding that he press Israel for restraint and do more to protect civilian lives in Gaza. Negotiations by Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken with regional leaders have helped secure the opening of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt to allow a convoy of aid trucks to enter and help Gazans in dire need of humanitarian assistance. The U.S. has also announced an additional $100 million to help Palestinians. As he pledged that he would not give up on the two state-solution, Biden said the U.S. "remains committed to the Palestinian people's right to dignity and to self-determination." "The actions of Hamas terrorists don't take that right away," he added. A wider regional war "We're going to make sure other hostile actors in the region know that Israel is stronger than ever and prevent this conflict from spreading," Biden said. He accused Iran of supporting Russia in Ukraine and supporting Hamas and other terrorist groups in the region, vowing to continue to hold them accountable. The president has stressed deterrence at every opportunity, deploying two carrier strike groups and additional F-16s to persuade Iran and Hezbollah to stay out of the conflict, said Daniel DePetris, a fellow at Defense Priorities, a foreign policy think tank. "He will need to utilize all of the avenues available to send Tehran a message: The U.S. has no intention of entering the conflict and that it's in Iran's best interest to stay out as well," DePetris told VOA. "Otherwise, U.S. moves meant to deter escalation could be miscalculated." But supporting Israel and avoiding being dragged into a much wider regional war will be a tough balancing act for Biden, said Raffaella A. Del Sarto, associate professor of Middle East Studies at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. On one hand, he said, Biden must show that the U.S. is backing Israel with enough military firepower to deter Iran and its militant group proxies from broadening the conflict. However, his unwavering support for Israeli actions in Gaza has inflamed anti-American sentiments with populations in the Arab world, creating political pressure on their governments and increasing instability in the region, Del Sarto told VOA. Already the militant group Hezbollah has fired rockets from Lebanon at towns in northern Israel, while cruise missiles and drones launched by Houthi forces in Yemen, potentially toward targets in Israel, were intercepted Thursday by the American warship USS Carney in the northern Red Sea. "The perception of Palestinians, of Middle Easterners, and I would say the Global South more broadly is that the United States is backing Israel. And so, according to this perception, both of them are basically allowing for a humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip," Del Sarto said. On Wednesday, the U.S. vetoed a U.N. resolution to condemn all violence against civilians in the Israel-Hamas war and to urge humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, criticizing the measure for failing to underline Israel's right to self-defense. Anti-Israel, anti-US Biden argued that "American leadership is what holds the world together," and that turning away from Israel and Ukraine in their hour of need would put that at risk. That argument will be viewed with skepticism in many places around the world. Massive and in some cases violent anti-Israel and anti-U.S. demonstrations have erupted in various capitals with the outrage over Israeli airstrikes on civilians in Gaza. The Israeli military says Hamas is using them as human shields. More than 40 nations have condemned Hamas, but regional players, such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Syria and Iraq, have pinned responsibility on Israel. Despite Israel's efforts to convince leaders that Tuesday's blast at a Gaza hospital was caused by a misfired jihadi missile, countries in the region continue to lay the blame for the explosion on the Israeli government, including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, which have normalized ties with Israel in the Abraham Accords of 2020. Condemnation also came from the government of Indonesia, home to almost 13% of the world's Muslims. Many citizens of the Arab world and the Global South see Israel as an occupying force that continues to annex Palestinian territory, said Brian Finucane, senior adviser for the U.S. Program at the International Crisis Group. He said Biden's support for Israel while denouncing Russia's annexation of parts of Ukraine was eroding his credibility in those countries, undermining the moral high ground he claims to be a key tenet of his foreign policy. "It makes it much more difficult to credibly argue that the U.S. believes in upholding international law, believes in the consistent application of international law, if you treat similar situations very differently," Finucane told VOA. "Smacks of double standards." The White House has not responded to VOA's queries about why the administration recognizes Israel's annexation of the Golan Heights and does not penalize its settlement expansion in the West Bank but rejects Russia's annexation of Ukrainian territory and China's claims on the South China Sea and potential invasion of Taiwan. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address In Major Address, Biden Lays Groundwork For Massive Aid To Ukraine, Israel By Todd Prince October 20, 2023 Laying the groundwork to ask U.S lawmakers for tens of billions of dollars in military assistance for Ukraine and Israel, President Joe Biden linked Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip who attacked Israel, saying both were threats to global democracy and security. Speaking in a rare address from the Oval Office in the White House late on October 19, Biden said he is going to send an urgent funding request to the U.S. Congress, which reportedly will total more than $100 billion over the next year, that will be critical for the two major allies immersed in wars. "Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common: They both want to annihilate a neighboring democracy," Biden said, adding the funds were "a smart investment" that will "pay dividends for American security for generations." Ahead of his speech, the White House said Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to reiterate Washington's support for Kyiv in the face of Russia's full-scale invasion, launched in February 2022. The request for funds -- U.S. media have quoted sources as saying some $60 billion of it will be earmarked for Ukraine and another $14 billion for Israel -- comes amid recent warnings from the Biden administration that time is running out to prevent Ukraine, which is struggling with a grueling counteroffensive as its weapon supplies dwindle, from faltering as it seeks to repel Russian troops. Ivo Daalder, a former U.S. ambassador to NATO and chief executive officer of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, told RFE/RL that by linking Israeli and Ukrainian aid, Biden has made it difficult for Congress to reject the aid package. The expected approval of aid "undermines once again Vladimir Putin's calculation that the West is about to collapse when it comes to supporting Ukraine." "You understand, if you're living in Russia, that Ukraine is not going to go away. That they will have continued military capabilities to fight," he said. Biden said a failure to support Ukraine and Israel, which appears poised to launch a ground attack on Hamas militants in response to their incursion last week into Israeli territory that left more than 1,400 Israeli citizens dead, will jeopardize U.S. security and its status of a "partner other nations want to work with." "To put all that at risk, if we walk away from Ukraine, if we turn our backs on Israel -- it's just not worth it," Biden, speaking hours after a lightning trip to Israel to show support for Jerusalem, said in his address. He added that making decisions during times of war "requires asking very hard questions" and "clarity about the objectives and an honest assessment about whether the path you are on will achieve those objectives." He noted that since the invasion of Ukraine was launched, Putin and other senior Russian lawmakers have threatened Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, all members of NATO. Biden said that if Moscow carried out an attack on those countries, or any other member of the military alliance, the United States "will defend every inch of NATO." "We'll have something that we do not seek," he said. "We do not seek to have American troops fighting in Russia or against Russia." "We cannot and will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win. I refuse to let that happen," Biden said. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-drone-missile- strikes-biden-speech/32644796.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 Operation Iron Swords - Day 13 - 19 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". PM Netanyahu stated "On October 7th, Hamas murdered 1,400 Israelis. Maybe more. This is in a country of fewer than 10 million people. This would be equivalent to over 50,000 Americans murdered in a single day. Thats twenty 9/11s. That is why October 7th is another day that will live in infamy." The Gaza health ministry said at least 3,785 people had been killed in Gaza and more than 12,000 wounded in Israeli air raids. About 1,300 people across, Gaza are believed to be buried under the rubble, alive or dead, according to health authorities, including 600 children. The Occupied West Bank saw 69 killed and 1,300 wounded, while Israel numbered 1,403 killed and 3,800 wounded. At least 306 Israeli soldiers had been killed since war started. The IDF The military spokesman added that the army had confirmed information about 203 persons detained in Gaza and about 100 missing person. The Palestinian resistance confirmed that it was prepared for a long battle, and that it would turn the sands of Gaza into a graveyard for the Israeli occupation forces. The head of the Political Bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), Ismail Haniyeh, called on the masses of the nation for a general mobilization on Friday under the slogan Let the aggression against Gaza stop, not for displacement or an alternative homeland. Haniyeh stressed - in his speech - that the entire world is still following the legendary steadfastness recorded by the Palestinian people in Gaza, the proud and steadfast, and the recordings of the Palestinian resistance managing this battle ably, as he put it. He also stressed that the resistance began its resounding strategic strike, and is still controlling the rhythm of this battle despite the "brutality" of the occupier, his crimes, his random killing, and the deliberate bombing of homes. Haniyeh added that these crimes are being followed by the entire world, and they once again record the nature of the enemy, the Nazi, fascist, murderous monster, who left hundreds of children, women, and the elderly martyred. Abu Ubaida, the military spokesman for the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), threatened the Israeli occupation with a long battle and said that they were ready for it, calling on the Arab peoples to mobilize and march to the borders of Palestine. Hamas's military spokesman confirmed - in a recorded speech - that "the resistance is fine and is still controlling the events of the field" and that it "knows where and when to mount and strike, and when and how to strike." He added, "We are prepared for a long battle with this occupier, as sacred and great as our goal in this battle is," which is to defend Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque, respond to its desecration, and make the occupation pay the price for its crimes. Abu Ubaida stressed that the bill of reckoning with this enemy will be harsh and painful, and he will pay the price for his crimes against Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Palestinian people, vowing that the resistance will not tolerate these crimes. ABC News reported that Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barakat has said captive and civilian casualties will be secondary to destroying Hamas, even if it takes a year. We shall do all efforts to bring our hostages, to bring our hostages [back] alive, he told the US news outlet. But the first and last priority, Barakat said, is destroying Hamas. Professor of Political Science at Kuwait University, Dr. Abdullah Al-Shaiji, spoke about the difficulty of the ground operation for the occupation, because the fighting will take place between regular forces and irregular forces, and no army in the world has succeeded in defeating irregular forces, as evidenced by the fact that American forces did not defeat the Taliban movement. The researcher in Israeli affairs, Sultan Al-Ajlouni, he expected that the Israeli invasion would be tactical in certain areas, and not a complete invasion, because the occupation realizes that the Hamas movement is not an army, but rather an idea and ideology, and that eliminating it requires a complete invasion and remaining for many years in the Strip. Al-Ajlouni expected that the Israeli ground invasion would be limited, and that it would be followed by international pressure to stop this invasion under the pretext of humanitarian reasons. Israel would find a way out and say that it stopped the war for humanitarian reasons. Nearly 500 people were reportedly killed in an explosion at al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City at around 7.30pm on 17 October 2023, the deadliest single incident since war broke out between Hamas and Israel on October 7. The US intelligence community estimates that 100300 people were killed in the hospital blast. This is lower than the number initially cited by Hamas of more than 500. Al Jazeeras Sanad Agency investigated the Israeli claim that the bombing of Gazas al-Ahli Arab Hospital was the result of a rocket misfire from Palestinian Islamic Jihad and not a result of Israels relentless bombing of the Gaza Strip since October 7. Sanads investigation analysed time-coded footage from several sources, including a live broadcast by an Al Jazeera journalist at the time. The investigation reveals that Israeli statements seem to have misinterpreted the evidence to build a story that one of the flashes recorded by several sources was a rocket misfire. Based on a detailed review of all videos, Sanads analysts conclude that the flash Israel attributed to a misfire was in fact consistent with Israels Iron Dome missile defence system intercepting a missile fired from the Gaza Strip and destroying it in mid-air. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller at the US State Department says he does not believe an investigation into the deadly Gaza hospital bombing is appropriate at this time. The Israeli government has released a great deal of evidence to support their contention that this was a misfire rocket attack from inside Gaza that unfortunately landed on this hospital and killed it looks like hundreds of civilians, he told reporters. Hezbollah, while attacking the Israeli positions on the border, was also concentrating on hitting some communication apparatuses, tools like cameras that are used to take pictures of the whole border, and also communication tools that are used to intercept calls. It appeared Hezbollah is trying to draw more [Israeli] reinforcements to the north. Abdelhamid Siyam, a researcher from Rutgers University, also told Al Jazeera it would be dangerous for Israel to engage with Hezbollah in the north, while it prepares to invade Gaza to the south. To engage Hezbollah in a full-scale war, its a very risky thing, said Siyam said. It is not popular among the Lebanese people first and it has to have a green light from the Iranian regime, because that might create a new dynamic in the Middle East. A decision of that scale, it has to be cleared by both the Iranian leadership and the Syrians, as well. Sultan Barakat, professor in conflict and humanitarian studies at the Qatar Foundations Hamad Bin Khalifa University, says that Lebanese group Hezbollah is unlikely to enter into a full confrontation with Israel. Hezbollah today is very different to the Hezbollah of 2006 when it had a 34-day war with Israel. Since then, Hezbollah has entered a war in Syria; and Israel has systematically undermined its chain of supply from Iran and Syria and assassinated many of its leaders. The group has been structurally challenged. In terms of its legitimacy within Lebanese society, it has been in trouble. During the explosion of the port in 2020, accusations were levelled against it around its involvement in the explosion. So domestically, its not in its best shape to take on Israel, as well. He added that it all boils down to what Iran decides, and if Iran was interested in entering the conflict, it would have already done so. Iranian writer Jafar Qanad Bashi considered that the crime committed by the Israelis by targeting the childrens hospital in Gaza had mobilized the public feelings of the peoples of the region and the world, to the point that it could no longer be easily controlled. It had also saddened peoples consciences and caused intense anger towards Israel. In his article in the reformist newspaper Etemad, the writer added that this incident ignited fires in countries of the region and many countries of the world, as protesters in Jordan burned the Israeli embassy, and the American and Israeli embassies in Turkey were attacked, and even at Harvard University in the United States there was There are protests against Israel. The writer continued: This event will have serious consequences on regional developments, and on many changes in the world, and Biden will lose the elections after this cowardly attack on the childrens hospital, and the consequences of this crime will bring the region and the world into a new era. Iranian writer Saadullah Zarei saw the Baptist Hospital massacre as the true beginning of Israels demise. In his editorial in the fundamentalist Kayhan newspaper, Zarei recalled the decline in the power of the United States in the world, as the main supporter of Israel, the changes in the global balance of power and the growing power of Iran and the axis of resistance, which accelerates the decline of the old world order and the emergence of a new order that will not be Israel. It is present in it, in the opinion of the writer. Zarei pointed out that Israel pursued two projects, political and security, for what he called organizing the region on the basis of the survival of Israel. The political project was to normalize relations with the Arab countries in the region, for which the Abraham Accords were prepared, noting that Tel Aviv was able, with special American assistance, to To normalize its relations with four weak Arab governments. The writer added: As for the security approach, it consists of directing a strong blow to the axis of resistance, as Israel considers this issue to be a vital and strategic issue for its existence. Therefore, it intensified its successive attacks on Syria, considering that Syria is the middle link in the chain of resistance. If it separates, the resistance near Israel will be weakened. But these attacks on Syria did not bear fruit and did not have any real impact." In turn, the head of the Cultural Committee in the Iranian Parliament, Morteza Agha Tehrani, confirmed that the Al-Aqsa Flood operation paved the way for the collapse of Israel. In an article in the fundamentalist Asr Iranian newspaper, Agha Tehrani said that the Baptist Hospital massacre showed the height of Israels brutality, stressing that the time has come for global humanitarian unity against this delusionary and hateful regime. According to the writer, the crime of Baptist Hospital is one of the most heinous crimes of the human community, and the international community and the Islamic world in particular should not remain silent about these attacks. The Iranian parliamentarian continued: The issue of Palestine will never be resolved with slogans, unless all Muslims of the world stand up and go out to the square to support the oppressed people of this country and express their hatred for the United States and Israel." Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi met King Abdullah II of Jordan for a closed-door discussion about the escalating conflict and deteriorating humanitarian situation. The two leaders condemned Israels policy of collective punishment against Palestinians in Gaza and its efforts to displace Palestinians from their lands to Egypt or Jordan, Egypts presidential office said in a statement. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that the conflict in Gaza risks spilling into a regional crisis, saying efforts to pin blame on Iran were adding fuel to the fire, according to Russias Interfax news agency. The remarks by Russias top diplomat came days after President Vladimir Putin said he believed no major actors wanted the war between Israel and Hamas to escalate. Moscow offered a delayed statement affirming Israels right to defend itself after Hamass attack, which also killed at least 16 Russian citizens, but denounced Israel for responding with cruel methods. Russian propaganda is presented Ukraines support for Israel as a position hostile to Muslims and to the countries of the Global South, dictated by Kyivs dependence on its Western patrons/partners. Tying Kyiv to the pro-Israel imperialist camp is intended to destroy the results of the efforts of Ukrainian diplomacy to establish relations with the countries of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, whose voices are important in the UN General Assembly and other international forums. The accusation of the Ukrainian authorities of excessive sympathy for Israel is designed to outrage Ukrainian Muslims who feel solidarity with the Palestinians, but not with terrorists. The anti-Semitic move, traditional for Moscow, has also been used. Against the backdrop of pro-Israel statements by official Kyiv, propaganda promotes conspiracy theories about supposedly secret obligations to Jews. The fake New Jerusalem reanimated by propaganda is one of the variations of such a Jewish conspiracy. Its essence lies in the fact that with the support of the Ukrainian authorities, the Jews allegedly plan to buy or otherwise seize part of the territory of Ukraine and settle it. Posts about uncovering a conspiracy are spread on Telegram, X. The fake news is promoted as aggressively as possible on TikTok, where many new video messages from bloggers and excerpts from old interviews of conspiracy theorist Igor Berkut appeared in October. NATO is in a difficult position: the alliance may not have enough funds and equipment to support Ukraine and Israel. The North Atlantic Alliance may face unprecedented challenges: providing assistance to two close partners - Israel and Ukraine, located in close geographical proximity, and fighting off the enemy. NATO does not want to get directly involved in conflicts. However, arms supplies to partners are necessary. The topic of competition for resources has been discussed on the sidelines of the alliance for several days. The question is who gets what when things get tense. The German government wants to prioritize weapons deliveries to Israel amid its conflict with Hamas, the DPA news agency reported on Wednesday, citing sources. According to unnamed government officials interviewed by the outlet, commercial applications from companies for arms exports will be processed and approved with priority given the current situation in the Middle East. However, the agency did not provide further details on the new policy. The report came after Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed support for Israel in its conflict with Hamas, saying that there is only one place for Germany that place is at Israels side. Our own history, our responsibility arising from the Holocaust, makes it a perpetual task for us to stand up for the security of the state of Israel, he said last week. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that there is no competition between Ukraine and Israel in obtaining assistance from the West. He expressed his point of view in an interview with ZDF television. Absolutely not, since the demands from Israel are completely different and so far very small and in other areas than what Ukraine needs and what it receives from us, Pistorius said, answering the question of what Western support for Israel means for Ukraine . For this reason, I dont see this competition now, the minister emphasized. At the same time, the head of the German defense department indicated that we must not forget about what is happening in Ukraine. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The British PM said: "I want to share the deep condolences of the British people and stress that we absolutely support Israels right to defend itself in line with international law, to go after Hamas, to take back hostages, deter further incursions and to strengthen your security for the long-term. Now, I know that you are taking every precaution to harming civilians in direct contrast to the terrorists of Hamas which seek to put civilians in harms way.... And we also recognize that the Palestinian people are victims of Hamas too. That is why I welcome your decision yesterday that you took to ensure that routes into Gaza will be open for humanitarian aid to enter. Im glad that you made that decision. We will support it. We are increasing our aid to the region and we will look to get more support to people as quickly as we can. The last thing for me to close on is this. You described this as Israels darkest hour. I am proud to stand here with you in Israels darkest hour." The United States deployed another navy ship from its homeport in the central Italian coastal city of Gaeta to support US operations in the eastern Mediterranean Sea amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East, the US Sixth Fleet said. "The US 6th Fleet Blue Ridge-class command and control ship USS MOUNT WHITNEY LCC 20 departed Gaeta, Italy, Oct. 18, 2023, in support of US operations in the eastern Mediterranean Sea," the statement said. The amphibious command ship would be dispatched to the US European Command area to engage with allies and partners and support maritime operations there, the statement added. The US has deployed two aircraft carrier strike groups to the region to bolster deterrence efforts in response to the Hamas attacks on Israel. On October 10, the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean, where it will be joined by the Dwight D Eisenhower carrier strike group. The first strike group includes the US Navy aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford, the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser Normandy and the Arleigh-Burke class guided missile destroyers Thomas Hudner, Ramage, Carney and Roosevelt. The Dwight D. Eisenhower strike group comprises the US guided-missile cruiser Philippine Sea, guided-missile destroyers Gravely and Mason, as well as Carrier Air Wing 3 with nine aircraft squadrons. The US will give Israel tens of thousands of 155mm artillery shells that were originally set aside for Ukraine, Axios reported. The Israeli military reportedly told the Pentagon that it needed the shells to prepare for a ground invasion of Gaza. The US maintains a stockpile of ammunition at a facility in Israel, which only US forces have access to. Earlier this year, the US began taking shells from this facility and another stockpile in South Korea in order to meet Ukraines massive demand for ammo. Israeli officials told the news site that the US will now be refilling this stockpile with ammunition from its own stocks that had been earmarked for Ukraine, at the direct request of the Israeli government. The officials said that the shells will arrive in Israel in the coming weeks. President Joe Biden was reportedly trying to convince an increasingly Ukraine-skeptic Republican Party to okay $60 billion in military and economic aid for Kiev by tying it to a $10 billion package for Israel, which the GOP would traditionally be more amenable to supporting. Israel had not yet made heavy use of artillery in its war against Hamas, opting instead to pound Gaza with airstrikes while artillery and tanks engage in sporadic exchanges of fire with Hezbollah militants in Lebanon and the Golan Heights. Defense Department Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder confirmed that a US Navy warship shot down three missiles launched by Houthi militants in Yemen that were possibly headed toward Israel. "The crew of the guided missile destroyer USS Carney operating in the northern Red Sea earlier today shot down three land attack cruise missiles and several drones that were launched by Houthi forces in Yemen," Ryder said during a press briefing. "This action was a demonstration of the integrated air and missile defense architecture that we have built in the Middle East and that we are prepared to utilize whenever necessary to protect our partners and our interests in this important region." Josh Paul, a director in the US State Departments Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, resigned over Washingtons decision to boost military aid to Israel, saying the US-supported Gaza war would lead to more suffering for both Israelis and Palestinians. The Department of State official wrote in a note published online that the administration of President Joe Biden was repeating the same mistakes Washington has been making for decades. The response Israel is taking, and with it the American support both for that response and for the status quo of the occupation, will only lead to more and deeper suffering for both the Israeli and the Palestinian people, he wrote. I fear we are repeating the same mistakes we have made these past decades, and I decline to be a part of it for longer, he said, adding that the Biden administrations blind support for one side was leading to policy decisions that were shortsighted, destructive, unjust and contradictory to the very values we publicly espouse. In an interview with The New York Times, Paul also said that continuing to give Israel what he described as carte blanche to kill a generation of enemies, only to create a new one, does not ultimately serve the United States interests. What it leads to is this desire to sort of impose security at any cost, including in cost to the Palestinian civilian population, he told the US publication. And that doesnt ultimately lead to security. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 18 October 2023 - Day 602 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 there has been a significant increase in Russian offensive activity on the Kupiansk-Lyman axis in the last two weeks. Russian shelling has intensified and elements of the Russian 6th and 25th Combined Arms Armies (CAA) and the 1st Guards Tank Army have conducted attacks, but with limited success. It is highly likely that this activity is part of an ongoing Russian offensive being conducted on multiple axes in eastern Ukraine. The objective of Russian Ground Forces (RGF) on the Kupiansk-Lyman axis is probably to advance west to the Oskil River to create a buffer zone around Luhansk Oblast. RGF have built up combat capacity in the Kupiansk-Lyman direction in recent months. However, Ukrainian forces retain a significant defensive presence on this axis and it is highly unlikely RGF will achieve a major operational breakthrough. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that in the early hours of October 18, Russian forces launched yet another series of missile strikes on civilian targets in the cities of Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and the settlement of Obukhivka (Dnipropetrovsk oblast). During the day of October 18, there was a total of 64x combat engagements. Russian forces launched 11x missile and 46x air strikes, more than 30x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have killed and wounded civilians. A five-storey residential building, a church, more than 20x private houses 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. About 10x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Popivka (Chernihiv oblast), Volfyne, Obody, Novomykolaivka, Hrabovs'ke (Sumy oblast), Pletenivka, Zybyne (Kharkiv oblast). Kup'yans'k axis: Ukrainian soldiers repelled more than 10x Russian attacks in the vicinities of Syn'kivka Ivanivka and Kyslivka (Kharkiv oblast), and around 10x more attacks near Nadiya (Luhansk oblast). The Russian adversary launched an air strike in the vicinity of Pishchane (Kharkiv oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Petropavlivka, Kucherivka, Ivanivka, Kyslivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast). Lyman axis: Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of settlements of Nevs'ke, Novolyubivka, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Spirne (Donetsk oblast). The Ukrainian defense forces also repelled 3x Russian attacks in the vicinity of Makiivka (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Kreminna, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Novosadove, Tors'ke, Spirne (Donetsk oblast). Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled Russian attacks in the vicinity of Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast). Around 20x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, Odradivka, Kurdyumivka Donetsk oblast). Avdiivka axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful assault operations with air support in the vicinity of Avdiivka (Donetsk oblast). Also, the Russian adversary launched an air strike near Kam'yanka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Keramik, Stepove, Avdiivka, Opytne, Sjeverne, Tonen'ke (Donetsk oblast). Mar'inka axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful assault operations with air support in the vicinities of Mar'inka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). The Ukrainian defense forces repelled around 15x Russian attacks in that area. Also, the occupiers launched air strikes near Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Oleksandropil', Heorhiivka, Mar'inka, Novomykhailivka, Katerynivka (Donetsk oblast), were under artillery and mortar fire of the occupiers. Shakhtars'ke axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled Russian attacks near Novomaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast). The Russian invaders launched air strikes near Staromaiors'ke and Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast). Around 20x settlements, including Vodyane, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Blahodatne, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire. Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled all Russian attacks east of Mala Tokmachka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 15x settlements, including Bilohir'ya Orikhiv, Novodanylivka, Novoandriivka, Mali Shcherbaky, P'yatykhatky (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire. Kherson axis: the Russian occupiers launched air strikes in the vicinities of Novoberyslav, Kozats'ke, Ol'hivka, Prydniprovs'ke and Pishchanivka (Kherson oblast). The settlements of Kozats'ke, Tyahynka, Blahovishchenske, Chornobaivka (Kherson oblast), the city of Kherson, as well as Solonchaky (Mykolaiv oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire. At the same time, the Ukrainian defense forces continue offensive operations in the Melitopol axis, offensive (assault) operations in the Bakhmut axis, inflicting losses in manpower and equipment on the occupation forces, and exhausting Russian forces along the entire front line. The Russian occupiers continue to cynically violate the norms of international humanitarian law, forcibly living with civilians in their homes in order to use civilians as human shields. For example, in the settlement of Tokmak (Zaporizhzhia oblast), servicemen of the Russian occupation forces are being massively resettled in multi-story buildings inhabited by local residents. During the day of October 18, Ukrainian Air Force launched 15x air strikes on the concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment, and 3x air strikes on anti-aircraft missile systems of the Russian adversary. Moreover, the Ukrainian defenders shot down 1x Su-25 aircraft and 4x operational-tactical reconnaissance UAVs of the Russian invaders. The missile troops hit 2x command posts, 1x Tor air defense missile system, 1x Zoopark-1M counter-battery radar system and 11x artillery systems of the Russian occupiers. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled 13 attacks of assault detachments of the AFU 14th, 32nd, 43rd, and 115th mechanised brigades near Sinkovka, Ivanovka, Pershotravnevoye, Orlyanskoye (Kharkov region), and Sergeyevka (Lugansk People's Republic). Helicopters and heavy flamethrower systems delivered strikes on manpower and hardware of the AFU 68nd Jaeger Brigade and 103rd Territorial Defence Brigade near Nadiya (Lugansk People's Republic) and Berestovoye (Kharkov region). AFU losses amounted to up to 80 Ukranian troops, three tanks, one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, three armoured fighting vehicles, two pick-up trucks, as well as oneAkatsiya self-propelled artillery system. In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces, helicopters, and artillery repelled one attack of an assault detachment of the AFU 63rd Mechanised Brigade close to Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic). Ground-attack aircraft and helicopters launched strikes at manpower and hardware of the AFU 67h Mechanised Brigade, 5th National Guard Brigade, 1st Special Operations Brigade, and 110th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic), and Serebryansky forestry. The enemy losses were up to 60 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, and two pick-up trucks. In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 28th, 42nd, 67th, 93rd mechanised brigades, 112th Territorial Defence Brigade, and 79th Airborne Brigade close to Kurdyumovka, Andreevka, Kleshcheyevka, Khromovo, and Mariynka (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy in this direction lost up to 115 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, two armoured fighting vehicles, two pick-up trucks, one D-20 howitzer, and one Msta-B howitzer. In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces supported by helicopters and artillery repelled one attack of an assault detachment of the AFU 102th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Chervonoye (Zaporozhye region). Ground-attack aircraft and helicopters launched strikes on manpower and hardware of the AFU 79th Airborne Brigade, 72nd Mechanised Brigade, 58th Motorised Brigade, 107th and 128th Territorial Defence Brigade near Novomikhailovka, Pavlovka, Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy's losses amounted to up to 170 Ukrainian troops, two pick-up trucks, as well as one Rapira anti-tank gun. In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by ground-attack aircraft, helicopters, and artillery repelled one attack of an assault detachment of the AFU 71st Jaeger Brigade close to Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region). In addition, strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware of the AFU 82nd Airborne Brigade and 116th Mechanised Brigade near Uspenovka (Zaporozhye region). The enemy lost up to 85 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, and one U.S.-made M119 howitzer in this direction. In Kherson direction, actions of four Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups were foiled close to Podstepnoye and Poyma (Kherson region). Up to 70 Ukrainian troops and two motor vehicles have been neutralised by fire. In the course of counterbattery warfare, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system and two D-30 howitzers were wiped out. Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 147 areas during the day. In addition, one air-delivered ordnance depot of the Ukrainian Air Force was destroyed at Lozovoye airfield (Dnepropetrovsk region). Command and observation posts of the AFU 67th Mechanised Brigade and 102nd Territorial Defence Brigade were destroyed near Serebryanka (Donetsk People's Republic) and Malinovka (Zaporozhye region). The Black Sea Fleet units neutralised one AFU uncrewed surface vehicle in the Black Sea waters. Air defence systems have shot down four HIMARS MLRS shells and one U.S.-made JDAM aerial guided bomb. Moreover, 51 unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down near Donetsk, Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic), Losovoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Kamenskoye, Chervonogorka, Novofedorovka (Zaporozhye region), and Kazachi Lageri, Sagi (Kherson region), and Zhovtnevoye (Kharkov region). In total, 491 airplanes and 251 helicopters, 8,004 unmanned aerial vehicles, 441 air defence missile systems, 12,746 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,163 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 6,810 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 14,419 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 19 October 2023 - Day 603 Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. "To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal] The UK Ministry of Defence reported that on 14 October 2023, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin declared that damage from Ukraine's July 2023 strike on the Crimean bridge had been repaired ahead of schedule. Although fully operational, use of the bridge remains restricted due to procedures enacted following the first Ukrainian attack in October 2022. Trucks and fuel supplies continue to be moved by ferry. The Crimean bridge will remain a vital link in sustaining Russia's occupation of Crimea and its forces in southern Ukraine. However, it is now almost certainly a significant security burden requiring multi-domain protection, including the use of air defence systems and crews who would otherwise be deployed elsewhere. Russian security forces confidence in their ability to protect this large and vulnerable structure will continue to be threatened by the ingenuity of Ukraine's military and security services. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that in the early hours of October 19, Russian forces cynically launched another missile attack with 1x Iskander-M ballistic missile on a civilian facility in the city of Mykolaiv. On top of that, the Russian occupiers used Shahed-136/131 attack UAVs against targets in southern Ukraine, most of the UAVs were shot down by the air defense. During the day of October 19, there were more than 70x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 8x missile and 48x air strikes, 24x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have killed and wounded civilians. Private houses, apartment buildings and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed or damaged. 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 10x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Sosnivka, Kostobobriv, Hrem'yach (Chernihiv oblast), Volfyne, Kyyanytsya, Stepok, Novodmytrivka, Ryasne (Sumy oblast), Odradne, Kolodyazne, Topoli (Kharkiv oblast). Kup'yans'k axis: Ukrainian soldiers repelled more than 10x Russian attacks in the vicinities of Syn'kivka and Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast), and around 10x more attacks near Nadiya (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Petropavlivka, Podoly and Pishchane (Kharkiv oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Syn'kivka, Ivanivka, Kyslivka, Krokhmal'ne, Pishchane, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast). Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defense forces repelled Russian attacks in the vicinity of Makiivka (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Spirne, Vyimka and Vesele (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 20x settlements, including Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne, Vyimka, Zvanivka, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast). Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled Russian attacks in the vicinity of Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast). The Russian occupiers launched air strikes in the vicinities of Klishchiivka and Kurdyumivka (Donetsk oblast). More than 25x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Vasyukivka, Min'kivka, Bohdanivka, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, Kurdyumivka (Donetsk oblast). Avdiivka axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful assault operations with air support in the vicinities of Avdiivka, Novokalynove, Stepove, Sjeverne (Donetsk oblast). The Ukrainian defense forces repelled more than 10x Russian attacks. Also, the Russian adversary launched an air strike near Berdychi (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Novokalynove, Ocheretyne, Avdiivka, Opytne, Pervomais'ke, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). Mar'inka axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful assault operations with air support in the vicinity of Mar'inka (Donetsk oblast). The Ukrainian defense forces repelled 11x Russian attacks in that area. Also, the Russian occupiers launched air strikes near Oleksandropil' and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Mar'inka, Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast), were under artillery and mortar fire of the occupiers. Shakhtars'ke axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled Russian attacks near Zolota Nyva (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes near Vuhledar and Pavlivka (Donetsk oblast). Around 15x settlements, including Vodyane, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Blahodatne, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire. Zaporizhzhia axis: Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Robotyne and Novodanylivka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 30x settlements, including Mala Tokmachka, Orikhiv, Robotyne, Kam'yans'ke, Plavni, Prymors'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire. Kherson axis: the Russian occupiers launched air strikes in the vicinities of Beryslav and Vesele (Kherson oblast). The settlements of Inzhenerne, Antonivka, Komyshany (Kherson oblast) and the city of Kherson came under Russian artillery and mortar fire. At the same time, the Ukrainian defense forces continue offensive operations in the Melitopol axis, offensive (assault) operations in the Bakhmut axis, inflicting losses in manpower and equipment on the occupation forces, and exhausting Russian forces along the entire front line. During the day of October 19, Ukrainian Air Force launched 13x air strikes on the concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment, 1x air strike on a command post and 4x air strikes on anti-aircraft missile systems of the adversary. Moreover, the Ukrainian defenders shot down 4x operational-tactical reconnaissance UAVs of the Russian invaders. The missile troops hit 1x command posts, 2x concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment, 2x TOS-1A "Solntsepyok" heavy flamethrower systems and 13x artillery systems of the Russian occupiers. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces exploiting results of aviation strikes, artillery and heavy flamethrower systems fire repelled 11 attacks of assault detachments of the AFU 14th, 32nd, and 115th mechanised, 68th Jaeger, 95th Air Assault brigades near Sinkovka, Ivanovka, Novoyegorovka, (Kharkov region), and Makeyevka (Lugansk People's Republic). Operational-tactical aircraft inflicted fire damage on the enemy manpower and hardware near Nevskoye (Lugansk People's Republic). Up to 70 Ukrainian personnel, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles were neutralised. In counter-battery warfare, the enemy lost one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system and one Gvozdika howitzer. In Krasny Liman direction, coordinated actions of the Tsentr Group of Forces, as well as air strikes and artillery fire repelled six attacks launched by AFU assault groups near Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic). Operational-Tactical and Army aviation inflicted fire damage on the manpower and hardware of the 21th and 63rd mechanised brigades' units and the 40th National Guard Regiment have been hit near Torskoye, Yampolovka, and Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy losses were over 235 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, three armoured fighting vehicles, and three pick-up trucks. In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems repelled an attack launched by the enemy close to Kleshcheyevka (Donetsk People's Republic). In addition, strikes were delivered at enemy manpower and hardware near Andreevka, Kurdyumovka, Yakovlevka, and Vasyukovka (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy's casualties were more than 260 Ukrainian personnel killed or injured, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, and four motor vehicles. In addition, two Msta-B guns, one D-20 gun, two D-30 howitzers, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one U.S.-made M119 howitzer were hit during counter-battery warfare. In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, ground-attack aircraft, helicopters, and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 72nd Mechanised and 58th Motorised Infantry Brigade near Ugledar, Novomikhailovka, and Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy losses in this direction amounted to up to 190 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles. In Zaporozhye direction, two attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 82nd Air Assault Brigade near Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region) were repelled by skillful actions of the Russian Group of Forces supported by air strikes and artillery fire. Moreover, the Russian Armed Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the 65th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU near Rabotino (Zaporozhye region). Up to 40 Ukrainian personnel, two tanks, five armoured fighting vehicles, and two motor vehicles were neutralised. In the course of the counter-battery warfare, one German-made Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled artillery system, one Msta-B gun, and one U.S.-made M119 howitzer were hit. ? In Kherson direction, up to 40 Ukrainian troops, four motor vehicles, as well as one D-20 gun have been neutralised. Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 154 areas during the day. Moreover, an ammunition depot of the 110th Mechanised Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was obliterated close to Avdeyevka (Donetsk People's Republic). Fighter aviation of Russian Aerospace Forces downed one MiG-29 fighter jet of Ukrainian Air Force near Troitskoye (Donetsk People's Republic). Russian air defence systems shot down one Su-25 ground-attack aircraft in Dnepropetrovsk and one Mi-8 helicopter of Ukrainian Air Force near Zagryzovo (Kharkov region). Over the past 24 hours, one JDAM bomb, two S-200 converted surface-to-surface missiles, as well as 10 HIMARS MLRS projectiles have been intercepted during the day. Moreover, 61 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were downed close to Olshana (Kharkov region), Yegorovka, Soledar, Lyubovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Kremennaya, Zhitlovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Romanovskoye, Molchansk (Zaporozhye region), Kazachyi Lageri, and Sagi (Kherson region). In total, 493 airplanes and 252 helicopters, 8,065 unmanned aerial vehicles, 441 air defence missile systems, 12,764 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,163 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 6,823 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 14,438 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US, South Korea warn global companies of covert Pyongyang hackers Illicit hacking revenue supports N Korea's development of mass weapons of destruction: State Department. By Lee Jeong-Ho for RFA 2023.10.18 -- The United States and South Korea have issued an alert to the international community on North Korean hackers posing as non-North Korean job seekers, whose objectives are to undertake cyber missions that could accelerate Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions. The authorities from the two countries issued a joint public service announcement late Wednesday that these hackers impersonate "IT workers" and non-DPRK nationals, who could potentially infiltrate global companies. "DPRK IT workers continue to take advantage of demand for specific IT skills such as software and mobile application development while fraudulently obtaining employment contracts around the world, including in the United States. This action leads to companies unwittingly hiring DPRK IT workers," the U.S. Department of State said in a statement, referring to the North's formal name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The State Department added that it was closely collaborating with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as the South's of Foreign Ministry, National Police Agency, and National Intelligence Service (NIS) to tackle the issue. This initiative followed the similar warnings issued in May and December last year. The latest warning provided an update of clearer guidelines on how the North Korean covert hackers operate. "Hiring or supporting DPRK IT workers - knowingly or unknowingly - poses many risks, ranging from theft of intellectual property, data, and funds, to reputational harm and legal consequences, including under U.S., ROK, and UN sanctions," the statement said, referring to South Korea's formal name. The authorities noted that North Korean IT workers' potential hacking may aid Pyongyang's development of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs. On Thursday, South Korea's foreign ministry reinforced the statement and elaborated on particular red flags associated with North Korean IT workers. The ministry said that unusual requests, such as seeking alternative payment methods instead of the usual account details for salaries or using a freight forwarder's address instead of a personal home address for deliveries, could be key indicators of suspicious activity. "Collaborating with North Korean IT experts not only jeopardizes a company's reputation but also poses the threat of unauthorized access to its confidential data and potential asset theft," the ministry warned. The warning came amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing U.N. sanctions, which continued to push North Korea's economy downwards. The statement said hacking has turned into a major stream of revenue for North Korea. The North Korean regime has recently not only been targeting financial institutions and cryptocurrencies, but also seek to exploit vulnerabilities across various sectors, including manufacturing companies. Earlier this month, South Korea's spy agency, NIS, revealed that it has identified numerous instances where North Korean hacking groups targeted key shipbuilding firms in the South. North Korea has also turned to hacking as a means of advancing its technology capabilities, seeking to bridge the gap with advanced nations. It had attempted to steal information on COVID vaccines via hacking Pfizer, the NIS told South Korean lawmakers in 2021. Edited by Elaine Chan and Taejun Kang. Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content October not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Thirty-Seven Gang Members Plead Guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy Thursday, October 19, 2023 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs The 37th and final defendant charged as part of the case against members and associates of the Simon City Royals gang - a gang aligned with the Gangster Disciples - pleaded guilty today to racketeering (RICO) conspiracy. "The Simon City Royals terrorized Mississippi prisons and communities for far too long," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. "These convictions underscore the Justice Department's dedication to disrupting and dismantling violent criminal enterprises, regardless of where they operate." "Our communities have every right to expect that violent criminal gangs will be held to account and incarcerated for their crimes," said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner for the Northern District of Mississippi. "Thanks to the extraordinary work of our law enforcement partners and career federal prosecutors led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Stringfellow, 37 members of the Simon City Royals, a violent gang acting outside as well as inside our prisons as a criminal enterprise, have been arrested, incarcerated, or are currently awaiting sentencing. There will be no compromise in protecting our citizens, and every criminal gang operating in the Northern District of Mississippi can consider itself to be on notice." According to court documents, the Simon City Royals were a violent prison gang operating primarily in the Mississippi Department of Corrections, but with members and associates acting on their behalf outside of prison throughout Mississippi, Louisiana, and elsewhere. Through an alliance with the violent Gangster Disciples gang and with a sophisticated structure, the Simon City Royals engaged in a host of criminal activities, including murder, attempted murder, assault, kidnapping, robbery, extortion, witness tampering, money laundering, interstate travel in aid of racketeering, large-scale drug trafficking, and fraud. "These convictions mean that the Simon City Royals' time is over," said Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) New Orleans. "Protecting the safety of our communities is one of the cornerstones of what our agency seeks to accomplish every day. To anyone damaging our streets with gun violence and drugs - law enforcement is here. No matter how long it takes, no matter if you are on the streets or in prison, we will bring the full weight of the federal government down on the violent gangs terrorizing our communities, neighborhoods, and institutions." "This investigation demonstrates the significant impact multiple agencies can achieve when they work together," said Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New Orleans Division. "We are committed to continuing our collaboration with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who threaten our communities through criminal activities. This final conviction should send a clear message to others engaged in organized crime that this type of activity will not be tolerated." The Simon City Royals were responsible for the brutal murder of a prison inmate in 2018, when a Simon City Royals leader issued a "kill on sight" order, directing any gang member who encountered the targeted inmate to murder him. In January 2018, Dillon Heffker and Robert Williams acted on the order, stabbing the victim dozens of times with improvised prison knives. Leaders of the Simon City Royals rewarded Heffker and Williams for the murder by arranging for hundreds of dollars to be directed to their prison commissary accounts. "The U.S. Marshals Service, along with our federal, state, and local partners, strive daily to protect our communities from violent criminal organizations such as the Simon City Royals," said U.S. Marshal Daniel R. McKittrick for the Northern District of Mississippi. "The final guilty plea ended a reign of terror for 37 career criminals, who were responsible for a tremendous amount of criminal activity in our local communities." "The Secret Service is committed to investigating and pursuing those who aim to exploit our nation's financial systems in order to further a criminal enterprise," said Resident Agent in Charge Kyle Smith of the U.S. Secret Service's Jackson Resident Office. "Thanks to the hard work of our law enforcement partners, a violent gang was dismantled and the individuals involved can now be held responsible for their crimes." Simon City Royals were also responsible for the savage kidnapping and torture of a former member for perceived violations of the gang's code of conduct. In 2015, a member of the Simon City Royals kidnapped the victim at knifepoint and forced him into a hotel room. There, Simon City Royals members and associates tied the victim to a chair, interrogated him, tortured him, and burned off his Simon City Royals tattoo. In addition, the Simon City Royals engaged in widespread drug trafficking, including smuggling large quantities of methamphetamine, marijuana and synthetic marijuana, heroin, and benzodiazepines into dozens of Mississippi state prison facilities. The gang distributed these dangerous substances, including nearly 100% pure crystal methamphetamine, to inmates throughout the prison system. Below are the defendants and the charges to which they pleaded guilty: Allen Posey, 48, of Jackson, Mississippi, racketeering conspiracy; Jonathan Davis, 39, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, racketeering conspiracy; Jeremy Holcombe, 43, of Meridian, Mississippi, racketeering conspiracy; Jonathan Burnett, 39, of Birmingham, Alabama, racketeering conspiracy; Hank Chapman, 38, of Riply, Mississippi, racketeering conspiracy; Jason Hayden, 42, of Picayune, Mississippi, racketeering conspiracy; Joshua Miller, 41, of Jackson, racketeering conspiracy; Gavin Pierson, 33, of San Diego, racketeering conspiracy; Justin Shaw, 36, of Holly Springs, Mississippi, racketeering conspiracy; Bobby Brumfield, 44, of New Orleans, racketeering conspiracy; Jordan Deakles, 31, of Gulfport, Mississippi, racketeering conspiracy; Bryce Francis, 43, of Columbus, Ohio, racketeering conspiracy; Anthony Murphy, 30, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, racketeering conspiracy; Chancy Bilbo, 31, of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, racketeering conspiracy; Dillon Heffker, 32, of Bay St. Louis, racketeering conspiracy; Douglas Jones, 34, of Jackson, racketeering conspiracy; Cody Woodall, 31, of Gulfport, racketeering conspiracy; Michael Muscolino, 43, of Phoenix, racketeering conspiracy; Valerie Madden, 54, of Chicago, drug conspiracy; Samuel Conwill, 45, of Tupelo, Mississippi, money laundering conspiracy; Jason Collins, 40, of Loraine, Ohio, money laundering conspiracy; Justin Leake, 43, of Meridian, racketeering conspiracy; Michael Dossett, 42, of Carriere, Mississippi, felon in possession of a firearm; Angel Labauve, 43, of Picayune, Mississippi, drug conspiracy; Bruce Floyd, 42, of Senatobia, Mississippi, drug conspiracy; Jacquelyn Harmon, 33, of Senatobia, drug conspiracy; Cody Myrick, 33, of Grenada, Mississippi, unlawful transport of firearms; Craig Thomas, 36, of Grenada, unlawful transport of firearms; Arvis Tolbert, 43, of Hurley, Mississippi, violent crime in support of racketeering activity; Preston Edwards, 36, of Jackson, drug conspiracy; Catherine Perry, 41, of Tupelo, interstate transportation in aid of racketeering; John Brooks, 37, of Greenwood, Mississippi, drug conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy; Alana Dickey, 21, of Holly Springs, interstate transportation in aid of racketeering; Austin Ruby, 35, of Holly Springs, drug conspiracy; Chris Vincent, 20, of Gulfport, drug conspiracy; Trevor Overby, 45, of Jackson, drug conspiracy; Anthony Rouse, 33, of Picayune, drug conspiracy. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Secret Service, FBI Jackson Field Office, Mississippi Department of Corrections, and dozens of local law enforcement agencies across multiple states investigated the cases. The Tupelo Police Department, Marshall County Sheriff's Department, Benton County Sheriff's Department, and Tippah County Sheriff's Department provided valuable assistance. Trial Attorney Ben Tonkin of the Criminal Division's Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stringfellow for the Northern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the cases, with valuable assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Annette Williams for the Southern District of Mississippi. Topic: Violent Crime Components: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Criminal Division Criminal - Violent Crime and Racketeering Section Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) USAO - Mississippi, Northern USAO - Mississippi, Southern U.S. Marshals Service Press Release Number: 23-1166 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Fearing Rise of Radical Islamists, Greece Boosts Migrant Camp Security, Surveillance By Anthee Carassava October 19, 2023 Greek intelligence has increased surveillance of refugee camps in the country amid radical Islamist calls for jihad in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Cheers of celebration minutes after Hamas' deadly attack on Israel. a Chants of praise not from pockets of the Middle East ... but Greece. Like many other countries, Greece has boosted security since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, elevating its level of national alert to Code 4, just shy of the highest level possible. With tens of thousands of mainly Arab migrants residing in camps here, intelligence officials are keeping close watch fearing what they tell VOA is "a radicalization of Islamist elements" that could trigger terror attacks like the shooting deaths of two Swedish nationals in Brussels Monday and the stabbing death of a teacher Friday in the French town of Arras. In both instances, the alleged killers said they were acting for the Islamic State militant group. Politicians in Greece such as Migration and Asylum Minister Dimitris Keridis say the situation here is under control. He says the celebration videos posted by migrants at a camp on the island of Samos were one-off, and not worrying. But, intelligence officials say they are not taking any chances. The say they have increased surveillance of camps here, hoping to pick up chatter on any nefarious plans. Social media platforms that attempt to incite violence are being monitored and suspects are being watched, out of concern that dormant cells of radical Islamists could be mobilized. The biggest concern though, according to Keridis, is that a wave of migrants caused by the Gaza crisis that could destabilize the region. It's not just Palestinians from Gaza who could come in, he says, but also potential migrants from Egypt and Lebanon. He says both countries are already hubs for millions of people fleeing persecution in the Middle East and sub-Saharan African states such as Sudan who are seeking passage to the West. Greece has sided with Israel in its bid to uproot Hamas, but it has also cautioned Israel to prevent a humanitarian crisis from spilling over into neighboring states and Europe - a conduit previously exploited by Islamist extremists. Soon after a massive refugee crisis hit Greece and Europe in 2015, radical Islamists entered Europe posing as migrants. Two were implicated in deadly attacks in France that same year. Both used forged Syrian passports to enter the country illegally and seek temporary shelter in a refugee camp. Intelligence experts tell VOA large-scale coordinated terrorist attacks in Europe are not likely -- but instances of individuals responding to the call of violence are entirely possible. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Five power air defence By Flying Officer Connor Bellhouse 19 October 2023 Flying out of north-west Malaysia, the Royal Australian Air Force has deployed six F/A-18F Super Hornets and a C-27J Spartan to support Exercise Bersama Lima. F/A-18F Super Hornet pilot Flight Lieutenant Russell said the integration between the five nations has involved everything from air planning and working with Malaysian mission controllers to flying mixed formations with various fast-jet aircraft. "We've been exercising an air component defence of the Malaysian Peninsula, including down to Singapore," Flight Lieutenant Russell said. "We've been working closely with the maritime capabilities of the five nations to identify simulated threats to either maritime assets or Malaysian land targets. "When an aircraft is detected, we proceed to intercept, identify and engage those targets as a combined force, which is a great opportunity for us to train with our partners." Deploying to Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Base Butterworth, 1 Squadron has been supported and sustained by a range of aviators. "Our technical and maintenance staff work around the clock to make sure the aircraft are good to go for each mission," Flight Lieutenant Russell said. "We're also really fortunate to operate out of RMAF Butterworth, which has strong ties to the RAAF. We've got the support of 19 Squadron based here, which has made our deployment run really smoothly." Being challenged in an unfamiliar environment and taking the opportunity to learn from the Malaysian and Five Power nations - Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom - has been a key benefit of Exercise Bersama Lima. "Working to become familiar operating away from our main bases is huge. Getting the experience of flying in South-East Asia, including the weather here, is really important," Flight Lieutenant Russell said. "When you get people coming from all over the world to a location that's unfamiliar to them, working with the locals here to learn the best way to get the mission done has been fantastic for all the nations." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Marines bid farewell to Darwin 19 October 2023 After six months of exercises with the ADF and a range of partner nations, the 12th iteration of the Marine Rotational Force - Darwin (MRF-D) has come to an end. While stationed in Darwin, up to 2500 Marines conducted various combined training exercises across a number of scenarios, including high-end warfare as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations. This included Exercise Crocodile Response 2023, a trilateral, multi-faceted HADR exercise designed to enhance interoperability between the Australian Defence Force, MRF-D and the Indonesian National Armed Forces. MRF-D also participated in Exercise Talisman Sabre, the largest combined training activity between the Australian Defence Force and the United States military. As part of Australia's flagship regional engagement activity, Indo Pacific Endeavour 2023, MRF-D embarked a contingent of marines and MV-22B aircraft in HMAS Canberra for an amphibious activity during Exercise Alon in the Philippines. Chief of Joint Operations Lieutenant General Greg Bilton said the alliance with the United States is Australia's most important defence relationship and is central to strategic and security arrangements. "The MRF-D concept increases interoperability between the Australian Defence Force and the United States Marine Corps, focused on increasing cooperation with partners in the Indo-Pacific region," Lieutenant General Bilton said. "Since the first rotation in 2012, the MRF-D has grown in size and complexity, and nations such as Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam have either taken part in or observed MRF-D training." 'We could not have accomplished this without the phenomenal support from our brothers and sisters in the Australian Defence Force.' MRF-D 2023 Commanding Officer Colonel Brendan Sullivan said this rotation built on the success of previous deployments. "The training opportunities provided by our allies and partners throughout the region are unlike any other I have experienced in my career," Colonel Sullivan said. "In six months, we completed nine major exercises and partnered with military organisations throughout the Indo-Pacific to conduct a number of training events, all of which increased our collective readiness and posture for responding to crisis and contingency.A "We built upon already existing relationships, increasing levels of interoperability between forces and, in some cases, provided each other with interchangeable capabilities to support a wide range of military operations. "We could not have accomplished this without the phenomenal support from our brothers and sisters in the Australian Defence Force." Commanding Officer Headquarters Northern Command Captain Mitchell Livingstone said the 2023 iteration of MRF-D was an outstanding success in terms of the number of collective aims met over the past six months. "Through MRF-D, and the various other US Force Posture Initiatives, the ADF and our partner nations continue to contribute to peace, prosperity, and rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific Region," Captain Livingstone said. This year's MRF-D was marred by the loss of three US Marines in an MV-22B accident on Melville Island during a training exercise. "Tragically, we lost three Marines from the MRF-D Aviation Combat Element when their aircraft crashed on 27 August. "We are deeply saddened by this loss and we continue to grieve with the families of the three fallen Marines," Captain Livingstone said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Belarus: Statement by the Spokesperson on new death sentence verdict European External Action Service (EEAS) 19.10.2023 EEAS Press Team On 19 October, the Minsk regional Court in Belarus reportedly sentenced to death Alexander Taratuta, convicted of murder. The European Union expresses its sincere sympathy to the loved ones of the victim and all those affected by his deplorable and brutal crime. At the same time, the EU reaffirms its unequivocal opposition to the death penalty in all cases and in all circumstances. The capital punishment represents the ultimate denial of human dignity, fails to act as a deterrent to crime and makes miscarriages of justice irreversible. Belarus is the only country in Europe that still applies the death penalty. We call on Belarus to introduce a moratorium on the use of death penalty as a first step towards its full abolition, in line with the worldwide trend. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Minister Blair officially accepts delivery of first new Armoured Combat Support Vehicles for the Canadian Army National Defence News release October 19, 2023 - Garrison Petawawa, Ontario - Department of National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces Today, the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, and General Wayne Eyre, Chief of the Defence Staff, visited Garrison Petawawa where the first four new Armoured Combat Support Vehicles (ACSVs) were officially accepted by the Canadian Army. Minister Blair and General Eyre toured the newly-arrived armoured vehicles, which represent the first of 360 Armoured Combat Support Vehicles that will be delivered to the Canadian Army over the coming years. These first four vehicles are the ambulance variant, which will be equipped with medical supplies and an internal layout that will allow for the treatment of a wide range of injuries. Procured through the Armoured Combat Support Vehicle project, these vehicles will provide the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) with a modernized, armoured combat support fleet which will ensure the members of the Canadian Army have the tools that they need to conduct operations in Canada, and abroad. These vehicles are general-utility combat support vehicles that will fulfil a wide variety of support roles on the battlefield - including serving as troop transport, command vehicles, electronic warfare, mobile repair, and various combat engineering tasks. They will provide a high degree of maneuverability and protection to their crews and payloads. This procurement is delivering major economic benefits for Canada. The 360 ACSVs are being acquired thanks to a $2 billion investment with General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada. This project is supporting 1,975 jobs annually in London, Ontario and across the country, as well as contributing $250 million dollars annually to Canada's Gross Domestic Product over an eight-year period. The delivery of the ambulance marks the first of eight variants to be received by the Canadian Army under the ACSV project. Training for both maintainers and operators of the vehicle is scheduled to begin this month. Quotes "The members of the Canadian Armed Forces deserve modern equipment that gets the job done. These new Armoured Combat Support Vehicles will serve our members well at home and abroad, enabling them to protect Canada and support our Allies. I thank the hundreds of Canadian workers involved in building these vehicles - and reaffirm our commitment to investing in our military while creating good jobs for Canadians." The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence "This project highlights investments in Canada's domestic supply chain, and the importance of supporting good middle-class jobs.A Welcoming the first ambulance variant of the Armoured Combat Support Vehicle supports our commitment in ensuring members of our Canadian Armed Forces have the modern equipment they need to do their jobs and keep Canadians safe." The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and ProcurementA "Modernizing, renewing and improving our capabilities within the Canadian Armed Forces is essential to keep Canada safe in a world that grows more complex, and I am pleased to see the first variant of the Armoured Combat Support Vehicles project being delivered today. These ambulances, which were much needed, will provide enhanced protection for our personnel when it matters most whether they're at home or abroad." General W.D. Eyre, Chief of the Defence Staff "I am thrilled to see this first wave of Armoured Combat Support Vehicles in the hands of our soldiers. They are professionals who expect to be trained and equipped like the world-class soldiers they are. The Armoured Combat Support Vehicle is one of many ways we're achieving that. Whether training here in Canada or deployed abroad, this capability will help us to continue to build toward critical missions, including the upcoming multinational brigade in Latvia." Lieutenant-General J.J.M.J Paul, Commander Canadian Army Quick facts Under Canada's defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, we previously expected initial delivery in 2025. National Defence and the CAF were able to advance this procurement to a faster timeline, which is good news for CAF members. The new fleet of ACSVs will all be based on the Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) 6.0 and will replace the current LAV II Bison and M113 Tracked LAV fleets. The LAV 6.0 is a tested and proven platform that meets the Canadian Army's needs, and having similar combat support vehicles will offer operational advantages to the CAF, including reduced training and sustainment costs, as well as the availability of common spare parts to fix vehicles quickly during critical operations. The ACSV will provide the CAF with a new fleet of armoured support vehicles employed in eight variants: Command Post, Mobile Repair Team, Maintenance and Recovery Vehicle, Ambulance, Electronic Warfare, Engineer, Troop Cargo Vehicle, and Fitter Cargo Vehicle. CFB Petawawa is receiving the first of the ambulance - armoured support vehicles, a total of 49 vehicles will be delivered to bases across Canada in the coming months. The Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy applies to this contract, ensuring that General Dynamics will invest equal to the value of the contract back into the Canadian economy, providing opportunities for Canadian small and medium businesses, and supporting innovation and skills development for Canadian workers. In summer 2022, Canada announced the donation of 39 Armoured Combat Support vehicles to Ukraine, which have all been delivered. On September 22, 2023, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a new investment of $650 million over three years to supply Ukraine with 50 armoured vehicles, including armoured medical evacuation vehicles, built by Canadian workers in London, Ontario. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address October 18, 2023 Transcript DOD Official Briefs on 2023 China Military Power Report SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Good afternoon, everyone. I appreciate you all joining. Thanks to the PA team here for organizing and also to my team and everyone else throughout the department and the interagency who contributes to producing this report every year. I believe you've all received an embargoed copy of the executive summary, by now, of this year's China Military Power Report. And I thought I would open with some brief framing remarks about this year's report. And then we'll open it up for questions. And I understand we've got a lot of questions queued up already, so I'm excited to have a conversation with everyone. As I think you're all aware, our National Security Strategy identifies the PRC as the only competitor with the intent and increasingly the capability to reshape the international order. And the 2022 National Defense Strategy identifies the PRC as increasingly capable military as the department's top pacing challenge. So what we've tried to do with the China Military Power Report is to illustrate why the National Security Strategy and the National Defense Strategy identified the PRC as this unique competitor in the security realm in the case of the national security strategy and as our pacing challenge here at DOD in the case of the NDS. And this congressionally mandated report charts the current course of the PRC's national economic and military strategies and offers insight into the PLA's strategy, its current capabilities, some of its operational activities, as well as its future modernization goals. And, of course, this is a Congressionally mandated report, but we view it also as important to inform all of you, to inform the academic and think tank community, to inform conversations with our allies and partners, in addition to meeting the Congressional requirement to document the most recent year's developments in PRC strategy and military capabilities. As our baseline assessment of PRC military and security developments during 2022, the CMPR, of course, covers a lot of ground. It also includes some early 2023 content. We don't have an exact information cut-off date for everything in the report. You know, we've tried to update it to reflect some significant developments from at least the early part of this year, but it is primarily focused on 2022. And even within those boundaries, of course, there's again a lot of ground that we cover here. I'm looking forward to answering your questions. And -- before we do that, I guess I would just offer that this year's report does address a number of new topics while also expanding on some themes that I think have been pretty consistent in terms of their coverage in previous year's reports. But a couple of things that I think are noteworthy here this year's report gets into how Beijing's strategy of amassing its national power is confronting what Xi Jinping perceives as an increasingly turbulent strategic environment for China's development. Something that he spoke about in public earlier this year, as we note in the report, highlighting what the PRC perceives as containment, suppression, and encirclement. The report also details a trend in the risky and coercive operational behavior by the PLA. I know that many of you probably saw the release of videos and images related to that topic and perhaps attended the briefing yesterday. We do cover that in some detail in the report this year. And we also cover in some detail the PRC's intensifying pressure campaign against Taiwan. It's deepening security ties with Russia, the continued development of the PLA's nuclear space and cyberspace capabilities, and also the continued reluctance on the PLA's part to consistently engage in military to military communications with the United States. So with that, I'm happy to open it up for some questions. And I'll also just note at the outset that if there are any particulars that we're not able to cover here today, of course, you can follow up with (staff) on any of those kinds of issues. STAFF: Yes, sir. We'll get started with Tara at Associated Press. Q: Hi. Thanks for doing this. A couple questions on China's nuclear build-up. This -- the embargoed materials say a thousand or so warheads by 2030. How would you characterize this compared to last year? And the report last year mentioned 1,500 weapons by 2035. Is that still the Pentagon's assessment? And then last, have you seen anything that would indicate that China is deciding to do away with a no-first-use policy? Thank you. SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: OK. So I'll kind of try to take those in turn. So -- we see the PRC continuing to quite rapidly modernize and diversify and expand its nuclear forces. What they're doing now, if you compare it to what they were doing about a decade ago, it really far exceeds that in terms of scale and complexity. They're expanding and investing in their land, sea, and air-based nuclear delivery platforms, as well as the infrastructure that's required to support this, despite major expansion of their nuclear forces. You know, we estimate in the report that -- as you pointed out here, we were giving you a current estimate, more than 500 operational nuclear warheads as of May 2023, which for many items in the report is kind of where we have our information up to that date. And so that's on track to exceed some of our previous projections. We state in the report, as you pointed out, that they'll have probably over 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030. We have, in past years, sometimes included projections for 2035 and for 2027. We included those largely because those are two of the three capabilities development milestones that Xi Jinping has set for the PLA with the other one being 2049. This year, we decided to include just the current or -- as of earlier this year, current number of weapons, and then to look out to the end of the decade to 2030, rather than to include the years that the PLA has milestones from Xi Jinping for 2027 and 2035. So we didn't do those this time around. But I think -- what I would say is that we do see them continuing to grow their force to 2035, roughly in line with previous estimates. You know, we are noting that currently they are -- kind of exceeding some of our previous projections. And so if you take that out beyond 2030, I think, -- it's safe to say that that's a trend that we think would continue. But -- of course, also the further out you go, the more variability there is, the more factors, the factors that they take into account may change and evolve. And I guess the other point I would note on this is that the PRC has often stated that their aversion to greater transparency, about their nuclear force, has been based on the numerical asymmetry between the U.S. and Russia for that matter and the PLA's arsenal. And so I think as we see them building up to larger numbers, that raises some questions, at least in my mind, about whether they might, perhaps, in line with what they've stated previously, be more willing to be more transparent. So I'd also recommend asking the PRC sources that you talk to where they think that they'll be in the further out years. Because, again, as they develop more capability, I think -- logically, perhaps they'd be willing to be a little bit more transparent about it, although, of course, that remains to be seen. And then on the no-first-use policy, no, we haven't seen any indication that they're going to formally change that. But, I would note that as we've pointed out in the report a number of times over the years, that there are indications in some of their openly published military literature and articles by Chinese scholars and foreign policy and our arms control and nuclear policy experts that do suggest there are circumstances under which they would, perhaps, judge that their policy didn't apply or that, it could be invalidated. So no, we don't see them making a formal declaration that they're changing it. That, hasn't happened yet, at least so far. But -- we have seen plenty of indications that there are circumstances under which they might judge that it wouldn't apply. And I don't think that hasn't changed either. STAFF: Okay, Michael, Wall Street Journal. Q: Yes, Michael Gordon, Wall Street Journal. I have three quick questions following on Tara's question. The report says that the PRC has probably completed the three silo fields for solid fueled missiles, that's 300 ICBM silos. My question to these, do you project that all of those silos are going to be filled with Chinese ICBMs or do you simply not know if that's going to be the case? Two, do you see any signs of cooperation, coordination, technical or strategy-wise with Russia in terms of strategic nuclear forces? And lastly, what -- where is the FOBS program at this point in time? Thank you. SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Okay, I guess I -- I don't think I can get into much more detail that is in the report, on some of the specific details of the nuclear expansion and modernization. I guess what I would say there is that, in terms of the silo fields as well as what they're doing with their SSBMs, with the air leg of the Triad, as well as with the -- land mobile forces in addition to the silo fields, we'll continue to monitor their expansion very closely. You know, I suggested earlier that perhaps they'll be willing to become more transparent over time. I mean, I would also rather than just speculate about it, I'd say we would certainly urge them to be more transparent about their nuclear build-up. You know, it's something that, although they haven't changed their no first use policy, just kind of referring back to the earlier question, that certainly raises question about what is their long-term intent here. And I think it reinforces the importance of pursuing some practical measures to try to reduce nuclear risks. And -- we'll continue to raise strategic stability issues with the PRC. And I think to, we'll -- what we'll do is continue to underscore to them that these are the types of discussions that -- major powers need to have with each other. And that as they continue to further develop and expand their nuclear force, it only makes it more important that we're able to have those kinds of conversations with them. And I don't have anything new to add on the FOBS. Q: And what about the question on cooperation and coordination -- SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Oh, sorry. Sorry. No, I mean -- we're closely watching what they're doing -- with Russia generally. I thinkwe do see the PRC kind of looking at Russia as an important strategic partner from -- from their perspective to kind of balance against, again, what Xi Jinping described earlier this year as the containment suppression and encirclement from the U.S. and its allies and partners. But I don't have anything specifically related to nuclear weapons on that front. STAFF: All right, Tony, Bloomberg. Q: Hi, sir. Thank you for doing this. A couple things that were mentioned in your -- in the embargoed material. What will the box on the famous balloon disclose that hasn't already been written about? Two, there's also a notice that they'll be some discussion in a box of U.S. defense engagement with Taiwan. What will you be outlining there for the first time that you haven't already? And then three, will the report at all discuss major improvements that the DOD has seen over the last year in China's capability to conduct combined arms, including airborne operations, combined arms assault against Taiwan? In what areas does DOD still see deficiencies in those combined arms capabilities? SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Okay, thanks. Yes, I'll just take those one at a time. So on the balloon, we're trying to -- in the report we're trying to provide kind of a concise chain of events that took place over the course of late January and early February, including the U.S. and Canada tracking the balloon as it crossed into Canadian and U.S. airspace. There is quite a bit out there on this already. So -- I would probably characterize it as, what we're doing is kind of describing that we did take some precautions to minimize what intelligence the balloon could collect as it transited over the U.S. I think as you all know, on February 4, we shot the balloon down off the coast of South Carolina and then the Coast Guard, Navy and FBI conducted salvage and recovery operations. I think you were also tracking, as well, China's response to the incident, in which they claim that it was a purely civilian airship that was being used a meteorological research and had been blown off course. The PRC then tried to mount sort of a counternarrative in which they accused the U.S. of flying surveillance balloons over China, which was inaccurate. And I -- what we also talk about here is how the PLA has been researching and developing high altitude balloons now since at least the mid-2000s. And it's something that a number of PRC research institutions and companies have been involved in, to develop and test high-altitude balloons that have payloads for imaging, for data relay, for communications and the like. And, certainly, it is true that some of this research may support civilian applications but it's pretty clear, I think, that a lot of these high altitude systems are instead intended to support the PLA's requirements. And the high-altitude balloon that was shot down on February 4 was developed as part of this broader military linked aerial surveillance program. And I -- I think what I would actually highlight here as the key takeaway from the entire incident, at least from my perspective, is that the high altitude balloon incident really highlighted the critical need for open and consistent military-to-military communications at all levels. We did not have that during that incident because the PRC declined some of the requests that we put forward. But, I think -- again, this kind of incident really highlights how important it is that we have those communications, which is why we're going to continue to pursue them. On your second question about Taiwan, we do have a box about U.S. defense engagement with Taiwan in the report. You know, I guess I would note here that while the PRC routinely accuses us of not abiding by their One China principle, the way that we look at this, our defense engagements with Taiwan are one element of our unofficial U.S. Taiwan relationship. They are consistent with our One China policy, as guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three communiques and the six assurances. And, you know, it's also true that U.S. defense engagement with Taiwan has evolved over time. But -- from our perspective it's evolved in response to what the PRC is capable of doing and what they are demonstrating that they're willing to do in terms of military coercion and intimidation against Taiwan. So, when I say that our defense engagement with Taiwan has evolved, that doesn't contradict our policy in any way. In fact, I think it's required by our policy. And so, that's -- that's what the Taiwan Relations Act says that we need to do. It's -- we have also the six assurances and the idea here that it's -- what we're doing is conditioned on the threat posed by the PRC. So, I think what I'd highlight there is that our policy hasn't changed. Our defense engagement with Taiwan has evolved and continues to evolve. And we're going to use it to bolster the long-standing policy position that we have. And that -- we continue to oppose unilateral changes to the cross-strait status quo by either side, to not support Taiwan independence, and to have the expectation that cross-strait differences are going to be addressed or resolved by peaceful means. So, again, we see our defense engagement as very consistent with that longstanding policy. On the last question about combined arms, I guess what I would say there is that we do, in the report -- talk about some of the PLA's annual exercises, some of what they have been doing, and obviously, they continue to focus on this as one of the main jobs that they have to improve their capability, to do. And so we definitely see improvements in their capabilities. Those were demonstrated in certain respects during their response to the then-Speaker Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, to President Tsai's transit of the United States. But we would also note, and do note, in the report that the PRC still perceives that they have some shortcomings that they have yet to fully address, in terms of their ability to conduct this. That's one of the topics on which we have a special topic in the report. And, yes, we highlight a number of the areas in which they still feel as though they've got some shortcomings. Some of the things that they talk about our how they can operate or need to be better prepared to operate in what they call a complex electromagnetic environment. You know, they still talk about some of the challenges they are involved in, command-and-control and coordination among others. And I think I would all refer you to the box for some additional details, but, yes, they continue to -- I think, to make progress, but also to demonstrate some areas in which they haven't yet accomplished the goals that they have set out for themselves. And, you know, we take note of some of those shortcomings, including, but not -- but not limited to the two that I just mentioned. Q: Thank you. STAFF: OK. Jeff, Voice of America. Q: Thanks very much for doing this. Two questions. First, with all the military capabilities that China is rapidly fielding, what do you see them doing to try to test these capabilities to make sure that the troops have the requisite or necessary combat experience if they got into a fight, because it doesn't -- the forces generally haven't been very much battle-tested in any real war for a while? And then also the report talks about China's chemical and biological weapons research. Can you share some examples of what type of bioweapon research has you most worried? And is this at all connected to some the previous warnings by U.S. intelligence agencies about Chinese efforts to collect DNA and other genetic information? SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: OK. So on the question of combat experience, I think this is another -- I could've listed this, actually, as another one of the shortcomings that the PRC highlights in a lot of their own self-assessments -- in response to the previous question as well. It is something that the PLA notes and speaks about publicly. They do, you know, highlight that the PLA hasn't been involved in major combat operations since the 1979 conflict between China and Vietnam. And so they try to address that, I think, by attempting to make their training and their exercises more realistic -- to more closely approximate what they refer to as, a real war or actual combat type conditions. And I think they tried to address that as well by learning whatever lessons they can from other countries involvement in military conflicts. So the PLA has very carefully studied military conflicts involving U.S. forces, Russian forces and others over the years. And that's one of the key sources that I think that they draw on to try to better understand how they need to prepare themselves for future combat operations. So certainly they're watching very closely how the war in --Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine is unfolding. And that's something that they'll try to learn a lot of lessons from among any other opportunities that they have to learn those types of lessons. On the question about chemical and biological Research. You know, we highlight in the report that the PRC's chemical and biotechnology capabilities are sufficient to research, develop, and produce at least some types of chemical and biological agents or toxins on a large scale. That they have, very likely, capabilities that are relevant to chemical and biological warfare that could pose a threat to the U.S. and the forces of our allies and partners, and U.S. forces and allies and partners forces. And they continue also to engage in biological activities that have some dual-use applications, raising concerns regarding their compliance with the Biological Weapons Convention. That includes studies at PRC military medical institutions on potent toxins that have dual-use applications. So we -- we stated in the report again that we, the U.S. cannot verify or cannot certify that the PRC has met its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention due to concerns regarding their research on pharmaceutical-based agents and toxins that could have potential dual-use applications. So those are kind of the highlights of what we have in the report on this topic. We get into of course a bit more detail than that, but I don't have anything to add for you on the -- on the second part of the question. STAFF: Idrees at Reuters. Q: The 500 nuclear warheads number. Is that an increase or a slight increase from the previous report? And in this report you say they're expected to have over 1,000 warheads by 2030. That is the same number I think as the 2021 report. So I'm just confused how it is exceeding projections. If the 2030 number is still the same at the end of the day? SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Sure. So -- again I think the 500 that we assessed that they had as of May does put them on track to exceed previous projections. You know, what we're saying for 2030 is over a thousand. So again that is consistent with what -- consistent with what we said in the previous report. But -- again we see them on track to exceed those projections. So we're not trying to suggest a very large departure from where they look to be headed in last year's report, but we are suggesting that they're on track to exceed those previous projections. And -- again I think that the major -- this obviously raises a lot of concerns for us. And -- we'll continue to monitor it as I said earlier. But for us what we'd really like to see is for them to be more transparent about their nuclear buildup and also to see some greater willingness on their part to discuss the strategic stability and risk reduction issues with us. And then obviously in terms of what -- what we're doing ourselves, our own Nuclear Posture Review makes it clear that we're going to have a safe, secure, and effective nuclear deterrent and that we're going to make sure that we have -- credible extended deterrence that we need for our allies and partners. Q: I'm just confused how you're exceeding projections when the projection of 2030 is the same as the 2021 report? SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Yes. Again I think, just -- underscore the word over in terms of the -- over a thousand. STAFF: All right. Demetri, Financial Times. Q: Two questions. The first is in terms of the risky and coercive aerial intercepts of allies and partners aircraft. Can you give us a breakdown or a rough breakdown of the different countries? And then on mil-to-mil relations have you learned any more on what has happened to Li Shangfu? And do you think his disappearance could pave the way for restarting some of the mil-to-mil channels that have been closed? SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: OK. So on the -- on the first question, I guess -- first refer you to the briefing yesterday that ASD Ratner and Admiral Aquilino presented. You know, we've seen these kind of intercepts against not just the U.S. but our allies and partners. Both Australia and Canada have talked about this publicly including some of the -- a very recent incident involving Canada that a Canadian -- the Canadian news media reported on, as they were they were embarked on the Canadian aircraft that the PRC intercepted unsafely in recent days. I don't believe that we have a specific breakdown on numbers of incidents by country. In the report I think we simply presented a kind of top-line number for the U.S. and then another number that includes all of the allies and partners together. Then on the question of U.S.-PRC defense relations - I guess what I would say there is obviously I'd refer you to the PRC for any announcements that they might make regarding their own PLA personnel. But -- what I would say is that we continue to believe that it's extremely important for us to maintain open lines of military-to-military communications between the U.S. and the PRC, across multiple levels, including the senior most levels. I know that they have stated that that we continue to maintain military-to-military communications with them. And -- certainly we do have working-level communications. We have also had recently a meeting between Admiral Aquilino and the Deputy Chief of the PLA's Joint Staff Department in Fiji. But again from our perspective it's important that we have consistent, open lines of communication across all of these levels including the most senior levels. You know -- you mentioned kind of the current status of -- on the PRC side of their senior defense leadership. And I think we do note in the report that anticorruption investigations in the PLA are -- a component of the party-wide effort that Xi Jinping has accelerated since he took office. I think I would say that we know that corruption in the PLA has been a longstanding problem and that it's got -- from the PRC's own judgments, a profound effect on what they're able to do and how they do it. You know, the PRC media also announced recently that the PLA Rocket Force leadership was being replaced and that the PLA had launched an inquiry into corruption that was linked to the procurement of military equipment. So I think indicating that there are anticorruption campaign -- definitely remains in progress. And then -- I mean again on the sort of the key issue at the heart of your question there -- we certainly think it's been unfortunate when we haven't been able to have those senior level engagements at the Shangri-La Dialogue for instance this year. You know, the handshake was not a substitute for a more in-depth substantive discussion. We hope that we'll be able to have those more in-depth and more substantive discussions in the future, -- again, including at the most senior levels. (CROSSTALK) SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: And then also that our Defense Attache's office in Beijing maintains with their counterparts in the PLA's office of International Military Cooperation definitely will regard those also as -- again, part of that -- what we see as the importance that we attach to maintaining those open lines of communication. And I would just -- again, reiterate that that should also include the senior most levels. Q: Thank you. STAFF: Chris Woody, Insider. Q: Hi, thanks for your time. The executive summary mentions a few times that the PLA has been tasked with developing the capability to project power globally. I wanted to ask, China's Air Force and Navy as they stand now, are those forces that can effectively project power globally or do you think they still have a ways to do before they have the platforms and the personnel who can carry out long range operations for extended periods? SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Yeah. So I think -- we've seen the PRC really start to pursue these more global capabilities, now for going back almost two decades, I would say, really to the early 2000s. You know 2004 was when then President Hu Jintao assigned the -- what are sometimes referred to as the new historic missions to the PLA, which included this more global aspect of their -- their kind of responsibility to support Chinese foreign policy and support the PRC's national security interest. I think -- what I would say there, is that they have made pretty considerable amount of progress. They've been conducting the anti-piracy operations now for a long time, for example. You know we've seen them work on developing large transport air, craft that could support the PLA's power of projection capabilities. The aircraft carrier program, -- the establishment of some -- of at least the beginnings of a network of global basis with the first base in Djibouti, the continued construction of a PLA facility at Ream Naval base in Cambodia. And I think I would also -- note here their participation in peace keeping operations. Some of the bilateral and multilateral military exercises that they conduct -- all of these are -- I think indicators of growing global military activities on the PLA's part. You know at the same time I think they still have -- a long way to go in terms of having the level of military capability that I -- that we judge that they think that they need to advance their global security and economic interest. Q: Right. And thank you for that. And you mentioned the basing there, there's been lots of rumors about bases in lots of countries but right now we've only seen concrete information or developments in Djibouti and Cambodia. Do you assess that's because China hasn't had any luck anywhere else or is it still -- is it the case that China isn't moving on this with as much urgency as other things? SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: I -- I guess I would just characterize it as a work in progress. I think they're continuing to try to expand the access in the locations that are available to the PLA globally -- and I would expect to see continued effort and continued development -- continued developments on that front in the coming years. Q: Thank you. STAFF: Lalit, Press Trust India. Q: Hi. Thank you for this. I wanted to ask you have you seen, as compared to last year, the Chinese military buildup in the Tibet regions and how -- and (inaudible) border with India? Thank you. SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: All right. Thank you. So I think what I would -- what I would say there is that -- we see these -- the border tensions reflecting a concerning trend of more assertiveness and provocative behavior by the PRC. You know with -- although I don't have a lot of -- detailed information to present to you on -- force disposition current military activities there, I think -- what I would is that within India we do have a long standing and growing ties that are based on a shared commitment and shared interest politically, economically, culturally, security interest as well, including a commitment to a free and open and prosperous Indo-Pacific. And -- we do remain concerned about the Chinese efforts that you described. And again, as part of a sort of broader set of efforts throughout the region -- that include engaging in different types of coercive practices here, which -- in this case has included the coercive military activities that you cited. And I guess, -- I mean, although again -- I don't have detailed information about the force disposition, we do have in the report kind of a laydown of where PLA forces are in the Western Theater Command a little bit more generally. And we did see in 2022 them continue to increase their deployment of forces and to build up their infrastructure -- opposite India. And so although we may not have quite the level of detail that your question is asking for, I would point you to that section in that report where we do go through some of the development of the military infrastructure, as well as some of the activities that took place in 2022. Q: Thank you. STAFF: Jeff, Task and Purpose. Q: Thank you. This wasn't in the executive summary but the China power report has a handy dandy chart of how many missiles the Chinese have. And I noticed from 2021, they said they had 300 intermediate range ballistic missiles. And then last year it said it was more than 250. So I'm hoping -- can I get a little more fidelity on exactly how many of these intermediate range ballistic missiles the Chinese have? And as a quick follow-up, it looks like the Chinese now have 370 ships and subs in their Navy. Did they build more than 30 vessels in the past year? Thank you. SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: OK. So on China's rocket force, we do have a chart in this year's report that breaks down by ICBMs, IRBMs, MRBMs, and SRBMs; including both launchers and missiles. And so for IRRBMs, what we list in this year's report is 250 launchers and 500 missiles. So I think that hopefully answers the question on the intermediate range ballistic missiles. In terms of the naval forces, I think -- I'm sorry, could you just repeat the -- Q: Sure. In 2022 the report said that China had about 340 ships and subs total. Now it says they have more than 370 vessels, ships and subs. So am I -- if I do arithmetic, does that mean that they built more than 30 vessels in the span of one year? SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: So, I think, I guess I would -- I'm not sure that -- reflects exactly the shipbuilding numbers but rather probably the entry into service -- of ships. So, I think -- roughly. And we -- I can try to run that down and come back to you with a little more detailed answer, but I think that -- I would regard it as reflecting an increase in the number of ships in the PLA Navy. Q: Thank you. SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Not necessarily the exact shipbuilding numbers because, of course -- what they're building could include things that haven't yet been -- have not yet completed construction and been turned over to the Navy. STAFF: Jim, DOD News. Q: Hi, just one -- just one question, you know, President Xi has been going around this week as the 10th anniversary of the bridge in -- or Belt and Road Initiative. And I'm just curious, from a -- from the Chinese standpoint, has the BRI been successful? And, you know, in the past you always made a big part about the military civil fusion development. Is it -- from and again the Chinese standpoint, is it working that way? Is it still fused with the Belt and Road? SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Sure, so the Belt and Road Initiative, I guess I would say that I think they're -- they're meeting some of their objectives and maybe falling short of them in other areas. That's -- it sort of depends on region and country and project. As for the military civil fusion, I think they're still pursuing that with a lot of determination, they just don't use the term military civil fusion to refer to it in public anymore. They try to kind of talk around that term, but what they're describing still very much reflects the same ambitions and the same kinds of activities that they're undertaking to try to achieve them, in terms of what we would have labeled the military civil fusion and -- again, although they're not referring to it with that specific term publicly anymore, they're absolutely still pursuing it. STAFF: Lara, Politico. Q: Hey, thanks so much for doing this. A couple questions. Just on, the report mentions a new long range fire capability that was demonstrated in the live-fire exercise around Taiwan last year. Can you speak to what that is exactly? And then my second question is just, I wanted to press you on the nuclear numbers just a little bit. You said more than 1,000 by 2030 and exceeding the projections last year. Like, how much more? Is it like 1,010? Is it 1,500? Can you just any more fidelity in -- of what you mean by more would be helpful. SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Sure. So, on the -- I'll take the second part first. I mean, we're saying over 1,000. You know, we're not trying to suggest it's dramatically -- higher. You know, I -- we wouldn't put over 1,000 if we thought that that wasn't the right way to describe it, if that's helpful to you. I think that -- we're not really able to get into the details of -- the underlying intelligence assessments. I mean, we try to, for this report, in different places declassify things so that we can put them out into the public discussion and try to have a well-informed public debate. But -- sometimes we're not able to necessarily go much deeper in terms of the details or exactly how we arrive at some of the assessments. And then, I think I'll have to get back to you on the specifics of the conventional strike capability that you referenced. Q: Okay, so just to clarify, you said it's not a lot more -- not drastically more than 1,000? But - SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: I would -- we try to describe it in a way that we think is accurate by saying over 1,000. Q: Okay. Okay. Thank you. STAFF: Meredith at Jane's. Q: Hi, sir, thank you for doing this. I wanted to ask about the executive summary's mention of conventional -- conventionally armed ICBMs and if you can say -- how the range for those conventionally armed missiles has changed from your report last year and what the significance of that is? SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Sure, so I think what I would say is just to put it in a little bit broader context -- the PLA rocket force, when it introduced conventional missile capabilities now more than 20 years ago, started with short-range ballistic missiles. They expanded over time to include medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles and their conventional force. And now, we see them kind of continuing to follow that progression and we see -- possible interest in development of a conventional ICBM. So, what we would highlight about that is it would give them a conventional capability to strike the U.S. for the first time from -- for the PLA rocket force and to -- of course, to threaten targets in the continental U.S. and Hawaii and Alaska. And, I think -- as we see them maybe exploring the development of those conventionally armed ICBMs, it raises some questions about risks to strategic stability -- which again, I think, highlights the importance of having clear and direct conversations between the U.S. and the PRC on these topics, which we'll continue to pursue. Q: And can you clarify how far along the PRC is in the development of those longer range ICBMs? SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: No, I don't have anything to add at this time beyond what we have in the report. Q: Thank you. STAFF: Howard, War Zone. Q: Thanks so much for doing this. Got a couple questions about Chinese aviation. Can you tell me the status of the H-20 stealth bomber and when we'll see that emerge? And also, can you tell me about the development of the regional stealth bomber that's been sighted in public U.S. government intelligence assessments is also being in development? SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: I don't recall right now having a lot of details on that in the report. I'm going to thumb through for a second here. But that may be one that we need to get back to you on what we're able to provide there, if anything. Q: On both of those aircraft? SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Yes, on the -- you were asking about -- the one that's referred to as the H-20 as - Q: Yes. SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: -- as well as the regional bomber? Q: Yes, on those. Yes. You can get back to me on that, that would be great. SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Yes, I may need to do that. Sorry. Q: Okay, thanks. STAFF: Okay, Brian, Aviation Week. Q: Hi, thank you. And I guess I'll just continue down the trend of Chinese aviation. The executive summary highlights developments of beyond visual range air-to-air missiles and new secret capabilities. This wasn't mentioned in last year's report, and it's been a while since we heard much about the PL-15. Can you expand anymore on what you've seen in this space over the past year or so? And secondly, last year's report highlighted Chinese domestic efforts for domestic aircraft engine production, specifically for J-10s, J-20s, Y-20s. Does this report have any update on the expansion of this, the success of this transition, and where things stand on that? Thank you. SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: So I don't think I have anything more specific to go into on any of the long-range air-to-air missiles. With respect to the engine developments, that might also be one for us to get back to you on. As I'm -- as I'm going through the report though, I did find where we referred to the H-20. So let me -- with apologies for going back to the previous question for a moment. You know, we know that the PRC has stated publicly through its official media that the H-20 will have nuclear as well as conventional roles, and we do also mention that the PLA Air Force is developing a new medium and long-range stealth bombers for regional targets as well as global targets. And to the question about sort of when these would enter into service, we note in the report that PLA Air Force leaders first publicly announced the program in 2016. And -- it would be our expectation that it would take probably more than a decade to develop that type of advanced bomber. So that is what we have on the H-20 in the report, and I'll see if we are able to add anything on the other questions, although I don't believe that we covered those in detail. STAFF: All right. Mark, Defense Scoop? Q: Hi. Yeah, thanks for doing this. You noted that the PLA is growing its capabilities in cyberspace. I'm wondering if you can expand on that a little bit? And describe what you've observed in the last year regarding Chinese advancements in their information capabilities or their approach to include cyber capabilities, cyber ops, electronic warfare, or information warfare? SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Yeah, sure. So I think the first thing I would highlight is I think the PLA really sees space, cyber, and electronic warfare as very closely interconnected. You know, they've written about a -- concept that they refer to as integrated network electronic warfare for many years. And then we -- we've seen, with the establishment of the PLA's Strategic Support Force, that they have tied those capabilities together under one organization. You know, definitely we see them trying to modernize all of those capabilities. And -- for the Strategic Support Force -- we do talk in the report about the Network Systems Department, which is sometimes referred to as the Cyberspace Force, which is responsible for kind of all of the information warfare capabilities. So that includes cyber warfare, what -- technical reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and they also have a psychological warfare mission. And then we talk a little bit about the Space Systems Department, which is also sometimes referred to as the Aerospace Force, and that's responsible for all of the PLA's military space operations. And -- as we've highlighted also in some previous years, they really view information superiority and space superiority in particular as critical elements of what they want to be able to do in terms of -- future combat operations -- so we see them continuing to try to improve their cyber and electronic warfare and also their -- kind of full range of counter-space capabilities and technologies. Q: Yeah, I mean, have you noticed within the last year any changes in terms of growth to that force or change in risk calculus or more aggression in terms of targets that they're trying to go after, either within the United States or around the world? SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: So for the Cyber Force, I don't think I really have anything more to add there -- sorry, for the cyber operations. Then -- I guess on the counter-space side, while we're on the subject of the PLA's Strategic Support Force, I mean, I would note that -- we do see them continuing to acquire and develop a full range of counter-space capabilities -- so kinetic kill capabilities, ground-based lasers, some orbital counter-space capabilities, as well as expanding their space surveillance capabilities -- which of course are really important, in terms of their ability to monitor objects, to have space situational awareness, and to enable their counter-space actions. So we do go into that a -- little bit more in the report, on what they're doing on the Aerospace Force side of the house and the Strategic Support Force. All right, so I think that was the end of our list of questions, as I understand it. So really -- thanks to everyone for joining us this afternoon and for bearing with us as -- I know we had to reschedule, I think, at least once. So thanks for your patience. And again, please feel free to follow up, (staff) can help address any questions we weren't able to fully answer or other ones that come up. And thanks again, everybody. https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3562254/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address October 19, 2023 By Jim Garamone , DOD News DOD Report Details Chinese Efforts to Build Military Power The People's Republic of China is continuing its efforts to overturn the international rules-based order and is building an increasingly effective military to further these aims, said a senior defense official speaking on background. The official gave reporters a preview of the 2023 China Military Power Report that DOD delivered to Congress today. The annual report to Congress is based on the National Defense Strategy's premise that China is the only competitor with the intent, will and capability to reshape the international order, said the official. "The 2022 National Defense Strategy identifies the PRC as increasingly capable military as the department's top pacing challenge," he said. The report "charts the current course of the PRC's national economic and military strategies, and offers insight into the [Chinese military's] strategy, its current capabilities, some of its operational activities, as well as its future modernization goals," he said. Communist leaders seek "the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," by 2049 - the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party's takeover of the world's largest country. Part of this effort is China is increasing military coercion, the official said. An example of this is the increasing numbers of unsafe intercepts of U.S., allied and partner vessels and aircraft operating in international air and seaways of the Indo-Pacific region. "Between the fall of 2021 and the fall of 2023, the United States documented over 180 instances of [the People's Liberation Army] coercive and risky air intercepts against U.S. aircraft in the region," the official said. When allies and partners are included, this jumps to more than 300 instances. The report also covers China's intensifying pressure campaign against Taiwan including Chinese ballistic missile overflights of Taiwan, increased flights into Taiwan's self-declared air defense identification zone and the large-scale simulated joint blockade and simulated joint firepower strike operations done after a visit to the island by a U.S. congressional delegation. Additionally, China's deepening security ties with Russia are covered. In fact, as the official was detailing the content of the report, Chinese President Xi Jinping was meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin at a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative in China. The senior defense official said China sees its emergence as a great power as tied to the alliance with Russia. The report also looks at the continued development of the Chinese military's nuclear, space and cyberspace capabilities. "We see the PRC continuing to quite rapidly modernize and diversify and expand its nuclear forces," he said. "They are expanding and investing in their land, sea and air-based nuclear delivery platforms, as well as the infrastructure that's required to support this." The report estimates the Chinese had more than 500 operational nuclear warheads as of May 2023. "That is on track to exceed some of our previous predictions," he said. China is developing new intercontinental ballistic missiles. These may also be conventionally-armed missiles. "If developed and fielded, such capabilities would allow the PRC to threaten conventional strikes against targets in the continental United States, Hawaii and Alaska," the official said. According to the report, Chinese leaders are seeking to modernize People's Liberation Army capabilities in all domains of warfare. On the land, the PLA continues to modernize its equipment and focus on combined arms and joint training, the official said. The Chinese military is still a conscript force with two intakes a year. The military is working to field long-range fires and incorporate the capability into their doctrine. At sea, China has the world's largest navy with a battle force of more than 370 ships and submarines. The Chinese launched their third aircraft carrier in the past year and commissioned their third amphibious assault ship. The PLA Air Force "is rapidly catching up to western air forces," the official said. The air force continues to build up manned and unmanned aircraft and the Chinese announced the fielding of the H-6N - its first nuclear-capable, air-to-air refueled bomber. The Chinese military has not been involved in a shooting war since 1979 and "this actually is one of the shortcomings that the PRC highlights and a lot of their own self assessments," the official said. "They tried to address that, I think, by attempting to make their training and their exercises more realistic, to more closely approximate a actual combat type conditions. "I think they tried to address it as well, by learning whatever lessons they can from other countries' involvement in military conflicts," he continued. Chinese military leaders carefully studied military conflicts involving U.S. forces, Russian forces and others over the years. That is one of the key sources they draw upon to better understand how they need to prepare themselves for future combat operations. "Certainly, they're watching very closely Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine," the official said. The Chinese military is looking for bases overseas and looking to develop the resources needed to be a globally relevant force. They have established an overall logistics command and they are working hand-in-glove with the Belt and Road Initiative to gain access. Finally, the report also discusses the dearth of contacts between U.S. and Chinese defense officials. "The PLA's refusal to engage in military-to-military communications with the United States, combined with the PLA's increasingly coercive and risky operational behavior, raises the risk of an operational incident or miscalculation spiraling into crisis or conflict," the official said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on October 19, 2023 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China 2023-10-19 19:38 CCTV: The Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation was successfully held from 17 to 18 October and received great international attention. Can you give us more details about the Forum? Mao Ning: Thank you for closely following the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. This BRF was attended by over 10,000 registered representatives from 151 countries and 41 international organizations. The scale of participation has once again showcased the tremendous appeal and global influence of Belt and Road cooperation. As Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at the press conference yesterday, the BRF is a conference of unity, of win-win outcome and of development. It is another important milestone in the process of Belt and Road cooperation. The clearest message from this Forum is unity, cooperation, openness and win-win outcome. Amid great transformations unseen in a century, Belt and Road cooperation will always bring stability and positive energy to the world. The most important consensus of this Forum is to usher in a new stage of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. As the BRI enters a new stage, it will definitely create more opportunities and bring more good news for the world. The most ambitious vision of this Forum is to realize global modernization through joint efforts. President Xi Jinping proposed for the first time that global modernization should be pursued through the joint efforts of all countries to enhance peaceful development and mutually beneficial cooperation and bring prosperity to all, setting the direction for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. The defining feature of this Forum is that it is action-oriented, efficient and pragmatic. During this Forum, 458 outcomes have been reached, far exceeding the number of the last Forum. These tangible cooperation outcomes will certainly provide sustained impetus for global growth and common development across the world. The success of this Forum proves once again that China has followed the right direction in advancing Belt and Road cooperation, that BRI partners have shown firm commitment to participation, and that high-quality Belt and Road cooperation enjoys bright prospects. Standing at a new historical starting point, we look forward to working with all parties to embark on a new journey of Belt and Road cooperation and usher in a better future of joint progress toward global modernization.a CCTV: On October 18, the UN Security Council voted on a draft resolution proposed by Brazil on the Palestinian question. Twelve countries, including China voted in favor of the draft resolution, but as the US used its veto power, the resolution was not adopted. What is China's comment? Mao Ning: China's Permanent Representative to the UN has explained China's position at length after the vote. The Palestinian-Israeli conflict continues to escalate, causing widespread civilian casualties and humanitarian crisis and a severe blow to the region's peace and stability. China supports the Security Council in playing a responsible role and all efforts aimed to deescalate the situation and restore peace, and welcomes any initiative that helps protect civilians and ease the humanitarian crisis. For several days running, the Security Council has been engaged in in-depth discussions on the draft of a resolution on the Palestinian question and building up consensus. The overwhelming majority of countries, the Arab countries in particular, support the Security Council in taking action as soon as possible. China is deeply disappointed at the US blocking the Security Council resolution. As tensions continue to escalate, the Security Council needs to listen to the call from the many Arab countries and the Palestinian people, and live up to its duty and play its role in bringing about a ceasefire, protecting civilians and averting an even worse humanitarian disaster. TASS: President Xi Jinping and RussianaPresident Vladimir Putin had fairly long talks, during which the two heads of state exchanged views on the Palestinian-Israeli situation. Could the foreign ministry share more information on this part of the talks? How does China view its coordination with Russia on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict? Mao Ning: There is a readout on President Xi's talks withaPresident Putin and you may refer to that. I can tell you that the talks between the two heads of state were candid, friendly and deep-going. The two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations, practical cooperation, Belt and Road cooperation, multilateral coordination and the Palestinian-Israeli situation. Both sides agreed to pursue high-quality cooperation, forge stronger synergy between the Belt and Road cooperation and the Eurasian Economic Union and continue to step upacommunication and coordination within the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the G20 and other multilateral frameworks and add new dimensions to our cooperation. Al Jazeera: During President Biden's visit to Israel, the US and Israel jointly proposed the relocation of people in Gaza to Egypt, but Egypt explicitly opposed it. What is China's comment on this proposal? Mao Ning: We believe that the pressing priority is for all parties concerned to stop fighting as soon as possible, earnestly abide by the international humanitarian law, do their utmost to protect civilians and prevent a wider humanitarian disaster. The international community, especially non-regional major countries with influence, should play their role in this regard. We appreciate Egypt's active mediation efforts and its coordination work to ease the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. Hubei Media Group: The UK and some Western countries have raised concern over Xinjiang-related issues at the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly. Meanwhile, over 100 countries voiced support at the committee for China's position in various ways and expressed opposition to interference in China's internal affairs under the pretext of human rights. What's China's comment?a Mao Ning: On October 17, at the Third Committee of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Pakistan delivered a joint statement on behalf of over 70 countries. They pointed out that issues related to Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Xizang are China's internal affairs. They spoke against the politicization of human rights issues, the application of double standards and interference in China's internal affairs in the name of human rights. Many other countries expressed support for China by making statements either individually or collectively. A total of over 100 member states spoke up for justice and voiced support for China at the UN. The attempt of a handful of Western countries to hold back and contain China under the pretext of human rights was thwarted once again. In a world fraught with crises and challenges, solidarity and cooperation matter more than ever. The UK and a handful of Western countries, based on disinformation and driven by the Cold War mentality, have put themselves on the opposite side of the international community by inciting confrontation at multilateral fora. These countries do not acknowledge their own human rights woes such as persistent systemic racism and racial discrimination and violation of migrants' rights. They have yet to show the slightest repentance over grave human rights violations during the era of colonialism and its vestiges, nor have they offered any sincere apologies or compensation. The international community has raised concern over and over on this. We urge the UK to face squarely and address its own human rights issues and stop politicizing or instrumentalizing human rights issues. We Chinese have every confidence in the path we have chosen and take great pride in the achievements we have made. We will stay firmly committed to our chosen path and set course. China has been elected Member of the Human Rights Council for the 2024-2026 term. We will continue to uphold the common values of all humanity, actively participate in global human rights governance, and promote the sound development of the international human rights cause. RIA Novosti: When addressing the opening ceremony of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the Northern Sea Route will soon open to traffic and invited other countries to participate in the development of the project. What's China's comment? Is China willing to cooperate with Russia in the framework of the Northern Sea Route?a Mao Ning: I'd refer you to competent authorities for the specifics. As a principle, China stands ready to have Arctic cooperation with Russia as well as cooperation in other areas under the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit.a KBS: Recently US President Joe Biden visited Israel and the US government indicated it will try to play the role of an arbitrator. What is China's comment on the US role as an arbitrator in light of the current conflict? Mao Ning: In dealing with international and regional hotspot issues, major countries need to be objective and just, exercise calm and restraint and lead by example in abiding by international law. We hope that the US can play a constructive role and bring issues back to the track of political settlement. Al Jazeera: Following the attack on a hospital in Gaza, Israel is creating an even greater humanitarian disaster in Gaza. What is China's attitude towards the Israeli government in response to what Israel has done? Mao Ning: China is shocked by and strongly condemns the attack on the hospital in Gaza, which has caused massive casualties. We mourn for the victims and extend sympathies to the injured. China calls for an immediate ceasefire and cessation of hostilities, fulfillment of obligations under the international humanitarian law and every possible effort to protect civilians and avert an even worse humanitarian disaster. Reuters: It was reported that a Japanese national employed by Astellas Pharma, who was detained in Beijing in March, was officially arrested for suspicion of espionage. Can you confirm this and provide more information on the espionage charge?a Mao Ning: We have shared information about the case before. Relevant Chinese authorities adopted compulsory measures in accordance with the criminal procedure law against the Japanese citizen suspected of engaging in espionage activities. China is a country under the rule of law. We will handle the case in accordance with law and protect the lawful rights and interests of the person concerned. For more specifics, I'd refer you to competent Chinese authorities. The Paper: US California Governor Gavin Newsom's spokesperson announced that the Governor will visit China next week. What's China's comment? Mao Ning: China welcomes Governor Gavin Newsom and his delegation to China and hopes that the visit will produce good results and bolster California's exchanges and cooperation with China. China encourages interactions between Chinese and Americans from all walks of life and supports sub-national efforts of expanding exchanges and cooperation in such fields as economy and trade, science and technology, education, culture and youth, so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples and inject more positive energy for the China-US relations. AFP: Zhai Jun, Special Envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Issue, is scheduled to visit the Middle East this week. Do you have any details on his visit? Mao Ning: Thank you for your interest in the visit by Special Envoy Zhai Jun. We will release information in a timely manner. I believe it won't be long before more details become available. Reuters: Chinese experts are currently participating in an IAEA-led survey in Japan analyzing fish that landed in Fukushima following the release of water from the nuclear plant. Since China has been sharply critical of the IAEA's support of Japan's decision to release the water, why do Chinese experts continue to take part in these IAEA missions? Mao Ning: China's opposition to Japan's dumping the Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean is consistent and clear. It has been almost two months since Japan started the ocean discharge. The international community demands for an international monitoring arrangement that will stay effective for the long haul and ensure substantive participation of Japan's neighboring countries and other stakeholders. We believe that the IAEA should play its due role and work constructively for this and step up to its responsibility of providing rigorous supervision on Japan's ocean discharge. Japan should work in full coordination and avoid irreversible damage caused by the ocean discharge. Reuters: Why was there no leaders' roundtable and joint communiquA after this year's Belt and Road Form, unlike in previous years? Mao Ning: China has issued a Chair's Statement on the forum, which you may refer to. AFP: US Department of the Treasury announced yesterday that it will sanction 11 individuals, eight entities, and one vessel that are enabling Iran's ballistic missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programs, including companies and individuals based in Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, China. What is your response? Mao Ning: We continue to strongly oppose the US's illegal unilateral sanctions. We will firmly protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese businesses and citizens. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 51 nations blast China over violating Uyghurs' rights Move comes after China was named to the UN Human Rights Council despite its poor record. By Gulchehra Hoja and Adile Ablet for RFA Uyghur 2023.10.19 -- In a joint statement, 51 countries, including the United States, expressed deep concern to the United Nations on Wednesday over Chinese human rights violations of Uyghurs in its far-western Xinjiang region. The move comes after China was elected to the U.N. Human Rights Council for the 2024-2026 term - despite its poor track record in protecting rights. "Members of Uyghur and other predominantly Muslim minorities in Xinjiang continue to suffer serious violations of their human rights by the authorities of the People's Republic of China," said the statement, which was delivered by James Kariuki, Britain's U.N. ambassador. It urged China to respond to an August 2022 report issued by the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, or OHCHR, which concluded China's mass detentions of Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim minorities on a large scale in Xinjiang "may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity." The report found that "serious human rights violations" have been committed in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region amid the Chinese government's claims of countering terrorism and extremism. The assessment cited evidence of invasive surveillance on the basis of religion and ethnicity, restrictions on cultural and religious practices, torture and ill-treatment of detainees, forced abortion and sterilization of Muslim women, enforced disappearances, family separations, and forced labor, the statement noted. "Over a year has passed since that assessment was released and yet China has not engaged in any constructive discussion of these findings," said the statement issued at the U.N.'s Third Committee, which meets annually in early October to deal with human rights, humanitarian affairs and social matters. In its recommendations, the OHCHR had called on the Chinese government to release detainees from camps and other detention facilities, issue details about the location of Uyghurs in Xinjiang who have been out of touch with relatives abroad, allow travel so families can be reunited, and investigate allegations of human rights abuses. 'Strong remedial action' At the most recent session of the U.N's Human Rights Council in September, Volker TArk, the current high commissioner for human rights, called on China to follow the recommendations of the assessment and take "strong remedial action." Maya Wang, associate director of the Asia division at Human Rights Watch, said maintaining pressure on China is part of a continued effort to hold the country accountable for its actions in Xinjiang. "Suffice it to say that moving a government as abusive and powerful as China's takes a lot of effort and time, and that pressing the U.N. to keep prioritizing human rights in its interactions with China is part of this long and hard effort," she told Radio Free Asia. The New York-based right group called on U.N. Secretary-General AntAnio Guterres on Monday to press Chinese President Xi Jinping to end crimes against humanity in Xinjiang and other serious rights abuses in China, during a visit to Beijing to attend the third Belt and Road Forum on Oct. 17-18. "Since becoming secretary-general in 2017, Guterres has shown reluctance to publicly criticize the Chinese government for its severe and worsening repression," HRW said in a statement. Growing number Dolkun Isa, president of the World Uyghur Congress, welcomed the joint U.N. statement, noting that a few African and South American countries have signed this year's statement condemning China's atrocities against Uyghurs. "In 2019, there were only 20 countries that signed on to the joint statement," he said. "Despite China's efforts to spread disinformation to cover up it genocide against Uyghurs by increasing tourism, inviting friendly diplomats and journalists to the region, the fact that there are more countries signed on to this joint statement this time proves the complete failure of China's disinformation campaign," he said. Luke de Pulford, executive director of Inter-parliamentary Alliance on China, said the latest statement should not be confused with action. "We shouldn't be fooled," he told RFA. "It's good that the U.K. should be applauded for taking some symbolic action, but these statements do not achieve accountability. It shouldn't be confused and conflated with accountability." Xinjiang regional expert Adrian Zenz agreed that "writing a letter was good, but it cost you nothing," he tweeted on X, formerly known as Twitter. "You are not paying any actual price for your values," he wrote. "Actions speak louder than words. Actions could include: Effective forced labor ban. Legal atrocity determination. Sanctioning higher level officials." 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 British government urged to protect Hong Kong activists Immigrants under a popular visa program say they are under threat, sometimes followed. By Cheryl Tung for RFA Cantonese 2023.10.19 -- Calls are growing for the British government to take action to protect Hong Kongers both in the United Kingdom and in their city of origin, following the arrest of 20 British visa applicants last week. Exiled activists, some of whom have arrest warrants and bounties on their heads, have spoken out in recent interviews over ongoing violent attacks on them by supporters or agents of the Chinese state. "It is not safe to go out in the U.K.," Finn Lau, whose name appears on a wanted list of eight prominent overseas activists issued by Hong Kong's national security police earlier this year, and who was attacked near his London home in 2020. "I usually take an Air Tag [tracker device] with me to let trusted people know whether I'm safe," he said, adding that he also carries a strobe torch and a rape alarm as a deterrent to potential attackers. Since Beijing imposed a national security law banning public opposition and dissent on the city, blaming "hostile foreign forces" for the protests, hundreds of thousands have left Hong Kong, at least 144,000 of them via the British National Overseas visa scheme, which offers a pathway to citizenship to holders of the British National Overseas passport. China has hit out at the visa program as "interference in its internal affairs." Many Hong Kongers in the United Kingdom have spoken recently about threats to their personal safety and acts of violence by Beijing supporters and officials alike. Lau called on local police forces to liaise more with local exile groups to step up measures to protect Hong Kongers. "Police in different regions in the U.K. could hold forums or closed-door meetings to communicate with local British Hong Kong organizations, to learn about the various attacks or infiltration, including personal experiences, which would help them formulate a policy to improve Britain's serious infiltration problem," Lau said. Targeted for withdrawing pensions Hong Kong Watch, a London-based rights group, said the authorities are also targeting people even before they're able to leave for overseas - when they try to cash out of their pensions. The city's Independent Commission Against Corruption said last week it had arrested 20 individuals related to Hong Kongers who were seeking to withdraw their Mandatory Pension Fund from Hong Kong, claiming they had said they were moving to mainland China. It is possible that they were trying to get around an effective freeze on emigrating Hong Kongers cashing out their pension pots from the compulsory scheme, which is administered by a number of banks and insurance companies. "This is a direct retaliatory action by the Chinese Government against the introduction of the British National Overseas Visa and other lifeboat schemes, and is a direct breach of Hong Kong's Basic Law which guarantees freedom of movement of capital in and out of the city," the group's Director of Policy and Advocacy Sam Goodman said in a statement on Oct. 13. "These arrests bring back into focus the ongoing scandal of the Hong Kong Government and Mandatory Provident Fund providers such as HSBC, Manulife, and Sun Life, denying tens of thousands of Hong Kongers access to their pension savings," Goodman said. Former pro-democracy district councilor Daniel Kwok, who now lives in the United Kingdom, said he has been followed, and had his photo taken by unknown individuals while helping organize public activities related to Hong Kong. He said he still feels safe there, however. "Will our human rights-related activities or Hong Kong-related activities be monitored by the Chinese Communist Party? This is inevitable in cities in Taiwan, Japan, Europe, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom," he said. "But for ordinary Hong Kong people who emigrate to the United Kingdom, the risk is not so high compared with for those who take part in social and political activism, so they don't need to worry too much," Kwok said. "Overall, it's relatively safe." 'Ghosts' In an Oct. 17 report, The Guardian newspaper cited several emigre Hong Kongers in the country as saying that they feel unsafe, and are constantly on the watch for "ghosts" - people seeking to infiltrate their groups and activities to funnel information back to Beijing. The Hong Kongers quoted said they felt "ignored and unprotected" by the British government. A former 2019 protester who gave only the pseudonym Rumi told The Guardian: "I am exhausted. I've lived with these online personal attacks for the past two years. My girlfriend left me and my family is angry about me. But I just want to tell the truth and get justice." He said police back home are still harassing his parents, much like their questioning and raids on the homes of Hong Kong-based relatives of the eight wanted activists. "People wait outside my parent's home [in Hong Kong] and watch them, sometimes even knocking on their door to threaten them. 'Ask your son to watch out for what he said. We know who you are and where you live,' one said to them," the paper quoted him as saying. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster. Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content October not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Warns China's Nuclear Arsenal Exceeding Predictions By Jeff Seldin October 19, 2023 China's nuclear arsenal is growing faster than expected, according to the latest unclassified Pentagon assessment, with a senior U.S. defense official warning the Chinese military is "on track to exceed previous projections." The U.S. Defense Department's annual China Military Power Report, released Thursday, estimates the Chinese military had more than 500 operational nuclear warheads in its arsenal as of May and will have more than 1,000 warheads by 2030. Last year's report, issued in late November, estimated China had more than 400 warheads and was likely to have about 1,500 warheads in its nuclear stockpile by 2035. U.S. officials said the new estimates are in line with their previous assessments while adding it is concerning that Beijing appears to have quickened the development of its nuclear arsenal. "They're expanding and investing in their land-, sea- and air-based nuclear delivery platforms, as well as the infrastructure that's required to support this major expansion of their nuclear forces," said a senior U.S. defense official who briefed reporters on the contents of the report on the condition of anonymity, under ground rules set by the Pentagon. "We're not trying to suggest a very large departure from where they looked to be headed in last year's report, but we are suggesting that they're on track to exceed those previous projections," the official said. "Certainly, it raises questions about what is their long-term intent here, and I think it reinforces the importance of pursuing some practical measures to try to reduce nuclear risks," the official said. US vs China's nuclear infrastructure The United States, by treaty, maintains 1,550 active warheads, but it is an aging arsenal with an aging infrastructure. Some of the U.S. warheads are 50 years old. To keep up, the Pentagon plans to spend $750 billion over the next decade to update and replace almost every component of the U.S. arsenal. China's infrastructure, in contrast, is new and expanding. The Pentagon report assesses China is expanding the number of its nuclear delivery platforms a to be able to launch nuclear warheads from land, sea and air a while also building more infrastructure to "support further expansion of its nuclear forces." In addition, the U.S. believes China has completed construction of its intercontinental ballistic missile silo fields, which contain at least 300 silos from which it could launch warheads. The U.S. further assesses that some of the silos have been loaded with missiles. The U.S. has 450 silos, according to research by the Federation of American Scientists, with 400 of them loaded. China reaction The conclusions of the Pentagon's annual assessment of China's military strength and capabilities elicited a stern response from Beijing. "We firmly opposes [sic] the U.S. side hyping up various versions of the 'China threat' narrative and making groundless allegations and smears towards China," said Liu Pengyu, the spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington. "China is committed to a defensive nuclear strategy, keeps its nuclear capabilities at the minimum level required by national security and does not target any country," Liu told VOA in an email. "We have honored our pledge to 'no first use' of nuclear weapons at any time and under any circumstances and unconditionally not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones." But U.S. officials are cautious about such pledges, including on Beijing's willingness to adhere to a no-first-use policy. "We haven't seen any indication that they're going to formally change that," according to the senior U.S. defense official, adding, "We have seen plenty of indications that there are circumstances under which they might judge that it wouldn't apply." Hypersonics The Pentagon report also echoes concerns about China's already world-leading arsenal of hypersonic weapons. The report warns new hypersonic weapons could soon replace some of Beijing's older, short-range ballistic missiles, with their sights set on foreign military bases and fleets in the Western Pacific. Unlike ballistic missiles, which fly at hypersonic speeds but travel along a set trajectory, hypersonic weapons are highly maneuverable despite flying at Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound. China's military is also developing its missile forces overall, according to the Pentagon's report, and "may be exploring development of conventionally armed intercontinental range missiles systems." "Such capabilities would allow the PRC [Peoples' Republic of China] to threaten conventional strikes against targets in the continental United States, Hawaii and Alaska," the report said. Beijing's naval and aerial capabilities are also growing. The China Military Power Report estimates Beijing's navy now includes more than 370 ships and submarines, maintaining its position as the largest navy in the world. China's aviation force is likewise thought to be the largest in the world and "is rapidly catching up to Western air forces" in terms of capability. Communication issues But it is not just China's growing military that has U.S. officials worried. Beijing's expanding arsenals and platforms have been accompanied by a more aggressive, and a sometimes coercive, military posture. U.S. defense officials earlier warned of a sharp increase in risky Chinese military behavior, noting more than 180 incidents targeting U.S. assets in the Indo-Pacific since 2021, a number that jumps to 300 when U.S. allies and partners are included. Making matter more tenuous, according to U.S. officials, is the Chinese military's continued refusal to talk. "We continue to believe that it's extremely important for us to maintain open lines of military-to-military communications between the U.S. and the PRC across multiple levels, including the senior levels," said the senior U.S. defense official. "It's been unfortunate when we haven't been able to have those senior level engagements at the Shangri-La Dialogue, for instance, this year. The handshake was not a substitute for a more in-depth, substantive discussion," the official said, noting the refusal of the Chinese defense chief, Gen. Li Shangfu, to talk with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at this year's dialogue. China countered, however, that Washington bears some responsibility for the strained relations, pointing to U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan and frequent U.S. "freedom of navigation" operations for stoking tensions. "The U.S. side needs to show sincerity and take concrete actions to meet China halfway, so as to create conditions for the relations between the two militaries to return to the right track," the Chinese Embassy's Liu told VOA. China shortcomings Despite China's growing military might, the latest Pentagon report does assess that Beijing itself believes it still faces some deficits as it tries to field a force capable of fighting and winning wars with other capable military powers, such as the U.S. "They have made pretty considerable amount of progress," the senior U.S. defense official told reporters. "At the same time, I think they still have a long way to go in terms of having the level of military capability that we judge that they think that they need to advance their global security and economic interests." Part of that comes from the fact that China's military has not been tested in real combat in more than 40 years, since China's 1979 conflict with Vietnam, nor has it been in a position to test whether it can deploy all aspects of its military might in a coordinated manner. The senior defense official called the lack of combat experience, in particular, "one of the shortcomings that the PRC highlights in a lot of their own self assessments." "They try to address that, I think, by attempting to make their training and their exercises more realistic to more closely approximate what they refer to as a sort of real war or actual combat type conditions," the official said, in response to a question from VOA. "And I think they try to address that, as well, by learning whatever lessons they can from other countries' involvement and military conflicts." "They're watching very closely how Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine is unfolding," the official said. Taiwan The Pentagon report also highlights China's increased military pressure against Taiwan. U.S. military and intelligence agencies have publicly warned that China is readying its forces to be able to take Taiwan by force by as soon as 2025. The report notes China's military has "practiced elements of each of its military courses of action against Taiwan" during large-scale exercises in August 2022 an NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China agrees to finish bridge to North Korea The bridge has been finished since 2014, but got bogged down on the North Korean side. By Son Hyemin for RFA Korean 2023.10.18 -- China has agreed to fund the last steps of construction for the New Yalu River Bridge that would vastly improve commerce between the two countries, residents in both countries told Radio Free Asia. Construction on the structure of the bridge, which connects the Chinese city of Dandong with North Korea's Sinuiju, was finished nine years ago, but it has not gone into service because the project has stalled on the North Korean side. The new bridge is just downstream from the much older Sino-Korean Friendship bridge which it is intended to replace. That bridge is so old that it predates North Korea itself, having been built by the Japanese army during World War II. The old bridge has a single rail track and a single lane for cars and trucks, and is unable to carry trucks heavier than 20 tons, but the new bridge will not enter service until new customs facilities are built on the North Korean side. "All import and export logistics between North Korea and China travel through the old Friendship Bridge which was built before liberation," a resident of North Pyongan province told RFA Korean on condition of anonymity for security reasons. "If the new Yalu River Bridge is opened [imports and exports] will increase several times, strengthening the country's economy," he said. The resident said that North Korea sent a formal request to China for more funding. "Earlier this month, a Pyongyang trade delegation met with Dandong city government officials to request [more] Chinese investment," he said. "The request is to send customs clearance equipment to open the New Yalu River Bridge." Still needs work Everything is ready to go on the Chinese side, but in North Korea, it is essentially empty, although a building that is supposed to be the customs clearance office has been built. "In order for the New Yalu River Bridge to open, customs clearance facilities must be installed at the Sinuiju Customs Office," the resident said. "China said last year that it would invest, but they still haven't yet, so the Pyongyang delegation came forward." Beijing originally agreed that it would pay for the entire cost of the bridge and North Korea is only trying to hold China to their word, a North Korean trade official stationed in China told RFA on condition of anonymity for safety reasons. "But China is saying that since the main structure of the New Yalu River Bridge was completed in 2014, we should bear the cost of auxiliary facilities," he said. "So, construction of the road from the end of the New Yalu River Bridge to Sinuiju was delayed for several years, but began again in 2018." The onset of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 delayed road construction even further, so the roads were not completed until last fall, the official said. Still, without customs clearance offices the bridge will not be opened. "However, a trade agency official informed me that early this month, the Pyongyang delegation directly actively sought to attract Chinese investment to expedite the opening of the New Yalu River Bridge, and China agreed." Translated by Leejin J. Chung. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster. 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 Kim Jong Un vows to bolster Russian ties, testing Biden's strategy The purported tighter cooperation is aimed at building leverage against the U.S. and its regional partners. By Lee Jeong-Ho for RFA 2023.10.19 -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has signaled the "new era" of North Korea-Russia ties, hinting that his regime will leverage Moscow in addressing complex regional and international issues - a step which could complicate U.S. President Joe Biden's global security approach amidst Washington's involvement in the conflicts in Ukraine and Israel. Kim met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Pyongyang Thursday and vowed to "faithfully implement the agreements of the DPRK-Russia summit, and lay a stable foundation for the new era of the DPRK-Russia relations," North Korea's official media Rodong Sinmun reported on Friday, referring to the North's formal name. At the Party Central Committee headquarters, Kim told Lavrov that his commitment is to prioritize the "well-being of the peoples of both nations and intensively propel the crucial mission of nation-building," according to the state media report, indicating that Pyongyang was set to bolster its cooperation with Moscow. Kim and Lavrov shared "sincere opinions on significant matters of mutual interest, emphasizing the importance for both countries to actively navigate the intricate regional and international landscape," the Rodong Sinmun said, adding the two nations will "collaboratively broaden bilateral relations across all sectors." The paper suggested that the purported tighter cooperation is aimed at building leverage against the U.S. and its regional partners. Broadening bilateral relations between North Korea and Russia, especially in strategic sectors like defense, economy, and technology, may be seen as a move aimed at enhancing their collective bargaining power and operational capabilities against the West. It could challenge the effectiveness of the international community's sanctions regimes on both Pyongyang and Moscow, as well as the U.S. and its allies' influence in navigating the region's geopolitical complexities that are compounded by China's maneuvers. Russia is sanctioned for its aggression against Ukraine, while North Korea for its nuclear ambitions. The two authoritarian states' intention has become clearer after Kim and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin met at the symbol of Russian space prowess in Russia's Far East last month, where they vowed to form an "anti-imperialist united front," and agree to boost their comprehensive cooperation, spanning from the economy to military. North Korea frequently labels the U.S. and its allies as "imperialists" when their diplomatic overtures aren't met favorably. On Thursday, Lavrov also met with his North Korean counterpart Choe Son-hui, where they agreed to take concrete steps in solidifying the "united front" that their top leaders had agreed to establish in September. The ministers explored "concrete steps and methods to elevate bilateral relations to better suit the needs of the current era and prevailing circumstances," Rodong Sinmun said on Friday. This involved actively enhancing ways to speed up bilateral collaboration in diverse areas including "economy, culture, and cutting-edge science and technology via political and diplomatic channels." "The two parties engaged in detailed discussions and found common ground on fortifying collaborative efforts on various regional and international matters, including the dynamics on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia," the media report said. Analysts said a deepened North Korea-Russia alliance has the potential to corner Washington, already preoccupied with the wars in Ukraine and Israel, into a more challenging position than it had hoped. "The U.S. seems to be at a crossroads.It appears that the Indo-Pacific strategy seems to have reached its limits," said Cheon Seong-whun, a former security strategy secretary for South Korea's presidential office. Cheon noted that the strategy, arguably, was aimed at centralizing the U.S. efforts primarily on China through reducing its commitments elsewhere and redirecting its resources in Asia. "But the unforeseen events in Europe and the Middle East have already diverted the U.S.'s attention, and now the emergence of a North Korea-Russia alignment in Asia is further complicating matters. It has now become a structural issue. The pundit also explained that North Korea, recognizing the what-he-call a 'new Cold War' era, appears to have already shifted its strategic stance, which is apparently less hopeful and reliant on dialogues with the U.S. "It's clear that the U.S. and its allies must recalibrate their strategies," he added. Edited by Elaine Chan and Taejun Kang. 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 Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's official visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea 19 October 2023 12:54 2097-19-10-2023 On October 18-19, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov paid an official visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in order to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and the DPRK. Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK Kim Jong-un received Sergey Lavrov. During talks with DPRK Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui, the sides discussed topical issues of developing bilateral relations, including the schedule of political contacts, in great detail. They focused on questions related to the full implementation of the agreements reached during meetings and talks between the leaders of Russia and the DPRK on April 25, 2019 and September 13, 2023, and prospects for invigorating interaction in practical spheres, with an emphasis on expanding bilateral trade turnover, while overcoming the consequences of the pandemic. They conducted a meaningful exchange of opinions regarding the situation on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia. They reaffirmed their mutual commitment to finding political and diplomatic solutions to regional issues and a readiness to exert joint efforts to scale down regional tensions. The sides emphasised their determination to counter the hegemonic aspirations of the United States that serve to aggravate the situation in the Asia Pacific region. Sergey Lavrov invited DPRK Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui to visit Moscow at an opportune moment. Following the talks, the sides signed a plan for exchanges between Russian and DPRK foreign ministries to take place in 2024-2025. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Germany Federal Foreign Office 19.10.2023 - Press release We stand in unwavering solidarity with Israel in the fight against Hamas. Israel has the right to defend itself against the Hamas terror - within the parameters laid down by international law for such exceptional situations. This is a hugely difficult challenge in the face of a cruel opponent who is using people as human shields. Hamas has a perfidious strategy whereby the Palestinian civilian population is being exposed to death, hardship and suffering in order to create a breeding ground for further terrorism. At the same time, the terror is aimed at jeopardising the rapprochement reached to date between Israel and its Arab neighbours and to separate the Arab countries from the Global North. This terrorist strategy must not succeed. Far too many men, women and children have died. The purpose is to fight Hamas, not the Palestinian civilian population. They, too, are suffering tremendously. An unbelievable number of children have already lost their lives. It is therefore important to me that we show the Palestinians that we also see their suffering. That is one of the reasons why I am travelling to the region. The humanitarian situation for hundreds of thousands of innocent people in Gaza is disastrous. There is a lack of everything. It is crucial that international aid, food, water and medical supplies can be brought to the people in Gaza swiftly and unhindered. At the same time, we are working intensively to enable German nationals to leave Gaza as soon as possible. To coordinate our aid efforts, I have appointed a Special Envoy for Humanitarian Assistance in the Middle East. She will accompany me on my trip to the region, and she and her staff will be working intensively, in coordination with our partners in the G7, the EU and the region itself, to establish humanitarian access to Gaza and to get supplies to the people there. Germany is prepared to provide comprehensive assistance. The men, women and children who are being held captive by Hamas and its allies in basements and bunkers must be released immediately. We will continue to do everything we can to ensure that this happens. I will use my trip to speak with all those who have channels to Hamas about how hostages can be released, and I will work to establish further contacts. Within the existing Federal Government crisis unit at the Federal Foreign Office, we have created a special hostage crisis unit. It is working around the clock to bring about the release of the German hostages, as well as coordinating the intensive efforts that are underway in all of the involved Federal Government Ministries and authorities. Transcript of Weekly Media Briefing by the Official Spokesperson (October 19, 2023) India - Ministry of External Affairs October 19, 2023 Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: A very good afternoon to all of you. Thank you for joining us for this weekly media briefing. I don't have any announcements. I'll open the floor for questions. Meghna Dev: Sir, Meghna Dev from DD News. Do we know of any Indian nationals, any casualties that have happened in Israel amidst the conflict? Dhairya Maheshwari: Sir, Dhairya Maheshwari, Sputnik. There have been two UN security resolutions, calling for a humanitarian ceasefire and humanitarian pause in Gaza. What's India's position on that? Ayushi Agarwal: Sir Ayushi Agarwal from ANI. Sir, I would like to have your comment on a recent media interview of the President-elect of Maldives. Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Before I go to that, I think there are some more questions still on Israel-Palestine. Why don't I take that and I'll come back to you. Pia Krishnankutty: Hello. Pia Krishnankutty with The Print. Just wanted the MEA's reaction to the Gaza hospital bombing, for which there's still no certain actor who has taken responsibility for it, or there's not enough information to say who is responsible for it. What is the MEA's reaction on this? Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: To what? Pia Krishnankutty: To the bombing. Sandeep: Sir, Sandeep News 18 India se. Sir, mera sawal hai ke ab Lebanon me bhi Hezbollah ke sath woha.woh area jo hain, ab dobara se situation ab kharab ho rahi hai. To kya waha pe jo Indians se hain ya rehte hain, unke liye koi advisory aap logon ki taraf se issue ki gayi hain? (Question in Hindi: Approximate translation) Sir, Sandeep from News 18 India. Sir, my question is that situation is getting worse in Lebanon alsoathe area with Hezbollah. So, has any advisory been issued from MEA to the Indians there or living there? Vijai Laxmi: Sir, Vijai Laxmi hun India TV se. Sir, abhi tak kitne Bhartiya waha se wapas laaye gaye hain, aur Gaza aur West Bank me bhi kuchh log the jo phase hue the, usko le kar ke koi jankari? (Question in Hindi: Approximate translation) Sir, Vijai Laxmi from India TV. Sir, how many Indians have been brought back so far, and also, any update on some Indian nationals, those were stuck in Gaza and West Bank? Yeshi Seli: Yeshi Seli from The New Indian Express. Is India planning to extend any humanitarian aid to Palestine, Gaza? Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Okay. No other questions. Let me try to take this set of questions. Look, let me make broadlyafirst on Operation Ajay, we've been talking about. I think the query wasaVijai Laxmi Ji apka prashna tha kitne log aaye hain waha se. Dekhiye Operation Ajay jo chal raha hai, uske tahat kareeb 1200 log abhi wapa aaye hain, 5 flights par. Isme kareeb 18 inme se Nepali nagrik bhi shamil hain. Hum is situation ka jayza le rahe hain, aur aavashyakta ke aadhar par hum flights aur plan karenge. Aapne Gaza ke bare me puchha tha. Waha pe pehle kareeb char log the, abhi exact number hamare pas nahi hai, coordinate kar rahe hain, aur maine kaha tha kareeb 12 ya 13 log West Bank me the. Gaza me sthiti aisi hai, nikalna thoda mushkil hai, par mauka mile toh agar wo nikal paye. Kuchh reports hain ki ek do nikal bhi aaye hain, par galat khabar me nahin dena chahunga abhi, jab tak confirmation nahin aaye. Par Israel me abhi jo hamara chal raha hai, Tel Aviv se flights, wo abhi jaise maine kaha, kareeb 1200 nikle hai 5 flights me. Aur bhi flights hum plan kar rahe hain, jaise demand rahega uske basis pe. (Answer in Hindi: Approximate translation) Ms. Vijai Laxmi, to your question as to how many Indians have come back from there. Look, under the ongoing Operation Ajay, approximately 1200 people on five flights have come back so far, including 18 Nepali nationals. We are taking stock of this situation and will arrange more flights as per requirement. You also asked about Gaza. There were about four Indians there; however, we don't have the exact number yet, we are coordinating on that, and also, as I said, about 12 or 13 people were in West Bank. The situation in Gaza is such that it's very difficult to travel from there, but if possible that they come back...there are some reports that 1 or 2 have managed to return, but I won't like to give wrong information, without confirmation. But our operation which is ongoing in Israel, flights from Tel Aviv, as I said, 1200 Indian nationals have traveled in five flights so far, and we are planning more flights as per demand. On the larger issue of what has happened on IndianaMeghna, your query was on Indian casualties. No, I, thankfully, have not received any reports of any Indian casualty. As I had mentioned, one Indian national had been injured. She is receiving medical care, and I understand her condition is now stable. As regards, Sandeep Ji aapka prashna Lebanon pe, dekhiye waha pe koi advisory abhi tak nahin humne issue kiya hai, zarurat padega ham us tarah se advisory issue karenge. Hum situation pe nazar banaye hue hain, aur jis tarah se developments hongi us tarah se, abhi ke liye koi advisory nahin hai. (Answer in Hindi: Approximate translation) Mr. Sandeep, regarding your question on Lebanon, so far we have not issued any advisory there. If need be, we will issue an advisory. We are monitoring the situation, and will assess according to developments, but so far no advisory has been issued. On the other larger issues, as you said, about UN securitya you have seen the tweets as well as the statement by Prime Minister, as well as we had commented on this last week. We have strongly condemned the horrific terrorist attack on Israel. The international community must stand together in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and there can be no equivocation on this. There was also issue of Palestine, and on that, we have reiterated our position in favor of direct negotiations for establishing a two-state solution. We have also expressed our concern at the civilian casualties and the humanitarian situation. We would urge the strict observance of international humanitarian law. You would have also seen, as I mentioned earlier, one of the tweets by Prime Minister, and specifically about the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza where he conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims and prayers for speedy recovery, and he said that civilian casualties in the conflict are a matter of serious and continuing concern, and those involved should be held responsible. We had also talked, Yeshi, about are we providing humanitarian assistance. Let me actually mention on that, and probably you also are aware. We have been supporting Palestine and Palestinian refugees through significant contribution to UN Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA. Total of USD 29.53 million has been contributed to UNRWA between 2002 and 2023. The Indian annual contribution was actually increased from USD 1.25 million to USD 5 million in 2018. And we have pledged this annual contribution of USD 5 million for the next two years. If there are any further developments, we will share that with you. We are looking at the situation. I think I've covered all of that. Any other topic? Yes, Ayushi, you had a query. Ayushi Agarwal: Sir, Ayushi Agarwal from ANI. Sir, I would like to have your comment on the recent media interview of the President-elect of Maldives, Muizzu, where he said that he will request the Indian government to remove its troops on day one after he takes charge. Also, he said that during his meeting with the Indian High Commissioner, he mentioned this as a top priority of his foreign policy. So your comment on that? And also, has he taken up this matter with New Delhi diplomatically, as he stated in the interview? Sandeep Dikshit: Sir I am Sandeep Dikshit from the Tribune. The Maldives President-elect in an interview has said that he's open to joining BRI, and they've talked highly of Chinese projects that have been done. So what is the state of Indian projects that are going on, and will they proceed their ways despite the change in government? Sudhi Ranjan: Sir, Sudhi Ranjan from Bloomberg. Associating with two other questions previous to me, on Maldives. Also, anything particular and specific on the port that India was building in Maldives and the assistance that the Navy was giving to the Maldivians, if you could give us an understanding on that. And plus, an unrelated question on Venezuela. Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Can I come back? Anybody else on the Maldives? Reza: Reza from the Hindustan Times. Basically on BRI, again, the meeting that is being held. Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Can I come back to you? Look, you asked different parts of it. Do remember that the inauguration has not yet taken place and the President-elect is there. So it's the same administration for now we are discussing. Let me make a larger point on cooperation with Maldives. Look, our cooperation with Maldives is based on jointly addressing shared challenges and priorities. The assistance and platforms that we have provided have contributed significantly in areas like people's welfare, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and combating illegal maritime activities. Over the last five years, more than 500 medical evacuations have been carried out by our personnel, saving 523 Maldivian lives. Of these, 131 evacuations were carried out this year, another 140 last year, and a further 109 in 2021. Similarly, during the last five years, more than 450 multifaceted missions have been carried out to safeguard the maritime security of Maldives. Of these, 122 missions were carried out last year, while the 152 and 124 missions were undertaken in 2021 and 2020 respectively. India has also been the first responder for Maldives in any disaster scenario, including most recently during COVID. We look forward to constructively engaging with the incoming administration and discussing ways to enhance our relationship further. There was a specific query on whether these issues that the President-elect mentioned, has been taken up. Look, he's President-elect, so as of now, of course, our High Commissioner has met him, and I mentioned that we had a conversation, and we look forward to engaging with the incoming administration on all these issues. Sudhi, to your query also, we look forward to continuing with our cooperation and partnership with Maldives, which is multifaceted, which covers areas for benefit of the Maldivian people, particularly in humanitarian assistance or welfare or disaster relief or other issues that I mentioned. As regards, Sandeep, your query was on BRI with Maldives. Again, that's a statement by president-elect. You know our views on BRI. And I understand Reza has a query, and I'll respond to that. But we are focused, as I said, with our neighbours and our partnership stand on their own merit, and we are focused on how we can take forward our bilateral cooperation. Reza: Reza from Hindustan Times. My question is basically on the BRI meeting that was hosted by China, and you know how President Xia and there was a reaffirmation from President Putin about the need to coordinate on the foreign policy and to work together on these issues. How do you look at that, given the fact that President Putin and President Xi both did not attend the G20 meeting in Delhi? Sudhi Ranjan: Sir, Sudhi Ranjan again from Bloomberg. On Venezuela, sir, we see that the sanctions, US sanctions on Venezuela, are being reduced or being diluted. Will India start its economic engagement with Venezuela, in particular, buying oil from Venezuela? Huma Siddiqui: Sir, Huma Siddiqui from The Financial Express. Just adding on to Sudhi Ranjan's question. So if and when the sanctions are removed, will India start discussing about the pending payments which are stuck in Venezuela? And what about the private company, Jindals, they have bought or they are planning to buy some oil field there? Avinash Agarwal: Avinash Agarwal from The Asahi Shimbun. Sir, this is about the planned G20 Virtual Summit. Can you tell us if any date has been finalised so far, and if yes, how many leaders are expected to join? Rajeev: Hi, I am Rajeev from Malayala Manorama. I just wanted to ask about the update on the eight Indian naval officers detained in Qatar, and also about the news that one or two journalists who had reported on this were asked to leave the country recently. Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: You mean there? Rajeev: Yeah, who were based in Doha, they were asked to leave the country for reporting on this. Yeshi Seli: This is Yeshi again. I want to know whether India was invited for this BRI forum, and if yes, why did India decide to skip it? Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Let me take the BRI query. Reza, Yeshialook, I am loaths to link G20 participation, non-participation with any of these other things. For the G20, we have invited everybody, as I mentioned. As you recall, China was represented by their Premier here. Different countries have different decision-making perspectives when deciding on participation and that is pretty normal. I think we have answered that question at length earlier. As regards the BRI, Yeshi, I don't think we received an invitation this year. However, on our position on the BRI, including its lack of respect for our sovereignty and territorial integrity, are well-known and consistent. I would refer you to our statements earlier, particularly the statement I think we made in May 2017. I think the first time the BRI forum was being held, and I think those concerns stand even today. So, that would be on the BRI. Sudhi, as regards the issue of Venezuela, your query was, will we start buying oil if the sanctions are diluted. Look, as I said, our perspective on this - and this will be answered in the context of other countries where we managed to procure oil - is guided by our energy security requirements, how we look at it. So, depending on that a decision is taken. We would of course, for the benefit of our own people, like to have more sources and access to energy, and particularly oil. So, that is something that I wouldn't like to speculate, but the larger principle that guides it is ensuring the energy security of India. Similarly, Huma, you had said about Jindals. Look, that is the question you have to ask them. Of course, as and when we are able to raise the issues of pending payments, etc, we will raise it; but again, I do not want to prejudge what could happen without any significant movement on the ground. This is something, of course, we keep a close eye on, and as and when there are developments, we will share with you. But some of this, of course, is done by the private sector or by traders. So, as I said, larger picture of being guided by our energy security requirements, I think, is overarching framework. Avinash, you had asked about G20 Virtual Summit. Yes, invitations have been extended. I am not sure the date is yet public. The countries know the date. There is a fixed date in November that we have, but let's hold up for announcing it publicly. As yet, I am sure other countries are aware of it. We look forward to participation by as many leaders as they can. It's a virtual event. But again, like I answered Reza's query, participation is dependent on the invitee, but we do hope that there is high degree of participation at this Summit. Rajeev, you had asked about the developments in Qatar. Let me see if I have an update here. My understanding is that there was a last hearing, the 7th hearing, earlier this month. We are closely following the court proceedings in what is called the Court of First Instance. As I said, October 3rd was the 7th hearing. We understand that a judgment is expected, in fact, later this month. Earlier, our Ambassador and our Deputy Chief of Mission met the eight men in prison on October 1st, after they were granted consular access. As you are aware, we have been in regular touch with the families too and we are rendering all possible assistance. So as and when we have more updates, we will share that with you. As regards journalists being asked to leave, I presume you are talking about non-Qatari citizens. I don't have information on that. I don't even know if they are Indian, I have noted. It hasn't come to our attention. Nobody has complained to us. I will note it down. Srinjoy: Sir, the Karakoram Highway is being upgraded. It's a joint effort by Pakistan and China. It's a 240-kilometre stretch between Raikot and Thakot which is being upgraded. Besides that, there is a Frontier Tunnelling Institute in Pakistan that has begun work on the CPEC. We just wanted your views on both. Kallol: This is about the burning issue of the day, the Palestine-Israel conflict. Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: I just did a whole series of it. Kallol: Just one more, which is that, has India really made its position clear on the ceasefire? More than 3,700 Palestinians have died, and more than 1,300 Israelis are dead. Many Indians are living there and working. So what is really India's position on the ceasefire? Reza: Reza from Hindustan Times. Just a clarification. You mentioned about the hearings in Qatar, and that a judgment is awaited this month. Does that mean that the charges have finally been laid against the Indian sailors? Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Thank you. Srinjoy, I wouldn't like to comment on specific developments that you mentioned, except to say that you know our position on thatathese are territories that are in illegal occupation of Pakistan, and you know our position very clearly, on violation of our sovereignty and our territorial integrity. And let me reiterate the same. I don't want to comment on exactly what is being done, but our view on developments in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir are very clear, and I just have to reiterate them today on both these issues. I understand they do pass through those areas of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir that are part of Indian territory. Kallol, as I mentioned again, since you missed the first part and you justalet me reiterate what we've been saying. I think we have talked about the terror attack. We have condemned it, and I think it is important that the international community stand together to condemn it. On Palestine, our position, we have reiterated our position in favour of direct negotiations for establishing a two-state solution. We have also expressed, in particular at your query, our concern at the civilian casualties and the humanitarian situation that is happening day by day, and we would urge the strict observance of international humanitarian law. So that is what I would like to share with you. Reza, lookayes, the charges were presented as part of the hearings. But again, I wouldn't like to get into the legal part of it. They have legal representation in court. We are now looking forward to, as I said, to the 7th hearing, to what the court judgment is. And we hope that they are able to return back to India. Thank you for joining. Good evening. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address DELIVERY OF SECOND MCA BARGE, LSAM 8 (YARD 76) India - Press Information Bureau Ministry of Defence Posted On: 19 OCT 2023 7:05PM by PIB Delhi Contract for construction and delivery of 08 x Missile Cum Ammunition (MCA) Barge was concluded with M/s SECON Engineering Projects Pvt Ltd, Visakhapatnam, a MSME, in consonance with "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" initiatives of the Government of India. Second Barge of the series LSAM 8 (Yard 76) has been delivered to Indian Navy on 19 Oct 23 in presence of Shri Puneet, INAS, Chief General Manager, NAD(Mbi). The Barge has been built under the classification rules of Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) with a service life of 30 years. With all major and auxiliary equipment/ systems sourced from indigenous manufacturers, the Barge is proud flag bearer of "Make in India" initiatives of Ministry of Defence. Induction of MCA Barge will provide impetus to operational commitments of Indian Navy by facilitating Transportation, Embarkation and Disembarkation of articles / ammunition to Indian Naval Ships both alongside jetties and at outer harbours. ********* VM/JSN (Release ID: 1969166) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Mahsa Amini And Iran's 'Women, Life, Freedom' Movement Win EU's Sakharov Prize y RFE/RL October 19, 2023 Mahsa Amini and the "Women, Life, Freedom" movement in Iran that was triggered by her death were awarded this year's Sakharov Prize, the European Parliament's top rights award, the second honor bestowed upon Iranian women this month for their sometimes deadly struggle for human rights after activist Narges Mohammadi won the Nobel Peace prize. The 22-year-old Amini died in Tehran in September 2022 while in the custody of the notorious Iranian morality police for an alleged hijab infraction. The authorities claimed she had died due to medical problems, but her family and witnesses at the scene of her arrest said she was beaten by police and died as a result of her injuries. Roberta Metsola, president of the European Parliament, said when announcing the winners on October 19 that the "brutal murder" of Amini "marked a turning point" in the battle for women's rights in Iran. "The selection of our daughter as the winner of the most prestigious human rights award of the European Union shows the attention you and the world community pay to the oppression of [Mahsa] and many of her generation who lost their lives unjustly because of the desire to live a free life," Amini's father said in a statement to RFE/RL's Radio Farda. "We believe that people's solidarity and political and social relations around the world should make the world a safer place for children and youth and human life. Those who have many dreams to live a better life in a safe world. Our daughter is not dead. We live with her. We are happy that her name became a symbol of freedom and equality in the world and we feel that she is happy and pleased like us." Amini's death in September 2022 triggered anti-government protests in Iran in what is considered to be the biggest threat to the Islamic government since the 1979 revolution. Iranian authorities have responded to the unrest with a crackdown on demonstrations that has left hundreds dead and thousands injured. "I'm very happy, I expected it. I knew it, [she] deserves it. [She's] worth more than this," Amini's mother Mojgan Eftekhari told Radio Farda after the announcement. "It has triggered a women-led movement that is making history. The world has heard the chants of Women, Rights, Freedom -- three words that have become a rallying cry for all those standing up for equality, for dignity, and freedom in Iran," she said. Women have been at the forefront of the unrest that Amini's death unleashed in Iran, with many defiantly removing their hijabs, or Islamic head scarves, in public as a sign of protest. Some -- including celebrities and other luminaries -- posted videos of themselves on social media cutting their hair. Iranian authorities have tried to tighten restrictions on wearing the hijab, while at the same time making the system less confrontational. But those efforts have largely failed. On October 1, 16-year-old high-school student Armita Garavand was reportedly assaulted by police on the Tehran subway for not wearing a hijab. She has been in coma since the alleged assault on the Tehran Metro and doctors recently said her condition is deteriorating. As part of a brutal and sometimes deadly crackdown on dissent, Iran's security institutions have escalated their aggressive campaign to curb free speech, detaining thousands over the past year in a country that international human rights organizations have consistently ranked as one of the world's top oppressors. Earlier this week, an Iranian court sentenced Amini's lawyer, Saleh Nikbakht, to one year in prison on a charge of "propaganda against the system" after he spoke to media about her case. The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is awarded each year by the European Parliament. Named in honor of Soviet physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov, it was set up in 1988 to honor individuals and organizations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms and comes with a sum of 50,000 euros ($53,000). Last year, the European Parliament awarded the prize to the people of Ukraine, represented by their president, elected leaders, and civil society, amid Russia's full-scale invasion. Other previous winners include the jailed Russian opposition figure Aleksei Navalny, the democratic opposition in Belarus, and the jailed advocate for China's Uyghur minority, Ilham Tohti. The other shortlisted nominees for this year's Sakharov Prize were rights activists Vilma Nunez de Escorcia and Monsignor Rolando Jose Alvarez Lagos from Nicaragua and three women who have fought for abortion rights -- Justyna Wydrzynska from Poland, Morena Herrera from El Salvador, and Colleen McNicholas from the United States. The movement for women's rights in Iran was also recognized earlier in October by the Nobel Committee, which awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize to Mohammadi and recognized the hundreds of thousands of people who "have demonstrated against Iran's theocratic regime's policies of discrimination and oppression targeting women." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-eu-sakharov- amini/32645009.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 Iran's 'Axis Of Resistance': A Network Designed To Create Chaos, Fight Tehran's Enemies By Michael Scollon October 19, 2023 As fighting intensifies between Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel, Iran has been increasingly vocal about the prospect of additional firepower entering the fray to score a victory for what Tehran calls the "axis of resistance" against Israel. The axis, refined by the Islamic republic over the last four decades, is a loose-knit network of proxies, Tehran-backed militant groups, and allied state actors who play an important role in Iran's strategy to oppose the West, Arab foes, and, primarily, Israel. Active in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and elsewhere, the network allows Iran to create chaos in enemy territory, while allowing it to maintain a position of plausible deniability. In the case of the latest conflict involving Iran-backed Hamas in Gaza, the stronger the Israeli response and the greater the blowback by Israel's Shi'ite and Sunni enemies in the region, the better it is for Iran, experts say. It is a strategy that dates back to before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, according to experts, but was honed and rebranded as the axis of resistance by the Quds Force, the elite overseas arm of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). "Although a new term, 'axis of resistance' describes an old phenomenon: any individual or group willing to fight Iran's wars in return for funding, arms, military training, and intelligence support," Ali Alfoneh, senior fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, told RFE/RL in written comments. But while Iran openly positions itself as the leading voice of the network as it calls for global resistance against Israel and the West, "the Quds Force avoids micromanagement and provides the proxies with some maneuvering room," Alfoneh said. This relative autonomy, which at times has even seen proxies and partners work against Tehran's regional interests, makes it difficult to pin blame directly on Iran. "If there is any kind of kinetic retaliation, your proxy, your partner absorbs the retaliation, and if your adversary wants to widen the scope, they have a hard time politically connecting the dots to do that," Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior fellow at the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank, told RFE/RL. 'Successful Proxy Strategy' The October 7 assault on Israel carried out by the Sunni militant group Hamas was a case in point, with Iran lauding the attack that killed more than 1,400 Israelis and triggered retaliatory Israeli strikes on Gaza that have so far killed more than 3,700 people and unleashed a devastating humanitarian crisis. But despite Iran's longstanding support of Hamas -- which Alfoneh said is historically closer to Sunni Arab states and is for the most part funded by Qatar -- Israel and the West have not been able to directly tie the assault to Iran. "When assessing the connective tissue between Iran and Hamas, we can't forget that the desire for Iran to disguise its own hand plays into the Islamic republic's own successful proxy strategy," Taleblu said. "The fact that some folks are having a hard time finding an immediate go order, or a very clear green light, is the success of the proxy strategy." The axis of resistance is part of Iran's attempts to export the Twelver Jafari School of Shi'a Islam, which was named as Iran's official religion after 1979, and "it's kind of messianic vision for what the Middle East would look like," Taleblu explained. "This ideology only has resonance when the Middle East is in chaos, and the Islamic republic is an expert in managing chaos," he added. The U.S. assassination in 2020 of Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, who was seen as the architect of the axis of resistance and held great influence over its members, injected an element of chaos within the ranks of the network itself. But while it presented challenges, it was not enough to disrupt the Quds Force or break up the axis. "The Quds Force is a highly institutionalized military organization and the assassination of Major-General Soleimani had no impact on the performance of the organization," Alfoneh said. The axis has continued its operations through Hamas and the Iran-backed Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza, sworn Israel enemy and Iranian proxy Lebanese Hizballah, and Iran-backed Shi'ite militias in Iraq known as the Popular Mobilization Force. In Syria, the IRGC has deployed troops to aid government forces supporting President Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian civil war, and in Yemen Iran has championed the Huthis, which has been battling a military alliance led by Iran's regional rival Saudi Arabia. At times, some of these groups have flexed their independence from Iran and acted against Tehran's interest. Alfoneh recalled Hizballah's kidnapping of Israeli border guards in 2006, which he said, "resulted in a devastating war that was much more problematic, since it was contrary to Iran's overall strategy of using Hizballah as a deterrent against Israel." Major Differences Major differences were observed between Hamas and Iran during the Syrian conflict as the Palestinian militants refused to come to the aid of Assad, a key Tehran ally. And the political rise of some groups, including in Iraq and Hamas in Gaza, has led some to distance themselves from Iran, at least rhetorically, to retain their domestic legitimacy. Hamas has insisted that it alone was behind its multipronged assault on Israel, and that Iran and Hizballah had no role. Hizballah has in recent days exchanged fire with Israel across the border in the biggest escalation of violence since their 2006 war. Israel has accused Hizballah of carrying out the attacks "under Iranian instruction." The Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which also has a presence in Lebanon, is also believed to have mounted a cross-border attack on Israel on October 10. In Iraq, sources told RFE/RL's Radio Farda that Iranian officials met with the heads of pro-Iranian Shi'ite militias after the October 7 attack on Israel. Radio Farda has since reported that Shi'ite militias in Iraq have created a joint operational headquarters aimed at supporting the operation of Palestinian militant groups against Israel. While Iran did engage different proxies in joint operations in Syria, Alfoneh of the Arab Gulf States Institute told RFE/RL: "In general, Iran prefers to preserve a degree of compartmentalization so intelligence leaks from one proxy do not compromise the entire proxy network." A Strategic Victory? In turn, Israel's military reaction and the United States' diplomatic and military support for Israel following the Hamas assault and the threat of the involvement of other members of the axis of resistance, can be seen as a strategic victory for Iran. "The fact that the U.S. has to send such overt conventional military hardware [to Israel] is being seen as a win in Tehran, for them to have to deter a nonstate actor like Lebanese Hizballah," said Taleblu of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. "This goes to show you how much Iran's proxies and their hybrid and conventional and asymmetric military capabilities [have grown] over the past few decades." For its part, Hizballah claimed on October 18 that it was "thousands of times stronger" than it was during its last war with Israel, highlighting the possibility that the axis overall is more formidable in terms of firepower and recruitment than ever. But Alfoneh said the strength of the axis, coming as Iran has called for an expanded alliance against Israel, is "not important." "As long as the smaller and more expendable proxies such as Hamas can poke a hole in Israel's Iron Dome and demonstrate Israel's vulnerability, and as long as the more valuable proxies such as Hizballah can stay out of the war and provide Iran with an effective deterrence against Israeli bombardment of Iran's nuclear facilities, Iran is perfectly happy," Alfoneh said. Taleblu said, despite Iran's effort to distance itself from a possible broader conflict involving its proxies and the militant groups that make up the axis of resistance, it is important to not let Tehran hide behind a shield of plausible deniability. "It's imperative to constantly hold the patron accountable, and not just the proxy," Taleblu said. "Every time you hold only the proxy accountable, the patron will fight to live another day." With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Farda Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-axis-resistance- proxies-enemies-abroad-quds/32645674.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 Tehran 'Very Unlikely' To Get Directly Involved In Israel-Hamas Conflict, Says Iran Expert By Saeid Jafari October 19, 2023 Seyed Ali Alavi is a lecturer in Middle Eastern and Iranian Studies at SOAS University of London. He is also the author of Iran And Palestine: Past, Present, Future, a book released in 2019 that looks at the history of Tehran's relationship with the Palestinian territories. Alavi spoke to RFE/RL's Radio Farda about Iran's ties to the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, and the likelihood of Tehran becoming directly involved in the ongoing Israeli-Hamas conflict. RFE/RL: How can we characterize Iran's relationship with Hamas? Is the Palestinian group an Iranian proxy force? Seyed Ali Alavi: There are misunderstandings about Hamas's relations with Iran. Hamas is ideologically connected to the [Egypt-based] Muslim Brotherhood. Although the Islamic republic of Iran politically supports Hamas, they had major disagreements during the Syrian civil war when Hamas stood against [President Bashar] al-Assad's Syria and refused to support Iran's initiative in Syria. Hamas welcomes support from every country that [accepts] it as part of the Palestinian political spectrum. Iran supports Hamas politically as it allows Iran to be seen as the supporter of the Palestinian cause. RFE/RL: What is the extent of Iran's support for Hamas? Iranian officials have previously said the country provides extensive support to the group. Alavi: Iran has no borders with Gaza or with the [Palestinian-run] West Bank. Iranian support seems to be limited to financial support and the transfer of technology. Having said that, Hamas receives more financial and political support from its organic allies, Qatar and Turkey. Since the Syrian war, Iran has reduced its support to Hamas as they have different outlooks when it comes to the region beyond Palestine and Israel. RFE/RL: You believe that Iran's support for Hamas is limited. But we know that representatives of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, another militant group operating in Gaza, have made frequent trips to Iran. Does Tehran play a role in training these groups and planning their attacks? Alavi: Hamas officials and their political offices are based in Qatar, and they regularly visit Turkey and Egypt as well as Iran. Diplomatic visits do not necessarily translate to a flood of logistical aid. Gaza has been under a full [Israeli] blockade since 2006 and the only route is through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt. Israel has revealed that its forces conducted hundreds of attacks on Iran's allies in Syria since the beginning of the Arab Spring [uprisings in 2011]. Nevertheless, we did not witness any escalation or Iranian retaliation. It is very unlikely that we will see Iran getting involved in the [Israeli-Hamas] conflict. Iran's response, like other regional states, will likely remain rhetorical and diplomatic. RFE/RL: You mentioned Turkey and Qatar's support for Hamas. What is the Palestinian group's relationship with these two regional actors? Alavi: Hamas's political office is located in Qatar, and Hamas has natural and organic relations with Turkey. Hamas's leadership has repeatedly praised Turkey as a role model for governance in the region. Unlike Iran, which is under severe [U.S.] sanctions, Doha has the financial power to support the Hamas government in Gaza. Hamas also stood by Turkey in Syria and sees itself [politically] closer to Ankara than Tehran. Hence, Iran's support seems confined to rhetorical and moral support and limited financial aid. RFE/RL: Turkey and Qatar's support for Hamas seems to be mostly political and financial. So, where does Hamas get its weapons from? Alavi: The most important support that Hamas has is financial. Financial support can be transferred to other sectors, including the military. Iran does not have the capacity or the appetite to provide that on a large scale. RFE/RL: You mentioned Iran's disagreements with Hamas, including the Palestinian group's refusal to support Assad, a key Tehran ally, during the Syrian civil war. Has Iran's support for Hamas diminished? Alavi: Hamas is not a homogenous entity. There are differences within Hamas. There is no confirmation about how much aid Hamas has received from Iran in the past few decades. While Qatar and Turkey have access to global financial hubs, Iran doesn't and its financial support seems to be much more limited. Iran's loud rhetorical support [for the Palestinian cause] and [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu's animosity [toward Tehran] puts Iran in the spotlight more than other states in the region. RFE/RL: Have Hamas and Iran repaired their relationship? Alavi: Hamas has its own autonomous foreign policy that is based on its ideology and national interest. Politically, Hamas clashed with Iran over Syria and publicly sided with Turkey against President Assad and against Iran. Having said that, Hamas needed political support at the global stage. Hence, its leadership attempted to repair its relations with Iran. Having said that, it is still an open question as to what extent Hamas's relations with Iran have been fully restored. RFE/RL: Do you think there is a risk that the Israeli-Hamas conflict will turn into a broader war in the Middle East that could drag in Iran? Alavi: Iran's supreme leader in his latest speech rejected the allegations that Iran was involved in the war. Ayatollah Khamenei did not even name Hamas. But he reiterated Iran's moral support for the Palestinians. Iran is not willing to directly enter any regional conflicts beyond its borders. Tehran maintained this policy when the [Afghan] Taliban took over Kabul [in 2021] and when Azerbaijan and Armenia fought in 2020 and 2023. It is vital to look at the history of the Palestinian conflict and not blame regional or international players for the recent tragedy. This interview has been edited for clarity and length. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-hamas-israel- conflict-interview-alavi/32645535.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 Mahsa Amini Awarded Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought By VOA News October 19, 2023 The European Union has awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to Mahsa Amini, who died shortly after Iranian authorities arrested her last year. Iranian morality police arrested Amini, 22, for allegedly violating Iran's mandatory headscarf law. She died on September 16, 2022, three days after her arrest. The prize, named after Soviet human rights activist Andrei Sakharov, has been awarded annually since 1988 to those who stand up for human rights and personal freedom. "The European Parliament proudly stands with the brave and defiant who continue to fight for equality, dignity and freedom in Iran," EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola said in a statement. "By choosing them as laureates ... this house remembers their struggle and continues to honor all those who have paid the ultimate price for liberty." Amini's father, Amjad Amini, who was briefly arrested on the anniversary of his daughter's death, addressed the European Parliament in a letter, expressing gratitude for the EU's recognition of the message his daughter stood for, as well as the symbol she has become. "Our daughter Zina [Mahsa] is not dead. We are living with her. We are happy that her name became a symbol of freedom and equality in the world, and we feel that she is happy and satisfied just as we are," Amjad Amini said in a letter to the Parliament. Authorities said Mahsa Amini's death resulted from existing medical issues, but family and supporters say it was caused by injuries suffered during beatings by Iranian police. Her death sparked outrage, causing protests primarily led by women under the rallying cry of "Woman, Life, Freedom." The protests involved many women defying the headscarf law and removing the mandatory clothing piece, called the hijab. Protests have grown into calls for the dismantling of Iran's Islamic theocracy, a government system that dates back four decades. Iran has responded to the protests and to women removing their headscarves by engaging in a violent crackdown in which over 500 people have been killed and over 22,000 more detained, according to some human rights groups. Other finalists for this year's award included Nicaraguan human rights activists Vilma Nunez de Escorcia and Roman Catholic Bishop Rolando Alvarez, and three women from Poland, El Salvador and the United States who have been leaders in promoting access to what the nomination announcement called "free, safe and legal" abortions. The award ceremony honoring Amini will take place on December 13. VOA's Persian Service contributed to this report. Some information came from The Associated Press and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM Netanyahu to Golani Brigade Soldiers at an Assembly Point near Gaza: "We are going to win with full force." Israel - Prime Minister's Office The 37th Government 19.10.2023 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today, met with soldiers from the IDF Golani Brigade 51st Battalion at an assembly point near Gaza and told them: "I am here with Golani soldiers from all parts of the country. They have fought like lions and will fight like lions. We are going to win with full force. The entire people of Israel are behind you and we will deal harsh blows to our enemies in order to achieve victory. To victory!" Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke with the soldiers and heard about their fighting spirit. He also heard from the Head of IDF Ground Forces Maj.-Gen. Tamir Yadai about the difficult battles the soldiers have been involved in since the onset of combat and about their future deployment. Golani Brigade commander Col. Yair Pelai, 51st Brigade commander Lt.-Col. Meir Ohayon and 13th Brigade commander Lt.-Col. Tomer Greenberg accompanied the visit. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM Netanyahu and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak Issue Statements Israel - Prime Minister's Office The 37th Government 19.10.2023 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, today, after their meeting: Prime Minister Netanyahu: "Prime Minister Sunak, Rishi, I want to thank you for your solidarity, your clear unwavering support from the minute this war began. I think the fact that you came to Israel tells us a lot. I said to President Biden yesterday, if there is one thing more heartwarming than standing with Israel it's standing in Israel. And the fact that you came here to do that is a very strong statement of support which we deeply appreciate it. Chancellor Scholz, who also visited here called Hamas the new Nazis. He was right. You fought the Nazis 80 years ago resolutely and the entire world supported your action. President Biden called Hamas worse than ISIS. He's right too. Hamas are the new Nazis, they're the new ISIS, and we have to fight them together just as the civilized world united to fight the Nazis and united to fight Hamas, it must together now stand with Israel as we fight and defeat Hamas. This is not merely our battle. It's the battle of the entire civilized world. It's the battle of Israel, it's the battle of the moderate Arab countries, it's the battle of Western civilization, the battle of the free world, the battle for the future. We have here two forces. One is an axis of evil, led by Iran through Hezbollah, Hamas and others that want to bring back the Middle East to the Middle Ages, to an age of bondage and war and slavery and annihilation.A The other force are the forces of progress and humanity that want to push the Middle East into a world of peace and prosperity. We were on the cusp of expanding that peace and destroying that move was one of the reasons why this action was taken. We have to resist it and we have to win. Above all, we have to win.A We have to release the hostages. You have nationals. I understand, I know you do, that they have our children, babies, women, elderly, Holocaust survivors and your nationals. And we have to work together in every way possible, and we're doing that, to get them back. I appreciate the fact that you also sent some military forces into the region. We discussed practical cooperation on many fronts and I value that very much. Eighty years ago, eighty years ago, Prime Minister, the civilized world stood with you in your darkest hour. This is our darkest hour. It's the world's darkest hour. We need to stand together and we will win. And this is why I support and value your support. And the fact that you're here, we must win together. That means it's going to be a long war and we'll need your continuous support, continuous support. There will be ups and downs. There will be difficulties. The people here are united, they're prepared to take the necessary action. I've never seen the people of Israel as united, more united as they are now. But we need that unity across the board and continuous support as we prosecute and win this just war against the modern barbarians, the worst monsters on the planet. Thank you, Rishi, for coming here." British Prime Minister Sunak: "Prime Minister, thank you for your warm words and for welcoming me to Israel. I'm just sorry to be here in such terrible circumstances.A In the last two weeks, this country has gone through something that no country, no people, should have to endure, least of all Israel which has lived through some of the most awful scenes, the specter of violence and terrorism every day of its existence. I want to share the deep condolences of the British people and stress that we absolutely support Israel's right to defend itself in line with international law, to go after Hamas, to take back hostages, deter further incursions and to strengthen your security for the long-term. Now, I know that you are taking every precaution to harming civilians in direct contrast to the terrorists of Hamas which seek to put civilians in harm's way.A But I also want to thank you for the support your government has given to the families of British nationals caught up in this horror, including your efforts to release the hostages, secure their release. And I know that we will continue to cooperate, particularly with regard to British nationals that are involved.A We have seen the scenes over the past day that have shocked all of us, particularly at the hospital. And we mourn the loss of every innocent life, civilians of every faith, every nationality, who have been killed. And we also recognize that the Palestinian people are victims of Hamas too. That is why I welcome your decision yesterday that you took to ensure that routes into Gaza will be open for humanitarian aid to enter. I'm glad that you made that decision. We will support it. We are increasing our aid to the region and we will look to get more support to people as quickly as we can. The last thing for me to close on is this. You described this as Israel's darkest hour. I am proud to stand here with you in Israel's darkest hour. As your friend, we will stand with you in solidarity, we will stand with your people and we also want you to win." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM meeting with the Prime Minister of Israel: 19 October 2023 The Prime Minister met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel today. 19 October 2023 The Prime Minister met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel today. He expressed the deep condolences of the British people for the terrible loss of life that has occurred in Israel. He underscored the UK's firm belief in Israel's right to self-defence in accordance with international humanitarian law, as they work to end the threat of Hamas and secure the freedom of hundreds of Israeli hostages. The Prime Minister thanked Prime Minister Netanyahu for his support for the British nationals who have been taken by Hamas and both leaders agreed to work closely together to secure their freedom. The Prime Minister welcomed Prime Minister Netanyahu's announcement yesterday on opening up aid access to Gaza. He emphasised the importance of establishing sustained access to get more vital food, water, medicine and fuel into Gaza and to enable British nationals trapped there to leave. Both leaders underscored the need to prevent any regional escalation in the conflict and the importance of restoring peace and stability to the region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese Netizens Post Hate-Filled Comments to Israeli Embassy's Online Account By Xiaoshan Xue October 19, 2023 After the Hamas attack on Israel, the Israeli Embassy in Beijing began posting on China's social media platform Weibo. The online effort to gain popular support appears to be backfiring as comments revile the Jewish state, applaud Hamas and praise Adolf Hitler. The embassy's account, which has 24 million followers, shows almost 100 posts since the Oct. 7 attack. Some are disturbing, such as an image of a baby's corpse burnt in the attack. Others suggest Israeli resilience, such as the story of one person who was wounded at the Nova Festival but rescued several other music fans after the attack. The comment areas have been flooded with hate speech such as "Heroic Hamas, good job!" and "Hitler was wise" referring to the German leader who orchestrated the deaths of 6 million Jews before and during World War II. Many people changed their Weibo avatars to the Israeli flag with a Nazi swastika in the middle. Occasionally, someone expresses support for Israel and accuses Hamas of being a terrorist group. This triggers strong reactions from other netizens, such as "Only dead Israelis are good Israelis" and "the United States supports Israel, and the friend of the enemy is the enemy." Similar commentary has flooded sites elsewhere on China's heavily censored internet. VOA Mandarin could not determine how many of the Weibo accounts posting to the Israeli Embassy account belong to people who work for the Chinese government. The Israeli Embassy in China did not respond to interview requests from VOA Mandarin. Eric Liu, a former Weibo moderator who is now editor of China Digital Times, told VOA Mandarin the Israeli Embassy "has received more comments recently, which are very straightforwardly hateful, with antisemitic content. They probably have taken the initiative to contain it." Liu believes that because the antisemitic remarks remain online, that shows the Chinese government is comfortable with them. China has long backed the Palestinian cause but more recently it has also boosted ties with Israel as it seeks a larger role in trade, technology and diplomacy. "It's more of a voice influenced by public opinion," he said. "Relatively speaking, it is an extreme voice. Moderate voices cannot be heard. Most of the participants are habitual offenders who hate others. But they are also spontaneous, or rather, they are spontaneous under the guidance" of the government censors. Gu Guoping, a retired Shanghai teacher and human rights citizen-journalist, told VOA Mandarin, "I don't go to Weibo, WeChat, or QQ. These are all anti-human brainwashing platforms controlled by the Chinese Communist Party. Due to the CCP's long-term brainwashing and indoctrination of ordinary people, as well as internet censorship, many Weibo users a [confuse] right and wrong." "They don't know Israel at all. The Israeli nation is an amazing, great, humane and civilized nation," said Gu, who emphasized that Hamas killed innocent people in Israel first, and Israel's counterattack was legitimate self-defense. Liu said that Weibo moderators usually must delete hateful comments toward foreign embassies in China. However, they may receive instructions from the Cyberspace Administration of China and the State Council Information Office for major incidents, and different standards may be applied. VOA Mandarin contacted the Chinese Embassy in Washington, Cyberspace Administration of China and the State Council Information Office for comment but did not receive a reply. "The government's opinion has been very, very clear, which is why the online public opinion has such an obvious tendency," he said. "It must be the all-round propaganda machine that led the public opinion to be like this." While calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Gaza conflict, Chinese officials have refused to condemn Hamas by name. Some observers say Beijing is exploiting the Israel-Hamas war to diminish U.S. influence. On Saturday, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi condemned Israel for going "beyond the scope of self-defense" and called for it to "cease its collective punishment of the people of Gaza." When the Iranian Embassy in China posted comments by the Iranian president accusing the United States and Israel of causing the deadly explosion at the Ahli Arab Hospital, Chinese netizens posted their support. U.S. President Joe Biden said during his visit to Tel Aviv on October 18 that the "intel" provided by his team regarding the hospital attack exonerated Israel. Israel said the militant group Islamic Jihad caused the blast that killed at least 100 people. The militant group that often works with Hamas has denied responsibility. Palestinian officials and several Arab leaders accuse Israel of hitting the hospital amid its ongoing airstrikes in Gaza. The Weibo accounts of other foreign embassies and diplomats that have posted support for Israel have also been targeted by Chinese netizens. When the Swiss ambassador to China, JArg Burri, posted on Oct. 13, "I send my deepest condolences to the victims and their families in the terrorist attacks in Gaza," he was criticized for "pseudo-neutrality." "I don't even want to wear a Swiss watch anymore! So angry," said one netizen. Liu believes the netizens' support for Gaza will change. "It's not like that they stand with Palestine," he said. "Maybe they will hate Palestine tomorrow because they believe in Islam. [The posters] are talking in general terms and do not care about the life and death of Palestine. Hatred of Israelis and Jews is the core." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistan Court Blocks Arrest of Ex-PM Nawaz Sharif Upon Return From Self-Exile By Ayaz Gul October 19, 2023 In a rare ruling, a federal court in Pakistan restrained authorities Thursday from arresting the convicted former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, upon his return to the country this coming weekend after four years in self-imposed exile. A two-member panel of judges approved Sharif's appeal for protective bail until he appears before the high court in Islamabad on October 24, his lawyers told reporters in the Pakistani capital. "Meanwhile, he shall not be arrested on his arrival in Pakistan until he surrenders before this court," the ruling read. The verdict paved the way for the former three-time prime minister to return to the country on Saturday, where his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party said that he would address a homecoming rally in his native eastern city of Lahore the same day. Sharif was convicted of corruption charges in 2018 in two cases and sentenced collectively to 14 years in prison. He denied the allegations, claiming the powerful Pakistani military orchestrated his ouster from power in 2017 and subsequent court convictions. In 2019, a provincial high court, in an unprecedented ruling, allowed the veteran politician to travel to London for medical treatment for four weeks, accepting his undertaking that he would return to serve his prison term. Sharif failed to come back to Pakistan and was subsequently declared an absconder. Defense attorney Azam Nazir Tarar said Thursday that Sharif would pursue his pending appeals against his convictions, hoping they would be overturned to allow the former Pakistani leader to campaign for the general elections, which are due in late January. "It is everyone's constitutional right to do political activities freely," said Tarar, a former Pakistani law minister and member of Sharif's party. Shehbaz Sharif, the younger brother of the self-exiled former Pakistani leader, hailed Thursday's court ruling in a post on the X social media platform. "He was implicated in absurd cases and subjected to mistreatment. Any fair hearing would have established his innocence," said the younger Sharif, who served as prime minister from 2022 until this past August. Pakistan's military has launched several coups against elected prime ministers since the country gained independence from Britain in 1947 and ruled the country for more than three decades. The last coup was staged by General Pervez Musharraf in 1999, which ousted Nawaz Sharif during his second stint in office, leading to a decade of military rule in Pakistan. The deposed prime minister was later convicted and sentenced to prison on controversial terrorism charges. Sharif was later allowed to go into exile with his family at the intervention of Saudi Arabia. He returned to Pakistan in 2007 and became the prime minister in 2013 for a record third time after his party won the elections. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia's Lavrov arrives in Pyongyang, meets leader Kim The move could strain US's global security strategy amid its engagements in the Ukraine and Israel conflicts. By Lee Jeong-Ho for RFA 2023.10.19 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his visit to Pyongyang, the Russian foreign ministry said on Thursday. The ministry did not provide any details of the meeting, which lasted just over an hour, according to state-run TASS news agency. Lavrov made an official visit to Pyongyang on Wednesday, vowing to intensify collective efforts between Russia and North Korea against the United States and its regional allies - a development that could further strain Washington's global security strategy amidst its engagements in the Ukraine and Israel conflicts. "In today's intricate global political climate, dominated by the U.S.-led Western bloc's pursuit of hegemony, our bond and unity is rooted in the longstanding friendly ties," said Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as cited by North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Thursday. The Russian minister added that his visit marked a "pivotal moment" to realize tangible outcomes in fostering the "deep and strategic relations" between the two countries. North Korea's foreign minister Choe Son-hui also boasted about the relations, describing it as "evolving and progressing into a visionary partnership." "We voiced our optimism that the landmark agreement forged by our leaders during their visit will yield positive results, elevating our extensive and productive bilateral ties," she said. The visit came as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un paid a visit to Russia's far east to meet with his counterpart Vladimir Putin last month. During the summit, they vowed to strengthen bilateral cooperation on all fronts including military cooperation. As the visit concluded, Russia hinted at a possible return visit by Putin to North Korea. The Russian foreign minister's visit, thus, is most likely to have put Putin's reciprocal visit to North Korea on the agenda. Although KCNA did not provide specifics about the potential visit, the state media signaled that both nations are on a trajectory to deepen their cooperation. The deepening collaboration between Russia and North Korea may present a complex challenge for the U.S. President Joe Biden's international security calculus as the U.S. remains intricately involved in delicate situations in both Ukraine and Israel. Putin and Kim did not publicly comment on any ammunition deal last month, but the Kremlin said that it would cooperate with North Korea in "sensitive areas that can't be disclosed," raising suspicions that Pyongyang may provide ammunition to Russia. Putin offered to aid Kim in perfecting his "satellite" technology. Transferring relevant technology may pose a threat to the international community as rocket technologies can be used for both launching satellites and missiles. For that reason, the U.N. bans North Korea from launching a ballistic rocket, even if it claims to be a satellite launch. In response, Seoul had slammed both Moscow and Pyongyang, warning the authoritarian leaders of "consequences" over their possible military cooperation and potential ammunition deal. Edited by Taejun Kang and Elaine Chan. Updated with information from Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 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 Kazakhstan Says It Restricted Export Of War-Related Goods To Russia By RFE/RL's Kazakh Service October 19, 2023 Kazakhstan has restricted the export of goods to Russia that can be used for military purposes following demands from the West that the Central Asian nation and its neighbors abide by sanctions imposed on Moscow over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Kazakh Deputy Trade Minister Kairat Torebaev said on October 19 that the export to Russia of 106 goods "related to the war" had been banned by the government, including items such as drone components, electronics, and computer chips manufactured abroad. "We have completely restricted their export," he said. Western countries have criticized Kazakhstan and other Central Asian governments for allowing military supplies to cross their borders and flow into Russia since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. An RFE/RL investigation published in June revealed how sanctioned Western electronics make their way to Russia via Kyrgyz and Kazakh firms -- some set up shortly after the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine -- and end up in the hands of companies that have supplied the Russian defense industry. Both the United States and the European Union have been urging Central Asian governments to resist efforts by Moscow to use trade routes through the region to evade sanctions imposed on Russia because of its war. The EU has sought to crack down on re-exports of sensitive goods by third countries to Russia with a measure allowing it to restrict certain exports to states that fail to cooperate. The October 19 announcement came weeks after Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev vowed not to help Russia circumvent Western sanctions after talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin. "Kazakhstan has unambiguously stated that it will follow the sanctions regime," Toqaev said on September 28. Kazakhstan is a close economic and military ally of Moscow, and it shares a 7,500-kilometer border with Russia and has strong ties with Moscow despite its invasion of Ukraine. Earlier in October Tokaev met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow. Kazakhstan was among 32 countries that abstained from voting on a UN resolution calling for an immediate end to Russia's war in Ukraine and the removal of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory in February 2023. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakhstan-restricts-experts- russia-war-mlitary-technology-ukraine/32645515.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 October 19, 2023 Release Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call With Saudi Minister of Defense, His Royal Highness Khalid bin Salman Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout: Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke today with the Saudi Minister of Defense, His Royal Highness Prince Khalid bin Salman to discuss the longstanding U.S. security partnership with Saudi Arabia, as well as to consult on the situation in the Middle East region. The Secretary also emphasized the U.S. commitment to supporting the defense of its partners in the region and our commitment to preventing an escalation of the conflict. He commended Saudi Arabia's ongoing efforts to end the war in Yemen, and agreed to remain in close touch both directly and through their respective national security teams. https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3563396/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel conflict not to affect US-Taiwan arms sales: AIT chairperson 'Support for Taiwan is the top priority of the Biden administration,' said Rosenberger. By RFA Mandarin 2023.10.19 -- The ongoing Israel-Hamas war will not affect arms sales between the United States and Taiwan, said the chairperson of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), as quoted by the Central News Agency, which stressed that Washington will continue to support the island's commitment to self-defense capabilities. "Focusing on U.S. support for Taiwan can be said to be the top priority of the Biden administration," said Laura Rosenberger at a roundtable discussion with the media on Oct. 19. "The Biden administration will continue to work hard to deepen and expand the U.S.-Taiwan partnership, which at the same time is the U.S. Congress's top priority with bipartisan support." Rosenberger's visit, her third to the island since she took office in March, is a show of support to Taiwan ahead of January's presidential elections which pundits have touted as a choice between war or peace with China. AIT is the de facto US Embassy in Taiwan. The U.S. does not support Taiwan independence and follows a one China policy guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, with a commitment to maintaining peace across the Taiwan Strait. Asked about the impact of the recent Israel-Hamas war on U.S.-Taiwan arms sales, Rosenberg said she would like to reiterate that U.S. support for Taiwan is rock-solid based on fundamental principles and cross-party consensus. "The U.S. will stand with our friends, and will continue to do so," she said. Rosenberg pointed out that the U.S.-Taiwan partnership and the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait are enduring and long-term interests of the U.S. that will not be affected by events elsewhere in the world. The U.S. will continue to support Taiwan's commitment to self-defense capabilities, including the Taiwan Relations Act to provide Taiwan with the goods and services needed to defend itself, she added. While Taiwan faces Beijing's pressure and coercion in the Taiwan Strait, incredible opportunities to expand the relationship between the U.S. and Taiwan have also emerged, Rosenberg said. "So it's critical that the U.S. puts Taiwan high on its list of priorities." Rosenberg met with President Tsai Ing-wen, as well as people from civil societies, business and academic sectors in the five days since she arrived on Oct. 15. In all her activities, she reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to Taiwan's security, and that "the U.S. will stand with its friends and continue to do so." She highlighted the U.S. approval of a US$50 billion arms deal with Taiwan, President Joe Biden's allocation of US$345 million in military aid to the island under the "Presidential Drawdown Authority," and the U.S.'s military training and education efforts in Taiwan. At the same time, she said the U.S. believed that recent defense reforms in Taiwan have significantly strengthened its self-defense capacities. Apart from that, the U.S. recently announced a "Foreign Military Financing" plan, which will allow Washington to provide more military aid to Taiwan, using an unprecedented new model to ensure that the U.S. continues to realize its unwavering support for Taiwan, she noted. Translated by RFA Staff. Edited by Elaine Chan and Mike Firn. Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content October not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia: 19 October 2023 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia today. 19 October 2023 The Prime Minister met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia today. The leaders agreed that the loss of innocent lives in Israel and Gaza over the last two weeks has been horrific. They underscored the need to avoid any further escalation in the region and agreed to coordinate action on this front. The Prime Minister and Crown Prince agreed on the pressing need for humanitarian access into Gaza to provide vital water, food and medicine. The Prime Minister outlined the steps the UK has taken to address the increasingly urgent humanitarian situation, including announcing A10 million of further aid. The Prime Minister encouraged the Crown Prince to use Saudi's leadership in the region to support stability, both now and in the long-term. More broadly, the Prime Minister and Crown Prince looked forward to working together to advance areas of shared interest for the UK and Saudi Arabia, including on upholding regional security. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Andriy Yermak had a phone call with the British Prime Minister's National Security Adviser President of Ukraine 18 October 2023 - 22:19 On the instructions of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak had a phone call with National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Timothy Barrow. Andriy Yermak thanked the United Kingdom for its unwavering support of Ukraine, including military support. In this context, the interlocutors discussed the current situation on the frontline and the importance of bolstering the protection of Ukraine's energy infrastructure ahead of winter. They also exchanged views on strengthening security in the Black Sea against Russian terrorist attacks. The interlocutors focused on the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula and preparations for the third meeting at the level of national security advisers and foreign policy advisers to the heads of state in the near future. Andriy Yermak invited Timothy Barrow to personally participate in this event. The Head of the President's Office and the British Prime Minister's Adviser also exchanged views on the events in the Middle East and emphasized the importance of protecting civilians during hostilities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Minister of Defense presented a program of action; first steps have already been taken to resolve issues raised by the military - address by the President of Ukraine President of Ukraine 18 October 2023 - 21:06 Dear Ukrainians! In Zaporizhzhia, rescue operations have been ongoing all day at the scene of a Russian missile hit. Part of an ordinary residential building was destroyed - floors three through five in one of the blocks. As of now, five people have been reported dead. My condolences to the families and friends. Another five people were injured and are being provided with the necessary assistance. I am grateful to everyone who is working on the ground and supporting people: the State Emergency Service, medical workers, our police, and utilities. And I thank all our warriors who are striking back at the occupier and thus bringing justice to Ukraine. This is the foundation of our state's existence - to destroy the enemy and thus protect people. The more successful our warriors are, the more progress is made at the front, the more significant losses Russian troops suffer, the sooner we will be able to return security to all our cities and villages. To every community - from Sumy to Zaporizhzhia region, from Orikhiv to every other city in our country. Today I had important phone calls with the Prime Minister of Norway and the President of France. In particular, we discussed the situation on the battlefield, support for our troops, defense cooperation, and the work of grain corridors in the Black Sea. This is important not only for our country, but also for the whole world, for global stability. Special attention, of course, is paid to enhancing air defense and our long-range capabilities, our strength at sea. We also discussed with the Prime Minister of Norway the start of the work on security guarantees on the basis of the relevant declaration of the G7. I invited Norway to take part in the next meeting on the Peace Formula. With the President of France, we discussed further cooperation at the EU level - both political work to open membership negotiations and macro-financial assistance for Ukraine. Invited both Norway and France to participate in our summit on food security and the "Grain from Ukraine" humanitarian initiative to be held next month. It is important that our assessments of the situation in the Middle East coincide. I discussed this with both Emmanuel and Mr. Prime Minister of Norway. It is a matter of principle to prevent any further escalation in the Middle East and to save as many lives as possible. All parties must take care of civilians - women and children caught in the middle of the hostilities and shelling. It will be one of the worst scenarios if the number of victims keeps increasing. And it is necessary to prevent such a scenario. I met with a delegation of the Romanian government. Today, a joint meeting of the governments of our countries took place. This is another important step towards the strategic partnership between Ukraine and Romania. Our cooperation, our formats of interaction are a new force for the entire Black Sea region. For security, for economic development, for the construction of new infrastructure. And I am grateful to our Romanian partners for the real substance of our joint work. And one more important thing for today. I held a meeting with the Minister of Defense of Ukraine - he presented his team and his program. The Ministry's team has been renewed. There are already first steps to address the issues raised by the military. Reducing bureaucracy, simplifying paperwork, all procedures, freeing up commanders' time for combat work instead of paperwork. There will be more digitalization and clarity in supplying the troops. There should be more readiness for feedback from the military and overcoming piled up problems. I thank everyone in the state system who works for the interests of Ukraine to ensure that the result is seen every day. Every day means more strength for Ukraine. Glory to all who defend our country! Glory to our strong people! Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary General at the Conference of National Armaments Directors: Ukraine needs our sustained support NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 19 Oct. 2023 Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stressed the importance of continued support to Ukraine in a Conference of National Armaments Directors (CNAD) meeting at NATO Headquarters on Thursday (19 October 2023). Calling for Allies to "go further and go faster" with "a renewed sense of urgency," he said: "Ukraine is making progress on the ground. But they need our sustained support." At the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Allies agreed a Defence Production Action Plan, to aggregate demand, boost capacity, and increase interoperability. The Secretary General stressed that now is the time to turn the plan into results. Mr Stoltenberg highlighted the importance of armament deliveries to Ukraine, the need to refill stockpiles and to ensure the defence capabilities of the Alliance. He also welcomed Allies' commitment to making new investments in ammunition. Meeting at least biannually, the CNAD's mission is to enable cooperation in the delivery of interoperable military capabilities. It ensures that NATO forces have state-of-the-art capabilities readily available at all times. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukrainian Parliament Votes In Favor Of Bill To Ban Churches Affiliated With Russia By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service October 19, 2023 The Ukrainian parliament has given initial approval to legislation that would ban religious organizations associated with Russia, a measure that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) says is aimed directly at banning it from Ukraine. Deputies voted on October 19 to support the bill in its first reading, said Yaroslav Zheleznyak, a member of parliament, on Telegram. The measure must be backed in a second reading and approved by the president to go into force. The UOC is a branch of Ukraine's Orthodox Church that previously was under the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox patriarch in Moscow. It cut ties with Moscow in May over Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, but it has been accused of maintaining links with Russia. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) said on October 19 that 68 criminal cases, including accusations of treason, had been initiated against UOC representatives since Russia's invasion. Earlier this year, Ukrainian authorities accused UOC Metropolitan Pavlo of inciting religious enmity and denying Russia's invasion of Ukraine and placed him under house arrest. He has denied the accusations. Ukrainian authorities leveled new accusations against the UOC on October 19, saying that the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church is involved in creating private military companies in Russia for the war against Ukraine. "According to the instructions of the Moscow Patriarch, their [private military companies] are engaged in the recruitment and combat training of mercenaries for the war against Ukraine," the Security Service of Ukraine said. It said one such private military company, St. Andrew's Cross, is documented to operate out of a cathedral in St. Petersburg. "Within the walls of the religious institution, its representatives recruit parishioners for further inclusion in the composition of the occupying groups of the Russian Federation, which are involved in the front line," the SBU said. The bill passed by the Verkhovna Rada on October 19 would ban the activities of religious organizations affiliated with centers of influence "in a state that carries out armed aggression against Ukraine." It says a court of law would be empowered to terminate such activities. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church said in a statement issued after the vote that the bill is essentially aimed at banning the UOC. "The draft law itself does not mention the UOC, but its origin (a decision of the National Security Council regarding the UOC), media, and political support indicate that this law will be applied to the UOC, which is actually an independent church," it said, adding that the parliament is "deliberately trying to pass [the UOC] off as the Russian Orthodox Church." The UOC also says the draft law would not comply with the Ukrainian Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights and accuses Kyiv of trying to portray its Ukrainian clergymen and believers as "agents of the Russian Federation." The Russian Orthodox Church has staunchly backed President Vladimir Putin and Moscow's invasion. With reporting by Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-bans-churches- russia-orthodox-pavlo/32645565.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 I am grateful to the United States for leadership that helps unite the world in protecting lives - address by the President of Ukraine President of Ukraine 19 October 2023 - 22:42 I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians! I have just finished a call with U.S. President Biden. As always, a meaningful conversation - a conversation of allies. A strong signal of support - as much as needed for the victory. I am grateful to President Biden, to the Congress - both parties - and to the American people for their strong support and leadership - leadership that helps unite the world to protect lives and the rules-based international order. Ukrainians know how important strong unity is in defending against terror, against aggression. Unity here in our country. Unity in partner countries, particularly in America. Unity of the world. We discussed further joint steps in the defense of freedom. We discussed defense support, including the fact that ATACMS can help us speed up the liberation of Ukraine from the occupier. Of course, we also talked about preserving assistance to Ukraine next year - about a significant support package for our country. America will support the implementation of the Peace Formula, and I have informed President Biden of the next major international meeting on the Peace Formula, which will take place in Malta this month. I asked President Biden about his visit to the Middle East and his view of the further developments. We share the same view that it is necessary to avoid further destabilization and incitement of war in this region of the world as well. Ukrainians and Americans, we sympathize with all the victims of the tragic events. Ukraine is ready to work together with America and all partners to stabilize the situation and save as many lives as possible. Today I also spoke with UN Secretary-General Guterres. We talked about how the UN institutions can help our country and our people during the winter period. We also talked about food security - about the routes of food exports from Ukraine in the Black Sea, about the need to protect Ukrainian ports from Russian terrorist attacks. I invited Mr. Secretary-General to the food summit - the summit of our humanitarian initiative "Grain from Ukraine", which will be held in November. I also praised the UN's active participation in the global efforts on the Peace Formula and readiness to send a UN representative to the next meeting in the format of advisors. Of course, we also discussed the situation in Israel, Palestine, and the Middle East in general. The whole world must be consolidated so that peace reigns in every region of the world - everywhere on earth. And no matter what happens, all parties must ensure that ordinary civilians receive the necessary assistance and are able to flee hostilities. Any form of terror and warmongering is unacceptable. One more thing. I started this day with a working trip to Kyiv region - those towns and villages affected by the Russian occupation. I am grateful to everyone who is working to restore everything that was destroyed by the occupier. Ukraine is not left alone - we are being helped by governments of different countries and philanthropists. Of course, a lot needs to be done - a lot needs to be rebuilt, restored, so that not a single ruin is left in Ukraine. But all this work is based on one thing - the sincerity of the hearts of the people who are with us, who value life, freedom and courage as much as we do in Ukraine. I believe that such people are the majority in the world. And we must continue to do everything possible and impossible to ensure that the majority of the world stands with Ukraine. Glory to everyone who fights and works for Ukraine, for freedom! Thank you to everyone who helps us! Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone call with the President of the United States President of Ukraine 19 October 2023 - 22:25 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone call with President of the United States Joseph Biden. The parties discussed a wide range of issues. The Head of State expressed gratitude to the U.S. leader for the powerful support of Ukraine and effective implementation of defense agreements. "Ukrainians were greatly encouraged by the delivery of ATACMS as our warriors put them to good use on the battlefield," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. The interlocutors also considered the possibility of further strengthening the long-range capabilities of the Ukrainian military. The Head of State thanked for the fruitful visit of U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine's Economic Recovery Penny Pritzker to Kyiv. "We have started productive talks on the use of frozen Russian assets," the President of Ukraine said. Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed Joseph Biden that the Verkhovna Rada had adopted legislation necessary to advance with reforms and start negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the European Union. The President of Ukraine welcomed the visit of the U.S. leader to Israel to seek a peaceful settlement and protect the lives of civilians. The interlocutors paid special attention to the next joint steps in advancing the Ukrainian Peace Formula. "I welcome the decision of the United States to send its representative to the next meeting of advisors in Malta at the end of this month. Ukraine is grateful for the vital and enduring support of the United States in our struggle for freedom and against Russian aggression," the Head of State said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Negotiations with France on a bilateral agreement on security guarantees have begun President of Ukraine 19 October 2023 - 19:23 On the instructions of the President of Ukraine and the Head of the Presidential Office, the first round of negotiations with the French Republic on the conclusion of a bilateral agreement on security guarantees, as envisaged by the Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine, has begun today. The Ukrainian negotiating team was led by Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva. It also included Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Roman Mashovets and First Deputy Minister of Defense Oleksandr Pavliuk. France became the fifth G7 country after the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Japan with which Ukraine began bilateral negotiations. "It is difficult to overestimate the importance of bilateral security negotiations with France as a founding member of the European Union and NATO. We constantly feel France's support both in bringing Ukraine's victory closer and on the path of our country's European and Euro-Atlantic integration," emphasized Ihor Zhovkva. The launch of bilateral talks with France deepens its continued support for Ukraine in the military, security, and economic spheres. Assistance in the development of the military-industrial complex and in Ukraine's economic recovery is also an integral part of security guarantees. Powerful sanctions and the inevitability of confiscation of the aggressor country's assets must also be an important element of deterring aggression. The parties agreed on a plan for further bilateral negotiations and a procedure for coordination of security guarantees issues for the near future. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President and the UN Secretary-General discussed humanitarian aid to Ukraine and the work of the "grain corridor" in the Black Sea President of Ukraine 19 October 2023 - 16:26 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone call with United Nations Secretary-General AntAnio Guterres. The Head of State thanked for the efforts of the team of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Ukraine, which prepared, inter alia, the Response Plan for the autumn-winter period for $435 million. Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted the active involvement of the UN in the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula, as well as the readiness to send a representative of the Organization to the next meeting at the level of national security advisors and foreign policy advisors to the heads of state. "We held a successful meeting of advisors in Jeddah. It is very important that the next event is no less successful and yields concrete results. For this, we need to maintain the support of the countries of the Global South. We are counting on you in this regard," the Head of State said. The President of Ukraine informed the UN Secretary-General about the peculiarities of the functioning of the alternative "grain corridor" in the Black Sea. Volodymyr Zelenskyy also emphasized the importance of continuing the Ukrainian humanitarian initiative Grain from Ukraine and invited AntAnio Guterres to its second summit. The interlocutors discussed in detail the situation in the Middle East and the necessary humanitarian efforts to help the civilian population. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address In Kyiv region, Volodymyr Zelenskyy observed the construction of housing for people who lost their homes due to the war President of Ukraine 19 October 2023 - 13:29 During a working trip to Kyiv region, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy observed the construction of housing for people affected by the Russian invasion in the village of Tarasivka, funded by philanthropists. The Head of State visited Hansen's Town, which is being built by the Wasatch Group in partnership with To Ukraine With Love charitable organization. The Head of State, along with Wasatch Group founder Dell Loy Hansen and director of To Ukraine With Love Svitlana Miller, as well as Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Oleksiy Kuleba and Head of the Kyiv Regional Military Administration Ruslan Kravchenko, walked around the town, inspected several apartments and one of the houses that is ready for residents. Dell Loy Hansen told Volodymyr Zelenskyy in detail about the project's implementation and further plans for the development of Tarasivka. He assured that they are trying to build the 9-hectare town quickly but efficiently. The finished apartments have everything necessary for a comfortable stay: furniture, modern appliances, textiles and gift packages with sets of dishes. The apartments are standard, have 2 to 5 rooms and can accommodate large families of 5-6 people. There are also plans to equip apartments for family-type children's homes. A school for 600 pupils, a kindergarten for 70 children, a library, public spaces, a kitchen, etc. will also be built on the territory of the town. "I will do my best. I am glad to have the chance to work with wonderful people in this beautiful country. Ukraine is now fighting for democracy around the world," said Dell Loy Hansen, noting that he would continue to support Ukrainians. The Head of State commended the project and thanked the benefactor for his support. According to Oleksiy Kuleba and the Head of the Kyiv Regional Military Administration, the housing in the town will be provided temporarily free of charge to internally displaced Ukrainians who lost their homes as a result of the full-scale Russian invasion, family members of fallen defenders, war disabled, war victims, etc. The project will be implemented in four stages. At the first stage, 350 people will move into 80 apartments in the town. In total, the project provides housing for 450 families. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine Says Russia Launches Waves of Drone and Missile Strikes By VOA News October 19, 2023 Ukraine's military says Russia unleashed a wave of drone and missile strikes on four Ukrainian regions overnight but most of them were intercepted and destroyed by air defenses. A total of 17 drones and missiles were launched against infrastructure, civilian, and military targets in Donetsk, Mykolayiv, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia, the military said Thursday. Three drones and one cruise missile were shot down by Ukrainian forces, the military added. There were no reports of casualties. On Wednesday, officials in southern Ukraine said a Russian missile hit a residential area killing at least two people. Ukraine's Interior Ministry said the missile hit a food shop in the Mykolaiv region. Vitaliy Kim, the regional governor, said the attack happened in the village of Stepove and damaged both residential buildings and an agricultural business. Another Russian missile strike earlier Wednesday hit a residential building in Zaporizhzhia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly address Wednesday that attack killed five people and injured five others. Another Russian strike killed a woman and injured four other people in Dnipropetrovsk, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said. RFE/RL contributed to this report. Some information came from Agence France-Presse and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Readout of President Biden's Call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine October 19, 2023 President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine today ahead of his remarks to the American people about our support for the people of Ukraine in the face of Russia's invasion. The leaders discussed Ukraine's ongoing fight to defend its freedom and independence from Russian aggression. President Biden underscored the continued strong bipartisan support in the United States for Ukraine's defense of its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and democratic future. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address October 19, 2023 By C. Todd Lopez , DOD News Decade of Developments Changed DOD's Focus on Weapons of Mass Destruction Back in 2014, the Defense Department's strategy for countering weapons of mass destruction was focused largely on places like Iran, North Korea and a variety of violent extremist organizations. In 2023, the focus has changed to address new realities, said the department's assistant secretary of defense for space policy. The Defense Department late last month released its 2023 Strategy for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction. In the same way last year's National Defense Strategy prioritizes China and Russia, the new WMD strategy does the same. "The defining WMD threats we faced [in 2014] were drastically different than they are today, just 10 years later," said John Plumb, who spoke Wednesday at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. Today, he said, "the challenges posed by China and Russia are front and center. So this is a new security environment and that demanded a new strategy." Weapons of mass destruction, or WMDs, include things like nuclear weapons, chemical and biological weapons and radiological weapons. Plumb said both China and Russia are making advances in at least some of these areas. "China is aggressively pursuing a rapid expansion and modernization of its nuclear forces," Plumb said. "The speed and scale has been nothing short of breathtaking. This effort includes the expansion of fissile material production, such as their fast breeder reactors ... and the development of more and more diverse nuclear weapons systems." Plumb said China could, at its current pace, field an arsenal of about 1,500 nuclear warheads by 2035, adding that China's compliance with the Biological Weapons Convention is also a concern. "China regularly conducts research and activities with potential dual-use applications for bio threats, such as its military's [research and development] for toxins," he said. Like China, Russia is also expanding and modernizing its nuclear weapons program, Plumb said. "It continues to build non-strategic nuclear weapons and develop new and novel delivery systems," he said. "Russia has also engaged in irresponsible and troubling nuclear saber-rattling throughout its unprovoked and indefensible invasion of Ukraine." Russia has also violated its biological and its chemical weapons convention obligations, Plumb said. That the Russians used the Novichok nerve agent as part of attempted assassinations in both 2018 and 2020, he added, have erased doubts that Russia retains an undeclared chemical weapons program. "We also know they maintained an offensive biological war program," he said. While China and Russia have re-emerged as possible threats in regard to WMD, Plumb said that old threats have not gone away. North Korea and Iran continue to strengthen their own WMD programs, he said. "The department has not lost focus on the WMD threats posed by North Korea or Iran or [violent extremist organizations]," he said. Within the 2023 Strategy for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction, Plumb said, are four priorities. These include defending the homeland from WMD attacks; deterring WMD use against the United States and its allies and partners; enabling the joint force to prevail in a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear environment; and preventing new WMD threats from emerging. While the 2023 strategy was developed by the Defense Department to guide its own efforts to counter the effects of WMD, Plumb said the U.S. will not be going it alone. "This is a team effort," he said. "Like in so many other things we are all in this together. All integrated deterrence efforts are made stronger by planning with allies and partners and by integrating their capabilities with our own. The United States network of allies and partners is an asymmetric advantage and a force multiplier that China, Russia, North Korea, Iran a they could never hope to match. So we will continue to work closely with our allies and partners as we implement this strategy." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Two Businessmen Charged for $1M Kickback Scheme Involving Nuclear Weapons Components Thursday, October 19, 2023 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs An indictment was unsealed today in Kansas City, Kansas, charging two businessmen for an alleged scheme to fraudulently steer and award subcontracts by a major engineering firm for work on nuclear weapons manufacturing projects for the National Nuclear Security Administration's Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC). According to court documents, from at least 2011 through approximately January 2021, Michael Clinesmith, 67, of Kansas, allegedly solicited and received kickbacks and bribes from Richard Mueller, 63, of Missouri, in exchange for steering subcontracts from Clinesmith's employer to Mueller's company (Subcontractor 1). Clinesmith, a long-tenured employee of a major engineering firm (Company 1) working at the KCNSC, was responsible for designing and procuring gages that were specially designed and manufactured to measure the components of nuclear weapon products. Clinesmith allegedly used his position and authority at Company 1 to steer gage subcontracts to Subcontractor 1 in exchange for Mueller paying him over $1 million for surreptitiously performing some or all of the work. Clinesmith is alleged to have told Mueller how much to bid on gage subcontracts that Company 1 awarded. Then, Clinesmith told his employer, Company 1, that those bids were fair and reasonable without disclosing that, in exchange for the subcontracts, Mueller would secretly funnel to Clinesmith the money awarded to Subcontractor 1. The indictment also alleges that Mueller lied to federal agents regarding the number of impacted subcontracts and his involvement in the scheme. Clinesmith and Mueller are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and honest services wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud and honest services wire fraud. Mueller is also charged with one count of making false statements to federal agents. If convicted, they each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the conspiracy, wire fraud, and honest services wire fraud charges. Mueller also faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the false statements charge. Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher for the District of Kansas, and Special Agent in Charge Justin Kessel of the Department of Energy Office of Inspector General (DOE-OIG), Western Field Office made the announcement. The DOE-OIG Western Field Office is investigating the case. Trial Attorney Andrew Jaco of the Criminal Division's Fraud Section is prosecuting the case. If you believe you are a victim in this case, please contact the Fraud Section's Victim Witness Unit toll-free at (888) 549-3945 or by email at victimassistance.fraud@usdoj.gov. To learn more about victims' rights, please visit www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-vns/victim-rights-derechos-de-las-v-ctimas. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Topic: Financial Fraud Component: Criminal Division Criminal - Criminal Fraud Section USAO - Kansas Press Release Number: 23-1161 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 19, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cassius Ventures Ltd. (NEX: CZ.H) (the Company) announces the retirement of Chairman, CEO and President, Mr. John Thomas, and the concurrent appointment of Mr. Gerrie van der Westhuizen as Chairman, CEO and President of the Company. Mr. Van der Westhuizen is a seasoned mining executive. Mr. Thomas remains a significant supporter and shareholder of the Company and the Board and management wishes him all the best on his retirement. In connection with Mr. Van der Westhuizens appointment, the board of directors of the Company approved the granting of 250,000 incentive stock options pursuant to the Companys Stock Option Plan. The options will be exercisable at a price of $0.03 per share (based on the closing price on October 19, 2023), vesting over four quarters and with an expiry date of October 19, 2028. About Gerrie van der Westhuizen Gerrie van der Westhuizen has more than 20 years' experience in the mining and natural resources industry. During this time, Mr. Van der Westhuizen held progressively senior positions in dual-listed resource companies operating in Africa and North America. He has played a leading role in those organizations' debt and equity financings, M&A activities, tax planning, treasury management, corporate governance and strategic risk management. Mr. Van der Westhuizen currently serves as Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of Artemis Gold Inc. (Artemis) and of Oceanic Iron Ore Corp. He also currently serves as Artemis' representative on the Board of Directors of Velocity Minerals Ltd. Mr. Van der Westhuizen is a Chartered Accountant and holds an Honours Bachelor of Accountancy degree. CASSIUS VENTURES LTD. On behalf of the Board of Directors Gerrie van der Westhuizen, CPA, CA Chairman, CEO and President +1 604 558 1107 Neither the NEX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the NEX) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Dublin, Oct. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "2023 Employee Benefits Law Update - 20th Annual Advanced Seminar" conference has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This conference is an annual exploration of the most significant developments in labor and employment law, as well as new legislation and emerging trends. Over two days, you will review cases that have recently been decided in district, appellate courts and the U.S. Supreme Court. We will discuss how those decisions impact what employers need to be doing to conform with these decisions. Designed for experienced employee relations/human resources professionals and attorneys, the 2023 Employment Law Update - 42nd Annual Conference features superb faculty, important topics, and great peer networking opportunities. A not-to-be-missed conference! 2023 topics include: Biden Administration Labor and Employment Law Proposed Legislation During the 2020 Presidential campaign, candidate Biden consistently emphasized his strong support for organized labor and for "good, high-paying union jobs." The U.S. House of Representative has already passed by a vote of 225-206 the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO Act). The legislation will now go to the Senate. If the Senate were to pass it, the PRO Act would effectuate the most dramatic change in federal labor law since the Taft-Hartley Act in 1947. The legislation is designed to make it easier for unions to organize and to expand the groups and categories of employees who are eligible to unionize. On February 25, 2021, the Workforce Mobility Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. The bill, at least in the Senate, has bi-partisan support. If enacted into law, it would greatly limit employers' ability to require employees to enter into non-compete agreements and other restrictive covenants. At the program, John will give an update on the status of both bills and will outline the specific provisions of both. The Biden NLRB: Back to the Future Since the passage of the National Labor Relations Act in 1935, no NLRB in history issued as many rules and decisions changing federal law than did the Obama Board. No Labor Board in history reversed as many decisions than did the Trump NLRB. Since January 20, 2021 (Inauguration Day), no Board has moved so quickly to undo a predecessor Board than has the Biden Board. What has happened so far? What can employers expect in the future? And what should they do to prepare? John will lead a discussion of all of these issues. Supreme Court Extends Title VII Protection to LGBTQ Employees and Applicants In Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, No. 17 - 1618 (S. Ct. June 15, 2020), the U.S. Supreme Court decided (6-3) that Title VII's prohibition of discrimination "because of sex" applies to and protects LGBTQ employees and applicants. Because of the case's importance, John will review the facts in detail, as well the effects it will have in the workplace. What, if anything, does Bostock change for employers and employees? The Post-COVID Workplace of the Future - What Will It Be Like? Pre-COVID "normal" and post-COVID "normal" will be different for everyone, and probably more so in the workplace than anyplace else. Issues of masks, social distancing, group settings, hand-washing and workplace cleaning/sanitizing are already known. But what effect will COVID have on issues such as work scheduling, attendance policies, attendance bonuses, office-area configurations, work-from-home policies, workers' compensation, performance-evaluation criteria, union organizing, overtime and minimum wage, interviewing job applicants, discipline or discharge meetings, Weingarten rights, employer functions and outings, harassment, business travel, use of staffing companies, leaves of absence and employee morale/team-building? John will lead the discussion, but it is hoped this session will be highly interactive with participants sharing their own experiences and issues for the benefit of all attendees. What's Happening with ADA and FMLA? There have, over the last 18 months, been several new developments and court decisions on reasonable accommodation, essential job functions, the interaction between ADA and FMLA, intermittent leave and others. John will provide an up-to-the-minute update. Retaliation...Whistleblowers....It Never Ends! The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reports that of all the charges it now receives, more allege retaliation than any other form of discrimination. And every year it receives more retaliation charges than it received the preceding year. It will only get worse from here. Is there anything an employer can do to reduce the risk? John will address that question and will also explain the reasons for the avalanche of retaliation claims. Learning objectives for this conference include: You will better understand how to analyze and evaluate the relationship between federal regulations and the needs of your organization; and how they relate to maintaining appropriate relationships and working conditions. Ensuring your organizational personnel and management policies and practices conform to these various regulations. Be able solve problems that require more context and deeper analytical thinking. Updates on the Following: Sexual and other harassment States legalizing marijuana Age discrimination Overtime cases and collective actions under FLSA Other important legal developments Investigations For more information about this conference visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/1cpwdw About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Westford,USA, Oct. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global Dark Spirits market size is expected to reach USD 105.74 billion by 2030 and exhibit a CAGR of 7.5% in the forecast period (20232030), according to Skyquest's latest research report. The increasing consumer interest in craft and artisanal spirits, growing cocktail culture and mixology trends, rising disposable incomes, expanding consumer preference for premium and aged spirits, the emergence of new distilleries and brands, and a surge in marketing and promotional activities within the spirits industry is fueling the market's growth. According to SkyQuest's latest global research of the Dark Spirits market, growing interest in barrel-aged and vintage dark spirits, the rise of craft distilleries and small-batch production, a shift towards sustainability and eco-friendly practices in production and packaging, increasing demand for unique and exotic flavours in dark spirits, the influence of digital platforms and social media on consumer engagement and product discovery, and the expansion of online sales channels and direct-to-consumer models in the dark spirits market are the trends that aid in the market's growth. Browse in-depth TOC on "Dark Spirits Market" Pages - 265 Tables - 59 Figures -80 Dark spirits are alcoholic beverages that have been aged in oak barrels, resulting in a dark colour. The term is most often used to describe whiskeys but can also be applied to other types of spirits, such as rum and brandy. Dark spirits are typically full-bodied and have a rich, complex flavour. Get a sample copy of this report: https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/dark-spirits-market Prominent Players in Dark Spirits Market Diageo Pernod Ricard Bacardi Brown-Forman Beam Suntory Campari Group William Grant & Sons Remy Cointreau LVMH The Edrington Group Constellation Brands Proximo Spirits Heaven Hill Brands Beam Global Spirits & Wine Luxco Sazerac Company Gruppo Campari Mast-Jagermeister SE The Wine Group E. & J. Gallo Winery Report Scope & Segmentation: Attributes Details Forecast Period 2023-2030 Market Size in 2022 55.11 Billion 2030 Value Projection 105.74 Billion CAGR 7.5% Segments Covered Type Whiskey and Rum Distribution Channel Online trade channels and Offline trade channels Regions Covered North America (US, Canada), Europe (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Rest of Europe), Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, Rest of Asia-Pacific), Latin America (Brazil, Rest of Latin America), Middle East & Africa (South Africa, GCC Countries, Rest of MEA) Whiskey Demand to Grow Substantially in the Forecast Period Whiskey dominates the global online market, gaining widespread popularity among individuals as it has a broad and global consumer base. It is enjoyed in various countries and regions, making it a versatile and popular choice. Whiskey, especially Scotch, has a strong cultural association with countries like Scotland and the United States. This cultural significance often leads to a steady demand and brand loyalty. Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC): https://www.skyquestt.com/report/dark-spirits-market Online Retail is the Leading Application Segment Online Retail is the leading segment in terms of application as they have gained popularity due to their convenience and accessibility. Consumers can explore a vast selection of dark spirits, read reviews, and purchase from the comfort of their homes. Some distilleries and brands have adopted direct-to-consumer models through online sales channels, allowing them to connect directly with consumers and offer exclusive products. North America is the leading Market Due to Bourbon and Whiskey Dominance Region-wise, North America is one of the largest growing markets due to the bourbon and whiskey dominance. The region is known for its production and consumption of Bourbon and whiskey. Bourbon, in particular, has a strong cultural connection and is often associated with American whiskey. Moreover it has witnessed a surge in craft distilleries, leading to a diverse range of whiskey styles and flavors. Craft distilleries have contributed to the growth of the dark spirits market, especially among enthusiasts. A recent report thoroughly analyzes the major players operating within the Dark Spirits market. This comprehensive evaluation has considered several crucial factors, such as collaborations, mergers, innovative business policies, and strategies, providing invaluable insights into the key trends and breakthroughs in the market. Additionally, the report has carefully scrutinized the market share of the top segments and presented a detailed geographic analysis. Finally, the report has highlighted the major players in the industry and their ongoing endeavours to develop innovative solutions that cater to the ever-increasing demand for Dark Spirits. Speak to Analyst for your custom requirements: https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/dark-spirits-market Key Developments in Dark Spirits Market In March 2023, Campari Group announced the launch of a new limited-edition rum, Appleton Estate Joy Anniversary Blend 2023. In January 2023, Asahi Group Holdings announced the launch of a new Japanese whisky, Takumi. Key Questions Answered in Dark Spirits Market Report What specific growth drivers will impact the market during the forecast period? Can you list the top companies in the market and explain how they have achieved their positions of influence? In what ways do regional trends and patterns differ within the global market, and how might these differences shape the market's future growth? Related Reports in SkyQuests Library: Global Hangover Cure Products Market Global Pisco Market Global Home Beer Brewing Machine Market Global Furfuryl Alcohol Market Global Alcohol Ingredients Market About Us: SkyQuest Technology is leading growth consulting firm providing market intelligence, commercialization and technology services. It has 450+ happy clients globally. Address: 1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886 Phone: USA (+1) 617-230-0741 Email: sales@skyquestt.com Jonesboro, Arkansas, Oct. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With industries worldwide continuously battling the challenges of airborne dust, maintaining impeccable indoor air quality remains paramount. The well-being and safety of workers hang in the balance, calling for robust measures and the integration of comprehensive systems. Given this backdrop, Randi Huckaby, a renowned figure in the domain of air filtration and industrial dust collection, has penned an illuminating article on the ISHN platform. The piece shines a light on the ASHRAE standards that play a pivotal role in ensuring a dust collector's effectiveness in safeguarding indoor air quality. Huckaby's article delves deep into the world of dust collectors machines that serve as the first line of defense against harmful airborne particles in industrial environments. She elucidates how agencies like the National Fire Protection Agency, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and OSHA have issued mandates to ensure worker safety from these hazardous dusts. At the core of the article lies the detailed exploration of the ASHRAE standards - a beacon for establishments aiming to achieve superior indoor air quality. From the workings of ASHRAE Standards 52.2 on Air Filter Performance to the nuances of the MERV Air Filter Efficiency Rating, Huckaby leaves no stone unturned. However, the highlight remains the introduction of the ASHRAE Standard 199, which stands as a testament to ASHRAE's commitment to addressing the dynamic needs of dust collection systems. This article isn't just a read; it's an educational journey for all industry professionals. For those looking to gain comprehensive insights and enhance their knowledge about dust collection and indoor air quality, Randi Huckaby's article is a must-read. Dive deep into the world of ASHRAE standards and equip yourself with the knowledge to make informed decisions. The full article titled Focus on ASHRAE standards for dust collection and indoor air quality is available for reading on ISHN. Delve into the details and be part of the discourse on ensuring a safer and cleaner industrial environment. About the Author Randi Huckaby holds the esteemed position of Product Manager Dry Filtration APC Global at Camfil Air Pollution Control (APC). With her vast experience and in-depth knowledge, she brings invaluable insights to the table, enlightening readers about the intricate dynamics of dust collection and air filtration. Connect with her and the team at Camfil APC to learn more. Press Contact: Lisa Goetz Schubert b2b 1-610-269-2100 x244 lgoetz@schubertb2b.com Attachments Dallas, TX, Oct. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) recognized top supporters and volunteers at its annual Golden Fork Awards ceremony. The awards were presented to corporations, organizations and individuals that have made a significant impact on hunger-relief efforts in North Texas through their generosity and dedication. This season each year, it is appropriate that we pause to formally recognize our most passionate hunger fighters and honor their unwavering support and commitment to serving the community, said President and CEO Trisha Cunningham. The North Texas Food Bank is fortunate to have such rich community support in our mission of closing the hunger gap in North Texas. We could not do what we do without the inspiring generosity and dedication of these individuals and organizations. The following recipients were honored for their contributions at the ceremony on October 19: Lifetime Achievement Award: Anurag Jain, chairman and CEO of Access Healthcare An entrepreneur, philanthropist and venture capitalist, Anurag Jain is dedicated to charting a better course for humanity by pioneering solutions for some of the worlds most complex problems. He is a thought partner and problem-solver and has served on the NTFB board for nine years and was Board Chair for three years. NTFB identified technology as an area of improvement that could help better support its mission. He helped connect the organization to a prominent company for a third-party assessment, which became the basis for NTFBs IT strategy. During the pandemic, NTFB needed volunteers because companies were sending employees home when businesses went to remote work. Anurag brainstormed an alternative use for a technology solution he has invested in called ShiftSmart and helped set up a fund with the Communities Foundation to compensate unemployed hospitality industry workers as they replaced the volunteer workforce at the Food Bank, and later, its partner agencies. With this initiative, called Get Shift Done, 28,000 workers were employed and served over 60 million meals, and the concept was expanded to other parts of the country. Get Shift Done was named the No. 1 Most Innovative Not-for-Profit Organization by Fast Company in 2021. Anurag and his wife, Gunjan, have personally supported the North Texas Food Bank for more than 13 years, participating in the Fight Hunger Build Hope capital campaign and most recently serving as co-chairs of NTFBs Nourish North Texas Comprehensive Campaign that raised $500 million in financial support and in-kind gifts, including support of our first endowment campaign. Anurag continues to serve NTFB as Chair Emeritus and a Lifetime Board Member. 2023 Jan Pruitt Legacy Award: Valerie Hawthorne, Ph.D. The Jan Pruitt Legacy Award is given to a Food Bank employee or an employee of one of our partner agencies and it honors NTFBs late CEO Jan Pruitt, who led the North Texas Food Bank for 20 years. The award was created in her memory six years ago and is especially meaningful to us as it is given to individuals who embody the traits exemplified by Jan. The award was presented to Dr. Valerie Hawthorne, who served as Director of Government Relations of the North Texas Food Bank for seven years. In her role, Valerie served as a subject matter expert in anti-hunger policy, statistical data and root cause drivers of hunger. Under her leadership, both the Houston and North Texas food banks were awarded entry into Feeding Americas Advocacy Hall of Fame, and theyve been recognized nationally for their approach to food policy work. Valerie was also accepted into Feeding Americas Advocacy Academy and awarded a fellowship and recognition by the Tableau Foundation for her implementation of data-based visualizations. As a skilled lobbyist since 2014, Valerie has worked on multiple federal initiatives in cooperation with other policy leaders. At the state level, she helped increase produce funding in the state budget, fought against threats to accessibility with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and provided testimony and data visualization for many legislative offices in support of bills seeking to fight hunger in Texas. Locally, she served on the leadership team of the Dallas Coalition for Hunger Solutions and on the board of directors for the Dallas Development Fund. She was also appointed to the Dallas Public Facility Corporation by the Dallas City Council. Valerie always approached her work with a can-do spirit. That was on full display at the start of the pandemic when Valerie stepped in as the interim leader of NTFBs Community Partner Relations Team, providing leadership to each team member as well as to the National Guard as they executed an emergency mobile distribution plan to address the growing number of people facing hunger. Corporation of the Year: Access Healthcare During the height of the pandemic, Access Healthcare stepped up and provided more than 1.5 million nutritious meals to our neighbors facing food insecurity. Additionally, Access Healthcare generously welcomed our External Affairs team to their office when they had to vacate our Dallas Farmers Market location during construction. By hosting NTFB during the busy holiday season, they ensured we didnt miss a beat. After NTFB moved out, Access Healthcare also donated the office furniture to agencies in our Feeding Network. As a corporation that works to transform healthcare through technology and knowledge, Access Healthcare and its more than 27,000 employees have long been leaders in their industry. With the work they do at the NTFB, they are also leaders in making our community a better place to live and work. Retail Partner of the Year: Kroger Kroger has been fighting food insecurity since its inception, providing access to well over 10 million nutritious meals for children, families and seniors facing hunger during the last four decades. NTFB chose to honor Kroger this year after the opening of its new Fulfillment Center, which increased Krogers in-kind donations by more than 1.75 million pounds of food, bringing its donations for fiscal year 2023 alone to over 4.1 million pounds of nutritious food. Kroger also contributed $171,000 in financial support, which equates to nearly 4 million meals. Whether donating to NTFBs annual Peanut Butter Drive, collecting cans at the State Fair of Texas, volunteering in the warehouse or serving on the board, Kroger and its staff have always shown an unwavering commitment to the Food Bank and its mission. Hunger Ambassador of the Year: Feeding Texas With a network of 21 Texas food banks, including the North Texas Food Bank, Feeding Texas leverages state-wide resources to provide nutritious food to neighbors, and it offers technical assistance, best practices and targeted resources to help NTFB build capacity in this time of expanded need. For the last 20 years, Feeding Texas has also led an organized effort to engage lawmakers. During this years Texas Legislative session, several new laws were passed that will prevent hunger for Texans experiencing food insecurity. Tom Black Volunteer of the Year: John Hermanson John Hermanson is a selfless, dedicated and hard-working volunteer whose passion for the Food Banks mission is evident in all he does. Since April of 2020, he has volunteered over 1,300 hours, even picking up extra shifts when the pandemic shut down the majority of our daily volunteers. John has also been serving as a Kernel, which is what NTFB calls its volunteer leaders, since December 2021. He now leads and trains new Kernels as they begin their journey and shares his commitment and enthusiasm for the Food Bank when speaking with Junior Kernels, or youth volunteer leaders. John even got involved in fundraising recently, joining our Marketing and Communications Team for the Bruce Springsteen concert that benefited the North Texas Food Bank, helping increase awareness of the issue of food insecurity locally and, along with the team, raising nearly $13,000. Named for former board chair and NTFB LIFE Council member Tom Black, this award recognizes someone who exemplifies the same selfless commitment Black always displays. In-Kind Donor of the Year: Empty Bowls Potters and Woodturners When David Cramer became president and owner of Trinity Ceramics Supply, he made a commitment to its founders that he would continue the companys annual support of Empty Bowls, which benefits the NTFB. Cramer has done just that, cultivating a team of artisans for the past nine years to create bowls for the event. This year, he recruited more than 55 individuals and 14 teams that hand-crafted over 1,000 bowls, helping to raise more than $250,000 for the NTFB. Its because of David and all the artisans that this event is such a success. Media Partner of the Year Award: Deborah Ferguson, News Anchor for NBC5 Deborah Ferguson has spent her entire career covering Dallas-Fort Worth and has earned numerous awards, including a regional Edward R. Murrow Award. Over the last several years, Deborah has been instrumental in elevating the NTFB and food insecurity on the KXAS news program. Her stories have increased the NTFBs visibility within the community, which directly benefits North Texas families who are facing hunger. Her coverage has also helped the Food Bank to raise funds, and NBCs Fighting Hunger news segments have boosted volunteer engagement. The awareness built by Deborah and our media partners leads to more neighbors seeking out our help; more people stepping up to volunteer; and more supporters donating food and funds to support their fellow North Texans. Innovation Partner of the Year: DoorDash The Food Bank began a partnership with DoorDash in 2020 during the height of the pandemic when sheltering at home was mandatory for many of our area seniors. DoorDash offered to deliver food to this vulnerable population as part of our already existing Commodities Supplemental Food Program, and they offered the service as an in-kind donation. This was a dream partnership as many of these seniors would not have otherwise received their boxes of food. This innovative partnership was a first of its kind in Texas and was showcased during the Texas Department of Agricultures annual convention in Austin. Since our partnership began, DoorDash has been invested in continuous improvement and has engaged in advocacy efforts to ensure food delivery is sustainable for the NTFB and at other food banks. Foundation of the Year Award: J.L. Williams Foundation Since 2004, the J.L Williams Foundation has given the NTFB an impressive $2.7 million in donations, all in support of a hunger-free North Texas, with a special emphasis on programs that serve children. This remarkable level of generosity has allowed NTFB to expand its reach and serve countless individuals and families facing food insecurity. Over the past two decades, the foundation has provided more than 8 million meals to North Texans. In addition to this direct support, Mrs. Jonell (Jody) Williams and the Foundation have generously supported the Food Bank and other anti-hunger charity partners through its relationship with the Dallas Morning News Charities. Jody said in an interview several years ago, Were all here for a short period of time, but what we do in that time can have a significant impact on the future. A special thanks goes to Briggs Freeman Sothebys International Realty for sponsoring the Golden Forks event and for their continued support of the North Texas Food Bank. ### About North Texas Food Bank The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) is a top-ranked non-profit hunger-relief organization that sources, packages and distributes food through a network of about 500 Partner Agencies and organizations across 13 North Texas counties. The organization also provides food to children, seniors and families through various direct-delivery programs, including mobile pantries. In its last fiscal year, the NTFB provided access to more than 144 million nutritious meals or nearly 400,000 meals a day, a five percent increase over the prior year. The North Texas Food Bank is designated a 4-Star Exceptional organization by Charity Navigator based on its governance, integrity and financial stability, and is ranked 87th on Forbes 2022 Top 100 Charities in America. NTFB is a member of Feeding America, the nations largest hunger-relief organization. Attachment Versailles, KY, Oct. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Versailles, Ky. Today, Frontier Nursing University (FNU) received the 2023 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. As a recipient of the annual Health Professions HEED Award a national honor recognizing U.S. health colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion FNU will be featured, along with 64 other recipients, in the November/December 2023 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. This is the sixth consecutive year FNU has been named as a Health Professions HEED Award recipient. Receiving the INSIGHT Into Diversity Health Professions Education in Excellence in Diversity Award is an honor that is celebrated by everyone at Frontier Nursing University, said FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, CNM, DNSc, FAAN, FACNM. We embrace this award because it acknowledges Frontier's steps to prioritize diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at all levels of our university. We also cherish the opportunity to apply for this award because every year, the award criteria and review process challenge us to look at our successes, existing gaps, and opportunities for improvement. Our DEI work is essential to help prepare our students to provide culturally concordant care in their communities across the country. FNU has maintained a strong focus on increasing diversity enrollment and retention through a number of initiatives, FNUs many recent DEI initiatives include the implementation of a holistic admissions process, the expansion of its Office of DEI staff, diversity training for all members of the FNU community, mentoring programs, an annual Diversity Impact Conference, the formation of special Student Interest Groups, and the establishment of a DEI Faculty Fellows program. Since FNU committed to DEI as a priority, enrollment of students of color has increased from 9% in 2010 to 30% in 2023. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recently awarded FNU the Maternity Care (MatCare) Nursing Workforce Expansion Grant. The grant period extends from September 30, 2023, to September 29, 2027. FNU will receive $4 million $1 million per year to fund the grant project. Via the grant, FNU intends to increase the number and diversity of the nurse-midwifery workforce, focusing on increasing the Hispanic population of nurse-midwives. Frontier Nursing University is committed to being an equitable institution where everyone is respected, valued, and welcomed, said FNU Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech, Ph.D., PMHNP-BC, APRN. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are central components of our data-driven initiatives and policies. The Health Professions HEED Award process consists of a comprehensive and rigorous application that includes questions relating to the recruitment and retention of students and employees and best practices for both continued leadership support for diversity, and other aspects of campus diversity and inclusion, said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. We take a detailed approach to reviewing each application in deciding who will be named a Health Professions HEED Award recipient. Our standards are high, and we look for schools where diversity and inclusion are woven into the work being done every day across their campus. ##### About INSIGHT Into Diversity: INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine is the leader in advancing best practices in DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) in higher education. Through thought-provoking print and online articles, we share expert advice, valuable resources, in-depth profiles of top DEI programs at colleges and universities, headline news, and much more to help keep our readers informed and empower them to advance DEI initiatives at their institutions. To further our mission, we created the INSIGHT Into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award in 2012. The HEED Award including the more targeted INSIGHT Into Diversity Health Professions, Law School, and Community College HEED Awards is the only national honor to recognize institutions of higher education for their outstanding commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Current, archived, and digital issues of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine are available online at insightintodiversity.com . About Frontier Nursing University: The mission of Frontier Nursing University is to provide accessible nurse-midwifery and nurse practitioner education that integrates the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We transform healthcare by preparing innovative, ethical, compassionate, and entrepreneurial leaders to work with all people with an emphasis on rural and underserved communities. FNU offers graduate Nurse-Midwifery and Nurse-Practitioner distance education programs that can be pursued full- or part-time with the students home community serving as the classroom. Degrees and options offered include Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), or Post-Graduate Certificates. Frontier has been named a Great College to Work For by the Great Colleges to Work For program for each of the past three years (2021-2023). To learn more about FNU and the programs and degrees offered, please visit Frontier.edu . Attachment VANCOUVER, Oct. 19, 2023 - Ceylon Graphite Corp. ("Ceylon" or the "Company") (TSX-V: CYL) (OTC: CYLYF) (FSE: CCY) announces that it intends to extend the exercise period for a total of 50,928,566 common share purchase warrants, all of which are exercisable at $0.15 per common share (collectively, the "Warrants"). The Warrants were issued pursuant to a private placement that closed in tranches on October 22, 2020 (the "First Tranche") and October 28, 2020 (the "Second Tranche"). 30,163,566 Warrants were issued in the First Tranche with 500,000 Warrants having been exercised, leaving 29,663,566 First Tranche Warrants outstanding, and 21,265,000 Warrants were issued in the Second Tranche, all of which remain outstanding. The Company proposes to extend the expiry dates of these Warrants by one year, such that the new expiry date for the Warrants will be October 22, 2024 for the First Tranche Warrants and October 28, 2024 for the Second Tranche Warrants. All other terms and conditions of the Warrants remain unchanged. The Warrant extension is subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange. About Ceylon Graphite Corp. Ceylon is a public company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange, that is in the business of mining for graphite, and developing and commercializing innovative graphene and graphite applications and products. Graphite mined in Sri Lanka is known to be some of the highest grade in the world and has been confirmed to be suitable to be easily upgradable for a range of applications including the high-growth electric vehicle and battery storage markets as well as construction, healthcare and paints and coatings sectors. Further information regarding Ceylon is available at www.ceylongraphite.com Sasha Jacob, Chief Executive Officer and Rita Thiel, Chair of the Board of Directors info@ceylongraphite.com Corporate Communications +1(604) 924-8695 Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information: This news release contains forward-looking information as such term is defined in applicable securities laws, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. The forward-looking information includes statements about the extension of the expiry period of the Warrants, potential value of products produced with Ceylon graphite, the quality of graphite mined by Ceylon, applications for future graphite applications, Ceylon's role as a potential market leader and expectations related to development of Ceylon's properties and Ceylon's mining operations. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to Ceylon, including the assumption that, there are no material adverse changes effecting development and production at the M1 mine or on other properties, testing related to the performance of Ceylon's vein graphite material are accurate, there will be no material adverse change in graphite and metal prices, there will be continued demand for graphite powered batteries, all necessary consents, licenses, permits and approvals will be obtained, including various Local Government Licenses. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. Risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking information include, among other things, the results of Ceylon's graphite testing being inaccurate or incomplete, the market for graphite related technologies not developing as expected, failure to obtain or maintain patents and proprietary technology, loss or failure to acquire available high quality graphite, any failures to obtain or delays in obtaining required regulatory licenses, permits, approvals and consents, an inability to access financing as needed, a general economic downturn, a volatile stock price, labour strikes, political unrest, changes in the mining regulatory regime governing Ceylon, a failure to comply with environmental regulations and a weakening of market and industry reliance on high quality graphite. Ceylon cautions the reader that the above list of risk factors is not exhaustive. Alonso denies Aston Martin developments failing Fernando Alonso has hit back at suggestions that Aston Martin's efforts to aggressively develop its 2023 car have proved a failure. Fernando Alonso, Qatar GP 2023 Aston Martin Racing The Spaniard started the year with a string of podiums, with the team admitting that it has made some mistakes with subsequent upgrades. Aston Martin has more upgrades in Austin, while other key rivals have effectively stopped developing their cars in favour of focusing more on 2024. But Alonso, 42, says that perception is wrong. We have some improvements here, but Haas has a new car and Mercedes also has new things, he told DAZN on Thursday. "We'll have to see how it goes. When we talk about Aston Martin, it seems that the others just put the car on a trailer and come to the next race and that only we are developing. Haas' big 'B car' upgrade, however, is an extremely rare one for the small American team in 2023. Finally determined to end the car's existing 'tyre eating' tendencies, Haas even rented a workshop outside of Austin last week to fit all the new upgrades. Drivers furious at obscene EUR 1m penalty limit Formula 1 drivers have reacted with astonishment to the news that they stand to be fined as much as EUR 1,000,000 by the governing FIA. Lewis Hamilton, Singapore GP 2023 Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd. Previously, the upper limit for financial penalties for infractions was just EUR 250,000. Then maybe we can also sponsor the bottles of wine (on the podium), joked world champion Max Verstappen. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc added: I mean, some drivers are making less than that. Haas' Kevin Magnussen joked: Charles can give his watch - but I would disappear, never to be found again. Seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton was fined EUR 50,000 last time out in Qatar for crossing the live track following his first-lap crash. And he warned the FIA that he might refuse to pay an even bigger fine. If they are going to be fining people a million, let's make sure 100 percent of that goes to a cause. That's the only way they'll get that million from me, said the Mercedes driver. The drivers' reaction only amplifies suggestions of a growing rift between them and F1's governing body, with Grand Prix Drivers' Association boss George Russell saying they were not consulted about the obscene maximum penalty. It needs to be invested in grassroots but so far we've had no response on where that's going, the British driver said in Austin. There's a lot greater global issues going on and so much poverty around the world - so how can a federation make up these fines? I don't know of any sport or profession outside of the corporate world where you can be fined that amount. Hamilton also blasted the FIA after the Mohammed Ben Sulayem-led body said it was going to review his EUR 50,000 penalty because of his status as a role-model to young drivers. Two partner to build 30MW data centre in Ghana Emmanuel Bruce Business News Oct - 20 - 2023 , 03:44 The US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) has reaffirmed its commitment to invest $300 million in Africa Data Centres (ADC) for the construction of data centres across some African countries. This commitment was affirmed through a memorandum of understanding signed between the two organisations in Accra. The construction of the data centre forms part of a shared commitment from both organisations to strengthen ICT infrastructure in Africa. Speaking at the signing, US Ambassador to Ghana Virginia Palmer said the expansion of DFC and AFCs partnership to Ghana was an indication of the commitment of the US government to supporting technological advancement in Ghana. She said technological advancement and digitalisation had become the lifeblood of innovation and progress, as they fuel economic growth, drive entrepreneurship and enhance the collective ability to solve the most pressing global challenges. She noted that innovators in Ghana, and across the continent, were embracing technology and using it creatively to generate opportunities and drive development. Ghana is harnessing the potential of the digital economy, and we applaud its vision and commitment to building a strong digital ecosystem. It is a testament to Ghana's focus on creating an environment that fosters innovation, attracts investment and empowers its people, she stated. She said the US was working to support these efforts, noting that in December 2022, during the Africa Leaders Summit, President Biden launched the Digital Transformation with Africa initiative, which was designed to expand digital access and literacy while strengthening digital enabling environments across Africa. Working with Congress, this initiative intends to invest over $350 million and facilitate over $450 million in financing for Africa, in line with the African Unions Digital Transformation Strategy and the US Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa, she said. Data demand The Chief Financial Officer of Africa Data Centres, Finhai Munzara, said from under 200MW of data centre capacity currently, Africa as a whole needed up to 1,000 MW and 700 facilities to meet demand and bring capacity density up to par with that in South Africa, the continental leader. He said after signing a $300m facility, the DFC had already supported ADCs development of this critical infrastructure in Kenya and South Africa, as part of its ambitious plans to reach 10 of the continents major economic hubs. We are pleased to extend the strong relationship to enable faster digital transformation in Ghana, a country that is becoming a regional digital hub, enjoying a significant share of West Africas internet traffic. In Ghana, ADC plans to deliver up to 30MW of IT capacity in Multiple Phases within the Ghana Trade Fair site, he stated. He said the site provides a unique opportunity to deliver the critical hyperscale IT infrastructure in a secure, central location within the city limits; and close to key connectivity infrastructure. Attracting data-driven companies For his part, the CEO of the DFC, Scott Nathan, said data centres could help attract data-driven companies looking for a foothold or to expand their operations in growing African economies. He said markets with trusted technology and dependable data storage were magnets for businesses that create jobs and opportunities in high-growth sectors. When this data centre is operational, it will aid development and economic growth here in Accra, for communities across the country, and in the wider region, he stated. He said the DFCs commitment to strengthen this kind of ICT infrastructure in Africa was in keeping with President Biden and the G7s larger commitment to mobilise private capital for high-quality infrastructure investment that would improve lives. Safe, secure and open information technology networks are a critical foundation for the development of any vibrant, innovative economy. They are a vital part of the infrastructure that allows a dynamic private sector to grow and thrive, he added. Company hands over 80-seater canteen to school Joshua Bediako Koomson Education Oct - 20 - 2023 , 07:21 The Flour Mills of Ghana Limited (FMGL) has handed over an 80-seater canteen for pupils of the Manhean Anglican A & B Primary School to grant the students a healthy eating environment during school hours. The project is also to help reduce time wasting in search of food during school sessions. The FMGL, which is a subsidiary company of the Seaboard Overseas and Trading Group, also donated food items and stationery materials through the support of some of its suppliers. Childrens well-being During the handing over of the canteen to the school last Tuesday, the General Manager of the FMGL, Shaul Hamtzani, stated that the idea to build the canteen was because the company believed in education and would want to make things better by investing in the wellbeing of children. In addition, he said it was right for the company to give back to the immediate community it operated in. We need to give back to the community we live in, we need to invest back to show that we are not here just to dig gold and leave, we are a food processing company not gold diggers, he added. Mr Hamtzani further called on companies in the Tema industrial enclave to contribute to the development of the community in which they operated and most important, invest in the development of children. Appreciation The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Tema East Constituency, Isaac Ashai Odamtten said aside from creating a conducive place for the children to eat, the new canteen was also going to help improve the quality of the food the children consumed. The MP expressed his appreciation to the company and its staff for their enormous contributions towards the completion of the project. In this challenging economic times when salaries cannot satisfy our financial obligations, not everyone will make this sacrifice and so, on behalf of the people of Tema East, I want to express my gratitude to the staff the management of the FMGL, he stated. Challenges The Headmaster of the school, Francis Cobbson, recalled that when he was first posted to the school, he noticed that the lack of canteen and the dilapidated nature of the roofing were part of the challenges that bedeviled it. He said by the grace of God, the roofing was replaced but due to the activities by the some members of the community, the challenge had reoccurred. Mr Cobbson further commended the FMGL for seeing the need to assist the school by providing a more decent place for the children to eat. The FMGL had indeed made our long journey short and we as a school appreciate this kind gesture, he added. #NSMQ2023: PRESEC joins OWASS, MOTOWN for grand finale on October 31 Graphic.com.gh Education Oct - 19 - 2023 , 20:26 Presbyterian Boys SHS on Thursday night joined Opoku Ware School and Achimota School for the grand finale of the #NSMQ2023 slated for the National Theatre in Accra on October 31, 2023. Presec, the defending champions beat Mfantsipim School and Keta SHTS in the third semi final clash on Thursday night. Fingers are now crossed to see if Presec will be able to retain their title when they meet the Kumasi royals from Opoku Ware School and the Motown people from Achimota School in the grand finale. Third semi-final contest Presec ended round 5 with 44 points against Mfantsipim's 40 points and Ketasco's 39 points. Round 1 In this third semi-finals stage Keta SHTS, Mfantsipim School and Presbyterian Boys SHS, ended round one ended with Mfantsipim School scoring 22 points, Presbyterian Boys 20 points and Keta SHTS with 17 points. Round 2 At the end of round 2, which is a speed race, Presbyterian Boys overtook Mfantsipim and led with 27 points, Mfantsipim School: 25 points and Keta SHTS: 23 points. Round 3 At the end of the problem of the day round, PRESEC led with 31 points followed by Mfantsipim's 30 points and Ketasco's 29 points. Round 4 Mfantsipim - 34 Keta - 36 Presec - 41 more to follow... UPSA graduates 4,783 students Mary Anane-Amponsah Education Oct - 20 - 2023 , 07:17 The University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), has graduated 4,783 students after meeting the academic requirements to earn various degrees from the institution. The students, comprising 973 postgraduates, 2,969 undergraduates and 841 diploma, would be graduated in four out of the five sessions of the 15th Congregation which began last Tuesday and would end today, Friday. The ceremony was to award appropriate degrees and diplomas to students who had completed the UPSA Law School, Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Studies. Graduation The UPSA Law School and Faculty of IT & Communication Studies graduated 1,271 students out of which the Law School presented 134 students, eight of whom obtained Second Class Upper,53 Second Class Lower, 56 Third Class and 17 pass. The Faculty of IT and Communication Studies, on its part, graduated a 1,137 out of which 728 are undergraduates and 409 are diploma students. For the undergraduate level, only one student obtained First Class, 136 Second Class Upper, 302 Second Class Lower, 259 Third Class and 30 pass. Ten of the diploma students attained distinction, while 229 obtained credit and 170 had pass. The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Abednego Feehi Okoe Amartey, who commended the students for their successful completion of the university, urged them to be outstanding in whatever field they found themselves and become ambassadors for the institution. Changing world As graduates of the UPSA, you are well-prepared to face the challenges of the modern world. Our university has a rich tradition of producing graduates who excel in their respective fields and I have no doubt you will continue this legacy, he said. The graduates Talking about some of the achievement of the university, Prof. Amartey said the 2023 Times Higher Education Impact rankings, a global ranking that measured universities against the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals (SDG's), ranked high the UPSA in quality education. The UPSA's outstanding performance in SDG's Four, 8 and 16 has propelled it to the forefront of higher education institutions dedicated to creating a positive impact on society. Student population The university, he said, enrolled 6,634 new students at the beginning of the 2022/2023 academic year, bringing the total student population to 20,240. He said the number included 2,085 postgraduate students, 15,708 undergraduate students, 1,954 diploma students and 493 professional students. The total student population also comprised 10,713 male and 9,527 female. New programmes The university, he disclosed, also received accreditation to introduce new academic programmes for the 2023/2024 academic year. They included the Bachelor of Science in Logistics and Transport Management, Master of Arts in Digital and Strategic Marketing Management, Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies, Doctor of Philosophy in International Security and Intelligence and Master of Philosophy in Media and Digital Communication Management. The process of admission and registration to enrol the first batch of students had already been completed and instructional activities had begun in earnest, he said. The university,he said, also created a new department; the Department of Economics & Actuarial Science. The department was carved out of the Department of Banking & Finance to ease the workload of the department and to bring about greater efficiency. The President of the Ghana Bar Association,Yaw Acheampong Boafo, urged the graduates to be the change the country needed as corruption permeated the public sector and social arrangements. Adults sucking breast not protection against breast cancer GHS Doreen Andoh Oct - 20 - 2023 , 07:05 The Ghana Health Service has described as a myth the notion that when men suck on the breast it offers the woman some protection against breast cancer. It has clarified that it is the process of breast milk production and secretion precipitated by a baby suckling a mothers breast that helps to reduce the mothers vulnerability to breast cancer. Speaking at a press conference as part of activities marking this years Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Accra yesterday, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, said the suckling of the breast by any other but a baby for breast milk, did not protect against or cause breast cancer. The WHO has designated October as the breast cancer awareness month to heighten awareness and garner support to increase access to quality services. This years theme is: Working together to close the cancer care gap." Diagnosing challenge While assuring the public that breast cancer was not a death sentence because it was treatable when detected early, Dr Kuma-Aboagyes concern was the lack of adequate capacity of health professionals to help detect the condition early. He said the low capacity among health professionals, particularly at the primary level of care to diagnose breast cancer early, had been identified as a major challenge. To improve the situation, the GHS, among other initiatives, was enhancing the capacity of healthcare professionals along all the levels of care on the process of detecting breast cancer. He said that formed part of a national strategy to enhance early detection, ensure quality of care and increase access to care. Specifically, we have deepened the training and capacity development of our community health workers and other cadres in clinical breast examination; Integrated breast and cervical cancer screening services, and in collaboration with the School Health Education Programme, created awareness and sensitisation at the community level, he said. Dr Kuma-Aboagye said the strategy was to bridge that access gap and boost prevention, among others. Prevention The Director-General of the GHS stated that prevention was hinged on early detection through frequent screening and reducing of one's risk to the disease through healthy lifestyle. He said although the causes were still unknown, alcohol use, tobacco use, ageing, family history and obesity, especially during menopause, increased a person's vulnerability to breast cancer. Female gender is the strongest breast cancer risk factor. Approximately 0.5-1 per cent of breast cancers occur in men, he said. Dr Kuma-Aboagye said good practices including eating healthily, excising and breastfeeding provided some protection against the disease. In Ghana, breast cancer has a very high burden and is the leading type among women although it affects men too, he said, and appealed to all women to take clinical breast examinations seriously, advising them to go for checks at least every month. National intervention Dr Kuma-Aboagye said the GHS was working to improve access to care with strategies such as the Networks of Practice, explaining that the Networks of Practice concept would ensure that early detection at the sub district was improved, patients were linked to care, and disease outcomes were improved. We, however, cannot do these alone. As no one can address the burden of breast cancer alone, there is the need for stakeholders such as survivors, healthcare providers, academia, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil society organisations (CSOs) to collectively work towards prevention and improving disease outcomes, he stressed. He commended the media for their role in educating the general public on the risk factors and encouraged the media to continue in that regard. Most importantly, the medias time-tested role in educating the public on risk factors such as genetic mutations, family history of breast and ovarian cancers, physical inactivity, obesity and consumption of alcohol has become even more crucial. Your unwavering support over the years in providing various channels to spread the message of breast cancer is most appreciated. Akosombo Dam spillage: Navy rescues 8,000 flood victims Emelia Ennin Abbey Oct - 20 - 2023 , 07:57 The Ghana Navy says it has rescued more than 8,000 victims of the spillage from the Akosombo and Kpong dams as of Sunday, October 15, this year. A combined rescue team deployed to the affected districts is currently monitoring critical infrastructure and responding to distress calls in order to minimise the effect of the damage caused by the spillage. Giving an update on the floods and rescue operations at Mepe in the Volta Region, the Flag Officer Commanding the Western Naval Command, Commodore Emmanuel Ayesu Kwafo, said the command had deployed more than 10 boats downstream with experienced divers and lifesavers to assist in the rescue efforts. Deployed personnel Commodore Kwafo said there were plans to deploy more personnel and logistics if the rescuers became inundated with the current efforts being executed. He indicated that the Navy had deployed personnel to other parts of the country which were experiencing floods, and mentioned some of the areas as Kpando Torkor, Dzemeni, Buipe, Anloga, in addition to some of its permanent duty posts. We are monitoring critical infrastructure and responding to distress calls from the district assemblies, the Volta River Authority (VRA) and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and we have been rescuing people on the water and we are monitoring the estuary because it becomes a deathtrap in times of flooding. Commodore Kwafo assured that depending on how it goes, we may bring in more facilities and more personnel or if the situation improves, then, we may be keeping a watch anyway and we are ready to respond to any distress call and help save lives and properties to help mitigate the losses during these difficult times. Spillage The Volta River Authority (VRA) commenced water spillage from the Akosombo and Kpong dams on September 15, 2023, due to a consistent rise in the inflow pattern and water level of the Akosombo reservoir. Described as a disaster mitigation plan, the spillage exercise started at a very low rate without any significant impact on the downstream communities until October 10, 2023 when six spillage gates were opened to increase the flow as water-inflow to the reservoir kept increasing and levels got close to the maximum capacity that the dam can take. The exercise, the VRA indicated, was a crucial one aimed at protecting the dams integrity and technological installations. The heightened spillage has led to an overflow of the Volta Rivers banks and displacing settlements in about nine different district assemblies in the Volta and Eastern regions including North, Central and South Tongu District Assemblies, Asuogyaman, Shai Osudoku and Ada. Almost all communities along the lower Volta Basin have been affected resulting in widespread power cuts in affected communities, submerged houses, with displaced people going hungry. The volume of water spilled from the dams has also caused some lagoons in the Keta basin to overflow their banks, leading to flooding in some communities in the Anlo and Keta districts. A number of notable hospitality facilities affected by the floods include Villa Cisneros, Sogakope Beach Resort and Spa, and Holy Trinity Spa and Health Farm. At least, 25 nurses were evacuated from the nurses quarters at the Comboni District Hospital in Sogakope. Background This years spillage exercise is not the first time VRA is spilling water from the Akosombo Dam. A similar exercise was carried out in 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1991 with the recent one done in 2010. They were all done to prevent water from overtopping the dam. To mitigate the impact of such exercises, the VRA developed the Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP). The EPP is in three phases with phase one having water spilled very low and not exceeding 5,000 metric cubes (m3), phase two keeps spillage between 5,000 and 10,000 m3 while phase three is volume above that of the second phase. Ato Forson trial: I gave approval, payment in error Seth Terkper Justice Agbenorsi Oct - 20 - 2023 , 06:00 A former Minister of Finance, Seth Terkper, has testified that he authorised his deputy, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, to write to the Bank of Ghana (BoG) and request that Letters of Credit (LCs) be set up in favour of Big Sea General Trading Ltd for the supply of 30 ambulances. Giving his evidence-in-chief yesterday at the court presided over by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, a Court of Appeal judge sitting with additional responsibility as a High Court judge, Mr Terkper said he gave the approval following the legal opinion from the Attorney-General and the Ministry's Legal Unit. The letter to the Bank of Ghana requesting the setting up of the LC emanated from the Ministry of Finance and had my full authorisation, he said. The move, Mr Terkper said, was to avoid potential liability for the government in line with the then Attorney-Generals advice. Not guilty The Minority Leader, Dr Forson, together with Richard Jakpa, a private businessman, and Sylvester Anemana, a former Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, have been accused of allegedly causing a 2.37 million financial loss to the state in a deal to purchase ambulances for the state. The three have pleaded not guilty to counts of wilfully causing financial loss to the state, abetment to wilfully cause financial loss to the state, contravention of the Public Procurement Act and intentionally misapplying public property. It is the case of the Attorney-General that Dr Forson directed that the LCs should be charged to the budget of the Ministry of Health, contrary to the parliamentary approval on the funding for the supply of the ambulances. In his testimony, Mr Terkper told the Court that he received an opinion from the Attorney-General in 2014 which said that failure to execute the contract with Big Sea could be a liability for the government. Mr Terkper indicated that the A-G's opinion to him was emphatic that "all governmental approvals had been obtained" for the contract and that the opinion was binding on all government agencies engaged in the transaction. Error During cross-examination, the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, asked whether it was Mr Terkpers case that payment for the ambulances were made in error. Mr Terkper admitted that although the payment was made in error, it was so because the ministry at the time was under the impression that the Stanbic Bank Letters of Credit were still valid under the agreement approved by Parliament. However, he said, it was only after the Debt Management Unit of the Ministry of Finance had drawn his attention to the fact that the Stanbic Banks Letters of Credit were no longer valid that the Finance Ministry decided to charge the Ministry of Health budget, contrary to what Parliament had approved. On the face of it, it may look contrary to what Parliament approved but it is important to understand the principle that all loans, including Letters of Credit, are ultimately charged to the capital budget of the ministry, he said. Asked why he did not disclose that he authorised Dr Forson to request the establishment of the LC during investigation by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) during investigation, Mr Terkper said he did not have any documents from his Ministry at the time because he had left office and did not want to rely on his memory to answer case investigators. The case will continue on Thursday, October 26, 2023. Prosecutions facts Per the A-Gs facts accompanying the charge sheet, in 2009 while delivering the State of the Nation Address, the then President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, indicated that new ambulances would be purchased to expand the operations of the National Ambulance Service. Jakpa, who is a local representative of Big Sea General Trading Ltd, a company based in Dubai, subsequently approached the Ministry of Health with a proposal that he had arranged for finance from Stanbic Bank for the supply of 200 ambulances to the government. Parliament approved the financing agreement between the government and Stanbic Bank. According to the facts, on November 19, 2012, Dr Anemana wrote to the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) seeking approval to engage Big Sea through single sourcing for the supply of the 200 ambulances. They added that on August 7, 2014, Dr Forson wrote to the Bank of Ghana for Letters of Credit covering 3.95 million for the supply of 50 ambulances in favour of Big Sea. The Letters of Credit were accordingly released to Big Sea. Cervical Cancer Training Centre receives 50 thermal coagulators - For onward distribution to facilities Rosalind K. Amoh Oct - 20 - 2023 , 07:47 The Cervical Cancer Prevention and Training Center (CCPTC) of the Catholic Hospital at Battor in the Volta Region has taken delivery of 50 thermal coagulators to help in its training and campaign efforts against the disease. The cervical pre-cancer treatment equipment purchased with $70,000 grant from the Rotary Foundation, was donated by the Rotary Clubs of Accra-East, Ghana, and Eau Claire, Florida, USA. Having taken delivery of the devices, CCPTC will distribute them to health facilities across the country, especially those in underserved communities who have healthcare personnel trained in cervical cancer screening. Some of the beneficiary hospitals are the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge), LEKMA Hospital, Ga East Municipal Hospital, St Anthony's Hospital, Dzodze This will enable the beneficiary health facilities to offer a safe and effective alternative to surgical procedures for cervical pre-cancer, to save lives, reduce the burden on healthcare systems, and empower women to take control of their health. A special presentation ceremony, held at the hospital, attracted a number of dignitaries including the Paramount Queenmother of the Mepe Traditional Area, Mamaga Adzo Sreku IV, the North Tongu District Chief Executive (DCE), Divine Osborne Fenu, and the District Director of Health Services (DDHS), Michael Ziggah. Also present were Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Accra-East as well as healthcare professionals and community leaders. Underserved communities Presenting the equipment, the President of the Rotary Club of Accra-East, Serge Sourou Oga, said it was his outfit's greatest desire to see women, burdened with cervical cancer, provided with the best treatment to save their lives, hence the initiative. He said often times, the focus was more on breast cancer, but cervical cancer was equally deadly and, unfortunately, the vulnerable in the remotest areas were usually the worse victims. "Today, in a collaborative effort with the Rotary Foundation and the Rotary Club of Eau Claire, we offer these 50 thermal coagulators, specialised cervical pre-cancer treatment devices, to complement your work mainly for underserved communities. This achievement is a gift of hope, empowerment, and a brighter future for women facing the threat of cervical cancer," he said. Mr Oga expressed optimism that access to cervical pre-cancer treatment would improve, leading to a higher likelihood of early detection, successful outcomes for women in need and reducing mortality. This initiative also serves as a model for future collaborations between Rotary clubs, organisations, and communities worldwide, he added. Eau Claire In a goodwill message, members of the Rotary Club of Eau Claire, USA, expressed their deep appreciation for the opportunity to support the CCPTC at Battor in the fight against cervical cancer in Ghana. They emphasised the life-saving impact these 50 thermal ablation devices would have on women in Ghana and across the world. CCPTCs crusade The Head of the CCPTC, Dr Kofi Effah, was grateful for the donation and emphasised how the devices would significantly contribute to the fight against cervical cancer which was the second killer of women in the country. Making a presentation on the burden of cervical cancer globally and in Ghana, he said it was the second commonest cancer in women in Ghana after breast cancer, with nearly 3,000 new cases reported yearly and close to 2,000 women dying annually from the disease. He said like other cancers, when detected early, could be treated to save lives and thus described the devices presented as critical in the campaign against cervical cancer. Dr Effah used the opportunity to express appreciation to the Rotary Club and other organisations for being supportive in the training of healthcare professionals as part of the crusade to improve access to care on cervical cancer screening and treatment. Fire Service inaugurates safety precautions task force Joshua Bediako Koomson Oct - 20 - 2023 , 07:00 The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has inaugurated a 17-member fire safety task force with the mandate to ensure compliance with fire safety precautions in all facilities. The team will carry out visits to facilities to inspect fire certificates, educate people on the procedure of acquiring fire certificates, assess fire safety cover and identify service providers who are mandated to deal in fire safety products. The team is clothed with the power to initiate legal action against recalcitrant individuals and organisations that fail to comply with the fire safety precautions. The task force, which is on a pilot basis, will be replicated in the regions to enrol more personnel to expand the task force and maximise its objectives. Advice During the inauguration at the GNFS Headquarters in Accra last Wednesday, the Chief Fire Officer (CFO), Julius Kuunuor, urged the members to put in all efforts to ensure the formation of the task force became a success, particularly on public education, creation of fire safety awareness and generation of revenue for the state and the service. He further urged them to exhibit the needed skills acquired through their training and live up to expectation. Be vigilant and attentive in your work since the safety of lives and property lay heavily on your shoulders, CFO Kuunuor added. Transformation He further emphasised that in recent times, there had been a great shift in the focus of the service especially with the promulgation of Act 537 in 1997 and the passage of the Fire Precautions Regulations, LI 1724 in 2003 and LI 2249 in 2016. Due to that, he said, the service now spent much of its time and scarce resources on fire precaution and fire prevention programmes by aggressively embarking on house to house, as well as radio and television education, especially at the community level. In a bid to ensure a sustained fire safety education, he said the service had established a fire television station at the GNFS Headquarters. With intensive fire safety education, the CFO said the public would become more aware of the very important roles they needed to play in achieving a fire free nation to support the developmental agenda of the country. Statistics From the fire statistics recorded for 2022 and 2023, he said it was gratifying that the hard work was paying off, as there was a marginal reduction in fire outbreak figures throughout the country. Giving the statistics, CFO Kuunuor said there was a decrease in fire outbreaks by 282, representing 5.9 per cent in 2023 as against the same period in 2022. He said it was time for the service to take the execution of the mandate conferred on it to the next level by insisting on the participation of individuals in fire prevention in order to ensure lives and property were preserved. Abide by directives The Director of Safety, Deputy Chief Fire Officer (DCFO), Daniella Mawusi Ntow Sarpong, urged the members of the task force to acquaint themselves with the design of premises and its related hazards and educate the occupancies and owners on the need to acquire fire certificate. She advised them to abide and strictly follow the directives by the directorate to avoid confrontation with the public. She said the need for close monitoring, supervision, inspection and compliance-driven activities were very essential, especially in this era of heightened productivity, growth and industrialisation. DCFO Sarpong said that would complement the efforts of the fire safety directorate to ensure successful implementation of national policies aimed at protecting lives, properties and investments. She said fire safety was a shared responsibility and, therefore, expressed the hope that the public would cooperate and embrace the yet-to-be inaugurated task force in the performance of their duties. This collaboration will energise the task force to work effectively to ensure the best fire safety practices in all walks of life and also guarantee the safety of the country, she added. Ghana's Foreign Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, called to the bar at 60 GraphicOnline Oct - 20 - 2023 , 13:59 Ms. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Ghana's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, has been officially admitted to the legal bar. This recognition was bestowed upon her, alongside 1,092 newly qualified lawyers, in a ceremony held on Friday, October 20, 2023, at the Accra International Conference Centre. The event garnered a notable assembly of dignitaries, including the Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo, members of the diplomatic corps, and both family and acquaintances of the newly sworn-in barristers. Congratulations to Hon. Minister on being called to the Bar! pic.twitter.com/33Crop78EN Ghana MFA (@GhanaMFA) October 20, 2023 Taking to social media platform 'X', the Foreign Affairs Minister shared her gratitude, stating, "Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey Esq. Grateful and thankful." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration also extended their warm congratulations to the former Member of Parliament for Anyaa Sowutuom. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey Esq. Grateful and thankful pic.twitter.com/vsmPxqr4D6 Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey (@AyorkorBotchwey) October 20, 2023 Ms. Botchwey, born on February 8, 1963, was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on January 10, 2017. Prior to this, she served as a Member of Parliament for Anyaa-Sowutuom from 2013 to 2021, and held positions as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as a Minister of State at the Ministry of Water Resources, Works, and Housing during John Kufuor's administration. Global Handwashing Day: WaterAid calls for WASH facilities access Gilbert Mawuli Agbey Oct - 20 - 2023 , 07:41 Collective action is required by all stakeholders to increase access to water, sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities, especially in hard to reach communities, the Acting Policy Advocacy, Campaigns and Research Manager, WaterAid Ghana, Fauzia Aliu, has said. She indicated that in order to achieve increased access to WASH facilities, there was the need for collaborative efforts both at the community, district, regional as well as national levels for the benefit of all. Ms Aliu stressed that WaterAid Ghana, a WASH focused non-governmental organisation, was committed to ensuring that everyone everywhere had access to WASH facilities to improve their lives. That, she said, would go a long way to help in achieving Goal 6 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at ensuring access to water and sanitation for all by the year 2030. We all have a role to play to ensure that people, irrespective of their geographical location, are provided with the needed WASH facilities to use, so as to live dignified lives in their respective communities she said. She was speaking at an event to commemorate this years Global Handwashing Day in Kayoro in the Kassena Nankana West District in the Upper East Region last Monday. The event was organised as part of the implementation of the Sexual Health and Reproductive Education (SHARE) project with funding from Global Affairs, Canada. Paradigm shift Ms Aliu said WaterAid had moved from just providing WASH infrastructure, to engaging stakeholders, especially at the district level to improve policies towards providing efficient service delivery at facilities provided in schools and communities. I wish to assure all stakeholders that we will continue to focus on improving access to WASH facilities so that people in under-served communities will not be excluded, she stated. Further, she underscored the importance of handwashing in preventing diseases and urged the people to make it a habit for their own benefit, stressing effective handwashing ensures healthy living of both children and adults. The Kassena Nankana West District Director of Health Services, Alhassan Lawal, said WaterAid Ghanas efforts had led to transformative impact in health facilities and communities which needed to be commended to encourage them to do more to improve the lives of the people. He said handwashing was a simple activity and yet a powerful tool that had the potential to prevent numerous diseases and save lives, stressing that clean hands are testament to ones commitment to personal and public health. The Paramount Chief of the Kayoro Traditional Area, Pe Oscar Batabi Tiyiamu II, lamented the lack of a toilet facility at the health centre in the town which had compelled health workers and patients to attend to the call of nature in the open. He appealed to WaterAid Ghana to provide proper toilets for health facilities in the area to enhance their operations, saying it is unacceptable for users of such facilities to defecate in the open due to absence of places of convenience. Odorkor man jailed three years for sharing ex-girlfriends nude pictures on WhatsApp GNA Oct - 20 - 2023 , 09:21 An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced an unemployed man to three years in prison for sharing naked pictures of his ex-girlfriend with his friends on social media. Joshua Asiedu, aka Kwame Ketewa, was also ordered to pay compensation of GH10,000 to the 19-year-old victim for the pain and emotional stress he caused her. The sentence came after the court presided over by Mrs Christina Cann found Asiedu guilty of the charge of non-consensual sharing of an intimate image. Police say Asiedu shared the nude pictures of the victim on his WhatsApp status because she broke up with him. The Court however noted that the prosecution failed to make a prima facie case against Asiedu with respect of the threat of death and domestic violence to wit emotional abuse. It therefore acquitted and discharged Asiedu on two offences. In his plea for mitigation, Asiedu pleaded with the trial judge to have mercy on him saying all the allegations against me are untrue. The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Opoku Aniagyei, said the complainant is a 49-year-old trader residing in Accra. It said the victim is a 19-year-old Senior High School graduate who resides with her mother at Odorkor, Accra. The prosecution said the convict also resides at Odorkor. In 2018, Asiedu engaged in an illicit relationship with the victim and her father got wind of it. Based on that, the prosecution said the victim told Asiedu that she was no longer interested in the relationship, so she broke up with him. The prosecutor said in 2021, Asiedu, who was not happy with the victims action, posted her nude pictures on his WhatsApp status for public viewing. According to him, Asiedu then shared the photos with two of the victims friends, Kasia and Sika. The prosecution said thereafter, the accused person always calls the victim to threaten her with words that he will deal with her and that if she wants to lose her life or she wants her mother to lose her, then she should play with him and that made the victim to feel constantly unhappy, miserable, humiliated, ridiculed, afraid, jittery, depressed and worthless. It said the authorities at the victims school also noticed that the victim was going through emotional torture and invited her parents to the school. The victim was also handed over to a Counsellor at the school, and a report on the victim was submitted following her counselling session. The prosecution said the complainant reported Asiedus conduct to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit on May 17, 2021. It said that Asiedu fled to an unknown location after learning he was being sought by the Police. The prosecution said on January 26, 2023, Asiedu resurfaced and was arrested. The prosecutor stated that an investigation caution statement was obtained from him and that photographs of the victims nude pictures were retrieved from her fathers cell phones, as well as audios of the threats, for evidential purposes. Maximising agric benefits: President charges youth to form cooperatives Chris Nunoo Oct - 20 - 2023 , 05:59 President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged the youth to form cooperatives and partnerships in order to secure maximum benefit from the Youth in Agriculture programme. He said in the face of limited resources, forming partnerships was the best way to mobilise financing on a bigger scale for productive ventures. President Akufo-Addo gave the advice at a presidential conference on Youth in Agriculture held in Accra last Wednesday. The conference was initiated by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) in collaboration with the Youth Employment Agency (YEA). At the programme, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Bryan Acheampong, announced that the government would restructure $40 million World Bank-funded food systems resilience programme to restore fully farmers whose farms had been wiped out by the floods from the dams spillage. I have directed that due to this emergency, 40 million dollars of the World Bank-funded food systems resilience programme be restructured to restore fully farmers whose farms have been wiped out due to the necessary action taken by the VRA to save us all, the minister said. Youth President Akufo-Addo stated that expanded opportunities for the youth were inherent in the design of the Youth in Agriculture programme which he said was focused on value chain development. He, therefore, commended the Minister of Agriculture, Dr Acheampong, for the creation of the Youth in Agriculture platform and pledged the full commitment of the government to the programme. Making reference to the 2021 Population and Housing Census, President Akufo-Addo said the youth constituted a very significant proportion of the countrys population, estimated at 50 per cent. It is, thus, in our collective interest to institute measures that will empower the youth at all times to help sustain the growth and development of our nation, he added. Anything short of that, President Akufo-Addo said, would be a recipe for social and economic malaise which would be seen in a population of high illiteracy and unemployment rates with its resultant social vices posing significant threats to the security of the nation. My government has since 2017 invested in youth development programmes targeted at developing the intellect of the youth, offering them at the same time opportunities to entrepreneurship and employability, the President added. Interventions He catalogued some of the notable interventions for the youth as the Free SHS policy, the introduction of STEM education, the construction of 10 model STEM high schools and centres as well as the Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET). President Akufo-Addo also mentioned the implementation of the no guarantor policy for the Students Loan Scheme, the modernisation and retooling of the Ghana Library Authority, the Nation Builders Corps (NABCo) and the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP). In spite of those interventions, the President said, youth employment remained a major challenge and a source of concern. What is also reassuring is that the second phase of the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ 2.0), in addition to promoting large-scale production, addresses the issue of marketing through off-taker arrangements as part of the input credit module introduced under the programme, he stated. That would mitigate post-harvest losses and the risk associated with farming, President Akufo-Addo added. With this assurance there should be no excuse for the youth not to be involved in agriculture. It is important to stress that sustaining the agriculture of Ghana depends on the youth who are the future of this country and we count on their vibrancy, fresh ideas and innovation to improve our collective fortune, he emphasised. The President indicated that agriculture, which was a major segment of the economy, awaited the participation of the youth, both educated and uneducated. The President hinted that 2,000 youth would soon be trained in basic intermediate and advanced digital skills, while another 20,000 artisans such as plumbers, tilers, masons and beauticians would be trained by master craftsmen and given certificates by TVET and the Ghana Energy Commission. He further mentioned that an additional 15, 000 youth would also be equipped with business skills, corporate compliances and financial sustainability techniques. Unemployment For his part, the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffour Awuah, said: The well-being and aspirations of our youth are linked to the stability and prosperity of our nation. He added that the gravity of the situation demanded immediate attention and a concerted effort for a lasting solution. Mr Awuah gave an assurance that his outfit was resolute in exploring various avenues to create sustainable employment opportunities for the teeming youth in the country. Pharmaceutical Society calls for establishment of emergency relief fund Doreen Andoh Oct - 20 - 2023 , 13:32 The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) has called for the establishment of a national Emergency Relief and Public Health Fund. It proposed that proceeds from the COVID-19 levy could be channelled into such a fund to serve as a sustainable means of support to victims of disasters and emergency health cases in the country. This was contained in a statement issued in Accra and signed by the President of the society, Dr Samuel Kow Donkoh. The statement said proceeds that had so far accrued from the COVID-19 levy could be used as seed capital for the fund. It is also crucial that such a fund remains separate from the consolidated fund and not subject to any capping, it added. The statement further said that corporate and philanthropic organisations, including individuals, could also donate to the fund for its intended purpose. Commitment The PSGH expressed its commitment to support people affected by the Akosombo and Kpong dam spillage and any such disasters in future. Members of the society, especially those from the Volta Regional Branch, have been actively collaborating with healthcare professionals, health directorates and other relevant institutions involved in relief efforts to alleviate the suffering of the victims, it added. As part of its short-term support, the PSGH said it was working in close collaboration with health workers and the health directorate to ensure that the victims received some essential needs. We are actively reaching out to our members and pharmaceutical companies to secure necessary medicines and health products to complement the ongoing relief efforts, it added. Support The society said it would provide relief items such as bedding, drinking water, toiletries, detergents and groceries for distribution to the victims through established official channels. We extend our gratitude to all individuals and organisations involved in the relief efforts and express our heartfelt sympathy to the victims in this trying period. Our hearts go out to the victims and we stand in unwavering solidarity with them during this challenging times, it added. Serve people in humility Bishop Arthur Daily Graphic Oct - 20 - 2023 , 07:51 The founder and leader of Universal Faith Gospel International Church, Bishop Samuel Darley Arthur, has admonished ministers of the gospel to serve humanity with humility as God raises ministers from among the people to serve them. He said Christians had a duty to spread the word to all parts of the world, and in view of that his vision was to covert and train followers in the ways of the Lord so that they would also spread the gospel around the world. The leader added that since Christians were obliged to help the poor, he would work towards bringing relief to the needy. Bishop Arthur was speaking after the International Council of Churches Ministers of Great Britain (ICCMGB) consecrated and inducted him into office at Universal Faith Gospel International Church, Obuasi. He said his vision was to mobilise Christians to support the poor, orphans and widows. Advice The President of ICCMGB, Archbishop Agyeman Badu, who performed the induction, advised ministers of the gospel to allow God to lead them in their work. He said they should draw attention to Jesus Christ rather than to themselves. The president added that if those in leadership of the country allow God to lead them in their actions, the nation will do well. Tackling dialysis crisis: Private health operators appeal for tax waiver on medical equipment Timothy Ngnenbe Oct - 20 - 2023 , 13:40 The Private Health Facilities Association of Ghana (PHFAoG) has appealed for tax waivers on imported dialysis machines and other medical equipment in the country. It said the taxes on the machines were partly the reason for the limited number of the equipment in hospitals leading to the high cost in the treatment of kidney diseases in the country. The Vice-President of PHFAoG, Dr Samuel Boakye Donkor, said while it cost between $15,000 and $18,000 to procure a dialysis machine, the high duties at the port made it difficult to import those equipment to set up more dialysis centres in the country. Occasion Dr Donkor made the appeal when members of the association visited the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, in his office in Accra yesterday to discuss the dialysis crisis in the country and the way forward. The delegation included the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Medicas Hospital who represented the Eastern Region, Dr Yaw Osafo, and the CEO of Living Waters Hospital, Dr Gabriel Sakyi Kwofie. Dr Donkor said the cost of dialysis should be added to the National Health insurance Scheme (NHIS) to make it affordable for patients. He also underscored the need for the premium on NHIS which currently stood at GH8 for Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributors and GH28 for other members of the public, to be increased so that more funds could be accrued for kidney dialysis. Realistic cost For his part, Dr Osafo said considering the current cost of dialysis machines and taxes, the realistic cost of dialysis per session should have been GH742, excluding profit margins. "We have some of the best brains in the country in terms of qualified doctors but we do not have enough dialysis equipment. We know the government is working hard, but we need the support of the private sector to make the services accessible to all persons who need it," he said. Dr Osafo further said there were only 51 dialysis centres across the country, 60 per cent of which were in the Greater Accra Region and 17.5 per cent in the Ashanti Region. He said given the rate at which people were developing kidney diseases, it would be prudent for all district hospitals to have dialysis facilities. Assurance Mr Oppong Nkrumah gave an assurance that the government will work to make the cost of dialysis cheaper and accessible. This is something that I will raise cogently at Cabinet that if the public sector is not fully able to deliver this public service and the private sector is doing so, it makes sense that we do not let more taxes inhibit their effort to bring in the machines. Health is a public service and ordinarily, it will be the job of the government to provide quality and affordable health care. However, we have financing constraints so if the private sector is coming in to support, it is only a complement to what the government is doing," he said. Mr Oppong Nkrumah further said that discussions of the kidney dialysis quagmire must be open, frank and national in character, devoid of partisanship. He also underscored the need for the NHIL to be uncapped so that all funds accruing from the levy could be transferred into the NHIS Fund timeously. Woman, son arrested over killing of farmer Samuel Kyei-Boateng Oct - 20 - 2023 , 07:01 A 57-year-old woman, Akua Kesewaa, and her 26-year-old son, Emmanuel Aboagye, are being investigated by the Oda Police for the lynching of a 56-year-old farmer at Akyem Manso in the Eastern Region. Confirming the incident to the Daily Graphic at Oda last Tuesday, the Oda Municipal Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Daniel Amoako, said around 12.30 p.m. on October 12, 2023, Kesewaa returned home from a one-week observance of a deceased person at Manso to find a relative of hers, Kwame Poakwa, who had quit the family house for about 10 years and rented his room to someone, splashing water in her container with his hand. He said when Kesewaa asked Poakwa why he was splashing her water, it turned into a dispute between the two people. Alleged killing Chief Superintendent Amoako said Kesewaa, who was very angry, attacked Poakwa with a club and later invited her son, Aboagye to join her in beating up the farmer. He stated that the two suspects brutally assaulted Poakwa with clubs until he fell unconscious. The Municipal Police Commander said a witness in the case, Michael Assuming, who was woken from his sleep to separate the combatants, sustained multiple wounds from their attacks. He said Poakwa fell down unconscious as a result of the beatings by the two suspects and was rushed to the Oda Government Hospital by some good Samaritan's but on reaching the health facility, the medical officers on duty pronounced him dead. Assuming lodged a complaint with the Manso police, leading to the arrest of the two suspects to assist in investigations. The municipal police commander said the two suspects who had been placed in police custody, would be put before court as soon as investigations were completed. He said the body of the deceased had been deposited at the mortuary of the Oda Government Hospital for postmortem examination and preservation. Chinese vice premier calls for closer energy partnership with Russia Xinhua) 10:00, October 20, 2023 Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, addresses the opening ceremony of the fifth China-Russia Energy Business Forum and reads a congratulatory letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping, in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 19, 2023. The fifth China-Russia Energy Business Forum opened on Thursday in Beijing. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- The fifth China-Russia Energy Business Forum opened on Thursday in Beijing, with Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang addressing the opening ceremony and reading a congratulatory letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping. Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China-Russia energy cooperation has always maintained a good momentum of positive development. The vice premier said that China and Russia are important energy producers and consumers in the world, and have obvious complementary advantages and great potential for cooperation. They should implement the important consensus of the two heads of state, build a closer energy partnership, push forward China-Russia energy cooperation to make more new achievements, and make more new contributions to ensuring global energy security and promoting sustainable development of energy, he added. Ding put forward three proposals for deepening China-Russia energy cooperation. First, the two countries should solidly promote energy infrastructural connectivity, continue to maintain effective communication, and jointly ensure the safe and stable operation of cross-border energy channels. Second, China and Russia should actively expand new growth points of energy cooperation, strengthen cooperation in emerging fields such as renewable energy, hydrogen energy, energy storage and the carbon market, and work together to promote technological revolution and industrial development in low-carbon fields. Third, he said the two sides should continue to deepen global energy governance cooperation, firmly safeguard the openness and connectivity of the global energy market, and promote the establishment of a fair, just, balanced and inclusive global energy governance system. Igor Sechin, executive secretary of the Russian presidential commission for the strategic development of the fuel and energy sector and environmental security, and chief of Russian oil company Rosneft, addressed the opening ceremony and read a congratulatory letter from Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak also delivered a speech. After the opening ceremony, Ding met with the Russian high-level delegation attending the forum. The opening ceremony was attended by more than 400 representatives from relevant departments of China and Russia, energy enterprises, financial institutions, research institutes and industrial associations. Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with the Russian high-level delegation attending the fifth China-Russia Energy Business Forum in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 19, 2023. The fifth China-Russia Energy Business Forum opened on Thursday in Beijing, with Ding addressing the opening ceremony and reading a congratulatory letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Akosombo Dam spillage: Declare state of emergency - Mahama tells Akufo-Addo Daily Graphic Politics Oct - 20 - 2023 , 09:55 Former President John Dramani Mahama has added his voice to the calls made to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to declare a state of emergency in the areas affected by the flood occasioned by the Akosombo Dam spillage. Mr Mahama said it is clear that the scope and scale of the flooding of communities along the Volta River is bigger than our crippled economy can bear. I recommend to the Government to declare a State of Emergency in the affected areas and request relief assistance from our bilateral and multilateral partners immediately, he wrote on Facebook. Similar calls Earlier, former Health Minister, Alex Segbefia, also asked the President to declare a state of emergency in the areas. In his view, it would cause no disturbances if a state of emergency is declared. I dont think there is any harm to declare a state of emergency, he said in an interview with journalists in Accra after asking the government to prepare ahead of a possible health emergency. The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) also backed calls for the declaration of a state of emergency. GNAT said the state of emergency would ensure public safety and maintenance of law and order. Communities including Mepe and Battor in the North Tongu Constituency have been severely hit by the flood. Spillage of water from the Akosombo dam is expected to continue until the excess inflows in the lake recede, according to the Volta River Authority (VRA). Displaced persons At least, 26,000 people have been displaced along the lower Volta Basin by the flood occasioned by the spillage. Among communities devastated by the flood and parts of Battor, Sogakope, Mepe and many island communities in the Volta Region. You don't vote for me comment to flood victims in 'bad taste', apologise - Minority Zadok Kwame Gyesi Politics Oct - 20 - 2023 , 12:53 The Minority Leader in Parliament, Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, has implored President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to apologise to flood victims from the Akosombo Dam spillage and also acknowledge that he erred in telling them that they don't vote for him. For him, the President's comment when he visited the flooded areas last Monday was in a bad taste, hence the need for President Akufo-Addo to apologise to the flood victims of the Akosombo Dam spillage. Dr. Ato Forson made the call when the Minority on Friday visited some victims of the dam spillage to donate some relief items. Victims of Akosombo Dam spillage A number of communities in South Tongu, Central Tongu and North Tongu districts have experienced severe flooding following the spillage of the Akosombo and Kpong dams by the Volta River Authority (VRA). Following the impact of the flood waters from the dam, President Akufo-Addo on Monday, October 16, 2023, visited the area to sympathise with the victims and said the government's immediate action was to provide relief items and that the Ministry of Food and Agriculture will look at a term plan on how to assist farmers whose farms have been destroyed by the floods. President Akufo-Addo's "you don't vote for me comment" It was during his (Presidents) address that he said he had come to visit the area to provide any assistance they needed to live comfortably and safely as Ghanaians and that he took the oath of office as the President for the whole country. President Akufo-Addo said he could not neglect the people in their time of need even though they did not vote for him when he contested the Presidential electionsm, "when these things happen and government acts, politics does not come in at all. I took the oath of office as president to protect every citizen of Ghana, whether they voted for me or not, once I have taken the oath, I am the president. So Togbe, I want you and your elders and the people to understand that the government is acting for all Ghanaians," he said. "I came here because Ghanaians are having difficulties and suffering and it is my responsibility to try and help, because if it is a question of who votes for me and who does not vote for me, I should not be here because you don't vote for me, that is not my concern," the President added. Ato Forson's reaction Dr Ato Forson said the Minority would investigate the actions of the Volta River Authority (VRA) which has resulted in the flooding of many areas in Volta and Eastern regions. Asantehene replies Dormaahene and insists it was his uncle who elevated Dormaa stool Enoch Darfah Frimpong Politics Oct - 20 - 2023 , 17:25 The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has replied the Dormaahene, Oseadeayo Agyeman Badu II on his recent pronouncements about the powers of the Asantehene and his ability to elevate chiefs to the status of paramountcy. At an Asanteman Council meeting at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Thursday [October 19, 2023], the Asantehene once again recounted the history of how the Dormaa stool was elevated to the status of a paramount chief by an Asantehene. Repeating what he had earlier said in line with history, especially on how Asanteman was established in relation to the Golden Stool and the allegiance paid by all chiefs in the Asanteman Kingdom, Otumfuo said he has been compelled to offer the explanation once again because of a recent attempt to try and distort history. Asantehene elevated Dormaa stool Otumfuo Osei Tutu II said it was his uncle, the then Asantehene, who even elevated the status of the Dormaa stool to the level of a paramount chief. He added that, even before Agyeman Badu [the first] was enstooled as Dormaa chief, he Agyeman Badu I, an uncle of the current Dormaa chief [Agyeman Badu II], swore the oath of allegiance to the Asantehene. What Dormaahene said In a recent video interview with Ghanaweb, the current Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeayo Agyeman Badu II, who is also a High Court judge raised issues with how the Asantehene elevates chiefs to the status of paramountcy and also said there was "no King in Ghana" as the 1992 constitution does not make any reference and room for that. He said it is in areas like Morocco and Saudi Arabia, where they have Kings and heads of those countries, and that, at those places the constitution recognises that there is a Kingdom, but in Ghana, the constitution does not talk about any Kingdom and therefore there is "no King" in Ghana. It is the argument of the Dormaahene that, since Ghana was a state, there was no Kingdom within Ghana for the Asantehene to be referred to as a King. In that Ghanaweb interview, Osagyefo Oseadeayo Agyeman Badu II suggested that the mention and reference to the Asantehene in the Chieftaincy Act, was not proper and that as part of a proposal to amend the Chieftaincy Act, he, together with others, will lead a campaign for the Asantehene's name to be removed from the Chieftaincy Act. He said if that was not done, it will mean other chiefs, such as the Ya Naa, Nayiri and others, would also have to be mentioned in the Chieftaincy Act. This, is not the first time, the Dormaahene was raising such an argument but he has raised it at a number of public forums and in media interviews. He had contested the extent of the Asantehene's control over certain paramount chiefs whose jurisdiction falls within the political and governmental demarcated areas fall in other areas apart from the Ashanti Region, such as in the Bono, Bono East, Ahafo, Western and Oti regions. The Dormaahene, Oseadeayo Agyeman Badu II, is currently the President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs which is a gathering of paramount chiefs in the Bono Region. To the Dormaahene, he does not understand why the Asantehene should have control and elevate certain chiefs to the status of paramount chiefs for them to be able to become members of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs or the Bono East Regional House of Chiefs. He argues that, increasing the number of chiefs at the Regional House of Chiefs contributes to increasing government's expenditure on the various regional houses of chiefs. If every chief decides to elevate others to the level of paramountcy as the Asantehene is seeking to do, government's expenditure will continue to increase, the Dormaahene said in the Ghanaweb interview, monitored by Graphic Online. What the Asantehene said at this week's Asanteman Council meeting At a different Asanteman Council meeting in 2022 in relation to recent historical narratives by the Dormaahene, Oseadeayo Agyeman Badu II, and the paying of allegiance to Asanteman and the Golden Stool by various chiefs in Bono East, Bono and Ahafo Regions, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II reiterated that the political regional demarcations for political administration by the central government does not necessarily mean that chiefs located in different regions will no longer pay allegiance to Asanteman and the Golden Stool, neither will Asanteman force or coerce any chief to pay allegiance. He said his intention was to give a facelift to those willing to work under the Asanteman umbrella and there were no plans to enslave anyone. He said chiefs willing to continue to pay allegiance to Asanteman and gain the needed development and progress in their respective areas should not be discouraged by other chiefs who have no impact on them. He said the then Dormaahene, Agyeman Badu for instance, paid allegiance to his uncle, the then Asantehene, Nana Kwame Kyeretwie before he became chief of Dormaa while he was still a teacher at the Government Boys School in Kumasi and that it was only recently that the Dormaahene, has decided not to pay allegiance to the Golden Stool and Asanteman. But even with that, no one will attempt to coerce the Dormaahene to do so. That, should however, not mean that there should be an attempt to change historical narrative. That, should not also mean that other chiefs in the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo areas wanting to continue to pay allegiance to the Golden Stool and Asanteman should be disturbed in anyway. The Asantehene said that is why plans were underway to elevate such chiefs to the status of paramount chiefs. Otumfuo Osei Tutu II said he will not engage in unnecessary debates and that all towns in Bono, Bono East and Ahafo regions deserving elevation will be granted that status. The video below was produced and published by Opemsuo FM. Dams spillage: We need engineering solution, not relocation Dickson Worlanyo Dotse Politics Oct - 20 - 2023 , 09:21 The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has called for an engineering solution to the plight of the people affected by recent flood devastation occasioned by the Akosombo and Kpong Dam spillages, rather than relocating them elsewhere. He said with the level of technology available today, the course of the water can be re-channelled so that anytime there was a spillage, the excess water could reach farmlands through constructed tunnels. I get really upset when I hear people on TV and radio saying we should be relocated. As if we dropped from somewhere. We were here long before you decided to come and construct these dams, so we are not encroachers. We have stakes, Mr Ablakwa stressed. What we need to do is to put our thinking caps on and find a scientific approach to ensuring this never happens again, he added. The North Tongu MP made these statements last Thursday in an interview from Mepe, one of the affected communities. Mr Ablakwa said that even though close to 70 per cent of the nations workforce was engaged in agriculture, the country was not practising mechanised or modernised farming and as such the situation could be taken advantage of to provide the much-needed irrigation. Even with their failed One Village, One Dam policy, imagine if they had an engineering solution where excess water from the two dams could go into these smaller dams; that intervention wouldnt have failed, he said. Compensation Mr Ablakwa said at the appropriate time, he would demand full compensation for all the flood victims, because the Volta River Authority (VRA) could not be allowed to go free, given the havoc their actions had visited on the people situated within the Lower Volta Basin. VRA must know that we will not let them get away with this because you cant make people lose their homes and livelihoods and expect them to cope with it. We will insist on full compensation and nothing else, Mr Ablakwa, who has many constituents affected by the floods, said. The North Tongu MP, therefore, threatened to personally lead a class action against the VRA if they failed to rightfully and fully compensate affected persons. Mr Ablakwa noted that the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has already counted about 28,000 displaced people, adding that his outfit was also putting together data on the value of property, farms and fishing ponds that have been lost in the North Tongu constituency. We are putting all this together so that when the time comes, they (VRA) cant have an excuse that they didnt have the data. So, full compensation must be presented to our people, we are not going to compromise on that at all, he stressed. He commended the people for their continuous resilience and particularly hailed the youth, saying that they were the sole reason there hadnt been any casualties so far. Our constituents should be assured that we are with them throughout. We are not going to abandon them in the camps or leave them displaced. We are going to stand with them and I want to commend Ghanaians for their solidarity, Mr Ablakwa added. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has called for an engineering solution to the plight of the people affected by recent flood devastation occasioned by the Akosombo and Kpong Dam spillages, rather than relocating them elsewhere. He said with the level of technology available today, the course of the water can be re-channelled so that anytime there was a spillage, the excess water could reach farmlands through constructed tunnels. I get really upset when I hear people on TV and radio saying we should be relocated. As if we dropped from somewhere. We were here long before you decided to come and construct these dams, so we are not encroachers. We have stakes, Mr Ablakwa stressed. What we need to do is to put our thinking caps on and find a scientific approach to ensuring this never happens again, he added. The North Tongu MP made these statements last Thursday in an interview from Mepe, one of the affected communities. Mr Ablakwa said that even though close to 70 per cent of the nations workforce was engaged in agriculture, the country was not practising mechanised or modernised farming and as such the situation could be taken advantage of to provide the much-needed irrigation. Even with their failed One Village, One Dam policy, imagine if they had an engineering solution where excess water from the two dams could go into these smaller dams; that intervention wouldnt have failed, he said. Compensation Mr Ablakwa said at the appropriate time, he would demand full compensation for all the flood victims, because the Volta River Authority (VRA) could not be allowed to go free, given the havoc their actions had visited on the people situated within the Lower Volta Basin. VRA must know that we will not let them get away with this because you cant make people lose their homes and livelihoods and expect them to cope with it. We will insist on full compensation and nothing else, Mr Ablakwa, who has many constituents affected by the floods, said. The North Tongu MP, therefore, threatened to personally lead a class action against the VRA if they failed to rightfully and fully compensate affected persons. Mr Ablakwa noted that the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has already counted about 28,000 displaced people, adding that his outfit was also putting together data on the value of property, farms and fishing ponds that have been lost in the North Tongu constituency. We are putting all this together so that when the time comes, they (VRA) cant have an excuse that they didnt have the data. So, full compensation must be presented to our people, we are not going to compromise on that at all, he stressed. He commended the people for their continuous resilience and particularly hailed the youth, saying that they were the sole reason there hadnt been any casualties so far. Our constituents should be assured that we are with them throughout. We are not going to abandon them in the camps or leave them displaced. We are going to stand with them and I want to commend Ghanaians for their solidarity, Mr Ablakwa added. Resource NADMO to deliver Alan Kyerematen Daily Graphic Politics Oct - 20 - 2023 , 08:15 An Independent Presidential hopeful, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, has called on the government to resource the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to deliver on its mandate efficiently. He said the spillage of the Akosombo and Kpong dams and the subsequent flooding in communities along the Volta Lake was a wake-up call for the government to adequately resource NADMO and invest in early warning systems. Addressing a gathering of traditional authorities of the Mepe Traditional Area last Sunday when he visited the flood victims, Mr Kyerematen stressed that resourcing the organisation would enable the institution to better deliver on its mandate of saving lives and property during disasters. NADMOs mandate As part of NADMO's responsibility, it is to create awareness of disasters through intensive public education; ensure disaster prevention, risk and vulnerability reduction, as a means of reducing the impact of disasters on society; be in a position to provide the first line response in times of disaster; assist in post-emergency rehabilitation and reconstruction effort. NADMO is to also assist and motivate community-based organisations to serve as the credible voluntary organisations to assist in the prevention and management of disasters at the local level; and set up monitoring and early warning systems to aid the identification of disasters in their formative stages, to disseminate timely information and warning, and hazard/disaster awareness creation among other things. Spillage Citing the flood caused by the spillage as an example, Mr Kyerematen said NADMO was under-resourced hence it was unable to deliver on its mandate of attending to the flood victims. He expressed concern at how households had been submerged by the spilled water from the dam. Mr Kyerematen promised to solicit relief items for the victims and urged the government, corporate entities and well-to-do individuals, to support the victims in their distress. The Volta River Authority (VRA) started the controlled spillage at the Akosombo and Kpong dams, both in the Eastern Region, from September 16, 2023 following excess water in both reservoirs due to appreciable levels of rainfall. The spillage has affected almost all the communities along the lower Volta Basin. Over the past few weeks, Samsung has quickly been adding more and more of its smartphones into the One UI 6 beta program, and today we have two new entrants into the field: the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3, both of them from 2021. The beta is now live for these two in Samsung's home of South Korea, and if you are there and want to join the beta program all you need to do is go to the Samsung Members app and tap on the huge One UI 6 banner you'll see at the top. Then you enter some details and once you're done you can go to Settings > Software update, tap Download and install and you'll receive the latest One UI 6 beta, based on Android 14, as an over-the-air software update. Keep in mind, however, that this will most likely be a 3GB or so download, so make sure you have enough space to grab it, and you're on a connection that won't make it take ages. At the same time, Samsung is working hard on the first stable release of One UI 6 for the Galaxy S23 family, and that might come out within the next few weeks. Older phones like the Fold3 and Flip3 will undoubtedly have to wait a bit longer, but if Samsung manages to repeat last year's impressive update release cadence, then it won't be much longer. Source | Via Archdiocesan clergy to be on annual retreat Oct. 23-27; some weekday Mass schedules to be affected A 15-year-old girl was taken into custody after a threat was posted on social media. (Editor's note: This story has been updated to include California Judge Johnny C. Gogo's comment and a new photo.) President Joe Biden on Wednesday nominated a Guam son, California Judge Johnny Cepeda Gogo, to serve as U.S. Attorney for the District of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the White House and Adelup announced. The nomination requires Senate confirmation. "I am honored and humbled to be nominated by President Biden to be the United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands and I look forward to the confirmation process," Gogo said in an email response to the Pacific Daily News. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero recommended Gogos appointment in February 2021. We thank President Biden for nominating Judge Johnny Gogo to serve the people of Guam and the CNMI. Judge Gogo is a son of Guam with family from Sinajana, acting Gov. Joshua Tenorio said in a statement Wednesday evening. Gogo is a judge with the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, in San Jose, where he has served since 2019, according to the White House. Previously, Gogo served as a deputy district attorney with the Santa Clara County District Attorneys Office from 2001 to 2019 and from 1999 to 2000. During his time as a deputy district attorney for two decades, according to Adelup, Gogo prosecuted numerous felony cases, including major narcotics cases. Judge Gogos extensive litigation experience will be a valuable asset in Guams continuing fight against illegal drugs, the governors office said. When Leon Guerrero recommended Gogo in 2021, the governor wrote that in California, Gogo promoted youth advancement, secured justice for undocumented immigrants, and addressed drug and gang violence. Gogo began his legal career as an assistant attorney general in the prosecution division of the Guam Office of the Attorney General, from 1997 to 1999. He joined the Calvo & Clark Law Firm as an associate from 2000 to 2001. The governor earlier said that Gogo is a member of the Guam Bar Association. After leaving Guam, Gogo moved to California and began working as deputy district attorney in Santa Clara. In 2019, in recognition of his work as a deputy district attorney in Santa Clara, California, Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Judge Gogo to the Superior Court. Judge Gogo has continued to serve the people of California in that position, Adelup said. The governor also earlier wrote that Gogo stayed involved in the Santa Clara County high school mock trial competition for 20 years, and the Santa Clara County Bar Association created the Johnny Gogo Award, given to volunteers who help the program. Gogo received his law degree, cum laude, from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in 1996 and his bachelors degree from the University of California, San Diego in 1991, the White House said. In a 2021 interview with the PDN, Gogo said he was born in an Army hospital in Germany as the middle child of five to Jesus Crisostomo Gogo of Sinajana and Remedious Dydasco Cepeda of Barrigada. He attended C.L. Taitano Elementary School in Sinajana. After high school, he joined the military. He had said his father was an Army Green Beret and the family moved every three years from base to base, in Europe, Asia, Alaska and across the continental United States. Gogo is among the latest nominees from the Biden White House. Biden also nominated two district court judges for Northern Districts of Oklahoma; a U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts; U.S. Marshals for the Districts of Maryland and the Southern District of West Virginia; and two to serve as commissioners on the U.S. Sentencing Commission. These are officials who will be indispensable to upholding the rule of law as top federal law enforcement officials, the White House said of the presidents nominations for U.S. Attorney and U.S. Marshal. These individuals were chosen for their devotion to enforcing the law, their professionalism, their experience and credentials, their dedication to pursuing equal justice for all, and their commitment to the independence of the Department of Justice. Ypao Point in Tamuning has been nearly cleaned up five months after it was turned into a Typhoon Mawar debris site, but whether or not its the future location of a new Guam Memorial Hospital remains a contentious topic, based on Thursdays legislative oversight hearing. Administration officials prefer to build the hospital at Adacao closer to Mangilao, while doctors prefer Ypao Point. They continue to butt heads over how viable it is to build a new hospital in Tamuning. Ypao Point was host to about 50,000 cubic yards of typhoon debris at one point, according to Emmanuel Torres, mission manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers debris removal project. That number was down to 25,000 cubic yards by late September, and is closer to about a third of that amount now, he told senators. Army Corps is working to clean up and dispose of any toxic freon left in white goods brought to the site. Office of Civil Defense Administrator Charles Esteves said the cleanup of most debris at Ypao Point was meant to wrap up by mid-November, but was delayed for several weeks due to Typhoon Bolaven. Once all eligible waste is disposed of by contractors, about 1,500 cubic yards of ceramics and other trash thats ineligible for Army Corps disposal will have to be kicked over to the Layon landfill by GovGuam. Guam Environmental Protection Agencys Glenn San Nicolas said hazardous waste disposal was controlled to prevent ground contamination. Areas with any contamination were identified. We can narrow it down to certain sites for additional sampling if need be, San Nicolas said. Guam EPA was not expecting major contamination from the typhoon debris project. OppositionBut Department of Land Management Director Joe Borja said his concerns about environmental conditions at Ypao remain, with 12 buildings in the area that contain both asbestos tiles and lead-based paints, including the current Sagan Kotturan CHamoru buildings. John Burch, acting administrative director of the CHamoru Land Trust Commission as of Thursday, said the commission still wants to lease the Ypao Point out for commercial use. Leasing the high-value property could generate money so the Land Trust can install infrastructure in other homestead property for residents. A $6 million hospital study from Matrix Design that GovGuam paid for indicates Ypao Point has 35 acres of usable land. Burch said he believes the number is closer to 25 to 27 acres. William Kando, GMH assistant administrator of operations, put the usable footprint at the site at 17 acres, about the same size as the current GMH site. That size is well short of the amount of space required to build a modern hospital with a full array of services, capabilities and capacities that we envision, Kando said. But besides being too small for the new medical campus the administration is planning, Ypao Point sits atop a fault line, he said, and a needed geological study could further delay construction. Ypao Point may also be home to a series of underground tunnels, which would prevent the hospital from putting a large amount of its infrastructure slightly below ground, he said. Speaker Therese Terlaje disputed the argument about acreage, pointing to the 35 acres outlined by the Matrix Design study. She noted the hospital study put the acreage needed for a medical campus at 1.6 million square feetabout 36 acressmall enough that a campus could be built at Ypao Point if some elements of the design were omitted. Doctors weigh inDr. Jonathan Sidell, president of the GMH medical staff, said in a letter that the GMH Medical Executive Committee supported building a new hospital in Tamuning. Most medical staff lived within 10 minutes of the current hospital, Sidel wrote. This is not by chance, but it is because we must respond to life saving emergencies. The response time is critical for our providers to attend to patients, he stated, noting that delays would put providers at risk. Dr. Tom Shieh, president of the Guam Medical Association, struck a similar note about the safety of patients. Shieh went through the Matrix Design study that GovGuam had paid for, and noted that Ypao Point had scored better than Adacao on travel distance, distance to clinics and hospitals, and proximity to arterial roads on Guam. Proximity to the clinic and hospital saves lives. Its not about money, Shieh said, responding to a remark from Sen. Tom Fisher about doctors wanting to protect their investments in Tamuning. Some 36,000 patients would be able to reach Ypao Point within 10 minutes, according to the study, Shieh said, versus 13,000 at Adacao. Its about saving lives and thats what we want to focus on today, he said. Dr. Jonathan Thorp of the Seventh-Day Adventist Guam Clinic compared conditions at the current hospital to conditions at his previous job in Nepal, a Third World country where we had water pouring through our roofs and we have snakes coming through our roofs. The existing hospital could be repurposed for other use, if Ypao Point was selected, and a public health laboratory heads to Mangilao, he said. A Department of Public Health and Social Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention laboratory initially meant to be included in the medical campus is now expected to be built beside the University of Guam, according to Anne Marie Santos, Public Health lab director. A $32 million grant was received to build the facility, which was originally projected to start construction in June of next year, but is facing delays. Halloween season is in full swing in Tampa Bay, Florida. Check out these out eight events to get in the haunting mood just in time for Hallows Eve. 1. Gallaghers Pumpkin Patch and Christmas Trees, 7401 4th St. N., St. Petersburg, Florida. Open daily from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. There is free entry to this family-owned pumpkin patch in St. Petersburg, which is the perfect place to get in the cozy autumn spirit. Enjoy homemade donuts and apple cider while strolling through a wide selection of pumpkins, gourds and fall foliage. The farm is filled with endless photo-ops, from the popular vintage truck to the petting zoo filled with llamas, goats and pigs. Theres no need to leave your own pet at home, as dogs are welcome! 2. Creatures of The Night, ZooTampa at Lowry Park, 1101 W. Sligh Ave., Tampa. Open select evenings from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sep. 29-Oct. 29. Free for members, $34.95 for nonmembers. For 13 select nights leading up to Halloween, ZooTampa transforms into a spooky wonderland designed for fun of all ages. The family-friendly event features costumed characters, a haunted light show, and 17 up-close animal encounters. Attractions are rated on an Eerie Scale ranging from one pumpkin to three. 3. UNDead in the Water, 705 Channelside Drive, Tampa, directly behind the Florida Aquarium. Open Thursday, Oct. 19, through Saturday, Oct 21, and Thursday, Oct. 26, to Saturday, Oct. 28. Tickets start at $22. Sure, youve heard of haunted houses, but what about a haunted boat? UNDead in the Water bills itself as Tampas only authentic nautical haunted attraction, taking place aboard a genuine World War II ship. Guests will traverse multiple decks of the 1945 war vessel, while ghoulish passengers and apparitions guide them through the ships spooky past. 4. Sir Henrys Haunted Trail, 2837 S. Frontage Road, Plant City, Florida. Open weekends now through Nov. 4. Tickets start at $37. This outdoor haunted attraction, located between Tampa and Orlando, features three high-intensity trails within a horror park atmosphere. The frights at Sir Henry's Trail aren't for the faint of heart. (Ali Kazal via Unsplash) Sir Henrys is no walk in the park: Its website advises that the frightful scenes might be too much for kids younger than 12. Roaming scare actors, escape games, laser tag and more make this a must-visit for any horror enthusiast. Tickets must be purchased in advance. 5. Huboween IV, Starkey Park, New Port Richey, Florida. Open from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday Oct. 27, and Saturday, Oct. 28. Tickets are $20 per vehicle in advance, $25 at the door. If you prefer to get your thrills from inside the comfort of your car, this might be the Halloween haunt for you. This 45-minute drive-thru event features ghoulish characters and elaborate spooky scenes, winding through the trees of Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park. The first 500 cars get a free swag bag with candy. 6. Tarpon Springs Witches/Warlocks Paddle Parade, at noon Saturday, Oct. 28, at Tarpon Springs Splash Park and at noon Sunday, Oct. 29, at New Port Richey Sims Park Boat Ramp. Free entry! Every year, witches and warlocks take to the water in Tarpon Springs.Amanda Brown|For NJ Advance Media Nothing screams Halloween in Florida more than a gaggle of witches and warlocks paddling down a river. This annual fan-favorite event takes place on two dates this year: Saturday, Oct. 28, at Tarpon Springs Splash Park and Sunday, Oct. 29, at New Port Richey Sims Park. Prospective witches can expect a leisurely 2-mile paddle down the Anclote River, meandering through Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks village of restaurants and shops, before taking a lunch break at Craig Park and heading back. No registration is necessary, but its recommended to show up early to the launch to allow time for unloading. Make sure to bring your finest witchy wear, a packed lunch and your own kayak/stand-up paddle board (brooms not recommended). 7. Haunted Carnival at Armature Works, 1910 N. Ola Ave., Tampa. Open Thursday, Oct. 26, through Sunday, Oct. 29. Carnival open Thursday from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.; carnival and festival open Friday from 4 p.m. to midnight; carnival open Saturday from noon to midnight, festival open Saturday from 4 p.m. to midnight, and carnival open Sunday from noon to 11 p.m.. and festival open Sunday from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Carnival tickets start at $5; music festival tickets start at $45. Pied Piper Productions has turned its Haunted Carnival into a full four-day extravaganza, complete with rides, a $10,000 costume contest and world-renowned DJs like Diplo and Quavo. Start your day off with family-friendly bumper cars and carnival games, before dancing the night away at the music festival stage. 8. A Night at The Museum Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Water St., Tampa. Open from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22. Tickets are $14.95. When the museum doors close, the exhibits come to life. At the Tampa Bay History center, guests can enjoy Halloween crafts, games and trick-or-treating in the museum galleries. Haiti - FLASH : The Security Council unanimously extends the sanctions regime against Haiti Thursday, October 19, 2023, the United Nations Security Council unanimously approved Resolution 2700, which renews the sanctions imposed on Haiti, which includes a total arms embargo (excluding UN agencies, the National Police of Haiti and the Armed Forces of Haiti), an asset freeze and travel ban measures on individuals and organizations involved in promoting the crisis and insecurity in Haiti. The resolution also extended the mandate of the "Group of Experts in Haiti" until October 2024. The sanctions focus on several areas, including gang violence and the flow of weapons into the region. Additionally, the resolution considers freezing bank accounts and a travel ban for individuals and organizations linked to criminal activities contributing to the conflict in Haiti. However, on this point, the Security Council did not designate any new individuals to be subject to a travel ban or asset freeze, but requested a UN sanctions committee, headed by the permanent representative of the Gabon, to consider updating the list of sanctions as soon as possible, taking into account the conclusions of the Panel of Experts on Haiti, Let's remember that before this vote the UN published Wednesday, October 19, detailed 158-page report written by investigators on the role of armed groups in Haiti, their financing, their dynamics, their recruitment strategies and the classification of their members as well as their links with politicians and members of the economic elite https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40771-haiti-flash-final-investigation-report-on-haiti-from-the-un-sanctions-committee.html . The study, which also includes 170 pages of confidential reports (unpublished and sealed), reveals that the gangs are closely linked to Haitian society and involved in all areas, from police to justice to customs. and port operations, the names in these confidential reports are expected to be released in November 2023. Download the final report S/2023/674 French PDF 156 pages : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/N2324628.pdf In addition to providing detailed information on the armed groups, including the number of their members, the names of their leaders, the programs and their places of recruitment, the report highlights the role of 5 prominent figures in the gang crisis and corruption. The names cited in the report are: former President Michel Martelly and his Prime Minister, Laurent Lamothe (both sanctioned by Canada https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-38184-haiti-flash-canada-sanctions-martelly-lamothe-and-ceant.html ; former Senator and President of the Senate Youri Latortue (sanctioned by Canada https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-38058-haiti-flash-chancellor-of-canada-melanie-joly-announces-sanctions-against-j-lambert-and-y-latortue.html ); former eputy Prophane Victor (sanctioned by Canada https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39787-haiti-politic-canada-sanctions-2-other-political-figures-and-announces-$13m-in-funding.html ), as well as the businessman Reynold Deeb (Sanctioned by the Canada https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-38307-haiti-flash-canada-sanctions-3-of-the-most-powerful-businessmen-in-haiti.html ). All these people The exception of Lamothe, who is cited in a section on the misappropriation of PetroCaribe funds, are considered by experts to have ties to gangs. In addition to the one-year renewal of the sanctions regime and the mandate of the Group of Experts who indicated in their report that their investigations would continue, the adopted resolution demands the immediate cessation of violence, criminal activities and human rights violations in Haiti. The report highlights the flow of illicit weapons and money into Haiti, as well as how massive cash transfers finance both drug trafficking and the purchase of weapons and ammunition. Money and weapons have led to the rise of criminal gangs, which now control at least 80% of the capital of Port-au-Prince. In the resolution, the Security Council calls on Member States to take appropriate measures to prevent illicit trafficking and diversion of arms and ammunition to Haiti... Member countries are also invited to protect Haitian refugees and migrants on their territories in accordance with international human rights law. Ambassador Wood said the United States was "committed to adding to the list of designations" of individuals for sanctions and encouraged other countries to support the initiative. The list of people sanctioned by the UN is expected to be made public in November or December this year. TB/ PI/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... Shooting in Bel-Air at least 23 victims On the evening of Wednesday October 18, 2023, at least 4 people were killed and 19 others injured in a shooting at Bel-Air in Morne-Marinette. 2,500 police weapons lost or stolen It is estimated that between 2012 and 2023, nearly 2,500 police firearms were reported lost or stolen. If police officers are regularly targeted by gangs and have their weapons stolen, some of them do not hesitate to sell their own weapons and ammunition. Nearly 50% of the canal is built Nearly half of the irrigation canal in Haiti has been built (1.5 km) and residents say they are ready to receive aid from the State on the condition that the latter does not try to block the work https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40752-haiti-flash-haiti-keeps-its-door-closed-the-dominican-government-will-not-give-in.html Youri Latortue denies UN accusations Former senator Youri Latortue denies the accusations made against him in the UN report arguing that the facts listed in the document https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40775-haiti-flash-the-security-council-unanimously-extends-the-sanctions-regime-against-haiti.html do not reflect the truth and says he is ready to clarify the allegations made against him. Inauguration of a portion of the border "wall" To ensure the security of the Dominican border, regularize migratory flows of illegals, fight against smuggling and traffickers (drugs, merchandise weapons, etc...), President Luis Abinader inaugurated the first section of the intelligent perimeter fence approximately of 2.7 km and affirmed that the first section of 54 km of this fence (90% completed) will be inaugurated in February 2024 (more than a year late) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36049-haiti-flash-the-first-54-km-of-the-dominican-border-fence-will-be-completed-in-7-months-video.html Spain will support the Mulnational Mission Sergio Cuesta, the Spanish Ambassador to Haiti, announced his country's support for the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40642-haiti-flash-the-security-council-approves-the-intervention-of-a-multinational-force-in-haiti.html HL/ HaitiLibre Published on 2023/10/19 | Source Lim Ju-eun and Lee Young-ah organized a party for Bae Suzy's birthday. Advertisement On the 11th, Bae Suzy posted photos on her Instagram captioning, "I caught on to the surprise too quickly but I wasn't expecting that cake. It was delicious. It was so touching I won't forget it. I am happy". The photos released on the same day showed Lim Ju-eun and Lee Young-ah gathered for Bae Suzy's birthday on the 10th. Lim Ju-eun and Lee Young-ah seem to have prepared a surprise party for their youngest, Bae Suzy. In particular, they even made a cake for Bae Suzy and showed their special affection. In response, Lee Young-ah drew attention by leaving a comment saying, "Our beloved youngest princess". Meanwhile, Bae Suzy will appear in the new Netflix series "Doona!" which will be released on the 20th. "Doona!" is a romance drama about an ordinary college student Won-joon (Yang Se-jong) who meets a retired Doo-na (Bae Suzy) at a shared house after leaving her colorful K-pop idol days behind. Published on 2023/10/20 | Source New still added for the upcoming Korean movie "Unforgivable" (2023) Advertisement Directed by Lim Kyung-ho, So Jun-beum With Kim Jung-hyun, Park Sung-hyun, Gil Hae-yeon, Dawon,... Synopsis A brutal serial murder, all evidence points to the guy who died 10 years ago. A murder case occurred in a bathroom in the middle of the night, and homicide detective Dong-geun discovers a fragment of a diary with a date from 10 years ago on the body. "This too shall pass" Dong-geun learns that the only evidence in the case, a note, is part of the diary of Yeong-hoon, who served in the military with the murdered person, and that he chose to commit suicide 10 years ago. Dong-geun points out Seong-hyeon, a pharmaceutical company executive and the person behind the military brutality at the time, as a suspect, but as he is also found to be a victim of the same serial murder case, the case gradually falls into a labyrinth. Meanwhile, while digging into the case, Dong-geun learns that Yeong-hoon was a friend he spent his school days with, and with his forgotten memories, the case enters a new phase... Release date in Korea : 2023/11 The European Central Bank (ECB) on Wednesday announced it will launch a two-year preparation phase in order to finalise the rules of, choose private-sector partners for, and conduct tests and experiments with the mooted digital currency. After two years, the governing council will decide whether to move to the next stage of preparations, to pave the way for the possible future issuance and roll-out of a digital euro, the monetary authority stated. The digital euro is discussed because the use of cash is on the decline, increasing the reliance of consumers and businesses alike on the two largest payment processing networks in the world, Visa and MasterCard. In Finland, only a small share of daily purchases are made with cash, and less than 10 per cent of people say they use cash as their primary payment method, Tuomas Valimaki, a board member at the Bank of Finland, highlighted in a news release on Thursday. As the use of cash declines, we have to make sure that households continue to be able to pay with central bank-issued money in a digitalising world. Even though the variety of payment alternatives may seem great to us, payments have become very one-sided. I can naturally pay electronically with my card, using either debit or credit, or make a mobile payment with, for instance, ApplePay. Despite the apparent variety of alternatives, all of these payments would go through the same Visa or MasterCard channels. Valimaki argued that although the companies provide effective and reliable payment systems, it is crucial not to allow such a critical societal function to become monopolised. In payments, just like in other functions, the existence of alternatives both increases reliability and prevents prices from increasing, he said. He said the digital euro would be available to all eurozone citizens and should be usable in the same circumstances as cash to make a payment at a shop or between individuals but also in e-commerce and other circumstances where the payer and recipient are not within arms reach of each other. The digital euro has also received some criticism, with the banking sector and regulators concerned about its impact on deposits in the commercial sector and, even, about a possible bank run in times of crisis, wrote Reuters on Wednesday. The ECB has sought to assuage the concerns by indicating it would impose a cap on how much an individual may have in digital euros likely around 3,000 euros. The Finnish Commerce Federation on Thursday welcomed news about the project moving forward, viewing that the digital euro is needed to promote competition and lower the cost of retail payments. It would be good if there was a European alternative to the international digital payment methods because increased competition would lower costs for retail companies and ultimately also for consumers. At the same time, it would strengthen security of supply in payments, commented Simo Hiilamo, the head of advocacy at the Finnish Commerce Federation. We also consider it important that the online functionality of the payment method is featured strongly in the development work. Aleksi Teivainen HT As Israeli forces continue to intensify their cataclysmic assault on the occupied Gaza Strip, Amnesty International has documented unlawful Israeli attacks, including indiscriminate attacks, which caused mass civilian casualties and must be investigated as war crimes. including indiscriminate attacks, which caused mass civilian casualties and must be investigated as war crimes. The organization spoke to survivors and eyewitnesses, analysed satellite imagery, and verified photos and videos to investigate air bombardments carried out by Israeli forces between 7 and 12 October, which caused horrific destruction, and in some cases wiped out entire families. Here the organization presents an in-depth analysis of its findings in five of these unlawful attacks. In each of these cases, Israeli attacks violated international humanitarian law, including by failing to take feasible precautions to spare civilians, or by carrying out indiscriminate attacks that failed to distinguish between civilians and military objectives, or by carrying out attacks that may have been directed against civilian objects. "In their stated intent to use all means to destroy Hamas, Israeli forces have shown a shocking disregard for civilian lives. They have pulverized street after street of residential buildings killing civilians on a mass scale and destroying essential infrastructure, while new restrictions mean Gaza is fast running out of water, medicine, fuel and electricity. Testimonies from eyewitness and survivors highlighted, again and again, how Israeli attacks decimated Palestinian families, causing such destruction that surviving relatives have little but rubble to remember their loved ones by," said Agnes Callamard, Amnesty International's Secretary General. "The five cases presented barely scratch the surface of the horror that Amnesty has documented and illustrate the devastating impact that Israel's aerial bombardments are having on people in Gaza. For 16 years, Israel's illegal blockade has made Gaza the world's biggest open-air prison the international community must act now to prevent it becoming a giant graveyard. We are calling on Israeli forces to immediately end unlawful attacks in Gaza and ensure that they take all feasible precautions to minimize harm to civilians and damage to civilian objects. Israel's allies must immediately impose a comprehensive arms embargo given that serious violations under international law are being committed." Since 7 October Israeli forces have launched thousands of air bombardments in the Gaza Strip, killing at least 3,793 people, mostly civilians, including more than 1,500 children, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza. Approximately 12,500 have been injured and more than 1,000 bodies are still trapped beneath the rubble. In Israel, more than 1,400 people, most of them civilians, have been killed and some 3,300 others were injured, according to the Israeli Ministry of Health after armed groups from the Gaza Strip launched an unprecedented attack against Israel on 7 October. They fired indiscriminate rockets and sent fighters into southern Israel who committed war crimes including deliberately killing civilians and hostage-taking. The Israeli military says that fighters also took more than 200 civilian hostages and military captives back to the Gaza Strip. "Amnesty International is calling on Hamas and other armed groups to urgently release all civilian hostages, and to immediately stop firing indiscriminate rockets. There can be no justification for the deliberate killing of civilians under any circumstances," said Agnes Callamard. Hours after the attacks began, Israeli forces started their massive bombardment of Gaza. Since then, Hamas and other armed groups have also continued to fire indiscriminate rockets into civilian areas in Israel in attacks that must also be investigated as war crimes. Meanwhile in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, at least 79 Palestinians, including 20 children, have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers amid a spike in excessive use of force by the Israeli army and an escalation in state-backed settler violence, which Amnesty International is also investigating. Amnesty International is continuing to investigate dozens of attacks in Gaza. This output focuses on five unlawful attacks which struck residential buildings, a refugee camp, a family home and a public market. The Israeli army claims it only attacks military targets, but in a number of cases Amnesty International found no evidence of the presence of fighters or other military objectives in the vicinity at the time of the attacks. Amnesty International also found that the Israeli military failed to take all feasible precautions ahead of attacks including by not giving Palestinian civilians effective prior warnings - in some cases they did not warn civilians at all and in others they issued inadequate warnings. "Our research points to damning evidence of war crimes in Israel's bombing campaign that must be urgently investigated. Decades of impunity and injustice and the unprecedented level of death and destruction of the current offensive will only result in further violence and instability in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories," said Agnes Callamard. "It is vital that the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court urgently expedites its ongoing investigation into evidence of war crimes and other crimes under international law by all parties. Without justice and the dismantlement of Israel's system of apartheid against Palestinians, there can be no end to the horrifying civilian suffering we are witnessing." The relentless bombardment of Gaza has brought unimaginable suffering to people who are already facing a dire humanitarian crisis. After 16 years under Israel's illegal blockade, Gaza's healthcare system is already close to ruin, and its economy is in tatters. Hospitals are collapsing, unable to cope with the sheer number of wounded people and desperately lacking in life-saving medication and equipment. Amnesty International is calling on the international community to urge Israel to end its total siege, which has cut Gazans off from food, water, electricity and fuel and urgently allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. They must also press Israel to lift its longstanding blockade on Gaza which amounts to collective punishment of Gaza's civilian population, is a war crime and is a key aspect of Israel's system of apartheid. Finally, the Israeli authorities must rescind their "evacuation order" which may amount to forced displacement of the population. Gaza's civilians pay the price Amnesty International investigated five Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, which took place between 7 and 12 October. Between 2012 and 2022, the Israeli authorities have denied, or failed to respond to, all of Amnesty International's requests to gain access to Gaza. For this reason, the organization worked with a Gaza-based fieldworker who visited attack sites and collected testimony and other evidence. Amnesty International researchers interviewed 17 survivors and other eyewitnesses, as well as six relatives of victims over the phone, for the five cases included in this report. The organization's Crisis Evidence Lab analysed satellite imagery and verified photos and videos of attack sites. In the five cases described below Amnesty International found that Israeli forces carried out attacks that violated international humanitarian law, including by failing to take feasible precautions to spare civilians, or by carrying out indiscriminate attacks that failed to distinguish between civilians and military objectives, or by carrying out attacks that may have been directed against civilian objects. Under international humanitarian law, all parties to the conflict must, at all times, distinguish between civilians and civilian objects and fighters and military objectives and direct their attacks only at fighters and military objectives. Direct attacks on civilians or civilian objects are prohibited and are war crimes. Indiscriminate attacks those which fail to distinguish as required are also prohibited. Where an indiscriminate attack kills or injuries civilians, it amounts to a war crime. Disproportionate attacks, those where the expected harm to civilians and civilian objects is excessive in comparison with the "concrete and direct military advantage anticipated," also are prohibited. Knowingly launching a disproportionate attack is a war crime. Whole families wiped out At around 8:20pm on 7 October, Israeli forces struck a three-storey residential building in the al-Zeitoun neighbourhood of Gaza City, where three generations of the al-Dos family were staying. Fifteen family members were killed in the attack, seven of them children. The victims include Awni and Ibtissam al-Dos, and their grandchildren and namesakes Awni, 12, and Ibtissam, 17; and Adel and Ilham al-Dos and all five of their children. Baby Adam, just 18 months old, was the youngest victim. Mohammad al-Dos, whose five-year-old son Rakan was killed in the attack, told Amnesty International: "Two bombs fell suddenly on top of the building and destroyed it. My wife and I were lucky to survive because we were staying on the top floor. She was nine-months pregnant and gave birth at al-Shifa hospital a day after the attack. Our entire family has been destroyed." Amnesty International interviewed a neighbour whose home had been damaged in the attack. Like Mohammad al-Dos, he said that he had not received warning from Israeli forces, and nor had anyone in his family. "It was sudden, boom, nobody told us anything," he said. The fact that the building was full of civilians at the time of the air strike further supports the testimony of survivors who said Israeli forces did not issue any warnings. It took relatives, neighbours and rescue teams more than six hours to remove the bodies from beneath the rubble. Amnesty International's research has found no evidence of military targets in the area at the time of the attack. If Israeli forces attacked this residential building knowing that there were only civilians present at the time of the attack, this would be a direct attack on a civilian object or on civilians, which are prohibited and constitute war crimes. Israel offered no explanation on the incident. It is incumbent on the attacker to prove the legitimacy of their military conduct. Even if Israeli forces targeted what they considered a military objective, attacking a residential building, at a time when it was full of civilians, in the heart of a densely populated civilian neighbourhood, in a manner that caused this number of civilian casualties and degree of destruction would be indiscriminate. Indiscriminate attacks that kill and injure civilians are war crimes. On 10 October, an Israeli air strike on a family home killed 12 members of the Hijazi family and four of their neighbours, in Gaza City's al-Sahaba Street. Three children were among those killed. The Israeli military stated that they struck Hamas targets in the area but gave no further information and did not provide any evidence of the presence of military targets. Amnesty International's research has found no evidence of military targets in the area at the time of the attack. Amnesty International spoke to Kamal Hijazi, who lost his sister, his two brothers and their wives, five nieces and nephews, and two cousins in the attack. He said: "Our family home, a three-storey house, was bombed at 5:15 pm. It was sudden, without any warning; that is why everyone was at home." Ahmad Khalid Al-Sik, one of the Hijazi family's neighbours, was also killed. He was 37 years old and had three young children, who were all injured in the attack. Ahmad's father described what happened: "I was at home in our apartment and Ahmad was downstairs when the house opposite [belonging to the Hijazi family] was bombed, and he was killed. He was going to have his hair cut at the barber, which is next to the entrance of our building. When Ahmad left to go get a haircut, I could not imagine that I would not see him again. The bombing was sudden, unexpected. There was no warning; people were busy with their daily tasks." The barber who was going to cut Ahmad's hair was also killed. According to Amnesty International's findings there were no military objectives in the house or its immediate vicinity, this indicates that this may be a direct attack on civilians or on a civilian object which is prohibited and a war crime. Inadequate warnings In the cases documented by Amnesty International, the organization repeatedly found that the Israeli military had either not warned civilians at all, or issued warnings which were inadequate. In some instances, they informed a single person about a strike which affected whole buildings or streets full of people or issued unclear "evacuation" orders which left residents confused about the timeframe. In no cases did Israeli forces ensure civilians had a safe place to evacuate to. In one attack on Jabalia market attack, people had left their homes in response to an "evacuation" order, only to be killed in the place to which they had fled. On 8 October, an Israeli air strike struck the Nuseirat refugee camp in the centre of the Gaza Strip, killing Mohammed and Shuruq al-Naqla, and two of their children, Omar, three, and Yousef, five, and injuring their two-year-old daughter Mariam and their three-year-old nephew Abdel Karim. Around 20 other people were also injured in the strike. Ismail al-Naqla, Mohammed's brother and the father of Abdel Karim, told Amnesty International that their next-door neighbour received a call from the Israeli military at around 10:30am, warning that his building was about to be bombed. Ismail and Mohammed and their families left the building immediately, as did their neighbours. By 3:30pm, there had been no attack, so the al-Naqlas and others went home to collect necessities. Ismail explained that they had thought it would be safe to do so as five hours had elapsed since the warning, though they planned to leave again very quickly. But as they were returning to their apartments, a bomb struck the building next door, destroying the al-Naqlas' home and damaging others nearby. Mohammed and his family were still in the courtyard of their building when they were killed. Ismail described seeing part of his five-year-old nephew Yousef's brain "outside of his head" and said that three-year-old Omar's body could not be recovered from under the rubble until the next day. He told Amnesty International that Mariam and Abdel Karim, the two surviving children, were released from hospital quickly as Gaza's hospitals are overwhelmed with the volume of casualties. Giving a warning does not free armed forces from their other obligations under international humanitarian law. Particularly given the time that had elapsed since the warning was issued, those carrying out the attack should have checked whether civilians were present before proceeding with the attack. Furthermore, if, as appears, this was a direct attack on a civilian object, this would constitute a war crime. 'Everyone was looking for their children' At around 10:30am on 9 October, Israeli air strikes hit a market in Jabalia refugee camp, located a few kilometres north of Gaza City, killing at least 69 people. The market street is known to be one of the busiest commercial areas in northern Gaza. That day it was even more crowded than usual, as it was filled with thousands of people from nearby areas who had fled their homes empty-handed earlier that morning after receiving text messages from the Israeli army. Amnesty's Crisis Evidence Lab reviewed six videos showing the aftermath of the airstrike on Jabalia camp market. The images show a densely populated area with multi-storey buildings. Videos of the aftermath and satellite imagery show at least three multi-storey buildings completely destroyed and several structures in the surroundings heavily damaged. Numerous deceased bodies are also seen under the rubble in the graphic footage. According to the Israeli military, they were targeting "a mosque in which Hamas members had been present" when they struck Jabalia market, but they have provided no evidence to substantiate their claim. Regardless, membership in a political group does not in itself make an individual targetable. Satellite imagery analysed by Amnesty International showed no mosque in the immediate vicinity of the market street. Based on witness testimony, satellite imagery, and verified videos, the attack, which resulted in high civilian casualties was indiscriminate and must be investigated as a war crime. Imad Hamad, aged 19, was killed in the strike on the Jabalia market while he was on his way to buy bread and mattresses for the family. His father, Ziyad Hamad, described to Amnesty International how a day earlier their family had left their home in Beit Hanoun after receiving a warning message from the Israeli army, and had walked almost five kilometres to a UNRWA-run school, which was operating as a shelter, in Jabalia camp. On the walk, his son, Imad, had carried his toddler brother on his shoulders. The next day, Ziyad told Amnesty International, he was carrying Imad's dead body on his own shoulders, taking his son to be buried. Ziyad described the hellish scenes he encountered at the morgue where he found his son's body, along with many others. "The bodies were burned, I was scared of looking. I didn't want to look, I was scared of looking at Imad's face. The bodies were scattered on the floor. Everyone was looking for their children in these piles. I recognized my son only by his trousers. I wanted to bury him immediately, so I carried my son and got him out. I carried him." When Amnesty International spoke to Ziyad and his displaced family, they were at a UNRWA-run school which was sheltering displaced people. He said there were no basic services or sanitation, and that they had no mattresses. Ziyad's despair at the injustices he has suffered is palpable. "What did I do to deserve this?" he asked. "To lose my son, to lose my house, to sleep on the floor of a classroom? My children are wetting themselves, of panic, of fear, of cold. We have nothing to do with this. What fault did we commit? I raised my child, my entire life, for what? To see him die while buying bread." While Amnesty's researcher was talking to Ziyad over the phone, another air strike hit nearby. Since Amnesty researchers interviewed Ziyad on 10 October, conditions for internally displaced people have deteriorated further, due to the scale of the displacement and the extent of the destruction and the devastating effects of the total blockade imposed since 9 October. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the number of internally displaced people in Gaza had reached 1 million by 19 October, including over 527,500 people who are staying in UNRWA emergency shelters in central and southern Gaza. 'We cannot even count our dead' On 10 October an Israeli air strike hit a six-storey building in Sheikh Radwan, a district of Gaza City, at 4:30pm. The strike completely destroyed the building and killed at least 40 civilians. Satellite imagery suggests damage to buildings on this street sometime between 12:11UTC on 10 October and 7:30UTC on 11 October. The Crisis Evidence Lab geolocated two videos posted to social media that corroborate the destruction of homes in Sheikh Radwan. One of the videos, which was posted online on 10 October, shows people pulling the body of a dead infant from the rubble. Amnesty International spoke to Mahmoud Ashour whose daughter, Iman, and her four children, Hamza, six months, Ahmad, two years, Abdelhamid six, and Rihab, eight, were all killed in the attack. He said: "My daughter and her children came here to seek safety because this area was relatively safe in previous attacks. But I couldn't protect them, I have no trace left of my daughter." Mahmoud described the extent of the devastation: "I'm talking to you now as I'm trying to remove the rubble with my hands. We cannot even count our dead." Fawzi Naffar, 61, said that 19 of his family members, including his wife, children and grandchildren, were all killed in the air strike. When Amnesty International spoke to Fawzi five days after the air strike, he had only been able to retrieve the remains of his daughter-in-law and his "son's shoulder." Amnesty International's research found that a Hamas member had been residing on one of the floors of the building, but he was not there at the time of the air strike. Membership in a political group does not itself make an individual a military target. Even if that individual was a fighter, the presence of a fighter in a civilian building does not transform that building or any of the civilians therein into a military objective. International humanitarian law requires Israeli forces to take all feasible precautions to minimise harm to civilians and civilian property, including by cancelling or postponing the attack if it becomes apparent that it would be indiscriminate or otherwise unlawful. These precautions were not taken ahead of the air strike in Sheikh Radwan. The building was known to be full of civilian residents, including many children, and the danger to them could have been anticipated. This is an indiscriminate attack which killed and injured civilians and must be investigated as a war crime. Amnesty International is calling on; The Israeli authorities to: Immediately end unlawful attacks and abide by international humanitarian law; including by ensuring they take all feasible precautions to minimize harm to civilians and damage to civilian objects and refraining from direct attacks on civilians and civilian objects, indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks. Immediately allow unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza's civilians. Urgently lift its illegal blockade on Gaza, which amounts to collective punishment and is a war crime, in the face of the current devastation and humanitarian imperatives. Rescind their appalling "evacuation" order, which has left more than one million people displaced. Grant immediate access to the Independent Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory to carry out investigations, including collecting time sensitive evidence and testimonies. The international community and particularly Israel's allies, including EU member states, the US and the UK, to: Take concrete measures to protect Gaza's civilian population from unlawful attacks. Impose a comprehensive arms embargo on all parties to the conflict given that serious violations amounting to crimes under international law are being committed. States must refrain from supplying Israel with arms and military materiel, including related technologies, parts and components, technical assistance, training, financial or other assistance. They should also call on states supplying arms to Palestinian armed groups to refrain from doing so. Refrain from any statement or action that would, even indirectly, legitimize Israel's crimes and violations in Gaza. Pressure Israel to lift its illegal 16-year blockade of the Gaza strip which amounts to collective punishment of Gaza's population, is a war crime and is a key aspect of Israel's apartheid system. Ensure the International Criminal Court's ongoing investigation into the situation of Palestine receives full support and all necessary resources. The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to: Urgently expedite its ongoing investigation in the situation of Palestine, examining alleged crimes by all parties, and including the crime against humanity of apartheid against Palestinians. Hamas and other armed groups to: Immediately end deliberate attacks on civilians, the firing of indiscriminate rockets, and hostage-taking. They must release civilian hostages unconditionally and immediately. This article is an unedited release from Amnesty International Crew to reconstruct Mt. Pisgah viewing platform Beginning Monday, Oct. 23, a contracted crew and volunteers will start reconstruction of the viewing platform atop Mount Pisgah in Pisgah National Forest off the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 407.6. The project is funded through donations to the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. The original viewing platform was constructed by the United States Youth Conservation Corps in 1979. In recent years, repairs to the platform became extensive and warranted reconstruction of large portions of the structure. Volunteers from Carolina Mountain Club will assist with the project. This reconstruction project demonstrates the power of partnerships and will allow visitors to continue to enjoy that iconic view atop Mt. Pisgah, said Jeff Owenby, Cradle of Forestry Director for the Pisgah Ranger District. The Mount Pisgah trail will remain open, but hikers are advised to use caution when visiting the summit. The project is expected to take approximately two weeks and will involve the use of a funicular owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group to transport materials up the 5,721-foot peak. Not only will the new platform be attractive, but it will provide a safer area for hikers to take in mountain views, said Kevin Brandt, project manager for the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. This project was inspired by the memory of Lisa Hambrick Hagebak and championed by her family to recognize her love of the North Carolina mountains and Blue Ridge Parkway. The Foundation also recently funded the addition of an interpretive sign installed in the overlook parking area where the Mount Pisgah trailhead is located. The wayside panel features the history of Buck Spring Lodge, George W. Vanderbilts former Adirondack-style retreat which was located nearby. LIGHTING Henley Bridge would turn Henley into Disneyland or Blackpool, says a town councillor. Make Henley Shine, a small group of business people, is seeking planning permission to install 456 mini LED lights to the Grade I listed structure. It says the lights would be laid flat on the arches, spaced 50cm to 61cm apart and linked by a single cable. They would not be fixed to the stonework but screwed into the large joints between the stones. They would come on automatically at dusk before being turned off at midnight and they could be programmed to feature different colours and go on and off in sequence. But Henley Town Councils planning committee has recommended the plans are rejected, saying there was insufficient evidence about both the impact of the lights on the ecology of the area and of screwing them into the mortar of the bridge. Mayor Kellie Hinton told a meeting of the councils planning committee that she supported soft uplighting of important structures but she didnt think lighting the bridge was necessary. She said: The design is not to my personal taste, I dont like the fairy light look, I would much prefer some uplighting. I am really concerned about some of the arguments that have been used for the project which for me are actually detrimental. Somebody mentioned they would like more light on the river, especially during the bleak winter months. No, give it a break. May to September is our social season. We have lots of stuff going on all over the river in the summer, with lots of lighting, lots of music, lots of noise. Give it a chance to breathe, a chance to rest, a chance to not have light and noise pollution and be Instagrammable. The Mayor said she didnt like the idea of the bridge lights encouraging more river users at night, adding: I think that is just awful to increase the boat traffic at night when actually its just this one tiny section thats lit because once they get past the bridge its completely black, as a river should be. There is no lighting on the towpath for this very reason. Its a natural environment, as it should stay. I really fail to see how lights on a bridge benefit anybody. To look at and smile, yes, I suppose I benefit, but other than that the lights dont benefit my life in any way, shape or form. It doesnt benefit my childrens lives and it certainly doesnt benefit us as river users. Cllr Hinton also complained about a suggestion that the lights could cheer the town out of the cost of living crisis, saying this seemed ludicrous. She added: I came into this meeting with the intention of abstaining, despite the fact that I dont particularly like this design. However, I believe we cant possibly support our climate emergency declaration, support Greener Henley and all of the things that I care about and still support this application. Councillor Ian Reissmann said the proposal should be refused because it failed to demonstrate that the bridge would be enhanced. He said there was a lack of independent evidence regarding the impact of the development on nature, ecology and biodiversity and a lack of engineering evidence about the protection of the physical structure. Cllr Reissmann said: The application is aimed at improving the appearance of the town in order to make us feel better and encourage visitors and I accept that is clearly a worthwhile aim but there are mixed views on it. The bridge is a Grade I listed building. It is an iconic part of the town and it is used by many organisations to inspire their logos and photos of the bridge adorn many of their websites. Planning regulations are clear that any application must preserve and enhance the asset and its surroundings. The application provides other examples of bridges that have been lit and these have light projected on to them. They are not internally illuminated. Thats a key difference in my mind about the nature of this application. This committee does not support internally illuminated signs on shops but does allow externally lit signs projecting light on to shops. Why should we apply a lower standard to the bridge? Four examples in the application of Perth, Dumbarton. Bordeaux and Rome are so not relevant. The artists impression of the bridge shows warm white lights; what it doesnt show is that coloured flashing lights allowed in the plan for 30 days a year are part of this application. Are we going to be treated to branded coloured lights by sponsors such as CocaCola and McDonalds? Were not Blackpool or Disneyland, were Henley, and I dont want to see that sort of thing in our town. I think it would disfigure the bridge. As for the claim that the lighting would encourage visitors, Im with Councillor Hinton, I dont get that at all. Lets go see the lights at Dumbarton Bridge, said no one ever. It just doesnt happen. The district council has a dark skies policy and light pollution should be avoided. The argument that there is an existing problem with light around the bridge is a strange way to me of justifying making the problem worse. Light has a serious effect on wildlife and biodiversity and the plan does not include an independent assessment of the effects on bats and others. The scheme points out that it minimises harm but that doesnt reassure me that its a good plan. The screw fixings are not supported by a report from an independent engineering expert with specialist knowledge. The risk to the structure from weakening the mortar and allowing the ingress of water must be real and the plan needs to reassure us that the structure is safe. Simply stating that damage to the bridge would be kept to a minimum is not reassuring to me. The town council has declared a climate emergency and has acknowledged a nature emergency. The climate emergency working group has a member who has calculated that the lights would emit approximately half a ton of carbon dioxide annually. This may be a small proportion of Henleys footprint but its inconsistent with, and takes us away from, our aim of net zero. It fails to show our leadership on climate change that many residents wants to see us adopt and that the planet so badly needs. Cllr Reissmann added: If the economic development of the town were to be improved by this plan, where are all the supportive letters from businesses? Ive looked through every single comment on the district councils website and there were two small businesses which have contributed but it wasnt clear who they were. Opinion is clearly split and I think we should adopt a precautionary principle when it comes to something as important as a Grade I listed building that has stood for 250 years. It does not need these lights, which I think are inappropriate, unnecessary and unjustified. At the time of a cost of living crisis there are many ways that we can use 200,000 to improve the town. Deputy Mayor Rory Hunt said he liked the design and said having the lights spread over the arches of the bridge would be better for the environment than uplighting. He said: I completely agree that the coloured lights would be inappropriate for the bridge and I share Councillor Reissmanns concerns about responses. However, there are some areas where I disagree. Uplights wouldnt be as eco-friendly, they would use more power and need to be secured into the stone of the bridge rather than the grouting and they would also pose a risk to navigation, particularly for scullers. I like the design of the lights. I respectfully disagree with Councillors Hinton and Reissmann on that. I think that showing the silhouette of the bridge, which has been used in many logos, would be an addition. Councillor Hunt said more information on the impact of the mortar would be helpful and he would like to see it before making a final decision.Cllr Reissmann proposed recommending refusal of the application but the committee was split in a vote. Chairman Tom Buckley, who had voted against the motion, then changed his mind and used his casting vote in favour of recommending refusal. He said: I would like to see more information on the impact on ecology, or whether or not the design could be better done to minimise impacts on ecology and some proof that there is an attempt to mitigate the effect. I think the lighting survey that was done was very accurate. In terms of heritage, mortar is sacrificial, it always has been, and that is why we use it. It keeps the moisture away from the stones. There is part of me which wants to accept it because I think there are really good valid reasons for it. However, on the basis of what we have, it has to be for refusal. There are things missing. There isnt sufficient evidence. In a statement, Make Henley Shine said: We were disappointed that the planning decision went against on a casting vote. It was really helpful, however, to hear the concerns from the public gallery and we look forward to being able to address those concerns further through the planning system. Daniel Bausor, chairman of Make Henley Shine. said: If you believe, as we do, that this 10-year capital arts project will Make Henley Shine, our team would urge everyone living in Henley and the surrounding villages to make your voice heard on the the councils planning portals. What do you think? Write to: Letters, Henley Standard, Caxton House, 1 Station Road, Henley or email letters@henleystandard.co.uk MAYOR Kellie Hinton will kick- start the Henley Poppy Appeal next Saturday (October 28) by making the first donation. She will be joined in Falaise Square by new appeal organisers Richard Pinches and Annie Arscott, Sam Browns Ukulele Band and local cadet forces. There will be a display of wartime military vehicles. The Mayor will be accompanied by her cadets, army cadet Corporal Angelika Gwiazda, 15, air cadet Aleks Kluch, 17, and royal marine cadet Sergeant Angus Timblicka-Statham, 17, on their first official engagement. Mr Pinches, who is also the deputy vice-chairman of the Henley and Peppard branch of the Legion, said: At 11am the Mayor will come and be photographed buying the first poppy, as is tradition. Poppies will be on sale to the public until Remembrance Sunday, November 12. Mr Pinches said: Weve got new QR codes for tins that are in static locations, like Waitrose and Tesco. People will be able to donate using the code and that money goes directly into the Henley fund. Volunteers selling poppies in the street will have card machines for people with no cash. Mr Pinches said he first become involved with the appeal after the death of his father Peter Ginger Pinches, who served in the 8th Army. He said: My father was a Desert Rat in the Second World War, so I started doing this seven or eight years ago after he died. I just had the urge to help the old soldiers. Mr Pinches owns a 1943 desert Jeep and enjoys wearing a replica of the uniform his father would have worn. Mrs Arscott said: I got involved seven or eight years ago when we first moved here and I was Poppy Appeal organiser for nearly six years but gave it up about two years ago. They asked me back and I said I would do it but I would need help. Her father Jim Robinson served in the army, becoming a lieutenant colonel, and her son Major James Arscott is currently serving with the Royal Marines. The two organisers have been helped by town councillor David Eggleton. Mrs Arscott said: We couldnt have done some of this stuff without Dave. When we first started I was quite new and he really helped with liaising with the council. Councillor Eggleton said: Im always for supporting good causes and you cant get a better cause than this. My dad was in the Oxon Bucks Light Infantry stationed in Cyprus. I was an air cadet and served in the Territorial Army, 2nd Wessex, for six years. Councillor Eggleton will also wear a replica uniform, saying it helps attract attention to the appeal. People come to us because they want to ask us questions whereas if you are collecting just in your normal dress, most people walk straight past. On the day of the launch the organisers will be helped by members of the Thames Lodge of the Freemasons to put up the gazebos. Hugh Legh will set up a PA system. The Poppy Appeal raises money for veteran and active servicemen and women. It provides them with financial support, advice, employment, mobility, housing and mental health support. For more information or to request a donation tin, email info@richardpinches.co.uk ?A traves de un sobrevuelo, la presidenta Dina Boluarte inspecciono los trabajos de prevencion y mitigacion de riesgos en los rios Zana, Reque y Olmos, con el fin de proteger a la poblacion, cultivos y la infraestructura de riego, ante la llegada del fenomeno El Nino. pic.twitter.com/cGg0KcpIK2 Danube Industries Limited (BSE Code: 540361) is emerging as an undiscovered gem on the BSE with an incredible growth potential that has investors and market experts buzzing with excitement. With its current stock price trading at just Rs. 9, this hidden treasure is poised to shine, with experts projecting a remarkable 550% return, setting a target price of at least Rs. 50 within the next six months. Danube Industries Limited has recently attracted the spotlight due to a series of game-changing developments that have transformed the company's outlook. Last month, the company rewarded its loyal investors by issuing bonus shares, a gesture that not only delighted shareholders but also hinted at the company's promising future. The latest news from Singapore has propelled this company into the limelight. Danube Industries Limited has achieved a major milestone by securing a significant Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) based IT and Software order worth an impressive Rs. 168 Crore. This is a remarkable feat, especially considering the company's modest market capitalization of just Rs. 50 Crore. To put it into perspective, the company's revenue in the last quarter was Rs. 70 Crore, underscoring the transformative impact of this new order on its growth trajectory. This optimism is not mere conjecture; it is firmly rooted in a robust foundation of both fundamental and technical analysis. Several key factors are driving this bullish outlook for the stock: Strong Fundamentals: The company's solid financial health, combined with the issuance of bonus shares, has instilled renewed confidence among investors. Robust Technical Analysis: The stock is currently trading at an attractive price, indicating significant undervaluation and presenting a prime entry opportunity for investors. With these compelling factors at play, Danube Industries Limited has firmly positioned itself in the 'Strong Buy Zone,' as per market experts. Investors and market observers are closely monitoring this hidden gem on the BSE, anticipating a remarkable transformation. While the stock is currently trading at Rs. 9, the expert target of Rs. 50 within the next six months underscores the extraordinary potential of this stock. In the ever-evolving world of finance, Danube Industries Limited is on track to emerge as a shining example of growth and opportunity. Investors are eagerly awaiting the company's journey, which promises to deliver exciting developments and substantial returns in the near future. Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! Recently, Indore-based digital marketing agency Feedbox gained widespread popularity after being showcased on a prestigious mainstream news channel. The agency was highlighted in a testimonial video. Recognized for its commendable efforts and goodwill, Feedbox has distinguished itself as one of the most admired digital marketing agencies. This also helped them in becoming the first digital marketing start-up from MP to be featured on a leading news channel. Feedbox has also bagged the prestigious Indore Super Startups Award. Additionally, the companys Founder Yash Kulshrestha was honoured with the Madhya Pradesh Young Achiever Award. All these accomplishments have assisted Feedbox in carving a niche in the digital marketing realm. Feedbox has cemented its reputation as a leader in the field of metrics-based digital marketing and social media growth marketing for brands. 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Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! New York, October 20, 2023: Onix, a renowned and award-winning Google Cloud partner, has recently expanded its data and AI capabilities by acquiring Datametica. This strategic move aims to establish a company with an emphasis on IP-driven solutions for data migration, modernization, artificial intelligence/machine learning, and Generative AI. The combined entity stands out with its distinctive ability to expedite the delivery of data and AI-driven benefits to customers globally. Today Onix is announcing IP-powered data migration and modernization factories that deliver: Migration from legacy and cloud data warehouses Snowflake, Teradata, Netezza, Hadoop, and Oracle to Google BigQuery Data integration tools such as Informatica and DataStage to Google BigQuery, Dataflow Business intelligence tools such as Cognos, Business Objects and MicroStrategy to Google BigQuery and Looker Vertex AI and Duet AI deployments and AI/ML Ops Our partners have a tremendous opportunity to support customers AI and data-driven transformations, said Kevin Ichhpurani, Corporate Vice President, Ecosystems and Channels at Google Cloud. New solutions, services, and capabilities from Onix will help customers accelerate their digital transformations with Google Cloud in areas spanning generative AI, data modernization, cloud migrations and more. Datametica also has a suite of proprietary products, Eagle, Raven, and Pelican, to automate the process of discovering, migrating, and modernizing data and analytical workloads to Google Cloud. These solutions minimize risk, reduce time and migration cost with guaranteed outcomes for customers. "New solutions, integrated consulting services, and IP from Onix will give organizations more ability to modernize their data infrastructure while enabling faster time to value and risk mitigation - ultimately helping customers accelerate their data- and AI-driven transformations on Google Cloud, said Gerrit Kazmaier, VP & GTM, Data & Analytics at Google Cloud. In addition to being a Generative AI launch partner, Onix is a 13-time Partner of the Year for Google Cloud and was named the 2023 Google Cloud Industry Solutions Services Partner of the Year for the Healthcare & Life Sciences. Datametica was named the 2023 Google Cloud Data Analytics Partner of the Year. Our customers today are deploying AI for efficiencies and game-changing innovations. For AI to be effective, the models need to be trained on data with contextual enterprise knowledge, which requires a deep understanding of data assets, taxonomies, and integration of linked datasets that tie back to industry specific business KPIs. Our capabilities in data discovery, transformation, and migration are designed to make your data AI ready for industry specific AI deployments, said Sanjay Singh, Chief Executive Officer of Onix. Gurvendra Suri, Executive Chairman of Onix and Tailwind Operating Executive, added, The combined company will provide our customers clarity on what to migrate, how to migrate and in what sequence to migrate their data workloads to cloud, retiring their commits to Google while realizing maximum business value at meaningfully faster delivery times and significantly lower costs compared to our competition About Onix: Onix is a trusted cloud consulting company and a leading Google Cloud partner that helps companies get the most out of their technology with innovative, cloud-powered solutions and services. The company is able to deliver exceptional results for its customers because of its 20+ year partnership with Google Cloud, dedication to customer success, and depth of technology expertise. Visit onixnet.com to learn more about its story and solutions. About Datametica: Datametica Solutions is a Google Cloud migration partner that empowers GSI's and enterprises with state-of-the-art solutions for migrating data warehouses, databases, ETL, and analytical workloads to Google Cloud. Leveraging automation and expertise, Datametica provides software and solutions that transform legacy and existing Cloud systems onto Google Cloud's advanced analytics solutions. The company's cutting-edge technologies, including Eagle, Raven, and Pelican products, enable fast, low-cost and low-risk data warehouse assessment, workload and ETL conversion, and data validation, ensuring a smooth and successful cloud migration journey. About Tailwind: Tailwind Capital is a private equity firm with a sector-focused approach to investing in U.S. lower middle market services companies within Infrastructure Services, Supply Chain and IT Services. Tailwinds value creation model is centered on its Buy and Build investment strategy, which seeks to scale lower middle market businesses through accretive acquisitions and operational investments, including foundational resourcing, professionalizing operations, implementing technology capabilities and investing in talent. Since inception, Tailwind has invested $4 billion in over 265 acquisitions, including 51 platform companies and over 215 add-on acquisitions. For more information, please visit www.tailwind.com. Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! Months after facing erosion of wealth following American short-seller Hindenburg's allegations, Adani Group is closing in on a $3.5 billion loan to refinance existing debt taken to purchase Ambuja Cements Limited. A clutch of banks and financial institutions have reportedly agreed to extend the loan, showing signs of boost in confidence among creditors in the conglomerate's financial stability. Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani(PTI) The deal, which could be sealed this week, will be among the 10 biggest loans in Asia this year, Bloomberg reported, quoting anonymous sources. The agency added the loan would likely be priced at 450-500 basis points all-in-costs over the benchmark secured overnight finance rate. 18 global banks, including Barclays, Deutsche Bank and Standard Chartered, are in agreement with the group for refinancing the debt, reported The Economic Times. The Adani Group's promoter, the Gautam Adani family will have to prepay 300 million dollars, per the loan agreement. The refinancing will help save about a quarter of a billion dollars over a period of three years, ET reported. The Adani Group has repaid close to 2 billion dollars in Ambuja and ACC loans. The 18 lenders include MUFG, Mizuho, SMBC, DBS, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Barclays, Deutsche Bank, ING, BNP Paribas, and Qatars QNB. The disbursals of the loan will start next week, it reported. This loan has pushed the repayment timeline to 2027. Apart from saving borrowing costs, the exercise will also boost Adani Group's credit ratings. Gautam Adani was India's richest person earlier this year when Hindenburg accused his conglomerate of stock manipulation. Within weeks of the allegations, his net worth plummeted to 40 billion dollars following a rout on the stock markets. Over the last few months, Adani has recovered some of his lost wealth due to the infusion of funds by Indian-American investor Rajiv Jain in Adani Group's stocks and other emergency measures that inspired investor confidence. Adani's current net worth, according to Forbes, is 52.8 billion dollars. 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 Intel Corp. and Siemens AG are pulling out of Web Summit, the biggest technology conference in Europe, following remarks by the events leader that criticized Western support for Israel after the Hamas attacks. Intel Corp. confirmed on Thursday that it was withdrawing from Web Summit"(REUTERS) The US chipmaker confirmed on Thursday that it was withdrawing from Web Summit. A representative for the Santa Clara, California-based company, which has longstanding operations in Israel, declined to comment further. Siemens, the German engineering and manufacturing company, is listed as one of the top sponsors of the summit scheduled for next month in Lisbon. But after having reviewed the situation, the company will no longer be a partner or attend the event this year, a representative said. Y Combinators Garry Tan, Sequoia Capitals Ravi Gupta and other prominent venture capitalists also have canceled plans to attend the event. Several tech executives based in Israel have dropped out as well. Read More: Y Combinators Tan, VCs Pull Out of Web Summit Over Israel Paddy Cosgrave, who runs the event, issued an apology earlier this week. I understand that what I said, the timing of what I said, and the way it has been presented has caused profound hurt to many, he said on the Web Summit site. To anyone who was hurt by my words, I apologize deeply. He initially posted about the conflict last week and reiterated the sentiment in subsequent posts. Intel and Siemens pulling out of the event was previously reported by Business Post. 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! Farmers in Devanahalli are opposed to the land acquisition for industrial purposes and a meeting will be held on October 25 to discuss the issue, Karnataka Large and Medium Industries Minister M B Patil has said. Karnataka Congress leader MB Patil.(HT Photo) A meeting took place between representatives of the farmers and the government at Khanija Bhavan on Wednesday that failed to produce any result, the Minister said in a statement. READ | Mumbai, Bengaluru secure 19th, 22nd positions globally in housing price appreciation: Report Another meeting would be called on October 25 to discuss acquiring 1,777 acres of land for Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board in Channarayapatna hobli of Devanahalli taluk. Patil said people of 13 villages have been opposing the land acquisition. Farmer leaders Baiyareddy, Chukki Nanjundaswamy and others who attended the meeting opposed the land acquisition. The preliminary notification which has been issued in this regard should be cancelled. The lives of hundreds of farmers' families depend on this land, the farmers were quoted as saying. READ | NHAI unit signs 1,770 crore deal for multi-modal logistics park in Bengaluru The minister told the farmer representatives that he would discuss the matter with the Chief Minister if the meeting on October 25 fails. Patil explained that there is a provision to provide 10,800 sq ft of land to farmers as compensation for every acre developed by the KIADB and the same can be used by them for commercial purposes. The minister also clarified that the Industrial Area Development Board has been in the process of acquiring lands not only in the vicinity of Devanahalli but across the state to facilitate the growth of industries. 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! Targeting the Congress on corruption, the BJP on Friday released the ATM Sarkara Collection Tree poster accusing the government of using Karnataka as the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) to fund Parliamentary polls and the forthcoming assembly elections in five states. Karnataka BJP releases 'ATM Sarkara Collection Tree' poster targeting Congress Also Read - Will not run away, will respond to everything: DK Shivakumar on HC rejecting his petition The poster has pictures of Congress MP and former party president Rahul Gandhi on the top, followed by national general secretaries Randeep Singh Surjewala, K C Venugopal, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his deputy D K Shivakumar, Siddaramaiahs son Yatindra Siddaramaiah, Minister Byrathi Suresh and contractor Ambikapathy. "People have now come to know how the administration is being run in the state for the past five months. All the development works have come to a standstill and the situation is so pathetic that not a single pothole is getting filled," former Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, who released the poster along with other party leaders, told reporters. Claiming that the "central point of the collection business is Delhi", he alleged that Rahul Gandhi had taken full responsibility for it. "Rahul Gandhi is looking after the financial management of the five poll-bound states," Gowda alleged. The BJP leader also charged that there is a competition in collection between the chief minister and the deputy chief minister. 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 chief minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, refuted former Prime Minister HD Devegowdas statement where the latter said that Vijayan supported his decision to join hands with the BJP. Vijayan also expressed his dissatisfaction with Devegowdas claims and called them unfounded lies. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Also Read - CM Ibrahim removed as Karnataka JD(S) chief days after criticising BJP alliance In an X post, Vijayan wrote, I am absolutely astonished by H D Deve Gowda's recent statement! The mere notion that I would even entertain the idea of supporting a JDS-BJP alliance is nothing short of a delusional fantasy. It is utterly disgraceful for a seasoned politician like Deve Gowda to make such unfounded lies. The Kerala CM clarified that CPI(M) continues to fight with the forces of Sangh Parivar. @cpimspeak has been an unwavering and unyielding force in the battle against the Sangh Parivar. There is no room for ambiguity in our stance, added the Kerala CM. Earlier, JDS supremo HD Devegowda stressed that he discussed the matter of alliance with BJP with all the units of his party. We are part of the government of Kerala and our MLA is holding the position of a state minister there. All party units supported our decision to join the NDA. Our minister K Krishnakutty who is part of the left government has provided his consent for the alliance. Even Kerala CM was informed about our move, and he was okay with it. Devegowdas comments created a political row in Kerala and the Congress alleged that the left party is in support of the BJP. We had earlier raised this allegation. A party which is part of NDA is also part of the state cabinet of the Left government in Kerala led by Pinarayi Vijayan. Now that Deve Gowda has made a revelation, it's become clear that it is BJP that has linked the two parties, said Kerala Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly V D Satheesan. 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! In a formal virtual inaugural event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the full operations of Bengaluru metros Purple Line to people of the IT capital by inaugurating two pending stretches, Baiyappanahalli KR Puram and Kengeri Challaghatta. The Purple Line operations started on October 9, without much fanfare or inaugural event and on Friday, the formal inauguration took place. PM Narendra Modi formally launches Bengaluru Metro's Purple Line operations Also Read - Bengaluru Metro's Purple Line begins its full operations: 5 things to know Speaking at the event, PM Narendra Modi said, With the Purple Line operations, the connectivity to Bengalurus IT hub will be enhanced and two metro stretches will provide a swift travel experience to the people of Bengaluru. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and deputy CM DK Shivakumar also participated in the virtual inaugural event. Bengaluru Central MP PC Mohan earlier said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi showed a special concern towards this Purple Line and directed the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) officials to launch it immediately. In an X post, he said, PM Shri @narendramodi Ji has directed BMRCL to commence services on the new stretches of the #PurpleLine (Challaghatta to Kengeri and Baiyappanahalli to Whitefield), without postponing operations for a formal inauguration ceremony with VIP presence. Ever since the operations of the Purple Line began, the footfall of Namma Metro has been spiking. Over seven lakh people are using Bengalurus metro transport every day on weekdays and weekends the footfalls are recording somewhere between five to six lakhs per day. The Karnataka transport department has also launched 37 feeder bus services from KR Puram metro station. These feeder buses will operate from the KR Puram metro station towards the Outer Ring Road till Silk Board, which has many IT parks and often suffers from severe traffic snarls. The frequency of these feeder buses is set as per the morning and evening peak hours. During peak hours, feeder buses will be available on the route every five minutes and during non-peak hours, the buses will be available every eight minutes. 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 Bengaluru, infamous for tough tenant interviews and rogue house owners, witnessed an anti peak Bengaluru moment when a man said he found a rental flat in the tech city in just one day. The post prompted hilarious reactions from the internet and social media users. Bengaluru's rental demand has soared over the last few years. ALSO READ | Bengaluru man explains why he chose to stay after his rent was hiked by 15,000 within one year Saumil, the founder of Grapevine, shared the man's post on social media site X, writing the caption Anti- @peakbengaluru moment. The original post read, Got a rental flat in 1 day. Thursday - Landed in Bangalore. Friday - Was with broker roaming in Koramangala. Saturday - Fixed the place. Sunday - Shifted to a new place. This garnered quirky replies, with one saying Weird flex but ok. See the viral post here: ALSO READ | Are you Monica or Rachel? Bengalureans are taking roommate queries to the next level Some admired the user's luck, writing, Keep up the luck! This Friday: Roam around in Kormangala with some startup founder; Saturday: Settle on an offer; Sunday: Shift to new job. next week; mon - build a product; tue - launch a startup; wed - raise a seed round; with his luck i'm sure it's possible, another response read. ALSO READ | Man clears Google interview but fails tenant interview in Bengaluru. Heres why Thats actually anti-human moment. Either ok with paying a lot of money or compromise for whats there, another replied. The Karnataka capital has been witnessing incidents wherein landlords have asked potential tenants to provide their LinkedIn profiles, asking for their qualification and even the college that they passed out from. One such landlord rejected a man because of his Class 12 exam marks. However, the occasional landlord in Bengaluru has also pleasantly surprised tenants with unexpected funding for their start-ups and sweets. 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 YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, ARMENPRESS. U.S. President Joe Biden tied the wars in Ukraine and Israel together during a primetime Oval Office address Thursday, making an appeal to the American people to support two fellow democracies that he says are facing existential threats, CNN reports. The U.S. president has often cast this moment in history as an inflection point a battle between the worlds democracies and autocracies. On Thursday, he argued that this is one of those moments, making a direct appeal to the American people as he sought to build support for US funding for wars abroad that could face a challenging path in Congress, where the House of Representatives remains unable to pass legislation in its second week without a speaker. Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common: They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy, completely annihilate it, CNN quoted Biden as saying. We cant let petty partisan, angry politics get in the way of our responsibilities as a great nation. We cannot and will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win. I refuse to let that happen, he added. He laid out the stakes for the American people, calling the wars a national security imperative and a critical moment for the future of American leadership and democracies worldwide. American leadership is what holds the world together. American alliances are what keep us in America safe. American values are what make us a partner nation you want to work with, he said. To put all that at risk we walk away from Ukraine, we turn our backs on Israel its just not worth it. The U.S. president said support for both wars is vital for Americas national security. History has taught us that when terrorists dont pay a price for their terror, when dictators dont pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction. They keep going. And the cost and the threat to America in the world keep rising, Biden said, warning, If we dont stop Putins appetite for power and control in Ukraine, he wont limit himself just to Ukraine. And he warned more broadly that the United States adversaries and competitors are watching. If we walk away and let Putin erase Ukraines independence, would-be aggressors around the world would be emboldened to try the same. The risk of conflict and chaos could spread in other parts of the world in the Indo Pacific, in the Middle East, especially in the Middle East, Biden said. The primetime address took place on the eve of the White House requesting north of $100 billion from Congress to deliver aid and resources to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and the US border with Mexico, even though the legislative branch is paralyzed by the dysfunction in the House of Representatives. Biden reiterated that he will not put American boots on the ground in Ukraine. I will not send American troops to fight in Ukraine. All Ukraine is asking for is help. For the weapons, munitions, the capacity, the capability of pushing invading Russian forces off their land and the air defense system to shoot down Russian missiles before they destroy Ukrainian cities, he said. The speech comes after his wartime visit to the Middle East, which went on even after a blast tore through a hospital in Gaza. While his planned stop in Amman, Jordan, to meet Arab leaders was canceled just as the U.S. president was preparing to depart the White House, Biden did spend hours on the ground in Tel Aviv. Ahead of the assembly election in Madhya Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is trying to lure the people to vote for them once again by introducing new schemes which the Congress has dubbed a political gimmick by the ruling party. The BJP has put up hoardings all around the state highlighting the nutritious food element related to the Ladli Behna scheme (HT Photo/Sourced) According to the partys publicity campaign it has recently launched another scheme - nutritious food to children- associated with the CM Ladli Behna Yojana. Ladli Behna Ke Bachchon Ko Paushtik Aahar, Ab Milenge Rs.3,000 (nutritious food to beloved sisters children, now they will get Rs.3,000), announces the BJPs publicity campaign. Under the scheme which was implemented in June, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had promised aid of Rs.1,250 to 12.5 million women in the state. Ahead of the polls, he announced that the amount would be increased to Rs.3,000 in a phased manner. The BJP has put up hoardings all around the state highlighting the nutritious food element related to the Ladli Behna scheme. The Congress has, however, dubbed it as a political gimmick saying the ruling party was forced to go for a massive publicity campaign to flash the nutritious food for children card as the Congress has promised several welfare schemes for women and children besides others. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, who was in MPs Mandla last week, had announced financial assistance to school students, to counter the CM Ladli Behna scheme. Gandhi assured financial assistance to school students 500 per month to students in Classes 1 to 8, 1,000 per month to those in Classes 9 and 10 and 1,500 per month to students of Class 11 and 12 if the party is voted to power. The party has also promised 11 guarantees, which include 1,500 per month per head to women, an LPG cylinder at 500, Old Pension Scheme for government employees, farmers loan waiver, 27% reservation to other backward classes (OBCs), no charge for first 100 units power consumption and 50% charge on 200 units etc. Responding to BJPs scheme, state Congress spokesperson Santosh Gautam said that CM Chouhan has often said the Ladli Behna amount would be increased, but he is silent as to when this will actually happen he will give the increased amount to women. He knows well that since BJP is not going to retain power, there is no harm in making false promises to people, he said. Gautam said if the government was really concerned over the poor health of children it should have started giving Rs.3000 per month from June itself. The BJPs decision to go for a massive publicity campaign was forced by the Congress schemes for women, children and all other sections of society through its Vachan Patra, said the Congress spokesperson. Responding, state BJP media in-charge Ashish Agrawal said, The fact is Congress snatched nutritious food from children during its 15-month rule and stopped the continuation of several schemes meant for women, children and weaker sections of society. The BJP is committed to a holistic development of children in the state which is the aim of the governments Ladli Behna scheme. Meanwhile, CM Chouhan on Wednesday claimed that if the Congress came to power, would stop the governments flagship welfare scheme for women Ladli Behna Yojana. The state will go to polls on November 17. The results of the elections will be announced on December 3. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Two persons, including a Congress sarpanch of Punjabs Moga districts Khosa Kotla village and his aide, were shot dead, and two persons were injured in a clash between two groups on Friday morning, police said. Sarpanch Veer Singh (left) and his aide Ranjeet Singh (right) (HT Photo) Moga senior superintendent of police (SP) J Elenchezhian said a clash took place between two rival groups in Khosa Kotla village. Two persons were killed and two others were injured in the firing, he said. Police have identified the deceased as sarpanch Veer Singh, a member of the Congress party and his aide Ranjeet Singh, both residents of Khosa Kotla village. The two injured persons were admitted to Moga Civil Hospital and a private hospital, respectively, said police. Police said the reason behind the incident was due to a rivalry between the former village sarpanch and Veer Singh. The group of former village sarpanch had enmity with Veers group, and the clash reportedly took place over developmental grants to the village, said police. On Friday morning, Veer and his group members were on a walk when they were allegedly attacked by the other group, who opened fire at them. Veer and Ranjit got shot and died on the spot, while a member of a rival group sustained injuries in the clash. Police are at the spot and are investigating the matter. Further action will be taken after checking all the facts, the SP 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! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Delhi high court on Friday got two new judges taking the total strength from 42 to 44. The high court has a sanctioned strength of 60 judges. The high court has a sanctioned strength of 60 judges. (Delhi high court) Chief justice Satish Chandra Sharma administered oath to judicial officers Shailender Kaur and Ravinder Dudeja as additional judges of the high court. The swearing-in ceremony took place on the day when the Supreme Court is set to hear a contempt plea complaining against inordinate delay by the Centre in processing collegiums recommendations. Also Read: Delhi high court functioning at half its strength with just 36 judges The contempt plea in the matter has been filed by Advocate Association, Bengaluru, on delay by the Union government in processing collegiums recommendations. On October 10, a collegium headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud had recommended their names as judges of Delhi high court. Although justice Kaur had retired from Delhi Higher Judicial Service on 30 September 2023, but her name was recommended by the collegium by taking into consideration her proven track record, her merit and integrity. Despite this, having regard to the fact that the officer has a proven track record and possesses both merit and integrity, the Collegium is of the considered view that she is suitable for appointment as a judge of the High Court of Delhi, the collegium had said in its resolution. Their names were cleared by the Centre on October 18 in a notification wherein the government had also notified transfer of 16 high court judges and 15 new judges (apart from them) in various high courts. Meanwhile on Wednesday, Delhi high court bid farewell to one of its judges Siddharth Mridul upon his elevation as Manipur high court chief justice. 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 social science teacher at a government-aided school in north Delhi, along with his associates, allegedly impersonated the Delhi traffic police personnel, intercepted a car and stole 50 lakh from it near Salimgarh flyover near Red Fort on September 11, the Delhi Police said on Friday, adding that two people have been arrested in the case. Hazaribagh , India - April 29, 2019:(FILE PHOTO) Cash 22 lakh seized from a room of A K International hotel booked by Congress candidate Gopal Sahu in Hazaribagh , India, on Monday, April 29, 2019. (Photo / Hindustan Times) (Representative image) Police identified the teacher as Harender, who, along with two unidentified suspects, is on the run. The two arrested suspects were identified by the police as Mahender Kumar, 21 and Sandeep Kumar, 34. Sandeep impersonated the traffic police personnel, police said. Police said that Harender was the mastermind behind the crime and has kept the stolen cash to himself by telling his partners that he would distribute the money later. Raids are ongoing to arrest Harender and two other identified suspects, said special commissioner (crime branch) Ravindra Singh Yadav. The incident happened around 4.45pm on September 11 when an assistant accountant working with a paan masala company was bringing the money from Kucha Ghasi Ram market in Chandni Chowk to the company office in Moti Nagar in west Delhi. The victim, in his complaint, said that a man wearing the Delhi Traffic Police uniform and accompanied by another man on a motorcycle intercepted his Hyundai Venue car. The two were carrying a wireless set, a hand-held metal detector and a pair of handcuffs as well. Shortly, two others arrived on a second motorcycle. The victim stopped his car and on the pretext of checking the car for a traffic violation, the man in the uniform asked for the boot to be opened, where the cash was kept, while his associates stole the money. The victim said that all four suspects wore face masks bearing the Delhi Police logo along with helmets. The crime branch took up the investigation and a case of cheating by impersonation was registered at IP Estate police station. Since the suspects had masked themselves and used stolen motorcycles they abandoned after the crime, we had to carry out a technical analysis of the entire route taken by the victim. That helped us zero in on the phones used along that route around that time, said Yadav. Police conducted multiple raids in Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh and arrested Mahender from Alwar and Sandeep from Greater Noida over the past couple of days. Their interrogation led us to Harender, said the officer. The information about the money being moved allegedly came from the driver of the car in which the victim was travelling, said Yadav. The driver is being questioned, 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! In a joint meeting of states with the Centre on Friday, the Delhi government urged the Union environment ministry to impose a complete ban on firecracker burning and the movement of diesel buses across the National Capital Region. Rai stressed that the states in the NCR should enforce a complete ban on firecrackers (HT Archive) Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai told reporters here that Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav held a meeting with environment ministers of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. During this meeting, Delhi suggested several measures to curb pollution in the entire NCR region, he said. Earlier, Rai had requested the Centre to convene a meeting of all NCR states to collaboratively develop an action plan to combat pollution during the winter season. In a letter to Yadav, Rai had said that the Delhi government has taken numerous steps to curb air pollution during the winter season but these steps won't be effective unless Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh address the sources of pollution in the NCR region. According to a report by independent environmental think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), 31 per cent of Delhi's pollution originates from sources within the national capital, while 69 per cent stems from sources in NCR states. Rai stressed that the states in the NCR should enforce a complete ban on firecrackers and stubble burning across the region and only permit CNG and electric vehicles to ply. Many industrial units in NCR states still use polluting fuels. They should be swiftly converted to piped natural gas. The highly polluting brick kilns operating in NCR states should be required to adopt zig-zag technology to mitigate pollution, he said. Also, electricity should be made available to all housing societies in NCR states to reduce reliance on diesel generators. The concerned state governments should also redirect non-destined vehicles from their point of origin on the Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways, he added. Meanwhile, the Delhi government organised a run on Friday to raise awareness about the effects of air pollution and to seek public support in improving the city's air quality. Rai said officials from various Delhi government departments participated in the 'Run Against Pollution' event and pledged to use public transport, turn off vehicle engines when the traffic signal turns red and maintain clean surroundings. The government plans to relaunch the 'Red Light On Gaadi Off' campaign to combat vehicular pollution in the city. Another public awareness campaign, 'Patakhe Nahi Diye Jalao,' will be reintroduced to discourage the burning of firecrackers. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! NEW DELHI: A bus conductor of a Madhya Pradesh bus allegedly shot dead the vehicles helper during an argument over an abusive remark and tried to cover up the murder, claiming that the helper dropped dead after being hit by a stray bullet near the Sarai Kale Khan interstate bus terminal on Thursday morning. Police said the murder took place in the private bus from Madhya Pradesh when it was in the Sarai Kale Khan area on Thursday (HT Photo/Sanjeev Verma) Amit Pateria, the 26-year-old conductor of the private bus that operated between Delhi and Madhya Pradesh, and the bus driver, Azad Khan, 40, have been arrested on charges of killing the helper, Roop Singh Yadav, and trying to mislead the police, said deputy commissioner of police (southeast) Rajesh Deo. Deo said the bus driver and the conductor hadnt thought through their story and frequently changed their versions. Besides, the gunshot injury - he was shot in the chest - was not consistent with a stray bullet entered the bus through the window and hit Yadav. Scrutiny of the footage from CCTV cameras also pointed to other holes in the story. They found that the bus crossed one spot at Sarai Kale Khan and returned to the same place after some minutes. Also, between two CCTV cameras installed at separate locations that usually should be a 2-minute drive, the bus took over 10 minutes to travel, suggesting that it had stopped in between, Deo told HT. The two were confronted with the evidence that questioned their claims. They broke down and confessed to their crimes, said an officer from the Sarai Kale Khan police post, who was of the investigating team. It transpired that the bus left from MPs Chhatarpur on Wednesday and reached Sarai Kale Khan terminal 650km away on Thursday at 7am. After dropping off the passengers, the bus was on its way to Kashmere Gate. But an altercation broke out over an abusive remark used by Yadav for the bus conductor. It enraged Pateria, who took out the pistol from the drivers cabin and shot Yadav. The bullet hit Yadav on the chest, killing him on the spot, the police officer cited above said. DCP Deo said Pateria and Khan panicked after Yadav died on the spot. They quickly came up with the story that a stray bullet fired by somebody outside the bus was responsible. They drove the bus with the body towards the Yamuna Khadar area, hid the pistol under some bushes and returned to the Sarai Kale flyover from where they made a call to the police control room. It was Pateria who made the call around 7:30am A police team reached the callers location and found the helpers body lying between the long seat and the engines cover in the drivers cabin, added Deo. Later, the two suspects also told the police that the country-made pistol was kept for their protection since they passed through areas where criminals troubled private bus operators by robbing them of their money or extorting money. We are verifying their claims. There is a possibility that the conductor had been carrying the firearm to kill the helper, as they often had quarrels over various issues, said a third officer, who did not want to be named, and added that the pistol used in the murder was recovered. 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 Karn Pratap Singh Karn Pratap Singh has been writing on crime, policing, and issues of safety in Delhi for almost a decade. He covers high-intensity spot news, including terror strikes, serial blasts and security threats in the national capital. ...view detail KOLKATA: The Calcutta high court on Wednesday acquitted a 21-year-old Bengal man sentenced to 20 years in prison under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act for the rape of the minor girl he married in 2018. The bench had ordered the mans release in August after hearing the victim, his wife. The rape and kidnapping case was filed against the man in May 2018 by the girls mother when she - the girl was then 14 - left her house and started living with the accused. The two got married in 2019 and became parents in May 2021 when the girl was a little over 17 years old and the accused, was 19. We find that this is a case of non-exploitative consensual sexual relationship between a minor girl and an older adolescent, or maybe a young adult. There is nothing on record to prove the factum of kidnapping by the appellant. No evidence has been led to that effect by the prosecution rather the victim has testified that she voluntarily walked into the house of her lover and married him, the bench of justices Partha Sarathi Sen and Chitta Ranjan Dash said in their 29-page-verdict. The man had been in prison after the sessions judge delivered the jail term, noting that it did not have any inherent powers under the criminal procedure code and could not take a different view beyond the evidence on record that proved the rape charge. The high court invoked its powers under Article 226 of the constitution to set aside the conviction and order of sentence noting that its decision not be a precedent to be followed by the trial courts of the State. The bench, which noted several high courts taking a liberal view in cases of consensual adolescent sex, said the early draft of the Pocso Bill recognised the possibility of consensual sexual activity involving adolescents above 16 years as well as the grounds on the basis of which such consent would be vitiated. But this provision was removed following recommendations of the parliamentary standing committee and the law passed without any regard for adolescent sexuality. In 2013, despite the recommendations by the Justice Verma Committee that the age of consent be reduced to 16 years, Section 375, IPC was amended and the age of consent was increased to 18 years, the bench said. Since the 19th century, age of consent laws have been marked by shifts in the understanding of childhood, adolescence and adulthood, fuelled by developments in womens and child rights discourse, as well as multiple socio-cultural and political factors. The legislative provisions have been reflective of a colonial and patriarchal understanding of females as properties of their father or their husband, the bench said. experience show that a vast number of adolescents are sexually active and there are a significant number of consensual sexual relations among adolescents and between older adolescents and adults. As per NFHS-5 (2019-21), for instance, 39% of women had sex for the first time before they attained 18 years The legislation (POCSO Act), however, does not consider the possibility of consent to non-exploitative sexual activities by adolescents, the judgment said. The Pocso Act lumps all persons below 18 years together without consideration for their developing sexuality, evolving capacity, and the impact of such criminalisation on their best interests. It fails to strike an effective balance between protecting adolescents against sexual abuse and recognising their normative sexual behaviour, the verdict said. These cases attract statutory rape charges under the IPC 376(3), 376(2)(n) and other provisions and the Pocso Act, especially when adolescent girls elope with their partners or get pregnant. There is a possibility that the actual proportion of romantic and consensual cases under the Pocso Act is much higher a crime in India, the order said. We are therefore in view that the balance between protection and evolving autonomy is central to ensure best interests of adolescents, but the current legal framework fails to do so and unjustly conflates normative consensual acts among adolescents with sexual abuse. Instead of protecting adolescents from abuse, the law exposes those in factually consensual and non-exploitative relationship to the risk of a criminal prosecution and compromises the child protection mandate, the judges said. The judgment also advised adolescent people to restrain their sexual instincts and stressed on the crucial role that parents and teachers had to play. It is the duty/obligation of every female adolescent to protect her right to integrity of her body, protect her dignity and self-worth, thrive for overall development of her self-transcending gender barriers, control sexual urge as in the eyes of the society she is the loser when she gives in to enjoy the sexual pleasure of hardly two minutes, the bench said. It is the duty of a male adolescent to respect the aforesaid duties of a young girl or woman and he should train his mind to respect a woman, her self-worth, her dignity and privacy, and right to autonomy of her body. For the aforesaid purpose charity should begin at home and the parents should be the first teachers, it 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! Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Congress, accusing two senior leaders of the national party of betrayal in seat-sharing arrangements for the upcoming Madhya Pradesh polls in what was the clearest sign yet of widening fault lines between some members of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). Akhilesh Yadav in Sitapur on Thursday (Sourced) Yadav also threatened that he will mete out a tit-for-tat response to the Congress in Uttar Pradesh, where the SP is the far stronger partner. Tensions have been rising between the two parties after the Congress declared its first list of 144 candidates in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday, hours after the SP declared its first list of nine candidates for the state. Speaking to reporters in Sitapur, Yadav said if he had known that the INDIA grouping was only a national-level formation, he would not have sent his leaders to meet senior Congress leaders Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh. We would have not given them the list and would have not picked the phone calls of Congress leaders. They betrayed us. Are they making fools of us? he said. Why Kamal Nath and Digvijay Singh kept us engaged in meetings? The Congress leaders are in a nexus with the BJP. The SP which won one of the states 230 seats in 2018 has declared 32 candidates till now. The Congress is hoping to dislodge the BJP in the heartland state in assembly polls scheduled for November 17. If the alliance in Uttar Pradesh is only for the Centre (Lok Sabha polls), then we will think it over when time comes. But remember, there will be tit-for-tat. They will get the same treatment from us as we are given by them, he said. In his allegations, Yadav named state Congress chief Kamal Nath and former chief minister Digvijaya Singh, One of them is the former chief minister. The other had been the former chief minister several times. I sent SP leaders to them after talks with them. Our delegation of leaders shared the complete statistics of the SP performance in the previous MP elections -- which seats we had won in the past, where we were number 2. They kept the meeting on till 1 am and kept our leaders awake. They assured us that they would consider six seats for us, but when the Congress list came, there was zero for the SP. They betrayed us, he said. He also hit out at UP Congress chief Ajay Rai, who had said on Wednesday that if the Congress had fought Ghosi, they (SP) might have lost the seat. Yadav called him a chirkut (petty person). The state chief has no authority. He is inconsequential. He was not there in the meeting held at Patna, Mumbai. What does he know about the INDIA alliance?... These people from Congress are siding with or involved with the BJP, Yadav said. It is my appeal to the top leadership of the Congress that stop such petty leaders issuing statements on the Samajwadi Party, he said. The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, or INDIA is an opposition front announced by the leaders of 28 parties to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. It came into existence on April 23 this year at a meeting of sixteen opposition parties leaders in Patna, and then the name INDIA was announced at the second meeting of 26 parties during the blocs second meeting on July 17 and 18 in Bengaluru. The third meeting of the bloc was held in Mumbai, Maharashtra between August 31 and September 1. Akhilesh Yadav attended all the three meetings. On Tuesday, Akhilesh Yadav hit out at the Congress for the first time since the formation of INDIA, and asked the party to clarify whether the alliance was at the national or state level. He also said that his party would contest all the 80 Lok Sabha seats in UP in the 2024 polls. Samajwadi Party and Congress came together in a pre-poll alliance in the 2017 UP assembly polls. Samajwadi Party could win only 47 seats against its score of 224 of 2012 and lost power to the BJP. Congress won only 7 seats. BJP won 312. The Congress hit back, with Rai saying that his party will defeat the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, and asked Yadav to clarify who he wanted to help by declaring his candidates. Former UP minister and the Madhya Pradesh assembly poll in-charge of the Samajwadi Party, Vyasji Gond, said: The developments and betrayal speak volumes about the Congresss character. The SP is likely to field candidates on all 230 seats in MP. 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 a one-of-its-kind operation, women personnel of the UP Police showed exemplary action to nab a notorious bovine smuggler after retaliatory firing in an encounter in east UPs Kushinagar district on Thursday night. The five-member all-women cops team was led by an inspector rank officer while another team of five men cops assisted them in the operation. The picture of the womens team equipped with latest firearms shared by the UP Police social media cell. (Sourced) The incident took place on the fifth day of Navratri, which symbolises nari shakti (women power). The picture of the womens team equipped with latest firearms shared by the UP Police social media cell symbolised women empowerment in the current regime. IG (Gorakhpur range) J Ravinder Goud said the police team had laid a trap to arrest the accused, but he tried to escape on his motorcycle, and even opened indiscriminate fire at the police team. The cops countered the accused and he was shot in the leg during retaliatory action. The accused was arrested and later taken to a hospital for treatment. Hailing the efforts of women cops, Goud said the smuggler was identified as Kushinagars Ramkola resident Imam-ul alias Bihari who carried a bounty of 25,000 on his head. He said the accused was wanted in multiple cases of UP Cow Slaughter Act and Animal Cruelty Act while cases of arms act, explosives act, and gangsters act were also registered against him. He said 12 criminal cases were lodged against the accused at different police stations of Kushinagar and Sant Kabir Nagar districts in the past five years. The accused was arrested after the encounter carried out by a team led by woman inspector of Barwa Patti police station, Suman Singh. Other members of her team were sub-inspectors Princy Pandey and Chanda Yadav of Khadda and Padrauna police stations of Kushinagar, respectively, and two women constables Sangeeta Yadav and Priyanka Singh, he added. On September 26, chief minister Yogi Adityanath had issued directives to all district police chiefs to appoint at least one woman cop as head of one police station in every district apart from the practice of posting a woman in-charge at Mahila Thana. This was aimed at ensuring womens active participation in policing and improving law and order in UP. In Hathras on Thursday, the CM had said there was more representation of women in the police force now and they were working shoulder to shoulder with men counterparts. When the BJP came to power in UP in 2017, there were not even 10,000 women in the police force. But now, at least 20% of those recruited are women, Adityanath had said. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! LUCKNOW The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Lucknow unit, on Friday attached flats, agricultural land and crypto currency worth 3.24 crore of some Uttar Pradesh-based accused who allegedly ran an illegal call centre in Lucknow for shipping narcotics to the US, said officials. These people allegedly ran a narcotics business through a call centre in Lucknow in the guise of software-related businesses through nine bogus companies. (Pic for representation) The assets belonged to Shantanu Gupta, Shashank Gupta, Abdul Wahab Yasir, Mohit Haldar, Puneet Dubey, and others located in UPs Lucknow and Barabanki and Uttarakhands Udham Singh Nagar. The money laundering case, filed under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), stems from a complaint of the Narcotics Control Bureau registered against a company called Hatsh Telecom and other accused. These people allegedly ran a narcotics business through a call centre in Lucknow in the guise of software-related businesses through nine bogus companies. They used to contact their customers in the US through the call centre and get orders of psychotropic substances, which were then forwarded to two people named Sagar Asthana and Puneet Dubey, who later shipped them as parcels, the ED said in a statement. It was alleged that the attached properties were acquired through the proceeds of the crime derived from trafficking of narcotics and psychotropic substances to the US during 2013-2017. The nine companies received a total of 23.67 crore in around 43 bank accounts and these funds were immediately siphoned off by the directors of these companies in order to acquire properties at various locations, it said. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, ARMENPRESS. The Austrian parliament has unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the ethnic cleansing perpetrated by Azerbaijan against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, the Embassy of Armenia in Austria said in a statement. Ambassador of Armenia to Austria Armen Papikyan participated in the Austrian parliament session as an honorary guest. Multiple Austrian Members of Parliament delivered speeches condemning the Azeri actions and calling on the Austrian federal government to support Armenia and the forcibly displaced persons of Nagorno-Karabakh. The resolution calls on the federal government to condemn in all international platforms and bilateral discussions Azerbaijans military actions that led to the mass exodus of over 100,000 ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh. The resolution also highlights the importance of the protection of the rights of the ethnic Armenians whove stayed in Nagorno-Karabakh and those willing to return, as well as the implementation of the ICJ rulings regarding the free movement along Lachin Corridor. The Austrian parliament also calls on the federal government to be involved in ensuring the free and unimpeded access of international humanitarian organizations to Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as ensuring the protection of the cultural values and churches in Nagorno-Karabakh. The resolution also calls for provisions of necessary resources to Armenia, as a priority country for the Austrian Development Agency, for further stabilizing the humanitarian situation. Kalyan HT Image The Mahatma Phule Police on Thursday booked a case against five persons including the three proprietors, a contractor, and labour contractor for allegedly not providing the safety equipment to a woman labourer who fell from the 15th floor of the building while working on the site and died. The police said that the accused have been identified as Pramod Tiwari, Maruti Datilkar, Yogesh Datilkar (proprietors) of Kalyan-based developer firm, Rupesh Patil (contractor), and Imazuddin Miyan (labour contractor). A case was lodged under section 304(A) (causing death by negligence) 34 (common intention) of the IPC. The incident took place at the construction site of the building in Kalyan on June 3 this year. The deceased was identified as Sujata Sahu, 42, who lived with her family in Kalyan, and originally belonged to Odisha. She was working on the 15th floor of the building and fell down into fourth floor duct and died on the spot. She was taken to Rukhminibai Hospital in Kalyan for post-mortem. She suffered grievous hand and head injuries, the police said. Ashok Honmane, Senior police inspector, at Mahatma Phule police station, said, Initially, we lodged an Accidental Death Report. Later, during the investigations, we learned that the woman labourer was not provided any safety equipment while working on the floor. So the ADR was converted into an FIR on Thursday. So far, no arrests have been made yet. We have issued a notice to appear at the police station and will later produce them in court. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! With all arrangements in place, trains on the 17km priority section of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) will start running on Saturday, officials aware of the matter said on Friday, after the project was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ghaziabad. Ghaziabad, India - October 20 2023: Prime Minister Narendra Modi flags off the 'Namo Bharat' train between Sahibabad to Duhai Depot on the 17-km priority section of the country's first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor, at Sahibabad RapidX Station in Ghaziabad, India on Friday, October 20 2023. (HT Photo) The first of the 10 Namo Bharat trains will leave simultaneously from Sahibabad station and Duhai Depot stations at 6am, the officials said. The RRTS priority corridor comprises three other stations -- Ghaziabad, Guldhar, and Duhai. The initial frequency of the Namo Bharat trains will be 15 minutes, with a stoppage time of 30 seconds at each of the five stations. All the facilities and resources have been put in place and the first train will leave simultaneously from the Sahibabad station and the Duhai Depot station at 6am. We have also deployed more than 50% of women staff for operations and maintenance and this will give better feel to women commuters, a spokesperson from National Capital Region Transport Corporation, which has developed the RRTS, said. The priority section is a part of an 82km corridor that will connect Delhi, Ghaziabad and Meerut, and is slated to open in 2025. Built at a cost of 30,000 crore, RRTS is expected to cut the travel time between Delhi and Meerut to an hour, using trains that can zip at a top speed of 180kmph, and will likely cater to about 8 lakh passengers when fully operational. The start of priority section will provide a benchmark for other phases of the corridor, and also for other proposed prioritised RRTS routes such as Delhi-Alwar and Delhi-Panipat, NCRTC officials said. The priority section opening is more to gather learning and experiences about the new RRTS system. The learnings from the priority section will provide us benchmark about operations, maintenance, construction, integration of different systems, and these learnings will be taken to other phases of the 82km project and to other proposed corridors in NCR. This section will also help passengers to experience the RRTS trains and system. This section will now start passenger operations from October 21. We have 10 Namo Bharat trains available with us for the start of operations, said Puneet Vats, chief public relations officer of NCRTC. PM Modi too on Friday said that the ongoing RRTS projects will catapult the NCR areas in UP, Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan to new level of commuting. ...Trinity of Amrit Bharat (redevelopment of railway stations), Vande Bharat and Namo Bharat will become a symbol of modern railways by the end of this decade, the PM said in his public address in Ghaziabad on Friday, and added that the Namo Bharat trains will also be considered for other parts of the country. A total of eight RRTS corridors have been identified to be to be developed in NCR, out of which three corridors have been prioritised to be implemented in Phase-I, including the Delhi Ghaziabad Meerut Corridor; Delhi Gurugram SNB Alwar Corridor, and Delhi Panipat Corridor. NCRTC officials said that the work on the two other corridors is yet to commence. They added that the first part of the Delhi-SNB of Delhi-Panipat RRTS corridor is awaiting some financial commitment, post which it will be considered for approval by the Government of India. Haryana has given approval for DPR of Delhi-Panipat project and it is awaited from government of NCT, Delhi. The detailed project report is prepared for both the corridors, an official aware of the matter said, asking not to be named. NCRTC now intends to complete the other 25km section from Duhai Depot in Ghaziabad to Meerut (South) in the first quarter of 2024. After this, the Delhi section of about 14km, also having an underground corridor, is likely to be completed by the end of 2024. The last phase comprising of stretch from Meerut (South) to Modipuram in Meerut along with a local metro module in Meerut is likely to get complete. We are progressing fast and expecting that the last phase gets complete before the project deadline, a spokesperson from NCRTC, said. The deadline for the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor is June 2025. NCRTC said it has already completed the civil construction of underground sections in Delhi as well as in Meerut. 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 Delhi high court on Friday dismissed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singhs plea while upholding his arrest and remand by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the money laundering case registered by the agency in its ongoing probe into the alleged irregularities in the now-scrapped Delhi liquor excise policy case. AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh was arrested by the ED on October 4 (File Photo) A single bench of justice Swarana Kanta Sharma pronounced the order after having reserved it on Thursday. Refusing to interfere, justice Sharma said that the ED is the premier investigating agency and the court would desist from insinuating or imputing any political motives to it. This court desists from imputing political affiliations or objects to the premier investigating agency. This court will not at this stage insinuate or impute any political motivates to the agency in the absence of any political record, the court said. The court was of the view that it was not appropriate for the court to interfere at the stage when the investigation into the scam was at a premature and nascent stage. Singh was arrested by the ED on October 4, following a day-long interrogation by the agency officials at his Delhi residence for his alleged role in procuring favours for himself and certain businessmen through his aides by influencing the excise policy. On October 10, special judge MK Nagpal while extending Singhs ED remand for three days directed the Investigating Officer (IO) to analyse all digital data without any delay and also complete the interrogation and confrontation of the accused as well as examination of relevant witnesses. Singh called the charges made against him false and baseless and alleged a political witch-hunt by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government at the Centre. The bench in its judgement on Friday also ruled Dinesh Aroras statement, a co-accused, who had turned approver in the case. Calling Singh a key conspirator of the Delhi liquor scam, the ED appearing through additional solicitor general (ASG) SV Raju on Thursday, told the high court that Singh was capable of tampering with the evidence as he had access to confidential documents. The law officer also said that the ED while conducting a search at his house had recovered a photo of a printout of Aroras statement recorded by ED officials. The photo shows that it was taken in the ED office. The issue is that he had access to the ED office. The document shows that it was a table in the ED office. There are files of ED lying & photographs are taken, said ASG Raju. He added that Singhs arrest was legal and in accordance with the law and was not a consequence of Singh sending a legal notice to ED officials and demanding an apology from them for allegedly making false and derogatory claims about him in the excise policy case. His (Sanjay Singh) involvement had not surfaced after he gave us a notice but before that only. This was much before he gave a media bite. Evidence was not collected after he gave us notice. That is a bogey, he added. The ASG further argued that the remand order passed by the judge was not mechanical and was passed after due application of mind. Responding to the law officers submissions of Singh being an influential person, advocate Rajat Bharadwaj appearing for Singh contended that Aroras statement was already in the public domain. He had earlier submitted before the court that the EDs entire case against him was based on the statement of co-accused Arora, who had turned approver in the excise case being probed by the agency. 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 three-member delegation from the European Investment Bank (EIB) visited the Agra Metro Rail Project and expressed their satisfaction with the pace of execution of the metro as well as the international quality and safety standards which are being adopted while executing the project, claimed officials at Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) in Agra. European Investment Bank delegation while inspecting Agra Metro Rail Project in Agra on Friday. (HT PHOTO) The delegation visited both corridors of the project on Thursday and praised team Agra Metro for the timely construction of the project, stated the press statement issued by the public relations office for UPMRC. Out of the total funding for the Agra Metro Rail Project around 450 million euros is provided by European Investment Bank which is made available through pass-through assistance. The remaining amount is contributed by the Centre and the state governments. The total project cost for the Agra Metro Rail Project is approximately 8739 crores. Director of finance at UPMRC Sheel Kumar Mittal said, We are happy to receive EIBs cooperation and support for Lucknow, Kanpur and Agra Metro Rail Projects and hope that our partnership goes a long way for providing a world-class urban transportation system in Uttar Pradesh. Speaking on the same, MD UPMRC Sushil Kumar said, The metro project is scheduled to be inaugurated for the people of Agra in March 2024, which is ahead of the originally set deadline- August 2024. The team UPMRC is fully committed to executing the project in a time-bound manner. Along with MD UPMRC Sushil Kumar, director of finance UPMRC Sheel Kumar Mittal, director of works and infrastructure UPMRC Chandra Pal Singh and project director Agra Shri Arvind Rai were present during the visit. It is to be noted that currently the project is being executed on the first corridor of Agra Metro Rail Project. On the 6km long priority stretch marked on the first corridor, three elevated stations are ready and high-speed train trails are being done on the 3km long viaduct. Similarly, in the remaining 3km long underground section, tunnel construction is being done at a fast pace. One side of the 6km long priority stretch (from Ramlila Maidan to Taj East Gate) is complete. The track work has commenced in the underground section and is progressing at a fast pace. 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 Prayagraj-based Govind Ballabh Pant Social Science Institute (GBPSSI) will undertake a comprehensive social audit of mid-day meals (MDMs) in Uttar Pradesh. MDM being served to kids in a government-run primary school in Prayagraj (HT file) Under the initiative entrusted to it by the UP government, the experts of the institute will audit the meals being prepared and served in 210 schools of 10 districts of the state including Prayagraj and Amethi, stated the state education department officials. Director general (school education) Vijay Kiran Anand has sent a missive in this regard to director of GBPSSI Prof Badri Narayan, they added. The MDM scheme covers over 1.15 lakh primary schools and 55,000 upper primary schools including government-run, government-aided institutions and madrasas in the state. Around 1.28 crore students of these primary schools and another 58.45 lakh students of these upper primary schools are getting the benefit of the MDM in UP. In the missive dated October 4, a copy of which is with HT, Anand has asked GBPSSI to undertake the special social audit of MDMs at 25 schools each of Prayagraj and Amethi besides social audit of 160 schools including 20 schools of two developments blocks each of Varanasi, Chandauli, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Fatehpur, Kaushambi, Pratapgarh and Sultanpur. As per the missive, the social audit would be undertaken in schools that have a record of average to least performance in this regard and have never before undergone a social audit process. Moreover, at least one unaided school or madrasa is to be selected in every development block where the schools have been selected for the exercise. The final selections of these schools are to be made on the recommendations of the district magistrate concerned by the basic siksha adhikaris (BSAs) of those districts, the letter says. The exercise would be undertaken by the social audit team by contacting all stakeholders including schoolteachers, students, cooks, members of the school management committees, parents/guardians as well as the gram pradhans and even the owner of the fair price shop from where the ingredients for the MDMs are procured, officials shared. Social audit is a democratic process that ensures public accountability of agencies through a systematic demand of information by the community in response to the works or programmes that have already been implemented by the government or other agencies for that particular area or community. Social audit is not only an audit of expenses or decisions but also covers the issues of equity and quality in programme implementation. It is an empowering process for the people to be informed regarding the plan, to participate in the process of implementation and make the implementing agency accountable for the work. Thus, it helps maintain transparency, ensures participation and culminates in accountability. 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 K Sandeep Kumar K Sandeep Kumar is a Special Correspondent of Hindustan Times heading the Allahabad Bureau. He has spent over 16 years reporting extensively in Uttar Pradesh, especially Allahabad and Lucknow. He covers politics, science and technology, higher education, medical and health and defence matters. He also writes on development issues. ...view detail The Manipur government has extended curfew timings for all areas in Imphal East and Imphal West districts from 5am to 10pm for Saturday (October 21) against the usual timing of 7pm. Main market premises in Imphal (HT Photo) A total curfew was clamped in Imphal West, Imphal East, Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and other valley districts following the continued state-wide violence, which began on May 3 and has been in force since then except for relaxations of some hours. As the situation slowly returned to a semblance of normalcy, it was relaxed from 5am to 6pm on most days and later up to 7pm in Imphal West and Imphal East in the recent past. However, it was often clamped again without notice due to fresh incidents of violence. The orders issued on Friday by the respective district magistrates of Imphal East and Imphal West stated that the curfew has been relaxed due to the improvement of law and order situation. There is a necessity to relax the restriction of movement to facilitate the general public to purchasing essential items including medicines and food items etc, Imphal East magistrate said in the order. This relaxation shall, however, not apply to any gatherings/large-scale movement of persons/sit-in-protests/rallies etc, which is unlawful in nature, the order said. However, movement of persons belonging to essential services such as health, electricity, PHED, petrol pumps, schools/colleges, municipality, press and electronic media, functioning of courts and to and fro movement of flight passengers to the airport and contractor/worker with valid airport entry permit card will be exempted from the imposition of curfew, the order of additional district magistrate, Imphal West, said. It may be noted that both Imphal East and Imphal West district authorities had once extended the relaxed curfew timing for all areas under the above districts from 5am to 9pm on September 14 against the usual timing of 5am to 6pm. Manipur had been witnessing state-wide violence since the first week of May, in which around 175 people have so far been killed, and nearly 50,000 people have been displaced, besides burning many villages and localities. 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! President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said that the industrious and talented people of Bihar have achieved recognition at the global level and are contributing to the fourth Industrial Revolution, and it was now also time for the states youth to focus on setting such global standards at the local level. President Droupadi Murmu and Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar during the 3rd convocation function of South Bihar Central University in Gaya on Friday. (HT) The President, who wound up her three-day visit to Bihar on Friday, was addressing the third convocation of the Central University of South Bihar (CUSB) and the first at the sprawling campus of the states first A++ accredited institution. She also presented the medals to the toppers of various streams and expressed happiness that out of 106 medals, 66 had gone to girls. It is a sign of positive change that girls are excelling in most institutions. It symbolises the building of a better society and progress in the country. Perhaps, it was with the empowerment of girls in mind that the hostels of the university were named after scholars like Gargi and Maitreyi. This is a progressive approach, she added. Dwelling on the rich legacy of Bihar in general and the Gaya region in particular, Murmu said this land has been famous for producing talented persons in different fields, and appreciated the naming of science block after Aryabhatt and social science block after Chanakya. But the names would have real meaning only when the teachers and the students strive for world class education and research. Bihars legacy has been a guiding light for humanity. Now when the country is the fifth largest economy of the world and striving to be the third soon, the role of the youth will be of immense importance, she added. She said that the idea of Indian knowledge system in the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, is with the objective of reviving them in the modern context due to its sheer richness. Today, many countries are grappling with talent shortage. Talented and hard-working Indian youth are contributing their mite in different countries, she added. The President said CUSB students should play an active role in the changing times. It is the youth who can make optimal use of their potential to benefit the country with demographic dividend. The youth are the carriers of our rich tradition. I request you all to give due place to social welfare and benevolence along with self-development in your goals, she added. Underling the need to see the challenges of climate change, she said it was fine to adopt such a lifestyle that remained aligned with nature. There should be minim use of natural resources and maximum efforts should be for environmental protection. It was in Bihar around 2,600 years ago that Buddh and Mahavir gave the message of peace, non-violence and compassion to living beings and nature. Gandhi also preached non-violence. Their messages are more relevant for the society today. Taking our rich legacy forward can be helpful in the welfare of the world, she added. Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar said that it was important to have timely exams and results, which was not happening in state universities. Sessions are late and we are responsible for it. We have no right to spoil the career of students due to delayed sessions. This must change and we all need to work together for it. Degrees are important, but they should not a mere document for job hunt. An economist said that Indian youth prefers guaranteed poverty to risky prosperity. This must change. We must think beyond self and contribute to the nation and society, he added. Earlier, CUSB VC KN Singh, in his welcome address, said that the institution started in 2009 and shifted to its own campus barely five years ago and it was striving for excellence. CUSB got the highest A++ grade from NAAC this year, has adopted the New Education Policy (NEP) and has started new courses in artificial intelligence (AI) and data science to cater to 21st century needs. The Centre has also provided 100-crore assistance to the university, which is trying to be the growth engine of the region, he added. On the occasion, 1142 students of Undergraduate (UG), Postgraduate (PG) and M.Phil./Ph.D. level, who passed out during 2018, 2019 and 2020, were awarded degrees, while the toppers also received Chancellor Gold Medal, School Gold Medal and Department Gold Medal. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Arun Kumar Arun Kumar is Senior Assistant Editor with Hindustan Times. He has spent two-and-half decades covering Bihar, including politics, educational and social issues. ...view detail The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) will provide doorstep healthcare services to residents of housing societies in its jurisdiction. The initiative intends to reach out to the maximum number of residents in the twin cities, according to officials, with over 75% of the population living in housing societies. Activities like medical camps, health awareness programmes, online webinar sessions, immunization and geriatric care and assistance amongst others will be conducted. (REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO) Previously, the civic authority exclusively conducted healthcare camps and activities in slums, but it has now opted to focus on the population living in housing societies. In a pilot initiative, the PCMC will deliver quality medical treatment and service inside the campus of housing societies through the Ward Health Action Plans (WHAP) and Urban Health & Nutrition Days (UHND) outreach programmes. As per the officials, quality medical services at no cost will be provided through the PCMCs chain of hospitals and clinics to the citizens in various clusters of housing societies. Activities like medical camps, health awareness programmes, online webinar sessions, immunization and geriatric care and assistance amongst others will be conducted. Dr Abhaychandra Dadewar, joint health officer of PCMC, said even a meeting was held with the housing societies to take their suggestions. The programme will be implemented as a pilot project by PCMC. The medical services during the camps will be provided with the help of PCMC-run hospitals in clusters of housing societies. The team of expert doctors from PCMC will organize the programme. Dattatray Deshmukh, chairman, Pimpri-Chinchwad Housing Society Federation, said that at present all senior citizens are getting free medical service but now the government desires to extend this facility to all masses. Those who will register themselves under this scheme shall not be required to pay any charges nor will they require running from pillar to post for different services, he said. Sanjeevan Sangale, chairman, Chikhali-Moshi Pimpri-Chinchwad Housing Societies Federation, said that until now the focus has been on slums and most of the activities of PCMC were for this population. At PCMC-run hospitals, the hygiene and quality care are compromised. Given the situation, the majority of citizens avoid going to the civic hospitals for treatment. We have suggested the quality of healthcare services at PCMC hospitals should be improved only after which the citizens living in housing societies will prefer them to avail healthcare services, he said. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON PUNE: The Shirur police have recovered a 60-foot-long hose pipe and metal parts which allegedly fell from an IAF aircraft on a routine sortie from Ganjewadi village in Kawathe Yemai village of Shirur Taluka on October 17. According to the Shirur police, the metal parts and pipe were found the next day and handed over to the air force authorities. According to the Shirur police, the metal parts and pipe were found the next day and handed over to the air force authorities. (REPRESENTATIVE PIC) In this regard, police station in-charge Sanjay Jagtap said, The pipe and parts have been found and handed over to the IAF authorities. I cannot comment on the nature of the parts and the pipe material. The material fell on a barren land, and it was a civilian area. The appropriate agencies should speak on the matter, he said. A joint search was carried out by the IAF team along with the police but had to be called off due to a leopard scare and darkness. The operation began the next morning and police patil Ganesh Pawar painstakingly carried out the search and found the material. Pawar and his son located the material at a secluded place near the riverbank and informed the police about the same. A team of Shirur rural police consisting of PSI Sunil Ugale handed over the material to the Air Force personnel. A large number of villagers had gathered at the spot after the news went viral on social media. A query regarding the incident seeking an IAF version of the incident was sent to the defence PRO office, Southern Command. 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! Rajasthan Public Service Commission has released RPSC RAS Prelims 2023 final answer key on October 20, 2023. The result for Raj. State and Sub. Services Comb. Comp. (Pre) Exam 2023 has also been released today. Candidates can download the final answer key through the official website of RPSC at rpsc.rajasthan.gov.in. RPSC RAS Prelims 2023 final answer key out, download link here (Shutterstock) The prelims examination was conducted on October 1, 2023. Final answer key as per the question paper have been uploaded on website. To download the answer key, candidates can follow the steps given below. RPSC RAS Prelims 2023 final answer key: How to download Visit the official website of RPSC at rpsc.rajasthan.gov.in. Click on RPSC RAS Prelims 2023 final answer key link available on whats new section. A new PDF file will open where candidates can check the answers. Download the page and keep a hard copy of the same for further need. Those candidates who will qualify the prelims exam will be eligible to appear for the main exam. This recruitment drive will fill up 905 posts in the organisation. For more related details candidates can check the official site of RPSC. 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 YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, ARMENPRESS. Dozens of Nagorno-Karabakhi protesters gathered outside the Nagorno-Karabakh Representation in Yerevan demanding a meeting with Samvel Shahramanyan, who held the position of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) President at the time of the Azeri takeover of NK and moved to Armenia along with over 100,000 forcibly displaced persons. The demonstrators breached into the building to confront Shahramanyan. He then held a meeting with a group of the forcibly displaced persons. After the meeting, Shahramanyan revealed details of whats been discussed. Most of the questions pertained to social issues, accommodation, employment and salary, he said. Not everything depends on us, but we will try to give solutions to your issues, the Shahramanyan told the crowd of demonstrators outside the building. The next question pertained to our political future. Id like to apologize to everyone, but there are questions that I dont consider appropriate to disclose because it could contain dangers for us, Shahramanyan said without elaborating. The demonstrators sought to find out under what circumstances Shahramanyan signed the order on dissolving the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh). United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) announced the winners of the sixth edition of the International Standards for Accounting and Reporting (ISAR) Honours during the 8th World Investment Forum on October 17. ICAI Sustainability Initiatives received the highest score amongst 70 initiatives received from around the world.(Handout) According to a press release by ICAI, its sustainability initiatives received the highest score amongst 70 initiatives received from around the world. ICAI also received the UNCTAD ISAR Chair for the 40th session, the second consecutive session, and CA (Dr) Sanjeev Kumar Singhal, Central Council Member from ICAI chaired the ISAR session during the World Investment Forum being held from October 16-20 in Abu Dhabi. According to the accounting body, ISAR Honours recognises policy, institutional and capacity-building initiatives to encourage and assist enterprises to publish data on their contribution to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and facilitate good practices in this area. We are honored with this recognition, such accolades will further inspire us to work hard to promote and adopt the best sustainable practices in the country. Embracing sustainability practices in business is the need of the hour and ICAI has been at the forefront of leading this movement by setting up the Sustainability Reporting Standards Board in 2020, to formulate standards that are in sync with the Indian economy while being benchmarked to International practices and to enhance the quality of sustainability reporting framework in India," said CA. Aniket Sunil Talati, President, ICAI. According to the press release, ICAI has been active in enforcing sustainability guidelines with the SDGs Agenda at its core. In 2022, ICAI formed a Section 8 Company The Institute of Social Auditors of India (ISAI) and also issued 16 audit standards on social audits across 16 thematic focus areas, making India the first country in the world to have social impact assessment standards. ICAI is also engaging with key stakeholders and encouraging organisations to adopt a responsible, growth-oriented framework for sustainable reporting. We are thrilled to receive this ISAR Honours. This is a historic moment for ICAI and the entire country. Such awards will support our ambition to build a more sustainable economy for the future. ICAI is working in tandem with the regulators and institutions proactively taking all necessary steps to develop and strengthen the Sustainability Reporting framework in India," said CA. Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal, Vice-President, ICAI. Towards capacity building and creating awareness ICAI is conducting a Certificate Course on Business Responsibility & Sustainability Reporting and an extensive training course on Social Audit for NISM Series XXIII: Social Auditors Certification Examination, informed the accounting body. 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 Prof Arvind Sahay joined as the Director of MDI Gurgaon. Before joining MDI Gurgaon, Prof. Sahay held the position of Professor of Marketing at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A). According to a press release by MDI Gurgaon, Prof. Sahay served as the Founding Chairperson of the NSE Center for Behavioral Sciences and the India Gold Policy Center Chairperson at IIM Ahmedabad just before his joining MDI.(Handout) According to a press release by MDI Gurgaon, Prof. Sahay has made contributions to IIM Ahmedabad as a teacher, researcher, consultant and administrator. He served as the Founding Chairperson of the NSE Center for Behavioral Sciences and the India Gold Policy Center Chairperson at IIM Ahmedabad just before his joining MDI. Prof. Sahay has a Ph.D. in Marketing Strategy and International Business from The University of Texas, Austin. His academic journey began with a Bachelor of Technology in Chemical Engineering from IIT Kanpur and a PGDM, focusing on Marketing and Finance, at IIM, Ahmedabad. He has published research in international peer-reviewed journals and has written more than 60 cases. His recent research has focused on diverse areas, such as pricing, neuroscience, brand management, gold policy, FOPL, blockchain, and innovation, informed MDI Gurgaon. 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 Reserve Bank Governor Shaktikanta Das on Friday said 2,000 denomination notes are coming back and only 10,000 crore worth of such notes are still with people. RBI Governon exuded confidence that these notes will also be returned or deposited back. (PTI/File) He exuded confidence that these notes will also be returned or deposited back. " 2,000 notes are coming back and only 10,000 crore is left in the system. The expectation is that the amount will also come back," he said on the sidelines of the event here. Earlier this month, Das had said 87 per cent of the 2,000 denomination notes being withdrawn have returned as deposits into banks while the rest has been exchanged across counters. On May 19, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) took the financial world by surprise when it declared its plan to phase out the 2,000 note, which had been introduced in 2016 as part of a rapid remonetisation effort. This followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement to withdraw more than 88 per cent of the currency in circulation by invalidating the 500 and 1,000 notes. Public and entities holding such notes were initially asked to either exchange or deposit them in bank accounts by September 30. The last date was later extended to October 7. On October 7, both deposit and exchange services at bank branches were discontinued. Starting October 8, individuals were provided with the choice of either exchanging the currency or having the equivalent sum credited to their bank accounts at 19 Reserve Bank of India locations. Individuals or entities can exchange 2,000 banknotes at the 19 RBI offices up to a limit of 20,000 at a time. However, there is no limit on the total amount for getting 2,000 notes credited into bank accounts. Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Friday said that she welcomes answering any questions of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Parliament's ethics committee. Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra.(PTI) I welcome answering questions to CBI & Ethics Committee (which has absolute majority of BJP members) if & when they call me. I have neither time nor interest to feed a Adani-directed media circus trial or answer BJP trolls, Moitra wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. I am enjoying Durga Puja in Nadia. Earlier this week, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and Moitra's estranged partner and lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai alleged that Moitra accepted money and gifts from businessperson Darshan Hiranandani to raise questions in Parliament. Moitra has denied the charges. Dubey's complaint has been referred by the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to Parliament's Ethics Committee. On Thursday, Hiranandani, who is the CEO of real estate-to-energy group Hiranandani, in a signed affidavit corroborated Dubey's claim saying that the TMC leader targeted Gautam Adani to "malign and embarrass" Prime Minister Narendra Modi whose impeccable reputation gave opposition no opportunity to attack him. Hiranandani, who confirmed to HT over WhatsApp that he released the statement, admitted that he gave Moitra information on the basis of which she could pose questions attacking the Adani Group; that she received information from others too on this; that he gifted her expensive luxury items and underwrote the renovation of her official bungalow; and that she provided him with her Parliament login and password so that he could post the questions directly on her behalf. In a detailed rebuttal, Moitra last night said expressed scepticism about the legitimacy of the document due to the lack of official letterhead and notarization, suggesting that a prominent businessman like Darshan Hiranandani would not typically sign such an important statement on plain white paper without potential external pressure. Read Moitra's full statement here. The affidavit is on white paper and not on official letterhead or notarised. Why would one of India's most respected/ educated businessman sign a letter like this on white paper unless a gun was put to his head to do it? the Lok Sabha member said in a statement. She further called the content of the letter a joke and alleged that the affidavit was drafted by some half-wit in the PMO who doubles up as a creative writer in the BJP's IT cell as it contained effusive praise for PM Modi and billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani while implicating various political opponents and investigative journalists in her alleged corruption. 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 Hyderabad After enquiring about Chandrababu Naidus condition in jail, the ACB court judge extended his judicial remand till November 1, after taking into consideration a memorandum submitted by the CID seeking extension of his judicial custody. (PTI) As the special court for Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) cases in Vijayawada on Thursday extended the judicial remand of Telugu Desam Party president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu by another two weeks, his wife Nara Bhuvaneshwari has decided to hit the roads from next week to mobilise public support to him, party leaders familiar with the matter said. With Naidus extended two-week judicial remand coming to an end on Thursday, the authorities of Rajahmundry central jail, where he had been lodged since his arrest in the early hours of September 11 in connection with the multi-crore skill development case, produced him before the ACB court in the morning on virtual mode. After enquiring about Naidus condition in jail, ACB court judge Justice Hima Bindu extended his judicial remand till November 1, after taking into consideration a memorandum submitted by the Crime Investigation Department seeking extension of his judicial custody. This was the fourth time that Naidus remand was extended. Earlier, it ended on September 22 and it was extended by two more days. On September 24, the remand was extended again till October 5, and later to October 19. Now, it has been extended till November 1. Meanwhile, the state high court on Thursday deferred Naidus petition seeking bail in the skill development case and announced that it would be heard by the vacation bench next week. Senior Supreme Court lawyer Siddharth Luthra, arguing for Naidu, submitted a memo in the high court about the health condition of Naidu and asked for interim bail for two weeks. The high court asked the CID counsel to submit the status report on the TDP chiefs health condition. Bhubaneshwari to take up public outreach campaign With uncertainty looming large over Naidus release from jail, his family members have decided to intensify party activities, not only to mobilise the public support, but also give a morale booster to the party leaders and cadre, who are apparently disheartened with the latest developments. Soon after meeting Naidu in the jail, Naidus son and TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh and wife Bhuvaneshwari went into a huddle with the partys senior leaders, including Andhra unit president of the party K Atchennaidu, and discussed the future course of action. Naidu told his family members that his continued presence in the jail should not demoralise the party cadre and advised them to take up the party programmes in a big way to attack the Jagan Mohan Reddy government, a party leader privy to the development said. As part of the strategy, Bhuvaneshwari will go on a statewide tour from next week with a programme titled Nijam Gelavali (Truth shall triumph), meet families of the party supporters who allegedly died of grief following Naidus arrest, apart from explaining to the people how the Jagan government was harassing her husband and the party leaders. Every week, Bhuvaneshwari is planning to visit two or three places in a district and meet all sections of people. Being the daughter of former chief minister and legendary actor N T Rama Rao, she would definitely get traction from the people, the party leader said. Earlier, Bhuvaneshwari called for protest programmes like candle rallies, Nyanaki Sankellu (handcuffs to justice), Kanthitho Kranthi (spreading awareness through lights) and Motha Mogiddam (Let us make sound). At the same time, Lokesh will continue his fathers programme Bhavishyathuku Guarantee (Guarantee for Future) from Nandyal, where Naidu was forced to discontinue it after he was arrested by the CID on September 9. According to the party leader, the TDP has to step up its public outreach programmes, which have come to a halt following Naidus arrest. The entire focus of the party leaders has been on the release of Naidu, as a result of which the party activities have taken a beating. So, Naidu decided that his family members continue them, to sustain the tempo in the party, he added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Canadian government announced on Thursday that 41 of its diplomats in India have departed, a day prior to the deadline set by New Delhi for their withdrawal, failing which they were liable to lose diplomatic immunity. However, Ottawa is unlikely to escalate the diplomatic row, as Canadas Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly said Ottawa has decided not to reciprocate even as the development was defined as expulsion of the Canadian diplomats. Canada said it had withdrawn 41 diplomats from India -- fallout from a bitter row over the killing of a Sikh separatist on Canadian soil.(AFP) The diplomatic drawdown came after India sought parity in the strength of Canadas diplomatic presence by bringing down those stationed in the country from 62 to 21. Speaking at a press conference in Ottawa on Thursday, Joly said, I can confirm that India has formally conveyed its plan to unilaterally remove diplomatic immunities for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents in Delhi by tomorrow, October 20. She added, Given the implications of Indias actions on the safety of our diplomats, we have facilitated their safe departure from India. This means that our diplomats and their families have now left and are on their way home, she said. In a statement from the countrys foreign ministry, Global Affairs Canada, Joly said, India accredited each and every one of the Canadian diplomats they are now expelling. And all of those diplomats were carrying out their duties in good faith, and to the greater benefit of both countries. The original deadline for bringing down the number of Canadian diplomats in India was October 10. But Canada had let that deadline elapse, while engaging in private negotiations with India. However, those talks appear to have failed. However, she added that Canada will continue to engage with India, as Now more than ever, we need to have diplomats on the ground and we need to talk to one another. Joly said, Canada will continue to defend international law, which applies equally to all states. Canada will continue to engage India and remains committed to dialogue as we move forward. She also said the decision by India was unprecedented. A unilateral revocation of diplomatic privileges and immunities is contrary to international law. It is a clear violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, she argued. She added that threatening to strip such immunity was unreasonable and escalatory since that allows diplomats to do their work, without fear of reprisal or arrest from the country they are in. Joly was joined at the press conference by Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Marc Miller. Canada will have to pause in-person services at its consulates in Chandigarh, Bengaluru and Mumbai until further notice. The lower numbers of staff will have short-term repercussions, and I believe medium-term as well, Miller said. India accounts for the largest cohort of international students and permanent residents in Canada and those applications processes could be adversely impacted. India had already announced in September that it was indefinitely stopping issuance of visas to Canadian nationals. The Global Affairs Canada statement said this mass expulsion will impact our operations, and client service will be affected. Indias decision will impact levels of services to citizens of both countries. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will continue to accept and process applications from India. However, certain application requirements will need to be completed locally or on-site in a secure environment. As a result, the reduction in the size of the IRCC team will affect service standards for residents of India, the statement elaborated. Five IRCC staff will remain in India and focus on work that requires an in-country presence such as urgent processing, visa printing, risk assessment and overseeing key partners, including visa application centres, panel physicians and clinics that perform immigration medical exams. The rest of the work and staff will be reassigned across its global processing network. Indias decision will not distract from Canadas legitimate investigation into the killing of Mr. Nijjar. Canadas priorities in this matter continue to be the pursuit of the truth, the protection of Canadians, and the defence of our sovereignty. This is the latest development in the cratering of the relationship between the two counties after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus statement in the House of Commons on September 18 that there were credible allegations of a potential link between Indian agents and the killing of Khalistani figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18. Indias decision will not distract from Canadas legitimate investigation into the killing of Mr Nijjar. Canadas priorities in this matter continue to be the pursuit of the truth, the protection of Canadians, and the defence of our sovereignty, Joly said. Both countries had expelled a diplomat each in the immediate aftermath of Trudeaus statement. Nijjar was gunned down in the parking lot of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara that he headed in the town of Surrey in the province of British Columbia. Nijjar was considered a terrorist by Indian authorities but no charges had been levelled against him in Canada or were tested in a Canadian court. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anirudh Bhattacharyya Anirudh Bhattacharya is a Toronto-based commentator on North American issues, and an author. He has also worked as a journalist in New Delhi and New York spanning print, television and digital media. He tweets as @anirudhb. ...view detail Canada on Thursday said that there would be a slowdown in visa applications of Indians as Ottawa removed its 41 diplomats from India amid the ongoing standoff between the two countries. Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau walks past Indian PM Narendra Modi at the Raj Ghat during the G20 Summit in New Delhi.(AP) Following India's intent to unilaterally remove immunities for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents in Delhi by October 20, 2023, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is reducing its number of employees in India from 27 to 5, a statement from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said, ANI reported. "IRCC will continue to accept and process applications from India, but reduced staffing levels are expected to impact processing times." The authorities, however, assured that the Canada-based IRCC staff in India will do the day-to-day work required in the country. Earlier this month, media reports had said that India has asked Canada to withdraw 41 of its 62 diplomats in India, failing which their diplomatic immunity will be withdrawn. The development had marked a further escalation of the diplomatic spat over the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen who was shot dead in the parking lot of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in the town of Surrey in British Columbia on June 18. Hours after Trudeaus claim on September 18 of a potential link between Indian government agents and the killing of Nijjar, India dismissed the accusation as absurd and motivated. The two countries carried out tit-for-tat expulsions of senior diplomats. India subsequently suspended all visa services for Canadian nationals and asked Canada to downsize its diplomatic presence in the country. On Thursday, Canada confirmed India has formally conveyed its plan to unilaterally remove diplomatic immunities for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents in Delhi by October 20. Given the implications of Indias actions on the safety of our diplomats, we have facilitated their safe departure from India, Canadas Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly said. "This means that our diplomats and their families have now left and are on their way home. Earlier today, Canada also updated a travel advisory warning citizens of the possibility of anti-Canada protests as well as intimidation or harassment in India. The advisory said the Consulates General of Canada in Bengaluru, Chandigarh, and Mumbai were temporarily suspending in-person operations. It added that citizens could obtain consular assistance and further consular information from the High Commission of Canada in New Delhi. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Canada updated a travel advisory warning citizens of the possibility of anti-Canada protests as well as intimidation or harassment after announcing the withdrawal of 41 diplomats from India on Friday. Tensions escalated following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus statement about credible allegations" linking Indian government agents to a Khalistani leaders murder. (REUTERS) The advisory said the Consulates General of Canada in Bengaluru, Chandigarh, and Mumbai were temporarily suspending in-person operations. It added that citizens could obtain consular assistance and further consular information from the High Commission of Canada in New Delhi. Canadian foreign affairs minister Melanie Joly, who announced the diplomats were returning to Canada due to the ultimatum from New Delhi that they will be stripped of diplomatic immunity if they remained in the country beyond Friday, said they will now be forced to pause temporarily all in-person services at consulates until further notice. The advisory under the Safety and Security section cited recent developments in Canada and in India. It added there are calls for protests and some negative sentiment towards Canada in traditional media and on social media. Demonstrations, including anti-Canada protests, could occur and Canadians may be subjected to intimidation or harassment, the advisory said, which was updated after Jolys press conference in Ottawa. In Delhi and the National Capital Region, you should keep a low profile with strangers, and not share your personal information with them. Avoid crowded areas, including public transportation. You should always travel with someone and inform a friend or a family member of your travel plans. India indefinitely stopped processing visas for Canadians after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus statement on September 18 that there were credible allegations of a potential link to Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18. Nijjar, whom India considered a terrorist but no charges were levelled against him in Canada, was killed in the parking lot of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara he headed in Surrey in British Columbia. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON West Bengals ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has decided against commenting on allegations against its Member of Parliament (MP) Mahua Moitra of receiving money and gifts for posing questions in Parliament, two leaders of the party said. Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra. (ANI) A TMC lawmaker said the party has taken a stand of not commenting on the issue. A second leader echoed the lawmaker. The party will not comment on this. She [Moitra] has already issued a statement, said the second leader. Darshan Hiranandani, the businessman named in Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker Nishikant Dubeys complaint to the Lok Sabha speaker against Moitra, gave a signed affidavit on Thursday corroborating the ruling party MPs claims. The ethics committee of Parliament is looking into Dubeys complaint. If found guilty, Moitra could be expelled from Parliament. In July, the TMC distanced itself from Moitras remarks calling Goddess Kali a meat-eating and alcohol-accepting Goddess. The BJP lodged multiple complaints against her for allegedly hurting Hindu sentiments. Moitra unfollowed the party after TMC tweeted that her views expressed on Goddess Kaali have been made in her personal capacity and are not endorsed by the party in any manner or form. A third TMC leader pointed out West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee pulled up Moitra at a public meeting in the Nadia district in December 2021. Banerjee was visibly peeved at growing factionalism within the party ranks in the district. In December 2020, Moita drew flak for purportedly describing the media as two paisa worth Hiranandani, who confirmed over WhatsApp that he released the statement, admitted that he gave Moitra information on the basis of which she posed questions attacking the Adani Group. He added she received information from others on this and gifted her expensive luxury items besides underwriting the renovation of her official bungalow. Hiranandani alleged she provided him with her Parliament login and password so that he could post the questions directly on her behalf. Moitra denied the charges, saying the leaked affidavit was part of BJPs broader strategy to discredit her and divert attention from pressing concerns related to the Adani Group. Lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai, a former friend of Moitra, has filed a complaint against her with the Central Bureau of Investigation alleging that the MP received money and gifts for posing questions in Parliament. Dubey and Dehadrai were scheduled to testify before the parliamentary ethics committee on October 26. Raipur: The Union coal ministry has said that Coal India Limiteds (CIL) 40 coal blocks in and around the Lemru Elephant Corridor (LEC) will not be auctioned on the request of the Chhattisgarh government. The Union coal ministry has said 40 coal blocks in the Lemru elephant reserve will not be mined. (HT file photo) The ministry said areas beyond the LEC have also been considered for exemption from mining on the request of the state government. Over 40 new coal blocks having about 10% of the reserve of Chhattisgarh have been decided to be kept out of coal mining auction. Nine coal mines falling in dense Hasdeo-Arand coalfields have also been kept out for further rounds of auctions of coal blocks, a Coal ministry statement said on Thursday. A total 31 coal blocks, spread across 1995 square km of the reserve, and nine coal mines, which adjoin the boundaries of the reserve ,have been exempted. The Coal ministry said it always kept in view the recommendations of the Environment, Forest and Climate Change ministry (MoEFCC) and state governments and no coal mine has been auctioned by ignoring suggestions of the MoEFCC. In May 2023, the Chhattisgarh government wrote a letter to the federal ministry to refrain from auctioning nine coal blocks out of 23 total coal blocks for commercial mining, citing environmental reasons. The state government had cited objections raised by the Chhattisgarh Forest and Climate change department on environmental grounds as reason. The nine coal blocks mentioned were Tara ( Surajpur district), Karkoma ( Korba) , Koilar ( Raigarh), Tendumudi ( Raigarh), Jilga Barpali ( Korba), Barpali Kalmi Tikra ( Korba), Batati Kolga North East (Korba) , Batati Kolga East ( Korba) and Fatehpur south ( Raigarh). A total of 24 villages would be directly affected if these nine blocks were mined, the state government had then said. Tara is located in the Hasdeo Arand forest area and six other coal blocks are in the catchment area of the Mand river, which flows through the Mand-Raigarh forest area. The Mand and Hasdeo rivers are important tributaries of the Mahanadi river, which starts from north Chhattisgarh and flows into Odisha. Also Read: Tara block withdrawn from commercial coal mining auction process The Hasdeo Arand and Mand-Raigarh coalfields are in the northern part of the state where elephants roam and are an important part of their migratory corridor. The forests here are the catchment areas of the Hasdeo and Mand rivers, which are critical for the flow of the perennial Mahanadi river. The Union government in March 2023 announced the 7th round of its coal mine auction. The total number of mines to be auctioned was 101, including the one in the Tara block in Chhattisgarhs Hasdeo-Arand forests, which has a forest cover of 81 %. The Ministry is conscious of the fact that promotion of underground coal mining can help in the conservation of the environment. Accordingly, policy has been approved to promote underground coal mining. Use of technology through deployment of continuous miners, high-wall and long-wall have been promoted. MoEFCC has also permitted exemption from compensatory afforestation requirements for underground mines. In operationalisation of mines through the private sector, incentive provisions are being considered to attract interest into underground mining, the ministry said in the statement. Commenting on the decision of Union coal ministry, convenor of the Chhattisgarh Bachaao Andolan, Alok Shukla, who led the protests against mining in this area, called it a big victory for the tribal community of the Hasdeo Arand forest who have long asserted their constitutional and legal rights over land in the region. After more than a decade of struggle, the Coal ministry has finally agreed to denotify all coal blocks in Lemru elephant reserve in Hasdeo, and its adjoining areas - 40 coal blocks have been saved from causing irreparable ecological devastation and destruction of the Lungs of Chhattisgarh, said Shukla. The BJP government has always worked for environment conservation and this is an example. We want to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has deep concern for tribals and the environment , said Ajay Chandrakar, chief spokesperson of BJP. On the other hand, the ruling Congress party claimed that it was the state government, which had continuously written to the union government to ban mining in Hasdeo Arand region. Everything is on record. We have increased the area of the Lemru Elephant Reserve and also wrote several letters to the government to denotify the coal mines of the area. The Congress government has always been pro-tribal in the state, said RP Singh, Congress spokesperson. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ritesh Mishra State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh. Reports Maoism, Politics, Mining and important developments from the state. Covered all sorts of extremism in Central India. Reported from Madhya Pradesh for eight years. ...view detail Direct air route connects China's Dalian, Russia's Vladivostok Xinhua) 10:58, October 20, 2023 A Hainan Airlines flight is welcomed by a water cannon salute at the Dalian International Airport in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province on Oct. 19, 2023, after a direct flight from Russia's Vladivostok to Dalian. (Xinhua) DALIAN, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- A weekly direct passenger flight route was launched Thursday between Dalian in northeast China's Liaoning Province and Vladivostok in Russia. The route is operated by Hainan Airlines every Thursday. It is expected to strengthen economic cooperation, promote tourism and enhance the friendship between the two cities, according to the Dalian International Airport. Since this year, Dalian International Airport has been actively restoring international flight routes, with 12 overseas routes now operational, serviced by 11 airlines, totaling 100 weekly flights. In the future, the airport plans to open more regular flight routes from Dalian to other cities in the Russian Far East region. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, ARMENPRESS. Constant attempts by Azerbaijan to change the format of the talks with Armenia lead to suspicions whether Baku is actually interested in finalizing the peace process, Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan told reporters. Basically, the constant change of formats causes serious doubts on whether or not official Baku is interested in finalizing the peace process at all, or whether they are simply trying to switch formats and thereby avoid making concrete agreements, Kostanyan said. Asked on the issue of organizing a meeting in Georgia, which Baku had suggested, Kostanyan said that there is no such agreement at this moment. Armenia is ready to participate in the meeting scheduled to take place in the end of October in Brussels, Kostanyan said. Armenia wants to normalize relations with its neighbors. He said that the format of the talks isnt what matters. Whats important to us is to be able to normalize relations. And for the written agreements reached after that normalization to be respected, and that our colleagues guarantee that the Azeri side wont violate it, he said. Bastar The single-lane tarred road is quiet and lonely, meandering through green foliage, slanting upwards, and then gently downhill. It is 5pm, and the forests summon the autumn chill faster, the darkness sets in quicker. In that fading light, there is a hint, but only just, of tragedy. PREMIUM BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE: Five people were killed on Tuesday after a BJP MLAs car convoy was attacked by Maoists at Dantewada in Chhattisgarh. Bheema Mandavi is an MLA from Bijapur constituency. (HT Photo) Pic received on April 9, 2019. On the side of the road 4km from Dantewadas Shyamgiri village, embedded into the wild grass, about a foot away from each other, are two objects that have made this spot their home for the past four-and-a-half years. The first, its exterior caked in mud, is the unmistakeable red shard of a shattered tail light. The second, peeking out from the tall grass, is an orange Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) flag. It was exactly here, 25km away from the district headquarters that at 4.50pm on April 9, 2019, 10 minutes before the end of campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls, that an IED explosion surgically targeted a passing vehicle. Five people inside were killed; BJPs Dantewada MLA Bhima Mandavi, and four of his security guards. More than four years later, on Monday evening, as he watched people rummaging in the foliage for signs of that blast, Bhima Podiyam stopped his bicycle on his way home to Shyamgiri. You will find nothing, saheb. This always happens in Bastar during the elections. There is violence, and then everyone forgets. History of violenceIn several ways, violence in the 12 seats of the Bastar division, home to Indias worst Maoist conflict, has been a central motif to Chhattisgarh politics as the state heads to another assembly election. In 2013, in one of Indias deadliest attacks, an ambush on a Congress parivartan yatra left 27 people dead, wiping out almost the entire state leadership of the party. Among the dead were heavyweights such as Nand Kumar Patel, former Union minister Vidya Charan Shukla, and the then leader of Opposition, tribal leader Mahendra Karma. Unable to recover in time, the Congress lost the 2013 elections, but appointed Bhupesh Baghel the state party president, and saw him rise as chief minister five years later. Tribal leader Kawasi Lakhma, who survived the attack, is now a state minister. Six years later, Bhima Mandavi was the only BJP MLA who won in Bastars 12 seats, but was killed four months later. In the bypoll necessitated by his death, the BJP lost and the Congress now holds all 12 seats. Even in November 2018, five people were killed in an IED blast in Dantewadas Bacheli, one day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi was to speak in Bastar. Over the past two months alone, the BJP has said that three of its leaders, across three different districts of Bastar, have been killed by Maoists. But in a small hut in the village of Jangla in Bijapur district, 3km off the main road, and covered in printed party material, one BJP worker says an end to violence is rarely part of any partys door-to-door campaign. It is something neither party can promise. If there are fake encounters, people get angry. But if there are IEDs, people just treat those as everyday occurrences. What really matters is the local work of the candidate; of whether he has stayed accessible; whether he can get work done; how much money he takes; and how things like roads have been built. In the completely interior parts, it is who the leaders inside (Maoists) tell them to vote for. This time, with the amount of corruption the Congress has done, how only a few people have benefited, the people are responding to us. We may be tribals, but we are perceptive. Last time, it was Bastar that helped the Congress. This time, the BJP will win at least half the seats in Bastar, and that will help us form government, this person argued. Poll barometerThe perceptiveness the Jangla BJP leader refers to is that in all four of Chhattisgarh assembly elections since its inception in 2000, Bastar has voted decisively, and three of four times, read the wind correctly. In 2003 and 2008, despite the Congress boasting an old camaraderie with the tribals from when Madhya Pradesh was undivided, the BJP swept the region winning 9 and 11 seats respectively on their way to government formation. In 2018, when the Congress swept to power, Bastar voted resoundingly for the party, giving it 11 of 12 seats. Only in 2013, did the Congress win 8 seats, and fail to make government. This time, one senior Congress leader based in Sukma said that a Congress sweep seemed unlikely, in part because the campaign issues that the party is pushing everywhere else in the state have no resonance here. In fact, it is a little counterproductive for us. In the plains, you play the regional card, say you are Chhattisgarhiya, but here where very few speak Hindi, that means nothing. We have played OBC politics, but the BJP is telling people that tribals have been ignored. Go off the main road and away from the district headquarters, and people know their local MLAs, but may not even be able to name Baghel or Raman Singh. This is going to be a candidate to candidate fight, and we will lose some seats. There is no wave for either party, one Congress leader said. With that in mind, party strategists from both the Congress and the BJP say that they have fielded their most influential candidates possible, even if some either lost before or are members of Parliament. Deepak Baij, the state Congress president and the MP from Bastar, for instance, is fighting from Chitrakote. Mahesh Gagda and Kedar Kashyap, both former BJP ministers, are also back in the fray. This is neither the time nor the atmosphere for experimentation or trying completely inexperienced hands. Both parties need experience, because there are other players too. Manish Kunjam of the CPI is always a threat in Sukma, and the Sarva Adivasi Samaj could play spoiler in some seats, a Congress leader said. The danger this strategy poses, for both the Congress and the BJP, is that there are murmurs of dissent within both units from those that have been waiting in the wings. In the BJP, the Bijapur seat went to BL Pujari instead of Gagda and party workers are unhappy. In Dantewada, lots were in favour of Bhimas wife Ojaswi being given another chance. But there are problems in the Congress, too. Deepak Baij may have fielded himself as Congress president, but the first time MLA he removed, Rajman Benjam, may spoil his chances, one BJP leader said. In September, the Sarv Adivasi Samaj, a powerful body of tribals which has a presence across the state, announced the formation of a political platform called Hamar Raj (our rule) that will fight elections in 55 seats across the state. Sarv Adivasi Samaj president Arvind Netam, a former Union minister in the Indira Gandhi government, said that the body was forced to take the plunge after the demands of the tribal community was not met by either the Congress or the BJP. Most worryingly, the government has weakened provisions of the Panchayat(Extension to the Scheduled Areas). Our fight is not just political but is for our identity, for the Constitution and PESA, Netam said. BS Rawate, national spokesperson for the Sarv Adivasi Samaj says they are focusing on five seats in Bastar. We believe we will win. Our aim is to initiate peace in Bastar. Both the BJP and the Congress have committed atrocities on tribal people, and they are angry. People who were displaced during Salwa Judum still havent been rehabilitated, and we will raise this in our campaign, he said. Former BJP minister and party spokesperson Ajay Chandrakar says his party will return to power in the region. Here, the people are fed-up of Congress misrule. Congress has done nothing concrete. We have started industrialisation, and the conversion of tribals is a big issue as well. The Congress has played with the sentiments of people. Sushil Anand Shukla, Congress spokesperson, however, says that barring a few stray incidents, violence has by and large come down. On top of that, our government procures 67 different kinds of forest produce at an MSP, a list which was seven during the BJPs tenure. We have worked extensively in the fields of education, infrastructure and employment and are confident we will retain all 12 seats, he said. Beneath the uneasy calmWith less than three weeks to go for November 7, when Bastar will vote, in one office in Jagdalpur, the headquarters of Bastar district and its largest city, complete with shopping malls and busy crossings, and the only seat in Bastar that is not reserved for Scheduled Tribes, there are policemen scurrying around to ensure that the cycle of election violence is broken. Sundar Raj, inspector general of police (Bastar Range), who has been in the area for six years, is hopeful. Our area of dominance has gone up, as we have opened 65 camps in the past five years. In that sense, it takes away their areas of sole geographical influence. Out of these 65 camps, there are several that in the past, you would require a full fledged operation to enter. Now we sit there all day and night. Confrontation may have come down slightly but we are still entering the forests, but they are choosing not to engage perhaps because of their diminishing strength. But of course, we still have to be careful. They have the ability to strike, and we have our security protocol in place, Raj said. Back in the village of Shyamgiri, 4km from the site of the IED blast that killed Mandavi, night has set in, and in a small clearing, a group of five tribal boys are cooking dinner, rice and chicken, in an open chulha. One boy laughs and says, It is funny that the Congress has given the Danteada ticket to Chhavindra Karma, Mahendra Karmas son, and the BJP has replaced Ojaswi Mandavi, who lost her husband. The BJPs empathy lasts only for five years, but the Congress sensitivity lasts for a decade, whether they work or not. As the rest titter around him, one other, the eldest in the group, suddenly lapses into a quiet seriousness, reiterating the ground rules they have all been brought up with. For the next three weeks, if you see a government car, or a police bus, stop and let it pass. Do not stay in its vicinity. Elections are always dangerous. Hyderabad In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar (in pic), the Congresssaid the appointment of a Telangana BJP leader as the Governor was against the model code of conduct, as the state assembly elections in Telangana were announced on September 10. (ANI) The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee on Thursday took exception to the appointment of senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and ex-MP Nallu Indrasena Reddy as the Governor of Tripura by the Centre. Reddy, who had also served as the state president of the BJP in the undivided Andhra Pradesh twice from 1985 to 1989 and again from 1999 to 2004, was appointed as the Governor by a notification issued by President Drouadi Murmu on Wednesday night. In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, TPCC senior vice-president G Niranjan said the appointment of a Telangana BJP leader as the Governor was against the model code of conduct, as the schedule for the assembly elections in Telangana were announced on September 10. According to the model code of conduct, no appointments should be made during the enforcement of the code in a state. As such, the appointment of Indrasena Reddy as Tripura Governor will attract the MCC as he is from Telangana which is going to polls on November 30, Niranjan told reporters later. Stating that the Rashtrapathi Bhavan had ignored the MCC, the Congress leader alleged that the appointment had been done to influence the voters in Telangana. Please take the appropriate steps in this regard to withdraw this appointment, Niranjan appealed to the CEC. He said the CEC should give a clarification as to whether the MCC was applicable only to the official appointments or even the governors. Telangana BJP spokesperson K Krishnasagar Rao ridiculed the Congress leaders for making an issue out of a non-issue. A governor is a constitutional position and is not an official appointment. So, it doesnt come under the purview of MCC, he said. Rao pointed out that there had been transfers and appointments of new judges to the high courts in various states during the elections. Does the appointment or transfer of judges come under model code of conduct? he asked. 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 Hyderabad: Describing the caste survey as an X-ray of the country, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Thursday promised to conduct the exercise in Telangana once his party is voted to power. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during a rally ahead of Telangana Assembly elections, at Manthani in Peddapalli district. (PTI) Addressing a massive turnout in Bhupalpally district on the second day of his yatra in poll-bound Telangana, Gandhi said the caste survey will reveal how much Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) president and chief minister K Chandrashekar Raos family has looted Telangana. Nobody knows where the countrys wealth is going as the poorer sections remain poor. Only a caste survey can reveal the status of various sections of people. It is like an X-ray for the country, as it reveals the percentage of backward castes, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and minorities, enabling equitable budget allocation, he said, pressing the need for a caste survey in the country. Saying that the process to conduct caste surveys has already begun in Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Karnataka, the Congress MP said: We shall do the same in Telangana, soon after coming to power in the coming elections. The caste survey will show the financial status of the people of the state and how much the family of Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao has looted. Launching an attack on KCRs family, Gandhi said: Only family prospered in the last nine years (since the formation of Telangana in 2014). At the Peddapalli rally, the Congress leader described KCR as a liar and cheater and what was being witnessed now was the fight between the peoples Telangana and looters Telangana. The Kaleshwaram project is a big scam where thousands of crores of rupees were looted. The lands of the poor people were usurped. Only contractors got benefitted, as farmers continued to suffer, he said. He also accused the BRS government of depriving the poor of their lands by introducing Dharani portal for land registrations. The Rythu Bandhu scheme benefitted only rich farmers. Schemes like loan waiver and double bedroom housing were not fully implemented, he alleged. Earlier, Rahul Gandhi went to the coal mines at Ramagundam and interacted with coal mine workers at a residence in Ladanapur village for 20 minutes. He assured that if the Congress-led coalition is voted to power at the centre, it would now allow privatisation of Singareni Collieries. He also vowed to grant income tax exemptions to Singareni workers and support the growth of the Singareni mines. BRS working president and state industries minister K T Rama Rao took to X (formerly twitter) to take a dig at Rahul Gandhi, stating that the latters bus yatra was bound to fail. He demanded that Gandhi should explain why he had remained silent when the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre had failed to fulfil its promises made before 2014 like establishment of tribal university all these days and steel plant at Bayyaram in Khammam district. Gandhi, who refrained from questioning the NDA government on promises made under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, had no right to visit Telangana, he said. KTR claimed that there was a huge difference between the development witnessed in Telangana and that in the Congress-ruled states like Karnataka. The Congress government in Karnataka has not been able to provide even five hours of electricity to farmers, while in Telangana, our government is supplying uninterrupted free electricity to farmers round the clock, he said. He ridiculed that the Congress leaders who were synonymous with corruption, were making wild allegations against the KCR government. The BRS working president also dismissed Rahul Gandhis remarks on the BRS and stated that remote control of the Telangana government was firmly in the hands of the people, while the Congresss Gandhi Bhavan was slipping away. 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 The Opposition Congress on Friday criticised chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan over Janata Dal (Secular) or JD(S) leader HD Deve Gowdas claim that the Kerala leader backed his partys move to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. (PTI) JD(S) joined the NDA in September ahead of the 2024 national polls. But the partys Kerala unit will remain a part of the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF). It said the decision to ally with BJP was taken without consensus. K Krishnankutty, one of the two JD(S) lawmakers in Kerala, is part of Vijayans Cabinet. Congress leader VD Satheesan cited Gowdas statement that Vijayan gave full concurrence and said the CPM has an illicit bond with the BJP that helped the LDF to return to power in 2021 and end investigations in corruption cases. The BJP has threatened the CPM and the Vijayan government in Kerala. It is the BJP and Sangh Parivar which controls the government in Kerala. He added it is strange that a leader of a party that is part of the NDA is a member of the LDF Cabinet. Gowdas remarks underline the Oppositions charge that Vijayan and the CPM have an improper relationship with the BJP. He demanded Krishnankutty be expelled within 24 hours from the Cabinet. Vijayan claimed Gowdas remarks were untrue and complete nonsense. Gowda is making false statements to justify his political flip-flops...CPM has never tried to interfere or pronounce its views on internal matters of the JD(S). Even as the chief minister, there was never any need to intervene in their internal issues. It is not our policy. We are not responsible for anyones revelations. It is propriety and political decency for Gowda to correct his absurd statements. He hit out at the Congress and alleged it shares power with the BJP in local bodies in Kerala. JD(S)s Kerala unit chief and lawmaker Mathew T Thomas called Gowdas remarks baseless and devoid of truth. We believe he made the remarks because he was misled. Or it is a mistake as a result of his advanced age and health problems. There was no need for the Kerala chief minister to approve [of the alliance with BJP]. He added Vijayan and Gowda have not communicated in months or even years. So such a remark from him is baseless and the Kerala unit of JDS rejects it. He added JD(S)s Kerala passed a resolution against the partys decision to ally with the BJP. New Delhi The Supreme Court on Friday cautioned the Union government against a pick and choose approach in matters of judicial appointments, as it lamented that a raft of collegiums recommendations for the appointment and transfer of judges remain pending because the government segregated names sent together by the collegium. Supreme Court of India A bench, headed by justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, pointed out that several recommendations made by the collegium were not acted upon by the government in the last nine months, which compelled the top court to start monitoring the steps taken by the Centre in processing the names. At the same time, the bench also comprising justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Manoj Misra, noted that while more than a dozen recommendations were cleared in the last one month after the courts monitoring began, the recommendations were being selectively notified. READ | Political rivalry cannot be basis for investigation and trial: SC Pick-and-choose creates a lot of problems. When you appoint someone and not others, the very premise of seniority gets affected. The incentive to join the bench gets affected. And this is one prime reason good candidates do not want to give their consent, the bench told additional solicitor general (ASG) Balbir Singh. It flagged the pendency of two names recommended for appointment as judges in the Madras high court for more than a year while two others were recently appointed. Highlighting that the government notified the transfer of 16 judges two days ago while kept the other 11 pending, the court questioned the law officer for the rationale behind withholding the orders. Why do you do this? There is a consultative process in appointments. But in transfers, the man is already a judge. What kind of consultation or extensive deliberation could be required? it asked Singh, who replied that the names are cleared by the government in batches. Unimpressed with the submission, the bench retorted: Batches create their own delay and their own dynamics. It should not give the impression that somebody has been able to delay (his transfer) while some others could not. READ | You cannot call yourself Republic of India in pleas: SC pulls up CBI The court said that the transfer of judges must be done without delay since the five most senior judges in the Supreme Court decide in their wisdom that shifting of some judges will be in better administration of justice. They must be done. We would only say that you should not take it to that level where we have to say they (judges not getting transferred) wont carry out their duties in the present court. You have done something, but more push is necessary, it told Singh. On his part, the ASG asked for three weeks more to come back with the latest status report, but the court gave the government two weeks time, and fixed the matter for hearing next on November 7. The court was hearing a contempt plea filed by Advocate Association, Bengaluru, through advocate Amit Pai, highlighting several instances of pending appointments and unexplained holdover by the government. Pai flagged his concerns about five names that have been reiterated by the collegium but were yet to be appointed by the government. Acknowledging this, the bench asked the ASG: Suppose there are four names, you appoint only two. And you do not say anything on why the names were segregated. This should not happen. Some of them have accepted and some of them have withdrawn out of frustration. In its order, the court recorded that there are ten names five reiterated ones and an equal number of those recommended for the first time to be appointed as judges in high courts, that remain pending with the government, besides 11 transfers. The ASG assures that matters are being sorted out. At his request, list this matter on November 7, it stated. On October 18, the Centre notified the transfer of 16 high court judges and appointment of 17 new judges in various high courts, two days before the scheduled hearing of this matter. Those shifted to other high courts included judges from the list of 26 recommendations made by the collegium in the first week of August, apart from justice MV Muralidaran, the acting chief justice of Manipur high court. His transfer was recommended by the collegium on October 10. As of October 1, 347 posts of high court judges were lying vacant in the 25 high courts across the country against the total strength of 1,114. The vacancy translates to more than 31% of the total strength. On September 26, the Supreme Court had decided to monitor the steps taken by the Centre in acting on Collegiums recommendations for appointing and transferring judges, expressing its anguish at the delays. When the matter was taken up next on October 9, the court observed that collegiums recommendations cannot remain in limbo, emphasising that instead of sitting on them indefinitely, the government must either notify those appointments or send them back citing specific objections. Attorney general (AG) R Venkataramani, on the day, assured the court of some concrete steps. Subsequently, the government on October 16 notified the transfer of the much-delayed appointment of Delhi high court judge Siddharth Mridul as the new full-time chief justice of the Manipur high court, more than three months after the collegiums recommendation. Three judges in the high courts of Madras, and Manipur, including a judicial officer who would become the first woman from a scheduled tribe to become a judge in the Manipur high court, were also appointed on October 13. While the memorandum of procedure (MoP), which guides the judiciary and the government in matters of the appointment and transfer of judges, is silent on the segregation of names by the latter, a former CJI had disapproved of this practice. Justice RM Lodha, as CJI in July 2014, had written a letter to then Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, stating that the government should not adopt such unilateral segregation in the future. Justice Lodha sent the missive after the NDA government had segregated former solicitor general Gopal Subramanium from the panel of four names recommended for appointment as Supreme Court judges by the collegium. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) should not punish former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje over her refusal to support an alleged conspiracy to topple the Congress-led government in the state in 2020, chief minister Ashok Gehlot said on Thursday. Both Ashok Gehlot and Vasundhara Raje have alternated power in the state since 1998 when the Congress veteran was voted in (PTI) The senior Congress leader also said that he and his former deputy, Sachin Pilot, are united, and ruled out any rift in the party over ticket distribution for next months assembly elections. The chief minister was addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters in the national capital when he was asked about the alleged sidelining of Raje in the BJP. Calling it an internal matter of the BJP, Gehlot said: I would not like to comment on it. But I would like to say that she should not be punished because of me. It would be injustice to her. READ | Seems like his leader is Raje, not Sonia Gandhi: Pilot attacks Ashok Gehlot HT had reported earlier that Rajes supporters have raised concerns over alleged attempts of the state BJP leadership to sideline her. In January, the former chief ministers supporters had floated the Vasundhara Raje Samarth Manch Rajasthan, demanding that she be named as chief ministerial candidate for next years polls. At the press conference, Gehlot went on to recall his remarks he made in May in Dholpur, that he survived a rebellion by Congress MLAs in 2020 because BJP leaders Raje and Kailash Meghwal (now suspended) did not support a conspiracy to topple his government through money power. The rebellion, in July 2020, was triggered by 22 MLAs, led by then deputy chief minister Pilot. He and the legislators eventually returned to the fold. READ | Conspiracy, insult: Vasundhara Raje after Ashok Gehlot claims she saved his govt in 2020 Addressing reporters, Gehlot said: I would like to narrate an incident (that happened) when my government was facing a crisis...When I was Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee president, the then chief minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat was abroad in the US for a bypass surgery and his own people were looking to topple his government. As state Congress chief, I had opposed this and said that this was not appropriate. He said he had even told then prime minister PV Narasimha Rao and then governor Bali Ram Bhagat this would not be correct. Kailash Meghwal knew about this and when there was a crisis in our government, he said that there is no tradition of toppling governments this way. I keep meeting MLAs aligned to Vasundhara Raje ji and I knew about her remarks and it slipped out of my mouth at a public meeting that she held the same opinion that Kailash Meghwal did, he said. Both Gehlot and Raje have alternated power in the state since 1998 when the Congress veteran was voted in. He lost to Raje in 2003, who in turn lost to Gehlot in 2008. Raje returned to power in 2013 but again lost to Gehlot in 2018. There was no immediate reaction from Raje or BJP leaders on Gehlots remarks. But, to be sure, after his Dholpur remarks, Raje had targeted Gehlot, saying there is no goodwill in his praise but only malice. On the 2020 revolt led by Pilot, Gehlot said he has adopted the policy of forgive and forget and has moved on. He said that in the midst of the rebellion, we (Congress leaders and MLAs) had stayed in a hotel for 40 days and all the differences were resolved with the high commands intervention. When I came out of the hotel, my first statement was forgive and forget. We will work with that sentiment, he said. I am becoming a partner in all the decisions taken by Pilot, who will also be our supporter, he added. He also dismissed speculations of fresh rift in the Congress over ticket distribution for November 25 elections. We are all united. I have not opposed any (prospective) candidate (from Pilot camp), he said. On the delay in announcing the Congresss list of candidates, he said: This is a problem for the opposition (BJP). The decisions are being taken through the selection process within the party. They (BJP) are worried why we are not fighting among ourselves. Kochi: A former assistant manager of an urban cooperative bank in Keralas Thiruvalla was arrested on Thursday on charges of cheating a depositor of the institution, a police officer said. Police said a depositor of the the Thiruvalla Urban Co-operative Bank had filed a complaint in January accusing the former bank official of cheating her of nearly 6.7 lakh. (HT Archives) The accused was identified as Preetha Haridas, a former staff of the Thiruvalla Urban Co-operative Bank in Pathanamthitta district. A depositor of the bank named Vijayalakshmi Mohan had filed a complaint in January accusing Preetha Haridas of cheating her of nearly 6.7 lakh. The complainant had deposited 3.5 lakh in the bank a few years ago and was supposed to get around 6.7 lakh in return including interest on the completion of maturity. But when she went to encash the cheque, she was told that the amount was already encashed, said a top police officer who did not want to be named. We are investigating whether the accused withdrew the money from the complainants account using a forged signature. The documents have been sent to the forensic lab for testing, he said. The accused had approached the high court with an anticipatory bail petition, but it was dismissed. The court directed her to appear before the authorities by October 17. When she failed to appear, the police recorded her arrest on Thursday. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Gujarat Police Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Thursday arrested arrested a person, alleged to be a spy, from Tapur town in Anand district for allegedly sending sensitive information to Pakistan. He is a Pakistan-national-turned-Indian-citizen. The accused was using a WhatsApp number to contact Army personnel and sending Remote Access Trojan (RAT) malware to extract sensitive information The ATS kicked off the operation after receiving military intelligence that a campaign is run by a Pakistani intelligence operative (PIO), 55-year-old Labshankar Maheshwari, where the accused was using a WhatsApp number to contact Army personnel and sending Remote Access Trojan (RAT) malware to extract sensitive information. According to ATS supperintendent of police Om Prakash Jat, the accused was using Indian SIM card which was issued under the name Muhammad Saklain Thaim which was activated on a mobile phone belonging to Azgar Hajibai. The device was then transported to Anand to Maheshwari, on the instructions of a person associated with the Pakistan Embassy. Labhshankar Maheshwari was a Pakistani citizen who came to India in 1999, he got Indian citizenship later. His extended family is still in Pakistan, Jat said. The concerned WhatsApp number is still active in Pakistan. Maheshwari was targetting families of Army personnel posing as an official of the Army Public School. The accused sent texts to his targets and encouraged to participate in a so-called competition, asking them to upload pictures with national flags. As per reports, Maheshwari sent contact details of Indian defence personnel to Pakistani agency. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Gujarat anti-terror squad arrested a spy from Anand district's Tarapur town on Friday. A native of Pakistan, he had been sending sensitive information to Pakistani agencies. WhatsApp(Representational) The ATS said it received inputs from the military intelligence that a Pakistani agent was using WhatsApp on an Indian SIM card. He was sending malware to phones and stealing sensitive information. "Gujarat ATS received input from the military intelligence that a Pakistani army or a Pakistan agent is using WhatsApp on an Indian SIM Card. He was sending Remote Access Trojan (RAT) malware to access phones and stealing sensitive information," Gujarat ATS SP Om Prakash Jat said, ANI reported. He said the SIM card was issued under the name Muhammad Saklain Thaim and was activated on the mobile phone of Azgar Hajibhai. "After activation, the SIM card was delivered in Anand, Tarapur to a person named Labhshankar Maheshwari on the instructions of a person associated with the Pakistan Embassy," he added. Labhshankar Maheshwari, born and brought up in Pakistan, came to India in 1999 and got Indian citizenship later. His family still lives in Pakistan. "Labhshankar Maheshwari was a Pakistani citizen who came to India in 1999, he got Indian citizenship later. His extended family is still in Pakistan... The concerned WhatsApp number is still active in Pakistan. They are targeting the family members of the Indian Army personnel," he added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Chennai The ED argued in the Madras high court that the DMK government retaining V Senthil Balaji as a minister without portfolio in the cabinet shows the depth of his influence, and that his brother Ashok Kumar is still at large. (ANI) The Madras high court on Thursday denied bail to Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji , agreeing with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that there is a possibility of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader influencing the witnesses and that the trial could be derailed since his brother, a prime suspect in the cash-for-jobs money laundering case, has refused to appear for questioning. The ED argued that the DMK government retaining Balaji as a minister without portfolio in the cabinet shows the depth of his influence, and that his brother Ashok Kumar is still at large. The federal agency said the minister does not pass a triple test for granting bail under relevant provisions of the law flight risk causing impediment in progress of trial, influencing witnesses, and tampering with evidence. His health is not in grave danger and the prison can give required medical care, the ED added. The health report of the petitioner does not appear to be a medical condition which could be taken care only if he is released on bail, justice G Jayachandran said in his order. That apart, his past conduct, his present position as minister without portfolio and the abscondence of his brother Mr Ashok Kumar, coupled with the attack on the Income Tax officials, all cumulatively lead to an irresistible conclusion that, certainly, he will directly and indirectly influence or cause deterrence to witnesses, if released on bail. The ED had arrested Balaji on June 14 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 in a case dating back to 2014 when he was transport minister under the AIADMK government. After his arrest he was hospitalised for chest pains and subsequently underwent a heart surgery at a private hospital. He was discharged on July 17 and has since been jailed in the Puzhal central prison. Chief minister M K Stalin reallocated his portfolios (electricity, excise and prohibition). Last week on October 10, Balaji complained of chest discomfort, headache and numbness on his left leg and he was brought to Chennais government Stanley hospital and sent back to the prison hospital on the same day. Senior counsel N R Elango appearing for Balaji submitted that he is seeking bail on the grounds of sickness and not on merit. Citing provisions under section 44(1)(ii) of PMLA and Section 437/439 of the CrPC which deals with granting bail on the ground of sickness, he argued that the health condition of Balaji necessitated bail. Additional solicitor general ARL Sundaresan, representing the ED, contended that though the medical reports indicate that Balaji is sick, his ailment is such that the required medical care is available in prison. The provision under PMLA quoted by Elango cannot be resorted to in all cases of sickness, said Sundaresan, adding that it can be exercised only in case the sickness is so grave that it is life threatening and cannot be treated either in the prison hospital or a government hospital. In the case of this petitioner, a team of eminent doctors of Government Stanley Hospital has examined him and has not reported any alarming health issue which will endanger his life, he argued. He added that the minister does not satisfy the triple test under relevant provisions of the CrPc since he is a minister without portfolio despite being in prison, the non-cooperation of his brother Ashok Kumar who is still at large and tampering with evidence which cannot be ruled out. After listening to both submissions, justice Jayachandran agreed with the ED. The non-cooperation of the co-accused Ashok Kumar, who is blood brother of the petitioner, also justifies the apprehension of Enforcement Directorate that there is flight risk causing impediment in progress of trial, the court said. For the above reasons, this court is not inclined to grant bail to the petitioner. The agency had summoned Kumar four times since June and said in August that he never joined the investigation and has refused to appear before ED in response to the summonses citing frivolous inconsequential excuses. His wife Nirmala and mother-in-law P Lakshmi have also not complied with four individual summonses, ED said adding that evidence indicates that all three individuals have played pivotal roles in layering and integrating the proceeds of crimes. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, ARMENPRESS. The government of Palestine believes that Israel will launch a ground operation in the Gaza Strip sooner or later, Palestinian Ambassador to Moscow Abdel Hafiz Nofal told TASS. "In our opinion, this attack will happen sooner or later. It will cause even more civilian casualties," the diplomat said. "It will be a huge catastrophe. If the global community finds a way to stop this war, it will be the best scenario for civilians in Gaza.". The national president of Janata Dal (Secular), HD Deve Gowda on Thursday removed CM Ibrahim from his position as the partys Karnataka president after the latter opposed the partys alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party. In his place, HD Kumaraswamy, the former Chief Minister of Karnataka and Gowdas son, was appointed as the interim state president. Former Prime Minister Gowda also dissolved the State Executive Committee of the party. CM Ibrahim Addressing a press conference, Deve Gowda said: Ibrahim has been removed in accordance with the partys constitution. I have removed him, and the new president, HD Kumaraswamy, has been appointed. Kumaraswamy, a two-time Karnataka chief minister, also holds the position of the partys legislative unit president. Deve Gowda clarified that the removal of CM Ibrahim was in accordance with the partys constitution. The decision came after an emergency meeting attended by MLAs, MLCs, and district presidents of the party. The term expelled from the party was not specifically used in reference to Ibrahim, and the dissolution of the Executive Committee has only ended his tenure as the State party president. It also comes days after Ibrahim, a veteran Janata Party and Janata Dal (S) leader who moved to the Congress in 2008 but then returned to the Janata Dal (S) in 2022 convened a meeting on Monday to oppose the partys decision to ally with the BJP. Ibrahim claimed that the decision to align with the BJP had been made without consulting the partys members, even hinting at the possibility of a split and suggesting that his faction represented the original JD(S). Deve Gowda also rejected Ibrahims claim that minority leaders were deserting the party due to its alliance with the BJP, citing the steadfast loyalty of leaders such as BM Farooq, a member of the legislative council. Kumaraswamy told reporters that the state unit was dissolved owing to political developments that had taken place since the May Assembly elections. The national president dissolved the state unit and formed an ad hoc committee. We are reorganising to strengthen the party. There is no other reason, he said. In response to his ousting, CM Ibrahim expressed his intent to seek legal recourse by approaching the high court. They do not have the authority to remove me. According to the JD(S) constitution, the elected MLAs must convene a meeting and present a vote of no confidence against me. This is the prescribed procedure. However, the respected Deve Gowda has unilaterally removed me. He added, I hold the position of the partys president, and according to the established procedure, they lack the authority to dismiss me. I will take my case to the election commission and immediately approach the High Court to seek an injunction. If you, Mr. Gowda, continue to centralize the party around yourself and your family, which communities will align with you? Disregarding the Muslim community, have you allowed any Vokkagalia leader to flourish within your party? During the press conference, Deve Gowda also mentioned that all state units of JD(S), including those in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Kerala, had given their approval to align with the BJP. He added, In Kerala, we are part of the government, and our MLA is a minister there. These units understood the situation that made us go with the BJP and supported our move. Our minister in the Left partys government (K Krishnankutty) in Kerala has given his consent to us, Gowda said. Keralas Left Party Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has given full concurrence to move forward in Karnataka with the BJP to save the party. This is the position, Gowda claimed. However, the executive committee of the Kerala unit of JD(S) met on Saturday to pass a resolution stating that it will continue to align with the CPM-led LDF, of which it has been a member for over four decades. Mathew T Thomas, Thiruvalla MLA and the state president of JD(S), said, The state executive committee of the JDS fully rejects the decision of the partys national president to align with the NDA. The committee declares that it will continue and strengthen the four-decade-old alliance with the Left and secular forces in Kerala. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: India on Friday rejected Canadas characterisation of a move to ensure parity in diplomatic presence as a violation of international norms and said its action was in line with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, walks past Prime Minister Narendra Modi as they take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at Raj Ghat, Mahatma Gandhi's cremation site, during the G20 Summit on Sept. 10 (AP FILE PHOTO) Canadas foreign minister Melanie Joly announced on Thursday that 41 Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents had been withdrawn from India following a move to unilaterally remove their diplomatic immunities. Following the diplomatic row over Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus allegation of the involvement of Indian government agents in the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Indian side had sought parity in diplomatic presence through the withdrawal of 41 of the 62 Canadian diplomats in the country. Responding to Jolys contention that Indias action amounted to a violation of the Vienna Convention and international norms, the external affairs ministry said in a statement: The state of our bilateral relations, the much higher number of Canadian diplomats in India, and their continued interference in our internal affairs warrant a parity in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa. Also Read: Visa processing to slow down after 41 Canadian diplomats leave India The ministry added: We reject any attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms. The Indian side has been engaged with Canada on the issue of diplomatic parity over the last month to work out the details and modalities of its implementation. Indias actions in implementing the parity are fully consistent with Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the statement said. This section states: In the absence of specific agreement as to the size of the mission, the receiving State may require that the size of a mission be kept within limits considered by it to be reasonable and normal, having regard to circumstances and conditions in the receiving State and to the needs of the particular mission. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Ottawa [Canada], October 20 (ANI): Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on Thursday said that there would be a slowdown of Indian visa applications after Canada removed its 41 diplomats from India amid the ongoing India-Canada standoff. In a press statement from IRCC said, "Following India's intent to unilaterally remove immunities for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents in Delhi by October 20, 2023, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is reducing its number of employees in India from 27 to 5. IRCC will continue to accept and process applications from India, but reduced staffing levels are expected to impact processing times." Moreover, the statement said that due to the decrease in Canadian diplomatic staff in India, Indian citizens would face delays in overall processing times, responses to enquiries and getting visas or their passports back. Meanwhile, the Canadian authorities have assured that the Canada-based IRCC staff in India will do the day-to-day work required in the country. Quoting the statement, "The large majority of applications from India are already processed outside the country, with 89% of India's applications processed through the global network. The 5 Canada-based IRCC staff who remain in India will focus on work that requires an in-country presence such as urgent processing, visa printing, risk assessment and overseeing key partners." Canada Foreign Minister Melanie Joly announced on Thursday (local time) that Canada has removed 41 diplomats and their 42 family members, from India over the ongoing row between the two countries. "As of now, I can confirm that India has formally conveyed its plan to unethically remove diplomatic immunities for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents in Delhi by tomorrow, October 20. This means 41 Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents were in danger of having immunity stripped on an arbitrary date. And this would put their personal safety at risk," Joly said, as she confirmed the departure of Canadian diplomats. This comes after India called for a reduction in Canadian diplomats in India, calling for 'parity', owing to the ongoing diplomatic row between the two nations. Canadian Foreign Minister said, "...we have facilitated their safe departure from India. This means that our diplomats and their families have now left diplomatic immunities. Keep diplomats safe, no matter where they're from and where they're sent to. Immunities allow diplomats to do their work without fear of reprisal or arrests from the country they're in." "They are a fundamental principle of diplomacy and this is a two-way street. They only work if every country abides by the rules. A unilateral revocation of diplomatic privilege and immunities is contrary to international law. It is a clear violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and threatening to do so is unreasonable and escalatory. If we allow the norm of diplomatic immunity to be broken no diplomats anywhere on the planet would be safe," she said, adding that Canada "will not reciprocate," she said, according to CTV news. Along with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Marc Miller, the minister made the announcement about the development "on the situation with India" and how it will affect the level of service delivery Canada can offer following the withdrawal of diplomats. She said, "There's no question that India's decision will impact the levels of services to citizens in both countries. Unfortunately, we have to put a pause on all in-person services in our consulates in Chandigarh, Mumbai and in Bangalore." "Canadians who need consular assistance can still visit our High Commission in Delhi. And you can still also do that in person by phone and by email," she added. Earlier, stating that India's focus is achieving 'parity' in terms of diplomatic presence, the Ministry of External Affairs had called for a reduction in Canadian diplomats in India citing their continued "interference" in New Delhi's "internal matters". Addressing the press briefing earlier, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "Given the much higher presence of diplomats or diplomatic presence here...and their continued interference in our internal matters, we have sought parity in our respective diplomatic presence. Discussions are ongoing on the modalities of achieving this". "Given that Canadian diplomatic presence is higher, we would assume that there would be a reduction," he added. On being asked if the reduction in the number of Canadian diplomats could see a decrease in the number of visas issued by the Canadian High Commission in India, Bagchi said, "It's up to the Canadian side, who they choose to staff the High Commission with...our concerns are related to ensuring parity in diplomatic presence". He further added that India's primary focus is on two things; having an atmosphere in Canada, where Indian diplomats can work properly and in achieving parity in terms of diplomatic strength. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had alleged that the Indian government was behind the fatal shooting of Hardeep Nijjar, a designated terrorist in India. However, India outrightly rejected the claims, calling it 'absurd' and 'motivated'. Notably, Canada has yet to provide any public evidence to support the claim about the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar, who was a designated terrorist in India, was gunned down outside a Gurdwara, in a parking area in Canada's Surrey, British Columbia on June 18. (ANI) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Singapore, October 20 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday held a meeting with Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong. The discussions between the two leaders centred around new domains of cooperation with long-term implications. HT Image Taking to X, Jaishankar stated, "Nice to meet Trade & Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong today morning. Our discussions centered around new domains of cooperation with long-term implications. Looking forward to developing these ideas at the ISMR meeting." India and Singapore enjoy a historical relationship that was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2015. In 2023, both sides had several Ministerial interactions on the sidelines of the G20 held under India's Presidency, for which Singapore was invited as a guest country, according to a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) press release. During his visit, Jaishankar will meet his Singaporean counterpart and the top leadership of the country. He will also chair the regional conference of Indian Heads of Missions. On Thursday, he also chaired the regional conference of ASEAN and East Asia Ambassadors in Singapore and discussions were held regarding the regional situation and its potential ramifications for India. Jaishankar is on an official visit to Singapore from October 19 to 20. "Chaired the regional conference of our ASEAN and East Asia Ambassadors today in Singapore. Our deliberations took stock of developments in the region and assessed their implications for India. Insights offered by our Ambassadors are valuable inputs into policy-making," Jaishankar posted on X (formerly Twitter). Notably, the ties between India and Singapore are based on shared values and approaches, economic opportunities and convergence of interests on key issues. Both nations are members of a number of forums, including the East Asia Summit, G20, Commonwealth, Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Earlier in February, Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das and Monetary Authority of Singapore's Managing Director Ravi Menon officially launched the link between India's UPI and Singapore's PayNow was officially launched in the presence of PM Narendra Modi and Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong. Previously, Jaishankar was on an official visit to Vietnam from October 15 to 18 at the invitation of Vietnam's Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son. During his visit, EAM Jaishankar called on Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and also held discussions with the Chairman of the External Relations Commission of the Communist Party of Vietnam Le Hoai Trung. The two Ministers co-chaired the 18th India-Vietnam Joint Commission Meeting on economic, trade, scientific and technological cooperation and reviewed progress on the India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership including bilateral cooperation in various fields. (ANI) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The war of words between the Congress and Samajwadi Party over seat division in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh intensified on Friday, with Akhilesh Yadav saying who would trust the party if it behaved like this. The Congress's reply to Yadav's flurry of charges was sharper than yesterday, with Ajay Rai accusing the party of "directly or indirectly" helping BJP. Madhya Pradesh Congress President Kamal Nath with Rajya Sabha MP Digvijay Singh during the release of party's manifesto on October 17. "If Congress didn't want to give seats (in MP), then they should have said it before. Today, SP is fighting only on seats where it has its own organisation. Now after Madhya Pradesh, I know that the INDIA alliance is for the (parliamentary) elections on a national level. If Congress continues to behave like this, then who will trust them? If we fight with confusion in mind against the BJP, then we won't succeed," Yadav said. Rai said if SP wanted to stop BJP in its tracks, it would have to support the Congress in MP. "Akhilesh Yadav, the public can see who is with BJP. In Ghosi bypolls, we supported them (SP) and they won. At the same time, Bageshwar bypolls were held in Uttarakhand. They fielded their candidate there but the BJP won and Congress lost. This shows who is directly or indirectly helping BJP. This will be proven in MP also. If SP believes that BJP should be stopped from winning, then they should support the Congress," he said. Meanwhile, MP Congress chief Kamal Nath gave a curt reply when asked about allegations of betrayal against Congress. "Are bhai chhodo Akhilesh Vakhilesh (leave questions on Akhilesh)," said. Congress leader Supriya Shrinate, however, sought to play down the row. "I feel small tussles often happen during ticket distribution and it is very obvious. They (Samajwadi Party) are a part of INDIA alliance and will try our best to convince them," she told PTI. Responding to the Congress party's argument that the INDIA alliance was meant for national politics and not assembly elections, Yadav on Thursday accused the Congress of betrayal. We would have not given them the list and would have not picked the phone calls of Congress leaders. They betrayed us. Are they making fools of us? he said. Why Kamal Nath and Digvijay Singh kept us engaged in meetings? The Congress leaders are in a nexus with the BJP. He also threatened that SP will reciprocate in equal measure in Uttar Pradesh, where it is stronger. Tensions between the two alliance partners rose after BJP released its first list of 144 candidates in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday. If the alliance in Uttar Pradesh is only for the Centre (Lok Sabha polls), then we will think it over when time comes. But remember, there will be tit-for-tat. They will get the same treatment from us as we are given by them, he said on Sunday. He said Congress leaders assured him there would be six seats for the Samajwadi Party in the first list but there were none. With inputs from ANI SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Karnataka high court on Thursday dismissed a petition by Karnataka deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar challenging the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)s first information report (FIR) against him in an alleged disproportionate assets case. DK Shivakumar (PTI) A single bench of justice K Natarajan lifted an interim stay on the CBI probe by another bench of the high court, and directed the federal agency to conclude the investigation and submit a report within three months. Reacting to the order, Shivakumar said he has faith in the court and would fight the case and respond to allegations, within the framework of the law. During the hearing of the petition, the bench noted that Shivakumar had filed the petition after a long delay and that CBI had already completed most of its probe in the case. During the investigation, the court cannot appreciate the evidences and documents or material without conclusion of investigation or prior to submitting of the final report which amounts to conducting a mini trial for quashing the FIR, the court was quoted as saying by news portal Bar and Bench. Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Shivakumar alleged a conspiracy by the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state. I had filed an appeal before the court stating that the FIR is not right. During the Yediyurappa (BJP) government, because of political motives, they had given sanction to CBI. They (CBI) have said (told court) that they have completed 90% of the investigation, but till now I have not been called even once to inquire about my assets, he said. Inquiry has to be done about assets belonging to me and my wife, but they have not inquired with us about it till now. Im unable to understand how they have completed 90% (of probe). I have faith in court, I will fight, I will answer. Whatever might be their (opposition) efforts, I have faith. Im within the framework of law and will respond from within that framework. Whatever may be BJPs conspiracy, there is a court and I will respond with my list (of facts/documents), he added. Reacting to the order, the Bharatiya Janata Party demanded Shivakumars resignation, saying that it was necessary for a free and fair probe. The high court cancelled the stay on the case he had filed in the high court seeking to quash the FIR. D K Shivakumar should resign his position for a free and fair probe, former minister C N Ashwath Narayan told reporters in Bengaluru. CBI has accused Shivakumar of accumulating disproportionate assets worth over 74 crore between 2013 and 2018. According to the federal agency, the wealth of Shivakumar and his family saw an almost 45% increase during his term as MLA between the given period. The amount found to be disproportionate to his known sources of income was valued to be 74.93 lakh. The case emanates from an income tax search at Shivakumars residence in 2017 that led to the recovery of a little over 41 lakh. A case was registered against the Congress leader and others under provisions of the Income Tax act and section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of Indian Penal Code. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Kochi: Kerala Industries minister P Rajeev said Thursday that an apparel firm based in the state, which has been supplying uniforms for the Israeli police since 2015, has decided not to take further orders until peace is restored in the region. Kerala Industries Minister P Rajeev said Mariyan Apparel Private Limited based in the state has decided not to take further orders from Israel until peace is restored in the region. (PTI) Mariyan Apparel Private Limited, which has a uniform manufacturing unit in Koothuparambu in Kannur district of Kerala and is engaged in exporting apparels across the world, has been in the news the past few days for its unique Israeli connection in the backdrop of the war between Israel and Hamas militants. As it has moral objection to the approach of bombing places including hospitals and killing innocent people, until peace is restored in the region, Mariyan Apparels has decided not to accept further orders from Israel. They have issued a media statement regarding the same as well, the industries minister wrote in a Facebook post. The minister added that the firm run by a Malayali named Thomas Olickal has a manufacturing unit in Kannur which employs 1500 workers, 95 percent of whom are women. Due to great team work, the firm is able to manufacture clothes at international standards, he said. Olickal said, I want the ongoing war to end at the earliest and peace to return in the region. Apart from Israeli police, the Kerala-based firm also supplies uniforms for Philippine Army, Qatar Air Force, Qatar police, British and American security firms, several schools in the Middle East and fire and rescue personnel in foreign countries. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Vishnu Varma Vishnu Varma is Assistant Editor and reports from Kerala for the Hindustan Times. He has 10 years of experience writing for print and digital platforms and has worked at The New York Times, NDTV and The Indian Express in the past. He specialises in longform reportage at the intersections of politics, crime, social commentary and environment. ...view detail Telangana minister KT Rama Rao on Friday hit back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his corruption charges against Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), saying he reads the script of local leaders. Telangana minister KT Rama Rao I don't consider him a leader but a reader. He starts reading out scripts and doesn't pay attention to what has been written, Rao, the son of Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, told reporters. Rahul Gandhi says that corruption has increased in Telangana. His PCC chief (Revanth Reddy) is more dangerous than Dawood Ibrahim and Charles Sobhraj. Rahul Gandhi is innocent, so he doesn't know, he added. Rahul Gandhi has been aggressively campaigning in poll-bound Telangana with yatras and public rallies, frequently targeting BRS over alleged corruption and calling it a B team of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Addressing a gathering during his 'Vijayabheri Yatra' in the region, Gandhi on Thursday pointed out that the BRS lends its support to the BJP in the Lok Sabha. "The BRS, BJP and AIMIM help each other. Voting for BJP and AIMIM means voting for BRS. There are 24 cases against me. My Lok Sabha membership was cancelled, my house was taken away because I stood in front of BJP. On the other hand, KCR has not been questioned by ED, CBI or IT. BRS supports BJP in Lok Sabha. Be it GST or Farmers' Bill," the former Congress president said. Noting that crucial state departments are under the control of KCR's family, the Congress leader highlighted that this election represents a clash between "Dorala" (feudal lords) Telangana and "Prajala" (people's) Telangana. "Now, this election has become a fight between Dorala Telangana and Prajala Telangana. KCR's family has taken control of important departments related to land, sand, and liquor," he said. KTR earlier said that the BRS is not the BJP's B team, but the Congress is the C team of the country. "C team means chor (thief) team," the BRS working president said while addressing a gathering at Telangana Bhavan in Hyderabad. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON New Delhi: A low-pressure area over the southeast and the adjoining southwest Arabian Sea developed into a depression and is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm by October 22, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday. A low-pressure area over the southeast and the adjoining southwest Arabian Sea developed into a depression and is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm by October 22. (File photo) The cyclonic storm is predicted to further intensify into a severe cyclonic storm on Sunday and move towards the south coasts of Oman and adjoining Yemen, a bulletin release by the Met department read. The weather agency cautioned that at times, storms may deviate from the predicted track and intensity, as seen in the case of cyclone Biparjoy, which formed in the Arabian Sea in June and initially moved in a north-northwest direction before changing course to make landfall between Mandvi in Gujarat and Karachi in Pakistan. The IMD said the low-pressure system lay centered around 900 km east-southeast of Socotra (Yemen), 1,170 km southeast of Salalah Airport (Oman) and 1,260 km east-southeast of Al Ghaidah (Yemen) at 11:30 am on Friday. Continuing to move west-northwestwards, it is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm in the evening of October 22. Thereafter, it would move north-northwestwards from the morning of October 24, towards south Oman and adjoining Yemen coasts, the Met department bulletin read. Skymet Weather, a private weather forecasting service, said that a majority of models indicate the storm is heading for the Yemen-Oman coast. The Global Forecast System models suggest a recurvature while positioned over the deep central parts of the Arabian Sea, steering the system towards Pakistan and the Gujarat coast. Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Thursday night issued a detailed statement in response to the signed affidavit by businessman Darshan Hiranandani that corroborated BJP legislator Nishikant Dubey's claims about her receiving money and gifts for posing certain questions in Parliament. TMC MP Mahua Moitra during the Winter Session of Parliament in New Delhi.(PTI) Hiranandani who confirmed over WhatsApp that he released the statement admitted that he gave Moitra information on the basis of which she could pose questions attacking the Adani Group; that she received information from others too on this; that he gifted her expensive luxury items and underwrote the renovation of her official bungalow; and that she provided him with her Parliament login and password so that he could post the questions directly on her behalf. All of these are charges mentioned, in part or full, in Dubeys letter, which described the charges as cash for query, and which was based on a letter written by a lawyer and former friend of Moitra, Jai Anant Dehadrai to him (Dubey). Here's what Moitra said in response to the affidavit: "Three days ago (16.10.2023), the Hiranandani Group put out an official press release stating that all charges leveled against them were baseless. Today (19.10.2023) an "approver affidavit" has been leaked to the press. This "affidavit" is on a white piece of paper with no letterhead and there is no official origin aside from a press leak. A few questions need to be asked urgently: 1. Darshan Hiranandani has not been summoned by the CBI or the Ethics committee or indeed by any investigative agency yet. Who then has he given this affidavit to? 2. The affidavit is on white paper and not on official letterhead or notarised. Why would one of India's most respected/ educated businessman sign a letter like this on white paper unless a gun was put to his head to do it? 3. The contents of the letter are a joke. It has clearly been drafted by some half-wit in the PMO who doubles up as a creative writer in the BJP's IT cell. It sings paeans to Modi and Gautam Adani while linking in every opponent of theirs to me and my alleged corruption. Shardul Shroff is the brother of Cyril Shroff who has had a bitter separation of business from him. Cyril Shroff is Gautam Adani's samdhi and was on the SEBI's committee in total conflict of interest. Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor are both people the government targets relentlessly. Sucheta Dalal is an investigative journalist who is always exposing the government. Clearly someone said Sabh ka naam ghusaa do, aisa mauka phir nahi ayega!" 4. For example, Paragraph 12 claims Darshan gave in to my demands because he was fearful of displeasing me. Darshan and his father run one of India's largest business groups and their recent projects in UP and Gujarat have been inaugurated by the CM of Uttar Pradesh and by the Prime Minister. Darshan accompanied the PM abroad as part of his business delegation very recently. Why would such a wealthy successful businessman who enjoys direct access to every Minister and the PMO be coerced by a first time Opposition MP into giving her gifts and giving into her demands? It is totally illogical and only cements the truth that this letter was drafted by the PMO and not Darshan. 5. Why has Darshan not done a press conference and read this out or tweeted it himself or his company put it out? If indeed he has confessed to this why is he not releasing it officially rather than through back channel leaks? The truth is exceedingly clear. This BJP government has been waiting to somehow shut me up on the Adani issue desperately. Jai Dehadrai is not some "Supreme Court lawyer" who has done painstaking research on me. He is a jilted ex with an acrimonious personal history with me who wanted to somehow get back at me. If indeed he was witness to all of my corruption why was he with me during the time and why did he wait till now to make it public? Also if he wrote to CBI and the LS Speaker, why out of 543 MPs would he forward the letters to Nishikant Dubey, a man who I have repeatedly exposed in Parliament and outside, and against who I have filed pending privilege motions? Why were the contents of Jai's unverified letter leaked by Nishikant immediately to PTI and the contents used to create a media circus before any investigation was done? Once the ground was laid the BJP moved onto step 2. The PMO held a proverbial gun to Darshan and his father's heads and gave them 20 minutes to sign this letter sent to them. They were threatened with a total shut down of all their businesses. His father is in real estate which depends on government licenses. And he is in energy, data centres and semiconductor chip manufacturing which too depends on government licenses. He has over 30,000 crore investments in UP alone. They were told they will be finished, the CBI would raid them and all government business would stop and all PSU bank financing would be stopped immediately. The draft of this letter was sent by the PMO and he was forced to sign it. And it was leaked to the press immediately. This is in return for the government not doing a CBI investigation or not aggressively attacking their businesses. Though tragic, it is totally understandable that Darshan (who is a dear friend) would need to think of what is at stake for him here - namely the continuation of his family businesses built up over decades and the fate of thousands of employees - and buckle under pressure and sign this. This is the usual modus operandi of this BJP government or rather Gautam Adani's government run by the BJP. Every effort is being made to malign me and isolate and scare those near and dear to me. My closest have been threatened with ED and CBI raids in the next few days. This selective leak of a plea bargain being shown as part of a media circus only reveals how scared and desperate the BJP and Modi are of Adani's corruption coming out in the open. This is part of the establishment's witch hunt into every political leader who dares question Adani. This is the price to pay for standing up to the BJP and Adani. But they cannot scare me. I will continue to stand up to Mr. Adani until he answers the many questions that he's duty bound to answer to the people of this great country. And I will pay any price to protect my country from these criminals. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, ARMENPRESS. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that more than one trillion hryvnias had already been spent on Ukraines defense this year. "During nine months of 2023, UAH 2 trillion 119 billion has already been spent from the general fund of the state budget. Of these funds, 682 billion was spent on military salaries, 349 billion on support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This includes the purchase of military equipment, weapons, ammunition, defense products, and personal protective equipment. That is, this year we have already spent more than one trillion hryvnias on our defense," Ukrainian Prime Minister said at a government meeting on Friday, Ukrinform reports. Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has issued a detailed response to the signed affidavit by businessman Darshan Hiranandani that corroborated BJP legislator Nishikant Dubey's claims about her receiving money and gifts for posing certain questions in Parliament. Moitra expressed scepticism about the document's legitimacy due to the lack of official letterhead and notarization, suggesting that a prominent businessman like Darshan Hiranandani would not typically sign such an important statement on plain white paper without potential external pressure. Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra.(ANI) The affidavit is on white paper and not on official letterhead or notarised. Why would one of India's most respected/ educated businessman sign a letter like this on white paper unless a gun was put to his head to do it? the Lok Sabha member said in a statement. Calling the content of the letter a joke, Moitra further claimed that the affidavit was drafted by some half-wit in the PMO who doubles up as a creative writer in the BJP's IT cell as it contained effusive praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani while implicating various political opponents and investigative journalists in her alleged corruption. Cyril Shroff is Gautam Adani's samdhi and was on the SEBI's committee in total conflict of interest. Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor are both people the government targets relentlessly. Sucheta Dalal is an investigative journalist who is always exposing the government, she added. According to Moitra, the leaked affidavit is part of a broader strategy by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government to discredit her and divert attention from pressing concerns related to the Adani Group. She alleged that the government is attempting to intimidate those close to her, including threats of investigations by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The PMO held a proverbial gun to Darshan and his father's heads and gave them 20 minutes to sign this letter sent to them. They were threatened with a total shut down of all their businesses, she wrote, highlighting his business dependency on government licenses and thousands of crores of investments in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh. The draft of this letter was sent by the PMO and he was forced to sign it. And it was leaked to the press immediately. This is in return for the government not doing a CBI investigation or not aggressively attacking their businesses, the TMC MP claimed. Though tragic, it is totally understandable that Darshan (who is a dear friend) would need to think of what is at stake for him here - namely the continuation of his family businesses built up over decades and the fate of thousands of employees - and buckle under pressure and sign this, she added. What Darshan Hiranandani said in affidavit Darshan Hiranandani, the CEO of real estate-to-energy group Hiranandani, on Thursday said the TMC leader targeted Gautam Adani to "malign and embarass" Prime Minister Narendra Modi whose impeccable reputation gave opposition no opportunity to attack him. Hiranandani, who confirmed to HT over WhatsApp that he released the statement, admitted that he gave Moitra information on the basis of which she could pose questions attacking the Adani Group; that she received information from others too on this; that he gifted her expensive luxury items and underwrote the renovation of her official bungalow; and that she provided him with her Parliament login and password so that he could post the questions directly on her behalf. Earlier this week, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and Moitra's estranged partner and lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai alleged that Moitra took favours from Hiranandani to raise questions in Parliament. Dubey's complaint has been referred by the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to Parliament's Ethics Committee. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kunal Gaurav Kunal Gaurav is a multimedia journalist with Hindustan Times, New Delhi. He handles daily editorial operations for the digital news desk, including news tracking, news prioritisation, writing and editing. ...view detail New DelhiThe Indian Navy on Friday received its latest stealth destroyer, Imphal, which is the first warship with separate accommodation for women sailors, officials aware of the matter said. Some of the women Agniveers who graduated from INS Chilka, the Navys training facility in Odisha, and joined service in March 2023. (Rahul Singh/HT Photo) The development comes months after the navy began inducting women as sailors for the first time under the Agnipath recruitment scheme. To be sure, women officers are currently serving on board several warships that have separate berthing facilities for them. But not so for women sailors. Imphal, constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai, will get the INS prefix after getting commissioned. It is the third of the four warships sanctioned under an important project called P-15B aimed at boosting the navys capabilities in the Indian Ocean region. INS Visakhapatnam and INS Mormugao have already been commissioned. Surat, the fourth one, is under construction. READ | Indian Navy's latest warship Mahendragiri launched: Top points Designed by the navys Warship Design Bureau and built by MDL, this ship (Imphal) is among the most technologically advanced warships in the world, the navy said in a statement, calling it a potent and versatile platform equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors. The destroyers induction into service will enhance Indias maritime prowess in the Indian Ocean region, it said. The ship has indigenous content of around 75% including its medium range surface-to-air missiles, BrahMos missiles, torpedo tube launchers, anti-submarine rocket launchers and 76mm super rapid gun mount. The destroyer has a displacement of 7,400 tonnes, length of 164 metres and top speed of more than 30 knots. It can carry a crew of 312. The ship sailed out for maiden sea trials in April 2023 and has since undergone a comprehensive schedule of trials in harbour and at sea, leading up to its delivery in a record time frame of only six months, the statement added. The time taken to build Imphal and for her trials is the shortest for any indigenous destroyer. The delivery of Imphal is an affirmation of the impetus being given by the government and the navy to the self-reliance campaign. Separate berthing areas for women sailors became a necessity after the entry of women into the navys personnel below officer rank (PBOR) cadre earlier this year. The navys first batch of Agniveers (recruited under the Agnipath scheme), including around 270 women, graduated from INS Chilka, the navys training facility in Odisha, and joined service in March 2023. The Agnipath model marked a stark departure from the militarys decades-old recruitment system that ended after the government announced the new scheme last year. It seeks to recruit soldiers for four years, with a provision to retain 25% of them in regular service for 15 more years after fresh screening. In 2021, the navy assigned four women officers to warships after a hiatus of almost 25 years. The numbers have grown to around 40 since. In a short-lived experiment, women from the navys logistics and medical branches were deployed on fleet tanker INS Jyoti in 1997. Women in uniform are no longer on the fringes but are being assigned central roles on a par with their male counterparts across the three services. They are flying fighter planes, serving onboard warships, commanding front-line units, being inducted in the PBOR cadre, eligible for permanent commission, and undergoing training at the National Defence Academy. The navy has been at the forefront of giving equal opportunities to women, said Commander Prasanna Edayilliam (retd), a woman officer who served the navy for 14 years. Separate berthing facilities for women sailors in new warships will give them a springboard to launch their careers in a challenging environment. It will also allow the navy to deploy more women on warships, Edayilliam added. The navy has also completed a review of ranks held by sailors, inherited from the British, and is set to replace them with Indianised designations as part of a larger drive to jettison colonial military traditions, with gender-neutral changes to the ranks also to be announced shortly, as first reported by HT. More than 65,000 sailors will now get new ranks. Seven ranks in the navys PBOR cadre will be redesignated, including three existing titles that are not gender neutral. The ranks that will be made to align with Indian traditions are Master Chief Petty Officer Ist Class, Master Chief Petty Officer IInd Class, Chief Petty Officer, Petty Officer, Leading Seaman, Seaman Ist Class and Seaman IInd Class. BJP Lok Sabha MP Nishikant Dubey who first accused Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra of taking bribes against questions in Parliament on Friday recounted the story of JMM leader Pankaj Mishra who has been in jail for the last two years. "The Jharkhand leader used to welcome ED, CBI every day through newspaper, social media. And then one day, the agency came. He has been in jail for the last two years. The same obsession of welcoming CBI has been passed on to a person who extorts money and accumulates LV and Gucci products. It seems a second Pankaj is ready," Nishikant Dubey said. Nishikant Dubey's latest tweet without naming Mahua Moitra has a veiled threat. Mahua Moitra was once criticised for her Louis Vuitton bag that was seen in Parliament. "Modiji sent me some of the proceeds after auctioning his 10 lakh suit. I bought a handbag and used the rest to pay lawyer fees," Mahua Moitra replied at that time. Here is what happened so far in the Mahua Moitra-cash for question scam 1. Nishikant Dubey complained that Mahua Moitra took cash, gifts from businessman Darshan Hiranandani for the questions that she asked in Parliament over Adani. 2. Mahua Moitra approached the Delhi high court seeking to restrain Nishikant Dubey, advocate Jai Dehadrai whom she claimed as her ex, and several social media platforms and media houses from posting any fake or defamatory content against her. 3. A day before the case was to be heard, Darshan Hiranandani admitted to have used Mahua Moitra's Parliament login to raise questions against Adani. "She became Lok Sabha MP in May 2019. She was advised by her friends that the shortest route to fame was by attacking Narendra Modi. She thought that the only way to attack PM Modi was by attacking Gautam Adani and his group as they both come from Gujarat," Hiranandani's affidavit read. 4. Mahua Moitra issued a statement questioning the credibility of Darshan Hiranandani's statement and claimed he had been forced to sign the statement after being threatened by the PMO with "total shut down" of his family business. 5. Parliamentary Committee of Ethics chairman Vinod Sonkar said he has received Darshan Hiranandani's affidavit. 6. Mahua Moitra said she is ready to answer the CBI and Parliament's Ethics Committee if she is called but she has not time and interest to feed an "Adani-directed media circus trial or answer BJP trolls". 7. Training her gun at the BJP, Mahua Moitra said BJP's agenda is to get her expelled from the Lok Sabha. "Chairman Ethics Committee openly speaks to media. Please see the Lok Sabha rules below. How does an "affidavit" find its way to media? Chairman should first do an enquiry into how this was leaked. I repeat - BJP 1 point agenda is to expel me from LS to shut me up on Adani," Mahua wrote. 8. Jai Dehadrai, Mahua Moitra's ex, meanwhile complained to the police that Mahua Moitra 'kidnapped' his pet dog Henry. on Friday, Jai claimed an attempt was made on Thursday afternoon to 'coerce him' into withdrawing his CBI complaint and letter to Nishikant Dubey (based on which Dubey complained to Lok Sabha Speaker) in exchange for Henry. "I flatly refused -- will give details to CBI," Jai posted. 9. In the hearing of Mahua Moitra's suit against Nishikant Dubey, senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan withdrew himself from the matter after Jai Dehadrai informed the court that he was contacted by Sankaranarayanan over phone on Thursday night for withdrawing his complaint to the CBI. 10. On calling Jai Dehadrai, Gopal Sankarnaryan said he reached out to him as he knew him and explored if there is possibility of settlement. Jai said that he will get back to me, but he didn't. Today when I appeared, Jai personally said to me he had an objection to me appearing. I immediately withdrew and said that I don't want to do this case, Mahua Moitra's lawyer said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Poulomi Ghosh Poulomi Ghosh is a journalist with Hindustan Times, New Delhi. ...view detail The ministry of external affairs strongly responded to Canada's statement on the withdrawal of some of its diplomats following India's prod and said no international norm was violated seeking parity in the mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa. Canada accused India of violating Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations as it confirmed that 41 diplomats have been shifted out of India. "We reject any attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms," the MEA said countering Canada's charge. Read | Visa processing to slow down after 41 Canadian diplomats leave India India replied to Canada's statement that called New Delhi's action 'unreasonable and escalatory'. (AFP) "We have seen the Statement by the Government of Canada on October 19 regarding Canadian diplomatic presence in India. The state of our bilateral relations, the much higher number of Canadian diplomats in India, and their continued interference in our internal affairs warrant a parity in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa. We have been engaged with the Canadian side on this over the last month in order to work out the details and modalities of its implementation. Our actions in implementing this parity are fully consistent with Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which states the following: "In the absence of specific agreement as to the size of the mission, the receiving State may require that the size of a mission be kept within limits considered by it to be reasonable and normal, having regard to circumstances and conditions in the receiving State and to the needs of the particular mission," the MEA statement read. The row goes back to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accusing India of killing sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India rejected the charge and asked Ottawa to share specific info which Canada said it did but India denied. New Delhi cited the number of times it sent details about Khalistani terrorists sheltered in Canada and Canada took no action. The charge-countercharge over Nijjar narrowed down to a diplomatic crisis. India suspended its visa services in Canada and asked Canada to reduce the number of Canadian diplomats posted in India. MEA said Canadian diplomats in India have been interfering in India's internal matters and there is no parity in the number between the diplomats posted in India by Canada and the other way round. Unilateral revocation of diplomatic privileges and immunities: Canada Earlier it was reported that New Delhi gave a deadline till October 10 to Ottawa to remove 41 diplomats from India. Canada on October 19 issued a statement on this and confirmed that the deadline was till October 20. The statement issued from Canada's foreign affairs ministry blamed India of "unilaterally revoking diplomatic privileges and immunities" contrary to "international law, including the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations". "This action taken by India is completely unreasonable and escalatory. India accredited each and every one of the Canadian diplomats they are now expelling. And all of those diplomats were carrying out their duties in good faith, and to the greater benefit of both countries," the statement read. "Diplomatic immunities should be respected and cannot be unilaterally revoked by a host country. If we allow this norm to be broken, no diplomat anywhere would be safe. As such, the Government of Canada will continue to respect diplomatic norms and not reciprocate this action," Canada said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON India on Friday asserted that its action to ensure parity in diplomatic presence with Canada is in line with the Vienna Convention, rejecting Ottawas contention that the move for withdrawal of 41 Canadian diplomats amounted to a violation of international norms. Security personnel stand guard in front of the High Commission of Canada in New Delhi(AFP) The Canadian government said late on Thursday that 41 diplomats and 42 dependents had left India a day before the deadline set by New Delhi for their withdrawal, failing which they would lose their diplomatic immunity. It also said that move would delay and severely curtail visa services for Indians. Canadas foreign minister Melanie Joly said the unilateral revocation of diplomatic immunities was contrary to international law and a clear violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Hours later, the external affairs ministry rejected Jolys characterisation of the move for parity in diplomatic presence, which was put in motion after a diplomatic row erupted over Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus allegation that Indian government agents were linked to the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey town in June. We reject any attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms, the ministry said in a statement. Parity in diplomatic presence was warranted by the state of bilateral relations, the much higher number of Canadian diplomats in India and their continued interference in our internal affairs, the ministry said. The Indian side defended its actions for diplomatic parity by saying they are fully consistent with Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention. This article states: In the absence of specific agreement as to the size of the mission, the receiving State may require that the size of a mission be kept within limits considered by it to be reasonable and normal, having regard to circumstances and conditions in the receiving State and to the needs of the particular mission. India was engaged with the Canadian side over the past month to work out details and modalities for implementing the parity, the ministry said in reference to consultations between the two sides on the issue. Relations between India and Canada, which have strained for the past few years, went into free fall after Trudeau made the explosive allegation in Canadas Parliament on September 18 that there was a potential link between Indian agents and the killing of Nijjar, designated a terrorist by India. India rejected the accusation as absurd. Both sides expelled a senior diplomat each and India subsequently suspended visa operations for Canadian citizens before seeking parity in diplomatic presence. Besides the high commission in New Delhi, Canada has three consulates and eight trade offices across the country. In contrast, India has the high commission and two consulates in Canada, and no trade offices. India has 21 diplomats in Canada, while there were 62 Canadian diplomats in the country before the departure of the 41 who were withdrawn. Addressing a news conference along with immigration minister Marc Miller in Ottawa, Joly said: I can confirm that India has formally conveyed its plan to unilaterally remove diplomatic immunities for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents in Delhi by...October 20. She added, Given the implications of Indias actions on the safety of our diplomats, we have facilitated their safe departure from India. This means that our diplomats and their families have now left and are on their way home. A statement from Canadas foreign ministry quoted Joly as saying that India had accredited each of the Canadian diplomats they are now expelling and these officials were carrying out their duties in good faith. The original deadline for the drawdown of the Canadian diplomats in India was October 10, but Ottawa had let it elapse while engaging in private negotiations. People familiar with the matter said the negotiations had ultimately boiled down to a matter of which side would blink first as the Indian side had refused to back down. Joly also described Indias actions as unreasonable and escalatory but said that Canada will not reciprocate. Canada will continue to engage with India, she said, adding: Now more than ever, we need to have diplomats on the ground and we need to talk to one another. She further said, Canada will continue to defend international law, which applies equally to all states. Canada will continue to engage India and remains committed to dialogue as we move forward. The Canadian side will now have to pause in-person services at its consulates in Chandigarh, Bengaluru and Mumbai, but those needing consular assistance can reach out by email or phone or visit the high commission in New Delhi. The lower numbers of staff will have short-term repercussions, and I believe medium-term as well, Miller said. India was the top source of permanent residents, temporary foreign workers and international students in Canada in 2022. Miller said Canada will continue to welcome Indian immigrants but the reduced staff will lead to slower processing of visa applications. In a background briefing with reporters, a Canadian government official said the immigration and visa programme will be curtailed. The reduction in staff will mean a backlog of 17,500 application decisions by the end of December, though it is hoped processing will return to normal by early 2024, another official said. Both spoke on condition of anonymity. Canadas foreign ministry said Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will continue to accept and process applications from India. Since certain application requirements need to be completed locally or on-site, the reduction in staff will affect service standards for Indian nationals. Five IRCC staff will remain in India and focus on work that requires in-country presence, such as urgent processing, visa printing, risk assessment and overseeing key partners, including visa application centres, panel physicians and clinics that perform immigration medical exams. The rest of the work will be reassigned across its global processing network. According to data from IRCC, Indians accounted for 185,065 of the 463,910 study permits issued to international students in 2023. This years total figure was set to surpass the record set in 2022, when Indians accounted for 225,875 of the 548955 student visas granted. According to IRCC figures, 431,645 permanent residents were admitted in 2021, and India was the top source country with 127,933. Canada also attracts thousands of temporary workers from India annually. Joly also said Indias decision wont distract from Canadas legitimate investigation into the killing of Nijjar. Canadas priorities continue to be the pursuit of truth, protection of Canadians and defence of the countrys sovereignty. In this context, Joly reiterated Canadas call for India to cooperate in the investigation. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Toronto/New Delhi: India on Friday asserted that its action to ensure parity in diplomatic presence with Canada is in line with the Vienna Convention, rejecting Ottawas contention that the move for withdrawal of 41 Canadian diplomats amounted to a violation of international norms. Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, walks past Prime Minister Narendra Modi as they take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at Raj Ghat, Mahatma Gandhis cremation site, during the G20 Summit on Sept. 10 (AP file photo.) The Canadian government said late on Thursday that 41 diplomats and 42 dependents had left India a day before the deadline set by New Delhi for their withdrawal, failing which they would lose their diplomatic immunity. Canadas foreign minister Melanie Joly said the unilateral revocation of diplomatic immunities was contrary to international law and a clear violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Hours later, the external affairs ministry rejected Jolys characterisation of the move for parity in diplomatic presence, which was put in motion after a diplomatic row erupted over Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus allegation that Indian government agents were linked to the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey town in June. We reject any attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms, the ministry said in a statement. Parity in diplomatic presence was warranted by the state of bilateral relations, the much higher number of Canadian diplomats in India and their continued interference in our internal affairs, the ministry said. The Indian side defended its actions for diplomatic parity by saying they are fully consistent with Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention. This article states: In the absence of specific agreement as to the size of the mission, the receiving State may require that the size of a mission be kept within limits considered by it to be reasonable and normal, having regard to circumstances and conditions in the receiving State and to the needs of the particular mission. India had been engaged with the Canadian side over the past month to work out details and modalities for implementing the parity, the ministry said in reference to consultations between the two sides on the issue. Relations between India and Canada, which have strained for the past few years, went into free fall after Trudeau made the explosive allegation in Canadas Parliament on September 18 that there was a potential link between Indian agents and the killing of Nijjar, designated a terrorist by India. India rejected the accusation as absurd. Both sides expelled a senior diplomat each and India subsequently suspended visa operations for Canadian citizens before seeking parity in diplomatic presence. Besides the high commission in New Delhi, Canada has three consulates and eight trade offices across the country. In contrast, India has the high commission and two consulates in Canada, and no trade offices. India has 21 diplomats in Canada, while there were 62 Canadian diplomats in the country before the departure of the 41 who were withdrawn. Addressing a news conference along with immigration minister Marc Miller in Ottawa, Joly said: I can confirm that India has formally conveyed its plan to unilaterally remove diplomatic immunities for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents in Delhi by...October 20. She added, Given the implications of Indias actions on the safety of our diplomats, we have facilitated their safe departure from India. This means that our diplomats and their families have now left and are on their way home. A statement from Canadas foreign ministry quoted Joly as saying that India had accredited each of the Canadian diplomats they are now expelling and these officials were carrying out their duties in good faith. The original deadline for the drawdown of the Canadian diplomats in India was October 10, but Ottawa had let it elapse while engaging in private negotiations. People familiar with the matter said the negotiations had ultimately boiled down to a matter of which side would blink first as the Indian side had refused to back down. Joly also described Indias actions as unreasonable and escalatory but said that Canada will not reciprocate. Canada will continue to engage with India, she said, adding: Now more than ever, we need to have diplomats on the ground and we need to talk to one another. She further said, Canada will continue to defend international law, which applies equally to all states. Canada will continue to engage India and remains committed to dialogue as we move forward. The Canadian side will now have to pause in-person services at its consulates in Chandigarh, Bengaluru and Mumbai, but those needing consular assistance can reach out by email or phone or visit the high commission in New Delhi. The lower numbers of staff will have short-term repercussions, and I believe medium-term as well, Miller said. India was the top source of permanent residents, temporary foreign workers and international students in Canada in 2022. Miller said Canada will continue to welcome Indian immigrants but the reduced staff will lead to slower processing of visa applications. In a background briefing with reporters, a Canadian government official said the immigration and visa programme will be severely curtailed. The reduction in staff will mean a backlog of 17,500 application decisions by the end of December, though it is hoped processing will return to normal by early 2024, another official said. Both spoke on condition of anonymity. Canadas foreign ministry said Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will continue to accept and process applications from India. Since certain application requirements need to be completed locally or on-site, the reduction in staff will affect service standards for Indian nationals. Five IRCC staff will remain in India and focus on work that requires in-country presence, such as urgent processing, visa printing, risk assessment and overseeing key partners, including visa application centres, panel physicians and clinics that perform immigration medical exams. The rest of the work will be reassigned across its global processing network. According to data from IRCC, Indians accounted for 185,065 of the 463,910 study permits issued to international students in 2023. This years total figure was set to surpass the record set in 2022, when Indians accounted for 225,875 of the 548955 student visas granted. According to IRCC figures, 431,645 permanent residents were admitted in 2021, and India was the top source country with 127,933. Canada also attracts thousands of temporary workers from India annually. Joly also said Indias decision wont distract from Canadas legitimate investigation into the killing of Nijjar. Canadas priorities continue to be the pursuit of truth, protection of Canadians and defence of the countrys sovereignty. In this context, Joly reiterated Canadas call for India to cooperate in the investigation. Members of the Canadian government spoke with Indian counterparts and held several meetings to discuss the killing of Nijjar and Trudeaus allegation in Parliament was no surprise, Joly said. The two sides had numerous conversations and Indian officials were made aware of the credible allegations, she added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Kerala High Court recently observed that punishments relating to cruelty to a married woman, under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 498A, cannot be applied to or invoked by women in live-in relationships. The court's observation came as it was ruling on the conviction and sentence that was imposed on a man and his brother under IPC sections 498A and 306 (abetment of suicide) for the death of a woman in 1997. (File) Justice Sophy Thomas said that for a woman to seek redressal under Section 498A, she should be married to a man who was accused of cruelty or to a man whose family members were accused of cruelty. As quoted by Bar and Bench, Justice Thomas said, When there is some form of marriage either religious or customary which has the colour of a legal marriage, then also, the woman can seek protection under Section 498A of IPC though later, for some reason ... that marriage is found to be invalid in the eye of law. But, when there was no solemnisation of marriage at all, and only live in relationship on the basis of a marriage agreement, then the woman cannot seek shelter under Section 498A of IPC, saying that they were holding out to the society as man and wife by their long cohabitation, The court's observation came as it was ruling on the conviction and sentence that was imposed on a man and his family under IPC sections 498A and 306 (abetment of suicide) for the death of a woman in 1997. The woman died by setting herself on fire allegedly due to cruelty and harassment faced by her after eloping with the accused man, Bar and Bench reported. A sessions court in 1998 convicted and sentenced the man along with his parents and brother as the woman died by suicide a few months after the couple began living together. The accused challenged the verdict in 2000 and an appellate court partly allowed appeals that the man and his family filed. However, the man also filed an appeal in the Kerala High Court so they could be honourably acquitted in the case, Bar and Bench stated. On October 12 this year, the high court allowed the plea and overturned the findings of guilt. The court also noted that the couple wasn't legally married and were living together on the basis of a marriage agreement which did not have any legal legitimacy. It said that therefore the session court's findings were wrong since the couple wasn't married. The High Court said, In the case on hand, since the marriage between the 1st revision petitioner and deceased was not solemnized, and they started living together on the basis of a marriage agreement, which has no legal sanctity in the eye of the law, they have to be treated as persons in live-in-relation, and they were not husband and wife, in order to attract an offence punishable under Section 498A of IPC. The conviction of the accused under suicide abetment was also dismissed as the court noted that the woman did not level any allegations against the man or his family in her dying declaration, Bar and Bench said. The accused's parents passed away while the case was pending. The court also observed that the charges against the parents stood abated. KP Balagopal represented the revision petitioners, while Public Prosecutor Nima Jacob represented the state. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the priority section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor at Sahibabad RapidX Station. He also flagged off the RapidX train connecting Sahibabad to Duhai Depot, marking the launch of the Regional Rapid Transit System in India. Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday announced that RRTS trains will be known as Namo Bharat. PM Modi inaugurates Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor.(ANI) "The priority corridor of RRTS project related to the aspirations of crores of people is ready to get on track. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate it to the nation on October 20. The Regional Rapid Transit System of the country will be known as 'Namo Bharat'," Puri said in a social media post. The Indian Railways is already running semi-high-speed trains -- 'Vande Bharat' -- in different parts of the country. German Ambassador to India, Philipp Ackermann, who was present at the launch venue, said, I am very honoured and privileged to be here today...It is a fabulous project, the fastest train in India so far. It's a shuttle train that comes under NCRTC from Meerut to Delhi. It runs at a speed of 160 km/hr. It is run and operated by a German rail company Deutsche Bahn. A total of eight RRTS corridors have been identified for development in the National Capital Region (NCR). Out of these, three corridors have been prioritized for implementation in Phase I. These include the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Corridor, the Delhi-Gurugram-SNB-Alwar Corridor, and the Delhi-Panipat Corridor. The Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS, with a total project cost exceeding 30,000 crore, will bridge the gap between Delhi and Meerut in less than an hour, traversing the urban centres of Ghaziabad, Muradnagar, and Modinagar. With a design speed of 180 kilometres per hour, RRTS will provide high-speed intercity commuting trains every 15 minutes, with the flexibility to increase the frequency to as little as every 5 minutes as needed, according to a government release. The foundation stone for the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor was laid by Prime Minister Modi on March 8, 2019. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail New Delhi The ongoing public tussle involving Trinamool Congress member of Parliament (MP) Mahua Moitra, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Nishikant Dubey, and Supreme Court advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai will not have any impact on the proceedings of the parliamentary ethics committee, panel chairman Vinod Kumar Sonkar said on Friday. The committee is looking into allegations made by BJP leader Nishikant Dubey that Mahua Moitra sought money and favours in return for asking certain parliamentary questions (HT File Photo) The committee is looking into allegations made in a letter to Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla by Dubey, based on a complaint by Dehadrai that Moitra sought money and favours in return for asking certain parliamentary questions. Whatever is happening outside is not pertinent to the case that is before the panel. On October 26, we will look at the documents and the proof of the allegation the two deponents bring on table, said Sonkar. On Thursday, both Dubey and Dehadrai will depose before the panel. READ | Cash for query row: TMC distances itself from Mahua Moitra Sonkar added that after the panel gets the documents from Dubey and Dehadrai, the panel will examine it and decide what to do next. If those documents require further examination, we might refer it to respective agencies. When asked about the deposition of Moitra, Sonkar said, We have to hear all those who are involved in this issue. The next schedule will be drawn up on Thursday. Moitra, however, objected to Sonkars remarks to the media and tweeted, Chairman ethics committee openly speaks to media. Please see Lok Sabha rules below. READ | Mahua Moitra's lawyer recuses from defamation case after Delhi HC rap on Dehadrai 'coercion' bid Lok Sabha officials pointed out that all panel chairpersons are authorised to speak to media. Moitra also questioned, How does affidavit find its way to media? Chairman should first do enquiry into how this was leaked. I repeat - BJP 1 point agenda is to expel me from LS to shut me up on Adani. She was referring to an affidavit by Darshan Hiranandani, the businessman named in Dubeys complaint , who backed the charges in Dubeys letter. The affidavit was submitted to the panel on Friday. I welcome answering questions to CBI and ethics committee (which has absolute majority of BJP members) if & when they call me. I have neither time nor interest to feed a Adani-directed media circus trial or answer BJP trolls. I am enjoying Durga Puja in Nadia, she posted on X. Dubey hit back, referring to Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Pankaj Mishra, who is jail for the last two years on money laundering charges. The Jharkhand leader used to welcome ED, CBI every day through newspaper, social media. And then one day, the agency came. He has been in jail for the last two years. The same obsession of welcoming CBI has been passed on to a person who extorts money and accumulates LV and Gucci products. It seems a second Pankaj is ready, Dubey said. Moitra has already refuted the allegations in Hiranandanis affidavit. Darshan Hiranandani has not been summoned by the CBI or the ethics committee or indeed by any investigative agency yet. Who then has he given this affidavit to? The affidavit is on white paper and not on official letterhead or notarised. Why would one of Indias most respected/ educated businessman sign a letter like this on white paper unless a gun was put to his head to do it? asked Moitra in a statement on Thursday night. She dubbed the content of Hiranandani affidavit as a joke. Paragraph 12 claims Darshan gave in to my demands because he was fearful of displeasing me. Darshan and his father run one of Indias largest business groups ,..Why would such a wealthy successful businessman who enjoys direct access to every minister and the PMO be coerced by a first-time Opposition MP into giving her gifts and giving into her demands? It is totally illogical... she said. Congress Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Friday said he was not aware of what exactly happened in the Mahua Moitra case but the government is distressed because the name of an industrialist has come up. Whoever speaks against the industrialist -- whom the government is keen to protect -- might become the country's enemy, Adhir said citing the example of Rahul Gandhi's disqualification. "When Rahul Gandhi too raised a question about that specific industrialist, action was taken against him," Adhir said. The Congress leader's statement comes as Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra has been accused of taking cash, gifts in exchange of questions against Adani that allegedly came straight from businessman Darshan Hiranandani. In an affidavit, the Dubai-based businessman claimed he used Mahua Moitra's Parliament login to post questions. Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury reacted to the row over Mahua Moitra that she took bribe from industrialist Darshan Hiranandani in exchange of asking questions in Parliament. Mahua Moitra's party Trinamool Congress has not issued any official statement on the row while party general secretary Kunal Ghosh said the party will not react on the issue. "When we go to Parliament, we go as people's representatives. We raise people's questions -- wherever we get these questions from. If the government has any answer, it gives. Otherwise, it does not. But I have never seen such promptness in forming an Ethics Committee and starting an investigation," Adhir said. "I don't know exactly what happened. But in general, what I can say is that every MP has the right to speak in Parliament. And the ruling party wants to throttle everyone inside and outside Parliament. Based on this, I feel the issue is rai ka pahaad (mountain out of a molehill). If anyone speaks against that industrialist, the government gets rattled. This should also be investigated. The government has all the agencies," Adhir said. Darshan Hiranandani, in an affidavit, admitted to having used Mahua Moitra's Parliament login to ask questions Adani. Mahua Moitra made "frequent demands" including "expensive luxury items, providing support on renovation of her officially allotted bungalow in Delhi, travel expenses, holidays, etc, apart from providing secretarial and logistical help for her travels within India and to different parts of the world," the affidavit claimed. Mahua Moitra in her statement questioned the credibility of Hiranandani'd letter and said the PMO drafted it and then forced him to sign it threatening him with total shutdown of his business. "Why would one of India's most respected/educated businessman sign a letter like this on white paper unless a gun was put to his head to do it," Mahua wrote. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Poulomi Ghosh Poulomi Ghosh is a journalist with Hindustan Times, New Delhi. ...view detail Experts have urged parents to remain "vigilant" after a mystery man hacked into a family's baby monitor and used it to watch, and speak with, their one-year-old baby. Poppy Radbone and her husband Jay, an Aussie rapper who goes by J-MILLA, woke up at around 6am on September 25 to the usual sound of their daughter, Blossom, cooing. The next sound they heard though was one they hope to never hear again. It was a stranger's voice and he was talking to their daughter, trying to "comfort" her. "At first I thought it was Jay but then I felt he was next to me in bed and my heart fell to the ground," Poppy told Yahoo News Australia. "Then Jay ran into the room because we thought [an intruder] must be in there". Jay, from Adelaide, realised the voice was coming through the video-enabled monitor so ripped it out of the socket. "We haven't used it since". The parents heard a man speaking to their one-year-old daughter through the baby monitor. Source: TikTok / popsandjayofficial Poppy and Jay, who have large social media followings, wanted to share their experience to warn other families but waited until three weeks later because of concerns for their safety immediately after. Tim Falinski, Managing Director at cyber security firm Trend Micro, told Yahoo News Australia that while it's still relatively unlikely for this to happen, the incident is "not isolated". "As more of us use integrated smart devices in our everyday lives, which are connected to the internet, threats are always just around the corner. This leaves us vulnerable to attacks," he said. Baby monitor was set up for months The morning of the incident Poppy's phone was sent an alert after detecting sound and motion from Blossom in her cot. "The person who had access to our baby monitor got notification of sound and motion too I presume. [But] I don't know how long he'd been watching," Poppy said. The baby monitor with the camera had been set up since Blossom was just three months old and Poppy is terrified of what the man may have seen before. Story continues "Sometimes we're in there half-naked," Poppy said, recollecting all the seemingly innocent times she and her child could have been watched while in their own home. Do you have a cyber crime story? Contact reporter Laura Koefoed at laura.koefoed@yahooinc.com The family shared their experience on social media to warn others of baby monitor hacking. Source: Instagram / poppyradbone_ Others have had the same experience The parents were completely "shaken" by the incident and contacted friends and family with children to find out if this had happened to them before, and to see if anyone had any advice on what to do next. But, it was after posting their warning online that they saw how many people had gone through something similar. "Yes happened to me too," one commenter shared. "Someone was watching it when I was in the room!" "We have the same monitor and we never witnessed it but my son came to me and said 'no more camera my camera talking to me'," said another, adding: "We havent used it since." Tips on how parents can safeguard their baby monitors at home All baby monitors, and any other device that uses internet, can be hacked into, so Tim has shared how important it is for parents to stay vigilant by following a few simple steps: Make sure all devices connected to the home network are accounted for and up to date with the latest software available. Enable password protection where possible and always use strong passwords that make it harder for a hacker to crack. Set up the baby monitor according to the instruction manual as they provide a good explanation of how to use the device, how to set it up correctly, and how to configure its security settings. Get security software to ensure the protection of your internet-connected devices. This will help prevent smart devices from being hacked. Where to report it if your baby monitor is hacked Poppy tried to report the incident to the baby monitor manufacturer and local police, but both had no answers or advice on what to do next. "[The police] didn't note down or report it. I thought they would make me feel better but they didn't," Poppy said. Yahoo reached out to South Australia Police who declined to comment. If you have an incident like this and are not in immediate danger, you can report it to The Australian Signals Directorate's Australian Cyber Security Centre here or call your local Police Assistance Line for over the phone advice. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. AHMEDABAD: A 53-year-old man, who came to Gujarat from Pakistan and was given Indian citizenship in 2005, was arrested by the Gujarat anti-terror squad (ATS) on charges of helping Pakistani authorities spy on Indian defence personnel, a senior police officer said on Friday. Gujarat ATS said Labhshankar Maheshwari is accused of circulating malware to access data on phones of defence personnel (Getty Images/iStockphoto) ATS superintendent of police Om Prakash Jat said Labhshankar Maheshwari, who was living in Tarapur town of Anand district, has been arrested on accusations that he circulated malware through WhatsApp among defence personnel, which was used by Pakistani intelligence agencies to get information from their phones. At one point, Maheshwari posed as an employee of an army school and persuaded parents to download a file that he claimed was necessary to record some information. At one point, he also convinced many army personnel to install the application by falsely linking it to the governments Har Ghar Tiranga campaign, said Jat. He also sent out messages that encouraged recipients to install the app and upload a photo of their child with the national flag. The apk file was a Remote Access Trojan (RAT), a malicious software designed to extract data from mobile phones. This data could include sensitive information such as contacts, location information and videos, according to Gujarat ATS. The stolen data was sent to a data centre accessed by the Pakistan army including the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for processing, he added. It has been confirmed that the mobile phone of a soldier stationed in Kargil was compromised with this malware, said Jat. Maheshwari has been charged under sections 123 (concealing design to wage war against the government) and 121-A (conspiracy to wage war against the government) of the Indian Penal Code. He also faces charges under relevant sections of the Information Technology Act. Our investigation has shown that Maheshwari, who originally hails from Pakistan and was granted Indian citizenship in 2005, agreed to participate in this conspiracy to expedite the visa process for himself, his wife, and two other family members who wished to visit Pakistan to meet their relatives, said Jat. The action was taken following information received from the military intelligence which had identified an Indian phone number being used to circulate malware to spy for Pakistan. This information led the investigators to Maheshwari who owned a grocery shop in Anand. Citing Maheshwaris interrogation, officials said he allegedly came in contact with Pakistani intelligence when he was looking to visit Pakistan and on the advice of a relative, got in touch with an unidentified person for the visas. Maheshwari was in touch with this individual after his return to facilitate visa applications of his other relatives including his sister and niece. He subsequently came in touch with two individuals identified as Saqlain Thaim of Jamnagar and Asgar Modi, who got him to spread the malware among defence personnel for espionage Both Thaim and Modi are currently on the run and are believed to have left the country. One is reportedly in Somalia, while the other is in Dubai, according to a Gujarat ATS official SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the 17-km priority section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), India's first rapid rail project on Friday. In the wake of PM Modi's visit to the district, the Ghaziabad traffic has imposed several traffic restrictions and issued a traffic advisory for the hassle-free movement of dignitaries and daily commuters. Trains of the Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) ahead of the inauguration of a priority section of RRTS between Duhai and Sahibabad, (PTI) The event will be held in Ghaziabad's Vasundhara region. The traffic authorities have urged the commuters to use alternative routes and follow traffic rules as suggested. Traffic restrictions: -According to the advisory shared by the Ghaziabad traffic police on X (formerly Twitter), the movement of all vehicles, from Hindon Airforce circle via Mohannagar to Sahibabad RapidX station, will be restricted from 7am till the end of the event. -All types of vehicular movement will be restricted from Police Station Link Road Red Light towards Sahibabad RapidX Station. -Except for the attendees, the movement of vehicles has been restricted from CISF Road Indrapuram and Solar Energy Road towards Sahibabad RapidX Station and public meeting venue. -Movement of commercial vehicles has been restricted on both sides of the road between Lal Kuon and Seemapuri. -Commercial vehicular movement has been banned from Loni to Bhopura, Rajnagar Extension, and ALT intersection. As per the advisory, the heavy/medium vehicles from Meerut to Ghaziabad (excluding event vehicles) will be rerouted from Duhai Peripheral. Routes to reach public meeting venue: -The vehicles coming from Modinagar/Muradnagar/Hapur/Meerut will ply via the elevated road via the Rajnagar extension and descend from Kanawani near Buddha chowk. -Parking number P7 (near Buddha Chowk) and P8 (Crown Palace/ in front of Vasundhara Police Station) will be for buses. -People coming to attend the public meeting by car/light vehicles will park their vehicles in the parking number P6 (Buddha Chowk and in front of Indrapuram police station). -Buses coming for the public meeting from Hapur/Bulandshahar/Noida will be parked at parking number P7 (near Buddha Chowk) and P8 (Crown Palace/ in front of Vasundhara Police chowki). -Small vehicles coming from Ghaziabad via Moksh Dham via Hindon bridge, before Mewar Chowk, will be parked at parking number P9 (at Amity International School) and P10 (beside Krishna apartment). -All the vehicles coming from Baghpat/Loni/Tronica City/Loni Border/Bhopura/Tila Mode/Tulsi Niketan will go on solar urja road via the underpass from Karan gate round about, Bikaner round about (Rajendra Nagar metro station) to Sahibabad railway station cut. -All the vehicles coming from Seemapuri side, from Bikaner round about (Rajendra nagar metro station) to Sahibabad railway station cut through underpass on solar urja road, buses will be parked in parking number P4 (in roadways workshop) and similarly cars/other light vehicles in parking number P3 (in tata service station) and go to the public meeting. -Buses coming from UP gate/Kaushambi/Link Road/Noida, from Dabur Tiraha to Thana Link Road, led-light, solar urja marg, will be parked in parking number P4 (at Roadways Workshop) and similarly cars/other light vehicles will be parked in parking number P3 (built in Tata Service Station) and go to the public meeting. Parking arrangements: The vehicles of all the representatives coming to attend the event will be parked in the parking number P2 made in Metro Suite Glitz Apartment in front of the public meeting, while vehicles of officers/employees of RapidX will be parked in parking number P11 in Roadways Filling Station behind Gate Number 1 of Sahibabad RapidX station. RRTS project: The 17-km-long priority section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor, which will be launched today, will be opened to the public on Saturday. On Thursday, RapidX was renamed NaMo Bharat. The priority section between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot has five stations -- Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai and Duhai Depot. The foundation stone for the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor was laid by PM Modi in 2019. The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Andhra Pradesh Police not to arrest TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu in the FibreNet case till it delivers verdict on the plea in the Skill Development scam case. TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu.(PTI) A bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi listed the anticipatory bail of Naidu in the FibreNet Case for hearing on November 9 and told the Andhra Pradesh Police, "Let the earlier understanding continue." The bench was referring to the statement of the Andhra Pradesh Police on October 13, when it had said that police will not take Naidu into custody. Justice Bose said since the order is reserved on another plea, it would be appropriate if the court takes up the instant plea of Naidu after the verdict is delivered. Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for Naidu, said police are looking to take him into custody in FibreNet case despite the fact that he is already in custody in the Skill Development scam case. Senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, appearing for Andhra Pradesh government said for custodial interrogation of Naidu in the FibreNet case, it will seek permission of the court as he is already in judicial custody in another case.He said that the state has no problem in awaiting the judgement of the court. The bench said, "Let the earlier understanding continue" and adjourned the matter. On October 13, the Andhra Pradesh Police told the top court they will not arrest Naidu in the FiberNet case till October 18 due to the pendency of his petition related to the Skill Development Corporation scam in the apex court. The FiberNet case relates to alleged tender manipulation in allotting a work order under Phase-1 of the AP FiberNet Project involving 330 crore to a favoured company. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Andhra Pradesh Police has alleged irregularities in the project right from awarding the tender to completion of the work, causing a huge loss to the state exchequer. Naidu, 73, was arrested on September 9 for allegedly misappropriating funds from the Skill Development Corporation when he was the chief minister in 2015, causing a purported loss of 371 crore to the state exchequer. He is under judicial remand in the Rajamahendravaram central prison. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Centre and all the states and Union territories (UTs) to immediately appoint district officers under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act (POSH Act), lamenting that numerous states have tried to force-fit the institutional requirements of the law within their existing bureaucratic frameworks. SC directive came as the court heard a bunch of public interest litigation (PILs), seeking effective implementation of the POSH Act (PTI) Directing principal secretaries concerned to personally ensure appointment of a district officer in each district within their territorial jurisdiction within four weeks, a bench, led by justice S Ravindra Bhat, held that a district officer is the most important functionary in the system, tasked with keeping the redressal and monitoring framework both intact, and smoothly running, The failure to notify district officers specifically, has a snowballing effect on appointment of the local committees (LCs) and nodal officers, in addition to other aspects. The complaint mechanism, and larger framework - no matter how effective, remain inadequate if the authorities set out in the Act, are not duly appointed or notified. Therefore, the state/UT governments must ensure that every district, at all times, have a notified district officer, directed the bench, also comprising justice Dipankar Datta. Citing the scheme of the POSH Act, the top court noted that the role of the district officer is pivotal. They are responsible for numerous aspects in the implementation of the Act. It is where the buck stops, so to say, in terms of coordination and accountability relating to the POSH Act. Efforts have to be undertaken to orient, train and sensitise the district officers with regard to the provisions of the POSH Act and the rules, with an emphasis on their roles and obligations, it added. According to the bench, POSH rules should also be amended to clarify that district officers have the authority to collect fines from employers for failing to constitute internal or local committees for receiving the complaints of sexual harassment at workplace. The directive came as the court heard a bunch of public interest litigation (PILs), seeking effective implementation of the POSH Act in the face of varying models of implementation and several loopholes in the implementation of the 2013 law. For a workplace that employs less than 10 workers, the Act provides for an LC in each district, which is to be constituted by the district officer. The district officer is also tasked with designating a nodal officer in each block, taluka, and tehsil in rural or tribal area, and ward or municipality in the urban area, to receive complaints and forward the same to the concerned LC. The LC, after conducting inquiry, has to submit its report to the district officer and the employer, recommending action. The district officer is also entrusted with the task of forwarding a brief statement on the annual reports submitted by every employer in their jurisdiction to the government. An Internal Committee (IC) is to be set up under the law if the organization has 10 or more employees. After perusing the replies filed by various states, the bench underlined that they are marked by a lack of uniformity in terms of implementation of the Act and further highlighted the many lacunae. While district officers were in most states notified only after the court issued notice in the case, the bench said, the replies were bereft of details of such officers, besides lack of information on LCs and nodal officers The information on annual reports is perhaps most alarming only three have provided a consolidated report. Each state has notified a different ministry as the nodal ministry for implementation of the Act some have notified the social welfare ministry or its allied departments, while others rely on the women and child development department, noted the bench, as it suggested that the Centre should amend the POSH rules to designate nodal authorities preferably in the women and child department. The court also asked the Centre and states to consider making anonymised data from the annual compliance reports, collected by district offices containing information on the number of cases filed and their disposal within their jurisdiction. In the interest of transparency and good governance, they may consider making these statistics public the access to which would certainly have a positive impact on various stakeholders. This in turn will also strengthen the monitoring of the implementation of this Act, it said. The court directed states and UTs to submit their reports on compliance with its directions to the Centre in eight weeks, and fixed the next hearing in February. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Supreme Court of India on Friday said that government authorities will have to pay 30 lakh as compensation to the kin of those who die while cleaning sewers, PTI reported. At least 58,098 manual scavengers were identified across the country in two surveys in 2013 and 2018.(File) A bench of Justices S Ravindra Bhat and Aravind Kumar also said that those who suffer permanent disabilities while cleaning sewers will be paid a minimum compensation of 20 lakh. A sum of 10 lakh will be given to those who suffer any other form of disability while cleaning sewers, the bench added, while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). "The Union and the state governments must ensure that manual scavenging is completely eradicated," the bench said, according to PTI. The bench directed that the government agencies must coordinate to ensure that such incidents do not occur. It also remarked that High Courts are not precluded from monitoring the cases related to sewer deaths. The top court also issued a slew of directions, which were not read during the hearing. A detailed order is awaited. Nearly 350 people have died in sewers in the last five years, PTI reported, citing the government data shared before the Lok Sabha in 2022. The states of Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Delhi accounted for 40% of these deaths, it added. Last year, the government told the Rajya Sabha that 58,098 manual scavengers were identified across the country in two surveys in 2013 and 2018. Manual scavenging is banned under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013. The caste-based practice was first banned in 1993 but activists allege that it still prevails. The government distinguishes between manual scavenging a caste-based practice of people cleaning human excreta by hand and the practice of cleaning sewers and septic tanks though experts point out that the latter is a mere extension of the now-banned practice. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Security forces involved in combing operations in ethnic violence-hit Manipur have in three operations over the last month recovered arms and ammunition, including 1085 bombs, looted from police stations and armouries, a defence ministry spokesperson said on Friday. The recoveries were made in three operations. (X) ...three major successful operations [were conducted] in Khamenlok-Gwalthabi, Wakan and Shantipur ridges, said the Kohima (Nagaland)-based spokesperson in a statement. It added 18 automatic weapons, 1085 bombs, 14 improvised mortars/rocket launchers, six rifles/pistols, one mortar, 530 assorted ammunition, and 132 other war-like stores recovered were handed over to Manipur Police on Thursday. The statement said Khamenlok-Gwalthabi, Wakan and Shantipur ridges separate villages of Meitei and tribal Kuki communities in Imphal East district. Intelligence reports indicated a build-up of weapons, ammunition and other war-like store caches on either side of the ridges. The caches were probably being built up by inimical elements for attempting misadventure in each others area. The security forces took note of the intelligence inputs and carried out extensive surveillance and launched multiple search operations to recover maximum war-like stores with an aim to thwart any attempts of firing or arson by miscreants, the statement said. The ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities was triggered on May 3 and has since left at least 175 people dead and 50,000 displaced. Officials said mobs looted 5669 types of arms and around 500,000 rounds of ammunition from police stations and armouries. Only around 1300 of them were recovered until the first week of October. The Army, Manipur Police, Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force and India Reserve Battalion were involved in the combing operations. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Utpal Parashar Utpal is a Senior Assistant Editor based in Guwahati. He covers seven states of North-East India and heads the editorial team for the region. He was previously based in Kathmandu, Dehradun and Delhi with Hindustan Times. ...view detail A major war of words broke out after Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar said India historically stood beside Palestine as India considered Palestinians as the original inhabitants of the land. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said Sharad Pawar should send his daughter Supriya Sule to Gaza to fight for Hamas. Not only Himanta, but several BJP leaders including Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal, Devendra Fadnavis criticised Sharad Pawar's pro-Palestine statement. On Friday, Sharad Pawar cited all the "unsolicited advice and comments" and these BJP leaders are "more loyal than the king', as PM Modi himself spoke to the Palestine President on Thursday. Sharad Pawar said many unsolicited advice was given to him without understanding what he said on Israel-Palestine. Referring to PM Modi's statement on his conversation with Palestine in which the PM reiterated India's long-standing position on the issue and ensured aid for Palestine, Pawar said his opinion on the issue was same. "I had expressed similar views on the lines expressed by past prime ministers ranging from Jawaharlal Nehru to Atal Behari Vajpayee, which was to ensure a peaceful resolution to the long-standing dispute, where Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and harmony as neighbours," Sharad Pawar said. "I hope the BJP leaders who misconstrued my statement will understand the nation's stand on such a sensitive issue. There is an English idiom that says 'more loyal than the king', which probably their comments can be classified as," Sharad Pawar said. In his first statement after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, PM Modi condemned the "terrorist" attack and said India stands with Israel. The statement was questioned by several opposition leaders as India historically supported a "sovereign, independent and viable" Palestine. The MEA clarified India's position on Israel and Palestine as New Delhi condemned Hamas' attack on Israel. On the 13th day of the Israel-Hamas war, PM Modi spoke to the Palestine president and expressed concern over civilian casualties after the Gaza hospital came under an attack on October 17. "Spoke to the President of the Palestinian Authority H.E. Mahmoud Abbas. Conveyed my condolences at the loss of civilian lives at the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza. We will continue to send humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people. Shared our deep concern at the terrorism, violence and deteriorating security situation in the region. Reiterated India's long-standing principled position on the Israel-Palestine issue," PM Modi posted on social media. What Sharad Pawar said on Israel-Hamas "Historically, Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajiv Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee had all articulated positions that favoured helping Palestine amid the conflict with Israel. For the first time, the Prime Minister of our country (Narendra Modi) came out openly in support of Israel. The stand of the NCP is clear. We stand by the people, who are original inhabitants of that land," Sharad Pawar said. What was the controversy? "What is worse is Sharad Pawar ji knows that he is making this statement to play a certain gallery -- he should become more constructive in approach," Nitin Gadkari said while Piyush Goyal called this "rotten mindset". SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Government website users have recently complained about being redicted to porn sites and it raised a security challenge. The initial investigation found the possible cause of the incident is due to malware downloaded on the systems at government offices. These incidents were happening probably because cyber hygiene was not maintainted According to News18, the cybersecurity experts probing the matter discovered few systems that maintained the government websites were logged into unauthorised websites which may have caused the officials intentionally and inadvertently download a malware. The incidents of central ministry's website being redirected to porn sits were reported last month. According to a government official, the websites have been behaving like this due to a malware, and a detailed analysis of the matter has been initiated. The cyber security agency of the Union ministry of home affairs noticed the site activity and the government immediately roped in the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In). These incidents were happening probably because cyber hygiene was not maintainted, according to a senior government official. Notably, access to unauthorised websites is barred on government systems. However, experts said giving 100% protection to system is tough. The CERT-In team observed that the hackers have used the Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) to attack the websites directed at individual servers. The DDoS attack involves flooding of servers with internet traffic barring users to access online services from the concerned website. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Mangaluru city police on Thursday registered an FIR against Sharan Pumpwell, the Provincial Joint Secretary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), for boycotting Muslim vendors and putting saffron flags at shops runs by Hindu vendors at the Mangaladevi temple in Mangaluru, officials familiar with the matter said. On October 16, the VHP leaders had placed saffron flags on the stalls of Hindu vendors at car street in Mangaladevi. (HT Archives) The Mangaluru south police station sleuths booked Pumpwell and other VHP activists for urging Hindu community members to not buy items from shops run by Muslims vendors and make purchases from shops bearing saffron flags in Mangaladevi temple premises. According to officials, the Mangaladevi temple committee, which is organising the Dasara festival fairs from October 15 to October 24, had allotted shops to only Hindu community vendors through auction, and denied the same to Muslim traders. Following this, the traders from Muslim community, Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and like-minded organisations forum had opposed the move of the temple body and staged protest against this. Later, the temple committee agreed to allot shops to a few Muslim vendors. On October 16, the VHP leaders had placed saffron flags on the stalls of Hindu vendors at car street in Mangaladevi. On October 17, a delegation comprising representatives from Jatra traders, street vendors, DYFI, and like-minded organisations met state minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dinesh Gundu Rao. During the meeting, DYFI leaders expressed their dismay over the alleged ill-treatment to the minister and demanded the arrest of Sharan Pumpwell. In response to this, Gundu Rao discusses the matter with Mangaluru police commissioner, Anupam Agarwal, and recommended legal action. Subsequently, an FIR was registered against Pumpwell and other. The controversy originated with Hindu organisations demanding restrictions on Muslim traders during the Navratri celebrations at the Mangaladevi temple. However, the district administration later intervened and permitted non-Hindu traders to operate their stalls as well. Following this decision, VHP workers placed saffron flags in front of all Hindu traders shops in Mangaladevi. A video clip went viral in which Sharan called upon Hindus to do business with Hindu traders. We have filed a case against him, Mangaluru south police sub-inspector Manohar Prasad told HT. He said the case was registered under IPC section 153A (inciting communal discord and disturbing public peace) and the investigation is underway. Meanwhile, defending his statement, Pumpwell said, If Muslims doesnt believe in idol worship why should they be allowed to carry out business near temples? SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON New Delhi The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) cannot equate itself with the Republic of India, the Supreme Court observed on Friday, taking umbrage at the federal agency filing petitions representing the republic. The bench was hearing CBIs appeal in a multi-crore scam (PTI) Why have you filed as the Republic of India? You are not representing the Union or the Republic, a bench of justices AS Oka and Pankaj Mithal remarked as it came across a petition filed by the CBI as the Republic of India. Addressing additional solicitor general (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati, who was representing the agency in an appeal against the grant of bail in a CBI case, the bench said it is not proper for the agency to file petitions in the court as Republic of India. You dont represent the Union of India? You cannot file your petitions like that, it told Bhati. The bench then directed that the cause-title of the case will be altered by the registry of the court, omitting the words Republic of India. ASG Bhati conceded to the courts directive. READ | SC stays CBI probe into UP legislative council recruitment process Under the law, the CBI is supposed to be an independent agency that can probe acts of illegalities in connection to instrumentalities or agencies of both Centre and state governments. In November 2021, the Centre had objected to a suit filed by the West Bengal Government making the Union of India, and not the CBI, party when the latter challenged the agencys jurisdiction to register FIRs and conduct investigations in the state in several cases. The Centre maintained that it has no authority to rattle the autonomy of the CBI to conduct investigations, adding the CBI is an autonomous body with the government having no control over it. According to the Supreme Court website, there are more cases filed by the CBI in the capacity as the Republic of India, appealing against the grant of bail, quashing of charges, and some interim orders in cases registered and investigated by the federal agency. The bench was hearing CBIs appeal against the grant of bail to Subhra Kundu, a former actress and wife of Gautam Kundu the owner of the chit fund company Rose Valley, connection with an alleged multi-crore scam that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also investigating. The 17,000 crore Rose Valley scam is reportedly the biggest in Bengal in terms of the money involved. In 2014, the Supreme Court asked CBI to investigate the scam and the role of influential people in money laundering in West Bengal. The group had allegedly floated a total of 27 companies for running the alleged chit-fund operations out of which only half a dozen was active. It is alleged that the firm had floated the scheme by promising inflated returns on investments between 8% and 27% to gullible investors in various states. Investigations in the case were carried out in West Bengal and Odisha. In August 2022, the Orissa high court granted Subhra Kundu bail, which was challenged by CBI in the top court. Bhati argued that she was not arrested just because she is the wife of the main accused but because she had an active role to play in parking of the money collected from investors in a number of shell companies. The bench, however, noted that she was arrested in January 2021 and had been incarcerated since. Just because a trial is on, you cannot keep someone in jail forever without a conviction. We do not see anything wrong with this order. There are several conditions imposed on her to ensure there is no impediments in trial, it told the ASG. The bench proceeded to dismiss CBIs appeal, stating it finds no ground to interfere with the impugned order of the Orissa high court at this stage. It further clarified that the grant of bail will have no bearing on the merits of the case, and that the trial would be carried out in accordance with law. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Public servants in one Aussie state have been offered five days special paid leave for psychological distress stemming from the rejected Voice to Parliament referendum. In an email circulated to Queensland government bosses, Public Sector Commissioner David Mackie said special leave - an entitlement that is usually unpaid - as well as sick leave could be offered to staff in need. The move was made to ensure that government workplaces remained mentally well and to acknowledge the emotional impact the referendum result would have on First Nations workers in the public service following the failed referendum result. Aussie public servants offered paid leave by Queensland Public Sector Commissioner David Mackie to mourn The Voice result. Source: AAP To help ensure this is realised, employees who are experiencing challenges with their social and emotional wellbeing at this time, such that they feel that they should not attend the workplace, should be supported in accessing appropriate leave entitlements to look after their health and wellbeing, Mr Mackie wrote in the email seen by the Courier Mail. The decision follows a number of Indigenous Australians calling for a week of silence to grieve the outcome which was overwhelmingly rejected by Australians and reflect on its meaning and significance. Mr Mackie said that leaders could consider approving up to five days special leave in exceptional circumstances in the first instance. Some employees may also choose to return to country and their local communities to support each other in grieving the outcome of the referendum, he wrote. Some of Australias top banks have offered similar paid leave to recover from the referendum result. National Australia Bank (NAB) offered cultural leave and counselling to Indigenous staff. Westpac and ANZ also have special leave for Indigenous staff to take. Australia decisively rejected The Voice Queensland overwhelmingly rejected an Indigenous Voice to Parliament being enshrined in the Constitution, with almost 70 per cent voting no in last Saturdays referendum. Story continues To pass, The Voice needed the support of at least four states and a majority of national votes. But across the country, all six states voted against the Labor Governments proposal with more than 60 percent of voters across Australia saying No. Polling areas where Indigenous Australians form more than half of the population voted on average 63 percent in favour of the Voice. Indigenous supporters of the Voice called it 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 years. Indigenous Australians mental wellbeing disadvantaged In the wake of the result, the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), an Indigenous-run health organisation, shared mental wellbeing resources for people experiencing increased anxiety and depression in the wake of the no vote. According to the organisation, mental health is one area where indigenous people in Australia experience disadvantaged. Mental health is one of many areas where Indigenous people in Australia experience disadvantage, adding to a more than seven-year difference in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Rose, jasmine, sandalwood, saffron, oud and vetiver. When Divrina Dhingra had to pick six fragrances that exemplified the Indian experience, from ancient times through to the present day, these are the ones she zoomed in on. Her new book, The Perfume Project (September 2023; Westland), seeks to explain why. PREMIUM (Clockwise) Lady Making A Garland by Raja Ravi Varma, 1895. A Roman fresco of a port city from the 1st century CE. A double-pot distillery used to extract essential oils from flowers, as depicted in the late-15th-century book of recipes Nimatnama, by the Sultan of Mandu. (Wikimedia Commons; Sahapedia) Dhingra, 41, a lifestyle journalist, is also a trained perfumier who studied at the Grasse Institute in France, and worked as a fragrance development manager in India. The idea of researching fragrances first took root during her time as a Masters student in New York. Certain smells would instantly evoke memories of home so strongly that she began to seek them out, and feel homesick when she couldnt find them. How far back do these associations go, she wondered? How have Indians traced this affection for certain aromas, through the millennia? A passion project began to take shape. Dhingra became obsessed with the book Cultivation and Uses of Aromatic Plants (2009) by Ramesh Kumar Srivastava, Shakti Vinay Shukla and Sanjeet Singh Dagar, which outlines the applications of a staggering 18,500 varieties of aromatic plants. She began conducting research of her own, on fragments of memory, fondness and association that were preserved across thousands of years, in art and writing, poetry and cultural elements such a costumes and dance. It came together very slowly, says the Delhi-based writer. Over six years, in fact. What were some of her most precious findings? Take a look. Adulteration was so prevalent that Pliny the Elder complained about it. In a tussle dating to at least the Roman Empire, adulterants were used to increase weight and improve colour in highly priced aromatics. Substances such as turmeric, other parts of the saffron flower, even minute bits of twig were mixed in with pure saffron, for instance, since any increase in weight by unfair means spelt an immense rise in profits. There is nothing so much adulterated as saffron, Roman philosopher and military commander Pliny the Elder complained, in his book Natural History (c. 77 CE). (It was also he, incidentally, who grumbled that the mania for frankincense was draining Romes coffers of its gold.) Contrary to popular belief, perfumes today are far less adulterated, Dhingra says. There are simply more tests to verify the purity of the base essential oils today. The Greeks had a heady kind of aromatic fever. Fine fragrances were next to godliness, to the Ancient Greeks. The Greeks believed that the afterlife was spent in a heaven where every person could find a limitless quantity to anoint themselves with. Elysium was, in fact, a realm where rivers of perfume flowed, scenting even the air above them. This, understandably, boosted the trade in aromatics with India. Though the Greeks were known to make their own fragrances using indigenous flora, they also imported vast quantities, which were ferried to them by Phoenician traders who guarded their routes so closely that, for a long time, their customers did not know the exact origins of their resins, oils and gums, Dhingra says. Ancient Rome did not equate fragrance with divinity, but was likely a bigger buyer of aromatics, since theirs was a larger, more hedonistic aristocracy. In Ancient Rome, perfumes were used in food, uncorked for ambience at banquets, slipped into the water at bathhouses, and used in temples (as offerings) and homes (as air-freshening status symbols). To make the most of the high demand, traders told tall tales of the East as a land populated by giant beasts and barbaric men. This helped keep the prices and the sense of mystique high. Incense was a status symbol in Ancient Indian homes too. Today, incense is primarily used as an offering to deities, but it was once lit by wealthy households to scent the rooms in which guests were entertained. It was so expensive, even here at hhome, that the fragrance served as a status symbol. The terms used to judge the quality and provenance of wines can also be applied to perfumes. We talk about terroir and vintage for fragrances too, Dhingra says. The year in which an oil in a perfume was distilled, or the soil and microclimate in which a component was grown, can be differentiated by a perfumier as they prepare a composition. In the final product, it would be hard to tell the difference. But in a lab, the chemical composition could indicate such details. All this is crucial to the science of perfumery, Dhingra says. Agartala in Tripura is said to be named after agarwood. Tripura is one of only three states in north-east India where its source tree, the Aquilaria, is found in abundance (the other two are Assam and Arunachal Pradesh). The term tala is Bengali for underneath. So Agartala is underneath the agarwood tree. Oud, the oil extracted from this tree, has a warm, woody, leathery, even animalic fragrance. When the wood itself is burnt as incense, the fragrance is much sweeter still. The Mughal era was likely a time of eye-wateringly strong aromas. Records from the Mughal era indicate that perfumes and the Mughals were very keen on their fragrances contained an unsparing number of precious substances of animal origin, including musk and the even-more-potent civet oil (taken from glands in the musk deer and civet cat, respectively). Mixed with large quantities of floral extracts, these were not fragrances for the faint-hearted. One composition, said to help keep the skin cool in summer, involved elements of rose, musk, ambergris (extracted from the sperm whale), orange-flower extract, basil and agarwood. It must have been eye-watering, if memorable. Historians suspect that at least part of the appeal of such a mix lay in the fact that very few could afford it. Some of the ingredients were so rare that there was a whole body of lore dedicated, for instance, just to what it took to get at ambergris. But those are stories for another time. The 9th India-International Dance and Music Festival is being organised in New Delhi. New Delhi hosts 9th India International Dance and Music Festival by ICCR (Photo by Twitter/iccr_hq) The three-day extravaganza highlights the rich cultural tapestry of India and the world, bringing together talented artists from various countries to showcase their extraordinary talents. Deputy Chief of Mission of Vietnam, Do Thanh Hai said "It's a quite good initiative to bring in different cultural groups from various nations to share and demonstrate their own beautiful cultures, values and traditions. We exchanged a symbol of solidarity and a message of peace. In light of this, I believe we should support this project and come here to promote cultural interaction". The audience was swept away after listening to the euphonious music of Elisa Troetsch from Panama. Elisa Troetsch, an artist from Panama said This evening was wonderful for us to be able to share our culture in this country. And for the special audience and also to share with other countries that have never seen or heard before. We have come from another continent of America which is very far away from here so it was a very beautiful and overwhelming experience for us. Renowned artists from Blato municipality in Croatia performed the sword dance Kumpanija or battle dance which represents the tradition of the local militia that used to protect the town. One of the famous artists from Croatia, Nenad Marinovic said "This festival is an opportunity for us to experience Indian culture more because of the fact that we make a living from tourism and every summer we see more and more people coming to Europe and then in Croatia as well because Croatia is on the Mediterranean Sea so basically very appealing to visiting in summer time. We are feeling very well. Everyone is so nice and polite. Basically, we feel at home". The event organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) has an objective to celebrate the harmonious convergence of diverse cultures and traditions through the universal language of dance and music. 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! American comedian Harris Wittels passed away, at 30, in 2015, of heroin overdose. Is he tooting his own horn in heaven? Because before he departed, he gifted humanity with a most useful phrase. Wittels coined the term humblebragging on Twitter in 2010. It refers to the act of weaving ones personal accomplishments and indulgences into casual conversation, and deliberately downplaying it. On the Beckham documentary, Victoria Beckham claims she grew up working class. David gets her to admit she went to school in a Rolls-Royce. On the Graham Norton show, Gwyneth Paltrows so-relatable tale of cooking duck backfired when she mentioned she tossed it into her pool. Bollywood stars are only slightly different. Love returning to simple home food theyll post, right after Reels of their getaway in Spain. Friends do it with LinkedIn posts about hard work, leaving out the part that their boss is actually their uncle. Colleagues complain about being exhausted after a spa weekend. Intellectual snobs gush that their book club has asked them to pick the next title yet again. In May, when Sudha Murty (centre) appeared on The Kapil Sharma Show, she mentioned that a British immigration officer at Heathrow refused to believe she was UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks mother-in-law. Murty was trolled for exaggerating her humble public persona. Victoria Beckham could have used that lesson. On Netflixs new Beckham documentary, she begins an interview insisting that she has working-class origins, until Beckham butts in, asking her what car her dad used to drop her to school. A Rolls-Royce, she concedes grudgingly. 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! Most Americans havent heard of leishmaniasis, an ancient, disfiguring disease thats known by a variety of disturbing nicknames around the world: Baghdad boil, Calcutta ulcer and Jericho button. That could be changing, as evidence emerges that the parasitic skin infection that used to crop up mainly among international travelers is now endemic or constantly present in parts of the US. And its taking on a uniquely American identity. Genetic testing of 86 locally acquired cases showed that the majority were infected by a variant of the Leishmania mexicana parasite that may have originated in the US. (Wikipedia) In Texas, where doctors are required to report cases to health authorities, infections are creeping up and now occur mostly in non-travelers. Its in southeast Oklahoma and has been found in Arizona. Theres concern that climate change and a ready supply of critters capable of transmitting and harboring the infection are fanning further spread. Genetic testing of 86 locally acquired cases showed that the majority were infected by a variant of the Leishmania mexicana parasite that may have originated in the US. There have been previous indications of local transmission based on a small number of case reports, said Mary Kamb, a medical epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which conducted the study. Now, for the first time, we have a distinct genetic fingerprint from a relatively large cluster, providing further evidence that leishmaniasis may be well-established in some parts of the US. The results were presented Thursday at a scientific meeting in Chicago. Leishmaniasis-causing parasites are transmitted by some 70 species of sand fly. In the Western hemisphere, the main culprits are Lutzomyia insects, which feed on blood. They are found in many parts of the US, especially southern states. The parasite resides in a reservoir of animals mostly rodents, opossums and armadillos that female sand flies readily feed on. American cats and dogs have also become infected, and theres concern that imported dogs infected abroad could harbor a life-threatening visceral form of the disease. In humans, cutaneous leishmaniasis causes hard-to-heal, ulcerating sores the size of a half-dollar or larger that can last 6 to 12 months. While there are medications to treat them, the sores can become disfiguring scars if they are allowed to fester. Dermatologists in Texas are accustomed to spotting the infection, but its not as well recognized in other states. Thats hampered efforts to determine how widely the parasites have spread, Kamb said. Having a genetic test to identify infections caused by the newly identified local strain should make that easier. 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! Gulf carrier Emirates on Thursday said it is set to roll out the fourth cabin class -- premium economy -- on its A380 flights to Mumbai and Bengaluru, starting October 29. Emirates to roll out premium economy class on Mumbai and Bengaluru A380 flights (File Photo) Emirates currently operates its A380 and Boeing 777s on Indian routes in a three-class configuration -- first, business and economy. It has already launched premium economy on some of its A380 flights on non-India routes last August. It is now being launched in India as well. When the new cabin class debuts on the airline's A380 flights later this month, Emirates will be the first Middle East carrier operating in Mumbai to offer such services, it said. The aircraft, featuring premium economy cabins and operating as EK506, arrived at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport for a preview. "Emirates' premium economy has revolutionised travel for a growing segment of travellers looking to enhance their flying experience. We've received an immense response from customers, who have opted to trade up to this class of travel," said Mohammad Sarhan, Vice President for India and Nepal at Emirates. "In line with the demand we have seen on the ten routes (globally) where the product is already available, we anticipate it will be highly popular in India as well," he added. With the ongoing surge in travel across the airline's network, the premium economy class allows passengers to savour the perfect blend of luxury and affordability, he said, adding that "as we incorporate premium economy cabins across a growing number of aircraft, we hope to extend this option on more routes". Premium Economy cabins on the Emirates A380 feature 56 plush cream leather seats at the front of the main deck and are laid out in a 2-4-2 configuration. The new cabin class provides seats with a generous recline and more legroom, among others. Emirates said it has undertaken one of the largest-ever fleet retrofitting initiatives with plans to revamp 67 Airbus A380s and 53 Boeing 777 aircraft. Along with offering a refreshed look, the project will see the installation of nearly 4,000 premium economy seats across 120 aircraft, it said. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! The Hamas terror attack on civilians needs to be condemned in the strongest terms. Since October 7, the death toll in Israel has mounted to 1,300. Considering Israels population of 9.3 million, this is a very high number indeed. Israels retaliatory bombardment has resulted in the killing of 3,300 people in Gaza according to Palestinian officials. Israels demand that 1.1 million Gazans north of Wadi Ghaza move south has created a humanitarian crisis. West Asia is on the verge of a major conflagration. Its impact will be felt by the outside world. Oil prices which were on a downward trajectory before October 7, have gone up sharply. Israeli troops patrol at an undisclosed location along the border with the Gaza Strip on October 19, 2023. (AFP) The Israeli-Arab wars of 1948, 1967, and 1973 were inter-State wars. Asymmetrical wars with armed groups are more difficult to predict or stop. The region witnessed such wars between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006, and Israel and Hamas in 2008 and 2014. The total number of people killed this time around has already exceeded the combined toll of the previous three wars. The outcome of a prolonged war in the region could fuel the narrative of a clash of civilisations. What makes the situation more difficult now is not simply the destructive power of high-tech weaponry, but the expansion of the war aims. Hamas killed and took civilians hostage. Israel has made it clear that its goal is the destruction of Hamas. It may succeed in achieving this goal, but will this prevent the rise of a more extremist organisation in its place? A protracted conflict may not remain confined to Gaza. There are already skirmishes on Israels northern border with the Hezbollah in Lebanon. Irans Supreme Leader has stated that Tehran was not involved in the Hamas attack. The United States (US) secretaries of state and defence, as well as US President Joe Biden, have stated that there is no evidence linking Iran with the terror strike. Iran has, however, voiced support for the Palestinian people. Saudi Arabia as well as other Arab States have reiterated support for the two-State solution. This indeed has been the position of the international community, including the US. In the fog of war, the need for a long-term solution to the Palestinian problem should not be forgotten. What will be the political status of Gaza after the present round of conflict? Will Israel take over the administration of the territory? Will the Palestinian Authority accept this role? They may not like to be seen returning to the Gaza Strip on the back of Israeli tanks. There are large-scale demonstrations in the West Bank. Will an inflamed Palestinian sentiment undermine the Palestinian Authority headed by President Mahmoud Abbas? If this happens, it could create the problem of the Gaza Strip on a much larger scale in the West Bank. There is an ambivalence in the positions of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (IOC) member States. While Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have condemned the terror attack on Israel, this element is missing in the statements by other States. The search for a long-term political solution has to be built on a clear recognition of Israels right to exist in peace with its neighbours. President Biden has affirmed US support for Israel and ordered a second aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean. He has invested his personal authority by visiting Israel in the midst of the ongoing conflict. Unfortunately, the bombing of the hospital in Gaza queered the pitch before his visit began. His summit meeting with leaders of Jordan, Egypt, and the Palestinian Authority was called off by the Arab side. Biden urged Israel to avoid the mistakes made by the US after 9/11. He also stated that Israel risked losing credibility worldwide if it did not relieve the suffering of people who have nowhere to go. The spread of war to new fronts will not help anyone. Regional powers could play a role in defusing the crisis. The normalisation of Irans relations with Saudi Arabia is a silver lining. Without this, the situation in the region would have been more tense. Could this regional detente be extended by restoring the nuclear deal, which was agreed by P5+1, including the US? The only way to avoid forever wars is to give all countries in the region a stake in peace. Unfortunately, the United Nations Security Council remains deadlocked. The Russian draft resolution failed to muster a majority. The Brazilian draft was vetoed by the US. The first step towards de-escalation of the situation would be the release of Israeli women and children by Hamas. Their release cannot be linked to the long-term demand for a two-State solution. Israel must stop the bombardment of Gaza, announce a ceasefire, allow humanitarian relief, and restore electricity. This should be followed by the deployment of a peacekeeping force in Gaza to prevent the recurrence of violence. An enduring peace would involve a return to the two-State solution. DP Srivastava is a former ambassador and has served in the Middle East and Iran. The views expressed are personal Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! Social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, is set to introduce two premium subscription tiers, owner Elon Musk announced on Friday. The first of these subscription offerings will be lower in price, targeting users seeking a cost-effective way to access all of X's premium features. This tier will maintain the same level of ads as in the free version. The logo for social media platform X, following the rebranding of Twitter.(Reuters / File) For those who prioritize an ad-free browsing and social interaction experience, Musk announced that X will have another tier. This premium offering comes at a higher cost but guarantees a completely ad-free environment. Two new tiers of X Premium subscriptions launching soon, Musk said in a social media post. One is lower cost with all features, but no reduction in ads, and the other is more expensive, but has no ads. Musk did not provide more detail on the subscription plans. Since taking over the platform in October 2022, Musk has introduced rapid changes, including mass layoffs, disbanding of content moderation teams, and rebranding Twitter as X. Musk started charging $8 per month for the blue check subscription service and tried to woo advertisers back to X with offers of discounts. Earlier this week, the company initiated a test in New Zealand and the Philippines, charging new users $1 to access the platform. Those who choose not to subscribe will have limited functionality, restricted to "read-only" actions like reading posts, watching videos, and following accounts. This move, called the "Not A Bot" subscription method, is aimed at curbing spam, reducing platform manipulation, and minimizing bot activity. 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 Google announced their plan to manufacture Pixel smartphones in India and Anand Mahindra reacted to the news by sharing an interesting story about his made-in-India iPhone. The business tycoon expressed his pride and excitement in owning a smartphone manufactured in this country. Anand Mahindra's tweet on made-in-India iPhone has amazed people. (Twitter/@anandmahindra) It all started with a post by an X handle called Indian Tech & Infra. Google to start manufacturing Pixel smartphones in India, beginning with the latest model which will be rolled out in 2024, they wrote and shared an image of Google CEO Sundar Pichai. Anand Mahindra re-shared the post along with his story. I recently was in a Verizon store in the US to get a local sim and proudly informed the salesperson that my iPhone 15 was made in India. It was a particular pleasure to see his raised eyebrows! he shared. I also have a Google Pixel. I will switch to the India-made version when its out. So Ill be able to tell them my Pixel is made in India too But there probably wont be any raised eyebrows at that time because by then, India will have been globally acknowledged as a manufacturing powerhouse, he added. Take a look at this post by Anand Mahindra: The post was shared a few hours ago. Since then, it has collected more than 5.6 lakh views. The share has also accumulated nearly 12,000 likes. People posted varied comments while reacting to the share. How did X users react to Anand Mahindras tweet? That's a great story, Sir! It's interesting how the origin of your phone can spark conversations and highlight the growing reputation of India in the global manufacturing industry. It's indeed impressive to see India's rise in this regard! wrote an X user. Thank you for telling this story! The Bay Area is full of incredible people from India, added another. I love this story! It's so exciting to see India becoming a global manufacturing powerhouse, and I'm proud to know that Google is playing a role in that. I can't wait to switch to an India-made Pixel when it's out in 2024, joined a third. 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 video of a bears foray into a house in the United States has been making waves on social media. The bears likely motivation for its uninvited visit was hunger. Once inside, it eventually found its way to the kitchen and stole food from the refrigerator. Black bear stealing food from fridge. (Facebook/Helena Houlis) So this happened, wrote Facebook user Helena Houlis while sharing CCTV footage. In one of the footage, the bear can be seen standing on its hind legs and opening the freezer drawer. After securing its meal, it cleverly used the open freezer drawer to escape through the window. The black bear landed on the back porch and casually strolled away with its Italian feast. You can see him going from room to room, as comfortable as I am in my house. Its very hard to believe. My mom made me some lasagna, I left it in the freezer and the bear just, you know, took it, Houlis told CBS 58. Watch these videos shared by Houlis below: The post was shared a few days ago on Facebook. It has so far accumulated scores of likes and comments. Many even shared the post with others. Heres how people reacted to this post: You are not serious! wrote a Facebook user. Another added, What does one even do about something like this? Call the police? This is crazy, expressed a third. A fourth commented, Wow! Were you home? Was a door left open? How did he get in? I like to use my screen door but this terrifies me! Do you know how it got in? I didnt see it push a screen out of the kitchen window - did it pull it out and climb in that way, then case the joint before going back to the fridge? asked a fifth. A sixth joined, This also happened at a restaurant in Sun Valley, Idaho. A bear came into the kitchen, got up on its hind legs, opened the freezer and took a huge carton of ice cream. At first the workers thought it was a person in a bear costume. 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 bodybuilder took to social media to share how he thinks karate is a scam and later on tries to prove his point by challenging a karate master for a fight. However, what happens at the end of the clip will leave you amused. Chaka Zulu in fight with the Karate master. The video opens to show Instagram user Chaka Zulu saying that he thinks that karate is a scam, and he is all set to prove that. He further explains that he was a martial arts student but left it after obtaining a yellow belt. Zulu then trained himself at the gym to become untouchable. To prove that he is stronger than a martial artist, he finds a master in karate to challenge him for a fight. As Zulu asks for a fight with the karate champion, he tells him if he loses, then he will give his studio keys to Zulu. We wont give away everything that happens in the video. Watch the fight between Zulu and the karate master here: This video was shared a while back. Since being posted, it has been liked more than four lakh times and has received numerous comments. Check out what people are saying about this post here: An individual wrote, Proof that muscle doesnt mean anything. A second commented, Strength is crucial but if you think strength alone can dominate someone with martial arts skills, then you're simply a fool. These arts are not only muscles but mind too. You don't need to be muscular so you can achieve powerful punches or kicks, shared a third. A fourth added, Having experience in martial arts and weightlifting, guaranteed that you should not mess with a trained martial arts master even if you are strong from bodybuilding. It will not go well. But find out for yourself. 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! Australia Post has apologised after shocking footage emerged of a group of staffers throwing parcels into what appears to be a delivery van. The video shows a group of up to five workers wearing AusPost uniforms walking around the back of the vehicle, which has its back doors wide open. At least three of them can be seen aggressively tossing multiple parcels onto a heap of mail already stacked in the back. At one point, two of the staffers pause with packages in their hands, raise their arms and pitch them at a high rate of speed before laughing. Australia Post has 'sincerely apologised' after workers were filmed throwing packages into the back of a delivery van. Source: TikTok The footage, which was posted on TikTok on Thursday, has already attracted thousands of views, clearly hitting a nerve with Aussies. The way Australia post treats peoples packages, commented the person who shared the video. Just throwing them around like nobody gives a s**t. Look at them. What a j**k. Australia Post launches investigation An Australia Post spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia on Friday that the company sincerely apologises for the incident and are investigating the matter as a priority. The vast majority of our network takes pride in their job delivering for all Australians, and its disappointing to see its not the case here, they said. These actions are not in line with the service standards we expect of our people. Australia Post regularly reminds team members about correct handling procedures. Earlier this month, an AusPost customer vented his anger after receiving a delivery that had been torn apart. In images shared to Facebook, the package can be seen in tatters with sticky tape wrapped around the lower half. However, after sharing his frustrations online, some Aussies said the man himself was to blame. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. It is often said that a dog is a mans best friend, and the actions of this pooch named Alex showed why the statement is true. He helped save the life of a teen who suffered a stroke by waking up his parents. Since being shared online, Alexs story has won peoples hearts. The image shows a dog named Alex and the teen whose life the pooch saved. (Instagram/@weratedogs) Instagram page We Rate Dog shared how Alex was able to save the 17-year-olds life. Early one Saturday morning, he began jumping in his parents bed and pawing at them. When they reluctantly woke up to let him outside, Axel didnt want to go. Instead, he stopped in front of the closed bedroom door of the couples 17-year-old son, Gabriel, and wouldnt move. Inside, Gabriel was having a stroke. When Gabriels dad went in to check on the teen, he quickly realised something was wrong. Gabriel was slurring his speech and couldnt feel his right side. Thanks to Axels actions, they were able to rush Gabriel to the hospital, the page wrote. In the next few lines, they added that Gabriel is making amazing progress and it is due to Alexs intervention that things didnt get even worse. The family plans to make Axel a little medal of honour to go on his collar. And were giving him our highest honour, a 15/10, the page added. They wrapped up the post with an image of Alex with Gabriel. Read the story of the amazing dog here: Since being shared about 11 hours ago, the post has accumulated close to 63,000 likes. It has also collected several comments from people. From praising the dog to sharing similar stories, they posted varied reactions. How did Instagram users react to this dogs story? He protec, he attack, he went for help and came right back, commented an Instagram user. My dog saved me from the same outcome by alerting my husband! added another. They should make Axel a cape since he's a Superhero! suggested a third. My departed Bailey did the same for me. After a horrible motorcycle accident, I was bedridden for months after I got out of the hospital. Soon after I got home, I started choking in the middle of the night because everything was broken and I couldnt sit up. My Pitbull pushed my son's door open and started barking. He heard me choking and came to my rescue. I was gasping at that point. God bless our sweet animals, wrote a fourth. 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 50-year-old dine-and-dasher has been arrested by police in Spain and sent to jail for 42 days after refusing to settle two fines. This comes after the man dodged paying bills at 20 restaurants across the nation by faking a heart attack. As per reports, the man resorted to various dramatic acts in nearly every restaurant he targeted. The man resorted to various dramatic acts in nearly every restaurant he targeted.(Representational Image/Pexels) While dining at El Buen Comer, the man ordered a seafood paella and two whiskeys. When he was presented with a bill of 34.85 euros (approx 3,000), he attempted to leave without paying, according to Spains EFE news agency. When the staff confronted him and reminded him that he had an unpaid bill, the man claimed he needed to fetch the money from his hotel. However, when the staff insisted he settle the bill before leaving, he threw himself on the ground and feigned illness. He even requested the staff to call for an ambulance. The staff, however, called the police, the outlet further reported. According to The Sun, the manager of El Buen Comer said, It was very theatrical, he pretended to faint and slumped himself down on the floor. We have sent his photo around to all the restaurants to try and stop him from striking again. The outlet further reported that a worker at Sale&Pepe, another eatery he scammed, received a picture of the man with a warning. He was arrested multiple times in the city of Alicante. The modus operandi was the same, an Alicante National Police spokesperson told Insider. 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 US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, took a ride in the Delhi Metro which left him impressed. A video of him riding the metro and interacting with the passengers was posted on Instagram. US ambassador Eric Garcetti with passengers in Delhi Metro. (Instagram/@mygovindia) The video was posted on the official page of MyGov. US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, experienced the Delhi Metro firsthand and was impressed by what he saw. He found it to be well-maintained, efficient, and an exemplary green public transport system, ranking among the best in the world, reads the caption posted along with the clip. The video opens to show Eric Garcetti holding a smart card and saying Mera Metro. Almost immediately, he breaks into a smile. The clip then goes on to show him entering the station by swiping his Smartcard and waiting for a train on a platform. As the video goes on, he is seen boarding a train and interacting with the passengers. He also takes selfies with some of them and even gives a fist bump to a commuter. Take a look at this video of Eric Garcetti riding in the Delhi Metro: The video was shared about 18 hours ago. Since then, it has collected close to 2.7 lakh views and counting. The share has further accumulated more than 27,000 likes. People posted varied comments while reacting to the video. How did Instagram users react to this video? One of the coolest US ambassadors to India, wrote an Instagram user. A beautiful way to strengthen ties with a nation is to interact with locals, a great initiative by the US ambassador to India, added another. Metro is the backbone of Delhi, expressed a third. 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! An Army private who fled to North Korea before being returned home to the United States last month has been detained by the US military, two officials said Thursday night, and is facing charges including desertion and possessing sexual images of a child. A portrait of Army Pvt. Travis King.(AP) The eight counts against Pvt. Travis King are detailed in a charging document seen by The Associated Press. The officials who confirmed King's confinement spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the charges have not been publicly announced. King's mother, Claudine Gates, said in a statement that she loved her son unconditionally and was extremely concerned about his mental health. As his mother, I ask that my son be afforded the presumption of innocence, she said. Desertion is a very serious charge and can result in imprisonment for as much as three years. King is also accused of kicking and punching other officers last year, unlawfully possessing alcohol, making a false statement and possessing a video of a child engaged in sexual activity. That allegation dates to July 10, the same day he was released from a South Korean prison where he had served nearly two months on assault charges. One week later, King, 23, ran across the heavily fortified border from South Korea and became the first American detained in North Korea in nearly five years. He was set to be sent to Fort Bliss, Texas, where he could have faced potential additional disciplinary actions and discharge. Officials said King was taken to the airport and escorted as far as customs. But instead of getting on the plane, he left and later joined a civilian tour of the Korean border village of Panmunjom. He ran across the border, which is lined with guards and often crowded with tourists, in the afternoon. After about two months, Pyongyang abruptly announced that it would expel him. He was flown on Sept. 28 to an Air Force base in Texas. His release from North Korea was aided by Swedish officials who took King to the Chinese border, where he was met by US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, the Swedish ambassador to China and at least one US Defense Department official. He was then flown to a US military base in South Korea before heading to the US. Once back in the US, King was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston outside San Antonio. He went through what the military describes as a reintegration process that included medical exams, psychological assessments and debriefings. And he was also allowed to meet with family. Because he had willingly run into enemy hands, he legally was kept in military custody throughout that process. At the time, officials said they did not know exactly why North Korea decided to let King go, but suspected Pyongyang determined that as a low-ranking serviceman he had no real value in terms of either leverage or information. King joined the Army in January 2021, and served as a cavalry scout. While he was gone, Army leaders declared him absent without leave, opting to not consider him a deserter, which is far more serious. By declaring King a deserter, the Army would have to conclude that King left and intended to stay away permanently. In times of war, desertion can carry the death penalty. Service members can go AWOL for several days, but may return voluntarily. The punishment can include confinement in the brig, forfeiture of pay or dishonorable discharge and it is largely based on how long they were away and whether they were apprehended or returned on their own. The charging document does not provide significant detail on any of the allegations, though it does accuse King of knowingly possessing a video of a child engaging in sexual conduct last July 10 and says that he solicited a user of Snapchat, a social media platform, to produce images of underage sexual activity. Sean Timmons, an attorney who specializes in military law at the Tully Rinckey law firm and who reviewed the charging document, said all the transactions that occurred on Snapchat were not secure or private and were accessible by the government. He probably reasonably believed his illegal conduct would have no evidentiary trail, but Snapchat actually saves everything, Timmons said. German police have recorded more than 1,100 offences in relation to the Israel-Gaza conflict since Hamas launched its deadly attack earlier this month, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said Friday. Police scuffle with Pro-Palestinian demonstrators, as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, in Berlin, Germany(REUTERS) "These are preliminary figures... and investigations are underway everywhere," Faeser told journalists in a press conference at the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) in Wiesbaden. Hamas militants stormed into Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7, and killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated or burnt to death on the first day of the raid, according to Israeli officials. More than 4,100 Palestinians, mainly civilians, have been killed across the Gaza Strip in relentless Israeli bombardments in retaliation for the attacks by the Palestinian Islamist militant group, according to the latest toll from the Hamas health ministry in Gaza. Since Israel began its bombing raids on Gaza, pro-Palestinian protests have erupted across major German cities despite widespread bans. The recorded offences included "bodily harm... breaches of the peace, incitement to hatred and damage to property", BKA deputy chief Juergen Peter said at the same press conference. In all, a "low three-digit" figure of violent crimes had been recorded, Peter said. Berlin had become a "hotspot" for offences, he said, with the majority occurring in the capital, where clashes between protesters and police were fiercest. Police had made "hundreds of provisional arrests" in Berlin, Faeser said, adding that this was "the right response". "Over 100 police officers have been injured by thrown bottles and fireworks" in the city, Faeser said, adding that "this violence... is in no way acceptable." In all, 46 gatherings related to the conflict had been prohibited by authorities since October 7, Faeser said. By contrast, 211 pro-Israel events and 129 pro-Palestinian events had taken place in that period, Faeser said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday said India's actions are making life very hard for millions of people in India and Canada after Canada confirmed the withdrawal of 41 diplomats from India adding that this will delay the visa services in India. Canada called India's move unreasonable and escalatory as New Delhi asked Ottawa to reduce its diplomatic presence in India -- so that there is a parity as India has a far lesser number of diplomats present in Canada. India also accused these Canadian diplomats of interfering in India's internal affairs. The diplomatic fallout between India and Canada was triggered by Trudeau's public allegation that India had a role in the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India rejected the claim and accused Canada of providing safe haven to terrorists. Justin Trudeau's comment on India came after Canada accused India of violating Vienna Convention in asking Ottawa to withdraw 41 diplomats posted in India. (AP) Read | Visa processing to slow down after 41 Canadian diplomats leave India "The Indian government is making it unbelievably difficult for life as usual to continue for millions of people in India and in Canada. And they're doing it by contravening a very basic principle of diplomacy," Trudeau said, as quoted by Reuters. "It's something that has me very concerned for the well-being and happiness of millions of Canadians who trace their origins to the Indian subcontinent," he said adding that the expulsion of some of the diplomats from Canada will pose difficulties for Indians studying in Canada. Read: Canada warns citizens of possibility of intimidation or harassment in India 'Unreasonable and escalatory': Canada Canada's foreign ministry issued a statement confirming that Canada facilitated the safe departure of 41 Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents from India. Canada said India's action is contrary to international law, including the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. This action taken by India is completely unreasonable and escalatory. India accredited each and every one of the Canadian diplomats they are now expelling. And all of those diplomats were carrying out their duties in good faith, and to the greater benefit of both countries, the statement said. 'Reject any attempt to portray...': India The ministry of external affairs replied to the Canada statement and rejected any attempt to "portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms". India once again said a much higher number of Canadian diplomats were present in India. The action of seeking parity is "fully consistent with Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations", the statement said. Canada had 62 diplomats in India which has now reduced to 21 and the reduction would impact visa services in India. " We will now be forced to pause temporarily all in-person services at Consulates, until further notice. Indias decision will impact levels of services to citizens of both countries...Five IRCC staff remain in India and will focus on work that requires an in-country presence such as urgent processing, visa printing, risk assessment and overseeing key partners, including visa application centres, panel physicians and clinics that perform immigration medical exams. The rest of the work and staff will be reassigned across our global processing network," Canada said. (With Reuters inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Poulomi Ghosh Poulomi Ghosh is a journalist with Hindustan Times, New Delhi. ...view detail The USs top diplomat in China called on President Xi Jinpings government to denounce terrorism by Hamas, citing Beijings stance toward the group as yet another challenge in fraught ties between the worlds biggest economies. Palestinians search the destroyed annex of the Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius Church, the oldest church still in use in Gaza, damaged in a strike on Gaza. (AFP) In an interview with Bloomberg Television on Thursday, Ambassador Nicholas Burns said the US and China had differing views on the Israel-Hamas war. President Joe Biden affirmed the USs strong support for Israel during a visit to the country this week, while China has aligned with the Palestinian cause and avoided condemning Hamas, which the US considers a terrorist organization. We do not have identical views on this particular position, Burns said when asked whether he saw the Middle East tensions as an opportunity to improve relations between the US and China. Hamass support for the destruction of Israel ran counter to Chinas vision for a lasting resolution, he added. China has taken the position of supporting the two state solution as has the United States and so obviously, the focus here should be directed against Hamas, Burns said. When asked about the ambassadors remarks Friday at a regular press briefing in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said major countries, when dealing with hotspot issues in the region, should be objective and just. With Israel's air strikes bombarding Gaza following Hamass deadly incursion into the country earlier in the month, leaders around the region and across the world are seeking to prevent the conflict from spreading. The US in particular has urged China to use its influence with Iran to prevent a wider escalation. Tensions ratcheted up further after a blast at a hospital Tuesday in Gaza that Palestinian officials said killed hundreds. Israel and Hamas have issued rival claims about who was responsible. US congressional leaders confronted Xi earlier this month over his countrys failure to condemn Hamas and show support for those killed in Israel. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer asked China to stand with Israel and condemn the attacks, hours after he blasted Foreign Minister Wang Yi for showing no sympathy or support for Israel during these tough, troubled times. China later said it condemns actions that harm civilians and that its willing to work with the international community toward peace talks. On Thursday, Xi called for an immediate ceasefire while offering to coordinate with Egypt and other Arab nations to push for a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue as soon as possible. Xi earlier this year sought to play global peacemaker, proposing a ceasefire in Ukraine and helping long-time rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran reach a diplomatic truce. He later proposed an Israel-Palestine peace conference. Chinas initial response to the Israel-Hamas war was similar to its reaction to Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine: It has avoided naming an aggressor and failed to offer any specific offer of immediate assistance. Wang last week said that China is pushing for a more authoritative, influential and broad-based international peace conference hosted by the United Nations to find a lasting solution to the issue. No Concessions More broadly, China and the US have sought to stabilize relations that deteriorated in recent years over issues ranging from the self-ruled island of Taiwan to espionage concerns. Biden has dispatched a flurry of cabinet-level officials to Beijing since June to smooth ties, ahead of an expected meeting with Xi next month in San Francisco. The US has accepted Chinas invitation to attend a top security forum in Beijing this month. Burns said efforts over the past several months to create cabinet-level contact between the two have yielded results. Where we didnt have that sustained high-level contact, we now have it, he said. The ambassador said Chinese ministers will be traveling to Washington in the coming months. We need this kind of interaction, but the US is not going to fundamentally make concessions just to have meetings, he said. Military Advantage Even as there are signs that ties are starting to normalize, the countries continue to compete on major issues including security, technology and human rights, according to Burns. He said a recent tightening of export controls on high-tech products were needed to close loopholes. We are serious about preventing any kind of military advantage to the Peoples Liberation Army here because of the export of advanced dual-use American technology, Burns said. He repeated calls for a reopening of military-to-military communication channels that were shut down after former US Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan. The last thing that we should want in this relationship is the absence of communication, Burns said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON One drone was shot down, but another caused in minor injuries, said one of the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the matter before an official announcement about the incident. HT Image The attacks follow similar drone strikes over the past few days against US and coalition bases in Iraq amid simmering anger in the region after an explosion at a Gaza hospital killed hundreds of people. The al-Tanf garrison in southeastern Syria is located at a sensitive juncture often used by Iranian-backed militants to ferry weapons to Hezbollah. Syrian opposition activists also said Thursday a drone attack was conducted on an oil facility in eastern Syria that houses American troops. Omar Abu Layla, a Europe-based activist who heads the Deir Ezzor 24 media outlet, said three drones with explosives struck the Conoco gas field in the eastern province of Deir el-Zour that borders Iraq. Rami Abdurrahman of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, confirmed that five explosions were heard at the Conoco gas field.(AP) RUP RUP SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The UK's weather forecaster, the Met Office, issued a rare red alert the highest level of weather warning for parts of Scotland, predicting exceptional rainfall Thursday and Friday that is expected to cause extensive flooding and danger to life from fast-flowing or deep floodwater. HT Image The last red alert in the UK was issued in 2020. Forecasters say the storm, named Babet by UK officials, could bring more than a month's worth of rain in the worst-affected regions in Scotland. Babet already brought floods and swollen rivers that swamped several towns and villages in Ireland, with some areas remaining under water and without power Thursday. Soldiers helped with evacuation measures in the town of Midleton in County Cork, where more than 100 properties were flooded. Cork County Council said mor In the town of Brechin, near Scotland's eastern coast, officials told residents of about 400 houses to evacuate to local rest centers. Schools, recreation centers and vaccination hubs in the area were closed and will remain shut on Friday. In Denmark, residents scrambled to place sandbags along exposed areas. In Assens on the central island of Funen, emergency services deployed huge rubber tubes in the harbor to counter rising water levels, broadcaster TV2 reported. Southern Denmark police urged people along the east coast to leave exposed areas if the weather predictions remain, saying cottages, harbours and other places could be flooded. TV2 reported that the region would likely see the worst flooding in 110 years, and the Danish Meteorological Institute said waves could reach 4 meters (13 feet) along east-facing coasts. The southeastern Danish town of Koege wrote on its Facebook page that emergency workers were busy filling sandbags and urged citizens to avoid unnecessary baths, dishes, laundry and other water-intensive activities, saying the municipality's treatment plant was at risk of being overloaded. Police in the area warned that roads may be blocked, urged people to secure valuables and advised against sleeping on their boats in the harbours, saying that "if something happens, emergency services cannot get to them, police spokesperson Brian Bang-Rasmussen said. Copenhagen's airport and the Danish national rail company warned of cancellations and delays Friday because of bad weather. Several ferry lines between Danish islands were suspended, as were ferries to Rostock in northern Germany and to Oslo. Swedish meteorologists also issued a warning for the south coast from Friday evening and Saturday. They said that the water level in southern parts of Sweden may reach its highest level since the 1990s. In Germany, authorities warned of high water in bays in Schleswig-Holstein, south of the Denmark border, until Saturday. Authorities also warned of high water in the next two days on the Baltic Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany's northernmost state, with water levels of up to 2 meters (6.6 feet) above average possible in the inlet where the city of Flensburg is located. Some ferries to the North Sea islands of Foehr and Amrum were delayed or canceled, German news agency dpa reported. Norwegian meteorologists said a strong low-pressure area over Great Britain combined with high pressure over northern Scandinavia was creating strong winds, with very strong gusts" expected to hit southern Norway from the east. Parts of southern Europe were also affected by heavy rains. Stormy weather battered much of Spain, leading to ferry cancelations from the southwestern ports of Algeciras and Tarifa to Tangier in Morocco and the closure of public parks in several cities, including Madrid. The stormy weather, expected to worsen Friday in several regions, comes after the hottest and driest first two weeks of October on record. Spain had been experiencing a severe drought for nearly two years. Liam Quaide, a local politician in Cork, Ireland, said authorities need to focus more resources on preparing for climate change. The scenes of devastation in Midleton (are) an ominous sign of what is ahead of us as a nation if we don't double down on climate mitigation and adaptation," he said.(AP) RUP RUP Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said that Indias decision to revoke diplomatic immunity to 41 Canadian diplomats stationed there was a violation of the Vienna Convention governing diplomacy and will also impact millions of Canadians who trace their origins to the Indian subcontinent. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds a press conference on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York, U.S., September 21, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo (REUTERS) Speaking at an event in the town of Brampton in the Greater Toronto Area or GTA on Friday morning, Trudeau said, The actions that the Government of India took this week are themselves contrary to international law. The Government of India decided to unilaterally revoke the diplomatic immunity of 40 Canadian diplomats in India. This is a violation of the Vienna Convention governing diplomacy. This is them choosing to contravene a very fundamental principle of international law and diplomacy. He said this would be of concern not only to Canada but other countries as well. He also referred to the Indo-Canadian diaspora, as he said, It also has very real impacts on the millions of people who travel back and forth between India, as students, as family members, for weddings, for businesses, for the growing trade ties between our countries. Flanked by Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities, Kamal Khera, and the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, Sean Fraser, Trudeau added, This is something that has far-reaching consequences for the diplomatic world that I know many, many countries are very worried about. Indias Ministry of External Affairs, in a statement on Friday had dismissed Canadas charges that international law was being violated, as it said, The state of our bilateral relations, the much higher number of Canadian diplomats in India, and their continued interference in our internal affairs warrant a parity in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa. Earlier on Thursday afternoon, the Canadian Government announced that 41 of its diplomats and their dependents in India have departed, a day prior to the deadline set by New Delhi for their withdrawal, failing which they were liable to lose diplomatic immunity. Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly said Ottawa has decided not to reciprocate even as the development was defined as expulsion of the Canadian diplomats. The diplomatic drawdown came after India sought parity in the strength of Canadas diplomatic presence by brining down the those stationed in the country from 62 to 21. Speaking at a press conference in Ottawa on Thursday, Joly said, I can confirm that India has formally conveyed its plan to unilaterally remove diplomatic immunities for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents in Delhi by tomorrow, October 20. She added, Given the implications of Indias actions on the safety of our diplomats, we have facilitated their safe departure from India. This means that our diplomats and their families have now left and are on their way home, she said. In a statement from the countrys foreign ministry, Global Affairs Canada, Joly said, India accredited each and every one of the Canadian diplomats they are now expelling. And all of those diplomats were carrying out their duties in good faith, and to the greater benefit of both countries. The original deadline for bringing down the number of Canadian diplomats in India was October 10. But Canada had let that deadline elapse, while engaging in private negotiations with India. However, those talks appear to have failed. However, she added that Canada will continue to engage with India, as Now more than ever, we need to have diplomats on the ground and we need to talk to one another. Joly said, Canada will continue to defend international law, which applies equally to all states. Canada will continue to engage India and remains committed to dialogue as we move forward. She also said the decision by India was unprecedented. A unilateral revocation of diplomatic privileges and immunities is contrary to international law. It is a clear violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, she argued. She added that threatening to strip such immunity was unreasonable and escalatory since that allows diplomats to do their work, without fear of reprisal or arrest from the country they are in. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON An elderly woman has been forced to live in her car after her rent became too expensive to afford. Susannah Tuxford, 78, now sleeps out of her car stationed near a park in Beenleigh, Queensland, with only her dog as company. Despite over 50 years of paying taxes and starting her working life at aged 14, Ms Tuxford has been brought to tears by the lack of help she has received. Susannah Tuxford now lives in her car after her rent became too expensive. Source: 9News "I pay all that money, all those years and the government isn't helping anybody like me," she told 9News, admitting she was "embarrassed" by her current living situation. With no family left living in Australia, Ms Tuxford has no other option but to live alone in her car. Retiree forced to wash in public bathroom With a lack of amenities, Ms Tuxford said she has had to get creative making a "tissue plug" in the public bathroom's sink in an attempt to wash herself. "I didn't have a shower for two weeks, I just went in the bathroom, and [used] the hand basin there," she said. "I just bathed there early in the morning when nobody was around and can see me." The retiree, 78, has parked her car near a public bathroom so she can use the facility to wash. Source: 9News She relies on local charities who provide sandwiches for her, and she is currently recovering from a fall she recently had, using a walking stick now she "can't walk properly" with a painful leg. After Queensland Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon was contacted by 9News over Ms Tuxford's situation, she was offered sleeping arrangements at a local aged care facility. However, Ms Tuxford turned the offer down, saying she does not require aged care, just a roof over her head. More Aussies living out of their car amid rental crisis Ms Tuxford is the latest Aussie to admit to living in their car as the tightening rental market pushes rent prices up, with many unable to make ends meet. Story continues At the start of the year a Sydney woman was forced to live from her car after experiencing financial hardship and was unable to afford her rent, despite working 50 hour per week as a chef. A Perth family also lived from their car for eight months as the cost-of-living crisis meant they were unable to make their rent payments. The country continues to grapple with a rental crisis due to an imbalance of supply versus demand, with state and federal governments desperately trying to find solutions to the lack of housing in Australia. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Israel has decided to completely end its responsibility over Gaza Strip while outlining three-phase offensive against the Islamist group Hamas which launched a deadly attack on October 7. Israeli soldiers chat as they take position outside Kibbutz Beeri near the border with the Gaza Strip.(AFP) A rigid blockade has been enforced on the coastal enclave of the Palestinian National Authority since 2007 right after Hamas took control of the region. Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant briefed Knesset, the country's legislature, about the campaign against Gaza in phases. Here are some important updates on Israel-Hamas war: Israeli military officials said the war, which entered the 14th day, would be carried out for long which will involved a difficult and intense fighting. While giving out details of Gaza campaign, Gallant said the first phase of its offensive includes the ongoing military operation meant to destroy Hamas's infrastructure; second phase will include operations at lower intensity eliminating pockets of resistance; whereas, the third wil involve the removal of Israels responsibility for life in the Gaza strip, and the establishment of a new security reality for the citizens of Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited a group of soldiers near Gaza border in order to boost their morale. All of Israel is behind you and we are going to heavily strike our enemies so that we can achieve victory, the Israel PM was quoted as saying by Times of Israel. Mabduh Shaalabi, a senior Hamas security official, was killed in a joint operation by the Israel Defence Force and its naval forces. The head of IDF Southern Command said this war was forced on us and that the ground offensive would be long and intense. "But we stopped them and we are striking them heavily, senior official Finkelman told the soldiers in Gaza border. As the war entered the 14th day, the death toll in both Gaza and Israel topped over 5,500. Over 12,400 Palestinians are injured and more than 4,800 Israelis are injured. Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman called for the establishment of Palestian State based on 1967 borders. The conditions must be created for the return of stability and the achievement of lasting peace that will ensure a just solution to establish a Palestinian state within 1967 borders in order to achieve security and prosperity for all," the Crown Prince said. In a travel advisory to its citizens, Russia urged to refrain from travelling to Israel and Lebanon. US President Joe Biden urged Americans to get behind millions of dollars for spending on allies Israel and Ukraine. In an address 20 hours after returning from Israel, Biden drew parallel between Israel-Hamas war and Russia-Ukraine conflict and said both Hamas and Russia wanted to annihilate a neighbouring democracy. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited Egypt's Rafah border crossing where he pointed out the importance of moving the aid trucks into the besieged Palestinian enclave amid the raging humanitarian crisis. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail Israel-Hamas war Highlights: On the 14th day of the Israel-Hamas conflict, airstrikes continued in Gaza, even in areas that Israel had declared as safe zones. The United States has reiterated its support for Israel and emphasised securing the release of hostages held by Hamas as a top priority. Meanwhile, Palestinians in Gaza were awaiting the emergency aid promised in a deal struck by US President Joe Biden. Israel maintained its bombardment of targets in the Hamas-controlled enclave. Protesters during a rally for the release of hostages in Gaza held by Hamas operatives in the Times Square neighborhood of New York, US, on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. (Bloomberg) The Interior Ministry under Hamas reported casualties among displaced people who had sought shelter in a Gaza Strip church compound due to an Israeli strike on Thursday. Cargo planes delivered essential supplies like food, medicine, water purifiers, and hygiene products to Egypt's El Arish airport, with the opening of the Rafah border crossing into Gaza expected soon. US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a press briefing that the United States is prepared not only to assist Israel in its efforts to counter Hamas but also to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. President Joe Biden and US officials have said that US intelligence does not attribute the explosion at al-Ahli Hospital to an Israeli airstrike, reiterating this on Thursday. The conflict began with a Hamas militant attack on October 7, prompting relentless Israeli retaliation. Israel claimed that at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians, were killed in the initial attack, with around 1,500 Islamist fighters killed in subsequent clashes. In response, Israeli bombings have led to casualties among Palestinians, with the Gaza health ministry reporting at least 3,785 deaths, primarily civilians. The Israeli Air Force is striking Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip "at a rate not seen in decades," a military official said on Friday. An Israeli Air Force F-35 fighter jet flies during an aerial demonstration.(Reuters) Speaking to reporters today, Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said the air force was also preparing the way for the expected ground assault on the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip. READ | Israel-Hamas war: Air force strikes Hezbollah 'terrorist' targets in Lebanon; Iran issues warning. Latest updates Additionally, Israeli military spokespersons said the air force struck more than 100 Hamas sites overnight, including a mosque used by Hamas. Meanwhile, after taking note of a US warship downing three cruise missiles and several drones launched by Iranian Houthi fighters in Yemen that targeted Israel, a US military official noted that Israel's air defenses "are similarly prepared for threats of this type." US President Joe Biden on Friday addressed American citizens in the wake of the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant organisation Hamas. President Joe Biden speaks from the Oval Office of the White House Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, in Washington, about the war in Israel and Ukraine. (Jonathan Ernst/Pool via AP)(AP) Speaking from the Oval Office, Biden reiterated his support for Israel saying that he saw people who are strong, determined, resilient and also angry, in shock and in deep, deep pain during his trip to Tel Aviv. He also underlined that his first priority was the safety of Americans who are kept hostage by Hamas in Gaza. In the rare address to the nation, the US president also spoke on the war between Russia and Ukraine and accused both, Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin, of wanting to "completely annihilate a neighboring democracy," but noted that they represent different threats. A speech from the Oval Office is one of the most prestigious platforms that a US president can command, an opportunity to try to seize the countrys attention at a moment of crisis. Biden has delivered only one other such speech during his presidency, after Congress passed bipartisan budget legislation to avert a default on the countrys debt, according to the Associated Press. Here are some of the top quotes from Biden's address: I know these conflicts can seem far away, and it's natural to ask why does this matter to America. So let me share with you why making sure Israel and Ukraine succeed is vital for America's national security. Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common: they both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy, completely annihilate it. Hamas uses Palestinian civilians as human shields and innocent Palestinian families are suffering greatly because of them. Meanwhile, Putin denies Ukraine has or ever had real statehood. He claims the Soviet Union created Ukraine... Tomorrow, I will send an urgent budget request to Congress to fund our national security needs and support our critical partners including Israel and Ukraine. These investments will strengthen American security and help us build a safer world. American leadership holds the world together. Our alliances keep us safe. Our values make us a partner that other nations want to work with. If we turn our backs on Ukraine and Israel, we put all of that at risk. As the President, there is no higher priority for me than the safety of Americans who are hostage...In Israel, I saw people who are strong, determined, resilient, and also angry, in shock, and in deep, deep pain. Like so many others, I'm heartbroken by the tragic loss of Palestinian life, including the explosion at the hospital in Gaza, which was not done by the Israelis. We mourn every innocent life lost. We can't ignore the humanity of innocent Palestinians who only want to live in peace and have an opportunity... ...Iran is supporting Russia's in Ukraine, and it's supporting Hamas and other terrorist groups in the region and will continue to hold them accountable, I might add. The United States and our partners across the region are working to build a better future for the Middle East, one where the Middle East is more stable, better connected to its neighbours, and through innovative projects like the Indian Middle East-Europe Rail Corridor that I announced this year at the summit of the world's biggest economies... SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Former President Donald Trump was fined USD 5,000 on Friday after a disparaging social media post about a key court staffer in his New York civil fraud case was allowed to linger on his campaign website after the judge ordered it deleted. Former US President Donald Trump (AFP) Judge Arthur Engoron avoided holding Trump in contempt, for now, but reserved the right to do so - and possibly even put him in jail - if he continued to violate a gag order barring parties in the case from personal attacks on court staff. Engoron said in a written ruling that he is way beyond the warning' stage, but decided on a nominal fine because Trump's lawyers said the website's retention of the post was inadvertent and was a first time violation. READ | At Donald Trump's civil trial, scrutiny shifts to son Eric's 'lofty ideas' for valuing a property Earlier, an incensed Engoron said the failure to delete the post from the website was a blatant violation of his October 3 order, which required Trump to delete the offending message. Trump lawyer Christopher Kise blamed the very large machine of Trump's presidential campaign for allowing his deleted social media post to remain on his website, calling it an unintentional oversight. Trump, the front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, wasn't in court Friday. He'd returned to the trial Tuesday and Wednesday after attending the first three days in early October, but skipped the rest of the week. Projecting Israels war against Hamas and Ukraines resistance against Russian President Vladimir Putins invasion as a battle of democracies against terrorists and dictators who seek to annihilate them, US President Joe Biden said the world was an inflection point, made a fervent call to a divided US Congress to process a substantial military assistance package for the two countries and to meet other American security priorities, and claimed this was smart investment which will pay dividends for generations. US President Joe Biden addresses the nation on the conflict between Israel and Gaza and the Russian invasion of Ukraine from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on October 19, 2023. (AFP) On Friday, the administration followed up on Bidens speech and asked the Congress for close to $105 billion in funding. This includes $61.4 billion for Ukraine, $10.6 billion for Israel, $9 billion for humanitarian assistance for Ukraine, Israel and Gaza, $3.7 billion to step up security at the US embassy in Israel, $7.4 billion for Taiwan and Indo-Pacific, and $12 billion for better border security at the US-Mexico border. In a rare address from the Oval Office on Thursday evening, Biden, who called America the indispensable nation, spoke extensively about the Israel-Hamas conflict where he pledged unprecedented security assistance to Tel Aviv, but also reiterated the need for Israel to respect the laws of war and protect civilian lives and reaffirmed American support for the two-state solution. Biden also referred to American efforts to enhance connectivity and growth in the region, mentioning the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. At a time when Republican support in the US House of Representatives has been dwindling for further assistance to Ukraine, Biden also warned that if Russian President Vladimir Putin succeeded in Ukraine, he would target members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) next, countries the US was treaty-bound to protect. Russias success would also embolden other aggressors, including in the Indo-Pacific, Biden warned, in a clear allusion to Chinas intentions in the region, and the Middle East, where he specifically mentioned Iran as a country which was backing both Russia and Hamas. Bidens juxtaposition of the two wars appears to be an attempt to turn the narrative when critics have suggested that the West is being hypocritical in supporting Ukraine against Russian occupation and batting for Ukrainian liberty, while legitimising Israels occupation and plans for an invasion and ignoring the liberty of Palestinians. Weaving in the external with the internal, Biden also acknowledged both the rising anti-Semitimism and Islamophobia in America itself and sent a message of solidarity to Jewish and Muslim communities at home, rejecting efforts at inciting hate and appealing to Americas nobler instincts. In a speech which even critics termed as among the most significant of his presidency, Biden spoke about his visit to Israel and called Hamass attack pure unadulterated evil, adding, But sadly, the Jewish people know, perhaps better than anyone, that there is no limit to the depravity of people when they want to inflict pain on others. Biden said he had also spoken to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, reiterated to him that the US was committed to the right to dignity and self determination of Palestinians and Hamass attacks didnt take that away. Like so many other, I am heartbroken by the tragic loss of Palestinian life, including the explosion at a hospital in Gaza which was not done by the Israelis, Biden said, a more categorical statement than the past, rejecting allegations that an Israeli strike was responsible for the attack. Biden then said the assault on Israel echoed nearly 20 months of war, tragedy, and brutality inflicted on the people of Ukraine. Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common: They both want to completely annihilate a neighbouring democracy completely annihilate it. He then sought to answer a question that is increasingly gaining salience in the US as an isolationist impulse rises. I know these conflicts can seem far away. And its natural to ask: Why does this matter to America? Biden said that history had shown that when terrorists didnt pay a price for terror, dictators didnt pay a price for aggression, they caused chaos, deaths and destruction and costs and threats to America kept rising. So, if we dont stop Putins appetite for power and control in Ukraine, he wont limit himself just to Ukraine, Biden said, accusing Moscow of harbouring designs on Poland and Baltic countries. If Putin attacked a NATO Ally, Biden said, US will we defend every inch of NATO and be in a situation it did not seek, of American troops fighting in Russia or against Russia. The President added that competitors and adversaries beyond Europe were watching too. If we walk away and let Putin erase Ukraines independence, would-be aggressors around the world would be emboldened to try the same. The risk of conflict and chaos could spread in other parts of the world in the Indo-Pacific, in the Middle East. He then pointed to Iran, pointing out that it was supporting Russia and Hamas. Biden contrasted this with what the US had been attempting to do to create a better future in the region, one where the Middle East is more stable, better connected to its neighbors, through innovative projects like the India-Middle East-Europe rail corridor that I announced this year at the summit of the worlds biggest economies. Biden and PM Modi had unveiled IMEC along with other partner countries at G20 Summit in New Delhi, and the project was seen as one more step that will help enable the process of normalisation between Israel and Saudi Arabia, a process that the Hamas terror attack and Israels response has thrown into deep freeze. Biden then went back to appealing to the sense of American exceptionalism that has often permeated the rhetoric of presidents. American leadership is what holds the world together. American alliances are what keep us, America, safe. American values are what make us a partner that other nations want to work with. To put all that at risk if we walk away from Ukraine, if we turn our backs on Israel, its just not worth it, Biden said, adding he was sending an urgent budgetary request to the US Congress on Friday to fund US national security needs to support critical partners. Terming it as a smart investment thats going to pay dividends for American security for generations, Biden claimed that the unprecedented package will sharpen Israel a qualitative military edge, but he had also reminded Israels PM Benjamin Netanyahu of the need to abide by the laws of war. He acknowledged the need for food, water and medicines in Gaza, spoke about how he had secured an agreement to allow humanitarian supplies from Egypt into Gaza, and said, As hard as it is, we cannot give up on peace. We cannot give up on a two-state solution. Israel and Palestinians equally deserve to live in safety, dignity, and peace. Biden then turned inwards, warning against hate, racism, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia that have intensified in the US. He said Hamass attack had triggered deep scars among the Jewish community, now worried about being targeted. It had also revived the memories of post-9/11 Islamophobia in Muslim-American, Arab-American, Palestinian-American communities, Biden said, referring to the killing of a six year old child of a Palestinian-American family in Illinois this week. We cant stand by and stand silent when this happens. We must, without equivocation, denounce antisemitism. We must also, without equivocation, denounce Islamophobia. Going back to Ukraine, at a time when the morale about Ukraines prospects in repelling the Russian invasion has dipped, Biden recalled the successes of Ukraine regaining 50% of the territory held by Russian troops and how Kyiv stood free. All Ukraine is asking for is help for the weapons, munitions, the capacity, the capability to push invading Russian forces off their land, and the air defense systems to shoot down Russian missiles before they destroy Ukrainian cities, Biden said, pointing out that Congressional funding will help the US replenish its own military stocks. We cannot and will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win. I refuse to let that happen, Biden said as he wrapped his speech with an ode to American ability to fulfill its responsibilities as a great nation. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty editor Alsu Kurmasheva is the second US journalist to be detained in Russia this year. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was arrested for alleged spying in March. HT Image Kurmasheva, an editor with RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir service, is being held in a temporary detention center, said Tatar-Inform, a state-held news agency in the Tatarstan republic. The Committee to Protect Journalists media rights organisation called the accusations spurious, demanding that the charges be dropped and Kurmasheva released. Tatar-Inform posted video showing Kurmasheva being marched into an administrative building accompanied by four men, two of them wearing balaclavas. Tatar-Inform said that authorities accused Kurmasheva of collecting information about Russia's military activities in order to transmit information to foreign sources, suggesting that she received information about university teachers who were mobilized into the Russian army. It said she faces charges of failing to register as a foreign agent in her capacity as a person collecting information on Russian military activities. and could be sentenced to up to five years in prison. Alsu is a highly respected colleague, devoted wife, and dedicated mother to two children, RFE/RL head Jeffrey Gedmin said. "She needs to be released, so she can return to her family immediately. The US Embassy in Moscow said it was aware of the reports of Kurmasheva's arrest. We have no higher priority than the safety and security of US citizens overseas, said an embassy spokesperson who did not give further details. Kurmasheva, who lives in Prague with her family, was stopped at Kazan International Airport on June 2 after travelling to Russia for a family emergency on May 20, according to RFE/RL. Officials at the airport confiscated Kurmasheva's US and Russian passports and she was fined for failing to register her US passport with Russian authorities. She was waiting for her passports to be returned when the new charge was filed on Wednesday, RFE/RL said. At that time it was clear they did not have anything on her, so maybe it was like a matter of intimidation. And then it took them three months to decide how would they, you know, package the case against her, Galina Arapova of Russia's Mass Media Defense Center told The Associated Press. RFE/RL was told to register by Russian authorities as a foreign agent in 2017. It has brought a case at the European Court of Human Rights challenging Russia's use of foreign agent laws that resulted in the organisation being fined millions of dollars. Kurmasheva reported on ethnic minority communities in the Tatarstan and Bashkortostan republics in Russia, including projects to protect and preserve the Tatar language and culture despite increased pressure on Tatars from Russian authorities, her employer said. Analysts have pointed out that Moscow may be using jailed Americans as bargaining chips after US-Russia tensions soared when Moscow sent troops into Ukraine. At least two US citizens arrested in Russia in recent years including WNBA star Brittney Griner have been exchanged for Russians jailed in the US. Arapova said Kurmasheva's case is quite different from that of Gershkovic, the Wall Street Journal reporter, even though she holds US citizenship. She was attacked because she is a Russian journalist. Second, she belongs to a foreign media, which was already regarded as a foreign agent and with which Russian authorities had a longstanding conflict on foreign agent legislation, she said. Journalism is not a crime, and Kurmasheva's detention is yet more proof that Russia is determined to stifle independent reporting, said Gulnoza Said, the Europe and Asia coordinator for New York-based CPJ. Gershkovich has appeared in court several times since his arrest and unsuccessfully appealed his detention. Russia's Federal Security Service alleged Gershkovich, acting on the instructions of the American side, collected information constituting a state secret about the activities of one of the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex. Gershkovich and The Wall Street Journal deny the allegations, and the US government has declared him to be wrongfully detained. Russian authorities haven't detailed any evidence to support the espionage charges. Court proceedings against him are closed, because prosecutors say details of the case are classified. (AP) RUP RUP SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Scammers made off with an estimate amount of $1.02 trillion between August 2022 and August 2023 globally with victims in Singapore faced the highest average losses, according to a study by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA) and ScamAdviser, reported The Straits Times. The figure has surpassed the previous losses of $55.3 billion in 2021 and $47.8 billion in 2020, the report added.(Representative image) The figure has surpassed the previous losses of $55.3 billion in 2021 and $47.8 billion in 2020, the report added. GASA managing director Jorij Abraham revealed the data during the opening speech on Wednesday at the fourth annual Global Anti-Scam Summit in Portugal's Lisbon. Abraham warned that scammers utilize more sophisticated traps and the most prevalent scams globally are those involving online shopping, identity theft and investments. He stressed the necessity of infrastructural measures, such as blocking scam sites, to provide more comprehensive consumer protection. Abraham also said that increased losses were attributed to the limitations of calculating losses based on figures from law enforcement agencies, which typically account for only about 7% of all scams. The study surveyed 49,459 individuals from 43 countries in which they were asked about the types of frauds they fall into and the amount they lost to fraudsters. The data was then extrapolated based on each countrys population, the report added. The study emphasised that the average scam victim in Singapore lost $4,031, the highest globally, followed by Switzerland at $3,767 and Austria at $3,484, pointing to the appeal of these affluent nations as targets for scammers. Meanwhile, the data released by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in February 2023 showed that victims in lost a total of $660.7 million in 2022, up from $632 million in 2021. Dr Ng Li Sa, Director of Policy Development and Security at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Singapore, emphasised the pressing nature of the issue and the active measures being employed to combat it. She underscored that the perpetrators targeting Singapore are primarily operating from abroad, emphasizing that the effective implementation of the law and the recovery of funds rely heavily on international collaboration. GASA is an organisation that facilitates collaboration between policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and cybersecurity bodies. It collaborates with ScamAdviser, a service that aids in identifying scam websites. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Washington: In his recent book, The Last Politician: Inside Joe Bidens White House and the Struggle for Americas Future, the journalist Franklin Fowler draws a masterful summary of the US Presidents approach to Israel through an episode in 2021 when Hamas rockets from Gaza descended on the skylines of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and furious Israeli retribution followed. President Joe Biden (left) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu participate in an expanded bilateral meeting with Israeli and US government officials, in Tel Aviv, on Wednesday. (AP) One, offering historical context, Fowler suggests that Biden is deeply committed to the alliance with Israel from the time he met the then Israeli PM Golda Meir as a first-time Senator in 1973, on the cusp of the Yom Kippur War. Two, he genuinely does not believe that both sides are equally to blame and supports Israels right to defend itself when Hamas launches terror attacks against Israel. Three, Biden has known Benjamin Netanyahu since the 1980s and despite having a troubled relationship with him often because of his far-Right politics, Biden has always maintained a degree of personal warmth with the Israeli leader, once sending him a photograph inscribed, Bibi, I dont agree with a damn thing you say, but I love ya. And four, in 2021, acting against the advice of his closest aides, Biden did not call for a ceasefire or criticise Israels reaction, which he believed would only push Netanyahu away. Instead, in his view, the quickest way to end the conflict was to stand squarely with Israel, to smother Netanyahu with love. Fowler writes, Then, at the right moment, Biden said that he would take advantage of the trust he had deposited in the bank. Only then would he tell Bibi to wind the war down. But in the meantime, he was going to hug Bibi tight. In 2021, Netanyahu continued his offensive even as Biden came under criticism from his partys progressives for not doing enough. But quietly, Biden had been speaking to the Israeli leader, asking him how this would end. Netanyahu said it will end when Israel restores deterrence. Biden asked him how will he know that. Netanyahu said, We will know, without offering any metric. Biden let it pass, and only in the fourth call with him, Biden told the Israeli PM, Hey man, we are out of runaway here. Its over. Netanyahu reluctantly agreed to a ceasefire. Almost 30 months later, the context is similar Hamas has launched terror attacks, Israel is responding with fury but also different the scale of the terror attacks and the nature of retribution is far more intense and the wider region is in turmoil with a high potential for the conflict to escalate. But Bidens worldview on Israel and his 2021 strategy offer clues about what he is seeking to do, reflected in his statements after the terror attack, his visit to Tel Aviv on Wednesday, and the broader US diplomacy in the region. For one, by backing Israel, Biden is acting according to his instincts honed over five decades in politics, his domestic political imperatives which dictate supporting the Jewish state, his outlook towards Hamas and terror and rejection of the equivalence between both sides. But he is also deploying the same textbook that he did in 2021 by hugging Netanyahu tight. He has spoken to the Israeli PM over half a dozen times. He hugged Netanyahu as soon as he landed in Tel Aviv. He told him in remarks open to the media that Israel was not alone. He has outlined the US security assistance that has already been offered. He has sent his Secretary of State Antony J Blinken, who spoke of his own Jewish roots, to the region. The Biden administration has not called for a ceasefire and vehemently denounced any attempts to equate the two sides. And Biden quite promptly, but after checking with Pentagon, publicly backed Israels claims on the attack on a hospital in Gaza being a result of a failed rocket launch by the Islamic Jihad. But at the same time, Biden has used this trust in the bank with Israel to push for restraint, calm and clarity. The domestic political operators in the Democratic Party realise that there is a churn within American society and politics today, and if criticising Israel was almost blasphemous even a few decades ago, there are today multiple constituencies which are open about their discomfort with Israels occupation of Palestinian land and its brutality. The voices on college campuses, the voices in the progressive faction of the party, the anxieties among American Muslims, the concern even among younger more liberal Jewish voters cannot be ignored. In addition, the US administration is conscious that being seen as complicit in potential Israeli war crimes and turning a blind eye to the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza will erode its diplomatic triumphs not just in West Asia but across the global south. It also dents its case on Ukraine which, after all, is based on resisting external occupation and respecting liberty and revives memories of western hypocrisy. And that is why Biden used his visit to tell Netanyahu that protecting civilian lives was important. He shared with Israel how rage after 9/11 had led the US to make mistakes and cautioned Tel Aviv from emulating those mistakes. He announced a $100 million humanitarian assistance package for Gaza and West Bank. He convinced Israel to allow Egypt to open up a pathway to allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. He appointed a special envoy for humanitarian affairs. He strongly distinguished between Hamas and the Palestinians, effectively telling Israel that collectively punishing the whole population for the terror of a group wont be right. Given the scale of the tragedy unfolding in Gaza, critics will see American actions will probably be seen as inadequate at best and a charade at worst. And no one will forget the historic omissions and complicity of the past. But Biden is clearly addressing multiple constituencies domestic and external, national security hawks and liberals, the Jewish community at home and abroad and Muslims at home and abroad, the West and Israel but also the wider global south. And he is doing so with his strategy of smothering Israel with love, while counselling restraint. Whether it works will have to be seen. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Friday called on Israel to stop its attacks on Gaza, which he said amounted to genocide, and urged governments worldwide to work for a humanitarian ceasefire in the region. Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan (REUTERS) Turkey supports Palestinians, backs a two-state solution to the decades-old conflict, and hosts members of the Palestinian militant group Hamas. It has offered to mediate in the conflict and has sent humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip that is stuck in Egypt because borders are closed. While initially condemning civilian deaths and calling for restraint as it sought to repair ties with Israel after years of animosity, Ankara has toughened its stance against Israel as the fighting and humanitarian crisis in Gaza has intensified. READ | Israel vows to end responsibility for life in Gaza, shares 3-phase offensive. Top updates "I repeat my call for the Israeli leadership to never expand the scope of its attacks on civilians and to immediately end its operations amounting to genocide," Erdogan said on X, formerly known as Twitter. He added Israel was provoking non-regional actors instead of turning back from its mistakes in Gaza, and said that the region needed saving from the "frenzy of madness" supported by Western powers and media. Erdogan also said Ankara was working to end the fighting before it reached "a point of no return". "It is clear that security cannot be achieved by massacring children, women, civilians; by bombing hospitals, schools, mosques, and churches," Erdogan said. "Cruelty does not bring prosperity." READ | Rishi Sunak's 'stand with you' message as UK PM arrives in Israel amid Gaza war Later on Friday, Erdogan spoke to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi by phone to discuss the conflict and "the human rights violations committed by Israel against civilians", the Turkish presidency said. Erdogan's office said he told Sisi that "the savagery toward Palestinian lands was deepening, and that the silence of Western countries over the bombing of hospitals, schools, and places of worship was worsening the fire in Gaza." Turkish protesters staged anti-Israel demonstrations across the country this week after a blast that killed large numbers of Palestinians at a Gaza hospital. Israeli and Palestinian officials blamed each other for the explosion. Israeli diplomats, including its ambassador, have left Turkey after Israel issued a security warning. Ankara has also been in talks with Hamas to secure the release of civilians the group has taken prisoner, but Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan was cited as saying on Wednesday that there "is nothing concrete" for now. Editors Note: Peter Bergen is CNNs national security analyst, a vice president at New America, a professor of practice at Arizona State University, and the host of the Audible podcast In the Room With Peter Bergen, also on Apple and Spotify. He is on the advisory council of the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation, which advocates for US hostages. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion at CNN. Up to 150 hostages are being held in Gaza, according to Israeli officials. Meanwhile, 17 Americans are missing, and Hamas may be holding an unknown number of them, according to the White House. Peter Bergen - CNN Hamas has threatened to execute hostages and broadcast video of the execution if Israel strikes targets in Gaza without warning. The approach with the likely lowest risk to the hostages is a negotiated release. Few governments have much leverage with Hamas, but Qatar does, as it has provided hundreds of millions of dollars to poor Gazan families in recent years. Qatar also has a track record of brokering such releases; for instance, last month, Qatari officials helped to secure the release of five American prisoners held by Iran, which included $6 billion of Iranian oil revenues being unfrozen and sent to a Qatari bank to be used for humanitarian purposes in Iran. Already, Qatari officials are in communication with Hamas about what deal could be made to release the hostages they are holding. If there were to be some prisoner exchange, Hamas in the past has driven a hard bargain, exchanging Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in 2011 for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. There are options other than negotiated releases. There are rescue operations, typically by special operations forces. But those are predicated on knowing exactly where the hostages are located. US special operations forces are offering their expertise and support to Israel, but are not part of a ground mission to rescue hostages. Story continues So far, there is no indication about where the hostages are being held, and Gaza is laced with underground tunnels that Hamas controls, making it hard to locate hostages should they be secreted in these tunnels. When ISIS kidnapped American journalists and aid workers beginning in 2012, the US launched a rescue operation in 2014 based on indications that they were being held in a particular location in Syria, but the hostages had been moved by the time the operation happened. ISIS subsequently murdered the Americans. Rescues can also be dangerous for the hostages, even when the most skilled special operations forces are deployed. In 2010, the Taliban kidnapped British aid worker Linda Norgrove, and US Navy SEAL Team Six launched a rescue operation. Subsequent investigations revealed that Norgrove was killed by a fragmentation grenade thrown by a SEAL team member during the operation. Hostage-takers can also kill their prisoner during rescue operations. In 2014, during a SEAL Team Six rescue operation in Yemen, American journalist Luke Somers was killed by his al Qaeda captors. A 2017 study that I co-authored for New America, a research institution, found that in the previous decade and a half, in 42 cases of Western hostages being taken by terrorist groups in which a rescue attempt operation was made, it was fatal to the hostages 20% of the time. In short, a negotiated release of the hostages, mediated perhaps by the Qataris, is the lowest-risk approach to freeing them. If Hamas could release the children and elderly hostages the group appears to be holding, that would be a good start. The promise of this approach was shown on Friday when, as a result of negotiations between Hamas and Qatar, Hamas released two US citizens, a mother and her daughter. This article has been updated with news of the release of two hostages. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com US President Joe Biden addressed the nation after his risky wartime visit to Israel and made clear his government's views and role in the ongoing conflict in the area. Here are 10 key takeaways from the historic visit. US President Joe Biden addresses the nation on the conflict between Israel and Gaza and the Russian invasion of Ukraine from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on October 19, 2023. (Photo by JONATHAN ERNST / POOL / AFP)(AFP) Historical Significance Biden emphasized the critical juncture in history, stating that present actions will shape the future for decades. Were facing an inflection point in history. One of those moments where the decisions we make today are going to determine the future for decades to come. Support for Israel He expressed solid support for Israel amidst the conflict with Hamas, and conveyed the U.S. commitment to Israel's security through military assistance. Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people. Hamas uses Palestinian civilians as human shields, and innocent Palestinian families are suffering greatly because of them. Horrors of War The President recounted the horrors faced by civilians in both Israel and Ukraine, mentioning the toll of Hamas' attack on October 7 in Israel, and the atrocities committed in Ukraine by Russian forces. Scores of innocents from infants to the elderly, grandparents, Israelis, Americans taken hostage. As I told the families of Americans being held captive by Hamas, were pursuing every avenue to bring their loved ones home. As president, there is no higher priority for me than the safety of Americans held hostage. Global Repercussions of Aggression Biden highlighted the global repercussions if aggressors like terrorists and dictators are not held accountable, suggesting a domino effect that might spread chaos and conflict worldwide. Weve not forgotten the mass graves, the bodies found bearing signs of torture, rape used as a weapon by the Russians, and thousands and thousands of Ukrainian children forcibly taken into Russia, stolen from their parents. Its sick. Support for Ukraine He reaffirmed the U.S.'s support for Ukraine, emphasizing military aid to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression. Putin denies Ukraine has, or ever had, real statehood. He claims the Soviet Union created Ukraine. And just two weeks ago, he told the world that if the United States and our allies withdraw and if the United States withdraws, our allies will as well military support for Ukraine would have, quote, a week left to live. NATO's Role Biden underscored the importance of NATO in maintaining peace in Europe and asserted that the U.S. would defend NATO allies against any aggression"For 75 years, NATO has kept peace in Europe. And has been the cornerstone of American security. And if Putin attacks a NATO ally, we will defend every inch of NATO, which a treaty requires and calls for." Condemnation of Hamas and Putin He condemned both Hamas and Putin for their threats to democracies, drawing a parallel between their destructive intentions despite representing different types of threats. Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common. They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy completely annihilate it. Humanitarian Aid and Peace Efforts The President mentioned securing agreements for humanitarian aid to Gaza and emphasized the continuous pursuit of a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. Domestic Reflection and Unity He called for domestic unity against hate, racism, anti-Semitism, and Islamophobia, urging Americans to uphold the values of religious freedom and expression. As I said in Israel, as hard as it is, we cannot give up on peace. We cannot give up on a two-state solution. Israel and Palestinians equally deserve to live in safety, dignity and peace. You know, and here at home we have to be honest with ourselves. In recent years, too much hate has given too much oxygen, fueling racism, a rise in antisemitism, Islamic-phobia, right here in America. American Leadership Biden stressed the pivotal role of American leadership and alliances in global stability, advocating for continued support to allies and reiterating the U.S.'s position as an indispensable nation. "American leadership is what holds the world together. American alliances are what keep us, America, safe. American values are what make us a partner that other nations want to work with. To put all that at risk if we walk away from Ukraine, if we turn our backs on Israel, its just not worth it. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A neo-Nazi group member was given a two-month prison sentence for projecting an antisemitic conspiracy theory on the Anne Frank House Museum, the historic building in Amsterdam where Frank and her family hid from the Nazis during World War II. The building in Amsterdam where Anne Frank and her family lived in hiding for two years. (Shutterstock) Robert Wilson, a Polish-Canadian citizen, was convicted of insulting a group and inciting discrimination for using a laser projector in his van to display the words Ann [sic] Frank invented the ballpoint pen on the museums wall in February. The words are based on a false conspiracy theory that claims the Jewish girls famous diary was not authentic. This caused widespread outrage in the Netherlands, with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte denouncing it as a reprehensible act. We can never and should never accept this, Rutte wrote on X at the time. The court agreed with him on Thursday. Given the great symbolic significance of Anne Franks diary for the commemoration of the persecution of the Jews, this statement can be regarded as a form of Holocaust denial, the court said in its ruling. ALSO READ| Robert Kennedy's entry into Presidential race affects Joe Biden, and Donald Trump Wilson, who did not appear in court for the verdict, had already spent two months in pre-trial detention, so he effectively served his sentence already. Footage of his antisemitic act was shared on an anti-jewish Telegram channel. However, the court said there was not enough evidence to prove that he was responsible for distributing the racist image. Wilson has always maintained his innocence, saying he was in Amsterdam for a weekend trip with his girlfriend and daughter, and that he had no idea where the museum was located. According to prosecutors, Wilson is a significant figure within the Goyim Defense League, an identified neo-Nazi organization He also has a history of legal troubles. In the United States, he is currently confronting charges related to assault and using homophobic slurs towards a neighbor. Meanwhile, Polish authorities are probing whether Wilson stood in front of the Auschwitz concentration camp, displaying a sign bearing antisemitic slogans. The phrase that Wilson projected was based on a theory promoted by Holocaust deniers that argues that Franks diary is fake because some pages found among her papers were written in ballpoint pen. The pages, which were discovered in the 1980s, were accidentally left in the diary in the 1960s by researchers. But conspiracy theorists say they show that the diary is fake because the ballpoint pen was not available in the Netherlands in the 1940s. ALSO READ| White House deletes photos of special forces aiding Hamas hostage situation one hour after posting Anne Frank's family was deported in August 1944(IFTN/United Archives/picture alliance ) Frank, who hid with her family in the 17th-century canal house for more than two years, kept a diary throughout her ordeal, which ended when the Gestapo arrested her family in the summer of 1944. Her father, Otto, was the only one who survived the Nazi death camps where they were sent. In 1947, he fulfilled his 16-year-old daughter's lifelong dream of becoming a writer by publishing her diary. 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 US government has apologized for accidentally revealing the identities of some of its special forces who were sent to Israel to assist in the hostage rescue mission. FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden attended a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (not pictured), as he visits Israel amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, October 18, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo(REUTERS) The White House posted a photo on its official Instagram account showing President Joe Biden shaking hands with a member of the Delta Force, the Armys elite counter-terrorism unit. The photo also exposed the faces of three other Delta Force members and a distinctive tattoo on the arm of the soldier greeting Biden. The photo was then deleted after an hour, but not before it received more than 6,100 likes and circulated on social media. The Biden administration acknowledged on Thursday that it inadvertently disclosed the identities of several US special operators involved in assisting Israel in the effort to locate and rescue hostages captured by Hamas terrorists.(The White House) A White House spokesperson said, We regret the error and any issues this may have caused. The spokesperson added that the photo was taken during Bidens visit to Israel last week, when he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and offered US support for the hostage crisis. The hostage crisis is the result of a massive attack by Hamas, the terrorist group that controls Gaza, on Israel on Oct. 7. Hamas fired thousands of rockets and infiltrated Israeli towns with dozens of militants, killing over 1,400 Israelis and wounding more than 4,200. Hamas also took at least 100 female hostages and paraded them in the streets, as seen in horrifying videos. Netanyahu declared war on Hamas and vowed to make them pay a price they have never known. He said Israel would use all its military and diplomatic means to free the hostages and restore security. Gaza health officials reported that at least 3,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 12,500 injured in the Israeli retaliation. ALSO READ| Robert Kennedy's entry into Presidential race affects Joe Biden, and Donald Trump The Israeli government confirmed that 203 hostages are still being held by Hamas, including Americans. The US government said it was working closely with Israel and other allies to share intelligence and expertise to help rescue the hostages. The US also condemned Hamas for its barbaric attack and called for an immediate end to the violence. 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! US troops stationed at two bases in Iraq have been targeted with rockets in attacks that caused no injuries, security sources said Friday, against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war. Israeli reprisal strikes on Gaza have since killed more than 3,700 people, according to the Palestinian enclave's Hamas-controlled health ministry. (Reuters/File) Armed factions close to Iran have threatened to attack American interests in Iraq over US support for Israel since militants from the Iran-backed Hamas Islamist group killed more than 1,400, according to Israeli officials, in an attack launched from the Gaza Strip on October 7. Israeli reprisal strikes on Gaza have since killed more than 3,700 people, according to the Palestinian enclave's Hamas-controlled health ministry. On Thursday night, three Katyusha rockets struck near a base of the international coalition close to Baghdad international airport that includes US troops, a security official told AFP on condition of anonymity. An Iraqi military source said that no one was injured in the attack and that material damage was "being assessed". There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. On Thursday evening, another rocket attack targeted the Ain al-Assad base in western Iraq, where US forces are also stationed, according to an Iraqi military source. "No damage" was reported, he said of the second attack that was claimed by a group called "Islamic Resistance in Iraq" on Telegram channels affiliated with Shiite factions loyal to Iran. On Wednesday, the US military said it shot down two drones fired at American forces and the international coalition in western Iraq. The United States currently has about 2,500 troops stationed at three bases in Iraq alongside around 1,000 soldiers from other countries in the international coalition set up to fight the Islamic State jihadist group. The attacks come after factions loyal to Iran have stepped up threats against the United States. One of them, the Hezbollah Brigades, demanded that the Americans "leave" Iraq, "otherwise they will taste the fires of hell". A 19-year-old man shot four people Thursday in central Washington state, killing three of them, and then killed himself, police said. One person is in a critical condition, the police said. (Reuters file photo) Toppenish Police Chief John Clary said in a statement that at about 5 a.m. the man shot and killed a 13-year-old boy, an 18-year-old woman and a 21-year-old woman at a house in Toppenish. The man also shot a 21-year-old man who was taken to a hospital in critical condition, Clary said. The 19-year-old man who shot them then killed himself, according to the police chief. Police said there were no outstanding suspects and there was no ongoing threat to the community. The motive behind this heinous act remains unknown at this time, Clary's statement said. The Toppenish Police Department is fully committed to conducting a thorough investigation in collaboration with our regional law enforcement partners to determine the circumstances surrounding this tragic event. Toppenish has a population of about 8,600 people and is located within the Yakama Indian Reservation. With Canadas reduction of the number of its diplomats in India from 62 to 21, as demanded by New Delhi, significant impact could possibly be seen on international students and permanent residents from India, as they account for the largest cohort of immigrants by country of origin. HT Image Announcing the departure of the 41 diplomats, Canadas minister of foreign affairs Melanie Joly said, Unfortunately, this mass expulsion will impact our operations, and client service will be affected. In a statement released by Global Affairs Canada, the countrys foreign ministry, Joly said, We will now be forced to pause temporarily all in-person services at Consulates, until further notice. These consulates are in Chandigarh, Bengaluru and Mumbai. Indias decision will impact levels of services to citizens of both countries, Joly added. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada or IRCC will continue to accept and process applications from India, but certain application requirements will need to be completed locally or on-site in a secure environment. As a result, the reduction in the size of the IRCC team will affect service standards for residents of India, she said. Five IRCC staff will remain in India and will focus on work that requires an in-country presence such as urgent processing, visa printing, risk assessment and overseeing key partners, including visa application centres, panel physicians and clinics that perform immigration medical exams. The rest of the work and staff will be reassigned across its global processing network. Joly was joined at the press conference by minister of immigration, refugees and citizens Marc Miller. The lower numbers of staff will have short-term repercussions, and I believe medium-term as well, he said. India accounts for the largest cohort of international students and permanent residents in Canada and those applications processes could be adversely impacted. India had already announced in September that it was indefinitely stopping issuance of visas to Canadian nationals. According to data from IRCC, of the 463,910 study permits issued to international students this year, Indians account for 185065. That was, so far, on target to surpass the record set last year when Indians made up for 225875 out of 548955 student visas. According to IRCC figures 431,645 permanent residents or PRs were admitted in 2021, and India was the top source country, with 127,933. Canada also attracts thousands of temporary workers from India annually. India had set a deadline of Friday for Canada to pull the 41 diplomats, out of a total of 62, failing which they would be stripped of diplomatic immunity. India has claimed the reason was it wants parity with the diplomatic presence it has in Canada. However, this is the latest rupture in the relationship after Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeaus statement in the House of Commons on September 18 that there were credible allegations of a potential link between Indian agents and the killing of Khalistani figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18. Nijjar was gunned down in the parking lot of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara that he headed in the town of Surrey in the province of British Columbia. Nijjar was considered a terrorist by Indian authorities but no charges had been levelled against him in Canada or were tested in a Canadian court. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anirudh Bhattacharyya Anirudh Bhattacharya is a Toronto-based commentator on North American issues, and an author. He has also worked as a journalist in New Delhi and New York spanning print, television and digital media. He tweets as @anirudhb. ...view detail Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul learned of her 87-year-old father John Courtney's sudden death from a brain hemorrhage in Florida as she embarked on the second day of a trip to show support for Israel during its war with Hamas. HT Image At the Western Wall, Hochul appeared to wipe away a tear before placing a handwritten note with prayers for Israel and for her father into a crack in the limestone wall. As the state with the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, New York and Israel share a bond that will never be broken, Hochul posted on X, formally Twitter. The governor's sojourn comes as the Israeli military has relentlessly attacked Gaza in retaliation for a bloody cross-border massacre by Hamas militants in southern Israel almost two weeks ago. Gaza's Health Ministry said Thursday that 3,785 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 12,500 others have been wounded since the outbreak of the war. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed and roughly 200 others were abducted and taken into Gaza by Hamas. Hochul met with Israeli families displaced by the conflict, and heard painful stories from families of American citizens taken hostage by Hamas and from Israelis who have been wounded during the fighting. She also held meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's ambassador to the US Michael Herzog, and Israeli President Isaac Herzog, reiterating New York's solidarity with Israel. A nonprofit organization is funding travel costs for Hochul and her staff, and the state is covering the costs for her security detail, according to the governor's office. US President Joe Biden, a fellow Democrat, flew to Israel for a 7 1/2-hour visit Wednesday that offered support for the Israeli people and urged the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Israeli airstrikes have pounded locations across the besieged Gaza Strip, including parts of the south that Israel had declared as safe zones. The attacks on Thursday have heightened fears among more than 2 million Palestinians trapped in the territory that nowhere was safe. More than 1 million Palestinians, roughly half of Gaza's population, have fled their homes in Gaza City and other places in the northern part of the territory.(AP) RUP RUP SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON On Sept. 1, 2016, Cayuga County received a New York State Department of State grant to implement a high priority recommendation from the 2016 Owasco Lake Watershed Management and Waterfront Revitalization Plan, which was to incorporate the Environmental Protection Agency's nine key elements. This project was led by the Cayuga County Department of Planning and Economic Development, and the consultant on the project was Ecologic LLC. In September 2022, the Owasco Lake Watershed Nine Element Plan (9EP) for Phosphorus Reduction was approved by the Department of State and the state Department of Environmental Conservation. This clean water plan provides recommendations to restore and protect the water quality of Owasco Lake and its watershed. The collaborative planning effort identified focused strategies to ensure the lake water supply, aquatic habitat and recreational uses are protected. The development of the 9EP focused on understanding and managing phosphorus and sediment inputs from the Owasco Lake watershed to provide for recommendations that will drive watershed protection and remediation projects. The Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council is providing a lead coordination role for future projects and programming according to the recommendations of the 9EP. The councils 9E Project Coordination Committee (via Resolution No. 03-2022 at its Nov. 15, 2022, public board meeting) prioritizes, coordinates and facilitates project and programming implementation based on the recommendations of the 9EP. The eclectic group, which leverages wide-ranging professional strengths and expertise among members, convenes on a semi-monthly basis to advance 9EP goals. Committee members include staff from partnering organizations and state and municipal agencies, including: the Cayuga County health and planning departments, the Cayuga County Soil & Water Conservation District, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Partners for Healthy Watersheds, the Owasco Watershed Lake Association, the Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board; Cornell College of Agriculture & Life Science's Pro-Dairy program, The Nature Conservancy, the state departments of environmental conservation, agriculture and markets, and health, the city of Auburn and the town of Owasco. Over the summer, as part of the groups 2023 work plan outlining a phased approach, the Owasco Lake 9E Project Coordination Committee discussed next steps toward preparing project proposals and fundraising for watershed stream inventorying and engineering planning in 2023-2024 to direct stream restoration projects in 2024-2025, for funding tributary monitoring in 2024-2025, and for developing an Owasco Lake Watershed Agriculture Program similar to what is operational for the Skaneateles Lake watershed. The committee hit the ground running with watershed inventorying and monitoring initiatives to drive implementation projects in accordance with the recommendations of the 9EP. Five grant proposals were submitted in response to state and federal grant program solicitations, most of which spatially target the highest phosphorus-contributing landscape/acre within the Owasco Lake watershed, as documented in the 9EP. The city of Auburn submitted a state non-point non-agricultural planning grant proposal to assess stream corridors including for Sucker and Veness brooks, as well as other small tributaries within the prioritized Owasco Lake sub-watershed at the northern end of the lake. The Cayuga County Soil & Water Conservation District submitted two proposals in response to the first round of the state Department of Environmental Conservation Finger Lakes Watershed Grants Program. Their proposals targeted advancing stream corridor assessments of Dutch Hollow Brook and Sucker Brook. In further response to the Watershed Grants Program solicitation, the watershed management council submitted a funding request to place 2024-2025 watershed tributary sampling, analysis and results display under management of the Community Science Institute located in Ithaca. The council also spearheaded, through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundations Sustain Our Great Lakes Program, the submission of a funding proposal targeting stream restoration projects along the Owasco Inlet. In October, the foundation approved $457,839.92 to fund the council's Owasco Lake Watershed Critical Streams Restoration Project. The 9E committee is now focused on capacity building and fundraising for local organizations to provide programming, resources and support for the watershed farming community to implement agricultural best management practices at the rate recommended by the state-approved 9EP. The council recognizes the advancements of conservation agriculture within the watershed and looks forward to continuing to partner with, and support, farmers making positive strides. (Photo : Sean Gallup/Getty Images) Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joy announced that Ottawa was removing 41 diplomats in India after New Delhi threatened to revoke their immunity. Canadian officials ordered the removal of 41 of its diplomats in India after New Delhi authorities threatened to revoke their immunity. The situation is the latest development in the Canada-India row that started after the June killing of a Sikh community leader. The decision to remove the diplomats came after Ottawa alleged that New Delhi may have had involvement in the incident that resulted in the death of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Vancouver. Removal of Canadian Diplomats in India However, India has accused Canada of harboring so-called separatists and "terrorists" but dismissed the accusation that it was involved in the killing of Najjir as "absurd." New Delhi has also taken diplomatic steps to express its anger over the allegations. In a statement on Thursday, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said that out of the country's 62 diplomats in India, 41 were removed. These included their dependents and the official noted that exceptions were made for the 21 diplomats who will remain in the South Asian country, as per the Associated Press. Joly noted that the decision to remove the diplomats was because they were at risk of having their immunity stripped on an "arbitrary date." She said that this would have placed their personal safety in jeopardy. The Canadian foreign minister added that the removal of diplomats' immunity was unprecedented and was contrary to international law. She argued that it was for that reason that Canada would not threaten to do the same thing with Indian diplomats in the country. She said that a unilateral revocation of the diplomatic privilege and immunity is contrary to international law and was a clear violation of the Geneva Convention on diplomatic relations. Joly noted that threatening to make such decisions is unreasonable and escalatory. Read Also: Black Boy Traumatized by London Police After Mistaking His Water Pistol for Real Gun Murder of Sikh Community Leader The development comes as Canada had been in talks with India in an effort to avert the effective expulsion of diplomats. Joly declined to talk about the status of the negotiations as she continued to condemn India's decision as a blow to the global agreement that would ensure the safety of their diplomats, according to the New York Times. Joly said that immunity allows diplomats to conduct their work without fear of reprisal or arrest from the country that they are in. She added that it is a fundamental principle of diplomacy and is a two-way street. On top of removing the 41 diplomats in India over the threat to their immunity, Canada will also temporarily close three consulates and concentrate services at its main diplomatic mission in New Delhi. The Canadian foreign minister said that if they let the norm of diplomatic immunity be broken, no diplomats anywhere on the globe would feel safe for their own well-being. The development comes after New Delhi last month asked Ottawa to reduce its diplomatic presence. The request was made after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cited what he claimed to be credible evidence of a potential link between Indian agents and the murder of Najjir. The murder of the Sikh community leader comes as roughly 2 million Canadians have Indian heritage, said Reuters. Related Article: Will US, Israel Conduct Full Gaza Invasion? Here's What Joe Biden Had to Say @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. On Oct. 18, Massachusetts House lawmakers approved bill H. 4135, a new law to tighten the state's firearm laws and ban unregistered firearms. Guns rights advocates criticized the new law, which they claimed as the "worst anti-gun legislation." Gun Rights Advocates Oppose New Massachusetts Law The National Rifle Association of America-Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) criticized the lawmakers and asked supporters to reach their state senators and voice their opposition to the bill. "H. 4135 re-writes gun laws in the Commonwealth and imposes unprecedented gun control. This is an ominous bill that includes the worst anti-gun legislation in the country," the association stated. NRA-ILA said the bill enforces widespread bans on commonly owned firearms and eliminates due process through expanded "red flag" laws, a gun violence prevention law. NRA-ILA added that the law expands gun registry programs and positions an extreme financial burden on gun owners. The Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association also criticized the bill, voting collectively last week to oppose the law. There were concerns that officers would not be authorized to carry their weapons off-duty. However, the lawmakers modified H. 4135 to allow off-duty officers to carry their guns, even in prohibited places such as government buildings and schools. Gun owners opposed to the new bill say the measures defined in the legislation do more to target gun owners than to reduce crime. Jim Wallace, executive director of the Gun Owners' Action League, said the law goes against the lawful people. Wallace said that nothing in the law goes after the criminals. He added that the new law only responded to last year's Supreme Court decision. Rep. Peter Durant (R-Mass.) responds on the House floor that they are responsible for keeping people safe, but that does not mean they will take away the freedoms and rights enjoyed by those legal citizens. Read Also: Adele Alcohol-Free for Three Months, Jokes Around Being Sober 'Bores' Her What is Bill H. 4135? According to The Epoch Times, the bill H. 4135 was passed by the Massachusetts House on a 120-38 vote. It would mandate that firearms be registered with the state to steer clear of the flow of illegal guns into the state. The new law pursues to modernize the existing firearm registration system. The law would also inflate the state's ban on assault weapons by banning the purchase of AR-15-style weapons. The lawmakers said that the proposed law will increase the availability of firearm data for academic and policy use. The proposed law would outlaw possession of firearms while under the influence of alcohol and prohibit firing guns near homes. The law bans using firearms in polling places, schools, and government buildings. Furthermore, the law allows judges to cease gun licenses of people considered to harm themselves and others. Related Article: London: Met Police Mistook Black Boy's Water Pistol for Real Gun-Traumatizing Victim for Months @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Instagram users accuse the photo/video sharing platform of shadowbanning posts about Palestine amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. However, Meta denied their claims; blaming the issue on a bug. Despite the company's explanation, numerous people still believe that the Palestine content shadowbanning is happening because of IG's history of inherent bias. Instagram Shadowbans Palestine Content, Claim Users Meta said that it is closely monitoring its platforms as terrorist attacks and Israel's violent counterattacks continue to escalate. The giant tech firm said that it will check all content about Israel and Hamas for violations, saying that since the Israel-Hamas war is worsening, it could inadvertently flag some of these posts. Meta clarified that it never intended to suppress any particular community or point-of-view about the Israel-Hamas conflict, as reported by TechCrunch. However, the company said that since the United States and the European Union designated Hamas as a terrorist group, any content praising or supporting the militant organization is expressly forbidden on Instagram and other Meta-owned social media sites. However, some users said that Instagram is still shadowbanning Palestine-related content, even if the post doesn't support the terrorist group. This was experienced by Palestinian-American filmmaker Khitam Jabr, who said that some of her IG Reels travel vlogs were shadowbanned. She said that Meta could have restricted her Instagram account for 24 hours just because anti-Palestine users reported her. Read Also: Fact Check: Las Vegas Sphere Israeli Flag Image Is Photoshopped, as Confirmed by Socmed Meta Blames IG Issue on a Bug On Oct. 18, Meta claimed that the Instagram issue affecting Palestine-related content was caused by an in-app bug. The company said that it identified two bugs and was able to fix them in the past week. One of these prevented users from going live on Facebook, saying that the bug affected many people across the world. The other in-app bug affected Instagram's Reels, Stories, and Feed posts. Meta also said that the IG bug "affected accounts equally around the globe - not only people trying to post about what's happening in Israel and Gaza." "It had nothing to do with the subject matter of the content. We fixed this bug as quickly as possible," added Meta via its official website. To show that it isn't biased in any way, Meta even mentioned that it raised over $11.5 million for non-profit groups on Instagram and Facebook, which are helping victims of war in Israel and Palestine. "This includes over 340,000 donations to 262 charities - providing disaster relief, ambulance and blood services, medical care and more," shared Meta. Related Article: Facebook Encryption Brings Fear to Sex Abuse Survivors-Here's What Some Victims Are Saying @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Republican lawmakers scrutinized Joe Biden's Israel Ambassador nominee Jack Lew over his past work with an Iran deal. GOP lawmakers blasted United States President Joe Biden's Israel Ambassador nominee Jack Lew over his previous work on Iran sanctions. The development came on Wednesday during a nomination hearing in the Senate, which was initially disrupted by several pro-Palestinian demonstrators protesting against Israel. Once they were escorted out of the building, the meeting continued uninterrupted. Jack Lew's Nomination Democrat Lew defended his past work on the Iran deal, which is known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. He asserted that he would work to advance a "negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict." The Israel ambassador nominee said that he wanted to be clear that Iran is a threat to regional stability as well as to Israel's existence. He argued that if he is confirmed, he will uphold Biden's commitment to deny Iran a nuclear weapon. A Senate report in 2018 made by the investigative subcommittee of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee found that Lew "granted a specific license that authorized a conversion of Iranian assets worth billions of U.S. dollars using the U.S. financial system," said Fox News. The report allegedly found that the administration tried to convert $5.7 billion from U.S. banks to Iranian assets. It said that the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control "encouraged two U.S. correspondent banks to convert the funds." Former United States President Barack Obama announced a $400 million cash transfer to Iran in January 2016 that was part of a larger installment of a $1.7 billion settlement. This is what Lew faced scrutiny for. The settlement was part of a long-standing disagreement over an arms deal that was signed before the 1970 Iranian revolution, which signified the end of the country's historical monarchy. Read Also: Readout of Biden's Remarks on Hamas's Sabbath Attack, Resilience of Israel Scrutinized Over Past Work The Israel ambassador nominee also served during the Clinton administration as special assistant to the president's office. He faced scrutiny over the transfer and a report at the time cited that the payment was conducted using a combination of Swiss and other foreign currencies which were later transported to Iran on unidentified cargo planes. Republican senators on the Foreign Relations Committee expressed opposition to Lew's nomination despite pleas from the Biden administration and leading Democrats to confirm him. The top Republican on the panel, Sen. Jim Risch, said that they need the position filled but argued that it has to be the right person, according to the New York Times. He also accused Lew of acting in what he believed was a backhanded way of supporting Iran. GOP lawmakers also alleged that the nominee lied at the time about how the deal would be implemented, especially when it came to access to previously frozen funds to Iran. The development comes as the White House said that it was considering a request of between $90 billion and $100 billion for the wars in Israel and Ukraine. It was also planning to provide funds for Taiwan amid continued Chinese aggression. The request to Congress would provide enough money for a year, said the Times of Israel. Related Article: DeSantis Pushes To Arrange Israel Evacuation Flights for Presidential Campaign Pitch @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : Genya SAVILOV / AFP) (GENYA SAVILOV/AFP via Getty Images) Ukrainian military forces braced for a new Russian assault on the Eastern town of Avdiivka as they continued to make progress in their counteroffensive. Ukrainian military troops braced against a new Russian assault on the Eastern town of Avdiivka but were able to make progress in their counteroffensive in the southern theater. Gen. Valery Zaluzhnyi posted a video on Telegram where he appeared to be conferring with officers in Avdiivka and in Kupiansk. The latter is a town located further north where Russian forces have intensified attacks in the past few weeks. Russian Assault on Avdiivka In a commentary attached to the video, Zaluzhnyi said that the enemy is not relenting in its attempts to break through their defenses and surround the Ukrainian town. He added that the opponent was actively bringing in assault units and large amounts of armored equipment while using aircraft and artillery. The spokesperson for the southern group of Ukrainian forces, Oleksandr Shtupun, said that there was constant pressure on Avdiivka. He added that the Russian forces regrouped and launched new assaults in the area. Russian military forces subjected the Eastern Ukrainian town to fierce attacks last week but largely tapered off assaults in the last few days. The town has become a watchword for Ukrainian resistance and it is known for its large coking plant. It was able to hold out in 2014 against Russian-backed separatists who secured swathes of eastern Ukraine, including the town, as per Reuters. Similar to Bakhmut to the northeast, which was captured by Russian forces in May, Avdiivka endured months of assaults since Moscow's full-scale February 2022 invasion. Officials also said that roughly 1,600 residents remain from a pre-war population of 32,000. Ukrainian troops successfully recaptured Kupiansk late last year during a lightning advance through the nation's northeast. However, Russian forces have stepped up attacks in an attempt to retake the region. Zaluzhnyi said that Ukrainian forces around Kupiansk were "maintaining their defense in the most difficult of conditions." On the other hand, Russia's accounts of the conflict said that its forces successfully destroyed a command point near Avdiivka and repelled 11 Ukrainian attacks near Kupiansk. Read Also: Canada Removes 41 Diplomats From India After New Delhi Threatens To Revoke Their Immunity Continued Aggression in Ukraine Vitaliy Barabash, the head of the Avdiivka City Military Administration, said that Russian forces were forcing their way to encircle the city. He said that the Ukrainian military was somehow managing to hold off Moscow's troops, according to Newsweek. A commander of a special police unit in the city, Major Maxim Morozov, said that they expect more attacks from Russian forces. He added that they have information to believe that Russians have amassed huge reserves of both personnel and military equipment. Yuriy Shtepa, who leads a fire support group in a brigade of Ukraine's territorial defense forces, was in a trench northwest of the city as Russian forces made their advance. He said that they quickly knew that Moscow's military equipment was arriving in the area. He said that Ukrainian equipment started to target the Russian supplies, adding that artillery was working well for them. However, he said that with the arrival of around 30 to 40 vehicles, the situation was made difficult. Shtepa noted that there was a plane every 15 minutes or so and that helicopters were in the area every three to five minutes. The Russian forces were only able to take a few square kilometers in their attack, said Yahoo News. Related Article: Sergey Lavrov Arrives in North Korea To Boost Defense Ties Through Security Talks @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. FDA's hair-straightening chemical ban is expected to greatly benefit ladies, especially Black women. The newly proposed restriction of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration comes as many experts shared their concerns about these chemical's linkage to cancers. FDA's Hair-Straightening Chemical Ban to Greatly Benefit Black Women According to USA Today, the FDA filed a proposed ruling that aims to restrict the use of certain hair-straightening chemicals. As of writing, the health department is still in the first steps of approving the regulation. If it is implemented, FDA spokesperson Courtney Rhodes said that hair-straightening chemicals that are salon-grade and at-home would be banned. Fortune Well reported that the restriction would greatly benefit Black women since they are the ones usually using hair-straightening chemicals, which are usually found in relaxer products. However, numerous Black hair stylists criticized the FDA's proposed restriction, saying that hair-straightening products that contain formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing chemicals are no longer in demand. "Relaxers have taken an extreme decline ... as we became more knowledgeable about the effects of the relaxer on your hair and what it can do to your hair," said Kayleigh Butler, an Atlanta-based hairstylist. "I think people just wanted to move away from that and live a healthier lifestyle," she added. Aside from her, Jasmine Garcia, the owner of Jasmine Nicole Xclusives Hair Salon in Atlanta, argued that less than 5% of her Black clients are no longer using relaxers. Garcia said that one of her clients heard the decision of the FDA to restrict hair-straightening chemicals. After that, her client sent a text message, saying that of all the things that the health department could focus on, why should it be relaxers? Read Also: Skittles Are Safe in California, but Sugary Drinks Are on the Chopping Block Hair-Straightening Chemicals Leads to Cancer In 2019, a study revealed that chemicals used in hair dye and hair straighteners can increase the risk of cancer in American women. This claim was backed by another study, which was published by the National Institute of Health. NIH said that ladies who are using these products are more likely to develop uterine cancer. Involved health experts said that Black women are more at risk compared to other people because they have a higher percentage of hair product usage. Because of this, U.S. representatives Shontel Brown and Ayanna Pressley wrote a letter to FDA Commissioner Robert Califf in March. In their letter, they asked the FDA official to investigate the health threats posed by chemicals in hair products. Related Article: Walmart: Weight-Loss Drugs Impact Food Sales; Exec Claims GLP-1 Agonist Users Purchase Less Food Products @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) changed its plans for holding its 29th annual banquet at the Marriott Crystal Gateway in Arlington on Saturday after receiving multiple bomb and death threats. The Muslim group suspected the threats to be related to the Israel-Hamas war. CAIR Changes Location for 29th Annual Banquet CAIR released a statement that they moved to another venue to hold its 29th annual banquet. The group did not disclose the new location with heightened security. According to the Marriott Hotel, they received anonymous phone calls. The unknown caller threatened to plant bombs in the hotel's parking garage, kill hotel staff in their homes, and make a commotion in the hotel in a repeat of the January 6th attack on the US Capitol if the event continued. CAIR reassured the group that the Arlington police and FBI are further investigating the threats. But emails seeking information from the FBI and the Marriott hotel chain were not immediately answered on Thursday night. CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said they would not allow the threats of anti-Palestinian racists and anti-Muslim partisan who attempts to dehumanize the Palestinian people and silence American Muslims to stop them from pursuing justice. "We strongly condemn the extreme and disgusting threats against our organization, the Marriott hotel, and its staff," Awad said. CAIR also confirmed that a separate banquet planned for October 28 in Maryland was canceled and will be integrated with Saturday's event. The threats came after the CAIR announced that the banquet would focus on the human rights issues for Palestinians. Read Also: NYC Subway: 'Mentally-Ill' Man Casually Pushed Woman Into Moving Train Muslim Group Urges Ceasefire in Gaza The group has started an online campaign encouraging members of Congress to promote a ceasefire in Gaza. But on October 7, Hamas militants from the blockaded Gaza Strip continued to attack nearby Israeli towns, which corresponded with a significant Jewish holiday. The attack killed hundreds of civilians, and Israel retaliated and launched airstrikes on Gaza. The strikes destroyed the entire neighborhood and resulted in many deaths of Palestinian civilians. Law enforcement officials said they are vigilant for violence driven by antisemitic or Islamophobic sentiments in the rise of the Hamas attack on Israel. Jewish and Muslim groups have also reported increased hateful and threatening expressions on social media. "We cannot and do not discount the possibility that Hamas or and other foreign terrorist organizations could exploit the conflict to call on their supporters to conduct attacks here on our own soil," FBI Director Christopher Wray said. Furthermore, The Canadian Press reported that the war would stimulate violence in the US. The police tightened security in major cities, increased patrols, and authorities put up a barrier around the US Capitol, and some schools closed. Related Article: US Bases in Iraq Intercepted by Drone Attack, Leaving 3 Troops Injured as Tensions Flare @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The U.S. Navy successfully took down multiple missiles and drones coming from Yemen. Two defense officials claim that these projectiles were possibly targeting Israel. Pentagon said that a U.S. Navy warship, which is currently operating in the Middle East, intercepted the missiles on Thursday, Oct. 19. US Navy Shoots Down Missiles, Drones From Yemen CNN Politics reported that around two to three missiles were successfully intercepted by the USS Carney. On the other hand, the estimated number of drones was not provided by the Pentagon. U.S. officials claim that these projectiles were fired by Iranian-supported Houthi militants, who are having a conflict in Yemen. "We cannot say for certain what these drones and missiles were targeting, but they were launched from Yemen and heading north along the Red Sea, potentially towards targets in Israel," said Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder via CBS News. "There were no casualties to US forces and none that we know of to any civilians on the ground," clarified Ryder. On the other hand, another Pentagon official said that it is unlikely that the missiles were targeting the USS Carney warship. For those who are unaware of Houthi, these rebels, who are at war with a Saudi-led coalition, are known to express support for the Palestinians who are threatened by Israel. Last week, this militant group showed just that in the Sanaa city of Yemen. Many demonstrators crowded the Sanaa streets while waving Palestinian and Yemeni flags while Houthi rebels were showing their slogan, which says "God is the greatest; death to America; death to Israel; the curse of the Jews; victory to Islam." Read Also: Lebanon Protesters Decry Gaza Hospital Blast; Hezbollah Launches Missiles on Israel What US Navy's Latest Missile Interception Means Ryder explained that the latest missile and drone interceptions by the U.S. Navy are demonstrations of integrated missile and air defense architecture that America has built in the Middle East. The Pentagon press secretary further explained that it is a message to terrorists that the United States is prepared to utilize these defenses whenever necessary to protect America's partners, as well as the nation's interest in the region. But, Ryder explained that the intercepted missiles and drones from Yemen should not be linked to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza since this war is completely different from what's happening in Yemen. He added that the U.S. will take the issue in Yemen seriously as well, but they will not overreact. Related Article: Will US, Israel Conduct Full Gaza Invasion? Here's What Joe Biden Had to Say @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. On Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court, the Oscar-nominated and Grammy-winning composer Danny Elfman has been accused of sexual misconduct. A 21-year-old woman referred to as "Jane Doe" in the court papers, files a lawsuit against Elfman. The woman was claimed to be his second victim. Second Victim Charges Elfman, Discloses Sexual Misconduct According to the lawsuit, Elfman and his company, Musica de la Muerta, committed sexual assault, gender violence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, sexual harassment, and negligence on her from 1997 to 2002. The second victim shared that she met Elfman at a party in April 1997. They became friends, and she started getting invitations from him to industry events. She thought she could build a relationship with Elfman to help her make a name in the music industry. Elfman treated her like an assistant and asked about her opinions on his music and films. Their friendship became comfortable enough to be in a hotel room together. The plaintiff said that Elfman suddenly removed his clothes, walking around completely naked in their hotel room. Elfman responded that this was the only way to be productive, creative, and successful. Their relationship continued despite the hotel room incident, wherein he repeated the nude strolls. She claimed to have slept dozens of times in the same bed while he was uncovered, and she was fully clothed and on top of the covers. "Plaintiff felt like she had no choice but to always comply with his requests, and Plaintiff felt this was a condition of their continued relationship," the lawsuit said. The lawsuit showed that Elfman took advantage of his power in the industry to make her accept such behavior that made her highly uncomfortable. However, in the long run, Elfman admitted to her that he masturbated during those times. She was disgusted by the act of Elfman and finally stopped seeing him. Read Also: New Study Could Help Close Gap in Breast Cancer Deaths Between Black and White Women Previous Accusations Against Elfman Elfman was previously accused by composer Nomi Abadi, who sued Elfman in July for failure to pay on a settlement. Abadi's July filing claims that Elfman failed to pay $85,000 of a $830,000 compensation in 2018. He also masturbated in front of Abadi without consent several times. Later on, Elfman compromised into a settlement and nondisclosure agreement with Abadi. Elfman also denied sexual allegations towards him and said, "Ms. Abadi's allegations are simply not true." The new lawsuit against Elfman was filed under a so-called "window law," authorizing people who believe they were victims of sexual crimes to overturn the usual regulation of limitations and file legal complaints within a limited timeframe, as reported in The Guardian. The California Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act came into power at the beginning of this year and remains in effect until 1 January 2026. Related Article: 'The Last of Us' Star Ashley Johnson, Other Women Sue Brian Foster Over Alleged Physical, Verbal Abuse @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Ten photos from across China: Oct 13 Oct 19 Chinadaily.com.cn) 11:03, October 20, 2023 People visit Chengdu Science Fiction Museum, the main venue for the 81st World Science Fiction Convention (WorldCon) in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan province, Oct 18, 2023. The 81st WorldCon opened on Wednesday. [Photo/Xinhua] A Slovak student from the College of International Exchange of the Shandong University of Science and Technology experiences a traditional Chinese medicine therapy on ears at a traditional Chinese medicine hospital of the Xihai'an (West Coast) New Area in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province, Oct 18, 2023. The hospital, in cooperation with the College of International Exchange of the Shandong University of Science and Technology, invited international students from Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partner countries to experience the charm of traditional Chinese medicine culture here on Wednesday. [Photo/Xinhua] Volunteers perform on stage at the swearing-in ceremony for volunteers of the upcoming sixth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, Oct 17, 2023. A swearing-in ceremony for volunteers of the sixth CIIE was held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) on Tuesday. Up until now, the sixth CIIE has recruited over 5,700 volunteers from 40 universities in Shanghai. The duties of the volunteers include guiding people around the venue and handling other related work during the event. [Photo/Xinhua] A Hungarian reporter experiences the making of porcelain at the Intangible Cultural Heritage Interactive Exhibition Area at the Media Center of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, capital of China, Oct 16, 2023. The third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation will be held in Beijing from Oct 17 to 18. [Photo/Xinhua] Yang Liwei interacts with young students during an activity in Beijing on Oct 16, 2023 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of China's first manned space flight. XU JINGXING/CHINA DAILY This photo taken on Oct 15, 2023 shows the scene of the 134th session of the China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong province. The 134th session of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, has attracted exhibitors and buyers from across the globe. About 60 percent of the exhibitors attending the import exhibition are Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partner countries, and the number of buyers from BRI partner countries has witnessed an increase of 11.2 percent compared with last session of the Canton Fair. [Photo/Xinhua] A staff member patrols a forest park in Horqin Left Wing Rear Banner of Tongliao city, North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Oct 14, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] People visit the 2023 China-ASEAN Expo Tourism Exhibition in Guilin, South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, Oct 13, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] Two repatriated marble columns on display in Zhengjue Temple in Yuanmingyuan, Oct 13, 2023. After a long odyssey overseas, seven marble columns from the ruins of Yuanmingyuan, or the Old Summer Palace, in Beijing which were recently repatriated from Norway to their home site were publicly exhibited for the first time on Friday. [Photo by Wang Kaihao/China Daily] Senior students help put on red scarves for the new Young Pioneers at a ceremony held at the Museum of the Communist Party of China, Oct 13, 2023. More than 1,400 students from Beijing Primary School took part in a ceremony for new Young Pioneers, also part of the celebration on the 74th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Young Pioneers. [Photo by Du Lianyi/chinadaily.com.cn] (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) A community group created by the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office will hold a meeting in November where the public can meet the group's members and discuss substance use and abuse in the area. The office's Community Collaborative Advisement Committee will host the meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16, in Room M214 at Cayuga Community College, 197 Franklin St., Auburn. The office created the committee last year as a direct link with the public, it said in a news release. "The Cayuga County Sheriff's Office is committed to building and maintaining the trust and respect of the citizens served by the office," the office said. "Public trust is essential to the success of our mission as the office seeks to secure and maintain a safe community." The members of the committee are Kathy Aguilar; William Berry, chair of the board of the Harriet Tubman Center for Justice and Peace; peer recovery support advocate Bryan Bush, Cayuga County Legislators James Basile and Brian Muldrow; Cayuga Community Health Network Executive Director Shari Weiss; Auburn firefighter and emergency medical technician Travis Poole; sheriff's office chaplain Joshua Czyz; and Deputy Brian Kelly, Cpl. Ben Laderer and Sheriff Brian Schenck of the office. Along with meeting them and discussing substance use and abuse in the community, the public will be able to meet the office's new undersheriff, William "Steve" Smith," at the Nov. 16 event. The meeting is free and open to the public, but registration is requested. For more information, or to register, call (315) 253-3991 or email sheriff@cayugacounty.us. Stanly Ranch, Auberge Resorts Collection, an award-winning luxury resort and culinary haven sprawling over 700-acres in Southern Napa Valley is pleased to announce the promotion of Anthony Stagnaro to Executive Chef. Stanly Ranch has redefined Napa Valley for the epicurious - and while it is an oasis for wine enthusiasts, it is also a destination for much more - farm-to-table cuisine, organic farming practices, an inventive cocktail and mocktail program, a spotlight of local and regional purveyors, and several opportunities to further food education, both in and out of the kitchen. Chef Anthony has been with the hotel since before it opened, and has had an immeasurable influence on the culinary program. A native to California, he began his culinary career at just 15 years old, working alongside his father who at the time was the Executive Chef at Edgewood Lake Tahoe. Chef Anthony has gone on to cook alongside some of America's most revered chefs, including Michael Voltaggio and Dominique Ansel. Most recently, he served as the Chef de Cuisine at The Grand Del Mar, a triple Five Diamond Resort in San Diego, California. Embracing his Northern California roots, Chef Anthony will continue to drive the culinary program utilizing fresh ingredients and produce, partnering with local partners and purveyors, and sharing dishes that are uncompressed in quality, yet packed in flavor and authenticity. A former town court clerk in Wayne County has been sentenced after admitting in August that she stole more than $59,000 in court fees. Eileen Steurrys, who served as the court clerk in the town of Marion, received a six-month jail sentence and was ordered to pay restitution. She was sentenced in Wayne County Court on Wednesday. The case stemmed from an audit conducted by state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli's office. When auditors found that court fees weren't consistently deposited into the court's account, the comptroller's office worked with the New York State Police and Wayne County District Attorney Michael Calarco to investigate the missing funds. The investigation revealed that from 2016 to 2021, Steurrys stole $59,293 in court fees. She also altered court records and created fake receipts in an attempt to cover up the crime. "Ms. Steurrys thought she could abuse her position to steal from the public and conceal her theft," DiNapoli said. "She now faces the consequences of her betrayal of the public's trust." Steurrys was arrested in March. In August, she pleaded guilty to second-degree grand larceny, second-degree corrupting the government, first-degree tampering with records and official misconduct. John Ferlicca, the Wayne County assistant district attorney who prosecuted the case, said Steurrys "abused the trust that had been placed in her" by the town court. "Today she answered to the people of the state of New York for her crimes of using her court clerk position for personal enrichment," he added. The Conti Professorship program brings hospitality industry leaders and scholars to serve as guest lecturers and mentors with students in the Hospitality Management program, as well as to connect with faculty members and researchers in the school. As part of its 35th anniversary year, Fripp represents the continued growth and success of the program, which sees increased engagement with the executives and scholars who are named Conti professors. For 2023-24, Fripp will be in-residence at University Park to teach and advise students and faculty in his fields of study or areas of expertise. Fripp will be visiting the University Park campus in both fall and spring semesters, delivering lectures to, collaborating with, and advising students and faculty members. The Conti professors will also engage in virtual seminars with undergraduate and graduate students throughout the academic year. Fripp is the chief equity and inclusion officer of Yum! Brands in Louisville, Kentucky. Fripp has global responsibility for advancing diversity, equity and inclusion strategies and practices across the company's brands, workplaces and franchise system, and works with executives across Yum! Brands portfolio including KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and the Habit Burger Grill. Building on Yum! Brands' years of progress on its diversity and inclusion journey, Fripp is focused on increasing diverse representation among company leadership, franchisees and suppliers and continuing the rollout of inclusive leadership and anti-racism training across the company and franchise system. Since 2011, Fripp has led diversity and inclusion efforts, where he elevated Yum! Brands' public commitments and partnerships, including the CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion, the Consortium, and We Are All Human's "The Hispanic Promise"; activated the company's employee resource groups in Louisville, Plano and Irvine; co-chairs Yum!'s Leading Inclusion for Today & Tomorrow (LIFT2) Council; and trained thousands of brand and franchise leaders around the world on the topics of inclusive leadership and unconscious bias. Previously, Fripp was at Taco Bell in various leadership positions in operations and restaurant excellence, ending his career with the brand as head of field human resources. Fripp is a member of the Clemson University Corporate Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) Advisory Board and chair of the Corporate Advisory Board for the Multicultural Foodservice and Hospitality Alliance. He is also a member of the University of North Carolina Corporate Advisory Board on Diversity and Inclusion and a member of the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation Board. He holds a degree in business management and is a certified unconscious bias facilitator. Corey McCarthy, CMO at Unifocus, has more than twenty years experience growing brands in the media, tech and hospitality industries. With her role at Unifocus, Corey is tasked with bringing exciting advances in workforce management to the industry to help hoteliers increase staff productivity, retention, higher service quality and profitability. In her former life, Corey was the VP of Marketing for a global workforce communication platform that was awarded the Hottest Technology by ALIS and also won the TechOvation Award from HTNG. For many years, Corey was at the helm of her own firm where she worked with companies ranging from hotel franchise brands, technology, design, investment banking and retail firms that resulted in numerous mergers and acquisitions. Corey earned her MBA in 2010 from St. Mary's College of California where she honored in Marketing, Business Strategy and Organizational Behavior Management. What is hotel price monitoring? Hotel price monitoring is a crucial practice that involves tracking the prices of hotel rooms, both within your own portfolio and across competitors. This data-driven approach enables you to make informed pricing decisions, ensuring you remain competitive in the market while maximising revenue. Table of contents What is hotel price monitoring? Why is hotel price monitoring important for hotels? Hotel price tracking: How to monitor hotel prices online Benefits of tracking hotel prices How to find the best hotel price tracker Why is hotel price monitoring important for hotels? Pricing is a foundational factor that plays a pivotal role in attracting guests and ensuring the financial viability of your establishment. Its only right, then, that successful hoteliers invest significant time, energy, effort and capital in mastering it. Hotel price monitoring offers many benefits, allowing smart hoteliers to better understand the market, make better decisions, invest in valuable projects and improvements, aim for a future filled with long-term growth, and much more. In short, mastering hotel price monitoring ensures you have the details and data you need to stay ahead of competitors without sacrificing your own revenue, arming you with the knowledge you need to make smarter decisions around how you price your rooms and services. Hotel price tracking: How to monitor hotel prices online In this digital age, there are many tools that simplify the process of hotel price tracking. These tools automate the mundane task of price tracking, freeing up time for you to focus on other crucial aspects of hotel management. The key is to find a tool like SiteMinder that integrates seamlessly with existing hotel management systems, and is customisable to cater to your specific needs and constraints of medium-sized hotels. Hotel metrics: How to measure performance in the hotel industry Source: SiteMinder Benefits of tracking hotel prices Monitoring hotel prices isnt merely a tactical move but a strategic endeavour that brings numerous benefits to the table: Understanding market dynamics The pricing landscape in the hotel industry is in a state of constant flux, influenced by factors such as seasonality, local events, and competitor pricing strategies. By monitoring hotel prices, you can glean insights into these market dynamics, which in turn, enables you to adjust your pricing strategies accordingly whether you rely on direct bookings or lean on your network of OTAs via a channel manager. Optimising pricing strategies Finding the optimal price point is a delicate balancing act. Price too high (either directly from room costs or via hotel fees) and you risk alienating potential guests; price too low and you may leave revenue on the table. Hotel price monitoring provides the data necessary to identify the sweet spot that maximises revenue without deterring guests. Competitive benchmarking In a market teeming with choices, staying competitive is paramount. Hotel price monitoring allows for a real-time comparison with competitors pricing, ensuring that your establishment remains an attractive option for potential guests. Enhanced guest satisfaction Offering competitive prices not only attracts guests but also augments perceived value, which in turn, enhances guest satisfaction. A satisfied guest is more likely to return, recommend your hotel to others, and leave positive reviews, all of which are invaluable in building a strong brand reputation. Data-driven decision making In the modern age, data is king. Hotel price monitoring furnishes you with a robust data foundation to make informed decisions. Whether its setting room rates or devising special offers, having a clear understanding of the pricing landscape facilitates smarter, data-driven decisions. Revenue management Effective revenue management is a cornerstone of a successful hotel operation. By monitoring and analysing pricing trends, you can devise strategies that maximise revenue during peak periods and keep the cash flow steady during off-peak times, offsetting your hotel costs and staying profitable year-long. Resource allocation With insights derived from price monitoring, you can allocate resources more efficiently. For instance, during high-demand periods, resources can be channelled to ensure optimal guest experience, whereas, during low-demand periods, efforts can be directed towards marketing and promotional activities. Long-term growth Consistent hotel price monitoring and the subsequent insights gained lay the groundwork for sustainable growth. It aids in understanding market trends, guest preferences, and the effectiveness of pricing strategies, all of which are crucial for making long-term strategic decisions. How to find the best hotel price tracker Finding the right hotel price tracker is crucial for effective price monitoring and subsequently, for the financial success of your hotel. The ideal tool should not only track prices but also provide actionable insights that can be utilised for strategic decision-making. Here are some key factors to consider: Ease of integration Look for a tool that seamlessly integrates with your existing hotel management systems, thereby streamlining the process of price tracking and analysis. Look for a tool that seamlessly integrates with your existing hotel management systems, thereby streamlining the process of price tracking and analysis. Customisation Every hotel is unique, and a one-size-fits-all solution may not cater to your specific needs. Its crucial to choose a tool that can adapt to you not the other way around. Every hotel is unique, and a one-size-fits-all solution may not cater to your specific needs. Its crucial to choose a tool that can adapt to you not the other way around. Real-time data In a fast-paced industry, having access to real-time data and hotel price alerts is invaluable. Any hotel price tracking tool worth its salt and your investment must have up-to-date information feeding its insights. In a fast-paced industry, having access to real-time data and hotel price alerts is invaluable. Any hotel price tracking tool worth its salt and your investment must have up-to-date information feeding its insights. Automation Manually tracking prices can be tedious and time-consuming. With pricing automation, you can set predefined rules for price adjustments based on market conditions, ensuring your pricing remains competitive without the need for manual intervention. Manually tracking prices can be tedious and time-consuming. With pricing automation, you can set predefined rules for price adjustments based on market conditions, ensuring your pricing remains competitive without the need for manual intervention. Comprehensive reporting Having a myriad of data at your fingertips is great, but understanding that data is where the real value lies. SiteMinders robust reporting features, for example, translate data into actionable insights, aiding in informed decision-making. Having a myriad of data at your fingertips is great, but understanding that data is where the real value lies. SiteMinders robust reporting features, for example, translate data into actionable insights, aiding in informed decision-making. User-friendly interface A complex, hard-to-navigate interface can deter even the most tech-savvy individuals. Any software you and your staff use must be streamlined, with smart dashboards that dont conceal useful information with screeds of unnecessary data and complex navigation. A complex, hard-to-navigate interface can deter even the most tech-savvy individuals. Any software you and your staff use must be streamlined, with smart dashboards that dont conceal useful information with screeds of unnecessary data and complex navigation. Customer support Reliable customer support to assist you whenever you face challenges or have queries is indispensable. This is especially true for hotels with multiple sites and large numbers of rooms; the greater the complexity of your business, the more important it is to have expert, responsive support. Reliable customer support to assist you whenever you face challenges or have queries is indispensable. This is especially true for hotels with multiple sites and large numbers of rooms; the greater the complexity of your business, the more important it is to have expert, responsive support. Training and resources Having a wealth of training resources at your disposal can significantly enhance your understanding and utilisation of the price tracking tool. No matter how advanced a price tracking tool may be, its worthless if it doesnt have the tutorials and guidance necessary to use it effectively. Improve pricing strategies with hotel price monitoring and boost room revenue In the fiercely competitive hotel industry, making informed pricing decisions is crucial for success. With the right hotel price monitoring strategies and tools like those offered by SiteMinder, you can stay ahead of the curve, ensuring more bookings, better control over pricing strategies, and ultimately, increased revenue. Heres just some of what you can expect from our software: Real-time price monitoring: SiteMinder provides real-time monitoring of room rates across various channels, enabling you to stay updated with the current market pricing trends. SiteMinder provides real-time monitoring of room rates across various channels, enabling you to stay updated with the current market pricing trends. Dynamic pricing automation: With SiteMinder, set up dynamic pricing rules based on real-time market conditions, ensuring your prices remain competitive and profitable. With SiteMinder, set up dynamic pricing rules based on real-time market conditions, ensuring your prices remain competitive and profitable. Intelligent revenue analytics: Harness the power of data analytics to understand pricing performance, helping in making informed decisions to maximise revenue. At first I thought it was just a myth that using SiteMinder could boost revenue. But it turned out to be true. Revenue did increase, and we are also more efficient in terms of time; we can get more work done. The Phala Group Try for free | Learn more About SiteMinder SiteMinder Limited (ASX:SDR) is the name behind SiteMinder, the only software platform that unlocks the full revenue potential of hotels, and Little Hotelier, an all-in-one hotel management software that makes the lives of small accommodation providers easier. The global company is headquartered in Sydney with offices in Bangalore, Bangkok, Barcelona, Berlin, Dallas, Galway, London and Manila. Through its technology and the largest partner ecosystem in the global hotel industry, SiteMinder generates more than 100 million reservations worth over US$35 billion in revenue for its hotel customers each year.For more information, visit siteminder.com. View source A later Mid-Autumn Festival created a longer holiday period than last year, combining with National Day festivities to provide impressive improvement in Chinas hotel performance. Growth across the country As usual, China created another long national holiday by adjusting working days, leading to a holiday period of 30 September through 7 October before a return to work on the weekend of 8-9 October. Mainland China hotel occupancy over the eight-day holiday period averaged 65.1% and peaked on 2 October (83.1%). Most of the growth came from outside the Tier 1 markets (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen), as millions of people departed large cities and headed home to stay with family around the country. Tier 1 market occupancy in aggregate peaked on 1 October at a softer 74.8%. The New 1st Tier or Tier 1.5 markets, however, saw the highest occupancy levels on 2 October (85.6%), as some of the busiest markets were Suzhou (94.1%), Chongqing (92.9%), and Chengdu (91.7%). Source: STR The countrys hotel performance was driven by exceptionally high average daily rate (ADR) in leisure-driven markets, where high demand pushed room rates to double of what was recorded weeks prior to the holiday including a peak of CNY1,073.13 on 2 October. Source: STR Boosted occupancy and ADR resulted in China posting overall good revenue per available room (RevPAR) at a national level, especially in smaller-tier and leisure-driven markets, which posted the highest RevPAR on 2 October (CNY682.52). Meanwhile, Tier 1 markets retained momentum as softer corporate business was countered by enough tourist demand to enjoy large and popular attractions, leading to that groups highest RevPAR on 1 October (CNY585.87). Source: STR RevPAR is already ahead of 2019 As 2022 was still a year of lockdowns and challenges for China, year-over-year comparisons are inevitably going to be favorable this year. For example, this years Golden Week occupancy surpassed last year by 35.0%. However, what stands out is the comparison to 2019, where RevPAR surpassed the pre-pandemic comparable by 12.3%. Even if RevPAR growth was driven predominantly by higher rates, occupancy levels were close to historic peaks as well. Source: STR Holiday rates increased 25.5% year over year at a national level, with leisure-driven markets surpassing last years ADR by an impressive 40.8%. Both leisure and business-driven markets pushed ADR levels past the 2019 Golden Week by 42.6%. Considering the difference in higher indices when comparing the peak holiday with the week prior, it would suggest that these 10 business markets not only relied on higher rates but also brought in more leisure travelers during the holiday, at least when compared with 2019. Source: STR Tier 1 markets performed differently Chinas biggest four markets Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Shenzhen followed a moderately different trend than the rest of the mainland. These massive markets reported strong year-over-year growth during the two adjusted working days, as they were more heavily affected by the restrictions in 2022. However, the markets recovery rates are getting stronger by each quarter, and they are expected to end the year at good levels with less volatility. This was already reflected in this holiday season as the Tier 1 markets reached 2019 levels. Source: STR Source: STR In Summary After several years of limited Golden Week celebrations, the 2023 rendition of the holiday proved to be a resounding success for the hotel industry but it should be noted that the May Day holidays earlier this year saw higher performance levels. Golden Week is also the last public holiday of the year, meaning all eyes now look to conferences and corporate travel to continue driving industry recovery in 2023. While the topline results shown above shouldnt come as a great surprise, they continue to show the importance of major holiday periods in China, but also the broad recovery scenario in place, showing much more historically normal patterns. *Analysis by Jesper Palmqvist and Kelsey Fenerty About STR STR provides premium data benchmarking, analytics and marketplace insights for the global hospitality industry. Founded in 1985, STR maintains a presence in 15 countries with a North American headquarters in Hendersonville, Tennessee, an international headquarters in London, and an Asia Pacific headquarters in Singapore. STR was acquired in October 2019 by CoStar Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSGP), a leading provider of online real estate marketplaces, information and analytics in the commercial and residential property markets. For more information, please visit str.com and costargroup.com. View source McLean, VA The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) will celebrate four remarkable sales professionals during HSMAIs Sales Leader Forum in Long Beach, CA on Nov. 8. The following hospitality executives have demonstrated a passion for their professions, extraordinary talent, and exemplary work in the hotel sales discipline and are being recognized for at this years forum. Kimberly Furlong, Chief Commercial Officer, Atrium Hospitality Photo by HSMAI HSMAIs Award for Career Achievement in Sales Kimberly Furlong, Chief Commercial Officer, Atrium Hospitality With 30 years of experience in the hotel industry, Kimberly Furlong serves as chief commercial officer of Atrium Hospitality, which is one of the nations largest hotel operators. Headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, Atrium Hospitality manages a portfolio of more than 80 hotels in 28 states, representing well-known brands such as Hilton, Marriott, IHG, and Wyndham. Kimberly's leadership focuses on the importance of quality data in shaping strategic business decisions. She spearheads Atrium's substantial investments in data science and cutting-edge technology. Kimberly joined Atrium Hospitality in 2015 as a founding member of the executive team, instrumental in growing the company from zero assets to overseeing 80+ hotels nationwide. Prior to being CCO at Atrium, Kimberly was senior vice president of revenue strategies at the company. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kimberly showcased her nimble leadership by advocating for the creation of an above-property Enterprise Sales Organization (ESO). This remote-based, highly skilled sales team could support multiple hotels and brands, ensuring quick adaptability to changing market conditions. She was also instrumental in launching and growing Atriums digital team to support the companys large hotel portfolio. Before Atrium, Kimberly held various executive positions in revenue management and sales and marketing with TPG Hotels & Resorts, Hersha Hospitality, and Lodgian, Inc. Kimberly's commitment extends beyond Atrium, as she serves as the Executive Sponsor for Atrium's SPIRIT Council, promoting a culture of recognition and support for the company's 7,500 associates. She is actively engaged in advisory committees for Marriott and Hilton and has been involved in various hospitality industry forums and user groups. Kimberly also shares her expertise as a guest speaker and mentor for students at The Ohio State University. Mike Edwards, Director of Sales and Marketing, Houston Marriott Sugar Land/Remington Hospitality Photo by HSMAI Sales Professional of the Year: On-Property Mike Edwards, Director of Sales and Marketing, Houston Marriott Sugar Land/Remington Hospitality Mike Edwards has spent nearly 11 impactful years with Remington Hospitality, leading sales and marketing teams across prestigious hotel brands like Embassy Suites, Hilton, and Marriott. His leadership style is straightforward, effective, and always anchored in empowering his team. Hes not just managing hes building shaping robust teams, mentoring DOSMs, and enhancing the collective skill set to surpass benchmarks consistently. His strategies are notably award-winning, having clinched recognitions like Director of Sales of the Year and the 'Pinnacle Club Award'. Mike is focused on real, tangible results: steadying the ship during market upheavals, navigating through challenging periods with savvy strategies, and always keeping an unwavering focus on sustainable growth and team development within the expansive and demanding hospitality industry. Lindsey Johnson, Vice President, HHM Hotels Photo by HSMAI Sales Professional of the Year: Off-Property Lindsey Johnson, Vice President, HHM Hotels Lindsey Johnson, vice president of sales and marketing, drives comprehensive sales and revenue growth initiatives for HHM Hotels. Her influence extends across the organization, as she actively collaborates with property and regional leaders to execute results. With above-property leadership responsibilities spanning from the Pacific coast to the Atlantic coast, Lindsey's leadership has been instrumental in maximizing the company's market reach. Lindsey's journey with HHM began in 2013, where she commenced her tenure as a regional sales leader. Her dedication and contributions earned her a promotion to the position of vice president in 2019. Before joining HHM Hotels, Lindsey held the position of area director of sales at Premier Hospitality Management, where her talent for driving sales and marketing excellence was first showcased and cultivated. Allyson Antin, Faculty, Boston University School of Hospitality Administration Photo by HSMAI Sales Educator of the Year Allyson Antin, Faculty, Boston University School of Hospitality Administration Allyson Antin is a member of the faculty at Boston Universitys school of Hospitality Administration where she teaches courses in Hospitality Sales, Leadership, and Introduction to Hospitality. She is a member of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst School of Hospitality and Tourism Managements Alumni Board of Directors. Allyson is a 32-year veteran of Marriott International where she held roles in Global Sales, US Account Sales, and Sales & Marketing Training & Development. Allyson is a graduate of UMass Amherst with a degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Travel Administration and holds an MBA in Organizational Leadership from Johnson & Wales University. She lives in the Greater Providence, RI area with her husband Frank and son Jacob. AWARD INFORMATION These awards will be presented at HSMAIs Sales Leader Forum, an event for leaders in hospitality sales to expand leadership abilities and discuss strategic issues and the latest developments for hotel sales. HSMAI chapters and the industry at large can nominate individuals for the Sales Professional and Educator of the Year Awards. Nominees represent top talent in the discipline and are judged by a panel of sales leaders on a variety of criteria. About HSMAI The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) is committed to growing business for hotels and their partners and is the industry's leading advocate for intelligent, sustainable hotel revenue growth. The association provides hotel professionals and their partners with tools, insights, and expertise to fuel sales, inspire marketing, and optimize revenue through programs such as the Marketing Strategy Conference, Adrian Awards, Sales Leader Forum, and HSMAI ROC. Founded in 1927, HSMAI is a membership organization comprising more than 5,000 members worldwide, with 40 chapters in the Americas Region. Connect with HSMAI at hsmai.org. In Dubai, the glittering heart of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), women who have been trafficked from around the world are manipulated and forced into sex work. Many of these women must seek clients in the citys lavish hotels where staff and management turn a blind eye. The anonymity provided by five-star hotels, often operated by some of the biggest names in global hospitality, coupled with a lack of accountability and apathy within the sector, has helped to ensure Dubai remains a global hub for human trafficking. Where the Emirati authorities have so far failed in clamping down on human traffickers, international hotel brands have a responsibility to ensure no victim is exploited on their premises. However, as many international visitors to Dubais hotels will be able to attest, sex workers (some there by choice, many not) are a regular sight. It is extremely difficult to understand the full scale of the problem in Dubai as the authorities do not release any data on human trafficking. The Global Slavery Index estimates there are around 132,000 people currently living in modern slavery in the UAE a significant figure for a country with a population of only 9.4 million people. The proportion of trafficking victims forced into sex work or sexually exploited in residences and other places of work is also unknown, but many estimates put the number in the tens of thousands. From my own experience helping to repatriate women from Nigeria that have been trafficked to Dubai, it is clear there are some hotels that do not just turn a blind eye but actually facilitate this illicit sex trade and, in doing so, profit from the punters they attract. A quick internet search reveals forums where tourists discuss the best hotels, streets and other venues to procure sex the practice is hardly under the radar. At the end of November Dubai will host the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28). I have to wonder how many of the delegates from around the world will encounter, or receive services, from a victim of sex trafficking, the overwhelming majority of whom will be female. Several factors have contributed to apathy on trafficking from Dubais hotels. Hotels often sub-let nightlife venues within their premises to third-party operators, creating a veil of ignorance that protects them from acts taking place under their roofs. Complex hotel ownership structures, including multiple stakeholders and unclear ownership boundaries, make it difficult to pin point who is in fact accountable or responsible for enabling these activities. There is also an expectation among some businessmen, conference delegates and tourists that hotel bars should host sex workers to satisfy demand. The global business community is not exclusively male. It should be totally unacceptable to international hotel brands to have part of its premises rendered no go areas to their female and family guests. Hotel dining is challenging enough for a solo female traveller, but with the tacit acceptance of prostitutes, incluing victims of sex trafficking, in their bars and nighclubs these areas are now off limits to the vast majority of female guests and one would speculate a significant proportion of the male guests too. While Dubai stands out as a global hub for human trafficking, its important to recognise that it is a pervasive global issue that requires a unified international response. For the hotel industry, this must mean an independent industry body that can design, monitor and enforce new regulation and best practice. Such new standards will ensure hotels do not become accomplices to the traffickers and can play a role in identifying and supporting victims of trafficking and enslavement. These standards should be developed in collaboration with international organisations, such as the United Nations Human Rights Council, and non-governmental organisations specialising in human trafficking prevention. To tackle the issue effectively, these guidelines should include employee training, guest awareness programmes, and vetting of third-party operators that sub-let hotel venues. By willingly embracing and enforcing these standards, hotels not only demonstrate their commitment to assisting in the identification and support of victims, but also their determination to set a precedent within the industry and uphold human rights. Numerous requests have been made by myself and other organisations to the Emirati authorities to discuss the challenges faced by women trafficked to the UAE and to jointly set out a roadmap to help tackle the issue. To date, we have had no response. Victims share our lack of faith in the authorities with many not wanting to ask for help for fear of punishment or deportation for sex work, not having the correct documentation, or some other transgression. This paradigm perpetuates a cycle of impunity and prevents any meaningful progress. Where the UAE authorities continue to fall short, hotels are uniquely placed to identify and help victims of human trafficking in Dubai and connect victims with NGOs and other support structures. Hotels have a moral duty to stop paying lip service to their own corporate values and deliver for the victims of trafficking forced to work in their bars and clubs. Angus Thomas is the founder of Send Them Home, a campaign group that helps to repatriate African women trafficked to Dubai, and the Hope Education Project, an education initiative in Ghana teaching women and girls to identify the hallmarks of trafficking to help them stay safe. Wait! Before you go Please sign up for our Evening Digest and Breaking Newsletters Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Subscribers to Register-Star or The Daily Mail are eligible to receive full access to HudsonValley360. If you have an existing print subscription, please make sure your email address on file matches your HudsonValley360 account email. The two candidates running to speak for District 5 in the Cayuga County Legislature are bringing different experiences to the race. Republican Josh Czyz and Democrat incumbent Aileen McNabb-Coleman, who was chair of the Legislature for a couple years, are vying to represent District 5, which is made up of Owasco and Sennett. While speaking to The Citizen about topics impacting the county, Czyz said he does not feel feel the chair of the Legislature should oversee the county's daily operations, and referenced McNabb-Coleman's time in the role from 2020 through 2021. The Legislature approved raising her pay by more than double in August 2020, citing her extra work due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Czyz, the executive director of operations with Marketplace Chaplains, said the pay increase was "not the best way to handle things," although he acknowledged the position's salary was later reduced. As an alternative to the current model of having the chair run the county's day-to-day operations, Czyz said he is open to either filling the county's administrator position that has been vacant since 2019 or creating an elected county executive position. He added that if the administrator seat was filled, he would want that person to have freedom to take on day-to-day work without "micromanagement" from the Legislature. "The Legislature should be the policymaker and the administrator should implement the policy, and leave the day-to-day administration to the administrator, if that's the approach we're going to take," Czyz said. When speaking to The Citizen, McNabb-Coleman said she feels from personal experience that the Legislature chair should not oversee operations by themselves. Doing so without an administrator was "incredibly daunting," she said, noting that she oversaw more than 30 departments, more than 700 employees and a budget of around $160 million. The chair position, she argued, does not have the time nor the resources to run operations alone. While the chair "can build networks and advocate at the highest level for the county," McNabb-Coleman continued, she feels the county requires a professional manger to deal with the daily work. "Someone needs to oversee operations, to put out the fires and make sure that services are being rendered, and the service delivery needs to be of the highest quality," she said. When talking about public funding of economic development agencies such as the Cayuga Economic Development Agency and the Cayuga County Industrial Development Agency, Czyz said he feels there should be an analysis of whether those funds have been used effectively. He believes he could also apply his collaboration experience to ongoing conversations around the agencies. "I have leadership experience and I tend to be a collaborator and I try to bring some sort of consensus," he said. "So with the IDA and CEDA what I would like to do is learn, get people to the table and discuss what's best for the county." Czyz also addressed how the county could benefit from Micron's intended $100 billion investment in central New York. "Should Micron become what it has promised to become, there are innumerable feeder companies that would need to source Micron and become a distribution source for Micron, and I think Cayuga County is the right corridor to make that happen," he said. However, Czyz said he would like to hear more from residents about Micron's presence in the area: "There are some things that people don't want in their backyards." If elected, Czyz said his priorities would be facilitating "family-friendly communities" where people want to stay and work. Ensuring the county has clean drinking water, working with businesses, public safety and reducing the tax burden on community members are all part of that goal. Czyz also wants to make sure people have options when voting for Legislature candidates, he said. Regarding CEDA and the IDA, McNabb-Coleman noted she is part of an ad hoc committee looking at CEDA's future and what economic development vehicle the county will use in the future. "I've come to the realization that Cayuga County has not been excited about funding CEDA," she said. Though she thinks the county has benefitted from CEDA and she believes in its mission and value, the legislator wants the county to have an economic development vehicle it's excited about. "As long as the county Legislature uses public funds, we all need something that we can feel good about," she said. The Sennett-based legislator, who is the county director of constituent services for state Sen. Rachel May, also lauded the work done through a county committee created late last year to capitalize on the Micron investment. McNabb-Coleman is on a resulting subcommittee focused on workforce development, while other subcommittees focus on energy, housing and site development. Conversations on these topics have allowed officials and professionals to come together to talk about preparing for Micron, she said. While she feels Cayuga County would be a great place for supply chain businesses that could open in Micron's wake, McNabb-Coleman emphasized that the work of the subcommittees could help attract other businesses to the county. With that in mind, she noted that economic development would be one of her top priorities if reelected. Water quality and protecting the Owasco Lake watershed is also important to McNabb-Coleman. The watershed is crucial for Cayuga County municipalities beyond Auburn and the town of Owasco, she said, because that water is sold to other communities in the area. She also wants to work on "quality of life" issues, such as improving broadband access and upgrading county parks to "promote year-round family-friendly programming." Bills can be introduced. Committees can meet. Press releases can be issued. But as wars rage in Israel and Ukraine and the U.S. confronts numerous issues at home, the House of Representatives is paralyzed because the Republican majority can't agree on who will serve as speaker. After GOP infighting led to former speaker Kevin McCarthy's ouster, the House didn't vote for two weeks as new candidates emerged to run for the top job. First up was U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, the House majority leader. But when it became apparent that he would not have the support, he withdrew from the race. The next candidate for the job is U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican who chairs the House Judiciary Committee. Jordan is a founding member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus and is aligned with former President Donald Trump. Trump endorsed Jordan for House speaker. Jordan has been more forceful in his pursuit of the job, even though there is opposition with the Republican caucus. As of 11:45 a.m. Friday, there have been three votes this week in an attempt to elect a new speaker. Jordan failed to secure enough support in those elections. While the roll call tally wasn't immediately available for the third vote on Friday, records show U.S. Reps. Claudia Tenney and Brandon Williams voted to support Jordan's bid for speaker. With Jordan not having enough support to win the speakership, there were reports that Republicans would appoint a temporary speaker until January 2024. But Tenney, R-Canandaigua, panned that idea in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. "The American people expect House Republicans to govern, lead and deliver conservative wins," she wrote. "I will not support any effort to create a temporary speaker. We should not leave DC until we have a duly elected Republican speaker who possesses all the powers necessary to preside." Aside from quorum calls, there were no other votes in the House this week. Because there isn't a speaker, the House cannot act on legislation. No one ever saw Greta Garbo urinate on screen. There are very few films in which Doris Day takes a job in a French whorehouse. Traditionally, Hollywood movie stars have been celebrated for their poise and glamour. Even when they play desperate characters alcoholics or mental patients they retain their sheen. You have to go to Europe to find more extreme performances, in which actors show little embarrassment about bodily functions. That is why its so startling to see Emma Stone in Greek director Yorgos Lanthimoss bravura new feature Poor Things, adapted from Scottish writer Alasdair Grays Whitbread Award-winning novel. This is a European arthouse film, albeit one financed by a Hollywood studio (Disney-owned Searchlight). It deals very frankly with everything from incontinence to sex. Stone, who is also a producer on the film, gives an astonishing performance as the Candide-like heroine, Bella Baxter. (She is already being strongly tipped for a second Oscar, to add to her Best Actress award for La La Land in 2017). This isnt one of those Method-like turns in which American stars show extraordinary depths of psychological realism. Instead, its a highly stylised piece of acting, closer at times to what you might expect from a dancer in some Pina Bausch avant garde ballet. Stone holds nothing back. She is playing an adult who, at the start of the film, has the intellect of a child. She speaks in her own nursery rhyme language and has tantrums. Fingerlakes Mall is seeking a subdivision of its property that would make Bass Pro Shops its own parcel. While mall officials downplayed the significance of the subdivision to The Citizen, one document says it's "for a potential sale." The mall's owner, Vachi Fingerlakes LLC, filed a proposal for the subdivision with the town of Aurelius Planning Board this summer. The proposal was referred to the Cayuga County GML 239 l, m & n Review Committee, which will determine if the subdivision has any possible intermunicipal or countywide impacts at its next meeting at 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, at the county office building. The proposal seeks to subdivide the 44.2-acre mall into a 2.908-acre parcel occupied by Bass Pro Shops and a 41.302-acre parcel consisting of the rest of the Aurelius property. In a referral form submitted to the committee, Vachi said, "The mall structure will remain intact, but the Bass Pro section is being separated for a potential sale." When contacted about the subdivision by The Citizen last week, a manager at Bass Pro directed comment to mall ownership. Linda Charles, vice president of mall property manager Sutton Real Estate Co. in Syracuse, told The Citizen the subdivision "is for financial purposes only." In its proposal, Vachi said the subdivision would include "no physical changes or improvements." Sutton manages the mall on behalf of Vachi, whose listed principal is Dean Davidov of Los Angeles-based commercial real estate development firm Misuma Holdings. The LLC purchased the mall for $3.6 million in September 2022. One of Vachi's first actions as the mall's new owner was negotiating an extension of Bass Pro's lease through at least 2037, Sutton said at the time. Fingerlakes Mall redevelopment plan is radical but 'conceptual' A redevelopment plan for Fingerlakes Mall suggests radical changes there, but a mall official and the owner of a business that would be affect According to an agreement between Bass Pro and another LLC associated with Davidov, Fingerlakes Development, the outdoor retailer is to be paid an unspecified amount in the event of the "sale or disposition" of any part of the mall, as well as any loan or debt refinancing secured by the mall. The agreement was filed with the Cayuga County Clerk's Office along with Bass Pro's lease extension. The extension further prohibits the mall from selling outdoor products like hunting, fishing or camping equipment on any other part of its property; from permitting any temporary or permanent kiosks within 50 feet of Bass Pro; and from allowing several uses that have taken place at the mall in the recent past, including secondhand stores, auctions and the sale of drug paraphernalia. As it seeks the subdivision, Vachi is also pursuing a redevelopment of Fingerlakes Mall that could include the creation of green space and the construction of hotels. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} George Clooney led a group of some 15 A-list actors in bringing forth a $150m (123.7m) proposal to SAG-AFTRA leadership. The deal, however, is expected to be dead on arrival. On Tuesday (17 October), the group of stars, which includes Scarlett Johansson and Tyler Perry, met with the actors unions (SAG-AFTRA) negotiating committee on Zoom to offer a deal in an effort to end the stalemate with Hollywood studios. They are reported to have proposed a no-cap fee on membership dues for higher earners, which they said would bring in earnings of $50m (41m) annually $150m over three years for the union. In order to gain SAG-AFTRA membership, one must currently pay a $3,000 (2,400) initiation fee. Members are then expected to pay an annual base fee of $231.96 (190) plus 1.575 per cent of their protected earnings up to $1m. While higher earners pay more work dues, the cap limits their contribution. The meeting, however, is said not to have gone well, a source with knowledge of the situation told Variety, as the committee didnt see the validity in the groups proposal. In addition to the no-cap fees, the group suggested a bottom-up residual approach, which would allow lower earners to collect residuals before top earners. A lot of the top earners want to be part of the solution, Clooney told Deadline. Hollywood Strikes (2023 Invision) We think its fair for us to pay more into the union, the Oceans Eleven star added. These negotiations will be ongoing, but we wanted to show that were all in this together and find ways to help close the gap on actors getting paid. According to Variety, members of the negotiating committee argue that the no-cap part of the groups proposal is not directly relevant to the hindered negotiations with the studios. Ill reach out to George to talk to him, said David Jolliffe, a member of the negotiating committee, via Variety. We appreciate everybodys help. Everybody has ideas. But weve been doing this for almost a year now. The actors strike has been ongoing since 19 July, when the union made the historic decision to join its fellow Writers Guild of America (WGA) members in the fight for a fairer deal. However, the WGA reached a deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) last month, ending the writers strike after 146 days. Among SAG-AFTRAs chief demands include increased wages, higher streaming residuals and improved working conditions. 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 }} China has rejected a US Pentagon report claiming that the Asian country has more than 500 operational nuclear warheads in its arsenal and will probably have more than 1,000 by 2030. China said the report was filled with prejudice and distorts facts, as it clarified that it has no intention of indulging in a nuclear arms race. The statement came a day after the Pentagon released its annual report on the Beijing military. In the wide-ranging report, the Pentagon said Chinas more than 500 warheads as of May 2023 were on track to exceed projections. In a previous report, the Pentagon estimated that Beijing had more than 400 operational nuclear warheads in 2021. "We see the PRC (Peoples Republic of China) continuing to quite rapidly modernise and diversify and expand its nuclear forces," a senior US official told reporters during a briefing on the report. However, on Friday, Chinas foreign ministry spokesperson issued a statement rejecting the US claims. "First of all, the United States report, like similar reports before it, ignores the facts, is full of prejudice and spreads the theory of the threat posed by China," ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a press briefing in response to a question about the US report. "China firmly adheres to a nuclear strategy of self-defence and defence, we have always maintained our nuclear forces at the lowest level required for national security, and we have no intention of engaging in a nuclear arms race with any country," Mr Mao said. The report added that Chinas navy had more than 370 ships and submarines, up from the 340 ships they had last year. The expanding naval force is central to President Xi Jinpings bid to make China the preeminent military power in the region and Beijing already has the largest navy in the world. The report reiterated concern about pressure by Beijing on self-ruled Taiwan, an island China sees as a breakaway province. "As long as any country does not use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against China, it will not be threatened by Chinas nuclear weapons," Mr Mao said. Relations between China and the United States have been tense, with friction between the worlds two largest economies over everything from Taiwan and Chinas human rights record to its military activity in the South China Sea. But Washington has been eager to revive military-to-military communications with China. Last week the Pentagon said it had accepted an invitation to attend Chinas top annual security forum in late October, the latest sign of potentially warming ties between the two countries militaries. Additional reporting from the agencies For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Canada has recalled 41 diplomats from India after Delhi threatened to strip diplomatic immunity of its staff, Ottawa said amid an escalating diplomatic row. Canadian foreign minister Melanie Joly said Indias demand to withdraw diplomats was unreasonable and in violation of international law on diplomatic relations, a criticism rejected by India. Relations between India and Canada have torpedoed to their worst in their recent history after prime minister Justin Trudeau said there were credible allegations of the Indian states involvement in the murder of Canadian-Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has rejected the allegations, calling them absurd. It comes after the Indian foreign ministry asked Canada to withdraw 41 of its 62 diplomats in New Delhi by 10 October, citing parity in an attempt to downsize the countrys diplomatic presence. It was widely seen as one of the retaliatory moves as India also suspended visa services in all categories for all Canadian nationals, citing security threats to its consulates. Ms Joly on Thursday confirmed that 41 diplomats in India have been removed, along with their dependents. A photograph of late temple president Hardeep Singh Nijjar is seen on a banner outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Sahib in Surrey, British Columbia She added exceptions have been made for 21 Canadian diplomats who will remain in India, criticising India for their request. Ms Joly said removing diplomatic immunity of diplomats is not only unprecedented but contrary to international law. A unilateral revocation of diplomatic privileges and immunities is contrary to international law, including the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, she said in the press conference. This action taken by India is completely unreasonable and escalatory. She said Canada will not reciprocate as continues to defend international law, which applies equally to all states. Canada will continue to engage India and remains committed to dialogue as we move forward, she said. Trudeau held a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the G20 Summit in New Delhi Indian foreign minister on Friday criticised Ottawa for their allegations and accused Canadian diplomats of interference in internal affairs of Delhi. We reject any attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms, a statement by the foreign ministry said. The state of our bilateral relations, the much higher number of Canadian diplomats in India, and their continued interference in our internal affairs warrant a parity in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa, it said. The statement said their request for parity was consistent with Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations which says the host country can demand reasonable and normal limits to the size of the mission in the absence of prior agreements. Canada on Friday said it was temporarily halting all in-person operations in consulates in several Indian cities and warned of visa processing delays due to the withdrawal of staff. An Indian flag is laid on the street as protesters wave a Canadian and Khalistan flags during a protest outside the Indian Consulate in Vancouver Services will be paused in consulates in Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai. The decision is expected to affect Indian citizens, including international students looking to study in Canada, amid a high number of applications from India. In 2022, the majority of applicants for both temporary and permanent residency in Canada were Indian nationals. Separately, India is not planning to impose any measures to curb imports or investments from Canada despite the dispute, Indian government sources told Reuters. The ongoing tensions will not spill into a trade dispute or impact investment, two senior Indian government sources said. Following Mr Trudeaus allegation, Canada and India expelled their top diplomats in a tit-for-tat move. Candian officials said they had privately briefed Indian officials about the investigation and sought assistance before they went public. Intelligence on the slaying of the Sikh Canadian includes exchanges from Indian officials and diplomats in Canada and some of it was provided by a member of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance, Officials had said. The alliance includes the United States, Britain, Australia and New Zealand, in addition to Canada. Meanwhile, the UK, the US and Australia have urged India to assist Canada in investigating the killing. Nijjar, a Sikh separatist leader, was murdered in Vancouver on 18 June by two masked men, who fired an estimated 30 to 50 shots at him. He was a leader in what remains of a once-strong movement to create an independent Sikh homeland, known as Khalistan. 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 }} Journalist Soumya Vishwanathan was driving home at 3am after finishing a busy shift at work on the night of 30 September 2008 when a car began to follow her. As Vishwanathan, a news producer with the Headlines Today television channel, attempted to dodge the car, its occupants fired multiple shots at her with a locally-made gun, hitting her in the head and causing her instant death. Her car crashed into a divider close to her home in national capital Delhi and the assailants fled the scene. They returned 20 minutes later and left again after seeing a police personnel passing by oblivious to the crime being committed nearby. She was found by a staff of a nearby restaurant at 3.45am after he saw her slumped at the wheels with the cars headlights and engine on. Vishwanathan was rushed to a hospital where she was declared brought dead. A Delhi court this week convicted four men for the murder of the 25-year-old journalist, marking the conclusion of a case spanning 15 years. The breakthrough came as the Delhi Police were conducting investigation into the murder case of another woman IT professional Jigisha Ghosh, who was looted and killed on 18 March 2009. A tattoo, CCTV footage, and a stolen credit card in the murder of Ghosh led Delhi police to the killers of Vishwanathan. Investigating officer HGS Dhaliwal said the investigation into the Vishwanathan case became challenging as there was no physical contact between the victim and the killers. Only a bullet was fired from a moving vehicle that hit Soumya, killing her, Mr Dhaliwal told news agency Press Trust of India. The four accused, Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Baljeet Malik, and Ajay Kumar, were held guilty of murder and committing organised crime resulting in the death of a person. A fifth accused Ajay Sethi was convicted for receiving stolen property and helping in the crime. Officer Atul Kumar Verma who was investigating the murder and robbery said the case was solved three days after Ghoshs body was found in Faridabad. We had got the first lead from CCTV footage where we found one of the accused had a tattoo on his hand while shopping using Jigishas debit card. Another was carrying a wireless set and wearing a cap," officer Verma told PTI. Following the arrest of Kapoor and Shukla, the two were questioned during which they revealed they had committed another murder of a woman in Vasant Kunj where Vishwanathan stayed along with their two other associates. The investigators who had their confession on record faced another major challenge collecting forensic evidence. The police said they worked to recover the weapon from which Vishwanathan was shot and detailed a forensic sketch of the spot to match sequence of events with the confession statement of the accused. The final judgment came as a relief to her parents after enduring a trial involving 300 hearings and 97 witness testimonies. Her mother, Madhavi Vishwanathan, 79, who went through the gruelling and long trial, said she wanted the culprits to suffer as they did. We lost our daughter, she said. The quantum of sentence is yet to be decided but I dont want the death penalty for them; they should serve a life sentence and suffer like we did throughout these years. She told the Indian Express that their life has been a never-ending ordeal after the death of their daughter. We have kept Soumyas room the way it was with all the photos from her school and college days on the walls it gives us a feeling that shes still with us, she said. The order will serve as a befitting response to anyone who might be thinking of repeating this act. Her father, MK Vishwanathan, 82-year-old now, called her daughter a hard working journalist. If you ask me if Im happy today, Ill tell you that justice has been done but nothing will bring back our daughter now its an irreparable loss. My daughter had done nothing wrong to her killers but still they did what they did, and that too so close to our house, 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 }} A banking analyst who was sacked after claiming two sandwiches on his expenses has lost his legal battle for unfair dismissal. Szabolcs Fekete was fired by international firm Citibank after claiming to have eaten two sandwiches, two coffees and two pasta dishes on a work trip to Amsterdam. Mr Fekete, a financial crime expert working in London, denied buying the items for his partner. He said he bought two coffees because they were small and that the second sandwich was intended to serve as his dinner after eating the first one for lunch. But the bank didnt believe his explanation and launched an investigation. Mr Fekete noted that the amounts were well within the banks 100 euro (87) daily expense limit and said: I dont think I have to justify my eating habits to this extent. The analyst later admitted that his partner, who didnt work for Citibank, had traveled with him but continued to claim he ate all the food himself. Fekete later claimed he had been undergoing personal problems after the death of his grandmother, was on medical leave from work and was on medication while he was answering emailed questions about his expenses claim. Szabolcs Fekete denied buying the items for his partner (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Following a hearing in September, employment judge Caroline Illing ruled in favor of the employer, saying the issue was not the sums of money involved, but about Mr Feketes failure to make a full and frank disclosure. The judge said Citibank requires a commitment to honesty from its employees. I have accepted that the expense report may have been submitted in error, the judge said. However, I am satisfied that a dismissal in relation to the misrepresentation allegation alone would fall within the band of a reasonable response by a reasonable employer. The judgment was dated 19 Sept but first reported by the Financial Times on Monday. Additional reporting by agencies Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Drew Barrymore had a blast from the past while in the middle of taping her talk show. On Thursday 19 Octobers episode of The Drew Barrymore Show, an audience member reminded her that they had met four years ago while she was working as a flight attendant. The woman showed Barrymore a photo the two of them took together as proof. When I met you, you were crying in my galley, the flight attendant told the actor. That was four years ago and here I am crying on your show now. Barrymore began to tear up as the woman continued: And we sat in my galley, and you cried, and cried, cause you were going through so much, and here I am at your show now. When the talk show host asked the woman if she remembered what she was going through during that time, the flight attendant replied: Yes, I do. I do. You were just bawling and I was just holding you. Barrymore then walked up to where the woman was sitting in the audience and hugged her. That was a really hard year, Barrymore said, as she stayed seated next to the woman. That was the year I stopped drinking. You know, when you stop drinking, its not like all your problems go away. Theres a ton of work to be done. Its a way to honour yourself and be consistent, and let the room in for other things. The Charlies Angels star began to open up to the audience about her sobriety journey, which she has discussed in the past. She explained that alcohol was poison to her and drinking was her number one problem. Barrymore said she would use alcohol as a coping mechanism for whenever she wanted to avoid her feelings. I turned to it because I didnt want to feel, she said. I felt better when I drank, so I would turn to it. Barrymore took the opportunity to express her gratitude to the flight attendant for being there for her. Theres a reason we met that day, she told her. Thank you for letting me be so honest and transparent with you then and thank you for being that with me now. I dont think were going to get anywhere unless were honest with ourselves. I love you and Im so glad that were here today talking about this, the talk show host concluded. Over the years, Barrymore has been open about her struggles with substance abuse and her time in rehab as a teenager. In a March interview with the Los Angeles Times, she explained that she turned to alcohol in the middle of her 2016 divorce with ex-husband Will Kopelman. The interview also revealed that her problem had gotten bad enough where her therapist quit on her. The Ever After star explained that interventions from friends and her own talk show are what helped her realise not only that she had a problem, but that she also wanted to fix it. I think the opportunity at a show like this really hit me. I was like, I cant handle this unless Im in a really clear place, she told the outlet. Last November, Barrymore shared in an essay that giving up alcohol has been one of the most liberating things in [her] life. She also reflected on how important its been for her to prioritise herself, even when it has felt selfish to do so. Maybe our definition of love changes throughout our lives, but I truly believe so much love goes outward, she wrote. One of the bravest things you can do is slay those dragons and finally change an awful cycle in which youve found yourself stuck. For me, it was to stop drinking. In March this year, she revealed that she hasnt drunk alcohol in four years. 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 }} Its a concerningly warm Saturday afternoon in October, and a crowd of twentysomethings is traipsing towards the old Ikea in Tottenham. A year ago, their pilgrimage would have been in search of flat-pack wardrobes and cheap bedding. Now, its for something a little cooler. That big blue box has been gutted and transformed into Drumsheds, an expansive industrial event space with a stacked opening line-up of electronic music. Punters are powered by more than meatballs; we are here for a rave, not a Ronnskar shelving unit. Theres intrigue, too, in seeing how the commercial space has been transformed. Felix Martin of the band Hot Chip may be due to headline a sold-out Drumsheds show later this month, but he still has a soft spot for what the space used to be. I dont know about it as a club but that Ikea was my local Ikea, he tells me. I have a lot of affection for it. The opening of Drumsheds comes with swirling feelings of anticipation and some trepidation. After all, this is a 15,000-capacity venue opening in London at a time when weve repeatedly been told nightlife is dying. Like much of the arts, the night-time economy was decimated by Covid and is still experiencing the effects of a society in which people go out less and spend less money. In August, a study found that 31 per cent of UK clubs had been forced to permanently shut between June 2020 and June 2023, including 100 independent clubs in the last year alone. The cost of living crisis, gentrification, and a procession of Tory culture secretaries who wouldnt know culture if it blasted them with a 140-decibel sound system, havent helped. And yet, here comes Drumsheds. The venue is the latest venture from Broadwick Live, the production company responsible for the UKs most impressive club spaces, including Printworks, which up until its closure in April saw revellers gather in a disused London printing press, and The Beams, an old sugar factory in the city. Up north, they opened Depot Mayfield beneath the Manchester Piccadilly station. By now, Simeon Aldred, the director of strategy, can open a club with his eyes closed. After 27 venues, I think, weve got the method down of how to open a venue in 10 weeks, he tells me a few days before opening, dressed in a high-vis vest and safety hat. That weekend, Drumsheds opens with an impressive autumn line-up featuring Bicep, Gorgon City and Andy C (also the Sugababes, fresh off their hot ticket Boiler Room set in August). Its a set of artists any electronic venue would be lucky to get, and the performers are equally as excited to see whats in store. Hannah Lynch of the DJ collective Girls Dont Sync, who are on the line-up at Elrows Halloween spectacular later this month, tells me playing Drumsheds will be a huge moment for the group. The feeling of freedom and sense of community within a large capacity rave is unmatched. Its a surprise, then, that when I use the phrase superclub, Aldred winces. Hes keen to stress that he has never seen his venues as clubs. New centres of cultural gravity is the preferred term. I know that sounds a bit high and mighty, he admits, but hes got big plans for this venue, all of which go beyond the ambitions of your average dancehall. Streaming companies, ballets, immersive theatre and orchestras are already booked in to use Drumsheds. I want my spaces to be ambidextrous, hybrid, and flexible, he says. Days after speaking with Aldred, I am on the train to Meridian Water in north London. Although Broadwick Live cant reference Ikea themselves in Drumsheds marketing, as I approach the station and that big blue box comes into view, theres no mistaking what this colossal space once was. When friends ask for a review of the venue, massive is the first word that comes to mind. Size isnt everything, but it kind of is when it comes to Drumsheds. X Room, the largest of three dance floors, lit up with pulsing lights and jumbo screens, holds a whopping 15,000 people. It is worth noting, however, that the entire event space is capped at 15,000 capacity to ensure both safety and room to groove. After all, the second largest room (Y) holds another 5,000 people, making it roughly the same size as the entire Printworks. Empty, the space seems like an impossible challenge but once guests arrive, the joyous potential becomes clear. Drumsheds sprawling X Room, which holds 15,000 people (Handout) Naturally, a space this size faces teething problems. As was the case in the Scandi chain it previously hosted, it is easy to get lost in the one-way system in search of toilets. Temperatures fluctuate and this balmy first Saturday has crowds sweating, but I suspect the concrete and metal will get nippy in the winter. Recalling a recent gig at Manchesters Warehouse Project, Martin explains, Because theyve been repurposed from something else, venues like this have a bit of their own history and their own kind of story that you can definitely feel. They have a different energy as venues, he says. Its one of those gigs where youre wearing a jacket on stage! Similarly, these spaces what are essentially big, echoey concrete boxes can yield sound issues. Its more of a challenge for the engineers and the people working at the venues to make it sound good, says Martin. But they have all kinds of tricks and ways to make that work. After a somewhat patchy first night (some revellers complained of poor sound quality in the largest room), the following week is declared a triumph. Most middle-aged observation ever, BUT what a well-organised and managed venue. One of the best spaces Ive ever been to, Drumsheds now has my heart, says one person. Politicians have quite literally prevented gateways into the industries that make up the bulk of UK nightlife Matty Chiabi, Girls Dont Sync Drumsheds attracts a broad crowd perhaps surprisingly so. On that inaugural day, 18-year-old roadmen in their Carhartt T-shirts bounced side-by-side with sequin-clad couples in their forties and seasoned ravers in their sixties. What unites everyone is their shared awe at the size of the venue, and a keenness to explore it. No matter their age, however, there is a strict 10.30pm curfew. Drumsheds is primarily a day event space; only Biceps sold-out event in December goes beyond midnight. Their edgy warehouse feeling may speak to the Acid House rave movement, but these are expensive, commercialised events, with branded bars and a plethora of food stalls in the outer courtyard and an end-time compliant with local licensing hence the early bedtime. As Warehouse Project creator Sacha Lord told local Manchester publication The Mill, these kinds of spaces are about making it feel almost illegal, like a nod to the past. Crowds watch Gorgon City at the second show (Jake Davis) One myth Aldred is keen to dispel is that warehouse venues like Drumsheds or Printworks, away from the city centre, are in competition with the more old-school club-clubs, such as The Cause in Canning Town. When I set up Printworks, people were like, Is it gonna harm this place? Is it gonna harm that place? Honestly, we are not going to harm any of them, he says. Our audience leaves our venues at 10.30. And then they flood into the rest of the market. Aldred is right. After any Drumsheds event, Instagram is flooded with partygoers crowdsourcing suggestions for unofficial afterparties. When people discuss the challenges facing UK nightlife, it is a bureaucratic conversation: planning permission, noise complaints and licensing issues. Aldred praises the local councils and Transport for London for their help in opening Drumsheds, but is the first to say that drumming up support is not so easy elsewhere. Councils outside of London and Manchester, their view of clubs is inconsistent right across the country, he says. There is no national strategy around the night-time economy. There is localised tribalism. It speaks to a wider problem in the arts, Martin says, where were not really governed by politicians who see the value in the arts at all. Theres just nothing there, [but] hopefully thats gonna change at some point. Matty Chiabi of Girls Dont Sync agrees, and says that the issue runs all the way back to the cutting of programmes and youth clubs where aspiring artists and production workers were once able to experiment freely. Politicians have quite literally prevented gateways into the industries that make up the bulk of UK nightlife, she says. The government must recognise that spaces like these are crucial to our communities and to sustain UK nightlife. Her bandmate Gaia (AKA G33) adds that the authorities cant be counted on; its up to communities passionate about nightlife to make sure that what does survive is more sustainable and inclusive, with more diverse line-ups and a commitment to stamping out sexual violence in these spaces. The industrial space follows on from previous Broadwick Live ventures Printworks and Beams (Jake Davis) The reluctance to call Drumsheds a club, then, is twofold. Broadwick Live would struggle to get licensing if it was seen as a club-only space, and it would also be scary to try and run such a large venue as purely a club in this economy. It would be foolhardy not to consider this, Aldred says. Its that holistic mix that I think makes it economically work for us. Would I just try and run this twice a week as a club? Definitely not. So no, for all intents and purposes, Drumsheds is not a club. But theres still hope, from musicians, DJs, and those who just love a Big Night Out, that this space can prove the night-time economy is worth investing in even if the venue itself shuts before Graham Norton is on telly. I hope the scene can keep existing and keep thriving, because its so important, especially for younger people, to have that outlet, Martin says. Sophia Violet from Girls Dont Sync echoes his sentiment, adding, Whether a venue is 100-cap or 15,000-cap, people want to come together and celebrate the music that we love. Ultimately, Violet says, music has the power to create a shared energy like nothing else. I have faith that not only the recent growth of dance music fans but the desire for that shared energy will keep it afloat, she says. That first day in Drumsheds, I cant help but notice the looks of wonder from everyone I pass. People want to believe that nightlife is being taken seriously again; they want to believe this venture can succeed. God, I hope theyre right. 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 }} Im not surprised Victorias Secret has decided to drop its planned feminist rebrand. Why? I used to work there. I was 19, working in the flagship Bond Street store, when I was told one of the top selling techniques was to ask male customers how my body compared to their partners. Let me explain. This was an improvisation strategy taught to us for when the inevitable would happen: a man arrives at a lingerie shop without knowing his partners bra size. We were taught to reassure them that we can still find the perfect gift even without knowing her exact bra size I just needed to ask them a few questions first. Is she bigger or smaller than me? was the first question I was told to ask, in an attempt to get them to buy something, anything, as it would be difficult to decipher her bra size without her physically in the room. And though I was never explicitly advised to gesture towards my bust when making this enquiry, it did seem like something we were sort of expected to do. The customer reactions were varied. Id feel the mans eyes scanning my body and see them trail off as they pictured their girlfriends breasts in comparison to mine. Some would squirm and awkwardly stutter their words. Some had brutally kneejerk answers: No, shes much smaller. While most were polite and very respectful, it never got less humiliating. When I first joined Victorias Secret in 2019, it still had the allure of being one of the worlds top brands and was regarded as the epitome of sexiness. The brands models, known as VS angels, were part of a certain beauty standard: they were thin, tall, the majority of them were white and all of them were cisgender. The brands annual fashion show was just as culturally relevant as the Met Gala. In 2012 the year the London flagship opened Barbara Palvin, Cara Delevingne and Miranda Kerr all walked down the VS catwalk in New York wearing Swarovski wings and million-dollar fantasy bras, while Rihanna, Bruno Mars and Justin Bieber gave live performances. But things started to come crashing down around the time I worked there. In 2019, the brand axed its infamous fashion show after its former marketing chief, Ed Razek, controversially said he did not want transgender models in the show. Victorias Secret has since become embroiled in several scandals relating to inclusivity, body image and ethics. Razek was accused of multiple incidents of inappropriate contact with models, which is something he denied at the time. It also didnt bode well when Les Wexner, the founder of L Brands Victorias Secret owner was connected to financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was charged with sex trafficking (some of Epsteins victims came forward saying that he used his connection to Victorias Secret to coerce them into being alone with him Wexner has said he was never aware of this). After being marred by controversy, Victorias Secret has tried and failed to regain cultural relevance amid declining sales. This week, theyve dramatically gone back on their feminist rebrand when the company told investors about Plan B: sexiness can be inclusive. The brand has continually failed to get in touch with the modern woman without patronising them or appearing too performative, especially given its track record promoting exclusivity over inclusivity. Perhaps this shows that the brand is better off targeting men who are looking for sexy gifts for their partners. When I first joined Victorias Secret in 2019, it still had the allure of being one of the worlds top brands and was regarded as the epitome of sexiness (Getty Images) Thats fitting, since the idea of Victorias Secret was inspired by a mans uncomfortable experience when lingerie shopping for his wife. Roy Raymond, an American businessman, decided in 1977 that he would create an underwear shop that was targeted at men. At the time, it was pretty ingenious. The name Victoria was chosen to evoke an element of British respectability associated with the Victorian era. But her secrets well, youd have to come inside to find out. The brand was taken over by Wexners company in 1982 and transformed into a retail empire. The consumer focus was shifted onto women rather than men. By the Nineties, Victorias Secret had become the largest retailer in the US, with 350 national stores. The expansion elsewhere was inevitable. The London flagship store, my former place of work, is a 40,000-square-foot lingerie mecca that takes over 111-115 Bond Street. It was a carbon copy of its American counterparts: dimly lit rooms with striped wallpaper and matching marble floors, black shiny interiors and gargantuan chandeliers. There was, of course, the sweet sickly stench of Bombshell, the brands staple Eau de Parfum, mixed in a plume of the bestselling Bare Vanilla body mist that smelt just as sugary. Dimly lit rooms with striped wallpaper and matching marble floors, black shiny interiors and gargantuan chandeliers (Getty Images for Victoria's Secr) For a while, it felt like a cool job. I felt a bizarre sense of pride telling my University friends it was where I worked, rather than some dingy bar. Plus, I was chuffed when I left the store most weeks with A3-sized bags full of discounted lingerie. There were a few rules and Americanisms we had to learn at the UK flagship. Knickers werent knickers; they were panties (folding them for display on panty bar was the bane of my existence on Sunday evenings). We wore tape measures around our necks for dramatic effect. Also, in another adoption of American retail habits, I had to discreetly inform each customer of my name so they could give feedback on how I did when they arrived at cash wrap AKA the till. There were a few rules and Americanisms we had to learn at the UK flagship (Getty Images) There are probably some myths about the job I should debunk, too. We didnt walk around in our underwear like in the 1998 film Enemy of the State, when Will Smith makes a blunder guessing his partners bra size. But that didnt mean we werent wearing the product. Coincidentally, the exposed lingerie fashion trend was taking hold, so wed happily wear lingerie under sheer tops or style bras tastefully, may I add underneath risque blazers. I was on the receiving end of some baffling conversations. We know by now that some male customers didnt know their partners bra size. In the event that the aforementioned is she bigger than me? tactic didnt work, some customers would resort to showing me pictures of the lucky gift recipient. Once, to my horror, I was shown a nude photo of a customers much younger girlfriend. I also like to think I developed some diplomacy tactics when as happened often heterosexual couples would disagree on the style of underwear they wanted to buy. Despite all the changes, U-turns and identity crises the brand has faced, though, one thing has remained the same: the panties at the Bond Street store are still neatly folded. Recently, I stepped back into Victorias Secret for the first time since I left and stared at that panty bar, thinking about those hours spent perfecting my folding technique. I left quickly, but not quick enough, the stench of Bombshell had already absorbed into my hair. 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 }} Hitting the snooze button on the alarm clock once in a while might actually support the brains process of waking from deep sleep, according to a new study. People sometimes want to go right back to sleep even after the alarm goes off in the morning, using the snooze button in clocks and cell phones. Decades of previous research suggested that hitting snooze can have negative effects, both on sleep and the brains ability to wake up, but until now there hasnt been any direct evidence of this, say scientists. The new study, published in the Journal of Sleep Research, assessed how common snoozing is and what effects this behaviour has on sleep, sleepiness, mood, and the brains cognitive abilities. Researchers found that those who snooze on an average sleep slightly shorter and feel more drowsy in the morning compared to those who never snooze. But they also saw that there were no negative effects of snoozing on the release of the stress hormone cortisol, mood, or sleep quality throughout the night. In the study, 1732 individuals answered questions about their morning habits, including how often they hit the snooze button with many especially young adults reporting that they use the alarm feature regularly. The most common reason for snoozing, according to participants, is feeling too tired to get out of bed when the alarm goes off. In another small follow-up experiment, 31 regular snoozers spent two nights in a sleep lab in order to measure their sleep in more detail. On one of the mornings, they were allowed to snooze for 30 minutes, and on the other, they had to get up right when the alarm went off. While in the first case, participants sleep was disturbed during the half hour of snoozing, most of them still got more than 20 minutes of sleep meaning that their total nights sleep was not affected much. In the snooze condition, no one had to wake up suddenly from deep sleep, and the snoozers performed a bit better on cognitive tests right upon waking. There were also no clear effects of snoozing on mood, sleepiness, or the amount of cortisol in the saliva. The results hint that half an hour of snoozing may not have negative effects on night sleep and could have some positive effects like a decreased likelihood of waking from deep sleep. However, researchers caution that the second experiment was small and only included people who are regular snoozers who find it easy to go back to sleep after each alarm. They say snoozing is most likely not for everyone. Jennifer Kanaan from the University of Connecticut in the US, who is another sleep scientist unrelated to the study, said the latest findings should be interpreted with caution as it could send the wrong message to people. If youre coming in and out of sleep for 30 minutes, after the alarm goes off the first time, youre costing yourself 30 minutes of uninterrupted, quality, restorative sleep, Dr Kanaan said in a statement. Instead of trying to figure out how to manipulate our alarm clocks, she says people should make a consistent good nights sleep a greater priority and be less reliant on snooze buttons. Simply put, instead of hitting the snooze button they should get more sleep, Dr Kanaan said. 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 }} This week industry bosses told The Independent electric cars could cost British motorists an extra 6,000. The anticipated hike all comes down to whether Rishi Sunak can strike a post-Brexit deal with the EU on tariffs - and the news reignited the long-standing debate on EV ownership. So, we asked you what you thought about electric vehicles. We wanted to know if you thought price was already the biggest barrier to greener travel on our roads. We also asked whether a spike in cost would put you off purchasing an EV or whether other factors were still at play. Independent readers were divided, while some long-term EV-users were quick to sing the praises of the technology calling them the future, others were anxious about the availability of public chargers and the capacity of batteries. Heres what they had to say: EVs are nowhere near as good as they are said to be Cost is of course a big issue but there are others that bother me, such as the use of cobalt and lithium, child labour, limited supply, insecure sources and I really would like to see the lifecycle benefits of EVs properly assessed. Then theres the sheer weight of the vehicles and the damage to the roads and, maybe, parking issues caused by both weight and size. And on the rare occasions they catch fire it seems very dangerous. Theres also a major problem with sufficient capacity in our energy grid to cope with a really large transition to EVs, which will require billions in investment to fix. I desperately want to see genuine solutions but am concerned that EVs are nowhere near as good as they are said to be for this and I havent even mentioned range, cost of insurance or cost of replacement batteries. PhilRoyal Electric cars are NOT the answer Electric cars are NOT the answer and never will be. Hydrogen fuel cell cars ARE the future as will become clear sooner, not later. The only caveat is that they have to be kept outdoors as garaged they can leak hydrogen which of course is highly flammable and just starting such a car after a week in a garage could well mean----BANG ! Hamish MacDonald We would always have to charge at a commercial charge point Like many people, we have no parking or garage facilities at our home, no off street or on street dedicated space. What puts us off is that we would always have to charge at a commercial charge point and pay their higher tariffs. Assuming we could find one near home. David A great future beckons with electric cars I have a BMW i3 and find it great. It has a range of up to 200 miles in the summer and around 100-120 in the winter. It does all my local driving including an up to a 100 mile round trip once per month. I charge it at home and that makes it a lot easier and I hope to get a split tariff in due course. I do have a petrol car for long trips i.e. a 1000 mile trip to Sweden to see my wifes family. This trip would not be really practical in an electric car at present but I am sure that range will increase at a reasonable price in the future and that re-charging will take little more time than a coffee and a cake in the service areas. The greatest thing is how quiet the car is when driving, just road and wind noise and if I do not race along we can talk quietly and easily - a great future beckons with electric cars. JohnH44 Focus on the superior driving experience I started my EV journey in 2014 and will never look back. A good way to help estimate the saving is to establish the cost per mile. The cost per mile for my current EV is roughly 10p (I dont have a cheaper night rate contract) and my wifes [ICE] car is 20p. If you use 10,000 miles a year, your saving will be a very moderate 1,000. You need between 6 - 12 years to make up the EV premium (the maintenance of EV is probably cheaper though). Solar panels are not as useful as expected unless you have a lot of panels and a battery facility. Average weather will provide less than 2 kWh benefits to your EV, so the saving is minimal. My 9 years of EV experience tells very clearly that an EV is a better car. Saving in fuel cost or from solar panels shouldnt affect your switching decision. I would suggest to focus on its superior driving experience. Ensoleille Lack of adequate charging infrastructure The barrier to EV ownership is 50/50 between price and lack of adequate charging infrastructure for those like myself who dont have the option of installing a charging point. Thesanityinspector EVs are useless in huge geographies EVs could be mandated for large urban environments and commuters. For huge geographies and low population densities such as Canada and parts of the USA, with long distance travel in cold climates, EVs are useless. As always, it depends on requirements and the application. grtblu Youll not get me into an EV, no way Jose! There is a huge swath of the motoring public for whom as little as 3-5k is as far as they can stretch to buy any car, what chance for them to ditch ICE and join the revolution? I hear also that insurance for EVs has gone stratospheric due to the elevated costs of repair and delays in getting parts. This will inevitably result in many very young EVs being written off when an equivalent age ICE could likely be a viable, and more timely, repair. Youll not get me into an EV, no way Jose! Charlieinspain Price, charging, range Its the same old same old: price, charging, range. Until all of these issues are solved there will always be a problem with mass use of EVs. HOSS EVs best option once two conditions are met An electric car is always, without exception, going to be the best option for the average person once two conditions are met: A) The price comes down to a more affordable level, at least on a par with petrol/diesel cars, preferably lower, as will soon definitely be the case. B) Battery charging alternatives are scaled up. Already the top of the range car batteries can be fully charged from zero in as little as ten minutes - and that is improving all the time. Another idea which is already being used in Japan, and I think Sweden, is swapping out batteries. Garages/shops keep a stock of car batteries and you just drive in and they swap out your depleted one for a fully charged battery. Takes less time than to fill a car with petrol. The garage then charges your battery and sells on to another customer. Brilliant. Once those two conditions are widespread you will never see me with an inefficient smelly and nasty petrol car ever again. No way Jose! Art Some of the questions and answers have been edited for this article. You can read the full discussion in the comments section of the original article. The conversation isnt over - theres still time to have your say. If you want to share your opinion then add it in the comments of this story. All you have to do is sign up, submit your question and register your details - then you can then take part in the discussion. You can also sign up by clicking log in on the top right-hand corner of the screen. 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 }} Watch again as Sydney Opera House celebrates its 50th birthday with spectacular fireworks and a laser show on Friday (20 October). Officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 20 October 1973, the Opera House is widely regarded as one of the greatest architectural designs of the 20th century, with 10.9 million people visiting every year. The building will be illuminated on Friday evening by a light show created by Australian audio-visual artist Robin Fox, before welcoming an expected 37,000 people on Saturday for free tours, its first open day in eight years. A symbol around the world and a national treasure turns 50, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Happy Birthday to an Australian icon. As part of the 1956 Opera House international design competition, 233 designs were submitted by architects from around the world with Jorn Utzon from Denmark chosen as the winner. Construction began in 1959 with the project meant to take four years to complete, but after Utzon resigned due to a change in government, design differences and a blow out in costs, the structure took 14 years to complete. 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 }} Each year, at 2am on the last Sunday in October, the clocks go backwards in the UK, which signals the beginning shorter days. This year, the clocks will go backwards at 2am on Sunday 29 October, giving us an extra hour in bed as we prepare for the colder winter months. Although the day that the clocks go back is often welcomed as we get an extra hour in bed, the system of changing the clocks twice a year can be controversial. In 2019, the European parliament voted to get rid of the change of clocks after a study found that 84 per cent of people in countries that took part in daylight saving time would like it to discontinue. However, a YouGov poll found that majority of Britons were marginally in favour of keeping it, with 44 per cent voting to keep the current system and 39 per cent voting to scrap it. There are also some health concerns linked to the time change, as some studies have shown it disrupts the bodys natural sleep cycles, which can affect both physical and mental health. So what is the impact of turning back the clocks on our health? How does changing the clock impact physical health? According to the Mayo Clinic, the human brain has a biological clock, also known as a circadian rhythm, that runs on a 24-hour cycle. Whether it is gaining an extra hour or losing an hour of sleep, this causes disruption to the sleep cycle and can be difficult for some people to adjust back to a normal schedule. Disturbed sleep could also potentially lead to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. A 2019 study by researchers at Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts General Hospital examined the impact of sleep deficiency on heart disease in mice. It found that, after 16 weeks, mice who had their sleep cycles disrupted developed larger arterial plaques compared to the mice with normal sleep patterns. The sleep-deficient mice also had twice the level of certain white blood cells in their circulation, and lower amounts of hypocretin, a hormone that plays a key role in regulating sleep and wake states. This appears to be the most direct demonstration yet of the molecular connections linking blood and cardiovascular risk factors to sleep health, said Dr Michael Twery, director of the National Heart, Lunch and Blood Institutes National Centre on Sleep Disorders Research in the US. Losing an hour of sleep during the time change in the spring has been linked to a surge in heart attacks and strokes. In the US, hospitals report a 24 per cent spike in heart attack visits every year on the Monday after the clocks go forward. Turning the clocks back means an extra hour in bed (Getty Images) Research has also shown an increase in car accidents when the cars go back in the colder months as drivers adapt to the time change. According to data by Zurich Insurance, drivers are more likely to have an accident between 4pm and 7pm in November, as the evenings get darker earlier. After the clocks change, the company noted a 10 to 15 per cent increase in accident volumes during that time compared to the rest of the day. How does changing the clock impact mental health? When the clocks go back in the autumn, we get an extra hour of daylight in the morning however, this only lasts a couple of weeks before the days shorten and the sunrise gets later and later. On the shortest day of the year, 21 December, the UK enjoys less than eight hours sunlight. The increased hours of darkness can result in low mood and depression in some people, as well as fatigue, muscle pain and weakened bones due to a lack of vitamin D from exposure to sunlight. Some people also experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD) as a result of the shorter days. According to the NHS, SAD symptoms include a persistent low mood, loss of pleasure or interest in normal everyday activities, irritability, feelings of despair or guilt, and sleeping for longer than normal. The health service says that the lack of sunlight may stop a part of the brain called the hypothalamus from working properly, which may affect the production of melatonin (a sleep hormone) and serotonin (a mood hormone), as well as the bodys circadian rhythm. 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 Israel-Hamas war intensifies, the United States Thursday launched a visa waiver program allowing Israelis wishing to visit the United States for 90 days or less to come without applying for a visa. The U.S. announced Sept. 27 that it was admitting Israel into the visa waiver program, adding the country to a select group of 40 mostly European and Asian countries whose citizens can travel to the U.S. for three months without visas. At the time, the U.S. said Israelis could start traveling to America without visas as of November 30. In a news release, the Department of Homeland Security said the program was operational as of Thursday. Officials gave no reason for the changed timeline in a news release Thursday. But just days after Israel's admittance to the visa waiver program, Hamas launched attacks against numerous locations in southern Israel. Since then the Israeli military has relentlessly attacked locations in the Gaza Strip as it prepares for a ground invasion. Under the waiver program, Israelis first register with the Electronic System for Travel Authorization. That's an automated system that helps determine whether the person is eligible to travel, Homeland Security said in the news release. The process can take up to 72 hours. Then they can travel to the U.S. To be eligible, Israelis must have a biometrically enabled passport. Those who don't have such a passport still must apply for a U.S. visa, the department said. Countries that want to take part in the visa program have to meet three critical benchmarks. Israel met two of those benchmarks over the past two years: a low percentage of Israelis who applied for visas and were rejected and a low percentage of Israelis who have overstayed their visas. Israel had struggled to meet the third, for reciprocity that essentially means all U.S. citizens, including Palestinian Americans, must be treated equally when traveling to or through Israel. Many critics said that despite American assertions, Palestinian Americans were still facing discrimination when traveling to Israel. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Board of Deputies of British Jews has met with the boss of the BBC to express its outrage over the broadcasters use of language to describe Hamas and its damaging coverage of the immediate aftermath of the bombing of a hospital in Gaza City. The corporation said it is committed to continued dialogue following Fridays meeting, at which the Board of Deputies said the BBC was left in no doubt as to the strength of feeling in the Jewish community. BBC director general Tim Davie met Board of Deputies president Marie van der Zyl and its chief executive Michael Wegier. We emphasised our outrage at the refusal of the BBC to describe Hamass barbaric actions as terrorism and the damaging, false report of the rocket which killed innocent civilians. We will both continue dialogue as well as pursuing legal avenues Board of Deputies president Marie van der Zyl The Board of Deputies, which describes itself as the voice of the Jewish community in Britain, said the BBC had confirmed it is no longer the corporations practice to call Hamas militants, but instead is describing the group as a proscribed terrorist organisation by the UK Government and others, or simply as Hamas. Following the meeting, Ms van der Zyl said: We emphasised our outrage at the refusal of the BBC to describe Hamass barbaric actions as terrorism and the damaging, false report of the rocket which killed innocent civilians. We will both continue dialogue as well as pursuing legal avenues. Mr Davie said: I would like to thank Marie van der Zyl and Michael Wegier for the meeting today. The BBC is committed to continuing dialogue through this period. In a statement the corporation further explained its policy on language, adding: The BBC regularly meets a range of groups and today met the Board of Deputies of British Jews. During the meeting we confirmed that we will continue to refer to Hamas as a proscribed terror organisation by the UK Government and others. What the BBC does not do is use the word terrorist without attributing it, nor do we ban words. We also confirmed that for some days we had not been using militant as a default description for Hamas, as we have been finding this a less accurate description for our audiences as the situation evolves. The meeting followed an admission on Thursday by a senior member of staff at BBC News that the corporation made a mistake while covering a hospital bombing. Hamas has blamed an Israeli air strike for the attack on Tuesday, while the Israeli military said al Ahli hospital was instead hit by a rocket misfired by Palestinian militants. At the Media Societys reporting the Israel-Hamas conflict event on Thursday, deputy chief executive of BBC News Jonathan Munro said the broadcasters language wasnt quite right during live reporting. He said the correspondent covering the strike had been wrong to speculate about the cause of the explosion of the hospital. Mr Munro added: At no stage did he actually say it was caused by the Israelis but nonetheless, when the impression is left that weve speculated, (it) is important to correct that which weve done. Meanwhile, it has emerged Mr Davie is set to address the next meeting of the 1922 Committee of the Conservative Party on Wednesday. The PA news agency understands it is a routine parliamentary engagement and is not connected to recent events regarding the Israel-Gaza conflict. Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the influential backbench committee, said: It was arranged several weeks ago, before the terror attack on Israel. He pointed out that non-political speakers do occasionally address the body of Tory MPs, with Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates among those to have made appearances at the 1922 in the past. It comes as the broadcaster continues to face questions over its editorial policy on Hamas, with several Cabinet ministers including Defence Secretary Grant Shapps criticising its editorial guidelines in recent weeks. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} An underworld whistleblower who walked into a police station and confessed to helping to dispose of a body in a woodland grave has walked free from court. The information given by Person X led to the discovery of the remains of Mohammed Shah Subhani, 27, months after he went missing and the arrest of his killer Amraj Poonia. The defendant gave evidence in court, leading to the conviction of Poonia for murder as well as his accomplices, brother Raneel Poonia, Mohanad Riad and Mahamud Ismail. On Friday, Judge Mark Dennis KC made a substantial reduction and sentenced Person X to 16 months suspended for two years for perverting the course of justice, which the defendant admitted. The judge said: The evidence given by the defendant heavily implicated Amraj Poonia and provided the only evidence as to the cause of death, namely strangulation. Person Xs evidence at the Old Bailey played a critical part in the convictions, Judge Dennis said. The judge said Person X had expressed genuine remorse and turned away from the drug-taking lifestyle which had brought him into the orbit of the organised criminals. Referring to victim impact statements, he said: It is clear this event has had a profound effect on the whole family, both the murder itself and the cover-up. The nature and circumstances of the death, the disposal of the body and seven months of uncertainty and stress that followed, together with the deception and betrayal brought about by the Poonia brothers, has only exacerbated the pain and loss itself. The family, it would appear, do recognise and feel grateful never the less at the defendants decision whatever happened before. The court had heard Mr Subhani was killed after a falling out over a kilo of cannabis that went missing after it was given to Poonia for safe-keeping. On May 7 2019, he was ambushed and strangled by Poonia at the defendants family business R&J Plumbing in Hounslow, west London. Mr Subhanis body was then rolled up in a carpet to be transported to woodland a couple of days later where it was burnt and buried. Later the same day, Poonia unashamedly went to the Subhani family home in Hounslow and acted as if nothing had happened, jurors were told. The case was initially treated as a missing persons inquiry before a murder investigation was launched and possible suspects identified. The breakthrough came around six months later when Person X walked into Stoke Newington police station, admitted taking part in the disposal of Mr Subhanis body and named his killer. Acting on the information, Mr Subhanis badly decomposed body was found miles away in woodland in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire. Opening the facts of the case against Person X, prosecutor Tom Little KC described how the defendant had been called on to help dispose of Mr Subhanis body and his Audi car two days after the killing. Mr Little said that in Person Xs presence, Amraj Poonia admitted to strangling Mr Subhani and there was relatively open coversation about what had taken place. Person X then drove one of two vehicles in convoy from south-west London to Buckinghamshire and acted as a look-out as three others burnt the body and dug a shallow grave, Mr Little said. Person X went on to sell the victims Audi car for 100 and it was later recovered by police. Mitigating, David Whittaker KC said that until Person X walked into Stoke Newington police station, police were making little headway. Without the information, Mr Whittaker suggested, the murder would have remained unsolved and Mr Subhanis family would not have been able to lay him to rest. The barrister said the risk to the defendant after giving evidence was unlikely to go away and remained high. He said Person X will have to spend most of the rest of their life looking over their shoulder. Earlier this month, Poonia, 28, aka Bigs, from Horley, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years having been found guilty of murder and perverting the course of justice. His brother Raneel Poonia, 26, aka Ace, from Slough, was jailed for seven years for perverting the course of justice. Riad, 23, known as Emz, from Hounslow, and Ismail, 27, aka Skinny and Major, from Brentford, were found guilty of the same offence and jailed for two years and five-and-a-half years respectively. 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 bid by the killer of law graduate Zara Aleena to reduce his sentence has reignited the agony of the atrocious crime committed, her family said. The 35-year-old was sexually assaulted and murdered by Jordan McSweeney as she walked home from a night out in Ilford, east London, early on June 26 2022. McSweeney, who refused to attend his sentencing hearing last December, was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 38 years after admitting the crimes. But his appeal on Friday to reduce the minimum term of his sentence has caused profound distress for Ms Aleenas family, her aunt said. Farah Naz said it was beyond belief that this individual, who was too spineless to attend his own sentencing, has the audacity to appeal the very sentence he couldnt be bothered to witness. In a statement following the Court of Appeal hearing, she said: We are compelled to express our profound distress in response to the appeal made by the individual responsible for the murder of our beloved Zara Aleena. This appeal, coming after a trial where he was sentenced, has reignited the agony of the atrocious crime committed. We firmly believe that his minimum sentence should not be reduced, and he should serve a life imprisonment for the inhuman act he committed. McSweeney appeared for the start of proceedings via videolink from Long Lartin prison in Worcestershire, but left before the hearing was completed. Around 45 minutes after the hearing started it was paused and an unnamed prison officer, who appeared on the link with McSweeney, said: Hes heard enough and has got everything he requires in his cell. Ms Naz said this behaviour had underscored the killers enduring disregard for all. She said: He has consistently displayed a complete lack of remorse in his behaviour, and today, his indifference and impoliteness when leaving the prisons video room, declaring he had heard enough, during the ongoing proceedings, were nothing short of expected. The hearing was told Ms Aleenas murder was an opportunistic attack. McSweeneys barrister George Carter-Stephenson KC said: At the outset can I make it clear that it is accepted that the attack and murder in this case was particularly savage and brutal and nothing I intend to say in this address is in any way meant to detract from that. The barrister said the sentencing judge, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb, had wrongly factored in the aggravating features in the case. Mr Carter-Stephenson said it was accepted there was a sexual motive to the crime but argued the murder itself was not premeditated. He later said the the resistance put up by the victim caused the level of aggression to rise during the assault. I dont mean to put any blame on the victim at all, he added. Judges were later told Ms Aleena was knocked unconscious early during the attack. Mr Carter-Stephenson said: Given the nature of the attack the time for the suffering of this victim was limited. That, to some extent, must impact how one views that as an aggravating feature. The barrister later said McSweeney had ADHD, which should have been taken into account in sentencing. They are wired somewhat differently than most people. They are impulsive their behaviour is less predictable, he said. The sexual assault of Ms Aleena was the culmination of hours of planning and premeditation Oliver Glasgow KC, for the CPS However, Oliver Glasgow KC, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said the suggestion McSweeney had not intended to kill Ms Aleena was unsustainable. He told the court McSweeney had spent two hours stalking several women before turning his attention to Ms Aleena. Mr Glasgow told the court he wanted to avoid any risk that he could subsequently be identified by any victim. The barrister said: This was not a moment of impulsive aggression. It was a considered act and the product of hours of pursing women along the streets. There was nothing that Zara Aleena did that provoked the violence that was given to her. Mr Glasgow also told the court there had been no expression of remorse from McSweeney and later noted he had not attended his sentencing and left his appeal hearing. Mr Glasgow added in written submissions: The submission that the intention to murder Ms Aleena was formed on the spur of the moment flies in the face of the applicants behaviour preceding the violence. The sexual assault of Ms Aleena was the culmination of hours of planning and premeditation. He added that McSweeney was determined to find and attack a vulnerable female and to sexually assault her, and it was inevitable, once he had embarked on that attack, that he would kill his victim. The Old Bailey previously heard McSweeney stalked Ms Aleena along Cranbrook Road before grabbing her from behind and dragging her into a driveway. The attack, caught on grainy CCTV, lasted nine minutes and resulted in 46 separate injuries. Ms Aleena, who was training to be a solicitor, was found struggling to breathe and later died in hospital. Mr Glasgow described the attack as utterly abhorrent and said the sentencing judge was right to find McSweeney had no mitigation aside from his guilty pleas. At the hearing before the Lady Chief Justice Lady Carr, Mrs Justice McGowan and Mrs Justice Ellenbogen, Lady Carr said their decision would be given in writing as soon as possible. Ms Naz said the family anticipates that the sentencing will be upheld and receive validation from the judges currently deliberating. 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 has admitted sending a vile and abusive email to Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner following the publication of a national newspaper article about the politician. David Perry pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates Court to charges of sending grossly offensive communication and indecent communication to the Ashton-under-Lyne MP, in May last year. The prosecution came after Ms Rayner, 43, requested a victims right to review (VRR) after an initial decision was made not to prosecute the 66-year-old. A CPS spokesman said that Perrys email referenced a Mail On Sunday article which suggested Ms Rayner had crossed and uncrossed her legs to distract Boris Johnson during Prime Ministers Questions. Perry also made crude and offensive references to Ms Rayners appearance and accused her of being a puppet of the industrial military complex. He also wrote: Please get off the news channels and go get a job in a fish factory. The email also stated: Do you really think anybody would be interested in an ugly menopausal pig like you? With your sad old m****, which you could throw a kipper up, typical career politician, useless, no experience, no qualifications. The email, which was sent to the constituency mailbox of Ms Rayner, was traced to Perry and he was arrested by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) in July 2022. The CPS spokesman said: In police interview, Perry accepted that the email address was his, but denied sending the email, claiming he had been hacked, but he was unable to produce any evidence to support his claims that his Wi-Fi or IT systems had been hacked by a third party. In a victim personal statement, Ms Rayner said she was appalled at the level of repugnant malice directed towards her in the email and questioned why anyone would think it was acceptable to send such offensive words to a woman. Perry, of Weybridge, Surrey, will be sentenced on November 16 at Staines Magistrates Court. Rosemary Ainslie, head of the CPS Special Crime Division, said: Perrys email was highly offensive and insulting to Ms Rayner, and his comments have no place in a civilised society. Neither she nor her constituency staff should have to be subjected to such vitriol, it is completely unacceptable. The public should know that they cannot simply send such grossly offensive communications without repercussions. Online communications can be traced and people breaking the law will be brought to justice. Detective Inspector Christopher Dean of GMPs Tameside CID said: Abusive and threatening communication, towards anyone, is unacceptable and not only impacts the life of those they are directed at but also those close to them. The abusive correspondence sent to this woman left her understandably distressed. We launched a full investigation to identify those responsible and I hope todays guilty plea and the subsequent date for sentencing clearly demonstrates that these actions have consequences. 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 lawyer representing people who helped the British mission in Afghanistan has welcomed a Government policy change relating to families trying to relocate to the UK. Dan Carey said thousands of Afghans accepted for relocation to the UK under a Government scheme could be affected. News of the policy change emerged on Friday at a High Court hearing in London after a number of families became embroiled in a legal fight with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Lawyers representing families eligible for relocation had begun legal action against Mr Sunak as well as Home Office, Defence department, and Foreign Office ministers and complained of lengthy relocation delays. They had told a judge overseeing the litigation that many people had left Afghanistan and were housed in hotels in Pakistan and Iran paid for by the UK Government. Some were challenging the lawfulness of ministers management of cases and the Governments policy approach. Ministers disputed the claims made against them. I am very pleased for my clients and the thousands of others in their position that the Government has lifted the block on relocations to the UK Lawyer Dan Carey Government lawyers had told Mr Justice Chamberlain how the policy had been that travel to the UK, for people with UK visas, would be facilitated only when suitable UK accommodation not including hotels had been identified. Lisa Giovannetti KC, who is leading the Government legal team, told the judge on Friday of a policy change. She said people would now be housed in transitional UK accommodation including hotels when they returned. A judge is due to oversee further hearings in the near future. It has taken a huge amount of pressure over many months from the press, from organisations, and through the courts to force this change in Government policy Lawyer Dan Carey I am very pleased for my clients and the thousands of others in their position that the Government has lifted the block on relocations to the UK, Mr Carey, who is based at law firm Deighton Pierce Glynn, said after Fridays hearing. It has taken a huge amount of pressure over many months from the press, from organisations, and through the courts to force this change in Government policy. Lawyers representing families had said eligible persons could not leave hotels safely due to their precarious or irregular immigration status in Pakistan. They described the state of affairs as intolerable. 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 former detective who sent inappropriate messages to the daughter of late entertainer Des OConnor while investigating a crime report frequently made inappropriate comments when in command of a police unit, a High Court judge has been told. Mr Justice Swift heard allegations about the behaviour of James Mason, a former Metropolitan Police detective chief inspector, during the latest stage of litigation centred on Kristina OConnor. Ms OConnor, who is in her 30s, was sent numerous inappropriate messages including an email saying she was amazingly hot by Mr Mason after he responded to her report of an attempted robbery in 2011, the judge heard. She complained about Mr Mason, who was a detective sergeant at the time. A police misconduct panel had made a gross misconduct finding and he was given a final written warning. Mr Mason resigned from the Metropolitan Police late in 2022, the judge was told. Lawyers representing Ms OConnor argue the force failed to properly investigate the complaint. They say a police misconduct panel failed to address predatory and abusive actions. Lawyers representing the misconduct panel and the Metropolitan Police dispute claims about how they handled the process. Mr Justice Swift heard evidence at a trial earlier this year but has yet to deliver a ruling. Lawyers representing Ms OConnor told the judge on Friday, at a High Court hearing in London, that allegations about Mr Masons behaviour at work had been made by a senior female police officer and emerged since the trial. The officer worked in a Metropolitan unit headed by Mr Mason over a decade ago and said he made inappropriate comments frequently, lawyers told the judge. Barrister Fiona Murphy KC, who represented Ms OConnor, said the officer said Mr Mason was overly interested in what deemed to be attractive female Pcs and had once been seen scanning the office life a wolf. Ms OConnor wants Mr Justice Swift to consider the officers allegations when he delivers a ruling on her complaints about the complaint investigation process. Lawyers representing the force say the decisions the judge has to make following the trial are not affected by the officers allegations. Mr Mason said he found Ms OConnor attractive and his behaviour towards her was a one-off, the judge heard. Ms Murphy suggested the officers allegations indicate otherwise. 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 blasted his daughters ex-partner and her ex-partners father to death with a shotgun over a family court case involving his grandson, a court has heard. Stephen Alderton, 67, was arrested hours later by armed officers on a motorway and told police that sometimes you have to do what you have to do even if its wrong in the eyes of the law, said prosecutor Peter Gair. The barrister told Cambridge Crown Court that Alderton, who wore a crucifix necklace as he appeared in the secure dock, had written in a telephone message last year: Ive a shortlist of people I intend to murder. The defendant, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to the murders of Joshua Dunmore, 32, and his 57-year-old father Gary Dunmore on March 29 this year, and his sentencing began on Friday. The murders came two days after a family court hearing, Mr Gair said. The pair were found dead at their homes in villages six miles apart in Cambridgeshire, with Joshua Dunmores home in Bluntisham and his fathers in Sutton. Mr Gair said: We say its clear that the events were triggered by an ongoing family court case between this defendants daughter Samantha Stephen, nee Alderton, and her former partner Joshua Dunmore. This concerned a request to move their seven-year-old child from the jurisdiction of the court by emigrating to the USA. He said that Mrs Stephen and Mr Dunmores relationship ended shortly after their son was born and in 2020 she married her current partner, Paul Stephen. Mr Gair said that Mr Stephen, a US national, served with the US Air Force. He was due to be redeployed back to the USA, said Mr Gair. He said they sought permission of the family court and Joshua opposed the application. There was a hearing on March 27 2023 and it would appear (the child) wouldnt be removed from the jurisdiction, said Mr Gair. The prosecutor said Aldertons wife died in 2020, he had sold his home and was living at the time in a motorhome on a site in Willingham, Cambridgeshire. He said Alderton was the holder of a shotgun licence and lawfully held a Beretta shotgun, which was used in both killings. He said previous messages on Aldertons phone reveal the defendant took an interest in the family court proceedings. In October 2022 Alderton wrote: I will override any court decision. In another message, Mr Gair said the defendant wrote Theres always a plan B and in further messages he talked of moving to Panama. He said there were photographs of the homes of both Joshua and Gary Dunmore on Aldertons phone. Earlier on the day of the shootings, Alderton went to a storage lock-up in Huntingdon at 9.08am then drove his white Peugeot car to the mens addresses. He met his daughter and her partner at McDonalds in St Ives, Mr Gair said, making further visits to both mens properties in the evening. He was outside Gary Dunmores home in Sutton when he returned in his work van at 7.34pm and outside Joshua Dunmores home in Bluntisham at around 9pm when his girlfriend left, Mr Gair said. Police said Joshua Dunmore was shot at 9.09pm and Gary Dunmore was shot 31 minutes later. Mr Gair said it was likely Alderton knocked on Joshua Dunmores door and shot him twice at close range when he opened it, in the left chest and the right side of his head. He said this would have been rapidly fatal. A neighbour saw the defendant walking from Joshuas house to his white car carrying a shotgun, said Mr Gair. The defendant placed it on his back seat before driving off. He said Gary Dunmore was also shot at close range and there were four shots. The defendant had to reload as two shots can be fired from the shotgun, he said. Mr Gair said ballistics experts say three shots struck Gary Dunmore and one missed and stuck in the staircase. He said it is thought the first two shots included the one that missed, with Mr Dunmore hit in the chest, and then in the top of his head and left hip. More than 20 family members packed into the courtroom, with some weeping as details were read, with more listening remotely from a separate room within the court building. Mr Gair said Alderton was rapidly identified as a suspect due to the family court case and sightings of the white Peugeot. His motorhome was picked up by police using ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) cameras. He was stopped by armed police from the West Mercia force on the M5 near Worcester at about 1.30am on March 30, police said. Mr Gair said Alderton was the sole occupant of the vehicle and he volunteered that the shotgun was in the motorhome which it was. Earlier in the hearing, Judge Mark Bishop told family of the deceased: I dont want any hard staring of the defendant by the family members. He added: Were going to deal with this in a calm way. In a victim impact statement read to the court, Gary Dunmores mother Jane Phillips said: Both were killed in the most vicious, cowardly way with no opportunity for self-defence. Mandy Seamark, mother of Joshua Dunmore, said in a statement read by Mr Gair that words cannot describe the devastation of the defendants actions. Adrian Langdale KC, mitigating for Alderton, said the defendant wrote in a letter to the court that nothing can change the events of that night. He said Alderton, who worked for 25 years as a chartered quantity surveyor and had no previous convictions, had pleaded guilty to murder, describing this as a rare thing. He said the defendant was realistic enough to know he will never be released from prison. Aldertons letter also said: If I could turn back time I would. I regret there are not enough words of remorse I can offer to the families affected by this crime. Mr Langdale said the defendant regarded the order from the family court as the straw that broke the camels back and he had tried hard to control his anger. In a letter, the defendant wrote: Im not the person that this conflict and the family courts have driven me to become. Ive never been a violent person, I do not have a criminal record. Ive been a respectable, law-abiding citizen all my life. What happened to me on March 29 I do not know. Mr Langdale said Aldertons grandson has been placed in care and thats a further burden upon the defendant. The judge said he would wanted time to reflect fully on what he had heard and would pass sentence on Monday at Cambridge Crown Court. 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 }} Murder detectives are asking for the publics help in solving a cold case after the corpse of a man was discovered in a derelict pub freezer nearly ten years after he vanished. Roy Bigg, who could only be identified through dental records, was around 70 when he disappeared in February 2012, police believe. His body was found wrapped in cling film at about 3pm on October 15 2021 after enforcement officers evicted around 30 squatters who had been living alongside the corpse hidden in the rubbish-strewn basement of Simpsons Wine Bar in Newham, London. Now Scotland Yard is offering the public a reward of up to 20,000 for intelligence leading to the arrest, charge and prosecution of those responsible for the murder. Roy Bigg (Met Police) Workers were clearing out the building, which was full of rubbish and contained around 30 bicycles, when they tried to shift a large freezer in the basement, John Ingram, from Ingram Associates told The Independent at the time. After struggling to move it, they opened the freezer up to find a body inside wrapped in cling film, he said. Our guys were there clearing the place, and they went down into the basement and saw an old freezer down there, he added. It was a bit too heavy to move and they looked inside to see what was there, and of course there was a body there. Its like something out of a horror movie. The body was in a freezer in the basement and was wrapped in cling film. Needless to say, we were all completely shocked. The abandoned Simpsons Wine Bar (Independent) Neighbours had reported around 20-30 squatters living in the boarded-up wine bar not knowing of the corpse lying undisturbed years in the white chest freezer. In the time between the squatters being evicted and the body being discovered, someone broke in through the buildings skylight and moved furniture around as if searching for something, Mr Ingram said. A post-mortem examination found the cause of his death to be inconclusive, the Met said. DCI Kelly Allen, of the Mets Specialist Crime Command, said: Its now been more than two years since Roy was found. Although our investigation, and previous media appeals have provided us with information about Roys life, we still need your help to identify who is responsible. Roy went missing in February 2012. We believe that his body may have been in the freezer for a number of years, and that he was aged about 70 when he died. Where was he between 2012 and 2021? To date there have been no confirmed sightings of him in this nine year period. Can you help? Anything you can tell us may prove invaluable in helping us discover what happened. Anyone who knew Roy Bigg should call the Incident Room on 020 8345 1570, call 101 or post on X @MetCC quoting reference CAD 4332/15Oct21. To remain 100% anonymous call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} An annual cap on the number of refugees accepted in the UK will launch in January 2025, the Home Office has announced. Local authorities are being invited to set out their capacity to accommodate people coming to Britain via safe and legal routes in order to determine the limit, the department said. Plans for a cap were introduced in the Governments flagship Illegal Migration Bill, which became law earlier this year, but until Friday a date for its launch had not been fixed. In response, the Local Government Association (LGA) said it had raised concerns with officials about being asked to commit to numbers of arrivals or propose a cap. As part of the Illegal Migration Act to stop the boats, we will bring in a cap on our safe and legal routes informed by the capacity of local authorities Immigration minister Robert Jenrick It stressed there was a need to recognise cumulative pressures on local services and ensure councils are adequately funded. Campaigners accused ministers of passing the buck to underfunded councils to justify the plan. The limit, for which the Government will look to get Parliaments stamp of approval before bringing into force in January 2025, would be subject to change each year. It would not include the Ukraine visa schemes, Afghan relocation and assistance policy, Hong Kong British national (overseas) route or mandate scheme. In a press release, the Home Office said: Local authorities will be consulted on plans to determine an annual cap on the number of refugees resettled in the UK each year with a view to the UK taking only as many refugees as local communities can support. Immigration minister Robert Jenrick said: The unacceptable number of people making illegal, dangerous and wholly unnecessary small boat crossings is placing an immense strain on housing and services across the UK. As part of the Illegal Migration Act to stop the boats, we will bring in a cap on our safe and legal routes informed by the capacity of local authorities. This will ensure that we do not take more refugees than our public services and communities can cope with and that the refugees we do decide to take can be properly supported and integrated. There currently arent enough safe routes for men, women and children facing persecution, violence and terror to reach our shores Enver Solomon, Refugee Council chief executive Councillor Shaun Davies, chairman of the LGA, said: Councils work hard to protect and support refugees and help deliver a wide range of government asylum and resettlement schemes, so it is right that local government is engaged in planning for future resettlement to the UK. However, we have raised concerns about councils being asked to commit to numbers of arrivals or propose a cap. It might be difficult for councils to predict potential arrival numbers across both asylum and resettlement and therefore their capacity to support new arrivals and the additional housing needed. Their local communities may also have differing views on and capacity to support new resettlement routes. It comes as combined pressures from current asylum and resettlement schemes are already growing on councils. We want to work with Government on a new joined-up approach across programmes that takes into account those pressures, grounded in advance notice to councils of any decisions that will impact on their local communities. Steve Smith, chief executive of refugee charity Care4Calais, said: Passing the buck to underfunded councils to justify limiting safe futures is a dereliction of leadership. If the Government was serious about putting people smugglers out of business, stopping small boat crossings and saving lives, they would immediately get on with introducing a safe passage visa for refugees fleeing war, torture and modern slavery to claim asylum in the UK. Tim Naor Hilton, chief executive of Refugee Action, called for the cap to be abandoned. The Government must not think about caps but a target to resettle at least 30,000 refugees a year as part of a standardised global scheme that can expand to respond quickly to emerging crises, such as in Afghanistan and Ukraine, 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 }} Antisemitic offences in London have increased by over 1,000% this month compared to last year, police have said. And since the Hamas attack on Israel, Tell Mama (Measuring Anti-Muslim Attacks) has recorded a six-fold increase in reports compared to the same period last year. The Metropolitan Police said there had been a significant increase in hate crime across London and that officers had made 21 arrests for hate crime offences, amid the Israel-Hamas war. These arrests included a man detained on suspicion of defacing posters of missing Israelis in Camden and another man in relation to 10 incidents of Islamophobic graffiti on bus stops in New Malden and Raynes Park. Met Police"> The Metropolitan Police said there had been 218 antisemitic offences between October 1 and 18, compared to 15 in the same period last year an increase of 1,353%. They added that Islamophobia offences during the same period had increased from 42 last year, to 101 this year an increase of 140%. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said police would not stand by if hate crimes took place and promised that officers would intervene swiftly. Mr Adelekan said that over 1,000 officers would be deployed to police a pro-Palestinian demonstration in London on Saturday, adding that speeches would take place on a stage away from the Cenotaph after concerns last week about its location. He added that police had been deployed to 445 schools and 1,930 places of worship to provide reassurance. Commander Dominic Murphy, from the Mets Counter Terrorism Command, said that police remained conscious that events overseas could inspire events in the UK. Meanwhile, a charity which aims to protect British Jews from antisemitism and related threats said it has recorded at least 533 incidents across the UK since the Hamas attacks on Israel. The Community Security Trust (CST) said this is the highest ever total reported across a 14-day period. The number, covering October 7-20 inclusive, is provisional and is likely to rise as delayed reports come through and incidents are verified, the charity added. The CST said it had recorded 71 antisemitic incidents over the same 14 days in 2022, meaning the number is more than seven times higher for the same period this year. A Tell Mama spokesman said that between October 7 and October 19, it had received 291 reports of anti-Muslim hate including a two-fold increase in London alone. The spokesman said: Consistent with our previous bulletins, we continue to see how racist, dehumanising and threatening behaviours target Arab, Palestinian and Muslim communities offline and online. Alarmingly, weve had further cases of death threats made, including towards visible Muslim women and staff at a Palestinian restaurant. Tell Mama is in contact with the owner and will continue to provide them with assistance. We will also be liaising further with the Met Police. 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 dedicated helpline has received more than 150 calls from worried Jewish students since it was set up a day after the Hamas attacks in Israel, a union said. The Union of Jewish Students (UJS) said calls ranged from reports of antisemitic incidents on campus to people voicing concerns and anxieties about the situation. Reports included those of verbal abuse, intimidation of students, offensive posters, Jewish students accommodation being targeted and even death threats, the union said. It said that since creating the student welfare hotline on October 8, there had been over 150 calls from Jewish students up to Friday, adding that the figure is rising daily. Since Hamass murderous incursion into Israel, Jewish students have experienced an unprecedented rise in antisemitism on campuses across the UK and Ireland Edward Isaacs, UJS president The union said it had also heard of academics and students union officers celebrating, condoning and supporting the terrorist actions of Hamas as a form of liberation or resistance, while Jewish Society WhatsApp groups have also been infiltrated and subsequently bombarded with offensive messages. UJS president Edward Isaacs said: Since Hamass murderous incursion into Israel, Jewish students have experienced an unprecedented rise in antisemitism on campuses across the UK and Ireland. UJS will always lead, defend and enrich Jewish life on campus, ensuring that all Jewish students can live meaningful Jewish lives on campus. Last week, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan and universities minister Robert Halfon wrote to vice-chancellors to demand that they act quickly against any threats to Jewish students safety and welfare. Universities UK (UUK), which is the collective voice of 142 universities across the UK, said any student or staff member found to be supporting Hamas, which is a proscribed terrorist organisation, will be in breach of UK law and universities treat this with the utmost seriousness. UUK also urged any students facing antisemitism or harassment or discrimination of any kind to inform their university and seek support. 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 }} Dame Helen Mirren has paid tribute to actress Haydn Gwynne following her death aged 66 after a recent cancer diagnosis. The star of stage and screen, best known for starring in Drop The Dead Donkey and The Windsors, was due to return to the West End but withdrew last month due to personal circumstances. An agent confirmed Gwynne had died in hospital in the early hours of Friday surrounded by her beloved sons, close family and friends, adding: We would like to thank the staff and teams at the Royal Marsden and Brompton Hospitals for their wonderful care over the last few weeks. In a statement to the PA news agency, Dame Helen described the actress as a delight as a person and a consummate dedicated actress. The 78-year-old added: I had the huge pleasure of sharing the stage with her, in the play The Audience where, much like the original characters (Queen Elizabeth II and Margaret Thatcher) we danced a delicate dance together. She was both funny and serious at the same time, a brilliant balancing act that her whole career exemplified. We will miss her very much. Gwynne had long wanted to be an actress but spent her early adult life in Rome teaching English. Although she was worried about how her parents might react, at the age of 25 she returned home to pursue her dream. She made her name in 1990 when she starred as icy Alex Pates in the comedy Drop The Dead Donkey, which earned her a Bafta TV nomination in 1992. Her role as Dr Joanna Graham in Peak Practice also propelled her to fame. The actress also had a successful career on stage and received two Olivier Award nominations for her performance in West End productions of City Of Angels and Billy Elliot The Musical. She reprised her role as Billy Elliots dance teacher Mrs Wilkinson in a Broadway version of the musical, and was Tony nominated for her performance. She secured two further Olivier nominations for her roles in The Threepenny Opera and Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown. The actress also took on the role of Thatcher for Peter Morgans play The Audience. Later in her career, Gwynne featured in a number of other royal series including playing Queen Consort Camilla in royal satire sitcom The Windsors from 2016 and later portraying former royal aide Lady Susan Hussey, who resigned from the royal household following a racism row, in the fifth series of The Crown. She had been due to appear in Cameron Mackintoshs latest musical production, titled Stephen Sondheims Old Friends, at the Gielgud Theatre when the show opened in September but she had to withdraw beforehand due to sudden personal circumstances. At the time, Mackintosh recalled that she had become an integral part of the very close-knit company after giving an unforgettable performance of the song Ladies Who Lunch during an Old Friends gala premiere in May 2022, adding: Haydn will be very much missed. 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 }} Afghans eligible for sanctuary in Britain but trapped in Pakistan and Iran will be scrambled to the UK as soon as possible after diplomats warned they could not be kept safe. In a U-turn of government policy, ministers have pledged that all Afghans eligible for the UKs resettlement schemes will no longer have to wait for accommodation to be confirmed before coming to Britain. The Independent first revealed in April this year that Afghans promised safety in Britain after serving alongside coalition forces in Kabul were in limbo in Pakistan hotels after the UK stopped chartering flights and demanded refugees find their own housing in the UK before travelling. Nearly 3,000 are currently in Islamabad, having been stranded there for months. Hundreds are also trapped in Iran waiting for relocation to the UK. Rishi Sunaks government has now been forced to change tack after Pakistan authorities issued an ultimatum, warning that undocumented Afghans must leave the country by 1 November or risk deportation. Mr Sunak along with the home secretary, defence secretary and foreign secretary was facing multiple legal challenges from Afghans stuck in Pakistan and Iran over the governments failure to relocate them, despite them being promised safe haven in the UK. The government had also been explicitly warned by UK diplomats that the Afghan refugees in both countries could not be protected from arrests and deportation, it emerged today. US marines during the Kabul evacuation in Afghanistan in August 2021 (AP) The cases of two Afghan claimants stuck in Pakistan and awaiting relocation were heard at the High Court on Friday. Referring to the Ministry of Defence and Home Offices Afghan resettlement schemes, Lisa Giovannetti KC, on behalf of the government, said: Ministers have agreed a change to government policy. To allow Arap cases and ACRS, those eligible under those schemes to be resettled to the UK without a prior requirement for settled accommodation. She said the government would continue the resettlement of Afghans on the Ministry of Defences scheme into suitable accommodation as a primary option as quickly as possible, adding: But if transitional accommodation is required, this will be provided, including hotel accommodation if necessary. Pakistan announced a crackdown on the 1.7 million Afghan asylum seekers in the country without legal documents, saying they have just days to leave the country. The UK government is trying to transfer eligible Afghans as quickly as possible but has not set out a strict timetable, saying negotiations are ongoing with the Pakistani authorities. The Independent revealed that police raided one of the UK-funded hotels in Islamabad last month and arrested a number of Afghans whose visas had run out. They were only released after an intervention by the British High Commission (BHC). Those on the MoDs scheme have been matched with armed forces homes in the UK since the beginning of October. Ms Giovannetti explained that the government would try to move everyone to the UK as soon as possible but that the Foreign Office was negotiating with Pakistans government to speed this up. There has so far been a limit on the number of Afghans who can fly on commercial flights and notice needs to be given for RAF charter flights, she told the court. Some Afghan families also do not have the right documentation to get exit visas, which could delay their transfer. It comes after risk assessments from the BHC in Islamabad, which the government tried to keep secret, were revealed after an appeal by The Independent and the Press Association. They show that, while BHC staff are engaging intensively with the Pakistani authorities at senior level to ensure that the Afghans on UK resettlement scheme are not affected by the impending crackdown, they will be unable to ensure that all of the families are protected after the 1 November deadline. Referring to the possibility of arrest, the document reads: It is very difficult to judge we would be successful in every case if it were to happen frequently beyond 1 November and we were not informed, or the eligible person didnt have the documents with them. It noted that it would be a challenge for the Pakistan government to process the number of people who need to leave, and warned: For practical and logistical reasons a number of foreign missions are likely to find it challenging to complete relocations processes by the end of this year. BHC staff also warned of an increase in tensions between different communities in Pakistan after 1 November. Diplomats at the British embassy in Tehran told the government in a separate risk assessment that the overall situation for Afghan refugees in Iran has taken a significant downturn since September 2023, coinciding with the Pakistani announcement on illegal migrants. They continued: Anti-Afghan sentiment has increased markedly nationwide, and the clamour to expel Afghans has brought a surge in arrests by undercover police, and raids on houses of Afghan migrants possibly as a deterrent to curb the flow of new arrivals. Because of this, the risk of deportation for some of our cases might well have increased along with this trend. They noted that official sources indicated that 224,000 Afghans were deported between March and August 2023, an approximate 15 per cent increase compared with 2022. Daniel Carey, a partner at law firm Deighton Pierce Glynn, who brought the first case against the government, said: I am very pleased for my clients and the thousands of others in their position that the government has lifted the block on relocations to the UK. It has taken a huge amount of pressure over many months from the press; from organisations; and through the courts to force this change in government policy. 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 five-year-old boy whose cancer has relapsed for a fourth time has just begun a treatment that his family say is his last hope for survival as his mother pleads for help funding his treatment in the US. Dillan Ramsey-Aksehir was one year old when he was first diagnosed with leukaemia during the first coronavirus lockdown in May 2020. His mother Amy Ramsey, 37, first took Dillan to the doctors because he was suffering from a sore leg that doctors thought was a fracture. She told The Independent of her devastation and disbelief upon being told by doctors of her firstborns diagnosis. I thought I would be sent home from A&E with antibiotics you never think someone is going to tell you something like that. It wasnt even real what they were saying how is that even possible when hes such a healthy, active little boy? Amy Ramsey, 37, told The Independent of her devastation and disbelief upon being told by doctors of her firstborns diagnosis (Amy Ramsey) She described her son as boisterous and funny, telling of his love of dinosaurs and cars. Hes a character, she said. He is the most precious, kind, amazing little boy. In this child cancer bubble that I live in, Dillan is the only one left out of all his friends, so right now, its very nerve-racking. The family, from London, were told Dillan had a good prognosis, and after two gruelling years of chemotherapy, they thought the cancer was in remission (Amy Ramsey) The family, from London, were told Dillan had a good prognosis, and after two gruelling years of chemotherapy, doctors believed the cancer may be in remission and the family were told he could stop his treatment back in August 2022. But, after doctors studied X-rays, they were told the following morning that Dillan had actually relapsed. A relentless treatment regimen followed over the Christmas period, which involved Dillan being put on general anesthetics twice a day while he endured eight doses of full body radiation, as well as undergoing a bone marrow transplant. However, Dillan relapsed again in March and had CAR T-cell therapy two months later. Amy said his family were told by doctors that, if he relapsed again, Dillans only other option in the UK would be palliative care. A doctor told Ms Ramsey about an experimental trial opening in October in Washington DC, so the entire family flew out in September (Amy Ramsey) The five-year-old did relapse again, two weeks before he was due to start his first week at school. Ms Ramsey said Great Ormond Street Hospital told her: Theres nothing else we can do, theres now no cure for him in this country. But a doctor did tell her about an experimental trial opening in October in Washington DC, so the entire family Dillan, Ms Ramsey, her husband Oguz Aksehir, 35, and their two daughters Aiyla, 3, and Leyla, four months flew out in September. Ms Ramsey said the family are set to stay in Washington DC for a month, as only then will they know if Dillans treatment has worked (Amy Ramsey) After Dillan was found to be eligible for the new type of CAR T-cell therapy, which is currently only licensed in the US, he began treatment on Thursday. After an initial reaction that sent his blood pressure and temperature dangerously low, Dillans observations stabilised by nighttime. Ms Ramsey said the family are set to stay in Washington DC for a month, as only then will they know if the treatment has worked, with her and Mr Aksehir alternating weeks in hospital with Dillan. If the treatment has been successful, it acts as a bridge before they fly back to London, where Dillan will be given a second bone marrow transplant at Great Ormond Street Hospital, which is his best chance at a cure. The five-year-old relapsed again, two weeks before he was due to start his first week at school (Amy Ramsey) However, thats it, said Ms Ramsey. His body wouldnt be able to handle another transplant. While the family is holding out hope for this final chance at saving Dillan, the bills are racking up, and Ms Ramsey is at a loss as to how they will afford his medical care, which is private in the US, as well as their living costs while abroad. Ms Ramsey described her son as boisterous and funny, telling of his love of dinosaurs and cars (Amy Ramsey) Her latest fundraising drive, launched via a GoFundMe page, has already hit half a million pounds. She said it would offer the family a break and peace of mind while were going through this, as they face another Christmas period spent in hospital. I have been a cancer mum longer than Ive been not a cancer mum, Ms Ramsey said. As well as Dillan not knowing any different, neither do I. The family is holding out hope for this final chance at saving Dillan (Amy Ramsey) Im just trying to make life as fun and normal as possible for the kids as long as theyre happy, Im happy. The transplant last year was rough you just panic constantly every day. But Dillan is laughing and joking all the time when in hospital. I would panic a lot more if Dillan wasnt the strong and happy person that he is. 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 }} An otherworldly pink glow lighting up the sky in Kent left people mystified this week, with some saying it looked like the end of the world. In a scene straight out of a sci-fi movie, confused Thanet locals were left guessing what could have caused the strange illumination. The glowing light appeared just before sunrise on Thursday, with several people taking to social media to share photos online. Dale West, a Thanet resident, told The Independent: At first It looked like otherworldly, the way the pink light was mixing with the morning mist and cloud cover. When I got nearer it was as if someone was having a massive UV rave in the buildings it was coming from. It isnt normally noticeable but when the cloud cover and fog comes into play it makes it 100 times more obvious, he added. (Dale West/Facebook ) Sharing the images online, one resident joked: "Thought it was the end of the world, was looking for the four horsemen." Another added: "It's just Zuul from Ghostbusters." Identical pink glowing lights have been reported across the country in recent weeks. East Yorkshire locals also took to social media to describe the mystery glow as a sign of extraterrestrial aliens and UFOs. (Steve Barnes/Facebook ) The reality of the light, however, has a much more reasonable explanation. Thanet Earth, a large industrial factory located in Birchington, Thanet is responsible for the artificial pink light - which is used to grow 400 million tomatoes. According to their website: Britains leading glasshouse complex sits proudly within the landscape of East Kent. These enormous glasshouses are estimated to produce around 400 million tomatoes, 30 million cucumbers and 24 million peppers each year. Innovation, environmental concern and a focus on quality combine with cutting-edge technology, international expertise and the best growing conditions in the UK to produce unrivalled taste on a commercial scale. The huge complex is in an ideal location in the south east of England due to its longer daylight hours, which help the growing plants. However, because plants require light in the dark British winters, artificial substitutes are used at this time of year. A spokesperson from Thanet Earth explained: As a responsible local business, we constantly monitor the way our business effects the community around us and during certain weather conditions there will inevitably be some light that reflects, particularly when there is low dense cloud cover over the Thanet area. We mitigate this light reflection as much as possible by deploying blinds in our glasshouses once the lights are switched on. We continually assess our operations and their impact on the community and the pink LED lights we use here at Thanet Earth have much lower emission levels compared to other types of growing lights. A sigh of relief for Thanet residents who fortunately havent been invaded by aliens. 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 }} Britains 12th oldest man has turned 107 and revealed the secret to his long life. Leonard Howes, born in 1916, served in World War 2 and has seen five different monarchs during his lifetime. Mr Howes has now received four cards from Buckingham Palace - one for his 100th, 105th birthday and every year after. Leonard, the oldest person from his home city of Bristol, honoured his 107th birthday with all his family by his side. Carol Howes, his daughter-in-law, said: He puts his long life down to eating Shredded Wheat with full fat milk and plenty of sugar for as long as he can remember. Leonard Howes and his Shredded Wheat (Carol Howes / SWNS) Bristol City fan Len, as he is affectionately known by his family, left school aged 14 to train as a plumber. In 1937 he got a job with Post Office Telephones, where he would work for the next 44 years and retired in 1981 aged 65 - just after it became known as British Telecom. Len served in World War Two in the Royal Corp of Signals as an electrical engineer. He was based at a military station in Wiltshire, Box Hill, during the Blitz and repaired bomb damage to telephone cables. Mr Howes also worked intercepting possible enemy communication and electrical signals at the Forest Moor Y station, a Royal Navy land base in Harrogate. (Carol Howes / SWNS) On VE day in 1945, Leonard marched proudly through the town applauded by cheering crowds. Although Len is now 107, both his parents both died in 1945 and 46. Leonard Howes with wife Alice in younger years (Courtesy of Carol Howes / SWNS) His wife Alice passed away in December 2000, aged 81. The pair were married for 60 years. He has now lived in Newquay in Cornwall with David, his only child and his daughter-in-law Carol for 10 years. Len Howes in Majorca 1972 (Courtesy of Carol Howes / SWNS) Carol added: Len had a lovely time celebrating with the rest of the family including his grandson Nick, granddaughter, Jenny and great grandsons, Ollie and Jacob. We always think of a theme for his birthday cake and this year it was a cake with fish and chips and mushy peas made from icing, his favourite meal, so it was fish and chips all round on Saturday. Carol says Len, despite being near-deaf, is still active in keeping up-to-date with current affairs and training his brain. Leo Howes, born on 14th October 1916 in Bristol (Carol Howes / SWNS) She added: At 95 we gave him an iPad which he uses every day to follow the news and help him solve crosswords! He also uses Find Friends to the follow the family on their journeys when visiting from Bristol and Swindon. Just lately he has become a bit forgetful and a bit unsteady on his legs and uses a walking frame to get around, but for his age he is doing extremely well. He turned 107 on October 14. 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 }} Storm Babet is wreaking havoc in the north of the UK, with two people dead, hundreds of homes flooded or evacuated and another day of torrential rain to come. A rare red weather warning was extended for parts of Scotland as amber and yellow warnings are in place for the rest of the UK with heavy downpours set to move south on Friday and into the weekend. The extreme weather caused flooding in some areas of eastern Scotland and led to the evacuation of hundreds of homes, while the Irish army was deployed to parts of Cork, Ireland. Have you been affected by Storm Babet? Email alexander.butler@independent.co.uk A boy sits on a rescue boat in Brechin, Scotland, which was flooded as torrential rain battered the town overnight (PA) Waves crash against Seaham Lighthouse in County Durham during Storm Babet (REUTERS) A 56-year-old was killed near Forfar in Angus, Scotland, after a falling tree hit a van, Police Scotland said. A 57-year-old woman was also swept into a river and found dead in Scotland. The Met Office red weather warning began at 6pm on Thursday and has been expanded to include Dundee, Perth and Kinross, as well as Angus and Aberdeenshire, where 20ft high waves were seen crashing in Stonehaven harbour. Amber warnings for wind and rain have been issued for parts of northern England, the Midlands and northern Wales from noon on Friday to 6am on Saturday. A woman wades through floodwater while clutching her belongings after Storm Babet battered Brechin, Scotland (PA) A woman looks out at flood water outside her home in Brechin, Scotland, after Storm Babet battered the town overnight (PA) Around 10,000 homes in Scotland lost power due to the storm and Angus Council evacuated more than 400 homes in the red weather warning area. The council said yesterday: We have identified approximately 335 homes in Brechin, and an additional 87 homes in Tannadice and Finavon where residents will be asked to evacuate for their own safety. Those affected were advised to attend three rest centres that were set up in the area. Members of a rescue team wade through the flood waters in Brechin after hundreds of homes were evacuated (Getty Images) A man walks through sea foam in Seaburn, Sunderland, as Storm Babet batters the country (PA) The British Geological Survey warned Storm Babet could cause landslides in Scotland while the Scottish Environment Protection Agency said it was expecting extensive river and surface water flooding In one video taken in Cork, a red car couuld be seen tipped on its side as it had fallen into part of a collapsed road, with water rushing through underneath into a field. Trains, planes and ferries were also affected by the storm. ScotRail cancelled six services across Scotland until Saturday. A boat sinks inside the harbour in Stonehaven on the east coast of Scotland (AFP via Getty Images) A person looks from a window at a submerged car in flood water in Brechin, Scotland (PA) Ferry links between Aberdeen, Orkney and Shetland were also cancelled, as well as Pentland Firth crossings from Scrabster to Stromness. Caledonian MacBrayne suspended or diverted a number of Western Isles services because of forecast strong winds and sea swell. The Ullapool-Stornoway crossing, the main link to Lewis and Harris, was cancelled all day on Thursday. The crossing from Lochboisdale in South Uist to Mallaig was diverted to Oban. Floodwater in Cork, Ireland, where army and civil defence units have been deployed to help support evacuation measures (PA) Flights were also affected, with Wideroe cancelling its round-trip from Stavanger to Aberdeen. The chief meteorologist for the Met Office, Jason Kelly, said yesterday: 100150mm of rain is expected to fall quite widely within the warning period, with some locations likely to see 200250mm, which is expected to cause considerable impacts with flooding likely. Storm Babet will track gradually northwards in the coming days, and although the most significant impacts are expected within the red and amber warning areas, there will still be wider impacts for much of the UK from this wind and rain. 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 has died after flooding caused by Storm Babet saw hundreds of homes evacuated, while thousands were hit by power cuts across Scotland. First Minister Humza Yousaf led tributes to the 57-year-old woman who was swept away at the Water of Lee, Glen Esk, just before 2pm on Thursday. Efforts were made to convince residents of Brechin, Angus, to evacuate 400 homes, with the coastguard and fire crews going door-to-door after some people refused to leave. Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) issued a warning that river levels could reach an unprecedented five metres above normal levels, and severe flood warnings were expanded for the River Esk, including into Aberdeenshire. Sepa added the villages of Logie Mill and Craigo to places at risk of severe flooding in Angus, as well as Brechin and nearby Finavon and Tannadice, while the village of Marykirk, Aberdeenshire, was put on high alert. Angus experienced the highest rainfall in the UK on Thursday, according to data from Sepa. The Met Office revealed that Waterside Perth in East Grampian recorded 123.6mm over the previous 24 hours, followed by Invermark which had 107mm. More than 20,000 homes in Scotland lost power, according to Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN), predominantly in Aberdeenshire and Angus. By 9pm, SSEN said it had restored services to almost 18,500 homes. Following the news of the womans death, Mr Yousaf wrote on X, formerly Twitter: Such sad news. My thoughts are with the family, friends and loved ones of the woman who has sadly lost her life. Aberdeenshire Council warned residents to be ready to leave imminently and more than doubled the number of rest centres to five, from two earlier in the day. The Met Office red weather warning began at 6pm and was expanded to include Dundee, Perth and Kinross, as well as Angus and Aberdeenshire, where 20ft waves were seen crashing in Stonehaven harbour. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: Around 1.45pm on Thursday, officers attended a report of a person having been swept into the Water of Lee, Glen Esk. Around 4pm, the body of a 57-year-old woman was recovered from the river. There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal. Schools were closed in Angus, while funerals were cancelled in Aberdeenshire. Deputy First Minister Shona Robison said authorities expected to launch a major clean-up operation as we move into the weekend. Paddleboarding instructor David Jacobs, 56, said he saw waves around 20ft high in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, and expects it to be worse on Friday. Mr Jacobs said: The waves were about 20ft, or seven metres. The last time I have seen weather like this was 2014, it is quite spectacular to watch but bits of trees and rocks land onto the road. It worries me for other people. Aberdeenshire Council issued instructions to residents who may have to evacuate. It said: If the police, council or other emergency services, ask you to leave your home turn off the electricity and water supply at the main switch and take your grab bag with you. If you have to evacuate your home, it will make things a lot easier if you have prepared a Grab Bag in advance containing a packing list to follow should you need to use it. A spokesman for Angus Council said: As ever, we will be targeting our energies and resources on the areas of greatest need, focusing on preserving life and ensuring the safety of our citizens. Pascal Lardet, Sepa flood duty manager, said: There is exceptional rainfall forecast for parts of Scotland over the next 24 hours, and this will lead to significant flooding from both surface water and rivers. 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 }} Roads and bridges collapsed as Storm Babet hit Scotland amid fears a tiny village could be completely cut off for a second time, as First Minister Humza Yousaf warned we have not seen the last of this. A 200-year-old bridge on the Rottal Estate in Angus was washed away by torrential flood water, while a road connecting Marykirk, Angus, where some houses were evacuated also collapsed. The village of Edzell, Angus, was cut off by flood water from three rivers which surround it, but most of the surface water drained away, leaving residents fearful of more rain forecast overnight. As of 9pm, SSEN has restored power to 32,000 customers, with work ongoing to reconnect 2,800 properties. First Minister Humza Yousaf paid tribute to two people who died in tragic circumstances and warned the public to be aware, while police warned the situation was the worst ever seen in some regions. Grandmother-of-three Christine Haggerty has lived in Edzell since 1985 and had never seen flooding so severe. She said the village was usually a magnet for canoeists and tourists keen on fishing, but had been well prepared with efforts from a flood group and Angus Council which cleared leaves and drains in advance. Mrs Haggerty said: It looks like it will happen again but worse, it is really worrying. They said we were cut off, but when the rain had stopped the flooding disappeared quite quickly. We have got these burns round about, if they were all breached you couldnt get in or out. They said we were cut off this morning, because of the amount of water that had been falling. We are at the foot of a glen, there is a little stream which is practically bursting, and there is the North Esk. The rivers are taking the magnitude of it at the moment. Dr Fiona Work, 58, set up the Edzell flood group in 2013, after she spent ten months in temporary accommodation due to floods, which caused 1million damage to the village. The mother-of-one, who works as a teaching excellence fellow at Robert Gordon University, said the village becomes inaccessible to emergency services during flooding, and the community pulled together to plan preventative measures Dr Work said: We are as prepared as we can be. Most of us will be very vigilante overnight. We are really fortunate to have a very proactive community. We set up the flood group in 2013 after 1million damage was caused by flooding. I flooded in 2012 and spent ten months in temporary accommodation. I would imagine its correct that Edzell was only accessible by helicopter, there was a helipad at a hotel at one point. Cars werent able to get in or out of Edzell for a certain period of time during these floods. Theres no access for emergency services, thats why we work so closely with the Scottish Flood Forum, Angus Council, Sepa and the Met Office. Dee Ward, 58, estate manager for the Rottal Estate said: I think this is the new pattern, I dont think we will go back to normal. The frightening thing is how much water is coming down in a short space of time. I wasnt surprised the bridge got washed away. Big posts had been ripped out further up the hill. That bridge had been there 200 years, we had replaced the wood once. Mother-of-one Zena Cowie, 28, said a road had collapsed which connected Marykirk with the dual carriageway to Montrose, Angus. Ms Cowie, who works as a scientist, said it was possible to reach a nearby village, but other roads had been cut off including to Brechin, Angus, where 400 homes were evacuated. She said the river had receded and power was reconnected after being down for 12 hours from 10.30pm on Thursday. Ms Cowie said: The road at the start of the bridge that crosses the river has collapsed. Marykirk is the main way to the dual carriageway to get to the dual carriageway, to go into Montrose. The other way is to go into Brechin which is also flooded. You can get to the next village. Aberdeenshire Council warned of considerable risk of flooding on the River Don. A spokesperson said: Latest modelling from Sepa is indicating that there is now a considerable risk of flooding on the River Don at Inverurie, Kemnay and Kintore tomorrow (Sat) between 10am and 2pm. First Minister Humza Yousaf said: Storm Babet has now, tragically, claimed lives, and my deepest condolences go out to the families of those who have lost loved ones. Unfortunately, it is clear we have not seen the last of this storm. Around half the average monthly rainfall for October is expected to fall through tonight and tomorrow in areas that have already been severely affected by exceptional levels of rainfall. It was always expected that the impacts of the storm would continue even once the most severe aspects of the storm itself had subsided, but a new Red Weather alert makes the ongoing severity of this situation clear. Assistant Chief Constable of Police Scotland Stuart Houston said: With the red warning being extended until midnight Saturday, this remains a dangerous situation which poses a threat to life. Communities in Tayside are dealing with some of the most difficult conditions they have faced, with evacuations continuing of those affected by flooding. We are dealing with significant flooding issues, which pose a threat to life. Pascal Lardet, Sepa flood duty manager, said: These are very difficult days for communities in Scotland who are experiencing flooding, in some cases for the second time in a month. There is more rain to come, and Sepa staff are working around the clock to provide vital information to partners and the public. 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 Israel-Hamas conflict and Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks trip to the Middle East feature heavily on the front pages of Fridays newspapers Mr Sunak urged the crown prince of Saudi Arabia to do your bit to ease Israel crisis as he continues his trip in the Middle East, according to The Times. The Independent reports on Mr Sunaks message to Israel, saying we back your right to go after Hamas. The Daily Telegraph runs with the headline Get ready to see Gaza from the inside as Israel prepares for a ground invasion. The i and the Financial Times say there are fears the war will spread as the US and UK tell citizens to leave Lebanon. The Daily Express makes a plea to save the children as aid charities demand an immediate ceasefire. But The Guardian relays fears the relief convoy from Gaza may be too little, too late. The Daily Mail focuses on the dramatic address by Israels defence minister, who told his soldiers to annihilate Hamas. Elsewhere, the Daily Mirror calls the Prime Minister reckless and callous as families of Covid victims blasted him, after his own adviser labelled him Dr Death. Late television legend Paul OGradys featurs on the front of The Sun with his husband Andre Portasio saying the star died happy, smoking a spliff. https://twitter.com/TheSun/status/1715126521948438834/photo/1 And the Daily Star says police arrested a man who stood in a shop window for hours and pretended to be a mannequin ahead of a theft. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Sir Keir Starmer denied he ever backed Israel withholding humanitarian aid from Gaza as he sought to clarify his remarks about the siege after sparking concern. The Labour leader said that food, fuel, water and medicines must urgently be allowed to pass into the territory as he acknowledged his earlier remarks caused distress. A number of his councillors have resigned over what they perceived as horrifying comments that he was endorsing a war crime. In an interview with LBC in the wake of Hamas launching a murderous assault on Israeli civilians, Sir Keir had appeared to suggest that Israel has the right to withhold energy and water from Gaza. But Sir Keir argued on Friday that he had intended to say that Israel has the right to defend itself and retrieve the around 200 hostages being held within international law. Speaking to broadcasters, the Labour leader said he wanted to clarify precisely what I was saying during the grave and urgent situation for more than two million Palestinians. I know that LBC clip has been widely shared and caused real concern and distress in some Muslim communities, so let me be clear about what I was saying and what I wasnt saying, he said. I was saying that Israel has the right to self-defence, and when I said that right I meant it was that right to self-defence. I was not saying that Israel had the right to cut off water, food, fuel or medicines. On the contrary. For over a week now, I have been leading the charge calling for that humanitarian aid to come in. Sir Keir has met with councillors as he works to repair the damage caused by the remarks on the politically fraught subject. He has sought to tread a fine line to express backing for Israel, while acknowledging the need to protect Palestinian civilians. Amna Abdullatif, a councillor in Ardwick in Manchester, and Shaista Aziz and Amar Latif, of Oxford City Council, also said they would resign over the comments. Ms Abdullatif said Sir Keir had made horrifying comments about Israel having the right to withhold fuel, water, food and electricity from the 2.2 million Palestinians trapped in Gaza, effectively endorsing a war crime. Protesters gathered outside the Labour headquarters in south-east London on Friday morning to demand the party change its position on the Israel-Hamas war. Demonstrators at the protest, organised by London Palestine Action, held placards reading: Where is your backbone? and: End the occupation. 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 }} Storm Babet will batter parts of England on Friday after a woman died when she was swept into a river amid gale-force winds and flooding in Scotland. Amber warnings for wind and rain have been issued for parts of northern England, the Midlands and northern Wales from noon on Friday to 6am on Saturday. A yellow warning for Northern Ireland is also in place from 3am on Friday to 9am on Saturday. On Thursday afternoon, a woman died after being swept into a river in Angus, amid the evacuation of 400 homes in the Scottish region. Police Scotland said the body of the 57-year-old woman was recovered from Water of Lee at Glen Esk, where a rare red weather alert is in place until midday on Friday. Four flood warnings have been issued by the Environment Agencys Floodline service in Sandsend, North Yorkshire; Bridlington, East Yorkshire; the Tyne estuary and in areas surrounding the River Maun in Nottinghamshire. The agency also has 79 flood alerts in effect across the rest of England. Severe flood warnings were expanded for the River Esk in Scotland, including into Aberdeenshire. The Met Office said some communities could be cut off for several days by severe flooding, while the British Geological Survey has warned the storm could also cause landslides in Scotland. Yellow and Amber wind warnings have been issued for eastern parts of Scotland and along the east coast of England until the weekend, the Met Office said. Gusts in excess of 60mph are likely on Friday, with particularly poor conditions on immediate coastlines with large waves adding to the list of hazards. Fire crews and the coastguard began evacuating residents from the town of Brechin on Thursday night knocking on residents doors advising them to leave the area. Angus Council, responsible for a large area in the east of Scotland north of Dundee, said residents in 335 homes in Brechin and a further 87 homes in Tannadice and Finavon would be asked to evacuate due to risk of severe flooding. It warned river levels in the town could reach an unprecedented five metres higher than normal and render flood defences useless. The Council said schools would be shut on Friday to ensure the safety of children, young people, parents, and school staff. The region was was battered by heavy rain, and some 20,000 properties were hit by power cuts, although Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said electricity had been restored to 14,000. The Met Office red weather warning began at 6pm on Thursday and was expanded to include Dundee, Perth and Kinross, as well as Angus and Aberdeenshire, where 20ft waves were seen crashing in Stonehaven harbour. Paddleboarding instructor David Jacobs, 56, said he saw waves around 20ft high in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, and expects it to be worse on Friday. He said he was concerned for passers-by who stopped to watch the waves, as they could be hit by debris or swept into the sea. Mr Jacobs said: The wind is swinging east tomorrow so it will be coming directly into the harbour. The last time I have seen weather like this was 2014, it is quite spectacular to watch but bits of trees and rocks land onto the road. It worries me for other people. Andrew Batchelor, who runs Dundee Culture a platform which showcases the achievements, culture and heritage of Dundee told the PA news agency his car was hit by a branch on his way home from Edinburgh Airport. We just arrived home from Ibiza and the flight was delayed due to operational problems and of course the weather, the 23-year-old who lives in Dundee said. When we were heading towards Perth, a branch struck our car, fortunately nothing was damaged but you could hear the wind and rain banging on the car as we headed home. Storm Babet hit Ireland on Wednesday after sweeping in from the Atlantic, bringing with it heavy rainfall and causing extensive flooding in parts of the country. Members of the Irish Defence Forces were deployed in the town of Midleton, Co Cork, in the south of Ireland, where more than 100 properties were flooded. Cork County Council said more than a months worth of rain had fallen in the space of 24 hours, leading to unprecedented flooding, saturated land and high river levels across the county. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Conservative Party is facing an election armageddon after suffering defeats in two fiercely contested by-elections. Huge Tory majorities evaporated overnight in Mid Bedfordshire and Tamworth, with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer claiming he was redrawing the political map. Overturning the biggest majority in British by-election history, Labour snatched Nadine Dorries old Mid Bedfordshire seat from the Tories for the first time. Meanwhile, Tamworth saw the second biggest swing ever from the Conservative Party to Labour in a by-election. Former chancellor George Osborne warned the record defeats spell armageddon for the Conservatives at the next general election. So what happens next for the Tory party? And how will this impact what Rishi Sunak does next? Are the results are clear foreshadowing of whats in store at the next election? Or is there further nuance at play? If you have a question on the by election fallout, submit it now here, or when I join you live at 3pm on Friday 20 October for the Ask Me Anything event. Register to submit your question in the comments box under this article. If youre not already a member, click sign up in the comments section to leave your question. For a full guide on how to comment click here. Dont worry if you cant see your question they may be hidden until I join the conversation to answer them. Then join us live on this page at 3pm as I tackle as many questions as I can. 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 }} Sir Keir Starmer claimed Labour was redrawing the political map by overturning huge Tory majorities in Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire and dealing a double by-election blow to Rishi Sunak. In Tamworth, Labours Sarah Edwards overcome a 19,000 majority and defeated Conservative rival Andrew Cooper by a majority of 1,316. The result in the red wall Midlands seat saw a mammoth 23.9 per cent swing from the Tories to Labour. Polling guru Prof John Curtice said no government has lost a seat as safe as Tamworth. In Mid-Bedfordshire, Alistair Strathern overcame a 24,000 majority by taking the seat by 1,192 votes over his Tory rival Festus Akinbusoye a swing of 20.5 percentage points to Labour. The result in Nadine Dorries old seat was the single largest majority overturned by Labour at a by-election since 1945. Labour were overjoyed by the results have stressed that neither Tamworth nor Mid Bedfordshire were target seats for them. Sir Keirs spokesman had claimed on the eve of the elections that both super-safe Tory seats were moonshots. Prof Curtice notes the significance of the Conservative to Labour swing in Tamworth being even higher than at the Selby by-election in north Yorkshire earlier this year suggesting the Tories are in course for a general election wipeout. Tamworth was the 57th safest Tory seat in the country. Mr Starmer said the stunning results show that voters overwhelmingly want change, adding: Theyre ready to put their faith in our changed Labour party to deliver it. He added: Voters across Mid Bedfordshire, Tamworth and Britain want a Labour government determined to deliver for working people, with a proper plan to rebuild our country. Tamworth result (PA) Many political commentators and pollsters had expected Labour and Lib Dems to split the vote in Mid Bedfordshire and allow the Tories to hold on. The Lib Dems came third with just over 9,000 votes. In Tamworth the party came fifth, behind Reform UK, Britain First and Ukip with only 417 votes. Putting a brave face on the Mid Bedfordshire result, Lib Dems deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: We nearly doubled our share of the vote which would see the Lib Dems win dozens of seats off the Conservatives in a general election. The Liberal Democrats played a crucial role in defeating the Conservatives in Mid Bedfordshire, and we can play a crucial role in getting rid of this Conservative government at the next election. Mid Bedfordshire Result (PA) Loyal Tory minister Andrew Bowie denied his party had to change tack to have any chance at the next election. Andrew Bowie told Sky News there was always room for improvement but the government was on the right course. Prof Curtice said the two results were extremely bad news for the Conservatives and suggested Mr Sunak was on course for general election defeat. This isnt destiny, but it is a pointer and it is a pointer that, unless the Conservatives can fairly dramatically and fairly radically turn things around, then they are in truth staring defeat in the face in 12 months time. He said the Tamworth result, which showed a healthy number of votes for Reform UK and Ukip, demonstrated that the Tories may get caught in a pincer movement between some of their former Leave voters wandering off to Labour but others going off to Reform UK. Mid Bedfordshire results since 1997 (PA) Mr Sunak was out of the country as the by-election results came in, spending the night in Saudi Arabia on a tour of the Middle East in the aftermath of the Hamas attacks on Israel. The results were announced a year to the day after Mr Sunaks predecessor Liz Truss resigned as prime minister and leaves him with a headache as he ends his first 12 months in post. Tamworth results in full: Labour: 11,719 Conservatives: 10,403 Reform UK: 1,373 Britain First: 580 The UK Independence Party: 436 Liberal Democrats: 417 Green Party: 417 Monster Raving Loony Party: 155 Independent: 86 Labour MP Stephanie Peacock and newly elected Labour MP Sarah Edwards in Tamworth (Jacob King/PA Wire) Mid Bedfordshire results in full: Labour: 13,872 Conservatives: 12,680 Liberal Democrats: 9,420 Gareth Mackey (independent): 1,865 Reform UK: 1,487 Green: 732 Monster Raving Loony Party: 249 English Democrats: 107 Christian Peoples Alliance: 101 True and Fair Party: 93 Heritage Party: 63 Prince Ankit Love, Emperor of India (independent): 27 Mainstream: 24 Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Conservatives are on course for an even heavier general election wipe-out than in 1997, according to polling guru Sir John Curtice after the Tories crushing double by-election defeat in Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire. And former Tory chancellor George Osborne has warned that Rishi Sunaks party was now on course for Armageddon at the election expected in 2024. Prof Curtice said Sir Keir Starmer could be on course for an even bigger victory than the one seen under Tony Blair in 1997. He said these were not ordinary government by-election losses pointing out that no government had ever lost as safe a seat as Tamworth. The elections expert also said the legacy of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss was largely blame for the extraordinary swings to Labour. Pointing to the impact of Mr Johnsons Partygate scandal and Ms Trussmini-budget fiasco, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: In truth there have been two crucial points in this parliament when support has very rapidly from the Conservatives to Labour. One is the first revelations about Partygate in December 2021, and the second was the Liz Truss fiscal event of a year ago, he added arguing they were more important that Sir Keirs popularity. The polling guru said: I think one could reasonably argue that the reason why we are where we are is because of those two events and thats more important than the fact Sir Keir Starmer has changed his party, although perhaps if Sir Keir Starmer had not changed his party maybe they wouldnt be as popular to the same degree. He added: A big what if: let us say those Partygate happenings had never happened, or at least wed never heard of them and a result Boris Johnson was still in No 10 today. Would Labour be doing as well as they are at the moment? Labours Mid Bedfordshire winner Alistair Strathern with Starmer (PA) Prof Curtice said Sir Keir was nothing like as popular than Tony Blair was in the run-up to 1997 but said Labour could be heading for an evern bigger majority at the 2024 election than in 1997. The Conservative party faces the serious prospect of losing the next general election heavily and maybe even more heavily than they did in 1997. Prof Curtice explained that the 24 per cent swing in Tamworth was the second-biggest Tory to Labour swing ever seen, while the 20 per cent swing in Mid Bedfordshire was in the all-time top 10. Mr Osborne, the former Tory chancellor, had warned earlier in the night that losing Mid-Bedfordshire a Tory seat since 1931 would mean Armageddon is coming for the Tory party. His podcast co-host Ed Balls, the former Labour shadow chancellor, said it was a political earthquake. Tamworth winner Sarah Edwards (Jacob King/PA Wire) In Tamworth, Labours Sarah Edwards overcome a 19,000 majority and defeated Conservative rival Andrew Cooper by a majority of 1,316. The result in the red wall Midlands seat saw a mammoth 23.9 per cent swing from the Tories to Labour. In Mid-Bedfordshire, Alistair Strathern overcame a 24,000 majority by taking the seat by 1,192 votes over his Tory rival Festus Akinbusoye a swing of 20.5 percentage points to Labour. Prof Curtice said the two results were extremely bad news for the Conservatives and suggested a landslide defeat was on the cards. This isnt destiny but it is a pointer and it is a pointer that, unless the Conservatives can fairly dramatically and fairly radically turn things around, then they are in truth staring defeat in the face in 12 months time. He said the Tamworth result which saw Reform UK in third place shows the Tories may get caught in a pincer movement between some of their former Leave voters wandering off to Labour but others going off to Reform UK. Rishi Sunak facing general election wipe-out (PA Wire) Sir Keir has hailed the by-election victories as an history in the making, arguing that the massive swings to his party were a gamechanger that put his party on course for power. He told the BBC: Each of these results is extraordinary its history in the making, and I think that reflects the fact we are a changed Labour party, that we are putting a positive case for change to the country. And after 13 years of failure and decline under this Conservative government, I think people are looking for change. Former Tory cabinet minister Robert Buckland has said the by-elections show the electorate decided they wanted to punish the Conservatives but the leading moderate urged the government to stick to economic issues that really matter rather getting lost in culture war rows. But right-wing backbencher Andrea Jenkyns a big Boris Johnson supporter said the Tories need to make far-reaching major changes now in the wake of the partys two crushing by-election losses. Conservative chairman Greg Hands said he does not see any enthusiasm for Labour despite the partys victories, and insisted that Mr Sunak was doing a very good job. So I dont see any enthusiasm for Labour, he told Times Radio. But clearly we need to reflect on that and we need to continue to deliver against our priorities and make sure that people see that Rishi Sunak is doing a very good job as prime minister. 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 }} Sir Keir Starmer received a major boost after overturning a huge Tory majority in the Tamworth by-election. In the Tories biggest loss to Labour in by-election history, Sir Keirs party won the Staffordshire seat from the Conservatives. The Tories won the seat in 2019 with a 19,634 majority. In a blow for Rishi Sunak, support for the Conservatives evaporated, with the seat turning red for the first time since it was won by David Cameron in 2010. Labours candidate in Tamworth Sarah Edwards had likened the race to a 1996 by-election in which Labour gained the seat, a year before Tony Blairs general election landslide. Days before polls opened, it emerged the Conservative candidate in Tamworth had suggested some parents using food banks to feed their children should f*** off. Andrew Cooper shared a post on Facebook arguing that people should only seek help if they give up basics like TV and mobile phone contracts, the Mirror reported. Ms Edwards won the seat with a total of 11,719 votes, compared with Mr Coopers 10,403 votes. Following the announcement of the results, Ms Cooper said the people of Tamworth have made it clear it's time for change. She called for Mr Sunak to do the decent thing and call a general election. Change is the question at the next election and the answer is labour, Ms Edwards said. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the win was a phenomenal result that shows Labour is back in the service of working people and redrawing the political map. He added: To those who have given us their trust, and those considering doing so, Labour will spend every day acting in your interests and focused on your priorities. Labour will give Britain its future back. Labour pointed out that Tamworth was not a target seat for the party and is the 57th safest Conservative seat in the country. And Luke Tryl, UK director at the More in Common group, said as well as Labours surge, the Conservatives should be worried about the strength of support for right-wing Reform UK. Just as ominous for the Tories the Reform UK vote in Tamworth is bigger than the Labour majority and the combined vote for parties of the populist/far right was almost 10 per cent, he said. Ms Edwards will replace Chris Pincher, who represented Tamworth since 2010 and stood down after being found to have drunkenly groped two men in an egregious case of sexual misconduct at Londons exclusive Carlton Club last year. Labour said winning either Tamworth or Mid Bedfordshire, Nadine Dorriess former seat, would be a moon shot. 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 Sunaks Conservatives are staring a general election wipe-out in the face, said the UKs top polling guru after devastating back to back by-election losses in safe Tory seats. Prof John Curtice said Labours shock wins in Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire meant the Tories had not seen such poor by-election results since the run-up to Tony Blairs 1997 general election landslide. And Sir John warned that without a dramatic turnaround, Mr Sunaks party is on course for a huge defeat predicting that Sir Keir Starmers Labour could claim an even bigger win than under Blair in 1997. Labour candidate Sarah Edwards overturned a 19,000 majority in Tamworth, the second biggest by-election swing from the Tories to Labour in the post-war era. And just moments later, Labours Alistair Strathern overcame a 24,000 majority to win Mid Bedfordshire for the first time in the constituencys century-long history. Sir Keir said showed that his party was redrawing the political map. The Labour leader hailed the by-election victories as an history in the making, arguing that the massive swings to his party were a gamechanger that put his party on course for power. Sir Keir told the BBC: Each of these results is extraordinary its history in the making, and I think that reflects the fact we are a changed Labour party, that we are putting a positive case for change. After 13 years of failure and decline under this Conservative government, I think people are looking for change. Right-wing Tory MP Andrea Jenkyns, a Boris Johnson backer, demanded far-reaching change now after the shock results. Tory peer Lord Cruddas, another ally of Mr Johnson, said clearly Rishi Sunak isnt working as leader of our party. The ex-party treasurer told The Independent: Local council elections, by-elections defeats everywhere. Rishis record is dire and Tories are heading for electoral disaster under Sunak. Things need to change starting at the top. Sarah Edwards giving her victory speech in Tamworth on Friday morning (PA Wire) Despite the scale of the defeats, Sunak loyalists denied that the party had to change tack. Minister Andrew Bowie told Sky News there was always room for improvement but the government was on the right course. And Tory chairman Greg Hands claimed that voters are happy with the job Rishi Sunak is doing despite the Tories two humiliating defeats. He also said he does not see any enthusiasm for Labour. In Tamworth, Labours Sarah Edwards overcome a 19,000 majority and defeated Tory rival Andrew Cooper by a majority of 1,316 a swing of 23.9 per cent. In Mid-Bedfordshire, Alistair Strathern overcame a 24,000 majority by taking the seat by 1,192 votes over his Tory rival Festus Akinbusoye a swing of 20.5 per cent to Labour. Labour candidate Alistair Strathern overturns 24,000 majority (PA) Polling guru Sir John told the BBC that the two results were extremely bad news for the Conservatives and suggested a landslide defeat was on the cards. This isnt destiny but it is a pointer and it is a pointer that, unless the Conservatives can fairly dramatically and fairly radically turn things around, then they are in truth staring defeat in the face in 12 months time. Luke Tryl, UK director at the More in Common group, said the Tories should be very worried. The pollster said the only things which could turn it around for the Conservatives are a significant economic recovery and feel good factor, but warned even that may not be enough. Keir Starmer with Mid Bedfordshire winner Alistair Strathern (PA) Mr Tryl told The Independent: Its not just that Labour have won two of the safest seats in the country, its that they have overcome real electoral barriers to do so. The shock by-election results saw Labour win Mid Bedfordshire for the first time after an unusually long contest sparked by the resignation of Nadine Dorries, who quit in protest after not being awarded a peerage in ally Boris Johnsons resignation honours. Mr Strathern was announced as Labours candidate just days later and has been campaigning in the seat ever since. He said his victory in the Mid Bedfordshire by-election had made history and sent a resounding message. Tamworth result (PA) Giving his victory speech, the newest Labour MP said: Tonight residents across Mid Bedfordshire have made history, after decades of being taken for granted, feeling left behind, being under-represented, they made a decision it was time for a change. Nowhere is off limits for this Labour Party and tonights result proves it. Speaking after her victory in Tamworth, Ms Edwards called on Rishi Sunak to do the decent thing and call a general election" She said: The people of Tamworth have voted for Labours positive vision and a fresh start ... The people of Tamworth have made it clear, its time for change. Her Tory rival Andrew Cooper left the hall through the nearest fire exit as she was beginning her speech. Mid Bedfordshire Result (PA) The Tories had sought to temper expectations ahead of the results, claiming governments dont win by-elections. And, responding to the partys loss in Tamworth, a spokesman said it was a difficult result. The party sought to pin the result in part on the nature of the departure of the previous MP Chris Pincher, who quit after being found to have drunkenly groped two men in a private members club. Mr Tryl said Labour had won in Tamworth despite it being a heavily Brexit voting seat which has trended away from Labour at an alarming rate since the party last held it in 2005 . The polling expert also said the Conservatives should be worried about a split on the right, with the vote for Reform UK bigger than the Labour majority in both Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire. In Mid Bedfordshire, Labour won even despite a split in the anti-Tory vote with the Liberal Democrats. The Liberal Democrats, who came a close third in Mid Bedfordshire, said the party played a crucial role in defeating the Conservatives. There had initially been fears that by battling Labour for second place, the party would split the vote and allow the Conservatives to hold the seat. But deputy leader Daisy Cooper said the party nearly doubled its share of the vote, suggesting many of the new supporters it picked up were from the Conservatives. 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 }} Nigel Farage has said he could soon be leading the Conservatives, amid speculation that he might be set to re-join Rishi Sunak's party. The former Ukip leader was one of the star attractions at the Tory conference in Manchester earlier this month, speaking at a fringe event and being mobbed by fans. The Brexiteer has previously teased the idea that he could rejoin the party he left in the 1990s over the question of the European Union. And Mr Sunak earlier this month hinted that Mr Farage would be welcome back in the told, stating that the party was a "broad church". Speaking at a book launch in Westminster on Tuesday Mr Farage told the PoliticsHome website that he would soon be doing Mr Sunak's job. Teasing Conservative MPs present at the event, the former Ukip leader initially said he was serious but later said he was joking. Id be very surprised if I were not Conservative leader by 26. Very surprised," he told the website. They think Im joking," he said, referring to others present, adding: "Im serious. He later tried to row back on his comments and said they were meant in jest. Mr Farage quit the Tories 30 years ago over the Maastricht Treaty, which John Major signed Britain up to. This year's was the first conference he has attended since 1988. A previous attempt in 2013 to attend the party gathering was blocked by the party. Mr Farage is a controversial figure and views on him differ, even in the Tory party. Jacob Rees-Mogg, a staunch Brexiteer, has said his party should "roll out the red carpet" for the ex-Brexit party leader if he ever wanted to rejoin. But party chairman Greg Hands appeared to be less impressed earlier this month, saying the former Ukip leader had campaigned against the Tories for years and was not invested in their success. Party leader Mr Sunak himself told broadcaster GB News: "Look, the Tory party is a broad church. I welcome lots of people who want to subscribe to our ideals, to our values." Mr Farage himself has played hot and cold with the idea of rejoining. He also told GB News this month that the Tories were a social democrat party in all but name with big-state, high-tax policies. On the question of rejoining he also told the broadcaster: the answer is no, I will not. 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 said a crossing that will deliver vital aid to Gaza should open imminently after talks with Egyptian and Palestinian leaders. The Prime Minister said that getting trucks with crucial supplies into the area was the "immediate priority" after he met with the Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. Mr Sunak and the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, also jointly condemned Hamass assault on Israel during their meeting in Cairo. Their talks will be a seen as a coup for Mr Sunak, days after Mr Abbas cancelled plans to meet US President Joe Biden following a strike on the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza. The meeting was due to take place in Amman, Jordan on Wednesday. It came after the UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, flew to the crossing on the Egypt-Gaza border to plead for action. A deal for aid to enter Gaza was brokered by US President Joe Biden on a one-day visit to Tel Aviv on Wednesday. But it has been delayed amid negotiations and moves by the Egyptians to repair the crossing. Mr Sunak said: "When this crisis unfolded, one thing we have prioritised consistently is getting the Rafah crossing opening. "It's been a feature of all my conversations, and I'm very pleased that that will now imminently happen." Mr Sunak was finishing a two visit to the Middle East in which he urged leaders to help prevent the conflict spreading across the region. Earlier he stated he had agreed with the Amir of Qatar, who he met in Saudi Arabia, that world leaders must do "everything possible to prevent" the violence spilling over into other countries. Tensions are rising as Israel's troops prepare for a ground invasion of Gaza. It has been under heavy bombardment from Tel Aviv, as Israel responds to an attack by Hamas on October 7 which killed 1,400 people. The dangers of the Hamas conflict spilling over were illustrated after the United States said one of its warships had intercepted cruise missiles and drones launched from Yemen "potentially towards targets in Israel". Attacks against Israel have also been launched from Lebanon, where the Hezbollah group is backed by Iran, drawing retaliation from Tel Aviv. Qatar is seen as a key player in the region, using its ties to Hamas to negotiate for the release of more than 200 hostages taken during the deadly assault on Israel and still missing. During his meeting with Mr Abbas, Mr Sunak also reiterated the UKs long-standing commitment to the two-state solution and to achieving a future where Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and security, No 10 said. In Israel on the first day of his tip, Mr Sunak told the countrys leadership the UK wanted it to win its fight against Hamas. But he also emphasised that any action had to be in line with international law. A spokesman said Mr Sunak thanked Qatar for their efforts to secure the release of hostages, including at least two British nationals who are known to be among those being held captive. 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 will fly to Egypt today amid growing fears the Israel-Hamas conflict will spread across the wider Middle East. Countries including the US and the UK have warned people to leave nearby Lebanon as an Israeli ground invasion of Gaza appears to near. The PM is expected to meet the Egyptian leader and stress the need to avoid further loss of civilian life having already met with Saudi and Qatari leaders in a bid to avoid regional escalation. On Thursday, Mr Sunak told Israeli leaders that they had both a right and duty to go after Hamas as he backed military action at the start of a two-day visit to the region. The PM called the terrorist group pure evil and, at a joint press conference with Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, added: We want you to win. But he also pushed Israel for progress in allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza, amid warnings of a humanitarian disaster. Hundreds of lorries with vital supplies are still waiting to enter from Egypt after US president Biden secured agreement. On his trip to the Middle East, the PM also held talks with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who agreed they should work together to prevent the conflict spiralling. Mr Sunak encouraged the crown prince to use Saudi's leadership in the region to support stability, both now and in the long-term, No 10 said. "In all (his) conversations the prime minister has stressed the imperative of avoiding regional escalation and preventing the further unnecessary loss of civilian life," a No 10 spokesman added. The risks were illustrated when the United States said one of its warships had intercepted cruise missiles and drones launched from Yemen potentially towards targets in Israel. Houthi rebels in Yemen, backed by Iran, have expressed support for the Palestinians and threatened Israel. Attacks against Israel have also been launched from Lebanon, where the Hezbollah group is also backed by Iran. Sunak has met with Qatar leader Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani this morning in Saudi Arabia, as they stressed the urgent need for more humanitarian aid to get into Gaza. They agreed the importance of avoiding any escalation in the violence across the region, according to No 10. Sunak and Al-Thani welcomed progress on opening up humanitarian access to Gaza and said there was an urgent need to get food, water and medicine to civilians who are suffering. Sunak also thanked Qatari leader efforts to secure the release of hostages taken by Hamas two weeks ago, including British nationals. The leaders agreed to stay in close contact to continue these efforts. 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 will travel to Egypt as part of an intensive diplomatic effort to prevent the Israel-Hamas war spiralling into a wider regional conflict. The Prime Minister has already held talks with Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Downing Street said he would hold further meetings with counterparts from the region in Egypt. In all these conversations the Prime Minister has stressed the imperative of avoiding regional escalation and preventing the further unnecessary loss of civilian life, a No 10 spokesman said. The Prime Ministers continued tour of the Middle East comes as he faces domestic difficulties from the loss of two safe Tory seats in Westminster by-elections. The dangers of the Hamas conflict spilling over were illustrated as the United States said one of its warships had intercepted cruise missiles and drones launched from Yemen potentially towards targets in Israel. Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have expressed support for the Palestinians and threatened Israel. Attacks against Israel have also been launched from Lebanon, where the Hezbollah group is backed by Iran, drawing retaliation from Tel Aviv. On Thursday, the Prime Minister visited Tel Aviv where he said he wanted Israel to win the war with Hamas before heading to Saudi Arabia for talks with the crown prince. The Prime Minister said: We agreed on co-ordinated action to prevent further escalation in the region, provide vital humanitarian aid in Gaza and support stability, both now and in the long-term. Downing Street said the pair agreed that the loss of innocent lives in Israel and Gaza over the last two weeks has been horrific and underscored the need to avoid any further escalation in the region. Mr Sunak encouraged the crown prince to use Saudis leadership in the region to support stability, both now and in the long-term, No 10 said. In the first leg of his trip on Thursday, the Prime Minister had meetings with Israels prime minister Mr Netanyahu and president Isaac Herzog. Mr Netanyahu told Mr Sunak that he hoped for the UKs continuous support in his countrys long war as it fought back against Hamas following the Palestinian militant groups deadly and unprecedented assault on Israel on October 7. Mr Sunak, speaking at a joint press conference after discussions with his counterpart lasting about two hours, said he was proud to stand with Israel and that the UK Government wants you to win. No 10 is yet to confirm whether Mr Sunak will visit another Middle East capital before wrapping up his two-day trip on Friday. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly was also in the region, visiting Egypt, Qatar and Turkey with a mission to secure the release of British hostages, stop the violence spreading to the region (and) ensure emergency aid can get into Gaza. The latest figures from No 10 confirmed that at least nine British nationals were killed in the Hamas raids on October 7. A further seven British nationals are missing some of whom are feared to be among the dead or kidnapped, Downing Street said. The PA news agency understands that one of the Britons was Yonatan Rapoport, who was killed when Hamas gunmen rampaged through a kibbutz. Mr Rapoport, known as Yoni, was reportedly one of those murdered in the attack on Kibbutz Beeri. He had two children, Yosefi and Aluma, and, as a Manchester United fan, had planned to take his son to Old Trafford next month for his first game, the BBC reported. The UK Government has not confirmed how many Britons are among the hostages held by Hamas, although at least two are known to be being kept captive, with Mr Sunak meeting with their families while in Tel Aviv. Following international pressure, Israel has agreed to let aid flow into Gaza from Egypt. It marks a potential break in a punishing and highly controversial siege on the territory after Israels retaliation on Hamas saw it block access for water, food, electricity and other essential supplies to the 25-mile strip, while also carrying out strikes. The Prime Minister said the UK would seek to get more support to people as quickly as we can as he reiterated that Palestinians living under Hamas rule in Gaza were also victims. But Israel has continued to pound locations across Gaza and is preparing to launch a ground invasion which could increase the bloodshed on both sides. 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 }} World leaders must do everything possible to prevent the violence in Israel and Gaza from spilling over into a wider Middle East conflict, Rishi Sunak and the Qatari leader have agreed. The Prime Minister met with the Amir of Qatar in Saudi Arabia on Friday before jetting off to Egypt, the third stop on his tour of the region, part of a diplomatic effort to stop the Israel-Hamas war from escalating. The British leader arrived at around lunchtime in Egypt, where he held talks with president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. A spokeswoman for the Prime Minister said the UKs priority is to focus on the opening of the Rafah crossing, Gazas only border point not controlled by Tel Aviv, to allow humanitarian aid to enter and for British nationals to leave the bombarded territory. Mr Sunak, in comments to Mr El-Sisi, praised Cairos efforts to allow movement through Rafah as he spoke about the need to ensure aid can get to Palestinians as quickly as possible. It comes after Israels troops were told to prepare for a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip, which remains under heavy bombardment as Tel Aviv fights back against Hamass incursion on October 7 that killed 1,400 people. Qatar is seen as a key mediator in the battle, with Doha using its ties to the Palestinian militant group to negotiate for the release of about 200 hostages taken during the deadly assault on Israel. Mr Sunak has held meetings with Israeli leaders and the crown prince of Saudi Arabia since starting his lobbying tour of the Middle East on Thursday. The Prime Ministers continued visit to the Middle East comes as he faces domestic difficulties from the loss of two safe Tory seats in Westminster by-elections. During discussions with Qatari ruler Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in Riyadh, No 10 said the pair underlined the imperative of avoiding any escalation in the violence across the region, agreeing that leaders had a responsibility to do everything possible to prevent it. A spokesman said Mr Sunak thanked Qatar for their efforts to secure the release of hostages, including at least two British nationals who are known to be among those being held captive. The No 10 spokesman added: He said the UK Government would use all the tools at our disposal to support these efforts and end the torment of the victims and their families. The leaders agreed to stay in close contact to continue these efforts. The two leaders also welcomed humanitarian aid being opened up to Gaza, agreeing on the urgent need to get food, water and medicine to civilians who are suffering. Downing Street said the Prime Minister would hold further meetings with counterparts from the region in Egypt where a number of influential Middle East leaders have gathered. The dangers of the Hamas conflict spilling over were illustrated as the United States said one of its warships had intercepted cruise missiles and drones launched from Yemen potentially towards targets in Israel. Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have expressed support for the Palestinians and threatened Israel. Attacks against Israel have also been launched from Lebanon, where the Hezbollah group is backed by Iran, drawing retaliation from Tel Aviv. On Thursday, the Prime Minister visited Tel Aviv where he said he wanted Israel to win the war with Hamas before heading to Saudi Arabia for talks with crown prince Mohammed bin Salman. Mr Sunak encouraged the crown prince to use Saudis leadership in the region to support stability, both now and in the long-term, No 10 said. The PA news agency understands the talks lasted over an hour, with the Prime Minister and the Saudi ruler in conversation alone for about 45 minutes before advisers were brought in. Downing Street refused to say if Mr Sunak raised the issue of human rights in the kingdom. In the first leg of his trip on Thursday, the Prime Minister had meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and president Isaac Herzog. Mr Netanyahu said he hoped for the UKs continuous support in his countrys long war as it hunts Hamas fighters. Mr Sunak, speaking at a joint press conference after discussions with his counterpart lasting about two hours, said he was proud to stand with Israel in its darkest hour. He said the UK Government wants you to win against a force he described as representing pure evil. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has also been in the region, visiting Egypt, Qatar and Turkey with a mission to secure the release of British hostages, stop the violence spreading to the region (and) ensure emergency aid can get into Gaza. Nine British nationals are confirmed to have been killed in the Hamas raids on October 7 and a further seven are missing, with some feared to be among the dead or kidnapped, Downing Street said. Following international pressure, Israel has agreed to let aid flow into Gaza from Egypt. It marks a potential break in a punishing and highly controversial siege on the territory after Israels retaliation on Hamas saw it block access for water, food, electricity and other essential supplies to the 25-mile strip, while also carrying out air strikes. The Gaza health ministry said 3,785 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, the majority women, children and older adults. The deal to get aid into Gaza through Rafah, the territorys only crossing not controlled by Israel, remains fragile. Israel said the supplies could only go to civilians and it would thwart any diversions by Hamas. More than 200 lorries and some 3,000 tonnes of aid were positioned at or near Rafah but work has not yet begun on repairing a road on the Gaza side damaged by airstrikes. Israel has continued to pound locations across Gaza, with any ground offensive having the potential to increase the bloodshed on both sides. 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Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Infowars host Alex Jones cannot use bankruptcy protection to avoid paying the families of the victims of the Sandy Hook school shooting, a judge has ruled. Mr Jones was sued by the families of the 26 people killed in the 2012 massacre over his repeated promotion of a false theory that the shooting was a hoax. A judge ordered Mr Jones to pay $1.5bn to the families, but the conspiracy theorist has so far failed to pay out any of the sum after he filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last year. However, a Texas judge ruled on Thursday that bankruptcy protections do not apply over findings of willful and malicious conduct, so Mr Jones must pay the families. The families are pleased with the Courts ruling that Joness malicious conduct will find no safe harbor in the bankruptcy court, said Christopher Mattei, a Connecticut lawyer for the families. As a result, Jones will continue to be accountable for his actions into the future regardless of his claimed bankruptcy. Mr Jones was sued after he repeated a conspiracy theory that the Sandy Hook shooting never happened and accused the families of being actors on his flagship Infowars show. The families won a billion-dollar settlement against Mr Jones, who told his audience last year he was officially out of money and has asked them to shop on his Infowars website to help keep him on the air. Infowars host Alex Jones cannot use bankruptcy protection to avoid paying Sandy Hook families Recent financial documents submitted by his attorneys showed Mr Jones personal net worth is around $14m, and his monthly financial reports showed he spent more than $93,000 in the month of July, including $7,900 on housekeeping, and more than $6,300 for meals and entertaining. The amount of money Mr Jones owes Sandy Hook families could grow even larger as he faces another lawsuit in Texas, brought by the parents of six-year-old Noah Pozner, one of the children who was killed in the massacre. A trial date has not yet been set. Relatives of the victims testified at the trials about being harassed and threatened by Mr Jones believers, who sent threats and even confronted the grieving families in person, accusing them of being crisis actors whose children never existed. Some 20 first graders and six educators were killed in a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012. The incident is the deadliest shooting at an elementary school in US history. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} An army private who fled to North Korea before being returned home to the United States earlier this month has been detained by the US military and is facing charges including desertion and possessing sexual images of a child, two officials said on Thursday night. The eight counts against Pvt Travis King are detailed in a charging document seen by The Associated Press. The officials spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the charges have not been publicly announced. Mr King's mother, Claudine Gates, said in a statement that her son should be afforded the presumption of innocence. A mother knows her son, and I believe something happened to mine while he was deployed, she said. North Korea had earlier claimed that Mr King wanted refuge in another country to escape inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination in the US and the military. Mr King was traveling with a tour group to the border between North and South Korea when he ran across and surrendered himself to North Korean forces. Desertion is a very serious charge and can result in imprisonment for as much as three years. Mr King is also accused of kicking and punching other officers last year, unlawfully possessing alcohol, making a false statement and possessing a video of a child engaged in sexual activity. That allegation dates to July 10, the same day he was released from a South Korean prison where he had served nearly two months on assault charges. One week later, Mr King, 23, ran across the heavily fortified border from South Korea and became the first American detained in North Korea in nearly five years. He was set to be sent to Fort Bliss, Texas, where he could have faced potential additional disciplinary actions and discharge. Officials said Mr King was taken to the airport and escorted as far as customs. But instead of getting on the plane, he left and later joined a civilian tour of the Korean border village of Panmunjom. He ran across the border, which is lined with guards and often crowded with tourists, in the afternoon. After about two months, Pyongyang abruptly announced that it would expel him. He was flown on Sept. 28 to an Air Force base in Texas. His release from North Korea was aided by Swedish officials who took Mr King to the Chinese border, where he was met by US ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, the Swedish ambassador to China and at least one US Defense Department official. He was then flown to a US military base in South Korea before heading to the U.S. Once back in the US, Mr King was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston outside San Antonio. He went through what the military describes as a "reintegration" process that included medical exams, psychological assessments and debriefings. And he was also allowed to meet with family. Because he had willingly run into enemy hands, he legally was kept in military custody throughout that process. At the time, officials said they did not know exactly why North Korea decided to let Mr King go, but suspected Pyongyang determined that as a low-ranking serviceman he had no real value in terms of either leverage or information. Mr King joined the Army in January 2021, and served as a cavalry scout. While he was gone, army leaders declared him absent without leave, opting to not consider him a deserter, which is far more serious. By declaring Mr King a deserter, the army would have to conclude that Mr King left and intended to stay away permanently. In times of war, desertion can carry the death penalty. Service members can go AWOL for several days, but may return voluntarily. The punishment can include confinement in the brig, forfeiture of pay or dishonorable discharge and it is largely based on how long they were away and whether they were apprehended or returned on their own. The charging document does not provide significant detail on any of the allegations, though it does accuse Mr King of knowingly possessing a video of a child engaging in sexual conduct last July 10 and says that he solicited a user of Snapchat, a social media platform, to produce images of underage sexual activity. Sean Timmons, an attorney who specializes in military law at the Tully Rinckey law firm and who reviewed the charging document, said all the transactions that occurred on Snapchat were not secure or private and were accessible by the government. "He probably reasonably believed his illegal conduct would have no evidentiary trail, but Snapchat actually saves everything," Timmons said. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden spoke to the family of Wadea Al-Fayoume, the six-year-old Palestinian-American boy who was stabbed to death in Illinois amid escalating tensions over the Middle Eastern conflict. The call followed the presidents address to the nation on Thursday. According to the White House, the Bidens expressed their deepest condolences and said they were praying for the recovery of Wadeas mother, Hannan Shahin, who was also injured in the vicious attack. On Monday, 71-year-old Joseph Czuba, the familys landlord, made his first court appearance on murder, attempted murder and hate crime charges. He is accused of stabbing the youngster 26 times and his mother a dozen times. In his Thursday speech, Mr Biden made reference to the Al-Fayoumes as a proud Palestinian-American family and said the US must without equivocation denounce both antisemitism and Islamophobia. We cannot stand by and stand silent, he said. The president used his Oval Office address, which came less than a day after returning from a visit to Israel, to discuss our response to Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel and Russias ongoing brutal war against Ukraine. I know many of you in the Muslim-American community, the Arab-American community, the Palestinian-American community and so many others are outraged and hardy, saying to yourself here we go again, with the Islamophobia and distrust we saw after 9/11, he said. Just last week, a mother was brutally stabbed. A little boy here in the United States, a little boy who just turned six-years-old was murdered in their home outside of Chicago. His name was Wadea a proud American, a proud Palestinian-American family. We cant stand by and stand silent when this happens. We must, without equivocation, denounce antisemitism. We must also, without equivocation, denounce Islamophobia. And all you hurting, I want you to know I see you, you belong. And I want to say this to you. Youre all American. In a statement following the speech, the White House said the Bidens had spoken to Wadeas father and uncle. The President and First Lady expressed their deepest condolences to the Al-Fayoume family as they mourn; their prayers that Wadeas mother, Hannan Shahin, makes a full recovery; and their commitment to keep speaking out against anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab, and anti-Muslim hate and violence. the statement read. Mourners in the heavily Palestinian Chicago suburb of Bridgeview (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Crowds of mourners in the heavily Palestinian Chicago suburb of Bridgeview paid respects Monday as Wadea was buried. A Tuesday evening vigil was planned at a community center in a nearby suburb. During funeral services, family and friends remembered Wadea as an energetic boy who loved playing games. The child, who recently celebrated his sixth birthday, was also seen as another innocent casualty in the escalating war. Wadeas mother told investigators into the incident that she rented two rooms on the first floor of the Plainfield home while Czuba and his wife lived on the second floor. She fought Czuba off and went into a bathroom where she stayed until police arrived. Wadea, meanwhile, was in his own room, according to a court filing from Assistant States Attorney Michael Fitzgerald. The boys killing prompted fresh concerns in Muslim circles about Islamophobia and being forgotten in war coverage. At a news conference before Wadeas funeral, speakers called for politicians and media to be responsible with their comments and coverage of the war. In recent days, Jewish and Muslim groups have reported an increase of hateful rhetoric in the wake of the war. Several cities have stepped up police patrols. 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 }} California Governor Gavin Newsom stopped in Israel on Thursday to meet with individuals affected by the Hamas attack that kicked off heightened violence in the region. His trip is a one-day stop while on his way to China, where he'll be discussing Beijing's policies to help curb the global climate crisis. Mr Newsom left Thursday and arrived in Israel on Friday. Im on my way to Israel, he wrote in a message posted on X/Twitter. Ill be meeting with those impacted by the horrific terrorist attacks and offering Californias support. Mr Newsom's office confirmed that California is sending medical supplies to the region, including provisions for Gaza. California Governor Gavin Newsom flew to Israel on his way to China (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved) In addition to visiting Israel, Mr Newsom also announced that California would spend more money to improve the security of places of worship in his state. That funding includes $10m to immediately increase the police presence at mosques and synagogues, according to the Associated Press. Amid the horror unfolding in the Middle East following the unconscionable terrorist attacks in Israel, California is authorizing the immediate deployment of funds to increase security at worship sites, he said in a statement. No matter how and where one prays, every Californian deserves to be safe. California is home to the US's largest population of Arab Americans, according to the Arab American Institute. It is also home to the second largest population of Jews in the US, according to the American Jewish Population Project and Brandeis University. Mr Newsom's visit comes on the heels of one by New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who arrived in Israel on Wednesday to offer solidarity and support. Joe Biden also recently finished a nearly eight-hour visit on the same day he negotiated a deal for limited humanitarian aid into Gaza from Egypt. On Friday, the Biden administration also announced it would seek $105bn from Congress to help bolster security in Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. The final leg of Mr Newsom's trip will take him to Hong Kong, where he will discussing climate crisis policies with China. He also plans to visit Beijing, Shanghai and the Guandong and Jiangsu provinces. 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 }} Israel bombarded Gaza early Friday, hitting areas in the south where Palestinians had been told to seek safety, and it began evacuating a sizable Israeli town in the north near the Lebanese border, the latest sign of a potential ground invasion of Gaza that could trigger regional turmoil. Palestinians in Gaza reported heavy airstrikes in Khan Younis in the south, and ambulances carrying men, women and children streamed into the town's Nasser Hospital, Gaza's second largest, which is already overflowing with patients and people seeking shelter. On Thursday, Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered ground troops to prepare to see Gaza from the inside, hinting at a ground offensive aimed at crushing Gaza's militant Hamas rulers nearly two weeks after their bloody incursion into Israel. Officials have given no timetable for such an operation. Over a million people have been displaced in Gaza, with many heeding Israel's orders to evacuate the northern part of the sealed-off coastal enclave. Gazas overwhelmed hospitals are rationing their dwindling medical supplies and fuel for generators, as authorities worked out logistics for a desperately needed aid delivery from Egypt that has yet to enter. Doctors in darkened wards across Gaza performed surgeries by the light of mobile phones and used vinegar to treat infected wounds. The deal to get aid into Gaza through Rafah, the territorys only crossing not controlled by Israel, remained fragile. Israel said the supplies could only go to civilians and that it would thwart any diversions by Hamas. More than 200 trucks and some 3,000 tons of aid were positioned at or near Rafah, but work has not yet begun on repairing a road on the Gaza side that was damaged by airstrikes. Israel has evacuated its own communities near Gaza and Lebanon, putting residents up in hotels elsewhere in the country in a state-funded program. On Friday, the Defense Ministry announced evacuation plans for Kiryat Shmona, a town of more than 20,000 residents near the Lebanese border. Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group, which has a massive arsenal of long-range rockets, has traded fire with Israel along the border on a near-daily basis and hinted it might join the war if Israel seeks to annihilate Hamas. Israel's archfoe Iran supports both armed groups. President Joe Biden pledged unwavering support for Israel's security, today and always, while adding that the world cant ignore the humanity of innocent Palestinians" in the besieged Gaza Strip. In an address Thursday night from the Oval Office, hours after returning to Washington from an urgent visit to Israel, Biden drew a distinction between ordinary Palestinians and Hamas. He linked the current war in Gaza to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin "both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy. Biden said he was sending an urgent budget request to Congress on Friday, to cover emergency military aid to both Israel and Ukraine. Meanwhile, an unclassified U.S. intelligence assessment delivered to Congress estimated casualties in an explosion at a Gaza City hospital this week on the low end of 100 to 300 deaths. The death toll still reflects a staggering loss of life, said the report, seen by The Associated Press. It said intelligence officials were still assessing the evidence and their casualty estimate may evolve. The report echoed earlier assessments by U.S. officials that the blast at the al-Ahli hospital was not caused by an Israeli airstrike, as the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza initially reported. Israel has presented video, audio and other evidence it says proves the blast was caused by a rocket misfired by Palestinian militants. The AP has not independently verified any of the claims or evidence released by the parties. An Israeli airstrike hit a Greek Orthodox church housing displaced Palestinians near the hospital late Thursday. The Israeli military said it had targeted a Hamas command and control center nearby, causing damage to a church wall. In the immediate aftermath, Palestinian medics gave conflicting accounts of the number of wounded. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchy of Jerusalem condemned the attack and said it would not abandon its religious and humanitarian duty to provide assistance. The Israeli military has relentlessly attacked Gaza in retaliation for the devastating Oct. 7 Hamas attack. Even after Israel ordered a mass evacuation to the south, strikes extended across the territory, heightening fears among the territory's 2.3 million people that nowhere was safe. Palestinian militants have meanwhile fired daily rocket barrages into Israel from Gaza, and tensions have flared in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where 13 Palestinians, including five minors, were killed Thursday during a battle with Israeli troops in which Israel called in an airstrike, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The Gaza Health Ministry said 3,785 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, the majority women, children and older adults. Nearly 12,500 were injured, and another 1,300 people were believed buried under rubble, authorities said. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly civilians slain during Hamas deadly incursion. Roughly 200 others were abducted. The Israeli military said Thursday it had notified the families of 203 captives. In a fiery speech to Israeli infantry soldiers on the Gaza border, Gallant, the defense minister, urged the forces to be ready to move in. Israel has massed tens of thousands of troops along the border. Whoever sees Gaza from afar now, will see it from the inside," he said. It might take a week, a month, two months until we destroy them, he added, referring to Hamas. With supplies running low because of a complete Israeli siege, some Gaza residents are down to one meal a day and drinking dirty water. Egypt and Israel were still negotiating the entry of fuel for hospitals. Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Hamas has stolen fuel from U.N. facilities and Israel wants assurances that wont happen. The Gaza Health Ministry has pleaded with gas stations to give fuel to hospitals and a U.N. agency donated some of its last fuel. Gaza's sole power plant shut down last week, forcing Palestinians to rely on generators, and no fuel has gone in since the start of the war. The agency's donation to Gaza Citys Shifa Hospital, the territorys largest, would keep us going for another few hours, said Abu Selmia, the hospital director. ___ Krauss reported from Jerusalem and Kullab from Baghdad. Associated Press journalists Amy Teibel and Isabel Debre in Jerusalem; Samy Magdy and Jack Jeffrey in Cairo; Matthew Lee and Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington, and Ashraf Sweilam in el-Arish, Egypt, contributed to this report. 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 }} Thousands of information technology workers contracting with US companies have for years secretly sent millions of dollars of their wages to North Korea for use in its ballistic missile programme, FBI and Department of Justice officials said. The Justice Department said Wednesday that IT workers dispatched and contracted by North Korea to work remotely with companies in St Louis and elsewhere in the US have been using false identities to get the jobs. The money they earned was funneled to the North Korean weapons programme, FBI leaders said at a news conference in St Louis. Federal authorities announced the seizure of $1.5m and 17 domain names as part of the investigation, which is ongoing. Jay Greenberg, special agent in charge of the St Louis FBI office, said any company that hired freelance IT workers more than likely hired someone participating in the scheme. This scheme is so prevalent that companies must be vigilant to verify whom theyre hiring," Greenberg said in a news release. At a minimum, the FBI recommends that employers take additional proactive steps with remote IT workers to make it harder for bad actors to hide their identities. Officials didn't name the companies that unknowingly hired North Korean workers, or say when the practice began. Court documents allege that the government of North Korea dispatched thousands of skilled IT workers to live primarily in China and Russia with the goal of deceiving businesses from the U.S. and elsewhere into hiring them as freelance remote employees. The IT workers generated millions of dollars a year in their wages to benefit North Korea's weapons programmes. In some instances, the North Korean workers also infiltrated computer networks and stole information from the companies that hired them, the Justice Department said. They also maintained access for future hacking and extortion schemes, the agency said. Greenberg said the workers used various techniques to make it look like they were working in the US, including paying Americans to use their home Wi-Fi connections. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are high as North Korea has test-fired more than 100 missiles since the start of 2022 and the US has expanded its military exercises with its Asian allies, in tit-for-tat responses. In September, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called for an exponential increase in production of nuclear weapons and for his country to play a larger role in a coalition of nations confronting the United States in a new Cold War, state media said. In February, United Nations experts said that North Korean hackers working for the government stole record-breaking virtual assets last year estimated to be worth between $630m and more than $1bn. The panel of experts said in a report that the hackers used increasingly sophisticated techniques to gain access to digital networks involved in cyberfinance, and to steal information that could be useful in North Koreas nuclear and ballistic missile programmes from governments, individuals and companies. 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 }} Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni has left her partner Andrea Giambruno, a television journalist, who has drawn criticism in recent weeks over sexist comments. Ms Meloni told reporters last month that she should not be judged on Giambrunos remarks, and in future would not answer questions about his behaviour. The split comes as the 46-year-old prime minister celebrates her first year in office at the head of a right-wing coalition government that has defended the traditional family as one of its policy hallmarks. My relationship with Andrea Giambruno, which lasted almost 10 years, ends here, Ms Meloni wrote on her social media accounts. Our paths have diverged for some time, and the time has come to acknowledge it, she added. Ms Meloni said she would not be distracted by difficulties in her private life, saying that all those who hoped to weaken me by striking me at home would be unsuccessful. The couple, who met in a TV studio in 2014, have a seven-year-old daughter. Giambruno, 42, hosts the Diario del Giorno [Daily diary] programme on the Rete 4 commercial station. The programme is transmitted by Mediaset, part of the MFE media group, which is owned by the heirs of the late Silvio Berlusconi, a former prime minister and a Meloni ally. Giorgia Meloni arrives with her partner Andrea Giambruno, second from left, at the Vatican in January this year for an audience with Pope Francis (AP) This week, a satirical current affairs television show on Mediaset broadcast off-air video excerpts from Giambrunos programme, which showed him using foul language, touching his groin and appearing to make advances to a female colleague. Why didnt I meet you before?, he asks her. In a second audio recording, aired on Thursday, Giambruno is heard talking about being in an affair and telling female colleagues they can work with him if they take part in group sex. In August, Giambruno made a victim-blaming statement about a high-profile gang-rape case in the Sicilian capital Palermo. If you go dancing, you have every right to get drunk there shouldnt be any kind of misunderstanding and any kind of problem but if you avoid getting drunk and losing your senses, you might also avoid running into certain problems and coming across a wolf, he said. Giambruno was not immediately available for comment. Marco Furfaro of the opposition Democratic Party said Giambrunos comments were pure chauvinism and sexism ... uncommentable filth. 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 serial dine and dasher who faked having heart attacks to avoid paying the bill has finally been caught. Aidas J, 50, who is of Lithuanian nationality and lives in Alicante scammed 20 eateries in the area by refusing to pay the bill. He dramatically clutched his chest and fell to the floor as if he was having a heart attack, say several reports. Putting on a stellar performance, Aidas masqueraded as a Russian tourist and mixed together multiple languages. He would order multiple items on the menu before refusing to pay, revealed Spanish newspaper El Pais. The conman who dressed well in designer clothes always started with a Russian Salad, washed down with multiple glasses of whiskey, followed by a hearty main of entrecote or lobster, followed by more whisky for desert. The twentieth time Aidas tried his luck in a year caught the attention of the police, when the manager of Buen Comer restaurant Moises Domenech noticed him trying to flee. Mr Domenech told the Sun when he attempted to spree, he fell to the floor. She told the newspaper: It was very theatrical, he pretended to faint and slumped himself down on the floor. The offender ordered two whiskeys and seafood paella at El Buen Corner, receiving a bill for 34.85 Euros. He even sought medical attention for his heart problems and was even admitted to hospital, report El Pais. Aidas has only now been arrested after the last time he attempted to swerve the bill as he ignored court summons and fines, say the paper. The spokesperson for Alicante National Police told Insider: "He was arrested multiple times in the city of Alicante. The modus operandi was the same," she said. After a long string of offences, the conman has been jailed for 42 days but his crimes are considered minor as each bill was between 13 and 60. 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 have said. The attacks came as Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly address Moscow was losing control of the Black Sea. Russia launched overnight drone attacks today in Kharkiv, with multiple explosions heard, hitting a civilian site, said Kharkiv regional governor Oleh Synehubov. Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov said the fire was being brought under control but did not confirm whether 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. Vladimir Putins troops bombarded 118 Ukrainian towns and villages over the course of 24 hours on Thursday, 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 a UN-brokered deal allowing Ukrainian goods to pass through. 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 European Commission said Friday it is discussing with Bulgaria its introduction of a fee on Russian gas transits, a measure that has angered EU co-member Hungary as well as Serbia both recipients of Russian gas. Bulgaria last week introduced the new energy tax on Russian natural gas transfers through its territory. It believes the tax will reduce the privileged position of Russias state-owned energy company Gazprom in southeastern Europe and deter Russian influence in the region in general. We are assessing and discussing with the Bulgarian authorities this recently enacted measure, EC spokesperson Olof Gill said in Brussels on Friday. I can add that the EU sanctions policy towards Russia is designed, reviewed and adopted at EU level as has been the case since the beginning of the Russian aggression in Ukraine, he said. Russian officials have not commented on the new Bulgarian gas fee. Bulgaria was cut off from Gazprom shipments soon after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but it allowed the use of the Turk Stream pipeline that passes through its territory to supply Serbia and Hungary, two of the most pro-Russian governments in Europe. The new tax of 10 euros per megawatt-hour on the Russian gas transfers was introduced along with a special Bulgarian law implementing sanctions against Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine. Gas price calculation is measured in megawatts as it reflects the amount of energy that a particular amount of gas brings. The extraordinary transit fee has stirred anger in Serbia and Hungary, two of the recipients of Russian gas through the Turk Stream pipeline and a link via Bulgaria that is estimated to deliver an average of 43-45 million cubic meters per day. Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov has said that he will talk to his colleagues in Serbia and Hungary and try to reassure them that the decision is aimed at reducing the profits of Gazprom rather than increasing their financial burden. We do not expect higher prices in Serbia and Hungary, but less profits for Gazprom. That is, to reduce the funds that enter the state budget of Russia to wage the war, said Denkov, adding that with its deliveries to Serbia and Hungary, Russia aims to increase its influence there. Russia takes advantage of having access to the pipelines and releases gas without the corresponding fees, which creates unfair competition, Denkov said. The new tax on Russian gas prompted Hungarian and Serbian officials to accuse Bulgaria of a hostile act against their countries, which they said jeopardizes both countries' energy security. The extremely hostile action of the Bulgarians towards us is completely contrary to European solidarity, Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto recently told Hungarian state television. Szijjarto also said that Hungary and Serbia would soon release a joint statement on the matter. We are cooperating with the Serbs, and we will not leave this step unanswered, he said. Serbia almost completely depends on Russian gas and oil supplies. It is an attempt to squeeze out Russian gas without giving us any alternative, said Dusan Bajatovic, the head of Serbia's gas monopoly Srbijagas, recently. EU member Hungary and Serbia, Moscow's traditional ally, have maintained close political relations with Russia, despite the Russian aggression on Ukraine. ___ Associated Press writers Dusan Stojanovic in Belgrade and Justin Spike in Budapest contributed. FBI Statement on Israel-HAMAS Conflict During the Israel-HAMAS conflict, the FBI is continuing to monitor threats both in the United States and overseas. As the conflict continues, the FBI has seen an increase in reports of threats against Jewish, Muslim, and Arab communities and institutions. We take all potential threats seriously and are working closely with our law enforcement partners to determine their credibility, share information, and take appropriate investigative action. As always, we encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement. FBI field offices across the country are communicating not just with our law enforcement partners but also with faith-based organizations and the private sector, among others. To help keep our communities safe, we are talking with leaders of all faiths, including Jewish and Muslim leaders, sharing information, and asking them to let us know if they see anything concerning. Through our Legal Attache office in Tel Aviv, we are working with our Israeli and U.S. Embassy partners to identify all Americans who have been impacted in the region, including those who remain unaccounted for, and our victim services specialists are working closely with victims and their families here and abroad. Countering terrorism remains the FBIs number one priority, and we will not tolerate violence motivated by hate and extremism. We will continue to do everything in our power to protect the American people and pursue justice for the victims and their families. This story has been published on: 2023-10-20. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Russian FM visits DPRK Xinhua) 11:14, October 20, 2023 SEOUL, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Pyongyang on Wednesday for an official visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) at the invitation of the DPRK Foreign Ministry. Speaking at a reception Wednesday evening, DPRK Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui underscored the mutual support and close cooperation between the two countries, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. Choe expressed her expectation that based on the "historic agreement" reached by the two heads of state, the DPRK and Russia would use Lavrov's visit to expand their comprehensive and constructive relations on a higher level. Lavrov said that the recent meeting between the two heads of state has shown the will of the two countries to develop their bilateral relations into comprehensive strategic ties in line with the interests of their peoples. His visit aims to achieve tangible results in terms of implementing the agreement reached by the two leaders, the Russian foreign minister said. Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK visited Russia and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in September. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) While Transformers is nothing more than a way to extend the shelf-life of toy cars that twisted into robots, it does have the accessories young movie goers have come to love: car chases, battling bots and humans in peril. Read moreDVD REVIEW: 'Rise of the Beasts' fills in backstory on 'Transformers' 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 }} Ukrainian forces are fighting off a new Russian military onslaught in the bombarded eastern city of Avdiivka where intense fighting has been concentrated this month, senior military officials said. "The enemy is not relenting in attempts to break through our defences and surround (Avdiivka)," Ukraines commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhnyi said in a video posted on Telegram in which he is seen conferring with officers in Avdiivka and Kupiansk. The Ukrainian Army said they have continued to make gains in the southern part of the war-hit nation. The region has been hit by massive Russian attacks as the fighting has been intensified in recent weeks. "The enemy is actively bringing in assault units and large amounts of armoured equipment and using aircraft and artillery, the Ukrainian general said. Ukrainian forces have faced constant pressure on Avdiivka where Russia has regrouped and launched new assaults, Oleksandr Shtupun, spokesperson for the southern group of Ukrainian forces, said on Thursday. The city, about 20km (12 miles) west of Russian-held Donetsk saw a lull in the fighting in the last few days after witnessing heavy shelling and missile attacks last week. Russia said its forces destroyed a command point near Avdiivka and repelled 11 Ukrainian attacks near Kupiansk. Ukrainian general Zaluzhnyi said Ukrainian forces around Kupiansk were "maintaining their defence in the most difficult of conditions". A town next on radar for Russian forces to recapture, Avdiivka has seen months of attacks since Russias full-scale military assault in February last year. Known for its large coking plant, Avdiivka held out in 2014 against Russian-backed separatists who secured swathes of eastern Ukraine and it. Only 1,600 residents remain from a pre-war population of 32,000, officials said. Kupiansk was recaptured by Ukrainian troops late last year in a lightning advance through the countrys northeast, but Russian forces have stepped up attacks in a bid to retake it. In continued signs of progress, Ukrainian spokesperson Shutpun said the troops had made a degree of headway in the southern part of the frontline.The Ukrainian troops have advanced 400m (a quarter mile) to the southwest village of Verbove in Zaporizhzhia region. The troops fighting off Russian attacks in the southern part are looking to advance to the Sea of Azov and sever a land bridge linking Russian positions in the east and south. In another gain this week, Ukrainian forces have broken through the eastern bank of the Dnipro river in southern Kherson region in an offensive that can rupture Russias military lines across the critical river. When Ukrainian troops retook parts of Kherson region last year, Russian forces abandoned its biggest city, also called Kherson. They now shell the city from the opposite bank. 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 }} Doctors in Gaza have shared the horrors of trying to save lives in a warzone, amid warnings healthcare services are under attack as the conflict deepens. The World Health Organisation says there were 136 attacks on healthcare - including injured workers, damaged ambulances and facilities - in Gaza and the West Bank in the ten days since Hamas launched its attack on Israel on 7 October. The WHO told the Independent Gazas health system is on its knees, with the Ministry of Health in Gaza reporting four hospitals are now out of service due to airstrikes including Beit Hanoun, Hamad Rehabilitation, Karama and Durrah. Hundreds of children have been killed by Israeli air strikes since fighting broke out on 7 Oct (Anadolu via Getty Images) Days after an explosion at the Al Ahli hospital in Gaza, both sides dispute the cause and the scale of the devastation. Palestinian officials claim 471 people were killed on Tuesday, blaming an Israeli airstrike, while Israel says the death toll was significantly lower and believes a failed Islamic Jihad rocket launch was the cause. A US intelligence report claims the death toll was anywhere between 100 and 300 people. British surgeon Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah, working at Al Ahli when the blast occurred, described the chaos that ensued. There was an almighty screech followed by an explosion, he said. The light from the fire lit up the whole courtyard and you could see it was full of bodies and bits of bodies. There were screaming people everywhere. One guy had his leg blown off at the thigh, I used his belt as a tourniquet. Palm trees were on fire. Cars and ambulances were destroyed. Hundreds of Palestinians were sheltering with their family in the Al Ahli Hospital after being displaced (AP) Dr Ghassan is a British surgeon in Gaza and says that forty percent of casualties they are treating at Al Shifa hospital are children (Medical Aid Palestine) Insecurity Insight, an independent organisation supporting aid agencies with data on attacks on healthcare during conflict, reported 94 attacks across both sides, with 90 of these said to have taken place in Gaza and the West Bank. There have been four documented attacks on healthcare by Hamas militants in Israel. Dr Michael Ryan, executive director of the WHO health emergencies programme, called for an end to attacks on medics who are just trying to save lives. Healthcare is not the target, it should never be a target of anyone in conflict, he said. That is enshrined in international humanitarian law. Were seeing this breached again and again and again over the last week and it has to stop. We cannot leave doctors and nurses to make the choices theyre having to make. It is inhuman. A relative of a Palestinian killed in an airstrike mourns at a hospital in Rafah (AFP via Getty Images) On 14 October, Israel ordered 22 hospitals in northern Gaza to evacuate as they prepared for an increase in military action in the region through land, air and sea. Doctors on the ground found themselves bound by duty to resist evacuation orders which the UN has called a death sentence. One medic, Dr Ahmed Muhanna, says he regularly gets calls from Israeli forces demanding hospital premises are evacuated in preparation for an attack. Ive stopped picking up their calls now, he told The Independent. How can we evacuate all of these people? Its impossible. Where can we go? Nowhere is safe. Its wrong by all laws of humanity and ethics. Its a crime. My team and I have taken an oath to help these people. We will not leave them. We will stay. Broken windows due to the effects of Israeli shelling at the Jabaliyya Hospital (AWDA) Medics report damage to facilities as a result of Israeli shelling (AWDA) He says that 75 per cent of the people at the hospitals he overseas across Jabaliyya and Awda in northern Gaza are women and children. I have their documents, their ID and photos of every single patient if you want evidence. Every person here is a civilian. While supporting patients at Jabaliyya Hospital, Dr Muhanna says surrounding residential buildings were struck killing four of his medical staff including their children and families. One of the nurses told me shed see me tomorrow, shed be back in work, he said. While she slept, she was killed with her husband and kids. The attacks have damaged our facilities here too. One part of the building has had walls and ceilings fallen in. Eleven people were injured including a 13 year-old girl with shrapnel injuries. Thats not even to mention the mental health impact on patients. Medics report dozens of attacks on facilities since 7 October including AWDA Primary Health Centre (pictured) (AWDA ) The situation is exacerbated by the total siege on Gaza that has severed power and water supplies in the enclave, leaving the health system on its knees, according to the WHO. The situation in Gaza is deteriorating very fast, a WHO spokesperson told The Independent. Hospitals are doing all they can to keep the most critical functions running due to fuel shortage. Many lifesaving medicines have run out, doctors are having to operate on patients without anesthesia. What little is left will run out in a few days. WHO is concerned about disease outbreaks due to poor water and sanitation and estimated displacement of one million people. Medical agencies are also eager to stress attacks have pre-dated the Hamas incursion. Medical Aid for Palestinians said aid workers in the West Bank asked for protective gear including bullet proof vests and helmets months ago. They go out in the morning and they kiss their kids goodbye because they genuinely dont know if they will make it home by the end of the day, MAPs Rohan Talbot said. The United States vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution on Wednesday that would have called for humanitarian pauses in the conflict to allow humanitarian aid access to the Gaza Strip. Israel has said it will allow no aid from its own territory to reach Gaza until more than 200 hostages captured by the gunmen are set free, a position Palestinians say amounts to unlawful collective punishment of the civilian population. So far more than 1,400 people are now believed to have died from the Hamas attacks. As of Friday, 3,785 Palestinians have been killed including more than 1,500 children, Palestinian officials say. 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 head of the UN has said that aid trucks stuck on Egypts border with Gaza are the difference between life and death to many people during a desperate plea to make them move as quickly as possible. The enclave has been facing near-constant aerial bombardment by Israel in retaliation for a cross-border attack by Hamas almost two weeks ago that killed around 1,400 people and saw up to 200 hostages taken into Gaza. On top of air strikes, Israel has also enacted a total blockade of the strip, which has left water, power, fuel, food and medical supplies either having run out completely or dwindling. Officials in Hamas-ruled Gaza say that more than 4,000 people have been killed since the Israeli bombardment began. Speaking on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing, Gazas only border point not controlled by Tel Aviv, Antonio Guterres said: These trucks are not just trucks they are a lifeline, they are the difference between life and death to many people in Gaza. To see them stuck here makes me very clear what we need is to make them move, to make them move to the other side of this wall, to make them move as quickly as possible and as many as possible, he added. It comes as Israel prepares for an expected ground offensive into Gaza. The countrys defence minister, Yoav Gallant, laid out the objectives of the militarys campaign against Hamas to the Israeli parliaments foreign affairs and defence committee on Friday. The first stage was the current military operation, meant to destroy Hamass infrastructure, Mr Gallant said, involving airstrikes and ground operations. Then the military would defeat pockets of resistance. The third phase will require the removal of Israels responsibility for life in the Gaza Strip and the establishment of a new security reality for the citizens of Israel, the minister said, without offering more detail. Mr Gallant did not say who Israel expected to run Gaza if and when Hamas is toppled. It came after a fiery speech on Thursday to Israeli infantry soldiers on the Gaza border, in which Mr Gallant urged them to be ready to move in. Israel has called up some 360,000 reserves and massed tens of thousands of troops along the Gaza border. Whoever sees Gaza from afar now, will see it from the inside, he said. It might take a week, a month, two months until we destroy them, he added, referring to Hamas. Destoyed buildings in al-Zahra, south of Gaza City (AFP/Getty) The Israeli military said it had hit 100 Hamas operational targets into Friday, claiming the strikes were aimed at destroying tunnel shafts, munitions warehouses and dozens of operational headquarters. Palestinians in Gaza reported heavy airstrikes in Khan Younis, a town in the territorys south, and ambulances carrying men, women and children streamed into the local Nasser hospital. An airstrike hit a Greek Orthodox church housing displaced Palestinians near the hospital late Thursday. The military said it had targeted a Hamas command centre nearby, causing damage to a church wall. Gazas Hamas-run health ministry said 16 Palestinian Christians were killed. The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the main Palestinian Christian denomination, said targeting churches that were used as shelters for people fleeing bombing was a war crime that cannot be ignored. Video from the scene showed a destroyed building and a wounded boy being carried from the rubble at night. Inside Gaza, doctors and health officials told The Independent that they will soon be forced to switch off dialysis machines which could result in the deaths of 1,000 kidney failure patients. They added that they were improvising with medicines to treat the wounded and begging petrol stations for fuel to keep their generators on. Dr Ashraf al-Qudra, a spokesperson for the health ministry, issued a plea that hospitals across the besieged strip were in dire need of every pill, every medical consumable, every drop of fuel, every member of staff, every bed and every ambulance. Israeli tanks seen on a road near Israels border with the Gaza Strip (Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters) Families, meanwhile, said they were in a living hell. More than a million people have been displaced in Gaza, while Israel has issued orders to evacuate the northern part of Gaza ahead of the expected ground offensive. Though prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had called areas in south Gaza safe zones earlier this week, Israeli military spokesman Nir Dinar said on Friday: There are no safe zones. Thousands have taken refuge in UN schools or shelters as well as hospitals, but this has added to the complications in trying to treat those who are wounded. Sara, 21, a student who is twice displaced with her family and is now in the south of the enclave, is living with 30 people to a room. She said the rest of her extended family were trying to shelter in a UN school in horrific conditions. There is no electricity, no water, no toilets. This is the fifth war and these are the most terrifying days of my entire life. UN officials said that with the bombings across all of Gaza, some Palestinians who had fled the north appeared to be going back. The strikes, coupled with extremely difficult living conditions in the south, appear to have pushed some to return to the north, despite the continuing heavy bombing there, Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN human rights office, said. Filippo Grandi, the UN high commissioner for refugees, said: [I] can tell you with certainty that any further escalation or even continuation of military activities will just be catastrophic for the people of Gaza. Palestinians search the destroyed annex of the Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius Church (AFP/Getty) A ground operation would only increase the need for aid, but there appeared little prospect of the amount aid agencies say is required making it into Gaza. Egypts foreign minister hit out at the suggestion that his country was holding up matters, blaming Israel instead. He said that Western media were holding Egypt responsible for the crossing closure despite Israeli targeted attacks and refusal of aid entry. Work began on Friday to repair the border road that had been damaged in airstrikes, with trucks unloading gravel and bulldozers and other road repair equipment filling in large craters. Earlier, the United States had said details of a deal to send aid through the Rafah crossing were still being hammered out. Agreement had been reached for the passage of the first 20 trucks, it revealed. UN officials have said this will be a fraction of what is needed. Before the latest conflict, about 450 aid trucks were arriving there daily. Hamas called talking about 20 trucks an attempt to throw dust in the eyes that is misleading to the public opinion about resolving the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Israel said on Friday morning that the status of aid into Gaza through Egypt was still to be determined. Fuel was not on the list of supplies Tel Aviv said would be allowed into the strip. Israel has said it will allow no aid to enter from its territory until Hamas releases the hostages it took. It has said aid can enter through Egypt as long as it does not end up in the hands of Hamas. Egypt and Israel are still negotiating the entry of fuel for hospitals. Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said Hamas has stolen fuel from UN facilities and Israel wants assurances that wont happen again. Juliette Touma, from the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, the UNRWA, said Gaza has become a hellhole over the last couple of weeks. Speaking to the BBC, she said: Time is running out. It has been almost two weeks. Two very long weeks UNRWA has not been able to bring in any supplies into Gaza. Britains prime minister Rishi Sunak visited Egypt on Friday, having visited Israel the previous day. He held talks with the president of Egypt, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, with Downing Street saying the UKs priority is to focus on the opening of the Rafah crossing to allow humanitarian aid to enter and for British nationals to leave the bombarded territory. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Sunak said: All leaders must work together to avoid any regional escalation and ensure humanitarian aid reaches civilians in Gaza. Mr Sunak also met Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas in Cairo and expressed his deep condolences for the loss of civilian lives in Gaza. The two leaders also agreed on the need for all parties to take steps to protect civilians and stressed that Hamas do not represent the Palestinian people, Mr Sunaks office said in a statement. On Saturday, a hastily convened Cairo Peace Summit will bring together several Arab and European heads of state and government, alongside foreign ministers. It will include Mr Abbas, Jordanian King Abdullah, UK foreign secretary James Cleverly, Chinas envoy for Middle East issues Zhai Jun, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterres, and European Council president Charles Michel among others. However, the lack of top-level US representation has dampened expectations of what might be achieved. 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 }} It has been nearly a week since the first Israeli evacuation orders were handed down to Palestinian civilians in Gaza to head southward, sparking fears that a ground offensive in the north was imminent. After Hamas militants broke into Israel on 7 October, killing more than a thousand innocent victims, Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been clear that a retaliatory attack to destroy the group will happen. Through extensive research and conversations with experts, The Independent explains what this incursion could look like and the myriad hurdles that Israel must overcome to make sure it is a success. The first 24 hours Urban warfare is widely regarded as the most dangerous form of fighting. Combat in close confines makes it difficult to foresee enemy fighters and multi-storey buildings vulnerable to collapse combine to pose a significant threat to life. The battlefield is also filled with civilians protected under international law. An Israeli urban incursion into Gaza more specifically is made harder by two additional problems. Firstly, there are hostages throughout the enclave and their locations are not all known. Secondly, the full extent of weapons held by Hamas and Islamic Jihad, another militant organisation in Gaza, is also unknown. A three-tiered air column 60,000 feet tall will be vital to counteract this, according to Anthony King, a professor of War Studies at Exeter University. A friend of Israeli student Noa Argamani, one of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas, stands with a sign showing her face (AFP via Getty Images) It will prevent both the immediate singular threats surrounding the soldiers and help guide the larger armed convoy, which includes tanks, armoured personnel carriers (APCs) and mine-clearance vehicles, through the enclave without being targeted by heavier Hamas weaponry. The column will include micro drones and attack helicopters immediately overhead, larger surveillance and kamikaze unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operating from the second tier and fighter jets with strike capabilities high in the air. In front of the soldiers, who look to be heading into the enclave from the north, which they have tried to evacuate, will be a series of defensive lines erected by Hamas. They include mines, ambush sites and mortar targets, according to a recent review by Nadav Morag, a former Israeli security advisor. It is widely suspected that areas will also be booby-trapped, including doors laden with explosives, to incur additional damage after Hamas militants have withdrawn from positions. Snipers will also be positioned in obscured areas, firing at soldiers as they make their way through the streets. Israeli soldiers preparing the scenario of a ground maneuvre near the Gaza border (EPA) Tunnels, traps and Hamas Israeli intelligence from 2021 estimated that the total number of rockets available to factions in Gaza was roughly 30,000, though that total may have increased since. A similar number of militants are believed to be in the Strip. While it is not known how many Israeli soldiers will be used for the ground offensive - 360,000 reservists have been called up to supplement 170,000 active soldiers since October 7, though many will be used as a deterrent to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon - the fact remains that the personnel power of Israel far exceeds that of Hamas. Hamas and Islamic Jihad also have their own drones, including those that can be packed with explosions and remotely navigated toward a target, as well as those that loiter in the air and deliver munitions from above. An unknown quantity of assault rifles, machine guns and grenades will also be available to militants. Most importantly, Hamas has spent more than 15 years building a network of underground tunnels beneath the Strip, known as the Gaza Metro. Israels foreign ministry claims that at least 1,370 tunnels have been built since 2007. They are often between 10 and 20 metres beneath the ground and up to two metres in height. Colin P. Clarke, director of research at The Soufan Group, an intelligence consultancy, told The Independent that fighting in these tunnels is a nightmare scenario for Israel, adding that their knowledge of the tunnel network may be incomplete. Preparing to fight in such terrain is incredibly difficult and would require extensive intelligence on what the network of tunnels looks like, which the Israelis may not have, he said. Clearing tunnels is a nightmare scenario for the soldiers doing it, and like the urban warfare taking place on the surface, its a slow, methodical process. Ground mobile drones, uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs), and other intelligence assets may be used to map the tunnels and identify booby traps before sending soldiers to clear them. Some air-delivered munitions, referred to as bunker busters, may be used; however, these are primarily used to target key command and control nodes. Also, the dense urban terrain in Gaza may limit their use due to the anticipated collateral damage. In addition to being used as storage facilities, command centres and for transportation, the tunnels have also been used to mount attacks. Given potential gaps in knowledge regarding the whereabouts and extent of these tunnels, Israeli soldiers will have to be on high alert for militants appearing out of nowhere. Palestinians wave their national flag and celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the southern Gaza Strip fence (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) The second stage The second stage of Israels offensive, once the major Hamas positions have been captured, will be maintaining a presence in the Strip, at least temporarily. That carries with it novel problems. Sir Tom Beckett, a retired lieutenant general for the British Army, wrote in a piece for the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) that once [Israel] stops attacking and starts occupying, it will lose the initiative by becoming a garrison located in fixed sites. This means they will face a heightened threat from insurgents hiding among civilians or in tunnels that went undiscovered during the first stage of the offensive, all the while remaining largely static. Until all hostages are rescued and Hamas neutralised, it will be difficult for Israeli forces to leave the Strip without failing to achieve their stated aim of preventing the group from being able to revive itself. David Makovsky, an expert on Arab-Israel relations at The Washington Institute, said this necessary high bar for Israeli success means there is a low bar for Hamas to claim victory. They can essentially pop up after the attack and sell their survival as a success, he told The Independent. This underscores the need for Israel to somehow eradicate the threat of Hamas entirely without spending too long in a vulnerable position within the Strip. An injured child is brought to the Nassr hospital after Israeli airstrikes in southern Gaza (Anadolu via Getty Images) How will the region react? An Iranian-led axis of resistance poses a significant additional threat to Israel, one that is heightened both by a ground offensive and a temporary occupation of Gaza. Just above Israels northern border, members of Hezbollah, a militant organisation turned de facto leader of southern Lebanon, and which is armed by Iran, have been intermittently firing missiles into Israeli territory over the past week. In Tehran, the Iranian capital, senior officials, including the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have repeatedly called for Israel to be destroyed following a campaign of airstrikes in Gaza. If the crimes of the Israeli regime continue, Muslims and resistance forces will become impatient, and no one can stop them, Khamenei said. The bombardment of Gaza must stop immediately. We all have a responsibility to react; we must react. If Israel proceeds with a ground offensive, Mr Makovsky said, the odds of an Iranian response clearly go up. Whether that translates to the opening of a second front or regional escalation, however, is doubtful. Ali Ansari, a professor of Iranian Studies, said the theocratic regime in Tehran was basically cheering Hamas on from afar. The minute there is this anxiety about a wider escalation, or that Iran may be a target, theres a clear distancing from Tehran to Palestinians, he added. The Iranian regime is also still wary of domestic unrest following mass protests that began last September, he said, making launching a war more difficult. Lebanese army soldiers scuffle with protesters during a demonstration, in solidarity with the Palestinian people (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Eye in the sky Senior Israeli military figures said last weekend that poor weather had prevented a swift incursion; aerial surveillance, either with drones or spy planes, is vital to the safety of soldiers on the ground but near-impossible in cloudy conditions. But when those conditions abated on Monday, still there was no ground offensive. The reasons the incursion has not happened yet are multifaceted, relating to a heightened risk of regional escalation and a wider Western call to protect Palestinian civilians caught in the crossfires. But primarily, it is due to the seismic task of safely sending Israeli soldiers into a highly volatile, densely-populated region filled with armed militants and hostages, the locations of whom are not fully known. A need to protect Palestinians UK prime minister Rishi Sunak reiterated in a televised meeting with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday that the country had a right to defend herself against Hamas. But he added that measures must be put in place to avoid harming [Palestinian] civilians in Gaza, a caveat that many Western leaders have made in the past week. While the solidarity showed by the West to Israel is unparalleled, Mr Makavosky said, what these comments show is that there are now very candid conversations taking place about protecting the lives of civilians. With no one is that more important than with the US. When Joe Biden visited Israel on Wednesday, he became the first US president to travel to the country during a time of war. He also became only the second president in history to travel to two warzones in one calendar year. But with that level of embrace ... comes a degree of influence, Mr Makovsky said. For all this intimacy, now that the US has two aircraft carriers on the coast, it gives them more influence on the table, he said, noting that it was close to a strings attached relationship. A ground offensive is inevitable, he said, but the breathing space afforded by the West to Israel to conduct such an attack now rests on its provisions of humanitarian aid. Close Brit in Gaza describes desperate scene at Rafah crossing For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected calls for a temporary halt to his countrys attacks on Gaza unless hostages held by Hamas militants are freed, despite pleas by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to do so to allow aid to enter the Palestinian enclave. Israel refuses a temporary ceasefire that does not include the return of our hostages, he said during a televised address. He told Mr Blinken: We are going full steam ahead. At the same time, the leader of Lebanons Hezbollah warned the US that preventing a regional conflict depended on stopping the Israeli bombardments of Gaza, and raised the spectre of fighting on the Lebanese front turning into a full-fledged war. Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, in his first speech since the war erupted nearly four weeks ago, also hinted his Iran-backed group was ready to confront US warships in the Mediterranean. Whoever wants to prevent a regional war, and I am talking to the Americans, must quickly halt the aggression on Gaza, Nasrallah said. Israel says it bombed an ambulance at al-Shifa Hospital, Gazas largest, accusing Hamas of using it to carry terrorists and weapons. Close IDF strike Hamas targets in Gaza For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Israeli military has said its ground forces are expanding their activity in the Gaza Strip, as lines of communication in the enclave have gone down. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the armys spokesman, said aerial attacks had been targeting Hamas tunnels and other targets. In addition to the attacks that we carried out in recent days, ground forces are expanding their activity this evening, he said on Friday evening. The IDF is acting with great force ... to achieve the objectives of the war. Israel has amassed hundreds of thousands of troops along the border with Gaza ahead of an expected ground offensive against the Hamas militant group. Airstrikes have intensified since nightfall and the territorys internet and mobile communications services collapsed on Friday evening. Meanwhile, the US said its fighter jets struck two Iranian facilities in Syria, after repeated attacks on US coalition forces in the region by an Iran-backed militia in the past week. The strikes were not carried out in coordination with Israel, which has been engaged in its own clashes with Iran-backed Hezbollah forces on the border with Lebanon, a US official said. Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the IndyTech email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Earth has been hit by a powerful blast of energy from the very depths of the universe. The fast radio burst is the most distant of its kind of ever seen, coming from so far away that it has travelled eight billion years to get to Earth. It is also astonishingly powerful, one of the most energetic of its kind ever seen. In less than a second, it released the same energy that comes out of the Sun in more than 30 years. Fast radio bursts are intense, short bursts of energy that come from unknown but extreme activity in space. Scientists are still unsure of how they are formed, but explanations have included everything from extraterrestrial technology to neutron stars. The newly discovered burst appears to come from a small group of merging galaxies, scientists say, which helps support current theories about where they come from. But the intensity of the burst is harder to explain, which challenges our understanding of how they are actually emitted. While we still dont know what causes these massive bursts of energy, the paper confirms that fast radio bursts are common events in the cosmos and that we will be able to use them to detect matter between galaxies, and better understand the structure of the Universe, said Ryan Shannon, from the Swinburne University of Technology. The blasts could be useful ways of answering some of the deepest questions about our cosmos, such as how much it actually weighs. At the moment, attempts to answer that have led to confusing results. If we count up the amount of normal matter in the Universe the atoms that we are all made of we find that more than half of what should be there today is missing, said Professor Shannon. We think that the missing matter is hiding in the space between galaxies, but it may just be so hot and diffuse that its impossible to see using normal techniques. Fast radio bursts sense this ionised material. Even in space that is nearly perfectly empty they can see all the electrons, and that allows us to measure how much stuff is between the galaxies. The blast was spotted last year, using a telescope in Japan. Researchers then used other telescopes to verify the find and examine it in more detail. Using ASKAPs array of dishes, we were able to determine precisely where the burst came from, said Stuart Ryder, the first author on the paper. Then we used the European Southern Observatory (ESO) Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile to search for the source galaxy, finding it to be older and further away than any other FRB source found to date, and likely within a small group of merging galaxies. The findings are reported in a new paper, A luminous fast radio burst that probes the Universe at redshift 1, published in the journal Science. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice A pregnant host on the rental website Airbnb was left devastated after damage caused by guests flooded her three-storey housing unit, leaving her family homeless and in debt. In a thread shared on Twitter/X, superhost Erika said when guests clogged a toilet in her upstairs unit with baby wipes and human waste, an overnight leak flooded the building, landing her with $300,000 in costs and leaving her with nowhere to live. As the owner of the two flat building in San Fransico, Erika, along with her husband, planned to hire out their upstairs unit on Airbnb until the baby arrived so it would be available when family came to help with the newborn. On 14 April, after month-long guests checked out early, waterfalls of water started pouring from the ceiling and light fixtures of the ground floor flat. Airbnb advised Erika to file a claim against the guest, who refused to pay the estimated costs, before a third-party investigation and the case for Host Damage Protection could be made. The supposedly up to $3m AirCover policy doesnt cover helping displaced hosts find accommodation, so Erikas growing family were forced to move three times before June. This week, Erika claims Airbnbs final offer of $31,000 compensation covers just 10 per cent of her estimated $300,379 expenses from the last six months of repairs. Airbnbs official Twitter/X account responded to Erikas thread saying: Hello Erika, thank you for bringing this to our attention. Please send us the email connected to the Airbnb account via a DM, and well follow up. Erika says there is still no timeline for moving back into the house after over 146 back-and-forth emails with Airbnb support. The Independent has reached out to Airbnb for comment. Its not the first time an Airbnb host has been left to clean up after disrespectful guests. In 2019, a host was left shocked after hundreds of drug-taking ravers trashed her multi-million pound London home. 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 British visitors to the European Union will not need an online eurovisa until 2025 at the earliest. The Electronic Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias), which will require citizens of the UK and other third countries to register ahead of travel to the EU, is running years behind schedule. The European Councils Justice and Home Affairs Council, which is meeting in Brussels, has now also endorsed a new timeline for the roll-out of the Entry/Exit System the EU database that will replace manual passport stamping with electronic registration. The council said in a statement: The new roadmap for the delivery of the new IT architecture foresees that the Entry/Exit System will be ready to enter into operation in autumn 2024. It was originally expected to take effect in 2021. Once in operation, the Entry/Exit System will require British travellers to have their fingerprints and a facial biometric taken. The procedure is likely to extend processing times significantly. The Slovenian government has warned: It takes up to four times longer to do the new process. There is still uncertainty about how the necessary biometrics will be obtained at hard EU frontiers in the UK, such as the Port of Dover and the LeShuttle Channel Tunnel terminal at Folkestone. Etias depends on the Entry/Exit System to be functioning. The council said Etias will be ready to enter into operation in spring 2025. It is likely that there will be a soft launch of Etias, with the system becoming mandatory only six months later. If that is the case, British travellers to the EU will not need to invest in an Etias for another two years. Etias will cover the Schengen Area, which includes almost all European Union nations (but not Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland or Romania), plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. It will apply for the nationals of dozens of countries for which a full Schengen Area visa is not required, including Tonga, Venezuela and the United Kingdom. Currently the fee is set at 7 (6) for a permit that will be valid for up to three years. Etias will not be necessary for British citizens travelling to Ireland. They are allowed unlimited free movement under the Common Travel Agreement, which pre-dates and transcends European Union rules. Close Storm Babet: Plane skids off runway at Leeds Bradford Airport amid extreme weather 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 }} New flood warnings are expected to last into next week, the Environment Agency has said, after the torrential rain brought by Storm Babet saw hundreds of properties submerged in water. Maureen Gilbert, an 83-year-old grandmother who died trying to flee her flooded home in Derbyshire, was confirmed on Sunday to be one of as many as seven people killed during weather-related indicents since Storm Babet made landfall. Meanwhile, the Met Office has issued further overnight warnings for ice, which will remain in force in Scotland and northern England until 9am on Monday. In England, where more than 1,250 properties have been flooded, Nottinghamshire County Council urged residents in 500 homes to evacuate as it declared a major incident in Retford due to high water levels along the River Idle. The Environment Agency said more flood warnings are expected for some of the worst affected areas into next week despite severe flood warnings, meaning risk of death or serious injury, being lifted. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice A Tui plane has skidded off the runway onto the grass at Leeds Bradford airport, as Storm Babet wreaks havoc across the UK with heavy rain and wind. Emergency services were called to the incident, and were working alongside airport staff to remove passengers from the Tui Boeing 737 Max aircraft. No one was hurt in the incident, but the closure of the runway has triggered diversions and delays. Emergency services are at the scene while no passengers were injured in the landing (Bradford T&A / SWNS) open image in gallery Dramatic footage shared on social media showed the aircraft surrounded by firecrews, with other flights grounded at the airport. Tui flight TOM3551 had flown normally from the Greek island of Corfu. A statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, by West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service read: We are in attendance at an incident at Aircraft Ground Incident at Leeds Bradford Airport, in conjunction with other emergency services. At this time, there are no reported injuries or fires. West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service command unit has now been stood down and remaining crews are now assisting in evacuating all persons from the aircraft to the terminal. A spokesperson for Tui said: We are aware of an incident at Leeds Bradford airport this afternoon, in which upon landing flight TOM3551 slightly veered off while turning into the taxiway. There are no reported injuries, and our ground team are on hand to support passengers as they disembark. With the emergency services in attendance, take-offs and landings have been halted with a series of diversions to Manchester by incoming flights from Belfast on easyJet, Palma on Ryanair and Malaga on Jet2. Dozen of departures are delayed with no indication of when they might resume. The incident came as Yorkshire was hit by heavy rain and strong winds caused during Storm Babet, which has caused severe travel disruption across the industry. In September 2022, a cargo plane veered off the runway at Montpellier airport in southern France, causing many cancellations. On the railways, the entire LNER network has come to an almost total halt because of Storm Babet. Storm Babet has wreaked havoc across the UK (PA) open image in gallery The train operator on the East Coast main line from Scotland, northeast England and Yorkshire to London Kings Cross said: Severe weather is causing major disruption to train services. Many rail routes are suspended. Please do not travel today. We have services severely delayed across the route and we are working with Network Rail to get these trains moving as soon as possible. A new red weather warning has been issued across Scotland which will be in place until midnight on Saturday 21 October and the railway north of Edinburgh remains closed. Following this, a full safety inspection of the rail network is required by Network Rail Scotland before any rail routes can be reopened. We therefore do not expect to run any rail services north of Edinburgh until Monday 23 October. 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 Following the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza and the escalating tensions in the region, the US State Department has issued a worldwide travel advisory, warning Americans to exercise increased caution to avoid becoming victims of possible terror attacks. The alert came after widespread protests have broken out across the Middle East after hundreds are believed to have died in an explosion at the al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza. Palestinian officials have blamed an Israeli airstrike for the blast, while the Israeli military said the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group is responsible blaming an alleged faulty launch of a rocket intended to hit Israel. The PIJ has also denied responsibility. US officials, including President Joe Biden, have sided with the IDF, publicly stating that Israel Probably Did Not Bomb Gaza Strip Hospital. The explosion caused widespread anger across the Middle East, including in Lebanon where protestors set the US embassy in Beirut on fire. The US initially issued travel advice warning Americans not to travel to Lebanon, but the advisory has since been updated to caution US citizens travelling anywhere in the world. The move came one day after Mr Biden returned from a visit to Tel Aviv to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pledging the USs support for Israel. So is it safe for Americans to travel right now? The latest government advisory warns all Americans to exercise caution when travelling anywhere in the world and specifically not to travel to Gaza, the West Bank, Israel and Lebanon. The worldwide travel advisory, issued by the State Department on 20 October, warned Americans to exercise caution when travelling due to the possibility of terror attacks. Due to increased tensions in various locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against US citizens and interests, the Department of State advises US citizens overseas to exercise increased caution, the agency warned. US citizens should stay alert in locations frequented by tourists. The State Department has also urged Americans not to travel to Gaza due to the risk of terrorism, civil unrest, and armed conflict. US citizens have also been urged to reconsider travelling to the West Bank and Israel. open image in gallery US embassy in Beirut is in flames amid protests (Anadolu via Getty Images) Terrorist groups, lone-actor terrorists and other violent extremists continue plotting possible attacks in Israel and the West Bank and Gaza. Terrorists and violent extremists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities, the department warned. Violence can occur in Israel and the West Bank and Gaza without warning, the advisory continued. The State Department also noted that there has been a marked increase in demonstrations throughout Israel, some with little or no warning. A do not travel advisory was also issued for Lebanon following the outbreak of violent protests outside the US embassy in Beirut. The advisory warned Americans to avoid demonstrations and exercise caution if in the vicinity of any large gatherings due to the unpredictable security situation related to rocket, missile, and artillery exchanges between Israel and Hizballah or other armed militant factions. Non-emergency US government workers and their families have been authorised to leave the four regions. Emmerdale star Samantha Giles has shared that she used a witchcraft love spell on her husband. The actor, 52, appeared on This Morning on Friday, 20 October, discussing her Wicca religion. Its a way of life, she told hosts Alison Hammon and Dermot OLeary before sharing how she manifested her husband Sean Pritchard, who she met 17 years ago in 2005." I did a love spell to manifest my husband... I'd had a few shoddy boyfriends so I wanetd to be a bit more specific with what I was after, Giles explained. "Sometimes going against type is a good thing to do." Irish soldiers about to be deployed to a peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon have said they are not afraid as they prepare to travel to a region of high tensions. Violence between Israel and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon has flared in recent days as fears grow that the fighting between Israel and Hamas could disrupt other areas across the Middle East. The 123rd battalion will see 334 Irish personnel and nine people from Malta deployed to the United Nation Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) next month. The commanding officer of the 123rd battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Mac Eoin, said his soldiers are ready to go and do their job. A journalist revealed live on air that two of his family were among hostages held in Gaza. Though they were released on Friday 20 October, Martin Fletcher told MSNBC before that two members of his wifes family had been kidnapped by Hamas. The former NBC Tel Aviv bureau chief struggled to hide his emotions as he said that American citizens Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie were taken while visiting family in Israel. They were released as part of a deal brokered by Qatar and were handed over to the Israeli military, an IDF spokesperson said. Rishi Sunak told reporters that sending humanitarian aid to Gaza is his "immediate priority" as he prepared to leave Cairo following meetings with Egyptian and Palestinian leaders on Friday, 20 October. The prime minister held talks with president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas. Downing Street said Mr Sunak expressed his "deep condolences" for the loss of civilian lives in Gaza, including in the blast at the Al Ahli hospital earlier this week. Speaking to Sky News, Mr Sunak said: "We all share a vision of a future where Palestinian people can live with dignity, freedom, and security." Ten days after they kidnapped 199 people from Israel, Hamas released a video of 21-year-old Mia Shem, a French-Israeli woman who was abducted from the Nova music festival. In the film, Mia is seen receiving medical attention for her injured arm from someone off-camera. She states that she is being well looked after, pleads for help to bring her home, and looks visibly scared. The video offered our first glimpse into the captivity that these hostages are enduring. It is whats known as a proof of life confirmation that the person has been taken hostage (thats not always clear at first), and that they are still alive (that there is something to be negotiated over). While it is impossible to imagine the distress her family felt at seeing Mias condition, the video will likely be a source of some hope and comfort; their daughter and sister is still alive. For negotiators, a proof of life also confirms they are in contact with the right group; it is not uncommon for people to insert themselves into the process in the hope of intercepting a ransom payment or disrupting discussions. The short film is a form of communication. We must assume that Mias words were scripted, and Hamas are using her to send a number of messages: to their supporters and base, that they are caring for the hostages; to the Israeli government, that they are powerful and defiant; and to the wider world, they are attempting to undermine the widespread narrative of their barbarity. 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 }} Hamas released two American hostages from captivity on Friday, two weeks after they were kidnapped and transported to Gaza by the Palestinian militant group during its deadly rampage through southern Israel. Judith Raanan, 59, and her daughter Natalie, 17, were released to the Red Cross and are now in the hands of the Israeli military. An image of the pair was later released by the Israeli government showing them accompanied by Israeli soldiers after crossing the border. Natalies father Uri Raanan said that he spoke to his daughter on Friday. Shes doing good. Shes doing very good, he said. Im in tears, and I feel very, very good. Mr Raanan, 71, from Chicago, said he saw on the news earlier on Friday that an American mother and daughter would be released by Hamas, and he spent the day hoping that meant his daughter and her mother, Judith. Knowing Natalie may be able to celebrate her 18th birthday next week at home with family and friends feels wonderful, the best news, Mr Raanan said. The mother and daughter were visiting Israel from Illinois when they were taken captive. They had been staying in Kibbutz Nahal Oz, near Gaza. Roughly 200 people were taken hostage and 1,400 killed during the 7 October attack, which prompted a devastating Israeli military assault on Gaza in response. President Joe Biden confirmed the release in a statement on Friday in which he said the US government had been working around-the-clock to free American citizens held by Hamas. Our fellow citizens have endured a terrible ordeal these past 14 days, and I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been wracked with fear, Mr Biden said, giving thanks to the governments of Qatar and Israel for their help in securing the release. As president, I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans held hostage around the world, he added. Judith and Natalie Raanan had been visiting Israel from Illinois (AP) Qatars foreign ministry said the release came after many days of continuous communication with all parties. A statement released by Hamas on its Telegram channel said a mother and her daughter were released in response to Qatari efforts. It continued that the release was for humanitarian reasons, and to prove to the American people and the world that the claims made by [Joe] Biden and his fascist administration are false and baseless. Responding to the hostage release, IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said: Hamas presents itself to the world as having returned the women they took hostage on humanitarian grounds, while Hamas is in fact a murderous terrorist organisation that right now is holding infants, children, women and elderly people hostage in the Gaza Strip, and continuing to commit crimes against humanity. Israel responded to the 7 October massacre by bombarding the densely populated Gaza Strip with airstrikes and artillery fire, killing more than 4,000 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. It has vowed to wipe out Hamas in Gaza and has made preparations for a ground offensive into the territory. Gaza is in the grips of a serious humanitarian crisis as a result of a total siege imposed on the 42km-long (26 miles) territory by the Israeli government, which cut off power, water, fuel and food to the 2.3 million people who live there. Doctors Without Borders warned on Friday that Gazas healthcare system is facing collapse. Last years budget surplus was 8.5bn, it has been confirmed, the largest since records began in the 1990s and similar to this years expected windfall. Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures show the surplus was largely the result of an almost 50pc boost in corporation tax receipts last year, compared with 2021. Record spending in 2022 due mainly to some still-active Covid supports was matched by even higher revenues, the CSO said on Thursday, yielding a general surplus and a fall in government debt. The surplus worked out at 1.7pc of gross domestic product (GDP) last year, an improvement of more than 15bn on the previous year, when the budget was in deficit due to pandemic supports like the pandemic unemployment payments and the employment wage subsidy scheme. The cost of those two schemes in 2021 amounted to 8.7bn, around the size of last years surplus. The budget posted a small surplus in the two years leading up to the pandemic, but was in deficit in 2020 and 2021. The CSO figures show why the surplus was so high last year. Total revenue increased by almost 17pc to 116.1bn, thanks to a 17.6pc boost in tax revenues. Among them, corporation tax saw the biggest increase, rising 47.8pc, or 7.3bn, to yield 22.6bn. That is double the corporation tax take in 2019 and three times what it was in 2016. There was also a significant rise in income tax and Vat. Total spending was up by a smaller amount than tax revenues, rising 1.7bn to 107.6bn. But spending was higher than 2021, despite some Covid schemes expiring last year. Gross general government debt fell to 224.8bn at the end of 2022, a fall of 11.4bn. That works out at 44.4pc of GDP, well below the EUs 60pc limit. The Government prefers to measure Irelands finances as a percentage of modified gross national income, which strips out some volatile multinational transactions. It means the debt level is far higher than it appears when using GDP. Finance Minister Michael McGrath last week unveiled a 14bn budget package on the back of a surplus that is expected to come in at 8.8bn this year, depending on corporation tax receipts in November, which is the biggest month for the tax. NAAC in January told shareholders that it would be liquidated and their cash returned. Photo: AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson Irish businessman Gary Quin, who spearheaded an ultimately doomed effort to cement a deal last year with a $400m (378m) Spac, has been appointed a special adviser to New York-based boutique investment bank Cohen & Company Capital Markets. He is leading the companys presence in Europe. The Cohen & Company parent firm is listed in the New York Stock Exchange. Last year, the group generated revenue of $44m and posted a loss of almost $59m, with $13.4m of that loss attributable to Cohen & Company. Its revenue in 2021 was $146m, when it made a $74m profit. Mr Quin is a seasoned finance executive and in early 2021 he floated the North Atlantic Acquisition Corporation (NAAC) on the stock market in the United States, raising $400m. The firm, where Mr Quin was chief executive, was a special purpose acquisition company (Spac), or so-called blank cheque firm, that uses such flotation proceeds to hunt for a merger or acquisition. Mr Quin is a former vice-chairman at Credit Suisse and has worked on a number of significant international deals. Another key co-founder of NAAC was Irish businessman Patrick Doran. Mr Doran sold his Dublin-based packaging company Americk in 2016 to Spanish group Saica. He then established Woodberry Capital, a private investment firm. NAAC was one of dozens of Spacs that were established over the past few years as investors flush with cash in a low interest environment sought better returns on their money. However, sentiment towards the speculative vehicles later soured, with billions of dollars worth of potential deals shelved. NAAC had planned to merge in 2022 with US-based tech business Telesign, which is owned by Belgian mobile phone company Proximus. That deal valued Telesign at more than $1.7bn including cash from NAAC. Proximus would have retained a 66pc stake in Telesign. NAAC shareholders would have owned 22pc of the merged entity, while 4.9pc would have been split between NAACs founders. That would have made for a huge payday for founders including Mr Quin and Mr Doran, who stumped up just $25,000 for their founding shares. They controlled 20pc of the total outstanding shares in NAAC. But the deal collapsed months later. NAAC was later poised to ask its investors for more time to seal a transaction. However, in January this year the company told shareholders that it would be liquidated and their cash returned. The firm had sold up to 100,000 remote heating controllers that allow customers to control home heating systems and cut energy bills The High Court has appointed joint provisional liquidators to a firm that installed and maintains home-heating controllers in ten of thousands of homes. The appointments were made in respect of Climote Limited, which employs 20 people, after a proposed rescue plan could not be agreed. Ross Gorman BL, for the company, said his client has entered the restructuring process, known as Small Companies Administrative Rescue Process (Scarp) to see if a survival plan could be put together. Unfortunately, counsel said the Scarp process was not successful. It was not possible to negotiate an agreement with the firms key customer while Revenue, whose approval of the proposed plan was required, had opted out of the process. One of the companys main products was a remote heating controller that allows its customers, via an app on their phone, to control home-heating systems and cut energy bills. It has sold up to 100,000 of these devices, which require ongoing service and maintenance. The court heard that if the company entered a voluntary liquidation and ceased to exist there would be nobody to service these products, resulting in severe disruption to householders heating systems. However, the appointment of the liquidators would ensure services will be provided until the firms assets have been sold. The court heard that the firm, with a registered address at Buttercrane Lane, Dundalk, Co Louth, had been profitable until 2019. It later became loss-making due to factors including Covid-19, changes to the States Energy Efficiency Obligations Scheme and difficulties linked to a deal to supply 5,000 devices to one of its customers. In 2022 it lost 1.1m and in the first eight months of this year losses were 870,000. It also owes a significant debt to Revenue, including warehoused debt. As a result of its insolvency the company asked the court to appoint Dessie Morrow and Dairmaid Guthrie of Azets Ireland as joint provisional liquidators. Mr Justice Mark Sanfey agreed on Thursday to appoint the joint provisional liquidators. The judge said he was satisfied the company was insolvent and that its directors had acted honourably in its attempts to save the firm. Counsel said that rather than have a voluntary winding up, the company was seeking the appointment of provisional liquidators, who will preserve the companys assets. If the company ceased to trade, counsel said its computer servers could go down, and customers would not be able to use their heating systems. The liquidator would also take steps to ensure that a new entity will be set up, and several employees retained, to continue to maintain and service the firm's products until the firm's goodwill has been sold. Given the time of year, counsel said this was something his client's directors "want to avoid". This was being sought in order to preserve the significant goodwill the business has built up. Counsel said the firm's directors have identified an investor willing to acquire the company's assets for a six-figure sum. In reply to concerns raised by the judge about a possible link between the existing directors and the new investor, counsel said the liquidators would strive to sell the assets at the best price in the interests of the creditors. After considering Mr Gorman's submissions, Mr Justice Sanfey, who acknowledged the difficulties the company had found itself in, said he was satisfied to grant the orders sought. The matter was adjourned to November. Analysis: Paddy Cosgraves worst week at Web Summit A slew of withdrawals from the tech conference in Lisbon next month has hurt the Web Summits brand in a way no other controversy has Paddy Adrian Weckler Fri 20 Oct 2023 at 19:00 This has been the most damaging week for Paddy Cosgraves Web Summit in recent years. When is tea time? Sean Moncrieff does not shy from the eternal questions on Newstalk The Newstalk presenter avoids the relentless churn of the news cycle and enjoys its time to ponder Sean Moncrieff. Picture by Damien Eagers Ann Marie Hourihane Fri 20 Oct 2023 at 03:30 Right now, what we all need is a safe place. Somewhere we can go to be reminded that the world is a crazy and interesting place even when humans arent murdering and raping each other. I hesitate to say this, but Moncrieff (Newstalk, weekdays 2-4pm) just might be that place. Samantha Morton stars as the new reverend in a Sussex community, who begins to realise something evil is happening in The Burning Girls. Photo: Paramount+ Tonight Paramount + Its almost Halloween, although the tat has been in the shops for weeks, so what better to get you in the spooky mood than a dollop of British folk horror? This six-part adaptation (all episodes available) of CJ Tudors novel stars Samantha Morton as a reverend who arrives, sullen teenager daughter (Ruby Stokes) in tow, to take up her new post in a Sussex village and finds outsiders arent welcome. THE PIGEON TUNNEL Apple TV+ Veteran American documentary-maker Errol Morriss film about John Le Carre, aka David Cornwell, is based primarily on his autobiography of the same name and also features the final interviews the evasive (at least when it came to his extra-marital affairs) author gave before his death in 2020. SILVER DOLLAR ROAD Amazon Prime Video Another great documentarian, Raoul Peck, directs this blood-boiling account of a black familys legal fight to keep a piece of North Carolina property that had been passed down through the generations out of the hands of greedy, intimidating developers. UNREPORTED WORLD Channel 4, 7.30pm The global current affairs series returns with the story of how more than 400 bodies in mass graves in a Kenyan forest are believed to be followers of Pastor Paul McKenzie, the alleged leader of a death cult. Martin Freeman and Daisy Haggard in Breeders. Photo: Sky BREEDERS Sky Comedy/Sky Showcase, 10pm & 10.30pm The fourth and final season of the acidic comedy with Martin Freeman and Daisy Haggard as a couple for whom parenthood is one seemingly never-ending streak of misery. THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW BBC1, 10.45pm Graham is joined by Patrick Stewart, the latest Star Trek alumnus to write an autobiography (called, unsurprisingly, Make It So). The other guests are Nadiya Hussain, Ralph Fiennes and The Last Of Us star Bella Ramsey, who appears in season two of Jimmy McGoverns prison drama Time on BBC1 next Sunday. Tomorrow THE INSURRECTIONIST NEXT DOOR Sky Documentaries, 9pm Come next January, it will be three full years since a violent mob of Donald Trumps stooges stormed Washington DCs Capitol in a blatant act of domestic terrorism. In this feature-length documentary, producer-director Alexandra Pelosi, daughter of former Speaker Nancy, criss-crosses America to interview a number of those involved. Some feel remorse (prison will do that to you), while others remain unrepentant. MIKE YARWOOD: THANK YOU FOR THE LAUGHS Channel 5, 8.25pm If you can add this British channel to your guide and dont mind having to watch live, this is an engaging look at the late impressionist, whose show drew huge audiences in the 70s, yet who vanished from TV virtually overnight due to anxiety, alcohol and changing comedy fashions. DARK HEARTS BBC4, 9pm & 10.05pm New French action drama set in Iraq on the eve of the battle of Mosul in 2016. An elite commando group capture an Isis leader who agrees to cooperate, on condition his family are extricated from the danger zone. LATER... WITH JOOLS HOLLAND BBC2, 10.3pm The emphasis is on older acts this week as Jools guests include Mike Skinner, whose music hasnt much changed in the 20 years since The Streets debut album, and Cat Power, whos released her first covers album: a collection of Bob Dylan classics. THE HOLLOW CROWN BBC4, 10.55pm Henry VI Part 2 is the penultimate film in this 2012 Shakespeare series, whose scale and ambition is still stunning. As is the cast, which includes Jeremy Irons, Tom Hiddleston, Simon Russell Beale (giving us a Bafta-winning Falstaff), Julie Walters, Niamh Cusack, Alun Armstrong and Maxine Peake. Sunday THE GONE RTE1, 9.30pm Its been just a fortnight since we waved off Hidden Assets, now heres another drama about an Irish cop teaming up with a foreign counterpart. This time its detective Theo Richter (Richard Flood), who heads to New Zealand to investigate the disappearance of an Irish couple, who may have gang connections. Helping him is Maori detective Dina Huia (Acushla-Tara Kupe), whos nursing some personal demons. PLANET EARTH III BBC1, 6.15pm You know what to expect at this stage, yet that doesnt mean its not always welcome. Charmingly, David Attenborough opens the series sitting in the same English meadow Charles Darwin strolled around while formulating his theory of evolution. THREE LITTLE BIRDS UTV/ITV1, 8pm Lenny Henry drew on his mothers experiences to write this six-part drama about three young Jamaican women who arrive in the Britain of the 1950s to start a new life. Adrift in an unfamiliar and frequently racist society, one of them begins to wonder if shes made the biggest mistake of her life. THE DEVILS CONFESSION: THE LOST EICHMANN TAPES BBC2, 9pm Two-parter utilising newly unearthed tapes of Adolf Eichmann, recorded in Buenos Aires a few years before his 1961 trial. His boasts about being logistics boss of the Holocaust belie his later claim that he was a bureaucratic nobody. Angus Woods: Why its vital to elect an IFA president who can appeal to an audience beyond farmers The candidate who can get a great clap from a room full of farmers may not be the person best placed to persuade politicians, civil servants and the general public of the need to support farmers 'Are farmers looking for a leader? Or someone to merely vent their concerns and run a few protests?' Angus Woods Fri 20 Oct 2023 at 06:00 The Budget announcement of funding for only 4,000 additional farms in ACRES will leave those hoping to secure a place in the next round nervous, and looking to secure Tier 1 status in the hope of meeting the selection criteria. Gillian OSullivan: French focus on profitability over production puts spotlight on our cost control A key take away from the visit of a group of French farmers was their emphasis on labour efficiency A common cow type in Brittany is a mixture of Friesian-Jersey crosses and pure-bred Danish Jersey. Photo: Getty Gillian OSullivan Fri 20 Oct 2023 at 06:00 Last autumn our OAD discussion group embarked on a journey to France to visit grass-based dairy farms in Brittany and discover how they produce milk at a 170kg/ha organic nitrogen limit. A digital rights organisation is seeking to bring legal proceedings on behalf of six women who say they had intimate sexual images shared without their consent on the Discord online platform, the High Court heard. Digital Rights Ireland (DRI), a not-for-profit organisation, has been mandated by the women to bring proceedings against those who made the postings on a specific web page which, it is claimed, displays intimate images of thousands of women in breach of their rights. Teacher Jacintha McSherry OConnor found guilty of sexual abuse of male student in 1985 Court heard abuse took place while McSherry O'Connor worked as a student teacher at a Dublin secondary schoolIt was alleged she indecently assaulted the 13-year-old boy on two occasions in his home Jacintha McSherry O'Connor Isabel Hayes Fri 20 Oct 2023 at 17:35 A teacher who was on trial accused of sexually abusing a male student 38 years ago has been found guilty of the charges against her. An investigation by Lee Enterprises and Type Investigations looked at how agencies have responded to calls for more accountability including the use of cameras after George Floyd's murder. Read moreCamera use by local police departments rises, but are they worth it? Experts disagree Key player in Dunlough Bay cocaine smuggling operation still in Irish prison 16 years after seizure The English career criminal remains in the high-security Portlaoise Prison, where he has served his time since his conviction in 2008. Martin Wanden Eamon Dillon Fri 20 Oct 2023 at 09:52 A KEY player in Irelands record cocaine haul at Dunlough Bay in 2007 is still serving time in a high-security prison 16 years later. Meta, Google and Stripe have become the latest tech giants to pull out of the Web Summit. The tech companies have joined Intel, Siemens and other high-profile attendees in boycotting the conference because of Paddy Cosgrave's comments about Israel committing war crimes in Gaza. Meta which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp is the latest big tech firm to suspend its involvement. Influential US marketing expert and podcaster Scott Galloway, a professor of marketing at New York University, has also confirmed he has pulled out as a speaker. US comedian Amy Poehler, who was due to speak at the event, is also no longer on the list of speakers on the Web Summit website as of Friday. Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt and rapper LL Cool J had on Thursday disappeared from the site, while X-files actor Gillian Anderson confirmed she had pulled out. "We will no longer have a presence at Web Summit," a Google spokesperson told the Irish Independent. The internet giant is one of the Web Summits commercial partners. A Meta spokesperson also confirmed it would not be taking part in the November 13-16 event. Keynote speakers from Stripe, the payments firm founded by Limerick brothers Patrick and John Collison, have also withdrawn from the conference. A spokesperson for Stripe, a long-time sponsor of Web Summit, confirmed that it would no longer have a presence at the conference. Chief product officer Will Gaybrick and chief marketing officer Jeff Titterton were previously scheduled for the event. Others who have formally dropped out include the Israeli delegation and multiple senior venture capital firms. Today, the body representing Israeli venture capital firms announced they were joining the growing boycott. The event that started in Dublin in 2009 is now held annually in Lisbon, Portugal. The move from Google and Stripe escalates pressure on Paddy Cosgrave's event, which is battling to rescue its reputation within the tech industry. Earlier this week, Mr Cosgrave apologised for remarks that suggested Israel may commit war crimes. However, it has not helped to stem the flow of dropouts from the conference, which was expecting up to 70,000 attendees. Key Silicon Valley figures such as Garry Tan, of start-up backer Y-Combinator, and Ravi Gupta of the Sequoia venture capital firm initially kicked off the boycott. Speaking about his decision to quit the Web Summit on his New York magazine Pivot podcast, NYU academic Mr Galloway said if Mr Cosgrave: He's being a terrible leader. He's putting a lot of people's economic livelihood in the crosshairs of his grandstanding and political beliefs. That's not what a CEO does Do the 1,000s of people who work at Web Summit feel the same way as you? Because this is how you are representing your organisation. Mr Galloway also said that he thought about his mother and what she would think if he had showed up at the Web Summit event. On a personal level, I thought about my mom. My mom was a Jew and I thought she would be really disappointed if she knew I was going and I thought, you know, that matters to me, Mr Galloway said. He added that in the era of social media, he believed that people needed to be slow to judge and quick to forgive. I see Twitter [now known as X] as nothing but kerosene that is ready to be poured on our worst mistakes. And [Paddy Cosgrave] got caught in that, he said. I do believe we need to move to a society, and I hope we teach people this as part of high school, in an era of social media with network effects where there's a 24/7 camera on your life that we become slow to judge and quick to forget. In his apology this week, Mr Cosgrave said: I understand that what I said, the timing of what I said, and the way it has been presented has caused profound hurt to many. To anyone who was hurt by my words, I apologise deeply. What is needed at this time is compassion, and I did not convey that. My aim is and always has been to strive for peace. When asked for comment in relation to a number the speakers were still participating at the event next month, a Web Summit spokesperson said they were unable to comment due to privacy and confidentiality purposes. We are in discussion with a few speakers and companies about their presence at Web Summit, the spokesperson said. We are excited to welcome 70,000 attendees from around the world with a full programme this November. Speakers due to appear at the summit in Lisbon from November 13 to 16 included the actor and comedian Poehler and film director Neil Jordan. Before issuing his apology, Mr Cosgrave had earlier characterised responses to his original remarks as an overreaction and he had insisted he would not relent. But in the apology, Mr Cosgrave said: I unequivocally support Israels right to exist and to defend itself. To reiterate what I said last week: I unreservedly condemn Hamas evil, disgusting and monstrous October 7 attack. I also call for the unconditional release of all hostages. Mr Cosgrave said he still believed there was concern over Israel potentially committing war crimes. GPs have warned against legalising cannabis saying the drug has profound and lasting adverse effects, in advance of recommendations to be made by the Citizens Assembly on Drugs. The Irish College of General Practitioners said: Drug use had profound and lasting adverse effects on individuals, families, communities and our wider society. While evidence indicates marijuana and cannabinoids may have potential therapeutic benefits, there are notable public health and health impacts associated with its use. Its clinical director Dr Diarmuid Quinlan added: Cannabis is a dangerous drug and a serious public health concern. "The ICGP discourages cannabis use, especially in high-risk populations such as youth, those with a personal or family history of mental disorder, pregnant women and women who are breastfeeding. It called on the HSE and the Department of Health to step up monitoring of the short and long-term impact of cannabis on users. There needs to be more concentration on examining patients coming through emergency departments and hospitals as well as impacts such as impaired driving, driving, workplace performance and worker-related injury and safety, as well as prevalence of psychiatric and addictive disorders, including cannabis use disorder, said the ICGP. There needs to be stronger campaigns with with an emphasis on reducing initiation and frequency of cannabis use among adolescents, especially high-potency products; use among women who are pregnant or contemplating pregnancy; and avoiding cannabis-impaired driving. It backed proposals to refer people possession of drugs for personal use for health assessment as long as there are proper resources. The Citizens Assembly will meet this weekend and examine a range of issues with a view to making recommendations which will go to Government. At this final meeting members will agree a series of questions to be voted on through the weekend that will then form the basis of a final report from the Assembly, to be submitted to the Oireachtas by the end of this year. Following the end of the fifth meeting of the Assembly earlier this month, members have been circulated with draft ballot questions that they will have the opportunity to agree and finalise before the voting process commences. The meeting marks the culmination of six months of wide-ranging discussions that amount to the most thorough consideration of Irelands existing drugs laws and policy in the history of the State. This process has included 120 individual presentations, almost 200 hours of discussion, and consideration of almost 800 submissions received during the open public consultation process. Speaking ahead of the final meeting the Chair of the Assembly, Paul Reid, said: Over the last six months the 99 members of the Citizens Assembly on Drugs User and I, as chairperson, have engaged with the complex, challenging and sometimes emotional issues relating to the harm caused by illicit drugs use. "We have heard from a wide range of voices and perspectives on the issues and have examined the most up to date national and international research, he said. Pte Jordan Nolan, Sgt Chris Taylor and Pte Josh Moore fire a Javelin missile at a tank over 1km away during a pre-deployment exercise in the Glen of Imaal. Photo: Colin Keegan / Collins Soldiers carrying a Javelin missile system during a Deployment Mission Readiness Exercise for the 123rd Infantry Battalion at Coolmooney Camp in Glen of Imaal, Co Wicklow. 334 soldiers from the Irish Defence Forces, along with nine Armed Forces of Malta soldiers - who together make up the 123rd Infantry Battalion - are entering the final phase of training in preparation for their forthcoming deployment to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), beginning in south Lebanon in November. Picture date: Thursday October 19, 2023. PA Photo. The Mission Readiness Exercise puts commanders and soldiers through a seriez of scenarios indicative of the current situation in the Middle East, and based on potential threats they may encounter. See PA story POLITICS Israel Ireland. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire Pte Jordan Nolan, Sgt Chris Taylor and Pte Josh Moore with a FGM-148 Javelin weapon system during a Deployment Mission Readiness Exercise for the 123rd Infantry Battalion at Glen of Imaal, Co Wicklow. Photo: PA Pte Jordan Nolan, Sgt Chris Taylor and Pte Josh Moore fire a Javelin missile at a tank over 1km away during a pre-deployment exercise in the Glen of Imaal. Photo: Colin Keegan / Collins Irish troops about to be deployed to a peacekeeping mission in Lebanon have said they are not afraid as they prepare to travel to a region of high tensions. Violence between Israel and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon has flared in recent days as fears grow that the fighting between Israel and Hamas could disrupt other areas across the Middle East. The 123rd battalion will see 334 Irish personnel and nine people from Malta deployed to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) next month. At the Glen of Imaal in Co Wicklow on Thursday, Defence Forces soldiers carried out a military training exercise which included the testing of heat-seeking Javelin missiles. The commanding officer of the 123rd battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Mac Eoin, said his colleagues in Lebanon have described the current conditions as tense, but said the soldiers were ready to go and do their job. Irish soldiers prepare for deployment to Lebanon There are exchanges of fire, both north and south across the blue line, but the soldiers are responding well to it, he said. They would have been through exactly the same training and process that were going through today. And that training is designed actually to prepare the soldiers for just that type of scenario. So the troops are responding well, theyre in good shape, and as far as were concerned, theres no change to the plan, were ploughing on and were deploying as planned. Lt Col Mac Eoin, who has served in Kosovo, Chad, Congo and Lebanon, said it was understandable that some of the soldiers family members are concerned. He said the soldiers had been given a live update on the situation and were also helped to counter some of the misinformation and disinformation that is spreading around. He described the tasks the soldiers will have, as mandated by the United Nations: to monitor, to observe, to report and to protect civilians once deployed to the blue line. So when our troops are over, we familiarise ourselves with the area of operations, he said. Well take over from the guys and girls who are there at the moment and essentially will occupy those posts and we continue to do what were doing. So our operations are essentially to support the government of Lebanon by patrolling alongside the Lebanese Armed Forces. And sometimes without the Lebanese Armed Forces, we call those framework operations. In the scenario whereby we do have exchanges of fire, our troops are trained to respond to get into very well-protected positions. This will be the first mission for Kilkenny brothers Tiarnan and Caolan OReilly, aged 24 and 22. Asked how they were feeling, they both said they were looking forward to it and were not afraid.Tiarnan OReilly said he has been following developments a little bit, but his brother Caolan said they are well trained for it. Matt Kinnaird, who turned 20 on October 7, is the youngest member of the battalion. In the job, you do grow up very quickly, he said, adding that he tries to listen to his senior officers and take all their advice on board. I do my best to stay updated with as much as possible. No, Im not too much worried, he said. We cover all kinds of aspects here in our training, so were prepared for anything. He said his parents had a little bit of nerves from what they are seeing on social media. Ive reassured them of the training were doing up here, he added.Lieutenant Essie OConnell, 25, who joined in 2016, said she is not very nervous because weve done a lot of training. Its been very robust training. Its exact same every year, were trained for every event. She said the relationship between the group was very important. Its a very long six months so everyone needs good cohesion, and for everyone to have good morale and everyone is looking forward to going over, she said. Theres not anyone too nervous. There will be people nervous but everyone is there for each other and looking out for each other and when we complete the mission everyone is working together. Asked about whether the group is discussing the tense situation, she said: If people do bring it up, were just say to just concentrate on the training at the moment, that when we get out there, well find out. President Michael D Higgins has said belief in international humanitarian law cannot be invoked when it suits as violence between Israel and Hamas nears its third week. President Higgins said there may have been war crimes committed amidst the violence in Israel and Gaza in the past two weeks in which more than 4,500 people have been killed. Following a meeting with Pope Francis in Vatican City yesterday, President Higgins said there was a need for a sophisticated, honest, straight discussion when it came to criticising the state of Israel while also being absolutely unequivocal about antisemitic expression. It is incredibly important at this stage as we move on now from the horrific, horrific events that have taken place [in Israel and Gaza] that we be absolutely unequivocal about antisemitic expression, but I do think it is incredibly important that the distinction be honoured between those who make criticisms, for example of any breaches of international law and indeed of illegal settlements whatever, he said. If you are criticising the state of Israel for illegal settlements some of us have in the past it is entirely wrong to be describing that as antisemitic. So, we have to get to a sophisticated, honest, straight discussion. Nobody should tolerate antisemitism for a moment that is certainly my view but equally, we must be free to speak about the responsibilities that are there for all states in relation to international law and I think at this stage, too, for example, it is a breach of international law to take hostages and I certainly believe that those hostages should be released. That is a breach of international law. If you believe in international humanitarian law, you must be level and see it in all its circumstances and you must stand by it and vindicate it. Following his private meeting with Pope Francis, President Higgins laid a wreath at Campo Santo in the Teutonic Pontifical College in memory of Irishman Monsignor Hugh OFlaherty, who helped thousands of Jewish people in Germany escape persecution during World War II. It is very important to recognise. Remember, Monsignor OFlaherty was taking very exceptional measures. It required a great deal of courage, he said. Meanwhile, a group calling itself Dublin For Gaza occupied offices of the European Commission on Dublins Mount Street yesterday and refused to leave until they met two EU officials. The group, made up of councillors, academics and supporters positioned themselves inside the main reception area, erected a Palestinian flag and started protesting and chanting on the steps outside the building. One of the councillors involved, Hugh Lewis, an Independent in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, said there was particular anger at the EU response to the current conflict in Israel and Gaza. Mr Lewis said the group, very much want to highlight the complicity with the Israeli war crimes that are currently taking place. The international response, as far as were concerned, has been disgusting, particularly the European Commission, the head of the European Commission. We want the European Union, and the European Commission, to stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine and open up humanitarian aid corridors. We want to see an immediate ceasefire, and we want to prevent what is unfolding in Gaza, which is tantamount to genocide. Mr Lewis said. Barbara Nolan, head of the European Commission representation, said the meeting was conducted in a calm and polite atmosphere. President Michael D Higgins has said there have been so many broken promises when it comes to achieving the United Nations sustainable development targets. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the World Food Forum in Rome, Mr Higgins spoke about addressing climate change and said many global efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals are going in the wrong direction. "We have had so many broken promises. Only 15pc of some 140 specific targets to achieve the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals are on track to be achieved, he told delegates at the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN today, he said. "Many targets are going in the wrong direction at the present time, and not a single one is expected to be achieved in the next seven years. Mr Higgins said there are some reasons to be hopeful, including young people who are dedicated to tackling the serious structural causes of food insecurity and global hunger. He said for anyone to ignore hunger would be a dereliction of our duty of care to the planet and to future generations. Mr Higgins also addressed the impact of an over-reliance on commodity crops on farmers and the reality that women are the most impacted by the food crisis. "Climate change, and our response to it, is a core theme and will remain a core theme of my Presidency in Ireland, he said, calling climate change our most pressing existential crisis. He also encouraged young people to ensure all human endeavours are allowed to flow across borders. He said a reactive emergency response does not address the structural issues of climate change, later telling young delegates to have the courage to stand up to those who are speculating on food, especially during famine. Mr Higgins said at many programmes, texts are created but people still starve and conflicts go on and full engagement is necessary. He said he was delighted that the Department of Agriculture in Ireland facilitated delegates from the Global South to attend the World Food Forum. The event marks the end of his week-long trip to Rome that included a private meeting with Pope Francis at the Apostolic Palace yesterday. During that meeting, the pair discussed climate change, migration and the inclusion of women and LGBT people in the Catholic Church. He also addressed the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza during the course of the trip, telling reporters yesterday that actions carried out by both Hamas and the state of Israel could amount to a breach of international humanitarian law. Two premises in the King's Island area of the city were searched during the course of this operation. Two men have been arrested in Limerick arrested following the seizure of more 100,000 of drugs on Thursday. Gardai seized more than 100,000 of suspected heroin, crack cocaine and alprazolam during the search operation in Limerick city. Two premises in the King's Island area of the city were searched during the course of this operation. Gardai from the Limerick Divisional Drug Unit, supported by the Regional Armed Support Unit and other Detective Units seized suspected heroin (82,000), crack cocaine (20,000) and alprazolam (3,000). Two men, aged in their 40s and 20s, were arrested as part of this investigation. The men were detained at a garda station in Limerick city under the provisions of Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. All of the drugs seized (totalling 105,000) will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) for analysis, said a garda spokesperson. Investigations are continuing into the seizure. Maria FitzGerald fulfilled a dream by renovating a gate lodge on the grounds of her childhood home in Meath The bedroom at the top of the staircase Asking price: 305,000 Agent: REA T&J Gavigan (046) 9240045 How many people get to grow up and live in the house they always loved as a child? Maria FitzGerald spent her formative years in a mid-18th century house outside Kells in Meath that had a gate lodge attached at the propertys entrance. Her family lived in the main house and the lodge was rented from them by a lovely lady, who kept hens and brought her eggs and jams to the local market in Kells. This was the early 1980s, when kids were allowed to roam free and return for dinner in the evening. FitzGerald and her siblings used to swim in the river near the lodge, while the family went in and out of town to their furniture-making business. The Gate Lodge sits on two-thirds of an acre FitzGerald always had a soft spot for the lodge, so when it became vacant in the late 2000s, she decided to take on a project to renovate the building that is thought to date back to 1910. Growing up in an older house clearly had an influence on FitzGerald. I love period properties and interiors, so I was excited to take on the renovation of the lodge, she says. The aim was to make it look and feel both traditional and luxurious. The building needed everything restored and updated, so FitzGerald called on her sister-in-law Geraldine Gaughran, who was with Gaughran Architects at the time and is now principal architect at PM Group. Owner Maria FitzGerald It needed complete renovation, including installation of services and underfloor heating, but the challenge was to also retain as much of its character and charm as possible, Says FitzGerald. I was lucky that Geraldine was a local architect so she prepared the planning application and the scope of the building renovation works. I also had lots of conservation advice from the Meath County Council Conservation Architect. It took three to four months for a local builder to complete the works after we secured planning permission. Special care was taken to restore some of the unique period details inside and outside. This involved restoring sliding sash windows, cast iron gutters and downpipes, and the cast iron fireplaces in the upstairs rooms. At the exterior, the centrally placed chimney and the decorative barge board at roof height were also given a new lease of life. The living room features a slate floor Geraldine wasnt the only family member on hand with skills that were useful on such a job. FitzGeralds parents Ina and Des established FitzGeralds of Kells in 1963, which is now one of the countrys leading cabinet makers, with their work on display in Dublin Airport and Irish court rooms, as well as bars and food businesses like Donnybrook Fair and The Old Kingdom Bar in Kerry. Ina is still at the helm, with her eldest son John now by her side. I had lots of help with the project, says FitzGerald. My family made the kitchen units, the teak table and the painted double sink unit in the bathroom to my design. "It wasnt possible to retain the original internal doors, but my family was able to replicate them for me. The 732 sq ft home comprises four rooms, in a two-up two-down layout. The gable-end faces the road with the interior rooms divided by the chimney breast which provides a fireplace for all four rooms. On the ground floor is the living room and kitchen, with a spiral staircase up to the bedroom and bathroom. FitzGerald chose slate floors and a wood-burning stove for the living room after being inspired by a cottage she had stayed at in Mayo. Maria FitzGeralds family made the kitchen units The wall tiles in the kitchen from Fired Earth feature some cockerels as a tribute to the lady who once lived there with her hens. The floorboards upstairs had to be replaced and are now painted in Ammonite by Farrow & Ball to match the rest of the joinery in the house. The colours throughout are soft, earthy tones from Farrow & Ball. A soft green Vert du Terre goes from the living room up to the bedroom, which are connected by the spiral stairs. The bathroom is Blue Grey and the kitchen is a warm soft beige called Stony Ground. And most striking of all, in such a small property, the large bathroom looks like pure luxury. Its my favourite room, says FitzGerald. It is very spacious with a double sink and separate shower. But the real star feature is the copper bath from The Victorian Salvage Company. "I dont have a bath where I live in Dublin, so the free-standing bath under the window was a real indulgence. FitzGerald has never lived in the lodge full-time, but uses it a lot at weekends and for holidays. Life there is a real contrast to busy city living, she says. There is a gorgeous bog walk around Girley Bog, which you can walk straight on to from the lodge. And the dark night skies filled with stars are incredible there. A day or two spent there definitely recharges the batteries. The bedroom at the top of the staircase The lodge sits on about two-thirds of an acre and is surrounded by hardwood trees that are currently full of autumnal colours, with shades of reds, oranges, yellows and browns. A shop is within two kilometres and the heritage town of Kells is 10km away. The renovation and restoration project was a labour of love, so I will be sad to let it go, she says. But I dont use it enough anymore and old houses need to be loved and maintained. It will make a really special home for someone. I can also vouch for the lovely neighbours up the avenue. The Gate Lodge at Fordstown is on the market through REA T&J Gavigan, with a guide price of 305,000. 80pc percent of businesses hosting TY work experience offered part-time positions to students last year Students Emmet Cassidy and Glen Masterson from Luttrellstown Community College and Alexandra Mazire from DCS Tallaght Community School. Photo: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland Transition year students seeking work experience are being invited to try the tourism industry this year. Failte Irelands Transition Year Work Experience Programme, first launched last year as businesses struggled to attract and retain staff lost during the pandemic, is now open for 2023. Interested students can apply online at tourismcareers.ie, where almost 200 businesses have offers from restaurant work and tour guiding in Dublin to grooming jobs in a Killarney stables or hotel work in Westport. "These local businesses offer work experience for students as well as an opportunity to learn skills for life, such as developing their confidence and people skills, it said. 80pc of businesses hosting a work experience last year offered part-time positions to students following their successful completion, it added. "My advice to students who are considering a work placement with a tourism business is to dive right in, said student Emmet Cassidy from Luttrellstown Community College in Co Dublin, who took a placement through the TY programme last year. "Its such a broad sector and there are so many opportunities involved in tourism, even from a financial, business or even maintenance perspective. "I would suggest to not be afraid to ask questions," he added. It comes as 34pc of tourism businesses surveyed in Failte Irelands September Tourism Barometer said staffing remained a particular cause for concern this year. Recruitment, retention and upskilling of staff has been a key pillar of its work post-pandemic last year, Failte Ireland launched a 700,000 tourism jobs marketing campaign titled Works for Me. Participating in a transition year work experience placement not only exposes students to the realities of the working world, but also aids them in making informed decisions about their future careers, said Sharon Balmaine, its Head of Tourism Careers. To find out more, visit tourismcareers.ie. (Baonghean.vn) - On October 20, the delegation of the People's Council of Vientiane City, Lao People's Democratic Republic, visited the Kim Lien Special National Historical Relic Site in Nam Dan District to hold a ceremony in commemoration of President Ho Chi Minh. The delegates pay tribute to President Ho Chi Minh. Photo: M.H At the memorial house of President Ho Chi Minh in Kim Lien Special National Historical Relic Site, the working delegation of the People's Council of Vientiane City and Nghe An Province organized a ceremony to offer flowers, make offerings, and offer incense to express deep respect for President Ho Chi Minh, the dedicated activist of the international communist and workers' movements. He dedicated and sacrificed for the cause of national liberation, class liberation, and the struggle for peace and happiness of the Vietnamese people and the people in the world. The great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos have developed from the traditional relationship established by President Ho Chi Minh and Prince Souphanouvong, Chairman Kaysone Phomvihane, and the revolutionary leaders of the two countries who laid the foundation and diligently nurtured it, becoming an invaluable asset for the people of both countries, passed down through generations of leaders, revolutionary soldiers, and people of the two countries. Especially, since the two countries embarked on the renewal process with many difficulties and challenges, but with the fine tradition of the "special relationship" and under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, the relations between the two countries have been increasingly strengthened, expanded, and achieved significant victories. The delegation of the People's Council of Vientiane City and Nghe An Province visit the homeland of President Ho Chi Minh. Photo: M.H The responsibility of the current generation of leaders, revolutionary soldiers, and the people of the two countries today and in the future is to continue to build and promote the special and loyal relationship, in order to jointly promote the sustainable development of the two countries. On this occasion, the working delegation of the People's Council of Vientiane City and Nghe An Province also paid a visit and offered incense in memory of President Ho Chi Minh's ancestors and family members at Chung Son Temple, Kim Lien Commune, Nam Dan District. The working delegation of the People's Council of Vientiane City and Nghe An Province visit the Memorial House of the Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Photo: M.H The delegation also took the time to visit the hometown of President Ho Chi Minh and the Memorial House of the Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic located within the area of the Kim Lien Special National Historical Relic Site. Merkeva tanks are lined up in the desert. Low-flying Apache and Cobra helicopter gunships swirl up plumes of sand and dust that settle on turrets pointed squarely at the border. Troops are also settled in a pattern of briefings and combat drills all while patiently waiting for that paramount order. Nearly two weeks after the Hamas carnage which resulted in 1,400 deaths and 200 hostages being seized, Israels declaration that the war will be taken to Gaza by land, air and sea remains just that. The question privately asked among soldier and officer: If not now, when? Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from Ashkelon, in southern Israel. Photo: Reuters American historian Howard Zinn wrote: There is no flag large enough to cover the stain of killing innocent people. As a veteran of World War II, he hoped never to witness mass killing again, and that from the depths of all the horror something better could emerge. President Michael D Higgins expressed a similar sentiment after meeting Pope Francis in Rome yesterday. Speaking about the harrowing events in the Middle East and the need for all sides to recognise international law, Mr Higgins said there has not been a continuous engagement with different proposals and different solutions in Israel and Gaza. My hope is that out of these worst of times the engagement will be a serious one. It has to happen, because in the end and Ive said it myself war makes a stone of the heart, he said. The President contrasted the lack of negotiation or rapprochement with the efforts that went into resolving the Troubles in Northern Ireland. We had friends from abroad that kept the [peace] process going, he said. We had serious, wonderful civil servants who produced text when the people couldnt be in the same room with each other. No one is claiming the situations are, or were, precisely the same, but the levels of mistrust, injustice and grievance without redress were common threads. Eventually, agreement was found, not through the amplification of difference, but in the recognition of common and shared interests. For this to happen, there has to be an open and honest dialogue. After laying a wreath to Irishman Monsignor Hugh OFlaherty who helped thousands of Jewish people in Germany escape persecution during World War II President Higgins said: We must be absolutely unequivocal about antisemitic expression. Nobody should tolerate it. But he also said it was important that a distinction be made when it comes to those who criticise any breaches of international law and illegal settlements and that neither must be regarded as antisemitic. Mr Higgins also called for the release of hostages held by Hamas, saying we need to get to a sophisticated, honest and straight discussion. With events becoming more ominous by the hour, the likelihood of more death and destruction grows. Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant has told massed infantry troops gathered at the Gaza border that they will soon see the Palestinian enclave from inside. Against such a backdrop, prospects for dialogue look slim. After 75 years of violence, retaliation and recrimination, should a ceasefire really be so remote? Can the people of Israel and Palestine ever hope for something more from their leaders than recourse to the open-ended shedding of blood to address their wrongs? A woman looks on as Palestinians who fled their homes amid Israeli strikes take shelter in a UN-run tent camp in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. Photo: Reuters So many wars have come and gone since the creation of Israel in 1948. We saw the Korean and Vietnam wars, the Balkan wars of the 1990s and two Gulf wars, to name but a few. Yet the Israeli and Palestine conflict remains unresolved. It is a dark stain on the landscape of global diplomacy that it remains so deadlocked. The failure of the UN to broker a solution has been a disgrace. A purely military solution is dead-end thinking, and the US and Iran need to leave the arena because their antipathy for each other is fanning the flames in Israel and Palestine. The conflict desperately needs some honest brokers perhaps some Scandinavian countries or Australia and New Zealand, who have no vested interests. Radical solutions should be explored, such as a land bridge connecting Gaza and the West Bank, uniting the Palestinian people in a new state free of Israeli occupation, and a new state of Israel where lands that were illegally confiscated by them over the years are handed back or traded for a settlement to the Jerusalem question and how that city can be shared. Over the last 75 years, man has managed to land on the moon and made huge progress in the world of medicine and technology. And still, we cant find a solution to how two peoples can share a tiny parcel of land. I am beginning to reach the conclusion that there are bigger agendas at work here, like the American armaments industry and Stone Age theocratic thinking in some Islamic countries. Surely the greater family of the UN can bypass these actors once and for all and give the long-suffering ordinary people of the region, both Israeli and Palestinian, the peace they long for. If it involves a peacekeeping force of several thousand UN soldiers to implement the solution for a number of years, so be it. Joseph Kiely, Letterkenny, Co Donegal Kudos to the President for calling out Von der Leyens one-sided rhetoric on war Bravo, President Michael D Higgins, in taking EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen to task for her one-sided comments during her recent visit to Israel and her presumption to speak for the entire EU on the issue. As always, Mr Higgins has the pulse of the Irish people regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. There is utter abhorrence at the horrific attack by Hamas on defenceless civilians in Israel, but there is also an instinctive sympathy for the plight of the Palestinian civilians caught in the crossfire. These people have, in effect, been ordered by the Israeli military to leave their homes. With water and electricity supplies cut off, this forced displacement of an entire city would be unbelievable if it wasnt happening before our eyes. Two wrongs never made a right, and how fortunate we are to have a president who is not afraid to speak out in support of the rights of innocent civilians on both sides of the tragic divide in Israel and Palestine. John Glennon, Hollywood, Co Wicklow Jesus acknowledged his feminine side, yet church remains male-oriented Catholic Church logic implies that because Jesus was a man, women cannot ever be ordained as priests. But it is to be wondered if this church teaching has anything at all to do with the men, who have long been in charge, having a nearly absolutely unchallenged bias in favour of their own sex when it comes to deciding what the rules of the Catholic Church are to be about. This unfair bias for their own sex that is contained, I believe, in the mindset of the male rulers of the church, means it cannot be too much of a surprise that they have chosen to completely overlook the moving gospel passage of Matthew 24, which contains a clear picture of great motherly care and love as described by Jesus himself in a statement that, I believe, must be a reference to a feminine side of his own divine personality. This is where Jesus, in admonishing the city of Jerusalem for its rejection of his message of peace, addressing it with the symbolic words: How often have I longed to gather your children as a hen gathers her chicks under her [outstretched] wings. Sean OBrien, Kilrush, Co Clare Fr Flannery banished for showing real foresight that would benefit clergy Having viewed Wednesdays edition of Misneach on TG4, which related the story of the revoking of Fr Tony Flannerys ministry owing to his support for the ordination of women clergy; and having read Sarah Mac Donalds article about this (I was not allowed to preside at my sisters funeral I will take that hurt to the grave, Irish Independent, October 16), it provoked a range of emotions. I am angered that a very caring, devout and spiritual person has been prevented from fulfilling his vocation, and all because he had the courage to say that maybe we need to do things differently going forward, lads. Indeed, Fr Flannerys foresight may have gone a long way to averting the current crisis in vocations had someone heeded his words. I am also confused by the church hierarchys actions in effectively banishing Fr Flannery. There is little doubt that these are challenging times for the church. The sexual abuse issues have not gone away, and in addition to the aforementioned dearth of vocations the church finds itself operating against the backdrop of a more secularised and pluralistic society. It needs to change to embark on greater changes than placing an ever-increasing reliance on laity. Peter Drucker, one of the great modern management theorists, said the greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence; it is to act with yesterdays logic. The church needs to free itself from its shackled past and be seen as less staid and more compassionate. A small step in the right direction would be to allow the likes of Fr Tony Flannery to practise his ministry for his final years on this earth. Gerard Cassidy, Co Fermanagh Our unaccommodating weather may also factor in exodus of Irish workers Apart from the accommodation crisis, other factors might be causing emigration of Irish professionals. Unless the rain here in Galway stops soon, there doesnt seem much chance we will see the Cliffs of Moher or visit the Aran Islands as planned. Meanwhile, back in home town Melbourne, its a sunny 27C. Rod Wise, Melbourne, Australia How will Paddy Cosgraves comments impact Web Summits future? Is his apology enough to staunch the exodus of guest speakers quitting the event next month in Portugal? On the Big Tech Show today Adrian sat down with Irish Independent reporter, Tabitha Monahan, to discuss the Irish man, his comments and Web Summits future in the face of such a backlash. Last week Web Summit CEO, Paddy Cosgrave, posted on social media company X about Israels part in the Israel-Hamas conflict saying, "war crimes are war crimes even when committed by allies and should be called out for what they are. This immediately drew condemnation from some technology companies and investors in the tech world with the event founder Cosgrave taking to X to apologise two days later saying "I understand that what I said, the timing of what I said, and the way it has been presented has caused upset to many. To anyone who was hurt by my words I apologise deeply." Following Cosgraves apology, actress Gillian Anderson, as well Intel and Siemens have dropped from the tech conferences billing next month in Lisbon which augers poorly for future installations of the technology convention. Adrian stressed the importance of the Irish company now focusing on mending relationships for it to remedy the reputational damage caused by the comments. Gangland criminal James 'Nellie Walsh' is a hunted man... but this time it's not by Gardai. In fact, they recently issued him with a warning that his life is in danger. A GIM form (Garda Information Message) is a hand-delivered, official warning that is issued by Gardai when their intelligence indicates a serious threat to a person's life. The Indo Daily: James 'Nellie' Walsh - the gangland criminal on the run from his enemies So who is the man currently being reported as Ireland's most under-threat gangland target? And how has a 10-year-old feud spilled into murder, arson and even TikTok? Today on the Indo Daily podcast Fionnan Sheahan is joined by Ken Foy, Crime Correspondent with the Irish Independent, to discuss this latest feud and the risk of innocent bystanders being caught in its crosshairs. Ballyclough National School pupils Ava Lilly and Inola Cronin with their Teachers Amanda O Sullivan and Fiona O Connell showcasing their project to Councillor Frank O Flynn, Mayor of Cork County at the Munster Maths & Science Fair at Mallow GAA Complex Councillor Pat Hayes and Councillor Frank O Flynn, Mayor of Cork County chatting to Garda Kate O Brien, Garda John Fitzgerald and Garda Conor McDermott at the Garda Siochana Stand during the Munster Maths & Science Fair at Mallow GAA Complex Mallow Chamber President Sharon Cregg and Councillor Frank O Flynn, Mayor of Cork County, chatting to Aideen McNamara, Caroline Brennan and James Redmond who were manning the Dairygold Stand at the Munster Maths & Science Fair at Mallow GAA Complex Mallow Chamber President Sharon Cregg and Councillor Frank O Flynn, Mayor of Cork County, chatting to Dromahane National School pupils Fletcher, Dadhbh and Jules and their Teacher Una O Mahony at the Munster Maths & Science Fair at Mallow GAA Complex Councillor Frank O Flynn, Mayor of Cork County pictured with Brid Hennessy and Eleanor Walsh at the Mary Immaculate College Stand at the Munster Maths & Science Fair at Mallow GAA Complex Councillor Pat Hayes, Councillor Frank O Flynn, Mayor of Cork County, Sharon Cregg, President of Mallow Chamber and Councillor Liam Madden chatting to Sinead Browne, Claudia Kennedy and Anna Kerins at the EPS Stand during the Munster Maths & Science Fair at Mallow GAA Complex Scoil Ghobnatan pupils Evie Hickey and Luciana O Regan Alves holding a model of the Planet Jupiter that the Class made for Munster Maths & Science Fair The thousands who flocked to Mallow GAA Complex for the Munster Maths and Science Fair on Sunday last were once again enthralled with the wide range of projects on show from education, industry and third level institutions. 14 schools from around North Cork and further afield were showcasing alongside local and national industry, research bodies and public services. Flaming fireballs, exciting experiments, amazing demonstrations, maths puzzles and drone flying were among the attractions during the five hour long event. The fair in its eleventh year is now established as a beacon event in promoting science, technology, engineering and Maths (STEM) that surrounds our everyday living, work and recreational activities. Mallow Convent Primary School pupils Julia Bednarz, Julie Galvin and Georgia Singleton were casting magic spells during the Munster Maths & Science Fair at Mallow GAA Complex For older school-goers it provides a valuable opportunity to discuss their careers with the professionals and industry leaders working in engineering, science and research and advice on the relevant subjects needed to study for these careers. Speaking on Sunday, Mayor of County Cork Frank OFlynn said: It is hard to believe that the fair is now in its eleventh year. As you may know the Council has been one of the main sponsors of the event since its inception. The Council is delighted to be sponsoring the event again this year with the Irish American Partnership and Mallow Credit Union. I am delighted to see so many stands here today and am particularly proud to see stands from the council which highlight their involvement in interesting projects. The Munster Maths and Science Fair holds a special place in our hearts, as it highlights the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics also known as STEM in our community and its critical role in driving the economy of Ireland. This event emphasises that maths and science are integral parts of our educational system, from primary to secondary and even third level education. Furthermore, it reminds us that the STEM sector offers valuable employment opportunities right here in County Cork. Gaelscoil Thomais Daibhis pupils Patrick Hammond and Filip Gaczol constructed a Rube Goldbert Machine for the Munster Maths & Science Fair The fair not only provides a platform for learning but also offers an insight into the operations of multinational corporations. This first-hand experience allows our community to gain a deeper understanding of the innovative work of these organisations and their contributions to our local economy. It is essential to highlight the impact of science and technology on our education system. This fair bridges the gap between young minds and the world of science, enabling even our youngest to explore and appreciate the wonders of science before encountering it in their school curriculum. This early exposure nurtures a curiosity that will serve them well in the years to come. The Munster Maths and Science Fair is not just an event; it is a celebration of knowledge, innovation, and the remarkable potential of our community. Let us continue to support and nurture the younger minds of County Cork, encouraging them to explore the world of STEM, he said. Mallow Chamber President Sharon Cregg and Councillor Frank O Flynn, Mayor of Cork County, chatting to Aideen McNamara, Caroline Brennan and James Redmond who were manning the Dairygold Stand at the Munster Maths & Science Fair at Mallow GAA Complex The main supporters of the fair are Cork County Council Economic Development Fund and Irish American Partnership, supported by Mallow Credit Union, Maths Week and Kostal Mallow. It will be years before towns such as Charleville, Fermoy connected to the network The slow roll-out of broadband in North Cork received strong criticism from a number of a Councillors at the Northern Committee meeting. Senior executive officer Ted OLeary told Councillors that surveying works are now complete at Kanturk, Fermoy and Clonakilty deployment areas. He outlined that approximately 81,000 premises across Cork County will ultimately benefit from access to high-speed broadband constructed under the National Broadband Contract, and it is estimated 76,000 of these premises are in the Cork County areas. A detailed breakdown of the broadband roll-out in North Cork showed that, in Charleville, there are 2,254 premises and the survey is pending from January 2025 to December 2026. In Fermoy, there are 3,821 premises and the network build will be in progress from January 2025 to December 2026. In Kanturk, there are 3,889 premises and the network build will be in progress from October 2024 to December 2024. In Meelin there are 2,042 premises, and the survey is pending from January 2025 to December 2026. The report also showed there are 1,628 premises in Mitchelstown, and the survey is pending from January 2025 to December 2026. Mr OLeary said the up-to-date report indicated that completion for many parts of the county wont happen until the end of 2026 or early 2027. Broadband is progressing in accordance with their schedule. It is unfortunate that much of the progress in terms of installation across the county appears to indicate that completion or roll-out in many parts of the county wont happen until the latter end of the programme in 2026 or 2027, he said. There are some areas in North Cork highlighted for connection at the end of 2024 or at the start of 2025. Mr OLeary said National Broadband Ireland (NBI) seems to be pursuing the high-volume areas. It appears that many rural parts appear to be at the end of a seven-year plan, he said. They seem to be pursuing the high-volume areas, which tend to be towns and villages. The councils role in relation to broadband is limited. The councils role is to support NBI in terms of where to smooth obstacles that are regulatory issues with the rollout in Cork. We also have a role in setting up broadband connection points locally, he said. Councillors were not happy at what they saw as a very slow roll-out of broadband. It is an absolute disgrace what is happening with broadband, said the Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Frank OFlynn. All the reports are as cold and impersonal as the computer printout. There is no broadband in Glanworth National School. We were told the Minister for Communications and the Minister for Education would roll it out to every single individual school. A proper broadband service must be put in place to meet the needs of the children who are attending the school. Fine Gael Councillor Liam Madden said In relation to broadband, North Cork has been totally neglected. Rural North Cork is an absolute disgrace. We are getting all these reports, but in North Cork, again, we are getting left out. Why, I dont know. People are getting dates, but it could be four or five years time before they have it. That is not good enough, he said. Fine Gael Councillor Kay Dawson echoed her colleagues sentiments. Broadband is too slow coming out into the more rural areas and they have same need to access the internet, she said. We need to drive it harder and to get the broadband out there. Ballymun needs more housing so theres more people to support local businesses following the closure of SuperValu, one local councillor said. Councillor Noeleen Reilly said businesses are struggling to survive due to the lack of people living in Ballymun and more homes should be built on vacant land in the northside community. When I heard the news I was shocked. It just wasnt viable, Ive spoken to Robert, their family have given everything to Ballymun. But overall, for the local economy, its very worrying that our main supermarket cant survive, she said. We havent been able to get anybody whos interested in building a shopping centre in the area either, they dont think itd be viable. The disposable income of people in Ballymun is just so low, that needs to change. We need to raise the income levels of people in the area so the local economy can be supported. I dont think theres any business there that is flourishing, thats really worrying. We need to look at housing in the area. Ballymun has more available land than anywhere else in the DCC region. A lot of the land used to have flats on it, now it doesnt. All that land is available. Itd bring more people in to support local businesses. Our population has decreased, it has been a factor over the past 20 years. When the flats came down, a lot of people moved out of the area. Land is scarce in Dublin, theres an opportunity to build affordable and social housing within Ballymun. Its certainly not worse than anywhere else, it has its issues but these issues exist everywhere. The Supervalu store in Ballymun will close next month The high rents are killing everyone, even if theyre on HAP. We need to ensure people have more money in their pockets and that can support local business. I hope Musgraves think of the community when they decide what to do with the building. We have to keep the community vibrant. Theres a job of work to do in terms of supporting the economy, we dont want any businesses closing, she added. Cllr Reilly highlighted that the closure of SuperValu will have a negative effect on the community, but shes pleased to say theres no concern over the Post Office located in the shop just yet. Its very disappointing. I do an outdoor clinic there every Friday, its certainly more than a supermarket, it was a place where people met up. The Post Office is based there, a lot of senior citizens wouldve used that. The Post Office will remain in Ballymun, six months at its current location until the Murphys sort an alternative. Councillor Briege MacOscar echoed the disappointment in the community over the closure of SuperValu. It is sad. The community is very upset. Robert Murphy who runs SuperValu, lifted Ballymun in many ways with his very good service to the area, she said. SuperValu is a hub on the main street. If any group needed any catering or any prizes for raffles, hed always give. Its worrying that a commercial outlet is closing in Ballymun. Ballymun should be thriving, but to see them closing up is quite upsetting. Theres 45 staff losing their jobs, thats a huge number. Its important we do all we can as councillors to make sure people are looked after. Hopefully we can help people find work in the area, whether its in retail or hospitality. People are worried about the Post Office. Robert hopes to relocate that somewhere on the main street, she added. The owners of a Dublin city centre food truck which was robbed twice in the space of a few days, say they will be closed for a couple of weeks while they carry out repairs. William Murray said he is now reluctant to reopen Currabinny, the food truck he owns with TV host and influencer James Kavanagh, in Dublin 2 after the incidents this week. They had relocated their food truck to Chatham Row just two weeks ago. The business was robbed for the first time earlier in the week, but William decided hed keep his head held high and keep going. However, when he arrived at the truck this morning, he found the place trashed. I came down today and found out we were robbed a second time this week. I thought I could go down, put on a brave face and not let them get me down, but to see we were robbed again this morning was so horrible, William said. We were loving that new location, we thought we were taking off a bit, it was getting busier and we were getting regular customers there. Its a horrible thing to happen. The first robbery, they took cash from the till but there wasnt much in it. Last night, the lads trashed the place, they took random things like an internet dongle, a port for an iPad, they wouldnt be of any value to them but they took them anyway. They took the whole till, but there was no money in it. They broke things, he added. The message posted by William after the second robbery this week Now, William is unsure whether theyll keep the business in the same location or move elsewhere. The first robbery, they left the place quite clean, they didnt break anything. They went in with a clear agenda of getting money, when they got that they left, he said. Today, Id to take out everything and put it in storage. Im taking the caravan out tomorrow for repairs. I dont know if Ill put the van back there or not. Its all going to cost so much money, theres such a small margin in the food industry as it is, youre not making a lot of money. Anything like this puts a dent in your earnings. I wont be open for a couple of weeks and the cost of repairs, its all a headache. Insurance wise, Im reluctant to go down that route in case they put my policy up. Im soaked to the bone, Ive been outside all day trying to sort things out, its so tiring and heartbreaking. Weve CCTV footage, you can see faces quite clearly. Its devastating, its a small business that relies on being open every day. Anything can ruin it because its so small. Theres a feeling in Dublin now that people are just causing havoc. Theyre not doing it for money or gain, just causing mayhem for the sake of it, he added. William said he has reported both incidents to gardai and offered to hand over any CCTV footage. (Baonghean.vn) - On October 20, as part of their working program in Nghe An Province, the delegation from the People's Council of Vientiane Capital, Lao People's Democratic Republic, and the People's Council of Nghe An Province organized a conference to exchange experiences in their activities. Mr. Nguyen Nam Dinh - Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Permanent Deputy Chairman of the Provincial People's Council of Nghe An presents flowers to welcome the working delegation from the People's Council of Vientiane Capital (Laos). Photo: Mai Hoa During the conference, both sides discussed various issues related to the experiences in the activities of the People's Councils. Specifically, the People's Council of Nghe An Province shared their experiences regarding the supervision of public investment and attracting investments in the province of Nghe An; experiences in the construction, examination, and issuance of resolutions by the People's Council of Nghe An Province; experiences in supervising the implementation of issued resolutions; organizational models and methods, as well as experiences in the operation of district-level People's Councils within the province of Nghe An. Scene from the discussion session. Photo: Lam Tung Subsequently, the members of the working delegation from the People's Council of Vientiane Capital (Laos) raised numerous questions and received exchanges of experiences from the Standing Committee, the committees of the People's Council of Nghe An Province, and representatives of district-level People's Councils regarding the attraction and management of foreign investment resources; mobilizing social resources, particularly resources from the people, for infrastructure construction; the implementation of compensation and resettlement for land clearance in various projects. Furthermore, clarifications were made regarding the relationship between the People's Committee - the law enforcement agency, and the People's Council of the same level - the agency overseeing the activities of the People's Committee; activities related to examination, issuance, and supervision of the implementation of resolutions on public investment by the People's Council; budget allocation for the operation of the People's Council; the authority of the provincial People's Council in national defense and security work, etc. At the end of the discussion, the working delegation from the People's Council of Vientiane Capital sincerely thanked for the sharing and clarification from the practical activities of the People's Council of Nghe An Province; this shall be a valuable experience in methods and operations that the People's Council of Vientiane Capital will apply to enhance the quality and effectiveness of their activities in the future. The delegates from Vientiane Capital also expressed the desire for the two agencies to continue strengthening their close cooperation and achieving even higher results; proposing that the two Departments of Internal Affairs and the two Offices of the People's Council act as "liaison points" for future effective cooperation between the two People's Councils. Mr. Nguyen Nam Dinh - Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Permanent Deputy Chairman of the Provincial People's Council of Nghe An, presents a commemorative gift to the People's Council of Vientiane Capital. Photo: Lam Tung Fully agreeing with the proposal of the leadership of the People's Council of Vientiane Capital, the leadership of the People's Council of Nghe An Province expressed the view: Learning and sharing experiences and effective practices are mutually beneficial activities; the People's Council of Vientiane Capital learns from the experience of Nghe An Province's People's Council and vice versa, and these activities can take various forms through conferences, discussion sessions, exchange visits, and working programs between the two sides; involving members of the People's Councils and their committees... The Permanent Deputy Chairman of the Provincial People's Council of Nghe An Province also hoped that the teams of cadres and officials from both People's Councils will be pioneers in promoting bilateral cooperation; pushing for the activities of the two local People's Councils to be more effective and firmly established; contributing to the implementation of the policy of enhancing bilateral cooperation between the two localities as agreed upon by the Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee of Nghe An and the Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee of Vientiane Capital. OReilly bludgeoned his wife Rachel to death at their home in Naul, north Co Dublin, on October 4, 2004. Former Detective Inspector Pat Marry has described murderer Joe OReilly as anything but a mastermind as he recalled how he was jailed over the horrific killing of Rachel Callaly almost two decades ago. OReilly bludgeoned his wife Rachel to death at their home in Naul, north Co Dublin, on October 4, 2004. He was handed a mandatory life sentence in 2007 after a jury at the Central Criminal Court returned a unanimous guilty verdict. In the latest episode of the Real Lives Untold podcast, investigator Pat Marry told hosts Trina and Sarah OConnor how the crime scene was staged to look like burglary gone wrong, but gardai working on the case soon realised something more sinister was afoot. Joe OReilly Ive been to thousands of burglaries. I know what a crime scene is like. I knew when I visited the scene myself that someone hated her because she was so badly beaten, he explained. It was vicious. Not only had they beaten her, but they had come back and beaten her again. We could tell by the blood splattering on the wall that there was blood on top of blood, which is a sign that she was hit and the blood began to dry, and then there was blood on top of that. You could see it was hate. It wasnt a burglar; burglars dont do that. Burglars dont want any confrontation at all and if they are confronted, theyll get out as quickly as they can. Theyre not going to stand around and beat someone. They just dont do it. Marry said that there were some tell-tale signs that OReilly was the killer, from his unusual body language on The Late Late Show with Rachels mum Rose Callaly to his interactions with police during the investigation. He recalled how the 51-year-old was acting strangely at the crime scene after detectives arrived to his home. Rachel Callaly I wandered out and Joe was on his own, which I thought was unusual because wed gotten the Callaly family out of the house and the ambulance had arrived, Marry said. They were all down with the ambulance and the crew were putting tinfoil wraps around them for the shock, but Joe was standing on his own away from them. I thought he would have been down sympathising or asking what happened. I thought that was very strange but I went out and shook hands with him. I said wed be investigating this and needed his phone number as wed be speaking to him later on. He gave me his phone number, which I thought was his phone number but it was actually Rachels phone number. Now, why he did that, I dont know. It was strange carry-on... It wasnt sitting right with me. He was trying to distance himself. I said it to him that night but he said, I thought you were looking for Rachels number. Why would I be looking for a dead womans phone number? Marry said that he visited OReilly at his mothers house in Co Louth that night, where he was asked if Rachel had been having an affair. He said, No, no, neither of us were having affairs. But then it clicked it with me that thats not what I asked him. I was clued in and banked that bit of information. He said, The company where I work, I sacked two fellas and it could have been revenge for being sacked. He gave me their names. Then I asked, Are you sure she wasnt having an affair? Were you having an affair? and he said, No, I wasnt having an affair. Typical psycho he looked straight at you and I kept looking at him. I wasnt happy with his answer. OReilly later admitted that he had been having an affair with Nikki Pelley. Marry said that Rachel had found out the infidelity after her young son told her that hed met his dads new girlfriend. Rachel, the night before she was murdered, had a big row with Joe and gave him an ultimatum. She told him to clean up his act or she was out. That was the catalyst of it all. He was going to get rid of her one way or another. A lot of these murderers arent masterminds, theyre anything but, but they all have a trend. People say theyre psychopathic, which they probably are. But what I would say, from my dealing with these people, they do have an ego thats bigger than themselves. Its often their undoing because they look at the police or people of authority like theyre above them or smarter than them. Its a big mistake to look down on the police and think that they're not smart. OReilly has never admitted to killing his wife, but Marry told Real Lives Untold listeners that he once came close. The nearest he came to admitting it was when we were interviewing him in Drogheda Station and Rose (Callaly) wanted to see him. We toyed around with this idea of letting her into the interview room to see him. Things were a lot looser then in terms of custody of people, but we let her into the interview room and she told us that he wouldnt admit anything, but when she was leaving, she had her hand on the door and he said, Rose. Im very sorry. She said that she knew he was apologising for what he did, but that was it. A Kerry father is determined to raise awareness around what he says are discriminatory rules around the tax benefits for cohabiting couples and their children. Sean Griffin from Cahersiveen has been living with his partner Catherine and their two children for many years. However, because they are not married he and his partner cannot claim tax credits for their children, though they are a family in every sense of the word but have chosen not to get married. Niamh Carr is presented with the Clerical Officer of the Year award at the Bus Eireann Going the Extra Mile regional awards Adrian Larkin receives the Craftworker of the Year award on behalf of Joe Carroll at the Bus Eireann Going the Extra Mile regional awards Connell O'Donnell receives the Going Green Energy Award at the Bus Eireann Going the Entra Mile regional awards Francis Rooney receives the school bus driver of the year award at the Bus Eireann GEM regional awards Four Bus Eireann staff working in Dundalk have been presented with awards at the national bus companys regional annual GEM (Go the Extra Mile) Awards, which recognise excellent customer service, community impact, performance and forward-thinking. Awards were issued in a number of different categories including Apprentice of the Year, Depot of the Year, Executive of the Year as well as Driver and Community Awards. Four staff members from Dundalk are recognised for their contributions to Bus Eireann and the community in the Eastern region: Francis Rooney was named as the School Bus Driver of the Year, Joe Carroll was presented with the Craftworker of the Year, Niamh Carr won the award for Clerical Staff of the Year, and Connell ODonnell received the Going Green Energy Award. Niamh Carr is presented with the Clerical Officer of the Year award at the Bus Eireann Going the Extra Mile regional awards The Bus Eireann regional awards take place across the country in October and the winners of each region will go forward to the National GEM awards on the December 8 in Dublin. A 74-year-old former councillor and retired history lecturer, on her way to Carlingford to research a book, had a brain freeze on the motorway, causing a lorry to crash into the back of her car. That evidence was given when Sylvia Anginotti, Ashurst Drive, Sheffield, England, appeared before the district court after being summonsed for dangerous driving on the M1 at Ballynahattin, Dundalk, on 28 July 2022. Sgt Laura Blanche said that the incident was reported at 8.45pm. A white Scania lorry had collided into the rear of a Fiat 500 driven by the defendant. A passenger in the car was taken to hospital by ambulance. Dashcam footage from the lorry showed that the Fiat had come to a complete stop, blocking Lane 1 and the hard shoulder. The lorry driver couldnt avoid going into the back of the car. Counsel for Ms Anginotti said she had travelled from Sheffield to be in court and was on crutches following the accident. On this occasion, accompanied by her husband, she was seeking to leave the motorway at Junction 18 on the way to Carlingford to research a book about a local family. The defendant had a brain freeze and got caught between the hard shoulder and first lane. Counsel added that his client was for decades a local representative in Sheffield and a retired history lecturer. Judge McKiernan decided to reduce the summons to careless driving. Ms Anginotti was fined 300. The court used its discretion not to impose a driving disqualification. Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation Dara Calleary recently spoke at the Enterprising23 business event, hosted by Enterprise Ireland and the West Business Innovation Centre (WestBIC) in the Sligo Park Hotel. The event provided businesses and entrepreneurs from the North-West region with key information on supports available to help businesses grow and succeed. A full house of delegates heard from successful entrepreneurs and industry experts on a series of topics including navigating entrepreneurial supports, strategic networking & communicating for start-ups and how to attract and prepare for investment. The Enterprising23 event featured speakers from SMEs, large companies and innovative start-ups including David McIntyre, Cubbie; Ruairi Dooley, BiaSol; Margaret Rae, Konree Innovation; Fergal OConnor, BuyMedia; Michael Furey, Ronspot; James Doherty, Sliabh Liag Distillers; Catherine Devine, Pumpskynz; Kieran Supple, Reap Interactive and Kasia Gaborec-McEvoy, My Name is Ted along with members of Enterprise Irelands start-up and investment teams including Jenny Melia, Executive Director and Anna-Marie Turley, HPSU and Entrepreneurship. The proceedings were moderated by broadcaster Lisa Regan. Minister Calleary said, The West of Irelands reputation as an attractive place to do business is growing, with more and more innovative companies establishing, growing, and succeeding here. This event aims to capitalise on this, highlighting not only the competitiveness of the region but the opportunities for businesses to expand and innovate. This government, through our enterprise agencies Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise network, is committed to helping businesses in all our regions access the right supports for them to thrive and grow. I encourage all entrepreneurs, founders and business owners to find out more about the supports available to you. The Ulster Bank building in Sligo town is now off the market after being up for sale online for a number of weeks. The property has been reserved and the processes have closed after viewings were held and bidding took place in the last few weeks. The sale process was being handled by real estate agents Cushman and Wakefield. A brochure published on the website Ulsterbankportfolio.ie describes the property as a protected structure. The four storey, detached building, has a total floor area of approximately 547 sq m, from the ground floor to the third floor. The website also shows pictures of the buildings interior along with the virtual tour option for interested buyers. Niall Kellegher, a graduate surveyor at Cushman and Wakefield, told The Sligo Champion that a number of bids were received for the property, and it has been currently taken off the market. He said: The guide price was kept at 490,000 and now it has been declared as reserve. The company has refused to disclose any further information about the highest bid or the bidders. The bank shut its doors for the last time on April 26th of this year. Much discussion has taken place locally about the future of the building, which seems uncertain at present. The branch building located adjacent to the Hyde Bridge at the intersection of Stephen Street and Markievicz road is said to be one of Sligos most iconic buildings built to the designs of James Hamilton of Glasgow and Belfast. The detached five-bay two-storey sandstone ashlar classically styled bank was built in 1863 and was immediately viewed as a notable feature of the town centre due to its rich ashlar Scottish sandstone, scale and prominent position at the junction of three busy streets. Wexford is well represented in this years An Post Book Awards with six authors and poets shortlisted across the 19 categories. Claire Keegan has been nominated for Library Association of Ireland Author of the Year alongside Sebastian Barry, Liz Nugent, Joseph OConnor, Lucinda Riley, and Catherine Ryan Howard, while her latest book So Late in the Day is shortlisted for Eason Novel of the Year. John Banville has been nominated for the Irish Independent Crime Fiction Book of the Year for his novel, The Lock-Up, while childrens authors Eoin Colfer and Sinead OHart have been nominated for their books Three Tasks for a Dragon and The Silver Road. There was yet more good news for the county as Blackwater-native Audrey Molloy has been shortlisted for the Listowel Writers Week Poem of the Year for her work, A Legacy to Seven Men Ive Loved. And in the Writing.ie Short Story of the Year category, Riverchapels Jennifer McMahon has been shortlisted for her work, In the Same Darkness. Jennifer, who is originally from Cork but has been living in the north Wexford village for the past 15 years, said being shortlisted in the awards was the pinnacle of my career as a writer. Yet, when it came to attending the official ceremony to announce the shortlisted authors, she almost didnt make it to the venue in Dublin. The nominations were officially announced in the Convention Centre, I got to meet some amazing authors, among them Paul Lynch whos on the Booker shortlist, she said. But I was late getting there because of the weather and there were some concerts taking place in Dublin that night. When you walk into something like that and dont know anyone it can be intimidating, youre almost afraid of all the famous authors, almost asking yourself who am I to be here?" Having rubbed shoulders with the great and the good of Irish literature, Jennifer returned home to continue working on a number of projects she currently has in the pipeline, some in long-form, some, like In the Same Darkness, shorter works. Its a story about grief and loss, about a couple mourning the loss of their son in a hit and run accident, and how grief affects people in different ways, she says of In the Same Darkness. I have written a lot of short stories but Ive also written seven novels, and have another two in progress; for many years I toiled away at my writing before I realised that you get out of it what you put into it and to make it as a writer to have to have a very singular focus. "So, now my focus is entirely on writing, I start at 4 a.m. every day and have most of my work done by 9 a.m. Im usually working on 2-3 projects at a time, focusing on producing the best work I can and making each piece better than the one which came before. Im semi-retired from the tech sector, I think a lot of people in tech have that singular focus and its very useful in my career as a writer. That career has seen Jennifer win both the Bray Literary Festival and the Books Ireland Magazine flash fiction competitions, and been shortlisted for the Anthology Short Story Award, the Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize, the Fish Publishing flash fiction prize, the Retreat West Short Story Prize, the Wild Atlantic Writing Awards, and the Women On Writing Flash Fiction Prize. Jennifer was also shortlisted for The Literary Consultancy Scholarship in 2022 and been longlisted for the Irish Short Story of the Year Award, the Fractured Literary Flash Fiction OPEN contest, the Plaza Prizes Crime First Chapters competition, Fiction Factorys Novel First Chapter competition, the Fiction Factory Short Story competition, the Retreat West Flash Fiction Prize, and the Retreat West quarterly flash fiction competition. Despite her success, she describes herself as just an ordinary person who loves to write, someone who has carved a successful career as an author without Masters degree in creative writing or English literature. Something also at odds with her success is the financial rewards she and her contemporaries receive for their work. I dont think writers are rewarded enough, we are valued but not rewarded, she says. For example, most writers can only expect to make 1 for each copy of a book sold, but in terms of Irish writing right now, Im not sure theres ever been a better time, we have such an incredible range of writers right now. Readers can now vote for their favourite books, poems, and short stories of the year by visiting https://www.irishbookawards.ie/vote/ In Jennifers category you can read her short story, and those of her fellow nominees, before voting, and she hopes that whoever wins her category deserves the award. It would be lovely if the people of Wexford voted for me, but itd be nice if it wasnt just a popular vote and people read the stories and judged it on merit. A computer-generated image of what the retractable roof on Monck Street will look like. Initial works to install a roof over Monck Street in Wexford town drew some criticism from locals. The installation of a new retractable roof over Monck Street in Wexford town has been kicked even further down the road and will not now be operational until late November. The retractable roof, the first of its kind in Ireland, was initially due to be in place for the June bank holiday. Following difficulties sourcing steel for the project, this was kicked back until the beginning of October, with elected representatives being assured that it would be in place for the Wexford Festival Opera. At the October meeting of the Wexford Borough District and with the fireworks to launch the festival imminent, Borough Engineer Eilis Furlong confirmed that shelter over Monck Street was some weeks off. "The structure has been installed, she said. The canopy works are to get under way this week and thats expected to take two and a half to three weeks. With cabling works then and everything else, it's hoped that it should be operational in four to five weeks. Cllr Maura Bell was concerned by persistent delays. "So it could be longer depending on the ESB connecting things? she asked. Ms Furlong replied that a temporary connection had been organised via a local business if there was a delay on an ESB connection. "But we wont have this for the festival then? Cllr Bell asked. "No, Ms Furlong replied. The installation of the initial infrastructure for the retractable roof has not gone without commentary either. Many took to social media to criticise the large steel girders which were erected in advance of the canopy works, dismissing them as hideous, ugly and unnecessary. Speaking in the wake of the initial criticism, Mayor John Hegarty expressed some concerns of his own, but urged people to be patient and wait to see what the finished product looks like. "I assume we will get what was promised in the artists images, he said. Outside Mullingar Cathedral for the Service of Remembrance were Sinead McDonald, from Barntown, and John Boyce and his kidney donor daughter Trish Boyce from Rosslare. Picture Conor McCabe Photography. A father and daughter from Rosslare have celebrated the gift of life at a service in Mullingar which honoured organ donors from across Ireland. In December of last year Trish Boyce donated a kidney to her dad John after he was diagnosed with renal failure in 2017. Following successful surgery in Beaumont Hospital, John has received a new lease of life and, along with Trish, he attended the Irish Kidney Associations 38th Annual Service of Remembrance & Thanksgiving at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Mullingar, Co Westmeath. They were joined by Sinead McDonald, a kidney transplant recipient from Barntown, Wexford, who was recently appointed as fundraising manager for the Irish Kidney Association. In total, more than 1200 attended a service which has become both an anniversary to remember loved ones and an opportunity to honour and give thanks for the wonderful gift of life they have received. Following the service, organ donor families viewed the name of their deceased loved ones inscribed in the Book of Remembrance, a roll of honour for organ donors. The Irish Kidney Associations national honorary chairman, Eddie Flood, a kidney transplant recipient from Killucan, Co Westmeath, performed the role of narrator at the service. While acknowledging all who contributed to the event, Mr. Flood thanked the Catholic Bishop of Meath, Most Reverend Thomas Deenihan, Very Reverend Phil Gaffney and Chief Celebrant at the Service Reverend Barry White, for hosting the service in the Cathedral. Mr. Flood also thanked co-celebrant Fr. Stan Deegan, P.P. from his local parish, Killucan, as well as co-celebrant Reverend Canon Alastair Graham, Church of Ireland, Evangelist Mario Martins from Youth for Christ Ireland, and Louise Burchall, who represented the Humanist Association of Ireland. This years service saw the return to an in-person gathering, following three consecutive years of a televised virtual event due to Covid-19. However, it was recorded and will be broadcast on RTE One and RTE Radio One Extra on November 5 at 11 a.m. The Chairperson of ReWild Wicklow and local election candidate, Danny Alvey, has called for some of the Governments new 3 billion Climate Action and Nature Restoration Fund to be used to expand the national park in Wicklow. Last month, Danny launched a petition to add 16,000 hectares of land to the park which has been signed by nearly 3,000 people already. The current national park is the largest in Ireland at 23,000 hectares, this plan would mean almost doubling it to 39,000 hectares. Mr Alvey said: The announcement of a new dedicated fund for climate action and nature restoration in this weeks budget is welcome, but it makes no sense that this fund wont be available until 2026. Were several years into a climate and biodiversity crisis, we needed these funds yesterday, not three years from now. If the Government is serious about nature restoration they need to make this fund available immediately. I have a project ready to go on State land, which has the potential to be one of the biggest in the country, and 3,000 people have already backed it. In fact, it would cost the State very little from that fund, as all of the land is already owned by us, the public, and would just mean transferring its management from the state agencies Coillte to the National Parks and Wildlife Service. A couple of weeks ago the Government announced a new National Park for Ireland with the purchase of the former Dowth Estate in Meath. Mr Alvey states: This piece of land is only a mere 223 hectares in size. Should it even be called a National Park? As it stands, our National Parks dont stand up well internationally when compared in size. Our largest, the Wicklow Mountains, at 23,000 hectares, is smaller than the UKs smallest, The Broads, at 30,300 hectares. Their largest is Cairngorms in Scotland, which is a staggering 452,800 hectares. If nature is to recover on this island, if species are to come back from the brink of extinction and others are to be re-introduced, they need significant amount of space. The plan Ive put forward would create this, it would involve rewilding and restoring approximately nine valleys throughout the Wicklow Mountains to be added to the iconic Glendalough valley. It would create a flagship nature restoration project that would be huge value for money from this new dedicated fund. The reason my plan has got so much local support here in Wicklow is not just because we are a county of nature-lovers, but because people can see the huge opportunity it presents for recreation, eco-tourism and the local economy. The petition comes with an interactive Google Earth map showing the colour-coded zones for the land being referred to and can be read in more detail and signed on change.org at the link chng.it/FFdPZFb4CT. Xem them (Construction) - On October 3, 2023, in Tokyo - Capital of Japan, Construction Newspaper of Vietnam, represented by Mr. Nguyen Anh Dung - Editor-in-Chief continued to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with The Daily Engineering and Construction News of Japan (DECN) with the witness of the MLIT and many businesses in Japan. ... Tin bai cuoi cung Khong con du lieu e load Wicklow literature was in clover on Friday as two of the countys bookshops and two of its writers made the shortlist for the An Post Irish Book Awards 2023. Childrens bookshop Halfway Up the Stairs in Greystones, and Bridge Street Books, Wicklow town, both made the list for the Irish Bookshop of the Year 2023; while Gods Dont Cry by Ellen Ryan and The Presidents Dog by Peter Donnelly both authors from Greystones are shortlisted for Specsavers Childrens Book of the Year (Junior and Senior). Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in the Convention Centre, Dublin on Wednesday, November 22. Ellen Ryan with her daughter Martha. Bridge Street Books said: We are absolutely delighted to be shortlisted among such a superb bunch of booksellers. While over at Halfway Up The Stairs, the owners said they were absolutely over the moon to be included on the shortlist with these wonderful bookshops! Thank you to all our wonderful customers for your votes and support. Now in its 18th year, the An Post Irish Book Awards celebrate and promote Irish writing to the widest range of readers possible. Each year it brings together a vast community passionate about books readers, authors, booksellers, publishers and librarians to recognise the very best of Irish writing talent. To tie in with the announcement of the An Post Irish Book Awards shortlist, the public are now being asked to have their say and cast their votes online for the best books of the year on the An Post Irish Book Awards website anpostirishbookawards.ie/vote. All voters will be entered into a prize draw to win one of five 100 National Book Tokens vouchers. Voters may cast their votes up to Thursday, November 9, at 5pm. Meanwhile, a one-hour television special, hosted by Oliver Callan, will be broadcast on RTE One on Wednesday, December 6, giving viewers an exclusive insight into the six books and the authors competing for the accolade of An Post Irish Book Awards Book of the Year 2023, culminating in the reveal of this years overall winner. Ruby Witter in the woodwork room at the Colaiste Chill Mhantain open evening. Photo: Michael Kelly Teacher Natasha Smyth and Alfie Simonnet in the Science room at the Colaiste Chill Mhantain open evening. Colaiste Chill Mhantain opened its doors to all sixth class pupils and their parents in the catchment area for the Wicklow town schools open night. Alexi Mendez at the Colaiste Chill Mhantain open evening. Photo: Michael Kelly The evening provided an opportunity for parents and students to gain an insight into school life in Colaiste Chill Mhantain, with Principal Padraig Donoghue formally welcoming all. His three deputies Ms Laura Casey, Mr Bosco Guinan and Ms Caitriona Smith were also present to witness a wonderful show of support from the local community. Kaylyn Hefferon and teacher Brian McVicar at the Colaiste Chill Mhantain open evening. Photo: Michael Kelly Both students and teachers attended and were happy to describe the teaching and learning environment, as well as give demonstrations, while prefect and mentor teams gave guided tours. Visitors saw all departments to get a flavour of the range of subjects on offer in the school, from core subjects such as English, Irish, maths, history and science, to the wider subjects like technical graphics, visual arts, engineering, business, materials technology (wood), home economics, geography and music. Ruby Witter in the woodwork room at the Colaiste Chill Mhantain open evening. Photo: Michael Kelly Students are also offered a choice to study a modern language and can choose from French, German or Spanish. The RE, SPHE, CSPE and PE departments helped give an insight into Colaiste Chill Mhantains Wellbeing programme. The schools Resource and Guidance teams were also available to answer questions and provide information about the schools provision for students with additional educational needs. A senior member of staff at BBC News has admitted the corporation made a mistake while covering the immediate aftermath of the bombing of a hospital in Gaza City. Hamas has blamed an Israeli air strike for the attack on Tuesday, while the Israeli military said al Ahli hospital was instead hit by a rocket misfired by Palestinian militants. At the Media Societys Reporting The Israel Hamas Conflict event on Thursday, deputy chief executive of BBC News Jonathan Munro said the broadcasters language wasnt quite right during live reporting. The director of journalism at the corporation said The correspondent (Jon Donnison) was wrong to speculate about the cause of the explosion of the hospital. At no stage did he actually say it was caused by the Israelis but nonetheless, when the impression is left that weve speculated, (it) is important to correct that which weve done. He added: Somewhere along the line, human beings are going to make a mistake on a bit of output and when it gets magnified and is used as an example of getting things wrong, its a very uncomfortable place to be. And of course, it shouldnt have happened and we need to make sure that were doubling down on (keeping) our language absolutely accurate. This follows Israels president Isaac Herzog telling the UK Prime Minister on Thursday there should be a correction issued over the BBCs coverage of the conflict in the Middle East. Mr Herzog told Rishi Sunak: We feel that the way the BBC characterises Hamas is a distortion of the facts. The Foreign Secretary has called on broadcasters to go for accuracy rather than pace because their words have impact here in the UK and around the world. James Cleverly told Wednesdays Parliament: It is incredibly important the BBC and other broadcasters are very careful in their reporting of this issue because of the sensitivity and because of the implications, not just in the region itself but here in the UK. Mr Munro also said that the BBCs use of language has been allowed or encouraged to become the primary story in media reports that have focused on the BBCs policy not to use the word terrorist in regards to Hamas. The broadcaster has made clear that the group is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the UK Government. However, several cabinet ministers including Defence Secretary Grant Shapps have criticised the editorial guidelines. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Ben Gurion airport, near Tel Aviv, Israel (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP) Mr Munro also said: Theres absolutely no way that we are trying to equalise whats going on between Hamas and Israel in any way, shape, or form. Weve used very strong language; atrocity, mass murder, abduction and kidnapping. Mr Munro also spoke about a pro-Palestinian group claiming responsibility for vandalising the BBCs Broadcasting House headquarters with red paint and a peaceful protest by Jewish groups. He said: Groups representing both communities decided that they would protest at the BBC because they believe the coverage that we put on air or online was biased against their perspective. That goes some way to explaining that we are in a very difficult situation here of impartiality, this is a very, very difficult story, to tread a line without one community or other feeling that we are less sympathetic to them than we are to the opposite perspective. He added that he is pushing back on people saying that the BBC Today programme interviews are leaning towards one viewpoint or another. The President of Israel, Isaac Herzog (Justin Tallis/PA) Mr Munro also said: If you think about the perspective of those people who protest the opposite, it might give you an idea of how tricky it is to satisfy everybody who are members of our audiences. Some of whom have views about the rights and wrongs of whichever aspect of this war were covering. That is the balance were trying to strike. And when you get your building door (painted), by the way, to come to a laymans point, the stress of mental health on people going about their normal daily business is really profound. The BBC said the correspondent was giving instant analysis on the ground from Jerusalem in what was a confusing and difficult story. The statement also read: We accept that even in this fast-moving situation it was wrong to speculate in this way, although he did not at any point report that it was an Israeli strike. This doesnt represent the entirety of the BBCs output and anyone watching, listening to or reading our coverage can see we have set out both sides competing claims about the explosion, clearly showing who is saying them, and what we do or dont know. Clint Edwards: The truth about Russell Brand Contrary to whatever he and his devoted followers might want to believe, Brand is not a threat to any elites not now, and not when he was at the height of his fame. Hes just not that important, writes Clint Edwards Russell Brand Clint Edwards UK Independent Fri 20 Oct 2023 at 12:02 By now, everyone is aware that Russell Brand has been accused of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse allegations that he strongly denies. Our fashion editor rounds up the latest style news and fashion trends Hannah wears Selected Femme coat, Diesel jeans, and jumper, hat and boots, New Look, all from Jervis Shopping Centre. Darren wears coat, Bugatti via Best Menswear, 399; top, Selected Homme, 34.99; jeans, Timberland, 110 and boots, Timberland, 225. Picture: Martha McNulty Heraldic experts in Scotland speculate that there could be between 3,500 to 7,000 different tartans, with 150 new designs added each year. New bespoke tartans Ive fallen madly for this season come from Helen Steeles collection, Highland Tribe. It is 11 years since Steele launched her eponymous luxury brand of silk dresses and separates at Paris Fashion Week, and while she hasnt done an autumn-winter collection for a while, she decided to change that in 2023 and spent time exploring her love of the visual elements of tartan prints. Helen Steele's 'Dolly' dress in red tartan print in silk crepe de chine. Picture: Emily Quinn Steeles playful 15 dress is so-named because it has 15 panels in the skirt, and this, as you can imagine, creates great movement. The dress has been made up in silk crepe de chine using her new Skibo print, influenced by Steeles visits to Skibo Castle, the 19th-century castellated mansion where Madonna married Guy Richie in 2000. The artistic exploration of tartans saw Steele devote hours and hours to layering up her line drawings over artwork in colours that can be worn all year. Inspired by the highlands of Scotland, Steeles new red tartan print is used to great effect in two dresses the Dolly in silk crepe de chine (985) and the Robe (995) in a silk satin with stretch, a new fabric the designer introduced in SS22. The stretch element in the silk has proved hugely popular with regular clients who see these silk dresses as investment pieces to be worn 12 months of the year cooling in summer, and luxe and layered under mohair and cashmere knits, biker jackets and over leather leggings or opaque tights with boots in winter. Steele says, For AW23, I started to create my own tartan doing line drawings and then using my own artwork underneath. Shortly after she started that process, Vivienne Westwood, who was such a spirited user of tartans, died. Vivienne Westwood was a huge inspiration to me when I was growing up. I thought she was just incredible. She was political, she was strong and I think we were very lucky studying design in the 1990s, because there were so many established and interesting new artists and designers and musicians, says Steele. The whole grunge period was also a big influence on me, along with hip-hop and rave, but especially grunge, Vivienne Westwood, Kurt Cobain and Pearl Jam, she adds. Helen Steele's 'Robe' dress in red tartan print in silk satin stretch fabric. Picture: Emily Quinn The designers strappy, square-necked Dolly dress with its asymmetric hemline has a fabulous fall thanks to the quality of the silk crepe. While the shape is a new one to Steeles luxury dress range, it is one that has been ruminating in her head for three decades and is based on a block she found from her final collection at college. The tartan unfolds dramatically across the silhouette and also in the Robe dress. Steele explains how this dress is based on something I loved during the grunge period, and that was the layering of plaid shirts over the hips. I remember how, in the 1990s, you would wear a stretch tight dress, but to hide the VPL, you would wear a shirt over it, and sleeves of the shirt in the dress are worn around the waist as a belt. The collection is available to buy from Steeles own website. Meanwhile, for her collaboration with Dunnes Stores, Steeles new Graffio collection features her art inspired by graffiti near Camden Street and the Grand Canal Basin. The printed fleece sold out really fast but her print hoodie (35) and leggings (30) are in store and look great layered under the purple bomber (60). helensteele.com; dunnesstores.com All wrapped up Theres nothing quite like a structured wool trench coat to make you feel cosy as the mercury drops. The Selected Femme store at the Jervis Shopping Centre in Dublin has a chic coat, which bridges a traditional winter coat with all the style elements of a trench, from the tab details on the shoulders to buckle straps on the cuffs and a belt at the waist. Hannah wears Selected Femme coat, Diesel jeans, and jumper, hat and boots, New Look, all from Jervis Shopping Centre. Darren wears coat, Bugatti via Best Menswear, 399; top, Selected Homme, 34.99; jeans, Timberland, 110 and boots, Timberland, 225. Picture: Martha McNulty Priced at 249, this coat in a toasted coconut shade is made with recycled wool. The coat is double-breasted with oversized lapels and is fully lined. For the centres AW23 shoot, it was styled with Diesel jeans (54.99), while the hat (12.99), jumper (44.99) and boots (54.99) are from New Look. Jacket, 45.99, shirt, 34.99, Bershka; top, 12.99, shoes, 35.99, Stradivarius; socks, 3.99, New Look; earrings, 19, M&S, all at Jervis Shopping Centre. Picture: Martha McNulty I had a good look around at some of the faux-leather pieces on offer and thought the super cropped biker jacket (45.99) from Bershka looked especially sharp. F&F collection Tesco recently shot some of its new F&F pieces on Dublins Great South Wall Walk. I thought the shearling aviator gilet (58) would be a handy addition for cosy layering both at home and in the office. It was layered with an oatmeal jumper (23), trousers with combat-style side pockets (29) and fleece-lined boots 23. The F&F collection is available in sizes 6-22 and in more than 80 Tesco stores nationwide. Heavy rain to bring treacherous road conditions and flooding in Dublin and WicklowTaoiseach Leo Varadkar promises emergency funding for those hit by damage in CorkMet Eireann will need to do better with its warnings as unprecedented flooding hits homes and businesses Taoiseach Leo Varadkar states financial support will be given to homes and firms destroyed by Storm Babet Some roads around the capital are impassable tonight as more than an inch of rain fell on Dublin on Friday, while train services have been severely disrupted by the downpours. The inbound exit at J3 Citywest on the N7 Limerick to Dublin road is closed due to flooding while there have been reports of rural roads in Co Dublin being impassable due to the deluge. Irish Rail warned passengers than DART services were running up to 80 minutes late due to signalling issues caused by the torrential precipitation this evening. Met Eireann has issued a Status Orange rain warning for Dublin and Wicklow as two other counties have also been issued with yellow warnings. The orange warning will be in place until 8am tomorrow in the capital and Wicklow, while Status Yellow warnings have also been issued for Louth and Meath until 9pm tonight. Met Eireann has warned that heavy rain in Dublin and Wicklow could bring flooding and dangerous driving conditions. The new warnings come as the Cork town of Midleton is bracing itself for further flooding after torrential overnight rainfall just 24 hours after Storm Babet sparked the worst deluge in the town's history. Fears mount that over 80mm of rainfall could hit parts of the east coast over the next 36 hours. Councils in Wicklow and Dublin have emergency crews on standby amid fears the sheer level of rainfall may overwhelm some drains and culverts. Cork suffered the misery of further flooding on Friday after heavy rainfall overnight. Storm Babet had previously dumped a full month's worth of rain - almost 120mm - on east Cork in less than 24 hours. Streams, rivers, drains and fields already sodden after Storm Babet downpours couldn't cope with the rain over Thursday night with flooding reported near the Woodland Estate, Mill Road and Riverview in Midleton as well as severe road flooding in Kanturk. However, while a number of residential properties were stranded by floods for the second time in 48 hours, the scale of the damage was not comparable with the carnage witnessed on Wednesday evening in Midleton. Worst hit was the Woodland Estate with flooding, exacerbated by the high tide, resulting in parts of Riverside and Mill Road being left impassable. The clean up gets underway on Main Street in Midleton, Co Cork, after extensive damage caused by flooding following Storm Babet (PA) Finance Minister Michael McGrath insisted that the Government's emergency flood relief scheme is not capped at 10m and can be topped-up if necessary. He also stressed that Midleton's long-awaited 50m flood defence scheme will be progressed with formal planning permission expected to be sought in 2024. The scheme will protect over 600 properties in the east Cork town. The first point to clarify is that the 10m figure that has been quoted is not a cap on the overall level of support from the State to respond to what has happened in Midleton, in other parts of Cork and indeed in Waterford," he said. "I expect the final bill associated with this major flood event is going to be very significant. We are going to have to compensate the relevant local authorities in relation to the cost of reinstating the public infrastructure, the roads, footpaths, any damage to bridges, the public realm and so on. That will be done outside of the normal budgets because we recognise that this is an exceptional event and it does warrant an exceptional response from the State." Barber struggling to rebuild business after Storm Babet brings heavy flooding to Cork Mr McGrath said a scheme to help traders will be activated next week. "What we clearly signalled yesterday was given the scale and depth of the damage we do recognise that there will be a need to go beyond the existing parameters of that scheme which currently involves a cap of 20,000 per business premises." "We are also conscious that so many of those businesses simply do not cover through their insurance policy for a flood event because they have been flooded before." "Some people will have insurance cover. We dont have an estimate of the overall cost at this point." "I want to assure the people of Midleton that funding is in place. We just have to get it through the statutory processes as quickly as possible. My heart (also) goes out to the people of Glanmire...unfortunately those homes have suffered a devastating flood event. We all want to make sure that is the last one they suffer." The clean up gets underway on Main street in Midleton Cork Co Council pleaded with people to avoid Midleton given the ongoing flood risk. Council Roads Director Niall Healy said they were carefully monitoring developments with river levels exceptionally high and expected to remain so for the next few days. Miraculously, high tide on Friday didn't trigger a repeat of catastrophic flooding despite the overnight rainfall and high river levels. "Thankfully the river did not burst its banks at that point. But it remains a high risk area. The river has broken its banks at Riverside and Mill Road which is causing traffic difficulties but is not impacting on properties." Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaking with local people on Main Street in Midleton, Co Cork Midleton Fire Brigade members admitted they were exhausted after 48 hours of battling flood waters which had nowhere else to go. Station Officer Mark Sinclair said it had been a challenging few days for everyone within the emergency services. "There have been times when you feel like you are fighting a losing battle - the water has nowhere else to go," he said. Three of Midleton's five medical clinics were hammered by the flood waters. Dr Mike Thompson of Imokilly Medical Clinic said damage to their premises was initially estimated at more than 90,000. He warned that the Government's support package of between 5,000 and 20,000 won't be enough to help many flood-hit traders. "This was a very special incident - it was the worst flooding to ever hit Midleton. People here need significant help. My fear is that a lot of traders won't come back from this unless they get significant help, particularly given the fact that most people here do not have flood insurance." "This was much, much bigger than the floods eight years ago." Taoiseach Leo Varadkar visited businesses in Midleton, Co Cork (Brian Lawless/PA) Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the flood support allocation will be 10m but vowed that it would not be capped and that further funds will be provided if necessary. "There is an initial grant of 5,000 just to get people going and then a higher grant of up to 20,000 but I think we will have to increase that because the level of damage to some of the stock here is very high - people have brought stock in for Christmas." Mr Varadkar said the Government was there to help and would do everything possible to support communities. "The anger and frustration is entirely understandable. We have done about 50 flood relief schemes such as Douglas and Bandon. They work. There are another 90 in progress. But we cannot cut corners on them. There are environmental issues and very often objections." "The one here in Midleton, the preliminary work is done already. The environment assessment is underway and we intend to put in the planning application for next year. But we can't control whether or not people object." "I don't want to give people timelines but what I can say is that this scheme is being progressed." Firat Freddie Uygun cleans out his barber shop Fresh 'N' Freddie on Main Street in Midleton, Co Cork. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Mother and daughter, Roisin and Laurie O'Donnell, operate HS2 Salon on Midleton's Main Street. They had to barricade themselves into their salon as flood waters rose on Wednesday and then evacuate staff and customers, including a pregnant woman, out the back door of the property. "It was unbelievable. I could see the water shaking the front window of the shop. In the end, the force of the water was so great it just blew the window in," Laurie said. Eleanor Dunlea of Lollipop Children's Shoes fought back tears as she surveyed the scale of the damage which included water damage to virtually her entire Christmas and New Year stock. She had spent hours stacking valuable stock on high shelves to keep it safe from the flood waters only for the shelves to collapse and dump everything into the torrent. "In 15 years, this is the fourth flood I have faced. It is a disaster," she said. Sinead Morrissey operates Bertelli Menswear and the flood ran like a torrent through her shop. "I know this was an extraordinary event. I know that there was very little that could be done to protect stock and property once it happened. But why on Earth are we still waiting for a flood protection scheme after all this time?" "They are telling us work will commence on the Midleton flood defence scheme but we cannot wait that long. I told them earlier this year we wouldn't escape that long without a major flood." "The Government should put their focus on protecting householders and traders and not on amenity investments." The clean-up gets under way on Main street in Midleton (Brian Lawless/PA) Mark Kennedy of O'Farrell Butchers was due to mark the second anniversary on November 1 of his taking over a shop which traces its history back 70 years. "In 70 years this shop has never before flooded," he said. "We couldn't believe the water that hit us yesterday. We had really deep water in the yard behind the shop and it kept pushing in against the water pouring in from Main Street." Damage to the shop equipment and stock is now estimated at over 100,000 - with 80,000 worth of refrigerators, freezers and display cabinets wrecked. "Midleton is a great town and people here support each other. But this is a body blow for so many in the town. It has been a tough two years for a lot of traders, especially those in the butcher trade. We certainly didn't need this." Co-owner Paul O'Neill said they had no option but to pause the clean-up operation given the ongoing risk of further flooding. "Now they are telling us that the weather for the weekend is horrendous - so we are looking at no sleep again for four or five days? It is horrendous." Met Eireann forecaster Gerry Murphy told RTE Radio Ones Today with Claire Byrne that very heavy rainfall is expected in mountainous areas. Between 40mm to 60mm of rainfall is expected to fall in south Dublin, while up to 80mm is expected in upland Wicklow areas, he said. For this afternoon, Wicklow will get the heaviest falls, he said. Dublin will get some very heavy falls as we head through rush hours, the southern half of Dublin gets the heaviest falls for the Dublin region. All of Wicklow with the mountainous regions getting the highest amounts. "Overall, we can expect really very heavy spells of rain, difficult driving conditions, flooding, and all poor visibility, all the impacts that we've seen in recent days in some places with regard to rainfall. "It certainly will be the rest of today and tonight, he explained. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had been urgently pressing the US to provide the Army Tactical Missile System (AP) Ukraine will press forward with an effort to build support for a peace formula with the so-called Global South as Malta hosts a third gathering of senior officials to discuss the blueprint this month. Hamas has freed an American woman and her teenage daughter it had held hostage in the Gaza Strip, Israel said, the first such release from among around 200 people the militant group abducted during its October 7 rampage through southern Israel. Middle East Son of Hamas founder who later became Israeli spy: They have a goal and no value for human life After a heavy snow at Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve in Jilin province, Tianchi Lake, located in the volcanic cone of the main peak of the mountain, is highlighted in white. [Photo by Wang Pinru/For chinadaily.com.cn] Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve in Jilin province recently welcomed a heavy snow that turned the mountains into a white wonderland. Tianchi Lake, located at the top of the volcanic cone of the main peak of Changbai Mountain, is surrounded by snow and visitors taking pictures. The lake usually freezes in December and the ice melts in late June. After a heavy snow at Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve in Jilin province, Tianchi Lake, located in the volcanic cone of the main peak of the mountain, is highlighted in white. [Photo by Wang Pinru/For chinadaily.com.cn] After a heavy snow at Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve in Jilin province, Tianchi Lake, located in the volcanic cone of the main peak of the mountain, is highlighted in white. [Photo by Wang Pinru/For chinadaily.com.cn] After a heavy snow at Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve in Jilin province, Tianchi Lake, located in the volcanic cone of the main peak of the mountain, is highlighted in white. [Photo by Wang Pinru/For chinadaily.com.cn] After a heavy snow at Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve in Jilin province, Tianchi Lake, located in the volcanic cone of the main peak of the mountain, is highlighted in white. [Photo by Wang Pinru/For chinadaily.com.cn] Republicans who didnt vote for Jim Jordan as House speaker say they got death threats GOP colleagues say firebrand candidate is using bullying tactics Jim Jordan has failed to secure enough votes to lead the House. Photo: Reuters Maegan Vasquez Washington Post Fri 20 Oct 2023 at 03:30 A growing list of Republicans say they have faced a barrage of threats and calls over their opposition to Jim Jordans bid to become speaker of the House. Police in the UK closed off a road for two days to investigate a report of a dead body dumped in woods only to find out it was a discarded sex doll. New Delhi: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) stated on Thursday that India has the capacity to incorporate additional spending on subsidies and rural employment initiatives without surpassing the current fiscal deficit target of 5.9% set for this financial year. "The central government is likely to meet its 5.9% deficit target for FY23-24," Krishna Srinivasan, IMF's director for the Asia and Pacific department, was quoted as saying by Reuters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party, gearing up for elections in crucial states this year and national polls in 2024, is under pressure to generate employment opportunities and support farmers. This may result in higher-than-planned expenditure for the year. Earlier this month, India raised the cooking gas subsidy for low-income households to 300 rupees per cylinder, up from the 200 rupees announced in August. This could supplement the 3.74 trillion rupees allocated for subsidies on food, fertilizers, and fuel in the current fiscal year. Given the approaching elections, more such measures are anticipated. "There's some pressure on expenditure with higher than budgeted expenditure expense some areas subsidies, higher MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) expenses. At this stage, we see room in the budget to absorb these unexpected increases," Srinivasan said. Earlier in October, the IMF revised its growth projection for Asia's third-largest economy upward to 6.3% from 6.1%, citing unexpectedly robust levels of consumption. Photo Courtesy: Canadian foreign minister Melanie Joly X (formerly Twitter) page Canada has withdrawn 41 diplomats from India as the relationship between Ottawa and New Delhi remains tense over the death of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Country's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly was quoted as saying by The Canadian Press that New Delhi had threatened to remove immunities starting on Friday, referring to the special rights and protections provided to diplomats while they are posted to other countries. Canada has directed 41 of its diplomats, along with their 42 dependants, to leave India, media reports said. Currently, only 21 Canadian diplomats remain in India. A unilateral revocation of diplomatic privilege and immunities is contrary to international law, Joly told reporters at a news conference in Ottawa as quoted by The Canadian Press. Also Read: Canadas diplomatic misstep: Cost of losing the India advantage It is a clear violation of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, and threatening to do so is unreasonable and escalatory," she said. The Canadian minister said its high commission in New Delhi remained operational but paused in-person services at consulates in Chandigarh, Mumbai and Bangalore. Why India-Canada relationship remain tense? Diplomatic ties between New Delhi and Ottawa soured after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that New Delhi could be behind Nijjar's killing. Canadian PM Justin Trudeau on September 18 alleged the potential involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey British Columbia on June 18. India dismissed the allegation, calling it absurd and motivated. In 2020, India designated Nijjar as a terrorist. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash Punjab police on Thursday busted a terror funding module, backed by Pakistan-based Harwinder Singh Rinda and being operated by Parminder Pindi, with the arrest of its five operatives. Parminder Pindi, who is a local handler, was directly in touch with Gangster Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia, a close aide of designated terrorist Harwinder Rinda. DGP Punjab Gaurav Yadav has identified the arrested persons as Amanpreet Walia of Baba Bakala, Ramanbir Singh alias Fouji of village Mucchal, Arshpreet Singh of village Bullenangah, Harmanpreet Singh of Bal Sarai and Kirandeep Kaur of Amritsar. He said that following a few incidents of liquor vends being targeted by means of arson or firing to extort money from liquor contractors, police teams from district Batala launched a thorough probe into the matter and identified Ramanbir Singh alias Fouji among 11 accused persons as culprits behind these incidents. During a 10-day long operation, police teams have successfully arrested five accused persons from different locations, he added. SSP Batala Ashwini Gotyal told UNI that an incident of attempted arson at one liquor vend in Shastri Nagar, Batala was reported on September 27, and two days later, a similar incident of attempted arson at a liquor vend in Batala was reported. While, on October 2, five shots were fired at one of the liquor vend of Amritsar Rural. She said that preliminary investigations revealed that all the accused persons were working on the directions of local handler Parminder Pindi, who was threatening and demanding extortion for terror funding from liquor contractors. She said that one of the accused persons opened fire outside the liquor vend in lieu of money. Meanwhile, two cases in this regard have been registered at police stations city Batala and Sadar Batala respectively. (With UNI Inputs) Photo courtesy: UNI Hyderabad/UNI/IBNS: The Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS) has officially declared its collaboration with the Congress in the forthcoming Telangana State Legislative Assembly (TSLA) elections scheduled for November 30. TJS President, Professor Kodandaram, met with former All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Rahul Gandhi at V Park in Karimnagar on Friday, expressing their intent to contest the TSLA elections in unison with Congress as a demonstration of their commitment to a democratic Telangana. During their meeting, Professor Kodandaram and Rahul Gandhi discussed the strategic approach to remove the ruling BRS party from power. They have also planned another meeting with Congress leaders to finalize seat allocations, with more details expected to emerge after discussions with the state Congress leadership. Professor Kodandaram emphasized their primary goal of defeating the authoritative Chief Minister, KCR. Professor Kodandaram further disclosed that the TJS was established with the primary objective of dismantling KCR's authoritarian rule. The Telangana Jana Samithi is reportedly eyeing constituencies such as Muthol, Ellareddy, Korutla, and Zaheerabad, where the Congress traditionally faces challenges, as part of their alliance, according to party sources. BRS, BJP and AIMIM are together in Telangana, says Rahul Gandhi Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday alleged a nexus between the Bharatiya Rashtriya Samithi (BRS), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and AIMIM in Telangana, which will soon jump into assembly elections. Rahul, who was campaigning for his party, told the supporters, "In Telangana, Rs 1 lakh crore has been stolen from your pocket. This has not only benefited the farmers and laborers here, but the contractors and their families. "Don't think that BRS is alone here. BRS, BJP and AIMIM are together." Congress provoking youth in Telangana, alleges BRS Attacking the Congress top leaders, BRS working president KTR on Wednesday alleged that Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were coming to Telangana with the intention of provoking youth here. Speaking at a public meeting here, KTR while coming down heavily on the charges of Congress leaders on unemployment in the state, said that the BRS Government in the last nine and a half years gave notifications to 2,20,000 jobs and has already filled 1,30,000 jobs. He said that TSPSC would be revamped if needed and job calendars would be released every year to fill up the vacancies. Telangana will go to polls on November 30 and the results will be declared on December 3. Photo Courtesy: PIB Just hours after withdrawing 41 diplomats, Canada has updated the travel advisory where it directed its citizens to 'exercise a high degree of caution' while travelling in India. The development comes amid ongoing diplomatic row between India and Canada over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. "Exercise a high degree of caution in India due to the threat of terrorist attacks throughout the country," the advisory said. "Exercise a high degree of caution in and around Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai. Consular services in-person are temporarily unavailable in those cities or surrounding areas. If you need consular services, contact the High Commission of Canada in India, located in New Delhi. At any time, you may also contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa," it said. Canadian officials asked its nationals to avoid non-essential travelling to Assam and Manipur. "Avoid all travel to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir due to the unpredictable security situation. There is a threat of terrorism, militancy, civil unrest and kidnapping.This advisory excludes travelling to or within the Union Territory of Ladakh," the advisory said. Meanwhile, Canada has withdrawn 41 diplomats from India as the relationship between Ottawa and New Delhi remains tense over the death of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Country's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly was quoted as saying by The Canadian Press that New Delhi had threatened to remove immunities starting on Friday, referring to the special rights and protections provided to diplomats while they are posted to other countries. Canada has directed 41 of its diplomats, along with their 42 dependants, to leave India, media reports said. Currently, only 21 Canadian diplomats remain in India. A unilateral revocation of diplomatic privilege and immunities is contrary to international law, Joly told reporters at a news conference in Ottawa as quoted by The Canadian Press. Why India-Canada relationship remain tense? Diplomatic ties between New Delhi and Ottawa soured after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that New Delhi could be behind Nijjar's killing. Canadian PM Justin Trudeau on September 18 alleged the potential involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey British Columbia on June 18. India dismissed the allegation, calling it absurd and motivated. In 2020, India designated Nijjar as a terrorist. Photo Courtesy: UNI The INDIA alliance will win all the Lok Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh Union Territories in the next election, J&K Congress president Vikar Rasool claimed on Friday. Talking to media persons here, Vikar said that like in Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC)-Kargil elections, INDIA alliance will sweep the forthcoming Lok Sabha election in J&K and Ladakh. In the first polls after erstwhile J&K was divided and the Union Territory of Ladakh was carved, the National Conference and Congress alliance bagged 22 seats out of 26 in the recently held LAHDC-Kargil elections. Like in Kargil, we will sweep the Lok Sabha election and the INDIA alliance will also become victorious here also, he said. The J&K Congress President added that the party is ready for the upcoming Lok Sabha election and it will contest the poll together with the INDIA alliance. On a question regarding seat sharing, Vikar said the Congress leaders will sit and discuss with the alliance partners and whatever will come in their share they will fight. He said Congress belongs to every section of the society. We elected district presidents, ST, SC, OBC, Women and people less than 50 years of age were accommodated in the party during the joining campaign, Rasool said. He denied the report of groupism or any non-cooperation between the party cadres. I feel Congress is now a good and strong party in Jammu and Kashmir, Vikar added. (With UNI Inputs) File image of PM Modi with Justin Trudeau/ courtesy: PIB Ottawa/IBNS: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Friday said the Indian government's crackdown on Canadian diplomats was making normal life very difficult for millions of people in both countries. Speaking to reporters a day after Canada announced it had withdrawn 41 diplomats from New Delhi, Trudeau made these remarks and said Ottawa was forced to act after India threatened to revoke the diplomats' official status unilaterally. Rejecting Canada's charges, the Centre, earlier in the day, said that no international norms were violated in India seeking parity in the mutual diplomatic presence of the two countries. "We reject any attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms," the external affairs ministry said in a statement. Canada has also suspended in-person operations at consulates in several Indian cities and warned of visa processing delays. This will affect consulates in Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai. The development comes amid the ongoing diplomatic row between India and Canada over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. "Exercise a high degree of caution in India due to the threat of terrorist attacks throughout the country," the advisory said. "Exercise a high degree of caution in and around Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai. Consular services in-person are temporarily unavailable in those cities or surrounding areas. If you need consular services, contact the High Commission of Canada in India, located in New Delhi. At any time, you may also contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa," it said. Canadian officials asked its nationals to avoid non-essential travelling to Assam and Manipur. "Avoid all travel to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir due to the unpredictable security situation. There is a threat of terrorism, militancy, civil unrest and kidnapping.This advisory excludes travelling to or within the Union Territory of Ladakh," the advisory said. Why does the India-Canada relationship remain tense? Diplomatic ties between New Delhi and Ottawa soured after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that New Delhi could be behind Nijjar's killing. Canadian PM Justin Trudeau on September 18 alleged the potential involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey British Columbia on June 18. India dismissed the allegation, calling it absurd and motivated. In 2020, India designated Nijjar as a terrorist. From L-R: Mahua Moitra (Facebook) & Darshan Hirannadani (X page) New Delhi/IBNS: The Lok Sabha ethics committee Friday said it has received the affidavit by businessman Darshan Hiranandani alleging that he bribed Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra to ask questions in the Parliament. The committee said it will conduct a comprehensive probe into all the charges. In his affidavit, Hiranandani claimed that Moitra had given him her Parliament login ID to frame questions against the Adani group. Hiranandani claimed that Moitra felt it was the "only way" to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The claim is a huge setback for Moitra, who is currently battling BJP allegations that she had accepted cash and favours from the Hiranandani group chief to target its business rival Adani Group, and should be suspended from Parliament. The allegation that she handed him her parliament login ID could constitute a breach of privilege if proven and that could bring down a suspension order against her. Hiranandani, who is caught in the "cash-for-questions" controversy swirling around Moitra, said he was filing the affidavit since the matter involves him and has snowballed into a political controversy. In the three-page affidavit, the businessman confessed to a few points that comprise the bulk of BJP allegations against Moitra. Besides sharing her login ID, the affidavit mentioned Moitra accepting favours from Hiranandani. But it dodged the main charge against her -- that she asked over 50 parliamentary questions on behalf of the Hiranandani Group to get the better of its business rival, the Adani Group. The affidavit indicates the case was rather the opposite. Moitra thought the only way to attack PM Modi was by attacking Gautam Adani, and so she "expected support on these sections", the affidavit read. For this, she shared her Parliament login ID so he could frame the questions, Hiranandani said. He also claimed that Moitra received support from others in this effort, including journalists, opposition leaders and former Adani Group employees. Hiranandani said Moitra was a dominating and ambitious person who also made a number of demands for "various favours" which he met to retain her support. The demands made included gifting her expensive luxury items, "providing support for renovation of her officially allotted bungalow in Delhi, travel expenses, holidays etc," he wrote. "I could ill afford to displease her," the affidavit read. "Many times I felt she was taking undue advantage of me and pressurizing me to do things I didn't want to, but I had no choice, because of aforementioned reasons," he said. Moitra Tuesday sued BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and Supreme Court lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai over "defamatory" allegations that she accepted "bribes" to pose questions in the Lok Sabha, reported India Today. Dubey used Dehadrai's letter to assert that it contained compelling proof of monetary transactions between Moitra and businessman Darshan Hiranandani, likening it to the 2005 'Cash for Query' controversy. The BJP leader has further called on Speaker Om Birla and Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to launch independent inquiries into the matter. Pakistan, the biggest and brazen exporter of terrorism in the world, is marching, tweeting, and using every opportunity to condemn Israel's attack on the Islamic terrorist organization, Hamas, calling it a genocide and the end of humanity. The act has exposed its double standards. Pakistan has forgotten its treacherous invasion and genocide of innocent Kashmiri Hindus and Christians in the October of 1947. Begging and crying for more than 75 years got them international sympathy. But in the 21st century, it is not hard to identify these Islamic hardliners that displayed their jihadi mindset, just two months into Indias Independence in 1947. It is time the world learns about Pakistans first contribution to humanity. In his book, Raiders in Kashmir, Pak Army Major General (Retd.) Akbar Khan describes Pakistans role in their jihad on Kashmir. On October 22nd, 1947, twenty thousand tribesmen from Pakistan launched an attack on the princely state of Jammu & Kashmir and captured the towns of Muzaffarabad and Mirpur (currently a part of Pakistan-occupied Jammu-Kashmir, PoJK). The Kashmiri treasures were plundered. Animal instincts of tribesmen freely made sex slaves of women; girls poisoned themselves to die in dignity. Some were sold as slaves to Pakistan. Thousands were forcibly converted to Islam. Innocent children were massacred. Hundreds of thousands became homeless overnight. In Khans words, On October 26 (1947), the Pakistani forces captured Baramulla where only 3,000 survived out of 14,000. The troops were now only 35 miles from Srinagar when the Maharaja (Hari Singh) sent his papers of accession to Delhi asking for help. The St Josephs Hospital in Baramulla was burnt crisp to the ground; its sick, elderly, and nurses were raped and killed. Operation Gulmarg as it was known was the brainchild of the top leadership of Pakistan - including Mian Iftikharuddin, then a leader in the Muslim League (the ruling political party), Prime Minister of Pakistan Liaqat Ali Khan, and Sardar Shaukat Hayat Khan who was then a minister in the Punjab government and a close aide of Pakistans founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah. In his book, The Nation That Lost its Soul, Shaukat Khan confessed that he was the supervisor of the Kashmir operation. Over the years lakhs of Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs have been killed in the region. India observes October 22nd as Black Day, a reminder of Pakistans deceitful and evil intentions for Kashmir. Pakistan only wants Kashmir to bleed and burn. Given their historic blunder, every year Pakistan has the audacity of observing October 27, the day its trained tribal militia was forced to retreat home, as Black Day. It is an annual humiliation of poor Kashmiris, from whom Pakistan has taken much away since 1947. The Kashmir invasion was a repeat telecast of Pakistan's occupation of Balochistan. Under Pakistan, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, and PoJK share common elements today - 75 years of radicalization, loot of natural and mineral resources, starvation, unemployment, ethnic cleansing, and dictatorship of the Pak Army. All three are fighting to be separated from Pakistan to join India. Pakistan's mentality is hardly complicated. First, radicalize youth. Second, train them in combat and arms. Third, wage a holy war on non-Muslims, (not sparing their fellow Shia and Ahmadiyya Muslims). Fourth, kill, convert, rape, and establish an Islamic caliphate. Truth is usually the first casualty of war. And Pakistan is best known for moulding it well. Interviews with their Army Generals reveal their justification for such manipulation. They say and firmly believe that lying to a non-believer (non-Muslim), especially in wartime is allowed. For them, even the times of peace have been declared war times. How can perpetual liars be trusted? Fast forward to today when the reality of this freedom movement has hit home, Kashmir has turned a new page. It has recovered from a time when the future seemed bleak and life meaningless. Today Kashmiris are on the path of peace and development along with the rest of India, soon to be the third-biggest economy of the world. The youth here have given up the gun culture and dissociated themselves from Pakistan. Pakistans facade - wolves dressed in sheepskin - is peeling. Youngsters have opted for respected professions, joined government services, or taken up the challenge of self-employment through many entrepreneurship schemes of the Government of India. The international community has finally understood the fallacies of Pakistans Kashmir narrative. Conniving thieves and murderers, talking internationally about humanity? Their duplicity while supporting Hamas while relentlessly pursuing GazwaeHind, blatantly exhibits their terrorist mindset Photo Courtesy: Magen David Adom Israel UN independent human rights experts on Thursday (October 19, 2023) voiced deep concern over the fate of civilians and victims of terrorism caught up in the Israel-Gaza crisis. In a news release, the experts denounced the ruthless attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians starting 7 October. They also stressed their concern for the victims of subsequent counter-terrorism measures by Israeli forces. We decry the scale of the brutal assault on mothers, children, babies, the elderly and ordinary citizens going about their daily lives on the Jewish Shabbat and on a Jewish religious holiday (Sukkot), said Fionnuala Ni Aolain, Special Rapporteur on protection of human rights while countering terrorism, and Morris Tidball-Binz, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. Acts of terrorism, no matter how horrific, absolutely do not justify the commission of serious violations of international law including war crimes, or crimes against humanity, the Human Rights Council-appointed experts noted. Survivors irreparably damaged The UN Human Rights Council-appointed experts who are independent of any nation or the UN Secretariat stressed that the essence of terrorism is the targeting of civilians, and terrorist attacks leave the victims families and survivors irreparably damaged. In addition to the brutal attacks, an estimated 200 people including older persons, mothers, children and babies, and those seriously wounded, were kidnapped and taken hostage. While recognizing the deep and decades long grievances and violations of the human rights of the Palestinian people under occupation, nothing justifies the targeting of civilians in this way, the release noted. Hostage taking is absolutely prohibited under international law and constitutes a war crime, the experts said, highlighting that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) must be provided access to those taken hostage and they must receive medical care. No harm must come to the hostages taken and held incommunicado by Hamas. They must be released, the experts said. No justification for violations against civilians The UN experts also stressed their equal concern for victims of counter-terrorism measures. Acts of terrorism, no matter how horrific, absolutely do not justify carrying out serious violations of international law including war crimes, or crimes against humanity, the experts said. Echoing the UN Secretary-Generals view, they said the evacuation order to Gazans which amounted to around 1.1. million people, the majority of them children, will have devastating consequences. They condemned the complete siege of the enclave including the cutting off of water and electricity which may constitute the war crime of starvation of civilians, the news release noted. Schools and hospitals filled with civilians primarily women and children cannot constitute a legitimate military target for either State or non-State armed groups, the experts said. The grievous destruction of Al-Ahli hospital underscores the humanitarian consequence of non-compliance with international humanitarian law, they added. International plea The experts called on all States to fulfil their obligation to ensure respect for international humanitarian law by all parties, including those countries in a position to exercise influence over them and ensure accountability for all violations. Special Rapporteurs are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council and form part of what is known as its Special Procedures. The experts are mandated to monitor and report on specific thematic issues or country situations. They serve in their individual capacity, are not UN staff and do not receive a salary. Photo Caption: Israeli soldiers are pictured near the Israel-Gaza border in Israel, on Oct. 19, 2023. Photo Courtesy: UNI/Xinhua A key Hamas spokesperson has been detained by Israeli security forces during overnight raids conducted across the West Bank. Separately, a number of Palestinians were killed in an ongoing Israeli military operation in the Nour Shams refugee camp in the city of Tulkarem in the West Bank on Thursday, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health as quoted by CNN. Israel Security Agency Shin Bet on Friday confirmed to CNN the arrest of the spokesman, Hassan Yousef on suspicion of acting on behalf of Hamas. Hassan Yousef, a leading Palestinian political figure who served as the official Hamas spokesperson in the West Bank, was detained in his home, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Club, an NGO representing Palestinian detainees. Occupation forces arrested Hamas leader Sheikh Hassan Yousef from his home in Beitunia, as part of a wide-scale arrest campaign in the occupation (sic) West Bank, the Palestinian Prisoners Club statement reads as quoted by CNN. Israeli forces have arrested Hassan Yousef on several occasions in the past. The Hamas spokesperson has spent 24 years in Israeli jails on various charges of incitement, entering Jerusalem without permission and being a Hamas member. Meanwhile, UN independent human rights experts on Thursday (October 19, 2023) voiced deep concern over the fate of civilians and victims of terrorism caught up in the Israel-Gaza crisis. In a news release, the experts denounced the ruthless attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians starting 7 October. They also stressed their concern for the victims of subsequent counter-terrorism measures by Israeli forces. We decry the scale of the brutal assault on mothers, children, babies, the elderly and ordinary citizens going about their daily lives on the Jewish Shabbat and on a Jewish religious holiday (Sukkot), said Fionnuala Ni Aolain, Special Rapporteur on protection of human rights while countering terrorism, and Morris Tidball-Binz, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. Acts of terrorism, no matter how horrific, absolutely do not justify the commission of serious violations of international law including war crimes, or crimes against humanity, the Human Rights Council-appointed experts noted. Photo Courtesy: UNICEF/Eyad El Baba Humanitarians continued to stand ready on Thursday to deliver lifesaving aid to Gaza following reports of an agreement brokered by the United States for 20 aid trucks to enter the enclave from Egypt. Some 3,000 tonnes of supplies have been awaiting entry on the Egyptian side of the crossing since Saturday. On Wednesday, the UN Security Council failed to agree on a resolution that would have called for humanitarian pauses for aid delivery. UN chief in Cairo UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has arrived in Cairo to pursue his diplomatic efforts, following his call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the wake of a strike on Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City on Tuesday, which killed 471 people according to Gazas de facto authorities. He met Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and the two are due to hold a press conference. UN humanitarian coordination office OCHA said that this was the deadliest incident in Gaza since hostilities escalated and that children, health care staff and internally displaced people were among the victims. Lives on the line Commenting on the news of a US-brokered deal, UN health agency WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus welcomed USAs leadership and Israels agreement to allow food, water and medical aid into the sealed off enclave through the Rafah border crossing, stressing on social media platform X that many lives depend on this happening. Briefing the Security Council on Wednesday, UN relief chief Martin Griffiths stressed the need for humanitarian actors to be able to deliver relief to civilians in need throughout Gaza, without impediment, in places of their choice, in places where they consider themselves to be safe and where we can seek to ensure that safety. He told ambassadors that around 100 trucks of humanitarian supplies per day were needed to meet the needs of the more than two million residents of the besieged enclave. According to news reports, equipment has been sent to repair potholes at the crucial Rafah crossing to allow the initial aid convoy in. More than 100 trucks are waiting for the final green light on the Egyptian side. Israel has said it would allow limited aid into the enclave provided none of it benefits Hamas, which controls Gaza. Disastrous situation Gazas population has been facing an increasingly disastrous situation, with a full electricity blackout since 11 October, rising food insecurity and a health system on the brink of collapse. According to OCHA, the average water consumption for all needs, including drinking, cooking and hygiene is estimated at only three litres per day per person in Gaza. The UN office also warned that people consume water from unsafe sources risking death and placing the population at risk of infectious disease outbreaks. One in two displaced OCHA reported that about one million people, or close to half of Gazas entire population, have been displaced since the start of the conflict. Over 500,000 are staying in emergency shelters designated as such by the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, while Israeli bombardments of the enclave continue. Photo Courtesy: UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe With essential supplies running out in Gaza, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday appealed for humanitarian access to the besieged enclave. For nearly two weeks the people of Gaza have gone without any shipments of fuel, food, water, medicine, and other essentials. Disease is spreading. Supplies are dwindling. People are dying, he said at a press conference in Cairo alongside Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. Guterres is in the Middle East to witness UN preparations to be able to deliver massive support to Gaza. A moment of profound crisis He is there at what he described as a moment of profound crisisunlike any the region has seen in decades, triggered by the atrocious Hamas attacks against Israel on 7 October, resulting in Israels siege and relentless bombing of Gaza. He pointed to the ever-mounting toll on civilians, the vast majority of whom are women and children, but also journalists, health workers and many others, including UN staff. The UN chief called for two immediate humanitarian actions in the face of the humanitarian catastrophe. To Hamas, for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages. To Israel, for immediate unrestricted access of humanitarian aid to respond to the most basic needs of the people of Gaza. He also called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to help realize them. "Let me be clear. The Palestinian people have legitimate and deep grievances after 56 years of occupation. But, as serious as those grievances are, they cannot justify terror attacks," he said. "And as appalling as those attacks have been, they cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people." Safe aid delivery Mr. Guterres underlined the need for rapid, unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza. We need food, water, medicine and fuel now. We need it at scale, and we need it to be sustained, he said. It is not one small operation that is required. It is a sustained effort to deliver humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. In plain terms, that means humanitarians need to be able to get the aid in and they need to be able to distribute it safely. In this regard, he said Egypts El Arish airport and the Rafah crossing, the sole one open into Gaza, are not only critical, they are our only hope and "the lifelines" to the people there. He also warned of the risk of the violence spilling over, the longer the situation persists. The Secretary-General praised Egypt for being a pillar of multilateral cooperation and the linchpin in helping to defuse tensions and to ease colossal human pain and suffering. Mr. Guterres is scheduled to participate in an international summit on Gaza convened by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for this Saturday. Photo Courtesy: UN Egypt/Mohamed Elkoossy UN humanitarians said on Friday that an agreement to unlock aid deliveries across the border to Gaza was near, as UN chief Antonio Guterres arrived at the Rafah crossing saying aid must move as quickly as possible. In a passionate speech standing on the Egyptian side of the wall, he pointed behind him and spoke of the two million trapped without sufficient supplies now for nearly two weeks. We are witnessing a paradox: behind these walls we have 2 million people that are suffering enormously, have no water, no food, no medicine, that is under fire, that needs everything to survive". On this side, he continued, indicating the convoy carrying lifesaving supplies, we have seen so many trucks loaded with water, with food, with medicines exactly the same thing that is needed on this side of the wall. These are a lifeline. They are the difference between life and death for so many people in Gaza. To see the convoy stuck at the border makes what needs to happen very clear, he said. 'Make them move' What we need is to make them move, to make them move to the other side of this wall to make them move as quickly as possible and as many as possible, he said, adding that the UN was now actively engaging with all the parties related to conditions set for cross-border aid deliveries in the Israel-United States announcement and the related Egypt-Israel agreement. We absolutely need to have these trucks moving as quickly as possible and as many as necessary, he said. We are not looking for a win. We are looking for convoys to be authorized in meaningful numbers [and for] trucks to go every day into Gaza to provide enough support to the Gazan people. Soundcloud It was absolutely essential to solve these problems quickly, he said, reiterating his appeal for a humanitarian ceasefire. He also thanked the Government of Egypt and humanitarian partners for their efforts. It is impossible to be here and not to feel a broken heart, he said, adding that he hoped the food aid and medicines he had seen on planes arriving would serve the people that needed it most and that one day there will be peace with the two-State solution, with Palestinians and Israelis living in peace. 'Advanced negotiations' Briefing reporters in Geneva on Friday morning, UN humanitarian affairs coordination office (OCHA) spokesperson Jens Laerke said on behalf of UN relief chief Martin Griffiths, we are in deep and advanced negotiations with all relevant sides to make sure that an aid operation into Gaza starts as quickly as possible and with the right conditions. We are encouraged by reports that the different sides are nearing an agreement on the modalities and that the first delivery is due to start in the next day or so, he said. Rafah, the lifeline Aid trucks have been waiting at the Rafah border crossing since Saturday. Mr. Laerke stressed that while it was necessary to provide aid to everyone in Gaza regardless of where they are, Rafah was the lifeline which would offer the most direct route to reach people in need. In response to questions regarding the limited scope of the initial operation, Mr. Laerke underscored that it was still under negotiation but that any trucks that go in would be more than no trucks. He also said that in addition to food, water and medicines, fuel was desperately needed in Gaza as the enclave was under an electricity blackout. Fuel is a life-saving humanitarian commodity in this crisis, he insisted. Death toll rising In an update after 13 days of hostilities, OCHA said that according to the enclaves de facto authorities, the death toll in the Gaza Strip has reached 3,785, including at least 1,524 children, while over 12,000 have been injured. OCHA said that hundreds of additional fatalities are believed to be trapped under the rubble, as relentless bombardments of the territory continues. OCHA also said that since 7 October, 1,400 people have been killed in Israel and over 4,600 injured, according to official Israeli sources. At least 203 people are held captive in Gaza, including Israelis and foreign nationals, as per Israeli estimations. Mr. Guterres has repeatedly called upon Hamas to release the hostages immediately and unconditionally, and the UN human rights office (OHCHR) has stressed that the taking of hostages is prohibited by international law. Attacks on West Bank Palestinians Meanwhile in the occupied West Bank, OCHA reported that 79 Palestinians, including 20 children, have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers since 7 October. One Israeli soldier was also killed by Palestinians, according to Israeli media. At least 74 Palestinian households, comprising 545 people, over half of whom are children, have been displaced from 13 herding/Bedouin communities in Area C of the West Bank since 7 October, amid intensified settler violence and access restrictions, OCHA said. The UN human rights office expressed alarm on Friday at the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in the occupied West Bank and the increase in unlawful use of lethal force. OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said that there has been an increase in arbitrary arrests of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and of Arab Israelis in Israel, with reports of ill-treatment and lack of any due process. This must cease, she insisted. Ms. Shamdasani also said that UN right chief Volker Turk stressed that all parties must respect international human rights law and international humanitarian law, and that in the conduct of hostilities, the principles of necessity, distinction, proportionality and precautions in attack must be respected at all times by everyone. Photo Courtesy: Pixabay At least one person was killed when a bus fell into a precipice in the Badulla district of central Sri Lanka on Friday. The mishap reportedly left 30 others injured. The bus, packed with passengers, overturned about 40 feet down a cliff, reported Sri Lanka's Daily Mirror newspaper. The police told the newspaper that the injured individuals have been taken to Meegahakivula Hospital, with eight people in critical condition being transferred to Badulla General Hospital. Nearly two weeks after the deadliest conflict between Israel and Palestine in recent memory broke out, killing thousands of civilians on both sides, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday spoke to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and assured him that New Delhi will continue to send humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people. BCCL What Modi told Abbas PM Modi also conveyed his condolences over the deaths of around 500 civilians in an explosion at the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza on Tuesday. Palestinian authorities blamed Israeli air strikes for the explosion at the hospital, while Israel said it was caused by a misfired rocket launched from Gaza by the militant group Palestinian Islamic Jihad. AFP Where India stands on Israel-Hamas war The Prime Minister also shared with Abbas India's "deep concern" over terrorism, violence, and the deteriorating security situation in the region. "Spoke to the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas. Conveyed my condolences at the loss of civilian lives at the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza," Modi said on X. "We will continue to send humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people. Shared our deep concern at the terrorism, violence and deteriorating security situation in the region," he said. "Reiterated India's long-standing principled position on the Israel-Palestine issue," the prime minister added. REUTERS How India-Palestine relations developed Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that in the telephonic conversation with Abbas, PM Modi reaffirmed India's unwavering support for peace based on international law and expressed his solidarity with the Palestinian people during these trying times. He emphasised the importance of returning to negotiations and dialogues to achieve a lasting peace in the region, it said. BCCL/FILE Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi has said that India's position concerning the Palestine issue has been "longstanding and consistent". "India has always advocated the resumption of direct negotiations towards establishing a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine living within secure and recognised borders side by side at peace with Israel. That position remains the same," he said. BCCL According to the MEA, India's support for the Palestinian cause is integral to the nation's foreign policy. In 1974, India became the first non-Arab state to recognise the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. INDIA HISTORY PICS In 1988, India became one of the first countries to recognise the Palestinian State. In 1996, India opened its Representative Office in Gaza, which was later shifted to Ramallah in 2003. What India has done for Palestinian people Apart from the strong political support to the Palestinian cause at bilateral and international levels, India has extended various forms of economic assistance to the Palestinian people. The government of India supported the construction of the Jawaharlal Nehru Library at the Al Azhar University in Gaza City and the Mahatma Gandhi Library-cum-student activity centre at the Palestine Technical College in Deir al-Balah, Gaza. India also financed the construction of two schools in Palestine in 2015, the Jawaharlal Nehru Secondary School for Boys in Abu Dees and Jawaharlal Nehru Secondary School for Girls in Ashira Al-Shamaliya. For more on the news, sports, and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. A California man recently won a startling $10 million lottery prize after letting a store clerk choose his ticket in an act of luck that almost seems too unbelievable to be true. The amazing tale has attracted the attention of both lottery enthusiasts and members of the general public, underscoring the chance and frequently accidental nature of lottery victories. Who Is This Man? The man is Brent Young from California. What Did He Win? Credit: California Lottery Brent Young, a California Lottery player, asked a store clerk to pick a scratch-off ticket for him, and he ended up winning $10 million. Young started removing the scratch-offs when he realised one of the boxes contained the top prize of $10 million. Young told the California Lottery, "When I looked at all those zeroes, I said, No way, this doesn't happen to folks like me. The newly minted millionaire claimed he chose that gas station since his normal stop was closed. Where Did He Buy The Ticket? Credit: Yelp Brent Young claimed that after filling up with gas at the Prince Food & Gas station, he purchased a Scratchers ticket when it came time to pay. But he was still determining which one to select, so he asked the clerk to assist him. "I was like, just pick whichever one; I didn't care," Young recalled. The California 200X game, he claimed, was then picked out by the clerk by reaching across the desk. How Did He Win The Ticket? Credit: Yahoo News "I was forced to visit Prince's. My regular stop was shut down. All of this wouldn't have happened if it had been open, according to Young. Young decided on a $5.8 million lump payout. $50,000 will be given to Prince Food & Liquor for selling the winning ticket. It's absurd. The cashier has the option of selecting a different game from among those. He didn't, though. He got a winner," Young remarked. The Californian man surely thinks back on the time he trusted the store clerk with his fate, which resulted in a result that will always change the path of his life as he gets his $10 million reward. This tale is an important reminder that luck can reward the brave and the spontaneous at times we can never completely predict for lottery players and dreamers alike. What do you think about it? Do let us know in the comments. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. The Community Players Theatre will be hosting Nightmare on Ella Street on Saturday evening. Managing Artistic Director Tyler Rinne said the fundraising event will be held in the basement of the theatre which will be a little different from typical events. Its an evening of short stories, monologues, short plays and there will also be a cash bar, he said. There is a costume contest with some silly prizes. The whole event will be in the basement which we set up for about 50 people. It adds a little intimacy and creepiness to the event. Rinne said its an eclectic group of people that will be performing. Our new staff has broadened the scope of some of the volunteers," he said. "Being brand new to the community, theyve brought new people into the theatre for our patrons and other volunteers to interact with. I have the experience of being here at the theatre for 12 years. Its really great to have Josh and Noelle here to help us grow. Patron Services Manager Joshua Hergott moved from the Columbus area to Fairbury and started with the theatre at the end of August. He said he likes his job. Its really cool to be a gatekeeper, he said. I get a lot of exposure to people that support us and members of the community. Thats something that Ive always liked about working with customer service is getting a new adventure every day. Adventure is not always perfect, but theres always something to learn. Also new to the theatre is Associate Artistic Director Noelle McVicar grew up in Fargo, North Dakota. She graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Drake University. She said she fell into teaching. Im actually a trained performer, she said. Im not actually a teacher or director but fell into it by accident. When I moved to Lincoln, I taught and directed at the Actors Academy for about a year and a half. McVicar works with the Stage Door and Acting Up programs at the theatre. I love the middle school age. They are really conversational and excited to learn, she said. I love that the job is very artistic and creatively focused. The Acting Up program with present Choose Your Own Oz beginning on November 3. McVicar said it was immersive and whimsical with a lot of audience participation. The Nightmare on Ella Street event is $30 per person on Saturday, Oct. 21. The ticket includes on drink from the bar. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with performances opening at 7:30 p.m. The bar will remain open until 10 p.m. The costume contest begins around 8:15 p.m. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy announced her separation from her partner, television journalist Andrea Giambruno. Giambruno had faced public backlash for his recent sexist remarks, both on and off the air. "My relationship with Andrea Giambruno, which lasted almost ten years, ends here," Meloni wrote on her social media accounts on Friday. "Our paths have diverged for some time, and the time has come to acknowledge it," she added. The couple has a seven-year-old daughter. Giambruno hosts a news program broadcast by Mediaset, under the MFE media group, owned by Silvio Berlusconi's heirs. Berlusconi is a former prime minister and an ally of Meloni. This week, another Mediaset show aired off-air clips from Giambruno's program, where he used inappropriate language and seemed to be making advances toward a female colleague on two separate occasions. "Why didn't I meet you before?" he tells her. In the second, more explicit recording broadcast on Thursday, Giambruno bragged about an extramarital relationship and suggested to his female colleagues that they could secure employment with him if they participated in group sexual activities. In August, the TV journalist faced extensive criticism for his comments that appeared to blame the victim in a gang rape case. "If you go dancing, you have every right to get drunkthere shouldn't be any kind of misunderstanding or any kind of problembut if you avoid getting drunk and losing your senses, you might also avoid running into certain problems and coming across a wolf," he said during his program. Twitter Following the earlier episode, Meloni asserted that she should not be held accountable for her partner's remarks and declared that she would refrain from responding to inquiries regarding his actions. Additionally, her visit to New Delhi for the G20 Summit garnered widespread attention on social media, particularly her warm rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. In the West Midlands, a couple from Walsall spent a month thinking that messages regarding their winning lottery ticket were spam. After ignoring their messages for four weeks, they were taken aback when they finally reached out to Camelot, the lottery operator. James Briggs, 42, and his wife, Sally, 40, were in for a big surprise. James said, I buy my Set For Life tickets one month in advance via the National Lottery app. I received an email about the draw on August 3 but ignored it as so much was happening. I was busy with work, including an international trip to a conference. Then we had a holiday to Berlin to celebrate Sallys birthday. There was home stuff to do, so it was only after seeing the fourth email when we got back from holiday that I read it. I didnt say anything to Sally but called the National Lottery line the next day to see if all these emails were true." He added, I called the following morning, still wondering whether it was real, but after chatting to various people and seeing everything on the app, it finally dawned on me that it could actually be true." "Having had the confirmation call with The National Lottery, I messaged Sally at work and said I had some news for her when she returned home. SWNS Sally, who works as a fleet scheduler, admitted that she panicked when she first saw the message from James and immediately assumed it was some "problem." She said: I thought there was a problem. I couldnt think of anything else until I got home. Then James told me, and I kept repeating, you what? I was in total disbelief. The couple used their first winnings to pay off their car loan. With the remaining 120,000, they plan to buy a "she shed" for Sally, go on a holiday, purchase a laptop, and get a new front door. They also intend to invest in property in the long term and are planning a trip to Vancouver. The senior implementation specialist was unaware they had just won 10,000 per month for the following year. "I wasn't sure if it was spam or proper actual emails. It was a Sunday night (September 10), and Sally and I were getting bits and bobs sorted before returning to work the next day. I was checking my emails while watching the TV." For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. At a time when Indias space sector is riding high on the mega success of Chandrayaan-3 and is focusing on many other big missions at present and in the near future, the number of space tech startups is rising. India is home to not just one or two but, in fact, 190 registered space-tech startups, according to an October report by Deloitte, the Indian Space Association, and trade association NASSCOM. Among these startups is aerospace manufacturing startup Agnikul Cosmos. What Does The Spacetech Startup Do? hbl Agnikul is a derivative of the Sanskrit word - Gurukul and it could be interpreted to mean a place where people learn to use fire. As per its website, the startup has a fairly young team of 250 people, guided by 37 ex-ISRO scientists. Startup Agnikul designs and manufactures rockets for satellites under 100 kilogrammes in weight. Its launch vehicle, the Agnibaan SubOrbital Technological Demonstrator (SOrTeD), has five possible configurations depending on the number of engines and stages used in the launch, and clients needs. Agnibaan integrates 3D-printed components, such as Agnilet, a patented 3D-printed rocket engine, which the startup claims is the worlds first such engine to be printed in a single piece, as per Forbes report. Also Read: Not Humans, This Japanese Startup Is Building 'Robot Employees How Much Funding Has The Startup Raised Agnikul is backed by the likes of Forbes Midas Lister Navin Chaddhas Mayfield Fund, which raised $26.7 million in a Series B funding round as investor optimism in Indias space industry takes off. incubees Also Read: How Hyderabad-based Startup Skyroot Is Aiming To Become India's SpaceX When Was The Startup Founded Agnikul was founded in the year 2017 and i based in Chennai, India. Its highlight years are: 2016 Inception! - This was when Agnikul was an idea on paper and in dreams. 2017 Formation! - Agnikul Cosmos was formally incorporated as a company in Chennai, India. It moved into the National Center for Combustion R&D at IIT Madras, Chennai, India. 2018 Incubation & Acceleration! - Agnikul incubated at IIT Madras. It became a part of the Airbus Accelerator. First series of hot firings! - It fired our first set of igniters and single injector element based thrusters. 2019 Agnikul grew to have a presence in Kerala as well and became a part of the Kerala Startup mission startup community. Commercialization! - It started signing agreements with potential customers. Cash infusion! - It raised our seed round of funding from Speciale Invest. It realized our single piece, fully 3d printed, upper stage engine. 2020 More commercialization! - Agreements with Launchports, customers, significant vendor-partners and others More cash infusion! - Agnikul raised its pre-series A round from highly reputed institutional investors. Parternship - It signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement with Indian Space Research Organisation. moneycontrol 2021 Second set of hot firings! - It successfully fired single piece 3D printed engine - Agnilet and acheived steady state. More cash infusion! - Agnikul raised our $11 Million Series A round from highly reputed institutional and angel investors. 2022 New Policy Alignment! - IN-SPACe was inaugurated. It signed a MoU with IN-SPACe and our Honourable Prime Minister interacted with us. More Infrastructure! - Inaugurated Agnikul Rocket Factory - 1 at IITM Research Park. Test Firing! - Succesfully test fired Agnilet engine at VSSC, ISRO. New Launchpad! - It inaugurated India's first private Launchpad and Mission Control Room at Sriharikota. Packages from ISRO - It received Flight Termination System (FTS) from ISRO. This is the first time a PSLV package was delivered for a private vehicle. 2023 Launchpad Interface Checks! - It commenced vehicle interface checks at Agnikul Launchpad at SDSC SHAR What The Startups CEO Has Envisioned businesstoday The fresh capital will go towards Agnikuls first set of commercial launches, the building of key launch infrastructure, and hiring production, operations and technology talent, according to the company. With a private launchpad located in the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Agnikul says its maiden launch is set for the end of 2023.Srinath Ravichandran, cofounder and CEO at Agnikul, credits the success of Indias recent lunar mission with raising the sentiment of every Indian and the space tech sector at large, as per Forbes report. India's space industry is in an exciting growth trajectory, we were on the moon just recently and what could have been better than this? Ravichandran wrote in an email to Forbes Asia. With a burgeoning ecosystem of public and private enterprises, increased international collaboration, and a steadfast commitment to innovation, I see India's space sector contributing significantly to global space exploration, satellite services, and environmental sustainability. For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here. The Memorandum of Cooperation (MoU) signed by the Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO) and the Cyprus Transmission System Operator (CTSO) is another important milestone for the further extension of the IPTO signs MoU with Cyprus Transmission System Operator (CTSO) - The youths wing representing the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Southwest region have insisted that the Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, will not bow to the threats of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to return to the state. Recall that the opposition party in the state has been demanding for physical appearance of the governor, ever since he returned from Germanys medical trip. Ondo PDP has accused Akeredolu of governing the state while he resides in Ibadan, the Oyo states capital. Meanwhile, the leader of the APC Southwest youths, Lawal Kolade while addressing the media in Akure, on Thursday, emphasised that Akeredolus choice to prioritise rest and adjust his regular work schedule for a complete recovery exemplifies his human nature. READ MORE: Hes Surrounded By Enemies From Within- Akeredolus Aide Knocks Critics Over His Absence In Office The Southwest APC youths acknowledged that it was important for the Governor to rest, stressing there is no governance gap in the State. Kolade further stated that the state had witnessed remarkable progress in various projects, adding that Akeredolu is fast recuperating and will join the state soon. He said: We are not saying the Governor will not come. He will join us in a few days time but not in line with the threat of the opposition parties. The Ondo state government does not owe a dime of salary. The Governor is in Ibadan. It is important for him to rest. Activities of governance are ongoing. He is fast recuperating. He had Zoom meetings with Obas and other groups. He has been talking to people. We are optimistic that he will soon make a complete recovery and physically join us. Recent days have witnessed remarkable progress in various projects overseen by the administration, affirming unequivocally that governance in Ondo State is robust and resolute. The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar has condemned President Bola Tinubu over his attempt to block the details of his criminal investigation which is set to be released by American authorities. It was gathered that Tinubus lawyers in the US filed motions to appear in an ongoing freedom of information action brought against the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) where records that may reveal many revelations about Tinubus real identity. Christopher Carmichael, one of the lawyers who represented Tinubu in the recent Chicago State University (CSU) records case, filed the motion, dated October 18, 2023, stating that he was a lawyer in good standing to appear in the FOIA lawsuit underway in Washington D.C. Reacting to the development, Atikus Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu said Tinubus constant attempts to hide details of his past were unbecoming of a man ruling over 200 million people. He said: I think it is time for all Nigerians to express serious concern about this man named Bola A. Tinubu, if at all that is his real name. Some members of the Tinubu family led by Rafiu Tinubu, a former Lagos State Head of Service, claimed they dont know him. Some schools he attended denied him; he has now kept mute over the primary and secondary schools he attended, and he has refused to reveal the identity of his father and even his past. He refused to come clean on the details of his settlement with American authorities amid his drug trafficking probe. Now, an attempt is being made to reveal the true details of the criminal investigation, but he has gone ahead to try and block it. His surrogates led by Mr Festus Keyamo had said during the electioneering that the drug investigation launched against him back in 1992 was a tax related matter. So, if that is the case, why is he afraid to let the FBI release the documents? This is indeed shameful. Atikus aide called on US authorities to see themselves as the last hope of Nigerians since most Nigerian courts had blocked all attempts to expose Bola A. Tinubu. He added: Tinubu is a corn-man. He has been able to deceive Nigerians by keeping his past as a secret. Sadly, every attempt by well-meaning Nigerians to expose him has been blocked by the courts. In Lagos State, where he has ruled as Lord of the Manor for decades, the state has refused to honour FOI requests. READ MORE: Supreme Court Fixes Monday For Atikus Appeal Against Tinubu Nigerians are now looking up to US authorities to do the needful so that they can, at least, have the true information on the man who is presiding over their lives. We call on American authorities not to be persuaded by this corn-man. Enough is enough! His criminal files must be released. Shaibu said back in 2007, Rafiu Tinubu, a former Lagos State Head of Service, authored a book entitled , Onijumu Wura: The Tinubu Dynasty of Kakawa, in order to expose Tinubu as an impostor. Unfortunately, shortly after that book was launched, all the copies were miraculously mopped up. Till date, no one can find a copy of the book. The holy book says it is only the wicked that runs even when no one pursues them. It is time for the mask of this impostor to be unveiled once and for all. Nigerians deserve to know who Bola A. Tinubu truly is. Unfortunately, each time an opportunity comes up for Nigerians to have a full glance at the character of the man they call president, Tinubu makes a shameless attempt to block such discoveries. We recall that when his purported academic records at the Chicago State University were to be released, President Tinubu said such discovery would cause him irreparable damage. Thanks to the CSU discoveries, Nigerians now know that their President is a certificate forger, who not only fabricated the documents he gave to the Independent National Electoral Commission in the run up to the 2023 Presidential election, but that he has been a forger as far back as 1970, when he forged the secondary school certificate of the then non-existent Government College Lagos. Bola A. Tinubu is, yet again, playing the stalling games with the decision of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to release documents on his past while he was in the United States, he said. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior, says it will henceforth adopt reciprocity in the issuance of visas to citizens of countries with strict visa requirements for migrating Nigerians. Information Nigeria reports that Nigeria was excluded from Turkeys e-visa application, Ethiopia also removed Nigerians from the visas-on-arrival option, while Nigerians were banned by Seychelles from visiting the country for holiday purposes. Speaking at the Business Day Conference on Thursday. Tunji-Ojo said each citizen of a country seeking a visa will receive the same treatment meted out to Nigerians seeking to travel to that country. Some of our foreigners might not like this but part of our responsibility is the interest of Nigerians. As much as we have to protect your interest; you must also protect our interest. The director for the Centre for illegal migration in Turkey, came to my office, and I told him in the next couple of weeks expect reciprocity in terms of travel policy. Any country that does not give me the visa on arrival cannot have visa on arrival in Nigeria. Im sorry but it is the truth, he said. Tunji-Ojo said Nigeria wants to be an equal partner with foreign countries, so the relationship of investment must be on the basis of the principle of reciprocity. READ ALSO: School Proprietor Arrested For Allegedly Raping 4-Year-Old Girl In Delta According to him, a committee will submit a report that will enable the ministry to know how to deal with other countries regarding visa issuance. The minister said if a Nigerian is charged $100 for a visa, Nigeria will also charge $100 for a Nigerian visa. If you give me visa on arrival. I give it to you. If you say the condition for me to enter your country today is that I must have American visa, Schengen visa, UK visa etc, you will have the same conditions to enter my country. It is not fight, it is about the issue of mutual respect, he said. He added that his job is interior security and not external. So lets call a spade a spade. We must change perception. Perception is everything in life. Perception is your reputation, if people have a wrong perception about you, they will have a negative interpretation about who you are. So, for us weve been doing that. I told them, if you have stopped issuing to Nigerians Schengen visa, America visa, etc, please tell your people to change it because on issue of policy on visa reciprocity is my own. Tunji-Ojo said he is not demanding that any country open their gates to all 220 million Nigerians, but at least, there should be a meeting point based on mutual respect. Special Counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Aloy Ejimakor, has cautioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to emulate former President Muhammadu Buhari in the continuous detention of the agitator. Ejimakor posited that Kanus detention was driven by the politics of tribalism that have clouded Nigeria and maintains that it lacked legal justification. In a post via X, he advised Tinubu to refrain from endorsing such actions saying, Politics thats based on tribe and ethnicity is doomed to tear a country apart Obama. Buharis detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was not based on law but on the politics of tribalism that has dogged Nigeria since time. Tinubu (@officialABAT) shouldnt validate it. #FreeMNK, READ ALSO: Reno Omokri Taunts Peter Obi Over Mr Ibus Sickness As He Rallies Support Kanu was picked up during Buharis administration due to his agitation for the actualization of Biafra. He was arrested in Kenya and subjected to an extraordinary rendition to Nigeria in June 2021. Upon his return to Nigeria, the Nigerian Government re-arraigned him in court. Despite being discharged and acquitted, the Nigerian Government has refused to set Kanu free as he languishes in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has issued warning to resident doctors in Abuja against threatening to embark on industrial action. Recall that the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) have been on-and-off industrial actions due to governments failure to meet its demands. The doctors demands, among many others, include the immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), tangible steps on the upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), and payment of all salary arrears owed its members since 2015. The doctors also want the immediate massive recruitment of clinical staff in the hospitals and the abolishment of bureaucratic limitations to replace doctors and nurses who leave the system quickly. READ MORE: Strike Continues, Health Ministry Yet To Speak To Us NARD They also want the immediate review of hazard allowance by all the state governments and private tertiary health institutions where any form of residency training is done. Addressing resident doctors in Abuja, Wike said that doctors are free to make their recommendations, and FG will look into them. The Minister expressed displeasure for industrial action, stressing that he would make more money when doctors embark on strike. Wike said that he would not pay doctors who embark on strike, adding that he is ready to contend with them in court. He said: Make your recommendations, and we will see the ones we can do and those we cant do. Dont threaten me with a strike because I dont like it. When you go on strike, I save money, even if you come back, I wont pay, we will determine it in court. Its not about promises but the reality on ground, I dont believe in theory. As part of efforts to provide safety trips, the United States of America has urged all its citizens worldwide to avoid travelling to various locations around the world. In a statement on Thursday, the US State Department disclosed that the travel advisory was necessary due to increased tensions in various locations around. It said countries such as Russia, China, North Korea, Israel, and Lebanon have their travel advisories raised to the highest level and authorised non-emergency US government personnel and family members to depart the named countries. The statement reads: Due to increased tensions in various locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests, the Department of State advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution. The State Department said that African countries with the highest levels of travel alerts (Level 4: Do not travel) include Niger, Libya, South Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Central African Republic, while Nigeria was listed under the third tier of caution alert (Reconsider to travel). The US highlighted Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Borno, Yobe, Kogi, and northern Adamawa as states to avoid due to terrorism and kidnapping. Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers states (with the exception of Port Harcourt), on the other hand, were blacklisted due to crime, kidnapping, and armed gangs. Chinese FM meets former French PM in Beijing Xinhua) 11:19, October 20, 2023 Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Jean-Pierre Raffarin, special representative of French President Emmanuel Macron and former French prime minister, who is in Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 19, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday met with Jean-Pierre Raffarin, special representative of French President Emmanuel Macron and former French prime minister, in Beijing. Facing an international landscape marked by change and disorder, China and France, both independent major countries, have the ability and responsibility to jointly promote international solidarity and cooperation, said Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. More than 10,000 representatives from 151 countries and 41 international organizations gathered in Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. This once again demonstrates the great appeal and global influence of Belt and Road cooperation and shows that seeking development, cooperation and win-win results is an irresistible trend of the times, Wang said. China is willing to strengthen strategic communication with France, jointly safeguard multilateralism, and oppose bloc confrontation, so as to provide more stability and certainty for the world and contribute to peace, development and prosperity, he said. As Belt and Road cooperation enters a new stage of high-quality development, China welcomes the French side to continue its active participation and is willing to work with France to explore more third-party market cooperation, Wang said. Taking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism and the Paris Olympics next year as opportunities, the two sides should carry forward traditional friendship, expand all-round cooperation, and consolidate public support and the social foundation of bilateral relations, Wang said. Raffarin, who is in Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, emphasized that jointly building the Belt and Road is particularly important for promoting development and cooperation at a time of intensifying geopolitical situations. France attaches great importance to this important initiative and is willing to work with China to continue to implement joint projects such as those with trilateral cooperation, Raffarin said. The two sides also exchanged views on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and expressed concern over the escalation of tensions. The two sides are willing to maintain communication on promoting a ceasefire and restoring peace. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Jean-Pierre Raffarin, special representative of French President Emmanuel Macron and former French prime minister, who is in Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 19, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Protesters huddle outside U.S. Rep. Don Bacon's Omaha office. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner) OMAHA A day after Nebraska U.S. Rep. Don Bacon joined 21 other House Republicans in opposing Ohio Rep. Jim Jordans bid for speaker, his district office in Omaha heard from two dozen local Republicans who said they want Bacon to fall in line. Several of those protesting outside Bacons Omaha district office were retired. Some wore shirts, hats or clothes taunting President Joe Biden. A few held signs urging Bacon to back Jordan. Several of them participate in populist conservative groups that describe themselves as patriots. What some want Omaha resident Denise Bradshaw, part of the Moms for Liberty group that has protested the availability of LGBTQ-themed books in school libraries, said she wants Jordan because he is a good, strong conservative who doesnt mince words. He doesnt shirk from any questions, Bradshaw said. And I respect that he answers them directly. He doesnt answer in any kind of sideways way. Robert Anthony, a member of the Nebraska Freedom Coalition, said he and many other conservatives are fed up with Bacon drifting toward the middle. He said a real conservative can win in the 2nd Congressional District. He said he knows Bacon and served with him in the Air Force, but he said he would never vote for him again, even if that meant electing Democratic State Sen. Tony Vargas to Congress. Tony Vargas is a train wreck, Anthony said. He represents everything Im opposed to. But Im no longer going to stand behind a man thats not representing what I stand for, either. Bacons deputy chief of staff, Nebraska legislative candidate Felix Ungerman, greeted people in the crowd and listened to their concerns. Most just want Congress to get moving again, he said, and they want to know their congressman is listening. Two or three protesters also stopped by his Wahoo office. Bacon says wont reward bad behavior Bacon said this week that he would not reward the handful of House Republicans who deposed a duly elected speaker, his friend California Rep. Kevin McCarthy, by now voting for their choice for speaker. Five Jordan supporters also torpedoed Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalises bid, he noted. He called for Jordan to drop his bid for speaker and accept that he has no way forward, despite public pressure from conservative media pundits and former President Donald Trumps team. Some House holdouts, including Bacon, have reported receiving threats because of their votes for speaker. Bacons office shared text and voicemail messages he said his wife received, urging her to get Bacon to back Jordan or watch his political career end. One veered into colorful discussions comparing the senders and Bacons body parts. He told States Newsroom his wife slept with a gun. Reached Thursday afternoon, Bacon said Jordan has asked for a meeting with the members who did not support his bid. Many congressional observers, however, expect Jordan to lose additional votes if he forces a third vote for speaker. Jordan cannot become speaker if he loses four Republicans. He lost 20 in the first round of voting and 22 in the second. Republicans and Democrats who closely followed investigations of the events of Jan. 6, 2021, have criticized Jordan as a player who actively tried to subvert the expressed will of American voters after they rejected Trump. Ikeja Electric Distribution Company on Thursday informed that all customers must link their National Identity Number (NIN) to their meters by November 1, 2023, in order to receive energy tokens. The DisCo which made the announcement via X said the NIN linkage is necessary to improve the security and efficiency of the electricity distribution system. The Company also warned that customers who do not comply with the directive will be unable to access tokens for energy more than once. Effective November 1, 2023, only customers who have linked their NIN will receive two sets of 20-digit tokens required to load energy tokens, the post reads. READ ALSO: Supreme Court Fixes Monday For Atikus Appeal Against Tinubu Information Nigeria reports that customers can link their NIN to their meters by visiting the customer service centres or websites of DisCos. The process is free of charge and customers who are already linked do not need to do anything further. It was also learnt that the NIN linkage can be done either by the landlord or tenants/occupants who use the prepaid meter. However, on its website, the DisCo said only landlords are allowed to link one NIN to multiple meters. Please note that linking your NIN to your Meter is to ensure your KYC information with Ikeja Electric is up to date, the firm added. The House of Representatives Committee on University Education has called for salary increments for primary, secondary and university teachers. The Chairman of the Committee, Abubakar Fulata, made the call on Thursday at a One-Day National Stakeholders Workshop on the Development of a Roadmap for the Nigerian Education Sector (2023-2027), in Abuja. He however proposed N250,000, N500,000 and N1 million monthly salary, respectively, for primary, secondary and university teachers. Fulata who said that it is important to encourage Nigerian teachers by paying them adequately, also stressed the need to translate all subject textbooks into local languages so as to catch up with the world. According to him, efforts by past administrations to address challenges in the education sector did not yield the desired results. It is a thing of concern that for decades, several efforts on policies made by successive governments to resuscitate and improve the education sector and those efforts have continued to create very little progress. READ ALSO: Parents Protest As UNILAG Asks Students To Resume With Mattresses All over the world, the subject of the language of instruction has always been the local language of those countries. If you go to the UK, education is taught in English. If you go to France, education from the basic level up to the tertiary level is taught in French. It is in Nigeria that you teach the language of instruction in English. Our problem has always been that we are teaching our children subjects they ought to have been taught in their local language. All Mathematical, Physics, Chemistry textbooks and what have you should be in our local languages. There is no way we can catch up with the world if we continue teaching our children in a foreign language. No primary school teacher should earn less than N250,000 in a month, no secondary school teacher should earn less than N500,000 and no university teacher should earn less than N1 million in a month. The nation must declare a state of emergency in education. We must commit at least 25 per cent to 30 per cent of our national budget to education. It is high time we pay them adequately so that they can teach our children, he said. Some parents of students at the University of Lagos State (UNILAG), are protesting over the demand for mattresses from students while struggling to cope with the recent increase in tuition, hostel and other fees. In an interview with Vanguard, a parent who spoke on the development said: UNILAG is becoming a secondary school where students are asked to come to school with their beddings. Its unbelievable. This is a university that has just increased tuition and hostel fees. However, the Head of the Information Unit of the varsity, Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem, while clarifying the issue, said that the decision for students to resume with their mattresses and some other personal items is due to health reasons. Alaga-Ibraheem noted that students bringing beds to the hostel is not a new practice; notwithstanding, the institution is also working on renovating various hostels. He said: We asked the students to come with their own beddings for health reasons. That has been the practice for some time. It is not new. We are also working on the renovation of the various hostels. Some of them would be fully renovated before the students resume later in the month. READ MORE: UNILAG Reduces Fees After NANS Meeting Those whose renovation works might not be completed before the students resume, we are going to continue to work on them. We are working to make the hostels conducive for the students. As for the complaints that the hostel fees should be enough for the school to provide those items, we all know the situation in the country and the cost of the items. N65,000, for instance, as a hostel fee for a year is not expensive going by what people pay for private accommodation. The management is mindful of the welfare of the students, and we are making all efforts to make their stay on campus comfortable. Bode George, prominent chieftain within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has attributed the Partys defeat at the 2023 presidential poll, to its failure to uphold its constitutional principles and a lack of unity among its members. The presidential election, which saw Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerge winner as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), witnessed a legal challenge from the PDPs candidate, Atiku Abubakar, who sought to overturn the outcome. Atikus efforts were unsuccessful at the elections petitions tribunal, and he has since lodged an appeal with the Supreme Court which is slated to be heard on Monday. Assessing the development, George expressed optimism that the Supreme Court might favour Atiku and the PDP. While emphasizing the importance of unity and reconciliation within the Party, irrespective of the legal verdict, he stated, I am still hopeful that we will win as we head to the Supreme Court, but if a decision is made, we must be prepared to come down state by state to resolve the crisis created before the elections. We can disagree, but we must not be disagreeable. READ ALSO: Tribunal: Nigerians Must Hold Judiciary To Account IPAC Chairman The former military governor of Ondo State, pointed out that the lack of unity within the party was a significant contributing factor to its electoral setback. He also raised concerns about alleged manipulation during the election, which, he argued, was made easier due to the internal divisions within the PDP. George described as deeply troubling, INEC Chairman Mahmoud Yakubus scheme of manipulating the election results using manual compilation, despite having initially promised to use the electronic system. He stated, The real postmortem analysis has to be done behind closed doors and not for public hearing. However, everybody now knows theres no oneness in our party. It was a divided party so that the opposition could manipulate it. Its not a matter of discipline or indiscipline; it is well stated in the partys constitution. We deviated from it and were put straight down; they gave us an uppercut. Imagine if the party were a solid rock, nobody would cheat us. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has informed Abuja residents to prepare for tough decisions. The Minister urged residents to be patient with the government, as those tough decisions would be for the overall good of the nations capital. Wike made this known on Thursday, while receiving former FCT Senator, Philip Aduda of the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the senatorial seat in the last election, Zakari Dobi. READ MORE: Youre A Satanic Person Gumi Demands Wikes Renoval Over Visit Of Israeli Ambassador According to him: I urge residents to be patient; we are going to take tough decisions. Residents should not see it as punitive but for the good of the FCT. Speaking further, Wike disclosed that President Bola Tinubu has directed the construction of a minimum of 5km road in each area council. Upon assumption of office, Wike had ordered the demolition of several illegal structures across the FCT. The minister also threatened to revoke undeveloped properties within the stipulated time frame. The Delta State Police Command has arrested the Proprietor of Great Leaders International School in Agbor-Obi for allegedly raping a 4-year-old girl. An X user @Rich Aunty Amina had brought the allegation to the public on Wednesday. She wrote: The owner of Great Leaders International School in Delta State raped a 4-year-old girl and used scissors to tear her up so he can fit inside her. She came back from school complaining to her mom that she was feeling pains, the mum checked her and saw blood clots coming from the childs vagina. The mans lawyer is currently telling the mom that they should just settle her and her daughter. READ ALSO: She Seduced Me Father Of 20 Who Raped 12-Year-Old Girl Confesses Reacting to the post on his official X on Thursday, the Delta State Police spokesperson, Bright Edafe, said, If you expect the police to go to the school and harass anybody, well, I am afraid to say it does not work that way. Some hours later, Edafe in a follow up post, confirmed that the incident happened two weeks ago, stating that the suspect has been arrested. He wrote: The Area Commander just called me that this incident happened two weeks ago, though the owner of the school denied it, the Area Commander Agbor and not the division is currently handling it. I will revert when I get the full update. But Im assuring us that justice will prevail. However, we should avoid settlement because these days, parents, especially, from rural areas, go behind the police and collect money from suspects, thereby making prosecution very difficult. The CP has directed the Area Commander to charge this case to court. They are presently in court as we speak. A 55-year-old spiritual healer, Samuel Zungwe, was on Thursday remanded by a Makurdi Magistrates Court for allegedly defrauding a woman of N16.5 million. Zungwe, of Samuel Compound, Orlufaga, Den Street, Gbanka, Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, was arraigned by the Police on a one-count charge bordering on fraud. The Magistrate, Mrs Adah Jack, did not, however, take the defendants plea for want of jurisdiction. Jack ordered that the defendant be remanded in Makurdi Correctional Centre, pending further investigations. READ ALSO: EFCC Arraigns Man For Posing As U.S. Actor, Defrauding American National In Kaduna She adjourned the case till November 7 for further mention. The Police Prosecutor, Insp Regina Ishaya, told the court that a petition, dated October 3, was written by one Pevigo Peter to the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command. Ishaya said that the complainant said in his petition that sometime in 2011, his wife, Mrs Hajara Peter, came in contact with the defendant who convinced her that he could heal her of her abdominal pain. He stated that the self-acclaimed religious healer lured Hajara to consistently pay him sums of money ranging from N70,000 to N120,000 monthly, all amounting to N15 million, under the pretence of building six churches. She added that the defendant then warned the victim not to tell anybody or else, she and all her family members would die. Ishaya said that sometime in September, the defendant also told the victim that he had completed the churches and needed money for fencing and furnishing. She said that the defendant again forced the victim to again transfer N1.5 million to a Polaris Bank account number: 3043305117, with the name: Zungwe Samuel Atim. The prosecutor said that the complainant further explained that when his wife demanded to see the churches being built, the defendant could not show her any. She said that it was then that the victim realised that she had been duped by the defendant and reported the matter to her husband. Ishaya said that during Police investigations, the phone number of the defendant was tracked and he was found in a hideout in Gboko East, Benue State, and arrested, adding that he had confessed to committing the crime. She, however, said that the matter was still under investigation and prayed the court for another date for mention. According to her, the offence contravene Section 1(3) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and Section 398 of the Penal Code Law of Benue State, 2004. The Supreme Court has fixed a date for the judgment in the appeal filed by Atiku Abubakar, 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to challenge the verdict of the Election Petition Tribunal, which affirmed the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. According to the Courts memo, it fixed Monday, October 23 for the hearing of the case. Information Nigeria understands that the Court sent out hearing notices to the counsels for the respective parties on Thursday. READ ALSO: I Feel Proud That I Can Cook FCT Minister, Wike Tells Mockers In his appeal, Atiku filed a 35-ground notice of appeal, stating that the tribunal in the verdict delivered by Justice Haruna Tsammani committed a grave error. The former Vice President had also applied to the Supreme Court to file fresh evidence obtained from the Chicago State University against the President. Atiku has continued to insist that Tinubus academic records are fraught with discrepancies and forgery and asked the apex court to kick him out of office. A member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), identified as Chalya Silas, was stabbed to death by yet-to-be-identified assailants suspected to be phone snatchers in Kaduna State. INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that Chalya, who was observing her one-year National Youth Service in the state was killed by the culprit at the Barnawa area while she was doing her early morning jogging along the road on Thursday. Meanwhile, the State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, who confirmed the incident to newsmen, disclosed that the incident occurred in the early hours of today. According to the PPRO, the deceased was having an early morning exercise when some hoodlums ambushed her with the intention to steal her phone. He said: She was stabbed by some criminal elements while she was doing her body exercise along GRA road in Barnawa this morning. READ MORE: NYSC Laments Rejection Of Corps Members By North East Employers The suspects who were on a bike, stopped and wanted to snatch her phone. While they were struggling to snatch the phone, one of the suspects used a sharp knife and stabbed her. When the police received the information, she was quickly rushed to Harmony Hospital, where she was later confirmed dead. Since the incident was reported to the police, the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, CP Musa Yusuf Garba, held an emergency meeting with the top hierarchy of the Command over the matter. We are already in touch with NYSC in the state. The PPRO noted that the Commissioner of Police, CP Musa Yusuf Garba, has directed a thorough investigation into the incident. He added that the Command would do everything within its power to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved N35,000 wage award for civil servants to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, Ekpo U. O. Nta disclosed this in memo dated 19th October. It added that all Federal Civil Servants are beneficiaries of the wage award, which is to take effect from September 1, 2023. The memo was addressed to the Chief of Staff to the President, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ministers and Ministers of State, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Chairmen, Federal Commissions, Federal Permanent Secretaries, Clerk of the National Assembly, Secretary, National Judicial Council, and Secretary, Federal Judicial Service Commission. READ ALSO: Prepare Yourselves For Tough Decisions Wike Tells Abuja Residents Others copied in the memo are Director-Generals and Chief Executives of Parastatals, Agencies and Government-Owned Companies, Auditor-General of the Federation, Accountant-General of the Federation and the Director-General, Budget Office of the Federation. I refer to the Memorandum of Understanding reached between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) on Monday, 2 October 2023 as a result of the dispute arising from withdrawal of subsidy on the price of premium motor spirit (PMS) and hereby convey the approval of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the grant of a wage award of N35,000:00 (thirty-five thousand Naira) only per month to all Federal Government workers with effect from 1 September 2023 pending when a new national minimum wage is expected to have been signed into law, the memo read. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen talks to reporters after an event Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, in Lincoln. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen on Friday addressed for the first time national criticism he has faced after dismissing a Chinese reporters work because of her nationality. Pillen told reporters following an event in Lincoln that he is 100% focused on being the governor of all Nebraskans and would not get involved in a political sideshow. He did not address calls for him to apologize and declined to speak more specificity. Im not going to talk about any reporter. Im not going to talk about any sideshows, Pillen said. Im focused on my job. The national criticism came after Pillen, during an appearance with 1110 KFAB radio in September, responded to a question about Flatwater Free Press investigative reporter Yanqi Xu. Xu reported that 16 hog farms within Pillen Family Farms owned by the governors family recorded nitrate levels more than five times higher than what is considered safe to drink. Number one, I didnt read it. And I wont, Pillen told KFABs Gary Sadlemyer. Number two, all you got to do is look at the author. The author is from communist China. What more do you need to know? The proofs in the pudding Matt Wynn, executive director of the Nebraska Journalism Trust, which launched and funds Flatwater, fired back at Pillen on Tuesday, describing his comments as infuriating and dead wrong. Had Governor Pillen spoken to the facts Yanqi found, I wouldnt be writing this now, Wynn wrote. Elected officials deserve the chance to respond to findings. We offered every opportunity for him to do so before we ran the story. He declined them all. Wynn did not immediately to a request for comment on Pillens Friday response. Pillen said that across the state immigrants have been involved in agriculture, and he pointed to Japanese immigrants coming to build railroads 120 years ago in Nebraska. Over a century ago, more than 1,000 Japanese immigrants worked on the railroads and in sugar beet fields. Research indicates Chinese immigrants made up most of the workforce in building railroads nationwide. The proofs in the pudding, Pillen said. People on the sideshows can make any kind of comments they want. Comments blasted as xenophobic, racist During his appearance with KFAB, Pillen said Nebraska is the most welcoming state in the nation. National and local groups have since said that notion is undermined by Pillens remarks. Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., and chair of the Congressional Pacific American Caucus, told NBC News that Pillen should apologize for a baseless xenophobic attack. Norman Chen, CEO of The Asian American Foundation in San Francisco, described the comments as not only appalling but also outright racist. Chen noted Asian Americans are the fastest-growing minority group in Nebraska, at about 3.5%, and said Pillen should apologize and work with local AAPI leaders to understand the implications of his remarks and rebuild trust within the community. Anti-Chinese rhetoric skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to have dangerous consequences for the safety of the whole Asian American community, Chen said. For the Governor, the highest leader in the state, to publicly degrade a journalist based on her ethnicity fosters an environment where AAPIs cannot feel safe and do not feel like they belong. Xu has received support from numerous journalists and organizations nationwide, including the Asian American Journalists Association. She has described the support as emotional and told NBC News this week that its important to speak up, though it can be hard at first as it makes someone the center of the story. Especially as a woman of color, if the other person who made such a comment about you is the most powerful person in the state, how do you respond? Xu told NBC. But I think for me, I found myself coming back to this point of: If I dont do it, who would? My comments are my comments When asked Friday by the Nebraska Examiner what policies he would support to curb nitrate levels and promote safe water, Pillen said he is working to develop policy and plans to have a master plan for improvement. Education on how nitrates get into Nebraska water will also be involved. Water is a gift, just like Gods grace is a gift, Pillen said. Pillen said he is focused on kids, taxes, agriculture and values. He declined to comment further on whether Nebraskans deserved to hear more about the controversy with Flatwater, whether he stood by his initial comments or what his comments mean for other minorities in the state. My comments are my comments, Pillen said. Thats what I have to say about it. Senate President Godswill Akpabio says the World Bank does not understand the countrys challenges, hence, Nigerias destiny is not in its hands. For years, Nigeria has been a recipient of the banks programmes and loans. Akpabio who spoke in Akwa Ibom State on Thursday at a retreat on fiscal policy and tax reforms organised by the Senate for lawmakers said, I believe that our destiny is not in the hands of or the fine print of the World Bank. The bank may mean well and can be of help to us, but they have not worn our shoes and they do not know where it pinches. It is our walk not their own, so while they talk, let us walk the walk. We wear the shoes and we know where it pinches. READ ALSO: Telling Us We Dont Have Right To Demand Akeredolus Whereabout Shows Youre Ignorant Ondo PDP Slams Governors Aide Every major national development was based on a road map designed by citizens of the respective countries. He added that the Senate would not welcome people who whine and do not believe that the country would progress. The senate has no place for people who whine or do not believe in the greatness of our country. The hallowed chambers of the senate are for those who believe that every setback in our country is a setup for a comeback. Today more than ever before we must come together in optimism to toe the road map of Mr President and where we consider that changes may be appropriate, work with the executive to perfect the document, Akpabio said. Popular Islamic scholar Sheikh Gumi has described the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, as satanic The cleric was spotted in a video sermon posted on his official Facebook page on Thursday, labeling Wike a satanic person for meeting the Israeli ambassador and planning to collaborate with the Israelis on Abujas security issues. Gumi claimed that the FCT minister want to turn Abuja to an extension of Tel Aviv, adding that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would be stopped from serving for eight years. The cleric added that Muslims appointed into top security positions are only figureheads and not in charge of military command and control, saying that Christians and Southerners are in charge of Nigerias national security. He said: The Minister of the FCT is a Satanic person; I said it before when he was appointed and some people were grumbling. He has gone and brought the Israeli Ambassador, thats what someone sent and I am yet to watch it. But what is confirmed is he said they will collaborate with the Israelis on Abujas security issues. Abuja will now become an extension of Tel Aviv and when they see anyone with a beard like us, they will say it is Bin Laden and we will be killed. READ MORE: Your Policies Will Destroy Nigeria If Not Revised Gumi Warns Tinubu (Video) Where are those that worked for the Muslim-Muslim ticket? Hypocrites and worthless people. Abuja is becoming an extension of Tel Aviv and security is the bastion of the people. Have you not heard the silence? They know what they are doing. One Miyetti Allah leader came and told me that if they come to me with a proposal of negotiation with bandits, I should not be part of it, that I should leave it alone. It is a decoy. Muslims are the heads of the Ministry of Defence, of what significance is it? The real people in charge of Command and Control, those holding the guns and shooting, are we the ones? We are not the ones; they are playing us. There is an agenda. All means of money and economic power have been hijacked by them, they are planning to deceive us for four years and get eight years. They will not Insha Allah. I want to tell you, there is no way Northerners doing their legitimate business will get one billion naira. Our rich people cannot get anything except those they trust. They only trust them because they are doing what they want. Anyone whose loyalty they are not sure of, they will crush him in a few months. They will only come during elections like it is done to spread grains to chickens. If they spread grains to chickens, thats all. Giving spaghetti to people is the solution, this spaghetti issue is a big deal. We are being cheated in this country and in a real mess. If Israelis enter this country, there will be a clandestine operation against any outspoken Islamic cleric; we have seen the signs. Why was Sheikh Jaafar killed? May his soul rest in peace, why did they kill Sheikh Albany? You can see how they are killing; theres a hit list and we have known this for long. For you to understand, they will bring the MOSSAD into our country. Because of this, Tinubu should know that we know their plan, he must choose. He should remove the Minister of Abuja; if not, we will collide with him. On the day of a bath, the navel is not hidden. As part of a national public art program led by Bloomberg Philanthropies, Philadelphia received a $1 million grant to address rising gun violence through public artwork and outreach. Read more In an announcement made Thursday, Philly was one of eight cities awarded a $1 million grant for a new public art and community outreach project. The grant is part of the Public Art Challenge, led by former New York mayor Michael Bloombergs Bloomberg Philanthropies. The arts have an incredible power to inspire creativity and spark collaboration on some of the most pressing urban challenges, Bloomberg said in a news release. These eight projects will help foster community action on issues like public health, climate change, homelessness, and more. We look forward to working with the winners as they bring their projects to life. Philadelphia was chosen from a pool of more than 150 cities from 40 states. The other winning cities are Atlanta, Baltimore, Honolulu, Houston, Orlando, Phoenix, and Salt Lake City, Utah. The artists helping lead the multicity initiative are Baltimore-born Derrick Adams and St. Louis-based Juan William Chavez, with more artists to be selected in the coming months. Philadelphias initiative, Healing Verse Germantown: The Streets are Talking, will address the citys challenges with gun violence, which have risen significantly over the past few years. In a January 2023 poll by The Lenfest Institute for Journalism, 88% of residents said that gun violence had a negative impact on the quality of life in their neighborhood. Advertisement For the project, Kelly Lee, chief cultural officer for the city, said Germantown residents will be invited to a series of workshops to write poems about their experiences with gun violence. Through partnerships with local businesses and nonprofit groups, these works will be translated into temporary works of public artwork installed throughout Germantown. There will also be an expansion of the existing Healing Verse Poetry Line, a project created by local artist Trapeta Mayson. The phone line will be adapted to feature poems written by participants of Healing Verse Germantown. Lee said the grant will also be used to compensate Mayson and fellow lead artist Yolanda Wisher, who will focus on the poetry workshops, expanded phone line, and art exhibits. Public art coordinator Rob Blackson will curate and install the temporary public art exhibition with the citys Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy. Compensation will also go to partner organizations and collaborators who will be announced throughout the projects two-year term. The remaining funds will go toward hiring staff and marketing the campaign. Bloomberg Public Art Challenge manager Stephanie Dockery is confident the project will transform Germantown and other neighborhoods across Philadelphia. Bringing people together and having public art beautify your city is a way to build a coalition in a way that other measures cant, Dockery told The Inquirer. Public art is beautiful, and attracts people to sites or neighborhoods where there was none. It really revitalizes our cities, and were looking forward to doing that again with Philadelphia. For more information on the public art challenge, visit publicartchallenge.bloomberg.org. Philadelphia police officers and patrol car inside Terminal D parking lot at Philadelphia International Airport, where two officers were shot in the parking lot, and one died. Read more As Philadelphia police sought to apprehend the suspects involved in the fatal shooting of Officer Richard Mendez in an airport parking garage Oct. 12, they analyzed evidence including ballistics, cell phone records, and items found at the scene. But one key piece of evidence was missing: Surveillance video of the crime. Thats because Philadelphia International Airport, which serves more than 25 million passengers a year, has no video cameras in its parking garages a reality that has led to questions from officials including District Attorney Larry Krasner. Police and prosecutors were still able to build a case that led them to three suspects who were arrested in the last week and will face charges of murder, attempted murder and related crimes in the killing of Mendez and the wounding of another officer, Raul Ortiz. Two of the three men Alexander Batista-Polanco, 21, and Yobranny Martinez-Fernandez, 18 were arraigned and jailed without bail Thursday, while the third, Hendrick Pena-Fernandez, 21, was awaiting extradition after being apprehended in New Jersey earlier in the week. Advertisement Still, Krasner said video was among the tools that law enforcement officials need and deserve to investigate gun crimes, saying in a statement: Installation of surveillance video technology in parking spaces at the airport is a safety and prevention measure that ought to be prioritized with urgency. Heather Redfern, a spokesperson for Philadelphia International Airport, said Friday that the garages were constructed almost 50 years ago, at a time when cameras were not part of the infrastructure. Before the shooting, she said, the agency had already been planning to rehabilitate the garages and was in the process of testing camera technology. The airport will begin installing cameras once that testing is complete, she said, but she couldnt provide additional details, such as how long it would take, and how many cameras would be installed. The safety, security, and peace of mind of airport guests and employees are our top priority, as well as the countless others who work in and around the airport, Redfern said, adding that the Parking Authority and a private security firm, Allied Security, would be increasing staffing levels and working with the Police Departments airport unit to combat potential crime. Car thefts had already been rising The lack of cameras around the airport was not an issue that arose following the shooting of Mendez and Ortiz, who were preparing to start their shift when they heard glass breaking and sought to interrupt a potential car break-in at the Terminal D garage. More than 100 car thefts have been reported at the airport this year, police statistics show nearly triple the pace of last year. About a third of those thefts were from a garage. Thefts from inside vehicles have also risen sharply at the airport, the statistics show: Through Oct. 12, there were 79 such thefts reported, compared with just 14 through the same date in 2019. Police in June sought to raise public awareness about the issue, saying groups of thieves had been coordinating robberies at rental lots, where companies often leave keys in the cars. And though reports of the crime have been more common, car thefts at the airport are hardly new or limited to Philadelphia. Thieves have targeted cars at airport lots in places as varied as Denver; Charlotte, N.C.; and Palm Beach, Fla., where the local CBS TV station reported earlier this year that its long-term lots also lacked security cameras. In Philadelphia, about 11,000 of the airports 15,000 parking spaces are in garages, according to a spokesperson for the Parking Authority, which manages the operations of the garages but does not oversee security or facility maintenance. How did authorities investigate the crime? Without video depicting potential suspects in Mendezs killing, authorities were heavily reliant on cell phone records, according to affidavits of probable cause for the arrests of Batista-Polanco and Martinez-Fernandez. The affidavits provided this account of how the case came together: After the crime, detectives interviewed several witnesses, including relatives of another suspect, who was fatally shot during the attempted car theft Jesus Herman Madera Duran, 18, of Camden and they were able to identify an array of phone numbers they wanted to investigate. When they received records back from various cell phone companies, investigators could see that phones they believe were possessed by Duran, Batista-Polanco, Martinez-Fernandez, and Pena-Fernandez had moved together throughout the night of the crime. Detectives plotted the movement of the phones, which showed the men driving south along the I-95 corridor before the shooting, then stopping at the airport about 11 p.m. Shortly after that, the phones tracked the men moving toward Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, where the wounded Duran was dropped off after being shot. Surveillance video from the hospital captured Duran being pulled from a car and onto the floor of a parking garage before the driver sped away. About 11:15 p.m., Batista-Polcanos phone was turned off, and it would remain shut down for several hours making it impossible to track his device. Still, phones connected to Martinez-Fernandez and Pena-Fernandez remained on, and records showed them traveling into New Jersey and eventually stopping in South Brunswick. Thats where police later found a Dodge Durango burned beside a road near a warehouse the same car that authorities say the men had used to flee the airport, and to drop Duran off at CHOP. Surveillance video from the warehouse captured a man setting the Durango on fire, then driving away in another vehicle. By Wednesday, authorities had arrested all three surviving suspects: Batista-Polanco, Martinez-Fernandez, and Pena-Fernandez. And despite the lack of video from the airport, Joanne Pescatore, chief of homicide in the District Attorneys Office, said she believed the evidence against the men was strong. Im very confident in this particular case, Pescatore said earlier in the week. Officials said Pena-Fernandez was extradited Friday to be charged in Philadelphia. A preliminary hearing in the case is tentatively scheduled for next month. Students return to Math, Civics and Sciences Charter School after a protest on Oct. 11. Students held another protest Thursday. Founder Veronica Joyner announced the school would close at the end of the school year because she's retiring. Read more Students at Mathematics, Civics and Sciences Charter School the Philadelphia charter whose founder says its closing because shes retiring attempted another protest Thursday over what they say are contradictory and confusing messages by chief administrative officer Veronica Joyner. Cayla Waddington, an MCSCS senior and student organizer at the school, said about 20 students walked out of school during their lunch period Thursday. More tried to leave, but were physically barred by school employees blocking doors. One school worker put his hands on a student, Waddington said. Then, Waddington said, Joyner made an announcement over the loudspeaker threatening us. She said anyone who participates in the protest will be punished. But we are refusing to be scared. A recording of the announcement was shared with The Inquirer: Joyner told students that protesting was a safety risk, with students crossing North Broad Street to stand in front of Philadelphia School District headquarters. Advertisement Joyner let a protest happen last week, she told students, but were not doing it again ... you are not to disrupt this school. Reached by a reporter Thursday afternoon, Joyner said, There was nothing going on here. There were a few kids that decided to leave. We let them leave. Asked whether students had been threatened with suspension or expulsion, she said, Sure, because the parents sent them here. They didnt have a permission slip to leave. Joyner said she was the person responsible for the students, then ended the phone call. The MCSCS public furor began earlier this month, when Joyner, the founder and longtime leader, said the charter would close in June because she wanted to retire and no one was equipped to take over the school. She also cited feeling disrespected by the districts Charter Schools Office, which had offered the school a one-year renewal instead of its typical five-year renewal. READ MORE: Can a Philly charter close because its founder says so? Heres what to know about Math, Civics and Sciences. While charters are independently run, they are publicly funded and authorized by local school districts. According to Philadelphia district officials, MCSCS has failed to meet standards in two out of three charter domains it evaluates: academics and organizational compliance. (It met financial standards.) The 25-year-old school, one of the citys oldest charters, enrolls 900 students in grades 1-12. Though Joyner has said the charter schools board of trustees agreed with her decision, its unclear if and when the board voted for the closure. District officials have said they are trying to answer that question; no minutes of recent board meetings have been posted publicly. Members of the MCSCS board have not responded to requests for comment. Joyner has also said she intends to sell the charter schools building, located across from school district headquarters on North Broad Street and owned by a nonprofit she operates. While she said she wouldnt profit from the sale, she also suggested she could start taking a salary from the nonprofit upon her retirement from the charter. Waddington said students dont understand why the school has to close upon Joyners retirement. Joyner did meet with a group of students on Friday, but answers were in short supply, Waddington said. She talked at us for about an hour, talking about her legacy, said Waddington, 16. She compared herself to Harriet Tubman. When we asked questions, she said, Stop being disrespectful. She said that we should just give her flowers and respect everything that shes done for us, as opposed to asking questions about whats going on. Thursdays walkout was the second in a week. On Oct. 11, hundreds left class, protested in front of school district headquarters, then walked back into school after making their point. The student protesters were eventually let back into school Thursday, Waddington said, but told their protest was disrespectful. We want to talk to our school board, Waddington said. Students want the board to help keep the school open, but have thus far been unable to get in touch with any MCSCS board members. Students and supporters of Black-led charters rally outside the Philadelphia school board meeting on Thursday. Read more The Philadelphia school board met Thursday night to borrow funds to ensure smooth cash flow, sell bonds to fix and build buildings, and more. Supporters of some of the citys Black-led charter schools also showed up in force before and during the meeting to call out the district over a recent report into bias against them in charter authorizing, supervision and closure, too. Here are some key takeaways from the meeting: Black-led charters and their supporters rally About 100 students, faculty members and supporters of city charters gathered on the steps of the Philadelphia School Districts North Broad Street headquarters prior to the meeting, calling for fair treatment by the school board and district. The rally follows the release of an investigatory report on whether the district and its charter office are biased against Black-led charters, as the African American Charter School Coalition has suggested for years. The report, released last week, found no overt racism, but flaws in the process and the district, as well as unique challenges for Black-led charters and inherent conflicts of interest between the school-system authorizer and its charter schools. We cannot continue to use a process we know is inequitable, said Dawn Chavous, spokesperson for the coalition. The framework used to evaluate charters is tainted. Children waved signs and grown-ups made impassioned speeches about fears for their childrens schools. Advertisement Marc Bredell, a parent from People for People Charter School said parents would continue to push hard against the district for changes to how theyre supervised, invoking Malcolm X. Were at a stage now where it has to be by any means necessary, Bredell said. At another AACSC rally in Harrisburg Tuesday, Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams, a longtime charter and coalition supporter, went a step further, calling the school board corrupt and saying the districts charter chief should be removed. He also encouraged coalition members meeting with legislators to throw chairs and light them up. Williams did not appear at the Thursday preboard rally. Big-bucks borrowing, bonds The school board voted to sell $343 million worth of bonds to finance capital projects, and borrowed $399 million via tax and revenue anticipation notes. The district almost always has to engage in a temporary borrowing because of the uneven flow of revenue to the Philadelphia School District. Nearly a quarter of the districts funding the school systems budget is about $4 billion comes from the citys real estate collections, which dont show up until March. But its got a steady stream of expenditures for things like payroll and charter school payments. The actions come at a financial cost to the district the price tag for the temporary borrowing is $13.4 million but still keep the district under its goal of debt service being under 10% of total expenditures. Though the district, alone in Pennsylvania as unable to control its own revenues, is looking at choppy financial waters beginning next year, its well-regarded by investors. More on leveling Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. gave a rundown of the districts leveling process, which shifts teachers weeks into the school year based on actual student enrollment. This year, 59 of 217 district schools lost teachers or teacher positions, and 50 schools gained teachers. But we know that the impact of this is still pretty traumatic for children, Watlington said. Parents and children at multiple schools rallied against leveling, saying it was disruptive and counterproductive to academic progress. In past years, the district has said it cannot afford not to level, though most other districts do not use the process. This year, however, leveling was about a nationwide teacher shortage even if the school system found the cash to hire extra teachers to cover oversized classes, rather than pull them from under-enrolled schools, it already has hundreds of unfilled teacher vacancies. The superintendent said he was ordering a deep dive into the leveling process, and will report back publicly in the spring. City Council has also said it will hold hearings on the practice. Daniel Shain had worked at Rutgers-Camden for more than 20 years and chaired the biology department. But his pay, he says, was about $22,000 less than his peers on Rutgers New Brunswick and Newark campuses with similar years of experience and accomplishments. Even some Camden campus faculty 10 years his junior earn more, he said. He asked for an adjustment in 2020 through a university system developed a few years ago, and negotiated with the union to process complaints, but was denied. After he appealed that decision, a committee established to review such matters supported his case, he said, and sent it to the executive vice president for academic affairs, Prabhas Moghe, who passed it on to Rutgers-Camden Chancellor Antonio D. Tillis for reconsideration. READ MORE: Rutgers professors say they were shortchanged in salary equity adjustments, especially those who work in Camden Advertisement Tillis, who started at Rutgers-Camden in July 2021, denied the request again, Shain said. In fact, faculty union officials say, Tillis denied all 16 faculty cases that came back to his desk a number Rutgers-Camden administration disputed in a statement but did not clarify how many were approved. Requests to speak to Tillis were answered through spokespeople. Its part of a pattern, faculty there said, of the Rutgers system continuing to unfairly pay professors on the Camden campus as compared to their counterparts on the flagship campus in New Brunswick and in Newark. The union said Camden faculty were shortchanged in the first round of salary adjustments in 2021. The union had been pushing for changes since New Jerseys pay equity law went into effect in 2018, and five female professors across Rutgers three campuses filed a lawsuit over unequal pay in 2020. Despite adjustments to the system, problems persist, say faculty union officials. Its disappointing and it just shows a lack of leadership, said Shain, 58, who said he earned about $138,000 when he filed his initial appeal in 2020, while his peers earned about $160,000. The crux of the problem: Faculty and the administration disagree on who qualifies as a professors peers or comparators. For pretty much everybody at Camden, they switched comparators to people we werent comparable with, who were making a lower salary, Shain said. READ MORE: Rutgers faculty ratify new contracts, after a one-week strike and marathon bargaining Rutgers-Camden in a statement said about two-thirds of faculty who requested a salary equity evaluation were awarded adjustments. (Alan Maass, a spokesman for Rutgers AAUP-AFT, argued that some of the adjustments were insultingly low.) The school acknowledged that the process is complicated and said the administration, unions and staff are learning our way through the early implementation. The process, the school said, considers each faculty members unique contributions in teaching, service, research, and other applicable criteria relative to peers within the same faculty rank and discipline, such as the breadth of academic responsibilities and accomplishments, distinction in the field, and market. It also includes an independent committee made up of faculty and faculty administrators who evaluate the requests under the appeal process, and two faculty experts who evaluate the program, the school said. Jonathan Holloway, president of Rutgers, said that the three campuses are designated differently when it comes to research, which affects compensation, and that makes comparisons more challenging. New Brunswicks Carnegie classification is Research 1, meaning that research activity is very high, while Newark and Camden are Research II campuses. Harvard, MIT and Stanford are among other Research I schools. The research expectations in Camden are different than they are in New Brunswick, because of the way the campus is organized, he said. That is not a criticism. Its just a fact. READ MORE: In a rare move, Rutgers-Camden faculty vote no confidence in its chancellor and provost Ellen Malenas Ledoux, an associate professor in the English and communications department, said when she filed her claim in 2020, she was being paid 34% or $30,000 less than her peers in New Brunswick and Newark. Her dean, Howard Marchitello, called her case one of the most egregious salary inequities in all the cases he has reviewed to date, she said. She was granted an adjustment of $781, she said. The university replaced her comparators with two colleagues on the Camden campus who also have lower salaries, and one of those professors got an increase of $10,000, she said. She appealed and used other associate professors at Camden who were making more than her, but was denied again, she said. Ledoux, 48, who has been at Rutgers-Camden since 2007, earned $89,723 when she filed her appeal. With increases won in the recent faculty contract negotiations, her salary is now $99,000. I feel completely devalued by my university, and I feel outraged, she said. Its total injustice. The salary equity process has affected how faculty feel about the university, she said, and thats not good for education. Our working conditions are our students learning conditions, she said. When you underpay faculty and there is low morale, that isnt going to bode well. READ MORE: Rutgers-Camden arts and sciences dean says he was removed from his post Marchitello, former dean of arts and sciences at Rutgers-Camden, said while it was a good idea to establish a salary equity system, it was flawed from the start in concept and execution. There have been many casualties of this process since its deployment a fact that is palpable across the campus, particularly in morale and what strikes me as something like widespread worry, if not despair, he said. Tillis removed Marchitello from his deans post two years ago, and faculty leaders speculated at the time it may have been in part due to comments he made that month about the Camden campus being chronically underfunded and how that played into pay equity decisions for faculty. Shain, the biology department chair, said his salary has since risen to $158,000 due to increases won in the faculty contract; his peers also got increases, which means he continues to lag, he said. He recently filed a union grievance, asserting that Tillis denied his request as retaliation against him for publicly backing a no-confidence vote against Tillis in 2021. Faculty took the vote after Tillis removed Marchitello. I called for his resignation in front of everyone, Shain said. I thought it showed lack of leadership and judgment to fire a dean midsemester who was very popular and doing his job amid a pandemic. Shain noted in his appeal that the committee sided with him and said his original comparator group was accurate based on his grant acquisitions, peer-reviewed publications and his service over the last decade as department chair. Tillis, however, said Shains publication record was not as robust as the peers he chose, which Tillis based on Marchitellos evaluation, Shain said. But, Shain asserted, Marchitello actually said the exact opposite: that his publication record was on par or stronger. At first Shain thought the chancellor had just made a mistake, so he wrote him a letter and sent it twice. The chancellor, he said, never responded. About 100 protesters descended on U.S. Sen. John Fettermans office in Philadelphia on Thursday, urging him to support a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war as the siege in Gaza ends its second week. The demonstration, organized by the progressive Jewish groups IfNotNow and Jewish Voice for Peace, targeted the first-term senator over his support for Israels ongoing military assault in Gaza since the Hamas attack. Those groups also staged a rally pushing for a ceasefire on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, where organizers said hundreds were arrested. Outside the U.S. Custom House in Old City, where Fetterman has his Philadelphia office, Jewish activists, many of whom said they had family in Israel, said they were grieving for the estimated 1,400 Israelis killed and 200 held hostage by Hamas. But they also condemned the ongoing Israeli response in Gaza that Palestinian authorities said has now killed more than 3,500 people. We are mourning our Israeli and Palestinian friends and loved ones, but we refuse to let our grief be weaponized to justify the murder of more Palestinians, Miryam Coppersmith, an organizer with IfNotNow, said at the rally. The long-simmering Israeli-Palestinian conflict is something of an uncharted territory for the former Braddock mayor who was elected to Congress last year with a broad base of moderate and progressive Democratic support. Like many of his congressional colleagues, Fetterman has been a vocal backer of Israels military offensive since the Hamas invasion, saying in a statement Wednesday that he would discuss supporting a ceasefire after Hamas is neutralized. Advertisement We must support Israel in their efforts to eliminate the Hamas terrorists who slaughtered innocent men, women, and children, he said. Hamas does not want peace, they want to destroy Israel. About a dozen activists briefly entered the federal building in Philadelphia where Fettermans office is located on Thursday, but left after Department of Homeland Security officers threatened to arrest them, organizers said. A Fetterman staffer briefly met with demonstrators in the lobby. The senator himself was in Washington at the time, where he and Democratic colleagues later called to establish a humanitarian aid corridor to the resource-starved Gaza Strip. (We cant allow Hamas barbarism to rob us of our humanity, Fetterman wrote Thursday afternoon on X, formerly Twitter.) The protest was also notable in that Fettermans Pennsylvania colleague, fellow Democrat U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, has largely avoided backlash from his base, despite voicing near-identical support for Israel. Fetterman quickly joined the bipartisan, near-unanimous chorus in Washington backing the war against Hamas. He also jumped to Israels defense after the Gaza hospital blast on Tuesday, berating lawmakers who he said were too quick to cast blame. (Much remains unclear about the explosion that Palestinian authorities said killed hundreds of civilians; Hamas said an Israel Defense Forces airstrike was responsible and Israel said an errant rocket fired by a militant group caused the blast, a claim backed by U.S. intelligence officials.) Meanwhile, about a dozen Democrats in the U.S. House called on the Biden administration to implement an immediate ceasefire this week, citing reports of the rapidly growing civilian casualties as Israels bombing campaign continues in the sealed-off coastal territory. Beneath a chorus of chants Fetterman, for shame! No genocide in our name! progressive activists who had backed his campaign said they were disappointed to see Fetterman embrace wartime rhetoric. I dont think its a partisan issue. Its about the value of life, said Arielle Cohen, an activist with IfNotNow. In both Israel and Gaza, no one is safer when there is an active war. It puts us all at risk. Kathleen ODonnell, 69, of West Philly, said she feared that the war would only lead to more suffering and instability in the Middle East, and possibly a larger regional conflict. A ceasefire, she said, was a simple anti-war message. I think everyone in Israel deserves to be safe, said ODonnell, who said her partner is Jewish. But Im terrified. I think they are summoning the storm. A former doctor at Jefferson Abington Hospital told a federal judge Friday he lied to U.S. immigration authorities in an attempt to smuggle a child from Pakistan to work as a domestic servant in his Montgomery County home. Rahat Memon, who had been working as a resident in internal medicine at the hospital since June 2020, pleaded guilty to one count of visa fraud, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. He told U.S. District Judge Gerald J. Pappert that he and his wife tried to pass the child off as their adoptive daughter in hopes of employing her as a live-in caretaker for their biological child. Memon, 32, of Horsham, and his attorney, David Scott Nenner, did not respond to requests for comment about the incident following Fridays hearing. Advertisement And prosecutors declined to discuss the case or confirm the age of the child the doctor sought to claim as his own, describing her only as school age. But court filings surrounding the doctors guilty plea lay out a troubling series of events that began less than two years after Memon, a Pakistani national, came to the U.S. as part of a medical exchange program on a visa sponsored by the hospital. In December, Memon submitted visa applications for his wife, his daughter, and the minor he sought to employ. When his wife went for her interview at the U.S. Consulate Generals Office in Pakistan a week later and provided documents claiming the minor was their adoptive daughter, immigration authorities flagged them as suspicious and requested that the Memons provide additional records. Prosecutors say she consulted with Memon and together they came up with a plan to falsify several additional documents including a family registration certificate, a guardianship application, photos of the child with their family and school records including report cards from a school in Hyderabad, India. Memon later confessed to digitally altering the family photos to include the child and to bribing officials at the school with the equivalent of $162 to create fake report cards for the child, according to a plea memo filed as part of his case. Investigators determined the Memons had been paying the childs biological parents, who lacked legal immigration status in Pakistan, $39 a month for the child to work in their home. Prosecutors did not accuse Memon of mistreating the child and a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorneys Office declined Friday to discuss the conditions under which she worked in the familys home in Pakistan. A 2022 study by the International Labour Organization, an arm of the United Nations, concluded that child labor remains alarmingly prevalent in Pakistan with one in every four households employing minors, primarily girls between the ages of 10 and 14, to work as household domestic servants. Much of the supply for that workforce is driven by deep poverty in the nation, the agency found. In court Friday, Memon calmly fielded questions from Pappert on whether he understood the consequences of his guilty plea which will likely include losing his license to practice medicine in the United States and all but certain deportation proceedings once he serves whatever sentence the judge imposes at a hearing scheduled for January. I wish to plead guilty, your honor, he said. His attorney said Memon is eager to return to Pakistan. A spokesperson for Jefferson Abington declined to answer questions about Memons employment status at the hospital or whether his departure had anything to do with the charges filed against him in August, saying she could not do so without Memons permission. A boy lights candles in the form of the Star of David in honor of victims of the Hamas attacks during a vigil at the Dizengoff square in central Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023. Read more How? or Eicha? when translated into Hebrew begins the anguished text of the Book of Lamentations. Chanted while seated on the floor, in the dark, Eicha asks the questions for which there are no answers. Today, we sit with the answerless questions. How Eicha Advertisement How can it be that human beings brutally massacre civilians and then celebrate their deaths? How Eicha How can it be that human beings abduct the most vulnerable young children and elderly Holocaust survivors? Please, God, may the hostages be rescued. Please, God, bring them home. How Eicha How can it be that so many still call Zion a colonization? The Europeans colonized the Americas, and this land, we now call the United States. Colonizers do not return to a land where their people have lived for thousands of years; colonizers do not find ancient artifacts, with their very language inscribed. How with history and culture can the world not be able to see: Both Jews and Arabs are indigenous peoples to the land. How Eicha How can it be that so many refuse to see that Hamas crimes of humanity are not strategies for resistance, or for a two-state solution? Hamas atrocities are a repressive terrorist groups explicit campaign to hunt down and eradicate my people, and to murder all other people who get in its way. Even its own people. How can there be so many who choose not to condemn Hamas, who instead choose the antisemitic tropes of victim-blaming the Jews? How can there be so many who have the capacity to look past the humanity of the Jew? READ MORE: In war between Israel and Hamas, explaining evil doesnt excuse it | Jonathan Zimmerman How Eicha We sit with unanswerable questions. And then, another Hebrew word like Eicha, with a tweak of its vowels shows up in the Book of Genesis (in Hebrew: Bereshit). When God compels Adam and Eve or perhaps, God is compelling us all to find our footing, to figure out where we stand, God asks, Where are you? In Hebrew: Ayeka. The unanswerable question becomes the question that must be answered. Our response is our holy purpose. Upon hearing Where are you? Ayeka I respond: God, I am here, with my people. Am Yisrael Chai the Jewish people live. Upon hearing Where are you? Ayeka I respond: God, I am in your world, heartsick to know antisemitism is proof in itself that Jews need a safe haven. Upon hearing Where are you? Ayeka I respond: God, I am here, refusing to conflate Hamas with the Palestinian people, whose dignity, safety, and aspirations I support. Arabs, Muslims, Palestinians, all of us, are created in the image of God (Btzelem Elohim), and I refuse to permit Hamas to lead me to racism, to hate, to turn me into one who dehumanizes the other. Upon hearing Where are you? Ayeka I respond: God, I reject the notion that my commitment to the Jewish peoples democratic homeland excludes my commitment to the welfare of others. There is enough passion and compassion in our souls to hold both. In the words of Israeli Rabbi Sivan Navon-Shoval, in this blessing sent by Rodeph Shaloms partner congregation in Jerusalem: Our God and God of our ancestors, Protect us and our loved ones from torment. Give our defenders on the front lines and on the home front, Wisdom, strength, courage, and resourcefulness. Fortify and guard their hearts and souls, in the face of battles and sights, That the mind can barely endure. Please watch over the souls and lives, of those being held hostage, Minimize their suffering, strengthen and embrace them with Your love and ours. May they return soon to their loved ones. God be revealed in our midst, as a merciful ray of light, hope, and sanctity of life. Amen. Rabbi Jill Maderer is the senior rabbi at Congregation Rodeph Shalom on North Broad Street. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office identified two 16-year-olds who were killed in a crash in far northern Douglas County on Oct. 8. Three other teenagers were injured in the crash on North River Drive near the Washington County line between Hummel Park and Neale Woods. First responders were called to the scene at 8:52 a.m., and found a vehicle in a ditch fully consumed in flames, according to the Sheriff's Office. The vehicle, a Kia sedan, appeared to have been heading northbound toward Washington County on North River Drive when the driver lost control, exited the road on the west side and struck a tree head-on. The driver, 16-year-old Ray Htoo, and a passenger in the vehicle, 16-year-old Eh Ywa Htoo, were both killed. A 17-year-old female passenger of the vehicle and a 13-year-old male passenger of the vehicle both sustained serious injuries, the release said. An additional 13-year-old male passenger sustained moderate injuries. The Kia was confirmed as stolen from Omaha on the same date as the crash, the release said. Top Journal Star photos for October 2023 In 2021 the most recent year for which data is available 162 Pennsylvanians lost their lives at work. Read more Working people should not have to go to work and never come home. Yet nearly every other day, a worker will lose their life on the job in Pennsylvania. These deaths are unfortunately not an anomaly, and they are preventable. In 2021 the most recent year for which data is available 162 Pennsylvanians lost their lives at work. Nationwide, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration tallied nearly 5,200 preventable workplace deaths, of which the most frequently violated standards led to problems with fall protection, ladders, scaffolding, and respiratory protection. Earlier this year, State Rep. Patrick Harkins (D., Erie) introduced the Jake Schwab Bill, which would extend OSHA protections to the public sector, protect employees who file complaints, and ensure that workplaces provide training and familiarity with equipment, matching the private sector standard. This bill is named after Jake Schwab, an Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority mechanic who was crushed by a bus after being given faulty equipment. The bill easily passed. Our attention must now turn to Senate Bill 93, the companion bill to the Houses Jake Schwab Bill. For years, State Sen. Christine Tartaglione (D., Philadelphia) has stood up for workers by reintroducing bills that would establish a local OSHA office to focus on the safety of public workers across the commonwealth. Advertisement Currently, this bill is stuck in committee and has seen little movement. This is unacceptable. Partisan politics aside, our elected officials need to prioritize worker safety. Pennsylvania runs because of the hardworking individuals who make up the public sector. Our elected officials need to realize that protecting all workers, regardless of their party or union affiliation, should be paramount to their legislative duties. Lifesaving bills should not be held up or left to die in committees. Last April marked 53 years since the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 went into effect, and along with that, the federal agency was born. OSHA sets federal guidelines and standards for workplaces and workplace safety. Approximately 1,850 inspectors offer educational trainings to employers and employees while enforcing and maintaining federal guidelines. OSHA covers private sector workers across the nation and sets guidelines for states to follow when they implement their own state-funded programs. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania has not adopted these guidelines. Our public sector workers, who often work in similar conditions as private sector workers, are not protected at work under federally established standards. Establishing a commonwealth-wide public sector OSHA is the easiest and most effective way to protect workers. Without it, SEPTA drivers, paramedics, health-care workers, and other public sector workers are not afforded the same protections as private sector workers. These public sector workers face limitations in reporting safety concerns and workplace hazards and often do not do so because of fear of retaliation. This provision alone could save hundreds of lives yearly. Our elected officials have the duty to protect public workers, and we must remind them of that. Work-related deaths like that of Schwab could have been prevented. Public sector workers should be protected on the job. Philadelphia and Pennsylvania workers do not have to live and die like this. Over two dozen states including our neighbors in New York, New Jersey, and Maryland have taken action to protect workers, and Pennsylvania should join them. Daniel P. Bauder is the president of the Philadelphia Council, AFL-CIO, a federation of more than 100 affiliate unions representing over 150,000 working people in Philadelphia. The United States Supreme Court is known for taking up tough language questions. But earlier this month, it began tackling possibly its thorniest grammatical issue yet: Does the word and mean and? Or does and mean or? Yes, the court is really arguing over this. English has just three main coordinating conjunctions and, or, and but which join together words or word groups of equal grammatical rank. Yet we need the Supreme Court to distinguish between the two of them. The trouble dates back to 2018, in what we thought at the time was a shining example of bipartisanship. Remember that bizarre moment when most congressional Republicans, every congressional Democrat, and the neofascist Trump administration came together to pass the First Step Act, the most sweeping criminal justice reform in years? After more than 30 years of Reagan-era mandatory minimum sentences that had seen U.S. prison populations triple, the First Step Act gave judges discretion to apply lighter sentences if defendants met certain criteria, among other reforms. Kim Kardashian was there, lobbying Trump in the Oval Office, while Jared Kushner was wooing Mike Pence, whom the president Kushners father-in-law hadnt yet tried to have killed. Advertisement It was a weird time. Turns out it was also too good to be true. Quoting the bills language directly (because its so convoluted): A judge could lighten a sentence if the defendant does not have (A) more than 4 criminal history points, excluding any criminal history points resulting from a 1-point offense, as determined under the sentencing guidelines; (B) a prior 3-point offense, as determined under the sentencing guidelines; and (C) a prior 2-point violent offense, as determined under the sentencing guidelines. Confused yet? So are the courts. At issue is whether, in writing the law, Congress meant A, B, and C or A, B, or C. Hanging in the balance are thousands of people nearly 6,000 a year, according to the U.S. Sentencing Commission who might be eligible to spend less time in prison. For many of them, their freedom hinges on the Supreme Courts decision about the meaning of and and or. While those prisoners await their fate, the justices had fun during oral arguments. The debates that ensued on the highest court in the land were this is the legal term nerdy. Read the oral arguments presented on Oct. 2, and youll quickly get lost in arcane details about the distributive properties of em dashes, conjunctive negatives, and words like superfluidity, surplusage, and Calvinball the latter being a reference to the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes. Sounds like my Friday night. The mess could have been avoided if the law had been written better, and with fewer negatives (which frequently obscure writing). I mentioned that English has three main coordinating conjunctions and, or, and but but that ignores backbenchers like nor, which could have been useful. Had the law been written, A, B, or C, it would have been clear that only one of the criteria needed to be present in order for judges to apply a lighter sentence. On the other hand, if it had read, A, B, nor C, there would be no question that all three would need to be met. Instead, the Supreme Court had to or got to spend its day debating conjunctions. All to figure out what the bills authors intended. Its not like theyre debating the Bill of Rights; nearly everyone who wrote and voted on the bill is still alive, so they could go ask the authors what they meant (while scolding them for not using a better conjunction). But at least we got this gem from Justice Elena Kagan: What we usually do is we try to make writing efficient and not repetitive, and so we take out terms that apply to everything and put it in a format where we dont have to keep repeating it. Concise and precise. Thats the kind of judicial philosophy any wordian can get behind. The Grammarian, otherwise known as Jeffrey Barg, looks at how language, grammar, and punctuation shape our world, and appears biweekly. Send comments, questions, and subordinating conjunctions to jeff@theangrygrammarian.com. Gov. Josh Shapiro speaks during a news conference in Upper Makefield in July. Read more Call this a good news-weird news week for Gov. Josh Shapiro. The good news: Shapiro was featured in three huge newspaper ads this week with Australian billionaire Anthony Pratt, who announced last month that he is investing $500 million in Pennsylvania operations for his company that makes corrugated boxes from recycled materials. The weird news: Pratt was all over national news two weeks ago with reports that former President Donald Trump allegedly shared with him highly sensitive American submarine fleet information in 2021, which Pratt then passed on to more than three dozen people. The ads took up three-quarters of a page in Sundays New York Times and in Mondays Wall Street Journal. There was also a full page in Mondays Inquirer. Advertisement Say youre the new-ish governor of a big swing state with some not-so-secret White House ambitions in 2028. That sort of national attention on economy building goes a long way. Pratt has a history of doing this with big splashy ads, showing how chummy he was with a Trump administration official in 2017 and with the governor of Kentucky last year. For a guy who clearly craves attention, he and Pratt Industries ran silent when Clout came calling. A company spokesperson did not respond to our requests for comment. Shapiro spokesperson Manuel Bonder said the governor and the billionaire spoke about critical investments to create jobs in the state. And submarines didnt come up once. The entirety of their time together was spent discussing matters above sea level, Bonder told Clout. ABC News first reported Oct. 5 that federal prosecutors have interviewed Pratt, a member of Trumps tony Mar-a-Lago private club in Palm Beach, Fla., about a conversation he had there with the former president in April 2021 about the capabilities of Americas submarines including how many nuclear missiles they can carry and how close they can get to Russian submarines without being detected. ABC said Pratt shared those details with at least 45 other people. Fifth employee sues Tracey Gordon Philadelphia Register of Wills Tracey Gordon, who has just 11 weeks left in that post, was hit Tuesday with a fifth lawsuit from a former employee accusing her of firing him for refusing to help fund her failed reelection campaign. Pat Parkinson, a Northeast Philly Democratic ward leader, said in his lawsuit filed in federal court that Gordon continually and relentlessly badgered him for campaign donations in 2021 and 2022 while he was an administrative deputy in her office. The lawsuit said Parkinson didnt want to be associated with Gordons campaign because he considered her ruthless, corrupt, unethical, incompetent and said she acted in an illegal manner. The suit, which names her office and the city as codefendants, said Gordon also demanded that Parkinson arrange a March 2022 meeting with Bob Brady, chair of the Democratic City Committee, where she argued with Brady about political support. Gordon and Brady have a long history of political clashes. Parkinson said Gordons angry reaction after that meeting prompted him to go out on leave for stress and that she fired him three weeks later, even though he still had sick days and vacation time available. Gordon did not respond when Clout called. A spokesperson for the citys Law Department declined to comment. Four other former Register of Wills employees, including Malik Boyd, Gordons former communications director, have filed similar lawsuits that are now pending in federal court. Gordon was defeated in Mays four-candidate Democratic primary by John Sabatina Sr., another Northeast Philly ward leader. Scott Perry spent big to raise not much U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, the York County Republican who tried to toss all of Pennsylvanias presidential votes in 2020, faces a financial dilemma as four Democrats seek to challenge his bid next year for a seventh term. First, Perry cleared just under $1,900 in fundraising from July to September, after his expenditures were subtracted from his contributions, according to a campaign finance report filed Sunday. Second, Perry spent half of the money he raised nearly $166,000 during those three months on fundraising for his campaign. The vast majority of Congressman Perrys fundraising expenditures were direct mail costs associated with increasing his fundraising reach, Perry campaign spokesperson Matt Beynon told Clout. Add to that, Perry spent $75,000 on legal fees in August and September, related to the federal probe of his involvement in Trumps attempts to overturn the 2020 election. Perry ended the quarter with $541,000 in the bank but also $106,000 in debt to his lawyers for that probe. And he faces at least two Democrats who are fundraising at a fast clip. Janelle Stelson, a longtime central Pennsylvania television news anchor who entered the Democratic primary for the 10th District seat earlier this month, said she raised more than $100,000 after announcing her campaign. Her first campaign finance report is due in January. Mike OBrien, a retired U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant colonel who announced his run in the Democratic primary on Sept. 6, raised nearly $155,000 and had nearly $137,000 in the bank at the end of September. Shamaine Daniels, a Harrisburg City Council member who lost to Perry in the 2022 general election, had $15,500 in the bank at the end of September. Rick Coplen, who lost last years Democratic primary to Daniels, had $5,309 in the bank at the end of September. Clout provides often irreverent news and analysis about people, power, and politics. Nicolas ORourke looks on as Philadelphia Councilwoman Kendra Brooks speaks during the opening ceremony for the Working Families Party inaugural convention in Philadelphia in October. O'Rourke and Brooks are running against Republicans for two seats on City Council. Read more Philadelphia voters will begin to see a television advertising war in the final three weeks before the Nov. 7 election, including in this years closely watched races for three City Council seats that are attracting an unusual amount of attention. The latest sign of how competitive the races are came this week, when the progressive Working Families Party a third party vying for two seats that are effectively reserved for non-Democrats announced that its launching a $250,000 ad campaign that will tout an endorsement from Gov. Josh Shapiro and tie their opponents to former President Donald Trump. The spend is significantly more than the campaigns spent four years ago, when one of its candidates, Kendra Brooks, became the first third-party candidate in modern history to win a seat on City Council, ousting a Republican from one of the seats the GOP had held for the better part of a century. Brooks is up for reelection this year and running alongside Nicolas ORourke, an activist and pastor. There are seven open seats on Council that represent the city at-large, and nine candidates. Five are Democratic nominees who are all-but-certain to win seats. That means the Working Families Party is competing with a pair of Republican nominees for the two remaining seats. Advertisement Local elections in Philadelphia have not traditionally been competitive by the time the general election rolls around, given the Democratic partys enormous advantage in the city. But the races this year, which could tilt the ideological leaning of the citys legislative body, have proven otherwise. READ MORE: Your guide to the at-large City Council race The Working Families Partys advertising push, paid for by their campaigns that have already set third-party fundraising records, explains how voting in the at-large race works and attempts to tie their Republican opponents to the national party. Republicans Jim Hasher and Drew Murray have each described themselves as moderates, and the Philly GOP has said its attempting to draw a distinction between local candidates and the polarized national political environment. But in one of the Working Families Partys spots, ORourke says a vote for the Working Families Party can stop Trumps extreme agenda. Another ad features Shapiro, a Democrat who endorsed Brooks for reelection. In the commercial, Shapiro generally considered a political moderate who does not align with Brooks on a number of issues says hes proud to have her back. But the Working Families Party does not have a monopoly on the airwaves. Hasher, who is supported by a coalition of building trades unions, has spent about $100,000 on television advertising thus far, according to media-tracking firm Ad Impact. Hashers campaign commercials are largely biographical in nature, describing him as a community leader, a youth mentor, and a small-business owner. A narrator says he will prioritize public safety, fighting the opioid crisis, and tax relief and the ad does not mention that he is a Republican. Murray, a civic leader who is a GOP nominee but has not received as much financial support from labor unions as Hasher, said he does not intend to advertise on television. He plans to advertise on billboards, and believes that his campaign dollars will be better spent on Election Day operations and canvassing. We need to get a lot of people out on the street on Election Day, he said. Thats where Im focusing my efforts. Murray could be helped though by an independent expenditure group called the Coalition for Safety & Equitable Growth, which is airing a negative advertising campaign about the Working Families Party candidates. The attack ads, which started running on Fox News this week, describe Brooks and ORourke as radicals. They highlight a recent vote Brooks made in favor of supervised drug consumption sites, as well as their past positions on reducing funding to the Police Department. Several other outside groups could get involved in the final weeks of the campaign for the at-large Council seats. The Building Trades & Construction Council is expected to fund an Election Day operation to support Hasher and four Democrats, and an independent expenditure committee backed by the national Working Families Party is funding a canvassing and voter education program. In addition, the competitive district Council race in Northeast Philadelphia is drawing television advertising, an especially rare occurrence for a general election race that can only be voted on by about 10% of the citys residents. Both Republican Councilmember Brian ONeill and Democratic challenger Gary Masino are running television commercials. Masino has spent nearly $150,000 on the airwaves, while ONeill has spent about $50,000, according to Ad Impact. HARRISBURG Gov. Josh Shapiros administration agreed to pay $295,000 to settle a sexual harassment complaint made against one of his most trusted senior aides, according to legal documents released Friday. Mike Vereb Shapiros top liaison to the General Assembly and one of the governors closest allies for decades abruptly resigned his cabinet-level post last month after less than nine months on the job. The Inquirer later reported that Vereb had been accused in March of sexually harassing an employee who briefly worked for him in the governors office. Verebs decision to step down came three weeks after Shapiros office agreed to pay his accuser to resolve complaints shed filed with the state Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and the independent Human Relations Commission, according to the settlement documents signed Sept. 5 and released Friday through the states open records law. The agreement did not include any admission of wrongdoing from Vereb or the governors office. And the woman whom The Inquirer is not identifying due to the nature of the allegations and others involved from both sides signed a nondisclosure agreement barring them from publicly discussing her allegations. Advertisement The complaint against Vereb and questions about a possible settlement deal had circulated around the Capitol for months before his departure and become a particularly fraught issue for Shapiro, who has cast himself as a champion for sexual abuse survivors both in his time investigating the Catholic Church as attorney general and on the campaign trail as he ran for governor last year. A Shapiro spokesperson said in a statement that the terms of the settlement prevented the administration from commenting further on the case. Complainants and defendants often settle litigation for reasons not related to the validity of the underlying facts and claims, Shapiros spokesperson, Manuel Bonder, said in a statement Friday. Cases frequently settle solely so that parties can avoid the tremendous expense of litigation, including the time, resources, and costs to litigate a case for a protracted period. The governor defended the administrations handling of the matter during an Oct. 5 news conference, saying the investigation of the womans claims had been rigorous, confidential and grounded in integrity though he declined to discuss specifics of the case. Neither Vereb nor his accuser immediately responded to requests for comment Friday. The accusers attorney declined to comment. NDAs like the one signed by Vereb and his accuser are an often routine part of out-of-court settlements. But they have drawn increased criticism in recent years especially in sexual misconduct cases from advocates for abuse survivors, who say such clauses allow abusers to buy the silence of those theyve wronged and avoid public scrutiny for their misdeeds. Some states have moved to ban them from legal settlements involving public agencies or taxpayer money. A spokesperson for the state Treasury, which pays all of the states bills, said it appeared Friday that the settlement, at least part of which will be paid covered with taxpayer dollars, has not yet been paid. The deal calls for roughly $45,000 to be paid by the Governors Office, while the states employee liability insurance program, which has a $250,000 maximum will cover the rest. The accuser will not receive the full $295,000 settlement. The state agreed to pay her $196,365. The remainder will go toward her legal fees, with her attorneys getting $98,364. According to documents she filed with state investigators earlier this year, Verebs accuser said he had repeatedly made sexual advances toward her and lewd remarks about other staffers and a female state senator. The woman alleged that when she reported his behavior to higher-ups in Shapiros office, Vereb retaliated against her, prompting her decision to resign from the Office of Legislative Affairs in March, less than two months after she was hired. Despite the NDA included in her settlement with the Shapiro administration, a statement in which she detailed those accusations for state investigators began circulating around Capitol by mid-September. An internal review found no evidence that these documents were leaked by a member of Shapiros administration, a spokesperson for the governor said. The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission declined to comment. Republicans led by state Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, of Westmoreland County and some Democrats have questioned the timing of Verebs resignation, noting that he continued to serve a prominent role in the administration for months after the womans complaint was filed and even as the settlement talks were in the works. Flight records show he flew to Indiana, Pa., with Shapiro in mid-August amid a standoff in negotiations over the budget proposal. And last month, Vereb, a former police officer, also served in a frontline role as a liaison between the governors office and the Pennsylvania State Police during the two-week manhunt for escaped fugitive Danilo Cavalcante in Chester County. The settlement was signed during Cavalcantes time on the run. Responding to the release of the settlement terms Friday, state Rep. Abby Major (R., Armstrong) who has served as a confidant to Verebs accuser since filing her complaint questioned whether the deal had protected the woman with the robust procedure the governors office had promised in earlier public statements. Apparently, the governors robust procedure is a robust settlement and a robust NDA, said Major, who has ben open about her own alleged experiences with sexual harassment. As for the promised payout to Verebs accuser, Major said: Good for her. Whats the only thing better than one Craig? Two Craigs. At least, thats the theory behind Yellowstone Repertory Theatres Straight on to Stardust, which is being performed at the Black Box at the NOVA Center for the Performing Arts over the next three weekends. The play is a team-up between two of Billings best Craigs, writer Craig Lancaster, and YRTs artistic director and co-founder Craig Huisenga. The play is a good fit for October, for a few reasons. It follows a man named Clinton Cobb, who is tasked with driving his fathers body from Billings to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Anybody who has driven the high plains through Wyoming and Colorado can tell you its a miserable place to get caught in a storm. And, thats exactly what happens to Cobb as the weather slowly disintegrates until were in storm of the century" territory. Take a peek at next weeks forecast and youll see the obvious echoes there. But Straight on to Stardust is hiding another autumnal aspect. The ancient Celts believed that Samhain, the festival that turned into our Halloween, was when the veil between the living and the dead was at its thinnest. In Lancasters telling, that veil is particularly thin along Interstate 25. Pretty soon, the ghosts start sitting in the passenger seat, Lancaster said. Cobb is visited by various specters, and a look at the cast list will show you that nearly every supporting character shares his last name. This haunting is personal. One of the things that attracted me to the show is that concept of ghosts coming in and everybody having to work out their relationships no matter which world theyre in, Huisenga said. The play, the first for Lancaster, who has written nine novels and a couple shorter dramatic pieces, has been in the works since at least 2018. I was sort of between novels and flailing around a little bit, Lancaster remembered. I wasnt entirely sure what I wanted to do. He got inspiration at Yellowstone Repertory Theatre; 2018 was the year when the theater troupe performed Tennessee Williams The Glass Menagerie at the Black Box at NOVA. Afterwards, one Craig approached another, as Lancaster told Huisenga that he was, Trying to write this play. Go on, Huisenga replied. So Lancaster did, and now Straight on to Stardust is premiering in the same spot in which he watched The Glass Menagerie. That sounds easy, but the Craigs are quick to stress that it wasnt. Lancaster briefly left Billings for Maine, and YRT experienced major hiccups due to the pandemic. Straight on to Stardust actually got its start as a novel. But it didnt have legs, Lancaster said. He couldnt figure out a way to push the story through to a conclusion. But he had a lot of great dialogue. So he started on that solid foundation and the play simply flowed out of him. I just instantly saw my way through it, said Lancaster. The novel didnt work. Something was misfiring. But it didnt misfire when I changed the form. Lancaster returned to Montana in 2020, and sent the first draft of Straight on to Stardust to Huisenga. He gave it to me and I said, This isnt a play, this is a movie, Huisenga recalled. But they did a reading of it anyway, all on Zoom during what Lancaster called the height of the pandemic. The cast was full of YRT regulars, and Lancaster read the stage directions. We gave him some feedback, and he went away, said Huisenga, and came back with another version. YRT did a table read of that version at This House of Books. Lancaster tinkered on it a little more before it reached its current state. I didnt write it so a bunch of people could read it on Zoom, he explained. I wanted to see it produced, but also wanted to do what was necessary to get it into the kind of shape that it needs to be in to be produced. YRT provided that. Its been a wonderful partnership in a million ways, Lancaster said. Its a theater company doing what a theater company ought to do, and thats develop work from the ground up. This is YRTs fifth season since they started in 2017. But other than some short vignettes, this is their first original play, and their first work by a local playwright. If were really going to be the Yellowstone Rep, and make a theater for this area, one of the things we have to do sooner or later was produce work by local writers, Huisenga said. He didnt really expect it to be so soon, but added that Lancasters play about death has a life to it. That partnership isnt just between director and writer. Local band the Peach Pickers (Bob Brown, John Kemmick, Ed Kemmick, Pat Rogers, and Bobby Brown) provided incidental music, including themes for several characters. The set, designed by Huisenga with Eric Logan, utilizes the cavernous space of the Black Box to saturate the play with the air of loneliness. The book version of Lancasters script is available exclusively at This House of Books, and the bookstore is also sponsoring a performance on Saturday, Oct. 21, which includes a Q&A with the writer, director and performers. Proceeds from the sales of the book are being split by YRT and This House of Books. Those two institutions are super, super important to Billings, the playwright mused. And of course theres the eight actor cast, mostly full of veterans of the Billings stage like Susan Somerfeld (Janine Cobb,) Vint Lavinder (Jimmy Cobb), Autumn Griffiths (Kay Cobb) and Kate Restad (Carolina Cobb). Steve Zediker, in his YRT debut, plays main character Clinton Cobb, and young Emmett Gilfeather, fresh off a leading role as Stuart in NOVAs Stuart Little, is Brian Shamley. Adam Roebling plays three different characters, and even director Huisenga is part of the cast. For Lancaster, a veteran writer who has two High Plains Book Awards, its a somewhat jarring experience to see his words come out of other peoples mouths. When Straight on to Stardust is performed for the first time on Friday, itll stop being his. It sounds conceited to say this, so Ill acknowledge that, he said, before pausing. The power of this play is two things. Theres the words as they exist, but the greater power is in the way these actors deliver it. Hes had people read his work for audiobooks before, but this is a whole other universe. I really get a thrill from seeing what someone else does with it, he said. Straight on to Stardust will be performed at least nine times in the next three weeks, but it might not be going away after that. Lancaster and Huisenga both think it could be performed by other theater troupes, both in Montana and beyond. Its pretty adaptable, Lancaster contended. There arent many props, the set can be simple. Really all you need is a couple benches, one for Clinton Cobb and one for all his ghosts. Its all about telling the story, Huisenga said. Thats the priority. Especially for the first time. Shanks went on to say: We know insurance and finance play a pivotal role in peoples lives to ensure they have financial resilience and freedom at every life stage. ANZIIF plays an important role in ensuring that their members are inspired to continue on a journey of lifelong learning to stay relevant and up to date so they can continue to make a difference in peoples lives. Eleven days after 57-year-old Anthony Talotta arrived at a Pittsburgh jail, he died from what his family says was a treatable and preventable infection from a foot wound. Talotta, who had autism and developmental disabilities, had been brought to the jail after a fight with a staff member at the group home where he lived. In a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday, Talotta`s family alleges doctors and medical staff at the Allegheny County Jail provided substandard care. The lawsuit claims jail policies prohibiting prisoners with mental illness or developmental disabilities from being housed in the medical unit violate the Americans with Disabilities Act by creating a system that makes it harder for them to get adequate medical care. The lawsuit also notes that at least 17 people died at the medically understaffed jail in a two-and-a-half year timeframe from March 2020 to September 2022, the majority of whom had mental health or chronic medical needs. This lawsuit is intended not only to find full and fair justice for Anthony, but it is also intended to find justice for the individuals who came before him and took their last breaths at the Allegheny County Jail as well and to protect those who enter that jail after them with the same or similar chronic care and mental health needs, said Alec Wright, an attorney representing Talotta`s family along with attorneys at the Abolitionist Law Center. Medical Care The lawsuit names the Allegheny Health Network, which is the contracted jail medical care provider; Allegheny County and Medical Director Donald W. Stechschulte. The lawsuit also names Wilson Bernales, a doctor who dismissed or went against hospital recommendations in his treatment of Talotta and who, at the time of his employment with Allegheny Health Network, had had his medical license revoked or suspended in eight states. The lawsuit also names the unknown staffing agency that screened and hired Bernales. The lawsuit alleges negligence in hiring Bernales without thoroughly researching his license issues in other states. It also alleges denial or delay of medical care, lack of supervision and training, wrongful death and discrimination. Allegheny County and the Allegheny Health Network both declined requests for comment. Bernales, who is now living in Nevada, said he has never had any malpractice issues and called the medical license issues in other states administrative concerns. The family`s attorneys disputed Bernales` account of his license issues, noting several states in publicly available discipline proceedings questioned his competence and skill as a physician. In the complaint, they note one state board wrote Bernales failed to meet his burden of proving that he is able to safely, skillfully and competently practice medicine. Attorneys for Talotta`s family said the jail`s medical staff was aware of both Talotta`s injury, which included fractures, a torn ligament and blistering from burns, and that because of his autism and intellectual disabilities he was unable to communicate his medical needs or care for himself. Jeff Lagrotteria, Talotta`s cousin, said Anthony called him from the jail but never mentioned his injury. He just said he was scared and asked how he was going to get out of that place so that`s what we were working on, Lagrotteria said, adding that no one from the group home or the jail told him about the injury from the fight either. For years, he was taken care of by the group homes, and there were no issues. As soon as he gets into the jail, he got treated so horribly he died within days. Developmental Disabilities Luciana Randall, president of Autism Connection of Pennsylvania, works with families all over the state who have incarcerated family members with developmental disabilities. But she said there are no comprehensive numbers of how many people incarcerated in the state have autism or developmental disabilities because jails do not screen for them. Then, since jails are designed to punish, the people who work there are generally not willing to or able to support people with disabilities like this. I hear most often from those employees: Why are they here? They dont belong here. Isnt there somewhere else they can go? Randall said, adding that there are no diversionary programs designed for people with these disabilities, but she believes there should be. Talotta was taken to a hospital two times as his injuries worsened, according to the lawsuit. He was ordered not to put weight on his foot, but jail staff removed a walking boot and took away his crutches because those devices were not allowed in the mental health unit. The hospital also prescribed antibiotics and daily dressing changes and wound care. But the antibiotics were never provided, jail staff confiscated the medical supplies given to him by hospital doctors and jail medical staff never performed any wound care, the lawsuit alleges. On Sept. 20, Talotta was found clutching his chest and unable to speak, from what attorneys assert was sepsis. Bernales gave Talotta a Benadryl for allergies and sent him back to his cell, where he was found a few hours later frothing at the mouth and unresponsive, according to medical records cited in the lawsuit. He was taken to the hospital where he died the next day. Speaking to The Associated Press on Tuesday, Bernales challenged that narrative and the medical records, saying Talotta was allowed to keep the wound care supplies. He said the boot and crutches were taken away because no prisoners are allowed to have them since they could be made into weapons. It`s not like a hospital. I can`t just go to the patient`s cell and provide care. If the corrections officers say we don`t have enough staff to bring him out of his cell to get care, then I have to listen, Bernales said. Talotta did not have any brothers or sisters, and his parents spent most of their lives making sure he would be taken care of when they died, setting up a trust so his needs were met. He spent his time with all of his cousins in their big Italian family, becoming the official sausage tyer when they would gather to stuff homemade sausages. He also enjoyed going to the zoo or to the movies, getting most excited about the popcorn. Nothing can bring Anthony back, said cousin Tina Talotta. But I just feel that if my aunt Lena was still here, she would want other people taken care of, that this never happen to anyone else. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits A medical waste processing company has pleaded guilty to dozens of environment-related charges and agreed to pay $1.75 million in fines after state prosecutors in Maryland accused a south Baltimore incineration plant owned by the firm of exposing the public to biohazardous material. The waste comes from hospitals, laboratories and other medical settings. Its supposed to be burned into ash before being transported to landfills, a process that prevents disease transmission, state officials said Tuesday at a news conference announcing the settlement agreement involving the nations largest medical waste incinerator. The fine incurred by Curtis Bay Energy is among the highest environmental penalties imposed in Marylands history. It includes funding for pollution mitigation efforts in south Baltimores Curtis Bay neighborhood __ a community that has long suffered from environmental degradation thanks to a concentration of industrial facilities situated along the Patapsco River. The company, which changed ownership after the Maryland Attorney Generals Office launched its investigation in 2019, repeatedly overloaded its incinerators and failed to sufficiently burn medical waste before sending it to landfills, according to prosecutors. Witnesses provided photographs from the site showing substantial amounts of unburned medical waste, including surgical gloves, medical supplies and bedding, according to court documents. On one occasion, investigators followed a load of waste headed for a landfill in Virginia and watched as it leaked fluid the entire trip and covered the agents cars and windshields with an unknown substance, prosecutors wrote. The persistent, improper treatment of special medical waste created a clear and obvious threat to public health, said Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown, noting that the violations began before the COVID-19 pandemic and continued until the company realized it was under investigation in 2020. It was a crime. Kelly Love, a spokesperson for Curtis Bay Energy, said the company has fully cooperated with the state of Marylands investigation into past violations committed by employees under prior ownership and management. Curtis Bay Energy remains committed to increasing its investment for preventative maintenance and workforce training and to honor its place in the community and region, she said in a statement. The company will pay $1 million to the Maryland Clean Water Fund and an additional $750,000 to support environmental cleanup projects in and around Curtis Bay, according to the settlement agreement, which was signed Aug. 18. In addition to evidence of unburned medical waste, investigators found the company had knowingly installed an illegal pump that was discharging wastewater onto an adjacent property. Prosecutors said plant employees tried to conceal the illegal discharge by disconnecting the pump when environmental inspectors arrived on-site. The company pleaded guilty to 40 counts, including numerous violations of its state-issued refuse disposal permit. Officials said the plants former director of operations also pleaded guilty in the case, and charges against its former manager are still pending. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said the settlement is an important step toward acknowledging a legacy of environmental injustice plaguing underserved communities on the Curtis Bay peninsula. Curtis Bay here in south Baltimore is one of many neighborhoods in the city that have faced decades of neglect and disinvestment, he said at Tuesdays news conference, which was held outside the plant entrance. Today is a win for the environmental justice movement because it proves these outcomes are possible. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Maryland Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones cannot use his personal bankruptcy to escape paying at least $1.1 billion in defamation damages stemming from his repeated lies about the 2012 Sandy Hook elementary school massacre, a U.S. bankruptcy judge ruled Thursday. Bankruptcy can be used to wipe out debts and legal judgments, but not if they result from willful or malicious injury caused by the debtor, according to a decision by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez in Houston, Texas. Courts in Connecticut and Texas have already ruled that Jones intentionally defamed relatives of school children killed in the mass shooting, and they have ordered Jones to pay $1.5 billion in damages. Lopez ruled that more than $1.1 billion of those verdicts, awarded for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress, cannot be wiped away in bankruptcy. But he ruled that other parts of the verdicts, including $324 million in attorneys fees that were awarded as punitive damages in the Connecticut case, could possibly be discharged. It was not clear whether those punitive damages were attributable to willful and malicious lies, or whether they could instead be attributed to merely reckless conduct, Lopez wrote. Lopez said he will hold a trial to sort out the precise amount of the damages that could be discharged. Attorneys for Jones and the Sandy Hook families did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Jones attorneys had argued that he had not lied and that his conduct was not malicious, saying in court papers that Jones never said something on air that he did not believe to be true. Jones claimed for years that the 2012 killing of 20 students and six staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, was staged with actors as part of a government plot to seize Americans guns. He has since acknowledged the shooting occurred, but plaintiffs said Jones cashed in for years off his lies about the massacre. Jones and his media company, Free Speech Systems, filed for bankruptcy protection in December and July last year, respectively. Jones could face two more defamation trials for plaintiffs who have not yet received a final judgment in their cases. Lopez ruled Thursday that Jones could not escape the damages to be awarded in one of those cases because Jones has already been found liable for defaming Leonard Pozner and Veronique De La Rosa, whose six-year-old son Noah was killed in the Sandy Hook shooting. Jones falsely said that Veronique De La Rosa was an actor who faked a CNN interview about her sons death. (Reporting by Dietrich Knauth; editing by Diane Craft, David Gregorio, Alexia Garamfalvi and Rod Nickel) Topics Connecticut One person was injured and passengers were evacuated Wednesday after an explosion in the engine room of a small cruise ship docked in Maine`s Portland Harbor, officials said. The injured person, a member of the crew, was taken to a hospital with serious injuries while 128 passengers were removed from the ship, said Sean Donaghue, spokesperson for the Portland Fire Department. The crew member`s condition wasn`t known. American Queen Voyages Ocean Navigator, a 286-foot long ship with a capacity of 202 people, had just docked at Ocean Gateway Terminal when the blast happened around 7:25 a.m. Wednesday, officials said. A generator in the engine caught fire, officials said. Portland firefighters and the cruise ships crew quickly extinguished the blaze. The boat was being ventilated to remove the smoke. The U.S. Coast Guard is working to determine if the ship is safe for passengers to continue their voyage. The ship, built in 2001 and refurbished in 2019, was scheduled to spend the night in Portland before departing Thursday. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Pharmaceutical firm Pfizer Inc. has agreed to pay $2 million to resolve alleged compensation discrimination affecting female employees at the federal contractors New York City headquarters. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced it entered into a conciliation agreement with Pfize following a compliance review covering the period from Jan. 1, 2015, to Dec. 31, 2016. DOL investigators said they found that beginning on Jan. 1, 2015, Pfizer discriminated against 86 females in professional positions. DOL said these actions violated Executive Order 11246, which prohibits federal contractors from discriminating in employment decisions based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. Pfizer has not admitted to any noncompliance. Under the agreement, Pfizer will pay $2 million in back wages and interest to the affected female employees, set aside a separate $500,000 reserve required for future salary adjustments and conduct a compensation analysis make salary adjustments if any significant pay disparities are found based on gender. Pfizer, an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation headquartered in New York City with research and development laboratories in Groton, Connecticut, has federal government contracts for large scale production of Covid-19 vaccines. Source: U.S. Department of Labors Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs Topics New York Talent An oil tanker is hauling a cargo of crude toward an Israeli Red Sea port thats seldom used for crude deliveries after the nations main import terminal on the Mediterranean was disrupted by the conflict with Hamas. The shipment underscores Israels ability to keep receiving petroleum despite fighting that is is just a few miles from Ashkhelon, its key importing facility in the Mediterranean. The 900-foot Seaviolet is hauling just over 1 million barrels of oil from Azerbaijan and officially heading to Aqaba in Jordan, tanker tracking data compiled by Bloomberg show. In reality, several traders said the cargo has been bought by Israeli refiner Paz Oil and will in fact be delivered to Eilat on the countrys Red Sea coast. Eilat is just a few miles west of Aqaba. Israel hasnt used Eilat for crude imports for several years, data from analytics firm Kpler show. The Europe Asia Pipeline Co., or EAPC, runs a 163-mile pipeline from the port across Israel to Ashkelon, allowing crude supply to the nearby Ashdod oil refinery. The UK P&I Club, an international insurer of merchant ships against risks including oil spills, said on Wednesday that the oil jetty at Ashkelon is under constant rocket attacks, citing its local correspondents in the area. Whilst Ashkelon is officially open, it is practically closed and vessels are required to arrange their arrival/entrance to the port with the navy, the UK P&I Club said. Copyright 2023 Bloomberg. Topics Energy Oil Gas The UKs Met Office warned of the possibility of severe flooding and loss of life in the northern part of the country for a second day as Storm Babet continues to hammer the region. Parts of eastern Scotland remain under a red warning from the meteorological body until midday Friday as exceptional rainfall could result in fast flowing and deep floodwaters, damage buildings and homes and lead to dangerous driving conditions. It also warned of loss of power and other essential services like gas, water and mobile phone services that could cut off some communities, perhaps for several days. A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service boat was going house to house searching by torchlight in heavily flooded streets of the Angus area early on Friday morning, according to the BBC. The local council has asked residents of about 400 homes in and around the town to evacuate amid fears the River South Esk could burst its banks, the news report added. Storm Babet Sparks Red Alert as Scotland Braces for Flooding Rainfall of up to 250 millimeters (9.8 inches) is expected in the area, which is near the cities of Perth and Dundee. A number of amber and yellow weather warnings will remain in place across Scotland and parts of England until the weekend. The UK has felt extremes of weather this year, with some of the hottest summer months on record followed by sudden, extreme rainfall and flooding. Human-caused climate change is increasing the likelihood of such weather patterns across the world. EON SE, one of the largest grid operators in Sweden, warned that the storm is likely to cause havoc in Scandinavia as it sweeps in late on Friday and early Saturday. Wind gusts there will reach 20-25 meters per second, while water levels along the southern and western coast could reach record levels, according to national forecaster SMHI. Red weather warning UPDATED Exceptionally heavy and persistent rain across eastern Scotland due to #StormBabet Thursday 1800 Friday 1200 Latest info https://t.co/QwDLMfRBfs Stay #WeatherAware pic.twitter.com/AhhGEuYUM2 Met Office (@metoffice) Oct. 19, 2023 The German company has boosted staffing in the field and is preparing water pumps and other machines. The strong easterly winds are increasing the risk of trees falling over the overground power cables, it said on Friday. The UKs wind turbines were generating more than 50% of the countrys power as of Friday morning, according to data from National Grid Plc on Bloomberg. Wind usually makes up 25% of the countrys power mix. Top photograph: Large storm waves in Stonehaven, Scotland. Exceptional rainfall could result in damage to buildings. Photo credit: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images Copyright 2023 Bloomberg. Topics Windstorm Flood ZooMontana staff and volunteers bid an emotional farewell to an iconic resident Thursday morning. Bruno the grizzly bear was humanely euthanized after several health battles became too severe to manage, according to the zoo. The estimated 23-year-old bears health issues were linked to the lack of care he received as a young bear, when he was illegally held in a private, Tennessee backyard within a small dog kennel. Bruno, known for his droopy lip, teddy bear ears and large stature, was a staple at ZooMontana for 15 years. He arrived at the Zoo in 2008 from Zoo Knoxville, which agreed to bring Bruno in after he was discovered being illegally held. ZooMontana curator Travis Goebel and lead North America caregiver Krystal Whetham have both been with Bruno during his life at ZooMontana. Due to his inadequate nutrition and care as a young bear, we were pretty certain he wouldnt see a typical zoo bear lifespan of 30-plus, however, we are thrilled that we got the 15 years we did with him," said Goebel. "Our caregivers and veterinarians have done a great job providing him exceptional care over that time. Not only was he an incredible ambassador for his species, but he is truly loved by the community. Animal caregivers will keep an extra-close eye on ZooMontanas other grizzly bear, Ozzy, Brunos roommate and pal, as he adjusts to Bruno being gone. To help him with the loss, caregivers will give Ozzy extra time and enrichment. Zoo officials said they have no doubt Ozzy will miss his big brother. In addition, administrators at the zoo agreed to welcome in two orphaned grizzly cubs from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Typically, we would wait to bring new animals in so soon after a loss of this magnitude. However, we felt it was in the best interest of Ozzy to bring these cubs in," said Executive Director Jeff Ewelt. "He seems to really enjoy companionship, something we know these cubs can provide him." The cubs are slated to arrive at the zoo within the month but will not be viewable until after a lengthy and mandatory quarantine. They are currently being cared for by the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone. ZooMontana will have a grief counselor onsite to help staff process this monumental loss; Bruno will be sorely missed by many. This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Allianz Commercial and Sompo International. A summary of these new hires follows here. Allianz Commercial Taps AIGs Valencia to Lead Portfolio Solutions Allianz Commercial has appointed Claudia Valencia as global head of Portfolio Solutions, joining on Jan. 8, 2024. Valencia will be based in London, and will report jointly to Chief Underwriting Officer Shanil Williams and Global Head of Distribution Jeremy Sharpe. In this newly created role, she will drive Allianz Commercials global strategy for Portfolio Solutions including panels, facilities, MGAs, bancassurance and other forms of delegated authority. Valencia joins from AIG where she was Latin America regional head of client and broker engagement, based in New York. Over her career, she has held a variety of internationally based underwriting and market facing leadership roles with AIG, Zurich and other leading insurers in London, Miami, New York and Colombia. The commercial and specialty market continues to grow in this area and therefore the time is right to bring a coherent global strategy across all our business. Claudia has extensive global experience in both underwriting and distribution roles, and I am delighted to have her on board, commented Williams. *** Sompo Intl Taps Allianzs El Oulhani for Distribution & Client Mgmt. in France Sompo International, the commercial and consumer property/casualty re/insurer, announced the appointment of Redouane El Oulhani as head of Distribution & Client Relationship Management, Insurance, for France. He will be based in Paris. The company is in the process of establishing insurance operations in France, subject to required regulatory notifications. El Oulhani joins Sompo International from Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty, where he spent the last 15 years, most recently as head of Sales for France, MEA, Greece and Turkey. Sompo International is a growing organization with ambitious goals globally and within Continental Europe. Having the right distribution and client relationship management infrastructure will be a key part of that growth strategy in France and Redouane is the ideal candidate to lead this area, commented Marilyn Faugas, country manager, Insurance, France. He will have responsibility for building strong and productive working partnerships with brokers and clients alike. Im delighted to have him on board, Faugas added. Topics Commercial Lines AIG Allianz The Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois ((IA of IL) presented awards to top agents and agencies during the associations annual convention held in Peoria last week. Connor & Gallagher OneSource (CGO) of Lisle was awarded the IIA of IL Agency of the Year Award in the large agency category. Held Insurance Agency of Prospect was named IIA of ILs Agency of the Year in the small agency category. The Agency of the Year demonstrates strong growth, innovative marketing strategies, creative utilization of evolving technology, top-level customer service, and dedication to the community. IIA of IL presented Greg Sandrock the Charles M. Cartwright Award in recognition of his role as a longtime industry and association leader. Marco Espinoza of Pronto Insurance Services in Schaumburg won the Agent of the Year Award, which honors the outstanding performance and achievement of an individual who is a retail agent member of the IIA of IL. Keely Cardwell of Bailey Family Insurance Agency in Springfield, IL, was named Young Agent of the Year, an award demonstrating exceptional service to the insurance industry, professional trade associations, and community. IIA of IL membership is comprised of 1,000 insurance agencies representing 10,000 licensed independent agents. Topics Agencies Illinois American International Group Inc. Chief Executive Officer Peter Zaffino said the biggest challenge to the insurance sector over the last decade has been unpredictable risks including the pandemic, wars and climate change. Weve had 100 natural disasters reported through nine months of this year, Zaffino said during an interview for an upcoming episode of The David Rubenstein Show: Peer to Peer Conversations. That just hasnt happened in the past. Zaffino joined AIG in 2017, becoming CEO in 2021. During his tenure, the industry has been battered by everything from cyber attacks to catastrophic weather events supercharged by climate change. Natural disasters alone inflicted $275 billion in damages across the world last year, with $125 billion of that covered by insurance, according to a report by Swiss Re. Worsening disasters in markets where regulations or laws already make it difficult for insurers to operate profitably have prompted some firms to cut their losses. AIG has pulled away from writing some business in California, while other insurers have taken similar steps in that state as well as in Florida. Related: Climate Change and Homeowners Insurance Are on a Collision Course California where regulations make it difficult for insurers to secure rate increases of significant size or use sophisticated computer models in underwriting is looking to win back insurers that have left by introducing reforms meant to make things easier on them. The AIG CEO said Californias regulator has made a lot of progress in remedying the situation. Theres so many different components that go into pricing homeowners in areas that have significant exposure such as wildfire, hurricane, earthquake, and theyve allowed a couple of different variables to go into the pricing, such as reinsurance, Zaffino said. And so I think it is a very positive step forward, but its still not without its complications. Watch David Rubensteins full interview with AIG CEO Peter Zaffino on November 29th at 9:00pm in New York. Photo: Peter Zaffino. Photographer: Christopher Goodney/Bloomberg Copyright 2023 Bloomberg. Topics California COVID-19 Climate Change AIG Fortress Investment Group LLC is pitching an investment opportunity within an increasingly popular yet controversial corner of finance funding other companies legal battles. The private equity firm is raising its second fund to invest in legal assets, having already deployed $6 billion into the strategy, according to a person familiar with the situation. Fortress has 32 people working in legal assets, led by former bankruptcy attorney Jack Neumark. A dozen were hired in the last 18 months as the New York-based firm looks to grow further in the sector, said the person, who asked to remain anonymous discussing sensitive information. The company declined to comment on fundraising or returns. The Fortress legal assets strategy built on our firms prior experience as successful credit investors who are not afraid to use litigation when necessary to protect our rights, Neumark, managing partner and co-chief investment officer at Fortress, said in an interview with Bloomberg News. Monetizing Lawsuits Interest in litigation funding which involves paying costs for one side of a legal fight, and taking a slice of the proceeds if they win has been growing in recent years. Investors looking for higher yields and diversified returns poured around $17 billion into litigation funding globally in 2020, according to a study from insurance firm Swiss Re. Third-party litigation finance investments have produced internal rates of return of 25% or more in recent years, Swiss Re has said, while also highlighting the risks that this lightly-regulated field increases claim costs and incentivizes lawsuits. Fortress, which also specializes in investing in distressed debt, has around $45 billion in assets. Investors in its legal funds include pensions, institutional and sovereign wealth funds, as well as high net worth individuals and family offices. It bought litigation financier Vannin Capital in 2019. The firm invests in pools of claims owned by large companies, lends to law firms, and finances other commercial litigation funders and legal services businesses, Neumark said. A successful area for us has been large, $100-million-plus, transactions with public companies in which we invest in those companies affirmative legal claims, said Neumark. Fortress prefers not to throw its weight behind a single court decision, and instead underwrites a portfolio of claims across types of cases and jurisdictions across western Europe, the US and Australia, he added. From the companies perspective, by monetizing their legal claims they are selling a non-core asset that is marked at zero on the balance sheet, Neumark said. These deals help legal departments become profit centers and turn illiquid legal claims into cash that can be reinvested in the core business. Related: Copyright 2023 Bloomberg. Topics Lawsuits Oct 18 (Reuters) Music publishers Universal Music, ABKCO and Concord Publishing sued artificial intelligence company Anthropic in Tennessee federal court this week, accusing it of misusing an innumerable amount of copyrighted song lyrics to train its chatbot. The lawsuit said Anthropic violates the publishers rights through its use of lyrics from at least 500 songs ranging from the Beach Boys God Only Knows and the Rolling Stones Gimme Shelter to Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars Uptown Funk and Beyonces Halo. Representatives for Anthropic did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The publishers attorney Matt Oppenheim declined to comment on the litigation but said it is well-established by copyright law that an entity cannot reproduce, distribute, and display someone elses copyrighted works to build its own business unless it secures permission from rightsholders. Many copyright owners, including authors and visual artists, have sued tech companies such as Meta Platforms and Microsoft-backed OpenAI over the use of their work to train generative-AI systems. The music publishers lawsuit appears to be the first case over song lyrics and the first against Anthropic, which has drawn financial backing from Google, Amazon and former cryptocurrency billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried. The lawsuit accused Anthropic of infringing the publishers copyrights by copying their lyrics without permission as part of the massive amounts of text that it scrapes from the internet to train Claude, its AI chatbot, to respond to human prompts. The publishers also say that Claude illegally reproduces the lyrics by request, and in response to a whole range of prompts that do not seek Publishers lyrics, including requests to write a song about a certain topic, provide chord progressions for a given musical composition, or write poetry or short fiction in the style of a certain artist or songwriter. For example, the lawsuit said that Claude will provide relevant lyrics from Don McLeans American Pie when asked to write a song about the death of rock pioneer Buddy Holly. The publishers asked the court for money damages and an order to stop the alleged infringement. Topics Lawsuits InsurTech Data Driven Artificial Intelligence Tennessee A manufacturer and a famous horse-racing operation are expanding in Tennessee and Kentucky, bringing millions of dollars in investment, hundreds of new jobs and the potential need for more workers compensation, property and liability coverage. In Lexington, Kentucky, Keeneland, the sprawling race course, horse breeding and auction facility, said it will build a paddock and enhance its saddling paddock to expand viewing and improve safety for horses and spectators. The project, estimated at nearly $93 million, has already received preliminary approval for incentives up to $23.2 million from the Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority, a Wednesday news release from the historic track stated. It will be Keenelands largest capital project since its 1936 opening and the first since the library was built in 2002. Keeneland president and CEO Shannon Arvin said the saddling improvements will provide more space for horses and horsemen along with offering clearer views to showcase the beauty and pageantry of our equine and human athletes. This project is central to our mission because it will allow us to welcome more fans and give them a variety of world-class experiences during our race meets and beyond, Arvin added. Construction on the three-level paddock building will begin in January after its all-ages horse sale, with completion scheduled for fall 2025. Planned within the current layout of the administrative building and jockey quarters, it will extend along the paddock and walking ring and include seated dining, new bars and a panoramic rooftop. New jockey quarters will allow fans to view riders walking through before each race, the release added. A two-story operations building within walking distance of the track is also planned. Keenelands spring and fall meets and equine sales will continue at full capacity during construction. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear called the project an exciting investment that will create opportunities for everyone to enjoy and boost the horse racing and tourism industries the latter of which had a record 2022, the release added. Leaders like Keeneland are going to help ensure Kentuckys success continues for years to come, Beshear added. In Lenoir City, Tennessee, Malibu Boats said it plans to invest $75 million and hire 770 new employees to produce some of its Cobalt boat brand vessels in an existing facility at the Roane Regional Business and Technology Park. We need somewhere else to be able to meet the demand, Chief Operating Officer Ritchie Anderson told WBIR-TV. Production is expected to begin at the new facility in the first quarter of 2024 and hiring for the new jobs is expected to start about the same time. The location in Lenoir City would be the companys second plant outside of its headquarters in Loudon, state officials said in a statement earlier this month. Roane County Executive Wade Creswell told WBIR that it was the largest private jobs announcement in the county`s history. Photo: Irad Ortiz Jr. rides Forte to victory past Juan Hernandez on Cave Rock during the Breeders Cup Juvenile raceat the Keenelend Race Course, Friday, Nov. 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File) Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Tennessee Manufacturing Kentucky October 20, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Natural Gas Prices Decreased this Week, and currently, natural gas is trading at $3.26 per million British Thermal Units (MMBtu). Gas supplies to Europe remained higher than average despite the closure of gas imports from Israeli occupation through Egypt. With European gas storage tanks filled up to 85%, it seems that the European Union is prepared to face the early cold temperatures before the arrival of winter. Even with geopolitical tensions threatening to escalate in the Middle East, one of the world's largest natural gas demand sources, Europe, seems to have the capacity to sustain itself for an extended period. At the same time, the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) has been fluctuating with high volatility and instability. Geopolitical tensions in Palestine are supporting the flow of liquidity into safe-haven assets. On the other hand, yields on U.S. Treasury bonds have risen to their highest levels in years, with 10-year U.S. Treasury bonds surpassing 5% at one point. A fundamental rule in financial markets is that yields above 5% represent a turning point, where high yields on bonds and securities may begin to harm the economy and potentially lead to a recession shortly, weakening the strength of the U.S. dollar. I believe that the market drivers influencing natural gas prices are the escalating events in the Middle East at present. The latest data from the Egyptian Ports Authority shows that liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessels are departing ports with only partial loads of LNG due to the closure of gas fields in the occupied Palestinian territories. With the increasing frequency of nightly shelling in Middle Eastern countries and the deployment of drones by a U.S. military carrier, the United States could be drawn into war, which could lead to an increase in gas prices in the near term. According to estimates from the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ), the world will need $7 trillion to ensure an adequate supply of gas until 2050. Today, the markets are eagerly awaiting some important data in addition to geopolitical news and developments in the Middle East conflict. The Baker Hughes Gas Rig Count report is scheduled to be released this evening at approximately 17:00 GMT. It's worth noting that the previous figure was 117, which is still far from the high number of 167 in 2022. No market expectations have been set, and it is believed that this data will significantly impact the markets by the end of the day and the weekly closures of natural gas and other assets. Technical Analysis of the (XNG/USD) Prices: Natural gas prices remain elevated, up more than 25% since the start of the conflict in Gaza. With the approach of the winter season, I anticipate increased price volatility. Gas prices could see a significant decline as temperatures drop and winter officially begins. Prices will also be influenced by heightened risks due to tensions in the Middle East during the winter period. I expect a substantial increase in demand for natural gas and petroleum derivatives, leading to unusual price movements in the markets. Given the current geopolitical headlines and the technical price action on the daily chart, I anticipate sharp fluctuations in the short and medium term. There are no significant resistance levels in place to prevent further price increases, except for the $3.65 level, which was last seen on January 17. If this level is breached and confirmed, prices are likely to climb towards the 2023 high, near $4.3080. (XNG/USD) Prices Chart - MT4 Platform from XS.com From another negative technical perspective, the bearish scenario becomes active if the trend channel fails to act as support near $3.37 and prices remain consistently below it, closing the week lower. In this case, natural gas prices could briefly decline to around $3.07, which is near the peak support from mid-August. If the decline below this level turns into a primary trend, prices may drop below $3 towards the area near the 55-day simple moving average at approximately 2.98 units. Source: Streetwise Reports October 20, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Two of this clean energy company's associated hydrogen hubs have been selected for the U.S. Department of Energy's Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs (H2Hubs) program and up to US$1 billion in funding. Jericho Energy Ventures Inc. (JEV:TSX.V; JROOF:OTC; JLM:FSE) announced that two of its associated hydrogen hubs have been selected for the U.S. Department of Energy's Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs (H2Hubs) program and up to US$1 billion in funding each. The Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen (MachH2) and the Pacific Northwest Regional Hydrogen Hub (PNWH2) were among 33 of 79 proposals invited to proceed with the final application for funding. Seven were chosen. "We are thrilled that the DOE has selected the MachH2 and PNWH2 coalitions, of which we are proud members," Jericho Chief Executive Officer Brian Williamson said. "We are poised to contribute to this initiative with our patented, zero-emission hydrogen-fueled boilers, enhancing clean industrial and commercial steam production. ... Our aspiration aligns with DOE's vision of a nationwide clean hydrogen infrastructure, and we are hopeful that JEV's green hydrogen-focused industrial decarbonization projects will be a contender for inclusion across all H2Hubs." Jericho subsidiary Hydgrogen Technologies' Dynamic Combustion Chamber boiler burns hydrogen and oxygen in a vacuum chamber to create high-temperature water and steam with no greenhouse gases or other pollutants. The only by-product is water, which is recycled. It's meant to replace existing boilers that burn coal, natural gas, diesel, or fuel oil. The Catalyst: 'A Buying Opportunity' for Clean Energy Stock The boilers are being considered for deployment at major facilities around the world, with feasibility studies being conducted or considered at dozens of locations, the company has said. Marina Domingues, a senior analyst on independent Norwegian research house Rystad Energy's Clean Tech team, told Hydrogen Insight that the hubs should encourage more investment in clean hydrogen, a sector where banks have been reluctant to shoulder risk. "The hubs will show the financial community where they can invest their money and get their return," Domingues said. "It reduces the technical risk because the government is investing, and because demand is baked into the proposal, it makes hydrogen projects more bankable." Over the past month, Jericho has "reported several promising updates which reaffirm our investment thesis and target price," analyst Nicholas Cortelluci of Atrium Research wrote in a September 26 research note. The stock was at CA$0.23 per share Wednesday after hitting CA$0.33 this summer. Since that time, the company "has only reported progressively strong announcements," including strong test results for a new iridium-free catalyst, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to supply hydrogen to a leading supplier in Europe, and a new patent for Hydrogen Technologies' DCC boiler, Cortelluci noted. The analyst put a Buy rating on the stock with an unchanged CA$0.50 per share target price. "We view the pullback as a buying opportunity ahead of boiler sales orders," Cortelluci wrote. "We continue to elect to value the investment at cost given the lack of visibility and await a value-creation event (i.e., takeout). Our estimates and valuation remain unchanged." 'Faster Action Is Required' Funded by President Joe Biden's Infrastructure Law, the seven hubs are meant to help start a network of hydrogen producers, consumers, and infrastructure while supporting the production, storage, and delivery of the element. The winners were announced on October 13. The H2Hubs are expected to produce 3 million metric tons of hydrogen every year, reaching nearly one-third of the 2030 U.S. production target and lowering carbon emissions. Hydrogen is the most plentiful element in the universe, but it doesn't occur on its own naturally on Earth. It needs to be separated from water or hydrocarbon carbons using electrolyzers. But in order to meet a net-zero emissions goals, the world needs more hydrogen technology and projects, the International Energy Agency wrote. "Faster action is required on creating demand for low-emission hydrogen and unlocking investment that can accelerate production scale-up and deployment of infrastructure," the agency wrote. The hydrogen market has the "potential for near-zero greenhouse gas emissions," the DOE said. "Hydrogen generates electrical power in a fuel cell, emitting only water vapor and warm air. It holds promise for growth in both the stationary and transportation energy sectors." It's also a "uniquely versatile energy carrier," according to a report by the Hydrogen Council. "It can be produced using different energy inputs and different production technologies," the council noted. "It can also be converted to different forms and distributed through different routes - from compressed gas hydrogen in pipelines through liquid hydrogen on ships, trains or trucks, to synthesized fuel routes." The company is also collaborating with a "leading global alcoholic beverage company" to study using the boilers at production facilities in four countries and recently announced it was partnering with two other companies to manufacture, implement, and service a new DCC boiler-based hydrogen steam plant called the HSP3000 that will come pre-assembled in container-sized units and eliminate the CO2 equivalent of about 5,000 cars. Ownership and Share Structure Around 35% of Jericho's shares are held by management, insiders, and insider institutional investors, the company said. They include CEO Brian Williamson, who owns 1.25% or about 3.1 million shares; founder Allen William Wilson, who owns 0.79% or about 1.97 million shares; and board member Nicholas Baxter, who owns 0.46%, or about 1.14 million shares, according to Reuters. Around 10% of shares are held by non-insider institutions, and 65% are in retail, the company said. JEV's market cap is CA$57.07 million, and it trades in a 52-week range of CA$0.44 and CA$0.21. It has 248.14 million shares outstanding, 178.38 million of them floating. More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. 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That's all it takes to get an article published on Investor Ideas - Learn More Source: Streetwise Reports October 20, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) This company trying to chip away at China's dominance in the production of rare earths vital to the green economy has taken another important step. Find out why one analyst says this company is set to take a leading role in North America for the elements. Defense Metals Corp. (DEFN:TSX.V; DFMTF:OTCQB; 35D:FSE) announced that samples of mixed rare earth oxide and mixed rare earth carbonate from its Wicheeda rare earth element (REE) project have been sent to select processors, refiners, and metals traders around the world to independently verify their quality. The samples were generated during this year's hydrometallurgical piloting test work performed on concentrate generated from the wholly owned rare earths project in British Columbia. Their sample specifications are varied, Defense Metals said. The companies receiving them could represent future offtake or strategic partners for the company. The shipments are a critical first step. "Given that rare earth magnet production needs to double in the next decade to satisfy the demand created by electric vehicles (EVs), a new and significant western supplier, such as Defense Metals, is essential," said Craig Taylor, chief executive officer of Defense Metals. China accounts for about 60% of current REE mine production and more than 85% of the refined output of REEs. Bob Moriarty of 321gold.com wrote that attacks by Hamas on Israel show how critical it is for the West to find more sources of the minerals. "In an unstable world, it is vital to have control of the resources you need to maintain your economy," Moriarty wrote. Moriarty noted that Defense Metals could produce as much as 10% of the world's REEs at full output. "The world is in a conflict, and finding a reliable source of supply for critical minerals is far more important than price," Moriarty wrote. The global market for the elements is expected to grow from US$2.6 billion in 2020 to US$5.5 billion in 2028, according to a report by Fortune Business Insights. "The rising demand for consumer durables such as tablets, laptops, and smartphones (are some) of the factors driving the consumption of rare earth elements," the report said. "The demand for these elements in developing economies is estimated to expand rapidly." The Catalyst: Co. Has Potential to Be 'Globally Significant' The company recently announced that tests performed on Wicheeda samples confirmed the production of high-grade flotation concentrate at a high recovery rate at the project. "Our recent results show that the Wicheeda feedstock can be crushed, ground, and floated to produce a rare earth flotation product with similar or better recoveries and grades to the top producers globally," Taylor said. "Our project has many favorable conditions for success: mineralogy, metallurgy, infrastructure, and community collaboration further supporting a path to production." Wicheeda has "the potential to be a globally significant producer" of REEs, analyst Mark Reichman of Noble Capital Markets has noted in a research note. "The project has several competitive advantages, including a mining-friendly location, well-developed infrastructure, and a strong technical team," Reichman wrote. He kept his Outperform rating on the stock and set a target price of CA$0.70 per share. "Wicheeda is well positioned to take a leading role in the North American and Global REE supply chain," Reichman wrote. Favorable Results, Updated MRE The comminution and beneficiation test work on the samples was done by SGS Canada Inc. in Lakefield, Ontario. A total of 90 open-circuit flotation tests, using 1 or 2 kilograms of feed, were conducted on seventeen individual variability samples, various composites, and blends. Considering all open-circuit flotation tests, at a feed grade of 3% TREO (Total Rare Earth Oxide), the best-fit line indicated 80% recovery to a 45% TREO concentrate, Defense said. In addition, 29 bulk flotation tests using 10 or 12-kilogram charges were completed to both further optimize parameters and generate 16 kilograms of 46% TREO content with a recovery of 78% for use as feed for hydrometallurgical tests. The company said very favorable results were obtained in a locked cycle test on a deposit composite, giving a recovery rate of 85% of the rare earths at a concentrate grade of 50.7% TREO. Defense Metals also recently announced a significant upgrade to its Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for Wicheeda, increasing the total TREO by 17%, or a 31% tonnage increase, compared to an MRE in 2021. The MRE comprised a 6.4 million tonne Measured Mineral Resource, averaging 2.86% TREO; a 27.8 million tonne Indicated Mineral Resource, averaging 1.84% TREO; and an 11.1 million tonne Inferred Mineral Resource, averaging 1.02% TREO. The results are reported at a cut-off grade of 0.5% TREO within a conceptual open pit shell, the company said. Once it reaches commercial production, Wicheeda is expected to produce more than 25,000 tonnes of rare earth oxide annually, Reichman wrote. "It all begins with developing a world-class deposit that contains high-quality ore," Reichman wrote. "We think Defense Metals is well positioned to benefit from growing demand for rare earths for use in electric vehicle batteries, metal alloys, and advanced technology applications." Ownership and Share Structure About 5% of the company's stock is owned by insiders, including Director Andrew S. Burgess with 1.63% or 4.18 million shares, and CEO Taylor with 0.98% or 2.5 million shares, according to Reuters. About 11% of the company is owned by institutional entities, including RCF Opportunities Fund II LP, with 10%, the company said. The rest, 84%, is retail. Defense Metals has a market cap of CA$51.16 million with 255.78 million shares outstanding and 212.98 million free floating. It trades in a 52-week range of CA$0.39 and CA$0.18. More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp Get Great Trading Ideas and News Alerts Guest posts and sponsored content - Got $100? That's all it takes to get an article published on Investor Ideas - Learn More Source: Streetwise Reports October 20, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Andrew Weekly of SmithWeekly Research goes over some of his top uranium stocks to look into. Founded in 2007, SmithWeekly Research is an independent market research firm, with a focus on the natural resource sector. Source: SmithWeekly Research SmithWeekly prides itself on research with a focus "characterized by terms including cyclical, volatile, contrarian, high-risk, high reward, illiquid, underappreciated, small capitalization, overlooked, complex, material moat, and network critical market focus." While this may seem like a tall order, SmithWeekly has been reporting on stocks in the natural resource sector with impressive results. In light of these results, we sat down with Andrew Weekly, the founder and CEO of the company, to go over his method and what companies he believes will be worth your while in 2023. Andrew Weekly has 18 years of experience in the investment space and ten years in analysis. While Weekly's experience is eclectic, for the past seven years, he has put his time and energy into the natural resource market, specifically uranium. Uranium is Compelling Weekly told Streetwise Reports that SmithWeekly began research on the uranium sector in late 2015/early 2016, not sending out an official report on the sector until 2017. They prided themselves on doing a year of prep before making any decisions and have been bullish on the sector ever since. Regarding uranium, Weekly said, "It is one of the most compelling areas in the market to look at. It has quite a wide moat. It's a very small sector compared to places like the gold or copper sector, other critical metals, and even a lot of base metals." This is one of the reasons SmithWeekly has centered itself within the sector for so long. When asked what companies Weekly would recommend, he said, "I think it's important for your audience to understand that some of these companies that we've been following and been a part of for a number of years, we own at a level much lower than today's prices." He specified that this doesn't mean you shouldn't consider the companies in their portfolio. However, it must be understood that things within the sector ebb and flow. With that in mind, Weekly did share a few companies that are in the sector. Cameco Corp. "We like everything that Cameco Corp. (CCO:TSX; CCJ:NYSE) is doing in the market," Weekly started. Cameco is a major global supplier of uranium, a fuel used to power nuclear energy reactors around the world. As one of the largest uranium mining and milling companies, Cameco owns interests in operations capable of producing over 30 million pounds of uranium concentrate per year. The company has proven and probable uranium reserves exceeding 469 million pounds. In addition to mining and milling uranium, Cameco provides refining, conversion, and fuel manufacturing services. The company is a large employer of Indigenous peoples in Canada, where most of its land holdings and mining operations are located in northern Saskatchewan. Cameco helps meet the growing demand for emissions-free nuclear energy to support net-zero climate goals. Regarding the company, Weekly stated, "They are supporting better pricing and a healthier market going forward. Cameco is a great choice for safer money that needs capable hands. Cameco is also edging near the closing of their strategic move to acquire an interest in Westinghouse Nuclear, a notable brand name, and preferred supplier in the fuel cycle." According to Reuters, 73.10% of Cameco Corp. is with institutional investors. Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC has 5.07%, with 21.99 million shares. The Vangaurd Group Inc. has 3.49%, with 15.13 million. Capital World Investors has 3.29%, with 14.28 million. Mirae Asset Global Investments (USA) LLC has 2.87%, with 12.44 million, and T. Rowe Price Associates Inc. has 2.35%, with 10.19 million. 0.40% is held by management and insiders. Director Tim Gitzel has 0.10%, with 0.44 million shares, and Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer Grant Isaac has 0.06%, with 0.27 million. The rest is for retail investors. Market Watch notes that the company has a market cap of US$16.43 billion, 433.31 million shares outstanding, and trades in the 52-week range between US$21.22 and US$42.17. You can see Cameco's investor page here. Deep Yellow Ltd. Deep Yellow Ltd. (DYL:ASX) The first Weekly touched on was Deep Yellow Ltd. (DYL:ASX). Deep yellow Ltd. is a uranium exploration company, focused on developing one of the largest global inventories to establish a +10Mlb per annum, multi-mine producer and provide security and certainty of long-term supply into a growing market. Deep Yellow has two projects. One is in Namibia, and one is in Western Australia. Weekly said that while they are a development-focused company, it is very likely they could be a producer in the future. According to Reuters, 5.65% of the company's stock is with management and insiders. CEO John Borshoff has the most out of management at 1.99%, with 15.01 million shares, and Executive Director Gillian Swaby has 1.29%, with 9.76 million. 23.70% is with institutions and strategic investors. Paradice Investment Management Pty. Ltd. has the most at 8.04%, with 61.01 million shares. Alps Advisors Inc. has 6.27%, with 47.58 million. Mirae Asset Global Investments (USA) LLC has 4.70%, with 35.61 million. 3.83% is with strategic investors. Lexband Pty. Ltd. has the largest in this category at 2.50%, with 18.96 million shares. The rest is in retail. Deep Yellow has a market cap of AU$955.57 million and 758.39 million shares outstanding. It trades in the 52-week range between AU$0.475 and AU$1.395. You can view Deep Yellow's corporate presentation here. enCore Energy Next, Weekly recommended enCore Energy Corp. (EU:TSX.V; ENCUF:OTCQX). enCore is a uranium development company based in the United States. According to the company, "enCore is focused on becoming the next uranium producer from its licensed and past-producing South Texas Rosita Processing Plant by 2023." [OWNERSHIP_CHART-10356] Weekly explained, "enCore energy is a U.S.-focused ISR company and has our meeting in situ recovery. So they have 100% Focus on United States ISR production and development. And they have projects both in Texas and Wyoming and some other jurisdictions as well." According to Reuters, 2.13% of the company's stock is held by management and insiders. Executive Chairman William M. Sheriff. MSc has 1.36%, with 2.03 million. 24.60% is with institutions and strategic investors. Mirae Asset Global Investments (USA) LLC has 3.63%, with 5.38 million shares. Commodity Capital AG has 1.35%, with 2 million shares, and State Street Global Advisors (US) has 1.28%, with 1.90 million. The rest is in retail. EnCore Energy has a market cap of CA$604.96 million and 144.38 million shares outstanding. It trades in the 52-week range between CA$2.42 and CA$4.75 You can view EnCore Energy's corporate presentation here. Ur-Energy Keeping focus on the United States development and restart segment, Ur-Energy Inc. (URG:NYSE.MKT; URE:TSX) is on his list. He said, "Despite Ur-Energy being a frequently overlooked ISR restart company in Wyoming, notable expansion potential exists via the development of pipeline projects at Shirley Basin and Lost Soldier. [OWNERSHIP_CHART-525] Additional capacity at the Lost Creek facilities can be filled out with these satellite projects as well as through toll processing from peer companies in the region. As work progresses and initial cash flows start coming in, we expect expansion work to follow shortly after, bringing the potential of 1.5-2 million pounds of production from Lost Creek in the next 24 to 36 months and potentially more thereafter once the local pipeline is developed. Timing and aggressiveness based on uranium pricing underpinned by term contracts to back up the capital expenditures. The team at Ur-Energy has very good ISR expertise and has a proven production center around them with attractive cost profiles." According to Reuters, 51.37% of the company is held by institutional investors. MMCAP Asset Management has 9/76%, with 25.94 million shares. Alps Advisors Inc. has 6.21%, with 16.51 million. Sprott Asset Management LP has 5.76%, with 15.30 million. CQS (US) LLC has 4.89%, with 13.01 million, and Azarias Capital Management LP has 4.65%, with 12.35 million. 1.75% is with management and insiders. Director Willaim Boberg has 0.39%, with 1.04 million. The rest is in retail. Market Watch notes that Ur-Energy's market cap is US$398.62 million. It has 264.93 million shares outstanding and trades in the 52-week range between US$0.82 and US$1.68. You can view the company's investor presentation here. Cosa Resources Last but not least, Weekly mentioned Cosa Resources Corp. (COSA:CNSX;COSA:CSE).Cosa Resources is a Vancouver-based mineral exploration company focused on uranium projects in Canada's Athabasca Basin, northern Saskatchewan. The company has a portfolio of seven underexplored uranium properties totaling over 147,000 hectares in the uranium-rich Athabasca Basin region. The leadership team behind Cosa Resources has extensive experience and a proven track record with uranium exploration and discovery in the basin after their success with the discovery of the Hurricane deposit while at IsoEnergy. With its portfolio of early-stage uranium projects, Cosa Resources is well-positioned to potentially make new discoveries in this proven Canadian uranium mining jurisdiction. In a July interview, Weekly mentioned the team's discovery of a uranium deposit in the eastern Athabasca Basin in 2020 at their former company, IsoEnergy. Thereafter, the team departed to form Cosa Resources, a new startup focused on early-stage uranium exploration in the east Athabasca Basin region. This area has better infrastructure and more productive capacity compared to other parts of the basin. The goal of the new company is to repeat the IsoEnergy success. The projects are early-stage greenfield exploration with high risk but have strong potential. Weekly also mentioned that the company is led by CEO Keith Bodnarchuk, who is well-positioned to lead the company forward. The exploration team, led by Steve Blower and Andy Carmichael, has demonstrated abilities with recent successes just a few years ago. While very high-risk with no drilling yet, the company offers upside potential for those willing to take on the risk in the hunt for new uranium deposits in this prolific region, Weekly commented. Reuters reports that 17.18% of the company is held by management and insiders. Executive Vice President & Director Wes Short has 5.03%, with 2.32 million shares. President, Chief Executive Officer, Director Keith Bodnarchuk has 4.14%, with 1.91 million. Chairman Steve Blower has 3.70%, with 1.70 million, and Vice President of Exploration Andy Carmichael has 2.34%, with 1.08 million. The rest is with retail. Market Watch reports that Cosa has a market cap of CA$$12.44 million. It has 43.66 million shares outstanding and trades in the 52-week range between CA$0.29 and CA$0.32. You can view the company's investor presentation here. On a final note, Weekly mentioned, "While we covered some of the companies we are focused on within this article, we've not discussed all of them, and we encourage interested parties to consider SmithWeekly Research to obtain all information about the sector as well as the opportunities we are looking at. We also remind readers that this is only a small starting point for you to do your own review and research on the sector. We encourage you to do your own work and make your own decisions." More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp Get Great Trading Ideas and News Alerts Guest posts and sponsored content - Got $100? That's all it takes to get an article published on Investor Ideas - Learn More A 40-year-old inmate at the private prison in Shelby has been sentenced to life in prison for a 2021 attack on a correctional officer. Landin John Gwynn, of Havre, had been serving a 3-year prison sentence that would have ended Wednesday, the Montana Department of Justice said. The 2021 attack left one correctional officer with a traumatic brain injury, according to court filings. The assault ended when the prison's warden tackled Gwynn off the officer, court documents state. The episode started around the same time Crossroads Correctional Center, the private prison operated by CoreCivic near Shelby, was experiencing a water shortage in July 2021 that also sapped the Hi-Line town nearby. Inmates at the time told the Montana State News Bureau the outage had escalated tensions between inmates and prison staff, although a CoreCivic spokesperson insisted the assault was unrelated. According to District Court Judge Greg Bonilla's Oct. 13 order, Gwynn argued he was acting under "extreme emotions or mental disturbance" during the water outage, which prevented toilets from flushing. Bonilla rejected this justification. "A strong odor and a stressful, but not harmful, situation in a prison setting cannot ever be considered sufficiently extreme to mitigate an unprovoked attack upon a correctional officer," Bonilla wrote, adding the officer was passing out water to mitigate the outage. Gwynn in September pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, which carries a 20-year maximum penalty, as part of an agreement with prosecutors. A sentencing enhancement in state law, however, states a person "shall" be "sentenced to death or life imprisonment" if the charge occurred while they were in prison. Montana Department of Corrections records show Gwynn has been held Montana State Prison near Deer Lodge since shortly after the incident. William Schmidt, an inmate alleged to have participated with Gwynn in the attack, is scheduled to go to trial in January. The Department of Justice noted in a press release this week Schmidt's charges relate to attacks on two additional prison staff. Assistant Attorney General Patrick Moody prosecuted the case, which was investigated by Robert "Terry" Leonard with the Montana Department of Corrections. Ireland and the UK are now in a much better place when it comes to future certainty on trade and economic relationships following several years of uncertainty over Brexit, the British ambassador to Ireland Paul Johnston has said. Speaking to the Irish Examiner while on a visit to Cork to mark the fifth anniversary of the Joining the Dots programme, Mr Johnston said businesses in Ireland and the North can now plan with confidence for the future in a way that was not possible just a few years ago. The programme promotes economic, civic and academic connections between the regions of Ireland the UK. On his visit, he also announced the appointment of Katherine Fitzpatrick as the British Embassy's new Honorary Consul for the South-West of Ireland. Mr Johnston said Joining the Dots was a programme that was ahead of its time. "It was something that was conceived at quite a difficult time in the relationship. We were part way through the Brexit saga, we didn't quite know how it would turn out, and that was obviously a period of some uncertainty for the British-Irish relationship generally, including the business relationship." "The idea behind it was two-fold, one to sort of express confidence in the long-term relationship knowing that whatever was happening in the Brexit negotiations we'd get on to a stable fruiting, but two was that we wanted to show that the British-Irish relationship was more than just the government's in London and Dublin. "It was actually regions and people and business and culture and new sectors across the whole of Ireland and across the whole of the UK, hence consciously starting it in Cork rather than in Dublin. Joining the Dots was established in 2018 by the then foreign affairs and trade minister Simon Coveney, in partnership with Cork Chamber of Commerce. A report published at the time identified untapped opportunities to connect business, researchers and academia to promote UKIrish economic growth. A survey of businesses at the time found 93% envisaged future potential for expanded collaboration between the UK and Ireland, with the opportunity of addressing the lack of networks and knowledge gap between both areas as being instrumental in developing collaboration. Brexit While Brexit was flagged as a concern in multiple cases, many organisations in both Ireland and the UK felt the businesses in their region were operating "business as usual". The UK remains a key target market and export region for Irish firms. For an SME, it is often its first export market. Similarly, Ireland is seen as a logical first step for many UK companies seeking to test their capability in overseas markets. "Things like Russia and Ukraine remind us that, in a way, our safest and most secure trading partners are those nearest to us. Because of the proximity, because the people are so connected there is a bit of a risk that we can you know, we could take each other for granted," the ambassador said. "I think Joining the Dots was something that was quite sort of purposeful about reminding each other that we exist I think particularly perhaps reminding the British business sector that Ireland exists as a close and friendly market and a very obviously prosperous country." Since its establishment, there has been significant activity in Cork and beyond and the programme has expanded to Galway, Limerick and Derry as well as Manchester, Birmingham and Coventry. Many regions use the programme to focus on a specific area. Derry, for example, focuses on healthcare. Cork places a strong emphasis on climate change and sustainability, seeing what learnings can be made through stronger connections with other regions. To mark the fifth anniversary, two days of events took place this week where the ambassador met with Cork Chamber CEO Conor Healy and the Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Kieran McCarthy. He also visited a number of locations in Cork, including UCC and met with representatives from the Cork business and academic community. On Thursday, a day-long conference hosted by Cork City Council and the embassy took place in Cork and focused on retrofitting homes and buildings and the challenges regions like Cork can face. Those addressing the conference came from a variety of backgrounds and sectors and from different regions across Ireland and the UK. Speaking to the Irish Examiner following her appointment, Ms Fitzpatrick said the aim of the voluntary role is to encourage greater business, research, civic and cultural connections between the South-West of Ireland and UK regions and expand on the work already carried out in the past five years. There are so many opportunities for connecting the South-West of Ireland with the UK regions. Obviously business is one perspective but also civic, cultural and research through the education sector. "It's really about the opportunity for the embassy to grow its networks in the South-West. It will be about facilitating introductions, facilitating conversations and seeing where those go." Opportunity for regions She said there was a significant opportunity for regions to create their own connections outside of their capitals. "London and Dublin do fine, by virtue of the fact they are capital cities. They naturally have the pull, they have the delegations, they have the trade shows they have a lot going on but throughout the regions we said, we could be doing more," Ms Fitzpatrick said. Mr Johnston said growth for regions outside their capitals was a priority for both countries. "In the last couple of years, when Boris Johnson came into power in Britain, we had this emphasis on so-called levelling up, the idea that if the economy was going to grow sustainably it couldn't just depend on the city of London or the South-East of England. "I guess you've got the same thing here in the National Infrastructure Plan and the National Development Plan that Dublin and the multinationals are not a sustainable basis for your economic development and now Cork needs to flourish and Galway needs to flourish and so I think in that sense we were sort of anticipating some of the trends that have that are developed in the last few years." He said looking to the future many of the concerns over Brexit have been allayed and businesses now have a level of certainty. "The fact that we have the Trade and Cooperation Agreement settled, the fact that in Northern Ireland we have the Windsor Framework settled and the government's quite clear that we're not reopening that, we're not going back on that, then business knows both in Ireland in the Northern Ireland what's going to be the framework of the UK-EU relationship and therefore the UK-Irish relationship for the years to come." "Now, the Trade and Cooperation Agreement gets renewed in 2025 which is after our next general election. Personally speaking, it doesn't look like there will be big structural shifts in the relationship whatever the election outcome. "I think people can plan with confidence that the broad outlines of where we are, is where we would remain. Similarly, there will be a vote in the Northern Ireland Assembly after a four-year period on the Windsor Framework, but again, I think you would expect, looking at current trends in North Ireland that people would think that is a good solution. It gives Northern Ireland access to the EU single market for goods, to the UK single market as well, so you would hope that in both those respects, business would be able to plan their investments confidently for the future knowing that the overall new parameters of our relationships are clear in a way that they certainly weren't five years ago." Finance Minister Michael McGrath suggested there will be no additional energy cost supports for businesses as the winter months loom, despite two wars putting pressure on the markets. Mr McGrath said he acknowledges the volatility of the energy markets, driven by conflict in Ukraine and in Gaza, but added that the Government is focused on increasing consumer spending which he said will eventually help businesses offset any further rising costs. Weve seen the cost of a barrel of oil move considerably up, down and back up in the last number of weeks and that volatility is likely to continue over the period ahead and, of course, does have an impact on consumers, but also on business, he said. Oil prices are set to rise for a second week as the Israel-Palestine war shows no signs of ending. Brent crude, the benchmark used for the oil market in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, originating from oil fields in the North Sea, was up 88 cents to $93.26 a barrel by midday Friday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $90.32 a barrel, up 95 cents. These increases will eventually be shown in the price of fuel at the forecourts and could hit the price of oil used to heat homes and businesses. European natural gas prices also continue to climb as benchmark futures jumped more than 6% on Friday as concerns grow around how the war in the Middle East will affect global supply ahead of the winter. Mr McGrath said the Government is currently finalising the 250m package for small businesses announced in the budget but the details are still unclear. The Increased Costs of Business Scheme was set up to help companies that pay commercial rates of up to 20,000 a year. Through the scheme, these businesses would be entitled to a refund of 50% of their rates, which means a maximum refund of 10,000. However, the 20,000 threshold has received a backlash and Mr McGrath indicated that this was something being considered by the Minister for Enterprise, Simon Coveney. We acknowledge that the cost of doing business has increased significantly in part because of policy decisions that we have made, that are the right policy decisions, said Mr McGrath. Mr McGrath referenced the increase to the minimum wage as another burden for businesses inflicted by the Government but added that low-income workers must be able to pay all of the increased costs in their daily lives from the minimum wage. The most important thing we can do for small- and medium-sized businesses is to underpin a strong economy, putting more money back in the pockets for their customers and making sure there is demand for the goods and the services that those businesses sell, said Mr McGrath. Aid for flood-hit areas The minister made his comments while visiting Cork to discuss how the State has been responding to the devastating floods that has caused destruction to many homes and businesses especially in Midleton and Glanmire. A 10m package for premises effected by the floods is expected to be increased, Mr McGrath suggested. I expect that the final bill associated with this major flood event is going to be very significant, he said. Given the scale and the depth of the damage we do recognise that we do need to go beyond the existing parameters of that scheme, which currently involves a cap of 20,000 per premises, said Mr McGrath. Tech giants Google and Meta, Facebook's parent company, have pulled out of the upcoming Web Summit technology conference in November, following the fallout from the events founders tweets relating to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Siemens and Intel have also pulled out of the event due to be held in Lisbon, Portugal. It has also been reported that actress Gillian Anderson has withdrawn from her speaking role at the conference. Paddy Cosgrave, the CEO of Web Summit, issued an apology on Tuesday where he said he unreservedly condemnsHamass attack on October 7. He added: I unequivocally support Israels right to exist and to defend itself. I unequivocally support a two-state solution. I understand that what I said, the timing of what I said, and the way it has been presented has caused profound hurt to many. To anyone who was hurt by my words, I apologise deeply. What is needed at this time is compassion, and I did not convey that. My aim is and always has been to strive for peace. Ultimately, I hope with all my heart that this can be achieved. Mr Cosgrave said his comments were to urge Israel not to cross the boundaries of international law in its response to Hamas atrocities. Tickets for Web Summit range from 1,095 for general attendance up to 24,950 for a chairperson ticket which includes a personal event fulfilment manager and access to an exclusive lounge with prices set to increase later this month. The event aims to attract more than 70,000 people including companies redefining the tech industry. On Friday, a spokeswoman for Google said: We will no longer have a presence at Web Summit. A spokesman for Siemens said: Following recent developments surrounding Web Summit, we have reviewed the situation and determined that Siemens will not attend in 2023. Intel said in a statement: We can confirm that Intel has withdrawn from this years Web Summit. THEYRE two of Irelands most-lauded young talents so when Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal expressed a desire to work together, it was a no-brainer, as far as director Garth Davis was concerned. After meeting them to discuss their collaboration, the filmmaker even passed on the chemistry tests often used in such projects, so certain was he that Ronan and Mescal would be convincing on screen as a young married couple. The result is Foe, a sci-fi thriller which sees them play a young couple at a secluded farm as environmental changes wreak havoc on their lives and their relationship, and very hopes of survival are tested. Ronan and Mescal are Henrietta (Hen) and Junior, whose lives are upended when a stranger arrives at their home in the middle of the night. I didnt test them. I just knew it straight away that it was going to work, says Davis, having met the two stars separately early on. Thats what you have to do as a filmmaker, you have to follow your instinct, but I had a really strong feeling that this was going to work. You could definitely feel that there was a curiosity and a real interest to work together on both sides, so these things were all lining up really nicely. When we got into the room, to rehearsals, the first thing we did was actually rehearse the intimate scenes with the intimacy coordinator. Each of the lovemaking scenes in the movie are kind of pivotal moments in Hens journey, as shes kind of reconnecting with her old feelings and finding her agency. Paul Mescal and Saoirse Ronan in Foe. So in a way by rehearsing that first, not only did we get them to connect very early on, they kind of understood the journey that they were going to go on through all the scenes in between. The futuristic drama thriller piqued the Australian filmmakers interest when he initially read Iain Reids novel ( Im Thinking of Ending Things) on which it was based. In search of his latest feature, the director of 2016s multi-Oscar-nominated Lion co-wrote the screenplay with Reid. There are a great many elements to the films story and its fair to say the less audiences know going in to see Foe, the better. Even from the writing stages, Ronan began to come to mind as its star, Davis reveals: It had so many layers to it so it was fairly complex. But I guess the heart of it was quite simple. It was really a relationship about identity over time. If you take someone for granted you assume things for them, their identity changes and it happens slowly over time. I was really taken by how visual it was, he adds. It reminded me of an old Hitchcock setup with a stranger arriving in the night, that type of Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf drama. One thing that I was certain about is that I saw Hen as someone that exuded this delight, a sense of play, and someone that would feel precious and full of curiosity in this world thats very dystopian. So I knew that I wanted to find that quality and its not about acting, you cant act that stuff. Saoirse is obviously a prime candidate for that because you know, no matter what character she plays, her spirit just shines through everything she does. Shes just got that lovely brightness. Garth Davis , director of Foe. Picture: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for BFI) With Ronan on board, Davis met Mescal in Sydney. The Normal People star had read the screenplay and was keen to take on a role unlike anything hed done before. He was crazily excited about the film and the challenge of it, says the filmmaker. I could tell he could bring those alpha qualities, but he also had this feminine side as well, which is very important. And the shared Irish heritage was just like hitting the jackpot. It was going to bring even something else to the story. In our story, these people grew up in the Midwest, they married straight out of high school. All theyve ever known is that part of the world. So theres something nice about their shared heritage that brought a believability to the screen and just got that started in a really nice way. Though the movie is set in the US, Mescal and Ronan headed Down Under to Australia to shoot the film, which is almost entirely located in a remote farm. Set in the near future, the source novel has been described as a psychological thriller set against a science-fiction backdrop, and its clear from the opening scenes that the planet is in crisis. Clearly it was something for both of them that they hadnt done yet, and that intrigued them, says Davis of his two Irish leads. I know Saoirse was very passionate about the state of the planet and the metaphor of the relationship up against the planet. She found it very fascinating. All in all, it connected to them personally and when youve got that connection, it really fuels the creative process because theyre so invested, and theyre bringing their point of view and they want to own it. Rather than looking for you to give all the answers, its quite the opposite. Its like a true collaboration. Davis feels that part of Irelands huge success in the international TV and film stage in recent years is down to the choices actors such as Mescal and Ronan make: Thats whats so unique about these actors theyre very specific about the work that they do and it has to be meaningful to them. So theyre not necessarily taking the biggest jobs in the world. Theyre taking jobs they want to do, that define who they are and how they see the world. Foe opens in cinemas today Five movies to watch out for: Tommy Lee Jones and Jamie Foxx in The Burial. Killers of the Flower Moon (cinemas October 20): The story of the Osage Native American tribe in 1920s America is told in Martin Scorseses highly anticipated movie. The Burial (new to Prime Video): Tommy Lee Jones and Jamie Foxx bring their A-game in this blend of social and courtroom drama. Lies We Tell (now in cinemas): Anges OCasey and Chris Walley star in a tense period drama about a young heiress as she fights for her future. Trolls Band Together (cinemas October 20): When Floyd is kidnapped, the other trolls embark on an effort to rescue him in this family orientated movie. The Miracle Club (cinemas October 13): A group of women win a pilgrimage to Lourdes in a period Irish drama starring Laura Linney and Kathy Bates. I prefer Baz Ashmawy when hes jumping out of a plane with his mother. He has this goofy energy thats suited to action. But in Best Place to Be (RTE1 and RTE Player), hes too much. I like the premise. Baz is sent off around the world to find Irish people who escaped the old sod and basically ask them do they ever miss the place. This has all the makings of a brilliant hate watch because people who move abroad are insufferably smug about it. (All I have to do to get angry is read those Irish Times articles by Irish people who found their true selves in Malmo.) But Baz spoils the first half of the first episode by being way too hyper for chilled couple, Joan and John, who uprooted their sons from Roscommon to move to Catalonia. He shouts banter at them, so after a while, you sense theyre glad to be out of Ireland if this is the way people have gone. Its a shame because they have a great story. They left Boyle in Roscommon, partially because mother Joan didnt want her boys growing up in a still-stifled Ireland when it came to sexuality. They rocked up in Sitges in Spain with zero plan and even less Spanish. In fairness, they went to the bother of getting Spanish lessons for their sons before they started school in their new home. Unfortunately, all the other kids spoke Catalan. Joan just shrugged her shoulders at this and said they had to get on with it. Joan and John and the boys eventually moved to a handsome town in Catalonia youve never heard of, where they opened a hotel and started making their own wine. I would have hated them if they werent so nice. The other side of this story was a couple from Dublin, Roisin and Rene. They were sleek and very un-Irish so Baz didnt bother trying Paddy-banter with them. It might have been better if he did because this was a very dull story. Baz went to help Roisin in her event styling business. There was a lot of Baz walking around Barcelona complaining about the heat. It wasnt funny or dramatic, there was nothing at stake. It was just Baz telling a well-mannered event stylist that he was roasting. They should have bungee jumped from the top of the Sagrada Familia cathedral. It would have been random, but so was Baz setting a table in a dining room. Weve all gone on holidays and decided were wasting our lives away in Ireland. That makes this show a good idea, and with the right guests, its a great window into how humans make a home for themselves. Joan and John went to Spain and shrugged when they found out they had taught their sons the wrong language. Its a good story and it didnt do the sons, who feature here too, any harm. But in the absence of a good story its just Baz talking about the weather. And thats dull. In the early 1920s, the Native American Osage people were, per capita, the richest individuals in the world, this by virtue of the oil discovered beneath the Osage reservation in Oklahoma. Killers of the Flower Moon (15A) opens with Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio) arriving in Oklahoma to work for his uncle, William King Hale (Robert De Niro), a cattle rancher who has always been a great friend to the Osage. A war hero and an inveterate womaniser, Ernest soon settles down when he meets Mollie (Lily Gladstone), a full blood Osage and a wealthy woman from a family that seems cursed by premature death. But its not only Mollies family: all over the reservation, men and women are dying inexplicably, leaving behind the rights to their oil. Written by Eric Roth and Martin Scorsese, with Scorsese directing, Killers of the Flower Moon is an epic neo-Western almost three-and-a-half hours long that exposes the dark underbelly of the American Dream as the old pioneer spirit once more rides roughshod over the Native American people. Its a slow-burning story, certainly, but a burn that gradually becomes a raging tour-de-force as Roth and Scorsese lay bare the almost pathological greed for power and money that drives the White Man to betrayal, deception and systematic murder. De Niro turns in his best performance in years as King Hale, who is Iago-like in his malign ability to manipulate those who consider themselves his friends, and DiCaprio is equally impressive as the dim-witted Ernest, a weak man whose ridiculous posturing grows ever more sinister, with Lily Gladstone superbly understated as the cynical, ironic Mollie. Dont be put off by the run-time: Flowers of the Killer Moon unfolds like a thriller, albeit a thriller rich in psychological insight and wrapped in a complex emotional web. When the writer, Andrea Carter starts a new novel in her Inishowen series, she feels a great sense of satisfaction. She simply loves catching up with the cast of characters who live in the fictional town of Glendara. There is a sense that Im walking down the street in Glendara, am meeting Phyllis from the bookshop and shaking hands with the estate agent, Liam, and seeing all of the recurring characters, and Im going into the pub and seeing what theyve been up to in the last couple of years. I know it sounds strange, she says, laughing, but theyre all real to me, and I know how they will respond to a certain situation. I can hear their voices. That wont sound in the least odd to Carters legion of faithful readers. They often request that she focus more on their favourite character, and some of them reread the series to get ready for when a new novel comes out. One man, and resident of Inishowen, so enjoyed the series, that he sent the author a framed photograph of the Moville shore walk, and it was the sight of this on the wall above her desk, that inspired the location for the recently published Death Writes, the 6th book featuring the solicitor, Ben, (Benedicta,) OKeeffe. When we meet in Dublin, Carter looks glorious in a jewel-green vintage velvet coat. She expresses pre-publication jitters, but really, these arent necessary. Theres a charm about her crime books; a gentleness and old-fashioned feel. Theyre like a modern version of Agatha Christie, and this one, to my mind, is her best yet. Such is the lushness of her descriptive writing, that its no surprise to learn that the location is her starting point. I decided that the body would wash up on the Moville shore walk, or that something would happen there, she says. I love that walk and did it a lot when I lived in Inishowen. She wanted to bring all the local characters together and decided that the best idea was to have them gathering at a festival in Glendara. Discarding a general arts or music event, she settled on a book festival, because having attended many both as a panellist and moderator/interviewer, she knows exactly how they work. And as a lot of readers love Phylis, who runs the bookshop, it made sense to have her running it, says Carter. In Death Writes, the star guest, the local author Gavin Featherstone, collapses and dies on stage. Nothing like thats happened to me, she stresses, but I did once have a near disaster. It was at Murder One, a few years ago, and I was due to interview Steve Cavanagh. I had a cold but woke up on the morning of the interview with no voice at all. I could not speak. The sound guy set up the microphone to pick up my whisper. Steve was brilliant, and we managed to pull it off. She clearly had fun exploring the theme of writing and writers, with references to the mindset of crime writers that they are charming, because they get their aggression out on the page and to literary snobbery. The latter irritates her intensely. Every so often someone has a pop at crime fiction and says its of less quality than literary fiction, but theres good and bad writing, she says. And the notion that because its classified as literary fiction means its quality writing is nonsense. People dont say that to my face, but I do get a lot of men saying, I dont read fiction, or My wife reads crime fiction'. So, she was thrilled when, meeting the writer Richard Ford at the Belfast Literary Festival recently, he bought her book and asked her to sign it. He said, Will you sign this book for my wife, but Ill be reading it first. Death Writes by Andrea Carter Murder isnt the only thing on the authors mind. Theres a thread of grief running through the entire series and this one opens in Dublin, where a man Bens parents met through a bereavement group, is staying with them, long-term, and seems to be taking control of their lives. It also covers inheritance law. Carter is, herself a lawyer, and she began tinkering with writing in the years she spent running her own practice in the Inishowen Peninsula. And when she relocated to Dublin to work as a barrister, she started writing in earnest; she took many courses, and then, in 2013, took a years leave of absence from the bar in order to take an MFA in Creative Writing. During that time, I got an agent and a book deal, she says. So, I took another year, and kept taking an extra year each time I needed to write a book. Eventually, the bar council said I could leave but could return with a months notice. Will she return? She shrugs. Its always there, she says. I still consider myself a lawyer. I still think as a lawyer. These days she enjoys occasional teaching loving being able to pass on tips she learned in classes, as well as things shes picked up as a writer. A lot of it comes from my failures, she says, mentioning the two manuscripts sitting in a drawer. I now know what works for me. And one of the most important things is to stress to people that not everyone works in the same way. Even more important, she believes, is for a writer to develop their own voice. One of the ways is to write first thing in the morning, she says. Get up. Dont turn on the radio or phone and try not to talk to anybody. Go to your laptop via the coffee machine and go straight from Dreamworld to fiction. Thats what I do, every day. I write in my pyjamas, which for me is a treat, because I worked for 25 years in pinstripe suits. Andrea gains great support from the growing number of women crime writers in Ireland. But arent they all in competition? She shakes her head. Its not as if were all trying to write the same way, she says. We all write very different books. Carter recently enjoyed a month at the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris. Shed finished Death Writes and was working on a historical project. Its still embryonic, she says. I came home with notes, research, and 10,000 words of a novel. Over the years, Carter has been hugely successful. She had a story shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards in 2019, and her first three books are currently in production for television. But now, its time for a change. Shes working on a standalone crime novel. Im ready to write something different, she says. After lockdown I was ready to immerse myself in that world Id created in Glendara. I thoroughly enjoyed writing Death Writes. I wrote it more quickly than usual and feel content. Peace reigns and I know I can leave the characters for the time being. Im excited, but also terrified because its my first standalone. Why are women writers so attracted to the crime genre? In order to write crime fiction, you need to understand fear, says Carter. And women do understand it. As little girls were taught not to smile at the stranger; as teenagers, not to walk down that street on your own, and not to wear a short skirt; not to talk to anybody and not to get separated from your friends. As adult women, thats still the case. We know we have to be afraid. TV SHOW Ireland's Most Evil Killers From October 19, Sky Crime and streaming on NOW The people behind the Britain's Most Famous Killers series are venturing over to Ireland. The series will look at some of the most notorious murderers in Ireland. The five-part series will feature Joe O'Reilly, Colin Whelan, Catherine Nevin, Charlotte and Linda Mulhall and Eric Locke. Delving into each of these crimes and the subsequent investigations, the show will include interviews with those closest to the cases as well as expert analysis. The first episode will look at the murder of Rachel O'Reilly at the hands of her husband, Joe. FILM Picture: Apple Studios Movies Killer of the Flower Moon Out Friday, October 20 Scorsese is back with another 3.5-hour epic and he's brought old reliables Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro along for the ride. Set in 1920s America, the film tells the true story of a series of Osage Indian murders that newspapers at the time called the Reign of Terror. A compelling watch, it highlights the crimes committed against Native Americans in the all-too-recent past. Already hailed a masterpiece, there is plenty of Oscars buzz around the film and its stars but it is Lily Gladstone who steals the show from her veteran castmates. FESTIVAL Diana Spencer in the nursery where she worked. Picture: John Minihan Big Picture Festival of Press Photography Kinsale, Friday, October 20-Sunday, October 22 A photography festival not to be missed, this event will take visitors behind the lens and into the story behind some of the most iconic images. West Cork-based photographer John Minihan will be featured as part of the three-day festival. During his career, Minihan photographed Princess Diana and Nobel Prize winner Samuel Beckett. Taking place across a number of locations in Kinsale the festival will also feature the work of Mark Condren and a delve into the Irish Examiner's picture archive. BOOK Cover of The Woman in Me by Britney Spears The Woman in Me - Britney Spears Out Tuesday, October 24 There is only one book worth talking about this week and it is already making headlines. Britney Jean Spears is finally getting to tell her story. We will get a peek behind the glittering curtain to see what life was really like for the pop legend. The truth behind all the rumours, accusations and the controversial conservatorship is likely to leave Hollywood shook. A few bombshells have already been released leaving us to wonder: if that's what has been shared pre-release, what kind of stories are waiting for us on those pages? I, for one, hope she takes no prisoners. GIG Macy Gray and her band will perform as part of the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival Macy Gray Cork Opera House, Thursday, October 26 Sure to be one of the highlights of this year's Cork Jazz Festival, Macy Gray plays one night only at the Cork Opera House. The Grammy winner is best known for her breakout hit I Try but there is a lot more to Gray than that. Joining her on tour is her new band, The California Jet Club, with whom she released the album The Reset. Her first time working with a band, The Reset does what it says on the tin offering fans a glimpse of a whole new side of Gray's talents. Between September 12 and October 17, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre and the HSE reported 3,524 confirmed cases of covid-19 in Ireland, along with 95 deaths. Not quite the disturbing figures from the dark days of 2020 and 2021, but enough to demonstrate that nearly four years on from the inception of the pandemic, the SARS-CoV-2 virus and its many variants remain a threat. While politicians and the public have moved on to other crises, such as climate change, the rising cost of living, and international conflicts, covid is still very much present, simmering away in the background. Over the summer, the latest variant Eris emerged, once again driving new surges of infections, and experts such as Dr Gerald Barry, a virologist at University College Dublin, say it will continue to drive hospitalisations this winter among a minority of vulnerable individuals. Every week covid is associated with deaths, regardless of the variant, so with each wave, we would expect deaths to sadly continue and possibly increase, says Barry. Absenteeism from work and school will continue, and possibly increase as a result of SARS-CoV-2 infections and waves. All this is because covid is now endemic within our world, just as the viruses which caused the 1918 Spanish influenza and 2009 swine flu pandemics slowly assimilated into the general population, silently contributing to ongoing seasonal infections and fatalities. When the Eris variant emerged, HSEs chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry clarified there would be no plans to reinforce mandatory mask-wearing within hospitals, but individual hospitals could set their own policies if covid rates were exceptionally high within their area. He urged all over-50s, those under five, those with weakened immune systems or other underlying health conditions, and healthcare workers to get the autumn booster vaccine to prevent health systems from being overwhelmed during the winter. Yet the number of people ensuring their vaccination status is up to date, even in at-risk groups, has tumbled over the last two years. While more than 60% of the Irish population received the first booster jab, less than 10% have received the fourth one since it became available in the spring. Prof. Luke O'Neill in his office in Trinity College Dublin. Photograph: Moya Nolan TCD immunologist Professor Luke ONeill describes the biannual booster vaccines as societys most important defence against covid and the continually evolving variants. This is very important vaccination remains our best weapon against covid-19, as is the case with many infectious diseases, Prof ONeill says. Other prominent covid experts, such as UCC biochemist Dr Anne Moore, emphasise how the overall situation has rapidly changed in the last two years. She recommends booster vaccines, saying they can offer protection to everyone and are vital for protecting the vulnerable. She also points out that most people now have a high level of immunity to the virus, having either been infected, vaccinated or both on multiple occasions. Moore predicts that only a small proportion of the population, those most at risk from the virus, will continue getting regular vaccines and taking precautions. I dont foresee the majority of the population getting a covid-19 vaccine, she says. Similar to the influenza virus, only those at risk and their loved ones will be concerned enough to act. But as a society, we must support those at risk not to get the disease, respect decisions to mask, and avoid crowded environments. Living with long covid According to a recent survey, more than 5% of adults in Ireland live with various forms of long covid, which can encompass abnormalities in multiple organ systems and symptoms such as chronic pain, brain fog and dizziness. Many experts, such as Professor Akiko Iwasaki, a leading immunologist at Yale School of Medicine, believe that the longer-term symptoms could represent the pandemics most lasting and far-reaching consequence. Our understanding of why long covid occurs is still limited, but Iwasaki is pursuing one particular theory micro clots in the blood which may be driving the crippling fatigue that the majority of patients experience. These tiny little clots form in the blood and may be impairing oxygen exchange and other important functions of the circulation, Prof Iwasaki says. People have done these measurements of how well the blood oxygen is being utilised by the bodys tissue and that appears to be quite limited in people with long covid and that could be due to these microclots. As a result, some researchers are investigating whether a combination of antiplatelet and anticoagulant drugs can reduce the prevalence of microclots in the blood and thus improve long covid symptoms. Iwasaki has launched a clinical trial to see whether a 15-day course of an antiviral called Paxlovid could help alleviate symptoms in patients or eliminate remaining traces of the virus. Were probing a hypothesis that persistent viral infection may be causing long covid in a subset of people, she says. As well as assessing how people feel after the treatment, were also looking to see whether there are biomarkers in the blood which can help identify who might benefit from this treatment. Anne Moore, University College Cork, Senior Lecturer in Biochemistry and Cell Biology. Photo by Tomas Tyner, UCC. Immune system damage While events of the past three years have yielded unprecedented information about how our body responds to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, many mysteries remain. In particular, scientists are still attempting to understand whether covid can damage our immune system and make us more vulnerable to subsequent infections. Last winter, data from HSE showed a particularly high surge in cases of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus. There is evidence that SARS-CoV-2 infections can exacerbate other illnesses or health conditions so every wave is likely to contribute to a general increase in illness in our populations, but that may take years to manifest, says Barry. Barry believes it is essential for politicians to continue funding epidemiological research into the possible long-term consequences of covid in case it leads to unexpected spikes in chronic illness in years or decades to come. Outbreaks of HIV, West Nile virus, and Japanese encephalitis have all been linked to an elevated risk of Parkinsons disease in recent years. There is also still a risk that over time, another covid super variant will emerge, capable of circumventing the current immune protection offered by vaccines and once more increasing the virulence of the virus. Covid will continue to evolve, and this evolution may be associated with increased or decreased illness, says Barry. It is impossible to predict at this point. All we can say is that this virus is continuing to learn how to infect and move between people and will continue unless we develop a therapy to stop it. ABOVE all, experts agree that another pandemic is inevitable, and it will happen sooner rather than later due to factors such as climate change and global connectivity. Moore says we can reduce the potential harm by committing funding towards isolating potential viral threats before they become established in the population and developing new generations of vaccine technology. However, she is concerned that political inertia and public debate around vaccines could mean we will be just as vulnerable as we were to covid-19. A number of vaccines are being developed, ready for use, that aim to protect against multiple strains of viruses, she says. From a scientific perspective, we can prepare, if we commit and invest in these resources. The problem is that government commitments wane after an emergency, and I dont know how political, cultural, and societal issues will affect a populations response to the next pandemic. We can have all the scientific and medical tools available, but they are of zero use if the population rejects them. Its through social media that I started seeing all these influencers switching from hormonal contraception like the pill to fertility tracker apps. They made the natural period look glamorous, says Rachel Moore, a 28-year-old PE teacher from Waterford. Just last year, Moore, who had been taking oral contraception since the age of about 17 or 18, decided to switch from the contraceptive pill to condoms. She says she felt motivated by whispers within her friendship group of a collective shift away from hormonal contraception towards a more natural, empowering approach. Rachel Moore, PE teacher I felt jealous because they were talking about naturally tracking their cycles, she admits. In the back of my mind, I had a fear of what these hormones were doing to me. There was also a point when I wanted to figure out whether [my cycle] was normal, in case I wanted to have kids in the future. While social pressures can play a significant role, Moore suspects that such pressures are often generated by social media messaging. On TikTok and Instagram, the use of non-hormonal contraceptive methods is often associated with a more natural lifestyle and improvements in mental health. University of Delaware researcher Emily Pfender Based on a recent content analysis of 50 YouTube vlogs from the years 2019 to 2021 by University of Delaware researcher Emily Pfender, discontinuation of hormonal birth control has become a common trend among lifestyle and fitness social media influencers. In the case of YouTube, the majority of influencers did not mention opting for an alternative birth control method after giving up their hormonal contraception, Pfender says. Only 20% of influencers reported switching from a hormonal to a non-hormonal contraceptive method, typically the use of condoms or fertility tracker apps like Daysy or Natural Cycles. In a follow-up TikTok study, currently undergoing peer review, Pfender identified 57 different reasons for discontinued use of hormonal contraception. Many of these motivators, such as changes in facial shape and a persons altered perception of their partners physical attractiveness, appear to lack scientific support. Hormone levels Birth control options have diversified for women since the contraceptive pill was first legalised under the 1979 Family Planning Act. In September 2022, contraception became freely accessible to women aged 17 to 25 through a new Government scheme, expanded to include women under 30 earlier this year. In addition to the pill and barrier methods, the scheme covers long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) a family of safe, long-lasting, and easily removable birth control that includes implants and intrauterine devices (IUDs). Hormonal implants are small plastic devices that release a synthetic form of progesterone to block ovulation, and are inserted under the skin of the upper arm. IUDs, small T-shaped devices available in hormonal and non-hormonal forms, are inserted into the uterus through a quick procedure. LARCs are generally effective for between three and 10 years, depending on the type. Both hormonal IUDs and non-hormonal copper IUDs are significantly more effective than the contraceptive pill, which, largely due to inconsistent use, has a 9% failure rate. According to Dr Shirley McQuade, medical director of Dublin Well Woman Centre, IUDs deliver lower doses of synthetic hormones directly to the uterus. As a result, they tend to elicit fewer side effects than the contraceptive pill, which acts systemically. Hormone levels in the Enovid 10, the first marketed combined pill, were dramatically higher than todays formulations, with 9.85 mg of progestin and 150 g of estrogen compared to 0.1-3.0 mg of modern progestins and 20-50 g of estrogens. This resulted in significant adverse side effects which, more than half a century later, remain a challenge even at lower doses. Among the most frequently reported side effects today is a decline in mental health. A recent study published in the journal Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, involving 264,557 people in Britain, revealed that first-time pill users experienced an 80% increased risk of being diagnosed with depression within the first two years, compared to those who have never used oral contraceptives. This increased risk soared to 95% for women under 20. Aisling Joyce, volunteer support officer for Community Games Aisling Joyce, a 25-year-old volunteer support officer for Community Games living in Mayo, made a similar decision after being prescribed oral contraception at 19. I had all the classic side effects of weight gain and mood swings. It just really did not suit me. Initially, I convinced myself to stay on it because I thought it was the right thing to do. Abandoning the pill after 18 months, she says that it took between six and nine months for her to feel normal again. Upon entering into a new relationship, however, Joyce opted for a different type and dose of oral contraceptive for three months, only to face the same adverse effects. In the end, she made the switch to a Nexplanon implant, a tiny progestin-releasing device inserted under the skin of her upper arm. This implant offers up to three years of pregnancy protection. The contraceptive pill remains highly effective for some women. Since being diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), Moore has returned to hormonal contraception, finding relief in Yasmin a combined pill that helps alleviate her symptoms. Women who get recurring ovarian cysts are often advised to use the pill since blocking ovulation can potentially suppress the formation of more cysts, McQuade explains. For other women, the pill can help to stabilise erratic menstrual cycles and control heavy painful periods. Its important to remember that there can be good medical reasons for going on the pill that extend beyond its purely contraceptive function. Dr. Shirley McQuade Increase in choosing LARCs McQuade says since the introduction of the Governments free contraception scheme, the number of women under 30 choosing LARCs has spiralled in recent years. Just last year, the not-for-profit organisations three Dublin-based clinics fitted 1,800 IUDs and implants, a figure that has already increased by 42% this year. The Mirena IUD, a LARC which releases a synthetic form of progesterone, continues to be the preferred contraceptive option at the Dublin Well Woman Centre. This IUD, with a lifespan of up to eight years, is especially favoured among older women due to its ability to control heavier periods and serve as the hormonal component of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). With the cost of the initial consultation, fitting, and removal of LARCs covered by the governments scheme, the popularity of non-hormonal copper IUDs is not far behind the Mirena. According to McQuade, younger women with lighter periods are increasingly opting for the copper coil, which is the most effective non-hormonal contraceptive available. Compared to the Mirena with an annual failure rate of 0.2% the copper IUD lasts for between five and 10 years and has a 0.8% annual failure rate. Weve seen women in their late 20s, whove been on the pill for years, stop taking it because they want to have some idea of their natural cycle and fertility, McQuade says. They might not want to get pregnant just yet, but they want to know that they have a regular cycle for when they do want to get pregnant. Dr Caitriona Henchion, medical director of the Irish Family Planning Association. Pic: Conor Healy Another likely motivator of discontinuation is cost. While the up-front cost of LARCs can be prohibitive for those who are not eligible for the governments free contraceptive scheme, Dr Caitriona Henchion argues that the pill is the most expensive contraceptive option in the long term. A years use of the pill, including two GP visits, can cost 191, says Henchion, medical director of the Irish Family Planning Association. The annual cost of contraceptive coils [IUDs] and implants, averaged over five years, ranges from 49 to 150 per year and is lower than any of the shorter-term contraceptive options or the injection. Social media messaging often fails to communicate the intricacies of contraceptive choice and typically overlooks the increased risk of pregnancy associated with discontinuing hormonal contraception. None of the YouTube influencers [from the study] discussed the risks of unplanned pregnancy, although about 64% of them mentioned the fact that they were currently in a stable relationship or marriage, says Pfender. Natural family planning methods typically involve estimating ovulation windows based on basal body temperature or the viscosity of cervical fluid. According to Henchion, opting for fertility tracking apps as an alternative to hormonal contraception or copper IUDs carries a significantly higher risk of unintended pregnancy, and should be reserved for situations in which pregnancy would not cause a crisis in someones life. She says: We have seen women presenting for abortion care with the Irish Family Planning Association who have avoided using contraception based on unfounded fears about hormones and lack of understanding of the risk of failure with fertility apps from social media. Influencers should be clear when recounting their personal experiences that fertility is complex, and while the apps predictions might work for one person, these apps wont suit everyone. Gov. Greg Gianfortes veto of Senate Bill 442 hurts hunters, anglers, trail users, and wildlife. Its also unconstitutional. One hundred and thirty of 150 state legislators supported SB 442. It was a lifeline for everyone who enjoys our outdoors. It was a boon for wildlife and for the activities and way of life that make Montana so special, a testament to our love for the outdoors and our commitment to preserving them for generations to come. It was crafted by a bipartisan group of legislators, local governments, and Montana organizations that put aside political differences to benefit people across Montana. The governors decision to veto SB 442 and put public lands on the chopping block is a slap in the face to every Montanan who has built a life on the opportunities and freedoms our outdoors provide. The governors veto hurts hunters and anglers. Montanas hunters and anglers rely on vast and diverse public land habitats. SB 442 would have restored $30 million to Habitat Montana, a program dedicated to enhancing public access and conserving wildlife habitat. Last fall, just months before Gianforte vetoed SB 442, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks with the governors support used Habitat Montana funds to open access to 100,000 acres of prime elk and pronghorn hunting grounds in the Big Snowy Mountains. Now, the governor has made funding for future access projects uncertain. His veto also slashed funding for maintaining essential county roads. Neglecting these roads makes it harder to access public lands and waters, threatening hunters chances to experience the thrill of the hunt and anglers to wet their lines. The governors veto hurts hikers and trail users. Getting out on the trails is a way of life for many Montanans. Our public land trails lead to breathtaking vistas, blue-ribbon streams, wildflower meadows, and rugged badlands. Theyre the arteries that connect us to the places we find solace, adventure, and connection. By choosing not to invest in public lands, the governor has shown he isnt interested in maintaining the infrastructure that lets us all enjoy our shared lands. That decision is especially out of touch now, when historic numbers of users and record growth have pushed our public land infrastructure up to, and sometimes past, its limit. As with county roads, failing to invest in maintaining what we have threatens the access we enjoy, and allowing infrastructure to deteriorate makes it easier to justify even deeper cuts. Those few who can afford to buy or pay for access, like the governor, may not notice. But the rest of us depend on this infrastructure to experience the Montana we know and love. The governors veto hurts wildlife. Senate Bill 442 was poised to restore $30 million to Habitat Montana for vital game and nongame habitat conservation. It would also have secured millions for the Wildlife Habitat Improvement and Legacy Program, which supports landowners efforts to remove noxious weeds, improve drought resiliency, and restore native plants in critical wildlife habitat on private property. The governors decision to kneecap investments in our outdoors is happening when our public lands and waters need more thoughtful stewardship than ever. Legislators hashed out a common-sense compromise to support access, wildlife, and public land users, but the governor sent a clear message that he thinks he is a better steward of our tax dollars and public lands than we are. The governors veto is unconstitutional. The Montana constitution requires that the governor and secretary of state give legislators the chance to override any veto of a bill passed with a majority exceeding two-thirds, as SB 442 was. The governor has repeatedly refused to allow that veto override process to take place. Accordingly, our organizations were left with no choice but to file suit against the governor and secretary of state, to compel them to do their duty as set out by the Montana Constitution. Montanas public lands have always been a source of unity, a place where Montanans from all walks of life can come together to appreciate the natural beauty that surrounds us. The veto of SB 442 threatens to erode this unity and undermine the values that Montanans hold dear a deep love for our public lands and a commitment to preserving them for future generations. Its a shame our governor doesnt share this perspective. Not many islands have a link (perhaps tenuous, perhaps not) to the independence movement of another country. A country on the other side of the world in this case. Lough Arrow, in the south of County Sligo has several large islands and several very small ones. A huge proportion of the lough is in County Sligo with only a sliver of the trout-rich lough included in County Roscommon. It has made one appearance here before with the pleasant semi-wooded island of Inishmore also known as Gildeas Island [link below]. And where there is an Inishmore there is usually an Inishbeg, On that smaller island there are the ruins of two buildings but otherwise the only signs of a human footprint are a well and a landing place. Griffiths Valuation states that in the 19th Century the one house was occupied by an Owen Flynn. In fact, the island is still known as Flynns Island. On the shores of the 12km sq lough, and all of 300metres distant from Inishbeg, is the townland of Ballinary. This tiny place is well known in historical circles in Chile as the birthplace of the self-styled Ambrosio OHiggins born Ambrose OHiggins who emigrated to Chile via Spain in 1756. His son Bernardo went on to become the first leader of independent Chile after its secession from the Spanish Empire in 1810. This day 202 years ago - 12 February 1818 - Chilean independence was declared, having been approved by Bernardo O'Higgins, the Supreme Director of the country. O'Higgins was the son of Ambrosio O'Higgins, a former tenant farmer from Co Sligo who had become the viceroy of Peru. pic.twitter.com/NxNBR5E6Fh This Day in Irish History (@ThisDayIrish) February 12, 2020 A monument now marks the spot of the familys home but no trace remains of the structure itself. That has been erased from history as the directors of the 2016 biopic Further Beyond shed light on the fascinating story of the Baron of Ballinary. When Cromwells New Model Army ravaged the country in the mid-17th century the family was dispossessed of their lands but managed to find work on another estate. By the time Ambrose had reached his 30s, opportunities were few and far between so he decided to quit his home on the shores of Lough Arrow and seek fame and fortune overseas. The film-makers Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor ask: Isnt it reasonable to assume that stories of Lough Arrow and Ballynary were told and retold to the young, impressionable Ambrose? After all, his family lived in this part of Ireland for generations and were the proud custodians of this land. The waters of Lough Arrow are captured between three ranges of mountains and lower hills; the Bricklieve Mountains to the west, the Curlews to the south, and the Braulieves to the east. The film imagines what was going through Ambroses mind as he leaves: The light is fading. Ambrose dressed in rags, looks back on Lough Arrow. He doesnt know it yet, but this is the last time he will see this landscape. The film lingers on Lough Arrow: the vivid blue of the sky, the two main islands of Inishmore and Inishbeg drawing the eye, captivating it. It is impossible to believe that the young Ambrose, a person suffused with the desire to explore his surroundings, near and far, did not set foot on Inishbeg, and for that matter the other islands on the lough. The island is just 300 metres from the shore. The film focuses on the islands suggesting perhaps Ambrosio did, in fact, venture there. Having established a position with the Butler Trading company in Cadiz, Spain, Ambrose subsequently decided on a move to South America. As he worked in business for a time he found himself in Argentina where he managed to open up a trading route across the Andes to Chile. The film-makers wonder what drove on Ambrose at a particularly difficult episode in the Andes: I can imagine when Ambrose is stranded in the blizzard in the Andes awaiting death, the first place he would think back on is this lake [Arrow]. Its shape. The incline leading down to its edge. The view across it. the colour it reflects in the light. Ambrose proceeded to work his way up through civil and then military ranks. By 1777 he was a colonel in the Chilean army and soon afterwards, governor. A long way from the shores of Lough Arrow. How to get there: Kayak from a small pier opposite Inishmore. Other: Further Beyond, Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor (on mubi.com) Cannabis is a dangerous drug that has profound and lasting adverse effects on individuals, families, communities, and our wider society. That is according to the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) in its strongest intervention yet in the debate around legalising cannabis. That intervention also comes ahead of the final meeting of the Citizens Assembly on Drugs Use, which takes place this weekend. The assembly will then compile a report for the Oireachtas on recommendations to reduce harm caused by illicit drugs use. In a statement by its medical director Diarmuid Quinlan, the ICGP said while evidence indicates potential therapeutic benefits, there are notable public health and health impacts linked with cannabis use. The doctors organisation also said there need to be campaigns highlighting the adverse health effects of the drug. ICGP medical director Diarmuid Quinlan said there are 'notable public health and health impacts' linked with cannabis use. Picture: Eddie O'Hare It also said there needs to be a multi-agency, evidence-based approach, to further develop and implement policy to address drug use in Ireland. The ICGP discourages cannabis use, especially in high-risk populations such as youth, those with a personal or family history of mental disorder, pregnant women, and women who are breastfeeding, the doctors said. They also called on the HSE and the Department of Health to gather better data on short-term and long-term impacts. This could include analysis of reasons for going to hospital emergency departments and prevalence of psychiatric and addictive disorders, including cannabis-use disorder. The ICGP also said that doctors want accessible, comprehensive, and evidence-based treatment for people with health problems related to cannabis use. The ICGP supports public-health based strategies, rather than incarceration, with respect to individuals possessing small quantities of cannabis for personal use, the statement said. In relation to medicinal use, the doctors said: There is a need for further high-quality research into the safety and effectiveness of cannabinoid-based medicinal products. It is understood the ICGP decided to issue the statement following acceptance of a motion on the topic proposed by three GPs, including Ray Walley, during the ICGP AGM in May. Groups and businesses in Co Cork are showing remarkable community spirit by providing support for those impacted by Storm Babet. The Midleton Hub, in particular, has become a centre point for those experiencing hardship. Located on Bailick Rd in Midleton, the building of the registered charity experienced damage due to the flooding but was able to reopen after clearing the premises on Thursday. We were able to get the building cleared, thankfully, Eileen Kelly McCarthy, a member of the management team, told the Irish Examiner. We decided to open our doors as a central point, as we are taking donations of cleaning products or anything like that, she said. The Hub distributes donations to those in need and directs volunteers to homes or businesses that require assistance. People are just contacting us if they need help or if they are in a position to offer help. We are directing them to those areas. People are devastated, and our doors are open and we are here to offer whatever help we can give, she said. Anyone who wishes to make a donation or to volunteer to help can contact Ms Kelly McCarthy at 085 846 7959. Cats and dogs The owner of Glenbradagh Farm, Carmel Cronin, has offered to house cats and dogs free of charge for the next two weeks. Glenbradagh Farm is 10 minutes outside Midleton and provides warm kennels and catteries for furry companions. I just saw the devastation as people dont have their houses, said Ms Cronin. We are happy to do anything that we can do. The business has been open since May this year and Ms Cronin understands the struggles that businesses and homeowners are going through at the moment. The phone has been ringing off the hook already as people are definitely in need, she said. We are only a new business. Weve been open since May and we understand the struggles of new businesses, and its absolutely devastating, she said. Contact Ms Cronin on 085 119 3727 for more information. Cleaning up at Lollipop Kids on Main St in Midleton after the flooding. Picture: Dan Linehan Community spirit Fine Gael TD for East Cork David Stanton said community spirit is Midleton is alive and well in these turbulent times. Whats come out of Midleton is the community spirit. Young people are coming out and asking what they can do to help, as are various teams from local clubs, he said. Its good to see that happening, that the community spirit is alive and well. Aaron Burke of Midleton IT in the Market Green Shopping Centre lives close to the retail park and decided to go to his kiosk and scope the situation. I just work out of a kiosk and right next to me is a seating area and I saw that theres a lot of people sitting around, and I saw a mother with her three kids and she wasnt sure if she would be able to get home, he said. He told the mother that she could sleep in the kiosk if she needed to but thankfully, she managed to get home. Mr Burke set up various charging stations on his kiosk to allow people to charge their devices. I have the multichargers and I said look, whats the point? Ill take them out of the packaging and let people charge their phones because they might not have power yet in their homes, he said. Acts of kindness Sabrina Lyons runs the East Cork Acts of Kindness Facebook page and decided to arrange a drop-off point for people to donate at Midleton GAA today from 11am to 1pm. People kept messaging me, asking if they could help, or that they needed help, she said. I was trying to put people in touch with each other and I was afraid that I was missing people who needed support so I said I would throw something together to try and help people. Ms Lyons urged those in a position to donate to separate clothes into ages, sizes, and if they are for boys or girls. Other sought-after items include small kitchen appliances and household items such as curtains, cushions, and bedding. Donations must be able to fit into a car and be in good condition. Donations must be made between 11am and 1pm. Anyone wishing to volunteer can contact Ms Lyons on 083 012 4315. Grocery collections The owner of Crestfield Cabs, Stephen Kelly, has offered to help the elderly collect prescriptions and groceries in the Glanmire catchment area. We are looking to help the elderly who dont have anyone to take them out, whether its a break from the house or if they want any groceries picked up and brought to them or collect prescriptions from the chemist, he said. Mr Kellys act of kindness started yesterday morning. Im starting at 3.30am on Saturday and finishing at 1pm. I will do it on Monday or Tuesday as well, no bother, said Mr Kelly. The man accused of the murder of a Cork-born bishop has been remanded in continuing custody until next month. Carlos Medina, 61, pleaded not guilty when charged with the murder of Brooklodge native Bishop David O'Connell at his home in Hacienda Heights in Los Angeles in February. Medina was also charged with a special allegation that he personally used a firearm during the commission of an offence. He had been arrested after barricading himself into his home following the discovery of the bishop's body. He appeared in court in Los Angeles on Thursday for the continuation of a preliminary trial hearing. The preliminary hearing has now been continued to November 10, according to a spokesman for the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office. Bishop OConnell, 69, was found dead in his home on February 18 after being shot multiple times. A church deacon made the discovery at about 1pm local time after Bishop OConnell failed to turn up for a meeting. There was no sign of a forced entry into the house, according to the district attorney for Los Angeles County, George Gascon. Medinas wife worked as a housekeeper for the bishop, while Medina himself also carried out some work for him on a number of occasions. If convicted, Medina could face up to 35 years to life in prison. Bishop OConnell was laid to rest in a crypt in Los Angeles Cathedral in March. His brother, Kieran, and other members of Bishop OConnells family, travelled to the US for the funeral. He was consecrated a bishop in Los Angeles in 2015, having been ordained for the US diocese in June 1979. The family of a young girl who underwent spinal surgery at Temple Street Children's Hospital has launched High Court proceedings looking for all of their childs medical records. This is the second family to go to court over medical records. The family has brought the action against Children's Health Ireland (CHI) seeking an injunction compelling the handover of all outstanding medical records, documentation and information sought. The girl is one of 19 children who were the subject matter of a report on patients with spina bifida who underwent spinal surgery at the Temple Street hospital. The court heard that the family of the child, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, is seeking the discovery of documents and material surrounding her care following an operation she had at the hospital last year. They want the records so they can have them assessed by an independent expert. They also seek the records as they consider what action to take over what they say they have been told was alleged inappropriate surgery performed on the child. Earlier this week the family was provided with some, but not all of the material they sought from the CHI. They claim that important material was not furnished to them. They have asked the court to make orders requiring the CHI to provide them with material, including all management plans put in place for the child. They also seek copies of a full risk assessment and notes prepared by the defendant regarding the clinical care provided by Temple Street and in relation to the surgeon who allegedly operated on the child, Dr Connor Green. Represented in the proceedings by John Healy SC, Michael Devitt Bl instructed by solicitors McGroddy Brennan, the child's family also seeks an order compelling the defendant to immediately prepare a care plan for the child, and to appoint an agreed independent expert to review her. 'Devastated' Counsel told the court that last year the girl underwent spinal surgery. She suffered serious post-operative complications, and her parents were told she would require further surgical intervention. Following media reports about spinal surgeries at Temple Street the family claim they were informed that the surgery their child underwent was allegedly "inappropriate". They were subsequently told that their daughter will require further surgeries and procedures over the coming years. Her family have been "devastated by this news" counsel said. The family claim that the information they have been given has been drip-fed to them, and say that the report last month about the spinal surgeries has "much to say about future governance at Temple Street," but nothing to say on the clinical situation of the children affected. The matter came before Mr Justice Mark Sanfey on Friday who noted that the circumstances that the girl and her family find themselves in are "extremely distressing." While the court had only heard from one side in the dispute, what was being sought, he said, appeared to be "very significant pieces of information". The judge, on an ex-parte basis, granted the applicants permission to serve short notice of the injunction application on the defendant. The matter will return before the High Court next week. Office of Public Works officials, contractors working on the ongoing flood prevention scheme and Cork's two local authorities are to meet to examine any measures that can be accelerated to protect properties flooded in Glanmire in recent days. OPW Minister Patrick ODonovan made the pledge as he toured the area, spending more than an hour talking with residents in Copper Valley Vue, the worst hit of the Glanmire housing estates. He faced a barrage of questions from householders about what measures could be undertaken in the short-term to protect their properties. More than 20 houses there have been extremely damaged. The estate suffered similarly during a flood in 2015. Residents pointed out the flood prevention works were starting in the northern side of the town and proceeding southwards along the River Glashaboy. As they are on the southern side they are concerned it could be more than two years before the contractors carry out any significant works there. Residents also criticised the response from the city council, saying much of the aid they got, including the delivery of skips and sanitising products, was provided in the first instance free of charge by local businesses. Contractor Sorensen helped prevent major flooding in Glanmire. The engineering company are currently working on the Glashaboy Flood Relief Scheme in the town and were able to divert flood water away from Hazelwood Shopping Centre. Picture: Larry Cummins While the OPW has drawn up specific plans with contractors Sorenson, Mr ODonovan said it might be possible to re-proritise certain elements, in particular to protect properties. However, he cautioned major changes to the scheme could require planning permission, and if so that could lead to delays. Mr ODonovan said the project team would ask individual residents and residents associations in impacted areas what exactly happened this time and what they think could be done to prevent repetitions in the short-term. He said once this information was gathered, they would sit down and see if there was any tweaking they could do. The nearby New Line road, which links Glanmire with Knockraha, became a river again yesterday morning and was impassable for a couple of hours until the water receded. Some houses in that area also flooded. Pumps were again activated in Meadowbook Estate devastated in the 2012 flood as drains started to overflow. However, the water level there was not as high as previous days. There was relief for commuters as the main road running through Glanmire to the Tivoli roundabout reopened yesterday. Sorenson workers reopened a section of the road close to St Josephs Church. They had closed it off when a stream which runs through a small culvert under the road became a raging torrent. The contractors dammed the water, forcing it away from the nearby Hazelwood Shopping Centre. Their quick-thinking was praised by local businesses as otherwise they would have suffered catastrophic damage. Another section of the main road which had been closed between Riverstown Cross and the Vienna Woods Hotel was also reopened, this time by the city council. Meanwhile, those under threat in the area look on in trepidation at the forecast of more heavy rain in the coming days. In the midst of the unfathomable human tragedy unfolding in the Middle East, the political and commercial ramifications of picking a side have quickly evolved from ripple to tidal wave. Pro-Israeli business actors in particular have been quick to threaten, or withdraw completely, their financial heft from projects that have either failed to publicly condemn Hamas, or had the temerity to express support for the Palestinian people, an act that many on the Israeli side seem to equate to supporting the militant terrorist group. One of the more high-profile examples of this policy of commercial Coventry has been Irish entrepreneur Paddy Cosgrave. The CEO of Web Summit an annual global technological conference held each November in Lisbon (a business reportedly worth 250m) was amongst the first to incur the outrage of pro-Israel Big Tech. He achieved this without mentioning either Israel, Palestine, or Hamas; "I'm shocked at the rhetoric and actions of so many Western leaders and governments, Cosgrave tweeted last Saturday, with the exception in particular of Ireland's government, who for once are doing the right thing." Read More Web Summit crumbles as Meta becomes the latest tech giant to drop out So far, so fair you would think? In fact, in the nonsense context of divisive-disrupter-tweets-about-World Peace, the most notable aspect of his original post was the unambiguous compliment he paid the current Irish Government, an entity he remains spectacularly at odds with. He continued: "War crimes are war crimes even when committed by allies and should be called out for what they are." You wouldn't need to be Alan Turing to decode the inference of this post; that the EU and US governments in particular had failed in their perceived moral obligation to challenge Israel on their bombardment of civilians in Gaza following the Hamas terror attacks. Part II, was in effect, an imputation albeit via X (Twitter) that Israel was committing war crimes, though he did not perhaps wisely specify any. One cant know the mind of Cosgrave, but, regardless of the genuine despair for humanity that likely inspired the original tweet, the timing and tenor of his stance could be construed as either typically combative or hubristically naive. Perhaps both. Its one thing for a left-leaning columnist or academic to express a Pro-Palestinian viewpoint, quite another for an upstart entrepreneur reliant on Big Tech for financial oxygen to survive. Israel, roughly the size of Wales, has long been dubbed the "start-up nation," with more startups per capita than any other country in the world. According to the United States-Israel Business Alliance, California serves as the global or US headquarters for 35 Israeli-founded unicorns startup companies with a value of over $1 billion. Cosgrave aside, this may go some way to explain President Joe Bidens placatory posture towards Benjamin Netanyahu and his strategic starvation of Gaza. Anyway, who cares what rebel Captain of New Capitalism, Paddy Cosgrave, thinks of war in the Middle East? Well, Israel most definitely does. Rather predictably, the retaliation to Cosgraves tweet was swift and brutal. Within 48 hours, Israel's ambassador to Portugal, Dor Shapira, announced that his country would no longer participate in the Web Summit as a result of Cosgrave's "outrageous statements." "Even during these difficult times, he is unable to set aside his extreme political views and denounce the Hamas terrorist activities against innocent people," Shapira wrote on X. Several industry leaders piled in, cancelling their appearances at the upcoming Web Summit, including Garry Tan, CEO of Y Combinator; Ori Goshen, co-CEO of AI21 Labs; Ravi Gupta, a partner at Sequoia; Keith Peiris, CEO of Tome; Adam Singolda, head of advertising company Taboola; and David Marcus, CEO of Lightspark and former PayPal chief executive. "We at AI21 cannot be part of such indecency and moral bankruptcy," wrote Goshen, who was set to give a keynote speech at the conference. After initially appearing to double down on his stance, Cosgrave issued a clarification on Tuesday: "I understand that what I said, the timing of what I said, and the way it has been presented has caused upset to many. To anyone who was hurt by my words I apologise deeply. "What is needed at this time is compassion, and I did not convey that." By Wednesday he announced he was taking a break from X, bookending an episode indicative of the power of money, and those who wield it like an axe. In executing a tactical retreat, Cosgrave fulfilled a very familiar Public Person prophecy (1) Express opinion (2) Double down on opinion (3) Qualify opinion (4) Apologise for opinion (5) Defeated, leave platform opinion was expressed on. His reflection-under-duress came too late for both Intel and Siemens, who in recent days announced they too were pulling out of the summit. Intel has long standing operations in Israel, while Siemens is listed as one of the main sponsors of next month's tech conference. And on Friday, tech behemoths Google, Meta and Stripe all announced that they would also boycott the event. Google is one of the summit's commercial partners. Scant consolation for his business, but Cosgrave was far from being alone. Harvard president Claudine Gay remains under pressure from benefactors to resign over her delayed response to a student letter blaming Israel for the Hamas terror attacks on October 7. More than 30 student groups signed a letter stating: "We, the undersigned student organisations, hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence." The fallout was immediate, with some university donors such as Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer and the Wexner Foundation cutting ties with the school. The Harvard Jewish Centre called the statement antisemitic. There are already reports of white shoe law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell rescinding job offers to students associated with the letters. Back to Cosgrave. His eventual climbdown was met by many on social media with a brand of schadenfreude commensurate with his self-assumed role as political disruptor and apparent speaker of truths. Since 2020, there have been four separate court cases taken against Cosgrave related to his Twitter activity, each one alleging untrue, malicious, and defamatory comments. Meanwhile, the Commercial Court is currently hearing one in a series of suits and countersuits between Cosgrave and two other Web Summit co-founders, Daire Hickey and David Kelly. Quietly, some of his detractors in public life may have been fleetingly envious that he had the courage to say, however briefly, how he actually felt. There is a lesson in his reversal, too. Maybe the more you have, like Paddy and his 250m Web Summit, the more you stand to lose. Thats what makes the man with less than nothing, the man so deliberately deprived he has nothing left to drink but seawater, so difficult to beat. Netanyahu should take note. There was a moment during a meeting of the Citizens Assembly on Drugs Use in early September where a member stood up and expressed frustration over what decriminalisation of drugs actually meant. The member said they had been circulated a document compiled by the assembly secretariat which said that under decriminalisation, drug possession would no longer be a criminal offence, but that it would still not be legal. A leading legal expert, Tom OMalley, had just told the assembly that in his opinion if drug possession was decriminalised it would effectively be legal. The barrister and senior lecturer has examined this very issue on many occasions, including as a member of a previous Government expert committee tasked with examining drug possession laws. The Working Group to Consider Alternative Approaches to the Possession of Drugs for Personal Use, published in 2019, came down against decriminalisation, concluding that, under the Irish legal system, it may lead to de facto legalisation. The issue raised by the member had the potential to throw a spanner into the works of the assembly. In stepped Brendan Hughes, an expert on drug legislation from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (Emcdda). He told the assembly he had almost given up trying to define what decriminalisation was as there were widely different definitions across Europe, in part because of different legal systems. His advice to members was this: Stay away from the word and think about what you want and what direction you want to go. You have laws and regulations and they can be changed. Decide do you want a person to have a criminal record, do you want guards to have powers or not? Dont get hung up on decriminalisation. There was almost a sense of relief among members and they gave his comments a round of applause. DEFINING MOMENT I actually think that it was one of the defining moments in the assembly debate, assembly chair Paul Reid said. In an interview with the Irish Examiner ahead of the assemblys last, and crucial, meeting this weekend, the former HSE boss said Mr Hughes simplified the issue for the 99 members, chosen to represent the general public. We have had various lawyers, barristers, criminologists and academics talking about the various aspects of legalisation and decriminalisation and, inevitably, you get various flavours of what means what, Mr Reid said. We practically had lawyers saying well, decriminalisation is the same as legalisation and then you had others saying thats wrong. So, what were saying to members is, if you want to decriminalise or you want to legalise, say what you mean by thatthat somebody caught in possession of drugs for their own use should not receive a criminal conviction or should receive an administrative fine. "The design of that legislation, the detail of that legislation, is beyond us. This weekend the members will go through a second draft of proposed recommendations, each with a context attached to them, and agree the wording of a final ballot to vote on. All the signs appear to be pointing to some form of decriminalisation, but it is still all in the hands of the members on the day. MOOD FOR CHANGE I think its hard to gauge, to be frank, Mr Reid said. After the assembly meeting on the legal issues we sent them a questionnaire and we got feedback and I think its fair to say theres a strong mood that the status quo has to changeI think thats clear. What shape that mood will take in specific recommendations is less clear. Certainly, theres a body among assembly members that we should go liberal and legalise some if not all drugs, Mr Reid said. Theres a quantum in the middle who feel we shouldnt go there, but feel we cant stay as we are. Its hard to gauge. I wouldnt call it and it could be tight. He said there was frustration among some members in relation to presentations from the statutory authorities, such as the gardai and health. There was a feeling that many of the statutory bodies said no, no, things are okay, we just need more funding. There was frustration among members. It wasnt just the guards. The guards presented twice and they were very clearno change, no change, we will lose our powers [under decriminalisation and legalisation]. They didnt deviate. Some of the other statutory bodies said the same, the CMO [Chief Medical Officer] and the health service, though they were a bit more nuanced, but really similar. (Left to right) Prof. Denis Cusack, Medical Bureau of Road Safety, Prof. Mary Cannon, Beaumont Hospital, Prof. Catherine Comiskey, of Trinity College Dublin and Prof. Breda Smyth, Chief Medical Officer, at the fifth session of the Citizens Assembly on Drugs Use. But does he feel the assembly members have had enough space and time to digest all the presentations and discussions, bearing in mind the legal matter was just one of the terms of reference, with other terms focusing on the human, medical and social issues, the level and type of services available, both State as well as voluntary and in the community, and wider matters of prevention and recovery? Members would say they would have liked more time. However, equally, they say they feel much better informed. I think they understand were trying to get through a wide breadth and depth of issues. Theyve had 150 presenters, over 70 hours of presentations and 200 hours of deliberations at their tables. He said that certainly the human stories members heard, from users, ex-users and family members, shaped a lot of their thinking, but said that equally the gardai had an impact. They were completely against legalisation because people will lose the fear and the risk of drug tourism, so, while there was some frustration [with their views] a lot of people took that on board as well. BALANCING THE RISKS Asked have members received enough information on the impact of decriminalisation or legalisation models in order to inform their recommendations, Mr Reid said: I think as much as we possibly could, given we were trying to operate within the time frame we had. To be honest, theres not a whole lot of evidence collated as yet, on the impact. Theres a lot of hearsay. Even the European evidence on Portugal is reasonably limited. As well as hearing from experts, members were also provided with a number of documents, including on legal changes. They include a report by the Emcdda on Cannabis laws in Europe, published only last June, and the assembly secretariat document on legal options, which outlines five different possible models, including prohibition with health diversion, decriminalisation and legalisation. Mr Reid said members were also aware of developments in Europe, including in Belgium and the Netherlands [the latter a long proponent of liberal cannabis policy], which have seen a sharp rise in gangland violence and violence directed at prime ministers, judges, police and journalists. A facilitated workshop last month discussing prevention measures, at the Citizens Assembly on Drugs Use. Members have been advised: Decide do you want a person to have a criminal record, do you want guards to have powers or not?" Picture: Maxwells Only this week the European Commission said the drugs trade was one of the most serious threats facing Europe, fuelling a wave of violence, resulting in the deaths of three innocent children this year. Mr Reid said that, for members, their task is a matter of balancing the risks between change and keeping the status quo: Theres risks associated with change, but theres high risks to keep doing what were doing. So, its really a balanced call on the risks. Members were also asked to take in completely different views among medical experts and academics and advocacy groups, including on the medical effects of cannabis and other drugs and whether, and to what extent, that would increase with liberalisation. Assembly members have nothing but amazed me by their capacity to work through all the views they heard and they have managed the swing of views very well, Mr Reid said. I have said to them, there is a point where they have to go with their hunch as well. They have to call it. If we had another six months we might be in a better place to call it, but thats the process we have. We have to do the job we have been asked to do. Our focus should be on quality [recommendations], not quantity, and be focusedto give the line of flight, the direction and outcome we would like to see. The drive for sustainability in all aspects of life is one that is shared by individuals and businesses alike. In many cases we already know the solutions but implementation can remain problematic in practice. Colin Barrett, head of Internet of Things (IoT) with Vodafone Business Ireland, says the problem-solving technology supported by IoT can help us address myriad challenges around sustainability and energy efficiency. The scale of this challenge is apparent when we consider that, worldwide, rapidly-growing cities already consume over 65 per cent of the worlds energy and account for more than 70 per cent of CO2 emissions. Irelands population is anticipated to increase to up to six million by 2036 and the numbers living in Dublin alone are set to increase by nearly a third over that period, Barrett points out. He says this increase in density in our Irish towns and cities means the importance to Irish society of efficient smart-city services, vehicle CO2 reduction, and addressing buildings energy consumption, is greater than ever. This is where Vodafone IoT and their key partners can play a crucial role. Vodafone IoT can facilitate the movement for Irish enterprises from traditional petroleum-based vehicle fleets to electric vehicles to drive CO2 and fuel consumption reductions, Barrett says. These initiatives are reflective of Vodafones own mission towards carbon reduction. From a customer perspective, we have a 2030 global target to reduce our own customers CO2 usage by 350 million tonnes, Barrett notes. This will be largely delivered via Vodafones IoT services, including logistics and fleet management, smart metering and manufacturing activities. Vodafones IoT capability is also being applied in-house, helping to drive down the organisations own carbon footprint with smart energy metering across 65,000 sites, fuel tank monitoring for efficient usage, and automated buildings management. These kinds of initiatives not only help Irish businesses become more sustainable but can also help address the persistent challenge for businesses around energy costs, despite the recent stabilisation of fuel prices, Barrett says. Kevin Maughan, Urban Volt, and Colin Barrett, Vodafone: UrbanVolt is one of the leading indigenous Irish tech companies that uses VodafonesIoT technology to support businesses in their move to renewable energy. Vodafones IoT in action One such example is Urban Volt, an energy provider that offers solar as a service to Irish industrial and commercial sites, supplying and installing solar panels at no upfront cost to the businesses and providing repair and maintenance. We install the solar panels at no cost to the business, they just agree to purchase the power that they consume on a per kilowatt hour basis for 10 to 20 years depending on the deal they choose, explains Kevin Maughan, co-founder and chief executive of Urban Volt. The benefits are obvious. Irish businesses can move to a sustainable power source, reduce energy costs, and put power from these installations back onto the grid. Customers typically see between a 30 and 50 per cent reduction on their power costs, Maughan explains. UrbanVolt helps its customers move to a sustainable power source, reduce energy costs, and put power from solar installations back onto the grid. Urban Volts customer base ranges from large industrial sites to the SME sector. Some of our larger manufacturing clients would be spending over 1 million on energy each year, so the energy reductions can be huge. Everybody wants to do the right thing in terms of using more renewable energy, but Maughan acknowledges the capital investment may be beyond many businesses. Solar installation is an expensive undertaking and a lot of companies would rather spend that money on growth of their own business our solution means they dont have to invest any capital and in fact its cash flow generative for them because there are immediate savings on the cost of the energy. Its a win-win. Energy efficiency for business is an integral part of Vodafones IoT offer. It recently launched a pilot initiative with the aim of lowering energy costs for Irish SMEs. Through sensors installed around the customers premises, such as air-con, lights, heating, power, electricity consumption can be monitored. This helps drive changes in behaviour, by alerting when energy usage threshold values are exceeded, Barrett explains. Maughan is effusive about the benefits that Vodafones critical IoT connectivity has for his company, allowing them to monitor buildings energy consumption for billing purposes, but also the performance of the panels in real-time. We monitor our installations for any kind of failures or underproduction or overproduction, he explains. Vodafones IoT sim cards allows Urban Volt to do this in real time without having to be physically on site. IoT allows us to run a whole suite of software in the background monitoring and optimising the systems. If production is down, or lower than it should be, then we know immediately. We can send one of our technicians out to the site, to check the panels arent dirty or not working because of an electrical problem somewhere, he explains. Its always on and thats the benefit of solar with us if you bought the panels yourself and put them up, you wouldnt have access to this real-time information. This connectivity is priceless, he says. Utilising this technology to provide an unmatched service when it comes to solar energy; that wireless IoT infrastructure Vodafone provides for us is mission critical for our business because when the service goes down, effectively there is the chance of lost revenue for us, Maughan explains. We need that reliability and that quality of service. This story is part of a Connected Business series. See Vodafone.ie for more information. To read more about how IoT solutions are transforming the way we live and work, click here. US forces in the Middle East are facing increasing threats after a Navy warship shot down missiles appearing to head toward Israel on Thursday. American bases in Iraq and Syria have also repeatedly been targeted by drone attacks and on Thursday a US official said there had been an attack near Baghdads airport, where US forces are hosted. The official said one projectile was shot down and another struck, but according to early reports no one was injured. It was not clear what type of munition was fired. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said information was still being gathered. Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder speaks during a briefing at the Pentagon (Andrew Harnik, AP) The USS Carney, a Navy destroyer in the northern Red Sea, intercepted three land attack cruise missiles and several drones that were launched by Houthi forces in Yemen. The action potentially represented the first shots by the US military in the defence of Israel in this conflict. Pentagon press secretary Brig Gen Patrick Ryder told reporters the missiles were potentially headed toward Israel but said the US has not finished its assessment of what they were targeting. A US official said they do not believe the missiles which were shot down over the water were aimed at the warship. An array of other drone attacks over the past three days did target US bases, including one in southern Syria on Thursday that caused minor injuries. The attacks in the wake of a deadly explosion at a Gaza hospital, triggering protests in a number of Muslim nations. The Israeli military has relentlessly attacked Gaza in retaliation for the devastating Hamas rampage in southern Israel almost two weeks ago, but Israel has denied responsibility for the al-Ahli hospital blast and the US has said its intelligence assessment found that Tel Aviv was not to blame. In recent days, a number of militant groups across the region from Hezbollah to the Houthis have expressed support for the Palestinians and threatened Israel. Since Tuesday, militants have launched at least four drone attacks on US military installations in Iraq and Syria where US troops train local defence forces and support the mission to counter the Islamic State group. The attacks fuel escalating worries in the US and the West that the war in Israel could expand into a larger regional conflict. Thats exactly what we are trying to prevent, Mr Ryder said. The most recent drone attack was Thursday at al-Asad Air Base in western Iraq. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq posted a statement claiming responsibility for the attack, saying they had fired a salvo of rockets at the base and they hit their targets directly and precisely. A US official confirmed the latest attack but said it was too early to assess any impact. The al-Tanf garrison in southeastern Syria was struck by drones on Thursday. US troops have maintained a presence at the base for a number of years to train Syrian allies and monitor Islamic State militant activity. The Pentagon said one drone was shot down, but another hit the base and caused minor injuries. The first of what could be several land acquisitions by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks along the Lower Yellowstone River to improve public access was approved on Thursday. The Fish and Wildlife Commission unanimously supported the $1.18 million purchase of the 328-acre Wildcat Bend property. The last hurdle is for the acquisition to be approved by the State Land Board, composed of Montanas top elected officials, when it meets in November. This is what makes Montana great, places held in public trust for all to enjoy, said Thomas Baumeister of the Montana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, in asking the commission to endorse the purchase. Due to a mitigation banking agreement between the landowner and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, federal funds could not be used for the purchase. So in addition to $4 million in state money already allocated by the Legislature to fund Lower Yellowstone acquisitions, several conservation groups and outdoor businesses collaborated to raise $500,000 in funding. The Wildcat property is located seven miles east of Forsyth, in Rosebud County. The acquisition will create Montanas newest Wildlife Management Area, protect wildlife and riparian habitat and open 2.2 miles of riverfront for boat-in and walk-in access. Im a supporter of Wildcat because it was driven by local input and it can only benefit our local businesses in Rosebud County, said Rosebud County Commissioner Robert Lee in a press release from the Lower Yellostone River Coalition. In addition to improving local recreation, these kinds of projects can increase visitation and bring in more tourism dollars for our communities. The coalition is focused on the area from Forsyth to Sidney along the Yellowstone. An economic analysis the group requested found an increase in tourism to the area by providing more public access could generate $5.3 million in spending and create more than 50 new jobs. In addition to the Wildcat purchase, the commission green-lighted a land swap of 1.07 acres of FWP acreage at the Elk Island WMA in Richland County for 2.61 acres of adjoining private land. FWP acquired the WMA in 2008 in a purchase from the Hagler family. Unknowingly, the sale included the 1-acre parcel where a family friend parked his trailer near an old homestead. When FWP and the Haglers realized the error, a land trade was proposed. FWP agreed, in part to be a good neighbor and also because the land it acquired in the trade is better wildlife habitat. The only cost will be about $9,000 in survey expenses. The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) seized a junta military camp near the border with China in northern Shan State on Thursday, Kachin News Group reported. The camp is located at the base of Wane Lar Mountain near Mong Ko Town. KIA troops seized the camp at about 2pm after fierce fighting began in the early morning, KIA troops told the online news group. The Myanmar military launched airstrikes in the area in the morning and afternoon, but failed to deter the offensive, the report said. The regimes military suffered heavy casualties during the clash and the KIA seized a large cache of weapons and ammunition, the report said. The seizure of the camp followed the capture of a junta military communications camp in Kachin States Shwegu Township on Wednesday. KIA Battalion 12 and the Shwegu Peoples Defense Force launched an early-morning attack on the base near Nag Bat Gyi Village on Shwegu-Bhamo road. They retrieved the body of a junta soldier killed in the clash, along with weapons, ammunition and rations, Shwegu PDF said. Nga Bat Gyi camp is located slightly less than a mile from Shwegu Town, which serves as a staging post for junta troop reinforcements deployed to Kachin State via the Ayeyarwady River. Clashes have been reported along Myitkyina-Bhamo Highway in Kachin State since early July, when the junta deployed several hundred troops to attack the KIA headquarters in Laiza Town near the Chinese border. Last week, clashes broke out at Nam San Yang Village near Laiza Town and in Aungja Village in Momauk Township. The juntas military launched airstrikes during the fighting, the KIA said. KIA spokesman Colonel Naw Bu told The Irrawaddy last week that fighting might intensify. The KIA has also clashed with junta forces in Muse and Kutkai townships in neighboring northern Shan State. It is also fighting junta troops alongside resistance groups in upper Sagaing Region. NYAUNGSHWE, Shan StateThousands of Buddhists took to boats on Myanmars famed Inle Lake on Thursday to celebrate the return of one of the nations biggest festivals, but the devotees joy was laced with the sorrow of war. The 17-day Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda festival sees four sacred Buddha images placed on a golden barge and rowed through villages that dot the shores of the tourist hotspot in eastern Shan State. The coronavirus pandemic and then the militarys 2021 coup canceled the three previous editions of the festival, denying locals the chance to worship the images and gain merit. On Thursday morning, the golden barge zipped through the cool water, towed by sleek wooden longboats crewed by men rowing in the local fashiona leg wrapped around their oar to gain more push. Dozens of boats filled with worshippers followed as the sun rose, the sounds of drums and cymbals accompanying the flotilla. We are enjoying here but on the other side [outside of Inle Lake] the situation is not good, student Phuu Pyae Thwe told AFP on the water. We feel sad because of their situation We are also worrying what could happen on the way, the student added, such as possible armed clashes. We want to apologize to you all. We havent held [the festival] for three years already. We are sorry about the fighting in other places. As they drew alongside the golden barge decked out with Buddhist flags, devotees prayed to the four images inside. A fifth Buddha image remains in the Phaung Daw Oo pagoda during the festivitiesthe legacy of an accident several decades ago when it was dropped into the lake from the boat carrying it. Tourist no-go Foreign travelers flocked to Inles waters and brooding hills after the then-junta transitioned to semi-civilian rule in 2011 and opened up the Southeast Asian nation. But arrivals have dried up since the 2021 coup, which has battered the economy and put many areas of the country off-limits. One worker in the nearby town of Nyaungshwe told AFP his hotel had shed 80 percent of its staff. Many hotels are closed because there are no local or foreign guests, they said, asking for anonymity. Shan State has been spared the worst of the militarys crackdown, which a local monitoring group says has killed more than 4,100 people and seen tens of thousands arrested. But in March around 30 people sheltering from fighting at a monastery just hours from Inle were killed, with the junta and anti-coup fighters trading blame over the massacre. The military says more than 6,000 people have been killed by anti-coup fighters. Weve been preparing since we heard the festival was going to happen, Than Nyunt, 75, told AFP. We are also doing good deeds for those people in Myanmar who are suffering as well, she said. We are praying for them. We are wishing for them to be happy and peaceful again quickly like here. On the shore, Htway Yi said she was very happy for the festivals return. We were sad as we hadnt seen [the Buddha statues] for three years, she told AFP. We are happy now I want the lake to be crowded like before. The Myanmar regime has allocated space in the commercial capital, Yangon, for its key arms supplier Russia to build a Russian Orthodox church, in a sign that the growing cooperation between the two pariah nations has reached a new level. His Eminence Sergiy, a senior Russian Orthodox cleric who holds the title of Metropolitan of Singapore and South-East Asia, met with junta-appointed Yangon Mayor Bo Htay at Yangon City Hall on Thursday, and the pair discussed building a church in North Dagon Township, according to junta media. The church will stand on 1.25 acres (0.5 hectare) of land, and the regime will provide the necessary assistance to start construction as early as possible, junta media said, adding that Yangon municipality will also supply water and electricity to the project. The proposed church is the result of a meeting between Sergiy and junta boss min Aung Hlaing some five months ago at which they discussed the construction of a Russian Orthodox church in Myanmar. They also discussed the establishment in Russia of a Buddhist Center and a recently constructed replica of Myanmars Shwezigon temple there, according to junta media. Min Aung Hlaing consecrated the replica of Bagans Shwezigon in the Russian capital Moscow in July 2022. Orthodox Christians make up the religious majority in Russia. High-profile Buddhist monk Sitagu Sayadaw Ashin Nyanissara, who accompanied Min Aung Hlaing in consecrating the replica, has expressed support for the 2021 military coup. Likewise, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow supports Russian President Vladimir Putin in his invasion of Ukraine. During his visit to Myanmar in May, Metropolitan Sergiy met Myanmar-Russia Friendship Association chairman former Major-General Aung Thaw, who also chairs the juntas Union Civil Services Board and was a classmate of Min Aung Hlaing in the 19th intake of the Defense Services Academy. At the meeting, Sergiy said Russian travelers tend to visit Orthodox churches in the countries they travel to, and a church in Myanmar would attract Russian tourists. Myanmars tourism industry has been in steep decline. When a group of Chinese travelers recently visited Myanmar, Hotels and Tourism Minister Thet Thet Khinewho apparently has quite a bit of time on her handswas on hand to welcome the rare international visitors at Yangon International Airport. Since its establishment after the military coup of 2021, the regime has developed close ties with Russia. Myanmar opened its first nuclear information center earlier this year with support from Moscow. Myanmars junta-controlled Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dismissed ASEAN criticism of the bombardment of a Kachin State displacement camp earlier this month. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this week condemned the Mung Lai Hkyet village bombing that left 29 people dead on October 9. The regime claimed an arsenal exploded at a nearby Kachin Independence Army (KIA) training center. The ministry said it urged ASEAN not to comment on the incident. Thirteen children were killed and 57 people were wounded at the camp which is about 3km from the KIAs headquarters in Laiza, according to the armed group. ASEAN said on Tuesday that it was deeply concerned about the reported bombing. It called for an end to violence, particularly against civilians, and for dialogue between all sides to establish a lasting peace. The foreign ministry said it had given ASEAN information about the incident. Despite that communication on the factual information on that incident, the statement was issued in an unwarranted manner. Myanmar dissociates itself from the ASEAN statement, which is unfounded and misleading, the ministry said, adding that ASEAN should not interfere in other countrys domestic affairs. Human Rights Watch (HRW) said it interviewed five witnesses and reviewed 20 images and three videos of the scene, which suggested the junta conducted an airstrike and then fired ground-launched mortars or artillery. HRW said the first blast was probably caused by a large high-explosive bomb delivered by an aircraft while there was no evidence of resistance groups in the area. The militarys repeated strikes and shelling of a village filled with displaced people were either unlawfully deliberate or indiscriminate, said Manny Maung, HRWs researcher on Myanmar. She said other governments should not just condemn the junta but take also concrete action to stop further violations. Amnesty International reported last week that the attack was consistent with large aerially delivered bombs, which are in the juntas arsenal. It said an unguided bomb was probably used, which was inappropriate where civilians were sheltering. It said its weapons specialist had analyzed photos and videos, suggesting there had been a single, massive blast that had flattened numerous buildings, followed by another explosion. KIA spokesman Colonel Naw Bu told The Irrawaddy last week that explosives would never be stored near civilians. He said KIA investigators had found bomb fragments which would be examined and suspected drones had been used in the attack. Last October, a junta airstrike targeted an outdoor concert at ANang Pa village in Hpakant Township, Kachin State, killing at least 75 people. At least 29 Myanmar junta troops were killed in the last five days as Peoples Defense Force groups (PDFs) and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) continued to attack regime forces across the country. Incidents were reported in Shan and Mon states and Bago, Mandalay, Magwe and Sagaing regions. The Irrawaddy has collected the following reports of significant attacks from PDFs and EAOs. Some military casualties could not be independently verified. Military hilltop base seized in northern Shan A hilltop base of military Light Infantry Battalion 567 was reportedly attacked and seized by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in the Mong Ko area of northern Shan State on Thursday, according to local media reports citing KIA sources and locals. The junta lost the base despite using helicopter gunships and fighter jets in an effort to save it. Clashes erupt in Mon Raven Column said it and other resistance groups including the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the armed wing of the Karen National Union (KNU), triggered land mines to ambush 20 regime forces advancing toward Dauk Yat Village on the Yangon-Mawlamyine highway in Belin Township, Mon State on Tuesday. The military unit was performing security duty for a military convoy that was due to use the highway. The military unit retreated from the area after five troops were killed and three injured in the land-mine ambush. Later, the combined resistance groups attacked 30 more regime forces arriving in the area, killing seven more soldiers and injuring 10. There were no resistance casualties. Due to the resistance attacks, the military convoy, which had arrived in Belin town, turned back, said the resistance group. Military unit repeatedly ambushed in Bago Thayawaddy District PDF Battalion 3801 said it triggered land mines to ambush a military unit heading towards the resistance groups area in Nattalin Township, Bago Region on Tuesday, killing two regime forces. After being hit, the regime forces used elephants and their owner families as living shields in order to get through minefields planted by resistance groups. Later, resistance snipers ambushed regime forces arriving at a camp, killing one more soldier. The resistance groups again triggered land mines to ambush the same military unit as it arrived in San Gyi Village. In the attack, three more soldiers were killed and some of the elephants and handlers are thought to have been injured. There were no resistance casualties in the attacks. The resistance groups urged people to avoid regime forces due to the potential for further intense fighting in the area. Military informer killed in Bago Pyay District PDF Battalion 3602 said it killed junta informant Hla Wai in his village, Thayet Tapin in Pauk Khaung Township, Bago Region on Wednesday. The informant had identified civilians with alleged links to resistance groups, urging regime forces to arrest and torture them. The group said it killed the informant after he reported to regime forces the locations of resistance camps in the township. Regime forces ambushed in Sagaing A junta soldier was killed in Ye-U Township, Sagaing Region on Thursday when Ye U PDF ambushed a military unit between two villages, the group said. The military unit later entered nearby Depayin Township. That evening, the resistance groups used drones to drop two bombs on regime forces stationed at a school, a monastery and a junta-run government accounting office. Military casualties were unknown, however. Military flotilla attacked in Sagaing A combined resistance force engages in a clash with a military flotilla on the Chindwin River in Monywa Township. / Monywa District PDF B 23 Peace Takers Task Force (PTTF) said it and other resistance groups used five heavy weapons to attack a military flotilla of eight barges traveling from Monywa to Salingyi along the Chindwin River on Thursday. The flotilla was carrying logs. After being attacked, regime forces on the barges responded with firearms. Details of the damage and regime casualties were unknown. On Tuesday, Monywa District PDF Battalion 23 and other resistance groups also ambushed a military flotilla of four vessels traveling upstream toward Monywa along the Chindwin River. Regime forces also responded with both heavy explosives and firearms. Military casualties were unknown. Regime forces bombed while torching houses in Sagaing Freedom Revolution Force said it and other resistance groups used seven 40-mm explosives to bomb regime forces from Ye-U Township while they were torching houses in Ma Soe Yin Village. Regime casualties were unknown. Regime forces bombed in Sagaing Civilian Defense and Security Organization of Myaung (CDSOM) said it and three PDF groups used both commercial drones and improvised remote-controlled airplanes to bomb regime forces stationed at Kyauk Yi Police Station in Myaung Township, Sagaing Region on Wednesday. On the same day, they also dropped drone bombs on a military unit from the police station as it was heading to Kin Village. Many regime forces are believed to have been killed or injured, the group said. Regime forces killed in resistance ambush in Magwe At least seven regime soldiers were killed and five injured in Seikphyu Township, Magwe Region on Tuesday when four resistance groups from Magwe and Mandalay regions ambushed a military unit of 40 troops from Military Weapons Factory 21, said the Student Revolution Army (SRA), which coordinated the attack. The regime forces were attacked while patrolling the area. After a 30-minute firefight, more reinforcements firing heavy explosives arrived at the clash site and retrieved the bodies of killed and injured soldiers. Junta soldiers bombed by drones in Mandalay Regime targets are bombed by resistance drones in Myingyan Township on Sunday. / MDDST Two regime soldiers are believed to have been killed and three injured in Myingyan Township, Mandalay Region on Sunday when Myingyan District Drone Strike Team and other resistance groups conducted drone strikes on regime forces stationed in Pyar Village, the drone group said. That night, two vehicles were used to transport the injured soldiers to Myingyan town. Resistance groups in Mon State claim to have killed a dozen regime troops during repeated attacks in Belin Township on Tuesday where they have taken control of major highways and roads. Raven Column said it and other resistance groups, including the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), first used land mines to ambush 20 regime forces advancing toward Dauk Yat Village on the Yangon-Mawlamyine Highway in Belin Township on Tuesday morning. The KNLA is the armed wing of the countrys oldest ethnic revolutionary group, the Karen National Union (KNU). The regime unit was performing security checks for a military convoy that was due to use the highway. It retreated after five of its troops were killed and three others were injured in the land-mine ambush, resistance group Raven Column said. Later that day, combined resistance groups ambushed 30 more regime forces arriving in the area. Ten land mines were used in the ambush that killed seven junta troops and injured 10 more, according to resistance group Tabin Shwe Htee Column, which took part in the ambush. Joint attacks by resistance groups continued that morning with drones dropping bombs on regime forces in the area. The bombs injured five more regime forces, including police and former soldiers, the resistance groups said. The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the reports. After the resistance attacks, regime forces shelled areas near Douk Yat and adjacent Khae Mauk Village until the afternoon using heavy artillery, local media quoted residents as saying. The resistance groups said that due to the series of attacks, the military convoy that had arrived in Belin Township turned back before reaching its destination. Several Peoples Defense Force groups (PDFs) under the command of the civilian National Unity Government (NUG) and allied KNLA forces have taken control of many sections of the Yangon-Mawlamyine Highway as well as Mawlamyine-Tanintharyi Highway, which links Bago Region, Mon State and Tanintharyi Region. Resistance groups in Mon State are jointly conducting security checks on civilian vehicles using both highwayswhich connect in the states capital Mawlamyinein order to prevent regime forces from entering the area as well as the flow of military ammunitions and military products, including several liquor brands. The joint office of the southern military region of the KNU and the National Unity Government (NUG) is prohibiting civilians from using the highways between 6pm and 6am. The joint armed groups of the KNU and NUG have also been increasing attacks on regime targets in Bago Region, threating both the new Yangon-Mandalay Expressway and the old highway connecting the two cities, as well as the Yangon-Mandalay railway. Both highways and the railway are strategic links between the countrys commercial hub Yangon to the regimes administrative capital Naypyitaw. Resistance attacks have been reported along both Yangon-Mandalay road routes. Civilians are being urged not to use either the old highway or the new expressway between 6pm and 6am. On Oct. 9, a devastating late-night airstrike by the Myanmar military on Laiza, a Kachin town bordering China under the administration of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), tore through a camp for internally displaced people, killing numerous civilians including 12 children. This appalling incident adds to the litany of heinous crimes the Myanmar military has committed against civilians throughout its sordid history. According to a recent report issued by the parallel national Unity Government, which is spearheading the pro-democracy resistance to the junta, the military has committed at least 144 massacres since its 2021 coup, killing 1,595 civilians across the country. This is the same military that committed what the UN called genocide against the Rohingya minority in 2017, driving over 750,000 individuals into Bangladesh in a harrowing exodus. Yet the international community has failed to hold Myanmars criminal generals accountable for their repeated crimes against humanity. To the contrary, some global actors have engaged the military, facilitating its impunity, under the ill-informed and shortsighted premise that immediate engagement offers the only path to stability. It doesnt. A striking example is the recent US$3-million agreement between child rights protector Unicef and the Myanmar junta, which has killed hundreds of children since its illegal coup. There are numerous other examples of international organizations openly engaging with the junta under the guise of humanitarian relief and neutrality. Diplomats and aid actors continue to visit Naypyitaw to shake the generals blood-soaked hands, while others invite them to international training sessions, meetings, and diplomatic events. They claim that their engagement is either unavoidable or a necessary precondition to delivering aid. However, these actions are just further examples in the international communitys long history of enabling military impunity spitting in the face of the Myanmar people and the movement that fights for them. Advocates of such engagement often argue that they have no choice. The more honest regional brokers openly say they must engage the junta if they want to achieve their strategic interests. Others say that they do so to bring about stability or provide crucial aid to conflict-affected communities. None of this is true. The delusional international peacemakers who thought that engaging or strengthening the juntas State Administration Council (SAC) would bring stability or serve their interests are now hopefully acknowledging their ignorance. In fact, the military regime is the primary source of instability and chaos in Myanmar, consistently perpetuating suffering among its people and undermining regional stability and the interests of neighboring countries. As international players are busy engaging with the regime, the communities most affected by violence or natural disasters continue to go unsupported. Some in the international community have made numerous concessions to achieve these hollow objectives. Each engagement provides more false confidence to the generals that they can survive in power and abuse the Myanmar public in whatever way they want to achieve that aim. This approach only exacerbates peoples suffering, emboldens the genocidal dictators, and prolongs the civil war. A new narrative has emerged recently that is being used to undermine support for the pro-democracy movement and justify junta engagement. This one argues that both sides the junta and the pro-democracy forces are unaccountable violent actors committing violence against civilians. This ignores the primary incentives and motivation driving armed stakeholders. The juntas sole objective is survival. Having lost its domestic constituency, its primary survival strategy is to inflict mass suffering. Granted, some pro-democracy forces are unaccountable, but this remains a minority, and thus far resistance actors have endeavored to address any such wrongdoings as they arise. Most of them genuinely serve the Myanmar public. This is why they took up arms in the first place. The public is their source of power, funding, and legitimacy. The difference in motivation and incentives explains why it is the junta that is responsible for the vast majority of civilian killings. The UN Human Rights chief said, There are reasonable grounds to believe that the military and its affiliated militias continue to be responsible for most violations, some of which may constitute crimes against humanity and war crimes. In the context of asymmetric warfare in which the Myanmar military has deployed jet fighters and multi-launch rocket systems, it is dishonest and cruel to equate the actions of the brutal military with those who are defending themselves. This disingenuous narrative aims to rationalize inaction or self-interested engagement with the criminal generals. The both-sides argument ignores this incentive structure and the core dynamic of this conflict. This is a national uprising that is broadly supported by the public after more than two years because it serves the publics interest. More specifically, it aims to dismantle an unaccountable, violent and illegal military dictatorship that has been a dominant source of suffering for the Myanmar people for more than 60 years. My colleagues at USIP and I have conducted extensive and systematic research that supports this conclusion. At the height of the militarys brutal post-coup crackdown on peaceful protests, the people of Myanmar pleaded for the international community to intervene and halt the onslaught so that they would not have to take up arms. The international community did nothing, leaving the people with no choice but to take up arms in self-defense. The actions of the Myanmar military are not unique to this post-coup period. They are deeply ingrained in an institution sustained by impunity and international apathy. It is the same people who gunned down peaceful protesters in 1988 and 2007, committed a series of war crimes against ethnic minority communities for decades and conducted genocide just six years ago. We hear repeatedly that the Myanmar military must be engaged because its domination of Myanmar politics is inevitable. It isnt! It is a product of the system of impunity that is enabled by the international community. The international community has fallen into the same pattern since the 2021 coup falling back on an engagement strategy that provides impunity for the Myanmar military and deepens its delusion that it can defeat the national uprising. This betrayal of the Myanmar public only perpetuates the conflict. In his book Imperfect Partners, former US Ambassador to Myanmar Scot Marciel highlights the challenges of dialogue and engagement with the Myanmar military. Despite his persistent advocacy for enhanced US engagement across Southeast Asia in his book, Marciel emphasizes the futility of dialogue with the Myanmar military. He argues that their brutality, widespread unpopularity, and unwillingness to participate in dialogue or any form of compromise in good faith make engagement difficult. In reference to Neville Chamberlains policy appeasing Hitler, Italian leader Benito Mussolini once famously remarked that it was akin to giving a wild beast a taste of blood. The international community should be acutely aware of the dangers of emboldening a barbaric junta through such engagement. Even if they are unable to actively support the peoples struggle for their own future, they must refrain from providing the generals with false confidence to maintain their grip on power, thereby prolonging the conflict and perpetuating the suffering of the people. Any such engagement would inevitably be recorded in history as complicity in the regimes heinous crimes against the people of Myanmar. Ye Myo Hein is a visiting scholar at the US Institute of Peace and a global fellow at the Wilson Center. In a unanimous vote on Thursday, the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission denied a petition that would allow hunters with physical disabilities to use crossbows during the archery season. Hunters can use crossbows during the rifle season, but archery and conservation groups argued against allowing the weapons during the bow-only season because they can be shot farther and more accurately than a bow. Dane Rider, of the Traditional Bowhunters of Montana, said the current crossbow ban is not discriminatory because it applies to everyone during the archery season. Other members of the public who testified against the petition said there would be potential for abusing the accommodation and noted similar requests have been raised in the past and were shot down. Brad Molnar, a Laurel state senator, has pushed legislation and lawsuits seeking the approval of crossbows for what he said has been a 22-year fight. He argued those unable to use modified archery equipment call the current crossbow ban discrimination. Bruno Friia, who along with Molnar and two other hunters filed a lawsuit challenging the states crossbow ban in 2021, argued modified archery equipment doesnt help all disabled hunters. Bruce Fredrickson, an attorney representing the hunters in their lawsuit, called the situation unfortunate. He argued the commission could not deny the mens reasonable request for accommodations. Jack Racicot demonstrated to the commission how he can use a modified compound bow to safely hunt, but said modified archery equipment would be dangerous because he suffers body spasms that could accidentally trigger a bow to fire. Help me put meat in the freezer, he said. Molnar sponsored a bill in the last two legislative sessions seeking to legalize crossbows for disabled hunters. Similar bills have been introduced and died 10 times, a Lee Newspapers State Bureau story noted. In the 2021 lawsuit, Missoula District Court Judge Dana Christensen ruled against the hunters, noting there is the opportunity for the men to use crossbows during the rifle season. Fredrickson said his clients lawsuit was stayed pending the commissions decision, indicating legal action may be revived now that the commission has denied the petitioners request. 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. A slain Maryland judge presided over the divorce case of man identified as a suspect in his killing Authorities say a Maryland judge who was shot to death in the driveway of his home had presided over the divorce case of a man now identified as a suspect in the killing FILE - Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni arrives at the Europe Summit in Granada, Spain, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023. Premier Giorgia Melonis far-right-led government said authorities in the northeastern border region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia had identified 16,000 people so far this year who had entered Italy illegally. Italy on Wednesday suspended an open-border agreement with neighboring Slovenia citing an increased threat of terrorism in Europe due to Middle East violence. Montana-Dakota Utilities customers will see a decrease on their monthly electric bills beginning in November. The reduction will vary by the amount of electricity a household uses, but an average residential customer can expect to see a drop of $5.09 a month. State regulators at the Public Service Commission recently approved MDUs request to recover just under $1.3 million through its transmission cost adjustment. The adjustment is a rider or additional charge that utility companies add as a line item to electricity bills, separate from general rates. The adjustment is over $11.5 million less than what MDU requested in 2022. This is driven by a new datacenter, Applied Digital, near Ellendale which as a large customer of MDU covers the cost of certain transmission charges from the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, a regional transmission organization that buys electricity from and sells power to utilities. This alone saved ratepayers around $5.4 million in 2023. The adjustment will cover the costs of existing transmission projects as well as the replacement of a substation in Tioga. The adjustment also includes expenses related to MISO and the Southwest Power Pool, the other regional transmission organization that provides services to North Dakota. Rates from regional transmission organizations are expected to rise in the future due to the ongoing buildout of electrical infrastructure across the country, but a datacenter like Applied Digitals would continue to help offset those costs for MDU customers, according to Commissioner Randy Christmann. Still, he warned that the benefits from the burgeoning industry of datacenters may not last forever. Just like not so long ago in history wed never heard of bitcoin or this kind of data processing centers going up; this can disappear or just like they built it in a matter of months, they can move it somewhere else in a matter of months and MDU will be back in here asking for an increase, he said. MDU presents its cost adjustment to the PSC annually. This is the third consecutive year that the cost of the rider has decreased. Monthly prices for the average customer fell by 3 cents in 2021 and 87 cents in 2022. In 2020, MDU's transmission cost adjustment caused a rise of $2.95 a month for the average customer, which the utility said was necessary to account for drops in transmission-related revenues along with new projects. This years rider was already set to decrease by $4.70 a month for the average customer, but a catch by PSC staff found that certain charges in the cost adjustment were already charged in the general rates. MDU updated its filings accordingly. This brought MDUs cost adjustment request down from just under $2.2 million to just under $1.3 million. Commissioner Julie Fedorchak said, That was a sizeable absence from the calculations that our staff pretty much singlehandedly caught and saved customers in North Dakota almost a million bucks. Journalist killed in Israel-Lebanon crossfire in S. Lebanon Xinhua) 14:17, October 20, 2023 BEIRUT, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- One journalist was killed and another injured among a group of reporters trapped Thursday night in the crossfire near a military site in southern Lebanon, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua. Seven Lebanese and Iranian journalists were caught in a shelling between Lebanon and Israel near Israel's Al-Abbad site in the vicinity of Houla, a southern Lebanese town, during their media coverage, said the sources on condition of anonymity. One person lost his life during the incident while the others were rescued from the area after the Lebanese Armed Forces and the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) broke the siege and transferred them to a safe place, said UNIFIL Spokesperson Andrea Tenenti. He said that upon the Lebanese military's request, "UNIFIL urged the Israeli army to cease fire to facilitate the rescue operation," adding that "the Israeli army ceased fire, which allowed the Lebanese army to remove the individuals from the area successfully." The situation on the Lebanese-Israeli border escalated after the firing by Hezbollah on Oct. 8 of tens of rockets toward military sites in Shebaa Farms in support of the "Al-Aqsa Flood" operation 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. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) A Bismarck woman sent to prison in the death of her infant daughter last year and later granted a new trial by the state Supreme Court will not be retried on a child neglect charge. South Central District Judge Daniel Borgen signed an order Friday morning dismissing the case against Cassandra Black Elk after prosecutors on Thursday entered a motion recommending the move. "The state no longer believes it can prove its case-in chief," the motion reads. "Dismissal of this matter is in the best interests of justice." Dane DeKrey, Black Elk's attorney, said the motion to dismiss and Borgen's agreement "is a relief" to his client. "Just the closure, the finality of it all," DeKrey said. "She had to go prison over this. She finally gets to be a grieving mother." Black Elk was charged with child neglect following the death of her 3-week old daughter, Starlight, on Feb. 19, 2022, in their Bismarck home. Prosecutors claimed Black Elk was so intoxicated she could not properly care for the baby. Black Elk in May 2022 pleaded guilty upon the advice of her initial attorney, James Loraas. Black Elk had asked on multiple occasions to see her daughter's autopsy report, but Loraas never provided that report, according to court documents. The autopsy report showed Starlight was "normally developed, well nourished and well hydrated," the documents said, and the baby died from "unexplained sudden death," also known as sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS. In January of this year Borgen ruled that Black Elk, who had served roughly half of her 1 -year sentence, wasn't responsible for her daughter's death. Prosecutors challenged that decision, but in August the North Dakota Supreme Court upheld Borgen's ruling. Justices ruled Black Elk had received improper legal advice from Loraas when he advised her to enter a guilty plea. Loraas has not commented to the Tribune on the matter. The Great North Innocence Project, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit that works to overturn wrongful convictions, took Black Elk's case after learning about it. DeKrey, who formerly served on Great North's board, was asked to get involved. "Great North does mostly appeal work, while this firm does criminal work," DeKrey said. Following the August ruling, prosecutors continued pursuing the case, asking Borgen to set the matter for a new trial and deny a defense motion to dismiss the charges against Black Elk. Borgen did deny the defense's request that charges be dismissed, but he also said prosecutors hadn't stated how Black Elk's intoxicated condition justified a charge of child neglect. Prosecutors were given until Oct. 23 to clarify their position. Rather than do that, prosecutors brought their motion to dismiss. Burleigh County State's Attorney Julie Lawyer did not immediately respond to a Tribune request for comment Friday. "I'm a believer in giving credit where credit is due," DeKrey said of the decision to drop the case against Black Elk. "Credit to the state's attorney. They finally made the right decision." James Mayer, Great North's managing attorney, echoed DeKrey's sentiments, calling Black Elk's experiences "unimaginable." "To see Cassi freed, reunited with her two daughters, and now finally exonerated, has been beyond rewarding for our team," Mayer said. Black Elk still faces misdemeanor charges unrelated to the child neglect case. Those charges of domestic violence, disorderly conduct and criminal mischief were brought in September after an alleged physical confrontation between Black Elk and a family member, according to court documents. She could face up to about a year in jail if convicted. FARGO After four months of campaigning, the biggest contributor to North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgums longshot 2024 presidential bid remains Doug Burgum. North Dakotas tech entrepreneur turned governor has raised nearly $15.2 million for his campaign so far this year, according to reports from the Federal Election Commission, and about $12.2 million has come as loans from his own pockets. The money has allowed him to buy advertising, cover travel expenses and pay his staff as he tries to boost his national profile. Fundraising from supporters, meanwhile, accounts for about a fifth of his campaigns cash. Their contributions have been steady since he announced his campaign earlier this year, with the governor reporting about $1.5 million from outside donors in the July and October FEC reports, which all presidential candidates are required to file. Since announcing his candidacy on June 7, Burgum has struggled to boost his national recognition and poll support, so who are the donors who are still putting money behind the governors presidential campaign? In the October report, which covers contributions and spending in July, August and September, the biggest donors are a similar mix to those who put money behind Burgum earlier through June: businesspeople from North Dakota and across the rest of the U.S. in industries including energy, real estate, retail and technology. Plus a handful of familiar local names, all of whom can contribute up to $3,300 each for the primary and general elections. There are a few names North Dakotans will recognize. "Transformers" actor and Minot native Josh Duhamel chipped in $1,000 in July, around the time he announced his endorsement of Burgum on social media. Political action committees with ties to North Dakota U.S. Sens. John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer, both Republicans and endorsers of Burgum, have also made contributions. First International Bank and Trust Chairman and CEO Steve Stenehjem, cousin of late Republican Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, contributed $2,750. Burgum is also still getting backing from many business leaders. Potato and farm equipment magnate Ron Offutt and wife Karen made maximum contributions to the campaign. New York Jets offensive lineman Connor McGovern, son of R.D. Offutt president Keith McGovern, contributed to the campaign in August. His mother, Rondi McGovern, and her sister and interior design business partner Shelly Neal, did so, as well. Political action committees representing two key industries in North Dakota are also contributing to Burgum. The Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative Sugar PAC and the North Dakota Petroleum Council Federal PAC both contributed $5,000 within the last few months. Groups that support more than one candidate have a slightly higher maximum limit. Energy industry leaders are a reliable source of funding for Burgum. Carroll Dewing and John Butler of Nacco Natural Resources, a coal mining company, contributed to his campaign, as did the pro-coal North Dakota group Lignite Energy Council PAC. Other businesses familiar to North Dakota and Red River Valley residents whose executives have put money behind Burgum in the last few months include outdoors retailer Scheels and cable company Midco. Current and former members of Burgums sphere continue to back his presidential campaign, including executives at Microsoft and employees of the company that made Burgum wealthy decades ago -- Great Plains Software. Patrick Meenan, a Microsoft alum, and Ryan Kruizenga, partners at Burgums investment firm Arthur Ventures, have put thousands behind the campaign. Outside North Dakota, Burgum continues to attract campaign contributions from a handful of big investors and businesspeople. Former Coca-Cola CEO Frank Harrison threw in a few thousand dollars in July. Thomas J. Tierney, chairman of eBay, contributed, and so did Michael Fascitelli, an investor and major GOP donor who co-owns the Milwaukee Bucks. Besides political action committees associated with North Dakota names, political backers who have given financial support to Burgums campaign include New Jersey Republican State Committee Chairman Robert Hugin and Charlotte City Council member Tariq Scott Bokhari, a Republican businessman. Campaign finance documents only say so much about who financially backs Burgums campaign. Thousands of donations that came through the GOP digital donation platform WinRed do not carry the names of contributors, and the platform does not have to disclose names until a later date. Meanwhile, more money appears to be going through the Burgum-aligned independent group Best of America PAC, which at this point has spent $18.7 million on advertising for Burgum this election cycle. Best of America is a super political action committee that cannot directly coordinate with a political campaign but doesnt have donation limits. The most recently available information on Best of America is from the end of July, when the group had raised about $11 million -- significantly less than the spending it has reported since. While super PACs like Best of America have to report major ad spending within 48 hours of a buy, they only have to report their donations twice a year. The next reporting period closes at the end of December. That means many of Burgums supporters will remain undisclosed for months. Another part of Burgums campaign finance picture that remains murky is the exact number of donors he has. According to a campaign spokesman, the campaign had about 80,000 donations as of last weekend. But FEC documents only list a few thousand. Burgum had to have at least 50,000 individual donors to qualify for the second presidential debate, per Republican National Committee requirements. Since he was admitted to the stage, he was able to present evidence he had at least that many donors. Leaders of the North Dakota Legislature decided Friday that next week's special session will begin with a narrow focus on the wide-spanning budget bill that was recently shot down by the state Supreme Court. The interim Legislative Management committee considered 28 bills and one resolution in a meeting featuring topics that ranged from child care funding to gun rights for residents on probation, deciding that all but one of the items did not meet the threshold for introduction in the upcoming session. The committee debated the merits of just seven items for introduction, including three bills that were brought for debate, in part, because their sponsors were committee members. Only a resolution in support of Israel made it out of committee for broader consideration. Going into the Friday meeting, committee members were tasked with considering the immediate relevance of any proposed bills, weighing whether the items were pressing enough to warrant action before the next biennial legislative session, in 2025. In almost every case, the answer was a resounding no. I didn't see any of these bills -- although many of them I would support in a regular session -- rising to that standard, said state Rep. Paul Thomas, R-Velva. House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, R-Dickinson, said he was surprised by the narrow lens through which the committee approached the legislation, having expected that a few additional items would make it on the agenda. A focused scope could result in a shorter session, Lefor said, and would minimize the time legislators have to spend in the Capitol, and therefore the impact of the quick-turn session on their lives. Based on the Friday meeting, he predicted the session would last three or four days. A shorter session also would minimize the financial impact on residents: A five-day special session in November 2021 had a daily cost of around $65,000, whereas a regular legislative session day costs about $80,000. The Legislature can budget for this session during the current budget or allocate funds during the 2025 session to address the costs. Lefor said that based on his conversations with legislators, many are interested in keeping with that notion of a short session, and he thinks the committees reinforcement of that mentality bodes well. I'm hopeful that the Legislative Assembly gets the message from Legislative Management, that that's what we want to do, Lefor said. The special session is set to convene at 8:30 a.m. Monday, and will feature a State of the State message at 9:15 a.m. from Gov. Doug Burgum. How did we get here? The Public Employee Retirement System Board of Trustees challenged the Office of Management and Budgets 2023-25 budget bill in the North Dakota Supreme Court in late June. The bill has often served as a catch-all at the end of the legislative session. The PERS board was looking to overturn a clause that altered its composition, increasing the number of legislators that sit on the board from two to four. The board argued it was unconstitutional for state lawmakers to serve, citing separation of powers. The North Dakota Supreme Court overturned the entire bill in late September on the grounds that it violated a clause of the state constitution requiring legislation to pertain to only one topic. As a result, lawmakers had to reconvene to address the voiding of $322 million in funding in the OMB bill that spans across multiple state agencies and programs. The Supreme Court did not grant legislators a requested delay in the decisions effective date of Oct. 28, which condensed the timeline for holding a special session. Lawmakers learned of the courts decision about the delay on Oct. 12, and Burgum called a special session on Oct. 17. The court's ruling did not make a decision on the legality of the PERS board composition change. What is a special session? Lawmakers had two options to consider when charting a path to address the issue. They could use some or all of the unused legislative days from the 2023 regular session, having only used 75 of the 80 allocated days, or they could ask Burgum to call a special session. In either scenario, Burgum, who is running for the Republican nomination for president, would likely have to take time off the campaign trail to deal with the session. A governor-called special session allows legislators to preserve the remaining five session days in case another pressing issue arises before the start of the 2025 session. It also doesnt have a definitive end date, though Burgum said the Legislature should complete the task at hand by Friday, Oct. 27. The interim Legislative Management committee was responsible for setting the scope of the session. When preparing to do so, Lefor said legislation addressing issues outside of the OMB bill must be something that cant wait until the Legislature reconvenes in 2025. However, he also said legislative leaders indicated in negotiations with Burgum that they would be open to considering some bills the governor was hoping to pass, and the committee also allowed legislators to pitch potential bills at the Friday meeting. Burgum in calling the special session said it could address the OMB budget and also "make strategic investments in areas such as tax relief and infrastructure that strengthen North Dakotas economic future." Proposed tax and infrastructure bills considered by Legislative Management on Friday did not make it through. Whats on the table? The OMB bill was broken up into 14 smaller bills, which includes seven appropriation bills and seven policy bills. On the appropriations side, there are bills allocating funding to OMB, the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council, the Office of the Governor, the Judicial branch and the Department of Commerce. Money also is allocated for administrative expenses for boards and committees, as well as facility-related grants. Policy bills include a shift in North Dakotas pension program for state employees to a 401(k)-style plan, state school aid and loans from the infrastructure loan fund. A criminal penalty for supplying drugs that cause overdose deaths and injuries, water infrastructure loans and a fertilizer development incentive program focused on clean energy also are on the table, as is the PERS board composition change motivating the lawsuit that caused the special session. The board on Thursday wasnt able to reach a consensus on whether to actively oppose the bill, and as a result will not take an active role in its consideration. A resolution affirming North Dakotas support for longtime U.S. ally Israel amid an ongoing war with Palestinian militant organization Hamas was the only item to make it out of the Friday Legislative Management meeting. The resolution, which was proposed by state Sen. Bob Paulson, R-Minot, underscored the states backing for Israel to defend itself without interference or condemnation and called for North Dakota law enforcement to remain vigilant in protecting Israeli and Jewish residents of the state. Any additional items outside the scope of the original OMB budget bill and the resolution can only come in the form of amendments to existing bills or through a two-thirds vote in one of the chambers in favor of introducing a new bill. What was shot down? The 28 bills that didnt meet the threshold for broader consideration were wide-ranging. On the table were two bills that would have implemented income and property tax breaks, a bill that would have protected the wild horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park and $110 million in appropriations for the child care stabilization and recovery grant program. Legislators also proposed multiple education-related allocations and programs, with a focus on attracting and retaining higher education students, as well as other modifications to existing income, homestead and excise taxes and breaks. The committee considered multiple bills related to development and population growth, as well as multiple steps of the justice process, including juveniles and parolees. Some bills looked to tackle municipal and foreign influence in the wake of questions raised by Summit Carbon Solutions proposed $5.5 billion, 2,000-mile carbon dioxide pipeline network. One legislator proposed two bills related to the states dairy industry, another pitched the creation of an emergency resources fund and a third suggested a change to the PERS retirement contribution plan. Since the retirement bill is related to the states shift to a 401(k)-style retirement plan, theres a chance that it could become an amendment to one of the bills that was approved for consideration. N.S. LYONS The West and China share the same fate Reddit 22 Email 680 Shares Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) The Biden administrations foreign policy is a mess and lacks any real consistency. This messiness was on full display in the presidents brief address on Thursday evening, a plea for Congressional funding of both the US struggle to get Russia back out of Ukraine and of support for the extremist Netanyahu governments combination of targeting Hamas and its genocidal campaign against the civilians of Gaza. Biden linked Ukraines struggle against Russia and Israels struggle against Hamas by depicting the conflict as one of authoritarianism versus democracy. Biden denounced Russian dictator Vladimir Putin for depicting Ukraine as an artificial country, granted an identity by the Soviet Union, which the Russian Federation could now withdraw at will. He made an analogy to Hamass determination to destroy Israel. Everything is wrong with Bidens equivalencies and analogies. It is not clear how democratic the government of Binyamin Netanyahu was before this crisis. Netanyahu is on trial for corruption. He brought into his cabinet parties that not so long ago were on the US State Department terrorist watchlist. Netanyahu and his extreme-right allies were attempting to gut the Israeli supreme court and to move Israel in the direction of an illiberal democracy. They spoke of wiping Palestinian towns off the map. That was the reason Netanyahu had never been invited to the White House. Despite Bidens gestures toward Palestinian dignity and self-determination, regarding which he instanced the toothless Palestine Authority of Mahmoud Abbas, his administration has stood idly by, as did the administrations of Trump, Obama, and Bush, as Israel has illegally poured hundreds of thousands of Israeli squatters into Palestinian areas, who have stolen the lands of Palestinian families and have increasingly subjected them to pogroms. Abbass police, which are basically adjuncts to the Israeli occupation forces, are only allowed to patrol 40% of the West Bank, and even there they are routinely over-ruled by the Israeli Army. The Israeli squatters, who now outnumber Detroit in their population, have divvied up the Palestinian West Bank with the full backing of the Israeli government, and make a two-state solution impossible indeed, it has been impossible since about 2000, when Binyamin Netanyahu boasted of having killed and buried it. Let us consider all the things Biden left out. It is the Israelis who played Putin in 1967 when they illegally seized the Palestinian West Bank and Gaza, occupying neighbors territory in contravention of the UN Charter. It is the Israelis who deny that there is an organic Palestinian nation, just as Putin denies there is a Ukrainian one. It is the Prime Minister of Israel, Netanyahu, who vows there will never be a Palestinian state. Biden gave full-throated supported to the Israeli governments designs on Gaza, which go substantially beyond a punitive expedition to punish or eradicate Hamas for its horrific attack of October 7. But he neglected to note that Israel has cut off water, electricity and food from the 2.2 million innocent civilians in Gaza, who have been under a severe Israeli blockade since 2007. Article continues after bonus IC video CNN: Watch Bidens full Oval Office address on Israel-Hamas conflict Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Union Commission, said of Putins actions in Ukraine, Russias 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. And we have to call it as such. Russias 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. And we have to call it as such. https://t.co/3WY743k1iH Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) October 19, 2022 The US stance on Russian actions in occupying the Donbass region of Ukraine and of waging a total war on Ukrainian citizens derives its moral force from an upholding of a rules-based international order. Yet the Netanyahu government is acting even more harshly and illegally toward the women, children and other innocent noncombatants of Palestinian Gaza than Russia has acted toward those of Ukraine, bad as Russian behavior has been. The Israeli goal is explicitly the complete destruction of civilian infrastructure and the collective punishment of Palestinian civilians for the actions of a few Hamas cadres. The hypocrisy of Biden saying he cares about these Palestinian civilians, when he vetoed at the UN Security Council a Brazilian resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, is breathtaking. His elision of the whole history of the Israeli dispossession and oppression of the Palestinians makes it impossible for him even to understand what is going on at the moment. The professional diplomats in Bidens State Department know that there is something rotten in Denmark. One has already noisily resigned over Bidens embrace of the odious Netanyahu, and several others are sending a dissent up channels. It isnt hard. The Israeli Apartheid toward the Palestinians has to end. Palestinians must be given the basic human dignity of citizenship in a state that could protect their rights. It is only these steps that can deradicalize some of the Palestinian youths who have turned to terrorism. The lives of Israeli civilians are precious and must be protected from the war crimes of Hamas. But it simply is not possible to implement such a peace and mutual understanding under conditions of occupation and Apartheid. Biden could force a resolution if he wanted to. He doesnt. He is stuck in a paradigm from his youth in the Senate of the 1970s, when Israel was considered a democracy, and the occupation of the Palestinian territories was thought to be momentary. He is also mired in the long American policy of kicking the Palestine can down the road while mouthing platitudes about a (non-existent and impossible) two-state solution. Bidens greenlighting of an Israeli ground operation in Gaza is another typical Ugly American atrocity from which it will take decades for the US reputation in most of the world to recover. Over the last two decades, China has regained much of its influence in the world, as Beijing is making progress toward its dream of restoring what it sees as its rightful great power status. Beijing has built up its influence over global governance in particular, gaining a greater say within important organizations while also launching new initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative. Chinas increased involvement in global governance expands its international political clout, helps it project soft power, and also promotes its domestic economic development. In the future, if its economy continues to grow over the long term, China will more forcefully set the terms for global governance. It will wield greater power within long-standing organizations like the World Bank and United Nations and also will strengthen new, China-dominated institutions. Beijings more assertive approach could enhance the international system. China could shoulder greater international responsibilities and prod global governance institutions to better represent the needs of emerging powers. It could facilitate international solutions on climate change in particular. And Beijing has shown, with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, that it can launch an institution that works within existing global governance norms. But Chinas increasingly assertive presence could prove divisive, especially in areas like development finance, where Beijings approach could marginalize existing institutions. Such divisions could paralyze collaboration in critical realms of global governance. And while in some areas, such as climate change, China does not try to impose its own visions and models, in areas of human rights and internet governance, Beijing tries to promote its own, more authoritarian norms. In May 2020, Beijing passed new legislation giving China extensive powers to crush dissent in Hong Kong, seriously threatening the special administrative regions autonomy. If China (and Russia) can set the standards for internet governance, for instance, they could pave the way for other countries to embrace cyber sovereignty, sparking a divided world with two internetsone generally open and the other closed and favored by autocracies. The International Criminal Court said Thursday it had released Maxime Mokom, a former militia leader in the Central African Republic (CAR), shelving its war crimes case against him after the prosecutor dropped all charges. Prosecutor Karim Khan said his office had concluded there were "no longer any reasonable prospects of conviction at trial even if the charges were confirmed". Mokom was released from custody on Tuesday, the ICC said later in a statement. He had faced charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity over alleged atrocities committed against Muslim civilians in the CAR, a former French colony, by his self-proclaimed self-defence militias in 2013 and 2014. One of the world's poorest countries, the CAR was plunged into bloody sectarian conflict after Seleka rebels, a coalition of armed groups mainly composed of Muslims, ousted president Francois Bozize in early 2013. Mokom's militias, which called themselves "anti-Balaka" -- meaning "anti-machete" -- formed in reaction to the takeover of the capital, Bangui, by the Seleka. He had denied involvement in the bloodshed, telling ICC judges in August he was "dedicated to the search for peace". Mokom said he returned to the CAR in February 2014 during the height of the violence after having fled to the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo. The charges Mokom had faced included directing attacks against the civilian population, murder, rape and pillage. Prosecutor Khan said the decision to drop those charges was taken after considering all the evidence and "changed circumstances regarding the availability of witnesses". It had become clear that "several critical witnesses" were unavailable to testify and that the ongoing investigation was "unlikely to result in new evidence," the prosecutor said in his submission to the court. Prosecutors said they had been unable to interview potential witnesses, including "insider witnesses" in recent weeks. "It is also not anticipated that further witnesses with similar evidence will be identified or come forward in the near future," they added. - 'Unwelcome news' - Khan said his office reserved the right to request a new arrest warrant if more evidence came to light and addressed those affected by the atrocities in the country. "I am very conscious that this news may be unwelcome to many survivors and their families," he said. "I hope many will understand my legal and ethical responsibilities to be guided by the law and the evidence." A lawyer representing the victims described the decision as a "betrayal" and said her clients were "sad and immensely disappointed". "It's completely upsetting and unfair and the victims can only deplore such brutal and unilateral behaviour," said Elisabeth Rabesandratana in a statement sent to AFP. The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Mokom in 2018 and he was finally handed over by Chadian authorities last year. Set up in 2002, the ICC is the world's only independent tribunal capable of prosecuting those accused of the world's worst crimes. Anti-Balaka attacks continued on Muslim civilians even after Seleka forces retreated from Bangui, until at least December 2014. The CAR remains troubled and peace agreements signed in 2017 and 2019 have not been respected on the ground. Many armed groups, rebels and assailants continue a guerrilla campaign of sporadic attacks against the Central African army, which is supported by mercenaries from the Russian private security company Wagner. International NGOs and experts mandated by the United Nations regularly accuse both sides of crimes and abuses against civilians. Two other former anti-Balaka leaders, Patrice-Edouard Ngaissona and Alfred Yekatom, are already on trial at the ICC. Last year, Seleka commander Mahamat Said Abdel Kani denied war crimes and crimes against humanity charges before the court. Russian investigators said on Friday they had levelled genocide charges against Nazi war veteran Yaroslav Hunka, who was inadvertently applauded by Canadian lawmakers last month. The incident took place during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to the Canadian parliament, and prompted its speaker to resign following global condemnation. In a statement, Russia's Investigative Committee said it charged Hunka in absentia with the "genocide of civilians on the territory of the Ukrainian SSR during the Great Patriotic War". From 23 to 28 February 1944, Hunka and other members of his SS division killed "at least 500 citizens of the USSR" in the village of Huta Pieniacka, it said. "Among those killed were Jews and Poles. People were shot, burned in residential houses and also in the church," it added. Russia said it was considering issuing an international arrest warrant for Hunka, and that it had sent requests for legal assistance to Canada, Poland and Belarus. Zelensky was in the Canadian parliament as guest of honour when the speaker, Anthony Rota, name-checked the elderly veteran as a World War II hero, prompting a standing ovation. Russia quickly seized on the incident, calling for Canada to bring the 98-year-old Nazi veteran to justice. Moscow has for years tried to paint the pro-Western Ukrainian government led by Zelensky -- who is Jewish -- as neo-Nazi and used this as a pretext for its offensive in Ukraine. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered an "unreserved" apology in September, calling the incident a "terrible mistake". The International Criminal Court on Friday said an "unprecedented" cyberattack it suffered in September was probably "espionage" aimed at undermining its work. The attack comes at a time of heightened security concerns for the ICC, the Hague-based court said. Russian investigators had opened criminal cases against the ICC prosecutor and judges who issued an arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin over the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. A Russian spy posing as a Brazilian intern had nearly succeeded in infiltrating the court in 2022. And the court had "undergone daily and persistent attempts to attack and disrupt its systems", it said. The ICC said the cyber incident in September was a "targeted and sophisticated attack with the objective of espionage" though it did not yet have enough information to confirm who was responsible. "The court ... will continue to take all necessary steps to address any compromise to data belonging to individuals, organisations and states," it stressed. It said it was ready "to respond to any potential repercussions ... including any potential security risk to victims and witnesses, court officials and the court's operations". Dutch authorities say the Russian spy, identified as Sergey Vladimirovich Cherkasov, could have accessed "highly valuable" intelligence on the ICC's probe into war crimes in Ukraine or influenced criminal proceedings. The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has been strongly criticized for his silence and lack of action on the Palestine situation. The contrast with his hyper activity and high-profile arrest warrants on Ukraine is striking. Our partners at Asymmetrical Haircuts talked to ICC prosecutor Karim Khan about the Palestine-Israeli situation more than a week after the attack of Hamas on Israeli soil, and the following bombardment of Gaza by the Israeli army. His deputy Nazhat Shameem Khan too spoke to them last August. Listen to what they said in their defense. Can international law play a role? There is the ICC. And there is the International Court of Justice which has already ruled in 2004 that the wall Israel built along the West Bank and the Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory were breaches of international law. Two Palestinian scholars are additional guests of this podcast. They explain how the situation has affected them, and how it has led them for years to think critically about international law. Were not held to the same standards of free speech and academic discourse than our colleagues are. Its hard to operate in a system of double standards, stressed Ata Hindi from Birzeit University and Tulane University in New Orleans. Throughout the history of international law the lens with which weve looked at the Palestinian cause has been maimed with embedded racism, Shahd Hammouri of University of Kent said. To listen to the podcast, click on the "play" button below: The news from Israel and Palestine is shocking to all of us, and challenging to the community of people who live and breathe international law. We thought wed round up some of the current commentary by playing you some of an interview the ICCs top prosecutor Karim Khan gave in reaction to the massacres, kidnappings, bombardments and siege and many many civilian deaths. We added in a discussion we had thought of many months ago, but which became urgent, asking some Palestinian academics who have been involved behind the scenes at the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice in supporting civil society or preparing submissions, how they feel about the institutions that are supposed to uphold the international rule of law. Ata Hindi is at Birzeit University and currently teaching at Tulane University in New Orleans, and Shahd Hammouri is at the University of Kent. Recommended reading The weak hope of an ICC investigation into Palestine In 2022, Marvel Studios released a Werewolf By Night film direct to Disney+. While it does ostensibly fit into the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe, Werewolf By Night mostly felt like it was just a great excuse to have a little Halloween fun, as it was filmed in the style of a classic old horror movie the camera angles, the grainy film quality, the heavy analog shadows, and of course, it was in black & white. Even as an aesthetic exercise or perhaps, because of it? I found Werewolf By Night to be a genuine delight. Sure, it introduced a big new world of scary monsters. But it didn't feel like another Marvel movie designed to setup another Marvel movie. It just felt like fuck it, here's a heroic werewolf killing a bunch of aristocratic monster hunters. It gave me exactly what I wanted. I loved it. On Friday, October 20, Disney will re-release the film in color which the company promises will be "More terrifying. More gruesome. All in color." Based on the colorized trailer above, it definitely looks bloodier, if for no other reason than that you can see the gore more clearly in full color, instead of leaving it to the shadows and imagination. But I, for one, liked the experience of having all that left to the shadows and imagination. I'll probably still watch the colorized version at some point. But I'm not entirely convinced it's necessary. Unless, that is, it serves as a gateway or perhaps a Nexus of Realities? to a time when Disney and Marvel finally make a decent Man-Thing movie. That would make it all worth it. In "The Worst of Evil" episode 9, Ji Chang Wook continued his dangerous mission to crack down on the drug kingpin in Gangnam. Taking on the role of Park Joon Mo, he lives under his new identity as Kwon Seung Ho to infiltrate the notorious Gangnam Union. Joined by Wi Ha Joon as the viscous mafia boss, he plays as Jung Ki Chul, the leader behind one of Seoul's biggest drug syndicates. Their relationship as undercover agents and Gangnam Union's boss made everything complicated after Park Joon Mo's wife, Yoo Eui Jung, played by Im Se Mi, turns out to be Ki Chul's first love. However, they need to forget their personal relationships to make the operation succeed. 'The Worst of the Evil' Episode 9 Recap The ninth episode surely gave viewers a reason to look forward to the upcoming episodes! The episode began when Joon Mo, Yoo Eui Jung, and Jung Ki Chul were caught up in a gang fight between the other groups. Thankfully, they were able to escape the incident, but it caused trauma to Eui Jung after seeing her husband go undercover and kill a person. Ki Chul and Joon Mo both apologized to Eui Jung, but her husband wanted to wrap up the mission so he could be there for her. One of the highlights in "The Worst of Evil" episode 9 was continuing the drug trade with the Japanese. With Lee Hae Ryeon, Park Joon Mo wanted to make the deal between the Yakuza and Jung Ki Chul's group. Instead of dealing with Kanemoto, whom Ki Chul considered his father, the assistant, Tsuyoshi Oyama, made a deal with Jung Ki Chul. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Wi Ha Joon Suffers Minor Injuries on the Set of 'The Worst of Evil' At this point, Park Joon Mo was clueless about what was happening and why Oyama killed Kanemoto. To make things more surprising, Jung Ki Chul entered the room and closed the deal with Oyama. This signaled that the Gangnam Union would be working with the Japanese dealer under the new supervision. Through this, Joon Mo felt like he was closer to new discoveries about how the Gangnam Union works, especially with drug trafficking. Meanwhile, Jung Ki Chul remained loyal to Park Joon Mo, and surprising enough, his loyalty also lied with him. Where To Watch 'The Worst of Evil' Airing once a week, new episodes of "The Worst of Evil" are released every Wednesday. Viewers get to watch two new episodes broadcast over Disney+ and Hulu. Unfortunately, Ji Chang Wook's drama is not available on Netflix or other streaming sites. READ MORE: Ji Chang Wook's New Drama 'The Worst of Evil' Predicted to Become Disney+'s Next Hit Series For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Wills "The Worst of Evil" delivered a remarkable episode as Ji Chang Wook and BIBI's characters surprised viewers with one particular scene. The Disney+ series is drawing attention for the action-packed scenes, showcasing the versatility of Wi Ha Joon and Ji Chang Wook. On top of that, the mind-boggling and unpredictable storyline makes viewers hooked on every episode. Interestingly, "The Worst of the Evil" episode 8 left viewers stunned, featuring the character development of BIBI and Ji Chang Wook. BIBI, Ji Chang Wook's Steamy Kissing Scene in 'The Worst of Evil' Garners Mixed Reviews Taking on the role of undercover agent, Senior Police Park Joon Mo (Ji Chang Wook) is assigned to look into the Gangnam Union group led by Jung Ki Chul, played by Wi Ha Joon. One of their activities is the drug smuggling trade between the Japanese and Chinese. Meanwhile, one of their investors is Korean-Chinese national Lee Hae Ryeon, played by BIBI. READ MORE: Wi Ha Joon Suffers Minor Injuries on the Set of 'The Worst of Evil' In "The Worst of Evil," Ms. Lee is drawn to Park Joon Mo's charm as well as his loyalty to his boss. Episode 8 depicts Lee Hae Ryeon's intention towards Park Joon Mo, which is more than just a business deal. Wanting to spend the night with him, the episode showcased a steamy scene between Lee Hae Ryeon and Park Joon Mo. Initially, Joon Mo was hesitant to return her action but caved in to her passionate kiss. Thankfully, before the scene escalated as he tried to resist her by recalling his wife, Yoo Eui Jung (Im Se Mi), a phone rang, interrupting their intimacy. She was warned by her bodyguard that there would be an attack on Jung Ki Chul's group, making Park Joon Mo rush off to warn others. 'The Worst of Evil' Episode 8 Left Viewers Disappointed After the episode aired, netizens flocked to social media to express their mixed reactions to BIBI and Ji Chang Wook's kiss scene in "The Worst of Evil" episode 8. On Twitter, viewers dubbed the episode "the best kiss scene," yet in K-drama, viewers praised Ji Chang Wook's detailed expression. In addition, viewers also praised BIBI's amazing performance for pulling off such a challenging scene. However, not all seemed impressed with how the K-drama executed the scene. While some lauded the actors for showcasing a well-done kissing scene, they said that the 3-minute scene was uncomfortable to watch. Others even called out Lee Hae Ryeon's actions, stating that it was "sexual harassment" for forcing herself to park Joon Mo. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Ji Chang Wook Joins Impossible Mission in 'The Worst of Evil' For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Wills Yang Se Jong dished on his experience filming his comeback K-drama "Doona." Joining Bae Suzy and director Lee Jung Hyo at the press conference, the trio gave a sneak peek and discussed what to expect in the upcoming Netflix series. Taking on the role of college student Lee Won Joo, Yang Se Jong says that he made a lot of preparations prior to the start of the show's production, especially since this is his first project after completing his military service. Yang Se Jong Says He Feels 'No Pressure' on His K-drama Combeack As obtained by SBS, Yang Se Jong gets honest as he talks about doing K-drama again after enlisting in the military. According to him, he didn't feel any pressure for his comeback but admitted that the "pressure of starting a new project was there." Thankfully, he was able to adjust as he went over the script. Interestingly, Yang Se Jong said that instead of feeling anxious about his K-drama comeback, interviews with the media are what make him the "most nervous." "I don't know why, but this kind of occasion makes me the most nervous, except when filming something. But I feel like I've gotten better than I did before I got enlisted," he said. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Bae Suzy Relives Her Miss A Days in 'Doona' + Yang Se Jong Draws Interest at the Pop Star's Life Back in 2020, Yang Se Jong enlisted as an active-duty soldier in May and was officially discharged from duty in November 2021. At the time, he personally wrote to his fan cafe, teasing the public with a "good project" in the future. "To those who waited steadfastly for me, I will repay them with a good project," he wrote, as obtained by SPOTV News. As for his last K-drama appearance, Yang Se Jong reprised his role as Dr. Do In Bum for a special participation in "Dr. Romantic" season 2. Here's How Yang Se Jong Made Himself Look 10 Years Younger Than 'Doona' Co-Star Bae Suzy Yang Se Jong is 30 years old, but he plays the role of a college student who just moved into a shared building, where he meets Lee Doona, a former K-pop member played by Bae Suzy. According to the actor, he made a lot of preparations, especially for his appearance, to portray the role of a college student. Other than working out, he also focused on getting laser removal and having a good skincare routine. "I will be honest about it since I had already discussed it during a previous interview. I've had laser hair removal for my mustache. It was painful," he said, adding, "I've also taken many lower body baths and used a lot of sheet masks." As for his physique, he said that he lost a bit of weight during the filming of "Doona." "Now, I weigh about 3 kg (about 2.2 pounds) more than I did when shooting the series. But please don't worry. I've seen the tapes, and trust me, I don't look as chubby as I do now in 'Doona,'" he furthered. 'Doona' Release Date and Where to Watch Based on the webtoon "The Girl Downstairs," the "Doona" release date is set for October 20, with a total of nine episodes for the whole season run. Viewers could exclusively watch the romance K-drama via Netflix. READ MORE: Netflix's 'Doona' Unfolds Heart-Fluttering Romance Between Bae Suzy, Yang Se Jong For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Wills Choi Hyun Wook and Nam Ji Hyun's much anticipated series "High Cookie" is finally coming to the television screen this fall. Since it's the first-ever U+ Mobile TV series, expectations for the work are through the roof. However, one of its stars was recently embroiled in a scandal. Will Choi Hyun Wook's smoking controversy affect the drama's flow and reception? Fans weigh in. Keep on reading to know more. 'High Cookie' To Finally Make Television Debut On October 20, LG announced that its original television series "High Cookie" starring Choi Hyun Wook and Nam Ji Hyun is finally making its debut. The drama tells the lives of elite high school students who are swallowed up by a dangerous handmade cookie that makes people's dreams come true. In the series, Nam Ji Hyun plays Choi Soo Young, a part-time factory worker who tries to make ends meet. Choi Hyun Wook portrays top student Seo Ho Soo who also struggles financially. With its riveting premise and unique portrayal of human's suffering and never-ending desire, "High Cookie" is among the most awaited works of the year. In fact, the show received great response after LG dropped the first-ever teaser in September, showcasing Nam Ji Hyun's personal dilemmas and challenges. READ MORE: Choi Hyun Wook Declines Drama With Go Min Si + What's Next For The Actor? According to the broadcast network, the drama will consist of 20 episodes and it will air for the first time on October 23 on U+ Mobile TV. Will 'High Cookie' Debut Successfully? While tension is high for the drama, a small bump arose ahead of its premiere as Choi Hyun Wook was involved in a scandal earlier this month. A video of him smoking in a public place and hanging out with different women, holding their hands has spread rapidly in various online communities. This certainly left a bitter taste in the public's mouths, clearly disappointed with the actor. Eventually, Choi Hyun Wook apologized for his indecent behavior with the promise to do better. Many fans and critics believe that the actor's carelessness may cause great damage to the work and his co-stars. To recall, Kim Sae Ron and Park Hye Su suffered greatly in the past year. Some fans defend the actor, saying that smoking in public wasn't as "grave" as Kim Sae Ron's DUI incident where she caused great damage to business owners and Park Hye Su's bullying scandal. Many fans also believe the actor's words, reflecting on his behavior and rash decisions. Thankfully, there's no news about a possible boycott for the work. However, Choi Hyun Wook's image has definitely changed in the eyes of the viewers, which the actor deeply regrets. Don't miss the arrival of "High Cookie" this week on U+ Mobile TV. On the other hand, Choi Hyun Wook also stars in tvN's youth drama "Twinkling Watermelon" every Monday and Tuesday. ALSO READ: Ryeon, Choi Hyun Wook Talk About Friendship, Chemistry In 'Twinkling Watermelon' KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. The melodrama film "Our Season" starring Shin Min Ah and Kim Hae Sook finally announced its premiere much to the fans' delight. A healing story about a mother and a daughter, "Our Season" is set to decorate the silver screens with a heartwarming narrative this Christmas. Since its production, many fans have expressed their excitement for the drama film. Keep on reading to know more. Shin Min Ah & Kim Hae Sook's 'Our Season' To Premiere This Christmas On October 20, Shin Min Ah and Kim Hae Sook's "Our Season" finally announced its premiere. It's a fantasy healing drama that follows a three-day vacation of a longing mother who comes down from heaven to guide her daughter who runs a restaurant on her own. The meeting of Shin Min Ah and Kim Hae Sook has the fans' excitement rise to a new level, thanks to their amazing performances in dramas like "Our Blues," "Hospital Playlist" and more. "Our Season" aims to bring comfort to every viewer who suffers from grief, loneliness and loss this coming holiday. READ MORE: Park Bo Young's Life Takes Rough Path In New 'Daily Dose of Sunshine' Teaser Don't miss its miraculous healing moment this December 6 nationwide. There's no news about its international release yet so stay tuned for more updates on the film. Shin Min Ah Exudes Warmth In New 'Our Season' Teaser Months before its premiere, "Our Season" dropped a set of stills featuring Shin Min Ah's transformation into Bang Jin Joo. She plays a simple woman who runs a traditional Korean restaurant using her late mother's amazing secret recipes. Bang Jin Joo's mother Park Bok Ja is played by Kim Hae Sook. Bang Jin Joo now lives a run-of-the-mill life in the countryside after leaving her job as a professor in the United States. The newly released stills perfectly capture Bang Jin Joo's cozy life against the peaceful backdrop of the South Korean countryside, exuding a familiar warmth to the viewers. Due to the fantasy element of the work and its comforting narrative of a mother who vacations from heaven to meet her daughter is the main reason why Shin Min Ah agreed to the work. "Aside from the premise, Kim Hae Sook is the only reason for my participation," the actress said. "If she's in the drama, it's definitely on another level. It's my dream to work with her." Catch Shin Min Ah and Kim Hae Sook's mother and daughter duo performance in "Our Season" this December in theaters. ALSO READ: 'Castaway Diva' Press Con: Park Eun Bin Returns With New Blockbuster Hit KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. Jeon Jong Seo has dominated both the home theaters and the silver screens with great works every year since she made her debut. From "The Call" to "Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area" and now, "Ballerina," the Hallyu superstar showed nothing but her gravity-defying skills and immersive performances. What's next for the actress after her Netflix comeback with "Ballerina"? Here's what we know so far. Keep on reading. Jeon Jong Seo Dominates Global Scene With 'Ballerina' Earlier this October, Jeon Jong Seo made her much awaited action drama comeback with the film "Ballerina." She transformed into a bodyguard who set out on a dangerous chase with a serial killer to avenge the death of her best friend, a ballerina who died at the hands of a notorious syndicate. Since her debut, Jeon Jong Seo has proven her skills in her highly acclaimed works, which cemented her name in the South Korean cinema. Within weeks, "Ballerina" has dominated the Netflix Global Charts of non-English films. It also received more than 17 million viewing hours as of this writing. It also entered the Top 10 list in 98 countries including South Korea, Canada, Germany, France, Brazil, the Philippines, Japan and more. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Netflix Star Jeon Jong Seo Shares Fitness Tip: 'No need to eat...' Have you seen "Ballerina" yet? Check it out now on Netflix with English subtitles. Jeon Jong Seo To Lead Period Piece 'Queen Woo' Following the completion of "Ballerina," Jeon Jong Seo jumps onto another high scale work, challenging herself with the historical romance genre. This time, Jeon Jong Seo couples with Ji Chang Wook in the upcoming drama "Queen Woo," where she takes on the titular role of Goguryeo's Queen Woo Hee. The drama tells the struggles of the matriarch as five large tribes join forces in coming after the royal throne after the king passes away. Jeon Jong Seo is expected to showcase her firm yet feminine side as Woo Hee, the queen who possesses great beauty and loyalty to her husband, Go Nam Mu, played by Ji Chang Wook. She is expected to keepsafe the throne from the people who plan to seize their bloodline for power and personal gains. "Queen Woo" marks the actress' first-ever historical series, which raises the tension and excitement for her transformation. Moreover, attention is given to Jeon Jong Seo and Ji Chang Wook's synergy as they couple up for the very first time. Kim Mu Yeol, Lee Soo Hyuk, Park Ji Hwan and more also join the crew to further strengthen the work. Filming began after the casting lineup was finalized. With that said, "Queen Woo" is expected to be released in the early half of 2024 via TVING. Stay tuned for more updates on the drama. ALSO READ: Jeon Jong Seo's 'Ballerina' Made To Diss Burning Sun Scandal? Here's What The Director Said KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. Amazon sold bottles of urine collected from its drivers' discarded bottles as an energy drink called "Release." It became the No. 1 bestseller in "Bitter Lemon" drinks, reports Wired. The bottles were the brainchild of documentary filmmaker Oobah Butler, who collected discarded urine bottles from drivers along roads near warehouses to create Release. The bottles are featured in Butler's new documentary, The Great Amazon Heist, airing on Channel 4 in the UK. As reported in Wired: Drivers urinating in bottles has been reported in the past, but what wasn't known is that some claim they also get penalized for having those urine-filled bottles in their truck when they return to the warehouse. (Drummond denies this and says Amazon drivers receive reminders to take regular breaks on the Amazon Delivery app). To avoid penalties, they end up discarding the bottles by the side of the road. Butler searches the roadsides near Amazon warehouses from Coventry to New York to Los Angeles and more often than not strikes liquid gold. From there, it's laughably straightforward for Butler to get Release listed for sale on Amazon, with very few checks and balances in place to ensure the product he's selling is safe and legal. "Releasing the drink was surprisingly easy," Butler told WIRED. "I thought that the food and drinks licensing would stop me from listing it, so I started it out in this Refillable Pump Dispenser category. Then the algorithm moved it into drinks." At one point, he's even contacted by an Amazon representative ready to handle the packaging, shipping, and logistics through the Fulfillment by Amazon program. (No members of the public were actually sent driver urine; instead Butler corralled a group of friends into making the purchases.) When he saw the product listed for sale, Butler felt "initially really excited and found it very funny," he says. "Then when real people started trying to buy the product, I felt a bit scared." [Amazon spokesperson James] Drummond says this was a "crude stunt" and that the company has "industry-leading tools to prevent genuinely unsafe products being listed." When I received an email from her in March, it was exceptionally helpful and genuine. You could tell she exuded that class president energy and was a true leader. Dr. Mortimer sounded excited for residency to begin. We met each other across the green at the mandatory, unpaid 4-day orientation. She seemed laid-back and content. I remember the one week of electives we were granted was scheduled early for her. By August, Dr. Mortimer was requesting a shift swap in the emergency department. No one volunteered. Slowly, those ordinary activities and life events fell by the wayside. I heard from her most when the rotation was less than pleasant. She thrived during the one elective rotation we had that allowed one to breathe. Such rotations were few and far between. There was a COVID scare mid-year. The organization failed to support residents dealing with COVID. All the while, residents juggled responsibilities like Step 3 and patient care. One particular rotation was particularly problematic. This occurred at the third hospital we had to report to, and Dr. Mortimer did not have a car. Every day, I heard from Dr. Mortimer about the heavy workload, disorganization, and lack of support during the rotation. I recall the last time I ever saw her. She had a string of floor rotations in a row and appeared dejected. I recognized her by her GW sweatshirt. Unmasked, I was surprised by how quiet she was. Yet, she clearly immersed herself in her work and demonstrated proficiency in patient care. As I left bleary-eyed after a 16-hour night shift, I never realized that this would be the final time I ever saw her. What happened wasnt a coincidence. I cringe at the staged pictures and public relations maneuvers the residency program promotes on its social media. This is because I know the truth. Dr. Nakita Mortimers death was not an accident; it was a result of a toxic environment and deeper-seated issues in a residency system resembling indentured servitude. Please dont forget Dr. Mortimer. Please dont overlook the problems that caused this situation in the first place. Adding more mandatory wellness events and a thinly veiled mentor program that merely serves to pad ones file wont solve this problem. Having the hospital psychiatrist interrogate all residents wont solve this problem. The first step is caring, which was sorely absent here. The second step is taking accountability for the problem instead of shifting blame or silencing those who speak up. Theres no such thing as a free lunch. You may end up paying for it with something far more valuable. The author is an anonymous physician. The Democrats in Congress are the minority. They can't call for a vote to elect or vacate the Speaker of the House. It's the job of the majority party, the GOP, to select the Speaker of the House. The GOP ousted their own speaker after Matt Gaetz, a Republican, demanded it. And now, the GOP is blaming the Democrats for not voting for a MAGA insurrectionist to replace McCarthy. But Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA), who is in the same barrel of rotten Georgia peaches as Marjorie Taylor Greene and Andrew Clyde, thinks the Democrats are bad because they didn't vote for a speaker who has promised he'll never compromise with Democrats. Rep. Scott: The Democrats knew what they were doing when they put up 208 votes to take him out of the speakership. And that's what created the current situation that we're in. Brianna Keilar: They didn't take them out of the speakership. I mean, you're you guys are the majority, right? Rep. Scott: Sure they did. 96% of the votes came from Democrats. So Brianna, I mean, I mean, just factually speaking, there were only eight Republicans. And there were 208. Democrats, I mean, 208 Democrats Brianna Keilar: But sir, who's in the majority? Rep. Scott: Well, the Democrats were the majority of that vote, and when we have a very Brianna Keilar: No, who's in the majority in the House of Representatives? Rep. Scott: The Republicans are in the majority, but the Democrats provided the majority of the vote to take Kevin McCarthy out of the speakership. In fact, they provided 96% Brianna Keilar: The Republicans provided the key votes, they're in the majority, they can provide enough votes obviously to put a Republican Speaker in place. Rep. Scott: Brianna, the Democrats provided 96% of the votes. 208 Democrats voted to remove the Republican Speaker of the House, eight Republicans voted to remove the Republican Speaker of the House. So 96% of the votes came from Democrats to remove the Republican Speaker of the House. Brianna Keilar: It's some interesting verbal gymnastics, I will give you that. But I want to talk about the future here. Rep. Scott: What do you mean gymnastics? I'm just talking about the facts. 208 Democrats voted. They were the vast majority of the vote to take Kevin McCarthy out of the speakership. Brianna Keilar: I'm talking about how it works, and that is that the majority in the House of Representatives, your party, is responsible for electing the speaker. Not the Democrats. I wish Keilar would have asked Scott how many Republicans voted for Pelosi. Researchers from the Re-Imaging Tuberculosis Care (RTC), a global initiative engaging in the fight against TB, say decentralizing the care of the disease will help to reduce the burden. Uganda is one of the worlds thirty (30) high-burden countries for TB and TB/HIV co-infection. Each year, approximately 91,000 people in Uganda get sick with 32% of them being HIV-infected. According to Dr. Achilles Katamba, one of the leaders of the initiative in Uganda, they are currently developing tools that the country will depend on to reduce the disease burden. He says, using tools such as awareness campaigns, advocacy, and social media are one of the strategies they are recommending the country use in sensitizing the community to report cases occurring in the community. The community is not coming forward because they are not aware; only 91,000 people are diagnosed with the disease, said Dr. Achilles, He made the remarks at the TB stakeholders engagement meeting organized by Walimu. The increase in tuberculosis infections is blamed on several causes, including the prevalence of HIV and AIDS, lack of awareness of the disease among the public, and poor sanitation in the slum areas of urban centres, where most cases have been recorded. The Statehouse Anti-Corruption Unit will today arraign in Court the Kampala District Land Board chairperson, Mr. David Balondemu over fraud charges. Balondemu was arrested from his office on Wednesday on allegations that he obtained by false pretence, Shs 2.5 billion from a Korean investor, Hyun UK Kim. According to the unit spokesperson Ms Mariam Natasha, Balondemu will be produced before the City Hall Court at midday. He joins two other suspects who are currently on remand with many others still at large. Uganda Citizens Movement doubled (Sauti ya Wanainchi) led by Elton Joseph Mabirizi, a former Presidential Candidate, wants the Electoral Commission to organize a referendum on federal system of governance instead of preparing for general elections which he says are not transparent. Addressing journalists in Kampala on Friday, Mabirizi noted that in Uganda, elections do not have value, noting that elected leaders no longer focus on service delivery. He said that federal system is the way to go since it will enable regions to work on specific issues affecting them which will enhance quick socioeconomic development. Mabirizi revealed that they have started mobilizing masses including religious and cultural leaders, telling them the need to have a federal system of governance. We are not advocating for presidential elections. We are looking for referendum, thats why we have reached out to different entities and leaders because they have authority to pass out resolutions that can give us a federal system in Uganda. Mabirizi said on Friday. He further implored Ugandans to change their perspective of thinking that the federal system government is for Buganda region alone, explaining that it can be practiced in all regions for development By Winnie Watenya President Museveni has urged Acholi leaders to harmonise their relationship with the Balaalo {herdsmen} in order to coexist. He made the remarks while addressing a section of leaders from Acholi sub-region led by Chief justice Owinyi Dollo at State House Entebbe on Wednesday 18, October 2023. This is after some Acholi leaders reported to the President that some Balaalo were using names of top officials to commit crimes like land grabbing. What you are talking about is very easy. You give me factual examples of the crimes being committed so that I have where to move in, President Museveni noted. Others who attended the meeting include; Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Hillary Onek, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Okello Oryem among others. Jon Stewart's topical news show, The Problem, is ending its run at Apple TV. The New York Times reports that it's because Apple pressured him not to discuss China and AI. "Mr. Stewart told members of his staff on Thursday that potential show topics related to China and artificial intelligence were causing concern among Apple executives, a person with knowledge of the meeting said." You might say that that largest publicly-traded company on Earth, founded in and headquartered in the U.S., takes orders from elsewhere. But it's really about where it makes orders: half its hardware is made in the PRC. The New York Times reports that along with concerns about some of the guests booked to be on The Problem With Jon Stewart, Stewart's intended discussions of artificial intelligence and China were a major concern for Apple. Though new episodes of the show were scheduled to begin shooting in just a few weeks, staffers learned today that production had been halted. According to The Hollywood Reporter, ahead of its decision to end The Problem, Apple approached Stewart directly and expressed its need for the host and his team to be "aligned" with the company's views on topics discussed. Rather than falling in line when Apple threatened to cancel the show, Stewart reportedly decided to walk. Back in the day, I would crudely photoshop pics of Steve Jobs in a Mao suit or whatever as an amusing noncommittal joke about how supply chains wag the dog, but Apple guys would get so upset by it. They would email angry and blog their angry email. For anyone still in that place, now's a great time to move on from the "only company that respects me" stage to the "of course, it's unreasonable to expect otherwise, you're naive if you think different" stage. Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has tasked the Bank of Uganda to investigate the allegations of digital bank fraud that have raised concern among Ugandans, many of whom claim their funds have been drawn without their knowledge. The matter was raised by Kasambya County MP, David Kabanda during the Prime Ministers question time in a plenary session chaired by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa on Thursday. Nabbanja has also asked the Minister of Finance to present a statement on the matter that threatens to erode public confidence in the financial sector. It is true and I have also seen the same media reports, people recording themselves in Equity Bank. Somebody was running up and down and the bank officers were not bothered. Even today morning I have seen these Kadamas (Ugandans working abroad), she has been out of the country in UAE, saved her 100 million with Centenary Bank and she said the money was withdrawn by unknown people. Im going to inform Ban of Uganda so that they can investigate these allegations, Nabbanja said Meanwhile, the state Minister for Internal Affairs David Muhoozi has asked the victims of such fraudulent acts to report the cases to police for thorough investigations. By Ronald Ssenvuma A Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) candidate has delivered a bouncing baby girl during an examination. Without naming the school, the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) spokesperson Jennifer Kalule says the incident happened yesterday at one of the exam centres in Kampala. The candidate who had effectively written her papers on the first three days did not have a paper on Day 4, and so had stayed home. According to the parents, she started getting labor pains at around 1:30 P.M. She was taken to hospital where she delivered her baby by 4:00 pm, Kalule said in a statement. She added that the baby and mother are all doing well and will be able to sit for her Physics Paper 3 today. Meanwhile, in a rather unfortunate incident, UNEB has registered the death of a UCE Special Needs Education candidate. Kalule says the candidate who passed on yesterday had been battling Sickle Cell Anemia. By Ronald Ssenvuma The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a call for better regulations over the use and potential misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) in the healthcare industry. The Organisations Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus emphasises the importance of establishing safe and effective AI systems and fostering dialogue about using them as positive tools, bringing together developers, regulators, manufacturers, health workers, and patients. Artificial intelligence holds great promise for health, but also comes with serious challenges, including unethical data collection, cybersecurity threats and amplifying biases or misinformation, said Dr Tedros. He says with the increasing availability of healthcare data and rapid progress in analytic techniques, WHO recognizes the potential AI has, to enhance health outcomes but AI systems could potentially access sensitive personal information, necessitating robust legal and regulatory frameworks for safeguarding privacy, security, and integrity. Two men were fishing 12 miles off the coast of Australia earlier this month when they were stung by a rare, dime-sized Irukandji jellyfish one of the most venomous sea creatures in the world. As a sting from the nearly invisible jellyfish can cause Irukandji syndrome symptoms, including headaches, nausea, severe pain, muscle cramps, and cardiac complications that can lead to death, the fishers were immediately airlifted from their boat and rushed to an emergency room. From LiveScience: The two unnamed men were on a boat around 12 miles (19 kilometers) off the coast of Dundee Beach in Australia's Northern Territory when they were stung by an Irukandji jellyfish on Oct. 10, Australian news site 7News reported. It is unclear which species stung the two fishers, but most cases of Irukandji syndrome are caused by Carukia barnesi, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). The species is only around 0.8 inch (2 centimeters) long Irukandji venom works in a similar way to tetrodotoxin, one of the world's most potent venoms that is administered by animals such as pufferfish and blue-ringed octopuses, according to NCBI. Both toxins stop nerves from properly signaling to muscles by blocking sodium ion channels. Although most people make a full recovery, there are cases of people continuing to experience pain up to a year later. Symptoms can begin as soon as five minutes after being stung, according to the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS). Like with tetrodotoxin, there is no known antivenom for Irukandji venom, and treatment is only supportive, according to NCBI. Experts recommend immediately dousing the sting area with vinegar because its acidic properties can prevent the barbs from releasing their venom, according to QAS. Cllr Pat Fitzpatrick has issued a plea to CIE (Coras Iompair Eireann) for an increase in the number of carriages on trains servicing Kilkenny. "With the Kilkenny-Dublin line experiencing a significant surge in passenger numbers over the past few years, it has become clear that the existing infrastructure is struggling to meet the demand," he said. "Commuters have been facing overcrowded trains, uncomfortable journeys, and limited availability of late-night services." In light of these challenges, Cllr Fitzpatrick is advocating for immediate action to address these issues in a bid to improve the overall commuting experience. "Increasing the number of carriages on the Kilkenny-Waterford line passing through Kilkenny is crucial to alleviate the overcrowding issue and ensure that passengers can travel comfortably and safely," he said. "If the current platform is not long enough to facilitate additional carriages in its present form, serious consideration should then be given to the platform's extension, especially as we review our railway network at a national level. "The current capacity falls short of meeting the growing demand, resulting in inconvenience and discomfort for commuters who rely on the rail service. "Furthermore, the extension of the late-night service on the Kilkenny-Dublin-Waterford line is essential to cater to the needs of a diverse range of commuters, including those who work late shifts, attend evening events, or simply require flexibility in their travel schedule. "By extending the service hours, CIE would enhance the accessibility and convenience of the rail line, benefiting not only the residents but also the local economy and tourism industry." Cllr Fitzpatrick acknowledged the challenges faced by CIE in terms of resource allocation and operational considerations however he believes that 'prioritising the needs of the passengers and investing in improved services will yield long-term benefits for both CIE and the local community'. He is now calling on CIE to engage in a constructive dialogue with local stakeholders, including commuters, businesses, and community organisations, to collaboratively develop a plan that addresses the immediate concerns and ensures the long-term sustainability and growth of the Kilkenny-Dublin line. Ninety-six students from eight Kilkenny schools benefited from a special training day this week aimed at making their voices heard so they can make meaningful contributions to decision-making for the benefit of their fellow students and their schools. The one-day course was organised by Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board (KCETB) for students across its 13 schools in Kilkenny and Carlow to highlight the role and responsibilities of their individual Student Councils and to equip the students with the skills required to take an active part in their councils. Students from Colaiste Pobail Osrai, Kilkenny City Vocational School, Grennan College Thomastown, Colaiste Cois Siuire Mooncoin, Scoil Aireagail Ballyhale, Colaiste Mhuire Johnstown and Abbey Community College, Ferrybank attended the training day with their teachers whose role is to support student councils in schools. The students learned from each other as they worked in groups with students from other schools in designated workshops. Training was provided by facilitator Denise Kelly in various Council roles such as chairperson, deputy chairperson, secretary, treasurer and PRO and the students learned about working in partnership with school management, staff and parents for the benefit of the school and their fellow students. The day was overseen by KCETB Director of Schools, Dr Pauline Egan. All of our 13 KCETB secondary schools are very student centred and our Student Councils provide excellent opportunities for students to make their voice heard. Over the years, we have seen our Student Councils contribute to the development of school policy in a number of areas which have brought significant benefits, to the students and to the school itself." As well as demonstrating democracy in action, Student Councils are also a great way of allowing our students to develop their communication, planning and organisational skills which will be of benefit to them in their future lives," added Dr Egan. Amber Womens Refuge has received an award of 28,000 from the second annual AIB Community 1 Million Fund to help develop a new playground at the refuge. Last year, in its first year, the AIB Community 1 Million Fund donated to 70 nominated organisations. Earlier this year, AIB asked its customers, the wider public and staff to again nominate registered charities, which connect with causes that matter most to them and their communities, for the AIB Community 1 Million Fund. Over 16,000 nominations in total were received. those charities chosen by the public, AIB is allocating 700,000, broken down into the four provinces with a separate category for charities in the greater Dublin area. We are so grateful to be receiving 28,000 from our Community Fund 2023, said Lisa Morris of Amber Womens Refuge said, speaking about receipt of the award. The fact that our local community nominated us makes it particularly special. Thank you to all our supporters and a particular thanks to AIB for organising this valuable fund. This money will be used towards the redevelopment of the playground at the refuge, which is in dire need of a major upgrade. Our annual funding does not cover capital development projects of this type. We remain 20,000 short to make the dream of the new playground a reality, so we continue to fundraise to get this project completed next year and deliver a safe and modern outdoor play space for the children who use our services. AIB Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, Mary Whitelaw said: Along with our core community partners and programmes the AIB Community 1 Million Fund enables us to further develop our impact on society. We are delighted to award this money, from this years Fund, to support the charitable organisations that matter most to our customers nationwide. The charities were nominated by the public and their local community, and our hope is that this funding will help make a real difference to the most vulnerable in the community and also to those who are working tirelessly for their benefit. You can make a donation towards Ambers playground upgrade project by donating here https://amberwomens refuge.ie/donation/ (comment Playground on your donation and the funds will go towards the playground appeal.) For more information on Amber Womens Refuge visit https://amberwomensrefuge.ie/ For information on AIBs work in the community visit www.aib.ie/community. Get all the essential market news and expert opinions in one place with our daily newsletter. Receive a comprehensive recap of the day's top stories directly to your inbox. Sign up here! (Kitco News) - The gold market continues to attract attention as prices push back to $2,000 an ounce, with many analysts now saying that the precious metal could be on its way to all-time highs. However, as a global monetary metal, gold has already hit all-time highs in some currencies this year, with the latest being the Australian dollar, rallying briefly to A$3,159. Reflecting the broader market, gold has been pushing higher against the Aussie dollar as Israels war with Hamas continues to create significant chaos in the Middle East. The conflict between Israel and Palestine over the Gaza Strip is still deteriorating, prompting the flight to gold, said Dr. Sandra Close, a director for Melbourne-based gold consultants Surbiton Associates. Time and again, gold has proved to be an important safe haven during times of international conflict and uncertainty. Analysts note that golds all-time high will provide solid support for Australias gold mining sector. The country is the worlds third top gold producer. In a report published last month, Surbiton said that Australian miners produced 80 tonnes of gold in the third quarter, an increase of eight tonnes, or 11%, from the second quarter. The gold output for the 2022/2023 financial year totaled around 306 tonnes, some 10 tonnes, or nine percent, lower than in the previous financial year, Surbiton said in the report. Close noted that better weather through Australias winter months allowed gold producers to process higher-grade ore. She added that at current prices, the sector is worth around $30 billion. The Australian dollar is just the latest currency to lose value against gold. The precious metal continues to hit fresh new highs against the Japanese yen on a daily basis. One ounce of gold is now worth 296,735.90. Gold is also trading at record highs against the Chinese yuan at CNY14,488.70 an ounce. Gold has seen significant Asian demand in recent weeks. Analysts note that Japanese investors want to protect their purchasing power as the yen has seen substantial weakness in global currency markets. At the same time, Chinese investors are turning to the yellow metal to protect themselves from a slowing economy. In a recent interview with Kitco News, market strategists at the World Gold Council said that global investors should monitor these growing trends in these two Asian Markets. I think what is driving gold demand in Asia is global geopolitical risks and capital flight being triggered by the prospect of a weak Chinese economy, said John Reade, chief market strategist at the WGC. Many Chinese investors have built massive real estate positions in their portfolios and now they are looking to diversify and gold is the next logical asset to own, added Joseph Cavatoni, North American market strategist. The two analysts also said that Japan could be a major source of physical demand in the new year. This could become a significant trend for the global market as Japanese consumers have a lot of cash savings, which makes sense when you have decades of deflation, said Reade. Although the global gold market is priced in U.S. dollars, both Read and Cavatoni noted the fact that the yellow metal has hit record highs in multiple currencies this past year is a strong signal that global demand remains healthy. Get all the essential market news and expert opinions in one place with our daily newsletter. Receive a comprehensive recap of the day's top stories directly to your inbox. Sign up here! (Kitco News) - Chris Doornbos, founder and CEO of E3 Lithium (TSXV:ETL), says the first projects ex-China to use Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology will come online in 2025. The company just started its own pilot operations. Doornbos spoke to Kitco mid-September at the Fastmarkets European Battery Raw Materials Conference 2023 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. E3s Direct Lithium Extraction pilot plant was recently commissioned in southern Alberta. Data collected throughout the pilot operations will inform the commercial design of the processing facility for prefeasibility and feasibility studies. E3 Lithium has a 16-million-tonne resource of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) in the measured and indicated category, and 0.9 million tonnes LCE inferred. Interview edited for clarity. Kitco Mining: You had an announcement recently, what was it, Chris? Doornbos: We put out our inaugural pilot results from the operations that we just started, so we've been running the pilot for about six weeks, about half of that was commissioning, the other half has been operating, producing a lithium concentrate. We put out the results, what that concentrate looks like, some of the performance metrics last week. Results are exactly as we expected and what wed hoped, over 90 percent recovery, over 80 percent purity, producing something around 800 almost 900 milligrams per litre lithium, so very exciting. This is what we want to see, this is going to lead us to be able to make battery-grade lithium hydroxide. Kitco Mining: What are the next steps? Doornbos: Now we're going to operate this thing for quite some time, we want to see it continually develop these results over the fall, effectively. We've got three systems were testing so we're going to continue to test all over the next three-four months. All of that allows us to design a commercial system for the commercial plant and that will be hopefully happening by the end of this year. Well have that done and then published in Q1 of next year and that will be in the form of a prefeasibility study. So well have project economics, capital costs, operating costs, value of the project, as well as all the engineering process flow sheet that you're going to need to see on how this is going to develop. And that's a huge milestone for us because once the pilot is operated and that is out and into the public, that really allows us to propel the project forward towards a design-construction mode. So next year itll be feasibility, detailed design-construction, a lot of the corporate development activities really ramp up post-prefeasibility study, so were going to be staffing that team as well, so very exciting. This is a really big move for the company. Kitco Mining: We're at the European Battery Raw Materials show, you were on a panel talking about DLE. There seems to be a number of other projects that are coming to the fore right now, so maybe if you can talk a little bit about maturity in the industry, maybe talk about your peers, what do you see broadly happening with the industry that youre focused on? Doornbos: The Direct Lithium Extraction industry or brines projects that use direct extraction processing have really advanced in the last couple of years and it's actually very exciting to see some of the European companies that are developing. Obviously we're very close with some of the North American companies that are developing this type of technology, but what's most fascinating is that all of the flow sheets that you're seeing in terms of the process design for the DLE, and then what happens after DLE in terms of the further polishing and then conversion to lithium hydroxide and crystallization, those flow sheets are all looking more and more the same. And I think what's happening in the industry is what would normally happen, which is as the technology matures, you sort of land on one particular flowsheet or version of that same flowsheet that everyone ends up deploying, and so that in my mind is a clear sign of the maturation of direct extraction in the industry. In my opinion, this is no longer an if, it's been an if for a long time, weve definitively crossed that hurdle and it's just a matter of when. I think the first couple of projects you're going to see operating here in 2025, and then the cascades going to happen 26, 27, 28 as the technology becomes more ubiquitous and the early adopters that are going to be operating in 2025 turn their projects on. Obviously thats a huge catalyst for the whole industry to see a commercially operating plant outside of China that demonstrates direct extraction. Kitco Mining: Whats your funding right now? Doornbos: We just completed a $20 million financing so looking at the financials at the end of Q2, combined with that there's about $38 million of capital in the bank. Plus we have a Strategic Innovation Fund grant, we have most of that still left to deploy, and our pilots being funded with that and Natural Resources Canada's grant, that was $3.5 million, so the company is very well funded to accomplish its goals for the next couple of years, which is very exciting for me because it allows the company to sit down and really focus on getting deliverables out. We've got a lot of really exciting project milestones to accomplish but also a lot of really exciting corporate development milestones and now we're funded to be able to accomplish those. Get all the essential market news and expert opinions in one place with our daily newsletter. Receive a comprehensive recap of the day's top stories directly to your inbox. Sign up here! (Kitco News) - Rare earth producer Lynas (ASX: LYC) (OTC: LYSDY) today announced mixed results for the September 2023 quarter following the companys strong finish to the FY23 financial year ended 30 June 2023. The company said its September 2023 quarter NdPr production of 1,526 tonnes (September 2022 quarter: 1,045 tonnes; June 2023 quarter: 1,864 tonnes) reflected planned and delayed preventative maintenance works in the Cracking & Leaching plant at Lynas Malaysia. The companys total rare earth oxide production volume was 3,609 tonnes in the September 2023 quarter (September 2022 quarter: 3,500 tonnes; June 2023 quarter: 4,475 tonnes). The company noted that its quarterly sales revenue reduced from A$163.8m in the September 2022 quarter and A$143.7m in the June 2023 quarter to A$128.1m in the September 2023 quarter reflecting lower rare earths prices and continuing accumulation of NdPr and mixed heavy rare earths (SEG) inventory. Lynas said it continues to manage operations to optimize outcomes within various scenarios, adding that key variables include the operating licence conditions in Malaysia and the start-up and commissioning process in Kalgoorlie. At Lynas Malaysia, the company said it will implement an upgrade to downstream operations to increase NdPr production capacity to approximately 10,500tpa, while the Mt Weld expansion project schedule remains on track with construction activities progressing as planned. Market demand remains in line with expectations and the NdPr market price stabilized above USD 60/kg midway through the quarter. Demand for heavy rare earths is increasing, driven by the global demand for EVs, Lynas said. Lynas Rare Earths is the world's only significant producer of separated rare earth materials outside of China. The company's Mt Weld mine in Western Australia is acknowledged as one of the world's premier rare earths deposits. Lynas also operates the world's largest single rare earths processing plant in Malaysia where it produces high-quality separated rare earth materials for export to manufacturing markets in Asia, Europe and the United States. U.S. blockade against Cuba causes loss of billions of dollars Xinhua) 14:24, October 20, 2023 HAVANA, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Thursday denounced the U.S. economic, commercial and financial blockade against his country, which has caused a total loss of over 159 billion U.S. dollars over 60 years. "Between March 2022 and February 2023, the damage from the blockade totaled more than 4.8 billion dollars, which is 405 million dollars a month or 1 million dollars every two hours," he said at a press conference regarding the most recent report on the U.S. blockade. According to Cuban data, over 80 percent of Cubans were born and have lived under the U.S. blockade which started in February 1962 and have caused serious difficulties to Cubans' daily life. The official said the "blockade has a lethal impact, depriving the country of the financial resources that would allow it to undertake the modernization of the electric system." On Nov. 1-2, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is expected to consider a Cuban draft resolution on the need to put an end to the blockade for the 31st consecutive time. Since 1992, Cuba has presented a resolution condemning the U.S. blockade every year at the UNGA, which has been widely approved by the international community. In the last vote in 2022, 185 countries supported the Cuban resolution, while Ukraine and Brazil abstained, and only the United States and Israel voted against it. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) Five students suffered minor injuries and an adult aide was seriously hurt when a school bus crashed and rolled over Friday morning on the I-290, according to Amherst Police and hospital officials. There are injuries to the occupants of the bus that, at this time, appear to be non-life-threatening, police said in a statement. Five students from the bus were in stable condition early Friday afternoon at Oishei Childrens Hospital, and were expected to be released later in the day, Kaleida Health spokesman Michael Hughes said. The bus aide was in serious condition late Friday morning at Erie County Medical Center, spokesman Peter Cutler told The Buffalo News. The bus driver and the driver of the pickup truck that also was involved in the crash were evaluated at the scene, but were not hospitalized, Amherst police said. The cause of the crash remains under investigation and no charges have been filed, police said Friday afternoon. The incident happened at about 7:40 a.m. on the eastbound 290, between Harlem Road and Main Street, and caused extensive traffic backups. Images posted to X, formerly Twitter, by local news outlets showed a bus lying on its side along the shoulder of the highway. Several outlets reported that it was a smaller bus serving special-needs students. Matt Moretti III, a spokesman for Beyond Support Network, confirmed four students served by the organization were on the bus operated by First Student. The students had been picked up from various districts and were on their way to the organizations Beyond Learning Center, formerly the Cantalician Center for Learning, in Depew. While Amherst police said the fifth student on the bus also was heading to the Depew facility, Moretti said this student was not part of the program. The organizations protocol is for its students to be buckled in while riding the bus, Moretti said, and this could have prevented more serious injuries. He said he couldnt provide the ages of the crash victims, but the school serves students between the ages of 3 and 21. Crews from the Snyder Fire Department, Twin City Ambulance and AMR treated the crash victims at the scene. Amherst police Friday morning asked motorists to avoid the eastbound 290 and the Sheridan Drive and Harlem Road area. Anyone who witnessed the crash or may have video of the incident is asked to contact the Amherst Police Accident Investigation Unit at 716-689-1355. Oct 20 (Reuters) - The Israel-Hamas war has raised the spectre of a wider regional conflict which could embroil Iran and other regional factions. Analysts and market observers say the conflict could prompt the United States to tighten sanctions on Iran, which may spur Tehran to take retaliatory action against ships in the Strait in Hormuz. The Marshall Islands registry, one of the world's top shipping flags, last week flagged that vessels with links to Israel or the United States may face a heightened threat of attack within Israeli territorial waters, the Mideast Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman and Red Sea areas. WHAT IS THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ? * The strait lies between Oman and Iran. * It links the Gulf north of it with the Gulf of Oman to the south and the Arabian Sea beyond. * It is 21 miles (33 km) wide at its narrowest point, with the shipping lane just two miles (three km) wide in either direction. * The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have sought to find other routes to bypass the Strait, including building more oil pipelines. WHY DOES IT MATTER? * About a fifth of the volume of the world's total oil consumption passes through the Strait on a daily basis. An average of 20.5 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil, condensate and oil products passed through Hormuz in January-September 2023, data from analytics firm Vortexa showed. * OPEC members Saudi Arabia, Iran, the UAE, Kuwait and Iraq export most of their crude via the Strait. * Qatar, the world's biggest liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter, sends almost all of its LNG through the Strait. * Some 80 million metric tons, or 20% of global LNG flows go through the Strait every year, Vortexa said. * "If the conflict broadens to include the closure of the Strait of Hormuz the world's busiest oil-shipping channel it would shut down the region's oil trade, supercharging oil prices," JP Morgan said in a note this week. "Crucially, while Iran has threatened over the years to block the strait, it had never followed through," the bank added. IMPACT OF U.S. SANCTIONS * The United States has imposed sanctions on Iran aimed at halting its oil exports. * Iran has threatened to disrupt oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz if the United States tries to strangle its economy. * The U.S. Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, is tasked with protecting commercial shipping in the area. RISING TENSIONS * The Israeli army is readying for a ground invasion with the aim of annihilating Hamas, raising the risk of a wider conflict. * Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian on Oct. 18 called on Muslim countries to impose an oil embargo and other sanctions on Israel, but OPEC sources dismissed such a scenario. * In 1973, Arab producers led by Saudi Arabia slapped an oil embargo on Western supporters of Israel in its war with Egypt, targeting Canada, Japan, the Netherlands, Britain and the United States. * While Western countries were the main buyers of crude produced by the Arab countries at the time, nowadays Asia is the main buyer of OPEC's crude. PAST INCIDENTS * During the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war, the two sides sought to disrupt each other's oil exports in what was known as the Tanker War. * In July 1988, the U.S. warship Vincennes shot down an Iranian airliner, killing all 290 aboard, in what Washington said was an accident and Tehran said was a deliberate attack. * In early 2008, the United States said Iranian vessels threatened three U.S. Navy ships in the Strait. * In July 2010, Japanese oil tanker M Star was attacked in the Strait by a militant group called Abdullah Azzam Brigades linked to al Qaeda claiming responsibility. * In January 2012, Iran threatened to block the Strait in retaliation for U.S. and European sanctions that targeted its oil revenue in an attempt to stop Tehran's nuclear programme. * In May 2015, Iranian ships seized a container ship in the Strait and fired shots at a Singapore-flagged tanker which it said had damaged an Iranian oil platform. * In July 2018, President Hassan Rouhani hinted Iran could disrupt oil trade through the Strait in response to U.S. calls to reduce Iran's oil exports to zero. * In May 2019, four vessels - including two Saudi oil tankers - were attacked off the UAE coast near Fujairah, one of the world's largest bunkering hubs, just outside the Strait of Hormuz. * In January 2021, Iran seized a South Korean-flagged tanker in Gulf waters and detained its crew. * In December 2022, the U.S. military said that an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy boat came within 150 yards of American warships in the Strait. * In May 2023, Iran seized two oil tankers while passing through the Strait. * In July 2023, the U.S. Navy said it had intervened to prevent Iran from seizing two commercial tankers in the Gulf of Oman. A Navy statement said that since 2021, Iran had "harassed, attacked or seized nearly 20 internationally flagged merchant vessels". Developer Samuel Savarinos brother is taking over a second real estate project that was all but dead, after Savarino Cos. closed in August. RAS Development Co., owned by Robert A. Savarino, now wants to redevelop a 9.45-acre parcel at Buffalo Lakeside Commerce Park into a smaller build-to-suit business complex, with at least one tenant already in mind for the first facility. Savarino swaps land at Buffalo Lakeside Commerce Park for new project The deal allows the Buffalo-based developer to advance its plan to create its own business park within the larger complex, including a 45,000-square-foot retail sales, service and warehouse facility for an as-yet unnamed tenant. That property, at 193 Ship Canal Parkway, is the same land for which Sam Savarinos Savarino Cos. had signed an exclusivity agreement with the Buffalo Urban Development Corp. in late June, for the same development project. Those plans entailed construction of a 45,000-square-foot retail sales, service and warehouse facility for the unnamed tenant, with a mix of build-to-suit light manufacturing, flex office, warehouse and distribution uses for the rest of the property. Since then, though, Savarino Cos. announced in late August that it was going out of business, following a bitter fight with the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York over a state-funded construction project at SUNY Alfred State. DASNY had hired Savarino Cos. for a dorm renovation, but then fired the firm after blaming it for construction delays and other reported problems. It's filling up: Savarino negotiating to buy last pieces of Buffalo Lakeside Commerce Park The final vacant pieces of the Buffalo Lakeside Commerce Park in South Buffalo may soon be filled in, as Buffalo developer Savarino Cos. is in talks to buy and develop them into a sales, service and warehouse facility. That battle not only left the company with more than $3.3 million in losses, but also hindered it from getting future insurance bonds or surety guarantees for $110 million in new projects that would have kept it going. Its closure put several development projects in limbo including at Buffalo Lakeside since Savarino typically performed its own work, and would now need to find new contractors and financing. BUDC terminated its agreement with Savarino in September, after the developer failed to pay its monthly exclusivity fee for August. Now, RAS intends to pick up where Savarino Companies left off. Robert Savarino has been in the commercial construction and real estate development field for 28 years, mostly separate from his brother until recently. He previously worked on site searches for New Era Cap Co. and Western New York Urology Associates, as well as the renovation of the Guaranty Building in Buffalo, home to the Hodgson Russ law firm. He is also pursuing a 22-unit for-sale townhouse development project on Sheridan Drive in Amherst. According to a memo from BUDC Executive Vice President Rebecca Gandour , RAS is seeking a six-month agreement with the agency, which owns the park, so it can conduct due diligence and non-invasive soil testing, continue discussions with its proposed tenant, and start talks about developing the rest of the land for other tenants. Gandour said in an email that Savarino is targeting the food supply industry. The memo says RAS has relationships with private-equity firms such as OMara Financial, and would use the six months to negotiate terms of a land-sale agreement with BUDC and secure financing for the project. The firm would pay a $2,000 non-refundable monthly fee for its exclusive rights, with payments applied toward a future purchase. Sign up for the Buffalo Next free newsletter The News' Buffalo Next team covers the changing Buffalo Niagara economy. Get the news in your inbox 5 days a week. l by the full board at the end of the month. This would be the second change in recent months involving the land and the Savarinos. Originally, Savarino Companies had planned to acquire four contiguous parcels totaling 12.2 acres at 80, 134, 158 and 200 Ship Canal, under an identical exclusive arrangement from August 2022. Under that previous proposal, it would have used five acres of the site for the retail facility, and seven acres for other tenants. But just as that agreement was approaching its expiration, the single large parcel became available, after Orchard Park-based Krog Group decided in April not to renew its own exclusive rights for 193 Ship Canal, where it had been working on a deal with its own potential tenant. Since that land was already enrolled in the state Brownfield Cleanup Program, Savarino seized the opportunity, swapping its four properties for one, under the same terms. Meanwhile, the four parcels at 80-200 Ship Canal are still available for sale. Stuff reports: Bottles of wine and beer cans could soon be slapped with health warning labels similar to cigarette packets in Australia if its government heeds calls from national health groups. The warning label campaign is supported by NSW woman Rachel Allen, whose son Dylan died last year at the age of 26, from alcohol-induced hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver. The young man, an animal lover who was described by his mother as clever and informed about international politics, had been drinking up to five litres of cask wine a day. NewstalkZB reports: An abusive Kainga Ora tenant on electronically monitored bail is accused of lunging at a neighbour with a large butcher's knife then threatening to kill the man's family by ramming their house with a car. Police were called to the incident last month in Auckland and arrested a teenager. Kainga Ora has described the incident as distressing and unacceptable, saying it can issue disruptive tenants with warning notices but anyone who feels unsafe should contact police. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Partly cloudy skies. A few sprinkles possible. Low 33F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. A few sprinkles possible. Low 33F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Buffalo insurance agency Lawley Group has expanded significantly in the New York City metropolitan area through the biggest acquisition in the companys history. The family-owned Lawley said it has acquired Shoff Darby Cos. and its Shoff Darby Insurance Agency, enhancing its presence in the property and casualty, captive insurance and employee benefits arena in Connecticut, New Jersey and downstate markets. Terms were not disclosed, but the deal adds four locations and 75 employees in Norwalk, Shelton, Stamford and North Haven, Conn. Sign up for the Buffalo Next free newsletter The News' Buffalo Next team covers the changing Buffalo Niagara economy. Get the news in your inbox 5 days a week. Partnering with Shoff Darby, an agency that holds similar values to Lawley, aids in our continued efforts to expand our footprint throughout the tri-state area, Lawley Principal Chris Ross said. Shoff Darby is one of the largest independent insurance agencies in the state, and will retain its independence under Lawley while benefiting from Lawleys resources as one of the nations 100 biggest insurance brokers, with more than 500 employees. Lawley has offices statewide, as well as in Darien, Conn., and Florham Park, N.J. We were determined to remain part of an independent, community-oriented organization, and we could not be happier for our staff, our clients and our communities that we were able to forge this partnership with Lawley, Shoff Darby Chairman William Pierz said. Jonathan D. Epstein Rep. Jim Jordan talks with Rep. Kevin McCarthy and others at the Capitol in Washington on October 18. Photographs of some of the people taken hostage by Hamas are seen in posters on October 18, in Tel Aviv, in Israel. Portside Wealth Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF (NYSEARCA:XHLF Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 14,154,192 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $710,894,000. BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF comprises 3.1% of Portside Wealth Group LLCs holdings, making the stock its 4th biggest position. Portside Wealth Group LLC owned 1.45% of BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Global Retirement Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $163,000. Exchange Capital Management Inc. bought a new position in BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF during the second quarter worth $955,000. FirstPurpose Wealth LLC bought a new position in BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF during the second quarter worth $2,300,000. Relative Value Partners Group LLC bought a new position in BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF during the first quarter worth $1,531,000. Finally, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. bought a new position in BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF during the second quarter worth $16,332,000. Get BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF alerts: BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF Stock Performance XHLF traded up $0.01 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $50.24. 39,900 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 210,429. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $50.18 and a 200-day simple moving average of $50.18. BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF has a 12 month low of $49.94 and a 12 month high of $50.36. BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF Profile The Bondbloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF (XHLF) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund is passively managed to invest in a portfolio of US Treasury securities with a target duration of six months. XHLF was launched on Sep 13, 2022 and is managed by BondBloxx. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding XHLF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF (NYSEARCA:XHLF Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rory Lott was just 8 years old when a priest allegedly molested him as he laid in a hospital bed with injuries from a car accident. Lott healed from his physical injuries long ago, but he said hes never been able to escape the mental torment over the abuse in 1966. It just changed me. I cant describe it, said Lott. That scar is still there. Its been with me over 50 years. Lott was also among an estimated 850 people who filed abuse claims against the Buffalo Diocese in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy case. More than three years since the claims were filed, none of the abuse victims has been compensated as the diocese, its parishes and insurance carriers attempt to negotiate a settlement with abuse victims. I just want this over, Lott said. Everythings at a standstill. All parties in the mediated talks are under a confidentiality agreement, so its difficult to know how far apart they are. But court papers and a recent court hearing suggest that insurance coverage continues to be a major sticking point. The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, which represents childhood sex abuse survivors, is seeking a court order to force insurers to turn over their records of policies issued for the diocese prior to 1972. The dioceses lawyers have maintained from the start of bankruptcy proceedings in 2020 that insurance coverage would be a major asset in a negotiated settlement to pay an estimated 850 abuse claims. The diocese filed for bankruptcy protection after being named as a defendant in more than 200 Child Victims Act lawsuits. The diocese has since hired a law firm specializing in insurance and a so-called insurance archaeology firm to track down such historical policies. Those archaeology efforts so far have come up short, according to an attorney for the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors. The committee now is asking U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Carl Bucki to intervene, over the objections of multiple insurance companies. At this stage in this case, we cant mess around anymore. We need this information from the insurers, said creditors committee attorney Brittany M. Michael. The committee wants the ability to issue subpoenas to at least eight insurance brokers and carriers for a variety of internal documents related to policies and coverages for the Buffalo Diocese. Lawyers for the diocese said in a recent court hearing that they have no problem with the committees request. But insurance companies argue that such a request would be costly and overly burdensome for minimal gain, while distracting from the ongoing mediated talks. Lets be clear, were talking about when Lyndon Johnson was president, JFK, and a little bit of Nixons period. This is a very, very, very long time ago, attorney Tancred V. Schiavoni, who represents Aetna and other insurers, said at a hearing this week. While the diocese has a pretty comprehensive record of insurance policies after 1973, its policies before then were held in parishes, and those records are far less detailed. The diocese was able to find handwritten notes about policies in annual operating reports submitted by parishes from those years, although in most cases, no policy number was mentioned, said Schiavoni. Insurers already ran searches based on the information gleaned from the annual reports, he added. And in some cases, we found policies, in which case we produced them, and in other cases we didnt find anything, Schiavoni said. To look, its literally like looking for a needle under five haystacks to have a name and no policy number. But we looked. We made a legitimate effort. Schiavoni accused the committee of using its broad request for private information from insurers to gain an advantage if litigation resumes in the case. He also suggested that granting such a request would open the door for insurance companies to seek records they need for litigation, if mediation falls through. We have things wed like to know, as youd guess, information about the claims. It would be useful to have that. Weve held our fire, so to speak, said Schiavoni. This would derail effectively the mediation going forward. Unless earlier policies are located, Lotts case is among many claims that would fall outside the coverage of known policies issued after 1973, potentially limiting the exposure of insurance companies. In a Child Victims Act lawsuit, Lott said Monsignor Francis Hanna, a chaplain at Emergency Hospital in Buffalo, was the priest who fondled and sodomized him in a hospital room during his recovery from a car accident. Ordained in 1942, Hanna served in four parishes before his assignment as chaplain at Emergency Hospital from 1955 to 1959 and from 1960 to 1972, according to Official Catholic Directory records. Emergency Hospital, operated for many years by the diocese, was renamed Sheehan Memorial Hospital in 1977. The hospital later was part of the independently run Sheehan Health Network that closed in 2012. Hanna died in 1996. Lott grew up near Emergency Hospital and spent a week there after a car accident in 1966. Lott said he didnt tell his parents or anyone else about the abuse, until confiding in a counselor many years later. Attorney Mitch Garabedian said he first notified the Buffalo Diocese about Lotts case in April 2018. In addition to the bankruptcy claim, Lott filed a Child Victims Act lawsuit against the parishes where Hanna had served prior to being assigned to the hospital, alleging they knew he was a threat to children and were negligent in not preventing the abuse. Garabedian described Lott as a courageous survivor who is in this matter for the long haul. The diocese has often been at odds with the committee of unsecured creditors over a variety of issues in the bankruptcy proceedings. But during the hearing this week diocese attorney Stephen Donato expressed support for the committees request to subpoena insurance records. Donato said he doesnt think the committees request is that much of an intrusion and should have no impact on mediation talks, which are scheduled to resume on Oct. 25. The diocese supports the idea of having as much broad, fulsome approach to finding any policies that could assist in the recovery for the survivors in this case, he said. Over the summer, the diocese and creditors committee put out a joint plea asking for the publics help in locating proof of insurance in parishes before 1972. In a news release, the two sides said they were trying to locate anyone who worked decades ago at an insurance carrier or agency and might know of such historical coverage for the diocese. Under New York law, coverage may be available even if a copy of the actual policy is never found, the news release noted. Evidence that a policy was issued can be used to prove coverage. Such evidence might include notes in business records, canceled checks, accounting ledgers or policy numbers or the memories of people who worked for the diocese, parishes or insurance companies or brokers, according to the release. We know the Diocese owned property before 1972, and that it would have been insured. The question is what companies insured the Diocese in those years, Ilan Scharf, an attorney for the committee, said in a statement. The Buffalo Diocese is under growing pressure to get a deal with child sex abuse survivors following announced settlements this past summer in the Catholic diocese bankruptcy cases in Rochester and Syracuse. The Syracuse Diocese announced in July abuse victims would get $50 million in diocese funds, $45 million from parishes and $5 million from other Catholic entities. That does not include any money from insurance companies, which the diocese and the creditors committee said they will pursue later. In Rochester, the diocese agreed to pay $55 million in diocese and parish funds, while also conveying its insurance coverage rights to a settlement trust on behalf of 475 sex abuse claimants. Subsequent deals with four insurers brought the negotiated total up to $126 million for abuse survivors. In both instances, the settlements, if approved by the court, mean those dioceses and their parishes and schools will no longer have to defend against Child Victims Act lawsuits. Schnieders Capital Management LLC lowered its position in Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR Free Report) by 36.7% in the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 5,149 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 2,986 shares during the quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLCs holdings in Digital Realty Trust were worth $586,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of DLR. Schechter Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Digital Realty Trust in the 1st quarter valued at $276,000. Bessemer Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Digital Realty Trust by 5.2% in the 1st quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 9,563 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $940,000 after acquiring an additional 469 shares during the period. Oak Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Digital Realty Trust by 5.1% in the 1st quarter. Oak Asset Management LLC now owns 10,868 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,068,000 after acquiring an additional 531 shares during the period. Arlington Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Digital Realty Trust by 485.4% in the 1st quarter. Arlington Partners LLC now owns 1,206 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $119,000 after acquiring an additional 1,000 shares during the period. Finally, Texas Permanent School Fund Corp increased its holdings in shares of Digital Realty Trust by 46.7% in the 1st quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp now owns 59,943 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $5,893,000 after acquiring an additional 19,092 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.71% of the companys stock. Get Digital Realty Trust alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Digital Realty Trust In other news, insider Cindy Fiedelman sold 2,770 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $125.00, for a total transaction of $346,250.00. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 0.39% of the stock is owned by insiders. Digital Realty Trust Trading Up 0.6 % Digital Realty Trust Announces Dividend NYSE:DLR traded up $0.70 on Friday, reaching $116.34. The stock had a trading volume of 553,755 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,484,001. The company has a market cap of $35.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 89.60, a P/E/G ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 0.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 0.58 and a quick ratio of 0.58. The firms fifty day moving average is $124.34 and its two-hundred day moving average is $111.76. Digital Realty Trust, Inc. has a 12-month low of $86.33 and a 12-month high of $133.39. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 15th were issued a $1.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 14th. This represents a $4.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.19%. Digital Realty Trusts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 378.29%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. BNP Paribas raised shares of Digital Realty Trust from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $138.00 target price on the stock in a report on Friday, July 28th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut shares of Digital Realty Trust from a buy rating to a hold rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $112.00 to $131.00 in a research note on Friday, August 25th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on shares of Digital Realty Trust from $125.00 to $140.00 and gave the company an outperformer rating in a research note on Monday, August 7th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Digital Realty Trust in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a sell rating on the stock. Finally, Scotiabank started coverage on shares of Digital Realty Trust in a research report on Friday, October 13th. They set a sector perform rating and a $132.00 target price on the stock. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $122.20. Get Our Latest Report on Digital Realty Trust Digital Realty Trust Company Profile (Free Report) Digital Realty brings companies and data together by delivering the full spectrum of data center, colocation, and interconnection solutions. PlatformDIGITAL, the company's global data center platform, provides customers with a secure data "meeting place" and a proven Pervasive Datacenter Architecture (PDx) solution methodology for powering innovation and efficiently managing Data Gravity challenges. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DLR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Digital Realty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Digital Realty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG Get Free Report) was downgraded by equities researchers at StockNews.com from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report issued on Thursday. A number of other equities research analysts also recently issued reports on the company. Morgan Stanley reissued an overweight rating and set a $174.00 price target on shares of Procter & Gamble in a research report on Tuesday, August 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on Procter & Gamble from $172.00 to $169.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 12th. William Blair began coverage on Procter & Gamble in a research note on Friday, September 8th. They issued a market perform rating for the company. They noted that the move was a valuation call. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on Procter & Gamble from $165.00 to $167.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Monday, July 31st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Procter & Gamble from $160.00 to $162.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $164.33. Get Procter & Gamble alerts: Read Our Latest Analysis on PG Procter & Gamble Stock Performance Shares of NYSE PG traded down $0.83 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $148.25. 8,011,151 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,181,566. The firm has a market capitalization of $349.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.13, a P/E/G ratio of 3.35 and a beta of 0.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a current ratio of 0.63. Procter & Gamble has a 52 week low of $126.48 and a 52 week high of $158.38. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $150.63 and its 200 day simple moving average is $151.09. Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 18th. The company reported $1.83 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.71 by $0.12. The business had revenue of $21.87 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $21.58 billion. Procter & Gamble had a return on equity of 32.88% and a net margin of 17.87%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 6.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.57 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that Procter & Gamble will post 6.38 EPS for the current year. Insider Buying and Selling at Procter & Gamble In other Procter & Gamble news, CEO R. Alexandra Keith sold 1,413 shares of Procter & Gamble 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 completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 26,306 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,813,580.82. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other Procter & Gamble news, CEO R. Alexandra Keith sold 1,413 shares of Procter & Gamble 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 completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 26,306 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,813,580.82. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Susan Street Whaley sold 575 shares of Procter & Gamble stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.97, for a total value of $83,357.75. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 7,498 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,086,985.06. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 108,760 shares of company stock worth $16,835,914. Insiders own 0.17% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Procter & Gamble A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Tevis Investment Management grew its stake in shares of Procter & Gamble by 0.5% during the 1st quarter. Tevis Investment Management now owns 12,260 shares of the companys stock worth $1,823,000 after purchasing an additional 64 shares during the period. Eagle Strategies LLC grew its stake in shares of Procter & Gamble by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. Eagle Strategies LLC now owns 3,526 shares of the companys stock worth $524,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares during the period. WealthTrust Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Procter & Gamble by 3.4% during the 1st quarter. WealthTrust Asset Management LLC now owns 1,990 shares of the companys stock worth $296,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares during the period. Exeter Financial LLC grew its stake in shares of Procter & Gamble by 0.4% during the 1st quarter. Exeter Financial LLC now owns 15,144 shares of the companys stock worth $2,286,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares during the period. Finally, Diligent Investors LLC grew its stake in shares of Procter & Gamble by 0.4% during the 1st quarter. Diligent Investors LLC now owns 16,084 shares of the companys stock worth $2,391,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 63.43% of the companys stock. Procter & Gamble Company Profile (Get 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. Recommended Stories 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. Webster Financial (NYSE:WBS Get Free Report) announced its earnings results on Thursday. The financial services provider reported $1.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.49 by $0.06, MarketWatch Earnings reports. The business had revenue of $677.50 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $686.11 million. Webster Financial had a net margin of 26.69% and a return on equity of 13.68%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 1.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.46 EPS. Webster Financial Stock Up 2.0 % WBS traded up $0.79 during trading on Thursday, reaching $40.11. The company had a trading volume of 1,773,492 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,264,604. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 0.89 and a quick ratio of 0.89. Webster Financial has a 12 month low of $31.03 and a 12 month high of $56.46. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $41.19 and its 200 day moving average price is $39.69. The company has a market cap of $6.95 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.49 and a beta of 1.27. Get Webster Financial alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective on shares of Webster Financial from $53.00 to $48.00 in a research report on Tuesday, October 10th. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of Webster Financial from $43.00 to $49.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 27th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Webster Financial from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday. Raymond James lifted their price target on shares of Webster Financial from $50.00 to $51.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, July 24th. Finally, Wedbush lifted their price target on shares of Webster Financial from $40.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, July 21st. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $50.18. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Neo Ivy Capital Management bought a new position in Webster Financial in the second quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Webster Financial by 9,388.9% in the second quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 854 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 845 shares in the last quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. increased its holdings in Webster Financial by 305.8% during the first quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 905 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 682 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd increased its holdings in Webster Financial by 113.9% during the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,074 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $60,000 after buying an additional 572 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Quarry LP increased its holdings in Webster Financial by 209.8% during the first quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,227 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $48,000 after buying an additional 831 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.37% of the companys stock. About Webster Financial (Get Free Report) Webster Financial Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Webster Bank, National Association that provides a range of financial services to individuals, families, and businesses in the United States. It operates through three segments: Commercial Banking, HSA Bank, and Consumer Banking. The Commercial Banking segment provides commercial real estate and equipment financing, business banking, asset-based lending, and commercial services; public sector finance; mortgage warehouse financing; treasury management services; credit, deposit, and cash flow management services; and wealth management solutions to business owners and operators, including trust, asset management, financial planning, insurance, retirement, and investment products, as well as derivative, treasury, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and trade products and services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Webster Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Webster Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Yes, by at least $1 Yes, by $2 or more No Vote View Results Our View is typically written by executive editor Mike Marturello with input from editors Matt Getts, Jeff Jones and Lisa Long. The 2023 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) has been canceled. Read more to know further details. 2023 MTV Europe Music Awards Canceled Due to Current World Conflicts On October 19, MTV Europe Music Awards officially cancelled the 2023 EMAs due to the "volatility of world events," referring to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN: aespa, STAYC and More 4th Generation Groups Nominated for 2021 MTV Europe Music Awards Due to this current situation, the EMAs decided to prioritize the safety of its staff, fans, and other attendees who were scheduled to appear at the awarding ceremony. Moreover, the program was canceled, as this was an unfortunate time for many people. The 2023 MTV EMAs will continue its voting and artists will still receive their trophies soon. It also announced that the awards show will return in November 2024. Read their full statement below: "Given the volatility of world events, we have concluded that the 2023 MTV Europe Music Awards will not move forward, in order to place caution for thousands of employees, crew members, artists, fans, and partners who travel from all over the world for the show. The MTV EMAs are an annual celebration of global music, and as we watch the devastating events in Israel and Gaza continue to arise, a global celebration is not acceptable in this current situation. With many lives already lost, this is a time for mourning. The voting is continuing, and the winning artists will receive their awards from the MTV EMAs. We're looking forward to hosting the MTV EMAs again in November 2024." Given the volatility of world events, we have decided not to move forward with the 2023 MTV EMAs out of an abundance of caution for the thousands of employees, crew members, artists, fans, and partners who travel from all corners of the world to bring the show to life. MTV EMA (@mtvema) October 19, 2023 Voting is continuing and the winning artists will receive their MTV EMA Awards. We look forward to hosting the MTV EMAs again in November of 2024. MTV EMA (@mtvema) October 19, 2023 2022 MTV Europe Music Awards Winners Announced In other news, the 2022 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) was held on November 13, 2022, in Dusseldorf, Germany. At the 2022 MTV EMAs, BTS won the Biggest Fans award. They were followed by BLACKPINK, who won the award for the Metaverse Performance due to their "The Virtual" concert in collab with online game PUBG. TXT also received an award at the 2022 EMAs, snagging the Best Asia Act. Meanwhile, SEVENTEEN won two awards at the ceremony. The group managed to receive the Best New Artist and Best PUSH Artist awards. Finally, BLACKPINK's youngest member Lisa won the award for Best K-pop. See the full list of winners below: Biggest Fans: BTS Best Metaverse Performance: "The Virtual" in PUBG by BLACKPINK Best Asia Act: TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT) Best New Artist: SEVENTEEN Best PUSH Artist: SEVENTEEN [] Another one! Congratulations to SEVENTEEN for winning Best Push at the 2022 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs)! @pledis_17 #SEVENTEEN #pic.twitter.com/N8B8JjpNOW Carat Land PH (@CaratLandPH) November 13, 2022 Best K-pop: BLACKPINK Lisa For more intriguing K-pop news and exciting updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz! IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: MTV EMA 2022 Winners - Which K-pop Artists Took Home Awards? KpopStarz owns this article Written by Riely Miller After the confirmation that MAMA Awards 2023 will return to Tokyo Dome this year, the list of nominated artists was also released! 2023 MAMA Awards Nominees: BTS, NewJeans, SEVENTEEN, IVE, More! On October 19, the 2023 MAMA Awards officially took off the veil of this year's candidates for each award category on its official social media platforms! Starting with the "Best Male Group," TREASURE, TXT, Stray Kids, SEVENTEEN, NCT Dream, and EXO were nominated, while TWICE, NewJeans, LE SSERAFIM, IVE, aespa, (G)I-DLE and tripleS will compete for the "Best Female Group." Twitter Error Twitter Error For "Best Male Artist," BIGBANG Taeyang, BTS V, Parc Jae Jung, Lim Young Woong, BTS Jungkook, and Jimin were listed, whereas Choi Yena, Lee Chae Yeon, BLACKPINK Jisoo, TWICE Jihyo, Jeon Somi, and MAMAMOO Hwasa were selected for the female category. ALSO READ: 2023 MAMA Awards to Be Held in Japan: Concept, Venue, Dates, More Info Revealed! In the best rookie categories, "Best New Female Artist," Limelight, KISS OF LIFE, EL7Z UP and ADYA gained recognition, along with xikers, ZEROBASEONE, RIIZE, EVNNE, and BOYNEXTDOOR for "Best New Male Artist." Twitter Error The rest of the competitive awards can be seen in the MAMA Awards official SNS below: Best Dance Performance Male Solo Jimin Like Crazy Jungkook Seven (Feat. Latto) Kai Rover Taeyang VIBE (Feat. Jimin) Taeyong SHALALA Best Dance Performance Female Solo Hwasa I Love My Body Jeon Somi Fast Forward Jihyo Killin Me Good Jisoo FLOWER Lee Chae Yeon KNOCK Best Dance Performance Male Group NCT 127 Ay-Yo NCT DREAM Candy SEVENTEEN Super Stray Kids S-Class TXT Sugar Rush Ride ZEROBASEONE In Bloom Twitter Error Best Dance Performance Female Group aespa Spicy (G)I-DLE Queencard IVE I AM LE SSERAFIM UNFORGIVEN (Feat. Nile Rodgers) NewJeans Ditto STAYC Teddy Bear Best Vocal Performance Solo DAWN Dear My Light Lee Mujin Ordinary Confession Lim Young Woong London Boy Parc Jae Jung Lets Say Goodbye V Love Me Again Twitter Error Best Vocal Performance Group AKMU Love Lee BTOB Wind And Wish BTS Take Two M.C the MAX Eternity MeloMance A Shining Day Best Rap & Hip Hop Performance Agust D (Suga) People Pt.2 (Feat. IU) ASH ISLAND Goodbye (Feat. Paul Blanco) J-Hope on the street (with J.Cole) Jay Park Candy (Feat. Zion.T) Zior Park CHRISTIAN Best Collaboration Anne-Marie, Minnie Expectations BIG Naughty Hopeless Romantic (Feat. Lee Suhyun) BSS (SEVENTEEN) Fighting (Feat. Lee Young Ji) Jungkook Seven (Feat. Latto) Taeyang VIBE (Feat. Jimin) Twitter Error Best OST BIG Naughty With me (The Interest of Love OST) BTS The Planet (BASTIONS OST) Lim Jae Hyun Heaven (2023) (It Was Spring OST) Paul Kim You Remember (The Glory OST) TXT Goodbye Now (Love Revolution OST) Best Music Video (G)I-DLE Queencard IVE I AM Jisoo FLOWER Jungkook Seven (Feat. Latto) SEVENTEEN Super Stray Kids S-Class Here Are Nominees For MAMA Awards 2023 4 Daesangs (Grand Prizes) Regarding the four grand prizes (also known as Daesang) including "Artist of the Year," "Album of the Year," "Song of the Year" and "Worldwide Icon of the Year," the competition is tough looking at the contenders. Starting with MAMA Awards 2023 "ARTIST OF THE YEAR" nominees, (G)I-DLE, ADYA, aespa, BOYNEXTDOOR, EL7Z UP, EVNNE, EXO, Hwasa, IVE, Jeon Somi, Jihyo, Jimin, Jisoo, Jungkook, KISS OF LIFE, LE SSERAFIM, LEE CHAE YEON, LIM YOUNG WOONG, LIMELIGHT, NCT DREAM, NewJeans, Parc Jae Jung, RIIZE, SEVENTEEN, Stray Kids, Taeyang, TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT), TREASURE, tripleS, TWICE, V, xikers, Choi Yena, and ZEROBASEONE were selected. 'Song of the Year' award nominees (G)I-DLE - Queencard aespa - Spicy Agust D - People (ft. IU) AKMU - Love Lee Anne Marie, Minnie - EXPECTATIONS Ash Island - Goobye (ft. Paul Blanco) BIG Naughty - Hopeless Romantic (ft. Lee Suhyun) BIG Naughty - With Me BSS - Fighting (ft. Lee Youngji) BTOB - Wind and Wish BTS - Take Two BTS - The Planet Dawn - Dear My Light Hwasa - I Love My Body IVE - I AM j-hope - on the street (with J. Cole) Jay Park - Candy (ft. Zion.T) Jeon Somi - Fast Forward Jihyo - Killin' Me Good Jimin - Like Crazy Jisoo - Flower Jungkook - Seven (ft. Latto) Clean Ver. Kai - Rover LE SSERAFIM - Unforgiven (ft. Nile Rogers) Lee Chaeyeon - Knock Lim Young Woong - London Boy M.C the MAX - Eternity MeloMance - A Shining Day NCT 127 Ay-Yo NCT Dream - Candy NewJeans - Ditto Park Jae Jung - Let's Say Goodbye Paul Kim - You Remember SEVENTEEN - Super STAYC - Teddy Bear Stray Kids - S-Class Taeyang - Vibe (ft. Jimin) Taeyong - Shalala TOMORROW X TOGETHER - Goodbye Now TOMORROW X TOGETHER - Sugar Rush Ride V - Love Me Again ZEROBASEONE - In Bloom Zior Park - Christian 'Album of the Year' Award Nominees (G)I-DLE - I Feel aespa - MY WORLD Agust d - D-DAY BIG Naughty - Hopeless Romantic BTOB - Wind and wish ELZ UP - 7+UP EVNNE - Targer:ME EXO - EXIST IVE - I've IVE Jeon Somi - Game Plan Jihyo - Zone Jimin - Face Kai - Rover KISS OF LIFE - KISS OF LIFE LE SSERAFIM - UNFORGIVEN Lee Chae Yeon - Over the Moon LIMELIGHT - Love and Happiness NCT Dream - ISTJ NewJeans - Get Up Parc Jae Jung - Alone SEVENTEEN - FML STAYC - Teenfresh Stray Kids - 5-STAR Taeyang - Down to Earth Taeyong - SHALALA TOMORROW X TOGETHER - The Name Chapter: TEMPTATION TREASURE - Reboot tripleS - Assemble TWICE - Ready to bE V - Layover xikers - HOUSE OF TRICKY: HOW TO PLAY ZEROBASEONE - Youth in the Shade The judging process for the winners of the aforementioned grand awards will be based on various indicators and professional judges. This includes the global voting data, evaluation of judges composed of global industry experts, global sound sources, records, music video data, and views. On the flip side, the "Worldwide Icon of the Year" will be a 100 %-vote accolade and artists who led the K-pop trend were selected through fans participating in the voting event. The 2023 MAMA Awards, hosted by CJ ENM since 1999, will be held at Tokyo Dome in Japan from the 28th to the 29th of November. It will be broadcast live around the world through major global digital channels including YouTube. READ MORE: SEVENTEEN, NewJeans Predicted to Win Daesangs at '2023 MAMA Awards' + More Artists Forecasted to Join Ceremony For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Eunice Dawson. In an exclusive interview with Dispatch, FIFTY FIFTY Keena spoke about the provisional injunction they filed against ATTRAKT and how PD Ahn "gaslighted" them into doing it. FIFTY FIFTY Keena Points PD Ahn Sung Il As Person Who Prompted Team to File Injunction Against ATTRAKT On October 16, Keena of the global girl group FIFTY FIFTY shocked the music scene when she submitted the withdrawal of her appeal to suspend her contract with her current agency, ATTRAKT. Earlier in June, all four members filed a provisional injunction to suspend their contracts against the company due to a break of trust and ruined reputations. Although it was initially rejected by the court, the quartet continued their fight and expressed no desire to return to ATTRAKT. ALSO READ: FIFTY FIFTY Keena's Return to ATTRAKT Receives Negative Reactions: 'Don't accept her' But the tables have turned. Now that Keena not only exited from the lawsuit, she filed but personally contacted CEO Jeon Hong Jun to return to the company, too. On October 20, Keena sat down for an exclusive interview with Dispatch and revealed never-before-known details about the controversy. During the talk, Keena mainly revealed that PD Ahn Sung Il, who was FIFTY FIFTY's producer and The Givers CEO, was the person behind why they decided to file the lawsuit. In particular, prior to filing the injunction, Ahn Sung Il made the members (Saena) fake coronavirus so that they couldn't meet the company, taking advantage of the quarantine period. Keena narrated: "Ahn PD has proposed a provisional injunction lawsuit. My parents then hired a lawyer. Producer Ahn said, '(I) can't help you in front. Instead, I will provide evidence from behind.' He promised to help. At the time, Producer Ahn said, 'There is a really big evidence. It's a battle to win no matter what.' But it was almost all talk. He couldn't give us the right data. And then he took his head off." Eventually, Keena's trust in Ahn PD completely broke after learning from reports that her copyright fee for the hit song, "Cupid," was reduced from 6.5% to 0.5%, stating that her signature was forged. FIFTY FIFTY Keena Exposes 'Gaslighting' From PD Ahn Sung Il In the interview, Keena narrated how PD Ahn instilled anxiety in the members after seeing how they are rising in the Billboard. The members were worried about the financial situation of ATTRAKT and how it would prevent them from doing regular activities. The discord then sparked when Warners contacted PD Ahn to acquire the group for 20 billion won (14.8M USD) to CEO Jeon Hong Jun and make them artists under the label. Unfortunately, Ahn PD didn't deliver the offer immediately and said that the CEO "rejected," but the members thought it was a nice offer and expressed the desire to proceed with their normal schedules. Just then, Ahn PD advised them to have their parents talk to him, not knowing that he would let them choose from three options. (1) receive investment from CJ, (2) receive investment from Kakao and (3) apply for a provisional injunction. However, they could only select the third option as PD Ahn stated that what the investment CEO Jeon will receive will be carried by FIFTY FIFTY as "debts." Keena then expressed her regret not contacting CEO Jeon first to check the matter and defended her parents. "Our parents didn't know exactly what 'The Givers' was. They thought he was a member of 'ATTRAKT.' The staff inside is so worried... so they were considerate not to make them embarrassed." According to Keena, the injunction was the free will of FIFTY FIFTY, but PD Ahn Sung Il's gaslighting played a huge factor in their decision. Ahn Sung Il to FIFTY FIFTY: "I raised you. I put you on the Billboard. I filmed the music video with my own money. I bought a song with my own money. CEO Jeon Hong Jun is not interested. I only think about investment. Investment in debt. You have to pay back." READ MORE: FIFTY FIFTY Unveils CEO's Shady Dealings in New Post: 'The agency charged the members 3 billion...' For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Eunice Dawson. A recent incident at an ENHYPEN concert in the United States has ignited a spectrum of reactions from netizens, both domestically and internationally. Following ENHYPEN's concerts, the group typically engages with their fans during a special "Send-off" event, during which memorable moments are frequently shared. Heeseung's Puzzling Encounter: A Viral Video Emerges In this particular case, a video clip has captured considerable attention, prompting a division among fans. The footage unveils a moment when Heeseung, a member of ENHYPEN, was handed a wad of money by a fan, resulting in evident confusion. Although staff members swiftly intervened, returning the money to the fan, Heeseung took a moment to express his gratitude before being escorted away from the scene. Some fans found the gesture quite amusing, especially due to Heeseung's bewildered expression, while others had a more critical perspective. One fan labeled the act as not only disrespectful but potentially "racist." To clarify their viewpoint, they pointed to the cultural significance of tipping in Korea and how some idols might perceive such actions as offensive. Conversely, some fans emphasized the significance of conveying appreciation for idols through verbal expressions of support rather than through material gestures. READ ALSO: ENHYPEN Heeseung Recovers from Surgery, Album Participation Limited In addition, discussions arose about modifications in the conduct of these events, with particular restrictions imposed on group members due to the actions of some fans. Netizens' comments: "LMAOOOO an ENGENE gave heeseung dollars and the staff gave the fan her money back from him and heeseung looks so lost here " "I'm just doing everything all the engenes who wanted to gift them snack or words would!! I'm so glad he felt happy receiving it " "I really hope he read and know that we care for them even if they don't get to bring it home or eat it" "They should not allow cameras/phones. That way it would be a more genuine experience for Enhypen and REAL engenes that aren't just trying to get clicks." "Fans got greedy! Fans thought "Enhypen love us so much that they'll break the rules, aren't we so lucky, aren't we the best fandom?" And in reality they abused the privilege and ruined it for everyone." It is vital to recognize that while such actions may be acceptable when directed at Western artists, fans are now contemplating whether they carry the same meaning within the context of K-Pop idols and their cultural norms. This incident serves as a microcosm of the complex relationship between K-Pop idols and their international fanbase, highlighting the need for mutual understanding and respect within this global phenomenon. As K-Pop continues to expand its reach beyond South Korea, conversations like these become increasingly important to bridge the gap between cultural perspectives and expectations. READ ALSO: 10 Best 'Hexagonal' Male Idols in K-pop: BTS Jungkook, ENHYPEN Heeseung, WOODZ, MORE! Follow and subscribe to KpopStarz for more news. KpopStarz own this article. Cassidy Jones wrote this. Niagara Falls man out on parole pleads guilty to gun charge, faces prison term A Niagara Falls man who aimed a pistol at one person and then hit another person with the gun at a Riverdale Avenue residence in the Town of Tonawanda pleaded guilty Friday to second-degree attempted criminal possession of a weapon. Vincent E. Smith, 36, who remains held without bail, faces a maximum of 12 years to life in prison as a persistent violent felony offender when he is sentenced Dec. 11 by Erie County Court Judge James Bargnesi. During the Jan. 29 altercation, Smith also fired a shot into the floor when a bystander attempted to intervene, and then proceeded to hit the bystander with the weapon, according to the Erie County District Attorneys Office. Prosecutors said Smith, who was on parole at the time, fired another shot at the house after being escorted outside. A search warrant was subsequently executed at Smiths Niagara Falls residence on Ferry Avenue, but no weapon was recovered, prosecutors said. - Harold McNeil Debuting at the age of 15, Bae Suzy after about a decade and a half established a strong career both in the idol and acting scene. Throughout the years, how rich did the "Nation's First Love" become? Bae Suzy Net Worth 2023: Her Career as Idol, Actress, CF Model, Brand Ambassador According to various sources, Bae Suzy's net worth as of 2023 is 30 million USD. As of July, she stands as the fifth highest-paid Korean actress aside from being one of the top-tier K-pop idols. Since her debut as Miss A, Suzy was labeled as "It Girl" and "Nation's First Love," which landed her numerous advertisement deals, ranging from cosmetic products to beverages, clothing, food and more. This made her gain the modifier "CF Queen," as she could sell out even basic commodities like sugar. ALSO READ: Bae Suzy Gains Admiration for Legendary Beauty in Idol Makeup & Look: 'She really came out of webtoon' Her strong influence and popularity didn't only explode in South Korea, but her name also reigned in the international market, both as an artist and model. In fact, prior to BLACKPINK Jisoo, Suzy was the OG "Human Dior" in 2020, for frequently sporting and promoting the luxury brand as their model. In 2022, she was officially announced as its house ambassador. In the same year, Suzy was tapped as the first South Korean female artist to become "Ambassador of Elegance" for Swiss luxury watch brand, Longines. Prior to this, she has been working for Lancome, Guess, and many more. Bae Suzy Owns $10-M Gangnam Building, Shocking Price of Outfit for 'Doona!' Press Conference With her numerous accolades, Bae Suzy who ranked in the top 5 richest female idols and actress was also one of the few stars who currently own real estate properties worth more than 10 billion KRW (approximately 7.5 million USD). She first purchased her Samseong-dong building in 2016 worth 2.77 million USD. It was then reported that she paid it in full 1.5 million USD was given in CASH! She transformed it into a rental building for 11.2k USD per month and as of 2023, it has an estimated market price of 6 million USD, twice as high as its original price. In 2017, she bought her Nonhyeon-dong luxury villa for 2.31 million USD, which is said to be her current home with four rooms, three bathrooms and one dressing room. Although her extravagant lifestyle and shocking wealth don't really reflect her humble appearance and personality, she can't hide her elegance by wearing luxurious clothing. In fact, she recently drew attention to her outfits during the production presentation of Netflix's new series "Doona!" held on October 18 at Shinhan Card Artium in COEX, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. On this day, Suzy drew attention with a neat all-black look which all came from the luxury brand Versace. It looks simple at first glance, but her complete ensemble cost as much as $5, 520! The pleated mini skirt that she wore is 3.9 million won ($2,675), while her sandals which are the Medusa bow-caged slingback pumps cost $1, 675. Her turtle neck jumper is priced at $795 and lastly, her earring costs $375. With this, expectation is high if Bae Suzy will spark another fashion trend with its upcoming drama, "Doona!" which will be released on October 20 on Netflix. READ MORE: 4 Idols With Real Estate Worth Above 10 Billion KRW: SNSD YoonA, Bae Suzy, More! For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Eunice Dawson. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Voting machines are prepared before early voting begins at City Hall in New Orleans, Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Advocate) One year after Kaleida Health was formed in 1998, the health system created a program that provided discounts on health care to its employees and their family members who were covered by Kaleidas insurance plan as long as they received those services at a Kaleida facility. The program was expanded four times between 1999 and 2018, intended to bolster Kaleidas employee benefit package to help attract and retain workers in a competitive labor market. But at one point along the way, the discount program expanded too much to include other individuals who were not enrolled in or covered by Kaleidas insurance plan. That included extended family members, volunteers and retirees age 65 and older some of whom were already enrolled in a federal health care program. And that overexpansion to federal health care program beneficiaries, and a similar issue at Upper Allegheny Health System, has cost Kaleida this year about $2.7 million the amount of a settlement that Western New Yorks largest health system agreed to in May with the federal government after it self-disclosed that it may have violated the Civil Monetary Penalties Law. Kaleida Health and all of its hospitals, including Olean General, promote a culture of transparency and accountability, Kaleida said in a statement. Four years ago we were the ones to self-disclose to the Office of Inspector General regarding the overexpansion of our discount programs. As a result, we made appropriate changes to ensure that we are consistent with regulatory mandates while still providing the best employee-friendly programs possible. While the Office of Inspector General announced the settlement May 25 in a brief news release, The Buffalo News in late September obtained the self-disclosure submissions from Kaleida and its affiliated Olean General through a Freedom of Information Act request. The 123 pages provided by the Office of Inspector General the office tasked with weeding out waste, fraud and abuse within Medicare, Medicaid and other Department of Health & Human Services programs give an inside look at the self-disclosure protocol and how long it can take to resolve such a case. From the time Kaleida attorneys self-disclosed the issue to the federal government on Aug. 1, 2018, to the time the settlement agreement was signed in mid-May, Kaleida had three different CEOs: Jody Lomeo, Bob Nesselbush and now Don Boyd. The part of the law that Kaleida allegedly violated pertains to paying remuneration to certain employees, family members, retirees and volunteers who were federal health program beneficiaries, potentially influencing them to select a certain provider for services that then would be paid, in part or full, by Medicare or Medicaid. In its self-disclosure submission, Kaleida identified nearly $1.8 million in program discounts that were provided to federal health care plan beneficiaries between Aug. 1, 2011, and July 31, 2018. That included discounts on inpatient, observation and outpatient hospital services as well as on home care and long-term care services. It also included complimentary local telephone services, television, valet parking and cafeteria privileges, as well as upgrades from semiprivate to private rooms and reduced cost-sharing amounts for prescriptions filled at Kaleida pharmacies. Kaleidas discount program was restructured on Aug. 1, 2018, to ensure that discounts were no longer provided to federal health care plan beneficiaries. In its self-disclosure submission in 2019, Olean General identified about $15,000 in program discounts provided to federal health care plan beneficiaries between Oct. 1, 2012, and Sept. 24, 2019. Olean General restructured its discount program on Sept. 16, 2019, to ensure that discounts were only provided to employees and covered dependents insured by the hospitals self-insured medical plan. In the settlement deal signed by Office of Inspector General officials on May 25, Kaleida and Olean General Olean Generals financials roll up to Kaleida agreed to pay the $2.7 million in three waves. That included $1 million that had to be paid within three business days of the agreement and two equal installments of $851,472 one to be paid within 90 days and the other to be paid within 180 days. Bhopal, Oct 20 (PTI) Bundelkhand, an impoverished and drought-prone region of Madhya Pradesh, has shown a clear tilt towards the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in elections in the last two decades, but it remains to be seen if this trend will continue in the upcoming assembly polls, too, or the Congress will make a dent in the saffron party's voter base. The region, despite having a diamond mine in Panna district, has battled droughts, economic disparity, poverty and caste conflicts for decades. The politics of Bundelkhand, which straddles Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, is more complex than other regions of the centrally-located state which will vote on November 17 to elect a new 230-member assembly. Also Read | Earthquake in Andaman and Nicobar: Quake of Magnitude 4.2 on Richter Scale Hits Andaman Sea. As it borders Uttar Pradesh, the area has pockets of influence of the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), key political players in the adjoining northern state. The UP-based outfits try to eat into the votes of the two main contenders for power in Madhya Pradesh the BJP and the Congress to expand their base and stay relevant in the central state's politics. In the 2018 polls, the BSP and the SP had garnered one seat each in Bundelkhand, which has 26 assembly constituencies, including 6 reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs), spread across 6 districts. The BJP had then won 16 seats followed by the Congress (8). SP legislator Rajesh Shukla (Bijawar seat), however, later joined the saffron outfit. Also Read | Gujarat: Close Shave for 16 Passengers As Bus Catches Fire on Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway in Valsad (Watch Video). After the SP MLA's defection and bypolls during 2018-2023, the BJP's tally currently stands at 18, while the Congress has seven legislators from the region. The BSP has one MLA. Bundelkhand's backwardness came to national focus when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi pushed for a special package for the region about one-and-a-half decades ago, when his party headed the UPA government at the Centre. Bundelkhand is drought-prone, lacks industrialisation and employment opportunities. Mass migration from the region has been a common phenomenon for decades, said Deepak Tiwari, senior journalist and former vice-chancellor of the Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication. Gandhi visited the region in 2008 and pushed for a special package for its development. The UPA government later declared a special package of Rs 7,000 crore for Bundelkhand (covering areas in MP and UP), but things have not changed so far because of inherent local geographical and social conditions, Tiwari explained. The senior journalist said in the last two decades, the region has shown inclination towards the BJP as far as electoral politics is concerned. This area is still grappling with same old problems despite the fact that senior BJP leader and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Uma Bharti (who became CM in December 2003, but her term lasted for less than a year) hails from Bundelkhand, he said. Bharti, a native of Tikamgarh district, became CM when the BJP formed its government in December 2003 after a 10-year-long Congress rule. Her tenure, however, lasted for less than a year. Senior journalist and author Rasheed Kidwai said Bundelkhand has the potential to mar the electoral prospects of the BJP if the Congress push for a caste survey gains traction among voters and they move towards the opposition party. If that happens, it would be a game changer. Also, Bundelkhand, with its economic disparity, stark poverty and sharp caste conflicts, is an ideal test case for (Chief Minister) Shivraj Singh Chouhan's welfare policies and their impact on the ground)," he said. Talking to PTI, state BJP secretary Rajneesh Agrawal expressed confidence about his party doing better than 2018 and improving its seat tally in the region. We didn't get expected results on the 26 seats of Bundelkhand in 2018 due to some political equations. The party has sorted out those equations now, Agrawal said without elaborating. Benefits of the BJP government's welfare schemes have reached the people of the region. Projects like the Bina Refinery, irrigation schemes and construction of roads are signs of development, he added. The BJP government at the Centre recently cleared the Ken-Betwa river linking project, which Chief Minister Chouhan said, will irrigate more than 10 lakh hectares of land, provide drinking water to 62 lakh people and also generate hydro-power in the impoverished region. The Congress is hopeful of Bundelkhand moving away from the BJP and voting in large numbers for the opposition party in the upcoming polls. Senior Congress leader and former MLA from Deori in Sagar district, Sunil Jain, said, Though the voters have leaned towards the BJP since the past two decades when Uma Bharti became CM, the picture is going to change in 2023 as the BJP has repeatedly ignored the region's development. Jain said the region has a large population of OBC communities and they are disillusioned with the BJP, which has ruled the state since 2003 barring a 15-month-period (December 2018-March 2020) when the Congress was in power under the leadership of Kamal Nath. The former MLA said the Congress has promised a caste survey if voted to power in a bid to provide rights to marginal sections in proportional to their population and this will surely impact the choice of electors when they queue up at booths to vote in less than a month. The BJP has performed well in the region in assembly elections in the last two decades, winning 20 seats in 2003, followed by 14 (2008), 20 (2013) and 18 seats (16 in 2018 polls, while two more were added in the tally in subsequent bypolls and when SP MLA switched sides). The Congress has also steadily improved its performance over the years. From winning just two seats in 2003, its tally stood at eight (2008), six (2013) and seven (eight in 2018 polls followed by the loss of one constituency in bypolls). Bundelkhand in Madhya Pradesh is spread across six districts Sagar, Damoh, Tikamgarh, Panna, Chhatarpur and Niwari. Of the total 26 assembly seats in Bundelkhand, Sagar district has eight segments Sagar, Naryaoli, Khurai, Deori, Surkhi, Rehli-Garhakota, Bina and Banda. Of these, the BJP has six seats and the Congress two. Chhatarpur district has six seats Maharajpur, Chandla, Rajnagar, Chhatarpur, Bijawar and Malhera. Of these, the Congress and the BJP share three seats each. Damoh district has four seats Patharia, Damoh, Jabera and Hatta. Currently, BJP legislators represent two of the seats, while the BSP and the Congress have one MLA each. Panna district has three segments Pawai, Gunnor and Panna. Two of them are currently held by the BJP and one by the Congress. Tikamgarh district has three constituencies Khargapur, Tikamgarh and Jatara, while the newly carved Niwari district has two seats Prithvipur and Niwari. All the segments in these two districts are represented by BJP legislators. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], October 20 (ANI): As the legal tussle between TMC MP Mahua Moitra and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey reached the Delhi High Court on Friday, the latter's lawyer's submitted that Moitra had recieved gifts for asking questions on Parliament. "Yesterday in the press, a businessman has circulated an affidavit that he had given expensive gifts to the petitioner," Advocate Abhimanyu Bhanfari, appearing for Nishikant Dubey, submitted before Justice Sachin Datta. Also Read | Cyclone Tej Update: IMD Warns of Cyclonic Storm Forming in Arabian Sea, May Affect Mumbai and Konkan Region. Senior Advocate Gopal Sankarnaryan while pushing for an ad interim injunction told the court,"She's a public figure with standing in the society...unfortunately she was a friend with Dehradari." While Senior Advocate Sankarnaryan appearing for Mahua Moitra, was putting forth his submisisons, Advocate Jai Anant Dehradari, against whom also injunction was sought, objected to him appearing in the case. Also Read | Uttarakhand: Students Find Insects in Food at Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University' Mess, Probe Ordered. Dehedrai appeared in person and told court that Sankaranarayanan contacted him last night and asked him to withdraw his CBI complaint in exchange for the dog. Following these submisisons, Sankarnaryan withdrew from the case and, hence, the matter was adjourned for October 31. Speaking to the media outside the court complex Gopal Sankarnaryan said "I have absolutely no comments except to say, because Jai (Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai) instructed me in a case, I had reached out to him yesterday and had asked him is there any way of exploring a settlement. Jai had said that he will get back to me, but he didn't. Today when I appeared, Jai personally said to me he had an objection to me appearing. I immediately withdrew and said that I don't want to do this case." The Delhi High Court on Friday was scheduled to hear TMC MP Mahua Moitra's application seeking directions to restrain BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, an advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai and several social media platforms and media houses from posting, circulating or publishing any fake and defamatory content against her. The High Court on last date had issued notices to the defendants on Moitra's suit. Moitra is at the centre of a political storm after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey complained to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla that she had allegedly taken bribes from a business house to ask questions in Parliament. Meanwhile the Ethics Committee of Parliament has summoned both Nishikant Dubey and Advocate Dehadrai to give oral evidence on the complaint filed in the alleged 'Cash for Query' scandal by the BJP MP. Earlier Nishikant Dubey in his letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker, titled "Reemergence of nasty 'Cash for Query' in Parliament" had alleged "'Serious Breach of Privilege', 'Contempt of the House' and a 'Criminal Offence' underSection 120A of IPC" by the Trinamool Congress MP. Dubey claimed that Advocate, Jai Anant Dehadrai had provided him with proof of alleged bribe. In her response to this letter the TMC MP had said that she would welcome a probe by the speaker after he dealt with alleged breach of privilege by other BJP MPs. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kochi (Kerala) [India], October 20 (ANI): InIT Solutions Pvt Ltd under Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) clinched two prestigious awards in a week's time, boosting its profile fuelled by three years of ground-breaking 'BookSeva', a release said on Thursday. InIT Solutions was honoured with the 'Emerging Startup of the Year 2023 Award', followed by another at the Emerging Startup of the Year 2023 AwardEmerging Startup of the Year 2023 Award(EC2023) earlier this month, as per a press release from the InIT Solutions Pvt Ltd pr agency. Also Read | Medical Professionals Are Assets of the Country, Says President Droupadi Murmu at AIIMS, Patna Convocation. The company primarily connects devotees with temples through a cost-free CRM solution. "The InIT, which was founded in 2011 and whose CRM solution is tailored specifically for temple administration, won the first of the two honours on September 30 at the HSX2.0 event hosted by Headstart at SAP Labs Bangalore. The second came at the October 7-8 EC2023, organised by the World Konkani Centre, Saraswath Chamber, and UK & Co," as per the press release. Also Read | Assembly Elections 2023: BJP CEC Meeting on October 20, To Finalise Candidates for Upcoming Vidhan Sabha Polls in Telangana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh. InIT won the 'Emerging Startup' recognition at a competition between 1,000 startups from across the country. The company emerged as a standout among the 70 startups shortlisted, earning it a spotlight at the Bharath Pitchathon 2.0. "As for the EC2023 honour, the event recognised InIT Solutions Pvt Ltd as one of the 'Top 5 Startups' that had excelled in the SharkTank Pitching competition. This was held before experts such as Infosys former Director Mohandas Pai and Jyothi Labs ex-CEO Ullas Kamath, as well as 300-plus visionary entrepreneurs, investors, and corporate representatives from across India. Each of these top startups, including InIT, won a prize of Rs 5 lakh," the release stated. Besides 'BookSeva', InIT assists temples in streamlining their day-to-day operations by implementing an ERP (enterprise resource planning) system. Notable Kerala temple administrations associating with InIT are Guruvayur, those under the Cochin Devaswom Board, and Attukal in Thiruvananthapuram district. "InIT Solutions, which is based in Vennala, is working towards expanding its services to temple management across India. KSUM is the Kerala government's nodal agency established in 2006 for entrepreneurship development and incubation activities," it stated. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Dubai, Oct 20 (PTI) Former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif has arrived in the UAE to meet a select group of people a day ahead of his return to Pakistan without the fear of immediate arrest upon landing, according to a media report on Friday. Sharif, also the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo, landed in Dubai late on Thursday night and is expected to return to Pakistan on a chartered flight, ending a self-imposed four-year exile in London, Geo News reported. Also Read | Layoffs Continue in US! Jeff Bezos-Backed Startup Convoy Shuts Down Its Core Business, Lays off Hundreds of Employees Without Severance. In Pakistan, the Islamabad High Court on Thursday provided temporary relief to Sharif as it granted the 73-year-old former prime minister a protective bail in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia corruption cases until October 24. An anti-corruption court also suspended his arrest warrant in the Toshakhana vehicles case. His (Sharif's) arrival comes after a few hours of delay as he was held up in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for an important meeting. He was given special protocol' on arrival at the Dubai airport, Geo News said, quoting sources. Also Read | Indian Hacker Arrested in US for Stealing USD 150,000 From Elderly Woman Via Computer-Hacking Scheme. Nawaz will be meeting a selected group of people during his two-day stay in Dubai and will leave for Pakistan on Saturday morning first to Islamabad and then to Lahore, it said. The report also said that Sharif would be returning to Pakistan in a chartered plane along with 150 people. Sharif was on a self-imposed exile in the United Kingdom after jumping bail in 2020. The three-term Pakistan prime minister was serving a seven-year jail term when the Islamabad High Court suspended his sentence in 2019 for eight weeks to allow him to go abroad to seek medical treatment. But he never came back. Sharif's return to Pakistan on Saturday is declared by his party as his effort to lead the party's campaign for the general election expected in the last week of January 2024. He stepped down as Pakistan's prime minister in 2017 after he was disqualified for life from holding public office by the Supreme Court after a probe into his family's wealth following the 2016 Panama Papers leak. Sharif has consistently denied any wrongdoing and termed it as a politically motivated case. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Banking on name recognition Yes, Evan Banks is a real person. He is once again appearing in ads for the Amherst-based bank, playing off the fact that his name and the banks are nearly the same. Banks was discovered while working at a Tops in Orchard Park. Chris Passarell, Evans chief marketing officer, was shopping there and did a double take when he read Banks name tag. Passarell asked him about it, and Banks admitted he had heard a lot about the comparison. Well, this is your lucky day, Passarell told him. An ad campaign was born. Since 2021, Banks image has periodically shown up on billboards, Evans webpage and social media. Anecdotally, it is the thing thats most commented on, Passarell said. Everyone wants to know, Is that a real person? And for Evans Bank, the ads are more than a lark. He fits into the 18- to 34-year-old demographic that we were targeting, Passarell said. It really was fortuitous. Matt Glynn A no-hateration hotel Were used to seeing signs like Pardon Our Dust or Please Excuse Our Appearance at construction sites. But the contractor redeveloping a historic structure in Fredonia has a different message: Closed for Remodelation. The banner stretches above the entrance to the White Inn, the landmark that operated as a hotel for more than a century before closing in 2017. The company got the idea after seeing a sign another contractor put up at an out-of-town job site that referred to the maintenization of its fleet. Remodelation is a portmanteau of remodel and renovation. We just thought people would get a kick out of it, project manager Jarrod Mills said. The banner went up in late September and helpful grammarians have approached him to point out, unnecessarily, its not an actual word, Mills said. I did go to college, I promise, he said. A post on X, formerly Twitter, drew our attention to the banner. Some replies recalled long-ago events held at the hotel. One namechecked the artist behind the song Family Affair, whose lyrics include: Dont need no hateration/Holleration in this dancery. mary j blige has a spot in fredonia ?! Stephen T. Watson Drake cannot get enough of Buffalo Pop star Drake is a fiercely proud Canadian, but he clearly holds a soft spot for Buffalo. The Toronto native released the album For All the Dogs on Oct. 6, and local listeners who dived deep into the tracks found gold on Away from Home, the second-last song. I was on a Greyhound way before the jet / Buffalo, New York was like the furthest I could get / At the Walden Galleria tryna make the money stretch. Theres plenty of precedent. In his 2017 mixtape More Life, Drake rhymes Buffalo with Never duckin low on the track Cant Have Everything. On Scorpion, his 2018 release, Drake ends After Dark with a recorded outro from former 93.7 FM WBLK DJ Allen Callwood. The station has long had a strong listener base Drake included in Southern Ontario. In 2021, Drakes Certified Lover Boy disc shouted out Daemen College now known as Daemen University on a track called Remorse. The reference is to when Drake, who wasnt a household name at the time, played Daemens SpringFest in 2009, according to the Daemen Voice. Surely Drake will give a shoutout to the Skyway on his next album. Ben Tsujimoto San Francsisco, Oct 20 (AP) San Francisco police said Thursday that a man killed by a sergeant after intentionally crashing a car at the Chinese Consulate earlier this month was armed with a knife, and a crossbow and arrows, offering the first official details of the attack. San Francisco Police Acting Commander Mark Im said at a virtual town hall that Zhanyuan Yang stood against a wall hiding a knife in his right hand. He said Yang then rotated toward a police sergeant and a security guard, exposing the knife, and made multiple, rapid, downward swinging motions with the knife" in the direction of the sergeant and the security guard. Also Read | Power for Africa: The Boom of Nuclear Energy?. The sergeant then opened fire after Yang failed to comply with orders to get on the ground. Yang was taken to a hospital, where he died. Yang, a 31-year-old San Francisco resident, rammed a car into the visa office of the consulate on October 9. Investigators so far haven't released a possible motive. Also Read | US President Joe Biden Prepares Oval Office Speech on Wars in Israel and Ukraine, Asking Billions. Several people called 911 Monday, saying that a driver had deliberately crashed into the consulate's office, according to recordings played Thursday. One of the callers said the suspect had a gun, which dispatchers relayed to officers called to the scene. Yang did not have a gun, police said. Police body camera footage showed Yang leaning against a wall on his right side and rubbing his face with his left arm. Police said a security guard at the consulate had deployed pepper spray. The police sergeant can be seen touching Yang's back and asking Does he have a gun? before Yang turns around toward the officer and the security guard and starts swinging a knife. The footage shows the officer then opens fire and shortly after shouts, You should have told me he had a knife! A consulate is a place of safety and refuge where people should not have to worry about acts of violence, said Capt. Jason Sawyer on Thursday. This was a highly unusual event that could have easily involved many more casualties. Sergii Molchanov was in line waiting for his turn to submit his visa documents when he said the blue Honda sedan barreled in through the main doors at full speed, barely missing him. Molchanov told The Associated Press that the car struck a wall and the driver was bleeding from his head as he got out of the car, yelling about the CCP, an abbreviation for the Chinese Communist Party. Police arrived less than a minute later, another witness, Tony Xin, told KTVU-TV. The crash was condemned by the Chinese government and by the White House. It took place as San Francisco prepared to host next month's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, a gathering of world leaders from Pacific Rim nations. The San Francisco consulate has been targeted a number of times before. Among the most serious was a fire set by a Chinese man on New Year's Day 2014 at the main entrance. It charred a section of the outside of the building. The man, who was living in the San Francisco Bay Area, told authorities he was driven by voices he was hearing. He was sentenced to nearly three years in prison. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington, Oct 20 (PTI) US President Joe Biden on Thursday said the US and its allies through innovative projects like the India Middle East Economic Corridor are working to connect the Middle East countries to a better future. As he addressed the nation on his just concluded trip to Israel, Biden asked Congress for financial aid to the country that has been hit by a terrorist attack by Hamas. Also Read | Power for Africa: The Boom of Nuclear Energy?. The United States and our partners across the region are working to build a better future for the Middle East. One wherein the Middle East is more stable, better connected to its neighbours through innovative projects like the Indian Middle East Europe rail corridor that I announced this year at the summit of the world's biggest economies, Biden said in his Oval Office address to the nation. "More predictable markets, more employment, less rage, less grievances, less war when connected. The benefits of people would benefit the people of the Middle East and would benefit us. American leadership is what holds the world together, said Biden in his second Oval Office presidential address. Also Read | US President Joe Biden Prepares Oval Office Speech on Wars in Israel and Ukraine, Asking Billions. Biden returned from a day-long trip to Israel on Wednesday night. Biden said during the trip, he met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his cabinet and also interacted with Israelis who had personally lived through the "horrific horror" of the Hamas' attack on October 7. Hen said he saw people in Israel who were strong, determined, and resilient but also angry, shocked and in deep pain after the Hamas attack. More than 1,300 people slaughtered in Israel, including at least 32 American citizens, scores of innocents from infants to elderly grandparents, Israelis and Americans taken hostage, said the president recounting the aftermath of the attack. Reiterating his resolve and that of all Americans to stand by Israel in this moment of crisis, the president urged Congress to provide additional financial aid to Israel to strengthen its defence. Tomorrow I'm going to send to Congress an urgent budget request to fund America's national security needs to support our critical partners including Israel and Ukraine. This is a smart investment that's going to pay dividends for American security for generations, he said. "This will help them keep American troops out of harm's way, help them build a world that is safer, more peaceful, more prosperous for children and grandchildren," Biden added. In Israel, we must make sure that they have what they need to protect their people today and always the security package. I'm sending to Congress and asking Congress to make an unprecedented commitment to Israel's security that will sharpen Israel's qualitative military edge, which we've committed to the qualitative military edge, the US president said. We're going to make sure Iron Dome continues to guard the skies over Israel. We're going to make sure other hostile actors in the region know that Israel is stronger than ever and prevent this conflict from spreading, said the US President. Biden said he and Netanyahu discussed again the critical need for Israel to operate by the laws of war. That means protecting civilians in combat as best as they can and the people of Gaza, urgently need food, water and medicine. Yesterday in discussions with the leaders of Israel and Egypt, I secured an agreement for the first shipment of humanitarian assistance from the United Nations to Palestinian civilians in Gaza, he said. I also spoke with President Abbas, the Palestinian Authority and reiterated that the United States remains committed to the Palestinian people's right to dignity and self-determination. The actions of Hamas terrorists don't take that right away like so many others, the president added. Briefing the nation on the developments in Ukraine, Biden said over a year later Russian President Vladimir Putin has "failed and he continues to fail". Kyiv still stands because of the bravery of the Ukrainian people. Ukraine has regained more than 50 per cent of the territory Russian troops once occupied, he said, adding that Ukraine is "backed by a US-led coalition of more than 50 countries around the world, all doing their part to support Kyiv. Putin has turned to Iran and North Korea to buy attack drones and ammunition to terrorise Ukrainian cities and people. From the outset, I've said I will not send American troops to fight in Ukraine. All Ukraine is asking for is help for the weapons, munitions, the capacity, the capability to push invading Russian forces off their land and the air defence system to shoot down Russian missiles before they destroy Ukrainian cities, he said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, October 20: Google has announced a new feature in Search for select countries, including India, that will help the users practice speaking and improve their language skills. Within the next few days, Android users in Argentina, Colombia, India (Hindi), Indonesia, Mexico, and Venezuela can get even more language support from Google through interactive speaking practice in English. The feature will expand to more countries and languages in the future. Now, learners translating to or from English on their Android phones will find a new English speaking practice experience with personalized feedback, the company said in a statement. With the new feature, learners are presented with real-life prompts and then form their own spoken answers using a provided vocabulary word. They engage in practice sessions of 3-5 minutes, getting personalized feedback and the option to sign up for daily reminders to keep practicing. Instagram New Feature Update: Meta-Owned Platform Soon To Allow Some Users To Create Polls In Comment Section of Post. The company has partnered with linguists, teachers, and pedagogical experts to create a speaking practice experience that is effective and motivating. Learners practice vocabulary in authentic contexts, and material is repeated over dynamic intervals to increase retention approaches that are known to be effective in helping learners become confident speakers, said Google. Amazon and Microsoft Team Up To Protect Users From Impersonation Scams in India. The company said it is working with several language learning partners to surface content they are helping create and to connect them with learners around the world. We look forward to expanding this programme further and working with any interested partner, it added. The key technology piece that enables this functionality is a novel deep learning model developed in collaboration with the Google Translate team, called Deep Aligner. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 20, 2023 03:56 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). New Delhi, October 20: Hours after Canada withdrew 41 diplomats and closed most of its embassies and consulates in India amid escalating tensions over the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, it has issued an updated travel advisory for its citizens in India, urging them to "exercise a high degree of caution. The advisory asks Canadians to maintain a low profile with strangers and avoid sharing personal information. The advisory issued by Canada states Exercise a high degree of caution in India due to the threat of terrorist attacks throughout the country. Canada Removes 41 Diplomats from India Amid Escalating Diplomatic Tensions Over Hardeep Singh Nijjar Killing. Demonstrations, including anti-Canada protests, could occur and Canadians may be subjected to intimidation or harassment. In Delhi and the National Capital Region, you should keep a low profile with strangers, and not share your personal information with them, the advisory added. 'Will Continue To Engage Responsibly and Constructively': Canada Is Not Looking To Escalate Situation With India, Says Canadian PM Justin Trudeau. The advisory also said that the Consulates General of Canada in Chandigarh, Bengaluru and Mumbai were temporarily suspending in-person operations. It added that the High Commission in New Delhi is available to assist all Canadians in India. It also asked citizens to avoid non-essential travel in Assam and Manipur due to risk of insurgency. The advisory warns Canadians that "petty crime, such as pickpocketing and purse snatching, is common" and that criminals may target foreigners, particularly in major cities and tourist areas. It further urged Canadian citizens to be vigilant in crowded locations and advised not to carry large sums of money. The development comes as diplomatic relations between India and Canada have been strained, with tensions escalating since Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly linked Indian intelligence to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 20, 2023 01:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Donald Trump co-defendant and his former lawyer, Sidney Powell, has flipped and will cooperate with Georgia authorities over the 2020 election case. The infamous "Kraken Lawyer" has now pleaded guilty, and this might spell some bad news for her former client. According to the Washington Post, Powell's guilty plea came a day before jury selection for her case was set to begin. She is just the second Donald Trump Georgia election case co-defendant to plead guilty after bail bondsman Scott Hall. Including the former president himself, there are 19 co-defendants in total, with two already flipping. Powell will get reduced charges thanks to her guilty plea as she admits to illegally conspiring to overturn Donald Trump's 2020 election loss in Georgia. She was the one responsible for spreading baseless conspiracy theories about the 2020 election on right-wing media. She also filed several lawsuits that challenged the results, all of which have been thrown out for lack of any actual concrete evidence. The infamous "Kraken Lawyer" whom Trump allies and the rightwing media dubbed "the Kraken" for having the "evidence" to back Trump's debunked claims about the 2020 election being stolen, pleaded guilty to six misdemeanor counts of conspiracy to commit intentional interference with the performance of election duties. Sidney Powell's admission of guilt could very much spell trouble for Donald Trump as she was at the center of not just his misinformation campaign, but also outrightly tried getting her hands on valuable election data. Her testimony in her trial will likely be used as evidence against the former president. Sidney Powell Will Not Face Prison for Pleading Guilty Against Donald Trump in Georgia Election Case The flip is also very significant to Powell herself as she will not serve any prison time over her election interference shenanigans. Instead, she will serve six years of probation but will still have to face a fine of $6,000. She also has to write an apology letter to Georgia and its residents. READ NEXT: Donald Trump Fraud Trial: Judge Tells Ex-POTUS To Keep Quiet Politico reported that the "Kraken Lawyer" has already recorded a statement for prosecutors and has also agreed to testify truthfully against her co-defendants at future trials, which will be bad for Donald Trump and other co-defendants like Mark Meadows and Rudy Giuliani. Powell was initially charged with racketeering. Much like the other co-defendant who flipped, Scott Hall, she also participated in an unauthorized breach of election equipment in Coffee County, Georgia. She reportedly conspired with Hall to access election equipment without authorization in the rural Georgia county. RICO Being Used in the Donald Trump Election Case in Georgia Working Well for Fani Willis While Scott Hall is considered a pretty small catch, getting Sidney Powell to flip against Donald Trump is considered a big win for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis as she is considered one of the biggest names in that list of 19 Trump co-defendants. As the Associated Press pointed out, the Georgia DA faced much criticism over using the state's RICO laws in charging so many co-defendants. One of those critics is John Fishwick, a former US attorney for the Western District of Virginia. He called the Sidney Powell plea deal a "significant win" for the DA. "This is somebody who was at ground zero of these allegations and a lawyer who is pleading guilty," said the former prosecutor. "This is very significant." He thinks that the plea will not just help Willis's case, but also Jack Smith's federal investigation, spelling more trouble for Trump. Fishwick once noted that using RICO against Trump might undermine Smith's investigation. Now that Willis has got Powell to flip, the former prosecutor is changing his tune. "This certainly shows that at least, as of today, it's not undermining it. In fact, it's strengthening his case," he concluded. READ MORE: Trump Organization Convicted of 17 Felonies, Gets Maximum Punishment This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: BREAKING: Top Trump lawyer to COOPERATE against Trump, pleads GUILTY - Brian Tyler Cohen Peru has been facing problems with people stealing cell phones as the number of robberies has increased. However, the government has a solution to curb these crimes, and it may include some pretty harsh penalties. The country's congress, which has spent years trying to find ways to stop people from stealing phones or robbing at gunpoint to steal those phones, has revised the country's penal code and it imposes some harsher punishments for some acts. Peru's penal code previously did not include any prison time for those who steal cell phones. However, authorities decided to make some changes after it was reported that there was an increasing rate of theft of mobile devices throughout Peru, according to the Associated Press. In this newly updated penal code, those found guilty of stealing cell phones will carry an initial penalty of 12 years in prison. It can go up to 30 years if that person uses a weapon or explosives when robbing someone for their cell phone. However, the harshest punishment is life in prison should that thief or robber kill somebody while stealing a phone. Peru Interior Minister Vicente Romero released a statement following the approval of the new penal code, saying that this will send "a clear warning to all those who steal cell phones." Approximately 1.2 million phones were reportedly stolen all over Peru during the first nine months of 2023, according to the South American nation's telecommunication authority. This means that on average, over 4,000 mobile devices were stolen each day for the first nine months of 2023. READ MORE: Peru, Chile Coastlines Greening; Research Says It's Bad News Stealing Cell Phones Is the Most Common Crime in Peru In Peru, walking around while talking on your phone can be dangerous as it could lead to being snatched or robbed at gunpoint. As Infobae noted, cell phone theft is the most common type of crime in the country, with thieves lurking all over to look for mobile devices. They do not just look for distracted passers-by talking on their phones, but also for cell phones locked inside vehicles or left inside houses. In March of this year alone, over 140,000 cases of cell phone theft were reported all over Peru, which is around "4,529 cell phones stolen daily" in all 31 days of that month, according to Infobae. It was noted that Peruvian authorities were trying to take measures to curb these thefts. With the revision of the new penal code, they may have found a way. Peru Has Infamous Market for Stolen Mobile Devices Why is there an epidemic of mobile device theft all over Peru? It seems that there is a large market for secondhand goods in the country, and most of those secondhand goods are stolen. According to the Peru Telegraph, Peru is known for a flourishing "secondhand" market of stolen devices. In fact, there are many places that are infamous for selling these stolen goods, including Polvos Azules, Wilson, Gamarram, and Las Malvinas. The most infamous may be Las Malvinas, the area surrounding Argentina Avenue, as these places are known for the distribution of stolen goods. They often sell "used" cellphones in these Peruvian markets and they often come without any warranty. Some are even illegally manipulated and have their International Mobile Equipment Identity number changed. READ NEXT: Peru and Its Unique Potatoes This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: My Phone Was Stolen In Peru! This Is How We Got It Back! - s34n Travels The government of Nicaragua has released a dozen Catholic priests who were detained on various charges and arranged for their transfer to Rome following diplomatic negotiations with the Vatican, according to Al Jazeera. A government statement released late on Wednesday confirmed that the twelve priests were transported to Rome during the afternoon, culminating in what the statement described as "fruitful conversations" between representatives of the Nicaraguan government, Catholic leaders in Nicaragua, and undisclosed figures within the Vatican. The government's announcement emphasized the shared "permanent will and commitment to find solutions." This move is a step towards de-escalating tensions in a nation plagued by political strife. For context, President Daniel Ortega, a longstanding leftist leader in power since 2006, has been cracking down on opposition since 2018, when social security cuts sparked widespread anti-government protests. Ortega asserted that the Catholic Church supported the protests, which he viewed as an attempted coup. This year, the government escalated its crackdown on Catholic clergy and church-affiliated institutions. Some priests were arrested and charged with crimes like treason. Additionally, members of the Nicaraguan clergy reported government surveillance during religious services and physical assaults, further exacerbating tensions between the government and the Catholic Church. READ NEXT: Nicaragua: Daniel Ortega Charges 5 Priests With 10-year Prison Sentences Sending the 12 Catholic Priests to Rome Is 'Force Removal,' Says Nicaragua Researcher The government did not explicitly state why the 12 priests were sent to Italy. Still, it claimed the decision would contribute to "securing and defending peace." Nicaragua's Catholic bishops conference did not immediately respond to requests for comment. However, an exiled Nicaraguan researcher, Martha Patricia Molina, characterized the action as a "forced removal," Reuters noted. She accused Ortega of attempting to stifle and eliminate the church through this move. Molina underlined that the expulsion of these priests should not be interpreted as a sign of improved relations between the government and the Vatican, warning that hostilities may persist, leading to further arrests. Nicaragua and Vatican The relations between the Vatican and the Nicaragua government deteriorated during the 2018 protests, which lasted for several months, causing road blockades and clashes between opposition groups and government supporters. The violence led to over 300 deaths, according to the United Nations, per The Tico Times. The Nicaraguan government regarded the protests as an attempted coup backed by the United States, while international actors, including the United States and the European Union, accused the government of political repression and imposed sanctions. In a separate incident, in August, the Jesuit-run Central American University in Managua suspended its activities after the government announced the seizure of its assets, alleging terrorism. Bishop Rolando Alvarez of Matagalpa, who had criticized restrictions on religious freedom under the Ortega government, was sentenced to 26 years and four months in prison on charges including spreading false news and contempt. He refused to leave Nicaragua with other expelled prisoners and was stripped of his nationality. The expulsion of these priests to Rome is seen in the context of ongoing hostilities and strained relations between the government and the Vatican. Nicaragua remains a nation grappling with political discord and international censure. READ MORE: Venezuela: US Migrant Deportation Resumes This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Vatican confirms it has received 12 priests from Nicaragua - From ROME REPORTS in English\ In a rare Joe Biden speech at the Oval Office, the president underscored the importance of assisting Israel and Ukraine in their respective conflicts, according to ABC. He emphasized that these conflicts have significant implications for both global and US national security, as they have the potential to cause broader disruptions in Europe and the Middle East. President Biden acknowledged that these conflicts may appear distant to many Americans and addressed the question of why these matters are relevant to the United States. He argued that history has shown that when terrorists and dictators go unpunished for their actions, they can lead to increased chaos, death, and destruction. Throughout his solemn remarks, the president highlighted America's role as a defender of democracy and a "beacon to the world." He aimed to reassure the nation during a time marked by rising anger, grief, and unrest following the terror attack by Hamas on Israel and Israel's ensuing response in the Palestinian territory of Gaza. He offered a message of solidarity to those who are suffering, stating, "To all of you hurting, those of you who are hurting, I want you to know: I see you. You belong. And I want to say this to you: You're all America." READ NEXT: Joe Biden Reschedules Colorado Trip, Takes Part in 'National Security Meetings' Biden Speech Says Hamas, Vladimir Putin Share Something in Common President Biden framed this moment in history as an "inflection point," highlighting the ongoing battle between the world's democracies and autocracies. He directly appealed to the American people to garner support for US funding for overseas conflicts, which may face challenges in Congress. Notably, the House of Representatives had been unable to pass legislation during its second week without a speaker. President Biden drew parallels between Hamas and Vladimir Putin, noting that they represent different threats but share the goal of annihilating neighboring democracies, per CNN. He called for a united stance against terrorism and tyranny, emphasizing the importance of not letting partisan politics hinder the responsibilities of a great nation. He outlined the stakes involved, describing these conflicts as a national security imperative and a critical moment for the future of American leadership and democracies globally. Biden stressed that American leadership, alliances, and values are essential for maintaining global stability and security. He concluded by stating that risking these principles by turning away from Ukraine and Israel is not a worthwhile course of action. Biden to Ask Congress for Billions to Support Israel, Ukraine War The Biden speech presented an extensive perspective on US international responsibilities, even as he faces resistance to additional funding within the country, AP reports. On Friday, he is expected to request a total of $105 billion in funding. This includes $60 billion allocated for Ukraine, which would primarily go toward replenishing US weapons stockpiles previously provided. Additionally, the proposal includes $14 billion for Israel, $10 billion for unspecified humanitarian efforts, $14 billion for border management and combating fentanyl trafficking along the U.S.-Mexico border, and $7 billion designated for the Indo-Pacific region, which encompasses Taiwan. These details were provided by three individuals familiar with the proposal, who insisted on anonymity pending the official announcement. President Biden emphasized that this allocation is a wise investment that will yield dividends for American security for generations to come. He hopes to consolidate all these issues into a single piece of legislation to build the necessary coalition for congressional approval. The Biden speech followed the president's visit to Tel Aviv, which was a high-stakes test of his personal diplomacy and US global leadership during a crisis. He also advocated for increased humanitarian assistance to Palestinians. Given the ongoing conflict in which Israel continues to bombard the Gaza Strip and prepares for a ground invasion, President Biden placed greater emphasis on the tragic toll the conflict has taken on civilians, stating that he is "heartbroken by the tragic loss of Palestinian life." READ MORE: Joe Biden Invades Donald Trump's Truth Social This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: President Biden gives Oval Office address on Israel, Ukraine wars - From NewsNation The recent escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been heartbreaking as we watch civilians, women and children drawn into the conflict and dying by the thousands. It is expected to escalate and intensify, shattering decades of efforts to bring peace and end this vicious cycle of hate and violence. However, we must never lose hope. The faiths of the Israeli and Palestinian people have many similarities and a long history in the Holy Land to draw upon. Prophet Abraham is the common patriarch of Jews and Muslims who spring forth from Abrahams sons, Isaac and Ishmael, respectively. As a Muslim, it would be a serious religious violation to hold any animosity against Judaism or the Jewish people, given that Moses is one of the most revered and oft-mentioned prophets in the Holy Quran. The first Muslims, along with the Prophet Muhammad, would pray in the direction of Jerusalem before receiving revelation to pray toward Mecca, and they would default to Jewish law on any matter in the absence of a Quranic decree. When Muslims first conquered Jerusalem and surrounding territories from the Romans in the 7th century, the Caliph Omar ended Emperor Heraclius brutal persecution of Jews, and restored their entry and worship in Jerusalem. A remarkable text from the era reports on how the renowned Rabbi Shimon Ben Yohai, grief-stricken by Romes persecution of Jews, received a vision in which an angel reassures him: Fear not, for God is bringing about the kingdom of Arabs to deliver you from the wickedness of Rome. Further, the teaching of Islam and Judaism emphasize moral conduct and a trust in God above revenge and retaliation. The Caliph (leader) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has for years been advocating that justice must be paramount in relations between nations to avoid war and conflict. In 2012, he wrote a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quoting the Jewish holy book of Psalms, Chapter 37: Do not fret because of evildoers ... do not envy those who do wrong ... trust in God, and do good. Similarly, he wrote to the president of Iran in the same year quoting the Holy Quran (5:9): O ye who believe, be steadfast in the cause of Allah, bearing witness in equity and let not a peoples enmity incite you to act otherwise than with justice. These are chronicled in the Caliphs book, World Crises and Pathway to Peace. We pray deeply that a land deemed so holy by Jews and Muslims will prompt its inhabitant to yield and gain favor with their God who clearly guides us to forgiveness and justice over war and vengeance. Amer Aziz is the vice president of the Buffalo Chapter of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and writer/editor with the Muslims Writers Guild of America. The Bethlehem Parking Authority earlier this month got permission to demolish the Walnut Street Garage, but plans for its redevelopment dont include a new garage on its entire footprint. Planning for the project calls for selling a portion of the property just off Main Street for a new private development. The details have yet to be presented for city approval, but a candidate for the city council came forward this week with an idea. Relocate the Bethlehem Police Department headquarters to the property, James Follweiler urged during Tuesday nights council meeting. With no real choices or alternatives to the (Bethlehem Parking Authoritys) myopic plan, the citys plan shows no real vision toward truly supporting Bethlehems downtown business and historic districts, Follweiler said in a news release sent out as the meeting was still going on. City Council and the public deserve some options and discussions to best analyze and decide what is in Bethlehems real interests when replacing the existing garage. Authority Executive Director Steve Fernstrom did not immediately return a request for comment emailed to him, but Bethlehems development director and police chief raised concerns about what Follweiler termed An Alternate Proposal. The idea drew enthusiastic support during Tuesdays meeting from Bruce Haines, managing director of the Historic Hotel Bethlehem near the garage property. Follweiler earned a spot on the Nov. 7 ballot for city council through a write-in campaign ahead of the May primary election. He is one of three Republicans running, along with Thomas Ginther and Devin Brunges. Three Democrats are on the ballot, as well: current council President Michael Colon, Colleen Laird and Bryan Callahan. Police Chief Michelle Kott in a statement to lehighvalleylive.com acknowledged that the police departments home inside the Bethlehem Civic Center built in 1967 at 10 E. Church St. presents several challenges that we have attempted to remedy through renovations. As Bethlehem continues to evolve and grow as a city, an aging infrastructure is a reality many city departments must face, she said. Kott said she appreciates Follweilers proposal, but doesnt view Walnut Street as the ideal location for a new police headquarters that would suit our departments needs. Looking forward to future facility needs, one of my pressing goals is to locate and develop a permanent police department training facility that would consist of a large designated space for training, meetings and community gatherings/programing, Kott wrote by email. We currently lack a city owned site and have to rely on the use of community partners facilities. Having our own professional training facility would enable us to expand upon the variety of training we already provide to our officers as well as the opportunity to further engage the community. Bethlehems director of community and economic development, Laura Collins, responded to the proposal with concerns of her own. The Walnut Street Garage is an unfortunate eyesore in Bethlehems historic north side downtown business district, she wrote in a statement. The deteriorating structure is a relic from a different era of urban planning that we all would like to forget. The opportunity to partner with a private developer on a portion of the garage property offers the chance to bring vibrancy, energy, and more people to the area while also improving the historical nature of the area. We have heard for years from our merchants about their desire to bring more people to their doorstep, Collins continued. By configuring the space to include a mixed-use commercial and residential development as well as an appropriately sized public parking deck, we can create a more active and welcoming street-level experience extending up Walnut Street while also adding feet on the street with new residents which will help support our merchants in the area. Bethlehem City Council on Oct. 3 affirmed the Sept. 6 recommendation of the citys Historical Architectural Review Board to allow the demolition of the 1976 garage situated within the Bethlehem Historic District. Plans call for demolishing the 770-car garage and the partial redevelopment of the site as a new 591-space garage, in addition to selling off the portion of the lot for further development. That development will also go before the HARB, as early as December, and city council for a certificate of appropriateness under the historic district guidelines. Fernstrom, the parking authority director, said earlier this month a contractor had been selected by the authoritys board to begin the demolition in January. The garage demolition and reconstruction are designed to occur independently of the new private development within the footprint of the existing garage, he said. The authority has released a plan available here via the authoritys website, bethpark.org to handle parking displaced by the garages demolition, with the new garage projected to open as early as 2025. Following is Follweilers entire alternative suggestion, as provided to lehighvalleylive.com. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Seven months after taking over the property, the owners of a former iconic hot dog shop now are seeking a new tenant to transform the Southside Bethlehem space into their own. Owners and business partners Yongkang Gao of California and Bill Geddes of South Jersey took over Petes Hot Dog Shop, 400 Broadway, this past spring. Petes closed for good on March 15. Former operator Effie Ramirez in December 2022 announced that it was time to move on with her youngest son readying to graduate high school in the spring. When she began working at the stand, her oldest son was in a carseat. Multiple generations of Ramirezs family ran the shop since 1988. Her parents, John and Stacy Mamounas, purchased Petes from Teddy Kourpas, whose uncle Pete Kourpas founded the business in 1937. The sale of the property included the 1,820-square-foot hot dog shop, as well as an adjacent three-story building housing two residential units. Northampton County property records say the sale was recorded May 5, for $360,000 to YG Campus LLC from John S. and Stamatia Mamounas. Gao and Geddes initially had plans to turn the former Petes into a new restaurant. It wasnt going to be a full-fledged hot dog shop, but hot dogs were expected to be a menu item. That vision has since fell through, Reed Rutherford, the propertys leasing agent with Northampton-based Assist 2 Sell Buyers & Sellers Realty, told lehighvalleylive.com this week. Gao and Geddes couldnt immediately be reached for comment. Gao, an electrical engineer by trade, spent time at Petes while attending Lehigh University and wanted to take on the project. However, he currently is a businessman and real estate investor owning several other residential properties on Bethlehems Southside, Rutherford said. Geddes, also known as Executive Chef Billy G, has extensive culinary and food truck experience. He initially planned to move to Bethlehem to oversee the venture. Both partners have since began juggling several other projects and business ventures with a lot on their plates, Rutherford said. The new vision for Gao and Geddes is to gain a tenant to whom they can lease the former Petes Hot Dog Shops space. Specifically, the pair want someone to maintain the restaurants deep history and help continue a legacy. However, the new tenant also could revamp the restaurant and put their own spin on it, Rutherford said. They are open to different concepts and ideas, he said of Gao and Geddes. The restaurant space includes a main level dining room and cooking area, along with a spacious basement that features another grill area, freezer and dry storage section, Rutherford said. He added the space has been relatively untouched since Petes shuttered for good. Petes also was a fixture for Bethlehem Steel Corp. employees grabbing bites in between shifts. It was a Lehigh Valley tradition mainly for the way the shops original owner prepared the hot dogs. The recipe was later acquired by the Mamounas family. The hot dogs, dubbed Greekers, were Hatfield-brand hot dogs made with a secret chili sauce, spicy mustard and raw onions. Owners said what set their hot dogs apart from the competition through the years was keeping the chili from seeping into the bun. Prospective tenants, Rutherford said, should submit business proposals to him stating specifically what they plan to do with the building. Since the listing for the lease was featured about two weeks ago, Rutherford said he has already received multiple interested tenants. More information about Assist 2 Sell is available at yourlehighvalleyhome.com. Those interested include area restaurateurs looking to either move an existing restaurant, open a new venture or expand an existing brand, Rutherford said. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Mack Trucks claimed in a new statement that United Auto Workers leadership presented the company with a list of unreasonable economic demands on Thursday. UAW, which has been striking since Oct. 9, is pushing for better wages, job security and health benefits in its bargaining on a new contract with Volvo Group-owned Mack. The truck company employs 4,000 union members, many of which work at the plant in Lower Macungie Township and are part of UAW Local 677. The company also has workers in Maryland and Florida. According to the statement, the company was surprised at the list of proposals. Mack says the company has proven in bargaining that its prepared to provide employees with significantly improved wages, but we are not prepared to jeopardize the company. The specific proposals in the list were not mentioned in the statement. Leaders from Mack and UAW will meet again on Monday to continue bargaining. Monday will mark the start of the third week of striking. During that time, striking union members have been visited by the likes of U.S. Sen. John Fetterman and U.S. Rep. Susan Wild. I proudly stand in solidarity with the striking UAW workers with Mack Trucks across Pennsylvania and this country, Fetterman told the crowd on Oct. 10, one day after employees walked off the job to begin picketing. The union way of life is sacred, it built Pennsylvania and this country. As long as these workers walk the picket line, I will have their backs. In the statement from Mack, the company said that the two sides had come to a tentative agreement on Oct. 2, the day after a four-year contract expired, but 73% of union members voted against the contract, according to a letter from UAW President Shawn Fain posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, by the official UAW account. Local 677 leadership could not be reached on Friday for comment on Macks claims that the unions proposals are unreasonable. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Connor Lagore may be reached at clagore@njadvancemedia.com. Its 2023 and words have become violent, pronouns are weaponized and the definition of woman and recession vary depending who you talk to. It should come as no surprise to see so many left-wing apologists trying to mask the terror attack in Israel as some kind of Palestinian liberation movement. It is not; Hamas terrorists funded by Iran, the worlds largest state sponsor of terror, laid a siege via land, sea and air and staged an unspeakable slaughter upon the nation of Israel. Babies beheaded, young women raped, teenagers burned alive -- yet many leaders and officials, even elected members of the U.S. Congress, still fall short of condemning the actual violence. These are the same leaders who will have you thrown in prison for not affirming your childs sexual preference or gender in California. In Israel, we find a distracted, criminally indicted prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who is clinging to power with an incompetent extreme right-wing government and imperiling Israels democracy in hopes to avoid prison. His misguided, disgusting autocratic dreams have deeply divided Israel and their military as he labors in a self-serving effort to weaken the Israel judiciary for his benefit. This behavior imperils the Jewish State. Netanyahus behavior is analogous to the criminally indicted grifter Donald Trumps efforts to garner the Republican presidential nomination in a vain effort to become president to avoid potential criminal convictions and prison. Nazareths sewer authority has made it official its pressing ahead with plans to dispose of sludge from its wastewater treatment plant on farmland in a Slate Belt community. The sludge is known as Class B biosolids and is useful as a fertilizer. To be qualified to spread the biosolids, the Nazareth Borough Municipal Authority had to file whats known as a 30-day notice with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. A woman who pulled clumps of hair from a prison officer's head has been sentenced to 12 months in prison. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Stephanie Martin (39) of Cnoc Na Greine, Granard, Co Longford. pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm at the Dochas Centre in Mountjoy Prison on September 29, 2021. She has 22 previous convictions, including convictions for assault, production of an article, criminal damage, public order offences, theft and soliciting, all of which were issued in the District Court. Passing sentence on Friday, October 20, Judge Orla Crowe said: The victim impact statement speaks to the profound effect this has had on the prison officer who has worked as a prison officer for over 20 years. Judge Crowe said the aggravating factor in this case was the assault on a prison officer in the course of her duty. She also noted the significant number of previous conviction The threshold for a custodial sentence had been passed, said the judge who set a headline sentence of 18 months. After considering the mitigating factors of Martins early guilty plea, her apology and that she had not come to garda attention since this offence. She sentenced Martin to 12 months in prison. The court heard that shortly after 4 pm on the date in question, prison officers were bringing food to Martin, who was in a secure area of the prison. Martin was told to sit on the bed of her cell before the officers would enter. She initially complied but got up from the bed and began shouting. Martin eventually sat down, and two prison officers entered the cell. The court heard that the injured party entered the cell carrying food for Martin who grabbed the food from her aggressively. She then got the prison officer in a headlock and began pulling her hair. Garda Shane Darcy told Jennifer Jackson BL, prosecuting, that additional prison officers arrived at the scene, and a controlled manoeuvre was carried out to knock Martin to the floor. The prison officer landed on her shoulder with the accused still holding her by the hair. The court heard the prison officer described the pain as being so bad that she might have blacked out. She was treated at the scene by a prison nurse and sent to the Mater Hospital for X-rays. Gda Darcy said that Martin was cautioned and interviewed in December 2021. A file was then sent to the Department of Public Prosecutions. Images of the prison's head where her hair was pulled out were handed into the court. A victim impact statement from the prison officer was handed into the court and read by the prosecuting counsel. Before the assault, the woman described herself as outgoing and looking forward to the future. Following this unprovoked attack, the woman said she had pain, sleepless nights, marking all over my body. The woman suffers from extreme anxiety and was off work for one year after the assault. The woman has transferred prisons since the assault and has had regular periods of feeling low and not caring if I woke up the following day. Garda Darcy agreed with Simon Matthews, BL, defending, that his client looks healthier now than when she was first interviewed by gardai. The garda agreed with counsel that his client was in the Dochas female prison on a committal order at the time of the offence and was borderline fit to plea in this case. Mr Matthews said his client is remorseful and wishes to apologise to the injured party in the case. He handed letters and reports to the court on behalf of his client, one of whom said she was no longer taking methadone and has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Counsel said his client has had a tough life, but this does not excuse her actions. He noted that his client has issues with anger, which is clear to the court from her previous behaviour. He said this was a very serious offence but noted his client had entered an early guilty plea and that she is in a much better place now than in the past and when this offence was committed. He said she is stable on medication and engaging with drug rehabilitation and therapy positively. He asked the court to take into account that his client is a vulnerable person and for as much leniency as possible when sentencing. A woman who felt her face was destroyed needed 30 stitches and four months off work after a dog bit her last year. Colm Downey, 37, of Downeys Bar, Main Street, Clonaslee previously admitted having an uncontrolled unmuzzled dog at his bar on July 22 last year. The case was adjourned so a victim impact statement could be compiled. Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the injured woman didnt want to attend court but wanted her statement read. She outlined how she was kept in St James's Hospital in Dublin for six nights due to the serious injuries to her face. She initially required 30 stitches and later needed further stitches to her eye. In total she was off work for four and a half months. The woman has been left with some nerve damage and numbness in areas of her face. She said she felt my face was destroyed in the attack. When I started to go out again I wore a facial mask, she said. I will undergo facial laser treatment for my scars in future, the woman explained. Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client was extremely remorseful and was taking the matter extremely seriously. Mr Downey operates a public house and this was one of the patrons, she said. She said on the night in question he had gone out to the storeroom and the dog had followed him back into the pub. It sat on the floor, nobody took exception to it, said Ms Fitzpatick. She put her hand down towards the dog and the dog reacted in the way it did, she said. Ms Fitzpatrick said her client had insurance and he had brought 5,000 to court. Judge Andrew Cody questioned how a man running a public house could have a Rottweiler wandering around the bar. He didnt have the dog wandering in the public house, insisted Ms Fitzpatrick. The dog followed him in and sat down with the party, she said. Ms Fitzpatrick said the injured party was an animal lover and had petted the dog. The consequences have been devastating for this lady, said Judge Cody. Ms Fitzpatrick said her client was remorseful and had entered an early plea. He has met it every which way he can. He is insured, he has pleaded guilty at an early opportunity, said Ms Fitzpatrick. Judge Cody ordered that the 5,000 be given to the injured party without prejudice to any civil claim she may have. He fined the man 500 and gave him a three month sentence which he suspended for two years. I am not going to restrict him from owning a dog, Judge Cody said. Judge Andrew Cody was briefed on alleged threats against him and his family at a sitting of Portlaoise District Court. Judge Cody was due to hear the case of a juvenile when Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby informed him that there were matters he should be aware of. The boy, aged 15, who cannot be named due to his age, appeared before the court accused of a robbery and attempted robbery of two business premises in a Laois town on June 8 last. Judge Cody noted the teenager had previously linked up with an anti-Tusla group who were attempting to take him out of the jurisdiction. The defendants social worker told the court that he was aware of alleged threats by the teen to Judge Cody and his family. Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby asked to brief Judge Cody in relation to the allegations in the Judges chambers. Suzanne Dooner BL objected to the request. I am not sure of the content of what would be said in chambers, she stated. Sgt Kirby said that as officer in charge of security in the court he wanted to speak with Judge Cody. He is entitled to give me advice and to do so in private, said Judge Cody. Ms Dooner said she should be aware of what is being discussed. I will certainly give Ms Dooner an overview, said Sgt Kirby. Following a short break, Judge Cody said Sgt Kirby came in to see me to raise an issue regarding security. Threats had been made regarding my personal safety and that of my family, he said. Judge Cody said Sgt Kirby had an obligation to inform the Judge about the threats. Ms Dooner maintained her objection to the issue being raised in chambers. I ask this court to recuse themselves of this matter, she said. She said this was necessary in terms of impartiality in the case. Judge Cody agreed to have another Judge deal with the matter. He remanded the teenager on bail to reappear before Portlaoise District Court on January 22 for DPP directions. If the Niagara Falls Police union really believes the abuse one of its members inflicted on a resident last year is suitable for law enforcement, then it believes laws do not apply if you wear a badge. Thats troublesome. New York Attorney General Letitia James last week issued a report describing the actions of an officer whose judgment and worthiness of the badge is in doubt. According to her review, which was based on a police report and home surveillance video, Officer Travis Maggard pulled a woman to the ground, handcuffed and arrested her because he didnt like what she was talking about and the way she said it. In that, he was assisted by another officer, Anisa Mahmood. The problem was that the woman in question did nothing illegal. It may have been unwise as the union, the Niagara Falls Police Club, concludes but thats not a crime. She was exercising her First Amendment right of free speech. James described the arrest as both unlawful and employing excessive force. What is more, neither office filed a required report on the use of force, the report says. To be arrested for speaking out shouts an alarming disregard of a birthright accorded to all Americans. The First Amendment doesnt guarantee freedom of speech except when criticizing a police officer. Its exceptions are appropriately few, and thats not among them. A court promptly recognized that obvious fact and dismissed the bogus charge of aggravated assault at her first court appearance. Were the officers involved ignorant of their transgression or did they just choose to exercise power that isnt theirs? Its one or the other. Regardless, in addition to disagreeing with the Constitution and the attorney general, the union disagrees with the court, too. Well done. The episode also carries a disturbing racial component. Because the woman who was arrested is Black, the illegal arrest echoes a critical 2010 examination of Niagara Falls Police for failing to investigate and prevent excessive use of force against Black residents. That investigation resulted in a consent decree with the Attorney Generals Office. The department was monitored for five years and changes were made to reporting requirements and the internal investigation process. So how did this happen and why does the union think its acceptable? Being a cop is not easy. Its both stressful and essential. It takes a special kind of person and a well-trained one who truly wants to protect and serve, as the motto declares. Crucially, police officers must also have a thick enough skin to respond appropriately to provocations, large or small. That didnt happen here, but nothing less can be acceptable for public servants who carry guns and are empowered to deprive citizens of their liberty. In few other professions are the rules of conduct more important to enforce. The report included several recommendations for the Police Department, which include imposing appropriate discipline, training for officers on de-escalation and use of force, and implementing new policies on disorderly conduct violations. The department has 90 days to respond with the steps it has taken along with a summary of the departments findings and any discipline it imposed. That response should be sufficiently reassuring to avoid a conclusion that the five-year consent decree wasnt long enough. The 65th plenary of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly (BIPA) will be held on Monday and Tuesday 23-24 October at the K Club Hotel, Kildare, Ireland. Minster for Finance Michael McGrath and the UK Minister of State for NI Steve Baker will address the assembly on Monday. British Ambassador to Ireland, Paul Johnson is also due to speak. Lawmakers from Ireland and all the British legislatures, and the Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories gather twice a year to discuss matters of mutual interest. Previous plenary meetings took place in Jersey and Belfast this year. Irish Co-Chair of BIPA Brendan Smith TD said: We look forward to welcoming parliamentarians to Kildare for the 65th Plenary meeting of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly." This is a timely opportunity to engage with colleagues from a number of legislatures and this Plenary meeting will have a particular focus on the challenges and opportunities facing us all in the new energy landscape. While we reflect on the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, almost 18 months on from the last Northern Ireland Assembly election, power sharing has not been restored. We welcome the opportunity to speak on how best we can support a return of the Assembly and the Executive. This is an important forum where we can build relations and engage with each other on a range of issues at a time of heightened international tensions. British Co-Chair of BIPA Karin Smyth MP said, Its a great privilege to be leading the British delegation to BIPAs Kildare plenary in a year when we have thought hard about our bilateral relations to mark 25 years of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. The enduring spirit of understanding and cooperation that this organisation stands for is essential to resolve the most prescient issues of our day, including efforts towards Stormonts restoration. Decarbonisation is one of the greatest challenges of our age and in all our interests. Achieving it will require unprecedented joint international efforts. Where better to make the most of such efforts than with our friends from across the isles where cooperation can have the greatest impact? Kildare County Council is investigating the possibility of acquiring one of the best known buildings in Naas town centre, which could be used to provide housing. Its interested in the former Leinster Leader premises at South Main Street, which for decades was the home of the newspaper carrying the same name as well as an extensive printing operation accommodating the newspaper, books, magazines, periodicals and leaflets. It also had the contract to print the almost 200 year old Stubbs Gazette, the authoritative source of information about insolvencies and court actions affecting businesses and industries in Ireland and Northern Ireland. The premises is vacant as is the adjacent house, which once served as the residence for the owning companys managing director. Naas Printing, which up to recently was based at the premises, has recently moved. Its now located at the former Alo Donegans electrical goods retail shop just around the corner at Limerick Road and which itself closed just over six years ago. Its understood that the Leinster Leader building is still owned by at least some of the shareholders who sold a stable of regional newspapers, including the Leader, for 138.6m. The deal was made in 2005 not long before the financial health of newspapers across the globe began to decline. The buyer was Johnston Press, which by the end of 2018, had debts exceeding 200m sterling. Read more Kildare news A Kildare County Council notice affixed to the building door is titled compulsory acquisition of land and states that KCC is considering acquiring the property through a compulsory purchase order. A KCC spokesperson said the purpose of the notice is to generate contact from the owners and it has not "commenced the formal compulsory purchase process for this property or the neighbouring property (the house)." John McStay, a director of Clylim Properties Limited, which owns the property, told the Leader there is no ongoing CPO process in relation to it. He added: But if the local authority wants to acquire the property, they have an immediate opportunity to do it, without the delay involved in a CPO. Its an iconic Naas property, recently vacant, and it will be offered for sale commencing this week via Jordan Auctioneers, with a public auction planned for Hotel Keadeen, Newbridge on November 24 , if it is not sold privately before that date. Naas man Aubrey McCarthy was honoured at the Trinity College alumni awards event, which highlights former students profound impact on a local, national and global scale. Mr McCarthy has long been aware that addiction is a major adversary of Irish society. It is the fuel behind much of the pain and destruction we see and hear about across all sectors of society. From marital breakdown and domestic violence to the erosion of mental health and the marginalisation of vulnerable homeless people, Addiction has been a key causal factor. Having experienced the force of addiction that blew through his family as a young child, Aubrey knew that education was a route to escape both the present and the future painful effects that addiction caused. Setting up Tiglin, a charity that provides an option to escape addiction and homelessness, Aubrey knew that this was a means of sending the ladder back down to give a way out for those who were caught in these societal traps. Accepting this award, Aubrey remarked I take this award on behalf of those who currently are living on our streets, who cannot find the will to lift their heads because they believe that their identity is found in their substance abuse, those who have been affected by domestic violence or have been displaced by war. There is nothing more dehumanising than being powerless to change your circumstances. I am grateful to have been given the Grace to change mine and to be able to provide a means for others to change theirs.. Also there was the Ukrainian ambassador to Ireland, Laryssa Gerasko who thanked Aubrey for opening the doors to over 100 Ukrainian nationals and for making them feel welcome and at home in Ireland. Charity is wasted when it only reaches down. It has to reach out; it has to be one human soul reaching another human soul in a way that offers hope and not just the contents of your hand. Aubrey received this award on the grounds of the University, which is only a stone throws away from Tiglin homeless cafe called Tiglin at the Lighthouse which serves over 400 meals daily and provides vital supports and pathways out of homelessness from 28 Pearse Street, several Trinity alumni express the desire to get involved with the cafe which delighted Aubrey. Tiglin, in all its services, from homeless supports to rehabilitation programmes to supported housing and accommodation for those who have been displaced, strives to find a means to offer much more than a handout. Their focus has been on a means of progress so that potential can be realised and reached education and employment play a key role in this process. Fibre broadband is set to be rolled out in Leitrim by the end of 2026, Leitrim County Council's Nicola McManus said after she gave a presentation on National Broadband Ireland's (NBI) seven year plan and revealed there is planned investment of 46m across County Leitrim. She added that there are 11,469 premises in the intervention area accounting for 51.4% of premises in the county including homes, farms, commercial premises and schools. The most recent figures reveal that in Manorhamilton, 2,528 premises are at survey stage while in Keshcarrigan, 1,985 are at the in-build stage and 1,811 are at the in-build stage in Carrigallen. Meanwhile, in Carrick-on-Shannon, 896 are at the 'can take order' stage. Chairperson Cllr Enda Stenson complimented both The Hive in Carrick-on-Shannon and Mohill Enterprise Centre and said they are both "tremendous facilities; the quality of connection is absolutely superb." Cllr Des Guckian asked what the service will "cost the ordinary householder" with acting director of services, Justin Fannon stating that "charges will be set by the retailers rather than the NBI; they put the infrastructure in place and it's up to each of the companies to charge whatever they wish." Cllr Sean McGowan noted that 1,376 premises are being surveyed currently in Roosky and asked what happened after this was completed. "What is the timescale once the survey is complete for installation of the fibre?" Mr Fannon said that from the time the surveys were conducted, "in the case I know, it happened within three to six months that the network was put in place and around a month after the wires were hung, companies were out and we were connected." Cllr Guckian said that he felt that "those getting this service will be at the mercy of the retailers and householders are buying a pig in a poke if they sign up for it now." During a Dail debate on the conflict in the Middle East, Sligo Leitrim TD reminded people of the awful circumstances in Gaza where 2.3 million people are corralled into an area about one quarter of the size of Co Leitrim, which is equal to 65 times the population of the county. Any bomb detonated, any missile fired has a high risk of destroying civilian infrastructure as well as maiming and killing civilians themselves. Gaza has been described as a hellscape and thats what it is, Deputy Marian Harkin commented. Referring to the interventions of EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the Hungarian EU Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi on the current Middle East conflict, she described them as ill-advised and damaging. We have to be careful not to inflame the situation in the region but to dampen it down in order to defend, help and protect the innocent people on both sides who find themselves in this maelstrom of horror and terror that is unfolding in front of our eyes, Deputy Harkin said. We have to choose our words carefully. There are those, not just on both sides of this conflict, but on many sides who would walk us straight into the terror/warfare and we must do everything to avoid that, the Deputy said. I am proud that Ireland has echoed the call of the UN Secretary General for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. This, alongside the unconditional release of all hostages, might provide some grounds to avoid a humanitarian disaster and avoid a wider war because the dogs of war are straining at the leash. We must remember that the Gaza Strip is about a quarter the size of Co Leitrim with 65 times its population, any bombing or land invasion in Gaza would be unconscionable and it is vital that the EU and our friends in the US to do all in their power to avoid this, Ms Harkin said. The government motion, while not perfect, calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to meet the urgent needs of all civilians in Gaza who are suffering the appalling consequences of violence. It also calls for the immediate and unconditional release of hostages and calls for immediate and unimpeded humanitarian access to meet the urgent humanitarian needs of all civilians in Gaza through humanitarian corridors or any other means necessary. The motion also condemns the brutal attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7th and equally and utterly condemns the bombing of the Ahli Arab hospital. It recognises Israels right to defend itself but emphasises that all action must be in line with international law, and this includes the prohibition of the targeting of civilians or collective punishments or the use of human shields and indiscriminate attacks. Speaking afterwards Deputy Harkin said, As in virtually all conflicts those involved are prisoners of history. We can do nothing about that but as an international community we have a responsibility to do all in our power to avert an escalation of the conflict and work towards putting the two-state solution back on the table. Despite our feeling helpless we must never be hopeless, and despite the rage and fury at the never-ending cycle of violence we must ensure that whatever we say or do is balanced and has the protection of innocent civilians as its core objective, Ms Harkin concluded. TWO men who were jailed over the rape and sexual assault of a woman in the back of a van during the Galway races have appealed their convictions, arguing that an erroneous time-stamp on phonecall evidence affected their legal teams' preparation for their cases. At the Central Criminal Court in November last year, Karl Reilly, aged 40, of Inny View, Aghara, Carrickboy, County Longford, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment with 18 months suspended for the single charge of raping the woman in the back of the van. The offence happened at a car park in the harbour area of the city on August 5, 2017. Patrick McLoughlin, aged 36, of Torboy, Moydow, County Longford was also sentenced to five years' imprisonment with 18 months suspended by Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring for the sole charge of sexual assault of the woman also in the back of the van. Both men had pleaded not guilty to the charges. The trial heard that the woman met Reilly and McLoughlin on a night out in the city and returned with Reilly to have consensual sex in the van with but was interrupted by his friend McLoughlin. McLoughlin was told to leave the van and at that point, the woman said she no longer wanted to continue having sex with Reilly and said "no, no, no". Reilly did not stop and raped her. McLoughlin returned to the van minutes later and also sexually assaulted the woman. At the Court of Appeal this Friday, counsel for both men submitted to the three-judge court that an "erroneous" time-stamp on phone evidence, discovered at the trial, meant that defence lawyers did not have an opportunity to prepare for the correct timeline, rendering the trial "unsatisfactory". Michael Bowman SC, for Reilly, also submitted that the trial of the two men should have been separated, as differences in the men's accounts to gardai meant it was possible for the jury to pit one accused against another. Mr Bowman said that records of phone calls made on the night were presented to the court but were exhibited as being in real time but in fact were one hour fast. The matter was only discovered by the court to be "erroneous" after the defences had completed their cross-examinations. Mr Bowman said the facts in both cases were the same in that the two men attended the races after travelling in a van from Longford. Counsel said the timeline on the night given to the trial was that the woman and Reilly went to the van at around 3am on the night after drinking in various pubs and a hotel bar. The lawyer said the trial heard that after the woman became "uncomfortable to proceed" she said "no" to Reilly, who, Mr Bowman said, denies that she told him to stop. Mr Bowman said that it was alleged by the woman that when McLoughlin returned he digitally penetrated her anus. It was claimed, counsel said, that "this goes on for an unspecified time but ends when she kicks Reilly off her". Mr Bowman said that after that "the timeline becomes hazy" but that the woman called McLoughlin's phone so he could find it in the van. She then left, meeting a separate man tending to boats at around 5.30am, who took her to a garda station. Mr Bowman said that in addition to the time-stamp issue, "the difficulty here is that you have two individuals diametrically opposed in interviews". Appeal court judge Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy said: "So what? This is what happens in joint trials." "I didn't think they were incompatible, there were modest discrepancies," said Mr Justice McCarthy. Mr Bowman said that there had been "elements forgotten" in the case as McLoughlin said sex was still taking place when he returned but Reilly had told gardai that he had concluded sex and was asleep. "A jury could take a view that each of the men is denying the truth of the situation to cover themselves," said Mr Bowman. Mr Justice George Birmingham acknowledged the question of the erroneous timing of matters and the defence's cross-examination preparation but said that he did not think that timing featured excessively in the case. "I would have clearly deployed that defence regarding the phone," said Mr Bowman. "Timeline is of assistance in this case," said counsel who noted that "not even the time on the CCTV was accurate". Hugh Hartnett SC, for McLoughlin, said "the preparation of cross-examination is of huge importance and this case was blighted by a misunderstanding by the defence and prosecution regarding timelines". "The cross-examination was based on incorrect phone timelines. The defence team was faced with what appeared to be definitive material and ran the defence based on that," said Mr Hartnett. The prosecution seemed to have made an "understandable" mistake, however, said Mr Hartnett. "It's a mistake that could be made by any one of us," said counsel, who said the defence case was "predicated on false information". Counsel said that trial judge Ms Justice Ring, in her charge to the jury, identified the time difference on the phones for their consideration. "Is one to start the cross-examination again?" said Mr Hartnett. "One wonders what the jury might think. I submit that the trial was unsatisfactory," he said. "What would the observer at the back of the courtroom think about it being a fair crack of the whip?" said counsel. James Dwyer SC, for the State, said that the differences in the accounts by the two men were "minor" ones and that he had told the jury at the trial not to use one account against the other. Mr Dwyer said there was also no real risk in the trial judge not separating the two cases. Regarding the phone timeline issue, counsel said "the intervals between them did not change". "There was still a call that took place and we have the approximate time of going to the van at around 3am. We have a call at 3.19am and then later we have the call to Mr McLoughlin so he could locate his phone," said Mr Dwyer. "We have about an hour in the back of the van and the intervals between calls - that doesn't change," he said. "It was patently obvious that this was a misunderstanding that everyone had but the correction marries the timeline together," said counsel. "The opportunity for the defence was there to further cross-examine the complainant," added Mr Dwyer. Mr Justice Birmingham said the Court of Appeal would reserve its judgement in the matter. Prime Dividend Corp. Monthly Dividend Declaration for Preferred Share TORONTO, Oct. 19, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Prime Dividend Corp. (The "Company") declares its monthly distribution of $0.06667 for each Preferred share. Distributions are payable November 10, 2023 to shareholders on record as at October 31, 2023. There will not be a distribution paid to the Class A Shares for October 31, 2023 as per the Prospectus which states no regular monthly dividends will be paid on the Class A shares in any month as long as the net asset value per unit is equal to or less than $15.00. Preferred shareholders receive prime plus 2.35% with a minimum rate of 5.00% and a maximum rate of 8.00%. Since inception Class A shareholders have received a total of $13.26 per share and Preferred shareholders have received a total of $9.96 per share inclusive of this distribution, for a combined total of $23.22. The Company invests in a portfolio of high yielding Canadian Companies as follows: Banks Investment Management Life Insurance Utilities & Other Bank of Montreal Bank of Nova Scotia CIBC National Bank of Canada Royal Bank of Canada Toronto-Dominion Bank AGF Management Ltd CI Financial Corp. IGM Financial Inc. Great-West Lifeco Inc. Manulife Financial Corporation Sun Life Financial Inc. BCE Inc. TransAlta Corp. TC Energy Corp. Power Financial Corp TMX Group Inc. Distribution Details Preferred Share (PDV.PR.A) $0.06667 Record Date: October 31, 2023 Payable Date: November 10, 2023 19 october 2023 at 16:00 News published onand distributed by: Equality Health Foundation Hosts Healthy Fall Festival & Turkey Giveaway Arizona, Texas and Tennessee Residents Invited to Participate in Community Celebrations PHOENIX, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Equality Health Foundation is excited to return to the community with the 2023 Annual Healthy Fall Festival and 1,000 Turkey Giveaway events hosted in Kingsport, Tennessee, Phoenix, Arizona, and Houston, Texas. The Tennessee festival will be held on Nov 4 at the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Phoenix festival will be held on Nov 11 at Lowell Elementary School from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Houston festival will be held on Nov 18 at the M.O. Campbell Center from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Healthy Fall Festival is a community celebration designed to kick off the holiday season with an abundance of gratitude and thanksgiving. Included will be free immunizations, vaccines and flu shots, health education sessions, mammograms and breast health screenings, diabetes testing, and community resources and information. There will also be a Healthy Bag Giveaway, raffles and a variety of fresh fruit and produce with a frozen turkey (while supplies last), among other nutritious essentials, for each family. "Providing individuals with resources to promote optimal health and well-being in Arizona, Texas and Tennessee is our objective," said Tomas Leon, Equality Health Foundation president. "We aim to collaborate with local public-private partners to reach more families this year to help support healthy and thriving communities." Equality Health Foundation is a nonprofit organization that aims to level the healthcare playing field in culturally diverse and underserved communities. The goal is to expand access to whole person care, accelerate health education, and eliminate health inequalities so that everyone has an opportunity to lead healthier and longer lives. "The Healthy Fall Festival will create a lasting impact for individuals and families," said Frank Placenti, board chairman of Equality Health Foundation. "The availability of health screenings, vaccines and immunizations, fresh produce and 1,000 Thanksgiving turkeys provides the community with important social connections and vital access to well-being resources." Each Healthy Fall Festival event attracts thousands from the community. The organization welcomes the participation of sponsors at partnership levels including Health Innovator ($10,000), Health Champion ($5,000), Health Advocate ($2,500), and Health Supporter ($1,500). Registration for exhibitor space is available for nonprofit, community-based organizations at no cost. For more information on Equality Health Foundation's Annual Healthy Fall Festival, please visit equalityhealthfoundation.org/festival/. About Equality Health Foundation Established in 2019, Equality Health Foundation envisions a world of vibrant and inclusive communities where all individuals have the opportunity to live healthy lives. A bold vision like this cannot be accomplished alone and requires extensive collaboration across local communities around the country to make a sustainable and transformative change?a movement for advancing equal health for all. For more information, visit equalityhealthfoundation.org/ Providing individuals with resources to promote optimal health and well-being in Arizona , Texas and Tennessee is our objective," said Tomas Leon, Equality Health Foundation president. Media Contact Jennifer Howard, Evolve Public Relations & Marketing, 1 4804381602, [email protected], https://evolveprandmarketing.com/ SOURCE Equality Health Foundation 20 october 2023 at 06:29 News published onand distributed by: United Bank provides funding for the construction of Trinity Ridge Apartments in Phenix City, Alabama ATMORE, Ala., Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- United Bank (OTCQX:UBAB) has provided $12.8 million in construction financing along with $660,000 in soft financing to The Bennett Group for the new construction of Trinity Ridge Apartments, a 56-unit multi-family affordable housing complex in Phenix City, Alabama. Funding for this loan was made possible, in part, due to the bank's $8 million 2020 Capital Magnet Fund award. Once completed, the complex will offer two-bedroom units within two residential buildings. "United Bank is pleased to provide funding to The Bennett Group for the construction of Trinity Ridge Apartments. The completed project will provide much needed affordable housing for Phenix City seniors," said Joe Raines, Senior Vice President of United Bank. "United Bank is committed to serving our communities in Alabama and throughout the Southeast." On-site amenities include a community clubhouse featuring a meeting room, kitchen, laundry room, computer center and indoor fitness center. An outdoor gazebo and picnic area with grill will also be available for residents' use. The new complex, adjacent to Trinity Lake Apartments, will offer a quiet, park-like living environment with city conveniences such as shopping, parks and community amenities only minutes away. About United Bank United Bank is a $1.3 billion financial holding company that serves Southwest Alabama and Northwest Florida. United is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), which recognizes its commitment to stimulating economic development in underserved communities. UB Community Development (UBCD) focuses on economic and community development through its New Markets Tax Credits, affordable housing, and community facilities programs. Member FDIC. SOURCE United Bancorporation 20 october 2023 at 07:00 News published onand distributed by: Israel says Hamas has freed two American hostages who had been held in Gaza since militants rampaged through southern Israel Oct. 7. The hostage release Friday came even as Israeli airstrikes continued to hit southern Gaza, an area swelled by civilians who fled there from the north on Israeli instructions. Israel was also evacuating a sizable town near the Lebanese border in the latest sign of a potential ground invasion of Gaza that could trigger regional turmoil. Palestinians in Gaza reported heavy airstrikes in the southern city of Khan Younis, where civilians had been told to seek safety amid Israel's bombardment of areas closer to the Israeli border. The U.N. secretary general is at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza trying to find a way to get badly needed aid into the enclave. The war, which is in its 14th day on Friday, is the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said Friday that 4,137 Palestinians have been killed and more than 13,000 others wounded. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly in the initial attack on Oct. 7 when Hamas militants stormed into Israel. In addition, 203 people were believed captured by Hamas during the incursion and taken into Gaza, the Israeli military has said. Currently: 1. Israel says Hamas has released two U.S. hostages who had been held in Gaza for two weeks. 2. U.S. President Joe Biden meets with European leaders to assure them the U.S. can deliver wartime aid to Ukraine and Israel. 3. Israel says it wants to eradicate Hamas and other resistance fighters in Gaza Strip but doesn't plan to take responsibility for the besieged region after the war. 4. Thousands have been displaced from Lebanese border towns. 5. Demonstrations have erupted in cities worldwide to protest the war. Here's what's happening in the latest Israel-Hamas war: BIDEN THINKS HAMAS ATTACK LINKED TO EFFORTS ON ISRAEL-SAUDI RELATIONS WASHINGTON President Joe Biden said he thinks Hamas initial attack on Israel was tied in part to efforts to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, an initiative that Biden was trying to bring to fruition. They knew that I was about to sit down with the Saudis, the U.S. president said Friday, speaking at a fundraiser. IRAN-BACKED MILITIAS IN IRAQ WARN U.S. FORCES TO LEAVE OR FACE MORE ATTACKS BAGHDAD A group of Iranian-backed militias in Iraq said U.S. forces must leave immediately or their bases in Iraq and elsewhere in the region will continue to come under attack. Militant groups have launched rocket and drone attacks in recent days against U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria, most of which were claimed by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq. The group has said the attacks are retaliation for Washingtons support of Israel and a warning not to intervene in the Israel-Hamas war. These are only warning messages to them, and serious work has not yet begun, the militias said in a statement. The statement concluded by saying that if Israel launches a ground invasion into Gaza, watch the border with Jordan carefully. It did not elaborate. EGYPT OFFICIAL SAYS AID TRUCKS ENTERED RAFAH CROSSING BUT HAVEN'T PASSED INTO GAZA STRIP CAIRO An Egypt official said two aid-packed trucks entered the Egyptian side of the border crossing early Saturday, but that they have not passed through into the Gaza Strip. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not briefed to speak with the media. Israel announced Wednesday that aid would be allowed into Gaza from Egypt, via the Rafah crossing, but the border into the besieged territory has remained closed. Egypt says the crossing has been damaged by Israeli air strikes. Associated Press reporter Ashraf Sweilam in el-Arish, Egypt, contributed. FRENCH PRESIDENT HOPES RELEASE OF U.S. HOSTAGES LEADS TO FREEDOM FOR OTHERS PARIS French President Emmanuel Macron said the release of two Americans who were held hostage in Gaza is a very good result and expressed hope it could help pave the way for others to be freed, including French-Israelis. So far, France has one confirmed hostage, 21-year-old Mia Schem, who was shown dazed and injured in a video that Hamas military wing released Monday. Six other French citizens also are missing and Macron said Friday that theyre presumed to be hostages but without certainty. French contacts with Israeli authorities and other contacts via Qatar keep up our hope that we will be able to find solutions to get the maximum number of hostages out, he said. We are confident: the channels we have are the good ones and are useful, he said. Macron said he is still weighing the possibility of traveling to the Middle East but that it would be dependent on more talks with leaders in the region. He also announced 10 million euros ($10.6 million) in additional humanitarian aid for Palestinians and said urgent aid, including medicines, will be airfreighted to Egypt. NOBEL LAUREATES' PETITION URGES HAMAS TO FREE CHILD HOSTAGES UNITED NATIONS A petition signed by 86 Nobel peace laureates demands that Hamas release all children taken hostage, saying holding them in captivity constitutes a war crime, a grievous offense against humanity itself. The petition noted that the Geneva Convention on safeguarding civilians in war mentions children 19 times, stressing that the current plight of the kidnapped children far exceeds any scenario envisioned by the accord. Children should never be regarded as pawns in the theater of war, it said. It is our sacred duty to protect the innocent and shield the vulnerable. FRANCE SAYS GAZA HOSPITAL BLAST LIKELY CAUSED BY MISFIRED PALESTINIAN ROCKET PARIS French military intelligence assesses that the most probable hypothesis for the explosion at Gaza Citys al-Ahli Hospital was that it was caused by a Palestinian rocket that was carrying an explosive charge of about 5 kilograms (11 pounds) that possibly misfired. Several rockets in the arsenal of Palestinian militant group Hamas carry explosive charges of about that weight, include an Iranian-made rocket and another that is Palestinian-made, said a senior French military intelligence official. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the intelligence assessment, cleared to do so by President Emmanuel Macron in what was described as an attempt to be transparent about the French findings. The official said none of their intelligence points to an Israeli strike. Associated Press writer John Leicester contributed from Paris. U.S. MAN HAILS THE RELEASE OF HIS DAUGHTER AND EX-WIFE WHO WERE HELD BY HAMAS CHICAGO A man whose Chicago-area daughter and former wife were abducted by Hamas in southern Israel says he has spoken to his daughter since her release and he believes she will be home soon. Shes doing good. Shes doing very good, Uri Raanan, who is based in the Chicago suburb of Bannockburn, said Friday. Im in tears, and I feel very, very good. The 71-year-old said he saw on the news Friday that Hamas was releasing an American mother and daughter, and he spent the day hoping they meant his ex-wife, Judith Raanan, and his 17-year-old daughter, Natalie, who live in Evanston. He said he believes both are on their way to Tel Aviv to reunite with relatives before returning to the U.S., meaning Natalie will be able to celebrate her 18th birthday next week with family and friends. This story has been corrected to reflect that Judith and Natalie Raanan are Uri Raanans former wife and daughter, not his daughter and granddaughter. ISRAELI PM SAYS EFFORT CONTINUES TO BRING ALL HOSTAGES HOME TEL AVIV -- Israel says it continues to push for the release of civilians taken hostage by Hamas during a raid on southern Israel almost two weeks ago. Hamas militants took more than 200 hostages during its Oct. 7 raid. Hamas released two of those hostages, a woman and her teenage daughter from the United States, on Friday. Two of our abducted are home, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. We are not giving up the effort to bring all of the hostages and missing people home. At the same time, we are continuing to fight until victory. U.N. CHIEF WORKS TO REOPEN RAFAH CROSSING AND ENSURE SUFFICIENT FUEL FOR AID DELIVERIES UNITED NATIONS U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is working with Egypt, Israel, the United States and others to ease an impasse that is preventing aid from entering Gaza. The priority is to make sure humanitarian aid deliveries are sustained, with a meaningful number of trucks approved each day to cross from Egypt into Gaza at the Rafah crossing, U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters Friday. And the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, must have sufficient fuel to distribute humanitarian aid, Haq said. Its no use dropping off aid to the other side and then leaving it there because their trucks simply dont have enough fuel to give it to the people who need it, he said. BLINKEN SAYS U.S. PUSHING HARD FOR OTHER HOSTAGES' FREEDOM WASHINGTON U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said he welcomes the release of the two hostages and shared in the families relief but noted there are many more captives, including children and elderly people. Speaking to reporters Friday, Blinken said he and President Joe Biden had been able to speak with the families of some of the hostages during their trips to the Middle East. Its impossible to adequately put into words the agony that theyre feeling, Blinken said. No family anywhere should have to experience this torture. Of the remaining hostages, he added: The entire United States government will work every minute of every day to secure their release and bring their loved ones home. Blinken also thanked the Qataris for their work in securing the hostages release. U.S. PRESIDENT CELEBRATES RELEASE OF 2 AMERICANS TAKEN HOSTAGE BY HAMAS WASHINGTON President Joe Biden is celebrating the release of a Chicago-area woman and her teenage daughter who had been visiting Israel when they were taken hostage by Hamas militants Oct. 7. The Israeli military said Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie, were released to the Israeli military Friday. Hamas said the Qatari government was instrumental in securing their release. Our fellow citizens have endured a terrible ordeal these past 14 days, and I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been wracked with fear, Biden said in a statement. Thanking the governments of Qatar and Israel for their help, Biden said the White House had been working around-the-clock to secure the release of American hostages and we have not ceased our efforts to secure the release of those who are still being held. ISRAEL SAYS HAMAS HAS RELEASED TWO U.S. HOSTAGES JERUSALEM Hamas militants on Friday freed two Americans, a mother and her teenage daughter, who had been held hostage in Gaza since militants rampaged through Israel two weeks ago, the Israeli government said. The pair, who also hold Israeli citizenship, were the first hostages to be released. More than 200 are still being held. The two Americans, Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie, were out of the Gaza Strip and in the hands of the Israeli military, an army spokesman said. Hamas said it was releasing them in an agreement with the Qatari government for humanitarian reasons. Judith and Natalie Ranaan had been on a trip to southern Israel from their home in suburban Chicago to celebrate a Jewish holiday, family said. They had been staying at the kibbutz of Nahal Oz, near Gaza, when Hamas fighters took them and more than 200 others hostage. Relatives of other captives welcomed the release and appealed for others to be freed. We call on world leaders and the international community to exert their full power in order to act for the release of all the hostages and missing, the statement said. DOZENS KILLED IN GAZA AIRSTRIKES MOURNED DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip Funeralgoers on Friday mourned the deaths of 40 people killed by air strikes in the Gaza Strip. The dead included 22 members of two families in Deir al-Balah, and 18 displaced Palestinians who had taken shelter in a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza City. A distraught woman screamed in anguish outside the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah. Other women sat on a curb and stroked the feet of some of the bodies laid out on the ground covered in white sheets. The sheets were pulled back to reveal the faces of two children. Two men knelt at their heads and caressed their faces. Outside the Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza City, the Orthodox patriarch swung a burner of smoldering incense as he walked around 18 bodies, including four children, killed when an airstrike toppled a church wall. Clergy prayed and sang during the service attended by dozens in a courtyard behind the church. This story has been corrected to show that Israel said the number of suspected captives is 203, not 206. Age of Union Alliance Celebrates Two-Year Anniversary with Progress Updates on Ten Global Projects and Releases Short Film The Corridor The non-profit alliance achieved a number of successes over the past two years, including the conservation of critically endangered biodiverse forests in Canada, Indonesia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Peru, and the protection of important species such as leatherback turtles, orangutans, dolphins, lowland gorillas, and much more. MONTREAL, Oct. 20, 2023 /CNW/ - Age of Union Alliance, the non-profit environmental organization led by Dax Dasilva celebrates its two-year anniversary since Dasilva's initial pledge of $40 million CAD. Age of Union has invested in 10 projects globally, all focusing on boots-on-the-ground conservation and restoration work in critically endangered ecosystems. Age of Union will continue to fulfill its mission in supporting and making visible a global community of changemakers who protect the planet's most vulnerable species and habitats. Timed with its two-year anniversary, Age of Union released its latest short film documentary, The Corridor, to the public in collaboration with The Forest Health Alliance and Strong Roots Congo. The film unveils a revolutionary approach to save the critically endangered eastern lowland gorilla. Congolese environmentalist Dominique Bikaba and international partners are on an ambitious mission to secure twenty-one interconnected land titles, which would establish one of the largest wildlife corridors of community-managed forests on the planet. In doing so, they are empowering local communities to protect the habitat of the eastern lowland gorilla and conserving the all-important Congo Basin Rainforest ? the second lung of the Earth ? for generations to come. In addition to the recent unveiling of The Corridor, the cinematic creations of Age of Union have garnered global acclaim. Dasilva co-executive produced Wildcat, which was awarded with the prestigious distinction of "Outstanding Nature Documentary of 2023" at the illustrious 44th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards. The feature documentary follows UK veteran Harry Turner and Samantha Zwicker, ecologist and founder at the wildlife rescue centre Hoja Nueva, as they raise orphaned baby ocelots in the Peruvian Amazon. Separately, The Council of State has recently ordered the French government to establish no-fishing zones and implement other measures to protect dolphins in the Atlantic. This move comes after the release of Age of Union's CAUGHT, a short documentary that unveils the shocking consequences of industrialized fishing and bycatch, which has led to the depletion of oceanic ecosystems and the loss of marine life. This action is seen as a significant achievement for ocean conservationists, including Age of Union partners Sea Shepherd Global and Sea Shepherd France. Age of Union will continue working closely with its partners throughout each stage of their projects, making it a priority to visit conservation sites and providing support beyond the monetary donation. Due to this combined effort, Age of Union is able to grasp a broader understanding of the direct actions and efforts on the ground, how their partnership will aid the grassroots organizations' short and long term goals, and how it will directly impact dependent communities. "As we celebrate Age of Union Alliance's second anniversary, we are proud to release another short documentary, The Corridor, inspiring change through the art of film," says Dax Dasilva, Founder of Age of Union. "Over the past two years, Age of Union has continued to forge crucial partnerships with passionate on-the-ground changemakers and support them as they protect the planet's threatened species and ecosystems. It is through their unwavering dedication that we are able to safeguard our planet for future generations." 2023 Age of Union projects achievements and progress updates: BC Parks Foundation (British Columbia, Canada): The partnership has made significant progress in land protection and scientific monitoring, held hand-in-hand with the local and First Nations communities. They have focused on the Estuary of French Creek , a habitat for blue herons and eagles, as well as the remote Pitt River Watershed, home to more than 11 key species. Kalaweit (Indonesia): The Dulan Forest, also known as the Kalaweit - Age of Union Forest Reserve is now fully protected, ensuring that the families of orangutans living there will always have a home. We have also acquired the Age of Union ultralight aircraft (G1 Spyl XL amphibious), which enables a more efficient land monitoring and reforestation program through fruit dropping with Kalaweit. Kenauk Institute (Quebec, Canada) : Kenauk Institute once again hosted a remarkable 34 science and educational programs on their corridor this summer. These programs focus on monitoring climate change, hydrology, forest connectivity, biodiversity and various other fascinating research projects. Junglekeepers (Peru): Junglekeepers expanded their ranger team, adding three new programs to become part of their umbrella program: The Cocinando Y Conservando, dedicated to the health and wellness of the people of the Madre de Dios region; The Amazon Shelter, an initiative focused on protecting the wounded and orphaned animals of the Amazon Rainforest; and ARBIO, focusing on protecting ancient trees. They also increased their knowledge-sharing activities with Indigenous communities. Nature Conservancy of Canada (Quebec, Canada): The Nature Conservancy of Canada announced the protection in perpetuity of the iconic beach and salt marsh ecosystem of Baie St Paul, the Boisee Carillon forest and wetlands, as well as completed new restoration work along the St Lawrence River. Forest Health Alliance (Democratic Republic of Congo): The partnership delivered historical land titles to Congolese communities living in the corridor and continues implementing sustainable activities such as brick-making and fishing ponds. Sea Shepherd (Global): Sea Shepherd continues its collaboration with West African governments, focusing this year on Sierra Leone , Liberia , Benin , and most recently Gambia . The M/Y Age of Union vessel patrols West African waters to stop illegal massive fishing trawlers coming from other countries, such as the Egyptian trawlers, the Barrah and Fahd Al Islam . Each of these vessels, detained for a month after being arrested for various violations, saves an average of 740,000 marine creatures. Kanpe (Haiti): Kanpe's Experimental Farm continues to produce fruit and forest seedlings, reinforcing the community's resilience to climate change and self-sustainability in food sovereignty. Nature Seekers (Trinidad and Tobago): Nature Seekers has recently completed a successful nesting season closely monitoring and supporting the leatherback turtle nesting sites on Matura Beach. About Age of Union Alliance Age of Union is a non-profit environmental alliance that supports and makes visible a global community of changemakers working on the ground to protect the planet's threatened species and ecosystems. Launched in October 2021 by tech leader and environmental activist Dax Dasilva in Montreal, Canada, Age of Union seeks to ignite a flame within every person through conservation efforts that solve critical environmental challenges around the world and inspire high-impact change by showing the positive impact that every individual can make. For more information, please visit: AgeofUnion.com On social media: Facebook, Instagram , YouTube, and Twitter SOURCE Age of Union Alliance 20 october 2023 at 09:00 News published onand distributed by: First Poppy 2023 presented to Canada's Governor General OTTAWA, Oct. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Royal Canadian Legion presented the First Poppy of the 2023 National Poppy Campaign today, to Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada. The Legion's Dominion President, Bruce Julian, pinned the Poppy during the ceremonial event at Rideau Hall in Ottawa. "Each year, we are honoured by our Governor General's gracious support in wearing the First Poppy," he shares. "Her acceptance reflects this symbol's importance in Canada, as a means of visually recognizing and thanking our fallen Veterans." As viceregal patron of The Royal Canadian Legion, the Governor General shared some remarks, pinned poppies on Veterans and guests, and exchanged a few words with them. Legion Grand President Vice Admiral (Ret'd) Larry Murray also greeted guests and spoke of the importance of the Legion's First Poppy presentation during his remarks. "Indeed, Remembrance, as symbolized by the Poppy, remains our eternal recognition of the service and sacrifice of all the women and men who protect our freedoms," he said. As part of the First Poppy presentation event, Rideau Hall displayed an image of the Legion's "Poppy Stories" which highlights new stories about Veterans from peacekeeping missions this year. It is the second year for this initiative, which allows people to use a smart phone to scan their lapel Poppy to read the personal story of a Canadian Veteran. The Poppy is Canada's symbol of Remembrance for fallen military and RCMP Veterans. It reflects the country's ongoing thankfulness for their sacrifices and its image is a central part of the National Poppy Campaign. Funds donated locally during the campaign are distributed locally, to help support Veterans and their families, communities, and to promote Remembrance. The Legion's National Poppy Campaign launches annually on the last Friday in October and will begin on October 27 this year. About The Royal Canadian Legion Founded in 1925, the Legion is Canada's largest Veteran support and community service organization. We are a non-profit organization with a national reach across Canada as well as branches in the U.S. and Europe. With 250,000 members, many of whom volunteer an extraordinary amount of time to their branches, our strength is in our numbers. Public Relations / Media Inquiries: [email protected] ? The Royal Canadian Legion ? 343-540-7604 ? Nujma Bond [email protected] - Rideau Hall - 343-573-7563 Legion.ca Facebook.com/CanadianLegion Twitter.com/RoyalCdnLegion Instagram.com/royalcanadianlegion YouTube.com/user/RCLDominionCommand LinkedIn.com/company/royalcanadianlegion Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9d51ac9d-322b-4b98-9029-758f85d16cb9 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a732b16f-cec9-4dae-8b0f-39be5a5c04fe 20 october 2023 at 12:20 News published onand distributed by: Media advisory - Minister Valdez to deliver welcome remarks at the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine's Small Business Summit TORONTO, Oct. 20, 2023 /CNW/ - The Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister of Small Business, will deliver welcome remarks at the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine's Small Business Summit, where she will highlight the Government of Canada's continued support for small businesses, and in particular support for those owned by members of under-represented communities. A media availability will follow the announcement. Date: Monday, October 23, 2023 Time: 9:30 am (ET) Location: Metro Toronto Convention Centre North Building 255 Front Street West Toronto, Ontario Stay connected Follow Canada Business on social media for business-related news: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. Download the Canada Business app. SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada 20 october 2023 at 14:44 News published onand distributed by: Demonstrators wave the flags of Palestine and the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah during a protest in Tehran in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on October 20, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. - / AFP Demonstrations in support of Gaza and condemning Israel's bombardment of the besieged enclave were held across the Arab world on Friday, October 20, including in countries that have normalized relations with Israel. In Egypt, where public gatherings were banned after the military seized power in 2013, tens of thousands took to the streets of Cairo and other cities as authorities sought to manage the wave of public anger. The protests came on day 14 of Israel's retaliation for a shock Hamas attack, the deadliest in Israel's 75-year history. Hamas militants killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated or burnt to death during the October 7 attack, according to Israeli officials. More than 4,100 Palestinians have been killed in relentless Israeli bombardment of Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. In Cairo, several thousand people packed into Tahrir Square, the epicenter of the 2011 uprising that toppled long-time autocrat Hosni Mubarak, an AFP correspondent reported. "The people want the fall of Israel," the demonstrators chanted, adapting the Arab Spring catchphrase: "The people want the fall of the regime." Public protests are generally illegal in Egypt but on Wednesday President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi told visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz he could "call on the Egyptian people to come out and express their rejection" of Israeli actions in Gaza "and you would see millions of Egyptians" in the street. Later the same day, thousands took to the streets. "There is a desire to take control of the public anger," Cairo University politics professor Mustapha Kamel al-Sayyid told AFP. Media loyal to the president had published a list of public squares and other sites where protests would be tolerated, calling on Egyptians to show their support for Sisi ahead of a presidential election due in December. Cairo's Tahrir Square was not among them, a matter of pride for many of those demonstrating on Friday. "We're not here to give a new mandate to anybody. It's a genuine demonstration," the crowd chanted. Police later pushed protesters away from the square to nearby streets, the AFP correspondent reported. Police made 26 arrests in Tahrir Square and 17 in nearby Abdeen, human rights lawyer Khaled Ali said on Facebook. Protesters shout anti-Israel slogans during a rally to show solidarity with the people of Gaza after Friday prayers at Azhar mosque, the Sunni Muslim world's premier Islamic institution, in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. AMR NABIL / AP Protesters shout anti-Israel slogans during a rally to show solidarity with the people of Gaza after Friday prayers outside Azhar mosque, the Sunni Muslim world's premier Islamic institution, in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. AMR NABIL / AP 'No to normalization' In the Gulf state of Bahrain, which normalized relations with Israel in the Abraham Accords of 2020, some 2,000 worshippers at the Duraz mosque chanted "Death to Israel" and "Death to America" at Friday prayers. Around 1,000 people joined a march afterward, shouting anti-Israel slogans including "No to normalization!" "We want normalization to end and the Israeli ambassador expelled," said one marcher, holding her baby in her arms. In Baghdad, a few thousand people demonstrated on Friday, including sympathizers of the Hashed al-Shaabi, a coalition of armed factions close to Israel's arch-foe Iran. The demonstrators gathered at a bridge leading to the Green Zone, the fortified government and diplomatic compound where the US embassy is based. "We support the Palestinian people against the Israeli occupier," Ali Hussein, a 45-year-old taxi driver, told AFP. Other Hashed supporters held a sit-in at Iraq's Trebil border crossing with Jordan, the organizers and Iraqi officials said. Demonstrators vowed to keep up their protest "until the roads are opened to send aid" to Gaza. Images on social media which AFP was unable to independently verify showed several tents pitched near the crossing beneath Iraqi and Palestinian flags. In Tunisia, thousands gathered outside the French embassy to protest Western support for Israel, AFP correspondents reported. "The French and the Americans are partners in the attack" against Palestinians, they chanted. Some expressed support for Hamas, shouting "Dear (Ezzedine) al-Qassam (Brigades), destroy Tel Aviv", in reference to the movement's military wing. A similar protest was held outside the US embassy in the capital's northern suburbs, where demonstrators burnt a US flag. Tunisians gather during a pro-Palestinian protest to express solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Tunis, Tunisia, October 20, 2023. JIHED ABIDELLAOUI / REUTERS The misfortunes of the Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians are the joy of the 460,000 inhabitants of Nakhchivan, an isolated region of 5,500 square kilometers located in western Azerbaijan. Like Nagorno-Karabakh, Nakhchivan had been living in virtual autarky because of the wars between Armenians and Azerbaijanis over the past three decades. An Azerbaijani soldier awaits the departure of a train at Nakhchivan station, in Azerbaijan, on October 11, 2023. LUCAS BARIOULET FOR LE MONDE "The war in 2020, which led to the liberation of Nagorno-Karabakh [and the forced departure of 100,000 Armenians in early October], has completely changed the regional context," explained Anar Ibrahimov, deputy chairman of the Ali Majlis (Parliament) of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, in his office. "Nakhchivan can now move forward and emerge from the blockade to which it had been subjected for 30 years by the Armenians," said Ibrahimov, a tall man with glasses and a mustache, standing up straight beneath the double portrait of the last two presidents of Azerbaijan since the proclamation of independence in 1991: the father, Heydar Aliyev, 1993-2003, and his son, Ilham. The latter, dressed in camouflage, visited Nagorno-Karabakh for the first time on October 15, trampling on the flag of the Armenian separatists for the cameras of state television. It was 20 years to the day after inheriting power from his father. The rugged landscape of the South Caucasus had made Nakhchivan a natural corridor linking Yerevan to Baku and Teheran. But politics in its most detestable form transformed it into an exclave a territory under the sovereignty of a nation from which it is separated by a country or a body of water. It is cut off from Azerbaijan to the north and east by a mountain range belonging to the Armenian enemy, known as Zangezur. On its southwestern flank, the Aras River forms the border with Iran, a neighbor with which Baku maintains a checkered relationship. The only land route linking Nakhichevan to the rest of Azerbaijan ran through Iran, making a detour of several hundred kilometers to avoid skirting the Armenian border. Teheran cut off this route at the time of the 2020 war. Anar Ibrahimov, deputy chairman of the Nakhchivan parliament, in his office in Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan, on October 11, 2023. LUCAS BARIOULET FOR LE MONDE What Ibrahimov, who built his entire career within the ruling party, did not say is that its former leader, Vasif Talibov, former chairman of the Supreme Assembly of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, had himself played a major role in locking down the region. Ismail, a local businessman who asked to remain anonymous, explained, "Talibov controlled everything, ran everything and immediately repressed anyone who resisted him. No one moved a finger without his authorization. Heydar Aliyev, with whom he was related, gave him Nakhchivan as a personal fiefdom. Baku quickly lost all authority here. Talibov took great pleasure in dictating his own laws, for example imposing uniforms for schoolchildren and prohibiting the purchase of cars in Azerbaijan." You have 60% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. Palestinians look at the site of the explosion at al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City, on October 18, 2023. ABED KHALED / AP Israel pounded the Gaza Strip with airstrikes on Thursday, October 19, including in the south where Palestinians were told to take refuge, and the country's defense minister ordered ground troops to "be ready" to invade, though he didn't say when. Gaza's overwhelmed hospitals tried to stretch out ebbing medical supplies and fuel for generators, as authorities worked out logistics for a delivery of aid from Egypt. Doctors in darkened wards across Gaza stitched wounds by the light of mobile phones and used vinegar to treat infected wounds. Meanwhile, an unclassified US intelligence assessment delivered to Congress estimated casualties in an explosion at a Gaza City hospital on Tuesday on the "low end" of 100 to 300 deaths. The death toll "still reflects a staggering loss of life," US intelligence officials said in the findings, seen by The Associated Press (AP). It said intelligence officials were still assessing the evidence and their casualty estimate may evolve. President Joe Biden and other US officials already have said that US intelligence officials believed the explosion at al-Ahli Hospital was not caused by an Israeli airstrike. Thursday's findings echoed that. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Biden warns Israel to avoid making 9/11 'mistakes,' calls for 'clarity' on war objectives The Israeli military has relentlessly attacked Gaza in retaliation for the devastating October 7 Hamas rampage in southern Israel. Even after Israel told Palestinians to evacuate the north of Gaza and flee south, strikes extended across the territory, heightening fears among the territory's 2.3 million people that nowhere was safe. Palestinian militants fired rockets into Israel on Thursday from Gaza and Lebanon, and tensions flared in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. In a fiery speech to Israeli infantry soldiers on the Gaza border, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant urged the forces to "get organized, be ready" for an order to move in. Israel has massed tens of thousands of troops along the border. "Whoever sees Gaza from afar now, will see it from the inside," he said. "It might take a week, a month, two months until we destroy them," he added, referring to Hamas. One meal a day and dirty water Israel's consent for Egypt to let in food, water and medicine provided the first possible opening in its seal of the territory. Many of Gaza's residents are down to one meal a day and drinking dirty water. Egypt and Israel were still negotiating for the entry of fuel for hospitals. Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Hamas has stolen fuel from UN facilities and Israel wanted assurances this won't happen. The first trucks of aid were expected to go in Friday, Egypt's state-owned Al-Qahera news reported. With the Egypt-Gaza border crossing in Rafah closed, the already dire conditions at Gaza's second-largest hospital deteriorated further, said Dr. Mohammed Qandeel of Nasser Hospital in the southern town of Khan Younis. Power was shut off in most of the hospital and staff members were using mobile phones for light. At least 80 wounded civilians and 12 dead flooded into the hospital after witnesses said a strike hit a residential building in Khan Younis. Doctors had no choice but to leave two to die because there were no ventilators, Qandeel said. "We can't save more lives if this keeps happening," he said. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Israel-Hamas war: Isolated US blocks UN resolution in favor of 'direct diplomacy' The Gaza Health Ministry pleaded with gas stations to give fuel to hospitals and a UN agency donated some of its last fuel. The agency's donation to Gaza City's Shifa Hospital, the territory's largest, would "keep us going for another few hours," hospital director Mohammed Abu Selmia said. This picture taken on October 18, 2023 shows an aerial view of the complex housing the Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza City in the aftermath of an overnight blast. SHADI AL-TABATIBI / AFP Al-Ahli Hospital was still recovering from Tuesday's explosion, which remains a point of dispute between Hamas and Israel. Hamas quickly said an Israeli airstrike hit the hospital, which Israel denied. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Israel-Hamas war: Uncertainty remains over cause of deadly blast at Gaza hospital Near al-Ahli hospital, meanwhile, another explosion struck a Greek Orthodox church housing displaced Palestinians late Thursday, resulting in deaths and dozens of wounded. Mohammed Abu Selmia, director general of Shifa Hospital, said dozens were hurt at the Church of Saint Porphyrios but could not give a precise death toll because bodies were still under the rubble. Palestinian authorities blamed the blast on an Israeli airstrike, a claim that could not be independently verified. The Gaza Health Ministry said 3,785 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, the majority women, children and older adults. Nearly 12,500 were injured, and another 1,300 people were believed buried under the rubble, health authorities said. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly civilians slain during Hamas' deadly incursion. Roughly 200 others were abducted. The Israeli military said Thursday it had notified the families of 203 captives. Tent camp to house displaced people For the first time since 1967 when Israel captured Gaza from Egypt, a major tent camp arose to house displaced people. Dozens of UN-provided tents and tarps lined a dirt lot in the southern city of Khan Younis. Families boiled water on gas stoves and charged phones on small generators. Volunteers passed around cans of tuna and bread. The deal to get aid into Gaza through Rafah, the territory's only connection to Egypt, remained fragile. Israel said the supplies could only go to civilians in southern Gaza and that it would "thwart" any diversions by Hamas. Biden said the deliveries "will end" if Hamas takes any aid. More than 200 trucks and some 3,000 tons of aid were positioned at or near Rafah, according to Khalid Zayed, the head of the Red Crescent for North Sinai. Under an arrangement reached between the United Nations, Israel and Egypt, UN observers will inspect the trucks carrying aid before entering Gaza. The UN, working with the Egyptian and Palestinian Red Crescent, will ensure aid goes only to civilians, an Egyptian official and European diplomat told the AP. It was not immediately clear how much cargo the crossing could handle. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told Al-Arabiya TV that foreigners and dual nationals would be allowed to leave Gaza once the crossing was opened. Israel said it agreed to allow aid from Egypt because of a request by Biden which followed days of intense talks with the US secretary of state to overcome staunch Israeli refusal. The Israeli military said Thursday it killed a top Palestinian militant in Rafah and hit hundreds of targets across Gaza, including militant tunnel shafts, intelligence infrastructure and command centers. Palestinians have launched barrages of rockets at Israel since the fighting began. Violence was also escalating in the West Bank, where Israel carried out a rare airstrike Thursday, targeting militants in the Nur Shams refugee camp. Six Palestinians were killed, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, and the Israeli military said the strike killed militants and resulted in 10 Israeli officers being wounded. More than 74 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the war started. CONCERNS have been raised in the Seanad over the failure of the governing authority of University of Limerick to elect a new Chancellor. Senator for county Clare Timmy Dooley raised the matter after following the failure of the authority to agree on the appointment of a successor for former Chancellor Mary Harney, whose term ended on September 30 this year. He said he is concerned that, following conversations with staff in UL, there would be a move to persuade those who had voted against the candidate put forward by the university to "revisit the decision", and that "a level of intense lobbying will begin to try to browbeat people who made, in good judgment, a decision not to appoint the individual concerned." Under the Universities Act 1997, any candidate for the role of chancellor must secure a two thirds majority (in a vote) in order to be elected. There are 19 seats on the governing authority, but one seat is presently vacant and awaiting an appointment by Minister Simon Harris. The sole candidate put forward for the role is understood to have received 11 votes, with 7 against, in the vote that was held at the first meeting of the new governing authority which took place on October 8. "There is some history about the appointment of the same individual to another board of the State where there was intense lobbying, up to and including telephone calls to the Taoiseach at the time, Leo Varadkar, to secure a particular position for that individual," Senator Dooley told the Seanad. "There is real concern among members of the authority and staff of the university that the same will apply here, that a level of behind-the-scenes lobbying, cajoling and jostling will be deployed to achieve this position for the individual concerned," he continued. Senator Dooley said his concerns now revolve around the 19th seat on the governing authority, which is set to be filled by Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris. "The concern of some within the university is that the Minister and Government will be lobbied to appoint somebody who will be favourably disposed towards the person who has already been rejected. That would be wrong. I want an assurance from the Minister of State that will not happen." Minister of State at the Department of Health Mary Butler responded to Senator Dooley on behalf of Minister Harris. She stated that the public appointments process is currently in progress for the selection of ministerial nominees, with a assessment meeting is scheduled for next week. However, she said that the Minister for Higher Education had no influence on the appointment of a Chancellor for UL. "It is really important to state that the Minister has no role whatsoever in this process. The Minister is legally prohibited from intervening." AHANE National School in Lisnagry is to commemorate 200 years of education with a bicentennial week of celebrations. Mayor of Limerick, Cllr Gerald Mitchell will officially launch the week-long event at the school in Laught, Lisnagry, by planting an Oak tree and time capsule in the grounds on Monday October 23. This will be followed by a series of events in the school including a community celebration evening in the School Halla on the evening of Thursday October 26 at 7pm where memories of Ahane National School throughout the years will be shared along with story-telling and curated historical images. An exhibition celebrating the life and legacy in Ireland and Australia of Richard Bourke, founder of the original Ahane School, former Governor of Australia and founder of the city of Melbourne will also be open to the local community on the evening of October 26. Sir Bourke, born in 1778, was the philanthropist who originally founded the school in 1823 prior to the repeal of the penal laws in Ireland, before this, the children of Ahane were educated by a hedge school master named Patty Collins who taught the children each evening after work. Bourke erected a stone school building on his property, Thornfield Estate and began education with 79 pupils, 47 boys and 32 girls. This building remained in use until 1933 when the present school was built. Education has a proud history in Ahane from the beginning of the 19th century to the present day explained Ahane NS Principal, Siobhan Kennedy. Today, Ahane NS is located at Laught, Lisnagry and hosts over 130 students. While our present building was opened in 1933, were delighted to commemorate the bicentenary of the first Ahane National School on the Thornfield estate just across from St Ptricks Church in Ahane. The children will learn about early school life in Ahane 200 years ago added Principal Kennedy. Ahane NS is grateful to Dr Max Waugh of Monash University Melbourne and Sir Richards descendant Ace Bourke who have both written extensively on Richard Bourke an are donating books about him to the school library. The Star Wars actor opens up about how hes much happier and better on a bike when he travels Craig Barritt/Getty Ewan McGregor is gearing up to take the long way round again. During a recent panel at New York Comic Con, the Star Wars actor, 52, teased a return to his motorbiking adventure series with British TV presenter Charley Boorman. Their travel show, Long Way Up, which debuted on Apple TV+ in 2020, saw the pair motorbiking on their electric Harley-Davidsons across South and Central America. The series was the third in a saga of their globe-trotting rides where the duo experience different cultures while overcoming the elements and adversity of traveling on motorbike. Long Way Round (2004) and Long Way Down (2007) are both available to watch on Apple TV+" VALERIE MACON/AFP We might have another Long Way up our sleeves, McGregor hinted last Thursday. Weve got an idea and weve started to talk about it, so thats in the early stages of fermentation. Well definitely do another one of those, but Im not really at liberty to talk about where it would be yet. The Obi-Wan Kenobi star couldnt resist giving a small hint. Weve done the Northern Hemisphere and then weve done all of the African continent, so theres not a lot [we havent done], McGregor said of his previous trips. But when you think about it, our route is just a thin line across those massive lands, so theres lots of it we didnt see. Sven Arnstein/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank The Doctor Sleep star was one of the featured guests at this years New York Comic Con 2023 his very first one alongside actors including Chris Evans, David Tennant, Zachary Levi, Tom Hiddleston and Susan Sarandon. Related: Chris Evans on Enjoying Life After 2 Wonderful Wedding Ceremonies with Alba Baptista The annual event, which is the East Coast's biggest and most exciting popular culture convention, per NYCCs website, plays host to the latest and greatest in comics, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, toys, movies and television. Story continues Related: Ewan McGregor Says It 'Feels Great' to Put Obi-Wan Costume Back on for 'Star Wars' Disney+ Series While reflecting on his Long Way trips, McGregor added how both he and Boorman, 57, wanted to give back to the people they met along the way as they explored each countrys history and culture. That desire led them to partner with UNICEF, an agency that provides humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide. As young fathers as we were then, we wanted to help a childrens charity, McGregor said of his preparation for the first Long Way series. UNICEF is [an organization] weve always been impressed with and wanted to be associated with, so we asked them when we were planning Long Way Round, if they could show us a few of their projects and told them our route. They were just amazing to work with. Related: Inside the 22-Year Marriage Between Ewan McGregor and Eve Mavrakis Before Their Split The Moulin Rouge star then reminisced about the three projects he worked on with UNICEF. The first was in Ukraine, where the motorbikers aided children who were affected by the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. We were just blown away by the courage and the resolve of those people, McGregor said of the children and volunteers he met. He then motorbiked further along into Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, where he collaborated with UNICEF to set up climbing walls and competitions for children who dealt with abuse and violence. These climbing walls totally turned around those areas and the kids had something physical to put their efforts into, McGregor recalled. There were kids that became really good climbers and became stars in that area. The last project took place in Mongolia, where the travelers were very moved by the kids who lived in big heating ducts underground during the countrys cold wintertime. Mongolia is where the father of five would later adopt his daughter, Jamyan McGregor, 22, who was then 4 years old at the time in 2006. Related: Israeli Father-to-Be Died Preventing Massacre Days After Celebrating First Wedding Anniversary (Exclusive) Motorbiking was key in helping the pair meet people in a different way as opposed to driving a car, according to McGregor. He mentioned how in Mongolia and Kazakhstan, there are still people who are nomadic, where the land doesnt belong to anyone. 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. When we turned up on our motorbikes, they treated us like them, McGregor said. Youre susceptible to the elements. If its raining, you get wet. If its cold, you get cold, so theyre just very friendly. I dont know if we turned up in big Jeeps or four-by-fours, that it wouldve felt the same. To that end, the Fargo actor is much happier and better on a bike. Scott Barbour/Getty I can see more and Im more aware of my surroundings, McGregor said. It ruins driving a car because you have to be so careful when youre riding a motorbike that you become incredibly defensive and aware of whats going on. And then when youre in a car, you drive it in the same manner which you should do anyway, McGregor added with a laugh. Someone else is going to drive me home, dont worry. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. UNIVERSITY Hospital Limerick will host its annual multi-denomination Remembrance Service at St Nessan's Church in Raheen this weekend. The service is being held in the memory of all patients who have died in UHL in the past year, and the hospitals End of Life Care team is reaching out to bereaved relatives and loved ones to attend the service, reflect, and find solace, strength and comfort in their loss. It takes place at 2pm this Sunday, October 22. The service - which will be live-streamed here - includes readings and poems, and performances by the all-female Gunas Choir from Killaloe and their musical director Rhoda Cleary. Rebecca Lloyd, end of life care coordinator at UHL, is encouraging all loved ones of patients who have died in the hospital during the past year to come together and remember their loved ones, along with others who have been bereaved. We are glad once again to invite people to attend this special service and join with others in acknowledging your grief and loss. Its our hope that in coming together with other bereaved people, you will connect, and find solace, strength, and comfort with each other," she said. No-one has to grieve alone, and we also remind people that run a Bereavement Support Line in partnership with the Irish Hospice Foundation. This national Freephone service, which provides bereaved people with connection, comfort and support, is available at 1800-807077 from 10am to 1pm, Monday to Friday," she added. LIMERICK could be bringing another All-Ireland home as the Macnamara family is representing the county in the 2023 National Dairy Council (NDC) and Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards. The competition - dubbed the Oscars of the Dairy World or the Liam MacCarthy of farming - recognise and celebrate the highest standards of excellence in dairy farming with a focus on milk quality, animal welfare, and sustainable farming practices. The Macnamaras, from Knockainey, supplying Kerry Agri-Business Co-Op, are among 14 farms to reach the final of the prestigious awards, now in their twelfth year. It honours farming families who work hard every day to produce top quality milk. John Macnamara, alongside his wife, Olivia, farms in Gormanstown, Knockainey. Their four children, Caoimhe, Conor, Ailbhe and Padraic all contribute to the running of the farm. John believes that working together fosters a strong family connection and ensures the Macmamara family values are ingrained on their family farm. The farms legacy traces back to Johns father Paddy, who entrusted John with its care after he completed the Green Cert at Teagasc, Kilmallock. Johns passion for farming was instilled from an early age and he is passionate about passing on his knowledge to the next generation. The Macnamaras have hosted children from playschools and primary schools, teenagers from secondary schools and third level students so they can learn about farming. As the eldest of six children, John developed a robust work ethic and love for the land. With an understanding that the milk leaving his yard will shortly be on the consumers table, he takes immense pride in producing a product that is of the highest quality. Limerick has a strong recent record in the competition with Banogues Fiachra and Mary Liston being runners-up in 2020 and Michael, Mary Ita and Alex McCarthy, Feenagh, winning it in 2021. The judging panel for this years awards included Karina Pierce, professor of dairy production in UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science; Dr Patrick Wall, professor of public health at UCD and Dr David Gleeson of Teagasc. Following nominations from their respective co-operative, each farming family participated in an intensive judging process examining a broad range of criteria including environmental management, animal health and welfare, farm infrastructure and hygiene, soil and grassland management and technical performance, among other core indicators. Commenting on the finalists, Donal Buggy, interim chief executive, Ornua, said: As Irelands largest dairy exporter and proud owner of Kerrygold, we at Ornua see first-hand how much Irish dairy is valued and appreciated by consumers worldwide. Irelands global reputation as a leading producer of quality dairy products would not be achievable without the passion, commitment and expertise of Irish farming families who produce the best quality milk in the world. We are pleased to continue to shine a light on the immense qualities of Irelands family dairy farming system that underpins that global reputation, through the Awards. Zoe Kavanagh, CEO of the National Dairy Council, said its more important than ever to highlight and celebrate the incredible hard work, commitment and energy that is demonstrated 24/7 by Irelands 17,500 dairy food producers. The finalists for this competition demonstrate the highest standards of sustainable dairy production. Dairy farming has been going on in Ireland for over 4,000 years, its a part of our national identity. Our grass-fed family farming system is ideally suited to the Irish climate and delivers world class produce. The farmers who have been shortlisted this year represent the highest standards as food producers delivering an exceptional product that is enjoyed at home and revered by consumers all over the world, said Ms Kavanagh. Meta Platforms, the parent of Facebook and Instagram, is racing to incorporate generative AI into its family of apps and the metaverse after ChatGPT took the world by storm last November. Playing a central role in this effort is Metas chief product officer, Chris Cox. Wall Street Journal senior personal-technology columnist Joanna Stern spoke with Cox at the Journals annual Tech Live conference. Cox talked about Metas plans for wrapping artificial intelligence into its products, its introduction of chatbots played by celebrities such as Naomi Osaka and Snoop Dogg, and the potential of AI to help businesses. Here are edited excerpts of the conversation. Awe-inspiring WSJ: Take us back to November 2022. ChatGPT just launches. It becomes clear this is going to be a huge thing. Mark Zuckerberg calls you. What does he say? COX: We had been doing advanced research in natural-language processing and machine learning for years. We had made important contributions to open source, including things such as PyTorch, which is an important part of how developers can have easier access to machine-learning tools. AI also has been a very important part of our products for a long time. If you look at Reels and TikTok specifically, one of the reasons these products are so successful is because of the application of machine learning and sparse networks on the problem of recommending content. And that goes all the way back to 2017. WSJ: But when it becomes clear that ChatGPT is going to be a consumer product, you guys somehow shifted to thinking, Hey, weve got to get something out there." COX: We were surprised at its quick success and just really impressed. Its a nicely done product. It was very thoughtfully created. It has that property that some products every once in a while have, which is they inspire awe. You can count on one hand the number of products that do that in a decade. ChatGPT was like that, for sure. So, yes, we immediately asked the question: What are the ways that we can start to think about large language models and latent diffusion models, which is the image-generation models, in concert with some of the stuff we had already been thinking about. I started building out the team in February. Llama, Metas large language model, was launched in February. Llama 2 was launched in June. Weve continued to open-source more work thats been coming out of our AI team. So were trying to get products out the door. WSJ: Youre rolling chatbots into Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp. What is your hope? That were all going to converse with chatbots alongside our friends? COX: We recently announced that in WhatsApp or Messenger or Instagram, you will be able to chat with a Meta AI. You can ask it anything you want. It is tuned for safety and security, so it wont get into nasty conversations with anyone. We did a partnership with Bing for search. Once you have it connected, you can ask it about stuff thats going on now, and you wont get something thats six months old or nine months old. That is one of the types of problems you need to solve to make these useful. You also can use the AI in a group chat. A lot of what happens in the conversations on Messenger and WhatsApp is coordination. Where should we meet up? Where should we get dinner?" And a lot of times somebody is going and searching and youre pasting links back and forth. So the basic idea is what if you could just have all of that happening in one place? You could just ask the AI, Hey, were making pumpkin pie tonight for Thanksgiving. What should we pick up?" And you just have it all there. Its quite useful. It can also be entertaining. WSJ: You now have AI chatbots based on celebrities. The celebrities arent playing themselves, but rather a character. COX: Exactly. We researched how do you make these chatbots engaging? What is it that works for people? And there are a lot of people who want it to have some personality. They dont want it to feel like a robot. So we chose a few verticals where theres a lot of conversation. Anime is one. So Tamika, one of the AIs, is really into anime. Then we looked for people who had that interest who could play them. Naomi Osaka, it turns out, is interested in anime. Snoop Dogg plays another one, a dungeon master. Its absolutely hilarious. WSJ: But in this world of celebrity deepfakes, and this world of were not really sure now whether what were seeing is real on the internet, why go this route? COX: Weve been very transparent that these arent the celebrities playing themselves. Having anything that doesnt make it clear to people whats going on is a problem. In the product, were very open about communicating in the chat thread, when you start the thread, in the interactions that its an AI. The business case WSJ: Youve gone a little bit in the opposite direction of ChatGPT, which was designed to not have human aspects. COX: I think theres room for a lot of different models here. Our AI assistant is called Meta AI, and its similarly neutral. It has a neutral tone. It has a neutral personality. Its tuned for dialogue. But I also think theres room for more expression and more playfulness. This is going to be opened up to creators and most important for businesses. There are over 100 million businesses using WhatsApp. If you travel to places like India, Brazil and Mexico, youre very likely to stumble into a hairstylist who says, WhatsApp is how I do everything." That includes setting up the business. Finding customers. Coordinating appointments. In some cases, like in India, accepting payments. There is a huge demand from businesses for better tools to help them reach the people that care to find them. The reason this is connected to the characters is because you want these AIs to be put into sandboxes where an individual or a business can turn it into something that they can use to represent them. For me, one of the most profoundly impactful applications in the near term for AI is helping businesses be more effective. Write to reports@wsj.com India's foremost drone technology company, IG Drones, has forged a strategic alliance with iGiS, a Korean specialist in geospatial information-based drone solutions, announced during the prestigious North Star GITEX Global event IG Drones is India's top enterprise drone solution provider, specializing in surveying, mapping, and inspections. They've partnered with numerous state governments, 30 major PSUs, and MNCs, completing over 500 projects. Headquartered in Delhi, they lead in innovation and cutting-edge tech, with aggressive global expansion efforts. On the other hand, iGiS is an ICT company, specializing in geospatial info and drone solutions. Their offerings cater to both public and private sectors and are being implemented in countries like the US, Vietnam, Australia, and many South Asian countries. On the second day of the 2023 Expand North Star event at Dubai Harbor, the world's largest startup gathering, the Co-founder & CTO of IG Drones, Sambit Prasad Parida, and the CTO and Vice President of iGiS, Hudong Lee, officially inked the agreement. IG Drones and iGiS have formed a significant partnership through a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This collaboration aims to leverage their strengths for mutual growth in India and globally. Key components of the MOU include shared office spaces, which will enhance operational efficiency and support from iGiS for IG Drones' expansion in South Asian markets. Additionally, a global co-expansion model is outlined, where both companies will combine resources and expertise to expand internationally. This partnership has the potential to reshape the UAV industry and business solutions sector, opening doors to new opportunities. iGiS is a leader in ground monitoring systems, pioneering command centers for defense and disaster management across diverse applications. IG Drones is spearheading India's ascent as a drone technology hub with pioneering solutions and innovations. Their groundbreaking 5G Drone, the IG Drones Skyhawk, has set new standards, serving major multinational corporations and the Indian government. Sambit Prasad Parida, Co-founder & CTO of IG Drones, emphasizes that this international partnership will expand IG Drones presence in the global market and showcase Made-In-India drone technology solutions on a worldwide platform. About IG Drones: IG Drones is a leading innovator in drone technology and enterprise solutions, committed to pushing the boundaries of what drones can achieve. With a focus on safety, reliability, and innovation, IG Drones is at the forefront of the drone industry in India and globally alike. Website - https://igdrones.com/ About iGiS: iGiS is a globally recognized geospatial technology company that specializes in creating intelligent geospatial solutions. Their advanced technology empowers organizations to make informed decisions and optimize operations. Website - https://igis.co.kr/ ALLIANCE More Information Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. The trading world is extremely fast paced, especially currency trading. You need to have access to comprehensive resources as well as tools to identify the markets and spot opportunities. The more you learn, the better you master the art of trading currencies. Fortunately there is enough information in the form of tutorials and guides available online which can help in building your trading career. 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Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the views, opinions, announcements, declarations, affirmations etc., stated/featured in same. The decision to read hereinafter is purely a matter of choice and shall be construed as an express undertaking/guarantee in favour of Hindustan Times of being absolved from any/ all potential legal action, or enforceable claims. The content may be for information and awareness purposes and does not constitute a financial advice. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook is crisscrossing China, one of the companys largest markets, where challenges are mounting amid weak iPhone 15 sales and heightened government scrutiny. The whirlwind trip, which wasnt announced ahead of time, has involved drop-ins at Apple stores, a visit to a key supplier and meetings with senior officials, including Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao. Cooks visit to Chinahis second in roughly seven monthshighlights Apples increasingly complex relationship with the worlds second-largest economy, which serves the company as a manufacturing hub and a vital consumer market, as well as being a source of significant risk. Though Apple devices, in particular iPhones, remain popular in China, they face growing competition from domestic rivals and a sluggish consumer economy. At the same time, the company has to contend with increased suspicion of American technology companies among officials, fueled by intensifying geopolitical competition between China and the U.S. According to Counterpoint Research, in the first 17 days of its release, sales of Apples most popular iPhone 15 modelsthe 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max and 15fell 10% in comparison with similar iPhone 14 models last year. The Wall Street Journal reported last month that authorities in China had ordered government employees not to use iPhones for work, and that Apple staff had been meeting with Chinese officials over new rules that will restrict foreign apps currently available on the Chinese version of the iPhone app store. Apple hasnt commented on the ban or the new rules. In his meeting with Cook in Beijing on Wednesday, Wang said China would continue to expand market access for foreign companies and was committed to creating a market-oriented business environment, according to an official readout. Cook said Apple cherishes the achievements of its 30-year presence in China, according to the readout. My trip to China is going exceptionally well," Cook said in video footage of the meeting posted online by state media. On Thursday, the executive told Chinas chief information technology regulator that Apple was committed to growing together with local suppliers. Cooks visit began Monday in the southwestern province of Sichuan, where Apple makes many of its tablets and laptops. The executive dropped in on a mobile-gaming tournament held at a local Apple store and watched grade-school children fly drones controlled with their iPads. He later traveled to eastern China to visit the factory of Luxshare Precision, a Chinese supplier whose role in assembling Apple products has grown rapidly over the past few years. While questions linger over the future of Apples supply chain in China as the company moves to shift some production elsewhere, the consumer side of its Chinese business poses a more immediate concern. iPhones were once so highly sought-after that Chinese consumers would stand in snaking lines outside Apple stores days ahead to buy them, but analysts say a sluggish economy has damped consumer demand. Chinese consumer sentiment has changed," said Will Wong, a smartphone analyst with IDC. Chinas economy is different from the prepandemic period and consumers are more rational now with their spending habits. They are no longer rushing to be the first ones to get iPhones anymore." Meanwhile, strong competition from homegrown smartphone rival Huawei is taking the shine off Apple devices, despite new features such as titanium cases and better cameras. China Securities, a domestic brokerage, said in a note that Huawei almost doubled its share of Chinas smartphone market in the month to Oct. 2, powered by the surprise release of its high-speed smartphone Mate 60 Pro series. Some online resellers in China have begun to offer iPhone 15 devices for less than the original price, a reversal from years past when such phones sold at a premium in the gray market. Unlike previous versions of the device, the iPhone 15 didnt make the list of the hottest topics on popular Chinese social-media site Weibo on its release day. Counterpoint analyst Ethan Qi said Apple sales in China could still recover, as supplies of high-end iPhone modelstypically the bestselling in Chinaincrease. Apple didnt respond to a request for comment on iPhone sales in China. Like many U.S. businesses, Apple also finds itself caught in the political crossfire between Beijing and Washington, with both governments increasingly giving priority to national-security concerns over commerce. Shares of Apple fell more than 3% after the news emerged that China was moving to ban the use of iPhones by central government employees. The government iPhone ban showed Apple could be collateral damage amid U.S.-China frictions, said Han Lin, China country manager for the Asia Group, a business consulting firm. Its a signal from the Chinese that even Apple isnt untouchable," Lin said. China became Apples largest market for iPhones in the second quarter for the first time based on shipment data, according to research firm TechInsights. Greater China accounted for around a fifth of Apples global revenue in the April-to-June quarter, making it the companys third-biggest market after the Americas and Europe. On Tuesday morning, as news of Cooks China visit filtered out, the list of popular topics on Weibo included several related to Apple: the companys lethargic sales in China, its weaker position versus Huawei and consumer complaints about a display problem with the latest iPhones. In Sichuan, where Cook met the most senior Communist Party official in the region, he announced a donation of 25 million yuan, equivalent to $3.4 million, to the government-backed China Foundation for Rural Development, for rejuvenating Chinas rural areas. That followed separate pledges earlier this year to support education and flood relief. Cook said in a social-media post that the company had been working with the foundation for a decade to support rural development in Sichuan province. Foreign businesses often use such donations to demonstrate their commitment to China and improve relationships with policy makers, as corporate social responsibility in China is often party- and government-driven, said Asia Groups Lin. Apple is hitting two birds with one stoneThey are appealing to the grassroots and aligning themselves to the goals of the party," Lin said. Write to Yang Jie at jie.yang@wsj.com and Liza Lin at liza.lin@wsj.com New York Attorney General Letitia James initiated legal action against several cryptocurrency companies including Winklevoss twins' crypto exchange Gemini Trust, Genesis Global Capital and Digital Currency Group, reported The Messenger . "Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! The attorney accused cryptocurrency companies of losing over $1 billion of investors' funds. James said, My office will continue our efforts to stop deceptive cryptocurrency companies and push for stronger regulations to protect all investors." The Winkelvoss Twins who consisted of Cameron and Tyler had sued Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who was a fellow Harvard student, for stealing their idea. They lost the legal battle and later founded cryptocurrency company Gemini. James accused Gemini and its affiliates on October 19 with fraud. The lawsuit states that these companies deceived clients into investing in a program known as Gemini Earn, falsely promoting it as low-risk with high returns. Gemini Earn program was run by Gemini and Genesis while around 232,000 of Gemini Earn investors had their accounts frozen by Gemini and Genesis the lawsuit alleged with some investors even losing their life savings. In 2021, Gemini launched its "Gemini Earn" crypto investing platform with crypto lender Genesis Capital and parent company Barry Silberts Digital Currency. Genesis declared bankruptcy in January with the Winklevoss twins withdrawing around $280 million months before suspecting distress over the fund. Customers were unable to withdraw their funds as deposits were frozen in November 2022. A 73-year-old grandmother whose account was frozen and had invested $199,000 said, Are you going to be able to give us our money any time soon? I am crying all day." She added, Without that money, I am doomed." Lawsuits against other crypto platforms including CoinEx, Coin Cafe, KuCoin, Nexo and Celsius were also filed by The New York AG that failed to register as securities companies and defrauded investors, reported The Messenger. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. One of the tiaras most associated with the late Queen Elizabeth II was the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara which she wore time and time again, and is even depicted wearing on certain coins and notes. And this evening, Queen Camilla stepped out in it for the first time as she and King Charles III attended a dinner in London. The King and Queen dressed up for the dinner at Mansion House, the home of the Lord Mayor of London, in honor of their coronation. Camilla, 76, paired the priceless tiara with a sparkling evening gown by Bruce Oldfield along with diamond earrings and a necklace also once belonging to Queen Elizabeth. KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH - Getty Images This tiara was a wedding present from the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland to the Duchess of York, later Queen Mary, in 1893, the Royal Collection explains. In November 1947 Queen Mary gave the tiara as a wedding present to her grand-daughter, Princess Elizabeth. Camillas decision to wear the tiara emphasizes that as Queen she has access to an extensive array of jewelry once owned by the late sovereign. When she was the Duchess of Cornwall, she most often wore a tiara known as the Grevilla tiara or Boucheron Honeycomb tiara. However, as Queen she has worn different tiaras including a sapphire one which she wore to a Buckingham Palace State Banquet last November. The necklace that Camilla wore this evening was a gift to then Princess Elizabeth for her 21st birthday from the Government of South Africa. According to the Royal Collection, it was shortened in 1952 and the removed stones were made into a bracelet. KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH - Getty Images The visit this evening was Charless first to the City of London since he became King, and he took part in an ancient ritual involving being presented with a pearl sword. The sword itself is one that is believed to have first been presented to Queen Elizabeth I in 1571 on the opening of the Royal Exchange. The King was presented with the sword which he then returned, confirming the Lord Mayors authority in the area. Made of silver gilt with a scabbard of red velvet and 2,600 pearls, the sword features the City of London arms as well as the figure of Justice, blindfolded and bearing a set of scales. Story continues KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH - Getty Images The royal couple also viewed the Anointing Screen from their coronation, which was gifted by the City of London Corporation and City Livery Companies. They processed into the Egyptian Hall for speeches and a dinner. You Might Also Like The legal system that operates in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)like that in many countries across the Gulfis a blend of French civil and Islamic Sharia law. But this summer Dubai announced that it was exploring the introduction of English common law to 26 free-trade zones. These are jurisdictions that are exempt from local taxes and customs duties, and have their own independent legal systems and courts. The region is increasingly dotted by such common-law islands, reflecting the belief that the Anglospheres legal tradition is better for business. Such an idea can be traced back to Friedrich Hayek. Fifty years ago this month, the Nobel-prize-winning economist and philosopher published the first volume of his magnum opus, Law, Legislation and Liberty". In it, he argued that the common-law approach is more amenable to freedom than its civil-law counterpart. Later, in the 1990s, Hayeks ideas inspired the legal-origins theory", which made both an empirical and theoretical case that common law is better for the economy. The theory has been as influential as it has been controversial, leading to sweeping reforms in civil-law countries around the world. View Full Image ... The common-law tradition emerged in England. Under its strictures, the judiciary is bound by precedent: principles established by judges in previous cases are binding for future ones. This establishes case law on an equal footing with legislation. In contrast, the civil-law tradition traces back to the Code Napoleon, a legal system that was set up in France under Napoleon Bonaparte, which restricted both the independence and the discretion of the judiciary, subordinating it to the legislature. Englands approach was transplanted across the globe by the British empire and underpins the legal systems of 80 or so countries, including America. The Code Napoleon was transplanted across Europe by French occupations during the Napoleonic Wars and was introduced around the world by the French empire. China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan all based their modern legal systems on Germanys approach, which is also based on civil law. In total, civil-law traditions underpin the legal systems of about 150 countries today, including around 30 mixed systems. Hayek argued that common law is a better basis for a legal system than civil law for similar reasons that markets are a better foundation for an economy than central planning. A decentralised judiciary has access to local knowledge"the subtleties and idiosyncrasies of actual legal casesthat a centralised legislature does not. This is analogous to the way in which the butcher, the brewer and the baker are better placed to know what goods to produce, in what quantities and at what market price than a collection of well-meaning bureaucrats. A legal system based on judicial precedent allows judges to adapt the body of law to real-world circumstances. Common sense The arguments put forward by Hayek mostly concerned the laws ability to protect individual liberty, but they apply to its ability to promote economic growth, too. Twenty-five years ago, in a landmark study in the Journal of Political Economy, Andrei Shleifer, Rafael La Porta and Florencio Lopez-de-Silanes, then at Harvard University, as well as Robert Vishny of the University of Chicago, used data from 49 countries to show that investors rights are better protected in common-law countries. The paper gave credence to Hayeks ideas and set off a flurry of research into the relationship between legal origins and the economy. In three subsequent papers, Simeon Djankov, a World Bank economist, working with Messrs Shleifer, La Porta and Lopez-de-Silanes, used data from more than 100 countries to tease out the impact of legal origins on the regulation of startups, the stringency of labour protections and the efficiency of contract enforcement. What we found is that regulation was consistently less onerous and contract enforcement consistently more efficient in common-law jurisdictions," says Mr Shleifer. The difference was sharpest in the barriers facing entrepreneurs. The number of forms to fill out and business days needed to process an application, and the cost of administrative fees, were all higher under civil-law jurisdictions. In 2001 Paul Mahoney of the University of Virginia analysed data from across the world and found that, in the three decades to 1992, gdp per person had grown 0.7 percentage points a year slower in civil-law countries than in their common-law counterparts. These findings were influential, particularly at multilateral institutions. The World Banks Ease of Doing Business Index was shaped by the legal-origins theory. Indeed, Mr Djankov jointly founded and ran the initiative from 2003. In the decade and a half to 2020, more than 400 studies using data from the index were published. Leaders including Frances Emmanuel Macron, Germanys Angela Merkel and Japans Abe Shinzo made rising up the rankings a goal. The result was a wave of reform in civil-law countries, which tended to rank lower. As Mr Djankov notes, there was a dramatic international convergence in rules and regulation to the common-law standard". Has this produced a surge in economic growth? Perhaps not. More recent studies have splashed cold water on the legal-origins theory, says Holger Spamann of Harvard University. Ones that control for a wider array of confounding factors have found that a countrys legal tradition does have an effect on its economic prospects, but one that is not nearly as strong as the original studies implied. Moreover, some economists argue that legal traditions act as a proxy, indirectly capturing the impact of entirely different inheritances, such as those relating to colonial legacies or cultural attitudes. Under this reading, moving from a civil-law approach to a common-law one is unlikely to be worth the significant hassle for places like Dubai. Yet such a switch may nevertheless have been worth it in an earlier era, albeit for the wrong reasons. Before it was discontinued in 2021, when World Bank staff were alleged to have fiddled data partly in response to pressure from China, the Ease of Doing Business Index made civil-law countries seem like a less attractive destination for foreign investors. For a time, then, the legal-origins theory may have become self-fulfillingleading to faster economic growth simply because it was supposed to lead to faster economic growth. For more expert analysis of the biggest stories in economics, finance and markets, sign up to Money Talks, our weekly subscriber-only newsletter. 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com Mumbai: The rapid expansion of well-funded global capability centres (GCCs) by about 1600 multi-national companies has been a primary factor driving attrition in the information technology sector, a senior Wipro executive said. In fact, Wipro is the first IT company to acknowledge how GCCs are luring skilled employees with 4-10 years of experience, offering compensation levels that IT companies cannot match. Captives in India are coming up in big numbers, which is also drawing a lot of talent from the (IT) services companies. That is pushing up our compensation because these companies are doing more offshore in-sourcing and can afford to give higher raise to employees," Saurabh Govil, chief human resources officer Wipro, told Mint. What are GCCs? India has an estimated 1,600 multinational companies that have reduced their dependence on Indian IT services companies. Instead of outsourcing software development work, they have built their own technology divisions in the country. These in-house development centres are today called global capability centres or global inhouse centres (GCCs or GICs). Earlier, such organizations were known by a rather unremarkable term captive centres. They mostly handled call centres, data processing, document management and customer care functions. Such functions moved to India because of the cost arbitrage the country provided. Over time, these captive centres matured. Slowly but surely, they took on cutting-edge roles; they moved up the value chain. New Market Reality GCCs are primarily tapping into people with 4-10 years of work experience taking in ready-made talent, he said. The capacity for GCCs to pay is higher." A report by IT industry apex body Nasscom and consulting company Zinnov, for FY23 said there are 1.68 million professionals working in GCCs in India, and the number is expected to double by the end of 2026. Recruiters hiring for both IT and GCCs estimate that the centres hire talent at a 30% premium compared with an IT company. Bulk of the hiring from IT sector is happening by GCCs, followed by enterprise customers expanding their tech talent. GCCs are also expanding to smaller towns and there, too, they are hiring from the IT firms," said Vijay Sivaram, chief executive, Quess IT Staffing. Sivaram estimates that there are about 1,600 GCCs in India, of which 800-900 are hiring large numbers and have more than 5,000 employees, each. The high attrition rates and the counter offers to retain top talent is reflected in the wage costs of the majority of tech firms. Employee costs as a share of expenses at two of Indias top three software services companiesTata Consultancy Services (TCS) Ltd and HCL Technologies Ltdwere at least at a six-year high in the September quarter, according to executives. According to a Mint analysis, the wage costs for TCS constituted 77.4% of total expenditure, while for HCL Tech it was at 69.6% of the wage cost. Infosys saw wage costs at 68% of its total expenditure, down from the peak of 68.4% during the June quarter. Wipros wage expenses peaked at 71.3% in Q1, and dipped to 70.2% in Q2. People with certain expertise and skill sets will continue to be premium. In this environment of 13-14% attrition, people are moving and leaving," said Govil. Wipro clocked attrition of 15.5%, while Infosys and HCL reported attrition rates of 14.6% and 14.2%, respectively. Market leader TCS clocked attrition of 14.9% in the September quarter. However, the four tech firms have seen a steep fall in their attrition numbers. That said, the only silver lining for IT services companies is that poaching would be limited considering that the scaling opportunity for GCCs is limited compared with IT companies. The cycles keep coming. Technology is very core to every business and, hence, (talent) has to be sourced. Besides, if they (GCCs) do not get scaled, then it becomes a challenge," Govil added. Dive Deep: Read our special story by Mint's Leslie D'Monte and Shouvik Das from July | How GCCs stole the thunder from IT firms Six domestic brokerage firms have been bullish on the share price of Tata group company Voltas Ltd since August. Motilal Oswal, IDBI Capital, Geojit BNP Paribas, Prabhudas Liladhar, ICICI Securities and BOB Capital Markets hold positive views on the stock price of the company. IDBI Capital has placed the longest call with a target price of 1,050, trailed by Motilal Oswal. Voltas is now trading around 820, down 2% on the BSE. Besides, government incentives in the sector, hotter summers, increase in incomes, rising aspirations, and easy financing schemes are "anticipated to drive growth", said analysts at Motilal Oswal. Voltas, after a stellar run to a lifetime high of 1,356 on 19 October, 2021 lost ground. During this time, benchmark indices Nifty and Sensex hit 18604.45 and 62245.43, respectively. The stock fell more than 40% since then. Sensex is now at 65,400 levels. Voltas is an industry leader in multiple segments. It ceded market share to Blue Star, Daikin and Lloyd in recent quarters, after an increase to 25.2% in 2021 from 20.8% in 2015. In a media interview in early September, billionaire Chairman Noel Naval Tata said Voltas will focus on increased capital allocation, faster decision making and stronger leadership. It is currently led by Pradeep Bakshi. The companys cash flow took a hit in 2023 from lower earnings and higher working capital requirements. It consolidated domestic projects business and the holdings in international subsidiaries. Voltas, a strong brand in India, spends paltry amount on advertisements. The firms ad spend was 1% of its expenditure compared with 2.7% for Blue Star and 5% for Lloyds. It had revenues of $1.2 billion in 2023, assets worth $1.3 billion and 1,700 employees. HDFC Securities is bearish. Its institutional research team has a sell call target of 775. Although Voltas continues to focus on recovering its lost market share, recovery will be tough as well as slower," the brokerage report said. Meanwhile, a joint venture between Voltas and Turkeys Ardutch B.V.--Voltbek--had set up a manufacturing facility in Sanand, Gujarat. The JV targets to increase production capacity 150% by 2025. Air conditioners enjoy a production-linked government incentives scheme (PLI) that are meant to boost domestic manufacturing. They are also a feature to attract large foreign investments in white goods manufacturing, according to analysts. PLIs, a report noted, will remove sector disabilities, create economies of scale and enhance exports." Tata Sons Private Ltd, the promoter, owns 26.6% of Voltas. Life Insurance Corporation Of India owns 10.3% and T. Rowe Price Emerging Markets Stock Fund owns 2.8%. Hdfc Life Insurance Company Limited, Sbi Mutual Funds (Various Accounts), Mirae Asset Mutual Funds and Nippon Life India Mutual Funds own 2% each. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, and not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Global brokerage Morgan Stanley has advised investors against buying the dip in Chinese stocks, a recent report by Bloomberg stated. As per the report, the brokerage has warned that foreign funds may keep selling unless there is further policy easing and sentiment is likely to remain fragile. Quoting Morgan Stanley strategists, the report noted that foreign investors outflow from the so-called A-share market" has entered 'an unprecedented stage', further informing that the cumulative outflow of $22.1 billion from August 7 to October 19 is the largest in Stock Connects history. One must note that the Stock Connect refers to trading links between China and Hong Kong. "Global funds have been dumping Chinese shares amid rising geopolitical tensions, economic headwinds and an ongoing housing crisis. Efforts by President Xi Jinpings government to stabilize the property sector and avert deflation have shown little effect. Morgan Stanley had warned in late July following positive signals from the Poliburo meeting that a follow-through of measures would be required to sustain a recovery in sentiment. They also expressed hesitation to pivot to a more bullish tone after a package of market policy measures," stated the report. It further pointed out that foreign investors are on track for a third straight month of selling stocks in Shanghai and Shenzhen the longest streak after recording the biggest single-day outflow in two months on Thursday. Chinese stocks dipped below a major psychological level on Friday and the Shanghai Composite Index is poised for its worst week of the year, said the report, highlighting that foreign investors are now less than 70 billion yuan ($9.6 billion) away from making 2023 the first year they sell Chinese shares on a net basis since trading links opened in late 2016. Morgan Stanley advised that investors need to watch for a fundamental improvement in Chinas macro economy and government stimulus measures to restore investor confidence, mentioned the report. Events including the politburo meeting and Third Plenum, and a potential meeting between US President Joe Biden and President Xi Jinping at the APEC Summit next month could be key, it added. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. This makes TVS Motor the first Indian automobile manufacturer to enter the market with a host of 14 SKUs for the enthusiastic riders of Venezuela, with their local distributor, SERVISUMINISTROS JPG," the company said in today's regulatory filing. The product lineup in this market includes a range of premium motorcycles, such as the TVS RR 310, TVS Apache RTR 200 FI, TVS Apache RTR 160, and TVS Apache RTR 200, as well as commuter motorcycles like the TVS TRAK 150, TVS Sport 100, TVS HLX, TVS Stryker, and TVS Raider, as well as other utility vehicles, sporty vehicles, and three-wheelers. The company ranks amongst the top five automobile manufacturers in the world, with a presence in over 80 countries across Africa, Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, Latin America, and the Middle East. Speaking on the occasion, Rahul Nayak, Vice President, International Business, TVS Motor Company, said, TVS Motor Company has set a benchmark in catering to the diverse needs of customers globally. We are excited to introduce TVS Motor's diverse lineup of motorcycles, scooters, and three-wheelers in Venezuela, making us the first Indian manufacturer to enter the market. Our presence in this dynamic market marks a significant achievement for our global expansion strategy and is a historic step towards our global ambitions." We are delighted to enter Venezuela with a host of products across our premium and commuter range of two-wheelers, as well as three-wheelers. In line with our values of keeping customers at the core of our offerings, our foray into the market will pave the way for us to explore newer opportunities in the world of mobility," said Martin Corsunsky, Continental Head Americas, TVS Motor Company. Earlier this week, the company launched a new TVS Jupiter 125 enabled with SmartXonnect technology, which comes packed with a Bluetooth-connected TFT digital cluster along with SmartXtalk and SmartXtrack that reinforces the premiumisation journey of the scooter customer, according to the company's exchange filing dated October 17. Just recently, TVS Motor Company and BMW Motorrad celebrated the successful culmination of their decade-long partnership, a milestone that highlights their ten years of collaboration and innovation in the automotive industry. Since the inception of this strategic alliance, the two companies have achieved remarkable milestones, setting new industry standards and delivering exceptional motorcycles to customers worldwide. Meanwhile, for the month of September, the company's sales grew by 6% to reach 402,553 units, compared to 379,011 units in the month of September 2022. Total two-wheelers registered a growth of 7%, with sales increasing from 361,729 units in September 2022 to 386,955 units in September 2023. Domestic two-wheeler registered growth of 6%, with sales increasing from 283,878 units in September 2022 to 300,493 units in September 2023. The company sold 20,356 units of TVS iQube Electric in September 2023, compared to 4,923 units in September 2022, as per the company's sales release. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations given in this article are those of individual analysts. These do not represent the views of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. From the inception of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in July 2017, the legislative landscape has undergone a constant process of evolution, marked by successive amendments aimed at addressing practical challenges to overcome hurdles in implementation. Consequently, the GST legal framework has, for the most part, reached a state of stability. Presently, the Government's efforts are primarily channelled into addressing post-implementation challenges, with a focus on the inevitable litigations. The existence of a strong dispute resolution mechanism for timely resolution of the disputes is profoundly significant, for both taxpayers and the Government, leading to certainty in the tax positions. One significant development in this regard is the announcement for the establishment of 31 Benches of GST Appellate Tribunals across 28 States and 8 Union Territories in India. This marks a significant step in the Government's efforts to address issues related to litigation, since the taxpayers were forced to approach High Courts for matters requiring urgent resolution, in the absence of Tribunals. Furthermore, the Government has recognized that taxpayers have faced many challenges, from the disturbances caused due to COVID-19 pandemic or the technological and other logistical challenges, including the confusion and lack of awareness about processes, in pursuing legal recourse against demand orders, due to which, many taxpayers were unable to file appeals with the first appellate authority within stipulated time limits (including the period, for which the appellate authorities had powers to condone the delays). As a trade facilitation measure, the Government has announced an "amnesty scheme" for filing appeals before the first appellate authority, in the 52nd GST Council Meeting. This amnesty scheme is in respect of the extension of time limit in filing of appeal against the demand order passed on or before 31 March 2023 subject to payment of specified pre-deposit. It brought a sigh of relief for the business community, particularly smaller taxpayers, struggling to navigate the economic uncertainties brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and those who were unable to file their appeals before the first appellate authorities within specified time due to various issues. The amnesty scheme provides extended time period for filing of appeal till 31 January 2024 for two types of taxpayers, the first is those who could not file appeal against the demand order which was passed on or before 31 March 2023 and the second is those taxpayers whose appeal against the aforementioned demand orders passed on or before 31 March 2023 was rejected solely on the ground that the appeal was not filed within the prescribed time limit of 3 months provided under GST law. The amnesty scheme for filing of appeal by such taxpayers is subject to the condition of payment of pre-deposit amount of 12.5% of the tax in dispute, out of which, at least 20% (i.e., 2.5% of the tax in dispute) should be debited from Electronic Cash Ledger. At this juncture, it is critical to note that a lot of small taxpayers had approached the High Court in writ jurisdiction where the first appellate authority had rejected the appeals filed against the demand orders after lapse of prescribed time limit. On this aspect, the High Courts have adopted varying stances. For instance, while the Guwahati High Court has unequivocally asserted that writ courts have the inherent authority to grant extensions for such delays, the Kerala and Patna High Courts have taken an opposing view, ruling that when the law specifies a particular time frame for the condonation of delay, High Courts cannot exceed this period. The amnesty scheme has granted the taxpayers a one-time extension in time period of filing the appeal, though for a slightly higher pre-deposit. Accordingly, all the taxpayers who were unable to file appeal within the time limit or whose appeal were rejected due to delay in filing appeal under GST law for the demand order passed on or before 31 March 2023 can now file the appeals by 31 January 2024. As a result, taxpayers will have the opportunity to contest tax-related issues on their merits rather than acquiescing to tax demands lacking substantial basis. Undoubtedly, this is poised to lead to a significant upsurge in the volume of litigations before appellate authorities throughout India. Despite the enthusiastic reception of this scheme by both small-scale taxpayers and the wider industrial community, the measure might have been more complete had the time limit also been allowed to be extended for filing appeals against rejection of refunds, which does not seem to be covered. The industry would also be looking at the fine prints and also, about the provisions to address the situations, where the recoveries were made/recovery proceedings had started. Prerna Chopra, Associate Partner, Indirect Tax, BDO India Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Dalai Lama health update: Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama has cancelled his trip to Sikkim and Karnataka in November and December on the advice of doctors following a recent bout of the flu, his office has informed on 20 October. The statement from his office state that the doctors have stated that his trip could hamper his full recovery. Here's the full statement of Dalai Lama's office on cancellation of Sikkim, Karnataka trip. It wrote, In view of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's recent bout of the flu, his personal physicians have strongly advised that any travel will be taxing for His Holiness and more importantly, hamper his full recovery." We have, therefore, after careful consideration, decided not to visit Sikkim in the month of November 2023 and to also cancel His Holiness' planned visit to South India (Bylakuppe and Hunsur) scheduled in the second half of November to mid-December 2023." Further updating, his office added that there would be no change to His Holiness' planned visit to Bodhgaya starting in the second half of December 2023. "Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! Earlier, Dalai Lama had also skipped the session for Taiwanese teachings scheduled for October 2-3 due to bad health. Also Read: Five powerful quotes by the Tibetan spiritual leader In a statement, his office had stated, On the advice of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's personal physicians, His Holiness will take rest due to a persistent cold. In view of the scheduled teachings from October 2 to 4, which were requested by Taiwanese devotees, we have requested Gaden Tri Rinpoche to give the introductory teachings for the first and second days. We kindly request everyone's understanding." (With inputs from agencies) Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Prime Minister Narendra Modi flag off the maiden journey on the 17-km priority corridor located in Ghaziabad today with the launch of India's first Rapid Rail train, named RAPIDX. Ghaziabad traffic police issued an advisory ahead of the event giving a series of traffic diversions and parking arrangements. From 07:00 am until the end of the program, the following restrictions will apply: Restrictions on vehicle movement Except for vehicles visiting the area for the program, the movement of all other types of vehicles will be completely banned. The movement of all types of vehicles near the scheduled event will be banned from these routes: Hindon Airforce Golchakkar via Mchannagar towards Sahibabad RapidX station/public meeting Police Station Link Road Red Light towards Sahibabad RapidX Station/Public Meeting CISF Road Indrapuram towards Sahibabad RapidX Station and Jan Sabha Solar Energy Road towards Sahibabad RapidX Station and Jan Sabha Lal Kuon and Seemapuri Loni to Bhopura via Hindon Roundabout via Nagdwar towards Rajnagar extension and from ALT intersection Meerut towards Ghaziabad (except vehicles coming for the program) will not be able to come from Duhai Peripheral towards Ghaziabad. Siddharth Vihar Red Light towards Meerut Tiraha Atmaram Steel towards ALT via Hapur Chung Route to reach the venue Vehicles approaching the venue from Modinagar, Muradnagar, Hapur, and Meerut will have to travel via the elevated road through Rainagar Extension, descending from Kanawani near Buddha Chowk. "Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! Vehicles approaching the venue from Baghpat, Loni, Tronica City, Loni Border, Bhopura, Tila Mode, Tulsi Niketan will be directed to Solar Urja Road via the underpass from Karan Gate Roundabout, Bikaner Roundabout (Rajendra Nagar Metro Station) to Sahibabad Railway Station Cut. Parking arrangements are also in place for vehicles visiting the area for the event, refer to the road advisory for more details. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. A new cyclonic storm is likely to bring chaos in the Arabian sea this weekend. A low-pressure area over the southeast and southwest Arabian sea has evolved into a depression and is likely to upgraded into cyclone Tej by Saturday morning, said the Indian Meteorological Department on Friday. The cyclone got its name Tej as per the system followed for naming cyclones in the Indian Ocean Region. Cyclone Tej is likely to further intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Sunday, according to the weather forecasting agency. The biggest anticipation about the storm is its location of landfall. The recent data by IMD says that cyclone Tej is likely to move towards the south coasts of Oman and neighbouring Yemen. However, meteorologists have often cautioned that storms are likely to deviate from their predicted track and intensify at a different point than the forecast. In June this year, cyclone Biparjoy, which formed in the Arabian Sea in June and initially moved in a north-northwest direction before changing course to make landfall between Mandvi in Gujarat and Karachi in Pakistan. According to the weather forecast agency, the low-pressure system lay centered around 900km east-southeast of Socotra (Yemen), 1,170 km southeast of Salalah Airport (Oman) and 1,260 km east-southeast of Al Ghaidah (Yemen) at 11:30 am on Friday. Majority of models to predict the path of cyclonic storms are indicating that 'Tej' is heading from the Yemen-Oman coast, according to private forecasting agency Skymet Weather. Presenting an unpopular opinion, the Global Forecast System models suggest a recurvature while positioned over the deep central parts of the Arabian Sea, steering the system towards Pakistan and the Gujarat coast. Cyclone Tej to have no impact on Gujarat The storm will rarely have any impact on Gujarat, an official of the IMD told PTI on Friday. The predicted path of the cyclone says that it will move towards west-northwest. That's why it may not have any impact on Gujarat. "Weather in Gujarat will remain dry for the next seven days," said Manorama Mohanty, director of the Meteorological Centre in Ahmedabad. A cycolonic storm is characterised by a maximum wind speed of 62-88 kmph, while it is termed a severe cyclonic storm if the maximum sustained wind speed reaches 89-117 kmph. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. A number of movies and web series are available to watch this week on platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, SonyLIV and Disney+ Hotstar. Lets have a look. Mansion 24 The plot revolves around an investigative journalist named, who is looking for her missing father. Stars: Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Bindhu Madhavi, Avika Gor Genre: Horror Platform: Disney+ Hotstar Release Date: October 17 Kaala Paani A desperate struggle for survival collides with a race to find a cure when an unknown illness strikes the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Stars: Mona Singh, Ashutosh Gowariker, Sukant Goel Genre: Drama, Mystery Platform: Netflix Release Date: October 18 Permanent Roommates Season 3 Tanya feels trapped in Mikesh's perfect existence. She believes that the reason she can't be completely happy is because she is stuck in her work. Indias favourite romantic web series returns after seven years. Stars: Sumeet Vyas, Nidhi Singh Genre: Drama, Comedy Platform: Amazon Prime Video Release Date: October 18 Neon An ambitious reggaeton star and his best pals overcome obstacles and reality checks on their way to Miami. Stars: Guest appearances by Brray, LYANO, Ken-Y, Villano Antillano, Jon Z, Jota Rosa, Jowell, Daddy Yankee Genre: Musical, Comedy Platform: Netflix Release Date: October 19 Elite Season 7 A confrontation between three working-class teenagers and wealthy students at an exclusive private school in Spain results in murder. Stars: Omar Ayuso Genre: Coming-of-age, Drama Platform: Netflix Release Date: October 20 Haami 2 Parents send an 8-year-old arithmetic genius to a reality programme where he will compete against other kids. Stars: Broto Banerjee, Tiyasha Pal Genre: Comedy Platform: Sony LIV Release Date: October 20 The Other Zoey Brilliant college student Zoey is motivated to question preconceived notions about dating and love. Her life quickly spirals out of control when an amnesiac thinks she's his girlfriendwho also happens to go by the name Zoey. Stars: Drew Starkey, Josephine Langford, Archie Renaux Genre: Rom-Com Platform: Amazon Prime Video Release Date: October 20 Upload Season 3 After an unexpected death, a man has the freedom to select his own afterlife. Stars: Robbie Amell, Andy Allo Genre: Sci-Fi, Satire, Comedy Platform: Amazon Prime Video Release Date: October 20 Kandasamys: The Baby In this fourth Kandasamy movie, the in-laws travel to Mauritius to attend the birth of their granddaughter and cause hilarious mischief. Stars: Mishqah Parthiephal, Mariam Bassa, Maeshni Naicker Genre: Comedy Platform: Netflix Release Date: October 20 Old Dads Three best friends become dads later in life and find themselves up against millennial CEOs, preschool principals and anything produced after 1987. Stars: Bill Burr, Bobby Cannavale, Bokeem Woodbine Genre: Comedy Platform: Netflix Release Date: October 20 Doona! A star named Lee Doo-Na, after retiring early, settles into a shared residence with a student. The student's curiosity about Doo-Na's enigmatic life grows. Stars: Bae Suzy Genre: Romantic Drama Platform: Netflix Release Date: October 20 King Of Kotha Tony, Ravi's son, struggles to balance his yearning for a different life with his inherited history. Tony isn't drawn to the seedy underworld of crime, in contrast to his father. As an alternative, he falls in love with a wealthy woman. Stars: Dulquer Salmaan, Shabeer Kallarakkal, Prasanna Genre: Period, Gangster, Action, Drama Platform: Disney+ Hotstar Release Date: October 20 Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sounak Mukhopadhyay Sounak Mukhopadhyay, who also goes by the name Sounak Mukherjee, has been producing digital news since 2012. He's worked for the International Business Times, The Inquisitr, and Moneycontrol in the past. He's also contributed to Free Press Journal and TheRichest with feature articles. He covers news for a wide range of subjects including business, finance, economy, politics and sports. Before working with digital news publications, he worked as a freelance content writer. Read more from this author OTTAWA The Canadian Armed Forces said Friday it is getting ready for the possibility that it will need to help bring Canadians out of Lebanon, as Israel began evacuating a large town near its own northern border with that country. Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah, which has a massive arsenal of long-range rockets, has been trading fire with Israel along their shared border since the latest Israel-Hamas war began on Oct. 7. Hezbollah has also hinted that it might join the war if Israel seeks to annihilate Hamas, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007. Israel is widely expected to launch a ground invasion of Gaza as part of its war against Hamas in response to its unprecedented attack on civilians in southern Israel. Maj.-Gen. Darcy Molstad, deputy commander of the Canadian Joint Operations Command, told reporters in Ottawa on Friday that military officials are in Lebanon, Israel, Cyprus and Greece to prepare for a possible civilian evacuation. On Wednesday evening, Global Affairs Canada began advising against all travel to Lebanon "due to a deteriorating security situation, civil unrest, the increased risk of terrorist attack and the ongoing armed conflict with Israel." Earlier in the week, the federal government had recommended Canadians avoid "non-essential" travel to Lebanon. Julie Sunday, the assistant deputy minister at Global Affairs Canada in charge of consular cases, said Friday that about 14,500 Canadians are registered with the federal government as being in Lebanon. She said she was pleased that more people in the country have been adding themselves to Canada's registry. She urged them to take commercial flights out of the capital city of Beirut while they still can. "These are really difficult decisions to make, and we understand that. But our best advice is (that) it's time to come back to Canada," she told reporters on Friday. The 16th military flight carrying Canadians and their kin from Tel Aviv to Athens left on Friday, with more planned for Saturday and Sunday. Story continues Officials noted a declining demand for these flights. They urged anyone seeking to get out of Israel to join one of these flights as soon as possible. Similarly, 33 buses have left the West Bank, a Palestinian territory occupied by Israel, for Jordan, with preparations for more crossings in the coming days. In total, the Canadian government and military have helped about 1,500 people leave the region. Meanwhile, Sunday said Ottawa is aware of 430 people in the Gaza Strip who are either Canadians, permanent residents of Canada or their foreign close relatives. She said the situation in Gaza remains "incredibly fluid," but Canada has not heard of any Canadian deaths inside that Palestinian territory. It remains unclear whether Canadians and their relatives in Gaza will be able to cross into Egypt, after arrangements for such crossings last weekend fell through for all foreigners in that territory. The crossing in the south of Gaza, known as Rafah, has been damaged in airstrikes. "We're not going to tell Canadians to move to that border until we know for sure it's going to be open and that it is open for the purpose of foreign nationals being able to move out of that gate," Sunday said. She said Canadian officials in Egypt stand ready to receive Canadians if they do cross. "We're making sure we're ready to catch on the other side too, and I can say that that is a big effort," she said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 20, 2023. with files from The Associated Press. The Canadian Press Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version said there are about 1,450 Canadians registered as being in Lebanon. The Ministry of External Affairs issued a sharp rebuttal on Friday after Canada accused India of violating the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The assertion came as Ottawa withdrew 41 diplomats amid increasingly strained ties with New Delhi. "Our actions in implementing this parity are fully consistent with Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic RelationsWe reject any attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms," the MEA said in a statement. The Indian government said that it had seen the statement released by Canada and stressed the need for parity in mutual diplomatic presence. We have been engaged with the Canadian side on this over the last month in order to work out the details and modalities of its implementation," it added. Relations between India and Canada plunged last month after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed that there was credible evidence linking India to the killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar. New Delhi has decried the allagations as absurd and taken a slew of restrictive measures in the ensuing weeks. I can confirm that India has formally conveyed its plan to unethically remove diplomatic immunities for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents in Delhi by October 20. This means 41 Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents were in danger of having immunity stripped on an arbitrary date and this would put their personal safety at risk," said Foreign Minister Melanie Joly. The official also insisted that an unilateral revocation of diplomatic privilege and immunities" was contrary to international law. Canada however insisted that it will not reciprocate" even as it was compelled to pause on all in-person services at its Consulates in Chandigarh, in Mumbai and Bengaluru. " It is a clear violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and threatening to do so is unreasonable and escalatory. If we allow the norm of diplomatic immunity to be broken no diplomats anywhere on the planet would be safe," CTV news quoted her as saying. added, adding that Canada "will not reciprocate," according to CTV news. (With inputs from agencies) Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Hamass attack on Israel should be a wake-up call to U.S. intelligence services. That a terrorist attack of this magnitudewith seismic implications for global securitycame as a surprise to many in Washington shows that we need to reassess our own operations sharply to ensure that America has a comprehensive threat picture that can provide early warnings and prevent national-security tragedies. The Israelis will no doubt examine this lapse thoroughly. Several possible reasons come to mind for why Israel and its allies, including the U.S., failed to report on the exact nature, timing and scale of the attack. Disinformation could have played a role in diluting Israeli intelligence. Hamas has years of experience with Israels intelligence methods and strategic priorities, giving the terrorists the know-how to feed Israeli operatives false information. Over the past two years, Israel had seemingly developed a working relationship with Hamas on issues like humanitarian-aid deliveries and work permits for Gaza residents. That would have given Hamas operatives opportunities to communicate regularly with Israelis and perhaps gain the Israelis trust by sharing accurate information on other threats from Gazalending credibility to Hamass deceptions about its own plans. Yet with a terrorist operation of this scope, there had to be countervailing information available. Hamas planned and trained for the attack for at least several months and reportedly had input from outside supporters, especially Iran. Its hard to imagine that not a single intelligence source warned of the coming onslaught among hundreds of Hamas members and their supporters both inside and outside Gaza. This then also looks to have been a failure of politicians and intelligence officials analysis. Conventional wisdom might have led them astray. During my tenure at the Central Intelligence Agency, assumptions that became so-called conventional wisdom were the root of analytical failures more often than not. The Israelis working relationship with Hamas might have led to an incorrect belief that the threat from Gaza was under control. That belief could have led Israel to undervalue or misread intelligence suggesting that Hamas was planning, or even capable of, such an attack. Some media reports have already posited that the Israelis received foreign intelligence warnings about the potential attack but dismissed them because of a failure of imagination." But a well-placed spy makes imagination unnecessary. Washington in particular should ask why our spies didnt surface the threat to the extent that it couldnt be ignored. The answer is likely one that has sobering ramifications for American intelligence, too. The reality is that human-intelligence collectionin other words, the recruitment and use of spieshas stagnated. The U.S. and its allies have ramped up resources for technological intelligence solutions such as signals intelligence and digital surveillance, leaving spy networks underfunded. The total number of field operatives who handle spies today for the U.S., its North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies and Israel is less than the number of sailors who staff a single aircraft carrier. And the players who compete in the Super Bowl get paid more a year than all the spies worldwide combined. Expanding the size and funding of the U.S. human-intelligence program is the first step, but we also need to adapt our methodology. Unprecedented high-tech counterintelligence capabilities like drone and electronic surveillance, biometric identification and artificial intelligence make it virtually impossible for American officials to go undetected abroad. Theres an urgent need for a much larger number of spy masters who can work with natural, unofficial cover in real businesses doing legitimate work. Washington cant rely only on a handful of high-level sources but should recruit at multiple levels and cast a much wider net. Sources who can organically rise through the ranks will eventually have access to more sensitive and valuable information. Our tactical programs could also do with some changes. The departure from Afghanistan and Iraq makes U.S. kinetic targeting programs, which were essential when we had a presence on the ground, far less relevant. The staff and resources devoted to these programs should be refocused on collecting strategic information on how our adversaries leaders are making key operational decisions. The U.S. needs to take a fresh look at longstanding threats that might have slipped to the bottom of our national-security priorities and reinvigorate its intelligence programs. We cant be caught unaware again. Mr. Devine is a former acting CIA deputy director of operations and president of the Arkin Group, a New York-based international intelligence and investigative company. He is author of Spymasters Prism," which will be released in paperback in November. Google has announced that it would manufacture its Pixel line of smartphones in India. This is good news from several points of view; but, vitally, from the point of view of faster localization of the value added than in the case of most other phone manufacturers. - Googles current share of the smartphone market in India is low: 0.2% in all of the last five years, according to one estimate, and, in any case, definitely smaller than 1%. So, if Google were to make phones only to sell inside India, that would be no big deal, either for India or for Google. But Google says they would make phones in India for export, as well. That would make sense. Without volumes and scale, they would not be able to bring down costs and there are very few Indians who would consider a made in India tag a booster of a products appeal. Most Indians are conditioned to believe local production to be somewhat inferior to foreign manufacture, applying an automatic discount for employee diligence, quality checks and accountability for quality. Therefore, a phone made in India would sell more readily only if the price of the India-made phone were lower than that of the imported one. In theory, an import duty of 20% on smartphones and zero duty on many components should give local manufacture an edge, when it comes to selling in the local market. However, the cost of local manufacture depends on the scale of local production. If the production batches are tiny, the fixed overheads would be concentrated on a relatively small number of items produced, increasing the unit cost, and the quality and dedication of the contract manufacturers employed would also be adverse, when volumes are low. Therefore, for local manufacture to be viable, the scale of operations would have to be big. And that would, for Google, with its extremely low market share at the moment, mean exporting a large part of the output from production volumes tailored to reap economies of scale. This, in turn, would incentivize additional degrees of localization of the phones value chain, leading to greater investment in physical and human capacity, to economise on cost. One thing that sets the latest Google phones apart from most other phones is the extensive use of artificial intelligence and other bits of software, to give them an edge, compared to the competition. Sure, Google has its own, custom chips, just as Apple has, but the Qualcomm chips that most Android competitors rely on are, more or less, as competent as the proprietary Tensor chips that Google has designed for its phones, for most functions, except when it comes to machine learning and other bits of artificial intelligence. Google phones are powered by chips that are custom-built to make use of artificial intelligence to enhance camera performance and speech recognition/translation. In other words, a major part of the Pixel phones value would be derived from its software capability. Software is easier to localize and develop, when the country concerned is a software powerhouse like India. While Google already has local Research and Development units, local production of its phones would give a greater impetus to invest in software development in the country. The net result would be faster progress in securing a high share of value addition contained in the final phone output, in Googles case, as compared to phones that rely on their hardware to distinguish themselves from the competition. India is still a straggler when it comes to producing the miniaturized bits of hardware that go into phones. Local phone production would boost not just investment in backward integration in software and further software development. Local production is meant to service greater local sales. The attempt to corner a higher share of the local market can only be achieved with a great deal of investment in marketing. That means a boost for the advertising industry, the media, and events that thrive on sponsorship/endorsement. Google, when it starts producing phones in India, would add to the lure of Indias phone component ecosystem, inviting fresh investment in local manufacture of hardware as well. That would further boost manufacturing in the economy, and persuade young people to make education investment choices that feed local manufacture. Google is a giant of the emerging artificial intelligence sector as well. Investment in AI tools for the phone would rub off on AI capability in general, and make many more Indians active players in this sector. That would be a welcome development in its own right, as well. There is little reason to not greet the news of Google deciding to manufacture its Pixel phones in India with considerable enthusiasm. Students of urban warfare divide the battlefield into four planes. One is the sky above cities, increasingly thick with drones. Next are the buildings that extend upwards, offering vantage points and hiding places. A third is the streetscape: the lattice of roads, alleys and paths that form a citys peacetime arteries. It is the fourththe tunnels lying beneaththat will present the greatest challenge to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) when they begin their invasion of the Gaza Strip in the coming days. The first smuggling tunnels in the area were built by Bedouin clans on both sides of the Egypt-Gaza border after 1981, when Israel and Egypt demarcated the border. The first known tunnel attack from the strip occurred in 1989. But it was in 2001 that Hamas, the militant group that would later take over the territory, after Israel withdrew in 2005, began construction of a remarkable subterranean network. Its initial aim was to smuggle in material and arms from Egypt. But the tunnels had manifold other uses. Commanders could hide in them and use them to communicate without relying on Gazas phone network, tapped by Israel. They provided hiding places for weapons and ammunition. Hamas could use them for ambushes during Israeli ground wars in Gaza. And they allowed cross-border raids into Israel for attacks and abductionssuch as the kidnapping of Corporal Gilad Shalit in 2006, a raid that later helped Hamas secure the release of more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. Hizbullah, the Lebanese militant group, built similar tunnels on the Israel-Lebanon border, though most were destroyed in 2018-19. The military rationale of such tunnels was ultimately to erode Israels way of war. In 2008", said a Hamas commander, reflecting on a brief but intense war over Gaza that winter, the air strike and air surveillance [by Israel] took us by surpriseso we made strategic plans to move the battle from the surface to underground." By 2014 the groups tunnelling effort employed 900 full-time staff, with each tunnel taking three months and an average of $100,000 to build, according to a study by the RAND Corporation, a think-tank. Hamas raised capital for the tunnels, pitching them as commercial investment schemes, complete with contracts drafted by lawyers, through mosques in Gaza. Iran and North Korea are thought to have helped with construction, supplying money and engineers. In 2014 the IDF launched Operation Protective Edge, an air and ground war targeting the tunnels. It destroyed around 32 of them, stretching for 100km in total, 14 of which penetrated Israeli territory. That was a tiny fraction of the whole network, which was thought to number 1,300 tunnels extending, according to Hamas, 500km in allmore than ten times the length of Gaza itself. A commission of inquiry after the war found that the IDF was unprepared for the danger presented by the tunnels, despite having warned the countrys political leadership that they presented one of the five most serious threats to the state. Israels defence minister at the time boasted that it would take just a few days for the IDF to destroy the tunnels it had targeted; it took weeks. Locating tunnels proved extremely difficult. We were familiar with the tunnels mainly in theory," noted General Nadav Padan, who commanded a division in 2014. We did not have operational experience." (General Padan, since retired in New York, returned to Israel on October 8th to rejoin the IDF.) The IDF used geophones", as well as ground-penetrating radar, which turn ground vibrations into voltage, and detection of echoes from controlled explosions, a technique honed in the oil industry. But many tunnels were discovered thanks to human intelligencesources inside Gazaor infantry patrols that happened to find the entrances. Israeli signals-intelligence units also looked for occasions when Palestinian phone signals would suddenly disappear. Even when a tunnel was found, destroying it was another matter. Israels air force attempted to drop precision bombs along the tunnels route, a practice dubbed kinetic drilling", but some failed to detonate at the right depth. The IDF also used Emulsa", a gel-like explosive, but each tunnel required nine to 11 tonnes of the stuff on average, notes RAND, with ground troops forced to secure entrances for long periods. Units often had to improvise; some borrowed trolleys and agricultural equipment from Israeli border villages to shuttle explosives into Gaza. In the past, IDF personnel generally sought to avoid fighting in tunnels, many of which were booby-trapped. The armys high command barred troops from entering them unless one end had been blown up or secured; this order was disregarded only once, in 2014, when an Israeli officers body was snatched into a tunnel in Rafah, Gazas southern crossing with Egypt. The prohibition made sense. In many ways, subterranean warfare epitomises the trickiest aspects of urban warfare. Cities involve limited lines of sight, close-quarters battle and poor communications, with radio signals travelling poorly between tall buildings. Tunnels exacerbate all those things. Even the most sophisticated drones cannot see underground. Navigating by GPS is impossible. Radio signals for communication do not penetrate far. The experience of British soldiers involved in a recent tunnel exercise in Leeds, a northern city in England, highlighted the challenges that IDF soldiers are likely to face. The total darkness made night-vision goggles all but useless, for instance, since such devices rely on amplifying the faint ambient light that is present above ground even at night. Disturbing stagnant water risks releasing toxic gases into the air. The air is colder than above ground by as much as ten degrees Celsius. You realise that unless you are properly drilled, and have spent a long time down there, youre not moving fast," noted one British soldier in the Leeds exercise. The sound of weapons fire is also amplified in an enclosed space, observes Joe Vega, the US Armys top expert on underground warfare. That, he says, is why larger teams are needed to clear tunnels, because you have to continually replace people in and outthey just cant last." The effect, known as overpressure, also causes weapons fire to kick up dust and dirt, reducing visibility. The techniques once used to clear tunnelsAmerica used tear gas in Vietnam; the Soviets a variety of chemical agents in Afghanistanwould likely be regarded as unlawful today", says Daphne Richemond-Barak in Underground Warfare", a book on the topic. (Despite its frequent use against domestic protesters, tear gas is largely illegal in war.) The IDF increasingly relies on technology to help. It has remote-controlled ground robots, for instance, which can look for booby traps or ambushes lying in wait. To enter a tunnel after a robot has combed through itmakes the situation a lot less stressful," says a soldier from the IDFs elite Samur (weasel in Hebrew) tunnelling unit, quoted in a recent study. It lowers the tension and the environment becomes much more sterile." But tech is unreliable. More than once a soldier was operating a robot that got stuck inside a tunnel," complained another officer. Now try and go in and retrieve a robot that is 400 metres inside a tunnel complex. Its like running 150 metres where each metre is like crossing a desert for a month." In the nine years since Operation Protective Edge, the IDF has invested heavily in tunnel operations; it has introduced new doctrine, techniques and specialised units. It has constructed its own version of Hamas tunnels for training. Its Yahalom battalion, an elite combat engineering unit, which includes Samur, was reorganised, notes Omer Dostri of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy & Security, a think-tank, with its size doubled from 400 to 900 personnel and new tunnel reconnaissance units attached to the IDFs Gaza division. It faces a forbidding task. On October 16th Lieutenant-General Herzi Halevi, the IDFs chief of staff, promised to enter Gaza, to go to the places where Hamas is preparing, acting, planning, launching" and to attack them everywhere, every commander, every operative, destroy infrastructure." In practice, identifying, clearing and collapsing several hundred kilometres of underground warrens will be the work of yearsnot weeks or months. 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com SEOULRussia said it supports holding regular security talks with North Korea and China to address the threat posed by the U.S. on the Korean Peninsula, as Moscow draws closer to its partners and attempts to counter Western isolation. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov backed the idea during his two-day trip to North Korea that ended Thursday, according to Russian state media. Lavrov said Moscow had been pursuing the trilateral dialogue, which would be frequent and unconditional, with both Beijing and Pyongyang, Russia state media reported. The trip came on the heels of Russian President Vladimir Putins visit to China, where he attended a summit celebrating Xi Jinpings marquee foreign-policy projectthe Belt and Road Initiative that Beijing has used to spread its influence abroad. The meeting between the two leaders at the event, with western representatives almost completely absent, highlighted the deep geopolitical divisions that have formed in recent years. North Korea has yet to comment publicly on the potential for three-way talks with Russia and China. The Kim Jong Un regime recently provided Russia with 1,000 containers of military equipment and munitions, the U.S. said last week. Subsequent satellite-imagery analysis, conducted by a pair of think tanks, showed that Russia-flagged vessels had made several trips to North Korea in recent months. In a Thursday meeting, Lavrov and North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui said they would cooperate in what Russias foreign ministry described as an effort to ease regional tensions it blamed on the U.S. Lavrov also spoke for about an hour with Kim, North Koreas 39-year-old leader, according to Russias foreign ministry, which didnt provide further detail. The tighter bonds between Russia and North Koreatwo of Americas most defiant and heavily armed rivalshave worried the U.S. and its allies. Chief among the concerns is North Koreas ability to help replenish Russias dwindling supplies for the war in Ukraine. The Russia-North Korea relationship had largely been transactional in the past, though both countries are pledging deeper strategic alignment. Having more political or military backing from Moscowwhich in the past had backed fresh sanctions against North Koreawould be meaningful for the Kim regime, said Go Myong-hyun, a senior fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul. What Russia can do right now is increase North Koreas ability to cause trouble," Go said. After meeting with Choe on Thursday, Lavrov said Moscows improving relations with Pyongyang and Beijing are aimed at strengthening peace in the region. The two also discussed the prospects for trade and economic cooperation and shared concerns over increased military activity by the U.S., South Korea and Japan, according to Russian state media. Washington, Seoul and Tokyo, whose leaders met at Camp David two months ago, have also grown closer. They have agreed to knit together their missile-radar systems and establish a three-way security hotline. The nuclear-powered USS Ronald Reagan recently docked at a South Korean port citythe latest show of military might aimed at deterring the Kim regimes missile advances. Lavrovs Pyongyang trip marked the latest high-profile exchange between the nuclear-armed nations. Putin and Kim met in Russias Far East last month. The summit ended without a written agreement. But Putin accepted Kims invitation to visit North Korea. That was preceded by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigus visit to Pyongyang, where he toured a North Korean defense expo and attended a military parade. During that time, Shoigu was believed to have proposed conducting joint naval exercises among the two countries and China, South Koreas spy agency told lawmakers. Since August, Russian-flagged vessels have made at least five trips between a North Korean port and a Russian navy facility, according to separate satellite-imagery analysis conducted by the U.K.-based Royal United Services Institute and the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. The containers then were transported by rail across Russia to a munitions-storage facility in the countrys southwest corner, not far from the Ukraine border, according to the reports. North Korea is likely able to supply 122 mm and 152 mm artillery shells that Russia has burned through during the war, weapons experts say. Those supply reinforcements, though not modern weaponry, allow Russia to extend fighting with Ukraine, and perhaps buy time for the West to succumb to war fatigue, said Patrick M. Cronin, the Asia-Pacific security chair at the Hudson Institute. So it is vital because it allows Putin to fight for another day," Cronin said. Write to Timothy W. Martin at Timothy.Martin@wsj.com and Dasl Yoon at dasl.yoon@wsj.com HONG KONGChina is strengthening restrictions on exports of graphite, a key mineral needed for the production of electric-vehicle batteries and fuel cells, the latest move in an intensifying global tussle over the building blocks of critical technologies. Citing national-security concerns, Chinas Commerce Ministry said Friday that exports of several categories of natural and synthetic graphite materials would require permits under a system used to control trade in items with dual civilian and military uses starting Dec. 1. The restrictions cover a small but valuable portion of the graphite industry that China dominates and that has uses in strategic markets ranging from energy storage to nuclear power. The curbs come days after the U.S. tightened restrictions on Chinese companies access to semiconductors, including stopping the sales of artificial-intelligence chips made by Nvidia and Intel. It arrives as the EV supply chain becomes a source of intensifying friction between Beijing and the West, with Chinese manufacturers and battery makers going global and Europe last month launching an antisubsidy probe into Chinese EV makers. The Commerce Ministry said the move wasnt intended to target specific countries, and would benefit the security and stability of the global supply chain as well as safeguard national security and interests." Analysts said the policy allows China to leverage its dominance over the global graphite market and steer resources to help Chinese companies overseas. This year, China is expected to produce all but 2% of the worlds supply of spherical graphite, a form of graphite subject to the new restrictions that is used in battery anodes, according to a forecast by Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, an energy and supply-chain consultant. China is also expected to account for more than two-thirds of this years supplies of flake graphite and synthetic graphite, both also covered by the new restrictions, according to the forecast. China already has the biggest say in the global graphites market," said Chang Jiang, an analyst with Leadleo, a Chinese research institute. The move would help Chinas strategic planning in batteries, new energy and other sectors." Currently, most of Chinas graphite exports go to Korea, U.S. and Japan, according to Intelligence Research Group, a consulting firm in Beijing. The new restrictions could lead to trade disputes with the EU and the U.S., said Lu Baoying, an analyst at the company. The electric vehicle industry will be the first to feel the impact," she said. Graphite is listed by both Beijing and Washington as a key strategic mineral. It is a soft form of carbon that occurs naturally in rocks such as marble, schist and gneiss. Artificial graphite, favored by car and battery makers for its consistency and performance, is fabricated by heat treatment of petroleum coke, coal-tar pitch or oil. High-purity natural and synthetic graphite are vital to the clean-tech industry and can be used as pebbles for modular nuclear reactors, in composites for wind turbines and for lithium-ion battery anodes, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Crystalline flake graphite can be processed into graphene, which is used to make solar panels, transistors and tablet computers. China has imposed some level of restriction on exports of graphite since 2006. The new rules make the controls clearer and more specific, according to Chang Ke, a Shanghai-based analyst at Mysteel, another Chinese consulting firm. The new rules require any would-be Chinese exporter of the covered graphite materials to provide extensive details on what products they want to sell abroad, and to whom. The export controls imposed on graphite resemble similar curbs that China started to impose in August on germanium and gallium, two minerals critical to the production of semiconductors. Graphite has already been a point of contention between China and Sweden, home to Europes largest homegrown battery maker. China stopped approving export licenses for synthetic graphite to the Scandinavian nation in 2020, according to a report filed last month by Sweden to the European Commission, making it difficult for Swedish companies to build up graphite anode production needed for the battery supply chain. In May, a Chinese battery-materials supplier named Putailai New Energy Technology announced a $1.5 billion investment to build Europes largest anode factory in Sweden. Rachel Liang and Clarence Leong contributed to this article. Write to Wenxin Fan at wenxin.fan@wsj.com and Sha Hua at sha.hua@wsj.com Samsung users have been eagerly anticipating the release of the latest Android 14 update, which was announced by Google on October 4 alongside the Pixel 8 series. While the rollout timeline for Samsung and other brands has not been officially announced, it is expected that the update may soon become available for your Samsung smartphone. Currently, Android 14 beta testing is underway, and the official release is right around the corner. As per a SamMobile report, Samsung Galaxy S23 series owners can look forward to being the first to enjoy Android 14 and One UI 6.0 on their smartphones by the end of October. Subsequently, other eligible Samsung smartphones, including foldables and previous generation models, will gradually receive the update. While reports suggest that there are not significant overhauls in the new Android 14, users may still encounter some fresh features. Samsung users can look forward to a host of exciting new features with the latest Android update. Reportedly, these additions might include Per-app language preferences, Regional preferences, font scaling of up to 200%, enhanced Camera and media capabilities, the introduction of Health Connect, Credential Manager, and a variety of other improvements. Additionally, Android 14 offers users the ability to segregate their work and personal accounts, and it empowers them to customize both their lock screen and home screen. Users are likely to receive a notification on their devices once the Android 14 version is released. Following the notification, they will be guided through the installation process. Subsequently, their devices will automatically restart to seamlessly integrate the new operating system and implement the necessary changes. Upon successful installation, users will have the opportunity to explore the fresh updates on their smartphones. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Papers please: Biometric checks for British holidaymakers to the EU will not start until late 2024 (Simon Calder) British visitors to the European Union will not need an online eurovisa until 2025 at the earliest. The Electronic Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias), which will require citizens of the UK and other third countries to register ahead of travel to the EU, is running years behind schedule. The European Councils Justice and Home Affairs Council, which is meeting in Brussels, has now also endorsed a new timeline for the roll-out of the Entry/Exit System the EU database that will replace manual passport stamping with electronic registration. The council said in a statement: The new roadmap for the delivery of the new IT architecture foresees that the Entry/Exit System will be ready to enter into operation in autumn 2024. It was originally expected to take effect in 2021. Once in operation, the Entry/Exit System will require British travellers to have their fingerprints and a facial biometric taken. The procedure is likely to extend processing times significantly. The Slovenian government has warned: It takes up to four times longer to do the new process. There is still uncertainty about how the necessary biometrics will be obtained at hard EU frontiers in the UK, such as the Port of Dover and the LeShuttle Channel Tunnel terminal at Folkestone. Etias depends on the Entry/Exit System to be functioning. The council said Etias will be ready to enter into operation in spring 2025. It is likely that there will be a soft launch of Etias, with the system becoming mandatory only six months later. If that is the case, British travellers to the EU will not need to invest in an Etias for another two years. Etias will cover the Schengen Area, which includes almost all European Union nations (but not Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland or Romania), plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. It will apply for the nationals of dozens of countries for which a full Schengen Area visa is not required, including Tonga, Venezuela and the United Kingdom. Currently the fee is set at 7 (6) for a permit that will be valid for up to three years. Etias will not be necessary for British citizens travelling to Ireland. They are allowed unlimited free movement under the Common Travel Agreement, which pre-dates and transcends European Union rules. Lawyer Kenneth Chesebro has pleaded guilty to a felony just as jury selection was getting underway in his trial on charges accusing him of participating in efforts to overturn Donald Trump's loss in Georgia's 2020 election Mauricio Pochettino could roll the dice to re-introduce Reece James for Arsenals visit to Stamford Bridge. The Chelsea captain has been out for more than two months but posted against all odds to his social media accounts to tease his nearing return. He is pushing to make a timely comeback to help overcome Mikel Artetas side, who finished 40 points and 10 places above Chelsea in the league last season. A decision to bring back James after just three training sessions would be risky. He returned only on Wednesday and has missed 90 matches in his four-year career in west London. Pochettino and his assistant Jesus Perez, who specialises in strength and conditioning, are working hard to anticipate problems and create a strategy to solve his injury issues. How Pochettino could do with James back to help the cause after the player the highest-paid defender in the clubs history on 250,000 a week was appointed captain this summer. He was partly given the armband because of his connection to the supporters. He replied I say no when asked by an Arsenal fan on Twitter (now X) to join Kai Havertz in switching from Chelsea to north London this summer. That conviction could help against an Arsenal side who have won six of their past seven matches in this derby. Reece James is eyeing a return this weekend (Chelsea FC via Getty Images) Malo Gusto is a competent alternative and could return after suspension should James not be available, with Marc Cucurella having surprisingly excelled on the right side of defence during the three-match winning streak over Brighton, Fulham and Burnley. For the big matches, however, James remains a cut above any of the alternatives. His possible return is one bright note after a disappointing international break during which Pochettino hoped to recover and improve his players. Romeo Lavia, Carney Chukwuemeka and Trevoh Chalobah all suffered injury setbacks in training. Armando Broja also has swelling on his knee after being kicked there during Chelseas 4-1 win over Burnley before the break. He was one of several players, including Nicolas Jackson, Cole Palmer and Axel Disasi, who pulled out of international squads this month with minor issues. Story continues Benoit Badiashile is nearing his return from a hamstring injury but has been out for five months and will be eased back in. Christopher Nkunku, Ben Chilwell, Wesley Fofana and Marcus Bettinelli all remain out. Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo both played 90 minutes for Argentina and Ecuador in South America overnight on Tuesday and then had long-haul flights back to London. They will be assessed before kick-off tomorrow. Chelsea could be without close to a dozen players before games against Arsenal, Brentford, Tottenham and Manchester City but hope Jackson, Palmer and Disasi can join James in the fixtures. Pochettino said very good things are coming last week. He remains positive his physical and tactical work will soon herald good results despite the issues. Tottenham took until November to come good during his first season, while Paris Saint-Germain took six months to adapt to his methods after he took over. Chelseas recent victories show similar progress, but they need to start beating their big rivals again. Officials say a boat maker in East Tennessee plans to expand manufacturing operations and create nearly 800 news jobs over the next five years People of African ancestry are poorly represented in genetic studies. A new effort would change that Scientists are setting out to collect genetic material from 500,000 people of African ancestry to create the worlds largest database of genomic information from the population Two American hostages are being released by Hamas, sources say Rep. Jim Jordan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, arrives for the Republican caucus meeting at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, October19. Check out our latest E-Edition Accessible anytime and anywhere on your desktop, tablet and smart phone devices. The Lodi News e-Edition is enhanced with the latest digital tools, including RSS feeds, social networking and much more. Check out our latest E-edition! Jonathan Lainey is the curator of Indigenous cultures at the McCord Stewart Museum in Montreal and a member of the Huron-Wendat Nation. (Kanhehsi:io Deer/CBC - image credit) Hundreds of years after being given to European nations by Indigenous peoples from across the northeast, a collection of wampum belts have returned to Canada for the first time. Forty wampum belts dating back to the 17th century that are currently held in public and private institutions across Europe, Quebec, and Ontario are part of a new exhibition, Wampum: Beads of Diplomacy, at Montreal's McCord Stewart Museum. It's a historic moment for Jonathan Lainey, curator of Indigenous cultures at McCord and a member of the Huron-Wendat Nation. "We believe that by having all of them here in one big room, is an amazing and once in a lifetime opportunity," he said. Wampum are tubular beads made from white and purple quahog shells. In addition to being used ornamentally or ceremonially, wampum were also woven into belts as mnemonic devices in history, traditions, laws, and diplomacy between nations. Over 40 wampum belts are a part of the exhibition, which runs until March 2024 at the McCord Stuart Museum in Montreal. Over 40 wampum belts are a part of the exhibition, which runs until March 2024 at the McCord Stewart Museum in Montreal. (Kanhehsi:io Deer/CBC) The exhibition, which is co-developed by the Musee du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac in Paris, features several objects that were held in France, the Vatican, and and institutions across Canada. Thirteen belts come from McCord's own collection. "These objects have been in collection in France for 400 years, for some of them, and they lost part of their history," said Emmanuel Kasarherou, president of the Musee du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac. "That's why it was a very important collaboration with McCord and the Seneca Cultural Center for the people to be able to see them for real but also to reconnect with their own history." However, little is known about many of the belts. Emmanuel Kasarherou is the president of the Musee du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac. Emmanuel Kasarherou is the president of the Musee du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac. (Kanhehsi:io Deer/CBC) "It's unfortunate because these belts had a lot to say," said Lainey. Story continues "When the keepers of those belts presented them publicly, they could speak about them for hours But now the only thing we have is sometimes the name of the collector." Making belts accessible The Musee du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac held its own wampum exhibition last year, and collaborated with Indigenous curators like Lainey and Michael Galban, curator of the Seneca Art and Culture Center in Victor, N.Y. Galban said an important part of the collaboration meant ensuring the belts be accessible to the nations who made them, which is why they were brought to the Seneca Art and Culture Center earlier this year. Wampum belts are made of shells - like these - that are turned into beads and woven together. Wampum belts are made of shells - like these - that are turned into beads and woven together. (Kanhehsi:io Deer/CBC) "These belts they are begging to be read," said Galban. "These objects want to be understood. They want to be spoken to. They want to be active again. We wanted to make sure that not only were we welcoming the objects, but the descendants of the people who really created them, where they came from." Lainey said making the belts accessible was also important for the McCord. On Oct. 14, the museum welcomed representatives from several nations and communities from Canada and the United States to reconnect to the wampum belts before they went into display cases. "When we say we want to decolonize our practices, Indigenize, or be an ally to Indigenous peoples, I think this event was a way to walk the talk," he said. Connecting to ancestors The event was an emotional experience for Hilda Nicholas, who is from the Kanien'keha:ka (Mohawk) community of Kanesatake, northwest of Montreal. "It's a proud moment. I felt a connection to our ancestors," said Nicholas, director of Tsi Ronterihwanonhnha ne Kanien'keha Language and Cultural Center and president of Kontinonhstats ne Kanien'keha, Kanesatake's Mohawk language custodian association. "It made me think [about] what it took them to make the wampum belts. We were told that these wampum belts were made by women. I felt like I could picture these women hard at work." The Two Dog wampum belt has been held by the McCord Stuart Museum for over a 100 years. It originates from Kanesatake, a Kanienkeha:ka (Mohawk) community northwest of Montreal. The Two Dog wampum belt has been held by the McCord Stewart Museum for over 100 years. It originates from Kanesatake, a Kanienkeha:ka (Mohawk) community northwest of Montreal. (Kanhehsi:io Deer/CBC) One belt presented by Christians in Kanesatake to Pope Gregory XVI has been held by the Vatican since 1831, and this marks the first time it has returned to its home territory. Another, the Two Dog wampum belt, has been held by the McCord Stuart Museum for over 100 years. A photo of chief Sose Onasakenrat of Kanesatake wearing the Two Dog belt is included in the exhibition; his brother David Swan sold the belt, among others, to the museum's founder David Ross McCord in 1919. Nicholas hopes they will one day return to her community. "It's in good hands right now, but we also would like to be able to have a heritage centre built so we can bring back the belts that belong to Kanesatake," she said. Beads of Diplomacy opens Oct. 20 at the McCord Stewart Museum and runs until until March 10, 2024. Last month marked the anniversary of one of the most defining incidents in contemporary American history. Twenty two years ago the September 11 attacks on the US by members of al-Qaeda had ramifications that reverberated right up to today. The most devastating of the repercussions of the four hijacked planes was the destruction of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre in New York City. In the aftermath of that attack the actions of emergency services was a testament to all who put their lives on the line to respond to tragic events. Many Irish names were among the roster of service personnel. Last week Knights and Conquests, Granard received a very special donations to their community heritage centre that is a direct link to that moment in history. Battalion Chief Daniel P Sheridan of the New York Fire Department donated a number of 9/11 World Trade Centre Recovery artefacts; including boots, coat, respirator, safety vest and hand tool. Deirdre Orme of Knights and Conquests took possession of the items. A piece of steel from one of the twin towers that collapsed on September 11, 2001 will also be donated to the Granard Heritage Centre. Battalion Chief Sheridan has roots in Granard, Cultural advisor with Knights and Conquests Robert Pakenham told the Leader, His family hail from the parish. He was visiting local man John Kiernan. He brought over the items to donate to the parish. Robert explained that the 9/11 artefacts will help develop the offering of the centre:Knights and Conquests acts as the heritage centre of the area. So anything that is linked to local heritage has a natural home in the centre. We are looking to develop a 'famous people of Granard' section. We hope to display the uniform as part of our parish's greater history. It's the whole uniform of those who served on that tragic day. For the moment it does look a little out of place, but the plans are in train to have it displayed in an appropriate setting, Robert explained. FDNY Battalion Chief Sheridan has strong links to the area and traces his bloodline back to the Kiernan family of Barrack Street. Manager of Knights and Conquests Deirdre Orme was delighted with the donation: The 9/11artefacts truly are a lasting legacy and testament to a most courageous gentleman. John Kiernan was on hand when we gratefully accepted the donations to our Granard Heritage Centre, Ms Orme said of the generous donation to the centre. Two defendants accused of engaging in money laundering will have their case heard in Longford District Court. Lucky Igbinogun (22) of 17 The Hollows, Farnagh Hill, Longford faces a charge that on January 24, 2020 at AIB Main Street Longford he did handle property that was the proceeds of criminal conduct. The property is cash to the value of 2,100, and the State will allege that Mr Igbinogun handled it while knowing the property was the proceeds of crime. A second defendant, Aishling Purcell (28) of 78 Mckeown Park, Longford, faces a charge that on January 24, 2020 at AIB Main Street, Longford she engaged in the transferring/handling of property the proceeds of criminal conduct, to wit 16,500.34. Judge Shalom Binchy asked for details of the alleged offence before accepting jurisdiction over the case. Sgt Enda Daly, for the State, said the alleged offence relates to invoice redirection fraud. Invoice redirection fraud is an offence where a criminal pretends to be a supplier of goods to a firm and requests that bank account details recorded for the legitimate supplier are changed on their financial system. Outlining details of the alleged offences Sgt Daly said the injured party was a Czech Republic based company called Com Roc SKO. Sgt Daly said the State will allege that Mr Igbinogun made two withdrawals, the first 1,500, the second 600 from a bank account and that the defendant was identified from CCTV footage. The sergeant said the State will also allege that the funds went through the account of co-accused Aishling Purcell. In the jurisdiction hearing Sgt Daly alleged that Ms Purcell attempted to withdraw money from the account, and the bank asked her for details of the transaction. The evidence to the court was that Ms Purcell said she was an employee of Com Roc. When asked for proof she returned with documentation, an invoice for work for Com Roc, which the State maintains is false. Sgt Daly said that it was the State's case that it was a joint enterprise, but alleged the defendants had different roles. Judge Binchy accepted jurisdiction over the case, but stated she was only doing so because there were two people involved. An order of disclosure was made and both defendants were remanded on continuing bail to return before the court on December 5, 2023. A growing number of people are being faced with the prospect of quitting their jobs in order to qualify for social housing, a meeting heard last week. Local politicians were told of the unpalatable financial dilemma many single parents and young families find themselves in as a result of the country's broader housing crisis. Cllr Peggy Nolan led calls for a housing applications appeals board to be set up to to allow a familys personal circumstances outside of income to be considered when applying for social housing and accompanying supports. There are people in this town who are a couple of hundred euros over, they don't qualify for a mortgage, they are hard working people and they are trying to get on the social housing list and yet they are precluded, she said. As far as I am concerned the personal circumstances of people has to be taken into account. If they are 1,000 or 500 over the threshold, surely there must be some way that us as elected representatives should be able to speak up on their behalf. Cllr Paul Ross, who tabled the motion alongside his Fine Gael party colleague, said the current parameters surrounding the social housing support structure was forcing many to consider drastic financial decisions of their own. The huge frustration is the blunt instrument of income only, he said. Cllr Ross said the situation was made worse by spiralling rental charges across Longford's private housing market. The rents in Edgeworthstown now are 1,100 for a two bedroom flat and people simply cannot afford it, he said. Without some form of review of this we are going to have people who don't get on the social housing list and their only option is to stop working which is the last thing we want to see. Independent Cllr Gerry Warnock there was nothing new in a crisis that underlined the state of Ireland's broader housing sector. A Longford woman who pulled clumps of hair from a prison officer's head has been sentenced to 12 months in prison. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Stephanie Martin (39) of Cnoc Na Greine, Granard, Co Longford. pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm at the Dochas Centre in Mountjoy Prison on September 29, 2021. She has 22 previous convictions, including convictions for assault, production of an article, criminal damage, public order offences, theft and soliciting, all of which were issued in the District Court. Passing sentence today/yesterday (Friday), Judge Orla Crowe said, The victim impact statement speaks to the profound effect this has had on the prison officer who has worked as a prison officer for over 20 years. Judge Crowe said the aggravating factor in this case was the assault on a prison officer in the course of her duty. She also noted the significant number of previous convictions. The judge said, the threshold for a custodial sentence had been passed and set a headline sentence of 18 months. After considering the mitigating factors of Martins early guilty plea, her apology and that she had not come to garda attention since this offence. She sentenced Martin to 12 months in prison. The court heard that shortly after 4 p.m. on the date in question, prison officers were bringing food to Martin, who was in a secure area of the prison. Martin was told to sit on the bed of her cell before the officers would enter. She initially complied but got up from the bed and began shouting. Martin eventually sat down, and two prison officers entered the cell. The court heard that the injured party entered the cell carrying food for Martin who grabbed the food from her aggressively. She then got the prison officer in a headlock and began pulling her hair. Garda Shane Darcy told Jennifer Jackson BL, prosecuting, that additional prison officers arrived at the scene, and a controlled manoeuvre was carried out to knock Martin to the floor. The prison officer landed on her shoulder with the accused still holding her by the hair. The court heard the prison officer described the pain as being so bad that she might have blacked out. She was treated at the scene by a prison nurse and sent to the Mater Hospital for X-rays. Gda Darcy said that Martin was cautioned and interviewed in December 2021. A file was then sent to the Department of Public Prosecutions. Images of the prison's head where her hair was pulled out were handed into the court. A victim impact statement from the prison officer was handed into the court and read by the prosecuting counsel. It said, I have been a prison officer for over 20 years. Before the assault, the woman described herself as outgoing and looking forward to the future. Following this unprovoked attack, the woman said she had pain, sleepless nights, marking all over my body. The woman suffers from extreme anxiety and was off work for one year after the assault. The woman has transferred prisons since the assault and has had regular periods of feeling low and not caring if I woke up the following day. Gda Darcy agreed with Simon Matthews, BL, defending, that his client looks healthier now than when she was first interviewed by gardai. The garda agreed with counsel that his client was in the Dochas female prison on a committal order at the time of the offence and was borderline fit to plea in this case. Mr Matthews said his client is remorseful and wishes to apologise to the injured party in the case. He handed letters and reports to the court on behalf of his client, one of whom said she was no longer taking methadone and has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Counsel said his client has had a tough life, but this does not excuse her actions. He noted that his client has issues with anger, which is clear to the court from her previous behaviour. He said this was a very serious offence but noted his client had entered an early guilty plea and that she is in a much better place now than in the past and when this offence was committed. He said she is stable on medication and engaging with drug rehabilitation and therapy positively. He asked the court to take into account that his client is a vulnerable person and for as much leniency as possible when sentencing. A string of tributes were rhymed out at last week as one of Longford County Council's longest serving employees stepped down after 40 years of service. Patricia Lennon retired last week from her role within the Finance Department of the local authority, sparking a flood of well wishes from inside the chamber. Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council Cllr Colm Murray said Patricia a vital cog in providing administrative support and guidance to local councillors over the years. Patricia has been a staple of our processes here in the council and always there to take a phone call and give us very good advice in keeping us acheck and last year when the new LRA (Local Representation Allowance) came in I think we had her heart broke trying to keep us further acheck. Fianna Fail Cllr Mick Cahill underlined those sentiments, saying the experienced civil servant would he hard replaced. You have been absolutely marvellous and really epitomised what local government is about and how it treats its members, always with respect and kept us informed and made sure we had all our documentation in order, he said. Your attention to detail was amazing. Governor Hochul Announces $49 Million In State Funding For Airports Across New York State Local News By Chris Boyle Published: October 20 2023 Republic Airport in Farmingfdale set to receive $1 million for numerous upgrades. Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that 36 public-use airports across New York State will receive approximately $49 million for strategic infrastructure enhancements that will enhance safety, facilitate innovation, leverage existing resources, advance business development, and promote sustainability and resiliency. A strong investment in our airports is a meaningful investment in our communities and the future of the Empire State, Governor Hochul said. Airports are gateways to communities large and small across New York State and these grants will serve as a launchpad to springboard many of these facilities into the 21st century and beyond. Administered by the New York State Department of Transportation, projects funded through the Aviation Capital Grant Program include the construction and rehabilitation of new and existing hangars, electrification and carbon reduction programs, new and upgraded snow removal equipment, and updated security systems. These investments will serve to make the surrounding communities more economically competitive with neighboring states. New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, Governor Hochul has once again shown that she understands that critical investments in transportation will cement New Yorks place as a leader in global commerce and tourism. These targeted investments will support projects that will have a positive, long-lasting impact on the local communities while improving the resiliency of our transportation infrastructure. State Senator Tim Kennedy said, This funding builds upon the nearly $1 billion nationwide investment made by our federal partners in government earlier this year, and will not only improve existing airport infrastructure, but the overall experience and accessibility of passengers who often utilize these hubs across New York.Through targeted investments like these, we're actively helping to meet the increased demand for air travel, creating opportunities within our workforce, and boosting our local economies. Assemblymember William Magnarelli said, Modernizing our local airports allows economic development and attracts tourists and businesses to our cities. All the people of New York will benefit from the increased security measures, renovated areas and new programs funded by the Governors investment in our airports. Funding from the Aviation Capital Grant Program was awarded to the following projects: CAPITAL DISTRICT $8.8 million -Albany International Airport, Albany County - $1.6 million toward the rehabilitation, safety overhaul, and energy efficiency modernization of existing elevators located in the existing terminal area and north parking garage elevators. -Columbia County Airport, Columbia County - $2.4 million toward terminal building upgrades addressing the existing facilities age and energy inefficiencies by rehabilitation and replacement improvements to many of the existing components within the terminal area space, hangar, and pilots lounge. -Saratoga County Airport, Saratoga County - $1.5 million toward an emergency back-up generator to be run off the existing natural gas line. -Schenectady County Airport, Schenectady County - $0.9 million toward the procurement of snow removal equipment (SRE), specifically a dual engine high speed snowblower vehicle. -South Albany Airport, Albany County - $2.5 million toward addressing the demand for covered hanger space including the construction of a pre-engineered metal T-hanger as well as the installation of a pre-engineered, covered shade hangar. CENTRAL NEW YORK $5.5 million -Cortland County Airport, Chase Field, Cortland County - $2.5 million toward the construction of a new conventional aircraft storage hangar building including offices and an expansion of the existing landside vehicle parking lot. -Oswego County Airport, Oswego County - $0.5 million toward the acquisition of aviation fuel trucks. -Syracuse Regional Airport, Onondaga County - $2.5 million toward the construction phase of a redesigned de-icing pad and control center to address current capacity and safety concerns. FINGER LAKES $8.6 million -Finger Lakes Regional Airport, Seneca County - $2.3 million toward the construction of a T-hangar building consisting of eight to ten bays for the storage of airport-based aircraft, including concrete foundations and floors, new lighting, power outlets, and bi-fold doors. -Frederick Douglass Great Rochester Regional Airport, Monroe County - $1.1 million toward airport electrification and carbon reduction through a program that can help eliminate the fossil-fuel powered equipment and vehicles and manage airport growth and electrical demand. -Genesee County Airport, Genesee County - $2.5 million toward the construction of a storage facility for snow removal equipment (SRE) including the building, utilities, paved access, and associated site improvements. -Penn Yan Airport, Yates County - $2.3 million toward the construction of an eight-bay T-hangar including access pavement, drainage improvements, and security gate improvements. -Williamson-Sodus Airport, Wayne County - $0.4 million toward the removal of airport obstructions, T-hangar improvements, electrical vehicle chargers, and pavement rehabilitation. LONG ISLAND $1 million -Republic Airport, Suffolk County - $1 million toward safety and electrification; adding a snow removal broom to the airports equipment fleet, replacement of airfield mowers with autonomous, electric powered mowers, and to add electric vehicle charging stations to the main terminal parking lot. MID-HUDSON $1.5 million -Hudson Valley Regional Airport, Dutchess County - $0.2 million toward the purchase of two electric mowers capable of maintaining the airfield turf areas, and the purchase of two electric support vehicles for on-airport operations travel. -Orange County Airport, Orange County - $1.4 million toward expanding the visual area and technological capabilities of the existing security and surveillance system consisting of upgrading existing security cameras, adding new security cameras, replacing existing keypads at automated gates and providing remote access technology, chain link fencing, and gates. MOHAWK VALLEY $4.5 million -Fulton County Airport, Fulton County - $2 million toward the removal and replacement of two existing underground aviation fuel tanks including the existing fuel dispensing system with a new fuel farm to include two above ground state-of-the-art fuel tanks and the associated self-serving dispensing systems. -Griffiss International Airport, Oneida County - $2.5 million toward renovating and outfitting existing building to accommodate Navmar Applied Sciences Corporations expansion who will be leasing the building long term. NORTH COUNTRY $7.7 million -Adirondack Regional Airport, Franklin County - $1 million toward the completion of the town hangar and will include upgraded electric service, lighting, installation of a heating system, insulation, painting of the structural steel, replacement of metal roofing and siding, new liner panels, new windows, and new personnel doors -Floyd Bennett memorial Airport, Warren County - $2.3 million toward the removal of an existing dilapidated T-hangar and the construction of a new six-unit T-hangar in the same location. -Massena International Airport, St. Lawrence County - $0.1 million toward the purchase of a batwing trailed mower and a snow removal support vehicle consisting of a commercial grade pick-up truck with material spreader and plow blades. -Piseco Airport, Hamilton County - $0.1 million toward the acquisition of a skid steer for multipurpose maintenance. Plattsburgh International Airport, Clinton County - $2.0 million toward a new eight-bay T-hangar with office space, including improved access pavement, site drainage modifications, and pavement markings. -Watertown International Airport, Jefferson County - $2.1 million toward the rehabilitation of a portion of Hangar D to extend its useful life including reinforcing the building envelope to reduce areas where deficiencies were identified. SOUTHERN TIER $5.1 million -Corning-Painted Post Airport, Steuben County - $0.3 million toward the acquisition of an excavator with attachments for ground maintenance. -Elmira Corning Regional Airport, Chemung County - $0.8 million toward the acquisition of electrified equipment and associated charging infrastructure. -Greater Binghamton Airport/Edwin A. Link Field, Broome County - $0.8 million toward acquisition of several pieces of ground service equipment (GSE) including electric vehicles in the form of pushback tractor/tugs (large and small) in order to prepare for an electric fleet in a strategic manner. -Ithaca Tompkins International Airport, Tompkins County - $1.4 million toward the construction of a 2,600 sq.ft. Emergency Operations facility that would be co-located within a proposed Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting/Snow Removal Equipment (ARFF/SRE) facility which is being funded by FAA. -Lt. Warren E. Eaton Airport, Chenango County - $0.6 million toward the acquisition of a new snow removal equipment vehicle (snowplow), and attachments including snowplow and wing combination, and slide-in hopper with spreader for deicing and traction materials. -Tri-Cities Airport, Broome County - $1.2 million toward the replacement of the existing refueling facility and the installation of new fuel tanks as well as a new self-service credit card reader and tank monitoring system. WESTERN NEW YORK $6.3 million -Buffalo Niagara International Airport, Erie County - $2.2 million toward the purchase and installation of two replacement passenger boarding bridges (PBBs) with new pre-conditioned air (PCA) units and ground power units (GPUs) for Gates 8 and 22 at the BUF passenger terminal. -Chautauqua County Dunkirk Airport, Chautauqua County - $0.5 million toward the replacement of two existing bi-fold hangar doors with new electric bi-fold doors. -Chautauqua County Jamestown Airport, Chautauqua County - $1.1 million toward the improvement of existing commercial space within the airport terminal building, replacement of a rapid heating system in an existing hangar, and the replacement of an existing security camera system in and around the terminal. -Niagara Falls International Airport, Niagara County - $1.3 million toward the procurement of 10 pieces of equipment to enhance the safety and efficiency of snow removal operations and wildlife management. -LeRoy Airport, Genesee County - $0.8 million toward the rehabilitation of existing asphalt taxiways, taxi lanes, aprons, and the vehicle parking area, as well as fuel farm rehabilitation including replacing pumps, hoses, and nozzles. -Wellsville Municipal Airport, Allegany County - $0.5 million toward the demolition/removal of the existing north hangar roof and the installation of a new insulated metal roof system with new gutters and downspouts. Funding was awarded to projects through a competitive solicitation process and rated based on established criteria including economic benefits for surrounding communities and businesses; adherence to regional economic development plans; safety improvements; improved operational efficiency; and energy efficiency and emissions reduction. The New York State Department of Transportation is committed to working with local project sponsors to expedite the delivery of these improvements. The $1.765 billion lotto jackpot was going to be won. Why couldnt my family be the lucky winners? 20-Oct-23 In the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark, a greedy Indiana Jones snatches the solid gold idol off the pedestal in the cave. Then, all hell breaks loose. Indy, chased by a giant rolling two-ton stone power ball, barely makes it out of the cave to the jungle. Thats the same greedy itch this lotto virgin felt last week while purchasing three Powerball tickets in the Illinois Lottery. Unfortunately for me and millions of others, a player in California won the $1.765 billion Powerball jackpot on October 11. The winning numbers were 22, 24, 40, 52, 64, and Powerball 10. The victory ended a drought of 35 consecutive drawings without a big winner stretching back to July 19 when another player in California matched all six numbers and won $1.08 billion. What are they smoking on the West Coast? The biggest Powerball jackpot on record was worth $2.04 billion and was won by a single ticket holder from California, of course on November 7, 2022. The jackpot had rolled for 40 straight drawings and the cash option was worth a whopping $997 million. Edwin Castro was revealed to be the $2.04 billion winner when he recovered from shock and came forward three months after the drawing. The previous record had been worth $1.58 billion and was split between three ticket holders on January 13, 2016. There have been 405 Powerball winners nationwide since 2003. Here is a list by state of the number of winners: Indiana 39 Missouri 31 Minnesota 22 Pennsylvania 19 Wisconsin 19 Kentucky 18 Louisiana 18 Florida 16 California 14 What about Illinois? Sorry. There were only two winners in two decades. Thats another argument for moving to Indiana. Powerballs outrageous odds of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to generate a big jackpot, with prizes becoming ever larger as they repeatedly roll over when no one wins. In 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, a Powerball ticket costs $2 and players can select their own numbers or leave that task to a computer. Here are the options for the Powerball payout. The winner can take payment through an annuity, doled out over 30 years, or take the cash option, which last week was estimated as $774.1 million. Half of that would go to Uncle Sam in federal income taxes. With all those millions dancing in my head, I briefly held lotto court in the ticket line on October 9 at the BP station at Peterson Avenue & Pulaski Road in the Sauganash neighborhood. Why was I there? You could say that my Bohemian grandmothers psychic gypsy blood made me do it. This writer really sensed that the $1.765 billion lotto jackpot was going to be won. Why couldnt my family be the lucky winners? While managing a line of ticket buyers that snaked out the door, the patient manager of the Northwest Side BP station literally had to explain to this rookie how the Powerball lottery works. You can multiply your non-jackpot winnings by adding an additional Power Play number for an extra $1 per game, he said. So, the play amounted to $2 for each ticket plus $1 for the Power Play three tickets cost $9. Sensing ticket-buying angst in the shop, this novice gambler apologized to the crowd, and announced: Im a lottery virgin! Everyone laughed. A middle-aged Asian woman winked at me. One young man cracked up and walked out the door without his ticket. The BP manager chased after him. Non-gamblers just stood there bug-eyed waiting to pay for gas, soda, and chips. My clairvoyant wife and I have been talking about the billion-dollar lottery for weeks. Believe it or not, we both are lottery virgins despite our ages. Im a World War II baby, and the blond is a 1960s Baby Boomer. My late father-in-law, Herbert L. Benson, Jr., a self-made oil man and World War II veteran from South Carolina, may have been the thriftiest man on the planet. My wife inherited that trait. On the other hand, my cab driver father, the late Chester Louis DeBat, picked the longshot winner of the Kentucky Derby in 1921, won money, and never missed a chance to bet on a big thoroughbred horse race at Arlington Park when he moved to Chicago. Then, there were those 1950s crap games when dice were flying in the back corner of the Checker cab garage near North & North Park Avenues in Old Town. There also were jackpot poker games on payday in the back room at Tony Gulas nearby grocery store. When my mother complained about evaporating mortgage payments, dad said: Im just trying to get even. Then, Ill quit. So, with a Powerball win, what was on our billion-dollar bucket wish list? Here are a few luxury dreams that every Chicagoan likely may share: Pay off all of our extended familys real estate mortgages, totaling nearly $3 million. Take the entire family on a first-class $200,000 trip around the world, or a flight into outer space. Set up a $100,000 college fund for each of our grandchildren. Pay cash for a half-dozen new $100,000 Cadillac Escalades. Four cars are for our children. Two flame-red ones are for our greedy selves. Donate $100 million to the City of Chicago to build a neighborhood of tiny houses for 20,000 homeless people and immigrants on the long-vacant 415-acre U.S. Steel South Works site near South Lake Shore Drive & 87th Street. Build a custom community home on the Gold Coast for women in the arts music, painting, and drama a recreation of what once was the mission of the Three Arts Club, founded by Jane Addams and 31 other women. For more information on some of Powerballs largest prize winners, including a state-by-state breakdown of where each jackpot-winning ticket was purchased, visit: Powerball Winners. Terrified diners flee boa constrictor seen in restaurant ceiling in Brazil A boa constrictor was pulled from the ceiling of a restaurant in Brazil as it tried to bite a police officer in terrifying footage. Diners fled when the snake was spotted wrapped around wooden rafters at the premises in Bahai State on 11 October. Three officers tried to get the reptile out of the ceiling. Diners screamed as an officer let go of the snake's head and it darted towards him in an attempt to bite, but he narrowly avoided disaster. Officers eventually carried the snake away to applause. Police later said the snake was in good health and was checked over before being released into the wild. (Alliance News) - Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has arrived in Saudi Arabia for the second leg of his Middle East tour that included a visit to Israel, where he was told to brace for a "long war" with Hamas. Sunak is set to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Thursday evening as he urges leaders in the region not to allow the Israeli-Hamas battle escalate into a wider conflict. He travelled from Tel Aviv after meetings with Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and president Isaac Herzog. Netanyahu told Sunak that he hoped for the UK's "continuous support" as it fought back against Hamas following the Palestinian militant group's deadly and unprecedented assault on Israel on October 7. The Israeli premier said his forces were fighting against the "worst monsters on the planet" during the "world's darkest hour" as he warned there would be "ups and downs" during the war. Sunak, speaking at a joint press conference after discussions with his counterpart lasting about two hours, said he was "proud" to stand with Israel and that the UK Government "wants you to win". Israel defence minister Yoav Gallant has told ground troops on the Gaza border to "be ready" to enter the Gaza Strip, but he did not say when the invasion would start. "Whoever sees Gaza from afar now will see it from the inside," he told Israeli infantry soldiers. Asked what Sunak made of Netanyahu's assessment that Israel was facing a "long war", a spokeswoman for the prime minister said: "It is not for us to comment on the detail of the Israeli approach." The No 10 official added: "Our focus is on ensuring there is no further escalation in the region and continuing to impress, as we do with regional partners, the importance of getting aid into Gaza, opening the crossing." Downing Street has updated the number of Britons killed in Hamas's assault on Israel since the prime minister's arrival in Saudi. A spokeswoman for the prime minister said: "We can now confirm that at least nine British nationals were tragically killed in last week's terrorist attacks. "And a further seven British nationals are missing, some of whom are feared to be among the dead or kidnapped." In a statement to the Commons on Monday, the prime minister said six British nationals had died, with a further 10 missing. The PA news agency understands that Yonatan Rapoport was killed during the Hamas ambush which left hundreds of Israelis dead. Rapoport, known as Yoni, was reportedly one of those murdered in the attack on Kibbutz Be'eri. He had two children, Yosefi and Aluma, and, as a Manchester United fan, had planned to take his son to Old Trafford next month for his first game, the BBC reported. The UK government has not confirmed how many Britons are among the hostages held by Hamas, although at least two are known to be being kept captive, with Sunak meeting with their families while in Tel Aviv. The British leader thanked the Israeli government for its efforts in helping to secure the release of UK citizens being held hostage. About 200 people in total are said to have been snatched in the Hamas raids. Sunak has welcomed Netanyahu's decision, after lobbying by US president Joe Biden, for Israel to start letting aid into Gaza. It marks a potential break in a punishing siege on the territory after Israel's retaliation on Hamas saw it block access for water, food, electricity and other essential supplies to the 25-mile strip, while also carrying out strikes. The prime minister said the UK would seek to get "more support to people as quickly as we can" as he reiterated that Palestinians living under Hamas rule in Gaza were also victims. Israel continued to pound locations across Gaza on the day of Sunak's visit to Tel Aviv, including firing on parts of the southern strip that had been declared safe zones. A residential building in Khan Younis, a city in southern Gaza where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians had sought shelter, was among the places hit. Medical personnel said they had received at least 12 dead and 40 wounded. Thousands in Gaza have died since retaliatory Israeli strikes started in the aftermath of Hamas's incursion. Many among Gaza's 2.3 million residents have cut down to one meal a day and have been left to drink dirty water amid dwindling supplies. The UK government is being urged to lobby for a ceasefire by both British political leaders and charities working in the region. Scotland's First Minister, Humza Yousaf has called on Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, who is on his own diplomatic blitz across Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, to press for a resolution that could help those UK citizens "trapped in Gaza". Yousaf, whose mother and father-in-law are stuck in the territory, said the lack of focus on those unable to escape the bombardment in the 25-mile strip was "shameful". In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the SNP leader said: "They're trapped in a war zone and need you, Foreign Secretary, to demand a ceasefire, and the Rafah crossing opened to let them out." Katy Chakrabortty, Oxfam's head of advocacy, said: "The Prime Minister is right to call for the safe return of all hostages in Gaza but his failure to call for a ceasefire is wrong. "Wanting Israel to 'win' is not a helpful statement. Nobody wins when the scale of human suffering, devastation and pain is so vast and relentless. We need all parties to commit to a ceasefire and for full, unfettered humanitarian access to Gaza now." Sunak is expected to stay overnight in Saudi Arabi following talks with the Crown Prince. No 10 is yet to confirm whether he will visit another Middle East capital before wrapping up his two-day trip on Friday. source: PA Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved. 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. Lahore, PakistanThree-time Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif will return from exile eager to make yet another comeback in a country mired in political and economic chaos. The 73-year-old is one of the nations wealthiest men, with a fortune earned in the steel business, but is admired by supporters for his approachable man of the soil demeanor. Often draped in a red Gucci scarf, his political fortunes have risen and fallen on his relationship with Pakistans powerful military establishment - the countrys true kingmakers. Fans call him the Lion of Punjab, the eastern and most populous province where his support is strongest, and he is known to parade big cats at extravagant political events drumming up support. Despite a conviction for graft hanging over him, a court this week granted him protective bail until Tuesday paving the way for a welcome home rally that has been on the cards for months. After four years of self-imposed exile in the United Kingdom, it will be a major test of clout for one of the big beasts of Pakistani politics. Sharif is widely believed to have continued pulling the strings of his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party, even after his brother Shehbaz led them to power last year in a coalition ousting Imran Khan. Nawaz first took power in 1990 with the blessing of the establishment, but was forced out three years later by corruption allegations a theme that has dogged his career. He has lived for years in Saudi Arabia and London where the Sharif family have extensive luxury properties only to return to Pakistan each time with renewed zeal. Stung by the nationalization of the family steel business which he later regained control of Sharif is a fiscal conservative and champion of economic liberalisztion and free markets. He oversaw the privatization of several key state enterprises including banks and energy producers in a process critics say was riven by corruption. He was also one of the key drivers of the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor that underpins relations between Islamabad and Beijing. During his various stints as premier he was accused of stacking courts with loyalist judges, tinkering with the constitution, and rigging provincial elections to shore up his partys power bases. His second reign of power lasted two years and ended in 1999 with him deposed in a military coup after plotting to sideline his army chief of staff, Pervez Musharraf. Sharif narrowly avoided the death sentence in a hastily convened trial before being sent into self-imposed exile. More than a decade later and he was back in power, in part because of his brothers diligent performance as chief minister of Punjab, regarded Pakistans most powerful constituency. But fresh graft allegations emerged when his children were named in the Panama Papers leak for holding offshore companies. He was later convicted over separate corruption allegations and disqualified from office for life. It was the third time that he failed to complete a full term. Less than a year into a seven-year prison sentence he was granted permission to travel to the United Kingdom for medical care and then declined to return. But with Khan falling spectacularly out of favor with the military, Sharifs fortunes began to change last year. His return has been smoothed by legal changes downsizing the period lawmakers can be barred from elections. Analysts also say there has likely been a deal with the establishment to prevent further court challenges. But the Lion of Punjab must also win over a population weary of dynastic politics and weighed down by economic crisis. AFP Four people went to the hospital on Friday after a pickup truck slammed into the side of a TD Bank on Route 28 in Yarmouth, police announced. First responders were first notified about the crash at around 11:30 a.m., Yarmouth police said in a statement. Six people were inside the bank, though none were hurt, police said. The department added that the truck went airborne after hitting a median in the roadway, heading towards the bank. The truck hit two parked cars before it hit the side of the bank. The driver and three other people were injured in the crash, police said. All of them were said to have minor injuries but were taken to the hospital. Photos show a newer model white Dodge Ram pickup truck up against a fractured wall and shattered window. Debris, including bricks and broken glass, fell over a chair and desk inside the bank. Baby names are constantly shifting through the decades and with a new year approaching, website Nameberry is noticing the evolving trends with baby names. The website found that baby name trends for 2024 are less about the names given by parents, but more about the parents themselves. According to Nameberry, parents today are using baby names to express their values, aesthetics and identity. Growing up with the internet, new parents are aware of the power of a name to create a brand, one that defines their children and themselves, the website wrote. An important factor that parents of today consider when deciding a name for their newborn, is individuality and how the name will fit into their kids future adult life. Todays parents are fixated on sending the right messages with the names they choose, said Nameberry creator Pamela Redmond. The perfect baby name for 2024 is one that is ahead of the style curve, personally significant, and identity-defining. Below is Nameberrys list of the 10 top baby name trends to watch for in 2024 and names that reflect those trends. Girl names for boys In 2024, boy names are undergoing a seismic shift, the website said. Parents adopted traditionally masculine names for girls as a way to empower their daughters. However, a feminine name for a son correlated them to be weak. Now, parents are reclaiming feminine unisex names for their sons. Example: Capri Blair Izzy Morgan Rue Feminine feminist names The new feminist baby names are equally feminine in unexpected ways, the website said, as feminine can be feminist, strength is attractive, and individuality should be embraced. Example: Colette Gwen Dorethea Matilda Vienna Baby men and women These are names that are more mature. Parents are looking forward to their children growing into their adult names rather than growing out of their baby ones, the website said. Example: Arthur Clyde Lois Helen Stanley Atmospheric names Atmospheric Names are names that resemble the sky. The trend to name your baby something not so traditional appeals to younger parents those raised on the internet, where everything is ephemeral. Example: Aire Brisa Azure Rain Sunny Natural glamour For parents who want a more chic name, the natural glamour one might be a good fit. These are names that are classy but in a subtle way they feel at home on the homestead or at a five-star hotel. Example: Celia Orsen Violia Freya Conrad Main character energy The names is exactly what the trend sounds like. Something that catches the attention of others. As the website says, the names scream here I am. Example: Athena Jetson Kenzo Persephone Raya Gentle parenting names These names have calm auras and mellow sounds. Vowels are prominently in these names, along with fluid consonants like C, F, L, and S. Example: Ellis Fia Ines Liana Rhys STEM names Parents with a background in a STEM field could lean toward related names for their baby. The trend became popular following Grimes and Elon Musks children who are named X A-XIII and Exa Dark Siderl. Example: Astra Link Moon Nova Onyx -ai names The trend to end your babys name with the letter ai come from the popular name Kai. The name is the multicultural mini-name, which joined the top 100 in 2019, and left a trail of -ai names in its wake. Example: Alakai Kenai Marsai Shai Zakai Musical icon names If you want to name your baby after your favorite musical artist, it will be all the rage in 2024, as more and more parents are shifting to names that fit an edgy and distinctive vibe. Example: CHICOPEE An enforcement order issued to the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts has been extended to November to ensure it resolves damages from earlier flooding. The order was put in place Oct. 4 after issues with the food banks drainage system caused flooding in the neighborhood of Carew Street and Maryland Avenue on Sept. 11. Shaun Boughton, representative of C.E. Floyd Company Inc., the general contractor for the Food Bank, and Mark Lacombe, general manager for Mountain View Landscaping, answered questions Wednesday night from the citys Conservation Commission. While the Food Bank has addressed some of the panels concerns, such as installing silt fences and erosion control measures, issues have yet to be resolved, officials noted. Committee members were unhappy to learn that Mountain View applied liquid herbicide to kill weeds, since the substance could travel into a nearby drainage system. Also, exposed soil must be covered with stabilized seeding. The committee is requesting that the Food Bank be sure that soil not enter the citys drainage system on East Main Street. Theres just been a big breakdown and we dont want to see that continue, Celeste Donovan, chair of the commission, said of the enforcement order. We would like to monitor this project more closely in regards to the conditions that we have set out. Residents again voiced frustration with nuisances they say the Food Bank has brought to their neighborhood. John Kivel of Maryland Avenue, while commending Food Bank representatives for working to address the issues, expressed disappointment with Andrew Morehouse, the nonprofits executive director, and with others. He said Morehouse promised residents the food bank would be a good neighbor. This really upsets me, because the entire time Ive lived in the city, Ive never seen a lake on Maryland Ave., he said. Cars were submerged, and I have yet to see any sign of remorse from any of these gentlemen here. Morehouse apologized to the residents on behalf of the Food Bank after the meeting for not being prepared for unprecedented rainfall, which resulted in flooding the neighborhood. Before the next Conservation Committee meeting, Morehouse said he plans to attend the Zoning Committees Oct. 25 meeting. Representatives of the Food Bank have been called to the session to address concerns from residents, the agenda states. CHICOPEE The New England chapter of the Kosciuszko Foundation will help mark Polish Heritage Month by showing two Polish films at Elms College. In a statement, the Kosciuszko Foundation, a nearly 100-year-old organization whose goal is to foster cultural exchanges between the U.S. and Poland, said the film festival is an effort to celebrate and share the arts and culture of Poland. Both films focus on people who overcame challenges in their lives and went on to become successful, Kosciuszko Foundation member Kathleen Wroblewski said. The festival will begin at 2 p.m., on Oct. 22, with a showing of Sonata, a movie telling the true story of Grzegorz Plonka, a musician who was misdiagnosed with autism as a child. After he was diagnosed as deaf, his road to becoming a pianist began. Its so amazing to think that he was misdiagnosed at such an early age and was able to accomplish such great things, Wroblewski said. I think that its a universal story. The festival will conclude at 2 p.m. on Nov. 5, with a showing of Breaking the Limits, a biopic chronicling the life of Jerzy Gorski, who went from being a heroin addict to a world-class triathlon competitor. The movie is set in the seventies and eighties, giving the audience a glimpse into life in a socialist country. This man had quite a bit of despair in his life and decided to turn it all around, take control and started training to be a triathlon athlete, Wroblewski said. Thats why we want (people) to come to see the film. There is no admission charge for the films, but goodwill offerings will be accepted. Both films will have English subtitles and be showcased at the Alumnae Library Theatre at Elms College in Chicopee. Elms hosts the Polish Center of Discovery and Learning, which seeks to offer programs that showcase the history and culture of Poland. HOLYOKE By the spring of 2024, the states commissioner of education could have a decision on whether to end the states oversight of Holyoke Public Schools, according to a press release issued by Mayor Joshua A. Garcia. On Sept. 18, the school committee voted to petition Massachusetts Education Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley to end the receivership that has been in place since 2015 for chronic underperformance. Holyoke is one of three districts under state receivership. Garcia and three members of the Holyoke School Committee met with Riley on Oct. 6 at William J. Dean Vocational Technical High School. I was encouraged by the commissioners response as we made our case, Garcia wrote in the statement. To be out of receivership will be an affirmation of the work of Superintendent Anthony Soto and a renewal of pride and engagement for the people of Holyoke who have been passionate about taking back our schools. In the statement, School Committee member Erin Brunelle wrote that Riley indicated the climate was favorable for ending receivership. Mildred Lefebvre, vice chair of the committee, wrote that Riley specified a team may be sent to review the districts progress before a decision. While a request for comment from Riley was not returned, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education spokesperson Jacqueline Reis wrote in an email that ending a district receivership is a decision made by the commissioner. She wrote the commissioner would look for academic improvement and evidence that the district has the capacity to continue making progress. By sending the petition, the Holyoke School Committee has triggered a review process required by state law and regulations. That process is currently underway and will be looking at a variety of data, Reis wrote. While no district has exited state receivership since the 2010 Achievement Gap Act made school district receivership an option, the receivership board in Lawrence (another district also under state oversight) now includes appointees that are recommended locally, Reis wrote. In September, DESE released 2023 accountability results, showing the districts performance when it came to graduation and chronic absenteeism rates, for instance. It was the first full release of accountability data since 2019. Riley had not made entry or exit decisions and all schools that were previously identified as underperforming schools maintained that status. New district accountability results reveal that Holyoke Public Schools had made moderate progress towards its performance targets and was just a few percentage points short of reaching substantial progress, Soto said in a letter to families in September. Soto said in the letter that while growth and achievement levels on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System were similar to last year, student growth remains below the state average in both English and math. In addition, the dropout rate decreased to 3.5% and despite the graduation rate decrease, the rate is still higher than pre-pandemic levels, according to Soto. Oppressive conditions at the only maximum security prison in Massachusetts motivated inmates to commence a hunger strike earlier this month, according to a letter signed by nine inmates at the facility and sent to the office of Attorney General Andrea Campbell. Can you imagine being secluded in a tight space thats the size of some of your bathrooms ... being doused with tear gas with no possibility to open your window ... followed by an assault team fitted in full riot gear ... pouncing on you, violently thrown to the ground ... the guards bending your wrist in a way thats on the verge of being broken, the whole way, just to be thrown in luke warm water in some cages, the letter, signed by Elosko Brown and eight other inmates asks. The first part of the letter, signed only by Brown and provided to MassLive, claims that prison officials at Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Lancaster tried to sweep this event under the rug, referring to the hunger strike that commenced on Oct. 6. ATLANTA Lawyer Kenneth Chesebro pleaded guilty to a felony on Friday just as jury selection was getting underway in his trial on charges accusing him of participating in efforts to overturn Donald Trump's loss in the 2020 election in Georgia. Chesebro, who was charged alongside Trump and 17 others with violating the state's anti-racketeering law, pleaded guilty to one felony charge of conspiracy to commit filing false documents in a last-minute deal. His plea came a day after fellow attorney Sidney Powell, who had been scheduled to go to trial alongside him, entered her own guilty plea to six misdemeanor counts. In Chesebro's case, he was sentenced to five years' probation and 100 hours of community service and was ordered pay $5,000 in restitution, write an apology letter to Georgia's residents and testify truthfully at any related future trial. The two guilty pleas along with a third for a bail bondsman last month are major victories for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who obtained the indictment in August. They allow her to avoid a lengthy trial of just two defendants which would have given those remaining a peek at her trial strategy and to whittle down an unwieldy pool of defendants. Chesebro, who lives in Puerto Rico, was initially charged with felony racketeering and six other counts as part of a wide-ranging scheme to keep the Republican president in power after he lost the 2020 election to Democrat Joe Biden. The indictment alleges Chesebro coordinated and executed a plan to have 16 Georgia Republicans sign a certificate declaring falsely that Trump won the state and declaring themselves the state's "duly elected and qualified" electors. For prosecutors, the plea deal assures that Chesebro publicly accepts responsibility for his conduct in the case and removes the uncertainty of a trial by a jury of his peers. It also compels him to testify about communications he had with Trump's campaign lawyers and close associates, including co-defendant Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor and a Trump attorney. Jury selection had been set to start Friday for the trial of Powell and Chesebro after each filed a demand for a speedy trial. Once Powell pleaded guilty, Chesebro had been set to continue to trial on his own. As part of Powell's deal, she will serve six years of probation, will be fined $6,000 and will have to write an apology letter to Georgia and its residents. She also recorded a statement for prosecutors and agreed to testify truthfully against her co-defendants at future trials. A lower-profile defendant in the case, bail bondsman Scott Graham Hall, pleaded guilty last month to five misdemeanor charges. He was sentenced to five years of probation and agreed to testify in further proceedings. All of the other defendants, including Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, have pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors allege that Chesebro unlawfully conspired with Trump and lawyers associated with his campaign to have the group of Georgia Republicans sign the false elector certificate and to submit it to various federal authorities. He also communicated with Trump campaign lawyers and Republican leaders in other swing states won by Biden to get those states to submit false slates of electors as well, prosecutors alleged. That included writing memos advocating for Republicans in those states to meet and cast electoral votes for Trump and providing detailed instructions for how the process should be carried out. In an email to Giuliani, he outlined strategies to disrupt and delay the joint session of Congress on Jan. 6, 2021, during which electoral votes were to be certified. He wrote that those strategies were "preferable to allowing the Electoral Count Act to operate by its terms." A look at the 19 people charged in the Georgia indictment connected to Trump's election scheme Key people in the Georgia election fraud case Donald Trump Rudy Giuliani John Eastman Mark Meadows Sidney Powell Kenneth Chesebro Prosecutors have said Chesebro, an attorney, worked with Republicans in numerous swing states Trump lost, including Georgia, in the weeks after the November 2020 election at the direction of Trumps campaign. Chesebro worked on the coordination and execution of a plan to have 16 Georgia Republicans sign a certificate declaring falsely that Trump won and declaring themselves the states duly elected and qualified electors. Jeffrey Clark Jenna Ellis Ray Smith A Georgia-based lawyer, Smith was involved in multiple lawsuits challenging the results of the 2020 election in Georgia. He also gathered witnesses to provide testimony before Georgia legislative subcommittee hearings held in December 2020 on alleged issues with the states election. Robert Cheeley A Georgia lawyer, Cheeley presented video clips to legislators of election workers at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta and alleged the workers were counting votes twice or sometimes three times. He spoke to the lawmakers after Giuliani. Michael Roman A former White House aide who served as the director of Trumps election day operations, Roman was involved in efforts to put forth a set of fake electors after the 2020 election. David Shafer Shawn Still He was one of 16 Georgia Republicans who signed a certificate falsely stating that Trump had won the state and declaring themselves the states duly elected and qualified electors. Still was the finance chairman for the state GOP in 2020 and served as a Georgia delegate to the Republican National Convention that year. He was elected to the Georgia state Senate in November 2022 and represents a district in Atlantas suburbs. Stephen Cliffgard Lee Prosecutors say Cliffgard Lee, a pastor, worked with others to try to pressure Georgia election worker Ruby Freeman and her daughter after Trump and his allies falsely accused them of pulling fraudulent ballots from a suitcase during the vote count. Lee allegedly knocked on Freemans door, frightening her and causing her to call 911 three times, prosecutors said in a court filing last year. Harrison William Prescott Floyd Also known as Willie Lewis Floyd III, he served as director of Black Voices for Trump, and is accused of recruiting Lee to arrange a meeting with Freeman and Chicago-based publicist Trevian Kutti. Trevian C. Kutti Prosecutors allege Kutti, a publicist, claimed to have high-level law enforcement connections. They say Freeman met with Kutti at a police precinct, where she brought Floyd into the conversation on a speakerphone. Prosecutors say Kutti presented herself as someone who could help Freeman but then pressured her to falsely confess to election fraud. Cathy Latham Scott Graham Hall An Atlanta-area bail bondsman, Hall was allegedly involved in commandeering voting information that was the property of Dominion Voting Systems from Coffee County, a small south Georgia jurisdiction. Also charged in the scheme were Powell, Latham and former county elections supervisor Misty Hampton. Misty Hampton She was the elections director in Coffee County. Hampton was present in the county elections office on Jan. 7, 2021, when a computer forensics team copied software and data from the countys election equipment. She also allowed two other men who had been active in efforts to question the 2020 election results to access the elections office later that month and to spend hours inside with the equipment. Read the Trump indictment in Georgia Your browser does not support the iframe HTML tag. Try viewing this in a modern browser like Chrome, Safari, Firefox or Internet Explorer 9 or later. An internal investigation launched in March by the Holyoke Police Department into one of its captains recently concluded, and on the same day, the subject of the investigation Manuel Reyes retired from the police force. Earlier in the year, he was ordered by a judge to stay away from an officer he supervised due to allegations of sexual harassment. The police department placed Reyes on administrative leave on the same day that a Holyoke judge granted a restraining order against him on March 28. Two weeks later, the case was transferred to Chicopee court where a judge extended the restraining order for a year. A female Holyoke police officer alleged nonconsensual touching, groping and kissing by Reyes. A Massachusetts family, including a 1-year-old boy, has run out of drinking water as its trapped in Gaza. Instead, the Medway family of three has been drinking salt water for the past day, according to friend of the family Sammy Nabulsi of Boston, who has been zealously reaching out to federal officials and representatives on the familys behalf and is in touch with the family daily. I dont know what that means for basic hydration, but the need for clean water seems imminent if they arent going to be able to get out, Nabulsi told MassLive Friday. Abood Okal, his wife and their 1-year-old son had been visiting family in Gaza when Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7. They havent been able to leave the country since, despite making multiple attempts to cross into Egypt. Our son, Yousef, was taking a nap under a window and when the explosion happened he woke up scared of how loud it was, Abood Okal told MassLive using the texting app WhatsApp on Thursday. Okals wife, Wafaa Abuzayda, jumped and picked him up away from the window, Okal said. The explosion was so loud the walls of the house cracked and the doors popped out of place, Okal continued. All the kids where we are staying were screaming from fear and adults were in shock, too. The bombing continued nonstop Thursday night into Friday morning. Nabulsi states he has continued to try to push for help but hasnt heard back from anyone. Okal said he is losing hope over is the continued lack of information on how he or any other American citizens can escape the country. The military conflict between Israel and Hamas is ongoing, making identifying departure options for U.S. citizens complex, a statement on the State Department website reads. We are working on potential options for departure from Gaza for U.S. citizens. We have U.S. government officials working 24/7 to try to assist. On Friday, Hamas released two U.S. citizens from Chicago, Judith Tai Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter Natali Raanan, who were kidnapped nearly two weeks ago, CNN reported. For Okal, who has been to the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt three times based on information from the State Department, he is discouraged that President Joe Bidens visit to Israel on Wednesday did not do more to help the situation of citizens trapped in Gaza. Since the Hamas attack on Israel and subsequent declaration of war by Israel in response, thousands of Israelis and Palestinians have died. We feel abandoned to fight on our own for our safety and the safety of our son, especially that President Biden didnt seem to even acknowledge our presence in Gaza and the need to get us to safety, Okal wrote. Nabulsi said there are hundreds of citizens in the same situation as Okal and his family. I cannot wrap my head around the President going all the way to Israel, developing an agreement for humanitarian aid, and pledging up to an additional $40 billion of aid for this war, without having done anything to get American citizens home safely first, he said. Airstrike in Gaza as seen by Massachusetts resident Abood Okal. (Abood Okal photo) Nabulsi added that he has asked federal officials to push for a safe zone or protection area for the town of Rafah where the crossing into Egypt is located, but he has not heard back. He was part of an effort to circulate a petition demanding that everything be done to bring Okal and his family home. Hes now worried the United States effort could harm or even Kill U.S. citizens. They have totally abandoned this family, he said. SPRINGFIELD Vibra Healthcare has agreed to turn over its recently closed hospital and 17.5 acres of prime economic development property along the State Street corridor to the city for $1, ending years of speculation about the future of the former municipal hospital. Mayor Domenic J. Sarno made the announcement on Thursday at the hospital at 1400 State St., flanked by City Councilor Melvin Edwards, State Rep. Bud L. Williams and State Sen. Jacob Oliveria, who all represent the area and lauded the purchase. The citys economic development staff also joined them. We are going to take it over, we are going to put it out there and we want to get it back on the tax rolls, creating revenue for Springfield and creating a good four-letter word J-O-B-S, Sarno said. Along with being located on the busy State Street corridor and less than a half-mile from the Boston Road commercial district, the property is across from main headquarters of MassMutual, next to Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy, near Central High School and near a senior living complex, so it is vital that the land is redeveloped properly, he said. We in turn must continue to dictate our future. What is in the best interest not only for the neighborhood but for the city of Springfield, he said. If you dont get the right thing in here it brings everyone down. The property was originally the Springfield Municipal Hospital and was sold in 1996 for $3.5 million to Olympus Healthcare Group because it was bleeding money. More recently, it has been operated as an acute care facility by Vibra Healthcare, which announced plans to close as soon as 2017, saying the building did not meet modern standards and was too expensive to renovate, but that continued to be put off. The last about 30 patients, who were living on the second floor, were moved to the new Valley Springs Behavioral Hospital in Holyoke in August. The property includes a 92,000-square-foot building, a piece of that was once a tuberculosis ward, which has been unused and completely shut down for as long as 40 years. The City Council and Historic Commission have been considering declaring that part of the building as a historic district which would make it more difficult to raze. Sarno said he supports saving historic buildings but only in cases where it makes sense. He said he did not want the building to stand in the way of progress if a new developer cannot reuse the building. The city has signed a purchase-and-sale agreement with Vibra and is expected to officially close on the property in early November, said Amanda Pham, executive director of the Springfield Redevelopment Agency. Hospital officials are currently working to clean out the building. While places such as the second-floor rooms and first-floor auditorium which was used as a gymnasium and exercise room have been occupied all along, other areas have clearly been vacant for years, as evidenced by bulletin boards with snowmen pictures and decorations celebrating Valentines Day 2018. The city has been negotiating with Vibra for two years and will pay the conveyance fees as part of the agreement, said Timothy Sheehan, chief development officer for the city. 20 1 / 20 Springfield Municipal Hospital site John Beattie About a year ago, the property had been listed for sale for $2.2 million. When the city entered into talks with the national corporation, it was asking for a price that was in the millions, Sheehan said. Company officials did not respond to emails requesting comment. The company knew the cost of rehabilitating the hospital to make it viable for patients was prohibitive and it was also too expensive to demolish and build a new hospital. At the same time, the companys marketing efforts to sell the property were not drawing much interest, Sheehan said. They too recognized the importance of this site and wanted to see viable economic development happening here and ultimately made the corporate decision they were exiting the property, he said. Acquiring the property is a huge economic boost for Springfield, multiple people said. Hospitals are not taxed so the property generated limited money for the city. At the same time it is extraordinary for a city as built up as Springfield to have an opportunity to redevelop a site as large and well-located near highways and other amenities, Sheehan said. City officials will likely take a year to plan its strategy for the reuse of the property before requesting proposals from developers, Sheehan said. That planning process will involve multiple departments, political representatives and the neighborhood, Sarno said. The citys first step to redevelop the 17.5 acres will be to change the zoning from Residence C, which is mainly limited to housing, to a zone that will allow a mixture of uses, Sheehan said. We are contemplating a planned unit development approach to this site which is basically taking a combination of compatible uses and laying them out across the site, he said. The city applied to the City Council to rezone the property to Business A in August 2022, which is unique since it was not done by the property owner. The process was never completed and there were multiple rumors that different businesses were interested in the land. Edwards, the ward city councilor, thanked everyone involved with the purchase. We know how valuable Main Street is, but this is just as valuable to the Boston Road corridor, he said. Williams and Oliveria pledged to push the House and Senate to work together with the administration of Gov. Maura T. Healey to ensure the city receives whatever help it needs to ensure the property is developed in the best way to benefit the entire community. We dont need this building to go dark, it becomes an eyesore, Williams said. This will help stabilize Boston Road. This is the last piece of property on Boston Road. SPRINGFIELD Four days before the city made a surprise announcement saying it is acquiring the 17.5 acres where Vibra Hospital is located, the City Council restarted a process to declare part of the building on the property as a historic district. The entire building was once the citys Municipal Hospital which was shut down in 1996 and sold to private entities. The building was purchased and most recently part of it was used as an acute care hospital by Vibra Healthcare until August. With the closing of the hospital eminent, this summer the City Council voted unanimously to begin the process to declare part of the building a historic district and, as required, sent it to the Historic Commission for further study, as is required by city ordinance. The final ruling will take a recommendation from the Historical Commission, a two-thirds majority vote by the City Council and the signature of the mayor, according to city rules. The entire hospital measures about 92,000 square feet, but the historic district would be just part of the building known as the Isolation Hospital which housed tuberculosis patients. That wing has been bordered up and unused for an estimated 40 years. A year ago Preservation Massachusetts, a statewide organization dedicated to protecting historic buildings, designed the entire building as one of the most endangered historic properties statewide. The Historic Commission returned a favorable finding to the City Council, but on Monday Councilor Melvin Edwards asked to return the issue to the Commission. He said the law department questioned if the study, which was done by the Historic Society in the city qualified as an independent study required under the citys ordinance. It will not cause any harm to the property because it is not to be torn down, Edwards said, without knowing the citys imminent plan to acquire the land and have it redeveloped. The city is to close on the purchase of the property, which it is acquiring for $1, in early November. But Chief Procurement Officer Timothy Sheehan said it will take at least a year of study and a zone change that must also be approved by the City Council before the city seeks to sell it to a private developer. City lawyer Kenneth Shea said that during the process to create the historic district, the city received notice from property owner Vibra Healthcare formally objecting to the historic district. When studying the process to ensure it would hold up in court, he said he found a flaw. The Historic Commission needs to do an independent study, he said. The Historical Society did the study. The problem is the Historical Society is advocating for the district. While the Historical Society is a separate entity, in his opinion, the issue would better withstand a court challenge if the Historical Commission hired a completely independent agency to determine the significance of the building. City councilors questioned the ruling, saying that is the process they have used for years. They also asked if previous decisions to create historic districts were in legal jeopardy. But Jesse Lederman, the City Council president, said most of the recent applications were made by property owners themselves who were using the designation so they could seek grant money to upgrade their homes or businesses. 20 1 / 20 Springfield Municipal Hospital site John Beattie He urged his fellow members to for the study to better protect the city. I want to make sure it is an enforceable and defensible position. Councilor Kateri Walsh agreed. We are being asked to create this study because it has to be done properly, she said. I dont think there are a lot of people to be blamed. They have to correct this mistake. After nearly an hour of debate and a failed attempt to put off the vote for two weeks so councilors could get more information, the Council voted to send it back to the Historic Commission for more study. The property is described by Preservation Massachusetts as an important and underutilized historic resource for the Springfield community with unique architecture and excellent reuse potential. The original wing features a distinctive Art Deco style that was common with new construction in the 1920s and 1930s. When asked about placing a historic designation on the building, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said he is supportive of studying it but wants to move forward with the redevelopment of the property. He said he is not against protecting a historic property when it makes sense but he does not want to block what could be an important redevelopment for the city as well as the neighborhood around State Street and Boston Road. If something works more power to it, but Im not going to leave a building dormant, he said. One of the problems with making any determination of whether it can be redeveloped is the building has been boarded up for decades and no one from the city has been in it in decades so the condition and redevelopment possibility is unknown, officials said. I am advancing a comprehensive site assessment relative to that building so we have a full understanding of the existing conditions of that building, a full understanding of what adaptive reuse of the building would be and the ability of that building to get on the National Register of Historic Properties, Sheehan said. If the property is on the register, developers can apply for tax credits to help develop and preserve the building, he said. A Mattapan woman is expected to be arraigned in connection with the death of a UMass Dartmouth student who was struck and killed by a car on campus in April, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn IIIs office announced Friday. Danasia Sampson, 22, was charged with motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation in connection with the death of Frank Petillo Jr., 19, from New Jersey, on April 6, Quinns office said in a statement. That day, at around 5:30 p.m., campus police received a call about a vehicle hitting someone on campus. They found Petillo lying on Rign Road with major injuries. He was taken to St. Lukes Hospital, where he later died. Sampson, a student who was driving a gray Honda Accord, was at the site of the incident, Quinns office said. Massachusetts State Police detectives and the Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section investigated the matter. As the investigation came to a close in September, a trooper filed a criminal citation against Sampson. Due to the nature of the incident, she had a right to a clerk magistrate hearing at New Bedford District Court before any criminal charges could be issued, Quinns office said. The hearing was held on Thursday, Oct. 19. During that hearing, the clerk magistrate determined probable cause did exist to formally charge Sampson. Sampsons arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 7. After Petillos death, Chancellor Mark Fuller released a statement to the UMass Dartmouth community saying Petillo will be sorely missed. Read more: MMA fighter Kemran Lachinov arrested outside Big E tells his side of the story This has been a very difficult week for the Corsair community, his statement read. We feel a collective pain even if we do not personally know those who have passed. We sit in class together. We work together. We pass each other in the halls. We are often more connected than we realize. If you need support, please reach out to someone. While Massachusetts is on track for another rainy weekend for the umpteenth time since spring, with a dose of a noreaster possibly mixed in, there is still a chance to see some vibrant fall foliage across parts of central New England over the next couple of days. Friday, Saturday and Sunday are expected to be the best days in 2023 to see brighter fall foliage colors, Yankee Magazine predicted in their weekly update. Now that this point foliage cycle has arrived in (roughly) mid-October, the magazine said that central areas that have all been running very late this year, with very little color or simply just green since the early color fell in the storm a few weeks ago, are finally turning again. Despite being a very down year so far with leaves being impacted by thinner canopies, and significant browning as a result of prevalent... fungal issues this year, the magazine assured that brighter colors can still be found. They pinpointed areas like lower elevations, river valleys, and basins of larger lakes arcing from western Connecticut, through Central and Eastern Massachusetts, up into Vermonts south and then up through southern Maine, and along the coast to Acadia. Popular destinations like Lake Winnipesaukee, the Pioneer Valley, and Litchfield Hills. The Merrimack, Connecticut and Saco River Valleys should be exhibiting these brighter colors, Yankee said. To the north and west of this arc, the magazine said its been weird due to bare maple and birch trees, with colors only seen on beech and tamarack trees. The best place to see fall foliage this weekend, bar none (no pun intended), is Bar Harbor, Maine, the magazine said. Reservations need to be made to head for an early drive to Cadillac Mountain, but from there travelers can take off on a scenic tour of the island and park on the loop road, making sure to stop at the serene Jordan Pond and the Jordan Pond House for lunch popovers, the magazine wrote. Read more: Pioneer Valley named the best in the country for fall foliage by Country Living The magazine also recommended Ashby, Massachusetts, along with Kent, Connecticut, and Alton, New Hampshire. Those who want to stay in the Commonwealth can still visit Mount Greylock State Reservation. Mixbook named it the best location for fall foliage in Massachusetts. The foliage driving up the mountain provides a vibrancy no smartphone camera can replicate, offering the perfect fall vibes for any road trip. Downwind from Mount Greylock is North Adams, cozy with a chance of hiking Savoy Mountain State Forest, drives around the area to marvel at the foliage before heading over to Williamstown to see the Clark Art Institute, which just concluded its Edvard Munch: Trembling Earth special exhibition on Oct. 15. The southern end of Western Massachusetts is not expected to show any peak colors, but it should start to shift, Yankee said. The same goes with Rhode Island and southern Connecticut, with colors developing onward through November. U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., a GOP candidate for president in 2024, is backing a bill that would cut off federal funding from Harvard University and other schools that he says [peddle] blatant antisemitism, as hundreds of their students advocate for Palestinian rights. The bill, titled the Stop Antisemitism on College Campuses Act, would rescind federal money from colleges that facilitate events that promote violent antisemitism. We must not only call out this hate but crush it wherever it rears its ugly head, Scott said in a statement posted to his Senate website. If these schools dont change their ways, my legislation hits them where it hurts theyre pocketbooks. No college or university should receive a single cent from the federal government to fund violent antisemitism. Polls show Scott, who joined the Senate in 2013, running well to the back of the 2024 GOP nominating pack, taking an average of 1.9% support as of Friday, according to polling site FiveThirtyEight. Harvard University in hot water amid the Israeli-Hamas war The bill comes in the wake of several heated protests on college campuses from pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli groups that are speaking out against the violent war between Israel and Hamas. Caught in the middle of the tension are college officials who are trying to walk a thin line in their language regarding the Middle Eastern war. Harvard, a school that Scott blasted as a hotbed of antisemitism among other colleges, is being hit by politicians, donors and faculty whove all criticized the schools response in regard to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. The school first got into hot water after 30 student organizations signed a letter in support of Palestine, which some had read as being supportive of Hamas, a terrorist organization. We, the undersigned student organizations, hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence, the Palestine Solidarity Committee wrote in the statement on Oct. 7. Todays events did not occur in a vacuum. For the last two decades, millions of Palestinians in Gaza have been forced to live in an open-air prison. The letter went viral on social media and drew heavy criticism from alumni and former faculty who were quick to label it as anti-Israeli. Former Harvard President Larry Summers said he was sickened by the letter, and that the school was being defined by the morally unconscionable statement. Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-6th District, and a Harvard graduate, said that that people can stand up for Palestinian rights while also calling out Hamas for its violent attacks. I cannot recall a moment when Ive been more embarrassed by my alma mater, Moulton said in a statement. Whats happening at Harvard right now is intellectually weak and morally repugnant. In response to the fierce criticism, Harvard released a statement that condemned Hamas and distanced itself from the controversial student-led letter. Let there be no doubt that I condemn the terrorist atrocities perpetrated by Hamas. Such inhumanity is abhorrent, whatever ones individual views of the origins of longstanding conflicts in the region, Harvard President Claudine Gay wrote on Oct. 10 While our students have the right to speak for themselves, no student groupnot even 30 student groupsspeaks for Harvard University or its leadership. We will all be well served in such a difficult moment by rhetoric that aims to illuminate and not inflame. But, the tension at the school only increased after a truck plastered with the names and faces of students who signed onto PSCs letter drove down Harvard Square on Oct. 12. The truck which was sent by the conservative group Accuracy in Media, called the students Harvards leading anti-Semites. That same day the school issued another statement, this time via video, where Gay said the university, rejects the harassment or intimidation of individuals based on their beliefs as well as the terrorism inflicted by Hamas. Billionaire philanthropist couple Batia Ofer and Idan, who both sit on the Harvard Kennedy Schools executive board, announced theyd be stepping down from their roles on Oct. 13. The couple wrote that resignations were due to the schools response to the war between Israel and Hamas. Our decision to do so has been precipitated by the lack of clear evidence of support from the Universitys leadership for the people of Israel following the tragic events of the past week, coupled with their apparent unwillingness to recognize Hamas for what it is, a terrorist organization, the Ofers wrote, according to the Boston Globe. The Ofers, whove donated substantial funds, to the Kennedy School, according to their spokesperson, said their faith in the Universitys leadership has been broken. Joining the Ofners was The Wexner Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering Israeli leadership, who also announced that theyd be cutting ties with the Kennedy School. The Wexner Foundation runs a fellowship program dedicated to advancing the careers of Israeli students interested in government and public service. In the 2021 fiscal year, the school donated nearly $1.8 million to Harvard to support the fellowship, with an additional $667,000 to the university, MassLive previously reported. The Wexner Foundation took issue with Gays statement that they said was tiptoeing and equivocating the violence between Israel and Hamas. Instead, the group suggested they wouldve appreciated a clear condemnation of Hamas violence. We are stunned and sickened at the dismal failure of Harvards leadership to take a clear and unequivocal stand against the barbaric murders of innocent Israeli civilians by terrorists last Saturday, the Sabbath and a festival day, the foundation wrote. Since then, many of our Israel Fellows no longer feel marginalized at HKS. They feel abandoned. MassLive Reporter Trea Lavery contributed to this story. A top U.S. House Democrat from Massachusetts warned her colleagues against MAGA extremism as the chamber tried for a third time to elect a new speaker on Friday. As he has in two previous tries this week, U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, a member of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus, and an ally of former President Donald Trump, could not pull together enough votes from his fellow Republicans to become the Houses next presiding officer. House Democrats, meanwhile, continued to support U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. Jeffries took 210 votes to Jordans 194 votes -- less than the 199 he received during a second vote on Wednesday. Jordan needed 217 votes to take the gavel. More than two-dozen lawmakers cast votes for some other candidate, according to a tally by MSNBC. House Minority Whip Katherine Clark, D-5th District, who put Jeffries name into nomination on Friday, said the Empire State lawmaker represented people-first leadership, compared to the MAGA extremism embodied by Jordan that has broken the Republican Party. We want to make our own health care decisions in consultation with our families, our doctors, and our faith not with Jim Jordan, Clark said during her floor speech, referring to Jordans hard-line opposition to abortion rights. We want to make our own health care decisions in consultation with our families, our doctors, and our faith not with Jim Jordan. pic.twitter.com/l1S72JFru3 Katherine Clark (@WhipKClark) October 20, 2023 On Friday, as they have throughout the week, the other members of the Bay States all-Democrat House delegation remained firmly critical of Jordan. Jim Jordan has spent more time plotting how to overturn an election than passing legislation. Hes voted against veterans healthcare & supports the most extreme abortion restrictions, U.S Rep. Seth Moulton, D-6th District, posted to X, formerly Twitter. He is a divider, not a unifier. Moultons comments came in response to a post by U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., who said lawmakers who planned to vote against Jordan at least owe it to the American People to tell them the REAL REASON. In a post ahead of the vote, U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, D-3rd District, reiterated the Democrats weeklong call for a bipartisan path to reopen the House. Heading into the 18th speaker election this year under GOP leadership. Rather than work with @HouseDemocrats to find a bipartisan path to reopen the House, Republicans are putting their allegiance to their broken party over the country. Jim Jordan will lose again. Lori Trahan (@RepLoriTrahan) October 20, 2023 Instead, Republicans are putting their allegiance to their broken party over the country, Trahan wrote. U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-1st District, the dean of the Bay States delegation, also decried the paralysis thats gripped the House since the ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., more than two weeks ago. The House has been at a standstill for 17 days because of Republicans chaos, conspiracies, and cuts. Its time for them to walk away from extremism and do whats best for the American people, Neal posted to X. Jim Jordan is trying to threaten his way to the speakership. And Trump has radicalized many on the far right to support violence against members and our families. This is what Republicans enable when they vote for Jim Jordan. MAGA extremism at its worst. It's sick. https://t.co/eyIZXwe3xy Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) October 20, 2023 U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern, D-2nd District, slammed Jordan for trying to threaten his way to the speakership. And Trump has radicalized many on the far right to support violence against members and our families. This is what Republicans enable when they vote for Jim Jordan. MAGA extremism at its worst. Its sick, McGovern said. WESTFIELD City Clerk Kaitlyn Bruce said this week that she still needs a few more Election Day poll workers for the municipal general election 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7. No experience is necessary, but anyone who signs up to be an election worker must fill out the paperwork in advance and attend a training session. Poll workers must be registered voters in Massachusetts; they must be available to work that day from 6:30 a.m. to 1:40 p.m., or from 1:30 to 8:30 p.m. (or later). Duties include identifying voters as eligible, assisting voters when necessary, and assuring that election laws are followed. Les membres responsables des differents ministeres du gouvernement ont pris note que le Mauritius Commercial Bank Foundation (Amendment) Bill sera presente au Parlement, de la recente visite du Premier Ministre a Rodrigues, de lorganisation du le-MIG 2023, des activites dans le cadre de la World Fisheries Day 2023, des festivites dans le cadre du National Divali Shows entre autres. 1. Cabinet has agreed to the introduction into the National Assembly of the Mauritius Commercial Bank Foundation (Amendment) Bill. The object of the Bill is to amend the Mauritius Commercial Bank Foundation Act to enlarge the scope of choice of subjects for the award of the Mauritius Commercial Bank Foundation Scholarship. 2. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the recent official visit of the Prime Minister to Rodrigues. The Prime Minister attended the official ceremony of the Rodrigues Day held at Jean Paul II Stadium, La Ferme where he highlighted that the development of Rodrigues remains one of the priorities of Government and stressed on the plethora of measures taken by Government to promote the socio-economic and inclusive development of Rodrigues. The Prime Minister also attended the celebration marking the 20 years of the Airport of Rodrigues Ltd and the Rodrigues Duty Free Paradise Company Ltd. He underlined the excellent performance of the Rodrigues Duty Free Paradise Company Ltd and highlighted that a new aircraft ATR 72-600 by Air Mauritius would be flying to Rodrigues shortly. The Prime Minister inaugurated the Mauritius Police Force Shooting Range which is a state-of-the-art facility and the first of its kind in the region. He also had a working session with the Executive Council where discussions centered on the sustainable integrated development of Rodrigues, and also airport development and the water sector development. The Prime Minister effected a site visit at the Cotton Bay and Resort Spa at Pte Cotton to take stock of progress made with regard to the refurbishment and extension works being undertaken thereat. The hotel was expected to be fully operational around March 2024. 3. Cabinet has taken note that the International Organization for Migration in collaboration with the Indian Ocean Commission would organise a Sub-Regional Capacity Building Workshop on Migration Policy Development, Implementation and Monitoring in the IOC Region from 08 to 10 November 2023, in Mauritius. The Workshop would be conducted within the framework of the European Union funded Southern Africa Migration Management Project which intends to improve migration management in Southern Africa. It aims at facilitating dialogue and knowledge sharing on best practices among stakeholders on migration policy and for migration management within the region. 4. Cabinet has taken note of the technical assistance being provided by the International Organization for Migration for the programme entitled International Migration Law Capacity Development Programme for Africa specifically tailored for Government officials of African Member States to provide comprehensive training on international migration law at the African Capacity Building Centre. The implementation of the two-year programme would contribute to capacity building and development of Government officials on legal frameworks governing migration and migration policies. 5. Cabinet has taken note of the holding of the 3rd International Conference on Global Trends in Management, Information Technology and Governance in an e-World (e-MIG 2023), jointly organised by the Open University of Mauritius and the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, on 26 and 27 October 2023, in Mauritius. The e-MIG 2023, which would be on the theme Resilience, Innovation and Management in a Turbulent Environment, would bring together academics, researchers, doctoral students and representatives of IT companies from a wide range of disciplines to showcase global trends in an e-World, as well as the impact of COVID-19 on the academic space. In addition, the Conference would provide an opportunity for researchers of the Open University of Mauritius to develop collaboration with doctoral students from other countries. 6. Cabinet has taken note that the University of Mauritius would host the 10th International Annual Conference of the Southern African Social Protection Experts Network (SASPEN) on the theme A decade of social protection with SASPEN Taking Stock to inform Social Protection Systems Strengthening in the SADC from 24 to 26 October 2023, in Mauritius. The Conference would bring together stakeholders from various sectors including academia, civil society organisations, government agencies and international organisations to make a valuable contribution to the promotion of social protection and social integration. The Conference would, inter alia,: (a) provide an opportunity for Mauritius to showcase its achievements and best practices in implementing social protection schemes, as well as to learn from the experiences of other countries; (b) promote stronger cross-border collaboration among social protection researchers, policy makers and practitioners in the SADC region and beyond, on social protection issues; and (c) contribute to the international visibility of the University of Mauritius and the country. 7. Cabinet has taken note that the Modern Sugar Storage Facility Project at Riche Terre would be implemented in a phased manner by the Mauritius Cane Industry Authority. 8. Cabinet has taken note that former Puisne Judge Joseph Gerard Angoh, GOSK, has been elected to the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee for a three year period. 9. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the recent participation of the Minister of Financial Services and Good Governance in the Africa Financial Services Investment Conference and the Africa Venture Capitalist Association Sustainable Investing in Africa Summit, in London. During the Summit, the Minister participated in a Fireside Chat on Sustainable Finance and elaborated on the endeavour to launch an African Environment Social Governance Framework to better promote sustainable/impact investment to Africa. During his mission, the Minister had meetings with the Trade Envoy of the UK Prime Minister to Mauritius and South Africa and the Chairman, Euro Exim Bank. He also participated in a Business Meet with the Standard Chartered Bank, a Business Forum organised by Sovereign Group, an Investor Meeting organised by AXYS, the East African Association Investor Meeting and a meeting with Global Finance and Capital Markets. 10. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the recent participation of the Attorney General, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade in the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Council of Ministers in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The projects and programmes in the priority areas of cooperation of the Association were reviewed and discussed. The Republic of Bangladesh handed over the chairmanship of the IORA to Sri Lanka for the period 2023-2025. The IORA Vision 2030 and Beyond document which was adopted enunciates actions which IORA Member States aspire to pursue with a view to advancing the Associations cooperation agenda. He also held bilateral meetings with the Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs of the Republic of Korea, the representative of the Chinese Government on African Affairs, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia and the Second Minister for Education and Foreign Affairs of Singapore. 11. Cabinet has taken note of the activities which would be organised in the context of World Fisheries Day 2023, celebrated annually on 21 November, with the aim of highlighting the critical importance of healthy ocean ecosystems and ensuring sustainable stocks of fisheries in the world. The Ministry of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping would organise, inter alia, the following activities: (a) inter-religious prayers, a wreath laying ceremony and parade by the National Coast Guard, followed by the Last Post, in collaboration with the Fishermen Welfare Fund at Le Morne Public Beach on 22 November 2023; (b) an Open Day at the Blue Bay Marine Park for the public on 26 November 2023; and (c) an exhibition in the compound of the Blue Bay Marine Park on 26 November 2023 with the participation of the Fishermen Welfare Fund, the Seafarers Welfare Fund, the Fisheries Protection Service, the Albion Fisheries Research Centre, the Mauritius Shipping Corporation Ltd, the Mauritius Oceanography Institute and the National Coast Guard, to showcase all the works being undertaken thereat. 12. Cabinet has taken note that the Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage in collaboration with the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority would organise National Divali Shows on 03, 04 and 05 November 2023 at Triolet, Flacq and Souillac, respectively with the participation of local artists and artists from India. 13. Cabinet has taken note that on 17 October 2023, the Ministry of Tourism of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia officially announced that Mauritius had been added to the list of countries whose citizens could apply for an E-Visa online through an E-Visa Platform before travelling, or upon arrival in Saudi Arabia, through the visa offices of the Immigration Department. Cabinet has also taken note that on 29 September 2023, a Presidential Decree announced that Angola would exempt citizens of Mauritius from Tourist Visa to enter Angola. The 90-day visa-free annual stay in Angola would be granted to travellers arriving in the country exclusively for tourism purposes. However, the duration of each stay should not exceed 30 days upon each entry into the country. 14. Cabinet has taken note that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade has provided assistance in the repatriation of 36 Mauritian nationals who were in Israel on pilgrimage. The pilgrims reached Mauritius on 14 and 16 October 2023, respectively. 15. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the Clinical Research Regulatory Council with Dr Marie France Lan Man Hiew Chan Sun, as part-time Chairperson. The Columbus Alzheimer/Dementia Support Group will meet at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 23, in the Columbus Senior Center (old hospital), 3111 19th St. Use the door on the north side. The presenter will be Adam Lassen. There will be information and conversation about Alzheimers and Dementia. For more information, contact Adam Lassen at 402-910-8111 or Martha Davidson at 402-910-8580. The Mauritius Bar Association announced that it will host a one-day conference on The Future of Law at the Intercontinental Mauritius Resort, Balaclava Fort, on 24 November 2023. The conference, organised jointly with the Institute for Judicial and Legal Studies (IJLS), will feature international legal experts, including Nick Vineall KC, Chair of the Bar Council of England and Wales; Professor Richard Susskind OBE, the worlds most cited author on the future of legal services as well as leading practitioners from the UK including environmental and international human rights barristers. Leading members of the legal profession in Mauritius will also be intervening as panellists in this event. This conference is the first post-pandemic event of this magnitude being hosted by the MBA and is expected to attract legal practitioners from all three branches of the legal profession, as well as members of the judiciary, to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the profession in an increasingly technologically advanced and borderless world. Panel sessions will focus on topics such as how to future-proof the criminal justice system and the transformative role of AI in investigations and legal processes; influence of international law, especially through the lens of international human rights law, environmental law, and their relevance for Mauritius; as well as a glimpse into the future of Civil law and the developments in our court systems in anticipation of what is to come. Speaking about the conference, President of the Mauritius Bar Association, Priscilla Balgobin-Bhoyrul, said: The legal profession is facing a period of unprecedented transformation, and this conference will seek to trigger conversations around the key questions on the horizon: How will justice be administered in the future? Are we equipped to embrace the impact of technology on our profession and our courts? How should our Code of Ethics evolve to cater for these uncertain times? What are the ripple effects in businesses and society at large? While the impact of technology will be a key component of the debates, as the world becomes increasingly borderless, there will also be discussions on international human rights and environmental law which have significant implications for us here in Mauritius. I urge all members of the legal profession to attend the conference which will offer unique insights on anticipated changes for our profession. The IJLS will grant CPD points to all law practitioners attending the Conference. Seats are limited and the MBA will be offering early bird pricing, with details to be revealed shortly. Professor Kevin Barry, Consultant General Surgeon in Mayo University Hospital (MUH) and Director of National Surgical Training Programmes in RSCI, has been admitted as a Member of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Academy of Master Surgeon Educators. Professor Barry was among a group of 63 esteemed surgical educators who were inducted at a ceremony in Chicago. Professor Barry has been a Consultant General Surgeon at Mayo University Hospital, where he established a Symptomatic Breast Clinic, since 1999. In 2008 he joined the Symptomatic Breast team at Galway University Hospitals, where he continues to work closely with the multidisciplinary team, before joining the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in 2021 as Director of National Surgical Training Programmes, playing a pivotal role in maintaining the highest standards of excellence within RCSIs surgical training work. A graduate of University College Cork (UCC), Professor Barry obtained his FRCSI in 1990 before completing further training in the USA. He was awarded an MD by UCC on the basis of his research and has authored more than 130 peer-reviewed publications. Catherine Donohoe, Hospital Manager at MUH has commended Prof Barry saying: We are extremely proud of Professor Barry who has dedicated so much of his time to Mayo University Hospital. Professor Barry was the first Dean of the Medical Academy here and is currently the Associate Clinical Director for the Cancer MCAN in MUH. He is a highly respected and recognised Consultant at the hospital and the wider health care system nationally we are delighted to congratulate him on his induction as a member of American College of Surgeons (ACS) Academy of Master Surgeon Educators. Catherine highlighted that Professor Barry is currently working to ensure the National Training Programme for General Surgeons meets the changing needs and structures of our healthcare system. It is this commitment and focus that has resulted in Professor Barry achieving this international recognition. Professor Kevin Barry added: This award means so much to me on a personal level. I wish to acknowledge the great support and encouragement that I have received over the years from my Consultant colleagues at both Mayo and Galway University Hospitals, in developing both undergraduate and postgraduate models of medical education and training within the Saolta hospital network. My academic colleagues at the University of Galway and also at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland have worked very closely with me over a prolonged period of time to promote the highest standards of surgical training nationally. I also wish to pay tribute to the very fine Surgeons at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland and The Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA who contributed to my surgical training in the 1990s and helped to shape my lifelong interest in clinical practice, research and teaching. I will continue to do whatever I can to help to train the next generation of Surgeons and to prepare them for a changing healthcare environment. Ajit K Sachdeva, co-chair of the steering group of the Academy said: This Academy of preeminent surgical educators has been making landmark contributions to surgical education and is introducing many transformational changes in surgical education that will endure into the future. We look forward to leveraging the expertise of the members as we explore innovations that will continue to advance the field of surgical education and positively impact the careers of surgical educators. The ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators works to advance the science and practice of education across all surgical specialties. Individuals are selected as Members, Associate Members, or Affiliate Members following a stringent peer review process. They come from nine countries in addition to those from the United States. , a casual dining restaurant chain, has entered the concept restaurant segment and plans to open 12 outlets by 2025 with an investment of Rs 35 crore, a senior executive said. Earlier this year, the business collaborated withon projects in the boutique hospitality sector. With Gigi, Chrome Asia Hospitality will prioritize the use of regionally produced fresh goods from all over India, as well as seasonal seafood, cheeses from around the globe, and local, homegrown brands.Our objective has consistently been to increase our presence outside of traditional dining establishments. Co-Founder of Chrome Asia Hospitality Pawan Shahri stated, "We want to provide our customers with ever-more-original concepts that excite them. Gigi is our latest attempt at doing just that". A growing demand for better and more innovative ideas is evident in India's hospitality sector , which is one of the fastest-growing industries.We aim to scale Gigi globally by 2025, we aim to open five new outlets across metros and select global locations with Dubai. We will be investing close to Rs.35 crore in the brand Gigi with an ROI close to 30% on each outlet, said Shahri. Earlier this year, Chrome Asia Hospitality announced an expansion with a vision to add five new brands across various formats while further strengthening the presence of the existing brands.It announced plans to invest Rs 50 crore for the addition of eight new locations and five new brands in 20232024. "We are excited to be a part of Chromie Asia Hospitality's journey with Gigi Mumbai", stated Afsana Verma, Investor, Gigi Mumbai. "They have delivered the best restaurants over this past decade". The all-day casual eating scene in Mumbai is home to Chrome Hospitality, which was founded by Pawan Shahri, Dhaval Udeshi, and Nikita Shahri. The company opened five new restaurants in Mumbai under the Chrome Hospitality brand and created a million of hospitality space in India. The global Biopsy Devices Market is anticipated to grow at an immense pace owing to the rising prevalence of breast cancer, an increasing elderly population, higher occurrences of lung cancer, and technological advancements in product offerings. Globally, some of the major Medtech and HealthTech giants such as ARGON MEDICAL, B. Braun Melsungen AG, BD, Boston Scientific Corporation, C. R. Bard, Cardinal Health, Cook, Devicor Medical Products, Dr. Japan Co Ltd, FUJIFILM, Hologic, INRAD, Iscon Surgicals, KOELIS, Limaca-medical, Medtronic, OLYMPUS CORPORATION, Owlstone Medical, ST. STONE MEDICAL DEVICES PVT LTD, Zamar Care, and others are actively working in the Biopsy Devices Market. DelveInsights Biopsy Devices Market Insight, Competitive Landscape, and Market Forecast 2028 research report provides the current and forecasted Biopsy Devices market size, share, and trends analysis for the next five years. Moreover, it highlights the ongoing innovations in the segment, major market drivers & barriers, key competitors, and emerging devices in the domain. Biopsy Devices Market: Overview Biopsy Devices are medical instruments used to obtain tissue or cell samples from the body for diagnostic purposes. These samples are typically examined by pathologists to identify the presence of diseases, such as cancer, infections, or other pathological conditions. Biopsies play a crucial role in diagnosing, staging, and monitoring the progress of various medical conditions. Biopsy Devices Benefits Accurate Diagnosis: Biopsies provide a direct and accurate method for diagnosing various medical conditions. They allow pathologists to examine tissue or cell samples under a microscope, which can reveal specific abnormalities, such as cancer cells. Early Detection: Biopsies can help detect diseases at an early stage, which often leads to more effective treatment and improved outcomes. Early detection is particularly critical for cancer and infectious diseases. Tailored Treatment: The information obtained from biopsies can help healthcare providers determine the most appropriate treatment plan for an individual patient. This personalized approach can lead to better therapeutic outcomes. Monitoring Disease Progression: Biopsies can be performed at different times during treatment to monitor how a disease is responding to therapy. This allows for adjustments to the treatment plan if necessary. Research and Clinical Trials: Biopsy samples are valuable for research purposes and for identifying potential candidates for clinical trials of new therapies or drugs. Key Applications of Biopsy Devices Cancer Diagnosis: Biopsies are commonly used to diagnose various types of cancer, such as breast, lung, prostate, and skin cancer. They help determine the type, stage, and grade of cancer. Infection Diagnosis: Biopsies can be used to identify the presence of infections in tissues or organs, such as tuberculosis, fungal infections, or viral infections. Organ Transplantation: Biopsies are essential for assessing the suitability of donor organs and for monitoring the health of transplanted organs after transplantation. Autoimmune Diseases: Biopsies help diagnose autoimmune diseases by examining affected tissues, such as the skin, kidneys, or muscles. Gastrointestinal Disorders: Gastrointestinal biopsies are used to diagnose conditions like inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, and gastric ulcers. Neurological Disorders: Brain and nerve biopsies can help diagnose conditions like brain tumors, demyelinating diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders. Cardiac Biopsies: These are used to diagnose heart muscle diseases (cardiomyopathies) and transplant rejection in heart transplant recipients. Skin Disorders: Skin biopsies are used to diagnose various skin conditions, including skin cancer, dermatitis, and infections. Musculoskeletal Disorders: Biopsies of bone and joint tissues help diagnose conditions such as bone tumors, arthritis, and infections. Research and Clinical Trials: Biopsies are essential for medical research, including studies aimed at understanding the molecular basis of diseases and developing new treatments. To provide a better understanding of the market dynamics, DelveInsights Biopsy Devices Market report provides a detailed assessment by product type (needles, biopsy systems, forceps, curettes, and others), application (skin biopsy, bone marrow biopsy, prostate biopsy, breast biopsy, and others), imaging technology (ultrasound-guided, MRI-guided biopsy, and stereotactic-guided biopsy), end-user and geography. Within the Biopsy Devices market, the product type segment reveals a noteworthy trend in the upcoming years, with needles poised to command a substantial share of the revenue. Needle biopsy stands out as a dependable method for procuring tissue samples, pivotal for determining the nature of nodules, whether they are benign (non-cancerous) or malignant. This approach distinguishes itself by its minimally invasive nature when compared to the open and closed surgical biopsy procedures, which entail larger incisions in the skin and often necessitate local or general anesthesia. The advantages of needle biopsy extend further, contributing to its popularity and market dominance. Notably, it offers a less painful experience for patients while providing heightened accuracy in tissue sampling, a crucial factor in accurate diagnoses. Additionally, it is a cost-effective option, making healthcare more accessible. Furthermore, patients undergoing needle biopsies can swiftly return to their routine activities after a relatively short recovery period, enhancing their overall quality of life during the diagnostic process. One of the primary catalysts propelling the Biopsy Devices market forward is the escalating incidence of breast cancer. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there were 2.3 million newly diagnosed cases of breast cancer worldwide in 2020. Additionally, within the five years leading up to the end of 2020, a total of 7.8 million women received a breast cancer diagnosis. This staggering prevalence underscores the global impact of breast cancer on the female population. Biopsy Devices, crucial in the diagnostic process, play an indispensable role in the identification and subsequent treatment of breast cancer. As a result, the burgeoning prevalence of this disease serves as a powerful driver behind the escalating demand for Biopsy Devices. This heightened demand, in turn, acts as a driving force propelling the overall Biopsy Devices market growth in the upcoming years. The continuous growth in breast cancer cases underscores the pressing need for advancements in diagnostic and treatment technologies, emphasizing the critical role that Biopsy Devices play in the fight against this widespread and life-altering disease. Additionally, another pivotal factor driving the growth of Biopsy Devices is the escalating elderly population. As per the WHO, in 2021, there is a compelling global demographic shift underway. It is estimated that between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of individuals aged 60 years and older will double from 12% to 22%, reaching a staggering 2.1 billion by the year 2050. This significant increase in the elderly population is a reflection of longer life expectancies and improved healthcare. Furthermore, as individuals age, the likelihood of developing various health conditions, including cancers, infections, and inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, increases substantially. The elderly are particularly susceptible to these ailments due to the natural aging process and diminished immune system function. Consequently, this growing aging demographic contributes to a heightened demand for Biopsy Devices. Nonetheless, the global biopsy device market faces challenges due to potential complications linked to the biopsy procedure, including issues such as bleeding, infections, and other adverse events. Additionally, alternative diagnostic methods, such as blood tests, have emerged as viable options for some medical conditions, posing a potential hindrance to the growth of the Biopsy Devices market. These alternatives are often less invasive and may be preferred by both healthcare providers and patients, which underscores the need for ongoing advancements in biopsy device technology and procedures to maintain and expand their relevance in the ever-evolving healthcare landscape. Interested to know more about the ongoing developments in the market? Visit to get an in-depth insight @ Biopsy Devices Types and Emerging Products Among all the regions, North America is poised to maintain its dominance in the global Biopsy Devices market in 2021, and this trend is expected to persist throughout the forecast period from 2023 to 2028. This sustained leadership position can be attributed to various influential factors, including the increasing prevalence of cancer within the region. For instance, based on data published by the American Cancer Society in 2022, the United States witnessed 236,000+ lung cancer in 2022. In the context of lung cancer, Biopsy Devices play a pivotal role in diagnosis and treatment planning. As a result, the rising incidence of lung cancer within North America contributes significantly to the escalating demand for Biopsy Devices. This heightened demand, in turn, acts as a key driver propelling the overall growth of Biopsy Devices in the market. The persistent leadership of North America underscores the critical need for advanced diagnostic and treatment tools, particularly in the face of escalating cancer rates. Biopsy Devices remain integral to addressing the diagnostic challenges posed by these conditions, and they play an indispensable role in improving patient outcomes and healthcare practices within the region. Anticipated technological advancements in the realm of biopsy device offerings are also set to drive increased demand for these diagnostic tools within the North American market. These ongoing innovations contribute to a conducive growth environment for the regions biopsy device market. This favorable backdrop is further fortified by the factors mentioned earlier, collectively creating a robust ecosystem for the growth and adoption of advanced Biopsy Devices in North America. The continuous evolution of technology in this field not only enhances the diagnostic precision and patient experience but also underscores the vital role these devices play in the ever-advancing landscape of medical diagnostics. Interested in knowing how the market will grow by 2028? Click to get a snapshot @ Biopsy Devices Market Trends and Developments Over the years, the Biopsy Devices market has evolved significantly, owing to the active participation of the global MedTech companies and technological advancements in the domain. Similarly, several clinical, commercial, and regulatory developments have also been registered in the domain. Some of the major advancements in the Biopsy Devices market in recent years include On October 17, 2023, Praxis Medical announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted 510(k) clearance of the EndoCore EBUS-TBNA fine needle biopsy device. In May 2022, Limaca Medical gained FDA breakthrough device classification for its Precision GI endoscopic ultrasound biopsy device. Precision GI is deployed and operated through an instrument channel in the endoscope to biopsy a tumor. In October 2020, GE Healthcare introduced a contrast-enhanced guided biopsy solution Serena Bright in the United States, to help improve breast cancer outcomes for women. This innovative technology of the company enables clinicians to carry out breast biopsy exams with contrast guidance using the same mammography equipment in the same room, as well as with the same staff as the screening or diagnostic mammogram. In July 2019, FUJIFILM Medical Systems U.S.A., Inc. extended its breast imaging capabilities with the launch of its Tomosynthesis Biopsy option for the ASPIRE Cristalle mammography system. In addition to the traditional stereotactic method, this new option uses tomosynthesis guidance to calculate 3D coordinates of a suspicious lesion in the breast, allowing radiologists to accurately complete the biopsy of suspicious areas to conduct a pathological examination and inform the diagnosis and care plan. In February 2019, IZI Medical Products LLC, an interventional radiology medical device company and portfolio company of Shore Capital Partners LLC, acquired select soft tissue biopsy and breast localization needle assets from Cook Medical. The Quick-Core Biopsy Needle, MReye Breast Localization Coil, and Kopans and X-Reidy Lesion Localization Needles are among the goods in the purchased portfolio. Learn more about major clinical and commercial development in the market @ Biopsy Devices Market Clinical and Commercial Development Activities On a global scale, prominent players in the Biopsy Devices market encompass esteemed MedTech giants such as Boston Scientific Corporation, Cardinal Health, Medtronic, BD, Cook, Devicor Medical Products Inc, B. Braun Melsungen AG, ARGON MEDICAL, OLYMPUS CORPORATION, FUJIFILM, INRAD Inc, Hologic Inc, C. R. Bard, Dr. Japan Co Ltd, Limaca-medical, Owlstone Medical Ltd, Zamar Care, KOELIS, ST. STONE MEDICAL DEVICES PVT LTD, and Iscon Surgicals Ltd. These industry leaders have established their foothold in the market, leveraging their expertise and innovation. Moreover, as a testament to the burgeoning demand and promising revenue prospects, the Biopsy Devices market is anticipated to witness the entry of numerous new players. This influx of fresh entrants is poised to infuse a heightened level of competition within the sector. The dynamic landscape, enriched by innovation and increased competitiveness, reflects the evolving nature of the Biopsy Devices market, driven by the quest for cutting-edge solutions in medical diagnostics and the continuous improvement of patient care. Learn how new players entries will transform the market dynamics in the coming years @ Biopsy Devicess Competitive Landscape Scope of the Biopsy Devices Market Report: Study Period 2020-2028 Geography Covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World Biopsy Devices Market Assessment By Product Type Needles, Biopsy Systems, Forceps, Curettes, and others By Application Skin Biopsy, Bone Marrow Biopsy, Prostate Biopsy, Breast Biopsy, and others By Imaging Technology Ultrasound-Guided, MRI-Guided Biopsy, and Stereotactic-Guided Biopsy End-User Hospital, Diagnostic Centers, Imaging Centers, and Ambulatory Surgical Centers Porters Five Forces Analysis, Product Profiles, Case Studies, KOLs Views, Analysts Views Table of Content 1 Report Introduction 2 Executive Summary 3 Regulatory and Patent Analysis 4 Biopsy Devices Market Key Factors Analysis 5 Biopsy Devices Porters Five Forces Analysis 6 COVID-19 Impact Analysis on the Biopsy Devices Market 7 Biopsy Devices Market Layout 8 Biopsy Devices Global Company Share Analysis Key 35 Companies 9 Biopsy Devices Product Profiles and Key Companies 10 Project Approach 11 KOL Views 12 DelveInsight Capabilities 13 Disclaimer 14 About DelveInsight Reach out to us to get a more detailed overview of the market and the key offerings of the report @ Biopsy Devices Market Insights and Competitive Landscape Other Trending Healthcare Reports by DelveInsight Acute Ocular Pain Market | Acute On Chronic Liver Failure (ACLF) Market | Antibody-Mediated Graft Rejection Market | Bacterial (Pyogenic) Meningitis Market | Bevacizumab Biosimilars | Bronchial Neoplasm Market | Calcinosis Cutis Market | Cardiovascular Calcification Market | Dermal Regeneration Matrix Market | Epstein Barr virus (EBV) Market | Glabellar Frown Lines Market | Goitre Market | Hereditary Deafness Medical Device Market | ICOS-Next Generation Immunotherapy Market | Metrorrhagia Market | Nephrosclerosis Market | Parkinsons Disease Related Dementia Market | Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) Devices Market | Severe Toxicities in Lymphoma Market | Single Ventricle Heart Disease Market | Small Fiber Neuropathy Market | Stuttering Market | Venous Stenosis Market | Hyperopia Market | Microvascular Angina Market | Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis Market | Abetalipoproteinemia Market | Polycythemia Market | Ambulatory Arrhythmia Monitoring Devices Market | Choroidal Neovascularization Market | Pruritus Market | Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment Market | Chemotherapy Induced Anemia Market | Chronic Bronchitis Market | Clbp Market | Hearing Implants Market | Neurovascular Devices Market | Pemphigus Vulgaris Market | Polycythemia Vera Market | Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma Market | Airway Stent Market Market | Allergic Conjunctivitis Market | Alopecia Areata Market | Alport Syndrome Market | Angioedema Market | Bladder Pain Syndrome Market | Bone Densitometers Market | Brain Aneurysm Stents Market | Calciphylaxis Market | Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy Market | Chronic Inflammtory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy Market | Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Market | Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma Market | Defibrillators Market | Dermal Erythema Market | Eczema Market Healthcare Consulting and Market Research Services by DelveInsight Elevate your business strategy and make informed decisions in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, guided by our comprehensive research offerings @ Healthcare Market Research Unlock key insights and innovation in the healthcare industry with our cutting-edge market research services, paving the way for informed decisions and competitive advantage in this rapidly evolving industry @ Medical Device Consulting Services DelveInsights specialized oncology consulting empowers the pharma and biotech giants with tailored guidance and forefront proficiency, enabling adept navigation of ever-evolving clinical, commercial, and regulatory landscapes. Explore further at @ Oncology Consulting Services About DelveInsight DelveInsight is a leading Business Consultant and Market Research firm focused exclusively on life sciences. It supports Pharma companies by providing comprehensive end-to-end solutions to improve their performance. Contact Us Shruti Thakur Manager (Marketing & Branding) info@delveinsight.com www.delveinsight.com by Fern Siegel , October 20, 2023 Paris-based agency Marcel, part of Publicis Groupe, appointed agency vets Youri Guerassimov and Gaetan du Peloux as co-presidents, alongside Pascal Nessim. The duo among the most celebrated creatives in France, with a collective 22 Grand Prix and 46 Lions. Guerassimov and du Peloux reportedly rank among the most renowned creatives in the global ad industry. The duo have been collaborating for 20 years. The pair joined Marcel under the guidance of former Chief Creative Officer Anne de Maupeou. du Peloux, a copywriter by training, and Youri Guerassimov, an art director by training, began their careers at CLM/BBDO in 2004, including work for for Pepsi worldwide. Their creative work includes campaigns such as "Inglorious Fruits & Vegetables ("Les Fruits et Legumes Moches") for Intermarche, "Hack Market" for Back Market, and more recently, "The Bleues Highlights ("La Compil des Bleues") for Orange. No one represents the right balance between professional qualities and human qualities better than they do, said Marco Venturelli, Chief Creative Officer of Publicis France. by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, October 20, 2023 Google is testing a banner in search results that would allow people who are searching for products to click on the image to make a purchase. The Shop All Deals banner takes the consumer clicking on the image to a page that details the deals. Ankit Srivastava, a digital marketer who goes by the handle @VaranasiBlogger on X, first identified the banner in Google Search. With one click, he explains, the banner redirected the user to another Search Results page. Neil McCarthy, an SEO consultant in France, also identified the search banner on google.fr. However, Google may have challenges this year, as more consumers look toward other options to find and buy products and services. advertisement advertisement With the holidays swiftly approaching, non-paid will bring awareness to products and services, but paid media will influence purchases, according to recent data that also says 97% of consumers will shop online for the holidays. Some 54% of buyers participating in a survey by Basis Technologies say they will research online before purchasing, and 36% will use search engines, while 41% will browse online for new products or brands. The report was produced in partnership with GWI, which used a panel of more than 22 million consumers, and fielded the 2023 Holiday Shopping Trends survey from August 24, 2023, to September 1, 2023. TV ads influence Millennials holiday gift buying by 34% more than the average U.S. consumer, and social media influences Gen Z about 240% more than the average consumer, according to a report. Still, consumers are placing greater importance on celebrating with others and keeping traditions, with 80% of respondents saying that time with the people they love is the best gift. About 78% of those who celebrate Christmas plan to buy gifts for others this year, 64% who celebrate Hanukkah, 30% who celebrate Diwali, and 20% of those who celebrate Kwanzaa. About 19% of those buying gifts during the 2023 holidays say social media is an important resource, but 14% of those buying gifts are likely to buy them through social media platforms, according to Basis. Social media channels used to purchase gifts include 60% in Facebook, 58% in Instagram, 40% in YouTube, and 27% in TikTok. Some 41% said they prefer retailers that help them find unique gifts, and 34% like it when retailers produce suggestions for entertain, decoration or gifts. Sitecore, which works with brands like LOreal, Microsoft, and United Airlines, released its 2023 Holiday Report that estimates 41% of the 1,005 U.S. consumers participating in their commissioned survey released this week said holiday ads influence what and where they purchase gifts. Some 62% of survey participants said they look to TikTok, while 67% rely on Instagram when deciding to purchase a gift. About 66% said they will buy directly from social media posts. Survey participants also believe that Amazon knows consumers better than friends and family based on the data it stores from purchases. Some 43% said they are just as likely to get gift ideas from Amazon, and 48% for gift recommendations rather than friends and family. In the Sitecore report, 62% will look to TikTok to buy gifts, 67% to Instagram, and 66% said they will buy direct from social media posts. In some cases, artificial intelligence (AI) will pick out the gift, with 22% saying generative AI tools like ChatGPT or Bard will provide inspiration. by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, October 20, 2023 Misinformation across news publishers and social media has fueled protests and riots worldwide, which continue even after Israel and the U.S. released documentation that the attack on the Gaza hospital this week came from Islamic Jihad a smaller, more radical Palestinian militant group that works with Hamas via a misfired missile within the Gaza Strip. Reports later said that the missile hit the parking lot of the hospital. The lack of vetting for news indexed in search engines and streaming through social-media news feeds has compounded the chaos. Much of the misinformation has come before it could be verified. News outlets like CNN, The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times retracted poorly vetted parts of stories that originated and went viral on social media. advertisement advertisement Brands running ads or marketing content across these platforms will need to consider another keyword war to use when excluding content to appear adjacent to. Misinformation can damage the loyalty and trust of consumers. Social media X users, who now must pay to be Verified to have a blue checkmark, pushed 74% of the most viral false Israel-Hamas claims, according to NewsGuard analysis. The analysis no doubt considered posts like the one from U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib. The news broke as Tlaib shared it on X, accusing Israel of bombing the hospital. Tlaib, along with some media outlets, took the word of Gaza's Health Ministry, which is controlled by Hamas, with reports of 500 dead due to an Israeli airstrike. Hours later, Tlaib spoke at a gathering where hundreds of pro-Palestinian protestors were arrested for staging demonstrations at the U.S. Capitol after being told that Israel bombed a hospital in Gaza, although U.S. President Biden had announced that the deaths and destruction at the Gaza hospital was caused by Palestinian rockets. Jonathan A. Greenblatt, CEO and national director of the Anti-Defamation League, argues, it is mind-boggling that the media presented claims from terrorist groups and assigned blame on Israel, without question. Headlines have since changed, but the damage is done, prompting riots worldwide in which protesters accuse Israel and the U.S. of killing hundreds of innocent people. Posts like one from a leading news publisher still report that the "Hamas-run Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip says at least 500 have been killed in an explosion that it says was caused by an Israeli airstrike." During the first week of the conflict between October 7 and October 14, NewsGuard analyzed the 250 most-engaged posts -- likes, reposts, replies, and bookmarks -- promoting one of 10 false or unsubstantiated narratives relating to the war. Seventy-four percent -- 186 out of the 250 posts -- were posted by accounts verified by X, according to NewsGuard analysis. Collectively, posts advancing misinformation received 1,349,979 engagements and were cumulatively viewed by more than 100 million times globally in just one week. Posts are indexed in Google Search and Bing. It seems some X posts are being blocked from indexing in Bing. X blocked Google from indexing its posts in July, and then reversed the decision. NewsGuard said it also identified false or unsubstantiated information related to the war spreading on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Telegram, and elsewhere. Disinformation about the Israel-Hamas war shows why advertisers and brands need content moderation. YouTube on Wednesday introduced a watch page to help users get information from authoritative news sources like its Top News and Breaking News shelves. Googles video site did not mention misinformation and the war, but rather cited being committed to connecting people to high-quality information they can trust, particularly in times of elections, unrest, and natural disasters. The content is dynamic, relying on algorithms rather than people to curate the information. The page will pull together long-form video, live streams, podcasts, and Shorts on news stories on one page. To open the watch page for a specific news topic, users need to click on a video with the newspaper icon on the home page or in search results. This feature will roll out on mobile devices in approximately 40 countries, with desktop and living-room integration to come. The goal is to provide an updated news experience to help readers access credible and diverse voices. Alden Global Capital, the hedge fund that owns 65 daily newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune and Baltimore Sun, has taken a stand on the use of terminology. All of its publications ran editorials on Wednesday, calling on news media to describe Hamas as a terrorist organization and the Oct. 7 assault as a terrorist attack, Axios reports. Media Daily News reached out to Gannett to determine what the publisher is doing to ensure that teams working with marketers ensure that targeting aligns with their message, but the publisher did not respond by the time of publication. UPDATE: This story was updated with additional reporting by Ray Schultz. by Wendy Davis , Staff Writer @wendyndavis, October 19, 2023 The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday voted to move forward with a proposal to reinstate the Obama-era net neutrality rules, which prohibited carriers from blocking or throttling traffic and from charging higher fees for prioritized delivery. If the proposals are adopted ... the FCC would once again be permitted to protect internet openness and competition, protect broadband networks from national security threats, and address public safety needs like internet outages, the agency stated. The Commission split on party lines, with three FCC Democrats voting in favor of the proposal, and two Republicans voted against it. Others in Washington were also divided on party lines. Senator Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) tweeted Thursday that the FCC's move was a great step. Senators Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts) and Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), likewise praised the agency. The COVID-19 pandemic clearly demonstrated that broadband -- like electricity and water -- isnt a luxury, its essential infrastructure, they stated, adding that the proposed rules will protect the free and open internet, create a level playing field for all businesses, and help ensure a just broadband future. Republicans on Capitol Hill feel differently. Just this week, a group of GOP House members argued to FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel that any regulation of broadband should be left to Congress; Senate Republicans have also weighed in against the proposal. Despite the partisan divide in D.C., members of the public -- Republicans and Democrats alike -- say they support net neutrality regulations. A University of Maryland poll conducted last year found that 65% of Republicans and 82% of Democrats want to bring back the Obama-era broadband rules. Those rules were passed in 2015, but repealed during the Trump administration. Former chairman Ajit Pai, who shepherded the repeal, said the regulations were too heavy-handed. Consumer advocacy groups opposed the revocation, arguing that the rules were needed to prevent carriers from censoring websites, or otherwise limiting subscribers' ability to access streaming video, search engines and other online services. As with the 2015 order, the proposal that advanced Thursday includes a key -- and highly contested -- provision reclassifying broadband as a telecommunications service, regulated under Title II of the Communications Act. Currently broadband is considered an information service, subject to Title I. That reclassification is controversial because Title II gives the FCC authority to impose sweeping rules -- including ones regulating rates. But without Title II, the FCC lacks the ability to impose any common carrier restrictions on broadband -- even by banning blocking or throttling. Without Title II authority, no federal agency can effectively monitor or help with broadband outages that threaten jobs, education, health, and safety, the FCC stated Thursday. FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel has said the agency won't impose rate regulation or other rules it considers burdensome." Not surprisingly, broadband providers -- which have long opposed net neutrality regulations -- weren't thrilled by the agency's decision to move forward. Title II is, at its heart, a regulatory power grab, Jonathan Spalter, president and CEO of the industry group USTelecom, stated. Mandating crushing regulatory hurdles will only delay rather than deliver the promise of universal connectivity. The business group Chamber of Commerce also weighed in against the proposed restrictions, arguing in a letter to the FCC that it lacks the authority to issue regulations on major policy questions. The agency will accept comments from the public about the proposed rules before voting on whether to adopt them. by Colin Kirkland , October 19, 2023 As the crisis between Israel and Palestine continues to worsen, social media platforms have been complicit in spreading false accounts and unreliable footage from the front lines. While apps like X and TikTok come under attack from regulators and watchdogs, YouTube is attempting to provide its users with an engaging and secure experience around breaking news by launching a topic-based news coverage feed and short-form video program for newsrooms. The news watch page will pull together content from authoritative sources across video on demand, live streams, podcasts, and Shorts, allowing viewers to deep dive and explore multiple sources and angles, the company explained in a blog post. advertisement advertisement To access the news feed, users will be able to click on any video with a newspaper icon. From there, people should be able to find relevant long-form video, live coverage, and Shorts to quickly catch up. YouTube said that the feature has begun rolling out to mobile users in about 40 countries, with desktop and living room capabilities still to come. We believe this updated news experience will help viewers access a range of credible and diverse voices when they want to dive into a news topic, the company added. While the feature may help users dig deeper into the emerging stories they care about, it is unclear how YouTube will decide which news sources are authoritative and which sources are promoting misinformation. Despite what their approach ends up being, the feature will likely receive criticism from various factions. In addition to the news feed, YouTube is launching its Shorts Innovation Program for News, an initiative meant to strengthen the use of short-form video in news organizations. The company said the company will do so by issuing financial grants and specialist support. To start, were working with over 20 organizations across 10 countries, providing a total of $1.6 million USD, explained YouTube. Participants are selected based on having a strong existing long-form video presence on YouTube, but are looking to improve and expand their Shorts news content creation. Major news organizations have already embraced YouTube Shorts competitor, TikTok. In July, The New York Times launched a designated Opinion account on TikTok that features several videos per week. Over the next year, YouTube said its specialists will work with news organizations including Univision in the U.S., AFP in France, and Mediacorp in Singapore on their Shorts content and video production strategies to help develop more credible, timely, and substantive news for the platform. by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, October 19, 2023 Havas reported a 2.1% net revenue gain to 654 million euros for the third quarter, with organic growth (which excludes currency and M&A impact) of 4.5%. Parent company Vivendi reported results today after the close of the trading day in Paris, indicating that Havas and media company Canal+ were primary growth drivers. advertisement advertisement Havas is the third major ad holding group to report Q3 results following Publicis Groupe and Omnicom, which achieved organic growth of 5.3% and 3.3% respectively, Interpublic reports on Friday. For the full year, Omnicom is expecting 4% organic growth while Publicis Groupe upgraded its outlook to between 5.5% and 6% growth. Vivendi did not offer full-year growth guidance for Havas in its Q3 earnings report. But for the first nine months of the year Havas grew organically by 4.3%. All divisions and geographic regions reported some growth. The company didnt break out growth of individual units. By region North America was up 3% and Europe 1.5%. Asia Pacific gained 2% and Latin America, its smallest region, was up 51%. To date, the firm has completed six acquisitions in 2023, including a majority stake in UK creative agency Uncommon Creative Studio. In September Havas unveiled plans to create a new retail network in partnership with ecommerce software company Mirakl. And earlier this month Havas extended its partnership with Adobe to provide it access to Adobe generative AI tools including Adobe Firefly. by Ray Schultz , October 19, 2023 Bereft of reporters who want to do the job, Vermonts White River Valley Herald is using ChatGPT to cover local meetings. Editor and publisher Tim Calabro asked ChatGPT to create a summary of a local selectboard meeting, according to the Vermont news site Seven Days, and compared the result against a transcript of the event. His verdict: It wasnt awful. Calabro admitted that he has had trouble getting paid correspondents and volunteers to cover the long, boring meetings that take place at night. But Calabro refined his technique, and succeeded in getting ChatGPT to write stories using the Associated Press Stylebook. He has published a dozen AI-generated meeting stories, Seven Days reports. Nine out of 10 schools missed the English proficiency target in the 2021-22 school year. Eight out of 10 didnt make the state target goal in math. Its these statistics and more from the states last updated Future Ready Index numbers that are at the heart of arguments in the Carlisle school board race. In one corner, Team for Change candidates have argued and brought signage to board meetings decrying the statistics as a show that Carlisle is behind in academics. On the other side, Citizens for Carlisle Schools candidates say the statistics dont reflect academic growth and the challenges its particular student population faces compared to the rest of Cumberland County. Students in grades 3-8 are tested every year in English and math using the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment. A test in science is administered in the fourth and eighth grades. At the high school level, the annual state assessment takes the form of Keystone exams in Literature, Algebra I and Biology, though sometimes theres overlap in the Algebra I test among eighth-graders taking advanced math courses. Of the nine Carlisle schools that missed the state target in English in 2021-22, the proportion of students that scored proficient or above in state assessments ranged from a low of about 39% at Mount Holly Springs Elementary School to a high of 66% at Carlisle High School. Seven of those nine buildings were above the state average of 54.1%. In math, the eight schools that missed the state goal ranged in proficiency from a low of about 22% at Mount Holly and Wilson Middle School to a high of about 48.7% at North Dickinson Elementary School. Only four of those eight buildings came in above the state math average of 35.7% of students scoring proficient or above. For Carlisle, science was the strongest of the three subject areas, with only four of the 10 schools missing the state target goal. Of the four, proficiency ranged from a low of about 30.4% at Carlisle High School to a high of about 63.3% at Mount Holly. The statewide average for science is 54.4% of students scoring proficient or above. Eight of the districts 10 schools exceeded that average, with Mooreland Elementary School coming in at 86.8%. Mooreland also has the distinction of being the only Carlisle school to meet the state proficiency goal in English with 70.3%. The two schools that met the state target goal in math were Mooreland at 55% and Carlisle High School at 54.9% proficient and above. Different lens When interpreting student achievement based on state assessment test scores, the focus should be on putting the results into a broader context, Carlisle school district administrators said. State scores are important, Assistant Superintendent Michael Gogoj said. We want them to be the best they can be, but these tests are a snapshot of a students understanding in very specific areas of very specific subjects. The tests do not reflect the totality of their school experience. Superintendent Colleen Friend said the public should keep in mind that everyday instruction is reflected not just by state test scores, but by the more frequent local assessments that classroom teachers use during the entire academic year to track student achievement and growth. Were really looking at test scores through two lenses, Gogoj said. Theres a student-by-student lens. This involves an analysis of the performance of each student to identify trends and adjust instruction. This analysis can start weeks before state test scores are made public. In the lead-up to the release of the annual Future Ready Index, building principals and subject matter department supervisors are allowed access to raw data on how each student did in each section of an assessment test or Keystone exam, Gogoj said. The second lens is programmatic as a whole district, he said. We use aggregate scores to look for trends, patterns, areas of strength and areas of need. While the principals use the data to formulate building improvement plans, the supervisors use the data to develop department plans that apply districtwide. A third lens is how demographic subgroups fared on state assessment tests and what that could mean for planning a broad-based education strategy, Friend said. For example, test results from 2021-22 showed a need for targeted instructional services in support of struggling English Language Learners at Wilson Middle School and African-American students at LeTort Elementary School, she said. Opt-out option An emergency COVID declaration in mid-March 2020 triggered a shutdown of public schools across Pennsylvania for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year. The following year, districts statewide implemented hybrid schedules that alternated students between in-person and remote instruction days. The entire state saw a downward trend in scores in 2020-21, the first year of testing after the shutdown, Gogoj said. Though part of this was due to learning loss, there was another trend at work. In the four to five years prior to COVID, it was rare for Carlisle area families to opt their student out of taking a state assessment test. At the middle school level, that number may have been about five to 10 students per school per year. When we resumed testing in 2020-2021, more families than ever opted out of tests especially across the secondary school level, Gogoj said, adding that the same middle school may have had as many as 90 students opt-out. That could have skewed the results, he said. In 2021-22, the number of opt-outs decreased to about 30 students per school, but it has yet to return to pre-COVID levels. Academic growth The Future Ready Index goes beyond providing statistics on the percentage of students in each school who score proficient and above in state tests. It also includes statistics on yearly progress made in math, English and science. If you look at our English proficiencies across our elementary schools, the index would show were not meeting the state benchmarks, Gogoj said. But if you look at growth in those same buildings, and average the buildings together, its 91%. Thats saying 91% of our students are making at least one years worth of growth. Six of the nine Carlisle schools that missed the English proficiency goal saw results that met or exceeded the state goal for yearly progress. For example, at LeTort Elementary School, 57% of the students scored proficient or above on the state assessment, but 100% demonstrated growth in English. That same growth level was reported at North Dickinson Elementary School where 63.6% of its students scored proficient or above. We do talk to students about growth, not just from one PSSA test to another, but within the assessments given more regularly, said Malinda Mikesell, district reading supervisor. We talk to students on where they are at the end of last school year and where are you now and how can we move you in reading as in math. Four of the eight schools that missed the state target in proficiency in math either met or exceeded the state goal for yearly progress. For example, at Bellaire Elementary School, 40% of students tested proficient or above on the state assessment, but 94% achieved yearly progress. Another factor at work in Carlisle is the poverty level. Friend said there is a higher transient student population in Carlisle, and almost half the students are eligible for some kind of free or reduced-price school lunches. Those students could face stressors that draw time, energy and focus away from school work, Gogoj said. It could be a parent working multiple shifts in order to provide for a family. That could make it harder for the family to help their student plug into school. It has nothing to do with their interest in their childs education. We try to offer support to families. Engagement There is also the challenge of convincing students of the importance of doing their best on a state assessment test, officials said. One approach is to encourage them to frame the test as an assessment of where they are, Gogoj said. We dont want them to be terrified of it. We dont want them to be stressed out about it. When you get into the secondary level, there are some trends that are occurring at the high school. For years, Keystone exams were considered a graduation requirement, Gogoj said. One of the big shifts in the last two to three years was Act 158, Pathways to Graduation, where the Keystone exam is no longer the only required pathway to earn a diploma. Student can now qualify for graduation using the aggregate scores of multiple Keystone exams, Gogoj said. There are also successful pathways that have nothing to do with the Keystone exam so, naturally, that could impact the students need or desire to perform well on the exam. Unfortunately for us, that doesnt change the fact that scores continue to be reported in the same manner. Gogoj said the Future Ready Index is a step in the right direction because it takes a more holistic view of academic achievement and growth than the No Child Left Behind era. The index includes such factors as the graduation rate, the attendance rate, college and career indicators and the percentage of high school students engaged in college level or advanced placement courses. I give a lot of credit to the state of Pennsylvania for trying to better capture more facets of education, Gogoj said. But I still consider the Future Ready Index just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what we look at. There are still a lot of things that the index leaves out. It doesnt look at students involved in activities and clubs. It doesnt look at assessments in other areas, the kinds of programs a school or district offers or the quality of those programs, or the choices available to students to explore their interests and passions. HARRISBURG The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced Friday that six counties will return to normal, but Cumberland County remains under a drought watch. The drought watch has been lifted for Berks, Chester, Clarion, Fayette, Lehigh and Venango counties. Adams, Bucks, Cameron, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Lancaster, Lebanon, Montgomery, Northampton and Perry counties remain on drought watch. Clinton County has returned to the drought watch, the department said. York County continues to be in drought warning. The department made the announcement after a meeting with the Commonwealth Drought Task Force. The Department of Environmental Protection said the state sees lingering year-to-date precipitation deficits and a handful of groundwater wells that have not fully recovered. Residents on drought watch are asked to reduce their individual water use by 5% to 10%, or a reduction of three to six gallons of water per day. Residents on drought warning are asked to reduce their water use by 10% to 15%, or a reduction of six to nine gallons of water per day. On Friday, the Marine Corps identified a Marine killed in a Wednesday shooting at a Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, barracks that investigators are treating as a homicide. Lance Cpl. Austin B. Schwenk, 19, and assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines, died Wednesday evening, with the service announcing that another Marine "suspected of involvement in the death" was apprehended soon after. The suspect has not been identified by the service. The shooting occurred in an on-base barracks. An investigation is ongoing and is being led by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, or NCIS, a spokesperson for the 2nd Marine Division told Military.com on Friday. Read Next: Pvt. Travis King, Soldier Who Fled to North Korea, Faces Desertion and Child Pornography Charges "We will continue to assist the investigating agency to the fullest extent possible," 1st Lt. Olivia Giarrizzo, the spokesperson, said in an emailed statement. "Our deepest condolences go out to the Marine's family and friends at this time." Immediately following the suspect's apprehension Wednesday evening, Marine Corps officials released a statement describing the death as a homicide in a press release, though no details about the unit, victim or suspect were released then. Schwenk was born in Onslow County, North Carolina, the same county that is home to Camp Lejeune. He attended recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina, and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal. He enlisted in the Marines in June 2022, according to the service. He was an electro-optical ordnance repairer, where he would have been tasked with fixing missile electronics, night vision devices and other fire control systems. In 2021, a Marine at Camp Lejeune was shot and injured in a barracks, according to The Associated Press. Officials said that the incident was accidental. Camp Lejeune experienced another tragedy in July, when three lance corporals were found dead inside a car at a gas station outside of the installation. They died of carbon monoxide poisoning, local authorities said, but investigators did not fully determine the circumstances of the exposure. -- Drew F. Lawrence can be reached at drew.lawrence@military.com. Follow him on X @df_lawrence. Related: Local Police Can't Explain How 3 Marines Found Dead in Car Were Exposed to Carbon Monoxide Women serving in tactical peacekeeping and security operations often work better with the civilian populations they're charged with protecting because of cultural norms, according to a report released this month. The report pointed to several areas where having women involved in decision-making and mission execution yielded better results, according to the authors. Those included preventing violence. "It's really to help commanders, the people making decisions, understand how gender factors might come into play and may impact operations," said co-author of the report Joslyn Fleming, a researcher at the think tank Rand Corp. Read Next: Navy SEALs Start Performance-Enhancing Drug Tests Next Month. Legal Challenges Are Likely to Follow. That includes situations where local women may not be able to speak freely to men or when men are around, a common occurrence during U.S. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Beyond making missions more effective, purposefully empowering women could serve as a boon to U.S. forces as they continue to look for partners in competing against China and Russia. "By ensuring organizations distribute aid more equitably, the United States gains a strategic advantage over such countries as China that often ignore on-the-ground barriers to the equitable allocation of aid," the report read. The study's debut coincides with the six-year anniversary of the 2017 Women, Peace, and Security Act, which directed the Defense Department and State Department to work toward boosting women's involvement in conflict resolution. The report also noted the importance of soliciting advice from and listening to local women during disaster relief missions, when access to information and resources is key. In some countries, women don't regularly attend large, majority-male gatherings. But according to the report, if women can both routinely receive and provide information, "DoD operations will go more smoothly, with fewer failures on the ground." For years, much of the focus on U.S. service women's expanding roles in the military has been on them passing arduous infantry courses, or on groups like female engagement teams, who worked within infantry units to engage with local women in the Middle East. But Fleming noted her group focused on more subtle areas where U.S. gender advisers, troops who have received training to ensure that gender and sociocultural considerations are accounted for in military operations, are working to engage locals. She highlighted one anecdote about U.S. military gender advisers working in Guyana in 2021, during U.S. Southern Command's annual Tradewinds exercise. Gender advisers were able to determine that female Guyanese soldiers weren't able to assist in the nation's border security operations, including counter-human trafficking efforts, because of a shortage of women's barracks and restrooms. U.S. advisers in turn were able to help support construction of a women's dormitory. "It's really helpful when you think of things like human trafficking and drug smuggling," Fleming said. "By having broader perspectives, people are able to better identify risk factors, and they're able to do better assessments of people that help with those operations." On another occasion, gender advisers involved in Operation Allies Welcome were faced with an especially sensitive challenge when a number of Afghan refugees were identified as victims of domestic violence within their temporary U.S. camps. The victims, mostly women and children, couldn't escape since their access to the U.S. was tied to their abuser, usually a male relative who was the primary visa-holder. Defense Department gender advisers coordinated with the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security to establish a "protection advisory group" to prevent and respond to the violence. Fleming added that, while the Rand report focuses primarily on gender-focused initiatives abroad, it's not hard to notice the impact on the U.S. military itself. The report acknowledged the probability of backlash as part of women's inclusion, but Fleming says it's just one more part of changing the internal culture of the military. "It's important to realize how these types of stories and overarching research can really demonstrate the meaningful impact that women and our perspectives bring to the military operations." -- Kelsey Baker is a graduate student at Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism, and a former active-duty Marine. Reach her on X at @KelsBBaker or bakerkelsey@protonmail.com. Related: The Marines Are Moving Gradually and Sometimes Reluctantly to Integrate Women and Men in Boot Camp Pvt. Travis King -- the young soldier who ran across the border into North Korea in July, triggering fears about a hostage situation before he was released without conditions in September -- is now facing eight different charges from the Army, including desertion and child pornography. King's charge sheet, which was reviewed by Military.com, alleges that, in the days before the private dashed across one of the most heavily guarded borders in the world, he solicited nude images from an underage Snapchat user and possessed a video of a minor engaged in sexual activity. The charges also allege that King was insubordinate toward his superiors in the fall of 2022, during a period in which he faced separate legal troubles in Seoul for allegedly assaulting locals and vandalizing a police car. He's also accused of assaulting an officer and lying to superiors. Read Next: The Army Needs a Lot of Money for Barracks, But It's Fighting for Pocket Change King's mother, Claudine Gates, said that she loves her son "unconditionally" and she is "extremely concerned about his mental health," in a statement provided by family spokesman Jonathan Franks. "As his mother, I ask that my son be afforded the presumption of innocence," Gates said, adding that she believes "something happened to [King] while he was deployed." Questions about the circumstances of King's departure for North Korea, including allegations by local South Korean law enforcement, remain. King was accused of assault on Sept. 25, 2022, according to reporting from several outlets citing court records. Seoul police alleged he pushed and punched a patron at a bar who refused to buy him a drink. Those charges were ultimately dropped. Then, two weeks later, just before 4 a.m. on Oct. 8, 2022, King was arrested in Mapo, South Korea, and placed in a squad car. He allegedly refused to answer questions, kicked the car's doors and ranted: "F--- Korean, f--- Korean army, f--- Korean police," ultimately being fined about $3,950 and paying nearly $800 for damage to the police car, according to reports. The charging documents show that the repercussions from Army leadership following those incidents were swift. Between Sept. 30, 2022, and Oct. 8, 2022, an Army captain repeatedly ordered King not to leave the pair of Army bases that are situated between Seoul and the Demilitarized Zone that borders North Korea; to be escorted when he was outside his barracks; and not to drink alcohol. The charging documents allege that he violated all those orders. Another series of charges stems from King's alleged behavior on Oct. 8, 2022. The charges claim that three soldiers -- a staff sergeant and two sergeants -- were sent to "apprehend" King. King, in turn, attempted to escape from them and, in the process, kicked the staff sergeant in the head. A separate assault charge alleges King also struck a second lieutenant in the head that day. NBC reported that King was ultimately detained by South Korea for 48 days over failing to pay the fines leveled at him over his actions in Mapo that October. Once released from a South Korean prison, the Army was ready to send him back to Fort Bliss, Texas, to face additional military discipline. Instead, he somehow ended up on a civilian tour of the border village of Panmunjom, a major tourist attraction, where he proceeded to dash into North Korea on July 18. The move stunned Army leaders. Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth said that King "may not have been thinking clearly, frankly, but we just don't know," days after his flight to North Korea. King was ultimately returned to U.S. officials on Sept. 27, 2023, according to the date range of his desertion charge. The American media would report the story the next day. Franks revealed that King will be defended by five lawyers including Franklin Rosenblatt, the same attorney who served as lead military defense counsel for Bowe Bergdahl's court-martial on desertion charges. The choice is notable since Bergdahl's situation is perhaps the closest parallel to King's. Bergdahl was a soldier in the 1st Battalion, 501st Regiment, who walked away from his post in Afghanistan and was captured by the Taliban, triggering a military search, in 2009. He was held captive for five years before finally being released in a prisoner swap for five U.S. detainees. Despite his long captivity, military officials still charged the soldier with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. Bergdahl's legal trials ended up lasting for years and drew scores of controversy and debate. Despite the fact that the military ended up securing an initial conviction at court-martial -- Bergdahl pleaded guilty in 2017 -- that decision was later overturned on appeal and the case is still being litigated to this day. -- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on X at @ktoropin. Related: 'He's in a Real Bad Place': US Makes Little Progress in Getting Pvt. Travis King Back from North Korea James E. Gosselins black and white Pleasantville High School senior yearbook picture from 1960 is the only photo of him that the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation has managed to recover. However, it was this photo that played a crucial role in helping the foundation fix a clerical error in records that had incorrectly listed his hometown as Pleasantville, Pennsylvania, rather than Pleasantville, New Jersey. Now that the mix-up has been corrected, Gosselins name is finally being added to the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Holmdel. On Sunday at 2 p.m., the memorials board of trustees will host a ceremony to celebrate and honor the fallen veteran. The ceremony is expected to draw of crowd of people including members of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Jewish War Veterans and a large group from Gosselins hometown in Atlantic County. Pleasantville High Schools marching band, along with the schools Junior ROTC, will travel to perform at the ceremony, the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation said. Its unbelievable the level of excitement that people have over this, said Amy Osborn, chief executive officer of the foundation. Pleasantville is a town that you know, maybe up here people have never heard of, but now theyre going to see them out in full force at the Holmdel Vietnam Memorial. Long Branch Monument, the company that will be sandblasting Gosselins name on the wall, was so moved by the story that it offered to do the job for free, Osborn said. When the memorial wall was first established in 1995, more than 1,500 names were inscribed on the open-air circular pavilion and arranged according to their date of casualty. Gosselin will be the second additional name added to the wall since its creation. He will be listed on the Feb. 2 panel to commemorate the day in 1968 when he was killed in action while serving as a Navy Corpsman, a combat medic for the Marines, during the Battle of Hue. Gosselin was 26 years old when he died, having initially joined the Army after high school and later serving in the Navy. Earlier this year, Bill Leipold, a Vietnam veteran and tour guide for the foundation, found out from someone who served with Gosselin that his name was never added to the wall in 1995. From there, Leipold who also grew up in Pleasantville but was a few years younger than Gosselin did some digging to confirm that the fallen veteran was from New Jersey and not Pennsylvania, which he was incorrectly recorded as. The final straw for me was I went to the Atlantic County Historical Society building in Somers Point and two curators there were able to physically give me the 1960 yearbook from Pleasantville High, Leipold said. Leipold also found a 1968 Atlantic City Press newspaper article with Gosselins photo and obituary featured on the front page. It all came together, he said. Being a Vietnam veteran myself, a New Jersey native myself, I just wanted to make sure everything was done right for him. Soon after the realization was made and the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation was notified, the group began the process of adding Gosselin to the wall and uncovering more information about his life, Osborn said. After speaking to people who served with him, Osborn found out that Gosselins nickname was Doc Goose, and one friend even described him as a big teddy bear. He was shot and killed while trying to retrieve one of his comrades during the Battle of Hue, a battle known as one of the fiercest and longest of the war. Also, the unit that Gosselin was in when he was killed was the Foxtrot Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, which is one of the most decorated and storied regiments in the Marine Corps, Leipold noted. Given the misunderstanding, administrative error, its just wonderful that we can properly put him in place with his other brothers and sisters that lost their lives, Leipold said. Pages of touching stories about his life and service are posted online on the national Vietnam Veterans Memorials Wall of Faces dedication site. One note reads, He joined the Navy to take care of the Marines, said his father, John R. Gosselin, who served 35 years with the Leathernecks. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit nj.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The USS New York is coming home for Veterans Day. The Amphibious Transport Dock ship with a bow stem cast using 7.5 tons of steel salvaged from the World Trade Center after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, will return to its namesake city to participate in its annual Veterans Day celebrations November 8-12. The Navy calls this latest USS New York an instrument of freedom and peace, and its job is to deliver Marines and their equipment anywhere in the world that might need a little freedom and peace. Named in memory of the victims of the terror attacks, the vessel's motto is Strength Forged through Sacrifice, Never Forget. Inside the ship is a steel plate recovered from the World Trade Center site that rests over one of its main passageways and an FDNY helmet to remember the sacrifices of New York Citys first responders. The ships chaplain begins daily prayers by reciting the name of one of the 2,977 victims. State names are usually given to submarines, but the Navy made an exception for New York at the behest of Gov. George Pataki, who wanted a surface ship with the name to see action in the Global War on Terrorism. With that in mind, the Navy created three sister ships, each named after victims of the attacks and each constructed with steel from the attack site. (U.S. Navy) The USS Arlington, named for Arlington County, Virginia, carries steel salvaged from the Pentagon. The USS Somerset is named for Somerset County, Pennsylvania, where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in a field. Some 22 tons of steel from a dragline excavator near the crash site makes up Somersets keel. New York was commissioned in 2009, Arlington in 2013 and Somerset in 2014. The USS New York the fifth ship in U.S. Navy history to be named for the state and the first amphibious transport to bear the name. The previous surface ship named for New York was the lead ship of its class, a battleship that fought in and survived World Wars I and II. An armored cruiser named New York fought in the Spanish-American War; a wood-hulled frigate with the name fought the French in the Quasi-War with France (but was burned by the British in the War of 1812); and the first-ever New York fought the British in the Revolutionary War on Lake Champlain. (A Los Angeles-class submarine, the USS New York City, was the only vessel to be named specifically for the city. It was decommissioned in 1997.) USS New York is scheduled to arrive at Pier 88 in Manhattan at about noon Wednesday, November 8. The ship will be open for public visitation on Sunday, November 12, from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Its crew will participate in New York Citys Veterans Day Parade as well as other citywide events. -- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, or on LinkedIn. Want to Learn More About Military Life? Whether you're thinking of joining the military, looking for post-military careers or keeping up with military life and benefits, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to Military.com to have military news, updates and resources delivered directly to your inbox. Oak Lawn, one of the largest tracts in Charlottesville proper with plenty of Jeffersonian history, has been sold to the University of Virginia, which says it will expand its health services there while preserving the property's 1822 mansion which stands on 5.2 acres at the corner of Ninth Street Southwest and Cherry Avenue. "UVA Health will partner with the Fifeville Neighborhood Association and other community groups to explore how to best use the historic home to support community needs," UVa said in a statement after the sale. The purchase price was $3.5 million, and the buyer is listed as the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia, according to a deed dated Oct. 16 and filed in Charlottesville Circuit Court. The property is assessed at $2.2 million and was listed for sale in March for $4.2 million. "I think it's a win for the Fifeville community," the listing agent, Ross Stevens, told The Daily Progress. Stevens said that UVa's submission of the winning bid should come as no surprise. "There's no other land with that proximity to the hospital," said Stevens. Early on in the sales process, Stevens said he was getting interest from developers. "That was kind of the last resort," Stevens said after UVa's purchase was made public. He said that UVa submitted a simpler and quicker-to-close contract than a developer could offer of particular note as Charlottesville is in the midst of a major overhaul of its comprehensive plan. "There was so much up in the air because of the rezoning process, and we didn't want to get hung up on a long study period," said Stevens. A mile to the north, the developer of additional phases of the Dairy Central mixed-use complex, home to the Dairy Market food hall, announced a pause in plans to build more than 400 apartments after activists complained in July about various aspects of that proposal. One proposal for Oak Lawn came forward shortly after the property was listed: a cultural center called "Agora" promoted by a veteran museum creator. That project seemed to require millions of dollars in public or private financial support, and no politicians threw their energy behind it. UVa's statement mentions "childcare services for both Fifeville residents and UVA Health team members" as an option for the Oak Lawn property, and Stevens said that's consistent with what he heard. "I think the catalyst for all of it was the need for child care for the hospital," said Stevens, "and they'll figure out the rest." What the rest might look like concerns some neighbors, such as Katrina Turner, who was working the cash register at the nearby Kush Kingdom market the morning after the sale announcement. "If UVa is doing something to help this community, to help with child care, then I'm all for it," Turner told The Daily Progress. However, she expressed concern that the tract, like most properties that UVa owns, would soon be coming off the tax rolls. "Everybody else has to pay taxes," said Turner. "UVa needs to start paying the taxes." The UVa Student Council agrees. In February, that group passed a resolution calling on the university to make an annual payment of at least $10 million to cover a portion of the foregone tax revenue on the roughly 2,000 acres that the school owns. That footprint concerns Peter Johanson, a customer at A Cut Above the Rest, a Cherry Avenue barber shop. "It brings a better look to the neighborhood, but you're pushing people out," said Johanson. "UVa buying this is just another step to expanding their property and pushing everyone else out." Leadership in the Fifeville neighborhood doesn't seem quite as worried, as the president of the neighborhood association delivered a quotation for the official UVa press release, which noted several partnerships between the community and the university, including a pay-what-you-can farm stand and health station at Abundant Life Ministries on Prospect Avenue. We look forward to our continued partnership with UVA Health, and to coming together to envision how Oak Lawn can serve the Fifeville community, Carmelita Wood, president of the Fifeville Neighborhood Association, said in the statement. One piece of the property which seems secure is the house, which was constructed under the supervision of James Dinsmore, a Scotch-Irish immigrant who became a major contractor at Monticello, the primary estate of UVa founder Thomas Jefferson. Dinsmore built Oak Lawn for a local merchant named Nimrod Bramham. "There are no current plans to tear down the historic house," said the UVa statement. "It will be used to help provide services to the community." James Fife, an engineer and planter-turned-preacher, bought Oak Lawn in 1847 when the property measured more than 300 acres. Fife's descendants sold off tracts and lived there until recently. The last couple there both became Charlottesville mayors: Nancy O'Brien and the late Francis Fife. Stevens said the family supports the sale. "The sellers are glad that it's in good hands and will help the Fifeville community," he said. Correction: The last name of the mansion's original owner was misspelled in the original version of this story. His name has been corrected here as Nimrod Bramham. 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 The search for a missing man en route from Texas to Central Virginia has been called off after Albemarle County police reported he was found safe. Don Gehr Benson Jr., 83, was reported missing after he was last seen in Texas at around 5:30 a.m., according to Virginia State Police. While Benson was said to be headed to Batesville in Albemarle County west of Charlottesville, the last ping from his mobile phone came at 6:13 p.m. from Chesterfield, police said. Thats nearly 100 miles east of his final destination. Virginia and Albemarle County authorities reported Benson critically missing on Wednesday, warning that this disappearance poses a credible threat to their health and safety as determined by the investigating agency. That investigating agency was the Albemarle County Police Department, which announced Benson had been found early Thursday morning. LANSING, MI -- The likelihood of black-market marijuana growers in Michigan facing full-blown, paramilitary-style raids featuring battering rams and heavily armed narcotics teams has diminished. Growing illegal marijuana in Michigan, even potentially thousands of plants, is only a misdemeanor crime, the state Court of Appeals ruled on Oct. 5. The severe prison terms tacked onto marijuana prohibition laws of the past have been eliminated by newer, more lenient laws, the court said. Attorneys and marijuana industry insiders who spoke to MLive, however, say illegal growers could still face serious punishment for other crimes, such as tax evasion, and the seizure of their valuable marijuana. There was never any need for there to be a military invasion, felony or any long sentences or anything like that, so that worked out, said marijuana activist Jamie Lowell, who helped write the law that reduced penalties. There are limits and there are parameters and if someone gets outside of them there are consequences, but its just cannabis. The appellate court said marijuana-related punishments contained in a 1978 drug law -- up to 15 years in prison for possessing more than 99 pounds or 200 marijuana plants -- no longer stand. Similar crimes today should be charged as misdemeanors, punishable by up to 93 days in jail, under the 2018, voter-passed Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act. Since passage of the the act in 2018, more than 3,500 people have been charged and 1,072 convicted under the outdated 1978 law, according to analysis provided to MLive by Michigan Supreme Court spokesman John Nevin. Those defendants may have grounds to fight their prior convictions. File photo (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive.com)Tanya Moutzalias | MLive.com Marijuana bust in Tuscola County The case reviewed by the appellate court stems from an August 2020 raid in Tuscola County by the state police-led, multi-jurisdictional Thumb Narcotics Unit, which operates in Huron, Tuscola, Sanilac and Lapeer counties. Using a search warrant, police entered a property owned by 45-year-old Shaaln Kejbou. There they found an extensive, unlicensed marijuana grow operation with 1,156 marijuana plants, Tuscola County Prosecutor Mark Reene said in a press release. It included a number of outbuildings, hydroponic equipment, chemical and other materials typically used to cultivate and harvest marijuana plants, Reene said. The outdoor areas were protected by a video surveillance system. Police found dogs on the property, presumably also for protection. While searching a house on the property, they discovered a loaded 12-gauge shotgun in one of the bedrooms. Tuscola County prosecutors charged Kejbou with two crimes tied to the 1978 drug law that states violators may be sentenced to up to four years in prison for possessing less than 20 marijuana plants and up to 15 years in prison for possessing greater than 200 plants. Based on those felony charges, the Tuscola County Prosecutors Office also charged Kejbou with possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony. Additionally, he faced counts of operating a criminal enterprise, concealing more than $1,000 worth of stolen property and animal abuse. Those charges werent part of the appellate review. A Tuscola County Circuit judge dismissed the marijuana and firearm crimes, ruling the old marijuana plant-count laws are obsolete. The Tuscola County Prosecutors Office appealed. Marijuana plants grow in October 2021 at Winewood Organics in Ann Arbor, Michigan.Jacob Hamilton | The Ann Arbor News The appeal The three-judge Court of Appeals pane ruled unanimously that felony punishments didnt apply and the case should be prosecuted under the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act. That law makes it legal to store up to 10 ounces of marijuana, personally possess 2.5 ounces and grow up to 12 plants. Violations for exceeding those amounts range from civil infractions to misdemeanors, and are not subject to imprisonment unless the violation was habitual, willful, and for a commercial purpose or the violation involved violence, the act states. We conclude that the (2018 law) was enacted to prevent situations like that which we are presented with here, in which the prosecution seeks a felony conviction for an unlicensed marijuana grow operation, said the joint opinion issued by Court of Appeals judges Michelle M. Rick and Kirsten Frank Kelly. We acknowledge this outcome may be viewed unjust by those businesses that legitimately operate within the parameters of the (law). The remedy, however, lies within the sole responsibility of the Legislature. Since the original law was passed by voter ballot initiative, any legislative changes will require three-fourths supermajority support in both houses. Youre not going to be able to get a three-quarters supermajority vote, and thats what its going to take to change one word of that law, said Tim Beck, who began working on marijuana legalization in 2002 and attended a marijuana trade organization meetup in Lansing this week where the courts ruling was a topic of conversation. Beck said the punishment for marijuana possession has remained clouded and confusing since the 2018 law passed. And this court case clarified it. Prosecutor Reene said the outcome highlights the peril of unintended consequences often associated with ballot initiatives. It is unlikely, given the broad statement of purpose provided with (the law), that the average Michigan voter in 2018 believed they were approving a regulatory scheme that would allow the unlicensed, unregulated and untaxed manufacture of 1,156 (or for that matter 11 million) plants of marihuana and that those engaged in such activity would only be subject to a misdemeanor penalty, Reene said. The unlimited manufacture of marijuana plants, which results in only a misdemeanor sanction, clearly obliterates much of the stated purpose of the act. It decimates legitimate businesses and license holders and fuels the illicit market and criminal enterprises. File photo (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com Drafters disagree Weve been waiting for this for a long time, said Robin Schneider, who helped write the law that legalized marijuana and now leads the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association business trade organization. The reason voters approved legalization was to end decades of senseless cannabis incarcerations. The law is working exactly as intended. The Michigan Cannabis Industry Association represents more than 400 licensed marijuana businesses. I havent heard any of our members complain about this, Schneider said. I think all of our members share the belief that they dont want to see anyone incarcerated for a cannabis crime. The Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA) is the responsible for licensing and regulating businesses to operate within the commercial marijuana industry. Its powers are limited to issuing fines, license revocation or other sanctions to licensed businesses that violate the rules. Through its work, the agency often encounters illicit marijuana and producers who operate outside the regulated market, which it reports to state police, usually the Tobacco and Marijuana Section, tasked with investigating criminal violation of marijuana licensing laws. We are aware that people are discussing the topic, CRA spokesman David Harns said. We have discussed internally and are continuing to follow our processes and procedures which mean that we are going to continue referring to (state police). The CRA referred 135 investigations to state police between October 2022 and June 30, according to quarterly reporting data. State police spokeswoman Shanon Banner said the court ruling wont impact state police Tobacco and Marijuana Section operations. We have reviewed the ruling and because it deals with the level of the penalty and doesnt change what is legal or illegal under the law, we dont expect it will have a major impact on our enforcement operations, she said. File photo, Oct. 5, 2018. Joel Bissell | MLive.com Joel Bissell | MLive.comJoel Bissell | MLive.com How do we charge somebody Kejbous attorney, Detroit-based Michael J. Lemnitz, believes the appellate ruling will have a lasting effect on the voracity with which police and prosecutors pursue marijuana crimes. This was not an intent to distribute charge, he said. However, I think the reasoning would apply to a charge of possession with intent to deliver and would, likewise, be prosecutable only by a misdemeanor. Attorney Michael Komorn of the Komorn law firm specializes in cannabis defense and currently has several clients charged under felony marijuana possession laws. In light of the Court of Appeals ruling, he plans to file motions requesting those charges be reduced to misdemeanors. Komorn said most prosecutors and police have already placed a low priority on marijuana enforcement, except for certain pockets of the state. Theyll raid like the old days, come in with guns and masks and go through that whole process, he said, but their dilemma is, how do we charge somebody. What, do you get charged with a misdemeanor? I have a number of cases where theyve seized property and not charged anybody. And you can only reap the benefits of forfeiture if you get a felony conviction. In February, Michigan state police with cooperation from the Ogemaw County Prosecutors Office reported the seizure more than 5,400 marijuana plants and 100 pounds of processed marijuana products from two residences associated with a large-scale grow operation. If those suspects will be charged with misdemeanor or more severe crimes is unknown. Eight months later, the investigation still hasnt been submitted for a prosecutorial review. We called (state police) to find out if they were planning to giving (the investigation) to us or if they submitted it to the (state Attorney Generals Office), Ogemaw County Prosecutor LaDonna A. Schultz said Thursday. They basically said they were going to give it to us and we said, can we have it sooner that later? My understanding is that we are going to be receiving it shortly. The Tuscola County prosecutor has the option to appeal the Court of Appeals ruling. Were looking at a variety of different options at this point in time, Reene said. Theres ample confusion ... it is definitely not the model of clarity. More on MLive: Judicial ceasefire issued in Michigan U.P. border town marijuana battle Weed war intensifies in small Michigan U.P. town Confident that we can compete: New marijuana dispensary pitched just outside Ann Arbor Michigan marijuana sales likely to surpass $3 billion, helped by record-breaking July SOUTH HAVEN, MI - Long before Mackinac Island and Traverse City were the tourist hot spots they are now, there was the simple and breathtakingly beautiful pull of The Pike. Designed to be a 400-mile corridor, beckoning travelers into southern Michigan from the Chicago area via the Indiana border, the West Michigan Pike stretched all the way north to Mackinaw City. One of the first paved roads in Michigan, construction plans for the tourist route began around 1911 and would continue for more than a decade. The southern section of this beauty road hugged close to the Lake Michigan shoreline and was dotted with vacation beach towns like St. Joseph, South Haven, Saugatuck, Holland and Grand Haven. But with transportation progress came the federal highway system. Signs for whats now known as U.S. 31 sprang up along The Pikes route in the mid-1920s, and its name began to fade away. But there would be a scenic comeback. In 2016, the West Michigan Pike route from the states southern border all the way to Ludington was designated an historic Pure Michigan Byway - a nod to 184 miles of the corridors history as a tourism focal point. Cruising through South Haven on the West Michigan Pike. Photo provided by the South Haven Visitors Bureau. So what does all this mean for us? Its a reminder that The Pike route is a perfect fall color road for cruising. Because of its unique location, its often a bonanza of peak autumn hues long after other spots in our state have lost their luster. Take the South Haven area, for example. This southern Michigan location typically sees the final wave of peak color in the state. This year, that means mid to late October. Add to that its proximity to Lake Michigan. Our shoreline areas are buffered by the relatively warm water temperatures of the Great Lakes. That means colors on the trees appear later here, and their vibrancy lasts a little longer. Knowing leaf-peepers will head out along the historic Pike route of U.S. 31, South Haven tourism experts put together a list of six stops they think are perfect for a daytrip adventure. This includes stops for art, wine, pie and maple syrup. The green line is the West Michigan Pike historic byway route, stretching from Michigan's Indiana border to the Ludington area. Image provided by the Pure Michigan Byway Driving Guide. Weve got a few of our own ideas for a memory-making trip along The Pike. You can jaunt between a few towns, or pick your favorite and stay for awhile. St. Joe: This cute town is a beach-lovers spot in the summer, but dont overlook its autumn allure. Head to Silver Beach County Park for a waterfront stop. Its too cold to swim, but you can still don your sunglasses, kick off your shoes and feel the sand between your toes one last time before it morphs into boot season. A flight of beers at Saugatuck Brewing Company. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com)Joel Bissell | MLive.com Saugatuck: This riverfront town and its next-door sibling, Douglas, are just made for strolling. Park your car and wander through the downtown. If your legs need a longer stretch, try the sandy trails at Saugatuck Dunes State Park. Pick one that leads to the water and marvel at the Lake Michigan view. The Holland Peanut Store located at 46 E 8th St. has been owned and operated by five generations since 1902 in downtown Holland, Michigan on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com)Joel Bissell | MLive.com Holland: This medium-sized college town is all charm. Its downtown has a great mix of shops and a cozy outdoor fireplace to take the edge off any fall chill. Grab a coffee at Lemonjellos. Fill a bag with vintage candy brands and other goodies at the Holland Peanut Store. Roam the Window on the Waterfront trail with a view of Hollands authentic Dutch windmill, DeZwaan (The Swan). Stop in The Curragh Irish pub or grab a meal at Hops at 84 East. New Holland Brewing has sit-down and to-go options. Grand Haven: Infinitely walkable, this Coast Guard City has an incredibly long waterfront walkway that hugs the Grand River channel before leading to the lighthouse pier and stretching into the big lake. Want a beach stroll? Grand Haven State Park has a large expanse off one side of the pier. There are plenty of spots to enjoy a picnic, or grab a table at a restaurant with a waterfront view. CANTON, MI -- A 14-year-old Canton boy was hospitalized Thursday after he shot himself with a handgun while home alone. Canton Police say they were dispatched to an apartment in the area of Warren & Lilley roads around 1 p.m. for a report of a shooting. Police discovered the boy with an accidental, self-inflicted gunshot wound to his face and began treating him before transporting him to a nearby hospital for further care. His condition was unknown after he arrived at the hospital. Although the boy appears to have been home alone at the time, he was able to contact a neighbor for help after the shooting. Investigators are now working to determine how the boy got the gun and if charges are necessary in the matter. The case will be turned over to the Wayne County Prosecutors Office for determination of possible charges. I would like to take this opportunity to emphasize the importance of responsible firearms ownership and storage, said Canton Police Chief Chad Baugh. Ensuring that firearms are securely stored in homes away from children or unauthorized users is essential in preventing tragedies such as this. The Canton Police Department has free gun locks available to the public, available at either the front desk or Records Bureau. Were almost to the peak of the Orionid meteor shower and, with a little planning, you just might catch a glimpse of a bright fireball streaking through the sky. The Orionid meteor shower will peak on Oct. 22, though plenty of meteors will be visible both before and after that day. You can watch for Orionid meteors on both the morning of Oct. 21 and early Oct. 22 after midnight and in the hours before dawn, EarthSky.org reported. Meteors will be visible through Nov. 22. Under a dark sky with no moon, EarthSky predicts you can see as many as 20 meteors per hour this year. The Orionids are considered one of the most beautiful showers of the year and its meteors are known for their brightness and speed. As NASA points out, the meteors are fast traveling at about 148,000 mph. The fast meteors can also leave glowing trains incandescent bits of debris in the wake of the meteor that make the show even more exciting. Meteor showers are created when pieces of space debris interact with our atmosphere. In the case of the Orionids, the debris is created by the Halleys Comet. Each time Halley returns to the inner solar system its nucleus sheds ice and rocky dust into space, NASA said, with that dust eventually becoming the Orionids in October and the Eta Aquarids in May. Halleys Comet takes about 76 years to orbit the sun. It made its last appearance to casual observers in 1986 but wont return to the inner solar system again until 2061. How to see the Orionids The radiant for the Orionids the point in the sky from which the meteors appear to come is the constellation Orion but you should let your eyes take in the entire sky for your best chance to see the meteors. NASA said its actually better to view the Orionids from 45 to 90 degrees away from the radiant, the place in which the fireballs will appear longer and more spectacular. You should find an area well away from the city or street lights and come prepared with a sleeping bag, blanket or lawn chair, NASA recommends. Lie flat on your back with your feet facing the southeast and look up to take in as much of the sky as possible. It will take about 30 minutes for your eyes to adapt to the dark and give you the best chance to see meteors. And stay off your phone. The light from digital devices can make it harder for your eyes to adapt to the dark. MISSAUKEE COUNTY Police have identified a woman fatally shot by police in Northern Michigan. The Michigan State Police said 41-year-old Brandy Neibert of Lake City was shot and killed while the Northern Michigan Mutual Aid Task Force Emergency Response Team attempted to conduct a search warrant for her arrest in Norwich Township on Oct. 5. Neibert was armed with a knife, police said, and approached officers. An officer then shot and killed the woman. The Michigan State Police has been investigating the incident at the request of Missaukee County Sheriff Wil Yancer and Grand Traverse County Sheriff Mike Shea. The officer involved is on administrative leave per department policy. KEWEENAW COUNTY, MI Officials in one of Michigans most remote counties have a new tool to use when searching for missing people. The Keweenaw County Sheriffs Office announced this week that it is using $5,144 to purchase eight GPS satellite phones that can be used throughout the regions sprawling, 3.8-million-acre wilderness. The funds were provided through Visit Keweenaws Destination Development program. Officials say the phones are necessary because service only exists on Brockway Mountain and at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge due to the geographical layout and elevation differences across the peninsula. The GPS phones, which can operate without a cell phone signal, acquire a longitude and latitude on 911 calls and use them to locate people in distress. Our number one concern is that while recreating in Keweenaw County that people do so in a safe manner and when they do get into trouble, we have the resources to help them, Keweenaw County Sheriff Curt Pennala said. Response time is what we are always trying to decrease, with the simple motto of time saves lives. Officers and search team members have received training on how to use the new phones, Pennala said. Keweenaw Search and Rescue not only serves Keweenaw County, which is some of the most remote land in the state, Pennala said. We also assist and have been assisted in searches in adjacent counties where the devices will be used. The GPSs are used in the field for rescuers, helping guide them during a search and helping locate lost persons. There might have been some laughter when Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor read the title of a City Council resolution opposed to MDOTs Proposal to Build a Wall through Ann Arbor, but for council members and some residents, the issue is no laughing matter. Reporter Ryan Stanton documented Ann Arbor City Councils unanimous approval of the resolution this week opposing the Michigan Department of Transportations proposal to construct tall security fences along two long stretches of the state-owned railroad tracks through the city. Its accurate to call the miles of fencing estimated to cost over $6 million a wall, said Council Member Erica Briggs, D-5th Ward, lead sponsor of the resolution. This wall would not only restrict the movement of people, but also of wildlife, including those seeking water from the Huron River, Briggs said, adding it also would create significant obstacles to advancing completion of the Border-to-Border-Trail. With an online petition against the project collecting 4,600 signatures as of Monday night, opposition to the proposed project goes beyond city officials. In the meantime, MDOT officials told residents earlier this month theyve made no final decisions and theyre taking the communitys feedback into consideration, though they emphasized they see a need to install fencing as a safety measure to prevent people from walking on the tracks. You can read more about the issue in Ryans story here. While MDOTs proposed fencing has drawn the ire of city officials, Lucas Smolcic Larson detailed Ann Arbor Township leaders opposition to an MDOT recommendation to shut down some highway ramps in the area that have long been haunted by safety concerns. Elected officials oppose shutting down the Barton Drive on- and off-ramps to eastbound M-14 as a short-term solution. Township Trustee Rodney Smith said the dangerous interchange exists as it does today because of an alignment that was once considered temporary but has persisted for decades. Read more about the issue from Lucas story here. Thats what caught our eye in Ann Arbor this week. Take a look at those headlines, and others, below: Ann Arbor voices opposition to widening U.S. 23 highway Over 1,000 apply for Ann Arbors new guaranteed income program 50 years of silence: A mothers mysterious disappearance and a serial killer connection University of Michigan seeks $14M purchase of 60 acres in Ann Arbor More local leaders oppose closing Ann Arbor M-14 ramps as short-term safety solution Flooding dealt a gut punch to historic downtown Ypsilanti library. Whats next? About Hello, Ann Arbor: Each week, we deliver the big headlines straight to your inbox. Hello, Ann Arbor has also won awards from both the Michigan Press Association and the Associated Press for best column. Sign up here for the newsletter. Martin Slagter is a lead reporter for MLive/The Ann Arbor News where he started as an education reporter in 2016. He lives in Ypsilanti with his wife and dog. He can be reached at mslagter@mlive.com MORE HELLO, ANN ARBOR: Hello, Ann Arbor: Historic house spends 4 years on the market; downtown Starbucks to close Hello, Ann Arbor: High school football traditions; introducing the A2 Update Hello, Ann Arbor: Original Cottage Inn up for sale; shopping center demolition begins Hello, Ann Arbor: Hippies to high-rises; theres a fungus among us Hello, Ann Arbor: Swift out as superintendent; the high cost of living in Ann Arbor Over the past 25 years, the International Rescue Committee in Charlottesville has resettled thousands of refugees from dozens of countries. But with conflicts raging around the world from the high-profile wars in Ukraine and Israel to the aftermath of wars in Afghanistan and Iraq the groups work is far from finished. IRC CEO and President David Miliband, a former Labour Party politician in the United Kingdom, visited Charlottesville earlier this month to celebrate a quarter-century of accomplishments made by the local arm of the global humanitarian aid, relief and development nongovernmental organization. That celebration, however, was tempered by Milibands reminder of the growing scale of the human cost of conflict as the world enters what he called an age of crisis. The Charlottesville IRC has resettled more than 5,000 refugees from 32 different countries over the past 25 years, Miliband said on Oct. 11 to a crowd gathered at the Haven, a day shelter for the homeless in downtown Charlottesville, at an event arranged and produced by the University of Virginias Miller Center of Public Affairs. The local IRC said that it resettles anywhere from 150 to 250 refugees every year; during the evacuation of Afghanistan from Kabul International Airport in 2021, Charlottesville alone accommodated more than 500 Afghans. About four to five percent of the total population are refugees, he said. We see ourselves as community builders here in Charlottesville, and we like to think that the contribution that weve made is not just for lives of the refugees, but for the lives of the community. As community builders the local IRC offers refugees coming to the Charlottesville area assistance through key programs: resettlement, employment, education, integration and support. IRC case managers provide housing and school enrollment, make referrals for medical care, give legal advice, offer classes in English and provide access to local employers. Successful integration of refugees takes a village, Miliband said. We work with universities, local nonprofit organizations, private sectors, because we know we need to set people on the path to success if they are going to be active contributors to the society. According to the Charlottesville IRC, within six months, most refugees are economically self-sufficient. The numbers and success rate are impressive, but so too is the size of the humanitarian crisis the world now faces. There is a growing sense that global risks are reaching an unprecedented scale fifty-four civil wars or conflicts around the world, over 100 million displaced, 258 million facing acute food insecurity or worse, and a growing climate crisis. Humanitarian action is needed now more than ever, the Charlottesville IRC said in a statement announcing Milibands visit. Miliband said the world has entered an age of crisis. There are 360 million people worldwide who are in need of humanitarian assistance, he said. Of those 360 million, 70% are the product of conflict while the other 30% are the product of climate or economic disaster, according to the IRC's "Emergency Watch List." One need not look far to see them; they are on every television and in every newspaper in the country today, especially as new wars rage in Ukraine and Israel. Miliband said the IRC is taking the situation in Israel seriously. Before Hamas launched its surprise attack on Israel from Gaza on Oct. 7 and before Israel declared a full-on war with the Gaza-based Palestinian terror group that same day, there were already 1.7 million Palestinian refugees living in Gaza, according to the United Nations. That is the majority of the territorys 2.1 million people. Now, as Israel prepares for a ground invasion, it is asking those living in the north of the territory to relocate. But many of those people have nowhere to go, seeing as how the densely packed country is the size of Las Vegas with three times the population and all border crossings into Israel and Egypt have been closed since the war began. To date, at least 3,478 have been killed in Gaza and 1,400 in Israel. The number climbs every day. Miliband said the IRC is monitoring the conflict from its operations in surrounding Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Syria none of whom have opened their borders to Palestinian refugees. There are is no IRC programming in Israel, he said, including Gaza. YPSILANTI, MI - One of Eastern Michigan Universitys teachers unions has reached a new five-year deal with the university, which regents approved Oct. 19. The new deal, which covers about 550 full-time and part-time lecturers in the EMU Federation of Teachers, was approved by the universitys Board of Regents at Thursdays monthly meeting. The deal lasts through Aug. 31, 2028, and increases salaries by 3% and an additional $500 for full-time lecturers in the first year. Part-time lecturers will receive 4% raises in the first year. Here is the breakdown for the next four years: 2024-25: 2% and an additional $500 for full-time, 3% for part-time 2025-27: 2.25% and an additional $500 each year for full-time, 3.2% for part-time 2027-28: 3% for full-time and part-time The minimum salary for full-time lecturers without a doctorate is $43,000, as well as $46,000 for those with a doctorate. Part-time lecturers will make nearly $40 an hour by the final year. The full agreements breakdown, including health benefits, can be seen here. The EMU Federation of Teachers is separate from the union that went on strike in fall 2022. The universitys chapter of the American Association of University Professors eventually reached a four-year agreement, with faculty members seeing a first-year raise of 4% or $4,000, whichever is greater, according to the regents meeting notes. If you would like more reporting like this delivered free to your inbox, click here and signup for our weekly newsletter: Michigan Schools. 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 MLive: Milestone $631M housing project breaks ground at University of Michigan University of Michigan seeks $14M purchase of 60 acres in Ann Arbor How will University of Michigan change in 25 years? Leaders talk future, seek input FLINT, MI A year ago, Alena Gonzalez led family and friends in a downtown walk to honor her late sister and others who had become victims of domestic violence. Gonzalez is looking to do the same thing this year with the second annual walk set to take place Saturday, Oct. 21. I did it last year because it was the first year (after) my sister was taken from me from domestic violence, and I wanted to make it an annual thing, because I know so many other girls go through it on a day to day basis, and so many girls are so afraid to speak up and to get out before its too late, Gonzalez told MLive Friday morning. Thats why I feel like the walk is so important to show that theyre not alone and theres so many others in similar situations that are and there, and help is available. Gonzalez sister, Alicia Jackson-Skaggs, was shot and killed March 29, 2022, near the parking lot of the Flint Township Golden Corral. She was 20. Her ex-boyfriend, Deondre McLilly, and McLillys mother, Windy Weatherford, were each charged with more than a dozen felonies in connection with the incident. Their criminal case is currently pending in Genesee County Circuit Court. Gonzalez noted that the walk isnt just for her sister, though. Many others are affected by domestic violence, she said, and the walk is meant to raise awareness for their situations, too. That is particularly in Genesee County recently. Authorities currently are searching for Kelly McWhirter, a 60-year-old Flushing woman and longtime county employee who the sheriffs office said was the victim of domestic violence. Her husband, Steven Higgins, died by suicide after being confronted by police. Officials said he had become a suspect in what is now being treated as a homicide investigation. This case has had such an impact, and it has such an impact on the dangers and the escalation of domestic violence, Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson said Thursday. Kellys life and what shes done and how shes made an impact in people throughout her whole life deserves the honor of being a champion for domestic violence victims. Another incident officials believe resulted from domestic violence was the death of 25-year-old Gina Bryant, a Macomb County resident who was a nursing student at the University of Michigan-Flint. Her ex-boyfriend, Justin Wendling, a medical resident at Ascension Genysis in Grand Blanc, is believed to have kidnapped Bryant, escorting her to his vehicle and then transporting her out of state. When she tried to flee his custody in Illinois, officials said, Wendling shot and killed her. He then turned the gun on himself when confronted by authorities in Iowa. Unfortunately, the MCSO is seeing an uptick of Domestic Violence case, Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said in a statement about the incident. These incidents are tragic not only to the victims and survivors, but to family members as well. Please, if you or someone you know is in an unsafe situation, do not hesitate to reach out. The downtown Flint walk to raise awareness for domestic violence is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. Saturday. Those interested in participating should begin at the YWCA of Greater Flint, 801 Saginaw St. From there, participants will head south, around the circuit court building before returning to the starting point. Gonzalez encourages people to bring signs although some may be provided and anything else they want to bring attention to their message. Any kind of things to make noise or to showcase what were talking about, she said. Just bring yourself, thats all we really ask for, you know? Voices are heard in numbers. FLINT, MI -- Mayor Sheldon Neeley is proposing to spend $50,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to provide legal help to residents facing foreclosure after the recent sale of a bundle of 230 occupied homes in and around Flint. Neeley said on Friday, Oct. 20, that hes asking the City Council to approve an emergency resolution next week to provide the funding to Legal Services of Eastern Michigan. More than 80% of the homes that were sold together for $1.2 million at a Genesee County tax auction are in the city and occupants of those homes have received letters from the company that purchased the homes they occupy, advising them to make arrangements to become tenants or face eviction. This needs a community response, Neeley said in a news conference on Friday. We need to be able to support (people) and reduce harm for families. Jill Nylander, executive director of Legal Services, said her group has already begun fielding calls from occupants of the homes purchased by To Life Real Estate. Although the homes were lost through the tax foreclosure process before they were sold at a September auction, Nylander said attorneys can help ensure that residents are renting homes that are in a safe and habitable condition before they agree to continue as tenants. To Lifes purchase of the 230-home bundle took area officials by surprise, because occupied homes that have been bundled previously have never sold. This is because buyers do not want to pay for houses they do not want in order to get others that they do, officials said. Genesee County Treasurer Deb Cherry has said none of the property bundles offered for sale during her 13 years in office had previously sold, but the To Life sale has caused officials to reconsider such sales in the future. A representative of the company has told MLive-The Flint Journal that investors who recently incorporated To Life see hidden value in the properties, which are scattered throughout and around Flint. 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 previously used the bundled sales approach to shepherd some of those properties to the county Land Bank. This 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 inhabiting. In the case of To Life, occupants of the houses received letters from the investor group just two weeks after the auction sale, according to letters obtained by MLive-The Flint Journal. The letters advised occupants to contact the company within seven days about rental options or to prepare for eviction. Although the Land Bank was not a party to the most recent bundled sale, Executive Director Michael Freeman said Friday that To Life should proceed with caution as they take possession of the troubled properties and attempt to lease homes that may not be up to building codes. My concern is that a company or individual has already started putting together terms of rental when they dont even know the condition of what theyre renting ... Thats troubling to me, Freeman said Friday. 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: Investors buy up hundreds of foreclosed Flint homes for $1.2M, leaving residents in limbo Flint mom thought she had a chance to save her home before it was sold in bundled package Flint could lift 2010 ban on Sunday morning alcohol sales FLINT, MI Nearly $100,000 in grants from the Community Foundation of Greater Flint will be used to support two programs at Mott Community College. The grants, totaling $97,790, were announced by the college earlier this week. FLINT, MI Authorities on Friday said they believe they found the item that may have been the weapon used to kill 60-year-old Kelly McWhirter, a Flushing woman who has not been seen or heard from since Oct. 14. Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson said Oct. 20 that an item was recovered from an address in Prescott, Michigan, where the suspect in McWhirters disappearance, her 57-year-old ex-husband Steven Higgins, stayed for about 10 hours on Tuesday. Swanson would not specify what the item was, saying only that it was not a firearm but rather an item that caused blunt-force trauma. Its yet another piece of the puzzle that we can add to what happened to Kelly and where she is going to be found, Swanson said. Related: Genesee County Sheriffs Office asks for help finding missing Flushing couple Swanson provided new details about the McWhirter investigation during a news conference Friday. He said the item recovered by investigators was handed over by Higgins to the wife of a friend of his who had previously died. Higgins spent about 10 hours at the womans home on Tuesday, before officials held their first news conference announcing he and McWhirter were missing. Authorities the following morning announced that Higgins was being considered a suspect in McWhirters disappearance, hours after he shot himself after being confronted by police. He died at Hurley Medical Center shortly after. Swanson said Higgins slept in his truck while outside the womans home, helped her with yard work and handed her what is believed to be the murder weapon so the woman could protect herself with it. How many friends do you have come over and bring you a weapon to say, You may need this to protect herself? Swanson said. The item is being tested for evidence to see whether it was used in a crime, Swanson said. Higgins left the womans home once being confronted about the media attention surrounding his disappearance. She then called authorities to report his being at her home. Read more: Husband now a suspect in Flushing womans disappearance, sheriffs office says McWhirter, who recently worked as the secretary for the county board of commissioners, was reported missing after not showing up for work on Monday. When police went to McWhirters Flushing home, they found her vehicle parked in the driveway but did not find her husbands vehicle. Inside the home, Swanson said, there appeared to have been a crime scene that involved the loss of blood. The scene had apparently been cleaned up, Swanson said, but evidence was still present. Evidence of an incident was also present inside McWhirters vehicle, Swanson said. Shovels, soil and landscaping tools were found in the back of McWhirters vehicle, which Swanson said had been driven by Higgins to Ohio and back late Saturday and into Sunday. Testing has not concluded on the soil found in the vehicle, Swanson said. Also inside the vehicle, Swanson said, was a body bag and the signs of blood. More: Search continues for missing Flushing woman as suspect dies from self-inflicted gunshot wound McWhirter remains missing, although Swanson said the probability of her still being alive is slim. Police are continuing to search the nearly 300-mile stretch from Ogemaw County to Norwalk, Ohio, as the possible crime scene. If anyone has information about McWhirters whereabouts, they are asked to call 911. Many of these cases are considered whodunnits. This is a wheredunnit? Swanson said. We have the suspect. We are always keeping the door open that there could be other people, but this was a domestic violence turned homicide, and the suspect who has the information killed himself didnt leave us any clue. FLINT, MI -- A petition drive that aims to recall Flint Councilwoman Ladel Lewis is moving forward but a third attempt to start the same proceeding against Councilwoman Jerri Winfrey-Carter has stalled out again. The Genesee County Election Commission approved the recall language against Lewis, who represents the citys 2nd Ward, on Friday, Oct. 20, while voting not to approve language against Winfrey-Carter, who represents Ward 5. Lewis, who is the council vice president, just last month survived a separate petition drive to force a special recall election against her after petition circulators fell 64 signatures short of the required number. The newly approved petition language for Lewis says the first-term council member should be recalled for accepting a $1,500 gift from Ashley Capital to a nonprofit group she founded and later voting to approve a brownfield tax break for the same company. Petition language seeking Winfrey-Carters recall said she should be recalled because she abstained from voting on the citys general fund budget. But that language, filed by former Flint Councilman Wantwaz Davis, was rejected after Winfrey-Carter argued that it lacked clarity and accuracy, failing to identify the fiscal year of the budget and incorrectly spelling her last name by not hyphenating it. Clarity and precision in recall language are paramount to ensure a fair and transparent democratic process, and these shortcomings must be addressed for the sake of fairness and accuracy, Winfrey-Carter told the commission. Election Commission members Jennie Barkey, a county probate judge, and Domonique Clemmons, clerk-register of the county, each voted to approve the recall language against Lewis and to reject the language filed against Winfrey-Carter. County Treasurer Deb Cherry, the third member of the commission, was not at Fridays meeting. The commission is charged under state law with determining whether petition language filed against local officials is sufficiently clear and factual. If language is approved, petition drives against officials can be initiated after a 10-day window that allows for the decision to be contested in Genesee Circuit Court. For a special election to be called, petition circulators are required to collect the signatures of at least 25% of the number of votes cast in their ward for all candidates for the office of governor in the last gubernatorial election. Michigan election law provides for a single special election if recall language is approved and if the petitioner collects the minimum number of valid signatures required. Petition drives are not valid without the approval of the commission. Special recall elections automatically include the names of the recall target and other candidates seeking to replace the officeholder. The candidate with the highest vote total completes the term in office. Davis, who has said he plans to run against Winfrey-Carter if hes successful, said Friday that he would immediately file similar language in an attempt to have new wording approved. When you abstain, youre voting no, he said of his effort to remove Winfrey-Carter. Thats not true leadership. Lewis did not attend Fridays meeting and petition drive supporters did not speak to the commission. She is one of five Flint council members for whom recall language has been approved. In addition to Lewis, those facing active recall drives are Eric Mays (Ward 1), Judy Priestley (Ward 4), Dennis Pfeiffer (Ward 8), and Eva Worthing (Ward 9). Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter. Read more at The Flint Journal: A majority of Flint City Council members now face approved recall petition drives Flint could lift 2010 ban on Sunday morning alcohol sales Montrose Twp voters can keep or reject new solar ordinance in November referendum GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A man who killed a 2-year-old when he was a teen, in what a judge called a gruesome, disturbing murder, has been given a chance at parole. LeeClifton Jerome Moore, 36, was re-sentenced Thursday, Oct. 19 by Kent County Circuit Judge Mark Trusock. He received 40-60 years in prison because he is considered a juvenile lifer. He was 17 in August 2005 when he killed 2-year-old Armon Colar. Moore, at the time, was watching his girlfriends three children. He got upset by the boy crying, and the children running around, making noise. Investigators determined the boy was beaten over three hours. The boy suffered bleeding and swelling in his brain, retinal hemorrhage, a torn liver, a broken elbow, blood on the lungs, and bruises and abrasions all over. There was evidence that he was beaten with a belt and had a string tied around his penis and pulled, authorities said. Thursday was the second time in five years that Moore had been before Trusock. He initially was re-sentenced in 2018 following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that automatic life sentences for juveniles was cruel and unusual punishment without proper justification. During the 2018 sentencing, Trusock stated on the record why Moore should be sentenced to life and he upheld Moores life sentence. Since that time, the Michigan Supreme Court has ruled that life-in-prison for juveniles is ostensibly illegal. Judges are generally required to give a minimum sentence of 25 to 40 years, with a maximum of 60 years. Trusock on Thursday explained why he decided to give Moore the maximum minimum sentence. He said hes been doing criminal work for 38 years, been a judge for 17 years and handled about 150 murder cases. In my opinion, this is the most egregious murder that I have ever seen of what was inflicted on this innocent 2-year-old child, he said. 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. More from MLive Tired of traffic delays on I-196 near Grandville? Bridge work to wrap up soon Trump elector will cooperate with Michigan state prosecutors, have charges dropped Ottawa County health directors termination hearing date changed again OTTAWA COUNTY, MI The date of the termination hearing for the leader of Ottawa Countys health department has changed yet again. The removal hearing for Administrative Health Officer Adeline Hambley will now be held at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24, during a special meeting of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners at the boards normal meeting room at 12220 Fillmore St. in West Olive. This latest change in date was due to a scheduling conflict with Hambleys attorney on Oct. 23. The removal hearing was initially set for Oct. 19 in a unilateral move by Ottawa County Board Chair Joe Moss. Questions about the legality of that move prompted the board to take a vote on setting the hearing for Oct. 23. However, the hearing may be delayed even further if a judge on Monday rules in favor of Hambleys request to postpone the hearing until questions about due process are resolved by the court. Moss alleges Hambley is incompetent and engaged in misconduct and neglect of duty. Those charges largely stem from Hambley voicing her concern publicly about Moss direction to significantly slash the health departments budget a demand that was later walked back. At the termination hearing the board will consider, and possibly decide, whether to fire Hambley based on Moss allegations. The hearing will be open to the public, and Moss said there would be opportunity for public comment. Moss leads the ultraconservative majority faction on the county board called Ottawa Impact. Since taking office in January, Ottawa Impact commissioners have been trying to replace Hambley with an appointee who opposed masking and social distancing mandates. On Monday afternoon, Muskegon County Circuit Court Judge Jenny L. McNeill will hear arguments from Hambleys attorney, Sarah Riley Howard, about why the hearing should be postponed. Howard argues the hearing as planned by the board and its legal counsel would possibly violate Hambleys rights to due process. There are also differing opinions between Howard and the countys corporate counsel, Kallman Legal Group, about what constitutes just cause required to fire Hambley. Howard wants McNeill to order the termination hearing postponed until the court can decide on what is required of a fair termination hearing. Chief among Howards concerns is that Kallman Legal Group has said Hambley wont be able to call any county commissioners to testify under oath as witnesses during the hearing. Howard also believes that the allegations of Hambleys wrongdoing presented by Moss are simply a pretext to remove Hambley and fulfill his campaign promise to install a new health officer, as opposed to factual findings of wrongdoing that would meet just cause requirements. Additionally, David Kallman with Kallman Legal Group has indicated to several media outlets that he will appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court a recent ruling that Hambley was, in fact, appointed by the prior board as the countys health officer. Howard is asking McNeill to postpone the termination hearing until the states highest court decides that question. Howard filed the motion to postpone the termination hearing on Friday, Oct. 13, a day after the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled that Hambley was, in fact, appointed as the countys health officer. The higher court, however, declined to reinstate McNeills earlier order preventing the board from properly terminating Hambley until the conclusion of her lawsuit. Related: Ottawa County official was properly appointed but commissioners can fire her, appeals court rules Hambley filed her lawsuit against the county board after Ottawa Impact commissioners on Jan. 3 voted to replace her without cause and a termination hearing required by state law. After McNeill ruled Hambley was appointed health officer and that she couldnt be fired until the conclusion of her lawsuit, Ottawa Countys corporate counsel appealed those rulings to the Michigan Court of Appeals. Ottawa Impact commissioners in January approved replacing Hambley with Nathaniel Kelly, a Hudsonville resident who works as a health and safety manager at an HVAC service company. Kelly holds two masters degrees one in public health and the other in occupational health and industrial hygiene from Columbia Southern University, a for-profit, online-only institution. Ottawa County Administrator John Gibbs submitted Kellys credentials to the state health department in late September after Moss filed the notice for Hambleys termination hearing. The state health department is required to review and approve all appointments for local health officer. 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: Grand Rapids area road widening project delayed to 2026, MDOT says Vote now for the best Chinese food place in the Grand Rapids area Man detained trying to access Whitmers Mackinac Island residence, state police say JACKSON COUNTY, MI Motorists can expect additional lane closures on I-94 in Jackson County. The Michigan Department of Transportation is extending single-lane closures on westbound I-94 between M-99 to M-60 from 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 20, to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21 for concrete barrier work. Motorists are advised to find an alternate route. These improvements will provide increased safety and mobility in this area of I-94, MDOT officials said, adding closing these lanes is necessary to provide the safest work area possible for crews and motorists. This work is part of the $162-million I-94 project to rebuild nearly 13 miles of I-94 in Jackson, Albion and Parma. Funding for this project is made possible by Gov. Gretchen Whitmers Rebuilding Michigan program to rebuild the state highways and bridges that are critical to the states economy and carry the most traffic. The project is estimated to be complete by November 2024. Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Jackson daily newsletter. More from the Jackson Citizen Patriot: Traffic backups expected with additional I-94 lane closures in Jackson County $17.4M bond would fund districtwide improvements in Napoleon Community Schools Which football teams are trending up in the Jackson area Rite Aid is closing one of its Jackson locations amid bankruptcy filing Trunk-or Treat, Ghost Tours & spooky cocktails: A guide to Halloween activities in Jackson County KALAMAZOO, MI -- Kalamazoo Community members gathered downtown on Thursday, Oct. 19, to remember lives lost and call for a ceasefire to the ongoing conflict in the Gaza strip. Roughly 100 people attended the vigil organized by Kalamazoo Nonviolent Opponents of War (KNOW). The mural, now complete, that graces the side of the Albany Chamber of Commerce, aims to tell the identity of the town: a hub for transportation, agriculture and the metals industry; while at the center is a piece of lesser-known Albany history. More than 100 people came to celebrate Albanys latest mural on Wednesday, Oct. 18, which also marked the 120-year anniversary of business advocacy organization. Muralist Eileen Hinckle was washing the paint from her brushes when she saw the photograph that made her want to change the direction of the approximately 22-foot-tall and 90-foot-wide mural she was working on in downtown Albany. A Place to Sleep - episode 3: Corvallis Do unhoused people know where to go in Corvallis? Well, the city has outlined where they shouldn't be: near creeks, rivers, wetlands, sidewalks or within 20 feet of trees. It was a 110-year-old black and white image with Native Americans on horseback walking through the center of downtown to the gaze of passersby. The framed photograph sat above an office sink inside the Albany Chamber of Commerce, which had commissioned her to do a painting on First Avenue and Southwest Washington Street. Hinckle didnt know from which tribe the depicted subjects were or what the occasion even was. But on the back of the photograph there were clues. Scrawled in looping letters, the words 1914 Fourth of July and at the corner neatly typed the location: "West on 1st Street" with the St. Charles Hotel on the left. We are seeing a window into what downtown Albany was like in 1914, the buildings, the people and how they interacted with each other, Hinckle said. Hinckle was drawn to the image, especially how the subjects looked as if they were walking right off the photograph into town. But most of all, it told a story. Still, there was so little she knew about the photograph. Hinckle went on her own journey to find some answers. The photograph came from a collection local historian Bob Potts donated to the Albany Regional Museum, and the digitized scans are publicly available. Potts, who died in 2007, was a lifelong Albany resident, and about 7,000 of his photos were made available to the public through a joint project with Albany Public Library. The setting ties into Albanys tradition of parades," Hinckle said. When making a mural about the identity of a town, Hinckle said she did research and outreach and held discussions. One topic kept coming up, the Veterans Day Parade, which is claimed to be the largest west of the Mississippi. It tells a story of how important parades have been. But Hinckle didnt know much about the people in the photograph until she spoke to Oregon State University's professor David Lewis, assistant professor for anthropology and Indigenous studies. Lewis is also a member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, a descendant of the Takelma, Chinook, Molalla, and Santiam Kalapuya peoples of western Oregon. The photo likely depicts people of the Warm Springs Tribe, judging by their heavily beaded outfits and their horses, he said. It was pretty common for tribal people to come for parades or rodeos, Lewis said. Tribes in the area would come to work during times of harvest in the mid-Willamette Valley, he said. For example, there are records of members from the Warm Springs tribe coming to Sweet Home to help harvest hops, Lewis said. The Warm Springs tribe has the largest reservation in Oregon, located in the Eastern Cascades. People would also set up encampments on the outskirts of town, often by the river, and would work in towns doing hard labor such as carpentry and masonry. But there isnt a lot of information about Native people in Albany, Lewis said. Its largely a big blank slate for him, he said. There are records of two Kalapuyan people, a husband and wife, who lived by the Willamette River and were buried there. But there aren't a lot of written records of native people in Albany, he said. It wasnt until 1924 that the federal government recognized the citizenship of Native Americans. Lewis believes that tribal people would participate in patriotic events, such as the Fourth of July parade, as a response to the racist and exclusionary sentiments of the time. Some Native people were trying to prove they were a part of society, that they were just as American, he said. Hinckle felt it was important to include the Warm Springs tribe in the mural. She waited over a month before putting her brush to paint, she said. But getting in touch with members of the tribe proved difficult, and her phone calls and emails went unanswered. While Hinckle would have preferred explicit permission, the project moved forward after speaking a member of the Chachalu tribal museum and cultural center, which told her that as long as the photo is publicly available, it should be fine to use. The photo was also about 110 years old and therefore a part of public domain, she said. The Chamber of Commerce was very on-board with the idea when she suggested it, Hinckle said. It had been hanging inside the building for quite a long time. This is a big deal, said President Janet Steele to a crowd of onlookers celebrating the mural's completion and the Chambers 120th anniversary. The large wall facing the Albany Historic Carousel had been a blank canvas for a long time, and Steele always had ambitions for the space. Steele found artist Hinckle after reading a Democrat-Herald article about her work on Second Avenue depicting a child with a flashlight. Hinckle has done murals in Peru, where she lived for six years, as well as projects around Albany and Corvallis. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help (copy) Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Albany Democrat-Herald. The mural depicts landmarks in Albany, an employee from ATI and of course the historic image of Native Americans in a Fourth of July Parade. In the background, the two-story building stands where the carousel is now, she said. The mural is intended to serve as a snapshot of history from the vantage point of its very location. For Hinckle there are still a lot of unanswered questions and curiosities she has about the people she painted. Who were they? What were their lives like? We dont see a lot of visual representation in Albany, Hinckle said. Its really important to recognize the contributions of local Native Americans. Related stories: LANSING, MI An effort to eliminate property taxes in Michigan is trying to land on next years November election ballot. Axe MI Tax is a proposed state constitutional amendment to forbid taxation and collection on real estate and personal property. Local governments would thus be required to fund essential services through existing state income, sales, alcohol, tobacco and marijuana taxes. Property taxes, of which there is a statewide rate along with rates that local governments tack on, require land and building owners to pay money based on their taxable value. Rates vary, but 1.32% was typical in Michigan last year, according to financial advice company SmartAsset. Very basically, that means a home with a taxable value of $100,000 could see an annual tax bill of $1,320. Michigan rates ranged last year from 0.84% in Leelanau County to 2.26% in Ingham County. The national average was 0.99%. The money collected pays for public goods like parks and police, and that funding is the main source for local entities like cities, townships, counties, school districts and more. In 2018, according to the nonpartisan Citizens Research Council of Michigan, property taxes were 72% of all local tax collections in the U.S. and accounted for 31% of all public revenue collected by state and local governments. But Axe MI Tax argues the burden has become too much. Retirees, homeowners and other hard-working families like farmers and small business owners should not live in fear of losing their property because someone wants a public pickleball court to be paid for by property tax dollars, the ballot committee says on its website. Related: $15 minimum wage proposal hits roadblock for 2024 ballot As controversial as this issue might be, its still a long way from showing up in a voting booth. The Board of State Canvassers was to vote Friday on approving the summary blurb that will appear on petition signature sheets. And there was some debate as to whether Michigan elections director Jonathan Braters impartial summary exceeded the 100-word limit. He argued numbers dont count toward the limit, but attorney Paul McCord, representing Axe MI Tax, argued they do and thus make Braters summary 108 words long. McCord decided to delay Fridays blurb approval request for next months canvassers meeting so Axe MI Tax can propose a new blurb. There also may be a major problem with the constitutional amendments content, opponents said Friday. Axe MI Tax seeks to repeal a Michigan law via the constitution, which is an unprecedented dual action. Doing both at the same time doesnt comply with election law or the state constitution, argued Steve Liedel, attorney for opposition group Citizens to Save our Public Safety and Schools. Last years constitutional amendment to give Michigan a right to abortion, which Liedel represented as a lawyer, notably did not include repealing the states 1931 abortion ban. Legislators instead did this months later. Attempting to insert the legislative action of repealing the statute in a constitutional amendment evades the legislatures ability to review or propose an alternative, Liedel argued. McCord rebutted that all political power is vested in the people of Michigan, and it is through the constitution that people transfer their political power to the legislature. Therefore, the people of the state of Michigan have the power to repeal the tax provision and to propose alternative means, he said. This story has been corrected to clarify how Michigan property taxes are calculated. One of the 16 Republicans who signed documents falsely certifying electoral college votes for then-President Donald Trump agreed to cooperate with state prosecutors in exchange for having charges dropped. During a brief court appearance Thursday, assistant attorney general LaDonna Logan moved to drop all charges against James Renner, a 76-year-old from Lansing, who was facing eight forgery-related felony charges for signing the false certification. Judge Kristen Simmons granted the motion. Were excited for this result, Renners attorney Clint Westbrook told the judge. Timothy King, an elector from Ypsilanti, will be evaluated for mental competency and criminal responsibility, after his attorney Michael Vincent expressed concerns about Kings mental state. Vincent said King suffers from illogical thinking (and is) sometimes delusional, Vincent said. Its been almost impossible to get him to focus on the very serious charges hes facing. It wasnt immediately clear what the attorney generals case might gain from Renners cooperation. The other 15 defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges. The would-be electors were part of a scheme to replace Michigans electoral college representatives with a slate of pro-Trump Republicans after the 2020 presidential election. Multiple accounts have recalled how the would-be electors met in December 2020 in the then-Michigan Republican Party headquarters just as legitimate electors met in the state Capitol. They then walked to the Capitol and attempted to enter but were turned away. Then-candidate Joe Biden won Michigan by a margin of 154,000 votes, a victory confirmed by numerous audits and Michigans board of state canvassers. Nessels office contends that by signing documents claiming to be the duly and qualified electors and saying they convened in Michigans Capitol to cast votes as required by Congress neither of which were true they committed a slew of crimes related to forgery. All face the same eight felony charges. These are conspiracy to commit forgery, a 14-year felony; two counts of forgery, a 14-year felony; conspiracy to commit uttering and publishing, a 14-year felony; uttering and publishing, a 14-year felony; conspiracy to commit election law forgery, a five-year felony and two counts of election law forgery, a five-year felony. Earlier this month, Simmons dismissed an argument from other electors that claimed Attorney General Dana Nessels comments that the electors were brainwashed meant the case should be dismissed. Ghanaian gospel musician, Mary Anoah popularly known as Maadwoaah has advise follow gospel musicians to not focus on social media trends and not to the neglect their spirituality, which is the bedrock of their chosen path, Gospel Music is spiritual and a ministry. It is not all about sitting on social media for trends and canvassing for votes. You should trend in the anointing of doing something good She made these statements in a chat with alltunezgh.com stating that, she is not condemning any artiste for using social media but however, they must use it positively in spreading the works of God and not negativity. Also, she urged them not to leave behind spirituality and chase popularity, adding that being a gospel artiste goes beyond just singing. For her, as a gospel musician, one should know God, spend time with their creator God will reveal himself and gift you the artiste with an anointed song Therefore, she advised gospel musicians to be circumspect and spiritual in all their endeavour to be able to produce spirit- filled songs to change the lives of people and liberate them from bondage. Looking at the gospel music industry now, Maadwoaah said, many musicians had come into the scene, but the impact of gospel music on Christians and the country was less Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah 19.10.2023 LISTEN The Volta Caucus in Ghanas Parliament has expressed its disappointment and disapproval of President Nana Akufo-Addo's recent comments during his visit to the flood victims in the North Tongu constituency. The president's remarks were described as condescending, lacking leadership at a time of disaster, and did not inspire hope or empathy towards the people affected by the floods. They noted that similar unguarded comments made by the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP Chairman Wontumi have also caused concern for the Volta Caucus. The chairman was alleged to have stated that flood victims should not expect any intervention from the NPP government because of their voting pattern. In response to these statements, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, chairman of the caucus issued a statement condemning such actions. He noted that it was irresponsible and wicked for President Akufo-Addo to use a congregation of flood victims as an opportunity for low-level politics instead of using soothing words on this occasion. According to Mr. Bedzra, the caucus expected President Akufo-Addo to encourage victims and assure them that the nation is ready to stand with them during this difficult time. They further hoped he would boldly announce specific interventions quantifiable enough to ameliorate peoples grief and despair rather than engaging in "irresponsible politicking bereft of tact and wisdom." READ THE FULL STATEMENT BELOW: PRESS RELEASE ON THE DISPARAGING COMMENTS BY PRESIDENT AKUFO ADDO AT MEFE WHEN HE VISITED FLOOD VICTIMS BY VOLTA MPS CAUCUS The Volta MPs caucus is saddened by comments made by President Akufo Addo to flood victims at Mefe in the North Tongu Constituency of the Volta Region on Monday, 16th October 2023. Our constituents across the region have called to express their outrage and disappointment at the condescending utterances of Mr. Akufo Addo which showed no leadership at a time of disaster. We also note with deep concern, similar unguarded comments by the Ashanti regional chairman of the New Patriotic Party who ignorantly stated that the flood victims should not expect any intervention from the NPP government because of their voting pattern. We the representatives of the people from the Volta region are of the view that the presidents visit to the affected area should have inspired hope and also demonstrate empathy towards the people. On the contrary however, it has worsened the peoples plights and dashed their hopes. For the president of our Republic to choose no other platform to poke those who did not vote for him in the eye, but use a congregation of flood victims to do the low level politics is not only irresponsible but wicked. One would have thought that President Akuffo Addo would have used soothing words on this occasion. We would have expected the president to encourage the victims and assure them of the nations readiness to stand by them at this difficult time. We would have expected the president to boldly announce specific interventions that are quantifiable and which would go a long way to ameliorate the peoples grief and despair. As characteristic of the president however, he elected to use this forum to engage in irresponsible politicking bereft of tact and wisdom. Recently, the Vice President. H.E Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia was also in the Keta campaigning at a time the people were experiencing similar destruction of homes, businesses and properties by tidal waves. In a subtle snub, the Vice President did not visit the victims or make any public comment to show concern about the peoples predicament. Was it the case that the president instructed his vice president not to show any concern because of this mentality that the people of the Volta region do not vote for him? Mr. President, should the quantum of votes a president gets from different parts of the country be weaponized to this low level? Should you be singing this kind of discriminatory song at the twilight of your tenure as president of this wonderful republic? We condemn these unsavoury and ethnocentric comments by Mr. Akufo Addo and urge all well-meaning Ghanaians as well as sound minds in the NPP to rise to the occasion and reign in the president. Signed Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah (MP) Chairman, Volta MPs Caucus Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has challenged claims by former Finance Minister, Seth Terkper, that he authorized Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, to establish letters of credit for the defective ambulance deal. Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson is standing trial with two others for counts of causing financial loss to the state in the purchase of 50 faulty ambulances. The case against the Minority Leader is that he requested the letters of credit which formed the basis for the payment of the ambulances to the tune of 2.3 million Euros without authorisation, a claim he has denied. On Thursday, his former boss Seth Terkper testified in his favour, explaining that contrary to claims by the state, Dr. Ato Forson acted on his express approval. In his witness statement, Seth Terkper noted, For the avoidance of doubt, I state again that, I as the then Minister of Finance, authorized A1 (Dr. Ato Forson) to request the Bank of Ghana to set up the LC (Letters of Credit) with the sole objective e of avoiding potential financial liability for the Government. The Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame, however, during cross-examination inquired from the witness to point to exhibited documents that prove that he indeed gave authorization to Dr. Ato Forson. But Mr. Seth Terkper explained that the authorization followed advice from the Attorney General's department. According to him, the Attorney General had forwarded a letter written to the Ministry of Health to his outfit asking that steps be taken to honour the terms of the contract. He further explained that the letters from the Attorney General were subsequently forwarded to the legal department of the Ministry of Finance. The legal department according to the witness (Seth Terkper) advised that the minister consider signing the loan agreement between Government of Ghana and Stanbic Bank for 15 million Euros for this project to enable the establishment of the letter of credit in line with the ministry of health obligation for the establishment of the letters of credit. Based on this, Seth Terkper explained that a meeting was held with the accused person and other directors of the Ministry of Finance, where a decision was taken on the issuance of the letters of credit. But Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame further inquired for Mr Terkper to point to a specific document authored by him to the legal department of the ministry on which its advice was based. Mr. Terkper clarified that the documents relied upon by the legal department were prepared for his office, and there was no need for him to have written a letter to the legal department. Godfred Yeboah Dame, however, prompted the witness' attention to the fact that a letter written by the debt division of the ministry of finance on the establishment of letters of credit noted the instruction came from the deputy finance minister at the time, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson. Mr. Seth Terkper explained that the decision for the letters of credit to be established had been taken and Dr. Ato Forson was only exercising his routine delegated responsibility as deputy minister in charge of the budget. The Attorney-General also asked the witness to point to any statement from the then Attorney General requiring the establishment of the letters of credit, as he had under cross-examination explained that the decision was based on the advice of the Attorney General's department. Mr. Terkper insisted that even though he did not see any such statement in the Attorney General's letter, the advice requested for them to comply with the supply agreement which contained the term for the establishment of the Letters of Credit. Godfred Yeboah Dame further questioned the witness on the propriety of the letters of credit. In his line of questioning, the principal legal advisor of the state indicated that even though the agreement required the issuing of the letters of credit be done after a contract for the delivery of 50 ambulances had been signed, the request for letters of credit were made at a time the said contract had not been signed. The former finance minister reiterated that even though the said contract had not been signed, the request for the establishment of the letters of credit was based on the advice from the Attorney General's department and the legal department of the Ministry of Finance. On making payments before the ambulances were delivered, contrary to the dictates of the contract, Mr. Terkper explained that the problem lies with the Ministry of Health and not the Ministry of Finance. Questioned if the payments were made in error, Mr. Terkper, answered in the affirmative but clarified that it was 'nothing that major, conditions for the contract had been breached, and our attention has been drawn.' -citinewsroom The National House of Chiefs has rejected the revised Dagbon constitution, which was presented to the House for approval and adoption. This decision comes in response to concerns raised by some chiefs regarding unresolved boundary issues. As a result, the National House of Chiefs has called for more stakeholder consultations to ensure that all outstanding territorial issues are addressed before adopting the constitution. Naa Puowelle Karbo, Vice President of the National House of Chiefs, announced this decision during a meeting of the National House of Chiefs held in Kumasi. Naa Puowelle Karbo The National House of Chiefs has decided that they should go back and have some consultation and then come back. We have no problem with the various aspects of the Constitution, he said. Meanwhile, Muhammad Mumuni, a former Foreign Affairs Minister who served as a consultant to the committee that reviewed the constitution, insists that boundary issues should not prevent the adoption of the constitution. Muhammad Mumuni They have lived in those boundaries in peace and, of course, there are a few issues here and there. There may be issues about boundaries, between us and our neighbours and therefore, the Dagbon traditional authority should set up a technical committee to determine precise boundaries. Right now, we dont have precise boundaries. The issues that have been raised regarding boundaries have been anticipated. Provision has been made to take care of it. We are submitting that this process can go on and the issues of boundaries will be taken on board at the appropriate time, Muhammad Mumuni said. -citinewsroom The Electoral Commission (EC) has backed calls for the establishment of a national framework to guide the use of social media in the country during national elections. According to the Commission, such a framework would help reduce the high rate of mis/disinformation spread during elections, ensure integrity of the electoral process and protect the democracy, peace and security of the country. Mrs Jean Mensa, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, made the call at a seminar on the Impact of Disinformation on Electoral Integrity, Peace and Security in Africa, in Accra, on Thursday. The seminar was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and the Institute of Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA). It was attended by members from key public and private institutions including the judiciary, political parties, civil society organisations, as well as security and political analysts. Mrs Mensa said one of the most pressing challenges confronting electoral management bodies today was the proliferation of fake news and disinformation campaigns on social media platforms. Indeed, the culture of spreading fake news or falsehood is not a new phenomenon but the advent of internet and social media has allowed it to spread at a faster and more widespread rate, with a damaging consequence to electoral management bodies and elections, she emphasised. The Electoral Commissioner noted that social media if not properly managed could pose a real threat to elections and destabilise the peace and security of the country. Therefore, the Commission would be happy if a regulation was put in place to manage social media use, especially during elections to check mis/disinformation. We, at the Electoral Commission of Ghana, support the development of a framework to guide the use of social media around elections and around the peace and security of our respective countries. I join my voice to Elon Musk, and I quote him; there should be regulations on social media to the degree that it negatively affects the public good, she emphasised. She, however, assured of the Commissions commitment to deliver a free and fair general election in 2024. We have no doubt that, as was the case in 2020, we will carry the citizens along with us and build public trust and confidence in our work, and ultimately maintain the peace and security of our dear nation, she assured. Mr Albert Kan Dapaah, Minister of National Security, explained that disinformation and misinformation ranked high on the list of security challenges confronting Ghana, today. In West Africa, for instance, the Security Minister said, the overthrow of democratically elected governments and the emergence of military rule, was largely fueled by mis/disinformation. Mis/disinformation, he added, had emerged as potent tools that were utilised for influence operations and malicious campaigns that undermined electoral integrity, peace and also security. These campaigns, Mr Dapaah said, were orchestrated by a spectrum of actors, including both state and non-state entities, local and foreign actors, as well as political and nonpolitical players. He, therefore, stressed the need for collaboration among all stakeholders, including civil society organisations and the media, in the fight against the phenomenon. Dr Kevin Casas Zamora, Secretary-General, Institute of Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) described disinformation as a virus that exploited already existing weaknesses in the information system. This pandemic of disinformation is thus both deeply rooted and truly global, he said. At the International IDEA, we are engaging with this growing challenge for democracy through our new work stream that look especially at the intersection of digitalisation and democracy, including how to build trust and the resilience of democratic institutions and processes against disinformation and other digital threats, he stated. With this, we are implementing several projects aimed at protecting electoral integrity by advising election management bodies and other authorities on best practices, convening spaces for dialogue and providing technical assistance. Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister of Information, urged critical thinking and responsible journalism in the era of digital information dissemination to help curtail the threats of mis/disinformation. Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister of Foreign Affairs, called for a more nuanced and rights-based approach to addressing the issue of mis/disinformation. We must recognise that heavy-handed responses, such as internet shutdowns or network throttling of social media represent a grave infringement on fundamental human rights, she noted. GNA 20.10.2023 LISTEN In our part of the world, the extended family system was our refuge when the nuclear family gets to a point where much cannot be done for the person in need. The nuclear family never lived in isolation as seen in recent times. Our social systems have broken to the extent that, now people rarely get support from their families, churches, and state institutions. Families are now eager to go in for loans to do funerals than to do same for a member who is in dire need of school fees, health care assistance et al. Thanks to some wonderful Ghanaian people on Social media sites like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram and the likes, who have made it a point to use their social media influence to come in for people in distress whom the traditional compound house have neglected. Social media has now become a virtual compound house or extended family where strangers stick out their necks for strangers while the affecters traditional family houses are closed to him or her. In Ghana, some social media influencers like, Nana Tea, Wendy Boatemaa Ofori, Etweresohemaa, Francis Kennedy Ocloo, Kweku Genelord, Faisal Kofi Osei, Eugene Osei-Tutu Mr. Bones, just to mention a few are doing tremendously great with their influence in making sure social media comes to support the broken social systems. Prisoners Reformation and Rehabilitation Benevolent souls such as Wendy Boatemaa Ofori used her Facebook page to solicit for support for inmates of the Kumasi Central Prison, Adum, who sat for the just-ended NOVDEC. She made others see the need to bring hope to the incarcerated. Some of these young men have been stigmatized by their own families and friends. The social systems put in place to come to their aid are far away from cushioning them. Social media came in handy when the inmates needed someone aside the officers to give them hope, something the family, church and social welfare system could not do. Mr. Ibrahim Kwarteng and his Crime Check Foundation has brought hope to dozens of hopeless prisoners via his social media sites where the late John Atsu, Black stars skipper and philanthropist joined in to be part of the virtual compound house where help comes without conditions. Some of these prisoners who were discharged after their fines were paid by the late Astu and other benevolent souls needed not more than 300 to be set free but their families, churches and the social welfare were nowhere to be found. Most of them were given start up capitals to go into businesses of their choice. Health Care Support I sometimes ask myself where the family members of the vulnerable people who come to seek for help on social media are; but then again I remember our social systems are none to hold unto except some few good humans with angelic hearts. Wendy Boatemaa Ofori, a professional nurse, wouldnt go two weeks without posting for support for rare health cases for children. She is currently appealing to her virtual friends for fireflies to aid some health facilities fight baby jaundice. That aside, she has helped raise a lot for children who were in need of surgeries, and drugs. Sometimes she expresses her discomfort in coming out to solicit funds for children and young students she does not know, but she cannot turn a blind eye to their plight. Another social media influencer, who is doing marvellously well with women and children, is Etewereso Mabaawa Hemaa. She is doing with her facebook page what the extended family should have been doing for distressed members of their families. The last but two cases she took up was a single parent (mother) who was starving with her kids to death. She was running around with the ailing woman from hospital to hospital, fighting for her life. The poor woman, was who was later diagnosed with throat cancer gave up the ghost in the long run. Etwereso Maabawa hemaa, again, used her virtual platform to call on her virtual family members to support the children of late Madam Julian and truly they came to their help. From nowhere, the family of the deceased who was starving to death with her kids, requested for her remains and planned a funeral! Two weeks ago, she called on her Facebook family to raise GHC 5,000.00 for a widow who was taking care of her mentally challenged daughter and her little baby to pay off and take back her cocoa farm which she used as collateral for 10years for GHC 5,000.00. Another great gentleman who is also using his Facebook influence to touch hearts is Faisal Kofi Osei, CEO of Kodro Concepts. Kofi does not usually do this but he is one person who will empty his wallet to see a stranger smile. Kofi uses his online influence to raise funds for strangers who are in need of medical support. Education and Social Support Hardly do we get Uncles and aunties coming in for needy but brilliant students in the families but our virtual families on social media will always be on standby to support such people. Francis Kennedy Ocloo, popularly known as General, Eugene Osei-Tutu of Luv FM, Kumasi and a host of others go all out to post result slips and hostel bills of students and call on their virtual family to help. Francis has helped countless number of brilliant but needy students gain admissions, paid for hostels, wardrobe et al by appealing to his beautiful heart followers. Some of these people sometimes do not even know him from Adam. This is the kind of social support system we yearn to see off the virtual platforms. I was watching TV 3 news days ago and at the grand opening of the 37 KFC outlet, a young man who happens to be one of the new staff at the new outlet was lauding Nana Tea for raising funds for him on face book when he was sick and again making sure he landed the KFC job he has now. Nana Tea has done more than some of our churches, social welfare departments and family members would have done; from education, health, job, start ups etc. On job creation and employment, one name that keeps growing is Kweku Genelord. The gentleman is doing well with organizing entrepreneurial training workshops for unemployed young people, posting legitimate job vacancies and facilitating anything legitimate as job on his page. Conclusions The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, National Health Insurance, YEA, Churches, Mosques and Families seem to be letting the people down when it comes to their core duties of social support and making life a bit comfortable. Should all our social systems get broken, criminals will take advantage of unsuspecting vulnerable people and that will be a sure way to national security issues. I salute all the responsible and positive social media influencers in Ghana who are doing their best to stop gaps in broken social systems by using their platforms to water down dire social issues. The writer is a Lance Corporal with the Manhyia Local Prison, Kumasi and can be contacted on [email protected]/+233-249542342 The Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (GAMLS) has called on the government to declare a state of emergency in response to the recent spillage at the Akosombo and Kpong Dams. In a statement released on Thursday, October 19, GAMLS expressed deep concern over the spillage which it says has had "significant implications for public health and safety in the Volta region and Ghana at large." The statement warns that the spillage has resulted in the contamination of water sources, posing a serious threat of waterborne diseases to communities along the Volta River. "As Medical Laboratory Scientists, we understand the potential health risks associated with exposure to contaminated water and the contamination of food sources, including the spread of waterborne diseases," the statement reads in part. GAMLS is urging the government to take immediate action, including conducting water quality assessments, ensuring the safety of drinking water, and providing support to healthcare facilities. The organization also calls for public education campaigns to inform residents about health precautions. It is crucial that lessons are learned from this incident to prevent similar occurrences in future and to protect the health and well-being of our communities. We call on government to declare a state of emergency in the affected region, the statement says. According to David Annor Kwasie, Volta Regional Chairman of GAMLS, declaring an emergency would enable the government to "mobilize resources, coordinate efforts, and allocate funds to effectively respond to the crisis." The spillage has impacted over 100 communities and displaced thousands of residents. The National Disaster Management Organisation warns of disease outbreaks due to contaminated water supplies. GAMLS says it is committed to supporting mitigation efforts through water quality monitoring, disease surveillance, and other public health interventions. The Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (GAMLS) has assured its support to efforts aimed at reducing health consequences of the recent Akosombo and Kpong Dams spillage. In a statement on Thursday, October 19, GAMLS said "We are committed to supporting efforts to mitigate the health impacts of the spillage". The uncontrolled release of water from the dams contaminated water sources for communities along the Volta River, raising the risk of waterborne diseases. As medical experts, GAMLS Volta Regional Chairman David Annor Kwasie said they understand "the potential health risks associated with exposure to contaminated water and the contamination of food sources, including the spread of waterborne diseases. With several districts affected and critical infrastructure like healthcare facilities strained, GAMLS is making available its expertise in water quality monitoring, disease surveillance and public health interventions. General Secretary Solomon Dzidzornu Yao Kwashie affirmed, "We stand ready to collaborate with the government, healthcare institutions, and other stakeholders to provide expertise and assistance." The National Disaster Management Organisation estimates that eight districts have been affected since the flooding started on Wednesday 11 October. Many homes have been completely submerged and authorities have began to assess the impact of the floods and making efforts to solve impact on residents. President Nana Akufo-Addo and his Cabinet are beginning a three-day retreat to deliberate on the country's economy and the humanitarian crisis that has hit many parts of Lower Volta following the spillage of the Akosombo and the Kpong Dams. The retreat comes on the back of the International Monetary Funds approval of the next tranche of $600 million balance of payment support for Ghana after reaching a staff agreement. The retreat will also discuss the devastating effect of the spillage of the dam which has rendered thousands homeless in the Volta, Eastern and parts of the Greater Accra Regions. The VRA commenced the controlled water spillage from the Akosombo and Kpong Dams on September 15, 2023, due to a consistent rise in the inflow pattern and water level of the Akosombo reservoir. Thousands of residents in South Tongu, North Tongu, Central Tongu, Asuogyaman, and several other areas have had their homes submerged due to the spillage. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo earlier this week said government will do everything possible to ensure the needed help reaches victims of the floods. Akufo-Addo gave the assurance when he visited the residents of Mepe and surrounding areas on Monday to ascertain the devastation caused by the spillage. President Akufo-Addo indicated that the inter-ministerial committee he commissioned to tackle issues pertaining to the flooding is to decide the immediate relief to be provided to the victims and also to ensure such a disaster of greater proportion does not happen in the future. The coordination is about the immediate and the most important thing was to ensure the life of people and that is why 9 centres were established for all the displaced people and all the people in these 9 centres have been provided relief items by NADMO, and it is NADMO's intention to continue to provide relief items. Apart from what NADMO is doing, we must also think about the future. Citi Newsroom Lithium exploration and development company Atlantic Lithium Limited has today announced that the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has granted a Mining Lease in respect of its flagship Ewoyaa Lithium Project in Ghanas Central Region, paving the way for the Project to become one of the worlds top 10 largest spodumene concentrate mines. Under the terms of the Mining Lease, agreed with the Minerals Commission in line with establishing its new Green Minerals Policy, Atlantic Lithium has been granted exclusive rights to carry out mining and commercial production activities at Ewoyaa for an initial 15-year period, renewable under Ghanas existing legislation. The Mining Lease represents a major endorsement for the advancement of the Ewoyaa Lithium Project by the Government of Ghana and green-lights Atlantic Lithium to undertake the next steps as it moves the Project towards commercial production. As outlined in the Definitive Feasibility Study released for the Project in June 2023, Ewoyaa is expected to produce a total of 3.6Mt of spodumene concentrate (approximately 350,000tpa) over its expected 12-year mine life, which would position the Project as Africas third largest producer (based on a review of the targeted production capacity of Ewoyaas peers). As the Central Regions first major mining project, Ewoyaa is set to deliver immense benefits to the local communities in which it operates. The company, which is already one of the leading employers in the region, anticipates that the Project will create over 900 new direct jobs through the operation phase. Furthermore, the company has committed to a community development fund, whereby 1% of its retained earnings from the Project will be invested in local initiatives and used to support local businesses. Benefitting from Ghanas exceptional existing infrastructure, Ewoyaa is believed to be one of the lowest capital and operating cost hard rock lithium projects globally. North American lithium company Piedmont Lithium is expected to contribute the bulk of the required development expenditure for the Project. In return, Piedmont will receive 50% of the spodumene concentrate produced at Ewoyaa. Atlantic Lithium is currently undertaking a competitive process to secure funding for a portion of the remaining 50% available feedstock to expediate the development of the Project. Under the terms of the Mining Lease, the Government of Ghana is granted a 13% free carried interest in the Ewoyaa Lithium Project, as well as a 10% royalty rate. The terms of the Mining Lease support the Projects strong commercial viability and exceptional profitability potential. In addition, Ghanas sovereign wealth fund, the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) has agreed non-binding Heads of Terms with Atlantic Lithium to support the advancement of the Project, which will see MIIF invest US$32.9m in the company and its Ghanaian subsidiaries which hold its lithium projects in Ghana, inclusive of Ewoyaa. MIIF will receive a 6% interest in the Project, bringing the Governments combined interest in the Project to 19%, with MIIFs investment in the listed company equating to c. 3% of the Companys shares. Atlantic Lithium is aiming to break ground on the Project site in late 2024, with initial production to commence in 2025 from a Modular Dense Media Separation (DMS) Unit, and full-scale production from its main DMS plant the year after. Under the terms of the Mining Lease, Atlantic Lithium has agreed to list on the Ghana Stock Exchange, which it intends to as soon as practicable, and, with support and incentives offered by the government, has been invited to participate in further developing the countrys lithium value chain through the evaluation of the viability of feldspar production at Ewoyaa and downstream processing in Ghana. Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor and Hon. George Duker alongside Atlantic Lithiums Neil Herber Commenting, Keith Muller, Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Lithium, said: The significance to Ghana of the award of the Mining Lease for the Ewoyaa Lithium Project should not at all be underestimated. It serves as a pivotal milestone in the nations economic development and as an important catalyst in Ghanas increasing role in the global transition to clean energy. Ewoyaa is believed to be one of the leading hard rock spodumene assets globally. The grant of the Mining Lease, therefore, not only spotlights the country as a leading mining investment jurisdiction, but also sets Ghana on a path towards becoming one of the next major lithium producers. Ghana has huge ambitions to establish itself as a pioneer in Africa and as a hub in the green energy supply chain. Atlantic Lithium is proud to be chosen as Ghanas partner of choice in these aspirations. We look forward to continuing our work together towards the delivery of long-term lithium production in Ghana. Citi News has gathered that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has received Ghanas request for technical assistance to tackle corruption. Ghanas move is in line with its commitments under the $3 billion IMF programme which Ghana is expected to receive a second tranche of $600 million in November this year. The $3 billion IMF programme Ghana has signed on to is expected to tackle the countrys current economic woes among many other challenges. The programme is also expected to promote transparency and fight corruption in Ghana. As part of the programme, the Government of Ghana made a number of commitments to tackle corruption and improve transparency in its daily operations. In line with this, Citi News has gathered authorities have requested IMF technical assistance to conduct a governance corruption diagnostic assessment. This will be used as input into the ongoing efforts to update the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan. Under the IMF programme, the government is also expected to address weaknesses in the existing asset declaration system for public officials by enacting a new Conduct of Public Officers Act. The IMF African Department Director, Abebe Aemro Selassie speaking during the Press briefing for the regional economic outlook for sub-Saharan Africa and Morocco during the IMF-World Bank meetings in Marrakech, Morocco, gave the latest on progress made so far by Ghana on the matter. On the governance diagnostic report, I think the request has been made [but] Im not sure where we are in terms of being able to provide that, but as soon as we have the resources, we will do that. And its just a matter of time I believe. Meanwhile, the IMF says it will provide all that is needed to the creditors, so Ghana can get the second tranche of IMF cash and move the programme forward. Action is also needed from the creditor side and I have to tell you that, you know, whereas it took I think something like 9 months or more for Zambia to get the official creditor committee to be created, in Ghanas case it was fairly rapid. So that allowed us to go to the board and get the programme approved. And were very hopeful that the ongoing discussions among official creditors will also expeditiously allow us to conclude the upcoming review. Again the most recent Mission you know reached an agreement with the government on policies that are needed to tackle the most recent issues and also put in place an important budget for next year. So Ghana has done its fair share, and its for creditors to take steps. Were not going to be asking the government to do more adjustments because creditors havent asked either, so you know we will provide all the information necessary, so creditors can move to allow us to go to the board as soon as possible, Abebe Aemro Selassie added. Citi Newsroom The New Ghana Social Justice Forum, a Civil Society Organisation, has called for the dissolution of the Board of the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST) and the prosecution of top officials of the Company. The Forum on Thursday organised a demonstration at the forecourt of BOST and the National Petroleum Authority Head Offices to press their demands following reports that the Board had bought iPhones for its members and directors of the Company to aid their work. In a petition, the Forum said, the Auditor General's report found that the Board Chairman of BOST, Mr Ekow Hackman, also allegedly created three companies to compete with himself to win BOST contracts. Ghana was scammed. The protest was to demand transparency and accountability from the Board Chairman of BOST. Addressing the media after the protest, Mr Yahaya Alhassan, President, GSJF, called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to dissolve the Board of Directors of BOST immediately to protect the public purse. Ghana is wild with corruption; the Energy Ministry is an industry of corruption. We are calling on all to join this campaign for the prosecution of all BOST top officials and for the dissolution of BOST Board members, he said. He said, we are calling on President Akufo-Addo, but what is clear is that the BOST Board members are not in existence. Even though they are here, Ghanaians do not want them, they should be prosecuted as soon as possible. In response to the allegations, Mr Moses Mensah Asem, the Deputy Managing Director of BOST, described the allegations as baseless. He emphasised that the Company's financial accounts had undergone thorough audit by the Auditor General, and no evidence of such irregularities was found. Nevertheless, Mr Asem assured the protesting group that the concerns raised would undergo a comprehensive and transparent investigation. At the NPA, the petition was received by the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Mr Parry Okudzeto. GNA National Security Minister, Albert Kan-Dapaah, has expressed grave concern about the increasing number of individuals in academia, civil society organizations (CSOs), and the media who are using their platforms to propagate false narratives in support of coups and military rule. Speaking at a conference on the Impact of Disinformation on Electoral Integrity, Peace, and Security in Africa, Kan-Dapaah said that these individuals have gained substantial followings on social media, which they are leveraging to disseminate misinformation that threatens Ghanas peace and stability. In Ghana, a more disconcerting trend is also emerging, Kan-Dapaah said, adding, Notably following the coup in Niger, certain individuals in academia, civil society and the media, from what I have observed have been propagating false narratives in support of a coup or military rule. He added that these actors have gained substantial followings on social media leveraging the influence to disseminate misinformation that threatens our nations peace and also stability, especially as we approach the critical December 2024 general election and this is a matter of serious concern. Kan-Dapaah stressed that misinformation, whether intentional or inadvertent, from these individuals poses a significant threat to Ghanas stability. Misinformation, whether intentional or inadvertent, from these individuals because they are influential poses a significant threat to Ghanas stability, he said. The National Security Minister called on all Ghanaians to be vigilant and to reject any attempts to sow discord and division in the country. Citi Newsroom The Minister for Information, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has called for collective action to combat the spread of misinformation and its impacts on elections and peace. Speaking at a forum on "The Impact of False Information on Elections and Peace in Africa," the Minister said he was determined to work with colleagues locally and abroad to comprehend this phenomenon and find effective solutions. Recalling the dangerous real-world consequences of the fake "Pizzagate" conspiracy theory in the U.S., the Minister emphasised critical thinking and responsible journalism as antidotes. He called for holding tech companies and app makers accountable for information shared on their platforms, as they significantly enable the spread of falsehoods. "The challenges are real but solutions are within reach if we unite to safeguard democracy, electoral integrity and peace," he said. On her part, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, said Ghana, as a dedicated Member State of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), has been unwavering in its commitment to advancing sustainable democracy on a global scale since 2008. As one of the co-vice Chairs of the Council of Member States for the year 2023, Ghana acknowledges the immense responsibility that accompanies this position, she added. According to the Minister, the seminar is being organised as Ghanas contribution with the primary objective of shedding light on the urgent matter of disinformation and its profound implications for electoral integrity, peace and security. Madam Botchwey noted that Ghanas democratic journey has been characterised by peaceful transitions of power, robust civic engagement and a commitment to upholding the principles of free and fair elections. However, as Ghana moves closer to its two critical election cycles, namely, the local and district Assembly elections in December this year, and the General elections in December next year, we must also acknowledge the challenges we face, particularly the looming threat of disinformation. I urge each of you to bring your expertise, experiences and innovative ideas to the table. Together, we can forge a path forward, uphold the integrity of our elections, preserve peace and security on our continent, and safeguard the democratic aspirations of our people, she said. The forum deliberated practical steps various stakeholders can take to curb the proliferation of false information and mitigate its multifaceted impacts. The National Security Minister, Albert Kan-Dapaah has raised concern about a trend he has observed in Ghana in recent times. According to him, he has observed that some Civil Society Organisations, people in the media, and some individuals in academia are propagating false narratives and showing support for a coup in the country. This he insists poses a huge threat to the stability of Ghana ahead of the 2024 General Election. In Ghana, a more disconcerting trend is also emerging. Notably following the coup in Niger, certain individuals in academia, civil society, and the media, from what I have observed have been propagating false narratives in support of a coup or military rule, Kan-Dapaah said. The National Security Minister continued, These actors have gained substantial followings on social media leveraging the influence to disseminate misinformation that threatens our nations peace and also stability, especially as we approach the critical December 2024 general election and this is a matter of serious concern. Misinformation, whether intentional or inadvertent, from these individuals because they are influential poses a significant threat to Ghanas stability. Kan-Dapaah was speaking at a conference on the Impact of Disinformation on Electoral Integrity, Peace, and Security in Africa. A member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDCs) legal team, Abraham Amaliba, has expressed disappointment in President Akufo-Addo's failure to offer an unqualified apology to the people of Volta Region for comments he made during a visit. President Akufo-Addo, while interacting with flood-affected residents of Mepe on October 16, indicated that he is president for all Ghanaians irrespective of the fact that Voltarians don't vote for him. However, Lawyer Amaliba believes his statement was disrespectful. In an interview with TV3, Lawyer Amaliba called on the President to apologize, saying "The worst of it all is that the president has not apologised for his comments made to the people of Volta Region. Has he apologised? This is the third day. I thought that the president should have apologised for the comments he made to the people." He added, "The presidents problem is poor upbringing, which will then culminate into all of the things that he is doing. The presidency doesnt change you when you become the president, that office doesnt change you; it rather exposes your character. This comes as communities across Volta Region such as North Tongu, South Tongu, Ada East and Keta submerged in water with several people displaced and properties destroyed. A member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDCs) legal team, Abraham Amaliba, has attributed President Akufo-Addo's show of disrespect towards citizens to a poor upbringing. His comment follows remarks President Akufo-Addo made during a visit to flood victims in Mepe on October 16. The President indicated he is president for all Ghanaians despite the fact people in that region don't vote for him. In an interview with Accra-based TV3, Lawyer Amaliba said "he has failed and I have heard all sorts of complaints about the president. The presidents problem is none of those things people have said about him. The presidents problem is poor upbringing, which will then culminate in all of the things that he is doing. The presidency doesnt change you when you become the president, that office doesnt change you; it rather exposes your character." Lawyer Amaliba believes the President's statement was disrespectful and ill-timed. Mr. Amaliba said "The worst of it all is that the president has not apologised for his hogwash statements that he made to the people of Volta Region. Has he apologised? This is the third day. I thought that the president should have apologised for the hogwash statement that he made to the people. Many communities in Volta Region such as North Tongu, South Tongu, Ada East, Keta have faced massive flooding due to Akosombo and Kpone dams spillage. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has withdrawn charges against Maxime Mokom, a former militia leader from the Central African Republic (CAR) as there were no prospects of conviction, the prosecutor's office said on Thursday. Mokom, a former national coordinator of anti-balaka militias, was facing 20 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity over alleged atrocities committed against Muslim civilians in the CAR in 2013 and 2014. On Thursday, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan dropped all charges against him. "Having considered the totality of the evidence in the Mokom case and in light of changed circumstances regarding the availability of witnesses, there are no longer any reasonable prospects of conviction at trial even if the charges were confirmed," Khan said. Mokom was released from custody on Tuesday, the ICC said later in a statement. At a hearing in August, Mokom denied involvement in the attacks on Muslim civilians, telling ICC judges he was dedicated to the search for peace. He said he was a refugee stuck in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo for most of the period referenced in the charges. CAR has been mired in violence since a coalition of mostly northern and predominantly Muslim rebels known as Seleka, or "Alliance" in the Sango language, seized power in March 2013 after ousting president Francois Bozize. Their dominance gave rise to the opposing anti-balaka Christian militias. Victims battle on Prosecutor Khan said his office reserved the right to request a new arrest warrant if more evidence came to light and addressed those affected by the atrocities in the country. "I am very conscious that this news may be unwelcome to many survivors and their families," he said. "I hope many will understand my legal and ethical responsibilities to be guided by the law and the evidence." A lawyer representing the victims described the decision as a "betrayal" and said her clients were "sad and immensely disappointed". In Bangui, victims of anti-balaka violence struggled to digest the news of Mokom's release. "The idea Mokom will be freed is painful, we are victims and must battle through to the end for equal justice and zero impunity," said Nanette Epheasie, raped by anti-balaka militia in 2013. Etienne Oumba, tortured by anti-balaka militia in 2013, denounced the ICC. "The ICC has shown its incompetence in judging those who mistreated us, it's traumatising," he told RFI. "I ask the court of appeal or Special Criminal Court (CPS) to take over. Our torturers must be judged and sentenced." Appeal planned Lawyers said victims would appeal the ICC decision in the coming days. Authorities in the Netherlands, where the ICC is based, generally refuse to keep people investigated by the ICC on their soil. Mokom will likely remain there while waiting for another state to agree to take him, according to RFI's correspondent in The Hague. Last month, a court in the CAR capital Bangui found him guilty of breach of state security and sentenced him to hard labour for life. The ICC has been investigating the violence in CAR since May 2014. There are two ongoing trials before the court involving two other anti-balaka leaders and one Seleka leader. (with newswires) Convention People's Party (CPP) has issued a caution to Ghanaians regarding the potential election of Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as president in the 2024 general elections. According to the CPP, the Vice President's apparent lack of sympathy for the victims of recent flooding in the Volta Region reveals the kind of president he may become if elected. The CPP believes that Dr Bawumia's posturing since the incident of human-induced flooding in the Volta Region indicates that he would be an insensitive president. Nana Yaa Jantuah, the General Secretary of the CPP, highlighted a specific incident where Dr Bawumia, while acting as president, allegedly failed to demonstrate concern when the Volta River Authority (VRA) spilt excess waters from the Akosombo and Kpong dams, resulting in the displacement of communities in low-lying areas around the dams. During his tenure as Acting President, the CPP accused Dr Bawumia of not displaying urgency in addressing the plight of the affected people, focusing on his campaign to become the New Patriotic Party's presidential candidate until the return of his superior, President Akufo-Addo. Nana Yaa Jantuah further alleged that when Dr. Bawumia eventually visited the affected communities, he only contributed a nominal sum of GHS 160, 000 which the CPP deemed inadequate. The party challenged Dr Bawumia, questioning whether this sum was comparable to what he had spent on his campaign to secure his party's nomination during the special delegates conference. Miss Jantauh painted a picture of Dr Bawumia as an insensitive leader during an interview on Accra-based Asempa FM on Thursday, October 19, 2023 -Classfmonline Some ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) members were among the latest batch of candidates to be called to the Bar after successfully completing their legal education. In a ceremony held on Friday, October 20, Sammi Awuku, CEO of the National Lottery Authority and former National Organizer of the NPP, Foreign Affairs Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey and MP for Tafo Ekow Vincent Asafuah were inaugurated as licensed lawyers. In a Facebook post following the occasion, Mr Awuku expressed gratitude for attaining this achievement after years of hard work. He said, "Embarking on this journey was quite daunting. Years of long hours of lectures, sleepless nights, engaging in unending group discussions and reading volumes of books have finally paid off in birthing an added career path for us." The new lawyer also thanked his lecturers, seniors, colleagues and family for playing a role in his success. "I am immensely grateful to my lecturers, seniors, colleagues, and family, who played a significant role in attaining this success," stated Mr Awuku. Foreign Minister Ayorkor Botchwey and MP Asafuah have also made it. Mr Awuku congratulated his NPP colleagues for achieving such a milestone, saying "May God's light continue to guide us on this path we have chosen." The call to the Bar ceremony allows attorneys to officially practice law after completing the mandatory professional legal examinations and a period of apprenticeship. Mr. Kwame Osei-Prempeh, Group Chief Executive Officer of GOIL PLC, has revealed that the company has taken a step towards the full implementation of the governments Cylinder Recirculation Module (CRM) policy with the official commissioning of five auto gas stations simultaneously at five specific locations nationwide at a colourful ceremony held at the Burma Camp GOIL service station in Accra. The five locations include the Cape Coast By-Pass in the Central Region, the GOIL Burma Camp, and Kpeshie Service Station in the Greater Accra Region, and Kentinkrono and Kumasi in the Ashanti Region. The fifth station, Paco Gas Station, in Takoradi in the Western Region, is going through the final approval processes by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA). The governments CRM policy aims to ensure that by 2030, 50 percent of Ghanaians will have access to safe, clean, and environmentally friendly liquefied petroleum gas. Mr. Osei-Prempeh, in his remarks during the commissioning of the stations, noted that the nations foremost indigenous oil marketing company is at the forefront of meeting all the supply chain requirements set by the NPA. He said GOILs commitment is demonstrated through the construction of two-cylinder bottling plants, one in Kumasi and another in Tema, as well as the establishment of five modern autogas stations. He explained that the sites were selected because they meet the necessary criteria, including approval from the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority, compliance with NPA regulations, profitability, and ensuring that customers in different areas have access to modern and safe gas facilities. Mr. Osei-Prempeh explained that modern autogas stations are designed based on current construction procedures and international safety standards. The technical experts used gas leakage detection alarms, loading arms, sprinkler systems, automated and emergency shut-off valves, and underground LPG storage tanks fitted with standard equipment. The reason for the choice is to ensure the risk of LPG leaks and the resultant fire accidents and explosions is reduced to the barest minimum. The modern autogas stations will reduce manual handling of the opening and closing of valves, which makes them a safer option for dispensing LPG into vehicles in Ghana. He said the construction of the stations was in partnership with South Koreas Yooju Engineering and Construction Limited. Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Minister of Energy, in a speech read on his behalf, congratulated GOIL Plc for achieving this milestone, an accomplishment the entire nation takes pride in. He said the commissioning of this modern autogas station here in Burma Camp and, by extension, the other 4 stations in Kpeshie, Cape Coast, Takoradi, and Kumasi marks a significant achievement in the implementation of energy policy as it pertains to the transport sector in Ghana. Present at the ceremony were high-level military officers, industry players, the former MD of GOIL, Mr. Patrick Kwame Apke Akorli, Brand Ambassador of GOIL, Prof. Azumah Nelson, and Mrs. Faustina Nelson, former Board Members of GOIL. Others include board members and management of GOIL Plc, Mr. Moses Asaga and Mr. Alhassan Tampuli, former CEOs of NPA, and Mr. Kwaku Agyeman Duah, Industry Coordinator of the Association of Oil Marketing Companies. The rest includes officials from COPEC, NPA, Ghana Standards Authority, Environmental Authority, Ghana National Fire Services, Factories, and Inspectorate Department, as well as some GOIL dealers. -CDA Consult || Contributor The Chief Director of the Ministry of the Interior, Mrs Adelaide Anno-Kumi, has said the government is working to create a government-led mechanism to manage migration per the National Migration Policy. The Chief Director stated that the National Coordination Mechanism on Migration would facilitate cooperation and coordination of interventions among relevant stakeholders with migration-related functions. According to her, the diaspora constituted an important part of Ghanas migration management strategies, adding that much more has to be done to encourage actual investment from the diaspora and reinforce the current regime to make engagement with the diaspora easier. The Chief of Mission of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Ghana, Madam Fatou Dialo Ndiaye, commended the government for embracing, supporting and advancing diaspora matters in Ghana. She said Ghana is now an African champion in the Global Compact on Migration. The Migration Coordination Platform-Diaspora Engagement and National Development meeting was organised by IOM Ghana with support from the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development. The public has been advised against misconstruing the sucking of breasts to the prevention of breast cancer because that is a misconception. It is not the men sucking the breast that would prevent cancer as perceived, but the issue is, if your man is fond of touching or sucking your breast, some cancers come with pain and this can lead to early detection and prompt checkup, Ms Christabel Adimazoya, a midwife, has said. The midwife, in charge of the Reproductive and Child Health Unit, Sandema Hospital, Upper East Region, said this during a breast cancer screening and sensitisation exercise for women at Sandema in the Builsa North Municipality. It was organised by the Anglican Diocesan Development and Relief Organisation (ADDRO) with funding support from the Episcopal Relief and Development, United States of America. Ms Adimazoya said it was important for women to examine their breasts, paying keen attention to the colour, skin and palpating it to detect if there were lumps or boils. You would not know that you have cancer until you go for medical examination and so on monthly basis women are supposed to go for screening seven days after their menstrual circle, she stressed. The specific causes of cancer remained unknown but predisposing factors could expose one to the disease, with some being avoidable while others were genetic. Wearing tight brassiere for long periods, washing breast with high detergents, excessive smoking and high intake of alcohol are factors that have the tendency to expose one to breast cancer and must be avoided, Ms Adimazoya advised. The exercise, in partnership with the Ghana Health Service, formed part of ADDRO`s Early Childhood Development Programme, dubbed Moments That Matter being implemented across six regions in Ghana; Upper East, Upper West, Western North, Eastern, Northern and Ashanti. It aimed at contributing to a healthy mother, growth and survival of children from conception to age three as well as building the capacities of caregivers on positive parenting practices to enable children to reach their full potential in life. Mr Sylvester Ayelgum, the Project Officer, ADDRO, Builsa North Municipal, said the project was to sensitise women to stay healthy and play pivotal roles in their children's upbringing. Mr Alloh Edward Asirazoya, a Health Promotion Technical Officer at the Builsa North Municipal Health Directorate, commended ADDRO for promoting breast cancer awareness in the municipality. When we started this breast cancer awareness, we had about nine suspected cases in schools, and this is very serious to us as a Heath Directorate. We want to thank ADDRO for the support and appeal to all interested partners to come to our aid, he said. GNA Nicholas Morkah, a journalist with Akyemansa FM, has alleged that he was assaulted by military officers in Akim Oda, Eastern Region while carrying out his lawful duties. In a statement, Mr. Morkah, who is the morning political show host of the station owned by Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, gave a detailed account of the incident. He said on October 20, he witnessed some military men assaulting a young man and decided to film it. Mr. Morkah noted that, "when one of them saw me filming them they rushed towards me and I told them I was a journalist but they went ahead to hit me severally and dragged me into their car. The journalist indicated that he was then taken to the barracks and his phone was forcefully reset, clearing all stored information. In his statement, the journalist revealed: "They inspected my other phone and saw some video materials of police officers, they watched it and perceived that I was an undercover journalist with powerful information so they sent me to the Divisional Police Command for further investigation and interrogations." He added that he was later charged with offensive conduct and released on bail. Mr. Morkah said he is recovering from the "trauma, brutality, cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment". Mr. Pious Tay, Mental Health Coordinator at the Tema Metro Health Directorate, has advised people with depression to seek counselling from health professionals. He noted that seeking advice from a trustworthy person when depressed also helps to provide information, guidance, and support. Mr Tay gave the caution at the weekly Your Health! Our Collective Responsibility! A public health advocacy platform was created by the Ghana News Agency Tema Regional Office to set the medium for the propagation of health information to influence personal health choices by improving health literacy. Your Health! Our Collective Responsibility! Also seek to explore the parameters of the four approaches to health communication: informative, educating, persuasive, and prompting. The Tema Metro Health Directorate is collaborating with the Ghana News Agency Tema Regional Office to upscale public advocacy on suicide prevention and also offer people suffering from any form of depression opportunities to seek help. Speaking on the topic "Depression, Mr Tay indicated that an individual who is constantly in a sad mood must be observed closely, stressing that low energy or fatigue can also lead to depression disorder. He said a clinical assessment needs to be done to conclude that the person is experiencing depression before an appropriate treatment can be given. He added that for people experiencing depression, although they will be aware of their condition, confiding in others could be challenging for fear of being stigmatised. The Tema Metro Mental Health Coordinator recommended that depressed person seek advice from their fathers, elderly, or religious leaders with effective communication, in which they provide guidance in a non-judgmental way to enable them to have the conversation comfortably as they talk and share their emotions with them. Mr Tay noted that to seek help when depressed, one needs to build self-esteem and confidence to share their problems with a trustworthy person. He said as an individual, your behaviour or character is very important when disclosing information to someone during the depression stage, and if a person finds you not to be confidential, he or she wont open up during this stage. He said, Channelling your problems to a trustworthy person would help for referrals or recommendations, but as an individual, you need to show some support or empathy. Notwithstanding offering support to a depressed person, you need to monitor by showing love to the person for a while as you look out for the danger signs; hence, building a relationship between the two makes it approachable by asking more open-ended questions for the person to speak more than after the referral of the person to a health professional, a counsellor, or a pastor. Mr. Francis Ameyibor, Ghana News Agency Tema Regional Manager appealed to media practitioners to lead health advocacy to create massive awareness across the country to promote personal health literacy. He noted that personal health literacy forms part of the general healing process, and appealed to media practitioners and media owners, communication experts, and other online platforms to help propagate health news. Mr. Ameyibor noted that according to the World Health Organization personal health, literacy is the degree to which individuals have the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others. He, therefore, appealed to media practitioners to work together with health professionals to promote personal health literacy which would defuse the superstition and dependency on non-health professionals for medication by some people. He noted that GNA-Your Health! Our Collective Responsibility! seeks to set the medium for the propagation of health information to influence personal health choices by improving health literacy. Mr. Ameyibor said the GNA-Tema Regional Office has, therefore, created the weekly health dialogue platform to serve as an effective communication channel for health professionals to educate the public on healthy practices and other general health challenges. -CDA Consult || Contributor The leadership of the Labour Party has called out Nigerias Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over an alleged scheme to frustrate an appeal case involving one of its candidates. In an open letter to the INEC chairman dated Friday, October 20, the party's national publicity secretary, Obiora Ifoh, decried the antics played out in an appeal at the Lagos division of the Court of Appeal the previous day. The case in question involved Hon. Amobi Ogah of Labour Party, who had approached the appellate court to challenge the nullification of his election victory for Isikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency by the election petition tribunal. According to the statement, "INEC had engaged a Senior Counsel, J.O. Asoluka (SAN), as its lawyers with a letter of authorisation to represent the commission. But at the commencement of the hearing at the Appeal Court, another lawyer surfaced with another letter of authority to take over the case of the self same INEC without prior notice to J.O Asoluka (SAN), that the new counsel had been engaged." It further alleged that "Conspicously present at the venue of the Appeal Court were some expelled members of Labour Party under the headship of Lamidi Apapa. Also present were some leaders of the APC who openly fraternize with the Apapa cohorts and who were openly boasting that they will purchase judgement at all cost." The party is demanding an investigation into "the inglorious roles which the legal department of the commission is playing." Mr. Ifoh stressed: "The Commission must reject any semblance of compromise. Nigerians are still looking up to it to redeem its image, aftermath of the controversial 2023 general elections. It must not allow a few pliable members of the Commission to further taint the integrity of the commission." The Minority in Parliament on Friday, October 20, visited communities affected by the flood as a result of the spillage of the Akosombo and Kpone dams. The controlled spillage done by the Volta River Authority (VRA) has affected various communities in the Volta, Eastern, and Greater Accra Regions. The spillage flooded communities, displacing about 25,000 people from their homes and destroying properties. Commiserating with the affected people today, Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson charged government to relocate those who are willing to occupy houses available at the Saglemi housing project located in Prampram in the Ningo Prampram District in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana Im worried that some of our colleagues, some Ghanaian citizens in the affected arrears do not have a place to sleep. We have Saglemi sitting idle. The government must ensure that they house the people of these affected constituencies properly. We are suggesting that as a matter of urgency, they can relocate them temporarily to the Saglemi housing project. We believe this will help those who are homeless to have a place to go to particularly those who are willing to move, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson. During his address to the people, the Minority Leader described the flooding as a major man-made disaster that could have been avoided. He urged the government to declare a state of emergency in the affected Constituency. We urge them that as soon as possible they should declare a state of emergency in this affected arrears and ensure that action is taken to reduce the suffering of the people, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forosn said. Old mines are another area recognised as having tremendous potential for industrial tourism. Mining tourism is a growing, albeit specialised, sector of the tourism industry but it is also often overlooked by that same industry. Obuasi has a long history of mining. Large scale commercial and industrial mining began at Obuasi in 1897 with the formation of Ashanti Goldfields Corporation. The Obuasi Mine is now operated by AngloGold Ashanti. The Chief Executive for Obuasi, Hon. Elijah Adansi-Bonah has hinted that the Obuasi Municipal Assembly is relishing the prospects of mine tourism to boost its revenue base. Speaking to the media after receiving some delegates from Essen in the North Rhine Westphalia Region of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Obuasi MCE said mining tourism can provide several benefits to the Municipality, including job creation and environmental conservation. "After touring Essen in 2022, we realized that the Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex which was awarded the designation of UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001, is one of the most impressive industrial monuments on the planet. Since the final working shift in 1986, Zollverein has been transformed into a prime site for the art, culture and creative sectors, attracting more than two million visitors a year," Hon Adansi-Bonah added. He was optimistic that with the rich history of Obuasi regarding the mining sector, the Assembly just was done in Essen, can leverage the sector to turn old mine sites into tourism sites to generate revenue for the Assembly. North Rhine-Westphalia and Ghana have been working together closely for more than 20 years. In 2007 this engagement was raised to an official level through a partnership agreement between the State Chancellery of North Rhine-Westphalia and the Ghanaian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration. In a renewal of the agreement dated 2016, the governments decided to align the cooperation for the next five years with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2017 the partnership was extended to include local governance exchange between ministries in NRW and Ghana. On the key lessons learnt from the partnership, Hon Elijah Adansi-Bonah said the Assembly having picked lessons from the City of Essen, has rolled out the ' Obuasi Green city agenda'; a bold and aggressive policy targeted at converting all grey areas in the Municipality to Greenery environment to mitigate the effects of climate change. The leader of the delegation from Essen Nil Ole Haar who heads the office of the European/international affairs and sustainable development of the city of Essen said the partnership between the city of Essen and Obuasi is underlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals which both cities are pursuing and trying to find common grounds to work together. "The two cities are involved in city planning, exchanging ideas and developing projects which both cities can benefit from". He mentioned that Obuasi and Essen share common problems hence was hopeful that partnership and collaboration will enable them draw up solutions to them. The Kunkahene, Abusuapanin Kwaku Ponko III who expressed his excitement over the sister city relation between Obuasi and the city of Essen implored the leadership of Obuasi to learn lessons from the city of Essen by fashioning out how to sustain the economy of Obuasi beyond the Mine. The Kunkahene appealed to the Assembly to work closely with the German partners to take advantage of the arable lands in Obuasi which can be used for the production of cassava, starch, ginger, coconuts, etc. "Please impress upon our guests to carry our message to the potential investors in Germany. My doors are always opened for partnership in any areas that will create job opportunities for the youth in Obuasi," he stated. Former president John Mahama has appealed to people of African descent not to hesitate to take advantage of the right to abode law to relocate to Ghana. Delivering the keynote speech at the Universities Studying Slavery Conference in Halifax Canada on Thursday (19 October), Mahama said Africans must learn to heal from the injustices caused by colonisation by themselves. I would like us to remember that the work of atonement done by somebody else for the injustices of the past should not be confused with the work of healing that must be done by us for the well-being and joy of our posterity. We are the answer to our ancestors' prayers, they survived the unspeakable so that we will be free to sour beyond the limits that society, family and friends try to place on us. There is a home for you in Ghana, and we will happily welcome you back home, as one of our own through the door of return whenever you are ready. I am sure you can get more information on the right of abode for persons of African diaspora here, Mahama said. 20.10.2023 LISTEN The painful, sadistic and gruesome murder of Colonel Muammar Al-Gaddafi and the genocide unleashed on the Libyan people were nothing but a conspiracy to set Africa backward. The Libyan leader was targeted by NATO and its allies, and was murdered on Thursday 20th October, 2011. This date was one of the darkest days of African history. Like Patrice Lumumba of the Congo, Silvanus Olympio of Togo and Captain Thomas Sankara of Burkina Faso, the murder of Gaddafi was a humiliation inflicted on the true sons of Africa. On that fateful day of October 20, 2011 the body of Muammar Al-Gaddafi was riddle with bullets and stripped naked like dog to the world; an action which was so cruel, ungodly, and un-African. It is on record that, between March and November, 2011 NATO forces spilled the blood of innocent lives, unleashed death and terror on Libya and the Libyan people through air bombings and missile attacks from NATO warships. These aggressive attacks resulted also into the ruthless destruction of the socio-economic infrastructure of Libya, including schools, hospitals, highways, telecommunication networks, the irrigation and drinking water network; depletion of the Libyan environment and deaths of more than one and half million Libyan children, women, elderly persons, and youths. So, we were not surprised at that sad day when the former President of the United States, Barack Obama referred to the murder of the Libyan icon, hero and revolutionary leader, Gaddafi as a new Chapter. Obamas message was clear to the people of Africa that the new Chapter championed by Anglo-American imperialists and other European powers in Libya is about turning Africa into a satellite region for exploitation of rich natural resources and imposition of willing governments and leaders on the continent. The blood of Gaddafi will continue to hunt his murderers and killers of defenseless and innocent people of Libya. On this 12th year of remembrance of the murder of the genius leader of the Socialist Peoples Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, the Sahel Solidarity Campaign Network (SaS-CaN) condemns strongly the hostile policy of cold blood murder and assassination of African leaders on the African continent. This policy constitutes a grave threat to peace, freedom, independence, stability and good governance in Africa. It posed also a diabolic threat to development, economic prosperity and environmental sustainability of all African countries. It is true that we have lost a brilliant, fearless and purposeful leader, who stood his ground not to be a cheap pawn under imperialism. He stood never to betray his people, Africa and all Africans. They hated Gaddafi because he did not allow the West to teach him about democracy and freedom, when these principles are not allowed to give expression in the United States and Western countries. We advocate democracy and freedom that bring to the family daily food on the table, good education, decent housing, good roads; basic healthcare and guarantee infrastructure facilities for future generations. We want Africans to place on record that, Libya under Gaddafi, everything to make life worth living was available, with no single dollar coming either from the United States or Western European nations. Gaddafi was able also to send some bread to sister African countries, for free, unlike Western packages sent to the continent with strings attached, and supervised by the same Westerners. The right to judge, reward or punish a political leader belongs to the people of that country and not to any foreign power. Like many African leaders who were killed by foreign powers for control of Africas abundant and rich natural resources and wealth, the murder of Muammar Gaddafi was an act of blatant violation of the right of the Libyan people to sovereignty and domestic self-rule. By Gaddafis murder, we blame our leaders on the continent for failing to protect the Libyan leader and defend the continent against unwarranted invasion by pretenders. We are crying today because, our continent has been robbed-off, of democracy, freedom, justice, development and dignity. Every year on this day, we mourn the murder of Gaddafi. Shame on the enemies of Africa! Africa for Africans on the continent and abroad! Sender: (Chief) Alimamy Bakarr Sankoh President of SaS-CaN 20.10.2023 LISTEN Ing. Edward Ekow Obeng-Kenzo, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Engineering and Operations) of Volta River Authority (VRA) has defended the spillage of the Akosombo Dam which has wreaked havoc in Volta Region. The Akosombo dam spillage has flooded communities in Lower Volta, displaced over 25,000 residents and destroyed several properties. During an interview on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show with host Kwami Sefa Kayi, VRA's Engineering boss noted that the spillage of excess water from the dam was necessary to save the dam from collapse. He cited a situation where a dam collapsed in Libya, which resulted in several losses of life and properties, a sobering incident they are learning from in order that Ghana does not get to such a catastrophic. "It's a decision that you always have to make, looking at both sides of it and making sure you take that correct decision," he stated. Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong, a former General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, has urged political parties to refrain from politicising the challenges faced by individuals affected by the Akosombo Dam spillage. The dam spillage has displaced 26,000 people and destroyed properties. In a statement to Citi News monitored by ModernGhana News, Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong called on all Ghanaians to provide support to those affected by the situation. He said this is not the time to play politics with the disaster. "Something must quickly be done. Our friends in parts of the Volta and Oti Regions are going through a crisis. We are one nation. We plead with our politicians not to politicise what people are going through. People need help. This is a genuine need. I know some of you have started mobilising for people to contribute. Any Ghanaian that can be of help must be there. My own church, the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, is moving to help. Lets all move to help, so our friends in need know that they are loved, they belong, and Ghana is a nation that cares," he emphasised. Richard Ahiagbah, the National Communications Director of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has urged citizens not to play politics with serious issues. He has observed the political discourse surrounding the recent flood caused by the spillage of the Akosombo and Kpone dams on some communities in the Volta, Greater Accra and Eastern regions. In a tweet on Friday, October 20, the ruling partys spokesperson wants the political cards dialled down and the focus shifted to saving lives. "The people are hurting. The government is committed to doing all it takes to restore the people. How I wish the politics could be dialled down so, we can focus on improving conditions for the people," Richard Ahiagbah said. He reechoed the Ministry of Food and Agricultures donation of $40 million World Bank grant, noting it will go a long way in salvaging the situation. "This government has repurposed $40 million from the World Bank-funded Food System Resilience Program to support farmers in the flood-affected areas. This will go a long way!" Richard Ahiagbah said. This comes as communities across Lower Volta such as North Tongu, South Tongu, Ada East and Keta submerged in water with several people displaced and properties destroyed. Ghanaian socialite Afia Schwarzenegger has congratulated Sammi Awuku for being officially called to the legal fraternity in Ghana. In a post on her Instagram page on Friday, October 20, the media personality shared a photo of Sammi Awuku and touted his achievement. She wished him "more litigations" moving forward in his legal career. Sammi Awuku, who currently serves as the CEO of the National Lottery Authority pursued legal education while simultaneously holding senior roles in politics. He is a former National Organizer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP). His journey to becoming a lawyer had not been an easy one, Mr. Awuku said in a Facebook post. It involved years of attending lectures, staying up late for studies, engaging in group work and reading numerous volumes of legal books and materials. He thanked his lecturers, seniors, colleagues and family for supporting him throughout the process. He joined several other prominent NPP members who were also called to the bar on the same day, including Foreign Affairs Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey and Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Ekow Vincent Asafuah. A Biomedical Engineer has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly defrauding Management of New Crystal Hospital Services of GHC877,622. Nana Yaw Appiah is said to have collected the money from management of the Hospital under the pretext of supplying them with assorted medical equipment but failed. Appiah, charged with defrauding by false pretences and two counts of issuing false cheques, pleaded not guilty. The court presided over by Mrs Evelyn Asamoah admitted Appiah to bail in the sum of GHC1million with four sureties, two of whom are to be gainfully employed. It further directed prosecution to file their disclosures and adjourned the matter to November 16, 2023. Appiah's lawyer prayed for bail, saying the matter before the court was an agreement between two corporate entities. According to defense counsel, the accused person was not a flight risk, and he had a fixed place of abode. Counsel said accused when granted bail, would appear to stand trial. Defense counsel held that the accused person was also pursuing his debtors. Prosecution led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Emmanuel Haligah did not oppose to bail but informed the court that the bail extended to the accused person should commiserate with the amount involved. ASP Haligah said the bail condition should also compel the accused to appear to stand trial. Prosecution told the court that the complainant was George Kennedy Etwire, the Chief Financial Officer of New Crustal Hospital Services NCHS) located at Ashiaman. According to the prosecutor, the accused person is also the Chief Executive Officer of Engisys Limited and resident of Weija. It said in 2022, the New Crystal Health Service was putting up a new hospital facility at Ashiaman to be inaugurated in November 2022. Prosecution told the court that Appiah approached the hospital Consultants, Ampe International Health Consultants and made a representation to them that he could supply the hospital's Central Sterile Services Department (CSSD) with the relevant medical equipment. Based on that, Appiah was invited by the management of New Crystal Health Services and he confirmed what he had told the consultant of the Hospital. Prosecution said Appiah indicated that he could supply the following equipment: water softeners, two trolleys, loading autoclave, built-in steam generators, two surgical kick buckets among others, all totaling GHC877, 622. It said management of the hospital asked Appiah to provide a proforma invoice with a total amount of GHC1, 097,028 on the following terms: 80 per cent (877,622) down payment and balance of 20 per cent (GHC219,405) payable upon delivery and installation. Prosecution said on March 9, 2023, a First Atlantic Bank cheque with face value of GHC 877,622.40 was given to the accused person for the purchase of the above-mentioned equipment and he issued a receipt to that effect and promised to supply the equipment by August 2022. It said the accused person failed to supply the equipment and, in an attempt, to refund the said amount issued UBA cheque dated December 23, 2022, to the complainant's company. When the cheque was presented, it was dishonored, Prosecution added. The prosecutor told the court that the company petitioned the Director of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana police Service about the matter. The accused person issued another Standard Chartered Bank Cheque with the face value of GHC950,000 to the hospital but the second cheque was also dishonored for lack of funds in the account, the Prosecutor said. GNA President Nana Akufo-Addo has rejected claims all political leaders are inherently corrupt in Ghana. The President said some of them would have been better off in the private sector than in public in terms of making money. In remarks to the newly elected head of the Christian Council of Ghana on Tuesday, Akufo-Addo disputed the notion that "the people who come into political office have done so in order to enrich themselves." "There is an assumption in our country unfortunately, that the people who come into political office have done so in order to enrich themselves. Some of us would have been better off in the private sector if it comes to the question of trying to make money, said the President. The President insisted this perception was unfounded and needed to be dispelled. He expressed faith in institutions like the police and anti-graft agencies, saying they work for the state rather than any particular government. Akufo-Addo's comments come amid ongoing debates about growing corruption under his administration. However, he emphasized the need to bolster public confidence in oversight bodies and that "government comes and goes." President Emmanuel Macron has spoken for the first time to the families of French nationals held hostage by Hamas, assuring them that France was working to secure their safe release. The president's office said that Macron had told the families of the hostages: "Everything will be done for them to come back safe and sound to France." "France does not abandon its citizens," Macron posted on social media. Macron spoke to the families on Friday by video link-up, for the first time since they were captured in Israel during the attack launched on 7 October by the Palestinian movement Hamas. He assured them of the full mobilisation of the French state as well as state services to obtain their release, the Elysee said. "The President of the Republic reiterated to the families his support and that of all French people in the face of this terrible ordeal and his determination to fight tirelessly against all forms of terrorism," its statement added. Minister of Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna, who met in person in Tel Aviv last weekend with families of French victims of the attack, was also on the call. According to the Foreign Ministry, at least 28 French people have died in the attacks on Israel and seven others are still missing, including some held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. In all, more than 1,400 people have been killed on Israeli territory by Hamas since 7 October, the majority civilians, according to Israeli authorities. Over 4,100 Palestinians died in Israel's retaliation attacks on the Gaza Strip. Hamas kidnapped 203 hostages, including foreigners from more than twenty countries. President Macron said earlier this week that "intense discussions" were underway to obtain the release of the hostages. "They are moving forward, we are monitoring these discussions hour by hour," he said on Tuesday, stressing that Paris had "contacts, obviously, with the Israeli authorities", but also with "intermediate friendly powers with Hamas". The Palestinian organisation broadcast a video of a 21-year-old Franco-Israeli hostage, Mia Shem, the day before. Shem's mother has begged "world leaders" to help free her daughter. (with newswires) 20.10.2023 LISTEN In a remarkable celebration, the Adaklu District in the Volta Region came together on the 17th of October 2023 to honor and appreciate the invaluable contributions of nurses and midwives during their second Nurses' Week celebration. The theme of the event, "Our Nurses and Midwives, Our Future" encapsulated the essence of the gathering and underscored the critical role these healthcare professionals play in society. The keynote address for the event was delivered by the first vice-chairperson of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) for the Volta/Oti Region, Hon John Ocansey. He represented the Volta/Oti Chairman, Hon Anyigba Moses Robertson. In his address, Hon Ocansey emphasized the importance of recognizing and celebrating the tireless dedication of nurses and midwives in the healthcare sector. He acknowledged that this event not only appreciates their contributions but also sets the path for the future of nursing and midwifery. According to him, the healthcare delivery system is a vital pillar in ensuring the well-being and survival of every citizen, making health a cornerstone of the economy. Nurses and midwives, Hon Ocansey stressed, are integral components of a robust healthcare system, comprising 55% to 60% of the workforce in Ghana's health sector. Without them, achieving critical goals such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), Universal Health Coverage (UHC), Primary Health Care (PHC), especially the Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS+), as well as global health security and pandemic preparedness, would remain elusive, particularly in Ghana. The chosen theme for the celebration, he added underscores the vital role played by the nursing and midwifery workforce in addressing the escalating global and national healthcare demands. "It highlights the undeniable fact that our future greatly depends on the dedication and expertise of every nurse and midwife," he intimated. Hon Ocansey also emphasized the need to bolster the number of qualified nurses to ensure the provision of quality healthcare. "This training should be in line with the trends, needs, and skill sets of the 21st century." An emotional plea was made during the event for a fairer situation for nurses and midwives, who currently work in the health system and yet often have to pay for their own healthcare. Hon Ocansey implored the government to establish a comprehensive insurance package for nurses and midwives to alleviate their financial burden. Hon Ocansey also reminded everyone that nurses and midwives are indispensable components of the healthcare system and their future success depends on being provided with the necessary tools and resources to work effectively. He urged the healthcare system to continue investing in the future of nursing and midwifery in Ghana. During the celebration, Hon Governor Kwame Agbodza, the Member of Parliament for Adaklu Constituency and also the Minority Whip, extended his support to the Association by presenting four brand new LG televisions. These were awarded to outstanding individuals for the exception work. They are Mr. Tsetse Eric, Mrs. Amenya Grace, Mr. Flavius Gordon, and Mr. Adams Seth, for their dedication to work. The event was graced by distinguished guests, including the Volta Regional Chief Nursing Officer, Mrs. Asante Faustine; Mr. Doga Tsigbe, the District Nutrition Officer, who chaired the occasion; the district executives; the Adaklu District Public Health Nurse, Mrs. Antoinette Alornyo; Mr. Divine Akayire, the GRNMA Regional PRO; Isreal Moud, representing the media from HILZ FM Adaklu; Mr. Suglo Charles from GHOne, and a representative of the Member of Parliament, Mr. Soka Peter. Ghanaian social activist Oliver Barker Vormawor has accused the government of neglect leading to frequent "man-made" disasters that are costing many lives. In a Twitter post on Friday, October 20, the lead convener of the #FixTheCountry Movement lamented that the government's "incompetence and theft" along with citizens' "silence" is leading to preventable tragedies. He cited recurring deadly incidents including a fire outbreak at Kwame Nkrumah Circle and an explosion at Bogoso Appiatse in the Western region in January 2022 as examples of preventable tragedies. He also recalled the heavy pollution in the Pra River and the most recent flooding from the spillage of the Akosombo and Kpone dams. "Circle fire, Appiatse, the Brown River Pra and the Dam flooding should have taught us one thing. This Republic is always trying to kill us," Mr. Barker lamented. "We have been burned by Fire, We have been bombed, we have been poisoned and we have been flooded. Soon their incompetence and theft as well as our silence will kill us all," he further warned. This comes as communities across Lower Volta such as North Tongu, South Tongu, Ada East and Keta submerged in water with several people displaced and properties destroyed caused by the spillage from Akosombo Dam. UG-UTAG Secretary, Prof. Ransford Gyampo 20.10.2023 LISTEN The University of Ghana branch of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UG-UTAG) has issued a press release to emphasise that it does not support a coup in Ghana. The release has been issued after the Minister for National Security, Albert Kan-Dapaah accused members of academia, Civil Society Organisations, and the media of coup-mongering comments. Speaking at a conference on the Impact of Disinformation on Electoral Integrity, Peace, and Security in Africa, the Minister said following the recent coup in Niger he has observed how certain individuals in academia, civil society, and the media, from what I have observed have been propagating false narratives in support of a coup or military rule. The National Security Minister continued, These actors have gained substantial followings on social media leveraging the influence to disseminate misinformation that threatens our nations peace and also stability, especially as we approach the critical December 2024 general election and this is a matter of serious concern. Misinformation, whether intentional or inadvertent, from these individuals because they are influential poses a significant threat to Ghanas stability. Having its members in academia, UG-UTAG in its release said it takes exception to the allegation and condemns it in no uncertain terms. We do not support any individual or groups calling for a coup in Ghana. But at the same time, we wont be gagged from speaking our minds forcefully on all important national issues. We would fiercely resist any attempt, including political commentary, that has the potency to usher us into the dark days of culture of silence, part of the UG-UTAG release said. In the release, UG-UTAG admonished government to fight against corruption and manage the Ghanaian economy properly to safeguard the peace and stability in the country. The antidote to coups and military interventions in politics, are good governance, fight against corruption, proper management of the economy, and the implementation of proactive pro-poor policies, that can help bridge the gap between the poor and the rich, as well as create a vibrant Middle Class in society. While we call on the government to imbibe the antidotes listed above to secure our peace and promote political stability, we also ask for a national dialogue and conversation on how to guard against the threats of coups and safeguard our peace in Ghana, the UG-UTAG concluded. 20.10.2023 LISTEN We call for a groundswell of opposition against all forms of politics of division, especially as the country prepares for Election 2024. There is always heightened tension at this stage of electioneering but beyond the agitation, trading in party merchandise picks up, boosting the local economy across the country. With over 30 years experience in the practice of democracy, the players should have by now mastered the craft such that the negative and destructive tendencies should have been left behind. Ghanas democracy can no longer be said to be fledgling. We are a matured democracy now and the ethos of the practice must be at our fingertips. Politics is not a dirty game. It is those who play it who make it look undignifying. Unfortunately, the people who call themselves founding fathers or elders of political parties do not set good examples for the youth to follow. The stock in trade of such characters is to insult those they disagree with instead of using the force of argument to win over people to side with their points of view. Such characters can be found everywhere but unfortunately they have found home at the headquarters of the NDC. These apparatchiks have perfected propaganda using the skills of Goebbels to such an extent most rural folks are buying into their misinformation. That is the more reason why people like Sammy Gyamfi, Martin Kpebu and Professor Gyampo, instead of using the media platform they get to inform and educate the people, they use it to lead the flock astray. They will not only lie but insult and even smear the President of the Republic. We serve notice to expose them if Ghanaians would allow Sammy Gyamfi to call people miscreants because of a mere allegation by a sour grape. The Communications Officer of the NDC is a proud member of the Bar but he could not advise Prof Frimpong Boateng to respond boldly to the allegations he made against members of government when called upon to do so. In the case of their new friend, who now is their hero because he and others find it convenient to piss into NPP matters from outside to lubricate the NDCs rescue agenda, the law Sammy Gyamfi learnt does not apply. Perhaps, the NDC thinks Ghanaians are truly forgetful. If that were not the case would the NDC be making a case against galamsey after their leader, John Mahama promised to release convicted galamsey operators if he was voted back to power in 2020. At a rally at Mpohor in the Western Region, in October 2020, Mahama promised to grant amnesty to all small scale miners imprisoned under the Nana Akufo-Addos government if he won the December 7 presidential election. He told the chiefs and people that, It is sad. The government said it was fighting galamsey, and they arrested, prosecuted, and jailed Ghanaians who were engaged in that activity but left the Chinese woman (Aisha Huang). This promise by Mahama cannot be realistic but hypocritical and meant to score cheap political points. The fight against galamsey is a step in the right direction and can be won if we all, irrespective of our political parties, put our shoulders to the wheel. The galamsey operators, arguably with support from some chiefs and politicians, have defied all the attempt by the government to stop them. The ravaging effects of galamsey have impacted negatively on cocoa production, agriculture, health, the environment and water bodies. The effects are abominable. That is why the NDC must join in the fight to halt the operators instead of trying to court them for votes. We can assure the NDC that their style of promising galamsey operators to build bridges where there are rivers would come to haunt them. Mahama during his tenure established many task forces to derail the activities of galamsey operators and showed his frustrations at the fight by describing Kyebi as the headquarters of galamsey. The latest posture on galamsey, especially its defense of Frimpong Boateng, can only be awaited sepulcher. Source: Daily Guide The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has announced that electricity power supply from the Sogakope Bulk Supply Point (BSP) might delay for months due to the flooding of the Point following the spillage of the Akosombo Dam. The Company shut down the Point to safeguard the Station, leading to power disruptions in Sogakope, Anloga, Keta, Akatsi South, Abor and North Tongu districts. Electricity power has, however, been supplied to the Adidome and its environs from Juapong and the remaining towns from the Aflao Bulk Supply Point (BSP). Mr Benjamin Obeng Antwi, Volta Regional Public Relations Officer of ECG, speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), disclosed that the Sogakope BSP was still shut because the Company envisaged that it could not be used for the next couple of months. He said everything the ECG was doing hinged on a long-term solution to ensure that if the situation lasted for six or more months, the Company would be able to supply power to customers. Mr Antwi said the Company had improved its network and urged customers to be safety cautious. He revealed that with communities supplied with electricity power from the Aflao BSP, the situation had improved. Meanwhile, the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) is struggling with electricity power to maintain water supply to the flood affected areas. Mr Francis Lamptey, Regional Chief Manager, GWCL, disclosed that water was being rationed to the affected areas dependent on the availability or power supply. That, notwithstanding, he said GWCL was running parallel distribution lines to service the flood victims from Aflao. He said its headworks at Agordome now supplies 5,500 cubic metres from the 7,570 cubic m with a shortfall of 2,070 cubic m, which is equivalent to 455,620 gallons. He disclosed the rationing or water management programme for the various communities, including Avorvi, Old Agorkpo, Agorkpo New Town, Hospital, Toklokpo, Sokpoe, Tefle, Wume, Agodo, Vodaphone, Comboni, Fievie and Medical City in a weekly rotation. He said supplies are antecedent to the availability of electricity. Mr Lamptey said the precinct of the headworks is getting flooded and hopes the rise is abated at a point. GNA Leading technology-focused private university, Accra Institute of Technology (AIT) is celebrating another milestone after graduating a new cohort of PhD recipients during its 19th Graduation Ceremony, held at the PIWC Hall, ATTC, Kokomlemle, Accra. The 19th graduation ceremony also witnessed the graduation of over 300 Bachelor's degree holders and 14 Master's degree recipients. In addition, over 1,500 students in various academic programs were also matriculated into the University for the new academic year. This accomplishment by the University not only marks a significant moment in AIT's history but is also a ground-breaking event in the annals of private university education in Ghana. Addressing the congregation, the Acting Chairman of the AIT Board of Trustees, Emeritus Professor Ivan Addae-Mensah expressed his excitement about the University's growth. He commended the high academic standards the relatively young institution achieved, particularly in producing numerous high-quality PhD graduates. He congratulated all the graduates while also urging them to go out into the world and make a difference. On his part, the President of AIT, Professor Clement Dzidonu outlined the University's unwavering commitment to maintaining high academic standards and conducting cutting-edge research to impact the world positively. He indicated that AIT now operates the AIT Smart School Academy, which provides training for pupils at the basic level. In a message to the graduates, he advised them to leverage technology to enhance their skills and abilities, emphasizing the pivotal role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in transforming the world. Prof. Dzidonu suggested that, in the era of AI, "The more you know, the less you know The more you do, the more you can do." He expressed gratitude to all parents and guardians who supported the graduates in achieving this remarkable feat. About the Accra Institute of Technology: Accra Institute of Technology (AIT) [www.ait.edu.gh], ranked as the top private University in Ghana by the Ghana Tertiary Awards, is an independent technology-focused university dedicated to academic excellence and cutting-edge scientific and industrial research and R&D work. For the fourth consecutive year, the University has been honored with the Best Technology University in Ghana Award, a recognition bestowed by the Ghana Tertiary Awards. This achievement follows the Best in Technology-Focused University in Ghana Award from Global Business Insight of the United Kingdom. AIT is accredited by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to offer both campus-based and open university undergraduate and postgraduate programs. AIT is affiliated with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) for campus-based undergraduate programs in engineering, computer science/IT, and business administration, and the Open University of Malaysia for Open University undergraduate and postgraduate programs at the Masters and Ph.D. levels. The Monks Investment Trust PLC (LON:MNKS Get Free Report) shares crossed below its fifty day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of GBX 953.61 ($11.65) and traded as low as GBX 933 ($11.40). The Monks Investment Trust shares last traded at GBX 943 ($11.52), with a volume of 237,184 shares. The Monks Investment Trust Trading Down 0.1 % The stock has a market capitalization of 2.10 billion, a P/E ratio of -3,096.67 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a current ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 0.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 7.16. The stocks fifty day moving average price is GBX 951.69 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 971.77. The Monks Investment Trust Company Profile (Get Free Report) The Monks Investment Trust PLC is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Baillie Gifford & Co Ltd. It is co-managed by Baillie Gifford & Co The fund invests in public equity markets across the globe. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for The Monks Investment Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Monks Investment Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Brunswick (NYSE:BC Get Free Report) was downgraded by stock analysts at StockNews.com from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report issued on Thursday. BC has been the subject of a number of other reports. Raymond James cut their price objective on shares of Brunswick from $90.00 to $88.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, September 19th. BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on shares of Brunswick from $122.00 to $105.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, July 28th. Roth Mkm restated a buy rating and issued a $91.00 price objective on shares of Brunswick in a research report on Tuesday, September 19th. Truist Financial cut their price objective on shares of Brunswick from $100.00 to $95.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on shares of Brunswick in a research report on Wednesday, September 27th. They set an equal weight rating and a $84.00 target price for the company. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $94.80. Get Brunswick alerts: Get Our Latest Analysis on BC Brunswick Stock Performance NYSE:BC traded down $1.03 on Thursday, reaching $72.75. 587,687 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 615,974. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15, a current ratio of 1.92 and a quick ratio of 0.85. The firm has a market cap of $5.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.56 and a beta of 1.53. Brunswick has a 52 week low of $64.55 and a 52 week high of $93.15. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $78.61 and a 200-day simple moving average of $81.36. Brunswick (NYSE:BC Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The company reported $2.35 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.32 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $1.70 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.75 billion. Brunswick had a net margin of 8.21% and a return on equity of 33.86%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 7.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $2.82 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Brunswick will post 9.25 earnings per share for the current year. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. SG Americas Securities LLC increased its stake in shares of Brunswick by 94.8% in the second quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 18,233 shares of the companys stock worth $1,580,000 after buying an additional 8,874 shares during the period. Sigma Planning Corp purchased a new position in shares of Brunswick in the first quarter worth $772,000. Natixis Advisors L.P. boosted its holdings in Brunswick by 2.3% in the first quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 25,298 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,074,000 after acquiring an additional 577 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Brunswick by 13.6% in the first quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 109,161 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,951,000 after acquiring an additional 13,065 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Tectonic Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Brunswick by 19.0% in the first quarter. Tectonic Advisors LLC now owns 10,325 shares of the companys stock valued at $847,000 after acquiring an additional 1,646 shares in the last quarter. 94.44% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Brunswick Company Profile (Get Free Report) Brunswick Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets recreation products worldwide. It operates through three segments: Propulsion, Parts & Accessories, and Boat. The Propulsion segment provides outboard, sterndrive, and inboard engines for independent boat builders and governments through marine dealers and distributors, specialty marine retailers, and marine service centers; and propulsion-related controls, rigging, and propellers to original equipment manufacturers and aftermarket retailers, distributors, and distribution businesses. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Brunswick Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brunswick and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobras (NYSE:EBR Get Free Report) was upgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report issued on Thursday. Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobras Stock Up 0.7 % NYSE EBR traded up $0.05 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $6.73. 814,044 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,267,047. Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobras has a 12-month low of $5.67 and a 12-month high of $10.39. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $7.13 and a 200 day moving average of $7.33. The company has a current ratio of 1.47, a quick ratio of 1.45 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38. Get Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. - Eletrobras alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Hsbc Holdings PLC raised its holdings in Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobras by 10.1% during the second quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 2,267,227 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $18,704,000 after purchasing an additional 208,439 shares in the last quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. purchased a new position in Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobras during the second quarter worth about $20,062,000. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its holdings in Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobras by 509.0% during the second quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 1,858,261 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $15,368,000 after purchasing an additional 1,553,112 shares in the last quarter. Citadel Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobras by 64.9% during the second quarter. Citadel Advisors LLC now owns 803,451 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $7,127,000 after purchasing an additional 316,345 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp purchased a new position in Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobras during the first quarter worth about $5,114,000. 1.11% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobras Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras SA Eletrobras, through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity in Brazil. The company generates electricity through hydroelectric, thermal, nuclear, wind, and solar plants. It owned and operated 32 hydroelectric plants; As of December 31, 2022, it operated 32 hydroelectric plants; five thermal plants, including coal and gas power generation units with a total installed capacity of 1,482 megawatts; and two nuclear power plants comprising Angra I with an installed capacity of 640 megawatts and Angra II with an installed capacity of 1,350 megawatts. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. - Eletrobras Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. - Eletrobras and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cutter & CO Brokerage Inc. boosted its position in shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HII Free Report) by 12.8% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,585 shares of the aerospace companys stock after buying an additional 521 shares during the quarter. Cutter & CO Brokerage Inc.s holdings in Huntington Ingalls Industries were worth $1,043,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in HII. LPL Financial LLC increased its position in Huntington Ingalls Industries by 0.5% during the 2nd quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 31,508 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $7,171,000 after purchasing an additional 153 shares during the period. Mutual Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Huntington Ingalls Industries during the 2nd quarter valued at $318,000. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. increased its position in Huntington Ingalls Industries by 6.2% during the 2nd quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 3,155 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $718,000 after purchasing an additional 183 shares during the period. Credit Agricole S A grew its position in shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries by 108.6% in the 2nd quarter. Credit Agricole S A now owns 365 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $83,000 after buying an additional 190 shares during the period. Finally, Sargent Investment Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries in the 2nd quarter worth about $208,000. 89.18% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Huntington Ingalls Industries alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of analysts have recently weighed in on HII shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $250.00 to $247.00 in a research report on Thursday, September 28th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries in a research report on Wednesday, September 27th. They issued a hold rating and a $217.00 target price on the stock. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Huntington Ingalls Industries currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $231.43. Insider Transactions at Huntington Ingalls Industries In other news, VP Jennifer R. Boykin sold 1,370 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $222.00, for a total value of $304,140.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 9,620 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,135,640. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, VP D R. Wyatt sold 500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $227.19, for a total value of $113,595.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 20,320 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,616,500.80. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, VP Jennifer R. Boykin sold 1,370 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $222.00, for a total transaction of $304,140.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 9,620 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,135,640. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 3,482 shares of company stock worth $768,152 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 2.30% of the companys stock. Huntington Ingalls Industries Stock Performance HII traded down $0.82 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $220.51. 105,288 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 330,221. The company has a quick ratio of 0.90, a current ratio of 0.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.79 billion, a PE ratio of 17.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 0.66. The companys 50-day moving average is $214.26 and its 200 day moving average is $214.31. Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. has a 52 week low of $188.51 and a 52 week high of $260.02. Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The aerospace company reported $3.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.14 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $2.79 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.67 billion. Huntington Ingalls Industries had a net margin of 4.77% and a return on equity of 15.13%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 4.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $4.44 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. will post 14.29 EPS for the current year. Huntington Ingalls Industries Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 8th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 25th were paid a $1.24 dividend. This represents a $4.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.25%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 24th. Huntington Ingalls Industriess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 38.12%. Huntington Ingalls Industries Profile (Free Report) Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc engages in designing, building, overhauling, and repairing military ships in the United States. It operates through three segments: Ingalls, Newport News, and Mission Technologies. The company is involved in the design and construction of non-nuclear ships comprising amphibious assault ships; expeditionary warfare ships; surface combatants; and national security cutters for the U.S. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Huntington Ingalls Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Huntington Ingalls Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes (NYSE:GOL Get Free Report) updated its third quarter 2023 earnings guidance on Tuesday. The company provided EPS guidance of -$0.28$0.28 for the period, compared to the consensus EPS estimate of $0.07. The company issued revenue guidance of -. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research firms recently issued reports on GOL. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group cut shares of Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes from a buy rating to a neutral rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $4.80 to $5.65 in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes from $3.50 to $5.50 in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Finally, Citigroup cut shares of Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $4.20 target price on the stock. in a research note on Tuesday, August 15th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $5.09. Get Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes alerts: Read Our Latest Report on Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes Trading Down 5.2 % Shares of NYSE:GOL opened at $2.75 on Friday. The firms 50-day moving average is $2.91 and its two-hundred day moving average is $3.40. Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes has a 1 year low of $2.00 and a 1 year high of $5.59. Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes (NYSE:GOL Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The transportation company reported ($0.41) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.11) by ($0.30). The business had revenue of $837.71 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $842.72 million. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes will post 0.16 EPS for the current fiscal year. Institutional Trading of Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. State Street Corp grew its position in shares of Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes by 3.8% during the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 64,556 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $465,000 after buying an additional 2,340 shares in the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes by 3.1% during the first quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 85,750 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $618,000 after buying an additional 2,550 shares in the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada grew its position in shares of Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes by 42.4% during the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 20,410 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $147,000 after buying an additional 6,076 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes by 1.3% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 698,744 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $5,031,000 after buying an additional 8,670 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bayesian Capital Management LP grew its position in shares of Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes by 35.4% during the first quarter. Bayesian Capital Management LP now owns 41,300 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $109,000 after buying an additional 10,800 shares in the last quarter. 0.29% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes (Get Free Report) GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes SA provides scheduled and non-scheduled air transportation services for passengers and cargo; and maintenance services for aircrafts and components in Brazil and internationally. The company offers Smiles, a frequent-flyer programs to approximately 20.5 million members, allowing clients to accumulate and redeem miles. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Benin and Togo have signed a MoU (memorandum of understanding) enabling free international mobile network roaming between the two countries. The agreement adheres to roaming regulations set out by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) specifically Regulation No. C/REG.21/12/17 (2017) for roaming on public mobile networks within ECOWAS states. Agence Ecofin reports that the respective regulators of each country the Beninese Authority for Regulation of Electronic Communications and Post (lAutorite de Regulation des Communications Electroniques et de la Poste, ARCEP) and ARCEP Togo signed the MoU on 18th October 2023, and have agreed to implement it on 1st January 2024. As reported by TogoFirst, the agreement will see mobile users travelling between the two countries able to benefit from the same rates as local subscribers for a period of 30 days. They will be able to receive incoming calls and messages free of charge, and data roaming rates will be capped at XOF2.2 (USD0.0035) per MB, compared to current rates which can reach XOF8,000/MB. International calls between the two countries will also be capped from 1st January 2024 at XOF90 per minute, whether on the users home network or abroad. According to TogoFirst, a Togolese roamer in Benin can currently expect to pay XOF1,393 per minute if they call home, so the rate cap is a significant reduction. Togo is currently finalising a similar roaming agreement with Ghana, which in July this year signed a roaming agreement under the ECOWAS regulations with Cote dIvoire. Perennial Advisors LLC lessened its stake in shares of Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM Free Report) by 11.7% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,833 shares of the CRM providers stock after selling 243 shares during the period. Perennial Advisors LLCs holdings in Salesforce were worth $387,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of CRM. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich lifted its stake in shares of Salesforce by 92,823.1% in the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 238,763,957 shares of the CRM providers stock valued at $50,441,274,000 after purchasing an additional 238,507,009 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted its stake in shares of Salesforce by 0.9% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 45,509,345 shares of the CRM providers stock valued at $9,091,832,000 after purchasing an additional 391,648 shares during the period. FMR LLC lifted its stake in shares of Salesforce by 1.9% in the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 36,357,722 shares of the CRM providers stock valued at $7,263,546,000 after purchasing an additional 695,355 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley lifted its stake in shares of Salesforce by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 19,003,836 shares of the CRM providers stock valued at $2,519,719,000 after purchasing an additional 149,012 shares during the period. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Salesforce by 1.9% in the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 17,749,285 shares of the CRM providers stock valued at $3,536,910,000 after purchasing an additional 332,375 shares during the period. 77.52% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Salesforce alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth CRM has been the subject of several analyst reports. Roth Mkm boosted their target price on shares of Salesforce from $242.00 to $265.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, August 31st. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Salesforce in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a strong-buy rating for the company. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on shares of Salesforce from $255.00 to $262.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, August 31st. Loop Capital boosted their price target on shares of Salesforce from $215.00 to $230.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Thursday, August 31st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of Salesforce from $250.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, August 31st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have given a hold rating, twenty-six have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $242.28. Insider Activity In other news, insider Brent Hyder sold 781 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $225.05, for a total value of $175,764.05. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 9,122 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,052,906.10. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, CFO Amy E. Weaver sold 509 shares of Salesforce stock in a transaction on Monday, July 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $225.05, for a total value of $114,550.45. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 35,611 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,014,255.55. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Brent Hyder sold 781 shares of Salesforce stock in a transaction on Monday, July 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $225.05, for a total transaction of $175,764.05. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 9,122 shares in the company, valued at $2,052,906.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 674,431 shares of company stock valued at $143,801,239. 3.70% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Salesforce Stock Down 1.7 % Shares of NYSE CRM traded down $3.59 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $204.73. The companys stock had a trading volume of 2,012,992 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,658,379. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $210.59 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $209.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a current ratio of 1.02 and a quick ratio of 1.02. Salesforce, Inc. has a 1 year low of $126.34 and a 1 year high of $238.22. The firm has a market capitalization of $199.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 128.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.20. Salesforce (NYSE:CRM Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 30th. The CRM provider reported $2.12 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.90 by $0.22. Salesforce had a net margin of 4.77% and a return on equity of 7.67%. The business had revenue of $8.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.53 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.52 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 11.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts predict that Salesforce, Inc. will post 5.86 EPS for the current year. Salesforce Profile (Free Report) Salesforce, Inc provides Customer Relationship Management (CRM) technology that brings companies and customers together worldwide. The company's service includes sales to store data, monitor leads and progress, forecast opportunities, gain insights through analytics and relationship intelligence, and deliver quotes, contracts, and invoices; and service that enables companies to deliver trusted and highly personalized customer service and support at scale. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CRM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Salesforce Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Salesforce and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sunoco (NYSE:SUN Get Free Report) was upgraded by stock analysts at StockNews.com from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report issued on Thursday. Other analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Sunoco from $47.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 10th. Mizuho lowered Sunoco from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $53.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Friday, September 29th. Finally, Barclays boosted their target price on Sunoco from $50.00 to $53.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $50.25. Get Sunoco alerts: Get Our Latest Report on SUN Sunoco Stock Performance SUN stock traded down $0.33 during trading on Thursday, reaching $50.92. 232,698 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 213,983. The company has a quick ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 1.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.67. Sunoco has a 1-year low of $40.70 and a 1-year high of $51.85. The companys fifty day moving average price is $46.86 and its 200-day moving average price is $45.26. The firm has a market cap of $5.12 billion, a PE ratio of 15.15 and a beta of 1.26. Sunoco (NYSE:SUN Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The oil and gas company reported $0.78 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.02 by ($0.24). Sunoco had a return on equity of 37.36% and a net margin of 1.55%. The business had revenue of $5.75 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.66 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.20 EPS. The companys revenue was down 26.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that Sunoco will post 4.26 EPS for the current fiscal year. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. grew its stake in Sunoco by 1.1% in the second quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 21,609 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $941,000 after purchasing an additional 238 shares in the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC grew its stake in Sunoco by 1.7% in the first quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 15,519 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $634,000 after purchasing an additional 266 shares in the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC grew its stake in Sunoco by 0.8% in the second quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 40,619 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $1,769,000 after purchasing an additional 306 shares in the last quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. grew its stake in Sunoco by 2.7% in the first quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 12,154 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $533,000 after purchasing an additional 315 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cetera Advisor Networks LLC grew its stake in Sunoco by 7.1% in the first quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 5,369 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $219,000 after purchasing an additional 357 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 17.62% of the companys stock. Sunoco Company Profile (Get Free Report) Sunoco LP, together with its subsidiaries, distributes and retails motor fuels in the United States. It operates in two segments, Fuel Distribution and Marketing, and All Other. The company's Fuel Distribution and Marketing segment purchases motor fuel from independent refiners and oil companies and supplies it to independently operated dealer stations, distributors and other consumer of motor fuel to commission agent locations. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Sunoco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sunoco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sweet Earth Holdings Co. (OTCMKTS:SEHCF Get Free Report)s stock price rose 24% on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $0.19 and last traded at $0.19. Approximately 833 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 46% from the average daily volume of 1,542 shares. The stock had previously closed at $0.15. Sweet Earth Price Performance The companys fifty day moving average price is $0.17 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $0.14. About Sweet Earth (Get Free Report) Sweet Earth Holdings Corporation cultivates, processes, and sells hemp cannabidiol (CBD) products in the United States and Spain. The company offers CBD and hemp infused facial products, including CBD hydration creams, oat and honey cleansers, and soothing CBD lip balms; and botanicals and essential oils, such as balancing CBD jasmine oils, soothing CBD bath salt soaks, invigorating CBD neem and turmeric scrubs, and aloe-infused CBD hand sanitizers for body and skin care. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Sweet Earth Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sweet Earth and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Canadian National Railway (NYSE: CNI) has recently received a number of price target changes and ratings updates: 10/11/2023 Canadian National Railway had its price target lowered by analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from C$167.00 to C$159.00. They now have a neutral rating on the stock. 10/5/2023 Canadian National Railway was downgraded by analysts at Bank of America Co. from a buy rating to a neutral rating. They now have a $115.00 price target on the stock, down previously from $131.00. 10/5/2023 Canadian National Railway is now covered by analysts at StockNews.com. They set a hold rating on the stock. 10/4/2023 Canadian National Railway had its price target lowered by analysts at National Bank Financial from C$171.00 to C$168.00. 10/4/2023 Canadian National Railway had its price target lowered by analysts at Barclays PLC from C$160.00 to C$150.00. 10/3/2023 Canadian National Railway had its price target lowered by analysts at Susquehanna from $120.00 to $112.00. They now have a neutral rating on the stock. 10/3/2023 Canadian National Railway had its price target lowered by analysts at Stifel Nicolaus from $125.00 to $122.00. They now have a hold rating on the stock. 9/27/2023 Canadian National Railway had its price target lowered by analysts at Scotiabank from C$172.00 to C$170.00. They now have a sector perform rating on the stock. 9/21/2023 Canadian National Railway had its price target lowered by analysts at CIBC from C$175.00 to C$173.00. They now have an outperformer rating on the stock. 9/21/2023 Canadian National Railway had its price target lowered by analysts at Evercore ISI from $119.00 to $116.00. They now have an in-line rating on the stock. 9/14/2023 Canadian National Railway was upgraded by analysts at Raymond James from a market perform rating to an outperform rating. Canadian National Railway Trading Down 0.3 % Shares of NYSE CNI traded down $0.30 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $105.08. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,067,232 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,122,909. Canadian National Railway has a 12-month low of $104.81 and a 12-month high of $129.89. The company has a current ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78. The firm has a market cap of $68.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.25 and a beta of 0.91. The businesss 50 day moving average is $110.81 and its two-hundred day moving average is $115.77. Get Canadian National Railway alerts: 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 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.37 by ($0.06). Canadian National Railway had a net margin of 30.21% and a return on equity of 24.62%. The business had revenue of $3.02 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.13 billion. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Canadian National Railway will post 5.38 EPS for the current year. Canadian National Railway Increases Dividend Institutional Trading of Canadian National Railway The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Investors of record on Friday, September 8th were issued a dividend of $0.5996 per share. This is a positive change from Canadian National Railways previous quarterly dividend of $0.58. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 7th. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.28%. Canadian National Railways dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 39.73%. Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Citigroup Inc. increased its position in Canadian National Railway by 8.1% during the 1st quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 146,378 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $17,248,000 after purchasing an additional 10,907 shares during the period. Brighton Jones LLC purchased a new position in Canadian National Railway during the first quarter valued at approximately $214,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC raised its stake in Canadian National Railway by 9.0% in the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 4,017 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $474,000 after buying an additional 330 shares in the last quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC boosted its position in Canadian National Railway by 64.4% during the 1st quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 518 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $61,000 after acquiring an additional 203 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Stifel Financial Corp boosted its position in Canadian National Railway by 2.4% during the 1st quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 916,980 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $108,177,000 after acquiring an additional 21,379 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 67.60% of the companys stock. 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. Further Reading 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. Sanjay Kumar is a Professor at Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), and an Election Analyst. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. Connectivity has become synonymous with productivity thanks to the Internet of Everything. As industry requirements for going digital and intelligent continue to emerge one after another, and as network connection technologies continue to advance, carriers have been extending and converging connections to improve their connection capabilities, maximize the value of connections, and ultimately drive new growth. Driven by a new round of AI transformation, the digital-intelligent transformation of industries is picking up speed, witnessing the arrival of the intelligent connection of everything. By 2026, 100 million households will choose smart home services, and the same number will use cloud video storage, boosting the valuation of the global enterprise network and cloud computing markets to exceed US$200 billion. And it is expected that by 2030, the global AI computing power will be 500 times more powerful than 10 years earlier. Connectivity capabilities therefore need to be upgraded. But how? Richard Liu, President of Huawei's Carrier BG Marketing & Solution Sales Dept, gave Huawei's answers during UBBF 2023. In his keynote speech titled "Embracing New Opportunities with Premium Intelligent Connectivity," he proposed the concept of Premium Intelligent Connectivity and explained its five capabilities. Five Capabilities of Premium Intelligent Connectivity Meet Digital-Intelligent Requirements of Numerous Scenarios Premium connectivity is a familiar concept. But it becomes less familiar when the word "intelligent" is thrown into the mix. According to Richard, Premium Intelligent Connectivity means better cloud and intelligence access capabilities. In the digital-intelligent era, cloud and AI require effective connections in order to fully realize their value without connection upgrades, they are just isolated islands. Such upgrades should therefore be considered equally important as cloud and AI. Based on its long-term efforts and deep insights in scenarios such as smart home, enterprise digitalization, edge service innovation, and intelligent computing, Huawei believes that carriers who adopt Premium Intelligent Connectivity can meet commercial use requirements of diverse scenarios and unleash the value of industry digital-intelligent transformation. This concept involves the following five capabilities: ubiquitous gigabit connections, cloud-network-security convergence, elastic ultra-broadband, low latency, and intelligent lossless transmission. First, as smart home and home cloud services are becoming more and more popular, carrier networks need to provide ubiquitous gigabit connections and support evolution to 10 Gbps, making it possible to provide new home service experience. Second, cloud access and Internet access services offered to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) require carriers to provide one-stop cloud-network-security convergence services and ultra-broadband connections in order to meet ICT requirements. Third, as more and more enterprises are migrating their core production systems not just their office systems to the cloud, multi-branch and multi-cloud connections become inevitable. Carriers need to provide elastic ultra-broadband capabilities ranging from 100 Mbps to 1000 Mbps and up to 10 Gbps, safeguarding the cloudification of different enterprise services. Fourth, the shifting of data from centralized processing to distributed computing is driving an explosive growth in the volume of data, facilitating innovation at the edge. Transport networks therefore need to be reconstructed to provide low latency and to support booming innovative services. Fifth, in the intelligent computing era driven by AI foundation models, providing intelligent lossless transmission requires the coordinated development of transmission, computing, and storage power capabilities. In this way, new business models such as AI foundation models can develop, and digital productivity can be fully unleashed. In summary, following the trend of cloud-based, data-driven, and intelligent transformation, connectivity determines the efficiency and quality of cloud and intelligence access in the booming industry digital-intelligent era. Carriers need to implement Premium Intelligent Connectivity in scenarios where cloud and AI are the most active such as home, enterprise, edge, and intelligent computing scenarios in order to meet the digital-intelligent requirements of various industries. Huawei's Comprehensive Solutions Help Extend Business Boundaries and Stimulate New Growth Focusing on the preceding five capabilities, Huawei has not only developed an array of comprehensive products and solutions, but also works with global carriers to bring Premium Intelligent Connectivity to multiple commercial scenarios, helping carriers extend business boundaries and stimulate new growth. First, for smart home and home cloud services, Huawei's FTTR solution provides home-wide Wi-Fi coverage, and its XGS-PON solution meets the upstream and downstream gigabit requirements of home cloud services. Furthermore, Huawei's 50G PON solution helps carriers smoothly evolve their access networks to 10G, bringing all-optical home networks to every smart home and gigabit connections to every home cloud service. This makes it possible for carriers to deliver new home service experiences, such as intelligent light control, robot-assisted floor cleaning, elderly care, personal cloud disk, home cloud storage, and cloud gaming. In Asia, the 1G @ Every Room package released by AIS Thailand boosts customer retention by extending the contract period to 24 months and increases the package price by 30%. Additionally, the FTTR service can also guarantee service experience of smart home business. And HKT, by deploying Huawei's XGS-PON solution, is able to launch broadband packages from gigabit to 2.5 Gbps, 5 Gbps, and 10 Gbps. With ultra-broadband capabilities, HKT can support the development of new applications such as Home Studio, metaverse, and cloud services. Second, for the digital scenarios of SMEs, Huawei's Cloud-Network Express+ solution offers one-stop cloud-network-security services including private line + security and private line + Wi-Fi management services thereby helping carriers meet the cloud and Internet access requirements of SMEs. For example, using Huawei's Cloud-Network Express+ solution to upgrade its live network services, a carrier in Southeast Asia can now provide Internet access to SMEs through one CPE without configuration. The solution also helps the carrier shorten E2E service provisioning from 5 days to 1 day, and fault demarcation from 6 hours to just 30 minutes. Third, more and more enterprises are migrating their core production systems to the cloud. Elastic ultra-broadband is the best choice for enterprise cloud private lines. With Huawei's Multi-cloud Backbone and OTN Private Line solutions, carriers can quickly build a multi-cloud access network that can provide ultra-large bandwidth and more than 100 thousand slices, safeguarding enterprises' cloudification. By offering an innovative SRv6 solution, Huawei helped MTN South Africa realize one-hop to multi-cloud service. Thanks to this, MTN has slashed its provisioning time of enterprise private lines by 50% and can ensure the SLA for more than 6000 enterprise applications. And a carrier deployed Huawei's OTN solution to connect scattered cloud data centers for the largest railway system in West Europe the railway company carries more than 400 million passengers every year. It provides ultra-broadband and 99.99% reliability, setting a benchmark of business success in the transportation industry. Fourth, to fuel edge service innovation, Huawei provides 400G + OXC technologies to help carriers build low-latency DC-centric ultra-broadband networks that can evolve to 800G and launch 10 ms-based latency services. In this way, carriers can deliver low latency and exceptional experience to every innovative edge cloud service and boost their development. With Huawei's support, China Telecom has built the first 400G all-optical transport network in the Guangdong-Hongkong-Macao Greater Bay Area. This network forms an ultra-low latency circle of 5 ms in the Greater Bay Area, and of 10 ms in Guangdong. It enables smooth transmission of massive volumes of data between enterprises and computing centers. Finally, for intelligent computing scenarios, Huawei provides AI Network Turbo to achieve intelligent load balancing for intra-cloud connections within DCs. And for inter-cloud connections, Huawei provides end-to-end 400G connections that can smoothly evolve to 800G. These offerings help accelerate the large-scale commercial use of computing services and bring intelligent and lossless computing power to each service. Take the media industry as an example. Filming produces massive amounts of data, which needs to be transmitted across multiple regions. Video rendering also needs large amounts of remote computing power. China Mobile and Huawei jointly created the Data Express service to meet petabyte-scale data backhaul requirements in multiple regions and slash the response time to access computing power from hours to minutes. Driven by Both Technology and Business, Build Premium Intelligent Connectivity for Business Success in the Digital-Intelligent Era The preceding series of solutions and application cases are the result of iterative upgrade of connectivity technologies and business exploration of industries during their digital-intelligent transformation. Over the past few years, driven by the concept of 5.5G industry standards both F5.5G and Net5.5G Huawei has been working with carriers and industry standards organizations to advance industry development in both technology and business, achieving a virtuous cycle of input-output. In terms of technology, Huawei works with carriers and industry standards organizations to advance 5.5G industry standards. Key F5.5G technologies, such as 50G PON and 400G/800G, have been fully verified in 30+ networks in Saudi Arabia and the Philippines. And Huawei has carried out joint innovation with more than 20 customers, such as China Mobile, around key Net5.5G technologies such as 400G/800G, Wi-Fi 7, and IPv6 Enhanced. And in terms of business, Huawei works with carriers to build Premium Intelligent Connectivity and continuously deepen the commercial use of connections in smart home, enterprise digitalization, edge service innovation, and intelligent computing scenarios, continuously exploring and unleashing the value of industry digital-intelligent transformation. As an ICT infrastructure provider with a strong presence in both the connectivity and computing fields, Huawei is fully able to build Premium Intelligent Connectivity and has a sound understanding of carriers' business strategies such as cloud-network convergence and cloud-network integration. In this way, Premium Intelligent Connectivity can be put into wide commercial use, helping carriers open up a huge space for cloud-network-intelligence services. Looking back, industry joint innovation has elevated digital productivity and boosted digital economy. Looking ahead, Richard Liu said, "a new wave of digital intelligence transformation is on the way." From extreme to excellence, "Huawei is ready to cooperate with carriers to roll out Premium Intelligent Connectivity for mutual prosperity in the new era." This year, a new round of AI transformation triggered by ChatGPT and its AI foundation model is redefining the paradigm of industry digital-intelligent transformation and upgrade. For the upcoming intelligent economy era, the industry has reached a basic consensus about the intelligent economy: the AI foundation model will determine its height, the data value mining will determine its depth, and the coordinated development of transmission, computing, and storage power will determine its thickness. In this new paradigm, where the cloud is everywhere, data is flowing relentlessly, and intelligence is touching everything, the importance of network connections that determine the transmission capacity has risen to an unprecedented level. From premium connectivity to Premium Intelligent Connectivity, the brand-new transmission capacity with ubiquitous gigabit connection, cloud-network-security convergence, elastic ultra-broadband, low latency, and intelligent lossless transmission capabilities will help carriers extend business boundaries, stimulate new growth, and maximize the value of connections in the digital-intelligent era. you are here: Rajan Mahan is a journalist who headed NDTV and Star News in Rajasthan. He was also a Professor of Journalism at the University of Rajasthan in Jaipur. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. Siddharth Upasani is a Special Correspondent at Moneycontrol. He has been covering the Indian economy, economic data, and monetary and fiscal policies for nine years. He tweets at @SiddharthUbiWan. Contact: siddharth.upasani@nw18.com Abhishek Sahu covers HR and Education (Careers) at Moneycontrol. He can be reached at Abhishek.Sahu@nw18.com and @Abhishek44sahu. Shubham Raj has six years of experience covering capital markets. He primarily writes on stocks with special focus on F&O and PMS-AIF industry. Preeti Kulkarni is a financial journalist with over 13 years of experience. Based in Mumbai, she covers the personal finance beat for Moneycontrol. She focusses primarily on insurance, banking, taxation and financial planning Sohil Sehran is a journalist with 10 years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital media. He covers politics and national affairs at Moneycontrol. He tweets @SohilSehran Daily and weekly insights bundled and sent to your inbox to keep you ahead in the race. Exclusive access to live webinars from market experts on trading and investment strategies Have a Global edge with access to content from world renowned experts and journalist Access to 230+ exclusive stories per month from our editorial and Experts Limited Period offer on Moneycontrol PRO. Subscribe to PRO and get up to Access the exclusive stories, weekly investment ideas and daily technical calls in an Ad free experience In this edition of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: Merging fintech with banks wont solve problems, challenges for investors during e... In late 2021, a virtually undetectable bit of Israeli spyware, Pegasus, was allegedly used to spy on around 300 individuals in India ranging from top ranking politicians to journalists. Or so said The Pegasus Project, a global collaborative effort between journalists from 17 countries. Pegasus was a spyware developed by Israels NSO Group that could be secretly deployed on mobile phones, whether Android or iOS. Pegasus highlighted how Israel was now a technology powerhouse, one that developed, built and... USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day October 20, 2023 / 09:12 PM IST Twenty-nine Nobel laureates including Kailash Satyarthi have demanded urgent release of children kidnapped in the Israel-Palestine war and a safe passage for them away from the conflict, emphasising kids on both sides of the divide are "our children". In a joint statement, they said they are deeply shocked by the children killed during the massacre by Hamas and in the subsequent widespread bombing of Gaza by Israel. "There is a grave risk of an even worse loss of life in the coming weeks and of children in other countries dying too. Palestinian children are our children, Israeli children are our children. We cannot consider ourselves civilised if this is what we do," they said. (PTI) A pair of Dothan men have been arrested after they allegedly shot two others in Houston County early Thursday morning before fleeing to Florida. Tyshaun Griggs, 23, of Dothan, and Calvin McGlown, 35, of Dothan, are each charged with two counts of attempted murder. They are currently in the Leon County Jail in Florida, awaiting extradition back to Houston County. Both have a $60,000 bond. On Oct. 19, at around 1:15 a.m., Houston County Sheriffs deputies and Dothan Police rushed to Ready Road after receiving a report that shots had been fired and people were injured. Upon arrival, law enforcement officials found two victims suffering from gunshot wounds. Rehobeth Rescue also responded and transported the victims to Southeast Health for treatment of injuries believed to be non-life threatening. According to Houston County Sheriffs Major Bill Rafferty, the investigation started on Ready Road, however, it was discovered that the shooting took place at the intersection of West Cook and Sheppard roads. Rafferty said a victim knew one of the suspects, and it was determined an argument took place at a home nearby. They recognized the offender through video, Rafferty said. The two spotted the suspects vehicle, and they went back down the road looking to see if they can find it. As the suspects vehicle headed down West Cook Road toward Sheppard Road, they stopped and turned off their lights, waiting for the victims to approach. When the victims came down the road, Rafferty said the suspects fired multiple shots, striking the victims vehicle several times. Following the shooting, the suspects fled the scene. Later that same morning, investigators were led to Florida, where deputies from the Leon County Sheriffs Office located the vehicle and apprehended McGlown. Griggs was eventually taken into custody after he was treated for a gunshot wound at a hospital. Rafferty praised the entire Houston County Sheriffs Office for its work on the case. One thing about Houston County is when something goes down as far as a major case, everybody works hard and doesnt quit, Rafferty said. OZARKAn opportunity to make a difference one project at a time, no matter how large or small, is the purpose of Make a Difference Day in Ozark, held annually on the fourth Saturday in October. At the Ozark City Council meeting Tuesday, Ozark Mayor Mark Blankenship and the city council signed a proclamation recognizing Oct. 28 as Make a Difference Day in Ozark. Make a Difference Day is the largest national day of community service in the United States, Blankenship said. Working together through volunteering can bridge the differences that separate people and help some of the serious social problems facing us as a nation. National Make a Difference Day was initiated by USA Weekend Magazine, co-sponsored by the non-profit Points of Light, in 1992, with the intention of promoting volunteerism and community service through a designated day where people could make an impact through community service. The 27th Annual Make a Difference Day in Ozark kicks off with a gathering of volunteers at Ozark Baptist Church on South Union Avenue at 8 a.m. and ends with lunch at Ozark First United Methodist Church on Broad Street at noon. In the hours in between, civic and church groups and individuals work on projects around town they select. The purpose of the day is simply to demonstrate that Christian giving extends beyond church walls, said Susan Judah, project co-chairman. Its to show that concerned Christians can make a difference. There are many ways to participate, Judah said. Join an event already planned, help out a neighbor, pick up litter in your neighborhood, collect aluminum cans for the Ozark Dale County Humane Society, or donate to a charity. The Junior Leaders of the Boys and Girls Club will show their appreciation to the Dale County Sheriffs Department, Ozark Police Department and EMS as their Make a Difference Day project. The Ozark Pickle Ball players are collecting boxes or noodles and small jars of peanut butter donate to the Mary Hill Family Service Center. A Patriot American Heritage girl, working to complete the Abigail Adams Badge, will host a Make a Difference site at Southside Baptist Church in Ozark to make items to put into Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. Individuals can create Grace Bags to be delivered to Mary Hill Family Service Center to be distributed to those in need. Those able to help are asked to fill a gallon zip lock bag with individually items such as wrapped crackers, granola bars, socks, lip balm, first aid items, toothpaste, toothbrush, mints, lotion, and a small note of encouragement and hope for the recipient. Projects can include cleaning up lawns, cleaning the cemeteries, collecting jackets for a coat drive, Judah said. No project is too big or small. The point is demonstrate the impact volunteer service in our community can have. Blankenship agreed. Ozark is fortunate to have so many caring residents who are willing to give of their valuable time, energy and talent to make a difference in the lives of others and the community, he said. Those interested in more information on participating may contact Judah at spjudah@gmail.com or Les Perault at lesperault@yahoo.com. DeSantis allies ask Florida judge to throw out Disneys counterclaims in lawsuit View Photo ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Agreements that Disney made with the governing district for Walt Disney World before it was taken over by appointees of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis werent legally valid, and the companys counterclaims against the district should be dismissed, the governing body said in court papers filed this week. The governing district now controlled by supporters of the Republican governor said in court papers Wednesday that a state court judge should dismiss Disneys counterclaims. The counterclaims seek a court declaration that the agreements are valid and that the districts board of DeSantis allies violated the companys contracts, free speech and due process rights. The agreements shifted control over design and construction at Disney World from the district to the company and prohibited the district from using the likeness of Disney characters or other intellectual property without Disneys permission. The agreements were signed in February before the district takeover by the DeSantis appointees, who claim the contracts neutered their powers for the district that provides municipal services for Disney World. The takeover of the district, which was previously controlled by Disney allies, came after the company publicly opposed a state law banning classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades. The contracts werent properly publicized and the Disney supporters on the districts board at the time didnt have the legal authority to sign the agreements, the district now-controlled by DeSantis supporters said in this weeks court papers. Disney has failed to allege any facts that demonstrate the existence of damages, said the district, called the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District since the takeover after being called the Reedy Creek Improvement District for the previous 55 years. Disney and DeSantis and his allies also are battling in federal court, where the company has sued DeSantis, claiming the governor violated its free speech rights by punishing it for expressing opposition to the law. DeSantis and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District have asked a federal judge to throw out Disneys First Amendment lawsuit, calling it meritless. DeSantis currently is running for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. ___ Follow Mike Schneider on X, formerly known as Twitter: @MikeSchneiderAP. A stampede in Kenya leaves 6 dead and about 100 injured during an event marking an annual holiday NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) A stampede in Kenya during celebrations to mark an annual public holiday killed at least six people on Friday and injured 100 others, authorities said. The stampede happened when thousands of people struggled to get inside Kericho stadium in western Kenya at dawn, police said. The stadium was the venue for this years Mashujaa Day, which means Heroes Day in Swahili. Health officials said they fear the death toll could rise. A local media cameraman at the scene told The Associated Press that it was like a scene from hell. People were trying to run away but because it had rained, they kept being stuck in the mud and bodies kept piling on bodies, said Festus Kirui. Their shoes were stuck in the mud. And you can see that these people struggled a lot to try to get out. President William Ruto, who addressed thousands of people at the stadium about four hours later, didnt mention the stampede. He instead dedicated his speech to his plans for a universal health care system. It wasnt clear if Ruto was aware of the stampede when he delivered his remarks. Nigerians remember those killed or detained in the 2020 protests against police brutality Nigerians remember those killed or detained in the 2020 protests against police brutality View Photo ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) Many Nigerians on Friday remembered the victims of the historic protests against police brutality which took place three years ago, with Amnesty International reporting that at least 15 of the protesters are still being detained illegally. In October 2020, thousands of Nigerians staged nationwide protests to kick against the abuses of the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad, or SARS. In the economic hub of Lagos, security forces opened fire on demonstrators, prompting global condemnation. A government-commissioned inquiry described the shooting and resultant deaths as a massacre. At least 15 protesters arrested three years ago are still held in Lagos prisons, the majority without trial and some being tortured, Amnesty Internationals Nigeria office said in a statement listing the names of the victims. In Lagos, a small group of people held a rally to demand justice for victims of police brutality. Nobody is going to be happy when you are unjustly killing people, suffering them, oppressing them, said Adebowale Adebayo, one of the organizers and a Nigerian actor popularly known as Mr. Macaroni. Across various social media platforms, the #EndSARS hashtag trended in Nigeria as many spoke about the continuing abuses allegedly committed by Nigerian police officers. Our investigation shows the Nigerian authorities utter disdain for human rights, Isa Sanusi, director of Amnesty International Nigeria, said, echoing accusations against the government that protesters were targeted while their demands for justice were neglected. Three years in detention without trial is a travesty of justice. This shows the authorities contempt for due process of law. The protesters must be immediately and unconditionally released, Sanusi added. People also asked questions about the true death toll from the shooting in Lagos, with the government still accused of a cover-up. A judicial panel commissioned by the Lagos state government reported that 11 people died. But in July this year, the government confirmed a memo leaked by local media that said more than 100 bodies recovered during the protests. Officials, however, said the fatalities occurred during violence in many parts of the state and not at the protest site where soldiers opened fire. Nigerian authorities must take concrete and effective measures to end police impunity, including by giving clear directives to the police not to violate human rights, Amnesty International Nigeria said. By CHINEDU ASADU Associated Press Heres a recap of recent funding developments from Australia, India, the US and beyond. Employment Hero Achieves $2b valuation with $263 million Series F Round The HR platform, Employment Hero, has secured the largest funding round of 2023, raising an impressive $263 million in a Series F round. Leading the round is the US-based fund Technology Crossover Ventures (TCV). Approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board is pending for TCVs backing, and existing investors such as Insight Partners, AirTree, Seek Investments, and OneVentures have also contributed to this substantial round. This remarkable achievement underlines the companys growing influence in the industry. Darwinium raises $28.2 million in Series A funding for digital security Darwinium, a digital security and fraud prevention startup, has successfully secured $28.2 million in its Series A funding round, marking its second funding round within a year. The round was led by US Venture Partners (USVP), with participation from last years Seed investors including Blackbird, Airtree, and Accomplice. Founded by Bondi entrepreneur Alisdair Faulkner, Darwinium is based in the United States and was established following the sale of his previous cybersecurity startup, ThreatMetrix, for over A$1.2 billion in 2018. AI Build Raises $8.5 Million in Series A Funding for innovative manufacturing Solutions Ai Build has closed a Series A funding round, raising $8.5 million, with IQ Capital taking the lead and participation from Nikon, as well as existing investors Superseed, ACT Venture Partners, Atlas Ventures (UK), and Seedcamp. Founded in 2015 by architects Daghan Cam and Michail Desyllas, Ai Build offers a cloud-based solution to manufacturers, aiming to streamline the additive manufacturing process, reduce costs, lead times, and material waste. This technology addresses the historical challenges of laborious and error-prone additive manufacturing. Early-Stage Startups in India, Tap Invest, Madsto, and Alwrite, Secure Funding Two early-stage startups in India, Tap Invest (formerly Leaf Round) and fashion retail brand Madsto, have successfully raised funding. Tap Invest has raised $2 million in a seed funding round, led by Turbostart, with participation from Snow Leopard, Kunal Shah (founder of Cred), Kashyap Shah of Creditstar UK, and existing investors Upsparks and Superb Capital. Meanwhile, Alwrite has secured $1.2 million (Rs 10 crore) in seed funding from various investors. Alwrite, a B2B insurtech startup founded in 2022, offers solutions for quote procurement, underwriting, user management, and knowledge and risk management to insurance companies and intermediaries, with plans for geographical expansion across India. JOOR secures $25 Million Investment to Drive Growth and Innovation JOOR, the preeminent digital wholesale ecosystem globally, unveiled a successful $25 million funding round, spearheaded by Brightwood Capital and Tamarix Capital Partners. Longstanding investors, including Macquarie Capital, Battery Ventures, and Canaan Partners, have also contributed to this round. This fresh injection of capital will empower JOOR to further enhance its platform, catering to its expansive international network of fashion brands and retailers. In addition to data-driven initiatives, JOOR intends to refine its JOOR Pay solution and broaden its presence in segments such as footwear, sports, and outdoor products. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Ukraines parliament advances bill seen as targeting Orthodox church with historic ties to Moscow View Photo Ukraines parliament voted overwhelmingly Thursday to advance legislation seen as effectively banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church over its ties to Moscow, despite the churchs insistence that it is fully independent and supportive of Ukraines fight against Russian invaders. The Verkhovna Rada, or parliament, voted 267-15 on the measure, which requires further voting before it gets finalized and reaches the desk of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The legislation would prohibit the activities of religious organizations that are affiliated with the centers of influence of a religious organization, the management center of which is located outside of Ukraine in a state that carries out armed aggression against Ukraine. That is seen as directly targeting the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, one of two rival Orthodox bodies in the country, where a majority of citizens identify as Orthodox. The UOC has historically been affiliated with the Moscow Patriarchate. It declared its full independence from Moscow in May 2022, three months after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and has repeatedly declared its loyalty and called on members to fight for Ukraine. Its leader, Metropolitan Onufry, said earlier this month that its the sacred duty of every believer to defend Ukraine. But many Ukrainians remain suspicious of the church and whether it has fully cut ties with Moscow Patriarch Kirill, who has strongly supported the war as a metaphysical battle against Western liberalism. A government study earlier this year disputed the Ukrainian Orthodox Churchs declaration of independence. The State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience said after examining the UOCs governing documents that the church remains a structural unit of the Russian Orthodox Church. Many lawmakers burst into cheers Thursday as the chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, read out the tally of the vote. When Stefanchuk called for the voting, he urged the lawmakers to have faith in the Lord God and love Ukraine. Parliament member Inna Sovsun commented on Facebook afterward: So far this is only a first reading, but still a historic decision. . It is extremely important to me to put an end to the (Russian Orthodox Church) activities in Ukraine. Ukraines security service, the SBU, reported earlier this month it has initiated 68 criminal proceedings against UOC representatives since the war began, bringing charges such as treason, collaboration, aiding and abetting an aggressor country, public incitement to religious hatred, sale of firearms and the distribution of child pornography. According to the SBU, Ukrainian citizenship was revoked for 19 UOC representatives who held Russian passports and spread pro-Kremlin propaganda about the war.. UOC leaders emphasized that the Rada vote was preliminary and called on representatives to revise the measure. The church legal department said it violates the right to freedom of religion established in the nations constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights. It is certain that the adoption of this draft law will indicate that human rights and freedoms, for which our State also fights, are losing their meaning, the church legal department said in a statement. A similarly named body, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, received recognition as an independent church in 2019 by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, but the UOC and Moscow have disputed his authority to confer that recognition. The action comes amid an ongoing standoff at the historic Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, a sacred Orthodox site in Kyiv where the government has sought to evict representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The oldest parts of the large complex, known in English as the Monastery of the Caves, date back a thousand years. Patriarch Kirill, at a gathering honoring Orthodox media, criticized Ukraines stance on the church. The children of our church (have) become objects of oppression and even bullying for the fact that they are bearers of centuries-old Russian culture, which is inseparable from the heritage of Russian statehood, he said, according to the state-run news agency Tass. The so-called abolition of Russian culture, this shameless slander and unpunished destruction of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are ways to oppose and quarrel those who are related to the single spiritual and cultural heritage created by the peoples of historical Rus. ___ AP journalists Hanna Arhirova and Nebi Qena in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Jim Heintz in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. By PETER SMITH Associated Press Garcelle Beauvais teams with Kellogg Foundation for a $90M plan to expand Pockets of Hope in Haiti View Photo NEW YORK (AP) Humanitarian donations to conflict-ravaged Haiti have dramatically declined since the assassination of its President Jovenel Moise in 2021, but the W.K. Kellogg Foundation wants to reverse that with a new $90 million campaign it calls Pockets of Hope. The initiative, which the foundation launched in September with a commitment of $30 million over three years, will focus on community-level efforts to provide education, health care and economic development, said La June Montgomery Tabron, the foundations president and CEO. She hopes the foundations success in providing support to communities in Haiti even while gang violence escalates in the country will convince other nonprofits to help as well. Part of this campaign is to help other funders understand that there is an ecosystem in Haiti that is functioning, Montgomery Tabron said. Its about the local organizations. Were trying to explain to partners that we can help connect them to those places, those pockets of hope where the investments will truly matter and make a difference. In the past month, Pockets of Hope raised an additional $20 million collectively in commitments from the Digicel Foundation, the Dunn Family Charitable Foundation, and the Amsterdam-based Porticus foundation. Actress Garcelle Beauvais, who emigrated from Haiti to the United States as a child, told The Associated Press that she wanted to support Pockets of Hope to let Haitians know that they have not been forgotten by the rest of the world. Thats important for people to know that theres a community out there thats looking out for them, said Beauvais, who currently stars in The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and The Real Murders of Los Angeles. We cant give up on Haiti. When things seem dire, thats not the time to say, I dont want to help. Thats when you come in. According to the United Nations, armed gangs now control more than 80% of the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area. After visiting the country in July, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Haitians were trapped in a living nightmare because the gangs limit access to food and health care. Haiti is still trying to recover from a 2010 earthquake that its government said killed more than 300,000. The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided more than $2 billion to fund rebuilding efforts. However, a recent U.S. Government Accountability Office report said that most of the projects USAID funded have been delayed or scaled back, with only half of the major projects getting finished. Montgomery Tabron said the Kellogg Foundation has found success by focusing on community programs for economic development, health and education that are designed and implemented by Haitians. The foundations long-running, individual approach to aid in the country has forged trust with local groups, said Montgomery Tabron, adding that its that network of community leaders that Pockets of Hope plans to support with new funding. We have Haitians on our staff, she said. We are committed to Haiti. We committed for at least a generation because we knew that you have to build relationships. You have to be here on the ground and know whats moving and where you can make a difference. Beauvais said she shares the Kellogg Foundations commitment to Haiti and hopes that one day the world can see the country she remembers fondly. Haitian people are so beautiful, she said. If you see the beautiful little children there, you want to help. You want to give them what we consider are the basics food, education and health care. I think they deserve it. ______ Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of APs philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy. By GLENN GAMBOA AP Business Writer Workers at Mexicos federal courts launch a 4-day strike over presidents planned budget cuts View Photo MEXICO CITY (AP) Hundreds of judicial employees, from administrative staff to judges, took to the steps of Mexico Citys largest federal court Thursday to launch a national, four-day strike against proposed budget cuts. In the first labor action to emerge in Mexicos judiciary in decades, workers are protesting planned reductions in funding for the judiciary in next years federal budget. Pending Senate approval next week, 13 of the 14 special funds used to finance employee benefits will be closed. The lower house of Congress approved the measure on Tuesday. Mexicos President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who floated the cuts in Congress, blamed senior legal officials for inciting the strike. That prompted courthouse workers to call for unity, chanting we are all the federal judiciary and cheering when judges joined the picket line. The strike will last at least until an open session of the lower house of Congress on Tuesday, which leaders of the Federal Judiciary Workers Union plan to attend. Some 50,000 federal court workers are expected to join the strike, the unions Assistant Secretary General Adrian Almaraz told The Associated Press. Eduardo Pacheco is a court officer who normally works on amparos,a form of constitutional injunction, at the San Lazaro court. He said the cuts were a threat not just to workers, but the integrity of the judicial system. In the legislative branch there are people who are not educated, they dont have a university degree; theyre just elected, he said, adding the federal courts serve as a check and balance on political power. You ask a congress member what is this article talking about? and they dont know, Pacheco said. They dont study. We have to study and prepare. Local courts across the country will be unaffected by the strike and, in a press release Thursday morning, the federal judiciary said it would continue to work remotely on urgent cases, to preserve the right of access to justice for all Mexicans. Mexican courts are not known for their speed or efficiency and it was unclear how much public support the strikers could expect. One court recently handed down sentences against five soldiers in the 2010 killing of two university students, after legal proceedings that lasted almost 13 years. Lopez Obrador downplayed the impact of the strike in an address Thursday morning. In federal courts nothing happens because (the judges) are only there to free white collar criminals, he said in his morning news conference. They do not impart justice. They only impart justice to the powerful. The president also tried to downplay the significance of the cuts themselves, promising the trusts closure would not affect most court workers, only trim the privileges of magistrates. Workers will not be harmed in any way. It is my word, said Lopez Obrador, adding the cuts would be used to fund 2 million scholarships for poor elementary school children. Victor Francisco Mota Cienfuegos, a federal magistrate of over 30 years, said the president had lied to workers. The discourse that only the ministers and magistrates benefit is false, he said from the picket line Thursday. That is a lie. These trusts have existed since the last century and are for the benefit of the workers. In response to the cuts, the Supreme Court stressed that the endangered funds were meant to pay for pensions and medical benefits for up to 55,000 judicial workers. Operational staff like typists and guards are more likely to be affected than magistrates, said Lourdes Flores, the unions undersecretary. Lopez Obrador has clashed with the judicial branch of the Mexican government in the past, accusing judges of entrenched corruption and privilege when they blocked his energy and electoral reforms, for example. While Lopez Obradors criticism of the judiciary has escalated in recent months, Cienfuegos said it has been a consistent tenet of the presidents term. From the top of the courthouse steps, Patricia Aguayo Bernal, a secretary of Mexico Citys labor court, called striking workers to join a march through the Mexico City center on Sunday and to peacefully protest outside Congress during their open meeting next week. By DANIEL SHAILER Associated Press A main suspect in the killing of Haitian President Jovenel Moise has been arrested after 2 years A main suspect in the killing of Haitian President Jovenel Moise has been arrested after 2 years View Photo PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) A former justice official considered one of the main suspects in the killing of Haitian President Jovenel Moise in 2021 was arrested Thursday in Haitis capital after being on the run for more than two years, police said. Joseph Badio once worked for Haitis Ministry of Justice and at the governments anti-corruption unit until he was fired for alleged ethics violations weeks before the assassination. Badio was arrested in the neighborhood of Petion Vile in Port-au-Prince, National Police spokesman Garry Desrosiers said. Moise was shot 12 times at his private home in July 7, 2021, sending Haiti into a political crisis. Several people had been arrested after Moise assassination, including 11 men now in U.S. custody. Prosecutors in the U.S. have alleged that there was a broad plot among conspirators in both Haiti and Florida to hire mercenaries to remove Moise and benefit from contracts from a successor administration. Last week, former Haitian senator John Joel Joseph one of the 11 men in custody in the U.S. pleaded guilty to charges related to the assassination. A federal judge set his sentencing for Dec. 19. The former senator was extradited from Jamaica to the U.S. in June accused of conspiring to commit murder or kidnapping outside the United States and providing material support resulting in death. Two other people also have pleaded guilty. Haitian-Chilean businessman Rodolphe Jaar was sentenced in June to life in prison. The sentencing for former Colombian soldier German Alejandro Rivera Garcia is set for Oct. 27. Among the people arrested after the killing are 18 former Colombian soldiers who are in custody in Haiti. Since the assassination, the Caribbean country has also experienced a surge of gang violence that led the prime minister to request the deployment of an armed force. The U.N. Security Council finally voted on early October to send a multinational force led by Kenya to help fight the gangs. Kenya has not set a date for the deployment. Sacramento, CA In a recent statement, Laphonza Butler, a Democrat appointed to fill the late Senator Dianne Feinsteins seat earlier this month, revealed that she will not run for a full Senate term in the upcoming election. Butler, was sworn in on October 3, following Senator Feinsteins passing at the age of 90. She expressed her desire to focus on personal clarity and the type of life she wishes to lead, the service she wants to provide, and the voice she intends to bring forward. After considering these factors, she decided not to pursue a Senate campaign in the upcoming election. While Governor Gavin Newsom had initially stated his intention to make an interim appointment to Senator Feinsteins seat, he later clarified that there were no restrictions on Butlers appointment, allowing her the freedom to run in the next election if she chooses. Butler, who is the third Black woman to serve in the Senate, affirmed her commitment to completing Senator Feinsteins term, which concludes in January 2025. Notable candidates already running for the Senate seat in the upcoming election include Democratic Representatives Adam Schiff, Katie Porter, and Barbara Lee. Air Quality Issues Around Mother Lode View Photo Sonora, CA The Quarry Fire in the Stanislaus National Forest has grown over 1,000 acres over the past few days, and there is also regional prescribed burning underway. The federal governments air quality monitoring sensors indicate this morning that there is very unhealthy air (purple) in communities like Mi Wuk Village, Angels Camp, and parts of Arnold. Many other communities have unhealthy air (red), and several others are in the category of unhealthy for high-risk groups (orange). Click here to view the latest map. During times of unhealthy air quality, it is recommended that time spent outside, including strenuous activities, be limited. Tips from the Tuolumne County Public Health Department. Stay indoors with the windows and doors closed; if possible, run the air conditioner on the recirculation setting Limit outdoor physical activity Leave the smoke-impacted areas if possible until conditions improve Reduce unnecessary driving. If traveling through smoke-impacted areas, be sure that your vehicles ventilation system is on recirculate Gaza under Israeli siege: Bread lines, yellow water and nonstop explosions View Photo KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) There are explosions audible in the cramped, humid room where Azmi Keshawi shelters with his family in Gazas southern city of Khan Younis. The bombardments keep coming closer, he says, and theyre wreaking death and destruction. Keshawi, his wife, two sons, two daughters and tiny grandchildren are trying to survive inside. The Israeli military has relentlessly attacked Gaza in retaliation for a devastating Hamas rampage in southern Israel almost two weeks ago and the Keshawi familys sense of desperation is growing. Food is running out and Israel has so far stopped humanitarian attempts to bring it in. The family hasnt showered in days since Israel cut off Gazas water and fuel supplies. They get drinking water from the U.N. school, where workers hand out jerrycans of water from Gazas subterranean aquifer to desperate families. It tastes salty. The desalination stations stopped working when the fuel ran out. Keshawi boils the water and hopes for the best. How the hell did the entire world just watch and let Israel turn off the water? said Keshawi, 59, a U.S.-educated researcher at the International Crisis Group, his voice rising with anger. That the world is watching, he says, saddens him the most. Sometimes there are too many airstrikes to forage for food. But his familys stocks are dwindling, so he tries to get bread when he can. On Thursday, the line for one loaf was chaotic and took five hours. Several bakeries have been bombed. Others have closed because they dont have enough water or power. Authorities are still working out the logistics for a delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza from Egypt. Keshawi has money to buy food for his grandchildren. But theres hardly anything to buy. The children often eat stale bread and drink powdered milk. A few Palestinians who own chicken farms and have gas stoves run take-out kitchens from their homes, asking customers to wait for hours to get a meager plate of rice and chicken. Keshawi wishes he didnt see the water they used liquid with a disconcerting yellow hue, from a donkey cart. He didnt tell his wife. Its not the time to be picky, he said from his friends house where he sought refuge after heeding an Israeli military evacuation order for Gaza City. We dont know if anything will be available tomorrow. The toilet in the house is nearly full to the brim with urine. What water they can spare to wash the dishes they then use to flush waste down the toilet. Without enough food or water, they dont use the bathroom much. The nights are the hardest, he said. When airstrikes crash nearby and explosions light up the sky, the adults muster what little resolve they have to soothe the children. Boom! they yell and cheer when the bombs thunder. The babies laugh. But older kids are terrified. They see the news and know that the airstrikes have crushed thousands of homes and killed over 3,000 Palestinians in Gaza so far, including dozens of people a mere kilometer (half mile) from the house they thought would offer safety. Keshawi said he tries to put on a brave face. But often, he said, he cant stop weeping. Its really killing me, he said. It really breaks my heart. ___ DeBre reported from Jerusalem. By ISABEL DEBRE and NAJIB JOBAIN Associated Press Reporter wins support after Nebraska governor dismissed story because the journalist is Chinese View Photo Advocates and Nebraska lawmakers are defending a reporter after Gov. Jim Pillen said her story about environmental concerns at his farms wasnt worth discussing because the reporter was from communist China. The Asian American Journalists Association, the chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and some state lawmakers have condemned Pillen and demanded that he apologize to Flatwater Free Press reporter Yanqi Xu. The comments, which received a flood of publicity this week when the online media organizations executive director wrote a scathing column, is just the latest in the nation in which an elected official has personally attacked a reporter. The scrutiny the story is getting also comes amid a wave of pandemic-driven anti-Asian racism and new laws restricting foreign ownership of farmland. Pillens staff has not responded to emails or phone messages seeking comment, although he likely will be asked about it Friday during a news conference to discuss the hiring of people with intellectual disabilities. News about his remark has spread widely published through the U.S. and even in Chinese news outlets. It all started last month when the Free Press published Xus story revealing that 16 of Pillens farms recorded nitrate levels at least five times higher than what is considered safe to drink. His children now operate the business called Pillen Family Farms, which the Free Press reported consisted largely of hog barns. A company official told the Free Press in a statement that the company worked closely with state regulators and was dedicated to ensuring groundwater is protected. No. 1, I didnt read it. And I wont, Pillen, a Republican, responded days later when asked about it on a radio show. No. 2, all you got to do is look at the author. The author is from communist China. What more do you need to know? Xu recalled in an interview Thursday that she was shocked and saddened when an editor pulled her aside to tell her what the governor said. But before writing more, the paper wanted to check about any potential repercussions for Xu. She grew up in China but has lived in the U.S. since 2017. After graduating from the University of Missouri, she went to work two years ago at the Flatwater Free Press, an independent, nonprofit news organization based in Omaha. The column that ultimately was published had her blessing. In difficult times. I just felt that we shouldnt stay silent, she said. And then, of course, I was thinking about the community behind me and, you know, who also might have felt really hurt because of the governors comment. Tweets flooded in, offering her support as the column began to circulate, and she said she was deeply, deeply moved. Among those tweeting was Omaha Sen. Megan Hunt, a left-leaning lawmaker who fled the Democratic Party mid-session to register as an independent, who called that the governors remark Racist and disgusting. Omaha Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh retweeted the rebuke and chastised the governor in a phone interview. The discriminatory implications behind the statement, taking that and setting it aside for a moment, this is part of a broader pattern of behavior of conduct and language used by the governor, said Cavanaugh, who led a filibuster this year in an attempt to derail a proposed ban on gender-affirming care for minors. She noted in an interview that during the signing ceremony for the new law, the governor suggested that children and their parents who seek gender-affirming treatment are being duped, and called it absolutely Lucifer at its finest. Asian Americans have increasingly been the target of racially motivated harassment and assaults in recent years, particularly since the coronavirus pandemic began, with many worrying that anti-Asian rhetoric linked to fraught relations between the U.S. and China could lead to more violence. With the pandemic raging, CNN reporter Natasha Chen went on the air to describe how a Florida beachgoer told her to get out of the country and that she was responsible because of her ethnicity. U.S. reporters also have been singled out. In 2020, Weijia Jiang of CBS News asked President Donald Trump a question about the pandemic. Trump said that maybe thats a question you should ask China. Dont ask me. Ask China that question. Jiang who was born in Xiamen, China, and emigrated with her family to West Virginia when she was 2 wondered why the president directed that remark to her. Trump said he would say it to anyone who asks a nasty question. Meanwhile, governors have been raising concerns about foreign land ownership. Prior to this year, 14 states had laws prohibiting or restricting foreign ownership and investments in private farmland. But that ballooned to 24 states this year as lawmakers in nearly three-quarters of states considered legislation on the topic, according to The National Agriculture Law Center at the University of Arkansas. Naomi Tacuyan Underwood, executive director of the Asian American Journalists Association, described what happened to Xu in an interview as another example of how people always resort to the perpetual foreigner trope and question our loyalties. She said journalists arent the only ones subjected to this, recalling that earlier this year a GOP lawmaker questioned the loyalty of U.S. Rep. Judy Chu based on her Chinese heritage. Chu, a Democrat from California who chairs the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, was among those who joined the clamor for an apology from Pillen, condemning his remarks as a baseless xenophobic attack. ___ This story has been updated to correct the name of Pillen Family Farms. By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH Associated Press Former officer who shot Breonna Taylor points gun at suspect during arrest in new job Former officer who shot Breonna Taylor points gun at suspect during arrest in new job View Photo LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) A former Louisville police officer fired for his role in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor collided with a suspects truck and pointed his gun at the man during an arrest in a rural Kentucky town where he now works as a sheriffs deputy. Carroll County Deputy Myles Cosgrove rammed the suspects truck before pointing a gun at the man on Monday, witnesses told a Louisville newspaper. Those accounts contradicted the local sheriff, who said the collision was accidental and his actions were justified because he was approached by at least five angry people after the crash. Cosgrove was one of two officers whose bullets struck Taylor, a Black emergency medical technician, during a botched 2020 raid. An FBI analysis determined Cosgrove likely fired the fatal shot and he lost his job as a Louisville officer for violating use of force policies in her death. Cosgrove was responding Monday to a report of a flatbed trailer stolen from another county and brought to a mobile home subdivision, Carroll County Sheriff Ryan Gosser said Thursday. Gosser said the owner of the trailer had spotted it attached to the suspects truck, followed the truck to the subdivision and reported it to police. Gosser said Cosgrove responded and his sheriffs cruiser accidentally collided with the suspects truck as the suspect was attempting to flee the subdivision, an account that some witnesses at the scene disputed. That was completely an accident, Gosser said in an interview Thursday. He said Cosgroves actions after the collision, including drawing and pointing his gun at people, was appropriate. Cosgrove was fired by Louisville police in 2021 for violating use of force policies and started working as a sheriffs deputy earlier this year. His hire was controversial due to his role in Taylors killing and attracted a small protest in front of the county courthouse in April. After the collision with the suspect Monday, Cosgrove drew his gun and pointed it toward the suspect, who is white, and others who were moving toward him in an aggressive manner, according to Gosser and a state police report. Another responding officer said he arrived to a crowd of individuals screaming and causing a disturbance. The allegedly stolen trailer was later found by police nearby. Gosser said it had been ditched by the suspect before the encounter with Cosgrove. A witness to the crash Monday said he believes Cosgrove initiated the collision. He hit him pretty hard, Jackie McCormack told The Courier Journal. He just straight rammed him. Gosser said the suspect had accelerated to leave the subdivision. Cosgroves cruiser also struck a parked car after hitting the truck. Three people were ultimately arrested Monday, including the trucks driver, who was charged with endangerment of a police officer, criminal mischief and fleeing police. Two other women were charged with disorderly conduct. During the Taylor raid, Cosgrove and another officer, Jonathan Mattingly, fired shots into Taylors hallway after her boyfriend shot fired a single shot that hit Mattingly in the leg. Taylors boyfriend said he thought an intruder was breaking in when the police knocked down the door with a battering ram. The raid helped set off nationwide police brutality protests that summer. Cosgrove was fired by Louisville police for violating use of force policies for shooting 16 times during the Taylor raid without identifying a target. He and Mattingly were not indicted on any charges by a state grand jury in 2020, and a two-year investigation by the FBI also cleared Cosgrove and Mattingly of any criminal wrongdoing. At the time of Cosgroves hiring in April, Gosser cited the fact that he was not charged criminally in the Taylor case, along with his character. He is polite and courteous with the public and gets along with his peers; and he is a problem solver who exhibits professionalism and excellent judgment, Gosser said in a statement to media outlets. By DYLAN LOVAN Associated Press Mid-November execution date set for Alabama inmate convicted of robbing, killing man in 1993 View Photo MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) Alabamas governor has scheduled a November execution date for an inmate convicted of shooting and killing a man during a 1993 robbery. Gov. Kay Ivey on Wednesday set Nov. 16 as the date for Casey A. McWhorter to die by injection. The 48-year-old inmate was convicted of capital murder for his role in the robbery and shooting death of Edward Lee Williams in Marshall County. Prosecutors said McWhorter, who was 18 at the time, plotted with two younger teens including Williams 15-year-old son to steal money and other items from Williams home and also kill him. Prosecutors said McWhorter and a 16-year-old co-defendant went to Williams home with rifles and fashioned homemade silencers from a pillow and milk jug stuffed with napkins. An appellate court wrote that evidence in the case showed Williams grabbed the rifle held by the 16-year-old and they began to struggle over it before the man was shot a total of 11 times by both teens, The jury that convicted McWhorter recommended the death sentence by a vote of 10-2, according to court records. The U.S. Supreme Court declined in 2021 to review the case. McWhorters attorneys argued that a juror in the case failed to disclose in jury selection that she believed her father had been murdered. They also argued that McWhorters trial attorney failed to prevent mitigating evidence about McWhorters background. The Department of Corrections will have until 6 a.m. on Nov. 17 to complete the execution. The state did away with a midnight deadline for carrying out executions after several lethal injections were canceled because of last-minute legal battles or problems inserting intravenous lines. The attorney generals office has asked that another inmate, Kenneth Eugene Smith, be put to death by nitrogen hypoxia, a method the state has authorized but never used. No execution date has been set in that case. Eric Broussard, Amazons vice president of international marketplaces and retail, speaks at an event in Ho Chi Minh City on Oct. 19, 2023. Photo courtesy of Amazon Vietnam is a newly emerging link in the global e-commerce supply chain thanks to its entrepreneurship and manufacturing capabilities, an executive at U.S. e-commerce giant Amazon has said. Vietnam has the opportunity to diversify its items on the Amazon platform thanks to its advantage as a new manufacturing hub and ability to provide a variety of items, Eric Broussard, Amazons vice president of international marketplaces and retail, said at the Amazon Cross-border E-commerce Summit held in Ho Chi Minh City Thursday. The country also has a spirit of entrepreneurship that helps elevate its place in the global e-commerce supply chain, he said. In the 12 months ending August 31, Vietnamese companies had sold over 17 million products on Amazon, up 50% from the previous year. The bestsellers were household, kitchen, personal healthcare, garment, and beauty items. Gijae Seong, head of Amazon Global Selling Vietnam, said beauty made it to the top five for the first time thanks to huge interest in false eyelashes, hair growth serum and teeth whitening powder. The number of Vietnamese sellers increased by 40%. Amazon said merely there are now thousands of Vietnamese sellers on the platform without disclosing details. Around 90% of sellers are medium, small or micro businesses though some large players have recently started selling on the platform, including pottery manufacturer Minh Long, office supply distributor Thien Long and furniture maker BeeFurni. Amazon recently opened a training center in Ho Chi Minh City. The center includes a studio that produces and broadcasts training materials on cross-border e-commerce. Amazon is set to use a marine shipping partner to help Vietnamese sellers distribute more products overseas on top of aviation. Vietnams e-commerce exports last year were worth VND80 trillion and could jump to VND300 trillion by 2027 if businesses get support, Access Partnership, a UK consultancy, said. Marlon Wayans says he is being unfairly prosecuted after being racially targeted by gate agent Marlon Wayans says he is being unfairly prosecuted after being racially targeted by gate agent View Photo DENVER (AP) Actor and comedian Marlon Wayans says he is being unfairly prosecuted for disturbing the peace over a dispute with an airline employee who he alleges targeted him because of his race. Attorneys for Wayans, who is Black, made the allegations in a court filing Thursday that asked for dismissal of the case stemming from a luggage dispute at Denvers airport. Wayans was cited for disturbing the peace, a municipal violation, in June, police said. According to the court filing, a United Airlines gate agent told him he could not get on a flight to Kansas City with three bags. The gate agent apparently tried to physically block Wayans from getting on the flight after he consolidated his luggage into two bags to conform with airline policy, the filing said. He boarded anyway and was later asked to get off the plane before it departed. While Wayans worked to rearrange his luggage, the gate agent kept allowing white passengers with three bags to board the flight, according to the court filing, which included still photos of surveillance video of white passengers with yellow arrows pointing to each of their bags. About 140 people boarded the flight, it said, many with three bags and oversized bags which violated the airlines policy. Wayans lawyers say the gate agent racially discriminated against him and that Denver prosecutors, by continuing to pursue charges against him, are perpetuating that discrimination and denying his right to equal protection under the law. The City of Denvers position is an affront to constitutional and social equity principles, Wayans lawyers said. City Attorney Kerry Tipper said her office does not comment on pending cases. United did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. In a statement issued by United in June to questions about what happened to Wayans, the airline said an unnamed customer pushed past an employee at the jet bridge and attempted to board the plane. According to statements recorded on police body camera and cited in the filing, the gate agent told officers that Wayans shoved pushed or elbowed him as the comedian boarded the plane, which Wayans lawyers say is a lie. They say Wayans may have brushed shoulders with the agent as he boarded. The police officers who investigated were doubtful that any crime had been committed, according to the filing, but the gate agent asked that charges be pursued. By COLLEEN SLEVIN Associated Press Questions linger after Connecticut police officers fatally shoot man in his bed View Photo Donald Passmore was lying in bed with a .22-caliber revolver and had country music playing when he was killed by two police officers who had initially been summoned to the 62-year-olds Connecticut home after a report hed shot himself. The killing Monday angered and saddened Passmores family and raised questions about whether officers could have done things differently. It came as many police departments nationwide have changed the way they respond to certain calls, including those involving mentally ill people in response to outcries over police killings. Police body camera videos showed part of what happened after officers arrived at Passmores home in Wallingford, Connecticut. The mans girlfriend had called 911 shortly after 2:30 a.m. to report he had shot himself in the face in their bedroom. The state inspector generals office, which investigates all police shootings in Connecticut, said the officers spoke to Passmore for about nine minutes. The videos show Passmore telling officers Gordon McCaskill and Robert Bellucci to put their flashlights down and the officers yelling Do not touch the gun, Get your right hand up now and Keep your hands where we can see them. Seconds later there is a burst of about 10 gunshots. The state inspector generals office said in a preliminary report that Passmores revolver was found on the bed, but neither officers video shows it. The videos also do not show the movement of Passmores right arm. There was nothing in his left hand. In the leadup to the shooting, the report said, Passmore told the officers to put down their flashlights and said Im telling you right now one of you are going to go. No information has been released on Passmores mental health. The report did not make any conclusions about the shooting, and the investigation is expected to take months. Wallingford police declined to comment on the shooting and referred all questions to the inspector generals office. A department spokesperson, officer Alex Torres, said the department has a crisis negotiation team and has in the past used the mobile crisis service of a local mental health provider. Passmores sister, Susan Cone, sounded upset during a brief phone interview and declined to comment. The house had belonged to Passmores late mother. Court records show Passmores mother, Pauline Passmore, died last year. Her mortgage lender has a pending foreclosure action against the home. Michael Lawlor, a criminal justice professor at the University of New Haven and a former state lawmaker, said the inspector generals office will determine whether the officers broke any laws. Speaking generally, Lawlor said a debate and policy focus has emerged in recent years over whether the question about police shootings should be whether they were necessary instead of whether they were justified. Based on the training, based on the situations, was it really necessary in this particular case to fire your weapon at the guy? said Lawlor, adding he had no opinion on shooting because few details have been released. Several cities have experimented with having civilian emergency workers respond to mental health calls, rather than armed police. Many police departments now train officers that the safest thing to do in some situations is to back off, contain and isolate a person experiencing a mental health crisis even if they have a weapon as long as it is likely they only pose a threat to themselves. Some departments have changed their approach to certain calls after the 2020 killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. There also have been calls for law enforcement to improve its responses to psychiatric crises after killings by police including the death of Daniel Prude in Rochester, New York, also in 2020. Prude was just out of a psychiatric hospital and running naked through snowy streets when he was suffocated by police who had been called to help him. He was Black, as was Floyd. Passmore was white. Mondays shooting was one of three violent confrontations in the past two weeks involving police in Connecticut. Also on Monday, a Hartford police officer shot and killed a 44-year-old man who pointed a handgun at the officer on a city street. On Oct. 5, a woman fired several shots inside the Bristol police department lobby and was arrested. By DAVE COLLINS Associated Press Donald Trump is dominating the GOP primary and settling into a new role: Defendant View Photo NEW YORK (AP) After turns as a real estate magnate, a New York tabloid mainstay, a reality TV star and president of the United States, Donald Trump is settling into a new role: defendant. The front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination spent two days this week in a Manhattan courtroom where a civil fraud trial is unfolding. Trump is accused of grossly inflating his net worth and the value of marquee assets on paperwork used to secure financing and make deals. In the courtroom, Trump is often subdued, sitting between his lawyers and staring straight ahead with a scowl as he studiously ignores his adversary, New York Attorney General Letitia James. But when he steps into the hallway where a phalanx of TV cameras awaits, Trump transforms into his familiar political persona, eager to spin the proceedings in his favor. If I wasnt here, probably maybe people wouldnt see the facts the way they are, Trump said during one of his swings before the cameras on Wednesday. Trump, who also attended portions of the civil trial earlier this month, is under no legal obligation to attend the proceedings. But in a preview of how hell likely approach the more serious criminal trials that will begin in the coming months, Trump uses the appearances as an extension of his presidential campaign, betting he can shape perceptions and portray himself as a political leader under attack. The strategy has helped energize his supporters and fill his campaign coffers by casting his legal troubles as part of a broad conspiracy to deny him the presidency and rob him of the real estate empire he spent decades building. But its also testing the limits of Trumps ability to harness his showmanship in a way that bends political and legal realities. Trump was fined $5,000 on Friday after a copy of a social media post in which he disparaged a key court staffer was discovered on his campaign website long after he was ordered to delete it. And during the same week that Trump was largely focused on New York, his legal vulnerabilities intensified elsewhere. In Washington, a federal judge imposed a limited gag order barring Trump from making statements targeting prosecutors, possible witnesses and court staff. For someone who sees few limits in attacking his perceived enemies, that order may be tested soon. And in Georgia, lawyer Sidney Powell pleaded guilty Thursday to reduced charges over efforts to overturn Trumps 2020 loss in the state. Kenneth Chesebro, a lawyer accused of coordinating a slate of false electors to vote for the former president, pleaded guilty Friday. The deals with Atlanta prosecutors could heighten Trumps legal exposure there if Powell agrees to testify against the former president. On top of that, Trump was overshadowed by the escalating war between Israel and Hamas as well as the failure of Republicans to elect a new speaker of the House. While Trumps initial appearances drew a media maelstrom, with cable news networks airing live footage of his motorcade journey, this weeks have drawn far less attention. There have been fewer reporters and more empty seats in the courtroom gallery as news outlets have pulled back on covering his courthouse sojourns because the novelty has worn off. Unaccustomed to losing the spotlight, Trump acknowledged the challenge Tuesday. Despite my being here, the talk is all about Biden getting ready to fly to the Middle East to see Abbas, meeting arranged, and Abbas just cancelled, he wrote on his social media platform. No respect for the United States of America! His public mood shifted throughout his time at the trial. He emerged from the courtroom elated on some days, predicting at one point that 80% of the $250 million fraud case would be thrown out because the judge had been receptive to an argument by his lawyers. Other times he has come out fuming, like on Wednesday when he accused the government of lying after one of his lawyers alleged a witness had perjured himself. Again and again, he casts the proceedings as rigged, a disgrace and part of a broader plot by Democrats to hobble his chances. I should be in Iowa now. I should be in New Hampshire now. I should be in South Carolina now or someplace else, campaigning, Trump complained Tuesday. In the courtroom, hell lean in occasionally to confer with counsel and follow along with a live transcript of the proceedings on a screen in front of him. Sometimes hell flip through a pile of papers or react to testimony with a grimace or other expression. On Wednesday, Judge Arthur Engoron warned Trump and others involved in the case to keep their voices down after he conferred animatedly with his lawyers at the defense table while a witness was testifying against him. Trump threw up his hands in frustration and grumbled to his lawyers, prompting state lawyer Kevin Wallace to ask Engoron to ask the defense to stop commenting during the witness testimony, adding that the exhortations were audible on the witness side of the room. The judge then asked everyone to keep their voices down, particularly if its meant to influence the testimony. Otherwise, Trump has shown unusual restraint for a man whos used to being the center of attention, able to say and do as he pleases. Aside from the historic nature of having a former president and current candidate at the defense table, Trump is something of a non-factor in the courtroom itself typically seen, but not heard. The most unusual aspect of his attendance is often the moment when a small pool of photographers and video cameras parades into the room for a few minutes to capture the scene for posterity before testimony begins. Its a spectacle, with photographers jostling for position between the defense table and the judges bench with all eyes on the commotion. While Trumps appearances in New York over the last few weeks have been purely voluntary, that will change as the civil case continues and his four criminal cases move toward trial. The former president will be required to return to New York to testify in his civil trial, likely in a few weeks. His lawyers have already told the judge hell be unavailable for several days around the Nov. 7 off-year election. Trump isnt required to be in court for writer E. Jean Carrolls second defamation trial against him he teased an appearance at the first one before passing but the case could still steal some headlines because its scheduled to start on Jan. 15, 2024, the same day as the Iowa caucuses that kick off the GOP nomination process. On Feb. 15, Trump will have to appear in person in New York ahead of a criminal trial on charges that he misclassified reimbursements for hush-money payments made to women during his 2016 campaign. His federal trial in Washington on charges related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election is tentatively set to begin March 4 the day before Super Tuesday contests while his New York trial is set to begin weeks later on March 25. His trial in Florida over his refusal to return classified documents stashed at his Mar-a-Lago club is set to begin May 20, while his trial in Georgia over his efforts to subvert the results of the states 2020 election hasnt yet been scheduled. Defendants in criminal trials generally must be present for large parts of their trials. The judge in the hush-money case, Juan Manuel Merchan, has acknowledged the huge undertaking in getting Trump to court. But he warned that once the trial starts, hes obligated to be there and cant, for instance, agree to any appearances, commitments, speaking engagements, anything of that kind. ___ Associated Press writer Jennifer Peltz contributed to this report. By MICHAEL R. SISAK and JILL COLVIN Associated Press A slain Maryland judge presided over the divorce case of man identified as a suspect in his killing A slain Maryland judge presided over the divorce case of man identified as a suspect in his killing View Photo HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) Police are searching for a man suspected of fatally shooting a Maryland judge who had awarded custody of the suspects children to his wife on the day of the killing, authorities said Friday. The judge was shot in his driveway Thursday evening while his wife and son were home and just hours after he ruled against the suspect in a divorce case, authorities said. Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert said authorities are actively working to apprehend 49-year-old Pedro Argote for the targeted attack of Maryland Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson. Wilkinson, 52, was found with gunshot wounds around 8 p.m. Thursday outside his home in Hagerstown, authorities said. Wilkinson was taken to Meritus Medical Center, where he died of his injuries. Albert said at a news conference Friday that Argote is considered armed and dangerous. Albert declined to identify that type of weapon used in the slaying but said Argote legally owned a handgun. Judges across the U.S. have been the target of threats and sometimes violence in recent years. President Joe Biden last year signed a bill to give around-the-clock security protection to the families of Supreme Court justices after the leak of a draft court opinion overturning the Roe v. Wade abortion-rights decision, which prompted protests outside of conservative U.S. Supreme Court justices homes. Wilkinson had presided over a divorce proceeding involving Argote earlier Thursday, but Argote was not present for the hearing, Albert said. The judge gave custody of Argotes children to his wife at the hearing, and that was the motive for the killing, the sheriff said. Wilkinson issued a judgment Thursday, officially granting the divorce and awarding sole custody of the couples four children ages 12, 11, 5 and 3 to their mother, court records show. He ordered Argote to have no contact with the children and pay $1,120 a month in child support. Court records show a messy legal battle that began when Argote filed for divorce last year. In his initial court filing, Argote accused his wife of neglecting her homeschooling responsibilities and failing to properly supervise the children. But she filed a countercomplaint, accusing Argote of cruel treatment and saying she couldnt support herself financially. Days later, his wife requested a protective order, saying he was harassing her via text, controlling her every move, threatening to abuse their daughter and making false accusations against her. I dont get out of the house without his knowledge, she wrote in court documents. I know he has his weapon on him at all times. A judge granted a temporary protective order which included a directive for Argote to surrender his firearms but it was dismissed weeks later at the wifes request, court records show. Argote repeatedly proposed that they continue living in the same house while they sorted out their digital advertising business and became more financially stable. Wilkinson wrote in a March 2023 opinion that Argotes proposal was frankly, a non-starter. The testimony leaves this court with the uneasy sense that Father engages in absolute control over Mother, their finances, and their lives, Wilkinson wrote. This is not in the best interests of the children. Argote was ordered to move out of his familys home the same day. Messages left seeking comments at cell phone numbers listed for Argote werent immediately returned. Argote didnt have a criminal record in Washington County, but officers had responded to the residence for verbal domestic assaults two times within the last few years, Albert said. Attorneys in the divorce case did not immediately respond to emails and calls seeking comment. However, the attorney representing the children had words of praise for the late jurist. Judge Wilkinson was an amazing man, father, husband and judge and I am blessed to have known and worked with him, attorney Ashley Wilburn wrote in an email. He is a hero. Hagerstown, a city of nearly 44,000, lies about 75 miles (120 kilometers) northwest of Baltimore in the panhandle of Maryland, near the state lines of West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Albert said he wasnt aware of any previous threats against Wilkinson. Wilkinson was sworn in as a circuit court judge in 2020. The 1994 University of North Carolina graduate received his law degree from Emory University School of Law in 1997 and then became a circuit court law clerk in Washington County. At his swearing-in, Wilkinson said he wanted to become a judge to serve the community, The Herald-Mail reported. Its an honor and its humbling, and Im happy to serve, he said. Wilkinson thanked retired Judge Frederick C. Wright III for guiding his career. Wilkinsons military family had moved around, but when Wright hired his mother as a law clerk in 1983, Hagerstown became his home. Wilkinson later clerked for Wright. He was quite an outstanding young man, Wright told The Associated Press in a phone call. I had the privilege of being his mentor. Other U.S. judges have been targets of violence in recent years. In June 2022, a retired Wisconsin county circuit judge, John Roemer was killed in his home in what authorities said was a targeted killing. That same month, a man carrying a gun, a knife and zip ties was arrested near Justice Brett Kavanaughs house in Maryland after threatening to kill the justice. A mens rights lawyer with a history of anti-feminist writings, posed as a FedEx delivery person in 2020 and fatally shot the 20-year-old son of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas, and wounded her husband at their New Jersey home. Salas in another part of the home at the time and was not injured. And a Texas woman was charged in August with threatening to kill U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing the Washington case accusing Donald Trump of conspiring to overturn his 2020 election loss. ___ Michael Kunzelman and Sarah Brumfield reported from Silver Spring, Maryland. Alanna Durkin Richer in Boston and Jennifer Farrar in New York also contributed to this report. By LEA SKENE, MICHAEL KUNZELMAN and SARAH BRUMFIELD Associated Press Biden asks Congress to secure $105 billion for Ukraine, Israel, the border and more Biden asks Congress to secure $105 billion for Ukraine, Israel, the border and more View Photo WASHINGTON (AP) The White House on Friday released a sweeping set of proposals to bolster Israel and Ukraine in the midst of two wars as well as invest more in domestic defense manufacturing, humanitarian assistance and managing the influx of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. The total cost of the supplemental funding request was pegged at just over $105 billion. President Joe Biden hopes Congress will move urgently on the legislation, and he made the case for deepening U.S. support for its allies during a rare Oval Office address on Thursday night. The Democratic presidents plan faces some immediate complications on Capitol Hill, even as most lawmakers say they want to help both countries. The House is at a standstill, unable to pass legislation, as the Republican majority struggles to choose a new speaker. The money could also get bogged down in a divided Senate where Republicans have increasingly opposed Ukraine aid and demanded adding additional border policies to the measure. But Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said the Senate would advance Bidens proposals as soon as possible. This legislation is too important to wait for the House to settle their chaos, he said. Senate Democrats will move expeditiously on this request, and we hope that our Republican colleagues across the aisle will join us to pass this much-needed funding. Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., also expressed support, but said the Senate must produce our own supplemental legislation that meets the demonstrated needs of our national security. It could take several weeks to write the bill and negotiate its contents. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray, D-Wash., and the panels top Republican, Maine Sen. Susan Collins, announced an Oct. 31 hearing on the spending request with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Bidens national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told reporters Friday that Russias ongoing invasion of Ukraine and Hamas attack on Israel represent a global inflection point. This budget request is critical to advancing Americas national security and ensuring the safety of the American people, Sullivan said. The biggest line item in the supplemental funding request is $61.4 billion to support Ukraine. Some of that money will go to replenishing Pentagon stockpiles of weapons that have already been provided. Ukraine has struggled to make progress in a grueling counteroffensive, and the White House has warned that Russia could gain ground if the United States does not rush more weapons and ammunition to the conflict. The world is closely watching what Congress does next, Sullivan said. Israel would receive $14.3 billion in assistance under the proposal. The majority of that money would help with air and missile defense systems, according to the White House. While aiding both Israel and Ukraine has broad support in both chambers, some Republicans in both the House and the Senate are wary of linking funding for the two countries. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, said the presidents proposal was discussed in a closed-door meeting of his states Republican delegation Friday. Williams said Bidens proposal to aid both is a little disturbing because he knows he cant get it done without Israel. The reaction is emblematic of how Bidens decision to roll together several different issues, in hopes of broadening the potential political coalition to ensure the legislations passage, could also lead it to its derailment. Debates over immigration will likely be the most thorny as Republicans seek to bolster enforcement. Many Republicans have said they wont support the measure unless new policies are added, and it is so far unclear whether the money that Biden is requesting would be sufficient. A group of Republican senators huddled Thursday to discuss possible proposals that they would support. I support aid to Israel and Ukraine, Texas Sen. John Cornyn posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. But without meaningful and substantive policy changes that will address the #BidenBorderCrisis such aid is in serious jeopardy. Shalanda Young, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, suggested it would be hypocritical for them to oppose Bidens proposal after complaining about lax border management. We will not be lectured by those who refuse to act, she said. As weve said repeatedly, Congress needs to take action to provide sufficient resources for the border. Although there was a lull in migrant arrivals to the U.S. after the start of new asylum restrictions in May, illegal crossings topped a daily average of more than 8,000 last month. The White House wants roughly $14 billion to, among other things, boost the number of border agents, install new inspection machines to detect fentanyl and increase staffing to process asylum cases. Sen. Bill Hagerty, a Tennessee Republican, said providing the administration with more money to fuel its disastrous open-borders resettlement operation is insanity. It would worsen the border crisis, not stop it, he wrote on X. Some Republicans made clear that there was no chance they would support the package. Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton called it dead on arrival. Bidens funding request includes $7.4 billion for a variety of initiatives geared toward the Indo-Pacific, where the U.S. is focused on countering Chinas influence. The money is divided among joint security initiatives in the region, bolstering submarine manufacturing as part of a partnership with Australia and developing financing programs for countries that would otherwise rely on Beijing. Another $9.15 billion is geared toward humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, Israel, Gaza and other places. Administration officials said they would determine where best to direct the money once its approved. Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said time is of the essence for passing the legislation. We will be judged on how the United States responds to ongoing crises, whether we honor our commitments to our allies abroad, and how we care for innocent people around the world caught in the wake of devastation, she said. ___ Associated Press writer Kevin Freking contributed to this report. By CHRIS MEGERIAN and MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press Man living in woods convicted of murder in shooting deaths of retired New Hampshire couple View Photo CONCORD, N.H. (AP) A man who was living in a tent in the woods in New Hampshire was convicted of murder Monday in the fatal shooting of a retired couple who had gone out for a walk. After deliberating for a day and a half, the jury found Logan Clegg, 27, guilty of second-degree murder in the April 2022 killings of Stephen and Djeswende Reid. He faces up to life in prison when hes sentenced Dec. 15. A liar, a thief, a murderer has been brought to justice today, more importantly forever, the couples son, Brian Reid, said after the verdict. Let it be known that the legacy of my parents humanitarian work, their kindness, their love for life will endure. Let today be a reminder of the value of human life and the strength of community. Prosecutor Joshua Speicher said the jury got it right, and was very thoughtful and attentive throughout the trial, which began Oct. 3. Were happy for the families most of all that theres some closure here and some accountability, he said. The couple were killed while walking on a trail near their apartment in Concord, the state capital. Their bodies, which were found several days later, had been dragged into the woods and covered with leaves, sticks and debris, police said. Clegg, who gave a different name when police questioned him, later burned his tent, erased information from his computer and bought a bus ticket out of Concord, prosecutors said. Investigators eventually found and arrested him in South Burlington, Vermont, with a one-way plane ticket to Berlin, Germany, a fake passport, and a gun in his backpack, they said. Cleggs lawyers said he left New Hampshire not because of the Reids, but because he had been hiding from police after violating his probation on burglary and theft charges in Utah. Clegg was convicted of all nine counts he faced, including four counts of second-degree murder, one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and four counts of falsifying physical evidence. The falsifying evidence counts were for allegedly moving and concealing the victims bodies, burning his tent, and destroying or removing information from his laptop. Prosecutors said Cleggs repeated lies, his attempt to flee, and the gun found in his backpack offered a trail of evidence to show he was guilty. But defense attorneys said authorities charged the wrong person. The state has proven to you over the past three weeks now that the defendant, and the defendant only, killed Stephen and Wendy, prosecutor Speicher said, describing the killing as senseless. We have proven this beyond a reasonable doubt. We have proven to you how he did it, when he did it, where he did it. Speicher added, What we dont know is why. We just dont know. Defense attorney Mariana Dominguez argued that the states case was built on speculation and was full of holes. Logan Clegg is not guilty, she said. Police investigated, but instead of looking at the science and at the evidence with clear eyes, they speculated. They assumed. They saw only what they wanted to see. They got the wrong guy. Prosecutors said that shell casings and bullet fragments were later found at the crime scene. Shell casings also were found at a location later discovered to be Cleggs tent site. Prosecutors said bullets fired from Cleggs 9 mm handgun were consistent in caliber and class characteristics as bullet fragments found during the Reids autopsies. Cleggs lawyers said an analysis of shell casings and bullets found in the area could not conclude that his gun fired the shots and that the casing could have come from a variety of guns. They have no idea what gun killed the Reids, Dominguez told the jury during her closing arguments, adding that police only had eyes for Cleggs gun. Both sides also gave differing accounts of a woman who was walking on the trail with her dogs and allowed the Reids to pass her and walk ahead. She later heard gunshots, then came across a man on the trail before continuing her hike. Defense attorneys argued that the man she saw on the trail was not Clegg because the clothing he had on did not match the prosecutions description. ___ Lisa Rathke in Marshfield, Vermont, contributed to this report. By KATHY McCORMACK Associated Press The father of American teenage hostage freed by Hamas says she is doing very good The father of American teenage hostage freed by Hamas says she is doing very good View Photo EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) The father of freed American teen hostage Natalie Raanan said Friday shes doing well following two weeks in captivity after she and her mother were abducted in Israel by Hamas and held in Gaza. Uri Raanan of Illinois told The Associated Press that he spoke to his daughter Friday by telephone. Shes doing good. Shes doing very good, said Uri Raanan, who lives in the Chicago suburbs. Im in tears, and I feel very, very good. The 71-year-old said he saw on the news earlier Friday that an American mother and daughter would be released by Hamas, and he spent the day hoping that meant his daughter and her mother, Judith Raanan. Knowing Natalie may be able to celebrate her 18th birthday next week at home with family and friends feels wonderful. The best news, her father said. Ben Raanan, Natalies brother, said before her abduction he and his sister had spoken of getting matching tattoos to mark her birthday. Instead, he got a tattoo this week in her honor, incorporating their names along with their brothers name. The familys text message chain sharing updates on Friday moved from tentative hope to outright celebration, tempered by an awareness than other families still are living in fear for their loved ones, Ben Raanan told The Associated Press at his home in Denver. When I see her again, I think there arent going to be words to express whats going on, he said. Its just going to be like this intense hug that is bigger than words and bigger than what we could actually communicate verbally. Uri Raanan said he believes Natalie and Judith to be in transit to Tel Aviv to reunite with relatives, and that both will be back in the U.S. early next week. An Israeli army spokesperson said the two Americans were out of the Gaza Strip and with the Israeli military. Hamas said Friday it released them for humanitarian reasons in an agreement with the Qatari government. They were the first hostages to be released since Hamas militants, according to Israel, abducted roughly 200 people during their Oct. 7 rampage. President Joe Biden was among the many celebrating the news that the Raanans had been freed. I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been wracked with fear, Biden said in Washington. The president spoke Friday with Judith and Natalie and relayed that they will have the full support of the U.S. government as they recover from this terrible ordeal, the White House said. In the telephone conversation, Biden told the women that he was glad youre out. Were going to get them all out, God willing, he said of the remaining hostages in a video showing excerpts of the conversation that was posted by the White House Saturday on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter. I just wanted to say thank you for your services to Israel, Natalie told the president. Judith told him they were in good health. Uri Raanan said late Friday in a short news conference that he spoke with his daughter for only a few emotional minutes and that they didnt talk about what she and her mother experienced in the past two weeks. He said Judith has a minor injury he described as a little scratch on her hand. They look good and sound good, he said, adding that when he sees his daughter he plans to hug her and kiss her. Its going to be the best day of my life. He also said he didnt know why they were chosen for release. The International Committee of the Red Cross, which transported the freed Americans from Gaza to Israel, said their release offered a sliver of hope for those still being held. Judith, 59, and Natalie, who both have dual Israeli-American citizenship, had been on a trip from their home in the Chicago suburb of Evanston to Israel to celebrate Judiths mothers birthday and the Jewish holidays, family members said. Natalie was born in the U.S., moved to Israel with Judith until she was around 10 and then returned, her father said. Natalie always spoke of her home very dearly, 19-year-old stepsister Frida Alonso said, referring to Israel. She missed it very, very dearly. Every day she missed her grandma, she missed her home. Just the feeling of being there. So I bet this hurts a lot for her. Mother and daughter were in Nahal Oz, near the Gaza border, on Oct. 7 when Hamas militants stormed into southern Israeli towns, killing hundreds of people and abducting others. Their family had heard nothing from them since the attack and were later told by U.S. and Israeli officials that they were being held in Gaza, Natalies brother has said. The news that Judith and Natalie have been released from the hands of Hamas is overwhelming. It brings us a tremendous amount of gratitude to the Almighty, to God, for this incredible miracle, Meir Hecht, Judiths rabbi, said at a news conference outside his home in Evanston on Friday afternoon. At the same time we hold our pain very deep, said Hecht, who called for the other hostages to be released as soon as possible. We need to continue besieging whoever we can and however we can, and praying for their release. Judith came regularly to Meirs congregation and felt like part of our family, the rabbi said. Qatar said it would continue its dialogue with Israel and Hamas in hopes of winning the release of all hostages with the ultimate aim of de-escalating the current crisis and restoring peace. Israeli military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Israel was continuing to work to return hostages and find the missing, and its goals had not changed. We are continuing the war against Hamas and ready for the next stage of the war, he said. The release comes amid growing expectations of a ground offensive that Israel says is aimed at rooting out Hamas militants who rule Gaza. ___ Associated Press reporter Thomas Peipert reported from Denver. Perez Winder reported from Evanston, Savage reported from Chicago and Baumann from Bellingham, Washington. By CLAIRE SAVAGE, MELISSA PEREZ WINDER and LISA BAUMANN Associated Press Texas releases another audit of elections in Harris County, where GOP still challenging losses View Photo AUSTIN, Texas (AP) A second Texas audit in as many years of elections in Harris County, the third-most populous county in the U.S., called for improvements but does not suggest that race outcomes in 2022 were impacted by issues that Republicans have used to contest losses and take more control over voting in the Democratic stronghold. The preliminary report by Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson, a Republican, was released days before Houston residents begin early voting for a new mayor. It also follows Republicans increasingly targeting elections in the county of nearly 5 million people, a size that makes Harris politically significant as Democrats try to end decades of GOP dominance in the state. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law this year that removed Harris Countys elections administrator and transferred the responsibility to other local officials. One is County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth, who in response to the audit said her office is working to make sure past issues are not repeated but defended previous elections as successful. But the public should know that successful isnt the same thing as flawless, Hudspeth said. Democrats who lead Harris County have acknowledged issues, including limited paper ballot shortages and machine malfunctions, on Election Day last year. But they said the difficulties were not intentional and have accused critics of stoking conspiracies. Nelson, who was appointed by Abbott, said the county clearly had multiple failures last year. Republicans cheered the findings as justification for the new laws that transferred election oversight. It is important to talk about these issues now in order to address them before the 2024 election cycle, Nelson said. Republican candidates have challenged losses in races across the county last year but there has been no evidence that the issues affected the outcomes. The first lawsuit went to trial earlier this year but a judge has yet to rule on the case. Another new law signed by Abbott earlier this year clears the way for Nelsons office to potentially take oversight of Harris County elections. Following the 2020 election, Texas also audited elections in Harris and three other counties, which came after former President Donald Trump falsely claimed the election was stolen and pressured Abbott to review ballots. By PAUL J. WEBER Associated Press Anne Kirkpatrick, a veteran cop but newcomer to New Orleans, gets city council OK as police chief Anne Kirkpatrick, a veteran cop but newcomer to New Orleans, gets city council OK as police chief View Photo NEW ORLEANS (AP) Anne Kirkpatrick, a veteran police official who has served as chief of departments in Spokane, Washington, and Oakland, California, won City Council approval as New Orleans new police chief Thursday on a 6-1 vote. Kirkpatrick had been serving as interim chief after Mayor LaToya Cantrell announced the appointment in June, pending council approval. Hailed as a reformer by her supporters, Kirkpatrick takes over a department that has been operating under a broad reform agreement with the U.S. Justice Department that was approved by a federal judge in 2013. It was the result of federal investigations growing out of deadly police shootings of civilians in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. She also must deal with a force that has been steadily dropping in manpower in recent years, even amid jumps in violent crime during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kirkpatrick succeeds Shaun Ferguson, who retired last year. Michelle Woodfork took over the chiefs duties on an interim basis and had applied for the job Voters approved a measure last year granting the council the right to approve or reject a mayors nominee for police chief. Kirkpatricks approval came despite some complaints from council members that the selection process had not been sufficiently transparent. Thursdays council vote followed a council committee hearing last week in which Kirkpatrick answered questions, outlined plans and pledged to be fair, independent and open to council members opinions. Council Vice President Helena Moreno, who had expressed support for Woodfork in the past, voted for Kirkpatrick and wished her success. We need an independent and determined chief laser-focused on improving public safety. Anne Kirkpatrick has committed to being this type of leader, and I will hold her accountable for that, Moreno said. I want this new chief, who was selected by the Mayor, to be successful we need her to be successful. Judge blocks California school district policy to notify parents if their child changes pronouns View Photo SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) Parts of a controversial Southern California school district policy that require school staff to tell parents if their child asks to change their gender identification will remain halted after a judge granted a preliminary injunction Thursday to block them until a final decision is made in the case. The ruling by San Bernardino County Superior Court Judge Michael A. Sachs, who called portions of the policy unconstitutional, came after another judge temporarily halted the policy in September. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who filed a lawsuit against the Chino Valley Unified School District in August, said the policy is harmful to transgender and gender-nonconforming students. This case is about a policy that is discriminatory, Delbert Tran, a deputy attorney general representing the state, said at the hearing. The Chino Valley school board approved the policy over the summer to require school staff including principals, counselors and teachers to notify parents in writing within three days of the school finding out their child asks to be identified as a gender different from what is listed on official records. The policy also requires staff to tell parents if their child begins using bathrooms designated for a different gender. Sachs denied on Thursday the states request to block another part of the policy requiring school staff to notify parents if their child asks for information in their student records to be changed. Emily Rae, a lawyer representing the school district, said at the hearing that parents have the right to know if their child asks to identify as a different gender so that they can better support the childs needs. Chino Valley implemented this policy because it values the role that parents play in the educational process and understands that giving parents access to important information about their children is necessary, Rae said. Several other school districts near Chino Valley, which serves roughly 27,000 students, and in other parts of the state have debated or adopted similar policies. Last month, a federal judge blocked a policy at the Escondido Union School District in Southern California that requires staff to refrain from notifying parents if their child identifies as transgender or gender-nonconforming unless the student gives them permission. School district policies requiring school staff to notify parents of their childs gender identification change bubbled up after a bill by Republican Assemblymember Bill Essayli, which would have implemented the policy statewide, failed to receive a hearing in the Legislature this year. Essayli then worked with school board members and the California Family Council to help draft the policy that was voted on at Chino Valley. The lawsuit is part of an ongoing battle between California officials and some local school districts over the rights of parents and LGBTQ+ students. In July, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said at a meeting on the Chino Valley policy that it could pose a risk to students who live in unsafe homes. In August, the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus planned to announce a bill to somehow combat the policies, but lawmakers decided to hold off for the year. Assemblymember Chris Ward, a Democrat and vice chair of the caucus, said Monday that the outcome of the lawsuit against Chino Valley will inform the range of possibilities for what we should or shouldnt do with regard to legislation. This all comes amid debates across the country over transgender rights as other states have sought to impose bans on gender-affirming care, bar trans athletes from girls and womens sports, and require schools to out trans and nonbinary students to their parents. In Wisconsin, a judge earlier this month blocked a school districts policy allowing students to change their names and pronouns without permission from parents. ___ Sophie Austin is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Austin on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter: @sophieadanna By SOPHIE AUSTIN Associated Press/Report for America China Communications Construction Co. Ltd. (CCCC) has announced that it wants to invest in several major infrastructure projects in Vietnam, including the north-south high-speed railway. The proposal was made by Bai Yinzhan, director of China Harbor Engineering Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of the multinational engineering and construction giant CCCC, during a meeting with Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in China on Thursday. CCCC has been operating in Vietnam since 1996. To date, it has successfully implemented more than 20 Vietnamese infrastructure and energy projects, including the Hanoi Hai Phong Expressway and the Cai Mep Thi Vai Port, as well as the Vinh Tan - Binh Thuan thermal power plant and wind power projects, Bai said. The firm is now expressing keen interest in taking part in other major transport infrastructure development projects in Vietnam, such as the North-South High-Speed Railway. Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung (R) meets with Chinese investors in China on Oct. 19, 2023. Photo courtesy of the ministry The project would have a length of more than 1,500 km and pass through 20 localities, with a total investment of more than US$61.6 billion, according to preliminary plans. The Politburo has identified the North-South High-Speed Railway as a "backbone" axis that will connect urban railways, major economic centers, seaports, airports, and international borders. In addition, the Chinese construction giant also mentioned a number of other projects, including construction of Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong Expressway expansion and the Ho Chi Minh City - Moc Bai, Dong Dang - Tra Linh Expressway, which would run along the Chinese border between the far northern provinces of Lang Son and Cao Bang, as well as other wind power development projects. Minister Dung said Vietnam encourages corporations with significant financial capacity, modern technology and effective high-level management to participate in bidding for key infrastructure projects. He also pointed out, however, some previous shortcomings at some infrastructure projects carried out by Chinese businesses in Vietnam. Dung hoped that CCCC, as a major contractor and a strategic investor in Vietnam, would share its expertise, provide training, and transfer technology to assist Vietnam in developing and managing infrastructure effectively and sustainably, thus contributing to the two countries cooperation in infrastructural development. Russias foreign minister offers security talks with North Korea and China as he visits Pyongyang View Photo Russias foreign minister proposed regular security talks with North Korea and China to deal with what he described as increasing U.S.-led regional military threats, as he met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his top diplomat Thursday in Pyongyang. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in North Koreas capital on Wednesday on a two-day trip expected to focus on how to boost the two countries defense ties following a September summit between Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Last week, the United States said North Korea had transferred munitions to Russia to boost its fighting capabilities in Ukraine in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions that ban any weapons trading involving North Korea. During their talks, Lavrov and Kim exchanged views on making joint efforts to expand bilateral ties in all areas and discussed other key issues of mutual concern, the Norths official Korean Central News Agency reported. It said Kim expressed his resolve to carry out the unspecified agreements reached with Putin last month. Lavrov met his North Korean counterpart, Choe Son Hui, earlier Thursday and lauded deepening bilateral collaboration. Lavrov and Choe discussed resuming full-fledged contacts and intensifying economic cooperation, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. It added that Lavrov invited Choe to visit Moscow at her convenience. KCNA said the two ministers discussed bolstering joint action on several regional and international issues, including the situation on the Korean Peninsula. The Lavrov-Kim meeting means that the recent fleet of containers likely carrying munitions from North Korea to Russia was not the last Kim-Putin transaction the world has to worry about, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international studies at Ewha University in Seoul. After accepting Pyongyangs help to resupply the illegal invasion of Ukraine, Moscow is set to commit further violations of U.N. Security Council resolutions by providing North Korea with weapons technology that could threaten stability in East Asia, Easley said. Russias state-run news agency Tass quoted Lavrov as telling reporters that he supports holding regular talks on security issues on the Korean Peninsula with North Korea and China. The United States, Japan and South Korea intensifying military activity here and Washington working toward moving strategic infrastructure, including nuclear aspects, here, are of great concern to us and our North Korean friends, Lavrov said, according to Tass. The recent flurry of diplomacy between Russia and North Korea underscores how their interests are aligning in the face of their separate, intensifying confrontations with the United States North Korea over its advancing nuclear program and Russia over its war with Ukraine. The U.S. has been expanding regular military drills with South Korea and temporarily deploying more powerful military assets around the Korean Peninsula in response to North Koreas barrage of missile tests since last year. The U.S. and South Korea have also resumed some trilateral military exercises with Japan. The focus of outside attention during Lavrovs visit was whether the two countries would provide any hints of how they will solidify their security cooperation or announce the timing of Putins promised trip to Pyongyang to reciprocate Kims visit to Russias Far East. During his travel to Russia, Kim met Putin at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russias most important domestic space launch center, and inspected other key Russian weapon-making sites. That triggered intense speculation that Kim seeks sophisticated Russian technologies to modernize his nuclear arsenal in return for supplying conventional arms to refill Russias declining weapons inventory. Neither Russia nor North Korea has disclosed what Putin and Kim agreed to during the summit. During a dinner banquet held for him on Wednesday, Lavrov said Russia deeply values North Koreas unwavering and principled support for its war on Ukraine as well as Pyongyangs decision to recognize the independence of Russian-backed separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, according to Russias Foreign Ministry. KCNA said Lavrov also praised North Korea for remaining unfazed by any pressure of the U.S. and the West, and said that Russia fully supports Kims push to protect its security and economic interests. The White House said Friday that North Korea had delivered more than 1,000 containers of military equipment and munitions to Russia. The White House released images that it said showed the containers were loaded onto a Russian-flagged ship before being moved via train to southwestern Russia. Since last year, the U.S. has accused North Korea of providing ammunition, artillery shells and rockets to Russia, likely much of them copies of Soviet-era munitions. North Korea has steadfastly denied it shipped arms to Russia, but South Korean officials said North Korean weapons provided to Russia have already been used in Ukraine. Lim Soosuk, spokesperson of South Koreas Foreign Ministry, told reporters Thursday that Seoul was closely monitoring Lavrovs visit to North Korea and that any cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang should be conducted in a way that complies with U.N. Security Council resolutions. By The Associated Press US commitment to Ukraine a central question as Biden meets with EU heads during congressional chaos US commitment to Ukraine a central question as Biden meets with EU heads during congressional chaos View Photo WASHINGTON (AP) Saddled with a dysfunctional Congress, President Joe Biden welcomed European Union leaders to the White House on Friday with the promise that the United States can nonetheless deliver tens of billions of dollars worth of aid to wartime Ukraine and Israel. Biden greeted European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen by noting their unity. We stood together to support the great people of Ukraine, and we stood together to tackle economic challenges, Biden said, and now the leaders would come together to back Israel following the Hamas attack and establish standards in trade with China. The Cabinet Room sit-down came at a moment when domestic U.S. political chaos could further destabilize an increasingly chaotic world. Many of Bidens shared priorities with the EU depend on getting a budget through Congress a tough task given that the House lacks an elected speaker and differences with some Republican lawmakers over aid for Ukraine could force a federal government shutdown in November. Along with addressing Ukraines efforts to repel Russia and the fallout from Hamas attack on Israel, the U.S. and EU leaders are also figuring out how to manage climate change, economic competition with China and trade and tax issues. One day ahead of his meeting with Biden, European Council President Michel expressed optimism that the U.S. president can deliver on his promises to help arm and financially support Ukraine. Im really confident and also Im grateful for Joe Bidens personal leadership, Michel said. He will do everything to ensure this support will be confirmed. The U.S. president has cultivated a personal relationship with Michel and von der Leyen, who calls Biden dear Joe. Both the EU and U.S. pride themselves for being devoted to democratic principles, a source of unity as they navigate Russias war in Ukraine and the war between Israel and Hamas. They have framed their support for Israel as a reflection of shared democratic values and stressed the importance of following international law in military operations. But the reality of democracies is that foreign policy agreements can change with elections and competing interests at home can overshadow diplomacy. The two partners still have differences to reconcile on trade, economic matters and the incentives for shifting to renewable energy sources. The U.S. and EU still need to finalize an agreement on environmentally sustainable steel and aluminum production in order to avoid the tariffs imposed during Donald Trumps presidency. Bidens own incentives on moving away from fossil fuels have left Europe a little bit uncomfortable, said Federico Steinberg, a visiting fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank. While the EU welcomes U.S. efforts to accelerate the green transition, Steinberg said, some elements of Bidens programs are protectionist in nature, discriminate against trade partners and undermine the World Trade Organization system that the EU would like to revive. But for now, the U.S. and E.U. are focused on the big challenges of war and solidarity in their words and policy choices. The roughly 90-minute meeting was primarily focused on Israel and Ukraine, with leaders also focused on making progress on an agreement on steel and aluminum tariffs that would focus on taxing metal made through processes that generated high carbon emissions, according to two senior administration officials who insisted on anonymity to discuss the private exchanges. The winds are not just blowing today today they are gale force, von der Leyen said in remarks at the conservative Hudson Institute. Our democracies are under sustained and systemic attack by those who abhor freedom. In addition to sanctioning Russia, EU countries have provided close to $90 billion in assistance to Ukraine, including $27 billion in military aid, von der Leyen said. But there are open questions as to whether the U.S. commitment could waver after having provided four rounds of aid to Ukraine that total $113 billion, a sum that includes replacing U.S. military equipment sent to Kyiv. Now is the time to double down, von der Leyen said Thursday. Biden asked for $105 billion in additional funding Friday, including $60 billion for Ukraine, much of which would replenish U.S. weapons stockpiles provided earlier. Theres also $14 billion for Israel, $10 billion for unspecified humanitarian efforts, $14 billion for managing the U.S.-Mexico border and fighting fentanyl trafficking and $7 billion for the Indo-Pacific region, which includes Taiwan. But some House Republicans have questioned the value of aid to Ukraine at the levels sought by Biden. The GOP ousted Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., after a deal to temporarily keep the government open through November 17. Republican lawmakers have failed to find a successor, leading to concerns that Bidens commitments with the EU could be in jeopardy. The U.S. president offered his challenge to Congress in a Thursday evening speech by outlining the core idea behind his spending proposal: American values are what make us a partner that nations want to work with. We put all that at risk if we walk away from Ukraine, if we turn our backs on Israel. ___ AP writer Raf Casert contributed to this report from Brussels. By JOSH BOAK Associated Press Dutch king and queen are confronted by angry protesters on visit to a slavery museum in South Africa Dutch king and queen are confronted by angry protesters on visit to a slavery museum in South Africa View Photo CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) Angry protesters in Cape Town confronted the king and queen of the Netherlands on Friday as they visited a museum that traces part of their countrys 150-year involvement in slavery in South Africa. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima were leaving the Slave Lodge building in central Cape Town when a small group of protesters representing South Africas First Nations groups the earliest inhabitants of the region around Cape Town surrounded the royal couple and shouted slogans about Dutch colonizers stealing land from their ancestors. The king and queen were put into a car by security personnel and quickly driven away as some of the protesters, who were wearing traditional animal-skin dress, jostled with police. The Dutch colonized the southwestern part of South Africa in 1652 through the Dutch East India trading company. They controlled the Dutch Cape Colony for more than 150 years before British occupation. Modern-day South Africa still reflects that complicated Dutch history, most notably in the Afrikaans language, which is derived from Dutch and is widely spoken as an official language of the country, including by First Nations descendants. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima made no speeches during their visit to the Slave Lodge but spent time walking through rooms where slaves were kept under Dutch colonial rule. The Slave Lodge was built in 1679, making it one of the oldest buildings in Cape Town. It was used to keep slaves men, women and children until 1811. Slavery in South Africa was abolished by the English colonizers in 1834. Garth Erasmus, a First Nations representative who accompanied the king and queen on their walk through the Slave Lodge, said their visit should serve to exorcise some ghosts. The Dutch East India Company established Cape Town as a settlement for trading ships to pick up supplies on their way to and from Asia. Slaves were brought to work at the colony from Asian and other African countries, but First Nations inhabitants of South Africa were also enslaved and forced off their land. Historians estimate there were nearly 40,000 slaves in the Cape Colony when slavery ended. First Nations groups have often lobbied the South African government to recognize their historic oppression. They say their story has largely been forgotten in South Africa, which instead is often defined by the apartheid era of brutal forced racial segregation that was in place between 1948 and 1994. First Nations people have a different ethnic background from South Africas Black majority. ___ AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa By GERALD IMRAY Associated Press Estonia says damage to Finland pipeline was caused by people, but its unclear if it was deliberate Estonia says damage to Finland pipeline was caused by people, but its unclear if it was deliberate View Photo COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) Damage to an undersea gas pipeline and telecom cable connecting Finland and Estonia was caused by people but it remains unclear who was behind it and whether it was deliberate, Estonian officials said Friday. Estonian and Finnish investigators are looking into vessels that were in the area at the time earlier this month, but it is too soon to indicate a culprit or say if the damage was deliberate and designed to impair critical infrastructure, the Estonian government said in a statement. Finnish and Estonian operators noticed an unusual drop in pressure in the Balticconnector pipeline on Oct. 8 and subsequently shut down the gas flow. Two days later, the Finnish government said there was damage both to the pipeline and the telecom cable between the two NATO countries. A repaired cable will hopefully be in place by next week, Estonia said Friday. The 77-kilometer-long (48-mile-long) Balticconnector pipeline runs across the Gulf of Finland from the Finnish city of Inkoo to the Estonian port of Paldiski. It is bi-directional, transferring natural gas between Finland and Estonia depending on demand and supply. Most of the gas that was flowing in the pipeline before its closure was going from Finland to Estonia, from where it was forwarded to Latvia. The 300 million euro ($318 million) pipeline, largely financed by the European Union, started commercial operations at the beginning of 2020. Another undersea telecom cable running between Estonia and Sweden was believed to have sustained partial damage at the same time, and the government in Tallinn said Friday that damage may also have been man-made but that it remains to be determined. Russian foreign minister dismisses US claims of North Korea supplying munitions to Moscow as rumors Russian foreign minister dismisses US claims of North Korea supplying munitions to Moscow as rumors View Photo MOSCOW (AP) Russias top diplomat shrugged off U.S. claims that North Korea transferred munitions to Russia, saying Washington has failed to prove the allegation. Russian state television broadcast Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrovs comments on Friday. Lavrov made a two-day trip to Pyongyang this week for talks on ways to boost the two countries ties following a September summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The White House said last week that North Korea had delivered more than 1,000 containers of military equipment and weapons to Russia. It released images that it said showed the containers were loaded onto a Russian-flagged ship before being moved via train to southwestern Russia. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the U.S. believes Kim is seeking sophisticated Russian weapons technologies in return for the munitions to boost North Koreas military and nuclear program. Lavrov scoffed at the U.S. claims, saying that the Americans keep accusing everyone. I dont comment on rumors, he added. Since last year, the U.S. has accused North Korea of providing ammunition, artillery shells and rockets to Russia for the fighting in Ukraine. North Korea has steadfastly denied it shipped arms to Russia. South Korean officials charged that weapons North Korean provided already were used in Ukraine. When Kim visited Russia for six days last month, a trip that included meeting with Putin, Russian and North Korean officials said that boosting defense ties between the two countries was discussed but they didnt disclose any specific steps. On Thursday, Lavrov and Kim exchanged views on joint efforts to expand bilateral ties in all areas and discussed other key issues of mutual concern, the Norths official Korean Central News Agency reported. It said Kim expressed his resolve to carry out unspecified agreements he reached with Putin. Lavrov described the talks as comprehensive and said, We have an understanding on how to proceed to fulfill the agreements between Putin and Kim. After he arrived in Pyongyang, Lavrov gave a speech in which he said that Russia deeply valued North Koreas unwavering and principled support for its military operation in Ukraine. Back in Moscow, he stressed that the effort to deepen the relationship between Russia and North Korea was based on bilateral concerns. Our friendship isnt directed against anyone. Its intended to help promote mutually beneficial projects, he said. Lavrov also told reporters that he supports holding regular talks on security issues on the Korean Peninsula with North Korea and China. CHESHIRE For the challengers, Wednesday nights forum offered an opportunity to introduce themselves to the public and sit in the seats they hope to fill. For the incumbents, it ended up being an opportunity to defend their records and highlight their accomplishments. On Oct. 18, the Cheshire Chamber of Commerce hosted a Candidate Forum for those seeking election to the Town Council. Currently, the Council is controlled, 7-2, by the Republicans, so the event offered Democrats a chance to highlight recent controversies, such as the flag-flying policy and the proposal to leave Chesprocott Health District, while the Republicans pointed to a record that they claim shows their competence and responsibility. It was a collegial affair on the whole, with widespread agreement as to most topics. The moderator for the evening, Professor Gary Rose of Sacred Heart University, cycled through questions prepared by members of the public, receiving a pie from Old Bishop Farms for his efforts. Timekeepers from Cheshire High Schools Young Democrats and Young Republicans clubs helped keep the candidates to their allotted times, of one minute to answer and 30 seconds for the opposition party to rebut. The event was broken up into roughly hour-long At-Large and District sessions, but a major theme for both was the $166.6 million referendum item passed by voters last year that will see two new elementary schools constructed in Cheshire. School Modernization David Nastri, a Republican who is running in the Fourth District, mentioned being part of Highlands first graduating class and a member of the Cheshire High School Hall of Fame (along with Dr. Rose), and drew one of the rare laughs of the event when he joked that Darcey and Chapman Schools could be turned into pickleball facilities once the new schools are ready. In response to a question about creating more inclusion for the youth of Cheshire, he answered that he would reach out to youth groups to make them aware of how important it is for all of us to be together. His opponent, Democrat Patricia Cramer, who spoke of her experiences as a parent, criticized the school modernization process by suggesting that she would have started with the middle school. All of the schools are in desperate need of repair, she opined, mentioning transportation infrastructure as another area of concern. Incumbent Republican David Borowy, running as an At-Large, was asked about the problem of teachers leaving the profession. He pointed out that, due to COVID, some had retired but were later enticed to come back. Having a great school system to work in is a great job and therefore theyre going to want to stay. I think encouraging people to get into the profession is important as well, so that we get a renewal, he said. Sustaining Cheshire Sustainability was another major theme of the evening. Democrat Peter Talbot, who is the current Councilor in the Fourth District but is running this year for an At-Large seat, was asked about the pace of development. It is critical that we maintain that open space but we have to be strategic about the way we do it. Bartlem Park South, he added, is a perfect example of a piece of property that we purchased and is now going to be passive recreation. David Veleber, First District incumbent who is running unopposed, was asked the same question about how to protect open space, before it all becomes McMansioned. He referred, as others did, to keeping Cheshires small-town appeal. He also pointed out that there had been many efforts, including by the Cheshire Land Trust and the Town, to acquire and protect open spaces. We as a Council have tried to create budget amounts so that we can acquire property when it becomes available to add to our already-large amount of open space, he said. A question about how to promote town-wide sustainability initiatives went to Democrat At-Large candidate Gregory Wolff, who spoke of waste disposal issues. To reduce the cost of waste disposal, we need to work on how we get the food waste out of our system, Wolff pointed out, referring to a recent compost program at Chapman School as one example of how it could be accomplished. Republican Tucker Deming, the District 2 challenger, spoke broadly of energy policy in his responses, expressing skepticism of geothermal energy and climate change, as well as warning of the effects of outside influences on issues within Cheshire. I believe that it needs to be said that the policies that are driving the decisions that the community makes have been misconstrued. Were being lied to on many issues, he suggested. Chesprocott and Flag Flying Policy Asked what her top priorities would be as a Council member, At-Large candidate, Democrat Deena Allard, replied, To connect with the community and advocate for the community and ensure that were providing transparency with the decisions that we make, mentioning Chesprocott and the flag policy as times the Council failed in those regards. In response to a question about whether she supported the possibility of leaving Chesprocott, incumbent Republican Sandy Pavano answered that part of the Councils thinking was to offer efficiency of services, including an office right here at Town Hall. But we have not made a decision on this matter, we are gathering information. We had a wonderful audience participation and we listened to your questions and concerns, she said. A question about the flag policy went to Democrat and longtime Planning and Zoning Commissioner, At-Large candidate Louis Todisco, whose response reflected his professional background as a lawyer. Its perhaps a complicated issue, he pointed out, mentioning the legal requirements associated with the policy. I think that theres room for some change in the policy, he said, but it has to be looked at carefully in terms of what the legalities are. Democrat Jim Jinks, who currently represents the Second District, was also asked about the flag policy, which he had voted against as Council member, after trying to amend it (along with Talbot) by suggesting a Pride flag exception for the Yellow House during the month of June. I dont support the policy as it stands. Its pretty clear that it was hasty and not thoroughly vetted. Its pretty simple for us as a Council to make that change, given that its a policy we enacted. Economics Candidates were also asked to address economics, including whether the high costs of the schools and other projects might lead to higher taxes that forced residents from town. Current Town Council Chair, Republican Tim Slocum, who is running as an At-Large candidate, admitted that those concerns were reasonably true, but explained that what we have done as a Council is try and offset some of that borrowing with having reduced our spending on capital projects for really a long time. Well have to work toward keeping people here while maintaining the services we can. Republican At-Large incumbent Sylvia Nichols was asked to weigh in on the possible impact of the Town-wide and state-mandated revaluation process on taxpayers. It will have some impact certainly, she said, pointing to property values increasing across the country, but it will probably be revenue-neutral, with older houses being replaced by newer homes with higher assessed values. Affordable Housing Making Cheshire affordable to help retain residents was something the Council had addressed by increasing by 50% the senior and disabled veterans tax credit, said Republican Don Walsh, who currently represents the Third District and is running unopposed. Its important for the Council to continue watching that, he added, calling for more affordable housing. Democrat A. Fiona Pearson, At -Large candidate, also addressed housing, opining that affordable housing is key to any successful community, and pointed out that its one of the 13 action items listed by Sustainable CT. Its no secret that in our town we are in need of a significant increase in the percentage of affordable housing available for individuals who work in our community. We dont really need, in my opinion, any more single-family housing in this community, she added, encouraging the development of multi-family housing in areas that would not increase congestion. The politics of Cheshire Rose asked the candidates to consider what party labels mean to voters. Talbot replied that on issues like the flag policy and staffing boards and commissions there were differences between the parties, but good civil debate brings out better solutions. Cramer said she had noticed the Town Council moving further right than center, and worried that national issues including library book bans and womens reproductive health could be seeping into local politics. Incumbent Republican John Milone, At-Large, was unable to attend due to a professional conflict, but he prepared a statement that was read on his behalf. In it, he highlighted his contributions to the town, and his qualifications as an engineer and business owner, adding that he hoped future Council members would (avoid) the temptations of partisan politics and always (do) what it is in the best interests of our residents. Nastri, in an aside to one of his answers, referenced a conversation in which Milone convinced him to run. (Milone) said, youre not going to get a strong divergence (of opinions) on the Council. People commit their time, their effort and their sincerity to the operation of this Council, and you know that when youre up there, youre with good people. A video recording of the event is available on the Towns YouTube channel. PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has indicated that he is now ready to pass on the leadership baton, but before that, he will work towards building a bridge between government and the business community so that his legacy lives on long after he is gone. Speaking during a congratulatory dinner organised for him by the Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers on Wednesday evening, Mnangagwa, whose re-election in the August 23 and 24 elections is being challenged by opposition Citizens Coalition for Change leader Nelson Chamisa, told captains of industry that he wants to leave a lasting legacy in his second and final term. He was accompanied to the banquet by his two deputies, Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi, Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri and Industry and commerce minister Sithembiso Nyoni. Speaking on relations between the ruling Zanu PF and the business sector, Mnangagwa said he wants to pave the way so that when he leaves power, there will be a legacy. I want to clear the road between Zanu PF and the business community so that when I leave, my juniors will continue the legacy, he said. Chiwenga was initially tipped to succeed Mnangagwa, but there are growing fears that the Zanu PF leader is grooming his sons and close relatives as possible successors after he gave two of them deputy ministerial positions. He recently appointed his son David as Finance deputy minister, while his nephew Tongai is Tourism deputy minister. There are also speculative reports that Mnangagwa is pushing for Zanu PF to attain a two-thirds majority in Parliament so that they are able to amend the Constitution and extend his tenure beyond the current two-term limit. Mnangagwa (81) assumed power following a military coup that ousted the late Robert Mugabe in November 2017. Mugabes downfall, according to analysts, was his failure to name a successor at a time when age was failing him. At the time of his ouster, his wife Grace was reportedly angling to succeed him. In his address to the business sector, Mnangagwa said government will continue to provide sector-specific incentives to boost production levels and capacity utilisation as well as the overall competitiveness of local products. I am pleased to note the positive trajectory being recorded across all sectors of the economy, with growth in production and productivity, capacity utilisation as well as exports. The total exports between January and August 2023, grew by 6,1 % to US$4,48 billion from the US$4,42 billion registered during the same period last year. Equally, machinery and equipment imported is at US$1,1 billion, up from just over US$1 billion during the same period, which should result in more goods and products being manufactured locally, he said. Businesspeople like yourselves not only make money properly, sometimes you make it improperly, but it does not show when the money is in your account Let me assure you, myself and my team will do our utmost best to be listening leaders so that we create an environment for you to make more money, he said Meanwhile, addressing the 2023 ZimTrade Exporters Conference yesterday, Mnangagwa said government had, in 2019, set an export target which was surpassed within two years. As you will recall, the launch of the National Export Strategy in 2019 set an export target of US$7 billion by 2023, with the diversification of markets being a major objective. In 2022, this target was surpassed through unity of purpose and hard honest work, by our exporting companies, across all sectors, he said. Mnangagwa said government will continue to nurture a conducive business environment ensuring that capital feels safe in Zimbabwe. The policies of the second republic have seen us attract and retain investors for mutual benefits and shared prosperity. The development and modernisation of key enablers for production, trade and commerce remain a priority to speed up the growth of all sectors of our economy, he said. Mnangagwa also called on the private sector to invest in Zimbabwes abundant clean renewable energy resources adding that production, productivity, trade and exports will be scaled up through the movement raw materials and finished goods. In this regard, transport infrastructure as well as the requisite technology to facilitate value addition and beneficiation processes, are key. The modernisation and upgrading of critical infrastructure is ongoing, he said. Mnangagwa also challenged ZimTrade and other stakeholders to continue developing and nurturing mutually beneficial synergies across sectors of the economy. You must ensure that the established export markets have sustainable supply chains. Export market information must be less opaque and more accessible to all, no one and no place must be left behind, he said. NewsDay Breaking News via Email Tensions rise as planned protest is banned Plans for a Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) protest march in Bulawayo next week have hit a roadblock after police barred the demonstration from taking place. The CCC intended to use the march to voice their grievances over Zimbabwes disputed August election and the recent recalls of several of their members from parliament by self imposed interim secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu. Organizers are required by law to give notice to authorities for such gatherings. However, CCC spokesman Promise Mkwananzi claims over 100 of their meetings since June, including campaign events, have been banned by police intervention. Sure enough, police chief Superintendent Vusumuzi Nkomo wrote to the conveners confirming receipt of notification for the Bulawayo protest, but stating it did not comply with the provisions of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act, without specifying how. The ban has only added fuel to long-simmering tensions. CCC leader Nelson Chamisa has denounced the election results and described the recalls as illegitimate. Those removed from office, like former Binga South MP Prince Dubeko Sibanda, are challenging the decisions in court but pushing ahead with calls for demonstrations. Mkwananzi said the march was meant to exhaust all democratic options for new polls and a reversal of the recalls. But he warned that if stymied at every turn, the people may feel compelled to liberate themselves. Said Mkwananzi: When all has failed, we will go to the citizens and say we have done everything permissible in a democratic society, its over to you to take matters into your own hands and liberate your country. We will no longer be responsible or answerable from then on. The country will be freed. Breaking News via Email My Dear People THE recall of Members of Parliament and councilors from the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) by self-proclaimed interim secretary general Sengezo Tshabangu (pictured) has exposed the extent of the depravity and desperation of the Ngwena-led dispensation of poverty, darkness and confusion. That speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda ignored a letter from CCC leader Nero to disregard the instruction by Tshabangu who had imposed himself in a non-existent post and went on to recall the CCC parliamentarians, exposes a morally bankrupt strategy by the Lacoste cabal to deny citizens their right to be represented by leaders of their choice. Gushungo, whose wisdom and telescopic foresight remains unparalleled, would never have stooped to such embarrassing lows. This is why he pointed out that in the party he had no worthy successor as Scarfmore regimes shameful actions have demonstrated. The crass actions of Ngwena, whom Gushungo fired for lack of probity, is a clear indication that he sold the nation bottled smoke when he promised to bring about democracy in the country amid the fumes of gunfire and tanks in 2017. This has clearly shown that one cannot expect democracy from a leader, who was propelled into power through a coup and subsequently via sham elections, the latest of which was condemned even by the regional body Sadc. It seems that Tshabangu, who by his letter shows that he is a stranger to the English language, is now Zanu PFs new attack dog being used against Nero and his party. As sure as I am a learned doctor, he will later be discarded in the same way as used tissue paper is disposed of. Poor Dougie, who has been reduced to howling from the depths of political oblivion, knows only too well the experience of being used and dumped by the Lacoste cabal. I had a good laugh when I learnt that Scarfmore will lead this years commemorations which are held annually to amplify calls for the lifting of sanctions imposed on the country. These commemorations are coming just soon after the widely condemned shambolic polls in August which were characterised by widespread voter suppression and intimidation and the arrest of local observers among other disgraceful flaws. The fraudulent elections, if anything, will only strengthen the resolve of the United States to maintain the sanctions it imposed as a result of similar disregard for human rights in 2001. Added to this is the incarceration of senior CCC official Job Sikhala for nearly two years without trial and the most recent farce of recalling opposition parliamentarians on the strength of an imposter, therefore, depriving citizens of their right to be represented by those they voted for not forgetting calls by chiefs sympathetic to the Ngwena regime to deny opposition supporters food aid and fertiliser from the government. It really does make the calls for the lifting of sanctions as futile as winking in the dark. Scarfmore is better off spending the day at his farm tending to his fishpond kkkk. It is ironic that October 25 was chosen as the day to make a rallying cry against sanctions by none other than Sadc, whose electoral observer mission slammed the countrys polls as failing to meet the regional, basic benchmarks of free and fair elections. After being attacked by the Lacoste cabal over its report, I am sure the regional body now regrets ever calling for such commemorations. The appointment of Tatenda Mavetera as ICT minister was celebrated as recognition of the countrys youth and women contribution to the countrys development. However, before the ink has even dried on her appointment letter, she is already showing signs of having been an underwhelming choice for the position. Asked in Parliament by the not-so- super Mandiwanzira about whether Starlink internet will be licensed by her ministry, Mavetera went completely off tangent talking about threats by the European Union, the Patriot Act as well as some nonsense about reputation and dignity of the countrys leadership and ultimately failed to answer the simple question of whether or not Starlink will be licensed by her ministry. Munopenga!!! Such rants by someone in a ministerial position are a damning indictment on Ngwenas profound lack of judgement when appointing individuals of Maveteras ilk, kikiki It makes me wonder whether he exercises any due diligence or probably just picks names out of a hat before making some of these appointments. Gushungo would have never appointed such hopeless people to cabinet. It just goes to show that mediocrity begets more mediocrity. It would be churlish of me not to congratulate Loice Matanda- Moyo for being appointed the countrys first female prosecutor general. It is my fervent hope she will do a better job than her disastrous stint as the first female head of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission. During her stint at the commission, her officers spent more time looking to arrest teachers for conducting extra lessons rather than apprehending criminals who are fleecing the country of millions of dollars through fraud and smuggling. It is not an exaggeration to point out that under Matanda-Moyos leadership, Zaccs bark was worse than its bite. God forbid that she carries the same ineffectiveness to the office of the prosecutor general. Munopengaaaaa! Gushungo chete chete Dr Amai Stop it! PhD (Fake) The Standard Breaking News via Email Yves here. With the situation in Gaza rolling relentlessly towards escalation, it is important to look at the history to understand how Israel set about to make the conflict intractable. By Ramzy Baroud, a journalist and the Editor of the Palestine Chronicle. He is the author of five books including: These Chains Will Be Broken: Palestinian Stories of Struggle and Defiance in Israeli Prisons (2019), My Father Was a Freedom Fighter: Gazas Untold Story (2010) and The Second Palestinian Intifada: A Chronicle of a Peoples Struggle (2006). Dr. Baroud is a Non-resident Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Islam and Global Affairs (CIGA), Istanbul Zaim University (IZU). His website is www.ramzybaroud.net. Originally published at Common Dreams Israel had the perfect plan for Gaza in fact, for all Palestinians, when it decided to redeploy its forces around the Occupied Gaza Strip in 2005. Despite statements made, back then, by Israeli officials that the disengagement plan aimed at severing Israels legal and other responsibilities from its role as an Occupier, the actual story was different. Dov Weisglass, a top adviser to the late Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, conveyed the real reasons behind the redeployment. Weisglass knew exactly what he was saying; after all, he was one of the architects of the plan. But how much of the Israeli plan, as described by Weisglass, was, in fact, implemented? And did the current war in the Strip change those outcomes, as pronounced nearly two decades ago? The significance of the disengagement plan is the freezing of the peace process, Weisglass told Haaretz in 2004. That part has, indeed, been achieved in full. Not only was the so-called peace process frozen, but Israel has, since then, carried out numerous steps to make sure that there is nothing worth negotiating over. The exponential growth of illegal Jewish settlements, the killing of Palestinians, the desecration of holy sites and the annexation plans made it unrealistic to even suggest that a two state solution is still practically possible. But why was Israel keen on freezing a process that was futile to begin with? It was not the peace process that mattered to Israel, but the fact that, so long as such political conversations were still taking place, the Palestinian political agenda remained relevant. This logic, long argued by Palestinians, was supported by Weisglass himself, when he said that When you freeze that process, you prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state, and you prevent a discussion on the refugees, the borders and Jerusalem. Effectively, he added, this whole package called the Palestinian state, with all that it entails, has been removed indefinitely from our agenda. And all this with authority and permission. All with a (US) presidential blessing and the ratification of both houses of Congress. This explains much of what has happened since the senior Israeli officials made those revelations and predictions. First, is that all Israeli governments, regardless of their ideological or political orientations, remained faithful to the plan, and never engaged in any genuine political conversations on the future of a Palestinian State, the rights of the Palestinians, let alone a just peace. This indicates that Israels intentions were not open for debate within the countrys political establishment. For Tel Aviv, it was the end of peace efforts, and the start of a new phase, that of entrenching the Occupation. Second, every US administration since then has either invested in the overall Israeli agenda or disowned the very peace process that the Americans had, themselves, invented and sustained. This, too, did not happen by chance. Israel had invested much lobbying efforts and diplomacy in dissuading the Americans from continuing to pursue their own agenda. Not only did the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu get what he wanted, he even managed to convince the Trump Administration in 2017 to follow Israels own agenda on Jerusalem, on the refugees, on settlements and even on annexation. The Biden administration did not alter that new grim political reality established by President Donald Trump, even if some of its language appeared to suggest otherwise. Third, although unwittingly, Weisglass indicated that Israel does not see Palestinians and their struggle as fragments, but as a unified whole. By blocking one aspect of that struggle, the political process, all others are meant to fall apart like pieces of dominos. The division of Palestinians, along with the ability of Mahmoud Abbas to sustain his Palestinian Authority for all these years despite its failure to achieve anything of substance, allowed Israel to advance its original plan unhindered. Frustrated by the insistence of many countries, including the US, that Israel must engage in a political process, Israel, instead, decided to disengage from Gaza. The disengagement is actually formaldehyde, Weisglass said. It supplies the amount of formaldehyde that is necessary so there will not be a political process with the Palestinians. The Israeli plan, however, was not a complete success. Palestinians continued to lead a massive campaign of resistance, involving all aspects of society in Gaza, the West Bank and Jerusalem. And, as was always the case, Israel responded with a massive show of force whenever Palestinians seemed ready to challenge their Israeli jailors. From the frequent raids on Jenin, Nablus, Jericho to the massive and deadly wars on Gaza, Israel has done everything in its power, not only to crush Palestinians but also to send them a message: no resistance of any kind will be tolerated, and no form of resistance will ever be enough to place Palestine back on Israels political agenda, or those of its allies. A feeling of we won, and you lost has pervaded official Israeli institutions and society. Israeli election campaigns seemed entirely disinterested in even discussing the settlements, a Palestinian State, the status of Jerusalem and so on. Palestinians were still useful, however. The PA served as a line of defense for the ever-growing settlements. And every Palestinian attack against Israeli targets was utilized as further proof that Israel has no peace partner, thus solidifying the anti-peace position of every Israeli government. The discussion in the media following the Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7 focused on the attack itself, on Hamas as a group and, later, although selectively, on the bloodbath created by Israel in Gaza. But that date was not the start of the war; it is a horrific episode of a war that has already started and is sustained by a very violent Israeli military Occupation and apartheid. Equally important, regardless of Israeli propaganda and distorted western media coverage, there is no question that Israel has failed. That failure was initiated by Sharons wishful thinking in 2005, and maintained through the illusions and arrogance of every Israeli government ever since. The truth is that Netanyahu is only a cog in a massive Israeli political machine which aims at dismissing the Palestinian cause, forever. Even those who insist on supporting Israel at any cost, cannot now genuinely pretend that Palestine is not back on the agenda as the Middle Easts most vital issue. Without a free Palestine, there can never be true peace, security or stability. Vietnam police disguised as electricians, taxi drivers raid gambling den By Khanh Huong October 20, 2023 | 03:48 am PT Police officers, disguised as electricians and motorbike taxi drivers, raided a gambling den masqueraded as a cafe in Da Lat City in the Central Highlands. Yves here. As has become more and more evident, what passes for US leadership has completely lost its mind. We are trying to run a two-front war while still insisting China is our #1 enemy and escalating. This post focuses on the propaganda program. One of the best lines in the must-see movie The Lives of Others, which centers on a senior and once hyper-loyal Stasi officer going rogue to protect a prominent intellectual, is: To think that men like you once ran a county. This should become the epitaph for the Biden Administration. By Cale Holmes. an international relations analyst, writer, and environmentalist who has lived in Beijing and serves as CODEPINKs China Is Not Our Enemy Campaign Coordinator; and Lawson Adams a college student in Los Angeles California who spent two of his four years in the Navy working at the NSA in Oahu, Hawaii as a Chinese language analyst From racist tweets to rising hate crimes, the medias anti-China propaganda has created a climate of aggression. Two weeks ago, a man drove a car into the Chinese consulate in San Francisco, yelling Wheres the CCP? Arab Americans have been targeted during the Persian Gulf War, the War on Terror, and U.S.-backed atrocities in Palestine. Its no surprise that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are in the crosshairs of white supremacy as the U.S. targets China. Back in April, a Columbia University found that three in four Chinese Americans said theyd suffered racial discrimination in the past 12 months. When the Trump administration launched the China Initiative to prosecute spies, the Department of Justice racially profiled Chinese Americans and Chinese nationals. Between 2018 and 2022, the number of Chinese researchers who dropped their affiliation with U.S. institutions jumped 23 percent. The Biden administration has ended the initiative, but the Department of Justice and the congressional anti-China committee are still targeting political leaders in the Chinese community. As Biden continues the crackdowns of his predecessor, his administration is also escalating in the Asia-Pacific region. From expanding military bases in the Philippines including one potential base in the works intended to join contingencies in Taiwan to building a fleet of AI drones to target China, militarists are creating conditions for a hot war in the Pacific. As the U.S. prepares for war, Forbes published an article on September 25 about an aircraft carrier kill chain and its potential use in a war with China. In February, CNN journalists accompanied a U.S. Navy jet approaching Chinese airspace. As a Chinese pilot warned the U.S. to keep a safe distance, an American soldier remarked: Its another Friday afternoon in the South China Sea. Not only are we normalizing U.S. aggression. Were also relying on the military-industrial complex as an unbiased source. Pro-war propaganda is derailing China-U.S. ties, increasing anti-Asian hate, and hiding the realities of public opinion across the Pacific. After launching the AUKUS military pact between Britain and Australia in 2021, as well as stiff export controls designed to limit Chinas economy last year, the U.S. began 2023 with what appeared to be an olive branch. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was scheduled to visit China in February. Then came the spy balloon. A Chinese balloon was blown off course and eventually shot down by the U.S. military. The Wall Street Journal and NBC uncritically printed and broadcasted statements from US Air Force Brigadier General Pat Ryder about the balloons surveillance capabilities. On February 8, citing three unnamed officials, The New York Times said American intelligence agencies have assessed that Chinas spy balloon program is part of global surveillance. The same story mentions the U.S. State Departments briefings to foreign officials that were designed to show that the balloons are equipped for intelligence gathering and that the Chinese military has been carrying out this collection for years, targeting, among other sites, the territories of Japan, Taiwan, India, and the Philippines. On April 3, the BBC and CNN published conflicting stories on the balloon that cited anonymous officials but contained inconsistencies about its ability to take pictures. It wasnt until June 29 that Ryder admitted no data had been transmitted. In September, then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley told CBS the balloon wasnt even spying. This matched Chinas statements about the balloon, as well as that of American meteorologists. But the damage was done. Blinken had postponed his trip to China. He eventually went in June, after a trip to Papua New Guinea, where its student protesters rejected his plans to militarize their country under a security pact. On May 26, Blinken made a speech, referring to China as a long-term challenge. Politico went further, publishing a piece on May 26, called Blinken calls China most serious long-term threat to world order with a same-day USA Today article also taking the liberty of using challenge and threat interchangeably. A Princeton University study found Americans who perceive China as a threat were more likely to stereotype Chinese people as untrustworthy and immoral. Intelligence leaks about a China threat combined with the age-old Yellow Peril syndrome have allowed for incessant Sinophobia to dominate our politics. Misinformation, the Other Pandemic In May 2020, Trump told a scared country with 1 million recorded COVID-19 cases and almost 100,000 dead that the pandemic was Chinas fault. Again, our leaders cited undisclosed intelligence. For its part, CNN showed images of wet markets after The Wall Street Journal published an op-ed by Walter Russell Mead called China Is The Real Sick Man of Asia. A year later, Politico eventually acknowledged Trump cherry-picked intelligence to support his claims but the Biden administration ended up also seeking to investigate the lab leak theory. And the media went along with it. For The Wall Street Journal, pro-Iraq War propagandist Michael Gordon co-authored an article claiming that three researchers from Chinas Wuhan Institute of Virology became sick enough in November 2019 that they sought hospital care. An anonymous source said, The information that we had coming from the various sources was of exquisite quality. But the source admits its not known why researchers were sick. The article relies on the conservative Hudson Institutes Senior Fellow David Ashers testimony and the fact China has not shared the medical records of citizens without potential COVID-19 symptoms. It is even admitted that several other unnamed U.S. officials find the Trump-era intelligence to be exactly what it is circumstantial. A year earlier, during the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries moderated by CNN, Dana Bash asked Bernie Sanders: What consequences should China face for its role in its global crisis? She asked the question referencing how Wuhans authorities silenced Dr. Wenliang but failed to mention Chinas Peoples Supreme Court condemned the citys police for doing so. She also didnt acknowledge how Wuhan Institute of Virologys Shi Zhengli revealed in July 2020 that all of the staff and students in her lab tested negative for COVID-19. Shi even shared her research with American scientists. Georgetown University COVID-19 origin specialist Daniel Lucey welcomed Shis transparency: There are a lot of new facts I wasnt aware of. Its very exciting to hear this directly from her. But from the Page Act of 1875, which stereotyped Chinese as disease carriers, to job discrimination during the pandemic, it is Asian Americans who ultimately pay the price for the medias irresponsibility and participation in medical racism. They are already among the casualties of the new cold war. But that war not only threatens residents of the U.S. but the entire planet too. Profit, Not Principle This summer, the U.S. armed Taiwan under the Foreign Military Transfer program, reserved for sovereign states only. This violates the one-China policy which holds that both sides of the Taiwan Strait acknowledge that there is one China. Biden is also trying to include Taiwan weapons funding in a supplemental request to Congress. Weapons sales to Taiwan go back to the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, as well as Reagan administrations assurances that the U.S. will keep sending weapons but not play any mediation role between Taipei and Beijing. In 1996, a military standoff between the U.S. and China erupted in the Taiwan Strait, followed by an increasing flow of lethal weaponry up to the present. The New York Times published a story on September 18, mentioning Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan, which it says was a show of support for the island. Never mind that the majority of Taiwan residents surveyed by the Brookings Institute felt her visit was detrimental to their security. The media also often ignores voices from Taiwan who dont want war, favor reunification, or reject attempts to delete Chinese history in their textbooks. Still, Fox News continues to give a platform to lawmakers like Representative Young Kim who wrote a piece on September 20 advocating for more military patrols in the South China Sea. On October 17, The Washington Post published a story about the Pentagon releasing footage of Chinese aircraft intercepting U.S. warplanes over the last two years. The story does not share the context of U.S. expansionism or how multiple secretaries of defense have threatened Beijing over its disputed maritime borders. Microsoft is even getting in on the action, with articles from CNN and Reuters last month uncritically sharing the software companys claims that China is using AI to interfere in our elections, despite no evidence shared with the voting public. It demonstrates how war profiteers are edging us closer to a conflict. From sending the Patriot weapons system to Taiwan to practicing attacks with F-22 Raptors in the occupied Northern Marianas Islands, Lockheed Martin is raking in lucrative contracts while residents of the region fear an outbreak of war. RTX supplies Israels Iron Dome and is now designing engineering systems for gunboats in the Pacific. When arms dealers make money, victims of imperialism die. With strong links to the military, its hard to imagine that Microsoft, News Corp, and Warner Bros. Discovery would care as long as their stocks go up too. Intelligence spooks and media moguls dont know whats best for people or the planet. And its time for a balanced and nuanced understanding of China. That begins with disarming the discourse and keeping the Pacific peaceful. On 24 and 25 October 2023, the NATO Secretary General, Mr Jens Stoltenberg, will visit Sweden. Mr Stoltenberg will participate in the NATO-Industry Forum, where he will give a speech on the need to address the new security and strategic reality. He will also meet with the Prime Minister of Sweden, Mr Ulf Kristersson, the Minister of Defence, Mr Pal Jonson, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Tobias Billstrom, as well as the Speaker of the Swedish Parliament, Mr Andreas Norlen. Media advisory 24 October 2023, 13:20 (CEST) Joint press conference by the NATO Secretary General with the Prime Minister of Sweden 25 October 2023, 09:20 (CEST) Speech by the NATO Secretary General at the NATO-Industry Forum Media coverage The Secretary Generals press conference with the Swedish Prime Minister, as well as his speech at the NATO-Industry Forum, will be streamed live on the NATO website. Transcripts of the Secretary Generals engagements, as well as photographs, will be available on the NATO website after the events. For more information: Contact the NATO Press Office Follow us on Twitter (@NATO, @jensstoltenberg and @NATOPress) Banker says Russian electricity is 10X cheaper than that of the U.K., at least 4X cheaper than the EUs A leading banker from PJSC Sberbank (formerly Sberbank of Russia) said electricity costs for Russian consumers are about 10 times lower than in the U.K. and at least four times less than in the European Union (EU). The banker was referring to prices for households and businesses. Anatoly Popov, deputy chairman of the board of Russia's largest lender, disclosed this during a speaking engagement at the Russian Energy Week forum in Moscow. According to Popov, electricity is cheap in Russia. "If you take the price in Russia and the price that British industries pay, I do not know if there is any industry left with such prices, but the price is almost 10 times lower in Russia than in the U.K.," added Popov. He also explained that in the EU, prices for industrial consumers are "four times higher per kilowatt/hour." For households, prices can also be four or 4.5 times higher, said Popov. (Related: Electricity prices in Italy surge 30% IN A WEEK as another winter without cheap Russian gas approaches.) According to the British government's website, floor unit prices for electricity for households averaged 0.34 ($0.41) per kilowatt hour (kWh) over the past year. Meanwhile, Russian consumers only pay $0.04 per kWh on average. Russia's March energy income drops 43% year on year According to the Russian Ministry of Finance, Russia's federal budget revenues from oil and gas, the lifeblood of the country's economy, fell 43 percent year on year (YOY) in March, while a quarterly profit-based tax held revenues back from a monthly drop. Moscow relies on energy revenue, which was around 11.6 trillion rubles ($146 billion) last year, to fund government spending. However, Moscow was forced to sell foreign reserves to cover a deficit stretched by the cost of its military operation in Ukraine. Based on the finance ministry's estimates, budget income from oil and gas sales reached 688.2 billion rubles ($8.67 billion) in September, compared to 521.2 billion in February and 1.21 trillion rubles in March 2022. March revenues increased due to 220.6 billion rubles in quarterly payments for a profit-based tax on hydrocarbon extraction. The mineral extraction tax (MET) on oil was 63.6 billion rubles lower than in February, while the MET on natural gas, was 12.9 billion rubles lower. Tax and customs revenue from energy sales has been gradually recovering since January, when it hit its lowest level since August 2020 due to Western sanctions on Russia's exports amid the Russia-Ukraine war. Russia's budget for 2023 foresees a deficit of two percent of gross domestic product (GDP). The finance ministry has budgeted for a 23 percent reduction in oil and gas revenues this year to 8.95 trillion rubles. The ministry recently gave a notional price of $47.85 a barrel for Russian Urals crude oil in March, which is lower than February's $49.56 and significantly lower compared to the March 2022 price of $88.95. Total 2022 energy revenues of 11.6 trillion rubles increased by 27.9 percent compared to 9.1 trillion rubles in 2021. Russia restricts electricity supplies to China Russian state energy holding InterRAO announced on Oct. 2 that it had started restricting electricity supplies to China while negotiations about price rises are ongoing. InterRAO previously said it would raise electricity prices by seven percent for customers in some countries due to new export duties that came into force on Oct. 1. It also announced that it would limit, or cut off, supplies if customers refused to accept. Affected countries include China, Mongolia, Azerbaijan and the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia. Visit Electricity.news for more stories about electricity costs. Watch this video to learn how Russian energy sanctions could collapse the world economy. This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: GREEN DEAL HOAX: Californias electricity price soars despite "climate-friendly" state legislation. UK government now paying Britons NOT to use electricity. BLACKOUT bill: Minnesota lawmakers pass legislation banning use of coal, oil and gas for state's electricity grid. Sources include: RT.com Reuters.com 1 Reuters.com 2 Brighteon.com Christian woman gets fired after Jewish Ohio congressmen accuse her of bigotry for sharing gospel Despite Jewish Ohio congressman Max Miller (R) apologizing to Ohio Right to Life communications director Elizabeth Marbach on Tuesday for demanding she "delete" a "bigoted" tweet preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ , he appears to have gotten her fired from her job in retaliation for refusing to renounce her faith. (Article by Chris Menahan republished from InformationLiberation.com) From Republic Sentinel, "Exclusive: Ohio Right to Life fires Christian after Republican lawmaker blasts her for sharing the gospel": Ohio Right to Life dismissed communications director Elizabeth Marbach after a Republican congressman, whose wife sits on the entity's board, publicly rebuked her for sharing the gospel on social media. Marbach said in exclusive comments to The Sentinel that she "absolutely" does not regret making the post because "now millions have read the gospel message." Marbach, a former Trump campaign and Ohio Republican Party staff member, tweeted on Tuesday that "there's no hope for any of us outside of having faith in Jesus Christ alone." Representative Max Miller, a Republican from Ohio whose wife, Emily Moreno Miller, serves as a board member of Ohio Right to Life, then called on Marbach to "delete" the tweet. "This is one of the most bigoted tweets I have ever seen," Miller said on social media. "Delete it, Lizzie. Religious freedom in the United States applies to every religion. You have gone too far." Miller, who is Jewish, said in another post that "God says that Jewish people are the chosen ones, but yet you say we have no hope" and thanked Marbach for her "pearl of wisdom today." Ohio State Representative Casey Weinstein, a Democrat who also identifies as Jewish, backed Miller in a now-removed post which likewise called on Marbach to "delete" her comments. Marbach refused to delete the post from social media, noting in a response to Miller that Jesus said he is "the way, the truth, and the life" without whom one cannot come to the Father. "No one has hope outside of Jesus Christ and every knee will bow one day," she added. [...] Miller later publicly apologized for his rebuke. Marbach accepted the apology and repeated that "it is not me from whom you need forgiveness, but God himself," adding that she would "genuinely pray you seek him and find salvation." Emily Miller meanwhile acknowledged that her husband was "wrong to ask someone to stand down from her religious views" while asserting that the couple had been asked to "back down from our Jewish faith." Internal communications at Ohio Right to Life reviewed by The Sentinel showed that Marbach was offered the opportunity to resign from the entity or receive a transition period before her official dismissal, both of which she declined. The dismissal came days after Marbach and another senior Ohio Right to Life employee disagreed about a separate post from Marbach, in which she called a pro-abortion activist a "murderous liar" in reference to a proposed state constitutional amendment that would expand the legality of abortion in Ohio. The employee was concerned about the tone of the post. The Rooster, a progressive political newsletter in Ohio, meanwhile hinted in a Tuesday article about the exchanges between Miller and Marbach that her career "was in jeopardy earlier today," an allusion to the internal disagreement over the earlier "murderous liar" post. The senior Ohio Right to Life official confirmed in a text message to Marbach that "someone shared confidential information I shared with the board discussing our agency" with the leftist outlet. If Miller actually worked together with his wife to get Marbach fired for refusing to renounce her faith in Jesus Christ he should not only be ousted from office but sued and prosecuted for religious discrimination. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost needs to launch an immediate investigation. Read more at: InformationLiberation.com Jews against GENOCIDE: Protestors amass around home of NY Sen. Chuck Schumer to call for CEASEFIRE in Israel-Hamas war Not everyone with Jewish blood is pleased about Israel's ongoing airstrike attacks and planned invasion of the Gaza Strip, including the hundreds of Jewish Voice for Peace Action protesters who gathered outside the Brooklyn home of New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, a Democrat and Jew who apparently supports Israel and wants more U.S. taxpayer aid to be sent to the Middle Eastern regime. Hundreds of members of the self-described anti-Zionist activist group were seen with signs and heard with loud voices protesting in New York City's Grand Army Plaza, located just a few blocks away from Schumer's posh Park Slope residence. Because some of the protesters were blocking the street, a public right-of-way, during the rally, several of them were arrested by local police amid calls for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. "New York Jews blocking #SenSchumer's home demanding a ceasefire NOW," wrote Jewish Voice for Peace Action on X. In front of the door at the building where Schumer lives, Jewish Voice for Peace Action protesters held up a large sign that read: "Jews say stop genocide against Palestinians." (Related: Gaza's millions of residents are desperately trying to flee as Israeli pushes forward with planned ground invasion of Palestinian territory.) Schumer, a Jew, supports Israeli operation to clear out Gaza with ground invasion Dozens of handcuffed protesters were eventually seen being herded onto MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority) buses and driven away in a police-led effort to clear out the street and stop the protesters from making their voices heard. Among those arrested were "rabbis, politicians, scholars and descendants of holocaust survivors ages 20 to 80," according to the activist group. Assembly members Zohran Kwame Mamdani (D-Queens) and Marcela Mitaynes (D-Brooklyn) were among those politicians who were present at the rally before being arrested by police. Schumer, who is currently regarded as "the highest elected Jewish official in the U.S.," according to one media source, announced that he is planning to travel to Israel this coming weekend. Once there, he plans to show his support for Israel and its agenda. Schumer and a political delegation from the U.S. will meet with Israel's new emergency war government, which includes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to discuss what additional resources, including money, will be sent by the U.S. to Israel to support its fight against "Hamas." Earlier on the day of the protest, pro-Palestinian demonstrators were spotted in Manhattan where they marched from Baruch College in Midtown all the way through Times Square, the final destination being the United Nations headquarters on 45th street. The protesters were seen waving flags and holding signs demanding an immediate end to the war. Back in March before this latest kerfuffle, more than 200 protesters gathered in New York City to demand an immediate end to all U.S. military funding for Israel. They were apparently all arrested for getting in the way of and upsetting Schumer while at his Park Slope residence. "What a communist country where the politicians arrest the protestors that are protesting on public streets," wrote one upset commenter about how freedom of speech is apparently dead in the U.S. especially when said speech goes against the prevailing narrative. "The cops are just as bad for violating their constitutional right to assemble and protest." Another blasted Schumer for making yet another "weekend trip," this time under the guise of dealing with the Israeli conflict. "There's no limit to the tax dollars spent on junkets," this person added. "We would have no deficit if the USA wasn't the world's ATM. Our politicians continue to spend billions like it's pocket change." The latest news about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can be found at WWIII.news. Sources for this article include: NYPost.com NaturalNews.com Medics in Gaza accuse Israel of targeting ambulances and healthcare facilities Medics in the Gaza Strip have been accusing Israel of targeting their ambulances and hospitals as it continues its efforts to take out terrorist operations in the area. Tala Taha, a paramedic, said he was lightly injured and three of his colleagues died in an air attack in Gaza. He believes they were deliberately targeted, saying: Our mission is humanitarian, we provide humanitarian service only, and we were targeted without any reason, without any excuse. Other medical organizations operating in Gaza have accused Israel of purposely bombing their facilities and ambulances in a blatant breach of humanitarian law. On Friday, the Palestinian Ministry of Health claimed that Israeli forces were targeting medical personnel and damaged 15 health facilities and 23 ambulances in air strikes. The ministry posted a video to its Facebook page showing an ambulance being rocked by an explosion while trying to get away from chaos. The person recording the footage can be seen jumping inside the ambulance while explosions can be heard in the background. As an explosion rocks the ambulance, a young girl inside the vehicle can be heard screaming in panic. The source of the explosion and whether the ambulance was deliberately targeted is unclear. Nevertheless, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said in a statement: "The Israeli violations against medical personnel, health institutions and ambulance units are a blatant attack on the laws, conventions and international norms that stipulate the protection of medical personnel and their facilities during times of conflicts and wars." Some of the health institutions that have been hit include the International Eye Center, the Ministry of Health building and the Rimal Clinic. Meanwhile, Doctors Without Borders reports that 16 medical personnel have been killed, eight medical facilities have sustained damage and 18 ambulances have been destroyed. A medical coordinator for the group has said that they have been trying to use private vehicles to transfer people to hospitals to avoid attracting attention. Gaza cannot afford to lose more healthcare facilities or personnel Whether they are being targeted or not, Gaza cannot afford to lose any of its healthcare facilities or personnel for any reason at a time when they are already struggling to treat people amid the ongoing war and siege. At Shifa Hospital, the biggest hospital in Gaza, bodies are coming in faster than they can be claimed by relatives, and medics report that they have run out of places to keep the remains of people. Their morgue, which can only handle around 30 bodies at once, is overflowing, and corpses have been stacked outside the walk-in cooler, with some being placed in the parking lot. A nurse working there, Abu Elias Shobaki, described the parking lot morgue to the AP, saying: The body bags started and just kept coming and coming and now its a graveyard. I am emotionally, physically exhausted. I just have to stop myself from thinking about how much worse it will get. Making matters worse is the lack of fuel resulting from the total blockade Israel has placed on the Gaza Strip out of concerns that Hamas will use it for operating generators in its underground tunnel complexes and continuing their efforts to kill Israelis rather than helping the Gazan people. As a result, fuel reserves are about to run out in Gaza, with UN officials warning that the generators supplying hospitals with power have around 24 hours of fuel left. When those generators shut down, it could put thousands of patients in danger. Unfortunately, Hamas often uses healthcare facilities as shields. For example, Hamas is widely believed to have a major headquarters beneath Shifa Hospital, using the hospital as a shield and taking advantage of the fact that international humanitarian law expressly forbids targeting healthcare facilities. This puts all of the hospitals patients and staff at great risk, and its a common practice by Hamas that likely extends to other healthcare facilities as well. Now, with Israel preparing for a potential ground invasion of the Gaza Strip after Hamas militants murdered more than a thousand Israelis and kidnapped hundreds more, the situation in Gaza is only expected to get worse. Sources for this article include: AlJazeera.com APNews.com Forbes.com New Orleans soft-on-crime DA gets carjacked at gunpoint New Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams fell victim to a carjacking at gunpoint in his own city on Monday, Oct. 16, as confirmed by the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) to the Daily Caller News Foundation. The incident unfolded while Williams was escorting his 78-year-old mother to his vehicle. Two suspects approached the pair, brandishing a firearm and demanded the DA's car. The suspects forcibly commandeered the vehicle and fled the scene. They subsequently abandoned the car at an undisclosed location and carjacked another young woman in the vicinity just half an hour later, as confirmed by the NOPD. Despite the harrowing encounter, both Williams and his mother emerged unharmed from the ordeal. Keith Lampkin, a spokesperson for the DA's office, expressed gratitude for the NOPD's prompt response to the incident, stating that they appreciate the force's dedication to addressing crime victims. Hours later, a suspect was apprehended. Court records identified the suspect as 18-year-old Raymond Rochon III who was officially booked into the Orleans Justice Center jail around 1 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 18. As per details from an arrest warrant affidavit, detectives effectively employed license plate reader data to trace a stolen blue pickup truck employed by the culprits in the carjacking of Williams and, subsequently, in another carjacking of a woman merely 25 minutes later. The tracking of the stolen truck led detectives to a New Orleans East neighborhood. The purloined vehicle was placed under surveillance for a duration of nine hours until detectives observed three Black males departing in the vehicle, according to the warrant. Rochon was identified as the driver of the truck, which was driven to the 7600 block of Brevard Avenue in the Little Woods area. Upon the arrest of Rochon in this vicinity, law enforcement personnel discovered a loaded firearm concealed in his front waistband. The suspect has been charged with two counts of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, two counts of illegal possession of a stolen auto, illegal carry of weapons, motor vehicle theft and illegal possession of a stolen auto with a value of $15,000 or less. The document reveals that Rochon was apprehended on "several outstanding warrants." On Wednesday afternoon, Rochon's bond was set at $120,000. His defense attorney, Michael Kennedy, who had recently represented Costco carjacker Tyrese Harris throughout his federal court guilty plea, anticipates that Rochon will face additional charges in the coming days. The NOPD did not explain why Rochon was not charged with carjacking or armed robbery. Additionally, there has been no information provided regarding the other two individuals who were accompanying Rochon in the stolen truck, including whether they have been apprehended, identified as minors, or designated as accomplices. With Williams as DA, New Orleans was labeled the murder capital of the U.S. in 2022 Williams assumed his role in 2020, benefiting from a $220,000 donation from George Soros to the Louisiana Justice and Public Safety PAC, which ran campaigns opposing his opponent, according to the Capital Research Center. He campaigned on a platform centered around social justice reform, vowing to explore "alternatives to incarceration" for certain offenders and overhaul the "ineffective and unfair money bail system." In a statement on his campaign website in 2020, Williams underscored the necessity of confronting racism within the nation's legal system and eradicating remnants of white supremacy from institutional frameworks and practices. His mission was to bring substantive change to the Orleans Parish DA's Office to attain genuine justice for crime victims and individuals ensnared in the criminal justice system. In 2021, Williams opted not to prosecute 65 percent of all criminal cases in New Orleans. However, as crime rates in the city surged, he gradually began pursuing more cases, prosecuting an average of only 44 percent of individuals charged by the police. New Orleans was labeled the "murder capital of the United States" in 2022, and violent crime was identified as the primary cause of death among the city's children that year. Auto thefts in the area escalated by 104 percent since 2022, with total crime surging by 8 percent since the year's commencement, according to police data. (Related: New Orleans is now the MURDER capital of America.) Visit Anarchy.news for more stories about rising crime rates in U.S. cities. Watch the video below discussing America's crime crisis. This video is from the Red Voice Media channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Minnesota Democrat who promised to abolish the police claims to have been left MANGLED following violent carjacking. Liberal cities across America are collapsing into Third World status, including Seattle all thanks to liberal policies. Oakland radical anti-police activist dies after being violently robbed. Sources include: WND.com Fox8Live.com Brighteon.com Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highlighted the significance of the summit between ASEAN and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), saying that it marked a historical milestone. In his speech, PM Chinh stressed that ASEAN and GCC need to join hands in promoting resilience, harnessing resources for growth, and taking substantive actions with the highest political determination and vigorous efforts. By doing so, the two regions could create tangible breakthroughs and become a highlight for regional and global collaboration. ASEAN and the GCC should continue to create more favourable conditions to ensure that economic, trade, and investment ties will remain the key pillar and driver connecting the two regions, and complementing each other in the bid for mutual development, he said, adding that this will lay the foundation for investment funds and businesses from GCC countries to expand their business and investment in ASEAN, and allow ASEAN goods and services to enjoy greater presence in the Gulf. Besides, both sides should give priority to together building a green, digital, circular, and sharing economy, pursuing sustainable agriculture, and expediting energy transition, he said. Focus should be given to economic, trade, and investment ties, tourism, culture, education, and people-to-people exchange, the PM said. It is also necessary to quickly institutionalise ASEAN - GCC cooperation via regular, substantive, and effective mechanisms in specific areas. Given their advantages as successful regional organisations, ASEAN and the GCC should support each other in upholding both sides central role and making meaningful contributions to peace, stability, and development in both regions and the world as a whole, according to the government leader. He stressed that Vietnam strongly opposes all acts of violence and calls upon parties concerned to immediately put an end to violence against civilians, humanitarian establishments, and critical infrastructures. Only negotiation, dialogue, peaceful settlement of disputes, and a two-state solution on the basis of international law and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)s relevant resolutions can pave the way for lasting peace in the Middle East and among all parties concerned, he believed. At the summit, leaders of ASEAN and GCC agreed to maintain the regular exchange of views and meetings, including the plan to hold the ASEAN-GCC Summit biennially. They underlined the need to focus on economic, trade, and investment cooperation, ensuring sustainable supply chains, connectivity, maritime cooperation, energy and food security, Halal industry, sci-tech and innovation, tourism, labour, energy transition, and climate change adaptation. Amid complicated developments in the region and the world, both sides pledged to enhance multilateral cooperation, promote dialogue and cooperation, build trust, uphold the rule of law, respect independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, not interfere in each other's affairs, join hands to address global and regional challenges, and effectively contribute to peace, security, stability, and sustainable development. Countries underscored the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, freedom of navigation and overflight in the region while settling disputes through peaceful means in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They expressed concern over recent developments in the Gaza Strip, strongly condemned acts of violence against civilians, called on parties to immediately hold a ceasefire, put an end to acts of violence, respect the international humanitarian law, resume negotiations, settle disagreements via peaceful measures in line with international law and relevant resolutions of the United Nations in a bid to achieve a equitable, satisfactory and long-lasting solution to the Middle East peace process and ensure the lives, security and safety of people. The summit held in Saudi Arabias capital city of Riyadh on Oct. 20 adopted a Joint Statement that reflected the outcomes of exchanging views among leaders and outlined orientations for the development of ASEAN-GCC relations in the future, for the sake of peace, cooperation and mutual development. Pfizer CUTS COSTS after significant decline in uptake of COVID-19 vaccine and Paxlovid Vaccine giant Pfizer has been forced to implement cost-cutting measures after a significant decline in the uptake of its Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine and medication over the past 12 months. According to a Pharmaphorum report, the New York-based pharmaceutical firm is set to cut costs by $1 billion this year and at least $2.5 billion in 2024 amounting to a rough total of $3.5 billion. Pfizer recorded an annual revenue of more than $100 billion in 2022, with sales of its mRNA COVID-19 injection comprising $56 million of that total. Now, it projects a much lower revenue for 2023 ranging between $58 billion and $61 billion. The company has not provided any indication of the total jobs to be cut, however. Pfizer's reduced revenue stemmed from lower sales of its COVID-19 injection and antiviral drug Paxlovid. It projects sales for these to hit $12.5 billion, roughly $9 billion lower than its initial forecast. The U.S. government's return of 7.9 million Paxlovid treatment courses at the end of 2023 as part of an amended supply agreement, alongside other factors, slashes expected revenues for the antiviral drug. "The return is on a non-cash basis, so the U.S. government will have a credit note that will be redeemable for Paxlovid supplied in [the] future," wrote Pharmaphorum. "The U.S. will keep an ongoing stockpile of one million Paxlovid courses that will be refreshed as it expires, until 2028." "For now, the drug has been made available under emergency use authorization (EUA), but a full marketing application was approved earlier this year. The commercial transition will begin in November as the government begins to discontinue the distribution of EUA-labelled Paxlovid. The drug will be made available to people with private health insurance from the start of next year, said Pfizer." "We remain proud that our scientific breakthroughs played a significant role in getting the global health crisis under control," Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said following the announcement. "As we gain additional clarity around vaccination and treatment rates for COVID, we will be better able to estimate the appropriate level of supply to meet demand." Pfizer could go BANKRUPT, warns Igor Chudov Pfizer's cost-cutting measures prompted by lower mRNA vaccine and antiviral drug sales could be just the first step of something worse. Russian mathematician Igor Chudov even projected that Pfizer could go bankrupt, warning that it could tread the same path as opioid maker Purdue Pharma. "The stock market may be waking up to the possibility that Pfizer may go bankrupt due to the upcoming COVID-19 vaccine claims," he wrote in an Oct. 16 piece on his Substack. Chudov cited Pfizer's stock having a 25 percent smaller valuation " despite the billions of dollars it received from the sales of COVID-19 vaccines and the stock market and the pharmaceuticals index having gone up." "Pfizer's COVID vaccine made it billions and should have added value to the company, even if future sales of COVID-19-specific products cannot be assured. This can only be explained by the capital markets seeing something uniquely troublesome for Pfizer." The mathematician also drew parallels between Purdue and Pfizer "unethical, greedy and reckless management exemplified by the Sackler family and Bourla, respectively." According to Chudov, there were four similarities between the two companies: Reckless disregard for the dangers their products could cause to people who receive them Propensity to choose the risky path of chasing billions in immediate profits at the risk of bankruptcy in the long run Corruption in the form of buying off the press and regulators so that they support their products Concealment of deaths and adverse effects caused by their products from the general public "Purdue was able to play its game for years. Finally, the deaths were too many and the lawsuits took it down," concluded Chudov. "Hopefully, the people who suffered various ills from COVID-19 vaccines would be entitled to compensation. Pfizer, however, does not have enough money to compensate every victim fairly." (Related: Remember when Pfizer paid out $2.3 billion to settle the largest healthcare fraud case in history?) Visit BigPharmaNews.com for more stories about Pfizer. Watch this clip from "Redacted with Clayton Morris" where Clayton and Natali Morris discuss whether Pfizer is heading for bankruptcy. This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: FDA admits Pfizer antiviral oral drug paxlovid causes life-threatening reactions when taken with common medicines. Recently released Pfizer document shows mRNA COVID-19 vaccine can cause 1,291 different adverse events. Pfizer, FDA know the COVID vaccine is dangerous, but they push it anyway. Pfizer's business model is to create the sickness and sell the "cure." Pfizer's Paxlovid antiviral drug for COVID-19 linked to blood clots. Sources include: TheNationalPulse.com Pharmaphorum.com Igor-Chudov.com Brighteon.com Ramaswamy calls for DEPORTATION of all illegals, including ANCHOR BABIES Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has proposed the deportation of all illegal aliens, including anchor babies Selwyn Duke of the New American magazine expounded on the entrepreneur and presidential hopeful's proposal in an Oct. 17 op-ed. He remarked that Ramaswamy has "a simple remedy" for the influx of illegal immigration the Biden administration intentionally leaves unchecked: "Build the wall, deport them all including U.S. born children of illegal aliens." It is worth noting that the U.S. follows the principle of "jus soli," in which someone's citizenship is determined based on territory where they were born. Children of illegal aliens born on American soil are often called "anchor babies," as they serve as "the link or 'anchor' for assisting [their] parents and other extended family members in legally immigrating to the United States." Duke cited an op-ed that also touched on Ramaswamy's immigration proposal. The piece stated that the candidate's plan "includes unapologetic deportations, ensuring that the family unit is deported together. This approach is in line with his commitment to enforcing immigration laws while also prioritizing family unity." "Ramaswamy's family immigrated to the U.S. legally, and he has first-hand experience with the immigration process. His frustration with the current administration's approach to border control and illegal immigration is palpable." The piece noted how the candidate's interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment, which grants citizenship to individuals born or naturalized in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction, differs from the prevailing interpretation. Ramaswamy said being born in the U.S. "should not automatically grant citizenship if the child's parents were in the country illegally at the time of birth." (Related: Fact check: What the dishonest fake news establishment media gets wrong about "birthright citizenship" and the 14th Amendment.) According to Duke, Ramaswamy is essentially calling for "unapologetic deportations." The writer with the New American remarked: "Why are we apologetic in the first place about enforcing just laws and blunting a type of foreign invasion? "Birthright citizenship" a misunderstanding of the Fourteenth Amendment "In reality, Ramaswamy's position is not unique, but reflects a long-standing conclusion of scholars who've actually studied the issue," continued Duke. He also cited an October 2018 piece by the Heritage Foundation (HF) think tank about how the concept of jus soli is a misinterpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment. "Critics claim that anyone born in the U.S. is automatically [an American] citizen, even if their parents are here illegally," wrote HF's Hans von Spakovsky. "But that ignores the text and legislative history of the Fourteenth Amendment, which was ratified in 1868 to extend citizenship to freed slaves and their children." Spakovsky noted that under the amendment, "all persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof" are citizens. But he clarified that the second conditional phrase, "subject to the jurisdiction thereof," pertains to the political allegiance of an individual and the jurisdiction that a foreign government has over that individual. According to him, this language was derived from the 1866 Civil Rights Act that said "all persons born in the U.S., and not subject to any foreign power" are counted as citizens. Spakovsky also noted that in the 1898 U.S. v. Wong Kim Ark case, the Supreme Court ruled that a child born in American territory could only be deemed a U.S. citizen if the parents were lawful permanent residents. "That is a far cry from saying that a child born of individuals who are here illegally must be considered a U.S. citizen," he continued. Duke ended his piece by warning of dire consequences if Ramaswamy's proposal isn't taken seriously. He said that failing to do so "undermines the rule of law" and "creates righteous-citizen law-breakers." Duke also noted that "rewarding illegality by letting illegal migration pay off encourages more illegal migration." Head over to Migrants.news for more similar stories. Watch Vivek Ramaswamy explaining how easy illegal aliens can enter the U.S. through the northern border with Canada in the clip below. This video is from the Greekinsider channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: THE REPLACEMENTS: Biden regime to offer nearly half a million jobs to Venezuelan migrants flooding through America's southern border. Trump vows to implement the largest domestic deportation operation in American history if re-elected as president in 2024. MIGRANT INVASION: Biden administration has let in over 4 MILLION ILLEGALS since January 2021. Sources include: TheNewAmerican.com LegalMatch.com MSN.com Heritage.org Brighteon.com Tucker Carlson: Criminal politicians, NGOs are intentionally allowing MIGRANT INVASION to happen Tucker Carlson has warned that "criminals" are allowing the massive migrant invasion through the U.S.'s southern border, pointing out how these criminals politicians and leaders of non-government organizations "must be punished." Carlson said this on the 30th episode of his program "Tucker on X," which came out on Oct. 13. In this episode he exposed how the migrant invasion has been unfolding. (Related: MIGRANT INVASION: Biden administration has let in over 4 MILLION ILLEGALS since January 2021.) He lamented how the American nation is changing "faster than it ever has," but that this is not occurring by any "democratic means." Rather, this massive change is being perpetrated "by force, through waves of mass immigration that not a single American voted for." "What's happening is a crime," Carlson said. "It violates both federal law and the core precepts of democracy, that citizens get to govern their own country." "Criminals" letting migrant invasion happen to rig the election Carlson said this massive tide of illegal immigrants coming through the border represents "election rigging on a mass scale," warning how the politicians and NGOs who stand to benefit from the wave of illegals coming in could use their presence as a way to pad their flagging support in the polls. The host added that this desire to rig the elections through the use of illegal immigrants is fueled by what he called "anti-White racial hostility." "That is not a guess," he said. "The people doing it say so out loud. They brag about it. They are criminals. They must be punished for what they have done." Carlson warned that Republicans both in Congress and in border states like Texas are unable to do much to prevent this crisis while President Joe Biden controls the White House. He pointed this out while showing a clip of illegal immigrants crossing the border into El Paso, Texas. "Democrats cheer it on. They know that America will soon be a one-party state, and they'll be in charge. Immigration is the reason," he continued. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has been in a legal battle with the Biden administration for weeks now over the barriers state border agencies have erected along the U.S.-Mexico border to reduce or deter illegal immigration. Biden has responded to these obstacles by ordering Border Patrol agents to remove them and allowing the illegal immigrants to safely enter Texas. Between October 2021 and August 2022, Customs and Border Protection reported some 2.2 million unsanctioned crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border. From October 2022 to August 2023, Border Patrol recorded over 1.8 million encounters. In August alone, Border Patrol reported that over 181,000 illegal crossings had occurred along the border. "Democrats are power-drunk nihilists," concluded Carlson. "Republicans elected to hold them in check are, unfortunately, dishonest cowards." Learn more about the migrant invasion at InvasionUSA.news. Watch this Oct. 13 episode of "Tucker on X" as Tucker Carlson warns about how the people responsible for letting the border crisis happen should be charged as criminals and "punished accordingly." This video is from the News and Current Events 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. Trump was right all along: Biden waives dozens of federal laws to expedite construction of border wall in Texas as Dems panic over illegal immigration. Every state is now a border state: Alabama deploys 275 National Guardsmen to southern border to deter illegals. Costa Rica declares STATE OF EMERGENCY over thousands of illegal migrants transiting through country heading to America. Right Now with Ann Vandersteel: Massive Houston development known as Colony Ridge to house up to 200K ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS Brighteon.TV. Sources include: Brighteon.com BizPacReview.com DailyCaller.com WesternJournal.com Ukraine conducts first strike using U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles, allegedly destroying 9 Russian helicopters and 2 airfields The Ukrainian Armed Forces fired for the first time its United States-supplied ATACMS missiles against Russian troops on Tuesday, Oct. 17. The MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMS, is a long-range guided missile produced by Lockheed Martin. It carries a 500-pound class blast fragmentation warhead. It is fitted with a specialized GPS system and has a maximum range of 300 kilometers (186.4 miles). The ATACMS the U.S. has supplied to Ukraine have shorter ranges, but carry cluster munitions which, when fired, open in the air and release hundreds of bomblets over a given area. (Related: Ukraine's experimental DRONE BOATS strike two Russian Navy ships in Crimea.) Ukraine claims the missiles will help fuel its counteroffensive, which has been going on for months, by enabling its troops to strike Russian targets while staying out of firing range. The first Ukrainian strikes of the ATACMS were launched in the evening of Tuesday local time and Ukrainian sources claim the strike destroyed nine Russian helicopters, an ammunition dump, at least one anti-aircraft missile system and other military equipment at two airfields in Russian-occupied Berdyansk and the pro-Russian separatist region of Luhansk. Ukraine also claims the missiles successfully damaged airfield runways and killed over a dozen Russian combatants. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later confirmed that the ATACMS had been used against Russia and were launched "very accurately." He also thanked the United States for supplying Ukraine with the weapons. "Today, I am especially grateful to the United States. Our agreements with President Biden are being implemented. And they are being implemented very accurately ATACMS have proven themselves," said Zelensky. Delivery of ATACMS missiles "will simply prolong Ukraine's agony," Putin says Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that the delivery of ATACMS to Ukraine was "another mistake by the United States." Putin made this remark at a summit during the Belt and Road forum in Beijing, his first trip to a country outside the former Soviet Union since March. Putin also said the delivery of ATACMS missiles to Ukraine would not do the country any good. "It will simply prolong Ukraine's agony," he said. The Russian president added that he does recognize that the new missiles could pose a threat to Russian forces in Ukraine. However, he noted that in the long run, these missiles will not change the course of the conflict. "War is war," said Putin. "And, of course, I have said that [ATACMS] pose a threat. It goes without saying. But what counts most is that they are completely unable to drastically change the situation along the line of contact. It's impossible." Putin also took the opportunity to criticize Biden who Zelensky personally credited for the expedited delivery of the missiles and the United States for the delivery of the missiles, arguing that if Western narratives about Russia losing the war are true, then there is no need for Kyiv to receive more advanced weaponry. "If Russia has lost the war, why supply ATACMS? Let [the U.S.] take ATACMS back, along with every other weapon," he said. "Let [Biden] sit down and eat pancakes, let him come here for tea [if Russia has lost]." Learn more about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine at UkraineWitness.com. Watch this video from "Warthog Productions" discussing Ukraine's first strike against Russian forces using the U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles. 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. RIGGED: Lobbying group with deep ties to military-industrial complex behind articles demanding MORE TAXPAYER MONEY for Ukraine. Pentagon funds to continue arming Ukraine running low, DOD comptroller claims "give us more money, Congress!" 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: ZeroHedge.com Independent.co.uk ABCNews.go.com TheGuardian.com Brighteon.com Martin Armstrong tells Mike Adams: The West basks in its DELUSION of being mega-powerful During a recent episode of the " Health Ranger Report ," geopolitics analyst Martin Armstrong lambasted the United States government as well as its Western allies for believing that they still hold much of the power and influence to own victory over the ongoing wars in Israel and Ukraine. Armstrong told host Mike Adams, founder of the free-speech platform Brighteon.com, that amid all the chaos, these war-torn nations think that they have the United States behind them, especially since President Joe Biden has expressed his all-out support for sending humanitarian and military assistance. The president is supported by Victoria Nuland, the acting deputy secretary of State, and represented by the Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Blinken is to embark on his most extensive Middle East visit since taking office in January 2021 as he is set to visit key American allies Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, some of which have influence on Hamas, the Palestinian militants who attacked Israel on Oct. 7. "It is all about power. They think they have the power and say, 'Let's exercise it and we'll win.' But it does not make sense anymore," the analyst pointed out. Adams agreed that the Western nations are indeed absorbed in their "delusional thoughts," pointing out that both Ukraine and Russia have proven that the West does not have the power they thought they had. "There are Leopard 2 tanks burning on the battlefields of Ukraine that were taken out by Russia's 'cheap' drones and Abrams tanks are going to be burning there soon. Western artillery can't compete with Russian artillery, Western anti-air defenses are inferior and their ballistic missiles are ancient. I mean, the West doesn't have the industrial base to manufacture enough weapons to sustain an actual land war," Adams further argued. (Related: Former Pentagon official warns via NATO website: West should prepare for NUCLEAR WAR.) The host emphasized how the West can continue to project power to use coercion to get what it wants in the world. "But now, it has reached an endpoint. You're not just going to be able to bomb every country into submission, it's failing now," he added. Armstrong chimed in saying that, the problem is that they do not acknowledge that they are already "weakening" as they sit there and still think they can defeat Russia. "Russia is no longer communist, neither is China," he noted. The last thing that the Neocons those who claim to advocate unilateral promotion of democracy and interventionism in international affairs want is abundance from trade, Adams pointed out. He added that abundance creates freedom and options for people, and creates entrepreneurs. "If you trade with Russia its aluminum, fertilizer, metals and even technology then the Neocons can't bomb everybody," Adams said. "Yeah. That's why they were trying to cut them off. They thought that they could do that and undermine Russias economy so it would collapse. But it's just not going to happen," Armstrong replied. United States will break up, Armstrong warns Elsewhere in the show, Adams raised a question about the current political situation in the United States and how Armstrong thinks it is going to be in the near future. "Most Americans who are aware agree that the rigging of the vote counting in elections is off-the-charts insane in the United States. It's pretty clear to me that Democrats couldn't win any election from actual organic votes from real people because their policies are so horrific," he said. "But what are the practical ramifications here for America? Does the United States of America survive very much longer? Or are we looking at secession? Are we looking at revolts? Or are we looking at domestic war uprisings?" Armstrong quipped: "The United States will break up." And then went on to cite the current political takes of Florida and California, which are like two separate countries. "The problem we have is that politics on a global scale has become so polarized," he continued citing people's views on the green and left agenda. "We have a civilization that functions when everybody benefits. It does not function when one side says, 'Now we're in power and we're going to force you to do what we want you to do.' That is not democracy. It's not civilization. So, then it becomes war effectively," he explained. Diving deeper into the climate change hoax, Adams said it appears that the governments are at war against their own people as they are shutting down food and farms and the economies, combustion engines, and even transportation. "But all under the label of their narrative that 'Oh, we have to save the planet somehow,'" the Health Ranger pointed out. He added the fact that the government is allowing business magnate and "philanthropist" Bill Gates to buy up millions of acres of trees. According to Gates, he is purchasing them all because he needs to cut them down so he can save the planet. Adams also cited how the Biden administration is giving grants to California to plant trees to also save Mother Earth. "And it's become comedy, a clown show of insanity at this point." Armstrong concurred and also mentioned Gates' plan to put particles in the atmosphere to block the sun. The billionaire also reportedly released billions of mosquitoes in Florida. "I mean, if you take him, George Soros, or Klaus Schwab I don't know if it's money or power they have driven the people completely insane." Follow Collapse.news to read more news regarding America's collapsing economy, culture and politics. Watch the full episode of the "Health Ranger Report" with Mike Adams featuring Martin Armstrong below. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. Sources for this article include: Brighteon.com Reuters.com Who do they think theyre kidding? The din of war drums beating hasnt completely drowned out the barrage of lying bullshit issued by US Deep State blobsters in their effort to keep reality at bay from a citizenry gone restive and aggrieved over the seemingly deliberate ruination of our country by the people who run it. (Article republished from Kunstler.com) On Thursday, FBI Director Chris Wray and Homeland Security chief Alejandro Mayorkas warned Americans that terrorist threats are rising in the US since Hamas attacked Israel, October 7th. Mr. Wray explained: Here in the U.S., we cannot and do not discount the possibility that Hamas or other foreign terrorist organizations could exploit the conflict to call on their supporters to conduct attacks on our own soil. We must be especially alert to the lone wolf lurking amongst us, he added. Neither of these officials noted that the rising terror threat here had any relation to the thousands of aliens streaming daily across the US border unvetted, or that the agencies under Homeland Security were helping to distribute them into every corner of America by plane and bus, giving them free cell phones, loaded debit cards, and other rewards for breaking the law. And that lone wolf bit is it possible that any number of them actually arrived as trained and pre-organized cadres or squads? How would we know? Most of them are military-age young men. Are these unreasonable questions to ask? And if Hamas was so supernaturally successful in secretly planning the mass murder and kidnapping operation of 10/7 from Gaza that the worlds supposedly top intel agencies were blindsided as it rolled out, why should Americans have any confidence that the FBI has a clue what any of those unvetted border-jumping mutts are up to here? Especially since those free phones enable them to find each other and hook-up right from the get-go, without delay. Its even possible that those phones were preloaded with their comrades numbers on speed-dial. Not to mention that illegal migrants have been coming here in huge waves for years, and surely some have been busy ever since setting up networks aimed at making trouble that new arrivals can easily slot into. Since the FBI has been so preoccupied the duration of the Joe Biden regime tracking down every native-born living soul who attended the 1/6/21 riot at the US Capitol, instead of using the agencys assets to monitor alien networking, you have to wonder why Mr. Wray even bothers to comment on the current situation. He can only embarrass (or incriminate) himself more deeply. One thing for sure is not happening: any effort by Mr. Mayorkas and his 260,000 employees to make the US/Mexico border any less porous. If it hadnt occurred to them yet, they might consider closing down the US-funded United Nations operation in Central America (with help from several international NGOs) that is running way-stations to transport aliens north to our border in hundred-plus bus fleets at a time, taking every possible advantage to accelerate the flow. I guess well just have to stand by and see what happens. Read more at: Kunstler.com Dr. Sherri Tenpenny warns of MORE DEATHS from COVID injections Well-known physician Dr. Sherri Tenpenny has warned of an impending increase of deaths caused by the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines and boosters. She discussed this matter during an appearance on the "Zeee Media" podcast with Australian independent journalist Maria Zeee. The podcast host remarked that the world is tragically seeing the deaths of young people, alongside an increase in deaths and disabilities among the working population. Zeee also noted that every country highly injected with the COVID-19 vaccines are seeing excess death rates soar. Tenpenny, an osteopathic medical doctor, then recounted a 2021 webinar about the dangers of the COVID-19 injections. After that webinar, she has since discovered 20 more mechanisms of injury caused by the vaccines. She then divided these into four categories. (Related: Dr. Sherri Tenpenny warns of DEATH TSUNAMI caused by COVID-19 vaccines.) The first category is the acute sudden death of people, which happens immediately or within two days after injection. Those who fell under this category died of cardiac arrest, pulmonary embolism, blood clots to the lungs and anaphylactic shock. According to Tenpenny, vaccination centers in the U.K. had to have crash carts as people were having anaphylactic shock post-injection. The second category is the spike protein disease, which happens "anywhere from six months to two to three years after the last shot that people got whether they got one, two, three or more." The host of "The Tenpenny Files, On Your Health" on Brighteon.TV elaborated: "It would be three to five years because it takes a while for that spike protein to be generated in your body and to go into your organs and cause all this harm that we are now seeing." Rise in AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES projected in the next 7-10 years The third category is autoimmune disease, which Tenpenny said will rise in all age groups within the next seven to 10 years. She spoke to two very prominent immunologists one American and one British and both warned of "big trouble" caused by the surge in autoimmune diseases. According to Zeee's guest, autoimmune diseases take time to show up. When they do, people are treated with steroids and different anti-inflammatory-type medications to shut it down. Zeee commented that these autoimmune diseases are caused by the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that triggers serious inflammation in the body. Tenpenny agreed, adding that the antibodies created due to the spike protein, hydrogen, lipid nanoparticles and other components are also to blame. Autoimmune diseases involve the body's own immune system attacking its own organs such as the brain, heart and kidneys. The fourth category is termed catch-all diseases and pertain to health issues such as infertility, turbo cancers, Alzheimer's disease, dementia and all the neurological complications that people are seeing. Various experts, including Texas-based cardiologist Dr. Peter McCullough and others, have warned of these vaccine-caused harms. "That's what makes me dangerous because I told the truth," Tenpenny told Zeee. "I dug the stuff out of the medical literature. I did my very best to warn people, just like what you did spent all your time trying to warn people." Zeee tragically lamented, however, that many did not listen to their warning about the COVID-19 vaccine. Nevertheless, Tenpenny ultimately called on people to never bow down and be coerced into getting injected with the COVID-19 shot. Follow Vaccines.news for more news about COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. Watch the full conversation between Maria Zeee and Dr. Sheri Tenpenny about the dangers of the COVID-19 injections below. This video is from the ZEEE MEDIA channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Cleveland Clinic confirms that covid jabs systematically DESTROY the immune system, jab after jab, year after year. Covid jab spike proteins invade all major organs, accelerate cellular aging. Steve Kirsch: Data shows COVID-19 vaccine is the MOST DANGEROUS vaccine ever made. Science journal finally admits covid jabs cause autoimmune disorders. Study finds causal link between COVID vaccines and mortality, confirming 1 death for every 800 jabs. Sources include: Brighteon.com DrTenpenny.com Even the WHO condemns the bombing attack on Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza The World Health Organization (WHO) has joined several world leaders in condemning Israel for bombing a hospital in the Gaza Strip. The Oct. 17 attack on Al-Ahli Arab Hospital killed at least 500 people, with both Hamas and Israel pointing fingers at each other. The Palestinian Ministry of Health blamed Jerusalem for the bombing, while the U.S. and the Israel Defense Forces pointed to a misfired rocket from Hamas. (Related: BREAKING: Compelling video evidence points to Israeli AIR BURST bomb striking al-Ahli hospital grounds, killing hundreds of Palestinian civilians as they slept on courtyard grounds adjacent to the parking lot.) Nevertheless, the deadly incident drew outrage and condemnation worldwide. "WHO strongly condemns the attack on Al-Ahli Arab Hospital," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on the social medial platform X, noting that early reports indicate "hundreds of deaths and injuries." "We call for the immediate protection of civilians and health care, and for the evacuation orders to be reversed." Tedros wasn't the only one who reacted to the lethal attack. Medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders also condemned the strike at the hospital, calling it a "massacre." Even United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres denounced the attack on Al-Ahli, calling for a "immediate humanitarian ceasefire" in the ongoing conflict. Josep Borrell, the European Union's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, expressed regret over the attack. European Council President and former Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel meanwhile denounced the attacks on civilian infrastructure, stressing that such strikes "are not in accordance with international law." Moussa Faki Mahamat, the chairman of the African Union, decried the attack as a "war crime" and urged the international community to act swiftly to address the situation. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, his counterpart in the Arab League, called on international leaders to "stop this tragedy immediately." World leaders weigh in on the hospital attack Several nations also weighed in on the Oct. 17 bombing by Israel. U.S. President Joe Biden expressed his outrage and deep sadness at the loss of life and initiated talks with key leaders in the region. Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned the attack and emphasized the importance of upholding international laws during conflicts. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva described the hospital bombing as an "unjustifiable tragedy" and called for international humanitarian intervention and a ceasefire in the region. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed shock and strong condemnation of the hospital bombing, calling for an immediate ceasefire. Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep shock at the loss of lives and called for holding the perpetrators responsible. Indonesia also condemned the hospital attack as one that "clearly violates international humanitarian law," and called for immediate action by the international community. French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized that "nothing can justify targeting civilians" and called for humanitarian access to Gaza. Sauli Niinisto, his Finnish counterpart, condemned attacks on civilians and stressed the need to respect international humanitarian law. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz meanwhile expressed his horror at the images of the hospital explosion and called for a thorough investigation. Egypt's government likewise blasted the airstrike as a "clear violation of international law." Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani called for an "immediate and urgent resolution" from the UN Security Council. The respective foreign ministries of Iran, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar all condemned Israel's military action. Describing the strike as a "shockingly dehumanizing crime," the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs challenged Israel to provide satellite imagery if it was not involved. Saudi Arabia condemned the hospital strike as a "flagrant violation of all international laws and norms" and denounced Israel's "continuous attacks against civilians." Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan seconded Riyadh's sentiment, noting the bombing of Al-Ahli as an example of Israel's "attacks devoid of the most basic human values." The Hezbollah movement based in Lebanon called for a "day of rage" to condemn the attack, blaming Israel for a "massacre" and a "brutal crime." Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, called the bombing a "hideous war massacre" and withdrew from a scheduled meeting with Biden. Visit Chaos.news for more stories about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. Watch this clip of Israel's relentless shelling in the Gaza Strip for the 11th consecutive day. This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Turkey's Erdogan warns of "spiral of violence" in phone call with Israel's Herzog. HYPOCRISY: Big Business refuses to condemn Israel's bombings of Gazan civilians. COVER UP: Israel DELETES video they claimed showed Islamic Jihad rocket hit hospital. Sources include: AlJazeera.com PBS.org Brighteon.com Israel-Hamas conflict could escalate into World War III very quickly as Pentagon readies troops for deployment to the Middle East The Israel-Hamas conflict could escalate into World War III very quickly, with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) readying U.S. troops for deployment MarketWatch reported that the DoD has sent "prepare to deploy" orders to about 2,000 U.S. troops. According to one official, the troops won't be assigned to Israel but could be sent to other countries in the Middle East. Another DoD official clarified that the soldiers will be engaging in support roles such as aiding medical teams and explosive ordinance teams, and providing additional security at gate crossings. In an Oct. 17 press release, DoD Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh confirmed the "prepare to deploy" order issued by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. She added that the order "increases DoD's ability to respond quickly to the evolving security environment in the Middle East." "No decisions have been made to deploy any forces at this time," clarified Singh. "The secretary will continue to assess our force posture and remain in close contact with allies and partners." Austin has also ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to stay in the eastern Mediterranean Sea while waiting for additional instructions. It was approaching the end of a six-month deployment to the U.S. European Command area when it was redirected to the Middle East to prevent attempts to broaden the war, according to officials. The orders came amid scores of Palestinians continuing to flee south from the Gaza Strip ahead of an Israeli ground invasion. Jerusalem's military action sought to eradicate Hamas, in retaliation for the terrorist group's Oct. 7 attack at a music festival in Israel. The group killed 1,400 people, majority of whom were civilians, in the incident. (Related: Israelis prepare ground invasion as Palestinians scramble to evacuate while IDF bombs continue to fall.) Impending invasion could worsen Gaza humanitarian crisis Apart from the 1,400 Israelis killed in the attack, at least 199 others, along with children and elderly people, were seized by Hamas and taken as hostages into Gaza, based on a report from Israeli officials. With U.S. Navy warships and air assets bolstering its war, Israeli forces have been gathering along Gaza's border and training for what Israel stated would be a wide campaign to take apart Hamas. A week of scorching airstrikes in Gaza by Israeli warplanes has demolished whole neighborhoods but has failed to stop more rocket attacks into Israel by Hamas. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has renewed promises of American support for Israel in its fight against Hamas and talked about America's efforts with the United Nations and others to give hostage rescue assistance in addition to humanitarian aid for civilians. Meanwhile, several aid groups continue to warn that the approaching invasion could exacerbate what is fast becoming a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, a densely populated strip of territory between Israel and Egypt which is home to nearly 2.3 million people. The attack by Hamas, a militant group that has been named a terrorist organization by the U.S. and European Union, initiated what immediately became the bloodiest war between Palestine and Israel since the 1973 Arab-Israeli War. More than 4,000 people have now died in the war, with the Palestinian Ministry of Health claiming 2,750 Palestinians have been killed and 9,700 wounded. Follow WWIII.news for more news about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Watch Harrison Smith of "The American Journal" commenting on the Israel conflict and the possible deployment of U.S. troops below. This video is from the Ron Gibson Channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: World War 3 could be imminent as Israel-Hamas war escalates, experts warn. Israel DELAYS Gaza ground offensive as it orders 1.1 million Palestinians in northern Strip to EVACUATE. Defense officials warn: Iran could use Israel-Palestine chaos as an opportunity to attack American forces all over the Middle East. Israeli INVASION of Gaza has begun with localized raids, plus strikes against Hezbollah to the North. Defense officials warn: Iran could use Israel-Palestine chaos as an opportunity to attack American forces all over the Middle East. Sources include: MarketWatch.com MilitaryTimes.com WashingtonTimes.com Brighteon.com Israel tells citizens to stockpile food for four months while WAR is being waged Israeli authorities reported that at least 1,400 people have died and 3,400 others have been injured in Israel after Hamas launched an unprecedented incursion from air, land and sea on Oct. 7. In Gaza, 3,000 people have been killed and another 12,500 were injured, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have also urged "all residents of Gaza City to evacuate their homes" and "move south for their protection" last week. As per the IDF, it plans to "operate significantly in Gaza City in the coming days" and wants "to avoid harming civilians." A spokesman said that Israel is prepared on its own both in the north and in the south. And as if getting ready to embark on a bigger endeavor, the Israel Ministry of Health already told its people that "the war may last a long time, prepare an emergency stock of food for four months." Israel Ministry of Health: "The war may last a long time, prepare an emergency stock of food for 4 months" Iranian Foreign Minister: "The expansion of the war to other fronts has begun to reach unavoidable stages." IDF Spokesman: "Israel is prepared on its own both in the north pic.twitter.com/75KhjS51Nz Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 17, 2023 It has been obvious to global observers that the conflict is not going to end soon and worse, it is set toward continued escalation, which could explode well beyond the Gaza crisis. According to Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the expansion of the war to other fronts has begun to reach unavoidable stages. An Israeli military spokesman countered, "If [the Iranian-backed] Hezbollah commits a grave mistake, we will respond with devastating force never seen before." At the moment, exchanges of fire between IDF and militants in south Lebanon, especially the Hezbollah, have become a daily occurrence. However, according to ZeroHedge, a full assault from the militant group has been avoided because Israel could be holding off its expected major ground invasion of Gaza precisely to avoid provoking a "northern front" from opening up. (Related: Hezbollah threat in the north delays Israel invasion of Gaza.) But Hezbollah has issued new claims it has destroyed an IDF tank and other military assets. "Hezbollah carried out a number of attacks yesterday in order to try to divert our operational efforts [away from the Gaza Strip], under the direction and backing of Iran, while endangering the state of Lebanon and its citizens," an IDF spokesman said Monday. "We have increased our forces on the northern border and will respond aggressively to any activity against us. If Hezbollah dares to test us, the reaction will be deadly. The United States is giving us full backing." On Tuesday, Hezbollah announced that its fighters launched an anti-tank guided missile at a gathering of Israeli soldiers, which resulted in "a number of casualties." Israel has in response shelled militant positions in Lebanon but has also hit Lebanese residential areas, prompting people in the area to flee. The Lebanese Shia Islamist group's main state backer, Iran, has continued ratcheting the threats against Israel: Whatever crimes the Zionist regime commits will fail to compensate for its disgraceful defeat during the Al-Aqsa Storm operation. Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) October 17, 2023 The Israeli forces, in response, already started to evacuate all civilians who live within two kilometers of the Lebanese border. They said the repeat rocket and mortar fire made it necessary and in preparation for potential greater military action. The country's National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) will oversee the transfer of Israeli civilians from 28 towns and communities to state-funded guesthouses. The blockade and denial of water, food, fuel, electricity endanger lives The Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza has now endured four bombings from Israel, according to a spokesperson for Egypt's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It was shut on Oct. 10 after it was hit by Israeli warplanes on the Palestinian side three times on Oct. 9 and 10. Earlier, Egypt agreed to re-open the border crossing for eight hours, and a ceasefire was said to be decided by Egypt, Israel and the U.S. to coincide with the opening of the crossing. However, the borders still have not been opened as of this writing. Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told BBC that from his nation's perspective, "the Rafah crossing on our side is officially open." However, the "aerial bombardments" are making the crossing "inaccessible" and unsafe for aid trucks to cross into Gaza. Thousands of Palestinians are waiting on the Gaza side of the border, while hundreds of vehicles carrying desperately needed aid are parked up on the Egyptian side. Many more aid convoys are also heading towards the border. "We are in constant contact with all U.N. agencies to extract a safe passage for the relief aid," Shoukry said. "There is not yet any sort of authorization for a safe passage from the other side of the crossing." As per the international non-governmental Human Rights Watch, the Israeli government should immediately end its total blockade of the Gaza Strip that is putting Palestinian children and other civilians at grave risk. "The collective punishment of the population is a war crime. Israeli authorities should allow desperately needed food, medical aid, fuel, electricity and water into Gaza, and let sick and wounded civilians leave to receive medical treatment elsewhere," the New York-based NGO said. Doctors in Gaza reported being unable to care for children and other patients because the hospitals are overwhelmed by victims of Israeli airstrikes. On October 17, a munition struck al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, causing mass casualties. The militant group Hamas blamed Israel for the strike, while Israel said it was a rocket misfire by Palestinian militants. Bill Van Esveld, the non-profit's associate children's rights director said that President Joe Biden, who is in Israel today, should press Israeli officials to completely lift the unlawful blockade and ensure the entire civilian population has prompt access to water, food, fuel and electricity. Head to WWIII.news for more stories on the Israel and Palestine conflict. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com ABCNewsGo.com HRW.org Children and their parents play in a swimming pool in downtown HCMC during the National Day holiday on September 2, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran The Vietnamese government has decided to classify Covid-19 as a common infectious disease. A decision approved by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha on Thursday removes the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus from group A, Vietnam's list of dangerous infectious diseases that spread quickly and widely and have a high mortality rate or an unknown causative agent. These include influenza A - H5N1, all types of plague, smallpox, and cholera. It has been moved to group B that comprises less dangerous infectious diseases such as the flu, tuberculosis and dengue fever. When Covid raged in early 2019, the government classified it in group A and declared a state of emergency, taking various measures to contain it. But life has become normal after more than four years, and people are no longer obliged to adopt any Covid-19 restrictions. This year the number of infections in Vietnam has been only a 12th of 2021 and a 68th of 2022. The disease fatality rate is 0.02%, equivalent to or lower than the rates for some other common diseases in the last five years such as dengue fever, malaria, diphtheria, and whooping cough. Its causative agent has been clearly identified. In June PM Pham Minh Chinh instructed the Ministry of Health to make preparations to declare an end to the pandemic and that Covid is no longer a dangerous infectious disease. Since early 2022 he has repeatedly called on health authorities to learn from international experiences to adopt new approaches for living with the disease. He also instructed the ministry to wind up the National Steering Committee on Covid-19 Prevention and instead depend on WHO recommendations and developments on the ground to make new plans to control the disease. With Covid now declared a common disease, patients will no longer be treated for free. The incubation time is now reduced to eight days from the previous 28 days, meaning an outbreak will be considered over after eight days if no new cases are detected. The ministry said this is based on scientific evidence, the current situation and recommendations by WHO and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Marist poll: RFK Jr.s independent run could help Biden in 2024 A recent Marist poll has found that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) running as an independent candidate could inadvertently benefit incumbent President Joe Biden in the 2024 elections. The poll, which was conducted by the Marist Institute for Public Opinion (MIPO) alongside PBS and NPR, surveyed more than 1,300 adults on Oct. 11. Based on its results, 49 percent of registered voters would pick Biden while 46 percent would pick former President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, five percent remain undecided. But putting RFK Jr. in the equation changes the landscape as the Children's Health Defense founder gets 16 percent support from respondents. Biden sees a five-point drop (from 49 percent to 44) percent, but Trump suffers a bigger nine-point drop (from 46 percent to 37 percent). According to YourNews, RFK Jr.'s decision to run as an independent also has repercussions along party lines. "The presence of RFK Jr. on the ticket seems to impact Republican support for Trump significantly," it pointed out. "The survey found a notable 10-point decline among Republican voters when Kennedy is considered as an option." Among independent voters, the nephew of the late President John F. Kennedy entering the race has also affected Trump negatively. Forty-nine percent of voters say they prefer the real estate mogul-turned-chief executive, six points ahead of Biden's 43 percent support if they go head-to-head. With RFK Jr. in the equation, Trump drops 15 points (from 49 percent to 34 percent) while Biden drops 10 points (from 43 percent to 33 percent). The independent candidate garners a notable 29 percent, putting him in third place. "Although it's always tricky to assess the impact of a third-party candidate, right now [RFK Jr.] alters the equation in Biden's favor," said Lee Miringoff, founder and current director of the MIPO. He emphasized that a significant portion of voters are looking for an alternative to the traditional Republican and Democratic nominees. "What this does speak to, however, is that about one in six voters are looking for another option, especially independents." Recent Marist Poll contradicts results of earlier survey RFK Jr. announced on Oct. 9 that he would run as an independent candidate at a campaign event in Philadelphia. This followed months of him claiming that the Democratic National Committee had been rigging the Democratic Party primaries to favor Biden, who is gunning for a second term. "I'm here to declare myself an independent candidate for president of the United States," he addressed his supporters who came to the City of Brotherly Love. RFK Jr. had previously insinuated that he would run under the Libertarian Party, but this did not come to fruition. Incidentally, the Marist Poll contradicted the findings of an earlier survey. Virginia-based Echelon Insights shared the results of the poll on its official account on X. One preview showed Trump having 46 percent of support against Biden's 43 percent, with 11 percent unsure of who to pick. Another preview showed how RFK Jr. running as an independent could change the landscape. In this scenario, Trump gets 40 percent of support, Biden gets 36 percent, RFK Jr. gets 14 percent and 10 percent remain unsure. (Related: Poll: RFK Jr. running as independent would help Trump, hurt Biden.) A third preview of the survey's cross tabs posted by Echelon showed how much impact RFK Jr. could have on both Trump and Biden. The independent candidate could ultimately take 17 percent of Democratic votes, while he could take 11 percent among Republican votes. "In other words, Democrats are more negatively affected by a Kennedy independent run than Republicans are," Breitbart noted. Visit RFKJr.news for more stories about Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s performance in opinion polls as the 2024 election approaches. Watch this One America News report about RFK Jr.'s announcement that he would run as an independent candidate. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Survey: 33% of Democrats to vote for RFK Jr. if he runs independently DNC headed for PANIC. RFK Jr. to continue his presidential run as an INDEPENDENT candidate after ditching rigged DNC. Not getting a fair shot: RFK Jr. to announce plan to run as INDEPENDENT, stresses DNC is RIGGING the primaries. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ditches Democrat Party, now running for president in 2024 as an INDEPENDENT. Report: RFK Jr. plans to run as an INDEPENDENT because the Democratic National Committee has rigged the nomination for Biden. Sources include: YourNews.com MaristPoll.Marist.edu [PDF] Breitbart.com Brighteon.com Rioters set fire to U.S. Embassy in Beirut after Hezbollah calls for day of rage Hundreds of angry rioters carrying Palestinian flags attacked the US embassy in Beirut, Lebanon on Tuesday, following news of an explosion at a Gaza hospital that reportedly killed hundreds of people. (Article republished from ThePostMillennial.com) Tear gas was deployed in an attempt to disperse the crowd, according to the New York Post. The group gathered hours ahead of Biden's arrival in neighboring Israel. One man was seen scaling a fence outside of the embassy, waving a Palestinian flag above the crowd, which also flew Hamas flags. Rioters also set fire to a building behind the embassy gates. ? Massive crowd forms outside the US Embassy in Lebanon, mob raises Palestinian/Hamas flags. pic.twitter.com/Tv57sWvtH6 The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) October 17, 2023 The protestors marched on the buildings following a statement from Hezbollah, an Iran-backed terrorist group in Lebanon, telling the Arab world to protest in front of Israeli embassies, blaming Israel for the explosion at the hospital. The protestors were a mix of Pro-Palestinian and Hezbollah supporters. The UN has said that Israel was not responsible for the blast. LEBANON : Hezbollah supporters rally towards US Embassy in Beruit. pic.twitter.com/8qMy3k9G6t The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) October 17, 2023 Rioters assembled in front of the US and French embassies, claiming that US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron are responsible for the airstrikes in Gaza by providing military aid to Israel. Israel doesnt have an embassy in Lebanon. The State Department gave US embassy workers in Beirut the option to leave the country and is also warned US citizens not to travel to Lebanon. A State Department advisory said, Do Not travel to Lebanon due to?the unpredictable security situation related to rocket, missile, and artillery exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah or other armed militant factions. Reconsider travel to Lebanon due to terrorism, civil unrest, armed conflict, crime, kidnapping,?and?Embassy Beiruts limited capacity to provide support to US citizens. The unrest followed news that Gazas Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital had suffered an explosion. Hamas claimed it was due to a rocket from an Israeli air strike, while Israel claimed the explosion was caused by a rocket misfired by terrorists. Hamas claimed at least 500 people died in the explosion. Check your own footage before you accuse Israel. 18:59 - A rocket aimed at Israel misfired and exploded. 18:59 - A hospital was hit in Gaza. You had one job. https://t.co/iCgYOkaE84pic.twitter.com/Ag2mKCBb6M Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 18, 2023 According to a statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), An analysis of IDF operational systems indicates that a barrage of rockets was fired by terrorists in Gaza, passing in close proximity to the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza at the time it was hit. News: Israel has provided the US with intelligence it has gathered related to the deadly Gaza hospital explosion, a Israeli official & another source familiar with the matter tell me & @OrenCNN. The US is analyzing the Israeli intelligence, sources say. Zachary Cohen (@ZcohenCNN) October 18, 2023 The statement continued, Intelligence from multiple sources we have in our possession indicates that Islamic Jihad is responsible for the failed rocket launch which hit the hospital in Gaza. Islamic Jihad is another terrorist group that often works with Hamas. Lots of talk in recent hours of a failed rocket launch striking the grounds of a hospital in Gaza. I think it's timely to remind viewers that rockets produced by terrorists aren't always effective. pic.twitter.com/7UxVZMqlDI Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) October 17, 2023 A UN spokesperson said "While we continue to collect information, our current assessment, based on analysis of overhead imagery, intercepts and open source information, is that Israel is not responsible for the explosion at the hospital in Gaza yesterday." While we continue to collect information, our current assessment, based on analysis of overhead imagery, intercepts and open source information, is that Israel is not responsible for the explosion at the hospital in Gaza yesterday. Adrienne Watson (@NSC_Spox) October 18, 2023 Videos have also surfaced online of protests erupting at the US Embassy in Jordan, Iran and Iraq, as well as a US military base in Turkey. UK EMBASSY : Iranians form massive crowd outside the British embassy in Tehran in support of Hamas. pic.twitter.com/n5fnlrE9il The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) October 17, 2023 ? Rioters set fires while trying to storm US Embassy in Jordan. pic.twitter.com/AChPcOsNH2 The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) October 18, 2023 Baghdad, Iraq: Pro-Palestinian protesters march to US Embassy while chanting: America is the greatest devil.pic.twitter.com/ymZbtQ9zyX The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) October 18, 2023 Rioters also reportedly clashed with Palestinian Authority security forces in Jenin, Nablus, Bethlehem, and Ramallah. Hundreds of Palestinians are clashing with PA security forces in Jenin, Nablus, Bethlehem and Ramallah. Demonstrations in Hebron, Qalqilia, Tulkarem . From the PA administrative capital in Ramallah pic.twitter.com/1cuelQa2tb Younis Tirawi | ???? (@ytirawi) October 17, 2023 Biden was set to attend a summit in Amman, Jordan, which would have included leaders King Abdullah II of Jordan, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, and President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, but that summit was canceled. "After consulting with King Abdullah II of Jordan and in light of the days of mourning announced by President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, President Biden will postpone his travel to Jordan and the planned meeting with these two leaders and President Sisi of Egypt," The White House said in a statement released on Tuesday afternoon. "The President sent his deepest condolences for the innocent lives lost in the hospital explosion in Gaza, and wished a speedy recovery to the wounded. He looks forward to consulting in person with these leaders soon, and agreed to remain regularly and directly engaged with each of them over the coming days." Read more at: ThePostMillennial.com Staff at Walgreens, other major U.S. pharmacy chains could WALK OUT in coming weeks to PROTEST poor working conditions There is more trouble inland as Walgreens and other major pharmacy chains in the United States face employee walkouts and protests in the coming weeks against poor working conditions and low wages. Walgreens says its pharmacy staff, including pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and other support staff, is really unhappy with the state of things at the company, and is finally planning to do something about it. By the look of things, a nationwide pharmacy walkout is in the works that also appears to include CVS, a similarly struggling pharmacy chain corporation that is likewise mistreating its workers by refusing to address prolific problems such as understaffed teams at the company's stores. For years, pharmacy workers have been complaining about there not being enough employees to handle the drug-dispensing process. And once the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) came along, the situation worsened as pharmacy workers were given even more tasks such as "testing" and "vaccination." (Related: CVS is closing 900 stores and laying off 5,000 workers amid collapsing U.S. economy.) Is Big Pharma dominance finally coming to an end? Already in the Kansas City area, there have been coordinated walkouts of staff from both Walgreens and CVS. Very soon, it is expected that these coordinated walkouts will span the entire nation. What we are now seeing across many industries as of late is general unhappiness and discontent among employees. There have been more labor union disputes all happening at once in the past several years compared to any other time in U.S. history. COVID, it would seem, pulled the pin out of the economic grenade. The first dominoes were tipped as it arrived, and now the fallout is really starting to hit home as industry after industry, the latest being Big Pharma, is forced to grapple with angry employees who are tired of being taken advantage of so a few fat cats at the top can be multi-millionaires and in some cases, multi-billionaires. According to a scared, anonymous organizer for the planned Walgreens walkouts and protests, the timeframe for dropping the bomb is between October 30 and November 1. Another organizer and independent pharmacist named Shane Jerominski, who used to work for Walgreens, confirmed these dates as well. The planned walkouts and protests extend beyond just Walgreens and CVS, with organizers also contacting workers at other pharmacies the bigger the better, they say. When asked by the media what it thinks about the situation, Walgreens corporate pointed to an earlier canned statement about how the company is working "tirelessly to serve our communities," boasting nearly 9,000 store locations nationwide. "The last few years have required an unprecedented effort from our team member," a Walgreens spokesperson admitted about the excessive amount of work that already overworked pharmacists and other employees now face in the post-COVID era. According to the company, it is taking its employees' concerns very seriously, including by making "significant investments," to quote CNBC, in wages and hiring bonuses in order to retain its pharmacists, especially at hard-to-staff store locations. On average, Walgreens pharmacists rake in $57.45 per hour. Meanwhile, the company's pharmacy division raked in $110 billion in fiscal year 2023. As for the situation at CVS, pharmacists and other employees still have to meet with Prem Shah, the company's chief pharmacy officer and president of pharmacy and consumer wellness. Depending on the outcome of that meeting, CVS workers may or may not end up joining the Walgreens workers though it appears as though joint walkouts and protests will happen at the end of the month. The latest news about the crumbling U.S. economy, which is now conveniently being offset with another genocidal war, can be found at Collapse.news. Sources for this article include: CNBC.com NaturalNews.com Trump promises IDEOLOGICAL SCREENING for potential immigrants if reelected as president Former President Donald Trump has pledged to implement strict ideological screening for all immigrants seeking entry to the U.S. if reelected in 2024. He announced this proposal during an Oct. 16 speech at a campaign event in Iowa. The measure "would amount to a sweeping overhaul of Americas immigration system" if implemented and could definitely face legal challenges. "No longer will we allow dangerous lunatics, haters, bigots and maniacs to get residency in our country," Trump told his supporters during the event. He warned that those who "empathize with radical Islamic terrorists and extremists," wish to "abolish the state of Israel" or "support Hamas," and the ideology behind it would be "disqualified" from potential citizenship. Communists, Marxists and fascists would likewise be disqualified, Trump added. The former president cited the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel as a main factor behind his proposal, and his advocacy toward hardline immigration issues. "The atrocities in Israel are a horrific reminder that immigration security is national security," Trump said. "The purpose of U.S. immigration law is not to protect the worldits to protect the United States of America." Aside from ideological screening, Trump also promised to suspend refugee resettlement once more. He also pledged to reinstate a travel ban on predominantly Muslim countries he put in place during his term, with a planned expansion. Trump also vowed to proactively deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to address pro-jihadist demonstrations and remove immigration law violators from the country. (Related: DeSantis signs anti-illegal immigration bill mandating that businesses ban undocumented workers.) Trump: U.S. shouldn't accept refugees from countries undermining national security During his speech, Trump also underlined the importance of supporting Israel in its ongoing conflict with Hamas. One way of doing so, he added, is refusing to take in " anyone from Gaza, Syria, Somalia, Yemen, Libya or anywhere else that threatens [American] security." Two of Trump's Republican colleagues in the House of Representatives appeared to support his sentiment. Wisconsin Rep. Tom Tiffany and Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles recently introduced the Guaranteeing Aggressors Zero Admission (GAZA) Act, which prohibits the Biden administration from importing refugees from Gaza including any Hamas operatives that may blend in. Under the GAZA Act, the Biden administration cannot issue visas to refugees holding Palestinian Authority passports. The Department of Homeland Security cannot use its parole pipeline to accept Palestinian refugees into the United States. "At a time when the threat of terrorism is not only grotesquely on display but being encouraged and justified, it is critical that we do our best to ensure the security of our nation," Ogles stated, explaining the necessity of the legislation, especially in times of war. "Following the horrific attack by Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists on innocent Israeli civilians, the last thing America ought to do is trust identity documents issued by the radicals that oversee these territories," Tiffany said. "We need to put our security at home first, and that starts by closing the door to bad actors who might be seeking to enter our country." Visit Trump.news for more stories about the former president's 2024 campaign. Watch Todd Bensman of the Center for Immigration Studies discussing the prospect of America accepting Palestinian refugees below. This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: GOP congressmen introduce GAZA Act to stop Biden from importing Palestinian refugees into the USA. PROXY WAR: Biden's $235M funding of Palestine in 2021 contributed to Hamas' violent attacks on Israel. Project Veritas: Records show several people Biden let into US from Afghanistan are national security threats. All those migrants the globalists let into Europe are protesting FOR PALESTINE, prompting Henry Kissinger to declare: "Too many foreigners!" Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com Edition.CNN.com Breitbart.com Brighteon.com Residences and roads have been flooded in some areas of Ireland due to Tropical Storm Babet. Due to the bad weather, red warning alert has been raised to ensure the safety of residents. The MET Office has issued a red warning alert as Storm Babet is expected to bring exceptional rainfalls and powerful winds for some. Officials said that the red warning for rain covers parts of the east of Scotland, including Brechin, Forfar and Kirriemuir. It's in force from 1800 on Thursday through to midday on Friday. Warning Alerts For Increased Rainfall According to MET Office chief meteorologist Jason Kelly, the "confidence has increased in the chances of considerable impacts from rainfall in parts of the east of Scotland from Storm Babet, which has resulted in the escalation to the red warning." Kelly noted that 100-150mm of rain is expected to fall quite widely within the warning period, with some locations likely to see 200-250mm, which is expected to cause considerable impacts with flooding likely. Meteorologists said that the effects cited due to the red warning alerts were considered as danger to life and these were caused by floods, extensive waters to homes and businesses, as well as the severely disrupted travel conditions. Officials said that this was the first red warning for rain issued in the United Kingdom since Storm Dennis hit in February 2020. Further, authorities said a wider Amber warning for rain is also in force from early Thursday to late on Friday for eastern and central parts of Scotland. They noted that within this area, 70-100mm of rain is likely quite widely, with some upland areas possibly seeing 150-200mm of rain throughout the period. On the other hand, powerful winds from an easterly direction have also resulted in an Amber wind warning being issued for eastern parts of Scotland. Gusts in excess of 70mph are likely on Thursday, with particularly poor conditions on immediate coastlines. Read Also: Europe Latest Weather: Heavy Rains Bring Flooding, Landslides to Northern Italy Cork City Mayor of the County of Cork Cllr Frank O'Flynn expressed concern over the effects of the bad weather in the area. "I am especially conscious of the advanced preparations that were undertaken by Cork County Council in mitigating the effects of this event and how, despite every effort, homes, businesses and road users have been impacted. Areas where flood defence schemes have been completed fared far better than others in the face of this deluge," O'Flynn said. The official also called on his constituents to stay cautious amid the storm. "I am calling on the people of Cork to please avoid unnecessary travel, take extreme care if you must set off on a journey and please think of vulnerable road users, especially pedestrians and cyclists," O'Flynn said. The floods that hit Ireland has caused damage and disruption in some parts of the country, with personnel from the Defence Forces deployed to a town in the south of the country. Roads and several properties have been swamped in certain areas, with Cork City and surrounding county among the places worst affected. Related Article: During Months of Unusually Warm and Dry Weather, the National Drought Group Declared Drought Status That Hit 36C in UK Related Video: Unsettled weather is in store for the eastern United States in the coming days as warm weather continues across the western half of the country, according to the latest weather forecast of the National Weather Service (NWS). The widespread warmth across the West US is caused by a "large ridge of high pressure" which is expected to further produce warm and dry weather conditions throughout the remainder of the week. Now, the high air pressure in the West Coast, along with an Atlantic coastal system, is also causing the potential unsettled weather in the East Coast, where heavy rain and strong winds are possible into the weekend. The recent US weather forecast comes after the NWS issued a short-range outlook earlier this week that warm weather or warm temperatures will return in the eastern US as cool airmass in the nation moderates. Unsettled Weather Forecast The NWS at 4:00 a.m. EDT (local time) on Thursday, October 19, issued its latest short-range forecast, stating that the cool and quiet weather pattern hovering over the eastern US will become "increasingly unsettled" amid the dry and very warm weather across the western US. The forecast is valid until Saturday, October 21. Under the weather outlook, the weather service mentions that other factors affect the unsettled weather in the East Coast, including an Alberta clipper and an Atlantic coastal system. The interaction of these weather phenomena can bring rainy conditions across the Eastern Seaboard, especially in the Northeast and Great Lakes regions. Also Read: Unsettled Weather Systems, Developing Tropical Low Continue Towards Northwest and Gulf of Mexico Alberta Clipper The Alberta clipper, also called an Alberta low, is a fast-moving winter weather system that hails from the Canadian Rockies. This weather event usually brings winter-like conditions, including snow, cold temperatures, and high winds, across the northern US. Based on the NWS forecast, the Alberta clipper is currently over the upper Midwest region of the US and will shift in an eastward direction to the Great Lakes, where it will bring rainy conditions through Friday, October 20. Atlantic Coastal System Another weather event that will contribute to the unsettled weather in the eastern US is an upper-level trough that interacts with the Alberta clipper and with a low-pressure wave off the coast of the southeastern US, according to the NWS. The US weather agency adds that an Atlantic moisture linked with the coastal system will move into the East Coast and spread to the New England region, where localized rainfall, potential thunderstorms, and gusty winds may occur. Flood Threat While extreme flooding is not expected for the upcoming unsettled weather, some areas and states in the eastern US are still vulnerable to raging floodwaters, with New York City being the most impacted state by deadly floods. Due to flood risks, US weather authorities remind the public that almost half of all flash flood deaths are vehicle-related. With this, authorities warn motorists not to enter a flooded roadway and back away in cases of rapidly rising waters. Related Article: Unsettled Weather with a Barrage of Heavy Rain and Mountain Snow to Continue in the Western United States Next Week Tropical forests are home to some of the most diverse and unique mammal communities on Earth, but they are also under threat from deforestation, climate change, and human activities. To conserve these ecosystems and their wildlife, researchers need to understand how different habitats affect animal diversity and behavior. However, traditional methods of measuring habitat characteristics are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and often inaccurate. For example, researchers may use tape measures, rulers, or calipers to estimate the height, width, and depth of vegetation on the forest floor, which can vary greatly depending on the observer's perspective and skill. To overcome these challenges, a team of scientists from Rice University, the Udzungwa Ecological Monitoring Center, and the University of Florence have developed a novel approach that uses a commercially available mixed-reality headset with custom-designed software to measure and analyze forest floor vegetation. A new way to measure habitat diversity The device, called Microsoft HoloLens, projects a 3D mesh over the real-world environment, allowing the user to see both the virtual overlay and the surrounding scenery. The software, called VegSense, allows the user to record data about the vegetation they see as they walk through a field site and create downloadable files for later analysis. VegSense can measure the shape and configuration of the forest floor vegetation, such as its surface area, volume, complexity, and roughness. These metrics can then be used to quantify the habitat diversity and quality for different animal species. Also Read: World's Forest Are Getting 'Weaker' Due To Unstable Conditions Caused by Human Interactions A link between habitat structure and mammal diversity The researchers tested their method in Tanzania's Udzungwa Mountains National Park, a biodiversity hotspot that hosts more than 70 mammal species, including elephants, monkeys, antelopes, and carnivores. They collected paired data from 31 points within the protected forest using both VegSense and motion-activated trail cameras that capture images of passing animals. They then used a statistical model to assess the relationship between the habitat structure measured by VegSense and the mammal diversity recorded by the cameras. According to the study, mammal diversity increased with forest floor habitat surface area, meaning that locations with more complex and varied vegetation had more species and more ecological variety. Moreover, VegSense was faster, easier, and more accurate than traditional methods of measuring habitat structure. They estimated that using VegSense reduced the time required to collect data by 75% and increased the accuracy by 25%. Furthermore, VegSense was able to capture features that were not visible or measurable by human observers, such as small gaps or crevices in the vegetation. The researchers hoped that their method will help other scientists and conservationists to monitor and protect tropical forests and their wildlife. They also plan to improve VegSense by adding more features and functions, such as automatic identification of plant species and estimation of biomass. They believe that VegSense can be applied to other ecosystems and research questions as well. "VegSense is a powerful tool that can revolutionize how we study habitats and their effects on wildlife," said Daniel Gorczynski, a postdoctoral researcher at Rice University and the lead author of the study. "By using mixed-reality technology, we can measure habitats in ways that were not possible before and gain new insights into how animals interact with their environment," he added. Related article: Boreal Forests and Climate: 3 Trillion Trees in World A pod of orcas is claimed to have ripped to bits a great white shark that washed up dead on an Australian beach. A torn-up great white shark body washed up at Cape Bridgewater on Victoria's south coast, fueling conjecture that orcas attacked it to feed on its liver--a first in these waters. Attack Of Orcas Residents discovered the disemboweled 10-foot-long (3-meter) shark some 200 miles (320 kilometers) west of Melbourne in the state of Victoria. Witnesses and academics believe orcas pulled the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) apart because nothing but its head and tail remained. "I have never seen anything like that before," said Ben Johnstone, a local fisher and manager of the bait shop Portland Bait and Tackle who received a tip-off and went to inspect the carcass on Oct. 17. "The only other creature that could've caused it would be an even bigger white shark." Nature photographer Allen McCauley had also witnessed a pod of killer whales circling in the bay two days prior to the incident. Orcas (Orcinus orca), also known as killer whales but belonging to the dolphin family, have previously attacked great white sharks. However, most examples have been limited to the waters off the coast of South Africa, where two orcas known as Port and Starboard have been dining on shark livers for several years. Read Also: Great White Sharks With No Organs Found in South Africa, Two Orcas Possible Culprit Great White Shark's Liver Lauren Meyer, a trophic ecologist at Flinders University in Adelaide, believes the orcas attacked the shark to get at its liver, a behavior witnessed on rare occasions in other regions of the world. Orcas have attacked great white sharks nine times in South Africa and the United States. The orcas will pursue the sharks and carefully extract their livers, which are among the fattiest portions of the body, leaving the remainder of the carcass. Great white shark livers are also high in vitamins, making them a nutritious food for orcas. Meyer said that they certainly see that orcas prefer the liver of white sharks, mako sharks, bronze whalers and sevengills, and even tiger sharks. Meyer further noted that orcas also like to eat the intestines of sunfish, which is really strange, and dugong intestines. Dr. Meyer and the Flinders University research team were part of an international team that created a database on shark and killer whale interactions in order to "unpack" what was going on around the world. Experts will continue to investigate the incident, looking at the rake marks and leftover DNA, including saliva. Alison Towner, a shark researcher at Rhodes University in Makhanda, South Africa, clarified that not all killer whales had this behavior. Some only eat tuna, while others eat mammals, depending on the social teachings of the pod. This behavior has an effect on local ecosystems. Great white sharks and bronze whaler sharks have been recorded avoiding places where orcas congregate, leaving a gulf at the top of the food chain at several sites off the coast of South Africa. "In certain areas like South Africa, the absence of white sharks due to displacement by killer whales has increased competition among Cape fur seals and critically endangered African penguins for small pelagic fish," said Towner. Related Article: Orca Attack Results in Beached Great White Shark Carcass with Liver Ripped Out Related Video: A new study has solved a 390-million-year-old mystery of how a group of ancient marine animals near the South Pole went extinct. The study, led by Dr. Cameron Penn-Clarke from the University of the Witwatersrand, found that these animals, known as the Malvinoxhosan biota, were killed by a combination of climate change and sea-level rise. The study also revealed how these animals evolved and adapted to the polar environment, and how their extinction affected the biodiversity of the region. The study was published in Earth-Science Reviews. The mystery of the Malvinoxhosan biota The Malvinoxhosan biota were a group of marine animals that lived near the South Pole during the Early-Middle Devonian period, about 390 to 385 million years ago. They included various types of shellfish, such as brachiopods, trilobites, and ophiuroids, many of which are now extinct. These animals thrived in cooler waters and formed a unique bioregion that was isolated from the rest of the world by ocean currents. The origin and disappearance of these animals have remained an enigma for nearly two centuries until now. A new study by Dr. Cameron Penn-Clarke from the University of the Witwatersrand and his colleagues has shed light on how these animals evolved and went extinct in response to changes in sea-level and climate. Dr. Penn-Clarke said that this research was around 12-15 years in the making, and it was not an easy journey. He said that he was only able to overcome all the different challenges through dogged persistence and perseverance. Also Read: The South Pole Warming Very Quickly, and The Reason Why is Complicated The rise and fall of the polar marine ecosystems The researchers collected and analyzed a vast amount of fossil data from South Africa, which was part of a large landmass called Gondwana that included parts of today's Africa, South America, and Antarctica. Gondwana was located near the South Pole during the Early-Middle Devonian period, but unlike today's icy conditions, the climate was warmer, and the sea levels were higher, flooding most of the land. The researchers used advanced data analysis techniques to sort through layers of ancient rock based on the types of fossils found in them. They then identified at least 7 to 8 distinct layers, each showing fewer and fewer types of marine animals over time. These findings were then compared with how the environment and sea levels have changed, as well as with global temperature records from that ancient period. They found that these marine animals went through several phases of declining numbers of different species, which correlated with changes in sea levels and climate. Their research suggests that the Malvinoxhosan biota survived during a long period of global cooling. Dr. Penn-Clarke explained that cooler conditions allowed for the creation of circumpolar thermal barriers-essentially, ocean currents near the poles-that isolated these animals and led to their specialization. As the climate warmed up again, these animals disappeared. They were replaced by more generalist marine species that are well-adapted to warmer waters. Shifts in sea levels during the Early-Middle Devonian period probably disrupted natural ocean barriers that had kept waters cooler at the South Pole. This allowed warmer waters from regions closer to the equator to flow in, setting the stage for marine animals that thrive in warmer conditions to move into these areas. The extinction of the Malvinoxhosan biota led to a complete collapse in polar ecosystems, as biodiversity in these regions never recovered. Dr. Penn-Clarke likened this research to playing a game of Cluedo. He said that it was a 390-million-year-old murder mystery. He said that they now know that the combined effects of changes in sea level and temperature were the most likely 'smoking gun' behind this extinction event. Furthermore, he said that this research demonstrates the sensitivity of polar environments and ecosystems to changes in sea level and temperature. He concluded by saying that this research has important implications for understanding how modern polar ecosystems may respond to ongoing climate change and sea-level rise. This research shows that polar ecosystems are fragile and vulnerable to environmental perturbations and that once they are lost, they may never recover. Related article: Second Man on Moon Buzz Aldrin Medically Evacuated from South Pole Tourists gather in front of a giant eagle sculpture at Eagle Square on Langkawi Island, Malaysia, 2018. Photo by Reuters Experts have called on the Malaysian government to cut income conditions by half for foreigners applying for its 10-year visa program amid a drop in the number of applicants. Gideon Yap, managing director of a relocation agency, said foreign retirees would be unable to meet the current requirement of a RM40,000 (about $8,500) income to apply for the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) program. The government should reduce the monthly income threshold to RM20,000, he told Free Malaysia Today newspaper. The visa program, which was launched in 2002, allows foreigners to stay in Malaysia for up to 10 years. In August 2021, the government imposed stricter conditions, such as increasing the monthly income threshold from RM10,000 to RM40,000. Since the conditions were tightened, the program has seen a 90% drop in the number of applicants, according to the MM2H Consultant Association. A total of 1,905 of the 2,164, or 88% of applications for the visa program were approved between November 2021 and the end of September this year, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing told The Star. Donal Crotty, chairman of the Irish Chamber of Commerce Malaysia, said he hoped that the government would revert to the program's original conditions to make Malaysia an attractive destination again, Free Malaysia Today reported. Several Southeast Asian countries are racing to attract wealthy foreign retirees with "golden visa policies" that allow a maximum stay of 10-20 years. Indonesia launched its so-called "golden visa" program last month, allowing foreign investors to stay in the country between 5 and 10 years, depending on the value of their investment. How can I be excited for Womens Day when my wife, both directly and subtly, keeps suggesting I should buy things for her as gifts, said 36-year-old Hanoian Tuan Anh. "And she will openly show her disappointment if I get her something she does not like." Anhs wife started sending him photos of bags, apparel, and kitchenware she likes a week before Oct. 20, Vietnamese Womens Day. The closer the date approached, the more frequently she sent him the posts. She hoped to remind her husband to buy some gifts for the special occasion. Anh said his wife started treating gift-giving as a responsibility he has to fulfill ever since they got married. Such an attitude has made him weary every time National Womens Day rolls around. He has become even more annoyed with it this year as his income has dropped due to the countrys gloomy economy. A man in Ho Chi Minh City buys a bouquet made from sweet treats to give to his wife on Oct. 20, 2021. Photo by Van Dat For Quang Vinh, 40, from the northern city of Hai Phong, the occasion is not his favorite either. He said he believed there was no reason for him to buy his wife gifts on Womens Day, explaining that Oct. 20 has no other meaning than the date the Vietnam Womens Union was formed. He says women receiving gifts on this day is just a fabricated ritual made up by business owners and those who want to enhance their relationships with influential female figures in their own lives - whether they are their female supervisors, their childrens teachers, or their family doctors. "I will buy my wife flowers on any day if I want to express my love for her," he said. "Giving her gifts on specific days like this makes it seem ungenuine." Another thing that annoys Vinh is how his female friends brag about what they are given by their husbands on their social media accounts, turning a celebration into a rat race. The sentiments expressed by Anh and Vinh resonated with 74% of 500 participants that took part in a recent VnExpress survey who said they would not give their beloved women gifts on Oct. 20 because they believed that "love can be expressed every day." Psychologist Nguyen Thi Minh, professor at the National Academy of Public Administration, claims that this large proportion sends a message: a large part of Vietnamese men are against National Womens Day. There are several reasons, said Minh. First, many husbands bear pressure to impress their wives with what and how to give on this day. This is not a simple task, since many women do not tell their husbands what they want to be given most of the time because they do not want to appear needy. On the other hand, they show their disappointment if they do not receive the gifts they wanted. Second, buying gifts can be not only mentally but also financially challenging for many men. Most men have to buy presents for their mothers, sisters, and female coworkers, along with their wives. Spending a whopping amount of money on gifts for all of these women can pose a big obstacle for men. Third, wives reactions can leave husbands feeling disrespected at times. Many women like to show off what they receive these days on social media, making their husbands think the gifts are merely for the sake of bragging instead of being a representation of love. These reasons have prompted scores of Vietnamese men to dislike Womens Day, according to Minh. Psychologist Trinh Trung Hoa has suggested that both men and women should thus change their approach, in order to both value the other partner and stay stress-free during occasions like this. For men, buying their wives gifts is not the only way to express their affection. Returning home after office hours, sharing household chores, and taking their wives around the city are just a few good examples of showing their appreciation for their wives, aside from buying expensive gifts. Taking care of their wives every day of the year is another thing men should do, as no women want their husbands to show their love on only one or two specific days out of 365 in the year. "Things should be done voluntarily on Womens Day," Hoa said. "Only when men feel comfortable doing their deeds does the day have value." On the other hand, women should not impose particular expectations on their husbands behavior during this day. By doing so, women themselves can avoid ending up disappointed with their husbands, and men also have a comfortable environment to freely express their appreciation. "Remember that Womens Day is just a date which serves as a reminder that men should express their love out loud to their beloved women," Minh said. Sorry, something doesn't look right. Something seems unusual about your device or browser. Please contact support. President Joe Biden spoke to the American people on the evening of his return from Israel following the horrific attack by Hamas that slaughtered over 1,300 people and took scores hostage. The President noted that the pure unadulterated evil unleashed by Hamas echoes nearly 20 months of war, tragedy and brutality inflicted on the people of Ukraine people that were very badly hurt since Putin launched his all-out invasion: Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common: they both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy completely annihilate it, he said. Hamas its stated purpose for existing is the destruction of the State of Israel and the murder of Jewish people. Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people. Hamas uses Palestinian civilians as human shields, and innocent Palestinian families are suffering greatly because of them. Meanwhile Putin, said President Biden, is responsible for mass Ukrainian graves and the forcible separation of thousands of Ukrainian children from their families; Putin denies that Ukraine has or ever had real statehood. Making sure Israel and Ukraine succeed, the President said, is vital for Americas national security. History has taught us that when terrorists dont pay a price for their terror, when dictators dont pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction. They keep going, and the cost and the threats to America and to the world keep rising, he said. American leadership is what holds the world together, said President Biden. American alliances are what keep us, America, safe. American values are what make us a partner that other nations want to work with. To put all that at risk if we walk away from Ukraine, if we turn our backs on Israel, its just not worth it. To fund Americas national security needs and to support its critical partners, including Israel and Ukraine, the President is sending an urgent budget request to Congress. We cannot and will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win, said President Biden. I refuse to let that happen. By Express News Service CHENNAI: Selaiyur police on Thursday arrested two men in connection with the murder of a transperson on Saturday. Police said the body of Dayallammal (50) from Mappedu near Tambaram was recovered from a canal near Mambakkam. On Saturday, Sanjana (28), a relative of Dayallammal had asked her to come along for a temple visit, but Dayallammal had other plans and could not go. When repeated calls to Dayallammal went unanswered on Sunday, Sanjana informed the matter to Dayallammals brother, who complained to the police. On Monday, the police found Dayallammals body in the canal, but the mobile phones was missing. We traced it to a mobile shop in Burma Bazaar. The shop owner said two men had sold both phones for Rs 10,000. We identified the men after sifting through CCTV footage at the store, said the police. The accused were identified as Rajaji (30) and Chandran (28) from Sithalapakkam. Police said they killed Dayallammal over road rage. Rajaji and Chandran, who were under the influence of ganja, had hit Dayallammals scooter with their vehicle. Dayallammal, who suffered minor injuries, picked up an argument and refused to let them go, said the police quoting the accused. When Dayallammal threatened to lodge a police complaint, a scuffle broke out. The two men then hacked Dayallammal with knives, dumped the body into a canal near Selaiyur and escaped with her two mobile phones. The duo are habitual offenders, said the police. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp CHENNAI: Selaiyur police on Thursday arrested two men in connection with the murder of a transperson on Saturday. Police said the body of Dayallammal (50) from Mappedu near Tambaram was recovered from a canal near Mambakkam. On Saturday, Sanjana (28), a relative of Dayallammal had asked her to come along for a temple visit, but Dayallammal had other plans and could not go. When repeated calls to Dayallammal went unanswered on Sunday, Sanjana informed the matter to Dayallammals brother, who complained to the police. On Monday, the police found Dayallammals body in the canal, but the mobile phones was missing. We traced it to a mobile shop in Burma Bazaar. The shop owner said two men had sold both phones for Rs 10,000. We identified the men after sifting through CCTV footage at the store, said the police.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The accused were identified as Rajaji (30) and Chandran (28) from Sithalapakkam. Police said they killed Dayallammal over road rage. Rajaji and Chandran, who were under the influence of ganja, had hit Dayallammals scooter with their vehicle. Dayallammal, who suffered minor injuries, picked up an argument and refused to let them go, said the police quoting the accused. When Dayallammal threatened to lodge a police complaint, a scuffle broke out. The two men then hacked Dayallammal with knives, dumped the body into a canal near Selaiyur and escaped with her two mobile phones. The duo are habitual offenders, said the police. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By Express News Service KOLKATA: Be it Ma Durga or Allah, Renu Khatun is grateful to the Almighty for blessing her after her right hand was chopped off from the wrist by her husband as a punishment for pursuing her dream of becoming a nurse in a government-run healthcare unit. When people of West Bengal are worshipping Durga, a goddess with 10 arms symbolising that she protects her devotees from all corners, Renu, with her one hand, is training freshers in the government-run Burdwan nursing college about how to take care of needy patients. I wanted to serve patients in a government hospital and was heading towards my goal step by step. After taking training from a hospital in Kolkata, I qualified in the examination for nurses in a government hospital. My husband was against my dream. One night in June 2022, he and two of his friends pounced on me when I was sleeping and chopped off my right hand, recounted Renu. Renu got the job of a trainer after the incident shook Bengal and chief minister Mamata Banerjee intervened. She, with an artificial right palm, has planned to participate in Bengals biggest religious festival and visit Durga Puja pandals with her colleagues in Burdwan town. After completing nursing training course from RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, Renu worked as a nurse in a private healthcare unit in East Burdwan district. My husband Sheikh Sariful was against my dream of working in a government hospital. He had a wrong idea that I would leave him after getting a government job. After qualifying in the exam, I was determined to join the government service. Because of my determination, what he did to me was beyond my imagination, said the young woman. Sariful and two other suspects were arrested by police on the basis of a complaint lodged by Renus father Azizul Haque. Renus family stood by her. Fighting back in life has made it a second birth for Renu. Sometimes, I repent for not being able to work as others. My dream of serving needy patients has been left unachieved. I console myself saying that at least I am training others for the same job. For this, I am grateful to the Amighty, be it Ma Durga or Allah, she said. At my ancestral village, Durga Puja was not organised in my childhood as it required a big budget. Small religious festivals like Saraswati Puja used to be organised. I first saw big pandals on my way to the nursing institution in Kolkata. It was a mesmerizing feeling. I will go for pandal hopping with my friends in Burdwan district headquarters town this year, said Renu wishing the people of Bengal on the occasion of Durga Puja. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp KOLKATA: Be it Ma Durga or Allah, Renu Khatun is grateful to the Almighty for blessing her after her right hand was chopped off from the wrist by her husband as a punishment for pursuing her dream of becoming a nurse in a government-run healthcare unit. When people of West Bengal are worshipping Durga, a goddess with 10 arms symbolising that she protects her devotees from all corners, Renu, with her one hand, is training freshers in the government-run Burdwan nursing college about how to take care of needy patients. I wanted to serve patients in a government hospital and was heading towards my goal step by step. After taking training from a hospital in Kolkata, I qualified in the examination for nurses in a government hospital. My husband was against my dream. One night in June 2022, he and two of his friends pounced on me when I was sleeping and chopped off my right hand, recounted Renu.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Renu got the job of a trainer after the incident shook Bengal and chief minister Mamata Banerjee intervened. She, with an artificial right palm, has planned to participate in Bengals biggest religious festival and visit Durga Puja pandals with her colleagues in Burdwan town. After completing nursing training course from RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, Renu worked as a nurse in a private healthcare unit in East Burdwan district. My husband Sheikh Sariful was against my dream of working in a government hospital. He had a wrong idea that I would leave him after getting a government job. After qualifying in the exam, I was determined to join the government service. Because of my determination, what he did to me was beyond my imagination, said the young woman. Sariful and two other suspects were arrested by police on the basis of a complaint lodged by Renus father Azizul Haque. Renus family stood by her. Fighting back in life has made it a second birth for Renu. Sometimes, I repent for not being able to work as others. My dream of serving needy patients has been left unachieved. I console myself saying that at least I am training others for the same job. For this, I am grateful to the Amighty, be it Ma Durga or Allah, she said. At my ancestral village, Durga Puja was not organised in my childhood as it required a big budget. Small religious festivals like Saraswati Puja used to be organised. I first saw big pandals on my way to the nursing institution in Kolkata. It was a mesmerizing feeling. I will go for pandal hopping with my friends in Burdwan district headquarters town this year, said Renu wishing the people of Bengal on the occasion of Durga Puja. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By AFP MONTREAL: Canada said Thursday it had withdrawn 41 diplomats from India -- fallout from a bitter row over the killing of a Sikh separatist on Canadian soil. New Delhi planned to revoke diplomatic immunity for all but 21 of Canada's diplomats and their families by Friday, forcing Ottawa to pull out the others, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said. "We have facilitated their safe departure from India," Joly added. "This means that our diplomats and their families have now left." Relations between India and Canada have plunged since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last month publicly linked Indian intelligence to the killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, which New Delhi has denied. Nijjar, who advocated for a separate Sikh state carved out of India, was wanted by Indian authorities for alleged terrorism and conspiracy to commit murder. "Revoking the diplomatic immunity of 41 diplomats is not only unprecedented, but also contrary to international law," Joly said Wednesday, but said Canada did not plan to retaliate in kind, so as to not "aggravate the situation." "Canada will continue to defend international law, which applies to all nations and will continue to engage with India," she said. "Now more than ever we need diplomats on the ground and we need to talk to one another," Joly added. Countermeasures Canada has called for India to cooperate in the investigation but New Delhi has rejected the allegations and taken countermeasures, such as shutting down visa services for Canadians. Ottawa also expelled an Indian diplomat over the affair. Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said last month in New York that his country would be willing to examine any evidence presented by Canada. "We have actually been badgering the Canadians. We've given them loads of information about organized crime leadership which operates out of Canada," Jaishankar said, referring to Sikh separatists. "We have a situation where actually our diplomats are threatened, our consulates have been attacked and often comments are made (that are) interference in our politics," he said. ALSO READ: India says no evidence shared by Canada on Nijjar killing, asks it to reduce number of diplomats The Indian government has called the Canadian accusations over the killing "absurd" and advised its nationals not to travel to certain Canadian regions "given the increase in anti-Indian activities." New Delhi also temporarily stopped processing visa applications in Canada. Nijjar, who immigrated to Canada in 1997 and became a Canadian citizen in 2015, was shot dead by two masked assailants in the parking lot of a Sikh temple near Vancouver in June. Canada is home to some 770,000 Sikhs, who make up about two per cent of the country's population, with a vocal group calling for creating a separate state of Khalistan. The Sikh separatist movement is largely finished within India, where security forces used deadly force to put down an insurgency in the state of Punjab in the 1980s. ALSO READ: India ready to look into information related to Canada's allegations on Nijjar's killing: Jaishankar Hundreds of Sikh protesters rallied outside Indian diplomatic missions in Canada last month, burning flags and trampling on pictures of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The tensions between Ottawa and New Delhi have created a delicate situation for close Canadian ally Washington, which has in recent months taken steps to move closer to India as the United States seeks to limit Chinese influence in the region. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp MONTREAL: Canada said Thursday it had withdrawn 41 diplomats from India -- fallout from a bitter row over the killing of a Sikh separatist on Canadian soil. New Delhi planned to revoke diplomatic immunity for all but 21 of Canada's diplomats and their families by Friday, forcing Ottawa to pull out the others, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said. "We have facilitated their safe departure from India," Joly added. "This means that our diplomats and their families have now left."googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Relations between India and Canada have plunged since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last month publicly linked Indian intelligence to the killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, which New Delhi has denied. Nijjar, who advocated for a separate Sikh state carved out of India, was wanted by Indian authorities for alleged terrorism and conspiracy to commit murder. "Revoking the diplomatic immunity of 41 diplomats is not only unprecedented, but also contrary to international law," Joly said Wednesday, but said Canada did not plan to retaliate in kind, so as to not "aggravate the situation." "Canada will continue to defend international law, which applies to all nations and will continue to engage with India," she said. "Now more than ever we need diplomats on the ground and we need to talk to one another," Joly added. Countermeasures Canada has called for India to cooperate in the investigation but New Delhi has rejected the allegations and taken countermeasures, such as shutting down visa services for Canadians. Ottawa also expelled an Indian diplomat over the affair. Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said last month in New York that his country would be willing to examine any evidence presented by Canada. "We have actually been badgering the Canadians. We've given them loads of information about organized crime leadership which operates out of Canada," Jaishankar said, referring to Sikh separatists. "We have a situation where actually our diplomats are threatened, our consulates have been attacked and often comments are made (that are) interference in our politics," he said. ALSO READ: India says no evidence shared by Canada on Nijjar killing, asks it to reduce number of diplomats The Indian government has called the Canadian accusations over the killing "absurd" and advised its nationals not to travel to certain Canadian regions "given the increase in anti-Indian activities." New Delhi also temporarily stopped processing visa applications in Canada. Nijjar, who immigrated to Canada in 1997 and became a Canadian citizen in 2015, was shot dead by two masked assailants in the parking lot of a Sikh temple near Vancouver in June. Canada is home to some 770,000 Sikhs, who make up about two per cent of the country's population, with a vocal group calling for creating a separate state of Khalistan. The Sikh separatist movement is largely finished within India, where security forces used deadly force to put down an insurgency in the state of Punjab in the 1980s. ALSO READ: India ready to look into information related to Canada's allegations on Nijjar's killing: Jaishankar Hundreds of Sikh protesters rallied outside Indian diplomatic missions in Canada last month, burning flags and trampling on pictures of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The tensions between Ottawa and New Delhi have created a delicate situation for close Canadian ally Washington, which has in recent months taken steps to move closer to India as the United States seeks to limit Chinese influence in the region. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Rakesh Kumar By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Centre on Thursday eased the curbs on import of laptops as it announced a simpler, online authorisation system for the purchase of seven electronic items including laptops, tablets, and all-in-all personal computers from overseas markets. Commerce ministry officials said the end-to-end online import management system, which will kick in on November 1, 2023, is aimed at monitoring shipments of laptops, tablets and PCs without hurting market supply or creating a cumbersome licensing regime. Importers will be able to bring in these electronic products after specifying the quantity and value, and obtaining the authorisation online. The authorisation will be valid till September 30, 2024. Importers can change the quantity of goods purchased even after the issuance of an import authorisation. The government had announced a ban on import of laptops, tablets and personal computers in August 2023. Later, it clarified that there was no ban but electronic manufacturing firms would need to apply for licence to import these items from November 1, 2023. However, after protests from the industry and some trading partners including the US, the government has now watered down the restrictions. According to the commerce ministry, 59% (in value terms) of the seven restricted items are imported from China, 16% from Singapore, and 9% from Hong Kong. S Krishnan, secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, said the purpose of the new import management system is to establish a reliable supply chain for these electronic devices and promote domestic manufacturing. He added that no WTO norms would be violated by the restrictions. After September 2024, Krishnan said the government will study the data, interact with the industry, and then decide on ways to move forward. Online clearance The new system allows importers of IT hardware to bring in shipments from overseas on a mere authorisation upon detailing quantity and value The new regime will be a big relief to tech giants as they wont require a licence to import While seeking authorisation, an importer will have to provide an import item summary and details of past import, export & turnover Govt wont reject any import requests and will use the data to monitor the inbound shipments Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: The Centre on Thursday eased the curbs on import of laptops as it announced a simpler, online authorisation system for the purchase of seven electronic items including laptops, tablets, and all-in-all personal computers from overseas markets. Commerce ministry officials said the end-to-end online import management system, which will kick in on November 1, 2023, is aimed at monitoring shipments of laptops, tablets and PCs without hurting market supply or creating a cumbersome licensing regime. Importers will be able to bring in these electronic products after specifying the quantity and value, and obtaining the authorisation online. The authorisation will be valid till September 30, 2024. Importers can change the quantity of goods purchased even after the issuance of an import authorisation. The government had announced a ban on import of laptops, tablets and personal computers in August 2023. Later, it clarified that there was no ban but electronic manufacturing firms would need to apply for licence to import these items from November 1, 2023.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); However, after protests from the industry and some trading partners including the US, the government has now watered down the restrictions. According to the commerce ministry, 59% (in value terms) of the seven restricted items are imported from China, 16% from Singapore, and 9% from Hong Kong. S Krishnan, secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, said the purpose of the new import management system is to establish a reliable supply chain for these electronic devices and promote domestic manufacturing. He added that no WTO norms would be violated by the restrictions. After September 2024, Krishnan said the government will study the data, interact with the industry, and then decide on ways to move forward. Online clearance The new system allows importers of IT hardware to bring in shipments from overseas on a mere authorisation upon detailing quantity and value The new regime will be a big relief to tech giants as they wont require a licence to import While seeking authorisation, an importer will have to provide an import item summary and details of past import, export & turnover Govt wont reject any import requests and will use the data to monitor the inbound shipments Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Nitin Gadkari, inspected the ongoing work on the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra (DAK) Greenfield Expressway and the Amritsar Bypass projects in Punjab on Thursday. Once the expressway is completed, the travel time between the national capital and Amritsar will be reduced to just four hours, and one could reach Katra from Delhi in six hours. A major feature of this corridor is the cable-hung bridge over the Beas River, which will be Asias longest, at 1,300 metres. Interestingly, the National Highways Authority of India had recently moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court as it faced difficulties in acquiring possession of the land for this prestigious project. The 669-kilometre long greenfield expressway is being built at a cost of Rs 40,000 crore. Currently, the distance from Delhi to Katra is 727 kilometres, and with the construction of this route, the distance will be reduced by 58 kilometres, Gadkari posted on X. Punjab Public Works Department Minister Harbhajan Singh and Amritsar MP Gurjit Singh Aujla were also present during the inspection. The corridor, which starts from Kundli-Manesar-Palwal in Delhi, has a 137-kilometre portion under the jurisdiction of Haryana. In Punjab, is is 399 kilometres long. Work on the 296-kilometre stretch has begun in Punjab. This expressway will pass through industrial areas like Patiala, Sangrur, Malerkotla, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Kapurthala and Gurudaspur. One of the standout features of this corridor is Asias longest cable bridge, stretching an impressive 1,300 metres over the Beas River. Furthermore, this expressway will establish connections to the significant religious sites cherished by the Sikh community, encompassing the revered Golden Temple, the Sultanpur Lodhi Gurdwara situated in Kapurthala district, the Goindwal Sahib Gurdwara, the Khandur Sahib Gurdwara, the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Taran Taran, and extending all the way to Mata Darbar Vaishno Devi in Katra. Meanwhile, construction on the 50-kilometre, four-lane Amritsar bypass is currently underway, with an estimated cost of Rs 1,475 crore. This development will significantly enhance connectivity between Taran Taran and Amritsar Airport. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Nitin Gadkari, inspected the ongoing work on the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra (DAK) Greenfield Expressway and the Amritsar Bypass projects in Punjab on Thursday. Once the expressway is completed, the travel time between the national capital and Amritsar will be reduced to just four hours, and one could reach Katra from Delhi in six hours. A major feature of this corridor is the cable-hung bridge over the Beas River, which will be Asias longest, at 1,300 metres. Interestingly, the National Highways Authority of India had recently moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court as it faced difficulties in acquiring possession of the land for this prestigious project. The 669-kilometre long greenfield expressway is being built at a cost of Rs 40,000 crore. Currently, the distance from Delhi to Katra is 727 kilometres, and with the construction of this route, the distance will be reduced by 58 kilometres, Gadkari posted on X.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Punjab Public Works Department Minister Harbhajan Singh and Amritsar MP Gurjit Singh Aujla were also present during the inspection. The corridor, which starts from Kundli-Manesar-Palwal in Delhi, has a 137-kilometre portion under the jurisdiction of Haryana. In Punjab, is is 399 kilometres long. Work on the 296-kilometre stretch has begun in Punjab. This expressway will pass through industrial areas like Patiala, Sangrur, Malerkotla, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Kapurthala and Gurudaspur. One of the standout features of this corridor is Asias longest cable bridge, stretching an impressive 1,300 metres over the Beas River. Furthermore, this expressway will establish connections to the significant religious sites cherished by the Sikh community, encompassing the revered Golden Temple, the Sultanpur Lodhi Gurdwara situated in Kapurthala district, the Goindwal Sahib Gurdwara, the Khandur Sahib Gurdwara, the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Taran Taran, and extending all the way to Mata Darbar Vaishno Devi in Katra. Meanwhile, construction on the 50-kilometre, four-lane Amritsar bypass is currently underway, with an estimated cost of Rs 1,475 crore. This development will significantly enhance connectivity between Taran Taran and Amritsar Airport. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By PTI NEW DELHI: India on Friday rejected Canada's attempt to "portray" the withdrawal of 41 of Canadian diplomats from the country as a violation of international norms, and asserted that ensuring two-way diplomatic parity is fully consistent with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations. India's comments came after Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, announcing the return of the diplomats from India, described New Delhi's action "contrary to international law" and in violation of the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations. "We reject any attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. Parity in Canadian diplomatic presence in India:https://t.co/O1fqsrOx8n pic.twitter.com/WxJojOrr5D Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) October 20, 2023 Last month, India asked Canada to withdraw 41 of its diplomats from the country after a diplomatic row erupted between the two sides following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegation linking Indian agents to the killing of Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. India strongly rejected the charges. "We have seen the statement by the Government of Canada on October 19 regarding Canadian diplomatic presence in India," the MEA said in a statement. "The state of our bilateral relations, the much higher number of Canadian diplomats in India, and their continued interference in our internal affairs warrant a parity in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa," it said. The MEA said it has been engaged with the Canadian side on the issue over the last month in order to work out the details and modalities to ensure implementation of parity in diplomatic presence. "Our actions in implementing this parity are fully consistent with Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations," the MEA said. It also put out the provisions of Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention in the statement. The provision says: "In the absence of specific agreement as to the size of the mission, the receiving State may require that the size of a mission be kept within limits considered by it to be reasonable and normal, having regard to circumstances and conditions in the receiving State and to the needs of the particular mission." In her comments on Thursday, Joly said in its "unreasonable" request for diplomatic parity, India would only allow 21 diplomats and their families to maintain their diplomatic status. "This means 41 Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents were in danger of having immunity stripped on an arbitrary date, and this would put their personal safety at risk," she said at a news conference in Ottawa. "The safety of Canadians and of our diplomats is always my top concern. Given the implications of India's actions on the safety of our diplomats, we have facilitated their safe departure from India," Joly said. "This means that our diplomats and their families have now left." Joly also described India's action as "contrary to international law," and in violation of the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations. "There is a fundamental principle of diplomacy, and this is a two-way street. It only works if every country abides by the rules," she said. "A unilateral revocation of diplomatic privileges and immunities is contrary to international law," Joly said. "Threatening to do so is unreasonable and escalatory. If we allow the norm of diplomatic immunity to be broken, no diplomats anywhere would be safe." "So for this reason, we will not reciprocate," she added. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: India on Friday rejected Canada's attempt to "portray" the withdrawal of 41 of Canadian diplomats from the country as a violation of international norms, and asserted that ensuring two-way diplomatic parity is fully consistent with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations. India's comments came after Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, announcing the return of the diplomats from India, described New Delhi's action "contrary to international law" and in violation of the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations. "We reject any attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Parity in Canadian diplomatic presence in India:https://t.co/O1fqsrOx8n pic.twitter.com/WxJojOrr5D Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) October 20, 2023 Last month, India asked Canada to withdraw 41 of its diplomats from the country after a diplomatic row erupted between the two sides following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegation linking Indian agents to the killing of Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. India strongly rejected the charges. "We have seen the statement by the Government of Canada on October 19 regarding Canadian diplomatic presence in India," the MEA said in a statement. "The state of our bilateral relations, the much higher number of Canadian diplomats in India, and their continued interference in our internal affairs warrant a parity in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa," it said. The MEA said it has been engaged with the Canadian side on the issue over the last month in order to work out the details and modalities to ensure implementation of parity in diplomatic presence. "Our actions in implementing this parity are fully consistent with Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations," the MEA said. It also put out the provisions of Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention in the statement. The provision says: "In the absence of specific agreement as to the size of the mission, the receiving State may require that the size of a mission be kept within limits considered by it to be reasonable and normal, having regard to circumstances and conditions in the receiving State and to the needs of the particular mission." In her comments on Thursday, Joly said in its "unreasonable" request for diplomatic parity, India would only allow 21 diplomats and their families to maintain their diplomatic status. "This means 41 Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents were in danger of having immunity stripped on an arbitrary date, and this would put their personal safety at risk," she said at a news conference in Ottawa. "The safety of Canadians and of our diplomats is always my top concern. Given the implications of India's actions on the safety of our diplomats, we have facilitated their safe departure from India," Joly said. "This means that our diplomats and their families have now left." Joly also described India's action as "contrary to international law," and in violation of the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations. "There is a fundamental principle of diplomacy, and this is a two-way street. It only works if every country abides by the rules," she said. "A unilateral revocation of diplomatic privileges and immunities is contrary to international law," Joly said. "Threatening to do so is unreasonable and escalatory. If we allow the norm of diplomatic immunity to be broken, no diplomats anywhere would be safe." "So for this reason, we will not reciprocate," she added. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Yeshi Seli By Express News Service NEW DELHI: An Indian journalist working in Doha had to flee and return home due to an imminent threat of arrest over a story published on the eight Indian naval officers who were arrested by Qatars Interior Ministry in August 2022. The journalist was working for the Doha edition of a leading South India-based publication. The reporter learned that Qatars Ministry of Interior was monitoring her, and she would have been picked up for questioning. Based on this information, the reporter and her spouse (who was working in Doha) packed their bags and left the country. Qatars Interior Ministry was upset about a story that had been written on the eight naval officers and their upcoming hearing. It viewed this coverage as against their national interests, said a source. The couple is now back on home turf. They are back home in India but are too shaken to speak. The laws in Qatar can lead to arrests if the ministry finds any act contrary to what they feel is against their national interest. Questioning often leads to arrests, and then it becomes difficult to get out, the source added. The authorities in Qatar, it is learned, get offended by whatever they deem contrary to their national interest. This is the first incident of a journalist returning to India out of fear of facing a trial. It may be recalled that eight Indian naval veterans were picked up from their houses on August 30, 2022, by Qatars interior ministry. The eight officials are being tried under Qatari law, and the seventh hearing of their case was held on October 3 in Doha. A judgment is expected soon. The Indian government has provided judicial assistance to the Indian veterans, and consular access was granted on October 1. The detained individuals include Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Captain Saurabh Vasisht, Commander Amit Nagpal, Commander Purnendu Tiwari, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Sanjeev Gupta, and sailor Ragesh. They were employed by the Omani company Dhara in Doha, when they were picked up from their residences in Doha for questioning. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: An Indian journalist working in Doha had to flee and return home due to an imminent threat of arrest over a story published on the eight Indian naval officers who were arrested by Qatars Interior Ministry in August 2022. The journalist was working for the Doha edition of a leading South India-based publication. The reporter learned that Qatars Ministry of Interior was monitoring her, and she would have been picked up for questioning. Based on this information, the reporter and her spouse (who was working in Doha) packed their bags and left the country. Qatars Interior Ministry was upset about a story that had been written on the eight naval officers and their upcoming hearing. It viewed this coverage as against their national interests, said a source. The couple is now back on home turf. They are back home in India but are too shaken to speak. The laws in Qatar can lead to arrests if the ministry finds any act contrary to what they feel is against their national interest. Questioning often leads to arrests, and then it becomes difficult to get out, the source added. The authorities in Qatar, it is learned, get offended by whatever they deem contrary to their national interest.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); This is the first incident of a journalist returning to India out of fear of facing a trial. It may be recalled that eight Indian naval veterans were picked up from their houses on August 30, 2022, by Qatars interior ministry. The eight officials are being tried under Qatari law, and the seventh hearing of their case was held on October 3 in Doha. A judgment is expected soon. The Indian government has provided judicial assistance to the Indian veterans, and consular access was granted on October 1. The detained individuals include Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Captain Saurabh Vasisht, Commander Amit Nagpal, Commander Purnendu Tiwari, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Sanjeev Gupta, and sailor Ragesh. They were employed by the Omani company Dhara in Doha, when they were picked up from their residences in Doha for questioning. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By PTI NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Andhra Pradesh Police not to arrest TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu in the FibreNet case till it delivers a verdict on the plea in the Skill Development scam case. A bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi listed the anticipatory bail of Naidu in the FibreNet Case for hearing on November 9 and told the Andhra Pradesh Police, "Let the earlier understanding continue." The bench was referring to the statement of the Andhra Pradesh Police on October 13, when it had said that police would not take Naidu into custody. Justice Bose said since the order is reserved for another plea, it would be appropriate if the court took up the instant plea of Naidu after the verdict was delivered. Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for Naidu, said police are looking to take him into custody in the FibreNet case despite the fact that he is already in custody in the Skill Development scam case. Senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, appearing for the Andhra Pradesh government said for custodial interrogation of Naidu in the FibreNet case, it will seek permission of the court as he is already in judicial custody in another case. He said that the state has no problem in awaiting the judgement of the court. The bench said, "Let the earlier understanding continue" and adjourned the matter. ALSO READ | Naidus plea for call data records posted to Oct 20 On October 13, the Andhra Pradesh Police told the top court they would not arrest Naidu in the FiberNet case till October 18 due to the pendency of his petition relating to the Skill Development Corporation scam in the apex court. The FiberNet case relates to alleged tender manipulation in allotting a work order under Phase-1 of the AP FiberNet Project involving Rs 330 crore to a favoured company. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Andhra Pradesh Police has alleged irregularities in the project right from awarding the tender to completion of the work, causing a huge loss to the state exchequer. Naidu, 73, was arrested on September 9 for allegedly misappropriating funds from the Skill Development Corporation when he was the chief minister in 2015, causing a purported loss of Rs 371 crore to the state exchequer. He is under judicial remand in the Rajamahendravaram Central Prison. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Andhra Pradesh Police not to arrest TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu in the FibreNet case till it delivers a verdict on the plea in the Skill Development scam case. A bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi listed the anticipatory bail of Naidu in the FibreNet Case for hearing on November 9 and told the Andhra Pradesh Police, "Let the earlier understanding continue." The bench was referring to the statement of the Andhra Pradesh Police on October 13, when it had said that police would not take Naidu into custody. Justice Bose said since the order is reserved for another plea, it would be appropriate if the court took up the instant plea of Naidu after the verdict was delivered.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for Naidu, said police are looking to take him into custody in the FibreNet case despite the fact that he is already in custody in the Skill Development scam case. Senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, appearing for the Andhra Pradesh government said for custodial interrogation of Naidu in the FibreNet case, it will seek permission of the court as he is already in judicial custody in another case. He said that the state has no problem in awaiting the judgement of the court. The bench said, "Let the earlier understanding continue" and adjourned the matter. ALSO READ | Naidus plea for call data records posted to Oct 20 On October 13, the Andhra Pradesh Police told the top court they would not arrest Naidu in the FiberNet case till October 18 due to the pendency of his petition relating to the Skill Development Corporation scam in the apex court. The FiberNet case relates to alleged tender manipulation in allotting a work order under Phase-1 of the AP FiberNet Project involving Rs 330 crore to a favoured company. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Andhra Pradesh Police has alleged irregularities in the project right from awarding the tender to completion of the work, causing a huge loss to the state exchequer. Naidu, 73, was arrested on September 9 for allegedly misappropriating funds from the Skill Development Corporation when he was the chief minister in 2015, causing a purported loss of Rs 371 crore to the state exchequer. He is under judicial remand in the Rajamahendravaram Central Prison. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Prasanta Mazumdar By Express News Service GUWAHATI: Ethnic Kuki and Mizo tribals belonging to the 'Bnei Menashe' community are feeling proud fighting a war far away in their new-found homeland Israel. Wishes poured in last week for 206 Israelis, belonging to the community, when news broke that they had been called for "reserve duty" in Israels war against Hamas. It was a WhatsApp message that was shared within the community as the war was raging. All Israeli citizens are required to serve in the military mandatorily (three years for males, two years for females) once they attain the age of 18 years. These 206 people, who have already served, were called from the reserve. 'Bnei Menashe' is a community of Indian Jews Kukis and Mizos from Manipur and Mizoram. People from the community claim that they belong to one of the 12 'Lost Tribes' of Israel. Nearly half of the 'Bnei Menashe' population migrated to Israel over a period of time and became its citizens. "There was a social media announcement that 206 Bnei Menashe had been called up for reserve duty. It was followed by an outpouring of blessings," Isaac Thangjom, who is the executive director of Degel Menashe, told this newspaper from Tel Aviv. Established in 2019, Degel Menashe is a non-profit organisation that works for the welfare of 'Bnei Menashe' in Israel as well as India. Official figures are not available but it is estimated that a few hundred 'Bnei Menashe' regular Army personnel are already fighting the war in Israel. Natanel Touthang, a Kuki soldier, was injured in an attack on the Lebanon border on Wednesday evening. This is the first such case in the ongoing war recorded by Degel Menashe. Thangjom said the 'Bnei Menashe' population is about 10,000, almost equally divided between Israel and India. "Our immigration was initiated by a Jerusalem Rabbi Avichayil Eliyahu since the early 1990s. People from our community live in 14 towns and villages from the rocket-battered Sderot in the south to Kiryat Shmona in the north. Several others are living in the Galil and Jezreel Valley region in towns like Afula, Migdal HaEmek, Tiberias and others," he said. The residents of the south on the Gaza periphery, including Sderot where 120 'Bnei Menashe' families live, have been evacuated to hotels in Jerusalem and resorts on the Dead Sea shores. Talking about the ongoing war, Thangjom said while no 'Bnei Menashe' lost his or her life so far, the empty house of a couple was hit by a rocket in Sderot. The family was away, visiting a relative at the time of the attack. "It (attack by Hamas) is quite reminiscent of what happened 50 years ago during the Yom Kippur War. It is a surprise attack as it was then. The casualties from both (sides) speak for themselves. The sheer treachery and the magnitude of the attack have made all of us resolute and stand up against such acts of terror. This has come at a time when our own community is facing existential threats in Manipur," Thangjom said. Lalam Hangshing, who is the chairman of 'Bnei Menashe' Council India, said the community in India was worried about the war in Israel. "We have been in constant touch with them. Sderot was hit hard. A lot of Kuki 'Bnei Menashe' are settled there. Fortunately, there were no casualties," he said, adding that 'Bnei Menashe' means the "Sons of Menashe." Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp GUWAHATI: Ethnic Kuki and Mizo tribals belonging to the 'Bnei Menashe' community are feeling proud fighting a war far away in their new-found homeland Israel. Wishes poured in last week for 206 Israelis, belonging to the community, when news broke that they had been called for "reserve duty" in Israels war against Hamas. It was a WhatsApp message that was shared within the community as the war was raging. All Israeli citizens are required to serve in the military mandatorily (three years for males, two years for females) once they attain the age of 18 years. These 206 people, who have already served, were called from the reserve.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); 'Bnei Menashe' is a community of Indian Jews Kukis and Mizos from Manipur and Mizoram. People from the community claim that they belong to one of the 12 'Lost Tribes' of Israel. Nearly half of the 'Bnei Menashe' population migrated to Israel over a period of time and became its citizens. "There was a social media announcement that 206 Bnei Menashe had been called up for reserve duty. It was followed by an outpouring of blessings," Isaac Thangjom, who is the executive director of Degel Menashe, told this newspaper from Tel Aviv. Established in 2019, Degel Menashe is a non-profit organisation that works for the welfare of 'Bnei Menashe' in Israel as well as India. Official figures are not available but it is estimated that a few hundred 'Bnei Menashe' regular Army personnel are already fighting the war in Israel. Natanel Touthang, a Kuki soldier, was injured in an attack on the Lebanon border on Wednesday evening. This is the first such case in the ongoing war recorded by Degel Menashe. Thangjom said the 'Bnei Menashe' population is about 10,000, almost equally divided between Israel and India. "Our immigration was initiated by a Jerusalem Rabbi Avichayil Eliyahu since the early 1990s. People from our community live in 14 towns and villages from the rocket-battered Sderot in the south to Kiryat Shmona in the north. Several others are living in the Galil and Jezreel Valley region in towns like Afula, Migdal HaEmek, Tiberias and others," he said. The residents of the south on the Gaza periphery, including Sderot where 120 'Bnei Menashe' families live, have been evacuated to hotels in Jerusalem and resorts on the Dead Sea shores. Talking about the ongoing war, Thangjom said while no 'Bnei Menashe' lost his or her life so far, the empty house of a couple was hit by a rocket in Sderot. The family was away, visiting a relative at the time of the attack. "It (attack by Hamas) is quite reminiscent of what happened 50 years ago during the Yom Kippur War. It is a surprise attack as it was then. The casualties from both (sides) speak for themselves. The sheer treachery and the magnitude of the attack have made all of us resolute and stand up against such acts of terror. This has come at a time when our own community is facing existential threats in Manipur," Thangjom said. Lalam Hangshing, who is the chairman of 'Bnei Menashe' Council India, said the community in India was worried about the war in Israel. "We have been in constant touch with them. Sderot was hit hard. A lot of Kuki 'Bnei Menashe' are settled there. Fortunately, there were no casualties," he said, adding that 'Bnei Menashe' means the "Sons of Menashe." Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp The October resumption of fighting in the Eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo shattered a fragile, six-month long calm: six months of relative tranquility that, according to the United Nations, has not improved at all, on the contrary on the security or humanitarian levels. Indeed, the risk of a direct confrontation between the DRC and Rwanda, who continue to accuse each other of supporting armed groups is very real. The resumption of fighting is a continuation of last Octobers second uprising of the M23 group, consisting mostly of Tutsis from neighboring Rwanda, and other armed groups. They are mostly interested in illegally extracting Congos mineral resources, although M23 also claims to be defending Tutsis living in the DRC. The security situation in the Great Lakes region remains dire and continues to deteriorate as tensions between the DRC and Rwanda grow, said US Representative to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield. Once again, I repeat our call for Rwanda to immediately end its support for the UN-sanctioned M23 and withdraw from DRC territory. We also call for the FARDC to cut ties with the UN-sanctioned FDLR. As well, We call on regional troops deployed to eastern DRC, whether bilaterally or through the East African Community, to coordinate with each other and [United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo], said Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield. And they must avoid human rights violations and abuses and illicit activities, including illicit mineral extraction. Because of the regions instability, the humanitarian situation has deteriorated to alarming levels. Conflict has displaced more than half a million people in 2023 alone, many of whom are being forced to live without access to adequate food, water, or medical care in camps filled far beyond capacity, she said. Ongoing political instability has devastated food production and distribution, resulting in widespread food shortages, said Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield. 1.5 million people are facing emergency levels of food insecurity, and this is simply unacceptable in the twenty-first century. A man-made political crisis has become a man-made humanitarian crisis, and it must end. I call on regional leaders to maintain an open dialogue, especially as the DRCs national elections approach, said Ambassador Thomas- Greenfield. These elections must be free and fair for everyone, including women and minority communities. All Congolese civilians deserve the right to live in peace, and to have their voice heard at the polls. Preetha Nair By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Amid ambiguity over candidate selection and reports of a rift ahead of the assembly polls, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said on Thursday that he wanted to leave the states top post but the post is not leaving me and probably may not leave me in future. In a presser, Gehlot said there was something in him that the party leadership had chosen him to lead the state thrice. However, any decision taken by the leadership will be acceptable to all, he added. A party source said the party has decided to drop at least 25 sitting MLAs, based on their performance. While Congress is yet to announce the first list of candidates for the November 25 assembly polls, Gehlot dismissed reports of differences of opinion between him and his former deputy Sachin Pilot over candidates. He said he was not opposed to a party ticket to Pilots supporters. There are no differences whatsoever. All decisions are taken with unanimity. The BJP is jittery as to why there are no fights happening in our ranks. You must be pointing towards Sachin Pilot. All decisions are being made after taking into account everyones opinion. I am a participant in the decisions taken in favour of Sachin Pilots supporters, said the CM. On his uneasy relationship with Pilot after he led a revolt three years back, Gehlot said he has adopted the policy of forgive and forget. Though the CM did not specify when the first list of candidates will be out, it is learnt that the top leadership may drop more sitting MLAs belonging to the Gehlot camp. There was no consensus over the probable candidates during the CEC meeting held on Wednesday. Gehlot insists on giving tickets to his loyalists. The leadership is not on the same page with Gehlot over his demand for the ticket to 3 of his ministers Shanti Dhariwal, Mahesh Joshi and Dharmendra Rathore. They were issued show cause notices for their rebellion during the partys presidential elections last October. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: Amid ambiguity over candidate selection and reports of a rift ahead of the assembly polls, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said on Thursday that he wanted to leave the states top post but the post is not leaving me and probably may not leave me in future. In a presser, Gehlot said there was something in him that the party leadership had chosen him to lead the state thrice. However, any decision taken by the leadership will be acceptable to all, he added. A party source said the party has decided to drop at least 25 sitting MLAs, based on their performance. While Congress is yet to announce the first list of candidates for the November 25 assembly polls, Gehlot dismissed reports of differences of opinion between him and his former deputy Sachin Pilot over candidates. He said he was not opposed to a party ticket to Pilots supporters. There are no differences whatsoever. All decisions are taken with unanimity. The BJP is jittery as to why there are no fights happening in our ranks. You must be pointing towards Sachin Pilot. All decisions are being made after taking into account everyones opinion. I am a participant in the decisions taken in favour of Sachin Pilots supporters, said the CM.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); On his uneasy relationship with Pilot after he led a revolt three years back, Gehlot said he has adopted the policy of forgive and forget. Though the CM did not specify when the first list of candidates will be out, it is learnt that the top leadership may drop more sitting MLAs belonging to the Gehlot camp. There was no consensus over the probable candidates during the CEC meeting held on Wednesday. Gehlot insists on giving tickets to his loyalists. The leadership is not on the same page with Gehlot over his demand for the ticket to 3 of his ministers Shanti Dhariwal, Mahesh Joshi and Dharmendra Rathore. They were issued show cause notices for their rebellion during the partys presidential elections last October. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Dilip Singh Kshatriya By Express News Service AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat High Court on Thursday sentenced four cops to 14 days of simple imprisonment in contempt of court as they flogged five men (in pic) belonging to a minority community after tying them with a pole in full public view last October at a village in Gujarats Kheda district. The court also ordered a 90-day stay for challenging the order at the Supreme Court. The convicts police inspector A V Parmar, PSI D B Kumawat, head constable K L Dabhi and constable Raju Dabhiof Khedas Matar Police Station thrashed the five men for allegedly throwing stones at a crowd during a Navratri celebration in Undhela village. While pronouncing the verdict, a bench of Justices A S Suhia and Gita Gopu stated, The police officers actions against the complainant amount to a crime against humanity. The fact that the complainants were tied to a pole and flogged in public, which was witnessed by the whole crowd, indicates that the problem is not limited to Undhela village but has spread beyond. If government officials breach the law, it will generate contempt for the law and encourage lawlessness, and every man will have the urge to become a law unto himself, leading to anarchy. No civilised nation can allow such a thing to happen... the HC observed. The court also denied the convicts plea of paying a fine or remaining on probation instead of being jailed. The court had refused to accept an unconditional apology from the convicts earlier. The victims, who were the petitioners in the case, have argued that the 15 officers should be punished for contempt and non-compliance. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat High Court on Thursday sentenced four cops to 14 days of simple imprisonment in contempt of court as they flogged five men (in pic) belonging to a minority community after tying them with a pole in full public view last October at a village in Gujarats Kheda district. The court also ordered a 90-day stay for challenging the order at the Supreme Court. The convicts police inspector A V Parmar, PSI D B Kumawat, head constable K L Dabhi and constable Raju Dabhiof Khedas Matar Police Station thrashed the five men for allegedly throwing stones at a crowd during a Navratri celebration in Undhela village. While pronouncing the verdict, a bench of Justices A S Suhia and Gita Gopu stated, The police officers actions against the complainant amount to a crime against humanity. The fact that the complainants were tied to a pole and flogged in public, which was witnessed by the whole crowd, indicates that the problem is not limited to Undhela village but has spread beyond. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); If government officials breach the law, it will generate contempt for the law and encourage lawlessness, and every man will have the urge to become a law unto himself, leading to anarchy. No civilised nation can allow such a thing to happen... the HC observed. The court also denied the convicts plea of paying a fine or remaining on probation instead of being jailed. The court had refused to accept an unconditional apology from the convicts earlier. The victims, who were the petitioners in the case, have argued that the 15 officers should be punished for contempt and non-compliance. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By PTI VARANASI: A Varanasi court on Thursday reserved till October 21 its order on a plea seeking inclusion of the Gyanvapi mosque's "wazookhana" in the ongoing ASI survey of the mosque complex here. At present, the "wazookhana" (a small reservoir for Muslim devotees to perform ritual ablutions), where a structure claimed by Hindu litigants to be a 'Shivling' exists, is not part of the survey by the Archeological Survey of India due to a Supreme Court order protecting that spot in the complex. The plea was filed by Rakhi Singh, one of the petitioners in Varanasi's Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri case, in the district court. "While completing the hearing today on the petition, District Judge AK Vishvesh reserved its order till October 21," District Government Counsel Rajesh Mishra said. Meanwhile, in a related case, District Judge Vishvesh ordered to move the hearing of a 'transfer' plea, seeking the handing over of keys of a basement at the Gyanvapi complex to the Varanasi district magistrate, to his court from the court of civil judge (senior division). Earlier, during the hearing in the Wazookhana case, the Hindu side's advocate Madan Mohan Yadav said it was argued that without the survey of Wazookhana, the truth of the Gyanvapi complex cannot be revealed. The mosque management committee, while presenting its objection to the argument, told the court that the area of the Wazookhana was sealed on the orders of the Supreme Court and alleged that the Hindu side made such a demand to put this matter on hold. Therefore, this demand of the Hindu side should not be accepted, the mosque committee said. ALSO READ | Gyanvapi row: Muslim side opposes transfer of cases to CJ-led HC bench The ASI is carrying out a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex, next to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple here, to determine whether the 17th-century mosque was constructed over a pre-existing temple. The ASI survey began in July after the Allahabad High Court upheld a Varanasi district court order and ruled that the step is "necessary in the interest of justice" and will benefit both the Hindu and Muslim sides. The mosque committee had also moved the Supreme Court against the high court's order. The apex court had on August 4 refused to stay the high court's order on the ASI survey. In its order, the apex court, however, asked the ASI not to carry out any invasive act during the survey. The ASI has been granted till November 6 to complete the survey of the mosque complex. Meanwhile, District Government Counsel Mishra said that a petition regarding handing over of keys of a basement at the Gyanvapi mosque complex to the Varanasi district magistrate was filed in the court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) Nitesh Kumar Sinha in September. "A plea to transfer the hearing of this case to the court of the district judge was filed later on the grounds that all the cases related to Gyanvapi are being heard there. District Judge AK Vishvesh today ordered that the matter will now be heard in his court," Mishra said. ALSO READ | ASI team enters Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi to carry out scientific survey Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp VARANASI: A Varanasi court on Thursday reserved till October 21 its order on a plea seeking inclusion of the Gyanvapi mosque's "wazookhana" in the ongoing ASI survey of the mosque complex here. At present, the "wazookhana" (a small reservoir for Muslim devotees to perform ritual ablutions), where a structure claimed by Hindu litigants to be a 'Shivling' exists, is not part of the survey by the Archeological Survey of India due to a Supreme Court order protecting that spot in the complex. The plea was filed by Rakhi Singh, one of the petitioners in Varanasi's Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri case, in the district court.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "While completing the hearing today on the petition, District Judge AK Vishvesh reserved its order till October 21," District Government Counsel Rajesh Mishra said. Meanwhile, in a related case, District Judge Vishvesh ordered to move the hearing of a 'transfer' plea, seeking the handing over of keys of a basement at the Gyanvapi complex to the Varanasi district magistrate, to his court from the court of civil judge (senior division). Earlier, during the hearing in the Wazookhana case, the Hindu side's advocate Madan Mohan Yadav said it was argued that without the survey of Wazookhana, the truth of the Gyanvapi complex cannot be revealed. The mosque management committee, while presenting its objection to the argument, told the court that the area of the Wazookhana was sealed on the orders of the Supreme Court and alleged that the Hindu side made such a demand to put this matter on hold. Therefore, this demand of the Hindu side should not be accepted, the mosque committee said. ALSO READ | Gyanvapi row: Muslim side opposes transfer of cases to CJ-led HC bench The ASI is carrying out a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex, next to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple here, to determine whether the 17th-century mosque was constructed over a pre-existing temple. The ASI survey began in July after the Allahabad High Court upheld a Varanasi district court order and ruled that the step is "necessary in the interest of justice" and will benefit both the Hindu and Muslim sides. The mosque committee had also moved the Supreme Court against the high court's order. The apex court had on August 4 refused to stay the high court's order on the ASI survey. In its order, the apex court, however, asked the ASI not to carry out any invasive act during the survey. The ASI has been granted till November 6 to complete the survey of the mosque complex. Meanwhile, District Government Counsel Mishra said that a petition regarding handing over of keys of a basement at the Gyanvapi mosque complex to the Varanasi district magistrate was filed in the court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) Nitesh Kumar Sinha in September. "A plea to transfer the hearing of this case to the court of the district judge was filed later on the grounds that all the cases related to Gyanvapi are being heard there. District Judge AK Vishvesh today ordered that the matter will now be heard in his court," Mishra said. ALSO READ | ASI team enters Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi to carry out scientific survey Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Yeshi Seli By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday offered condolences to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on the horrific loss of civilian lives from a projectile that fell near a hospital in Gaza City a couple of days ago. I spoke with President Abbas and conveyed my condolences at the loss of civilian lives at the Al Ahli hospital in Gaza. We will continue to send humanitarian assistance to Palestinian people. I also shared our deep concern at the terrorism, violence and deteriorating security situation in the region. Reiterated Indias long-standing principled position on the Israel-Palestine issue, Modi said on X. It was seen as a balancing act after Modis conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on October 10, when he said People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. Around 500 people have been reported killed in the explosion on the hospital in Gaza, triggering global anger. India has already condemned the terrorist attack on Israel and reiterated that the international community must stand together in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. As regards Palestine, we have reiterated our long standing position of advocating the resumption of direct negotiations towards establishing a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine living within secure and recognised borders, side by side at peace with Israel, said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi. India is extremely concerned about the humanitarian situation. We would urge the full respect and strict observance of international humanitarian law, Bagchi added. Aid to Palestine Indias aid to Palestine and refugees there is routed through the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). It has contributed $29.53 mn to UNRWA between 2002 and 2023. Indias annual contribution was raised from $1.25 mn to $5 mn in 2018. India has pledged $5 mn for FY24 and FY25 Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday offered condolences to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on the horrific loss of civilian lives from a projectile that fell near a hospital in Gaza City a couple of days ago. I spoke with President Abbas and conveyed my condolences at the loss of civilian lives at the Al Ahli hospital in Gaza. We will continue to send humanitarian assistance to Palestinian people. I also shared our deep concern at the terrorism, violence and deteriorating security situation in the region. Reiterated Indias long-standing principled position on the Israel-Palestine issue, Modi said on X. It was seen as a balancing act after Modis conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on October 10, when he said People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. Around 500 people have been reported killed in the explosion on the hospital in Gaza, triggering global anger. India has already condemned the terrorist attack on Israel and reiterated that the international community must stand together in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); As regards Palestine, we have reiterated our long standing position of advocating the resumption of direct negotiations towards establishing a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine living within secure and recognised borders, side by side at peace with Israel, said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi. India is extremely concerned about the humanitarian situation. We would urge the full respect and strict observance of international humanitarian law, Bagchi added. Aid to Palestine Indias aid to Palestine and refugees there is routed through the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). It has contributed $29.53 mn to UNRWA between 2002 and 2023. Indias annual contribution was raised from $1.25 mn to $5 mn in 2018. India has pledged $5 mn for FY24 and FY25 Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Dilip Singh Kshatriya By Express News Service AHMEDABAD: One of the worlds biggest hubs of diamond cutting and polishing, Gujarats Surat is facing significant losses due to declining diamond prices and a shortage of rough diamonds caused by the protracted Israel-Palestine conflict. Israel is a significant trading partner in the Indian diamond sector and is important to the world diamond trade. However, this is not the first time that the trade has suffered. The fall began with the Russia-Ukraine war early last year. Many diamond workers have lost their jobs. The Gujarat Diamond Workers Association says 30 workers committed suicide in the city in about five months due to economic hardships and unemployment due to the downturn in the industry. India exported $1,279.76 million worth of diamonds to Israel during 2022-23. Israel, a major trading hub, exports raw diamonds worth $1,782.80 million. However, since the Russia-Ukraine war began, there has been a lack of rough diamonds (a vital raw material for diamond processing) in Surat. According to the Diamond Workers Association, diamond traders have stopped importing rough diamonds for the next two months, which will trigger a rise in unemployment. Ramesh Jilaria, president of the Gujarat Diamond Workers Association, said first it was the Ukraine war that affected the diamond industry. The Israel-Palestine conflict has delivered a double blow, resulting in job losses to 30,000 artisans across Gujarat, he said. Each year, as Diwali approaches, diamond manufacturing units are usually open for 24 hours, but this time diamond workers are getting work for up to 10 hours. Many factories have begun offering a two-day off per week. Due to a scarcity of diamonds and raw material, many small units in Surat have declared an early Diwali vacation, says Jilaria. Bhavesh Tank, vice-president of the Gujarat Diamond Workers Association, said at the moment, at least 400 diamond factories have shuttered, and 30 workers have committed suicide in Surat alone in the last five months due to factory closures. In Surat, there are approximately 8 lakh artisans working in the diamond industry, on which approximately at least 4 lakh families depend. If the war continues, thousands of people will lose their jobs in the next few days. We have demanded an assistance package from the state government, he said. The association has also written to Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. 30 suicides in 5 months The war in Israel is the second blow to Surats diamond trade after the Ukraine war. The Gujarat Diamond Workers Association says 30 workers have committed suicide in the city in about five months due to economic hardships. India exported $1,279.76 million worth of diamonds to Israel during 2022-23. Israel, a major trading hub, exports raw diamonds worth $1,782.80 million. However, since the Russia-Ukraine war began, there has been a lack of rough diamonds in Surat. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp AHMEDABAD: One of the worlds biggest hubs of diamond cutting and polishing, Gujarats Surat is facing significant losses due to declining diamond prices and a shortage of rough diamonds caused by the protracted Israel-Palestine conflict. Israel is a significant trading partner in the Indian diamond sector and is important to the world diamond trade. However, this is not the first time that the trade has suffered. The fall began with the Russia-Ukraine war early last year. Many diamond workers have lost their jobs. The Gujarat Diamond Workers Association says 30 workers committed suicide in the city in about five months due to economic hardships and unemployment due to the downturn in the industry. India exported $1,279.76 million worth of diamonds to Israel during 2022-23. Israel, a major trading hub, exports raw diamonds worth $1,782.80 million. However, since the Russia-Ukraine war began, there has been a lack of rough diamonds (a vital raw material for diamond processing) in Surat. According to the Diamond Workers Association, diamond traders have stopped importing rough diamonds for the next two months, which will trigger a rise in unemployment.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Ramesh Jilaria, president of the Gujarat Diamond Workers Association, said first it was the Ukraine war that affected the diamond industry. The Israel-Palestine conflict has delivered a double blow, resulting in job losses to 30,000 artisans across Gujarat, he said. Each year, as Diwali approaches, diamond manufacturing units are usually open for 24 hours, but this time diamond workers are getting work for up to 10 hours. Many factories have begun offering a two-day off per week. Due to a scarcity of diamonds and raw material, many small units in Surat have declared an early Diwali vacation, says Jilaria. Bhavesh Tank, vice-president of the Gujarat Diamond Workers Association, said at the moment, at least 400 diamond factories have shuttered, and 30 workers have committed suicide in Surat alone in the last five months due to factory closures. In Surat, there are approximately 8 lakh artisans working in the diamond industry, on which approximately at least 4 lakh families depend. If the war continues, thousands of people will lose their jobs in the next few days. We have demanded an assistance package from the state government, he said. The association has also written to Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. 30 suicides in 5 months The war in Israel is the second blow to Surats diamond trade after the Ukraine war. The Gujarat Diamond Workers Association says 30 workers have committed suicide in the city in about five months due to economic hardships. India exported $1,279.76 million worth of diamonds to Israel during 2022-23. Israel, a major trading hub, exports raw diamonds worth $1,782.80 million. However, since the Russia-Ukraine war began, there has been a lack of rough diamonds in Surat. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By PTI NEW DELHI: The Law Commission will share next week its roadmap on holding simultaneous polls with the high-level committee headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind. The panel has invited the Law Commission on October 25 to seek its views on how simultaneous polls can be held in the country. The high-level panel, which had in its first meeting recently decided to seek views of political parties, has now written to them to elicit their views on holding sustainable simultaneous polls in the country. In a communication to the parties, it has sought interaction with them on a "mutually agreed date", sources said citing the letter. They said parties have also been given the option to send their views in writing in the next three months. Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi-headed law panel is working on a formula to synchronize all assembly polls by extending or reducing the tenure so that these elections can be held along with Lok Sabha polls 2029 onwards. The law panel is devising a mechanism to ensure a common electoral roll for Lok Sabha, assemblies and local bodies to reduce cost and use of manpower for undertaking an almost identical exercise which is carried out now by the Election Commission and various state election commissions. For synchronizing various assembly polls to ensure both state and Lok Sabha elections are held together from 2029 onwards, the Commission may suggest reducing or enhancing the tenure of legislative assemblies. A mechanism is being devised to ensure that once Lok Sabha and assembly polls are synchronized, voters go to the polling booth only once to cast their ballot for both elections. The sources said since assembly and parliamentary polls are held in phases, the Commission is working out modalities to see that voters do not go to polling stations more than once to cast their ballot for the two polls. The Commission, they said, is of the view that assembly and parliamentary polls can be held together and it is only working out modalities for the smooth conduct of the gigantic democratic exercise. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: The Law Commission will share next week its roadmap on holding simultaneous polls with the high-level committee headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind. The panel has invited the Law Commission on October 25 to seek its views on how simultaneous polls can be held in the country. The high-level panel, which had in its first meeting recently decided to seek views of political parties, has now written to them to elicit their views on holding sustainable simultaneous polls in the country.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); In a communication to the parties, it has sought interaction with them on a "mutually agreed date", sources said citing the letter. They said parties have also been given the option to send their views in writing in the next three months. Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi-headed law panel is working on a formula to synchronize all assembly polls by extending or reducing the tenure so that these elections can be held along with Lok Sabha polls 2029 onwards. The law panel is devising a mechanism to ensure a common electoral roll for Lok Sabha, assemblies and local bodies to reduce cost and use of manpower for undertaking an almost identical exercise which is carried out now by the Election Commission and various state election commissions. For synchronizing various assembly polls to ensure both state and Lok Sabha elections are held together from 2029 onwards, the Commission may suggest reducing or enhancing the tenure of legislative assemblies. A mechanism is being devised to ensure that once Lok Sabha and assembly polls are synchronized, voters go to the polling booth only once to cast their ballot for both elections. The sources said since assembly and parliamentary polls are held in phases, the Commission is working out modalities to see that voters do not go to polling stations more than once to cast their ballot for the two polls. The Commission, they said, is of the view that assembly and parliamentary polls can be held together and it is only working out modalities for the smooth conduct of the gigantic democratic exercise. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By PTI NEW DELHI: A low-pressure area over the southeast and the adjoining southwest Arabian Sea has developed into a depression and is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm by October 21 morning, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday. This would be the second cyclonic storm in the Arabian Sea this year. It will be called 'Tej', according to a formula followed for naming cyclones in the Indian Ocean Region. The cyclonic storm is predicted to further intensify into a severe cyclonic storm on Sunday and move towards the south coasts of Oman and adjoining Yemen, according to the IMD. However, meteorologists caution that at times, storms may deviate from the predicted track and intensity, as seen in the case of cyclone Biparjoy, which formed in the Arabian Sea in June and initially moved in a north-northwest direction before changing course to make landfall between Mandvi in Gujarat and Karachi in Pakistan. The IMD said the low-pressure system lay centered around 900 km east-southeast of Socotra (Yemen), 1,170 km southeast of Salalah Airport (Oman) and 1,260 km east-southeast of Al Ghaidah (Yemen) at 11:30 am on Friday. Private forecasting agency Skymet Weather said that a majority of models indicate the storm is heading for the Yemen-Oman coast. However, the Global Forecast System models suggest a recurvature while positioned over the deep central parts of the Arabian Sea, steering the system towards Pakistan and the Gujarat coast, it said. A cyclonic storm is characterised by a maximum sustained wind speed of 62-88 kmph, while it is termed a severe cyclonic storm if the maximum sustained wind speed reaches 89-117 kmph. The IMD also said a low-pressure area over the southwest and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal (BOB) is likely to intensify into a depression over the west-central BOB around October 22. The system is likely to move west-northwestwards until Sunday morning and then recurve north-northeast wards towards the Bangladesh coast, it said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: A low-pressure area over the southeast and the adjoining southwest Arabian Sea has developed into a depression and is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm by October 21 morning, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday. This would be the second cyclonic storm in the Arabian Sea this year. It will be called 'Tej', according to a formula followed for naming cyclones in the Indian Ocean Region.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The cyclonic storm is predicted to further intensify into a severe cyclonic storm on Sunday and move towards the south coasts of Oman and adjoining Yemen, according to the IMD. However, meteorologists caution that at times, storms may deviate from the predicted track and intensity, as seen in the case of cyclone Biparjoy, which formed in the Arabian Sea in June and initially moved in a north-northwest direction before changing course to make landfall between Mandvi in Gujarat and Karachi in Pakistan. The IMD said the low-pressure system lay centered around 900 km east-southeast of Socotra (Yemen), 1,170 km southeast of Salalah Airport (Oman) and 1,260 km east-southeast of Al Ghaidah (Yemen) at 11:30 am on Friday. Private forecasting agency Skymet Weather said that a majority of models indicate the storm is heading for the Yemen-Oman coast. However, the Global Forecast System models suggest a recurvature while positioned over the deep central parts of the Arabian Sea, steering the system towards Pakistan and the Gujarat coast, it said. A cyclonic storm is characterised by a maximum sustained wind speed of 62-88 kmph, while it is termed a severe cyclonic storm if the maximum sustained wind speed reaches 89-117 kmph. The IMD also said a low-pressure area over the southwest and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal (BOB) is likely to intensify into a depression over the west-central BOB around October 22. The system is likely to move west-northwestwards until Sunday morning and then recurve north-northeast wards towards the Bangladesh coast, it said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp R Sivakumar By Express News Service CHENNAI: The Madras High Court directed noted veteran film actress and former MP Jayapradha to deposit Rs 20 lakh and approach the principal sessions court in Chennai over the suspension of a sentence of six months imprisonment and bail obtainment. It is related to the non-payment of Employees State Insurance (ESI) funds for the workers employed at a cinema theatre she owned in the city. Pronouncing orders on her appeal against the principal sessions courts refusal to suspend the prison sentence for her and two co-accused in the ESI contribution default case, Justice G Jayachandran directed the petitioners to surrender before the principal sessions court and seek a suspension of the sentence. The application for the suspension of sentence shall be considered only with the deposit of Rs 20 lakh jointly or severally in the account of the appeal within fifteen days, the judge said in the order. The judge also directed the appellate court to entertain the application for bail and suspension of the prison sentence only if the Rs 20 lakh deposit was paid and the accused petitioner physically appeared before the court. Actress Jayapradha, along with Ram Kumar and Raja Babu, who were her partners in Jayapradha Cine Theatre, was convicted and given six months imprisonment and were asked to pay Rs 5,000 each by the trial court, which heard a batch of petitions filed by employees of her theatre over non-payment of the ESI premium amount. The principal employer has to pay the amount towards the employers and employees share of contribution and is entitled to recover the employees share of contribution from their wages. The management of the now-defunct cinema hall had reportedly deducted the ESI contribution amount from the salaries of the employees but had not been paying it to the state insurance corporation. They had allegedly failed to pay Rs 52,982 for the period April 1, 2003 to September 31, 2003. On the basis of the workers complaint that the money was not paid, the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) had moved the Egmore court in 2004. Jayapradha's application for suspension of sentence was dismissed by the principal sessions court. When the actress' appeal came up for hearing recently, senior counsel Abdul Hameed, representing her, said that the ESI contribution amount was paid during the pendency of the prosecution but that the court, without considering it, had imposed the sentence and directed her to pay the said amount. The Madras High Courts order is considered to be a big relief for Jayapradha, who was, otherwise, facing arrest and detention. (With online desk inputs) Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp CHENNAI: The Madras High Court directed noted veteran film actress and former MP Jayapradha to deposit Rs 20 lakh and approach the principal sessions court in Chennai over the suspension of a sentence of six months imprisonment and bail obtainment. It is related to the non-payment of Employees State Insurance (ESI) funds for the workers employed at a cinema theatre she owned in the city. Pronouncing orders on her appeal against the principal sessions courts refusal to suspend the prison sentence for her and two co-accused in the ESI contribution default case, Justice G Jayachandran directed the petitioners to surrender before the principal sessions court and seek a suspension of the sentence. The application for the suspension of sentence shall be considered only with the deposit of Rs 20 lakh jointly or severally in the account of the appeal within fifteen days, the judge said in the order.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The judge also directed the appellate court to entertain the application for bail and suspension of the prison sentence only if the Rs 20 lakh deposit was paid and the accused petitioner physically appeared before the court. Actress Jayapradha, along with Ram Kumar and Raja Babu, who were her partners in Jayapradha Cine Theatre, was convicted and given six months imprisonment and were asked to pay Rs 5,000 each by the trial court, which heard a batch of petitions filed by employees of her theatre over non-payment of the ESI premium amount. The principal employer has to pay the amount towards the employers and employees share of contribution and is entitled to recover the employees share of contribution from their wages. The management of the now-defunct cinema hall had reportedly deducted the ESI contribution amount from the salaries of the employees but had not been paying it to the state insurance corporation. They had allegedly failed to pay Rs 52,982 for the period April 1, 2003 to September 31, 2003. On the basis of the workers complaint that the money was not paid, the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) had moved the Egmore court in 2004. Jayapradha's application for suspension of sentence was dismissed by the principal sessions court. When the actress' appeal came up for hearing recently, senior counsel Abdul Hameed, representing her, said that the ESI contribution amount was paid during the pendency of the prosecution but that the court, without considering it, had imposed the sentence and directed her to pay the said amount. The Madras High Courts order is considered to be a big relief for Jayapradha, who was, otherwise, facing arrest and detention. (With online desk inputs) Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By PTI NEW DELHI: TMC MP Mahua Moitra has raised questions over the credibility of Hiranandani Group CEO Darshan Hiranandani's affidavit, alleging that it was "drafted by the PMO" and he was forced to sign it after being "threatened" with "total shut down" of his family's businesses. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) held a "proverbial gun" to Darshan and his father's heads and gave them 20 minutes to sign this "letter", Mahua claimed in a statement issued late on Thursday night. Her statement came shortly after Hiranandani, who allegedly paid Moitra to raise questions in Parliament about the Adani Group, claimed in the signed affidavit that the TMC leader targeted billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani to "malign and embarrass" Prime Minister Narendra Modi whose impeccable reputation gave the opposition no opportunity to attack him. He alleged that she provided him with her Parliament login and password to ask questions targeting Adani after the state-owned Indian Oil Corporation booked capacity at the Gujarat-based conglomerate's Dhamra LNG import facility in Odisha and not at his firm's planned facility. In her two-page statement, Moitra said the draft of the "letter" issued by Hiranandani was "sent by the PMO and he was forced to sign it". "Three days ago (16.10.2023), the Hiranandani Group put out an official press release stating that all charges levelled against them were baseless. Today (19.10.2023), an 'approver affidavit' has been leaked to the press. This 'affidavit' is on a white piece of paper with no letterhead and there is no official origin aside from a press leak." "Why would one of India's most respected/educated businessmen sign a letter like this on white paper unless a gun was put to his head to do it," she asked. "The PMO held a proverbial gun to Darshan and his father's heads and gave them 20 minutes to sign this letter sent to them. They were threatened with a total shutdown of all their businesses. His father is in real estate which depends on government licenses...," she said. Moitra, who represents West Bengal's Krishnanagar in the Lok Sabha, said though tragic, what Hiranandani did it is "totally understandable". ALSO READ | TMC MP Mahua Moitra handed me her Parliament login credentials, claims businessman "Though tragic, it is totally understandable that Darshan (who is a dear friend) would need to think of what is at stake for him here - namely the continuation of his family businesses built up over decades and the fate of thousands of employees - and buckle under pressure and sign this," she said. According to paragraph 12 of the affidavit, the TMC MP said, Hiranandani gave in to her demands "because he was fearful of displeasing me". Hiranandani and his father run one of India's largest business groups and their recent projects in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat have been inaugurated by the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and the prime minister. Hiranandani also accompanied the PM abroad as part of his business delegation very recently, she said. "Why would such a wealthy successful businessman who enjoys direct access to every Minister and the PMO be coerced by a first-time opposition MP into giving her gifts and giving into her demands? It is totally illogical and only cements the truth that this letter was drafted by the PMO and not Darshan," she said. In his affidavit, Hiranandani claimed Moitra "made frequent demands" including "expensive luxury items, providing support on the renovation of her officially allotted bungalow in Delhi, travel expenses, holidays, etc., apart from providing secretarial and logistical help for her travels within India and to different parts of the world". Moitra asked who the affidavit was given to and why did Hiranandani not hold a press conference or post it on X, formerly Twitter, himself. He has not even been summoned by any investigative agency or the Ethics Committee yet, she said. "If indeed he has 'confessed' to this, (then) why is he not releasing it officially rather than through back-channel leaks? The truth is exceedingly clear," she said. Moitra also hit out at her estranged partner and lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai, who has accused her of taking bribes, saying he is a "jilted ex" who wants to get back at her. "This painstaking research on me...He is a jilted ex with an acrimonious personal history with me who wanted to somehow get back at me. If indeed he was witness to all of my corruption, then why was he with me during the time and why did he wait till now to make it public? "Also if he wrote to CBI and the LS Speaker, why out of 543 MPs would he forward the letters to Nishikant Dubey, a man who I have repeatedly exposed in Parliament and outside, and against whom I have filed pending privilege motions," she asked. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has accused Moitra of taking bribes from a businessman to ask questions in Parliament and urged Speaker Om Birla to constitute an inquiry committee to look into the charges against her. Birla has referred Dubey's complaint to Parliament's Ethics Committee. Citing a letter he received from advocate Dehadrai, Dubey said the lawyer shared "irrefutable" evidence of bribes being given to Moitra. In his letter to Birla, Dubey claimed 50 of 61 questions she asked in the Lok Sabha till recently were focused on the Adani Group, the business conglomerate which the TMC MP has often accused of malpractices, more so after it was at the receiving end of a critical report by short-seller Hindenburg Research. An attempt was made yesterday afternoon, to coerce me into withdrawing my cbi complaint and letter to @nishikant_dubey in exchange for Henry. I flatly refused - will give details to CBI. Messenger is totally innocent - but tells you everything about her. Jai Anant Dehadrai (@jai_a_dehadrai) October 20, 2023 Moitra further alleged that those closest to her are being threatened with Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raids. "Every effort is being made to malign me and isolate and scare those near and dear to me. My closest have been threatened with ED and CBI raids in the next few days," she said. "This is part of the establishment's witch-hunt into every political leader who dares to question Adani. This is the price to pay for standing up to the BJP and Adani. But they cannot scare me." "I will continue to stand up to Mr Adani until he answers the many questions that he's duty bound to answer to the people of this great country. And I will pay any price to protect my country from these criminals," she added. ALSO READ | BJP MP makes 'Cash for Query' allegations against Mahua Moitra The Delhi High Court is scheduled to hear on Friday Moitra's petition seeking directions to restrain Dubey, Dehadrai and several social media platforms and media houses from posting, circulating or publishing any fake and defamatory content against her. The plea, which was filed on October 17. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: TMC MP Mahua Moitra has raised questions over the credibility of Hiranandani Group CEO Darshan Hiranandani's affidavit, alleging that it was "drafted by the PMO" and he was forced to sign it after being "threatened" with "total shut down" of his family's businesses. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) held a "proverbial gun" to Darshan and his father's heads and gave them 20 minutes to sign this "letter", Mahua claimed in a statement issued late on Thursday night. Her statement came shortly after Hiranandani, who allegedly paid Moitra to raise questions in Parliament about the Adani Group, claimed in the signed affidavit that the TMC leader targeted billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani to "malign and embarrass" Prime Minister Narendra Modi whose impeccable reputation gave the opposition no opportunity to attack him.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); He alleged that she provided him with her Parliament login and password to ask questions targeting Adani after the state-owned Indian Oil Corporation booked capacity at the Gujarat-based conglomerate's Dhamra LNG import facility in Odisha and not at his firm's planned facility. In her two-page statement, Moitra said the draft of the "letter" issued by Hiranandani was "sent by the PMO and he was forced to sign it". "Three days ago (16.10.2023), the Hiranandani Group put out an official press release stating that all charges levelled against them were baseless. Today (19.10.2023), an 'approver affidavit' has been leaked to the press. This 'affidavit' is on a white piece of paper with no letterhead and there is no official origin aside from a press leak." "Why would one of India's most respected/educated businessmen sign a letter like this on white paper unless a gun was put to his head to do it," she asked. "The PMO held a proverbial gun to Darshan and his father's heads and gave them 20 minutes to sign this letter sent to them. They were threatened with a total shutdown of all their businesses. His father is in real estate which depends on government licenses...," she said. Moitra, who represents West Bengal's Krishnanagar in the Lok Sabha, said though tragic, what Hiranandani did it is "totally understandable". ALSO READ | TMC MP Mahua Moitra handed me her Parliament login credentials, claims businessman "Though tragic, it is totally understandable that Darshan (who is a dear friend) would need to think of what is at stake for him here - namely the continuation of his family businesses built up over decades and the fate of thousands of employees - and buckle under pressure and sign this," she said. According to paragraph 12 of the affidavit, the TMC MP said, Hiranandani gave in to her demands "because he was fearful of displeasing me". Hiranandani and his father run one of India's largest business groups and their recent projects in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat have been inaugurated by the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and the prime minister. Hiranandani also accompanied the PM abroad as part of his business delegation very recently, she said. "Why would such a wealthy successful businessman who enjoys direct access to every Minister and the PMO be coerced by a first-time opposition MP into giving her gifts and giving into her demands? It is totally illogical and only cements the truth that this letter was drafted by the PMO and not Darshan," she said. In his affidavit, Hiranandani claimed Moitra "made frequent demands" including "expensive luxury items, providing support on the renovation of her officially allotted bungalow in Delhi, travel expenses, holidays, etc., apart from providing secretarial and logistical help for her travels within India and to different parts of the world". Moitra asked who the affidavit was given to and why did Hiranandani not hold a press conference or post it on X, formerly Twitter, himself. Jai Ma Durga. pic.twitter.com/Z2JsqOARCR Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) October 19, 2023 He has not even been summoned by any investigative agency or the Ethics Committee yet, she said. "If indeed he has 'confessed' to this, (then) why is he not releasing it officially rather than through back-channel leaks? The truth is exceedingly clear," she said. Moitra also hit out at her estranged partner and lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai, who has accused her of taking bribes, saying he is a "jilted ex" who wants to get back at her. "This painstaking research on me...He is a jilted ex with an acrimonious personal history with me who wanted to somehow get back at me. If indeed he was witness to all of my corruption, then why was he with me during the time and why did he wait till now to make it public? "Also if he wrote to CBI and the LS Speaker, why out of 543 MPs would he forward the letters to Nishikant Dubey, a man who I have repeatedly exposed in Parliament and outside, and against whom I have filed pending privilege motions," she asked. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has accused Moitra of taking bribes from a businessman to ask questions in Parliament and urged Speaker Om Birla to constitute an inquiry committee to look into the charges against her. Birla has referred Dubey's complaint to Parliament's Ethics Committee. Citing a letter he received from advocate Dehadrai, Dubey said the lawyer shared "irrefutable" evidence of bribes being given to Moitra. In his letter to Birla, Dubey claimed 50 of 61 questions she asked in the Lok Sabha till recently were focused on the Adani Group, the business conglomerate which the TMC MP has often accused of malpractices, more so after it was at the receiving end of a critical report by short-seller Hindenburg Research. An attempt was made yesterday afternoon, to coerce me into withdrawing my cbi complaint and letter to @nishikant_dubey in exchange for Henry. I flatly refused - will give details to CBI. Messenger is totally innocent - but tells you everything about her. Jai Anant Dehadrai (@jai_a_dehadrai) October 20, 2023 Moitra further alleged that those closest to her are being threatened with Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raids. "Every effort is being made to malign me and isolate and scare those near and dear to me. My closest have been threatened with ED and CBI raids in the next few days," she said. "This is part of the establishment's witch-hunt into every political leader who dares to question Adani. This is the price to pay for standing up to the BJP and Adani. But they cannot scare me." "I will continue to stand up to Mr Adani until he answers the many questions that he's duty bound to answer to the people of this great country. And I will pay any price to protect my country from these criminals," she added. ALSO READ | BJP MP makes 'Cash for Query' allegations against Mahua Moitra The Delhi High Court is scheduled to hear on Friday Moitra's petition seeking directions to restrain Dubey, Dehadrai and several social media platforms and media houses from posting, circulating or publishing any fake and defamatory content against her. The plea, which was filed on October 17. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By PTI MUMBAI: A 45-year-old Maratha quota activist allegedly died by suicide in the Bandra area of Mumbai in the early hours of Thursday leaving behind a note in which he urged community members to fight for the cause, a police official said. Sunil Kawale, a resident of Chikangaon in Ambad tehsil of Jalna district, was found hanging from pole number 4 of a flyover between Bandra and Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) in the western part of the metropolis, he said. He hanged himself by tying himself to the electricity pole on the flyover and then jumping off, the official said. Relatives of the deceased told PTI that Kawale had called at around 12:45 am, sometime before he ended his life, but a conversation could not take place due to wind disturbance. "I kept the phone by my side and went to sleep. When I woke up and saw Kawale's mobile status, I called back. However, the call was answered by a policeman who told me what had happened and asked me to reach Sion Hospital," he said. Kawale's son Nagesh told PTI his father died for the cause of the Maratha reservation and stressed his "martyrdom must not go in vain". "My father was fearless. He was fighting for the Maratha reservation for the last few years. I came to know about his suicide from his mobile phone status and then we came to the (Sion) hospital," an emotional Nagesh said. A suicide note found near his body said he was ending his life for the sake of the Maratha reservation, and the white shirt Kawale was wearing also had a message making this demand, the police official informed. ALSO READ | OBC quota won't be affected by reservations for Marathas, assures Maharashtra CM Shinde In his suicide note, Kawale asked people from the community to assemble in Mumbai on October 24, adding the "only mission" now was "Maratha reservation first and only then elections". "The Maratha community will get a reservation on October 24. We should gather and should focus only on Maratha reservation," he mentioned in the note. "If we sit on hunger strike for reservation for four to five days, nobody dies. So all should come to Mumbai on October 24," he urged community members in the note. As per the police, Kawale was an active member of the Maratha Kranti Morcha, which has been seeking quota for the community and had attended all 58 rallies organised over this demand. On being alerted, Kherwadi police arrived at the site and sent the body for post-mortem at civic-run Sion hospital at around 1:30 am, the official added. (If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050 (available 24x7). Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp MUMBAI: A 45-year-old Maratha quota activist allegedly died by suicide in the Bandra area of Mumbai in the early hours of Thursday leaving behind a note in which he urged community members to fight for the cause, a police official said. Sunil Kawale, a resident of Chikangaon in Ambad tehsil of Jalna district, was found hanging from pole number 4 of a flyover between Bandra and Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) in the western part of the metropolis, he said. He hanged himself by tying himself to the electricity pole on the flyover and then jumping off, the official said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Relatives of the deceased told PTI that Kawale had called at around 12:45 am, sometime before he ended his life, but a conversation could not take place due to wind disturbance. "I kept the phone by my side and went to sleep. When I woke up and saw Kawale's mobile status, I called back. However, the call was answered by a policeman who told me what had happened and asked me to reach Sion Hospital," he said. Kawale's son Nagesh told PTI his father died for the cause of the Maratha reservation and stressed his "martyrdom must not go in vain". "My father was fearless. He was fighting for the Maratha reservation for the last few years. I came to know about his suicide from his mobile phone status and then we came to the (Sion) hospital," an emotional Nagesh said. A suicide note found near his body said he was ending his life for the sake of the Maratha reservation, and the white shirt Kawale was wearing also had a message making this demand, the police official informed. ALSO READ | OBC quota won't be affected by reservations for Marathas, assures Maharashtra CM Shinde In his suicide note, Kawale asked people from the community to assemble in Mumbai on October 24, adding the "only mission" now was "Maratha reservation first and only then elections". "The Maratha community will get a reservation on October 24. We should gather and should focus only on Maratha reservation," he mentioned in the note. "If we sit on hunger strike for reservation for four to five days, nobody dies. So all should come to Mumbai on October 24," he urged community members in the note. As per the police, Kawale was an active member of the Maratha Kranti Morcha, which has been seeking quota for the community and had attended all 58 rallies organised over this demand. On being alerted, Kherwadi police arrived at the site and sent the body for post-mortem at civic-run Sion hospital at around 1:30 am, the official added. (If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050 (available 24x7). Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Our support for Israel's security will remain ironclad. ... And ... make no mistake. The United States will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes," said U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. Ramashankar By Express News Service PATNA: Opposition alliance is set to show its strength and unity at a rally being organised by CPI in Patna on November 2. Senior leaders of RJD, JD(U) and Congress, three major constituents of Grand Alliance (GA), are likely to attend the rally to be held at Gandhi Maidan in the state capital. Sources said that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and Congress state president Akhilesh Prasad Singh are among the prominent leaders to attend the rally. GA is a part of Opposition INDIA bloc to take on BJP at the national level in the upcoming Lok Sabha election. CPI state secretary Ram Naresh Pandey said that apart from Nitish and Lalu, deputy chief minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, JD(U) state president Umesh Kushwaha, RJD state chief Jagadanand Singh and Congress state president Akhilesh Prasad Singh have given consent to attend the rally. Pandey said that the rally assumed significance in the wake of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. It will send a strong message among people about unity in INDIA bloc, he told the media, sharing details of the proposed rally. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp PATNA: Opposition alliance is set to show its strength and unity at a rally being organised by CPI in Patna on November 2. Senior leaders of RJD, JD(U) and Congress, three major constituents of Grand Alliance (GA), are likely to attend the rally to be held at Gandhi Maidan in the state capital. Sources said that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and Congress state president Akhilesh Prasad Singh are among the prominent leaders to attend the rally. GA is a part of Opposition INDIA bloc to take on BJP at the national level in the upcoming Lok Sabha election. CPI state secretary Ram Naresh Pandey said that apart from Nitish and Lalu, deputy chief minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, JD(U) state president Umesh Kushwaha, RJD state chief Jagadanand Singh and Congress state president Akhilesh Prasad Singh have given consent to attend the rally. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Pandey said that the rally assumed significance in the wake of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. It will send a strong message among people about unity in INDIA bloc, he told the media, sharing details of the proposed rally. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By PTI PATNA: Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi on Friday claimed that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar wanted to "scare and confuse" current allies RJD and Congress by speaking about personal equations with those in the saffron party. Modi, who had served as Kumar's deputy for more than a decade and is known for having had an excellent rapport with the JD(U) leader, however, said that the latter had become a spent force with whom the BJP would no longer like to have a truck. "We would like to align with forces which can benefit us and can be benefited by us. Nitish Kumar is left with virtually no support base, a reason why his party was drubbed in the 2020 assembly polls. A realignment with him is out of the question for the BJP. It has also been stated repeatedly by our national leadership," Modi told reporters. He was replying to queries from journalists about speculations that Kumar, at a function on Thursday, had tried to send signals to the BJP while speaking of "personal friendship" with Radha Mohan Singh, a veteran saffron party leader who had served in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first cabinet. Kumar had made the remark at the convocation ceremony of Mahatma Gandhi Central University in Motihari, East Champaran. Hours later, at the convocation ceremony of AIIMS, Patna he had voiced displeasure over a section of the media coming out with "slanted" reports of his utterances. Sushil Kumar Modi, who has known Kumar since the 1970s when both were student leaders, cutting their teeth in the Bihar movement launched by Jayaprakash Narayan, was of the view that the JD(U) leader was trying to "scare" and "confuse" the Congress and the RJD. "Nitish Kumar may be thinking that by doing so he will be able to give an impression that he has aces up his sleeve, which would keep his current allies in check. Be that as it may, he has burnt his bridges with the BJP. His party has also grown weak ever since he parted ways with us. JD(U)'s former national president RCP Singh is now in BJP while Upendra Kushwaha, who headed the parliamentary board, is an NDA partner," the Rajya Sabha member pointed out. He also said the BJP-led NDA had "bundled out the JD(U) for two seats out of 40 in Bihar in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, which was the last time when Nitish fought separately from us". "In 2024, his tally will be reduced to zero. The BJP has only grown stronger in the recent past, as is evident from our improved performance in by-elections to three seats held in the last one year," Sushil Modi said. Meanwhile, JD(U) president Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan alleged that a section of the media was "driven by the agenda to portray that there is turmoil in our party". Lalan asserted, "Sometimes they say Nitish Kumar is getting close to the BJP. Sometimes they even say all is not well between him, the party's supreme leader, and me. There is no question of Nitish Kumar, the driving force behind opposition unity, of joining hands with the BJP again." "The BJP is a party of backstabbers as was evident in the assembly polls of 2020 and its attempt to hatch a conspiracy against the JD(U) with the help of a very member of our party," he alleged. The allusion was to the then LJP president Chirag Paswan fielding candidates, many of them BJP rebels, in all seats contested by the JD(U) in 2020 and alleged attempts to "break" the party with the help of RCP Singh who had been inducted into the Union cabinet without Kumar's approval. "Nitish Kumar believes in respecting personal relations but it must also be remembered that he has committed to dethroning Narendra Modi next year. He is pursuing the goal single-mindedly," Lalan added. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp PATNA: Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi on Friday claimed that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar wanted to "scare and confuse" current allies RJD and Congress by speaking about personal equations with those in the saffron party. Modi, who had served as Kumar's deputy for more than a decade and is known for having had an excellent rapport with the JD(U) leader, however, said that the latter had become a spent force with whom the BJP would no longer like to have a truck. "We would like to align with forces which can benefit us and can be benefited by us. Nitish Kumar is left with virtually no support base, a reason why his party was drubbed in the 2020 assembly polls. A realignment with him is out of the question for the BJP. It has also been stated repeatedly by our national leadership," Modi told reporters.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); He was replying to queries from journalists about speculations that Kumar, at a function on Thursday, had tried to send signals to the BJP while speaking of "personal friendship" with Radha Mohan Singh, a veteran saffron party leader who had served in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first cabinet. Kumar had made the remark at the convocation ceremony of Mahatma Gandhi Central University in Motihari, East Champaran. Hours later, at the convocation ceremony of AIIMS, Patna he had voiced displeasure over a section of the media coming out with "slanted" reports of his utterances. Sushil Kumar Modi, who has known Kumar since the 1970s when both were student leaders, cutting their teeth in the Bihar movement launched by Jayaprakash Narayan, was of the view that the JD(U) leader was trying to "scare" and "confuse" the Congress and the RJD. "Nitish Kumar may be thinking that by doing so he will be able to give an impression that he has aces up his sleeve, which would keep his current allies in check. Be that as it may, he has burnt his bridges with the BJP. His party has also grown weak ever since he parted ways with us. JD(U)'s former national president RCP Singh is now in BJP while Upendra Kushwaha, who headed the parliamentary board, is an NDA partner," the Rajya Sabha member pointed out. He also said the BJP-led NDA had "bundled out the JD(U) for two seats out of 40 in Bihar in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, which was the last time when Nitish fought separately from us". "In 2024, his tally will be reduced to zero. The BJP has only grown stronger in the recent past, as is evident from our improved performance in by-elections to three seats held in the last one year," Sushil Modi said. Meanwhile, JD(U) president Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan alleged that a section of the media was "driven by the agenda to portray that there is turmoil in our party". Lalan asserted, "Sometimes they say Nitish Kumar is getting close to the BJP. Sometimes they even say all is not well between him, the party's supreme leader, and me. There is no question of Nitish Kumar, the driving force behind opposition unity, of joining hands with the BJP again." "The BJP is a party of backstabbers as was evident in the assembly polls of 2020 and its attempt to hatch a conspiracy against the JD(U) with the help of a very member of our party," he alleged. The allusion was to the then LJP president Chirag Paswan fielding candidates, many of them BJP rebels, in all seats contested by the JD(U) in 2020 and alleged attempts to "break" the party with the help of RCP Singh who had been inducted into the Union cabinet without Kumar's approval. "Nitish Kumar believes in respecting personal relations but it must also be remembered that he has committed to dethroning Narendra Modi next year. He is pursuing the goal single-mindedly," Lalan added. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Mayank Singh By Express News Service NEW DELHI: In a move to address the shortage of officers in the Indian Army, the top brass has discussed the issue of making the entry of officers through the Short Service Commission more attractive. Other issues discussed at the Army Commanders Conference which concluded on Friday included conducting all internal examinations in online mode and establishing speedy redressal mechanisms for issues faced by veterans, said a source. As reported by TNIE in May 2020, the shortage has persisted both at the officer level and also at the PBOR level. The authorised strength of officers is 50,312 whereas the strength was 42,913 leaving a shortage of 7,399 officers till the beginning of 2019 as per Parliament records. The Short Service Commission scheme is meant for eligible men and women to serve as officers for a minimum of 10 years with options to either leave or opt for Permanent Commission or opt for an extension of four more years of service. The SSC officers neither get pension nor medical support under the ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme. While speaking to a select group of journalists on the SSC scheme, former CDS General Bipin Rawat had said, "The officers might be given medical facility post retirement along with an attractive severance package and more importantly they may get to do a professional course in Management and Technology from prestigious institutions." ALSO READ | Indian Army plans to beef up patrolling and surveillance in Sir Creek, Sundarbans "Among those joining through SSC we will allow between 25 to 30 percent getting Permanent Commission and the rest will get severance package and the professional degree will make them eligible for a decent job," he had said. In addition, the Army top brass also discussed and analysed the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and Ukraine-Russia conflict. ACC, an apex-level biannual event, is an institutional platform for deliberations at the conceptual level, facilitating important policy decisions for the Indian Army. The apex leadership brainstormed on "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 Commanders' Conference, with its broad scope, ensures the Indian Army remains progressive, forward-looking, adaptive and future ready. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff, General Manoj Pande, Chief of the Army Staff and Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, Chief of the Air Staff also addressed the gathering. Dr Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India gave a talk on "Leveraging Technology for National Security". It was during the first edition of the Army Commanders Conference (ACC) from 17-21 April 2023 that the top brass of the Army had decided to raise a new Command Cyber Operations and Support Wings (CCOSW) to augment the operational capabilities along with the absorption of new technologies. The Indian Army decided to create a new wing to handle cyber operations and also create structures to "test bed" the large number and variety of niche tech-enabled equipment being inducted into the force. The Army in a statement on Thursday said, "With rapid migration towards net centricity, which entails an increased reliance on modern communication systems, the forum reviewed the requirement to safeguard the networks and decided to operationalise Command Cyber Operations and Support Wings (CCOSW) in the immediate future." The CCOSW being raised "will assist the formations to undertake the mandated cyber security functions to strengthen the cyber security posture of the Indian Army." Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: In a move to address the shortage of officers in the Indian Army, the top brass has discussed the issue of making the entry of officers through the Short Service Commission more attractive. Other issues discussed at the Army Commanders Conference which concluded on Friday included conducting all internal examinations in online mode and establishing speedy redressal mechanisms for issues faced by veterans, said a source. As reported by TNIE in May 2020, the shortage has persisted both at the officer level and also at the PBOR level. The authorised strength of officers is 50,312 whereas the strength was 42,913 leaving a shortage of 7,399 officers till the beginning of 2019 as per Parliament records.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Short Service Commission scheme is meant for eligible men and women to serve as officers for a minimum of 10 years with options to either leave or opt for Permanent Commission or opt for an extension of four more years of service. The SSC officers neither get pension nor medical support under the ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme. While speaking to a select group of journalists on the SSC scheme, former CDS General Bipin Rawat had said, "The officers might be given medical facility post retirement along with an attractive severance package and more importantly they may get to do a professional course in Management and Technology from prestigious institutions." ALSO READ | Indian Army plans to beef up patrolling and surveillance in Sir Creek, Sundarbans "Among those joining through SSC we will allow between 25 to 30 percent getting Permanent Commission and the rest will get severance package and the professional degree will make them eligible for a decent job," he had said. In addition, the Army top brass also discussed and analysed the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and Ukraine-Russia conflict. ACC, an apex-level biannual event, is an institutional platform for deliberations at the conceptual level, facilitating important policy decisions for the Indian Army. The apex leadership brainstormed on "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 Commanders' Conference, with its broad scope, ensures the Indian Army remains progressive, forward-looking, adaptive and future ready. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff, General Manoj Pande, Chief of the Army Staff and Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, Chief of the Air Staff also addressed the gathering. Dr Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India gave a talk on "Leveraging Technology for National Security". It was during the first edition of the Army Commanders Conference (ACC) from 17-21 April 2023 that the top brass of the Army had decided to raise a new Command Cyber Operations and Support Wings (CCOSW) to augment the operational capabilities along with the absorption of new technologies. The Indian Army decided to create a new wing to handle cyber operations and also create structures to "test bed" the large number and variety of niche tech-enabled equipment being inducted into the force. The Army in a statement on Thursday said, "With rapid migration towards net centricity, which entails an increased reliance on modern communication systems, the forum reviewed the requirement to safeguard the networks and decided to operationalise Command Cyber Operations and Support Wings (CCOSW) in the immediate future." The CCOSW being raised "will assist the formations to undertake the mandated cyber security functions to strengthen the cyber security posture of the Indian Army." Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By PTI NEW DELHI: The Popular Front of India (PFI) has moved the Supreme Court against an Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) tribunal confirming the five-year ban imposed on it by the central government. A bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi, which was scheduled to hear the plea, adjourned the matter saying the petitioner has circulated a letter for adjournment. In its petition, the PFI has challenged the March 21 order of the UAPA tribunal by which it had confirmed the September 27, 2022 decision of the Centre. The Centre had banned the PFI for five years for its alleged links with global terrorist organisations such as ISIS and trying to spread communal hatred in the country. It had declared as "unlawful association" the PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts, including Rehab India Foundation (RIF), Campus Front of India (CFI), All India Imams Council (AIIC), National Confederation of Human Rights Organization (NCHRO), National Women's Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation and Rehab Foundation, Kerala. The notification proscribing the organisation said the central government is of the firm opinion that it is necessary to declare the PFI and its associates, affiliates or fronts as "unlawful association" with immediate effect under the UAPA. It had said the notification shall, subject to any order that may be made under section 4 of the UAPA, have effect for a period of five years from the date of its publication in the official gazette. More than 150 people allegedly linked to the PFI were detained or arrested in raids across seven states in September last year. A pan-India crackdown by agencies against the 16-year-old group had led to the arrest of over a hundred of its activists and seizure of several dozen properties. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) notification had said some of the PFI's founding members are the leaders of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), and the PFI has linkages with Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). Both JMB and SIMI are proscribed organisations. It said there were many instances of international linkages of the PFI with global terrorist groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts have been working covertly to increase the radicalisation of one community by promoting a sense of insecurity in the country, which is substantiated by the fact that some PFI cadres have joined international terrorist organisations, the notification claimed. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: The Popular Front of India (PFI) has moved the Supreme Court against an Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) tribunal confirming the five-year ban imposed on it by the central government. A bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi, which was scheduled to hear the plea, adjourned the matter saying the petitioner has circulated a letter for adjournment. In its petition, the PFI has challenged the March 21 order of the UAPA tribunal by which it had confirmed the September 27, 2022 decision of the Centre.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Centre had banned the PFI for five years for its alleged links with global terrorist organisations such as ISIS and trying to spread communal hatred in the country. It had declared as "unlawful association" the PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts, including Rehab India Foundation (RIF), Campus Front of India (CFI), All India Imams Council (AIIC), National Confederation of Human Rights Organization (NCHRO), National Women's Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation and Rehab Foundation, Kerala. The notification proscribing the organisation said the central government is of the firm opinion that it is necessary to declare the PFI and its associates, affiliates or fronts as "unlawful association" with immediate effect under the UAPA. It had said the notification shall, subject to any order that may be made under section 4 of the UAPA, have effect for a period of five years from the date of its publication in the official gazette. More than 150 people allegedly linked to the PFI were detained or arrested in raids across seven states in September last year. A pan-India crackdown by agencies against the 16-year-old group had led to the arrest of over a hundred of its activists and seizure of several dozen properties. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) notification had said some of the PFI's founding members are the leaders of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), and the PFI has linkages with Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). Both JMB and SIMI are proscribed organisations. It said there were many instances of international linkages of the PFI with global terrorist groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts have been working covertly to increase the radicalisation of one community by promoting a sense of insecurity in the country, which is substantiated by the fact that some PFI cadres have joined international terrorist organisations, the notification claimed. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By Express News Service NEW DELHI: A 44-year-old priest, residing in an Ashram on the campus of revered Hanumangarhi temple close to high security Ram Janmabhoomi premises in Ayodhya was found dead with his throat slit in his room on Thursday morning. The body of the deceased Sadhu Ram Saharey Das, disciple of Durlabh Das, had deep cuts on the chest and back as well. According to police sources, it seemed to be the handiwork of someone familiar with the Sadhu. However, the preliminary inquiry did not establish any forced entry into Ram Saharey Das room. As per Ayodhya Senior police superintendent Raj Karan Nayyar, Das stayed in the room of an Ashram on Hanumangarhi Temple premises with two disciples Rishabh Shukla and Govind Das who were now the key suspects of the murder. The SSP added that while Govind Das was being interrogated, Rishabh Shukla was missing. Nayyar said four teams were set up to trace the second suspect. Nayyar said they were informed about the incident around 7am on Thursday. Das body with slit throat was found after he did not turn up for morning prayers. Nayyar said Das was one of the assistant priests at Hanumangarhi Temple. Nayyar cited the initial spot examination and said it suggested Das was murdered with a sharp-edged weapon. However, the weapon of murder was yet to be recovered. Nayyar said Das had some confrontation with his disciples on Wednesday night even as police were trying to ascertain the exact reason for the murder. Weapon not recovered Ayodhya Senior police superintendent Raj Karan Nayyar cited the initial spot examination and said it suggested Das was murdered with a sharp-edged weapon. However, the weapon of murder was yet to be recovered. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: A 44-year-old priest, residing in an Ashram on the campus of revered Hanumangarhi temple close to high security Ram Janmabhoomi premises in Ayodhya was found dead with his throat slit in his room on Thursday morning. The body of the deceased Sadhu Ram Saharey Das, disciple of Durlabh Das, had deep cuts on the chest and back as well. According to police sources, it seemed to be the handiwork of someone familiar with the Sadhu. However, the preliminary inquiry did not establish any forced entry into Ram Saharey Das room. As per Ayodhya Senior police superintendent Raj Karan Nayyar, Das stayed in the room of an Ashram on Hanumangarhi Temple premises with two disciples Rishabh Shukla and Govind Das who were now the key suspects of the murder. The SSP added that while Govind Das was being interrogated, Rishabh Shukla was missing. Nayyar said four teams were set up to trace the second suspect. Nayyar said they were informed about the incident around 7am on Thursday. Das body with slit throat was found after he did not turn up for morning prayers. Nayyar said Das was one of the assistant priests at Hanumangarhi Temple. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Nayyar cited the initial spot examination and said it suggested Das was murdered with a sharp-edged weapon. However, the weapon of murder was yet to be recovered. Nayyar said Das had some confrontation with his disciples on Wednesday night even as police were trying to ascertain the exact reason for the murder. Weapon not recovered Ayodhya Senior police superintendent Raj Karan Nayyar cited the initial spot examination and said it suggested Das was murdered with a sharp-edged weapon. However, the weapon of murder was yet to be recovered. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: The future of the INDIA bloc in Uttar Pradesh seems to be in the doldrums with both the Samajwadi Party and Congress heading briskly on the path of confrontation. The ongoing war of words between the two parties over seat-sharing in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls got bitter when former MP CM Kamal Nath added fuel to the fire by asking media persons to ignore SP chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday. When Kamal Nath was asked by media persons about allegations of betrayal against the Congress levelled by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, he said: "Arre bhai chhodo Akhilesh Vakhilesh (leave questions on the likes of Akhilesh)." He added that he was getting very encouraging feedback from every pocket of the state and was certain of a convincing victory by the party in the upcoming Assembly elections. Earlier, while interacting with media persons in Shahjahanpur, Akhilesh Yadav accused the Congress of betrayal, asking who would trust the party if it behaved like this. The SP chief also claimed that some Congressmen were hand-in-glove with the BJP in MP. "If the Congress didn't want to give seats (in MP), then they should have said it clearly. Today, the SP is fighting only on seats where it has its own organisation. Now after Madhya Pradesh, I know that the INDIA alliance is for the (parliamentary) elections on a national level. If the Congress continues to behave like this, then who will trust them? If we fight with confusion in mind against the BJP, then we won't succeed," Yadav said. We would have not given them the list and would have not picked the phone calls of Congress leaders. They betrayed us. Are they making fools of us? he said. Why did Kamal Nath and Digvijay Singh keep us engaged in meetings past midnight? The Congress leaders are in a nexus with the BJP. The Congress's reply to Yadav's flurry of charges was sharp, with Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) chief Ajay Rai accusing the SP of "directly or indirectly" helping the BJP. Rai said if the SP wanted to stop the BJP in its tracks, it would have to support the Congress in MP. "Akhilesh Yadav, the public can see who is with the BJP. In Ghosi bypolls, we supported them (SP) and they won. At the same time, Bageshwar bypolls were held in Uttarakhand. They fielded their candidate there but the BJP won and Congress lost. This shows who is directly or indirectly helping the BJP. This will be proven in MP also. If the SP believes that the BJP should be stopped from winning, then they should support the Congress," he said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp LUCKNOW: The future of the INDIA bloc in Uttar Pradesh seems to be in the doldrums with both the Samajwadi Party and Congress heading briskly on the path of confrontation. The ongoing war of words between the two parties over seat-sharing in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls got bitter when former MP CM Kamal Nath added fuel to the fire by asking media persons to ignore SP chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday. When Kamal Nath was asked by media persons about allegations of betrayal against the Congress levelled by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, he said: "Arre bhai chhodo Akhilesh Vakhilesh (leave questions on the likes of Akhilesh)." He added that he was getting very encouraging feedback from every pocket of the state and was certain of a convincing victory by the party in the upcoming Assembly elections. Earlier, while interacting with media persons in Shahjahanpur, Akhilesh Yadav accused the Congress of betrayal, asking who would trust the party if it behaved like this.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The SP chief also claimed that some Congressmen were hand-in-glove with the BJP in MP. "If the Congress didn't want to give seats (in MP), then they should have said it clearly. Today, the SP is fighting only on seats where it has its own organisation. Now after Madhya Pradesh, I know that the INDIA alliance is for the (parliamentary) elections on a national level. If the Congress continues to behave like this, then who will trust them? If we fight with confusion in mind against the BJP, then we won't succeed," Yadav said. We would have not given them the list and would have not picked the phone calls of Congress leaders. They betrayed us. Are they making fools of us? he said. Why did Kamal Nath and Digvijay Singh keep us engaged in meetings past midnight? The Congress leaders are in a nexus with the BJP. The Congress's reply to Yadav's flurry of charges was sharp, with Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) chief Ajay Rai accusing the SP of "directly or indirectly" helping the BJP. Rai said if the SP wanted to stop the BJP in its tracks, it would have to support the Congress in MP. "Akhilesh Yadav, the public can see who is with the BJP. In Ghosi bypolls, we supported them (SP) and they won. At the same time, Bageshwar bypolls were held in Uttarakhand. They fielded their candidate there but the BJP won and Congress lost. This shows who is directly or indirectly helping the BJP. This will be proven in MP also. If the SP believes that the BJP should be stopped from winning, then they should support the Congress," he said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By PTI NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a PIL challenging the restoration of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha membership and imposed a cost of Rs 1 lakh on the petitioner. A bench headed by Justice BR Gavai said the petition is an abuse of the process of law as no fundamental right of the petitioner has been violated. The top court was hearing a plea filed by advocate Ashok Pandey challenging the restoration of Gandhi's membership. The Lok Sabha Secretariat had restored Gandhi's membership after the Supreme Court on August 4 stayed his conviction in a case related to a remark on the 'Modi' surname. The Congress leader, who was disqualified from the lower house in March 2023, was reinstated as Wayanad MP. BJP leader Purnesh Modi had filed a criminal defamation case against Gandhi in 2019 over his "How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?" remark made during an election rally in Kolar in Karnataka on April 13, 2019. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a PIL challenging the restoration of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha membership and imposed a cost of Rs 1 lakh on the petitioner. A bench headed by Justice BR Gavai said the petition is an abuse of the process of law as no fundamental right of the petitioner has been violated. The top court was hearing a plea filed by advocate Ashok Pandey challenging the restoration of Gandhi's membership.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Lok Sabha Secretariat had restored Gandhi's membership after the Supreme Court on August 4 stayed his conviction in a case related to a remark on the 'Modi' surname. The Congress leader, who was disqualified from the lower house in March 2023, was reinstated as Wayanad MP. BJP leader Purnesh Modi had filed a criminal defamation case against Gandhi in 2019 over his "How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?" remark made during an election rally in Kolar in Karnataka on April 13, 2019. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Ramashankar By Express News Service PATNA: Over a year after leaving NDA, is Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar already changing his spots? Nitish used a public forum on Thursday to share his warmth for the BJP and criticise the UPA government led by Manmohan Singh for not sanctioning a Central university to Bihar. Speaking at an event in Motihari, he recalled that he had proposed opening a university in Motihari, but Manmohan Singh wanted it to be in Gaya. But in 2016, the Modi government sanctioned the university at Motihari where Mahatma Gandhi started his freedom movement. Without taking anyones name and pointing towards BJP MP from Motihari Radha Mohan Singh, who was present, Nitish said all the people here are his friends and he would have a relationship with them as long as he was alive. He was speaking at a convocation ceremony attended by President Droupadi Murmu. Poll strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor, who is on a yatra in the state, read in Nitishs statement a clear indication of his U-turn and returning to the NDA. The INDIA bloc a group of 27 parties of which Nitish is a member, plans to fight the next Lok Sabha elections together to unseat the Modi government. But till date, INDIA has not even held one joint rally. Nitish had hoped to be its PM face, but INDIA apparently is not interested. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp PATNA: Over a year after leaving NDA, is Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar already changing his spots? Nitish used a public forum on Thursday to share his warmth for the BJP and criticise the UPA government led by Manmohan Singh for not sanctioning a Central university to Bihar. Speaking at an event in Motihari, he recalled that he had proposed opening a university in Motihari, but Manmohan Singh wanted it to be in Gaya. But in 2016, the Modi government sanctioned the university at Motihari where Mahatma Gandhi started his freedom movement. Without taking anyones name and pointing towards BJP MP from Motihari Radha Mohan Singh, who was present, Nitish said all the people here are his friends and he would have a relationship with them as long as he was alive. He was speaking at a convocation ceremony attended by President Droupadi Murmu.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Poll strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor, who is on a yatra in the state, read in Nitishs statement a clear indication of his U-turn and returning to the NDA. The INDIA bloc a group of 27 parties of which Nitish is a member, plans to fight the next Lok Sabha elections together to unseat the Modi government. But till date, INDIA has not even held one joint rally. Nitish had hoped to be its PM face, but INDIA apparently is not interested. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By PTI NEW DELHI: Top commanders of the Indian Army deliberated on the Russia-Ukraine war and Israel-Hamas conflict at a five-day conclave to draw relevant lessons besides focusing on ways to make the force "future ready" in line with emerging contours of threats and challenges. The situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and ways to enhance the Army's combat readiness to deal with any contingencies also figured at the Army Commanders' Conference that took place in Delhi from October 16 to 20. The apex leadership brainstormed on the current and emerging security scenarios and reviewed the operational preparedness of the Indian Army, officials said, adding they also delved into "foundational aspects" of organisational structures and evolving training regimes. The recent glacial lake burst and subsequent flash floods in Sikkim as well as the state of preparedness were also deliberated upon with a focus on instituting mechanisms for better responses to such situations. 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 conceptual-level deliberations, culminating in making important policy decisions for the Indian Army. The military leadership discussed the training philosophy and architecture for the Indian Army including digitisation and automation initiatives to make the force "future ready" in consonance with emerging contours of threats and conflicts, officials said. They said geo-strategic issues including the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict were discussed by the military leadership with the aim of drawing out relevant lessons for the Indian Army. The views of the senior commanders were taken to formulate a cogent policy in operations, training, logistics and other domains in line with the ongoing process of transformation of the Indian Army, the officials said. The discussions were carried out at the conceptual level which will pave the way for formulation of important policies for the future, they added. The apex-level conference also provided an opportunity for defence ministry officials and senior military leadership to brainstorm and carry forward a range of initiatives. "The interactions led to key takeaways in the areas of making the Short Service Commission more attractive, conducting all internal examinations in 'online' mode and mechanisms for addressing the concerns of the veterans," the Army said in a statement. The conference was addressed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Army Staff Gen Manoj Pande and Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari. In his remarks, the defence minister emphasised the need to draw lessons from the ongoing geopolitical crisis and conflict in the Middle- East highlighting the need for readiness while expecting the unexpected. He remarked that the tendency of misinterpretation of force asymmetry and underestimating the adversary shall be the defining line between victory or defeat in any conflict, the Army said. The Chief of Defence Staff articulated the national security architecture and the need for revolution in military affairs to adapt to the changing paradigm, it said. Gen Pande complimented the Army for embracing and enthusiastic participation in the ongoing change. He also called upon the senior leadership to continue pursuing the process of transformation. Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari covered the operational aspects and underscored the importance of synergy between the services for optimum operational outcomes. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: Top commanders of the Indian Army deliberated on the Russia-Ukraine war and Israel-Hamas conflict at a five-day conclave to draw relevant lessons besides focusing on ways to make the force "future ready" in line with emerging contours of threats and challenges. The situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and ways to enhance the Army's combat readiness to deal with any contingencies also figured at the Army Commanders' Conference that took place in Delhi from October 16 to 20. The apex leadership brainstormed on the current and emerging security scenarios and reviewed the operational preparedness of the Indian Army, officials said, adding they also delved into "foundational aspects" of organisational structures and evolving training regimes.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The recent glacial lake burst and subsequent flash floods in Sikkim as well as the state of preparedness were also deliberated upon with a focus on instituting mechanisms for better responses to such situations. 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 conceptual-level deliberations, culminating in making important policy decisions for the Indian Army. The military leadership discussed the training philosophy and architecture for the Indian Army including digitisation and automation initiatives to make the force "future ready" in consonance with emerging contours of threats and conflicts, officials said. They said geo-strategic issues including the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict were discussed by the military leadership with the aim of drawing out relevant lessons for the Indian Army. The views of the senior commanders were taken to formulate a cogent policy in operations, training, logistics and other domains in line with the ongoing process of transformation of the Indian Army, the officials said. The discussions were carried out at the conceptual level which will pave the way for formulation of important policies for the future, they added. The apex-level conference also provided an opportunity for defence ministry officials and senior military leadership to brainstorm and carry forward a range of initiatives. "The interactions led to key takeaways in the areas of making the Short Service Commission more attractive, conducting all internal examinations in 'online' mode and mechanisms for addressing the concerns of the veterans," the Army said in a statement. The conference was addressed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Army Staff Gen Manoj Pande and Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari. In his remarks, the defence minister emphasised the need to draw lessons from the ongoing geopolitical crisis and conflict in the Middle- East highlighting the need for readiness while expecting the unexpected. He remarked that the tendency of misinterpretation of force asymmetry and underestimating the adversary shall be the defining line between victory or defeat in any conflict, the Army said. The Chief of Defence Staff articulated the national security architecture and the need for revolution in military affairs to adapt to the changing paradigm, it said. Gen Pande complimented the Army for embracing and enthusiastic participation in the ongoing change. He also called upon the senior leadership to continue pursuing the process of transformation. Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari covered the operational aspects and underscored the importance of synergy between the services for optimum operational outcomes. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Narendra Sethi By Express News Service DEHRADUN: As many as 27 industry and business houses from India and abroad have signed agreements worth Rs 54,550 crore with the Uttarakhand government for the Global Investor Summit to be held in the state later this year. In all the meetings held with various investor groups in London, Birmingham, Delhi, and now Dubai and Abu Dhabi, under the Uttarakhand Global Investor Summit, it was clear that investors have a special attraction to come and invest in the state, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said while talking to media persons on his return from Abu Dhabi. During the two-day UAE visit, investment MoUs worth Rs 15,475 crore have been signed, the Chief Minister said. Under this, investment MoUs worth Rs 11,925 crore were signed in Dubai on the first day and Rs 3,550 crore in Abu Dhabi on the second day. Dhami made his next target clear as soon as he returned from the UAE, saying, All the agreements signed in Britain, Delhi and UAE will be implemented. The companies have promised that they will not go back on the promise of investment in Uttarakhand. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp DEHRADUN: As many as 27 industry and business houses from India and abroad have signed agreements worth Rs 54,550 crore with the Uttarakhand government for the Global Investor Summit to be held in the state later this year. In all the meetings held with various investor groups in London, Birmingham, Delhi, and now Dubai and Abu Dhabi, under the Uttarakhand Global Investor Summit, it was clear that investors have a special attraction to come and invest in the state, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said while talking to media persons on his return from Abu Dhabi. During the two-day UAE visit, investment MoUs worth Rs 15,475 crore have been signed, the Chief Minister said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Under this, investment MoUs worth Rs 11,925 crore were signed in Dubai on the first day and Rs 3,550 crore in Abu Dhabi on the second day. Dhami made his next target clear as soon as he returned from the UAE, saying, All the agreements signed in Britain, Delhi and UAE will be implemented. The companies have promised that they will not go back on the promise of investment in Uttarakhand. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp The Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2) has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) as a recipient of the regional clean hydrogen hub funding as designated in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which establishes an investment of up to $8 billion for the development of clean hydrogen projects across the country. ARCH2 will leverage diverse resources across West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky to establish a sustainable clean hydrogen hub capable of expansion and seamless integration into a broader national clean hydrogen network. Led by prime applicant Battelle, the world's largest independent applied science and technology company, ARCH2 features a premier Program Management Office team, including Allegheny Science & Technology (AST), GTI Energy, and TRC Companies. "We're thrilled the DOE chose the ARCH2 team to advance this vital path toward a clean energy future," said Lou Von Thaer, Battelle President and CEO. "We intend to lead this public-private partnership with vigor and excellence, meeting government and industry objectives while addressing technical, commercial, and social justice goals, including proving hydrogen's economic viability, in a highly transparent manner." "Clean energy - and a clean planet Earth - is vital to us all," Arria Hines, CEO of AST noted. "AST is excited to participate in the U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Hydrogen Hubs initiative, one that will guide the United States' clean energy strategy for decades to come." Further, Hines noted, "The time is right to tap into hydrogen's potential to play a key role in a clean, secure, and affordable energy future. Clean hydrogen offers opportunities to decarbonize existing energy sources along with the flexibility and scalability to meet growing national energy demand." "AST will utilize its vast experience in energy technologies and collaborate closely with DOE and ARCH2 stakeholders to safely integrate the use of clean hydrogen energy in our local communities." "GTI Energy is honored to join our ARCH2 partners in leveraging the power of innovation and collaboration to bring cleaner air, well-paying jobs, and broad economic benefits to Appalachian communities," said Paula Gant, PhD, President and CEO, GTI Energy. "The ARCH2 Hub will join other Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs as a proving ground for how industry and community together can develop cleaner energy systems that deliver direct benefits to local communities." "With our roots firmly planted in innovation 60+ years ago, TRC is proud to be part of the ARCH2 team and play a role in accelerating the clean energy transition in the U.S.," said Christopher Vincze, Chairman and CEO of TRC. "ARCH2 is a win-win for the environment and the Appalachian region with good-paying jobs in an industry poised for growth. We are thrilled to leverage our state-of-the-art, environmentally focused, and digitally powered solutions to further advance the use of Hydrogen as clean fuel." ARCH2 has come together as an impressive collaboration of dozens of industry leaders and stakeholders across the Appalachian region. Soon after the bipartisan Infrastructure Law was signed, Battelle partnered with EQT Corporation and GTI Energy to build a team to bring a hydrogen hub to the region. In parallel, the West Virginia Hydrogen Hub Coalition and the Ohio Clean Hydrogen Hub Alliance were pursuing similar efforts. The groups merged efforts based on common objectives and formed ARCH2, extending outreach efforts across the Appalachian Region. Today, ARCH2 boasts a collective of more than 200 strategic partners and stakeholders interested in developing a clean hydrogen economy in northern Appalachia. "I am so honored to announce that the U.S. Department of Energy has selected the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub for up to $925 million in federal support under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law," said Senator Joe Manchin (D - WV). "This means West Virginia and the Appalachian region will be the new epicenter of hydrogen in the United States of America. As Chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, I wrote and fought for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to include $8 billion to establish hydrogen hubs to demonstrate the production and use of clean hydrogen. Now, our region will be on the leading edge of building out the new hydrogen market while bringing good-paying jobs and new economic opportunities in West Virginia and the Appalachian region." In addition to Senator Manchin's support, ARCH2 received tremendous backing from other federal and state officials, as well as the business communities from West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania to secure this important infrastructure program for the Appalachian region. "The announcement that the ARCH2 coalition has been chosen as a new regional hydrogen fuel hub will open up new opportunities for the resource- and talent-rich Appalachian region," said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. "By choosing Appalachia, the new hydrogen hub will be where there is an abundance of natural resources including low-cost natural gas production and storage, existing pipelines and transportation networks, and vast end-use markets as well proximity to end-use markets in the Midwest and Northeast. Creating a hydrogen hub is also an important component of a diversified and reliable energy portfolio." "I am immensely proud that we have secured the approval of the ARCH2 Hydrogen Hub application by the U.S. Department of Energy," said West Virginia Governor Jim Justice. "This achievement is a testament to our commitment to shaping the future of energy production in West Virginia and reaffirms our role as an energy powerhouse for America. I extend my thanks to everyone who contributed to this remarkable success, and we stand ready to work together with our surrounding states to ensure the boundless potential of our Hydrogen Hub becomes a reality." "This represents yet another opportunity for the Appalachian region to lead in national energy production. West Virginia has a strong sense of pride in its growing energy portfolio, which includes crucial natural resources necessary for the success of a hydrogen hub," noted West Virginia Secretary of Economic Development Mitch Carmichael. "This is great news for Ohio and the Appalachian region that we can lead the nation and the world in the hydrogen industry.," said Kirt Conrad, CEO of the Stark Area Regional Transit Authority in Canton, Ohio, and Co-founder of the Ohio Clean Hydrogen Alliance. "We have been working with Battelle and our alliance partners for nearly 2 years to make this a reality and look forward to building a stronger region." The deployment of ARCH2 will support the administration's objectives of attaining net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. As the Hub delivers cleaner energy to the nation, its robust Community Benefits Plan (CBP) will implement proactive strategies to foster meaningful local engagement and produce consensus-driven benefits for the people of Appalachia. "The DOE's selection of ARCH2 reinforces the critical role natural gas, particularly Appalachian natural gas, will play in our nation's transition to a lower carbon energy future," said Toby Z. Rice, President & CEO of EQT Corporation. "EQT is proud to be a leading partner in the ARCH2 coalition, which brings together a diverse group of stakeholders with a united vision for a lower-carbon future. Our vast supply of affordable, low-emissions natural gas will enable our region to answer the world's call for cheaper, more reliable, cleaner energy while deploying innovative, commercial-scale technologies that promote the growth of our economy and improve the environment." The ARCH2 project portfolio includes a diverse group of partner companies poised to bring economic, environmental, and community benefits to Appalachia through participation in ARCH2. Key project development partners under ARCH2 include Air Liquide, The Chemours Company, CNX Resources Corp, Dominion Energy Ohio, Empire Diversified Energy, EQT Corporation, Fidelis New Energy, First Mode, Hog Lick Aggregates, Hope Gas Inc., Independence Hydrogen Inc., KeyState Energy, MPLX, Plug Power, and TC Energy. The ARCH2 consortium includes organizations spanning the hydrogen value chain, including technology organizations like the National Energy Technology Laboratory, academic institutions such as West Virginia University, Marshall University, Cleveland State University, consultants, community and labor organizations, and NGOs that will provide commercial, technical, labor, community, and programmatic leadership for the development and buildout of the hub. At its peak ARCH2 is expected to create more than 21,000 jobs including more than 18,000 in construction and more than 3,000 permanent jobs, helping ensure the Appalachian community benefits from the development and operation of the Hub. It is anticipated that negotiations with DOE/OCED on the ARCH2 award will commence in early November. For additional information on ARCH2, visit www.arch2hub.com. AST Contact Stephanie Pethtel Director of Marketing Communications 304.657.9107 spethtel@alleghenyst.com Battelle Contact Katy Delaney Director of Media Relations 614.424.7208 delaneyk@battelle.org EQT Contact Bridget McNie Director of Communications 412.720.4500 Bridget.mcnie@eqt.com GTI Energy Diane Miller Director of Marketing Communications 847.768.0683 dmiller@gti.energy State of West Virginia Contact Andy Malinoski Director, Marketing and Communications, WV Dept. of Economic Development Andy.E.Malinoski@wv.gov TRC Anne Bonelli Senior Director, Communications abonelli@trccompanies.com 303-881-8496 About Battelle Every day, the people of Battelle apply science and technology to solving what matters most. At major technology centers and national laboratories around the world, Battelle conducts research and development, designs and manufactures products, and delivers critical services for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio since its founding in 1929, Battelle serves the national security, health and life sciences, and energy and environmental industries. For more information, visit www.battelle.org. About AST AST is an energy solutions firm harnessing world-class agile expertise in applied science, energy efficiency, data analytics, and decision support tools to help build a better world. Utilizing scientists, consultants, and subject matter experts, AST delivers innovative solutions that drive clean, affordable, and sustainable energy technologies for its clients. About EQT EQT Corporation is a leading independent natural gas production company with operations focused in the cores of the Marcellus and Utica Shales in the Appalachian Basin. We are dedicated to responsibly developing our world-class asset base and being the operator of choice for our stakeholders. By leveraging a culture that prioritizes operational efficiency, technology and sustainability, we seek to continuously improve the way we produce environmentally responsible, reliable and low-cost energy. We have a longstanding commitment to the safety of our employees, contractors, and communities, and to the reduction of our overall environmental footprint. Our values are evident in the way we operate and in how we interact each day - trust, teamwork, heart, and evolution are at the center of all we do. To learn more, visit eqt.com. About GTI Energy GTI Energy is a leading technology development organization. Our trusted team works to scale impactful solutions that shape energy transitions by leveraging gases, liquids, infrastructure, and efficiency. We embrace systems thinking, innovation, and collaboration to develop, scale, and deploy the technologies needed for low-carbon, low-cost energy systems. About TRC Groundbreaker. Game changer. Innovator. TRC is a global firm providing environmentally focused and digitally powered solutions that address local needs. For more than 50 years, we have set the bar for clients who require consulting, construction, engineering, and management services, combining science with the latest technology to devise solutions that stand the test of time. TRC's almost 7,000 professionals serve a broad range of public and private clients, steering complex projects from conception to completion to help solve the toughest challenges. We break through barriers for our clients and help them follow through for sustainable results, solving the challenges of making the Earth a better place to live community by community and project by project. TRC is ranked #16 on ENR's list of the Top 500 Design Firms in the United States. Learn more at TRCCompanies.com. By Online Desk Amid the ongoing diplomatic dispute between Canada and India, Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller said that visa processing of Indians looking to come to Canada will slow down for now. In a press conference in Ottawa on October 19, Miller said that they would be significantly reducing the number of Canadian employees in India. He said that this was a result of India threatening to remove diplomatic immunity to Canadian diplomats in India. Miller said the lower staff levels will hamper the issuing of visas and permits. He also noted that in 2022, India was the top country for permanent residents, temporary foreign workers, and international students in Canada. On Thursday, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said that 41 of Canada's 62 diplomats in India have been removed, along with their dependents. Joly said exceptions have been made for 21 Canadian diplomats who will remain in India. Joly said Indias decision will impact the level of services to citizens of both countries. She said Canada is pausing in-person services in Chandigarh, Mumbai, and Bangalore. The moves come after Canadas allegations that India may have been involved in the June 2023 killing of Canadian citizen and Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in suburban Vancouver. India has accused Canada of harbouring separatists and terrorists, but dismissed the allegation of its involvement in the killing as absurd. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had previously called for a reduction in Canadian diplomats in India, saying they outnumbered India's staffing in Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last month that there were "credible allegations" of Indian involvement in the slaying of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a 45-year-old Sikh leader and plumber, who was killed by masked gunmen in June in Surrey, outside Vancouver. For years, India had said that Nijjar, a Canadian citizen born in India, had links to terrorism, an allegation Nijjar had denied. Tit for tat moves India has cancelled visas for Canadians, but Canada has not retaliated for that. India previously expelled a senior Canadian diplomat after Canada expelled a senior Indian diplomat. Trudeau has previously appeared to try to calm the diplomatic clash, telling reporters that Canada is not looking to provoke or escalate. India also indicated it would cancel various permits, such as those permitting spouses to work in India and allowing the use of diplomatic plates on cars, officials told AP. (With inputs from Associated Press) Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Amid the ongoing diplomatic dispute between Canada and India, Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller said that visa processing of Indians looking to come to Canada will slow down for now. In a press conference in Ottawa on October 19, Miller said that they would be significantly reducing the number of Canadian employees in India. He said that this was a result of India threatening to remove diplomatic immunity to Canadian diplomats in India. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Miller said the lower staff levels will hamper the issuing of visas and permits. He also noted that in 2022, India was the top country for permanent residents, temporary foreign workers, and international students in Canada. On Thursday, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said that 41 of Canada's 62 diplomats in India have been removed, along with their dependents. Joly said exceptions have been made for 21 Canadian diplomats who will remain in India. Joly said Indias decision will impact the level of services to citizens of both countries. She said Canada is pausing in-person services in Chandigarh, Mumbai, and Bangalore. The moves come after Canadas allegations that India may have been involved in the June 2023 killing of Canadian citizen and Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in suburban Vancouver. India has accused Canada of harbouring separatists and terrorists, but dismissed the allegation of its involvement in the killing as absurd. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had previously called for a reduction in Canadian diplomats in India, saying they outnumbered India's staffing in Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last month that there were "credible allegations" of Indian involvement in the slaying of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a 45-year-old Sikh leader and plumber, who was killed by masked gunmen in June in Surrey, outside Vancouver. For years, India had said that Nijjar, a Canadian citizen born in India, had links to terrorism, an allegation Nijjar had denied. Tit for tat moves India has cancelled visas for Canadians, but Canada has not retaliated for that. India previously expelled a senior Canadian diplomat after Canada expelled a senior Indian diplomat. Trudeau has previously appeared to try to calm the diplomatic clash, telling reporters that Canada is not looking to provoke or escalate. India also indicated it would cancel various permits, such as those permitting spouses to work in India and allowing the use of diplomatic plates on cars, officials told AP. (With inputs from Associated Press) Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By Express News Service BENGALURU: To stave off any possible energy crises and explore all options for probable long-term solutions, the Karnataka government, for the first time in India, is looking at blue energy the energy available from the difference in salt concentration between seawater and river water. As work on green and hydrogen energy is being looked at positively and improved upon, Energy Minister KJ George held a meeting with delegates from the Netherlands-based clean energy technology company, RedStack, including its Chairman PJFM Pieter Hack and Director Geeta Singh, and discussed about the breakthrough in renewable energy technology through blue energy. The minister told The New Indian Express: I had a meeting with a team from the Netherlands, where they explained that energy can be generated using river and seawater. They have sought support to undertake a pilot project in Mangaluru. We have told them that this will be discussed with the CM. We also told them to go to Mangaluru and take a look. George said so far this has not been done anywhere in India. Karnataka has a long coastline and many rivers. The company will bear the funding for the pilot study. At present, the government is looking at green energy generated mainly from natural resources like solar, wind or hydro. Meet on solar IP sets Energy Minister KJ George held a review meeting with senior officials from the energy department and solar irrigation pump (IP) manufacturers on Thursday. He discussed the need for solar IP sets for agriculture as it would help develop the states long-term energy security, reduce the burden on farmers and promote ecologically sustainable growth by reducing carbon footprint. George said solar IP sets will be a reliable energy source for farmers and will also be economical for them. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp BENGALURU: To stave off any possible energy crises and explore all options for probable long-term solutions, the Karnataka government, for the first time in India, is looking at blue energy the energy available from the difference in salt concentration between seawater and river water. As work on green and hydrogen energy is being looked at positively and improved upon, Energy Minister KJ George held a meeting with delegates from the Netherlands-based clean energy technology company, RedStack, including its Chairman PJFM Pieter Hack and Director Geeta Singh, and discussed about the breakthrough in renewable energy technology through blue energy. The minister told The New Indian Express: I had a meeting with a team from the Netherlands, where they explained that energy can be generated using river and seawater. They have sought support to undertake a pilot project in Mangaluru. We have told them that this will be discussed with the CM. We also told them to go to Mangaluru and take a look.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); George said so far this has not been done anywhere in India. Karnataka has a long coastline and many rivers. The company will bear the funding for the pilot study. At present, the government is looking at green energy generated mainly from natural resources like solar, wind or hydro. Meet on solar IP sets Energy Minister KJ George held a review meeting with senior officials from the energy department and solar irrigation pump (IP) manufacturers on Thursday. He discussed the need for solar IP sets for agriculture as it would help develop the states long-term energy security, reduce the burden on farmers and promote ecologically sustainable growth by reducing carbon footprint. George said solar IP sets will be a reliable energy source for farmers and will also be economical for them. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has rejected the statement by Janata Dal (S) supremo HD Deve Gowda, that Pinarayi had given full concurrence to move forward with the JD(S)- BJP alliance in Karnataka. Unleashing a scathing attack on Gowda, Pinarayi termed the statement 'factually wrong' and 'utter nonsense' that was made to justify his own political overtures. The issue came up at the CPM secretariat meeting on Friday, where Pinarayi explained that he had not given concurrence, as claimed by Gowda. He told the party leadership that he has neither met nor spoken with Gowda recently. Later in a strongly worded statement, Pinarayi said that Gowda ought to correct his absurd statement, as part of proprietary and political decency. "Janata Dal (S) has been part of the LDF for long. When the party's national leadership took a different stance, the state party chose to sever ties with the national leadership and stand by the Left. At no stage, has the CPM ever tried to interfere in the internal matters of that party, or come up with various opinions. As Chief Minister, there never arose a situation where I had to intervene in their internal affairs. That's just not our way of functioning. We cannot be held responsible for such blabberings by all and sundry. Ideally Deve Gowda should correct this absurd statement. The Kerala JDS has taken a stance that it is opposed to the BJP, and hence won't stand with the national leadership. Both JDS state president Mathew T Thomas and party minister K Krishnankutty have categorically rejected Gowda's statement," said Pinarayi. The senior CPM leader pointed out that it's not for the first time that Gowda has joined hands with the BJP. "All of us remember JDS aligning with the BJP in 2006. Gowda is someone who joined hands with the BJP, defeating his own party's ideology, just to ensure chief ministership for his son. The Janata Dal in Kerala consists of those who, led by national leader Surendra Mohan, left the party in protest against Gowda's opportunistic political stance," Pinarayi added. The chief minister further urged the Congress to not pursue Gowda's statement, so as to avoid being ridiculed. The Congress, which is trying to make political mileage out of Gowda's statement, too has supported the BJP many a time. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the Congress and BJP joined hands in Mandya to ensure victory of actor Sumalatha who's now with the BJP. "The Congress need not daydream over Gowda's statement," Pinarayi warned. Speaking to the media on Thursday, Gowda had justified his decision to align with the BJP. He said all state units of the party had given consent for the move. The JDS patriarch said the party minister in Kerala - K Krishnankutty - had understood the situation that prompted the party to move towards BJP alliance. He further added that the Kerala chief minister had given his full concurrence for the alliance. On Friday JDS state chief Mathew T Thomas also rejected Deve Gowda's statement. The JDS national committee had adopted a resolution to oppose both the BJP and the Congress. Referring to Gowda's remark, he said," This is a statement that could lead to lot of misinterpretations in Kerala politics. It could either be a statement due to misunderstanding. Or due to his age-related issues. At no stage, the chief minister would give such a concurrence. Moreover, there's no need to seek his clearance." Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has rejected the statement by Janata Dal (S) supremo HD Deve Gowda, that Pinarayi had given full concurrence to move forward with the JD(S)- BJP alliance in Karnataka. Unleashing a scathing attack on Gowda, Pinarayi termed the statement 'factually wrong' and 'utter nonsense' that was made to justify his own political overtures. The issue came up at the CPM secretariat meeting on Friday, where Pinarayi explained that he had not given concurrence, as claimed by Gowda. He told the party leadership that he has neither met nor spoken with Gowda recently. Later in a strongly worded statement, Pinarayi said that Gowda ought to correct his absurd statement, as part of proprietary and political decency. "Janata Dal (S) has been part of the LDF for long. When the party's national leadership took a different stance, the state party chose to sever ties with the national leadership and stand by the Left. At no stage, has the CPM ever tried to interfere in the internal matters of that party, or come up with various opinions. As Chief Minister, there never arose a situation where I had to intervene in their internal affairs. That's just not our way of functioning. We cannot be held responsible for such blabberings by all and sundry. Ideally Deve Gowda should correct this absurd statement. The Kerala JDS has taken a stance that it is opposed to the BJP, and hence won't stand with the national leadership. Both JDS state president Mathew T Thomas and party minister K Krishnankutty have categorically rejected Gowda's statement," said Pinarayi.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The senior CPM leader pointed out that it's not for the first time that Gowda has joined hands with the BJP. "All of us remember JDS aligning with the BJP in 2006. Gowda is someone who joined hands with the BJP, defeating his own party's ideology, just to ensure chief ministership for his son. The Janata Dal in Kerala consists of those who, led by national leader Surendra Mohan, left the party in protest against Gowda's opportunistic political stance," Pinarayi added. The chief minister further urged the Congress to not pursue Gowda's statement, so as to avoid being ridiculed. The Congress, which is trying to make political mileage out of Gowda's statement, too has supported the BJP many a time. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the Congress and BJP joined hands in Mandya to ensure victory of actor Sumalatha who's now with the BJP. "The Congress need not daydream over Gowda's statement," Pinarayi warned. Speaking to the media on Thursday, Gowda had justified his decision to align with the BJP. He said all state units of the party had given consent for the move. The JDS patriarch said the party minister in Kerala - K Krishnankutty - had understood the situation that prompted the party to move towards BJP alliance. He further added that the Kerala chief minister had given his full concurrence for the alliance. On Friday JDS state chief Mathew T Thomas also rejected Deve Gowda's statement. The JDS national committee had adopted a resolution to oppose both the BJP and the Congress. Referring to Gowda's remark, he said," This is a statement that could lead to lot of misinterpretations in Kerala politics. It could either be a statement due to misunderstanding. Or due to his age-related issues. At no stage, the chief minister would give such a concurrence. Moreover, there's no need to seek his clearance." Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By Associated Press KHAN YOUNIS: Israel bombarded the Gaza Strip early Friday, hitting areas where Palestinians had been told to seek safety, and it began evacuating a sizable Israeli town near the border with Lebanon, the latest sign of a potential ground invasion of Gaza that could trigger regional turmoil. Amid the fighting, Israel's defence minister said the country did not have plans to maintain control over civilians in Gaza after its war against the Hamas militant group. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant's comments to lawmakers were the first time a top Israeli official discussed its long-term plans for Gaza. Gallant said Israel expected a three-phase war, starting with airstrikes and ground manoeuvres. It anticipates then defeating pockets of resistance, and finally, ceasing Israel's "responsibility for life in the Gaza Strip." FOLLOW LIVE UPDATES ON ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR HERE Palestinians in Gaza reported heavy airstrikes in Khan Younis, a town in the territory's south, and ambulances carrying men, women and children streamed into the local Nasser Hospital. The hospital, Gaza's second largest, already was overflowing with patients and people seeking shelter. The Israeli military said it had struck more than 100 targets across Gaza linked to the territory's Hamas rulers, including a tunnel and arms depots. On Thursday, Gallant ordered ground troops to prepare to see Gaza "from the inside," hinting at a ground offensive aimed at crushing Gaza's militant Hamas rulers nearly two weeks after their bloody incursion into Israel. Officials have given no timetable for such an operation. Over a million people have been displaced in Gaza, with many heeding Israel's orders to evacuate the northern part of the sealed-off enclave on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Though Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had called areas in south Gaza "safe zones" earlier this week, Israeli military spokesman Nir Dinar said Friday: "There are no safe zones." ALSO READ | Humanitarian aid for Gaza 'in next day or so' as Israel invasion looms UN officials said that with the bombings across all of Gaza, some Palestinians who had fled the north appeared to be going back. "The strikes, coupled with extremely difficult living conditions in the south, appear to have pushed some to return to the north, despite the continuing heavy bombing there," Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN human rights office, said. Gaza's overwhelmed hospitals are rationing their dwindling medical supplies and fuel for generators, as authorities work out logistics for a desperately needed aid delivery from Egypt. Doctors in darkened wards across Gaza performed surgeries by the light of mobile phones and used vinegar to treat infected wounds. Palestinians stand around the bodies of the Awaja family killed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip in Rafah, Oct. 20, 2023. (Photo | AP) The deal to get aid into Gaza through the territory's only entry point not controlled by Israel remained fragile. Israel said the supplies could only go to civilians and that it would "thwart" any diversions by Hamas. More than 200 trucks and some 3,000 tons of aid were positioned at or near the crossing in Rafah, a city that straddles northern Egypt and southern Gaza. Work began Friday to repair the road at the border that had been damaged in airstrikes, with trucks unloading gravel and bulldozers and other road repair equipment filling in large craters. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited the crossing Friday and appealed for the quick movement of aid into Gaza, calling it "the difference between life and death." ALSO READ | Israeli airstrikes continue ahead of ground assault as Gaza awaits aid Israel has evacuated its own communities near Gaza and Lebanon, putting residents up in hotels elsewhere in the country. The Defense Ministry announced evacuation plans Friday for Kiryat Shmona, a town of more than 20,000 residents near the Lebanese border. Three Israelis including a 5-year-old girl were wounded in a rocket attack there Thursday, according to Israeli health services. Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group, which has a massive arsenal of long-range rockets, has traded fire with Israel along the border on a near-daily basis and hinted it might join the war if Israel seeks to annihilate Hamas. Israel's archfoe Iran supports both armed groups. The violence in Gaza has also sparked protests across the region, including in Arab countries allied with the US Those demonstrations could flare anew Friday following weekly Muslim prayers. In an address from the Oval Office on Thursday, US President Joe Biden again pledged unwavering support for Israel's security, while saying the world "can't ignore the humanity of innocent Palestinians" in Gaza. Speaking hours after returning to Washington from an urgent visit to Israel, Biden linked the current war in Gaza to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin "both want to completely annihilate a neighbouring democracy." Biden said he was sending an "urgent budget request" to Congress on Friday, to cover emergency military aid to both Israel and Ukraine. ALSO READ | How US foreign policy has played a big role in the Israel-Hamas war Meanwhile, an unclassified US intelligence assessment delivered to Congress estimated casualties in an explosion at a Gaza City hospital this week on the "low end" of 100 to 300 deaths. The death toll "still reflects a staggering loss of life," said the report, seen by The Associated Press. It said intelligence officials were still assessing the evidence and their casualty estimate may evolve. Wounded Palestinians arrive at the al-Shifa hospital, on a truck, following Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City, central Gaza Strip, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. (Photo | AP) The report echoed earlier assessments by US officials that the blast at the al-Ahli hospital was not caused by an Israeli airstrike, as the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza initially reported. Israel has presented video, audio and other evidence it says proves the blast was caused by a rocket misfired by Palestinian militants. The AP has not independently verified any of the claims or evidence released by the parties. An Israeli airstrike hit a Greek Orthodox church housing displaced Palestinians near the hospital late Thursday. The Israeli military said it had targeted a Hamas command and control centre nearby, causing damage to a church wall. Gaza's Hamas-run Health Ministry said 16 Palestinian Christians were killed. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchy of Jerusalem condemned the attack and said it would "not abandon its religious and humanitarian duty" to provide assistance. The Israeli military has relentlessly attacked Gaza in retaliation for the devastating Oct. 7 Hamas attack. ALSO READ | From Northeast to Israel, an Indo-Jewish tribal community's role in the war Palestinian militants have meanwhile launched unrelenting rocket attacks into Israel more than 6,900, according to Israel and tensions have flared in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Thirteen Palestinians, including five minors, were killed Thursday during a battle with Israeli troops in which Israel called in an airstrike, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. An Israeli border police officer was killed in the fighting, Israel said. The Gaza Health Ministry said 4,137 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, the majority of women, children and older adults. Over 13,000 people were injured, and another 1,300 were believed buried under rubble, authorities said. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly civilians slain during Hamas' deadly incursion. Roughly 200 others were abducted. The Israeli military said Thursday it had notified the families of 203 captives. ALSO READ | Old Twitter vs X: Israel-Gaza war spotlights 'information crisis' In a fiery speech on Thursday to Israeli infantry soldiers on the Gaza border, Gallant, the defence minister, urged them to "be ready" to move in. Israel has called up some 360,000 reserves and massed tens of thousands of troops along the Gaza border. "Whoever sees Gaza from afar now, will see it from the inside," he said. "It might take a week, a month, two months until we destroy them," he added, referring to Hamas. With supplies running low because of a complete Israeli siege, some Gaza residents are down to one meal a day and drinking dirty water. Egypt and Israel were still negotiating the entry of fuel for hospitals. Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Hamas has stolen fuel from UN facilities and Israel wants assurances that won't happen again. The Gaza Health Ministry has pleaded with gas stations to give fuel to hospitals, and a UN agency also donated some of its last fuel. Gaza's sole power plant shut down last week, forcing Palestinians to rely on generators, and no fuel has gone in since the start of the war. The agency's donation to Gaza City's Shifa Hospital, the territory's largest, would "keep us going for another few hours," said Mohammed Abu Selmia, the hospital director. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp KHAN YOUNIS: Israel bombarded the Gaza Strip early Friday, hitting areas where Palestinians had been told to seek safety, and it began evacuating a sizable Israeli town near the border with Lebanon, the latest sign of a potential ground invasion of Gaza that could trigger regional turmoil. Amid the fighting, Israel's defence minister said the country did not have plans to maintain control over civilians in Gaza after its war against the Hamas militant group. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant's comments to lawmakers were the first time a top Israeli official discussed its long-term plans for Gaza. Gallant said Israel expected a three-phase war, starting with airstrikes and ground manoeuvres. It anticipates then defeating pockets of resistance, and finally, ceasing Israel's "responsibility for life in the Gaza Strip."googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); FOLLOW LIVE UPDATES ON ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR HERE Palestinians in Gaza reported heavy airstrikes in Khan Younis, a town in the territory's south, and ambulances carrying men, women and children streamed into the local Nasser Hospital. The hospital, Gaza's second largest, already was overflowing with patients and people seeking shelter. The Israeli military said it had struck more than 100 targets across Gaza linked to the territory's Hamas rulers, including a tunnel and arms depots. On Thursday, Gallant ordered ground troops to prepare to see Gaza "from the inside," hinting at a ground offensive aimed at crushing Gaza's militant Hamas rulers nearly two weeks after their bloody incursion into Israel. Officials have given no timetable for such an operation. Over a million people have been displaced in Gaza, with many heeding Israel's orders to evacuate the northern part of the sealed-off enclave on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Though Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had called areas in south Gaza "safe zones" earlier this week, Israeli military spokesman Nir Dinar said Friday: "There are no safe zones." ALSO READ | Humanitarian aid for Gaza 'in next day or so' as Israel invasion looms UN officials said that with the bombings across all of Gaza, some Palestinians who had fled the north appeared to be going back. "The strikes, coupled with extremely difficult living conditions in the south, appear to have pushed some to return to the north, despite the continuing heavy bombing there," Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN human rights office, said. Gaza's overwhelmed hospitals are rationing their dwindling medical supplies and fuel for generators, as authorities work out logistics for a desperately needed aid delivery from Egypt. Doctors in darkened wards across Gaza performed surgeries by the light of mobile phones and used vinegar to treat infected wounds. Palestinians stand around the bodies of the Awaja family killed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip in Rafah, Oct. 20, 2023. (Photo | AP) The deal to get aid into Gaza through the territory's only entry point not controlled by Israel remained fragile. Israel said the supplies could only go to civilians and that it would "thwart" any diversions by Hamas. More than 200 trucks and some 3,000 tons of aid were positioned at or near the crossing in Rafah, a city that straddles northern Egypt and southern Gaza. Work began Friday to repair the road at the border that had been damaged in airstrikes, with trucks unloading gravel and bulldozers and other road repair equipment filling in large craters. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited the crossing Friday and appealed for the quick movement of aid into Gaza, calling it "the difference between life and death." ALSO READ | Israeli airstrikes continue ahead of ground assault as Gaza awaits aid Israel has evacuated its own communities near Gaza and Lebanon, putting residents up in hotels elsewhere in the country. The Defense Ministry announced evacuation plans Friday for Kiryat Shmona, a town of more than 20,000 residents near the Lebanese border. Three Israelis including a 5-year-old girl were wounded in a rocket attack there Thursday, according to Israeli health services. Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group, which has a massive arsenal of long-range rockets, has traded fire with Israel along the border on a near-daily basis and hinted it might join the war if Israel seeks to annihilate Hamas. Israel's archfoe Iran supports both armed groups. The violence in Gaza has also sparked protests across the region, including in Arab countries allied with the US Those demonstrations could flare anew Friday following weekly Muslim prayers. In an address from the Oval Office on Thursday, US President Joe Biden again pledged unwavering support for Israel's security, while saying the world "can't ignore the humanity of innocent Palestinians" in Gaza. Speaking hours after returning to Washington from an urgent visit to Israel, Biden linked the current war in Gaza to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin "both want to completely annihilate a neighbouring democracy." Biden said he was sending an "urgent budget request" to Congress on Friday, to cover emergency military aid to both Israel and Ukraine. ALSO READ | How US foreign policy has played a big role in the Israel-Hamas war Meanwhile, an unclassified US intelligence assessment delivered to Congress estimated casualties in an explosion at a Gaza City hospital this week on the "low end" of 100 to 300 deaths. The death toll "still reflects a staggering loss of life," said the report, seen by The Associated Press. It said intelligence officials were still assessing the evidence and their casualty estimate may evolve. Wounded Palestinians arrive at the al-Shifa hospital, on a truck, following Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City, central Gaza Strip, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. (Photo | AP) The report echoed earlier assessments by US officials that the blast at the al-Ahli hospital was not caused by an Israeli airstrike, as the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza initially reported. Israel has presented video, audio and other evidence it says proves the blast was caused by a rocket misfired by Palestinian militants. The AP has not independently verified any of the claims or evidence released by the parties. An Israeli airstrike hit a Greek Orthodox church housing displaced Palestinians near the hospital late Thursday. The Israeli military said it had targeted a Hamas command and control centre nearby, causing damage to a church wall. Gaza's Hamas-run Health Ministry said 16 Palestinian Christians were killed. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchy of Jerusalem condemned the attack and said it would "not abandon its religious and humanitarian duty" to provide assistance. The Israeli military has relentlessly attacked Gaza in retaliation for the devastating Oct. 7 Hamas attack. ALSO READ | From Northeast to Israel, an Indo-Jewish tribal community's role in the war Palestinian militants have meanwhile launched unrelenting rocket attacks into Israel more than 6,900, according to Israel and tensions have flared in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Thirteen Palestinians, including five minors, were killed Thursday during a battle with Israeli troops in which Israel called in an airstrike, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. An Israeli border police officer was killed in the fighting, Israel said. The Gaza Health Ministry said 4,137 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, the majority of women, children and older adults. Over 13,000 people were injured, and another 1,300 were believed buried under rubble, authorities said. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly civilians slain during Hamas' deadly incursion. Roughly 200 others were abducted. The Israeli military said Thursday it had notified the families of 203 captives. ALSO READ | Old Twitter vs X: Israel-Gaza war spotlights 'information crisis' In a fiery speech on Thursday to Israeli infantry soldiers on the Gaza border, Gallant, the defence minister, urged them to "be ready" to move in. Israel has called up some 360,000 reserves and massed tens of thousands of troops along the Gaza border. "Whoever sees Gaza from afar now, will see it from the inside," he said. "It might take a week, a month, two months until we destroy them," he added, referring to Hamas. With supplies running low because of a complete Israeli siege, some Gaza residents are down to one meal a day and drinking dirty water. Egypt and Israel were still negotiating the entry of fuel for hospitals. Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Hamas has stolen fuel from UN facilities and Israel wants assurances that won't happen again. The Gaza Health Ministry has pleaded with gas stations to give fuel to hospitals, and a UN agency also donated some of its last fuel. Gaza's sole power plant shut down last week, forcing Palestinians to rely on generators, and no fuel has gone in since the start of the war. The agency's donation to Gaza City's Shifa Hospital, the territory's largest, would "keep us going for another few hours," said Mohammed Abu Selmia, the hospital director. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By AFP LONDON: Britain's ruling Conservative Party lost two parliament seats to Labour on Friday, another ominous setback for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his party ahead of a general election expected next year. The by-election results -- the latest in a string of traditionally safe Tory seats lost to rival parties in recent years -- saw Labour overturn huge majorities to further fuel hopes of a return to power after nearly 14 years in opposition. Labour had played down its prospects in the Conservatives' previously "super safe" seats of Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire, both in central England, which became vacant after their MPs quit, including one following sexual misconduct allegations. But Britain's ailing economy, the worst cost-of-living crisis in decades and several years of scandal and tumult within the Tories helped trigger the historic outcome. In Mid Bedfordshire, a Conservative-held seat for almost a century, Labour overturned a majority of nearly 25,000 -- the biggest swing at a by-election since 1945. Jubilant Labour leader Keir Starmer hailed the "phenomenal results" as showing his party "is back in the service of working people and redrawing the political map". "Winning in these Tory strongholds shows that people overwhelmingly want change and they're ready to put their faith in our changed Labour Party to deliver it," he added, ahead of a visit to Tamworth. 'Pointer' Polling expert John Curtice said the results were "extremely bad news" for the Conservatives and suggested they will lose the next general election. "It is a pointer that, unless the Conservatives can fairly dramatically and fairly radically turn things around, then they are in truth staring defeat in the face," he added. Sunak, who is visiting the Middle East following the latest outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Hamas, was yet to comment on the losses. Ahead of the contests, his press secretary had sought to downplay the Tories' prospects, labelling by-elections typically "tough for incumbent governments". Sunak has recently made several policy shifts, including cancelling part of a costly high-speed rail link and delaying measures aimed at helping the UK achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. He pitched the moves as showing he is a leader willing to take tough decisions in the long-term, despite criticism they were aimed more at drawing dividing lines with Labour. Former Conservative cabinet member Robert Buckland said the by-elections showed he needed to focus on core issues that matter to voters. "I'm looking for serious, grown-up approaches to the issues that really matter -- on the economy, on housing, on the future for our young people," he told the BBC. As well as the two safe seats lost Friday, the Tories saw a 20,000 majority overturned by Labour in a July by-election, while the Liberal Democrats have snatched several Conservative seats since 2019. Labour have also been leading national polls by double-digit margins for over a year. 'Had enough' The winning candidates in this week's contests will now take their places on Labour's benches in the House of Commons, where the Tories still hold a large overall majority. The Tamworth poll was triggered when Chris Pincher, who had the seat since 2010, quit after being found to have groped two men in an "egregious case of sexual misconduct". Then-prime minister Boris Johnson's handling of the case led to a raft of ministerial resignations that spelt the beginning of the end of his premiership. The Mid Bedfordshire poll was called when former culture secretary Nadine Dorries, a Johnson loyalist who blames Sunak for his political downfall, quit her seat. She accused the new prime minister of having abandoned "the fundamental principles of conservatism". Sunak succeeded Liz Truss as prime minister a year ago despite having lost a Tory leadership contest to her months earlier, after Truss' short-lived tenure rocked financial markets. He has struggled to win the support of former Johnson allies and others within his party, as well as the wider electorate. Labour candidate Alistair Strathern won in Mid Bedfordshire by 1,192 votes. He said the result proved that "nowhere is off limits for this Labour Party". Sarah Edwards, who won in Tamworth by a majority of 1,316, said voters had sent a message that "they have had enough of this failed government that has crashed the economy and destroyed public services". Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp LONDON: Britain's ruling Conservative Party lost two parliament seats to Labour on Friday, another ominous setback for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his party ahead of a general election expected next year. The by-election results -- the latest in a string of traditionally safe Tory seats lost to rival parties in recent years -- saw Labour overturn huge majorities to further fuel hopes of a return to power after nearly 14 years in opposition. Labour had played down its prospects in the Conservatives' previously "super safe" seats of Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire, both in central England, which became vacant after their MPs quit, including one following sexual misconduct allegations.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); But Britain's ailing economy, the worst cost-of-living crisis in decades and several years of scandal and tumult within the Tories helped trigger the historic outcome. In Mid Bedfordshire, a Conservative-held seat for almost a century, Labour overturned a majority of nearly 25,000 -- the biggest swing at a by-election since 1945. Jubilant Labour leader Keir Starmer hailed the "phenomenal results" as showing his party "is back in the service of working people and redrawing the political map". "Winning in these Tory strongholds shows that people overwhelmingly want change and they're ready to put their faith in our changed Labour Party to deliver it," he added, ahead of a visit to Tamworth. 'Pointer' Polling expert John Curtice said the results were "extremely bad news" for the Conservatives and suggested they will lose the next general election. "It is a pointer that, unless the Conservatives can fairly dramatically and fairly radically turn things around, then they are in truth staring defeat in the face," he added. Sunak, who is visiting the Middle East following the latest outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Hamas, was yet to comment on the losses. Ahead of the contests, his press secretary had sought to downplay the Tories' prospects, labelling by-elections typically "tough for incumbent governments". Sunak has recently made several policy shifts, including cancelling part of a costly high-speed rail link and delaying measures aimed at helping the UK achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. He pitched the moves as showing he is a leader willing to take tough decisions in the long-term, despite criticism they were aimed more at drawing dividing lines with Labour. Former Conservative cabinet member Robert Buckland said the by-elections showed he needed to focus on core issues that matter to voters. "I'm looking for serious, grown-up approaches to the issues that really matter -- on the economy, on housing, on the future for our young people," he told the BBC. As well as the two safe seats lost Friday, the Tories saw a 20,000 majority overturned by Labour in a July by-election, while the Liberal Democrats have snatched several Conservative seats since 2019. Labour have also been leading national polls by double-digit margins for over a year. 'Had enough' The winning candidates in this week's contests will now take their places on Labour's benches in the House of Commons, where the Tories still hold a large overall majority. The Tamworth poll was triggered when Chris Pincher, who had the seat since 2010, quit after being found to have groped two men in an "egregious case of sexual misconduct". Then-prime minister Boris Johnson's handling of the case led to a raft of ministerial resignations that spelt the beginning of the end of his premiership. The Mid Bedfordshire poll was called when former culture secretary Nadine Dorries, a Johnson loyalist who blames Sunak for his political downfall, quit her seat. She accused the new prime minister of having abandoned "the fundamental principles of conservatism". Sunak succeeded Liz Truss as prime minister a year ago despite having lost a Tory leadership contest to her months earlier, after Truss' short-lived tenure rocked financial markets. He has struggled to win the support of former Johnson allies and others within his party, as well as the wider electorate. Labour candidate Alistair Strathern won in Mid Bedfordshire by 1,192 votes. He said the result proved that "nowhere is off limits for this Labour Party". Sarah Edwards, who won in Tamworth by a majority of 1,316, said voters had sent a message that "they have had enough of this failed government that has crashed the economy and destroyed public services". Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By Associated Press WHEATON, Ill.: A suburban Chicago man has been charged with two hate crimes for allegedly verbally abusing and threatening to shoot two Muslim men, a prosecutor said Thursday. Larry York, 46, of Lombard, was denied pretrial release during a court hearing Thursday, DuPage County States Attorney Robert Berlin said. York confronted the victims and cursed at them Tuesday night at an apartment complex, where one of the victims had gone to meet a friend, Berlin said. While one man was seated in his car waiting for his friend, York initially approached him and asked the victim what he was doing there and began swearing at him and telling him he didnt belong in this country and to leave, Berlin said. York punched the mans car window and walked to the lobby of the building, where the second victim was leaving an elevator. York began swearing at the second man and threatened to beat him, Berlin said. A short time later, while one of the men sat on a bench outside the building, York again approached the men and twice lifted the opposite end of the bench, causing the seated man to fall to the ground, the prosecutor said. York also allegedly told the men that he called four of his friends to come over and shoot the two men. The violence occurred amid heightened fears that the war between Israel and Hamas is sparking violence in the United States. The confrontation came three days after authorities say a 6-year-old Palestinian American boy, Wadea Al Fayoume, was stabbed 26 times by his landlord in suburban Chicago. In California last week, flyers spreading anti-Jewish rhetoric were left in neighborhoods and on vehicles in the city of Orange. And in Fresno, police said a man suspected of breaking windows and leaving an anti-Jewish note at a bakery also is a person of interest in the vandalism of a local synagogue. York was arrested Wednesday at a Lombard bar. ALSO READ | Mourners in heavily Palestinian Chicago suburb remember Muslim boy killed as kind, energetic Yorks attorney, assistant public defender Michael Orescanin, argued in court his client was a moderate risk and could wear an alcohol monitor. He said York was intoxicated at the time, thought the victims were trying to enter the building illegally, and that, perhaps, the victims instigated the conflict. A telephone message seeking further comment was left for Orescanin late Thursday afternoon at the DuPage County Public Defenders Office. Hate crimes have no place in a civilized society, Berlin said in a news release. The allegations against Mr. York are extremely disturbing and in DuPage County we have no tolerance whatsoever for such vitriolic actions. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp WHEATON, Ill.: A suburban Chicago man has been charged with two hate crimes for allegedly verbally abusing and threatening to shoot two Muslim men, a prosecutor said Thursday. Larry York, 46, of Lombard, was denied pretrial release during a court hearing Thursday, DuPage County States Attorney Robert Berlin said. York confronted the victims and cursed at them Tuesday night at an apartment complex, where one of the victims had gone to meet a friend, Berlin said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); While one man was seated in his car waiting for his friend, York initially approached him and asked the victim what he was doing there and began swearing at him and telling him he didnt belong in this country and to leave, Berlin said. York punched the mans car window and walked to the lobby of the building, where the second victim was leaving an elevator. York began swearing at the second man and threatened to beat him, Berlin said. A short time later, while one of the men sat on a bench outside the building, York again approached the men and twice lifted the opposite end of the bench, causing the seated man to fall to the ground, the prosecutor said. York also allegedly told the men that he called four of his friends to come over and shoot the two men. The violence occurred amid heightened fears that the war between Israel and Hamas is sparking violence in the United States. The confrontation came three days after authorities say a 6-year-old Palestinian American boy, Wadea Al Fayoume, was stabbed 26 times by his landlord in suburban Chicago. In California last week, flyers spreading anti-Jewish rhetoric were left in neighborhoods and on vehicles in the city of Orange. And in Fresno, police said a man suspected of breaking windows and leaving an anti-Jewish note at a bakery also is a person of interest in the vandalism of a local synagogue. York was arrested Wednesday at a Lombard bar. ALSO READ | Mourners in heavily Palestinian Chicago suburb remember Muslim boy killed as kind, energetic Yorks attorney, assistant public defender Michael Orescanin, argued in court his client was a moderate risk and could wear an alcohol monitor. He said York was intoxicated at the time, thought the victims were trying to enter the building illegally, and that, perhaps, the victims instigated the conflict. A telephone message seeking further comment was left for Orescanin late Thursday afternoon at the DuPage County Public Defenders Office. Hate crimes have no place in a civilized society, Berlin said in a news release. The allegations against Mr. York are extremely disturbing and in DuPage County we have no tolerance whatsoever for such vitriolic actions. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By PTI PESHAWAR: Four Pakistani soldiers and eight terrorists were killed in two separate encounters during cleanup operations in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, the army said on Friday. Six terrorists and four soldiers were killed in the ensuing gun battle when forces raided a terrorist's compound in Garyum area of North Waziristan tribal district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army said. "Wanted terrorist Hazrat Zaman alias Khwaray Mulla was also assassinated in the operation," it said. In another incident, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants attacked a police party in Nowshera district and two terrorists were killed. The police party was on its way to recover explosives dumped underground after a tip-off by a detained militant. Earlier on October 17, two Pakistani soldiers and two terrorists were killed in two fierce encounters between troops and militants in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp PESHAWAR: Four Pakistani soldiers and eight terrorists were killed in two separate encounters during cleanup operations in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, the army said on Friday. Six terrorists and four soldiers were killed in the ensuing gun battle when forces raided a terrorist's compound in Garyum area of North Waziristan tribal district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army said. "Wanted terrorist Hazrat Zaman alias Khwaray Mulla was also assassinated in the operation," it said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); In another incident, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants attacked a police party in Nowshera district and two terrorists were killed. The police party was on its way to recover explosives dumped underground after a tip-off by a detained militant. Earlier on October 17, two Pakistani soldiers and two terrorists were killed in two fierce encounters between troops and militants in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By AFP RAFAH: Trucks stuffed with international aid for Gaza should be rolling "in the next day or so," the United Nations said Friday, with Palestinians desperate for life-saving supplies after relentless bombing from Israel, still reeling from its bloodiest-ever attack. "We are in deep and advanced negotiations with all relevant sides to ensure that an aid operation in Gaza starts as quickly as possible... a first delivery is due to start in the next day or so," the UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said, quoted by his spokesman Jens Laerke in Geneva. Laerke told reporters: "I do not have an exact time for when these movements will take place, of course, with the hope that they can begin as soon as possible, in a way that is safe, secure and hopefully sustained...We need to have a mechanism in place whereby this can be driven into southern Gaza. That does not take away from our call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire." FOLLOW LIVE UPDATES ON ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR HERE Desperately needed international aid piled up Friday in Egypt near Gaza, with Palestinians in dire need of food and water after relentless bombing by Israel, still reeling from the bloodiest attack in its history. The UN says more than one million of Gaza's 2.4 million people have been displaced and that the humanitarian situation is worsening by the day. Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas after the Islamist militant group launched an unprecedented raid from the Gaza Strip on October 7, killing at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated or burned to death, according to Israeli officials. Hamas gunmen also kidnapped nearly 200 hostages including foreigners from around two dozen countries ranging from Paraguay to Tanzania. In response, Israeli warplanes have levelled entire city blocks in Gaza in preparation for a ground invasion they say is coming soon. More than 3,785 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have died in the bombing, according to the latest toll from the Hamas-run health ministry. The situation inside Gaza is "beyond catastrophic", said Sara Alzawqari, UNICEF spokeswoman for the Gulf. "Time is running out and the numbers of casualties amongst children are rising." Egyptian state-linked broadcaster Al Qahera News had said the Rafah crossing -- the only route into Gaza -- would open on Friday, but Cairo later said it needed more time to repair roads. ALSO READ | Israeli airstrikes continue ahead of ground assault as Gaza awaits aid Medicine, water purifiers and blankets were being unloaded at El Arish airport near Gaza, an AFP reporter saw, with Ahmed Ali, head of the Egyptian Red Crescent, saying he was getting "two to three planes of aid a day." Raising some hope aid could soon flow, Egypt has removed concrete blocks on the only route into Gaza, a security source told AFP. Egypt is still fixing bomb-damaged roads and on Friday "vehicles and Egyptian equipment went in to repair the road on the Palestinian side", witnesses told AFP. The World Health Organization's emergencies director has called a deal struck by US President Joe Biden to allow in 20 trucks "a drop in the ocean of need." "It should be 2,000 trucks," said Michael Ryan. 'Harsh blows' Within Israel, still coming to terms with the deadliest attack in its 75-year history, the drumbeat of war was growing louder, as leaders rallied troops for a ground offensive. Clad in body armour, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu embraced front-line troops near Gaza, urging them to "fight like lions" and "win with full force." Fists clenched and voice raised, Netanyahu told cheering soldiers: "We will deal harsh blows to our enemies in order to achieve victory." Defence Minister Yoav Gallant also toured the front line, telling some of the tens of thousands of troops awaiting the ground invasion that "the order will come soon." "Right now you see Gaza from afar, soon you will see it from the inside," said Gallant. Israeli jets struck more than 100 Hamas targets overnight, killing at least one Hamas operative, the army said Friday. The horror of what Israel suffered on October 7 and the following days was still emerging, as traumatised residents recounted their stories. ALSO READ | From Northeast to Israel, an Indo-Jewish tribal community's role in the war Shachar Butler, a security chief at the Nir Oz kibbutz, where Hamas militants killed or kidnapped a quarter of the 400 residents, recalls more than a dozen gunmen spraying bullets indiscriminately and lobbing grenades at homes. "It's unimaginable," the 40-year-old told AFP as part of a trip organised by the Israeli military. "Anytime someone tried to touch my window, I shot him," he said. "The people who came out got kidnapped, killed, executed, slaughtered." Butler estimated as many as 200 militants attacked the kibbutz, entering from three sides before going house to house. Homes there were still charred with burned personal belongings strewn everywhere. Israel says around 1,500 Hamas fighters were killed in clashes before its army regained control of the areas under attack. Holding the world together During a rare address from the Oval Office, Biden urged the United States to take the lead in supporting Israel and Ukraine, saying he would make an "urgent" request to Congress for aid later Friday. "American leadership is what holds the world together," Biden said in just his second primetime speech from behind the historic Resolute Desk. ALSO READ | Old Twitter vs X: Israel-Gaza war spotlights 'information crisis' Fresh from a whirlwind trip to Israel this week, Biden is hoping to staunch the possibility of a wider Middle East war. The United States has already moved two aircraft carriers into the eastern Mediterranean to deter Iran or Lebanon's Hezbollah, both allies of Hamas, from getting involved. But fears of a wider conflagration are growing, with Israel announcing plans to evacuate the northern city of Kiryat Shmona after days of clashes with Hezbollah fighters along the border with Lebanon. The conflict has inflamed passions across the region, and authorities are bracing for mass protests in several countries, with Hamas urging demonstrators to target Israeli and US embassies. Meanwhile, Gaza students in Egypt told AFP of their nightmare watching events unfold from far away. Haya Shehab, 21, learned from an Instagram post that her extended family's home had been bombed, killing 45 people -- dozens of them cousins. "Just like that, 45 of us gone," said Shehab, who studies at a private university in Cairo. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp RAFAH: Trucks stuffed with international aid for Gaza should be rolling "in the next day or so," the United Nations said Friday, with Palestinians desperate for life-saving supplies after relentless bombing from Israel, still reeling from its bloodiest-ever attack. "We are in deep and advanced negotiations with all relevant sides to ensure that an aid operation in Gaza starts as quickly as possible... a first delivery is due to start in the next day or so," the UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said, quoted by his spokesman Jens Laerke in Geneva. Laerke told reporters: "I do not have an exact time for when these movements will take place, of course, with the hope that they can begin as soon as possible, in a way that is safe, secure and hopefully sustained...We need to have a mechanism in place whereby this can be driven into southern Gaza. That does not take away from our call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire."googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); FOLLOW LIVE UPDATES ON ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR HERE Desperately needed international aid piled up Friday in Egypt near Gaza, with Palestinians in dire need of food and water after relentless bombing by Israel, still reeling from the bloodiest attack in its history. The UN says more than one million of Gaza's 2.4 million people have been displaced and that the humanitarian situation is worsening by the day. Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas after the Islamist militant group launched an unprecedented raid from the Gaza Strip on October 7, killing at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated or burned to death, according to Israeli officials. Hamas gunmen also kidnapped nearly 200 hostages including foreigners from around two dozen countries ranging from Paraguay to Tanzania. In response, Israeli warplanes have levelled entire city blocks in Gaza in preparation for a ground invasion they say is coming soon. More than 3,785 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have died in the bombing, according to the latest toll from the Hamas-run health ministry. The situation inside Gaza is "beyond catastrophic", said Sara Alzawqari, UNICEF spokeswoman for the Gulf. "Time is running out and the numbers of casualties amongst children are rising." Egyptian state-linked broadcaster Al Qahera News had said the Rafah crossing -- the only route into Gaza -- would open on Friday, but Cairo later said it needed more time to repair roads. ALSO READ | Israeli airstrikes continue ahead of ground assault as Gaza awaits aid Medicine, water purifiers and blankets were being unloaded at El Arish airport near Gaza, an AFP reporter saw, with Ahmed Ali, head of the Egyptian Red Crescent, saying he was getting "two to three planes of aid a day."Raising some hope aid could soon flow, Egypt has removed concrete blocks on the only route into Gaza, a security source told AFP. Egypt is still fixing bomb-damaged roads and on Friday "vehicles and Egyptian equipment went in to repair the road on the Palestinian side", witnesses told AFP. The World Health Organization's emergencies director has called a deal struck by US President Joe Biden to allow in 20 trucks "a drop in the ocean of need." "It should be 2,000 trucks," said Michael Ryan. 'Harsh blows' Within Israel, still coming to terms with the deadliest attack in its 75-year history, the drumbeat of war was growing louder, as leaders rallied troops for a ground offensive. Clad in body armour, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu embraced front-line troops near Gaza, urging them to "fight like lions" and "win with full force." Fists clenched and voice raised, Netanyahu told cheering soldiers: "We will deal harsh blows to our enemies in order to achieve victory." Defence Minister Yoav Gallant also toured the front line, telling some of the tens of thousands of troops awaiting the ground invasion that "the order will come soon." "Right now you see Gaza from afar, soon you will see it from the inside," said Gallant. Israeli jets struck more than 100 Hamas targets overnight, killing at least one Hamas operative, the army said Friday. The horror of what Israel suffered on October 7 and the following days was still emerging, as traumatised residents recounted their stories. ALSO READ | From Northeast to Israel, an Indo-Jewish tribal community's role in the war Shachar Butler, a security chief at the Nir Oz kibbutz, where Hamas militants killed or kidnapped a quarter of the 400 residents, recalls more than a dozen gunmen spraying bullets indiscriminately and lobbing grenades at homes. "It's unimaginable," the 40-year-old told AFP as part of a trip organised by the Israeli military. "Anytime someone tried to touch my window, I shot him," he said. "The people who came out got kidnapped, killed, executed, slaughtered." Butler estimated as many as 200 militants attacked the kibbutz, entering from three sides before going house to house. Homes there were still charred with burned personal belongings strewn everywhere. Israel says around 1,500 Hamas fighters were killed in clashes before its army regained control of the areas under attack. Holding the world together During a rare address from the Oval Office, Biden urged the United States to take the lead in supporting Israel and Ukraine, saying he would make an "urgent" request to Congress for aid later Friday. "American leadership is what holds the world together," Biden said in just his second primetime speech from behind the historic Resolute Desk. ALSO READ | Old Twitter vs X: Israel-Gaza war spotlights 'information crisis' Fresh from a whirlwind trip to Israel this week, Biden is hoping to staunch the possibility of a wider Middle East war. The United States has already moved two aircraft carriers into the eastern Mediterranean to deter Iran or Lebanon's Hezbollah, both allies of Hamas, from getting involved. But fears of a wider conflagration are growing, with Israel announcing plans to evacuate the northern city of Kiryat Shmona after days of clashes with Hezbollah fighters along the border with Lebanon. The conflict has inflamed passions across the region, and authorities are bracing for mass protests in several countries, with Hamas urging demonstrators to target Israeli and US embassies. Meanwhile, Gaza students in Egypt told AFP of their nightmare watching events unfold from far away. Haya Shehab, 21, learned from an Instagram post that her extended family's home had been bombed, killing 45 people -- dozens of them cousins. "Just like that, 45 of us gone," said Shehab, who studies at a private university in Cairo. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp The Conversation By Many are glued to the news and social media following the deadly Hamas attacks in Israel, and Israels non-stop bombing in the last week of the 2.3 million people living in the Gaza Strip. Photos comparing todays rubble and devastation to what Gaza looked like just two weeks ago illustrate the immense destruction occurring in one of the densest areas on Earth. Civilian casualties are nearing catastrophic levels as Israel has cut off electricity, water, humanitarian aid and the internet to the people of Gaza. This restriction on vital utilities, services that most in the West take for granted, are tantamount to war crimes, according to Amnesty International. But even on a "good day" for Palestinians living in Gaza, the West Bank or in Israel proper, the basic fundamentals of living are often restricted even as Israelis living right next door enjoy a high quality of life. Up close and personal In the summer of 2010, I went to volunteer at Kibbutz Reim, close to the Gaza border, to both strengthen my relationship with Israel as a North American Jewish woman and learn about socialist communities. At the program office in Tel Aviv, they asked how I would feel about volunteering at a kibbutz near Gaza. I naively shrugged my shoulders and said it was fine, so long as they didnt think I would be murdered. The manager assured me I would be fine, but suggested I wait until I go home to tell my parents what region I was in. This small, secular kibbutz is located within seven kilometres of the Gaza Strip in southern Israel near the Negev Desert. With housing and jobs for all, as well as a supermarket and cafeteria that work on credit, life in the kibbutz wasnt glamorous, but it certainly was very comfortable. My favourite time of the day was after work when we would gather at the swimming pool amid the beautiful landscape and drink beer and smoke shisha while the radio blared in the background and kids took their mandatory swimming lessons. At night we would watch television in our air-conditioned home that also doubled as a highly fortified bomb shelter. A month or so into my trip, my hosts took me to the Gaza border. From our air-conditioned car, we watched a crowded line of Palestinians at a standstill near the Israeli checkpoint. Since 2006, the vast majority of Palestinians in Gaza are not allowed to leave, either into Israel, Egypt or into the sea that borders Gaza. Open-air prison Considered the worlds largest open-air prison, much of Gazas population is under 18 and has the highest youth unemployment rate in the world. Unlike kibbutz residents, who are given an allowance for a home expansion as they birth more children, Gazans often live in cramped quarters with more than 20 other family members. While kibbutz members are often given their own housing when they become adults, Gazan youth remain in overcrowded homes with no other options. As I sipped the water bottle I had filled from my sink, I was told that Gazans have little access to drinking water. My host told me stories of his childhood that included visiting Gaza Citys beautiful beach and playing with the other children there. He told me he missed the beach, but that it had since become much more polluted. While my host seemed to discount the irony of his longing for a place that his own government had made off limits and played a role in its pollution, it was certainly not lost on me. We loaded back in the car and freely drove away back to our little oasis built on top of a former Palestinian village. In Israel, homes within a certain range of Gaza are required to be fortified as bomb shelters by the Israeli government. This, coupled with a comprehensive alert system, meant that despite the constant possibility of bombings, life in the kibbutz remained relatively safe. Kibbutz Re'im But on October 7, the obscure kibbutz I briefly called home made global headlines. The music festival targeted by Hamas took place near Kibbutz Reim. My heart aches for my former neighbours who lost their lives or lost loved ones. My heart especially aches for those still unsure where their loved ones may be. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to this tragedy by declaring war on Hamas and following through on his promise with swift brutality. As I watch the news from Canada, I cant help but cry for the people of Gaza as well. Unlike Israelis on the other side of the fence, Gazans have no bomb shelters. They protect themselves by staying away from windows, sheltering by the sturdiest walls and sleeping in shifts. Amid collapsing buildings and mounting deaths, Palestinians in Gaza have been sheltering in schools built by the United Nations that are unfortified a sharp contrast from the Israeli-funded kibbutz schools, which are mere metres away from bomb shelters. In the last few days, even schools, refugee camps and hospitals have become targets. Separated by nothing more than a fence, life for Palestinians in Gaza and Israelis next door couldnt be more different. Anna Lippman Sociology Instructor, York University, Canada This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Many are glued to the news and social media following the deadly Hamas attacks in Israel, and Israels non-stop bombing in the last week of the 2.3 million people living in the Gaza Strip. Photos comparing todays rubble and devastation to what Gaza looked like just two weeks ago illustrate the immense destruction occurring in one of the densest areas on Earth. Civilian casualties are nearing catastrophic levels as Israel has cut off electricity, water, humanitarian aid and the internet to the people of Gaza. This restriction on vital utilities, services that most in the West take for granted, are tantamount to war crimes, according to Amnesty International.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); But even on a "good day" for Palestinians living in Gaza, the West Bank or in Israel proper, the basic fundamentals of living are often restricted even as Israelis living right next door enjoy a high quality of life. Up close and personal In the summer of 2010, I went to volunteer at Kibbutz Reim, close to the Gaza border, to both strengthen my relationship with Israel as a North American Jewish woman and learn about socialist communities. At the program office in Tel Aviv, they asked how I would feel about volunteering at a kibbutz near Gaza. I naively shrugged my shoulders and said it was fine, so long as they didnt think I would be murdered. The manager assured me I would be fine, but suggested I wait until I go home to tell my parents what region I was in. This small, secular kibbutz is located within seven kilometres of the Gaza Strip in southern Israel near the Negev Desert. With housing and jobs for all, as well as a supermarket and cafeteria that work on credit, life in the kibbutz wasnt glamorous, but it certainly was very comfortable. My favourite time of the day was after work when we would gather at the swimming pool amid the beautiful landscape and drink beer and smoke shisha while the radio blared in the background and kids took their mandatory swimming lessons. At night we would watch television in our air-conditioned home that also doubled as a highly fortified bomb shelter. A month or so into my trip, my hosts took me to the Gaza border. From our air-conditioned car, we watched a crowded line of Palestinians at a standstill near the Israeli checkpoint. Since 2006, the vast majority of Palestinians in Gaza are not allowed to leave, either into Israel, Egypt or into the sea that borders Gaza. Open-air prison Considered the worlds largest open-air prison, much of Gazas population is under 18 and has the highest youth unemployment rate in the world. Unlike kibbutz residents, who are given an allowance for a home expansion as they birth more children, Gazans often live in cramped quarters with more than 20 other family members. While kibbutz members are often given their own housing when they become adults, Gazan youth remain in overcrowded homes with no other options. As I sipped the water bottle I had filled from my sink, I was told that Gazans have little access to drinking water. My host told me stories of his childhood that included visiting Gaza Citys beautiful beach and playing with the other children there. He told me he missed the beach, but that it had since become much more polluted. While my host seemed to discount the irony of his longing for a place that his own government had made off limits and played a role in its pollution, it was certainly not lost on me. We loaded back in the car and freely drove away back to our little oasis built on top of a former Palestinian village. In Israel, homes within a certain range of Gaza are required to be fortified as bomb shelters by the Israeli government. This, coupled with a comprehensive alert system, meant that despite the constant possibility of bombings, life in the kibbutz remained relatively safe. Kibbutz Re'im But on October 7, the obscure kibbutz I briefly called home made global headlines. The music festival targeted by Hamas took place near Kibbutz Reim. My heart aches for my former neighbours who lost their lives or lost loved ones. My heart especially aches for those still unsure where their loved ones may be. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to this tragedy by declaring war on Hamas and following through on his promise with swift brutality. As I watch the news from Canada, I cant help but cry for the people of Gaza as well. Unlike Israelis on the other side of the fence, Gazans have no bomb shelters. They protect themselves by staying away from windows, sheltering by the sturdiest walls and sleeping in shifts. Amid collapsing buildings and mounting deaths, Palestinians in Gaza have been sheltering in schools built by the United Nations that are unfortified a sharp contrast from the Israeli-funded kibbutz schools, which are mere metres away from bomb shelters. In the last few days, even schools, refugee camps and hospitals have become targets. Separated by nothing more than a fence, life for Palestinians in Gaza and Israelis next door couldnt be more different. Anna LippmanSociology Instructor, York University, Canada This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By AFP JERUSALEM: The Israeli army announced plans to evacuate the northern city of Kiryat Shmona on Friday, after days of clashes with Hezbollah fighters along the border with Lebanon. "A short while ago, the Northern Command informed the mayor of the city of the decision. The plan will be managed by the local authority, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Defence," the military said in a statement. Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah and allied Palestinian factions have traded cross-border fire with Israel for days, after Hamas gunmen attacked communities in southern Israel on October 7, killing at least 1,400 people, most of them civilians, according to Israeli officials. FOLLOW LIVE COVERAGE OF THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR HERE More than 3,700 Palestinians, mainly civilians, have been killed across the Gaza Strip in retaliatory Israeli bombardments, according to figures from its Hamas-run health ministry. Israel's military said its forces continued to target Hezbollah targets as tensions grew along the border. "The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) carried out a number of attacks against Hezbollah infrastructure, including observation posts," the army said early Friday. "In addition, IDF fighter jets struck three terrorists who attempted to launch anti-tank missiles toward Israel." Israeli authorities have been steadily evacuating communities across the northern frontier, as reservists and columns of tanks and armoured vehicles poured into the area. The Shiite Muslim Hezbollah movement, Lebanon's only armed faction that did not disarm after the 1975-1990 civil war, last fought a major conflict with Israel in 2006. That war left more than 1,200 dead in Lebanon, mostly civilians, and 160 in Israel, mostly soldiers, in a conflict that left deep scars and the border bristling with guns. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp JERUSALEM: The Israeli army announced plans to evacuate the northern city of Kiryat Shmona on Friday, after days of clashes with Hezbollah fighters along the border with Lebanon. "A short while ago, the Northern Command informed the mayor of the city of the decision. The plan will be managed by the local authority, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Defence," the military said in a statement. Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah and allied Palestinian factions have traded cross-border fire with Israel for days, after Hamas gunmen attacked communities in southern Israel on October 7, killing at least 1,400 people, most of them civilians, according to Israeli officials.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); FOLLOW LIVE COVERAGE OF THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR HERE More than 3,700 Palestinians, mainly civilians, have been killed across the Gaza Strip in retaliatory Israeli bombardments, according to figures from its Hamas-run health ministry. Israel's military said its forces continued to target Hezbollah targets as tensions grew along the border. "The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) carried out a number of attacks against Hezbollah infrastructure, including observation posts," the army said early Friday. "In addition, IDF fighter jets struck three terrorists who attempted to launch anti-tank missiles toward Israel." Israeli authorities have been steadily evacuating communities across the northern frontier, as reservists and columns of tanks and armoured vehicles poured into the area. The Shiite Muslim Hezbollah movement, Lebanon's only armed faction that did not disarm after the 1975-1990 civil war, last fought a major conflict with Israel in 2006. That war left more than 1,200 dead in Lebanon, mostly civilians, and 160 in Israel, mostly soldiers, in a conflict that left deep scars and the border bristling with guns. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp "As a global leader in environmental solutions, our experience in nuclear remediation is extensive," said Mark Whitney, President of Amentum's National Security Group. "Amentum will provide the Army Corps of Engineers with advanced engineering capabilities and solutions that have been successful at some of the most challenging environmental cleanup projects in the world." Under this new contract, the work will be performed at Fort Greely, Alaska and will include planning, permitting, and engineering, site preparation, demolition and disposal of facilities and components from the defueled nuclear reactor, related wells and utility corridors, and other ancillary facilities. The contract also includes remediation of contaminated soils, a final status survey, and site restoration. The contract was awarded to the joint venture APTIM-Amentum Alaska Decommissioning, LLC (A3D). Other members of A3D's team include Heritage - M2C1 Joint Venture, a HUBZone small business location in Delta Junction, AK; Lynden Logistics; Brice Environmental; Oak Ridge Technologies; ReNuke Services; AECOM Technical Services; and Delta Junction Medical. "Our recent experience performing reactor decommissioning at Fort Belvoir and major U.S. Department of Energy sites will aid in the completion of the work safely and effectively at Fort Greely," said Jim Blankenhorn, Amentum Senior Vice President of Environment & Security. "The expertise gained over decades of similar projects builds the Army Corps of Engineers' confidence in our team to address the environmental challenge at Fort Greely." The SM-1A reactor achieved criticality in 1962 and was shut down in March of 1972, followed by the removal and disposition of the spent nuclear fuel in 1973. The primary mission of the single-loop, 20.2 megawatt-thermal pressurized water reactor was to establish a cold-weather nuclear power plant to support power to Fort Greely, with a secondary mission to study the economics of operating a nuclear electric power plant as compared to operating a conventional oil-fired system in a remote location. An on-site kickoff meeting at Fort Greely will in late October 2023, paving the way for our preparatory work at the site. The team is targeting a full mobilization to the site by mid-2024. Project completion is currently anticipated by 2029. Project information can also be found on the USACE website www.nab.usace.army.mil/SM-1A/. About Amentum Amentum is a leader in global engineering, project management and solutions integration, trusted to modernize the most critical missions anywhere in the world. Driven to create a safer, smarter, cleaner world, we innovate as a team of inventive doers passionate about making a difference. Underpinned by a strong culture of ethics, safety and inclusivity, Amentum is fiercely committed to operational excellence and successful execution. Headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia, we have more than 44,000 employees in 85 countries in all 7 continents. Visit us at amentum.com to learn how we solve what's next. About APTIM APTIM is a leading professional solutions firm with headquarters in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. We specialize in environmental services, resilience, sustainability, and energy solutions, as well as technical and data solutions, program management, and critical infrastructure. Our dedicated teammates apply their experience and expertise to provide integrated services and solutions for government agencies, commercial and industrial clients, and energy customers. APTIM commits to accelerating the transition toward a clean and efficient energy economy, building a sustainable future for our communities and natural world, and creating a more inclusive and equitable environment that celebrates the diversity of our people. Learn more at APTIM.com and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. By Associated Press KHAN YOUNIS: Israel pounded the Gaza Strip with airstrikes Thursday, including in the south where Palestinians were told to take refuge, as the Israeli defense minister ordered ground troops to prepare to see Gaza "from the inside", though he didn't indicate when the ground assault would begin. Gaza's overwhelmed hospitals tried to stretch out ebbing medical supplies and fuel for generators, as authorities worked out logistics for a desperately needed aid delivery from Egypt. Doctors in darkened wards across Gaza performed surgeries by the light of mobile phones and used vinegar to treat infected wounds. Amid the violence, President Joe Biden pledged unwavering support for Israel's security, "today and always," while adding that the world "can't ignore the humanity of innocent Palestinians" in the besieged Gaza Strip. FOLLOW LIVE COVERAGE OF THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR HERE In an address Thursday night from the Oval office, hours after returning to Washington from an urgent visit to Israel, Biden drew a distinction between ordinary Palestinians and Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza. He linked the current war in Gaza to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin "both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy." Biden said he was sending an "urgent budget request" to Congress on Friday, to cover emergency military aid to both Israel and Ukraine. Meanwhile, an unclassified U.S. intelligence assessment delivered to Congress estimated casualties in an explosion at a Gaza City hospital this week on the "low end" of 100 to 300 deaths. The death toll "still reflects a staggering loss of life," U.S. intelligence officials said in the report, seen by The Associated Press. It said intelligence officials were still assessing the evidence and their casualty estimate may evolve. Wounded Palestinians arrive at the al-Shifa hospital, on a truck, following Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City, central Gaza Strip, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023.(AP) Biden and other U.S. officials already have said that U.S. intelligence officials believe the explosion at al-Ahli Hospital was not caused by an Israeli airstrike. Thursday's findings echoed that. The Israeli military has relentlessly attacked Gaza in retaliation for the devastating Oct. 7 Hamas rampage in southern Israel. Even after Israel told Palestinians to evacuate the north of Gaza and flee south, strikes extended across the territory, heightening fears among the territory's 2.3 million people that nowhere was safe. Palestinian militants fired rockets into Israel from Gaza and Lebanon, and tensions flared in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. In a fiery speech to Israeli infantry soldiers on the Gaza border, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant urged the forces to "get organized, be ready" to move in. Israel has massed tens of thousands of troops along the border. "Whoever sees Gaza from afar now, will see it from the inside," he said. "It might take a week, a month, two months until we destroy them," he added, referring to Hamas. WATCH | Palestinian ambassador says, 'We are not going to accept the 1948 Nakba again' Israel's consent for Egypt to let in food, water and medicine provided the first possible opening in its seal of the territory. Many Gaza residents are down to one meal a day and drinking dirty water. Egypt and Israel were still negotiating the entry of fuel for hospitals. Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Hamas has stolen fuel from U.N. facilities and Israel wants assurances that won't happen. The first trucks of aid were expected to go in Friday. With the Egypt-Gaza border crossing in Rafah closed, the already dire conditions at Gaza's second-largest hospital deteriorated further, said Dr. Mohammed Qandeel of Nasser Hospital in the southern town of Khan Younis. Power was shut off in most of the hospital and medical staff were using mobile phones for light. At least 80 wounded civilians and 12 dead flooded into the hospital after witnesses said a strike hit a residential building in Khan Younis. Doctors had no choice but to leave two to die because there were no ventilators, Qandeel said. "We can't save more lives if this keeps happening," he said. The Gaza Health Ministry pleaded with gas stations to give fuel to hospitals and a U.N. agency donated some of its last fuel. The agency's donation to Gaza City's Shifa Hospital, the territory's largest, would "keep us going for another few hours," hospital director Mohammed Abu Selmia said. Al-Ahli Hospital was still recovering from Tuesday's explosion, which remains a point of dispute between Hamas and Israel. Hamas quickly said an Israeli airstrike hit the hospital, which Israel denied. The AP has not independently verified any of the claims or evidence released by the parties. The blast left body parts strewn on the hospital grounds, where crowds of Palestinians had clustered in hopes of escaping Israeli airstrikes. The U.S. assessment noted "only light structural damage," with no impact crater visible. Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, Israel, Thursday, Oct.19, 2023. (AP) Near al-Ahli, meanwhile, another explosion struck a Greek Orthodox church housing displaced Palestinians late Thursday, resulting in deaths and dozens of wounded. Abu Selmia, the Shifa Hospital director general, said dozens were hurt at the Church of Saint Porphyrios but could not give a precise death toll because bodies were buried under rubble. Palestinian authorities blamed the blast on an Israeli airstrike, a claim that could not be independently verified. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchy of Jerusalem condemned the attack and said it would "not abandon its religious and humanitarian duty" to provide assistance. The Gaza Health Ministry said 3,785 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, the majority women, children and older adults. Nearly 12,500 were injured, and another 1,300 people were believed buried under rubble, authorities said. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly civilians slain during Hamas' deadly incursion. Roughly 200 others were abducted. The Israeli military said Thursday it had notified the families of 203 captives. More than 1 million Palestinians, about half of Gaza's population, have fled their homes in the north since Israel told them to evacuate, crowding into U.N.-run schools-turned-shelters or the homes of relatives. President Biden declared it is vital for Americas national security for Israel and Ukraine to succeed in their wars, making the case for deepening U.S. involvement in these two unpredictable conflicts as he prepared to ask for billions in military aid to both countries. pic.twitter.com/5NRgeStsUO The Associated Press (@AP) October 20, 2023 For the first time since Israel captured Gaza from Egypt in 1967, a major tent camp arose to house displaced people. Dozens of U.N.-provided tents lined a dirt lot in Khan Younis. The deal to get aid into Gaza through Rafah, the territory's only connection to Egypt, remained fragile. Israel said the supplies could only go to civilians and that it would "thwart" any diversions by Hamas. Biden said the deliveries "will end" if Hamas takes any aid. More than 200 trucks and some 3,000 tons of aid were positioned at or near Rafah, according to Khalid Zayed, the head of the Red Crescent for North Sinai. Under an arrangement reached between the United Nations, Israel and Egypt, U.N. observers will inspect the trucks before entering Gaza. The U.N., working with the Egyptian and Palestinian Red Crescent, will ensure aid goes only to civilians, an Egyptian official and European diplomat told the AP. A U.N. flag will be raised on both sides of the crossing as a sign of protection against airstrikes, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief media. It was not immediately clear how much cargo the crossing could handle. Waleed Abu Omar, spokesperson for the Palestinian side, said work has not started to repair the road damaged by Israeli airstrikes. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told Al-Arabiya TV that foreigners and dual nationals would be allowed to leave Gaza once the crossing was opened. READ MORE | How international law applies to war, and why Hamas and Israel are both alleged to have broken it Israel said it agreed to allow aid from Egypt because of a request by Biden which followed days of intense talks with the U.S. secretary of state to overcome staunch Israeli refusal. Israel had previously said it would let nothing into Gaza until Hamas freed the hostages taken from Israel. Relatives of some of the captives were furious over the aid announcement. "The Israeli government pampers the murderers and kidnappers," the Hostage and Missing Families Forum said. The Israeli military said Thursday it killed a top Palestinian militant in Rafah and hit hundreds of targets across Gaza, including militant tunnel shafts, intelligence infrastructure and command centers. Palestinians have launched barrages of rockets at Israel since the fighting began. Violence was also escalating in the West Bank, where Israel carried out a rare airstrike Thursday, targeting militants in the Nur Shams refugee camp. Six Palestinians were killed, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, and the Israeli military said the strike killed militants and resulted in 10 Israeli officers being wounded. More than 74 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the war started. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp KHAN YOUNIS: Israel pounded the Gaza Strip with airstrikes Thursday, including in the south where Palestinians were told to take refuge, as the Israeli defense minister ordered ground troops to prepare to see Gaza "from the inside", though he didn't indicate when the ground assault would begin. Gaza's overwhelmed hospitals tried to stretch out ebbing medical supplies and fuel for generators, as authorities worked out logistics for a desperately needed aid delivery from Egypt. Doctors in darkened wards across Gaza performed surgeries by the light of mobile phones and used vinegar to treat infected wounds. Amid the violence, President Joe Biden pledged unwavering support for Israel's security, "today and always," while adding that the world "can't ignore the humanity of innocent Palestinians" in the besieged Gaza Strip.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); FOLLOW LIVE COVERAGE OF THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR HERE In an address Thursday night from the Oval office, hours after returning to Washington from an urgent visit to Israel, Biden drew a distinction between ordinary Palestinians and Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza. He linked the current war in Gaza to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin "both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy." Biden said he was sending an "urgent budget request" to Congress on Friday, to cover emergency military aid to both Israel and Ukraine. Meanwhile, an unclassified U.S. intelligence assessment delivered to Congress estimated casualties in an explosion at a Gaza City hospital this week on the "low end" of 100 to 300 deaths. The death toll "still reflects a staggering loss of life," U.S. intelligence officials said in the report, seen by The Associated Press. It said intelligence officials were still assessing the evidence and their casualty estimate may evolve. Wounded Palestinians arrive at the al-Shifa hospital, on a truck, following Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City, central Gaza Strip, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023.(AP) Biden and other U.S. officials already have said that U.S. intelligence officials believe the explosion at al-Ahli Hospital was not caused by an Israeli airstrike. Thursday's findings echoed that. The Israeli military has relentlessly attacked Gaza in retaliation for the devastating Oct. 7 Hamas rampage in southern Israel. Even after Israel told Palestinians to evacuate the north of Gaza and flee south, strikes extended across the territory, heightening fears among the territory's 2.3 million people that nowhere was safe. Palestinian militants fired rockets into Israel from Gaza and Lebanon, and tensions flared in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. In a fiery speech to Israeli infantry soldiers on the Gaza border, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant urged the forces to "get organized, be ready" to move in. Israel has massed tens of thousands of troops along the border. "Whoever sees Gaza from afar now, will see it from the inside," he said. "It might take a week, a month, two months until we destroy them," he added, referring to Hamas. WATCH | Palestinian ambassador says, 'We are not going to accept the 1948 Nakba again' Israel's consent for Egypt to let in food, water and medicine provided the first possible opening in its seal of the territory. Many Gaza residents are down to one meal a day and drinking dirty water. Egypt and Israel were still negotiating the entry of fuel for hospitals. Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Hamas has stolen fuel from U.N. facilities and Israel wants assurances that won't happen. The first trucks of aid were expected to go in Friday. With the Egypt-Gaza border crossing in Rafah closed, the already dire conditions at Gaza's second-largest hospital deteriorated further, said Dr. Mohammed Qandeel of Nasser Hospital in the southern town of Khan Younis. Power was shut off in most of the hospital and medical staff were using mobile phones for light. At least 80 wounded civilians and 12 dead flooded into the hospital after witnesses said a strike hit a residential building in Khan Younis. Doctors had no choice but to leave two to die because there were no ventilators, Qandeel said. "We can't save more lives if this keeps happening," he said. The Gaza Health Ministry pleaded with gas stations to give fuel to hospitals and a U.N. agency donated some of its last fuel. The agency's donation to Gaza City's Shifa Hospital, the territory's largest, would "keep us going for another few hours," hospital director Mohammed Abu Selmia said. Al-Ahli Hospital was still recovering from Tuesday's explosion, which remains a point of dispute between Hamas and Israel. Hamas quickly said an Israeli airstrike hit the hospital, which Israel denied. The AP has not independently verified any of the claims or evidence released by the parties. The blast left body parts strewn on the hospital grounds, where crowds of Palestinians had clustered in hopes of escaping Israeli airstrikes. The U.S. assessment noted "only light structural damage," with no impact crater visible. Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, Israel, Thursday, Oct.19, 2023. (AP) Near al-Ahli, meanwhile, another explosion struck a Greek Orthodox church housing displaced Palestinians late Thursday, resulting in deaths and dozens of wounded. Abu Selmia, the Shifa Hospital director general, said dozens were hurt at the Church of Saint Porphyrios but could not give a precise death toll because bodies were buried under rubble. Palestinian authorities blamed the blast on an Israeli airstrike, a claim that could not be independently verified. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchy of Jerusalem condemned the attack and said it would "not abandon its religious and humanitarian duty" to provide assistance. The Gaza Health Ministry said 3,785 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, the majority women, children and older adults. Nearly 12,500 were injured, and another 1,300 people were believed buried under rubble, authorities said. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly civilians slain during Hamas' deadly incursion. Roughly 200 others were abducted. The Israeli military said Thursday it had notified the families of 203 captives. More than 1 million Palestinians, about half of Gaza's population, have fled their homes in the north since Israel told them to evacuate, crowding into U.N.-run schools-turned-shelters or the homes of relatives. President Biden declared it is vital for Americas national security for Israel and Ukraine to succeed in their wars, making the case for deepening U.S. involvement in these two unpredictable conflicts as he prepared to ask for billions in military aid to both countries. pic.twitter.com/5NRgeStsUO The Associated Press (@AP) October 20, 2023 For the first time since Israel captured Gaza from Egypt in 1967, a major tent camp arose to house displaced people. Dozens of U.N.-provided tents lined a dirt lot in Khan Younis. The deal to get aid into Gaza through Rafah, the territory's only connection to Egypt, remained fragile. Israel said the supplies could only go to civilians and that it would "thwart" any diversions by Hamas. Biden said the deliveries "will end" if Hamas takes any aid. More than 200 trucks and some 3,000 tons of aid were positioned at or near Rafah, according to Khalid Zayed, the head of the Red Crescent for North Sinai. Under an arrangement reached between the United Nations, Israel and Egypt, U.N. observers will inspect the trucks before entering Gaza. The U.N., working with the Egyptian and Palestinian Red Crescent, will ensure aid goes only to civilians, an Egyptian official and European diplomat told the AP. A U.N. flag will be raised on both sides of the crossing as a sign of protection against airstrikes, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief media. It was not immediately clear how much cargo the crossing could handle. Waleed Abu Omar, spokesperson for the Palestinian side, said work has not started to repair the road damaged by Israeli airstrikes. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told Al-Arabiya TV that foreigners and dual nationals would be allowed to leave Gaza once the crossing was opened. READ MORE | How international law applies to war, and why Hamas and Israel are both alleged to have broken it Israel said it agreed to allow aid from Egypt because of a request by Biden which followed days of intense talks with the U.S. secretary of state to overcome staunch Israeli refusal. Israel had previously said it would let nothing into Gaza until Hamas freed the hostages taken from Israel. Relatives of some of the captives were furious over the aid announcement. "The Israeli government pampers the murderers and kidnappers," the Hostage and Missing Families Forum said. The Israeli military said Thursday it killed a top Palestinian militant in Rafah and hit hundreds of targets across Gaza, including militant tunnel shafts, intelligence infrastructure and command centers. Palestinians have launched barrages of rockets at Israel since the fighting began. Violence was also escalating in the West Bank, where Israel carried out a rare airstrike Thursday, targeting militants in the Nur Shams refugee camp. Six Palestinians were killed, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, and the Israeli military said the strike killed militants and resulted in 10 Israeli officers being wounded. More than 74 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the war started. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By Associated Press WASHINGTON: Declaring that U.S. leadership "holds the world together, President Joe Biden told Americans on Thursday night the country must deepen its support of Ukraine and Israel in the middle of two vastly different, unpredictable and bloody wars. Acknowledging that these conflicts can seem far away, Biden insisted in a rare Oval Office address that they remain vital for Americas national security" as he prepared to ask Congress for billions of dollars in military assistance for both countries. FOLLOW LIVE COVERAGE OF THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR HERE History has taught us when terrorists dont pay a price for their terror, when dictators dont pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction, Biden said. They keep going. And the cost and the threat to America and the world keep rising. Bidens speech reflected an expansive view of U.S. obligations overseas at a time when he faces political resistance at home to additional funding. He's expected to ask for $105 billion on Friday, including $60 billion for Ukraine, much of which would replenish U.S. weapons stockpiles provided earlier. President Biden declared it is vital for Americas national security for Israel and Ukraine to succeed in their wars, making the case for deepening U.S. involvement in these two unpredictable conflicts as he prepared to ask for billions in military aid to both countries. pic.twitter.com/5NRgeStsUO The Associated Press (@AP) October 20, 2023 Theres also $14 billion for Israel, $10 billion for unspecified humanitarian efforts, $14 billion for managing the U.S.-Mexico border and fighting fentanyl trafficking and $7 billion for the Indo-Pacific region, which includes Taiwan. The proposal was described by three people familiar with the details who insisted on anonymity before the official announcement. Its a smart investment thats going to pay dividends for American security for generations, Biden said. He hopes that combining all of these issues into one piece of legislation will create the necessary coalition for congressional approval. His speech came the day after his high-stakes trip to Israel, where he showed solidarity with the country after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas and pushed for more humanitarian assistance to Palestinians. With Israel continuing to bombard the Gaza Strip and preparing a ground invasion, Biden placed an increased emphasis on the deadly toll that the conflict has had on civilians there, saying he's heartbroken by the tragic loss of Palestinian life." Israel and Palestinians equally deserve to live in safety, dignity and peace, Biden said. He also warned about a rising tide of antisemitism and Islamophobia in the U.S., noting the killing of Wadea Alfayoumi, a 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy. To all you hurting, I want you to know I see you. You belong," Biden said. "And I want to say this to you. You're all Americans. WATCH | Palestinian ambassador says, 'We are not going to accept the 1948 Nakba again' READ ANALYSIS | How US foreign policy has played a big role in the Israel-Hamas war The White House said that after his speech, the president and first lady Jill Biden spoke over the phone with Wadeas father and uncle to express their deepest condolences" and share their prayers for the recovery of the boy's mother, who was also stabbed. Biden included in his remarks a warning to Iran's leaders, who have supported Hamas in Gaza and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and said the U.S. will continue to hold them accountable. As Biden seeks a second term in a campaign that will likely hinge on voters' feeling about the economy, he was careful to emphasize that the spending will create jobs for U.S. workers, referencing the construction of missiles in Arizona and artillery shells in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Texas. And he worked in a nod to one of his political heroes, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, by saying that just as in World War II, the country is building the arsenal of democracy and serving the cause of freedom. Biden faces an array of steep challenges as he tries to secure the money. The House remains in chaos because the Republican majority has been unable to select a speaker to replace Rep. Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted more than two weeks ago. In addition, conservative Republicans oppose money for sending more weapons to Ukraine as its battle against the Russian invasion approaches the two-year mark. Biden's previous request for funding, which included $24 billion to help with the next few months of fighting, was stripped out of budget legislation last month despite a personal plea from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. There will be resistance from some on the other side of the political spectrum when it comes to military assistance for Israel, which has been bombarding the Gaza Strip in response to the Hamas attack on Oct. 7. Critics have accused Israel of indiscriminately killing civilians and committing war crimes by cutting off essential supplies including food, water and fuel. READ MORE | What we know about Gaza hospital strike that killed hundreds Bipartisan support for Israel has already eroded in recent years as progressive Democrats have become more outspoken in their opposition to the country's decades-long occupation of Palestinian territory, which is widely viewed as illegal by the international community. There are rumbles of disagreement within Biden's administration as well. Josh Paul, a State Department official who oversaw the congressional liaison office dealing with foreign arms sales, resigned over U.S. policy on weapons transfers to Israel. I cannot work in support of a set of major policy decisions, including rushing more arms to one side of the conflict, that I believe to be short-sighted, destructive, unjust and contradictory to the very values that we publicly espouse, he wrote in a statement posted to his LinkedIn account. A speech from the Oval Office is one of the most prestigious platforms that a president can command, an opportunity to try to seize the countrys attention at a moment of crisis. The major television networks broke into regular programming to carry the address live. Biden has delivered only one other such speech during his presidency, after Congress passed bipartisan budget legislation to avert a default on the countrys debt. The White House and other senior administration officials, including Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young, have quietly briefed key lawmakers in recent days about the contours of the planned supplemental funding request. The Democratic Senate plans to move quickly on Bidens proposal, hoping that it creates pressure on the Republican-controlled House to resolve its leadership drama and return to legislating. However, there are disagreements within the Senate, too, on how to move forward. Eight Republicans, led by Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall, said they did not want to combine assistance for Ukraine and Israel in the same legislation. These are two separate and unrelated conflicts and it would be wrong to leverage support of aid to Israel in an attempt to get additional aid for Ukraine across the finish line, they wrote in a letter. ALSO READ | Palestinians in Gaza feel nowhere is safe amid unrelenting Israeli airstrikes North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer said he was fine with the proposal as long as there was also a fresh effort to address border issues. But he said "its got to be designed to secure the border, not to facilitate travel through the border. Although there was a lull in migrant arrivals to the U.S. after the start of new asylum restrictions in May, illegal crossings topped a daily average of more than 8,000 last month. Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat who leads a Senate panel that oversees funding for the Department of Homeland Security, was wary of any effort to overhaul border policy during a debate over spending. "How are we going to settle our differences over immigration in the next two weeks? Murphy said. This is a supplemental funding bill. The minute you start loading it up with policies, that sounds like a plan to fail. Biden's decision to include funding for the Indo-Pacific in his proposal is a nod toward the potential for another international conflict. China wants to reunify the self-governing island of Taiwan with its mainland, a goal that could be carried out through force. Although wars in Europe and the Middle East have been the most immediate concerns for U.S. foreign policy, Biden views Asia as the key arena in the struggle for global influence. The administration's national security strategy, released last year, describes China as Americas most consequential geopolitical challenge. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp WASHINGTON: Declaring that U.S. leadership "holds the world together, President Joe Biden told Americans on Thursday night the country must deepen its support of Ukraine and Israel in the middle of two vastly different, unpredictable and bloody wars. Acknowledging that these conflicts can seem far away, Biden insisted in a rare Oval Office address that they remain vital for Americas national security" as he prepared to ask Congress for billions of dollars in military assistance for both countries. FOLLOW LIVE COVERAGE OF THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR HEREgoogletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); History has taught us when terrorists dont pay a price for their terror, when dictators dont pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction, Biden said. They keep going. And the cost and the threat to America and the world keep rising. Bidens speech reflected an expansive view of U.S. obligations overseas at a time when he faces political resistance at home to additional funding. He's expected to ask for $105 billion on Friday, including $60 billion for Ukraine, much of which would replenish U.S. weapons stockpiles provided earlier. President Biden declared it is vital for Americas national security for Israel and Ukraine to succeed in their wars, making the case for deepening U.S. involvement in these two unpredictable conflicts as he prepared to ask for billions in military aid to both countries. pic.twitter.com/5NRgeStsUO The Associated Press (@AP) October 20, 2023 Theres also $14 billion for Israel, $10 billion for unspecified humanitarian efforts, $14 billion for managing the U.S.-Mexico border and fighting fentanyl trafficking and $7 billion for the Indo-Pacific region, which includes Taiwan. The proposal was described by three people familiar with the details who insisted on anonymity before the official announcement. Its a smart investment thats going to pay dividends for American security for generations, Biden said. He hopes that combining all of these issues into one piece of legislation will create the necessary coalition for congressional approval. His speech came the day after his high-stakes trip to Israel, where he showed solidarity with the country after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas and pushed for more humanitarian assistance to Palestinians. With Israel continuing to bombard the Gaza Strip and preparing a ground invasion, Biden placed an increased emphasis on the deadly toll that the conflict has had on civilians there, saying he's heartbroken by the tragic loss of Palestinian life." Israel and Palestinians equally deserve to live in safety, dignity and peace, Biden said. He also warned about a rising tide of antisemitism and Islamophobia in the U.S., noting the killing of Wadea Alfayoumi, a 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy. To all you hurting, I want you to know I see you. You belong," Biden said. "And I want to say this to you. You're all Americans. WATCH | Palestinian ambassador says, 'We are not going to accept the 1948 Nakba again' READ ANALYSIS | How US foreign policy has played a big role in the Israel-Hamas war The White House said that after his speech, the president and first lady Jill Biden spoke over the phone with Wadeas father and uncle to express their deepest condolences" and share their prayers for the recovery of the boy's mother, who was also stabbed. Biden included in his remarks a warning to Iran's leaders, who have supported Hamas in Gaza and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and said the U.S. will continue to hold them accountable. As Biden seeks a second term in a campaign that will likely hinge on voters' feeling about the economy, he was careful to emphasize that the spending will create jobs for U.S. workers, referencing the construction of missiles in Arizona and artillery shells in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Texas. And he worked in a nod to one of his political heroes, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, by saying that just as in World War II, the country is building the arsenal of democracy and serving the cause of freedom. Biden faces an array of steep challenges as he tries to secure the money. The House remains in chaos because the Republican majority has been unable to select a speaker to replace Rep. Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted more than two weeks ago. In addition, conservative Republicans oppose money for sending more weapons to Ukraine as its battle against the Russian invasion approaches the two-year mark. Biden's previous request for funding, which included $24 billion to help with the next few months of fighting, was stripped out of budget legislation last month despite a personal plea from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. There will be resistance from some on the other side of the political spectrum when it comes to military assistance for Israel, which has been bombarding the Gaza Strip in response to the Hamas attack on Oct. 7. Critics have accused Israel of indiscriminately killing civilians and committing war crimes by cutting off essential supplies including food, water and fuel. READ MORE | What we know about Gaza hospital strike that killed hundreds Bipartisan support for Israel has already eroded in recent years as progressive Democrats have become more outspoken in their opposition to the country's decades-long occupation of Palestinian territory, which is widely viewed as illegal by the international community. There are rumbles of disagreement within Biden's administration as well. Josh Paul, a State Department official who oversaw the congressional liaison office dealing with foreign arms sales, resigned over U.S. policy on weapons transfers to Israel. I cannot work in support of a set of major policy decisions, including rushing more arms to one side of the conflict, that I believe to be short-sighted, destructive, unjust and contradictory to the very values that we publicly espouse, he wrote in a statement posted to his LinkedIn account. A speech from the Oval Office is one of the most prestigious platforms that a president can command, an opportunity to try to seize the countrys attention at a moment of crisis. The major television networks broke into regular programming to carry the address live. Biden has delivered only one other such speech during his presidency, after Congress passed bipartisan budget legislation to avert a default on the countrys debt. The White House and other senior administration officials, including Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young, have quietly briefed key lawmakers in recent days about the contours of the planned supplemental funding request. The Democratic Senate plans to move quickly on Bidens proposal, hoping that it creates pressure on the Republican-controlled House to resolve its leadership drama and return to legislating. However, there are disagreements within the Senate, too, on how to move forward. Eight Republicans, led by Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall, said they did not want to combine assistance for Ukraine and Israel in the same legislation. These are two separate and unrelated conflicts and it would be wrong to leverage support of aid to Israel in an attempt to get additional aid for Ukraine across the finish line, they wrote in a letter. ALSO READ | Palestinians in Gaza feel nowhere is safe amid unrelenting Israeli airstrikes North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer said he was fine with the proposal as long as there was also a fresh effort to address border issues. But he said "its got to be designed to secure the border, not to facilitate travel through the border. Although there was a lull in migrant arrivals to the U.S. after the start of new asylum restrictions in May, illegal crossings topped a daily average of more than 8,000 last month. Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat who leads a Senate panel that oversees funding for the Department of Homeland Security, was wary of any effort to overhaul border policy during a debate over spending. "How are we going to settle our differences over immigration in the next two weeks? Murphy said. This is a supplemental funding bill. The minute you start loading it up with policies, that sounds like a plan to fail. Biden's decision to include funding for the Indo-Pacific in his proposal is a nod toward the potential for another international conflict. China wants to reunify the self-governing island of Taiwan with its mainland, a goal that could be carried out through force. Although wars in Europe and the Middle East have been the most immediate concerns for U.S. foreign policy, Biden views Asia as the key arena in the struggle for global influence. The administration's national security strategy, released last year, describes China as Americas most consequential geopolitical challenge. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By AFP Gaza's ruler Hamas said Friday its armed wing has released two American hostages, from around 200 captives abducted in attacks by the militant group in Israel on October 7. "In response to Qatari efforts, (Ezzedine) al-Qassam Brigades released two American citizens (a mother and her daughter) for humanitarian reasons," Hamas said in a statement posted on Telegram. The Islamist group did not detail how or when the hostages were released. The Israeli military said earlier Friday that most of those abducted to Gaza were still alive. "The majority of the hostages are alive. There were also dead bodies that were taken... to the Gaza Strip," an army statement said. The military said more than 20 hostages were minors, while between 10 and 20 were over the age of 60. There are also between 100 and 200 people considered missing since the Hamas attacks, the army added. On October 7, the Palestinian militant group carried out a deadly assault on Israel, the worst in the country's 75-year history, killing more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli officials. Israel has responded with a relentless bombardment that has killed at least 4,137 people in the Gaza Strip, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. ALSO READ | Israel-Hamas war LIVE: Palestinians await 'life and death' aid; Israel readies Gaza ground invasion Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Gaza's ruler Hamas said Friday its armed wing has released two American hostages, from around 200 captives abducted in attacks by the militant group in Israel on October 7. "In response to Qatari efforts, (Ezzedine) al-Qassam Brigades released two American citizens (a mother and her daughter) for humanitarian reasons," Hamas said in a statement posted on Telegram. The Islamist group did not detail how or when the hostages were released.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Israeli military said earlier Friday that most of those abducted to Gaza were still alive. "The majority of the hostages are alive. There were also dead bodies that were taken... to the Gaza Strip," an army statement said. The military said more than 20 hostages were minors, while between 10 and 20 were over the age of 60. There are also between 100 and 200 people considered missing since the Hamas attacks, the army added. On October 7, the Palestinian militant group carried out a deadly assault on Israel, the worst in the country's 75-year history, killing more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli officials. Israel has responded with a relentless bombardment that has killed at least 4,137 people in the Gaza Strip, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. ALSO READ | Israel-Hamas war LIVE: Palestinians await 'life and death' aid; Israel readies Gaza ground invasion Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp The $80 million capital investment is a result of the increased capacity requirements of three affiliated local distribution companies (LDCs), each of which will enter into 30-year service agreements upon completion of the project. The project also aligns with the Company's sustainability strategy, focusing on the safety and sustainability of local communities and the environment. "Demand for natural gas continues to increase in our Delmarva service territories, where our customer additions are above national averages," said Jeff Householder, chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Strategic infrastructure investments like this one allow us to enhance service for our existing customers, meet growing demand and support future growth opportunities in our expanding areas of operation. We believe we are well positioned to serve existing and future customers." "Chesapeake Utilities Corporation continues to expand its operations to meet the growing demand for natural gas. While doing so, the Company is committed to meeting and surpassing the expectations of its stakeholders, including investors," said Beth Cooper, executive vice president, chief financial officer, treasurer and assistant corporate secretary. "This project supports our recent capital guidance increase, which builds on our long track record of identifying and executing on strategic growth initiatives that drive future earnings growth." The Worcester Resiliency Upgrade will enhance the natural gas supply system on the lower eastern shore of Maryland and in southern Delaware. The project will provide an alternative supply source and enhance the system's flexibility during critical peak months, reducing the risk of supply interruption and improving reliability. These improvements will help protect customers from weather-related disruptions, keeping energy prices affordable. Over the past several years, the Company has executed significant projects to meet continuing customer growth and demand for energy in underserved regions on the Delmarva Peninsula, including infrastructure expansion on the lower eastern shore of Maryland and in southern Delaware. These projects have facilitated the availability of natural gas in Somerset County, one of three counties in Maryland previously without access to natural gas. As a result, two large energy consumers were able to transition from less sustainable heating sources to natural gas, improving their environmental emissions profiles. Most recently, to meet the ongoing demand, ESNG completed its Southern Expansion project, which included the addition of another natural gas-fired compressor unit in Sussex County at its Bridgeville, Delaware, compressor facility. An application for the Worcester Resiliency Upgrade was filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in Docket No. CP23-536-000. The project is expected to be operational before the winter heating season of 2025, pending receipt of regulatory approvals. For more information, visit WorcesterResiliencyUpgrade.com. About Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company (ESNG) Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company owns and operates a 516-mile Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulated interstate transmission pipeline system that transports natural gas from four upstream pipeline interconnection points in Pennsylvania and Delaware to customers along the Delmarva Peninsula, including Chesapeake Utilities' distribution systems. For more information, visit www.esng.com. About Chesapeake Utilities Corporation Chesapeake Utilities Corporation is a diversified energy delivery company, listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Chesapeake Utilities Corporation offers sustainable energy solutions through its natural gas transmission and distribution, electricity generation and distribution, propane gas distribution, mobile compressed natural gas utility services and solutions and other businesses. For more information, visit www.chpk.com. Please note that Chesapeake Utilities Corporation is not affiliated with Chesapeake Energy, an oil and natural gas exploration company headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. For more information, contact: Investors Beth W. Cooper, Chesapeake Utilities Corporation Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Assistant Corporate Secretary 302-734-6022 Michael Galtman, Chesapeake Utilities Corporation Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer 302-217-7036 Media Brianna Patterson, Chesapeake Utilities Corporation Manager, Public Relations and Strategic Communications 419-314-1233 bpatterson@chpk.com The Northern Nevada Reading Coalition, an alliance of community partners that is committed to early childhood literacy in Nevada, is hosting a launch event in partnership with Elko Mybrary on Oct. 26 from 10:30 a.m. to noon to celebrate the expansion of Dolly Partons Imagination Library into Elko County. The Imagination Library is the flagship program of the Dollywood Foundation and mails free, high-quality, age-appropriate books to eligible children from birth until their fifth birthday. The program is made possible through the joint efforts of the Northern Nevada Reading Coalition, United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra (UWNNS), and the State of Nevada Legislature. The event will take place at the Elko Mybrary at 720 Court Street and lead off with the librarys Story Time program, including a book reading and a family-friendly craft activity, after which remarks will be made by Elko County School District Superintendent CJ Anderson, Elko Mybrarys Lead Librarian Kassie Antonucci, the Elko Chamber of Commerces Executive Director Billie Crapo, and Elko County Commissioner Travis Gerber. Following remarks, a ribbon cutting will take place to officially kick off the Dolly Parton Imagination Librarys expansion within Elko and surrounding counties. Digital sign up stations will be available so parents can enroll their children in the free program at the event. Light refreshments will be available. We invite families in and near Elko to join us for this special launch event as we seek to give more children in the region a chance to fall in love with reading at an early and formative age, said Blake Pang, president and CEO at UWNNS. Thanks to support from our legislative representatives and our community partners, we hope to instill a life-long love for reading that translates into higher quality of life outcomes for Nevadas children. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the most intensive period for speech and language development for an individual is within the first three years of their life. Data demonstrates that reading with young children helps to stimulate brain development. However, the AAP also cites that 80% of those living below the poverty threshold fail to develop reading proficiency by the end of the third grade. The Imagination Library works to improve that metric and bolster academic performance by encouraging parents to read to their children during this formative period of brain development. Through the expansion, program partners seek to serve 30,000 children and deliver more than 1 million books by 2028. The program is funded in part thanks to the 2023 Nevada State Legislature, NV Energy, Scheels, Trex, Washington Federal Bank, and coalition members including: Carson City School District, Churchill County School District, Community Services Agency, Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada, Elko County School District, Food Bank of Northern Nevada, Northern Nevada Literacy Council, NV Energy, Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce, Renown Health, The Childrens Cabinet, Washoe County Library System, Washoe County School District, and United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra. Families with children younger than five years old are encouraged to register their child. Enrolled children will receive a book selection once a month until their fifth birthday, at which point they will graduate from the program. To qualify, families must reside in one of the following 13 counties: Washoe, Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Humboldt, Eureka, Lander, Lyon, Mineral, Pershing, Storey, and Carson City. Those interested in signing their child up can go to uwnns.org. Download Now The News-Gazette mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the News-Gazette on your mobile device just as it appears in print. Champaign, IL (61820) Today Rain showers this evening with mostly cloudy conditions overnight. Low 43F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Rain showers this evening with mostly cloudy conditions overnight. Low 43F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%. ELKO A total of 729 people received a free flu shot last Saturday at Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospitals annual Drive-Thru Flu Shot Clinic. The first 300 attendees were also treated to free eclipse glasses so they could safely view the annular solar eclipse occurring at the same time. Our theme this year was Lets Eclipse the Flu! It was fun to pause the clinic and watch this amazing astronomical event together, said Steve Burrows, director of community relations at the hospital. While the flu shots were free, attendees were encouraged to bring non-perishable food as a donation to Elko Friends in Service Helping (FISH). By the end of the day, 1,316 pounds of food were collected. Thats nearly a hundred pounds more than was donated last year, Burrows stated. Its always wonderful to see the generosity of our community, and were thrilled to help stock up the FISH food bank before the holidays. Not only did the clinic provide the community with an opportunity to get vaccinated for free; it also gave the student nurses at Great Basin College the chance to earn clinical hours. First-year nursing students administered many of the flu shots under the watchful supervision of both their instructors and registered nurses from the hospital. Students in the Medical Assistant, Phlebotomy, and Electrocardiogram program also participated in the clinic for the first time this year. There is such a strong partnership between NNRH and GBC, said Burrows. We truly value their participation both at this event and during their clinical rotations at the hospital throughout the year. Burrows also expressed gratitude to the Rural Center for Independent Living and the Elko High School Key Club for sending volunteers to help staff the event. It really does take an entire community to combat infectious diseases like influenza. Were so thankful to see everyone coming together to make vaccines available to anyone who wants them, Burrows said. Together, we really can eclipse the flu. While the overall incidence and death rates from cervical cancer have dropped in the U.S., the opposite has been occurring in Appalachian Kentucky a steady increase. The death rate from cervical cancer in Appalachian Kentucky is now twice that of the national rate. A team of cancer population scientists from MUSC Hollings Cancer Center and the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center documented the increase through investigation of county-level data from 2000 through 2019. Their findings are published this month in JAMA Network Open. The rapidly growing disparities that we're observing in the Appalachia region are disturbing, particularly in the era of screening availability and advancements." Ashish Deshmukh, Ph.D., senior author on the paper He is co-leader of the Cancer Control Research Program at Hollings. Krystle Lang Kuhs, Ph.D., co-leader of the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Program at Markey and a co-author on the paper, said the findings underscore the importance of ensuring that every woman has access to preventive services. "With advances in HPV vaccination and screening, cervical cancer is now a completely preventable disease," Kuhs said. The researchers analyzed data from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results for Kentucky and found that cervical cancer incidence in the Appalachian region increased nearly 3% per year over the last decade. The death rate also trended upward in the Appalachian region, at 4.5% per year. Meanwhile, the rates in non-Appalachian counties in Kentucky, as well as nationally, are declining. Deshmukh, who studies the epidemiology of and prevention pathways for cancers caused by HPV, previously documented a nationwide increase in cervical cancer in women in their early 30s. That paper, published in JAMA, noted that one possible reason for the increase was because of a decline in screenings among women in their 20s. This publication was a result of collaboration between Deshmukh and Kuhs after they compared notes and reflected on the challenges that both South Carolina and Kentucky face in getting prevention and screening services to rural areas. "We started exploring patterns in cancer incidence and mortality, as a result of our mutual curiosity, and we found this disturbing rise," Deshmukh said. The increase is most startling for distant-stage cancer, or cancer that isn't diagnosed until it has already spread through the body. For distant-stage cervical cancer, the researchers found an increase of 5.5% per year. Robust data available through the Kentucky Cancer Registry allowed the researchers to study county-level trends, Deshmukh said. He thinks that the example of Kentucky could point to hidden issues in other regions with high levels of persistent poverty and problems with access to screening and follow-up care. Deshmukh added that, given the descriptive nature of the study, which lacks information on screening use and risk factors, they couldn't draw conclusions about the reasons for the increase. However, he said, given the rising rates of distant-stage cancer and deaths, it is clear that the data shows a true increase as a result of lack of screening and follow-up care in Appalachian Kentucky. This isn't a case of a disease appearing to be more prevalent only because screening is catching more cases. "The increasing incidence and mortality due to cervical cancer in Appalachia suggests that we are not doing enough to ensure that women residing in rural areas have access to the preventive and medical services they need," Kuhs said. Bringing cervical cancer screening to rural areas Screening is critical to preventing cervical cancer. Guidelines recommend that all women ages 21 through 29 have a Pap smear every three years. Women between 30 and 65 should co-test, which means getting a Pap smear along with an HPV test, every five years. In South Carolina, Hollings brings cervical cancer screenings to rural communities through its Mobile Health Unit, which provides mammography, cervical cancer screening and skin checks. The unit visited nine counties and provided cervical cancer screenings to 288 patients in the first nine months of the year. And through a Duke Endowment grant, the cancer center is working with hospitals in the MUSC Health Regional Health Network to direct vulnerable populations to screenings for five cancers with high mortality rates in South Carolina, including cervical cancer. Markey also has several ongoing initiatives to improve the uptake of cervical cancer prevention services in Appalachia, including a P01 program grant involving four university partners and 35 Appalachian health clinics. Investigators are working directly with community members to plan and implement methods to increase cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination as well as reduce tobacco use. The HPV vaccine, which can protect against the strains of HPV that can cause six types of cancer, is recommended for boys and girls at 11 or 12 years old. People can get the vaccine on a catch-up schedule up to age 26, and those up to age 45 may also be eligible for the vaccine if their doctors think it would be beneficial in their individual situations. Marvella Ford, Ph.D., associate director of Population Science and Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) at Hollings, said that her office works closely with Deshmukh and other investigators to identify areas with low HPV vaccination rates. "We are transforming the delivery of the HPV vaccine in South Carolina by improving its accessibility through our mobile health approach," she said. "Working in collaboration with Dr. Deshmukh and his team, we are disseminating evidence-based findings related to the HPV vaccine to the communities we serve while simultaneously gaining the input and direction from the community into the development of a new data visualization tool led by Dr. Deshmukh and his team. "The bi-directional and community-engaged partnership between the COE Office, Dr. Deshmukh and team and community members has informed Dr. Deshmukh's innovative research here in South Carolina, paving the way for new public health developments in cancer prevention and control." Reaching vulnerable populations Deshmukh noted that there are other pockets of medically underserved areas in the country, which often coincide with areas of persistent poverty and can experience higher cancer rates. Puerto Rico, for example, is also seeing a rapid increase in cervical cancer rates. Deshmukh is working with colleagues at the University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center to study the most effective method for increasing screening rates there. The geographic disparities that are seen in Puerto Rico, Appalachian Kentucky and perhaps elsewhere require public health approaches tailored to the unique barriers of each region, Deshmukh said. Other authors of the study include Haluk Damgacioglu, Ph.D., Kalyani Sonawane, Ph.D., and Elizabeth Hill, Ph.D., from Hollings and Todd Burus from Markey. UMass Chan Medical School and UMass Lowell have received an $8.9 million award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for renewed support of their initiative to advance the development of home-based and point-of-care health technologies. The program aims to jumpstart new tools to address heart, lung, blood and sleep disorders, especially in underserved populations. The Center for Advancing Point of Care Technologies (CAPCaT) in Heart, Lung, Blood and Sleep Disorders, created as an offshoot of a successful medical product incubator, the Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) at UMass Lowell and UMass Chan, is one of seven centers nationwide receiving new five-year awards as part of NIH's Point of Care Technology Research Network (POCTRN). Co-principal investigator David McManus, MD'02, MSc'12, the Richard M. Haidack Professor of Medicine, chair and professor of medicine, said CAPCaT built a stellar track record in its first four years after receiving funding in 2018. "We brought 23 novel innovations from concept to funding through the CAPCaT program, and those companies have delivered about a seven-times return on investment," he said. Some examples of projects supported by CAPCaT: Sanguina, an early point-of-care test for anemia, was approved by regulators for over-the-counter sale; VPG, a video-based technology that can detect irregular heart rhythms in patients with atrial fibrillation, based on facial monitoring through a smartphone camera, received investment from a large technology company; and Wellinks, a digital health care company offering the first-ever integrated virtual chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management platform, is being used in a growing number of health care institutions and pilot programs to manage COPD at home. "There's what's considered a 'valley of death' in the development of technologies between the time when someone comes up with a really good idea and starting a company, but they need resources to evaluate the technology and develop it. Few companies actually make it," said Dr. McManus, who also oversees UMass Chan's Program in Digital Medicine. "CAPCaT's goal is to identify that earlier-stage company, which is high risk but potentially high reward, bring in regulatory expertise and commercialization experts, and brainstorm with the team about other applications of the technology." Major initiatives based on models like CAPCaT can change health care, according to the researchers. They pointed to NIH's Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) program, in which UMass Chan played a significant role coordinating clinical studies to bring fast, reliable at-home antigen tests for SARS-CoV-2 to market during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, point-of-care technology such as telehealth, home diagnostic tests and monitoring devices have become mainstream, reducing barriers to care. Nathaniel Hafer, PhD, assistant professor of molecular medicine and lead investigator of RADx Tech Study Logistics Core, has joined CAPCaT as a co-principal investigator in the new funding cycle. I think there's increased attention about health care for all and accessibility for all. We want to push the envelope with thinking about new ways of delivering health care and new ways of making sure everybody can benefit from these technologies." Nathaniel Hafer, PhD, assistant professor of molecular medicine and lead investigator of RADx Tech Study Logistics Core The researchers said CAPCaT's success can also be attributed to the marriage of complementary strengths between UMass Chan's biomedical and clinical expertise and UMass Lowell's strength in business and engineering. "We have a great team of collaborators at UMass Chan and UMass Lowell who enjoy working together. I'm very excited to be continuing the work of CAPCaT in this second five-year cycle," said Bryan Buchholz, PhD, professor emeritus of biomedical engineering at UMass Lowell, who is continuing as a co-principal investigator. CAPCaT is funded by a National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute grant. Amanda Owen Van Horne sits on the floor while a child mixes up cake batter in a play kitchen. While at play, an intensive language therapy program is also underway for preschool-aged children with developmental language disorder (DLD) at the University of Delaware's Treatment Efficacy and Learning Language (TELL) Lab. The child says, "Him cooking." Owen Van Horne repeats back, "He is cooking." DLD is a problem with learning and using language not attributed to a hearing impairment or intellectual disability, according to DLD and Me, an organization that aims to raise awareness of DLD on which Owen Van Horne serves on the board. One of the hallmark signs of DLD is an inability to speak in complete grammatical sentences. DLD is not just a problem with how you pronounce words; the disorder interferes with understanding and using language. So, we try to reuse what the child already said because it tells us they know the word; they're interested in the topic, and if we reuse those sentences and turn them into longer, more complex and grammatically correct sentences, the child also has the cognitive resources to realize what I said, and whether I added 'is' to form the complete sentence." Amanda Owen Van Horne Owen Van Horne, professor of communication sciences and disorders at UD's College of Health Sciences, and her colleague, Anny Castilla-Earls, professor of communication sciences and disorders at the University of Houston, are testing recast therapy as a language intervention for bilingual children with DLD for the first time. Together, they seek to learn whether the language of instruction impacts syntax learning. Owen Van Horne and Castilla-Earls have been awarded a five-year $3.27 million grant from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders to further define the relationship between a child's language proficiency in English or Spanish and the language of instruction to determine whether that impacts learning. A pilot study launched during the COVID-19 pandemic involving 11 students with DLD from Texas yielded promising results. It was published over the summer in the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research. "When we taught in one language, most kids benefitted in the other language," Owen Van Horne said. "That's not what we expected to find, and we're pretty excited to build on that conclusion." The findings may shed new light on how language is stored and processed in the brain. "If I teach you in English, and it benefits you in Spanish, that's a hint that we have one language store in the brain," Owen Van Horne explained. "What we don't know yet is if we teach a child in their weaker language, does it also help them speak in the language they are more proficient in?" This expanded five-year study involving 140 kids ages 4 to 6 in Texas will seek to answer that crucial question. "There's some evidence from adult second language users that they better learn new material in their stronger language, and then it carries over to their less dominant language," Owen Van Horne said. "We suspect that happens in children, but we need to study it in more children to determine how the language of intervention interacts with language proficiency." U.S. Census Bureau data revealed more than 8.5 million children in the U.S. speak Spanish at home. "We must help kids maintain their home language because that's the language they use to tell stories with their grandma, cook in the kitchen with their mom, or read books in their native language," Owen Van Horne said. "So, it's really important that we're not so English-focused that we forget that a child is a whole person. They need to be able to communicate in all their languages." The results could also affect staff allocations. Spanish-speaking speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are in high demand in Delaware and nationwide. "The long-term goal is to provide guidance on how to match SLPs who speak a specific language to children's needs so schools can provide a better match of personnel to service-delivery needs," she said. Early intervention is critical for children with DLD, with Owen Van Horne pointing to past studies on preschool language interventions that show every dollar spent on early intervention saved $8 in special education. The invisible impairment, if untreated, can result in lifelong consequences ranging from academic and employment outcomes to social relationships and mental health. "It affects everyday functioning from listening in the classroom to a person's ability to tell their story or follow directions," Owen Van Horne said. "For example, a teacher might think a child is sloppy or can't spell because they told them to write in complete sentences, but really, they can't, or in a conflict with the police, a person with DLD may not be able to tell their side of the story." A 2018 study published in the International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders found fewer kids with DLD also graduate from high school. Past research by F. Sayako Earle, associate professor of communication sciences and disorders, and Stephanie Del Tufo, assistant professor in UD's College of Education and Human Development and the Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Graduate Program, published in the Journal of Learning Disabilities, shows that language and reading impairments affect how college students perform as well. "DLD has been shown to affect employment outcomes," Owen Van Horne said. "These individuals are intelligent but struggle with the language piece that wraps into every part of our lives. That's why it's so essential that we determine the language of treatment and its impacts on learning bilingual children to better support this underserved population." Dementia experts from UC San Francisco will join their peers from around the globe at the annual Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's Disease (CTAD) conference in Boston from Oct. 24 to 27. Presentations cover breakthroughs in therapies that clear amyloid a hallmark of Alzheimer's and a symposium on patients with early Alzheimer's symptoms who were treated with the anti-amyloid medication donanemab, which may be approved by the end of the year. Other topics include novel treatments, diagnostic blood biomarkers, amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA) and Medicare coverage. This year's keynotes will address disease modifying treatments, how to develop more equitable and valid trials, emerging therapies, Alzheimer's prevention studies, and ARIA in mice and its implications in people. CTAD brings together leaders from academic research centers, patient advocacy groups, international research coalitions and pharmaceutical companies. UCSF presentations include the following: Charles Windon, MD, will present Race and Sex Effects on Rates of Amyloid-Positivity in Real-World Memory Care. Using data from 17,000 participants enrolled in the IDEAS study, Windon and colleagues looked at PET scans in female and African American, Latino and Asian individuals, to evaluate ethnocultural and sex differences in amyloid rates. The presentation is part of a symposium starting at 4:55 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, Oct. 24. Windon will be joined by Gil Rabinovici, MD, senior author of the study. Renaud La Joie, PhD, will present Quantitative Amyloid-PET in Real-World Practice. Amyloid PET scans are required to ensure that patients who have or may be developing symptoms of dementia are candidates for anti-amyloid therapies like lecanemab (Leqembi). In this study, La Joie and colleagues quantified amyloid deposits from more than 10,000 PET scans taken from clinical settings in the IDEAS study, rather than academic settings, which follow strict protocols, to see if readings were consistent with the scans. The presentation takes place at 11 a.m. EDT on Friday, Oct. 27. La Joie will be joined by Gil Rabinovici, MD, senior author of the study. Rachel Nosheny, PhD, will present Establishing the Validity of a Novel Electronic Clinical Dementia Rating. Many older adults who have cognitive impairment, or who are at risk of getting it, go undiagnosed. Nosheny and colleagues tested the validity of an electronic version of the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), which screens for and determines the stages of dementia. The eCDR can be self-administered. The presentation takes place at 11:30 a.m. EDT on Friday, Oct. 27. Nosheny will be joined by Yan Li, PhD, of Washington University, St. Louis, senior author of the study. Also present will be Adam Boxer, MD, PhD, principal investigator and project leader of the Alzheimer's Tau Platform trial, which received a $151 million grant from the National Institute on Aging. The trial will combine an anti-amyloid therapy with tau therapies, the first of its kind for late-onset Alzheimer's, the most common form of dementia. President Joe Biden delivered a widely praised speech in response to the surprise invasion of Israel by Hamas terrorists and their brutal massacre of 1,400 innocent Israelis and at least 30 Americans. Bidens Oct. 10 speech expressing steadfast support for Israel won bipartisan approval, including from former President George W. Bush. There are moments in this life, Biden said, when pure unadulterated evil is unleashed in the world. This was an act of sheer evil. And there was a forceful warning: To any country, any organization, anyone thinking of taking advantage of this situation, I have one word: Dont. Missing from Bidens remarks was any reference to Iran. Hamas terrorists are controlled by Iran. The Wall Street Journal reported Iran gave approval for Hamass bloody assault at an Oct. 2 meeting in Beirut. Biden officials insist they have no specific evidence of Irans approval. But Iran has long been the chief military benefactor of Hamas as well as Hezbollah in Lebanon. An Israeli response that includes a ground assault into Gaza could be the excuse for Hezbollah to open a second front in Israels north. Hezbollah receives an estimated $700 million a year from Iran, and it has missile stockpiles exceeding 100,000 with greater accuracy than rockets fired from Gaza. They could target most of Israel. Any Hezbollah attack would also require Irans approval. Bidens tough talk and deployment of two carrier strike groups to the area are a show of support for Israel. But will it be heeded by the Iranians? For three years Biden has tried to accommodate the mullahs in Tehran. His administration ended President Trumps maximum pressure campaign. It relaxed enforcement of sanctions on Irans oil sales, which has been worth tens of billions. The most recent understanding before the Hamas invasion was for Iran to slow its uranium enrichment for a bomb while the U.S. would let Iran have billions of dollars held by Iraq and North Korea. This included the $6 billion that was part of the trade for five Americans held hostage by Iran. Nevada Democratic Senators Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto broke with Biden after the Hamas assault and called for re-freezing Iranian assets. With Republicans and a growing number of Democrats objecting, Biden reversed course and agreed to deny Iran access to the $6 billion in oil proceeds. Biden has also failed to respond aggressively when Iranian proxies have attacked Americans. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told Congress Iran or its proxies have launched 83 attacks on Americans since Biden took office, but the U.S. has responded militarily only four times. Iran clearly interprets this as a sign of U.S. weakness. The Hamas assault should convince Biden that Iran has no good intentions. It will order its proxies to strike when it serves its purposes and sees a vulnerability. For three years Biden has tried to appease Irans revolutionary ambitions. That policy has failed with the Iranian-backed slaughter in Israel. Will Biden recognize reality and reverse his appeasement strategy? He needs to return to a maximum pressure strategy. The GOP presidential frontrunner, Donald Trump, has a strong record of support for Israel, including moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem that other presidents promised but failed to deliver, and the Abraham Accords between Israel and Arab states. But, Trump cant help from making everything about himself. He volunteered that terrorist group Hezbollah, sworn to Israels destruction, is very smart. In his ramblings, Trump criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after Hamass deadly invasion for declining to participate in the 2020 U.S. operation to kill Iranian general Qasem Soleimani. He also expressed anger at Netanyahu for publicly acknowledging Biden won the 2020 election. His leading GOP presidential rivals, Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis, slammed Trumps dissing of Netanyahu while Israel is under attack. During a plenary lecture at the 26th World Congress of Neurology, Dr. Anthony Lang, professor of neurology and Jack Clark Chair for Parkinson's Disease Research, University of Toronto, revealed a groundbreaking new model for identifying and studying Parkinsons disease. This new approach will help researchers investigate biological aspects of the disease that may be detectable many years before symptoms begin to show. The new model outlines three criteria for identifying Parkinsons disease based on distinct, measurable biological factors. Lang explained that this new biological model will allow doctors and researchers to understand Parkinsons in deeper and more complex ways than current clinical models, which are limited to observing symptoms in individual patients. We believe this is a radically different way of looking at Parkinsons disease, said Lang. We've reached a point where, in the era of novel biomarkers our research needs to be driven by biological determinants of the disease rather than simply limited to a clinical description of the signs and symptoms. Novel Parkinsons classification model offers new criteria for defining disease Parkinsons is typically diagnosed by doctors identifying symptoms in a clinical setting. In recent decades, researchers have uncovered biological causes for the disease including genetic factors and the presence of the synuclein protein in the brain but until recently, methods to test for these biomarkers in living patients have been largely unavailable. Lang hopes this major step toward a biological model will drive research to investigate these biomarkers and give scientists a more complex understanding of the disease. This in turn may drive development of new diagnosis and treatment methods. Lang and his colleagues call this new model SynNeurGe (pronounced synergy), based on the three key biological aspects used to identify the disease and their important interactions: Syn The presence of the alpha-synuclein protein often referred to as the Parkinsons protein which can currently be measured in bodily fluids like spinal fluid as well as in the skin and, hopefully in the near future, in the blood. Neur The presence of neurodegeneration that occurs as Parkinsons progresses. Ge The presence of genetic factors known to cause the disease. This new three-part classification aims to account for the many different ways Parkinsons disease presents in patients. For example, based on current, limited testing methods, some patients with genetic forms of Parkinsons disease do not show signs of the synuclein protein in the brain after death. Lang hopes future research will ultimately enable doctors to classify patients based on different categories and types of Parkinsons. We cant limit ourselves just to saying Parkinson's is a synuclein disease. If we're ever going to change the research and advance our understanding of all aspects of the disease understanding the underlying biology and the various mechanisms whereby cells die, understanding the epidemiology of the disease, developing new biomarkers and eventually moving to precision medicine and successful disease modification we really need a different classification. Our classification is a much broader, all-encompassing way of looking at Parkinson's. Dr. Anthony Lang, Professor of Neurology, University of Toronto New model drives research in Parkinsons and other disease areas Additionally, this model will drive research to better distinguish Parkinsons from other diseases that cause deterioration in the brain, enabling scientists to develop more effective ways to diagnose and treat these conditions. For example, the synuclein protein is also involved in conditions like multiple system atrophy (MSA). Lang hopes this new approach will give researchers clearer goals for understanding how synuclein is related to brain deterioration and genetic factors in Parkinsons compared to its role in other, similar diseases. In the future, this may help researchers more accurately distinguish between the early stages of each disease. Importantly, Lang emphasized that this new biological classification is for research purposes only and is not intended to be applied in clinical care. There are a number of important research questions that need to be answered before this model could be used in routine patient care. For example, researchers need to conduct large prospective studies to better understand the biological factors involved when a patient has a synuclein-positive laboratory result without any clinical symptoms of Parkinsons. Parkinson's is the most rapidly increasing neurodegenerative disease. It causes tremendous impact on health care and quality of life. We need treatments that will slow the progression and change the natural course of these neurodegenerative diseases, said Lang. We have to expand our considerations if we're ever going to see a change in brain health as it [is impacted by] neurodegenerative diseases, and we really believe this is the first step toward getting there. Visit wcn-neurology.com to learn more about Dr. Lang and all the featured research at this years WCN. At the World Health Summit (WHS) global leaders warned that the world was still not fully protected from another pandemic like COVID-19. German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said, We are in an era where health issues are a hot topic in politics, but they are not getting solved. We are not fully prepared to tackle the next worldwide pandemic. While WHS President, Axel Pries, highlighted that the worlds preparedness to deal with another outbreak was not sufficient on a global governance level, stating that, Everyone says that if such a threat presents itself again, it will be worse than before. The annual event that takes place in Berlin hosted events around the Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response Accord, which is currently being negotiated by World Health Organization Member States. The key negotiators of the Pandemic Accord, in the International Negotiating Body (INB), shared their cautious optimism during the World Health Summit. Steven Solomon, WHOs Principal Legal Officer, stated, If member states have the political will to agree on this treaty faster, then it is doable by May 2024. He also shared areas of focus towards operationalizing equity within the instrument. After attending the WHS it was clear from keynote speakers, stakeholders and attendees that the level of ambition and focus of the Pandemic Agreement has to encompass prevention of outbreaks with pandemic potential via the One Health approach. This will require global cooperation on a scale like we have never seen before beyond with traditional public heath stakeholders. A science driven, holistic, collaborative approach rooted in protecting the most vulnerable communities' animals and the environment, is the way forward to preventing future pandemics and for the Pandemic Agreement. Nina Jamal, Head of Pandemics, FOUR PAWS Jamal added, We cannot wait. There are looming pandemics which we are completely unprepared for and if we do not tackle activities that drive outbreaks, we will continue to put humans and animals at risk. A paradigm shift in the way we treat animals should be at the very heart of a new global way of thinking on public health. The importance of following a One health approach to tackling global health challenges like pandemics was echoed by high level government speakers at the opening ceremony from keynote speakers such as Minister of Health and Family Welfare of India Dr. Bharati Parvin Pawar, Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety and Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Jamal concluded, One Health and prevention at source should be treated as the key pillar of the agreement, instead of limiting them to single articles because prevention through a One Health approach offers a holistic and transformative pathway and the best chance to achieving equity and averting the spillover of dangerous diseases to vulnerable communities, if fully integrated into the instrument. Having come from a middle-class family and becoming a billionaire, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, the founder of Biocon Limited, is undoubtedly one of the countrys most successful business tycoons. She is a remarkable Indian woman entrepreneur whose perseverance and commitment inspired a number of the countrys future business owners. Kiran Mazumdar married John Shaw in 1998. He was a foreign promoter and member of the advisory board of several Biocon Group companies, according to the companys official website. John Shaw passed away on October 24, 2022. Who Is Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw? On March 23, 1953, Kiran Mazumdar was born in Bangalore, Karnataka. After attending Bangalores Bishop Cotton Girls High School, she went to Bangalore University, where she graduated with a bachelors degree in zoology in 1973. Her aim was to become a doctor, but she was unable to realise it since she was not successful in getting a scholarship. Her father Rasendra Mazumdar was the head brewmaster at United Breweries. He advised her to pursue a masters degree in brewing. Later, she attended Melbourne University in Australia to study malting and brewing, and in 1975, she graduated as a master brewer. After completing her education in Australia, she came back to India in 1976. Kiran Mazumdar received an offer from a Scottish company in 1978. Soon after accepting the position, she intended to travel to Scotland. It was serendipitous that she met an Irish biotech entrepreneur, as per Zee News. She was travelling from Baroda to Delhi on the Rajdhani Express. She was inspired by that businessman to launch an enzyme manufacturing company in India with the aid of a product purchase guarantee, reports add. Heres Kiran Mazumdars Success Story In 1978, Kiran Mazumdar founded Biocon after making the decision to work in the biotechnology field. With barely Rs 10,000, she started Biocon in a little garage. Among the many obstacles she had to overcome were investor mistrust and the widespread belief that biotechnology was a dangerous field. She didnt waver, though, and she stayed committed to her mission of providing everyone with access to inexpensive healthcare options. Biocons first endeavours included the extraction of papain, an enzyme produced from papaya used for meat tenderization, and isinglass, a chemical generated from tropical catfish used for beer clarifying. Surprisingly, Kiran Mazumdars business was the first to successfully export these enzymes to both the United States and Europe within a year. She chose to move her manufacturing from a tin hut to a roomy 20-acre plot as a result of her early success. Biocon made great gains in the field of biopharmaceuticals under Kiran Mazumdars leadership, notably in creating cost-effective medications for illnesses such as cancer and diabetes. Her forward-thinking style and drive to innovation spurred Biocons growth, transforming it into one of Indias premier biotechnology corporations. In addition to being a well-known businesswoman, Kiran Mazumdar is now regarded as a philanthropist and a steadfast supporter of womens empowerment and access to cheap healthcare. Stocks to Watch on October 20: GIFT Nifty on the NSE IX traded 45 points, or 0.23 per cent, lower at 19,512, signaling that Dalal Street was headed for negative start on Friday. Heres a slew of stocks that will be in focus today for various reasons. Q2 Results to Watch: Atul Auto, Central Bank of India, Century Textiles, CG Power & Industrial Solutions, Elecon Engineering, Glenmark Life Sciences, Goa Carbon, Hindustan Zinc, ICRA, J&K Bank, JSW Energy, JSW Steel, Just Dial, Kajaria Ceramics, L&T Finance Holdings, Laurus Labs, Paytm, Sasken Technologies, Sunteck Realty and Tejas Networks are few of the prominent companies scheduled to report September quarter results today. Hindustan Unilever (HUL): The FMCG major reported a marginal decline in consolidated net profit for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 to Rs 2,656 crore, down 0.3 per cent from a year ago period. Total income, however, was up 3.1 per cent year-on-year (YoY) at Rs 15,364 crore. ITC: Reported a 6 per cent YOY rise in consolidated net profit for Q2FY24 at Rs 4,898.07 crore from Rs 4,619.77 crore. Total income was up 3.9 per cent YoY at Rs 17,774 crore. Zomato: SoftBanks venture capital fund SVF Growth, Singapore, to sell 1.1% stake in Zomato at Rs 111.65 per share, amounting to Rs 1,024 crore, CNBC TV-18 reported on Thursday. UltraTech Cement: Net profit surged 69 per cent YoY to Rs 1,281 crore for Q2FY24. Net sales rose by 15.3 per cent to Rs 16,012 crore. Dixon Technologies: In a step-down from its earlier move, the Indian government on Thursday said it will not restrict import of laptops and other IT hardware products. Tata Motors: To pick 26.8 per cent stake in digital logistics solutions firm Freight Tiger for Rs 150 crore. As per the Securities Subscription Agreement (SSA) signed, Tata Motors can invest another Rs 100 crore over the next two years in the company. MphasiS: Q2FY24 consolidated net profit declined 6.3 per cent to Rs 391.95 crore when compared with Rs 418.46 crore in Q2FY23. Total income was also down 6.6 per cent YoY at Rs 3,325.54 crore. United Breweries: Posted a 20 per cent YoY decline in consolidated net at Rs 107.17 crore for Q2FY24. Total income, however, increased by 14 per cent to Rs 4,204.95 crore. Schools in Uttar Pradeshs Ghaziabad will likely remain shut today, October 20 due to Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit. The UP school administration has directed all schools to conduct classes online in order to avoid academic loss, as per a report by Times Now. However, there has been no official announcement on this yet. PM Modi is slated to visit Noida today to inaugurate the first corridor of Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) in Uttar Pradeshs Sahibabad today. The priority section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor will be launched today from the Sahibabad RAPIDX station. The prime minister is set to flag off a RAPIDX train connecting Sahibabad and Duhai Depot, marking the launch of RRTS in India. The train will be known as Namo Bharat. Also read| Odisha Schools to Remain Closed from October 20 to 29 for Durga Puja Additionally, schools in UP will also remain closed on October 28 and 29 due to the UP PET 2023 exam. A holiday has been declared for schools in 35 districts in Uttar Pradesh as the Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Service Selection Commission (UPSSSC) will conduct the exam on October 28 and 29 across the state. The state government has also issued a directive in this regard indicating that no additional examinations would be scheduled on these days in order to ensure the proper execution of the exams. The 35 districts schools have also been given official orders to stop their regular classes. Over 20 lakh candidates are expected to appear for the UPSSSC UP PET exam this year. It will be conducted in two sessions the first session will be held in the morning from 10 am to 12 pm and the second session or the afternoon session will be held from 3 pm to 5 pm. The exam is held for the recruitment of individuals for group B and group C vacancies across the state. The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) is all set to conduct the Company Secretary Executive Entrance Test (CSEET 2024) examination for the January session on January 6. The registration process has begun and the last date to apply for the examination is December 15. Interested students who are planning to appear for the examination can visit the official website at icsi.edu and fill up the application form. Those who have passed or are scheduled to appear in the senior secondary (10+2) exam or its equivalent may take the Company Secretary Executive Entrance Test. In addition to that, candidates who have completed the ICSI CSEET test are not required to retake the ICSI Foundation level, ICAI Final, or ICMAI Final. However, candidates for direct admission to the CS Executive programme should also be graduates or postgraduates with a minimum of a 50 per cent overall grade point average. When enrolling for the Institute of Company Secretaries of India CSEET examination, candidates are required to upload a photo, a signature, government-based ID proof such as Aadhaar card, proof of date of birth, the qualifying examination admission card, and a caste certificate. Note that, the files should be uploaded in one of the following formats (JPEG, PNG, GIF, JPG, BMP, PDF) and the maximum allowed file size is 2 MBs. Moreover, the file size of the students photo should be between 20kb to 50kb and the file Size of the students signature should be between 10kb to 20kb. ICSI CSEET Registration: How To Apply Step 1: Go to the official website of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India at icsi.edu Step 2: Click on the link that says, Proceed to CSEET Registration on the homepage Step 3: For new registration, enter the required information. Step 4: Once done, log in and fill up the application form. Step 5: Upload the necessary documents in the required size and format Step 6: Pay the prescribed application fee Step 7: Submit the application form and save a copy of the same for future reference. According to the ICSI CSEET exam pattern, the question paper will consist of four sections and candidates will be given 120 minutes to answer the questions. It is to be noted that there will be no negative marking for wrong answers. Osmania University has released the hall tickets for the Telangana State-State Eligibility Test (TSSET 2023) today, October 20. Candidates who have applied for the examination can visit the official website of the university, telanganaset.org, to download the hall tickets. The TS SET 2023 will be conducted on October 28, 29, and 30 across different examination centres. The Telangana State Eligibility Test (TS-SET) is being administered at the state level by Osmania University, Hyderabad, acting on behalf of the Government of Telangana. This examination serves the purpose of assessing candidates eligibility for the roles of Assistant Professor and Lecturer within the universities and colleges situated in the State of Telangana. TS SET 2023 hall ticket: Steps to download Step 1: Log on to telanganaset.org, the official website of TS SET. Step 2: Locate and click on the Download Hall Ticket option that will be available on the homepage. Step 3: A new window will be displayed where candidates will have to log in using their application number, password, and security pin. Step 4: Once you are logged in, your TS SET Hall Ticket will be displayed on the screen. Step 5: Cross-check all the details mentioned on the hall ticket carefully. Step 6: Download and take a printout of the TS SET hall ticket for the exam day. If there is any mistake in the hall ticket, candidates are advised to report the concern to the examination authority immediately. TS SET 2023: Exam Pattern The Telangana State Eligibility Test (TS-SET) consists of two papers, both featuring objective-type questions and is conducted in a three-hour session. In Paper I, candidates are presented with 50 compulsory questions, each carrying two marks. These questions are of a general nature, aiming to evaluate the candidates teaching and research aptitude. They assess reasoning ability, comprehension, divergent thinking, and general awareness. On the other hand, Paper II contains 100 objective-type compulsory questions, also carrying two marks each, and is tailored to the subject selected by the candidate, covering the entire syllabus. Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Friday said incidents of Naxalite violence have declined by 52 percent in Chhattisgarh under the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre. He also said the Congress dispensation under chief minister Bhupesh Baghel in the state was a government of scams and mafias. Assembly polls will be held in Chhattisgarh in two phases on November 7 and 17, while votes will be counted on December 3. Thakurs rally was held after former state minister Mahesh Gagda filed his nomination papers from Bijapur (ST) seat, where polls will be held in the first phase. In Chhattisgarh, incidents of Naxalite violence have declined by 52 percent during Modi jis government. The Modi government has taken several steps for development of Bastar region, he said. Thakur said, on the demand of people, news and programmes are being broadcast through Akashwani in Gondi and Halbi dialects (being spoken by tribals in Bastar region), while five FM stations have been approved for Bastar division along with installation of hundreds of mobile towers. Accusing the Baghel-led government of corruption, Thakur said people of Chhattisgarh are fed up with Bhu-pay, a term coined by the BJP as a play on the name Bhupesh Baghel and a digital payment system. Incidentally, during his visit to Raipur earlier this month, Thakur had launched a QR code title Bhu-Pay that takes users to a website containing information about the alleged scams under the Congress government in Chhattisgarh. The Congress government did nothing except committing scams. There are scams in liquor, coal, sand, and rice. In Bihar, Lalu Prasad Yadav committed fodder scam but in Chhattisgarh, Baghel committed corruption in cow dung (procurement scheme) and rice (distribution through PDS), he alleged. People will not allow Chhattisgarh to once again become an ATM of the Congress. People want to get rid of the mining mafia, liquor mafia and transfer mafia active in Chhattisgarh, he said. With its second list of 85 names on Thursday night, the Congress has declared its candidate list for all seats in the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly, except one Amla. As reported by News18 previously, Deputy Collector Nisha Bangre is speculated to be its contender for elections in Amla constituency. Bangres resignation hasnt been accepted yet and, to protest the delay, she started a Justice March from Betul district to Bhopal. With Congress leaders backing her legacy and the party seemingly keeping her preferred seat aside, it is almost certain the grand old party will field her from Amla once the courts rule on her plea against the delay in her resignation formalities. A crucial indication of this is Congress leader Vivek Tankha representing her in the Supreme Court when she approached the top court a special leave petition to get her resignation cleared. A photo of Bangre, Tankha and former Congress leader Kapil Sibal has also surfaced in the public domain. Though the Supreme Court rejected Bangres special leave petition, the bureaucrat claims the apex court has directed the concerned High Court to decide on the plea urgently. Time is of the essence for both Bangre and Congress. The nomination process for Madhya Pradesh election 2023 starts October 21. The last date of nomination is October 30. THE SAGA SO FAR Bangre reportedly decided to resign as Deputy Collector when she was denied permission to hold an inter-faith prayer meeting at her newly constructed residence. Its an issue of our rights. We are stopped from holding prayers according to our faith. We dont have the freedom to live, Bangre had alleged. BJP insiders, however, claim the bureaucrat has always nurtured political ambitions and wanted to use the meeting to launch her campaign. She wants to fight elections from Amla. Thats why she is resorting to these theatrics, said a BJP functionary from Madhya Pradesh, adding that party leaders have been advised to not comment on her. This will get her undue publicity, the functionary added. The BJP has fielded Dr Yogesh Pandagre from the Amla constituency. With her resignation, which was tendered June-end, yet to be accepted, Bangre started a 335-km Justice March from Betul district which recently reached Bhopal. In politically charged Madhya Pradesh, the bureaucrat seems to be giving many seasoned politicians a run for their money, spending nights under the open sky during her march. On October 9, her yatra reached Bhopal, where her goal was to meet Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. With no permission for the march, she and her supporters were arrested under Section 151. Bangre was sent to jail where she started a hunger strike and was later released. We need to uproot such a government, she declared upon release. Bangre has so far milked every twist in the saga to her benefit. Upon release from jail, she came out wearing several garlands made of marigold flowers. She also alleged the police tore her clothes during the arrest. We have witnessed police atrocity where not only my clothes were torn, but a photo of Baba Saheb (Ambedkar) was also brokenWe need to uproot such a government, she had said The big question now is how long will the Congress wait before declaring a candidate for Amla? After receiving flak from the district unit, the Congress has now replaced its candidate Awadesh Nayak in Madhya Pradeshs Datia seat with Rajendra Bharti. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded sitting State Home Minister and firebrand leader Narottam Mishra from the constituency. Datia is one of the three seats which has seen a change in candidate amid the internal rift. The change is the outcome of the divide between Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh over division of tickets. After the denial of tickets to candidates such as Bharti and NP Prajapati, both the leaders apparently met Singh in state capital Bhopal later and camped in Delhi before the announcement of ticket. Earlier, Nayak was announced as the candidate against Mishra, who was believed to be a game-changer in the constituency. Soon after his name was announced, old Congress workers in the district started to protest. Nayak was a part of the BJP until recently, when he switched to the Congress in the presence of Nath and secured a ticket. The replacement against Mishra has made the fight even more interesting, as during the last elections, Mishra won against Bharti with just 2,656 votes. Bharti has earlier fought with the support of Samajwadi Party (SP) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in the past, but has been losing the elections since 2003. There is a sentiment in the rural side that Bharti can beat a BJP leader in the electoral fight. Bharti has also filed a case against Mishra in a paid news case, the verdict for which was in favour of Bharti, but was challenged later. World leaders gathered in Beijing for a high-profile forum this week in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF), held from Tuesday to Wednesday, marked another milestone in the process of jointly building the Belt and Road. In a keynote speech at the opening ceremony, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that over the past 10 years, Belt and Road cooperation has progressed from "sketching the outline" to "filling in the details," and blueprints have been turned into real projects. He announced eight major steps that China will take to support high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, including the promotion of green development, and the advancement of scientific and technological innovation. During the third BRF, a total of 458 outcomes were achieved, far more than in the second one. The CEO Conference held during the forum saw the conclusion of agreements worth 97.2 billion U.S. dollars. Zahari Zahariev, chairman of Bulgaria National Association for the Belt and Road, said he was impressed by China's fresh commitments and pledges. Future BRI development requires efforts not only from China, but also from other participating countries like Bulgaria, he said. Since its launch, the BRI has become the world's largest platform for international cooperation, and with the broadest coverage. By June 2023, China had signed more than 200 BRI cooperation agreements with over 150 countries and 30-plus international organizations across five continents. Over 3,000 BRI cooperation projects have been launched in the past decade, involving close to 1 trillion U.S. dollars of investment. One such project is the China-Laos Railway, which began operations in December 2021, helping transform the landlocked country of Laos into a land-linked hub in Southeast Asia. Sida Phengphongsawanh, a 24-year-old train inspector for the China-Laos Railway, is one of many Lao people whose lives have been changed by the railway. "The Belt and Road is a great initiative," she said. "And I think the Laos-China Railway is just the starting point (in the region). It will connect more countries in the future, allowing us to go abroad more easily." By improving infrastructure connectivity, BRI cooperation can reduce international trade costs and enable underdeveloped countries, especially those located inland, to participate in global trade and seek economic development, said Liu Nanxing, an expert on international cooperation at the National Development and Reform Commission. China-made new-energy vehicles, engineering machinery and household appliances are being shipped to more and more Belt and Road partner countries, while foreign products such as Thai rice, Kenyan avocados and Uzbek chocolates are increasingly appearing on the tables of Chinese people. Belt and Road cooperation was proposed by China, but its benefits and opportunities are for the world to share, President Xi Jinping said. China is endeavoring to bring Belt and Road cooperation to a new stage of higher-quality and higher-level development, thus promoting the modernization of all countries. The World Bank has estimated that by 2030, BRI-related investments could lift 7.6 million people out of extreme poverty and 32 million out of moderate poverty. Collaborative efforts in new energy and environmental protection have emerged as fresh opportunities and driving forces for cooperation among the partner countries. Robert Lawrence Kuhn, chairman of the U.S.-based Kuhn Foundation, said that the BRI is sustainable as the win-win cooperation model has delivered tangible results over the past 10 years. "Historians 1,000 years from now will look back and will circle the BRI as something of significance for our era today," he noted. Hu Biliang, executive dean of the Belt and Road School at Beijing Normal University, said that in a world facing uncertainty and instability, countries are urgently in need of dialogue to bridge their differences, solidarity to counter division, and cooperation to foster development. "The significance of the Belt and Road cooperation is becoming increasingly evident, and its prospects are more promising than ever," he said. It is a battle between Diwali and Dussehra narratives this year in Chhattisgarhs festival of democracy. It began with Home Minister Amit Shah firing the first salvo from his rally in Jagdalpur where he said poll-bound Chhattisgarh would celebrate Diwali thrice this year to mark the BJP coming back to power in the state. Hitting back at the assertion, chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, while speaking to CNN-News18 in neighbouring Dantewada, said Shah is mistaken. Amit Shah ke sapne kabhi saakar nahi honge.wo mugalte mein hain. Diwali ek hi baar aati hai per usse pehle Bastar mein Dussehra manega, he said after offering prayers at the Danteshwari temple in Dantewada. Dussehra is considered the most auspicious festival in Bastar as a chariot from Dantewada temple moves to Jagdalpur amidst fanfare and participation from tribals across the region. Baghel tried to encash on the sentiments as he mingled amongst devotees after offering his prayers and shared his views ahead of elections with News18. Corruption BJP has accused Baghel of personal corruption, with Amit Shah asking in Kondagaon where the money sent by the Centre for development of the state was disappearing. There was a Congress government at the Centre for 10 years which gave only Rs 29,000 crore for tribal welfare across the country. After Modi-ji became the prime minister, Rs 1,32,000 crore was spent on tribal welfare. The money was however sent to Congresss Dilli Darbar, Shah said. An irate Baghel countered that in return, the Centre had earned crores from the resources of the state. If the Centre gives money to Chhattisgarh, it isnt a favour instead, they earn more money from resources like iron, coal or bauxite that the state provides, he told CNN-News18. Privatisation has been a running theme throughout Baghels election campaigns. He alleged that the BJP governments privatisation policy was only meant to benefit the private sector at the cost of people of the state. Bastar waalon ne nagarnar ki zameen neeji haathon mein dene ke liye nahi saunpi thi (Centre ko), he said, adding: Vishwaguru aaye the lekin unhone ek shabd nahi kaha ki neeji haathon mein nahi jayega. Aaj amit shah ji bhi kuch nahi bole [PM Modi came to Chhattisgarh but did not say a word about land not going into private hands. Today Amit Shah too did not say anything.] The chief minister alleged that when the prime minister came, the entire Bastar observed a shutdown, with people from forests around Dantewada protesting against proposed privatisation of mines. Baghel also questioned why passenger trains had stopped plying in the state. The Centres love for these resources (of state) is such that goods trains operate non-stop to ferry coal or iron but passenger trains have been stopped. Even in the festive season, passenger trains from here are not running. They (Centre) only care about the mines of Chhattisgarh, he alleged. Mahadev App At an election rally in Bastar, Shah said the Mahadev online betting app scam could be worth around Rs 5,000 crore. Kissi ko bakhsha nahi jayega [no one will be spared], he thundered from the stage. However, Baghel was quick to counter him as he asked why the promoters of the app, against whom the state has issued a look-out circular, have not been arrested yet. A total of 450 people have been arrested by the state government in this case. Let Amit Shah-ji tell the people why Mahadev app promoters have not been arrested. That responsibility is of the government of India. What understanding do you have with them? Instead of shutting such apps, you have placed a 28 per cent GST on gambling. Do you want to earn taxes through such apps? We issued a look-out circular against Mahadev app promoters but why is the Union government not arresting them? he asked. Rejecting the charge of personal corruption, Baghel termed it a political witch-hunt. You only raid political people and then you recover nothing. Amit Shah-ji, dont try to scare me. In the last four years, ED and I-T have tried all tricks. Now, they wish to bring in CBI through courts. My suggestion to them is to bring in some international agency also; still nothing will be proved, he said. Baghel also hit back at the BJP leadership on the corruption issue. So far as personal corruption is concerned sabse bada lootera jo hai uske nomination mein gaye the rajnandgaon and the MLA who is accused in Saradha chit fund scam is roaming around the state. But these supporters of corrupt people have not said a word about what they will do for Chhattisgarh if voted to power. Internal Tussle? The Congress has kept the guessing game on between TS Deo and Bhupesh Baghels chief ministership. While BJP has been taking a dig at the alleged infighting, Baghel dismissed the speculations and asked BJP to look within. BJPs infighting is at a level that Vasundhara Raje is not stepping out in Rajasthan while Raman Singh, who was chief minister for 15 years, has not been declared CM face here, he signed off. Parth Samthaan and Khushalii Kumar have recently attracted media attention due to speculations about their romantic involvement and plans for an upcoming wedding. Earlier reports suggested that they might be getting married in December 2023 or January 2024, with rumours indicating Khushalii had received approval from her producer brother, Bhushan Kumar, and that both families were actively engaged in wedding preparations. However, in a recent social media post, the actress dismissed all these rumours and explicitly stated that the report was untrue. Khushali Kumar addressed the wedding rumours in her Instagram stories. She posted a screenshot of the article reporting her wedding plans with Parth and tagged it as false. In a light-hearted tone, she expressed, I love rumours. I always find out amazing things about myself that I never knew. Parth Samthaan and Khushalii Kumar initially crossed paths while working together on a music video for the song Pehle Pyaar Ka Pehla Gham. Their on-screen chemistry suggested to fans that they made a good match. Earlier this year, Parth Samthaan opened up about his marriage plans. The actor shared that he is under pressure from his mother to get married soon. Speaking to ETimes, Parth Samthaan said, My mother is right now pressuring me because she feels it is the right time for me to get married apparently. My friends are getting married and seeing that Im under more pressure, but somewhere down the line Ive my goals and ambitions. Elaborating on his idea of settling down, Parth added, Till the time I dont feel Ive settled myself and feel Im in the right space, I will keep seeing and exploring. The challenge is still there that Ive to give priority to my family and work equally. Parth Samthaan, who was seen in a popular show Kaisi Yeh Yaariyaan 5 along with Niti Taylor, will soon make his Bollywood debut with Binoy Gandhis Ghudchadi. He will be seen alongside an ensemble cast that includes Sanjay Dutt, Aruna Irani, and Raveena Tandon. In the film, Parths character is supposed to go through a series of comic escapades as he tries to find his path in life. Khushalii Kumar will also feature in the film. Apart from this, the actress also has Dedh Bigha Zameen with Pratik Gandhi in the lead role. She is also trained and well-established as a fashion designer and has reportedly created designs for pop sensations like Shakira, Justin Bieber, Melanie B, and many other popular celebrities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the maiden journey on the 17-km priority section of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) train or RAPIDX, the countrys first mass rapid system dedicated to regional connectivity. PM Modi showed the green flag to the train connecting Sahibabad and Duhai Depot stations, marking the launch of the RRTS in India. The train can run at a speed of 180 km per hour and reduce travel time between Delhi and Meerut to a little less than an hour. WHAT IS REGIONAL RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM? Regional Rapid Transit System, a high-speed rail-based commuter transit service, marks the beginning of a new era of state-of-the-art ultra-modern urban commutes in the country. The new rail-based transit system is high-speed and high-frequency commuter connecting regional nodes in NCR and is aimed to ensure balanced and sustainable urban development. The inauguration ceremony took place at Sahibabad station of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor, which once fully completed, will reduce travel time between Delhi and Meerut to a little less than an hour. The RRTS has been designed to reach a speed of 180 km per hour, while the operational speed it 160 km per hour. It is a transformational regional development initiative, which is designed to provide high-speed trains for intercity commuting every 15 minutes, which can go up to a frequency of every five minutes according to requirements, the Prime Ministers Office earlier said. FEATURES OF REGIONAL RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM The Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS is being developed for more than Rs 30,000 crore and will connect Delhi to Meerut in less than an hour of travel time passing through Ghaziabad, Muradnagar, and Modinagar. The first semi-high-speed regional rail service equipped with hi-tech features and a number of passenger amenities will be opened for passengers from October 21. The train, which can run at a speed of 180 km per hour, will be known as Namo Bharat, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said. The 17 Km priority section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor will run between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot and has five stations Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai and Duhai Depot. The segment from Duhai to Duhai Depot is a spur from the main corridor. The entire 82.15 km Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS is targeted to be operational by June 2025. The transit system will provide safe, reliable and modern intercity commuting solutions in the country and will have an extensive multi-modal integration with Railway stations, Metro stations, Bus services etc. WHO IS RRTS DIFFERENT FROM METRO? Apart from being faster, the RRTS network is different from metro services as it caters to passengers looking to travel relatively longer distances with fewer stops and at higher speeds. It also differs from the conventional railway system as it will provide reliable, high frequency, point-to-point regional travel at high speed along a dedicated path way, the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), which has built the project, said on its website. While the Delhi Metro Rail Corporations fastest line, the Airport Express Line, operates at a speed of 120 km per hour, the RRTS on the other hand will travel up to the speed of 180 km per hour. The transit system provides a new, dedicated, high-speed, high-capacity, comfortable commuter service connecting regional nodes in NCR. The RRTS system is modelled on European railway systems like RER suburban trains in Paris, Regional-Express trains in Germany and Austria and the SEPTA Regional Rail in the United States. WHY RRTS HAS BEEN INAUGURATED? Delhi, being one of the biggest cities with a huge population, not only offers a lot of job opportunities but also better education and healthcare. Therefore, the capital witnesses a huge inflow of traffic from neighbouring cities of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana like Muradnagar, Modinagar, Meerut, Faridabad, Ballabgarh, and Palwal. It witnesses a huge flow of traffic from nearby cities, including Hapur, Rohtak, Khurja, and Panipat, to name a few. The massive influx not only puts pressure on roads but also causes air pollution. Therefore, a faster alternative for mass movement from these cities will reduce migration, fuel use, travel time, congestion, and traffic on roads, as well as pollution. The project is aimed at pushing the employment generation and opening up of newer commercial hubs across NCR. In view of this, a total of eight RRTS corridors have been planned to be developed in NCR, out of which three corridors have been prioritised to be implemented in Phase-I including Delhi Ghaziabad Meerut Corridor; Delhi Gurugram SNB Alwar Corridor; and Delhi Panipat Corridor. The other corridors which are also part of the long-term plan include the Delhi Faridabad Ballabgarh Palwal Corridor; Ghaziabad Khurja Corridor; Delhi Bahadurgarh Rohtak Corridor; Ghaziabad-Hapur Corridor; and Delhi-Shahadra-Baraut Corridor. Lebanon has been on the edge since Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, increasing fears of a new conflict between Israel and Iranian-backed ally Hezbollah. Amid the raging conflict between Israel and Hamas, Israel has gathered lakhs of troops stationed along its northern border with Lebanon. After more than 13 days of fighting, Lebanons army has blamed Israel for killing a member of a journalist team covering cross-border tensions in the countrys south. Iran-backed Hezbollah and allied Palestinian factions have been trading cross-border fire with Israel daily since October 7 assault. Lebanon has blamed Israel for cross-border fire that has killed a Reuters journalist and several civilians near the border. What is Israel Attacking Lebanon? Lebanons Hezbollah has been exchanging fire with Israel across the border for days in the deadliest escalation since they fought a major war in 2006. Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has said it is ready to help when the time comes in the war between Israel and Hamas, which is also backed by Tehran. Hezbollah also targeted several Israeli positions, in some cases using guided missiles. Israel, has started the retaliatory fire on two fronts: Gaza in the South and Hezbollahs skilled guerrillas in the North. Lebanon, already reeling from a deep economic crisis, could face intense Israeli airstrikes that destroy infrastructure and could kill large numbers of people. There is potential for international involvement even further as Israel is ready to launch a ground invasion in Gaza. According to a report in CNN, Lebanons national airline carrier Middle East Airlines has parked five of its planes in Istanbul as a precautionary measure due to the escalating situation. Beiruts international airport is one of the first places to be hit by Israel after the eruption of war between the two countries. Why Countries are Issuing Warning? US, UK and Germany advised their citizens to leave Lebanon amid escalating border tensions between Israel and Hezbollah over Israels war with Hamas. The US embassy in Beirut said, We recommend that US citizens in Lebanon make appropriate arrangements to leave the country; commercial options currently remain available. The British embassy said, If you are currently in Lebanon, we encourage you to leave now while commercial options remain available. Germanys foreign office also asked citizens to leave Lebanon in a statement warning that border clashes can escalate further at any time and advising its nationals to use existing commercial travel options to leave the country safely. Many Arab and Western countries have already encouraged their nationals to avoid travel to Lebanon or leave, with Saudi Arabia on Wednesday urging its citizens to leave Lebanon immediately and Kuwait also warning against travelling there. France, Canada, Australia and Spain have also warned against travel to Lebanon. What Is Hezbollah and Is It Powerful? Hezbollah is Lebanon-based Shiite Muslim political party and militant group and enjoys the status of being a state within a state. Founded in 1982 during the Lebanese Civil War, the militant group was driven by its opposition to Israel and its resistance to Western influence in the Middle East. It has been designated as a terrorist group by several countries including the United States. While other groups in the subcontinent disarmed after Lebanons civil war, Hezbollah kept its weapons to fight Israeli forces that were occupying the predominantly Shiite south of the country. Years of guerrilla warfare led Israel to withdraw in 2000. Hezbollah demonstrated its military advances in 2006 during a five-week war with Israel, which erupted after it crossed into Israel, kidnapping two soldiers and killing others. Hezbollahs Resistance to Israel Hezbollahs objective is to liberate southern Lebanon from Israeli occupation, which lasted from 1982 until 2000. The militant group also fought a guerrilla war against Israeli forces occupying parts of Southern Lebanon. In 2006 Hezbollah and Israel fought a 34-day war that left more than 1,200 dead in Lebanon, mostly civilians, and 160 in Israel, mostly soldiers. Hezbollah is in many ways linked to Hamas, as both the groups have common objective and emerged during the 1980s. While Hezbollah is a Shiite group, Hamas is a Sunni group. Despite the differences in views and the Islamic sect, the two groups are long-time allies. Both the groups are related in their objective: resistance to the fight against Israel and both organizations have a military wing that functions outside the confines of the group. In a terrifying turn of events, a giant wheel at a Dussehra fair (mela) in Delhis Narela stopped midway while carrying people. The Delhi Fire Services said that 20 people were rescued from the giant wheel. Rescuers said that the situation at the fair was chaotic, adding that the people who were stuck were screaming for help, a Times of India report said. The Ferris wheel had to be physically moved with the help of ropes in order to rescue the trapped people. After tying the ropes on the sides, firefighters moved the swing and deboarded the people one by one. Visuals from this scary incident show the Ferris wheel stopped midway with people standing on the railings attached to the wheel. #WATCH | A giant wheel at a Navratri Mela in #Delhis #Narela area stopped working with people onboard. Everyone has been rescued safely. Legal action initiated by Police. #Dusheera #Mela @DelhiPolice pic.twitter.com/XpmFykvqjm Sanjay Jha (@JhaSanjay07) October 19, 2023 The fire department was called for help in Narelas Subhash Ramlila Maidan at around 11:10 pm on Wednesday, the report added. Two fire tenders were sent to the scene, and it was found that 20 people were trapped in the wheel. We had also brought an aerial ladder platform, but were unable to use it due to the presence of electricity wires, an officer said. The officer also said that the scene of the incident was congested as people present at the fair were further crowding the area. The firefighters led by fire station in-charge Nitin Joon tied ropes to the either sides of the giant wheel and slowly began moving it. One by one, people were deboarded from the cabins of the Ferris wheel, the officer said, adding that the whole rescue operation was completed within an hour. Four men, 12 women, and four children were successfully rescued and no injuries were reported. The rescued persons did not speak as they were still in shock from the incident, another officer said. Atul Garg, Director of Delhi Fire Services, said that the usage of rope was a smart move on the firefighters part, leading to the safe rescue of everyone. Some of the rescuers had gone to the upper side of the swing and tied rope, police said, adding that they are checking whether people other than the 20 rescued ones, went down the wheel on their own using the iron railings. Ravi Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer North) said that the ferris wheels swing malfunctioned and got stuck. It happened due to a technical glitch as two trollies of the giant wheel tilted to one side and stopped spinning, Kumar said. Reportedly, a case was registered under the Indian Penal Code sections 287 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery) and 336 (act endangering the life or personal safety of others). The DCP said that the giant wheel section has been sealed off and an intimation has also been sent to the Municipal Corporation Department (MCD) and licensing department for necessary actions from their side. An MCD official said that a performance license for the fair was issued by the Delhi Police. MCD reports on the working condition of the joy rides after inspection, and the organisers have to check these rides on a daily-basis and carry out their maintenance activity before the ride services begin. This helps prevent any untoward incidents during the fair, the official noted. After this incident, the official said that they have been instructed to reinspect all the joyrides at the fair, following which a report will be submitted to the Delhi Police. India on Friday rejected Canadas attempt to portray the withdrawal of 41 of Canadian diplomats from the country as a violation of international norms, and asserted that ensuring two-way diplomatic parity is fully consistent with the provisions of Vienna convention on diplomatic relations. Indias comments came after Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie, announcing the return of the diplomats, described New Delhis action contrary to international law, and in violation of the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations. We reject any attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. Last month, India asked Canada to withdraw 41 of its diplomats from the country after a diplomatic row erupted between the two sides following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus allegation linking Indian agents to the killing of Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. India strongly rejected the charges. We have seen the statement by the Government of Canada on October 19 regarding Canadian diplomatic presence in India, the MEA said. The state of our bilateral relations, the much higher number of Canadian diplomats in India, and their continued interference in our internal affairs warrant a parity in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa, it said. The MEA said it has been engaged with the Canadian side on the issue over the last month in order to work out the details and modalities to ensure implementation of parity in diplomatic presence. Our actions in implementing this parity are fully consistent with Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the MEA said in a statement. It also mentioned Article 11.1 of the Vienna convention. The provision says: In the absence of specific agreement as to the size of the mission, the receiving State may require that the size of a mission be kept within limits considered by it to be reasonable and normal, having regard to circumstances and conditions in the receiving State and to the needs of the particular mission. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday targeted Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray over drug case accused Lalit Patil, a Yerwada Jail inmate who had fled from a Pune hospital after being held in a major mephedrone bust. Patil was the Nashik chief of the undivided Shiv Sena under Thackeray and was never interrogated by police after he was held in 2020, when the Maha Vikas Aghadi was in power, Fadnavis said at a news conference. Patil was held in a mephedrone bust outside Sassoon Hospital, where he was admitted, and he escaped from there on October 2 while being taken for an X-ray. He was later held on Tuesday from a spot near Bengaluru in connection with a Rs 300 crore mephedrone seizure in Nashik and was remanded in police custody till October 23 by a court in Andheri. Lalit Patil was arrested on December 10-11, 2020. Uddhav Thackeray was the chief minister when he was arrested. When he was held, PCR (police custody) was sought. The PCR was of 14 days but Patil was immediately admitted in Sassoon Hospital, Fadnavis said. There was no effort from the police to file an application in court (over the fact) that he was not interrogated or that his illness was not true. Why was he not interrogated? Who is responsible, the then chief minister (Thackeray) or home minister (Ani Deshmukh)? he questioned. Fadnavis sought to know under whose pressure Patil was and with whom did he have links. Incidentally, the Shiv Sena (UBT) has been targeting Fadnavis, who holds the Home portfolio in the Eknath Shinde government, over Patil escaping from the hospital just days after he was arrested. As per police, Patil was held after a person was found on September 30 with mephedrone outside Sassoon Hospital. Patil (37) escaped on October 2. He was admitted in Sassoon Hospital from Yerwada Jail, where he was lodged in connection with a drug case registered in Chakan in Pune in 2022. Patil was held on Tuesday night by a team of Saki Naka police in Mumbai from a hotel near Bengaluru. Incidentally, on Thursday, former Shiv Sena MLA from Nashik Yogesh Gholap said Lalit Patil had campaigned for him but added he had no clue of the latters business activities. Patil joined the Shiv Sena after being associated with the Republican Party of India many years ago, Gholap had told reporters. Gholap is now with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Indias first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) in Ghaziabad on Friday, the goal to have an integrated commuter railway network between the National Capital Region and Delhi moved closer to reality. From Saturday, the first stretch of the network in Ghaziabad will be opened for the public. Heres what the RRTS is and how it is different from Metro and conventional train services. WHAT IS RRTS? Regional Rapid Transit System is a high-speed rail-based commuter transit service. It is a new, dedicated, and comfortable commuter service, connecting regional nodes in NCR, initially planned in 1998-99. It provides reliable, high frequency, and point-to-point regional travel at high speed along dedicated pathways. It connects a number of smaller cities with bigger cities, decongesting the region while ensuring better work opportunities. It is not Metro and also not the conventional railway. It is the best of both, say officials. When compared to Metro, RRTS caters to passengers looking to travel a relatively longer distance with fewer stops and at higher speed. When compared to conventional railway, it is faster, more reliable and frequent. WHY RRTS? Delhi being one of the biggest cities in India not just offers a lot of job opportunities but also better education and healthcare. So, it witnesses a huge flow of traffic from smaller cities like Muradnagar, Modinagar, and even Meerut on one side, and Faridabad, Ballabgarh, and Palwal on the other. Similarly, it also witnesses a huge flow of traffic from nearby cities, including Hapur, Rohtak, Khurja, and Panipat, to name a few. This not just puts pressure on roads but also causes air pollution, for which Delhi is already infamous. A faster alternative for mass movement from these cities will reduce migration, fuel use, travel time, congestion, and traffic on roads, as well as pollution. Here RRTS comes into the picture, providing safe, reliable and modern intercity commuting solutions. All the cities named above will be getting RRTS connectivity with Delhi. A total of eight RRTS corridors have been identified to be developed around the national capital. Three of these for Ghaziabad-Meerut, Gurugram-Rewari-Alwar, and Sonipat-Panipat have been prioritised for phase-1. Other routes include Faridabad-Ballabgarh-Palwal, Bahadurgarh-Rohtak, Shahdara-Baraut, Ghaziabad-Khurja, and Ghaziabad-Hapur. WHAT STARTING OF 17-KM STRETCH MEANS Running between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot, the section is being introduced for commuters to understand what RRTS is and see what is there in the offing. Since it is the first-of-its-kind train service in India, it will be a unique experience for the travellers. We had this section fully ready. The options before us was to wait for the remaining length or to start train operations in this section so that people can become familiar with RRTS and know how it is unique. We will also get an opportunity to learn from passenger feedback, an official from the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) told News18. This priority section will connect Sahibabad to Duhai Depot with stations in Ghaziabad, Guldhar, and Duhai on the way. The 17-kilometre distance between the two stoppages takes around 30-35 minutes by road, which can be covered in just 12 minutes with RRTS, the official told News18. Travelling in these trains will mean that passengers will get comfortable seats and air-conditioning. The trains will operate at a speed of 160 kmph. Starting from 6 am, the train service will continue till 11 pm, at a 15-minute frequency. The minimum fare for the standard class is Rs 20 and maximum is Rs 50. For the premium class, it is Rs 40 and Rs 100. Leading a life of a normal convict, Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan is now prisoner number 338 in Rampur Jail. No special security arrangement have been made for the former MLA as the prison administration did not receive any inputs on threat to his familys life. Azam, his wife Tazeen Fatima and son Abdullah Azam were sent to jail on Wednesday after a court in Uttar Pradeshs Rampur convicted them in a 2019 fake birth certificate case and awarded a seven-year term. Azam Khans Life in Rampur Jail According to sources, the medical history of the trio was taken, following which they were given blankets, clothes and utensils. While Azam Khan is prisoner number 338, Abdullah Azam is prisoner number 339 and Tazeen Fatima is prisoner number 340. Azam and son Abdullah are locked in Mulayaja Barrack, while Tazeen is in womens barrack. According to sources, the first night in jail was difficult for the family as they did not even have food. Why is Azam Khans Family in Jail? It was alleged that Azam Khan and his wife helped their son obtain two fake birth certificates: one from Lucknow and another from Rampur. The FIR in the case was lodged by BJP MLA Akash Saxena at the Ganj police station in Rampur on January 3, 2019. The trio was held inside the courtroom in judicial custody for a few hours before being taken to the Rampur district jail in a police jeep on Wednesday, said Arun Parkash Saxena, a former District Government Counsel, who represented the prosecution in the case. As they were being escorted by police officials, Azam Khan told the mediapersons waiting outside the jail, A decision has been taken today and there is a difference between a decision and justice. Elder son Adeeb Azam was seen hugging his parents outside the jail. Special MP-MLA court magistrate Shobit Bansal awarded the three maximum seven-year sentences. According to the charge sheet, in the certificate issued by the Rampur municipality, Abdullah Azams date of birth was mentioned as January 1, 1993. The other certificate showed he was born in Lucknow on September 30, 1990. The trio has been found guilty under section 420 (cheating), 467(forgery valuable security), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document), 472 (making or possessing counterfeit seal, etc., with intent to commit forgery) and 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy) of IPC. The court awarded seven-year imprisonment in conviction under section 467 of the IPC along with a fine of Rs 15,000 each. Three-year imprisonment has been given under IPC section 468 and fine of Rs 10,000 each. Three-year imprisonment has been awarded to them under IPC section 420 and fine of Rs 10,000 each. Two-year imprisonment in conviction under IPC section 420 and fine of Rs 10,000 each. One-year imprisonment in conviction under IPC section 120 B and a fine of Rs 5,000 each, said Arun Prakash Saxena. All these jail terms will run parallel, so the maximum conviction will be considered of seven years along with a total fine of Rs 50,000, he added. BJP MLA Saxena alleged on Wednesday that Azam Khan used his influence and got a birth certificate issued for his son to make him eligible to contest elections and become an MLA in 2017. In 2017, Abdullah was not eligible to contest assembly elections as he was 24-year-old as per his first birth certificate. Azam used his influence and got another birth certificate of Abdullaha Azam prepared in which his age was shown as September 30, 1990 making him eligible to contest 2017 polls. He won that election, Saxena told PTI. Saxena said he filed a complaint after getting the information about the two birth certificates. Azam Khan was disqualified from the legislative assembly last year after a court sentenced him to three years in jail in a 2019 hate speech case. A video has gone viral on social media where a professor can be seen allegedly asking a student to leave the stage after he chanted the Jai Shri Ram slogan ahead of his performance at a cultural fest that took place at Ghaziabads ABES Engineering College. As per the viral clip, the incident happened when some students in the audience shouted Jai Shri Ram slogans and in response, the student who was on the stage took the mic and chanted the same. Soon, the entire auditorium also joined in and chanted the slogan in chorus. Following this, the woman professor asked the student on stage to leave and reportedly said that such slogans should not be made since it was a cultural event at the college. I kindly request @Uppolice to intervene and address this incident. If the person responsible is not held accountable, it's imperative that the institution be held responsible for their inaction.The comments made have been deeply offensive to my religious sentiments and those of https://t.co/IdGIGZpeNC BALA (@erbmjha) October 20, 2023 In another purported video, one more professor came out in support of her colleague and can be seen explaining the students not to make any kind of sloganeering at the cultural fest as everyone was having a good time. We are here for some cultural programme and for some good time, so why there is slogans of Jai Shri Ram. There is no logic behind it. These events can only be successful when you are disciplined, she can be heard saying in the viral video. As the video went viral and netizens expressed their anguish over it, cops and police van were seen deployed outside the ABES college. Reports of heavy Police deployment outside ABES engineering college in Ghaziabad, after video of professors demeaning "JSR" goes viral pic.twitter.com/TWWGp21B4w Megh Updates (@MeghUpdates) October 20, 2023 Issuing a video statement on the incident, Director of ABES Engineering College, Dr Sanjay Kumar Singh, said, A video has come to my cognisance where some students and faculty members were seen having a disagreement on a topic. A inquiry committee has been formed and action will be taken once the matter is probed. As far as the students are concerned, college authority will not take any action against them. Meanwhile, right-wing outfit Hindu Raksha Dal (HRD) president Pinki Chaudhary has decided to visit the college on Saturday. Earlier in August, a Class 11 student was allegedly beaten up by his teacher for chanting Jai Shri Ram at a school in Greater Noida. The students parents had accused the school authorities of expelling their son following the incident. According to media reports, the PT teacher and two other female teachers HAD called the student out of the classroom and scolded him. When the student tried to defend himself, his PT teacher beat him, leaving him injured. (with inputs from Oliver Fredrick) Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, who is in Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 19, 2023. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, who is in Beijing to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. China and Cambodia have set a good example of relations between countries of different sizes based on equality and mutual benefit since they established diplomatic ties 65 years ago, Xi said, noting that the two countries' iron-clad friendship is unbreakable. The two sides should maintain high-level strategic communication and well implement the action plan for building a China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, he said. Belt and Road cooperation has brought tangible development opportunities to Cambodia, the president said. China stands ready to advance the synergy of the Belt and Road Initiative with Cambodia's Pentagon Strategy, ensure that the "Industrial Development Corridor" and the "Fish and Rice Corridor" are well constructed, and push for the implementation of more projects that benefit the public, he said. China welcomes the entry of more Cambodian farm produce into its market and encourages more Chinese tourists to travel in Cambodia, Xi said. Hun Manet expressed appreciation for China's long-time and valuable support for Cambodia, noting that Cambodia firmly pursues a friendly policy toward China and supports China's core interests. The series of important initiatives put forward by President Xi have provided important opportunities and platforms for promoting world peace and development, and Cambodia is an active supporter of them, Hun Manet said. Senior Chinese officials including Cai Qi and Wang Yi were present at the meeting. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, who is in Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 19, 2023. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) Editor: ZAD A 20-year-old boy was shot dead behind a Ramlila pandal in Haryanas Gurugram after a spat with two other men. The incident took place in the Bheem Nagar area in the early hours of Friday. The victim, identified as Ashish a resident of Bheem Nagar worked with a DJ operator and had gone to watch Ramlila (theatrical depiction of Ramayan) with a friend. Police said that the reason behind the altercation is yet to be known. Police received information about the incident and reached the spot, following which they rushed Ashish to a nearby hospital, where he was declared brought dead. According to a complaint filed by Ashishs uncle Suraj, the former had gone to watch Ramlila with his friend Karan on Thursday night. Around 1 am on Friday, Suraj received information that Ashish was had been shot. After reaching the hospital, Ashishs friends Karan and Dheeraj told me that he was shot dead by two men Nishi and Rohan with whom he had an altercation, Suraj said in his complaint. According to police officials, Ashish was shot behind the Ramlila pandal around 12:30 am. Based on Surajs complaint, an FIR has been registered against Nishi and Rohan under Indian Penal Code Sections 302 (murder) and 34 (common intention) along with relevant sections of the Arms Act, police said. Bahi Ram Kataria, sub-Inspector, who is also the investigating officer on this case said that the reason behind the spat is unknown and the accused are on the run, adding that, police will arrest them soon. PREVIOUS INCIDENTS A 25-year-old man was allegedly shot dead by his friend in Jharkhands Jamshedpur on the suspicion that he had stolen his mobile phone. The victim identified as Vishal Prasad was shot dead by his friend Abhishek Lal on the night of September 16, the officer said. About the reason behind the incident, the police officer said Abhisheks mobile was missing and he suspected his friend of stealing it. Abhishek, a resident of Ranikudar area, had gone to Vishals house on Saturday morning and asked him to return his mobile phone. Vishal, however, tried to convince him that he had not stolen his mobile phone and had an argument over the issue. The accused had called Vishal on that night and took him to Ramdas Bhatta area, where he allegedly shot him in the chest. In August, a 36-year-old man working as a senior manager in Amazon was shot dead in Subhash Vihar area of North East Delhis Bhajanpura after five youths on two-wheelers opened unprovoked firing at the man before fleeing the spot, police had said. The deceased was identified as Harpreet Singh and was declared brought dead at hospital. Hospitals report said he died of gunshot injury to head, with the entry wound on the right side behind ear exit on the other side. Another man, Govind a Momo place owner was also injured in the incident and was referred to LNJP hospital. In another such incident in August, a man was shot dead in Uttar Pradeshs Muzaffarnagar following which his wife and her partner were booked by police, an official said. The 45-year-old Mehrajuddin, owned a brick kiln and was against Shama his wife and Akib being in a relationship. So, the duo killed him, said the victims brother Nawajuddin in his complaint. The Circle Officer (CO) said Mehrajuddin was shot when he was sleeping. (With PTI inputs) The Uttarakhand Police have sounded an alert in 44 cities across the National Capital Region (NCR), Bihar, Jharkhand and Himachal Pradesh, after a fake drug manufacturing unit was busted in Haridwar district. Based on a tip-off about a medicine wholesaler operating in Dehradun, the police on Monday busted the factory and arrested two accused. The accused have revealed that in the past four years, fake painkillers worth Rs 7 crore were sold. They said since 2019 they used to pass off the adulterated painkillers in major cities under a known brand. The police have seized another consignment worth Rs 5 crore, which was supposed to be sent to 44 cities. After the big haul, the police teams have been sent to the states concerned. The teams will coordinate with the local authorities and alert them about the fake drugs, said Ajay Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Dehradun. HOW THE FAKE FACTORY WAS BUSTED The SSP said Delhi-based Jagsonpal Pharmaceuticals Ltd, which manufactures painkillers Indocap and Indicap SR filed a complaint that a Dehradun-based seller was allegedly supplying fake painkillers under their brand name. After investigation, the accused running SS Medicos were arrested. Both worked in a pharma company in Haridwar district a few years ago and learnt the chemical composition required to make a drug. They used to run the illegal unit in Haridwar, the SSP said. The salt was sourced from a chemical factory in Mumbai. It was then mixed with chalk-like powder in an illegal factory. Further, the medicine was packaged in the wrappers printed in Delhi and then distributed in various cities. The accused made profits running into crores and even purchased property in state capital Dehradun. THREE YEARS, FIVE FACTORIES BUSTED The Special Task Force (STF) and Police have busted a total of five fake drug manufacturing units in Haridwar district. As per one assessment, the patients in various cities have had Haridwar-made fake pills mostly painkillers and fever reducing medicines worth Rs 25-35 crore. State Infrastructure and Industrial Corporation of Uttarakhand Ltd (SIDCUL) has a pharma city in Haridwar district, with pharma companies operating there. According to industrialists, there is a mechanism to check the black sheep. Harinder Garg, Chairman of the SIDCUL Manufacturing Association, said, The police keep a vigil. Besides, the fake manufacturing units are busted as the industry has norms and they fail to comply with them. States drug controller Tajbeer Singh Negi said they conduct surprise checks on pharma companies regularly. However, the authority to crack the whip on such drug manufacturers is with the police. Inputs from Satendra Barthwal and Bharti Saklani A 32-year-old man from Madhya Pradesh was found dead in his rented room, probably badgered with a stone, police said on Friday. The incident took place in the Nanta Police Station area of the city where the man had been living with a female partner, who is absconding and is yet to be traced, they said. Police have lodged a murder case against an unidentified person. The victim's father alleged that his son's live-in female partner murdered him and fled. Police handed over the victim's body to his father after a post-mortem by the medical board Friday morning. Station House Officer Mukesh Meena said that the blood-stained body of a man identified as Naresh Tanwar, a native of Khedi Ghaat in Khandwa district, was found in a room in Ganesh Colony late Wednesday evening. A heavy stone, allegedly used for the crime, was also recovered from the room, he said. The SHO said the room in which Tanwars was found dead was locked. The murder came to light Wednesday evening when the landlord informed the police. Meena said police have lodged a murder case under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code against an unidentified person and began the investigation with efforts underway to nab Tanwar's live-in female partner. His father, who reached Kota Thursday evening, said his son was married with two children and had started living with a married woman, who too has two children, around two months ago. According to his father, Tanwar had been living with a woman in Ganesh Colony for the last 10 days and worked as a daily wage labourer. The Allahabad High Court recently observed that merely liking a post on social media would not amount to publishing or transmitting the post and would not attract section 67 of the Information Technology Act. Section 67 of the IT Act provides punishment for publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form. The bench of Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal was dealing with an application filed under section 482 of CrPC to the proceedings in a case registered in 2019 against accused Mohd Imran Kazi under sections 147, 148, and 149 of the Indian Penal Code, section 67 of the Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008, and section 7 of Criminal Law Amendment Act. The allegations against the accused were that he posted certain provocative messages on social media, which resulted in the assembly of about 600-700 persons belonging to the Muslim community for arranging a procession without permission, which caused a serious threat to breach of peace. The counsel for the accused contended that there was no material against him and even the report of the Cyber Crime Cell itself showed that no content was found on the Facebook account of the accused. However, the Additional Government Advocate (AGA) referred to the Cyber Cell report, which stated that though there was no content in the Facebook account of the accused because he had deleted it, the contents were available on his WhatsApp and other social media platforms. Moreover, the investigation officer, appearing in person, apprised the high court that there was one post of one Chaudhari Farhan Usman, which was liked by the accused in which it was stated that they would assemble before the collectorate to hand over a certain memorandum to the President of India. The high court referred to section 67 of the IT Act and said that it is for obscene material and not for provocative material. The words lascivious or appeals to the prurient interest mean relating to sexual interest and desire, therefore, Section 67 I.T. Act does not prescribe any punishment for other provocative material, it underscored. Moreover, the court said that though there is no direct judgment on the issue of whether liking a post will amount to any offence or not, the Supreme Court in the judgment of Kaushal Kishor vs State of UP and others (2023), observed that every citizen of India must consciously be restrained in speech, and exercise the right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution only in the sense that it was intended by the framers of the Constitution, to be exercised. Therefore, finding no material on record that could connect the accused with any objectionable post, the court held that no case was made out against him. Hence, it allowed the petition and quashed the case against the accused. With shortage of rain this monsoon, 1,231 villages in Maharashtra are depending on water tankers for their daily supply, according to the states report on October 16, accessed by News18. ALSO READ | News18 Report Ends Mharals Uphill Water Struggle: 10,000-L Tank on the Way; Supply Begins A total of 318 283 private and 35 government tankers are providing water to these villages daily, making the governments dream of making the state tanker-free more distant. According to the report, Satara and Nashik are the worst-affected districts in the state, with the demand for tankers from 384 villages. In Satara, villagers get the supply through 64 water tankers 55 private and 9 government water tankers daily. In Nashik district, villagers are supplied water through 97 private tankers and seven government tankers. #SpecialReport: Govt. turns into a mute spectator as water scarcity in tribal villages near Mumbai becomes a horrorCNN-News18's report shows the effect; Local administration takes cognisance of the situation@mayuganapatye with a special ground report @toyasingh pic.twitter.com/E5rXFq6ndt News18 (@CNNnews18) October 18, 2023 In Sangli district, more than 278 villages are receiving water from five government tankers and 28 private tankers. The same data also reveals that 24 districts in the state have no requirement of water tanker, which is a good sign. Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Palghar, Sindhudurg, Beed, Parbhani, Hingoli, Nanded, Osmanabad, Latur, Amravati, Akola Washim, Buldhana, Yavatmal and few more districts are among those, till the time the report was prepared. ALSO READ | Water Buckets Challenge in Tribal Village in Maha CMs Thane: Trek from Home to Hill 4 Times A Day | Exclusive In comparison, there was zero demand for water tanker in the state at this time last year. State government officials have also expressed their concern that post December, the demand for water tankers may increase. Officials also said that districts that have so far not demanded tankers may raise the demand in the coming few months. After the Congress announced its second list of 88 candidates for the next months Madhya Pradesh assembly polls, protests erupted at several places in the state on Friday through which party workers expressed disappointment over the names of some nominees and denial of tickets to others. The Congress workers objected to the names of party candidates from Burhanpur, Shujalpur in Shajapur district, Seoni-Malwa in Narmadapuram district, Semaria in Rewa district, Jaora and Alot in Ratlam district along with some other places. Upset over not being fielded by the party, former Congress Lok Sabha member Premchand Guddu staged a protest along with a large number of his supporters. He was expecting a ticket from Alot seat in Ratlam, but the party announced the name of sitting MLA Manoj Chawla as its candidate there. Guddu said he would not accept the decision of New Delhi and Bhopal (partys central and state leadership), hinting that he might fight the upcoming election as an independent candidate. A group of disgruntled Congress workers burnt an effigy of party candidate Himmat Shrimal, who has been fielded by the party from Jaora seat in Ratlam district. The party workers said they would not accept Shrimal as the candidate. Congress activists raised slogans and protested against the candidature given to Ramveer Singh Sikarwar, from the Shujalpur assembly segment in Shajapur district, alleging that he was involved in liquor business. The party workers raised slogans saying they would not accept him as their candidate. Supporters of Yogendra Singh aka Bunty Bana, who was denied a ticket, burnt the effigy of Sikarwar.Supporters of former MLA Omprakash Raghuvanshi, who has been denied a ticket from Seoni-Malwa constituency in Narmadapuram district, also protested. They raised slogans demanding that Raghuvanshi be made the partys nominee instead of Ajay Balram Patel. The grand old party released its second list of candidates late Thursday night. With this, declared all but one candidate for elections to the 230-member assembly scheduled for November 17. The Congress has not yet declared its candidate from Amla seat in Betul district from where woman deputy collector Nisha Bangre is seeking a ticket, but the ruling BJP government has not yet accepted her resignation from the services. The second list of Congress has names of 11 women, taking the total number of women candidates to 30, which is about 13 percent of the 229 seats. The Congress has denied tickets to six of its sitting MLAs. It has also changed the candidates on four seats announced in the first list. The process of filing nominations is beginning on Saturday. Police have arrested an aide of gangster Ravi Pujari, wanted in connection with an extortion case, from the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai, an official said on Friday. The police on Thursday arrested Vijay Purushottam Salvi alias Vijay Tambat, who has been booked under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), the official from the city crime branch said. An offence under section 385 (extortion) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and MCOCA had been registered against Salvi, who had escaped from the country, and the police had issued a lookout circular for him, he said. Immigration officials picked up Salvi when he arrived at the airport on a flight from the UAE and handed him over to the crime branch officials of Thane city police, the official said. According to the police, Salvi was wanted in connection with an extortion case, wherein gangster Ravi Pujari had made an extortion call, demanding Rs 10 crore from Mahendra Pamnani of Roma Builders in 2017. Pujari had also allegedly threatened to kill Pamnani and sent sharpshooters to the builders office in Thane, they said. The police had arrested the alleged accused with firearms, the official said. Salvi also has cases of attempt to murder and offences registered under the Arms Act registered against him with the Kasturba Marg, Samta Nagar and Kasarwadavali police stations, he said. My father was deeply moved by the gruesome murders and cannibalism and wanted to hang Surender Koli and Moninder Singh Pandher, recalled Uttar Pradeshs hangman Pawan Jallad as he referred to the acquittal of the duo in the infamous Nithari Killings as a personal loss. The gruesome case hit headlines in December 2006 when skeletons were found in a drain near a house in Nithari village of Uttar Pradeshs Noida. This week, the Allahabad High Court acquitted the prime accused in the case that involved the sexual assault and killing of many as 16 children and three women. For Pawan, what hurt the most about the acquittal was his inability to fulfil the last wish of his father Mammu Jallad. Pawan, UPs official hangman who hanged the four convicts in the Nirbhaya case in 2020 in Delhis Tihar Jail, told News18 that his father served the state for 47 long years and breathed his last on May 19, 2011. Following in His Fathers Footsteps Pawan said his father, who was confident since Day 1 that the accused in the Nithari case would be awarded a death sentence, would follow every minute detail of the case. I still remember his words These killers are not fit to live in society, they deserve to be hanged, he said. Pawan joined UPs prison department in 2013, hoping that he would get a chance to fulfil his fathers last wish and deliver justice to the families of Nithari. Much to his surprise, within two years of his joining, he got a call from the department that he had been shortlisted to hang Surinder Koli. Preparations to Hang Koli Started 10 Days in Advance Pawan said as per protocol, the hangman is called 10 days before the day of execution by the jail authorities. Overhauling of the pulley is perhaps the first task as it is not used quite often. Hence, we work on the pulley and the wooden planks (on which the convict stands) in order to ensure their proper functioning, said Pawan. Then comes the selection of rope, which Pawan said is provided by the jail authorities. Selection of rope is another crucial task. Its selection is done on the basis of the body weight of the prisoner. After a rope is picked, it is treated by applying some greasy material in order to ensure smooth and quick tightening of the noose around the neck. This is done to minimise the resistance of the rope, Pawan explained. The final step is the rehearsal during which hanging is practised with sacks or a dummy with a weight similar to that of the prisoner in order to ensure that on the day of execution, everything goes smoothly. Missed Opportunity Koli, who was lodged in Dasna Jail, was to be hanged on September 12, 2015, in Meerut. Since there were no adequate facilities in Dasna Jail, he was transferred to Meerut Jail on September 4, 2015. It may sound normal to many but being a hangman is a very crucial task. It is our responsibility to ensure that the hanging is carried out smoothly and effectively. This means it should be done in one go, with no interruption or obstruction. To carry it out perfectly, we practise much in advance from the day of execution, said Pawan. In Kolis case, which was also Pawans first case after joining as hangman, a 10-day practice session was held. However, just three hours before his execution, Kolis hanging was stayed by the court. The Family Tradition Pawans family members have been hangmen for the last four generations. Apart from Pawans father Mammu Jallad, who served UP for 47 years, his grandfather Kallu hanged the assassins of former prime minister Indira Gandhi and his great-grandfather Laxman Ram who worked for the British had hanged freedom fighter Bhagat Singh. Pawan, who is a father of five daughters and earns Rs 10,000 a month as retainer, expressed his willingness to meet UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, requesting him to increase the salary that he says is too less to meet the familys expenses. He also sought that the hangmans job should be given the status of a government job. Moninder Singh Pandher, accused in Nithari killings, walked out of jail today, days after he was acquitted in the case by the Allahabad High Court. The high court had on Monday acquitted Moninder Singh Pandher and his domestic help Surendra Koli in the sensational 2006 Nithari serial killings in which they were facing death sentence. The Allahabad High Court held that the prosecution failed to prove the guilt beyond reasonable doubt and that the investigation was botched up. ALSO READ | Nithari Killings: Surendra Koli, Moninder Pandher Acquitted in Multiple Cases by Allahabad HC Reversing the death sentence given to Koli in 12 cases and Pandher in two cases, the high court noted that the prosecution has failed to prove the guilt of both the accused beyond reasonable doubt, on the settled parameters of a case based on circumstantial evidence and the probe was nothing short of a betrayal of public trust by responsible agencies. VIDEO | Nithari case accused Moninder Singh Pandher, who was acquitted by the Allahabad High Court earlier this week, walks out of Luksar jail in Greater Noida. pic.twitter.com/kK52Qzm0fM Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 20, 2023 The two were charged with rape and murder and sentenced to death in the killings that horrified the nation with the details on sexual assault, brutal murder and hints of possible cannibalism. While Koli is in a Ghaziabad prison, Pandher is lodged in a Noida jail. What is the Nithari Case The gruesome case came to light in December 2006 when skeletons were found in a drain near a house in Nithari village of Uttar Pradeshs Noida. It was alleged that Koli would lure the children to the house, offering them sweets and chocolates, murder them, and have sex with the corpses. He was also accused of cannibalism. He would throw the bones and other body parts into a ditch behind the house. ALSO READ | Searched for Kids in Brothels, Morgues: Aggrieved Parents of Nithari Victims Recount Horror His employer, businessman Moninder Singh Pandher, was co-accused of brutal murder and rape in the Nithari case. Koli and Pandher carried out the serial killings between 2005 and 2006. President Droupadi Murmu took everyone by surprise here on Friday when she suddenly stopped her convoy, got off her car and took a long walk on a street waving at people who had gathered to greet her. She was heading to the airport after the conclusion of the third convocation of Central University of South Bihar (CUSB) here. When the convoy reached near Delha locality, she got off her vehicle and walked to the people waiting for her for hours, greeted them and even shook hands with some of them. The President took a long walk on the street of Delha. She waved at the people who had gathered on both sides of the road. She distributed chocolates to children. She even shook hands with some, said an excited Nirmali Devi. President Droupadi Murmu got down from the car and walked to greet thousands of people gathered on the either side of the road on way to Gaya airport as she concluded her Bihar visit. pic.twitter.com/5YnW92CQSe President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) October 20, 2023 The President then walked back to her vehicle bidding them goodbye. People were waving back at her and jostling to get a glimpse of the President. Finally, Murmu reached Gaya airport and concluded her three-day visit to Bihar and left for New Delhi. Earlier in the day, the President attended the third convocation of the CUSB here. Prior to this, she visited Bodh Gaya and prayed at the Mahabodhi temple, Buddhisms holiest shrine. The President on Thursday had attended convocation ceremonies of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Patna, and Mahatma Gandhi Central University in Motihari. On the first day of her visit to the state on Wednesday, she launched the fourth Agricultural Road Map (2023-2028) of Bihar in Patna. On the same day, she visited Sri Harimandir Ji Patna Sahib in Patna City amid tight security. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh, who is in Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 19, 2023. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday met with Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh, who is in Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF). Noting that Mongolia is a natural partner in the Belt and Road cooperation, Xi hopes Mongolia will play a greater role in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation by leveraging its geographical location of connecting Europe and Asia. China will, as always, help Mongolia revitalize its economy, promote the construction of related border ports in an orderly manner, and open up new channels for connectivity between the two countries, Xi said. He also noted that China is willing to expand trilateral cooperation among China, Mongolia and Russia, and make steady progress in the construction of the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor. Khurelsukh said the outcomes of the third BRF will inject fresh and strong impetus into world economic growth. Mongolia is ready to promote cooperation with China in fields such as economy and trade, connectivity, mineral resources and energy, desertification prevention and control, and green development, as well as step up people-to-people and cultural exchanges, he said. Highly commending China's important role in world peace and stability, Khurelsukh noted that Mongolia attaches importance to strengthening trilateral cooperation among Mongolia, China and Russia, and it is willing to promote interaction and collaboration with China in multilateral affairs. The two heads of state witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents in fields including green and low-carbon sector and digital economy. Senior Chinese officials including Cai Qi and Wang Yi attended the events. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh, who is in Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 19, 2023. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) Editor: ZAD A labourer from Uttar Pradeshs Basti district, who works in Delhi, was recently in for a shock when he received a notice from the I-T department. On inquiry, he was taken back again as he realised that he had come a crorepati overnight. According to a report in India Today, the notice by the I-T department informed Shiv Prasad Nishad about the deposit in his bank account and a deduction of over Rs 4.5 lakh (TDS). A shocked Nishad returned to his village, lodged a police complaint and also complained to higher authorities. Shiv Prasad suspected that someone might have opened an account in his name using his PAN card, which he lost in 2019, the report stated. I work as a labourer. I received an income tax notice for a huge amount which I have no knowledge about, Shiv Prasad was quoted as saying. I lost my PAN card in 2019. I believe that somebody has misused it to deposit the money into my account, he added. An initial investigation into instances of users being redirected from government websites to porn sites has found that some systems at government offices that maintain the websites were found logged into unauthorised websites from where officials intentionally or inadvertently downloaded malware. Cyber security experts in investigating agencies told News18 on condition of anonymity that the latest instance of a user being redirected from a central ministrys website to a porn site was reported last month. The critical issue raised a security concern, an official said. According to a senior government official, websites run by the government have sometimes been found to be redirecting traffic to porn websites due a malware triggered by unauthorised access to the systems. To address the security concern, a detailed analysis has been initiated. Officials said the initial investigation revealed that few systems were found to be logging onto unauthorised websites from the malware was downloaded. It is suspected that some staff members, knowingly or unknowingly, downloaded the corrupt files, following which websites started redirecting users to adult sites, a senior government official privy to the development told News18. Some cases were reported or noticed by MHAs cyber security agency and Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) was also roped in to address the issue. Websites redirecting users to a porn website could be because of not following cyber hygiene, watching adult content or clicking unsecured links, the senior official added. Though officials claimed that access to unauthorised websites is barred on the systems, cyber experts said it is tough to protect the system 100%. According to observations by CERT-In, hacktivist groups have used DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) to attack websites and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure of India and other countries. The attacks include DDOS attacks directed at individual servers, an amplification attack that directs a large volume of traffic toward a victims network, an official communication released last week said. HAPPY DURGA PUJA 2023 WISHES IMAGES, QUOTES, STATUS, MESSAGES: Durga Puja, the grandest festival of Bengal, is celebrated with great fervor and enthusiasm all over the world. This year, Durga Puja started on October 20 and will conclude today on October 24. To mark this auspicious occasion, share heartfelt wishes, messages, and quotes with your loved ones. ALSO READ: Dussehra and Durga Puja 2023 LIVE UPDATES Happy Durga Puja 2023 Wishes Happy Durga Puja! May the goddess Durga bless you and your family with happiness, prosperity, and good health. Shubho Durga Puja! May the divine blessings of Maa Durga be with you always. May this Durga Puja bring you and your family peace, joy, and success. The most vibrant time of the year is here. Devote yourself in Maa Durgas service and seek love. Happy Durga Puja! ALSO READ: Durga Puja 2023: What is Dhunuchi Naach? How is it Performed, and What are the Safety Precautions? May Maa Durgas blessings always shine bright on you. May you always succeed in your goals and enjoy a prosperous year. Wishing Happy Durga Puja. Durga Puja infuses our hearts and minds with positivity and zeal to keep moving ahead with happiness. Best wishes on Durga Puja to you. On the occasion of Navratri, we wish that all nine Goddesses are there in your lives to bring happiness, success, health and prosperity in your life. Happy Navratri. May the power of Goddess Durga infuse you with rays of positivity and help you to defeat your weaknesses this year. ALSO READ: Happy Navratri Day 8 Durga Ashtami 2023: Wishes, Images, Status, Quotes, Messages and WhatsApp Greetings to Share This Durga Puja, may you find all the peace and happiness to empower yourself and win all challenges. Happy Durga Puja 2023! Wishing that Goddess Durga lends you her armour to fight for what is right and guide you always in life. Happy Durga Puja 2023. Be a person who is the epitome of virtue that comes to help unfailingly in times of trouble. Happy Durga Puja 2023 WhatsApp Status for Durgotsav Enjoy the victory of good over evil. May you have a fun-filled and blissful day. Happy Dussehra 2023! May this Dussehra all your worries and problems get resolved. Happy Dussehra 2023! On the occasion of Dussehra, I pray that Lord Rama fills your life with happiness, prosperity and success. Happy Dussehra to you and your family! May the demon in you always get defeated and the angel always controls your thoughts. Happy Dussehra! May your life take a new turn this Dussehra. And all your worries and sorrows get burned with the effigy of the Ravana! Its time to celebrate the victory of good over evil. A very happy Dussehra to you and your loved ones. Happy Durga Puja 2023 Messages On this auspicious occasion of Durga Puja, may Maa Durga empower you with strength, wisdom, and courage. May the blessings of Maa Durga guide you on the path to success and happiness. Wishing you a joyous and blessed Durga Puja! On this auspicious occasion of Durga Puja, I wish you and your family a blessed and prosperous celebration. May Maa Durga shower her blessings upon all of us. May Maa Durga grant you the strength and courage to face all challenges in life. Wishing you a happy and fulfilling Durga Puja. May Maa Durgas blessings be with you always. May the divine presence of Maa Durga fill your life with joy, peace, and happiness. Wishing you a very happy and auspicious Durga Puja! Happy Durga Puja 2023 Greetings Happy Durga Puja! May Maa Durga bless you and your loved ones with happiness, prosperity, and good health. Shubho Pujo! May the blessings of Maa Durga be with you always. May Maa Durga empower you to overcome all obstacles and achieve your goals. Wishing you a joyous and auspicious Durga Puja! May the divine light of Maa Durga guide you on your path to success. Happy Durga Puja 2023 Greetings Durga Puja is a time to celebrate the victory of good over evil, and the power of the feminine divine. May Maa Durga bless us all with her strength, courage, and wisdom. Durga Puja is a time to come together as a community and celebrate our shared culture and heritage. May the blessings of Maa Durga be with us always. Durga Puja is a time to reflect on our lives and make a commitment to be better people. Durga Puja Mythology According to Hindu mythology, Lord Brahma had granted the demon Mahishasura a boon that made him invincible and indestructible. With this power, Mahishasura attacked the Gods and banished them from heaven. Consequently, the Gods united to worship Adi Shakti, seeking her help to defeat this demon ruler. It is then Maa Durga was born after the Gods performed a puja. FAQs What is Durga Puja? Durga Puja is a Hindu festival that celebrates the victory of the goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura. It is one of the most important festivals in the Hindu calendar, and is celebrated with great fervor and devotion. When is Durga Puja celebrated? Durga Puja is celebrated in the month of Ashwin, which typically falls in September or October. The festival lasts for 10 days, with the main day of the festival being Vijaya Dashami, which marks the victory of good over evil. How is Durga Puja celebrated? Durga Puja is celebrated in a variety of ways. People visit temples and pandals to worship the goddess Durga. Pandals are temporary structures that are set up in public places, and are often decorated with elaborate carvings and paintings. During the festival, people also participate in cultural events such as music, dance, and theater. There are also food stalls that serve traditional Bengali dishes. What are the different types of Durga Puja idols? Shola pithShola pith idols are made from the pith of a type of aquatic plant called shola. These idols are very delicate and are often made by skilled artisans. Dhaker shaajDhaker shaaj idols are made from clay. These idols are more durable than shola pith idols, but they are also less delicate. What is the significance of Durga Puja? Durga Puja is a significant festival for Hindus because it celebrates the victory of good over evil. It is also a time for families and communities to come together and celebrate their shared culture and heritage. What are some safety tips for celebrating Durga Puja? Alia Bhatt has come a long way in showbiz. The actress has carved a niche for herself with rich content driven and commercial films to her credit. The star actor has proved her mettle, ever since she made her debut with the 2012 film Student Of The Year. 11 years later, she is one of the most bankable actresses in town and is also a recipient of a National Award with her commendable performance in Gangubai Kathiawadi. Celebratring 11 years in Bollywood, the actress took to her Instagram story and dropped a heartfelt video of herself scribbling the number 11 on a frosted glass. She also added a little note to it, which read 11 years.(white heart emoji) how time fliesss ( sun emoji ). Alias film Student Of The Year also marked the debut of Varun Dhawan and Sidharth Malhotra. Varun too shared a bundle of fan club on his Instagram story and also shared a video, where he was seen receiving the Best Actor Award for Bawaal. He added the note, very grateful to won best actor award on the day I complete 11 years in cinema. Sidharth Malhotra also shared a couple of fan posts to celebrate the same. Back in 2012, it was filmmaker Karan Johar who launched these actors with Student Of The Year. All three of them, then went on to star in several hit films and have even collaborated with one another as well. While Alia and Varun have worked together in films like Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania and Kalank, Sidharth and Alia starred together in Kapoor And Sons. Heres wishing these Students many more films and love. Alia Bhatt will next be seen in Jigra, while Varun Dhawan will be seen in the Indian version of Citadel. Sidharth Malhotra on the other hand will be seen in a one of a kind action entertainer Yodha. Amitabh Bachchan, who recently turned 81, has revealed that prior to pursuing acting, he had a desire to join the Indian Air Force. However, on a recent episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati 15, Bachchan shared with a contestant that his application to join the Air Force was rejected because his legs were too long. When Bachchan asked contestant Jeetendra Kumar if he always wanted to be an accountant, Jeetendra replied, No, I actually wanted to go into the Air Force. I also went to take many exams for NDA. A friend of mine told me that even though you had taken the exam for the Air Force, is it true? Then the megastar went on to say, When I completed my schooling, I didnt know what to do. I used to stay in Delhi with my family, and a major general from the Army used to stay nearby. He once came to our place and asked my father to send me and told him that I would become a big officer in the Army, but I wanted to go into the Air Force but nothing happened. Revealing the real reason behind his rejection from the Indian Air Force, he added, When I went for the interview, they rejected me saying that my legs were too long. I cannot be eligible for the Air Force. The conversations between the contestants and Big B often make news. Recently, one such clip has gone viral on the internet, and it is related to Amitabh Bachchans college days. A few years ago, Big B had said in an interview that he used to bunk classes after arranging for proxy attendance; a contestant in the shows ongoing 15th season asked him about it. When contestant Mousumee Paul got the chance to sit on the hot seat opposite Amitabh Bachchan, she reminded the actor about his previous statement in an interview and asked him whether it was in school or college. Amitabh replied by saying that since he studied in a boarding school, it was not possible for him to carry out any mischievous acts in school. He said that he used to bunk classes in college. On the work front, his film Ganpath has hit the theatres today. Actress Kriti Sanon is currently celebrating a milestone in her career. Earlier this week, she received the National Award in the Best Actress category for her performance in the film Mimi. Now, she is back to promoting her latest film Ganapath which was released in theatres on Friday, October 20. Ahead of the release, makers held a star-studded premiere for Bollywood celebrities in Mumbai. Madhuri Dixit has posted some glimpses from the screening. Taking to her Instagram account on Thursday night to share some photos from the films screening. She captioned the post, Wishing @tigerjackieshroff and @kritisanon the very best for #ganpath Kudos to the team! To this, Tiger replied, Thank you so much for coming mam it was an honour to be in your presence and dr nenes . View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dr Shriram Nene (@drneneofficial) Madhuri looked stunning in a black dress styled with a chunky gold necklace. In one photo, she could be seen posing for a selfie with her husband Dr Shriram Nene, Tiger, Sanjay Kapoor and his daughter Shanaya Kapoor. In another photo, Kriti Sanon joined Madhuri and her husband for a sweet selfie. Both Tiger and Kriti also opted for chic, black outfits for the premiere. Madhuri was also joined by Jackie Shroff, Hema Malini, Anupam Kher, Sikander Kher and Lata Mangeshkar as they posed for photos at the premiere. However, it is not only Bollywood celebrities who are showcasing their support for Ganapath. My best wishes to dear @itigershroff and the entire cast and crew of #Ganapath a massive success, its gonna be a blast @bindasbhidu Nelson Dilipkumar (@Nelsondilpkumar) October 20, 2023 Earlier on Friday, October 20, director Nelson Dilipkumar of Jailer fame also took to his X handle to express his best wishes for the film. Nelson wrote, My best wishes to dear @itigershroff and the entire cast and crew of #Ganapath a massive success, its gonna be a blast @bindasbhidu. The film marks Kriti and Tigers reunion on the big screen after they debuted together nearly nine years ago in the film Heropanti. Telugu star Nandamuri Balakrishna is back to dominate the silver screens. His second film of the year, Bhagavanth Kesari, was released yesterday on October 19. The film, despite the clash with Leo, has managed to gross Rs 20 crore in India on the first day of its release, as per recent reports. Given the first-day collection, fans are anticipating a significant box-office collection. Bhagavanth Kesari is also receiving positive responses from critics. The film is being labelled as a hit already. The pre-booking for this Anil Ravipudi directorial already hinted at an enthusiastic response. Now, the anticipation seemingly turned out to be true as the film is performing well. Bhagavanth Kesari has successfully managed to attract the audience to the theatres, but the business it is doing in the US is a bit slower than expected. It was expected to perform well in the US because of the thunderous response received by Nandamuri Balakrishnas 2021 film Akhanda. Bhagavanth Kesari is produced by Sahu Garapati and Harish Peddi under the banner of Shine Screens. The soundtrack and background score has been composed by Thaman S. The film marks Thamans fourth collaboration with Nandamuri Balakrishna after Dictator (2016), Akhanda (2021), and Veera Simha Reddy (2023). The film also marks the Telugu debut of Bollywood actor Arjun Rampal, who will be seen playing the antagonist in the film. The film has Nandamuri Balakrishna portraying a character closer to his real age. This distinguished him from contemporaries like Nagarjuna and Chiranjeevi, who are often witnessed portraying younger roles. In the film, he will be playing the role of actress Sreeleelas father. Made on a budget ranging between Rs 90 crore and 100 crore, Bhagavanth Kesari grossed Rs 67.35 crore worldwide even before its release. Now, with a long weekend and Dussehra around the corner, it would be interesting to watch what unfolds next for this Nandamuri Balakrishna film. Late veteran actor Rajesh Khanna is touted by many as one of the first superstars of Bollywood. After an illustrious career spanning decades, the actor passed away in 2012, leaving fans across the globe in shock and despair. The veteran actor was last seen on screen in an ad for Havells Fans. Recently, filmmaker R Balki, who directed the ad, recalled how the actor was flown in in an air ambulance before the shoot. Talking to Radio Nasha, the director said that when he first wanted to cast Rajesh Khanna for the ad, the company was not fully convinced. However, Balki believed, I dont think anybody had as many fans as he did, and I dont think anybody lost as many fans as he did. Balki recalled that when he had his first meeting with the actor at his bungalow Aashirvaad, he explained to him that the concept of the ad was a dig at Rajeshs career. The director revealed that Rajesh Khanna said, Balki, you think I would have been such a big superstar if I didnt have a sense of humour. However, three days before the shoot, Rajesh Khanna had to be hospitalised. Upon hearing this, Balki opined that the shoot be postponed. However, the actor refused to accept this and he made sure that he had an air ambulance. Recalling the shoot in Bangalore, Balki said, He went to the room. He said, Balki, I want to rehearse. I went to his room. There was a guy holding the drip bottle, there was another guy holding the stand. He was trying to dance in the room. I had tears in my eyes. He said, Tomorrow morning, I am on. Once the shoot began, Rajesh Khanna ripped off the drips and went on to do two takes. However, he was not satisfied and told Balki, Sorry I would like one more take but cant do it. Balki added, I dont think he saw the ad when it was done finally because he passed away very soon after that. I didnt know he was so close to going away on that particular day but he made sure that he came and enjoyed himself. This was a truly truly touching experience. Veteran actor Rajesh Khanna passed away at the age of 69 on July 18, 2012, in Mumbai. Disha Patani has carved out a name for herself in Bollywood with hits like Baaghi 2, M.S Dhoni-The Untold Story and Malang. The stunning actress has also delivered some of the most iconic statements in the field of fashion. As a charismatic face for the millennials and the Gen-Zs, the actress is also quite fond of keeping her social media feed up to date with glimpses from her personal as well as professional life. Disha recently set the internet on fire by sharing some sizzling behind the scenes clips from her photoshoot with a leading brand. On Friday, Disha Patani took to her Instagram handle and shared a slew of hot behind-the-scenes videos from her latest photoshoot. In the clips, Disha can be seen flaunting her bombshell figure in multiple black and white ensembles. In one of the clips, Disha can be seen sporting a black shorts and black bra. However, in the same carasouel, Disha also raised temperatures in white baggy pants and white bra combo. She wrote the brands name in the caption along with emojis of Eiffel Tower and black heart. Take a look: Fans bombarded the actresss comment section with compliments. One of them wrote, Hottie . Another one commented, So beautiful looking . Someone else said, Gorgeous Beauty . A fan also stated, Lady . Her rumoured boyfriend Aleksandar Ilic also reacted with heart eyes and fire emojis. Recently, Disha Patani shared a sexy video from her exotic vacay in Doha, where she had gone to watch Formula 1 race. In the video, Disha can be seen taking a dip in the pool along with Tiger Shroffs sister Krishna. Disha looks sexy in the red hot bikini. Theres also a small footage of Disha dancing with Mouni Roy in a concert post the race. The actress also grabbed headlines for giving a shout-out to Tiger Shroffs Ganapath trailer. The duo was rumoured to be dating each other for a few years. They reportedly parted ways in mid 2022. Back in July, they were seen arriving together for an event in Delhi. Tigers sister Krishna also accompanied them. It was Indias premier professional Mixed Martial Arts promotion and the brainchild of Tiger Shroff, his mother Ayesha Shroff and sister Krishna. Following the rumoured split, Disha and Tiger have remained friends. Disha is also BFFs with Tigers sister, Krishna Shroff. In fact, when Jackie Shroff, actor and Tigers father, was asked about Tiger and Dishas breakup rumours, he called them thick buddies and said, They (Tiger and Disha) have always been friends and are still friends. I have seen them go out together. Not that I keep track of my sons love life. Thats the last thing I want to do, like infringe on their privacy. But I feel that they are thick buddies. They spend time with each other besides work. Tamannaah Bhatia has repeatedly proved that she can slay any outfit with her stlye. Each time the actress drops pictures or videos of herself on social media, she leaves everyone gasping for breath. On Friday morning too, Tamannaah took to her Instagram handle and shared a series of photos which are now setting fire online. In these latest clicks, Tamannaah is seen posing in a shimmery body hugging gown with a plunging neckline. She accentuated her look with a glossy lip shade and a glam makeup. The Lust Stories 2 actress struck various poses for the shutterbugs, hence proving that she is an ultimate fashionista. She wrote the caption, Its win-tage @FalguniShanePeacock has done it again! Thank you for this stunning archival piece! Loved doing this together with you and @chandiniw. Take a look: Tamannaah Bhatia who enjoys a diverse fan base in North as well as South, swarmed the comment section with compliments. One of them wrote, pretty girl . Another one commented, So beautifull. Someone else said, Bomb figure . A fan also stated, India most beautiful queen . Tamannaah Bhatia rose to fame in Telugu and Tamil cinema with the 2007 movies Happy Days and Kalloori respectively. She made her Hindi debut with Himmatwala in 2013. She then featured in Baahubali: The Beginning , which is one of the biggest Indian blockbusters of all time. Tamannaah was recently seen in Lust Stories 2 and Jailer. In a recent interview, Tamannaah opened up about South films in which toxic masculinity is celebrated and shared that she has consciously decided to stay away from such movies. In the south, certain formulas are used because they are easy. In certain commercial films, I couldnt relate to my characters and would request that the filmmaker lower the intensity. Having said that, I came to a point where I stopped doing those parts. I started making a conscious effort not to be part of such films where toxic masculinity is celebrated to the point where it is almost intolerable, she told Filmfare. This photo taken on Oct. 10, 2023 shows cultural relics unearthed from ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea. Nearly 580 pieces (sets) of cultural relics have been unearthed from two ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea, according to the National Cultural Heritage Administration on Thursday. The relics, which include porcelain, pottery, and timber, provide concrete evidence that the Chinese ancestors explored, utilized, and traded in the South China Sea, said the administration at a press conference. The two shipwrecks from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) were found about 1,500 meters below sea level, it said, adding that they are an important witness of trade and cultural exchanges along the ancient Maritime Silk Road. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 580 pieces (sets) of cultural relics have been unearthed from two ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea, according to the National Cultural Heritage Administration on Thursday. The relics, which include porcelain, pottery, and timber, provide concrete evidence that the Chinese ancestors explored, utilized, and traded in the South China Sea, said the administration at a press conference. The two shipwrecks from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) were found about 1,500 meters below sea level, it said, adding that they are an important witness of trade and cultural exchanges along the ancient Maritime Silk Road. This undated photo shows a piece of cultural relic unearthed from ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea. Nearly 580 pieces (sets) of cultural relics have been unearthed from two ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea, according to the National Cultural Heritage Administration on Thursday. The relics, which include porcelain, pottery, and timber, provide concrete evidence that the Chinese ancestors explored, utilized, and traded in the South China Sea, said the administration at a press conference. The two shipwrecks from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) were found about 1,500 meters below sea level, it said, adding that they are an important witness of trade and cultural exchanges along the ancient Maritime Silk Road. (National Cultural Heritage Administration/Handout via Xinhua) This photo taken on Oct. 10, 2023 shows cultural relics unearthed from ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea. Nearly 580 pieces (sets) of cultural relics have been unearthed from two ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea, according to the National Cultural Heritage Administration on Thursday. The relics, which include porcelain, pottery, and timber, provide concrete evidence that the Chinese ancestors explored, utilized, and traded in the South China Sea, said the administration at a press conference. The two shipwrecks from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) were found about 1,500 meters below sea level, it said, adding that they are an important witness of trade and cultural exchanges along the ancient Maritime Silk Road. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) Workers carry cultural relics unearthed from ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea, Oct. 10, 2023. Nearly 580 pieces (sets) of cultural relics have been unearthed from two ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea, according to the National Cultural Heritage Administration on Thursday. The relics, which include porcelain, pottery, and timber, provide concrete evidence that the Chinese ancestors explored, utilized, and traded in the South China Sea, said the administration at a press conference. The two shipwrecks from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) were found about 1,500 meters below sea level, it said, adding that they are an important witness of trade and cultural exchanges along the ancient Maritime Silk Road. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) An archaeologist clears up a piece of cultural relic unearthed from ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea, Oct. 10, 2023. Nearly 580 pieces (sets) of cultural relics have been unearthed from two ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea, according to the National Cultural Heritage Administration on Thursday. The relics, which include porcelain, pottery, and timber, provide concrete evidence that the Chinese ancestors explored, utilized, and traded in the South China Sea, said the administration at a press conference. The two shipwrecks from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) were found about 1,500 meters below sea level, it said, adding that they are an important witness of trade and cultural exchanges along the ancient Maritime Silk Road. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) This undated photo shows cultural relics unearthed from ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea. Nearly 580 pieces (sets) of cultural relics have been unearthed from two ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea, according to the National Cultural Heritage Administration on Thursday. The relics, which include porcelain, pottery, and timber, provide concrete evidence that the Chinese ancestors explored, utilized, and traded in the South China Sea, said the administration at a press conference. The two shipwrecks from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) were found about 1,500 meters below sea level, it said, adding that they are an important witness of trade and cultural exchanges along the ancient Maritime Silk Road. (National Cultural Heritage Administration/Handout via Xinhua) This photo taken on Oct. 10, 2023 shows cultural relics unearthed from ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea. Nearly 580 pieces (sets) of cultural relics have been unearthed from two ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea, according to the National Cultural Heritage Administration on Thursday. The relics, which include porcelain, pottery, and timber, provide concrete evidence that the Chinese ancestors explored, utilized, and traded in the South China Sea, said the administration at a press conference. The two shipwrecks from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) were found about 1,500 meters below sea level, it said, adding that they are an important witness of trade and cultural exchanges along the ancient Maritime Silk Road. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) This aerial photo taken on Oct. 10, 2023 shows the scientific research ship Tansuo-2 carrying submersible Shenhai Yongshi (Deep Sea Warrior) returning to Sanya of south China's Hainan Province after conducting deep-sea archaeological investigation in the South China Sea. Nearly 580 pieces (sets) of cultural relics have been unearthed from two ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea, according to the National Cultural Heritage Administration on Thursday. The relics, which include porcelain, pottery, and timber, provide concrete evidence that the Chinese ancestors explored, utilized, and traded in the South China Sea, said the administration at a press conference. The two shipwrecks from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) were found about 1,500 meters below sea level, it said, adding that they are an important witness of trade and cultural exchanges along the ancient Maritime Silk Road. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) This undated photo shows a piece of cultural relic unearthed from ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea. Nearly 580 pieces (sets) of cultural relics have been unearthed from two ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea, according to the National Cultural Heritage Administration on Thursday. The relics, which include porcelain, pottery, and timber, provide concrete evidence that the Chinese ancestors explored, utilized, and traded in the South China Sea, said the administration at a press conference. The two shipwrecks from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) were found about 1,500 meters below sea level, it said, adding that they are an important witness of trade and cultural exchanges along the ancient Maritime Silk Road. (National Cultural Heritage Administration/Handout via Xinhua) This undated orthophoto shows the site of an ancient shipwreck discovered in the South China Sea. Nearly 580 pieces (sets) of cultural relics have been unearthed from two ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea, according to the National Cultural Heritage Administration on Thursday. The relics, which include porcelain, pottery, and timber, provide concrete evidence that the Chinese ancestors explored, utilized, and traded in the South China Sea, said the administration at a press conference. The two shipwrecks from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) were found about 1,500 meters below sea level, it said, adding that they are an important witness of trade and cultural exchanges along the ancient Maritime Silk Road. (National Cultural Heritage Administration/Handout via Xinhua) This undated three-dimensional image shows the site of an ancient shipwreck discovered in the South China Sea. Nearly 580 pieces (sets) of cultural relics have been unearthed from two ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea, according to the National Cultural Heritage Administration on Thursday. The relics, which include porcelain, pottery, and timber, provide concrete evidence that the Chinese ancestors explored, utilized, and traded in the South China Sea, said the administration at a press conference. The two shipwrecks from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) were found about 1,500 meters below sea level, it said, adding that they are an important witness of trade and cultural exchanges along the ancient Maritime Silk Road. (National Cultural Heritage Administration/Handout via Xinhua) Editor: JYZ The iconic film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge marks its 28th anniversary since its release. Even after nearly three decades, it remains one of the most cherished romance films across all age groups. Directed by Aditya Chopra in 1995, the film featured Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in pivotal roles, and it played a significant role in elevating SRK to the title of the king of romance in India. To celebrate this special occasion, YRF has shared some stills from the movie that are sure to evoke a sense of nostalgia. Yash Raj Films took to their official X handle and wrote, 28 years and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge still continues to leave us in awe, every single time 28 Years Of DDLJ They shared a slew of pictures depicting some noteworthy scenes from the film. Be it the ride in Switzerland when Raj apologised to Simran, the epic song Tujhe Dekha To Ye Jana Sanam shot in the mustard field, the close of Shah Rukh Khan, or the ending scene as Kajol and Shah Rukh unite with each other. 28 years and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge still continues to leave us in awe, every single time #28YearsOfDDLJ pic.twitter.com/IAeWK4ZoZv Yash Raj Films (@yrf) October 20, 2023 Fans are joyfully celebrating this momentous occasion, with many expressing their sentiments. Some noted, Indeed, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge is a timeless classic that has left a lasting impact on cinema lovers around the world! Thanks YRF for making such an immensely romantic but clean movie. I liked in then, I like it even today, another one said. Indeed, 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' is a timeless classic that has left a lasting impact on cinema lovers around the world! AI Verse (@AI_Vision_Verse) October 20, 2023 Thanks @yrf for making such an immensely romantic but clean movie. I liked in then, I like it even today Richa Pant (@meeka221_) October 20, 2023 Plan Grand Re-release India wide need to witness the love n magic AkHere (@AkTweets44) October 20, 2023 all time favorite love story film DDLJ ever in Bollywood #28YearsOfDDLJ #DDLJ tuf guy (@tuf_guy4) October 20, 2023 Going by the trend of re-releasing old classic films, a user requested, Plan Grand Re-release India-wide need to witness the love n magic. The enchanting storyline of DDLJ revolves around Raj and Simran, two Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) who fall in love while travelling through Europe with their friends. Notably, DDLJ holds the distinction of being the longest-running film in Indian cinema history, as it continues to be screened at the Maratha Mandir Theatre in Mumbai. Every performance in the film is etched in our memories, from the stern father portrayed by Amrish Puri to the nurturing mother played by Farida Jalal and the easygoing character by Anupam Kher. The film also featured iconic roles played by Satish Shah, Achala Sachdev, and others. Lets not forget the timeless music album composed by JatinLalit, which remains a beloved hit. Known for her quirky and bold fashion, social media sensation Uorfi Javed turned a year older on October 15 as she celebrated her 26th birthday. While she began her birthday celebrations with a Bollywood-themed birthday party for friends in Mumbai, she was also spotted celebrating her belated birthday with the paps at the Mumbai airport on Friday. Dressed in a floral off-shoulder lehenga, Uorfi looked absolutely stunning and beautiful. While her pictures often go viral on social media, thanks to her weird DIY outfits, rare are the times when fans actually love them. As the video plays, Uorfi can be seen approaching the airport gate, in a Navratri mood. As she posed for the paparazzi and wished them on the occasion of Navratri, one of them came up with a cake, leaving her surprised and excited. Expressing gratitude toward the paps for bringing a cake for her, Uorfi also fed them with a slice while thanking them with a broad smile on her face. At the same time, she also joked with the paps, saying that she wants to gift chappals to them. Watch: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Varinder Chawla (@varindertchawla) Uorfi herself also shared pictures of herself in the Navratri-special outfit on Instagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Uorfi (@urf7i) Notably, the video came days after Uorfi Javed hosted a Bollywood-themed birthday party at a restaurant in Mumbai. She was accompanied by her sisters and close friends who donned the looks of Chikni Chameli, Helen, and other characters from Bollywood films. Uorfi on the other hand was dressed as the popular Babu Rao Ganpat Rao Apte from the Hera Pheri films. She donned a white t-shirt with a photo of Babu Bhaiya aka Paresh Rawal on it. She completed her look with a pair of thick glasses and a dhoti-type pants. Uorfi was also seen enacting the dialogues of Babu Bhaiya. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Varinder Chawla (@varindertchawla) While interacting with the media, she also cut a three-tier cake with them to celebrate her birthday. Uorfi Javeds banana outfit Uorfi recently also made headlines for her controversy with Raj Kundra after she gave a befitting reply to some of his comments on her outfits. Besides that, she was also spotted wearing a reliever multiple times, giving a hint about a neck injury. However, later it was revealed that it was just a part of a costume. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Uorfi (@urf7i) Recently, she also shared another video of herself giving a glimpse of her latest outfit inspiration. In the video, she can be seen covered with banana peels in the form of a top as she paired it with a pair of printed blue jeans. She was also seen eating a banana throughout the video. On October 7, Hamas carried out a surprise attack on Israel, which included firing thousands of rockets, infiltrating armed terrorists into Israeli territory, and taking hostages. The attack resulted in the deaths of at least 1,300 Israelis and the injury of thousands of others. Israeli forces responded to the attack, leading to airstrikes on the operational headquarters of Hamas and a possible ground invasion of Gaza by the IDF with Palestinian casualties growing every day. The objectives of the Hamas attacks were to end what they consider Israeli violations, secure the release of Palestinian prisoners, and advance the goal of establishing a Palestinian state. Hamas may seek a prisoner swap deal with Israel. However, Hamas does not have a clear roadmap for moving forward on establishing a state and cannot do so separately from the Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank The international community, including Western nations, condemned the Hamas attack and expressed solidarity with Israel. The United States unequivocally condemned the attacks and expressed condolences for the Israeli lives lost. European leaders and the Indian government as well condemned the attack and voiced support for Israels right to defend itself against such heinous attacks. Moreover, the attack by Hamas on October 7 has had significant regional and international implications. It shattered Israels image of military superiority and invulnerability, and it has been widely celebrated on social media and in the streets beyond the Arab world. The attack has also prompted discussions on managing or ending the conflict between Israel and Hamas. What has been different this time though as been the increasingly visible Arab and Muslim voices showing support for Israel, condolences for the loss of lives in Israel and of those of other nationalities as well. The same voices are also condemning the Arab worlds apathy towards the Palestinians and the anti-Semitism prevalent among Muslims for centuries. These rational voices are demanding why there are no protests unequivocally condemning the brutal Hamas attacks, taking of hostages, and parading the captives on the streets of Gaza. As video after video emerges about the last moments of those killed by flung grenades in bunkers, firing on cars and stabbings of entire families in the various Israeli kibbutzim, testimonies of the survivors of the music festival, and the accounts of relatives of the hostages, Arab and Muslim voices are asking to condemn the terrorism in the name of Islam. Much body cam footage from the Hamas terrorists has come to light in which they are jubilantly shooting or kidnapping Israelis and who they think are Jews while shouting Allahu-Akbar a cry which has come to symbolise a war cry because every jihadi, be it on the streets of a European city or in ISIS controlled territory or the Taliban infested regions utters it before exploding himself. Kashmiris too are familiar with the usage of Islamic religious symbolism and slogans before suicide missions, the latest one in 2019 being Adil Dar, the Pulwama suicide bomber. Having survived an Islamic jihad sponsored by Pakistan for over three decades in Kashmir, it was painful to see the misery of octogenarian elders, sage relatives, community leaders, and rational peers bowing their heads down as news reports would come in of another suicide bombing, another stabbing, another massacre, another honour killing, another communal clash, another blasphemy accused lynched in the name of the Prophet. They struggled to make us understand how this was not Islam, how the Prophet himself would have been ashamed of these gatekeepers, how much it pained them to see this under the name of their revered God/Allah. They went out of their ways to select verses from the scriptures and point out interpretations that were more humane and in tune with modern realities than the medieval times they had been revealed in. We, youngsters on our part explained the powerlessness to protest this hijacking of Islams core message and take out rallies with Not-in-my-Name themes. It was difficult to explain leftist, wokeism, agenda activists and disinformation to a generation still living in a time without the dependence on social media and the Internet. They failed to understand that the same terrorists had built ecosystems, cancel culture and an omerta of silence around dissenters with fatal consequences and why the rational voices had such low visible numbers what are generally called as the silent majority. Today, their first outrage is why arent Muslims demanding the return of hostages first? They pronounce the deeds of Hamas as sinful terrorising families and separating them from their loved ones. They outrageously demand in their trusted circles of influence and their living rooms and on the prayer mats, Who kidnaps babies and autistic children?, even as they pray for their safe return. Uppermost is the refrain, this is not the rule of warfare that early Muslims were taught, citing the famous anecdote of Imam Ali fighting a one-to-one battle with his ideological opponent. When the enemy in a duel with Hazrat Alis sword Zulfiqar, the two bladed sword, spat on him, Ali stepped back and ended the duel, with the words, Earlier it was for Islam, if I continue now, it will be personal and that is not what this is about, pointing to the Muslim armies and the Quraish armies facing each other. We, who witnessed the Islamic jihad sponsored by Pakistan for over three decades, who learnt about this never-ending thirst for victory over the infidel which has been going on for centuries, understood early on that bringing a gun to the negotiating table (terrorism) never works and will never end in a victory. Sapiens, the human species have always been at war with each other over territory, resources, power, etc. The modern period saw the destruction of entire countries at a massive scale and what humans were capable of doing to each other like the Holocaust concentration camps, the Holodomor Ukrainian holocaust, the Gulags of the Soviet Union, the Bengal famine orchestrated by the British Empire and the video recorded atrocities of ISIS. So, it is a modern achievement to be able to come together at negotiating tables to talk and discuss the resentments and grievances and use diplomatic channels to sort out conflicts. So many have been solved over the years, after prolonged fighting and killings and maiming. But the pattern in all the conflicts has been, that any side picking up arms and terrorising an entire population never gets public opinion in their favour. Despite the media publicity of groups like the ISIS, Taliban, Al-Qaeda, the morality police of the Iranian IRGC or Hamas, radical political Islam has proven to have failed in the 20th and 21st centuries. It gives no answers to the lives of ordinary Muslims, it hasnt been able to solve their problems or develop their lives to comfortable levels which can be found in many progressive societies in the West and in the Indian subcontinent, if the noted French author Olivier Roy is to be believed. So, the proper thing this Friday would be to take out protest rallies and scream Not-in-the-Name of Islam and demand the release of hostages for hostilities to end. The elders in the Muslim community who quietly grieve over what Islam has become and the increasing number of rational sane voices from the Arab and Muslim world are hoping for their numbers to reach a tipping point and overturn the bad name that Islam has got over the decades since 9/11. The author is a writer and an educationist from Srinagar. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Friday stated that though the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) claims that 90% of the investigation against him with regard to disproportionate assets case is complete, no investigation officer has approached him to date. Speaking to reporters on the High Court rejecting his plea to quash the disproportionate assets case, Shivakumar stated that no investigation officer had approached him for any information. I will discuss the matter with my advocates, he said. The then chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa had handed over the case to the CBI only for political reasons. Though, there were other cases, only his case was handed over to the CBI, the Congress leader said. The advocate general had clearly said that this case cant be handed over to the CBI for a probe. This was not even taken to the Speaker of the House and Yediyurappa handed over the case to the CBI, Shivakumar maintained. When asked about attacks on him by the Opposition leaders, Shivakumar stated, he cant keep giving answering any and everybody. The court and proceedings have to be respected. Even the media should not pay heed to them, he stated. Notably, in a setback to Shivakumar, who is also the state chief of Congress, the high court on Thursday rejected his petition seeking quashing of the CBI proceedings against him. The court also lifted the stay order issued on the CBI probe against him. The Karnataka High Court bench headed by Justice K. Natarajan directed the CBI to complete the probe in three months. The development is considered to be a serious setback to Shivakumar who has been aggressively taking on the opposition parties BJP and JD(S) in the state. Former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and BJP State President Nalin Kumar Kateel had stated that Shivakumar would land up in Tihar Jail once again. Shivakumar had replied that Kumaraswamy and Kateel were not judges to send him to the prison. The Congress party had maintained that Shivakumars family had been tortured every day. Former prime minister HD Deve Gowdas statement that chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan had agreed to move ahead with the BJP in Karnataka to save his party, has kicked off a controversy in Kerala. Vijayan, too, hit out at the JDS chief, saying the statement is delusional fantasy. I am absolutely astonished by HD Deve Gowdas recent statement! The mere notion that I would even entertain the idea of supporting a JDS-BJP alliance is nothing short of a delusional fantasy. It is utterly disgraceful for a seasoned politician like Deve Gowda to make such unfounded lies. @cpimspeak has been an unwavering and unyielding force in the battle against the Sangh Parivar. There is no room for ambiguity in our stance, Vijayan posted on X, formerly Twitter. The Congress, meanwhile, lashed out at the CPI(M) claiming that there is an unholy nexus between the party and the saffron camp. Opposition leader VD Satheeshan said the statement by Deve Gowda is quite serious. The unholy nexus between the CPI(M) and BJP has led to the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government coming to power for the second time. A party in alliance with the NDA is part of the Kerala cabinet; why has the chief minister not removed JDS representatives from his cabinet? he asked. Satheeshan further said there has been a compromise as far as the Karuvannur Cooperative Bank scam is concerned. We are worried that, as part of this compromise, if the CPI(M) and BJP has come to some kind of understanding as far as the Thrissur seat is concerned, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, he said. Responding to the reaction by the Congress, Vijayan said it is a tradition of the party to do so for political gains and to help the BJP. In Kerala, they share power with the BJP in local bodies, he added. Deve Gowdas statement is untrue and completely absurd. He is lying to justify his own political upheavals. Janata Dal (Secular) is a party that has been standing with the Left Democratic Front in Kerala for ages. Their state leadership has a tradition of standing with the LDF in Kerala when the national leadership announced a different stand. At no point has the CPI(M) tried commenting or interfering in the internal affairs of that party. Even as chief minister, there is no need to interfere in their internal affairs. Thats not our way, Vijayan said. He added: The Congress should not embarrass itself by going after Deve Gowdas speech as an improper affair. There will be people in the Congress who have made connections with the BJP and benefited from it. They are the same people who have come out with statements now. JDS state president and MLA Mathew T Thomas said either Deve Gowda is trying to mislead the people or he may be confused because of old age. He said the JDS national plenary session in 2022 had adopted a resolution that they will be opposing the Congress as well as the BJP. He added that they will continue with the LDF in Kerala. Mahua Moitra called Supreme Court lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai a jilted ex after he alleged that the TMC MP took favours from Darshan Hiranandani, the CEO of real estate-to-energy group Hiranandani, to raise questions in Parliament. He (Dehadrai) is a jilted ex with an acrimonious personal history with me who wanted to somehow get back at me. If indeed he was witness to all my corruption, why was he with me during the time and why did he wait till now to make it public? Moitra wrote on X in a late night post. Darshan, on the other hand, claimed that the TMC MP made frequent demands including expensive luxury items, providing support on renovation of her officially allotted bungalow in Delhi, travel expenses, holidays, etc, apart from providing secretarial and logistical help for her travels within India and to different parts of the world. Louis Vuitton Bags to iPhones: Are These Items Mahua Moitras Bribe? Earlier this week, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and Moitras estranged partner and lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai alleged the Moitra took favours from Hiranandani to raise questions in Parliament. According to a report in OpIndia, advocate Dehadrai, in his complaint, listed items that Moitra allegedly got in exchange for asking questions in the Parliament. The publication claims that it searched about the listed products and their cost. The first item mentioned in the list was iPhones. In one of the recent photographs on Mahua Moitras Facebook page, she can be seen holding an iPhone resembling its 14 Pro model. The phone is listed at a price of Rs 1,39,900 on Amazon, the report stated. The second item mentioned in the list is scarves from Hermes. While Hermes US website lists the scarves at USD 510 a piece, according to Luxepolis website, these are available in India at Rs 30,000 to Rs 38,000 a piece. Advocate Dehadrai did not mention the number of scarves, the report stated. According to OpIndia, the third item mentioned was scarves from Louis Vuitton. The scarves by Louis Vuitton can vary anywhere between Rs 50,000 to Rs 4,95,000, as per the companys official websites India store. The next item on the list is 35 pairs of shoes from Salvatore Ferragamo, the report stated. These shoes are available on multiple luxury brand websites, such as Fashiola. The price range of these shoes varies between Rs 70,000 to Rs 1,10,000. Considering the average price of Rs 80,000 per pair, the combined worth of the shoes alone would be Rs 28 lakh. The next item on the list was expensive wines from France and Italy that may cost anywhere between Rs 5,000 to Rs 50,000 a bottle, the report stated. The next item on the list was Bags from Gucci. The bags from Gucci may cost up to Rs 2,00,000 easily in India, the publication further stated. OpIndia mentioned that advocate Dehadrai claimed she received a crocodile leather bag from Berluti. The alligator leather bag by Berluti costs USD 14,500, that is over Rs 12 lakh. What is Cash for Query Case Darshan Hiranandani allegedly paid Mahua Moitra to raise questions in Parliament about Adani Group to malign and embarrass Prime Minister Narendra Modi. News agency PTI has accessed a copy of a signed affidavit, in which Hiranandani admitted at using Moitras Parliamentary login to ask questions targeting Adani after state-owned behemoth Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) booked capacity at the Gujarat-based conglomerates Dhamra LNG import facility in Odisha and not at his firms planned facility. According to PTI, Darshan met Moitra at Bengal Global Business Summit in 2017 when she was a MLA. He said that the TMC MP became a close personal friend over the years whom he had expected to use for getting business in states ruled by opposition parties. Moitra was very ambitious and wanted to make a name for herself at the national level, he said of her winning the Lok Sabha election from Krishnanagar in West Bengal in 2019. She was advised by her friends and advisors that the shortest possible route to fame is by personally attacking Modi. However, the prime minister enjoyed an impeccable reputation and was not giving any opportunity to anyone to attack him in policy, governance or personal conduct, Darshan Hiranandani said. As was her wont, she thought that the only way to attack Modi is by attacking Gautam Adani and his group as both were contemporaries and they belong to the same state of Gujarat. She was helped by the fact that Adani had caused jealousy and had detractors among some sections of business, politics and media. So, she expected support from these sections in her endeavour to malign and embarrass the Prime Minister by targeting Adani, Darshan said. LinkedIn has become a parody account of LinkedIn. The platform once touted as a one-stop-shop for job-seekers to network with recruiters has painfully turned into a circus of hustle culture and celebration of sensationalizing nothingness. Wifes delivering a baby: Wheres my laptop? Taking a much-needed vacation after slogging your bottoms all year? Turn up at a beach like Hrithik Roshan in ZNMD. Companys facing losses? Post a crying selfie of yourself to let people know you cared but had to lay off your beloved employees anyway. Billionaires spotted gobbling a Parle-G biscuit on an aircraft? You sire, deserve all our respect. Accompany these scenarios with a pic and a 300-word post and voila, you are now a viral content creator. Amid this khichdi of you constantly sifting through your WhatsApp forward-esque LinkedIn feeds to find something truly meaningful, there are CEOs sat in different corners of the world that have taken it upon themselves to make you want to step away from LinkedIn forever. Dont take our word for it, just facepalm as we go through these instances together. AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes recently made headlines after he was seen going shirtless and receiving a body massage while attending a business meeting. Taking to his official LinkedIn account, the CEO shared an image of himself while being seated shirtless in front of the laptop as a staff member gave him a massage. Was a stressful week and Veranita Yosephine suggested a massage. Got to love Indonesia and AirAsia culture that I Can have a massage and do a management meeting. We are making big progress and I have now finalized the Capital A structure. Exciting days ahead. Proud of what we have built and never have lost sight of the finish," Fernandes wrote. The post immediately went viral and gathered criticism globally. However, it has now been deleted. Also Read: AirAsia CEO Goes Shirtless, Receives Massage During Business Meeting Founder-CEO of Bombay Shaving Company, Shantanu Deshpande received backlash for praising a tired employee who fell asleep in an autorickshaw. He praised Shanky Chauhan, for being the heartbeat" of the company. He LOVES the company. His eyes twinkle when he talks about his work, his team, his stores, his distributors, his customers," the CEO wrote about Shanky. He also mentioned how he struggles to get Shanky to switch off. While he is a diamond asset, Deepak and I struggle to get him to switch off. We constantly worry about his health. We realize that for him to do justice to his own commitment to the Co, longevity is everything," the CEO wrote. He wrote all of this as he posted a photo of Shanky, deep asleep in an autorickshaw after a morning flight and a couple of meetings. Bombay slaving company is back!Other Employee: Should we wake him up/get him to a comfortable bed? Also Read: Indian CEO Slammed Over LinkedIn Post Praising Tired Employee Asleep In Autorickshaw Founder: Nah, Let me get a picture for personal brand building. Im glad he isnt in an Uber or picture wont have that impact. pic.twitter.com/ksOaAGZjOo Garv Malik (@malikgarv) February 17, 2023 Also Read: Indian CEO Slammed Over LinkedIn Post Praising Tired Employee Asleep In Autorickshaw Wait, theres more CEO of Clearlink, James Clarke, praised an employee for selling his familys dog to be able to return to the companys office. A video which went viral showed James addressing his employees and saying how he had enough of employees cribbing about the new return-to-office rule. He highlighted how one of the staff members made sacrifices" by selling their family dog to return to work. Ive sacrificed, and those of you that are here have sacrificed greatly to be here as well to be away from your family. I learned from one of our leaders that, in the midst of hearing this message, (someone) went out and sold their family dog," he said in the video. Clear link CEO is forcing everyone back to office when he should be forcing himself into therapy pic.twitter.com/BhcCmrNaOR Alex Cohen (@anothercohen) April 20, 2023 Also Read: Clearlink CEO Appreciates Employees Sacrifice of Selling Family Dog to Return to Office, Gets Slammed CEO of HyperSocial Braden Wallake was criticised for a LinkedIn post about laying off staff. Braden posted a photo of himself crying, with a post on how a few employees had to be laid off from his company. Braden took responsibility for his decision and spoke about how people who were laid off could still have been there if better decisions had been made. So, I just want people to see, that not every CEO out there is cold-hearted and doesnt care when he/she have to lay people off," he wrote. The decision to put up a crying picture along with the text is what irked people on social media and Braden became a target of massive backlash. (Note: This is a developing story. We will add updates as and when a new CEO attempts to embarrass themselves on LinkedIn.) Gaurav Taneja, known for his YouTube channel Flying Beast, recently responded to a question about his monthly income. During an interview with Raj Shamani, Taneja revealed that he earns more than the Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia, the company that once dismissed him. It is widely reported that he has accumulated significant wealth, attributed to his flourishing YouTube career, brand endorsements, and diverse entrepreneurial undertakings. Before transitioning into full-time content creation during the pandemic, Taneja had already established himself as a well-known vlogger. Currently, his YouTube channel boasts a substantial subscriber count of more than 8.6 million, and he maintains a substantial presence on other platforms like Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter), where his following extends into the millions. Watch his interview here: In a previous interview, Taneja reportedly revealed that the primary source of his income is from brand deals and advertisements. He contrasted this with his initial earnings as a pilot, where he made around Rs 60,000 per month. The reason behind Gaurav Tanejas separation from AirAsia, according to him, was raising safety issues. He was serving as a pilot when he reportedly raised concerns about safety protocol within the airline. In 2020, he conveyed this information via a tweet, stating, I was terminated from Airasia for raising safety issues. I was terminated from airasia for raising safety issues! Now, the same issues are raised by #DGCA to @AirAsiaIndian. Justice will prevail! #Sabkeliye Gaurav Taneja (@flyingbeast320) June 28, 2020 In addition to his primary Flying Beast channel, Taneja also manages two other highly popular YouTube channels, namely FitMuscle TV and Rasbhari ke Papa. Furthermore, it is worth noting that Mr Taneja is concurrently pursuing a law degree at Delhi University. First semester LLB resultPASS Gaurav Taneja (@flyingbeast320) July 6, 2022 This revelation about his income emerges on the heels of AirAsias Chief Executive Officer, Tony Fernandes sharing an image of himself shirtless in a conference room, receiving a massage during a meeting. Although the post has since been deleted from LinkedIn, Fernandes was criticised for it. He mentioned in the caption, It was a stressful week, and Veranita Yosephine suggested a massage. I have a great appreciation for Indonesia and the AirAsia culture, allowing me to combine a massage with a management meeting." People go to great lengths to avoid paying their restaurant bills. They even complain about food quality or find unexpected things like hair or pieces of stone, to escape the payment. In a recent bizarre incident, a man named Aidas, from Lithuania, pretended to have a severe medical emergency just to escape paying the restaurant bill in Alicante, Spain. His deceptive act involved fake heart attacks, however, his drama didnt last long, as the 50-year-old man was eventually caught for his misleading behaviour and has been sent to jail for 42 days. As reported by The Sun, Aidas repeated the same dramatic act in nearly 20 different restaurants, most of which were located in Costa Blanca. A photo of this conman was circulated in various restaurants as a warning. One strange image featured the diner collapsed on the floor. Reportedly, he would order numerous glasses of White Label whiskey while enjoying a Russian salad. His targeted restaurants were El Buen Comer and Sale&Pepe, both situated in Alicante. Talking about the incident, the manager of El Buen Comer, Moises Domenech told, It was very theatrical, he pretended to faint and slumped himself down on the floor. We have sent his photo around to all the restaurants to try and stop him from striking again. While a staff member at Sale&Pepe added, Weve all received a warning with his photo telling us to be careful and to not serve him anything. Moises explained that Aidas attempted to exit the restaurant without settling the bill. However, a staff member stopped him and told him to pay. In response, the 50-year-old claimed he needed to go back to his hotel to take the money. When the staff refused to allow him to leave without paying, he threw himself on the ground and pretended to have a heart attack. But the staff at El Buen Comer didnt fall for his trap and they contacted the police. The ambulance team recognised him and confirmed he was not unwell. Police then handcuffed and transported him to the police station. The man was arrested on his 20th attempt within a year, which made him a well-known figure to the local police. In this particular case, he dined at El Buen Corner, where he ordered two whiskeys and seafood paella, while the bill was 34.85 euros (approximately Rs 3000). Various restaurant owners are planning to unite and file a collective complaint against Aidas and a possibility of a two year jail sentence. However, a lawyer from Navarra Sancho firm explained that, He has taken advantage of the legal system, with such small fines unpaid its difficult to achieve a longer sentence in prison. Despite appearing like a typical Russian tourist, he turned out to be a Lithuanian citizen with no known address and limited knowledge of the Spanish language, although he understands the language. He has been visiting Alicante since November 2022 when he was initially arrested for similar practices. Gone are the days when social media users loved to watch content creators dance performances in public. From the Delhi metro to markets, influencers have hijacked many locations with their impromptu dance performances, which have ultimately turned into a nuisance for many as they often create problems for commuters. Joining the bandwagon, a social media influencer shared a video of her dancing at Princep Ghat railway station in Kolkata. As soon as the video surfaced online, it created a stir online leaving social media users divided. A viral video unfolds on a bustling railway platform, teeming with passengers going about their daily commutes. Amidst the hustle, a woman donned in a striking purple saree danced energetically to the beats of Neha Kakkar and Tony Kakkars hit song, Jamna Paar. Undeniably, the video shared by Instagram user Saheli Rudra was quick to go viral over its on public demand caption, as people asked about the imaginary public that the dancer mentioned. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Saheli Rudra | Influencer (@_sahelirudra_) Dancing in front of such a considerable audience undoubtedly displayed an admirable level of courage and elicited a range of emotions, including amazement and a touch of vicarious embarrassment. Moreover, the video has not escaped scrutiny and diverse reactions from social media users, as people had a lot to say. The video has already mustered 9,200 likes so far, instigating varied opinions. Some commended the womans dancing skills, while others viewed it as a quest for attention and asked about the public she was talking about who demanded such a dance. A few have also suggested that the Indian Railways should impose fines on individuals engaging in such behaviour to preserve the peace and order of train stations. A user commented, Kon hai woh public jo aisi demand karti h puchta hai Bharat (Who is the public who makes such demands). I wish I had this level of self-assurance in life, a user asserted. Injecting a dose of humor, another Instagram user commented, This individual could very well be the future champion of Dance India Dance. Irked by the video, a user demanded, Government should ban all this and action should be taken against such people. Another questioned, Why doesnt the police arrest her for public disturbance? Whereas with a cautious point of view, an account advised, If you choose to dance, ensure it is done responsibly. Some individuals in the background appear visibly apprehensive. What are your views about this dance performance? The Nova Posta group of companies has launched the first Nova Post branch in Estonia - in its capital Tallinn, company co-founder Volodymyr Popereshniuk announced on his Facebook page. According to him, the first shipment from Estonia had an addressee in Izyum district of Kharkiv region. According to the company's press release, at the Nova Post branch in Tallinn, which is open seven days a week, customers can receive and send documents, parcels and cargo up to 1,000 kg to Ukraine. The cost of delivery to Estonia from Ukraine is: UAH 250 for documents, as well as UAH 400, UAH 600 and UAH 1,200 for parcels up to 2 kg, 10 kg and 30 kg, respectively. When sending a parcel from 30 to 100 kg, UAH 40 per kilogram is paid. It is noted that delivery from Ukraine to Estonia takes five days. Hundreds of pro-Israel demonstrators rallied in New Yorks Times Square on Thursday, demanding the release of those held captive by Hamas, following the deadly attack on October 7. The protest, organised by the nonprofit Israeli American Council, representing Israeli Americans, featured participants waving Israeli flags and holding signs reading I stand with Israel and Bring them home. Speakers at the rally, including US Senator Chuck Schumer, promised to stand with Israel and fight back against Hamas. In every generation, they have risen to afflict us and the evil vicious vile Hamas has done it now. But we know in every generation we fight back until we win, the Democrat was quoted as saying by the New York Post. We will not abandon you, we will fight with you side by side until the threat of Hamas is totally eliminated and every hostage is brought home, he said. Bring Them Home Now! Bring Them Home Now! Senator Chuck Schumer spoke to thousand of Israel Supporters in Times Square #HappeningNowVideo by @yyeeaahhhboiii2 Desk@freedomnews.tv to license pic.twitter.com/RRTIiGYo3H Oliya Scootercaster (@ScooterCasterNY) October 19, 2023 This rally comes as US officials have said Hamas is holding some 200 people hostage after the Palestinian groups October 7 surprise attack on Israel, when militants killed about 1,400 Israelis. While there is no official list of Americans in captivity, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Jim Risch, told reporters on Wednesday that 10 of the hostages were American. It is the highest priority here. We want those people out, Risch said. On a near-daily basis, Americans across the country, on streets and college campuses, are taking to the streets to protest on behalf of Israel or the Palestinian people, with bitter divisions re-emerging over the decades-long conflict. US President Joe Biden visited Israel this week to reiterate his support and urge the countrys leaders to avert a humanitarian disaster as it prepares a ground invasion into the Gaza Strip. The task of securing the hostages release may require negotiating assistance from countries in the region that have no diplomatic ties with Israel. (With agency inputs) Canada issued an advisory on Thursday, urging its citizens in India to be wary of demonstrations, including anti-Canada protests due to recent diplomatic tensions stemming from the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. In the context of recent developments in Canada and in India, there are calls for protests and some negative sentiment towards Canada in traditional media and on social media, the Canadian advisory read. Demonstrations, including anti-Canada protests, could occur and Canadians may be subjected to intimidation or harassment, it added. This development comes as Canada confirmed that it withdrew 41 diplomats from India. Canada confirms that India formally communicated its plan to remove immunities unilaterally for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents in New Delhi by October 20, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said in a statement. Joly added that Indias decision will impact the levels of services to Consulates in both countries. Unfortunately, we have to put a pause on all in-person services in our Consulates in Chandigarh, in Mumbai and in Bangalore, she added. India-Canada ties plunged last month after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused the Indian government of having a link to Nijjars killing on Canadian soil. These allegations, which New Delhi has strongly denied, resulted in tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats on both sides. The Indian government has called the Canadian accusations over the killing absurd and advised its nationals not to travel to certain Canadian regions in the wake of the growing anti-Indian activities. New Delhi also temporarily stopped processing visa applications in Canada. Canada said Thursday it had withdrawn 41 diplomats from India amid the diplomatic fallout between the two countries over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. As of now, I can confirm that India has formally conveyed its plan to unethically remove diplomatic immunities for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents in Delhi by October 20, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said during a news conference. This means 41 Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents were in danger of having immunity stripped on an arbitrary date and this would put their personal safety at risk, she said. Joly added that Indias decision will impact the levels of services to Consulates in both countries. Unfortunately, we have to put a pause on all in-person services in our Consulates in Chandigarh, in Mumbai and in Bangalore, she added. India-Canada ties plunged last month after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused the Indian government of having a link to Nijjars killing on Canadian soil. These allegations, which New Delhi has strongly denied, resulted in tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats on both sides. The Indian government has called the Canadian accusations over the killing absurd and advised its nationals not to travel to certain Canadian regions in the wake of the growing anti-Indian activities. New Delhi also temporarily stopped processing visa applications in Canada and requested parity in diplomatic staff. Joly said New Delhi planned to revoke diplomatic immunity for all but 21 of Canadas diplomats and their families by Friday. She said Canada did not plan to retaliate in kind and would continue to engage with India. In the statement on Thursday, Ottawa also accused New Delhi of breaking the diplomatic norm after the ouster of its diplomats. New Delhi has responded strongly to these accusations saying, The state of our bilateral relations, the much higher number of Canadian diplomats in India, and their continued interference in our internal affairs warrant a parity in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa. We have been engaged with the Canadian side on this over the last month in order to work out the details and modalities of its implementation, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a statement. Rejecting the attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms, Bagchi said Indias actions are fully consistent with Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. As per this article, In the absence of specific agreement as to the size of the mission, the receiving State may require that the size of a mission be kept within limits considered by it to be reasonable and normal, having regard to circumstances and conditions in the receiving State and to the needs of the particular mission. The India-Canada row has its roots in the June killing of Nijjar who was shot dead by two masked assailants in the parking lot of a Sikh temple near Vancouver. The 45-year-old Sikh separatist, who immigrated to Canada in 1997 and became a Canadian citizen in 2015, was wanted by Indian authorities for alleged terrorism and conspiracy to commit murder. After Canada asked India to cooperate in the probe of the killing, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar last month said in New York that his country would be willing to examine any evidence presented by Canada. Jaishankar also raised the point of continued Canadian inaction following attacks on Indian consulates in the country. We have actually been badgering the Canadians. Weve given them loads of information about organized crime leadership which operates out of Canada, Jaishankar said, referring to Sikh separatists. We have a situation where actually our diplomats are threatened, our consulates have been attacked and often comments are made (that are) interference in our politics, he said. (With agency inputs) German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock announced on Thursday 50 million euros in aid for civilians in the Gaza Strip, on the first stage of a mini-tour of the Middle East. Germany was also preparing to send medical teams into the Gaza Strip, she added, her ministry said in a statement. The aim of her tour, she said, was to express unwavering solidarity and to help ensure Palestinian access to aid. She announced the aid package in Jordan, the first stage of her tour of the region, which will also take in Lebanon and Israel. Our message is clear, she said at a news conference in Amman with Jordans Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, according to her ministry. We dont abandon the innocent Palestinian mothers, fathers and children. Before her departure, Baerbock insisted on Israels right to defend itself against Hamas terror and accused the militant group of using the civilian population of the Gaza Strip as human shields in its conflict with Israel. Hamas gunmen broke through Israels heavily fortified Gaza border on October 7, killing more than 1,400 people, most of them civilians, and taking at least 199 people hostage, according to Israel. Israel has responded to the attacks with relentless air strikes on Gaza that have killed more than 3,470 people, mainly civilians, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry. It has also imposed a crippling siege on the Palestinian enclave that has left its inhabitants with dwindling supplies of food, water and fuel. It is important to me to make clear to Palestinians that we also recognise their suffering, Baerbock said before starting her tour. The humanitarian situation in Gaza was catastrophic, she said. Baerbock, who already visited Israel and Egypt last week followed by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, said Berlin was working closely with the G7, European Union and regional partners to ensure aid could flow into Gaza. She said she would also use the trip to speak with all those who have channels to Hamas to discuss how to secure the release of hostages held by the group. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius made a surprise visit to Lebanon on Thursday. Pistoriuss ministry said his visit at short notice was to thank German soldiers serving with UNIFIL, the UN peacekeeping force deployed in a buffer zone between northern Israel and southern Lebanon. It posted on X, formerly Twitter, that the minister also intended to get informed about the impact of the conflict in Israel and Gaza on the (German) contingent in the region. US President Joe Biden on Thursday said Hamas and Russia are both out to annihilate democracies, in a prime-time address to the nation, arguing for more aid to Ukraine and Israel. Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin represent different threats but they share this in common: they both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy, Biden said in a speech from the Oval Office. In an impassioned address, Biden said he would urge Congress to approve massive funding to help Ukraine and Israel, saying that this was an investment for the United States future as a global leader. It is a smart investment thats going to pay dividends for American security for generations, the 80-year-old Democrat said. Happening Now: President Biden addresses the nation to discuss our response to Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel and Russias ongoing brutal war against Ukraine. https://t.co/C4TOpMmmPT The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 20, 2023 American leadership is what holds the world together. American alliances are what keep us, America, safe. American values are what make us a partner that other nations want to work with, he said. America is a beacon to the world. Still. Still, he said. Fresh from a whirlwind trip to Israel this week, Biden wants to win over war-weary voters and hardline Republicans as he ramps up his 2024 reelection bid. This key address comes as US media reports said the White House is teeing up a huge request to Congress for a USD 100 billion package that would include funding for Israel in its war with Hamas and also for Ukraines battle against Russian invasion. Tying together two conflicts an ocean away from the United States is a bid by Biden to frame them as part of a bigger struggle to shape the world order and protect Americans at home. The request follows ongoing deadlock in Congress which has been paralyzed for more than two weeks as divided Republicans, who control the majority in the House, fail repeatedly to agree on electing a House speaker. Hard-right Republicans, and a growing number of voters, are also strongly opposed to adding to the USD 43.9 billion in security assistance that the United States has committed to Ukraine since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. US media reported that Fridays package request will include USD 10 billion in emergency assistance for Israel and USD 60 billion for Ukraine. Just before the speech, Biden spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky welcomed the recent delivery of ATACMS long-range missiles from the United States, adding: Ukraine is grateful for the vital and enduring US support in our fight for freedom and against Russian aggression. Earlier on Wednesday, Biden backed Israel in Tel Aviv as it gears up for a ground invasion of Gaza after the October 7 attacks by the Palestinian militant group Hamas which killed more than 1,400 people. He also brokered a deal to get some aid through Egypt into the Gaza Strip, where Israeli bombing since has killed at least 3,785 Palestinians, according to the Hamas health ministry. (With agency inputs) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday that the central governments crackdown on his countrys diplomats was making normal life difficult for millions of people in both countries. The Indian government is making it unbelievably difficult for life as usual to continue for millions of people in India and in Canada. And theyre doing it by contravening a very basic principle of diplomacy, he said. Its something that has me very concerned for the wellbeing and happiness of millions of Canadians who trace their origins to the Indian subcontinent, Trudeau said during a televised press conference at Brampton in Ontario. The comments came a day after Canada said it had withdrawn 41 diplomats following an Indian threat to unilaterally revoke their status. The country now has 21 diplomats remaining in India. New Delhi is angry after the prime minister suggested last month that Indian agents might have been involved in the June murder of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada. He said the expulsion of some of Canadas diplomats will hamper travel and trade as well as pose difficulties for Indians studying in Canada. At least two million Canadians, 5 percent of the overall population, have Indian heritage. India is by far Canadas largest source of global students, making up for roughly 40 percent of study permit holders. The ministry of external affairs earlier rejected the idea it had violated the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations. The state of our bilateral relations, the much higher number of Canadian diplomats in India, and their continued interference in our internal affairs warrant a parity in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa, the ministry said. (With inputs from Reuters) International terrorist group Islamic State (ISIS) and Palestinian militant outfit Hamas have several similarities and comparable operating styles, top intelligence sources said to CNN-News18 on Friday. Hamas not only accepts the ideology of ISIS but also its brutal manner of killing, they said. Like ISIS, Hamas also sees the Western world as its enemy, said the sources. Killing children and women in an indiscriminate manner is a signature of both Hamas and Islamic State, they added. In 2014, ISIS also annihilated Yazidis in the Sinjar area of northern Iraq. ISIS and Hamas share the same radical Islamic ideology, are brutal towards human life, use the same extremely violent and barbarous actions to achieve their goals, and are remorseless, said the sources. In recent years, they added, after attacks on ISIS in Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, and other countries, its cadres have taken shelter in Palestine in Hamas-dominated areas. Similarly, Hamas leaders have met ISIS in Yemen and Syria on different occasions, said the sources. On many Hamas-affiliated websites, its suggested that members of the Islamic State in Sinai are also involved with the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas It is also important to note Hamas allowed Salafia organisations to operate in Gaza after 2007, the intelligence sources said. Both ISIS and Hamas are working on geographical domination, they said. Hamas may be smaller in scale, they said, but its ideology is similar to ISIS in the way of Salafia Jihadia. Hamas also wants to establish Islamic rule all over the world to wants to start by dominating the Jews, said the sources. Apart from this, the way Hamas uses motorcycles, drones, etc, they said, is very similar to what ISIS fighters did in Iraq and Syria. Like ISIS calls to kill non-Muslims, Khaled Mashal, one of Hamass founders, on October 12 asked for the killing of Jews all over the world, said the sources. This jihad against Jews and Christians, they said, demonstrates a clear connection between Hamas and ISIS. According to a joint statement by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) and the Israel Securities Authority (ISA), the IDF struck over a hundred targets belonging to Hamas terrorist organization overnight and killed a Hamas operative as well. Overnight, IDF fighter jets struck over a hundred terror targets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization, including an underground tunnel, weapon warehouses, and dozens of operational command centers, the statement said. A Kerala-based garment firm is ending its long-standing contract to manufacture uniforms for the Israeli police, driven by a moral decision amid the Israel-Hamas war. It is a moral decision, Thomas Olickal, the managing director of Kannur-based Maryan Apparel, told AFP. He said that this weeks strike on a Gaza hospital and the loss of thousands of innocent lives in the conflict had influenced the decision. Olickal said his firm, which has supplied around one lakh uniforms to Israels police force every year since 2015, will fulfill its existing commitments. However, it will not accept new orders. We are open to resuming business with them after peace is restored, added Olickal, who employs approximately 1,500 people at his firm. Israelis and Palestinians have traded blame for the deadly strike on the Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza City. US intelligence has concluded that Israel was not responsible for the strike that killed hundreds of people. World leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have condemned the strike, saying civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict are a matter of serious concern. Contesting claims Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas accused Israel of hitting the hospital during its massive bombing campaign, and the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza has put the death toll at 471, though that number is contested. Israels military has blamed a misfired rocket on another group, Islamic Jihad a version of events backed by the United States, whose intelligence community has estimated between 100 and 300 people were killed. Hamas stormed into Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7 and killed over 1,400 people. Israel says around 1,500 Hamas fighters were killed in clashes before its army regained control of the area under attack. More than 3,785 Palestinians, have been killed across Gaza in relentless Israeli bombardments in retaliation for the attacks by Hamas, according to the latest toll from its health ministry in Gaza. Earlier this week, the company said that it also makes around 50,000 shirts and jackets for the Israeli Jail Police. In a year we make up to one lakh shirts for Israeli policemen. We also make shirts and jackets for the Israeli Jail Police. About 30,000 to 50,000 shirts and jackets are sent for the jail police in a year, he said. Olickal told News18 that last week after the war broke out, the company was informed by Israel that an extra supply of uniforms would be needed. Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman who died in police custody in Iran last year, sparking worldwide protests against the countrys conservative Islamic theocracy, was awarded the European Unions top human rights prize on Thursday. The EU award, named for Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, was created in 1988 to honor individuals or groups who defend human rights and fundamental freedoms. Sakharov, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, died in 1989. Other finalists this year included Vilma Nunez de Escorcia and Roman Catholic Bishop Rolando Alvarez two emblematic figures in the fight for the defense of human rights in Nicaragua and a trio of women from Poland, El Salvador and the United States leading a fight for free, safe and legal abortion. Amini died on Sept. 16, 2022, after she was arrested for allegedly violating Irans mandatory headscarf law. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said that day will live in infamy, adding that her brutal murder marked a turning point. It has triggered a women-led movement that is making history, she said as she announced the awarding of the prize to Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom movement in Iran. The world has heard the chants of Women, Life, Liberty. Three words that have become a rallying cry for all those standing up for equality, for dignity and for freedom in Iran, Metsola said. Women have played a leading role in the protests, with many publicly removing the compulsory Islamic headscarf, known as the hijab. The 27-nation EU has imposed sanctions on Iranian officials and organizations including ministers, military officers and Irans morality police for human rights abuses over the protests. We stand with those who, even from prison, continue to keep women, life and freedom alive, Metsola said. By choosing them as laureates for the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2023, this House remembers their struggle and continues to honor all those who have paid the ultimate price for liberty. Amini died three days after she was arrested by Irans morality police. While authorities said she suffered a heart attack, Aminis supporters said she was beaten by police and died as a result of her injuries. Her death triggered protests that spread across the country and rapidly escalated into calls for the overthrow of Irans four-decade-old Islamic theocracy. Authorities responded with a violent crackdown in which more than 500 people were killed and over 22,000 others were detained, according to rights groups. The demonstrations largely died down early this year, but there are still widespread signs of discontent. For several months, women could be seen openly flaunting the headscarf rule in Tehran and other cities, prompting a renewed crackdown over the summer. The award ceremony will take place on Dec. 13. Last years prize was awarded to the people of Ukraine and their representatives for their resistance to Russias invasion and defiance during the ongoing war. The Ministry of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development (Restoration Ministry) approves methodological recommendations for prioritizing projects to eliminate the consequences caused by Russian armed aggression against Ukraine. The corresponding order was signed on Friday by Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development Oleksandr Kubrakov. The document will come into force after publication. "I'm not saying that this methodology can take into account absolutely everything 100%. But it pursues the goal of an unbiased analysis, providing a framework for decisions made on data. This is a recommendation document for us, but a very important one," Deputy Minister of Restoration Oleksandra Azarkhina said during public consultations Regional Dimension of Ukraine's Plan on Friday. According to the text of the order, methodological recommendations were developed on the basis of the Prioritization Framework for Infrastructure Projects of the World Bank. The prioritization methodology combines socio-ecological and financial-economic information into two composite indices, which are used to compare projects, and is a tool for assessing and ranking submitted projects according to many parameters. Indicators evaluate the potential feasibility of a project from economic, financial, environmental and social points of view. The indicators are reported to use Sectoral Priorities, aligned with the World Bank's Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment, and Sectors of Activities and Eligible Operations, which are considered to be universally consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement ratified by Law No. 1469 -VIII on the ratification of the Paris Agreement dated July 14, 2016. JSB Ukrgasbank has increased the lending limit to its existing clients from Ternopil region, Farming Holding Gadz and Gadz-Agro LLC, the bank's press service reported. "Credit support from Ukrgasbank is aimed at replenishing the company's working capital to ensure stable development during the war, which will help create additional jobs and increase the receipt of taxes and fees to the budget," the bank's website reported. In addition, Ukrgasbank said that thanks to the funding received, Gadz-Agro is actively developing crop production, horticulture and vegetable growing, growing the most modern varieties of grains and oilseeds, developing the livestock industry, and introducing the latest technologies. The company also produces a line of fruit and vegetable juices and purees for baby food. The company's products are exported to Europe, the Middle East and Asia. JSB Ukrgasbank was created in 1993. The state, represented by the Ministry of Finance, owns 94.9409% of the shares of the financial institution. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a phone call with U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday, thanked him for the supply of ATACMS missiles. "I spoke with Joe Biden to thank him for the effective implementation of our latest defense agreements. Ukrainians are greatly encouraged by the delivery of ATACMS, and our warriors are putting them to good use on the battlefield," he said on the X social network. "We discussed further strengthening our long-range capabilities," Zelenskyy also said. According to him, he appreciates "U.S. Special Representative Penny Pritzker's recent fruitful visit to Ukraine, during which we started productive talks on ways to use frozen Russian assets." "I also informed President Biden of the most recent legislation on PEPs that the Ukrainian parliament had passed, which advances reforms on the path to opening Ukraine's EU accession talks," he said. Zelenskyy "welcomed President Biden's visit to Israel aimed at seeking peace and protection of civilian lives. We also discussed our next joint steps to advance the Peace Formula. I welcomed the U.S. decision to send its representative to the next advisors' meeting in Malta at the end of this month. Ukraine is grateful for the vital and enduring U.S. support in our fight for freedom and against Russian aggression," the president also said. The College Lecturers Association of Zimbabwe (COLAZ) has notified its employer, the Tertiary Education Service Council (TESC), that its members are unable to report for work as their monthly pay is now equivalent to only US$40. The lecturers have given their employer two weeks to respond and if their requests are not met, they will down their tools. College lecturers were taken from the purview of the Public Service Commission (PSC) and now fall under the authority of TESC, but educators complain the council is taking too long to resolve and implement their compensation concerns. COLAZ President, David Dzatsunga, said lecturers are the prime movers of the Education 5.0 concept, which the government is pushing in tertiary institutions, noting that as educators, they need to be capacitated to effectively deliver. COLAZ hereby notify the employer of our incapacitation and plead with TESC to quickly move to capacitate us, Dzatsunga said in a letter dated October 18, 2023 to TESC and copied to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology and to the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development including all college principals. The stamps and signatures on the COLAZ letter indicate it was delivered to the recipients. In our last correspondence to you, we attached a representative sample of pay advice slips which clearly demonstrate the extent to which our salaries have become untenable and are way below the poverty line, said the COLAZ president. Dzatsunga added, We are loath to inform you that in the month of October, our salaries have been further eroded to below ZWL$70 000 which is equivalent to about US$40. Dzatsunga said lecturers expected that as their employer, TESC will appreciate that their incapacitation is now chronic and the council would pull every stop to quickly correct this grim reality. Please note that this step (notice of incapacitation) has not been easy for us to take, said the COLAZ president who stated that ordinarily they preferred dialogue as had been the case with the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology, which always opened the door for them. The COLAZ president said they hoped that TESC would accord lecturers the same respect by responding to our correspondence as well as update to all of them concerning the terms and conditions, through the union. Finally we remain committed to rational disputation and wait for your action on the salary issue. We desire to enjoy the full benefit of migration and remain committed to play our part in driving the Presidents vision of 2030, Dzatsunga said. We are the prime movers of Education 5.0 and thus need to be capacitated to effectively deal with our duty to Zimbabwe. Some lecturers told CITE that they would give TESC two weeks to respond to their grievance. If the employer does not engage us meaningfully, we will down our tools. We are concerned that the council is dragging its feet in solving and implementing our salary concerns, said one lecturer who spoke to CITE. The employer is quiet but we are giving them time to respond. Failure to respond, we dont go to work because we cannot afford it. CITE The Biden administration on Wednesday announced $3.5 billion for 58 projects across the country to strengthen electric grid resilience as extreme weather events such as the deadly Maui and California wildfires continue to strain the nation's aging transmission systems. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said it was the largest federal investment ever in grid infrastructure, supporting projects that will harden electric systems and improve energy reliability and affordability, the AP reports. The federal spending, combined with money promised by private partners, could result in up to $8 billion in investments nationally to upgrade the grid, Granholm said. "The grid, as it currently sits, is not equipped to handle all the new demand" and withstand natural disasters and extreme weather worsened by climate change, Granholm said at a news conference. "We need it to be bigger, we need it to be stronger, we need it to be smarter" to bring a range of renewable energy projects online and meet the administration's goal of reaching 100% clean electricity by 2035, she said. Projects funded by the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships program will increase the flexibility, efficiency, and reliability of electric power systems, with a focus on spurring solar, wind, and other renewable energy, Granholm said. The projects also are aimed at fixing problems that may contribute to wildfires and other disasters and will improve reliability by deploying innovative approaches to electricity transmission, storage, and distribution, officials said. Projects to be funded include $249 million each for rural areas in Georgia and Louisiana and $250 million for a Native American tribe in Oregon. The largest grant, $464 million, will go to five transmission projects across seven Midwestern states, from Iowa to North Dakota. Included is $95 million previously announced for Hawaii in the wake of this summer's wildfires and $150 million to PacifiCorp to upgrade the grid and boost wildfire mitigation in California, Oregon, Utah, and other states. "Our outdated grid has been in need of an update for a long, long time," said Mitch Landrieu, a White House senior adviser. (Read more power grid stories.) Police arrested a man climbing Thursday on the Eiffel Tower, leading to visitors being temporarily stranded at the summitincluding a reporter for the AP and a Washington, DC, couple who decided during the wait to get married. Amir Khan had been planning to propose to Kat Warren later Thursday in a Paris garden away from the crowds, with a romantic dinner on the River Seine also on the menu. But when the lifts were temporarily shut down because of the climber, stranding the couple and others at the top, Khan decided to spring his surprise. Pat Eaton-Robb, an AP newsman from Connecticut who was also stuck up there, got their story. "I figured we might be here longer than I imagined," Khan said, per the AP. "So I didn't want to miss dinner and she always wanted to be proposed to on or under the Eiffel Tower. So I figured, 'This is it, this is the moment.'" He got the answer he wanted. "He had a pretty good chance of me saying 'Yes' all along," Warren said, laughing. Besides, when trapped at the top of a 1,083-foot tower, how can anyone say "No?" Had that happened, "somebody else would be climbing the Eiffel Tower today possibly," she joked. The climber was found between the tower's second and third floors, said Alice Beunardeau, communications director for the Paris landmark. A specialist team of climbing firefighters led the man down, and police arrested him, she said. (Read more Eiffel Tower stories.) If a Republican candidate for the Virginia Senate wins his write-in campaign, he wants to thank voters in his own way: with an AR-15 rifle. Dave LaRock, who's a member of the House of Delegates now, announced the offer in an email to voters last week, the Washington Post reports. "When you think of Dave LaRock, remember I'm the guy that's so pro-gun that I give them away for free," the email says. When contacted by a Post reporter, LaRock seemed to pull the offer, then later said it's on. He explained that he was adjusting the terms after checking with his counsel. LaRock said that there's no charge to qualify for the giveaway, that the 10 winners will be picked at random, and that the "transfer of rifles will be conducted to comply with Virginia law." An Army private who fled to North Korea before being returned home to the United States last month has been detained by the US military, two officials said Thursday night, and is facing charges including desertion and possessing sexual images of a child. The eight counts against Pvt. Travis King are detailed in a charging document seen by the Associated Press . The officials who confirmed King's confinement spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity because the charges have not been publicly announced. King's mother, Claudine Gates, said in a statement that she loved her son "unconditionally" and was "extremely concerned about his mental health." Desertion is a very serious charge and can result in imprisonment for as much as three years. King is also accused of kicking and punching other officers last year, unlawfully possessing alcohol, making a false statement, and possessing a video of a child engaged in sexual activity. That last allegation dates to July 10, the same day he was released from a South Korean prison where he had served nearly two months on assault charges. One week later, facing the possibility of additional disciplinary actions and discharge upon being sent back to the US, King, 23, ran across the heavily fortified border. After about two months, Pyongyang abruptly announced that it would expel him. He was flown on Sept. 28 to an Air Force base in Texas. Once back in the US, King was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston outside San Antonio. He went through what the military describes as a "reintegration" process that included medical exams, psychological assessments and debriefings. And he was also allowed to meet with family. Because he had willingly run into enemy hands, he legally was kept in military custody throughout that process. While he was gone, Army leaders declared him absent without leave, opting to not consider him a deserter, which is far more serious. By declaring King a deserter, the Army would have to conclude that King left and intended to stay away permanently. In times of war, desertion can carry the death penalty. (Read more Travis King stories.) If you had your Halloween costume picked out months ago, kudos to you for preplanning. If you had your Halloween costume picked out months ago, and you're an actor currently on the picket line, you might want to double-check if you're actually allowed to wear it. SAG-AFTRA has issued a "Halloween guidance" alert to its members, with some "dos and don'ts" on what costumes are permitted under strike rules. "Choose costumes inspired by generalized characters and figures," including ghosts, zombies, or spiders, the memo reads. The union also gives the green light to "characters from non-struck content, like an animated TV show." What SAG-AFTRA doesn't want its striking actors dressing up as: characters from struck content, including ones from Barbie or the Marvel franchise ( the Hollywood Reporter notes that Marvel superheroes aren't exempt under the animation rule because the franchise is owned by Disney). If actors decide to defy that rule, the union asks that they at least don't blast photos of themselves all over social media. "Let's use our collective power to send a loud and clear message to our struck employers that we will not promote their content without a fair contract!" the memo reads. The actors strike is closing in on its 100th day, with requests for a boost in wages, better health benefits, and protections against actors' likenesses being used via AI all on the table. The Writers Guild of America ended its strike in Hollywood last month. Actor Ryan Reynolds weighed in on the SAG-AFTRA costume rules on Thursday. "I look forward to screaming 'scab' at my 8 year old all night," he wrote. "She's not in the union but she needs to learn." (Read more actors strike stories.) SAG-AFTRA union president Fran Drescher says a proposal from George Clooney and a group of other A-listers to help end the actors' strike is "extremely generous"but it's not going to work. In a Zoom meeting earlier this week between union leaders and actors including Clooney, Scarlett Johansson, and Tyler Perry, the actors proposed lifting a cap on union dues for the highest earners, giving the union more money to fund health benefits and other issues the union and studios have been unable to agree on Deadline reports. In a video posted on Instagram Thursday evening, Drescher said that's just not how things work. "We are a federally regulated labor union and the only contributions that can go into our pension and health funds must be from the employer," Drescher said, per the Hollywood Reporter. "So what we are fighting for in terms of benefits has to remain in this contract." She added that it's "kind of apples and oranges, just so everybody understands that." Actors currently don't pay union dues on earnings over $1 million. In the Tuesday meeting, they said lifting the cap would raise $150 million over three years. They also proposed changing how residual payments are distributed to ensure that lower-paid actors get paid first. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers broke off talks last week. "Although we appreciate the effort and the desire to be supportive to all the member body, we at the union and with the negotiating committee are still waiting for the CEOs to return to the table so we can continue our talks," Drescher said. The strike will reach the 100-day mark on Saturday. The biggest problem with the A-listers' proposals is that actors are "on strike to increase actors' income, not to increase the funding of the union," writes Gene Maddaus at Variety. story continues below While the proposals "appear to be motivated by a sincere desire to bring an end to the strike," Maddaus writes, the union sees it as weakening unity. "It also suggests that high-earning actors should somehow step in to pay for things that the studios have refused to pay forthereby lessening the pressure on the studios to pony up." He says a "person close to the talks" suggested that the best way for the A-listers to help would be to join a picket line. (Read more actors strike stories.) A district court judge has been fatally shot outside his Maryland home, and authorities are now searching for a suspect in their homicide investigation. The New York Times reports that Washington County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson, 52, was found in the driveway of his Hagerstown residence around 8pm on Thursday with apparent gunshot wounds, according to a statement from the Washington County Sheriff's Office. He was taken to the nearby Meritus Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. On Friday morning, the sheriff's office released a photo of 49-year-old Pedro Argote, a man it says it's seeking in connection to the homicide investigation. Authorities say Argote may be driving a silver 2009 Mercedes GL 450 with the license plate number 4EH0408, warning those who may encounter him to "not approach him but to immediately notify law enforcement." Argote is described as being around 5 feet 7 inches tall and 130 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Sheriff Brian Albert confirms Argote is a suspect, and that Wilkinson had presided over Argote's 2022 divorce case, per the AP. Wilkinson awarded custody of Argote's children to his ex-wife at a hearing on Thursday for which Argote was not present. Albert says that's motive for the killing. Albert adds that Wilkinson was "targeted" by Argote, and that Wilkinson's wife and son were home at the time of the shooting. Argote is considered "armed and dangerous," per the sheriff. A spokesperson for the Maryland State Police said state troopers were sent out last night to watch over other judges in the county as a precaution after the shooting of Wilkinson, who was sworn onto the circuit court bench in 2020. "We are a courthouse of six judges," Brett R. Wilson, an administrative judge, tells the Times in mourning his colleague. "We all know each other very well." (Read more judges stories.) Zelenskyy on his conversation with UN Secretary General: Civilians must be able to flee hostilities President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a phone conversation with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, discussed, inter alia, the situation in the Middle East. "Of course, we also discussed the situation in Israel, Palestine, and the Middle East in general. The whole world must be consolidated so that peace reigns in every region of the world everywhere on earth," he said in a video address on Thursday. "No matter what happens, all parties must ensure that ordinary civilians receive the necessary assistance and are able to flee hostilities. Any form of terror and warmongering is unacceptable," Zelenskyy said. A Pentagon report on China's military power says Beijing is exceeding previous projections of how quickly it is building up its nuclear weapons arsenal and is "almost certainly" learning lessons from Russia's war in Ukraine about what a conflict over Taiwan might look like, per the AP . The report released Thursday also warns that China may be pursuing a new intercontinental missile system using conventional arms that, if fielded, would allow Beijing "to threaten conventional strikes against targets in the continental United States, Hawaii and Alaska." The China report comes a month before an expected meeting between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden on the sidelines of next month's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco. The annual report, required by Congress, is one way the Pentagon measures the growing military capabilities of China, which the US government sees as its key threat in the region and America's primary long-term security challenge. Last year's report warned that Beijing was rapidly modernizing its nuclear force and was on track to nearly quadruple the number of warheads it has to 1,500 by 2035. The 2023 report finds that Beijing is on pace to field more than 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030, continuing a rapid modernization aimed at meeting Xi's goal of having a "world class" military by 2049. After the previous report, China accused the US of ratcheting up tensions and Beijing said it was still committed to a "no first use" policy on nuclear weapons. The Pentagon has seen no indication that China is moving away from that policy but assesses there may be some circumstances where China might judge that it does not apply, a senior US defense said without providing details. Beijing has vowed to bring Taiwan under its control, by force if necessary. Xi has given his military until 2027 to develop the military capability to retake the self-ruled island democracy that the Communist Party claims as its own territory. The US has committed billions of dollars in military weapons to Taiwan to build up its defenses. But China also has devoted billions to its military. And the report notes it's working toward industrial and economic self-reliance after seeing the impact of Western sanctions against Moscow during Russia's assault on Ukraine. (Read more China stories.) All Americans overseas should "exercise increased caution," the State Department said in a rare worldwide alert issued Friday. The notice cited "increased tensions in various locations around the world" and "the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against US citizens and interests." In Lebanon, the US Embassy urged Americans to get out "as soon as possible while commercial options are still available, Semafor reports. Those choosing to stay were advised to "prepare contingency plans for emergency situations." With border clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants intensifying, Lebanon has joined Gaza on the State Department's "do not travel" list. Americans have been urged to "reconsider" travel to Israel and the West Bank due to "terrorism and civil unrest." This is the first time a worldwide alert has been issued since August last year, when the State Department warned of possible "anti-American violence" after the killing of al-Qaeda No. 2 Ayman al-Zawahri, the Washington Post reports. The warning urges Americans to "stay alert in locations frequented by tourists," sign up for the Smart Travel Enrollment Program, and follow the department on social media. A State Department official tells the Post that more than 7,000 US citizens have fled Israel and the West Bank since the devastating Hamas attack almost two weeks ago. Retired State Department senior official Todd Brown tells CNN that the potential for threats connected to the Israel-Hamas war is as bad as anything he saw in more than 30 years of working in diplomatic securityand isn't confined to the Middle East. "I do think that people should give some thought to their trips and not blindly think, 'Oh, everything's okay,' or 'I'm going into a European capital,'" he says. (Read more State Department stories.) GM improved its proposals to striking UAW members on Friday, but the union's president told his members that the Detroit automakers can do better. "We're striking the Big Three like we've never struck before," Shawn Fain said. "These extremely profitable companies have more to give." Hours earlier, GM had made its seventh proposal of the strike , the Detroit Free Press reports. "The offer on the table is the most significant that GM has ever proposed to the UAW," a company statement said, "and recognizes our team members for all their dedication and contributions." Now, GM said, it's time for everyone to get back to work. Fain said the UAW also received a new contract proposal from Stellantis, Chrysler's parent, in the previous 24 hours, per Reuters. Ford's last one was made two weeks ago. "This week, GM and Stellantis got the message and caught up to Ford," Fain said in his update to members, per the Detroit News. He was critical of Ford, though, especially Executive Chairman Bill Ford's call Monday for an end to the strike, which was followed by the announcement of a dividend for shareholders. "What Ford is showing us is that the money is there," Fain said. "They just don't want us to have it." The GM proposal has a 23% general wage increase, matching Ford's, and a 25% compounded wage increase over the life of contract. The cost-of-living formula would improve, and hourly workers would have a faster route to the top wage, per the Free Press. Temporary employees also would receive a raise. "The majority of our workforce will make $40.39 per hour, or roughly $84,000 a year by the end of this agreement's term," GM said. The company's movement "suggests we may be in the endgame" of the work stoppage, a labor professor told Reuters. (Read more UAW strike stories.) 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. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani emphasised the urgent need for immediate action to halt the escalating situation in the Gaza Strip, calling upon the international community to fulfill its humanitarian and legal responsibilities by swiftly intervening to end the war. Dr Al Zayani was speaking as he participated on Wednesday in an extraordinary meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah. Chaired by Saudi Arabias Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, the meeting was attended by foreign ministers of Islamic countries, including Dr. Riyad Al-Maliki from Palestine and Mr. Hussein Ibrahim Taha, Secretary-General of the OIC. In his speech, Dr Al Zayani expressed the Kingdom of Bahrains condolences and sympathy to President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian people following the Israeli bombing incident at Al-Ahly Baptist Hospital in Gaza. He called for restraint, calm, and an end to the destructive war to preserve lives, property, and regional security. The Minister also commended His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifas efforts to halt the military escalation and prioritise civilian protection and humanitarian aid. NOB | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com An Indian doctor working at a Bahrain hospital was fired from his job and later arrested for posting inflammatory comments on social media targeting Palestinians, it has been learned. The 50-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, posted a series of tweets expressing support for Israel during its conflict with Hamas. His tweets were flagged by a user on X (formerly Twitter), prompting Bahraini authorities to take notice. Calling his tweets 'offensive to our society', the Royal Bahrain Hospital terminated his employment. "It has come to our attention that (doctor's name) who is working as a Specialist in Internal Medicine has posted tweets on social media that are offensive to our society," the hospital's statement read. "We would like to confirm that his tweets and ideology are personal and do not reflect the opinion and values of the hospital. This is a violation of our code of conduct, and we have taken the necessary legal actions and his service has been terminated with immediate effect." The doctor issued an apology on social media, acknowledging the insensitivity of his statements. "I would like to apologized about the statement that I posted on this platform. It was insensitive in the context of the current event. As a doctor all lives matter. I respect this country its people and its religion deeply as I have been here for past 10 years," he said. Meanwhile, Bahrain's Anti-Cyber Crimes Directorate of the General Directorate of Anti-Corruption and Economic and Electronic Security announced the summons of an Asian, 50, for posting tweets on X platform containing insults of a religious nature, in violation of civil peace and social stability, that could affect societys security and safety. He was arrested, and legal proceedings are being taken to refer the case to the Public Prosecution, the Bahrain Interior Ministry tweeted. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked U.S. President Joseph Biden for his speech in support of Ukraine and noted the importance of bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States. "I thank Joe Biden for his powerful address. Together, we will not allow hatred destroy freedom, and we will not let terrorists destroy democracy. Ukraine is grateful for all the U.S. support and its unfaltering belief that humanism, freedom, independence, and rules-based international order must always triumph. Our common goal is to protect the free way of life for all of our nations," Zelenskyy said on the X social network on Friday morning. He also noted that "the unwavering bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States is incredibly encouraging for all of our warriors and for our entire nation." "America's investment in Ukraine's defense will ensure long-term security for all of Europe and the world," the head of the Ukrainian state said. "The world, particularly nations confronting aggression and terrorism, looks to America to lead in preserving our common freedom," Zelenskyy said. As reported, Biden, in an address to the nation, said the U.S. Congress must do everything possible to continue arms supplies to Ukraine without pause. He said the United States is sending weapons to Ukraine from stockpiles, and the money that Congress allocates is needed to repurchase weapons for warehouses, and this provides work for U.S. weapons-producing companies throughout the country. "Just as in World War Two, today, patriotic American workers are building the arsenal of democracy and serving the cause of freedom," the U.S. President said. He said he plans to ask Congress for financial assistance to Ukraine and Israel and noted that this is necessary to support "our critical partners, including Israel and Ukraine." "It's a smart investment that's going to pay dividends for generations," the U.S. President said. In a phone conversation with Zelenskyy on the eve of his speech, Biden assured that both Democrats and Republicans are ready to continue transferring military aid to Kyiv. If you were to sit in a room with Tomas Gorny, youd never guess that he, an unassuming Polish emigre, sits atop a multibillion-dollar tech company. Nor would you likely guess that the company exists solely because Gorny believes so strongly in the transformative power of communications and customer experience. Nevertheless, thats an accurate description of the man. But even more interesting is how he arrived at his present position in the first place. Gornys is a story of overcoming the odds and finding ways to succeed in situations others would deem hopeless. Heres Tomas Gornys story and how his current company, Nextiva, is changing business communications for the better. Betting on Himself Tomas Gornys entrepreneurial journey began in the unlikeliest of placescommunist Poland. He grew up in an era of economic stagnation, not long before the dissolution of the Soviet Union would bring chaos to Eastern Europe. Before that could happen, though, Gorny moved to Germany, where he would pursue a degree at a business school. But even then, he wasnt content to bide his time and wait for an opportunity to knock. At the age of 20, he found himself living in a tiny Los Angeles apartment and working odd jobs to get by. Between stints as a carpet cleaner and a valet parking attendant, Gorny lived a threadbare existence, subsisting on only three dollars per day. Fortunately, the deprivation didnt last long. From the Ground Floor to the Top and Back Before long, Gorny turned his hard-won computer knowledge into a new opportunity. He took a jobwhich came without a salaryworking for a web hosting startup called Internet Communications. In lieu of payment, Gorny accepted a 20% stake in the fledgling company. That stake would soon pay off handsomely. When Internet Communications sold to a rival, Gorny became a newly minted millionaire overnight. But then, fate intervened again. Eager to grow his newfound wealth, Gorny invested the bulk of his earnings into some of the high-flying tech stocks of the day. But when the dot-com bubble burst in 2001, Gorny lost almost everything he had. Then, with his bank account dwindling, he did the only thing an entrepreneur could do in that situationstart another business. By using his still-substantial credit card limits, Gorny funded and launched IPOWER, another business-focused web hosting venture. It grew fast and then merged with a smaller provider Endurance International Group. Then, when the latter sold to an investment group led by Goldman Sachs and Warburg Pincus for a staggering $975 million in 2011, Gorny was back on top once again. A New Mission Emerges With his financial security assured, Gorny then set about analyzing what it was that drove him to take on the challenges that he had. And the answer was found right in the name of the first company hed taken a chance on years earlier: communication. He realized that the central functionality that made the Internet so revolutionary was its ability to help people communicate. And after seeing so many businesses use communications to their advantage, he decided to explore ways to iterate on that core idea. Thats where Gornys next venture, Nextiva, sprang from. Its a cloud business communications platform that enables businesses to provide a unified customer experience. To do it, Nextiva leverages the latest in AI technology and a best-in-class communications app that combines internal communications tools with multiple customer communication solutions. In short, it breaks down the communication walls that separate business teams from the customers they serve. Its an approach that seems as obvious as it is revolutionary. On the logic behind the approach, Gorny remarked, Whether theyre calling in, texting, or posting on social media, customers are really just having one continuous conversation with your brand. Were aligning the technology to meet customers wherever they are. In other words, omnichannel communications are both what customers crave as well as what businesses need to serve them. And it seems, so far, that Gornys intuition is right on the money. At the time of this writing, Nextiva has a valuation of $2.7 billion, holds over 50 technology patents, and remains the largest privately held communications firm in the entire US. A Future With No Limits Given his humble origins, youd think that a man like Tomas Gorny would be more than satisfied with all hes accomplished over the years. But youd be wrong. Even now, he remains laser-focused on helping Nextiva evolve to meet the needs of todays businesses and their customers. He espouses a firm belief in building a vision and working continuously to make it a reality. And a big part of his philosophy revolves around staying curious, asking the right questions, and remaining open to change. Perhaps thats why hes been able to get back up after suffering setbacks that may have crushed a less driven person. Or maybe he just understands something that others dontthat believing in the power of communication as an essential component of business and personal success is a great way to always be in the right place at the right time. The terrorist organization Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin are united by the desire to destroy the neighboring democratic regime, U.S. President Joe Biden said. "Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common: They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy completely annihilate it," Biden said in a special address to the American people. Biden also called on all American politicians to unite at this "inflection point" in history. "We can't let petty, partisan, angry politics get in the way of our responsibilities as a great nation. We cannot and will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win. I refuse to let that happen," the president said. The Coroners inquest into the death of Adebola Akin-Bright, the 12-year-old boy whose small intestine reportedly went missing, started on Friday at an Ebute-Meta Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Lagos. Akin-Bright died on Sept. 9 following a corrective surgery done at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH. The Coroner Inquest is presided over by Mrs Bola Folarin-Williams, the District Coroner. At the inaugural hearing, Mr O.A. Akinde, Lagos State counsel, informed the court that necessary tests and examinations had been conducted on the corpse and there is a post-mortem report. He said that the office of the Attorney-General is aware of letters from solicitors to the father of the deceased seeking to preserve the corpse. The state counsel noted that the mother of the boy also seeks the release of the corpse to her for burial and the state is not against any of the requests, as the court may decide. Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, counsel to the complainant, informed the court that he would love to call the Medical Director of Hobitox Medical Centre, where the deceased was first admitted and treated. He said the doctors who treated the deceased in LASUTH and all policemen involved in the investigation would be summoned for proper understanding of what actually happened. The Coroner, Mrs Bola Folarin-Williams, informed the court that the autopsy report was ready and would soon be presented as requested by the court. The coroner also stated that the father and mother of the deceased should file their respective applications on what to do with the corpse so that the court can rule on it. Adegboruwa, however, stated that since the deceased died in LASUTH, it might be better to have an independent examination of the corpse by experts. He said experts like the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, could take up the responsibility to avoid the likelihood of bias and conflict of interests. The counsel to the complainant told the court that he became aware on Friday morning, before the court, that Mr Femi Falana, SAN, is the lead counsel to the mother of the deceased. He submitted that he would prefer to liaise with Falana so that both father and mother can harmonise their viewpoints while they allow the coroner to preserve the corpse. Akinde informed the court that the state is ready to cooperate with and assist the parties by making available all witnesses, documents, doctors and medical personnel that attended to the deceased at LASUTH. After listening to all the parties, the coroner stated that the inaugural sitting is for preliminary proceedings to set the course for the inquest. She asked the parties to meet and harmonise their views and submit the list of the names of witnesses to be called before the next date. She also directed that the autopsy report and all necessary documents be made available to counsel to the parties. The case was adjourned to Nov. 24, for further proceedings. Amnesty International said a total of fifteen protesters arrested during the #EndSARS protest of 2020 are still being arbitrarily detained three years later. The international organisation on Friday said in a statement on its website that the majority of the protesters are in Kirikiri Medium Correctional Centre and Ikoyi Medium Security Correctional Centre in Lagos without trial. The organisation also accused the authorities of filing trumped-up charges including theft, arson, possession of unlawful firearms, and murder against many of the protesters Our investigation shows the Nigerian authorities utter disdain for human rights. Three years in detention without trial is a travesty of justice. This shows the authorities contempt for due process of law. The protesters must be immediately and unconditionally released, said Isa Sanusi Director of Amnesty International Nigeria. It listed seven #EndSARS protesters, Daniel Joy-Igbo, Sodiq Adigun, Sunday Okoro, Olumide Fatai, Oluwole Isa, Shehu Anas, and Akiniran Oyetakin to have been arbitrarily held in Kirikiri Medium Correctional Centre. While another eight protesters, Segun Adeniyi, Onuorah Odih, Jeremiah Lucky, Gideon Ikwujomah, Irinyemi Olorunwanbe, Quadri Azeez, Olamide Lekan and Sadiq Riliwan, according to the organisation, are currently detained without trial in Ikoyi Medium Security Correctional Centre in Lagos since 2020. One of those detained, Daniel Joy-Igbo, a Beninois, arrested in Lagos in October 2020, told Amnesty International that he had been detained at the Bar Beach Police Station, the State Criminal Investigation Department in Panti, and at a SARS facility in Ikeja. Since my arraignment in December 2020, I have been locked up in the prison without trial. Since then, there has been no adjourned date for my case. I have not been taken to court since December 2020, he said Sodiq Adigun, also arrested in October 2020, who was previously detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Panti said, Let the government release me. I have been detained since 2020 without trial. I am innocent. My life has been shattered. I need my liberty, he said. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has informed Abuja residents to prepare for tough decisions. Wike, however, urged residents to be patient with the government, as those tough decisions would be for the overall good of the nations capital. He spoke while receiving former FCT Senator, Philip Aduda of the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the senatorial seat in the last election, Zakari Dobi. According to Wike: I urge residents to be patient; we are going to take tough decisions. Residents should not see it as punitive but for the good of the FCT. The minister also disclosed that President Bola Tinubu has directed the construction of a minimum of 5km road in each area council. Upon assumption of office, Wike had ordered the demolition of several illegal structures across the FCT. The minister also threatened to revoke undeveloped properties within the stipulated time frame. Labour Party lawmakers in the National Assembly have ignored the advice of the partys National Chairman, Julius Abure, not to be a part of the luxury official vehicles being planned for legislators. Abure had, in a statement on Monday, said the National Assembly leadership was planning to buy a Sport Utility Vehicle worth N160m for each lawmaker. Abure, who described the alleged plan as insensitive and condemnable given the dire economic situation in the country, urged lawmakers elected on the platform of the Labour Party not to be a part of the profligate spending. But when asked on Thursday whether LP lawmakers would do as Abure said, the lawmaker representing Delta Aniocha North and South, Ngozi Okolie, said Abures demands were unrealistic particularly because he had yet to provide them with alternatives to carry out their jobs. The LP lawmaker said, The SUVs are meant to aid our jobs as lawmakers, particularly as it relates to our oversight functions. Yes, he can say that the economy is struggling but having one official vehicle as federal lawmakers isnt frivolous; its a necessity. Okolie noted that Nigerians were quick to attack lawmakers over things like this whereas politicians at the state level get more benefits than federal lawmakers. He said, Commissioners and House of Assembly members get up to two to three of such cars whereas National Assembly members are only getting one car each, yet he (Abure) is complaining and telling us not to collect it. Does he have any to give to us? Is he going to give us work tools to carry out our jobs or does he have an alternative for us? Has Abure told the members in his state in Edo, not to take the official vehicles given to them? The lawmaker further argued that it was cheaper to buy those vehicles than hire one every time they needed to go on an oversight. Similarly, the lawmaker representing Igbo Etiti and Uzo-Uwani constituencies in Enugu State, Stainless Nwodo, said President Bola Tinubu deserved commendation for approving such vehicles for lawmakers. Nwodo said, National Assembly members should pray for the President and give him three Gbosas for his magnanimity to the lawmakers. Nobody in the National Assembly is against the SUV, when the SUV comes, we will collect it and use it to bring more benefits to our constituencies; because in the real sense, it is for the constituents. The lawmaker added, I dont want to believe the chairman of the party said so, because did he give us any vehicle to do our jobs? Attributing his reason to economic hardship is pure blackmail. In the first instance, the vehicle is for each constituency, not the personal vehicle for the members. Also, we need these SUVs to ply the bad roads in our constituencies when we need to visit them and deliver goodies to them. This is why the Speaker and the Senate President decided that SUVs are better to visit our constituencies. My own stance is that I will take the SUV and use it to deliver dividends to my constituents. On his part, the lawmaker representing Edo South Senatorial District, Neda Imasuen, said he would wait for the vehicles to arrive before making a decision. Senator Imasuen said, Id urge you to wait until that happens, then we will revisit the issue. I wouldnt want to count my chickens before they hatch. Labour Party has eight senators out of 109 and about 35 in the House of Representatives out of 360. So, I dont know if it would make any difference if the lawmakers in the party take it or not. I dont think telling them to take or reject would make any difference, I dont think it would affect anything. Having said that, we havent been given any vehicle yet, but they said they would give. The Defence Headquarters says troops of the armed forces have in one week rescued 53 kidnapped hostages, neutralised 37 and apprehended 124 terrorists across the country. The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, made this known in a statement on Friday in Abuja. Buba said those apprehended comprised 95 suspected terrorists and their collaborators, and 19 for oil theft in the Niger Delta region. He said the troops also recovered 100 assorted weapons and 1,207 assorted ammunition. These, he said, included 45 AK-47 rifles, 11 locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, six pump action guns, 12 dane guns and two AK-47 rifles loaded with 34 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo. Others, according to him, included two locally made guns, two locally fabricated pistols, two locally made revolvers, 925 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 28 rounds of 9mm ammo, 157 live cartridges. and 23 magazines. Buba added that 27 vehicles, 25 motorcycles and 38 mobile phones amongst others, were also recovered from the criminals. He explained that in the North East, troops of Operation Hadin Kai neutralised 20 terrorists, arrested 57 and rescued 16 kidnapped hostages in different operations across the theatre. He added that the troops also recovered 13 AK-47 rifles, five dane guns, four magazines, two fabricated guns, 203 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, eight motorcycles, four mobile phones, two bicycles, medical supplies, and assorted food items among others. According to him, one Boko Haram terrorist, identified as Bulama Bukar, on Oct. 17, surrendered to troops in Gubio Local Government Area of Borno. In the North Central, Buba said the troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) neutralised three terrorists, arrested 53 and rescued 16 kidnapped hostages in different operations during the period. He said the troops also recovered three AK47 rifles, two AK47 rifle magazines loaded with 34 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, two fabricated AK47 rifles, 34 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 28 rounds of 9mm ammo and 37 live cartridges. Also recovered are 12 empty cartridges, four magazines, two motorcycles, two mobile phones, one Boafeng radio and charger, and the sum of N451,360, the defence spokesman said. He also said that troops of Operation Whirl Stroke neutralised two terrorists, arrested six and rescued 13 kidnapped hostages. Buba further said that the troops recovered one dane gun, three mobile phones, eight bags of substances suspected to be cannabis and the sum of N114,500. In the North West, the defence spokesman said troops of Operation Hadarin Daji neutralised 17 terrorists, arrested 10 and rescued 19 kidnapped hostages in raid operations carried out in Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara States. He added that the troops recovered four AK-47 rifles, several burnt AK-47 rifles, seven burnt magazines, 158 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo and 17 motorcycles. According to him, troops of Operation Whirl Punch eliminated 10 terrorists and arrested 31 others, while 10 kidnapped hostages were rescued. He disclosed that a terrorist collaborator in Chikun Local Goovernment Area of Kaduna State was also arrested by the troops. Buba said nine locally made guns, 17 dane guns, three locally made pistols, seven magazines, 211 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, four cartridges, two motorcycles, one HH radio, five mobile phones, one amulet jacket, 20 arrows and N50,000 were recovered. In the South-South, he said the troops of Operation Safe Haven, apprehended 19 perpetrators of oil theft and denied oil thieves of N3.3 billion during the period. Buba said the troops also discovered and destroyed 56 illegal refining sites, 42 dugout pits, 82 boats, 143 storage tanks, 234 cooking ovens, 61 hoses, 17 drums, one pumping machine, two outboard engines and one vessel. He added that the troops also recovered 6.01 million litres of stolen crude, 425,715 litres of illegally refined AGO, 38,100 litres of DPK and 4,500 litres of PMS within the period. In the South East, Buba said the troops of Operation UDO KA neutralised four terrorists, arrested 21 criminals and rescued one kidnapped hostage in raids on IPOB/ESN hideouts. He said the troops recovered six pump action guns, 48 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 113 live cartridges, two motorcycles, one HH radio, four mobile phones, 10 generator sets, four refrigerators and 33,000 litres of illegal refined AGO among others. All recovered items, arrested suspects and rescued hostages were handed over to the relevant authority for further action. The military is in a good fight and is winning in this war. Our operations have killed or captured several terrorist and insurgent leaders as well as their facilitators and key associates. Accordingly, the insurgents and terrorist are in perpetual mourning as they constantly bury their dead and would continue to do so. Our communities across the country have risen to the occasion in exposing these elements and it is making a tremendous impact on operations as they no longer have a hiding place, he said. Falz and Mr Macaroni say they will be staging a peace walk on Friday in commemoration of the third anniversary of the EndSARS protest. The protest, which erupted in October 2020, was sparked by outrage over police brutality and extrajudicial killings in Nigeria. The demonstrations led to the disbandment of the special anti-robbery squad (SARS), a police unit that was accused of human rights abuses. Falz and Mr Macaroni have both been outspoken supporters of the #EndSARS movement. On Thursday, the activists shared a flyer containing the schedule of the walk via their individual social media accounts. According to the flyer, the walk will start by 10 am and buses will be available to pick up people at Oriental, Lagos. In his post, Falz wrote, Tomorrow, we remember our fallen heroes. 3 years ago, they were unjustly killed. We will never ever forget . In the same vein, Mr. Macaroni, via Instagram, said the peaceful walk is not only for those affected on October 20, 2020 but for all victims of police brutality in Nigeria. 3 Years now!!! We will never Forget!!! #EndSars!!!!We will be walking peacefully to honour all those who lost their lives on 20/10/2020!!! the comedian wrote. We also walk for all those who have lost their lives as a result of police brutality in Nigeria!!! We walk in peace!!! We will never forget! The fourth evacuation plane with 79 citizens of Ukraine took off from Tel Aviv on Thursday, October 19, in the evening, the Ukrainian Embassy in the State of Israel has said. "On October 19 at 22:30 local time, the fourth evacuation plane with 79 Ukrainian citizens departed from Ben Gurion Airport (Tel Aviv) on a charter flight to Bucharest (Romania). The embassy provided consular assistance to Ukrainians during registration and passing passport and customs procedures," the embassy said in a Facebook post. The European Union (EU) says it will disburse 150 billion by 2027 through its global gateway initiative to enhance infrastructure in over eight sectors in Nigeria and other African countries. Jutta Urpilainen, EU commissioner for international partnerships, spoke at the launch of the initiative in Abuja on Thursday. Urpilainen said the global gateway initiative is crafted to enhance connectivity, promote sustainable development, and strengthen economic ties between the EU and its partner countries, including Nigeria. She said through the initiative, the EU would support Nigeria to achieve enhanced infrastructure connectivity, including transport, energy, and digital networks; support agriculture, economic growth, health, and education. It will also promote sustainable development and environmental protection; and foster cooperation and partnerships with Nigeria and other partner countries, she said. We are living in an increasingly fragmented world. The war that Russia started against Ukraine last year, the military takeover in Niger in July, and the escalation in the Israel-Palestine conflict, are just stark reminders of that. In such a world, the Global Gateway strategy is our positive offer to build resilient connections in the world through strategic partnerships to jointly address the challenges of our times from fighting climate change to improving health systems. Together, we intend to mobilise 300 billion in investments by the year 2027, and half of them for Africa; it is 150 billion by the year 2027; Nigeria features prominently in the Global Gateway investment package. MORE SUPPORT FOR 5G ROLLOUT, DIGITAL ECONOMY Urpilainen also said the EU would support the 5G rollout in Nigeria, as part of its efforts to support the digital economy, noting that the region is working on a potential loan to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the digital and print sectors. She added that the EU has committed financial resources to support the energy sector, including the setting up of mini-grids and small hydropower plants for productive and public purposes. In 2022, we launched a digital economic package for Nigeria. With EU and European investment banks, investments worth 820 million, it is a lot of money, Urpilainen said. We are already supporting the rollout of digital IDs nationwide, and mobile network expansion with MTN in Lagos and other states. We are also about to launch the construction of a line between Katsina and Daura twin lines, and we are proposing to reinforce the Nigeria-Benin interconnection of the framework of the West African power pole. The EUs long-term commitment will see investments into the following sectors of the country: agriculture (42,000,000), energy (37,000,000), health (45,000,000), digital (55,000,000), education (45,000,000), and social protection (46,000,000). On his part, Bosun Tijani, minister of communication, innovation and digital economy, said the global gateway initiative, which intends to achieve a collective regional and global prosperity, was in full alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubus Renewed Hope agenda. Tijani said working with the EU allows Nigeria to leverage its structure and historical resources to do more for the world, specifically for Africa. For us in the ministry, our role takes on further significance as we have a portfolio that will be central to all we want to achieve under the Global Gateway programme, the minister said. He added that the investment of the Nigerian government was to provide opportunities for young people to participate in the global economy. Unspecified number of residents of Otukpo, Benue State, have been reportedly killed by gunmen suspected to be armed robbers. It was gathered that the gunmen invaded several banks in Otukpo at about 3 pm on Friday, shooting sporadically. An eyewitness, Sunday Abah, who spoke with newsmen, said the gunmen have been operating for several hours without security intervention. Armed robbers have taken over everywhere in Otukpo. They are just shooting whoever they see. Currently, they are robbing Zenith bank and they been here for more than three hours, he said. The Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Catherine Anene Sewuese could not be reached as of the time of filing this report. The Supreme Court has fixed Monday, October 23, 2023, for hearing of an appeal filed by Atiku Abubakar, challenging the judgement of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal, which upheld the victory of the All Progressives Congress, APCs Bola Tinubu. Recall that Atiku had pleaded with the Supreme Court to jettison technicality and grant his application for leave to tender fresh and additional evidence to support his claim that Tinubu submitted a forged document to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to contest the February 25 presidential election. Atiku predicated his plea on the grounds that presenting forged documents by any candidate, especially by a candidate for the highest office in the land, is a very grave constitutional issue that must not be encouraged. The former vice president stated this in his reply on point of law to Tinubus objection to the grant of leave to Atiku to present the fresh evidence before the apex court. And in a memo on Thursday, the apex court fixed Monday, October 23, for hearing of the appeal. The supreme court has fixed October 31 to hear an application filed by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) seeking to remove Hope Uzodinma from office as Imo state governor. The hearing is coming three years after the party filed the application in July 2020. APGA is contending that there ought to have been a fresh election in the state after the apex court nullified the election of Emeka Ihedioha, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). BACKGROUND In December 2020, the supreme court upheld a judgment of the court of appeal which nullified the candidature of Uche Nwosu as the governorship flagbearer of Action Alliance. The court held that Nwosu was guilty of double nomination by having the ticket of both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and AA. Consequently, Nwosu withdrew his appeal challenging Ihediohas victory at the poll. However, on January 14, the apex court voided Ihediohas election and declared Hope Uzodinma, who came fourth in the election, as the duly elected governor of the state. APGAS APPLICATION APGA is contending that Uzodinmas candidacy ought to have been nullified since the APC had given tickets to the governor and Nwosu. The party said the supreme court did not rule on the validity of Uzodinmas candidacy since it was not challenged by Ihedioha and the PDP in the appeal marked SC/1462/2019. In the eyes of the law, the absence of a duly and validly nominated/sponsored candidate by a political party as a constitutional precedent has made it imperative for INEC to conduct a fresh election in Imo state, Stephen Nwoga, counsel to the applicant, stated. Consequently, there is no decision of this court that has determined or established that senator Hope Uzodinma is the duly nominated/sponsored governorship candidate of the APC in Imo State as stipulated by Section 11177(c) of the Constitution. APGA, whose candidate secured a total of 114,676 votes to come third in the 2019 governorship election, is praying the apex court to order a fresh election excluding the APC and Action Alliance (AA). Meanwhile, Uzodinma is seeking re-election as governor in the forthcoming poll slated for November 11. The US State Department has issued a worldwide travel advisory to Americans. They were warned to exercise increased caution to avoid becoming victims of possible terror attacks. Due to increased tensions in various locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests, the Department of State advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution, the agency warned in a statement on Thursday. The department also told Americans overseas to stay alert in locations frequented by tourists. The last time the department issued such a warning was in August 2022, following the counterterrorism strike in Afghanistan that killed al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. At that time, U.S. officials warned supporters of al- Qaida, or its affiliated terrorist organizations, may seek to attack U.S. facilities, personnel, or citizens. ABC News quoted sources familiar with the matter as saying separately, the State Department has been instructing its embassies and consulates around the world to conduct emergency security reviews amid ongoing protests sparked by the fighting. The department also authorised non-emergency US government personnel and family members to depart countries that have their travel advisories raised to the highest level. The countries include Russia, China, North Korea, Israel, and Lebanon. African countries with the highest levels of travel alerts include Niger, Libya, South Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Central African Republic. Nigeria was listed under the third tier of caution alert. The US highlighted Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Borno, Yobe, Kogi, and northern Adamawa as states to avoid due to terrorism and kidnapping Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers states (with the exception of Port Harcourt), on the other hand, were blacklisted due to crime, kidnapping, and armed gangs. The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, has vowed that the safety of the #EndSARS protesters is guaranteed from all forms of dangers. Owohunwa gave this assurance while addressing journalists at the 3rd Year Memorial of the #EndSARS protest at Lekki Toll gate on Friday. The CP stated, It has been stable. We had one nor two groups that came around here for procession and they have been working within our understanding of how it should be. As a citizen you reserve your right to exercise your freedom and franchise, we respect it, we protect it. We do it in such a way that, in the cause of doing that, the groups members will not also be exposed to any form of danger. That is what we owe them and that is what have have done. Owohunwa further said, But, then we also made it clear that for the overriding public interest, we will also not allow a situation where those groups conduct them in manner that will put the interest, security, the peace, around Lekki and environs and across the state into jeopardy. We also owe the state the responsibility to guarantee their safety. So were trying to strike a balance and thats it so far so good. A former deputy national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank has urged President Bola Tinubu, to allow the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States of America, to do their job. Recall that the FBI said it would start releasing approximately 2,500 documents relating to President Tinubu in its database in October. Frank spoke through a statement issued, Friday, against the backdrop of a suit by Tinubu in the USA seeking to stop the planned release of his records. He wondered why a public servant and President of the most populous black country in Sub-Saharan Africa would want to block the release of his records with US security agencies if he has nothing to hide. Frank said: Again by trying to block the FBI and CIA from releasing records concerning you, you have inadvertently confirmed irreparable damage that those records would do you. This move has confirmed that you have a serious record that you dont want Nigerians or the world to know. The right thing for you to do is to resign now before you are disgraced out of office by the imminent release of records of your past activities by the FBI and CIA. You cannot stop Nigerians from asking questions or the American security agencies from doing their job. You tried to stop the Chicago State University (CSU) from releasing your records but you failed and you will again fail in your attempt to block the FBI and CIA from releasing documents that would shine the light on your past and background. If you have decided to serve the people, then you should submit yourself to the people to ask you questions, to know your background, to know who you are, to know the school you went to. A 30-year-old New Jersey man who repeatedly slammed a door on his girlfriends cat, injuring the animal so badly it had to be euthanized, has been sentenced to four years in state prison. Michael Ciarla, of Pleasantville, was charged Nov. 15, 2021, after the cat was brought to an animal hospital in Absecon, the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office said Friday. The cat was euthanized after veterinarians learned all of its limbs were broken beyond repair or treatment, officials said. Ciarla pleaded guilty in August to cruelty to animals via torture resulting in death of the animal. He was also convicted of aggravated assault by pointing a firearm in a separate incident in which he pointed a gun at a man following an altercation outside a bar in Absecon in October 2021. The BB gun was a replica of a handgun, authorities said. Ciarla fled after the incident at the bar, but was later arrested, police said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. A South Jersey man admitted Wednesday that he fatally shot a 19-year-old in the parking lot of a Willingboro pizza shop last year, authorities said. The investigation revealed that Knowah Crowderparham, 22, of Beverly City and his alleged accomplice arranged to meet Adam Janson at the Kennedy Plaza on John F. Kennedy Way on Feb. 11, 2022, according to a statement from the Burlington County Prosecutors Office. The alleged accomplice, a 20-year-old Burlington City woman, died earlier this year. Janson got into their car when he arrived, but when Janson attempted to leave, Crowderparham shot him, the office said. After the shooting, the accomplice allegedly drove Crowderparham to his home and cleaned the car. When officers arrived at the scene just after 7:30 p.m. they found Janson dead in the parking lot, investigators said. Crowderparham was later identified as a suspect and he was arrested and charged. On Wednesday, he pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter and hindering apprehension in exchange for a 17-year state prison sentence, which was expected to be handed down on Dec. 8, the office said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form has undergone a complete overhaul this upcoming year. Heres what you need to know about how the form for student aid has changed. The main change to the FAFSA form for this upcoming year is that it will be available in December 2023 instead of October like in previous years. They are still promising that its gonna be out in December, but we dont know what day, Jack Wallace, Director of Governance and Lender Relations at Yrefy, told NJ Advance Media. Wallace said that the main reason federal officials changed the date to December stems from the Appropriations Act of 2021, which had an area designated to FAFSA simplification. Its only gonna have one-third of the questions it used to have, he said. Theyre going to be reducing it to a little over 100 questions to around 40 questions. Another big change to the FAFSA is that it will be expanded into several different languages. Historically, the FAFSA application has only been available in English and Spanish. And this new application...is going to be available in 11 languages, Wallace told NJ Advance Media. Male students under 26 years of age who fill out FAFSA forms will also no longer have to register for the Selective Service to receive financial aid for college, and a question asking students if they have done so will no longer be asked. Also, Wallace noted that people with drug-related convictions alone will no longer disqualify applicants, and the question about drug convictions will no longer be on the form. Wallace said that 17.8 million people filed the FAFSA application in 2022, which was down from pre-pandemic levels of 21 million people but still above pandemic levels. One of the reasons for this, Wallace said, is because many students in community college did not go back to school. The expected family contribution will also change. Those with more than one child in college will no longer have the benefit of more money for having more than one child in college at the same time. Despite the new changes to the FAFSA, Wallace is advising those who need to fill out the form to do as soon as possible. He added that although the deadline is not anytime soon, the aid money is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Once that form is out in December, whatever day it is, you need to fill it out ASAP, Wallace said. If you dont have one and if you do have one, you have to check to make sure your information is up to date. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at krodriguez@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips. The Ministry of Culture and Information Policy says that Google will support the departments initiatives to digitalize Ukrainian cultural heritage and combat disinformation. Ukrainian culture is not only museums and cultural objects, it is the people who create and maintain Ukrainian heritage. We propose that Google set an ambitious common goal - to support gifted artists who have great creative potential and dream of becoming authors of digital works of art. We would be grateful, if Google, in partnership with the ministry, introduce grants for training young Ukrainian artists in the field of Digital Art, the departments press service said following a meeting of acting minister Rostyslav Karandeyev with Google representatives. In addition, he proposed partnership and participation of Google in the process of digitizing museum artifacts and creating databases for storing these objects, and proposed the idea of a project to reproduce digital images of legendary Ukrainian figures on Google platforms. In turn, Google Vice President of Public Policy and Government Relations in Europe Annette Kroeber-Riel expressed her readiness to continue cooperation to combat disinformation on the YouTube platform and support the development of digitalization of culture in Ukraine, including contemporary art and training of artists. We have a specific proposal regarding digitization and working with databases - digitization of books. This idea can be put into practice. In addition, one of the possible methods of promoting Ukraine as a brand and Ukrainian culture is the use of the YouTube platform, and we are ready to jointly consider and implement this initiative on a practical level, she added. The Google representatives also expressed their readiness to invest efforts in cooperation with creators, including the use of artificial intelligence for collaboration. The Newark Museum of Art will unveil a permanent addition to its facade on Friday night, reflecting the nature and complexity of contemporary art, the evolution of the surrounding Harriet Tubman Square neighborhood, and the diversity of the states largest city. Apollo (Diptych) is a pair of sculptures by contemporary artist Sanford Biggers that flank the historic 1926 entrance to the museum on Washington Street. The 3-foot marble sculptures one black and one white are of the head and shoulders of the Greek sun god Apollo wearing a mask with African motifs. Each head is mounted on a double-stepped bronze pedestal, slightly turned away from the museums brass and glass double doors in a mirror image of one another. The museums director and CEO, Linda Harrison, said she was thrilled to incorporate the recently-acquired sculptures into the collection of the states largest art museum, in a setting highly visible to patrons and the public alike. The busts are mirror images of each other in black and white, flanking the museum's entrance on Washington Street. Steve Hockstein | For NJ Advance By placing them prominently at our entrance, we signal our commitment to community and ongoing efforts to make visible the layered and under-told stories of American art in all of its complexity, Harrison stated in an announcement of the 6 p.m. unveiling outside the museum. The museum entrance is opposite Harriet Tubman Square, the downtown Newark park highlighted by a monument to the famed abolitionist who escaped enslavement and pioneered the Underground Railroad. Last year, Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka renamed the former Washington Park to honor Tubman and better reflect the citys increasingly diverse population, which was 48% African-American and 90% of color in 2022, according to Census figures. For exhibits, events and other information on the independent, nonprofit museum founded in 1909, go to newarkmuseumart.org. The Newark Museum of Art's 1926 entrance, newly flanked by marble busts created by Sanford Biggers, looks north up Washington Street, toward the red brick Ballantine Mansion. Steve Hockstein | For NJ Advance The work is part of Biggers Chimera series of sculptures, in which the 54-year-old Harlem-based artist juxtaposes Greco-Roman and African themes. In a review of the Chimera series on HomourInTheArts.com, critic Emma Sullivan described the disruption to social convention at work in Biggers composites, which fuse two idioms normally kept well apart. The mashups create a complex and tonally ambiguous effect incongruous certainly, but not necessarily comic, Sullivan wrote. Biggers has spoken about his interest in artwork that has an unfamiliar tone, arguing that a great artwork can make you cringe, and this cue offers one way into the work. Biggers, a native of Los Angeles who is African-American, said he was deeply honored to debut Apollo (Diptych) as a permanent installation in front of the museum. In Greek mythology, Apollo was revered as the god of truth and prophecy, poetry, music, and the arts an embodiment of creativity and intellectual endeavors, Biggers stated in the announcement. I hope this symbolism, intertwined with the multifaceted themes of the Chimera series, sets the stage for Apollo (Diptych) to inspire thought and foster dialogue as it welcomes visitors to the museum. The Newark Museum of Art seen through the trees of Harriet Tubman Square. Steve Hockstein | For NJ Advance Nobody knows Jersey better than NJ.com Sign up to get breaking news alerts straight to your inbox. Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com A New Jersey man who bribed U.S. postal service employees to obtain a special key used to steal mail has been sentenced to two years in federal prison. Amin C. Jones, 29, of Orange, will also have to pay back $6,361 and be subject to three years of supervised release after finishing his prison stint, the U.S. Attorneys Office for New Jersey said. Four mail carriers and an undercover U.S. postal inspector posing as a carrier were stopped in June and July 2021 by Jones and an another person in Newark and East Orange, according to the criminal complaint. The men handed the workers a note indicating that they would give $5,000 to the mail carrier in exchange for an arrow key, the information states. The scheme, which went on from January to July in 2021, helped Jones and others fraudulently obtain money from banks by stealing checks and bank cards belonging to people expecting to receive them in the mail, investigators said. Jones pleaded guilty in December to bribery of U.S. Postal Service mail carriers and conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. NJ Advance Media staff writer Anthony Attrino contributed to this report. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. The Jersey City school district will celebrate its 150th anniversary with a special ceremony at its oldest high school Saturday, Oct. 28. The event is scheduled for 1-4 p.m. at Dickinson High School, 2 Palisade Ave., and will include a tour of the historic grounds from 1 to 2:30 p.m., where visitors can view the many artifacts, photographs and videos from all of the districts schools. The 150th anniversary ceremony will follow in the auditorium. Rep. Rob Menendez Jr., Assemblywoman Angela McKnight, several Jersey City councilmembers and Hudson County commissioners, as well as officials from the Museum of Jersey City, Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy, Speranza Theater and the Jersey City Free Public Library are expected to attend. The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission approved more than 100 licenses Thursday and cited municipal approvals, lack of site control and access to finances as the largest delay factors in expanding the legal cannabis marketplace. Before applicants receive full licensure by the commission, they have to gain the approval of a municipality, which usually involves them having to lobby their city council, a process that can be rife with local politics and maneuvering. The commission broke down the cited reasons for delays by type and percentage with municipal approval delays at 64%, site control at 59% and funding at 19%. Applicants throughout the industry have also noted they often deal with a mixture of these factors and not just one at a time. For example, site control and real estate are closely associated with municipal control since all sites must be approved by zoning and planning boards, something that is itself a part of the overall local approval process. Commission Chairwoman Dianna Houenou called on applicants to also voice concerns to their state legislators on how the market can be better. In addition, she noted delays were coming from municipalities that had put in place their own cannabis approval boards. We encourage our municipalities to keep things as simple as possible, Houenou said. A retail applicant from Elizabeth, Greelensky Charles, spoke to the board during the public comment portion about municipal barriers. By way of legislation and as an ode to home rule, the commission has limited authority in how municipalities set up their licensing process and fees. Charles acknowledged those limitations while simultaneously calling on the CRC to investigate bad actors on the applicant side that engaged in questionable behavior to get municipal approval. What is supposed to be an objective evaluation often feels highly subjective, leaving many social equity and diversely owned applicants feeling disillusioned, he said. It pains me to say as a minority entrepreneur, I sometimes feel like the state is catfishing us. The promise of a more inclusive industry seems elusive when faced with the harsh realities of local authorities practicing cronyism. Before that, Commissioner Krista Nash called for additional demographic data on the which license types were facing hurdles, including social equity applicants like Charles. Nash and Commissioner Charles Barker also gave updates on the commissions safe-use education efforts. We are coming from an unbiased nonjudgmental place here, Nash said. The campaign aims to target teens, parents, nursing and pregnant individuals, drivers, inexperienced cannabis users and experienced cannabis users. A lot of the content is going to be common everyday language and tone, Barker said. The public comment portion of the meeting included multiple executives from TerrAscend who decried the CRCs previous decision to fine them at a previous meeting over failure to provide patient access. The company argued their actions were borne of of human error and not ill intent. None of those honest human mistakes were completed for any financial benefits for TerrAscend and all of those patients ended up getting their medication, said its CEO, Ziad Ghanem. During Thursdays meeting TerrAscend received another patient access violation from the commission. Brown recommended no monetary fine since the violation had still taken place before corrective actions had been implemented by the company. Nash said that Browns staff investigator suggested otherwise. The investigators report his words strongly encouraged the commission to consider sanctions and Im wondering, taking that into account, why would you not? asked Nash to Brown. Since that initial round of activity, theyve largely been compliant, Brown replied. When an agency technical error prevented commissioners from viewing documents related to the matter the commissioners decided to table the matter for their December meeting. There is no scheduled meeting in November. In other cannabis related news: Gubernatorial candidate and Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop is pushing back against guidance that allows cops to smoke cannabis off-duty and indicated he wanted the ban extended to other professions. It comes amid criticism and another lawsuit about whether the methods police use to measure drug impairment are scientifically valid. Criminal defense critics have pointed out that the same method the police use to prosecute impaired driving is the same protocol they have reservations about using on their own personnel if they are accused of being impaired while on the job. The Commission is seeking public comment on its rules that expanded the types of edibles. The comment period runs from on Oct. 16 and until Dec. 15. We believe that cannabis edibles have the potential to provide an alternative and convenient method for adults to access cannabis, and the proposed regulations aim to establish clear guidelines for their responsible production, labeling, and sale, Brown said in a press release this week. At the meeting Brown announced more than 60 dispensaries were currently open in 18 counties. The approved licenses were a mixture of conditional, annual and expanded licenses. A large portion of the approved licenses were conditional, meaning applicants still had to gain municipal approval before they could be issued a full license. More than 1,500 licenses have been issued thus far, Brown said. Were still making great progress there, Brown said. Jelani Gibson is content lead for NJ Cannabis Insider. He may be reached at jgibson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @jelanigibson1 and on LinkedIn. Sgt. Christine Savages former police department agreed to pay nearly $250,000 to settle her lawsuit claiming she faced gender discrimination on the force and retaliation for speaking out. But when Savage went on the TV news after the 2020 settlement and called the Neptune Township Police Department a good ol boy club, the local government accused her of violating a non-disparagement clause in the deal. Now New Jerseys highest court is weighing whether such gag orders are even legal, after New Jersey banned certain non-disclosure agreements, or NDAs, in 2019 at the height of the #MeToo movement, which put a spotlight on workplace harassment. The case could have broad implications for government and corporate whistleblowers, legal experts say. Thats because the new law left things murky for the NDAs legal cousin, the non-disparagement clause. New Jersey was just the third state to ban NDAs in settlements and arbitration involving claims of discrimination or workplace harassment. Supporters of the measure said such agreements contributed to a culture of silence, masking the pervasiveness of the sexual harassment problem in the workplace. But is a non-disparagement clause the same as an NDA? Put another way, is there a difference between revealing facts and talking trash? The law is unclear. Non-disparagement agreements are common in legal settlements, said Christopher Eibeler, an employment lawyer based in Holmdel. A business deal falls apart, theres contention about who is at fault, but the parties agree not to let it tarnish each others reputation, for example. Its usually something that benefits both sides, he said. Lets move on. Lets not talk about it any more. Things can get complicated, however, when the underlying lawsuit involves allegations like sexual harassment, gender discrimination or whistleblower claims, where gag orders are deemed unenforceable. New Jerseys NDA law recognized the significant public interest in shining light on such claims, supporters said at the time. In the years since, however, the courts have encountered questions over the enforceability of non-disparagement clauses. Its hard to imagine a situation where a victim could speak freely about their experience without disparaging the perpetrator, Eibeler said. Savages settlement agreement did not contain a non-disclosure clause, but it did have a non-disparagement one. Savage, who retired in 2020, was one of two women who worked for the Neptune police who sued the department in 2013. They alleged a sexist culture among male commanding officers in a case that later settled. Savage sued again in 2016, raising similar claims of gender discrimination and alleging she faced retaliation over her first suit. She gave a series of interviews to NBC New Yorks I-Team, which examined the two officers allegations. One of those interviews landed her in front of the state Supreme Court. Neptune Township officials and Savage reached a settlement in July 2020 that included $175,000 for pain and suffering, $23,000 in retroactive pay and $50,000 in pension credits, court records show. A day after the check cleared, Savage appeared again on NBC. A reporter asked her if the department had cleaned up its act. It has not changed, she said. Not for a minute. Its not gonna change. Its the good ol boy system. Savage also said female cops were oppressed and police brass dont want women there. In turn, the township sought to enforce the settlement, arguing in legal papers Savage blatantly ignored the non-disparagement clause during a television interview. A lawyer for Neptune did not return a message seeking comment. A Superior Court judge sided with the town and ordered Savage to refrain from making further statements that disparage the defendants and pay Neptunes legal fees associated with their motion. Savage appealed, and a higher court found she hadnt violated the non-disparagement clause, but punted on the question of whether such clauses were legal under the new law. Attorneys for Savage have argued her comments didnt violate the agreement and, even if they did, New Jerseys NDA law should apply here, too. A non-disparagement clause is really just a confidentiality clause by another name, said Donald F. Burke Jr., one of Savages lawyers. Oral argument in the case before the Supreme Court, which was granted certification in September, has not yet been scheduled. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. An inflammatory billboard on Route 80 in Bergen County that read, Hamas would chop your head off too, has been taken down after police received dozens of complaints. This anti-Hamas billboard on Route 80 in Bogota borough resulted in more than 100 calls to police before it was taken down by organizers, Shlomo Schorr said on X. Schorr, who is associate director of the New Jersey office of Agudath Israel of America, did not immediately return a call on Friday seeking comment. The sign was reportedly erected by JewBelong, an organization dedicated to fighting antisemitism, according to NorthJersey.com. JewBelong did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In a statement, Bogota police said they were aware of the sign and there have been no criminal violations as a result. Our police department works closely with county, state and federal agencies to ensure the safety of our community, the statement said. There have been no threats to our community and we are investigating the matter to ensure all community members remain safe, police said. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him @TonyAttrino. The last of four members of a crew that stole $1.5 million in luxury cars in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut has pleaded guilty in federal court. Malik Smack Baker, 29, of the Vauxhall section of Union in Union County, stole 10 cars in the three states and hid them at a stash location on the 100 block of Ellis Avenue in Irvington, authorities said. The thieves then used the stolen cars to swipe other vehicles, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for New Jersey. In New Jersey, Baker took part in theft of at least three vehicles in 2019 a 2017 Maserati GranTurismo in Manalapan on Aug. 5, a 2014 Lexus GS in West Long Branch on Aug. 29 and 2017 BMW M4 in the Marlton section of Evesham on Sept. 7, officials said. They used the Maserati GranTurismo to take a Range Rover and a Porsche Cayenne in New City, New York. When police tried to stop the Maserati, the driver sped up to 120 mph and crashed head-on into the patrol car, court papers state. The men then fled the scene in another stolen vehicle, authorities said. Investigators were able to lift the fingerprints of another thief, Hakeem Smith, off the stolen Maserati and also found Bakers DNA in the vehicle. Authorities also found one of the stolen cars in a shipping container at a port in Newark before it could be sent to Ghana. Members of the crew also stole cars in Hillsborough and Clifton, prosecutors previously said. Other vehicles were stolen in New York state in New City, Hewlett Bay Park, Kensington, Orangeburg, and Quogue as well as in Greenwich, Connecticut, according to charging documents. Baker pleaded guilty to conspiring to transport stolen vehicles in interstate commerce and receiving a stolen vehicle that had crossed state lines after being stolen. Bakers partners Newark residents Smith, Nafique Goodwyn, and Bilal Cureton previously pleaded guilty. Smith was sentenced in April to three years, five months in federal prison. Sentencing is pending for Goodwyn and Cureton. Baker is scheduled to be sentenced March 7. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. As the tide continued to turn against Jim Jordans lost fight for the House speakership on Friday, among the former supporters who switched their votes for the third and final round was New Jersey Republican Tom Kean Jr. Kean whose 7th district went for President Joe Biden last year and is considered vulnerable when he campaigns for re-election next year had twice voted for Jordan, the Ohio conservative hardliner who is a staunch ally of Donald Trump. Kean voted without comment. A roundup of conversations we're having daily on the site. Subscribe to the Reckon Daily for stories centering marginalized communities and speaking to the under-covered issues of the moment. A Georgia deputy fatally shot Leonard Cure during a traffic stop near the Florida-Georgia line Monday. Two days later, the footage of the encounter which shows Cure complying, followed by an officer tasing him has been released. Cure had only spent a few years free from prison, after being exonerated in 2020 for an armed robbery he did not commit. The 53-year-old Black man had served 16 years of a life sentence. He was the first person exonerated by the Broward County State Attorneys Offices Conviction Review Unit in its history. Lenny was doing well and aspired to attend college for music production and start a career in the music business, a statement released by the Innocence Project of Florida, which represented Cure during the investigation that led to his release, said. Sadly, his life was tragically cut short today. The statement says Cure was on his way home after visiting his mother. Body and dash-cam footage released by the Sheriffs office shows cars zooming by the two-minute encounter. A Camden County Deputy pulled Cure over on Interstate 95 Monday morning and asked him to exit the vehicle. He ordered Cure to place his hands on the truck and explained Cure was under arrest for speeding and reckless driving. Cure complies and the deputy tases him. The two then engage in a struggle wherein the deputy strikes Cure with his baton. Both men fall to the ground but only the deputy gets back up. He yells at Cure to stay down and radios for help, stating, Deputy, shots fired. In a news conference Wednesday Cures mother, Mary Cure, said she knew Leonard had been killed before the officers who came to her door Monday even spoke. Shed not yet seen the footage. From the time he was released he was never set free. I lived in constant fear, she said, one hand gripping a photo of her son. Cures brother Michael stood with other family members and the familys attorney, Ben Crump, along with attorney Seth Miller, who is the Executive Director of Innocence Project of Florida. Wrongful conviction and incarceration have a lasting psychological impact on exonerees, who often struggle with PTSD, depression and anxiety, Crump pointed out. There is a trauma that comes with the miscarriage of justice of being wrongfully convicted and wrongfully incarcerated and that is a trauma that is carried with an exonerated person every day of their life. Miller said. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) announced in a statement about the shooting that it is conducting an independent investigation, their 80th investigation of an officer-involved shooting this year. The bureau will turn its findings over to Brunswick Judicial Circuit district attorneys office for review. The Georgia deputy has been placed on administrative leave, according to the Sheriffs Office. They have not yet released the deputys name. Cures death coincides with urgent calls for police reform and abolition in Georgia and Florida, where Black people are killed by police at some of the highest rates in the country. Black motorists are 20% more likely to be stopped by police. A fire department in South Jersey is searching for a 114-year-old fire house bell that went missing from its station. Members of the Pleasantville Fire Department in Atlantic County noticed earlier this week that the old-fashioned bell, which was stored behind the fire house, was gone, the department said. The bell which measures 3 feet tall and weighs about 200 pounds was manufactured in 1909 by the Buckeye Bell Foundation and was used in the early 20th century before the creation of sirens to alert firefighters about reported fires. The department has been planning to create a memorial for the piece of history and had recently finished building a mount for it. As they were about to mount the bell, they noticed that it was gone. In a social media post on Tuesday, the department asked for the publics help and said they would accept the bell returned with no questions asked. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com. The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and Google have agreed on further prospects for partnership for the development of the digital ecosystem in Ukraine, the press service of the Ukrainian educational department reports. "Google is a long-standing strategic partner that always promptly responds to requests from the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, especially in extremely critical situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic and a full-scale Russian invasion," the department's press service said in a statement following a meeting of Minister of Education and science by Oksen Lisovy with representatives of Google. In particular, representatives of the ministry expressed gratitude to Google for its ongoing broad support of the educational sector of Ukraine during periods of crisis in the areas of: improving the digital infrastructure of educational institutions; development of digital competence of teachers; and formation of a synergistic digital ecosystem at the all-Ukrainian level. "As a result of the meeting, Google and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine outlined joint vectors and agreed on further prospects for partnership for the development of the digital ecosystem in Ukraine," the statement says. Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost. If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below. This is one of those "If only" stories, as in "if only Louisiana didn't let its politics get the best of it." Which is what happened when Walt Disney came to New Orleans on Nov. 22, 1963. Does that date sound familiar? It's the same day John F. Kennedy was assassinated while riding in a motorcade through Dallas' Dealy Plaza. Of course, Disney didn't know this would happen when scouting locations for his new theme park in New Orleans. That's right, Disney was, indeed, considering the metro New Orleans area as the home for what is today the Walt Disney World Resort. If you're going to search for source links on the internet for this story, that it's just that a story passed down from people who were there to those who weren't. The sign is not even up on the exterior of Felipes Taqueria at 2004 Metairie Road, but that hardly seems to matter. In the first few days the Dixie Camille Hartzog may have a day job working in marketing, but the 27-year-old Covington resident lives her best life after dark. Hartzog has amassed more than 76,000 followers on Instagram and more than 104,000 on TikTok around the world who keep up with her love of all things spooky and supernatural as @witchvoid. There, she shares historical tidbits and folklore, in addition to tips on travel, fashion, rituals, books and places she likes to well, haunt all with a paranormal twist. Her interest in the occult kicked off at an early age and continued into her film studies at the University of New Orleans. Its definitely lifelong, she says. My uncle and aunt lived in this super haunted, former plantation home. Plus, my parents raised me on scary movies. At that house, she and several of her family members report experiencing ghostly encounters and other unexplained phenomena. Though she leans into the darker side of things, she approaches it with a bubbly enthusiasm that is clearly contagious to her followers. She cites filmmaker and animator Tim Burton as one of her biggest inspirations, and that shines through in her content, which is often as whimsical as it is spooky. In recent months, she has started to catch the eye of tourism boards in other supposedly haunted cities like Salem, Massachusetts; Savannah, Georgia; and Charleston, South Carolina, who have started sponsoring some of her travels. She also last year partnered with Witchwood, a fashion company for the morbidly inclined to design a line of wide-brimmed hats, featuring design elements reminiscent of New Orleans cemeteries. Gambit: Tell us more about this haunted house in New Orleans you spent time in as a kid. What were some of the occurrences? Hartzog: My cousin was in the marching band at Newman and she had been practicing the xylophone before a Mardi Gras parade. She was just staying with my grandparents, and they were all sleeping on the third floor. All of a sudden in the middle of the night, my grandparents heard the xylophone, and they went downstairs (to the first floor) to tell her to go back to bed, but there was no one in there. She had been asleep on the third floor for hours. Another time, my little sister and I were staying there. She walked across the hall to where my parents were sleeping, looked at the doorway and asked, Whos that man? My parents were like, what are you talking about? Then they felt the bed rise up a few inches and slam-drop on the floor. They werent huge believers in ghosts, but that changed. Another night, my grandparents were sleeping. Mind you theres a super intense gate around and security patrolling. They woke up to banging on the third-floor wall, but theres no scaffolding or any way for anyone else to get up there. My uncle, who has since passed away, was a professional heavyweight boxer. He was afraid of nothing, and he was staying there alone. All of a sudden, he heard what sounded like a crazy party ... he thought people had broken in, maybe they thought it was an abandoned house ... He went downstairs, but there was nothing there. Theres also been crazy lights flickering and beaded curtains just flying back and forth at a 90-degree angle. Gambit: How does your family feel about your lifestyle and interests in the supernatural? Hartzog: Being from the New Orleans area, they embrace it. They actually totally support it. They love how Ive made it a part of my career, especially from experiencing their own ghost stories. Gambit: Do you identify as a witch? Hartzog: Kind of. Im an eclectic pagan. Im in a group of New Orleans pagans. I believe in so many different things. I made an online group called Southern Louisiana Witches and Pagans. What are some misconceptions about your lifestyle and interests? Hartzog: I definitely get backlash. People think we worship the devil, but so many witches and pagans dont even believe the devil exists. Id say a lot of us, like 90% of the people who are in this community or lifestyle, are not in touch with an organized religion, but more a sense of spirituality. A lot of times, its in a positive light It is not as dark as people think. Were in touch with nature, and a lot of us do work with ancestors. Its like a form of praying and asking for guidance from the universe and through spirit guides. Gambit: You have a huge following on social media. How has that impacted your life? Hartzog: Friendship has been the number one thing that Im eternally grateful for. The past three years Ive met up with different internet friends, first in Salem (Massachusetts). We got a house together. It was a group of girls who all do similar things as me, and thats been a really great thing. (Social media) is a way to connect with people who might not be in your area, but you can still connect on a totally different level. Its changed my career path. I dont know if Ill do alternative travel full-time, but in the next however many years, Id love to do that for more companies and places and maybe turn that into a marketing business. Gambit: How often do you get to travel? Hartzog: I have a job where Im off on Mondays, so I can take weekend trips. In September, I was able to do partnerships (with tourism boards and other attractions) in Savannah, Georgia, and South Carolina, and show the spooky season things. I also did Salem. I try to get out of town and do something new and seek out the different parts and quirks that each town has. Gambit: What are some of your current wardrobe staples? Hartzog: Lately Ive been obsessed with berets. My friends in Salem definitely pointed it out because I brought five different ones. And I got some cool cowboy boots with spider webs. Gambit: What are your favorite spooky spots here? Hartzog: Dark Matter Oddities (822 Chartres St.), thats one of my top spots, Id recommend anyone go there. Of course, theres also the Vampire Cafe (801 Royal St.) trio of places, (including) The Apothecary (725 St. Peter St.) and speakeasy, I always have people go there. Also, Miette (the novelty store at 2038 Magazine St.) If youre like a taxidermy lover, theres a perfect blend of bubble gum pink and super dark stuff. Its a magical little emporium. Gambit: How does New Orleans rank in terms of spooky cities? Hartzog: Its still the top. Being from the area and knowing it something about it is different. I dont really know how to explain. Its just got a sort of mysticism that nowhere else Ive been has, and I studied abroad in Europe. I love all these other charming towns, but theres something a little dark and mystical and strange about New Orleans. 0:12 +5 The Rougarou's comin': How tales of the Cajun folklore creature have endured for centuries When you go on down to the swamps of the Audubon Zoo, near the white alligator exhibit, youll come across a more insidious and elusive figure The Ministry of Economy plans to present the first draft of the Ukraine Plan in early November, prepare the final document at the end of November, in order to officially present it in the European Union in December as part of the EUR 50 billion financial support allocated by the EU for 2024-2027 within the Ukraine Facility, said First Deputy Minister of Economy Serhiy Sobolev. The Ukraine Plan allows building a clear and high-quality basis for work for the next 4 years. On the basis of the Plan, it will be possible to qualitatively structure all the work and unite all our other partners, he emphasized at the conference Regional Dimension of the Ukraine Plan in Kyiv on Friday. But this is not a plan for everything, this is only part of what the government is going to do, this is a plan for the most basic things, Sobolev noted. He recalled that the Ukraine Facility involves the allocation of EUR 39 billion in loans for a period of up to 35 years with payments starting in 2034, as well as grants for budgetary support and support for the Ukraine Plan with the allocation of funds tied to the implementation of the measures provided for in this document. According to the first deputy minister, another EUR8 billion are grants within the framework of the Ukrainian Investment Framework, which is aimed at attracting funds from international financial organizations and private investors in order to increase the total volume of such funds to about EUR30 billion, and maybe EUR40 billion. As Sobolev clarified, the following areas for these funds are proposed: guarantees for investments (the Ukrainian Guarantee), covering credit risks and risks of investment in capital. He added that this financing will be available to cities and communities, state-owned enterprises and private companies, and will come through international financial organizations. Another EUR 2.5 billion is grants, technical assistance and other support measures, including covering interest on EUR 39 billion loans (approximately EUR 1-1.5 billion), financing work to bring the Russian Federation to justice, as well as about EUR 500 million for the administration of the Ukraine Facility program itself - the salaries of everyone who takes part, primarily in the EU. As the official noted, in order to minimize the risks of misappropriation of funds, the Plan involves reform of state audit and control, including reform of the State Audit Service and the Accounting Chamber. In addition, an independent Audit Council formed by the EU will be created. Access to all documents of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and the European Court of Auditors, the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) is also provided. Its a lot like buying shoes. You can buy cheap shoes, but theyre not going to last as long as the more expensive and higher quality ones." Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra national reserve was given 14 cultural values previously stolen by Russian occupiers from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. "We can figuratively say that a shipment of weapons has arrived in Ukraine. These are ancient weapons from the Eneolithic to the Middle Ages. The Ministry has decided to transfer 14 artifacts for temporary storage to Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra national reserve, and then the reserve will determine the place for their display," the ministry's press service said in a statement. It is noted that the archaeological objects were transferred by the American side to the Ukrainian Embassy in the United States, then the Ministry of Foreign Affairs delivered them to Ukraine and handed them over to the Ministry of Culture. "Ukraine is infinitely grateful to everyone who helps return our valuables. This time it was the result of fruitful interaction between the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, in particular Bridget Brink, the Ukrainian Embassy in the United States, Oksana Markarova and Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra national reserve, as well as the National Museum of the History of Ukraine, Institute of Archeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine," the department said. In particular, it is reported that in 2022, the Ministry of Culture actively collaborated with the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine to identify archaeological objects detained by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. During this time, the American side detained more than 20 shipments with archaeological objects that may originate from the territory of Ukraine and were illegally imported into the United States. Louisiana gubernatorial candidate Jeff Landry speaks to supports during a watch party at Broussard Ballroom on Saturday, October 14, 2023 in Broussard, La.. Louisiana should have an accessible, balanced, fair-minded governor who can work on behalf of all of its people. We need someone who can work President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with military commanders, during a working visit to Kherson region, to discuss the situation in the key axes of hostilities. According to the presidential press service, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) Valeriy Zaluzhny, Chief of the General Staff of the AFU Serhiy Shaptala, Commander of the Marine Corps of the Naval Forces of the AFU Yuriy Sodol, and Commander of the Odesa Operational and Strategic Group Andriy Hnatov participated in the meeting. The head of state listened to a report by the AFU Commander-in-Chief on the general operational situation at the front and the provision of weapons and ammunition to the Ukrainian defenders. The president also received information about defensive operations in the Avdiyivka axis and the enemy's unsuccessful attempts to assault which resulted into a record loss of the Russian aggressor's personnel and military hardware. The participants of the meeting analyzed in detail the situation in the Kupiansk axis. Zelenskyy and the military commanders also addressed the current operations that being conducted by the Ukrainian defense forces in the south. Head of the State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience Victor Yelensky has said the bill on ban on activities of religious organizations affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine requires a range of amendments before putting its up for second reading. "More than ten bills one way or another related to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) were registered in the Verkhovna Rada. The draft law that was submitted by the government is the only one which can actually work and not just be a political statement. This is the only bill complying with the obligations undertaken by Ukraine when joining the Council of Europe in 1995 This is a working mechanism which is absent in the rest of the draft laws," he said on the national telethon on Friday. At the same time, Yelensky said that the bill requires several amendments, which would make the mechanisms provided by it more effective, before putting it up for second reading. "There are certain technical issues, and each of them may turn into an obstacle for effectiveness. For example, it is necessary to propose certain judiciary-related amendments to the bill. It is necessary to amend some of its transitional provisions," he said. As reported, the Verkhovna Rada passed at first reading bill No. 8371 prohibiting activities of the religious organizations affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine. The governmental draft law was registered in the Verkhovna Rada on January 19, 2023. Cleveland-Cliffs committed $100 million to reduce emissions at the former AK Steel plant it acquired in Dearborn, Michigan in an agreement with with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Justice Department. The Cleveland, Ohio-based steelmaker, one of the Region's largest employers, will pay a civil penalty of $81,380 to Michigan for Clean Air Act violations and lower emissions of manganese and lead in the Detroit metropolitan area. The steel mill's previous owner, AK Steel, reached a 2015 content decree with the EPA and Justice Department, to address visible air emissions. But the steps did not brought the steel mill into full compliance with the Clean Air Act so it was modified to require $100 million more in preventative measures. The agreement will ensure that Cleveland-Cliffs steel manufacturing plant in Dearborn operates in compliance with federal and state air pollution requirements, said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Departments Environment and Natural Resources Division. This modification will result in better air quality for Dearborn residents around the plant, who have been disproportionately burdened by pollution. Inhaling lead and manganese can cause deleterious health effects, including to the central nervous system, kidney function, immune, cardiovascular, reproductive and developmental systems. The modification requires a new electrostatic precipitator to remove particulate matter from exhaust gases, regular monitoring for visible emissions and routine testing to ensure all emissions are within prescribed limits. Cleveland-Cliffs already installed it in anticipation of the agreement. "Cleveland-Cliffs has executed a consent decree modification that addresses historic issues at its Dearborn site that arose prior to Cleveland-Cliffs ownership in 2020. This issue began when AK Steel was the owner and operator of the Dearborn facility," the company said in a statement. "Under Cleveland-Cliffs stewardship, the company proactively worked to rebuild the pollution control devices since taking ownership of the Dearborn facility in 2020. Cleveland-Cliffs already spent more than the required $100 million for the new pollution control device at the plant. It is called an electrostatic precipitator that reduces particulate matter emissions from the site. The work was completed in March 2023." Cleveland-Cliffs also agreed to spend $244,000 on an environmental project that will provide home air purifiers to nearby residents. The EPA said the steel mill is located within an area with environmental justice concerns. Todays announcement shows that EPA and the Department of Justice are committed to achieving cleaner air for communities across the country, said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann of the EPAs Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. The changes that Cleveland Cliffs will make at its Dearborn facility will reduce harmful air pollution and improve air quality for local residents. Providence Catholic High School senior Madison Bolden has been selected as a College Board National Recognition Program honoree, recognizing her academic achievements in school combined with outstanding performance on the PSAT. This recognition of Madison by the College Board for having above a 3.5 GPA and scoring in the top 10% of African American students within the state of Illinois for her PSAT is evidence of the thoughtful and studious way she approaches her academics, Providence Principal Paul Houston said in a statement. We are extremely proud of Madison and her academic success. The College Boards National African American Recognition Program honors African American students who score in the top 10% of the state on the PSAT or earned a score of 3 or higher on two or more AP exams by their junior year. To qualify, they must also have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. Bolden, daughter of Dr. John and Laura Bolden, is a member of Holy Family Parish in Shorewood and is a graduate of Holy Family Catholic School. At Providence, she is involved in in Habitat for Humanity, Augustinian Youth Ministry and the Medical Club. This opportunity is important to me, because I've been able to maintain my studies and succeed despite adversities. This award will factor into my future education because I want to become a nurse, Bolden said in a statement. I have a love for people in the community who struggle, and I would like to see other minorities succeed in life, too. I hope this opportunity inspires other students of color to want to accomplish things for themselves so they can have a successful future, too. CROWN POINT A Hammond man was charged Wednesday with neglect of a dependent and battery after his 5-month-old daughter was admitted to a hospital with injuries consistent with child abuse, according to records. Michael Wolff, 49, allegedly caused brain trauma and other injuries to his child on Feb. 15. Hammond police and EMS responded to a residence on the 4600 block of Hohman Avenue for an unresponsive baby, where they found Wolff administering CPR to the infant. The infant had a faint pulse when medics showed up, court records allege. Wolff told police the infant had vomited and was not moving. Medical records indicated the baby was transferred to Comer Children's Hospital in Chicago with cough and congestion issues following the unresponsive medical episode. The baby had multiple brain injuries that were "highly specific for abusive injury, particularly in the form of violent shaking," according to court documents. He was home alone with the child the day of the incident, records allege. He fed her, burped her, changed her and put her in a Pack-N-Play. He fell asleep and awoke to the sound of her choking and gasping for air. He repeatedly denied causing the injuries, according to court documents. He told a detective the injuries could have been caused the week before when she was seated in a her bouncy seat, which came apart. A piece of the seat hit her in the head, he said. He also stated it could have been caused by one of their dogs jumping on her. Detectives obtained a search warrant for the residence and discovered it in disarray with piles of animal feces and holes in the floor, charges allege. "The building appeared barely fit for human or animal habitation," a detective wrote in a probable cause affidavit. The infant's twin sister was taken to a hospital earlier in the day for an "unknown illness," court records allege. Doctors said both babies were born prematurely at 25 weeks with a prolonged stay in an intensive care unit. The twin showed no signs of abuse or neglect. GARY An annual exhibit at Indiana University Northwest highlights survivors of violence and provides an outlet to help heal the trauma from their experiences. Each October, the university participates in the Clothesline Project, to recognize Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The project allows IUN students, faculty and staff to design a t-shirt with images or statements to express personal experiences with violence or honor victims of it. These t-shirts are then hung inside the Moraine Student Center. Tanice Foltz, the director of women's and gender studies at IUN, gave a presentation about the Clothesline Project to students on Thursday in the student center. Foltz brought the project to campus in the fall of 2013 after attending a national women and gender studies conference. At the conference, two-thirds of the scholarly papers presented related to student abuse. She also said she had students in her classes discussing abuse they had experienced personally. Foltz decided to do something in order to bring attention to the abuse and trauma these students had experienced. According to Foltz, the Clothesline Project was first started in 1990 by a group of women in Cape Cod, Massachusetts to bring awareness towards the issue of violence against women. The project took inspiration from the AIDS Memorial Quilt from the late 1980s, which memorialized those who died from HIV and AIDS. The clothesline represents the fact laundry was traditionally considered women's work, Foltz said. As clothes were being put out to dry, these women might have bumped into their neighbor and "aired dirty laundry," by discussing taboo topics, such as domestic violence. Since its inception, the project has expanded to recognize violence toward men and children as well. The color of each t-shirt represents a different type of violent acts endured, including rape, sexual assault and abuse, bullying, molestation and violence due to a person's sexual orientation or for political reasons. There are also t-shirts honoring victims who have been murdered. This year, around 110 t-shirts were made, according to Foltz, with a total of 900 shirts done since 2013. The goals of the Clothesline Project, the professor said, are to validate the experience of survivors, assist in the healing process and create a supportive network for them, as well as educate the public about the extent of violence against women. "It's a stunning visual exhibit of trauma," Foltz said. After her presentation, Foltz led students in a march. The participants chanted "break the silence, stop the violence" as they walked throughout the IUN campus. For Foltz, she views this project as a catalyst for transformation and healing, and they intend on providing it for years to come. The Clothesline Project at IUN will be on display until Oct. 30. PHOTOS: The Clothesline Project at IUN MUNSTER The Hobart Police Department will receive a $200,000 grant from the Department of Justices Office of Community Oriented Policing Services Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act program, according to a news release. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-01, announced the grant in a news release Thursday. The grant aims to improve the delivery and access of mental health and wellness resources, the release states. "Mental health for officers has been largely overlooked for years, and this grant will provide services to our officers who deal with many stressful and traumatic incidents in their careers," Hobart Police Chief Garrett Ciszewski said, according to the release. HAMMOND The Democratic leader of Northwest Indiana's most populous city wants Democratic President Joe Biden to terminate his reelection campaign, four months before the first primary in South Carolina, so the party can nominate a younger candidate. Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. said in an expletive-laden rant Friday on his "Left of Center" podcast that he considers the 80-year-old chief executive too old to compete next year against the Republicans, even if the GOP renominates 77-year-old former President Donald Trump. McDermott also warned that if Biden is reelected he'll be unable to effectively carry out his duties during a second four-year term that would begin Jan. 20, 2025, when Biden will be 82 years old. "I watched '60 Minutes' the other day with the president and I thought he looked like (expletive)," McDermott said. "I don't understand why everybody is supposed to just fall in line and shut the (expletive) up. It's (expletive). This guy is not ready for four more years. He's not." McDermott said he remains a loyal Democrat and believes Biden generally has done a good job as president. But he said anyone who thinks Biden will be a better president in a second term is gravely mistaken. "What's he going to look like in five years? (Expletive), he looks horrible right now. Five years from now I'm sure he'll be like much better, right? I'm sure he's going to be much stronger. C'mon, man. What are we doing?" McDermott said. "(Expletive) 82. (Expletive) 82. Get the (expletive) out of here, man. This is (expletive). I'm serious. This is (expletive)." McDermott unequivocally rejected the notion that only Biden can beat Trump in 2024 because Biden already defeated Trump in 2020. "That's (expletive). That's (expletive)," McDermott said. "There's a lot of Democrats that could beat Trump easily." The five-term Hammond mayor, who is running unopposed for a sixth term Nov. 7, suggested California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and former Texas Congressman Beto O'Rourke, among others, all would be better Democratic presidential candidates next year than Biden. "There's so many Democrats that would be spectacular that are having to sit on their hands because there's an 82-year-old that's being selfish. Let's be honest, he's being selfish," McDermott said. "I think there's a lot of people who could win. I think, if given the proper support, a guy like me could beat Trump. Like, I don't think Trump is that hard to beat. So why are we putting up an 82-year-old?" McDermott maintained his position even after the podcast staff reminded him that when Democratic President Lyndon Johnson quit his 1968 reelection bid early that year, it led to Republican Richard Nixon being elected president instead. "I think it's a joke that we're putting this guy up for a second term," McDermott said. "Honestly, I don't know why this guy just doesn't walk away. I just don't get it, man." Biden currently faces no serious opposition for the Democratic nomination and polls show Trump is well ahead of the other Republican candidates despite 91 pending felony charges against Trump across four separate grand jury indictments. "If we have Trump versus Biden we've failed so hard as a country," McDermott said. "As a country, we are a bunch of losers if that's the best two people in the country to run for president. I'm moving to freaking Canada, man." Northwest Indiana 2023 early voting sites, hours Lake County Government Center, 2293 N. Main St., Crown Point Judge Lorenzo Arredondo Justice Center, 3711 Main St., East Chicago Gary Public Library, 220 W. 5th Ave., Gary Lake County Courthouse, 232 Russell St., Hammond Hobart Police and Community Center, 705 E. 4th St., Hobart Lowell Town Hall, 501 E. Main St., Lowell Munster Town Hall, 1005 Ridge Rd., Munster Schererville Town Hall, 10 E. Joliet St., Schererville St. John Township Assessor's Office, 9157 Wicker Ave., St. John Wicker Park Social Center, 8554 Indianapolis Blvd., Highland Winfield Government Center, 10645 Randolph St., Winfield Porter County Administration Building, 155 Indiana Ave., Valparaiso North Porter County Government Complex, 3560 Willowcreek Road, Portage Valparaiso Fire Training Center, 355 Evans Ave., Valparaiso Chesterton Town Hall, 790 Broadway, Chesterton State Street Community Church, 209 State St., LaPorte LaPorte County Office Complex, 302 W. 8th St., Michigan City Lakeshore Public Media is seeking community members to offer input on its programming. Lakeshores volunteer Community Advisory Board will have a meeting at 3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 27 at the Lakeshore Public Media office at 8625 Indiana Pl. Viewers of Lakeshore PBS and listeners of Lakeshore Public Radio can weigh in on the nonprofit broadcaster's programs, community service and impact on its Northwest Indiana and greater Chicagoland markets. Our Community Advisory Board is paramount for the success of our station. The board helps us not only stay aligned with the communities we serve, CAB helps us regroup and revise our efforts to better serve our communities. The time, efforts, and information these volunteers share with us is valuable beyond measure, said president and CEO Chuck Roberts. Corporation for Public Broadcasting guidelines for community licensed public broadcasting stations require community advisory boards. They let the station know if its is providing the educational and cultural content the community needs. The board works to advise the station on whether the programming and other policies are meeting the specialized educational and cultural needs of the communities it serves. Lakeshore Public Media aims to "support lifelong learning, celebrate human diversity, and engage in civic concerns, all to enrich the lives of people in the communities it serves." If you have not been to a Lakeshore CAB meeting in person before, now is your chance to check out the media that we all love. Please feel free to bring a friend, family member or colleague, Community Advisory Board Secretary Debbie Rzepcynski said. Public broadcasting in Northwest Indiana is important to me and many others because diverse ideas are brought to the airwaves and are available to everyone in the Region. There is a lot of good happening in Northwest Indiana and Lakeshore Public Media helps me to become aware of people and places that I never knew existed. For more information, visit lakeshorepublicmedia.org/cab or call 219-756-5656. Ukraine is the first country in the history to investigate crimes committed by the occupation forces against the natural environment as war crimes, Prosecutor General of Ukraine Andriy Kostin has said. "We are the first [country] in the history of mankind to investigate crimes against the natural environment as war crimes. We cooperate with all our partners," he said at a Friday press conference during a break in the international conference "United for Justice. United for Nature" in Kyiv. "Being the first, we have no right to make a mistake," Kostin said. He also noted that the Ukrainian prosecutors started to qualify the environmental crimes committed by the occupation forces exactly as war crimes one year ago. "When we started to focus on the crimes against the natural environment, we realized that this is also a crime against Ukraine as a state, and this is a crime against our future as long as by destroying our environment the enemy is trying to destroy a normal future life of Ukraine and Ukrainians," the prosecutor general said. Gov. Eric Holcomb and other state and tribal officials broke ground Thursday in St. Joseph County to begin construction on the first new state park inn built in Indiana since 1939. The $100 million Lodge at Potato Creek will be located on the scenic south shore of Worster Lake at Potato Creek State Park, which is in North Liberty, near the holdings of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, or about 22 miles east of LaPorte on State Road 4. When complete, in 2026 or 2027, the lodge is expected to feature 120 guest rooms, a full-service dining room seating 150, a conference center with three breakout rooms, an indoor aquatic center, indoor and outdoor spaces for small gatherings, a mini nature room for programs and exhibits, a cafe, gift shop, and access to the lake and other park amenities. It's anticipated the lodge will provide a base for four seasons of outdoor guest recreation, ranging from bike riding and boating in summer to ice fishing and hiking in winter, along with viewings of spring wildflowers, migratory birds, and fall colors in the woods and prairies. "There's a reason why Indiana's state park inns have the highest occupancy rate in the nation and continue to earn such high national rankings," Holcomb said. "People come here from across the country and around the world because of the unparalleled experience and hospitality extended at our state park inns." "Whether you're out hiking a trail or sitting by the fire, our state parks offer an opportunity to immerse yourself in natures finest surroundings." The Lodge at Potato Creek will be only the second of Indiana's eight state park inns located in the northern tier of the state. The other is the Potawatomi Inn at Pokagon State Park in Angola in the far northeast corner of Indiana. "By building our second overnight lodging facility for Hoosiers in the northern part of the state, were both making history and making way for new opportunities to get out and explore our great outdoor Indiana," said Dan Bortner, director of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. "Our park guests love making year-round memories at Potawatomi Inn at Pokagon State Park, and we know this new lodge at Potato Creek is going to be a great place for more memories to be made." Funding to construct the new inn was included in the 2024-25 state budget enacted earlier this year by Holcomb following its approval by the Republican-controlled General Assembly in House Enrolled Act 1001 (2023). Nearly a decade ago, GOP state lawmakers balked at paying to construct an inn at Potato Creek State Park after it was proposed by Republican former Gov. Mike Pence as a way to commemorate Indiana's 2016 statehood bicentennial. Northwest Indiana 2023 early voting sites, hours Lake County Government Center, 2293 N. Main St., Crown Point Judge Lorenzo Arredondo Justice Center, 3711 Main St., East Chicago Gary Public Library, 220 W. 5th Ave., Gary Lake County Courthouse, 232 Russell St., Hammond Hobart Police and Community Center, 705 E. 4th St., Hobart Lowell Town Hall, 501 E. Main St., Lowell Munster Town Hall, 1005 Ridge Rd., Munster Schererville Town Hall, 10 E. Joliet St., Schererville St. John Township Assessor's Office, 9157 Wicker Ave., St. John Wicker Park Social Center, 8554 Indianapolis Blvd., Highland Winfield Government Center, 10645 Randolph St., Winfield Porter County Administration Building, 155 Indiana Ave., Valparaiso North Porter County Government Complex, 3560 Willowcreek Road, Portage Valparaiso Fire Training Center, 355 Evans Ave., Valparaiso Chesterton Town Hall, 790 Broadway, Chesterton State Street Community Church, 209 State St., LaPorte LaPorte County Office Complex, 302 W. 8th St., Michigan City Despite long odds and public criticism, Hannah Trueblood is confident she will win on Election Day against former Valparaiso mayor Jon Costas. People say its not your turn, sit down, wait your turn. But eventually you just have to make it your turn. And thats what Im doing, she said. You dont have to be some in-the-know millionaire with a law degree to qualify yourself to run for office. The qualification to run for office and make change is to care. Trueblood, 29, is the Democrat candidate in the citys mayoral race, facing a 66-year-old Republican veteran who served as mayor for 16 years before stepping down ahead of the 2020 election. When Costas said he was going to be running again, everyone who knew that I was planning on running asked me, Are you sure you want to do this? Trueblood said. I said, 'This, if anything, proves exactly why I have to.' And it sealed the deal for me. Trueblood is diametrically different than Costas is many ways, from how they view the citys top leadership position to their experience as a public office holder. (Read my column on Costas at NWI.com.) I thought I had thick skin originally but nothing could have prepared me for the realities of being in the spotlight as this candidate. I had no idea what that was going to feel like, Trueblood told me during a 90-minute conversation at Central Park Plaza. She was candid, insightful, confident and enthusiastic. They say that negotiation and leadership is just managing disappointment. But in my opinion, real leadership and real negotiation is to find the win for everyone, Trueblood said. And thats something that I do well on a daily basis in so many different ways. When you really look at the full picture, Im far more qualified for this position than my opponent at this point, asked on my comprehension of the community. When Trueblood has met with conservative voters who presume they have nothing in common with her or her politics, she points out the difference between national and local politics. Listen, Im not Joe Biden. Im not coming to take away your guns. I have nothing to do with the border crisis, she told a group of military veterans who greeted her with skepticism. Were looking at local issues here, not national politics. Her critics have pointed out her age and lack of experience. She pivots that attack too. Im not too young, he said. Pete Buttigieg became mayor of South Bend at 29 years old. And South Bend is significantly larger than Valpo. Look where hes at now. Hes in the U.S. cabinet. And he ran for president. She hopes her unexpected candidacy inspires other people to consider a role in public office at any level. You never know who youre gonna influence. And you never know who youre gonna effect, Trueblood said. People I never knew are now knocking on doors for me and advocating for their community. Its just beautiful. Trueblood was raised by a single mom who was a landlord in the Hilltop neighborhood of the city. Trueblood is currently a single mom of two kids, ages 6 and 10. Shes engaged to be married and in a good place in her life, allowing her the opportunity to run for mayor in the city she was raised. We certainly didnt live lavishly, she said as city workers toiled behind her in the park. When she was 8, she told her mother that she wanted to help other kids who were homeless. And then she did it. This kind of action-oriented attitude has been with her the past 20 years since that project. Her campaign fliers reflect this: Elect a mayor who cant be bullied or bought. Trueblood said her role as a mayoral candidate is to find what voters want for their city and bridging the gap that currently exists between City Hall and city residents. (Watch a video and view more photos at the online version of this column.) Not only to the city residents in power but all the residents from every demographic, Trueblood said. This whole campaign has been grassroots. Were boots on the ground, talking to people in smaller settings every single day. The general consensus from Democrats to Republicans, young people, old people, people of color, the LGBTQ community, veterans, teachers, firefighters is in agreement that something has got to give. Her campaign is based on actively listening to voters, she said. There is an issue with the way things are currently being handled. She first got involved with the political scene in 2008 when she volunteered for Organizing For America along with millions of other younger people who wanted to be a part of national change. I helped turn Indiana blue for Obama, she said. Thats how I learned about grassroots organizing and how to be feverishly committed to making the world a better place. As with most newcomers to political campaigns, Trueblood knows her only hope for victory is if voters who typically dont place a ballot on Election Day actually fulfill their promise to her and to Uncle Sam. Otherwise, theyre voting for the status quo without voting at all. People feel like their hands are tied behind their back. The reality is that theyre not tied, but theyre holding them behind their back, Trueblood said. If were gonna show that we have problems, we have to be able to present a solution, she said. Ive got to be the solution. Ive got to offer an alternative. My platform is the communitys platform. We need to have leaders at City Hall who are in it heart of the community, not for their pockets. PHOTOS: Valparaiso hosts Merrillville in high school football Even so, he didnt want his new home to resemble a cold gallery. I wanted something that was beautifully made, that had first-class materials, but where anybody could walk in and feel comfortable, he said. Nobody would walk in and feel like they couldnt sit down in any chair, they couldnt touch any wall. It had to be absolutely livable. Tim Pfeiffer, a partner at Hoedemaker Pfeiffer, and Hana Schooley, a project manager at the firm, aimed to preserve the original spirit of the apartment while making some surgical improvements. They left most of the walls intact, but replaced a few with oak-slat screens to bring sunlight into dark corners. Its a really long condo unit, so it was a challenge getting light to penetrate from one side to the other, Ms. Schooley said. Our concept didnt involve big moves they were small moves to improve the light and create a space specifically for Jerry. One of the screens connects the living room and the den, where integrated shelves provide a place to display sculpture. Its definitely a collectors home, Mr. Pfeiffer said, with great sightlines to specific pieces, and collections of pieces in other areas. More screens dissolve the boundaries between the kitchen and a hallway leading to the primary suite, as well as between the primary bedroom, bathroom and dressing area. Baltimore will pay $48 million to settle a federal lawsuit brought by three men who were arrested as teenagers and spent 36 years in prison for a murder they did not commit, the citys Board of Estimates decided on Wednesday. The payout is the largest amount awarded in Maryland in such a case. The men, Alfred Chestnut, Ransom Watkins and Andrew Stewart, now in their 50s, were arrested on Thanksgiving Day in 1983 in the fatal shooting of a 14-year-old boy. The authorities said the three had killed him because they wanted his jacket. Based on testimony from eyewitnesses and circumstantial evidence, the three youths were convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. The three men sat behind bars for years with no chance at freedom until 2018, when Mr. Chestnut submitted a public records request and discovered evidence that revealed that several witnesses had identified someone else as the gunman. The person identified as the gunman died in 2002. Their case was reinvestigated by the states attorney, and they walked out of prison in November 2019 after a Baltimore Circuit Court judge accepted the states attorneys request to exonerate the three men. Statements from witnesses were later recanted, after the states investigation found that some witnesses had been pressured by the police. A founding member of the hip-hop group the Fugees has requested a new trial for a foreign influence scheme after arguing in part that his lawyer used artificial intelligence software to craft a frivolous and ineffectual closing argument. In April, the rapper Prakazrel Michel was found guilty in federal court of orchestrating an illegal international conspiracy, in which he took millions of dollars from Jho Low, a Malaysian financier who was seeking political influence in the United States. Mr. Michel, known as Pras, was convicted on 10 criminal counts that included money laundering and witness tampering. He faces up to 20 years in prison. In a motion for a new trial this week, Mr. Michels new legal team said the lawyers who defended him during the trial in U.S. District Court in Washington had been deficient throughout. They singled out the lead lawyer, David E. Kenner, saying that he had misunderstood the facts of the case and ignored critical weaknesses in federal prosecutors arguments, and that he used an experimental A.I. program to create a closing argument that made frivolous claims. Mr. Michels lawyers also wrote that Mr. Kenner and another lawyer, Alon Israely, appear to have had an undisclosed financial interest in the program, EyeLevel.AI. The motion cited a news release from EyeLevel that mentioned a partner company, CaseFile Connect, the website of which lists the same Los Angeles address as Mr. Kenners law firm. Follow our live coverage for the House Speaker Vote. Shortly after Representative Nick LaLota, a first-term Republican from New York, voted against Representative Jim Jordans bid for speaker, the threats began pouring in. If I see your face, I will whip all the hair out of your head you scumbag, read one expletive-laden email. The wife of Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska has begun sleeping with a loaded gun after receiving increasingly menacing anonymous calls and texts. Representative Drew Ferguson of Georgia on Thursday joined a growing cadre of holdouts against Mr. Jordans candidacy who said they had received death threats and added that members of his family had become targets as well. When the pressure campaigns and attacks on fellow members ramped up, it became clear to me that the House Republican conference does not need a bully as the speaker, Mr. Ferguson said in a statement explaining his vote. He told Republicans in a closed-door meeting on Thursday that the threats had prompted him to dispatch a sheriff to his daughters school. President Biden delivered remarks from the Oval Office on Thursday on the wars between Israel and Hamas, and Ukraine and Russia. The following is a transcript of his remarks, as recorded by The New York Times. Good evening, my fellow Americans. Were facing an inflection point in history. One of those moments where the decisions we make today are going to determine the future for decades to come. Thats what Id like to talk with you about tonight. Now earlier this morning I returned from Israel. They tell me Im the first American president to travel there during a war. I met with the prime minister and members of his cabinet, and most movingly, I met with Israelis who had personally lived through the horrific horror of the attack by Hamas on the 7th of October. More than 1,300 people slaughtered in Israel, including at least 32 American citizens. Scores of innocents from infants to the elderly, grandparents, Israelis, Americans taken hostage. As I told the families of Americans being held captive by Hamas, were pursuing every avenue to bring their loved ones home. As president, there is no higher priority for me than the safety of Americans held hostage. The terrorist group Hamas unleashed pure unadulterated evil in the world, but sadly, the Jewish people know, perhaps better than anyone, that there is no limit to the depravity of people when they want to inflict pain on others. In Israel, I saw a people who are strong, determined, resilient and also angry, in shock and in deep, deep pain. I also spoke with President Abbas, the Palestinian Authority, and reiterated that the United States remains committed to the Palestinian peoples right to dignity and to self-determination. The actions of Hamas terrorists dont take that right away. Like so many others, Im heartbroken by the tragic loss of Palestinian life, including the explosion at the hospital in Gaza, which was not done by the Israelis. We mourn every innocent life lost. We cant ignore the humanity of innocent Palestinians who only want to live in peace and have an opportunity. You know, the assault on Israel echoes nearly 20 months of war, tragedy and brutality inflicted on the people of Ukraine, people that were very badly hurt since Putin launched his all-out invasion. Weve not forgotten the mass graves, the bodies found bearing signs of torture, rape used as a weapon by the Russians, and thousands and thousands of Ukrainian children forcibly taken into Russia, stolen from their parents. Its sick. Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common. They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy completely annihilate it. Hamas stated purpose for existing is the destruction of the state of Israel and the murder of Jewish people. Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people. Hamas uses Palestinian civilians as human shields, and innocent Palestinian families are suffering greatly because of them. Meanwhile, Putin denies Ukraine has, or ever had, real statehood. He claims the Soviet Union created Ukraine. And just two weeks ago, he told the world that if the United States and our allies withdraw and if the United States withdraws, our allies will as well military support for Ukraine would have, quote, a week left to live. But were not withdrawing. I know these conflicts can seem far away, and its natural to ask: Why does this matter to America? So let me share with you why making sure Israel and Ukraine succeed is vital for Americas national security. You know, history has taught us that when terrorists dont pay a price for their terror, when dictators dont pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction. They keep going. And the cost and the threats to America and the world keep rising. So if we dont stop Putins appetite for power and control in Ukraine, he wont limit himself just to Ukraine. Hes Putins already threatened to remind, quote, remind Poland that their western land was a gift from Russia. One of his top advisers, a former president of Russia, has called Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania Russias Baltic provinces. These are all NATO allies. For 75 years, NATO has kept peace in Europe. And has been the cornerstone of American security. And if Putin attacks a NATO ally, we will defend every inch of NATO, which a treaty requires and calls for. Well have something that we do not seek. Make it clear we do not seek we do not seek to have American troops fighting in Russia or fighting against Russia. Beyond Europe, we know that our allies, and maybe most importantly our adversaries and competitors, are watching. Theyre watching our response in Ukraine as well. And if we walk away and let Putin erase Ukraines independence, would-be aggressors around the world would be emboldened to try the same. The risk of conflict and chaos could spread in other parts of the world: in the Indo-Pacific, in the Middle East, especially in the Middle East. Iran is supporting Russia in Ukraine, and its supporting Hamas and other terrorist groups in the region. And well continue to hold them accountable, I might add. The United States and our partners across the region are working to build a better future for the Middle East. One where the Middle East is more stable, better connected to its neighbors, and through innovative projects like the India, Middle East and Europe rail corridor that I announced this year at the summit of the worlds biggest economies, more predictable markets, more employment, less rage, less grievances, less war when connected. It benefits the people. It would benefit the people of the Middle East, and it would benefit us. American leadership is what holds the world together. American alliances are what keep us, America, safe. American values are what make us a partner that other nations want to work with. To put all that at risk if we walk away from Ukraine, if we turn our backs on Israel, its just not worth it. Thats why tomorrow Im going to send to Congress an urgent budget request to fund Americas national security needs, to support our critical partners, including Israel and Ukraine. Its a smart investment thats going pay dividends for American security for generations, help us keep American troops out of harms way, help us build a world that is safer, more peaceful and more prosperous for our children and grandchildren. In Israel, we must make sure that they have what they need to protect their people today and always. The security package Im sending to Congress and asking Congress to do is an unprecedented commitment to Israels security that will sharpen Israels qualitative military edge, which weve committed to: the qualitative military edge. Were going make sure Iron Dome continues to guard the skies over Israel. Were going to make sure other hostile actors in the region know that Israels stronger than ever and prevent this conflict from spreading. Look, at the same time, President Netanyahu and I discussed again, yesterday, the critical need for Israel to operate by the laws of war. That means protecting civilians in combat as best as they can. The people of Gaza urgently need food, water and medicine. Yesterday, in discussions with the leaders of Israel and Egypt, I secured an agreement for the first shipment of humanitarian assistance from the United Nations to Palestinian civilians in Gaza. If Hamas does not divert or steal this shipment, these shipments, were going to provide an opening for sustained delivery of lifesaving humanitarian assistance for the Palestinians. As I said in Israel, as hard as it is, we cannot give up on peace. We cannot give up on a two-state solution. Israel and Palestinians equally deserve to live in safety, dignity and peace. You know, and here at home we have to be honest with ourselves. In recent years, too much hate has given too much oxygen, fueling racism, a rise in antisemitism, Islamic-phobia, right here in America. Its also intensified in the wake of recent events that led to the horrific threats and attacks that both shock us and break our hearts. On Oct. 7, terror attacks have triggered deep scars and terrible memories in the Jewish community. Today, Jewish families worried about being targeted in school, wearing symbols of their faith walking down the street, or going out about their daily lives. And I know many of you in the Muslim American community, the Arab American community, the Palestinian American community and so many others are outraged and hardened saying to yourselves, Here we go again with Islamophobia and the distrust we saw after 9/11. Just last week, a mother was brutally stabbed. A little boy here in the United States, a little boy who just turned 6 years old, was murdered in their home outside of Chicago. His name was Wadea. Wadea, a proud American, a proud Palestinian American family. We cant stand by and stand silent when this happens. We must without equivocation denounce antisemitism. We must also without equivocation denounce Islamophobia. And to all you hurting, those of you who are hurting, I want you to know I see you. You belong. And I want to say this to you: Youre all America. Youre all America. This is in a moment where you know, in moments like these, when fear and suspicion, anger and rage run hard that we have to work harder than ever to hold on to the values that make us who we are. Were a nation of religious freedom, freedom of expression. We all have a right to debate and disagree, without fear of being targeted in schools or workplaces or in our communities. We must renounce violence and vitriol, see each other not as enemies, but as fellow Americans. When I was in Israel yesterday, I said that when America experienced the hell of 9/11, we felt enraged as well, and while we sought and got justice, we made mistakes. So I caution the government of Israel not to be blinded by rage. And here in America, let us not forget who we are. We reject all forms, all forms of hate, whether against Muslims, Jews, or anyone. Thats what great nations do. And we are a great nation. On Ukraine, Im asking Congress to make sure we can continue to send Ukraine the weapons they need to defend themselves and their country without interruption, so Ukraine can stop Putins brutality in Ukraine. They are succeeding. When Putin invaded Ukraine, he thought he would take Kyiv and all of Ukraine in a matter of days. Well over a year later, Putin has failed, and he continues to fail. Kyiv still stands because the bravery of the Ukrainian people. Ukraine has regained more than 50 percent of the territory Russian troops once occupied. Backed by U.S.-led coalition of more than 50 countries around the world, all doing its part to support Kyiv. What would happen if we walked away? We are the essential nation. Meanwhile, Putin has turned to Iran and North Korea to buy attack drones and ammunition to terrorize Ukrainian cities and people. From the outset, I have said I will not send American troops to fight in Ukraine. All Ukraine is asking for is help, for the weapons, munitions, the capacity, the capability to push invading Russian forces off their land. And the air defense systems to shoot down Russian missiles before they destroy Ukrainian cities. Let me be clear about something. We send Ukraine equipment sitting in our stockpiles. And when we use the money allocated by Congress, we use it to replenish our own stores, our own stockpiles, with new equipment. Equipment that defends America and is made in America. Patriot missiles for air defense batteries, made in Arizona. Artillery shells manufactured in 12 states across the country, in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas. And so much more. You know, just as in World War II, today patriotic American workers are building the arsenal of democracy and serving the cause of freedom. Let me close with this: Earlier this year, I boarded Air Force One for a secret flight to Poland. There I boarded a train, with blacked-out windows for a 10-hour ride each way to Kyiv to stand with the people of Ukraine ahead of the one-year anniversary of their brave fight against Putin. Im told I was the first American to enter a war zone not controlled by the United States military since President Lincoln. With me was just a small group of security personnel and a few advisers. But when I exited that train and met Zelensky, President Zelensky, I didnt feel alone. I was bringing with me the idea of America, the promise of America, to the people who are today fighting for the same things we fought for 250 years ago: freedom, independence, self-determination. And as I walked through Kyiv with President Zelensky, with air raid sirens sounding in the distance, I felt something Ive always believed more strongly than ever before: America is a beacon to the world, still, still. We are, as my friend Madeleine Albright said, the indispensable nation. Tonight, there are innocent people all over the world who hope because of us. Who believe in a better life because of us. Who are desperate not to be forgotten by us. And who are waiting for us. But time is of the essence. I know we have our divisions at home. We have to get past them. We cant let petty, partisan, angry politics get in the way of our responsibilities as a great nation. We cannot and will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win. I refuse to let that happen. In moments like these, we have to remind we have to remember who we are. We are the United States of America. The United States of America. And there is nothing, nothing beyond our capacity, if we do it together. My fellow Americans, thank you for your time. May God bless you all, and may God protect our troops. The federal prosecutors who charged former President Donald J. Trump with conspiring to overturn the 2020 election pushed back on Thursday against one of his central defenses, rejecting his claims that he enjoyed absolute immunity from criminal prosecution because his indictment arose from actions he took while in the White House. The prosecutors in the office of the special counsel, Jack Smith, said Mr. Trumps expansive bid to claim immunity was unsupported by the Constitutions text and structure, history and tradition, or Supreme Court precedent. The defendant is not above the law, they wrote in a 54-page filing. He is subject to the federal criminal laws like more than 330 million other Americans, including members of Congress, federal judges, and everyday citizens. The court papers, filed in Federal District Court in Washington, were a blunt rebuttal of Mr. Trumps attempt to have Judge Tanya S. Chutkan, who is overseeing the case, dismiss the four counts he is facing before they go to trial. Though filled with technical jargon and arcane citations of the Federalist Papers, the governments response to Mr. Trump boiled down to a simple argument: In the United States, the law equally applies to everyone. An arrest warrant for murder, attempted murder and robbery was issued in Haiti for Mr. Badio, who had been fired from his post as an anti-corruption official in the Justice Ministry a few months before the assassination. But he eluded capture, even as dozens of people in Haiti and nearly a dozen in the United States were arrested in connection with the killing. Badio is so central to the assassination case, not because he is likely to have been the ultimate mastermind, but because he appears to be one of the very few individuals who might actually have known what was really going on and who else was involved, said Jake Johnston, a Haiti expert at the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington. Evidence indicates that Mr. Badio was involved in nearly every aspect of the conspiracy, Mr. Johnston said. He could very well be the key link that connects the ongoing U.S. case, which thus far has been narrowly focused on those with ties to Florida, with powerful actors in Haiti that have thus far remained hidden, he added. The Justice Department in Washington has accused several South Florida businessmen of orchestrating the assassination so they could install a puppet as president and secure lucrative contracts with the Haitian government. No U.S. charges have been announced against Mr. Badio, who owns a house in Rockland County, N.Y. Phone records viewed by The New York Times show calls between Mr. Badio and Ariel Henry, now Haitis prime minister, both before and after Mr. Moises killing, each of which lasted several minutes. This article is part of the Fine Arts & Exhibits special section on the art worlds expanded view of what art is and who can make it. When Hyunsoo Woo arrived in the United States in 1996, she was, in her words, fresh off the boat from South Korea. And she noticed something right away. Korean art was nowhere to be found in American museums, even encyclopedic ones, said Ms. Woo, now the deputy director for collections and exhibitions at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I was very puzzled by that. What a difference 27 years makes: This fall, there are at least five exhibitions of Korean art at major museums across the country. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has had a telephone conversation with Federal Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz, the press service of the head of state reports. During the conversation, the President thanked Scholz for the latest defense aid package worth more than EUR1 billion. What we have agreed on in Granada is that all these agreements are being implemented. I am very grateful for the recent defense package, which, in particular, provides for the transfer of IRIS-T, Patriot and missiles for them, which are critical to our resilience this winter, Zelenskyy said. The President also informed Scholz about the situation at the front and the unsuccessful attempts of an offensive by Russian troops, in particular about the catastrophic enemy losses near Avdiyivka in Donetsk region. The parties also discussed the situation in the Middle East and agreed on the need to prevent the escalation of violence and the spread of war. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to the Chancellor for the fact that despite the situation in the Middle East, Germany does not reduce its support for Ukraine. In addition, the President informed his interlocutor about the progress of the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula and, in particular, preparations for the next meeting at the level of national security advisers of state leaders, which will take place in Malta at the end of the month. He noted that Ukraine counts on the participation of a representative of Germany in this meeting. Zelenskyy also emphasized that he expects the next conference on the restoration of Ukraine to be successfully held in Germany in November. The President also spoke about the adoption by the Verkhovna Rada of laws necessary to implement the recommendations of the European Commission in order to begin negotiations on Ukraines accession to the EU. In ballet school Keegan-Dolan was told that his pigeon-toed feet were hopelessly untrainable. In the show he recalls being asked by a teacher, with as much kindness as she can muster, Is there anything else you might like to do with your life? He cant think of anything. His salvation, it turned out, would be choreography, and through it, theater. After his last appearance onstage as a dancer in 1994, he turned to making dances and eventually rose to acclaim as a choreographer, first in opera and later in ensemble works of his own. In 1997 he founded Fabulous Beast Dance Theater in the Irish Midlands, which, after its relocation to Dingle, became Teac Damsa. (The name means house of dance in Gaelic.) With those companies Keegan-Dolan has explored themes from Irish history and myth in well-received works that combine live music, theater and dance, like The Bull, Rian, a reimagined Swan Lake, and Mam, recently presented at Sadlers Wells. In How to Be a Dancer he turns his lens inward. There are just two characters, the Dance Man and the Dancer, played by Keegan-Dolan and Poirier. This is apparent in her exploration of borders, which she found to be more porous than one might think, and how people are able to live their lives across and in spite of them. In 1999, she initiated what the curator Alexandra Munroe characterizes as one of South Asias first cross-border artistic projects, Aar Paar, in collaboration with the Pakistani artist Huma Mulji. Despite travel restrictions that prevented artists from entering each others country, and amid the escalating possibility of outright war between India and Pakistan at the time, Gupta and Mulji arranged for 10 Pakistani artists to send work to India, and 10 Indian artists to send work to Pakistan for a series of exhibitions. The submissions were often emailed, printed, and posted in public spaces in tea stalls, pawn shops, and on open walls. When the police showed up at Guptas door to say that she couldnt hang posters made by a participating artist because they looked seditious, she told me, she simply went two neighborhoods over to continue her work jugaad in action. But another work had to be taken down because, despite its message of unity, it relied on a map of South Asia disputed by the Indian government. The exhibition at Amant will include 1:7690 (2023), from a series over the past decade or so dealing with contested borders. Focusing on the erratic boundary between India and Bangladesh, and the smuggling of goods, including cheaply made clothing, from Bangladesh, the piece consists of a garment that has been torn into a continuous strip of fabric and wound into a ball. Multiply the length of the strip by the number in the title and you will get the exact length of the barbed-wire fence India has been building for decades between the two nations. At approximately 2,500 miles, it is one of the worlds longest separation barriers. This article is part of the Fine Arts & Exhibits special section on the art worlds expanded view of what art is and who can make it. Annie Leibovitz often says she is obsessed. In a recent video interview from her Manhattan studio, she related how obsessed she was with space exploration. She also described her obsession with Abraham Lincoln and how she cleared rooms one Thanksgiving by incessantly talking about the Civil War and Gettysburg. But most of all, she is obsessed with photography, which has been her calling for more than 50 years. It requires drive, she said, and you have to be obsessed. All of these passions and more appear in Annie Leibovitz at Work, a show of about 300 photographs at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Ark. The exhibition, which runs through Jan. 29 before traveling to other museums, is unlike any Ms. Leibovitz, 74, has ever done. But it started small. When she first arrived in Bentonville in 2021, she was there only to shoot a commissioned portrait of the museums founder, Alice L. Walton, daughter of the retailer Sam Walton and an heir to the Walmart fortune. When Ms. Walton suggested that Ms. Leibovitz might want to exhibit at the museum as well, Ms. Leibovitz replied that she was more interested in making new work than in displaying what she had already done. This article is part of the Fine Arts & Exhibits special section on the art worlds expanded view of what art is and who can make it. It was 2:15 on a late-summer Friday afternoon, time for Creative Growths weekly dance party. The artists gathered in the lunch area and began gyrating to tunes from a boom box. Soon, a conga line formed. Chugging along, they snaked their way through their work spaces, then out the front door and back, synchronicity more evident in happy faces than footwork. It was a joyous way to celebrate another week of artistry. Creative Growth is a sprawling art center and gallery near downtown Oakland in a building long ago converted from an auto repair shop. Far more than the dancing on Fridays, what happens here every day is a celebration of art, of life, of the human spirit. Its foremost a tribute to the mystery and marvel of the brains capacity to overcome deficits and, through artistic endeavor, open a window onto an inner self. The artists here have intellectual and developmental disabilities, some with autism, some with Down syndrome, some nonverbal, some blind, some deaf and many who communicate better through the work they produce. Untrained in the conventional sense of art schools and mentors, they respond, instead, to an inexplicable force that guides their eyes, hands and instincts. This article is part of the Fine Arts & Exhibits special section on the art worlds expanded view of what art is and who can make it. Jon Shirley discovered Alexander Calder in a book for a high school humanities class, and then saw his work in person on a school trip to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. He took really simple elements, wire, steel, paint, and created a whole new art form, Mr. Shirley said. And all of a sudden he created sculpture that was open, that moved, and that was constantly changing. It just grabbed me. Soon after, he encountered Lobster Trap and Fish Tail, a large mobile that evokes the motion of the sea, hanging in a stairwell at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Sustainability and environmental responsibility are now baked into all the architecture and design choices. The European paintings skylights project, alone, will reduce the Mets overall carbon footprint by 7 percent modern, high-performance systems mean less energy required for climate control a huge savings from a change that most visitors will never notice. Skylights are one of the worst things you could ever do, Mr. Hernandez-Eli said as a piece of free advice to all museum architects. Water will get in over time. Dont do them. The new skylights let in a more even and diffuse light, but the effect is subtle, and people will likely be more focused on the other changes to the galleries still under wraps and the installation on view, Look Again: European Paintings 1300-1800. The emphasis on environmental performance and dealing with the climate crisis is not separate and apart from the discussion around aesthetics, Mr. Hernandez-Eli said. I think that oftentimes those two things get divorced. Youre either focused on what a thing looks like or how a thing performs. Our argument here is that theyre not mutually exclusive, theyre merged. The granite floor of the Rockefeller Wing, part of a 40,000-square-foot, $90 million redesign led by Kulapat Yantrasast and his firm WHY Architecture in collaboration with the architecture firm Beyer Blinder Belle is an instructive example. Typically in such a project, all new floors would be a given. Instead, the decision was made to sandblast the existing shiny granite flooring to give it a rougher surface, saving an estimated $5 million and also saving a large addition to a landfill. This article is part of the Fine Arts & Exhibits special section on the art worlds expanded view of what art is and who can make it. The Skys the Limit. Thats the title of one of the featured exhibitions at the National Museum of Women in the Arts here, which is reopening after a two-year, $65 million renovation. And why not aim high again? Located in a former Masonic Temple that once forbade women from entering, the museum became the first one in the United States solely dedicated to championing women through the arts. The 1908 six-story, wedge-shaped, Classical Revival-style building just three blocks from the White House was designed by the local architectural firm Wood, Donn & Deming. The museum, which opened in 1987, has undergone an interior renovation to create approximately 4,500 square feet of new exhibition and programming space. Galleries have been enlarged to better present contemporary artworks and complex installations, while accessibility also has been improved. A highlight of the reopening is the museums inaugural, second-floor exhibition, The Skys the Limit, on view through Feb. 25, 2024. It features contemporary sculpture and immersive installations by 13 artists from the United States and overseas. Of a total of 33 works, 17 hang from the gallerys ceiling, including Sonya Clarks 2005 Curls, a celebration of Black hair made from plastic combs. And Alison Saars 2012 Undone, a blue-black figure of a woman seated in a chair and wearing a gauzy white gown, hangs from a wall and drapes down into the gallery space. This article is part of the Fine Arts & Exhibits special section on the art worlds expanded view of what art is and who can make it. Three groundbreaking Black portraiture artists have exhibitions this fall at university art museums, two of which are Ivy League schools historically white spaces with pasts that are entangled with slavery. The shows speak to the evolution of art institutions as they confront calls to diversify, which began in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020 when museums nationwide were charged with racism and discriminatory practices. Lauren Haynes, director of curatorial affairs and programs at the Queens Museum in New York City, and co-curator of one of the three university exhibitions, said she hopes these are part of a sustained effort by museums of all sizes to create exhibitions and collections that reflect their communities and the larger world in which they exist. Yale Universitys history includes the use of enslaved African labor and faculty members who led the American Eugenics movement of the 1920s and 1930s. The first nine presidents of Princeton University owned enslaved people, and a slave auction took place on campus in 1766. Duke Universitys history is entwined with slavery, post-Emancipation segregation and white supremacy. In 2018, the universitys trustees voted to change the name of a building honoring an early benefactor of the school, Julian Carr, who was a white supremacist and Ku Klux Klan member. Dear listeners, Todays Amplifier is based on an idea my colleague Jon Pareles mentioned when he was working on a profile of Devo: How about a playlist of bands that wear uniforms? That prompt got me thinking, of course, of Devos fire-engine red energy dome hats. But also of doo-wop groups and early rockers in matching duds, of country acts in custom Nudie suits, and of girl groups past and present in coordinated colors. Clearly a playlist was in order. There are plenty of different reasons musicians wear uniforms. Sometimes especially in the case of Motown groups matching outfits bring an air of polish and professionalism. Theyre also a handy and enduring means of visual branding; if you see a scrawny dude with shaggy hair in ripped jeans and a black leather jacket, a song by the Ramones just might pop into your head. But even when a strict sartorial aesthetic risks becoming a gimmick, it can also keep the focus on the music. As Meg White told The Guardian in a 2005 interview, speaking of the White Stripes red-and-white dress code, like a uniform at school, you can just focus on what youre doing because everybodys wearing the same thing. Todays playlist is a brief sonic tour through some of musics most iconic uniforms. It contains quite a few omissions, though. I featured Kraftwerk on Tuesdays playlist, so I didnt want to repeat myself even though their robotic coordinated costumes are totally worth mentioning. I also wish I could have included the proto-punk group the Monks, who often dressed like their namesakes, but the bands great 1966 album Black Monk Time isnt available on any streaming platforms. (If you havent heard it, try to find it in a more old-fashioned way. It rules.) Nathan Thrall had planned to visit several cities this fall promoting his new book, A Day in the Life of Abed Salama, a reported look at Israels occupation of the West Bank. But after Hamas launched its deadly attacks on Israeli civilians, days after the books release this month, readings in London, New York, Los Angeles and Washington were postponed or canceled. They are among a growing number of events highlighting Palestinian culture, society and politics that have been called off or put on hold since the war began. A concert of young Palestinian musicians was indefinitely postponed in London. The Boston Palestine Film Festival decided not to hold live screenings and went online. And in one of the most high-profile cancellations, a German literary organization called off an awards ceremony at the Frankfurt Book Fair to honor the Palestinian novelist Adania Shibli. Some organizers said they were calling off the Palestinian-themed events because of security concerns. Others cited sensitivity, calling the cancellations and postponements understandable, if unfortunate, responses at a moment when emotions are raw: The Hamas attack killed at least 1,400 Israelis in what President Biden called the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust, and since then Israeli strikes have killed more than 4,100 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. But some fear that the net effect will be to muzzle events, and voices, that might have promoted greater understanding at a key moment in the history of the region. Its obviously a very sensitive issue, said Aaron Terr, the director of public advocacy for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, a free-speech watchdog. Thats exactly when free speech is so valuable. We should want to maximize expression on such a fraught and controversial issue. We should try to work out our differences through dialogue and criticism. Londons Southwark Cathedral cited security concerns when it canceled an Oct. 11 concert celebrating the 10th anniversary of PalMusic UK, a charity based in London that supports young Palestinian musicians. The event was to have featured three young Palestinians on piano, oud, and ney, a wind instrument. We were clearly disappointed that there wasnt an opportunity to have a concert that celebrated peace and was a ray of light for musicians in Palestine, Sal Sherratt, PalMusics director, said in an interview. However, we completely respect that safety is foremost, and frankly it was just days after the outbreak of war, with considerable tensions in London. A Hilton hotel in Houston canceled the annual conference of the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights planned for later this month, citing escalating security concerns in the current environment. Ahmad Abuznaid, the groups executive director, said that the group had also noticed a concerted effort online to block the event: We saw on social media, folks posting racist rhetoric in their calls to the Hilton to cancel. Mr. Terr, of the free expression group, warned that the postponements and cancellations could have a chilling effect even when done out of concern for safety. It enables the hecklers veto, he said, where people are able to shut down speakers just by threatening to create a disturbance. When the Boston Palestine Film Festival canceled its live screenings this month, it said in a statement that it strives to create space for our community to gather and that space is needed today more than ever. However, it continued, we are committed to centering the safety of our audiences and to being sensitive to all members of our community who have been impacted. In Germany, the decision to cancel the awards ceremony at the Frankfurt Book Fair for Shibli set off controversy. She won the award for her novel Minor Detail, which begins in 1949 and includes an account of the gang rape and murder of a Bedouin girl by an Israeli Army unit. The cancellation of the ceremony was denounced in an open letter signed by hundreds of writers and editors including the Nobel laureates Annie Ernaux, Abdulrazak Gurnah and Olga Tokarczuk that said the book fair had a responsibility to be creating spaces for Palestinian writers to share their thoughts, feelings, reflections on literature through these terrible, cruel times, not shutting them down. Thrall, the writer whose readings were postponed, is traveling from Jerusalem, where he is based, to several other cities to discuss his new book. He planned several events with his books primary subject, Abed Salama, a Palestinian man who went in search of his 5-year-old son, who was in a bus accident, all while navigating the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem as a Palestinian. Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal has said that the total damage caused by the Russian aggression to the environment in Ukraine currently amounts to EUR 55.6 billion. "According to the Environmental Protection Ministry of Ukraine, the total environmental damage caused by the Russian aggression today amounts to more than UAH 2 trillion, or EUR 55.6 billion... Half of these losses are due to air pollution from forest fires, missile attacks, and burning of petroleum products. Pollution of land more than UAH 980 billion, water reservoirs UAH 60 billion," the press service of the Ukrainian government said in a statement, citing Shmyhal. According to the prime minister, the damage caused by Russia's terrorist attack on the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant dam exceeds UAH 146 billion. "The irrigation systems of farmland, where around 2 million tonnes of grain were grown per year, were left without water. It is 70% of the grain exported by Ukraine to Africa in 2022," he said. The head of government recalled that more than 174,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory are considered potentially mined, and more than 3 million hectares of forests are affected by the war. "At the Council of Europe Summit in Reykjavik, the International Register of War Losses was introduced, which also contains an environmental component. This is the first element of the compensation mechanism. In total, it will have three components: the register of losses, the commission for reviewing claims, and the compensation fund. It is important that the fund is replenished precisely from confiscated Russian assets," Shmyhal said. Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous nights highlights that lets you sleep and lets us get paid to watch comedy. Here are the 50 best movies on Netflix right now. Get Out of Jail Free Plea Sidney Powell, a former lawyer for Donald Trump, pleaded guilty in the Georgia election interference case, agreeing to testify against other defendants, possibly including the former president. Powell, who will avoid prison time, will also have to pay a $9,000 fine and write a letter of apology to the people of Georgia. On Thursday, Seth Meyers said it was still shocking to him that when discussing a former president, I have to say one of the four criminal cases and you dont even know which one Im talking about. That decision gives U.S. officials new sway over companies in the Netherlands and Japan, where some of the most advanced chip machinery is made. In particular, U.S. rules will now stop shipments of some machines that use deep ultraviolet, or DUV, technology made mainly by the Dutch firm ASML, which dominates the lithography market. Vera Kranenburg, a China researcher at the Clingendael Institute, a Dutch think tank, said that while ASML had made clear that it would follow the regulations, the company was already chafing under earlier regulations that barred it from exporting a more sophisticated lithography machine to China. Theyre of course not happy about the export controls, she said. After being thrust into geopolitics yet again, ASML has been careful in its response, saying in a statement this week that it complies with all laws and regulations in the countries where it operates. Peter Wennink, the chief executive, said the company would not be able to ship certain tools to just a handful of Chinese chip factories. But it is still sales that we had in 2023 that well not have in 2024, he added. In a statement, the Dutch foreign trade minister, Liesje Schreinemacher, said that the Netherlands shared U.S. security concerns and continuously exchanges information with the United States, but that ultimately, every country decides for itself what export restrictions to impose. She pointed to more permissive restrictions announced by the Dutch government in June. A spokesman for the U.S. Department of Commerce declined to comment. ASMLs technology has enabled leaps in global computing power. The increasing precision of its machines which have tens of thousands of components and cost as much as hundreds of millions of dollars each has allowed circuitry on chips to get progressively smaller, letting companies pack more computing power into a tiny piece of silicon. This was our candy, said Ms. Maher, the author of Delicious El Salvador. Ayote en miel is served throughout many countries in Latin America, often during Dia de los Muertos, a two-day holiday that is celebrated on Nov. 1 and 2. The ayote is a green hard-skinned squash that is native to Central America. Its flesh is similar to that of an acorn or butternut squash or a Cinderella pumpkin. For ayote en miel, it is cooked for hours in panela or piloncillo, unrefined cane sugar, an ingredient that was first cultivated in New Guinea and brought to Latin America by Europeans. Spices like cinnamon, allspice and cloves are added, and, over time, the squash absorbs the honey-like syrup to create a jammy texture. Ayote was a staple in Aztec and Mayan cultures, said Regina Marchi, a professor at Rutgers University and the author of Day of the Dead in the USA: The Migration and Transformation of a Cultural Phenomenon. Indigenous people put the squash on their altars during their harvest festivals in exchange for their ancestors guidance and blessings. Before colonization, they might have prepared it with other sweeteners like agave nectar or mashed fruits. Today, people will place ayote en miel, along with other foods like pan de muerto, on their home altars or at the tombstones of their relatives on Nov. 1 for their ancestors to enjoy. At the end of the celebration, those foods are eaten by living family members and neighbors or donated to those in need. Traditions like these were so foundational to the culture of Indigenous Latin Americans that even after Spaniards began to convert people to Christianity these customs endured, commemorated during the Catholic All Saints Day (Nov. 1) and All Souls Day (Nov. 2). But many of these Indigenous traditions were interrupted in El Salvador because of a decades-long civil war. In 1932, more than 30,000 native Pipil people were massacred by the countrys military dictatorship, which led some to conceal their heritage and customs out of fear. When a peace accord was signed in 1996, many felt more comfortable celebrating again. Quetcy M. Lozada, a first-term Philadelphia City Council member, stood on a September evening near an elementary school just off Kensington Avenue, the epicenter of a sprawling fentanyl market in a city that saw a record 1,413 drug overdose deaths last year. Just a block away, the street and sidewalks were dotted with used syringes and their discarded orange caps. Kids have to go through this every day, Ms. Lozada said, her voice rising. Children are so impacted that they dont want to come to school. Public health experts have long endorsed a controversial strategy to blunt the opioid epidemic that has been sweeping cities like Philadelphia: supervised drug consumption sites, in which people are allowed to take illicit drugs under professional supervision. Who was Mollie Burkhart? Mollie Kyle was a single woman from a wealthy Osage family, which made her a target. In 1917, Ernest Burkhart, the handsome 20-something nephew of William Hale, married her at the urging of his uncle, who had designs on her and her familys headrights. A few years after they were married, members of Mollies family began dying in suspicious ways. First, in 1918, a sister, Minnie Smith, died of what doctors called a peculiar wasting illness (probably poisoning). Then, in 1921, another sister, Anna Brown, was shot in the back of the head and dumped in a ravine, a brutal contract killing orchestrated by Hale that kicked off the Reign of Terror. Over the next two years, Mollies mother, Lizzie Q, and her final surviving sister, Rita Smith, also died in a probable poisoning and a home explosion, respectively. With each death, Mollie and therefore Ernest inherited additional headrights. There was another reason Mollie Burkhart was a perfect candidate for Hales scheme: She was diabetic, so a premature death would be easy to attribute to her illness at a time when insulin was not widely available. Corrupt doctors in Hales control began injecting her with poison under the guise of administering an experimental new treatment. (She recovered after moving away and getting treatment at a hospital.) Why did it take so long for the federal government to intervene? The Osage Tribal Council suspected Hale early on, but it couldnt get anyone to testify against him: Hale had bribed or threatened many witnesses into silence. Local authorities declined to investigate or, in the case of the coroner, falsified documents. Hale also covered his tracks, participating in the murder investigations and even offering rewards for leads. But in 1923, after the death toll had risen to more than two dozen, the council issued a resolution asking the federal government to look into the matter. That April, J. Edgar Hoover assigned agents from the Bureau of Investigation to the case. (It would later be renamed the Federal Bureau of Investigation.) Posing as a cattle buyer, an insurance salesman, a medicine man and an oil prospector a subplot that didnt make it into the film four undercover agents from the bureau, led by Tom White (played by Jesse Plemons), lived among the Osage for two years and gained their trust. Eventually, people began speaking out against Hale. In her feature debut, The Assistant (2020), the Australian filmmaker Kitty Green followed an underling (Julia Garner) at a film company run by a toxic male boss, tracking her growing understanding of his harassment. The taut drama was quickly understood to be a prescient take on gender dynamics in the nascent #MeToo era. Greens latest film, The Royal Hotel, a subversive thriller, follows two broke American backpackers (Garner and Jessica Henwick) as they take temporary gigs bartending in a pub in a remote Australian mining town. The men there are not as powerful, but they can be every bit as menacing. Green, 39, didnt set out to direct back-to-back movies about women navigating unsafe environments at work or simply in public. Her gut instincts led her there. I guess I like to make films about things Im afraid of, she said. And I think as a woman in this world, it naturally becomes about gender dynamics and those kinds of spaces, because I think thats where my fear is realized. She grew up in Melbourne, where her parents, Peter and Janina Green, were both teachers of art and media. Her mothers work as a photographer and prominent professor helped inform her own creative outlook, she said in a recent video interview from London, where The Royal Hotel was making the festival rounds. Shed often leave the films she watched outside my room theyd be in the Blockbuster case, so Id never know what I was getting. Id just slot it in and itd be like Hanekes Piano Teacher or something. It was that kind of film education. Why is it important for you to elevate the stories of those who exist in that very particular space between cultures? To me, thats quintessentially what it means to be American. You come to America and youre allowed in many ways to continue your original national identity and still become American, and preserve those two things side by side. Also I wanted to take back the narrative of what it meant to be American. But more than anything, when youre from two different places, youre a bit of an outsider of both. And you do see the absurdity of both sides in some ways, and you understand it probably more than others would. So in some ways you become a translator of both cultures. Even Leila being a lesbian who gets pregnant by a man, as you did, plays in that in-between space. My family was so confused. Thats really the truth. Because Ive been so adamantly with a woman and had been married and queer. We went out for drinks, and I was about to wimp out. Then the father of my daughter was like, Youve got to tell them. I was like, Ill send them email. And I did blurt it out just like that. Then they thought he was gay. They were so confused. The story of my life. As confused as me. [Laughs] That was very hard for me even to say bisexual for a long time. I was like, no, Im queer. Also because of politics. Its important that we have a sense of gay rights, regardless of the spectrum that youre on. Im from an older generation; my daughters generation has a completely different perspective on it. It was very important for me just to be adamant about our political rights as a community. But I realized life is more messy than the political movements allow us to be. Writing Scary Movie 3 was way harder than writing Chernobyl, the Emmy-winning scribe Craig Mazin told British GQ last year. Mazin said that he, along with his co-writer Pat Proft, would count more than 70 script revisions thanks to relentless demands from Bob Weinstein of Miramax to turn the movie into a raunchy sex comedy. Even now, Mazin loves Scary Movie 3, as does Zucker, who considers it one of his three best movies. Often asked if he could make his movies today, Zucker has a favorite line: Sure, just without the jokes. Nowadays, a good spoof is hard to find. A few theories involve cultural and moviemaking changes, as if were post-satire or post-genre. Franchises and tentpoles either dont even try to beat the Oscar bait allegations anymore, or they commit to the bit so hard that it ricochets more than the car that went to outer space in F9. As the decade wore on, no one was safe from the onslaught of parodies, mostly with the word Movie in the title (Not Another Teen Movie, Date Movie, Disaster Movie, Superhero Movie, et al.). The gag got old, and the spoof soon became a nightmare. Its fitting, then, that the franchise that single-handedly revived the genre would also deliver the final blow with Scary Movie V in 2013. Parody flicks have been dying a slow death ever since, and shocker Scary Movie 3 might have been the killer all along. The calls to New Yorkers have a familiar ring to them. They all sound like Mayor Eric Adams only in Spanish. Or Yiddish. Or Mandarin. Has the mayor been taking language lessons? The answer is no, and the truth is slightly more expensive and, in the eyes of privacy experts, far more worrisome. The mayor is using artificial intelligence to reach New Yorkers through robocalls in a number of languages. The calls encourage people to apply for jobs in city government or to attend community events like concerts. I walk around sometimes and people turn around and say, I just know that voice. That voice is so comforting. I enjoy hearing your voice, the mayor said at a recent news conference. Now theyre able to hear my voice in their language. In her new memoir, Worthy, she answers big questions, poses others to readers and sets the record straight on her marriage to Will Smith. One of the goals of the Israeli war in the Gaza Strip is the elimination of the Hamas group by destroying its military and state potential, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant said, speaking at a meeting of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee in Tel Aviv, The Times of Israel reports. He says the objectives include eliminating the Hamas terror group by destroying its military and governmental capabilities, and completely removing any responsibility Israel has over Gaza by creating a new security regime in the Strip, the message reads. In addition, the head of the Ministry of Defense said that the war would consist of three main phases, and today Israel is in the first stage of the military campaign. "We are in the first phase of a military campaign with airstrikes and then ground maneuvers to kill militants and destroy infrastructure in order to defeat and destroy Hamas," the minister said. During the second phase, combat will continue, but at a reduced intensity, as troops work to "eliminate pockets of resistance," Gallant said. The third step will be the creation of a new security regime in the Gaza Strip, the removal of Israels responsibility for day-to-day life in the Gaza Strip, and the creation of a new security reality for the citizens of Israel and the residents of the [area surrounding Gaza], he says. The judge presiding over the civil fraud trial of Donald J. Trump fined the former president $5,000 on Friday for a blatant violation of a gag order imposed this month. The judge, Arthur F. Engoron, stopped short of holding Mr. Trump in contempt but warned that the former president still could face harsher punishments, even jail time, if he ran afoul of the order again. In the trials opening days, Justice Engoron had barred Mr. Trump from attacking his court staff after the former president posted a picture on social media of Justice Engorons law clerk, Allison Greenfield, with Senator Chuck Schumer, the majority leader. Mr. Trump labeled Ms. Greenfield Schumers girlfriend and said she was running this case against me. A spokeswoman for Mr. Schumer this month called the social media post ridiculous, absurd, and false, adding that the senator did not know Ms. Greenfield. Roland A. Pattillo, a gynecologic oncologist who had been treating and researching female cancers for decades, had long been haunted by the curious case of Henrietta Lacks, a young, impoverished Black woman who died of cervical cancer in 1951 yet whose cells lived on and made medical history. They were known as the HeLa cell line, and they had been used to develop the polio vaccine, treatments for H.I.V. and other landmark medical advances. Like most medical researchers, Dr. Pattillo had known about the HeLa cells since he was a graduate student. As it happened, he had also been a fellow in the Johns Hopkins lab in Baltimore that had first cultured them, one of the few Black doctors working there in the late 1960s. But unlike many other scientists, Dr. Pattillo was keenly focused on the fact that there was a human being behind those cells, and that she had left a family behind. For years he had wanted to honor her contributions to science. In the early 1990s, when he arrived at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, a historically Black institution, to help start its residency program and direct its gynecology oncology department, Dr. Pattillo organized a symposium on the HeLa cells and dedicated it to Henrietta Lacks. The author of this newsletter takes a generally dim view of wealthy donors who give lots of money to Americas richest universities, and an especially critical view of those who do so despite harboring strong objections to the leftward ideological drift of those same institutions. But the ongoing donor revolts at a few notable schools following administrative temporizing over the proper response to Hamass massacre of Israeli civilians and pro-Hamas statements by certain student groups offer an opportunity to be constructive and prescriptive, not just critical. So for any rich person or rich foundation currently reconsidering the way they give to elite academia, here are some thoughts about the modern university landscape and what money can and cant accomplish therein. First, Jewish donors probably cant win the identity politics game. This point is made effectively by Jason Willick in The Washington Post, responding to those donors who seem primarily upset by the delay in official recognition of Israeli suffering and whose main desire seems to be that schools like Cornell or the University of Pennsylvania acknowledge a cause near to their hearts as readily as they acknowledge other causes. The problem, Willick points out, is that neither Israeli nor American Jewish interests have a strong position in the inverted hierarchy that dominates academic discourse. The State of Israel is too powerful, notwithstanding its cruel enemies, and broadly speaking American Jews are too materially successful to fit neatly on the oppressed side of the oppressor/oppressed binary. And the conspiratorial side of contemporary progressivism, its constant focus on the domination of the powerless by the powerful, can blur into old-fashioned antisemitic narratives, with the specter of Jewish privilege lurking behind the language of white privilege. (A recent study in the Journal of Race, Ethnicity and Politics found that Hispanics and African Americans agreed with antisemitic statements at rates similar to white Americans who identify with the alt-right not an ideal indicator for the Jewish position within the circle of progressive allyship.) This leads Willick to conclude, correctly, that Jewish donors would be wise to urge college administrations to step back from public political interventions and make stronger commitments to free speech, rather than just trying to make sure that Jews get their share of identitarian solicitude. But this strategy also has inherent limits, insofar as the free speech protected by campus administrators is only as diverse as the people who are speaking. Which brings us to the second point for would-be reshapers of the university: If you cant influence faculty hiring and tenure, you may be wasting your money. A wise friend of mine compared the modern university to a complex medieval church-state arrangement, with administrators as the secular power and faculty as the priests and monks. Donors have leverage over the presidents office and so they naturally focus on ways to use those levers, to get presidents and administrators to fear their wrath (or stinginess) and respond quickly to their criticisms. But if youre concerned about what gets taught and published and believed, youre ultimately concerned with priestcraft, and the priests jealously guard their clerical independence and resist the impositions of administrators, let alone donors trying to work their own will through the presidents office. As, to be clear, they should: Any conservative or small-l liberal model of a university assumes that the faculty, not the administrative caste, should be in charge of education. But if thats the case and youre a donor concerned about the substance of elite education, trying to exert pressure through the administrative system can be an exercise in futility. What you want is a theory of how to address the increasing ideological conformism of the actual professoriate meaning both the disappearance of explicitly conservative faculty (a trend that predates the era of Donald Trump) and the greater pressure on moderate-liberal faculty as their left flank becomes ever stronger and their right flank disappears. Such a theory might involve founding or funding centers or programs within universities that are committed to heterodoxy in some form. It might mean pressuring universities to commit to a project of intellectual diversification in hiring to match other commitments to diversity. It might mean finding a specific faculty member or a group of faculty members who need financial support and can use that support productively. But in each case the goal shouldnt be to simply protect an embattled unwoke professor here or there. You want your money to support a system where ideological diversity increases with every round of tenuring, where heterodoxy reproduces itself rather than being frozen in tokenism. And if thats your goal, you need to be aware of the third point, which is that real influence requires working with the grain of academic culture, not just seeking confrontation. When donors become disillusioned with their alma maters, a frequent impulse is to turn to culture-war and cancellation tactics funding student groups that bring the most controversial possible speaker to campus pour epater les wokes, generating maximal controversy around a particularly radical faculty member or (as weve seen in the past few weeks) trying to impose real-world consequences on student radicalism by making it harder for the radicals to get high-paying jobs. There is a rough justice to some of these efforts, and theres certainly no inherent right to maintain a zealous commitment to dismantling the patriarchal violence of settler-colonialist white supremacy while also getting the Big Law job of your meritocratic dreams. But when donors turn to these methods, they are mostly giving up on constructive change within the school, because the effect within the academy is to ratify a fear of donor influence, a hostility to anything touched by anti-woke or centrist or conservative ideas. A few radical-but-careerist students may shut up, a few faculty leftists may tweet more prudently, but behind the scenes the left will claim vindication in its effort to keep any to-the-right-of-Bernie-Sanders influence at bay. (See, you cant work with them. They hate us for our academic freedom.) Yes, you can temper this left-wing vindication by closing up your checkbook, but final point elite universities are the hardest places to influence or punish, because theyre already so rich. Will the University of Pennsylvania miss the collection of major donors whove denounced the school in the past week? No doubt. Can the University of Pennsylvania survive a fair amount of donor flight, given that its managing an endowment worth $21 billion? You do the math. Which brings us back to my own bias against giving to such institutions in the first place. If you want actual influence over American academic life, youre just much better off finding a smaller or poorer school where your money will be welcomed, your opportunities to effect real transformation will be ample and your millions can build something dynamic or beautiful without always fighting through the thicket of powerful interest groups that grows up around powerful institutions. And to harp again on a frequent theme, if youre absurdly, obscenely rich and care about higher education, you should Google Leland Stanford and then go and do likewise. But I also understand that its hard to let go of the place where you yourself went to college, where you were young and happy oh-so-many years ago. In which case our disillusioned donors should consider choosing neither the waste of giving directly to schools whose ideology they now oppose nor the dubious satisfactions of doing battle with that ideology while possibly helping to entrench it. If their memories of student life are what drives their generosity, then donors should find ways to give money to the actual students through the Hillel or other Jewish or Israeli student groups if youre especially concerned with the Jewish place on campus, but more generally through political or religious groups that promise to work against the schools dominant assumptions, or through student associations that seem to foster free debate, or through campus-adjacent institutions that serve students but are independent of the schools. But not with the goal of using such student groups as a means of conflict with the administration or the faculty. Rather, with the goal that such groups can become microcosms of the university you loved once and fear no longer exists, cells in a body yet to be restored, whose health and flourishing within the large world of Penn or Harvard or wherever is an end unto itself. Breviary Michael Brendan Dougherty and Chris Caldwell on the defeat of populism in Poland. Anthony Grafton on Renaissance magic. Anthony Lane on Arthur Brooks. Against George Orwell against boys weeklies. Zvi Mowshowitz takes notes on falling fertility. Keith Phipps revisits Martin Scorseses Kundun. The royal wedding we need. This Week in Decadence We have since at least the middle of the 20th century, prompted by the ideological desolation following World War II, been sliding into historical despair. This has been consolidated in the early 21st century by the increasing popularity of unfalsifiable identitarian doctrines stemming from the work of Foucault and his acolytes. Much of Foucaults most popular work revolves around suggestions that all social connections are zero-sum power relations, and that truth is a purely subjective concept. This has led to a sentimentalization of history among the most highly educated and, subsequently, a revulsion toward it. Even where a belief that history is where bad people live does not take hold in the individual, it forms a kind of miasma swirling around the resistant individual which that individual must then expend great energy to fight against and it is a draining and emotionally taxing fight, for they who know that history is more than something to get upset about also know that all our hopes for the future lay in its archives. Historical despair is anathema to high ambition for reasons that are simultaneously empirically undeniable and fundamentally elliptical, feeling that one is part of a historical continuum, with a proper means to build upon the work and the example of exalted forebears, is what stimulates a great deal of worthy work. Maxi Gorynski, On a Lack of Ambition (Oct. 13) The collapse of the House Republican majority into chaos is the clearest possible evidence that the party is off the rails. Of course, the Republican Party has been off the rails for a while before now. This was true in 2010, when Tea Party extremists swept through the partys ranks, defeating more moderate Republicans and pretty much any other Republican with an interest in the actual work of government and establishing a beachhead for radical obstructionism. It was true in 2012, when many Republican voters went wild for the likes of Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich in the partys presidential primary, before settling on the more conventionally presidential Mitt Romney. But even then, Romney reached out to Donald Trump famous, politically speaking, for his birther crusade against President Barack Obama for his blessing, yet another sign that the Republican Party was not on track. The truth of the Republican Partys deep dysfunction was obvious in 2013, when congressional Republicans shut down the government in a quixotic drive to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and it was obvious in 2016, when Republican voters nominated Trump for president. Everything that has followed, from the rise of influencer-extremist politicians like Representative Lauren Boebert to the partys complicity in insurrectionist violence, has been a steady escalation from one transgression to another. The Republican Party is so broken that at this point, its congressional wing cannot function. The result is that this period is now the longest the House of Representatives has been in session without a speaker. And as Republican voters gear up to nominate Trump a third time for president, the rest of the party is not far behind. The only question to ask, and answer, is why. In this period of intense Israeli military preparation following Hamass horrific terror attack on Oct. 7, and equally intense diplomatic activities surrounding the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, a crucial question has centered on Egypts role. Why has Egypt appeared hesitant to relieve the humanitarian distress affecting Palestinian civilians on the other side of its eight -mile border with Gaza, especially since there really is no alternative to Cairo helping deal with the crisis? Finding an answer lies in Egypts own challenges, and whether a nation with its own serious security problems and economic problems can be enough of a safe haven for others. Egypt has, along with Israel, blockaded Gaza on and off for 16 years, containing the enclaves largely Muslim population while Cairo deals with its own insurgent threat in the area. It must worry about the political complications that could come from a large influx of Palestinians. Inevitably, Egypt will in some sense have to pivot, now, and treat those living a few miles away as neighbors in crisis, rather than a problem to be penned in. The announcement on Wednesday that Israel has agreed to allow a batch of humanitarian supplies to enter Gaza from Egypt is surely welcome, as the aid will finally begin to address an extremely dire situation on the ground. Poverty and social-economic distress in Gaza were already serious problems before this war, with more than two million people crowded into one of the most densely populated areas of the world. When I visited Gaza regularly in the early 1980s as part of my responsibilities then in the U.S. Embassy in Israel, the crisis was already evident high unemployment, subsistence living conditions and a pervasive lack of hope. Over 16 years of Hamass control have worsened the situation considerably. Now, the Israeli siege in response to the Hamas attacks, including cuts to power, water supplies and communications amid continuing bombardment, has created even more catastrophic conditions. Egypt has no love lost for Hamas, the Palestinian movement that is an offshoot of Egypts Muslim Brotherhood. The Egyptian authorities have had a fractured relationship with the Brotherhood since its founding in 1928, including several serious and violent confrontations. Elements of a Brotherhood offshoot in the army the Egyptian Islamic Jihad were responsible for the 1981 assassination of President Anwar Sadat. The movement helped influence militants such as Ayman al-Zawahri, who became a leading figure in Al Qaeda. Egypts self-interest has been to keep the Brotherhood in check, to deal with other extremist elements in Sinai and thus to be wary of Hamas, centered just across the border in Gaza. At the same time, Egypt has managed to retain channels of communication with Hamas that have proven to be extremely important during the Islamist groups frequent confrontations with Israel. Working alone, or in conjunction with Qatar, Turkey and Germany, among others, Egypt has jumped in early during these conflicts to help pave the way for a cease-fire and to start thinking about the post-conflict situation. This occurred in the extended Israel-Hamas war in 2014 and the confrontation in 2021. For this reason, and by virtue of Egypts Sinai Peninsula sitting on the other side of the Rafah crossing point, attention has focused on Egypt as a prime player in the effort to address the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza. I went to bed on Tuesday night assuming, as many people did, that an Israeli airstrike had killed at least 500 people in Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza. Thats what the Gaza Health Ministry claimed, and those claims made headlines in leading news outlets, including this one. Politicians issued impassioned condemnations of what some called Israeli war crimes. Social media lit up with anguished howls of grief and rage. Furious protests erupted throughout the Middle East. A historic synagogue in Tunisia was reportedly set alight, and a synagogue was attacked with a firebomb in Berlin. The leaders of Jordan and Egypt canceled a meeting with President Biden, where they would have discussed aid to Gaza. Of course, Id read Israels insistence that an errant Islamic Jihad rocket had caused the explosion at the hospital, but I didnt put much stock in it, because in the past when Israel accidentally killed civilians, it has blamed Palestinians for the deaths. In May of last year, the Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was shot and killed while covering an Israeli raid on the Jenin refugee camp. Israeli officials said she was shot either by a Palestinian or by an Israeli soldier aiming at a Palestinian gunman. A New York Times investigation, however, contradicted the official Israeli line. It found that the bullet that killed Abu Akleh was fired from the direction of an Israeli military convoy and that there were no armed Palestinians near her when she was shot. A few months later, during another round of Israeli bombing of Gaza, five Palestinian boys were killed in a cemetery. Initially, Israeli officials blamed a misfired Islamic Jihad rocket for the deaths. But as the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported, an army inquiry found they were actually killed by an Israeli airstrike. With the hospital explosion, it seemed history was repeating itself on a larger and more tragic scale. Perhaps it was, just not in the way I thought. As I write this, it looks increasingly likely that Israel was correct about an Islamic Jihad rocket hitting Al-Ahli hospital. That, at least, is what both early American intelligence and a number of independent experts have found. If their analysis holds up, it means the best analogy for this world-convulsing event is not the killings of five boys in Gaza last year. It is the myth of a massacre at the Jenin refugee camp in 2002. That year, a Hamas suicide bomber killed 30 people at a Passover Seder in the seaside city of Netanya, in what was, until this month, the deadliest single attack on Jewish Israelis since the countrys founding. As part of its response, Israel Defense Forces invaded the West Bank city of Jenin, leveling dozens of refugee camp buildings. Palestinian leaders claimed Israel had committed a massacre; the Palestinian official Saeb Erekat told CNN that at least 500 people had been killed. People all over the world believed these reports; as a BBC headline put it, Jenin massacre evidence growing. But Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the United Nations later concluded that the reports of a massacre werent true. The real Palestinian death toll was less than 60 still an awful number but significantly fewer than what was feared. Human Rights Watch soon revealed that its researchers had found no evidence to sustain claims of massacres or large-scale extrajudicial executions by the I.D.F. in Jenin refugee camp, even though many of the civilian deaths amounted to unlawful or willful killings by the I.D.F. This finding, that the Israeli military had committed only a small fraction of the extrajudicial killings it was accused of, was not an exoneration. But it should have been a cautionary tale about accepting incendiary claims of Israeli atrocities at face value. The rush to judgment on Tuesday night will continue to haunt us all. Not long after the allegations emerged of a massacre in Jenin, The Guardian said, Jenin already has that aura of infamy that attaches to a crime of especial notoriety, predicting that it would live on in memory and myth. The Guardian was wrong about the scale of death in Jenin but right about the afterlife of the rumors. The narrative that Israel perpetrated a massacre at Al-Ahli will soon take on the same aura of infamy, with the amateur forensics of the internet only making it worse. In much of the world, there will be no dissuading people from holding Israel and, by extension, America liable for the hospital bombing. At the same time, Israel will be able to use this episode to deflect criticism of the violence it really is inflicting on the Palestinians. Jews, whatever their views about Zionism, will be placed in greater danger. As this hideous war grinds on, there will almost certainly be other enormities. We will only compound the horrors if we pretend to be instantly certain about them. The Osage had these events seared in their memories. Yet most Americans had excised even the bureaus sanitized account from their consciences. Like the Tulsa Race Massacre, which occurred during the same period, the Osage Reign of Terror was generally not taught in schools, even in Oklahoma. Mary Jo Webb, an Osage schoolteacher, once placed in her public library in Fairfax, Okla., a paper shed written on the murders, but someone, she said, quietly removed it. The victims history, along with their lives, had been rubbed out. And even now, as their stories are being dramatized in a movie and shown in theaters across the country, there is a campaign in Oklahoma this time with legislation to deter the history from being taught in schools. Last year the Osage Nation Congress unanimously passed a resolution calling for repealing the Oklahoma law that bars teaching the concept that students should feel psychological distress on account of their race. Teachers are scared to speak the truth about whats happened, said Eli Potts, who was elected to the Osage Nation Congress in 2018. I personally have had schools and I know of others who had Osage individuals who were scheduled to speak on Killers of the Flower Moon rescind those offers because of this bill. We owe it to those before us to speak the truth, he continued, regardless of how uncomfortable it makes you feel, because its the truth. Its not just Osage history that is being threatened. Other tribal nations in Oklahoma have joined the Osage in seeking the laws repeal, warning that it undermines accurate learning about their own pasts. And in Bixby, Okla., a public school canceled a lesson plan that focused on Dreamland Burning, a young adult novel about the Tulsa Race Massacre. The movement to suppress elements of American history extends well beyond Oklahoma. According to an analysis by The Washington Post, more than two dozen states have adopted laws that make it easier to remove books from school libraries and to prevent certain teaching on race, gender and sexuality. In 2023, PEN America, which defends freedom of speech, reported that book bans in U.S. public school classrooms and libraries had surged 33 percent over the previous school year, with more than 3,000 recorded removals; among them are classics by the Nobel laureate Toni Morrison (banned in 30 school districts) and Margaret Atwood (banned in 34). School curriculums are being revised to mask discomfiting truths so much so that in Florida students will now be taught that some African Americans benefited from slavery because it gave them skills. After the world premiere of Killers of the Flower Moon at the Cannes Film Festival, Matt Pinnell, Oklahomas lieutenant governor and a Republican, encouraged audiences to see the movie. (His state had even provided financial incentives for the production.) A reporter asked him why, if people from around the world should watch the film, the subject cant be taught without fear in Oklahomas public schools. Though he acknowledged a need to clarify the law, in the five months since the festival, the state legislature has not done so. To the Editor: Re Jordan Loses Secret Ballot to Remain G.O.P. Nominee for Speaker (nytimes.com, Oct. 20): Although Representative Jim Jordan does not have the reputation for being a consensus builder, it appears, with his losing yet another vote to become House speaker, he has fostered a coalition against himself that combines experienced legislators, principled conservatives and what passes these days for moderate Republicans, especially those representing congressional districts that President Biden won in 2020. But what may well be the glue holding these factions together is the prospect of the tone of a Jordan speakership. Reports of intimidating phone-call campaigns to congressional offices, as well as threats of primary challenges directed at those Republicans withholding their votes from Mr. Jordan, may have solidified the opposition to him. Opposite of what his allies intended, these efforts in defense of Mr. Jordan may have triggered fears of the hard-edge tactics that could become common in a Jordan speakership. Mr. Jordan appears to be the victim of what amounts to a political autoimmune response from a decisive part of the House body. Chuck Cutolo Westbury, N.Y. The writer formerly worked on Capitol Hill, including as legislative director for Senator Carl Levin, Democrat of Michigan. To the Editor: Re Student Letter Hits Fault Line in Free Speech (front page, Oct. 19): The unequivocal support for Hamas by some students at elite colleges is irksome and puzzling. These bright young students claim to value tolerance and inclusion while objecting to capital punishment. The savage murders of Israeli babies and senior citizens in their homes and the rape of young Israeli women do not seem to perturb Hamass many followers at Harvard and Columbia, but dont they realize that Hamas brutally persecutes the L.G.B.T.Q. community in Gaza, subjugates women, and tortures and summarily executes dissidents? Ironically, Israel has a much better record on these core human rights issues that progressives insist are key. Adam M. Shaw Baltimore To the Editor: While the article accurately portrays some of the fears invoked by these dangerous attempts at doxxing at Harvard, the damage has extended even further than described. As a member of the class of 2021, Ive heard from several classmates who were included in the doxxing list yet have not been associated for years with the student groups that signed onto this statement holding the Israeli regime responsible for all unfolding violence. Others who appear on the doxxing list are indeed active members of one of the groups, yet had nothing to do with their leaderships signing onto the statement. This is the logical consequence of such McCarthyite tactics: They provide no opportunity for the accused to respond. Bill Ackman, the hedge fund billionaire who urged that the names of students be circulated to avoid hiring them, and others should be ashamed of themselves for allowing a recent Stanford undergraduate to determine the fates of students partly through tips sent to an email address. Such unverified, crowdsourced allegations are misguided in any circumstances, but especially so when they are directed at individuals from marginalized backgrounds. Jonah S. Berger Pittsburgh To the Editor: Students who support the liberation and self-determination of Palestine are being targeted for being antisemitic. The harassment of these students demonstrates that there is no recognition of the free speech rights of those who critique the Israeli governments brutal military occupation. We in the U.S. must end the silencing of dissent about Israels actions. The nonviolent Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement to force changes in policies of forced removal of Palestinians must be honored as a legitimate tactic instead of being labeled antisemitic. We must learn to listen to the legitimate opinions that the U.S. should not be complicit in Israels colonial-settler policies, just as we must listen to the demands for a cease-fire, an end to military aid and a space where Palestinians can represent themselves in diplomatic avenues. Carla S. Schick Oakland, Calif. To the Editor: It strikes me that the students at Harvard who complain about being doxxed misunderstand the concept of free speech. Free speech means that you are free to say whatever is on your mind free of government restrictions. It does not mean that your speech is free of consequences. If you open your mouth and say something stupid, people will naturally think youre stupid. If you say mean things, they likely will think you mean. And if you act as an apologist for terrorists, people will understand you to be an apologist for terrorists. Words have consequences. I, for one, have little sympathy for these individuals. Sanford H. Margolin Piedmont, Calif. A Harder Slap on the Wrist for Sidney Powell? Likely, when we close our eyes and think of a small space, its white walls, no lighting and bad storage, said Nate Berkus. Mr. Berkus, the celebrity interior designer, was standing in a bright, cabinet-outfitted bathroom that he designed for Apartment Therapys Small/Cool NYC, a pop-up exhibition in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. The event, which is running on consecutive weekends this month and will conclude on Sunday, Oct. 29, is halfway between a showhouse and a showroom. More than a dozen 10-by-12-foot room schemes imagined by creators as fresh as Maitri Mody, a fashion influencer who posts on Instagram under the name Honey I Dressed the Pug, and as seasoned as the talk-show host and domestic strategist Drew Barrymore offer tips for loosening up tight quarters. Visitors can steal ideas like Ms. Modys choice of fruit-and-vegetable-shaped hardware on sherbet-colored kitchen cabinets or they can shop the settings using QR codes. Russian troops carry out five missile, 33 air strikes on Ukraines territory over day AFU General Staff Over the past 24 hours, the Russian occupiers launched five missile and 33 air strikes, carried out 32 attacks from multiple launch rocket systems on positions of Ukrainian troops and populated areas, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported. As a result of Russian terrorist attacks, unfortunately, there are deaths and injuries among the civilian population. A school, private residential buildings, apartment buildings and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged, it said on Facebook. More than 110 settlements in Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia and Kherson regions were subjected to artillery and mortar shelling. A radio telescope that discovered evidence of the Big Bang in 1964, revolutionizing the study of the universe, will remain in its original place on Crawford Hill in Holmdel, N.J, town officials announced last week. Rakesh Antala, a real estate developer, had proposed building a senior housing center on the site, a plan that drew opposition from residents and far-flung astronomy buffs. But an agreement between town officials and Mr. Antala seemed to augur the end of the cosmic controversy. The Holmdel Horn Antenna, as it is known, was built in 1959 by AT&T Bell Laboratories, the renowned research arm of the phone company, for an experiment called Project Echo that relayed messages by bouncing microwaves off giant aluminized balloons. In 1964, two young astronomers, Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson, found themselves plagued by an omnidirectional hiss as they surveyed the night sky for their own research. The static was eventually identified as leftover heat from the Big Bang. Its existence provided compelling evidence that the universe had started with a tremendous explosion; ever since, astrophysicists have been studying this radiation for clues to how and why the Big Bang happened. At first, it seemed to be another caprice of two already unusual animals: Flying squirrels and platypuses were found to be fluorescent, absorbing invisible ultraviolet light and re-emitting it in shocking pink or bright cyan. But they are far from alone. According to a paper published in the journal Royal Society Open Science this month, lions, polar bears, scaly-tailed possums and American pikas also fluoresce. So does every mammal species a group of scientists could get their hands on. While this large survey of museum specimens doesnt reveal any broad evolutionary benefit, it overturns the view of mammal fluorescence as an occasional and mysterious quirk. Instead, it appears this trait is basically the default, said Kenny Travouillon, curator of mammalogy at the Western Australian Museum and the papers lead author. Both were traveling a great deal at the time, domestically and internationally, but they kept in touch through texts and met at airport lounges during layovers. It was casual and fun, but we didnt define it, Mr. Ighodaro said. They also saw each other at two H.I.V. conferences one in South Africa in January 2019 and one in Rwanda in December 2019, and later that same month, when they both attended the annual party where they met a year earlier. (This time, we sneaked a kiss upstairs, Mr. Ratevosian said.) Then came the Democratic Iowa caucus in February 2020. The two decided to head there to help out and support Joseph R. Biden Jr. It was a bold move, but one that really paid off, Mr. Ratevosian said. Door-to-door canvassing in Iowa in February is probably a make or break moment. For them, it was a make moment. Sparks really started flying, Mr. Ratevosian said. Their first official date was at Jesses Embers restaurant in Des Moines. Mr. Ighodaro said he felt painfully aware of being the only Black person there, but The staff was so nice. And Jirair made me feel so comfortable. Mr. Ratevosian was impressed that Mr. Ighodaro was in Iowa to begin with. Micheal wasnt even a U.S. citizen, so how awesome was it that he was working to help the political process? Mr. Ratevosian said. He couldnt even vote. When it came time for Terrence Anthony Breschi to propose to his girlfriend, Mary Paulsen MacGill, a jewelry designer, he had a problem on his hands. Could you imagine how hard it would be to find a ring for a woman who designs them for a living? he said. Luckily, as the chief operating officer of Ms. MacGills eponymous company, Mr. Breschi knew whom to ask for help: Marion Albers, Ms. MacGills right-hand woman at work and one of their close friends. She had very specific notes, Mr. Breschi said. With those in mind, in June 2022, he enlisted the help of Gabriella Kiss, a jewelry designer and mentor to Ms. MacGill whose studio in Bangall, N.Y., is about an hours drive from the couples home in Kinderhook, N.Y. Mr. Breschi and Ms. Kiss worked together all summer to create not one, but three rings. The bands are gold and stackable, with a different type of diamond mineral-included, white and brown embedded in each ring, representing Mr. Breschi, Ms. MacGill and their two dogs, Mira-Belle and Ande-Belle. In 2005, when a mutual friend of Kathryn Anne Kenworth and Michael Arend Rozendal tried to set them up on a blind date, Ms. Kenworth demurred. The stakes on a blind date are too high, and I didnt want my friend to be bummed out when it didnt work, she said. Some months later, the same friend not to be thwarted brought Mr. Rozendal to a show at Ms. Kenworths art studio at the Headlands Center for the Arts outside of Sausalito, Calif. Mr. Rozendal was impressed and intrigued by Ms. Kenworths quirky anti-consumerist drawings and cardboard sculptures. Kathryn was so fully herself and immersed in her work, Mr. Rozendal said. Unaware that Ms. Kenworth had a boyfriend in attendance, Mr. Rozendal asked if he could read her palm. Ill admit to it, Mr. Rozendal said. It was a clever way to hold her hand. He learned palmistry from his mother while growing up in Canyon, Texas. As he held her hand, Ms. Kenworth, now 55, felt a strong current of connection. When the show ended, Mr. Rozendal, 50, suggested they walk to the nearby beach. So Ms. Kenworth left her beau behind. At the waters edge, the two talked for hours before they shared a first kiss. If the eyes are the window to the soul, what is Google search history a window to? Our bunions and boils? One glimpse at my boyfriends recent searches caused our already precarious relationship to topple. This is a cautionary tale of the heart as well as the browser. I went over to my boyfriends house on a late Saturday morning. The plan was to work on a puzzle we had tinkered with for months with little progress. The puzzle was not the typical Monet painting or postcard landscape but a color gradient, transitioning from red to orange. My boyfriend, a 3-D designer who wore shirts in goofy prints, belonged to this puzzles target demographic. Predictably, the color gradient puzzle was challenging. Even assembling the outer edges proved to be a task beyond our skill level. With one of his NPR podcasts on, we would hold pieces under the light of a desk lamp, questioning our ability to discern between shades. I found myself wondering about the nature of color itself. What was red? What was orange? Where did one stop and the other begin? The puzzle was a fitting metaphor for our relationship in that I never knew what we were or how to move forward. With a sense of doom, I would stare at the pieces of our fraught connection, turning them 90 degrees, willing them to fit in ways they didnt. Many works of hyperrealism call on old traditions of mimesis, among them anatomical wax models based on real carcasses, a technique dating to the 18th century. Lately, though, new technology has made hyperrealism easier for humans to achieve, while simultaneously complicating the practice. The Australian visual artist Patricia Piccinini, 57, has been making anthropomorphic chimeras out of silicone, fiberglass, leather and human hair for the past two decades: a grotesque porcine creature, its brood suckling at its teats (2002s The Young Family); a bearlike man who could pass for a shaved Bigfoot (2012s The Carrier). Recently, however, she had a disconcerting encounter of her own when she came across images of artworks online that appeared to be attributed to her. It had my name on it, but it wasnt me, the artist said. It was the product of an A.I. art generator one that used randomized machine learning to mimic her reimaginations. What I saw looked like it had been made by someone who had only been told about my work by someone who didnt understand it, she said. Its a worrying development for any artist, but also one that has made human-engineered hyperrealism even more relevant us versus the machines. In 2011, the Austrian-born sculptor Erwin Wurm, 69, modified a red Mercedes-Benz MB100D van so that its rear half curved up the side of a wall. When it was installed four years later outside of the Center for Art and Media in Karlsruhe, Germany, a traffic warden gave it a parking ticket. Wurm says that we live in an age when our brains are constantly trying to make sense of what we see. Is it nature or is it copying nature? he asked. You think its nature, but then you realize, Wait a moment, its not. Its something else. With his series of One Minute Sculptures, begun in 1988, Wurm has taken hyperrealism to its inevitable extreme: Hes turned actual people into bizarre and improbable sculptures. He directs strangers to participate in seemingly impossible scenes in which office supplies protrude out of orifices, or a forehead is attached to a leaning tower of oranges instructing them to pose for 60 seconds or less as he photographs them. OpenAI is in talks to complete a deal that would value the company at $80 billion or more, nearly triple its valuation less than six months ago, according to a person with knowledge of the discussions. The company would sell existing shares in a so-called tender offer led by the venture firm Thrive Capital that would make OpenAI the most valuable start-up in San Francisco, that person said. OpenAI would also become one of the worlds most valuable tech start-ups, behind ByteDance and SpaceX, according to figures from the data tracker CB Insights. Nearly a year after OpenAI sparked an A.I. boom with the release of the online chatbot ChatGPT, the Silicon Valley deal-making machine continues to pump money into the fields leading companies. Amazon said last month that it would invest up to $4 billion in another San Francisco start-up, Anthropic, one of OpenAIs primary competitors. Over the summer, Cohere, a company founded by former Google researchers, raised $270 million, bringing its total funding to more than $440 million. Inflection AI, founded by a former Google executive, raised a $1.3 billion round, bringing its total to $1.5 billion. On the morning of Nov. 6, Nishad Singh, a top executive at the cryptocurrency exchange FTX, sent a message in a group chat with two senior colleagues. Customers were rushing to withdraw funds from the exchange, he wrote. Within the last day, they had tried to move $1.25 billion off the platform, and $120 million in withdrawal requests had come in over the last hour. Caroline Ellison, who ran FTXs sister hedge fund, Alameda Research, replied with an image of a sad face. Sam Bankman-Fried, FTXs founder, responded with a single word: Oof. Less than a year later, Mr. Bankman-Fried, 31, is on trial in federal court in Manhattan, fighting criminal charges that he stole more than $8 billion from FTX customers. The company is bankrupt, and Mr. Singh and Ms. Ellison, both 28, have pleaded guilty to fraud and testified in court against their onetime friend. At the trial, prosecutors have used that testimony as the basis for an unvarnished look inside FTXs rapid unraveling a frantic week in November that ended in one of the largest corporate collapses in recent history. Over dozens of hours, the government has built the most comprehensive picture to date of FTXs final days, drawing on witness accounts, texts and other communications. The prosecutors have even put up a November calendar to help jurors follow the fast-paced sequence of events. The recovery may be coming, slowly. But while so much is gone, so many of the old issues remain: the islands deep reliance on tourism, tension between visitors and residents, soaring real estate prices, concern over disrespect for local traditions and culture. In Lahaina, in the weeks and months to come, increasing tourism will coexist with ongoing relief efforts. Visitors will share the same hotels where evacuees, whove lost everything, are sleeping, receiving free meals and trying to restart their lives. Many residents say theyre not ready for this duality. But they have no choice. We might be in the way In the days after the fires, tourism to Maui was in a free fall. On Aug. 26, 18 days after the fires, the number of people arriving daily on domestic flights plummeted to just over 1,500 people, a 78 percent drop from the same day in 2019, according to the state agency overseeing tourism. Messaging spread on social media for tourists to avoid all of Maui and paralyzed the economy, where tourism accounts for 70 percent of every dollar generated. Last year, about three million visitors spent $5.82 billion on Maui, according to state data. State and local leaders have spent the last two months pleading for tourists to visit. After Oct. 8, if you could come to Hawaii, and really help fortify us, because its been a very tough time, Gov. Josh Green said in a televised interview with CBS. You will be helping our people heal. Google has extended the validity of 50,000 Workspace licenses for employees of the Ukrainian government, Deputy Prime Minister for Innovation, Development of Education, Science and Technology, Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov said on his Telegram channel. He added that this will allow the use of corporate email, cloud storage and other Google Workspace services for free for another year. "Google is extending 50,000 Workspace licenses for the government the results of a meeting with the company's top management. Government employees will be able to use corporate email, cloud storage and other Google Workspace services for free for another year. This will increase their efficiency, as well as ensure protection and security data," Fedorov wrote. According to him, the development of Ukrainian YouTube was discussed separately at the meeting, from the point of view of the need to increase the volume of Ukrainian content. "Another important area is the integration of Google's AI technology into the products of the Ministry of Digital Transformation. We are considering the possibility of using technologies in Mriia [electronic educational service]," the Deputy Prime Minister wrote. Fedorov expressed gratitude to Google top managers Patrick Warnking, Annette Kroeber-Riel, Marta Poslad for their support and visit to Kyiv. He recalled that Google provided a $2 million grant to restart the Diia.Osvita platform and donated 50,000 Chromebooks as part of the Laptop for Every Teacher project. Also, it founded the Ukraine Support Fund with a budget of $5 million to support Ukrainian startups. There is a thing that happens in cities that we think happens in cities when people with lots of different ideas bump into each other on the sidewalk, or at the bar or the grocery store or the gym. Together, they think up things that would never come out of a conference room or the kind of coffee meeting that has a calendar invite. Weird new ideas take root. Innovation follows. The urbanist icon Jane Jacobs identified these collisions as central to what makes cities dynamic. Her followers think of them as the product of serendipity. Economists have their own name for the almost-magical benefit these connections create: knowledge spillovers. The chance encounters facilitated by cities, the economist Edward Glaeser has written, are the stuff of human progress. Remote work has, well, blurred this picture. Can you have serendipity two days a week? Where do people bump into one another when the downtown coffee shops are closed? How do workers spill their knowledge when theyve moved to Montana, or the exurbs? Does that even matter anymore? Its a trying time, certainly, for my view of the world, said Enrico Moretti, a Berkeley economist who has written extensively about why its good for workers, companies and the economy when people cluster in particular cities. Eva Kollisch, who escaped Nazi-occupied Austria when she was a teenager to become an American professor and memoirist who broke new ground in feminist studies and championed equal rights for lesbians, died on Oct. 10 at her home in Manhattan. She was 98. The cause was a chest infection, her son, Uri Berliner, said. The author of two memoirs, Girl in Movement (2000) and The Ground Under My Feet (2007), Ms. Kollisch taught for 30 years at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, N.Y., where, with Gerda Lerner, Joan Kelly and Sherry Ortner, she helped introduce a foundational womens studies curriculum. Professor Lerner recalled in an interview in 2000: We took four faculty: Joan Kelly for Renaissance, myself for American history, Eva Kollisch for literature and Sherry Ortner for anthropology. And we worked together, and we designed the course. It became the basis for a pioneering graduate program in feminist studies. Ms. Kollisch was an activist from an early age: She joined the Trotskyist Workers Party in the mid-1940s, though she ultimately became disillusioned with its rigidity and bureaucracy. She never wavered in her opposition to the war in Vietnam and was arrested twice in protests. A former Florida state lawmaker who sponsored a law that critics nicknamed Dont Say Gay was sentenced on Thursday to four months in federal prison, federal prosecutors announced. The former legislator, Joe Harding, a home health executive from Williston, pleaded guilty in March to charges of wire fraud, money laundering and providing false statements, after he illegally obtained or tried to obtain more than $150,000 in Covid-19 relief loans from the Small Business Administration for two companies that had been dormant until he applied for the funds. He had been initially indicted on six counts in December, but prosecutors dropped three of the charges in a plea deal. Mr. Hardings four-month sentence, which will begin in January, will be followed by a two-year supervised release period, prosecutors said. Kenneth Force, who as the leader of the Merchant Marine Academy Regimental Band from 1971 to 2016 was one of the nations foremost experts in the art of military pomp, died on Oct. 7 in Rye, N.Y. He was 83. A former student of his, Marianne Lepre, said the death, at a long-term nursing facility, was caused by respiratory failure brought on by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Military music arose historically as a means of communicating orders to troops, but it has long since become a ceremonial custom, with trumpet-tooting and drum-rolling tunes like Hail to the Chief and The Red, White and Blue. A military man might say that Captain Force exerted full-spectrum dominance over this territory. At one time or another, he conducted the U.S. Marine Corps Band, which performs for the president; the band of the Black Watch, a Scottish infantry battalion; the bands, in Britain, of Her Majestys Grenadier Guards, Welsh Guards and Royal Marines; and the Dutch Royal Military Band. The authorities in Maryland were investigating the killing of a judge at his home on Thursday night, and identified the suspect as a man who had been a plaintiff in an ongoing divorce case that the judge was handling. The judge, Andrew F. Wilkinson of Washington County Circuit Court, was found around 8 p.m. on Thursday in his driveway in Hagerstown, Md., suffering from what appeared to be gunshot wounds, officials from the county sheriffs office said. His wife and son were home at the time, the authorities said. The sheriffs office said in a statement that it was looking for Pedro Argote, 49, as part of a preliminary homicide investigation. Hours before he was shot, Judge Wilkinson, 52, had presided over a hearing in a divorce case that had started last year in which Mr. Argote was the plaintiff. The judge issued a partial judgment of divorce at the hearing, court records show. A Maryland police officer was arrested Thursday on charges related to his participation in the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, including assaulting law enforcement. The officer, Justin Lee, 25, was not an officer at the time of the Capitol attack. He was hired a year later, in January 2022. At the time of his arrest, he was on leave after fatally shooting a man armed with a knife at a shopping mall in July of this year, according to the police. Mr. Lee was charged with seven counts, including two felonies: civil disorder and assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers. He was also charged with misdemeanors including entering and engaging in physical violence in a restricted area and disorderly conduct, according to the United States Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia. The indictment, in Federal District Court for the District of Columbia, did not go into more detail about the allegations against Mr. Lee. It was May 31, 2005, at 4 a.m., when Beth Holloway first confronted Joran van der Sloot, a Dutch student who was one of three people who had been seen, just hours earlier, leaving a nightclub in Aruba with her daughter, Natalee Holloway. Standing outside the Holiday Inn where Natalee, 18, had been staying with other recent graduates of her Alabama high school on a class trip, Mr. van der Sloot repeatedly slammed his hands against his chest, saying, What do you want me to do? Ms. Holloway recalled holding her daughters senior class portrait and telling him, I want my daughter back. He had such power over me, Ms. Holloway, 63, said in an interview on Friday, and I knew he had the answers, and I knew that he was well aware of what had happened to her. President Biden on Friday delivered to Congress a $105 billion request for military aid, mostly for Israel and Ukraine, essentially daring lawmakers who oppose parts of the proposal to vote against an overall package that he said will ensure American security for generations. Mr. Biden is betting that Republicans who oppose more aid to Ukraine will not vote against legislation that also includes more than $14 billion to help Israel defend itself against terror attacks from Hamas. And he is hoping that progressive Democrats who do not want to support Israels military operations will not vote against additional aid for Ukraine. Also included in the request are billions of dollars to bolster security along the U.S.-Mexico border, security aid for Taiwan and a fund for humanitarian assistance in hot spots around the world. The legislative gamble is playing out against a global split screen: wars are raging in Europe and the Middle East, while in the United States, the House has been in a state of chaos for more than two weeks as Republicans struggle to select a speaker. The electors scheme became a vital part of the end game strategy pursued by Mr. Trump as he and his allies sought to find a way to block or delay congressional certification of his Electoral College defeat. When Mr. Trump directed his supporters to march on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, Mr. Chesebro was among them, accompanying the conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to the Capitol grounds. (Mr. Chesebro does not appear to have illegally entered the Capitol as the march turned into a riot.) If and when Mr. Chesebro takes the stand in Georgia, he could give an insiders perspective not only on the legal advice he provided to Mr. Trump, but also on another important issue: the roles that other lawyers, including John Eastman and Rudolph W. Giuliani, played in the fake elector scheme. Moreover, having already put in writing that some of Mr. Trumps postelection legal maneuvers were feints of a sort undertaken for political ends, Mr. Chesebro might also be able to undermine one of the defenses that the former president could use in both of the election prosecutions. If Mr. Chesebro were to testify that Mr. Trumps lawsuits challenging his loss were not designed to win, but merely as ploys to sow doubt about the election, it could cut against Mr. Trumps possible plan to use a so-called advice of counsel defense. That strategy involves blaming ones lawyers for giving bad advice. Beyond his role in the state case in Georgia, Mr. Chesebro was also identified albeit not by name as Co-Conspirator 5 in the federal election case filed against Mr. Trump in August by the special counsel, Jack Smith. That indictment described him as a lawyer who helped to craft and implement a plan to submit fraudulent slates of presidential electors to obstruct the certification process. The Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU) has granted permission to the Cyprus-based Mitali Holdings Ltd. and Ukrainian citizen Alina Kiptyk to create Evapay LLC, follows from the committee's decision. According to a document published on the AMCU website, access to information about the new company is limited. These persons will exercise joint control over Evapay LLC. The Committee also said that, according to the information of the applicants, their total share in the same product market does not exceed 15%, and also does not exceed 20% in the market for products, without the acquisition/sale of which the economic activities of other participants in the concentration are impossible. Thus, the AMCU came to the conclusion that the concentration would not lead to a significant restriction of competition in the market and granted the appropriate permission. As reported, in 2019, co-owners of the EVA and Varus networks Valeriy Kiptyk and Ruslan Shostak were granted permission from the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine to acquire direct control over Kingsbarns Holdings Limited and Mitali Holdings Limited (both British Virgin Islands), respectively, which had shares in the owner company EVA networks. Short on cash, Gov. Ron DeSantiss presidential campaign has found an unusual way to pay for his habit of flying in private planes: passing the cost to the better-funded super PAC that is increasingly intertwined with his operation. The practice, described by three people who spoke about the arrangement on the condition of anonymity, appears to have cut the campaigns travel bills by hundreds of thousands of dollars in September alone. It could test the limits of campaign finance laws, experts said. This is old news, and its entirely appropriate for N.B.D. to be covering the costs of their events, said Andrew Romeo, a spokesman for the DeSantis campaign, using shorthand for the super PAC, Never Back Down. The campaign is firing on all cylinders, and as we see a considerable uptick in fund-raising, we are continuing to identify cost savings, run an efficient operation, and focus resources on Iowa and the early states. Asked on Friday about the flights as he visited a Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Murrells Inlet, S.C., Mr. DeSantis said, Everything is checked by lawyers, adding, I dont move without lawyers signing off. Republicans cast aside their latest nominee for House speaker on Friday, rejecting Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio during a secret ballot vote, leaving them once again to search for a new leader amid raging personal and political recriminations. The rejection came hours after Mr. Jordan, his support ebbing, failed on a third floor vote to win the speakership. His defeat left the party with no consensus on a way forward and the chamber paralyzed in the face of growing pressure to get back to business as war raged overseas and a government shutdown grew nearer. After his colleagues then voted to withdraw Mr. Jordans nomination, about a dozen House Republicans, few of them household names, quickly began making calls and exploring bids for speaker. We need to come together and figure out who our speaker is going to be, Mr. Jordan said, acknowledging his defeat. He said he would turn his focus back to the investigations he is leading into the Biden administration as chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Progressive Jews who have spent years supporting racial equity, gay and transgender rights, abortion rights and other causes on the American left including opposing Israeli policies in Gaza and the West Bank are suddenly feeling abandoned by those who they long thought of as allies. This wartime shift represents a fundamental break within a liberal coalition that has long powered the Democratic Party. In Los Angeles, Rabbi Sharon Brous, a well-known progressive activist who regularly criticizes the Israeli government, described from the pulpit her horror and feelings of existential loneliness, her voice breaking. The clear message from many in the world, especially from our world those who claim to care the most about justice and human dignity is that these Israeli victims somehow deserved this terrible fate. In Atlanta, a Jewish mother involved in local politics wrote an open letter lamenting that her childs progressive private school had not addressed the attacks in Israel with the same kind of empathy it showed after local killings of Asian Americans. Our people are butchered, and no one speaks to it? she wrote. I dont know if Im seething or just sad. And as the Hamas attacks in Israel were still underway, leaders of the New Israel Fund, which supports progressive Israeli and Palestinian groups, fielded calls from a former American ally on the left demanding that the organization label Israel an apartheid state even as they waited to learn if colleagues in another organization, hiding in Israeli bomb shelters, had been killed. Many of the most inflammatory comments came on social media, from progressive groups that responded to the immediate aftermath of the massacre of Israeli civilians by skipping even a moment of mourning and instead moving immediately to try to justify the attack. When a people have been subject to decades of apartheid and unimaginable violence, their resistance must not be condemned, but understood as a desperate act of self-defense, Black Lives Matter Los Angeles posted on Facebook, in its first response to the attack. A reproductive-rights group sharply criticized the Zionist occupation, saying that the Israeli government denied Palestinians control over their bodies and that there can be no justice, peace or reproductive freedom underneath colonial occupation. A number of socialist organizations across the country did not directly condemn the killings by Hamas. And many protests have included chants of From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, a slogan that leaves no place for the state of Israel to exist in its own land. From email listservs of progressive Jewish groups to protests on university campuses to social-media campaigns by prominent liberal Jewish celebrities like Sarah Silverman, the war is bringing to a head more than a decade of tensions about Israel on the American left. Interviews with dozens of liberal Jewish leaders and voters, and a review of social media posts, private emails and text chains of liberal Jewish groups, reveal a politically engaged swath of American Jewry who are reaching a breaking point. They have long sought an end to the Israeli governments occupation of the West Bank and blockade of Gaza, supported a two-state solution and protested the right-wing government of Benjamin Netanyahu. But in the Hamas attacks, many saw an existential threat, evoking memories of the Holocaust and generations of antisemitism, and provoking anxiety about whether they could face attacks in the United States. And they were taken aback to discover that many of their ideological allies not only failed to perceive the same threats but also saw them as oppressors deserving of blame. I am in such a state of despair in my generation, we have been warned how quickly people would turn on us and we just thought no way, said Nick Melvoin, 38, a member of the Los Angeles Unified School Board who is now running for Congress and keeps a framed picture of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel marching with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his office. Now we see, this is how that happens: When you dehumanize the group. This indoctrination that many of us have been warned about hit us like a ton of bricks. The most rattling episodes have occurred on college campuses or on social media, where statements from small organizations have been amplified across the globe. But during a worldwide conflict, those statements have taken on totemic status, heightening fears that they are a precursor to a more treacherous and lasting shift in the standing of Jews in America. Eric Spiegelman, a lawyer and podcast producer in Los Angeles who serves on municipal boards, was enraged by the protest in New York City promoted by the Democratic Socialists of America after the attack. He sent hundreds of letters to Los Angeles city officials urging them to denounce the organization and label it a hate group. The D.S.A. has since backed away from the protest and apologized for not making our values explicit. Its like, I belong to this political organization that believes in three things: affordable housing, raising the minimum wage, and the wholesale murder of Jews, said Mr. Spiegelman, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he condemned local leaders who are affiliated with the group. Two out of three aint bad! With President Biden making a personal show of support through an unprecedented wartime visit to Israel this week and promising the country billions in aid traditional Democratic support for Israel is not in doubt. The crisis has largely unified the Democratic Party establishment, including many progressive elected officials. Polling since the attacks indicates strong national backing for Israel, including a notable uptick in support among Democrats. Still, cracks have begun to emerge among the Democratic coalition. Younger and more liberal voters remain more focused on the Palestinian cause than older generations, a split that emerged in the last two decades and accelerated during the Trump administration. Among them are many American Jews who are far more critical of Israel than their forebears and have flocked to groups like IfNotNow and Jewish Voice for Peace, which staged a protest in the U.S. Capitol calling for a cease-fire and has repeatedly accused Israel of planning genocide in Gaza. We need to remember that anyone dehumanizing Israelis rightly has zero representation in the United States government, while many federal officials have been dehumanizing Palestinians for decades, Eva Borgwardt, the political director of IfNotNow, said in an interview. Pvt. Travis T. King, the American soldier who returned to the United States last month after crossing into North Korea in July, has been charged in military court with multiple offenses, including desertion, assaulting other soldiers and child pornography. Private King, 23, is being held at a civilian jail just outside Fort Bliss, near El Paso, according to a family spokesman. He was moved there from Fort Sam Houston, near San Antonio, where he had been undergoing reintegration procedures. The charges were filed on Sunday by officials at Fort Bliss. Private King was made aware of them on Wednesday, the family spokesman said. Private Kings mother, Claudine Gates of Racine, Wis., said in a statement that her son should be presumed innocent and that she was extremely concerned about his mental health. Lawyers for former President Donald J. Trump on Friday asked the judge overseeing his federal election interference case to temporarily put on hold the gag order she imposed on him in Washington this week, until an appeals court can decide whether it was warranted. The request for the stay by John F. Lauro, a lawyer for Mr. Trump, was a double-barreled effort to both free the former president from restrictions on his public remarks about the case and to push back the proceedings for as long as possible. Delay has been a strategy pursued by Mr. Trump in both the election interference prosecution and the other federal case he is confronting one in which he stands accused of illegally retaining dozens of classified documents after he left office and then obstructing the governments efforts to retrieve them. Shortly after Mr. Lauro filed his 33-page motion, Judge Tanya S. Chutkan agreed to freeze the gag order for at least eight days, giving the defense and prosecution time to file additional papers on the issue. Judge Chutkans decision came on the same day that a state judge in New York who is handling Mr. Trumps civil fraud trial fined him $5,000 for violating that judges own gag order. The Supreme Court refused on Friday to reinstate an expansive Missouri law that restricted state and local law enforcement agencies from enforcing federal gun laws and allowed private lawsuits against law enforcement agencies that violated the states understanding of the Second Amendment. The courts brief order gave no reasons, which is typical when the justices act on emergency applications asking them to intervene in an early stage of litigation. An appeal of a judges ruling striking down the law will proceed, and the case could again reach the Supreme Court after that appeal is decided. Justice Clarence Thomas dissented, giving no explanation. The Missouri law, the Second Amendment Preservation Act, was enacted in 2021 and had several unusual provisions. One declared various kinds of federal laws including ones requiring the registration of weapons and making gun dealers keep records to be infringements on the peoples right to keep and bear arms. A second provision prohibited the state from hiring former federal employees who had enforced such laws or given material aid and support to efforts to enforce them. The Supreme Court on Friday allowed Biden administration officials to continue to contact social media platforms to combat what the officials say is misinformation, pausing a sweeping ruling from a federal appeals court that had severely limited such interactions. The justices also agreed to hear the administrations appeal in the case, setting the stage for a major test of the role of the First Amendment in the internet era one that will require the court to consider when government efforts to limit the spread of misinformation amount to censorship of constitutionally protected speech. Three justices dissented from the courts decision to lift the restrictions on administration officials while the case moves forward. Government censorship of private speech is antithetical to our democratic form of government, and therefore todays decision is highly disturbing, Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. wrote, joined by Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil M. Gorsuch. Justice Alito criticized the majority for acting without undertaking a full review of the record and without any explanation and allowing the administration to continue its interactions until the court finally rules, an event that may not occur until late in the spring of next year. The military junta in the West African country of Niger claimed that it had disrupted an attempt by the ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum, to escape on Thursday from the presidential residence, where he has been detained since he was overthrown in a coup nearly three months ago. His lawyers denied the assertion, said that they had lost contact with him, and called once again for his immediate release. Since mutinous soldiers in Niger seized power in a coup in late July, Mr. Bazoum had been stranded with his wife and son in the presidential residence in Nigers capital, Niamey. While Mr. Bazoum had been able to communicate with his lawyers, they said that since Wednesday night they had received no news of his whereabouts or condition. Its a total blackout, Mohamed Seydou Diagne, one of Mr. Bazoums lawyers, said in a telephone interview on Friday. We have reasons to worry, even more so when we know that he is in the hands of the military. On their first visit to an African country since ascending the throne a decade ago, the king and queen of the Netherlands made a symbolic visit on Friday to the Slave Lodge in Cape Town, South Africa, where Dutch colonists once enslaved thousands of Africans and Asians. As they entered the two-story building with creaky floors, they were confronted by members of another royal house: a small group of leaders of the Khoi and the San, the Indigenous groups who were first displaced 350 years ago by Dutch colonists in what is today Cape Town. The Dutch king, Willem-Alexander, formally apologized this year for his countrys role in slavery and colonialism. But South Africas Indigenous groups and the descendants of those enslaved by the Dutch want a direct apology as well as reparations from the Netherlands for atrocities committed in South Africa during 150 years of colonialism. If we look at the devastation created by Dutch colonialism in this part of the world, I think a very specific apology addressing South Africa can go some distance, said Nico Botha, head of a commission for the Khoi and the San, recently established by the South African government. When the Venezuelan government released five political prisoners late Wednesday to cheers from the countrys opposition, it was the most emotional in a rapid series of policy shifts in the South American country that together represent the most significant softening of relations between Venezuela and the United States in years. In a matter of days, Venezuelas authoritarian government has agreed to accept Venezuelan migrants deported from the United States and signed an agreement with opposition leaders designed to move toward a free and fair presidential election in 2024. In exchange, the United States has agreed to lift some economic sanctions on Venezuelas oil industry, a vital source of income for the government of President Nicolas Maduro. The developments come just days before more than one million Venezuelans are expected to head to the polls for a primary election to choose the opposition leader who will face Mr. Maduro next year. Negotiations on Moscow's return to the Grain Initiative no longer make sense, since the humanitarian sea corridor is successfully operating without the Russian Federation, the Centre for Strategic Communication has said. "The grain corridor of the new format is successfully operating without the participation of an aggressor state. Since September 2023, more than 30 vessels have used the new maritime corridor laid by Ukraine. Ukraine is a responsible supplier of products that, under any circumstances, is looking for ways to ensure the fulfillment of its obligations under the concluded agreements," the Centre said on its Telegram channel. According to the report, the successes of the new grain corridor demonstrate that Russia was an unnecessary link in the Black Sea Grain Initiative. "Negotiations on Moscow's return to the grain deals from which it itself withdrew no longer make sense. The successful operation of the new grain corridor became possible thanks to the Ukrainian Defense Forces, which ousted the Russian fleet from the northwestern waters of the Black Sea," the Centre said. The Centre said that Kyiv calls on partners to strengthen shipping capabilities in the Black Sea, in particular, organize patrolling and trawling of sea waters, as well as provide Ukraine with additional means to protect port infrastructure from Russian shelling. Weve failed big time, Dr. Suzuki said of the environmental movement. We as environmentalists focused on issues: drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, threats to the caribou herd, stopping a dam in the Amazon. But even when we won, we failed as a movement to change the underlying assumptions of society, the behavior of government and business people. Dr. Suzuki has talked about environmentalisms failure in the past, but his words perhaps rang with more finality this time. Not only were they pronounced during a summer of catastrophes for Canadas environment, they came as Dr. Suzuki has slipped at age 87 into what he described as the death zone, a time, in his view, for assessing ones life. The death zone, its not being morbid; its just reality, Dr. Suzuki said. I feel privileged to have lived as long as I have, and that makes it all the more important to start saying: What did I learn in my lifetime? What should I be passing on to my grandchildren? Dr. Suzuki spoke during an interview on Quadra Island, where his modest vacation home overlooks a bay and is reached by a dirt road. Three grandchildren offspring of Sarika Cullis-Suzuki, a daughter from his second marriage and a marine biologist were busy scooping up crabs, clams and sand dollars at the same tidal pool where their mother had done research for her Ph.D. Lunch would consist of sweet shrimp, salmon sashimi, clams and oysters, all harvested by the family. Ms. Cullis-Suzuki was recently picked as one of the two co-hosts to succeed him on The Nature of Things, the show that made him for 50 years the focal point of environmental activism in Canada, as Graeme Wynn, an environmental historian and a professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia, put it. The Italian satire show Striscia la Notizia this week revealed off-the-air video of the freewheeling Mr. Giambruno, the anchorman of The Diary of the Day, using vulgar language and crotch-grabbing gestures as he struts around the television studio and stopping by the desk of a seemingly annoyed co-anchor, commenting on the incredible beauty of her blue blouse. Giorgia did not seem on his mind. Boasting about his good hair in a room filled with bald men, he tells her, You are such an intelligent woman, but how come I didnt meet you earlier? Perhaps more damaging remarks, also obtained and aired this week by Striscia La Notizia, appear to have come from the Channel 4 studios, when microphones picked up his conversation with unidentified women. As an icebreaker, he asked a woman if it would be OK if he touched my package as they talked. She pointed out that he already had. Whats your name, did we ever meet before? he adds, as they laugh, Where did I see you already, was I drunk? He goes on to suggest that he and another media figure were having an affair and that everyone at the network knew about it. Now you do, too. But we are looking for a third participant. We are doing the threesome. He then tells her that the exam she needed to pass in order to enter their working group was sex. He then makes light of the comments, saying, What did I say? Come, on, were just laughing and joking; we are coming from a pandemic. Mediaset, Mr. Giambrunos television network, said Friday evening that he and the company had agreed that he be given a one-week paid suspension from his program. Laura Ferrato, a Mediaset spokeswoman, said the company was evaluating with attention what had happened. Mr. Giambruno did not immediately comment. Ukrainian forces have stepped up assaults across the Dnipro river near the southern city of Kherson, carrying out raids into Russian-controlled territory on the eastern bank. The increased activity has prompted speculation among analysts and in Russian military circles that Kyiv might be planning a more ambitious effort to open a new front in the war. In recent days, Western military analysts have cited geolocated video footage that shows Ukrainian forces operating in a number of locations deeper behind enemy lines than previously witnessed. Ukrainian actions appear to be larger than previously observed tactical raids, analysts at the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based research institute, said on Thursday night. The Ukrainian military has remained largely silent on the amphibious operations into Russian-held territory near Kherson, and the extent of its ambitions with the river crossings are unknown. In the past, Ukrainian attacks across the river have been limited in scope and duration, with multiple goals, including reconnaissance, sabotage, and attacks aimed at undermining Russian defenses and logistical operations. Hopes that humanitarian aid would begin to trickle into Gaza from Egypt on Friday were fading as Egyptian, Israeli, U.S. and United Nations officials were still hammering out thorny issues, including who will inspect the shipments for weapons, several U.N. and European officials and diplomats familiar with the talks said. Israel, for instance, wants to be involved in those inspections and is against shipping in fuel, those people said. Other officials say fuel is needed to keep generators on at hospitals and to provide clean water to desperate Palestinians stuck in Gaza. Talks in Cairo on Thursday had yielded a step forward, with an agreement to set up a United Nations-operated system at the Rafah border crossing in northeastern Egypt. President Biden said on Tuesday that he had secured agreement from the Israeli government to open up the aid corridor. Speaking on Friday to a crowd at Arish, a town near the Rafah border crossing where Egypt and the international community have set up a logistics base for incoming aid, the U.N. secretary general, Antonio Guterres, said that it was crucial for trucks to move as quickly as possible. The trucks are loaded with food, medicine and water. Hamas still holds 10 other Americans hostage, according to the State Department, and President Biden vowed on Friday to make every effort to reunite their families. We will not stop until we get their loved ones home, Mr. Biden said in a statement. I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans held hostage around the world. He asked the public to respect the privacy of the Raanans as they recover and heal. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at a news conference on Friday that every hostage needs to be released and needs to be released now, unconditionally. Mr. Blinken said he could not discuss details of the negotiations to free Judith and Natalie Raanan. According to someone familiar with the negotiations, Hamas asked for nothing in return for their release. Hamas, Mr. Biden and Mr. Blinken all noted the role played by the government of Qatar, a wealthy Persian Gulf emirate that allows Hamas leaders to live there in safety, and has often acted as a go-between to resolve conflicts between the group and Israel. Mr. Blinken said Qatar had provided very important assistance in the hostage negotiations. A spokesman for Qatars Foreign Ministry, Majid Al-Ansari, said in a statement that the release of the hostages came after days of continuous talks. He said Qatar would continue its mediation. We hope these efforts will lead to the release of all civilian hostages from every nationality, with the ultimate aim of de-escalating the current crisis and restoring peace, he said. In a statement, Hamas said it had decided to work toward closing the file of the hostage issue, should the appropriate security circumstances be provided. Ms. Raanan and her daughter went to Israel last month to celebrate the Jewish holidays and the 85th birthday of Judiths mother at a kibbutz in the south of the country. Judith Raanan was born in Israel and spent her early life there before settling in the Chicago suburb of Evanston, Ill., where she raised a family. Natalie Raanan, who also lived in Israel as a child, graduated from a public high school in Deerfield, Ill., near Chicago. Chavah Rochel Golden, a friend of Judiths in Chicago, said that Judith had never forgotten her Israeli roots and that it was important to her that her daughter feel the same way. She was quite Israeli, whether she was here or there, Ms. Golden said. She missed being around Israelis. She felt at home with Israelis, and she missed that the energy of Israel. On Friday, Rivka Benyihoun, another friend from Chicago, said she and her husband had been watching Israeli television for news of their friend. We are all embracing and crying together, Ms. Benyihoun said. I told my husband, Shes a survivor. Shes going to make it. Avi Zamir, Natalies uncle, said the family was overwhelmed with relief but was awaiting news of the womens condition. After receiving word of their release, Mr. Zamir called his son, a student at Deerfield High School outside Chicago, to share the news, and heard a classroom of suburban teenagers erupt in cheers. I cant even tell you the voices of joy I heard over the phone, he said. Its a joyful moment for all Americans right now. In a statement, Gov. J.B. Pritzker of Illinois said he was incredibly relieved that the Raanans were safe. I cannot wait to welcome them back home after demonstrating immense strength and bravery in the face of unthinkable terror, Mr. Pritzker said. The situation of the more than 200 other hostages remains unclear. Israel has not publicly identified them, but military officials have said they include older people and children. Hamas has said that Israels bombing campaign in retaliation for the Oct. 7 attack has killed a number of hostages, along with the Hamas militants holding them. Most of the captives were taken from small Israeli towns near the border with Gaza; others were abducted from military bases or from an all-night music festival. They include civilians, soldiers, peace activists, grandparents and a 9-month-old baby. It was not clear why the Raanans were released before others, how they were treated in captivity or what Hamas intends to do with the remaining hostages. In the days after the raid, a Hamas official said it would kill captives if Israel continued to bomb homes in Gaza, but later the group said it wanted to trade them for Hamas members who are imprisoned in Israel or elsewhere. Hamas has also acknowledged that it does not have all the hostages; some are held by smaller groups that took part in the assault on Israel. On Friday, Daniel Hagari, the Israeli military spokesman, disputed Hamass claim that it had released the Raanans for humanitarian reasons. This is actually a murderous terrorist organization that right now holds babies, children, women and elderly people hostage in the Gaza Strip, he told reporters. The issue of hostages has long been a deeply emotional one in Israel, as well as a tactic used in the past by Hamas and Hezbollah, the Shiite militant organization in Lebanon. Hamas is believed to be holding two Israeli civilians who entered Gaza in 2014 on foot, as well as the remains of two Israeli soldiers killed during a war that year. And in 2006, Hamas seized an Israel soldier, Gilad Shalit, and held him in Gaza for five years. He was exchanged for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, many of whom had been convicted of killing Israelis in terrorist attacks. That same year, Israel fought a monthlong war with Hezbollah in Lebanon after it kidnapped two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid. The soldiers remains were returned to Israel in 2008 in exchange for five prisoners. Shortly after the Oct. 7 attack, Hamas released video of a woman and two small children it said it had released at the Gaza border. But the woman, Avital Aladjem, told Israeli news media that she and the children had escaped shortly after crossing the border because their captors left them briefly alone. She said the children belonged to her neighbor, who was killed in the attack. Earlier this week, Hamas released a short video of Mia Schem, 21, who was abducted during the Hamas assault on the music festival. In the video, she is shown with a bandaged arm and says that she has received medical treatment while in captivity. It is so far the only video the group has released of any of the hostages. At the moment I am in Gaza, Ms. Schem says in the video, which was posted to Telegram channels affiliated with Hamas. I just ask that I am returned as fast as possible to my family, to my parents, and to my siblings. Please get us out of here as quickly as possible. Aaron Boxerman , Julie Bosman Ephrat Livni and Ben Hubbard contributed reporting. An Israeli airstrike hit the grounds of the historic Saint Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church in Gaza City, which was sheltering displaced people, on Thursday night, according to church officials and witnesses. The church compound, comprising a chapel, seven buildings and a courtyard, was full of Christian families from the Gaza Strip, witnesses said. They said the airstrike happened around 7:30 p.m., when dinner was being distributed. Videos and images from the scene showed rescuers digging through rubble, working with flashlights late Thursday and into Friday. The chapel was not struck. The Gazan health ministry, which is controlled by Hamas, said at least 16 people were killed and many others were still buried under rubble. The death toll could not be independently confirmed. A statement from the Israeli military on Friday said that the church was not the intended target of the airstrike. The fighter jets that carried out the attack were trying to destroy a Hamas command center near the church that the military believes has been involved in launching rockets and mortars toward Israel, the statement said. We are aware of reports on casualties, the statement said, using the initials of the Israel Defense Forces. The incident is under review. The I.D.F. can unequivocally state that the church was not the target of the strike. The Israeli military later released a video of the strike, indicating that it was targeting the building next to the church. Ibrahim Jahshan, 43, who volunteers at the church, was in the complex when he and others heard the blast. They rushed out to find a building had been demolished, and spent the next hours trying to save the wounded. He said that many of those who died were Christians and members of the enclaves minority religious community. Well rebuild whats been damaged, Mr. Jahshan said by phone. But those who were killed we cant bring them back. On Friday, former Representative Justin Amash wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that several of his relatives were among those killed. He shared a photo of two of them, Viola and Yara, in front of a Christmas display. The Palestinian Christian community has endured so much, he said in the post. Our family is hurting badly. As the Israeli bombardment of Gaza has intensified in recent days, large protests have erupted across the Arab and Muslim worlds in support of the Palestinian cause, a reminder of the profound resonance the issue still holds for many. That popular outpouring has put new pressures on Arab leaders, many of whom have invested little effort in recent years to support the Palestinians or advance their political or economic interests. Now, those leaders must navigate the pursuit of what they consider their own countries interests while indicating to their people that they, too, are supporting the Palestinian cause. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict was relegated to the background, partly because of apathy and partly because of a feeling of helplessness that was pervasive in the Arab world, said Lina Khatib, the director of the SOAS Middle East Institute at the University of London. The climate shifted noticeably after Hamas, the Palestinian group that controls Gaza, attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7 and killed roughly 1,400 people. That unleashed a barrage of Israeli airstrikes on the crowded and impoverished Gaza Strip that Gaza health authorities say have killed thousands. The violence has displaced about half of Gazas population of more than 2 million Palestinians, according to the United Nations. The tragic events have shown that it remains at the heart of Middle Eastern politics and a major concern for people across the region, Ms. Khatib said of the Palestinian struggle. For decades, support for the idea of an independent Palestinian state was a rare issue that Arabs in different countries and across political divides could easily agree on. But in recent years, the focus on the Palestinian issue had waned for many reasons. Infighting between Palestinian factions and the absence of peace talks with Israel for many years seemed to leave no path for progress. The Nur Shams refugee camp was not the only hot spot. Since the devastating attack on Israel on Oct. 7 and Israels retaliatory strikes on Gaza, Palestinians have been protesting in many towns in the West Bank and clashing with Israeli soldiers. On Thursday, Israeli forces staged simultaneous raids in Bethlehem, Hebron, Jericho, Nablus and Ramallah, searching for militants connected to Hamas, the armed Palestinian organization that carried out the Oct. 7 attack, which killed more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians. Since then, Palestinian human rights groups say that more than 70 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank in clashes with Israeli forces and armed Israeli settlers, by far the most in any consecutive two weeks this year. Israeli officers have arrested hundreds of people, according to Palestinian and Israeli accounts; the Israeli military said on Friday that more than 375 people of those arrested are members of Hamas. Television news footage broadcast on Thursday showed Israeli Army trucks chugging into Palestinian residential areas and soldiers running across alleyways under the cover of darkness. Palestinian medics said that Israeli soldiers were blocking them from getting to wounded people. Arab news channels reported that some of wounded had died from loss of blood. Israeli officials could not be immediately reached for comment on the allegation. United Nations officials said that they were increasingly concerned about the spiraling violence. We are extremely alarmed by the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in the occupied West Bank and the increase in unlawful use of lethal force, said Ravina Shamdasani, a spokeswoman for the U.N. human rights chief, Volker Turk. She also said that tighter restrictions on the movement of Palestinians in the West Bank had prevented some from gaining access to health care services for critical conditions. Aaron Boxerman and Nick Cumming-Bruce contributed reporting. BELGRADE, Oct. 19 An investigation into the dilatory habits of Yugoslav railroad trains has exposed a negative attitude on the part of some train personnel, the Communist organ Borba revealed today. In one case a train crew, seduced by visions of roast pork, paused near the Croatian town of Klenak and, abandoning the train, took off for the country fair at Shabats, across the Sava River, where they bought themselves a sow and five suckling pigs. And in Svetozarevo, said Borba, the signal man was drunk the whole night. This sort of thing plus necessary repairs on the mainlines and lack of good coal for the locomotives is making trains later than ever, Borba complains. In July the average train was twenty-two seconds late per kilometer, in August it was twenty-five seconds behind kilometer schedule, and in September thirty-seven. With an acute shortage of transportation these delays are costly to the national economy. Borba blames poor organization, poor technical training of officials and lack of discipline among individual officers, and said that Belgrade districts were exceptionally bad. The directors had become mere statisticians and did nothing to correct the delays. The New York Herald, European Edition, Oct. 20, 1948 The Ukrainian plan for restoring the environment damaged as a result of full-scale Russian aggression should be reflected in the relevant resolution of the UN General Assembly, said head of the Presidents Office Andriy Yermak. Speaking at the international conference "United for justice. United for nature" in Kyiv on Friday, he noted: "Due to the daily increase in the number of crimes of the Russian Federation against the environment in Ukraine, their overall harmful impact on the whole world is increasing." Mining, forest fires, air pollution create a system of interdependent challenges and threats for all humanity. Nature does not understand human boundaries, therefore crimes against it anywhere affect each and every one of us, he said, adding that Ukraine is making every possible effort to draw the attention of the international community to the environmental consequences of the war. As Yermak reported, in particular, over the six months of the Russian Federation's war against Ukraine, more carbon dioxide was released into the atmosphere than countries the size of Bulgaria produce a year, while at the same time, the long-term consequences of the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric station have not yet been assessed. In this regard, the head of the President's Office emphasized that, as with all other aspects of the Ukrainian Peace Formula, protecting the environment requires a joint vision of collective efforts. Our measures aimed at protecting the environment will allow us to implement a comprehensive plan for the Ukrainian restoration of nature from the consequences of war. This tool should prevent the commission of crimes against the environment around the world. And it should be reflected in the relevant resolutions of the UN General Assembly and other international documents. I believe that Ukraine is not the only one who is interested in holding such events, Yermak said. At the end of November, according to Yermak, Ukraine plans to hold a corresponding meeting in Brussels and hopes that the European Parliament will take certain decisions to help us consolidate international efforts and position regarding environmental problems due to Russian aggression, as well as a recovery plan. A Ukrainian man was caught trying to take a practical driving test on his neighbors behalf. When asked why his face didnt match the one on the ID at all, he claimed his appearance had merely changed since the photo was taken. Weve heard of people trying to impersonate others in order to help them pass their driving test, but they usually put a bit of effort into it. Weve written about someone who paid a body double to take the test on their behalf, and about a man who disguised himself as an old woman to take the driving test in his mothers place. But then we have the protagonist of todays news story, a man from Ukraines Rivne region who decided to help his neighbor by simply turning up to take the practical test, even though they looked nothing alike. Photo: Orkun Azap/Unspalsh He provided all the necessary documents: a passport of a citizen of Ukraine, an identification code, a medical certificate, the administrators of the regional testing center said in a statement. But instead of his own, the man took his neighbors documents. He decided to embark on such an adventure because with good intentions to help a friend get a drivers license. All the testing center staff had to do was look at the ID presented by the imposter to immediately tell that his face didnt match the one on the document. His explanation left them all flabbergasted he claimed that his face had changed drastically in the last eight years since the ID photo was taken. That argument didnt really hold water, but examiners were convinced he was an imposter when he couldnt even tell them the birthdate on his ID without looking at it. If you looked at the ID, you could instantly tell that the person didnt look the same, a spokesperson of the regional Ministry of Internal Affairs said. When they asked him what year he was born in, he couldnt even tell them the correct year. The Ukrainian man was handed over to the police and now faces a hefty fine for his good deed. Sean Hannity Sean Hannity is the big loser in the Jim Jordan fiasco The Fox News personality led the charge of the Jim Jordan for Speaker brigade, ridiculing Republicans who voted against the right-winger as snowflakes. Hannity wrapped himself in the American flag, saying he was only advocating to end the drawn-up battle for Speaker in order to reopen the Peoples House amid growing chaos both at home and abroad. He posted on X: Any member of Congress would be crazy not to support Jim Jordan for Speaker. He is a natural born principled leader who will lead House Republicans to unite vs. the radical left. That natural born principled leader served as a lapdog for Donald Trump in his effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election, and is presiding over an over-the-top weaponization of the federal government committee fishing expedition trying to dig up dirt on the Biden administration. Good thing for America: Hannitys snowflakes didnt melt under his pressure. Elons got some work to do Elon Musks blue-checked verified user system on X is a boon for spreaders of misinformation about the war between Israel and Hamas. In March, Musk allowed users to pay $8 a month to show a blue checkmark and have their posts prioritized on X. According to Steve Brills NewsGuard October misinformation monitor, 74 percent of the false or unsubstantiated claims about the conflict were posted on verified accounts on X. They include doozies such as Ukraine selling weapons to Hamas, the Oct. 7 terror attack on Kibbutz Beeri was a false flag operation staged by Israel, and a video of senior Israeli officials captured by Hamas. NewsGuard also found widespread misinformation on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Telegram but chose to focus on X because Musk has been most public about the cut in its moderation efforts. NewsGuard emailed questions to X about its findings but only received a busy now, please check back later response. Brills team may have to wait a bit for the answer. After Tesla reported a 44 percent decline in third-quarter earnings on Oct. 18 and said that it faces enormous challenges in scaling up production of the much-anticipated Cybertruck, Musk certainly is busy now. Run, Bobby, Run An independent presidential run by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would be a boost for Joe Bidens re-election campaign, according to a NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll released Oct. 17. In a head-to-head rematch, Biden beats Trump by a 49 percent to 46 percent margin among registered voters. In a three-way contest, Biden snags 44 percent of the vote, compared to 37 percent for Trump and 16 percent for RFK. With Kennedy in the race, Biden support among Democrats drops five percentage points, while Trump loses 10 percent among Republicans. Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist College Institute of Public Opinion, said Kennedy alters the race in Bidens favor. He added that the poll also shows that about one in six voters want to vote for somebody not named Biden or Trump. Hold those pitches. Beach House, which launched 14 years ago in Newport Beach, CA, is offering to remove the names of people on its pitch list who do not want to be contacted due to the conflict in the Middle East. In announcing a client win on Oct. 18, Beach House said: We understand this is a difficult time for many and want to let you know Beach House is here. If you'd prefer not to receive any pitches at this time, let us know and we will temporarily remove you from our lists. Racine Diaz, a Beach House staffer, told ODwyers that she didnt have a count of the number of names dropped from the list. The board of PRSA-NY sent a message today to members to direct them to its statement on the situation in Israel/Gaza. The Oct. 20 notice from Chapter president Carmella Glover followed two email messages that went out and were lacking in clarity. The email also includes links from the BBC, RAND Corp. and Council on Foreign Relations to provide context to the conflict. PUBLIC consultation for the Harbour Masterplan is due to take place in the next few weeks, the October meeting of Tullamore Municipal District heard. Senior Executive Officer Jean Ryan said, ''we will be engaging with you to reach as wide an audience as possible for the regeneration framework for Tullamore and the Harbour Masterplan she told councillors. Plans for the Harbour will include the relocation of the Waterways Ireland Operational Depot to a greenfield site 1km east of Tullamore. Waterways Ireland has described it as presenting ''an exciting opportunity to envision future redevelopment of the harbour area.'' A spokesperson for the company said: ''Relocation of the depot unlocks a unique opportunity to redevelop and revitalise the harbour area, so that once more it becomes an integral part of Tullamore town, it works as an economic and social generator, and the 200-year-old harbour and its industrial heritage is unveiled for public discovery and appreciation from behind existing high walls. Commissioning of a Masterplan by Waterways Ireland and Offaly County Council in November 2022, with support from the Urban Regeneration & Development Fund, has provided the prism through which transformation and regeneration of the harbour area can be envisioned. The Masterplan is currently being finalised by Waterways Ireland, Offaly County Council, and Grafton Architects. Further information on the Masterplan content will be communicated later this year by the partners.'' The Harbour has been hidden away for years behind high walls in Tullamore. Many visitors to the town have no idea it is there. Through the public consultation process locals will have an opportunity to comment and make submissions on proposals for the area. Irelands Minister for Finance said a proposal is being worked on to increase the level of support that will be offered to those affected by flooding in Co Cork. Michael McGrath said money will be available through a scheme to be administered by the Red Cross from next week. This currently offers an initial 5,000 euro and further support of up to 20,000 euro based on the scale of damage. Mr McGrath said many businesses in Midleton had their destroyed Christmas stock out on the street. The assessment of the full scale of the damage to homes and businesses will take some time, but the support will be there and that is the overarching message, Mr McGrath told RTE Radio on Friday. We do have to ensure, insofar as we can, that all of these businesses that were viable before two days ago can trade into the future. Mr McGrath said there will be a need to go further because many businesses did not have flooding insurance because of previous flooding. He said a proposal was being worked on by Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney which he expected would offer an increased level of support and go to Cabinet next Tuesday. The majority of the businesses (in Midleton) are severely damaged or destroyed, so this is on a scale that we havent seen in recent times, and so the response will have to be of a different nature and a different magnitude. A major clean-up operation is underway to deal with the aftermath of flooding that swamped several towns and villages in Irelands southwest during the week. Army and civil defence units were deployed to support evacuation measures in the Cork town of Midleton following the storm. On Friday, Cork County Council said there is a high risk of further flooding in Midleton, and that levels of the Owenacurra river, located near the Woodlands Estate, are being closely monitored. Residents of the estate have been advised to be on high alert and people have been told to avoid parts of the town. Following further heavy rain overnight the river Owenacurra river levels continue to rise resulting in a high risk of further flooding in Midleton. There is a particular risk at present at Woodland estate. Cork County Council (@Corkcoco) October 20, 2023 A status yellow rain warning for Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Waterford has been lifted after being in place overnight. A status yellow rain warning for Dublin, Louth, Meath, Wicklow and Kerry is in place until 9pm on Friday, which Irish forecaster Met Eireann said could lead to flooding and dangerous travelling conditions. A status yellow rain warning for Northern Ireland is in place until 9am on Saturday. The Met Office said showers or longer spells of rain could lead to lead to some disruption, particularly for eastern areas. Mr McGrath and Mr Coveney visited areas affected by the flooding in their home county of Cork on Thursday. They Don't Have The Right To Sack Me As JDS President: CM Ibrahim Bengaluru oi-Prakash KL CM Ibrahim, who was ousted from his position as State President of the Janata Dal Secular (JDS), has criticized the decision as a "misguided move" and urged party supremo HD Devegowda to reconsider his removal from the said role. He has warned that there would be consequences in the days ahead if the decision is not withdrawn."It's not possible to remove me as president. They don't have the right. According to the JDS Constitution, one-third of them must give me notice, call a meeting and pass a no-confidence motion in a meeting against me. That's the procedure," Hindustan Times quoted him as saying. He expressed his intent to initiate a legal challenge against the decision and to formally communicate his concerns to the Election Commission of India (ECI). CM Ibrahim Dismissed As Karnataka JD(S) President After Publicly Contradicting Deve Gowda "Don't trigger me. Wait and watch what will unfold from now. We will go to the Election Commission, high court and take a stay. Kerala and Tamil Nadu workers will also join hands. Deve Gowda is a father figure to me. Is this what you do to your son? I left my MLC post for you. How many houses do you want to ruin? Yesterday, you made Thippeswamy call me to discuss the alliance decision. What happened to Duryodhan in Mahabharat will happen to JD(S) in Karnataka," he added. He further said, "Not even an ad hoc President could be appointed as the provisions of the party" and claimed that he is still the JDS President. Ibrahim told Devegowda that "I stood by you to resolve the Idgah Maidan row in Hubballi (when Devegowda was the Chief Minister of Karnataka) despite losing my son. I made your government stable then." Continuing, he remarked, "Now for the sake of your son (HD Kumaraswamy) who has been made ad hoc President of JDS in Karnataka), you have sacrificed me." He questioned Devegowda "Why JDS MLA GT Devegowda (a senior party leader) was not made the JDS President (instead of Kumaraswamy)?" He then said, "You should not have provoked me. Since you have provoked me, you will have to face the consequences." JDS Has To Be Saved: H D Deve Gowda On Alliance With The BJP Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda on Thursday removed the party's Karnataka unit president C M Ibrahim after he raised a banner of revolt against forming an alliance with the BJP, by dissolving the state working committee. Gowda also appointed his son and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy as the ad-hoc president of the party's state unit. Kumaraswamy, a two-time Karnataka chief minister, is also the party's legislative unit president. Life-Altering Moments: See How Tamil Nadu Women Transformed Into Entrepreneurs Chennai oi-Oneindia English Desk CM Stalin gave autos to 500 women at a subsidised rate which benefitted approximately 1500 people and their livelihood. Out of the 500 women beneficiaries, 2 of them are trans-genders. The 500 women beneficiaries have advanced to an entrepreneur position after registration through Tamil Nadu Unorganised Drivers and Automatic Motor Vehicle Repair Workers Welfare Board. It is a proud moment for Tamil Nadu women. Sandhya, one of the beneficiaries said, "15 years ago, being a transgender meant facing a lot of mockery, sarcasm and insults but the situation has changed now and transgenders also started achieving in many fields. As a next step in improving the condition of transgenders, CM Stalin has provided autos using which we can increase our means of livelihood." She continued, "For the first time, 2 transgenders have received autos from CM Stalin which will increase the opportunities for other transgenders to own autos in the future. DMK government took care of everything starting from providing training, applying for license and giving autos at subsidised rates. No one can question us hereafter since we ourselves are employers." In the first phase, 15 transgenders registered, out of which 2 of them were selected. One of the 2 transgenders is Sandhya and the other person is Thirunambi. The selected transgenders said that the DMK government assisted them in gaining respect for the whole community which otherwise was doing begging work. Now, they can stand on their own leg and decide their future which brings tremendous confidence and mental freedom. Sandhya said, "DMK government has given me an auto which I will use for social service. In cases of emergencies like pregnancies and accidents or in the case of helping older people, I will not charge them. It is only right to give back to the society which has given me a lot. I am eternally grateful to CM Stalin who has made our life a respectable one." Sumathi, another beneficiary said, "Approximately 150 women were given training and licenses were given by the government to the selected candidates. Finally, auto was also given to the selected women and the government promised to pay the first 2 installments. CM Stalin's intention behind the distribution of autos for women is to empower women and elevate their economic position in the society." Another beneficiary said, "CM Stalin has turned me into an entrepreneur by giving an auto who otherwise was driving an auto for a monthly salary. With my own auto, I can earn around Rs.1500 daily and improve my family situation. My sincere thanks to CM Stalin for creating this wonderful opportunity for me." Usha, who is also a beneficiary said, "Due to financial problems in the family, I started working. Job is not an easy affair when you are answerable to your employer. You will be treated harshly if you are late even for 10 minutes. CM Stalin has changed this situation by giving an auto which gives me great freedom and means for earning. Being an entrepreneur, I have no time constraints and the fruits of my hard work belong only to me." CM Stalin's victory lies in the empowerment of Tamil Nadu women. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, October 20, 2023, 15:25 [IST] After Spending Over 40 Days In Jail, YouTuber TTF Vasan Will Be Finally Out Of Prison Two Decades Without Power, Now Lit Up In Just One Week Will Vijay Enter TN Politics In 2026? BJP's Annamalai Says 'Democracy Is All About Choice' Remembering Bangaru Adigalar: The Spiritual Icon Revered By Millions, Including Celebrities Chennai oi-Madhuri Adnal Spiritual leader Bangaru Adigalar, who was revered by millions of followers across the world, passed away on Thursday at the age of 82. His death has left a void in the hearts of his devotees, and people from all walks of life gathered at his residence in Melmaruvathur, Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu, to pay their last respects. On Friday, as the funeral procession made its way to the final resting place, people lined the streets, weeping and chanting prayers. Many broke down in tears as they saw the mortal remains of their beloved guru being carried away. The funeral was a poignant display of the grief and loss felt by his followers. #WATCH | Tamil Nadu | People get emotional and break down as they arrive at the residence of spiritual guru Melmaruvathur Bangaru Adigalar in Chengalpattu District to pay him their last respects. He passed away yesterday at the age of 82. pic.twitter.com/aLs2n1OUrp ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2023 Bangaru Adigalar was known for his simple lifestyle, his deep spiritual wisdom, and his compassion for all. He was a tireless advocate for social justice and equality, and he worked tirelessly to uplift the marginalized and oppressed. He is survived by his wife and two sons who oversee education institutions and a family-run medical college. Bangaru Adigalar gained recognition for his pioneering efforts in allowing women to enter the sanctum sanctorum of Shakti temples under his administration. Recommended Video Bangaru Adigalar, spiritual guru & Padma Shri awardee, passes away at 82 in Chennai | Oneindia News Spiritual Guru Bangaru Adigalar Passes Away at 82 India's first Sikh President, Zail Singh, participated in a significant yagna performed by Adigalar in Chennai in 1986, and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi offered prayers at the Melmaruvathur temple in 1989. Adigalar was a firm believer in the empowerment of women through his spiritual teachings. Born as G. Subramaniam, he was the second child of Gopala Naicker and Meenakshi Ammal, and he worked as a school teacher. Hailing from an OBC (Other Backward Class) community, he was known for his inclusive approach, welcoming those who were traditionally excluded from Vedic practices in Hindu temples. His efforts transformed Melmaruvathur into a sacred town, and he played a pivotal role in establishing medical and engineering colleges, as well as schools in the region. Archbishop of Goa and Daman appeals for peace in Israel and Palestine Archbishop Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao has appealed to Christians to pray and fast on October 27 for peace between Israel and Palestine. He noted that the Pope called on all Christians to pray and fast for peace on October 27. India -Krishna Kripa Panaji, Oct 20: In a world marred by conflict and suffering, the ongoing strife in Israel and Palestine stands as a stark reminder of the urgent need for peace in our world. In response to this crisis, Archbishop of Goa and Daman Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao has appealed to Christians to pray and fast on October 27 for peace between Israel and Palestine. A Call to Prayer and Fasting In a communication released in Panaji, Archbishop Ferrao expressed his deep concern for the humanitarian situation in Palestine and Israel. He noted that Pope Francis has been consistently voicing his concern and calling on all parties to lay down their weapons. Archbishop Ferrao echoed the Pope's call, urging Christians to pray and fast for peace on October 27. The Archbishop also encouraged people of other Christian denominations, other religions, and all those who advocate for peace to participate in this global spiritual exercise as they see fit. He emphasized that prayer and penance can play a vital role in bringing about peace. A Global Effort for Peace Archbishop Ferrao urged parish priests, chaplains, heads of institutions, and religious communities to organize at least an hour of prayer for peace in Israel and Palestine on October 27. He also encouraged individuals and families to join in this global spiritual exercise. The Archbishop's appeal comes in response to the recent war between Israel and Hamas, which erupted after the latter's deadly incursion on October 7. The Gaza Health Ministry has reported that 3,785 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, the majority of whom are women, children, and older adults. Nearly 12,500 were injured, and another 1,300 people are believed buried under rubble. In Israel, more than 1,400 people have been killed, mostly civilians slain during Hamas' deadly incursion. Archbishop Ferrao's appeal for prayer and fasting is a powerful reminder of the importance of peace and the need for all people of faith to come together in solidarity with those suffering in Israel and Palestine. As the world continues to grapple with conflict and violence, let us heed the Archbishop's call and join in prayer for a peaceful resolution to this and all other conflicts. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 18. The British Parliament held discussions on the Sustainable Development Goals, Trend reports. Matthew Offord, Member of the House of Commons of the British Parliament and Chairman of the Parliamentary Group on Explosive Ordnance Threats, who spoke during the discussions, noted that he twice participated in the conference on humanitarian demining and the Sustainable Development Goals in Baku, and emphasized that he got acquainted with the mine clearance work carried out in Azerbaijan. Matthew Offord noted that the clearing of mines had created opportunities for people to receive training, employment and, most importantly, to return to their homes. He highlighted the opportunity to achieve several sustainable development goals as a result of mine action. Saying that successful work in this direction will have a positive impact on achieving not only the Sustainable Development Goals, but also positive results in a number of other areas, he called on the UK government to support Azerbaijans initiative to declare humanitarian mine clearance the 18th UN Sustainable Development Goal. Meanwhile, in May 2022, Matthew Offord traveled to Aghdam, where he got acquainted with the mine clearance work that Azerbaijan is carrying out in the territories liberated from Armenian occupation in 2020. Canada Travel Advisory Update: Is It Safe To Travel To Canada From India? India oi-Madhuri Adnal Canada has issued an updated travel advisory for India, urging its citizens to "exercise a high degree of caution" throughout the country due to the risk of terrorist attacks. The statement from the Canadian government reads, "Exercise a high degree of caution in India due to the threat of terrorist attacks throughout the country." This updated advisory comes shortly after Canada's announcement of the withdrawal of 41 diplomats from India, following a diplomatic dispute related to the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly stated that India had threatened to unilaterally revoke the diplomats' official status by Friday unless they departed, which she deemed "unreasonable and unprecedented" and a violation of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations. Joly emphasized the importance of preserving diplomatic immunity, stating that allowing it to be breached could jeopardize diplomats worldwide. Therefore, Canada chose not to reciprocate. The 41 diplomats were accompanied by 42 dependents. Canada Accuses India Of 'Violating International Laws' By Expelling 41 Diplomats Recommended Video India vs Canada Diplomatic Row: Canada Withdraws Diplomats| India Revokes Immunity | Oneindia News In response to the diplomatic tensions, Canada has temporarily suspended in-person services at its consulates in Chandigarh, Bengaluru, and Mumbai. Consequently, the latest Canadian travel advisory advises its citizens to contact the High Commission of Canada in India, located in New Delhi, for any required assistance. In addition to recommending caution, Canada has advised its citizens to avoid "non-essential" travel in certain regions of India. According to the official statement, Canadians are advised to avoid non-essential travel to Assam and Manipur due to the "risk of terrorism and insurgency." Furthermore, Canadians have been advised to refrain from all types of travel to Jammu and Kashmir and the three states sharing borders with Pakistan. The advisory specifies that travel to or within Ladakh is an exception to this rule. Travel of any kind within 10 kilometers of the border with Pakistan in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Punjab is also discouraged due to the "unpredictable security situation and the presence of landmines and unexploded ordnance." It's worth noting that this advisory excludes the Wagah border crossing. Canada Withdraws 41 Diplomats From India Amid Huge Diplomatic Row The diplomatic tension between India and Canada has escalated, with India requesting the withdrawal of nearly 40 diplomats by October 10. India had reportedly threatened to revoke the diplomatic immunity of any Canadian diplomat remaining in the country after this date. This friction in diplomatic relations has been compounded by allegations from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, suggesting a potential link between Indian agents and Nijjar's murder, which India has vehemently rejected. Nijjar was fatally shot outside a gurdwara in a Vancouver suburb. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, October 20, 2023, 15:13 [IST] Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury accuses government of protecting industrialist in Mahua Moitra bribery case Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has accused the government of trying to protect a particular industrialist in the Mahua Moitra bribery case. He also expressed surprise at the promptness with which an Ethics Committee was formed to probe the allegations against Moitra. India -Krishna Kripa Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Friday claimed the government was trying to protect a particular industrialist while maintaining he was not fully aware of the facts of the charges of bribery brought against TMC MP Mahua Moitra. Chowdhury also expressed his surprise at the promptness with which an Ethics Committee was formed to probe the allegations against Moitra. 'Govt wants to throttle the voice of everyone' I don't know exactly what happened. But in general, I can say every MP has the right to speak in Parliament. But the ruling party wants to throttle the voice of everyone inside and outside the House. Based on this, I feel the issue is rai ka pahaad (mountain out of a molehill). If anyone speaks against that industrialist, the government gets rattled. This should also be investigated, the West Bengal Congress president told reporters in Baharampur. 'Never seen such promptness in forming Ethics Committee' When we go to Parliament, we go as people's representatives. We raise people's questions wherever we get these from. If the government has an answer, it gives. Otherwise, it does not. But I have never seen such promptness in forming an Ethics Committee and starting an investigation, Chowdhury added. 'Action was taken against Rahul Gandhi' He cited the example of Rahul Gandhi's disqualification and said whoever speaks against that particular industrialist, might become the country's enemy. The government is facing problems because of a particular person or a particular industrialist. The government is so eager to protect a particular industrialist that if anyone asks questions against him, the person becomes an enemy of the country. When Rahul Gandhi raised a question about that specific industrialist, action was taken against him, he said. Darshan Hiranandani accuses Moitra of taking bribe Darshan Hiranandani, CEO of real estate-to-energy group Hiranandani, is accused of paying Moitra to raise questions in Parliament about the Adani Group. On Thursday, Hiranandani said Moitra had targeted Adani to malign and embarrass Prime Minister Narendra Modi whose impeccable reputation gave the opposition no opportunity to attack him. In an affidavit, the Dubai-based businessman claimed he used Moitra's Parliament login to post questions. The TMC is yet to issue any official statement on this issue. The allegations of bribery against TMC MP Mahua Moitra have sparked a political storm in India. Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has accused the government of trying to protect a particular industrialist and has expressed surprise at the promptness with which an Ethics Committee was formed to probe the allegations against Moitra. The TMC is yet to issue any official statement on this issue. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury accuses government of shielding industrialist in Mahua Moitra case Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has accused the government of trying to protect a particular industrialist while maintaining he was not fully aware of the facts of the charges of bribery brought against TMC MP Mahua Moitra. India -Krishna Kripa Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Friday claimed the government was trying to protect a particular industrialist while maintaining he was not fully aware of the facts of the charges of bribery brought against TMC MP Mahua Moitra. Chowdhury also expressed his surprise at the promptness with which an Ethics Committee was formed to probe the allegations against Moitra. 'Govt rattled if anyone speaks against industrialist' I dont know exactly what happened. But in general, I can say every MP has the right to speak in Parliament. But the ruling party wants to throttle the voice of everyone inside and outside the House. Based on this, I feel the issue is rai ka pahaad mountain out of a molehill. If anyone speaks against that industrialist, the government gets rattled. This should also be investigated, the West Bengal Congress president told reporters. 'Never seen such promptness in forming Ethics Committee' When we go to Parliament, we go as peoples representatives. We raise peoples questions wherever we get these from. If the government has an answer, it gives. Otherwise, it does not. But I have never seen such promptness in forming an Ethics Committee and starting an investigation, Chowdhury added. 'Action taken against Rahul Gandhi for speaking against industrialist' He cited the example of Rahul Gandhis disqualification and said whoever speaks against that particular industrialist, might become the countrys enemy. The government is facing problems because of a particular person or a particular industrialist. The government is so eager to protect a particular industrialist that if anyone asks questions against him, the person becomes an enemy of the country. When Rahul Gandhi raised a question about that specific industrialist, action was taken against him, he said. Darshan Hiranandani accuses Moitra of taking money to target Adani Darshan Hiranandani, CEO of real estate-to-energy group Hiranandani, is accused of paying Moitra to raise questions in Parliament about the Adani Group. On Thursday, Hiranandani said Moitra had targeted Adani to malign and embarrass Prime Minister Narendra Modi whose impeccable reputation gave the opposition no opportunity to attack him. In an affidavit, the Dubai-based businessman claimed he used Moitras Parliament login to post questions. TMC yet to issue official statement The TMC is yet to issue any official statement on this issue. PM Modi Inaugurates Gujarat's First Heritage Train Amid Other Projects On His Two Day Visit Delhi-Meerut RRTS RapidX Train: PM Modi Flags Off India's First Semi-High Speed Train Namo Bharat India oi-Madhuri Adnal Prime Minister Narendra Modi has officially inaugurated the first segment of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), known as 'NaMo Bharat,' on the Delhi-Meerut RRTS corridor. This milestone marks the launch of the 17 km priority section, connecting Sahibabad to the 'Duhai Depot.' The foundation stone for the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor was laid by the Prime Minister on March 8, 2019. VIDEO | PM Modi buys the first ticket as he inaugurates the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor in Sahibabad, Ghaziabad. pic.twitter.com/N6GhuTDZMI Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 20, 2023 The RRTS is a groundbreaking rail-based, semi-high-speed, high-frequency commuter transit system designed to provide rapid intercity commuting services at 15-minute intervals, boasting a design speed of 180 km/h. The National Capital Region (NCR) has identified eight RRTS corridors for development, with three corridors prioritized for Phase-I implementation: Delhi - Ghaziabad - Meerut Corridor, Delhi - Gurugram - SNB - Alwar Corridor, and Delhi - Panipat Corridor. Prime Minister Modi personally acquired the first ticket for the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor in Sahibabad, Ghaziabad. First look of Delhi-Meerut RRTS train unveiled, to have WiFi onboard Recommended Video NaMo Bharat: PM Modi Inaugurates India's 1st RapidX Rail Service | Oneindia News German Ambassador to India, Philipp Ackermann, commented on the project's significance in terms of climate change and environmental protection, emphasizing that public transport would reduce road traffic and contribute to a carbon-free environment. He noted that Germany and India have forged the Green & Sustainable Partnership for Development, which aligns with these goals. #WATCH | Sahibabad, UP | PM Narendra Modi to inaugurate priority section of Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor and flag off RapidX train connecting Sahibabad to Duhai Depot later this morning. German Ambassador to India, Philipp Ackermann says, "I am very honoured and pic.twitter.com/P8SFc6lZnq ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2023 The entire corridor's development comes at a cost exceeding Rs 30,000 crore and will enable travel from Delhi to Meerut in less than an hour, passing through urban centers like Ghaziabad, Muradnagar, and Modinagar. The RRTS trains bear a resemblance to metro trains but are equipped with additional features such as luggage carriers and mini-screens. This high-speed, high-frequency, safe, reliable, comfortable, and environmentally friendly public transit system will cover the 82 km stretch from Delhi to Meerut in less than 60 minutes. Ticket prices are expected to range from a minimum fare of Rs 15 to Rs 20, with a maximum fare of up to Rs 160. If Congress Behaves Like This, Who Will Stand With Them: Akhilesh Yadav On MP Poll Row India oi-Prakash KL Upset with the Congress over the failure to reach a seat-sharing agreement in the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav deprecated his INDIA bloc ally again on Friday, saying "if the Congress behaves like this, who will stand with them". "I am not giving any advice or suggestions to the Congress party but there is a big challenge before the nation. The BJP is a big party. It is a very organised side. So there should be no confusion regarding it in any party. If you fight with confusion you will not win any election," PTI quoted the Samajwadi Party chief as saying. He said, "If the Congress behaves like this, who will stand with them." A day ago, Yadav had expressed his unhappiness over the Congress not allocating any seat to the SP despite talks on seat sharing in MP and suggested that the grand old party could get the same treatment from his party in Uttar Pradesh. The SP chief had said his party leaders wouldn't have answered calls from the Congress for a meeting in Madhya Pradesh had he known that the INDIA alliance was confined to the national level. "I must have got confused," he had told reporters. In response, UPCC president Ajay Rai retorted on Friday, emphasizing that Yadav could not hold the Congress responsible since the SP had announced its list of candidates ahead of his party, ultimately aiding the BJP by running independently. Nonetheless, the SP president reiterated that the INDIA alliance should have made it clear that there would be no alliance in the state elections. He said that the "PDA (Backward, Dalit and Alpsankhyak) was formed before INDIA. On various occasions, I have said that there is an INDIA alliance but our strategy is PDA and PDA will defeat NDA." "When a leader of the MP and a former chief minister spoke to us and asked about the seats we wanted in MP, I shared the performance of SP in various elections in MP and told him that many people were elected from MP who joined other parties. "I reminded that when Congress needed support, SP MLA was the first to offer support and government was formed," he said. "We are against the BJP and we offered our support to defeat BJP. In the meeting that continued till 1 am in the night, they assured us to give six seats. But, when they declared candidates on all seats, in compulsion, the SP has to declare candidates from where we are strong," he said. The Samajwadi Party (SP) announced its third list of two candidates on Thursday night. With this, it has announced 33 candidates for the November 17 polls to the 230-member assembly in the BJP-ruled state. The Congress has already announced its candidates for 229 seats and willing to give six seats for the SP, but the talks did not materialise. "I believe that if you were not ready to give any seat you should have not talked to us. But, they didn't give any information to us. So, SP is fighting where we have our presence," said Yadav. "The emotions that Samajwadis have with Azamgarh it is possible Congress has the same emotions in Raebareli and Amethi. We have never commented on Raebareli and Amethi," the SP chief said without elaborating. In the 2018 Madhya Pradesh elections, the SP won one seat (Bijawar in Bundelkhand region) and finished second on five, securing 1.30 per cent votes in alliance with the tribal Gondwana Gantantra Party. Madhya Pradesh will have single-phase polling on November 17 with the counting of votes set for December 3 along with other states. 'Meri Mati Mera Desh' Campaign To Be Launched In Run Up To I-Day: PM Modi In Mann Ki Baat 'Igniting Collective Goodness': New Book Explores How PM Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' Shaped 'New India' India oi-Madhuri Adnal The BlueKraft Digital Foundation has recently released the book 'Igniting Collective Goodness: Mann Ki Baat @ 100' to celebrate the milestone of 100 episodes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio program, 'Mann Ki Baat.' This book marks the third installment in the series, documenting the remarkable journey of PM Modi's widely followed radio program that has been connecting with the masses since its inception in October 2014. In his foreword for the book, Prime Minister Modi writes about how 'Mann ki Baat' has transcended being just a radio program to become a platform for the voices of the nation. He highlights how the program has evolved from a small experiment to bring forth inspiring life stories often overshadowed by the daily hustle of politics and governance, into a platform that amplifies the voices of the nation, especially those from grassroots levels, whose stories of resilience, courage, and innovation continue to inspire. Not Just a Radio Programme, #MannKiBaat Has Given Voices to People from the Grassroots: PM @narendramodihttps://t.co/6Zfwu2U7mE via NaMo App pic.twitter.com/JpsRaZPUHF PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 18, 2023 The book is set to become a historical document for future generations of readers, researchers, and writers. It serves as a living record of the significant acts of collective goodness by ordinary citizens in conversation with their leader. The book is a collection of essays and articles that explore the impact of the program and its role in amplifying the voices of ordinary citizens. The authors expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for personal interactions during the book's research. The book captures these conversations and is as much a reflection of the people's voices as it is of the Prime Minister's. India-Middle East-Europe Corridor Will Become Future Basis Of World Trade: PM Modi In 'Mann Ki Baat' This book is the third in a series that tracks the journey of 'Mann ki Baat' from its inception in 2014 to the milestone of 100 episodes. With over 23 crore regular listeners and 96% awareness among the Indian population, the radio program has become a key platform for the Prime Minister to communicate directly with citizens. The book is divided into four sections with 19 chapters, covering various themes explored by the Prime Minister in his 'Mann ki Baat' episodes. These themes encompass topics such as social change, India's cultural diversity, statistics, and strategies. Mann ki Baat holds a unique legacy as the only national broadcast program steered by the sitting head of government in the world's largest democracy. The book reflects this uniqueness by delving into the heart-to-heart conversations between the Prime Minister and his listeners. The book touches upon a wide range of subjects, from women's empowerment, water conservation, cleanliness, self-reliance, science, health, culture, and sports, all presented in a conversational and relatable style by Prime Minister Modi. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lauded PM Modi's efforts in fostering a collective discourse that brings our country together. He said Mann Ki Baat reflects PM Modi's exceptional connection with the people of India. "Received an advance copy of 'Igniting Collective Goodness: Mann Ki Baat @ 100', published by @bluekraft . The success of 'Mann Ki Baat' reflects PM Shri @narendramodi 's exceptional connection with the people of India. Through his interactions, Modi ji has fostered a collective discourse that brings our country together. This book captures the transformative power of our collective goodness, highlighting the true spirit of our people. PM Modi's visionary ideas have played a crucial role in shaping a 'New India'. A must-read for everyone, especially the youth who will contribute in building India's future," said Singh on X. Received an advance copy of 'Igniting Collective Goodness: Mann Ki Baat @ 100', published by @bluekraft. The success of 'Mann Ki Baat' reflects PM Shri @narendramodi's exceptional connection with the people of India. Through his interactions, Modi ji has fostered a collective pic.twitter.com/a80WTh9nMZ Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) October 18, 2023 Union Home Minister Amit Shah commended the publishers for presenting the book, emphasizing that it is a "must-read" for the youth. Taking to X (formely Twitter), Shah wrote,''Powered by data and insights, the book is a must-read for the youths who wish to reflect on the transformative journey, as Mann Ki Baat crosses the mark of the 100th episode. On this occasion, I congratulate @BlueKraft, the publisher of the book, for coming up with this literary gem.'' The new book 'Igniting Collective Goodness: Mann Ki Baat @ 100' tells the story of a unique journey undertaken by our nation under the leadership of PM @narendramodi Ji. It sheds new light on how Modi Ji with the sheer power of his words rallied the nation behind common goals of pic.twitter.com/gBMAEMgtcv Amit Shah (@AmitShah) October 17, 2023 BJP president J.P. Nadda has encouraged everyone to read this book, characterizing the journey of the program as a "contemporary mass movement." Why Did PM Modi Mention Bengaluru's Sankey Tank In 'Mann Ki Baat' Speech? Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said,''Received a copy of a book on "Mann Ki Baat." Chronicles the remarkable journey of the @airnewsalerts which reached 100 episodes in April'23. Small, self-motivated good deeds of nation building have found recognition in the words of @PMOIndia, one Sunday each month. Indeed igniting collective goodness.'' Received a copy of a book on Mann Ki Baat. Chronicles the remarkable journey of the @airnewsalerts which reached 100 episodes in April23. Small, self-motivated good deeds of nation building have found recognition in the words of @PMOIndia, one Sunday each month. Indeed pic.twitter.com/iESegwxOoc Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) October 18, 2023 Union Minister Smriti Irani said,''An amalgamation of resolves , resolutions and results . A dialogue between a people and their Prime Minister- Igniting Collective Goodness is a must have . It celebrates the quintessential capacities of individual citizens who are humane ,their journeys of service and sacrifice.'' An amalgamation of resolves , resolutions and results . A dialogue between a people and their Prime Minister- Igniting Collective Goodness is a must have . It celebrates the quintessential capacities of individual citizens who are humane ,their journeys of service and sacrifice. pic.twitter.com/yDYwKIRZGY Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) October 19, 2023 The first book in this series was unveiled by the former President, Ram Nath Kovind, in May 2017 following the completion of 26 episodes of the radio program. The second book was officially introduced by the former Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley, in March 2019, celebrating the program's achievement of 50 episodes. 'Igniting Collective Goodness: Mann ki Baat @ 100' is available for pre-order on Amazon and is published by Westland Publications Limited. Biden Declares Israel And Ukraine Support Is Vital For US Security, Will Ask Congress For Billions International oi-PTI Declaring that U.S. leadership ''holds the world together," President Joe Biden told Americans that the country must deepen its support of Ukraine and Israel in the middle of two vastly different, unpredictable and bloody wars. Acknowledging that "these conflicts can seem far away," Biden insisted in a rare Oval Office address on Thursday that they remain "vital for America's national security'' as he prepared to ask Congress for billions of dollars in military assistance for both countries. "History has taught us when terrorists don't pay a price for their terror, when dictators don't pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction," Biden said. "They keep going. And the cost and the threat to America and the world keep rising." Biden's speech reflected an expansive view of U.S. obligations overseas at a time when he faces political resistance at home to additional funding. He's expected to ask for $105 billion on Friday, including $60 billion for Ukraine, much of which would replenish U.S. weapons stockpiles provided earlier. Israel-Hamas War: 203 Held Hostage, 306 Soldiers Killed, Says IDF; Over 5000 Total Deaths There's also $14 billion for Israel, $10 billion for unspecified humanitarian efforts, $14 billion for managing the U.S.-Mexico border and fighting fentanyl trafficking and $7 billion for the Indo-Pacific region, which includes Taiwan. The proposal was described by three people familiar with the details who insisted on anonymity before the official announcement. "It's a smart investment that's going to pay dividends for American security for generations," Biden said. He hopes that combining all of these issues into one piece of legislation will create the necessary coalition for congressional approval. His speech came the day after his high-stakes trip to Israel, where he showed solidarity with the country after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas and pushed for more humanitarian assistance to Palestinians. With Israel continuing to bombard the Gaza Strip and preparing a ground invasion, Biden placed an increased emphasis on the deadly toll that the conflict has had on civilians there, saying he's "heartbroken by the tragic loss of Palestinian life.'' "Israel and Palestinians equally deserve to live in safety, dignity and peace," Biden said. He also warned about a rising tide of antisemitism and Islamophobia in the U.S., noting the killing of Wadea Alfayoumi, a 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy. "To all you hurting, I want you to know I see you. You belong,'' Biden said. ''And I want to say this to you. You're all Americans." The White House said that after his speech, the president and first lady Jill Biden spoke over the phone with Wadea's father and uncle to express their "deepest condolences'' and share their prayers for the recovery of the boy's mother, who was also stabbed. Biden included in his remarks a warning to Iran's leaders, who have supported Hamas in Gaza and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and said the U.S. "will continue to hold them accountable." As Biden seeks a second term in a campaign that will likely hinge on voters' feeling about the economy, he was careful to emphasize that the spending will create jobs for U.S. workers, referencing the construction of missiles in Arizona and artillery shells in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Texas. And he worked in a nod to one of his political heroes, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, by saying that "just as in World War II," the country is "building the arsenal of democracy and serving the cause of freedom." Biden faces an array of steep challenges as he tries to secure the money. The House remains in chaos because the Republican majority has been unable to select a speaker to replace Rep. Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted more than two weeks ago. In addition, conservative Republicans oppose money for sending more weapons to Ukraine as its battle against the Russian invasion approaches the two-year mark. Biden's previous request for funding, which included $24 billion to help with the next few months of fighting, was stripped out of budget legislation last month despite a personal plea from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. There will be resistance from some on the other side of the political spectrum when it comes to military assistance for Israel, which has been bombarding the Gaza Strip in response to the Hamas attack on Oct. 7. Critics have accused Israel of indiscriminately killing civilians and committing war crimes by cutting off essential supplies including food, water and fuel. Bipartisan support for Israel has already eroded in recent years as progressive Democrats have become more outspoken in their opposition to the country's decades-long occupation of Palestinian territory, which is widely viewed as illegal by the international community. There are rumbles of disagreement within Biden's administration as well. Josh Paul, a State Department official who oversaw the congressional liaison office dealing with foreign arms sales, resigned over U.S. policy on weapons transfers to Israel. "I cannot work in support of a set of major policy decisions, including rushing more arms to one side of the conflict, that I believe to be short-sighted, destructive, unjust and contradictory to the very values that we publicly espouse," he wrote in a statement posted to his LinkedIn account. 'Stand With You': UK PM Rishi Sunak Amid Trip To Israel As War With Hamas Rages On A speech from the Oval Office is one of the most prestigious platforms that a president can command, an opportunity to try to seize the country's attention at a moment of crisis. The major television networks broke into regular programming to carry the address live. Biden has delivered only one other such speech during his presidency, after Congress passed bipartisan budget legislation to avert a default on the country's debt. The White House and other senior administration officials, including Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young, have quietly briefed key lawmakers in recent days about the contours of the planned supplemental funding request. The Democratic Senate plans to move quickly on Biden's proposal, hoping that it creates pressure on the Republican-controlled House to resolve its leadership drama and return to legislating. However, there are disagreements within the Senate, too, on how to move forward. Eight Republicans, led by Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall, said they did not want to combine assistance for Ukraine and Israel in the same legislation. "These are two separate and unrelated conflicts and it would be wrong to leverage support of aid to Israel in an attempt to get additional aid for Ukraine across the finish line," they wrote in a letter. North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer said he was fine with the proposal as long as there was also a fresh effort to address border issues. But he said ''it's got to be designed to secure the border, not to facilitate travel through the border." Although there was a lull in migrant arrivals to the U.S. after the start of new asylum restrictions in May, illegal crossings topped a daily average of more than 8,000 last month. Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat who leads a Senate panel that oversees funding for the Department of Homeland Security, was wary of any effort to overhaul border policy during a debate over spending. ''How are we going to settle our differences over immigration in the next two weeks?" Murphy said. "This is a supplemental funding bill. The minute you start loading it up with policies, that sounds like a plan to fail." Biden's decision to include funding for the Indo-Pacific in his proposal is a nod toward the potential for another international conflict. China wants to reunify the self-governing island of Taiwan with its mainland, a goal that could be carried out through force. Although wars in Europe and the Middle East have been the most immediate concerns for U.S. foreign policy, Biden views Asia as the key arena in the struggle for global influence. The administration's national security strategy, released last year, describes China as "America's most consequential geopolitical challenge." For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, October 20, 2023, 12:15 [IST] Canada Accuses India Of 'Violating International Laws' By Expelling 41 Diplomats International oi-Madhuri Adnal In the midst of the ongoing dispute with India, Canada's Foreign Minister, Melanie Joly, has expressed her concern over India's decision to strip the diplomatic immunity of 41 diplomats, which she views as a breach of international law. Canada, however, has no intention of responding in kind to avoid further exacerbating the situation. Joly stated, "Revoking the diplomatic immunity of 41 diplomats is not only unprecedented but also contrary to international law." This development coincides with Canada's decision to recall 41 diplomats and their 42 family members from India. According to reports from the news agency AFP, Melanie Joly revealed that India had plans to "unethically" revoke diplomatic immunity for all but 21 of Canada's diplomats and their families by the upcoming Friday, which led Ottawa to recall the remaining personnel. Canada Withdraws 41 Diplomats From India Amid Huge Diplomatic Row This move followed India's suspension of visa operations for Canada and its call for a reduction in the number of Canadian diplomats stationed in India, citing the need for 'parity' in response to the diplomatic conflict between the two nations. Recommended Video India vs Canada Diplomatic Row: Canada Withdraws Diplomats| India Revokes Immunity | Oneindia News "As of now, I can confirm that India has formally conveyed its plan to unethically remove diplomatic immunities for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents in Delhi by October 20. This means 41 Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents were in danger of having immunity stripped on an arbitrary date and this would put their personal safety at risk..''Joly said. Melanie Joly emphasized, "We have facilitated their safe departure from India. This implies that our diplomats and their families have relinquished their diplomatic immunities. The diplomatic immunities are essential for protecting diplomats, regardless of their origin or assignment location. They enable diplomats to carry out their duties without fear of retaliation or arrest by the host country." Canada PM Trudeau's Popularity Takes A Hit Amid India Row: NDTV Poll "Diplomatic immunities are a cornerstone of diplomacy, and they operate on the principle of reciprocity. They can only function effectively if all nations adhere to these regulations. Unilaterally revoking diplomatic privileges and immunities is in violation of international law. It constitutes a clear breach of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, and the threat to do so is unreasonable and escalatory. Should we permit the breach of diplomatic immunity norms, diplomats worldwide would face peril," she stated. Joly concluded that Canada will not reciprocate in kind, as reported by CTV news. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, October 20, 2023, 10:26 [IST] Canada Withdraws 41 Diplomats From India Amid Huge Diplomatic Row Canada has recalled 41 of its diplomats from India following the revocation of their diplomatic immunity, intensifying a conflict regarding the slaying of a Sikh separatist in Canada. International -Sathish Raman In a recent development that has escalated the diplomatic tension between Canada and India, Canada's foreign minister Melanie Joly announced on Thursday that 41 of its diplomats have been recalled from India. This decision comes in response to the Indian government's announcement of revoking their diplomatic immunity. The ongoing spat is linked to the murder of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, in suburban Vancouver. The Canadian authorities have alleged that India might be involved in Nijjar's killing which took place in June. However, India has dismissed these allegations as 'absurd' and accused Canada of harboring separatists and "terrorists". In retaliation to these accusations, India took diplomatic steps expressing its anger over the allegation. Impact on Diplomatic Relations Joly informed that out of 62 Canadian diplomats stationed in India, 41 have been removed along with their dependents leaving behind only 21 exceptions who will continue to stay. She added that this step was necessary as stripping away their immunity would put their personal safety at risk. Furthermore, she stated that removing diplomatic immunity goes against international law and hence Canada wouldn't reciprocate this action towards Indian diplomats. Affect on Services This move by India is expected to impact services provided to citizens of both countries. As a result, Canada has decided to pause its in-person services across three major cities in India. Arindam Bagchi from the Ministry of External Affairs had earlier called for a reduction in Canadian diplomats claiming they outnumbered Indian staff members present in Canada. Nijjars Killing: A Point Of Contention Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau mentioned last month about 'credible allegations' regarding possible Indian involvement in Nijjar's killing. The 45-year-old Sikh leader was murdered by masked gunmen in Surrey, outside Vancouver. India had previously accused Nijjar, an Indian-born Canadian citizen, of having links to terrorism - a claim that Nijjar denied. Escalation Of Tensions The recent expulsions by India have further heightened the tensions between the two countries. A trade mission to India planned for this fall was canceled by Canada following frosty encounters between Trudeau and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the recent G20 meeting in New Delhi. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has also met with India's foreign minister amid this ongoing row. Impact on Immigration Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller stated that due to India's decision to remove immunity, Canada's immigration department will be reducing the number of Canadian employees stationed in India significantly. This is notable as he pointed out earlier this year that India topped the list for permanent residents, temporary foreign workers and international students in Canada. In conclusion, while both nations are trying not to escalate these tensions further, it remains uncertain how long it will take before relations normalize completely. As allegations continue and diplomatic ties strain further, citizens from both countries could face inconveniences until a resolution is reached. India's Actions Making Life Hard For Millions: Canada PM Trudeau International oi-Prakash KL India's actions are making life extremely difficult for millions of people in both India and Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday. His statement comes a day after Canada withdrew 41 diplomats following an Indian threat to unilaterally revoke their status. Tensions flared between India and Canada last month following Trudeau's explosive allegations of the "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18 in British Columbia. "The Indian government is making it unbelievably difficult for life as usual to continue for millions of people in India and in Canada. And they're doing it by contravening a very basic principle of diplomacy," Reuters quoted Trudeau as telling reporters. "It's something that has me very concerned for the well-being and happiness of millions of Canadians who trace their origins to the Indian subcontinent," he added. Trudeau stated that the removal of several of Canada's diplomats would disrupt travel and trade, creating challenges for Indian students studying in Canada. Canada is home to around two million individuals with Indian heritage, constituting 5 per cent of its total population. India serves as the most significant source of international students for Canada, accounting for approximately 40 per cent of all study permit holders. Canada accepted New Delhi's request to recall 41 out of its 62 diplomats in India. However, it contended that India's action, compelling Canada to reduce its diplomatic presence in India, contravened international law, including the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. "We have been engaged with the Canadian side on this over the last month in order to work out the details and modalities of its implementation," said the MEA spokesperson, adding: "Our actions in implementing this parity are fully consistent with Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations". India has rejected Canada's allegation that its move to ensure parity in the diplomatic presence of the two nations in each other's capital was "a violation of international norms". India has dismissed Canada's claim that its move to ensure parity in the diplomatic presence of the two nations in each other's capital was "a breach of international standards." BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. The South Caucasus takes the spotlight of global powers, Trend reports. The 2020 second Karabakh war, which transformed the region's realities, has heightened international interest. Three years ago, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan suggested the "3+3" framework with the intention to develop a process comprising three South Caucasus countries and their neighbors - Russia, Turkey, and Iran. Despite Georgia's initial unwillingness to join, the first meeting in this style took place. However, given the rapid dynamics in the region, the value of this format for Tbilisi has substantially expanded. Despite initial optimism that agreement on these organizational concerns would be reached quickly, global and regional processes, particularly Armenia's disruptive posture, appear to have brought the matter of additional meetings in the "3+3" format to a halt. However, the recent announcement of a conference of foreign ministers in the aforementioned format in Iran gives cause to assume that Armenia's participation in this meeting, even if only to give the impression of contributing to regional security, can help to clarify many concerns in the South Caucasus in the future. In this context, two important issues can be underlined. The fact that Tehran, whose relations with Baku were tense after the second Karabakh war, will host the next meeting in this format can be seen as a message that the "ice" between Azerbaijan and Iran has already "melted". Furthermore, Armenia, regarded as a Russian bastion, has agreed to this summit while expressing a willingness to shift away from the Kremlin and toward the West. Armenia's Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, has made it apparent that he plans to distance himself from Russia by declining to attend the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit in Bishkek. Pashinyan did not visit Kyrgyzstan, which would have taken only two hours, but instead went to Granada, which is far further away. Furthermore, Ararat Mirzoyan, Armenia's Foreign Minister, declined to attend the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in early October. So, what made Armenia agree to the Iran meeting? Pashinyan appears to be realizing the impossibility of an immediate break with Russia, a departure from its area of influence. Otherwise, why would Armenia, which has avoided venues where Russia is present in recent days, accept to a conference in Tehran? Iran's stance is another factor. Armenia most certainly received this proposition from Tehran and recognizes that rejecting it may result in the country losing Iran's support in the future. It's probable that Armenia realizes that separating itself from Iran for no obvious cause will be viewed badly by Tehran. The essence of the "3+3" format lies in the approach of solving regional problems through regional actors. Iran has shown increased activity in recent days, as it acknowledges that the proposal of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan is the most advantageous option for the region. For this reason, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, during his meeting with the Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia, Armen Grigoryan, stated that the processes in the Caucasus can be resolved with the participation of local actors and neighbors in the region. The "3+3" format was also discussed during a phone call between Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart on October 10. And finally, Armenia is obligated to engage in this framework, even if only to provide the appearance of contributing to regional security. However, if Pashinyan actually believes in this method, why does he continue to call on Strasbourg, Brussels, and Paris to intervene in the region's affairs? The solution to this question is likewise obvious. The Pashinyan government must finally recognize that the region's problems must and will be solved within the region, not beyond at all - in the European Parliament or Strasbourg. 'Just Looking Like A WOW' - Why Is This Video Breaking The Internet Italy PM Giorgia Meloni Announces Separation From Partner After 10 Years Amid Sexism Row International oi-PTI Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni announced Friday that she is separating from her partner and the father of her young daughter after nearly a decade together. In a statement posted on social media, Meloni said her relationship with Andrea Giambruno had ended. She said their paths had diverged "for some time." The announcement came after Giambruno, an on-air television personality, was caught on audio seemingly making lewd remarks to colleagues. An Italian satirical news programme, Striscia la Notizia, aired two nights' worth of programming on Giambruno this week, using backstage clips and audio. Striscia is a primetime programme of the Mediaset broadcaster of the late Silvio Berlusconi, whose Forza Italia party is a junior partner in Meloni's government. This week marks the first anniversary of Meloni's government, Italy's first headed by a woman and first hard-right-led administration since the end of World War II. Recommended Video Italian PM Giorgia Meloni Parts Ways from Partner After His Sexist Remarks On TV | Oneindia News Meloni, who was raised by a single mother after her father abandoned the family, and Giambruno share 7-year-old Ginevra. Italy's far-right PM Meloni makes first Brussels trip Meloni had previously described Giambruno as a "fantastic" and very present father who complemented her in caring for their daughter. In her 2021 memoir "I am Giorgia," she said Giambruno wouldn't balk if she was working and he had to step in, though she complained that he was messier than she. In her statement, Meloni thanked Giambruno for their relationship and daughter and she would defend their friendship. "And I will defend, at all costs, a 7-year-old girl who loves her mother and loves her father, as I was unable to love mine." She also hit back at the media coverage that preceded her announcement, blasting "all those who hoped to weaken me by hitting me at home." For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, October 20, 2023, 16:06 [IST] History has taught us when terrorists dont pay a price for their terror they cause more chaos, death and destruction, the US president said in rare address. President Biden is urging Americans to support the war efforts in the Middle East and Ukraine ... he says we all have to come together to help defeat terrorists and tyrants. The Prez just made his case for Congress to approve billions more in The Prime Minister of Italy is pretty clearly not into threesomes, because she just broke up with the father of her child after he apparently floated the idea to another woman. PM Giorgia Meloni said she was dunzo with Andrea Giambruno, her partner The US president said Hamas and Vladimir Putin's Russia both seek to "annihilate" neighboring democracies. Meanwhile, Germany's foreign minister announced an aid package for Gaza civilians. DW has the latest. Two American hostages a mother and her daughter have been released out of around 200 currently held captive by Islamist militant group Hamas in Gaza. DW has the latest. FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, the ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee, is introducing a bill to block the Biden administration's woke funding requirements. Two House Republicans are calling for the Biden administration to deport any foreign nationals who are on student visas and have expressed pro-Hamas sentiments. Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg received backlash for including a blue octopus in her pro-Palestine photo, which Jews and pro-Israel supporters perceived as an antisemitic symbol. 2008-2023 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. During the inspection of the area in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, the engineer-sapper units of the Azerbaijan Army detected a large number of storage full of mines of various purposes and improvised explosive devices, Trend reports via Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense. It was found out that some of the mines in the detected storages were produced in Armenia in 2021, and the improvised explosive devices were made from artillery shells in a handicraft manner. It should be noted that in the lead up to the local anti-terror measures, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry issued official information on illegal multiple military transportation from Armenia to the Karabakh region. Gaza rulers Hamas on Friday released two American hostages, from around 200 captives abducted in attacks by the militant group in Israel on October 7, Israel and the militant group said. The world is focused on the war in Gaza but Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have other things on their mind. During a meeting on the sidelines of the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, the two leaders discussed the conflict in the Middle East along with other issues. Seeking "a fairer, multi-polar world," Putin and Xi would like to see American influence diminished and a stronger Russian and Chinese presence on the world stage. It is easy to get caught up in the political and diplomatic minutiae of each country or region, but when zooming out, it is easier to understand what is happening globally. In the 1980s, Iran's Islamic regime, led by Ayatollah Khomeini, maintained a cautious distance from the Soviet Union, which was a major global power during that period. The Iranian leadership, while ideologically opposed to Western influences and imperialism, did not align closely with the Soviet Union's communist ideology. Instead, Iran pursued a path of non-alignment in the Cold War rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union. However, as the 1990s dawned and the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Iran began to explore opportunities for collaboration with Russia. This shift was driven by several factors. First, Iran sought Russian support for its defense and technological programs, recognizing that Russia had significant expertise and resources in these areas. Iran's desire for advanced military capabilities and technological advancements drove it to establish a closer relationship with Russia during this period. One notable example of this collaboration is Iran's acquisition of Russian military hardware and technology. Iran purchased weapons and military equipment from Russia to modernize its armed forces and enhance its defense capabilities. This strategic partnership allowed Iran to access Russian military expertise and equipment, which it had previously been unable to obtain due to Cold War dynamics. Furthermore, Iran's growing technological ambitions, including its pursuit of a space program and nuclear capabilities, led to increased engagement with Russia. Russia provided crucial assistance and expertise to Iran in these areas, helping it make progress in its technological endeavors. In a more contemporary context, it is worth noting that the relationship between Iran and Russia has evolved further. Iran has become a supplier of drones to Russia, showcasing the multifaceted nature of their cooperation. This demonstrates Iran's growing capabilities in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and its willingness to collaborate with Russia on various military and technological fronts. Moreover, Russia played a pivotal role in the Iran nuclear deal of 2015, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). As one of the P5+1 countries (along with the United States, China, France, the United Kingdom, and Germany), Russia was actively involved in negotiating and implementing the agreement. The JCPOA aimed to curb Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief, and Russia's diplomatic efforts were instrumental in reaching this historic accord. This demonstrates the significant diplomatic role that Russia has played in shaping Iran's international relations and nuclear policy. The current geopolitical landscape is experiencing a pivotal transformation, marked by a delicate and high-stakes standoff among the world's major powers. This emerging global dynamic, often dubbed as "The New Cold War," draws intriguing parallels to the ideological conflict that dominated the 20th century. However, it is imperative to recognize that while echoes of the past are discernible, this contemporary struggle differs significantly from its historical predecessor. The ongoing contest is not a mere reiteration of the old Cold War but rather a multifaceted and intricate conflict that mirrors the profound changes that have shaped the global stage. In contrast to the original Cold War, which was characterized by a bipolar confrontation between two dominant superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union, the New Cold War unfolds in a landscape featuring a more diverse cast of influential players. The ascent of China as a formidable global player, coupled with Russia's resurgence under Putin's leadership, has ushered in an era of multipolarity. This multipolar world order challenges the United States by presenting multiple formidable adversaries on the international stage. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). John Lewis, the late Representative from Georgia, spoke often of good trouble. That may sound like an oxymoron, a contradiction in terms, but stirring up trouble to achieve a good end seemed to be good trouble to him. Of course, it was not the trouble itself but its expected consequences that were good. Reactions to good strategic voting could be similar. Strategic voting seems anything but good; it is a practice for manipulating elections. But usually, it is done with good intentions and sometimes with good consequences. Strategic voting can be good because compensating for a dysfunctional voting system is beneficial , at least if it works as planned. With plurality voting, voters have only the option of indicating a single candidate to support. The assumption that the election can select the best winner based on such limited information seems absurd. The winner with the most votes may also be the most widely disliked. A voting system cannot possibly avoid falling into this trap if, as with plurality voting, it fails even to ask voters about their dislikes. Nor can plurality voting possibly take into consideration the possibility that voters may be willing to compromise among similar candidates and so have difficulty in deciding which of several candidates to vote for. Compensating for such limitations is why voters often resort to strategic voting. Rather than voting, as they have been advised, for the candidate they most like, they may vote instead for a different who seems more likely to win. Still, after the election, pundits often pretend that voters did all vote for their favorite. This is what the voters choose, they say to make a point. But surely even these pundits understand that their underlying pretense, that votes honestly express the preferences of voters. to be widely off the mark. Strategic voting is generally done with a good intent. Voters understand the need to take into consideration the limitations of a voting system and perhaps even weigh electability more than personal preferences. But estimating electability is inexact, making strategic voting in this manner seem much like a game of chance. Voters do the best they can with the options available to them, but what is needed is to adopt a better voting system, one that avoids coercing voters into playing such strategic games of chance. Ranked-choice voting (IRV) has many enthusiastic supporters but, like plurality voting, it has significant flaws; in particular, IRV also fails to ask voters about who they oppose. But unlike plurality voting, IRV even fails to ask voters about which candidates they support. IRV is a complex voting system, and the complexities of IRV might seem to make strategic voting so difficult as to be impractical. But our previous article hint at how it might be done. As with plurality voting, the strategy would take electability into account. This strategy with IRV will appeal to the voter who, most of all, wants to avoid electing candidates from the opposed list and with that in mind, be willing to make some compromises in choosing among other candidates. Perhaps even more important, the strategy attempts to correct the overly punitive way that IRV deals with abstentions. Notice that, in an IRV election, when a voter ranks the eventual winner first that voter loses influence on early rounds of counting. Conversely, a ballot that lists first candidates who are unlikely to win, is more likely to influence earlier vote counts, perhaps even casting a vote that allows the eventual winner to avoid elimination in an early round of the tally. For this reason, the strategy is to order preferences with increasing estimates of electability. Determining this ordering involves bit of guesswork of course, but much like the guesswork voters now in practice with plurality elections. Polls often predict the electability of candidates and adoption of this strategy would depend on that continuing. A widespread adoption of the strategy would probably help polls and pundits retain their present influence on election outcomes. As noted earlier, strategic voting is likely to have a downside, despite it being an honest effort to solve real deficiencies in a voting system. Following the proposed strategy, the voter would first decide, much as a BAV voter would, which candidates to oppose and which to support. The voter might choose to write out three lists, one consisting of the candidates to approve, the second of candidates to oppose and the third being a grab-bag of the remaining candidates (BAV-abstentions). The strategy is, for both the list of supported candidates and the list of BAV-abstentions, to first adjust these two lists to be in increasing order of electability. The ranking on the voter's ballot would begin with support list and that would be followed by the BAV-abstentions. It is worth noticing that if this strategy were widely adopted, there might be a rash of elections in which the candidate judged as most electable would get few votes at first and be eliminated in the first round of voting. The pundits and pollsters would be forced to adjust their approaches for predicting electability. The combined pair of lists could be too short, making it quite possible for the list of candidates to be exhausted before the re-counting of ballots ends. For example, suppose there are ten candidates with three support votes and four oppositions; that leaves three BAV-abstentions. The list prepared for the ballot is only six candidates long in an election that could have as many as nine countings of ballots. In this eventuality, it is certain that one of the candidates that the voter opposes will be elected. But that disappointment aside, perhaps the voter does make distinctions among the four candidates that the voter opposes. In that case, the voter would be wise to extend the ballot list to include (in decreasing order of preference) three of the four remaining candidates. The winner would, from this voter's view, be one of the worst, but at least the voter will have tried to avoid electing the worst of the worst. Preparing to follow this strategy might seem more trouble than voters would take on. But this is the computer age; surely some enterprising programmer would construct a cellphone app to do most of the work. The app might even provide a selection of likely electability orderings. The voter would need only to indicate which candidates are opposed and which are supported. This would be relatively easy, exactly as easy as filling out a BAV ballot. Such an app might, even today, find a market in Australia and other places, like Maine and Alaska, where IRV is now used. As suggested earlier, this strategy should appeal to voters who are open to making compromises as opposed to having a firm conviction about a detailed order of preference among the candidates. With the strategy, the voter exchanges the opportunity to specify a single most favored candidate in exchange for an improved prospect of avoiding a particularly bad alternative. That same tradeoff is achieved by BAV, but more directly and efficiently. With BAV the voter is asked only to express these simple preferences, avoiding the unpleasant need for strategic. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Either this nation shall kill racism, or racism shall kill this nation." (S. Jonas, August, 2018) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Preface: As I have said for quite some time, the existence of the State of Israel has proved that the age-old anti-Semitic claim that "Jews are totally different from everyone else" is totally wrong. Give Jews State Power and they can behave just as badly as anyone else. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Who benefits and who does not benefit from the current Israel/HAMAS/Gaza crisis? Well, to begin with, the Palestinians who have been jammed into what I have called "The World's Largest Concentration Camp" for quite some time now, most obviously do not. The dense civilian infrastructure which provided at least some relatively civilized-although-highly-packed-in living conditions is being routinely and ruthlessly destroyed by the Israeli government. (And do note that I say here "the Israeli government," not "Israel." For a highly significant minority of Israelis [although that minority is now for sure smaller than it was before the Oct. 7 Hamas outrage] do not approve at all of the current government's policy.) So, who does? Indeed, there are very significant forces and interests that do benefit from the initial attack, and then the overwhelming Israeli response which forced the mass evacuation of civilians from an already overcrowded living space to a spectacularly overcrowded one. (Gee, I wonder which government did that to Jews 75 years ago, or so?) Obviously, among them are not the ordinary Palestinian civilians of Gaza, regardless of their personal political persuasion. So, who are they, then? Well, every government, force, interest group, other nation (e.g., Iran), which was/is against the restoration of the "peace process," which would lead in one way or another to some sort of "two-state solution" which has been going-on-and-off the international/political agenda since the founding of the State of Israel by UN resolution in 1947. What does the Israeli Right, summarized by the word "Likud," have to gain from the current conflict? Exactly what Hamas has to gain from it: the end of the "peace" process for the foreseeable future. And then further for Likud, full-steam ahead on the Expulsionist Policy in the West Bank, under the cover of the Gaza conflict. As the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin (I know, I know, everyone, not just his friends, calls him "Bibi") Netanyahu put it: "Anyone who wants to thwart the establishment of a Palestinian state has to support bolstering Hamas and transferring money to Hamas " This is part of our strategy - to isolate the Palestinians in Gaza from the Palestinians in the West Bank." (Benjamin Netanyahu, statement at a March 2019 meeting of his Likud Party's Knesset members, Haaretz , October 9, 2023, emphasis added.) For the last 15 years or so, during which time the Israeli anti-settlement/-expulsionist Right has been in power for most of it, the "Peace Process" has been going nowhere. But recently, following the conclusion of the "Abraham Accords" between Israel and several Arab countries, there has emerged the possibility of an overall peace agreement between Israel and several other Arab countries, most importantly including Saudi Arabia, being pushed heavily by the United States, that would in one way or another finally pave the way for some form of "two-state" solution. Whatever form it took, it would bring an end to the gradual expulsion from the "West Bank" of Palestinians by Right-wing Jewish "settlers," which has been occurring at an ever-increasing pace under the protection of the current (far) Right-wing coalition government. In that government are several leading Jewish right-wing figures like Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich who almost openly support expulsion. The Israeli Right certainly supports the "settlements" being rapidly expanded in the West Bank and totally opposes any kind of "two-state solution." As for Netanyahu, while he says that he is for some sort of "two-state solution," such an one would not include any provision for any sort of Palestinian sovereignty, in the usual sense of the word. The horror (and indeed it is a horror) of what has been going on in the West Bank is encapsulated in this letter from Yossi Alpher that the organization Americans for Peace Now sent to its members (and I am one) on March 5, 2023: "I'm writing to you today from East Jerusalem. I was here in Israel last Sunday and watched in real time as settlers rampaged through the West Bank village of Huwara, indiscriminately beating people, burning their homes and destroying their cars and businesses. The horror of this act punctuated by disturbing images reminiscent of some of the darkest moments of Jewish history was something I won't ever forget. In the ashes of what remains of Huwara, no decent human being would look at the carnage and think: 'let's finish the job.' "But that's exactly what Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich [emphasis added] --- the pro-annexation settler leader to whom Benjamin Netanyahu has also entrusted civilian control of the West Bank - had to say. 'I think the village of Huwara should be wiped out. I think that the State of Israel should do that.' This goes beyond Smotrich's previous hateful incitement. This is calling for a war crime. And it's doing so at a time when it's more evident than ever that incitement like this has deadly consequences." Smotrich, by the way, holds to the position that: "There's no such thing as the Palestinians." HOWEVER, (yes, that is a big however) as noted the pressure has been building, principally from the United States, but also from Saudi Arabia and certain of its allies. Their primary concern to get things sorted out between the anti-Iran countries in the region so that a common front could be presented against that country. By the way, it is important to note that while Iran and Saudi Arabia certainly have competing commercial, diplomatic, and military interests, they also represent the religio-ideological split that has riven Islam almost since its founding. Sunni vs. Shia. Although not in terms of population, in terms of its oil reserves and its repressive government that keeps any disagreements with government policy in that country firmly under lock and key (both figuratively and literally), Saudi Arabia is the leading Sunni power (religious and governmental) in the world, while Iran is the leading Shia power. As it happens, for reasons which, I must admit, are not entirely clear to me, Iran is totally against any kind of Middle East peace agreement which would lead to some sort of two-state solution. And aye, there's the rub. With pressure from the Biden government all 'round (which, by-the-way, the President repeated in his "Israel-Ukraine" speech of Oct. 20, 2023), there had been some movement towards a major Israeli/Arab settlement, which would include some sort of two-state solution, supported by many Israelis, which would be a solution for the "Palestinian Problem," which has been with the Palestinians and Israel since its founding over 75 years ago. So, to review, who is (or least, not speaking for every one of those interests now, has been) in favor of some sort of "two-state solution?" Well, the Israeli Left and at least some of the center-Left who together regret the failure of the Oslo Peace Process which for all intents and purposes ended with the assassination of Israeli Prime Miniter Yitzhak Rabin by an Israeli far-rightist in 1995. The "Process" has been dying a very slow death ever since, that is until the current attempts to revive it by the pro-peace political forces in Israel, the Palestinians for sure, and the "Arab group" led by Saudi Arabia. Opposed? As reviewed above, they are the two well-known militant anti-Israel armed groups, one to the North, Hezbollah, on the Lebanese border, and one to the South, based in Gaza, Hamas. As well-known, they are both affiliated with/sponsored by Iran. We could go on here (and as was the case above, on-and-on), getting into the details of the alliances in whole and in part, but we won't. Suffice it point out that there are interests on both military-and-national-interest sides which benefit greatly from what has happened since Oct. 7 and continues to happen. It appears to be quite obvious that the peace process must be considered dead for the foreseeable future, from both the Israeli side and from the Arab (that is the Saudi-led/Suuni) side as well. Given the, for me, totally unforgivable attack by the Israeli Defense Force on the civilian population of Gaza (which has not even yet begun in earnest, with boots on the ground), no local Arab leader (except for some among the totally powerless Palestinians, like the Palestine Liberation Organization) can now possibly advocate for the resumption/initiation of some sorts of talks. And there is your answer to the "Who Benefits?" question. Those forces on both sides that DO NOT WANT PEACE. This is a subject, Israel/Palestine, with which I have dealing in writing for well over 10 years. As it happens, I have been dealing with it in my mind since I was a child. My father, Prof. Harold J. Jonas, was a leading fighter against U.S. anti-Semtisim in the 1930s (Father Coughlin and Hitler's writing-buddy Henry Ford were leaders in that movement). Towards the need of that decade, he became involved in the fruitless efforts to save the Jews of Europe. (See. e.g., his articles "People in Flight," which appeared in The Contemporary Jewish Record , September-October, 1939, and "More Homelands for the Jews?" which appeared in Jewish Frontier in January 1940.) As I pointed out in a recent column here on OpEdNews , the State of Israel was essentially created in the first instance by the developing political anti-Semitism in Europe in the late 19th century. In response to it, "Zionism," in the person of Theodore Herzl, was first created. Even before the advent of Nazi Germany, an increasing number of Jews wanted to leave Europe, but had a limited number of options for emigration. After World War I, increasingly, nations around the world, like the United States, in which a highly restrictive policy was put in place by the Immigration Act of 1924, limited Jewish emigration from Europe, except (for relatively small numbers at the time) to Palestine. And so then, in summary, after World War II, at the expense of the Palestinian Arabs who lived in the space in the region assigned by the UN to the Jews (plus land added in the several Israeli-Arab wars), the reality which has led right down to the present has been created. Could there be peace? Yes, certainly there could be. But now, following the events which have occurred in less than two weeks from the Gazan outrage over the border into Southern Israel, followed by the Israeli outrage which is ongoing (for who knows how long), any chances for peace would seem to be put off for at least several decades. In sum, "Who Benefits?" The Israeli Right on the one hand, and on the other, the local Arab forces opposed to the very existence of Israel, represented in the region by Hezbollah and Hamas, and their Shiite overlords in Teheran. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Let me conclude with a statement written by a long-time State Department official, one Josh Paul, who, it seems, has been working on the "peace process" for the 11 years he has been with the Department. " 'Let me be clear,' [Josh] Paul wrote. 'Hamas' attack on Israel was not just a monstrosity; it was a monstrosity of monstrosities. I also believe that potential escalations by Iran-linked groups such as Hezbollah, or by Iran itself, would be a further cynical exploitation of the existing tragedy. But I believe to the core of my soul that the response Israel is taking, and with it the American support both for that response, and for the status quo of the occupation, will only lead to more and deeper suffering for both the Israeli and the Palestinian people - and is not in the long-term American interest.' " 'This Administration's response - and much of Congress' as well - is an impulsive reaction built on confirmation bias, political convenience, intellectual bankruptcy, and bureaucratic inertia,' Paul adds. 'That is to say, it is immensely disappointing, and [here I would say "but"] entirely unsurprising. Decades of the same approach have shown that security for peace leads to neither security, nor to peace. The fact is, blind support for one side is destructive in the long term to the interests of the people on both sides.' " ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Speaking as a life-long Secular Jew, let me say, "Amen." (Article changed on Oct 20, 2023 at 9:23 PM EDT) (Article changed on Oct 20, 2023 at 9:39 PM EDT) Are you also one of those struggling with your tableau assignments? If yes, then you no more need to. As this press release is created to introduce you to the solution to all your academic issues. Hence, to find an amazing solution to your problem. We suggest you read further. Tableau assignment help online has become an essential need for many students. However, the requirement can be due to many Paducah, Kentucky - Flint Cooper, one of Kentucky's foremost personal injury lawyers, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Trent Miracle to the firm. Miracle will serve as a managing member of the firm's mass torts practice. He has already amassed 25 years of experience handling a broad array of mass tort cases, in which he and his team have secured $2 billion in settlements for thousands of clients. HAGERSTOWN, Md. Authorities say a Maryland judge who was shot to death in the driveway of his home had presided over the divorce case of a man now identified as a suspect in the killing. Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert said authorities are actively working to apprehend 49-year-old Pedro Argote in the shooting death of Maryland Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson. Wilkinson, 52, was found with gunshot wounds around 8 p.m. Thursday outside his home in Hagerstown, authorities said. Wilkinson was taken to Meritus Medical Center, where he died of his injuries. Albert said at a news conference Friday that the judges wife and son were also home at the time of the shooting. Authorities are actively looking for Argote, who is considered armed and dangerous. Albert declined to identify that type of weapon used in the slaying but said Argote legally owned a handgun. Wilkinson had presided over a divorce proceeding involving Argote earlier Thursday, but that Argote was not present for the hearing. Albert said that the judge gave custody of Argotes children to his wife at the hearing and that was the motive for the killing. State troopers were deployed overnight as a precaution to protect judges who live in Washington County, state police spokesperson Elena Russo said. Albert said he wasnt aware of any previous threats against Wilkinson. In a statement, the Maryland Judiciary said it is mourning Wilkinsons death and that it is working with law enforcement to help resolve the matter and ensure the safety of judges, staff and visitors. Wilkinson was sworn in as a circuit court judge in 2020. The 1994 University of North Carolina graduate received his law degree from Emory University School of Law in 1997 and then became a circuit court law clerk in Washington County. At his swearing-in, Wilkinson said he wanted to become a judge to serve the community, The Herald-Mail reported. Its an honor and its humbling, and Im happy to serve, he said. Wilkinson thanked retired Judge Frederick C. Wright III for guiding his career. Wilkinsons military family had moved around, but when Wright hired his mother as a law clerk in 1983, Hagerstown became his home. In Maryland, circuit courts in each county handle serious criminal and civil cases, including many that are appealed from the lower-level district courts, according to the state courts website. Court records list Argote as the plaintiff who brought the divorce case in June 2022. Argote didnt have a criminal record in Washington County, Albert said, but the sheriff added that officers had responded to the residence for verbal domestic assaults two times within the last few years. Attorneys in the divorce case did not immediately respond to emails and calls seeking comment. However, the attorney representing the children in the divorce case had words of praise for the late jurist. Judge Wilkinson was an amazing man, father, husband and judge and I am blessed to have known and worked with him, attorney Ashley Wilburn wrote in an email. He is a hero. The city of nearly 44,000 lies about 75 miles (120 kilometers) northwest of Baltimore in the panhandle of Maryland, near the state lines of West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Judges across the U.S. have been the target of threats and sometimes violence in recent years. President Joe Biden last year signed a bill to give around-the-clock security protection to the families of Supreme Court justices after the leak of a draft court opinion overturning the Roe v. Wade abortion-rights decision, which prompted protests outside of conservative U.S. Supreme Court justices homes. In June 2022, a retired Wisconsin county circuit judge, John Roemer was killed in his home in what authorities said was a targeted killing. That same month, a man carrying a gun, a knife and zip ties was arrested near Justice Brett Kavanaughs house in Maryland after threatening to kill the justice. A mens rights lawyer with a history of anti-feminist writings, posed as a FedEx delivery person in 2020 and fatally shot the 20-year-old son of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas, and wounded her husband at their New Jersey home. Salas in another part of the home at the time and was not injured. And a Texas woman was charged in August with threatening to kill U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing the Washington case accusing Donald Trump of conspiring to overturn his 2020 election loss. ___ Michael Kunzelman and Sarah Brumfield reported from Silver Spring, Maryland. Oregon high school students wont have to prove basic mastery of reading, writing or math to graduate from high school until at least 2029, the state Board of Education decided unanimously on Thursday, extending the pause on the controversial graduation requirement that began in 2020. The vote went against the desires of dozens of Oregonians who submitted public comments insisting the standards should be reinstated, including former Republican gubernatorial candidate Christine Drazan. Backlash against the lowered standard had already delayed the vote, originally slated to take place in September. Opponents argued that pausing the requirement devalues an Oregon diploma. Giving students with low academic skills extra instruction in writing and math, which most high schools did in response to the graduation rules, helped them, they have argued. But leaders at the Oregon Department of Education and members of the state school board said requiring all students to pass one of several standardized tests or create an in-depth assignment their teacher judged as meeting state standards was a harmful hurdle for historically marginalized students, a misuse of state tests and did not translate to meaningful improvements in students post high school success. Higher rates of students of color, students learning English as a second language and students with disabilities ended up having to take intensive senior-year writing and math classes to prove they deserved a diploma. That denied those students the opportunity to take an elective, despite the lack of evidence the extra academic work helped them in the workplace or at college, they said. Board members underscored that state-mandated standardized tests will still be administered to most Oregon high school students they just wont be used to determine whether a student has the skills necessary to graduate. We havent suspended any sort of assessments, state board member Vicky Lopez Sanchez, a dean at Portland Community College, said during Thursdays meeting. The only thing we are suspending is the inappropriate use of how those assessments were being used. I think that really is in the best interest of Oregon students. Oregon lawmakers, however, have mandated that families be told each year that they can opt their student out of taking state tests and one third of high school juniors didnt take the tests last spring, meaning they and their families dont necessarily know how they measure up against statewide academic standards. Proving mastery of reading, writing and math on one of many standardized tests or a teacher-judged in-depth assignment was one of several Oregon graduation requirements. Students also have to earn a prescribed number of credits and complete an education plan that maps out how they can achieve post high-school goals. During the pandemic, Gov. Kate Brown signed a bill freezing the proficiency requirement, as standardized tests werent happening amid school closures. Lawmakers decided to order a more comprehensive review of graduation requirements. After broad outreach to families, educators, students and employers, with a particular focus on people of color, the Oregon Department of Education recommended new graduation recommendations about a year ago. One of those was to scrap the requirement to show mastery of reading, writing and math. State lawmakers have not acted on that recommendation, and the department in the meantime asked the state board to continue its pause through at least the 2027-28 school year. Speaking of the academic mastery requirements, Dan Farley, assistant superintendent of research and data for the department, told the state board Thursday, They did not work. What they were designed to do is protect student interests. We have no evidence that they did that. Farley pointed to a 2021 analysis by Oregons Higher Education Coordinating Commission that found no clear evidence that implementing the proficiency standards improved the performance of Oregon high school graduates during their first year of community college or university classes. The report did not study all possible postsecondary outcomes, Farley told the commission, and the state could do further research on that point. The report also notes that its possible that the level of skill required to meet Oregons since-paused academic mastery standards was too low to improve college and university outcomes. Its also possible, the report said, that student success in college relies more heavily on other factors than writing or math skill levels. Suspending the requirement at least until the class of 2029 gives the state more time to do community outreach about how best to overhaul the grad standards, Farley said, and gives future high school students plenty of time to prepare if this standard does resume. Hundreds of people submitted written comments to board members about the requirement for students to demonstrate academic mastery, the vast majority in favor of keeping it. Many of those critical emails used the same stock language. Drazan, a former member of the Legislature, wrote that she had opposed the 2021 bill that suspended the requirement in the first place. Oregon doesnt need to decrease standards, she wrote, but create and act on a concrete plan to increase students academic achievement. The board failed to discuss their responsibility for lagging academic achievement in our state. Instead they cast the blame on a tool used to measure a students ability to read, write and do math, Drazan said in a news release sent after the vote. Its disappointing that these unelected bureaucrats decided to ignore public comment and continue down a path that neglects their responsibility to help students meet high standards. Whitney Grubbs, executive director for Foundations for a Better Oregon, a collaborative project of Oregon-based foundations that advocates for educational equity among other school reforms, wrote in public testimony that pausing or ending graduation requirements without proposing more effective and equitable alternatives risks leading Oregonians to believe that our state is lowering expectations to artificially mask disparities and reinforces false and prejudiced ideas that students demographics dictate their academic success. As Oregonians, we hold high expectations for students because we believe in the boundless potential of children, Grubbs testimony said. ...We urge state leaders to articulate a plan for holding Oregons education system accountable for demonstrating whether and how it is supporting all students to meet graduation requirements. This story was brought to you through a partnership between The Oregonian/OregonLive and Report for America. Learn how to support this crucial work. Sami Edge covers higher education for The Oregonian. You can reach her at sedge@oregonian.com or (503) 260-3430. Focaccia bread blackened with charcoal powder, purple ube cake dripping with blood-red icing, chocolate skulls with walnut brains: These are just some of the sweet and sinful treats Kachina Williams creates as the goth vegan baker behind Baker Ghoul Magic. You can find her selling creepy cookies and cupcakes during The Flip Side Halloween vegan market at Hail Snail, 6550 N. Interstate Ave., from 5 to10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21. The market will feature more than 30 vegan vendors, tarot card readings, music and circus art performances. Baker Ghoul Magic is Williams take on finding her own Black girl magic after spending her teen years feeling like an outsider in the horror and goth communities. I experienced how it was hard for me to be Black and alternative, Williams said. I grew up kind of disowning my Blackness at that time and trying to fit into these subcultures that were predominantly white. Baker Ghoul Magic kind of represents Black people who dont fit in a box. Williams grew up in Modesto, California, where she first developed a love for dark things Halloween, horror movies and hard rock and later, in culinary school, discovered a love of baking. She moved to Portland in 2020 for a relationship that didnt last, but she stayed because of the people and the vegan food scene. I realized I have a community, Williams said. These are the people that want to see me grow, and I want to be around people that give me the space to achieve my goals. By day, Williams works at Blackthorn Mercantile, a home goods store in Northeast Portland that sells witchy-inspired decor and tarot supplies. Three years ago, she launched her side business, Baker Ghoul Magic, and leaned into macabre themes in her baking. We eat with our eyes, Williams said, so she takes care to create interesting textures and colors in her cakes. She uses black cocoa, charcoal powder and Oreo crumbs (yes, theyre vegan) to get the dark colors for her cakes and pastries. Williams, who is Black and Filipino, also uses ube, a purple yam native to The Philippines, to add a deep purple color to her cakes and cupcakes. For a little pizazz, she adds edible glitter or dried rose petals. Williams takes commissions for cakes and pies via Instagram or email at BakerGhoulMagic@gmail.com. She also does occasional pop-up shops around Portland. You can sometimes find her creations at Hail Snail, a vegan pastry shop that sells cinnamon rolls (aka snails), where she uses the commercial kitchen for her baking. Williams, 29, now seems completely comfortable with both her Black and goth identifies. Earlier this year, she treated herself to permanent fangs, added as caps to her real teeth. Theyre a tribute, of sorts, to one of the first Black women she saw represented in horror: the vampire Queen Akasha from Queen of the Damned. She showed off her smile and said, It fits who I am as a person. Sign up for our free Here is Oregon newsletter. Email: -- Samantha Swindler, sswindler@oregonian.com, @editorswindler BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. 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 and the restoration of territorial integrity. Trend presents the chronicle of the 24-th day of the second Karabakh war: - President Ilham Aliyev addressed the people of Azerbaijan. - In his address to the people, President Ilham Aliyev said that the city of Zangilan and 24 villages had been liberated from occupation. - President Ilham Aliyev renamed the liberated Vang village of Khojavand district to Chinarli. - First Vice President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva shared a publication on her Instagram account about the liberation of the city of Zangilan and a number of villages of Fuzuli, Jabrayil, Khojavand and Zangilan districts. - The Azerbaijani flag was raised in Zangilan. - Video footage of the destruction of Armenian armored vehicles had been released. The list of destroyed Armenian military equipment had been announced. A group of mercenaries from the Armenian side refused to fight. - Armenian Armed Forces shelled the territories of Tartar and Aghdam districts, killing two civilians. - Video footage of the destruction of a large number of Armenian servicemen and military equipment had been released. - Armenian anti-aircraft guns were destroyed in the direction of Ganja. - Video footage of the destruction of units of the Armenian Armed Forces in the direction of Gubadli had been released. Senate President Rob Wagner didnt create a hostile work environment or retaliate against two Republican senators by refusing to excuse their absences during a walkout that blocked the state Senate from functioning for six weeks, a legislative panel ruled Friday. Four members of the Senate Committee on Conduct, two Republicans and two Democrats, voted unanimously to dismiss complaints from Republican Sens. Lynn Findley and Cedric Hayden against Wagner over his decision to deny their requests for excused absences while the walkout was underway. That decision affects both senators because a voter-approved constitutional amendment bars lawmakers with 10 or more unexcused absences from serving another term. Findley and Hayden are barred from serving another term under the amendment, though Findley, whose term expires in January 2025, is among five senators who have sued to block the law. Haydens term ends in 2027. Following the votes, a Wagner spokesperson, Connor Radnovich, said the outcome was the right one. As the investigator concluded in her report and the Senate Conduct Committee affirmed today, the Senate president acted appropriately and fairly when applying Senate rules during the 2023 Republican walkout, Radnovich said in an email. Findley, however, who testified before the votes, had another point of view. He blasted Wagner as a dictator and said that under Senate rules his rights are not protected, even though he is elderly at age 71 and disabled. We dont have a sitting president in a Democratic society. We have a dictator, Findley said referring to the Senate president. I have no rights as a sitting member of the Oregon State Senate. I have no rights for recourse. He called the complaint process humiliating and indicated that if he had known that the complaint process would be so public, with reporters seeking comment from him in recent days, he would not have pursued the issue. This is absolutely the worst thing that Ive ever experienced in my life in my professional career, Findley said. This is a sham of a process. Hayden did not testify but responded to an investigation of the complaints through his Salem-based law firm in submitted testimony. Senate President Rob Wagner violated long-standing legal protections by denying Senator Haydens requests for excused absences, the letter from Sherman Sherman Johnnie and Hoyt said. AN INDEPENDENT REPORT Committee members voted based on a 24-page report by Sarah Ryan, an attorney for Portland-based Jackson Lewis P.C., who conducted an investigation for the Legislature. She found that state rules do not protect members of the Legislature in the same way that they would protect employees. Hayden, R-Fall Creek, alleged that Wagner created a hostile work environment and engaged in religious discrimination by denying his requests to be excused to observe the Sabbath. He also objected to Wagner rejecting his requests for excused time off to care for his disabled daughter, consult with his attorney about the complaint and participate in a federally mandated inspection as a wildland firefighter. Findley, R-Vale, alleged that Wagner created a hostile work environment by abridging his right to protest and denying his request to attend a church service. Hayden filed a separate complaint with the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries in early May. That complaint is under investigation and will be completed by May 8, 2024, a spokesperson told the Capital Chronicle. The Legislatures personnel rules, crafted in the wake of the #MeToo movement, ban harassment and the creation of hostile work environments or behavior that is unwelcome and is so severe or pervasive that it either affects a persons ability to function in the workplace or denies the person the benefits of the workplace. The process Friday was typical legislative procedure. An independent attorney investigated the complaints based on Senate rules and the conduct committee decided on their validity. The co-chairs of the committee Republican Dick Anderson of Lincoln City and Democrat Floyd Prozanski of Eugene and two other senators Republican Suzanne Weber of Tillamook and Democrat Deb Patterson of Salem all voted no when asked whether Wagners refusal to approve the senators absences amounted to retaliation or discrimination against them or whether it created a hostile work environment. WALKOUT BEGINS The walkout started May 3. For the first three days of the protest, Wagner approved excused absence requests from some Republican senators, but on May 5, a Friday, Wagner announced that he would only excuse absences for an extraordinary circumstance. Two senators who were undergoing medical treatment continued to receive excused absences. Wagner also excused Haydens absence one day to meet with an investigator about his workplace complaint, as well as requests from other senators to deal with a burst waterline and attend a family members funeral. Other senators were denied excused absences because of illness, family health issues, attending religious services, officiating a family members out-of-state wedding, visiting out-of-state family and attending a childs graduation, according to the report. President Wagner believed the lack of a quorum substantially threatened the Legislative Assemblys ability to do its critical duty of funding state government, Ryan wrote in her report. President Wagner concluded the extraordinary-circumstances standard was justified to ensure that the Senate and the Legislative Assembly could fulfill their constitutional roles. Wagner had scheduled Senate floor sessions for that weekend, meaning Republicans who participated in the walkout hit the 10-absence mark earlier than they would have if the Senate stuck to its typical Monday to Thursday schedule. That decision also contributed to the complaints: Hayden, a leader in his Seventh-Day Adventist church, doesnt work on Saturdays because of his religious beliefs, while Findley wanted to attend church on Sunday. Ryans investigation focused on Wagner denying excused absences for religious reasons, as she determined early that denying time off for Hayden to care for his daughter or Findley to protest didnt violate the Legislatures rules. She interviewed Hayden, Findley, Wagner and two witnesses she declined to name, and reviewed documents including the written requests for excused absences, denials and news articles about the walkout. Ryan wrote that Wagner knew Haydens religion was important to him, but that he didnt know Hayden was a Seventh Day Adventist or what Haydens faith required for the Sabbath when he denied Haydens requests. She added that Findley told her that he doesnt attend church services every Sunday. Wagner has continued rejecting senators requests for excused absences, most recently during a September session to confirm Gov. Tina Koteks nominees to state boards and commissions. Sen. Brian Boquist, R-Dallas, requested an excused absence for that Friday session, saying he needed to attend a Catholic Mass for the feast of Saint Michael, Saint Gabriel and Saint Raphael. He was marked absent, as was Hayden. Ryan said in the future the Legislature might want to change the rules to protect members in these circumstances. -- Julia Shumway, Oregon Capital Chronicle The Oregon Capital Chronicle, founded in 2021, is a nonprofit news organization that focuses on Oregon state government, politics and policy. Seizing fentanyl from people using the powerful drug may seem like a straightforward strategy for cracking down on open drug use, but police, prosecutors and city officials say its not so simple. Drug decriminalization advocates have suggested police confiscation could be an effective tool to address the proliferation of fentanyl use in downtown Portland, sending a message that it wont be tolerated. You only have to get your drugs taken once to not do it again, said Morgan Godvin, a member of the states Measure 110 Oversight & Accountability Council who is herself in long-term recovery from opioid use disorder. Its the lowest-hanging-fruit thing we can do. The police response to the fentanyl crisis has taken on even greater urgency as a cross-section of civic leaders and even proponents of Measure 110 struggle to address the blight of open drug use and waning public support for decriminalization. Last month, Gov. Tina Kotek directed Oregon State Police to ramp up its response to fentanyl trafficking. This week the agency announced its troopers and Portland police officers had seized the equivalent of a quarter-million lethal doses of the drug in a single day downtown and arrested eight people on either fentanyl delivery or fentanyl possession allegations. Portland police say they already confiscate fentanyl and other drugs when feasible while writing Measure 110 citations, though the legal and practical implications make it challenging. The Portland Police Bureau does not track how often officers confiscate drugs. Citations for low-level drug possession are part of Oregons voter-approved Measure 110, which placed possession of small amounts of street drugs on par with a traffic violation. People found with drugs are subject to non-criminal violations and given the choice to call a statewide hotline or pay a $100 fine. Anyone needing help with substance abuse can call the hotline for help: 503-575-3769. Portland Commissioner Rene Gonzalez said city residents have lost their patience with open drug use. We want cops to take drugs off the streets of Portland, period, he said. Public drug use in broad open daylight we want that out of sight of ordinary Portlanders. Yet he acknowledged its often easier said than done. State law allows police to seize illicit drugs when they are in plain view, according to Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney Adam Gibbs. If an officer spots a couple of suspected fentanyl pills on the ground next to someone using the drug or sees a person holding the pills, police can take it even if the amount is so small that it doesnt constitute a crime, Gibbs said. The legal landscape shifts, however, if the person shoves the pills into their pocket or backpack. If the number of pills doesnt rise to a misdemeanor or felony, police cant search for them without a warrant unless the circumstances allow an exception to the warrant requirement. Those exceptions include after a person is arrested on allegations of a crime, Gibbs said. But the common exceptions dont apply to violation-level offenses, like minor drug possession. The officer cant go into his pocket unless there is probable cause to arrest, Gibbs wrote in an emailed response to questions from The Oregonian/OregonLive. This year, legislators tightened up the drug possession law as it relates to fentanyl. Previously, Measure 110 treated the possession of up to five grams of fentanyl about 20 to 25 pills -- as a violation; anything more was a felony. But lawmakers this summer made it a misdemeanor to possess between one and five grams of fentanyl the equivalent of between five and 25 pills. It remains a violation to have the equivalent of about four pills. The pills sell for about 80 cents a piece on the street. If the person holding a few pills isnt committing a crime, officers need to think about whether they want to risk the possibility of a confrontation, city officials said. They have to make an on-the-site determination of whether the use of force is going to be reasonable to take those pills, Gonzalez said. Some people who use fentanyl downtown said taking their drugs wont deter them. On a sunny afternoon this week, Richard Winkowitsch and Jackie James leaned against a building on the corner of Southwest Fourth Avenue and Washington Street, foil scraps used to smoke fentanyl scattered on the ground. The two sat across from Washington Center, a location known for rampant open drug use. Both said they use fentanyl and said police have never confiscated their drugs. Court records show Portland police have issued four Measure 110 citations to Winkowitsch this year, including twice for fentanyl. People will still use drugs no matter what, said Winkowitsch, 46. Thats their medication. Holding a straw to inhale fumes from fentanyl, James said shed seek out-of-the-way spots to continue her habit if police confiscation became common. I would rather have people feel comfortable to just sit down and smoke than have to find someplace to hide to do it, she said. For police, confiscating drugs isnt often practical, said Stephanie Howard, Mayor Ted Wheelers director of community safety. Typically, the person has already ingested fentanyl by the time police arrive. There is nothing to seize, she said. She also pointed to constitutional limits on law enforcement. Police are bound by the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Article I, Section 9 of the Oregon Constitution, which prohibit police from carrying out unreasonable searches and seizures. Police generally need a search warrant signed by a judge to conduct a search. I know there are a lot of people who are really frustrated and saying, we see it happening, we see people, you know, who are just using and nobody is stopping them, nobodys doing anything, she said. And its just a very, very complicated and strict area of the law. Measure 110 envisioned a system that prioritized public health and directed people suffering from addiction to treatment services and support. Backers pitched the system as a pivot from a reliance on police, jail and courts in addressing addiction. Asking police officers to seize drugs continues to rely on a criminal justice approach, Howard said. Its frustrating when we hear people wanting police out of the equation, she said, but also wanting them to deal with it when they dont have the authority to do it in a way that is frankly impactful at all. Meanwhile, Gonzalez said he is in talks with Multnomah County commissioners over declaring a public health emergency to address the opioid epidemic. He said a declaration would likely mean additional resources, though the details are still under discussion. The city has to be much harder on open drug use while at the same time showing compassion for those experiencing addiction, Gonzalez said. For too long in Oregon, you can only talk about one, he said. You can only talk about the compassionate side of it and we are seeing the negative ramifications of unbalanced public policy play itself out every day on the streets of Portland. -- Noelle Crombie; ncrombie@oregonian.com; 503-276-7184; @noellecrombie Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. The international conference "Neocolonialism: Violation of Human Rights and Injustice," organized by the Baku Initiative Group, has started in Baku, Azerbaijan, Trend reports. Representatives from 14 countries and marine territories under French colonial rule (New Caledonia, French Polynesia, French Guiana, Martinique, and Guadeloupe), as well as Corsica, are attending the conference. The Baku Initiative Group (BIG) was formed on July 6, 2023, in Baku, by participants in the conference "Total Elimination of Colonialism" as part of the ministerial assembly of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement, which was presided over by the Republic of Azerbaijan. BIG supports the fight for freedom of nations in various parts of the world that are still subject to colonization even in the twenty-first century. Cotonou, Benin (PANA) - Benin's communes are joining forces with the executive to support the Climate Change Adaptation Programme, the Ministry for the Living Environment and Sustainable Development informed us in Cotonou on Friday Bamako, Mali (PANA) - The second extraordinary conference of heads of state and government of the Organisation pour la mise en valeur du fleuve Senegal (Organisation for the Development of the Senegal River - OMVS-) was held on Thursday via video conference, during which Guinea was granted a stake in the capital of the various OMVS companies and the post of Deputy High Commissioner New York, US (PANA) - Insecurity persists in Somalia, with extremist group Al-Shabaab and fighting in the Laascaanood region taking a heavy toll on civilians, the UN envoy for the country told the Security Council on Thursday Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - UN independent human rights experts on Thursday voiced deep concern over the fate of civilians and victims of terrorism caught up in the Israel-Gaza crisis Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The UN Security Council on Thursday voted unanimously to extend until 1 February 2025 the sanctions imposed on Libya, in particular the arms embargo and measures concerning illicit oil exports Metsa Group Exploring Construction of Mill to Produce Muoto Packaging in Rauma Muoto is a wood-based alternative to plastics and aluminium in food packaging. In addition to being easy to mould in different shapes, Muoto is lightweight, strong and recyclable. Muoto is a wood-based alternative to plastics and aluminium in food packaging. In addition to being easy to mould in different shapes, Muoto is lightweight, strong and recyclable. Oct. 20, 2023 - Metsa Group is conducting a pre-study related to the construction of a first commercial mill for producing Muoto packaging products on its Rauma mill site in Finland. The goal is to determine the mill's technical feasibility and economic profitability. It is envisioned that the mill will produce Muoto fibre-based packaging tailored to various uses in people's daily lives. Muoto is a wood-based alternative to plastics and aluminium in food packaging, for example. In addition to being easy to mould in different shapes, Muoto is lightweight, strong and recyclable. Muoto products have been developed at the joint demo plant of Metsa Group's innovation company Metsa Spring and Valmet in Aanekoski, Finland, since May 2022. The demo plant has conducted parallel development of the fibre-based packaging and an entirely new production method that converts wood fibre into safe packaging while saving raw material, energy and water. "Metsa Group is committed to developing new products that generate added value for Nordic wood. If constructed, a mill producing Muoto packaging will serve as an excellent example of the forest industry's development work that creates new alternatives to fossil-based products," says Niklas von Weymarn, Metsa Spring's CEO. The location of Rauma in South-Western Finland proved ideal for the Muoto business. Metsa Group has a pulp mill in the area, as well as a sawmill that started up in 2022. The area is also home to competent professionals. "Sharing the same location as the pulp mill secures raw material supply and offers benefits in the energy and many common operations. The short distance to the export port also enables smooth product shipments to customers," says Jarkko Tuominen, Metsa Spring's VP, Projects. Apart from conducting the pre-study, the Muoto project continues to develop the production method at the Aanekoski demo plant, survey the interest among customers and develop a business model for the commercial stage. Metsa Group is leading the way in advancing the bioeconomy with a focus on the growth sectors of the forest industry: wood supply and forest services, wood products, pulp, fresh fibre paperboards, as well as tissue and greaseproof papers. SOURCE: Metsa Group First thing this morning, we visited the hilltop ruins of the ancient Greeek city of Assos ( ), which are located near todays Behramkale or Behram on the Aegean coast in the province of Canakkale. It is on the southern side of the Biga Peninsula, which isbetter known by its ancient name of the Troad. Specifically, Assos sits on the coast of the Adramyttian Gulf (in Turkish, the Edremit Korfezi) During the period of the towns greatest flourishing, Hermias of Atarneus, a student of Plato, ruled not only Assos and the Troad but the island of Lesbos. Consistent with his educational background, Hermias encouraged scholars and philosophers to move to the city. One of those who accepted his invitation was Aristotle, who arrived in 348 BC and, in fact, married Hermiass niece, Pythia. Aristotle founded an Academy in Assos where he became chief amongst a group of philosophers and, with them, began a program of zoological and biological research. Unfortunate, those good things came to an end a few years later when the Persians invaded and tortured Hermias to death. Aristotle fled to Macedonia, which was ruled by his friend King Philipp II of Macedon, the father of the future Alexander the Great. In Macedonia, Aristotle became the tutor to Alexander. A modern statue of Aristotle stands at the entrance to Assos. The New Testament book of Acts mentions visits to the city by both its narrator, Luke the Evangelist, and the Apostle Paul: And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot. And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene. (Acts 20:13-14) After leaving Assos, we visited Alexandria Troas, which served as the starting point for the Apostle Paul when he set sail to Europe during his second missionary journey (ca. 50-52 AD). Paul had received a vision calling him to Macedonia: And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis. (Acts 16:8-11) He also visited the city during his third missionary journey (ca. 53-58 AD). And, later, he spent a week in Troas preaching apparently at considerable length: And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days. And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together. And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed. And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted. (Acts 20:6-12) By the way, Eutychus means Lucky. Ive told the story here before, I think, but Ill repeat it now: I served for very nearly ten years on what was then called the Gospel Doctrine Writing Committee. It was chaired by the remarkable Richard O. Cowan, of the BYU Department of Church History and Doctrine, and included such people as Kent Jackson and Ann Madsen of Ancient Scripture, Mae Blanch of English, and Clark Johnson of Church History and Doctrine. We produced the adult Sunday School curriculum for the Church at that time. Our procedure was for each of us to receive an assignment for a particular set of scriptural passages. We would then work at home on producing a lesson on those passages in the prescribed format,. When finished, we would send our lessons to the other members of the committee for their critique. And, roughly twice each month, we would meet early on Sunday mornings for breakfast and for going through the lessons and the critiques, one after another. We would then return home, modify our lessons in the light of comments and critiques, and resubmit them. From that point, they would go up the Church ladder for possible further modification and eventual publication. During one particular period, I was assigned a number of chapters from the book of Acts, including Acts 20. It was our occasional practice to insert jokes into our draft lessons (e.g., about ancient American airfields and the like) for the amusement of other members of the committee. At this particular time, the format in which we were asked to write permitted only bulleted questions and bundles of questions, preferably with practical life application. So, when I read through my assigned chapters, I naturally thought of the following practical questions: Have a class member read Acts 20:6-12. Have you ever killed anyone with a sacrament meeting talk? How did it make you feel? What steps can you take in the future to avoid such problems? As I had hoped, the committee laughed. To my amazement, though, nobody took the questions out. I can only imagine that each successive reader thought that the next reader would chuckle and that he would then remove them. So, when the pre-publication galleys came back, that cluster of questions was still there. It had even passed the Correlation Committee. For a few seconds, I faced a staggering moral crisis: I thought that it would be hilarious to see those questions in German, Spanish, Portuguese, Afrikaans, Japanese, and Tagalog. In the end, though, I called Church headquarters and suggested that they might want to cut them out. The reaction on the other end of the line was stunned gratitude. I thought fleetingly about requesting a finders fee, but decided against doing so. Our next stop after Alexandria Troas was ancient, quasi-legendary Troy, made imperishably famous in Homers epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey. For many generations, people had assumed that Homers account of the Trojan War was fiction and that Troy never existed until the 1860s, when its ruins were found by the rich and eccentric genius Heinrich Schliemann. The poems of Homer and those influenced by him were fundamentally important to ancient Greece, the Greeks closest equivalent to the Hebrew Bible, the foundation upon which all succeeding classical civilization rested. Even today, we remember Achilles, the Cyclops, Hector, Paris, Helen, Odysseus or Ulysses, the Land of the Lotus Eaters, Odysseuss visit to Hades, the Sirens, the island of Circe, the Trojan horse, the suitors of Penelope. Omero poeta sovrano, Dante Alighieri called him (in his 1321 Divina Commedia, Inferno, Canto IV, line 88): Homer, the sovereign poet. Somewhere along the Ionian coast opposite Crete and the islands was a town of some sort, probably of the sort that we should call a village or hamlet with a wall. It was called Ilion but it came to be called Troy, and the name will never perish from the earth. A poet who may have been a beggar and a ballad-monger, who may have been unable to read and write, and was described by tradition as blind, composed a poem about the Greeks going to war with this town to recover the most beautiful woman in the world. That the most beautiful woman in the world lived in that one little town sounds like a legend; that the most beautiful poem in the world was written by somebody who knew of nothing larger than such little towns is a historical fact. G.K. Chesterton, The Everlasting Man (1925) We spent a fair amount of time walking around and through the ruins of the multiple levels of ancient Troy the site is vastly improved for visitors since we were last here and then we drove on to spend the night in Bursa, the original capital of the Ottoman Empire. While walking through Troy, a member of our group who was trained at Caltech in both physics (undergraduate) and computer science (doctorate) told me a classic Caltech-style joke that I found very funny: Have you, he asked, heard of the unit of measurement called a millihelen? No, I replied. Its the amount of power required to launch just one ship. Posted from Bursa, Turkiye The church of Smyrna (, Smyrne, or , Smyrna) was also one of the seven churches of Asia that are mentioned in the Revelation of John. (See Revelation 2.) Since around 1930 (in the wake of the founding of the Republic of Turkey), Smyrna has been known as Izmir. Its where we spent last night. It is a port city that is located at a strategic point on the Aegean coast of Turkiye or Anatolia. Smyrna was situated at the mouth of a small river called Hermus and at the head of a deep arm of the sea (Smyrnaeus Sinus, todays Gulf of Izmir) that reached far inland. This enabled Greek trading ships to sail into the heart of Lydia and, thus, made the city an important part of a vital trade route running between central Anatolia and the Aegean. The Meles River, which flowed by Smyrna, was famous in classical literature and was even worshipped by those living in the valley. Moreover, a common and consistent tradition connects the great poet Homer with the valley of Smyrna and the banks of the Meles. The epithet Melesigenes (roughly, born of the Meles) was applied to him; the cave where he is said to have composed his poems was historically pointed out to visitors near the source of the river; his temple, the Homereum, stood on its banks. A Christian church and, indeed, a bishopric existed in Pergamon from very early times, probably because of the citys significant ancient Jewish minority. Its most important early Christian figure was its onetime bishop, St. Polycarp, whose name means something like much fruit and who was martyred at the enthusiastic urging of a combined mob of Jews and pagans in or around AD 153. Polycarp is said to have been a disciple of the apostle John and to have been ordained a bishop under Johns hand. Some scholars even believe that the New Testament epistles of 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus were actually written by St. Polycarp rather than by the apostle Paul. Polycarp definitely wrote an epistle of his own, to the Philippians. St. Ignatius of Antioch, who was martyred at Rome in the first half of the second century, visited Smyrna and later wrote letters to St. Polycarp. And St. Irenaeus of Lyon (martyred ca. AD 202), who, as a boy, heard St. Polycarp preach, was probably a native of Smyrna. This morning, we visited the most important historical structure of ancient Smyrna, its Agora, which is said to be (and I have no reason to doubt it) one of the best-preserved structures of ancient Ionia. Both my wife and I were amazed at how extensive and well displayed it was; our memories of when we first visited it many years ago agree that it was just a few rocks in a field of mostly dirt, scarcely worth visiting again. After spending a fair amount of time visiting the heart of ancient Smyrna, we drove to Bergama. There we visited the Asclepion, the ancient temple of Aesculapius (the Greek god or demigod of medicine and of healing), one of the major medical centers of antiquity, where the great Galen (AD 129-216) received his basic training as a physician. A larger-than-life-size statue of Galen adorns one of the intersections in Bergama. I was delighted to see it, not only because he became famous as a philosopher and as physician to Emperor Marcus Aurelius, but because he was perhaps the most prolific author of antiquity and because, in small part, the Middle Eastern Texts Initiative that I founded at Brigham Young University was involved with him. After walking around the Asclepion, we ascended to the Acropolis of ancient Pergamum or Pergamon ( or, in modern Greek Pergamos []) by bus and by aerial tramway, where we walked about and examined such features as the citys temple of Trajan. The church of Pergamon, another of the famous seven churches the northernmost of them was praised for its forbearance (see Revelation 2:12-17) and some say that it was here that the first Christians were executed by Rome. During the Hellenistic period, Pergamon became the capital of the Kingdom of Pergamon and one of the major cultural centers of the entire Greek world. The temple of Trajan, already mentioned, is merely one of the very impressive sights to be seen on the acropolis. But the most famous structure from the city is undoubtedly its monumental Great Altar, dating to the early second century before Christ, which was most likely dedicated either to Zeus or to Athena. The altar measures about 36 x 33 meters at its base. Its foundations can still be seen, but the high-relief frieze from it, roughly 2.3 meters high and 113 meters long, which depicts the Gigantomachy, the battle between the gods of Olympus and the Titans or giants, was carried away at the end of the nineteenth century to Germany. There it is housed in the magnificent Pergamonmuseum in Berlin which, alas, is currently closed for renovations. The reference at Revelation 2:13 to Satans seat or throne may allude to the great Pergamon Altar, which resembles a gigantic throne: I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satans seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. Pergamon had the second-largest library in the Greco-Roman world, surpassed only by the Great Library at Alexandria. It is said to have housed a collection of approximately 200,000 scrolls. (To think of all the riches that were once there! The lost works of Aristotle! The lost plays of Sophocles! And on and on and on.) In fact, Pergamon was a center of parchment production, which reduced the Greco-Roman worlds dependence upon Egyptian papyrus; the very term parchment is derived from Pergamon. One of the unexpected surprises of the day Ive never driven this particular route before was to see the island of Lesbos. It was much closer than I had expected, although Ive seen it plenty of times on a map. Seeing Lesbos got me to thinking about Sappho, and so I couldnt resist reading her famous Midnight Poem to the patient and long-suffering people on the bus, who are unable to jump from the vehicle because its typically moving too fast and who, therefore, really have no place to go. I read it to them in both Greek and an English translation; for some reason, I find the Greek extraordinarily melancholy and affecting: , , , . The moon and the Pleiades have set. It is midnight. Time is passing, but I sleep alone. Posted from Kazdaglar, Turkiye BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 19. 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 23-rd day of the second Karabakh war: - President Ilham Aliyev has received a delegation led by the Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Mustafa Sentop. - President Ilham Aliyev gave a video interview to the Russian TASS news agency. - President Ilham Aliyev shared a publication on Twitter about Armenia's heavy artillery shelling of settlements in violation of the humanitarian ceasefire. - President Ilham Aliyev congratulated Chief of the State Border Service of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Elchin Guliyev on raising the Azerbaijani flag on the Khudafarin bridge. - President Ilham Aliyev shared a publication on Twitter about the liberation of several villages in the Jabrayil district. - The Armenian military equipment and weapons were destroyed. The list of the destroyed equipment has been announced. - A high-ranking official of an Armenian Armed Forces battalion was killed. - As a result of the shelling of the Tartar district by the Armenian Armed Forces, the owner of the house was seriously injured. - Armenia shelled Azerbaijani positions on the state border. - The Azerbaijani army has seized a certain amount of military equipment abandoned by Armenian troops. - Armenians opened fire on the film crew of the Azerbaijani AzTV channel in Aghdam, injuring one journalist. - The Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan has released a video of a war trophies seized from Armenian troops in the direction of Jabrayil and Fuzuli. After a heated debate and vote in October 1963 on whether a newly written document on the Virgin Mary should be kept separate or be incorporated into Lumen Gentium, the Vatican 2 document that dives into the nature of the Church, the New York Times ran the headline, Council Votes to Downgrade Mary. This headline gave an impression incongruent with what actually happened at the Second Vatican Council, and in particular at that specific debate. The bishops of the Council voted that there should be no separate document on Mary, but rather, that chapter eight of Lumen Gentium should be where the role of Mary in the Church would be explained. Mary had not been downgraded, but the secular media misunderstood it so. I remember an elderly priest tell me years ago that he saw a priest rip apart a Rosary during a homily, announcing to the congregation that the Rosary was something from the past. Many of the faithful received news on the proceedings of the Council from sources that did not understand what was happening in Rome, creating much confusion and unnecessary disappointment, especially in regards to the devotional life of the Church. Forward seventy years to 2023. Many today, rather than seeking information from sources directly connected to the Synod on Synodality in Rome, are relying not only on the secular media, but unfortunately also on Catholic media that has already sentenced Pope Francis at worse as a heretic, and at best as someone who is not worthy to sit on the Chair of Saint Peter. Why are so many relying on third party sources rather than focusing on what is actually unfolding? A solid insight on the Synod is the recent interview by ACI Prensa of Archbishop Jose Miguel Gomez Rodriguez of Manizales, Colombia. The Archbishop shared thoughts on his experience as a delegate to the Synod. When asked if the Synod could approve same sex unions and women ordinations, the Archbishop clearly responded with a resounding, no. He added, but this answer was already known by the Church. The Archbishop noted that days before the opening of the Synod, Pope Francis responded to the Cardinals who raised concerns including the topic of same sex unions. Reading this response would be appropriate, rather than relying on interpretations by others. You can easily find the Popes response to Question 2 online. It is abundantly clear that the Church has not, nor does it intend to deviate from defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Archbishop Manizales responded to questions about changes in Church teaching stating, the Synod cannot suppress pages of the Bible. The Synod does not have that authority, and the Pope does not want that. The Archbishop continued, there is bad press against the Holy Father which is not just it wants to divide us Catholics against the Pope, and the Pope against Catholics. Pope Francis has said that the Synod is not a parliament for demanding rights, but a journey in accordance with the Spirit. He has further said, if we want harmony let us seek the Spirit, not worldly substitutes. I find the lack of trust and love for the Church and Pope Francis by so many Catholics scandalous. If a Catholic ceases to recognize a legitimately elected Pope, that person ceases to be in communion with the Pope, and with the Catholic Church. If a Catholic affirms a Pope is actively not teaching sound doctrine, then shut down the Catholic Church because suddenly the core of what we hold to be true is no longer true. It is all a farce. History has shown us that in times of uncertainty and turmoil, we turn to prayer and obedience. If reform is needed, we conduct it from inside, and not by destroying and tearing down the Church that we love. Where do we find today the obedience of Saint Francis of Assisi who was obedient to Pope Innocent III who requested that a Rule of Life be written for his new community of brothers? How is the openness to the Holy Spirit alive in the Church today, the same Spirit which allowed Pope Innocent III to recognize the new Franciscan Order in 1223 even though just eight years prior, the Church had forbidden in an Ecumenical Council the establishment of new religious orders? We pray for greater trust in the Holy Spirit whom Jesus promised would continue to lead us and teach us. If you are a Catholic upset and concerned, take a deep breath. Stop reading or listening to the news sources you are consulting. God is in charge, He will see us through. (A dharma talk delivered at the North Carolina Zen Center sesshin on the 19th of October, 2023.) A couple of weeks ago I was privileged to attend the first in person gathering since covid of the now venerable American Zen Teachers Association. The meeting was held at Great Vow Zen monastery in Oregon. Id hoped to see Teshin there, but he was gallivanting around Japan. For me these gatherings are mostly meant to be checking in with old friends and companions, people whove walked similar dharmic paths for years and years. And I think thats true for most people who attend. But theres also a component where we are hoping to improve our skill sets as teachers. Of less importance to me these days as I begin to wind down that part of my life, but its still there, and there is still so much to learn. I was especially taken with the panel presentation on just sitting, Zens base line spiritual discipline. Mokusho chan, shikantaza, silent illumination, just sitting; lots of terms, usually, although not completely in alignment. What caught me was near the end of some very insightful observations about the nuances and details of the practice was when one of the presenters, a Zen priest and academic, spoke. After discussing some of the nitty gritty of guiding practitioners on this path, she concluded with, and I think this is close to a direct quote, Of course, zazen, Zen meditation, is really a koan. Now even among Zen teachers the word koan is often used to mean a thorny problem. And there was a bit of that in what she was saying. But she knows the correct usage of a koan as a profound matter to be made clear as the late Aitken Roshi once said, or as an assertion of that deep matter together with an invitation as I usually prefer to explain koan. The powerful tool of spiritual transformation unique to the Zen schools. I found this really important. Zazen, mokusho chan, shikantaza, silent illumination, just sitting are words for a koan. As seated meditation is the baseline practice of our way, and as Ive seen a lot of people struggle with it, I believe it would be helpful to unpack the koan of just sitting a bit here today. This discipline that is Zen meditation has evolved from classic Buddhist meditation disciplines associated with Gautama Siddhartha. It comes to us blending Vipassana or insight, and Shamatha or concentration. Its somewhat simplified from its Indian origins and then is washed through the whole of Chinese culture with some influences by way of Confucian spiritual culture and more from Daoism. Perhaps even more important Zen meditation is infused with the great insight of our original awakening. Like the discipline of koan introspection, just sitting becomes a unique gift of the Zen schools. In his essay the Method of No Method, the Chan master Sheng Yen writes: This just sitting in Chinese is zhiguan dazuo. Literally, this means just mind sitting. Some of you are familiar with the Japanese transliteration, shikantaza. It has the flavor of Just mind your own business. What business? The business of minding yourself just sitting. At least, you should be clear that youre sitting. Mind yourself just sitting entails knowing that your body is sitting there. This does not mean minding a particular part of your body or getting involved in a particular sensation. Instead, your whole body, your whole being is sitting there. Taking it from there, Ive also found our great grand teacher Hakuun Yasutani gives a very helpful pointer. Shikantaza is the mind of someone facing death. Let us imagine that you are engaged in a duel of swordsmanship of the kind that used to take place in ancient Japan. As you face your opponent you are unceasingly watchful, set, ready. Were you to relax your vigilance even momentarily, you would be cut down instantly. A crowd gathers to see the fight. Since you are not blind you see them from the corner of your eye, and since you are not deaf you hear them. But not for an instant is your mind captured by these impressions. I would call this the mind of presence. Its something rooted in our very humanity. Neuroscience suggests this self-awareness as an aspect of consciousness, arises in the brain in the insular cortex, the anterior cingulate cortex, and the medial prefrontal cortex. Precisely how this works, or even it this is actually the right track, is not a settled matter. However, as important as knowing how it works is, Zen is a sophisticated spiritual technology applying the mind of presence to the deep matters of our being. It shows us who we are. The basic practice technical term for this mind of presence is hishiryo, which is variously rendered nonthinking, without thinking, and beyond thinking. Im increasingly fond of the term before thinking. Im not sure where the first usage of hishiryo comes from, but it appears in the Lotus Sutra and Faith in Mind, as well as in the classic Chinese Zen collection the Record of the Transmission of the Lamp. Which itself is a primary source document for the great koan anthologies like the Gateless Gate and the Blue Cliff Record. The term is most famously used by the thirteenth century Japanese Soto Master Eihei Dogen. The principal document unpacking nonthinking, without thinking, beyond thinking, or before thinking for many of us comes from Dogens wonderful Fukanazengi. It comes to us in two versions. The first version is dated from 1233. Although it is clearly based on thoughts dashed off earlier. Carl Bieledfeldt suggests the second edition appears to date from 1243, a decade later. The text is closely based on a Chinese document, the Zuochan yi written by Changlu Zonze which dates from the beginning of the twelfth century. Dogen incorporates substantial parts of that original, what today we would consider massive plagiarism. However, Dogen is in fact quite critical of the original manual, and definitely brings his own stamp to the matter. And with the version of 1243, the so-called vulgate version, Dogen is presenting his mature understanding of the practice. And heres where we meet the koan of just sitting. As I read the text in both versions, I see the matter of just sitting, of shikantaza straightforwardly being presented as a koan. For me its as plain as the nose on your face. In fact this is the critical key to understanding the entirety of Dogens work. As I read Dogen, its obvious how deeply informed he is by koan introspection. It isnt totally clear what the nature of his koan training was. What we know is that when he was studying was a transitional period where the huatou form of koan introspection, where one spends a lifetime with a single case, was beginning to transform into the study of lists of koans, one after another. Now, speaking as a person following a koan path, it seems obvious Dogen is deeply informed by the depths of the koan tradition, and not merely as a reader of Zen anecdotes. A koan informed insight is present on every page he writes. And often, I believe, it would be difficult to understand him if one is not familiar with the koan way. However, the master is also critical of a one-sided koan practice. He was especially harsh with those who get lost in the sky castles that shadow the koan project. That said in the Fukanzazengi he tips his hat to the koan way, informing us how enlightenment brought on by the opportunity provided by a finger, a banner, a needle, or a mallet, the realization effected by the aid of a fly whisk, a fist, a staff, or a shout, cannot be fully comprehended by human discrimination. He gets engaging koans as a leap beyond the traps of form and emptiness. Of that there can be no doubt. But, instead of those many koan as we whove inherited Hakuins way practice, Dogen points us to one. First he tells us, The practice of Zen has nothing whatever to do with the four bodily attitudes of moving, standing, sitting, or lying down. So, it isnt simply a matter of assuming a correct posture. Rather he is inviting us elsewhere. Then he tells us where. The zazen I speak of is not learning meditation. It is simply the Dharma-gate of repose and bliss. It is the practice-realization of totally culminated enlightenment. It is things as they are in suchness. It is, in my words, the mind of presence manifest. This is what he calls practice-enlightenment. In fact, Ive seen that term rendered without the hyphen, simply reading practiceenlightenment. One word. One thing. In some ways it is taking up the koan of just sitting as if it were a huatou, the single koan one needs for a lifetime of engagement. What I am sure of is this. You want a classic koan? Show me practiceenlightenment. Show me the mind of presence manifest. Here were invited into something beyond a mere quietism. And, of course, thats the shadow of the way of just sitting. People proof text the term and warn against gaining mind with unfortunate consequences. We are not being invited into being bumps on some log. Although, sadly, Ive seen people think that is precisely what shikantaza is. I offer an alternative understanding. With shikantaza were given a place to put our great questions, our deep curiosity, our profound longing. With shikantaza we have a place to bring our hurts and wounds. Here were being invited into a mysterious alchemy of the heart. So. Yes, gaining mind does not carry us across the river. And it is no different than our awakening. And for this just one more term. Bodhicitta. Its a Sanskrit term central to the Mahayana, our great way. It is the mind turned to awakening, to wisdom and compassion. The mystery of bodhicitta, our desire for awakening is discovered as we experience it, and as we surrender it. But this isnt surrender in the sense of burying it or throwing it away. Rather it is a transformation into confidence, or trust, or maybe the right word is faith. In Japanese Shinjin, the mind of the Buddha. Here we discover faith as a matter of heart, as an invitation into an ancient love. Master Taizan Maezumi tells us, When you do shikantaza, have faith in the fact that your zazen is the same zazen as the zazen of the Buddhas and (Ancestors). Have this kind of faith. Then, just sit. Since your zazen is the same zazen as that of the Buddhas, you dont need to worry about anything: just sit. Appreciate that your zazen is the zazen of the Buddha. The zazen of Shakyamuni Buddha is okay; the zazen of the Buddhas and (Ancestors) is okay. In other words, you are not sitting; Buddha is sitting. If we bring our full selves to the matter, we find something breaks open. Well, sometimes breaks open. Sometimes unfolds like a flower. Our images both liberate and trap. We must walk carefully. Gently. And fiercely at the same time. And so Dogen charges us to Devote your energy to a Way that points directly to suchness. And critically he tells us how. If you concentrate your effort single-mindedly, you are thereby negotiating the Way with your practice-realization undefiled. As you proceed along the Way, you will attain a state of everydayness. So, if its a koan how do we engage shikantaza? How do we meet everydayness? Dosho Port, a contemporary Western Zen master tells us about his introduction to shikantaza and his introduction to koan introspection. Katagiri Roshis initial instruction was to become one with the breath and Tangen Roshi advised me to begin muji (the Mu koan) by becoming one with Mu. Within our discovery of oneness with all things the mystery is revealed, all gates are opened. Just be present. The mind of presence. The mind of presence manfiest. A koan is an assertion about reality and an invitation to intimacy. What does practice-enligthentment mean? What is nonthinking? Here the koan is to sit down and become Buddha. The state of everydayness. The koan way. The great Zen way. Just this. If you own a cell phone, you know the pain and fury of a 9 a.m. call from Microsoft Windows support. These and similar scams send out literally billions of robo-calls every year, plus various web-based scams, trying to hook the unwary for services they dont need. With India being a hotbed of phony call centers, the countrys investigators are finally cracking down on them with the joint help of Microsoft and Amazon. According to a press release from Indias Central Bureau of Investigation and blog posts from Microsoft and Amazon covering the same operation, the countrys central law enforcement service teamed up with international services, local police, and the tech giants to search 76 locations in five Indian states. Operation Chakra-II shut down centers focused on hooking customers with pop-up ads falsely claiming to be Microsoft or Amazon support, offering a toll-free number where an operator would use remote desktop software to take over the rubes PC. The operator would then fix the perfectly functional computer, charging hundreds of dollars in subscription fees for the unnecessary service. The raids ended with the confiscation of 48 computers, 32 phones, two servers, plus an additional 33 SIM cards and various other electronics, freezing associated bank accounts while the alleged criminals are prosecuted. The centers primarily targeted users in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Spain, and Germany. The Verge notes that Microsoft maintains a full (legitimate) support site dedicated to this kind of scam, and how to spot it. TL;DR, tech companies dont call or email you out of the blue to report issues with your computer or other gadgets, and they definitely dont contact you via web pop-up ads with toll-free phone numbers. Amazon doesnt have a dedicated page, but encourages anyone whos spotted a scam to report it online. Government has initiated discussions with key stakeholders in the healthcare sector to address the pressing issue of dialysis costs for renal patients. The dialogue, which commenced in a meeting with the Private Health Facilities Association of Ghana (PHFA), aims to explore effective measures for reducing the financial burden on patients requiring dialysis treatment. Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah who opened the dialogue shed light on the government's commitment to this critical matter. He disclosed that the President had instructed health authorities to thoroughly examine the challenges surrounding dialysis expenses and propose solutions. These recommendations, due in the coming weeks and set to be jointly provided by the Health Insurance Authority and the Ministry of Health, will play a pivotal role in determining government course of action. "The input that youre sharing with us today, Im giving you the assurance that it will find expression at the table when those considerations are being made, the Minister said. Key figures from the PHFAoG were in attendance, including Vice President Samuel Boakye Donkor, Eastern Regional Patron Dr. Yaw Osafo, and Ashanti Regional Patron Samuel Boakye. Mr. Donkor highlighted the challenges posed by high importation duties on medical equipment, particularly dialysis machines. He urged the government to consider either incorporating dialysis costs into the National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL) or establishing a dedicated levy to alleviate the financial strain on renal patients. Dr. Osafo drew attention to the unequal distribution of dialysis centers in Ghana, with the majority concentrated in the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions. He urged the government to integrate dialysis centres into the Agenda 111 hospital project, ensuring that dialysis services become accessible at the district level. Mr. Boakye emphasized the urgency of revitalizing the health sector and suggested that with government support, private health facilities could significantly reduce the cost of importing medical equipment by up to 40%. This, Minister Oppong Nkrumah assured the stakeholders that their concerns would be presented before Cabinet for government intervention. He said government is taking proactive steps to find sustainable solutions to the challenges faced by renal patients and healthcare providers across the country and in due time, some interventions will be done. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh is set to receive an award as the most dynamic Minister in the Akufo-Addo administration. The award to be conferred on Dr. Prempeh by the Education and Management Training Foundation (EDMAT Foundation) on November 4, 2023 is in recognition of his outstanding performance and leadership in the two Ministries he has been in charge of under the current government. In a statement signed by Executive Director of the Foundation, Dr. Robert Okyne, the foundation acknowledged the brilliant performance of the Minister, leading the implementation of the novel Free Senior High School Policy. Indeed, we saw your massive transformation of the education sector with robust revitalization of education policies, among others, the statement said. The statement continued; In your current position as Energy Minister, we have followed closely the successes being chalked by Dr. Prempeh. We are sure the President and in fact Ghanaians are seeing you as the most dynamic Minister. You are the bulldozer and Mender. Dr, Matthew Opoku Prempeh, it may be recalled, was also in July this year honoured by the University of Cape Coast through the conferment of a Doctor of Educational Leadership Degree on him for his outstanding performance during his time as Minister for Education. This was after UEW and UPSA conferred similar ones on him. He was also named as the best Minister in 2019 and 2022 and further honoured by the Civil Service for his outstanding leadership Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video As part of its Emergency Preparedness Plan created in May 2023 to provide relief to communities affected by the controlled spill of the Akosombo and Kpong Dams, the Volta River Authority has restored the water supply system of the people of Aveyime in the North Tongu District. The flooded township raw water intake pumps at Aveyime have been relocated to higher ground. A pump protection shed with power panels has been constructed and connected to the water treatment system. The team worked around the clock, by digging trenches and installing pipes to provide an immediate supply of potable water to the community. The Deputy Chief Executive (Services) Ken Arthur, is to hand over the newly commissioned water system to the people of Aveyime today. This ensures access to clean potable water for drinking, cooking and bathing. VRA is passionate about ensuring that the affected communities receive as much relief as possible and they are committed to making life easier for the flood victims. This water supply restoration is the first of many to be carried out in the safe havens. There are plans to expand and provide water to every man, woman and child in the affected communities. In areas with shut-off water supply, VRA, on a daily basis sends tankers of clean potable water to these communities. In addition, they also provide thousands of bags of sachet water for drinking. The focus on quick, clean water supply by VRA is to help curb the spread of waterborne diseases in the communities. Water is constantly supplied to the flood victims to ensure that such a basic human need is addressed. Although it continues to provide medicine supplies, canned food, toiletries, drugs, mattresses, buckets, rice, sugar, mosquito nets etc. to the flood victims, VRA has taken it upon itself, to provide technical relief as well to the communities affected by the controlled spill. As a company of engineers, VRA aims to go beyond just the supply of relief items and drugs to help the flood victims.VRA is extending its world-class technical competencies to the people in these communities. VRA is proactively providing relief solutions for the flood victims because they have promised to the people to leave no one behind and vow to stand by it. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Engineering and Operations) at Volta River Authority (VRA), Ing. Edward Ekow Obeng-Kenzo has replied critics who blamed the management of the Authority for the unfortunate flooding situation in the Volta Region as a result of the Akosombo dam spillage and are therefore calling for their dismissal. The Akosombo dam, which has been opened to allow a reduction in the water levels to avert danger to the dam, has caused floods in nearby communities. The residents have been displaced and have been kept in holding centers while the government and NADMO together with the inter-Ministerial Committee set up to manage the plight of the affected people provide relief to them. The spillage, to some critics, is because the VRA management and staff failed to do due diligence. But, according to VRA boss, they have done an exceptional work. He said in interview on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show that before the spillage, the Authority had engaged the community in a thorough simulation exercise with all relevant measures put in place to appropriately respond when the spillage occurs. He noted that the Authority also assessed their data and made all necessary predictions among others to address the situation ensuring the dam as well as lives are saved. The Deputy CEO argued that their staff and management have the requisite expertise to manage the dam and, to him, it is unfair for anyone to ask for their dismissal. "There's nobody in this country who has run a hydro-power plant than people of VRA. We have all the datas. We have run the power plant 60 plus years. We have the expertise, so I won't say there's somebody who can say it's more expert than a VRA person who has the data, knowledge backing him to take decisions". "If someone says we don't know our work, I will say maybe the person didn't speak well. At least for 60 years, we have managed the dam up to this point . . . This is one of the best managed dams in the world. Every five years, we have people from abroad who come to assess the dam, assess our data we use to operate the dam; always they give us high marks with small lapses on what we should do to make sure the dam is properly secured so that we don't bridge the dam," he told host Kwami Sefa Kayi. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Volta River Authority is providing millions of drugs to assist the victims of the Akosombo dam spillage. About 30,000 people have been displaced due to the spillage and are held in centers where NADMO and other relevant stakeholders are providing relief items to them while measures are instituted to restore them to normal life. Speaking in an interview with Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's morning show "Kokrokoo", Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Engineering and Operations) of Volta River Authority (VRA), Ing. Edward Ekow Obeng-Kenzo revealed that the Authority is actively involved in relief mission. According to him, the Authority has installed a water pump as well as sending water tankers frequently to the affected people to supply them with water. He noted that because of the spillage, the drinking water in the affected areas has been polluted and advised the residents against drinking water coming from the dam spillage, but in order to address the situation, the VRA is freely providing them with clean water. The VRA Engineering Chief also noted that the Authority anticipates the affected areas may experience some health dangers, therefore their hospital unit has liaised with the district health facilities to provide adequate healthcare to the victims. "Yesterday, our hospital unit also sent about 1.5 million worth of drugs to the community; a whole truckload of drugs to support NADMO activities," he told Sefa Kayi. He continued; "Due to this spillage, at least, snakes will come from their normal habitat to the land and bite people. We have to send them anti-snake bite drugs. What else, maybe someone may contract cholera, so we have set our mobile hospitals in the communities to ensure that at least those basic things are, they are being given apart from the food and where they sleep." He further stated that the Energy Ministry is also helping by giving solar lamps to provide light in the areas. Ing. Edward Ekow Obeng-Kenzo emphasized the main focus of VRA is to restore the affected people to normalcy, making sure they "go back to their livelihood". Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Head of the School of Languages at the University of Ghana, Professor Kofi Agyekum has charged churches to come to the aid of the Akosombo flood victims. About 30,000 residents along the Volta Basin have been affected by the effects of the Akosombo dam spillage with their houses and properties left in ruins due to floods. The victims are currently held in shelters with government and NADMO together with other stakeholders providing relief items to them. An Inter-Ministerial Committee chaired by the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, has also been set up to address the victims' plight and restore them to normal life. Touching on this predicament during Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" panel discussion programme, Professor Kofi Agyekum, popularly called Opanyin Agyekum, asked churches in the nation to assist government and as well provide relief items to the victims. He called on them to implore their congregants to "contribute their clothes and other basic things that will give the victims respite in these difficult times". Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Managing Director of the National Lotteries Authority (NLA), Sammi Awuku, has achieved an impressive milestone in his career by being called to the Ghana Bar as a qualified Lawyer. Sammi Awuku was called to the bar together with other colleagues such as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tafo, Ekow Vincent Assifuah among others. Expressing his joy and gratitude, Sammi Awuku took to his social media handle to share his sentiments and congratulate his fellow colleagues who have embarked on this journey of legal practice. Embarking on the path of becoming a lawyer is often described as daunting, and Mr. Awuku is no exception. Through years of diligent effort, including long hours of lectures, sleepless nights, intense group discussions, and reading numerous volumes of books, he has overcome all challenges that come with seeking this added career path. In his social media post, he expressed his heartfelt appreciation to his lecturers, seniors, colleagues, and family who have played instrumental roles in helping him attain this remarkable success. Their guidance, support, and encouragement have fueled his determination to reach such heights in the legal profession. The Managing Director of the NLA also extended his congratulations to his learned colleagues who have also been called to the Bar. Notable names include the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the Member of Parliament for Tafo, Ekow Vincent Asafuah, and many other friends and colleagues who have achieved this significant milestone alongside him. As he and his colleagues embark on this new chapter in their lives, they are optimistic that Gods light will continue to guide them on the path they have chosen. This achievement not only brings personal satisfaction but also adds expertise and diversity to the management team of the National Lotteries Authority. The NLA Managing Directors transition to the legal profession not only demonstrates his personal determination and commitment to self-improvement but also serves as an inspiration to others within the organization and the wider community. His achievement further highlights the importance of continued learning and professional growth in both ones personal and career development. The NLA congratulates its Managing Director on this remarkable achievement and looks forward to benefiting from his enhanced legal expertise and insight as he continues to lead the organization in the pursuit of its objectives. 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 BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. The Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan has made amendments to the "Rules for Determination of "Protective Zone" of the Operated Export Oil Pipelines" approved by the decree of November 2, 2004, Trend reports. Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov signed a new decree in this regard. According to the decree, from now on, the State Agency for Protection of Strategic Objects will also issue a permit to carry out work in the "protection zone" of export oil pipelines along with the Ministry of Energy. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo visited the Volta Region on Monday, October 16 to assess the impact of the Akosombo dam spillage and the situation of the victims. During his visit, he stirred controversy by subtly mentioning that he had come to sympathize with the victims, regardless of the fact that they do not vote for his party. When these things happen and government acts, politics does not come into the matter at all. When I took the Oath of Office as President, I took the oath as president for every single individual in Ghana, all people in Ghana, all districts and whether they voted for me or not, once I have taken the oath, I am the President of all the people so Togbe, I want the people here, beginning with you, and the elders to understand that when something like this happens and Government acts, Government is acting for Ghanaians, all Ghanaians. I came here because Ghanaians are having difficulties and are suffering, and it is my responsibility to try and help. Because, if it is a question of counting who votes for me and who doesn't vote for me, then I shouldn't be here, because you don't vote for me. But that is not my concern. And, in any event, one day you will vote for me and my party," he said to some of the victims at Mepe in the Region. This remark has generated intense backlash for the President. Meanwhile, some Communicators of the NPP claim President Akufo-Addo made the comment in jest. Opanyin Agyekum adding his voice to the discussion said such comments shouldn't have come from the President. "We've heard the President made the comment in jest . . . if it were a party activist who said it, there would've been nothing wrong but for the President to say it . . . he could've ended it at his earlier statement but to bring in the vote . . . this is not a time or a place to joke..." he told Kwami Sefa Kayi in a panel discussion on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo' Listen to him in the video below Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Supreme Court has struck out an injunction filed by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and four other political parties which sought to stop the EC from going ahead with the limited voter registration exercise. A five-member panel presided over by the Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, struck out the application following the failure of the applicants or their lawyers to appear in court to move the application. When the case was called Tuesday, there was no lawyer or representative representing the NDC or any of the political parties. A Deputy Chairperson of the EC, Bossman Eric Asare and lawyer for the EC, Justine Amenuvor, were, however, present in court. Other Justices of the apex court who struck out the application were Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, Barbara Ackah Yensu and Ernest Yao Gaewu. Application and criticisms The EC decided to conduct the limited voter registration exercise only at its district offices. Following that decision, the NDC and four other political parties the Convention Peoples Party (CPP), the All-Progressive Congress (APC), the Liberal Party Ghana (LPG) and the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) dragged the EC to the Supreme Court, arguing that the move by the EC was unconstitutional as it would impede peoples right to register and vote. The suit, filed on September 7, 2023, also included an application for injunction seeking to stop the EC from going ahead with the registration exercise until the determination of the suit. The EC, however, started the exercise on September 12 and concluded it on October 2, 2023. Many notable persons, including former President John Dramani Mahama, criticised the Supreme Court for not hearing the application when the voter registration exercise was in full force. Former President Mahama said the inability of the apex to hear the injunction was a blot on justice delivery. This is unprecedented and does not augur well for public confidence in the justice delivery system, he wrote on social media. Legal vacation At Tuesdays hearing, the Chief Justice explained for the benefit of journalists present in the courtroom that the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal do not sit during the legal vacation which is in the months of August and September. Justice Torkornoo said while the rules of court and laws allowed the High Court to hear cases on a limited basis during the legal vacation, there was no such dispensation for the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal. She added that it was based on the legal vacation that the court sat on the application by the five political parties at the earliest date possible which was Tuesday, being the very first Supreme Court sitting in the new legal year. The Supreme Court could not have dealt with any application except by an extreme special fiat, the Chief Justice said. Substantive suit In a suit invoking the original jurisdiction of the apex court, the five parties were of the view that limiting the exercise to the ECs district offices would not be suitable and accessible to every Ghanaian who was desirous of exercising his or her constitutional right to be registered as a voter. 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 Head of the School of Languages at the University of Ghana, Professor Kofi Agyekum has attributed Ghanas problems with development to the political duopoly between the two biggest parties in the country, the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party. Answering a question on the failure of Ghana to develop its transportation sector on Peace FMs Kokrokoo morning show on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, Prof. Agyekum said the root cause lies with the two major political parties. As for the knowledge we have it because we are learned as a people but the application of the knowledge is our challenge and all our problems is from NPP and NDC, he stated. He sought to explain that the two parties over the period have failed to put the interest of the nation first and will rather resort to pushing the interest of their parties at the expense of national development. His assertion however was disputed by the head of the State Transport Company, Nana Akomea who argued that the issue had to do with political will. Listen to Opanyin Agyekum below: 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 Forty-eight years is a long time to let a murder stew on your conscience. But after a year of waiting in prison without bail on homicide charges, 69-year-old David Sinopoli came forward on Thursday and admitted he stabbed Lindy Sue Biechler to death in her apartment in 1975. By Michael Kunzelman, The Associated Press SILVER SPRING, Md. A Maryland police officer who fatally shot a stabbing suspect earlier this year was arrested Thursday on charges that he assaulted police during a mobs Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The Montgomery County Police Department said in a news release that it has suspended Officer Justin Lee without pay and is taking steps to terminate his employment after his indictment on felony charges. The police department said it hired Lee roughly one year after the Jan. 6 riot and didnt know about his alleged involvement in the attack until July 2023, when it learned he was under FBI investigation. The actions of one individual do not define the entire department, the department said. Lee, 25, of Rockville, Maryland, had been on administrative leave since he shot and killed a man suspected of stabbing four people on July 22, 2023, according to the police department. Officers had responded to calls for a stabbing at a thrift store in Silver Spring, Maryland, before they confronted the suspect, who was holding a foot-long butchers knife. The suspect ignored officers commands to drop the knife and lunged at Lee before the officer shot him, police said in a news release. One of the four stabbing victims was critically injured, police said. After the shooting, Police Chief Darren Francke told reporters that all of the victims were expected to survive the attacks, which he described as unprovoked. Lee was arrested in Washington, D.C., on the Jan. 6 charges and was expected to make his initial court appearance on Thursday, according to the U.S. Attorneys office for the District of Columbia. Lee hasnt been performing a police officers duties since the July shooting, the department said. His unpaid suspension stems from his arrest on Jan. 6 charges. A federal grand jury indicted Lee on seven counts, including felony charges of civil disorder and assaulting, resisting or impeding police. The indictment charges Lee with assaulting a Metropolitan Police Officer but doesnt provide a detailed account of the attack. An attorney for Lee, Terrell Roberts III, didnt immediately respond to an email and telephone call seeking comment. The police department said Lee applied to be a Montgomery County police officer in July 2021, six months after the riot. The police department said it thoroughly investigates the background of job applicants but is reviewing that process to determine whether adjustments need to be made. Lees involvement in the January 6 insurrection was not discovered during this process, as he was not identified by the Justice Department in connection with the event, the department said. More than 100 police officers were injured during clashes with rioters supporting then-President Donald Trump. Over 1,100 people, including several current or former law enforcement officers, have been charged with Capitol riot-related federal crimes. More: Pa. woman gets 5 years for her role in Capitol riot: reports Ex-Michigan gubernatorial candidate to be jailed for Capitol riot role A Lancaster County jury last week found a sex offender guilty of trying to pay $250 to have sex with a 12-year-old, prosecutors said. Bradley Buchanan, 39, of Birdsboro, is facing 2550 years in prison for attempted statutory sexual assault, soliciting sex, attempting to patronize a victim of human trafficking, and related offenses. This was Buchanans second sexual assault-related conviction. Prosecutors said he was convicted of having sex with a 15-year-old in Berks County in 2012. Undercover Lancaster County investigators posted an online advertisement offering sex with a minor Aug. 24, 2022. Buchanan agreed to pay $250 in exchange for sex with a child and a nude photograph. The phone numbers used during the interaction were traced back to Buchanan, according to the Lancaster County District Attorneys Office. Prosecutors said Buchanan was arrested when he tried to meet the child at a Salisbury Township hotel. Buchanan was one of nine defendants charged in Lancaster County last year through the countys Human Trafficking Task Force, prosecutors said. He is one of four to be convicted. This was an online child predator sting that caught just that, Assistant District Attorney Fritz Haverstick said at the end of the trial. Bradley Buchanan was online looking to prey on a child in this community, Haverstick said. He was online looking to purchase the body of a 12-year-old from that childs aunt, so he could sexually abuse that child for $250. [The defendant] thought he found just that. Fortunately, he found a dedicated team of law enforcement officers who are trying to keep this community safe from child predators. The fate of three men charged in connection with the shooting death of a young Harrisburg mother in the presence of her six-year-old son was put in the hands of a Dauphin County jury late Thursday. Erin Walsh-Lapean, 28, died on June 28, 2021, after gunfire broke out while she and others were on the porch of her home in the 1400 Block of Berryhill Street in Harrisburg. Others injured in the shooting include the child, who was struck by bullets in both legs. Deron Scott and Raymeir Haynes each face charges including first-degree murder. A third man, Corey Evans, is charged with aggravated assault and illegal possession of a firearm. Walsh-Lapeans son, now 8, played with toy cars as he sat at the witness stand this week, testifying he saw a car pull up in front of their home and then two men began shooting. Prosecutors called it a drive-by murder resulting from bad blood between two Harrisburg gangs. They said Scott and Haynes are members of a gang centered in Hall Manor and Evans is part of a gang that frequents Berryhill Street. Deputy District Attorney Erin Varley said Walsh-Lapean died because each of them were hell-bent on killing each other. According to the scenario laid out by prosecutors, Scott beat up a gang associate of Evans, who later retaliated by shooting at Haynes girlfriend. That prompted Scott and Haynes to go looking for Evans on June 28, 2021, eventually finding him at the home of Walsh-Lapean, whose husband is a friend and where he often spent time. Prosecutors said Haynes and Scott drove past once then doubled back, with Haynes firing out the drivers side window and Scott getting out of the car to fire, and prompting Evans to fire back. They said Haynes and Scott fired first and one of their bullets they dont know which one fired it eventually struck Walsh-Lapean in the chin. She died two days later. The charges against Evans, prosecutors said, stem from him shooting at Haynes and Scott. During closing arguments, Varley stressed to jurors that, although Evans might have claimed self-defense, he lied about his presence at the shooting scene, claiming he came there only after hearing about the shooting, and denying any other involvement. She further told jurors that Haynes and Scott came with premeditated intent to kill Evans, and the fact that a bystander rather than their intended target got killed doesnt shield them from first-degree murder. It took investigators many months to investigate the case and bring charges. They told jurors that witnesses were reluctant to talk, attributing it to fear of snitching on violent gang members. Some of their evidence came from witnesses who might have faced serious charges if they didnt cooperate, and from a jailhouse conversation heard by an undercover officer. In their closing arguments, lawyers for the three men cited inconsistencies in witness accounts and raised doubts about motives of witnesses who benefitted from cooperating with police. They further cited a lack of physical evidence such as DNA evidence or fingerprints found on shell casings. Haynes lawyer told jurors he had no involvement with gangs and no intent to kill anyone, saying he went to the home to peacefully resolve a dispute. His intent was to talk but he got fired upon first, said Kristen Wisenberger, his lawyer. She argued his actions while driving away, recorded on camera, show him driving calmly and taking a highly visible route not the actions of someone fleeing a deliberate homicide. Scotts lawyer, David Hoover, also claimed lack of evidence and discrepancies in accounts of witnesses, saying the eight-year-olds testimony cant be trusted, and other witnesses were running for cover rather than looking at who was shooting. The witnesses dont even agree on one single story, he said. Hoover told jurors he wouldnt deny that Scott is a bad guy, but being a bad guy isnt a crime. He argued prosecutors want to convict Scott because they think hes a gang member, a bad guy. Evans lawyer, Drew Deyo, said Evans was friends with Walsh-Lapeans husband, and came to the scene to help after hearing about the shooting. No witness can put him there during the shooting. None, he told jurors. He further stressed that Walsh-Lapeans husband, Richard Lapean, testified he saw Evans only after the shooting. Could there be a more credible witness than the man who lost his wife?, he said. Judge Edward Marsico sent the jurors home for the night after closing arguments ended late Thursday. Theyre expected to begin deliberations early Friday. By CLAIRE SAVAGE, The Associated Press/Report for America CHICAGO (AP) After a stopover in the U.S. that lasted the better part of a century, a baroque landscape painting that went missing during World War II was returned to Germany on Thursday. The FBI handed over the artwork by 18th century Austrian artist Johann Franz Nepomuk Lauterer to a German museum representative in a brief ceremony at the German Consulate in Chicago, where the pastoral piece showing an Italian countryside was on display. Art Recovery International, a company focused on locating and recovering stolen and looted art, tracked down the elusive painting after a person in Chicago reached out last year claiming to possess a stolen or looted painting that their uncle brought back to the U.S. after serving in World War II. The painting has been missing since 1945 and was first reported stolen from the Bavarian State Painting Collections in Munich, Germany. It was added to the database of the German Lost Art Foundation in 2012, according to a statement from the art recovery company. The crux of our work at Art Recovery International is the research and restitution of artworks looted by Nazis and discovered in public or private collections. On occasion, we come across cases, such as this, where allied soldiers may have taken objects home as souvenirs or as trophies of wars, said Christopher Marinello, founder of Art Recovery International. Being on the winning side doesnt make it right, he added. The identity of the Chicago resident who had the painting was not shared. The person initially asked Marinello to be paid for the artwork. I explained our policy of not paying for stolen artwork and that the request was inappropriate, Marinello said. We also know that someone tried to sell the painting in the Chicago art market in 2011 and disappeared when the museum put forth their claim. But with the help of the FBI Art Crime Team, attorneys and the museum, Marinello negotiated an unconditional surrender of the artwork. This photo shows the 18th century painting titled "Landscape of Italian Character" by Vienna-born artist Johann Franz Nepomuk Lauterer, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023 in Chicago. (AP Photo/Claire Savage)AP The painting, titled Landscape of Italian Character, will reunite with its counterpart, which shares similar motifs and imagery, according to the museum. The two paintings together form a panoramic scene featuring shepherds and travelers with their goats, cows, donkeys and sheep at a ford in a river. The pair will soon be displayed together for the first time since World War II at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, according to Bernd Ebert, the museums chief curator of Dutch and German baroque paintings. Retrieving a long-lost painting is actually a very rare moment for us, Ebert said. Its exciting. The Vienna-born artist, Lauterer, lived from 1700 to 1733. When war broke out in 1939, many Bavarian museum collections were evacuated to safe locations in the region, but the Lauterer painting has been missing since the beginning of the war, suggesting the possibility that it had been looted, according to the museum. The Bavarian State Painting Collections first started searching for the painting between 1965 and 1973, but no clues about its location emerged until decades later. Ebert, who flew from Munich to Chicago to retrieve the painting, will carefully bubble-wrap the centuries-old landscape to take it back home, where it will be touched up and restored after an eventful several decades. Luckily, Ebert said, it should fit in his suitcase. By NAJIB JOBAIN, SAMYA KULLAB and JOSEPH KRAUSS, Associated Press KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) Hamas militants on Friday freed two Americans, a mother and her teenage daughter who had been held hostage in Gaza since militants rampaged through Israel two weeks ago, the Israeli government said. The pair, who also hold Israeli citizenship, were the first hostages to be released, and more than 200 are still being held. Hamas said it was releasing them in an agreement with the Qatari government for humanitarian reasons. Relatives of other captives welcomed the release and appealed for others to be freed. We call on world leaders and the international community to exert their full power in order to act for the release of all the hostages and missing, the statement said. Israel has said it does not plan to take long-term control over the Gaza Strip after an expected ground offensive to root out Hamas militants that rule the territory. The Israeli military punished Gaza with airstrikes, authorities inched closer to bringing aid to desperate families and hospitals, and Muslims around the world protested in solidarity with Palestinians. Palestinians flee Israeli bombardment of Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali, file) Israel bombed areas in southern Gaza where Palestinians had been told to seek safety while it tries to destroy Hamas in retaliation. Fighting between Israel and militants in neighboring Lebanon also raged, prompting evacuations of Lebanese and Israeli border towns as fears of a widening conflict grew. Speaking to lawmakers about Israels long-term plans for Gaza, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant laid out a three-stage plan that seemed to suggest that Israel did not intend to reoccupy the territory it left in 2005. More than a million people have been displaced in Gaza. Many heeded Israels orders to evacuate the northern part of the sealed-off enclave on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called areas in southern Gaza safe zones earlier this week, Israeli military spokesman Nir Dinar said Friday that there are no safe zones. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu participate in an expanded bilateral meeting with Israeli and U.S. government officials, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023, in Tel Aviv. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, file) Gazas overwhelmed hospitals were rationing their dwindling resources, as authorities worked out logistics for a desperately needed aid delivery from Egypt. A U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a rapidly changing situation said aid had been delayed because of ongoing road repairs, and that it was expected to move across the border Saturday. More than 200 trucks and some 3,000 tons of aid were positioned near the crossing. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited the crossing Friday and appealed for the quick movement of aid into Gaza, calling it the difference between life and death. By CHRIS MEGERIAN and MARY CLARE JALONICK, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) The White House on Friday released a sweeping set of proposals to bolster Israel and Ukraine in the midst of two wars as well as invest more in domestic defense manufacturing, humanitarian assistance and managing the influx of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. The total cost of the supplemental funding request was pegged at just over $105 billion. President Joe Biden hopes Congress will move urgently on the legislation, and he made the case for deepening U.S. support for its allies during a rare Oval Office address on Thursday night. The Democratic presidents plan faces some immediate complications on Capitol Hill, even as most lawmakers say they want to help both countries. The House is at a standstill, unable to pass legislation, as the Republican majority struggles to choose a new speaker. The money could also get bogged down in a divided Senate where Republicans have increasingly opposed Ukraine aid and demanded adding additional border policies to the measure. But Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said the Senate would advance Bidens proposals as soon as possible. This legislation is too important to wait for the House to settle their chaos, he said. Senate Democrats will move expeditiously on this request, and we hope that our Republican colleagues across the aisle will join us to pass this much-needed funding. Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., also expressed support, but said the Senate must produce our own supplemental legislation that meets the demonstrated needs of our national security. It could take several weeks to write the bill and negotiate its contents. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray, D-Wash., and the panels top Republican, Maine Sen. Susan Collins, announced an Oct. 31 hearing on the spending request with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Bidens national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told reporters Friday that Russias ongoing invasion of Ukraine and Hamas attack on Israel represent a global inflection point. This budget request is critical to advancing Americas national security and ensuring the safety of the American people, Sullivan said. The biggest line item in the supplemental funding request is $61.4 billion to support Ukraine. Some of that money will go to replenishing Pentagon stockpiles of weapons that have already been provided. Ukraine has struggled to make progress in a grueling counteroffensive, and the White House has warned that Russia could gain ground if the United States does not rush more weapons and ammunition to the conflict. The world is closely watching what Congress does next, Sullivan said. Israel would receive $14.3 billion in assistance under the proposal. The majority of that money would help with air and missile defense systems, according to the White House. While aiding both Israel and Ukraine has broad support in both chambers, some Republicans in both the House and the Senate are wary of linking funding for the two countries. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, said the presidents proposal was discussed in a closed-door meeting of his states Republican delegation Friday. Williams said Bidens proposal to aid both is a little disturbing because he knows he cant get it done without Israel. The reaction is emblematic of how Bidens decision to roll together several different issues, in hopes of broadening the potential political coalition to ensure the legislations passage, could also lead it to its derailment. Debates over immigration will likely be the most thorny as Republicans seek to bolster enforcement. Many Republicans have said they wont support the measure unless new policies are added, and it is so far unclear whether the money that Biden is requesting would be sufficient. A group of Republican senators huddled Thursday to discuss possible proposals that they would support. I support aid to Israel and Ukraine, Texas Sen. John Cornyn posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. But without meaningful and substantive policy changes that will address the #BidenBorderCrisis such aid is in serious jeopardy. Shalanda Young, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, suggested it would be hypocritical for them to oppose Bidens proposal after complaining about lax border management. We will not be lectured by those who refuse to act, she said. As weve said repeatedly, Congress needs to take action to provide sufficient resources for the border. Although there was a lull in migrant arrivals to the U.S. after the start of new asylum restrictions in May, illegal crossings topped a daily average of more than 8,000 last month. The White House wants roughly $14 billion to, among other things, boost the number of border agents, install new inspection machines to detect fentanyl and increase staffing to process asylum cases. Sen. Bill Hagerty, a Tennessee Republican, said providing the administration with more money to fuel its disastrous open-borders resettlement operation is insanity. It would worsen the border crisis, not stop it, he wrote on X. Some Republicans made clear that there was no chance they would support the package. Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton called it dead on arrival. Bidens funding request includes $7.4 billion for a variety of initiatives geared toward the Indo-Pacific, where the U.S. is focused on countering Chinas influence. The money is divided among joint security initiatives in the region, bolstering submarine manufacturing as part of a partnership with Australia and developing financing programs for countries that would otherwise rely on Beijing. Another $9.15 billion is geared toward humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, Israel, Gaza and other places. Administration officials said they would determine where best to direct the money once its approved. Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said time is of the essence for passing the legislation. We will be judged on how the United States responds to ongoing crises, whether we honor our commitments to our allies abroad, and how we care for innocent people around the world caught in the wake of devastation, she said. Associated Press writer Kevin Freking contributed to this report. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. France, pursuing neocolonial policy, grossly violates the principles of international law, Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) of Azerbaijan Sabina Aliyeva said at the international conference "Neocolonialism: Violation of Human Rights and Injustice,", Trend reports. She stated that countries such as France, which pursues a neocolonial policy, excessively violate international law standards, particularly in Africa and the Middle East. "At present, a number of countries that faced the problem of colonialism continue to struggle for the restoration of their independence and justice. The most regrettable thing is that the international community and organizations remain indifferent to this problem," Sabina Aliyeva said. According to her, Azerbaijan is one of such countries. Armenia's policy against Azerbaijan has led to many acts of crimes against humanity. "The mass graves and destroyed monuments discovered on the territory of Azerbaijan are proof of Armenia's crimes," she added. The Ombudswoman emphasized that Armenia has not yet handed over the mine maps to Azerbaijan, which is the reason why civilians are dying in the liberated territories. Baku hosts the international conference "Neocolonialism: Human Rights Violation and Injustice," organized by the Baku Initiative Group on October 20. The Baku Initiative Group was established on July 6, 2023, by participants of the conference "Total Elimination of Colonialism" within the framework of the ministerial meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement under the chairmanship of the Republic of Azerbaijan. HAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) Israel bombarded the Gaza Strip early Friday, hitting areas where Palestinians had been told to seek safety, and it began evacuating a sizable Israeli town near the border with Lebanon, the latest sign of a potential ground invasion of Gaza that could trigger regional turmoil. Amid the fighting, Israels defense minister said the country did not have plans to maintain control over civilians in Gaza after its war against the Hamas militant group. Defense Minister Yoav Gallants comments to lawmakers were the first time a top Israeli official discussed its long-term plans for Gaza. Gallant said Israel expected a three-phase war, starting with airstrikes and ground maneuvers. It anticipates then defeating pockets of resistance, and finally, ceasing Israels responsibility for life in the Gaza Strip. Palestinians in Gaza reported heavy airstrikes in Khan Younis, a town in the territorys south. Ambulances carrying men, women and children streamed into the local Nasser Hospital. The hospital, Gazas second largest, already was overflowing with patients and people seeking shelter. The Israeli military said it had struck more than 100 targets across Gaza linked to the territorys Hamas rulers, including a tunnel and arms depots. People look at destruction after an Israeli army raid on a Palestinian refugee camp, Nur Shams, in the West Bank, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)AP On Thursday, Gallant ordered ground troops to prepare to see Gaza from the inside, hinting at a ground offensive aimed at crushing Gazas militant Hamas rulers nearly two weeks after their bloody incursion into Israel. Officials have given no timetable for such an operation. Over a million people have been displaced in Gaza, with many heeding Israels orders to evacuate the northern part of the sealed-off enclave on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Though Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had called areas in south Gaza safe zones earlier this week, Israeli military spokesman Nir Dinar said Friday: There are no safe zones. U.N. officials said that with the bombings across all of Gaza, some Palestinians who had fled the north appeared to be going back. The strikes, coupled with extremely difficult living conditions in the south, appear to have pushed some to return to the north, despite the continuing heavy bombing there, Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the U.N. human rights office, said. Gazas overwhelmed hospitals are rationing their dwindling medical supplies and fuel for generators, as authorities worked out logistics for a desperately needed aid delivery from Egypt. Doctors in darkened wards across Gaza performed surgeries by the light of mobile phones and used vinegar to treat infected wounds. The deal to get aid into Gaza through the territorys only entry point not controlled by Israel, remained fragile. Israel said the supplies could only go to civilians and that it would thwart any diversions by Hamas. More than 200 trucks and some 3,000 tons of aid were positioned at or near the crossing in Rafah, a city that straddles northern Egypt and southern Gaza. Palestinian children displaced by the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip walk in a UNDP-provided tent camp in Khan Younis on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)AP Work began Friday to repair the road at the border that had been damaged in airstrikes, with trucks unloading gravel and bulldozers and other road repair equipment filling in large craters. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited the crossing Friday and appealed for the quick movement of aid into Gaza, calling it the difference between life and death. Israel has evacuated its own communities near Gaza and Lebanon, putting residents up in hotels elsewhere in the country. The Defense Ministry announced evacuation plans Friday for Kiryat Shmona, a town of more than 20,000 residents near the Lebanese border. Three Israelis including a 5-year-old girl were wounded in a rocket attack there Thursday, according to Israeli health services. Lebanons Hezbollah militant group, which has a massive arsenal of long-range rockets, has traded fire with Israel along the border on a near-daily basis and hinted it might join the war if Israel seeks to annihilate Hamas. Iran supports both armed groups. The violence in Gaza has also sparked protests across the region, including in Arab countries allied with the U.S. Those demonstrations could flare anew Friday following weekly Muslim prayers. In an address from the Oval Office on Thursday, U.S. President Joe Biden again pledged unwavering support for Israels security, while saying the world cant ignore the humanity of innocent Palestinians in Gaza. Speaking hours after returning to Washington from an urgent visit to Israel, Biden linked the current war in Gaza to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy. Biden said he was sending an urgent budget request to Congress on Friday, to cover emergency military aid to both Israel and Ukraine. People look at destruction after an Israeli army raid on a Palestinian refugee camp, Nur Shams, in the West Bank, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)AP Meanwhile, an unclassified U.S. intelligence assessment delivered to Congress estimated casualties in an explosion at a Gaza City hospital this week on the low end of 100 to 300 deaths. The death toll still reflects a staggering loss of life, said the report, seen by The Associated Press. It said intelligence officials were still assessing the evidence and their casualty estimate may evolve. The report echoed earlier assessments by U.S. officials that the blast at the al-Ahli hospital was not caused by an Israeli airstrike, as the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza initially reported. Israel has presented video, audio and other evidence it says proves the blast was caused by a rocket misfired by Palestinian militants. The AP has not independently verified any of the claims or evidence released by the parties. An Israeli airstrike hit a Greek Orthodox church housing displaced Palestinians near the hospital late Thursday. The Israeli military said it had targeted a Hamas command and control center nearby, causing damage to a church wall. Gazas Hamas-run Health Ministry said 16 Palestinian Christians were killed. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchy of Jerusalem condemned the attack and said it would not abandon its religious and humanitarian duty to provide assistance. The Israeli military has relentlessly attacked Gaza in retaliation for the devastating Oct. 7 Hamas attack. Palestinian militants have meanwhile launched unrelenting rocket attacks into Israel more than 6,900, according to Israel and tensions have flared in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Thirteen Palestinians, including five minors, were killed Thursday during a battle with Israeli troops in which Israel called in an airstrike, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. An Israeli border police officer was killed in the fighting, Israel said. The Gaza Health Ministry said 4,137 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, the majority women, children and older adults. Over 13,000 people were injured, and another 1,300 were believed buried under rubble, authorities said. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly civilians slain during Hamas deadly incursion. Roughly 200 others were abducted. The Israeli military said Thursday it had notified the families of 203 captives. In a fiery speech on Thursday to Israeli infantry soldiers on the Gaza border, Gallant, the defense minister, urged them to be ready to move in. Israel has called up some 360,000 reserves and massed tens of thousands of troops along the Gaza border. Whoever sees Gaza from afar now, will see it from the inside, he said. It might take a week, a month, two months until we destroy them, he added, referring to Hamas. With supplies running low because of a complete Israeli siege, some Gaza residents are down to one meal a day and drinking dirty water. Egypt and Israel were still negotiating the entry of fuel for hospitals. Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Hamas has stolen fuel from U.N. facilities and Israel wants assurances that wont happen again. The Gaza Health Ministry has pleaded with gas stations to give fuel to hospitals, and a U.N. agency also donated some of its last fuel. Gazas sole power plant shut down last week, forcing Palestinians to rely on generators, and no fuel has gone in since the start of the war. The agencys donation to Gaza Citys Shifa Hospital, the territorys largest, would keep us going for another few hours, said Mohammed Abu Selmia, the hospital director. A Superior Court Judge in New Jersey has ordered a Mechanicsburg woman convicted in the Jan. 6 attacks on the U.S. Capitol Building to pay $50,000 to her ex-boyfriend for making defamatory remarks toward him in the wake of her criminal defense. Riley June Williams, 24, is joined by Cyrus Sanders, who will also pay $50,000 to Michael Prodanov. Pennsylvania American Waters mandatory conservation notice for their Mechanicsburg water system is still in effect as of Friday. The company released an update on its website asking customers to limit their water use by 10% to 15% even though the water is safe to drink and use normally. The notice is in place for residents in Silver Spring, Hampden, Lower Allen, East Pennsboro and Fairview townships, and New Cumberland, Lemoyne and Wormleysburg boroughs Pa. American Water is working alongside the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to make sure the water from the Conodoquinet Creek which had a petroleum-type odor and sheen on Tuesday according to the DEP is safe to use going forward. If the creeks water is determined to be safe, the water companys Silver Spring Water Treatment Plant will resume regular operations, the update said. Customers will be notified when the mandatory conservation notice is lifted through Pa. American Waters automated emergency notification system. Updates on the situation will be provided on the companys alerts webpage. The conservation order applies to about 42,000 customer connections in the Mechanicsburg water system. READ MORE: Dauphin County barbecue restaurant wins best-ribs contest Former central Pa. man acquitted of counts that he raped girl, duct-taped her to punching bag Editors note: This article has been corrected to reflect that Tina Nixon has not at this point been endorsed by the Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee. Tina Nixon, a former longtime CEO of the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg and an experienced community leader, on Friday announced she will run as a Democratic candidate for the 103rd state House of Representatives District. The district includes parts of Harrisburg, Camp Hill, Lemoyne, Wormleysburg and East Pennsboro Township. The 103rd District seat is currently held by Democratic Rep. Patty Kim, who this week launched her campaign for the 15th state Senate District. Kim seeks to unseat the incumbent, Republican Sen. John DiSanto. Nixon said that, if elected, she would parlay her 30 years of public service and leadership experience to ensure that constituents get a fair share from state government. Our community needs another advocate for them under the Capitol dome, and I want to take my passion for public service and put it to work to help the people of the district, Nixon said. I look forward to the upcoming campaign in the 103rd District and a new direction for our Commonwealth. In 2015, Nixon left the YWCA to become chief diversity officer and vice president of mission effectiveness for PinnacleHealth System, the main health care provider in Harrisburg.Throughout her more than three decades in the human service field, Nixon has tackled such issues as hunger, homelessness, the welfare-to-work program, health care, domestic violence, sexual assault, childcare and racial justice. She has held dozens of leadership roles for organizations critical to serving their communities, including as co-chair of the YWCA Mid-Atlantic Region, as commissioner for the Pennsylvania Commission for Women, a member of the board for the Joshua Center and a member of the National Council of Negro Women and the Winter Overnight Shelter Street Outreach. Throughout my career, Ive learned that when we work together, we can achieve extraordinary results that make a difference in peoples lives, said Nixon. My focus will be on bringing together people of different points of view, backgrounds, and experiences to solve problems in our communities. Dauphin County Commissioner George Hartwick will serve as co-chair of her campaign committee. She has received Kims endorsement. The 103rd District is a wonderful place to raise a family, said Nixon, a native of the Harrisburg area. There is a strong sense of community and an almost limitless potential among the people. I am fully committed to making a positive change in our community. She and husband, James Nixon and their twins Miles and Miranda, make Harrisburg their home. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that work is set to begin on a major highway reconstruction project on Interstate 83 in the City of Harrisburg and the surrounding area in Dauphin County. Weather permitting, on Oct. 23, the contractor will begin setting long-term signing on northbound I-83 from the I-83 John Harris Memorial (South) Bridge to the Eisenhower Interchange. This work will be performed during daylight hours and will result in minimal impacts to traffic. The following week, there will be night work to install a barrier along the northbound shoulder. After the barrier is installed, the contractor will begin utility work and clearing in the area of Cameron Street and then work northward on I-83, working behind the barrier, a press release said. This work is part of the first of two contracts for East Shore Section 3 of the larger I-83 Capital Beltway Project. This contract includes widening and reconstructing portions of the I-83 roadway, construction of overhead bridges at 29th Street and 19th Street, construction of the new Cameron Street Interchange, removing the 13th Street interchange, and roadway improvements along the Cameron Street, 19th Street and 29th Street corridors. There may be significant impacts to traffic during the life of this project, including traffic shifts, lane restrictions and road closures/detours. Advance notice will be issued prior to any major traffic impacts. New Enterprise Stone and Lime Company, Inc., of New Enterprise, Pennsylvania, is the contractor on this $154,627,000 project. All work on this contract is expected to be completed by Oct. 12, 2027. The second East Shore Section 3 contract is expected to be under construction from 2025 to 2028 and includes widening and reconstruction on I-83, construction of the 13th Street bridge and approaches, and construction of the 17th Street interchange and widening 17th Street. For more information about the East Shore Section 3 and the I-83 Capital Beltway Project, go to I83 Capital Beltway- Home (i-83beltway.com). The East Shore Section 3 construction contract map can be found here: SR0083-079-Dauphin-Construction-Sequence-Graphic-2-2023.pdf (i-83beltway.com). Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following local alerts on X. More: PennDOT invites public to comment on I-83 South Bridge project PennDOT accepting unsolicited proposals from private sector through Nov. 10 This post has been updated to correct a district number. Thursdays announcement by Harrisburg Democratic state Rep. Patty Kim that she will be seeking a Republican-held state Senate seat kicks off one of what is expected to be three key contests in 2024 to control Pennsylvanias upper legislative chamber and potentially the whole state government. Kims campaign to flip Pa. Senate District 15, currently held by Republican John DiSanto, is also one of the final but possibly most significant ramifications of Pennsylvanias most recent redistricting process. The district Kim is running for is anticipated to be one of three along with District 37 in Allegheny County and District 49 in Erie County where next years state Senate action will be concentrated, given that they represent a chance for Democrats to create a tie in the 50-seat chamber, which currently has a 28-22 GOP majority. Our pathway to 25 and a tie-break is through those three districts, Tim Wagner, director of the PA Senate Democratic Campaign Committee, said Thursday, and were already seeing interest from national Democratic campaign groups in trying to gain the seats. Theres always a surprise, but yes I think both sides are going to be watching those three districts very carefully, said Sen. David Argall, R-Schuylkill County, this cycles chair of the PA Senate Republican Campaign Committee. Kim, who in 2012 first won the House district that now covers northern Harrisburg and part of the West Shore, has been described by Democrats as one of their candidates most well-positioned to bump off a Republican, due in large part to redistricting. First elected to a four-year Senate seat in 2016, DiSanto garnered 51.7% of the vote that year, and 51.6% during his 2020 re-election. But the new legislative maps that went into effect last year make another such victory more daunting for the GOP. The 15th District had comprised all of Perry County as well as northern Dauphin County, including northern Harrisburg. But the new map shifted that district to exclude much of its former territory, eliminating all of Perry, and instead including all of Harrisburg and additional portions of southern Dauphin. The result, according to numbers run through the online tool Daves Redistricting, is a new Senate District 15 that would have voted for Joe Biden over Donald Trump in 2020, 57% to 42%. We feel very good about the prospects here, Wagner said, adding that we couldnt ask for a better candidate given Kims track record and name recognition as a state representative, former Harrisburg City Council member, and former local TV news reporter. DiSanto has not formally announced a re-election bid and said in 2016 that he would only serve two terms. But Argall said Thursday that Republicans expected DiSanto to make a third effort. John DiSanto has already won two difficult elections. There were a lot of people who thought he cant win, but he won, Argall said. I know John has what it takes to serve four more years. If Democrats were to gain three seats, a tied state Senate would be an interesting proposition. Pennsylvanias constitution specifies that the lieutenant governor presides over the state Senate and may cast a tie-breaking vote but not for the final passage of a bill or resolution, or the adoption of a conference report, or concurrence with House amendments. This means that Democratic Lt. Gov. Austin Davis could break a tie on procedural votes to give Democrats control of the chambers schedule and committee membership, handing them the powers of a majority. But Democrats would need to recruit a single Republican to clear actual legislation. In addition to the prospective Kim-DiSanto contest, the path to an evenly split state Senate would involve PA Senate Districts 37 and 49. Both districts were adjusted in redistricting, although not as severely as District 15, and have historically changed partisan hands quite often. Sen. Dave Argall, R-Schuylkill County, says 'John DiSanto has already won two difficult elections. There were a lot of people who thought he cant win, but he won. I know John has what it takes to serve four more years.' Screenshot from Pa. Senate website The new District 49 was carried by Biden in 2020 by a margin of 2.4 percentage points although Republican Sen. Dan Laughlin has historically outperformed the partisan spread, winning re-election under the districts old lines by nearly 20 points in 2020. District 37, by contrast, had a 2020 Trump voter advantage of 1.3 points, and current first-term GOP Sen. Devlin Robinson bumped off Democratic incumbent Pam Iovino in a 52%-to-48% contest in 2020. Wagner said Democratic messaging will likely focus on the large number of major bills from a minimum wage increase to working-class tax cuts to gun safety rules that have been passed by the Democratic majority in the PA House of Representatives but which have been held up by the GOP state Senate. I think people understand the importance of having a Senate that actually wants to work and get things done, Wagner said. There are some bipartisan wins we could have had, Wagner noted, but current Senate GOP leadership has kept them from running. Conversely, Argall said, Republicans plan to stress that Democrats would spin out of control if they held both legislative chambers and the governors office, citing recent looting in Philadelphia as an example of Democrats obliviousness on basic safety. I dont think most voters want Pennsylvania to go the way of a super-liberal California or Massachusetts, Argall said. Wagner said Democrats plan to have candidates in place for the Erie and Allegheny seats in the next several weeks. Those candidates, and Kim, would first need to secure the party nomination in the 2024 primary, whose exact date is up in the air as the state legislature continues to discuss moving it. More: Maybe we should auction off Pa. Supreme Court seats; give the money to schools | John Baer The US Supreme Court notched big conservative wins. Its a key issue in Pennsylvanias fall election Gov. Josh Shapiros administration agreed to pay $295,000 in taxpayer funds to settle a sexual harassment complaint from a female former deputy secretary involving a former top aide in his office, according to documents obtained through the states Right to Know Law. The 14-page document, signed on Sept. 5, stipulated that neither the commonwealth nor the governors office would be held liable for any wrongdoing regarding the allegations she made against Shapiros former Secretary of Legislative Affairs Mike Vereb. The agreement contains a clause barring both sides from discussing the matter; however, it allows for the settlement to be released if there is a legal requirement, such as the Right to Know Law, to do so. The settlement reached through the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission mediation process closes the matter, barring any litigation or charges arising from the womans claims against the governors office. PennLive is withholding her name due to the nature of the allegations. The commonwealth confirms the existence of a settlement agreement but due to its terms, is unable to comment further on this agreement, said Shapiro spokesman Manuel Bonder. He further stated that in mediation, no party is required to settle claims but it is often in the best interest of both parties to do so. Further, a settlement requires both parties to agree to all of the statements, provisions and assertions contained therein. Mediation programs do not focus on the validity of the underlying claims but attempt to craft a settlement that all parties can agree on. Funding to pay the settlement will come in part out of the budget for the governors office but mostly out of the commonwealths self-insured liability program, according to administration officials. Sources familiar with resolving sexual harassment cases in both the public and private sectors say settlements can be an attractive option for a variety of reasons. It is a way to manage the risk given the uncertainty of an outcome if a case goes to court. It can be less damaging to reputations. Litigation can be time-consuming with cases taking no fewer than three years to reach a conclusion. Among others, protracted litigation can be costly. The former employee accused Vereb, a longtime Shapiro confidant, of subjecting her to lewd and sexually inappropriate comments and unwanted sexual advances during the few weeks that she worked for the administration. In the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission complaint filed in June, the woman said she was retaliated against when she complained to administration officials. She resigned in early March after 27 days, saying she couldnt continue working in that environment. The womans attorney, Charles Pascal of Armstrong County, confirmed the settlement but declined to comment further pursuant to the terms of the settlement. The settlement provides a $196,365 payment to the woman and $49,517 to each of the two law firms she had hired to represent her through this process. Mike Vereb, a former top aide to Gov. Josh Shapiro, resigned from his Cabinet level post in late September. (File/Shapiro transition team) Vereb, who declined comment for this story, resigned his $183,708-a-year Cabinet-level post in late September as the womans human relations commission complaint began being circulated with media outlets. The announcement of his departure from the governors office made no mention of the allegations, but focused on his role helping achieve Shapiros legislative accomplishments. The woman, who worked in the legislative affairs office, said in a statement attached to the Human Relations complaint that Verebs inappropriate behavior began shortly after she began working for the Shapiro administration. She cited instances where she said Vereb made inappropriate statements in staff meetings, including one in which she alleged he said that Sen. Katie Muth, D-Montgomery County, wanted to have sex with him. Muth called the insinuation the accuser made about her a degrading lie. A former staff member, who was at the meeting, said the sexual reference the woman attributed to Vereb never came out of his mouth. None of that came out of his mouth. I dont know where she got that from. The former staff member, who asked to remain anonymous out of concern for retribution, disputed other statements in the womans complaint, although the staffer said Vereb could be gruff and used profanities. That person did not recall seeing or hearing anything to suggest Vereb was pursuing a sexual relationship with his accuser. Earlier this month, Shapiro made his first public comments about the situation when responding to reporters question following an unrelated event. He said, The fact that this is a personnel matter, I cant comment on any specifics and thats really designed to be able to protect all parties involved in any matter. He further voiced his commitment to a healthy, safe, professional work environment for employees who work for his administration. He referred to his chief of staff, Dana Fritz, and General Counsel Jennifer Selber as two strong women who he said work daily to ensure that type of work environment is in place. Should anyone feel that were not meeting those standards, we have an independent robust professional process to allow people to come forward safely and have their concerns heard, Shapiro said. Thats something that Im committed to. The leaders in my administration are committed to. And that is something we adhere to in every case. Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Northampton/Lehigh counties, said after meeting with Shapiro along with other Democratic senators, she was very confident him and his administration is handling this as best as they can. The former staffer who spoke to PennLive said that shortly after the woman resigned, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission began scheduling interviews with staffers to vet her allegations. The EEOC claim then transitioned to the human relations commission for mediation. Shapiro further told Politico, I have a long and extensive track record of standing up for victims of sexual abuse, harassment. Several Republican and Democratic lawmakers have questioned his commitment to standing up for victims, noting he allowed Vereb to stay on the job for months after the allegations were made. Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland County, is among those who have been publicly critical of Shapiros handling of the matter. She said the governor handled the situation poorly and questioned how taxpayer funds are supporting this issue. When asked about that at recent public event, Shapiro responded, consider the source. Administration sources said the governor who as attorney general brought attention to the widespread and systemic cover-up of child sexual abuse by clergy across the Catholic church in Pennsylvania was referring to the Senate Republican leaders refusal to advance legislation to change the civil statute of limitations on childhood sexual abuse crime without bundling it with two priorities important to their caucus: voter ID and reforms to the states regulatory approval process. Sens. Kristen Phillips-Hill, R-York County, and Tracy Pennycuick, R-Montgomery County, condemned the Shapiro Administration for its lack of transparency about the matter arising from within the governors office. Ward indicated she might call a legislative hearing to look into sexual harassment allegations against Vereb. Her spokeswoman Erica Clayton Wright said, We are reviewing the matter with other Senate members and considering solution driven options, which may include a hearing. In the agreement, the governors office agrees to provide sexual harassment training to staff in both the governors Office of Policy and Planning and Office of Legislative Affairs. Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @JanMurphy. Smoke rises from inside an Israeli army position which was hit by Hezbollah fighters as seen from Tair Harfa village, a Lebanese border village with Israel, south Lebanon, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. The Canadian Armed Forces says it is getting ready for the possibility that it will need to help bring Canadians out of Lebanon, with Global Affairs Canada advising against all travel to that country. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Hassan Ammar BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. France pursues a policy of racism and Islamophobia, Muhammad Rabbani, managing director of the British independent human rights organization CAGE, said this at the international conference "Neocolonialism: human rights violations and injustice", Trend reports. He mentioned that the practice of blaming Muslims unites left-wing and right-wing political movements in France. "The offspring of Muslims are criminalized in France. France exemplifies a pattern of intentional protest suppression in which they seek to quiet criticism of existing racist and Islamophobic policies. In France, Muslim groups are held accountable for everything. Muslims are accused of a variety of offenses. Their freedom of expression is restricted, and females are not permitted to wear Muslim clothing to school," he added. Baku hosts the international conference "Neocolonialism: Human Rights Violation and Injustice," organized by the Baku Initiative Group on October 20. The Baku Initiative Group was established on July 6, 2023, by participants of the conference "Total Elimination of Colonialism" within the framework of the ministerial meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement under the chairmanship of the Republic of Azerbaijan. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. France exploits raw materials from African countries, spokesman for the Martinique Freedom Party, Luc Carole told reporters, Trend reports. "France is a colonizer. In the form of neocolonial rule, it not only colonizes but also fosters poverty in Africa. France, for example, uses the raw riches of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea, dominating them militarily and economically," he emphasized. According to him, although the UN says it is trying to achieve the final elimination of colonialism, this colonialism is supported by a state that calls itself a "country of human rights". Baku hosts the international conference "Neocolonialism: Human Rights Violation and Injustice" organized by the Baku Initiative Group on October 20. Baku Initiative Group was established on July 6, 2023 by participants of the conference "Total Elimination of Colonialism" within the framework of the ministerial meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement under the chairmanship of the Republic of Azerbaijan. From 7 - 13 October 2023 American alpinists Matt Cornell, Jackson Marvell and Alan Rousseau completed a highly impressive ascent of the North Face of Jannu (7710) in the Nepalese Himalaya. Their "Round Trip Ticket" is 2700m high, breaches technical difficulties up to M7 AI5+ A0, and was climbed in a radically different alpine style compared to the 2004 Russian Direct, with which it shares much terrain and which was established capsule style and with the use of fixed ropes by a determined Russian expedition led by Alexander Odintsov; the summit reached by Alexandre Ruchkin and Dmitry Pavlenko eventually netted the 2004 Piolet d'Or. Success now on this technically difficult outing comes after 2 previous failed attempts, the first by Marvell and Rousseau in 2021, the second by Cornell and Rousseau in 2022. Rousseau provides the details. Jannu, what a beautiful beast of a mountain! When did it catch your attention? I think I stumbled on the north face of Jannu on google earth something like a decade ago. Then I found out about the Russian 2004 line. But it was so far beyond what I could comprehend at that time. Then in 2020 Jackson and I were working in construction together in the Utah heat and he said we should climb in the Himalayas together. I showed him a picture of north face of Jannu, and we shook on it immediately. Prior to this year, you went twice before. Once in 2021 with Jackson, once in 2022 with Matt. How did those expeditions go? What did they teach you? That first year Jackson and I had low expectations. We were unsure if it would look too dangerous, be too cold to function, or just be too hard to try in an alpine style. We were pleasantly surprised and got to 7150m on our reconnaissance burn. We were so psyched seeeing the potential of the face. In 2022 Jackson had a family medical emergency and had to leave right after arriving in Kathmandu. That year it was super cold and windy, and Matt and I only made it to 6700m. The wind created too much hazard on the face. But we learnt that with near perfect conditions, we figured we could climb the face alpine style. This year you came as a team of 3. Did you change other tactics this year? The plan was the same as last year: we were committed to an alpine style push up the headwall on the north face of Jannu. How did you acclimatise? We went up and camped a few nights at around 6000 meters on the south aspect above camp. There is nice moderate walking terrain there. Then the climb proper. Can you tell us about it We had 5 bivouacs on the ascent and one on descent. Three of them were free hanging. The climb begins with a 1,000 moderate rock butresss that frees at 5.8. Then you move into a huge icefall before popping out on a glacial plateau. We camped in the Bergschrund at 5800m. On day 2 you cover a huge neve ramp from 60-90. That second night we camped in a huge glacial cave at around 6700m. On day 3 the terrain becomes harder and the altitude begins to catch up with you. We moved through lots of M5 AI4 sort of terrain to about 7100mm, where you emerge properly established on the headwall. Days 4 and 5 were spent climbing mostly sustained M6-7AI5 terrain, with the hanging bivies each night. On day 6 we wrapped around to the SW side of the mountain and finished the climb with some surpringly challenging climbing. The technical climbing only ceased about 100 meters below the summmit. How much gear and food did you have? That tent and those inflatable portaledges look small... How long did you envisage to be on the mountain? We brought 1.5 rack and 12 screws. A 9.0mm 60m rope and 6mm dyneema aramid hyper static glacier rope. We used two pods for three guys to cut weight, and we planned on a 6-7 day mission. One rope between the 3 of you? How were you guys climbing? We fix and follow. The leader climbs up and short fixes the line. Then the other two follow using a micro traxion, while the leader hauls they packs. Seriously? Yes. It hasn't failed us yet ;-) Was there a make-or-break moment? At the end of day 4 I led through a challenging cryptic block where we couldnt reallly see a clear passage. With some patience and solid encouragement from my climbing partners I was able to find my way through. After that we could see an escape where the terrain began to roll over. We still had a day of hard climbing ahead of us, on the headwall which proved challenging. You mentioned you encountered some of the most sublime climbing youve ever had up there. Yes, the climbing from 7,000-7500 meters blew our minds. It was what we had been searching for. Sustained steep climbing that was continually adventurous but rarely ever dangerously run-out. Then the summit A small snow fin with a lot of exposure.... You descended close to the line of ascent? Yes, we rapped a plumb line down the headwall compared to our line of ascent. But we were very close to ascent line. How much is new terrain, how much already climbed by the Russians in 2004? From 7000-7500m is new terrain. Any thoughts about that ascent almost two decades ago? We hold respect for what they did 20 years ago. But new things have come to light and we think its better to climb in alpine style. We wish that the 2004 line were void of fixed lines and protection. We feel as though its not possible to have a fair-means alpine style ascent given the pro left in-situ. This played into our decision to head right of Russian line. Yours was indeed a very different approach. How out there is that North Face? We felt like we had left the earth's orbit. We felt so far away from everything. Which is the point really, alpine style is the ultimate in our minds, and as a team we are really only interested in this style. Anything else just seems less authentic. Others have described this ascent in no uncertain terms as "visionary" and "maybe the best alpine climb done in the last few decades". How do you yourselves rate it personally? This climb represents a major step forward for our climbing and partnership. We are thrilled with our experience on Jannu, and excited about what it shows we can do together in the future. Jaka, Kevmath, Magnus & Gates Among Those Giving Away Seats to Upcoming NAPT October 20, 2023 Chad Holloway Executive Editor U.S. The North American Poker Tour (NAPT) is right around the corner at Resorts World in Las Vegas runs from Nov. 4-12, right before the Strip's first ever Formula 1 race. The packed series is highlighted by the $1,650 Main Event starting Nov. 6, a $1.5 million guaranteed no-limit hold'em tournament with unlimited reentries. A full NAPT schedule is available right here at PokerNews. Right now, several poker personalities in the poker world are giving fans and players an opportunity to win a seat in the NAPT Main Event for free! Next Gen Poker Signs With PokerStars US Ahead of NAPT Las Vegas Win a Seat Now Some in the poker community are hosting contests and challenges on social media. Heres a look at some opportunities you may want to take advantage of today. Road to the NAPT PokerStars players in the US and Ontario have an opportunity to win their way to Las Vegas to compete. The "Road to NAPT" promotion began on Oct. 13 and runs until Oct. 23 for players in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and New Jersey. There are many opportunities during the online series to win money and/or seats into the NAPT Las Vegas. In the US, on both PokerStars PA and PokerStars MI/NJ (shared liquidity site), are hosting a qualifier to the NAPT on Oct. 22 with a $300 buy-in event. Five players will receive $5,000 packages, which include an NAPT Main Event seat and the remaining cash that can be used for travel expenses to Las Vegas. In total, there are 35 events on the "Road to NAPT" schedule in the US, and 56 in Canada, along with numerous satellites. Click here for more details on the Road to NAPT! Sharelines Faraz Jaka, Kevmath, Nadya Magnus & Garry Gates are all giving away seats to NAPT. Another day, another $25,000 buy-in no-limit hold em tournament held at the PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) Cyprus. The fifth of such events at Merit Hotel Casino & Spa saw a field of 21 entries gather throughout the registration period, and was full of the best of the best, as usual. This time it was Aleksejs Ponakovs who came out ahead, winning $216,810 and of course a lovely PokerStars trophy. He defeated Daniel Smiljkovic heads up, who received $136,100 for his efforts. Meanwhile, $50,000 Super High Roller champion Juan Pardo and high-stakes phenom Leon Sturm also picked up cashes to divide the rest of the $504,210 prize pool. $25,00 NL Hold'em V Results Place Player Country Prize 1 Aleksejs Ponakovs Latvia $216,810 2 Daniel Smiljkovic Germany $136,100 3 Leon Sturm Germany $90,800 4 Juan Pardo Spain $60,500 Action of the Day Ponakovs was present from the very first hand dealt, along with the familiar names of Vicente Delgado, Adrian Mateos, Gha Iakobishvili, and Sam Greenwood. Many more high-stakes regulars would soon show up, and at the end of late registration, 15 unique players had made a total of 21 entries. Four spots got paid, but many of pokers greats would not make the final table, including Delgado, Mateos, and Greenwood, the latter of which finished in ninth place to be the final table bubble. Other names that were battling throughout the day but failed to make the final eight players were Kayhan Mokri, Mikita Badziakouski, Steve ODwyer, and winner of the previous $25,000 tournament at EPT Cyrpus Maher Nouira. Once seated at one table, it was Pablo Silva who fell first, quickly followed by Mikalai Vaskaboinikau, who was the only player to fire three bullets today. The jovial Iakobishvili then heralded the bubble phase when he lost a preflop all-in to then-chipleader Sturm. The bubble took quite a while, and due to the relatively even stacks, the chip lead changed with every double-up, seeing Sturm, Artur Martirosian, and Smiljkovic obtaining it at one point or another. Gha Iakobishvili The Final Phase After an hour of bubble play the average stack amounted to fifteen big blinds, and going all in seemed to be the only option for a lot of players. Eventually, this caused a three-way clash when Sturm open-jammed the button with the biggest stack remaining, and both Pardo and Martirosian called. Sturm ace-five made trips against both of the players ace-jack and he regained the chip lead while simultaneously bursting the bubble. It was Pardo who had more chips than Martirosian, so he picked up the min-cash of $60,500 while Martirosian was left empty-handed. Once in the money, the all-ins were quick and numerous. Smiljkovic immediately won a huge preflop flip against Sturm to obtain two-thirds of the chips in play and soon took the last few chips his fellow German was left with as well. Starting the heads up with a large chip deficit, Ponakovs battled back by winning the first preflop all-in of the heads up. Now with roughly even stacks, he took a big chip lead when he made a big value bet with a rivered full house, leaving his opponent with a mere nine big blinds. Those went in not long after, and Ponakovs ace-three held against the ten-eight of Smiljkovic to seal the victory. Daniel Smiljkovic Ponakovs had known a rough EPT Cyprus thus far, firing multiple entries in the high-stakes tournaments, of which three in the $50,000 Super High Roller, and only getting one min-cash in return until today. However, he rebounded in a big way today, taking home the $216,810 and the trophy that came with winning one of the $25,000 no-limit holdem tournaments at EPT Cyprus. Aleksejs Ponakovs That wraps up the PokerNews coverage of this tournament, but be sure to keep coming back to check out all of the high-stakes, mystery bounty, and Main Event action one can wish for. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print President Biden wrecked the Republican argument against Ukraine aid by pointing out that the money Congress allocates goes to buy American weapons to protect America. Biden said, From the outset. Ive said I will not send American troops to fight in Ukraine. All Ukraine is asking for is help, for weapons. The capability to push invading Russian forces off their land and the air defense system to shoot down Russian missiles before they destroy Ukrainian cities. Let me be clear about something. We send Ukrainian equipment sitting in our stockpiles and when we use the money allocated by Congress, we use it to replenish our own stores, our own stockpiles with new equipment, equipment that defeat that defends America and is made in America. Patriot missiles for air defense batteries made in Arizona, artillery shells manufactured in 12 states across the country in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas. Video: When Republicans oppose aid to Ukraine, they are actually opposing keeping America safe. They are also opposing all of those American jobs that come from weapons manufacturing in their districts and states. The United States isnt sending money to Ukraine. The United States is sending weapons so that the Ukrainians can defend themselves. Republicans who oppose aid to Ukraine are opposing keeping the American people safe, and any member who opposes American national security is violating their oath of office and does not belong in Congress. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) said that Trumps coup plot involved so many crimes at different levels that people like Sidney Powell are going to keep pleading out to avoid accountability. Raskin said on MSNBCs The Reid Out when asked about Powells plea deal: Well, you know, there were so many criminal offenses that were committed at so many different levels at the state level, at the federal level, by a lot of the key participants in these events, that it doesnt surprise me that they will start to plead out in the hopes of escaping real justice and accountability in the process. So there are lots of crimes that are obvious at this point. Its very clear that what was attempted on January 6th was a political coup. And that political coup was backed up by a violent insurrection that drove the House and the Senate out of our offices. But it had been taking place for many weeks. And at different levels. And I think that all of these offenses are coming to light. I feel proud of what we did on the January 6th select committee because even though we didnt have the power to prosecute anyone, we did have the power to tell the story, and its that story that set the factual predicate for the prosecutors to engage in prosecutions all over America now. Video: The bad news Jamie Raskin delivered to Trump was that Sidney Powells plea deal was just the beginning. As prosecutors work their way up the chain of command in the coup plot, the defendants will start to plead out and flip on Donald Trump. Prosecutors dont want Sidney Powell or Rudy Giuliani. Prosecutors around the country want the guy in charge who tried to overthrow the government. The person who prosecutors are ultimately attempting to convict is Donald J. Trump. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print If there was a moment today that is must-see, it is not in the Republican Civil War, but rather in the speech Katherine Clark gave. Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA) hammered Rep. Jim Jordan in a House floor speech, during which she nominated Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) for Speaker. Clark said of Jordan, The Republican nominee wants a national abortion ban with no exception for rape, incest, or the health of a mother. We want to make our own health care decisions in consultation with our families, our doctors, our faith not with Jim Jordan. Leader Jeffries has answered our call. But, the Majoritys nominee is disconnected disconnected from the American people and their values. MAGA extremism is designed to divide, and it has broken the Republican Party. Their nominees vision is a direct attack on the freedom and the rights of the American people. And hes got the record to prove it. Video clip of Clark: Democratic Whip Katherine Clark shows Democrats know why House Republicans are broken, "The majority's nominee is disconnected. Disconnected from the American people and their values. Maga extremism is designed to divide. And it has broken the Republican Party." pic.twitter.com/G0YoBqpyE5 Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) October 20, 2023 The Republican nominee has voted against health care for children, for veterans, even for 9/11 survivors. He has opposed lowering the cost of insulin repeatedly. He wants to cut Social Security and Medicare. Dont take it from me. It was raised on the other side of the aisle just this week as a selling point to make him Speaker. Over his 16 years in the House, the Republican nominee has never supported a Farm Bill. What does that mean? What does that mean? It means he has turned his back on farmers, on rural communities, and the 11 million children who go to bed hungry in this country. The Republican nominee wants a national abortion ban with no exception for rape, incest, or the health of a mother. We want to make our own health care decisions in consultation with our families, our doctors, our faith not with Jim Jordan. Enough extremism? Oh, wait, not yet done: The Republican nominee plotted to overturn the 2020 election, traffics in misinformation, and is a true threat to our democracy and our Constitution. Clark pointed out that the People expect both sides to work together, and its not too late for the Majority to pick a bipartisan path forward. I have had the privilege of working here in the Peoples House for almost 10 years. And, Ive gotten to know many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. And I know that you hear the same thing that I do: The American people expect us to work together on their behalf. It is not too late for the Majority to choose a bipartisan path forward to reopen the House. Take yes for an answer! Every day the Majority chooses to engage in a Republican civil war that is threatening their own Members instead of engaging with us in the work of the American people is a day that weakens this institution and the standing of our country. We need a Speaker who will govern through consensus not conflict. We need a Speaker worthy of wielding that gavel a leader who will defend democracy, not degrade it. More than ever, we need proven, patriotic, people-first leadership. And that is why I am proud to nominate Hakeem Jeffries for Speaker of the House. Jeffries got more votes for speaker than Jordan, each and every time. In the third round on Friday, Jordan received 194 votes, while House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries won 210 votes. If this country were truly a healthy democracy, Jeffries would be the speaker and we could go back to fighting about real things like how can we improve the ACA to work for more people instead of fighting for basic principles of democracy. But until that time, Democrats are the only grown ups in the room and they alone have been governing and prioritizing democracy. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Representative Scott Perry (R-PA) downplayed the threats being made against Republicans who oppose Jim Jordan for speaker, including threats being made against their wives. PERRY calls increased attacks and threats on Jordans opponents a red herring There are people out in the world that dislike us and threaten us. Thats nothing new. Its nothing new to any member of Congress. We all know it. That is another red herring. More on this: No one in this town seemed to mind the pressure campaign from all the lobbyists in January. But suddenly now they mind all the calls, and the emails and the texts, Mica Soellner of Punchbowl shared on Twitter. This is meant to convince holdouts to stop crying about people aligned with Jordan threatening their wives with molestation and harassment, and just get on with full-on mob violence, but seems likely to do the opposite. The argument is basic gaslighting: Hey, that prolonged campaign of death threats and harassment of your wives of those who arent voting for insurrectionist Jim Jordan for Speaker yeah, those are nothing but a red herring. It shouldnt be a surprise that the Chairman of the House Freedom Caucus doesnt see threats as a big deal. It was just 13 years ago that the Freedom Caucus used threats against lawmakers to try to stop Obamacare from being passed. That rhetoric resulted in the shooting of Rep. Gabby Giffords that killed six others and wounded 13 others during an outdoor constituent meeting. Nothing like then President Obama trying to offer affordable healthcare to the masses to really set off the freedom caucus. Trump didnt originate this kind of rule by mob violence for the modern day Republican Party. He just took the mantle from the House Freedom Caucus and Sarah Palin and he leveraged it in an attempted coup followed up by a deadly insurrection. Scott Perry played a key role in the attempt to steal the 2020 election, so the fact that he sees threats as just a part of being in Congress proves once again that he shouldnt be in Congress. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print The judge fined Trump in his New York civil fraud case, but the big news is that he has been told that future violations could mean prison time. Reuters reported: Donald Trump was hit on Friday with a $5,000 fine by a New York judge for violating a gag order barring the former U.S. president from disparaging court staff during a civil fraud trial in which he is accusing of unlawfully inflating his net worth to dupe lenders. Future violations by Trump could be punished by steeper fines and possible imprisonment, Justice Arthur Engoron said in an order. The judge noted that the violation appeared inadvertent, but added, Make no mistake: future violations, whether intentional or unintentional, will subject the violator to far more severe sanctions. The judge isnt making an exemptions for Trump not being able to keep his mouth shut or accidentally posting something, but lets be clear. Trumps violation of the gag order was not an accident. He was pushing the boundaries because Donald Trump hates boundaries. Five thousand dollars wont scare Trump, but potentially getting hit with prison time would. Trumps legal problems are why he is running for president. Trumps trials cant be separated from his presidential campaign, but the former president is mixing them together and using them to attempt to solve his problems. Donald Trump tried to push on his gag order and Judge Engoron pushed right back. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. French authorities are trying to hinder the work of human rights organizations, director of the British independent human rights organization CAGE Muhammad Rabbani told reporters, Trend reported. "I work for a human rights organization. During the OSCE conference, which was held in Poland, upon my arrival in the country, I was arrested by the Polish authorities. When asked "why?" the Polish authorities made it clear that they had instructions from France to that effect. Then I was deported from Poland," he said. He emphasized that such initiatives with alternative spaces where non-aligned countries can gather and discuss various topics are extremely relevant. "I consider the initiative taken today to present this conference extremely important and valuable. Countries that are not under the rule of the Western bloc can find a space, come together, and share their experiences and ideas on how to fight colonialism and its consequences today," he added. Baku hosts the international conference "Neocolonialism: Human Rights Violation and Injustice," organized by the Baku Initiative Group on October 20. The Baku Initiative Group was established on July 6, 2023, by participants of the conference "Total Elimination of Colonialism" within the framework of the ministerial meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement under the chairmanship of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Former Trump attorney Kenneth Chesebro has reached a plea deal with Georgia prosecutors and will testify against Trump. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported: Attorney Kenneth Chesebro one of the authors of a plan to use Republican presidential electors to overturn Democrat Joe Bidens victory in Georgia pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to commit filing false documents. He was originally charged with seven felony counts in the case. Chesebro will serve five years of probation, pay $5,000 in restitution to the state and serve 100 hours of community service. He also must write an apology letter to the citizens of Georgia and testify truthfully as the case proceeds. This is Trumps worst nightmare come to life. Two of his lawyers who worked closely with him on the coup plot have now taken plea deals and agreed to testify against him. Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebros decisions to take deals immediately put pressure on the next person up on the coup plot food chain which would be Rudy Giuliani. Given the amount of legal and financial trouble that Giuliani is facing, he should take a plea deal and testify against Trump, but the odds are that he wont. The information provided by Powell and Chesebro should be damning for Trump. They knew about the plot to overturn the Georgia election results and helped to strategize it. For his adult life, Donald Trump has gotten away with potentially breaking the law because the people around him stayed silent. That wall of silence has been torn down. Powell and Chesebro dont want to go to jail, so they are going to be talking to prosecutors, and that is the worst news possible for the failed former one-term president. Aiken, SC (29801) Today Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 36F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 36F. Winds light and variable. To rezone or not to rezone will be the question facing the Aiken City Council Monday evening. On the agenda for the 7 p.m. council meeting is the first reading of an ordinance approving the rezoning of the old Aiken County Hospital. Washington, D.C.-based developer Tracey Turner reached an agreement with Aiken County to purchase the old Aiken County Hospital, located at 828 Richland Ave., earlier this year. Turner said recently he wanted to acquire the property before the end of the year. His agreement with Aiken County calls for him to finish the purchase by March 31, 2024. If approved by the council, the property would be rezoned from Office to Planned Commercial. The ordinance would also approve a concept plan for the property. The concept plan calls for building 25 townhomes near the corner of Vaucluse Road and Barnwell Avenue. Four commercial buildings would be built around the existing hospital building. One would be located just west of the intersection of Vaucluse Road and Richland Avenue. Two buildings would be built between the existing hospital and Richland Avenue. And a fourth building would be built between the existing hospital and Morgan Street. A mixed use building would be constructed between the nurse's building and the hospital building. And an apartment complex and parking garage would be constructed behind the hospital building. Built in 1845, the William Ravenel House had been in the same family for nearly six decades. Read moreHistoric Charleston mansion on East Battery sells, just shy of the peninsula's record The Charleston region's ever-evolving restaurant and retail scene will affect 10 businesses over the next few weeks, including four food-and-beverage purveyors, a couple of bargain vendors, clothing and card shops, and a longtime jeweler. In West Ashley, a new bargain bin store is on the way. Where Ya Bin Charleston will open on at 8 a.m. Oct. 27 at 1610 Sam Rittenberg Blvd. The company offers overstocked goods and customer returns at declining discount prices over seven days until the store is sold out. It then restocks. An array of items can be found, from small appliances, electronics, health and beauty products to baby items, shoes, clothing and more. The store does not accept cash, and all sales are final. A testing station is available to see if an item works before it's purchased. According to the store, prices will be $14 on Fridays, $10 on Saturdays, $7 on Sundays, $5 on Mondays, $3 on Tuesdays, $1 on Wednesdays, and 25 cents on Thursdays until the store is sold out. A South Carolina man once described as a "serial fraudster" was back in a Charleston courtroom Oct. 19 to face new witness tampering and obstruction of justice charges linked to the crimes that sent him to prison two years ago. A federal grand jury indicted Cameron J. Banks last month on eight counts, including falsifying records that impeded a government criminal investigation. He appeared Thursday in U.S District Court, where a not-guilty plea was entered for him. Banks, who was recently transferred to the Charleston County Detention Center from a Pee Dee prison, didn't speak during the arraignment hearing except to respond to yes-or-no questions from U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker. He faces 10 to 20 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines for each charge, Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Limehouse said. According to the charges, Banks interfered with the prior probes into his criminal activities between mid-2018 and August 2019, the month he pleaded guilty. On at least six occasions, the government said, he instructed or convinced two female associates during that period to falsify documents and record fake telephone conversations that were filed as court exhibits and would later influence their testimony. Banks was romantically involved with both women, who were identified as A.R.A. and S.P. in the indictment. He also is accused of hindering the FBI's work by fabricating unspecified records or documents. The government didn't elaborate about what led it to file the new obstruction charges against Banks, who in the past went by the names Reggie Staggers and Roy Hamilton. Prosecutors have traced the former Georgetown-area resident's web of financial schemes to 2013, when he submitted a bogus loan application to buy a luxury Bentley sedan for $212,034. The following year, Banks went to work for a Pawleys Island dentist. According to charges filed in 2017, he stole his employer's identity and submitted falsified forms to a patient loan program to obtain at least $114,000, which was mostly transferred to his personal bank accounts. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. French Guiana remains financially and economically dependent on France, Maurice Pindard, a member of the Movement for Social Freedom and Decolonization of French Guiana, said at an international conference on "Neocolonialism: Violation of Human Rights and Injustice," Trend reports. He said that the gold in French Guiana is mined and exported to France. Its mining pollutes rivers and damages nature. "French companies are using our forests and our natural resources. For us, there is no income in our country. There is also cultural dominance. Education is based on French textbooks. They don't accept us as a nation; our human rights are trampled. That is why we are going to the streets and protesting," Pindard added. He emphasized that the Guians want to use their resources in French Guiana. For this, they need the support of independent countries. Baku hosts the international conference "Neocolonialism: Human Rights Violation and Injustice," organized by the Baku Initiative Group on October 20. The Baku Initiative Group was established on July 6, 2023, by participants of the conference "Total Elimination of Colonialism" within the framework of the ministerial meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement under the chairmanship of the Republic of Azerbaijan. RIDGEVILLE While paddling down the Edisto River on a moonlit kayak tour, Dan Riley first got the idea of hosting a nighttime music event by the waterway. "I thought it would be the perfect place to get people together and have a little music thing under the light of a full moon," Riley recalled. After mentioning the idea to a not-fully convinced property owner, because of ample unexpected flooding on his land, Riley put it on the backburner. That is until that same property owner called him a year and a half later to connect him with a place just two miles down the road the state park, which just so happened to have a new manager. Riley and the manager met, plans were formulated and the Edisto Blackwater Boogie Festival was the first event in South Carolina State Parks history to serve beer and wine to the public in 2019. This year, the festival will return for a fourth time to Givhans Ferry State Park; some of the funds raised from the event go back to preserving the Edisto River for future generations. The 2023 festival takes place Oct. 27-29, featuring more than 35 local and regional bands over the course of three days, alongside food trucks, artisans and vendors, yoga sessions and more. Overnight camping is highly encouraged for a truly immersive experience. Riley, who is a musician and songwriter himself, will be one of the acts playing this year's Blackwater Boogie with his project The Marvelous Misfits. "Part of the heart behind this is giving the local music community an opportunity to share their original music with the audience," said Riley. "We ask bands to play all original music when they come out, though a few sneak in covers here or there." STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CHARLESTON IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS FOR THE NINTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT CASE NO: 2023-CP-10-04132 AMENDED SUMMONS Charlene Cash Plaintiff, versus Mervan Cash, Richard Cash, George Cash, Jr., Debbie Fludd, Gwendolyn McCormick, Leroy John Cash, Loretta Cash, Ray Cash, Veronica Simmons, Denise Cash Pinckney, Janice Singleton, Cassandra "Yvette" Mickle, Walter Myers, Gerald Myers, Walter Myers, Jr., Kathleen Williams, LeMark Cash, Jr., and Keith Cash, if they be alive, and JOHN DOE and MARY ROE, adults, and RICHARD ROE and JANE DOE, infants, persons under disability or incompetence, if any, including those persons who might be in the military and covered under the Soldier's and Sailor's Relief Act, fictitious Names designating the unknown heirs, devisees, distributes, issue, executors, administrators, successors or assigns of the above named defendants, and also the following deceased persons: GEORGE CASH, ROSALEE CASH, JOHN CASH, VICTORIA CASH, WILBUR CASH, WALTER J. CASH, ANABELLE CASH, MARY LEE CASH SINGLETON, CHARLES SINGLETON, THELMA CASH MYERS, and LEMARK CASH, SR., and all other persons known or claiming any right, title, estate in or lien upon the real estate described in the Complaint herein, Defendants TO THE DEFENDANTS ABOVE NAMED: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the Complaint in this action, a copy of which is served upon you, and to serve a copy of your Answer to said Plaintiff on the subscriber at his office at One Carriage Lane, Building F, Charleston, South Carolina, 29407, all within thirty (30) days after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service, except as to the United States of America, if named, shall have sixty (60) days to answer after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service; and if you fail to do so, judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint. TO MINOR(S) OVER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE, AND/OR TO MINOR(S) UNDER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE AND THE PERSON WITH WHOM THE MINOR(S) RESIDES, AND/OR TO PERSONS UNDER SOME LEGAL DISABILITY: YOU ARE FURTHER SUMMONED AND NOTIFIED to apply for the appointment of a guardian ad litem within thirty (30) days after the service of this Summons and Notice upon you. If you fail to do so, application for such appointment will be made by the Plaintiff immediately and separately and such application will be deemed absolute and total in the absence of your application for such an appointment within thirty (30) days after the service of the Summons and Complaint upon you. YOU WILL ALSO TAKE NOTICE that should you fail to Answer the foregoing Summons, the Plaintiff will move for an Order of Reference of this cause to the Master-in-Equity or Special Referee in/for this County, which Order shall, pursuant to Rule 53 of the South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure, specifically provide that the said Master in Equity or Special Referee is authorized and empowered to enter a final judgment in this cause with appeal only to the South Carolina Court of Appeals pursuant to Rule 203(d)(1) of the SCAR, effective June 1, 1999. "A copy of the Amended Complaint was filed on September 13, 2023 and is available for inspection at the Charleston County Clerk of Court's Office, Charleston, SC". Charleston, South Carolina September 13, 2023 AMENDED NOTICE OF FILING TO THE DEFENDANTS ABOVE NAMED: YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the Amended Summons, Amended Complaint, and Amended Notice to Refer to Master-In-Equity, were filed with the Clerk of Court for Charleston County Court of Common Pleas on September 13, 2023. The purpose of this action is to declare the Plaintiff and certain Defendants to be the sole owners of the property which is the subject matter of this action and for an Order confirming the same pursuant to the request in Plaintiff's Amended Complaint. Charleston, South Carolina September 13, 2023 AMENDED NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF GUARDIAN AD LITEM TO THE DEFENDANTS ABOVE NAMED: YOU WILL PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that an Order dated September 13, 2023, and on file in the Office of the Clerk of Court for Charleston County, William H. Jordan, Esquire, whose office address is One Carriage Lane, Bldg. F, Charleston, South Carolina 29407, was appointed Guardian Ad Litem for such of the Defendants as may be minors, infants, persons in the military within the meaning of Title 50 United States Code commonly referred to as the Soldier's and Sailor's Civil Relief Act of 1940, incompetents or persons under other type of disability, unless the said Defendants, or someone in their behalf, shall procure the appointment of a Guardian Ad Litem on or before the thirtieth (30) day after the last publication of the Amended Summons herein. Charleston, South Carolina September 13, 2023 AMENDED NOTICE OF INTENTION TO REFER TO THE MASTER IN EQUITY FOR CHARLESTON COUNTY FOR FINAL DETERMINATION TO: THE DEFENDANTS ABOVE NAMED YOU WILL PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the undersigned attorney, on behalf of the Plaintiff herein, will move for an Order, thirty (30) days from the date of service, to refer the above entitled matter to the Master in Equity for Charleston County, with authority being vested in the Master in Equity to enter a Final Order and judgment in this case with any appeal from the Order of the Master being directly to the South Carolina Supreme Court. Charleston, South Carolina September 13, 2023 BRUCE A. BERLINSKY, P.A. By: s/Bruce A. Berlinsky Bruce A. Berlinsky, Esquire P.O. Box 206 (29402) One Carriage Lane, Bldg. F Charleston, SC 29407 Telephone: (843) 852-2202 Facsimile: (843) 852-4844 ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF AD# 2055181 COLUMBIA New Brookland Tavern is moving to Five Points. The decades-old bar and concert venue at 122 State Street in West Columbia is moving at the end of the year and will take over the Cotton Gin building on Harden Street in Five Points, according to NBT's head music booker, Carlin Thompson. The business will make its official move in December 2023, according to the post. Jon Sears, a co-owner of Cotton Gin, confirmed the leasing agreement. Thompson said the new location helps align the venue's goal in wanting to expand concert capacity and allow for separate spaces between the bar and the venue. Finding NBT's new home Within a week, Thompson said, Bruce Greenberg of Trinity Partners helped identify several vacant spots in Five Points and the Vista for NBT to move. "When we walked through Cotton Gin, there were just so many so many pros to the location," Thompson said. The move will allow NBT to expand and bring in bands that draw a bigger audience, and place NBT in the heart of a thriving nightlife district. "It just makes sense for us to just get closer to college kids closer, to Bar None, closer to people who like want to come," Thompson said. "It's really a very big struggle getting people across the bridge to come to shows." Thompson said Cotton Gin's iconic marquee will be rebranded to include the New Brookland Tavern sign currently affixed to the State Street location, and was a huge draw for advertising shows. Thompson said the second-story concert space will remain an all-ages space, but the downstairs bar will remain 21+ "to combat underage drinking." NBT will also keep an outdoor food window and look into a new system for wristbanding people, "so we can spot underage people easier." Thompson said the business plans to create a texting system for patrons to watch out for criminal behaviors like drugging or harassment. "We want to crack down on safety ... we want to make that a big initiative for us and bring something fresh to the area," Thompson said. The Greenville Humane Society's zoning application for a community space and low-cost clinic at 300 Airport Road will go before Greenville City Council on Oct. 23. The organization is asking for the parcel of land which sits just across the street from its current location at 305 Airport Road to be zoned as an industrial flex property to accommodate for community events it plans to hold. The Humane Society purchased the property in early 2023. The building was formerly home to a General Shale building materials store. According to the application, spay and neuter services, kids birthday parties, dog training events and public education events are all planned for the area. The zoning application was recommended for approval by Greenville's planning commission on Oct. 5. Cary Perkins, an architect for the project, told The Post and Courier in an email that amenities offered at the new space are "intended to serve the community and to make the GHS mission even more accessible." Perkins added that the space will "have some small kiosk-style retail areas" where community members on the Swamp Rabbit Trail can pop in to pick up a snack or other items. Green space on the property will be open for community members to use "much like a park." Perkins, who works at McMillan Pazdan Smith, said they aren't sharing renderings yet, but they will be unveiled when the humane society launches their capital campaign. Developments in Upstate business Earlier this week, the YMCA of Greenville broke ground on renovations to the Caine Halter Family YMCA Branch. Improvements to the facilities will include a retractable cover for the outdoor pool, refinished flooring for the gymnasium, remodeled field space and an outdoor pavilion with restroom facilities. Sun and Soil Plant Parlor announced on Instagram that it will reopen in its new location on Oct. 21 at 10 a.m. Owner Leyly Bagherof told The Post and Courier a few weeks ago that she hoped to reopen in her newly renovated space earlier this year but faced numerous construction and permit-related setbacks. Coffee, a vehicle for change Bridge City Coffee has come a long way since Ward conceived of the change-minded company in 2017. The concept began with a singular mission that has become as much a part of the narrative of the brand as the coffee: to grow a better community. Bridge City is doing that through its hiring model, which is focused on engaging those who are unemployed or underemployed, providing a meaningful path to stability financially, mentally and emotionally. Winning such awards is something Ward said he told his staff is important to set a "standard of excellence" both within and without the industry. Were not just this shop that tries to do good and the product is just so-so," he said. "We have to have the best product also, so no one in the industry has an excuse not to treat their people better. Bridge City works with local non-profit partners for hiring. Currently, 25 percent of Bridge Citys staff is made up of those with, as Ward explained, barriers to employment. It could mean lack of housing, poverty or lack of financial and mental support. Bridge City has worked hard to create a seamless operation whereby the mission is felt but is interwoven in a way that it is not overarching. In addition to strategic staffing, Bridge City sources carefully, focusing on paying above-market value for quality coffee. At the heart of what I set out to do and believed could happen, and what I have said regularly even in the throes of earlier this year, is if people understand their value, we have done what we set out to do, Ward said. And, that is happening without me being directly involved, and that is the dream come true is can something grow beyond the creator of any business. Can it grow beyond the person that had the idea. Since opening its flagship cafe at 1520 Wade Hampton Blvd., Bridge City has opened two more, one in Travelers Rest and one at The Intersection inside First Presbyterian Church in downtown Greenville. The company also has a roastery in Waco, Texas. Murals are a beautiful addition to any town. Many years ago, murals graced the side of several businesses, but now are just a memory, being painted over or simply vanishing over time. A new one in Kingstree has earned the Williamsburg HomeTown Image Award. Read moreMural gains Image Award for the Town of Kingstree There are two kinds of community news editors in the world: those who do about 90 percent of their work within the four walls of an office and those who pound the pavement. Read moreWhy most of us are epic fails at public speaking SUMMERVILLE Nearly three years to the day, there's still no resolution to a terrible traffic crash that destroyed a family and heightened a community's concerns about road safety. In October 2020, Meredith Freeman, a 74-year-old retired Flowertown Elementary School teacher, was planning on building a home in the Del Webb Nexton community. She was driving with her son and daughter-in-law, Chad and Andrea Freeman, after looking over floor plans and signing paperwork. All three were killed when Joshua Wensells vehicle collided with theirs. Wensell sustained minor injuries from the crash and was charged with three counts of reckless homicide in 2020. According to 9th Circuit Solicitor Scarlett Wilson, the case was continued from the October trial docket due to a personal health emergency on the defense side. The case wont go to trial until early 2024, she wrote in an email to The Post and Courier. Tom Conry, who has lived in Del Webb since late 2018, said its always been difficult to traverse Nexton Parkway. He and some other residents had gone before Berkeley County Council in 2019 voicing their concerns for how dangerous it is for people to cross that road. A light at the intersection of Nexton Parkway and Brighton Park Boulevard where the collision took place was installed in early 2022 after several Del Webb residents raised concerns about accidents, even after the Freemans were killed. Joel Arenson, another Del Webb resident, said heavy traffic makes Nexton Parkway especially perilous, and hes worried about how traffic might worsen once the planned grocery stores Harris Teeter and Publix are built. WALTERBORO The publics access to jailed defendants recorded phone calls is facing another legal challenge as a man accused of massacring a family is seeking to prevent the release of his jailhouse tapes. Ryan Lenard Manigo, 33, is the latest incarcerated defendant in South Carolina whose conversations are of interest to the media. Authorities contend that on the night of July 2, Manigo broke into a familys Green Pond home, stabbed the residents and set fire to the house. He is charged with murder in the killings of six people, including his 7-year-old daughter. The battle over the public's access to recorded jail calls reveals a conflict of interest between those who are charged with crimes and jailed who are presumed innocent and have few alternatives to communicate with the outside world and the public's right to information. The legal issue highlights how courts are reacting in real time to journalists' use of the state's open records law. It could remain legally murky until the state Legislature weighs in or an appellate court issues a ruling that sets precedent. The mass killing in Green Pond, a small community 40 miles west of Charleston, left a wave of grief and anger in its wake. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. Some countries continue to pursue colonialism. Among those, the foremost one is France, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in his address to the participants of the "Neocolonialism: Violation of Human Rights and Injustice" international conference, Trend reports. "Overall, most of the bloody crimes of the colonialism history of mankind were committed by none other than France. France had occupied tens of countries in Africa, Southeast Asia, the Pacific and Latin America, plundered their resources, and for many years oppressed their peoples while perpetrating numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity. The French troops subjected hundreds of thousands of civilians to ethnic cleansing based on their ethnic and religious affiliation. Throughout 30 years in the XX century, France had conducted nearly 200 nuclear tests in French Polynesia and 17 nuclear tests in Algeria. The dire consequences of those tests have, to this day, affected Polynesia and the Algerian people. In response to the appeals by the multitude of organizations, it is imperative to evaluate the repercussions of the nuclear tests and disburse appropriate compensations," President Ilham Aliyev said. A seventh South Carolina man was convicted in federal court for his role in a cockfighting and gambling ring, capping off a case that brought fresh attention to an illicit blood sport with a rich history in the Palmetto State. The federal animal cruelty case offered insight into the varying motivations pride, family tradition and money that inspired men to descend in March of 2022 on a sprawling rural property in Ridgeville and exhibit chickens to fight each other with gaffs in a makeshift arena. Animal control authorities euthanized more than 100 birds as a result of the derby. In all, 32 people were charged in state court with a misdemeanor. The federal government brought charges against seven men who prosecutors contend were the leaders of the animal fighting and gambling venture. A jury in Charleston on Oct. 19 found Roosevelt Curry guilty of exhibiting an animal for fighting a federal felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The 68-year-old North Augusta man entered eight birds into the fight, according to trial testimony. Curry was the only defendant in the federal case who did not plead guilty. His co-defendants, who entered into plea agreements with the government, testified against him at his trial in the hopes that they receive leniency at sentencing. Jurors, who deliberated for about two hours, found Curry not guilty of conducting an illegal gambling business and conspiracy. Conducting an illegal gambling business requires that the venture interfere with interstate commerce. The defendant's attorney, Charlie Cochran, portrayed the cockfight as a local enterprise, noting that the co-conspirators all traveled within South Carolina. He also cast doubt on why the federal government decided to bring charges against his client when a score of other attendees were not federally indicted. A school bus driver has been arrested on allegations she physically abused an 11-year-old Charleston County student with special needs. Charleston County sheriff's deputies arrested Erinn Shalena White on Oct. 18 on charges of unlawful conduct toward a child and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. School and bus security cameras captured the 53-year-old woman earlier this month smacking an 11-year-old boy while he was alone on her bus, according to arrest warrant affidavits. She also is accused of illegally encouraging his peers to assault him, including a 12-year-old who slapped the victim twice in the face. The Summerville woman was at the time responsible for transporting special needs children to Camp Road Middle School on James Island, county officials said. The defendant has a history of criminal convictions. Charleston police charged her in 2016 with shoplifting enhancement, which means there were two previous convictions within the past decade. Her case was resolved in 2019 after she completed mental health court, court records show. Charleston County School District contracts with First Student to provide bus driver services to students. The Ohio-based company did not respond to requests for comment about White's employment status or if the company was aware of her criminal and mental health history. CCSD spokesman Andy Pruitt said the defendant no longer drives Charleston County students. "Once school and district staff were made aware of the matter, the district requested the First Student driver to be removed from the pool of drivers," he said. "We have fully cooperated with law enforcement throughout the investigation." Pruitt said that First Student employees who drive for Charleston County School District must pass background checks, though he said he was not immediately aware of the details of the background checks. Law enforcement opened an investigation into White after receiving a report of an Oct. 3 incident on her school bus. JENKINSVILLE The tiny town of Jenkinsville, once on the brink of dissolution, got a reprieve. Days after it was believed the population had fallen below the 50-person mark needed to keep its recognition as a legitimate municipality, an emergency count and review by state authorities found the numbers were better. Instead of the 40 residents recorded in the 2020 census for the Fairfield County burg, the new population figure is 83 people based on a list of names and addresses Mayor Greg Ginyard compiled by hand. "We had to do what was right, and what was right to do was a recount," Ginyard said Oct. 19. The Secretary of State's Office then issued a letter to Ginyard confirming Jenkinsville would not be removed from its list of chartered municipalities after state officials verified the addresses the mayor provided to show the town was in compliance with the little known 50-person state law. "Based on this information, it appears the population of the town of Jenkinsville is over fifty inhabitants, and that S.C. Code of Laws 5-1-100 is not presently applicable," Secretary of State Mark Hammond wrote. Ginyard said he felt "great" that the town would remain incorporated and that he never worried about its status. The confusion came from an inaccurate count in the 2020 census, he said, which was conducted during the pandemic when it was more difficult to reach people. "Ain't no census you did in 2020 was correct because we were in a pandemic," he said. "It's all good. We didn't panic." Jenkinsville's status came into question only last week as one of two South Carolina municipalities whose withered populations triggered a state population law declaring the certificate of incorporation will be forfeited and void should their inhabitants drop below 50. Their status was part of a Post and Courier examination of ghost towns in South Carolina tied to shrinking populations in rural parts of the state. Patch Whisky has been all around the United States and Canada painting murals in different cities. The artist and Princeton, West Virginia, native is now using the city of Goose Creek as his muse and is in charge of painting the citys newest mural at 225 Red Bank Road. Read moreArtist leaves mark on mural CHESTERFIELD Chesterfield County will welcome a slate of solar farms and $280 million in investment after County Council members approved tax breaks for two separate companies planning three different projects. Officials said it was a good deal for the county. For our county, thats very substantial, Chesterfield County Attorney Heath Ruffner said of the investment. In return, the county is providing the companies Pinegate Renewables and Oakhurst Energy with tax breaks. Instead of property taxes, the companies will pay a set fee for each project every year for the next 30 years. For Project Blue Granite, on 796 acres, Pinegate Renewables will pay the county $192,000 per year for the first 10 years and $168,000 per year for years 11 through 30. For Project Delson, on 667 acres, Oakhurst Energy will pay the county $153,600 per year for the first 10 years and $134,400 per year for years 11 through 30. And for Project Rango, on 797 acres, Oakhurst Energy will pay the county $191,744 per year for the first 10 years and $167,776 per year for years 11 through 30. The three investments dont come with any permanent jobs, but that may be a bonus for Chesterfield County, officials said. The companies wont strain local services such as schools or housing as they would if new employees were coming to town. It is a good investment in the sense that it will not cost the county, Chesterfield County Economic Development Director Libby Lear said. Ruffner said the county would have seen little to no tax revenue from the privately owned properties that the solar companies will lease for their installations. Thats because the properties are all agricultural. Most of the new funding will go straight to the county, while some will be set aside for economic development and other taxing entities in the area, such as school districts. The two companies decision to invest in three solar farms in Chesterfield County at the same time is purely coincidental, Ruffner said. The projects are coming online as solar becomes a more popular industry in South Carolina. The Biden administration has invested heavily in solar farms, and rural areas such as the Pee Dee are particularly attractive for solar companies looking for wide swaths of available acreage. COLUMBIA South Carolina solicitors will now be required to give the state 10 days' advance notice before filing a motion to reduce a convicted inmates' sentence. The move, prompted by Gov. Henry McMaster, comes in direct response to the controversial and quiet release of convicted killer Jeroid Price this year by retiring Richland County Circuit Judge Casey Manning a disclosure that led to a near three-month manhunt by state law enforcement all the way to New York City. In an Oct. 19 letter to the state's solicitors, McMaster said those prosecutors must notify Attorney General Alan Wilson's office 10 days in advance of filing any early release motion to ensure their legality. South Carolina law specifically prohibits the early release of any convicted killer sentenced to the state's minimum sentence of 30 years. But Price, who received more than three decades behind bars for the murder of 22-year-old Carl Smalls more than 20 years ago, was ultimately released from prison 16 years early. The order came following a closed-door hearing without the knowledge or input of the victim's family or the South Carolina Department of Corrections, a direct violation of state law. The early release agreement was later voided by the state Supreme Court, which ruled the decision and the secretive manner in which it was conducted violated state law. ROCK HILL Florida governor and Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis stopped in Rock Hill for a town hall, where Israel was at the center of the discussion early and often. Hours after speaking in Anderson, DeSantis arrived after 5 p.m., gave a speech and answered questions in a tightly packed ballroom at the VFW hall near downtown Rock Hill. Shortly after attendees sat down, DeSantis dug into the Israel-Hamas war, where thousands of people have died since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7. He criticized President Joe Biden's decision to send $100 million in relief to Gaza and outlined how he would handle possible refugees. "My policy is very simply," he said. "The number of people that we will accept from the Gaza Strip when I am president is zero." In recent days, DeSantis has traded jabs with former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who is also running for president, over admitting Palestinian refugees following the Israel-Hamas war. He didn't mention Haley by name, but doubled down on his comments that the U.S. should not support refugees from Palestine. "It is not in our interest, not in your interests as Americans, for us to be importing the theologies of middle east into the United States," he said. "Those Arab countries should take anybody Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi Arabia." Meanwhile, DeSantis continued to tout his decision to evacuate Floridians from Israel with flights. Last week, he signed an executive order prompting multiple evacuation flights from Israel to Florida, though questions have been raised over how many Floridians actually arrived and the cost to taxpayers. In Rock Hill, he claimed that the state had brought over 200 people from Israel this morning. Later during the in the town hall, in response to a question, he said that he would not send U.S. military members to Israel. SPARTANBURG The family of a schizophrenic man who was killed by a Spartanburg County sheriffs deputy held a press conference Oct. 20 protesting Attorney General Alan Wilsons decision not to press charges. Darius Holcomb had only a barbecue fork, according to the attorney general's office, and was being attacked by a police dog in his room in his mothers home when he was shot dead by a deputy the night of Feb. 2, 2023. Officers were there to serve him with warrants from a previous incident. I wake up every day and go to bed every night talking to my child, telling him goodnight and telling him good morning, said Darius mother, Terria Holcomb. I know in my heart that wont nobody be prosecuted for this. But at the end of the day, you dont have to answer to me. Youve got to answer to God. The attorney general's office and Spartanburg Sheriff's Office didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. After the shooting, the Spartanburg sheriffs office issued a media release claiming Darius Holcomb had threatened officers with a knife and that he was shot after he began stabbing a dog. Wilsons office said in an opinion announcing the charging decision that Holcomb had been armed with a barbecue fork a SLED search of the property turned up no knife and that the officer fired his weapon because he was in fear for his life. The family and their attorney, who were able to view body camera footage of the shooting, dispute that Darius was a threat. The Post and Courier has not viewed the footage. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. Macron's policy is a policy of new colonization, the representative of the commune of Lifou in New Caledonia, Pierre Gaez said at an international conference on "Neocolonialism: Violation of Human Rights and Injustice," Trend reports. "In the future of our country, development decisions should be made by us and the institutions that we have created. France has deprived us of the opportunity for freedom, and does not want to recognize our independence. Macron's policy, which is currently being carried out in France, is a policy of colonization," he said. He said that the goal of New Caledonia is to gain independence from France. Baku hosts the international conference "Neocolonialism: Human Rights Violation and Injustice," organized by the Baku Initiative Group on October 20. The Baku Initiative Group was established on July 6, 2023, by participants of the conference "Total Elimination of Colonialism" within the framework of the ministerial meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement under the chairmanship of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Its been a few days since we had a briefing from IDF Lt. Col. (reserve) Jonathan Conricus. He has been working overtime to keep up with media appearances apart from the updates he was providing daily. He returned to catch us up early this morning with a briefing in the update below. OPERATIONAL UPDATE: Debunking Hamas fake news with IDF Spokesperson @JConricus. https://t.co/1mWmcibn4o Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 19, 2023 He also returned to ABC News Live Prime for an interview with anchor Linsey Davis. Davis does not appear to understand that the Palestinian Health Ministry is Hamas or even to keep up with the news generally. Conricus is at his best in his appearance with her below. Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, IDF spokesperson, on the state of the Israel-Hamas conflict: "The best and swiftest way to prevent loss of life in Gaza would be for the terrorist organization Hamas to surrender unconditionally, return our hostages and put an end to the fighting." pic.twitter.com/Kn3vAQbPpl ABC News Live (@ABCNewsLive) October 18, 2023 Conricus also posted this clip from Sky News. What is wrong with Sky News? The host presents as a sort of Monty Python parody of sniveling incomprehension (to put it politely). Listen to the first question I got on @SkyNews, blaming Israel for the fact that Palestinians were sheltering in a hospital, as if we started this war or wanted it!! Classic old-school Israel-blaming. pic.twitter.com/tI8AVzfqSm Jonathan Conricus (@jconricus) October 19, 2023 CAMERA expands on the clip above in the X/Twitter post belwo. News organizations are headlining Sidney Powells guilty plea in the Georgia case in which she is a co-defendant with Donald Trump as if it were significant news. It isnt, except, of course, to Ms. Powell. The Georgia indictment accuses Trump and a number of others of conspiring to overturn the apparent result of the 2020 election in Georgia. I wrote about the indictment in detail here. The problem with the indictment is that using legal means to try to reverse the apparent result of an election is not illegal. In fact, it may well be praiseworthy. It happens all the time; that is how Al Franken, for one, became a senator. I wrote that there is only one illegal act alleged in the indictment, and it does not involve Donald Trump. That act was breaking into a voting machine or other voting equipment in Coffee County for the purpose of trying to prove voter fraud. So I was curious to see what Powell actually pled guilty to. Sure enough, the only charge to which she pled guilty was illegally accessing the Coffee County voting equipment. Prosecutors have recommended a sentence of six years probation and $9,000 in fines and restitution. CNN, always hopeful, thinks the net is closing on Trump: This is a really big breakthrough for the prosecutors, CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig said on News Central.' No, it isnt. President Biden slurred his way through a 15-minute address from the Oval Office last night. I have posted the video below. The White House has posted the transcript here. Insofar as it addressed the Hamas-Israel war, Bidens remarks can be further explicated by the transcript of his comments to reporters on Air Force One when it stopped for refueling at Ramstein Air Force Base. The White House has posted that transcript here. On the eve of World War II in 1939 the British Ministry of Information urged citizens Keep Calm and Carry On. Since our disgraceful exit from Afghanistan the Biden approach is something like Embalm and Yammer On. Last night Biden yammered on. In the immediate aftermath of the worst mass murder of Jews since the Nazis were vanquished, Biden yammered on. He talked about himself. He talked about Ukraine. Indeed, his comments on Ukraine predominated. Highlights of the yammering relevant to Israels war: I also spoke with President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority and reiterated that the United States remains committed to the Palestinian peoples right to dignity and to self-determination. The actions of Hamas terrorists dont take that right away. He forgot to mention Abbass support of Palestinian terrorism via the pay-to-slay program. Something should be taken away. Biden mentioned Iran. This is just pathetic: Iran is is supporting Russias U- in Ukraine, and its supporting Hamas and other terrorist groups in the region. And well continue to hold them accountable, I might add. Irans forces in the region continue to demonstrate that Iran is not deterred. They read Bidens yammering as full of stupidity and weakness, signifying appeasement. Speaking of stupidity: Look, at the same time, President [Prime Minister] Netanyahu and I discussed again yesterday the critical need for Israel to operate by the laws of war. That means protecting civilians in combat as best as they can. The people of Gaza urgently need food, water, and medicine. Yesterday, in discussions with the leaders of Israel and Egypt, I secured an agreement for the first shipment of humanitarian assistance from the United Nations to Palestinian civilians in Gaza. If Hamas does not divert or steal this shipment these shipments, were going to provide an opening for sustained delivery of lifesaving humanitarian assistance for the Palestinians. And as I said in Israel: As hard as it is, we cannot give up on peace. We cannot give up on a two-state solution. Give it up, you pitiful moron. Speaking of deterrence, Biden seeks to deter Israel: When I was in Israel yesterday, I said that when America experienced the hell of 9/11, we felt enraged as well. While we sought and got justice, we made mistakes. So, I cautioned the government of Israel not to be blinded by rage. In a sense, this is utterly patronizing. Israel is engaged in a war of self-defense. It seeks to eliminate Hamas. In another sense, Bidens comment is worse than patronizing. It implies that the elimination of Hamas is driven by rage rather than self-preservation. Speaking of yammering on: The United States and our partners across the region are working to build a better future for the Middle East, one where the Middle East is more stable, better connected to its neighbors, and through innovative projects like the India-Middle East-Europe rail corridor that I announced this year at the summit of the worlds biggest economies. More predictable markets, more employment, less rage, less grievances, less war when connected. It benefits the people it would benefit the people of the Middle East, and it would benefit us. When it comes to Israel, we can infer that its all about Ukraine and Islamicphobia (sic). Is there anyone who would be persuaded of anything by this bucket of warm spit? Persuaded of anything other than Bidens misdirected malice? PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-20 15:02:46 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 417 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / October 20, 2023 / Auction.io , a leading B2B SaaS provider of auction and e-commerce solutions, is proud to announce a substantial capital infusion that will propel its aggressive growth plans. The investment, sourced from a group of prominent investors and Venture Capital funds, including Agya Ventures, Adam Neumann (166 2nd Financial Services), Liquid 2 Ventures, Sam Parr (founder of The Hustle), SRM Development, and more, underscores the confidence in Auction.io's innovative technology and market potential.Since its establishment in October 2021, Auction.io has been self-sustaining through internally generated cash flows. The new capital infusion will enable accelerated expansion and capitalize on the company's cutting-edge technology, which leverages machine learning and AI to enhance the auction experience for both buyers and sellers.This funding will empower Auction.io to expedite growth across key verticals, including returns processing, automotive, collectibles, animals, real estate, and more. Additionally, it will support marketing initiatives and enable the scaling of its workforce to meet surging demand for its auction solutions. Auction.io offers sellers a platform to sell faster, secure more bids, and exercise greater control, all while reducing costs. Sellers can also set up their auction platforms and sell products concurrently on Auction.io , maximizing their proceeds.Rajesh Rajaram, CEO of Auction.io , expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "We are thrilled to announce our seed funding, which validates the idea behind Auction.io , initiated in October 2021. Having secured capital from top venture capitalists reaffirms the American dream is alive and well. We are resolutely committed to executing our ambitious growth strategy, making this journey exciting for our investors, employees, and customers." Auction.io remains dedicated to serving the automotive and returns processing industry, where it has seen remarkable success by offering tailored solutions to meet industry-specific demands. Simultaneously, the company continues to innovate in the realm of live video auctions, utilizing cutting-edge technology to deliver an unmatched auction experience. With a relentless focus on growth, Auction.io is poised to redefine the future of returns processing (Reverse Logistic), automotive, collectibles, animals, real estate, and other categories, creating an efficient and seamless marketplace for all participants.About Auction.io Founded in October 2021, Auction.io is a Dallas, Texas-based B2B SaaS solution company specializing in providing customizable single and multiple vendor e-commerce auction marketplaces in the U.S. and globally. For more information, please visit www.auction.io For media inquiries, please contact:Cole Randallcole@ auctionsoftware.com972-200-5516 Contact InformationCole RandallMarketing Leadcole@ auctionsoftware.com972-200-5516 SOURCE: Auction.io PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-20 21:55:15 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 425 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 20, 2023 / Bacardi Limited continues to change lives and help build the next generation of bartenders through its Shake Your Future program. In Bermuda, where the program launched earlier this year, the program has led to the win of the latest Taste of Bermuda Cocktail Competition. Kierra Lee, a student of the inaugural Shake Your Future Bermuda program, seized the top prize in the Taste of Bermuda: Set The Bar Cocktail Competition. Kierra's remarkable victory stands as a testament to her exceptional talent and dedication, making her the first female champion in the competition's ten-year history. She captured the hearts of judges and audiences with her innovative cocktail creation, 'Papas Dream' inspired by her grandfather and made with GREY GOOSE Essences Strawberry & Lemongrass, ST-GERMAIN elderflower liqueur and sweet flavors including yuzu extract.Shake Your Future, a program originally created by Bacardi in 2018 in France, has since expanded its reach around the globe to include Italy, Germany, UK, India, and South Africa. This pioneering program provides free professional bartender training to unemployed young adults, with a commitment to extending the same opportunities to 10,000 individuals globally by 2030. In Bermuda, the program was launched in February 2023, in collaboration with the Bermuda Government's Department of Workforce Development.The inaugural Bermuda cohort saw seven participants embarking on a transformative ten-week journey. This program included four intensive weeks of training at the European Bartending School in London, where they earned their international bartender certification. Upon their return to Bermuda, participants continued to refine their skills, focusing on personal branding and marketing, and embarked on a valuable four-week work placement with some of Bermuda's top bars and restaurants.Kierra Lee's unwavering commitment and determination throughout this journey ultimately led her to secure a permanent position at one of Bermuda's top restaurants. Her extraordinary journey culminated in her participation in the Taste of Bermuda: Set The Bar Cocktail Competition, whereBacardi has announced the second cohort of Shake Your Future this November, offering more aspiring talents, like Kierra, the opportunity to excel in the art of mixology. Kierra Lee's journey serves as a powerful testament to the transformative influence of mentorship and support that the Shake Your Future program provides.Top of FormTo find out more about Shake Your Future, visit: https://www.bacardilimited.com/esg/shakeyourfuture/ Bacardi Shake Your Future Graduate Kierra Lee - Photo credit Donovin SeymourView additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Bacardi Limited on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: Bacardi LimitedWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/bacardi-limited Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Bacardi Limited PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-20 16:05:19 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 561 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Tom Walker, CEO, Among the Most Exceptional Entrepreneurs at 2023 Builders and Innovators SummitVIRGINIA BEACH, VA / ACCESSWIRE / October 20, 2023 / Today DroneUp announces that Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) has recognized Tom Walker, CEO of DroneUp, as one of the Most Exceptional Entrepreneurs of 2023 at its Builders and Innovators Summit in Healdsburg, California.Goldman Sachs selected Walker from multiple industries to be honored at the two-day event. Walker is the Founder and CEO of DroneUp, a leading autonomous drone delivery company which tackles last-mile delivery across multiple industries, including medical, food and retail. Prior to starting DroneUp, Tom served as an Officer in the U.S. Navy for almost 17 years, pioneering military and government digital reform through extensive re-programming and web enablement of computer systems to support both U.S. and International Special Forces. He has also served as an advisor to the White House on technology innovation and its impact on the emerging workforce."I'm honored that Goldman Sachs has recognized the work the entire DroneUp team is doing," said Walker. "Last mile delivery is facing a variety of existential risks from increased carbon emissions to outdated technology and rising labor costs. Autonomous drone deliveries provide an affordable and scalable solution to businesses by reducing traffic and increasing speed of delivery, ultimately benefiting the consumer. Our goal at DroneUp is to further enable last mile delivery by providing a solution in which essential goods can be transported by drone quickly, easily and in a cost effective manner. From medical supplies to food and other crucial goods, our passion for drone technology is second to none. We're proud of our efforts and to be recognized by Goldman Sachs for our work." "We're delighted to recognize Tom Walker as one of the most exceptional entrepreneurs of 2023," said David Solomon, Chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs. "Like everyone in this year's class, Walker has been a visionary in his field, pushing forward innovation and redefining markets. We are excited to harness Goldman's convening power to bring together these dynamic leaders and hear their insights." In addition to honoring the most exceptional entrepreneurs, the Summit consists of general sessions and clinics led by seasoned entrepreneurs, academics and business leaders as well as resident scholars.About DroneUpDroneUp is a pioneering autonomous drone delivery company that specializes in providing innovative and efficient solutions for last-mile delivery. DroneUp's proprietary autonomous technology is integrated with its ground infrastructure to provide affordable and scalable last-mile delivery. With a commitment to utilizing cutting-edge technology and a customer-centric approach, DroneUp is revolutionizing the way goods are transported, making delivery faster, safer, and more cost-effective.Founded in 2016, DroneUp is headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia. DroneUp provides drone delivery service in 34 locations across six states for the #1 retailer in the world, Walmart, Inc.For more information: https://www.droneup.com Press related questions about DroneUp, please contact Escalate PR at droneup@ escalatepr.com About Goldman SachsGoldman Sachs is a leading global financial institution that delivers a broad range of financial services to a large and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and individuals. Founded in 1869, the firm is headquartered in New York and maintains offices in all major financial centers around the world.Press related questions about the Summit or Goldman Sachs, please contact Sophia Anthony at Sophia.Anthony@gs.com SOURCE: DroneUp BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. Azerbaijan is deeply concerned with the ongoing colonialism and its reemerging manifestations, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in his address to the participants of the "Neocolonialism: Violation of Human Rights and Injustice" international conference, Trend reports. "Although 70 years have passed since the Bandung Conference, some countries continue to pursue colonialism. Among those, the foremost one is France. Overall, most of the bloody crimes of the colonialism history of mankind were committed by none other than France. France had occupied tens of countries in Africa, Southeast Asia, the Pacific and Latin America, plundered their resources, and for many years oppressed their peoples while perpetrating numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity. The French troops subjected hundreds of thousands of civilians to ethnic cleansing based on their ethnic and religious affiliation," President Ilham Aliyev said. PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-20 16:16:25 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 430 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 20, 2023 / GoDaddyAs originally published by GoDaddy's Venture Forward research initiativeWhere We've Been...And Where We're GoingA timeline of key reports, resources, and a selection of recent highlights.Timeline: Venture Forward Microbusiness ReportsOver the years, we're proud to have published and partnered on key reports.Select any listed below to download.2020 Venture Forward Microbusiness Reports:Executive Summary: A New Measure of Digital ParticipationSummer 2020: Venture Forward ReportFall 2020: Venture Forward Report2021 Venture Forward Microbusiness Reports:Summer 2021: Venture Forward ReportUCLA Anderson White Paper: MAIMilken White Paper: Role of MicrobusinessesWinter 2021: Venture Forward Report2022 Venture Forward Microbusiness Reports:Summer 2022: Venture Forward ReportUSCM Council: 2022 Best PracticesMilken: Best Performing CitiesQ4 2022: UCLA Anderson MAI Update2023 Venture Forward Microbusiness Reports:Summer 2023: Venture Forward ReportView more data downloads, recent press, and our research methodology at Venture ForwardUsing Data Insights to Support EntrepreneursOur Venture Forward research initiative goes beyond merely reporting on the findings of our proprietary small business data analyses. We use our research to proactively engage and support civic leaders, policymakers and influencers who care deeply about nurturing entrepreneurial growth in communities around the world. We also dive deeply on trending topics to develop unique insights on the perspectives of small business owners. Here are a few examples. More are available on the Venture Forward websitePanelVenture Forward was proud to host a panel at the African American Mayor's Association Conference in Washington, D.C., with Mayor Bibb (Cleveland) and Mayor Cantrell (New Orleans).Data ForwardMicrobusinesses have a impact on local economies creating significantly more value than the income they generate for their owners.Report In Spring 2023, GoDaddy surveyed U.S. small businesses on their biggest challenges, their perception of generative Al, and their use of generative Al to overcome challenges.Microbusiness ProfileA use case of a husband and wife team in England, as part of a greater look at the cost-of-living crisis that threatens the British microbusiness economy.We're here to support entrepreneursContact GoDaddy's Venture Forward research team at VentureForward@ GoDaddy.com GoDaddy Venture Forward Report | Summer 2023 | U.S. EditionThis report is powered by the latest data from Venture Forward, a GoDaddy research initiative to quantify the presence and impact of over 21 million online microbusinesses on their local economies, while shining a light on the entrepreneurs behind them. Our goal is to empower anyone who advocates for entrepreneurs with robust data and insights that can't be found elsewhere.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from GoDaddy on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: GoDaddyWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/godaddyEmail: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: GoDaddy PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-20 21:31:10 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 496 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 PHOENIX, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / Oct. 20, 2023 / Guinness World Records has confirmed that the Elevate Experience conference held in mid-August 2023 consisted of the largest number of people ever to simultaneously attend a financial literacy video lesson. GWR's statement officially reads, "The most users in a financial literacy video lesson is 602, and was achieved by 5th Degree Academy and GravyStack (both USA) on 19 August 2023." The record-keeping site adds, "The lesson taught people about how to earn, save, spend, share and invest money." The Elevate Experience Youth Education Conference took place from August 18-19. The online event operated with the goal of transforming attendees' financial lives by replacing confusion with clarity and uncertainty with empowerment.GravyStack founder Scott Donnell was listed amidst an all-star lineup of financial masterminds. He was present during the event to help inspire young minds to learn money management as a way to enhance their future prospects."We are proud to have been a part of the Elevate Experience conference," says Donnell. "Our mission is the transformation of young lives through proper financial preparedness. While we've developed the tools to accomplish this at GravyStack, the process starts with awareness. Events like this bring younger people together in exciting solidarity and help us communicate the importance of financial literacy more effectively." Financial literacy is a chronic concern for modern consumers around the globe. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) highlights national surveys that demonstrate the issue. These show that young adults possess some of the lowest levels of financial literacy on record.The organization adds that this comes from both disinterest and the inability to engage in sound financial decision-making. The OECD recommends training children from an early age to help them develop the skills necessary to manage funds well.Debbie Pierce, CEO of Economic Literacy Colorado, addresses some of the biggest issues with traditional financial literacy courses that target younger demographics. Pierce points out that often, schools can't find enough teachers to instruct students properly. In addition, financial workshops are too often short and lack real-world application. Even worse, kids who don't learn about financial literacy at school typically don't have much chance of learning the right lessons at home.Events like Elevate Experience and gamified platforms like GravyStack are changing the narrative when it comes to child and teenage financial education. They are challenging younger minds to take charge of their financial future and providing the environment and tools required for them to do so - and the record-setting response indicates that the strategy is working.About GravyStackGravyStack is a leading finance gamification platform that teaches effective money management to children and adolescents. Founded in 2020, the ambitious financial literacy brand seeks to "create 50 million financially competent kids ready to succeed in the real world." The GravyStack platform integrates unique characters, storylines, and game formats with the real-life management of money. Learn more at gravystack.com CONTACTScott Donnellhelp@ gravystack.com(606) 934-0467SOURCE: GravyStack PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-20 05:01:01 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 406 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / October 19, 2023 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until October 23, 2023 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HE), if they purchased the Company's securities between February 28, 2019 and August 16, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of Hawaiian Electric and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-he/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by October 23, 2023.About the LawsuitHawaiian Electric and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.The alleged false and misleading statements and omissions include, but are not limited to, that: (i) the Company's wildfire prevention and safety protocols and procedures were inadequate to meet the challenges for which they were ostensibly designed; (ii) accordingly, despite knowing the degree of risk that wildfires posed to Maui, the Company's inadequate safety protocols and procedures placed Maui at a heightened risk of devastating wildfires; and (iii) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.The case is Bhangal v. Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc., et al., No. 23-cv-04332.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit http://ksfcounsel.com/ Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partnerlewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-20 19:01:57 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 344 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / October 20, 2023 / Monticello Associates, Inc., one of the country's leading asset management consultants, announced that Milgo Galaydh, CFA, has joined the Firm as a Director in Investment Consulting in Monticello's Washington, D.C. office, effective October 2023. Prior to joining Monticello, Milgo was a Managing Director at Cambridge Associates, where she advised Endowment and Foundation clients on the construction of private investment portfolios. Previously, Milgo was at Albright Capital Management where she spent a decade leading the emerging markets corporate credit strategy with responsibility for sourcing, researching, and executing investments. Additionally, she conducted due diligence on private equity and venture capital funds. A CFA charterholder, Milgo graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce."Milgo will be a terrific addition to our senior team, both professionally and personally," says B. Grady Durham, Founder and Executive Chairman of Monticello Associates. "I expect her deep experience to have an immediate and positive impact on our client investment programs. Monticello has continued over time to build out its exceptional team, adding to our culture of excellence. Attracting, retaining, and incentivizing top investment professionals is the best way to serve our clients." Denverbased Monticello, with its heavy emphasis on researchbased advice, has built an impressive team of senior investment consultants with deep experience in directly evaluating investment managers. Serving a wide variety of clients, including endowments, foundations, and high-networth families, the firm has become one of the premier investment consulting firms in the country.About Monticello AssociatesMonticello Associates is an independent, feeonly asset management consulting firm based in Denver with additional offices in Cleveland, Boston, and Washington, D.C. Founded in 1992, the firm assists endowments, foundations, and family offices in the areas of asset allocation, investment policy development, investment manager search and selection, and performance measurement. As of December 31, 2022, the firm provided investment consulting services to 178 client relationships representing approximately $115 billion of assets under advisement.Contact InformationCristy Hott Director - Client Service / Administration chott@ monticelloassociates.com 303-572-6302SOURCE: Monticello Associates PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-20 15:02:20 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 725 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / October 20, 2023 / N8iV Beauty, the first skincare brand created by a Native woman, is proud to announce the launch of a groundbreaking campaign aimed at promoting inclusivity and representation of Native Americans in the beauty industry. The campaign will feature eight native American models from diverse tribal affiliations and will highlight their unique stories and experiences.The photo shoot for the campaign will take place on October 24-25, 2023, at the Rincon Indian Reservation in San Diego County. Through striking visuals and powerful storytelling, the campaign will shed light on the nomadic journey of the first people who traveled from the mountains to the ocean, emphasizing the importance of understanding and appreciating the indigenous culture.N8iV Beauty sets itself apart by infusing its skincare products with acorn oil, a historic ingredient used by Native people for centuries to heal the skin. The brand's founder, Ruth-Ann Thorn, an enrolled Tribal member of the Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians, brings her ancestral knowledge and traditions to create products that nourish and enhance the skin. Take a look a a little of the history behind the products view the N8iV Beauty video.Acorn oil, known as "kiwilla" in the Luiseno language, is rich in essential fatty acids and tocopherols, which combat oxidative stress and promote skin health. N8iV Beauty's commitment to sustainable and ethical sourcing practices ensures that the brand supports indigenous communities and makes a positive impact.For centuries, Native Americans have made significant contributions to beauty practices, art, and culture. Their involvement in elaborate trading systems allowed for the exchange of beauty practices and traditions with various global communities. Native tribes embraced forms of self-expression, such as face paint, body art, and unique clothing designs, which parallel modern beauty practices.Native Americans also possessed extensive knowledge of natural plant medicine and utilized resources from the Earth to create cosmetics and enhance their beauty. Their holistic approach to beauty and wellness, coupled with their superior health practices, demonstrates the vital role that Native Americans play in promoting overall well-being.Despite these contributions, the representation of Native Americans in the beauty industry has been severely lacking. This exclusion is not only unjust but also perpetuates historical marginalization. By rectifying this oversight and providing accurate representation, beauty brands have the opportunity to celebrate the rich heritage and contributions of Native Americans.It is imperative for beauty retailers, such as Sephora and Ulta, to recognize and honor the indigenous people of this land. By embracing Native American representation in the beauty industry, brands can send a strong message of equality and diversity to future generations. Furthermore, the indigenous wisdom displayed in utilizing plants for skin beautification and holistic health is valuable knowledge that the entire world can benefit from.N8iV Beauty urges the beauty industry to rectify the marginalization of Native Americans and celebrate their rich heritage within the industry. By incorporating their voices, perspectives, and artistic expressions related to beauty, we can promote acceptance, diversity, and respect for the first people of this land.Support Native and Indigenous businesses by exploring the N8iV Beauty skincare range. Visit their website at https://n8ivbeauty.com/ For media inquiries, please contact: Joice Truban Curryc3 Communications, Inc. joice@ c3publicrelations.com 619-540-6611# # #About N8iV Beauty:N8iV Beauty is the first acorn oil-infused skincare brand created by a Native woman sourced from tribal land. Founded by Ruth-Ann Thorn, an enrolled tribal member of the Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians, N8iV Beauty's products carry ancestral knowledge and are formulated to promote healthy and radiant skin.About Ruth-Ann Thorn:Ruth-Ann is a Payomkawichum/Luiseno tribal member and has served on several boards within the Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians tribe including their Rincon Economic Development Corporation responsible for overseeing many business developments on and off the reservation. Thorn has been in the art gallery business for over 27 years and has had galleries in Seaport Village in San Diego, Solana Beach, CA, Beverly Hills, CA, Laguna Beach, CA, Las Vegas, NV, and Breckenridge CO. Thorn is actually coming back to the Gaslamp area having had a location there several years ago. She is also the first tribal member to be appointed as a board member of the ICA Institute of Contemporary Art.SOURCE: N8iV Beauty PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-20 21:38:34 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1000 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for release, publication, distribution, or dissemination, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or into the United States. Unless otherwise noted, references to "$" or dollars in this press release are to Canadian dollars.TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / October 20, 2023 / Northern Superior Resources Inc. ("Northern Superior" or the "Company") (TSXV:SUP)(OTCQX:NSUPF) advises that the 2023 Annual General Meeting of the Company's shareholders will be held on November 22, 2023, via telephone conference call (the "Meeting"). Advance notice of the Meeting was filed on SEDAR+ on September 21, 2023.Meeting materials including a Notice, Management Information Circular and form of Proxy for the Meeting will be mailed on October 24, 2023, to the shareholders of record on October 16, 2023. Concurrently with the mailing, all Meeting materials will be filed on SEDAR+ ( www.sedarplus.ca) and will also be posted on the Company's website ( https://nsuperior.com/invest/) The Meeting is being held inter alia for the following purposes: (i) to receive the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 and the auditors' report thereon, (ii) to fix the number of directors to be elected for the ensuing year at seven (7) and to elect directors of the Company for the ensuing year, (iii) to re-appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as auditors for the Company for the ensuing year and authorize the Directors to fix the auditors' remuneration (iv) to consider and if deemed appropriate, to re-approve, with or without variation, the Company's 2022 Equity Incentive Plan, (v) to consider and if deemed appropriate, to approve an extension to the expiry date of 1,260,000 outstanding stock options held by certain directors and officers of the Company (the "Impacted Options"); and (vi) to transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment.The Impacted Options were granted to certain directors and officers with an exercise price of $0.55 per Impacted Option in replacement of previously granted stock options to acquire common shares of Royal Fox Gold Inc. ("Royal Fox") following the closing of the Company's acquisition of Royal Fox, and are set to expire on November 4, 2023, as per the terms of the arrangement agreement dated September 6, 2022 between Royal Fox and the Company (the "Arrangement Agreement") (a copy of the Arrangement Agreement can be found on SEDAR+ ( www.sedarplus.ca) under the Company's profile). It is proposed to extend the term of the Impacted Options to June 10, 2026 (for 1,200,000 Impacted Options) and July 19, 2026 (for 60,000 Impacted Options), which would be in line with the maturity date of the Royal Fox options originally issued.On October 19, 2023, the board of directors of the Company, excluding those directors holding Impacted Options, approved a resolution to extend the terms of the Impacted Options to coincide with the original expiry date(s) of the corresponding Royal Fox options (the "Proposed Option Extension").At the Meeting, shareholders of the Company excluding officers and directors holding Impacted Options will be asked to approve an ordinary resolution approving the Proposed Option Extension. For a breakdown of the Impacted Options held by each officer and director, please refer to the Company's management information circular available on SEDAR+ ( www.sedarplus.ca) under the Company's profile. The Proposed Option Extension is deemed to be "related party transactions" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101- Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is exempt from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements for related party transactions pursuant to Subsection 5.5(b) and Subsection 5.7(a) of MI 61-101, respectively.About Northern Superior Resources Inc.Northern Superior is a gold exploration company focused on the Chibougamau Camp in Quebec, Canada. The Company has consolidated the largest land package in the region, with total land holdings currently exceeding 62,000 hectares. The main properties include Philibert, Lac Surprise, Chevrier and Croteau. Northern Superior also owns significant exploration assets in Northern Ontario highlighted by the district scale TPK Project.The Philibert Project is located 9 km from IAMGOLD Corporation's Nelligan Gold project which was awarded the "Discovery of the Year" by the Quebec Mineral Exploration Association (AEMQ) in 2019. Philibert host a new maiden 43-101 inferred resource of 1,708,800 ounces Au and an indicated resource of 278,900 ounces of Au[1]. Northern Superior holds a majority stake of 75% in the Philibert Project, with the remaining 25% owned by SOQUEM, and retains an option to acquire the full 100% ownership of the project. Chevrier hosts an inferred mineral resource of 652,000 ounces Au (underground and open pit) and an indicated mineral resource of 260,000 ounces Au.[2] Croteau hosts an inferred mineral resource of 640,000 ounces Au.[3] Lac Surprise hosts the Falcon Zone Discovery, interpreted to be the western strike extension of IAMGOLD Corporation's Nelligan Deposit.Northern Superior is a reporting issuer in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, and trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol SUP and the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol NSUPF. For further information, please refer to the Company's website at www.nsuperior.com or on SEDAR+ ( www.sedarplus.ca) Northern Superior Resources Inc. on Behalf of the Board of DirectorsSimon Marcotte, CFA, President and Chief Executive OfficerContact InformationSimon Marcotte, CFAPresident and Chief Executive OfficerTel: (647) 801-7273info@ nsuperior.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking InformationThis news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation that is based on expectations, estimates, projections and interpretations as at the date of this news release. The information in this news release about the proposed transaction; and any other information herein that is not a historical fact may be "forward-looking information". Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, interpretations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performa PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-20 16:00:32 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 497 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 MARKHAM, ON / ACCESSWIRE / October 20, 2023 / On Sept. 29, 2023, the "Pomelo Gala: A Taste of Cantonese Sweet, China Guangdong Agricultural Products Global Tasting and Exchange Event" was held in Markham, co-hosted by North America Development Center of Chinese Premade Cuisine Industry and Canada Universal Media Association (CUMA).Federal Member of Parliament Shaun Chen, York Regional Councillor Joe Li, Markham City Councillor Isa Lee, Richmond Hill Councillor Simon Cui, and other government representatives participated in person and spoke highly of this great business promotion activity. More than 50 extinguished guests attended the event, including Dr. Ye Jun, Chief Representative of the Guangdong Provincial Economic and Trade Representative Office in Canada, heads of major Canadian supermarkets, presidents of Cantonese food and beverage associations, and representatives of chambers of commerce and related associations, etc. They also tasted the special agricultural products and prepared dishes from Guangdong on the spot.Coinciding with the Mid-Autumn Festival, the event received congratulatory letters from federal MP Jean Yip, Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti, York Region Councillor Alan Ho, Toronto City Councillor Nick Mantas, and other dignitaries of all three levels. The Mayor of Markham said in his congratulatory letter that he looks forward to more Guangdong specialty agricultural products, prepared dishes, and vendors entering the Canadian market so that more Canadian consumers can enjoy delicious Chinese food at home.Doris Jianping Li, director of the North America Development Center of Chinese Premade Cuisine Industry and President of EACHTECHNOLOGY, delivered a welcome speech. She recalled the scene of eating pomelo during the Mid-Autumn Festival with her family when she was a child and the interesting story of how her father sealed the pomelo with a wax solution and kept it from the Mid-Autumn Festival until the Chinese New Year. She said that good food is the silent language that brings people together across ethnic and geographic differences. "No matter where we go, memories of food are memories of our loved ones and of that moment when we enjoyed it." Federal Member of Parliament Shaun Chan, whose ancestral home is Hakka in Meizhou, Guangdong Province, made a special trip to the event to support the event, stating, "I am very pleased to see more and more delicious products from my hometown being exported to Canada, which not only introduces fresh agricultural products to the Canadian market but also provides more choices for Canadian consumers. We look forward to more cooperation opportunities with Guangdong Province in agricultural trade in the future." Joe Li, York Region Councilor and President of Canadian Hakka Association, who is also a Hakka family member, enthusiastically used the Hakka language and actively recommended the good taste of his hometown. Richmond Hill City Councillor Simon Cui also spoke highly of the Guangdong-prepared cuisine.Participants discussed various cooperation opportunities, hoping to bring more authentic Cantonese food to Canadian tables and provide local residents with more diversified and delicious food choices.Contact Informationxiao han Director hanxiao528@ gmail.com 6478630528SOURCE: Canada Universal Media Association (CUMA) PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-20 15:40:00 Press Information Dhirtek Business Research and Consulting Private Limited +91 7580990088 email www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com Published by Parmeet Singh 7580990088 e-mail https://www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com/ # 977 Words +91 7580990088Parmeet Singh7580990088 The world of the professional financial calculators market is a complex and ever-evolving landscape, shaped by consumer demands and technological advancements. In this report, we delve into the depths of this market to provide a profound and comprehensive analysis, catering to a diverse audience that includes manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and investors. Our primary goal is to empower industry stakeholders with invaluable insights to make informed decisions in a rapidly changing environment. We aim to illuminate the current status of the professional financial calculators market while projecting its future trends.Scope and PurposeOur report is a comprehensive guide designed to equip industry stakeholders with actionable information. It covers various aspects of the professional financial calculators market, including market dynamics, competition, growth avenues, challenges, and regional variations. This information goes beyond mere descriptions; it is intended to help stakeholders make critical decisions that can shape their strategies and endeavors in the market.Request for Sample Report:Promising Comprehensive AnalysisTo fulfill our promises, we commit to providing a comprehensive analysis that leaves no stone unturned. We pledge to unravel the factors propelling the market's growth, dissecting shifts in consumer preferences and technological breakthroughs that are driving the demand for professional financial calculators products. Simultaneously, we acknowledge that challenges and obstacles are part of any industry landscape, and we vow to illuminate these hurdles, be it economic uncertainties or the intense competition that often characterizes such markets.Some of the major companies in the Professional Financial Calculators market are as follows: Casio, Datexx, Deli, HP, Sharp, TRYLY, Texas Instruments, Victor TechnologyGuiding the Path ForwardOur report extends an invitation to its readers to explore its contents and sets the stage for uncovering the competitive landscape. It introduces the major players in the professional financial calculators market and their strategies, offering insights into what makes them thrive. This insight-rich analysis is meant to guide others on their path forward whether it's to navigate the competition more effectively or to find inspiration in successful strategies.Anticipation of InsightsRecognizing that the market is not monolithic but rather a composition of various segments, the report pledges to provide a nuanced understanding of these segments. It promises to detail their sizes, potential growth trajectories, and key trends. This targeted knowledge assists stakeholders in carving out specialized strategies and ensuring optimal resource allocation.Balancing Forces and Strategic ImplicationsBy elucidating both the driving forces and potential obstacles, the report paints a holistic picture of the market dynamics. It enables industry stakeholders to navigate the competitive landscape with a deeper understanding of the forces at play. Manufacturers can align their innovation efforts with consumer preferences and regulatory trends, thereby enhancing their market position. Investors and decision-makers can be better prepared to address economic uncertainties and supply chain vulnerabilities. Overall, this section equips readers with insights to make strategic decisions that account for both growth opportunities and challenges in the professional financial calculators market.Exploring the Competitive LandscapeThe section dedicated to the competitive landscape of the professional financial calculators market offers an intricate exploration of the market's key players, their strategies, and their impact on the industry. This segment aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the market's dynamics, the role of major companies, and the strategies they employ to thrive.Segment CharacteristicsThe report initiates the analysis by outlining the unique characteristics that define each segment. Whether these segments are categorized based on product types, customer demographics, use cases, or other distinguishing factors, the report provides a clear picture of how these segments are defined and differentiated.Market SizeUnderstanding the size of each market segment is crucial for gauging its significance within the overall market landscape. The report likely provides quantitative data to illustrate the market share and contribution of "Type" and "Application" segments to the entire professional financial calculators market. This information helps stakeholders appreciate the relative importance of each segment.Growth PotentialBeyond current market size, the report delves into the growth potential of these segments. It explores factors such as emerging trends, consumer behaviors, technological advancements, and regulatory influences that could drive the future expansion of these segments. This forward-looking perspective aids stakeholders in identifying where the market's growth opportunities lie.Key TrendsThe analysis likely captures the key trends specific to each segment. Whether it's changing consumer preferences, evolving technology adoption, or shifting regulatory landscapes, the report provides insights into the forces shaping the behavior of "Type" and " Application." These trends inform stakeholders about the directions these segments might take in the coming years.Strategic InsightsThe segment analysis extends beyond descriptive data to offer strategic insights. By understanding the characteristics, potential, and trends of "Type" and "Application," industry participants can make informed decisions. Manufacturers can tailor their product development strategies to meet the demands of these segments, and marketers can create targeted campaigns to reach specific customer groups.Market Segmentation:Type: AAA Battery, Button BatteryApplication: Business Professionals, Real Eatate Sgents, Brokers, Students, OthersExploring Regional DynamicsThe section dedicated to the regional analysis of the professional financial calculators market provides a comprehensive exploration of how the market fares across different geographical areas. This analysis recognizes that markets are not homogenous and that regional variations can significantly impact market dynamics. The report delves into the intricacies of each region North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa to provide stakeholders with valuable insights.Closing ThoughtsIn essence, the conclusion encapsulates the report's journey. It emphasizes the report's role as a strategic tool, a navigator, and a decision-making companion in the complex world of the professional financial calculators market. This report is more than just a document; it is a valuable resource that empowers industry stakeholders to thrive in a dynamic and ever-evolving market environment. PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-20 19:15:47 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 779 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Funds will support the club's Brain Gain program to build reading comprehensionSPRINGFIELD, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 20, 2023 / KeyBank / Springfield Boys & Girls Club (SBGS) has received a $10,000 charitable grant from KeyBank Foundation, the charitable foundation of KeyBank. The grant will support the club's Brain Gain Program, an afterschool program designed to bolster appropriate grade-level reading skills for the inner city, at-risk children and youth served by the club. A ceremonial check was presented by KeyBank to SBGS leadership, staff and youth members at a check presentation event held yesterday at the Boys and Girls Club on Carew Street in Springfield."The Boys & Girls Club is pleased to see KeyBank's strong commitment to the education of children," said Executive Director Vinnie Borello. "This gift from Keybank Foundation is a much-needed investment to our community as we strive to help our kids expand their reading skills in a fun, learning environment. We appreciate KeyBank's support." The vast majority of children served by the Springfield Boys & Girls Club are from low-income families, with 65% of them raised in homes where English is a second language, putting them at a disadvantage in terms of reading, retention, and school learning. In addition, many of the students are still recovering from learning loss sustained during the COVID-19 pandemic remote learning environment. The Brain Gain Program is designed to build reading comprehension and retention skills so that participants are reading at grade level at a minimum. SBGS utilizes specific software programs to support the curriculum and provide Chromebook computers and internet access to children who may otherwise have no access to technology and these learning tools."At KeyBank, we believe in supporting organizations and programs that help students be successful in school, get good grades, and eventually graduate and have access to college and career-building opportunities," said KeyBank Corporate Responsibility Officer Analisha Michanczyk. "The Boys and Girls Club's Brain Gain program is an effective way to help kids build literacy skills and perform better in school, and we are proud to support their efforts." KeyBank Foundation provides financial resources to nonprofits within KeyBank's service areas that help students achieve academically, with a particular focus toward minority and low-and moderate-income populations. KeyBank has seven retail bank branches throughout greater Springfield, MA.About Springfield Boys & Girls Club: The Springfield Boys and Girls Club is committed to the betterment of the lives of children in Springfield, Massachusetts. At the Springfield Boys & Girls Club, we provide all our members with a safe place to grow and learn that fosters ongoing relationships with caring adult professionals. We offer a variety of life-enhancing programs that include character development experiences, hope, and opportunities. With a dedicated staff, board, and volunteers, the Club ensures that "Great Futures Start Here." About KeyBank Foundation: KeyBank Foundation serves to fulfill KeyBank's purpose to help clients and communities thrive, and its mission is to support organizations and programs that prepare people for thriving futures. The Foundation's mission is advanced through three funding priorities - neighbors, education, and workforce - and through community service. To provide meaningful philanthropy that transforms lives, KeyBank Foundation listens carefully to understand the unique characteristics and needs of its communities and then backs solutions with targeted philanthropic investments. KeyBank Foundation is a nonprofit charitable foundation, funded by KeyCorp.About KeyCorp/KeyBank: KeyCorp's roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $187.8 billion at September 30, 2023. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,300 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/ . KeyBank is Member FDIC.Media contacts: Springfield Boys and Girls Club: Sarah Gumaer, Marketing Director | 413-732-7201 | Sgumaer@ sbgc.org KeyBank: Karen Crane, Communications Manager | 203-789-2752 | karen_crane@ keybank.com Photo: (from left) Springfield Boys & Girls Club board member Aleana Laster; KeyBank Corporate Responsibility Officer Analisha Michanczyk, Branch Manager Vanity Bryant; SBGC Director of Development Karen Natsios; KeyBank Area Retail Leader Sarah Germini; and Springfield Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Vinnie Borello (far right), with students in the Brain Gain program. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from KeyBank on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: KeyBankWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/keybank Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: KeyBank PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-20 07:01:40 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 391 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 The Pair Called for Indonesia to Lead the World in Building a Green EconomyJAKARTA, INDONESIA / ACCESSWIRE / October 20, 2023 / Tens of thousands of Indonesians turned up to support the ruling party's presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo and his Vice President running mate Mahfud MD as they registered their candidacy at Indonesia's election commission on Thursday.Ganjar and Mahfud Ganjar Pranowo and Mahfud MD at Indonesia's Election Commission on ThursdayGanjar Pranowo, a former Central Java governor, is a leading contender in the presidential election to be held next February.Indonesian senior minister Mahfud MD was named a day earlier as his running mate."Mr. Ganjar is a popular and brave leader. He dares to correct wrongdoings, dares to accept criticism, and dares to fight for political values that he believes in," said Mahfud.The pair registered their candidacy on the first day of registration for presidential and vice-presidential candidates, with thousands of supporters cheering them on.During his decade as governor, Ganjar mandated free basic education, building of public infrastructure, increasing anti-poverty programs and empowering farmers. His second term ended last month."We are confident that with this shared spirit, we will soon achieve a much better future and life for the entire Indonesian nation," Ganjar said.He called for Indonesia to lead the world in building a green economy."Our world is facing a climate crisis that threatens the lives of all of us. We must utilize all of Indonesia's natural potential for the good of all citizens and also ensure that nature remains sustainable," declared Ganjar."Technology is the main requirement that we must have to be able to realize our future dreams through the development of a Green and Blue Economy," he added.His Vice President pick Mahfud is a seasoned politician, Islamic scholar and former judge. He is currently the country's Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs.Mahfud's nomination was announced on Wednesday by former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, chairwoman of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).Referring to Mahfud, she said, "He is an honest and brave person who always fights for the rights of the people." "The pairing of Mr. Ganjar and Mr. Mahfud will enrich this country's democracy," Megawati added.Contact InformationKris Nathan kris.nathan8@gmail.com +44 7423305286SOURCE: Ganjar-Mahfud Presidential Campaign BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. Azerbaijan gives oppressed countries a chance to speak out against colonialism, Gaston Samut from the People's Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe told reporters, Trend reports. "We are delighted by Azerbaijan's invitation to this conference, which provides us with an opportunity to speak out against colonialism. Because of French official policy, we are robbed of this in our motherland. This conference provides us with an opportunity to gain access to the international press and speak out about our struggle. Furthermore, we are here to reaffirm our solidarity with all sorts of battles being waged in the Pacific, Guyana, the West Indies, or the island of Martinique in pursuit of colonial states' sovereignty," he added. Gaston Samut noted that the United Nations has declared the decade 2020-2030 as the last decade of decolonization, and he hopes that this will become a reality. He believes that colonial empires and colonizing countries will agree to end colonialism. "We strive to make our peoples and other nations realize the need to exit the colonial system, as this is the key to peace and well-being of peoples," Samut added. Baku hosts the international conference "Neocolonialism: Human Rights Violation and Injustice," organized by the Baku Initiative Group on October 20. The Baku Initiative Group was established on July 6, 2023, by participants of the conference "Total Elimination of Colonialism" within the framework of the ministerial meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement under the chairmanship of the Republic of Azerbaijan. PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-20 22:01:07 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 557 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / October 20, 2023 / Tmall Global, China's leading cross-border e-commerce platform, is pleased to announce its successful collaboration with the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service at CHFA Now Toronto 2023. This partnership brought together executives from 13 Canadian wellness brands and orchestrated a captivating joint livestreaming session for consumers in China at the expo.The livestream served as the pilot event for Tmall Global's Canada Discovery Week and presented the latest health and wellness trends in Canada to Chinese consumers. Brand partners were impressed by the ability to showcase their brand stories and product features via a mobile phone and captivate an audience of hundreds of thousands in China. Featured brands included Vitality, Ecoideas, Jamieson, Organika, Dan's Farmaroot, Allmax Nutrition, New Roots Herbal, SUKU Vitamins, Omega Alpha, AstaDaily, Platinum Naturals, Utiva, and Dr. Tobias.During an exclusive session curated by the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service at the event, Nicole Lin, Tmall Global's Canada Country Manager, presented insights into the Chinese market landscape, consumer trends, and cross-border e-commerce strategies. Lin also provided an overview of Tmall Global's suite of solutions to facilitate seamless China market entry, including the Tmall Global Flagship Store, Tmall Global MiniStore, and the Global Discovery program."We were thrilled to join hands with the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service and our esteemed Canadian brand partners for CHFA NOW Toronto this year," said Tony Shan, Head of the Americas at Tmall Global. "This collaboration underscored our commitment to providing a platform for international brands to connect with millions of customers in China. We look forward to continuously bringing the best products from Canada and around the world to the Chinese market." "It is great to work with Tmall Global on this livestreaming event to showcase a number of well-known and trendy natural health brands exhibiting at the professional trade show CHFA NOW in Toronto," said Alexandre Cerat, Deputy Consul General & Senior Trade Commissioner at the Canada Trade Commissioner Service. "We look forward to seeing more high-quality Canadian brands in the China market." This partnership is part of Tmall Global's global outreach initiative series this year in order to foster stronger and more direct connections between international brand partners and Chinese consumers. In the first half of 2023, over 2,000 international brands have chosen Tmall Global to launch their online stores in China, marking their first step in entering the Chinese market.About Tmall GlobalLaunched in 2014, Tmall Global ( https://www.tmall.hk) is Taobao Tmall Commerce Group's dedicated channel for cross-border e-commerce. Addressing the increasing Chinese consumer demand for international products and brands, Tmall Global is China's leading cross-border e-commerce online marketplace with over 900 million monthly active users in the ecosystem. It is the premier platform through which international brands and retailers reach Chinese consumers, build brand awareness, and gain valuable consumer insights without the need for physical operations in China. Today, there are more than 46,000 brands from over 90 countries and regions on Tmall Global.About Canadian Trade Commissioner ServiceThe Trade Commissioner Service helps Canadian businesses of all sizes succeed in international markets with export advisory services, funding and accelerator programs. With a presence in more than 160 cities worldwide, the TCS can help you go global. www.tradecommissioner.gc.ca MediaContactFeiran Liu, Tmall GlobalEmail: feiran.liu@alibaba-inc.com Contact InformationFeiran Liu Tmall Global feiran.liu@alibaba-inc.com SOURCE: Tmall Global PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-20 22:00:21 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 605 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the journey to empower knowledge workers and enhance enterprise productivity.TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / October 20, 2023 / TribalScale, a leading software development firm, and Senso AI, a provider of cutting-edge AI solutions, proudly announce the launch of two pioneering Generative AI products, Agents Echo and Anchor.Agent Echo: Transforming Customer Intelligence in Real-TimeEnterprise teams often struggle with a lack of real-time visibility into customer conversations across sales and support channels. Agent Echo harnesses the power of the Senso AI Platform to convert unstructured customer conversations into cross-functional insights.Key Features:Marketing teams can segment conversations for real-time retargeting campaigns.Support teams can generate personalized surveys based on call conversations.Product and Operations teams gain insights into process bottlenecks for targeted improvements.Risk teams can identify fraud hotspots more effectively.Executive teams can make informed decisions during strategic planning sessions.Just In Time Intelligence is now available in the market and is easily adaptable for any organization seeking to gain a deeper understanding of their customers.Agent Anchor: Revolutionizing Information Consumption for Knowledge WorkersKeeping up with the news efficiently is an ongoing challenge for knowledge workers. Agent Anchor transitions knowledge workers from a reactive to a proactive news consumption experience, acting as a personal news anchor and streamlining the delivery of daily news updates directly within Slack or email.Key Features:Receive daily updates on specific topics relevant to users (e.g., Tech, Crypto).Transform lengthy articles into concise, proactive news summaries using Generative AI.Engage with new articles directly in Slack channels.Initial launch of a "Daily News Update" across Crypto and Tech topics.TribalScale is already in talks with multiple publishers to tailor content directly to knowledge workers, offering a more personalized way to consume news.Sheetal Jaitly, CEO of TribalScale, commented on the collaboration: "Together with Senso, we're not only integrating AI agents into workflows to bridge gaps and augment staff capabilities, but also revolutionizing how enterprises access and utilize information. This partnership enables enterprises to leverage cutting-edge technology and drive unparalleled efficiency in the digital age. We are paving the way for a future where AI becomes an indispensable ally, enhancing every facet of business operations for our clients." Saroop Bharwani, CEO of Senso AI, also expressed his excitement: "The Senso AI Platform empowers enterprises to aggregate their data in a flexible way to transform unstructured data into contextual and personalized insights. Our first two products align with our vision to transform the way knowledge workers interact and consume information to reduce costs, unlock new opportunities, and serve their customers more effectively." Experience the Innovation at Money2020 USABoth products will be available for demonstration at TribalScale's booth at Money2020 USA from October 22-25. Visitors are invited to explore the solutions at booth #11909. As a special promotion, TribalScale is offering a giveaway of a three-month free trial of the AI solution.For more information and to schedule a demonstration, please visit https://www.tribalscale.com/tribalscale-at-money2020 About TribalScaleTribalScale is a global innovation firm that helps enterprises adapt and thrive in the digital era. Through agile practices, we transform teams, build best-in-class digital products, and create disruptive startups.About Senso AISenso.AI is a pioneering provider of advanced AI solutions, pushing the boundaries of what's possible with AI. Their enterprise-grade platform makes it easy for organizations to ingest and aggregate institutional knowledge and build intelligent agents which improve information retrieval capabilities, surface customer intelligence, and opens up new possibilities for businesses seeking to unlock the potential of their data.Contact InformationMatthew Street VP of Sales & Marketing mstreet@ tribalscale.com 571-469-1156SOURCE: TribalScale Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-20 15:22:02 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 314 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 20, 2023 / New Holland Agriculture, a brand of CNH Industrial, was recently visited by UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, at the farm at Writtle University College (WUC). The New Holland engineering apprentices were thrilled to welcome the Prime Minister (PM), where he joined them during a hands-on workshop on tractor maintenance.The PM visited the Essex based campus to speak with young people about their passion for the food and farming sector. The apprentices spent time chatting with the PM about the workshop whilst demonstrating their understanding of agricultural machinery. Through a partnership launched in 2022 by CNH with WUC, these workshops address the skills gap for specialist engineers within the agricultural sector. The apprentices are all currently employed by New Holland Agriculture's local dealerships throughout England.David Rapkins, New Holland Agriculture Business Director UK & ROI, said, "We are proud to be working alongside both WUC and Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) in delivering and supporting these apprenticeship courses within the land-based education sector. Our aim is to nurture and develop a strong workforce of specialist agricultural engineers for the future." Proud to have been visited by the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak's acknowledgement and hands-on participation in this scheme reflects the prestige of the program and CNH's strong commitment to agricultural education for young people. In programs like the one running at WUC and elsewhere in the UK (CNH also runs a similar scheme in Scotland at SRUC Oatridge campus), education in pioneering AgTech is a key priority now, and will be for years to come.Rishi Sunak's acknowledgement and hands-on participation in this scheme reflects the prestige of the program and CNH's strong commitment to agricultural education for young people. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from CNH Industrial on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: CNH IndustrialWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cnh-industrial Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: CNH Industrial In a bid to find a lasting solution to the lingering farmers/herders conflicts that has negatively impacted the agriculture sector, Nigeria is set to raise over N2.5 trillion, within the next five years on investment in the livestock sector of the economy. It is expected that the Federal Government will provide at least N312.47b to kick start the reform within the period after which a review of progress and funding would be expected. The countrys estimated population of various species of livestock resources is 21.2 million cattle, 48.6million sheep, 76.3 million goats, 163 million chickens and 8.1 million pigs, just as the sub-sector, which consists of both commercial and indigenous animals is conservatively valued at over N50tr and accounts for about 25 percent and 5.8 percent of the countrys agricultural Gross Domestic Products (GDP) and national GDP, respectively. The Director General National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Malam Nuhu Abubakar Fikpo, Tuesday, assured Nigerians of the agencys determination to create jobs. Malam Fikpo made the remarks at the flag off of a five-day training of 100 farmers under the NDEs Sustainable Agricultural Development Training Scheme (SADTS) of its Rural Employment Promotion (REP) department, held in Jos. WACOT Limited, a member of Tropical General Investments (TGI) Group, has awarded 1,578 cocoa farmers in 28 communities in Osun State 40,000 each for their commitment to sustainably producing the primary cash crop. The bonus was awarded to the farmers in addition to the payments made to them for the cocoa they delivered to the company as part of the out-grower programme initiative. The earned bonus was in recognition of the superior product quality the farmers delivered to WACOT, which surpassed the international standards of sustainable cocoa production. The standards include but are not limited to excluding child or forced labour, responsible use of fertilisers and pesticides, proper tree care, and preserving protected reserves. The Minister of Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari, says the federal government is granting 50 per cent subsidy to wheat farmers in the upcoming dry season farming to ensure massive production of the grain in the country. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Kyari spoke to journalists shortly after inspecting assorted seed wheat productions in Kano, the Kano State capital, on Friday. We are fully committed towards massive wheat production in the upcoming dry seasons farming for local and foreign export actions, he said. He explained that President Tinubus renewed agenda was aimed at making sure that Nigeria secured food production, starting from next month, with wheat farming taking toll in the dry season farming. The British American Tobacco (BATNF) Nigeria Foundation has said its partnership with Lagos has generated than N20 million in income for farmers. Speaking about the Foundations partnership with the state government through the Lagos Farm Fair (LFF), an initiative that aligns with the United Nations World Food Day celebration, the Director, BATNF, Odiri ErewaMeggison, said the programme benefited over 2000 persons, thereby significantly improving the lives of rural smallholder farmers. As part of its continued efforts to cushion the effects of subsidy removal, Oyo State Government is set to distribute about 11,000 bags of poultry feed to 1,691 poultry farmers in the state to celebrate World Egg Day. Also,1,691 fish farmers, 2537 crops farmers and 2,539 cattle sheep and goat farmers would equally benefit, being the first phase of the programme. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The 14th Emir of Kano and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Lamido Sanusi, says reduced dependence on petrol will be the long-term solution to the petrol subsidy removal crisis. In the short term, the most effective measure to offset the removal of fuel subsidies is cash transfers. The design of individual cash transfer programmes varies considerably in reach and coverage. The long-term solution is to reduce dependence on PMS, Mr Sanusi said on Thursday in Lagos. He made the assertion at the Distinguished Lecture Series of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos. The lecture series had the theme: Resetting the Nigerian Economy for a Brighter Future. It sought to diagnose issues surrounding Nigerias economic predicament and propose practical steps to address the situation. The former CBN governor said that Nigerians would need to appreciate, across the board, the economys importance. According to him, many citizens do not understand it. Mr Sanusi said that in resetting the Nigerian economy, it would be important to bring economics into public discourse. He emphasised the importance of recognising the primacy of politics in economic matters. According to Mr Sanusi, an economy is run on the basis of the ideological orientation of those who control the state. If the state is a rentier state where the people in control see it as an avenue to make money for themselves and their families, they are never going to run an economy in a manner that encourages production and growth. If it is run by people who are thinking long-term and of the legacy they will leave behind for their children and the future of the country, they will run different sets of different policies. I think every economist knows that multiple exchange rates are a problem, but as long as politicians are able to give themselves a dollar at 400 Naira and sell at 700 Naira, they are not ready to listen to the economists, he said. The former CBN governor noted that Nigerians had been talking about fuel subsidies as far back as 2011. We said, if we did not do something about those subsidies, we would end up where we are today. He said that civil society should be blamed than politicians for the current economic situation of the country. Mr Sanusi also said that the governance of the economy was an important aspect to note in resetting the economy. According to him, the country cannot continue doing the same thing and expect a different outcome. On Nigerias gross domestic product and debt ratio, Mr Sanusi said that Nigeria had a huge revenue problem. He said that one of the solutions to Nigerias fiscal problems would be to raise revenue. He urged that the image of the country should be improved to make it an attractive destination for investments. Oil is not enough to make us rich but enough to put us in trouble. Nigeria will never get rich from producing oil. At best, it represents working capital that can enable the launch of other industries. Nigeria produces just 2.3 barrels per person per year compared to Saudi Arabias 91.4, Kuwaits 221.6 and Gabons 31.7, he said. The Director-General of NIIA, Eghosa Osaghae, described Nigeria as an endowed country and Africas biggest democracy. He noted that the country had been through challenges but expressed optimism that it would surmount all challenges. We have continually proven to be the giant, and we must lead others there, Mr Osaghae said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) has said it would deploy 46,084 ad hoc and regular staff for the upcoming off-cycle governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States. INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this on Friday during a meeting with its Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) at the commissions headquarters in Abuja. To avoid logistical challenges that have characterised Nigerian elections, Mr Yakubu said the commission is finalising arrangements for vehicles and boats for land and maritime movement of personnel and materials. The elections are coming up on Saturday 11 November. Mr Yakubu said the three elections will involve 5,409,438 registered voters in 10,510 polling units spread across 649 electoral Wards in 56 Local Government Areas. He added that all non-sensitive materials for the election have been delivered to the three States. Other preparatory activities, including training, are on course, he stated, noting that valuable lessons for improved performance have been learnt from the 2023 General Election. READ ASLO: He described the commissions mock accreditation in some polling units across the three states as successful. He said: Last week, we conducted a mock accreditation involving actual voters in designated polling units in the three States. We had two objectives for the exercise. First, to test the efficacy of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for especially biometric authentication of voters. Secondly, to upload the result to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV). Both tests were successful. We look forward to improved performance of the BVAS in voter accreditation and result upload in the forthcoming elections. Observers Meanwhile, Mr Yakubu also disclosed that the commission has so far accredited 126 national and international organisations who are collectively deploying 11,000 observers for the election. Although the portal for media accreditation closes on Tuesday 24th October 2023, we have received applications from 80 media organisations seeking to deploy 1,203 personnel made up of journalists and technical/support staff to report on the elections, he added. He said the 18 political parties participating in the elections are deploying 137,934 agents made up of 130,093 polling and 7,841 collation agents. Security The INEC boss stated that such massive security deployment is beyond its immediate responsibilities. He, however, said the commission has been reassured of adequate deployment of security agencies for the election. Mr Yakubu is scheduled to meet with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, on Monday. He said: Such massive deployment requires a secure environment which is beyond our immediate responsibilities. As we said repeatedly, we are concerned about the prevailing insecurity and election-related violence in the three states. We have been reassured of adequate deployment by the security agencies. On our part, we will continue to deepen our engagement with the security agencies and more meetings are planned in the next few days. Similarly, the Commission will hold a series of meetings with stakeholders at the national level in addition to ongoing engagements at state level. Qosim Suleiman is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has approved the waiver of the No Work, No Pay order instituted against striking members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on 1 August. This was made known in a statement issued Friday and signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale. Invoking the Principle of the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy, President Bola Tinubu has approved the waiver of the No Work, No Pay Order that was instituted against striking members of NARD on 1 August, 2023, following the commencement of their industrial action which began on 26 July, 2023. After several constructive engagements between the Federal Government and NARD, the Resident Doctors called off their strike on 12 August. The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation was directed to withhold all salaries accrued by striking NARD members during the 17 days of their strike action. In view of the faithful implementation of terms which were agreed upon during the fruitful deliberations between the Resident Doctors and the Federal Government of Nigeria, President Tinubu has directed the grant of an exceptional last waiver of the No Work, No Pay Order on Resident Doctors, which will allow for the members of the NARD to receive the salaries which were previously withheld during the 17-day strike action, Mr Ngelale wrote. The statement also indicates that the president granted the waiver with a mandatory requirement that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment must secure a Document of Understanding (DoU) establishing that this exceptional waiver granted by the president will be the last one to be granted to all health sector unions. In a separate statement, the president also approved the waiver of the no work, no pay rule for members of the university lecturers union, ASUU. Backstory Like the education sector, the nations health sector has consistently witnessed protests by workers over poor welfare conditions, overstretched workforce, poor working environment, among other issues. The situation led to industrial actions on the part of the workers, grounding activities across many healthcare institutions nationwide. To forestall the frequent strikes by the workers unions, the government imposed the no work, no pay rule citing Section 43(1)(a) of the Trade Disputes Act. The workers however kicked against the governments decision. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Daredevil armed robbers on Friday afternoon killed several people at Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State. The robbers stormed four commercial banks First Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Stanbic IBTC, and Zenith Plc around noon on Friday, witnesses told PREMIUM TIMES. Sewuese Anene, police spokesperson in Benue State, confirmed the incident to this newspaper in a telephone call. Ms Anene did not provide details of how it happened. The armed robbers stormed the four banks in Otukpo metropolis on Friday after and began to shoot sporadically. They killed about 10 people. It was like hell, a witness told this reporter in a telephone call on Friday evening. A passer-by who did not want his name in print said the criminals killed both customers who were in the banking halls and passers-by. First Bank Plc is located along the Otukpo-Enugu highway opposite the Police Area Command in Otukpo. But witnesses said there was no police response to the attack as the hoodlums had a field day. How it happened The hooded criminals drove into Otukpo town in Toyota Hilux vehicles and cars from the Otukpa axis of the Otukpo-Enugu highway. They first stormed Zenith Bank and then quickly spread out to the three other banks where they robbed simultaneously. The robbers rained bullets from all directions which hit passers-by and bank customers, but the police took cover for the over two hours that the operation lasted, a resident in Otukpo metropolis narrated. The Otukpo Divisional Police Officer (DPO), whose name could not be ascertained as of press time, was hit by bullets and taken to an undisclosed hospital, sources said. ALSO READ: Police arrest two suspected robbers on 2nd Niger Bridge Videos of the attack went viral on Facebook. In some of the videos, this reporter saw lifeless bodies drenched in blood in banking halls and in the streets of Otukpo. A car with blaring sirens was seen conveying corpses to the morgue as onlookers ran after the car. A source said when the robbers were done, they headed out of the town through the Otukpo-Aliade highway. Otukpo in a glimpse Otukpo is the headquarters of the Benue South Senatorial District. The senatorial district comprises nine local government areas inhabited largely by the Idoma and Igede tribes. The town has had its own share of armed banditry and kidnapping that have rocked Benue State for years now. But the magnitude of Fridays deadly attack exposes the failure of intelligence. Of the four roads that crisscross Otukpo, there are police and military checkpoints. One wonders how these hoodlums operated for two hours without any form of resistance from the military and the police, a resident of Otukpo wondered. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has approved the release of N3.1 billion for the payment of gratuity for retirees and death benefits for families of the deceased under the Defined Benefit Scheme and the Contributory Pension Scheme. The governors Chief Press Secretary, Mohammed Shehu, said in a statement on Thursday, that the approval was in line with the governors commitment to easing the hardship faced by the elderly, who are among the states most vulnerable. Governor Sani remains committed to ensuring that upon retirement, workers who have served Kaduna State diligently, have full access to what is rightfully theirs. The Kaduna State Government through the State Pension Bureau is resolute in ensuring the continuity of the release of these payments for gratuity and death benefits to beneficiaries in the state. The release of these funds will aid in ameliorating the ripple effects of current economic realities, especially for the elderly who have retired from active service, the statement said. The full list and details of beneficiaries will be released by the State Pension Bureau in the coming days. Pensioners rejoice Elated pensioners applauded Mr Sani for the gesture. Families of some pensioners who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES in Kaduna, the state capital, called on the governor to supervise the disbursement so that the right people got their benefits. I am a pensioner, I retired as a teacher about eight years ago and have been battling to get my pension. They keep telling us the state government has not paid. With this, I hope it will take care of all of us primary school teachers who have retired long ago and are yet to receive our pension. Malama Zainab said. Another resident, Dalladi Umar, said, My father has died, we are waiting for his death benefits, we hope with this we will get. We thank the governor for remembering the pensioners. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft patrol team on Tuesday intercepted and apprehended 11 stowaways onboard Gwangzhou Highway Panama ship, which was en route to Ghana. The stowaways were intercepted around 7 p.m. at obscured spaces of the stern gate of the vessel. Accordingly, Western Regional Control Centre (WRCC) was immediately informed and prompted the vessel to halt within Lagos anchorage. Beecroft is under the command of Kolawole Oguntuga, a commodore. Initially, four stowaways were apprehended from the stern of the vessel. However, information provided by these individuals revealed the presence of additional stowaways inside the ship. Following a comprehensive search, an astonishing seven more stowaways were uncovered within the ship, bringing the total to 11 stowaways who were promptly disembarked from the vessel and taken into custody. The apprehended individuals were identified as Shedrack David 19yrs from Ondo State, Godbless 30yrs Delta State, Ibrahim Hassan 30yrs Adamawa State, Solomon Francis 21yrs Ondo State, Bolaji Johnson 28yrs Ondo State and Samsom Aimy 37yrs Bayelsa State. The others are Ayefuwei Collins 27yrs Delta State, Ayo Gula 28 Delta State, Jolomi Daniel 23yrs Ondo State, Abubakar Ibrahim 19yrs Zamfara State and Precious Uwalogho 30yrs Delta State. They have been handed over to the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) in accordance with the established protocols. Apart from the stowaways putting themselves in life-threatening situations during the long voyage at sea, they also present a myriad of safety and security challenges. Accordingly, this arrest and handover by the patrol team is an essential reminder of the critical role the Nigerian Navy plays in ensuring maritime security as well as upholding the rule of law which underscores the Navys unwavering dedication under the watch of the Chief of the Naval Staff, EI Ogalla, a vice admiral, towards maintaining the security of the countrys maritime domain. Sub-Lieutenant HA COLLINS Base information officer Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. Polynesia has been colonized by France for many years, member of the Assembly of French Polynesia Heinui Robert Le Caill said at the international conference "Neocolonialism: Violation of Human Rights and Injustice" held in Baku, Trend reports. "Our fate is identical to that of the Azerbaijani people: both countries have been fighting injustice for many years. The main difference between us is that the Polynesians are still dealing with this issue," he said. He noted that the local population living in Polynesia was cut off from their culture and forbidden to speak their native language. "France has changed the name of our country to French Polynesia. It does not want to leave the Pacific basin, which is in the zone of common interest. It is for this reason that it pursues a policy of colonization toward the people living in this region. France exploits our natural resources. It uses local people to do hard labor such as coal and gas extraction for meager pay. France earns $25 billion annually from Polynesian coal and gas. It gets 70 percent of its gas from colonial-dependent countries," Heinui Robert Le Caill noted. He emphasized that members of pro-independence groups are arrested in France. Every month, thousands of young Polynesians are conscripted into the French army and die on the way to the triumph of France's colonial policies. "We demand sovereignty - our legitimate right," he said. Baku hosts the international conference "Neocolonialism: Human Rights Violation and Injustice," organized by the Baku Initiative Group on October 20. The Baku Initiative Group was established on July 6, 2023, by participants of the conference "Total Elimination of Colonialism" within the framework of the ministerial meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement under the chairmanship of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Governor Umar Bago of Niger State has asked Nigerian journalists to put in more effort to mainstream climate change in the same way they prioritise political reporting. Mr Bago said this on Friday during a climate change training session organised by the House of Representatives Press Corps in Minna, Niger State capital. The training was themed: Role of the media in mainstreaming climate change policies. The governor, who was represented by his deputy governor, Yakubu Garba, said climate change is one of the biggest problems confronting nations today, and the Nigerian media must play its role in educating the people. Unfortunately, it seems some of these disasters are even underreported. Perhaps, the media is not adequately equipped to handle this. I believe that as journalists who report from the parliament, where laws are enacted, it is essential that you acquire the necessary skills and tools to mainstream climate change. This can enable you to set an agenda for the Legislature and indeed the Executive. I hope that at the end of this retreat, you will all be better positioned to inform, educate and enlighten society on the implications of climate change. I, therefore, invite you to show more interest in issues of climate change. Do not concentrate on reporting politics alone but also pay due attention to climate change because it directly affects human welfare and condition of living, he said. Mr Bago, a former member of the House of Representatives, stated that the state will in the next couple of days host a climate change summit ahead of the COP 28 conference in the United Arab Emirates. The government of Niger State under my leadership is prioritising climate change to mitigate natural and manmade disasters. This informs the decision to convoke a Green Economy Summit. Since my assumption of office, we have raised the ante of informing the public about preventive measures to save lives and reduce damage to property and infrastructure, he said. Sam Onuigbo, a former member of the House of Representatives, who sponsored the Climate Change Act, said section 20 of the constitution mandates the government and citizens to protect the environment, including land, air, and sea. Climate change is not something that is abstract, it is real, Mr Onuigbo said, adding that it affects the lives of the people. Mr Onuigbo explained that the Climate Change Act was designed to have a national council and has representatives of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), women groups and others because the impact of climate change extends to even the subnational. The National Security Adviser and the NGF are part of the Climate Change Commission council because climate change affects everyone. Climate change extends to even the subnational. Hence, the subnational is involved, he said. The Climate Change Act was signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2021. In her remarks, the Chairman of the Press Corps, Grace Ike, assured the governors that the journalists will heed the advice and take up the challenge of focusing attention on climate change. As we are all aware, climate change has impacted our lives in different ways. This has altered our environment and ecosystem. Interestingly, the government is also coming up with various policies to mitigate the effects of climate change not just for Niger State but globally. READ ALSO: Foundation trains journalists on climate change reporting It is therefore our responsibility as reporters to communicate and properly disseminate this information. By so doing, we will all be on the same page, he said. Facilitators at the session included Mboho Eno, the deputy director at the Center for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Uche Anunne, assistant editor-in-chief of New Agency of Nigeria and others. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu has approved the confirmation of the appointment of Adewale Adeniyi as the comptroller-general of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). Willie Bassey, Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, made this known in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja. According to the statement, the president tasks Mrs Adeniyi to bring his wealth of experience to bear on his new assignment. The appointment takes effect from 19 October, and his tenure is in accordance with the extant provisions of the Public Service Rules (PSR), the statement said. Mr Adeniyi was appointed as NCS DG on 19 June. He took over from Hameed Ali, a retired colonel, who occupied the position from 2015 to 2023. He was decorated by Vice President Kashim Shettima on 26 June. After he was decorated, he told journalists that he would make the organisation more effective and innovative. In the last eight years, the NCS has gone through a period of transition in some areas; we recorded progress, we made remarkable progress in e-customs. We made a lot of breakthroughs in capacity building, but the NCS can still live to its full potential when we bring in more innovation to drive Customs operations. These are the kind of things we are looking at in the years ahead; we are going to be professional in our approach; there are a number of key stakeholders that we are going to be working with. It is a very onerous task, but we are going to be working alongside other stakeholders and partners that we have identified. We intend to come up with innovations that we carry along with all partners, Mr Adeniyi said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu has expressed deep sadness over the demise of Mansur Bamalli, the Charge dAffaires in the Embassy of Nigeria in Rabat, Morocco. Mr Bamali passed away on Friday at the age of 42. President Tinubu expressed his sympathy and condolences to the Emir of Zazzau, Ahmad Bamalli, on the passing of the ambassador, who is his brother. Apart from serving as Nigerias Charge dAffaires in Rabat, Morocco until his death, Mr Bamalli also served in Nigerian Missions across multiple continents, including Dublin, Ireland; Accra, Ghana; as well as the State House and various Departments in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during his accomplished career in the Foreign Service. The president joined the Bamalli family, the Zazzau Emirate community, and members of the Nigerian Foreign Service in mourning the loss of the Magajin Garin Zazzau, describing the deceased Nigerian as an astute diplomat and Foreign Service Officer. President Tinubu noted that colleagues, friends and admirers of the departed ambassador in the diplomatic service and Zazzau Emirate will always fondly remember him for his humility, kindness, team spirit, dedication and resilience in the face of challenges. He prayed to the Almighty Allah to grant the highly respected diplomat eternal rest and comfort for his family and loved ones who are grieving this irreplaceable loss. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Three years after violent suppression of nationwide #EndSARS protest against police brutality, a total of 15 protesters arrested in 2020 are still being arbitrarily detained the majority of them without trial in Kirikiri Medium Correctional Centre and Ikoyi Medium Security Correctional Centre in Lagos. The Nigerian authorities have filed trumped-up charges including theft, arson, possession of unlawful firearms, and murder against many of the protesters. Some of those detained alleged that they have been subjected to torture. Our investigation shows the Nigerian authorities utter disdain for human rights. Three years in detention without trial is a travesty of justice. This shows the authorities contempt for due process of law. The protesters must be immediately and unconditionally released, said Isa Sanusi, director Amnesty International Nigeria. Seven #EndSARS protesters Daniel Joy-Igbo, Sodiq Adigun, Sunday Okoro, Olumide Fatai, Oluwole Isa, Shehu Anas, and Akiniran Oyetakin arrested in Lagos in 2020, are being arbitrarily held in Kirikiri Medium Correctional Centre. Daniel Joy-Igbo, a Beninois #EndSARS protester arrested in Lagos in October 2020, who has also been detained at the Bar Beach Police Station, the State Criminal Investigation Department in Panti, and at a SARS facility in Ikeja, told Amnesty International: Since my arraignment in December 2020, I have been locked up in the prison without trial. Since then, there is no adjourned date for my case. I have not been taken to court since December 2020. Sodiq Adigun, also arrested in October 2020, who was previously detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Panti, told Amnesty International: Let the government release me. I have been detained since 2020 without trial. I am innocent. My life has been shattered. I need my liberty. Eight #EndSARS protesters Segun Adeniyi, Onuorah Odih, Jeremiah Lucky, Gideon Ikwujomah, Irinyemi Olorunwanbe, Quadri Azeez, Olamide Lekan and Sadiq Riliwan have been detained without trial in Ikoyi Medium Security Correctional Centre in Lagos since 2020. All those detained solely for taking part in peaceful #EndSARS protests must be released immediately and unconditionally, said Isa Sanusi Torture in detention Many peaceful #EndSARS protesters have been subjected to torture and other ill treatment while in detention since 2020. They include Oluwole Isa, currently held in Kirikiri Medium Correctional Centre, who told Amnesty International how he was tortured while in detention at the SARS facility in Ikeja: I was tied with a rope. They bent me backwards and tied my hands and legs together at my back. An iron rod was passed in-between my tied legs and hands. With the iron road, I was suspended on an iron bar. Then, they started beating me with a machete and wooden batons. They were forcing me to admit that I was involved in vandalism during the #EndSARS protests. When I could not bear the torture anymore, I told Inspector that I would confess. At that point, I was almost going to die. He brought me down; I still have the scar of the machete cut on my throat Resurgence of police brutality Despite consistent claims of carrying out comprehensive police reforms in the aftermath of #EndSARS protests, Nigerias police continue to routinely commit violations of human rights, including extrajudicial killings, harassment, arbitrary detention, and extortion with almost absolute impunity, said Amnesty International Nigeria. In the past year alone, Amnesty International has documented the unlawful killing of at least six people by law enforcement officers. These include 31-year-old Gafaru Buraimoh, who was killed in Lagos on 6 December 2022, and Onyeka Ibe, who was killed on 5 April 2023 in Delta state for refusing to pay N100 bribe. Other cases include Faiz Abdullahi, who died in police custody in Kaduna on 30 July 2023 following torture during interrogation, and 17-year-old student Abdullahi Abba, who died in hospital after allegedly being tortured in police custody in Yola Adamawa state on 5 August 2023. Any changes that followed the #EndSARS protests are fast disappearing, as police brutality is again becoming a daily part of life for people across Nigeria. The recent cases of extrajudicial killings and extortion show that the police are not ready to conduct their duties in compliance with international human rights standards. Reforming the Nigeria police force will continue to be a distant dream if impunity remains part of policing operations, said Mr Sanusi, director of Amnesty International Nigeria. Nigerian authorities must take concrete and effective measures to end police impunity, including by giving clear directives to the police not to violate human rights. Those suspected of violating human rights should be brought to justice in fair trials and without recourse to the death penalty. Genuine reforms must be initiated to end widespread human rights violations by the police. Nigeria has an obligation to ensure that torture and other ill-treatment are not carried out under any circumstances. BACKGROUND On 8 October 2020, Nigerians took to the streets protesting atrocities by the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) which was a unit of the Nigeria Police established to fight violent crimes. On 20 October 2020, at least 12 peaceful protesters were killed in Alausa and Lekki Lagos by security operatives. At least 56 people have died across the country during the protests. Victims include protesters and thugs who were allegedly hired by the authorities to confront the protesters. In many cases, the law enforcement and security forces had used excessive force in an attempt to control or stop the protests. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Thousands of federal civil servants currently participating in the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) physical verification in Abuja felt dejected on Thursday due to overcrowding and rowdiness at the venue of the exercise. When PREMIUM TIMES visited the Public Service Institute (PSI) venue of exercise along Kubwa road in the federal capital, the workers were seen battling to complete the exercise which will end on 27 October. About 17,000 federal workers who failed to verify their details in the IPPIS previously are participating in the exercise which began on Monday 16 October and holds between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on each day. A circular to all permanent secretaries directing the workers to enlist in the system had warned that All concerned officers are to note that this is the last opportunity for the exercise. IPPIS was conceived in 2006 to centralise workers salary payments and serve as a means to facilitate convenient staff remuneration with minimal wastage, among others. To ensure a smooth process in the ongoing verification, the civil servants, who came from different parts of the country, were divided into five groups comprising ministries, departments and agencies of the government. During the visit to the centre, this newspaper witnessed how the workers struggled to get into the main building where the exercise was held. In the process, the place became rowdy because there were no law enforcement personnel to control the crowd. Apparently frustrated, hundreds of workers both men and women, who could not gain entrance into the hall, sat down on bare floors while others were seen spreading wrappers to lay on them. Those who are not residents of Abuja were particularly eager to complete the exercise and leave apparently because of the expenses incurred travelling to the federal capital. Some of the workers who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES lamented the tiring process of the registration which is in five stages. One of the workers, who did not want his name mentioned to avoid victimisation, said he arrived at the venue for the exercise on Thursday at exactly 6 a.m. and met a huge crowd. He said he wrote his name on the piece of paper, which already contained the names of others who arrived on Wednesday. He condemned the handling of the verification, saying the application of technology could have eased the burden associated with the registration. According to him, the affected workers would not have travelled to Abuja especially because their salaries have been suspended. He said the government should have allowed workers to do the registration remotely instead of undergoing the five processes at the centre. We could have adopted technology as a process to make it easier. What I mean is that it could have been done remotely by everybody. All that may be required is just one time seeing, which could easily be done in the six geo-political zones across the nation, he said. He also bemoaned the insensitivity on the part of the government to have compelled 17,000 workers to assemble in one space for the exercise, whereas it could have been done in their respective agencies. He said some of their colleagues had accidents on their way to Abuja for this exercise even after the government had stopped their salaries. A female worker from Taraba State, who is a teacher, jokingly told this reporter here are we ooo indicating she was not a ghost worker; a term used for non-existent personnel that earn salaries. Unconfirmed reports said some of the workers fainted some days ago while participating in the exercise. Head of Service speaks Mohammed Abdullahi, director of communication in the office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, told PREMIUM TIMES that the rowdy sessions being experienced at the venue were a result of the inability of the workers to be civil. He said workers are paying for their laxity in cooperating with the enrollment staff, saying, They are first civil servants, their conduct at all times should be civil. The affected workers must conduct themselves properly for the exercise to go on. We dont have to take Civil Defence to that place before theyll start to accuse us of intimidating them, Mr Abdullahi said. He said the office of the Head of Civil Service will not speed up the exercise in order not to make mistakes. Mr Abdullahi advised the workers to stop being unruly and cooperate with the enrollment staff at the centre to ease the burden. Verification began in 2019 The director explained that the verification began in 2019 but the 17,000 workers refused to participate since then, which led to the high number as well as the suspension of their salaries. The online portal for enrollment was opened since 2019, but seems those affected were not in the country. We stopped their salaries because they have not been verified, and if you are not verified, is as good as a ghost worker, he said. Mr Abdullahi said the ongoing exercise is thorough because the workers are expected to present their primary school certificates and other essential documents. He said there is no provision of logistics for the workers because the office of the Head of Service does not have money for such. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigerian economy will limp on at the slow tempo of growth it started the first quarter of the year with through to the end and expand at virtually the same rate next year, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) foresaw in a new outlook for Africas largest economy. The marginal growth in GDP by 2.5% in Q2 2023 from 2.3% in Q1 2023 was caused by the lingering effect of the cash crunch. PwC projects a 2.8% growth rate for Nigeria in 2023 and 3% in 2024, the consultancy firm said. That marginal projection could be part of the chain reaction from enforcing fiscal reforms in Nigeria, according to the professional services firm. This years forecast slightly lags the reckoning this month by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which put Nigerias GDP growth rate at 2.9 per cent and that of 2024 at 3.3 per cent. The 2024, as the IMF projected, falls behind the emerging market and developing economies average, but is way ahead of that of Africas most industrialised economy South Africa. Interestingly, the Bretton Woods institution expects the Southern African country to confine Nigeria to the second position on the continent in GDP terms next year even at a 1.8 per cent growth rate. Three sectors namely manufacturing, ICT and finance & insurance together contributed 45 per cent of company income tax and value-added tax in the first quarter, seen by PwC to mean revenue receipt is not broadly spread across the 21 sectors of the economy. This may have implications for reaching the targeted tax to GDP of 18% by 2026 and government revenue generation capacity in the short to medium term. Nigeria is on a drive to buck taxs contribution to GDP up to 18 per cent by 2026 so that the country, one of the crop with the lowest tax-to-GDP ratio in the globe, will be able to bolster revenue as borrowing is no longer an option for government finance. Debt servicing currently gulps 96 per cent of government revenue after securitising the credit from the Central Bank of Nigeria, the so-called Ways & Means, and a devaluation of the naira magnified public debt to N87.4 trillion in the quarter to June. With little room left to manoeuvre within the statutory debt allowance, borrowing is not on the cards, the government said in August. Attention will instead shift to cultivating overseas investors, it added. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The management of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, has rescinded its decision to compel students who may be allocated hostel accommodation to bring their mattresses and other items to the campus, PREMIUM TIMES can exclusively report. Top officials of the university who spoke exclusively with this newspaper on Friday morning said though the decision was based on personal hygiene of the students, as a responsible institution, listening to the dissenting opinions and conceding to the popular demand was the best thing to do. The Dean of the Students Affairs of the university, Musa Obalola, a professor, also confirmed the latest development in a telephone interview. Mr Obalola said the universitys earlier position was based on the health of the students and the university as a whole. He said many parents had approached the institution to suggest the option of providing personal mattresses for their wards as a solution to the degenerating unhygienic situation in the hostels. We fumigate regularly but because of the attitudes of the students to the public facilities, we realised fumigation hasnt really helped. So the idea of personal provision of mattresses was just something we thought could make the owners to be responsible enough and care for what they own, Mr Obalola said. Earlier position In a directive signed by Mr Obalola, the university had announced that the hostel allocation exercise would commence on Monday, 23 October. The memo said successful candidates would be required to come with their mattresses covered with macintosh, adding that students should pay their fees and register some courses for the session. Confirming the development, Adejoke Alaga-Ibrahim, the institutions spokesperson, told PREMIUM TIMES Thursday that the universitys decision was solely based on hygiene and health reasons. Mrs Alaga-Ibraheem said the university was very concerned about the safety of the students, and that only health safety could guarantee sound teaching and learning. Parents kick The parents of students of UNILAG, however, expressed displeasure over the managements directive. The Chairman of the schools Parents Forum, Olayiwola Aderemi, told Tribune Newspaper that members only read the directive on a platform and that they are unhappy about the information. READ ALSO: Apart from the financial burden this will bring on parents, who are yet to come out of the huge obligatory fees palaver, we saw the information as absurd, Mr Aderemi said. He said the forum had earlier donated 1,000 mattresses to the university two years ago when it hosted the NUGA games, and that 500 were also donated earlier when the university experienced the bedbugs crisis in the hostel. That is 1,500 mattresses altogether bought by the Parents Forum in the recent past, he noted. School fees increment Mr Aderemi also complained about the university demanding too much amidst harsh economy. He added that it has been difficult for many parents to meet up with the recent increment in various obligatory fees. The university had increased the payable fees depending on the courses of study and year of admission. But after protests by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the management reviewed the fees for new undergraduate students from N126,325 to N116,325 for courses without lab/studio and N176,325 to N166,325 for courses with lab/studio. The obligatory fees for returning undergraduate students were reviewed from N100,750 to N80,750 for courses without lab/studio; N140,250 to N120,250 for courses with lab/studio; and from N190,250 to N170,250 for medical / pharmacy students and students in health professions. Way forward A senior official of the university who craved anonymity said though the management had good intention of safeguarding the health of the students, no Nigerian would be ready to listen to anything that would attract any form of additional expenses. So what the university has done was to look elsewhere for mattresses and see how we could manage those that are currently available. But what I want the public to note is that this vice-chancellor is not the type to make life difficult for anyone, the official said. The dean of students affairs also confirmed that a meeting between his office and the parents forum would hold where the official position would be taken. Yes, our meeting with the parents is only to assure them of our sincerity of purpose and to let them know that the management has listening ears. The university is a legacy that we must all guard very well and Madam Vice-Chancellor is committed to doing just that, Mr Obalola said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print He had expected a peaceful protest, one where the Nigerian government would address the concerns of police brutality. But there he was, at Lekki Tollgate in Lagos, dodging bullets as the Nigerian army fired live rounds at unarmed protesters during the #ENDSARS demonstrations. We sat there with the Nigerian flag, reciting the national anthem. Around 6 p.m., the lights at the tollgate went dark. Initially, the army fired shots into the air, but then they began aiming directly at us, recounted Mr Moses. On the night of 20 October 2020, Mr Moses, a Lagos-based artisan, had joined the #ENDSARS protests alongside hundreds of young Nigerians. The movement had surged in response to bribery, extortion, harassment, and extrajudicial killings by the Nigerian police particularly by the notorious, now-disbanded unit, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). READ ALSO: What he hadnt anticipated was the fierce resistance theyd face. He and numerous other Nigerians encountered brutal force from security agents. At the Lagos tollgate, soldiers killed several protesters and blocked health professionals from attending to the wounded. It was scary. Some were shot dead, others injured. I had to run for my life. When the person before me fell, I climbed over him. I had to choose between falling and dying or running for my life, Kayode recalled. His experience and those of many others affected by police brutality and the #ENDSARS protests of 2020 are the focus of the newly released documentary, October 2020. Created by the Tiger Eye Foundation, a media nonprofit championing investigative journalism in Africa, the documentary chronicles the events and aftermath of the 2020 #ENDSARS protests. It captures the movements enduring impact on Nigeria and the wider world three years later, and features activists, experts, and young protesters like Mr Moses, all touched by police brutality and the #ENDSARS movement. In collaboration with organisations and media outlets such as PREMIUM TIMES, the Tiger Eye Foundation endeavors to capture history with October 2020, as well as ensure that the lessons from the #ENDSARS movement pave the way for a more hopeful future for Nigeria. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print On Friday, Nigerian skit maker Adebowale Adedayo, also known as Mr Macaroni, along with dozens of Nigerian youths, stormed the street of Lagos in a solidarity walk to mark the third memorial of the Lekki shooting that took place at the tollgate on 20 October 2020. Despite heavy police presence, the skit maker and some young Nigerians besieged the Lekki Tollgate to honour those who lost their lives to police and military brutality. The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, and other top police officers were also in the area and closely supervised the solidarity walk. Although the Lagos State Police Command had issued a prior warning against any form of assembly at the Lekki Tollgate, Mr Macaroni and other young Nigerians took to the streets to hold a peace walk. According to various videos on social media, the protesters, in the company of the police, maintained decorum during the peaceful solidarity walk as they chanted sober songs to remember the events of three years ago, during the #EndSARS protests. In one of the videos, the 30-year-old skit maker said that the peace walk honours everyone who lost their lives on 20 October 2020. Speaking about the police presence, Mr Macaroni said, Weve done that. We want to walk back, but the police dont want us to step back. We dont want to give them a reason or an excuse to fire at us. Weve been on this for three years and know what they can do. He also called for the #EndSARS protesters unconditional release. He said, I want to use this opportunity to call for the unconditional release of all those still in prisons. There are still some protesters who have been in jail since 2020. Lawyers have been on the cases, with different shouts everyday, but till now, they are still there. We are using this walk to once again call on all those concerned to grant the unconditional release of all protesters still in prison. #EndSARS According to the #EndSARS panel set up by the Lagos State government, at least 40 people died in the shooting on 20 October 2020. The #EndSARS movement emerged as a public outcry against police brutality, extrajudicial killings, extortion, and the abuse of power, particularly by the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (). The protests began peacefully and ultimately led to the federal governments disbanding of SARS. Regrettably, the demonstrations turned violent as unidentified individuals seized the situation, resulting in the burning of police stations and public facilities and attacks on law enforcement officers and civilians. The protest culminated on 20 October, 2020, when Nigerian Army personnel opened fire on demonstrators, resulting in tragic loss of lives and numerous injuries, primarily among young protesters. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Sexual harassment encompasses a wide range of inappropriate behaviour, from ogling, touching and commenting about body parts, to sexual proposition, coercion, assault and rape. In other words, it is any form of unsolicited and unwanted sexual attention. Within the academic environment, there is another dimension too. It is any form of physical or verbal behaviour that may tie academic progress to sexual favours. Either staff or students could be victims. It violates the victims dignity, especially in situations where it creates an environment of humiliation, degradation or hostility. In Nigeria, sexual harassment is the bane of many students. While it is difficult to put a figure to it, a 2018 World Bank survey said 70% of female graduates from Nigerian tertiary institutions had been sexually harassed in school by their fellow students and lecturers. A Nigerian study found that 34.2% of the 160 students surveyed said that sexual violence was the most prevalent form of gender-based violence. There is even a bill which aims to prevent it the Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Institutions Prohibition Bill awaiting presidential assent, passed by the National Assembly. The effects of sexual harassment may include loss of self confidence and self esteem, trouble studying or paying attention, and thinking about dropping a class or even leaving the institution. Im a scholar of gender, sexuality and communication. I conducted a study that looked at the perceptions embedded in the online opinion and attitudes of Nigerians towards female victims of sexual harassment. I analysed comments uploaded on Nairaland.com, a Nigerian English-language internet forum with over 3 million registered users. These were comments about personal experiences of sexual harassment in Nigerian tertiary education institutions. The analysis found that the comments contained stereotypical assumptions and negative attitudes towards victims. Victims of sexual harassment were presented as liars and willing accomplices. The comments suggested that womens behaviour instigated the harassment and that they were guilty. My findings provide insights into the construction of masculinity and femininity in Nigerian cyberspaces. They also show how these spaces reproduce and reconstruct norms about gender and sexuality. I recommend that education institutions should do more to prevent harassment and to support those who experience it. In addition, a law should be put in place to require institutions to do so. Comments on Nairaland The data for my study comprised 500 comments gathered from five selected stories on university sexual harassment downloaded from Nairaland. Nairaland is the largest Nigerian online forum; people post comments there on many topics, ranging from politics to social issues. Nairaland members cut across different ages, social classes, gender and professions. There are students and lecturers on the forum. Participants can post personal stories as well as stories and news reports from other online forums or news sites. Forum members then deliberate on them. I chose five stories which generated a lot of comments. Two of the stories were discussions on sexual harassment cases. Three were personal stories of victims. My analysis took a descriptive qualitative approach. In the comments, female victims of sexual harassment were presented as liars who willingly took part in what had happened. The comments suggested their actions and what they were wearing had provoked the harassment. Some statements implied that women only claim harassment when they want attention or feel cheated by males. For example: The girl is already an ashawo (prostitute) she wants to form virgin mary when she is a prostitute already. rubbish she is not a virgin so why refuse the lecturer sex. she is just trying to play the victim. Some of the commentators said sexual victimisation would always occur because men are biologically wired to always want sex. Also, that some female students dressed provocatively, and some were too lazy to pass without favours from their lecturers. Female victims were blamed for putting themselves in a position that made them harassable they were guilty by making themselves available to their harassers. Negative portrayal of victims My research also shows how Nigerian society portrays women. The negative and ideological portrayal of the victims stems from a broader perception of women in Nigerian society. It reflects the patriarchal structure of the society, which considers women unequal to men. Social practices that uphold patriarchy blame females for sexual crimes committed against them by males. Women are seen as flawed and debased, objects of sexual gratification for men. Men tend to hold powerful and authoritative positions in universities. Since 1960, there have been only 38 women among over 720 vice-chancellors in Nigeria. The way forward Sexual harassment can only be curbed if there are measures that encourage early reporting by victims within the university system. Their protection must be guaranteed as this will make them feel safe to report incidents of harassment. In an environment where they are blamed for their own harassment, they are less likely to report it and it is more likely to continue, with negative impacts on individuals educational progress and health. Nigerian tertiary institutions should create a gender diversity office that protects the identity of students who report cases of sexual harassment. That way, victims do not have to suffer criticism or stigmatisation from society. The University of Ibadan has a Gender Mainstreaming Office which investigates sexual harassment issues, but it is difficult to gauge its effectiveness. Another, Godfrey Okoye University, has a similar office. There should be a policy on sexual harassment in all institutions. Its contents must be widely shared and clear to reflect what constitutes harassment and what punishment perpetrators can expect to face. Helen Ugah, Lecturer, Elizade University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. The representative of Ethiopia, Fekadu Demissie, said he has always condemned countries that support Armenia's unfair policy against Azerbaijan, Trend reports. He made the remark in Baku during the international conference "Neocolonialism: Human Rights Violation and Injustice", organized by the Baku Initiative Group on October 20. "I always speak out against injustice and bias against countries that support Armenia against Azerbaijan. I express my deepest dissatisfaction with such issues," Demissie said. He also noted the unfairness of Western countries' policies towards post-colonial countries. "Western countries have its own interests, and they often put them in priority. However, it is important that there is a way to comply with universal principles without applying double standards. This should be the norm, no matter what country or community we are talking about. Balance, regulation and adaptation are the keys to creating a more modern and sustainable society or community," he said. The Baku Initiative Group was established on July 6, 2023, by participants of the conference "Total Elimination of Colonialism" within the framework of the ministerial meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement under the chairmanship of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Lagos police commissioner, Idowu Owohunwa, has explained reasons behind the heavy presence of officers at the Lekki tollgate on the third anniversary of the #EndSARS protest. On Friday, a memorial walk was organised to commemorate the Lekki tollgate shooting during the nationwide #EndSARS protests of 2020. The walk was to mark the second memorial of the Lekki shooting that took place at the tollgate and to honour those that lost their lives to the police and military brutality that took place on 20 October 2020. Nigerian skit maker, Adebowale Adedayo, also known as Mr Macaroni, along with dozens of Nigerian youths, stormed the street of Lagos in a solidarity walk to mark the third memorial of the Lekki shooting. Heavy presence of police Speaking with journalists at the tollgate, Mr Owohunwa said the police officers were deployed to the area to secure Lagos and prevent the breakdown of law and order. So far, as you can see, the deployment is on point and in line with the brief, all policemen from the feedback have been very civil, professional and respectful of the rights and space of both protesters and the wider citizens, he said. So I think as the commissioner of police, I am very very impressed and commend their sacrifice and their efforts while encouraging them to sustain it in the interest of the public. In the course of exercising their rights (referring to #EndSARS protesters), we will ensure that the group is not exposed to any form of danger. That is what we are doing here and that is what we have done. We also made it that for the overall public interest, we also not allow a situation where those groups conduct themselves in a manner that will breach the security and peace in Lekki and other parts of Lagos. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of two (2) new Chief Executive Officers of Agencies under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare: Executive Secretary / CEO, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) Muyi Aina Director-General / CEO, National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Kelechi Ohiri Muyi Aina is a globally renowned public health leader with a Masters in Public Health degree from Harvard University (USA) and a Doctorate degree from Johns Hopkins University (USA), following his first medical certification at the University of Ilorin. Kelechi Ohiri most recently served as the Managing Director for Strategy at Global Alliance for Vaccines in Geneva, Switzerland. He obtained a Masters in Public Health degree from Harvard University (USA) and another Masters degree in Public Policy from Harvards Kennedy School of Government following his first medical certification from the University of Lagos. He has obtained significant experience serving in the World Bank, McKinsey & Company, and has shaped reforms to the National Health Service (NHS) of the United Kingdom. President Bola Tinubu urges the new leadership of these two critical agencies in the sector to prioritize quality, fairness, and accountability in the provision of world-class health care to all segments of the Nigerian society. Ajuri Ngelale Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) October 20, 2023 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has kicked against President Bola Tinubus directive for the payment of four months salaries out of the eight months withheld salaries of members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) during the last industrial action by university workers. The Presidents spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, disclosed in a statement on Friday that President Bola Tinubu has approved the partial waiver of the No Work, No Pay Order that was instituted against striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) following the commencement of their eight-month industrial action which began on February 14, 2022, and was terminated on October 17, 2022. But SSANU said the presidents directive is at best misdirected as its members salaries were also withheld within the period. In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Friday evening, the National Vice President of SSANU, Abdussobur Salaam, noted that the directive appeared to be selective in favour of a single union out of others whose members salaries were withheld. He said the presidents directive if not reviewed to include SSANU and other unions could be a recipe for disaster as he threatened another round of strikes if SSANU members withheld salaries were not paid alongside that of ASUU. The directive appears to be misdirected because all university unions went on strike last year and not ASUU alone. To that extent, that directive cannot be selective in favour of a single union but can only be general, Mr Salaam said in a terse statement shared with this newspaper. He said the union believes that the government is wiser than selecting only one union for payment and excluding the others, noting that there must be a communication gap somewhere. We are quite confident that the government would not be so misguided to pay one union the salaries without paying the other unions. It would only be a recipe for disaster in the university system. SSANU shall take it up with the relevant government officials and authorities, he added. No Work, No Pay and the 2022 Strike Last year, at least four unions in Nigerian universities had their salaries withheld when the government invoked a No Work, No Pay policy against the striking university workers. Apart from ASUU and SSANU, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) had downed tools to protest the non-payment of their members entitlements and the non-implementation of the unions agreements with the government. SSANU has consistently queried the rationale behind the governments no work, no pay policy, instituted against its members, insisting it followed due process before embarking on the strike that lasted four months. Qosim Suleiman is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The youth wing of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the Ondo State House of Assembly to make a formal inquiry into whether Governor Rotimi Akeredolu is fit to continue in office. The group has also vowed to seek legal action against the governor and the assembly, should its demand be ignored. Mr Akeredolu in June said he was proceeding on a 21-day medical leave in a letter to the House of Assembly. The leave was later extended in July, with the governor stating that he would resume whenever his doctors declare him fit to do so. However, the governor announced his arrival from leave and resumption on 7 September and was welcomed by members of his cabinet and lawmakers at his private residence in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. The PDP has been raising dust over the continued absence of the governor from the state since his return to Nigeria. But his aides argued that the governors absence was not impairing governance in the state. But briefing journalists on Friday in Akure, the PDP youth wing said the House of Assembly should set up a panel to probe Mr Akeredolus health condition, in line with Section 189 (4) of the Constitution. The section states that: The medical panel to which this section relates shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Assembly of the State, and shall comprise five medical practitioners in Nigeria (a) one of whom shall be the personal physician of the holder of the office concerned; and (b) four other medical practitioners who have, in the opinion of the Speaker of the House of Assembly, attained a high degree of eminence in the field of medicine relative to the nature of the examination to be conducted in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this section, which provides a framework for addressing situations where a Governor is unable to discharge the functions of the office due to health-related reasons be initiated by the State Legislative Arm. The spokesperson of the youths, Tayo Oluyi, said Mr Akeredolu is answerable to the people of the state. He said going by his letter to the House of Assembly informing the lawmakers of his return from medical leave, One will agree that the governor is now fit enough to resume his duties as the Chief Security Officer and the head of the States Executive arm. However, a veil of secrecy, seemingly intentional, in total disregard to the sensibility of the people whose mandate the Governor is holding, shrouds the situation around the Governors health, and such opacity begets doubt and speculation. It is the right of the people, in the spirit of democracy, to be apprised of their governors health, the specific location from which they conduct their duties, and the safeguards in place to ensure that governance remains effective even in their absence. The threat of a dangerous precedent looms large, where leaders, in the name of privacy, retreat to undisclosed locations and continue to govern without the watchful eyes of the public. This challenges the very notion of governance, which rests upon the pillars of accountability and representation. We would like to make it clear that the Governor, in the face of the law is hale and hearty as no subsisting communication suggests otherwise, and since he has refused to resume his duty, we have taken it upon ourselves as stakeholders in the affairs of this state to explore available constitutional measures to demand for his whereabouts or ask that he is relieved of his duty as the Governor of Ondo State if, for any reason, he cannot continue. It is in the light of this that we would like to state that weve followed up our resume or resign call by writing to the Ondo State House of Assembly to invoke Section 189(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He appealed to the assembly, in the interest of the state and its citizens, to uphold the provisions of the constitution to ensure the effectiveness of governance in the state. if the House of Assembly failed in this regard, we wont hesitate to explore other legitimate Constitutional means to press our demands, Mr Oluyi said. Our great state has long been a beacon of democracy and good governance. To sustain this legacy, we must champion openness and accountability. Our citizens deserve nothing less, he stated. The assembly had on Thursday rejected calls by the PDP to sack Mr Akeredolu over his failure to govern the state. But the House said the governor was conducting the affairs of the state effectively. The governors spokesperson, Richard Olatunde, on Friday, also denied that the governor was not at his duty post. Mr Olatunde, who spoke on a Radio programme in Akure, said the attacks on the governor were being sponsored by those opposed to him on his stand on national issues. Keep in mind that there are individuals still opposing Governor Akeredolus roles in establishing Amotekun and advocating for a Southern Presidency. Consider these factors when evaluating these insinuations, he said. Governor Akeredolu is not incapacitated. The Governor addressed this issue when he received the current National Chairman of the APC, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. The former Chairman, Adamu, didnt contact the Governor during his treatment in Germany. Its absurd to declare someone incapacitated without even attempting to communicate with them. The truth of the matter is that the Governor is fulfilling his constitutional roles. If anyone asserts otherwise, ask them whats currently left undone in the state. Workers are receiving their salaries on time, and leave bonuses have been paid. Permanent Secretaries have received brand-new SUVs as official vehicles. The state is thriving. Those claiming that Ondo State is in crisis are merely motivated by their interests. Dont lend credence to their statements, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. F-16 aircraft of the Turkish Air Force arrived in Azerbaijan today to participate in the "Mustafa Kemal Ataturk-2023" exercises, the country's Defense Ministry told Trend. The Azerbaijani-Turkish joint tactical exercises will be conducted on October 23-25 in several directions, including Baku, Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and liberated territories of Azerbaijan. The joint exercises with the involvement of the two fraternal countries servicemen, military vehicles, and aircraft will be focused on ensuring combat interoperability during the troops interaction, improving management, exchanging experience, and further increasing military personnels professionalism. KAMPALA, Uganda, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A transformative partnership set to reshape healthcare delivery has been established between DHL, XRP Healthcare and The Burnratty Investment Group to transport ground-breaking NASA-designed ventilators directly to the acquired medical facilities. From left to right: Joseph Odole-Akinyemi, Laban Roomes, Mukisa Joshua William, Kain Roomes, Steven Kateihwaho DHL, which stands for Dalsey, Hillblom, and Lynn, was founded by Adrian Dalsey, Larry Hillblom, and Robert Lynn. The company was established in 1969. It initially began as a courier service to ship cargo documents between San Francisco, California, and Honolulu, Hawaii. Over the years, DHL has grown into one of the world's leading international shipping and logistics companies and is the leading courier company to deliver Specialized Healthcare Equipment and Services into Africa. XRP Healthcare Business Development Officer & Co-founder Laban Roomes said "We chose DHL to ship the first NASA-designed ventilator to Uganda for several key aspects:" "Extensive Network: DHL has an extensive network of service points, offices, and distribution centres across Africa . This network allows them to offer domestic and international shipping services, including express deliveries, freight forwarding, and supply chain solutions. Coverage: DHL serves both major urban areas and remote regions in Africa . They have a presence in countries like Uganda , Rwanda , Kenya , Ethiopia , Somalia , South Africa , Nigeria , Egypt , Ghana , Morocco , and many others. Customs Expertise: DHL provides customs clearance and import/export services, helping businesses navigate the complex customs and import regulations in different African countries. E-commerce Solutions: With the growth of e-commerce in Africa , DHL has tailored its services to support online retailers and businesses. They offer shipping and last-mile delivery solutions to support e-commerce growth on the continent. Specialized Services: DHL offers specialized services for industries such as healthcare, automotive, energy, and more. They have solutions for time-critical shipments, temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals, and other specialized needs". DHL will play a pivotal role in ensuring the seamless movement of the NASA-designed ventilators from manufacturers Spiritus Medical Inc. directly to medical centres and hospitals acquired by XRP Healthcare and Ugandan-based partners The Burnratty Investment Group to consolidate the highly fragmented private healthcare Industry in Africa - where both companies aim to create a premier healthcare system that resides under one roof, with access to improved environments, systems, doctors, and medical provisions of which the NASA-designed ventilator will play a pivotal part. Developed by brilliant minds at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, the SPIRITUS VITALITY ventilator of which it is so aptly called, represents a monumental leap in healthcare progress. By flawlessly incorporating the NASA-designed ventilator into XRP Healthcare's medical facilities, healthcare experts in Africa will acquire unparalleled capabilities to tackle the most intricate respiratory issues with unparalleled precision and effectiveness. Beyond its revolutionary capabilities, the NASA-Designed VITALITY ventilator's streamlined design allows efficient mass production, ensuring affordability and accessibility to a broader population. Its adaptability extends its reach to field hospitals, enabling crucial respiratory care in high-capacity settings like convention centres and hotels. Its remarkable capabilities have been rigorously tested at prestigious institutions, including the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, earning accolades and acclaim. Accessibility and Adaptability XRP Healthcare & The Burnratty Investment Group's strategic decision to incorporate the Nasa-Designed VITALITY ventilator into their newly acquired medical facilities marks an unparalleled leap forward in healthcare solutions. This visionary integration reflects our unwavering dedication to delivering exceptional healthcare, amplifying the promise of accessible, advanced patient care. The DHL Country Manager for Uganda, Joseph Odole-Akinyemi, and DHL Country Commercial Manager, Steven Kateihwaho, expressed the following: "DHL Uganda's import capabilities reach across the globe and are marked by an exceptional relationship with the local authorities. We hold the prestigious AEO (Authorized Economic Operator) certification, which allows us to guarantee same-day delivery for any imported item. DHL takes great pride in facilitating a historic achievement by assisting XRP Healthcare and The Burnratty Investment Group in bringing the first NASA-designed ventilator to Uganda. We are delighted to offer our support on behalf of DHL, ensuring the safe and secure door-to-door delivery of these life-saving devices." Founder of XRP Healthcare Kain Roomes remarked: "It is with immense pride and gratitude that we announce the successful delivery of the NASA-Designed ventilator to Uganda, thanks to the unwavering support of our esteemed partners, DHL. This moment is a testament to our collective commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure and saving lives in Uganda. XRP Healthcare was founded on the principle of leveraging innovation and global collaboration to make a significant impact on healthcare, and today, we see that principle in action. This ventilator, a product of NASA's cutting-edge technology, represents a beacon of hope for patients and healthcare professionals in Uganda. It arrives at a time when such advanced medical equipment is needed more than ever. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to DHL for their instrumental role in making this delivery possible. Their efficiency and dedication in ensuring the safe arrival of this vital equipment is commendable. This ventilator is not just a machine; it's a symbol of progress and humanity's collective efforts to provide quality healthcare for all. We are committed to working closely with healthcare institutions in Uganda to ensure the effective deployment of this ventilator and its optimal utilization in saving lives. Our vision at XRP Healthcare has always been to bridge gaps in healthcare access, and this milestone underscores our dedication to that mission. We look forward to further collaborations and innovations that will continue to elevate healthcare standards in Uganda and beyond. We extend our deepest thanks to all who have contributed to this achievement, and we eagerly anticipate the positive impact this ventilator will have on the health and well-being of the people of Uganda." Mukisa Joshua William the Principal and Founding Executive Director at The Burnratty Investment Group remarked "We are thrilled to announce the arrival of the NASA-designed ventilator in Uganda, a crucial addition to our healthcare resources. This achievement marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to enhance medical care in our country and the African continent as a whole. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated partners, DHL, for their exceptional support in making this delivery possible. This ventilator, developed by NASA, represents cutting-edge technology and a testament to the power of international collaboration. It will play a vital role in our healthcare system, especially in times of medical emergencies. Its arrival is a beacon of hope for patients and healthcare professionals alike, as we strive to improve patient care and save lives. We are committed to deploying this ventilator in the most effective manner, ensuring that it serves those in need across our healthcare facilities. Together with DHL, we look forward to continued efforts to strengthen healthcare infrastructure in Uganda and provide quality care to our citizens. This moment reinforces our belief in the importance of partnerships, innovation, and global solidarity. We are dedicated to harnessing these strengths to build a healthier, more resilient Uganda. Our sincere thanks go to everyone involved in this endeavour, and we eagerly anticipate the positive impact this ventilator will have on the health and well-being of our people." XRP Healthcare & The Burnratty Investment Group's partnership smoothly integrates solutions with DHL's intricate global network, facilitating the transportation of NASA-designed ventilators to medical frontlines in Uganda. Beyond achieving this significant milestone, the collaboration underscores a mutual dedication to improving healthcare infrastructure and patient well-being, transcending geographical boundaries and enduring through generations. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2252631/XRP_Healthcare.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1983109/4352472/XRP_Healthcare_Logo.jpg SOURCE XRP Healthcare ROCHESTER, N.Y., Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- KeyBank is investing $200,000 to help Young Women's Christian Association of Rochester and Monroe County (YWCA) expand efforts to help homeless women and families find appropriate housing and improve financial stability. YWCA has been providing safe, quality housing to women in the Rochester community for 140 years and is the only agency within Monroe County that provides a full continuum of housing options targeting women, from emergency shelter services to permanent housing. KeyBank presents a $200,000 grant to YWCA of Rochester & Monroe County Rochester has very few shelters that can accommodate families in Monroe County as licensing requirements prohibit cohabitating singles with families. Funding from KeyBank will help YWCA as it renovates a facility on Ardmore Street in Rochester that will house a licensed homeless shelter allowing homeless women and their families to stay together while seeking a more permanent housing solution. "Our investment and support of YWCA is symbolic of KeyBank's purpose to help Rochester and all of the communities we serve thrive," said Phil Muscato, KeyBank Rochester Market President. "The work YWCA will do at this new facility will provide women and families with a safe place to live together. It will also provide them a path to permanent housing and financial stability." "We are grateful for KeyBank and their unwavering support of our community," said Dr. Myra Henry, YWCA of Rochester & Monroe County. "This expansion of our Emergency Housing services will enable YWCA to open twelve additional units of supportive services and shelter for unhoused families here in the 19th Ward." Each year, more than 1,000 women and children take the first and subsequent steps to getting their lives back on track as part of YWCA's Housing programs. Since 2017, KeyBank has made more than $727 million in investments in the Rochester market, supporting affordable housing and community development projects; small business and home lending to low-to-moderate income individuals and communities, and transformative philanthropy. ABOUT KEYBANK KeyBank's roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, KeyCorp is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $188 billion at September 30, 2023. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,300 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/ . KeyBank is Member FDIC. ABOUT YWCA ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY The YWCA of Rochester & Monroe County is a powerful resource in our community. We help women and girls who are faced with personal crises including homelessness and teen pregnancy. We also work hard to dispel stereotypes and promote racial justice. Our goal is to empower women to regain control of their lives and get on the path to a healthy, successful future. SOURCE KeyCorp LIAOYANG, China, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, the town of Xiaobeihe under the city of Liaoyang in the northeastern region of China hosted the area's first "Socks Festival and China (Xiaobeihe) International Socks Industry Procurement and Exchange Fair". Buyers from across the country descended on the town to look for business opportunities. The Xiaobeihe Town is one of the country's main socks producers. Leaning on Liaoyang City, which is renowned as China's first maker of dacron (polyester), the folks of Xiaobeihe utilized yarn raw materials to weave socks, turning the little piece of garment into a big pillar industry that led the town and its people to prosperity. At present, Xiaobeihe boasts an annual output of 2.5 billion pairs and the second-highest cotton sock production capacity in the country, garnering the title of "famous town of the Chinese socks industry", according to the Publicity Department of the CPC Liaoyang Municipal Committee. "The town is home to more than 200 socks factories and 467 registered socks brands. A massive number of enterprises up and down the socks industrial chain have conglomerated here, together employing over 20,000 people and generating an annual output worth nearly 3.2 billion yuan," explained Shen Cong, Mayor of Xiaobeihe Town. Data shows that the Xiaobeihe's socks industry recorded 25 million yuan in direct export in 2022, while exports through traders elsewhere such as Zhejiang Province have amounted to 500 million yuan. The "Socks Festival" has propelled the town's socks industry to its apex this year, with the opening day alone having received more than 2,500 merchants from out of the town. Shen Cong indicated that not only did the "Socks Festival" enhance the town's reputation and attract merchants to visit and place orders, but also contributed to the branding efforts of various local socks enterprises, thereby elevating the added value of the Xiaobeihe's socks industry. SOURCE Publicity Department of the CPC Liaoyang Municipal Committee SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ACR Poker has taken their land-based promotions to a new level this year and they're not done yet. The popular worldwide poker site is returning their Punta Del Este satellites guaranteeing 20 fantastic poker vacations to Uruguay. "We've run this promo to Uruguay several times this year, but this one is definitely the best," said ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker. "That's because the Enjoy Poker Series from December 1st-9th is offering a $1.5 million tournament on top of the typical $500,000 Main Event." Enjoy Poker Series in Uruguay! The Punta del Este Satellites are guaranteeing 20 total packages via three Main Satellites at 6pm ET on Sunday, October 29th, plus November 5th and 12th. This is the Beast and Sit & Crush tourney, which costs $95, but players can also get their ticket for free by placing on the weekly leaderboard. Each package is valued at $8,700 and includes a $2,500 seat to the $1.5 Million Millonaria tournament, a $1,650 ticket to the $500,000 Main Event, airfare, 10-nights luxury hotel, spending money, and more. Players will also have time for relaxation with their stay at the Enjoy Punta del Este Resort and Casino. It features an amazing beach, 5-star amenities, fabulous restaurants, and lively nightlife. Moneymaker also noted that while players have had tons of chances for land-based trips this year (including Vegas, London, Bahamas and Monte Carlo), ACR Poker promises a lot more is in store in 2024. For full info on the Punta del Este Satellites, visit ACRPoker.eu. About ACR Poker Formerly known as Americas Cardroom, ACR Poker joined the Winning Poker Network in 2011. The Winning Poker Network has been dealing cards since 2001 and continues to be one of the most trusted names in the industry. Rated first place for payment processing and cashout reliability repeatedly over the last few years, ACR Poker offers outstanding customer service and a friendly environment for all poker players around the world. Contact: Jamie Harvey 1-877-314-4195 367288@email4pr.com SOURCE ACR Poker WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 1 p.m. the American Medical Association (AMA) President Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH, will address what America's looming physician shortage means for patients and health care, and how to fix it at an NPC Newsmaker. Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH, was inaugurated as president of the American Medical Association in June 2023. In an era of record-high physician burnout and a projected physician shortage up to 124,000 over the next decade, America's health care system is near its breaking point as tens of millions of Baby Boomers soon will become eligible for Medicare and our nation's chronic disease burden surges. In an address hosted by the National Press Club, AMA President Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld will highlight the key factors driving an exodus from medicine, what it will mean for patients, for health care workers, and our nation's health care system. And he'll provide a road map to begin solving this crisis today, highlighting advocacy priorities in the AMA's Recovery Plan for America's Physicians that seeks to put our health care system on a sustainable path and ensure all patients have access to the care they need when they need it. Dr. Ehrenfeld's speech will be followed by a moderated question-and-answer session with National Press Club President Eileen O'Reilly. This Headliners event is open for in person attendance to credentialed media and club members. To join the event virtually - Register here. To submit a question for the speaker, please email [email protected] and put AMA in the subject line. The deadline for submitting questions in advance is 11 a.m. on the day of the event. The National Press Club is located on the 13th Floor of the National Press Building at 529 14th St., NW, Washington, D.C. PRESS CONTACT: Cecily Scott Martin for the National Press Club; [email protected]; (202) 662-7525 SOURCE National Press Club MIAMI, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With a legacy of providing unmatched quality, Anthology Tile and VP of design Suzi Portugal has consistently set benchmarks in style and value, announces its latest initiative, Season of Savings. With this initiative they have further enhanced their offerings, making now an irresistible time for interior designers, architects, and homeowners to redefine and elevate their spaces before the holiday season. Anthology Tile - Season of Savings (PRNewsfoto/Anthology Tile) Anthology Tile (PRNewsfoto/Anthology Tile) By leveraging Anthology Tile's extensive distribution network, the company has come together with its dealers and distributors to create special offerings. From now until the end of 2023, Anthology customers have the opportunity to turn their design dreams into reality at an incredible value. "With thousands of stores around the country representing our brand, we are in a privileged place to sense the market's pulse, allowing us to respond to our clientele's needs quickly." Said Todd Midas, Mosaic Companies and Anthology's Sr. Vice President of Sales. "Several factors have impacted our industry in recent months and driven customers away from showrooms. Smaller projects have become a norm nationwide, and people are slightly more cautious about their spending. That is not good for the A&D community, the tile business we support, and, more than anything, everyday people. We believe we can help." Combining fresh Anthology offerings with tried-and-true classics, dealers have a splendid opportunity to fortify their market presence with the initiative's deals. The brand hopes dealers seize this chance to engage deeper with their community, boosting connections and sales and enriching the A&D space as a whole. Starting in October and lasting until the end of the year, Anthology's Season of Savings initiative is designed to highlight the exceptional value and allure of the brand's products and invites customers to experience the magic in person at any Anthology Tile-affiliated store. About Anthology Born in 2019, Anthology is the brainchild of Suzi Portugal, a tile prodigy and one of the most knowledgeable tile designers in the industry. With products designed locally and sourced globally, Anthology's unique and innovative products are awarded by the market, loved by the public, and always available. Its facilities nationwide and throughout the world are stocked with inventory and can service all customers nationwide and is backed by an outstanding logistics team that stands by with a commitment to ship all orders within 24-72 hours. www.anthologytile.com Press Contact Nauro Rezende Senior Director of Marketing [email protected] Phone: +1 305-372-9787 Cell: +1 305-915-9994 SOURCE Anthology Tile MARFA, Texas, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- From October 23 through October 27, generative art platform Art Blocks will host reGEN an exclusive sale of works by five leading artists from around the world, supported by Right Click Save. With each day of the week designated to a different artist, reGEN unites artists and collectors in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. Proceeds from the auction of 1,000 NFTs (200 per day) will be donated to Cure Alzheimer's Fund. reGEN is curated by Alex Estorick and Foteini Valeonti, who have so far raised over $500,000 this year in support of Cure Parkinson's and The ALS Association . The upcoming auction supports the work of Cure Alzheimer's Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to funding research with the highest probability of preventing, slowing or reversing Alzheimer's disease. Since its founding in 2004, Cure Alzheimer's Fund has awarded more than $175 million for 750 research projects to the world's leading scientists studying the underlying causes of the disease, which is essential to finding a cure. A collaboration with The Giving Block , reGEN supports the global movement of generative artists in fighting a degenerative disease that afflicts millions globally. WHAT: A week-long charitable event featuring daily auctions of 200 works by five leading generative artists, minted on Art Blocks. HOSTS: Art Blocks , a platform dedicated to bringing compelling works of contemporary generative art to life. They unite artists, collectors, and blockchain technology in service of groundbreaking artwork and remarkable experiences. Generative art is an art form in which an artist develops a system for the creation of individual works, meaning each of the 1,000 pieces will be completely unique. a platform dedicated to bringing compelling works of contemporary generative art to life. They unite artists, collectors, and blockchain technology in service of groundbreaking artwork and remarkable experiences. Generative art is an art form in which an artist develops a system for the creation of individual works, meaning each of the 1,000 pieces will be completely unique. Cure Alzheimer's Fund , a non-profit dedicated to providing grants to researchers who are studying the causes of Alzheimer's disease. The outcomes from the research conducted throughout the world have led to significant breakthroughs. Great progress has been made and we now have data that supports our understanding that genetics and lifestyle are both contributing factors to developing the disease. CURATORS: Alex Estorick, Editor-in-Chief at Right Click Save Dr Foteini Valeonti , UKRI AHRC Innovation Fellow at UCL ARTISTS: Melissa Wiederrecht Sputniko! Nat Sarkissian Robert Hodgin Marcelo Soria-Rodriguez WHEN: Artworks will be sold via five daily Dutch auctions hosted Monday 23 October through Friday 27 October. Each auction will begin at 1:00PM ET and will descend in price over the course of 30 minutes. HOW TO PARTICIPATE: Each auction will take place online at artblocks.io . For assistance with purchasing and hands-on onboarding, please contact Mad Pinney at [email protected]. FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information about the auction visit artblocks.io and join the event's launch Twitter Spaces on Friday 20 October at 11am EST via https://twitter.com/i/spaces/1kvJpvPMAdkKE . SOURCE Right Click Save (RCS); Art Blocks DUBLIN, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Nanoceramic Powder Market - Forecasts from 2023 to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global nanoceramic powder market is on track to experience substantial growth, with a projected Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9.05% during the forecast period. Nanoceramic powder, characterized by its fine particles engineered on a nanoscale level, is finding wide-ranging applications across industries, including electronics, aerospace, defense, chemicals, transportation, biomedical, and more. Market Overview Nanoceramic powder, comprised of particles less than 100 nanometers in size, exhibits enhanced properties compared to traditional ceramics. Its high surface area and compact size make it versatile for use in coatings, catalysts, and electronic devices. The market is primarily driven by the demand for nanoceramic powder to improve the performance and efficiency of products and materials across various industries. Market Drivers Development of New Flexible and Stretchable Electronics: Advancements in flexible and stretchable electronics are boosting the adoption of nanoceramic powder. It is used to create conductive and durable materials on flexible and stretchable substrates, allowing for the production of innovative electronics such as foldable phones and stretchable displays. Expansion of the Aerospace Industry: The aerospace industry relies on nanoceramic powder coatings to enhance the performance and durability of components. These coatings protect against high temperatures and corrosive gases, contributing to the growth of nanoceramic powder consumption. Rising Demand for Energy Storage Solutions: With the increasing prevalence of renewable energy sources like wind and solar power, the demand for energy storage solutions is rising. Nanoceramic powder has the potential to enhance the efficiency of batteries and energy storage devices, further driving its demand. Challenges Health Concerns and Lack of Standardization: The small size of nanoceramic particles poses health and safety concerns for workers handling the material. Additionally, the lack of standardization in terms of particle size, composition, and safety measures by regulatory authorities presents challenges for companies. Trends Growing Demand from Retail Industry for Personal Assistance: Retailers are deploying humanoid robots to interact with customers, gather data, and enhance inventory management. The adoption of humanoid robots in the retail sector is on the rise. Impact of COVID-19 The pandemic initially disrupted the nanoceramic powder market but later led to increased demand in the healthcare sector. Nanoceramic powders were used in medical applications, including implant coatings, diagnostic imaging, tissue engineering, biosensors, drug delivery, and wearable electronics. Market Segmentation By Type: Carbide Powders Nitride Powders Boron Powders Oxide Powders Others By End-Use Industry: Medical Chemicals Electronics Transportation Industrial Defense Others By Geography: North America South America Europe Middle East and Africa and Asia Pacific The Asia Pacific region is expected to exhibit robust growth in the nanoceramic powder market, driven by the presence of major electronics companies and increasing R&D efforts in flexible and stretchable electronics. Companies Mentioned Rasatech ABM Advanced Ball Mill Inc. ANR Technologies Pte Ltd PlasmaChem GmbH Stanford Advanced Materials American Elements Chengdu Organic Chemicals Co. Ltd. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/7vcis6 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets CALGARY, AB, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - ATMA Journey Centers Inc. ("ATMA"), a forefront leader in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Training globally, is excited to join forces with Cena Life, a licensed provider of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Alberta with a strong focus on improving accessibility to safe, regulated, and innovative care aligned with emerging evidence focused on Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy treatments . Together, we are working to establish industry standards for the psychedelic sector that will assist practitioners and clinics in the regulations to come, which align with Alberta's Psychedelic Drug Treatment Service Standards and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta Accreditation Program. This marks the beginning of a crucial initiative aimed at establishing the necessary infrastructure to enable the standardized delivery of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy across Canada. This strategic partnership comes in response to Alberta's January 2023 legislative changes surrounding Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) has introduced a comprehensive accreditation program anticipated to be mirrored nationwide. The partnership of ATMA and Cena Life is poised to guide prescribers, practitioners, and clinics through this evolving regulatory terrain. Key highlights of this venture include, (Services Here): Support Ecosystem: Establish a support ecosystem that connects patients with practitioners who wish to offer Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy through interdisciplinary resources and access to a network of vetted facilities. This approach ensures that both patients, practitioners, and prescribers receive comprehensive support, guaranteeing the highest safety standards and optimal therapeutic efficacy in the delivery of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy. Increase Accessibility: While current accessibility mainly relates to Ketamine-Assisted psychotherapy (KAP), Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy and MDMA-Assisted Therapy individually approved under the Special Access Program (SAP), this initiative aims to lay the groundwork for a nationwide infrastructure aligned with the upcoming legalization of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in an environment where regulatory standards have yet to achieve uniformity. This new model for clinical work in the field of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy represents a significant advancement for patients, practitioners, prescribers, and clinics that lack the infrastructure to provide these types of treatments independently. The current landscape of the psychedelic therapy industry, combined with the forthcoming regulatory changes, raises concerns about the limited opportunities available to prescribers, practitioners and clinics to offer Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy treatment to patients in need. Many prescribers, practitioners, and clinics, dedicated to their existing practices that serve millions of Canadians seeking mental wellness may be hesitant to transition into specialized Psychedelic Therapy clinics. Recognizing this challenge, ATMA and Cena Life are diligently constructing a standardized framework that spans Canada, with the explicit goal of facilitating the involvement of practitioners and clinics eager to contribute their professional services to this industry. This extensive pool of practitioners and clinics, providing a viable route to engage in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy, represents a tremendous opportunity to enhance accessibility and expand services for individuals in urgent need. This endeavor encompasses the establishment of both corporate-owned clinics and collaborative partner clinics across Canada, ensuring accessibility for independent practitioners and their patients alike. Community Engagement: With ATMA's community of 650+ alumni in its psychedelic-assisted therapy training program in Canada alone, the majority of whom may not choose to transition to full-time roles within licensed psychedelic clinics. Nevertheless, they remain enthusiastic about contributing to this field. ATMA's unwavering commitment has always centered around enhancing accessibility for its community of practitioners and now aims to support this goal through the creation of infrastructure, including an extensive clinic network, to bridge regulatory gaps. In alignment with this vision, Cena Life and its leadership brings a wealth of knowledge concerning the Canadian healthcare landscape; advancing and optimizing practice, program development; and service delivery across the country, and a decades-long track record of advocating for improved patient care within the system. The invaluable expertise in the evolving regulatory landscape that Cena Life brings to this collaboration with ATMA is pivotal to the realization of this transformative initiative. Cena Life will be providing operations lead for the clinics, starting with two licensed clinics in Alberta (Calgary and Edmonton), as well as a handful of network clinics across Canada by the end of 2023. 2024 appears to be well aligned to begin expanding the Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy practitioner and clinic network across the country in anticipation of the legalization of MDMA-Assisted therapy. Vu Tran, CEO of ATMA, emphasizes, " Psychedelic Therapy will need to find a path of integration into the healthcare system if it is to be legalized and widely accessible. Cena Life brings a wealth of knowledge of the Canadian healthcare industry that will certainly help bridge that integration. ATMA is very fortunate to have found such a complimentary partner in the industry as we help build this industry brick by brick." Reverdi Darda, CEO of Cena Life, shares, "At Cena Life, we've always championed progress and innovation in healthcare. Joining forces with ATMA amplifies our capability to expand our mission exponentially. Together, we aim to streamline a nationwide network of clinics committed to safety, regulatory alignment, and excellence. We are not just increasing access to therapies like Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy and Ketamine-Assisted Therapy, but we're also opening doors for therapists across the country to be a part of this monumental movement. We are aware that in the past individuals have had to seek support on the underground. Our aim is to ensure that there is access to care in regulated programs based initially on the standards in Alberta and compliant across the country as the regulatory landscape evolves. ABOUT ATMA JOURNEY CENTERS INC. We care about improving the lives and practices of mental healthcare professionals. ATMA is pioneering a healthcare practitioners-centered business model for the psychedelic industry. Through education, training, clinical trials, support services and developing a network of clinics, we are building and supporting the largest community of psychedelic practitioners in adopting psychedelic-Assisted therapy. Our philosophy to begin with the healthcare provider, will lay a foundation for higher participation, increased accessibility, advanced clinical care, and safe effective delivery of psychedelic assisted therapy. ABOUT CENA LIFE Melding science with nature's wisdom, Cena Life has reimagined mental health care by providing transformative alternatives that champion holistic well-being. Their clinics spotlight the potential of evidence-based psychedelic therapies, honoring traditional healing practices ensuring reconciliation between what science, tradition, and culture all contribute to wellbeing. This dual embrace of nature and evidence is supported by a passionate interdisciplinary team, ensuring each patient embarks on a tailored healing journey. Beyond mere treatment, Cena Life's vision is to elevate the mental health landscape, ensuring that groundbreaking and quality therapies are within everyone's reach. SOURCE ATMA Journey Centers Inc BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov received Deputy Assistant Secretary of State overseeing policy for Southern Europe and the Caucasus Joshua Huck, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Trend. The meeting discussed issues of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the US, as well as the situation in the region in the post-Karabakh conflict period, prospects of the process of normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Jeyhun Bayramov, having informed in detail about the current situation in the region, emphasized the importance of ending the presence of Armenian armed formations and separatist regime, which were the main source of threat, on the territory of Azerbaijan as a result of anti-terrorist activities carried out by Azerbaijan. The removal of one of the biggest obstacles to the signing of a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as to the reintegration of Armenian residents living in Azerbaijan's Karabakh region, was noted. Bayramov emphasized that in the current conditions for peace in the region, Azerbaijan, as always, is determined to promote the peace agenda. Demonstration of a constructive position by the international community was also emphasized. During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on bilateral and multilateral issues of mutual interest. CHICAGO, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Future trends in the Cloud ERP Market include an emphasis on industry-specific solutions, an increase in the integration of cutting-edge technology, and a dedication to offering safe, logical, and data-driven tools to assist businesses in their digital transformation efforts. The Cloud ERP Market size is expected to grow from USD 72.2 billion in 2023 to USD 130.5 billion by 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.6% during the forecast period, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. Cloud ERP solutions are designed to facilitate integration with other software and services. They often include open APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) and connectors that make connecting the ERP system with a wide range of third-party applications relatively straightforward. This capability allows businesses to create a more comprehensive and interconnected technology ecosystem, integrating ERP with customer relationship management (CRM) systems, e-commerce platforms, analytics tools, and other applications that contribute to a more streamlined and efficient operation. Browse in-depth TOC on "Cloud ERP Market" 260 - Tables 59 - Figures 245 - Pages Download PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=190169866 Scope of the Report Report Metrics Details Market size available for years 20182028 Base year considered 2022 Forecast period 20232028 Forecast units Value (USD Million/Billion) Segments Covered Component, Business Function, Deployment Mode, Organization Size, Vertical, and Region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America Companies Covered Some of the significant Cloud ERP Market vendors are Oracle (US), Microsoft (US), SAP (Germany), Workday (US), Infor (US), IFS (Sweden), Plex Systems (US), Epicor Software Corporation (US), Sage Group (UK), Ramco Systems (India), QAD (US), Tally Solutions (India), Odoo (Belgium), SYSPRO (South Africa), Tyler Technologies (US). Moreover, customer relationship management (CRM) and project management are integral components of a comprehensive cloud ERP solution. CRM enhances customer interactions by centralizing and analyzing customer data, enabling better sales and service. This data integration with ERP improves decision-making, inventory management, and demand forecasting. Project management within ERP facilitates efficient resource allocation, task tracking, and collaboration, ensuring project timelines and budgets are met. When integrated into a cloud ERP system, both CRM and project management modules benefit from real-time data access, scalability, and accessibility from anywhere, which streamlines operations, boosts productivity, and drives growth. Combining CRM and project management with a cloud ERP solution helps businesses improve customer relationships, streamline processes, and enhance organizational efficiency. By component, the services segment is expected to capture the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The component segment of the Cloud ERP Market is segmented into solutions and services. The services segment is estimated to hold the highest CAGR during the forecasted period. Services are categorized into managed services and professional services. The services segment in the Cloud ERP Market plays a crucial role in complementing the software solutions by offering a wide array of training, support, and maintenance, implementation & integration, and consulting & advisory services. This segment is instrumental in helping organizations adopt and maximize cloud ERP systems' benefits. Service providers assist businesses in effectively deploying ERP solutions, tailoring them to specific organizational needs, and ensuring seamless integration with existing infrastructure. They offer training programs to empower users, facilitate data migration, and provide strategic guidance to align ERP strategies with business objectives. These services are instrumental in helping organizations harness the full potential of cloud ERP, enabling streamlined operations, data-driven decision-making, and long-term scalability while ensuring compliance and data security. Request Sample Pages @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=190169866 Based on deployment Mode, the public cloud segment is expected to account for the largest market share during the forecast period. The Cloud ERP Market, by deployment mode, is segmented into public and private cloud. It is expected that during the forecast period, the public cloud segment is estimated to account for the largest market size and share in the Cloud ERP Market. Public cloud deployment is pivotal in the Cloud ERP Market, revolutionizing how businesses manage their operations and data. Cloud ERP systems, hosted on public cloud infrastructure provided by industry giants such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP), offer several key advantages. First and foremost, they eliminate the need for significant upfront hardware and software investments, making ERP solutions more accessible to organizations of all sizes. This democratization of ERP technology allows smaller enterprises to compete on a level playing field with larger counterparts. Additionally, public cloud deployment ensures scalability and flexibility. Businesses can quickly scale their ERP resources up or down based on their changing needs, avoiding the inefficiencies of overprovisioning or the limitations of underprovisioning. Moreover, the global presence of public cloud providers ensures high availability and disaster recovery capabilities, reducing downtime risks and enhancing business continuity. Moreover, security and compliance are also strengthened through public cloud ERP deployments, as major cloud providers invest heavily in robust security measures and compliance certifications, often exceeding what individual organizations can afford or manage on their own. This instills confidence in customers that their sensitive data is well-protected. North America is projected to hold the largest market share during the forecast period. The Cloud ERP Market by region has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. As per region, North America is estimated to account for the largest market share in the global Cloud ERP Market in 2023, and this trend is expected to continue during the forecast period. The Cloud ERP Market, encompassing a wide range of critical business functions, is pivotal in reshaping the North American business landscape. First and foremost, it serves as the backbone of digital transformation efforts, enabling organizations to modernize their operations across various sectors. From finance and human resources to supply chain and customer relationship management, cloud ERP systems streamline and integrate these functions, fostering agility and efficiency. In North America, where diverse industries flourish, this technology empowers businesses to adapt rapidly to market changes, scale operations as needed, and remain competitive globally. Top Key Companies in Cloud ERP Market: Some of the significant Cloud ERP Market vendors are Oracle (US), Microsoft (US), SAP (Germany), Workday (US), Infor (US), IFS (Sweden), Plex Systems (US), Epicor Software Corporation (US), Sage Group (UK), Ramco Systems (India), QAD (US), Tally Solutions (India), Odoo (Belgium), SYSPRO (South Africa), Tyler Technologies (US), MIE Solutions (US), Acumatica (US), Genius Solutions (Canada), Deltek (US). Recent developments: In September 2023 , Oracle announced the Fusion Data Intelligence Platform, a next-generation data, analytics, and AI platform that would help Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications customers achieve better business outcomes by combining data-driven insights with intelligent decisions and actions. This new platform, an evolution of the Oracle Fusion Analytics Warehouse product, would deliver business data-as-a-service with automated data pipelines, 360-degree data models for key business entities, rich interactive analytics, AI/ML models, and intelligent applications. , Oracle announced the Fusion Data Intelligence Platform, a next-generation data, analytics, and AI platform that would help Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications customers achieve better business outcomes by combining data-driven insights with intelligent decisions and actions. This new platform, an evolution of the Oracle Fusion Analytics Warehouse product, would deliver business data-as-a-service with automated data pipelines, 360-degree data models for key business entities, rich interactive analytics, AI/ML models, and intelligent applications. In July 2023 , Microsoft recently introduced Dynamics 365 Copilot, the world's first AI copilot integrated into CRM and ERP applications in the cloud, designed to augment workflows, uncover insights, identify the subsequent best actions, and reduce time spent on administrative tasks. Organizations relying on on-premise applications would struggle to compete with peers embracing these AI-powered technologies in the cloud. , Microsoft recently introduced Dynamics 365 Copilot, the world's first AI copilot integrated into CRM and ERP applications in the cloud, designed to augment workflows, uncover insights, identify the subsequent best actions, and reduce time spent on administrative tasks. Organizations relying on on-premise applications would struggle to compete with peers embracing these AI-powered technologies in the cloud. In February 2023 , Infor introduced an ERP software solution for manufacturers in complex, make-to-order, and engineer-to-order industries. Infor LX was developed by Infor, a global enterprise software company known for its robust functionality tailored to meet the unique requirements of manufacturing businesses. Infor LX covered many business functions, including financial management, manufacturing operations, supply chain management, CRM, HCM, and more. This breadth of functionality enables organizations to manage various operations within a single integrated system. Inquire Before Buying @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=190169866 Cloud ERP Market Advantages: Since businesses only pay for cloud services on a subscription basis, cloud ERP eliminates the need for on-premises gear and lowers up-front capital expenses. Cloud ERP solutions may be readily scaled by businesses to meet expansion needs, whether they need to expand to new locations, increase users, or incorporate new capabilities. The accessibility of cloud ERP systems from any location with an internet connection encourages remote work, international collaboration, and mobile access to vital corporate data. Since cloud ERP systems are often easier to setup than conventional on-premises solutions, businesses can start operating more quickly. Organisations can always receive the newest features and security patches because cloud ERP providers take care of system updates and maintenance. As a large portion of system maintenance and support is handled by cloud ERP providers, businesses can cut back on their IT staff and infrastructure costs. To protect sensitive corporate data, cloud ERP providers make significant investments in security features like data encryption, access controls, and compliance certifications. Disaster recovery and data backup services are frequently offered by cloud ERP providers, ensuring data availability and integrity in the case of a system failure or emergency. Real-time data access made possible by cloud ERP systems enables better decision-making by giving current details on corporate activities. A seamless data transfer across systems is made possible by the integration that cloud ERP solutions frequently offer with other cloud-based apps and services. Report Objectives To define, describe, and forecast the Cloud ERP Market based on component (solutions and services), business function, deployment mode, organization size, vertical, and region To provide detailed information about the major factors (drivers, restraints, opportunities, and industry-specific challenges) influencing the growth of the Cloud ERP Market To analyze the recession impact on components, verticals, and regions across the globe To analyze the market with respect to individual growth trends, prospects, and contributions to the Cloud ERP Market To forecast the market size of five main regions: North America , Europe , Asia Pacific (APAC), the Middle East & and Africa (MEA), and Latin America , , (APAC), the & and (MEA), and To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high-growth segments of the Cloud ERP Market To profile the key players in the Cloud ERP Market and comprehensively analyze their core competencies in each microsegment To analyze the competitive developments, such as agreements, alliances, joint ventures, and mergers and acquisitions, in the Cloud ERP Market Browse Adjacent Markets: Software and Services Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports: Web 3.0 Market - Global Forecast to 2030 Remote Workplace Services Market - Global Forecast to 2027 Smart Learning Market - Global Forecast to 2026 Facial Recognition Market - Global Forecast to 2025 Lease Management Market - Global Forecast to 2025 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. 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Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/cloud-erp-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/cloud-erp.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets HONG KONG, Oct. 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CNOOC Limited (the "Company", SEHK: 00883 (HKD Counter) and 80883 (RMB Counter), SSE: 600938) announces that the first LNG cargo from the newly-built liquefaction train (Train 3) of the Tangguh LNG project in Indonesia has been delivered, marking the safe commencement of the Train 3 of Tangguh LNG project. Tangguh LNG project is located in Papua Barat Province in Indonesia, consisting of 6 offshore gas fields under 3 PSCs. The existing two-train facility has commenced production in 2009 with a plant capacity of 7.6 million tons per annum (mtpa). Train 3 brings the total plant capacity to 11.4 mtpa, which further consolidates the position of Tangguh LNG project as the largest gas field and the largest LNG production hub in Indonesia. Production facilities that have commenced production during the same time included 2 new wellhead platforms, 10 production wells and supporting infrastructure. CNOOC Muturi Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, holds a 13.90% interest in Tangguh project. BP Berau Ltd., the operator, and affiliates in Indonesia hold 40.22%. Other PSC partners are: MI Berau B.V. (16.30%), Nippon Oil Exploration (Berau), Limited (12.23%), KG Berau Petroleum Ltd and KG Wiriagar Petroleum Ltd (10.00%), Indonesia Natural Gas Resources Muturi Inc. (7.35%). End Notes to Editors: More information about the Company is available at http://www.cnoocltd.com. This press release includes forward looking information, including statements regarding the likely future developments in the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, such as expected future events, business prospects or financial results. The words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "objective", "ongoing", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by the Company as of this date in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that the Company currently believes are appropriate under the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will meet the current expectations and predictions of the Company is uncertain. Actual results, performance and financial condition may differ materially from the Company's expectations, including but not limited to those associated with fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas prices, macro-political and economic factors, changes in the tax and fiscal regimes of the host countries in which we operate, the highly competitive nature of the oil and natural gas industry, environmental responsibility and compliance requirements, the Company's price forecast, the exploration and development activities, mergers, acquisitions and divestments activities, HSSE and insurance policies and changes in anti-corruption, anti-fraud, anti-money laundering and corporate governance laws. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. The Company cannot assure that the results or developments anticipated will be realised or, even if substantially realised, that they will have the expected effect on the Company, its business or operations. For further enquiries, please contact: Ms. Cui Liu Media & Public Relations CNOOC Limited Tel: +86-10-8452-6641 Fax: +86-10-8452-1441 E-mail: [email protected] Mr. Bunny Lee Porda Havas International Finance Communications Group Tel: +852 3150 6707 Fax: +852 3150 6728 E-mail: [email protected] SOURCE CNOOC Limited HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Confie, the largest personal lines insurance distribution company in the U.S., and its premier nationwide brand, Freeway Insurance, will scale up the sponsorship of NASCAR's Daniel Suarez for the 2024 season. Freeway Insurance will be the primary sponsor of Suarez in 12 races in 2024 including the famous Daytona 500 on Feb. 18, 2024. Daniel's journey resonates with millions across the nation including NASCAR's passionate and growing Hispanic fan base. Born in Monterrey, Mexico, Daniel is the first foreign-born driver to win a NASCAR series title. He has spoken honestly about the cultural challenges he has faced as a Hispanic athlete competing in America. This growing and continuous partnership between Daniel's team, Trackhouse Racing, and Freeway Insurance has become core to the Freeway brand and a high-profile element of Confie's DEI (Diversity, Equality and Inclusion) efforts. "Confie's DEI culture is based on celebrating a vast and diverse workforce, as well as being an authentic representation of the communities we serve," said Cesar Soriano, Confie CEO. "This partnership between Trackhouse, Daniel, and Freeway spotlights and grows our commitment to providing easily-accessible insurance to our customers across the nation. As always, we look forward to cheering Daniel on in 2024!" Part of Daniel's message has always been one of working through the challenges of being in a foreign country, while staying positive. He speaks to audiences at schools and public events about his struggles and his path forward with Drive for Diversity, a NASCAR program dedicated to creating an inclusive environment across the racing industry. He has served as an ideal spokesperson for the Freeway brand because he has a unique connection and understanding of what many families face toward chasing their American dream. "My beginnings are humble and I understand the difficulty of integrating into a new country, with a new language," Daniel has said. "I relate to the struggles facing Hispanics and I've been very appreciative of the support Freeway has given me and how they support their thousands of customers looking for affordable car insurance." As far back as 2019, Trackhouse owner Justin Marks was already doing the work to make NASCAR more accessible to minority communities through music, education, and outreach. "We are doing something unique and it is geared towards making everyone and especially underserved populations - feel welcome in the racing world," said Justin Marks, owner of Trackhouse. "We share in this commitment of inclusion and sense of responsibility with Freeway. We are very proud that they will serve as our exclusive auto and health insurance partner for the Chevy #99." In celebration of the recent acquisition of Freeway's sister brand Estrella Insurance, a meet-and-greet with Daniel Suarez is on the schedule for Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023 at Estrella Insurance, 11504 Quail Roost Dr., Miami, FL 33157 from 12-2 p.m. Daniel will arrive to meet his fans at 1 p.m. About Confie Established in 2008, Confie is the nation's leading personal lines insurance distribution company. Today, Confie meets customers wherever they are with more than 950+ retail locations in 23 states, the Bluefire general agency, and a telephone and online shared service center servicing all 50 states. With flexible insurance options, outstanding value, and convenient service, Confie's aspiration is to be the most trusted source of insurance solutions so our customers can have peace of mind. Confie is a portfolio company of Alliant. For more information about Confie, visit www.confie.com. About Freeway Insurance Established in 1987, Freeway offers insurance policies via a "click, call, or come-in" approach that provides customers coverage throughout the United States. The company is constantly researching, growing and diversifying product offerings to stay responsive to the ever-evolving insurance market. Freeway offers a wide range of plans, from the most basic to premium plans, in auto, truck, commercial vehicle, fire, flood, homeowners, renters, small commercial, motorcycle, and recreational vehicle insurance products. In 2008, Freeway Insurance joined Confie, the leading national personal lines insurance distribution company. Today, Freeway Insurance services customers in more than 530 offices. Freeway consumers access Freeway Insurance through neighborhood Freeway offices, as well as by visiting www.freeway.com or by calling 888-851-4799. SOURCE Confie KAMPALA, Uganda, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A transformative partnership set to reshape healthcare delivery has been established between DHL, XRP Healthcare and The Burnratty Investment Group to transport ground-breaking NASA-designed ventilators directly to the acquired medical facilities. Caption: From left to right: Joseph Odole-Akinyemi, Laban Roomes, Mukisa Joshua William, Kain Roomes, Steven Kateihwaho (PRNewsfoto/XRP Healthcare) DHL, which stands for Dalsey, Hillblom, and Lynn, was founded by Adrian Dalsey, Larry Hillblom, and Robert Lynn. The company was established in 1969. It initially began as a courier service to ship cargo documents between San Francisco, California, and Honolulu, Hawaii. Over the years, DHL has grown into one of the world's leading international shipping and logistics companies and is the leading courier company to deliver Specialized Healthcare Equipment and Services into Africa. XRP Healthcare Business Development Officer & Co-founder Laban Roomes said "We chose DHL to ship the first NASA-designed ventilator to Uganda for several key aspects:" "Extensive Network: DHL has an extensive network of service points, offices, and distribution centres across Africa . This network allows them to offer domestic and international shipping services, including express deliveries, freight forwarding, and supply chain solutions. Coverage: DHL serves both major urban areas and remote regions in Africa . They have a presence in countries like Uganda , Rwanda , Kenya , Ethiopia , Somalia , South Africa , Nigeria , Egypt , Ghana , Morocco , and many others. Customs Expertise: DHL provides customs clearance and import/export services, helping businesses navigate the complex customs and import regulations in different African countries. E-commerce Solutions: With the growth of e-commerce in Africa , DHL has tailored its services to support online retailers and businesses. They offer shipping and last-mile delivery solutions to support e-commerce growth on the continent. Specialized Services: DHL offers specialized services for industries such as healthcare, automotive, energy, and more. They have solutions for time-critical shipments, temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals, and other specialized needs". DHL will play a pivotal role in ensuring the seamless movement of the NASA-designed ventilators from manufacturers Spiritus Medical Inc. directly to medical centres and hospitals acquired by XRP Healthcare and Ugandan-based partners The Burnratty Investment Group to consolidate the highly fragmented private healthcare Industry in Africa - where both companies aim to create a premier healthcare system that resides under one roof, with access to improved environments, systems, doctors, and medical provisions of which the NASA-designed ventilator will play a pivotal part. Developed by brilliant minds at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, the SPIRITUS VITALITY ventilator of which it is so aptly called, represents a monumental leap in healthcare progress. By flawlessly incorporating the NASA-designed ventilator into XRP Healthcare's medical facilities, healthcare experts in Africa will acquire unparalleled capabilities to tackle the most intricate respiratory issues with unparalleled precision and effectiveness. Beyond its revolutionary capabilities, the NASA-Designed VITALITY ventilator's streamlined design allows efficient mass production, ensuring affordability and accessibility to a broader population. Its adaptability extends its reach to field hospitals, enabling crucial respiratory care in high-capacity settings like convention centres and hotels. Its remarkable capabilities have been rigorously tested at prestigious institutions, including the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, earning accolades and acclaim. Accessibility and Adaptability XRP Healthcare & The Burnratty Investment Group's strategic decision to incorporate the Nasa-Designed VITALITY ventilator into their newly acquired medical facilities marks an unparalleled leap forward in healthcare solutions. This visionary integration reflects our unwavering dedication to delivering exceptional healthcare, amplifying the promise of accessible, advanced patient care. The DHL Country Manager for Uganda, Joseph Odole-Akinyemi, and DHL Country Commercial Manager, Steven Kateihwaho, expressed the following: "DHL Uganda's import capabilities reach across the globe and are marked by an exceptional relationship with the local authorities. We hold the prestigious AEO (Authorized Economic Operator) certification, which allows us to guarantee same-day delivery for any imported item. DHL takes great pride in facilitating a historic achievement by assisting XRP Healthcare and The Burnratty Investment Group in bringing the first NASA-designed ventilator to Uganda. We are delighted to offer our support on behalf of DHL, ensuring the safe and secure door-to-door delivery of these life-saving devices." Founder of XRP Healthcare Kain Roomes remarked: "It is with immense pride and gratitude that we announce the successful delivery of the NASA-Designed ventilator to Uganda, thanks to the unwavering support of our esteemed partners, DHL. This moment is a testament to our collective commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure and saving lives in Uganda. XRP Healthcare was founded on the principle of leveraging innovation and global collaboration to make a significant impact on healthcare, and today, we see that principle in action. This ventilator, a product of NASA's cutting-edge technology, represents a beacon of hope for patients and healthcare professionals in Uganda. It arrives at a time when such advanced medical equipment is needed more than ever. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to DHL for their instrumental role in making this delivery possible. Their efficiency and dedication in ensuring the safe arrival of this vital equipment is commendable. This ventilator is not just a machine; it's a symbol of progress and humanity's collective efforts to provide quality healthcare for all. We are committed to working closely with healthcare institutions in Uganda to ensure the effective deployment of this ventilator and its optimal utilization in saving lives. Our vision at XRP Healthcare has always been to bridge gaps in healthcare access, and this milestone underscores our dedication to that mission. We look forward to further collaborations and innovations that will continue to elevate healthcare standards in Uganda and beyond. We extend our deepest thanks to all who have contributed to this achievement, and we eagerly anticipate the positive impact this ventilator will have on the health and well-being of the people of Uganda." Mukisa Joshua William the Principal and Founding Executive Director at The Burnratty Investment Group remarked "We are thrilled to announce the arrival of the NASA-designed ventilator in Uganda, a crucial addition to our healthcare resources. This achievement marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to enhance medical care in our country and the African continent as a whole. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated partners, DHL, for their exceptional support in making this delivery possible. This ventilator, developed by NASA, represents cutting-edge technology and a testament to the power of international collaboration. It will play a vital role in our healthcare system, especially in times of medical emergencies. Its arrival is a beacon of hope for patients and healthcare professionals alike, as we strive to improve patient care and save lives. We are committed to deploying this ventilator in the most effective manner, ensuring that it serves those in need across our healthcare facilities. Together with DHL, we look forward to continued efforts to strengthen healthcare infrastructure in Uganda and provide quality care to our citizens. This moment reinforces our belief in the importance of partnerships, innovation, and global solidarity. We are dedicated to harnessing these strengths to build a healthier, more resilient Uganda. Our sincere thanks go to everyone involved in this endeavour, and we eagerly anticipate the positive impact this ventilator will have on the health and well-being of our people." XRP Healthcare & The Burnratty Investment Group's partnership smoothly integrates solutions with DHL's intricate global network, facilitating the transportation of NASA-designed ventilators to medical frontlines in Uganda. Beyond achieving this significant milestone, the collaboration underscores a mutual dedication to improving healthcare infrastructure and patient well-being, transcending geographical boundaries and enduring through generations. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2252631/XRP_Healthcare.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1983109/4352472/XRP_Healthcare_Logo.jpg SOURCE XRP Healthcare The global directed energy weapons market is experiencing growth due to several factors, such as the increase in demand for directed energy weapons to achieve precise targeting and reduced collateral damage, the rise in security threats posed by terrorist organizations, and a surge in the adoption of directed energy weapons in navy. WILMINGTON, DEL., Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Directed Energy Weapons Market by Technology (High Energy Laser, High Power Microwave, and Others), Platform (Land, Airborne, and Navy), and Product (Lethal, and Non-lethal): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20232032." According to the report, the global directed energy weapons industry generated $4.9 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to generate $22.2 billion by 2032, witnessing a CAGR of 16.4% from 2023 to 2032. Download Sample of Research Report Overview - https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/927 Directed energy weapons (DEWs) are a form of weapon system that utilizes concentrated electromagnetic energy to incapacitate or eliminate targets. These weapons utilize a variety of energy sources, such as lasers and high-energy microwaves, to provide precise and targeted attacks. Additionally, DEWs are capable of delivering results almost instantaneously, as they can hit targets at a rate equivalent to light speed. DEWs also possess an unlimited ammunition capacity, provided that a power source is present. Furthermore, they are capable of providing more accurate results and have the potential to reduce collateral damage. Prime Determinants of Growth: The global directed energy weapons market is experiencing growth due to several factors, such as the increase in demand for directed energy weapons to achieve precise targeting and reduced collateral damage, the rise in security threats posed by terrorist organizations, and a surge in the adoption of directed energy weapons in navy. However technological limitations and ethical and health concerns hamper the growth of the market. On the contrary, technological advancements continuous research, and integration of directed energy weapons with conventional weapons are expected to offer remunerative opportunities for the expansion of the directed energy weapons market during the forecast period. Leading Market Players in Directed Energy Weapons Industry: - Northrop Grumman BAE Systems Rheinmetall AG Thales Group Leonardo S.p.A. MBDA Boeing RTX QinetiQ Lockheed Martin Corporation. The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global directed energy weapons market. These players have adopted various strategies such as agreements, product upgrades, partnerships, contracts, and others to increase their market penetration and strengthen their position in the industry. The report helps determine the business performance, operating segments, developments, and product portfolios of every market player. Procure Complete Research Report Now - https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/directed-energy-weapons-market/purchase-options Report Coverage & Details: Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20232032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $4.9 Billion Market Size in 2032 $22.2 Billion CAGR 16.4 % No. of Pages in Report 230 Segments Covered Technology, Platform, Product, and Region Drivers Increase in demand for directed energy weapons to achieve precise targeting and reduced collateral damage Rise in security threats posed by terrorist organizations Surge in the adoption of directed energy weapons in navy Opportunities Technological limitations Ethical and health concerns Restraints Technological advancements and constant research Integration of directed energy weapons with conventional weapons COVID-19 Scenario: The directed energy weapons industry was severely impacted during the pandemic due to the disruptions in global supply chains, causing delays in the production and distribution of components and materials required for directed energy weapons. However, post-pandemic, as economies gradually reopened and adapted, consumer and business activities resumed, leading to improved economic conditions. Therefore, this positively influenced defense budgets and investments in advanced technologies such as directed energy weapons. The high energy laser segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period- Based on technology, the high energy laser segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than half of the global directed energy weapons market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. Due to a rise in the development of high-energy laser weapons by defense companies to defense forces of various countries for aerial threats. However, the high-powered microwave segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 17.3% from 2023 to 2032. Owing to the rise in the design of high-power microwave technological solutions to counter the emerging threat of drone swarms. The land segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period- Based on platform, the land segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for nearly half of the global directed energy weapons market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. Due to a surge in the investment in the modernization of armed forces, which includes exploring cutting-edge technologies such as directed energy weapons on land platform. However, the airborne segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 17.8% from 2023 to 2032. Owing to advantages such as ability to rapidly engage and neutralize threats from different angles and altitudes. The lethal segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period- Based on product, the lethal segment accounted for the largest share in 2022, accounting for more than three-fifths of the global directed energy weapons market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its lead position during the forecast period. This is due to the growing demand for directed energy weapons with high accuracy, and capability to hit critical parts of a target. However, the non-lethal segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 17.2% from 2023 to 2032. Owing to a rise in demand for an alternative to traditional lethal weapons that immobilize or disable vehicles, equipment, and weapons. Interested to Procure the Research Report? Inquire Before Buying - https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/927 North America to maintain its dominance by 2032- Based on region, North America held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, accounting for more than two-fifths of the global directed energy weapons market revenue, and is likely to dominate the market during the forecast period. This is because the defense forces of various countries invest in the research and development of directed energy weapons. However, the LAMEA region is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 18.6% from 2023 to 2032. Owing to a rise in the demand for countering dangerous threats and modernizing armed forces with advanced capabilities. Similar Reports We Have on Defense Industry: High Energy Laser Directed Energy Weapons Market Research Report 2023-2032 High Power Microwave Directed Energy Weapons Market Research Report 2023-2032 Particle Beam Directed Energy Weapon Market Research Report 2023-2032 Defensive Cyber Weapons Market Research Report 2023-2032 Electrical Weapon Market Research Report 2023-2032 About Us Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact: David Correa 1209 Orange Street, Corporation Trust Center, Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware 19801 USA. USA/Canada (Toll Free): +1-800-792-5285 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1-800-792-5285 [email protected] Web: www.alliedmarketresearch.com Allied Market Research Blog: https://blog.alliedmarketresearch.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE Allied Market Research KRAKOW, Poland, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ryvu Therapeutics (WSE: RVU), a clinical-stage drug discovery and development company focusing on novel small molecule therapies addressing emerging targets in oncology, announced today that it entered into a Clinical Trial Financial Support agreement for an investigator initiated clinical trial (IIT) with the European EMSCO network. EMSCO was founded in 2012 by Prof. Uwe Platzbecker from the University Hospital Leipzig and head of the German MDS study group, and Prof. Pierre Fenaux from Hopital Saint Louis in Paris and head of the French MDS study network GFM. Since then, the EMSCO network has been extended to other European countries and has carried out 9 common trials in MDS, of which 3 are ongoing. The so-called REMARK study is a Phase II RVU120 study in Low-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes (LR-MDS) and it will be conducted through the EMSCO network, in cooperation with GCP-Service International West. The REMARK study aims at the development of RVU120 as a monotherapy for the treatment of patients with LR-MDS. Prof. Uwe Platzbecker , a globally renowned expert in the field of LR-MDS, will take on the role of Coordinating Principal Investigator (CPI). , a globally renowned expert in the field of LR-MDS, will take on the role of Coordinating Principal Investigator (CPI). The study is an essential element of implementing Ryvu's Development Plans for 2022-2024. Ryvu will host a virtual webinar on further RVU120 development plans on Monday, October 23 at 9.00 am CEST . Prof. Uwe Platzbecker, Coordinating Principal Investigator of the REMARK study, said: - I am very pleased to conduct this study investigating RVU120 in patients with LR-MDS. This approach is supported by a strong preclinical rationale, and the currently available clinical data from the AML and HR-MDS study demonstrating hematologic improvement in many patients. I am confident that RVU120 offers potential to treat this chronic disease, and once its effectiveness is clinically validated, we will have the opportunity to greatly improve the quality of life and survival of patients in need. - We plan to initiate the study in the first half of 2024. With our extensive expertise and the support of our broader scientific and clinical network, we are well-prepared to efficiently conduct this project. Hendrik Nogai, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Ryvu Therapeutics, said: - We are delighted that Professor Uwe Platzbecker is aiming to validate the effectiveness of RVU120 in the treatment of LR-MDS. We strongly believe in the concept of this study and in the potential of RVU120 to address the existing unmet medical need. Considering Professor Platzbecker's experience as a leading expert in the field and his successful track record in designing and executing clinical programs leading to the approval of new drugs for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes, we expect smooth progress and generation of high-quality clinical data, which will bring us another step closer in helping patients. - The study will be conducted as an investigator-initiated trial designed to provide clinical validation of RVU120's efficacy in treating LR-MDS, while maintaining a high level of cost-effectiveness. The study results will inform decisions about the future development of RVU120 for this indication. As an IIT, REMARK will be a study with scientific and medical merit, developed and coordinated by the Investigator. The Clinical Trial Financial Support agreement for the REMARK study is a tripartite arrangement involving Professor Uwe Platzbecker as the Coordinating Principal Investigator, GCP-Service International West (a German Contract Research Organization sponsoring and conducting the study on behalf of the EMSCO network), and Ryvu as the financier. Ryvu will also be responsible for providing the study drug. The estimated Ryvu's financial contribution to the study is approx. EUR 4 million. The REMARK study is planned to take place at approximately 25 clinical sites in the EU, with the primary goal of enrolling about 40 patients to generate exploratory clinical data. Start-up activities for the study are scheduled to commence later this year, and patient enrollment is planned to start in the first half of 2024. More about Prof. Uwe Platzbecker: Prof. Platzbecker is the Director of the Department for Hematology, Cellular Therapy, Hemostaseology and Infectious Diseases at the University Hospital Leipzig, Germany. He is the co-founder and chairman of the European MDS Studies Coordination Office (EMSCO) and co-chairman of the European Hematology Association Scientific Working Group on MDS. Prof. Platzbecker's research interests primarily focus on myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and its treatment. Specifically, Prof. Platzbecker's team has worked on trials assessing luspatercept (Reblozyl) and imetelstat in patients with low-risk MDS. More about LR-MDS: Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) are classified into high and low-risk categories. This is a group of bone marrow cancers with the potential for progression to Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). In the United States, more than 20,000 cases of MDS are reported annually, with approximately two-thirds falling into the low-risk category (LR-MDS). Effective therapeutic options for this chronic disease are limited, necessitating ongoing clinical research. Webinar on RVU120 development plans Ryvu will host a webinar on Monday, October 23, at 9:00 am CEST to discuss further RVU120 development plans. To join the webcast, please register here: https://ryvu.clickmeeting.com/ryvu-esmo-2023-results-rvu120-development-plans/register. About Ryvu Therapeutics Ryvu Therapeutics is a clinical-stage drug discovery and development company focused on novel small-molecule therapies that address emerging targets in oncology. Internally discovered pipeline candidates use diverse therapeutic mechanisms driven by emerging knowledge of cancer biology, including small molecules directed at kinases, synthetic lethality and immuno-oncology targets. Ryvu's most advanced programs are RVU120 a selective CDK8/CDK19 kinase inhibitor with potential for the treatment of hematological malignancies and solid tumors currently in phase I clinical development for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes, and phase I/II for the treatment of r/r metastatic or advanced solid tumors and SEL24 (MEN1703), a dual PIM/FLT3 kinase inhibitor licensed to the Menarini Group. Ryvu Therapeutics has signed multiple partnering and licensing deals with global companies, including BioNTech, Exelixis, Menarini and Merck. The Company was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Krakow, Poland. Ryvu is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange and is a component of the mWIG40 index. More information: www.ryvu.com, Twitter, Linkedin SOURCE Ryvu Therapeutics DUBLIN, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Fluorescent in Situ Hybridization (FISH) Probe Market: (by Product, Technology, End User, Application, & Region): Insights and Forecast with Potential Impact of COVID-19 (2022-2027)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global FISH (Fluorescent in Situ Hybridization) probe market is set for substantial growth, with a projected valuation of US$1.64 billion by 2023, driven by a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.11% during the forecast period. FISH probes are vital in visualizing genetic material and are used to detect chromosomal structural and numerical anomalies, monitor drug effects, and diagnose rare genetic disorders. Key Market Segments By Product: The market is categorized into two segments: instrument/software and consumables. The instrument/software segment currently holds the largest market share, while the consumables segment is expected to experience significant growth due to its extensive use in detection methods. The market is categorized into two segments: instrument/software and consumables. The instrument/software segment currently holds the largest market share, while the consumables segment is expected to experience significant growth due to its extensive use in detection methods. By Technology: The market comprises three technology segments: Q FISH, Flow FISH, and others. Q FISH technology currently dominates the market, closely followed by Flow FISH technology. The demand for In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) testing and targeted therapies is driving the growth of these segments. The market comprises three technology segments: Q FISH, Flow FISH, and others. Q FISH technology currently dominates the market, closely followed by Flow FISH technology. The demand for In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) testing and targeted therapies is driving the growth of these segments. By End User: Market segments based on end-users include clinical procedures, research, and companion diagnostics. Clinical procedures have the largest share, driven by the extensive use of FISH probes in diagnostic and prognostic applications. The increasing incidence of genetic disorders, solid tumors, leukemia, autism, and other syndromes is expected to further boost the clinical procedures segment. Market segments based on end-users include clinical procedures, research, and companion diagnostics. Clinical procedures have the largest share, driven by the extensive use of FISH probes in diagnostic and prognostic applications. The increasing incidence of genetic disorders, solid tumors, leukemia, autism, and other syndromes is expected to further boost the clinical procedures segment. By Application: The market is bifurcated into cancer diagnostics and others. Cancer diagnostics hold the majority share in the market, driven by the rising incidence of cancer cases globally. Factors such as unhealthy lifestyles, an aging population, environmental factors, and overall health conditions contribute to the increasing cancer prevalence. Geographic Coverage The global FISH probe market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America based on geographical operations. North America, led by the US, holds the largest market share due to a high incidence rate of genetic disorders leading to various health conditions. Germany dominates the European market, driven by the growth of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. Top Impacting Factors Growth Drivers Growing Aging Population Rapid Urbanization Increasing Prevalence of Cancer and Genetic Disorders Growing Requirements for In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) Testing Challenges Rising Pathologist Shortages Lack of Efficient Digitalization Solutions and Advanced Automation Capabilities Trends Escalating Demand for Big Data FISH Automation Driver: Growing Requirements for In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) Testing The increasing global demand for In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) testing and targeted therapies is a significant driver of market growth. FISH tests can detect subtle genetic changes that are often missed by standard cytogenetic tests, making them valuable for diagnosing, predicting outcomes, and managing cancer and genetic disorders. The development of automated IVD systems for laboratories and hospitals enhances efficiency, accuracy, and error-free diagnoses. Molecular diagnostic capabilities provided by IVD products deliver effective and precise results. As the demand for IVD testing continues to rise, the FISH probe market is expected to flourish. Challenge: Lack of Efficient Digitalization Solutions and Advanced Automation Capabilities The FISH probe market faces several challenges, including a shortage of skilled pathologists for result analysis and interpretation. Additionally, the lack of efficient digitalization solutions and advanced automation capabilities hinders the standardization of care. Current systems often require human intervention, leading to time inefficiencies and variability in results. Unequal distribution of diagnostic capabilities also contributes to geographic variations in diagnostic quality. Trend: FISH Automation Automated FISH probe analysis offers numerous advantages over manual procedures, including objectivity and replicability. Automation eliminates human judgment, providing unbiased cell classification. Automated platforms rely on pre-defined parameters, ensuring highly replicable results. Automation is expected to drive the standardization of FISH procedures, reduce the need for highly trained technicians, and minimize inherent variability. The COVID-19 Analysis In 2020, the global FISH probe market witnessed accelerated growth due to increased research related to COVID-19 biology and diagnostics. In situ hybridization probes played a crucial role in studying the virus's biology and potential threats to human health. However, pandemic-related lockdowns slowed research due to workforce unavailability, creating supply-demand gaps. Despite these challenges, the global in situ hybridization probe market is forecasted to grow at a robust rate. Analysis of Key Players The FISH probe market is fragmented, with both major players and numerous smaller entities. Companies Mentioned: Abbott Laboratories Abnova Corporation Agilent Technologies Biocare Medical, LLC Bio-rad Laboratories, Inc. Bio-Techne Corporation Danaher Corporation Genemed Biotechnologies, Inc. LGC Group PerkinElmer, Inc. Roche Holdings AG Sysmex Corporation Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/xi7dml About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets BEIJING and PONTEDERA, Italy, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The CEO of Piaggio & C. S.p.A. (PIA.MI), Michele Colaninno and the Vice President of Foton Motor Group, Ma Rentao, signed a contract in Beijing for the joint development of a new range of electrically powered Porter vehicles. The signing ceremony was attended by the Chairman of the Piaggio Group Board of Directors, Matteo Colaninno, who met Chang Rui, Chairman of Foton Motor Group, in Beijing. FOTON and PIAGGIO signed a contract of electric LCV Development for European Market This will extend the Piaggio range of commercial vehicles with two new four-wheel electric variants, designed to meet the specific needs of intra-city mobility, with a combination of compact dimensions and a payload capacity of at least one tonne, particularly high for this class of vehicle. The new range of electric Porter models will be manufactured in Italy, in the Piaggio Group's Pontedera factory. Marketing will begin by the end of 2024 in the main European countries through a network of dealers who specialise in sale and support services for commercial vehicles, for maximum customer satisfaction. The new electric Porter vehicles will feature innovative cybersecurity solutions and active and passive vehicle safety systems, including advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). The new content will also be made available on the Porter combustion models. The agreements consolidate the positive partnership set up by the two Groups, which led to the introduction in 2021 of the first city truck, the new Porter NP6, a bi-fuel model offering compact dimensions and outstanding capacity, which has been warmly received on the European market. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2252721/FOTON_and_PIAGGIO_signed_contract_for_electric_LCV_in_Europe.jpg SOURCE Foton International OAKLAND PARK, Fla., Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In a stunning setting along the serene shores of Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, GK Hair , a leading name in the beauty industry, recently hosted an international two-day educational event that left a lasting impression on participants from across the globe. This event was a true global celebration of innovation, learning, and the introduction of remarkable new products. The participants included top hair stylists from China, Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Jordan. The education was led by GK Hair's Artistic Director Federico Longo from Sicily, Italy and he was accompanied by master stylists from Jordan, China, Dubai and Russia with a special hair cutting & styling show from Turkish artists. The energy was high and the audience was captivated by the beautiful Egyptian models presenting the new colors and styles. GK Hair Unlocked the world of hair fashion at "Tresses & Treasures" in Sharm El Sheikh New Product Introductions: The highlight of the event was the unveiling of several groundbreaking products, designed to redefine the beauty and haircare industry. These innovations include: Juvexin Cream Color New Shades : Already celebrated in the industry, has expanded its palette to an impressive 125 shades. This extensive range opens up a world of possibilities for hairstylists and clients, igniting creativity and enabling truly personalized and unique hair color solutions . : Already celebrated in the industry, has expanded its palette to an impressive 125 shades. This extensive range opens up a world of possibilities for hairstylists and clients, igniting creativity and enabling truly personalized and unique . Juvexin Lightening Powder Masque : An industry game-changer, this innovative product redefines the hair lightening process. It combines the rejuvenating properties of Hyaluronic Acid and Juvexin V2 to ensure that hair not only achieves outstanding lightening results but also maintains its vitality and health throughout the process. This is a revolutionary approach to hair lightening that puts the well-being of hair at the forefront. This product literally blew the audience of talented stylist away! : An industry game-changer, this innovative product redefines the hair lightening process. It combines the rejuvenating properties of Hyaluronic Acid and Juvexin V2 to ensure that hair not only achieves outstanding lightening results but also maintains its vitality and health throughout the process. This is a revolutionary approach to hair lightening that puts the well-being of hair at the forefront. This product literally blew the audience of talented stylist away! Lightning Powder Zero with Argan Oil: This product sets a new standard in hair lightening. It is infused with Argan Oil , ensuring not only stunning results but also nourished and silky-smooth hair. What sets it apart is its safe and eco-friendly nature, as it contains non hazardous goods or materials. It's a responsible choice that doesn't compromise on performance. These remarkable products provide an impressive 9 levels of lift to hair, making them the go-to solutions for hairstylists looking to create breathtaking transformations while keeping hair health a priority. D600+ Flat Iron: At the event, the spotlight shone on the D600+ Titanium Flat Iron by GK Hair. This advanced hairstyling tool, featuring titanium plates for even heat distribution and adjustable temperature control, ensures sleek and healthy results. Its ergonomic design and fast heat-up time make it a hairstylist's dream come true. This innovation reflects GK Hair's commitment to delivering top-notch technology to the beauty industry. Adding to the prestige of the event, Van Tibolli the CEO of GK Hair graced Sharm El Sheikh with their presence, standing alongside dedicated teams from all corners of the world. This exemplified the company's unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation, emphasizing the importance of sharing knowledge and pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the beauty industry. A Remarkable Experience: The event was more than just a gathering; it was a remarkable experience that fostered collaboration, networking, and the exchange of ideas. The energy and enthusiasm in the air were palpable, as participants shared their passion for the industry and their excitement for the future. In conclusion, GK Hair's educational event in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, was an event to remember, marked by innovation, learning, and the introduction of groundbreaking products. It showcased the company's dedication to the beauty industry and its commitment to pushing the boundaries of what's possible. Media Contact GK Hair Meghan McHugh +13053900044 [email protected] SOURCE GK Hair DUBLIN, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Military Aircraft Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) - Market and Technology Forecast to 2031" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Military aircraft MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) market encompasses services for the maintenance and upkeep of military aerial platforms, including fighter, trainer, transport, and special mission aircraft. These MRO services are essential for ensuring the operational efficiency and longevity of military aircraft, involving different levels of maintenance categorized as O-level, I-level, and D-level. The military MRO market demands a high degree of specialization, requiring precision and technical expertise. Aircraft maintenance is a crucial requirement for armed forces worldwide to ensure the effective operation of their aircraft fleets and maximize their service life. Consequently, the market is primarily driven by the need to replace aging fleets, perform midlife upgrades, and carry out scheduled and unscheduled maintenance on large fleets across various regions. This study provides an in-depth analysis and forecasts the evolution of military MRO technologies, markets, and expenditures over the next eight years, spanning from 2024 to 2031 within the aerospace industry. It delves into market dynamics on a global scale, focusing on the top 95% of markets in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. Throughout the report, we examine the current practices and value-added by military aircraft MRO, as well as how these practices are expected to evolve in the near and distant future. To offer the most comprehensive and realistic outlook, this report presents a twin-scenario analysis. Covered in this study Overview: Snapshot of the military aircraft MRO market during 2023-2031, including highlights of the demand drivers, trends, and challenges. It also provides a snapshot of the spending with respect to regions as well as segments and sheds light on the emergence of new technologies. Market Dynamics: Insights into the technological developments in the market and a detailed analysis of the changing preferences of governments around the world. It also analyses changing industry structure trends and the challenges faced by the industry participants. Segment Analysis: Insights into the various type and platform markets from a segmental perspective and a detailed analysis of factors influencing the market for each segment. Regional Review: Insights into fleet modernisation patterns and development of the technology for top countries within a region. Regional Analysis: Insights into the segmental market from a regional perspective and a detailed analysis of factors influencing the market for each region. Impact Analysis: Analysis on how certain events will impact the military aircraft MRO market. This will give you an indication on which factors are important for the forecast. Key Program Analysis: Details of the top programs in each segment expected to be executed during the forecast period. Competitive landscape Analysis: Analysis of competitive landscape of this industry. It provides an overview of key companies, together with insights such as key alliances, strategic initiatives, and a brief financial analysis. Key Topics Covered: 1 Introduction 1.1 Scope 1.1.1 Introduction 1.2 Definitions 1.2.1 MRO Type 1.2.2 O-level 1.2.3 I-level 1.2.4 D-level 1.3 Methodology 1.4 Who will benefit from this study? 2 Executive Summary 2.1 Trends and Insights 2.2 Main Findings 2.3 Key Conclusions 3 Technologies and Developments 3.1 Technology overview 3.1.1 Industry 4.0 3.2 Predictive and Prescriptive Maintenance based on Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Machine Learning (ML) 3.3 Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) 3.4 Robots and Drones for MRO 3.5 Internet of Things (IoT) and Cloud 3.6 Blockchain 3.7 Additive Manufacturing (AM) 4 Market Overview 4.1 Introduction 4.1.1 Market Classification 4.2 Market Structure 4.3 Military Aircraft MRO programmes 4.4 Market Dynamics 5 Market Analysis and Forecast Factors 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Market model 5.3 Drivers 5.4 Trends 5.5 Opportunities 5.6 Challenges 6 Country Analysis 6.1 Australia 6.2 China 6.3 European countries 6.4 India 6.5 Japan 6.6 Turkey 6.7 US Companies Mentioned AAR CORP. Adani Defence AIM Norway Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M) Air Works Airbus SE Amentum Services, Inc. AMETEK Inc. AMMROC Aselsan BAE Systems Bharat Dynamics Limited Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) BJR Systems DynCorp Elbit Systems Ltd. GridRaster Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) Honeywell International Aerospace Management Company (IAMCO) Invert Robotics Korean Aerospace Engineering & Maintenance Services (KAEMS) L3 Harris Technologies, Inc. Lockheed Martin Corporation Metallisation MTU Aero Engines AG Nayak Group Northrop Grumman Corporation Oxsensis PAE Incorporated Pratt & Whitney ProvenAir Technologies, LLC Raytheon Technologies Roke Manor Rolls-Royce Holdings plc Saab AB ST Engineering StandardAero TAE Aerospace Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) Tata Group Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Ltd (TLMAL) Textron Aviation Defence The Boeing Company Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/1xxf3i About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. France exploits New Caledonia's natural resources, Maria-Agnes Aquilia from New Caledonia said at the international conference "Neocolonialism: Violation of Human Rights and Injustice", Trend reports. "The presence of significant nickel reserves in its subsoil, which are exploited by France within the country, is one of the reasons New Caledonia has not gained sovereignty for more than 150 years since its formation," Aquilia explained. "The high-purity nickel extracted in New Caledonia is strategic in nature, as it is used in a variety of fields, including the production of steel for rockets and satellites, as well as military equipment, such as French fighter jets and submarines". She stated that New Caledonia will obtain the right to use its mineral resources for the first time in 2024. Furthermore, Aquilia stated that the French government has provided insufficient support for the extraction of mineral resources and assuring compliance with international environmental protection standards. This has worsened the situation in some communities and aggravated difficulties related to coastal erosion and global warming, which are followed by natural disasters, she continued. Baku hosts the international conference "Neocolonialism: Human Rights Violation and Injustice", organized by the Baku Initiative Group on October 20. The Baku Initiative Group was established on July 6, 2023, by participants of the conference "Total Elimination of Colonialism" within the framework of the ministerial meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement under the chairmanship of the Republic of Azerbaijan. DUBLIN, Oct. 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Wheelchair Lift Market by Power Type, Application, and Region 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global wheelchair lift market has reached a substantial size of USD 2.31 billion in 2022 and is expected to experience robust growth, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.97% during the forecast period from 2023 to 2028. This growth is projected to propel the market to reach USD 4.11 billion by 2028. Wheelchair Lifts: Enhancing Accessibility and Mobility Wheelchair lifts, also known as vertical platform lifts (VPLs), are specialized mechanical devices designed to facilitate the vertical transportation of individuals with mobility impairments in wheelchairs between different levels of a building or vehicle. These lifts play a crucial role in enhancing accessibility for individuals with disabilities, ensuring they can access elevated areas with ease. Wheelchair lifts are commonly deployed in public buildings, residential spaces, and vehicles to provide a safe and convenient alternative to stairs or ramps, especially when space constraints or physical limitations exist. They come in various types, including electric and hydraulic, and can be installed both indoors and outdoors, catering to a wide range of user needs. Market Trends: Rising Demand for Mobility-Friendly Solutions: The increasing demand for mobility-friendly commercial wheelchair lifts is a key driver of market growth. The increasing demand for mobility-friendly commercial wheelchair lifts is a key driver of market growth. Aging Population: The growing geriatric population, which often requires mobility assistance, is contributing to market expansion. The growing geriatric population, which often requires mobility assistance, is contributing to market expansion. Prevalence of Disabilities: The prevalence of spinal cord injuries and other disabilities is creating opportunities for wheelchair lift adoption. The prevalence of spinal cord injuries and other disabilities is creating opportunities for wheelchair lift adoption. Government Initiatives: Favorable government initiatives to improve accessibility in public places, hospitals, clinics, and commercial spaces are boosting the market. Favorable government initiatives to improve accessibility in public places, hospitals, clinics, and commercial spaces are boosting the market. Technological Advancements: Ongoing technological advancements in wheelchair lift design and features are enhancing market prospects. Ongoing technological advancements in wheelchair lift design and features are enhancing market prospects. Home Healthcare Demand: The rising demand for home healthcare is driving wheelchair lift adoption. Key Market Segmentation: Power Type: The market is categorized by power type into Electric and Hydraulic, with hydraulic lifts representing the largest segment. The market is categorized by power type into Electric and Hydraulic, with hydraulic lifts representing the largest segment. Application: Market applications include Residential, Commercial, Public Vehicle, and Others, with the commercial sector holding the largest market share. Regional Insights: North America : The region comprises the United States and Canada , where the growing demand for wheelchair lifts in commercial buildings and offices, along with an aging population, is driving market growth. The region comprises and , where the growing demand for wheelchair lifts in commercial buildings and offices, along with an aging population, is driving market growth. Asia Pacific : Encompassing China , Japan , India , South Korea , Australia , Indonesia , and others, this region is witnessing increasing adoption of wheelchair lifts due to rapid urbanization and infrastructure development. Encompassing , , , , , , and others, this region is witnessing increasing adoption of wheelchair lifts due to rapid urbanization and infrastructure development. Europe : Comprising Germany , France , the United Kingdom , Italy , Spain , Russia , and others, the European market is benefiting from government initiatives aimed at improving accessibility. Comprising , , the , , , , and others, the European market is benefiting from government initiatives aimed at improving accessibility. Latin America : Includes Brazil , Mexico , and others, where the rising prevalence of disabilities and government efforts to enhance accessibility are driving market growth. Includes , , and others, where the rising prevalence of disabilities and government efforts to enhance accessibility are driving market growth. Middle East and Africa : This region is seeing growth due to expanding healthcare facilities and the need for wheelchair lifts in public spaces. Competitive Landscape: The global wheelchair lift market features a competitive landscape with numerous major companies. Key players include Ameriglide Inc., BraunAbility, Bruno Independent Living Aids, Inc., Cibes Lift Group AB, Harmar Mobility LLC, Savaria Corp., Stannah Lifts Holdings Ltd, Terry Group Ltd, Wabtec Corporation, and others. (Please note that this is a partial list of companies; the complete list is provided in the report.) Key Questions Answered: How has the global wheelchair lift market performed, and what is its future outlook? What are the drivers, restraints, and opportunities in the global wheelchair lift market? What is the impact of each driver, restraint, and opportunity on the market? Which regions and countries offer the most potential in the wheelchair lift market? What are the key market segments and their attractiveness? Who are the major players in the market? For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/jzwkw About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The graphene market size is expected to grow by USD 773.01 million from 2022 to 2027. In addition, the growth momentum of the market will progress at a CAGR of 34.07% during the forecast period, according to Technavio. The growing use of graphene in the construction industry is notably driving the graphene market. However, factors such as problems associated with graphene production may impede market growth. The market is segmented by product (graphene nanoplatelets, graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, and others), end-user (electronics, energy, composites, automotive, and others), and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa). The report offers an up-to-date analysis of the market, and to know the exact growth variance and the Y-O-Y growth rate, Request a FREE Sample Report. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Graphene Market 2023-2027 We provide a detailed analysis of 20 companies operating in the graphene market including 2D Carbon Graphene Material Co. Ltd., ACS Material, Advanced Graphene Products SA, Applied Graphene Materials PLC, CVD Equipment Corp., Directa Plus PLC, First Graphene Ltd., G6 MATERIALS Corp., Global Graphene Group, Grafoid Inc., Graphene Platform Corp., Grolltex Inc., Haydale Graphene Industries plc, Nanograf Corp., NanoXplore Inc., Thomas Swan and Co. Ltd., Vorbeck Materials Corp., and XG Sciences Inc.. Graphene Market 2023-2027: Company Analysis ACS Material: The company offers graphene, which exhibits higher fatigue resistance and impact resistance compared to conventional alternatives. Advanced Graphene Products SA: The company offers graphene, which is used as an additive to paints, varnishes, and composites, effectively improving the properties of a final product. Applied Graphene Materials PLC: The company offers graphene, which allows it to be effectively used in real industry applications in a wide variety of formats. This report provides a full list of key companies, their strategies, and the latest developments. Buy Now for detailed company information. Graphene Market 2023-2027: Segmentation Product The market share growth by the graphene nanoplatelets segment is significant during the forecast period. GNPs are essentially two-dimensional carbon structure materials with single or multiple layers of graphite plane. Some of the main advantages include high electrical conductivity, high modulus, high strength, high thermal conductivity, and a high specific surface area. Geography APAC is estimated to account for 42% of the growth of the global market during the forecast period. One of the main factors that are significantly contributing to the growth of the market in APAC is the increasing demand for graphene across various industries such as construction, automotive, electronics, aerospace, electrical, and steel. The main country in APAC which is significantly fuelling the market growth is China . Hence, such factors are driving the market growth in APAC during the forecast period. is estimated to account for of the growth of the global market during the forecast period. One of the main factors that are significantly contributing to the growth of the market in APAC is the increasing demand for graphene across various industries such as construction, automotive, electronics, aerospace, electrical, and steel. The main country in APAC which is significantly fuelling the market growth is . Hence, such factors are driving the market growth in APAC during the forecast period. Learn about the contribution of each segment summarized in concise infographics and thorough descriptions. View FREE PDF Sample Report Related Reports: The manganese mining market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.21% between 2022 and 2027 with the market size forecast to increase by USD 9,383.8 million. The copper market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6% between 2022 and 2027 with the market size forecast to increase by USD 57.8 billion. ToC: Executive Summary Market Landscape Market Sizing Historic Market Sizes Five Forces Analysis Market Segmentation by Product Market Segmentation by End-user Market Segmentation by Geography Customer Landscape Geographic Landscape Drivers, Challenges, & Trends Company Landscape Company Analysis Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com SOURCE Technavio Development division maintains strong 4 Green Star rating, its score of 91 placing it 12 points above its benchmark average Investment division increases score by 12 points since initial submission in 2021 Placed 2nd in peer group for Development score within Americas, Non-listed, Core, Closed end VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Grosvenor, an international property owner and developer with a 70+ year track record in North America, announced continued increases in scores from a leading independent sustainability group, underscoring the company's successful ongoing efforts to reduce carbon emissions. The company's North American property business reported higher annual scores from the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB), which tracks ESG progress across more than 2,000 companies. The firm's Development division again achieved a 4 Green Star rating by scoring 91, marking a 17-point jump since 2021 and exceeding benchmark averages for all ESG scores. Grosvenor placed second within its peer group for its Development score within Americas, Non-listed, Core, Closed end ranking, scoring 12-points above the benchmark average. The business' Standing Investments division rose to a 3 Green Star rating, scoring 77, a 12-point increase since scoring 65 in its first submission in 2021 and two points above the GRESB average. Scores achieved in both Development and Standing Investment divisions exceed the average GRESB score of 72 for 3rd year participants in the Americas. This year's higher scores reflect improvements in the Stakeholder Engagement, Risk Assessment, and Health, Safety and Wellbeing sections of the GRESB ratings criteria. Improvements also were achieved in the Performance section, with energy consumption, GHG emissions, and water use all scoring higher than the prior year. Top marks were achieved in the Leadership, Reporting, Policies, Stakeholder Engagement, ESG Requirements, Materials, Waste, Water Consumption, Targets and Data Monitoring & Review. "We are focused on improving the performance of our properties to simultaneously reduce our operating costs and carbon footprint," said Steve O'Connell, CEO of Grosvenor's North American urban property business, "By understanding the payback period of our improvements while increasing the use of renewable energy, and helping our suppliers and tenants improve sustainability, we are making great progress toward achieving our goals." Tanja Milosevic, Grosvenor's Associate Vice President of ESG in North America, added: "Improving again to 3- and 4-stars in our third GRESB reporting year is a strong reflection of the hard work we are doing to reduce our carbon footprint. Good governance, alongside social and environmental responsibility, has always been part of our DNA; having our two main business lines outperform their benchmark averages is great validation for us." The company's carbon reductions-first approach is a key element in reducing its overall environmental impact. Grosvenor has publicly reported its consumption and reduction values for 15 years. Included among the numerous efforts underway at Grosvenor to enhance sustainability are: Deploying renewable, clean energy solutions to its buildings, including solar, wind and other energy saving technologies Utilizing ultra-energy-efficient lighting, windows, and HVAC systems Some examples within Grosvenor's North American Development and Investment portfolios include: Brentwood Block in Burnaby, BC , is an 8-acre, pedestrian-focused masterplan that will bring 3,500 carbon-free homes to Metro Vancouver next to rapid transit. The project will exceed the City of Burnaby's sustainability requirements through efficient envelope design, low-carbon systems and renewable energy. in , is an 8-acre, pedestrian-focused masterplan that will bring 3,500 carbon-free homes to Metro Vancouver next to rapid transit. The project will exceed the sustainability requirements through efficient envelope design, low-carbon systems and renewable energy. Currently in design, 3300 Whitehaven is a nine-story residential building with a focus on reducing embodied carbon. The project's innovative post-and-beam mass timber structure has the potential to achieve a substantial reduction in the project's overall embodied carbon footprint, eliminating up to 1,500 metric tons of carbon equivalent before biogenic carbon (CO 2 sequestered by trees as they grow) is factored in. sequestered by trees as they grow) is factored in. In San Jose , CA, Grosvenor completed a drought-resistant landscaping project at Toshiba's three-building office and R&D campus and is advancing a substantial solar panel array installation estimated to result in a 91 percent usage offset at two buildings and a 55 percent usage offset at the third. , CA, Grosvenor completed a drought-resistant landscaping project at Toshiba's three-building office and R&D campus and is advancing a substantial solar panel array installation estimated to result in a 91 percent usage offset at two buildings and a 55 percent usage offset at the third. Ace in Berkeley, CA , features 163 residences powered by electric energy. Offering EV charging stations, electric ranges in all kitchens and enhanced public spaces, the project is on track to achieve GreenPoint Rated Gold certification, California's independent rating system based on healthy, energy-and resource-efficient residences. For more information, please contact: Great Ink Communications +1 212-741-2977 [email protected] About Grosvenor Grosvenor has operated a diversified real estate business in North America since 1952. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had assets under management of USD$4.1bn, including 74 high-quality properties, and is executing on a USD$4.7bn development pipeline across its active markets. Consistent with the firm's farsighted approach to ownership and development, Grosvenor values long-term partnerships; across their nine active capital partners, the average relationship is 20 years. Grosvenor signed the World Green Building Council's Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment in 2019 and has publicly reported its annual consumption and reduction values for 15 years. Part of an international property company with a track record of over 340 years, we develop, manage, and invest to improve property and places across many of the world's leading cities, promoting sustainability within the built environment and enhancing the wellbeing of our customers and communities. www.grosvenor.com Follow us on Twitter: @GrosvenorGRP LinkedIn: Grosvenor Instagram: ThisisGrosvenor SOURCE Grosvenor PRINCETON, N.J., Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Learning Ally, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the lives of struggling learners, is proud to announce the launch of an inspiring and thought-provoking podcast miniseries hosted by Dr. Terrie Noland, Learning Ally's VP of Educator Initiatives. The inaugural episode sets the stage for an engaging journey into the world of literacy leadership, featuring three esteemed co-hosts who embody the values of knowledge, wisdom, and continuous growth: Linda Diamond, co-founder of CORE and author of Teaching Reading Sourcebook, Dr. Tim Odegard, Murfree Chair of Excellence and Professor of Psychology at Middle Tennessee State University and Editor-in-Chief of Annals of Dyslexia, and Dr. Tracy Weeden, CEO of Neuhaus Education Center. Listeners are welcomed with open arms as the host, Terrie Noland, introduces the overarching mission of the Change-Makers miniseries: to bring together visionary leaders from across the United States to engage in conversations about the essence of literacy leadership. Noland highlights the importance of leaders who "know the way, show the way, and go the way" and aspires to create a space where such leaders can come together and share their insights. Three distinguished co-hosts address the current status of the literacy landscape: Linda Diamond emphasizes the significance of leaders being continuous learners who can bridge the gap between research and practice. She emphasizes the importance of leaders facilitating learning sessions, engaging parents, and actively contributing to the community's knowledge. emphasizes the significance of leaders being continuous learners who can bridge the gap between research and practice. She emphasizes the importance of leaders facilitating learning sessions, engaging parents, and actively contributing to the community's knowledge. Dr. Tracy Weeden advocates for a transformative approach to leadership by addressing the root causes of challenges rather than simply addressing their consequences. She calls for teacher and leader preparation programs to focus on getting the work "as close to right as possible" and underscores the importance of grit and laser focus in literacy leadership. Dr. Tim Odegard, a proponent of neurodiversity, highlights the value of leaders being willing to take on any role and owning their personal growth and development. He underlines the idea that leadership transcends titles and positions, emphasizing the need to earn authority through authenticity, respect, and value addition. "We are on the brink of a transformation in the field of literacy education," says Terrie Noland. "With the Change-Makers miniseries, Learning Ally aims to empower listeners to take away actionable strategies and models of leadership that can be applied in classrooms, schools, districts, communities, states, and in life." Miniseries guests include: Kareem Weaver, Dr. Allison Peck, Dr. Art Cavazos, Dr. Michelle Rodriguez, Dr. Rebecca Tolson, Dr. Robert Sahli, Dr. Elsa Cardenas-Hagan, Dr. Stephanie Stollar, Sonya Thomas, Resha Conroy, and Ameer Baraka. The guests share their profound insights, aspirations, and visions for the future of literacy leadership. They stress the urgency of aligning efforts to ensure that every student has the opportunity to read and succeed. The official launch of this podcast miniseries takes place at Neuhaus Education Center's Unlocking Literacy conference on October 24, 2023. Listeners can expect hard-hitting questions, in-depth conversations, and the emergence of new leadership paradigms as they embark on this enlightening journey alongside these influential change-makers. This miniseries promises to be a valuable resource for educators, policymakers, parents, and anyone passionate about advancing literacy and education in our society. The Learning Ally Literacy Leadership Podcast is available on major podcast platforms. New episodes of the Change-Makers miniseries will be released weekly. Visit Learning Ally's website. About Learning Ally: Learning Ally is a nonprofit organization committed to promoting literacy by providing audiobooks, software, and support services to individuals who struggle with reading. Their mission is to empower students and adults to reach their full potential by providing access to a wealth of educational content in accessible formats. By offering comprehensive solutions for individuals with reading disabilities and learning differences, Learning Ally strives to create a world where everyone can access and enjoy the written word. Media Contact: Valerie Chernek [email protected] 410-960-4060 SOURCE Learning Ally Head-to-head data published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum shows SYLKE wound closure prototype outperforms current standard of care LA JOLLA, Calif., Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Sylke Inc launched SYLKE, the first dressing made of pure hypoallergenic silk fibroin. SYLKE is designed to enhance healing across surgical wounds and to reduce complications and infections which can lead to poor scarring outcomes.1,2 Based on head-to-head data* published today in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal (ASJ) Open Forum (https://academic.oup.com/asjopenforum/article/doi/10.1093/asjof/ojad071/7238111), SYLKE adhesive wound closure prototype outperformed DERMABOND PRINEO (p<0.001) across all measures, significantly reducing the incidence of medical adhesive-related skin injuries (MARSIs). The study was published in collaboration with The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the University of California San Diego. Each year, 1.5 million Americans suffer from MARSIs caused by synthetic surgical adhesive dressings, leading to painful complications, including surgical site infections (SSIs) and poor scarring outcomes.3,4 The related cost to the US healthcare system is $3.3 billion each year.5 The current standard of care, including inflexible tapes, synthetic materials, and aggressive liquid glue medical adhesives often lead to skin tears, blisters, cell damage and allergic contact dermatitis (ACD).4,6 These problems are often overlooked, vastly underreported and preventable. "SYLKE aims to revolutionize surgical wound care by eliminating medical adhesive-related skin injuries that lead to complications such as infections and poor scarring outcomes. We see a benefit to millions of patients and aim to decrease the financial burden on the healthcare system by bringing SYLKE to market," said M. Mark Mofid, MD, FACS, an assistant Professor of Plastic Surgery at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and inventor of SYLKE. "Scarring from surgical procedures dramatically affects aesthetics and impacts patients' mental health and overall well-being. We are especially pleased to extend the art of scar-minimizing wound closure to all healthcare professionals, patients, consumers and military personnel." In a head-to-head clinical trial*, the SYLKE prototype significantly outperformed DERMABOND PRINEO (p<0.001) across all measures, including: skin discomfort (4% vs. 64%), ACD including rash, itching and erythema (irritated, red skin) (0% vs. 52%), need for topical steroids or antibiotics for ACD and SSIs (0% vs. 52%), and dressing removal time (47 seconds vs. 1 minute and 39 seconds). SYLKE and DERMABOND PRINEO were evaluated in abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), body lift, breast reduction and mastopexy (breast lift) procedures. A head-to-head comparison (n=50) of the SYLKE prototype versus the 3M Steri-Strip Skin Closure device will be published in spring 2024 adding to the growing body of evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of SYLKE. Multispecialty studies using SYLKE are in the planning stages at Johns Hopkins this fall. SYLKE is commercially available and can be purchased over-the-counter by healthcare professionals and the general public through www.sylke.com. Five-unit introduction boxes will be launched at the cost of $115/strip up to 32 percent less than a current standard of care with volume discounts for large-scale buyers, such as hospital systems and clinics. Data from the SYLKE head-to-head clinical trial with DERMABOND PRINEO will be presented at: American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2023 Boston, Massachusetts Tuesday, October 24 12:45 PM - 2:15 PM ET Session : SF215 | Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery II Abstract 4960: Superiority Of Silk Wound Dressing Over The Dermabond Prineo Skin Closure System: A Prospective Randomized, Single-blinded Clinical Trial [oral] Location: BCEC, 151AB, Level 1 American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) 2023 Annual Meeting (Plastic Surgery The Meeting) Austin, Texas Saturday, October 28 2:10 PM ET Session : Research & Technology 6 [oral] Abstract 37829: Superiority of Silk Wound Dressing Over the Dermabond Prineo Skin Closure System: A Prospective, Randomized, Single-Blinded Clinical Trial [oral] Location: ACC, Meeting Room 9C, Level 3 *25 patients participated in the clinical trial; each patient's wound was dressed half in DERMABOND PRINEO and half in the SYLKE prototype, so each patient served as their own internal control.1 Silkworm silk, commonly used in healthcare and textiles, is made up of two proteins fibroin and sericin. Fibroin is the internal fiber that gives silk its threadlike structure and sericin is the glue that encases the fibroin. By removing the sericin protein, SYLKE's fibers are nearly pure fibroina naturally hypoallergenic and strong material.2 About SYLKE SYLKE Adhesive Wound Closure is the first premium, naturally sourced, and water-resistant "all-in-one" system designed with hypoallergenic materials to enhance wound healing and reduce surgical site complications to improve patient outcomes. Made of pure silk fibroin, the SYLKE patented breathable mesh design gently adheres seamlessly to irregular wound surfaces remaining water-resistant for up to two weeks without the need for reapplication. The inherent elasticity of the mesh design allows for SYLKE to minimize shear forces on the skin as a result of swelling or motion while maintaining precise wound edge approximation during the healing process. SYLKE is available as a 2.5 cm wide strip with an easily peeled paper backing that can be effortlessly cut and applied within seconds to post-surgical incisions, cuts, or simple lacerations thus eliminating the need for additional applicators, glues, dressings or devices. SYLKE was registered as an FDA Class 1 medical device in October 2023. For additional information, please visit www.sylke.com . About Sylke, Inc. Sylke, Inc based in La Jolla, CA is led by M. Mark Mofid, MD, FACS, an assistant Professor of Plastic Surgery at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine alongside leading scientists and healthcare professionals. Unsatisfied with options for surgical site dressings, Mofid invented the first naturally sourced and hypoallergenic dressing for the market SYLKE. For additional information, please visit www.sylke.com . References 1. Rouhani, DS, Singh, NK, Chao, JJ, et al. Silk Bioprotein as a Novel Surgical-Site Wound Dressing: A Prospective, Randomized, Single-Blinded, Superiority Clinical Trial. 2023 Oct. Aesthetic Surgery Journal [cited 2023 Oct 19]. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1093/asjof/ojad071 2. SYLKE data on file, 2023. 3. Swanson, S. Prototype Development of a Temperature-Sensitive High-Adhesion Medical Tape to Reduce Medical-Adhesive-Related Skin Injury and Improve Quality of Care. Int J Mol Sci [Internet]. 2022 Jul [cited 2023 Sept 21]; 23(13): 7164. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9266747/ 4. Fumarola S, Allaway R, Callaghan R, et al. Overlooked and underestimated: medical adhesive-related skin injuries. J Wound Care [Internet]. 2020 Mar [cited 2023 Sept 7]; 29(Sup3c):S1-S24. Available from: https://www.magonlinelibrary.com/doi/epub/10.12968/jowc.2020.29.Sup3c.S1 5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Surgical Site Infection Event (SSI): National Healthcare Safety Network; 2023. 41 p. Report No.: 9. 6. Hitchcock, J, Haigh, DA, Martin N, et al. Preventing medical adhesive-related skin injury (MARSI). British Journal of Medicine [Internet]. 2021 Aug [cited 2023 Sept 6]; 30(15): 2052-2819. Available from: https://www.britishjournalofnursing.com/content/product-focus/preventing-medical-adhesive-related-skin-injury-marsi/#:~:text=A%20MARSI%20resulting%20from%20any,infected%20in%20at%2Drisk%20patients. Contacts Mike Mihovilovich Product inquiries +1 858 232 9389 [email protected] SOURCE Sylke, Inc. Prospera event recognizes clients and collaboration in local entrepreneurial ecosystem ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Prospera hosted its annual signature event, presented by OUC, at the Orlando Museum of Art. Stakeholders of the nonprofit, economic development organization gathered at the 2023 Prospera Success Stories: Synergy for Progress to raise funds for the mission, celebrate successful local small business owners who have received Prospera's assistance, and showcase entrepreneurial ecosystem collaborations. These successful entrepreneurs, whose stories illustrate synergy for progress, were recognized: 2023 Prospera Success Stories event honorees in Central Florida with sponsors and speakers City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings delivered remarks in support of Prospera and the local Hispanic community. The program, led by Prospera Central & Northeast Florida Vice President Katia Medina, highlighted the impact of Prospera's services on small businesses and local entrepreneurship for funders, volunteers, partners, and other local leaders. In addition to recognizing successful clients, partner organizations were showcased for collaborating with Prospera to provide complementary resources to Hispanic small business owners. "Our region remains an example of the synergy between the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, which is critical for a strong ecosystem," said Medina. "We represent a diverse group, each with a unique role, united by a common purpose to foster small business and entrepreneurship for the greater good of Central Florida." "We all build a stronger economy and community when we collaborate and focus together on large, medium, and small businesses; on early stage and advanced businesses; on industry diversification, greater access to capital, and more equitable procurement opportunities," added Prospera President & CEO Augusto Sanabria. Prospera Board Chair Luz Aviles addressed the audience of stakeholders, sharing some of the organization's accomplishments and areas of focus. "We will continue leveraging private and public support, and engaging our volunteers, to maximize your contributions and maintain our incredible return on investmenthistorically, $184 in economic output for every dollar donated to Prospera," stated Aviles. In addition to Presenting Sponsor OUC, the event was made possible thanks to the following sponsors: Hosts : Bank of America, Duke Energy, Heart of Florida United Way, Orlando Health, Orlando Magic , Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, and Wells Fargo : Bank of America, Duke Energy, Heart of Florida United Way, Orlando Health, , & Resorts, and Wells Fargo Champions: Akerman, CITY Furniture, Florida Technical College , Hispanic Federation, JPMorgan Chase, Plaza del Sol, Suncoast Credit Union, TD Bank, TSG Financial Advisors, Truist, and Valencia College Prospera is an economic development, nonprofit organization that has specialized since 1991 in providing bilingual assistance to Hispanic entrepreneurs who want to start, sustain, and grow their business. In the last five years alone, Prospera facilitated over $70 million in loans for small business clients, trained 17,300 entrepreneurs, and helped consulting clients create or retain more than 16,000 jobs. Prospera currently serves Florida, North Carolina, and Georgia. For more information, visit www.prosperausa.org. Media Contact: Katia Medina, (407) 920-4201, [email protected] SOURCE Prospera Choosing the right lawyer can make all the difference in the outcome of a personal injury case says Leverty & Associates RENO, Nev., Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- If you have suffered an injury at the hands of someone else and are seeking compensation, hiring a successful personal injury attorney is crucial. But how do you choose the right law firm for your case? Here are some essential qualifications of highly rated personal injury attorneys: They understand the legal process . The legal process can be complex and confusing, especially for someone who is not familiar with it. A good attorney will be able to explain the process to you and help you navigate it. . The legal process can be complex and confusing, especially for someone who is not familiar with it. A good attorney will be able to explain the process to you and help you navigate it. They are good at gathering evidence . In order to prove your case, you will need medical records, police reports, and witness statements. A good attorney will know how to gather this evidence and will be able to present it in a way that is persuasive to the court. . In order to prove your case, you will need medical records, police reports, and witness statements. A good attorney will know how to gather this evidence and will be able to present it in a way that is persuasive to the court. They can negotiate with the insurance company . The insurance company for the person who caused your injuries will likely try to lowball you on a settlement offer. A good attorney will be able to negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf and get you the best possible settlement. . The insurance company for the person who caused your injuries will likely try to lowball you on a settlement offer. A good attorney will be able to negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf and get you the best possible settlement. They have trial experience. If the insurance company does not offer you a fair settlement, you may need to go to trial. A good attorney will be prepared to go to trial and will fight for your rights. In addition to these specific benefits, a good attorney can also provide you with emotional support and guidance during a difficult time. They can help you understand your legal options and make sure that you are getting the compensation you deserve. The attorneys at Leverty & Associates check these important boxes: Experience Knowledge of the law Communication skills Negotiation skills Trial experience. If you have been injured in an accident, it is important to speak to an attorney as soon as possible to get the compensation you deserve. "Look for a firm that is both empathetic and transparent, and highly experienced with personal injury cases," says Attorney Patrick Leverty. About Leverty & Associates Patrick Leverty, an experienced attorney with almost 20 years of success, focuses on personal injury and insurance bad faith cases. With his specialized knowledge in insurance law and a Master's degree in the field, Mr. Leverty possesses exceptional legal expertise to guide individuals and businesses through insurance-related challenges. He has extensive experience handling personal injury claims, complex tort cases, product liability issues, and class action lawsuits. For a free consultation, contact Leverty & Associates at (775) 322-6636. This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com. SOURCE Leverty & Associates Law FAIR OAKS, Ind., Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Fair Oaks Farms is excited to announce the opening of our Holiday Season, where you'll enjoy festive events that will delight guests of all ages. Join us in giving back to the community and receive $6 off an Adventure Admission ticket, during our Days of Giving, which lasts November 1st through the 12th. We have partnered with Toys for Toys and the Newton County Food Pantry; bring in a new, unwrapped toy still in the package or a non-perishable food item to help us make a big difference for local families this holiday season. *Photo captured by Rob Edwards in The Forest of Lights *Photo captured by Fair Oaks Farms at the Farmhouse Igloos. Beginning November 10th, enjoy a heated, outdoor dining experience in the Farmhouse Igloos. Schedule a lunch or dinner in a warm, private, full-service environment complete with the full Farmhouse menu and specialty holiday pricing. Parties of up to 10 guests can book online and customize your experience with exclusive add-ons! Select the igloo that fits you best...but hurry...these igloos book up fast! Brighten up your Holiday season with a walk through the spectacular Forest of Lights. From November 17th to December 31st Fair Oaks Farms hosts a one-of-a-kind light installation. Delight in the magic and beauty that lurks in the luminous branches of our Nature Trail. This artistic display of illumination showcases magical scenes that create the perfect backdrop for your Holiday photo op. Pick up a s'mores pack from The Market and linger around the fire pits near the interactive light exhibits! Additional merriment is also available to guests 21 & over at the Forest Pub, where you can delight in delicious treats and adult beverages to keep you warm! Thanksgiving is fast approaching...make the most of your time by ordering a Thanksgiving To Go box by November 17th. The starter package includes Thanksgiving favorites, as well as a cheese board and pumpkin pie. Add-on items are also available to round out your turkey day table! Select your family favorites and create lasting memories, while indulging in a delicious meal, prepared by the culinary team at Fair Oaks Farms. Santa returns for our annual Stories and Stars with Santa. This unique experience is available December 17th to 18th. Children will gather in the Farmhouse to create their lists to present to Santa. After greeting them, Santa will read the children a magical, holiday story. Treats, hot cocoa, and ample photo opportunities are available. Follow up your meet and greet with a trip through the magical illuminations of the Forest of Lights with Saint Nick himself! You don't want to miss the excitement on their faces and the lasting memories you will create together. Needing a gift for someone on your list? The Market opens on November 17th, stocked full and ready for guests to pick up holiday decor, gift items, and our delectable Fair Oaks Farms sweets, baked goods, or locally sourced jams and honey! Send smiles across the miles this season, from our online shop on fofarms.com. We have your special gift giving needs, whether personal or corporate...you can choose from a wide variety of items, including our award-winning Cheese Gift Boxes; featuring Fair Oaks Farms fresh, gourmet cheeses, sausages, chocolates, and much more! Each of our Holiday events is full of fun for the entire family, so be sure to continue to check our social media and fofarms.com for hours and additional information about the Holiday festivities. The country is calling and there is something for everyone this Holiday Season at Fair Oaks Farms! ABOUT FAIR OAKS FARMS Fair Oaks Farms is an escape to the country with acres of great fun, fresh food, and learning. Located just 75 miles south of Chicago, 100 miles north of Indianapolis, in the corn belt of Northwest Indiana...Fair Oaks Farms is the #1 agri-tourism destination in the Midwest, where you can explore family-owned farms and reconnect with nature, animals and our planet. Get the opportunity to explore our attractions. Visit the Dairy Adventure, the Pig Adventure, and the Crop Adventure to learn about our animals, farming practices and nutrition. Only 75 miles south of Chicago, right off of 65 exit 220. Media Contact: Angelica Bramlage [email protected] Marketing Communications Specialist Fair Oaks Farms SOURCE Fair Oaks Farms Management, LLC While AI is powerful in its ability to rapidly verify identities at scale, AI applications also introduce risks that can outweigh its rewards. Machine Learning models lack transparency and fail to provide the insights financial services organizations need to meet explainability requirements and fine-tune onboarding models. Fraud Analysts are an essential layer of fraud prevention that brings oversight and transparency to AI by safeguarding against new fraud threats, identifying errors and informing and improving learning models through constant input and refinement of data. "Transparency is key for digital identity verification and without it, financial services organizations tapping AI for value are instead left with unmitigated risk," said Heidi Hunter, chief product officer at IDology. "AI has the power to enhance a business or destroy it. Successfully leveraging AI for identity verification requires a complete ecosystem of fraud prevention. Multiple layers of intelligence are essential, from automation through AI for rapid fraud detection to fraud analysts who provide oversight and closed-loop transparency for continuous improvement, optimization and development of new solutions." Hunter will present ' Why AI Needs Humans ' during Money20/20 USA on October 22, 2023 at 12:23 PST. The session will offer best practices for leveraging AI for identity verification and a preview of IDology's multi-layered solution that combines the power of AI with a dedicated team of Fraud Analysts to drive automation, oversight and innovation. Journalists or analysts interested in meeting with IDology during Money20/20, email media contact Kathy Berardi to request a briefing. About IDology IDology, a GBG company, delivers a comprehensive suite of identity verification, AML/KYC compliance solutions and fraud management to help businesses drive revenue, deter fraud and maintain compliance. IDology provides end-to-end coverage of the customer identity lifecycle, offering standalone or multi-layered capabilities, with thousands of diverse data sources and leading technology for document authentication and ID + selfie verification. Under GBG, Acuant and IDology recently united to form the largest pure play identity verification provider in the Americas. Listed on the London Stock Exchange, GB Group plc ('GBG') is a global leader in developing and delivering digital identity, address verification, fraud prevention and compliance software to businesses globally with over 30 years of experience. To learn more about GBG visit https://www.gbgplc.com . Media Contact: Kathy Berardi Carabiner Communications 678.644.4122 [email protected] SOURCE GBG IDology BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. The pressing problems related to the freedom of Caledonia continue, representative of the Party of Kanak Liberation Davi Nicholas Bolo said, Trend reports. He spoke at an international conference on "Neocolonialism: human rights violations and injustice". "Caledonia is still a colony of France, experiencing this heinous injustice since 1953," he said. He noted that France is buying indigenous lands, expelling the population, and killing public figures working in the colonies. "Unlawful policies are being implemented against our people. Caledonia has a significant problem with corruption. This is obviously visible in the elections. France is taking advantage of our resources. Despite being a country wealthy in natural resources, the populace is relatively impoverished. Caledonia has been financially dependent on France", he added. Bolo went on to say that international platforms have remained silent on France's ludicrous colonial strategy, which has lasted nearly 200 years. The French state has failed to meet its promises, and unemployment, starvation, and racism continue to plague the region. Diplomacy has significant gaps. At the same time, there are climate change challenges. People are losing touch with their cultural roots. Young people are compelled to travel to other countries. Baku hosts the international conference "Neocolonialism: Human Rights Violation and Injustice", organized by the Baku Initiative Group on October 20. The Baku Initiative Group was established on July 6, 2023, by participants of the conference "Total Elimination of Colonialism" within the framework of the ministerial meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement under the chairmanship of the Republic of Azerbaijan. DUBLIN, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A groundbreaking development has surfaced in South Africa's construction sector. The University of Johannesburg (UJ) unveiled a pilot project focused on 3D construction printing for sustainable human developments. Sponsored by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and in collaboration with UJ's Faculty of Civil Engineering and the Built Environment, the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Human Settlements and AfriSam, the initiative showcased the exceptional capability of a 3D printing machine, valued at R6 million, to print a model of an RDP house in a mere eight hours. Such advancements underscore the importance of having a thorough understanding of the building and construction sector in South Africa. With this in mind, "The Tile Industry in South Africa 2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. A critical component of the building and construction domain, the tile industry significantly influences the sector. Key players like Italtile and Norcros SA stand out due to their vertical integration across the value chain. Notably, Ceramic Industries, operated by Italtile, is responsible for supplying over half of the approximate 70 million square metres of tiles consumed in South Africa annually. While the industry saw a surge during the lockdown period due to heightened home DIY activities, it now grapples with challenges such as economic stagnation, escalating living costs, and diminishing levels of gross fixed capital formation. A significant shift has been observed in household spending patterns, with more funds being allocated towards alternative energy sources. Influences and Key Concerns Manufacturers within the tile industry are presently dealing with growing energy expenses and mounting pressures to embrace eco-friendly processes. The year 2022 witnessed a shift in consumer behaviour, with many opting to invest in alternative energy rather than home renovations. Moreover, the influx of opportunistic traders offering imported tiles during the pandemic boom has led to a loss of market share. The resultant overstocking in the industry has compelled operators to slash prices. The manufacturing of tiles demands high energy due to the requisite high temperatures for grinding and firing processes. Consequently, the escalating energy costs have impacted the tile industry on a global scale. In South Africa, the scenario is exacerbated by inconsistent energy supply and a weakening currency. Further, factors such as the slow momentum of public infrastructure investment, disruptions by criminal factions targeting construction sites, and diminished building confidence have curtailed tile demand. Report Highlights The comprehensive "Tile Industry in South Africa 2023" report delves deep into the South African tile industry, encompassing manufacturing, wholesale, and retail aspects. It sheds light on the current industry landscape and the myriad factors influencing it - from infrastructure development pace and construction activity levels to retail sales trends and competition dynamics. Featuring detailed profiles of 20 prominent companies, including industry stalwarts like Italtile, Norcros SA, Union Tiles, Mazista, and Metrotile, as well as building materials giants like Massmart and Spar Group, the report is a treasure trove of insights. In the context of the emerging 3D printing trends in construction, understanding the nuances of the tile industry becomes paramount. This report serves as an invaluable tool for business entrepreneurs and managers, offering a clear picture of the industry's intricacies and facilitating informed decision-making. Stay ahead of the curve and harness the power of knowledge with the latest research report on "The Tile Industry in South Africa 2023." For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/3i8pkk About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets ATLANTA, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Invesco Advisers, Inc., a subsidiary of Invesco Ltd. (NYSE: IVZ), announced today additional details concerning the liquidation of the Invesco High Income 2023 Target Term Fund (NYSE: IHIT) (the "Fund"). In accordance with its investment objectives and organizational documents, the Fund plans to terminate its existence and liquidate on or about December 1, 2023 (the "Termination Date"). As the Fund prepares for its liquidation on the Termination Date, the Fund will deviate from its stated investment strategy to primarily invest in securities collateralized by loans secured by real properties and from certain investment policies as the Fund's portfolio managers increase the Fund's assets held in high quality, short-term securities, U.S. Treasury securities, and cash and cash equivalents. As the Fund's portfolio securities continue to mature and are sold, the Fund's portfolio will continue to transition into high quality, short-term securities, U.S. Treasury securities or cash and cash equivalents. As of October 18, 2023, the Fund's portfolio consisted of approximately 95% cash and cash equivalents and 5% longer term securities. The Fund's investment objectives are to provide a high level of current income and to return $9.835 per share (the original net asset value ("NAV") per Common Share before deducting offering costs of $0.02 per share) ("Original NAV") to common shareholders on the Termination Date. As previously disclosed, based on current market conditions, management anticipates that the Fund's objective of returning the Original NAV to common shareholders on or about the Termination Date will not be met. The objective to return the Fund's Original NAV is not an express or implied guarantee obligation of the Fund and is dependent on a number of factors. As of October 18, 2023, the Fund's NAV per share was $7.12. As the Fund approaches liquidation, its common shares will continue trading on the New York Stock Exchange through November 27, 2023 and will be suspended from trading before the open of trading on November 28, 2023. The Fund will declare its regular monthly distribution in November 2023 and expects that all other accumulated earnings will be included in the final liquidating distribution. The Fund anticipates making its final liquidating distribution on or about the Termination Date. However, if the Fund is not able to liquidate all of its assets prior to the Termination Date, subsequent to the final liquidating distribution the Fund may make one or more small additional distributions of any cash received from ultimate liquidation of those assets. Shareholders may recognize a gain or loss for U.S. tax purposes as a result of the liquidation of the Fund. Invesco does not provide tax advice; shareholders should consult a professional tax advisor regarding their specific tax situation. For more information, call 1-800-341-2929. This communication is not intended to, and shall not, constitute an offer to purchase or sell shares of any of the Invesco Funds, including the Fund. About Invesco Ltd. Invesco Ltd. is a global independent investment management firm dedicated to delivering an investment experience that helps people get more out of life. Our distinctive investment teams deliver a comprehensive range of active, passive, and alternative investment capabilities. With offices in more than 20 countries, Invesco managed $1.5 trillion in assets on behalf of clients worldwide as of June 30, 2023. For more information, visit www.invesco.com. Invesco Distributors, Inc. is the U.S. distributor for Invesco Ltd.'s retail products. Invesco Advisers, Inc. is an investment adviser; it provides investment advisory services to individual and institutional clients and does not sell securities. Each entity is a wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Invesco Ltd. Note: There is no assurance that a closed-end fund will achieve its investment objective. Common shares are bought on the secondary market and may trade at a discount or premium to NAV. Regular brokerage commissions apply. NOT A DEPOSIT l NOT FDIC INSURED l NOT GUARANTEED BY THE BANK | MAY LOSE VALUE | NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY Media Relations Contact: Jeaneen Terrio, [email protected], 212-278-9205 SOURCE Invesco Ltd. REDDITCH, England, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Concentric's Interim Report for Q3 (January-September 2023), will be published on the 8 of November 2023, at 08.00 CET. At 10.00 CET media, investors and analysts are invited to Tandstickspalatset, Vastra Tradgardsgatan 15 in Stockholm, for a presentation of the report. There will also be an opportunity to participate via webcast/telephone conference. President & CEO Martin Kunz and CFO Marcus Whitehouse will host the presentation, which will be held in English and is followed by a Q&A-session. We look forward to your participation. Please see the below detailed information to join in: Press and analysts conference at 10.00 CET (09:00 UK TIME) 1. Access the webcast: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/zvwpvouw Please press the play button or refresh your browser if your webcast videos does not load automatically. 2. Telephone conference Participants are required to register in advance of the conference using the link provided below. Upon registering, each participant will be provided with Participant Dial In Numbers, and a unique Personal PIN. In the 10 minutes prior to the call start time, participants will need to use the conference access information provided in the e-mail received at the point of registering. Participants may also use the call me feature instead of dialing the nearest dial in number . Telephone conference Online Registration: https://register.vevent.com/register/BIad097e17720c462192c37046f78bfe82 For further information, please contact Gregory Asante, +44 (0)7977 149 348. About Concentric AB Concentric AB is an innovator in flow control and fluid power, supplying proprietary systems and components to the world's construction equipment, truck, agricultural machinery and industrial applications end-markets. The company has a global manufacturing presence including in the USA, Germany, UK, Sweden, India and China. Concentric's focus is to develop world class technology with innovative solutions that meet the sustainability needs of our customers. Concentric offers engine products including lubricant, coolant and fuel pumps and hydraulic products encompassing gear pumps and power packs. Concentric also offers a range of products developed for the fast-growing electric and hybrid powertrain market including, electric water and oil pumps, electric fans, thermal management systems and electro hydraulic steering. In 2022, the Group had a turnover of MSEK 4,056 and circa 1,207 employees. The following files are available for download: SOURCE Concentric AB DUBLIN, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Italy Power Rental Market - Strategic Assessment & Forecast 2023-2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Italy power rental market is expected to reach a value of $155.6 million by 2029 from $118.4 million in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 3.98% from 2022 to 2029 The key players in the Italy power rental market are Loxam, United Rentals, Aggreko, Atlas Copco, Cummins, Caterpillar, and Kohler Power. In May 2022, Aggreko strengthened its European load bank fleet with a further USD 5 million investment, bringing the total to over 500 units, to ensure that the distinctive demands of individual data centers across the region are met. In May 2023, Mollo Noleggio acquired Friuli-based PMP to expand its presence in the market. In 2022, the company acquired Monia Noleggi, a specialist in aerial platforms, along with Parmiani Noleggi. With these acquisitions, Mollo Noleggio has increased its presence nationwide with 49 centers. A similar trend of consolidation of the market is expected to continue shortly. The European Rental Association launched a calculator to assist the manufacturers and end-users in simplifying the environmental consequences created by a particular piece of equipment. This will also help in understanding the metrics and whether the equipment fits into the requirements of the adopted green regulations while determining the machine's carbon footprint and forthcoming decisions of the company's investment. One of Italy's notable achievements in 2022 was its reduced reliance on Russian natural gas imports. This was made possible by signing new contracts with alternative suppliers and leveraging the pipeline and LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) infrastructure developed over the past decade. Italy strengthened its energy security by accelerating the shift to alternative energy sources and emphasizing energy efficiency, particularly in the building sector. IT took important steps towards meeting its climate targets. Italian Government's Investment in Tourism and Rail Projects to Increase the Demand During Construction and Operation The Italian Ministry of Tourism observes the 2025 Jubilee as an opportunity, and a portion of the 500 million ($551 billion) Caput Mundi project budget has been set aside to boost Rome's tourist appeal. As a result, the suburbs of the city will observe considerable changes. A total of 354 million ($390 million), including roadways and social housing improvements, will be allocated to Rome's outskirts. Over the next decade, Italy plans to invest 110 billion euros (~$120.8 billion) in rail infrastructure. FS Italiane's 2022-2031 industrial plan, unveiled in May 2021, aims to create an integrated and sustainable multimodal transport network with highly developed transport hubs. The objectives include doubling rail freight transport shares and generating 40 percent of FS Group's energy through renewable sources by 2031. Italy has earmarked 59 billion (~ $64.8 billion) under the National Resilience and Recovery Plan (NRRP) to boost the adoption of renewable energy sources from 2021 to 2026. The country aims to completely phase out coal usage by 2025 and increase the share of renewables in electricity production to 72% by 2030 and eventually to 95%-100% by 2050. Achieving these goals entails adding 70 GW of electric renewables to reach a total capacity of 128 GW by 2030, alongside strengthening electric networks for a seamless transition to clean energy sources. Ongoing Energy Transition, Digitization, and the Importance of Temporary Power to Boost the Italy Power Rental Market Microsoft is set to launch its first cloud region in Italy, comprising three data centers in the Lombardy region, announced in June 2023. The new cloud region, delivering top-tier security, privacy, and performance, aims to accelerate the digital transition of local organizations and public entities. The initiative aligns with Ambizione Italia, a five-year, USD 1.5 billion investment plan to stimulate growth via cloud technologies. Milan is expected to become one of Europe's most modernized cities, with significant public and private developments and an anticipated USD 13 billion investment by 2030 (including USD 2 billion for public urbanization projects). Additionally, the housing industry in Milan will ADD 33,000 units by 2030, accommodating 100,000 individuals. The developments need reliable power solutions to support their construction and facilitate the needs during the Winter Olympics 2026, presenting a lucrative opportunity for the Italy power rental market to meet the growing infrastructure needs in the region. Under the 'Infrastructure for Sustainable Mobility' program, a total amount of 31.4 billion (25.1 billion from the RRF Facility and 6.3 billion (~$6.9 billion) from the fund) has been allocated. The primary goal is to develop modern and sustainable transportation infrastructure that reaches all regions of the country. KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED: How big is the Italy power rental market? power rental market? What is the growth rate of the Italy power rental market? power rental market? What are some significant growth opportunities in the Italy power rental market? power rental market? Which fuel type is projected to dominate the Italy power rental market? power rental market? Which are the key vendors in the Italy power rental market? Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 101 Forecast Period 2022 - 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $118.4 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $155.6 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 3.9 % Regions Covered Italy Prominent Vendors United Rentals Aggreko Loxam Group Caterpillar Atlas Copco Cummins Inc. KOHLER Other Prominent Vendors Kiloutou Rentaload Boels Rental ONIS VISA COELMO Powering SEGMENTATION ANALYSIS Segmentation by Fuel Natural Gas Diesel Others (Propane, Hydrogen, Renewable Sources) Segmentation by Power Rating < 75KVA 75-375KVA 375-1,000KVA Above 1,000 KVA Segmentation by Equipment Generators Load Banks Transformers Others Segmentation by End-user Construction Retail Oil & Gas Mining Events Utilities IT & Data Center Manufacturing Others Segmentation by Application Standby Continuous Peak Shaving For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/nh5iy6 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets BEIJING, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- JD.com, a leading supply chain-based technology and service provider, announced it has joined the UN Global Compact's "Forward Faster" initiative, underscoring the company's commitment to sustainability and global development. The announcement coincided with Sandra Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations and CEO and Executive Director of UN Global Compact, visiting JD.com's headquarters in Beijing, which marked the first enterprise visit of her China tour this week. Sandy Xu (left) and Sanda Ojiambo look at JDs recyclable delivery boxes, known as the Green Stream Boxes The UN Global Compact's Forward Faster initiative, launched on September 18, 2023, calls on business leaders worldwide to take measurable, credible, and ambitious action in five areas gender equality, climate action, living wage, water resilience, and finance & investment. These areas have the power to accelerate progress across all SDGs, enabling the private sector to collectively make the biggest and fastest impact by 2030. "It is a great pleasure connecting with JD.com's first female CEO, Sandy Xu, and gaining insights into the company's history and impressive e-commerce platform," said Sanda Ojiambo. "JD.com has effectively integrated the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its core operations. We appreciate and welcome the company's commitment to Forward Faster." Sandy Xu, CEO of JD.com, said, " With our extensive supply chain, technology prowess, and a strong workforce of hundreds of thousands of employees - predominantly from rural backgrounds -JD.com is proud to offer diverse employment avenues. We look forward to collaborating with the UN Global Compact as we strengthen our endeavors in green supply chains, poverty alleviation, and holistic employee welfare. As part of 'Forward Faster', our immediate focus is gender equality, underscoring our broader commitment to the global Sustainable Development Goals." JD.com has actively participated in various sustainable development activities through the UN Global Compact. The company's low-carbon operating practices under its Green Stream Initiative, such as promoting green packaging, adopting new energy delivery vehicles, utilizing rooftop solar power for logistics parks, and incorporating sustainable building materials in office buildings, were recognized as best practices in the UN Global Compact's 2021 whitepaper "Corporate Net Zero Pathway." JD.com was also among the early adopters to join the UN Global Compact's Climate Ambition Accelerator (CAA) and Target Gender Equality (TGE) programs in 2022. Notably, JD's "Sunshine Angel" initiative, which provides people with disabilities with online customer service job opportunities led by women leaders, has been included as a best practice case in TGE. As JD.com gears up for its upcoming Singles' Day Grand Promotion from October 23 to November 11, the company has joined forces with several renowned fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies to establish the Green Impact Partners Alliance. This ambitious venture aims to jointly implement actions for green consumption. Covering hundreds of millions of consumers, it is the largest green consumption initiative in the FMCG industry. The initiative includes tree-planting based on sales volumes and a one-yuan donation for afforestation with every consumer purchase. Through carbon reducing efforts on both the supply and demand sides, JD.com effectively supports responsible production and consumption. About JD.com JD.com is a leading supply chain-based technology and service provider. A renowned leader in China's e-commerce industry, the company has expanded across retail, technology, logistics, healthcare, insurance, property development, industrials, private label, and international business. JD.com serves nearly 600 million customers and has set the standard for e-commerce through its commitment to quality, authenticity, and competitive pricing. The company operates the largest logistics infrastructure of any e-commerce company in China, pioneering a standard experience of same- and next-day delivery. JD.com also promotes productivity and innovation across a range of industries by offering its cutting-edge technology and infrastructure to partners, brands, and diverse sectors. https://corporate.jd.com SOURCE JD.com Bright Pattern, a global provider of omnichannel contact center software, is pleased to welcome JH Kwon to spearhead the Go-To-Market Team in Korea SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Oct. 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bright Pattern is proud to announce the addition of JH Kwon to the Bright Pattern team. With vast knowledge of the Korean market and contact center partner community, JH will be responsible for further developing the Korean market, building and growing a partner ecosystem, and enabling Bright Pattern channel partners by strategically positioning Bright Pattern as the premier provider in the Korean market. JH brings a wealth of experience, including working at Concentrics Korea, VERINT Systems, and Aspect Software. At these companies, he oversaw virtual teams across the APAC Region, including Singapore, Hong Kong, India, and Australia. "I am extremely excited about the opportunity for Bright Pattern in the Korean market," said JH. Already Bright Pattern has some of the most prestigious companies in the Korean market, and I am looking forward to expanding the business here." Michael McCloskey, CEO of Bright Pattern, added, "We are pleased that JH Kwon has joined the Bright Pattern Team. JH brings a wealth of experience to Bright Pattern, and he will help lead the charge in our Korean expansion and ensure the execution of the Bright Pattern mission in Korea." Bright Pattern, with its market-leading and award-winning software, is positioning itself for its next wave of growth. JH is joining the Bright Pattern team in a period of rapid growth and international expansion, which includes Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East. About Bright Pattern Bright Pattern provides a simple yet powerful omnichannel contact center software that is the fastest to deploy with the lowest total cost of ownership in the industry. Bright Pattern offers the most advanced omnichannel cloud platform across channels like voice, text, chat, email, video, messengers, AI and bots. Bright Pattern provides native omnichannel quality management allowing companies to measure every interaction on every channel. Bright Pattern also offers a mobile app allowing any employee in your company to communicate with your customers. With over 500 customers in 26 countries, Bright Pattern is the highest-rated omnichannel contact center solution based on analysts and customer reviews. SOURCE Bright Pattern Impact of two years of adjuvant Verzenio treatment is observed well beyond the treatment period, reducing the risk of long-term recurrence by 32% and improving invasive disease-free survival by 7.6% at 5 years These data reinforce two years of Verzenio plus endocrine therapy as the standard of care for these patients in this curative setting Use of Verzenio as a treatment option in this setting is supported by an NCCN Category 1 designation INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) today announced five-year outcomes from a pre-planned analysis of the Phase 3 monarchE study evaluating two years of adjuvant Verzenio (abemaciclib) in combination with endocrine therapy (ET) compared with ET alone in patients with HR+, HER2-, node-positive early breast cancer (EBC) at a high risk of recurrence. These data were shared in a late-breaking presentation at the 2023 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress. "The five-year time period is an established landmark for adjuvant breast cancer clinical trials and is an important milestone for patients and physicians in this curative setting," said Nadia Harbeck, M.D., Ph.D, Director of the Breast Center and Chair for Conservative Oncology, Department of OB&GYN, LMU University Hospital (Munich, Germany), monarchE investigator, and presenter of the results at the 2023 ESMO Congress. "These five-year monarchE data clearly demonstrate a carryover effect beyond the completion of two years of abemaciclib treatment, with the IDFS and DRFS curves continuing to separate, reinforcing confidence in the role of abemaciclib added to endocrine therapy in the adjuvant setting for those with a high risk of recurrence." The data presented include results from a pre-specified analysis reflecting a median follow-up of 4.5 years. All patients have completed the Verzenio treatment course, with more than 80% of patients having been followed for at least two years after completion. In the intent-to-treat (ITT) population, the risk of developing invasive disease was reduced by 32% (HR=0.680, 95% CI: 0.599, 0.772; nominal p<0.001). The absolute increase in invasive disease-free survival (IDFS) and distant relapse-free survival (DRFS) continued to deepen in magnitude at five years, to 7.6% and 6.7%, respectively, reflecting improvements from the two-, three-, and four-year rates. With the majority of the IDFS events being DRFS events, the DRFS benefit was also maintained with Verzenio reducing the risk of developing distant recurrence or death by 32.5% (HR=0.675, 95% CI: 0.588, 0.774; nominal p<0.001). In this five-year outcome analysis, the Kaplan-Meier curves continued to separate, confirming a sustained benefit beyond the two-year treatment period. IDFS and DRFS results for Cohort 1 were consistent with those for the ITT population. As reported previously, IDFS and DRFS benefit was seen across subgroups. While overall survival (OS) data remain immature, fewer deaths were observed in the Verzenio arm (208 [7.4%] of 2,808 patients) compared to the control arm (234 [8.3%] of 2,829 patients) (HR=0.903, 95% CI: 0.749, 1.088; p = 0.284). Nearly twice as many patients receiving ET alone (n=269) developed and are living with metastatic disease compared to those receiving Verzenio (n=138). There were no new safety findings, and overall results are consistent with the well-established safety profile for Verzenio. The most frequent adverse events (AEs) were diarrhea, neutropenia, and fatigue in the Verzenio-plus-ET arm, and arthralgia, hot flush, and fatigue in the ET-alone arm. The most common Grade 3-4 AEs were neutropenia, leucopenia, and diarrhea in the Verzenio arm and arthralgia, neutropenia, and ALT increased in the control arm. Additionally, Lilly presented analyses showing that dose reductions did not compromise the efficacy of Verzenio in monarchE, which is consistent with published results of Verzenio in the metastatic setting. Dose reductions, when needed, can be an effective strategy in managing side effects and support the goal of maximizing treatment adherence for the two years of Verzenio treatment in high-risk early breast cancer. "The mature recurrence efficacy benefit demonstrated in monarchE, achieved with a two-year treatment duration, reinforce Verzenio as the standard of care in this curative setting, where Verzenio is the only CDK4/6 inhibitor approved to treat people with HR+, HER2-, node-positive, high risk early breast cancer," said David Hyman, M.D., chief medical officer, Lilly. "Reaching the 5-year outcomes benchmark with adjuvant Verzenio should provide further confidence for those patients where treatment intensification is needed to help them achieve their goal of remaining cancer-free." Updates from the Imlunestrant Clinical Development Program In a separate mini oral presentation on Sunday, October 22, Lilly will share data from the Phase 1a/b EMBER study, evaluating imlunestrant an investigational, oral selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD) as a monotherapy and in combination with everolimus or alpelisib for people with estrogen receptor positive (ER+), HER2- advanced breast cancer. These are the first clinical data on these combinations. Results demonstrated that single agent imlunestrant had a clinical benefit rate of 42% and this increased to 62% when given in combination with everolimus or alpelisib (both approved agents in the second-line setting). Side effects were mostly low grade for single agent imlunestrant, and the combination regimens had a similar side effect profile to everolimus or alpelisib given in combination with standard endocrine therapy. About the monarchE Study monarchE was a global, randomized, open-label, two cohort, multicenter Phase 3 clinical trial that enrolled 5,637 adults with HR+, HER2-, node-positive EBC at high risk of recurrence. The study enrolled patients across more than 600 sites in 38 countries and is the only adjuvant study designed to investigate a CDK4/6 inhibitor specifically in a node-positive, high risk EBC population. To be enrolled in Cohort 1 (n=5,120), which is the FDA-approved population, patients had to have 4+ positive nodes or 1-3 positive nodes and at least one of the following: tumors that were 5 cm or Grade 3. Patients enrolled in Cohort 2 could not have met the eligibility criteria for Cohort 1. To be enrolled in Cohort 2 (n=517), patients had to have 1-3 positive nodes and Ki-67 score 20%. Patients in each cohort were randomized 1:1 to receive either Verzenio 150 mg twice daily plus standard-of-care adjuvant ET (Cohort 1, n=2,555; Cohort 2, n=253) or standard-of-care adjuvant ET alone (Cohort 1, n=2,565; Cohort 2, n=264) for 2 years. ET continued for at least 5 years if deemed medically appropriate. The primary endpoint was IDFS. Consistent with expert guidelines, IDFS was defined as the length of time before breast cancer comes back, any new cancer develops, or death. About Early Breast Cancer and Risk of Recurrence It is estimated that 90% of all breast cancers are detected at an early stage.1 Approximately 70% of all breast cancer cases are the HR+, HER2- subtype.2 Although the prognosis for HR+, HER2- EBC is generally favorable, high risk patients are three times more likely than those with low risk characteristics to experience recurrence with the majority being incurable metastatic disease.3 These patients have an increased risk of recurrence during the first two years of endocrine therapy. Factors associated with high risk of recurrence in HR+, HER2- early breast cancer include: positive nodal status, the number of positive nodes, large tumor size (5 cm), and high tumor grade (Grade 3). Node-positive means that cancer cells from the tumor in the breast have been found in the lymph nodes near the breast. Although breast cancer is removed through surgery, the presence of cancer cells in the lymph nodes signifies that there is a higher chance of developing recurrence and distant metastatic disease. About Breast Cancer Breast cancer has surpassed lung cancer as the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide, according to GLOBOCAN. The estimated 2.3 million new cases indicate that 1 in every 8 cancers diagnosed in 2020 is breast cancer. With approximately 685,000 deaths in 2020, breast cancer is the fifth-leading cause of cancer death worldwide.4 In the U.S., it is estimated that there will be more than 300,000 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed in 2023. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women in the U.S.5 About Verzenio (abemaciclib) Verzenio (abemaciclib) is approved to treat people with certain HR+, HER2- breast cancers in the adjuvant and advanced or metastatic setting. Verzenio is the first and only CDK4/6 inhibitor approved to treat node-positive, high risk early breast cancer (EBC) patients.6 The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommends consideration of two years of abemaciclib (Verzenio) added to endocrine therapy as a Category 1 treatment option in the adjuvant setting.7 NCCN also includes Verzenio plus endocrine therapy as a preferred treatment option for metastatic breast cancer.7 The collective results of Lilly's clinical development program continue to differentiate Verzenio as a CDK4/6 inhibitor. In high risk EBC, Verzenio has shown a persistent and deepening benefit beyond the two-year treatment period in the monarchE trial, the only adjuvant study designed to investigate a CDK4/6 inhibitor specifically in a node-positive, high risk EBC population.8 In metastatic breast cancer, Verzenio has demonstrated statistically significant overall survival in the Phase 3 MONARCH 2 study.9 Verzenio has shown a consistent and generally manageable safety profile across clinical trials. In addition to breast cancer, Lilly is studying Verzenio in different forms of difficult-to-treat prostate cancer. Verzenio is an oral tablet taken twice daily and available in strengths of 50 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg, and 200 mg. Discovered and developed by Lilly researchers, Verzenio was first approved in 2017 and is currently authorized for use in more than 90 counties around the world. For full details on indicated uses of Verzenio in HR+, HER2- breast cancer, please see full Prescribing Information, available at www.Verzenio.com. INDICATIONS FOR VERZENIO VERZENIO is a kinase inhibitor indicated: in combination with endocrine therapy (tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor) for the adjuvant treatment of adult patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative, node-positive, early breast cancer at high risk of recurrence. in combination with an aromatase inhibitor as initial endocrine-based therapy for the treatment of adult patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer. in combination with fulvestrant for the treatment of adult patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer with disease progression following endocrine therapy. as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer with disease progression following endocrine therapy and prior chemotherapy in the metastatic setting. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR VERZENIO (abemaciclib) Severe diarrhea associated with dehydration and infection occurred in patients treated with Verzenio. Across four clinical trials in 3691 patients, diarrhea occurred in 81 to 90% of patients who received Verzenio. Grade 3 diarrhea occurred in 8 to 20% of patients receiving Verzenio. Most patients experienced diarrhea during the first month of Verzenio treatment. The median time to onset of the first diarrhea event ranged from 6 to 8 days; and the median duration of Grade 2 and Grade 3 diarrhea ranged from 6 to 11 days and 5 to 8 days, respectively. Across trials, 19 to 26% of patients with diarrhea required a Verzenio dose interruption and 13 to 23% required a dose reduction. Instruct patients to start antidiarrheal therapy, such as loperamide, at the first sign of loose stools, increase oral fluids, and notify their healthcare provider for further instructions and appropriate follow-up. For Grade 3 or 4 diarrhea, or diarrhea that requires hospitalization, discontinue Verzenio until toxicity resolves to Grade 1, and then resume Verzenio at the next lower dose. Neutropenia, including febrile neutropenia and fatal neutropenic sepsis, occurred in patients treated with Verzenio. Across four clinical trials in 3691 patients, neutropenia occurred in 37 to 46% of patients receiving Verzenio. A Grade 3 decrease in neutrophil count (based on laboratory findings) occurred in 19 to 32% of patients receiving Verzenio. Across trials, the median time to first episode of Grade 3 neutropenia ranged from 29 to 33 days, and the median duration of Grade 3 neutropenia ranged from 11 to 16 days. Febrile neutropenia has been reported in <1% of patients exposed to Verzenio across trials. Two deaths due to neutropenic sepsis were observed in MONARCH 2. Inform patients to promptly report any episodes of fever to their healthcare provider. Monitor complete blood counts prior to the start of Verzenio therapy, every 2 weeks for the first 2 months, monthly for the next 2 months, and as clinically indicated. Dose interruption, dose reduction, or delay in starting treatment cycles is recommended for patients who develop Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia. Severe, life-threatening, or fatal interstitial lung disease (ILD) or pneumonitis can occur in patients treated with Verzenio and other CDK4/6 inhibitors. In Verzenio-treated patients in EBC (monarchE), 3% of patients experienced ILD or pneumonitis of any grade: 0.4% were Grade 3 or 4 and there was one fatality (0.1%). In Verzenio-treated patients in MBC (MONARCH 1, MONARCH 2, MONARCH 3), 3.3% of Verzenio-treated patients had ILD or pneumonitis of any grade: 0.6% had Grade 3 or 4, and 0.4% had fatal outcomes. Additional cases of ILD or pneumonitis have been observed in the postmarketing setting, with fatalities reported. Monitor patients for pulmonary symptoms indicative of ILD or pneumonitis. Symptoms may include hypoxia, cough, dyspnea, or interstitial infiltrates on radiologic exams. Infectious, neoplastic, and other causes for such symptoms should be excluded by means of appropriate investigations. Dose interruption or dose reduction is recommended in patients who develop persistent or recurrent Grade 2 ILD or pneumonitis. Permanently discontinue Verzenio in all patients with Grade 3 or 4 ILD or pneumonitis. Grade 3 increases in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (2 to 6%) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (2 to 3%) were reported in patients receiving Verzenio. Across three clinical trials in 3559 patients (monarchE, MONARCH 2, MONARCH 3), the median time to onset of Grade 3 ALT increases ranged from 57 to 87 days and the median time to resolution to Grade <3 was 13 to 14 days. The median time to onset of Grade 3 AST increases ranged from 71 to 185 days and the median time to resolution to Grade <3 ranged from 11 to 15 days. Monitor liver function tests (LFTs) prior to the start of Verzenio therapy, every 2 weeks for the first 2 months, monthly for the next 2 months, and as clinically indicated. Dose interruption, dose reduction, dose discontinuation, or delay in starting treatment cycles is recommended for patients who develop persistent or recurrent Grade 2, or any Grade 3 or 4 hepatic transaminase elevation. Venous thromboembolic events (VTE) were reported in 2 to 5% of patients across three clinical trials in 3559 patients treated with Verzenio (monarchE, MONARCH 2, MONARCH 3). VTE included deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, pelvic venous thrombosis, cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, subclavian and axillary vein thrombosis, and inferior vena cava thrombosis. In clinical trials, deaths due to VTE have been reported in patients treated with Verzenio. Verzenio has not been studied in patients with early breast cancer who had a history of VTE. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism and treat as medically appropriate. Dose interruption is recommended for EBC patients with any grade VTE and for MBC patients with a Grade 3 or 4 VTE. Verzenio can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman, based on findings from animal studies and the mechanism of action. In animal reproduction studies, administration of abemaciclib to pregnant rats during the period of organogenesis caused teratogenicity and decreased fetal weight at maternal exposures that were similar to the human clinical exposure based on area under the curve (AUC) at the maximum recommended human dose. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with Verzenio and for 3 weeks after the last dose. Based on findings in animals, Verzenio may impair fertility in males of reproductive potential. There are no data on the presence of Verzenio in human milk or its effects on the breastfed child or on milk production. Advise lactating women not to breastfeed during Verzenio treatment and for at least 3 weeks after the last dose because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in breastfed infants. The most common adverse reactions (all grades, 10%) observed in monarchE for Verzenio plus tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor vs tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor, with a difference between arms of 2%, were diarrhea (84% vs 9%), infections (51% vs 39%), neutropenia (46% vs 6%), fatigue (41% vs 18%), leukopenia (38% vs 7%), nausea (30% vs 9%), anemia (24% vs 4%), headache (20% vs 15%), vomiting (18% vs 4.6%), stomatitis (14% vs 5%), lymphopenia (14% vs 3%), thrombocytopenia (13% vs 2%), decreased appetite (12% vs 2.4%), ALT increased (12% vs 6%), AST increased (12% vs 5%), dizziness (11% vs 7%), rash (11% vs 4.5%), and alopecia (11% vs 2.7 %). The most frequently reported 5% Grade 3 or 4 adverse reaction that occurred in the Verzenio arm vs the tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor arm of monarchE were neutropenia (19.6% vs 1%), leukopenia (11% vs <1%), diarrhea (8% vs 0.2%), and lymphopenia (5% vs <1%). Lab abnormalities (all grades; Grade 3 or 4) for monarchE in 10% for Verzenio plus tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor with a difference between arms of 2% were increased serum creatinine (99% vs 91%; .5% vs <.1%), decreased white blood cells (89% vs 28%; 19.1% vs 1.1%), decreased neutrophil count (84% vs 23%; 18.7% vs 1.9%), anemia (68% vs 17%; 1% vs .1%), decreased lymphocyte count (59% vs 24%; 13.2 % vs 2.5%), decreased platelet count (37% vs 10%; .9% vs .2%), increased ALT (37% vs 24%; 2.6% vs 1.2%), increased AST (31% vs 18%; 1.6% vs .9%), and hypokalemia (11% vs 3.8%; 1.3% vs 0.2%). The most common adverse reactions (all grades, 10%) observed in MONARCH 3 for Verzenio plus anastrozole or letrozole vs anastrozole or letrozole, with a difference between arms of 2%, were diarrhea (81% vs 30%), fatigue (40% vs 32%), neutropenia (41% vs 2%), infections (39% vs 29%), nausea (39% vs 20%), abdominal pain (29% vs 12%), vomiting (28% vs 12%), anemia (28% vs 5%), alopecia (27% vs 11%), decreased appetite (24% vs 9%), leukopenia (21% vs 2%), creatinine increased (19% vs 4%), constipation (16% vs 12%), ALT increased (16% vs 7%), AST increased (15% vs 7%), rash (14% vs 5%), pruritus (13% vs 9%), cough (13% vs 9%), dyspnea (12% vs 6%), dizziness (11% vs 9%), weight decreased (10% vs 3.1%), influenza-like illness (10% vs 8%), and thrombocytopenia (10% vs 2%). The most frequently reported 5% Grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions that occurred in the Verzenio arm vs the placebo arm of MONARCH 3 were neutropenia (22% vs 1%), diarrhea (9% vs 1.2%), leukopenia (7% vs <1%)), increased ALT (6% vs 2%), and anemia (6% vs 1%). Lab abnormalities (all grades; Grade 3 or 4) for MONARCH 3 in 10% for Verzenio plus anastrozole or letrozole with a difference between arms of 2% were increased serum creatinine (98% vs 84%; 2.2% vs 0%), decreased white blood cells (82% vs 27%; 13% vs 0.6%), anemia (82% vs 28%; 1.6% vs 0%), decreased neutrophil count (80% vs 21%; 21.9% vs 2.6%), decreased lymphocyte count (53% vs 26%; 7.6% vs 1.9%), decreased platelet count (36% vs 12%; 1.9% vs 0.6%), increased ALT (48% vs 25%; 6.6% vs 1.9%), and increased AST (37% vs 23%; 3.8% vs 0.6%). The most common adverse reactions (all grades, 10%) observed in MONARCH 2 for Verzenio plus fulvestrant vs fulvestrant, with a difference between arms of 2%, were diarrhea (86% vs 25%), neutropenia (46% vs 4%), fatigue (46% vs 32%), nausea (45% vs 23%), infections (43% vs 25%), abdominal pain (35% vs 16%), anemia (29% vs 4%), leukopenia (28% vs 2%), decreased appetite (27% vs 12%), vomiting (26% vs 10%), headache (20% vs 15%), dysgeusia (18% vs 2.7%), thrombocytopenia (16% vs 3%), alopecia (16% vs 1.8%), stomatitis (15% vs 10%), ALT increased (13% vs 5%), pruritus (13% vs 6%), cough (13% vs 11%), dizziness (12% vs 6%), AST increased (12% vs 7%), peripheral edema (12% vs 7%), creatinine increased (12% vs <1%), rash (11% vs 4.5%), pyrexia (11% vs 6%), and weight decreased (10% vs 2.2%). The most frequently reported 5% Grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions that occurred in the Verzenio arm vs the placebo arm of MONARCH 2 were neutropenia (25% vs 1%), diarrhea (13% vs 0.4%), leukopenia (9% vs 0%), anemia (7% vs 1%), and infections (5.7% vs 3.5%). Lab abnormalities (all grades; Grade 3 or 4) for MONARCH 2 in 10% for Verzenio plus fulvestrant with a difference between arms of 2% were increased serum creatinine (98% vs 74%; 1.2% vs 0%), decreased white blood cells (90% vs 33%; 23.7% vs .9%), decreased neutrophil count (87% vs 30%; 32.5% vs 4.2%), anemia (84% vs 34%; 2.6% vs .5%), decreased lymphocyte count (63% vs 32%; 12.2% vs 1.8%), decreased platelet count (53% vs 15%; 2.1% vs 0%), increased ALT (41% vs 32%; 4.6% vs 1.4%), and increased AST (37% vs 25%; 3.9% vs 4.2%). The most common adverse reactions (all grades, 10%) observed in MONARCH 1 with Verzenio were diarrhea (90%), fatigue (65%), nausea (64%), decreased appetite (45%), abdominal pain (39%), neutropenia (37%), vomiting (35%), infections (31%), anemia (25%), thrombocytopenia (20%), headache (20%), cough (19%), constipation (17%), leukopenia (17%), arthralgia (15%), dry mouth (14%), weight decreased (14%), stomatitis (14%), creatinine increased (13%), alopecia (12%), dysgeusia (12%), pyrexia (11%), dizziness (11%), and dehydration (10%). The most frequently reported 5% Grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions from MONARCH 1 with Verzenio were diarrhea (20%), neutropenia (24%), fatigue (13%), and leukopenia (5%). Lab abnormalities (all grades; Grade 3 or 4) for MONARCH 1 with Verzenio were increased serum creatinine (99%; .8%), decreased white blood cells (91%; 28%), decreased neutrophil count (88%; 26.6%), anemia (69%; 0%), decreased lymphocyte count (42%; 13.8%), decreased platelet count (41%; 2.3%), increased ALT (31%; 3.1%), and increased AST (30%; 3.8%). Strong and moderate CYP3A inhibitors increased the exposure of abemaciclib plus its active metabolites to a clinically meaningful extent and may lead to increased toxicity. Avoid concomitant use of ketoconazole. Ketoconazole is predicted to increase the AUC of abemaciclib by up to 16-fold. In patients with recommended starting doses of 200 mg twice daily or 150 mg twice daily, reduce the Verzenio dose to 100 mg twice daily with concomitant use of strong CYP3A inhibitors other than ketoconazole. In patients who have had a dose reduction to 100 mg twice daily due to adverse reactions, further reduce the Verzenio dose to 50 mg twice daily with concomitant use of strong CYP3A inhibitors. If a patient taking Verzenio discontinues a strong CYP3A inhibitor, increase the Verzenio dose (after 3 to 5 half-lives of the inhibitor) to the dose that was used before starting the inhibitor. With concomitant use of moderate CYP3A inhibitors, monitor for adverse reactions and consider reducing the Verzenio dose in 50 mg decrements. Patients should avoid grapefruit products. Avoid concomitant use of strong or moderate CYP3A inducers and consider alternative agents. Coadministration of strong or moderate CYP3A inducers decreased the plasma concentrations of abemaciclib plus its active metabolites and may lead to reduced activity. With severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh C), reduce the Verzenio dosing frequency to once daily. The pharmacokinetics of Verzenio in patients with severe renal impairment (CLcr <30 mL/min), end stage renal disease, or in patients on dialysis is unknown. No dosage adjustments are necessary in patients with mild or moderate hepatic (Child-Pugh A or B) and/or renal impairment (CLcr 30-89 mL/min). Please see full Prescribing Information and Patient Information for Verzenio. AL HCP ISI 12OCT2021 About Imlunestrant Imlunestrant (LY3484356) is an investigational, next-generation oral selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD) designed to deliver continuous ER target inhibition, including ESR1-mutant breast cancer. The estrogen receptor (ER) is the key therapeutic target for patients with ER+, HER2- breast cancer. Novel degraders of ER may overcome endocrine therapy resistance while providing consistent oral pharmacology and convenience of administration. Imlunestrant was specifically designed to deliver continuous estrogen receptor target inhibition throughout the dosing period and regardless of ESR1 mutational status. Imlunestrant is currently being studied in several clinical studies. About Lilly Lilly unites caring with discovery to create medicines that make life better for people around the world. We've been pioneering life-changing discoveries for nearly 150 years, and today our medicines help more than 51 million people across the globe. Harnessing the power of biotechnology, chemistry and genetic medicine, our scientists are urgently advancing new discoveries to solve some of the world's most significant health challenges, redefining diabetes care, treating obesity and curtailing its most devastating long-term effects, advancing the fight against Alzheimer's disease, providing solutions to some of the most debilitating immune system disorders, and transforming the most difficult-to-treat cancers into manageable diseases. With each step toward a healthier world, we're motivated by one thing: making life better for millions more people. That includes delivering innovative clinical trials that reflect the diversity of our world and working to ensure our medicines are accessible and affordable. To learn more, visit Lilly.com and Lilly.com/news or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. P-LLY Verzenio is a registered trademark owned or licensed by Eli Lilly and Company, its subsidiaries, or affiliates. Other company names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners. NCCN makes no warranties of any kind whatsoever regarding their content, use or application and disclaims any responsibility for their application or use in any way. Lilly USA, LLC 2023. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements (as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) about Verzenio as a treatment for people with certain types of early breast cancer and imlunestrant as a potential treatment for people with certain types of breast cancer and reflects Lilly's current beliefs and expectations. However, as with any pharmaceutical product, there are substantial risks and uncertainties in the process of drug research, development, and commercialization. Among other things, there is no guarantee that planned or ongoing studies will be completed as planned, that future study results will be consistent with study results to date, that Verzenio will receive additional regulatory approvals, or that imlunestrant will prove to be a safe and effective treatment for certain types of breast cancer or receive regulatory approval. For further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from Lilly's expectations, see Lilly's Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Lilly undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this release. 1 National Cancer Institute, SEER. Cancer Stat Facts: Female Breast Cancer. https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/breast.html. Accessed October 18, 2023. 2 National Cancer Institute, SEER. Cancer Stat Facts: Female Breast Cancer Subtypes. https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/breast-subtypes.html. Accessed October 18, 2023. 3 Early Breast Cancer Trialists' Collaborative Group (EBCTCG). Effects of chemotherapy and hormonal therapy for early breast cancer on recurrence and 15-year survival: an overview of the randomised trials. Lancet. 2005;365(9472):1687-1717. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(05)66544-0. 4 Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, et al. Global cancer statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2021;71(3):209-249. 5 American Cancer Society. Cancer Statistics Center. http://cancerstatisticscenter.cancer.org. Accessed October 18, 2023. 6 Verzenio. Prescribing information. Lilly USA, LLC. 7 Referenced with permission from the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for Breast Cancer V.4.2023. National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. 2023. All rights reserved. Accessed October 18, 2023. To view the most recent and complete version of the guidelines, go online to NCCN.org. NCCN makes no warranties of any kind whatsoever regarding their content, use or application and disclaims any responsibility for their application or use in any way. 8 Johnston SRD, Toi M, O'Shaughnessy J, Rastogi P, et al. Abemaciclib plus endocrine therapy for hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative, node-positive, high-risk early breast cancer (monarchE): results from a preplanned interim analysis of a randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2023 Jan;24(1):77-90. 9 Sledge GW Jr, Toi M, Neven P, et al. The effect of abemaciclib plus fulvestrant on overall survival in hormone receptor-positive, ERBB2negative breast cancer that progressed on endocrine therapyMONARCH 2: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Oncol. 2020;6(1):116-124. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol. 2019.4782. SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company SEATTLE, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- WeCreat, the latest newcomer in the laser engraving industry, is proud to unveil one of the most innovative laser engraver and cutter ever -- WeCreat Vision. With all-in-one features and an emphasis on ease-of-use , WeCreat Vision's goal is to revolutionize the laser cutting and engraving industry, making it more accessible for everyone from first-timers to professionals. Wecreat Vision Laser Engraver WeCreat Vision is a unique product that is setting new standards in the laser engraving industry. It boasts various features that set it apart from the competition: Auto-lifting full metal enclosure, laser radar auto-focus, high precision (~1mm) camera, 20W high-power laser, over 400 types of materials to create, and so on. These features, combined with its versatility and safety features, make WeCreat Vision the ultimate tool for small businesses, DIY enthusiasts, hobbyists and educators. Key features of WeCreat Vision include: As Powerful as It's Easy to Use There's a reason behind every innovation. Thinking outside the box, WeCreat Vision is housed in a world-first auto-lifting enclosure . It's the ideal solution to work with a wider range of materials from thick to thin, to offer speedy auto-focus on materials from 0mm (0.00") to 100mm (3.93" with laser bed) or 140mm (5.51", without laser bed). The all-in-one design encompasses 5 built-in accessories, including air assist, rotary engraving set, smart camera, laser bed, and its auto-lifting enclosure. It only takes 5 minutes to set up, compared to the industry norm, which averages more than an hour. The rotary set takes one minute to install and allows for full-circular engraving. Just one click is all it takes to adjust to the highest point for precision engraving. With the built-in ultra-precise 1mm HD Camera, Vision lets you view the material in real-time to position your designs precisely and painlessly for a true " What You See Is What You Get " experience. One of the most user-friendly features for WeCreat is its unique, world's first "QuickView Matrix", which demonstrates the effect you'll get while engraving with various speed and power settings on various materials. It's built into the WeCreat MakeIt! Software to achieve professional-grade deep engraving effects with just a click of the button. It's designed to save you time and materials and is especially useful in Wood / Metal / Leather / Stone / Paper /Fabric/ Acrylic/ Ceramic materials. Exceptional Engraving and Cutting Performance The WeCreat Vision leads the pack with 600mm/s maximum engraving speed , while the next fastest full-enclosure diode laser on the market claims a max speed of 160mm/s. With an industry-leading 0.01mm movement accuracy , Vision offers class-leading performance in both speed and precision. With its innovative laser technology and 20W high-power laser beam, Vision boasts high cutting efficiency, ensuring precision, speed, and versatility for all kinds of designs, with over 400 materials for you to engrave and cut. The working area of 297*420*140mm (11.7" x 16.5" x 5.51"), or simply, A3 x 140mm, allows you to implement large-scale design projects or to engrave multiple smaller patterns at a time which can be extremely helpful for small businesses. Meanwhile, Vision is built to last with a lifespan of up to 10,000 hours. Unleash Your Creativity with Vibrant Colors WeCreat MakeIt! Is the app that is available across various platforms, including Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. To get the best experience when operating Vision, they recommend using their app as it supports What You See Is What You Get operations. It incorporates various functions including an easy-to-use design software, multiple canvas, laser machine controller, and access to its ever-expanding design library with thousands of Images, 1,000 Ready-to-make Editable Projects, and 500+ Fonts from the start. For those who are used to working with Lightburn, Vision supports Gcode files, and full version Lightburn support is expected to launch in November. WeCreat Vision is optimized for color materials engraving and cutting with the multi-canvas mode . Customers can download color projects from the design library, and the various color pieces will be intelligently auto-distributed into multiple canvas, to save you the effort of sorting into different color wood panels. WeCreat is also offering a range of colorful wooden panels that are UV Inkjet painted to achieve a smooth and fine texture. They are certified safe, with FSC, RoHS certification, and California Proposition 65-compliant, while the UV Ink is SGS-approved. Safety is the Top Priority Vision was designed with safety in mind. Starting with its full enclosure design with Class 1 FDA classification , which is helpful in containing smoke and fumes. WeCreat Vision boasts a range of features to ensure the health and safety of your home and your family. The full metal enclosure is fire-retardant, the top lid features a blue light filter , and auto-stop function is designed to protect you during operation. WeCreat also recommends purchasing the WeCreat Fume Extractor to filter out harmful fumes from cutting and engraving. Price and availabilty All the bundles are available for purchase on Official Website: https://wecreat.com/ Oct 12 - Oct 31For Early Bird 300 Off WeCreat Vision 20W Base Pack $1199.99 WeCreat Vision 20W Rotary Pack $1399.99 WeCreat Vision 20W Color Pack $1399.99 WeCreat Vision 20W Premium Pack $1599.99 About WeCreat WeCreat is a team of like-minded people set out to simplify the complexity of creation. They believe that creativity is the fuel that drives progress. Every discovery, every invention in human history began with a spark of creativity. And if we could realize our creative ideas through a simpler, easier process, the world would be blessed with even more ingenious inventions, brilliant art pieces, and in general, just more fun and interesting. At WeCreat, the passion is to make creation easier than ever, through innovative technology and a delightful user experience. WeCreat was founded by William Tang and Bill Sun. William is a true engineer with over 20 years of experience in the IoT and home electronics industry, previously working at Philips and Schneider Electronics. He then joined Anker as head of R&D and Quality, and became Anker's first VP. William was tasked with establishing the smart home appliance division from scratch, eventually reaching over USD 250Million in revenue. Bill is an e-Commerce veteran with over 10 years of experience in the toys & gifts industry and is an expert in 3D wooden puzzles. He had previously founded an e-Commerce business which reached sales of USD 7Million and was ranked category top 3 on amazon.com. Company: WECREAT TECH LTD Address: 113 Cherry Street, Seattle, Washington 98104, United States Contact Email: [email protected] SOURCE WECREAT TECH LTD NEW YORK, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, LensCrafters, one of the largest optical retail brands in North America, launched its first virtual experience, LensCrafters Eye Odyssey on Roblox, a global immersive platform where millions of people connect and communicate daily. LensCrafters Eye Odyssey, one of the first online edutainment experiences with an optical retailer on Roblox, offers an engaging and educational way to promote healthy eye care habits, while providing an entertaining and immersive experience for young people. LensCrafters Reinforcing EssilorLuxottica's mission to drive awareness about the importance of vision health among a new generation, LensCrafters Eye Odyssey aims to raise awareness around eye care while providing a fun, interactive immersive experience with LensCrafters' Palo Alto flagship store serving as the experiential backdrop. "By engaging with the millions of people on Roblox, we have the capability to highlight our vision care efforts in a very creative way," said Alfonso Cerullo, President & GM of LensCrafters, North America. "This is a unique moment for the brand to reach the younger generation and cultivate a new community through a cool interactive experience. "The launch of LensCrafters Eye Odyssey gives the brand an opportunity to engage users around the importance of eye health and emphasize that vision health is critically important to everyday life and plays a vital role in a person's overall wellbeing." The Eye Odyssey series will take visitors through two different seasons, embarking on a thrilling immersive journey. In season one, users help Blinky, a young, friendly eye-bulb character, overcome challenges caused by prolonged exposure to screens and learn how to maintain healthy vision by adopting appropriate eye care habits. UGC digital items can be earned engaging in the experience and redeemed at the conclusion of Season 1. Based upon LensCrafters vision health guidance, people will be reminded during the experience through timed pop ups to utilize "the 20/20/20 rule" to prevent digital eye strain -- every 20 minutes take 20 seconds and look 20 feet away (out the window, down the hall, or across the room). Roblox is reimagining the way people come together to connect, create, and express themselves through immersive, interactive shared experiences. Every day, millions of people around the world play, learn, communicate, and expand their friendships as they explore millions of user-generated digital experiences, all built by creators on the platform. Roblox's mission is to connect billions of users with civility and optimism and support a safe and diverse communityone that inspires and fosters creativity and positive relationships among people around the world. About LensCrafters LensCrafters, the leading optical retailer in North America, was founded in 1983 and currently operates over 1,000 stores in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. With a mission of helping people look and see their best, LensCrafters has a passion for vision care and offers the best selection of the latest trends in eyewear from leading designer brands as well as incomparable personalized service from Doctors of Optometry located at or next to its stores. LensCrafters opened its first Macy's location in April 2016 and currently has four flagship stores in New York City, San Francisco, and Toronto, the first flagship in Canada that opened in July 2023. The brand's trusted doctors and associates continue to make an impact by giving the gift of vision through the company's partner efforts with OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation , providing access to quality vision care and glasses in underserved communities worldwide. LensCrafters is currently the number one contributor to OneSight in North America. For more information, visit www.lenscrafters.com . Media Contact: Alexa Anello [email protected] SOURCE LensCrafters Linkind, a brand of AiDot was featured at SDC 2023 as one of the few Matter compatible-brands certified by CSA, unifying industrial standard with Samsung. LOS ANGELES, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On October 5, 2023, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. hosted the 9th Samsung Developer Conference (SDC) at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. The conference, with a primary focus on showcasing the latest multi-device experiences and services enabled by a cross-platform and truly connected ecosystem, also emphasized the growing significance of Matter, a unified and standardized communication protocol for smart devices. Linkind, a smart lighting brand of AiDot, was honorably invited by Samsung to showcase its brand identity on SDC 2023, endorsing the vision of a fully connected smart home. Linkind by AiDot Elevates the Interconnected World at SDC 2023 with Samsung Linkind by AiDot Elevates the Interconnected World at SDC 2023 with Samsung "Over 500 million Samsung products are sold every year, and the number of people using Samsung accounts exceeds 600 million. To us, this is both a huge achievement and a profound responsibility, I believe that if you join this journey of innovation, we can create greater opportunities and a brighter future together." said Jong-Hee (JH) Han, Vice Chairman, CEO and Head of Device eXperience (DX) Division at Samsung Electronics, showing the latest features of the SmartThings platform. Through the Multi Hub Network and SmartThings Home API, and by leveraging the collaborative network established by Samsung with brands like Google, Apple, Linkind, and more, SmartThings can control an increasing number of devices, apps, and services. Samsung aims to enable users to live more digitally integrated lives both inside and outside their homes. The appearance of Linkind at SDC23 signifies Linkind's alignment with Samsung's industrial standards for Matter. Users can seamlessly achieve cross-platform operations on Linkind products through the SmartThings platform, including functionalities such as remote control, voice control, and device sharing. Furthermore, the Matter protocol enables AiDot's Matter-certified products to seamlessly collaborate with Matter-compatible devices from Apple, Alexa, and Google as well. Several Matter-certified devices from Linkind and OREiN, brands within the AiDot ecosystem, have already been launched. These include smart light bulbs, smart plugs, smart switches, and smart filament bulbs. More Matter-certified smart products from AiDot are expected to be introduced to the market in the future. Brand Product Connect Mode Matter Compatible Ecosystem Certification Availabilities Linkind Smart Light Bulb A19 RGBTW Wi-Fi 2.4G Matter-certified WWGH/WWAH Available on Amazon and AiDot Linkind Smart Light Bulb BR30 RGBTW Wi-Fi 2.4G Matter-certified WWGH/WWAH Available on Amazon and AiDot OREiN Smart Light Bulb A19 RGBTW Wi-Fi 2.4G Matter-certified WWA/WWGH/WWAH Available on Amazon and AiDot OREiN Smart Light Bulb BR30 RGBTW Wi-Fi 2.4G Matter-certified WWA/WWGH/WWAH Available on Amazon and AiDot The abbreviations for the above ecosystem certifications are as follows: 1WWA: works with alexa 2WWGH: works with google home 3WWAH: works with apple home "The AiDot Matter Smart Bulbs have exclusive features that enhance your experience and capitalize on the opportunity for customization. " said Kristen Hilderman editor on makeuseof.com. Crystal Crowder, the writer of maketecheasier also said "the Linkind and OREiN Smart Light Bulbs by AiDot are advanced RGBTW light bulbs that are highly customizable. They offer a wider range of control than many other smart bulbs on the market." About AiDot: AiDot is a smart home platform that connects devices across brands and ecosystems. With AiDot, your home becomes a connected space that makes your life simpler, safer, and more entertaining. "Works with AiDot" (WWA) is a mark of interconnectivity across different brands and categories. You can easily control any product featuring the WWA label with AiDot app. Brands that have joined the AiDot ecosystem include well-known smart device brands, such as Linkind, OREiN, Winees, WELOV, Syvio, GoGonova, Ganiza, etc. For more information about AiDot, please visit: www.aidot.com PR Contact: [email protected] SOURCE Works with AiDot BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. Azerbaijan talks about colonial policy when others keep silent, Luc Carole from the Martinique Freedom Party said, Trend reports. He made the remark in Baku during the international conference "Neocolonialism: Human Rights Violation and Injustice", organized by the Baku Initiative Group on October 20. "Azerbaijan expresses its position when other states prefer to remain silent on the issue of colonial policies. We have gathered in Baku and hope to elevate this topic to the UN level in the future, utilizing the available opportunities. Azerbaijan currently holds the chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement, and Uganda will follow. We must carefully discuss our next steps and raise this issue for public discourse," he emphasized. The Baku Initiative Group was established on July 6, 2023, by participants of the conference "Total Elimination of Colonialism" within the framework of the ministerial meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement under the chairmanship of the Republic of Azerbaijan. NEW YORK, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Motor Control Contactors Market size is expected to grow by USD 72.43 million, accelerating at a CAGR of 4.75% during the forecast period. The replacement of outdated electric motors is being driven by the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), which gained prominence after 2016. Industries have recognized the advantages of implementing IIoT, and the desire to gain a competitive edge is fueling its adoption. This trend has also led to the development of smart equipment and machinery, improving industrial processes and profitability. Consequently, there is a growing demand for intelligent high-voltage motors and motor control contactors, contributing to the motor control contactors market growth. The report also covers information on the trends and challenges. Explore detail information by purchasing report Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Motor Control Contactors Market 2023-2027 Motor Control Contactors Market 2023 2027: Key Highlights: The report recognizes the following as some of the key players in the motor control contactors market: ABB Ltd., AMETEK Inc., Danfoss AS, Eaton Corp. Plc, Emerson Electric Co., Fuji Electric Co. Ltd., GlobalSpec LLC, HIMEL Hong Kong LTD., Mitsubishi Electric Corp., Panasonic Holdings Corp., Rockwell Automation Inc., S and P Global Inc., Schaltbau Holding AG, Schneider Electric SE, Siemens AG, TAIGENE inc., TECO GROUP, Toshiba Corp., WEG Equipamentos Eletricos S.A., and Zhejiang CHINT Electrics Co. Ltd. The Motor Control Contactors Market is fragmented in nature. Market to observe 3.83% YOY growth in 2023. Motor Control Contactors Market 2023 2027: Market Dynamics: Trend Miniature contactors, ideal for space-constrained areas, are favored due to their compact size. They are commonly used with overload relays to remotely control motors and provide protection. Auxiliary contactors play a significant role in safeguarding various control circuits. The combination of miniature and auxiliary contactors is expected to significantly boost market growth during the forecast period. Challenges Asian countries attract investors with cheap labor, land, and materials. Companies are partnering with cost-effective subcomponent suppliers. Increased imports from China and Asia challenge established American and European companies. and challenge established American and European companies. Asian manufacturers produce motor control contactors at much lower costs, affecting global market dynamics. The report analyses the market size and growth and provides accurate predictions on the growth of the market. View Free PDF Sample Report Motor Control Contactors Market 2023 2027: Key Segments The market is segmented by End-user (Process industries and Discrete industries), Type (IEC standard and NEMA standard), and Geography (North America, APAC, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America). The process industries segment is expected to significantly contribute to the motor control contactors market's growth. In the oil and gas segment, motors are seeing increased utilization in drilling, mooring, service rigs, pumping stations, and drawing works. Consequently, there is a growing demand for motor control contactors in this industry to mitigate the risk of high current surges during switching operations. Get a glance at the market contribution of the segments, Request Free Sample Report Here Motor Control Contactors Market 2023 2027: Geographical Analysis North America is projected to contribute 50% of the market's growth. In 2020, North America held a dominant position in the global motor control contractor market, primarily driven by the growth of key end-user industries like oil and gas, chemicals, petrochemicals, and automotive within the region. The automotive segment especially in Mexico, is expected for growth due to its strategic location near the US and Canada, as well as its accessibility to South American markets and favorable government policies and tax incentives. As a result, Mexico plays a significant role as a production hub for automobiles, both in domestic and international markets. Related Reports: Contactors Market: The contactors market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.72% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 301.02 million. Industrial Enclosures Market: The industrial enclosures market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.16% between 2022 and 2027 and the size of the market is forecast to increase by USD 2,237.84 million. TOC: Executive Summary Market Landscape Market Sizing Historic Market Sizes Five Forces Analysis Market Segmentation by End-User Market Segmentation by Type Market Segmentation by Geography Customer Landscape Geographic Landscape Drivers, Challenges, & Trends Company Landscape Company Analysis Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio DUBLIN, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "The Mining Sector in Namibia 2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This comprehensive report delves into the mining industry in Namibia, providing valuable insights into its size and current state. It covers a wide range of aspects, including major mining activities, the diverse spectrum of minerals, prominent companies, ongoing exploration efforts, project developments, and corporate actions within the sector. There are profiles of 19 companies including diamond producers De Beers Marine Namibia and Namdeb Diamond Corporation, uranium miners such as Rossing Uranium and Swakop Uranium, cement manufacturers such as Ohorongo Cement, zinc miner Rosh Pinah and copper miner Trigon Mining Namibia's mining industry demonstrated substantial growth in 2022, both in terms of turnover and its contribution to the GDP. This was primarily attributed to a remarkable 44% surge in diamond production. The industry also saw an uptick in exploration expenditure, driven by heightened global interest in Namibia's critical minerals, influenced by the ongoing global energy transition, as well as the uranium sector, which faces an anticipated supply deficit. Diamond and uranium mining dominate the mining landscape in Namibia, with over 70% of the country's diamonds being extracted from marine sources. Mineral exports are predominantly in semi-processed or raw forms. While several new projects are slated to commence production in the coming years, some copper mines have ceased operations in recent times. In a notable development, the Namibian government has expressed its intention, as of June 2023, to potentially acquire minority stakes in mining projects when granting licenses. This strategic move aims to maximize the value derived from the nation's mineral resources. Additionally, Namibia introduced an embargo in June 2023 on the export of unprocessed critical minerals to ensure value addition prior to exportation. Proposed legislation encompasses an increase in royalty rates, the integration of mining charter provisions, and the implementation of a windfall tax. Changes to the VAT Act are set to reduce exploration costs. However, the industry faces challenges such as intermittent water supply disruptions, particularly in regions housing uranium mines, along with elevated input expenses. Nonetheless, exploration expenditure continues to rise, primarily due to the growing interest in critical minerals and uranium resources, indicative of a dynamic and evolving mining sector in Namibia. Company Profiles Andrada Mining Ltd B2Gold Namibia (Pty) Ltd (Pty) Ltd De Beers Marine Namibia (Pty) Ltd Gecko Namibia Holdings (Pty) Ltd Langer Heinrich Uranium (Pty) Ltd Lodestone Namibia (Pty) Ltd (Pty) Ltd Namdeb Diamond Corporation (Pty) Ltd Namibian Marine Phosphate (Pty) Ltd Otjozondu Mining (Pty) Ltd Rosh Pinah Zinc Corporation (Pty) Ltd Rossing Uranium Ltd Salt Company (Pty) Ltd Sperrgebiet Diamond Mining (Pty) Ltd Swakop Uranium (Pty) Ltd Trigon Mining ( Namibia ) (Pty) Ltd ) (Pty) Ltd Walvis Bay Salt Holdings (Pty) Ltd Key Topics Covered: 1. INTRODUCTION 2. COUNTRY INFORMATION 3. DESCRIPTION OF THE INDUSTRY 3.1. Industry Value Chain 3.2. Geographic Position 3.3. Size of the Industry 4. LOCAL 4.1. State of the Industry 4.2. Key Trends 4.3. Key Issues 4.4. Notable Players 4.5. Trade 4.6. Corporate Actions 4.7. Regulations 4.8. Enterprise Development and Social Development 5. AFRICA 6. INTERNATIONAL 7. INFLUENCING FACTORS 7.1. Economic Environment 7.2. Unforeseen Events 7.3. Input Costs 7.4. Labour 7.5. Environmental Issues 7.6. Technology, R&D and Innovation 8. COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT 8.1. Competition 8.2. Ownership Structure of the Industry 8.3. Barriers to Entry 9. INDUSTRY SUMMARY 10. OUTLOOK 11. INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS 12. REFERENCES 12.1. Publications 12.2. Websites For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/axtb67 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets A Celebration Of History, Culture, And Brewing Excellence LOS ANGELES, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In a groundbreaking announcement, National Black Brewers Association successfully introduced Black Brewer's Day, a day dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the rich heritage and contributions of Black beer brewers throughout American history. Efforts this year have resulted in 16 cities within the United States recognizing this day as an official holiday set to be observed annually on October 10th. This significant occasion commemorates a pivotal moment in brewing history, paying homage to the trailblazers who have shaped the industry. Councilmember Rick Jennings led the charge in Sacramento, championing the cause at the local level, while California State Senator Bradford spearheaded statewide efforts to ensure that Black Brewer's Day received the recognition it rightfully deserves. The 16 cities & states that celebrated this year included: California, Los Angeles County, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Lucas County (OH), North Las Vegas County (NV), Atlanta, Cleveland, Durham, Las Vegas, Little Rock, New Orleans, Montgomery, Sacramento, St. Louis and Toledo), with more to come in 2024. "Although we just launched our association and efforts towards a more equitable and inclusive brewing industry, our team has been hard at work to make sure Black brewers across the United States start to receive the recognition they deserve." Said Kevin Asato, President of the Black Brewers Association. "Together with local and state representatives we are proud to announce this momentous occasion, the first of many to come." Black Brewer's Day has special historical significance as it marks the remarkable journey of Theodore A. (Ted) Mack, Sr. and his visionary associates, who, on October 10, 1970, celebrated the acquisition of People's Brewing Company in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. This momentous occasion was witnessed by over 2,000 guests, including stockholders, local and state legislators, and notable dignitaries. On that fateful day, Mr. Mack made history by becoming the first black brewery president in the United States, and People's Brewing Company achieved the distinction of being the first black-owned brewery ever. The Black Brewers Association encourages all to celebrate and recognize the enduring legacy of black brewers, their invaluable contributions to the brewing industry, and the pivotal moment in history that is Black Brewer's Day. Together, let's raise our glasses to diversity, inclusion, and the boundless possibilities of the brewing world. This moment of triumph and resilience in the brewing industry serves as the cornerstone for Black Brewer's Day. We are committed to working tirelessly to secure official recognition of October 10th as Black Brewer's Day. Well ahead of the target date, we are partnering with the City of Sacramento and the California State Legislature to pass a resolution that will establish this significant day in the state's calendar. For more information on the National Black Brewers Association and membership, visit https://www.nationalblackbrewersassociation.org/membership About National Black Brewers Association: Launched in March 2023 by NBA Legend and 55th Mayor of Sacramento, Kevin Johnson, the National Black Brewers Association is a 501c6 membership-based non-profit organization governed by a dynamic Board of Directors composed of the most experienced and successful Black brewery owners and brew masters across the country. It was formed to promote, support and advocate for the Black brewing community. For more information on the National Black Brewers Association, visit our website at: www.nationalblackbrewersassociation.org . SOURCE National Black Brewers Association QINGDAO, China, Oct. 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- This is a report from Licang District Convergence Media Center: On October 13, the unveiling ceremony for the Chinese Cultural Corner - Nishan Book House was held in the Lyceum No. 4 in Perm City, Russia. The school's director, Ms. Olga Vladimirovna Sapko, and Mr. Mikhail Kamenskikh, the Chairman of the Perm Board of the Russia-China Friendship Association, as well as the representatives of both teachers and students attended this event. Civilizations flourish and thrive through interaction and mutual learning. The Chinese Cultural Corner - Nishan Book House opens a gateway for cultural exchange between China and the world. Qingdao and Perm established friendly cooperation in November 2006. Since then, the two cities have steadily expanded their exchanges and collaborations across various domains. Of note is the period since 2023 when the Wenzheng Campus of Licang District Experimental Primary School of Qingdao and the Lyceum No. 4 of Perm formed a friendly school partnership. The two schools have jointly organized a multitude of online learning and cultural exchange activities. Additionally, they have engaged in offline research projects, conducted letter exchanges, and participated in gift exchanges. These endeavors hold profound significance in advancing mutual understanding and interaction between China and Russia. The unveiling of the Nishan Book House and the book donation marked a significant milestone, providing a novel platform for cultural exchange and collaboration between Qingdao and Perm. This development further fortifies mutual trust and friendship between the two cities. SOURCE Licang District Convergence Media Center Pendo One includes new Session Replay and product discovery capabilities, with AI features available across the platform RALEIGH, N.C., Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pendo , the leader in application experience management, today closed out its seventh annual Pendomonium product festival, gathering a record number of attendees together to explore the theme "How to break away" in the age of artificial intelligence. From the main stage, Pendo CEO and co-founder Todd Olson also announced Pendo One, Pendo's unified application experience platform with AI at the center. Pendo One is a reimagining of Pendo for an increasingly diverse set of customers and use cases. Their common ground is a desire to provide the best possible experiences across apps they buy, build or sell. With AI and automation features available throughout Pendo One, customers will be able to deliver exponentially better application experiences to their end users. "Pendomonium is where application builders and owners learn how to apply the latest technologies, like AI, and where they come together to share best practices, network, and explore how to drive outcomes for their companies," said Todd Olson, CEO and co-founder of Pendo. "We drew a record crowd this year and announced an unprecedented amount of innovation, giving us strong momentum as we close 2023 and enter a new year." Pendo announced several new products that build on the Pendo One platform, including: Session Replay : a privacy-first video playback solution that enables product teams to understand how their users interact with and navigate an application, capturing events such as clicks, cursor movements, scrolling and more. This gives a new depth of understanding of how users are engaging with a product and provides visual evidence to support what product leaders have discovered from usage data, user feedback and sentiment. a privacy-first video playback solution that enables product teams to understand how their users interact with and navigate an application, capturing events such as clicks, cursor movements, scrolling and more. This gives a new depth of understanding of how users are engaging with a product and provides visual evidence to support what product leaders have discovered from usage data, user feedback and sentiment. Pendo Discover : an AI-powered product discovery solution that helps teams centralize user feedback, prioritize it, and then communicate updates at scale on a roadmap. Pendo Discover moves teams toward a modern, continuous discovery process, ensuring they build products that customers actually use and that provide return on R&D investment. an AI-powered product discovery solution that helps teams centralize user feedback, prioritize it, and then communicate updates at scale on a roadmap. Pendo Discover moves teams toward a modern, continuous discovery process, ensuring they build products that customers actually use and that provide return on R&D investment. Pendo AI : a suite of AI-powered products and features that helps 10x what companies can do, whether that's accelerating product discovery, driving product-led growth, or automating personalized in-app experiences at scale. Features launched at Pendomonium include: one-click guides, instant summaries of qualitative user feedback, recommendations for how to improve workflows, and automated feature tagging, helping users get a fast start with Pendo. In addition, Pendo and its community, Mind the Product, introduced a new AI Knowledge Hub compiling insights, perspectives, and conversations on AI in product to help its community of product leaders and application builders navigate the fast-evolving technology. Pendomonium highlights: This year's festival lineup featured inspiring keynotes from product leaders and AI experts including Fraser Kelton, a venture partner at Spark Capital who previously served as head of product at Open AI, leading the product development teams behind ChatGPT and DALL-E, Quincy Olatunde, vice president of data product management at Peacock, and Yochai Konig, vice president of machine learning at the AI startup Ada. Celebrity Chef Christina Tosi shared how she creates break away experiences for customers in her popular Milk Bar restaurants. Pendomonium also delivered lively and vibrant festival vibes to downtown Raleigh, with a variety of food vendors, ten Pendo product stations, a customer community zone with a 'How I Pendo' interview station, a glow-up station, headshot and selfie booths, and much more. The festival closed with a performance by Big Boi, the rapper, songwriter and one-half of the multi-award-winning duo, OutKast. Pendo also announced the winners of its annual Pendo Customer Awards program, recognizing nine customers for their use of Pendo to achieve positive business outcomes. Winners include: Pushpay and Dealer-FX , Adoption Award; GoTo and AccuWeather , Product-Led Growth Award; Osmosis by Elsevier , Customer Experience Award; and Henry Schein and Medidata Solutions, Business Impact Award. Brandon Noskoviak of Jamf and Chuck Konfrst of Cox Automotive , were also named Pendo Users of the Year. Recordings of Pendomonium keynotes and sessions will be available soon at www.pendo.io/pendomonium About Pendo Pendo believes the application is the experience. Employees spend most of their time and customers find moments of delight (or frustration) inside the applications they use every day. Pendo's application experience platform equips companies of all sizes with the ability to become application-led to drive revenue, create more efficient processes, and empower employees. Pendo customers include the world's leading companies, including Verizon, Morgan Stanley, LabCorp, OpenTable, Okta, Salesforce, and Zendesk. Pendo is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina and has offices around the world. For more information, visit: www.pendo.io . SOURCE Pendo anti-clockwise route, a stop in Turin and passage through Genoa for the 42nd re-enactment of the race BRESCIA, Italy, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Every year, the 1000 Miglia has some surprises in store. The passage through Genoa, with a view of the port and a parade along the seafront, will be the absolute novelty of the coming edition. The month of June and the five race days confirmed, the more than 400 cars will cross seven Italian regions travelling anticlockwise, as in 2021. After starting in Brescia on Tuesday afternoon, 11 June, and passing through Bergamo, Novara and Vercelli, the first leg will end in Turin. 1000 Miglia 2024 - Roadmap On the second day, from Turin, the convoy will descend southwards, passing through the Langhe and through the centre of Alba before heading towards Genoa, the 2024 European Capital of Sport for the first race lunch. After lunch, the race will leave the Riviera di Levante for the Tyrrhenian coast where it will reach Viareggio, the site of the arrival of the second day of the race. The descent towards Rome will characterise the third leg, which will initially see a deviation into the Tuscan hinterland with the passage through Lucca, before returning to the coast at Livorno and continuing until the lunch break in Castiglione della Pescaia. In the afternoon, passing through Grosseto, entering Lazio and descending along Lake Bolsena, the day will end with a parade in Via Veneto. After the halfway point in Rome, on the fourth day the crews will drive up to Orvieto before stopping for lunch in Solomeo, a characteristic medieval village nestling in the Umbrian hills, from where they will set off again towards Siena and Prato. Before reaching the leg finale in Bologna, drivers and navigators will cross the Futa and Raticosa passes. From Bologna, the last leg will include Ferrara and Mantua, and again Lake Garda with the Valtenesi and Salo before the classic parade in Viale Venezia in Brescia. To enter for the 1000 Miglia, cars must hold or have applied for a certificate from the Registro 1000 Miglia. List of eligible cars https://www.registro1000miglia.it/requirements The Ferrari Tribute, the 1000 Miglia Green, the Self-drive Car and the Charity Car will precede the competition of the historic cars. Entries as from 7th of November, info on 1000miglia.it. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2253300/Mille_Miglia.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1761166/4353796/1000_Miglia_Logo.jpg SOURCE Mille Miglia Texas Realtors releases Q3 2023 Quarterly Housing Report AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Though the overall median price of homes sold in Texas in the third quarter of 2023 decreased 1.5% compared to the same period one year ago, more Texas metro areas saw median price increases than decreases, according to the 2023-Q3 Quarterly Housing Report released today by Texas Realtors. In Q3 2023, active listings, days homes spent on the market, and months of inventory all saw increases from the same period in 2022. 2023 Quarterly Housing Report Insights "We are continuing to see the housing market progress toward more balance between buyers and sellers," said Marcus Phipps, 2023 Chairman of Texas Realtors. "An increase in the supply of homes and the average number of days homes stay on the market means that buyers in many areas may have more choices and a little more time to make decision. However, these trends vary by metro and even by neighborhood, so it's smart to discuss market conditions in your area with your Realtor." The median sales price of Texas homes in Q3 2023 decreased to $340,000 from $345,000 in the same period last year. Approximately half of the homes sold in the third quarter were in the $200,000 - $399,999 price range. At the lowest and highest ends of the price distribution, 13% of homes were sold for under $200,000, while 4% sold for at least $1 million. Texas homes spent an average of 48 days on the market in Q3 2023, 17 days longer than in the same quarter last year. Taking the number of days to close into consideration, on average it took 11 days longer to sell a property in Q3 2023 than in the same quarter last year. Months of inventory, or how long it would take to sell the existing number of homes on the market at the current pace of sales, stood at 3.7 months in the third quarter of 2023, which was an increase from 2.7 months in the same period last year. A balanced market is estimated at 6 to 6.5 months of inventory, according to the Texas Real Estate Research Center. Active listings increased 15.2% in the third quarter of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. "The real estate market can change in subtle or significant ways over short periods of time," said Chairman Phipps. "It's our job as Realtors to help Texans understand and navigate those changes. We are here to simplify the process and to support buyers and sellers every step of the way to achieve their homeownership goals." About the Texas Quarterly Housing Report Data for the Texas Quarterly Housing Report is provided by the Data Relevance Project, a partnership among local REALTOR associations and their MLSs, and Texas REALTORS, with analysis by the Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University. The report provides quarterly real estate sales data for Texas and 25 metropolitan statistical areas in Texas. To view the report in its entirety, visit texasrealestate.com. About Texas REALTORS With more than 150,000 members, Texas REALTORS is a professional membership organization that represents all aspects of real estate in Texas. We are the advocates for REALTORS and private property rights in Texas. Visit texasrealestate.com to learn more. Contact: David Gibbs, Hahn Agency, [email protected] SOURCE Texas Realtors CHICAGO, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The global RF signal chain components market size is projected to grow from USD 38.9 billion in 2022 to USD 80.0 billion by 2028; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.3% from 2023 to 2028 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. Increase in smartphone and mobile phone users is fueling the demand for smartphones and mobile phones, leading to the growth of the RF signal chain component industry. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=234495624 Browse in-depth TOC on "RF Signal Chain Component Market" 186 Tables 62 Figures 253 Pages RF Signal Chain Component Market Report Scope: Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2022 $ 38.9 billion Estimated Value by 2028 $ 80.0 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 12.3% Market Size Available for 20192028 Forecast Period 20222028 Forecast Units Value (USD Million/Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Product, Frequency Band, Material, Application and Region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of World Key Market Challenge Design complexities associated with RF devices Key Market Opportunities Growing demand for RF equipment in automotive sector Key Market Drivers Rising demand for smartphones and mobile phones Attenuator is expected to have the second largest CAGR growth during the forecast period. RF attenuators are components that reduce the amplitude level of an incoming signal. They are used to protect systems from receiving a signal with a power level that is too high to process. They can also be used to provide accurate impedance matches, as most fixed attenuators offer well-defined impedance. Typically, the RF signal is carried on a coaxial cable, and an RF attenuator is used in line with that cable. Attenuators may also be used where signal levels need to be controlled. Variable attenuators are used widely in telecommunications and electronic warfare applications to adjust the signal level or compensate for intrinsic gain variations in operating temperature. V band is expected to have significant market size during the forecast period. The V band is a part of the electromagnetic spectrum of microwave frequencies ranging from 40 to 75 GHz. Its wavelength ranges between 7.5 and 4 mm.V band is important in radio backhaul solutions for small cell backhauls. The V band is a crucial frequency range for 5G wireless networks. As the deployment of 5G networks continues to expand, V-band filters are needed to manage interference and optimize the use of available spectrum. Filters are essential for ensuring the reliable and efficient operation of 5G networks in the V-band. Silicon Germanium is expected to have significantly high CAGR growth during the forecast period. The increased demand for data transmission and reception in smartphones, the cloud, and big data applications and services has created high-speed communication requirements. This has created the need for wireless, wired, or optical connectivity with increased bandwidth and high data transfer rates. These applications require high-performance, cost-effective solutions with better chip integration, increased bandwidth, and reduced power consumption. This allows digital, analog, and RF functions to be integrated and used to build low-power system-on-chip-integrated circuit devices. Rise in demand for surveillance activities to grow demand for RF components in aerospace & defense industry. The aerospace & defense industry requires accurate and precise systems that can operate under extreme conditions. Mission-critical functions such as communication and navigation depend on solutions that work continuously without fail. RF components play a major role in supporting various defense systems and devices, including avionics systems, military communication systems, global positioning devices, and electronic warfare systems. Inquiry Before Buying: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=234495624 India to grow with highest CAGR in Asia Pacific region during the forecast period. India is highly reliant on imports to meet the country's semiconductor requirements. In the last few years, the Government of India has shown a positive approach toward the in-house manufacturing of semiconductors and reducing dependency on imports. For instance, in December 2021, the government launched its new semiconductor policy to promote the holistic development of semiconductor and display manufacturing systems in India. The government allocated USD 10 billion to incentivize companies that set up chip manufacturing and design facilities in India. The policy will support silicon semiconductor fabs, display labs, compound semiconductors/silicon photonics/sensor fabs, semiconductor packaging, semiconductor design, and the modernization and commercialization of the semiconductor laboratory (SCL). Key Market Players The key players operating in the RF signal chain components companies are Qorvo, Inc. (US), Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (Japan), Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (US), Broadcom (US), Analog Devices, Inc. (US), NXP Semiconductors (Netherlands), STMicroelectronics (Switzerland), CPI International (US), National Instruments Corp. (US), MACOM (US), Infineon Technologies AG (Germany), Mitsubishi Electric (Japan), Texas Instruments (TI) (US), Cobham Limited (UK), Astra Microwave Products Limited (India), Microchip Technology Inc. (US), MicroWave Technology, Inc. (US), Panasonic Holdings Corporation (Japan), Raytheon Technologies (US), Wolfspeed (US), APITech (US), Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. (Japan), RFHIC Corporation (South Korea), Thales (France), VectraWave (France). Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=234495624 Browse Adjacent Market: Semiconductor and Electronics Market Research Reports &Consulting Related Reports: Monolithic Microwave IC Market by Component (Power Amplifiers, LNA, Switches), Material Type (GaAs, InP, GaN), Frequency Band (Ka, S, X), Technology (MESFET, HEMT), Application (Automotive, A&D) and Geography - Global Forecast to 2027 RF Semiconductor Market by Device (Filter, Power Amplifier, Switch, Low Noise Amplifier), Frequency Band, Material (GaAs, GaN, Si) Application (Consumer Devices, Automotive, Telecommunication, Aerospace & Defense), and Region - Global Forecast to 2025 Compound Semiconductor Market Size by Type (GaN, GaAs, SiC, InP), Product (LED, Optoelectronics, RF Devices, Power Electronics), Application (Telecommunication, General Lighting, Automotive, Consumer Devices, Power Supply) & Region - Global Forecast to 2027 GaN Power Device Market by Device Type (Power, RF Power), Voltage Range, Application (Power Drives, Supply & Inverter, and RF), Vertical (Telecommunications, Consumer, Automotive, Military, Defense, Aerospace), and Geography - Global Forecast to 2023 RF Tunable Filter Market by Type (Bandpass, Band Reject), Tuning Mechanism, Tuning Component, System (Handheld and Pocket Radio, Radar System), Application (Aerospace and Defense, Transportation, Smart Cities) and Geography - Global Forecast to 2027 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America's best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Visit Our Web Site: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/rf-signal-chain-components-market.asp Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/rf-signal-chain-components.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Lumen Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: LUMN) between March 11, 2019 and July 14, 2023, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important November 14, 2023 lead plaintiff deadline. SO WHAT: If you purchased Lumen 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 Lumen class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=17736 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] 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 14, 2023. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Lumen owned and/or still owns thousands of miles of cables wrapped in lead, a known neurotoxin, within the United States of America; (2) the foregoing has harmed and posed the risk of further harming the environment, exposed Lumen employees, and the general public, thereby posing a significant public health risk and environmental pollution risk; (3) Lumen was on notice about the damage and risks presented by these lead-covered cables but did not disclose them as a potential threat to everyday people and communities, as well as failed to provide adequate lead training to employees; (4) all the foregoing subjected Lumen to a heightened risk of governmental and regulatory oversight and enforcement action, as well as legal and reputational harm; and (5) as a result, Lumen's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the Lumen class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=17736 mailto:or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] 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 investor's 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 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.rosenlegal.com SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A. FORT COLLINS, Colo., Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Medicine Man Technologies, Inc., operating as Schwazze, (OTCQX: SHWZ) (NEO: SHWZ) ("Schwazze" or the "Company"), today announced a first of its kind store-within-a-store model in Fort Collins, combining a Star Buds neighborhood dispensary with a Standing Akimbo Hotspot, bringing together two innovative retailers that operate within the trusted Schwazze house of brands. Standing Akimbo Hotspot (CNW Group/Schwazze) Star Buds, established in 2013, has a standing reputation for the widest selection, top quality products, and stellar service. Star Buds' treasure chest of offerings along with the Gratify Rewards Program allows shoppers to save on every purchase across a huge selection of recreational products. Standing Akimbo, established in 2015, is Colorado's most recognized medical cannabis dispensary. Located in Denver and Colorado Springs, its team of passionate customer service representatives celebrate Colorado's medical marijuana market through a warehouse service model with value prices. Now, Standing Akimbo has partnered with Star Buds in Fort Collins to operate Colorado's first store-within-a-store model. Collin Lodge, President of Retail for Schwazze, believes the dual banner strategy introduces a new level of convenience that the cannabis market has not seen. "Star Buds and Standing Akimbo are two trusted brands. When we surveyed our Northern Colorado customers, they wanted both Star Buds and Standing Akimbo. Our new Fort Collins store-within-a-store model is just a lesson in listening to our customer base. This new dispensary concept is all about meeting the customer where they want us to be." Star Buds Fort Collins is open from 8:00 AM 10:00 PM seven days a week. Stop by Star Buds with the new Standing Akimbo Hotspot in Fort Collins, at 5740 S College Ave UNIT A, Fort Collins, CO 80525 or visit www.starbudscolorado.com and standingakimbo.com for more information. About Schwazze Schwazze (OTCQX: SHWZ) (NEO: SHWZ) is building a premier vertically integrated regional cannabis company with assets in Colorado and New Mexico and will continue to take its operating system to other states where it can develop a differentiated regional leadership position. Schwazze is the parent company of a portfolio of leading cannabis businesses and brands spanning seed to sale. Schwazze is anchored by a high-performance culture that combines customer-centric thinking and data science to test, measure, and drive decisions and outcomes. The Company's leadership team has deep expertise in retailing, wholesaling, and building consumer brands at Fortune 500 companies as well as in the cannabis sector. Medicine Man Technologies, Inc. was Schwazze's former operating trade name. The corporate entity continues to be named Medicine Man Technologies, Inc. Schwazze derives its name from the pruning technique of a cannabis plant to enhance plant structure and promote healthy growth. To learn more about Schwazze, visit www.schwazze.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements." Such statements may be preceded by the words "plan," "will," "may," "continue," "predicts," or similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future events or performance, are based on certain assumptions, and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control and cannot be predicted or quantified. Consequently, actual events and results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with (i) our inability to manufacture our products and product candidates on a commercial scale on our own or in collaboration with third parties; (ii) difficulties in obtaining financing on commercially reasonable terms; (iii) changes in the size and nature of our competition; (iv) loss of one or more key executives or scientists; (v) difficulties in securing regulatory approval to market our products and product candidates; (vi) our ability to successfully execute our growth strategy in Colorado and outside the state, (vii) our ability to consummate the acquisition described in this press release or to identify and consummate future acquisitions that meet our criteria, (viii) our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses, including the acquisition described in this press release, and realize synergies therefrom, (ix) the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, * the timing and extent of governmental stimulus programs, and (xi) the uncertainty in the application of federal, state and local laws to our business, and any changes in such laws. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as required by law. SOURCE Schwazze BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. President Ilham Aliyev amended the decrees "On ensuring the activity of the Ministry of Energy", "On approval of the Provision on the Ministry of Industry and Energy, the structure of the Ministry, and the maximum number of employees of the staff" and "On measures to improve the activity of the Ministry of Energy", Trend reports. In this regard, the head of state signed a new decree. According to the decree, the limit on the number of employees of the Ministry of Energy was increased from 200 to 220, including the State Agency for Renewable Energy, from 40 to 60. Leading not-for-profit healthcare organization in greater Los Angeles allows patients to choose a closer doctor-patient relationship ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y., Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Concierge Choice Physicians (CCP), the nation's leading full-service concierge medical service provider, announces today that seven physicians from Santa Monica Family Physicians and The Doctors of Saint John's are now offering CCP's Hybrid Choice, an enhanced practice experience that gives patients greater connectivity and support from their chosen doctor. Unlike conventional concierge programs, CCP's Hybrid Choice program is a unique style of membership medicine that works well in large healthcare organizations like these. It allows physicians to provide the utmost in patient service to just those patients who want it, while continuing to see and care for all of the patients in their network. Patients are able to choose the practice experience they want. No patients are ever turned away and the physicians continue to accept insurance and Medicare. A portion of the revenue generated from membership fees goes to support St. John's charitable mission to serve all, especially those who are poor and vulnerable. Patients who want this enhanced practice experience can choose from the following physicians in Los Angeles or Santa Monica: Linda Narvaez , MD at 12555 W. Jefferson Blvd, Suite 301, Los Angeles, CA 90066 , MD at 12555 W. Jefferson Blvd, Suite 301, 90066 Gabriel Niles , MD at 12555 W. Jefferson Blvd, Suite 301, Los Angeles, CA 90066 , MD at 12555 W. Jefferson Blvd, Suite 301, 90066 Daina Danovitch , MD at 2701 Ocean Park Blvd, Suite 118, Santa Monica CA 90405 , MD at 2701 Ocean Park Blvd, Suite 118, 90405 Mehran Movassaghi , MD at 2001 Santa Monica Blvd, Suite 460W, Santa Monica, CA 90404 , MD at 2001 Santa Monica Blvd, Suite 460W, 90404 Mark Needham , MD at 901 Wilshire Blvd, Floor 3, Santa Monica, CA 90401 , MD at 901 Wilshire Blvd, Floor 3, 90401 Pouya Shafipour , MD, at 1831 Wilshire Blvd, Suite B, Santa Monica CA 90403 , MD, at 1831 Wilshire Blvd, Suite B, 90403 Ruth A. Sorotzkin , MD at 1811 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 201, Santa Monica CA 90403 Healthcare organizations like Santa Monica Family Physicians and The Doctors of Saint John's are increasingly looking toward membership medicine as a way to satisfy patients who are looking for more service and support, generate much needed revenue, and improve physician satisfaction. In fact, large medical groups are now the fastest growing market for CCP. "The current healthcare marketplace is extremely challenging for both patients and physicians," says Keith Elgart, Chief Operating Officer at Concierge Choice Physicians. "With the tremendous need for services, it can be hard for stressed-out doctors to find a balance between excellence in service and the mission to serve all. Our Hybrid Choice program helps medical practices maintain that balance and thrive. We are thrilled to work with the excellent physicians at St. John's in their mission to provide the highest level of care to all patients." The Hybrid Choice is available for an annual membership fee. For more information on the program, or to join, contact Concierge Choice Physicians at (877) 888-5590. About Concierge Choice Physicians (CCP) Dedicated to providing real options for patients and physicians, Concierge Choice Physicians is the largest private provider of the full range of concierge programs available todayHybrid and FullFlex. The company provides innovative, flexible and affordable models proven to work in medical practices of any sizefrom solo physicians to large medical practice corporationsboth independent and affiliated with hospitals or health systems. Headquartered in Rockville Centre, NY, the company has worked with more than 300 physicians in 29 states. For more information, please visit www.choice.md. SOURCE Concierge Choice Physicians CHICAGO, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (NYSE: TDS) and United States Cellular Corporation (NYSE: USM) will be webcasting their third quarter operating results conference call on November 3, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. central time. The companies will release their financial results on November 3, 2023 before the market opens. To listen to the webcast, please visit the events & presentations pages of investors.tdsinc.com or investors.uscellular.com. The presentations will be webcast both live and on-demand. It is recommended that you register at least 15 minutes before the beginning of the presentation to register, download and install any necessary multimedia streaming software. About TDS Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS), a Fortune 1000 company, provides wireless; broadband, video and voice; and hosted and managed services to approximately 6 million connections nationwide through its businesses, UScellular, TDS Telecom, and OneNeck IT Solutions. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Chicago, TDS employed approximately 9,100 associates as of June 30, 2023. For more information about TDS and its subsidiaries, visit: TDS: www.tdsinc.com UScellular: www.uscellular.com TDS Telecom: www.tdstelecom.com OneNeck IT Solutions: www.oneneck.com SOURCE Telephone and Data Systems TRAVELERS REST, S.C., Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Sally A. Campbell is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Life Member for her contributions to the field of Air Pollution. Dr. Campbell attended Wellesley College in 1964 where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Physical Chemistry. She then completed a Master's degree in Physical Chemistry at Harvard University in 1969 and a Doctor of Philosophy in Atmospheric and Nuclear Chemistry at the University of Maryland in 1977. The doctor entered the field in 1979 as the technical director of atmospheric services with the Martin Marietta Corporation, now Lockheed Martin Corporation, and Martin Marietta Materials. She continued her education by earning a second Master's degree in Management and Organizational Development from the Carey Business School of Johns Hopkins University and also became a qualified environmental consultant through the Institute of Professional Environmental Practice. The doctor established S.A. Campbell Assoc., an environmental consulting firm in 1986. A recognized leader, Dr. Campbell is president of S.A. Campbell and provides air quality analysis for Industrial sites throughout the United States helping them solve problems and acquire air mission permits. As part of her daily responsibilities, she conducts management training; long-range planning; and goal-setting sessions for organizations of all types and assists major industrial installations in compliance with federal, state, and local air pollution regulations. As a renowned expert in the field, Dr. Campbell was tapped to be a visiting professor at Johns Hopkins University; a professor and toxicologist at Dartmouth College; and a professor at Federal City College where she shared her extensive knowledge of air pollution; rules; regulations; and solutions to future environmentalists. Adding to Dr. Campbell's prestige and influence, she is a member of the Air & Waste Management Association; the American Physical Society; the American Association for the Advancement of Science; ASTM International; the American Chemical Society; and the Maryland Chamber of Commerce. During her illustrious career, she has been recognized for her work with many accolades and memberships, including being inducted into The Phi Beta Kappa Society and named a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemists. Dr. Campbell cites her father who was a lawyer, and her grandfather who was a business professor, for inspiring her great achievements and drive to succeed. She is also a civic-minded leader in her community and recalled that some of her earliest civic work was her time providing organizational development services for social service agencies between 1984 and 1987. Dr. Campbell is also active with her local church on a program regarding social issues and racism, and she hopes to continue to advocate for social change in the coming years. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE The Inner Circle HOHHOT, China, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On October 15, local time in Chicago, USA, the Board of Directors meeting of the International Dairy Federation (IDF) was held on the eve of the "2023 IDF World Dairy Summit". Representatives from more than 30 countries around the world, after a plenary vote, unanimously reached a resolution and announced that Dr. Yun Zhanyou, Vice President and representative of Yili Group, Asia's premier dairy company, was elected as a director of the International Dairy Federation, becoming the only board member from China. In the future, Yili will represent the dairy industry in China and emerging countries, deeply participate in the global industry governance system, promote the formulation of global industrial policies, promote the win-win cooperation and sustainable development of the industry, and open a new chapter of dialogue and cooperation between the Chinese dairy industry and global peers. IDF President Piercristiano Brazzale and Director General Caroline Emond announced the election of the Yili representative. With respect to the election of Yili representative to the Board of Directors of the International Dairy Federation, IDF President Piercristiano Brazzale remarked: "Yili, as the leading enterprise in China's dairy industry, renowned for its excellent innovation capabilities and high-level technologies. The joining of Yili representative will undoubtedly enhance the work of the International Dairy Federation around the world. In the future, we are committed to collaborating closely to promote the quality improvement and innovation breakthroughs in the dairy industry in China and around the world." Wu Qiulin, President of the China Dairy Industry Association and Chairperson of the Chinese National Committee of the International Dairy Federation said: "The representative of China Yili Group was elected as a director of the International Dairy Federation, which reflects the high recognition of the global industry for the development of China's dairy industry and the comprehensive strength of Yili Group. We anticipate Yili Group can continuously play a bridging role in the exchanges and cooperation between China's dairy industry and the global dairy industry and share the story of China's dairy industry in the new era with the whole world, thereby making greater contributions to promoting the high-quality development of China's dairy industry and even the global dairy industry." Yun Zhanyou, Vice President of Yili Group commented: "As a representative of Yili Group, I am honored to be a member of the Board of Directors of the International Dairy Federation, and this is an important measure of Yili Group to actively participate in global industry governance and deepen international cooperation. In the future, we will give full play to our own advantages and influence and work closely with the International Dairy Federation to build a bridge for exchanges, mutual learning and in-depth cooperation between the Chinese dairy industry and the world." Founded at the inaugural International Dairy Congress in 1903, the International Dairy Federation, as an international dairy association, has served the global dairy industry for more than 100 years. At present, it has 39 member countries, and these members account for 74% of the global dairy production. The Board of Directors of the International Dairy Federation is composed of nine representatives respectively from IDF, industry associations of member countries, and global dairy enterprises, of which only corporate representatives hold two or three seats. It is an important research, decision-making and coordination institution for the global dairy industry. Following their election, Yili Group intends to further immerse itself within the global industry's governance system on behalf of the Chinese dairy industry, share the exploration experiences of Chinese dairy enterprises in the aspects of innovative research and development, digitalization and intelligence, sustainable development regarding the important issues for the development of the global industry such as technological innovation, policy formulation, and international cooperation, thereby making positive contributions to promoting the high-quality development of the global dairy industry. Image Attachments Links: Link: https://iop.asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=442734 Caption: IDF President Piercristiano Brazzale and Director General Caroline Emond announced the election of the Yili representative. SOURCE Yili Group Company celebrates grand opening, offers greater convenience to medical cannabis patients in Hillsborough and Manatee counties TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE: TRUL) (OTCQX: TCNNF) ("Trulieve" or "the Company"), a leading and top-performing cannabis company in the United States, today announced the opening of a new medical dispensary located at 6586 N U.S. Highway 41 in Apollo Beach, Florida. Joining nearby Tampa Bay Trulieve locations in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Bradenton, the new Apollo Beach dispensary offers more convenience to patients along the Interstate-75 corridor in southern Hillsborough and northern Manatee counties. Located at 6586 N U.S. Highway 41, Trulieve's Apollo Beach dispensary will be open 9 a.m. 8:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. 8 p.m. on Sundays. Trulieve will host a grand opening celebration at the new Apollo Beach location beginning at 9 a.m., Saturday, October 21, with partner giveaways, music, specials, discounts, and opportunities to register for upcoming patient education sessions. "Every time we open a new dispensary we learn a tremendous amount about the patients and communities we serve," said Trulieve's Chief Executive Officer Kim Rivers . "Those authentic and reciprocal relationships inform how we carry out our mission to bring medical cannabis to more people through the exceptional customer service experience that Trulieve is known for." Trulieve's retail professionals are trained to provide personalized, compassionate patient care at every stage throughout an individual's cannabis journey, helping patients choose from a wide selection of high-quality medical cannabis products including smokeable flower, concentrates, edibles, capsules, syringes, tinctures, topical creams, vaporizers, and more. Designed to meet every customer's needs, Trulieve's portfolio of popular in-house brands includes Alchemy, Co2lors, Cultivar Collection, Modern Flower, Momenta, Muse, Roll One, Sweet Talk and Trekkers. Customers also have access to beloved partner brands such as Alien Labs, Binske, Black Tuna, Blue River, Connected Cannabis, DeLisioso, Khalifa Kush, Love's Oven, Miami Mango, O.pen, Seed Junky and Sunshine Cannabis, all available exclusively at Trulieve in Florida. Trulieve offers statewide home delivery, convenient online ordering, and in-store pickup. Veterans receive 20% off every order when they show their military ID, and all first-time guests are eligible for a 60% new customer discount at any Florida Trulieve location. The new Apollo Beach dispensary will be open 9 a.m. 8:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. 8 p.m. on Sundays. For more information, or to learn how to become a registered patient, please visit Trulieve.com and connect on Instagram or Facebook. About Trulieve Trulieve is an industry leading, vertically integrated cannabis company and multi-state operator in the U.S., with established hubs in the Northeast, Southeast, and Southwest, anchored by leading market positions in Arizona, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Trulieve is poised for accelerated growth and expansion, building scale in retail and distribution in new and existing markets through its hub strategy. By providing innovative, high-quality products across its brand portfolio, Trulieve delivers optimal customer experiences and increases access to cannabis, helping patients and customers to live without limits. Trulieve is listed on the CSE under the symbol TRUL and trades on the OTCQX market under the symbol TCNNF. For more information, please visit Trulieve.com. Facebook: @Trulieve Instagram: @Trulieve_ Twitter: @Trulieve Investor Contact Christine Hersey, Vice President of Investor Relations +1 (424) 202-0210 [email protected] Media Contact Phil Buck, APR, Corporate Communications Manager +1 (406) 370-6226 [email protected] SOURCE Trulieve Cannabis Corp. ATMORE, Ala., Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- United Bank (OTCQX:UBAB) has provided $12.8 million in construction financing along with $660,000 in soft financing to The Bennett Group for the new construction of Trinity Ridge Apartments, a 56-unit multi-family affordable housing complex in Phenix City, Alabama. Funding for this loan was made possible, in part, due to the bank's $8 million 2020 Capital Magnet Fund award. Once completed, the complex will offer two-bedroom units within two residential buildings. "United Bank is pleased to provide funding to The Bennett Group for the construction of Trinity Ridge Apartments. The completed project will provide much needed affordable housing for Phenix City seniors," said Joe Raines, Senior Vice President of United Bank. "United Bank is committed to serving our communities in Alabama and throughout the Southeast." On-site amenities include a community clubhouse featuring a meeting room, kitchen, laundry room, computer center and indoor fitness center. An outdoor gazebo and picnic area with grill will also be available for residents' use. The new complex, adjacent to Trinity Lake Apartments, will offer a quiet, park-like living environment with city conveniences such as shopping, parks and community amenities only minutes away. About United Bank United Bank is a $1.3 billion financial holding company that serves Southwest Alabama and Northwest Florida. United is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), which recognizes its commitment to stimulating economic development in underserved communities. UB Community Development (UBCD) focuses on economic and community development through its New Markets Tax Credits, affordable housing, and community facilities programs. Member FDIC. SOURCE United Bancorporation HELSINKI, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Uponor, a global leader in sustainable water solutions, proudly participated in the Axel Springer Award 2023 in Berlin on 17 October 2023. The event brought together top executives from different industries for an evening of celebration. The Axel Springer Award is an annual event that brings together visionary thinkers and top-level decision-makers from various industries. This year's event was a melting pot of ideas, innovation, and inspiration, where executives from Microsoft, Audi, SAP and many more converged to discuss how technological developments can change our everyday lives, education systems, and the way we exchange information. This year's Axel Springer Award was given to Satya Nadella for his outstanding achievements as the CEO of Microsoft. Through his visionary leadership and groundbreaking strategic decisions, Nadella has successfully modernized and transformed Microsoft-towards a stronger focus on cloud computing and artificial intelligence-making him the pioneer of the tech industry. A high level of innovation and his commitment to a diverse and open corporate culture also characterize his pioneering spirit. Uponor was honored to take part in this event, in which Uponor's CEO, Michael Rauterkus had the opportunity to take part in a Round Table Talk about AI with the award recipient Satya Nadella together with other top executives. "Participating in the Axel Springer Award event was significant for Uponor, as it aligns with our aim to form value networks and partnerships bringing together diverse perspectives to advance innovation and sustainability in our field. It was a great pleasure to discuss the challenges and opportunities of AI in this forum. I was especially keen to inquire about Nadella's perspectives on `smart homes' linking to how Uponor by moving water intelligently offers integrated heating and cooling solutions that minimise the use of energy and water in buildings. This is especially important since the construction industry is responsible for almost 40% of global emissions," says Michael Rauterkus, President and CEO of Uponor Corporation. "At the same time, the construction industry lags far behind in terms of digitalization and we need to seize every opportunity to learn from other industries. There is a tremendous potential to use digital technologies to improve the sustainable performance of buildings reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions." At the event, Uponor showcased one of its latest booth designs, setting the focus on sustainability and innovation. The focus was not merely on showcasing products; it's about emphasizing Uponor's profound commitment to the vital topic of water and how it supports the greater purpose behind Uponor's mission. This was reflected by the booth's modern and sustainable materials while the water show transported the clear message of Uponor's mission to redefine the role of water in sustainable construction. 'Moving Water', for Uponor, goes beyond a mere phrase. It serves as a testament to the company's deep-rooted commitment to creating an impact in the building industry. Although Uponor's pipes are often hidden from sight, they play a pivotal role in our daily lives, safeguarding delivery of safe water, intelligent heating and cooling keeping people in their comfort zone, saving energy and money, thereby enabling sustainable affordable housing. Link to the Round Table Talk with Satya Nadella, Hildegard Wortmann, Christian Klein, Mario Federico, Martin Daut, Markus Essing and Michael Rauterkus discussing the challenges and opportunities of preparing businesses for an era of AI that is innovative, responsible, and focused on humanity, can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS6rDKF4Knw Press contact: Franciska Janzon Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications and IR Uponor Corporation Tel. +358 (0)20 129 2821 Uponor in brief Uponor is a leading global provider of solutions that efficiently and effectively move water through cities, buildings, and homes. We help customers in residential and commercial construction, municipalities, and utilities, be more productive - and continuously find new ways to conserve, manage and provide water responsibly, unlocking its potential to provide comfort, health, and efficiency. Our safe drinking water, energy-efficient radiant heating and cooling systems, and reliable infrastructure solutions are sold in more than 80 countries. Uponor employs about 3,900 professionals in 26 countries in Europe and North America. In 2022, the company's net sales totalled approximately 1.4 billion. Uponor Corporation is based in Finland and listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. www.uponorgroup.com The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/22836/3857838/2375290.pdf Press Release (PDF) https://news.cision.com/uponor--oyj/i/microsoft-ceo-satya-nadella-and-uponor-ceo-michael-rauterkus-photo-by-wojciech-pierkiel,c3227781 Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Uponor CEO Michael Rauterkus photo by Wojciech Pierkiel https://news.cision.com/uponor--oyj/i/as-award-talk-2023-photo-by-christian-kliemann,c3227779 AS Award Talk 2023 photo by Christian Kliemann https://news.cision.com/uponor--oyj/i/as-award-talk-2023---round-table-talk-photo-by-christian-kliemann,c3227780 AS Award Talk 2023 - Round Table Talk photo by Christian Kliemann SOURCE Upnor Oyj BOSTON, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Velico Medical is proud to announce the launch of its Blood Center Education Program (BCEP) at South Texas Blood & Tissue (STB&T), a subsidiary of San Antonio non-profit BioBridge Global. "This collaboration is the first of its kind in the nation and reflects the shared vision of Velico and STB&T of advancing life-saving blood products through the development process," says Richard Meehan, President and CEO of Velico. South Texas Blood & Tissue join Velico's Blood Centre Education Programme South Texas Blood & Tissue Joins Velico's Blood Centre Education Programme. L-R Bill Skillman, VP Commercial & Business Development, Velico, Audra Taylor, Executive Director, Blood Operations, Adrienne Blevins Mendoza, Chief Operating Officer, STB&T and SVP, BioBridge Global Harry D. Irizarry, Vice President of Sales and Bill Merritt, COO, Velico Velico's BCEP is designed to generate deep customer feedback on the commissioning and operational aspects of the FrontlineODP system for spray drying plasma. FrontlineODP is expected to be an easy to produce, easy to use, point-of-care plasma product for transfusion in settings where current plasma products (most often frozen) are unavailable or inconvenient to use because of challenging cold chain logistics and short dating. Velico's proprietary spray drying process results in a powdered plasma product that can be stored in a refrigerator or at ambient temperature and then reconstituted on-scene in minutes. With FrontlineODP, plasma could become more readily available to first responders such as ground or air ambulances, in rural hospitals where plasma is typically not stocked,for the military, and during mass casualty events. "South Texas Blood & Tissue is pleased to collaborate with Velico as a BCEP partner. We take great pride in our history of firsts, leading change and innovation in blood transfusion products and services," says Adrienne Mendoza, STB&T Chief Operating Officer. Velico's development program has been funded in whole or in part with federal funds from the Department of Health and Human Services; Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response; Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, under contract number 75A50121C00059. About Velico: Velico Medical, Inc. is a private US medical technology company, committed to the mission of eliminating preventable death from bleeding. Headquartered in Beverly, Massachusetts, USA. Velico personnel have substantial expertise and experience in transfusion medicine and medical device development. In support of its mission, Velico is developing partnerships with civilian, government and military blood center leadership, trauma surgeons, emergency medical physicians, military medics and first responders worldwide. About South Texas Blood & Tissue: South Texas Blood & Tissue (STB&T) is a non-profit community blood center that provides blood, plasma, platelets and other blood components to 100 hospitals in 48 South Texas counties. It is the largest blood supplier in our region. In addition, STB&T supports the development of advanced therapies, including those derived from donated human cells and tissues used in research and in new therapies and cures for cancers and degenerative diseases. Through the generous life-legacy gifts of human tissue, STB&T also supports development of tissue allografts for patients in need of reconstructive surgery, repair or tissue regeneration. STB&T has a 47-year history serving the South Texas community and is part of the BioBridge Global family of non-profit organizations, which offers services in regenerative medicine and research including blood banking and resource management; cellular therapy; umbilical cord blood collection and storage; donated human tissue recovery and distribution for transplant; and testing of blood and plasma products to help patients in the United States and worldwide. STB&T has eight donor centers in South Texas and conducts hundreds of mobile blood drives each year. STB&T is online at SouthTexasBlood.org. Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2251183/velico_STBT_video.mp4 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2251182/Velico_Medical__Blood_Centre_Education_Programme.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2152986/Velico_Medical_Logo.jpg DUBLIN, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Water Soluble Film Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global water soluble film market, which achieved a size of US$ 375.0 million in 2022, is poised for significant expansion. Analysts project the market to reach US$ 517.1 million by 2028, exhibiting a steady Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.7% during the forecast period of 2023-2028. Key Market Insights: What is Water Soluble Film: Water soluble film, also known as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA/PVOH) film, is a synthetic polymer that readily dissolves in water. It is characterized by properties such as being colorless, odorless, biodegradable, non-toxic, and possessing high tear and tensile strength. Water soluble films offer a range of benefits, including smooth mechanical operations, enhanced productivity, cost-effectiveness, and flexibility in packaging. Additionally, they provide high solvent resistance, gas barrier performance, excellent heat-sealing properties, and printability, making them versatile in various applications. Driving Factors: Packaging Industry Growth: The burgeoning packaging industry is a significant driver as water soluble films find increasing use in packaging applications. Demand for Eco-Friendly Solutions: Growing concerns about eco-friendliness and sustainability are boosting the adoption of water soluble films as a packaging material. Ready-to-Eat (RTE) Foods: Hectic lifestyles and the demand for convenience are driving the use of water soluble films in packaging ready-to-eat (RTE) food items. Food Packaging: Water soluble films are used in food packaging, especially for candy, dried fruits, snacks, single-serve products like coffee and tea, and for preserving perishable foods like meat, poultry, and fish. Chemical Industry: Water soluble films are used to protect industrial workers from direct contact with hazardous materials, particularly in the chemical industry. Market Segmentation: Material: PVA/PVOH, Xylan PVA/PVOH is the dominant material, favored for its biodegradability and suitability in various packaging applications. PVA/PVOH, Xylan Application: Detergent Packaging, Agrochemical Packaging, Water Treatment Chemical Packaging, Pharmaceutical Packaging, Others Detergent packaging is a leading application due to the demand for single-use packs that reduce wastage and overdosing. Detergent Packaging, Agrochemical Packaging, Water Treatment Chemical Packaging, Pharmaceutical Packaging, Others End-Use Industry: Textile, Agriculture, Consumer Goods, Healthcare, Others Consumer goods drive significant demand as smaller unit dose packs gain popularity. Textile, Agriculture, Consumer Goods, Healthcare, Others Regional Insights: Asia Pacific leads the market due to its growing packaging needs and eco-conscious consumer base. Competitive Landscape: The market is fragmented with several small and large players operating. Key companies include Kuraray Co. Ltd., Nippon Synthetic Chemical Industry Co. Ltd., Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd., Aicello Corporation, Arrow GreenTech Ltd., Cortec Corporation, Changzhou Kelin PVA Water Soluble Films Co., Ltd., Jiangmen Proudly Water-soluble Plastic Co., Ltd., AMC (UK) Ltd., 3M Company, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, DuPont de Nemours, Inc., Fujian Zhongsu Biodegradable Films Co., Ltd., Dezhou Huamao Textile Co. Ltd., and Neptun Technologies GmbH. COVID-19 Impact: The pandemic disrupted supply chains and affected production, but the impact was mitigated as providers managed supply chains to adapt to challenges. Key Questions Answered: How has the global water soluble film market performed so far, and how will it perform in the coming years? What are the drivers, restraints, and opportunities in the global water soluble film market? What is the impact of each driver, restraint, and opportunity on the global water soluble film market? What are the key regional markets? What is the breakup of the market based on the material? Which is the most attractive material in the water soluble film market? What is the breakup of the market based on the application? Which is the most attractive application in the water soluble film market? What is the breakup of the market based on the end-use industry? Which is the most attractive end-use industry in the water soluble film market? What is the competitive structure of the global water soluble film market? Who are the key players/companies in the global water soluble film market? For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/nokebr About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets NANCHANG, China, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Amid the sweet fragrance of blossoming osmanthus, by the bank of the Changjiang River, the 2023 China Jingdezhen International Ceramic Expo opened as scheduled on October 18, 2023. The 2023 China Jingdezhen International Ceramic Expo opened in Jingdezhen Ceramic Expo City. Ancient Porcelain Reproduction Exhibition Area. With the mission of establishing the Jingdezhen National Ceramic Culture Inheritance and Innovation Experimental Zone and creating a new platform for foreign cultural exchanges, the 20th Jingdezhen Ceramic Expo has been upgraded, opening a new chapter in the transformation towards integrated development of trade, investment and culture, according to the Information Office of Jingdezhen Municipal People's Government. New Concept: Trade and Culture Tell the Story of Foreign Exchange in the Millennium Porcelain Capital In Hall 3 of the Ceramic Expo City, traditional ceramic decorative patterns and the experiential activity of traditional porcelain-making techniques have caught people's eyes. Buyers stop to inquire, and visitors compete to experience. The accumulation of history has created the unique cultural charm and artistic atmosphere of Jingdezhen, attracting craftsmen from all over the country who make ceramics here and sell to everywhere as since ancient times, Jingdezhen has been a city of immigrants, where a large number of skilled craftsmen from outside gathered. This year's week-long Ceramic Expo has attracted people from different countries, with different skin colors, and speaking different languages by holding many new thematic activities, such as ceramic culture exhibition and exchange activities, combining trade and culture. The inheritance of ceramic culture and the protection of traditional craftsmanship become a new concept for this year's expo. "The Expo provides us with a platform for communication and cooperation," said Jose Maria Chinoyosa Sareto, General Manager of Spanish Magina Company. She looked forward to this visit to Jingdezhen, expecting to gain a deeper understanding of the ceramic culture in China and to achieve more cooperation. A piece of porcelain connects mountains and seas, and an expo links the world. Taking advantage of the Expo, Jingdezhen is engaging in dialogue with the world and telling the wonderful story of "China and Porcelain" to the world. New link: link the world with "Belt and Road" Porcelain, as a symbol of traditional Chinese culture, has built a bridge across mountains and seas in the history of cultural exchange between China and foreign countries. From the ancient Silk Road to "Belt and Road", Jingdezhen, with longlasting kiln fire, still has the most complete and perfect system of handmade porcelain in the world. The "Jingdezhen style" that could be seen everywhere in the porcelain exhibition areas has once again become a "trendy item". The year of 2023 is also the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. This year's expo has invited many international ceramic brands to participate in the exhibition and has set up an international ceramic zone in the Trading Center, which has attracted more than 40 international brands. The gene of Jingdezhen has been infused with "openness" since ancient times. Since the Song Dynasty, Jingdezhen porcelain has been exported in large quantities, extending from Central Asia and West Asia to European and African continents. Professor Hu Ping from Nanchang University, who has been studying Jingdezhen for a long time, said that according to historical records, from 1729 to 1794, the Dutch East India Company shipped 43 million pieces of Chinese porcelain. From the late Ming Dynasty to the early Qing Dynasty, approximately 300 million pieces of Chinese porcelain landed in Europe, with the main output being blue and white porcelain and colored porcelain from Jingdezhen folk kilns. The "2023 China (Jingdezhen) Cross-border Ceramic Sourcing Matchmaking Meeting" held on the Expo's opening day was the third international direct procurement matchmaking event held during the Ceramic Expo. In order to better serve enterprises, this matchmaking meeting innovated its working methods, providing business opportunities for buyers from abroad to purchase Jingdezhen ceramic products through offline display or direct procurement and for Jiangxi ceramic enterprises to explore overseas markets. Some 250 professional buyers from 60 countries and about 130 local enterprises held one-on-one business negotiations during the matchmaking meeting. The story that began on the ancient Silk Road continues today. Jingdezhen, the millennium porcelain capital that has integrated into the joint construction of "Belt and Road", continues to write the story of "dialogue" with the world. New Engine: Revitalizing Ceramic Trade, Porcelain Promotes Economic Development On October 9, 2023, a container truck loaded with ceramic plates drove out of Ceramic Expo (Taobo) City in Jingdezhen and headed for Bangkok, Thailand. Since the launch of the pilot project of market purchase trade in April this year, 47 shipments have been sent to 17 countries and regions. The personalized needs from different regions around the world are more closely connected to the skilled craftsmen here. In order to further expand the benefits of the Expo, to help Jingdezhen ceramic enterprises expand their foreign trade channels, and to promote trade transactions, the 2023 China (Jingdezhen) Cross-order Ceramic Sourcing Matchmaking Meeting was held with the theme of "Ceramic Expo never ends and Ceramic Expo City facilitates global trades". Trade transaction is an important indicator for measuring the effectiveness of the Ceramic Expo. The procurement amount of intention reached on the opening day of the Expo totaled 66.76 million US dollars, with actual transaction amounting to 13.29 million US dollars. At the same time, in order to develop online ceramic trade, the organizing committee of the Expo also made full use of digitalization and built a Ceramic Expo City Digital Trade Industrial Park on the fifth floor of the Trading Center, making traditional e-commerce, cross-border e-commerce, and live streaming e-commerce in full run. The Committee hopes to empower the offline trading market with online trade. Nowadays, Jingdezhen's ceramic daily utensils and artistic ceramics are exported to dozens of countries and regions. In 2022, the city's export volume increased by 147.9%, with the output value of advanced ceramics increasing by 165.6%. Image Attachments Links: Link: https://iop.asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=442748 Caption: The 2023 China Jingdezhen International Ceramic Expo opened in Jingdezhen Ceramic Expo City. Link: https://iop.asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=442754 Caption: Ancient Porcelain Reproduction Exhibition Area. SOURCE Information Office of Jingdezhen Municipal People's Government BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland held 6th Staff talks, Trend reports via Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense. The sides discussed the current state and prospects for the development of bilateral military cooperation. The issues in the humanitarian sphere, as well as the contribution to the upcoming exercises and training on mine clearance were also discussed. The sides expressed confidence that joint military cooperation will continue to be beneficial for both parties. Then the guests visited one of the military units. A briefing and video on the military units establishment history and main activities were presented to the visiting delegation. Following the meeting with the servicemen who participated in the courses organized by the UK, the parties exchanged gifts. Turning Point Productions Launches Special Edition of PassagesTV SAN DIEGO, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Turning Point Productions, a division of David Jeremiah's Turning Point broadcast ministry, is thrilled to announce a special edition of PassagesTV. This special edition campaign promises to be bigger, dive deeper, and share more captivating stories than ever before. A career-ending injury. A job in juvenile hall. Two miscarriages in one year. And disbelief in the God of the Bible. What do these all have in common? They're snapshots, moments, and points on a timeline that catapulted real people toward discovering their God-given calling. PassagesTV "Discover Your Calling" Trailer A conversation with Daniel Jeremiah PassagesTV Special series Discover Your Calling This is where it starts, but where does it go next? The average person is estimated to spend 90,000 hours of their life at work. How can one be intentional with that time? How can one take that time and ensure they are not settling for anything less than God has called them to? After three successful seasons of fast-paced travel adventures discovering new insights about God, their faith, and themselves, the PassagesTV team embarks on a new campaign and journey of discovery. This unique special edition of PassagesTV features people from various industries and backgrounds as they share their journey toward discovering and utilizing their God-given calling in everyday life. Viewers can anticipate episodes in this campaign that are filled with new stories, new places and faces, new questions, and new insights to help viewers discover the calling within their own lives. "We've spent the last several months interviewing individuals from various industries, giftings, and seasons of life. Their stories have taught us what it takes to discover and utilize our God-given calling daily. My prayer is that these stories will help guide others wherever they find themselves on the journey to discovering their calling," said David Todd Jeremiah, Host and Co-Creator of PassagesTV The Discover Your Calling PassagesTV special campaign premieres on October 20th and can be viewed at Passages.TV or YouTube. Don't miss this opportunity to be inspired and engaged in the great adventure of life as you immerse yourself in the stories of people's pursuit of God while navigating their calling. PassagesTV was created by a team of young adults at Turning Point. Hosted by Dr. Jeremiah's grandson David Todd Jeremiah, PassagesTV creates innovative digital video contentfor young adults, by young adultsto tackle some of the most pressing questions this generation faces today. This content can be found on the PassagesTV website, on YouTube, and on social media channels, including Facebook and Instagram. Dr. David Jeremiah is a renowned Bible teacher, New York Times bestselling author, and founder/host of Turning Point Broadcast Ministry. With 40 years of ministry and "just getting started," his teaching has led to the creation of the Prophecy Academy , OVERCOMER, Airship Genesis , PassagesTV, Why the Nativity? , and PerhapsToday to name a few. About Turning Point Turning Point Ministries was founded in 1982 as the broadcast ministry of Dr. David Jeremiah to deliver the unchanging Word of God to an ever-changing world. More than three decades later, with a multimedia network featuring radio, television, online programming, magazine, and books, Turning Point reaches people around the globe with the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Turning Point is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization wholly supported by its patrons and not underwritten by any church or organization. SOURCE Turning Point Ministries HAMILTON, Bermuda, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. (NYSE: WTM) ("White Mountains") announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire a majority stake in Bamboo Ide8 Insurance Services, LLC ("Bamboo"), an MGA focused on the California homeowners insurance market. White Mountains expects to invest approximately $285 million, including primary capital to support Bamboo's growth, and to acquire approximately 70% of Bamboo basic shares outstanding. Bamboo was launched in 2018 by John Chu, a seasoned insurance executive. Bamboo provides homeowners' insurance for over 100,000 California policyholders, using its technology-enabled underwriting platform to select and manage risk. Bamboo has grown profitably and rapidly in the challenging California market, and is now poised to expand into other states. John and the current Bamboo management team will continue to lead the business through its next phase and will retain a significant equity stake. "We are pleased to make this investment alongside John and the Bamboo management team. Bamboo is delivering a much-needed insurance alternative to homeowners in California. Bamboo has strong momentum, and we look forward to supporting its continued growth," said Chris Delehanty, Head of M&A of White Mountains. "This transaction marks a new and exciting chapter for Bamboo. We are fortunate to have found a like-minded capital partner who shares our vision and has a strong track record of successful insurance partnerships," said John Chu, Founder and CEO of Bamboo. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2024. The closing is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The closing is not subject to a financing condition. The exact ownership to be acquired by White Mountains, and the resulting amount that will be invested, will be determined based on Bamboo unitholder elections made prior to closing. For more information, see White Mountains's Form 8-K filed October 20, 2023. Howden Tiger Capital Markets & Advisory acted as financial advisor to White Mountains, while Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP provided legal advice. Evercore Group, L.L.C. acted as financial advisor to Bamboo and selling equityholders, while Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP provided legal advice. About Bamboo Bamboo is a capital-light, tech- and data-enabled insurance distribution platform providing insurance offerings to the residential property market in California. Bamboo operates primarily through its full-service MGA business, where the company manages all aspects of the placement process on behalf of its fronting and (re)insurance partners, including product development, marketing, underwriting, policy issuance, and claims oversight, and earns commissions based on the volume and profitability of the insurance that it places. Bamboo puts underwriting first, leveraging technology and data science tools to select, price and manage risk. Bamboo also operates two separate but integrated businesses: (i) a retail agency offering ancillary products (e.g., flood, earthquake) on behalf of third parties and (ii) a captive reinsurer participating in a small share of the underwriting risk of Bamboo's MGA programs. For more information, visit www.bambooinsurance.com. About White Mountains White Mountains is a Bermuda-domiciled financial services holding company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WTM and on the Bermuda Stock Exchange under the symbol WTM.BH. Additional financial information and other items of interest are available at the Company's web site located at www.whitemountains.com . Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included or referenced in this release which address activities, events or developments which White Mountains expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. The words "could", "will", "believe", "intend", "expect", "anticipate", "project", "estimate", "predict" and similar expressions are also intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements with respect to White Mountains's: change in book value per share, adjusted book value per share or return on equity; business strategy; financial and operating targets or plans; incurred loss and loss adjustment expenses and the adequacy of its loss and loss adjustment expense reserves and related reinsurance; projections of revenues, income (or loss), earnings (or loss) per share, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, dividends, market share or other financial forecasts of White Mountains or its businesses; expansion and growth of its business and operations; expected timing of the transactions; and future capital expenditures. These statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by White Mountains in light of its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors believed to be appropriate in the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will conform to its expectations and predictions is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations, including: the risks that are described from time to time in White Mountains's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to White Mountains's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 ; ; claims arising from catastrophic events, such as hurricanes, windstorms, earthquakes, floods, wildfires, tornadoes, tsunamis, severe winter weather, public health crises, terrorist attacks, war and war-like actions, explosions, infrastructure failures or cyber-attacks; recorded loss reserves subsequently proving to have been inadequate; the market value of White Mountains's investment in MediaAlpha; the trends and uncertainties from the COVID-19 pandemic, including judicial interpretations on the extent of insurance coverage provided by insurers for COVID-19 pandemic related claims; business opportunities (or lack thereof) that may be presented to it and pursued; actions taken by rating agencies, such as financial strength or credit ratings downgrades or placing ratings on negative watch; the continued availability of capital and financing; deterioration of general economic, market or business conditions, including due to outbreaks of contagious disease (including the COVID-19 pandemic) and corresponding mitigation efforts; competitive forces, including the conduct of other insurers; changes in domestic or foreign laws or regulations, or their interpretation, applicable to White Mountains, its competitors or its customers; and other factors, most of which are beyond White Mountains's control. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by White Mountains will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, White Mountains or its business or operations. White Mountains assumes no obligation to publicly update any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. CONTACT: Rob Seelig (603) 640-2212 SOURCE White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. Residential exterior cleaning franchise brings a wide variety of home maintenance, cleaning and repair services to Philadelphia area WARMINSTER, Penn., Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Window Hero, a HomeFront Brands franchise specializing in a wide range of exterior cleaning services, announced today it is opening the first location in Pennsylvania. The new venture, located in Warminster, is owned by business partners CJ Orr and Michael Gabriel. Window Hero Warminster will offer window cleaning, gutter care, pressure washing and more. Orr and Gabriel had expressed interest in entrepreneurship and franchising for years and were ready to turn dreams into reality when they came across the opportunity with Window Hero. Window Hero Warminister owners CJ Orr, left, and Michael Gabriel will bring a wide variety of home maintenance, cleaning and repair services to the Philadelphia area. "I have had an interest in franchising for some time now, and Window Hero really caught our attention. After we visited the Homefront Brands facility, we were sold," Orr said. "Throughout my career, I have learned the importance of systems and models, which gives me even more appreciation for Window Hero." After spending six years as a union railroader, Orr built experience as a realtor alongside Gabriel, a Marine Corps veteran. Having grown up in the Philadelphia area, Orr and Gabriel expressed an urgent need for reliable home service contractors. "As a realtor, I see the growing demand for exterior cleaning in the residential space," Gabriel said. "We want Window Hero to be the go-to solution for exterior cleaning in the Philadelphia area, and I'm confident our combined skillset and work ethic will help get us there." Married with three kids, Gabriel wants to create a scalable business he can pass down to his children that holds value in the community. The business duo said their ultimate goal is to create a family legacy through Window Hero, as well as making a positive impact in the area. "I hope to inspire the people around me to adopt my entrepreneurial spirit and find a self-motivated attitude and mentality," Orr said. "Ultimately helping the next person that can contribute to the community." For more information about Window Hero Warminster, please visit https://windowhero.com/locations/warminster/. About Window Hero Window Hero is a trusted and reliable company specializing in a wide range of exterior cleaning services. Whether it's window cleaning, gutter care, pressure washing, soft washing, gutter guard installation or even solar panel cleaning, Window Hero has the right team of experts, skills and equipment to get the job done right. Window Hero offers routine maintenance and one-time deep cleaning services. Founded in 2005 as Labor Panes, founder Tyler Kirk started the company as a residential window cleaning service before expanding it to offer a variety of exterior cleaning, repair and maintenance services. For more information about Window Hero, please visit https://windowhero.com/. About HomeFront Brands: HomeFront Brands empowers entrepreneurs to create thriving franchised residential and commercial property service brands. Driven by an experienced team of franchise executives and rooted in family values, HomeFront Brands helps emerging or established concepts accelerate their growth by delivering enterprise-level solutions to local business owners who aspire to build a dynasty and create generational wealth. By leveraging integrated technology, data-driven intelligence and advanced learning management systems, HomeFront Brands is building a foundation for its brands -- Window Hero, The Designery, Temporary Wall Systems, BiltRite Home Inspections, Top Rail Fence and Mozzie Dome to transform lives through franchise ownership. For more information about HomeFront Brands' current solutions, new business development, and franchising opportunities, please visit HomeFrontBrands.com. MEDIA CONTACT: Heather Ripley Ripley PR 865-977-1973 [email protected] SOURCE HomeFront Brands Recognition Spans from Change Management and Complete Transformation to Championing Employees and Considered Benefit, Payroll and HR Improvements PALM DESERT, Calif., Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Many human resource (HR) professionals believe they are no longer looked at as an operational function of their organizations with 83% of HR leaders indicating their team is considered a strategic part of the business. Successful HR teams enable organizations to achieve new milestones by elevating employee experience (EX), supporting their workforce, improving organizational efficiency and developing a deep understanding of wider market trends. By transforming HR from reactive to proactive, many HR professionals have earned their spot where decisions are made and isolved recognized and awarded seven such individuals and organizations at its annual customer and partner conference, Connect. isolved congratulates the following award winners. People Heroes Award: Dawn Russo, Life Alert Life Alert is an organization perhaps best known for its "I've fallen and I can't get up" tagline. If there's anyone who can help others around her rise, it's Life Alert's Office Manager, Dawn Russo. She consistently leads the organization in the right direction, while maintaining an empathetic and collaborative work environment. Her enthusiastic style and wide-ranging skillset inspire everyone who crosses her path. According to those who work with her, "Dawn Russo should wear a cape every day at work," making her the perfect winner for the award. Future of Work Hero Award: JumBurrito Since its inception in 1979, JumBurrito has strived to provide the best possible customer service experience, not to mention the best burritos with the freshest ingredients. The company doesn't stop there as its mission is to provide a superior EX for their people. To keep its employees more connected, the company enables them to take ownership of their jobs and have direct access to headquarters and their HR information. JumBurrito also offers tuition reimbursement, insurance and 401(k) benefits showing the future of work is supporting an engaged and enabled employee while investing in experience. Transformation Hero Award: Jaylene Owen, Hames Corporation Keeping employees feeling connected is difficult for every organization. For the Hames Corporation, which operates in Sitka, Alaska, keeping employees connected is an infinitely taller task. Jaylene Owen, however, continues to be up for the challenge. Knowing she faces unique challenges, such as smaller pools of qualified candidates and limited resources, she focuses on improving employee morale and motivation. By crafting HR campaigns that fostered a sense of community and promoted a positive work culture, the Hames Corporation has enjoyed higher productivity, better customer service and increased profitability while helping people in the community of Sitka change their perception of HR from a rules-driven department to one that genuinely cares about their experience and career development. Engagement Hero Award: Cecilia Boudreaux, Stoa Group In response to an 11% increase in medical premiums in 2022, the Stoa Group realized they urgently needed to address healthcare costs while also prioritizing employee wellbeing. With employees spanning multiple states, the Stoa Group introduced an innovative virtual benefits fair during open enrollment to better educate and engage their people. The company utilized isolved's learning management system (LMS) integrations, gamification and prizes to great effect: they achieved a 63% reduction in total plan spend for 2023. Best EX Award: Laughlin, Falbo, Levy & Moresi Innovative technology is only truly innovative with inventive, passionate people at the helm. At Laughlin, Falbo, Levy & Moresi, a workers' compensation defense law firm, Amelia Pumaras has combined her ingenuity, creativity, and hard work to galvanize the firm's workforce and taken employee engagement to the next level. For example, Amelia developed an interactive onboarding process to ensure new team members hit the ground running. She continues to innovate, improve procedures, streamline processes and engage the entire firm. Roadmap of the Year Award: Tony DiStefano,Mario Badescu Skin Care Mario Badescu Skin Care began in a two-bedroom Manhattan apartment in 1967. They've expanded exponentially since, becoming a skincare line sold in major retailers, including Sephora, Nordstrom and Ulta. Tony DiStefano understood that to continue and expand the company's meteoric rise, they would need an in-depth HR roadmap. With the help of isolved, Tony has been successful in implementing the company's roadmap, from benefits and COBRA administration to HR augmentation all while ensuring HR leads the company's charge forward and continue to make incremental improvements for maximum results. Judges' Choice Award: Jill Fish, Rocky Mountain Diabetes Rocky Mountain Diabetes is a forward-thinking endocrine practice that stays ahead of the curve to advance diabetes care. At its core, the organization navigates incredibly complex subject matters with the end goal of helping others. No one exemplifies their mission more than Jill Fish, who is driven to become an expert in not only her company, but also the entire scope of isolved People Cloud. She displays an unparalleled work ethic with a constant learning mindset to help employees and managers increase productivity, improve performance and reduce risk for the organization. By ensuring adoption of People Cloud, she was able to maximize Rocky Mountain Diabetes' investment and the experience employees have with her employees loving the ability to self-serve, select the benefits that best fit their personal situation and reduce the stress of HR tasks. "We've always recognized the true power of people professionals," said Mike Flannery, isolved's Chief Customer Officer. "However, our customers, true People Heroes, never cease to amaze us with their ingenuity, passion and dedication. Our award winners personify the essence of what it means to turn HR and HCM into tangible outcomes for real people. We are profoundly appreciative to have such a vibrant community of HR professionals and are honored to have contributed to their journey." In 2023, isolved introduced People Heroes World, providing customers an immersive learning experience, allowing collaboration between fellow HR professionals to set up teams for success within isolved and beyond while successfully managing change in their organizations. Beyond the virtual world, isolved also physically educated and empowered its customers by hosting over 50 Customer Roadshows across the country this year alone. Check out the remaining FY23 schedule here. The nomination period for the 2024 isolved Customer Awards will begin in Q1. For additional insights about the awardees, follow isolved on LinkedIn for additional highlights. About isolved isolved is the most-trusted HCM technology leader, providing the best combination of software and services to meet the needs of today's People Heroes HR, payroll, and benefits professionals. From talent acquisition to workforce management to talent management, our solutions are delivered directly or through our HRO partner network to more than 6 million employees and 168,000 employers across all 50 states who use them every day to increase productivity, accelerate decision-making and ensure performance, while reducing risk. isolved People Cloud, our intelligently connected platform, automates the entire employee experience by design, so that organizations can engage, empower, and energize their talent while freeing their People Heroes to exceed their goals and grow their careers. Media Contact Amberly Dressler, VP of Brand & Customer Marketing [email protected] SOURCE isolved BEIJING and DOHA, Qatar, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On October 20, a Boeing-787 of Xiamen Airlines departed from Beijing Daxing International Airport for Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar. It declared Xiamen Airlines' successful maiden flight of regular flights between Beijing and Doha. Xiamen Airlines has become the first and only Chinese carrier to offer direct flights from China to Qatar. Xiamen Airlines has also become the very first and the only Chinese carrier to fly between China and Qatar. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Qatar, and the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. The opening of this air route will build a broader Air Silk Road to promote economic and trade cooperation and strengthen cultural exchanges between the two countries. The Xiamen Airlines on Beijing Daxing- Doha route will operate daily. The flight MF845 departs from Daxing, Beijing at 18:30 and arrives in Doha at 22:45 local time, MF846 in return leaves Doha at 02:00 local time and arrives in Daxing, Beijing at 15:20. "Welcome to take the our flight and embark on a journey of east-west civilization in the air." During the flight, amidst the fragrance of Fujian specialty tea, the flight attendants, dressed in Arabian clothing, dance with colorful accessories. The portable crystal lamps, like floral tubes, sprinkle light blazing with different colors on every happy smiling face. In addition to the exquisitely prepared onboard activities, the unique cuisine of the new route also delights the taste buds of travelers. Global travelers are indulged in great pleasure by the international delicacies such as the rich-aroma and unique-flavored three-color steamed bass with radish, the refreshing and crispy water bamboo shoots mixed with rattan pepper oil, and the Southeast Asian-styled sambal shrimp paired with coconut milk rice. As the capital and the largest city in Qatar and an international metropolis, Doha is an important international aviation hub in the Middle East region, has become the intersection of multiple intercontinental airline networks in the world, connecting numerous countries and regions in Africa and Europe. This year, Xiamen Airlines and Qatar Airways were accredited with the 2023 APEX World Class Award. When Xiamen Airlines was preparing for the Beijing Daxing-Doha flight route, the two airlines had a close comprehensive strategic partnership. Relying on the high-quality resources of the two sides, Xiamen Airlines will create a service network covering over 160 destinations worldwide, including Dammam, Lagos, and Algiers, delivering extensive transit products to passengers. The two sides will also conduct wide cooperation in network intermodal transportation, intermodal check-in, and direct baggage handling to provide global passengers with convenient experience just with one ticket including one-time security check, passenger check-in, and baggage check-in. A regular flight from Xiamen to Doha will be opened to service on October 31. This service will operate twice a week, building a bridge between China's Fujian Province and the world. SOURCE Xiamen Airlines BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. A large-scale protest is planned to be organized in France to put pressure on the country to achieve compensation for Martinique, Luc Carole from the Martinique Freedom Party said, Trend reports. He made the remark in Baku during the international conference "Neocolonialism: Human Rights Violation and Injustice", organized by the Baku Initiative Group on October 20. "We plan to hold a massive protest in France to demand compensation for the poisoning of our people with chemical substances. France violated our rights and used violence. People have the right to protect their interests," Carole noted. "We are fighting to liberate ourselves from colonialism. To choose our plan of action, we must engage in discussions. Nothing justifies colonialism. We support countries who want to put a stop to it, but some of them are not prepared for the process. We must get together and protest inside our community," he stressed. The Baku Initiative Group was established on July 6, 2023, by participants of the conference "Total Elimination of Colonialism" within the framework of the ministerial meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement under the chairmanship of the Republic of Azerbaijan. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. The delegation of Uzbekistan Defense Ministry, which is on a visit to Azerbaijan, met with Lieutenant General Azer Aliyev at the Defense Ministry, Trend reports via Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defense. During the meeting, the sides discussed reforms carried out in Azerbaijan Army, the importance of learning advanced experience in the field of army development. The meeting participants held detailed exchange of views on a number of issues of mutual interest. Then the guests visited the Center for War Games of the Military Administration Institute of the National Defense University. The Uzbek delegation was presented briefings on various topics. The guests got acquainted with the created conditions and got information about the activities of the center. Afterward, the Uzbek representatives attended one of the Operations Commando units got acquainted with the training center of the military unit and the conditions created for military personnel. The sides exchanged presents and a photo was taken. Lucknow, Oct 20 : After Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai curtly asked the Samajwadi Party (SP) to withdraw from the Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls, Akhilesh Yadav has reacted strongly and accused the Congress of betrayal. Even as the Congress leadership maintains a studied silence on the growing divide in the INDIA bloc, Akhilesh alleged that some Congress leaders were in cahoots with the BJP. Rai, on the other hand, claimed that the SP would have lost the Ghosi assembly election if the Congress had contested the seat. Akhilesh warned that the Congress will get the same treatment in Uttar Pradesh that it was laying out for SP in Madhya Pradesh. The exchange of remarks between the two parties is a clear indication of the simmering tension within the Opposition alliance ahead of the Assembly elections in the five states. The INDIA bloc, which was formed with the idea of uniting the Opposition against the BJP in elections, seems to have no plan in place for the assembly elections. The SP chief echoed this uncertainty when he wondered if the Opposition front was only at the national level or also for the state elections. However, the silence of the Congress leadership is adding to the bitterness among the allies. Akhilesh responded fiercely to Rai's remarks and said: "The state (Congress) chief has no authority. He was not there in the meeting held at Patna, Mumbai. What does he know about the INDIA alliance? These people from Congress are siding or involved with the BJP." The SP chief further said that the Congress leadership should not allow its "small leaders" to comment on his party. "Had I known on the first day that there is no alliance at the Vidhan Sabha level, our party leaders wouldn't have gone to the meetings. We would not have given them a list (of seats that the SP wanted to contest in Madhya Pradesh), nor would we have picked their calls," he added. It is clear that unless the Congress leadership intervenes and tries to resolve the crisis that is building up in Uttar Pradesh, the INDIA bloc will crumble in the state that matters most. BJP spokesman Rakesh Tripathi said: "It has happened sooner than expected. We always knew that the opposition alliance would not last because there was no ideological cohesiveness. It was an alliance of opportunism and is now coming apart." Prayagraj, Oct 20 : The Allahabad High Court has said that a passport cannot be denied to a claimant merely on the basis of a pending criminal case. A division bench comprising Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Prashant Kumar made the remark while disposing of a writ petition filed by one Akash Kumar of Jaunpur district. The court has directed the passport authority concerned to decide the claim of the petitioner for issuance of a passport within six weeks in the light of the relevant decisions of the apex court and the high court in this connection. Kumar had filed a writ petition, requesting the court to quash the order dated July 21, 2023, passed by Passport Seva Kendra, Varanasi, by which the petitioneras passport application was rejected on the ground that the police verification report was not clear. In his writ petition, the petitioner had also requested the court to direct the regional passport officer, Lucknow, and Passport Seva Kendra, Varanasi, to issue a passport to him. The counsel for the petitioner had taken the plea that it is settled law by the apex court as well as this court that a passport cannot be denied merely on the basis of a criminal case. In support of his submission, he placed reliance on the judgment of this court in the case of Basoo Yadav Vs Union of India (2022), which squarely covered the present case. He also relied on the judgment of the apex court in the case of Vangala Kasturi Rangacharyulu Vs CBI (2021), which held that the passport authority cannot refuse renewal of a passport on the ground of pendency of a criminal appeal. Jerusalem, Oct 20 : Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has asked infantry soldiers along the border with the Gaza Strip to get prepared for entering the Palestinian enclave, without specifying the time of the offensive. Gallant on Thursday visited Israel's Southern Command near Gaza, where Israel has been gathering force in the wake of the deadly surprise attacks launched by Hamas militants on October 7, Xinhua news agency reported. During the visit, which was televised by several Israeli news channels, Gallant told the troops to "get organised, be ready" for an order to start the ground operation. "Whoever sees Gaza from afar now, will see it from the inside -- I promise you," he said. In the evening, the military said in a statement that as part of the "completion of the preparation for the continuation of the fighting, the approval of operational plans and the deployment of forces in the field are currently happening". The Commanding Officer of the Southern Command Yaron Finkelman visited several units that were currently stationed in the southern area and approved attack plans, according to the statement. "Now, our manoeuvres are going to take the war into their territory. It's going to be long, it's going to be intense," Finkelman told soldiers and commanders along the border. Ankara, Oct 20 : Israel has reportedly withdrawn all of its diplomatic personnel from Turkey for "security reasons" against the backdrop of the deadly Israel-Hamas conflict. "All Israeli personnel from diplomatic missions in Turkey have been withdrawn for security reasons," two informed diplomatic sources, who declined to be named, were quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency. The Israeli National Security Council issued a travel advisory on Tuesday to Israeli citizens in Turkey, urging them to leave as quickly as possible. Since a blast at a Gaza hospital caused heavy casualties on Tuesday, tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets across Turkey, with some protests flaring up outside Israeli diplomatic missions in both Istanbul and the capital Ankara. At least 471 Palestinians were killed in the blast at the Al-Ahli Arabi Baptist Hospital in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday night, the Gaza-based Health Ministry revealed on Wednesday. Hamas said that Israel carried out an airstrike on the hospital, while Israel said a failed rocket launch by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) caused the blast. On October 7, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israeli military targets and towns adjacent to the Gaza Strip, prompting extensive Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. Some 1,300 people in Israel were killed in the attacks launched by Hamas. Meanwhile, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said the death toll of Palestinians since Israel launched retaliatory airstrikes on Gaza had hit 3,478. Imphal, Oct 20 : Owing to the unceasing ethnic strife besetting Manipur, 'Ningol Chakkouba', the biggest festival of Manipuri women, may not be celebrated in earnest as many individuals and local organisations in the state have decided not to celebrate the Chakkouba this year. Hordes of Meitei civil bodies of the state also appealed to forgo the festival that falls on November 15 taking into account the unstable state of affairs triggered by the violence. On Chakkouba day, an age-old festival, Meitei women, particularly the married ones, in their best traditional attires, move to their natal homes and enjoy multi-dishes with their parents and siblings. With simple gifts and blessings given by their parents and brothers, the Ningols (women) return home with high spirits. Programmes like music concerts, Shumang Leela (courtyard theatre) and others are also organised on Chakkouba day. The festival has encompassed other communities over the last few decades, standing as a testimony of love, unity and integration in the state. In over five months long ethnic violence, more than 180 people were killed, 1108 were injured and around 60,000 were left homeless, forcing them to take shelter in relief camps. Thousands of houses and other properties have been destroyed since the ethnic conflict broke out on May 3. "Had there been no violence in our state we would have by now planned everything for the ensuing Ningol Chakkouba like the fish menu for the family feasting and the simple gift items to be given to our married daughters and beloved Ningols (women)," said Saikhom Ongbi Tombi Devi, a resident of Thangmeiband area in Imphal West district. "When the bereaved families are weeping for their near and dear ones killed, injured and maimed in the perpetual conflict, when the people whose houses and properties were destroyed by miscreants are taking refuge at relief camps and when the people are bearing the brunt of the public unrest, there will be no happiness in Ningol Chakkouba. Hence, we have decided to forgo the festival this time," she added. Premjit Singh from Imphal East district said that he is not in the mood to celebrate Chakkouba and has resolved not to invite his sisters to celebrate the festival. Keisham Ongbi Aruna, a former journalist from Konba Laishram Leikai in the same district, also said that she would not celebrate Chakkouba. "Chakkouba is the time of merriment and jovial for Manipuri women, but celebrating the day this time is not appropriate when many people are affected by the ongoing strife. Moreover, many civil bodies have also appealed to forgo the ensuing Chakkouba. Showing solidarity with the victims, we will not celebrate this time." The World Meitei Council (WMC), one of the apex civil bodies of the Meiteis, keeping in mind the current situation gripping Manipur, has appealed to all members of the community living across the world to show solidarity with the victims of the conflict and not celebrate 'Ningol Chakouba' this year. A WMC release said that ever since the Chahi Taret Khuntakpa, the Burmese invasion of Manipur from 1819 to 1826 (seven years of devastation), the Meiteis have not experienced such widespread destruction and devastation in the current strife. This crisis resulted in the loss of many precious lives and the displacement of thousands of families, particularly in Churachandpur, Moreh in Tengnoupal and Kangpokpi districts and the adjacent surrounding areas along the hills, it said. Following an appeal made by a local civil body of Kakching Khunou in Kakching district against celebrating Ningol Chakkouba and other festivals in the area, the locals have decided not to celebrate the festival. At this point of time, it is vital to share the grief and pangs of the victims and not to indulge in any festivities, said S. Tomba, convenor of the organisation. A Meira Paibi Lup (women vigilante group) leader of Wangoo area in Bishnupur district bordering the tribal-dominated Churachandpur district also appealed to all to refrain from celebrating Ningol Chakkouba in the state until normalcy is restored and the displaced people lead a settled life at their respective native places. It is not the right time to celebrate Ningol Chakkouba when thousands are going through pain and suffering owing to the crisis, she said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. The participants of the international conference themed Neocolonialism: Violation of Human Rights and Injustice held in Baku have made an appeal to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports. The appeal was read out by executive director of the Baku Initiative Group Public Union Abbas Abbasov. The appeal says: We, the participants of the conference themed Neocolonialism: Violation of Human Rights and Injustice, held in Baku on October 20, 2023 and organized by the Baku Initiative Group, appreciate the address of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, and are thankful to His Excellency for his consistent support of our rightful struggle for justice and freedom. Additionally, we highly appreciate the adherence of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the fundamental principles of the Non-Aligned Movement, the norms and principles of international law, as well as the goals and principles enshrined in the UN Charter. We applaud the work Azerbaijan has been doing during its chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement, the initiatives it has put forward and the steps it has taken in the direction of expanding the organization's activities and enhancing its international authority, especially its resolute position on the fight against colonialism. We are confident that our collective and righteous struggle, as well as the growing demand of the world community in this regard, will result in the adoption of necessary steps related to decolonization and secure our natural rights and freedoms. We reaffirm the accuracy and relevance of our principled position reflected in the final documents of the events organized by the Baku Initiative Group in Baku in July this year and in New York in September. Indian hacker arrested in US for stealing $150k from elderly woman. Image Source: IANS News New York, Oct 20 : A 24-year-old Indian national has admitted to his role in stealing $150,000 from an elderly woman in the US state of Montana through a computer-hacking scheme. Sukhdev Vaid pleaded guilty on Tuesday to wire fraud, and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Vaid has been detained pending further proceedings and his sentencing is set for February 14, 2024, the US Attorney's Office in Montana said in a release. The prosecution alleged in court documents that a large enterprise originating from India was involved in stealing money from the elderly in the US. In February, various fraudsters stole $150,000 from a 73-year-old woman, identified as Jane Doe, in Kalispell, a city in northwest Montana. The fraud occurred because of a pop-up notice that appeared on Jane Doe's computer screen, which said it was 'haked' and asked Doe to call on a number for customer support. Doe complied, and fraudsters directed her to remove cash from her bank accounts for safe keeping at the "Fed". Doe complied and gave $150,000 in cash to the fraudsters, US District Judge Donald W Molloy heard. In March, Doe told the fraudsters she still had $50,000 in cash, which was a ruse set up by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Vaid travelled to Montana, along with co-defendant Eddly Joseph, of Gainesville, Florida, to steal the money from Doe. Law enforcement arrested the pair when they arrived to collect the money. The investigation determined that the fraudsters remotely accessed Doe's computer using UltraViewer, which they installed on her computer. Joseph pleaded guilty in August to wire fraud and is pending sentencing. The court will determine any sentence after considering the US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI and the Flathead County Sheriff's Office conducted the investigation. Lucknow, Oct 20 : In the last 24 hours, Lucknow reported 38 new dengue cases, the highest single-day caseload reported so far this year. The total number of cases has now reached 1,308. According to the details shared by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Lucknow, Indira Nagar, Chowk, NK Road and Aliganj reported five cases each, Chander Nagar and Chinhat four cases, and Tudiyaganj three. Apart from the hospitals, people are also consulting doctors via telephone or gettng medical help at health and wellness centres. Chief Secretary D.S. Mishra held a review meeting on infectious diseases with officials of various departments. He directed officials to conduct a review of high-risk areas and directed officials to ensure activities for controlling mosquito breeding. The health department has initiated the spraying of mosquito larvicide oil (MLO) in open and unused ponds, which are said to be a source for mosquito breeding. "People need to contribute to eliminating sources of mosquito breeding. They should make sure they remove stagnated water from homes and offices," said Dr P.K. Gupta, former president Indian Medical Association, Lucknow branch. In Uttar Pradesh, over 18,300 cases and nine deaths have been reported this year. Washington, Oct 21 : In a direct appeal to Americans, US President Joe Biden urged citizens to support Israel and Ukraine as the "two fellow democracies" are facing existential threats amid the raging wars in both the nations. In an address to the nation from the Oval Office on Thursday, the President, who became the first world leader to visit Israel this week as the Hamas continues its war against the Jewish nation, cast "this moment in history as an inflection point" -- a battle between the world's democracies and autocracies, CNN reported. While arguing that "this is one of those moments", he made a direct appeal to the American people on the eve of the White House requesting some $100 billion from Congress to deliver aid and resources to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and the US border with Mexico, even though the legislative branch is paralysed by the dysfunction in the House of Representatives which remains without a Speaker for a second week. "Hamas and (Russian President Vladimir) Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common: They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy, completely annihilate it," Biden said. "We can't let petty partisan, angry politics get in the way of our responsibilities as a great nation. We cannot and will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win. I refuse to let that happen." He laid out the stakes for the people in the US, calling the wars a national security imperative and a critical moment for the future of American leadership and democracies worldwide. "American leadership is what holds the world together. American alliances are what keep us in America safe. American values are what make us a partner nation you want to work with. "To put all that at risk we walk away from Ukraine, we turn our backs on Israel it's just not worth it," CNN quoted the President as saying. He went on to say that support for both wars is "vital for America's national security". "History has taught us that when terrorists don't pay a price for their terror, when dictators don't pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction. They keep going. And the cost and the threat to America in the world keep rising. "If we don't stop Putin's appetite for power and control in Ukraine, he won't limit himself just to Ukraine. If we walk away and let Putin erase Ukraine's independence, would-be aggressors around the world would be emboldened to try the same. "The risk of conflict and chaos could spread in other parts of the world in the Indo Pacific, in the Middle East, especially in the Middle East," he added Biden informed that he would be submitting an "urgent budget request" for supplemental funding for Israel and Ukraine, among other national security priorities. "That's why tomorrow (Friday), I'm going to send to Congress an urgent budget request to fund America's national security needs needs to support our critical partners, including Israel and Ukraine. It's a smart investment that's gonna pay dividends for American security for generations," CNN quoted the President as saying He however, reiterated that his administration will not "send American troops to fight in Ukraine". "All Ukraine is asking for is help. For the weapons, munitions, the capacity, the capability of pushing invading Russian forces off their land and the air defence system to shoot down Russian missiles before they destroy Ukrainian cities." Regarding his high-profile visit to Israel on Wednesday, which came a day after the deadly hospital blast in Gaza, Biden said: "The terrorist group Hamas unleashed pure, unadulterated evil in the world. But sadly, the Jewish people know, perhaps better than anyone, that there is no limit to the depravity of people when they want to inflict pain on others. "In Israel, I saw people who are strong, determined, resilient and also angry, in shock and in deep, deep pain." While reiterating his support for Americans being held hostage by Hamas, the President said that he "told the families of Americans being held captive by Hamas, we're pursuing every avenue to bring their loved ones home. "As President, there is no higher priority for me than the safety of Americans held hostage." While highlighting an agreement to secure "sustained delivery of lifesaving humanitarian assistance for the Palestinians, from the UN to Palestinian civilians in Gaza", he however warned against Hamas"diverting or stealing the shipments". In his address, Biden sought to draw a clear distinction between Hamas and the Palestinian people and argued for a two-state solution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. "Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people. Hamas uses Palestinian civilians as human shields, and innocent Palestinian families are suffering greatly because of them." The US "remains committed to the Palestinian people's right to dignity and to self-determination. The actions of Hamas terrorists don't take that right away", CNN reported. While acknowledging the fear of Jewish families "worried about being targeted in school, wearing symbols of their faith walking down the street, or going out about their daily life", he also empathised with Muslim Americans who are "outraged saying to yourself, 'Here we go again, with Islamophobia and distrust we saw after 9/11'." "We can't stand by and stand silent where this happens. We must, without equivocation, denounce antisemitism. We must, also without equivocation, denounce Islamophobia." New Delhi, Oct 20 : Ahead of her visit to Rajasthan, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday attacked the BJP-led Centre, saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the last Assembly polls had promised to declare the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) a national project, but ignored the promise which has angered the people. In a post on X, Priyanka Gandhi said, "During the last assembly elections of Rajasthan, the Prime Minister had promised to declare the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) as a national project." She said, "Since then, the state government kept sending proposals again and again, (Chief Minister) Ashok Gehlot wrote a dozen letters to them, but the central government kept ignoring the problems of the people of Rajasthan. There is anger among the people of Rajasthan regarding this breach of promise. "Today I will address the people of the state from Sikrai in Dausa district and seek their affection and blessings," she added. Priyanka Gandhi made the remarks ahead of her visit to the desert state where she will be addressing a public meeting in Dausa. On October 16, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also hit out at the government over ERCP in Baran district, some 320 km from the state capital alleging that the Prime Minister had promised to aid the project, mentioning it at two places, during his rallies. "But now he has conveniently forgotten about it. Nobody knows what happened to the aid. But the Congress is completing it with Rs 25,000 crore on its own," Kharge had said. "There are Central ministers from this state and 25 MPs from Rajasthan but nobody has raised any demands for the ERCP project. So Rajasthan got neither funds nor water," he had added. Congress has been demanding a national status to the ERCP potable and irrigation water in 13 districts of eastern Rajasthan.The ECRP project will ease irrigation water problems over two lakh hectares in those 13 districts. The Congress has turned ECRP into a poll issue, as it is likely to affect 83 Assembly seats in the districts of Ajmer, Alwar, Bharatpur, Baran, Bundi, Dholpur, Dausa, Jhalawar, Jaipur, Kota, Karauli, Sawai Madhopur and Tonk. The polling for the 200-member Assembly elections has been rescheduled to November 25 and the counting of votes will take place on December 3. San Francisco, Oct 20 : US-based digital transportation startup Convoy has abruptly shut down its core business, laying off a majority of its workforce, and sacked employees reportedly did not receive severance. Convoy CEO Dan Lewis wrote in a memo sent to employees that "we hoped this day would never come", reports GeekWire. "We spent over 4 months exhausting all viable strategic options for the business. However, none of the options ultimately materialized into anything sufficient to keep the company going in its then current form," he told employees late on Thursday. Sending shockwaves through the global tech ecosystem, Lewis said the company faced both an "unprecedented freight market collapse" and "dramatic monetary tightening". "This combination ultimately crushed our progress at the same time that it was crushing our logical strategic acquirer -- it was the perfect storm," he wrote in the memo. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos-backed Convoy had around 500 employees before the announcement to shut down core operations. The company raised $260 million at a $3.8 billion valuation nearly 18 months ago, according to the report. Lewis said that Convoy will be closing down its current core business operations. "Some of our team will continue on to handle this windup transition and potential future strategic options (all whom have already been spoken with), today is your last day at the company," he told employees. He said that they are in the middle of a massive freight recession and a contraction in the capital markets. "Convoy's tech centric approach to trucking created real benefits. It also created the conditions for a truly scalable technology platform and business model that would have yielded real financial gains when market conditions improve. But in the end, market forces were too strong for us to withstand on our own," said the CEO. "M&A activity has shrunk substantially and most of the logical strategic acquirers of Convoy are also suffering from the freight market collapse, making the deal doing that much harder," noted Lewis, who formerly led new shopping experiences at Amazon. The announcement came just a week after supply chain software startup Flexport said it will lay off about 20 per cent of its workforce. New Delhi, Oct 20 : Nearly 9.28 crore equity shares of online food delivery platform Zomato worth Rs 1,040 crore were offloaded on Friday in a bulk deal, likely by SoftBank. Japanese investment giant SoftBank, via its affiliate SVF Growth (Singapore) Pte, likely sold 1.09 per cent stake in Zomato in the bulk deal, taking the online food delivery platformas stock up more than 2 per cent in the opening trade on the BSE. Shares exchanged hands at an average price of Rs 111.20. SoftBank held a 2.17 per cent stake in Zomato (by September 2023 quarter). In August, SoftBank had sold a partial stake in Zomato through bulk deals at Rs 947 crore. The Japanese investment giant, which had sold nearly 10 crore shares in Zomato, amounting to an 1.17 per cent of the companyas equity, is planning to fully exit the online food delivery platform. SoftBank bought the stake in Zomato in June last year for around Rs 71 per share. For the company, Zomato is just an investment on which the company has made significant profits. Another foreign institutional investor, Tiger Global Management, offloaded its entire shareholding of 1.44 per cent in Zomato in August. The deal earned Tiger Global a total of Rs 1,123.85 crore. Assam: Six sentenced to life in Barpeta murder case. Image Source: IANS News Bengaluru, Oct 20 : A POCSO court in Bengaluru has sentenced a man to 20 years in jail and also imposed a Rs 10,000 fine for raping his minor daughter, an official statement said on Friday. According to the statement released by the West DCP Division. Ramu, a resident of Telephone Layout near Srinivasanagar, was sentenced by the fifth Additional and Sessions POCSO Court. The statement said the accused had raped his minor daughter many times between January to Marchh 2022 and impregnated her. Following a complaint, the then investigation officer B.N. Lohith had submitted a charge sheet against Ramu to the POCSO court. Judge N. Narasamma convicted the accused on Thursday following the evidence proving the charges against the accused. The judge also directed the Karnataka Legal Cell Authorities to provide Rs 7 lakhs compensation to the victim. The police had booked the convict under the IPC Section 376 (I), (N) and Sections 4, 6, and 8 of the Pocso Act. Hyderabad, Oct 20 : A seat-sharing agreement between BJP and actor politician Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena for the next month's Assembly elections in Telangana appears unlikely while the leaders of saffron party are busy in Delhi giving final touches to the first list of candidates. Pawan Kalyan is under pressure from Jana Sena Party (JSP) cadres in Telangana to contest the elections this time and the party has already released a list of 32 seats it wants to contest. Many of the constituencies where JSP wants to field candidates are in urban areas, especially in and around Hyderabad. The party hopes to bank on Pawan Kalyanas fan following and the voters hailing from Andhra Pradesh. Political observers say since these are the urban segments where BJP too claims to have a good support base, it may not agree to leave them for the JSP. BJP state president G. Kishan Reddy and party MP K. Laxman called on Pawan Kalyan two days ago requesting him to campaign for the party candidates. The JSP leader, however, informed them that his party plans to contest at least 30 seats. He recalled that in 2014 he had campaigned for TDP and BJP candidates in Andhra Pradesh and on the request of BJP leadership did not contest Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections in 2021. The actor politician conveyed to the BJP leaders that if this time JSP does not contest at least 30 seats in Telangana, this would affect the morale of the party. Kishan Reddy declined to reveal what he discussed with Pawan Kalyan but there have been no indications so far from the saffron camp that it is keen for an electoral alliance with the JSP. The BJP leaders have all along maintained that the party will contest the Telangana elections on its own. Pawan Kalyanas JSP is a constituent of BJP-led NDA. Last month, he announced alliance with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh for the next yearas polls and hoped that BJP will also join them to avoid a split of anti-YSRCP votes. JSPas alliance with TDP, however, may not extend to Telangana. Facing a crisis due to the arrest of its leader and former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in a corruption case in Andhra Pradesh, TDP remained undecided about its plans for Telangana elections. On October 2, the JSP released a list of 32 Assembly seats saying it is ready to contest on these seats to realize the goal of the Telangana movement. They include Kukatpally, Uppal, LB Nagar, Malkajgiri, Serilingampally, Medchal, Patancheru, Qutubullapur and Sanathnagar constituencies in and around Hyderabad. The list also includes constituencies in undivided Khammam district. All these constituencies have a considerable number of voters of Andhra origin. Pawan Kalyan, who also comes from Andhra Pradesh, has a huge fan following among youngsters. The party also hopes to secure support of asettlersa, as people from Andhra Pradesh are called. TDP-BJP alliance had polled a good number of votes in these constituencies in 2014. The BJP leaders say that the party has a good support base in these urban constituencies. JSP had not fielded candidates in the 2018 Assembly elections. Its leaders claim the decision was taken not to create political uncertainty in the newly-created. However, this time Pawan Kalyan is under pressure as the leaders from Telangana have conveyed to him that if the party backtracks on its decision it may lose the cadres. Pawan Kalyanas party had fielded four candidates for Lok Sabha elections in Telangana in 2019 but all of them were defeated. At a meeting with Pawan Kalyan two days ago, the JSP leaders told him that if the party does not contest the elections in Telangana this time, the cadres will be demoralized. In June, Pawan Kalyan had appointed incharges for 26 Assembly constituencies in Telangana and had asked the party leaders from the state to prepare for contesting the coming elections. He had said that JSP will work to fulfill the aspirations of Telangana movement. The actor politician had said that 1,300 martyrs laid down their lives for Telangana and though the separate state was achieved their expectations remained unfulfilled. Pawan Kalyan had also told the JSP leaders that he would soon undertake a campaign on his special campaign vehicle aVarahia in Telangana. Elections for 119-member Telangana Assembly are scheduled on November 30. Gaza, Oct 20 : A senior female member of the Hamas militant group was killed by an Israeli airstrike which targeted her house in Gaza, Palestinian security sources said. In a statement late Thursday, the Hamas said that Jameela Shanti, the only female member of the group's political bureau which is the highest-ranking body, was killed earlier in the day. According to reports, she was a member of Hamas and was the founder of the group's women's organisation. The most senior woman among Hamas deputies elected in 2006, she was also the was the widow of the co-founder of Hamas, Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi, who was assassinated by Israel in April 2004. Jameela had worked as a faculty member at the Islamic University in Gaza. According to sources,41 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes in Rafah, Khan Younis, and the central area of the Gaza Strip through the day. Since Hamas launched its attack on Israel on October 7, a total of 3,785, including at least 1,524 children, have been killed in Gaza as of Friday morning, the Health Ministry in the Hamas-controlled enclave said in its latest update. Bylakuppe Dharamsala, Oct 20 : In view of the Dalai Lama's bout of flu, his office here on Friday announced cancellation of his planned visits to Sikkim, Bylakuppe and Hunsur till mid of December. However, his visit to Bodhgaya has not been called off. In view of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's recent bout of the flu, his personal physicians have strongly advised that any travel will be taxing on His Holiness and more importantly hamper his full recovery, a statement by the office said. "We have, therefore, after careful consideration, decided not to visit Sikkim in November and to also cancel His Holiness' planned visit to South India (Bylakuppe and Hunsur) scheduled in the second half of November to mid-December 2023," it said. However, it said, there is no change to His Holiness' planned visit to Bodhgaya starting in the second half of December. --IANS vg/shb BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. A phone conversation took place between Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on October 20, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan told Trend. The sides discussed the current prospects of the agenda of cooperation between the two countries, as well as the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the peace process, the current situation in the region. They noted the importance of continuing efforts aimed at ensuring peace and stability in the region, establishing a lasting peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia based on mutual respect, as well as the historic opportunity that has arisen in the region. In addition, the sides also exchanged views on other regional and international issues of mutual interest. As the Russian Foreign Ministry reported earlier, the ministers also discussed the work of the "3 + 3" regional cooperation platform on the South Caucasus during a telephone conversation. Niamey, Oct 20 : Niger's military junta, which seized power following a coup in July, said that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum tried to escape from custody with his family, cooks and security, the media reported on Friday. In an address on state TV, military spokesman Amadou Abdramane said the attempted escape took place at around 3 a.m. on Thursday, the BBC reported. "The ousted president Mohamed Bazoum and his family, his two cooks and two security elements, tried to escape from his place of detention," he said, adding that the bid failed and "the main actors and some of the accomplices" were arrested. According to Abdramane, Bazoum had planned to escape to a hideout on the outskirts of the capital Niamey and later fly out onboard helicopters "belonging to a foreign power" towards Nigeria. He slammed Bazoum's attempt as "irresponsible attitude",reports the BBC. The ousted President has been under house arrest since members of his presidential guard staged a coup on July 26. It was not immediately clear where Bazoum currently is following his failed attempt. Kolkata, Oct 20 : Almost the whole of West Bengal is revelling in the festive spirit of Durga Puja, but for two erstwhile heavyweight leaders of Trinamool Congress -- Partha Chatterjee and Anubrata Mondal -- who will be spending their second consecutive festive season behind the bars. While Chatterjee, the former West Bengal education minister and Trinamool Congress secretary general, will be at least closer to his roots at Presidency Central Correctional Home in South Kolkata, Mondal will be spending the festival at Tihar Correctional Home in New Delhi. Chatterjee was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in July last year for his alleged involvement in the multi-crore cash-for-school job case in West Bengal, while Mondal was arrested last year by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sleuths in connection with the multi-crore cattle smuggling scam. Though initially Mondal was housed at the same correctional home in South Kolkata, he was shifted to the prison at the national capital later. Although this will be the first year his daughter Sukanya Mondal will also be spending the forthcoming four days of Durga Puja in Tihar. This will also be the second Puja behind the bars for Chatterjeeas close associate Arpita Mukherjee, from whose two residences ED sleuths recovered huge cash and gold in July last year. She is currently housed at Alipore Womenas Correctional Home also in South Kolkata. Even Trinamool Congress legislator and former president of West Bengal Board of Primary Education Manik Bhattacharya, who was arrested by the ED sleuths in connection with the school job case in October 2022, will be spending the festival in incarceration. So will be the case of his son Souvik Bhattacharya. The story of another Trinamool Congress legislator Jiban Krishna Saha, is also not different he was arrested this year by the CBI this April. Kiev, Oct 20 : Several reports claimed that Ukrainian troops have crossed on to the Russian-occupied left (eastern) bank of the Dnipro river as the war-torn nation continues its counter-offensive seeking to sever Moscow's land corridor to the annexed Crimean Peninsula. A report by the General Staff of Armed Forces of Ukraineon Thursday listed Pishchanivka village in the southern Kherson region, 3 km east of the river, as being shelled by Russia, the BBC reported. But it did not provide details on whether there were any Ukrainian troops in or near the village. Just hours earlier, the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said that Ukrainian troops had advanced up to 4 km east of the river. The ISW quoted Russian sources as claiming that "likely company-sized elements of two Ukrainian naval infantry brigades conducted an assault across the Dnipro River on to the east bank" on Tuesday and Wednesday. "Geolocated footage published on 18 October (Wednesday) indicates that Ukrainian forces advanced north of Pishchanivka (14 km east of Kherson City and 3 km from the Dnipro River) and into (the village of) Poyma (11 km east of Kherson City and 4 km from the Dnipro river)," the BBC quoted the Institute as saying. Also on Thursday, Russian military blogger WarGonzo claimed that Ukrainian units fighting on the eastern bank of Ukraine's main river had been previously trained in the UK. Meanwhile, the Russian Defence Ministry appeared to have confirmed Ukrainian operations in the area. In its report on Wednesday evening, it said Russian troops had "suppressed the activity" of four Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups in Poyma and the nearby village of Pidstepne. Dead cop from Chhattisgarh gets job with new name in UP. Image Source: IANS News Hyderabad, Oct 20 : A police constable was injured when a car knocked him down during vehicle checking here. The incident occurred on the intervening night of October 18 and 19 in Secunderabad under the limits of Chilkalguda police station when a police team was checking vehicles as part of the ongoing drive to check violations of model code of conduct for ensuing assembly elections. The constable was standing in the middle of the road signaling a speeding car to stop. However, the driver ignored his order and sped away after knocking him down. The injured constable Mahesh was rushed to a hospital by other police personnel present there. His condition is stated to be out of danger. The video clip of the incident was widely circulated on social media. Police have launched a hunt to trace the car. Police and other enforcement agencies in the state are carrying out an intensive checking operation to enforce the model code of conduct. According to the Chief Electoral Officer, the checkings over the last 10 days have already yielded seizure of cash, gold, liquor and other items worth over Rs 264 crore. Washington, Oct 20 : Two more Americans have been identified as among those who were kidnapped after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and taken to the Gaza Strip, a media report said citing a family member. Iris Haggai-Liniado told CNN on Thursday that her parents, Judih Weinstein Haggai (70) and Gadi Haggai (72) ,were on their morning walk about a mile and a half from their home in Nir Oz, a kibbutz just a few miles from the Gaza border" when they heard an extraordinary number of rockets flying overhead". They tried to call for help as rockets blasted in from Gaza, with gunfire in the distance, Iris said, adding that was the last moment she heard from her parents. According to the family, Israeli military officials and police finally spoke to them earlier this week and confirmed signals from her parents' mobile phones were last tracked in Gaza. After hours of frantically calling her parents and trying to get information from others in the community of Nir Oz, Iris said she and her family finally heard from a local paramedic who was trying to get help to them. "He said that my mom called him at 7.04 a.m., she said that they were both shot by terrorists on a motorcycle, that my Dad is shot really bad, and she thinks he might be dead and that she needs medical assistance," she told CNN. "It's just chaos basically, I don't think anyone really knows how to handle this." Iris said her mother was born in New York but grew up in Toronto before moving to Israel in her 20s where she met and married Gadi. The family has not been in touch with the Canadian government, she said, but remains in near-daily contact with US officials, including the FBI. They participated in a virtual call with US President Joe Biden last week, she added. According to the US State Department, 32 Americans have been confirmed dead in Israel, while 11 others remain missing. Brussels, Oct 20 : Amid concerns related to extremist violence and illegal migration, several European Union (EU) countries, part of the Schengen area that typically allows free movement, have recently heightened their border controls. On Thursday, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic announced temporary reintroduction of border controls with Slovenia, hours after the Slovenian government decided to implement border controls with Croatia and Hungary from Saturday till October 30, reports Xinhua news agency. "There is a need for immediate action to ensure public order and security of our citizens as well as the citizens of the European Union," the Slovenian government said in a statement. "Outside events confirm that members of various terrorist and extremist movements and groups are withdrawing from the areas of armed conflicts to avoid possible consequences for their deeds, or even with an intent to endanger our security and stability." The statement said Slovenia had registered 48,076 illegal border crossings from the start of the year until October 15, compared to 18,433 illegal crossings in the first nine months of 2022. On Wednesday, Italy temporarily suspended the EU's Schengen rules for open travel, reactivating dormant border controls with Slovenia. On the border between Italy and Slovenia, controls will begin on Saturday and last for at least 10 days, said the Italian government, adding that the goal is a "rapid return" to control-free border crossings, but the measure could be extended. "The suspension of the Schengen Treaty on free movement in Europe was necessary due to the worsening situation in the Middle East, the increase in migratory flows along the Balkan route, and above all for reasons of national security," Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on social media. Germany on Monday also notified the European Commission of temporary controls at its borders with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland in an effort to fight illegal migration. The decision came as "the business of traffickers is becoming increasingly brutal and unscrupulous", said German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. By the beginning of October, Germany had already detected 98,000 unauthorised entries, 6,000 more than in the whole of last year. The introduction of these border restrictions came at a time that multiple European countries have recently seen a surge in public security incidents. After a 45-year-old gunman of Tunisian origin shot dead two Swedish citizens in the center of Brussels on Monday evening, Belgian authorities raised the terror threat level for the whole country. On Tuesday, Italy arrested two people suspected of recruiting for the Islamic State terrorist group. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani downplayed the immediate threat of a terror attack in Italy, but said it was important for the country to remain vigilant. Moreover, a number of European airports received bomb threats in last few days. According to French police, at least seven airports received threats and were evacuated on Thursday, including those in Lille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Nantes and Toulouse. A bomb threat also triggered the evacuation of Ostend-Bruges Airport in northwestern Belgium on Wednesday. The ongoing war in Gaza has strained the nerves of many European countries, especially France and Germany, which are home to the EU's largest Jewish and Muslim communities. As the Hamas-Israel conflict entered into the second week, there is still no end in sight. It's uncertain how long the Schengen countries will maintain such border controls or whether more countries will follow suit. Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Croatian Prime Minister Plenkovic said: "Schengen is not finished, but it has a problem. The introduction of border controls is not a novelty, it comes about due to migration trends and assessments of increased security threats due to terrorism." Jamnagar, Oct 20 : The Saurashtra region in Gujarat has reported six cardiac related deaths within a day, sparking concerns among the medical professionals and the public. Among the deceased, three were notably young, with ages of 23 in Amreli, 24 in Jamnagar, and a 42-year-old farmer in Dwarka. The incidents took place on Thursday. The incidents were spread across three districts, with Amreli and Jamnagar each recording two fatalities, and Dwarka witnessing the demise of two farmers. Amreli's 23-year-old, Dinesh Shiyal, succumbed during Navratri festivities. Similarly, a 46-year-old rickshaw driver, Oghad Mindhava, in Amreli faced an abrupt end while working. Two farmers -- Kanjaria Velji Ranmal (42) and Ramji Damji Nakum (52) -- died in Devbhoomi Dwarka district. Preliminary reports hinted at cardiac arrest as the primary cause. Nakumas family from Dwarka confirmed the cardiac arrest and also the fact that ahe had no prior history of any ailments and was fairly healthy at 52 years of age". In Jamnagar, Ravi Parbatbhai Luna, 24, suffered a cardiac arrest after reporting mild fever symptoms and chest pain. Not far away, in Pipli village, a truck driver's life was abruptly halted due to cardiac arrest. Local health authorities are urging residents to prioritise heart health, given these alarming incidents. Jerusalem, Oct 20 : The october 7 Hamas attack on Israel has prompted panic buying in the Jewish nation, after the military had advised citizens to store up essential commodities that could help them survive emergencies amid widespread concerns that the state of war could last for weeks if not months. In the first few days after the conflict erupted, basic necessities such as bread, mineral water, eggs, fruit and vegetables rapidly disappeared from store shelves, reports Xinhua news agency. However, the Israeli government, manufacturers, and supermarkets moved swiftly to address public concerns by emphasising that there was no need for panic as warehouses had sufficient supplies. The shortages were mainly due to logistical challenges and a large number of absent workers. The Manufacturers Association of Israel (MAI) estimated that about 1.3 million workers, or nearly 30 per cent of the country's workforce, did not attend work between October 8 and 12. The absent workers included reserve soldiers who were called to duty, parents caring for their children due to school and kindergarten closures, and employees unable to reach their workplaces because of road closures. To ensure the continuous production and supply of essential goods and services to residents, the MAI, in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy and Industry, launched a campaign to hire new employees. So far, they have hired more than 6,000 workers and planned to recruit many more. Fresh vegetables, particularly tomatoes, were in short supply due to the fact that 70 per cent of the produce were grown in the areas targeted by Hamas attacks. The Ministry of Agriculture expanded imports to solve the shortage, including a shipment of 4,500 tonnes of fresh fruits and vegetables with a significant amount of tomatoes from Turkey. These goods were unloaded at the port of Haifa. Additionally, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced he would extend an order to lift the 40-per cent customs duty on imported milk for another three months in an effort to ensure a steady milk supply. The order, effective for three months, was issued by the Israeli authorities in July to tackle a milk shortage. Regarding global trade, the Ministry of Economy and Industry affirmed that imports and exports were continuing without significant interruptions despite the fighting, and all sea and air passages remained open. Hyderabad, Oct 20 : Telugu superstar Allu Arjun's National Film Award win for 'Pushpa Part 1 - The Rise' was celebrated with much enthusiasm by his father-in-law who hosted a special party for his big success. The 69th National Awards saw the aAla Vaikunthapurramulooa actor making history for Telugu cinema as it was the first time that a Telugu movie bagged the award for Best Actor. To celebrate this historic win, his wife Sneha Reddy alongside Allu Arjunas father-in-law, the politician K. Chandrasekhar Reddy hosted a party for the National Film Award winning actor. The party was attended by a number of prominent industry figures, such as director Sukumar and his family. Sukumar is the director of aPushpa a" Part 1a and will also be directing Part 2 of the film. The rest of the movieas cast had also come, alongside other renowned actors, filmmakers and producers from the Telugu industry. Allu Arjun has become a rage in South cinema as he is geared up to essay the role of Pushpa Raj once again in the upcoming aPushpa Part 2 a" The Rulea. The movie will dive deeper into the character, his established enterprise and the repercussions of his actions. The film will once again star the actors Rashmika Mandanna, Fahadh Faasil, Anasuya Bharadwaj, Sunil, and Jagadeesh Prathap Bandari among others, while Devi Sri Prasad will return as the composer. The movie will hit theatres on August 15, 2024. Jerusalem, Oct 20 : The Israeli Defence Ministry on Friday ordered the mandatory evacuation of the northern Kiryat Shmona town near the Lebanon border. Kiryat Shmona is home to 23,000 residents, Ministry spokesperson Mayan Lazarovich told CNN, adding that the this was a "mandatory evacuation". The residents will be relocated to state-subsidized guesthouses and the evacuation will be led by the local municipality alongside the Ministries of Tourism and Defence, according to the Ministry. The order was approved by Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and was communicated to the town's mayor a "short time ago", the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on X. On Monday, the IDF announced that it was implementing an emergency plan to evacuate all civilians living up to 2 km from the Lebanese border and would put them up in state-funded guest houses, the BBC reported. Kiryat Shmona was not on the list at the time but falls within the radius. The town has been hit by rocket fire in recent days amid clashes between armed fighters from the Lebanese Hezbollah group and the Israeli military. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. Starting in 2019, with the unanimous support of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) member nations, Azerbaijan assumed the role of presiding over this international organization for an initial three-year term. Thanks to Azerbaijan's outstanding contributions, initiatives, and efforts to expand NAM's activities and bolster its global standing, the term of Azerbaijan's leadership in this body was extended for an additional year. This extension reflects the substantial level of trust vested in the country. In 2019, at the NAM summit, President Ilham Aliyev announced that during Azerbaijan's chairmanship, the country would champion international law and justice, guided by the historical principles of the Bandung Conference. Throughout its tenure as chair, Azerbaijan steadfastly advocated for the just interests of NAM members on the global stage. In light of the "Neocolonialism: Violation of Human Rights and Injustice" international conference, which took place on October 20 in Baku, it is important to focus on the organization of this event and the positions expressed during it. The conference was organized by the Baku Initiative Group, established on July 6, 2023, during a meeting of NAM ministers. In its capacity as the NAM chair, Azerbaijan actively voices its concerns regarding the colonial policies pursued by specific countries in the 21st century. It's worth highlighting that Azerbaijan is committed to elevating this matter to the global stage, particularly within the UN framework, for discussions on persisting issues. The impact of colonialism on the future economic prospects of African nations has been profoundly destructive. The consensus among most scholars is that colonization led to internal fragmentation within these societies and imposed a significant level of economic dependency on the colonizing states. The dehumanization of the local workforce resulted in decades, if not centuries, of economic hardships and political disputes. Among the countries accused of neocolonialism, France holds a distinct position. The continuation of French colonialism persists in the modern world, which raises concerns among many organizations. Azerbaijan, of course, cannot remain indifferent to this injustice. "Overall, most of the bloody crimes of the colonialism history of mankind were committed by none other than France. France had occupied tens of countries in Africa, Southeast Asia, the Pacific and Latin America, plundered their resources, and for many years oppressed their peoples while perpetrating numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity. The French troops subjected hundreds of thousands of civilians to ethnic cleansing based on their ethnic and religious affiliation," President Ilham Aliyev said in his address to the conference participants. As a result of French policies of racism and Islamophobia, persecution forced millions of people from Africa to leave their lands and relocate to the Caribbean region. Muslim communities in France face various forms of discrimination, and crimes against Muslims often go unpunished. The international conference in Baku is intended to raise this issue for public discussion and stimulate actions on the global stage to counter neocolonialism and protect human rights. Azerbaijan's prominent role in supporting the proposed changes clearly indicates its growing significance in the global system of international relations. By presenting ideas that not only expand the opportunities for developing countries but also raise doubts about the existing status quo, Baku demonstrates moral persistence in an environment that often proves to be unjust, unethical, and manipulative in world politics. This underscores Azerbaijan's commitment to promoting positive changes and advancing justice in global affairs. The international influence of President Ilham Aliyev, along with his strategically important initiatives and projects, becomes a key factor for both Europe and Asia. This confirms that Azerbaijan is a place where viable solutions can be found for global problems. The global community increasingly recognizes Azerbaijan as a significant participant in addressing global challenges, which strengthens its importance on the world stage. United Nations, Oct 20 : UN humanitarians said a 44-truck convoy, which had been delayed by conflict for six weeks, is delivering aid in Sudan, a country suffering from twin crises of a deadly conflict and a cholera outbreak. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said it opened the way for the convoy to deliver supplies from the UN Refugee Agency, the World Food Programme and the Unicef to Kordofan and Darfur, reports Xinhua news agency. The trucks got their green light to roll out on Wednesday. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported more than 1,400 suspected cases of cholera and 64 associated deaths in Sudan since the outbreak was declared late last month. OCHA said humanitarian agencies have scaled up their response to the outbreak, coming as Sudan's healthcare system is stretched to its limits, with 70 per cent of hospitals in conflict-affected states not functional. Facilities in states unaffected by conflict have been overwhelmed by an influx of people displaced by the fighting. The humanitarians said UNICEF and WHO warned that at least 10,000 children under the age of 5 in Sudan could die by the end of this year due to rising food insecurity and health and nutrition services disruptions. The WHO said in a release on Monday that urgent action was needed to preserve Sudan's health systems, especially at community and primary healthcare levels. New Delhi, Oct 20 : The Delhi High Court has denied regular bail to businessman Sameer Mahendru, accused in a money laundering case pertaining to the now-scrapped excise policy scam. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma observed that Mahendru's medical condition does not pose a life-threatening risk or involve an infirmity that cannot be treated within the confines of a jail. The court noted that Mahendru is already receiving adequate medical attention, and prison authorities have permitted him to seek treatment from his doctor on an out-patient basis as needed. It ruled that there were no compelling grounds to grant regular bail to Mahendru in the current case. However, it clarified that the prison authorities must ensure that Mahendru is taken for follow-up medical and physiotherapy sessions at VNA Hospital and that he is not left unattended in the jail cell or dispensary. Justice Sharma stressed on the importance of an individual's right to liberty, acknowledging it as a precious right but also noted that when justifiable grounds exist, it must be surrendered in favor of the State. The court underlined the obligation to provide health services and care equivalent to what is available to the general citizenry outside of detention. Stressing on the need for impartiality and objectivity, the court said that decisions in such cases should be based on the merits of the case and established legal principles, rather than the economic status of the litigants. Addressing the allegations against the accused, the court noted that he was accused of being a key player in the formulation of the excise policy and one of the main conspirators. While acknowledging his fundamental right to healthcare and medical treatment, the court said that this right cannot overshadow the imperative to conduct a fair investigation and ensure due legal processes are followed. The court noted that Mahendru had undergone approximately five surgeries in the past. However, as of the current date, he is recovering in jail, and according to AIIMS reports, he is required to follow medical and rehabilitation protocols, supplemented by regular exercise and physiotherapy. New Delhi, Oct 20 : A high-level delegation of 10 American judges, jurists, and law experts, led by the founding Vice Chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University, Prof. (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, embarked on a five-city tour to understand the legal framework and jurisprudence across India. The week-long visit across Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru and Kochi included discussions at renowned universities and law schools, meetings with senior Judges and Chief Justices of High Courts, Law and Industry Ministers in state capitals, university heads, practicing advocates and corporate lawyers from leading organisations. While participating in legal deliberations and colloquiums, the delegation got a first-hand overview of the practice of law in India and a deep understanding of the challenges and changes that are impacting it. During the visit, the distinguished US judges discussed various subjects which influence the practice of law in the modern age including the impact of technology such as artificial intelligence, protecting the rule of law and promoting access to justice among other key events. The US delegation included -- Justice Michael Wilson, Former Judge, Supreme Court of Hawaii; Justice Sabrina S. McKenna, Judge, Supreme Court of Hawaii; Justice Todd W. Eddins, Judge, Supreme Court of Hawaii; Justice Ann L. Aiken, senior Judge, US District Court, District of Oregon; Justice Andre Birotte Jr., Judge, US District Court, Central District of California; Justice Sara L. Ellis, Judge US District Court, Northern District of Illinois; Justice Jenny Rivera, Associate Judge, New York State Court of Appeals; Justice Douglas L. Tookey, Judge Oregon Court of Appeals; Justice Josephine L. Staton, Judge, US District Court, Central District of California and Prof. Camille Nelson, Dean, William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii. The visit began with a judicial symposium on the theme: The Role of Judiciary in Sustaining Rule of Law and Democracy held at O.P. Jindal Global University. Prof. (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar in his welcome address observed that democracies are facing threats both from within and outside. Judiciary being an important organ of the state must ensure that rule of law prevails and access to justice is ensured. "A more specific objective of the symposium is to facilitate dialogue between the visiting Judges and Jurists with young minds of India, as India is one of the youngest countries on the world. As the rest of the world becomes older India would be younger and for a longer time. Young Indians will shape the future of India and that of the world. This symposium would build capacities of young Indians to handle complex issues of our time, protect the Rule of Law and sustain the democratic institutions." Justice Michael Wilson inspired the youth by reminding them that they are descendants of Ashoka and Gandhi who were apostles of Rule of Law and he quoted the Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres "We are on a highway to climate hell with our foot still on the accelerator". He stressed the need to prevent and mitigate climate change. Justice Sabrina McKenna spoke about the need for a strong and independent judiciary for the Rule of Law to prevail and that India has a strong judiciary while Justice Ann Aiken's speech revolved around early intervention for children suffering from abuse and to make children the measure of our success and main stakeholders as citizens must be good stewards. During the Mumbai tour, the leading Indian law firm, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas hosted the delegation. Here, the esteemed delegates and lawyers as well as other multinational corporations engaged in a round of intensive discussions about the importance of the rule of law for corporations, and the judiciary's impact on the Indian and American jurisprudence. These discussions were also graced by the presence of former Chief Justice of India,Justice U.U. Lalit andJustice Swantanter Kumar, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India during which they highlighted the milestones of the Indian Judiciary. In Mumbai, the delegation also had the honour to meet Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, Chief Justice, Bombay High Court along with 35 High Court Judges. The delegates during their visit to the Bombay High Court were also felicitated by the Advocates' Association of Western India and the Bombay Bar Association. At the event in Chennai, Prof. (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, the founding Vice Chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University outlined the foundational objectives of the visit and said, "India and the US share certain values which are further highlighted by this high-level visit of Judges from the US. Both countries are democracies where the rule of law cannot be taken for granted, where we are committed to strengthening the rule of law and talking truth to power." In Chennai, the delegation was part of the India - US Law and Justice Forum, hosted at the International Law Centre of the premier Indian Law Firm, Surana and Surana International Attorneys on the theme of the Role of Judiciary in Protecting the Rule of Law and Promoting Access to Justice which was inaugurated by the chief guest, Tamil Nadu Law Minister S. Regupathy. The Minister highlighted that Tamil Nadu has worked to provide equal opportunities irrespective of the background of any individual and is the first Indian state to give the right to women as coparceners in property thereby promoting inclusive growth. The event also saw participation by Justice Swantanter Kumar, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India. Later an interactive session was held at the Madras High Court Bar Association with 100 Advocates under Justice R.N. Manjula. This was followed with a meeting with the Chief Justice Sanjay Vijaykumar Gangapurwala and 25 Judges from the Madras High Court. The Chennai visit concluded with a high-level meeting with Dr. Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, Tamil Nadu Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services. In Bengaluru, a similar discussion was held in association with R.V. University where the Chief Guest,Justice R.V. Raveendran, former Judge, Supreme Court of India welcomed the delegation. Later the Advocates Association of Bengaluru hosted a session with the Chief GuestJustice Krishna S. Dixit which was attended by over 600 Advocates. The visit concluded with a meeting with Justice Prasanna B. Varale Chief Justice, Karnataka High Court, and 8 other sitting High Court Judges. The visit to Kochi began with an interaction with Justice A. K. Jayasankaran Nambiar, Judge, Kerala High Court, and an interactive session with the judges of the Kerala High Court and the new batch of Judicial Trainees, along with other Judges of this High Court. The visit culminated with a meeting with P. Rajeev, Kerala Minister for Industries, Law and Coir. This high-powered and intensive visit of the US judges and jurists to India also witnessed a special reception hosted by the India Committee of the American Bar Association, led by Pratibha Jain, Chair, ABA India Committee, Head of Strategy & Group General Counsel, Everstone Group and Ajay Bahl, co-founder and managing partner, AZB & Partners. The concluding event of their visit culminated in a dinner hosted by the benefactor and founding Chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University, Naveen Jindal and Shallu Jindal, which was widely attended by lawyers, jurists, parliamentarians, academics, and other distinguished thought leaders. Toronto, Oct 20 : A 51-year-old Indian-origin former high school teacher, who strangled his four-months pregnant wife and burned her body in 2006, has been granted full parole in Canada. Mukhtiar Singh Panghali was initially sentenced to life in prison in 2011, without the possibility of parole for 15 years, for killing Manjit at their Surrey home in British Columbia, the CBC News channel reported. Police found 31-year-old Manjit's burned body on a beach near Roberts Bank in Delta five days after she was reported missing by her husband in October 2006. Panghali, who was first arrested in 2007, lost an appeal regarding his life sentence for second-degree murder in 2012. He was granted day parole last year, and allowed unescorted temporary absences from jail in 2021, according to the news report. The Parole Board of Canada, while granting full parole to Panghali this month, hoped that he would not pose a risk to society, and that his release would help facilitate his reintegration into society at large. "Since your release on day parole, you have not posed any significant management concern and appear to be reintegrating appropriately. You have several positive supports and now, you have the support of the (Correctional Services of Canada) for full parole," a decision addressed to Panghali read. Attaching conditions on his release, the Board asked Panghali to refrain from alcohol and report all sexual and non-sexual relationships with women to his parole officer. He has also been asked not to contact Manjit's biological family, which includes his daughter, who was four years old at the time of her mother's death. The Board said Panghali showed remorse -- despite initially "minimising and avoiding" his responsibility in the crime for years. "You voiced regret for your actions, appeared future-oriented and outlined your short- and long-term goals for your future," the board wrote of Panghali's parole hearing. "Your goal is to be a good father to your daughter, regardless if she resumes contact with you or not," it said. In 2014, a Supreme Court judge in British Columbia awarded more than $600,000 to Maya Panghali, the couple's daughter who is now being raised by Manjit's sister. Telangana's wealth is in the hands of one family: Rahul Gandhi. Image Source: IANS News Jagtial : , Oct 20 (IANS) Stepping up his attack on Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged on Friday that one family is ruling Telangana and the entire wealth of the state is concentrated in its hands. He termed the next month's Assembly election a fight between 'Dorala Telangana and Prajala Telangana' (feudals' Telangana and people's Telangana) and urged the people to bring Congress to power to realize the dream for which they fought for Telangana state. The former Congress chief was addressing a public meeting in Jagtial as part of aVijayabheri yatraa in Telangana on the third day. Reiterating that if voted to power Congress will conduct caste census in Telangana, the Congress MP said this would be the first step to realize the dream of people's Telangana. He alleged that the state's wealth, be it land, sand and liquor is concentrated in the hands of one family. "You had dreamt of people's rule in Telangana but after achieving Telangana state you found a family ruling you," he said. Rahul Gandhi reiterated his allegation that BJP, BRS and MIM are working together. "BRS backs BJP in Delhi, extends support to it in Lok Sabha and in Telangana, BJP and MIM support BRS," he said. He said wherever the Congress fights BJP in states like Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Assam, MIM fields its candidates to help BJP. Slamming the BRS government for closing down sugar factories in the region, he promised that once voted to power Congress will re-open them. He also promised that farmers will be paid Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 12,000 to 15,000 per quintal for turmeric. The Congress leader also announced that whatever farmers grow in the state they get Rs 500 more than the MSP. He reiterated that his relationship with Telangana is not political but that of love and family. It is a relationship of several decades from the days of Jawaharlal Nehru, he added. Gandhi said it was because of this special relationship that he brought his sister Priyanka Gandhi to Telangana with him for launching the election campaign. The Congress leader announced that if voted to power Congress will conduct a caste census in Telangana so that OBCs know what is their population and what should be their share. "The caste census is like X-ray. The treatment will start after an X-ray. This will be the first step to fulfill your dream of people's Telangana," he said. He also promised that if voted to power at the Centre, Congress will make public the statistics of the caste census conducted earlier and a new census will be done on the basis of caste. Gandhi alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister KCR don't want to conduct caste census. "OBCs work hard and they are the backbone of the country but Modi and KCR do not want OBCs to know what their population is," he said. New Delhi, Oct 20 : With the arrest of seven people, the Delhi Police has busted a gang of cheats, who had more than 2,100 complaints registered against them across the country, an officer said on Friday, adding that the gang used to cheat people through their firm 'Family Help'. The accused were identified as Vikas (28), Ankit Yadav (26), Md. Raja a.k.a Sahil (26), Kanhaiya Kumar Mahto alias Praful Patel (19), Bihari Paswan (22), Md Suhail Ansari (26), and Ajeet Kumar Paswan (23). According to the police, a case was registered at the Shahdara Cyber Police Station on October 7, based on a complaint filed by Vijay Pahwa. Pahwa alleged that he wanted to purchase an Ola electric scooter and had been searching online when he came across a website with the URL http://energy.simpleone.online, which claimed to sell electric scooters. After clicking on the link, Pahwa obtained a contact number, on which he made a call. The mobile number was associated with the aforementioned website and the person he spoke to sent him various scooter models for selection. Pahwa transferred a sum of Rs 1,15,560 to the individuals associated with the website, however, after receiving the payment, the accused individuals ceased all communication with him. When it became clear to Pahwa that he had been deceived through a fake website and its fraudulent products, he contacted the police. "During the investigation, the police gathered the call detail records (CDRs) of the phone numbers involved, internet protocol detail records (IPDRs) of the online transactions, and IPDRs related to WhatsApp profiles, which were then analysed," said the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) Rohit Meena. Following the analysis, a police raid was conducted in Jain Nagar, Karala, where four individuals, namely Ankit Yadav, Md. Raja Vikas and Suhail Ansari were discovered operating under the banner of a company known as 'Family Help,' which was owned by the accused Vikasand Md. Raja. "The accused had registered the company as 'Family Help' to create websites, but in reality, they were using it as a front for fraudulent activities. They would create fake websites mimicking well-known brands like Ola Scooty, Patanjali, and others, to deceive people all over India, including states like Bihar and West Bengal, and earn a substantial income," said the DCP. Further technical analysis led to a raid in Warisaliganj, Bihar, where individuals named Bihari Paswan, Ajeet, and Kanhaiya were apprehended. Ajeet and Bihari worked as calling agents, while Kanhaiya was responsible for withdrawing the ill-gotten money through ATMs. "The analysis of devices recovered from the arrested individuals revealed that the accused had been involved in fraudulent activities for the last two years, directly defrauding over 2,100 people. A sum of more than Rs 4 crore has been traced to their accounts, and additional accounts are surfacing as the investigation continues," said the DCP. Modus Operandi: "The accused would create counterfeit websites resembling famous ones (e.g., Simple Energy, Patanjali, Helicopter booking) under the guise of their company, 'Family Help.' They would then sell these fake websites to fraudsters at high prices, facilitating scams targeting unsuspecting individuals. These websites also featured mobile phone numbers that were linked to the accused," said the DCP. Ajeet Kumar and Bihari served as calling agents, luring complainants to buy Ola electric scooters and persuading them to transfer money in exchange for the scooters. "They operated in close coordination with a group of four to five individuals, each having specific roles, with Kanhaiya responsible for settling the fraudulently obtained funds. Some individuals involved in this operation remain at large," the DCP added. Mumbai, Oct 20 : Actress Nehha Pendse, who has worked in the Marathi projects like 'Dusari Goshta', 'Premasathi Coming Suun', and 'Natsamrat' among others, shared her insights on the unique charm of this regional cinema, and how it differs from the Hindi and South Indian film industries. Nehha has a diverse portfolio that spans across Marathi, Hindi, and regional films. She said: "I firmly believe that Marathi movies possess an inherent ability to connect with the right audience. "While it's true that most Hindi and South Indian films are often dubbed to broaden their reach and appeal to a wider demographic, Marathi cinema, in my opinion, is still evolving to a point where its content can be effortlessly adapted and released in multiple languages." "However, as I've previously mentioned, it's all about that one exceptional film which transcends language barriers and effortlessly finds its way to the audience," she shared. Pendse went on to cite examples of Marathi films that have transcended language barriers to become a part of the national cinematic landscape. She commented: "For example, movies like 'Sairat' and 'Maharashtra Shaher' are spectacular movies and managed to reach the audience from all over the country. "People watched these movies and loved them, whether they understood Marathi or not. That's the magic of Marathi movies." Nehha is currently seen as Sanjana Madam in the show "May I Come In, Madam?" which airs on Star Bharat. Kochi, Oct 20 : The Indian Council of Agricultural Research's Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CMFRI) is prioritising the development of climate smart villages to check risks in coastal regions. The institute is developing climate smart villages by providing training and resources to coastal fishers and farmers in vulnerable villages to help them adapt to the climate crisis, according to a CMFRI report. The report was presented at the global conclave on mainstreaming climate change into international fisheries governance organised under the leadership of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries, Government of India and the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP) in Chennai. Dr Grinson George, Head of the Marine Biodiversity Management and Environment Division of the CMFRI said the tropical cyclones, floods, excess rainfall and receding coastline have a cascading impact on fishers' safety and livelihoods which leave the community with loss of income, loss of property, health problems and unemployment. Among the strategies needed to be adopted for this includes a Water Clinic to tackle disease outbreaks. "Waterborne diseases are on the rise in coastal areas owing to storm surges and flooding. This poses a looming threat to human health along the coastal belt. Proper testing of the water quality and community awareness are some of the possible solutions to address the issue and the proposed water clinics are aimed in this direction," said George. Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 20 : A day after former Janata Dal (Secular) chief H.D. Deva Gowda said that his party joined the BJP-led NDA alliance with the consent of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechuri on Friday dismissed the claims as "ridiculous". The former prime minister made the remark in Bengaluru on Thursday during a press meet announcing the ouster of State JD (S) president C.M.Ibrahim. "Do not know if the statement was made due to his old age or some wrong notions," said Yechuri. Incidentally, K. Krishnankutty, one of the two JD(S) MLAs in Kerala, and also the State Power Minister, categorically denied any such incident. "Me and our state party president Mathew T.Thomas (sitting legislator) had met Gowdaji and said no way will the Kerala unit of the party have a truck with the BJP-led NDA. Our CM has never done such a thing," said Krishnankutty. Quick to latch on it was State Congress president K.Sudhakaran who said the cat is now out of the bag and Vijayan is using the JD(S) as a bridge to connect with the national BJP leaders as he is facing serious charges which if properly probed will land him in jail. "Vijayan has to come clean on this and should file a case against the former PM if such a thing has not taken place," said Sudhakaran. Reacting to the development, Congress working committee member and Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha member Shashi Tharoor said,"We do not know who is lying and Vijayan has to open up on this." One 'terrorist' killed in Lebanon, says IDF. Image Source: IANS News Jerusalem. Oct 20 : The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Friday said a "terrorist" was killed during a retaliatory attack on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon in response to rockets fired from the neighbouring country. The announcement was made by IDF spokesman Brigadier General Daniel Hagari at a press conference, CNN reported. He however, did not provide any further details on the development. On Thursday, the Iran-backed militant had acknowledged that one of its members was killed and three civilians were injured during confrontations with the Israeli forces along the border. The Hezbollah also did not give out any other information. Sources from Lebanon's Internal Security Forces said Israel's artillery shelling on Thursday affected the outskirts of 22 towns in southern Lebanon. Two houses were burnt and 25 homes others were severely damaged. Lebanese military sources confirmed that the Israeli army expanded its bombing area to include several areas along the borderline from Naqoura in the west to Shebaa and Kfarchouba in the east. On its part, the Hezbollah claimed in several statements on Thursday that it had attacked armored Israeli vehicles, barracks, a watchtower and radars, causing several injuries. The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, claimed responsibility for launching 30 missiles from Lebanon toward West Galilee. Since the October 7 Hamas attack, there have been exchanges of fire across the border between the Hezbollah and Israeli forces. Hezbollah,which wields considerable power in Lebanon, is designated as a terror organisation by the US, UK and other countries. They are considered to have a more sophisticated arsenal compared to Hamas, and are capable of hitting targets further inside Israel. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. The Azerbaijani-Austrian Inter-parliamentary Working Group condemned the statement of the Austrian parliament, Trend reports. "The Azerbaijani-Austrian Inter-parliamentary Working Group expresses its strong protest against the unilateral statement of the Austrian Parliament of October 19, 2023, which does not objectively reflect the events taking place in the region, contradicts the norms of international law and the neutral position of the Republic of Austria in the international arena, and condemns this action, which hinders the creation of trust and peace in the region, the statement said. The adopted statement did not take into account the realities and facts related to the fact that Azerbaijan was fighting terrorism on its sovereign territory, the civilian population was not injured during anti-terrorist measures, the Armenian residents of Karabakh voluntarily left for Armenia, Azerbaijan provides all possible assistance to the Armenian residents remaining in Karabakh, including creating a special portal for implementation of the reintegration process, and the Administration of the President of Azerbaijan announced a special reintegration plan, said the working group. The statement also does not take into account the fact that the territorial claims of Armenia against Azerbaijan were at the root of the conflict that remained in the past in the region, followed by the military occupation committed against Azerbaijan and the ethnic cleansing of the Azerbaijani population. During the meeting with the deputies in the Austrian Parliament on October 18, 2023, Azerbaijan presented all the evidence and facts regarding these issues, and answered all the questions of interest to the deputies. We strongly reject the unfair approach shown to Azerbaijan. We believe that such statements provoke revanchist forces in Armenia to act against Azerbaijan and in no way serve the process of normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia," the statement said. Lucknow, Oct 20 : The Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences in Lucknow will have country's first national facility for metabolic bone diseases. The Department of biotechnology under the government, has cleared funds for the centre. Metabolic bone disease (MBD) is the third most common endocrine disorder after diabetes and thyroid. Common MBDs include osteoporosis, rickets/osteomalacia, fluorosis and primary hyperparathyroidism, while the rare MBDs include Paget's disease, tumour-induced osteomalacia, fibrous dysplasia and osteogenesis imperfecta. Of different diseases, osteoporosis is most common. In fact, bone health is a crucial element of public health as about 40 per cent of post-menopausal women and 20 per cent of the country's elderly population is osteoporotic. "The centre will help in diagnosis of some rare diseases of the bone through world class infrastructure and equipment," Prof. Sushil Gupta, faculty at the institute's endocrine medicine department. "The centre will have the facility to conduct bone histomorphometry -- an advanced study of the bone metabolism including quantitative assessment of bone remodeling, modeling, and structure. It provides information that is not available from other investigative approaches," he added. Talking about osteoporosis, Gupta said: "Since bone loss is gradual and painless, there are usually no symptoms initially to indicate a person is developing osteoporosis. That is why osteoporosis is often referred to as the silent disease. In fact, often the first symptom of osteoporosis is a fracture. Therefore, testing of the vulnerable group becomes a necessary tool for prevention." New Delhi, Oct 20 : Amid ongoing Israel-Hamas war, Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi, with other nobel laureates has appealed for compassion for all children in the war reminding the world that all the children in Israel and Gaza are "our children" and need protection and immediate humanitarian aid. In a joint statement, in a rare initiative, 29 Nobel Laureates joined Indian Nobel Laureate Satyarthi in signing a statement today reminding the world that all the children in Israel and Gaza are "our children" and need protection and immediate humanitarian aid. The Nobel Laureates from all the six Nobel fields called for urgent release of the kidnapped children and a safe passage for all the children away from the conflict. The statement jointly said that all children and vulnerable persons must receive humanitarian aid immediately, and "compassion should not be reserved for only one group of children in the war-torn zone" as shown by many protests and leaders. Warning the world of the grave risk of even worse loss of life in the coming weeks, Satyarthi said: "We urge everyone to remember that children have not caused any wars and they bear no responsibility for the situation. To make progress on a just and lasting peace, we need compassion for all the children who are suffering." "Palestinian children are our children. Israeli children are our children. We cannot consider ourselves civilised if this is what we do," the joint statement said. The Nobel Laureates urged everyone to join in their appeal for lasting peace in Israel, Palestine and beyond, and light three candles. "Tonight, in the middle of this darkness, we will light three candles -- one for all the children killed and kidnapped in Israel, one for all the children killed and maimed in the bombing and fighting in Gaza, and one for humanity and hope," the statement read. The Nobel Laureates, who have issued the joint statement along with Satyarthi (2014, Nobel Peace Laureate), include HE Jose Manuel Ramos-Horta (1996 Nobel Peace Laureate), Oscar Arias (1987 Nobel Peace Laureate), Steven Chu (Nobel Laureate in Physics), Barry Barish (2017 Nobel Laureate in Physics), Johann Deisenhofer (1988 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry). Even Shirin Ebadi (2003 Nobel Peace Laureate), Mohamed ElBaradei (2005 Nobel Peace Laureate), Mdm. Leymah Gbowee (2011 Nobel Peace Laureate), Richard Henderson (2017 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry), Tasuku Honjo (2018 Nobel Laureate in Medicine), Louis Ignarro (1998 Nobel Laureate in Medicine), Sir Kazuo Ishiguro (2017 Nobel Laureate in Literature), Mdm. Tawakkol Karman (2011 Nobel Peace Laureate), Martin Karplus (2013 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry), Brian Kobilka (2012 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry), Yuan Lee (1986 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry), Eric Maskin (2007 Nobel Laureate in Economics), Mdm. Oleksandra Matviichuk (2022 Nobel Peace Laureate), Mdm. Rigoberta Menchu Tum (1992 Nobel Peace Laureate), Giorgio Parisi (2021 Nobel Laureate in Physics), Sir Christopher A Pissarides (2010 Nobel Laureate in Economics), Venkatraman Ramakrishnan (2009 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry), Sir Peter Ratcliffe (2019 Nobel Laureate in Medicine), Richard J. Roberts (1993 Nobel Laureate in Medicine), and Mdm. Corazon Valdez Fabros and Philip Jennings (International Peace Bureau, 1910 Nobel Peace Laureate), Mdm. Jody Williams (1997 Nobel Peace Laureate) and Sir Gregory Winter (2018 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry), Prof. Dr. Serge Haroche 2012 Nobel Laureate in Physics signed the statement. In its latest situation update, the UN Office for the Coordination of Human Affairs (OCHA) said the death toll in Israel as of Thursday stood at 1,400, which included foreign nationals, as Palestinian armed groups' continued indiscriminate rocket firing towards Israeli population centres. The number of injured increased to 4,562. According to the OCHA, Israel's death toll is over threefold the cumulative number of Israelis killed since the Office began recording casualties in 2005 (nearly 400). Meanwhile, at least 199 people are currently being held captive in Gaza, it added. Citing the Palestinian Health Ministry based in Gaza, the OCHA said that the death toll in Gaza has increased to 3,478, including 853 children, with about 12,500 others injured. The UN agency said the deadly bombing at Al Ahli Arab Baptist hospital in Gaza City on Tuesday left at least 471 people dead, including children, healthcare staff and Internally Displaced People (IDPs). New Delhi, Oct 20 : Amid reports that Canada has recalled a significant number of its diplomats from India, the external affairs ministry on Friday said that considering the current status of bilateral relations between the two nations and Ottawa's continued interference in New Delhi's affairs as well as the extremely high number of Canadian diplomats, warranted a parity in mutual diplomatic presence. It also dismissed allegations that attempts to maintain parity are in violation of international norms. "We have seen the Statement by the Government of Canada on October 19 regarding Canadian diplomatic presence in India. The state of our bilateral relations, the much higher number of Canadian diplomats in India, and their continued interference in our internal affairs warrant a parity in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa." The MEA statement further said, "We have been engaged with the Canadian side on this over the last month in order to work out the details and modalities of its implementation. Our actions in implementing this parity are fully consistent with Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations." According to Article 11.1, "In the absence of specific agreement as to the size of the mission, the receiving State may require that the size of a mission be kept within limits considered by it to be reasonable and normal, having regard to circumstances and conditions in the receiving State and to the needs of the particular mission." "We reject any attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms," the statement said further. New Delhi, Oct 20 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday announced a premium bus aggregator scheme to encourage the middle class and upper middle class passengers to switch to public transport. Addressing a press conference here, Kejriwal said the scheme will be notified following Delhi Lieutenant Governor (L-G) V.K. Saxena's approval of some small changes he has brought to the previously approved scheme by the L-G. "When the metro started in Delhi, there were many people who stopped using their private vehicles and started using the metro. But as the metro trains started getting crowded, they again went back to using their own cars and scooters...This leads to more pollution and traffic in Delhi," the CM said. Generally, people from the lower middle class and economy classes travel in buses but with this scheme, people from the middle class and upper middle class will also opt for public transport, Kejriwal said. Under the new premium bus scheme, the aggregators who take licenses will have to run air-conditioned buses with not less than nine seats. In these buses, standing will not be allowed. The buses will have WiFi, CCTV, and GPS facilities. Only digital bookings and payments will be allowed in the buses. The aggregators will be required to maintain a fleet of 25 buses. And from January 2025, all buses will have to be electric. Under this new premium scheme the routes for these buses will be decided based on the market demand and the aggregators will just have to inform the Transport Department of the routes they decide to add. Kejriwal further added that the fares will be dynamic and not less than the peak fare of DTC air-conditioned buses. These buses will not compete with DTC buses. Kejriwal further said thatthe Centre's amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act (MVA) in 2019 has facilitated the scheme the AAP government has been trying to bring in since 2016. New Delhi, Oct 20 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched the 17-km priority section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) at Sahibabad's RapidX station. Of the 82.15 km route, the priority section between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot was inaugurated and will be available for passenger operations from Saturday, i.e., October 21. The entire corridor is expected to be operational by June 2025. Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced on the occasion that the trains of the RRTS would be known as 'Namo Bharat'. The foundation of the larger Delhi-Meerut corridor was laid by Modi in March 2019. The Prime Minister took a ride in a 'Namo Bharat' train and formally dedicated to the nation, two Bengaluru metro stretches connecting Baiyappanahalli to Krishnarajapuram and Kengeri to Challaghatta. These two metro stretches were opened for the public from October 9 for the convenience of the people commuting on this corridor, without waiting for formal inauguration. Speaking on the occasion, Modi said it was a historic moment for the nation as India's first rapid rail service, the 'Namo Bharat' train was being dedicated to the people. He recalled laying the foundation stone for the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor four years ago and marked its operation today on the Sahibabad-Duhai Depot stretch. Modi reiterated the government's commitment to inaugurate the projects whose foundation stones had been laid and expressed confidence that he would be present to inaugurate the Meerut stretch of the RRTS after 18 months. Modi shared his experience of traveling in the 'Namo Bharat' and expressed delight at the transformation of the Railways in the country. "India of the 21st century is writing its own saga of progress and development in every sector", the Prime Minister said. He mentioned the recent success of Chandrayaan 3 and also touched upon the successful organisation of G20 which has made India a centre of attraction for the entire world. Modi also mentioned the record-breaking performance of Indian sportspersons who bagged more than a hundred medals at the Asian Games, the launch and expansion of 5G in India, and the record number of digital transactions taking place. He also mentioned the 'Made in India' vaccines which turned out to be lifesavers for crores of people in the world. Referring to India's rise in the manufacturing sector, the Prime Minister spoke about the eagerness of multinational companies to set up manufacturing units in the country for mobile phones, TVs, laptops and computers. He also touched upon defence manufacturing including fighter jets and aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. "The 'Namo Bharat' train is also 'Made in India'", Modi underlined as he informed that the screen doors installed on the platforms were also made in the country. Modi also informed that the noise levels in the 'Namo Bharat' trains are less than that of helicopters and airplanes and stressed that 'Namo Bharat' is a glimpse of India of the future and exemplifies the transformation of the nation with growing economic muscle. London, Oct 20 : Columns of Israeli tanks massed on the Israel-Gaza border and thousands of soldiers readied themselves for battle as an invasion of the war-torn enclave appears imminent, media reports said. Tens of thousands of Israeli soldiers and scores of tanks and armoured vehicles are now positioned on the border - ready for a ground assault on the Gaza Strip where 203 hostages are being held captive by Hamas. The massing of artillery and men at the border comes after heavy machine gunfire was heard along the border in the early hours on Friday morning, Daily Mail reported. Israel continued to pound Gaza with a relentless stream of airstrikes and it began evacuating a northern Israeli city near the Lebanese border in yet another sign of an impending ground invasion that could trigger turmoil across the Middle East. The two million Palestinians trapped in the small enclave, where thousands have been killed and entire towns obliterated, are now bracing themselves for the invasion that is expected to result in further major casualties, Daily Mail reported. Yoav Gallant, the Israeli defense minister, also visited troops positioned along the Gaza border, and told them they would soon see the Palestinian enclave afrom insidea An infantry commander in the IDF told DailyMail.com that they were ready to invade, adding there was 'a very high level of optimism' among his troops. Israel's leaders are determined to rid Gaza of its Hamas rulers, even if that means going house-to-house in an operation that could last 'years' and result in further major casualties among Palestinians. New Delhi, Oct 20 : A Delhi court on Friday extended by five days the judicial custody of NewsClick founder-editor Prabir Purkayastha and Human Resources head Amit Chakravarty, arrested in a case lodged under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The Special Cell of Delhi Police had arrested both Purkayastha and Chakravarty on October 3 and they were produced before the Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Hardeep Kaur on expiry of their ten-day judicial custody. A day after their arrest, ASJ Kaur of Patiala House Courts had sent them to seven daysa police custody on October 4. Both Purkayastha and Chakravarty then moved the High Court challenging their police remand, which was upheld by the Delhi High Court. The duo has now moved the Supreme Court against the dismissal of their petitions challenging police remand. On Friday, ASJ Kaur extended their judicial custody till October 25. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Purkayastha, had earlier argued before the High Court that "all facts are false and not a penny came from China". On October 3, in a statement regarding the search, seizure and detentions carried out in connection with the UAPA case registered by the Special Cell, the Delhi Police had said that a total of 37 male suspects were questioned at the office premises, while nine female suspects were questioned at their residences. The police said that digital devices, documents, etc., were seized or collected for examination. The Special Cell had registered an FIR in connection with the case on August 17 under different sections of the UAPA and the Indian Penal Code against NewsClick. In August, a aNew York Timesa investigation had accused NewsClick of being an organisation funded by a network linked with US millionaire Neville Roy Singham, to allegedly promote Chinese propaganda. New Delhi, Oct 20 : Meta-owned Instagram has showcased four new features that would appeal to the GenZ audiences in India. The company unveiled creative tools like Birthday, Audio Notes, Selfie Video Notes, and Multiple Lists in Stories to empower GenZ users. Meta said that it will soon start testing the features. According to the tech giant, the 'Birthday' feature will help people let their friends and followers know when it's their birthday and help their friends celebrate them in fun ways, like stickers and confetti. Moreover, the 'Audio Notes' feature will help users leave a voice recording as a Note, and the 'Selfie Video' notes will allow users to capture a short video that will loop in their Note for 24 hours. "Notes has become a favourite among young people, to easily share updates with each other. It's one of the top ways teens communicate with their friends, right up there with DMs," Meta said. The much-requested 'Multiple Lists in Stories' feature will allow users to create more lists beyond just Close Friends. "Soon you'll be able to make lists for your different groups of friends, your family -- whoever you want," the tech giant stated. Meanwhile, Meta Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced to bring the Telegram-like "broadcast channels" feature to Facebook and Messenger after rolling it out to Instagram and WhatsApp earlier this year. The feature will be available in the coming weeks. Ludhiana, Oct 20 : Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday said massive investment made by the prestigious Tata Group in the state would herald a new era of industrial development and progress. Addressing the gathering after performing the ground-breaking ceremony of green steel facility coming up here at cost of nearly Rs 2,600 crore, he said that this is the second largest plant by Tata Group in the country after Jamshedpur. Mann said besides opening new avenues of employment for the youth, this facility would act as a catalyst in giving fillip to industrial development. He announced the government would construct the road leading to the site of the plant from the national highway. He said due to efforts made by the government, Punjab has received investments to the tune of Rs 56,796 crore since March 2022 and generated employment opportunities for 2.98 lakh youth. He said in the past 18 months some of the biggest companies like Tata Steel, Sanathan Textiles, Toppan, and Freudenberg Group are making a beeline to invest in the state. Mann said as promised by his government they had taken a path-breaking initiative of organising the aSarkar Sanatkar Milnisa to facilitate the industrialists. The Chief Minister said Invest Punjab has been instrumental in providing support in facilitating Tata Steelas entry into the state. New Delhi, Oct 20 : The Delhi Police's Crime Branch has arrested two men who impersonated traffic police personnel and robbed a Pan Bahar Pvt Ltd employee of Rs 50 lakh while he was returning after collecting a payment, an official said on Friday. The accused were identified as Mahender (21), a resident of Alwar district in Rajasthan and Sandeep a.k.a Chetan (34), a resident of Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh. According to the police, the incident occurred at around 5 p.m on October 12 when an employee of Pan Bahar was returning to the office on Shivaji Marg, Moti Nagar, after collecting a payment from Kucha Ghasi Ram. "While the man was en route to his office, he was intercepted by two bike-borne individuals carrying a wireless set near the Salim Garh flyover on Outer Ring Road. Posing as traffic policemen, they conducted a check and managed to open the trunk of the car," said a senior police official. Two other men also arrived on another motorcycle and seized a bag from the car's trunk. "This bag contained Rs 50 lakh, the amount collected from Kucha Ghasi Ram," said the official. An FIR was registered at the IP Estate police station under sections 419, 382, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, and an investigation was initiated. "Sensing the gravity and sensational nature of the crime, this team from the Crime Branch was tasked to crack the case and arrest the robbers who had covered their faces by wearing helmets. The motorcycles were also stolen. The complainant was also not able to give any clue. Therefore, the only option was to track the robbers through technical analysis," said Special Commissioner of Police (crime) Ravindra Singh Yadav. The police teams conducted technical analysis of the entire route of the victim, which helped them to zero in on the phones used by the criminals. "Raids were conducted in Delhi, UP and Rajasthan and the hideouts of the accused were traced," said the Special CP. In one of the raids, Mahender was apprehended. At his instance, Sandeep was also apprehended from Greater Noida. During interrogation, Mahender disclosed that Sandeep, Sagar and Harender, both residents of Noida, Uttar Pradesh were common friends. "Some days ago, Sandeep asked him to provide five SIM cards to commit the crime. On October 3, Mahender carrying five SIM cards came to Noida and gave them to his associates Harender, Sagar, Ritick and Sandeep for committing the robbery. Further, he disclosed that they all committed this robbery," said the Special CP. "The absconding co-accused Harender is the mastermind and is a teacher in a government aided school at Subzi Mandi, Malka Ganj Road, Delhi," said Yadav. They recced the route of the victim from the office to the hawala market and back. They also chose the spot where they were to intercept the target. "Sandeep was wearing a traffic police uniform at the time of the crime. They used two stolen motorcycles. At his instance, traffic police uniform, helmets, four face masks with the Delhi Police logo, one black coloured mask, one handcuff, one toy wireless set, one HHMD, several big black tapes and a pair of black colour oxford pattern shoes and mobile phone have been recovered," said the officer. "The police uniform was procured from a shop in Kingsway Camp. The uniform helped them to stop the target vehicle. To make it look real, they also procured and carried with them a toy wireless set, HHMD, masks with Delhi Police logo," said the official. "After committing the crime, they abandoned the motorcycles and reached their hideout. Harender took the money to an undisclosed location to be distributed later. Raids are being conducted for the absconding accused. The arrested persons have also disclosed that Harender was preparing to commit a high-profile kidnapping for ransom and the victim was to be kept in the hideout," the official added. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 18. On October 20, 2023, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov met with the heads of diplomatic missions of European countries accredited in Azerbaijan, Trend reports. During the meeting, the current state and prospects of affairs between Azerbaijan and the European states, regional situation after Azerbaijans recent local counter-terrorism measures as well as the possible developments in the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace and normalization process were discussed. Recalling Azerbaijan repeatedly raising the issue of the presence of illegal Armenian armed forces in its sovereign territories in different platforms since signing the November 10 Trilateral Declaration and it being the main source of threat against itself, Minister Jeyhun Bayramov noted the importance of the legitimate September 19-20 local counter-terrorism measures of Azerbaijan for peace and stability in the region. The announcement of the guarantee of the safety, linguistic, cultural rights of the Armenian residents living in the Garabagh region of Azerbaijan by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and start of the registration through reintegration portal to these ends were noted. Minister has recalled that during almost 30 years of occupation, puppet regime didnt allow any UN agencies to visit the area, however immediately after the conclusion of the local counter-terrorism measures, Azerbaijan in coordination with the UN Office in Azerbaijan, has organized several UN missions in composition of which the representatives of Geneva and New-York Offices of the UN were included. Minister Jeyhun Bayramov emphasized that now, since the Azerbaijans and Armenias independence, the historical opportunity has emerged in the region. Then, Minister Jeyhun Bayramov responded the questions of the audience. New Delhi, Oct 20 : The Supreme Court on Friday deferred hearing the Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by the Popular Front of India (PFI) against a Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) notification designating it and its affiliated organisations as 'unlawful associations' under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The plea was listed before the Bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi on Friday. The PFI had filed an SLP against the UAPA tribunal order upholding the MHA ban. In March, the UAPA tribunal upheld the ban under Section 3(1) of the UAPA. In September 2020, the MHA published a gazette notification declaring PFI and its various associates, affiliates, or fronts as 'unlawful associations' under the UAPA. It is alleged that PFA has connections with terrorist organisations and involvement in acts of terror. The MHA notification came following a nationwide search, detain, and arrest operations against the PFI and its members. Rehab India Foundation (RIF), Campus Front of India (CFI), All India Imams Council (AIIC), National Confederation of Human Rights Organisation (NCHRO), National Women's Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation, and Rehab Foundation, Kerala are the affiliated organisations that have been banned. New Delhi, Oct 20 : The Supreme Court on Friday imposed costs of Rs 1 lakh on a Lucknow-based lawyer for filing a frivolous PIL challenging restoration of Lok Sabha membership of Lakshadweep MP Mohammed Faizal. A bench of Justices B.R. Gavai, Aravind Kumar, and Prashant Kumar Mishra dismissed the plea with exemplary costs saying that none of the fundamental rights of the petitioner has been violated. "You are an advocate and filing such frivolous petitions. You should think ten times before filing such petitions," the bench remarked, ordering that half of the cost will be deposited in the accounts of the Supreme Court Bar Association and the remaining half will be deposited with the Supreme Court Advocate-on-Record Bar Association. The apex court did not allow withdrawal of the petition and said that if the petitioner fails to deposit the costs, the same shall be recovered by the concerned District Collector as an arrear of land revenue. The same advocate was recently reprimanded by a bench headed by CJI D.Y. Chandrachud with a cost of Rs 5 lakh for filing a petition against the Chief Justice of Bombay High Court for allegedly not using aIa while being administered oath. On October 9, the Supreme Court allowed NCP leader Faizal to continue as Lakshadweep MP after Kerala High Court had refused to suspend his conviction in an attempt to murder case. The petitioner-in-person, Ashok Pandey, contended that once a member of Parliament or a state legislature loses his office by operation of law, he will continue to be disqualified till he is acquitted from the charges levelled against him. He has also filed a similar plea against restoration of membership of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, which is likely to be taken by the Supreme Court on October 30. Kolkata, Oct 20 : The Calcutta High Court has expressed concern over the issues of sexual abuses and consensual sex among adults getting conflated in the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. A division bench of Justice Chitta Ranjan Das and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen also observed there is a need for compressive rights based on sexual education. The observation came as it overturned an earlier order by a lower court sentencing a teenager to 20 years imprisonment for having sex with his romantic partner, who is also a minor. The division bench acquitted the teenager boy after the minor girl, also a teenager, admitted that the physical relations were consensual since both have decided to marry each other at a later stage. She also admitted that neither she nor romantic partner, both hailing from remote rural areas, were aware that 18 was the official age of sexual relationship as per Indian law. The division bench passed the order on Thursday, though the copy of the order was uploaded on the website of the high court on Friday. However, the division bench also had some advice for adolescent boys and girls. According to it, while adolescent boys should learn to respect girls of their age, adolescent girls should learn how to control their sexual urges. The court also observed that the parents too have the responsibility of educating their children on this count. According to the division bench, all have to be careful that a mere two minutes of pleasure does not result in loss of social dignity. Chandigarh, Oct 20 : Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Friday informed the assembly that the government would approach the Supreme Court to get the pending Bills cleared by the Governor. Participating in a debate in the Vidhan Sabha, the Chief Minister said it was unfortunate that a selected Governor was resorting to "bullying tactics to prevent a democratically elected government from taking pro-people decisions." He said this highhandedness of the Governor will not stand in legal scrutiny and will be outrightly set aside by the apex court. Mann said the Governor is taking the Punjabis for granted and will be taught a befitting lesson for his arrogant attitude. The Chief Minister said till this matter is not resolved by the Supreme Court, the state will not present any Bill in the assembly. He asked the Governor to stop threatening the Punjabis with his attitude. He said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government would file a petition in the apex court on October 30 against the Governor's letter in which he had termed the session illegal. Cutting short the two-day assembly session on its first day by informing the House that Governor Banwarilal Purohit had not given assent to the three money Bills, Mann said: "It is strange the people of the state have elected them but the selected Governor is creating hindrances in the smooth functioning of the government." The Chief Minister said that the Governor is not allowing the state government to work for the wellbeing of the people. He said that the government was not empowered to hold debates for welfare motives of people and pro-people Bills are stalled and development of the state was jeopardised. Mann said that this dictatorial attitude of the Governor will not be tolerated and now justice will be sought from the apex court. The Chief Minister said that the government had proposed to introduce three financial Bills for enhancing the revenue of Punjab to boost development of the state. However, he said instead of giving consent to these Bills the Governor had "backstabbed Punjabis by squatting over them." Mann said that ironically the Governor is questioning the validity of the session whereas the state government is not allowed to take any decision for the wellbeing of people. The Chief Minister said the Governor is questioning the rationale behind power subsidy to people and other welfare initiatives. He said the government has inherited debt from the previous governments as two persons had ruled the state from 1997-2022. Mann said the government would remove the debt but like counterparts in Kerala, Bengal and Tamil Nadu the Punjab Governor should also not create obstacles in the working of the state government. The Chief Minister said that the debt gets accumulated with wrong deeds of the people in power. The Chief Minister also presented a letter written by the then Parliamentary Affairs Brahm Mahindra on November 23, 2019, to convene the ninth session of 15th Vidhan Sabha on same lines. He said that this is not for the first time that such a session has been called but the Governor is creating undue hindrance in that. Mann said this will not be tolerated and we will fight for getting the legitimate right of the state and its people. A day earlier, Governor Purohit wrote to Mann saying he had received the Punjab Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (Amendment) Bill, 2023, the Punjab Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Indian Stamp (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2023, for approval. But, he said, he was withholding his approval as the extended budget session was illegal. Leader of Opposition Partap Bajwa raised the issue of the Governor calling the session illegal. The Congress leader questioned why such a huge amount is being wasted on a session that had been called illegal by the Governor. However, Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan informed that the session was legal as he didn't receive any communication from the Governor and could act only once he got a communication from him. Later, Bajwa told the media with the Speaker abruptly adjourning the house sine die, the government acknowledged that the session was illegal. Why did it call the House at all if it had to take the issue to the apex court? "We didn't boycott the session because we were expecting a fruitful discussion of the issues concerning the Punjab the most. The Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann has yet to come clean about his government's stand on the SYL canal survey," Bajwa added. Gandhinagar, Oct 20 : The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Friday arrested Labhshankar Maheshwari, an Anand resident from Tarapur, on charges of espionage. Maheshwari, originally a Pakistani national who later acquired Indian citizenship, was found transmitting sensitive information about the Indian Army to Pakistan, the officials said. Maheshwari employed a sophisticated modus operandi to hack into the mobile devices of Indian Army officers. Using designated mobile numbers, he relayed classified details to Pakistan, earning financial rewards for his subversive activities. Gujarat ATS, SP, Om Prakash Jat shed light on the operation, stating, "Intelligence from the military alerted us about a possible Pakistani agent using an Indian SIM card via WhatsApp to target the Indian Army and its affiliates. "The spy dispatched a Remote Access Trojan (RAT) malware upon establishing contact, pilfering sensitive data to forward to an overseas command server." The trail led the ATS to a SIM card registered under Muhammad Saklain Thaim from Jamnagar. This card, activated by Azgar Hajibhai, eventually reached Maheshwari in Tarapur on the directive of an individual connected to the Pakistan Embassy. Maheshwari's long-standing ties with Pakistan, including his extended family and connections to the Pakistani Embassy, played a pivotal role in his espionage activities. He was asked to forward the SIM to Pakistan, and this number is still active there, targeting the Indian Army's kin. Mumbai, Oct 20 : As the Durga Puja celebrations has kicked off, actor Romanch Mehta, known for his roles in 'Kulfi Kumar Bajewala' and 'Kabhi Kabhie Ittefaq Sey', shared his heartfelt connection with this joyous festival, and said it always held a special place in his heart. Talking about the same, Romanch said: "This festival celebrates unity, the triumph of good over evil, and the strength of our culture. It's a time when we connect with our past and create new memories for the future." "Ever since I moved to Mumbai, I've been fortunate to witness the vibrant NDMC Nag Pan dance at the Durga Puja pandals. We'd go there, seek blessings from Durga Maa, and relish the delicious bhog. I've even attended Durga Puja pandals in Kolkata, which was an unforgettable experience," he shared. Romanch is currently back in his hometown, and he's excited about the festivities. He said: "This time, I'm back in my hometown with a break from work in Bombay. Just like every year, I'm certain there will be pandals near my residence in Mumbai. If I make it back before the 25th of October, I'll visit the famous Durga Puja pandal in Lokhandwala." "I have a genuine desire to soak in the culture, witness the festivities, and savor the delectable food. The whole experience is so unique and special," Romanch said. Talking about his plan to celebrate the festivity, Romanch said: "I'll be doing Kanya Puja on Ashtami and fast during Saptami, seeking blessings. Also, there's an annual jagrata in my hometown, where I'll be present to receive the blessings of the divine mother." On the work front, he recently wrapped up a shoot for his web series that also stars Aneri Vajani, Ansh Bagri, Krip Suri, Zeeshan Khan, Mridula Oberoi, Iqbal Azad, Khushi Mishra, and Dolphin Dubey in pivotal roles. Mumbai, Oct 20 : Actor Ankit Siwach is set to return to the small screen for a cameo role in the show 'Pyaar Ka Pehla Naam Radha Mohan', and has called it a positive character with good layers. Ankit was last seen in the show 'Yeh Jhuki Jhuki Si Nazar'. Talking about his character, Ankit said: "I will be playing the role of Kunal Kashyap, who is also known as KK. We shot in Maldives for 10 days. KK is a business tycoon, who has organised a contest in Maldives, where Radha and Mohan are a part of it. Itas a positive role and has good layers." Sharing his equation with the maker Prateek Sharma, he shared: "This is my fourth show with Prateek Bhai and our association started with 'Manmohini' in 2018. We share a family-like bond. Whenever I have been called for any character I am always there for the LSD family. We have started with Madh and we have reached Maldives thatas the journey we are living and growing together." On working with Shabir Ahluwalia, Ankit said: "He is an example in the industry, I look up to him and what he has achieved and who he is." aPyaar Ka Pehla Naam Radha Mohana is a mature romantic drama based in modern-day Vrindavan, and has emerged as an audience favourite since its launch. With an engaging storyline and strong characters such as Mohan (Shabir), Radha (Neeharika Roy), and Damini (Sambhabana Mohanty), the show has kept the viewers on the edge of their seats. In the recent episodes, viewers witnessed how Damini is planning to kill Gungun (Reeza Chaudhary) and making attempts to ruin Mohanas reputation in the society. In the upcoming episodes, audiences will have the chance to see Mohan secure a contract for the prestigious International Book Festival, paving the way for an exciting journey to the Maldives for both Radha and Mohan as they compete in the event. The show airs on Zee TV. New Delhi, Oct 20 : Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind has moved an application before Supreme Court against alarming increase in the cases of mob lynching, particularly by cow protection vigilante groups. A bench of Justices B.R. Gavai, Aravind Kumar, and Prashant Kumar Mishra on Friday said that it will consider the impleadment application filed by the Islamic scholars organisation in the pending proceedings. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who appeared on petitionersa behalf, urged that all state governments be added as party in the PIL filed by the National Federation of Indian Women. The application of impleadment filed through advocate Sugandha Anand referred to a recent incident where an unruly and frenzy mob of four Hindu men attacked a 23-year-old Muslim physiotherapist from Madhya Pradesh after she was coming home from work. "It is submitted that these are just some incidents that have been highlighted here, but these incidents of mob violence, cow vigilantism have been on the rise and it seems that they will continue to haunt our secular, multireligious fabric of nation, unless strictly dealt with by police, state and Central government," the application stated. In July, the top court had issued notice to the Centre and the Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Odisha, and Maharashtra governments against the alarming rise in cases of lynchings and mob violence done against Muslims, particularly "done by cow vigilantes". The public interest litigation had said that the lynching and mob violence should be seen as the result of the general narrative of ostracisation of the minority communities through false propaganda that is being spread by means of public events where hate speeches are made targeting the minorities as well as through social media channels, news channels, and films. Further, it had stated that the state has a "sacrosanct duty to protect its citizens from unruly elements and perpetrators of orchestrated lynching and vigilantism with utmost sincerity and true commitment". "The positive duty of the State to protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of all individuals and the primary responsibility of the State to foster a secular, pluralistic and multiculturalist social order, have been recognised by this Court in several judgments," the plea had stated. The matter is likely to be taken up for further hearing on December 8. New Delhi, Oct 20 : Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, who is in the controversy over the alleged "cash for parliament questions" on Friday put up a brave front, saying that she is ready to face the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) questions and the Parliament's Ethics Committee. In a post on X, Moitra said: "I welcome answering questions to (the) CBI and Ethics Committee (which has absolute majority of BJP members) if and when they call me." Hitting back at the media trial, she said: "I have neither time nor interest to feed a Adani-directed media circus trial or answer BJP trolls. I am enjoying Durga Puja in Nadia. Shubho Sashthi." In another post in the day, Moitra, who is a Lok Sabha MP from West Bengal's Krishnanagar seat also slammed the Chairman Ethics Committee over the affidavit of Dubai-based businessman Darshan Hiranandani and said, "Chairman Ethics Committee openly speaks to media. Please see Lok Sabha rules below. How does 'affidavit' find its way to media? Chairman should first do enquiry into how this was leaked." "I repeat - BJP one point agenda is to expel me from Lok Sabha to shut me up on Adani," she added. Moitra on Thursday night had hit back at the affidavit of businessman Hiranandani, alleging that the Prime Minister's Office "held a proverbial gun" to his head and made him sign the white paper that was later "leaked to the press". She also dubbed the contents of the letter by Hiranandani as "joke". The Trinamool Congress MP shared a two-page statement on her X profile, formerly Twitter posing five questions. She said that three days ago (october 16), the Hiranandani Group put out an official press release stating that all charges leveled against them were "baseless". "Today (October 19) an 'approver affidavit' has been leaked to the press. This 'affidavit' is on a white piece of paper with no letterhead and there is no official origin aside from a press leak," she said. "Hiranandani has not been summoned by the CBI or the Ethics committee or indeed by any investigative agency yet. Who then has he given this affidavit to?The affidavit is on white paper and not on official letterhead or notarised. Why would one of India's most respected or educated businessman sign a letter like this on white paper unless a gun was put to his head to do it?" Her remarks came after Dubai-based businessman Hiranandani has said that Trinamool Congress MP provided him her Parliament login and password to post the questions directly on her behalf when required. --IANS aks/vd New Delhi: A view of the Smog Tower after being closed for the last eight months near Connaught Place. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Oct 20 : Inaugurated in 2021 with an investment exceeding Rs 20 crore, the "smog tower" located at Delhi's Baba Kharak Singh Marg appears to have fallen into disrepair, with its fans and the LED screen, designed to display PM 2.5 concentration, now inactive. According to a guard stationed at the entrance, the tower has been non-functional for several months. What was once a hub of activity with approximately 10 to 15 personnel, including engineers, operators, and assistants, now presents a desolate scene, with only two or three employees in the vicinity. Surprisingly, the Delhi government has yet to provide an official response to inquiries regarding the tower's defunct status, which was expected to be made operational by the Arvind Kejriwal-led government on Friday. Experts opine that the smog tower may have been an imprudent expenditure, as the city's atmospheric humidity surpasses the level necessary for its operation. Additionally, insider sources reveal that the smog tower's effective range is a mere 50 metres, contrary to the Delhi government's claim of 300 metres. On the condition of anonymity, a senior scientist at a government research facility pointed out the logical flaw, suggesting that if the smog tower indeed monitors pollutants within such a limited area, it may inadvertently worsen air quality in Delhi. This raises concerns about its potential to truly combat pollution. "There is no scientific research or basis behind the functioning of smog towers. Whatever studies have been conducted so far on the effectiveness claims of the smog towers have showed that they were not helping in curbing air pollution," said an expert. More than a technology to reduce pollution, the expert said, the smog tower had become an object for the government to show that it is working to fight pollution, when now it is lying defunct. "Such technology is not feasible in Delhi on two grounds -- first, there is no scientific evidence, and second reason is the high cost. If the Delhi government really wants to fight pollution, it should provide subsidised LPG to those living on the outskirts of the city who use wood and coal for cooking. Also, the government must invest in public transport so that pollution in the city can be reduced," he said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. In accordance with the instruction of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the return of former internally displaced persons to the restored city of Lachin continue, Trend reports. Another group of citizens was sent from the Gobu Park 3 residential complex in the Garadagh district of Baku on October 20. At this stage, another 23 families (83 people) moved to the city of Lachin. The resettled families will settle in the houses where they once lived in Lachin, which were restored or rebuilt on the basis of instructions from the head of state after the end of the Armenian occupation. Lachin residents thanked President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva for their comprehensive care, expressed gratitude to the valiant Azerbaijani Army, which liberated the lands from occupation. Thus, until today, a permanent settlement in the city of Lachin has been provided for 295 families - 1135 people. Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 20 : Kerala BJP President K. Surendran on Friday demanded a probe against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for the purchases made by the Kerala Medical Services Corporation during Covid period after the CAG report revealed that there was huge loss of funds. The CAG reports points out that PPE kits was purchased at Rs 1,550 a piece, when the government had fixed it at Rs 550 per piece, even when there were three suppliers who were willing to supply at a lower rate than fixed by the government. It also points out that a sum of Rs 1.02 crores has to be recovered from a company which was given the contract to supply gloves but it supplied much less than what they were supposed to have supplied. "A case should be registered against the then State Health Minister K.K Shailaja and others who effected the purchase and a probe against the Chief Minister also should be initiated as without his knowledge such a swindling was not possible," said Surendran. Delhi minors rape: Suspended official drugged victim before sexual assault, raped her multiple times. Image Source: IANS News Kolkata, Oct 20 : A youth in West Bengal's Dajeeling district has been arrested for allegedly sexually harassing a minor girl in his neighbourhood, the police said on Friday. The arrested individual, identified as Muktiprasad Kachowa, was presented at a Siliguri court which sent him to judicial custody for 14 days. According to the police, the incident took place in Phansidewa block in Darjeeling district. Besides sexually harassing the minor girl, the accused had also threatened her of dire consequences if she disclosed the incident to anyone. The minor girl's parents told the police that she was sexually abused by the accused on Thursday while she was alone at home. She was then threatened by the youth who brandished a knife, warning of dire consequences. But when the minor girl began screaming, a woman staying at the neighbourhood rescued her. The accused somehow managed to escape and went absconding. A local NGO later intervened in the matter and filed a police complaint. Police said that since the victim is a minor, the accused has been booked under various sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. Kolkata, Oct 20 : Environmentalists in West Bengal are irked over the decision of the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) to relax the decibel limit for firecrackers from the earlier level of 90 decibels to the 125 decibels. The board said that the new decibel limit is as per the limit set by the Supreme Court nationally but has not been able to satisfy acclaimed environmentalists like Naba Dutta and S.M Ghosh. As per the environmentalists, since the earlier limit of 90 decibels in 2017 was fixed following the recommendations of a committee of experts led by a leading ENT specialist, the board's logic behind the relaxation of the decibel limit is not acceptable. The environmentalists doubt the relaxation in the decibel limit and that too before the festive season was done succumbing to the pressure of the extremely powerful firecracker manufacturers lobby in the state. They said that these firecracker manufacturers tried for relaxation of the decibel limit by tapping the legal and every time their pleas were rejected by the court. They also said that the board decisions are actually an indirect bypassing of the several previous orders of the National Green Tribunal and other courts on this count. However, while relaxing the decibel limits, the WBPCB has maintained that the use of firecrackers within 100 meter radius of any silence zone, even if it is within 125 decibel limit, is strictly prohibited and so will be the use of microphones in those areas. It has also maintained that the board will take special care this time so that the relaxed decibel unit is not misused during the current festive season. "We also urge the people to contact us anytime they feel firecrackers beyond the prescribed limit are burnt anywhere and the regular monitoring on this count during the festival days will also continue," WBPCB said. Vidhu Vinod Chopra recalls shoot of 'Parinda' on same floor as of 'IGT 10'. Image Source: IANS News Mumbai, Oct 20 : Filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra, who is set to grace the stage of "India's Got Talent" season 10 reminisced about the memories associated with the set of the show, and said the iconic film 'Parinda' was shot on the same floor. This weekend the talent reality show will pay a grand tribute to filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra by celebrating 45 glorious years of his cinematic brilliance. Known for their remarkable demonstrations of agility and power, Chhattisgarh's Abujhmad Malkhamb Group will once again stun one and all with their jaw-dropping act on the song 'Kar Har Maidan Fateh' from the movie 'Sanju.' Floored by their act, Vidhu revealed how the group made him reminisce about his childhood days. He said: "When I was in Kashmir and initially thought about making films, my father scolded me. So, when I see you, I feel that anyone and everyone can achieve all that they wish to if they have passion. I am so happy that I came on India's Got Talent." He also talked about his memories associated with the set of the show. The producer of '3 Idiots' said: "Thirty seven years ago, on the same floor of 'India's Got Talent', the iconic film 'Parinda' was shot where Nana Patakar fires a gun on Madhuri Dixit and Anil Kapoor. So, it's a very emotional experience for me." The 1989 crime drama 'Parinda' is directed, produced and distributed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. The film stars Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor, Nana Patekar and Madhuri Dixit. Meanwhile, Paras from the Abujhmad Malkhamb Group revealed that Monu and Rakesh from the group have been selected for the National level in the Mallakhamb competition. Host of the show Arjun Bijlani made the announcement event more special by calling their family members making everyone present on the sets emotional. Commending their grit, passion and dedication, Vidhu Vinod Chopra will gift the group 'Pasa Palat' T-shirts as well. The show features Kirron Kher and Badshah as the judges. It airs on Sony. Guwahati, Oct 20 : The police in Assam have recovered drugs valued at around Rs 20 crore at Silchar airport, an official said on Friday, adding that two passengers of a Kolkata-bound flight have been arrested in this connection. The arrested individuals have been identified as Joseph Lanluia, 22, a resident of Aizawl, and F. Lalmangaizowala, aged around 30, hailing from Champai area in Mizoram. According to the police, 4 kg methamphetamine was seized from their possession. The drugs were kept hidden in their luggage. Additional Superintendent of Police, Cachar district, Subrata Sen said: "After receiving an input, the police conducted a raid at the airport with the help of CISF on Thursday afternoon and arrested the two individuals. They were waiting to board a flight for Kolkata." Sen further said the arrested individuals had brought drugs from Mizoram and were going to Kolkata. Both are being questioned by the police, the senior official said. Mumbai, Oct 20 : Filmmaker-producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra, who is best known for films such as 'Parinda', 'Khamosh', '1942: A Love Story', 'Mission Kashmir' and for bankrolling the 'Munna Bhai' franchise, has completed 45 years in cinema. The filmmaker is gearing up for his upcoming release '12th Fail' and his work is being celebrated across the country with a festival of his most memorable films. As he completes 45 years in cinema and turns a new leaf, here are some interesting facts about Chopra. Vidhu Vinod Chopra's parents came from Peshawar, now in Pakistan, but he was born in Srinagar, where he did his schooling mainly in Hindi and Urdu. Memories of his homeland come through in his films 'Mission Kashmir' and 'Shikara'. He got selected to the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, where his diploma film titled 'Murder at Monkey Hill' bagged the National Film Award for Best Experimental Film. His next film, a Films Division documentary titled 'An Encounter with Faces' (1978), which was about a group of children at an orphanage, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Film. Vidhu Vinod Chopra then worked as a production controller on Kundan Shah's iconic 1983 film 'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro' starring Naseeruddin Shah, Ravi Baswani, Satish Shah, Om Puri and Satish Kaushik. Chopra ran the show for the production team along with Sudhir Mishra, who's now better known as another accomplished director. As he was the production controller, cutting costs was a huge part of his responsibility. Chopra maintained the film's budget as he stepped into a role to save Rs 2,000 (a princely sum in the 1980s!) because the actor was demanding Rs 2,000 for it. Being a hard negotiator, Chopra offered the actor Rs 100, which met with an immediate rejection. Following this, Chopra decided to step into the role to keep the film and its budget on track. 'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro', a black comedy, has amassed a cult following over the years and is a hot favourite of cinephiles. For his film 'Khamosh', the director faced a great struggle. After making the film on a shoestring budget, Chopra wasn't getting distributors. Then, as Chopra told filmmaker Anurag Kashyap during the MAMI Film Festival in Mumbai, one fine day, he received a bouquet from distributors Gulshan Rai and his son Rajiv Rai. Receiving a bouquet in those days meant that the distributor has agreed to buy your film and would run it in his circuit, but nothing of that sort happened because Rajeev liked the film, but his father Gulshan wasn't ready to buy it. Chopra then took a huge risk and hired Regal cinema in Mumbai at 50 per cent and released 'Khamosh' by himself. Although he had a booking of two weeks, the film ran for six weeks. He even shared that the idea for his cult film 'Parinda', which stars Anil Kapoor and Jackie Shroff, came to him during the very taxing period of 'Khamosh'. The spec for the script of 'Parinda', as Chopra recalled, was, "2 bhai hain, ek bhookha hai, ro raha hai, aur bada bhai bolta hai aTu rota kyun hai main hoon na idhara." This was the first dialogue of 'Parinda', which was a metaphor for the highly successful commercial cinema and the impoverished arthouse cinema. And Chopra was successfully able to bridge the divide. New Delhi, Oct 20 : The police on Friday informed the Delhi High Court that Mission Save Constitution, an organisation dedicated to promoting awareness of constitutional rights, allegedly misled authorities when seeking permission to hold a public meeting at Ramlila Ground later this month. The police stated that while the initial permission had been granted, it was subsequently revoked due to numerous complaints from local residents, who expressed concerns that the proposed event with expected attendance of around 10,000 people had communal undertones. After hearing the arguments, Justice Subramonium Prasad said that he would deliver his order on the matter on October 25. Mission Save Constitution (MSC) moved the high court after the Delhi police revoked their initial consent, citing concerns over the event's "communal" nature. Petitioner, MSC, had initially received approval for the gathering, scheduled for October 29, after a series of meetings and clearances with Delhi Police officials. However, the deputy commissioner of police (DCP) of Central Delhi district unilaterally and arbitrarily revoked this permission. The organisation's objective for the event is to initiate a series of gatherings focused on strengthening various marginalised communities, beginning with minority communities and extending to groups like SC, ST, and OBC. These meetings aim to give a voice to all oppressed sections of society. The petition seeks the court's intervention to set aside the DCP's October 16 letter and to grant permission for the event on October 29. The DCP's letter, which cancelled the previous permission, mentioned that the event's theme had been misrepresented, and social media posts indicated a communal agenda. It raised concerns about the potential for communal tensions during the festive season and in a sensitive location like Old Delhi. The petitioner had argued that the reasons provided for the cancellation of permission are unfounded and unreasonable. MSC, led by advocate Mehmood Pracha as its national convenor, aims to educate the public about their constitutional rights and improve the well-being of marginalised communities by utilising constitutional and legal provisions. Mumbai, Oct 20 : Actor Brijendra Kala, known for his performances in Hindi movies such as 'Shubh Mangal Savdhaan' and 'Gulaabo Sitaabo', essays the role of a librarian in his latest feature film 'Mandali'. Talking about his character in the film, the actor said: "My character is a librarian named Naushad who also supports Mandali behind the scenes with technical things. Although he is a Muslim character, he is someone who is heavily immersed in the Ramleela plays." Elaborating on this point, he said that the character was in fact a product of director Rakesh Chaturvedi Om's own real-life experiences, showing a ground reality of society. Brijendra said: "This character is not just placed in the film to show diversity for the sake of it, but is actually inspired by people that our director, Rakesh ji, has seen in real life. This is the beauty of this film because it mirrors the reality of our society." Narrating one of the focal points of the film, Brijendra added: "The film focuses on how a few corrupt influential individuals, utilise Rameela and their artistes to influence the masses from small towns to sway them. It's a highly debated subject, yet crucial to discuss. The story centres on how emotions related to faith are exploited to garner support from the community." The 'Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein' alum during the shoot took a stroll down memory lane. As the film was shot in his hometown of Mathura, the actor was reminded of his own childhood days when he used to watch the Ramleela plays in his locality. Detailing this point, he recalled his shooting experience: "It was a fabulous experience shooting in Mathura. It's my hometown and the story really attracted me, because I used to watch Ramleela performances in my childhood. So shooting this film reminded me of my childhood days in the most joyous and memorable way. I truly relived my childhood." 'Mandali' is a political-drama film which is helmed by director Rakesh Chaturvedi Om. The film stars Rajniesh Duggall, Aanchal Munjal, Abhishek Duhan in prominent roles. Produced by Prashant Kumar Gupta, Geetika Gupta and Neetu Sabarwal. The film also stars an ensemble cast of Vineet Kumar, Kanwaljeet Singh, Alka Amin, Ashwath Bhatt, Saharsh Shukla and Neeraj Sood, the movie will hit theatres on October 27, 2023. Gurugram, Oct 20 : The cyber crime team of Gurugram Police has arrested a man for allegedly duping at least 69 people across India of around Rs 73 lakh, an official said on Friday. The arrested individual has been identified as Ajay Kumar, 28, a resident of Sonipat district in Haryana. He used to ask people to like photos and videos on YouTube and Moj app, police said. According to the police, they received a complaint about this matter in July. A person in his complaint mentioned that he had been duped of Rs 10.20 lakh in the name of liking videos/photos on YouTube/Moj app. The police eventually nabbed Ajay Kumar on Thursday. During questioning, the accused revealed that he lured the victims to earn profit by "completing the task" of liking photos, videos on YouTube and Moj app through a link on WhatsApp. "To get the victim to invest a large amount (a way of winning confidence), initially he (the accused) also transferred money to the victim's account as profit/ commission. In this case, he cheated the victim and made him invest Rs 10.20 lakh," Vipin Ahalawat, ACP (cybercrime) said. Ajay Kumar also disclosed that he transferred Rs 6.80 lakh of the complainant to his accomplice's account and paid Rs 50,000 as commission to him. "Police investigation has also revealed that a total of 69 complaints have been received against the suspect across India, different accounts being used by the accused in the fraud, in which the defrauded amount of about Rs 73 lakh was deposited was transferred," the ACP said. One mobile phone and two SIM cards used in the crime have been recovered from the possession of the accused. Mumbai, Oct 20 : Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday flagged off a vehicle carrying an equestrian statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj which will be installed in Kupwara in Jammu and Kashmir. The Governor performed an idol worship and rath puja of the Chhatrapati as the statue will travel from here to Kupwara The statue has been built in collaboration with 'We Punekar Foundation' and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Smarak Samiti, and will be handed over to the Rashtriya Rifles 41 Maratha Light Infantry Regiment based in Kupwara for the installation at a memorial coming up there. Shinde said that the Indian Navy Day will be celebrated on December 4 this year at the iconic Sindhudurg Fort in the Konkan, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will grace the momentous occasion. Governor Bais said that there is little awareness of the imposing forts built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and urged that measures should be taken to attract more tourists there by launching a 'Fort Circuit', publishing information booklets on all the forts state and other initiatives to popularise the state's history. "Many kings built palaces for themselves, but Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj did not construct anything for himself and instead constructed a network of forts to protect his kingdom," the Governor pointed out. Speaking at the event, Cultural Affairs Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said that a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj will also come up in London through public funding, and the Maratha leader's biography would be provided in 20 languages for wider reach, besides in Braille. BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- World leaders gathered in Beijing for a high-profile forum this week in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF), held from Tuesday to Wednesday, marked another milestone in the process of jointly building the Belt and Road. In a keynote speech at the opening ceremony, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that over the past 10 years, Belt and Road cooperation has progressed from "sketching the outline" to "filling in the details," and blueprints have been turned into real projects. He announced eight major steps that China will take to support high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, including the promotion of green development, and the advancement of scientific and technological innovation. During the third BRF, a total of 458 outcomes were achieved, far more than in the second one. The CEO Conference held during the forum saw the conclusion of agreements worth 97.2 billion U.S. dollars. Zahari Zahariev, chairman of Bulgaria National Association for the Belt and Road, said he was impressed by China's fresh commitments and pledges. Future BRI development requires efforts not only from China, but also from other participating countries like Bulgaria, he said. Since its launch, the BRI has become the world's largest platform for international cooperation, and with the broadest coverage. By June 2023, China had signed more than 200 BRI cooperation agreements with over 150 countries and 30-plus international organizations across five continents. Over 3,000 BRI cooperation projects have been launched in the past decade, involving close to 1 trillion U.S. dollars of investment. One such project is the China-Laos Railway, which began operations in December 2021, helping transform the landlocked country of Laos into a land-linked hub in Southeast Asia. Sida Phengphongsawanh, a 24-year-old train inspector for the China-Laos Railway, is one of many Lao people whose lives have been changed by the railway. "The Belt and Road is a great initiative," she said. "And I think the Laos-China Railway is just the starting point (in the region). It will connect more countries in the future, allowing us to go abroad more easily." By improving infrastructure connectivity, BRI cooperation can reduce international trade costs and enable underdeveloped countries, especially those located inland, to participate in global trade and seek economic development, said Liu Nanxing, an expert on international cooperation at the National Development and Reform Commission. China-made new-energy vehicles, engineering machinery and household appliances are being shipped to more and more Belt and Road partner countries, while foreign products such as Thai rice, Kenyan avocados and Uzbek chocolates are increasingly appearing on the tables of Chinese people. Belt and Road cooperation was proposed by China, but its benefits and opportunities are for the world to share, President Xi Jinping said. China is endeavoring to bring Belt and Road cooperation to a new stage of higher-quality and higher-level development, thus promoting the modernization of all countries. The World Bank has estimated that by 2030, BRI-related investments could lift 7.6 million people out of extreme poverty and 32 million out of moderate poverty. Collaborative efforts in new energy and environmental protection have emerged as fresh opportunities and driving forces for cooperation among the partner countries. Robert Lawrence Kuhn, chairman of the U.S.-based Kuhn Foundation, said that the BRI is sustainable as the win-win cooperation model has delivered tangible results over the past 10 years. "Historians 1,000 years from now will look back and will circle the BRI as something of significance for our era today," he noted. Hu Biliang, executive dean of the Belt and Road School at Beijing Normal University, said that in a world facing uncertainty and instability, countries are urgently in need of dialogue to bridge their differences, solidarity to counter division, and cooperation to foster development. "The significance of the Belt and Road cooperation is becoming increasingly evident, and its prospects are more promising than ever," he said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. The construction of three urban centers, five settlements, and 24 villages is planned in the Jabrayil, Gubadli, and Zangilan districts following the First State Program for the Great Return to the liberated territories of Azerbaijan until 2026, the Executive Director of Service for Reconstruction, Construction, and Management No. 1 in the Eastern Zangazur Economic Zone Novras Jafarov said, Trend reports. He made the remark during a panel discussion on the "Contribution of Reconstruction, Construction, and Management Services to the Great Return" within the Caspian Construction Week. "Life has already revived in the Zangilan district's Aghali village, which is the first among the Great Return locations. A total of 133 families (649 people) have been returned to this village. The majority of the personnel involved in managing Aghali are its residents," Jafarov added. Following the liberation of its territories from Armenian occupation in 2020, Azerbaijan initiated the long-awaited 'Great Return' program, which envisions the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their native lands. Along with Aghali village, the former IDPs returned to Lachin and Fuzuli cities, the villages of Talish (Tartar district), and Zabukh (Lachin district). Hyderabad, Oct 20 : At least 11 students of the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) in Hyderabad have been booked by police after midnight protests over an alleged sexual assault on a woman student in the campus on Friday. Police detained a few students after a massive protest which continued till early Friday. They were later let off. There was scuffle between the students and police during the protest. Students alleged that police assaulted them to make way for Vice-Chancellor Suresh Kumar. It was only around 3 a.m. that the VC was escorted out of the campus by the police after protestors had prevented him from leaving. The protestors were demanding resignation of the VC, justice for the victim student and stringent action against the guilty. The student was sexually assaulted by two men on the campus on the night of October 18. Two students had found the victim on the campus and shifted her to University Health Centre. The victim stated that two men pulled her hair from behind and told her 'we saw you at the frontline of the protest. This should not happen'. The victim had participated in a protest on the campus demanding the University to constitute SPARSH (Sensitisation, Prevention and Redressal of Sexual Harassment) committee through elections. As the health centre officials allegedly discouraged the victim from making the incident of the assault public, students marched to the Proctor's residence for a protest in the early hours of Thursday. The victim later lodged a complaint with the Osmania University (OU) Police Station. The police shifted her to Bharosa Centre and recorded her statement. Police said they were checking the CCTV footage of the campus to identify and nab the culprits. EFLU authorities claimed that they immediately responded to the incident. "The police officials of the jurisdiction have initiated investigation into the incident immediately," the university said in a statement. The University also stated 'the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) of the University has immediately acted upon the incident and is rendering all reasonable assistance to the person in the matter required'. Students, however, disputed the University's claim that action was taken immediately. They said it took seven hours for the authorities to act. They also flayed the University authorities for trying to divert the attention to a pro-Palestine event that was to happen. The University said in the statement that a proposed discussion on "Palestine: Perspective on Literary Resistance" was disallowed. It stated that the programme was planned by an organisation which has overtly communal background. It claimed that the denial of permission for the programme brought great displeasure to those who proposed to conduct it. The students, however, pointed out that a protest for reconstitution of the SPARSH Committee was going on in the campus for 24 hours. The students said they would decide their future course of action after waiting for the action by the authorities on the sexual assault incident. --IANS ms/vd New Delhi, Oct 20 : A 45-year-old businessman was robbed of Rs five lakhs at gunpoint by two unidentified bike-borne assailants in northeast Delhi on Friday, an officer said. According to police, a police control room call was received regarding the incident at Flyover, Opposite Shamshan Ghat, Mandoli at 12:13 p.m following which a police team was rushed to the spot. Upon reaching the spot, the caller, Noor Ali, a resident of Mandoli village and who runs an aluminium melting factory in Faridabad, told police that at about 11:15 a.m, he withdrew Rs 5 lakh from Bank of Baroda in the area. "He left the bank on his motorcycle to visit some relatives in Yamuna Vihar. He was carrying the cash in a bag. At about 11:50 am, when he reached Flyover, Opposite Shamshan Ghat Mandoli, two boys on a white colour motorcycle intercepted him and robbed him at gunpoint," said the Deputy Commissioner of Police (northeast) Joy Tirkey. "A case of robbery is being registered. The CCTV footages in the area are being scanned to identify the culprits and nab them," the DCP added. Bengaluru, Oct 20 : In another setback to the BJP, prominent leader from central Karnataka and former MLA Poornima Krishnappa joined the Congress with her supporters on Friday in the presence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. "Poornima and Srinivas (her husband) are advocates of social justice. They were in BJP reluctantly. Now that they have joined Congress, we will not allow political injustice to happen to them," Siddaramaiah said. Krishnappa, daughter of late A. Krishnappa, a senior Congress leader from the most backward OBC Golla community, and her husband Srinivas and more than 750 BJP leaders, including leader K. Narasimhanayak, joined the Congress. Siddaramaiah further underlined that Congress is the only national party that stands for the Constitution and the values aaof social justice. "A. Krishnappa, Poornima and Srinivas have been working since the beginning as the voice of the deprived of social justice. Congress is a party that believes in social justice. BJP is a party that believes in caste discrimination," he said, and called upon the poor of all castes and the Shudra community to understand this properly and take a political stand. "Poornima, Srinivas and their supporters are clearly convinced that there is no social justice in the BJP. It is very difficult for those who have taken a stand in favor of social justice in BJP. That is why so many backward communities are joining the Congress today," the CM opined. "Lies is BJP's deity. It misleads people through lies and does dirty politics. They lie when they are in power and even when they are not in power, they are dependent on lies." he said, and called upon people to reject those who betray people's trust and deceive them. The event held at the state party office was presided over by Shivakumar, former Chief Minister Veerappa Moily, Minister D. Sudhakar, state government' s Delhi representative T. B. Jayachandra and MLC and Golla community leader Nagaraj Yadav and leaders belonging to other backward classes were present. New Delhi, Oct 20 : A plan to watch Ramleela took an unexpected turn on Friday for a notorious criminal -- with a history of six cases -- as he found himself in police custody. The arrested individual has been identified as Sunil Tyagi a.k.a Mantri (51), a resident of village Burari in Delhi. The arrest by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Delhi, stems from allegations that the accused swindled numerous property buyers by selling assets entangled in ownership disputes and facing multiple legal battles within the revenue department and the courts, an official said on Friday. According to the police, a case was filed by the EOW following a complaint by Ram Ratan Sharma and Vinod Verma. They alleged that they had acquired a property in village Kamalpur Majra, Burari, Delhi, from Dheeraj Tyagi. "The accused, Dheeraj Tyagi, Sunil Tyagi, and Arun Tyagi, induced them to enter into an agreement to buy the property without disclosing its disputed status and ongoing legal disputes," said the Deputy Commissioner of Police (EOW) Vikram Porwal. In response to the inducement by the accused, the complainants purchased a piece of land located in the revenue estate of village Kamalpur Majra, Burari, Delhi, for which they paid Rs 48 lakh to Dheeraj Tyagi. "They were informed that the area had been designated as an urbanised village, promising potential future profits. A money receipt dated January 21, 2016, was executed, and possession of the land was transferred to the complainants on the same day," said the DCP. After receiving a rejection letter from the Sub Registrar, the complainants attempted to contact the accused individuals, Dheeraj, Sunil, and Arun, but received no response. "Following persistent efforts to resolve their case, Dheeraj entered a settlement on June 16, 2017, with the complainants and another individual, Om Prakash Arora, agreeing to expedite the resolution of the pending title-related litigation," said the officer. During the investigation, relevant documents and witness statements were gathered, revealing that a total of six cases had been registered against the arrested accused, Sunil Tyagi. "The arrested accused, Sunil Tyagi, and his associates sold plots/ land in village Kamalpur Majra, Burari, Delhi, without properly demarcating the plots and while concealing the fact that the property's ownership was disputed and under legal disputes," said the DCP. One of the accused, Dheeraj, also obtained a loan from a financial institution by pledging the same land, with the present accused serving as a witness and guarantor. "Sunil has a history of criminal activities, with involvement in six cases employing a similar modus operandi," the DCP added. New Delhi, Oct 20 : People will witness digital effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakaran and Meghnath at Delhi's Ramlila this Dussehra which will be created and shown in the open sky with laser lights. Traditional effigies of Ravana with a record height of 110 feet have also being installed in the Ramlila. This unique use of technology is being done in 'Lav Kush Ramlila' held at Red Fort grounds. Luv Kush Ramlila President Arjun Kumar said that like every time in Ramlila, normal effigies are also being made. Preparations have started to make giant effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkaran and Meghnath by the best effigy artists of the country. However, this time the digital effigies created in the open sky in front of the Red Fort with the help of laser are also the centre of attraction, he added. Sourav Gupta, Senior Vice President of the Ramlila, said that the use of the technology in any Ramlila is unique and the first of its kind. Experts have done proper rehearsal and now people will be able to see this grand spectacle on the night of Dussehra. He said that the spectators will be able to see these effigies even from a distance. Senior VP of the Ramlila Gaurav Suri said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited for the Dushara. Meanwhile, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh also visited the Ramlila and congratulated the countrymen on Navratri. Suri said that a record 110 feet high effigy of Ravana will be installed in the Ramlila of Red Fort. The height of the traditional effigy of Kumbhkaran will be 90 feet and the height of the traditional effigy of Meghnath will be 80 feet. On Friday, Lanka Dahan was done in several Ramlilas of Delhi. Different small and big Ramlilas performed Ram's meeting with Shabari, Ram Sugriva's friendship, killing of Bali, meeting with Sampani, meeting with Lankani, Ravana-Sita dialogue, Hanuman reaching Lanka, destruction of Ashok Vatika, killing of Ravana's son Akshay Kumar and Hanuman dialogues work were performed. Many MPs and union ministers are also playing roles in Ramlilas of Delhi. Television and film actors also play lead roles in these Ramlilas. Imphal, Oct 20 : Justice Siddharth Mridul was on Friday sworn in as the seventh Chief Justice of Manipur High Court during a brief ceremony held at the Raj Bhavan here. Governor Anusuiya Uikey administered the oath of office to Justice Mridul, who had previously served as a judge of Delhi High Court for over 15 years. aLooking forward to a productive tenure in office... I took stock of the situation and in total 3,335 cases are pending with the (Manipur) High Court," the Chief Justice told the media after the swearing-in-ceremony. Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, his cabinet colleagues and high dignitaries were present at the Darbar Hall event. Meanwhile, Justice M. V. Muralidharan, who was acting Chief Justice of Manipur High Court, has recently been transferred to the Calcutta High Court. Justice Muralidharan in April this year gave a controversial order asking the Manipur government to consider sending recommendations to the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry to examine the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribes list. --IANS sc/vd Colombo, Oct 20 : Sri Lanka President Rani Wickremesinghe has said that Sri Lanka is committed to preserve peace and identity of Indian Ocean region and has also advocated for cooperation between India and China to foster development in Asia. President Wickremesinghe was on a four day visit to China to attend an event to mark the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) where he also geld meeting with the Chinese President Xi Jinping. President Wickremesinghe has also expressed Sri Lanka's hope to establish a maritime economic corridor linking China, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and South Africa. "President Xi Jinping acknowledged the challenging nature of this endeavour and encouraged President Wickremesinghe to take the lead," President Media Division (PMD) in Colombo announced. During the bilateral discussion President Jinping has said that China is committed to assist Sri Lanka in achieving economic stability without any political agenda. Chinese President has highlighted Sri Lanka's port city and Hambantota port as key projects under this initiative and pledged to promote imports of Sri Lankan products to China and increase investments in Sri Lanka. Additionally, President Xi Jinping assured that China would provide friendly, practical and timely support for Sri Lanka's debt optimisation program, the PMD said. "President Xi Jinping reiterated China's commitment to the "One China" policy and expressed gratitude for Sri Lanka's support for the "Belt and Road" initiative. He highlighted the port city and Hambantota port as key projects under this initiative and pledged to promote imports of Sri Lankan products to China and increase investments in Sri Lanka, the PMD explained. China's President has also assured that China would provide friendly, practical and timely support for Sri Lanka's debt optimisation program. President Jinping has acknowledged that Sri Lanka's speech at the United Nations General Assembly, delivered by President Ranil Wickremesinghe which reflected the country's strategic independence and its neutral stance. --IANS sfl/dan Guwahati, Oct 20 : The discussions with the pro-talks faction of United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) to strike a peace deal is in its final stage, Assam DGP G.P. Singh said on Friday. "The process to sign a peace agreement with the ULFA is in its final stage. I am hopeful that it will be done within the next few days," Singh said. Earlier, the pro-talk faction of the ULFA expressed its displeasure with the draft peace deal that the Central government provided to them for initiating the talks. Anup Chetia, the general secretary of the pro-talk faction of the ULFA, stated that their battle is to defend Assam from illegal infiltrators and to safeguard the Constitutional rights of the indigenous population in the state. He asserted that without a few of their core demands being met, the signing of the peace agreement is not possible. "Because of ongoing illegal infiltration, the indigenous population in Assam is eroding into a minority. We requested that 102 of Assam's assembly constituencies out of a total of 126 be set aside for indigenous people as part of the peace pact," Chetia said. He also said that they earlier presented 12 demands before the Central government, including updating of the NRC, land rights for indigenous groups, ST status for six indigenous tribes, the declaration of the Assam flood as a national calamity, and an 88 per cent seat quota for indigenous people. "The seat reservation is one of the demands that has not yet been approved by the Central government, however, most of our demands have been accepted by the centre," he said. "We think the government will take the rest of our demands into consideration since they are not unreasonable," Chetia added. Notably, the other faction known as the ULFA-I led by Paresh Baruah has not come on the table for talks. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma appealed to Baruah to lay down their arms and join the mainstream. Washington, Oct 20 : US President Joe Biden is moving his demand to the Congress for $100 billion in military aid humanitarian aid for Israel and Ukraine and $100 million for Palestine. He said that it's a smart investment which will pay dividends for American security for generations. "So let me share with you why making sure Israel and Ukraine succeed is vital for America's national security. You know, history has taught us that when terrorists don't pay a price for their terror, when dictators don't pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction," President Biden said as reported by the CBS network. "They keep going. And the cost and the threats to America and the world keep rising," President Biden said. Democratic sources close to White House said Biden's request for the supplemental funding includes $60 billion for Ukraine and replenishing U.S stockpiles, $14 billion for Israel, $10 billion for humanitarian efforts, $14 billion for the U.S border with Mexico and $7 billion for the Indo-Pacific region. The White House is yet to release the full details and components of the aid that's going to Congress."I know these conflicts can seem far away, and it's natural to ask, 'Why does this matter to America?'"Biden said. Passing the $100 billion aid for Ukraine and Israel is quite tough as also the $100 million aid for Palestine as Congress has been paralysed for over two weeks without an elected House speaker. Republicans have been unable to elect a new speaker after a small group of Republicans voted with Democrats to oust Republican Kevin McCarthy earlier this month. Republican holds out frustrated Trump loyalist Jim Jordan's efforts to win the speakership in his 2nd round of vote thus forcing him to give up the race eventually. Israel suffered more than 1,400 deaths in the October 7 attacks by Hamas while 3,500 were injured. Thirty-one U.S. citizens were among the dead, and 13 remain unaccounted for, some of them believed to be held hostage by Hamas. While Biden reiterated the United States' commitment to Israel and the Israeli people, he also stressed about Palestinians who want peace. He also strongly condemned any displays of hatred against Jews, Muslims or Palestinians in the United States. In Israel, Biden announced the U.S would give $100 million to help civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, while declaring America's unwavering support for Israel. Meanwhile, Israel is continuing airstrikes on Gaza, where Palestinian officials say almost 3,800 have been killed. Biden said Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi agreed to allow up to 20 trucks of humanitarian aid into Gaza through the Rafa. But if Hamas confiscates the aid or doesn't allow it to pass, the humanitarian aid will cease. Biden told reporters that he was "very blunt" with the Israelis. He said Israel has been "badly victimised," but if they have an opportunity to relieve the suffering of people "who have nowhere to go," they should do it. Biden was supposed to meet with Arab leaders in Jordan but Jordan Foreign Minister canceled the meeting. New Delhi, Oct 20 : A Delhi court on Friday allowed interim bail for a period of two months to an accused individual who was arrested in connection with the firing incident at the Tis Hazari district court premises. Additional Sessions Judge Pawan Singh Rajawat presided over the interim bail plea of the accused, Sandeep Sharma. The court took into consideration a report from the jail superintendent regarding the accused medical condition, which indicated that Sharma was suffering from various ailments, including spine problems, urinary tract infection, and elevated levels of sugar and potassium. According to the report, Sharma was taken to a government hospital, which had recommended physiotherapy, neurology consultation, blood sugar control, and the use of a lumbo sacral belt, along with a follow-up after two weeks to plan for surgery. Considering that the accused had been in judicial custody for over three months and had a substantial number of ailments, including a recommended spine surgery, the court was satisfied that interim bail was warranted based on medical grounds. The judge granted interim bail for a period of 60 days, lasting until December 20. The court said that the grant of interim bail would not hinder the trial process. To secure the interim bail, the court required Sharma to furnish a bail bond of Rs 25,000 with one surety of a similar amount. Moreover, the court imposed various bail conditions, including the requirement for the accused to regularly inform the investigating officer of his whereabouts by phone every third day, refrain from tampering with evidence, avoid contacting, threatening, or influencing witnesses, and attend all court hearings. On July 5, two groups of lawyers clashed and opened fire at the Tis Hazari Courts. The videos of the incident went viral on social media showing a man in white shirt and black pants firing in air, accompanied by others hurling stones and wooden planks. The involved parties, predominantly in lawyers' attire, could be seen brandishing sticks and engaging in verbal confrontation. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. The State Committee of Azerbaijan for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons has held a draw among the families who will soon return to Aghali village in the Zangilan district, Trend reports. The committee said that the event involved personnel from the Special Representative Office of the President of Azerbaijan in the Jabrayil, Gubadli, and Zangilan districts of the Eastern Zangazur Economic Region, the Zangilan district's executive power, and the public council under the committee. In total, 33 families (177 people) took part in the drawing. Based on the family composition, 10 families received three-room, 15 families received four-room, and eight families received five-room apartments. To date, these families have lived in Baku and Sumgayit, sites of temporary settlement in the Absheron district. The draw is intended to ensure objectivity and transparency in the process of accommodating IDPs. Representatives of internally displaced families determine by drawing lots the exact address of the houses allocated to them. The participants noted that they feel great joy in returning to their native places. They expressed their deep gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva for the conditions created in the territories liberated from occupation and the care given to the former internally displaced persons. The families participating in the draw, according to the schedule, will be sent to the village of Aghali on October 26 and October 28. Following the liberation of its territories from Armenian occupation in 2020, Azerbaijan initiated the long-awaited 'Great Return' program, which envisions the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their native lands. Up to now, 133 families (649 people) have been returned to Aghali village. Along with Aghali, the former IDPs returned to Lachin and Fuzuli cities, the villages of Talish (Tartar district), and Zabukh (Lachin district). New Delhi/Jaipur, Oct 20 : The Central Election Committee (CEC) of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday held a meeting at the party headquarters in the national capital to discuss the second list of candidates and strategy for the upcoming Rajasthan Assembly election. The CEC meeting was held under the chairmanship of the party's national president, J.P. Nadda. Top BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, former Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis among others were present in the meeting. Leaders from Rajasthan including former CM Vasundhara Raje, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, state unit BJP president CP Joshi, Leader of Opposition in Assembly, Rajendra Rathore also attended the meeting. The second list will be finalised at the meeting. According to a source, there may be around 50 names on the second list. The BJP is likely to give an opportunity to new faces in the second list, and may field a few MPs . The BJP core group has met twice in the last three days to arrive at a consensus on the second list. On October 17, a meeting of the state BJP core group was held at Nadda's residence. Amit Shah was also present at that meeting. On Thursday, the core group meeting was held at the residence of Union Minister and state election in-charge Prahlad Joshi. In that meeting, BJP state president CP Joshi, former CM Vasundhara Raje, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Rajendra Rathod, Deputy Leader of Opposition Satish Poonia, state in-charge Arun Singh and leaders included in the state core group were present. Jaipur, Oct 20 : The announcement of Congress candidates for the November 25 Rajasthan Assembly elections is being awaited, but Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot seems to have already announced some candidates even before the official declaration. During party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi's meeting in Dausa district, Gehlot hinted at giving tickets to all the sitting party MLAs of the district and independent Omprakash Hoodla. Taking the names of Women Child Development Minister Mamta Bhupesh from Sikrai, Health Minister Parsadi Lal Meena from Lalsot, Murarilal Meena from Dausa, G.R. Khatana from Bandikui, and independent MLA Hoodla from Mahuva, he appealed to the people to help them win again. It seems clear from this appeal of the CM that Congress will give tickets to the five sitting MLAs. Dausa district has five MLAs, including four from Congress, three of whom are ministers. Murarilal Meena from Dausa and Khatana from Bandikui are supporters of Sachin Pilot. Before the announcement of Congress tickets, political discussions have started regarding the way Gehlot has appealed to make the sitting MLAs of Dausa victorious. It is being deemed that he has tried to send a message in the presence of Priyanka Gandhi by indicating that the tickets of the sitting MLAs will be finalised. This is not the first time that Gehlot has declared candidates before the official announcement. Before the 2018 Assembly elections, Gehlot had declared Babulal Nagar as a candidate during a programme in Dudu and appealed to make him win. Later Congress had canceled Nagar's ticket. After being denied the ticket, he rebelled and contested the elections as an independent and won the polls. In the last assembly elections, 11 rebels supporting Gehlot had won the elections even after failing to secure the party nominations. Chandigarh, Oct 20 : The Haryana government has set up a seven-member committee to examine the historical facts about Samrat Mihir Bhoj with the aim of averting the proliferation of disinformation. An order to this effect was issued by Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal here on Friday. The order states that the Divisional Commissioner, Karnal, will be chairman of the committee, while Inspector General of Police, Karnal Range will be its vice chairman and the Deputy Commissioner of Kaithal will be its Member Secretary. The Superintendent of Police of Kaithal, two professors of history from Panjab University, Chandigarh namely Rajeev Lochan and Priyatosh Sharma and two advocates of both parties Gurjar and Kshatriya as representative of both communities will be its members. The committee will submit its report within a four weeks. New Delhi, Oct 20 : Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Friday urged the Centre as well as his counterparts of the states in NCR zone to ensure all modes of public transport coming to Delhi are either electric or CNG-operated. The minister said this during a joint meeting of the Central (environment minister) and the environment ministers of NCR states through video conference. Rai also requested his counterparts to check the incidents of stubble burning in NCR. "Many industrial units in NCR states are still running on polluting fuel and they should be converted to piped natural gas immediately," he said during the meeting. He further requested to convert the heavily polluting brick kilns running in NCR states into zig-zag technology and to reduce dependency on diesel generators, 24-hour electricity should be ensured for all housing societies in NCR states. After the meeting, the Environment Minister said that according to the CAQM (Commission for Air Quality Management) report, the number of good days in Delhi in 2016 was 109, which was 163 last year. "The number of good days this year has gone up to 205," he said. He further said that the coming two months are very sensitive in terms of pollution. "Whatever guidelines are issued, whether they are of the Central government, or of the CAQM or of the concerned state governments, it is very important to implement them properly, otherwise proper results will not be achieved. Therefore, we have to create a proper system so that the guidelines issued can be implemented properly," Rai said. Rai said that Delhi has imposed a complete ban on firecrackers, and the NCR states should also impose a similar prohibition on firecrackers. "The states should also ban the licence, production, storage and release of firecrackers from now on," he said. Rai further said the Delhi government has been using anti-smog mobile vans to deal with dust pollution, which was providing satisfactory results. "That's why the NCR states are also requested to use anti-smog mobile vans in their states," he said. Baghdad, Oct 22 : The latest spate of attacks targeting US military facilities has been claimed by military factions aligned with Iran with the most recent attack on Thursday targeted the Ain al-Asad military base in the western province of Anbar, media reports said. Security sources in the area say that several blasts were heard inside the base. The attack was carried out by both drones and missiles. Meanwhile, this was third attack on a US military facility targeted within 24 hours. The same military base and also another military base in northern Iraq were targeted on Wednesday, Al Jazeera reported. A military faction backed by Iran called the Islamic Resistance claimed responsibility for the attacks on Wednesday and on Thursday, Al Jazeera reported. On Wednesday, according to US Central Command, the attack caused minor injuries within the military personnel a" the coalition forces personnel. This also coincided with public anger inside Iraq. Protests staged across the country in several provinces, showing solidarity with Gaza and condemning the military campaign by Israel. A US Navy warship has intercepted missiles and drones launched from Yemen by the Iran-aligned Houthi movement, US officials say, BBC reported. A Pentagon spokesman said the missiles had been launched "potentially towards targets in Israel". The USS Carney, a guided-missile destroyer, was operating in the northern Red Sea on Thursday. The Pentagon also said US troops in Iraq and Syria had been attacked several times in recent days, BBC reported. Washington is on alert for activity by Iran-backed groups as Israel continues to attack Hamas targets in Gaza. Pentagon's Brigadier General Patrick Ryder said three land attack cruise missiles and several drones fired from Yemen had been downed, BBC reported. san New Delhi, Oct 20 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a charge sheet against businessman Sanjay Vijay Shinde, his wife Aparna Shinde and Venus Bay Offshore Ltd. Shinde's name figured in Panama Paper leaks and is also involved in the import-export business. The financial probe agency filed a charge sheet on October 18 against them under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, (PMLA) 2002 before the Special PMLA Court in Bhopal, which took cognisance of the same on Friday. The ED investigation is based on the basis of case filed by Income Tax Department under section 51 of Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) And Imposition of Tax Act, 2015 against Shinde and others. The ED probe revealed that Sanjay Vijay Shinde had established an offshore company in tax haven British Virgin Island (BVI) in the name of Venus Bay Offshore Ltd and received huge sum amounting to Rs 21.87 crore in the bank accounts of the said company maintained at UBS-AG Bank, Singapore. "The accused was the sole director, shareholder and beneficial owner of the said company. Since, the interest in the foreign company and the assets in the form of money received in the foreign bank account was not disclosed by the accused in his Income Tax Return, the proceedings under Black Money Act, 2015 were initiated against him and a charge sheet was filed by Income Tax Department," it said. The ED said that its investigation also revealed that he brought the money to India from BVI Company through NRE or NRO accounts route and invested in into FCNR-FD account. "By liquidation from the above FDs, the amount was invested into various movable and immovable properties," the agency said, adding that he had purchased properties across Bhopal, Goa, Vadodara and Mumbai using the proceeds of crime. He also invested in mutual funds, shares, FDs, LIC policies and as capital investment in businesses. "During the investigation, it was established that he has derived profits from utilisation of proceeds of crime amounting to Rs 12.40 crore and thus his total PoC was calculated as Rs 34.22 crore," the ED said. The ED conducted searches at various premises of Shinde and cash amount of Rs 88.30 lakh were seized along with various incriminating documents. ED has also attached 18 immovable properties across Bhopal, Goa, Vadodra and Mumbai and movable properties in form of investment in MFs, shares, FDs, LIC policies, and vehicles worth Rs 29.59 crore. --IANS aAks/vd Guwahati, Oct 20 : The Assam government on Friday provided a financial grant of Rs 2 lakh to former 181 cadres of the disbanded group National Liberation Front of Bodoland (NLFB) which was active in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) of the state. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma posted on 'X': "BTR is completely peaceful now, thanks to the tremendous trust people have in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policies. A heartfelt welcome to those who've chosen the path of peace over violence. "The holistic growth of the Bodo community remains our utmost commitment," the Assam CM said. Meanwhile, the chief of BTR, Pramod Bodo said that "the visionary leadership of PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah has brought an end to the dark decades of violence in BTR". He wrote on his 'X' handle: "Under the special initiative of Himanta Biswa Sarma 'dangoriya', Assam government distributed grants of Rs 2 lakh each to 181 ex-cadres of National Liberation Front of Bodoland (NLFB) to enable them to reintegrate into society." "Today, a sustained peace reigns across our region and BTR is steadfastly advancing towards peace and progress," Bodo added. New Delhi, Oct 20 : In a massive action in Kerala's Life Mission scam case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) attached movable and immovable properties worth Rs 5.38 crore of Santhosh Eappen and Swapna Suresh. The ED in a statement said that it attached residential properties of Eappen and immovable property and bank balances held in the name of Swapna Suresh. The ED registered a case on the basis of FIRs registered by CBI, ACB, Cochin and VACB, Thiruvananthapuram under various sections of IPC, FCRA and Prevention of Corruption Act against companies -- Unitac, Sane Ventures and others for alleged pecuniary advantage obtained from the Life Mission Project. The agency said that during its probe it was found that a conspiracy was hatched by Sarith P.S and Swapna Suresh, the then UAE Consulate employees with active support of M. Sivasankar, then Principal Secretary to the Kerala Chief Minister and Sandeep Nair and others to generate commission as bribe from the funds donated by Red Crescent by awarding the LIFE Mission project to Unitac Builders and Developers and Sane Ventures LLP run by Eappen without following the transparency norms. "From the funds received from UAE Red Crescent for Life Mission project which was meant for the provision of residential homes to the helpless flood victims of Kerala, Eappen had arranged an upfront commission as bribe totally amounting to Rs 4.40 crore for UAE Consulate Officials and certain Kerala government officials by withdrawing money from the bank accounts of the companies of Eappen out of which US$ worth 1,90,000 was illegally exported by Khaled Ahmed Ali Shoukry, former Finance Head of UAE Consulate Trivandrum. Sandeep Nair, Yedu Sundran were also found to be involved in the offence of money laundering by generating POC including its possession and acquisition of the same," the agency added. New Delhi, Oct 21 : India and Zambia on Friday agreed to explore opportunities for collaboration in manufacturing of small arms, ammunition and other defence equipment in the east African country, the Defence Ministry said. The agreement came in a meeting between Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane and Zambia's Permanent Secretary, Defence, Norman Chipakupaku, it said. During the meeting, both sides underlined the historic and longstanding relationship between the two countries and looked forward to deepening the bilateral defence ties. The MoU on Defence Cooperation signed between India and Zambia in 2019 provides a framework for collaboration in various areas of defence. Aramane assured the Zambian side of cooperation in military training and capacity building of the countryas defence forces through various military courses and deputation of Indian training teams, the official added. He also highlighted the performance capabilities of Indian defence industries in varied gamut of operations under the aMake in Indiaa initiative. The MoD said that Chipakupaku extended his appreciation towards the advancement of Indian defence industries and looked forward to their support through high-quality and cost-effective equipment for the modernisation of Zambian defence forces. Both sides also agreed to explore opportunities for collaboration in manufacturing of small arms, ammunition and other defence equipment in Zambia. A 15-member delegation led by the Permanent Secretary, Defence, is on a visit to India from October 15 to 22. The delegation has visited various establishments of Indian armed forces as well as manufacturing facilities of various Indian defence industries, both public and private, the Defence Ministry official added. --IANS gcb/vd New Delhi, Oct 21 : The Delhi government has decided to provide an ex-gratia of Rs 1 crore to the families of two more Covid-19 warriors who lost their lives serving the people during the pandemic. The beneficiaries are the families of Satpal, a Nursing Orderly who served in the Delhi Health Department, and Constable Amit Kumar of the Delhi Police. Tragically, Satpal and Kumar contracted the virus while performing their Covid-related duties and subsequently lost their lives. The Chief Minister on Friday declared that Delhi stands as a "beacon of recognition for the sacrifices of Covid warriors" across the nation. So far, an ex-gratia honorarium of Rs 1 crore has been extended to the families of 92 coronavirus warriors, and the government is committed to providing continuous support to their families in the future. Kejriwal recounted the immense suffering experienced by the people of Delhi during the pandemic, and he recognised the numerous Covid warriors, including doctors, healthcare workers, police officers, sanitation workers, paramedics, and volunteers, who courageously risked their lives to serve the community. Satpal, who served as a Nursing Orderly at the District Medical Store in Saket, and Kumar, stationed at Bharat Nagar Police Station, made incredible contributions to the fight against Covid-19, he said. The Embassy of India in Baku hosted an enriching event entitled 'Rajasthan Promotion Day' in Baku on 16 October 2023. The event showcased the dynamic culture and tourism allure of Rajasthan and was attended by dignitaries from Azerbaijan, the Indian diaspora, as well as Presidents and office bearers of Indian community organisations. Representatives from major travel agencies and the media were also present. Ambassador Sridharan highlighted the tourism opportunities in Rajasthan, including through the popular Golden Triangle tour that links Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur. He underlined that there are seven direct flights every week between Baku and Delhi, further making Rajasthan an attractive destination. These flights only have a four-hour travel time. Mr. Prakash Kanjani gave a presentation on Rajasthan's tourism potential. His presentation spotlighted tourist gems in Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, and Jaisalmer that can be comfortably explored within a week's itinerary. The presentation also provided practical guidance on travelling within Rajasthan from Delhi and recommended local cuisine worth experiencing. The atmosphere was set by both Rajasthani and Azerbaijani artists donning traditional Rajasthani attire and delivering compelling performances. They danced to the song "Dhola Aayo Re," encapsulating the rhythm of Rajasthani weddings. They serenaded the audience with classic Rajasthani songs like "Kesariya Balam," which explores themes of love and longing, and "Chaudhary," a tribute to Rajasthani elders. They electrified the room with their energetic dance to "Perfume Lagai Chunni," reflecting Rajasthan's vivacious spirit. They danced to "Terah Taal and Kalbellia mix," capturing the rich cultural mosaic of Rajasthan. The performances were met with thunderous applause from the guests. To culminate the evening, attendees savoured an authentic Indian feast featuring select dishes from Rajasthani cuisine. New Delhi, Oct 21 : The names of 92 candidates from Madhya Pradesh and 79 from Rajasthan have been approved by the BJP Central Election Committee (CEC) during a meeting held in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the party's national headquarters here on Friday. Party sources said that the next list of candidates for these two states would be released on Saturday or Sunday. Sources said that party leaders discussed the names of candidates on all the remaining 94 Assembly seats of Madhya Pradesh, of which 92 names were finalised. A party leader said that some more information is being collected on the remaining two seats and if all gone well, the party will announce the names of candidates for remaining 94 seats in its fifth list for Madhya Pradesh. The BJP has already released four lists, comprising 136 names, for the elections of 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly. The polling in Madhya Pradesh is scheduled to be held on November 17. In view of the Rajasthan Assembly elections, more than 84 seats were discussed in the CEC meeting, of which names were finalised for about 79 seats. The BJP has released only one list of candidates for Rajasthan. In its first list for Rajasthan, released on October 9, the party announced the names of 41 candidates. Elections in Rajasthan will be held on November 25 to elect 200 members the state Assembly. The party CEC meeting to finalise candidates for Telangana Assembly polls is still going on, sources said. Telangana elections have been scheduled for November 30. Washington, Oct 21 : Republican Jim Jordan lost his third consecutive bid for US House Speaker as Republican holdouts increased to 25 on Friday to boot him out and GOP dropped him and went behind closed doors to chose a new nominee even as a bipartisan effort by Democrats to retain pro tem Patrick McHenry emerged. Jordan, a loyalist of former President Donald Trump, failed to lobby well in his outreach to overcome a well-entrenched opposition from a widening group of Republican holdouts, some of whom claimed they received death threats for blocking his ascent to the gavel, The Guardian reported. As the House of Representatives in the US Congress went speakerless for the 18th day in a row, Jordan, a founder of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus and hard-core ally of Trump, who led the congressional effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election, won 194 votes, well nigh of the majority needed to be elected speaker. To be elected speaker, Jordan had to win 217 votes on the floor. The Republican holdouts against Jordan swelled to 25 from Thursday's 20 in a troubling sign for Jordan. Three more in the second vote and five more than in his first failed effort. All Democrats rallied behind their partyas leader, Hakeem Jeffries of New York, who received 210 votes. In the earlier round he got 200 votes, reports said. Egged by supporters, Jordan indicated he was willing to plough through several more rounds of balloting, taking a page from his predecessor former Republican Speaker, Kevin McCarthy, who took 15 rounds to claim the gavel. Following the third vote on Friday, Republicans were planning to retreat again behind closed doors to chart their next steps and choose a new nominee, reports said. Ousted speaker McCarthy, who nominated Jordan to succeed him, nodded his head to the chaos engulfing House Republicans. "Being a speaker is not an easy job, especially in this conference," he said, drawing some laughs in the chamber. But he urged the group he once led to set aside their objections and grievances and vote for Jordan: "I know he is ready for the job." Congresswoman Kathleen Clark, the No. 2 House Democrat, then nominated Jeffries to the speakership, warning that Jordan was a "true threat to our democracy and our constitution". "It is not too late for the majority to choose a bipartisan path forward to reopen the House," she said. The speakeras chair has been vacant for a fortnight now since a group of hard-line Republicans ousted McCarthy at the beginning of October, a first in American history. The House is virtually paralysed without a speaker unable to conduct legislative business as wars rage in Europe and the Middle East and the President's bill to fund Israel and Ukraine for $100 billion in military and humanitarian gets stuck. On top of this,a government shutdown looms large on November 17 when the 45-day extension to government funding to federal agencies granted by ousted speaker Kevin McCarthy expires in another 30 days. The White House on Friday sent a sprawling package to Congress, requesting more than $105bn in funding to, among other things, aid Ukraine and Israel and address rising numbers of migrants entering the country without authorization at the US-Mexico border, media reports said. Jordan attempted to rally his Republican National Conference behind him with remarks that placed his quest to win the speakership alongside American achievements like taking flight and landing on the moon. "The fastest way to get to work for the American people is to elect a speaker so the House can be open and we can get things done," Jordan said on Friday morning. After three failed votes in which Jordan saw his opposition widen, additional rounds of balloting were not expected to break the impasse. A number of the holdouts have expressed their outrage at the hardball tactics employed by Jordanas allies to win over their votes, which has devolved into harassing calls and even death threats against lawmakers and their families, media reports said. "One thing I cannot stomach or support is a bully," said a statement from the congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks, an Iowa Republican, who switched her vote against Jordan on a second ballot after receiving "credible death threats". Concerns about a Jordan speakership vary. Some fear his combative brand of politics will make it harder for Republicans to defend their House majority in the 2024 elections, while others believe the challenges facing the country and the world were too great to hand the gavel to a lawmaker one former Republican speaker branded a "legislative terrorist". Munbil Airport, Munbil, Papua New Guinea [ LNF / ] If you are planning to travel to Munbil or any other city in Papua New Guinea, this airport locator will be a very useful tool. This page gives complete information about the Munbil Airport along with the airport location map, Time Zone, lattitude and longitude, Current time and date, hotels near the airport etc... Munbil Airport Map showing the location of this airport in Papua New Guinea. Munbil Airport IATA Code, ICAO Code, exchange rate etc... is also provided. Munbil Airport Info: Munbil Airport IATA Code: LNF Munbil Airport ICAO Code: Latitude : -4.86667 Longitude : 141.217 City : Munbil Country : Papua New Guinea World Area Code : 804 Airport Type : Small Timezone : Pacific/Port_Moresby Munbil Airport Timezone : GMT +10:00 hours Current time and date at Munbil Airport is 08:36:37 AM (+10) on Saturday, Nov 4, 2023 Looking for information on Munbil Airport, Munbil, Papua New Guinea? Know about Munbil Airport in detail. Find out the location of Munbil Airport on Papua New Guinea map and also find out airports near to Munbil. This airport locator is a very useful tool for travelers to know where is Munbil Airport located and also provide information like hotels near Munbil Airport, airlines operating to Munbil Airport etc... IATA Code and ICAO Code of all airports in Papua New Guinea. Scroll down to know more about Munbil Airport or Munbil Airport, Papua New Guinea. Munbil Airport Map - Location of Munbil Airport Load Map Papua New Guinea - General Information Country Formal Name Independent State of Papua New Guinea Country Code PG Capital Port Moresby Currency Kina (PGK) 1 PGK = 0.265 USD 1 USD = 3.776 PGK 1 PGK = 0.247 EUR 1 EUR = 4.053 PGK More PGK convertion rates Tel Code +675 Top Level Domain .pg This page provides all the information you need to know about Munbil Airport, Papua New Guinea. This page is created with the aim of helping travelers and tourists visiting Papua New Guinea or traveling to Munbil Airport. Details about Munbil Airport given here include Munbil Airport Code - IATA Code (3 letter airport codes) and ICAO Code (4 letter airport codes) Coordinates of Munbil Airport - Latitude and Longitude (Lat and Long) of Munbil Airport Location of Munbil Airport - City Name, Country, Country Codes etc... Munbil Airport Time Zone and Current time at Munbil Airport Address and contact details of Munbil Airport along with website address of the airport Clickable Location Map of Munbil Airport on Google Map. General information about Papua New Guinea where Munbil Airport is located in the city of Munbil. General information include capital of Papua New Guinea, currency and conversion rate of Papua New Guinea currency, Telephone Country code, exchange rate against US Dollar and Euro in case of major world currencies etc... LNF - Munbil Airport IATA Code BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. Azerpost continues its activities in Khankendi and other territories of Azerbaijan liberated from Armenian occupation, Azerpost CJSC told Trend. The provision of postal services in the territories liberated from occupation is provided by Fuzuli, Jabrayil, Aghdam and Goygol postal branches of Azerpost CJSC. At the same time, it is possible to use a number of financial services in postal branches, and make payments for communication services. In addition, relevant work is also underway to organize postal services in Azerbaijan's Khojavend, Aghdere, Asgaran and other liberated territories. A postal agency of the client services department of the Fuzuli district postal branch has started functioning in the settlement of Hadrut, Khojavend district of Azerbaijan since February 2021, and since May 2022 Aghali post office of the Zangilan postal branch has been operating in the village of Aghali (Zangilan). There were 295 post offices in the liberated territories before the occupation. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. Azerbaijan Railways (ADY) has launched the "ADY Mobile" application, another innovative step to ensure customer satisfaction in the field of passenger transportation, Trend reports via ADY. The new smartphone application will make it easier for passengers to plan their excursions. Through "ADY Mobile," it will be easier to buy and return tickets in all directions, replenish the balance, monitor traffic timetables, and receive all train news and updates. The mobile app allows users to safely and conveniently recharge their ADY card online with their debit card. Through the mobile app (after recharging the balance without using a plastic card), one can pass through the turnstile using a barcode, which will also work offline. The mentioned application is part of the large-scale transformation processes taking place in ADY. Thus, modern technologies and their advantages are constantly being researched, and improvements are being made to ensure comfortable and prompt passenger service. Thanks to the optimization of passenger transportation, the number of passengers transported by rail within Azerbaijan amounted to 5.3 million people this year. It is estimated that this year the number of passengers will exceed 6 million for the first time in the history of ADY. According to forecasts, the number of transported passengers will exceed 7 million next year. Azerbaijan Railways is currently moving towards transformation into a digital railroad. ADY has attracted an international consulting company, which conducted a diagnosis of IT systems and developed a "digitalization strategy". Along with many innovations, the strategy will be based on modern solutions aimed at improving the level of service in passenger transportation. The 24th Nairobi International Book Fair (NIBF), which took place from September 27 to October 1 at the Sarit Expo Center in Nairobi, Kenya, held the first international rights fair in East Africa. In partnership with the Kenya Publishers Association, eKitabua business that delivers accessible content, software, and programssponsored 12 publishing professionals from across Africa, Europe, and North America to meet with publishers, authors, and booksellers at the book fair. The flagship ambassadors came from Malawi, Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, Uganda, the U.S., the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, the U.K., and France. This first year has laid the foundation to open networks across the continent and internationally. By creating a serious rights fair on the continent, the NIBF hopes to lay a pathway for African writers to be published in other African countries and globally. Along with the African Publishers Network (APNET) and the Kenya Publishers Association, we want to grow to scale and sustain this initiative for 2024 and beyond, says Mercy Kirui, senior manager, content at eKitabu. We hope to build a community of people who will engage with us throughout the year to make this bigger and better. Participants characterized the rights fair as a success, regardless of how many deals result from the meetings. Rights fairs always occur outside the continent, says Goretti Kyomuhendo, publisher at Africa Writers Trust Ltd in Uganda. Because African publishers experience major hurdlesboth financial and visa-relatedto attend rights fairs in Europe or North America, other rights fairs always seem exclusionary to us. If geographic location is the first positive aspect to this fair, the second is simply the opportunity to sell rights. Because there is no enabling infrastructure for books to travel physically, the only way that books are going to travel on the continent, let alone to Europe and America, is through rights, Kyomuhendo says. Trade barriers, national borders, lack of infrastructure, and language differences all create enormous challenges for Africans to buy books written by African writers. Rwanda is just 15 minutes from Uganda, she says, yet I buy Rwandan writers in Europe. I am reading a book by a writer from Botswana. I bought it in London. Valeria Paolini, co-founder of Italian literary agency Passaparola and lead editor of Horizons Project with Incipit23, described her experience as eye-opening: There is a very stark difference between what I saw and what they have you believe is Africa in the west. This years initiative, she says, is an ambitious step to make this a fair to attend, and I hope it becomes a hot spot for agents, publishers, and writers to get things done. Ultimately, the fairs success will depend on the ability of the ambassadors to maintain the connections, relationships, and energy forged at this initial book fair. A few rights deals will go a long way to create excitement to support this initiative for 2024 and beyond. Mutesi Gasana, founder of Ubuntu Publishers in Rwanda, is currently negotiating rights to one of her titles with a publisher in Ghana as a result of the rights fair. It is a milestone, she says. These kinds of intracontinental rights deals are exactly what Raphael Thierry of the gitna Literary Agency in France is looking to explore with the new relationships he created at the fair. The market is not just global north to global south circulation, he explains. Local initiatives are arising here. We can switch to a new picture of the book trade that is globalized so its not just [conceptualized as] Frankfurt or London, but its Nairobi, Lagos, Sharjah The challenge is exhilarating. Frankfurt has been running for 75 years, Kyomuhendo says. And we are just beginning to do it on the continenthow exciting can that be? Jessica Powers is publisher at Catalyst Press, a North American and South African based publishing company that focuses on publishing African writers. She was a 2023 ambassador to the Nairobi International Book Fair. Pod Save America hosts and Crooked Media cofounders Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, and Tommy Vietor will publish their first book, Democracy or Else: How to Save America in 10 Easy Steps, with their Zando imprint Crooked Media Reads on June 4, 2024. World publishing rights were acquired by Zando senior editor Sarah Ried. Cowritten by Favreau, Lovett, Vietor, and Jimmy Kimmel Live! writer and producer Josh Holloway, Democracy or Else is billed as an "illustrated guide to saving American democracy." Crooked Media will donate profits from the book to support Vote Save America, its partners, and other organizations mobilizing for progressive outcomes in the 2024 election. The book is the second to be published by Crooked Media Reads, following Lydia Kiesling's sophomore novel Mobility, which was released in August. The imprint was launched in June 2022 as a partnership between independent publisher Zando and Crooked Media, the progressive media company founded by Favreau, Lovett, and Vietorformer Obama administration officialsin 2017. Politics is a slog, and its frustrating even on the days when a mob isnt hunting Mitt Romney, said Favreau, Lovett, and Vietor in a joint statement. We started Pod Save America and Crooked Media to give people an outlet for their anger, to find ways to help and find humor and joy in the fight. This book has a lot of what weve learned from the smartest organizers and least annoying politicians, plus jokes everyone will love without exception. On Thursday, the Republican-led House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education, chaired by Florida's Aaron Bean (R-FL), held a hearing on book bansand you could tell from the title how it was going to go: "Protecting Kids: Combating Graphic, Explicit Content in School Libraries. The hearing featured testimony from three witnesses who attempted to frame the surge in book bans in schools and libraries as an epidemic of porn that Joe Biden just won't address. It featured Lindsey Smith, a Moms for Liberty organizer; Max Eden, a research fellow at the American Enterprise Institute; and Megan Degenfelder, superintendent of the Wyoming Department of Education. The lone freedom to read advocate was PEN America's Jonathan Friedman, The message from the hearing's GOP-picked witnesses? There is no book banning. This is about all the filthy, "pornographic" books in schools in libraries. And the hearing predictably followed the book banner playbook: cherry pick graphic passages from books, out of context, and portray libraries and schools as liberal bastions riven with porn. Bean even started the hearing with a disclaimer that the hearing was going to feature some "very sensitive, mature issues" and some "wildly inappropriate" books from school libraries. One of the notable moments, however, came when Smith said she wanted to "address the lie" that parental groups and Moms for Liberty were engaged in book banning. If removing a sexually explicit book from school libraries is what you see as book banning, then you need to reevaluate your language. A report in The Hill picked up on the same point, and added Eden's concurrence. "Why is it, exactly, that left wing nonprofits, the media, and the Biden administration are so keen to enforce stocking school libraries with pornographic material? he asked. Those statements reflect maybe the most pernicious threat freedom to read advocates must understand and counter: how right wing groups are eager to redefine "the language" around what it means to ban a book. Dictating what you can read isn't book banning, they insistit's parental rights. Unless of course, you're the parent of a child who is being denied access to a book based on what a vocal minority deems appropriate. Friedman, for his part, wasn't having it. We can, and we must, distinguish between a parent raising a particular concern to a school official, he said, and a well-organized campaign to mobilize people to disrupt public education writ large. You can watch the hearing here. As Publishers Weekly reported this week, Scholastic Book Fairs is responding to accusations of censorship at its book fairs stemming from the creation of a new "optional" new diverse stories offering called "Share Every Story, Celebrate Every Voice." It's worth noting that some observers, most notably Kelly Jensen at Book Riot, have previously warned about book banners going after book fairs. In a post last month, Jensen predicted that book fairs would find themselves targeted. Meanwhile, at Book Riot, Jensen addresses the move at Scholastic Book Fairs as well as other recent trends, questioning whether some key "gatekeepers" may be going soft in the fight for the freedom to read. "Taken in isolation, all of these incidents are bad on their own," she writes. "But together, the all-white book lists, all-white bestsellers, all-white 'best books,' and an option to remove diverse books from book fairs say one thing: the gatekeepers have given up the fight." School Library Journal has an excellent piece capturing the response to Scholastic Book Fair's program, including from SLJ's 2021 School Librarian of the Year, Amanda Jones, who says she has canceled her next book fair. The Share Every Story boxes I received werent anything controversial or any books that would put librarians in jeopardy of breaking these absurd new laws Ive been keeping track of in other states, so I guess Im just confused about why we had to opt in for them, Jones told SLJ's Kara Yorio. And all of the opt-in books seemed to be by authors of color or with characters of color. The feeling I got from Scholastic was that Black authors are controversial and need to be separated." Other librarians piled on. "This is extraordinarily gutless, frankly," tweeted Massachusetts Association of Student Councils field director Tracy O'Connell Novick. "The librarians, teachers, and parents for whom you claim to be watching out for are putting their own safety and positions on the line in many cases to take actions to fight these efforts. You should be backing them up. Harper's Bazaar has a great talk with legendary writer Fran Lebowitz, who has some thoughts on librarians and book banning. "This specific kind of book banning is really just bigotry. Its racism. Its hatred of people that are not exactly like them," Lebowitz says. "I just came back from Detroit, and before that Baltimore, doing what Im about to do in Brooklyn. And I signed books after. And lots of times people in the book line tell me, 'Im a school librarian, I get death threats.' School librarians. These people are like the backbone of democracy. They are so important. They were very important in my childhood, very important to me. No one should get near telling them what to do. You know what you should do if you meet a librarian? Say thank you." You know what you should do if you meet a librarian? Say thank you. Wisconsin Public Radio reports that the Menomonee Falls High School has banned more than 30 books, including Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five, and Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye. "While several of the books chosen to be removed from Menomonee Falls High School are on the Advanced Placement English Literature reading list, superintendent David Munoz said the 33 books being removed from circulation are not in compliance with the 'sexually explicit content and/or profanity guidelines, set in school policy," the report states. "The community advocacy group Grassroots of Menomonee Falls Area learned about the book ban earlier in the week, when students who had the books checked out from the library were asked to return the materials by the end of the week." Great local reporting from Alabama, where the local Cullman Tribune reports that the Public Library Board of Cullman County voted not to remove a host of books after public meeting. "he books challenged at the boards September 19 meeting were Prince & Knight, Heather Has Two Mommies, and Lily and Dunkin. I persevere and am here to ensure that our taxpayer-funded public library has clear guidelines in place to protect our children from the pornography creeping into our Alabama libraries, one resident arguing for the bans said. Now, it is not for me to judge; thats Gods job, but it is for me, as a taxpayer, to request that my taxes do not fund agendas with which I disagree. In response, another resident defended the library and the books. I have seen harassment of the Cullman Public Library System on several social media posts, the resident said. The library isnt perfect. None of us are. But I yearn for the time when we as a community strive to move forward in unity through our diversity, where we allow the differences to permeate through us and strengthen us in the spirit of friendship. I will not remain silent while my friends, neighbors and fellow citizens are unfairly demonized and attacked. I will not indoctrinate my children to hate. Education Week reports on how a South Carolina school district boosted its ranks of school librarians. "District leaders in Charleston County attribute its teacher-librarian rebuild to a robust 'grow-your-own' program thats rooted in a strong partnership with a local university; offers attractive incentives including free tuition, flexible programming, and support for candidates; and appears to be contributing to improved academic achievement among its students." Also this week, ALA announced the longlist for the the 2024 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction. The list of 45 books (21 fiction, 24 nonfiction) is now available on the awards website. The six-title shortlistthree each for the fiction and nonfiction medalswill be chosen from longlist titles and announced on November 14, 2023. And finally this week, the Urban Libraries Council has released a useful report on AI in libraries. "Being on the frontline of new technology is a common position for libraries," states a release. While there are general concerns about AI being used for misinformation or disinformation, the positives of generative AIs productive applications greatly outweigh existing concerns. These applications include responsible applications that improve efficiency, speed up communication and serve as a useful tool for showcasing and validating library services and resources." The Week in Libraries is a weekly opinion and news column. News, tips, submissions, questions or comments are welcome, and can be submitted via email. Previous columns can be viewed here. Premium online access is only available tosubscribers. If you have an active subscription and need to set up or change your password, please click here New to PW? To set up immediate access, click here. NOTE: If you had a previous PW subscription, click here to reactivate your immediate access. PW site license members have access to PWs subscriber-only website content. If working at an office location and you are not "logged in", simply close and relaunch your preferred browser. For off-site access, click here. To find out more about PWs site license subscription options, please email Mike Popalardo at: mike@nextstepsmarketing.com. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. The volume of insured deposits in Azerbaijans MuganBank, whose license was revoked, amounts to 216.7 million manat ($127.5 million), Azerbaijani MP Vugar Bayramov said, Trend reports. The funds represent deposits in the amount of up to 100,000 manat ($58,823) with dividends of no more than 12 percent in manat and 2.5 percent in foreign currency. The deputy noted that along with deposits, funds up to 20,000 manat ($11,764) will be fully refunded to the bank account opened by individuals in connection with entrepreneurial activity, and funds belonging to individuals deposited to the notary's deposit account. "In order to receive compensation, the depositor must submit a written application to the Azerbaijan Deposit Insurance Fund. The depositor's identity card, a deposit agreement, a bankbook or other documents certifying the existence of a deposit in accordance with the law, and their copies must be submitted. If a representative of the depositor applies for compensation, he must additionally present a notarized power of attorney, Bayramov said. The Deposit Insurance Fund pays out funds no later than 90 days from the date of acceptance of the citizen's application. In exceptional cases, this period may be extended for another 90 days. Interest on deposits is paid in the amount accrued before the day of the insurance event. For deposits in national currency, compensation is paid in Azerbaijani manat, and for deposits in foreign currency - in the deposit currency. If the deposits are not in US dollars or euros, the compensation is calculated and paid based on the official exchange rates set by the Central Bank of Azerbaijan for the respective currencies on the day of the insurance event. Every person who has an insured deposit in Azerbaijan's MuganBank will be able to return their funds in full. Therefore, it is recommended to keep money in banks as an insured deposit," he said. The license of Mugan Bank was revoked on October 19, 2023, by the decision of the CBA Board dated October 18, 2023, in accordance with Articles 16.1.6, 16.1.7, 16.1.9, 16.1.18, 57, and 61. 1 of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Banks" (the amount of total capital is less than the minimum amount established by the legislation for banks, the ratio of total capital adequacy is less than three percent, the bank does not carry out its current activities in a reliable and prudent manner, as well as due to inadequate internal management and control procedures of the bank). A temporary administrator has been appointed and an appeal to the court on the liquidation of the bank due to its bankruptcy has been prepared. Ampere Analysis has given its view on the latest Netflix financials, observing the strongest Q3 for Netflix ever in terms of net subscriber additions. The account-sharing countermeasures have been the biggest driver for growth. Ampere Analysis has given its view on the latest Netflix financials, observing the strongest Q3 for Netflix ever in terms of net subscriber additions. The account-sharing countermeasures have been the biggest driver for growth. Richard Broughton, Executive Director & Co-Founder at Ampere Analysis, points to an extremely strong set of results for Netflix and suggests they will give the wider streaming market hope that the recent slowdowns can be overcome. Netflix added nearly 9 million new subscribers globally in Q3 2023, with the new ad-supported tier an important contributor to ARPU in Q3, alongside new accounts being created to share with friends and family. Broughton says of the account sharing countermeasures: The new policy was largely rolled out in Q2, with an immediate effect on subscriber additions. Our subscription tracking systems have also shown a sustained uplift in gross additions over subsequent months which is the key reason why Q3 results were very positive. Netflix has also managed to keep churn contained, despite effectively increasing prices for many of those sharing & borrowing accounts. Broughton notes that performance was strong in mature markets as well as in less-saturated territories, with subscriber growth coupled with ARPU growth. Netflix added 1.8m new subscribers in North America and nearly 4m in Europe. There were quarter-on-quarter ARPU increases of 2% in North America, 3% in LatAm and 1% in EMEA. Broughton points out that Netflix's content release strategy has been minimally impacted by strikes, thanks to a lengthy pipeline, but subscribers will see the effects towards the end of this year. Broughton believes the removal of the ad-free basic tier will now drive growth for the ad-supported tier. This was one of the big adjustments to packaging strategy which Netflix has made in recent periods, he points out. Prior to its removal, the 'standard with ads' package was far more unpopular than any of the other tiers, and represented just 10%-15% of Netflix's gross additions, by our estimates. The removal of the ad-free basic tier is a key reason that 30% of new sign-ups are now taking the ad-supported product. With further adjustments to package pricing across key markets starting with the U.S., UK and France we would expect to see new subscribers increasingly looking to the cheaper ad-supported tier. Broughton says the ad-supported tier is a slow-burn strategy for Netflix and the impact of increased ad-supported sign-ups will take time to wash through Netflix's subscriber base. It is not like the account-sharing measures, which will have immediate obvious effects on the company's financials. Property details: This land is a small (2,500sq ft) wooded lot on Piney Lane, Cedar Glen near Lake Arrowhead and is being sold 'as is'. It was purchased 20 years ago and we wished always to build a log cabin and be off the grid, but due to multiple purchases all over the country, this one slipped through without ever being set foot on. It is a diamond in the rough and ready for you to follow your dreams. Hunting, fishing, ski-ing and sitting back enjoying the view of the mountains. (There is a sister property wit... Price: $ 5,000 Seller State of Residence: Pennsylvania Type: Homesite, Lot Property Address: APN#0331-158-24-0-000 Zip/Postal Code: 92321 Zoning: Residential City: San Bernardino State/Province: California Location: 194**, Norristown, Pennsylvania You will be redirected to eBay Nearby California Property details: BLUE TREE RESORT at LAKE BUENA VISTALake Buena Vista, FL Blue Tree Resort provides a true home away from home. With a strong list of amenities and access to much more both on property and nearby, you can be sure that your experience will be on your time and according to your lifestyle. After a full day at the theme park, outlet mall or one of Orlandos other famed attractions, youll be delighted to return to your thoughtfully appointed suite at Blue Tree Resort at Lake Buena Vista. Resort A... Price: $ 1 Seller State of Residence: Missouri Property Address: 12007 Cypress Run Road, Orlando, FL Number of Bedrooms: 1 Number of Bathrooms: 1 Zip/Postal Code: 32830 City: Orlando State/Province: Florida Location: 658**, Springfield, Missouri You will be redirected to eBay Nearby Florida BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. The North-South transport corridor will eventually be able to move up to 30 million tons of freight each year, the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Maria Zakharova told Trend. "In terms of transport issues, the focus is on the prospects for the development of successfully functioning international trade routes, such as the North-South, which include the systematic construction of highways," she said. As Zakharova noted, due to the multiplicity of the corresponding infrastructure, this process has a positive impact simultaneously on the economic, social, and environmental aspects of both individual regions and Russia and Kazakhstan as a whole. Speaking about the participation of some countries in the region, including Kazakhstan, in the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR or Middle Corridor), Maria Zakharova noted that here the Russian position is clear: each country has the right to independently decide which project to join based on its own interests. The foundation of the North-South Transport Corridor was laid on the basis of the intergovernmental agreement signed between Russia, Iran, and India on September 12, 2000. Azerbaijan joined this agreement in 2005. In total, 13 countries have ratified the agreement (Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Armenia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Sultanate of Oman, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkiye and Ukraine). The Middle Corridor is a transportation and trade route that connects Asia and Europe, passing through several countries in the region. It is an alternative route to the traditional Northern Corridor and Southern Corridor. The route starts in China and crosses Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. It then passes through the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkiye before reaching Europe. The Middle Corridor offers a land route that connects the eastern parts of Asia, including China, with Europe, bypassing the longer maritime routes. Israels defense minister has told ground troops to be ready to enter the Gaza Strip, though he didnt say when the invasion will start Israeli airstrikes on Gaza continue and Israels defense minister has told troops to be ready for a ground assault on the Palestinian territory, although he has not said when that will begin The University of Georgia Students for Justice in Palestine hosted a Night of Remembrance at the North Campus Quad on Thursday, Oct. 19 to honor lives lost this past week and in the last 75 years of conflict. Community members shared the space to mourn and stand in solidarity with Palestine through moments of silence, prayers, short speeches and poetry readings. As I do not belong to any of the communities involved, I find it extremely important to educate myself on the entirety of the conflict and try to understand the complexities the best I can. As allies, we should sympathize with all innocent Israeli and Palestinian citizens that face violence despite their own actions. To fully understand their struggles, its important to start by learning about the history of the conflict and lend support to those who need it. The Hinduja group is learnt to be looking at alternative means of financing, including private credit, to fund its Rs 9,661 crore all-cash offer to acquire Reliance Capital. Photograph: Courtesy, Hinduja Foundation The regulator, Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority of India (Irdai), had earlier rejected the collateral offered by the group to raise funds. The Hinduja group was in talks with Barclays, JPMorgan, Cerberus Capital Management and Apollo Global Management to raise up to $850 million. And it had offered a 51 per cent stake in Reliance Nippon Life Insurance and 100 per cent in Reliance General Insurance both owned by Reliance Capital and constituting more than 90 per cent of its value as collateral. According to a banker, several European banks and private equity funds are in talks with the group, but the collateral for the funds will not be the shares offered in the two insurance companies. Earlier, following Irdais indication that no application for change in control would be considered if the source of funds for the acquisition created a pledge over the shares of an insurance company, the Reserve Bank administrator had asked the Hinduja group to submit a new funding plan to Irdai. Barclays and JPMorgan refused to comment, and emails sent to Cerberus Capital and Apollo through their websites did not elicit any response. While a spokesperson for the Hinduja group said none of the banks had withdrawn the fundraising plans, a source in the know said alternative collateral was being offered. Private credit, or non-bank lending to companies, is one of the fastest-growing segments in the global lending landscape, with close to $1.3 trillion worth of assets under management. Of this, $350 billion of capital is waiting to be deployed globally. A large number of foreign private equity companies are setting up shop in India to offer private credit. The Hinduja offer is subject to the decision of the Supreme Court, which is hearing a petition filed by the Torrent group, the winner of the first auction, objecting to the second auction conducted by banks. Lady candidates need not apply. Kindly note the image has been posted only for representational purposes. Photograph: Kind courtesy Helpsg/Pixabay So read the postscript in a job notice from Telco (now Tata Motors) on a notice board in the corridors of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (now Bengaluru), in 1974. Irked, Sudha Murty, who was then pursuing her masters in computer science at the institute, wrote a postcard to JRD Tata, expressing her surprise at this gender discrimination, especially since the Tata Group were pioneers on many fronts. Shortly, Murty became the first woman on the firms shop floor. About five decades on, 13 per cent of the workforce and 23 per cent of the hires on the shop floors of Tata Motors are women. And the auto major has just set a goal to increase the share of women on its shop floor to 25 per cent in the future. Tata Motors is not the only company looking to step up gender inclusivity in the manufacturing space. Across industries, there is a growing effort to bring in gender diversity. Deloittes Blue Collar Workforce Trends Report 2023 shows that the current female blue collar workforce participation is at 8 per cent (1 in 12), a rise from <2 per cent a couple of decades earlier. The life sciences, automotive, and engineering design are sectors that are leading in gender diversity ratio on account of their high degree of automation, skilled talent requirement and premium pay. The study covers 104 organisations and more than 300 manufacturing units. A shift in mindset Soni Singh, 38, now area manager, engineering plant electrics Tata Steel, Jamshedpur, was among the 12 women recruited from a batch of 120 in 2001. It was the first batch of trade apprentices at Tata Steel that included women. In the past couple of years, however, the percentage of women at the companys intake-level has gone up to 45-50 per cent. Singh has been placed in different sections from the sinter plant to the central maintenance team and the blast furnace. Now, I am working in a designing role where plants are getting designed for production. The environment in a steel plant is harsh, with exposure to extreme heat and dust. But the women employees here are steely too. Of Tata Steel Indias 36,000 employees, women on the shop floor comprise 7.5 per cent (till September 2023) of the workforce. The company is now planning a pink coke oven battery unit at Jamshedpur, to be operated entirely by women by the end of next year. At JSW Steel facilities, some of the production lines are managed by women. A coil-to-plate and sheet processing line at Vijayanagar in Karnataka is completely run by women. Two steel coating lines and a new cold rolling mill at Vasind in Maharashtra are also largely operated by women. Currently, close to 6 per cent of JSW Steels total workforce are women and the company is looking to take the number to 15 per cent by 2030. Others are not far behind. ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) has doubled the percentage of women on the shop floor in the last four years. But Ashutosh Telang, chief human resources officer, AM/NS India, feels that there is a lot more to be done. The $2 billion auto components maker, Anand Group, currently has 1,700 women on the shop floor, constituting 20 per cent of its workforce. It plans to increase the number to 30 per cent by 2025. In some of its units, the representation of women is as high as 70-100 per cent. The countrys largest commercial vehicle major, Ashok Leyland, has implemented an all-women production line at its Hosur facility in Tamil Nadu. And Ola Electrics Future Factory has a 100 per cent female workforce in Tamil Nadu. Instances of higher representation of women on the shop floor are common in the southern states. The ecosystem of Apple Inc, including its vendors, Foxconn, Pegatron, and Wistron, and component manufacturers like Salcomp, Avery and Jabil, is now the largest single-brand employer of women in India. A large chunk of these women employees are in Tamil Nadu in the units of Foxconn and Pegatron. Similarly, in ITCs integrated consumer goods manufacturing and logistics facilities (ICMLs), which include units in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, women constitute between 50 per cent and 75 per cent of the total workforce. According to Aditya Narayan Mishra, managing director and CEO of CIEL HR, a study conducted by his company across 131 firms in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu indicates a 26 per cent increase in female employees on the shop floor in 2023 over 2022. The female-to-male ratio in this function stands at 4:10 in 2023, up from 1:10 in 2022, says Mishra. In the male-dominated rail sector, Wabtec Corporation (formerly GE Transportation) recently introduced a dedicated Pink Line on its shop floor. We are pursuing a target of above 20 per cent women on our shop floors, in white-collar functions and in engineering teams, says Sujatha Narayan, senior vice-president and India region head, Wabtec Corporation. Why the push for women There are multiple reasons for companies to push the pedal on improving gender diversity. As Jaya Singh Panda, chief learning & development and chief diversity officer, Tata Steel, points out, If you dont increase women participation in the workplace across industries then a large talent pool is out of the system, apart from the fact that economic growth gets impacted. Adds Jagdish Kumar, group president and chief financial officer, Anand Group: There are several advantages of recruiting women first being less attrition. Ashok Leylands Raja Radhakrishnan, president and head of human resources, feels more women on the shop floor not only creates inclusiveness but also a positive and productive work environment. For AM/NS Indias Telang, employing more women taps into the potential of a workforce segment with unique strengths and perspectives, and this is needed to meet its goal of 40 million tonne per annum by 2035. And ITCs Amitav Mukherji, head, corporate human resources, is betting big on employing women, enthused by their regularity, dexterity and discipline. Diversity is also an important component of ESG (environment, social, governance) reporting. The Securities and Exchange Board of Indias new ESG framework becomes applicable for top 150 companies from this fiscal. The barriers For women on the shop floor the journey has often not been easy. Vaishnavi Sudhakar Wakale, 22, who works at Tata Motors trim, chassis, and final (TCF)- 2 plant in Pune, says that the idea of stepping out to work was inconceivable for women in her village. Now my parents are proud of what I have achieved, and assembling cars gives me a sense of empowerment, Wakale says. Successfully doing what was traditionally considered a mans job has given them a unique sense of empowerment, says Sitaram Kandi, vice-president, human resources, passenger vehicles and electric vehicles, Tata Motors. They are now our strongest advocates, encouraging other women in their network to join the shop floor. Wakales tribe is certainly increasing, albeit at a slow pace. In the blue-collar environment, there is a stigma attached to working, and hence the representation of women is lower, Neelesh Gupta, director, Deloitte India, points out. Though Deloittes study states that one in 12 blue-collar workforce in India is female, traditional industries, such as chemicals, cement, and EPC/infra, which have less automation, operate in remote locations, and emphasise more on physical labour, have a lower ratio (1:15) in the manufacturing sector, Gupta adds. The representation of women in the white-collar workforce is, of course, much higher 14 to 16 per cent in manufacturing compared to 8 per cent for blue-collar jobs. The difference is probably on account of the fact that these jobs need less manual work, pay a premium and have better flexibility as compared to blue-collar jobs, explains Gupta. But whether blue collar or white collar, there is also the overarching issue of gender pay gap. India Incs journey towards gender justice needs to address all factors to improve womens participation in the workforce. 'The world is watching carefully. The choices India makes today have consequences beyond its borders.' IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra D Modi with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Photograph: Shrikant Singh/ANI Photo Canada has withdrawn 41 diplomats from India amid a dispute over the murder of a Sikh separatist leader, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said on Thursday, October 19, 2023, adding that Ottawa would not take retaliatory steps, Reuters reported. "Canadian diplomats have been asked to leave, and have left. I do not regard that step by India as escalatory because India had already announced that decision soon after the crisis broke," Ambassador Jitendra Nath Misra, India's former envoy to Portugal, tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih. Currently Professor of Diplomatic Practice at the O P Jindal Global University, Sonipat and Distinguished Fellow at the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies, Dhaka, Ambassador Misra adds, "Canada is not the existential problem for India that China and Pakistan are." Part 1 of the Interview: 'It appears Canada has realised it has made a mistake' You said that India has greater international influence today than it had 30 years ago. What does India's response to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations indicate about India's enhanced power? If this happened 30-40 years ago, the world might have responded differently, but today, India counts for more. India is shifting from a balancing to a leading role. It is a consequential power not just in the region, or in the wider region, but globally. We are seeing an example of that in the fallout of the Trudeau allegations because it is having an impact not just on bilateral ties with Canada, but the US, and perhaps also the UK and Australia. The world is watching carefully. The choices India makes today have consequences beyond its borders. Does Canada lose more because of this breakdown of relations than India does because of India's strategic importance and rising international stature? That is a question to which I do not have a good answer. India's international stature is rising and that might be the reason why the Americans have not been very active in commenting publicly after the initial statements. I can speculate that they might have also urged Trudeau to climb down one or two notches, which he appears to have done. Structurally, Canada is part of the Five Eyes. The US Ambassador to Canada David Cohen has claimed that Trudeau's allegations are based on information provided under the Five Eyes framework and there is speculation that the US gave Canada the information. These statements have to be taken seriously, yet they are still allegations which have not been proven. It also shows that Canada has powerful friends and is not working alone. There has been a degree of public pressure on India by the United States. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has said there are no exceptions while responding to allegations in the media that the US was going soft on India, because of China. However, there is no grand coalition of the Anglosphere against India. Power brings responsibility and India has to take a lot more on its chin in the real world and must not react to every perceived slight. Therefore, I am afraid the Indian media has gone ballistic with shocking claims about Trudeau's personality and his behaviour. These statements are not helpful because our problem goes far back. Why have Canadian politicians not taken India's concerns about the Khalistani threat seriously? It was not something started by Trudeau, other Canadian politicians are guilty too. They have brushed aside India's claims of terrorism emanating from Canadian soil and attacks on the representations and properties of the Indian government. Trudeau's political opportunism and missteps are part of a larger structural problem. He is not the first Canadian politician to put votes before principles, but he has gone further down that path in an escalatory spiral than any of his predecessors, and that has led to a crisis in ties to India. IMAGE: President Droupadi Murmu and Modi receive US President Joe Biden at the Bharat Mandapam during the G20 Summit Gala Dinner, in New Delhi, September 10, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo As India becomes more powerful and more consequential in the world, what reset does the Anglosphere need in its understanding of India particularly? India is not evangelical or ideological about human rights. The Anglosphere is opportunistic because they have weaponised human rights for strategic purposes making interventions in India's domestic affairs. There has been a duality in American State behaviour as far as regime changes abroad are concerned. They cozy up to dictators when it suits their purposes, and destabilise democratic regimes in the process. They support democrats when it suits them. When their interests are threatened and they need friendly regimes, they will support dictators and military regimes as in the case of Pakistan. All these claims about human rights seem hollow. The UK historically has the lead on this, as far as India is concerned. But it is a general problem in the West. Only, US activism on this is more damaging because the US is the most consequential among these powers. IMAGE: Trudeau leaves the international media centre in New Delhi, September 10, 2023, after addressing a press conference. Photograph: Shrikant Singh/ANI Photo The West has a rather insular view of the world, whereas the world looks very different from India's point of view. An example of the duality of the American approach towards India was evident when USS John Paul Jones entered India's Exclusive Economic Zone without prior consent in 2021, near Lakshadweep. The US Seventh Fleet went public on this. It was like thumbing their nose at India. The US does similar operations in the South China Sea, because of China's exaggerated and highly untenable territorial claims, but they also do it to India! All politics is local. Indian opinion turned against the US. The Anglosphere has a strong partnership with India and they should be prudent and careful. US interventions in the Indian Ocean undermining Indian interests are something India could do without with China aggressively poised along the contested Line of Actual Control. There has been incomplete disengagement and no de-escalation unfortunately. Canada unveiled its Indo Pacific strategy last year and strategically Canada and India are on the same side as far as countering China is concerned. Therefore, if Canada is offering a quiet dialogue, India should take that opportunity. Canada is not the existential problem for India that China and Pakistan are. We should not be taking our eyes off the ball. IMAGE: Chinese President Xi Jinping, centre and Chinese Premier Li Qiang, left, at a reception dinner at the Great Hall of the People ahead of China's National Day in Beijing, September 28, 2023. Photograph: Jade Gao/Pool via Reuters ...because our biggest problems lie in our neighbourhood? Exactly. India cannot be a great power as long as it has disputed borders, territorial vulnerabilities, and lacks state cohesion. Until we overcome our internal and neighbourhood problems, we will have to deal with our contested neighbourhood as our primary theatre. Problems with Canada should not serve as a distraction. This crisis would have done some good if it makes Canada realise that it has been callous towards India's concerns about Khalistan. Khalistan is an imagined entity. It does not resonate in India. It only resonates with tiny sections of Sikhs in the Anglosphere -- Canadian, British, American and Australian -- and hardly elsewhere. Why does it not resonate in Germany, or France, or Thailand, or Malaysia? There are Sikhs in Thailand and Malaysia. There should be an honest and symmetrical discussion to address India's concerns as much as Canada would like India to address its own concerns over the Nijjar killing. How do you see things going forward? Publicly at least Canada has climbed down, India has not blinked. Canadian diplomats have been asked to leave, and have left. I do not regard that step by India as escalatory because India had already announced that decision soon after the crisis broke. India, meanwhile, has not publicly climbed down. I suspect that there will be a deep and protracted conversation because of the structural problems of the relationship. It is a hope and a possibility that we might see efforts to prevent further damage, and then to rebuild the relationship. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com 'By making it so public in the House of Commons, you know the reaction in India... Mr Modi is not very happy about it; you're kicking out Canadian diplomats; you suspended visa services for Canadians...' IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra D Modi greets Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Bharat Mandapam, September 9, 2023. Photograph: Evan Vucci/Pool via Reuters On Thursday, October 19, 2023, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said Canada had withdrawn 41 diplomats and their family members from India after New Delhi threatened to strip them of their diplomatic immunity in the wake of the diplomatic row over the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia on June 18. Journalist Robert Fife is the Ottawa bureau chief for Canada's The Globe and Mail newspaper. He had informed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government that his newspaper would publish a report that pointed fingers at Indian agents of being involved in Nijjar's murder. This, it is said, provoked Trudeau to make his statement in the Canadian parliament on September 18, 2023, blaming India for the Nijjar murder. "The (Canadian) prime minister's office had asked us (The Globe and Mail) to wait a week before we publish (the report). I said, no, we'll give them (the Canadian government) 24 hours," Fife tells Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com in an exclusive interview. "And they (the Canadian government) rushed and announced it (the allegation that Indian agents were involved in Nijjar's murder)," says Fife. "I'm a little bit surprised the way they (Trudeau and his government) handled this," says Fife. "I would have thought that they would have simply let us publish the story and then come out and said, 'For national security reasons and because of an ongoing criminal investigation, we can't comment on these allegations. But we've talked to the Indian authorities and we've talked to our allies, but we're not going to have any further comment'." How credible do you think are Prime Minister Trudeau's allegations? Well, obviously they have to be serious allegations or he wouldn't have stood up in the House of Commons and made the allegations. They obviously have to be serious because the United States, Great Britain, Australia and our other Five Eyes (including Canada and New Zealand) allies have said that the allegations are serious and that the Indian government should cooperate in the investigation. How thick is the line between making credible allegations and providing hard evidence? Well, I don't know, I haven't seen the evidence that they have. But I have to believe that the US Secretary of State (Antony Blinken), Jake Sullivan, the US national security advisor, have all said that the allegations made by Canada are serious. The US ambassador has said that some of the intelligence was provided by one of the Five Eyes. I assume it was the United States that provided intelligence to Canada, although the Canadian government has intelligence involving communications with Indian diplomats. But we don't know exactly what the allegations are specifically and we are probably not going to be able to know this until the police investigation is complete. That's my understanding. But the Opposition leader, Pierre Poilievre has said that it's important for the government -- if they're going to make serious allegations like that -- to release the allegations (evidence). We've seen this happen before when Russian agents tried to kill people in the United Kingdom and they showed pictures of them; when there was the Khashoggi murder in Turkey by (spies of) Saudi Arabia (who) went into their embassy and killed the Saudi journalist, the Turks provided not only pictures of him (Khashoggi) going in, but also audio recordings of him being killed in the embassy as well. The United Arab Emirates did the same thing when they found out that eleven Israeli agents were trying to kill a Hamas leader in a hotel and they showed pictures of them changing into disguises and what not. So, one would hope that at some point, if these allegations are serious, the Canadian government will put the evidence forward. Unless, of course, the Indian government decides to cooperate with the (Canadian) government and admit that if there were (Indian) agents who may be involved in this (murder), they (the Indian government) can say, well look, these were rogue elements (from Indian intelligence agencies) who did this (murdered Nijjar). Obviously, Prime Minister (Narendra D) Modi would not have known about this, but we just don't know (who is actually involved in Nijjar's murder) at this particular point. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are still investigating the murder. Would you then think that Trudeau jumped the gun by going public with his allegations? I had found out that this was the reason why the Canadian government cancelled free trade talks with India or postponed them. They (free trade negotiations) were moving along at a pretty rapid pace, they were cancelled and then they (the Indian government) cancelled a Canadian trade mission to India. I did a lot of phoning around and talking to people, and I found out that, in fact, the reason why this (the trade deal between India and Canada) was cancelled was because of the allegations that India had a role in the killing of Mr Nijjar. The (Canadian) prime minister's office had asked us (The Globe and Mail) to wait a week before we publish (a report that pointed fingers at Indian agents of being involved in Nijjar's murder). I said, no, we'll give them (the Canadian government) 24 hours. And they (the Canadian government led by Prime Minister Trudeau) rushed it out and announced it (the allegation that Indian agents were involved in Nijjar's murder). I'm a little bit surprised the way they (Trudeau and his government) handled this. I would have thought that they would have simply let us publish the story and then come out and said, 'For national security reasons and because of an ongoing criminal investigation, we can't comment on these allegations. But we've talked to the Indian authorities and we've talked to our allies, but we're not going to have any further comment.' This would not have painted Prime Minister Modi into a corner. It might have allowed the (Canadian) government to be able to cooperate with the Indian authorities and working with our allies to try to get whoever was responsible for this murder was brought to justice. But by making it so public in the House of Commons, you know the reaction in India... Mr Modi is not very happy about it; you're kicking out Canadian diplomats; you suspended visa services for Canadians, which is going to have a big impact because we have a large Indian population in Canada. They want to go home to see their family. And we have a lot of business people wanting to go to India because it's such a thriving market now, and it's a place where everybody wants to do business because India is a rule-of-law society. People speak English, and you have a really growing and vibrant high tech industry as well. And so companies are pulling out of China and wanting to settle in India. Would you believe in a conspiracy theory that somebody wanted to scuttle the trade deal between India and Canada and so this row over Nijjar's murder was engineered? No way. The murder was engineered? Not the murder. But the Canadian prime minister going whole hog and blaming India publicly for Nijjar's murder? There's no conspiracy theory. Everybody in the country wants a trade deal with India. It's really important. We want a trade deal. There's no conspiracy on that. Goodness. Canadians have been trying to get a trade deal with India for a very long time. And it's a really important country, and we have such close ties with India. We have a large Hindu and Sikh population in this country, and I don't believe that (conspiracy theory to scuttle the trade deal) at all. Canada has withdrawn 41 diplomats and their family members from India after it threatened to strip them of their diplomatic immunity, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly has said, amid a diplomatic row over the killing of a Sikh separatist. Tensions flared between India and Canada last month following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's explosive allegations of the "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18 in British Columbia. India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020. India angrily rejected the allegations as "absurd" and "motivated". "I can confirm that India has formally conveyed its plan to unilaterally remove diplomatic immunities for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents in Delhi by tomorrow, October 20," Joly said on Thursday. Canada will be pausing all in-person services at the consulates in Chandigarh, Mumbai and Bengaluru and is now directing all Canadians in India to the High Commission in New Delhi. Joly said that in their "unreasonable" request for diplomatic parity, India would only allow 21 diplomats and their families to maintain their diplomatic status, putting the others at risk of having their protections stripped arbitrarily, leaving them vulnerable to reprisal or arrest. "This means 41 Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents were in danger of having immunity stripped on an arbitrary date, and this would put their personal safety at risk," she said at a news conference in Ottawa. "The safety of Canadians and of our diplomats is always my top concern. Given the implications of India's actions on the safety of our diplomats, we have facilitated their safe departure from India," Joly said. "This means that our diplomats and their families have now left." Last month, India asked Canada to downsize its diplomatic staff in the country, arguing that there should be parity in strength and rank equivalence in the mutual diplomatic presence. The size of Canadian diplomatic staff in India is larger than what New Delhi has in Canada. Calling India's action "contrary to international law," and in violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, Joly accused India of escalating the bilateral tensions, but Canada will not be reciprocating. "There is a fundamental principle of diplomacy, and this is a two-way street. It only works if every country abides by the rules," she said. A unilateral revocation of diplomatic privileges and immunities is contrary to international law, Joly said. Threatening to do so is unreasonable and escalatory. If we allow the norm of diplomatic immunity to be broken, no diplomats anywhere would be safe. "So for this reason, we will not reciprocate," she added. "Let me be clear, Canada will continue to defend international law, which applies to all nations and will continue to engage with India. Now more than ever, we need diplomats on the ground, and we need to talk to one another," Joly said. Joly announced the development "on the situation with India" alongside Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Marc Miller, who announced the shrinking of Canada's footprint to one-third of what it was, will impact the level of service delivery Canada will be able to provide in India. "Remaining staff will continue to focus on the work that can't be moved out of the country, such as urgent cases, visa printing, and working with visa application centres," Miller said, noting that Canada's 10 visa application centres are operated by third-party contractors and will not be impacted. Those left are considered core staff, who will remain focused on the current challenging diplomatic situation, as well as trade and business files, according to officials who briefed reporters on a not-for-attribution basis on Thursday evening. Commercial programming for businesses will continue, but at reduced capacity, and Canada continues to employ locally engaged staff. Miller noted that in 2022, India was the top country for permanent residents, temporary foreign workers, and international students in Canada, and so the federal government recognises the impacts that will be felt. "I want to reassure our clients in India and Canadians who have family and friends in India that Canada will continue to accept and process all temporary and permanent resident applications from India," he said, adding that it may just take longer. The remarks by the ministers come after Prime Minister Trudeau was asked on Thursday for a status update on the Indian government giving Ottawa an October 10 deadline to significantly reduce its diplomatic footprint. As CTV News reported at the time, Canada was asked to see dozens of diplomats depart, to put the contingent of officials in India on par with the number of Indian diplomats in Canada. Sources said then, that Canada had already evacuated a majority of the Canadian diplomats working in India outside of Delhi to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Trudeau did not directly answer the question, saying instead that Joly would have more to say later. "We have been continually engaged in diplomacy and in dialogue with the Indian government," Trudeau said. "This is a serious matter that we are taking extremely seriously." Earlier, Trudeau had said that Canada shared with India "many weeks ago" evidence that it may have been behind the killing of Nijjar on Canadian soil and wants New Delhi to commit constructively with Ottawa to establish the facts in the "very serious matter." Trudeau, however, did not elaborate on the evidence that he says has been shared with India. Pressed for more details on whether Canada has provided India evidence to back Canada's claims and how it reached its conclusions regarding the potential link to the extrajudicial killing, Joly in the past too was unspecific beyond stating the two countries had various meetings and information was shared, leading up to Trudeau's House of Commons declaration. Joly also restated Trudeau's calls for India to cooperate in the ongoing probe, noting federal law enforcement agencies in Canada "are working actively." India has asked Canada to come down hard on terrorists and anti-India elements operating from its soil and suspended visa services for Canadians. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told journalists in Washington last month that the governments of India and Canada will have to talk to each other and see how they resolve their differences over the issue and underlined that but the larger issue of the Canadian government's "permissiveness" to terrorism, extremism and violence must be flagged and addressed. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, October 20. Kazakhstan's QazaqGaz (national gas company) has signed a new gas export contract with China's PetroChina International for 20232026, Trend reports. The agreement was signed within the framework of the "One Belt, One Road" Summit, with the participation of President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the Kazakh delegation. As the company explained, the signed agreement will allow the companies to bring cooperation on the export of Kazakh gas to China to a new, effective level. Throughout 2023, the head of QazaqGaz held negotiations with the management of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and PetroChina International regarding the terms and prospects of a new export contract with China. Gas production volume for 2022 in Kazakhstan amounted to 53.3 billion cubic meters, or 103.1 percent of the 2022 plan. Commercial gas production amounted to 27.8 billion cubic meters, or 94 percent of the plan. Domestic consumption of commercial gas in Kazakhstan amounted to 19.3 billion cubic meters, or 107.2 percent of the 2022 plan; exports were 4.6 billion cubic meters, or 85.1 percent of the plan. The volume of liquefied petroleum gas production (supplied to the domestic market) amounted to 2.8 million tons, or 98 percent of the plan. In 2022, Kazakhstans trade turnover with China amounted to $24.1 billion, which is 34.1 percent more than a year earlier. Exports from Kazakhstan increased over the year by 34.7 percent, to $13.2 billion. The share of Kazakhstan's exports to China accounted for a significant 15.6 percent of the country's total trade turnover. Imports from China to Kazakhstan grew by 33.5 percent over the year, to $11 billion. China's share in the structure of imports from the Republic of Kazakhstan amounted to 21.9 percent. Veteran Communist leader and former chief minister V S Achuthanandan, one of the most popular and crowd-puller leaders in the history of the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist in the state, turned 100 on Friday. IMAGE: Former Kerala chief minister V S Achuthanandan. Photograph: PTI Photo Velikkakathu Sankaran Achuthanandan, popularly called 'Comrade VS' by his admirers, was the founder-leader of the CPI(M) after the split from the undivided Communist Party of India in 1964. Though the veteran has been keeping away from public and media glare for quite some time due to age-related issues, the ideals of the iconic leader and the tough stands he has taken on various social and political issues are still a topic of discussion as the party-led government is in power in the state. Achuthanandan spent the day with his family members at his son Arun Kumar's residence in Thiruvananthapuram, party sources said. Cutting across party and political lines, people from various walks of life greeted the Marxist leader on his 100th birthday. Governor Arif Mohammed Khan conveyed his 'hearty greetings and best wishes' to Achuthanandan over the phone, Kerala Raj Bhavan said. 'My heartiest greetings and best wishes to former Chief Minister Shri #VS Achuthanandan on his 100th birthday. I join the people of Kerala in wishing the beloved & respected people's leader good health &happiness,' he said in a post on social media platform X. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Comrade VS is a person who has travelled along with the history of modern Kerala. The role played by leaders, including VS, in transforming the state into today's Kerala, is undeniable, he said in a message. Saying that his interventions in various issues as a people's representative, opposition leader and chief minister was remarkable, Vijayan said Achuthanandan is a leader who had stood with the masses and against their exploitation. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said it is not given to many to reach the century mark in life but V S Achuthanandan, who does today, has been a stalwart of the CPM in Kerala and has left his mark on state politics, Ramesh said on his X handle. 'I recall my many interactions with him when he was CM and I was union minister. These meetings combined seriousness with his trademark humour,' the Congress leader said in his post. People from various walks of life, including party leaders and workers, visited his family members and conveyed their greetings to the comrade. CM Vijayan visited VS at his son's residence here and conveyed his wishes. CPI-M state secretary M V Govindan, former minister and MP P K Sreemathi, senior CPI leader Pannyan Raveendran and others were among those who visited Achuthanandan's son's residence today. Party workers and admirers put up billboards of VS in many parts of the state and distributed sweets to mark his birthday. Born on October 20, 1923 in a working class family in Alappuzha district, Achuthanandan became part of the trade union after ending his formal education at the primary level. Joining the Communist movement in his childhood, his life is linked with its history in the state, including the Punnapra-Vayalar uprising, underground activities of the party after it was banned in 1949 following the Calcutta thesis and the formation of the CPI-M following the split from CPI in 1964. Achuthanandan, who became a CPI-M politburo member in 1985, headed the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front government in 2006-11, defeating the efforts by his rivals in the party to deny him a chance. He has been staying at his son's residence here after ending his tenure as Chairman of the Administrative Reforms Commission. Canada Foreign Minister Melanie Joly on Thursday said that her country's government held numerous conversations with the Indian government before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's statement in the Canadian Parliament about "credible allegations" regarding New Delhi's involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. IMAGE: Members of the Dal Khalsa stage a protest over the death of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, outside the Golden Temple, in Amritsar. Photograph: ANI Photo She said that Indian officials in these conversations were made aware of the "credible allegations." Addressing a press conference in Ottawa on Thursday, Joly also termed the decision to remove diplomatic immunities for 41 Canadian diplomats and their dependents in Delhi as "unprecedented." Asked whether Canada has shown evidence regarding its claim to India, Joly said, "We have had numerous conversations with India before the Prime Minister went in front of the house and made his declaration. This was not a surprise to the Government of India and through these different conversations, the Indian officials were made aware of the credible allegations." "And so based on that, India has decided to take their own decisions which are precedent-setting and revoking the diplomatic immunity of 41 diplomats is not only unprecedented but also contrary to international law and so in that sense because this is so unprecedented and would put so many countries, different diplomats around the world in danger. We decide not to reciprocate," she added. "I've answered your question. You've asked me the question whether we had conversation and presented evidence. I've told you that there were meetings and information was shared," she further added. Canada has withdrawn 41 diplomats and their family members from India after it threatened to strip them of their diplomatic immunity, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly has said, amid a diplomatic row over the killing of a Sikh separatist. Tensions flared between India and Canada last month following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's explosive allegations of the "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18 in British Columbia. India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020. India angrily rejected the allegations as "absurd" and "motivated". "I can confirm that India has formally conveyed its plan to unilaterally remove diplomatic immunities for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents in Delhi by tomorrow, October 20," Joly said on Thursday. Canada will be pausing all in-person services at the consulates in Chandigarh, Mumbai and Bengaluru and is now directing all Canadians in India to the High Commission in New Delhi. Joly said that in their "unreasonable" request for diplomatic parity, India would only allow 21 diplomats and their families to maintain their diplomatic status, putting the others at risk of having their protections stripped arbitrarily, leaving them vulnerable to reprisal or arrest. "This means 41 Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents were in danger of having immunity stripped on an arbitrary date, and this would put their personal safety at risk," she said at a news conference in Ottawa. "The safety of Canadians and of our diplomats is always my top concern. Given the implications of India's actions on the safety of our diplomats, we have facilitated their safe departure from India," Joly said. "This means that our diplomats and their families have now left." Last month, India asked Canada to downsize its diplomatic staff in the country, arguing that there should be parity in strength and rank equivalence in the mutual diplomatic presence. The size of Canadian diplomatic staff in India is larger than what New Delhi has in Canada. ATS has found that Labhshankar Maheshwari, a native of Pakistan who was granted Indian citizenship in 2005, had agreed to be part of the conspiracy to expedite the visa process for him, his wife and two other family members wanting to visit the neighbouring country to meet relatives. IMAGE: The accused used to send WhatsApp messages with malware to Indian Army personnel. Image used only for representation. Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters The Gujarat police's Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Friday arrested a man, a native of Pakistan who was granted Indian citizenship in 2005, for allegedly helping Pakistani authorities spy on Indian defence personnel by sending them a tracking malware through WhatsApp, an official said. Based on the inputs shared by the Military Intelligence about an Indian WhatsApp number being operated from Pakistan to spy on defence personnel, the ATS nabbed one Labhshankar Maheshwari, 53, from Tarapur town in Anand district and brought him to Ahmedabad, the official said. The accused has been booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 123 (concealing with intent to facilitate a design to wage war against the government) and 121-A (conspiracy to wage war against the government) and under relevant sections of the Information Technology Act, he said. The investigation has revealed that Maheshwari, a native of Pakistan who was granted Indian citizenship in 2005, had agreed to be part of the conspiracy to expedite the visa process for him, his wife and two other family members wanting to visit the neighbouring country to meet relatives, ATS Superintendent of Police Om Prakash Jat said. "The Indian Military Intelligence recently learnt that either the Pakistan Army or Pakistan's intelligence agency had somehow acquired an Indian SIM card, which was being used for spying on Indian defence personnel by sending them malware through WhatsApp. Based on the information, we apprehended Maheshwari from Tarapur in Anand, where he runs a grocery shop," he told reporters. Last year, when Maheshwari and his wife had applied for visitor visas for Pakistan, his relative Kishor Ramwani, who is based in the neighbouring country, had asked him to contact a person with links to the Pakistan embassy, the official said. After the unidentified person's intervention, Maheshwari and his wife received the visa. After returning to India, he again contacted the person to expedite the visa process for his sister and niece, he said. "In return, the person with contacts in the Pakistan embassy (high commission) asked Maheshwari to start WhatsApp on his mobile phone using a SIM card, which he received from one Saqlain Thaim, a resident of Jamnagar. Maheshwari then shared the OTP to activate WhatsApp with that man," Jat said. As instructed, Maheshwari, posing as an employee of an Army school, started sending messages to defence personnel and urged them to download an 'apk' file to upload information about their children on the official website of the school, he said. In some instances, the accused had lured Army personnel to install the application, claiming it was part of the government's 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign. "In reality, that 'apk' file was a Remote Access Trojan, a type of malware that extracts all the information from a mobile phone, such as contacts, location and videos, and sends the data to a command and control centre outside India. As of now, we found that the mobile phone of a soldier stationed at Kargil was compromised with that malware. We are yet to ascertain how many more persons were targeted," Jat said. The preliminary probe has revealed that when Maheshwari's sister visited Pakistan this year, she took that SIM card with her and handed it over to a relative, who then gave it to an official there, he said. The SIM card was purchased by Thaim at the direction of a Pakistani operative and activated by another Jamnagar resident Asgar Modi, the official said, adding that both are now on the run and believed to have left the country. United States President Joe Biden said on Friday that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hamas wanted to completely "annihilate" their neighbouring democracies. IMAGE: US President Joe Biden delivers a prime-time address to the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC. Photograph: @POTUS/X "We have not forgotten the mass graves, the bodies found bearing signs of torture, rape used as a weapon by the Russians, and thousands and thousands of Ukrainian children forcibly taken into Russia, stolen from their parents. It's sick. Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common. They both want to completely annihilate a neighbouring democracy," Biden said. As he addressed the nation on his just concluded trip to Israel, Biden asked Congress for financial aid to the country that has been hit by a terrorist attack by Hamas. Biden returned from a day-long trip to Israel on Wednesday night. Biden said during the trip, he met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his cabinet and also interacted with Israelis who had personally lived through the "horrific horror" of the Hamas' attack on October 7. Biden said he saw people in Israel who were strong, determined, and resilient but also angry, shocked and in deep pain after the Hamas attack. More than 1,300 people slaughtered in Israel, including at least 32 American citizens, scores of innocents from infants to elderly grandparents, Israelis and Americans taken hostage, said the president recounting the aftermath of the attack. Biden asserted that Hamas uses civilians as human shields against Israeli forces. "Hamas stated purpose for existing is a destruction of the state of Israel and the murder of Jewish people. Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people. Hamas uses Palestinian civilians as human shields. And innocent Palestinian families are suffering greatly because of them." Taking to X, Biden reiterated, "The terror and tyranny of Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they both want to completely annihilate a neighbouring democracy." Reiterating his resolve and that of all Americans to stand by Israel in this moment of crisis, the president urged Congress to provide additional financial aid to Israel to strengthen its defence. Tomorrow I'm going to send to Congress an urgent budget request to fund America's national security needs to support our critical partners including Israel and Ukraine. This is a smart investment that's going to pay dividends for American security for generations, he said. "This will help them keep American troops out of harm's way, help them build a world that is safer, more peaceful, more prosperous for children and grandchildren," Biden added. In Israel, we must make sure that they have what they need to protect their people today and always the security package. I'm sending to Congress and asking Congress to make an unprecedented commitment to Israel's security that will sharpen Israel's qualitative military edge, which we've committed to the qualitative military edge, the US president said. We're going to make sure Iron Dome continues to guard the skies over Israel. We're going to make sure other hostile actors in the region know that Israel is stronger than ever and prevent this conflict from spreading, said the US President. Biden said he and Netanyahu discussed again the critical need for Israel to operate by the laws of war. That means protecting civilians in combat as best as they can and the people of Gaza, urgently need food, water and medicine. Yesterday in discussions with the leaders of Israel and Egypt, I secured an agreement for the first shipment of humanitarian assistance from the United Nations to Palestinian civilians in Gaza, he said. I also spoke with President Abbas, the Palestinian Authority and reiterated that the United States remains committed to the Palestinian people's right to dignity and self-determination. The actions of Hamas terrorists don't take that right away like so many others, the president added. Briefing the nation on the developments in Ukraine, Biden said over a year later Russian President Vladimir Putin has "failed and he continues to fail". Kyiv still stands because of the bravery of the Ukrainian people. Ukraine has regained more than 50 per cent of the territory Russian troops once occupied, he said, adding that Ukraine is "backed by a US-led coalition of more than 50 countries around the world, all doing their part to support Kyiv. Putin has turned to Iran and North Korea to buy attack drones and ammunition to terrorise Ukrainian cities and people. From the outset, I've said I will not send American troops to fight in Ukraine. All Ukraine is asking for is help for the weapons, munitions, the capacity, the capability to push invading Russian forces off their land and the air defence system to shoot down Russian missiles before they destroy Ukrainian cities, he said. Biden said the US and its allies through innovative projects like the India Middle East Economic Corridor are working to connect the Middle East countries to a better future. The United States and our partners across the region are working to build a better future for the Middle East. One wherein the Middle East is more stable, better connected to its neighbours through innovative projects like the Indian Middle East Europe rail corridor that I announced this year at the summit of the world's biggest economies, Biden said in his Oval Office address to the nation. "More predictable markets, more employment, less rage, less grievances, less war when connected. The benefits of people would benefit the people of the Middle East and would benefit us. American leadership is what holds the world together, said Biden in his second Oval Office presidential address. With inpts from PTI Caution: Graphic content. Viewer discretion is advised. IMAGE: A formation of Israeli tanks and other military are positioned near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip. Photograph: Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters IMAGE: Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant meets soldiers in a field near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters IMAGE: Israeli soldiers sit next to a military bulldozer. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters IMAGE: Israeli soldiers check a tank in an area near Israel's border. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters IMAGE: Israeli soldiers patrol an area near Israel's border. Photograph: Amir CohenA/Reuters IMAGE: Israeli military armoured personnel carriers in position near Israel's border with Lebanon in northern Israel. Photograph: Lisi Niesner/Reuters IMAGE: Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system fire at the border with Lebanon. Photograph: Lisi Niesner/Reuters IMAGE: An explosion is seen on a tower that Islamic Resistance said was at an Israeli military site near the Israel-Lebanon border in this screengrab obtained from a social media video by Reuters. Photograph: Islamic Resistance/Handout via Reuters IMAGE: Toys and other belongings are seen inside a damaged family home in Kibbutz Nir Oz. Photograph: Amir Cohen/Reuters IMAGE: Workers build structures for new graves for victims of the Hamas massacre in Kibbutz Revivim. Photograph: Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters IMAGE: Wounded Palestinians react at the site of an Israeli strike in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. Photograph: Yasser Qudih/Reuters IMAGE: A man carries a wounded child at the site of an Israeli strike. Photograph: Yasser Qudih/Reuters IMAGE: Palestinians work amidst the rubble at the site of an Israeli strike. Photograph: Mohammed Salem/Reuters IMAGE: Palestinians work to remove debris as they search for bodies. Photograph: Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters IMAGE: Palestinians search for bodies at a house. Photograph: Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters IMAGE: A person shows a piece of a missile at the site where a girl was killed in Israeli strikes on a house in Khan Younis. Photograph: Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters IMAGE: Rescue workers carry a casualty in Gaza. Photograph: Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters IMAGE: Palestinians charge their mobile phones from a point powered by solar panels provided by an owner of an electric appliances shop as electricity remains cut during the ongoing conflict. Photograph: Mohammed Salem/Reuters IMAGE: Residential buildings destroyed in Israeli strikes are seen in Zahra City. Photograph: Shadi Tabatibi/Reuters IMAGE: Palestinians, who fled their homes amid Israeli strikes, take shelter in a tent camp at a United Nations-run centre in Khan Younis, Gaza. Photograph: Bassam Masoud/Reuters Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com Miffed with the Congress over the failure to arrive at a seat-sharing arrangement in Madhya Pradesh assembly polls, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday again deprecated his ally in the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), saying 'if the Congress behaves like this, who will stand with them'. IMAGE: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav addresses a press conference, at the party office, in Lucknow on Friday, October 20, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo "I am not giving any advice or suggestions to the Congress party but there is a big challenge before the nation. The BJP is a big party. It is a very organised side. So there should be no confusion regarding it in any party. If you fight with confusion you will not win any election," the Samajwadi Party (SP) president told reporters in Lucknow. He said, "If the Congress behaves like this, who will stand with them." On Thursday, Akhilesh Yadav had expressed unhappiness over the Congress not allocating any seat to the SP despite talks on seat sharing in MP and suggested that the Congress could get the same treatment from his party in Uttar Pradesh. The SP chief had said his party leaders wouldn't have answered calls from the Congress for a meeting in Madhya Pradesh had he known that the INDIA bloc was confined to the national level. "I must have got confused," he had told reporters. Hitting back, Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee president Ajay Rai said on Friday that Yadav cannot blame the Congress as the SP released its list of candidates before his party and was benefitting the Bharatiya Janata Party by contesting separately. However, the SP president reiterated that the INDIA alliance should have clarified that there would be no tie-up in the state elections. He said that the 'PDA (Picdha (Backward), Dalit and Alpsankhyak (minorities)) was formed before INDIA. On various occasions, I have said that there is an INDIA alliance but our strategy is PDA and PDA will defeat NDA'. "When a leader of the MP and a former chief minister spoke to us and asked about the seats we wanted in MP, I shared the performance of SP in various elections in MP and told him that many people were elected from MP who joined other parties. "I reminded that when Congress needed support, SP MLA was the first to offer support and government was formed," he said. "We are against the BJP and we offered our support to defeat BJP. In the meeting that continued till 1 am in the night, they assured us to give six seats. But, when they declared candidates on all seats, in compulsion, the SP has to declare candidates from where we are strong," he said. The Samajwadi Party (SP) announced its third list of two candidates on Thursday night. With this, it has announced 33 candidates for the November 17 polls to the 230-member assembly in the BJP-ruled state. The Congress has announced its candidates for 229 seats. According to insiders from both parties, the Congress had agreed to leave six seats for SP in MP but the seat-sharing arrangement did not materialise. "I believe that if you were not ready to give any seat you should have not talked to us. But, they didn't give any information to us. So, SP is fighting where we have our presence," said Yadav. "The emotions that Samajwadis have with Azamgarh it is possible Congress has the same emotions in Raebareli and Amethi. We have never commented on Raebareli and Amethi," the SP chief said without elaborating. In the 2018 Madhya Pradesh elections, the SP won one seat (Bijawar in Bundelkhand region) and finished second on five, securing 1.30 per cent votes in alliance with the tribal Gondwana Gantantra Party. The INDIA grouping came into being primarily to put up a united front against the Bharatiya Janata Party in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan took a dig at the INDIA bloc after its constituents fielded candidates against each other in assembly polls, saying the opposition grouping is driven by the motto of 'friendship in Delhi and wrestling in states'. Saudi Arabia Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and noted that the targeting of civilians in Gaza was a "heinous crime and a brutal attack", Arab News reported citing the Saudi Press Agency. IMAGE: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, Riyadh, October 19, 2023. Photograph: Courtesy, RishiSunak on X In the meeting which was held between two leaders on Thursday, both the leaders agreed on the need to avoid any further escalation of the Israel-Hamas war in the Middle East, Sunak's Downing Street office said. According to Arab News, "The prime minister encouraged the Crown Prince to use Saudi's leadership in the region to support stability, both now and in the long-term." Taking to X, PM Sunak spoke about the meeting saying, "I had an important and productive meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. We agreed on coordinated action to prevent further escalation in the region, provide vital humanitarian aid in Gaza and support stability, both now and in the long-term." British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrived in Riyadh on Thursday and held talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Sunak was received by the deputy Emir of Riyadh region on arrival, the Saudi Press Agency reported. British Prime Minister Sunak went to meet the Saudi Prince in Riyadh after he held a private meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday. Sunak on Thursday also met Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Herzog said that during such difficult days, we see clearly who are Israel's true friends. "Thank you Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak for coming to Israel and for your support and firm stand by the Israeli people. It is time to express a clear moral voice -- this is a battle for the values of all humanity. The world needs to understand that if we do not prevent Hamas and other terrorist organizations from carrying out murderous and criminal attacks - they will not stop with Israel," he wrote on 'X'. Sunak on Thursday said the UK supports Israel's right to defend itself is in line with international law and to fight against Hamas after the terror group launched attack on Tel Aviv on October 7. "I want to share the deep condolences of the British people and stress that we absolutely support Israel's right to defend itself in line with international law, to go after Hamas...We also recognise that the Palestinian people are victims of Hamas too," the British PM said while delivering a joint statement alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu post their private meeting at the prime minister's office in Jerusalem. Sunak said he was "sorry" to visit Israel in "such terrible circumstances". He said: "In the last two weeks, this country has gone through something that no country, no people should have to endure, least of all Israel..." He further said he welcomes Israel's decision to ensure that routes into Gaza will be opened for humanitarian aid to enter. "I am glad that you made that decision. We will support it...We also want you to win," Sunak said. Netanyahu said: "This is not merely our battle but it is a battle of the entire civilised world...This is our darkest hour; it is the world's darkest hour. We need to stand together and win...." Top commanders of the Indian Army deliberated on the Russia-Ukraine war and Israel-Hamas conflict at a five-day conclave to draw relevant lessons besides focusing on ways to make the force 'future ready' in line with with emerging contours of threats and challenges. IMAGE: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh poses for a group picture with Union Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pande and other dignitaries during the Army Commanders' Conference, at the Manekshaw Centre, in New Delhi. Photograph: Ayush Sharma/ANI Photo The situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and ways to enhance the Army's combat readiness to deal with any contingencies also figured at the Army Commanders' Conference that took place in Delhi from October 16 to 20. The apex leadership brainstormed on the current and emerging security scenarios and reviewed the operational preparedness of the Indian Army, officials said, adding they also delved into 'foundational aspects' of organisational structures and evolving training regimes. The recent glacial lake burst and subsequent flash floods in Sikkim as well as state of preparedness were also deliberated upon with a focus on instituting mechanisms for better response to such situations. 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 conceptual-level deliberations, culminating in making important policy decisions for the Indian Army. The military leadership discussed the training philosophy and architecture for the Indian Army including digitisation and automation initiatives to make the force 'future ready' in consonance with emerging contours of threats and conflicts, officials said. They said geo-strategic issues including Russia-Ukraine war and Israel-Hamas conflict were discussed by the military leadership with the aim of drawing out relevant lessons for the Indian Army. The views of the senior commanders were taken to formulate a cogent policy in operations, training, logistics and other domains in line with the ongoing process of transformation of the Indian Army, the officials said. The discussions were carried out at the conceptual level which will pave the way for formulation of important policies for the future, they added. The apex-level conference also provided an opportunity for defence ministry officials and senior military leadership to brainstorm and carry forward a range of initiatives. 'The interactions led to key takeaways in the areas of making the Short Service Commission more attractive, conducting all internal examinations in 'online' mode and mechanisms for addressing the concerns of the veterans,' the Army said in a statement. The conference was addressed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande and Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari. In his remarks, the defence minister emphasised the need to draw lessons from the ongoing geopolitical crisis and conflict in the Middle- East highlighting the need for readiness while expecting the unexpected. He remarked that the tendency of misinterpretation of force asymmetry and underestimating the adversary shall be the defining line between victory or defeat in any conflict, the Army said. The Chief of Defence Staff articulated the national security architecture and the need for revolution in military affairs to adapt to the changing paradigm, it said. Gen Pande complimented the Army for embracing and enthusiastic participation in the ongoing change. He also called upon the senior leadership to continue pursuing the process of transformation. Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari covered the operational aspects and underscored the importance of synergy between the services for optimum operational outcomes. Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday that India's decision to revoke the diplomatic immunity of 41 Canadian diplomats is a violation of the Vienna Convention and it should worry all countries, hours after New Delhi rejected Ottawa's attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms. IMAGE: Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Foreign Minister Melanie Joly attend the Canada-CARICOM Summit in Ottawa, Ontario, on October 18, 2023. Photograph: Blair Gable/Reuters Speaking at a press conference in Brampton, Ontario, he said the Indian government was making it 'unbelievably difficult' for life as usual to continue for millions of people in India and in Canada. "And, they're doing it by contravening a very basic principle of diplomacy," he said. Trudeau claimed that the actions that India took were contrary to international law. "The government of India decided to unilaterally revoke the diplomatic immunity of 40 Canadian diplomats in India. This is a violation of the Vienna Convention governing diplomacy. This is them choosing to contravene a very fundamental principle of international law and diplomacy," he said. "It is something that all countries in the world should be very worried about, and this is putting aside the allegations we made of a serious violation of international law with the alleged killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil that the Indian government could have been involved in," he said. In New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday rejected Canada's attempt to 'portray' the withdrawal of 41 Canadian diplomats from the country as a violation of international norms. India asserted that ensuring two-way diplomatic parity is fully consistent with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations. 'We reject any attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms,' the ministry said in a statement. 'Our actions in implementing this parity are fully consistent with Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations,' the statement said. Trudeau's remarks came after foreign minister Melanie Joly said on Thursday that Canada had withdrawn 41 diplomats following an Indian threat to unilaterally revoke their status by October 20. Tensions flared between India and Canada last month following Prime Minister Trudeau's explosive allegations of the 'potential' involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18 in British Columbia. India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020. India has rejected Trudeau's allegations as 'absurd' and 'motivated'. "The government of India decided to cancel or revoke the diplomatic protections of 40 diplomats working in India. This is something that has far-reaching consequences for the diplomatic world that I know many, many countries are very worried about," Trudeau said. He said the move also has 'very real impacts' on the millions of people who travel back and forth between India as students, family members for weddings, for businesses and for the growing trade ties between the two countries. Following the withdrawal of 41 diplomats, Canada has also announced that it will be 'pausing' all in-person services at its consulates in Chandigarh, Mumbai and Bengaluru and was directing all Canadians in India to the High Commission in New Delhi. "This is something that should concern everyone, but it's something that has me very concerned for the well-being and happiness of millions of Canadians who trace their origins to the Indian subcontinent," he said. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, October 20. The visa-free regime between Kazakhstan and China will begin to operate on November 10, 2023, Trend reports. "An agreement between the government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the government of the People's Republic of China on mutual exemption from visa requirements was concluded in the city of Xi'an on May 17, 2023. The visa-free regime will come into force on November 10, 2023," Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry said. Citizens of Kazakhstan will be able to enter China for a period not exceeding 30 days from the moment of crossing the border, for a total of 90 days within six months. In mid-May, during the visit of President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to the PRC, an agreement was signed on mutual exemption from visa requirements. Later, Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry explained that countries must complete internal procedures before the agreement enters into legal force. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low near 35F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low near 35F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. In 2017, The Monadnock Conservancy, a land trust for southwestern New Hampshire, presented Tom Duston with the Abe Wolfe Land Protection Award at its 28th Annual Celebration for his advocacy for the Wantastiquet-Monadnock Trail. On Saturday at 10:30 a.m., at the Chesterfield Town Hall, the Chesterfield Conservation Commission will honor Duston's legacy by renaming a portion of the trail after him. 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. GLOBALink | German companies seek more cooperation with China's auto industry Pub Date:23-10-20 09:33 Source:Xinhua The 2023 Sino-German Automobile Conference concluded in Changchun, the capital city of northeast China's Jilin Province, on Thursday. During the three-day event, enterprise representatives, business association leaders and industry experts from the both sides discussed industrial development tendency, leading technologies and industrial innovation to seek more cooperation. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Editor:Zheng Chen Related News GLOBALink | B&R tunnel builders chasing dr... Xinhua Headlines: A Chinese county-level c... Interview: Economist says China has ample ... China's railway investment up 7.1 pct in J... U.S. Defense Department report says Chinese military increased provocative actions in the Indo-Pacific in 2022. A J-15 Chinese fighter jet prepares to take off from the Shandong aircraft carrier during the combat readiness patrol and military exercises around Taiwan by the PLA Eastern Theater Command on April 9, 2023. The United States predicts that China will have over 1,000 operational nuclear warheads in seven years, developing militarily at a pace that surpasses the Pentagons projections, according to its annual assessment report of Chinese military prowess in 2022. The Congress-mandated 2023 China Military Power Report said that last year, Chinas capability building exceeded previous U.S. projections in some areas. The Department of Defense (DoD) estimates that the PRC [Peoples Republic of China] possessed more than 500 operational nuclear warheads as of May 2023, up from 400 last year and more than was predicted by U.S. military planners. DoD estimates that the PRC will probably have over 1,000 operational nuclear warheads by 2030, the 200-page report said. The pace is striking even if Chinas nuclear stockpile is still much smaller than those of Russia or the United States. Moreover, the PRC may be exploring development of conventionally armed intercontinental range missile systems that would allow the PRC to threaten conventional strikes against targets in the continental United States. What we would highlight about that is it would give them a conventional capability to strike the U.S. for the first time to threaten targets in the continental U.S. and Hawaii and Alaska, said a senior U.S. defense official speaking on background, hence remaining anonymous. American strategists already identified China as their number one challenge. The 2022 U.S. National Security Strategy named Beijing as the only competitor with the intent and increasingly the capability to reshape the international order. The Pentagon also identified the PRC as the department's top pacing challenge. Coercion in the Indo-Pacific In 2022, the PRC turned to the PLA as an increasingly capable instrument of statecraft, adopting more coercive actions in the Indo-Pacific region against the United States and U.S. allies and partners, the report said. PLA coercive and risky operational activities targeting foreign aircraft and maritime vessels throughout 2022 included: lasing; reckless maneuvers; close approaches in the air or at sea; high rates of closure; discharging chaff or flares in close proximity to aircraft; and ballistic missile overflights of Taiwan, it added. One day before the launch of the report, the DoD also released photos and video clips documenting 15 of more than 180 cases of what it calls Chinas coercive and risky operational behavior against U.S. aircraft in the East China and South China seas in the last two years. Beijing is believed to aim to restrict the U.S. from having a presence in Chinas immediate periphery and limit U.S. access in the broader Indo-Pacific region. Chinese President Xi Jinping, front center, inspects the Central Military Commissions joint operations command center on Nov. 8, 2022. Credit: Li Gang/Xinhua via AP Throughout 2022, the PRC conducted large-scale joint military exercises focused on training to deter further U.S. and allied operations in the region. It also amplified diplomatic, political, and military pressure against Taiwan, the report said, adding that the PLA is continuing to prepare for a contingency to unify Taiwan with the PRC. The findings of the report were accurate, said a Taiwanese senior analyst, but should be seen in the context of Chinas domestic politics. In 2022 the Communist Party of China held its 20th Congress in which Xi Jinping needed to reassert his power and ensure a third term as Chinas paramount leader, said Shen Ming-Shih, acting deputy chief executive officer at Taiwan's Institute for National Defense and Security Research (INDSR), a government think-tank. I expect the PLAs approach for 2023 will be less vocal but more realistic in terms of military maneuvers around Taiwan, he added. Looking ahead China already has numerically the largest navy in the world with an overall battle force of over 370 ships and submarines, compared to the U.S.s 293 ships and submarines. It also has the largest coast guard fleet in the world, besides a powerful maritime militia. The report was compiled over the last year, before the latest Israel-Hamas war. Analysts say ongoing developments in Ukraine and the Middle East may embolden Chinas actions in the Indo-Pacific region. I think they are watching to see what the U.S. is doing in both Ukraine and now the Middle East, and from Beijing's perspective, they are hoping that the U.S. support for both Israel and Ukraine will leave them weakened and unable to support allies in the Indo-Pacific, said Malcolm Davis, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI). So I'd see Beijing continue to employ provocations, and potentially ramp those up if the U.S. becomes more and more committed to supporting a fast developing war in the Middle East, which could become quite large in geographic scope well beyond the Gaza strip quite quickly, he said. I suspect that Beijing will be disappointed though, as the U.S. is very cognizant of its responsibilities and the risks posed by Chinese actions, so I don't see the U.S. de-prioritizing Indo-Pacific issues in favor of Europe and Middle East challenges, the analyst said. At a press briefing this week, the Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Navy Adm. John Aquilino said, despite the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, as it applies to the Indo-Pacific and my responsibilities I havent had one piece of equipment or force structure depart. The United States is a global power. That means we can deliver effects and execute our deterrence responsibilities across the globe, he said. The Indo-Pacific Command has two aircraft carriers at sea at the moment the forward-deployed USS Ronald Reagan and the USS Carl Vinson which left for a deployment last week. They are, along with a large portion of the Joint Force, executing deterrence missions in my theater, said Adm. Aquilino. The admiral also said that his requests to speak with Chinese counterparts in the last two and a half years have been refused. There are unconfirmed reports that Chinese leader Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden may meet on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco next month. Edited by Mike Firn and Elaine Chan. The move comes as Communist Party leader Xi Jinping seeks to shore up his personal power against internal dissent. The ruling Chinese Communist Party is moving to step up "patriotic education" in schools, universities and religious institutions across the country, including in Hong Kong, state media reported on Friday, in a move likely designed to quash internal political challenges to Xi Jinping's authoritarian rule. A second draft of a "Patriotic Education Law" has been submitted to the National People's Congress Standing Committee for review, with a view to "enhancing identification with our great motherland, the Chinese nation, Chinese culture and the Communist Party," Xinhua news agency reported. The draft, which analysts said is almost certain to be passed by the rubber-stamp parliament, also contains specific clauses about targeting "religious clergy and believers," while a top official has called on Hong Kong leader John Lee to announce more "patriotic education" measures in his annual policy address next week. The law also refers to "self-confidence," a buzzword promoted by Communist Party leader Xi Jinping, whose "cultural thought" includes an emphasis on traditional Confucian values found in classical texts. It comes as Xi launches a nationwide campaign to boost ruling party involvement in cultural output at every level, in a manner many have likened to Mao Zedong's 1966-1976 Cultural Revolution. A worker decorates a party activity room next to a wall with the portrait of Chinese president Xi Jinping promoting his socialist thought with Chinese characteristics at Tidal Star Group headquarters in Beijing, Feb. 25, 2019. Credit: Jason Lee/Reuters The draft law, if fully implemented, will mean more patriotic propaganda in schools, institutions and places of worship, which are also being targeted by Xi's "sinicization of religion" policy, including in Hong Kong. Analysts said it likely heralds the further development of a personality cult around Xi, whose authoritarian style and 180-degree turn away from the economic policies of the past four decades has sparked economic hardship for many, along with a mass exodus of Chinese nationals known as the "run" movement. Taiwan-based logger and free-speech activist Zhou Shuguang, known online by his nickname "Zola," said "patriotic education" is simply brainwashing in another form. "The difference between brainwashing and education is that in education, you come to understand something through comparison, contrast, doubt and denial," he said. "Brainwashing just tells you the answer, and doesn't allow you to doubt it or compare it with anything else." "They use such methods to brainwash people, with the aim of controlling them," he said. Institute of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture The draft law is being publicized in the wake of a two-day National Propaganda, Ideological and Cultural Work Conference in Beijing in early October, which could mean an even higher degree of government control and influence over cultural works and creative content than before. "Elevating leaders' ideas and treating them as law is a key characteristic of the Chinese Communist Party's totalitarian regime," Wang Tiancheng, director of the U.S.-based Institute for China's Democratic Transition, told Radio Free Asia, commenting on that conference. "[Xi Jinping] grew up during the Cultural Revolution, and he's obviously a big fan." China is to set up an Institute of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, probably within the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, to implement the ideas discussed at the conference, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post cited an anonymous "observer" in Beijing as saying. Wang said Xi's insistence on repeatedly naming political theories after himself is evidence that he wants to encourage a Mao-style cult of personality. A Chinese flag is seen next to a statue at the entrance of Beijing South Catholic Church, a government-sanctioned Catholic church, in Beijing, Sept. 29, 2018. Credit: Jason Lee/Reuters U.S.-based dissident Wang Juntao, who heads the U.S. branch of the banned China Democracy Party in the United States, said Xi is looking to shore up his personal authority and suppress criticism of his policies. "Xi Jinping has three problems right now one is how to set up a dictatorship that will come into conflict with various forces [within the political establishment], another is that the economy isn't doing well," Wang said. "These two problems are now exposed for all to see, and [the third problem is that] people will try to challenge him with ideas and various methods to solve them," he said. "So he has to create a set of mainstream statements about culture ... [because] culture can reinterpret reality to a certain extent." According to U.S.-based current affairs commentator Tang Jingyuan, these political priorities are also what's driving the "patriotic education" campaign. "The Chinese Communist Party used [ideology] to dress itself up as promoting a new and advanced kind of culture, and to deceive and defraud the Chinese people," Tang said. "Now that Xi Jinping's claim to legitimacy is in ruins, he wants to dress up communist culture and red ideology in a garment of traditional culture to boost his legitimacy." Symbolic meaning Part of that packaging is enshrined in the draft Patriotic Education Law, which mentions "historical and cultural heritage, the deeds and spirit of heroes and martyrs, traditional festivals and folk cultural activities" as ways to "enhance patriotic and family feeling," especially among young people, and in schools. Taiwan's Cross-Strait Policy Association researcher Wu Se-chih said much of the draft law consists of sloganeering, however. "The symbolic meaning is much more important than the substantive meaning," Wu said. But he said it would still encourage institutions to jump on the funding bandwagon. "After it is passed, educational institutions, government departments and other organizations will be fighting for any funding or projects in its name ... as a source of funding," he said. Copies of 'The Governance of China' by Chinese President Xi Jinping are displayed in a Beijing bookstore, Dec. 24, 2021. Credit: Mark Schiefelbein/AP The law also specifically targets "compatriots" in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, to "enhance their identification with their country, and with China's excellent cultural traditions," so as to "safeguard national and ethnic unity." "They already keep talking about how patriots must run Hong Kong and Macau," Wu said, in a reference to recent electoral changes. "It's a bit harder for them to implement patriotic education in Taiwan, unless its when Taiwanese people go to China to study." Hong Kong's government has already mandated national security education in schools and colleges, and recently started sending students to absorb red culture at communist pilgrimage sites, as well as abolishing a critical-thinking program titled Liberal Studies, replacing it with Moral, Civic and National Education. A call to implement the law National People's Congress Standing Committee member Li Huiqiong called on Thursday for Hong Kong to implement the law, with specific measures to be set out in chief executive John Lee's policy address next week, so the city's residents would gain "a deeper understanding of their country and its history, thereby developing patriotic feelings." Li has also called on Hong Kong to set up a Patriotic Education Coordinating Committee to promote patriotic education among "families, religious groups, schools and enterprises," funding it to the tune of HK$1 billion, the state-backed Hong Kong China News Agency reported. In 2012, the Hong Kong government temporarily shelved plans to introduce a CCP-backed program of "patriotic education" into the city's schools, after a mass protest led by then-highschooler Joshua Wong and his campaign group Scholarism. Wong is currently in prison, awaiting trial under Hong Kongs National Security Law, which criminalizes public criticism of the authorities. Hong Kong security chief Chris Tang recently blamed the anti-brainwashing movement, along with later waves of mass pro-democracy protest in the city, on the actions of hostile "foreign forces" seeking to radicalize the city's young people. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Over 4 million hectares of forest were lost in Southeast Asia in three decades. New findings from two scientific studies reveal that the environmental impact of the global rubber trade due to deforestation has been significantly underestimated, with Southeast Asian rubber production potentially causing up to three times more forest depletion than previously believed. With more than four million hectares of forest, an area as large as Switzerland, lost for rubber farming since 1993, the effects of rubber on biodiversity and ecosystem services in Southeast Asia could be extensive, said the report published on Wednesday in Nature journal. Mature rubber plantations spanned a combined area of 14.2 million hectares in Southeast Asia. Over 70% of these plantations were concentrated in Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Notable rubber-producing regions also included China, Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. Rubber plantations abandoned before 2021 were excluded from the study, even though they may have contributed to deforestation. More than a million hectares of rubber plantations in Southeast Asia are established in key biodiversity areas, some of the most critical sites for the conservation of species and habitats globally, the report said. Rising global demand for rubber is intensifying stress on natural woodlands and leading to a decline in biodiversity, according to researchers who used satellite data to produce high-resolution maps of rubber-driven forest loss and analyzed over 100 case studies. Southeast Asia accounts for 90% of global rubber output. An infographic showing area of rubber-related deforestation between 2001 and 2016 for individual countries in Southeast Asia. Credit: Nature journal. Another review of case studies and analysis of recent trends in rubber area and yield also found that rubber is regularly linked to deforestation. It was published in Conservation Letters on Wednesday. As demand grows and yields stagnate, continued deforestation for rubber is to be expected, lead author Eleanor Warren-Thomas warned. Some 2.7 million to 5.3 million hectares of additional harvested area could be needed to meet industry estimates of demand by 2030, she said. It is critical that existing rubber producers are supported to improve their yields and maintain production, to avoid ongoing expansion of plantation area. Sobering result Rubber, a crucial rainforest product, is obtained by tapping latex from specific trees native to the Amazon and now widespread in tropical regions. The collected latex is processed to boost flexibility and durability through heat treatment. Rubber productions link to deforestation was acknowledged before, but it was difficult to quantify the extent of this harm due to distinguishing it from natural forest cover in satellite imagery. As a result, the issue received limited attention in assessments of losses from commercial plantations, according to Yunxia Wang, the studys lead author in Nature. However, thanks to expanding earth observation and computing technology, there are increasing opportunities to map difficult commodities. The results have been sobering, she added. Although rubber-related deforestation is prevalent, senior author Antje Ahrends expressed specific concerns about specific countries. In Cambodia, for example, over 40% of rubber plantations are associated with deforestation, she said. 19% of that was in key biodiversity areas, according to research. The Nature journal study said the rubber impact in Southeast Asia is still lower than that of oil palm, but not by a factor of 8 to 10 as previously suggested, but only by a factor of 2.5 to 4.0. With 70% of the worlds natural rubber yields destined for tire manufacture, demand is not likely to diminish, and the threat this poses to biodiversity should not be underestimated, Ahrends said. In addition, while predominantly grown by smallholders with the potential to support livelihoods, rubber is also associated with land grabbing and human rights infringement in some countries. Both studies stress the importance of stopping rubber-related deforestation without marginalizing the 85% of smallholder farmers who are often less than 5 hectares in size who contribute to natural rubber production. A new regulation is set to be implemented in the European Union next year, aiming to prohibit commodity importers from purchasing products that contribute to deforestation. It will include soy, beef, palm oil, wood, cocoa, coffee, and rubber. Edited by Mike Firn and Taejun Kang. Tighter cooperation is aimed at building leverage against the U.S. and its regional partners. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Pyongyang, North Korea, in this photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on October 20, 2023. Updated Oct. 20, 2023, 5:33 a.m. ET North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has signaled the new era of North Korea-Russia ties, hinting that his regime will leverage Moscow in addressing complex regional and international issues a step which could complicate U.S. President Joe Bidens global security approach amid Washingtons involvement in the conflicts in Ukraine and Israel. Kim met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Pyongyang Thursday and vowed to faithfully implement the agreements of the DPRK-Russia summit, and lay a stable foundation for the new era of the DPRK-Russia relations, North Koreas official Rodong Sinmun newspaper reported on Friday, referring to the abbreviation of the Norths formal name. At the Party Central Committee headquarters, Kim told Lavrov that his commitment is to prioritize the well-being of the peoples of both nations and intensively propel the crucial mission of nation-building, according to the report, indicating that Pyongyang was set to bolster its cooperation with Moscow. Kim and Lavrov shared sincere opinions on significant matters of mutual interest, emphasizing the importance for both countries to actively navigate the intricate regional and international landscape, Rodong Sinmun said, adding the two nations will collaboratively broaden bilateral relations across all sectors. The paper suggested that the proposed tighter cooperation is aimed at building leverage against the U.S. and its regional partners. Broadening bilateral relations between North Korea and Russia, especially in strategic sectors like defense, economy, and technology, may be seen as a move aimed at enhancing their collective bargaining power and operational capabilities against the West. It could challenge the effectiveness of the international communitys sanctions regimes on both Pyongyang and Moscow, as well as the U.S. and its allies influence in navigating the regions geopolitical complexities that are compounded by Chinas maneuvers. Russia is sanctioned for its aggression against Ukraine, while North Korea for its nuclear ambitions. Kim and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin met at the symbol of Russian space prowess in Russias Far East last month, where they vowed to form an anti-imperialist united front, and agreed to boost their comprehensive cooperation, spanning from the economy to military. North Korea frequently labels the U.S. and its allies as imperialists when their diplomatic overtures arent met favorably. On Thursday, Lavrov also met with his North Korean counterpart Choe Son-hui, where they agreed to take concrete steps in solidifying the united front that their top leaders had agreed to establish in September. The ministers explored concrete steps and methods to elevate bilateral relations to better suit the needs of the current era and prevailing circumstances, Rodong Sinmun said on Friday. This involved actively enhancing ways to speed up bilateral collaboration in diverse areas including economy, culture, and cutting-edge science and technology via political and diplomatic channels. The two parties engaged in detailed discussions and found common ground on fortifying collaborative efforts on various regional and international matters, including the dynamics on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, the media report said. Deepening North Korea-Russia alliance has the potential to corner Washington, already preoccupied with the wars in Ukraine and Israel, into a more challenging position than it had hoped. Lavrov also told reporters that Russia is seeking stronger cooperation with North Korea and China to counter the U.S. and its regional allies, as reported by Russian media Tass on Thursday. The United States, Japan and South Korea intensifying military activity here and Washington working toward moving strategic infrastructure, including nuclear aspects, here, are of great concern to us and our North Korean friends, he was quoted as saying, calling the allies trilateral cooperation as unconstructive and dangerous. Lavrov said he wants to see regular security discussions with North Korea and China, regarding the Korean Peninsula situation, according to the Tass report. Cheon Seong-whun, a former security strategy secretary for South Koreas presidential office, said: The U.S. seems to be at a crossroads. It appears that the Indo-Pacific strategy seems to have reached its limits. Cheon noted that the strategy, arguably, was aimed at centralizing the U.S. efforts primarily on China through reducing its commitments elsewhere and redirecting its resources in Asia. But the unforeseen events in Europe and the Middle East have already diverted the U.S.s attention, and now the emergence of a North Korea-Russia alignment in Asia is further complicating matters. It has now become a structural issue." The pundit also explained that North Korea, recognizing what he described as a "new Cold War" era, appears to have already shifted its strategic stance, which is apparently less hopeful and reliant on dialogues with the U.S. Its clear that the U.S. and its allies must recalibrate their strategies, he added. Edited by Elaine Chan and Taejun Kang. Updated with Lavrovs call for regular security talks with North Korea and China. Travis King, 23, has also been charged with possessing sexual images of a child, reports say. A portrait of Army Pvt. Travis King is displayed as his grandfather, Carl Gates, talks about his grandson on July 19, 2023, in Kenosha, Wisc. The U.S. Army private who sprinted into North Korea in July and was returned home to the United States last month has been charged with desertion and remains in military custody, according to multiple media reports. Travis King, a 23-year-old Army private, has also been charged with possessing sexual images of a child, illegal possession of alcohol and assaulting soldiers, according to the reports on Friday. The news was first broken by Reuters, which said he faced eight charges in total. Reuters said that the charges all laid under the Uniform Code of Military Justice were filed Sunday, with King notified on Wednesday. Other outlets, including the Associated Press, cited a copy of the court charging document laying out the accusations against King. A native of Racine, Wisconsin, King was expelled by North Korean authorities on Sept. 27 and brought to the Chinese border by Swedish diplomats, where he was met by the U.S. ambassador to China and flown to a base in South Korea, where had originally been stationed. He was then repatriated to Fort Sam Houston near San Antonio, Texas, where he has been held in military custody for the past weeks. A report in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said he would likely face a hearing next week about whether he would remain there to await trial. It also quoted his lawyers saying they would mount a vigorous defense against the charges, and seek to modify his pre-trial detention. The conditions there are horrible and it amounts to basically putting him in solitary confinement right after he's returned from captivity, King's lead attorney, Franklin Rosenblatt, was quoted as saying. Presumption of innocence A statement from Kings mother, Claudine Gates, called for the American public to afford her son the presumption of innocence. A mother knows her son, and I believe something happened to mine while he was deployed, Gates said. The Army promised to investigate what happened at Camp Humphreys [in South Korea], and I await the results. I am grateful for the extraordinary legal team representing my son, and I look forward to my son having his day in court. King was on a civilian tour of the Joint Security Area between North and South Korea in Panmunjom on July 18 when he sprinted into North Korea. Another person on the tour told CBS News at the time that he shouted ha ha ha' and then ran between some buildings. He has not explained publicly why he ran into North Korea, and U.S. officials said at the time of his release that he was in good health. Edited by Malcolm Foster Hundreds of thousands of acres of rice paddies have been destroyed amid flooding caused by heavy rains in southern Myanmars Bago region, according to residents, leaving the regions farmers debt-ridden and struggling to stay afloat. The devastation puts extra pressure on a sector of the population already reeling from junta economic mismanagement that has caused the kyat to tumble since the militarys February 2021 coup detat. International sanctions to punish the regime has added to the pain. A deluge on the night of Oct. 8 caused the Bago River to rise around 1.2 meters (4 feet) above its critical level and flood the townships of Bago, Kawa, Daik-U and Thanatpin, farmers told RFA Burmese on Thursday. The flooding which caused chaos across five regions in total prompted 13,000 people in Bago region alone to relocate to relief camps or Buddhist monasteries for shelter. About 20 centimeters (8 inches) of rain fell in Myanmar over 24 hours the highest level in nearly 60 years, according to the countrys Department of Meteorology and Hydrology. A dozen neighborhoods and seven villages across the regions capital, Bago city, were inundated with water when the Bago River overflowed. All rice-growing villages in the southern part of Bago city and to the east and west of the Bago River were inundated by the flooding, said a person providing assistance to farmers in the region and who, like others interviewed for this report, spoke on condition of anonymity, citing fear of reprisal. Thanatpin township lost about one-third [of its rice fields], and Kawa township also lost about one-third, so I believe that in the vicinity of Bago and Bago township, the loss will be hundreds of thousands of acres, he said. A farmer from the region told RFA that there are more than 2.8 million acres of farmland in the Bago region. He said around 50,000 of Kawa townships 184,000 acres are likely to have been destroyed by the flooding. In Thanatpin township, farmer Zaw Myo said he had lost at least 20 acres of farmland. He said that if he is unable to repay the debt he had taken on for this years crops, Ill go from being a farm owner to a farm laborer. I made an investment in this farm by taking out an agricultural loan from the government, he said. Since my farm was submerged, I wont be able to pay off my debt to the creditor. Unrealistic reference price On Oct. 10, the Leading Body for Protection of Farmer Rights and Enhancement of Benefits, under Myanmars junta-appointed Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, issued a statement saying that 100 baskets of clean rice [per acre] with 14% moisture is set as the reference price of 7.5 million kyats (US$3,570). But Wa Khaing, another farmer from Thanatpin, noted that because of soaring prices of fuel and fertilizer since the coup, the cost of sowing and harvesting one acre of farmland is as much as 800,000 kyats (US$380). That means the reference price set by the ministry is not even enough to cover the capital expenditure. When dealing with bad weather and floods, some farms may only be able to harvest a small percentage, which will result in a huge loss for the farmers, he said. Farmer Zaw Myo shows rice destroyed by recent flooding in the Bago region. Credit: RFA Farmers told RFA that due to the flooding, they can only expect to harvest around 20% of their expected yield per acre. San Koon, a 75-year-old farmer, noted that this is the second time this year that paddy fields in Bago were flooded, destroying the local rice crop. Its painful for us farmers, he said. We lost all our investments after taking credit, so now I have run up a huge debt. About 30 of San Koons 50 acres of farmland was damaged by the flooding the worst hed seen in his lifetime of seasonal farming. He said hes decided to give up farming entirely. Translated by Htin Aung Kyaw. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster. The Institute for Strategy and Policy listed air strikes and raids by troops in its tally of attacks on civilians. Coffins are lined up next to graves for a mass funeral for victims of a junta military strike on the Mung Lai Hkyet camp for displaced people in northern Myanmar, Oct. 10, 2023. Junta troops have carried out 22 massacres across Myanmar since the February 2021 military coup, according to an independent research group based in Yangon. The massacres defined as the killing of 10 or more civilians at once have left more than 500 people dead, including children and elderly, the Institute for Strategy and Policy (ISP-Myanmar) said in a statement on Friday. The most recent attack on civilians killed 29 people, including 11 children, happened on Oct. 9 when a bomb was dropped on the Mung Lai Hkyet internally displaced persons camp near the Kachin Independence Army headquarters. We are always worried about when the artillery will hit us again or when the planes will come back to drop bombs on us, a woman who survived the attack told Radio Free Asia. Thirteen of the 22 attacks happened in northern region of Sagaing, ISP-Myanmar found. The aftermath of a Myanmar junta airstrike on Pa Zi Gyi village in Kanbalu township on April 11, 2023. Credit: RFA The deadliest one took place in Pa Zi Gyi village in Sagaings Kanbalu township on April 11 when nearly 170 people were killed in an air strike, ISP-Myanmar said. The groups statement also listed the May 2022 junta raid on Mon Taing Pin village in Sagaings Ye-U township that resulted in 29 civilian deaths. Although the junta has admitted it was behind the air attack on Pa Zi Gyi village, junta spokesman Major Gen. Zaw Min Tun said the regime wasnt responsible for the Mung Lai Hkyet bombing. Kyaw Zaw, spokesman for the National Unity Government made up of former civilian leaders and anti-junta activists said that the details of the massacres should be referred to the International Criminal Court. In July, the NUGs Ministry of Human Rights released a tally that showed 144 incidents in which a junta attack on civilians resulted in more than five deaths. The junta will continue to commit massacres if ASEAN and the rest of the international community doesnt take decisive action, said Zaw Win of the Southeast Asia-based human rights group Fortify Rights. Attempts by RFA to contact Zaw Min Tun on Friday for comment on the ISP-Myanmars statement went unanswered. Translated by Htin Aung Kyaw. Edited by Matt Reed. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide an integrated suite of sovereign and non-sovereign finance solutions for further renewable energy growth in Kyrgyzstan under a new Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for 2023-2027, Zheng Wu, ADB Country Director of the Kyrgyz Republic Resident Mission, told Trend in an exclusive interview. He went on to say that the funding will be used to scale out the urban e-mobility program as well as support other government projects targeted at improving Kyrgyzstan's energy sector. Zheng Wu stated that ADB is assisting the country's energy sector through a number of projects, including: - A $100 million financing package for the Uch-Kurgan Hydropower Plant Modernization Project - A $67.8 million financing package for the Toktogul Rehabilitation Phase 2 Project - A $55.9 million financing package for the Toktogul Rehabilitation Phase 3 Project - A $50.7 million financing package for the Urban Transport Electrification Project. "Kyrgyzstan has abundant hydropower resources, with the ability to generate over 150 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity per year, although only 10% of this potential has been realized," he added. "Until recently, hydropower has provided around 80 percent of its 3,920-megawatt (MW) capacity, with the remainder supplied by two combined heat and power plants in Bishkek and Osh," Zheng Wu said. The Country Director elaborated that in June 2023, ADB introduced a new 5-year CPS for Kyrgyzstan to support the country's development goals by promoting inclusive growth that is resilient and driven by the private sector. He also stated that this new strategy is consistent with the government's medium-term national development plan through 2026 and long-term national development priorities through 2040 (20182040). Zheng Wu stated that ADB will continue to assist Kyrgyzstan in upgrading vital public services such as transportation, energy, agriculture, and the public sector. Between 2023 and 2027, the bank will have three key objectives in Kyrgyzstan, he said. He outlined these priorities as expanding economic opportunities for all, boosting the country's ability to deal with climate change and disasters, and improving governance and business support. Regarding ADB's efforts to support Kyrgyzstan's active participation in the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program, he explained that the country has been actively involved in CAREC since 1997, with a consistent focus on strengthening regional cooperation to create a positive investment climate, increase trade and tourism, improve the business environment, and promote vital developments for productive employment. In the transport field, various projects within the CAREC Program have brought benefits to Kyrgyzstan: Rehabilitation of the Bishkek-Almaty road has allowed for stronger connectivity with Kazakhstan and reduced travel time. The upgrading of the Osh-Sarytash-Irkeshtam highway is opening up a new trade corridor with China. Rehabilitation of the Bishkek-Torugart road forms an integral part of the CAREC corridor, connecting Kyrgyzstan with other Central Asian countries and China. Zheng Wu noted the government's significant success in fostering the development of the Almaty-Bishkek Economic Corridor (ABEC) with Kazakhstan since 2014. This includes suggested projects for reference laboratory testing, tourism, wholesale marketplaces, cross-border modernization, and air quality measures. According to Zheng Wu, the bank has been one of Kyrgyzstan's key development partners since 1994. The ADB's initiatives in the country center on economic diversification, inclusive growth, and social protection. ADB is collaborating with the country to develop its legal and regulatory frameworks, improve the business environment, make affordable finance available, ensure dependable electrical supplies, boost transportation linkages and urban mobility, and increase people's employment. The ADB began the CAREC initiative in 1997. Its purpose is to encourage Central Asian, South Caucasus, and South Asian countries to work together and cooperate economically. Family members say the moves hurt the health and well-being of their loved ones. Junta policies that restrict packages to jailed inmates and permit prisoners to be transferred to remote facilities without notifying relatives are negatively impacting the health of political prisoners in Myanmar, their family members told RFA Burmese on Friday. The two practices are seen by rights campaigners as ways for the junta to punish critics of its rule. But they can have a deadly effect on the lives of what Thailands Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) says are the more than 19,600 prisoners of conscience languishing in Myanmars poorly provisioned jails since the militarys February 2021 coup detat. Traditionally, families of all inmates have been allowed to send enough food for two weeks at a time, as well as medicine and other supplies, to supplement what little is provided to them in prison by the state. The amount also allowed for inmates to share food with those whose families have less to give. But beginning in August, several prisons across the country introduced limits on sending packages to political prisoners but not the prisons general population with no official announcement or explanation for the decision. Family members told RFA Burmese that the new rules have left their loved ones without enough to eat and in need of medicine to address medical conditions. The family member of a political prisoner in Pathein, who was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison, said that the new restrictions mean that what can be sent will now barely support them for a week. She said that she can now only send seven packets of instant coffee, five packets of instant noodles, 14.4 ounces of dry snacks and 1.8 pounds of curry. He wont even be able to eat [enough] for a week, she said. Min Lwin Oo, a member of the Dawei district strike committee, told RFA that the health of his 65-year-old imprisoned father, who was sentenced to two years in Dawei Prison in August 2022 for defaming the state, is now worse than when he was outside. He said his father has asked for a daily supply of medicine to treat a fungal skin disease, but that he has been unable to send it due to the new restrictions. Before [prison], he used to visit clinics regularly, but he cant do that anymore, Min Lwin Oo said. Things like creams don't work well for this problem, so I am worried about his health. In addition to the restrictions on packages, shortly after seizing power, the junta instituted a ban on in-person meetings between political prisoners and their lawyers on the pretext of preventing the spread of Covid-19. The ban, which remains in place despite drastically reduced Covid transmission numbers, has limited the ability of prisoners of conscience to fight charges for crimes they say are politically motivated and that they didnt commit. Prison transfers Authorities have also used transfers to remote prisons often without informing families as a form of retribution against political prisoners that limits their access to lawyers, loved ones, and badly needed supplies, watchdog groups say. Family members of prisoners being released wait in front of Pathein Prison, Aug. 1, 2023. Credit: Citizen journalist Ko Ganang, a member of a group that sends supplies to prisons, said political prisoners who are sent to remote facilities can find themselves in serious trouble. Families cant afford travel expenses, even if it is only once a month, he said. The country's economy is not good, so it is very difficult for family members of political prisoners. They are financially discriminated against. According to Thaik Tun Oo, a leading member of the Myanmar Political Prisoners Network, conditions for political prisoners became much worse in the country after the junta appointed Myo Swe formerly of the regimes ministry of defense to replace Zaw Min as director general of the ministry of home affairs prison department. After a military officer became the director general of prisons, the [political] prisoners were forbidden from wearing clothes they used to wear and reading the books they used to read, he said, noting that not even books published with official permission are allowed to be read in prisons anymore. They are no longer allowed to keep personal belongings, such as toothbrushes, and drinking water can no longer be sent from the outside, he said. Weve learned that its the prison authorities who are carrying out this oppression. No legal basis for restrictions Thaik Tun Oo said that at least 24 prisons across the country have been restricting the sending of packages to political prisoners, with no reason provided. A lawyer, who declined to be named due to security reasons, said that under Myanmars laws, all inmates have the right to meet with their family members, engage in correspondence and receive supplies. All inmates are allowed to meet in-person with their family members and if there is no opportunity to meet in person, they can receive supplies [or letters], he said. These are the ways that inmates can maintain contact with the outside. According to the prison manual, unless there are special circumstances, every prisoner must be provided these rights. RFAs attempts to reach out to Naing Win, a spokesman for the prison department, regarding the restrictions on sending supplies to inmates went unanswered Friday. Translated by Htin Aung Kyaw. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster. One man died and eight others were injured by landmines. Updated Oct. 10, 2023, at 8:25 a.m. ET A man died and eight were injured when troops laid landmines in their village in Sagaing region after raiding it and burning the houses to the ground, locals said Friday. Two mines exploded while residents were cleaning up the remains of their houses on Thursday, one Pyawbwe resident told Radio Free Asia. After the troops left the village, they turned back to shell the survivors. After they left, we went in and cleared the burnt houses in the village. The two mines planted by the junta soldiers were stepped on and blew up, said the man who wished to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals. The troops shelled the area that had been blown up, injuring nine people with landmines and heavy artillery. One of them died this morning. The column trekked from Ye-U township to Tabayin township. Villages along the route were systematically raided and bombarded with heavy artillery, he added. Across the south of Sagaing region, military convoys have carried out brutal attacks, causing thousands to flee their homes in early October. Troops killed one man and arrested 30 on a five-day raid across Shwebo, Khin-U, Pale and Kanbalu townships during the third week of October. On Saturday, villagers found three teenagers beaten and shot to death outside their village in Yinmarbin township. RFA contacted Sagaing regions ethnic affairs minister and junta spokesperson Sai Naing Naing Kyaw seeking comment on the attack, but he did not reply by time of publication. Nationwide, junta convoys killed eight civilians from Oct. 1 to 17 with airstrikes and heavy artillery, according to data compiled by RFA. Forty-one people were injured. More than 800,000 people have fled their homes in Sagaing region due to the conflict since the military coup, according to the United Nations. Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn. Updated to add that the attack happened on Thursday. His words come as China seeks to change Tibets name to Xizang. The leader of Tibets government-in-exile has urged the international community not to follow Chinas decision to replace the use of the term Tibet with Xizang as the romanized Chinese name on official diplomatic documents. Chinese media and the official account of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China, United Front News, said there was no more Tibet in the official documents of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, RFA reported on Oct. 12. The United Front tries to co-opt and neutralize elite individuals and organizations inside and outside mainland China, which are sources of potential opposition to the policies of the ruling Chinese Communist Party, or CCP. The RFA report noted that an English transcript of a speech delivered by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the opening ceremony of the Third Trans-Himalaya Forum for International Cooperation on Oct. 5, used Xizang throughout the copy to refer to Tibet. I urge the international community not to compromise with the CCPs efforts to reshape history and to stick to the established term Tibet, Sikyong Penpa Tsering, the democratically elected political leader of the Central Tibetan Administration, told Radio Free Asia in an exclusive interview in Washington on Thursday. By imposing its Chinese concept on the English one, the Chinese government wants to tell others that Tibet is just the Tibet Autonomous Region, he said. The Chinese government cannot justify themselves by propagating propaganda to change the historical fact, he said. Many history books and documents that exist in the past refer to Tibet as Tibet. The name change comes as CCP scholars push for an amendment to the translated name which they claim will prevent the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, from reestablishing the right to speak about Tibet. The scholars argue that the CCP needs to promote its legitimate occupation and rule of the western autonomous region. Sikyong Penpa Tsering (2nd from R) and International Campaign for Tibet Chairman Richard Gere (2nd from L), meet with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (3rd from L) at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, Oct. 18, 2023. Credit: Gemunu Amarasinghe/RFA Tsering, who has held the office of sikyong since May 27, 2021, is on the last leg of an official visit from Sept. 29-Oct. 24, that includes Latin America, where he aims to build support for the Tibetan cause, and North America, where he continues to undertake Tibet advocacy campaigns. In Washington, Tsering met with Nancy Pelosi, former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, who also attended the 16th anniversary of the conferment of the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama on Oct. 17. U.S. lawmakers, including Reps. Jim McGovern (D-MA), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Betty McCollum (D-MN) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), attended the event. Pelosi called the bestowal of the highest civilian honor to His Holiness as a source of pride and stressed the bipartisan support of U.S. legislators towards the Dalai Lama. Tsering also addressed the National Press Club on Oct. 18 about Tibets geopolitical relevance, its spiritual and cultural impact, and the effects of President Xi Jinpings One China policy, which Tibetans view as a measure to erase their identity, culture, religion and language. Before visiting Washington, Tsering visited Brazil, Costa Rica, Colombia and Mexico in a bid to strengthen the ties between the Tibetan government-in-exile, headquartered in Dharamsala, India, and Latin America. Translated by Tenzin Dickyi for RFA Tibetan. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster. Welcome to The Azadi Briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter that unpacks the key issues in Afghanistan. To subscribe, click here. I'm Abubakar Siddique, a senior correspondent at RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. Here's what I've been tracking and what I'm keeping an eye on in the days ahead. The Key Issue A growing chorus of governments, human rights groups, and NGOs have urged Pakistan to reverse its decision to forcibly deport over 1 million Afghans from the country. Islamabad has said the estimated 1.7 million undocumented Afghan refugees and migrants living in Pakistan must leave voluntarily or face deportation by November 1. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HCRP) became the latest organization to criticize the decision, saying it "amounts to forced repatriation, which is not recognized under international law." In its October 18 statement, the HCRP said Pakistan's caretaker government lacked the legal mandate to order the mass expulsions. Around 3.7 million Afghans live in Pakistan, according to the United Nations, including some 700,000 people who arrived after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021. Why It's Important: Rights groups have said the mass deportations will put Afghans at great risk of retribution in their homeland. Tens of thousands of Afghans who have applied for foreign visas or refugee relocation in the West remain stuck in Pakistan. Many of them are journalists, activists, and former interpreters who worked with international forces. A group of former top U.S. officials and resettlement organizations on October 18 urged Pakistan to exempt them from deportation. "To deport them back to an environment where their lives would be in jeopardy runs counter to humanitarian principles and international accords," the open letter said. Activists also say Pakistan's announcement has fueled growing abuse against Afghans, including harassment, assault, and arbitrary detention. "Afghanistan is reeling from economic and human rights crises," Fereshta Abbasi, an Afghanistan researcher at Human Rights Watch, told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. "Pakistani authorities should realize that this announcement has prompted the country's police to abuse refugees." Last week, the United Nations said the "forced repatriation of Afghan nationals has the potential to result in severe human rights violations, including the separation of families and deportation of minors." What's Next: Despite mounting criticism, Pakistan has been adamant that all "illegal" refugees and migrants must leave the country of some 240 million. Pakistan's powerful military, which has an oversized role in the country's domestic and foreign affairs, said on October 17 that it backed the government's decision to "deport all illegal foreigners" and will "support and facilitate smooth, respectable, and safe repatriation/deportation of all illegal foreigners." It is unclear if Islamabad will be able to deport all undocumented Afghans by the November 1 deadline, given the complex logistics involved. Over the years, Islamabad has expelled many Afghans, who are often blamed for insecurity and unemployment, and periodically threatens those who remain with mass expulsion. What To Keep An Eye On The Taliban said it wants to formally join China's globe-spanning Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The Taliban Commerce Minister Haji Nooruddin Azizi told Reuters on October 19 that the group had "requested China to allow us to be a part" of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a centerpiece of the BRI. "China, which invests all over the world, should also invest in Afghanistan...we have everything they need, such as lithium, copper, and iron," Azizi told Reuters. Azizi spoke a day after the end of the annual Belt and Road Forum, which Taliban representatives attended. In May, Islamabad and Beijing announced that CPEC would be extended to Afghanistan. Why It's Important: China has been cautious about expanding its relations with the Taliban government, which is under international sanctions and remains internationally unrecognized. It is unclear if the Taliban's participation in the Belt and Road Forum, a key annual event in China, is a sign that Beijing is ramping up its engagement with Afghanistan. Experts have said Beijing's primary concern in Afghanistan is the threat posed by members of the Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP) -- an Uyghur extremist group that Beijing blames for unrest in its western province of Xinjiang. The Taliban has been accused of sheltering Uyghur militants and done little to alleviate China's security concerns. That's all from me for now. Don't forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you have. You can always reach us at azadi.english@rferl.org. Until next time, Abubakar Siddique If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your inbox every Friday. /fb/dw 8 A pile of helmets and ballistic vests lies beneath a Soviet-era mural in VOMAs Yerevan training center. Arsen laughs when asked about frequent Azerbaijani state media articles targeting the group. Man, we have our faces on photos in Azerbaijani Telegram channels saying that we're all terrorists," he said. "Our cook here was introduced [in Azerbaijani social media] as an instructor that is a terrorist as well. We laugh a bunch when we see this." But his face hardens slightly at the implications of the hostile PR. Im just a bit worried if I can get out of my country [to travel] he said, "At such a young age, being called a terrorist is not something I like." With the expiration of UN sanctions designed to thwart Iran's development of ballistic missiles, both Tehran and ally Russia have said there is nothing standing in the way of them trading such technology. The claims have led to concerns that Moscow and Tehran could try to expand their existing arms dealing to include more advanced weaponry, know-how, and technology that could boost both Russia's war effort in Ukraine and Iran's ballistic-missile and drone programs. But while observers do not discount the possibility that Iran could try to sell previously barred weapons -- chiefly, powerful short-range ballistic missiles -- to Russia, they express skepticism Tehran will follow through. Among the reasons, they say, are Tehran's need to maintain its own military stockpiles amid increased conflict in the Middle East, the desire to be seen as a compliant and legitimate arms trader by the international community, and the continuation of an already existing strategy of supporting the manufacture of such weaponry in other countries, including Russia. Hamidreza Azizi, a fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin, told RFE/RL that Iran's suggestion that it is no longer subject to UN sanctions limiting its missile program is more "political, rather than technical" as it seeks to "normalize" its ability to conduct military trades and transfers. "The actual impact of the expiry of the UN Security Council restrictions on Iran's missile program, in terms of its impact on Iran's ability to develop its missile program, is rather limited," Azizi said. "Because all these years we witnessed that, despite those restrictions being in place, Iran managed to develop not only its missile program, but also its drone program, its military capabilities, to an unprecedented level." Azizi notes that Iran achieved this in part due to technical and scientific cooperation with other partners, mainly North Korea but also with Russia and Moscow's allies. Iran set up a manufacturing facility for reconnaissance and combat drones in Tajikistan and Belarus is reportedly seeking to establish a factory to produce the Iranian Shahed-136 kamikaze drone believed to be used extensively by Russia in its war against Ukraine. Western officials have also revealed the existence of a drone facility being built in Russia with Iran's assistance that would allow Moscow to build domestic versions of Iranian drones in huge numbers and could be in operation by early 2024. With the expiration of the UN sanctions, which were largely regarded as toothless, Azizi says he expects Iran to stick to its policy "of considering its military capabilities as nonnegotiable" in any international negotiations while "continuing to advance its capabilities." Iran can already boast some of the most sophisticated missiles and drones in the Middle East at a time when Tehran's support of proxies and militant groups in the region is being watched closely as archenemy Israel battles the Iranian-backed Hamas extremist organization. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Iran has widely been accused of delivering cheap but effective kamikaze drones to Moscow. While Iran denies the allegations, saying it only sold drones to Moscow before the war started, U.S. officials have repeatedly accused Tehran of supplying Shahed-136 Iranian drones that Russia has used to destroy civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. There has been evidence of Iranian drones rebranded as Russian Geran-2s being used on the battlefield. And as the two countries have increased military-technical cooperation, Iran's Defense Ministry has routinely showcased its ballistic, cruise, anti-tank, and air-defense missile systems to Russian officials. The sanctions, in effect since 2015 and enshrined in UN Resolution 2231, expired on October 18 as part of the moribund Iran nuclear deal with world powers known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The United States withdrew from the deal, which offered sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on Iran's nuclear program, in 2018. As European signatories Britain, France, and Germany tried to keep the pact alive, Iran abandoned some of its commitments, but never withdrew from the JCPOA. The UN sanctions, which were introduced when the Security Council approved the JCPOA, called on Iran, among other things, "not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons." Under the terms, any countries wishing to engage in related trade with Iran were required to first get approval from the UN Security Council. In separate statements as the sanctions expired, Iran and Russia were quick to claim that they would no longer be bound by the restrictions, although neither side announced any concrete plans for future cooperation regarding Iran's ballistic-missile program. Iran's Defense Ministry, for its part, said Tehran regarded the development as an opportunity to "strengthen its defense capabilities." But Azizi said Iran now "sees itself free from restrictions to export military technology and weapons, rather than to import them." Russia, Azizi said, is also interested in underscoring that "there are no more restrictions or special commitments that Iran needs to observe in its military-technical cooperation when it comes to missiles" so that it can also "potentially increase the potential for Iran to send missiles to Russia." Iran's previous export of Shahed-136 drones to Russia could be explained in part because they "arguably" fell under the UN's classification of conventional weapons, according to Jeremy Binnie, Middle East defense specialist at the global intelligence company Janes. "We have not seen any evidence of transfers of Iranian missiles to Russia so far, but it is unclear if this has been because the Iranians did not want to be seen to be so obviously violating UNSCR 2231," Binnie told RFE/RL in written comments. Now that the UN sanctions have expired, he said, Iran "may now be more willing to overtly provide arms" to Russia, Binnie said. As for Russia seeking Iranian missiles, Azizi said, "as Ukraine's Western allies increase the level of their military support for Ukraine, there might be a moment that the Russian leaders decide [to import Iranian missiles because] it's not going to make any difference." Whether Iran would actually part with such weaponry is another question, particularly considering the current war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the prospect of direct Iranian involvement in that conflict. "Another consideration for the Iranians is maintaining their own military capabilities, which would be undermined by transferring significant numbers of missiles to Russia," Binnie said. "The uncertain situation in the Middle East right now is likely to increase Iranian unwillingness to supply weapons to Russia that they feel should be retained at home or supplied to allied groups in support of its regional goals." One solution, Binnie said, "might be to replicate what has happened with the Shahed-136s, whereby Iran supplies initial batches, then transfers the technology to Russia so it can build them locally." He said that while Russia had a sophisticated missile production capability of its own, "the Iranians would be teaching them how to make cheaper missiles using supply chains that circumnavigate Western sanctions." The United States and the European Union moved quickly to impose new obstacles as the UN sanctions -- intended to blunt Iran's ballistic-missile program, and by extension its possible acquisition of nuclear weapons and delivery systems -- expired. In September, Britain, France, and Germany announced that they would maintain their existing sanctions related to Iran's controversial nuclear program, which Tehran claims is for civilian purposes only, and its development of ballistic missiles. The United States on October 18, the same day that the UN sanctions expired, announced new sanctions targeting individuals and companies in Iran and Russia, among other countries, in an effort to penalize Iran's efforts to buy or sell technology or equipment related to its missile and drone programs. In a significant expansion of dress-code enforcement, Tehran has seen the deployment of "hijab enforcers" within the grounds of Tehran University and the streets surrounding Amir Kabir University, as well as key areas in the city. The move coincides with disciplinary actions against students, notably more than 50 female students at Tehran University who have faced reprimands and suspensions for allegedly failing to adhere to the compulsory head-scarf regulations. The Student Guild Councils of Iran reported on November 2 that the presence of hijab enforcers had become more pronounced on the campuses of Tehran University. They noted that alongside the patrols, dozens of female students had been summoned to the disciplinary committee in the past week. They face a range of penalties from reprimands to suspensions for hijab-related infractions. The deployment of the enforcers is seen as a step beyond the usual disciplinary-committee proceedings, with university security said to be actively involved in harassing students under the guise of enforcing dress codes. The student councils have stressed that the university's security apparatus is not only deploying enforcers across campuses but also preventing students whose attire does not meet their standards from entering university premises. The report highlights the increased pressure from university security and hijab enforcers on students as part of a broader effort to enforce the mandatory hijab. The student councils have described the recent wave of summonses to the disciplinary committees as unprecedented, even surpassing the numbers seen during the height of last year's protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini. Many students have reportedly received severe penalties, predominantly for hijab violations. In addition to first-time summonses and forced pledge signings, many students with previously suspended sentences have been informed -- without a formal committee meeting -- of the immediate enforcement of their penalties. The newsletter at the Amir Kabir University has detailed "violent encounters" by security patrols and hijab enforcers with female students around the university. In one recent incident, security forces allegedly attacked a female student whose scarf had momentarily slipped, attempting to confiscate her student ID amid a climate of fear and intimidation. The newsletter also reported that plainclothed hijab enforcers had been stationed around Amir Kabir University since November 1. These forces, which include military personnel and plainclothes agents, have been particularly active along Tehran's Valiasr Street, aggressively confronting women for not observing the hijab. The escalation in hijab enforcement comes days after the death of Armita Garavand, a teenage student who died last weekend due to injuries suffered in an alleged confrontation with Tehran's morality police. The initial deployment of "hijab enforcers" in subway stations was reported in mid-August amid rising confrontations with women refusing to comply with the mandatory hijab. Tehran's municipality is said to have hired 400 individuals as "hijab enforcers," offering a monthly salary of 120 million rials ($230). Universities have historically been a battleground in the fight for social and political reforms in Iran. During the Islamic Revolution of 1979, university students played a prominent role, including the occupation of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. After the clerics came to power, the authorities instigated a mass purge of Iranian universities, firing hundreds of professors and altering curriculums to promote Islamic values. Since the revolution, university students have voiced their opposition to the clerical establishment, including during a 1999 protest against the closure of a reformist newspaper, resulting in a raid on a dormitory at Tehran University that left one student dead. The protests against Amini's death in September 2022 led to renewed pressure against students, specifically female students who failed to comply with the hijab law. Written by Ardeshir Tayebi based on an original story in Persian by RFE/RL's Radio Farda I'm Steve Gutterman, the editor of RFE/RL's Russia/Ukraine/Belarus Desk. Welcome to The Week In Russia, in which I dissect the key developments in Russian politics and society over the previous week and look at what's ahead. To receive The Week In Russia newsletter in your inbox, click here. A trip to China, an eye on the Middle East -- and for Russian President Vladimir Putin, a continued focus on the war in Ukraine, where Moscow's forces struggled on the battlefield and Kyiv used newly delivered Western weapons. And 20 months into the full-scale invasion, the Kremlin's clampdown at home continued. Here are some of the key developments in Russia over the past week and some of the takeaways going forward. Another War Worldwide, the Israel-Hamas war has drawn attention away from Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The new carnage in the Middle East, which started with the deadliest militant attack on Israel in its history, has pushed the biggest war in Europe since 1945 out of the headlines, at least on some days, and has become a focus of debate in parliaments from Washington to Brussels and beyond. Russian President Vladimir Putin certainly has an eye on Israel, Gaza, and the rest of a region where he has sought to balance an array of interests and increase Moscow's clout over nearly a quarter-century in power. That effort won't stop, and Putin may see the Israel-Hamas war as a chance to step it up. How much success he may have is unclear. 'An Arsonist For A Firefighter' On October 17, a diplomatic move by Moscow fell flat when the UN Security Council rejected a Russian resolution that called for a cease-fire and condemned "all violence and hostilities directed against civilians and all acts of terrorism" -- but did not mention Hamas. Also not mentioned: The fact that Russia has killed thousands of civilians and faces accusations of war crimes in Ukraine. Anger over Russia's war on Ukraine kept it out of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2024-26 term in an October 10 vote, with Albanian Ambassador Ferit Hoxha saying the General Assembly had to "demonstrate that it is not ready to take an arsonist for a firefighter." "UN member states sent a strong signal to Russia's leadership that a government responsible for countless war crimes and crimes against humanity doesn't belong on the Human Rights Council," said Louis Charbonneau, UN director at Human Rights Watch. But the Security Council is another matter. And for Putin, that may be the point: Regardless of the outcome, any vote in the council highlights the fact that Russia is a permanent member, giving the Kremlin a say in global matters of war and peace despite its invasion of Ukraine, which many in the West wish would disqualify it from any such role. Away from the UN, Ukraine, and the Middle East, a trip to China enabled Putin to underscore his long and but seemingly ever-sharper tun against the West, and to add a new twist to the nuclear saber-rattling Russia has engaged in frequently since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. But he left with little of substance to show from what Moscow and Beijing tout as a "no limits" partnership. 'What They Want Is Not To Lose' And amid the turmoil in the Middle East and the visit to China, longtime observers of Russia and Putin believe that Ukraine still commands almost all of his attention, and that the war he unleashed there is the prism through which he views events around the globe. Putin and the Kremlin "are for chaos," exiled former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky told Current Time, the Russian-language network run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA, in an interview on October 13. "Putin today needs chaos to get what he wants out of increasingly muddy, murky waters," Khodorkovsky, who spent over a decade in prison on fraud charges he contends were fabricated by Putin and his allies to punish his political activity, bring influential tycoons to heel, and put the oil assets of his company, Yukos, into state hands. "And what they want," he said of Putin and the Kremlin, "is not to lose in Ukraine." In some ways, they have already lost: Instead of taking Kyiv and subjugating Ukraine within days or weeks -- the outcome he apparently expected when he launched the full-scale invasion in February 2022 -- he has embroiled his country in a long and deadly war that has done great harm to Russia, left its future uncertain, and turned Ukrainians against it for decades to come. Analysts say Putin's best hope for anything from a real victory to something he can frame as one is that that "Ukraine fatigue" will spread and Western support for Kyiv will falter, slowing or stopping the financial aid and weapons supplies it needs to battle -- and potentially defeat -- the Russian invasion. Biden's Billions? In the United States, the Israel-Hamas war added a new element of uncertainty on the prospects of further aid for Ukraine, already jeopardized by partisan and no less bitter intraparty clashes in Washington over the issue as the November 2024 presidential and congressional elections approach. U.S. President Joe Biden is seeking to secure support over the coming year by locking in tens of billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine. In an address on October 19 ahead of what is expected to be a request for about $100 billion in funding for Ukraine, Israel, and other purposes, he said that both Russia and Hamas want to "annihilate a neighboring democracy" and won't stop unless there are consequences. Still, the future of Western support for Ukraine is uncertain. So is the situation on the battlefield. But while a major counteroffensive that Ukraine launched in early June has made slow progress, there's been a lot of bad news for Russia recently along and behind the 1,200-kilometer front line. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on October 17 that Ukraine used U.S.-made missiles known by the acronym ATACMS in attacks that the Ukrainian military said destroyed nine Russian military helicopters, an ammunition depot, and an air-defense battery in occupied parts of Ukraine. Sending Missiles Ukraine had long requested the missiles, whose range of up to 520 kilometers allows them to strike far behind Russian lines, and their delivery had not been disclosed until after the strikes that Zelenskiy announced. The White House later confirmed that the United States had sent ATACMS. The main target of the Ukrainian strikes was an airfield near Berdyansk, a Russian-held Azov Sea port city on the "land bridge," a strip of territory that leads southwest from the Russian border to Crimea and is Russia's only overland route for sending troops and supplies to the occupied Black Sea peninsula. Cutting this crucial artery is a major goal of Ukraine's counteroffensive. Further northeast, there were signs that a major Russian offensive around Avdiyivka, near the Russian-held regional capital of Donetsk in the Donbas, was likely to fail. And further southwest, there were reports that Ukrainian forces had crossed the Dnieper River in the Kherson region and reached a Russian-held village about 2 kilometers from the bank. In Russia, the supercharged clampdown on dissent, civil society, and independent media continued without cease. 'An Alarming Escalation' Prague-based RFE/RL journalist Alsu Kurmasheva was detained in Russia on October 18 and accused of failing to register as a "foreign agent." The detention came more than four months after her U.S. and Russian passports were confiscated as she was preparing to leave the country at the end of a visit prompted by a family emergency. She could be sentenced to five years in prison if convicted. RFE/RL's acting president, Jeffrey Gedmin, called for Kurmasheva's immediate release. In a statement, RFE/RL said that for more than a decade, "Russia has used foreign agent laws to punish perceived government critics who receive funding from abroad or are deemed to be 'under foreign influence,' including civil society groups, media outlets, independent journalists, and activists." Marie Struthers, director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia at Amnesty International, said Kurmasheva's "persecution...is an example of the relentless crackdown on journalism and the right to freedom of expression in Russia." "It also marks an alarming escalation in the harassment of media professionals, as it's the first time this offense has been used to directly target a journalist for their professional activities, putting her at risk of a five-year imprisonment," she said. 'A Severe Blow' Meanwhile, three lawyers who have defended imprisoned opposition leader Aleksei Navalny were arrested last week, and another has fled the country. And on October 11, a Moscow court convicted veteran human rights defender Oleg Orlov, co-chairman of the outlawed rights group Memorial, of repeatedly discrediting the Russian military. It ordered him to pay a 150,000-ruble ($1,500) fine -- a sentence he told Current Time was "unexpectedly mild," adding that he would appeal the verdict, which he called "illegal and unconstitutional." Orlov was charged after he posted a Russian translation of a November 2022 article he wrote for a French publication, Mediapart, in which he criticized Moscow's war against Ukraine and said that more than 30 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia is "slipping back into totalitarianism, but this time the fascist kind." "The bloody war that Putin's regime has unleashed in Ukraine is not only the mass murder of people and the annihilation of [Ukraine's] infrastructure, economy, and cultural sites," Orlov wrote in the article. "Not only the destruction of the foundations of international law. It is also a severe blow to the future of Russia." That's it from me this week. If you want to know more, catch up on my podcast The Week Ahead In Russia, out every Monday, here on our site, or wherever you get your podcasts (Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts). Yours, Steve Gutterman A Russian court has accepted a request by prosecutors to extend the detention of RFE/RL journalist Alsu Kurmasheva after she was picked up earlier this week by police on charges of failing to register as a foreign agent. The press service of the Sovetsky district Court of Kazan said Kurmasheva's detention was extended by 72 hours, which would bring it to 1 p.m. Moscow time on October 23. Wearing a black hooded jacket and a white COVID-style breathing mask, Kurmasheva sat in a glass box and waved during the hearing. Kurmasheva -- a journalist with RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service based in the Czech Republic, who holds dual U.S. and Russian citizenship -- traveled to Russia for a family emergency in May. She was temporarily detained while waiting for her return flight on June 2 at Kazan airport, where both of her passports were confiscated. She has not been able to leave Russia since as she awaited the return of her travel documents. Authorities on October 11 fined Kurmasheva 10,000 rubles ($103) for failing to register her U.S. passport with Russian authorities, according to local media reports based on court documents they've seen. Kurmasheva was detained again on October 18 and charged this time with failing to register as a foreign agent, a crime that carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The Investigative Committee said that Kurmasheva is suspected of failing "to fulfill the obligation established by the legislation of the Russian Federation to submit to the authorized body documents necessary for inclusion in the register of foreign agents, committed by a person carrying out the targeted collection of information in the field of military, military-technical activities of the Russian Federation, whose receipt by foreign sources can be used against the security of the Russian Federation." It did not give any further details. "We are concerned by the decision to prolong Alsu's detention," RFE/RL acting President Jeffrey Gedmin said. "Journalism is not a crime. She must be released to her family immediately." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied Moscow was engaged in a campaign to persecute U.S. citizens. He did not comment further on Kurmasheva's detention. Russia's detention of Kurmasheva, the second U.S. media member to be held by Moscow this year, triggered a wave of criticism from rights groups and politicians saying the move signals new level of wartime censorship. Russia has been accused of detaining Americans to use as bargaining chips to exchange for Russians jailed in the United States. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was arrested for allegedly spying -- a charge he and the newspaper vehemently deny -- in March. Since 2012, Russia has used its so-called foreign agent laws to label and punish critics of government policies. It has also been increasingly used to shut down civil society and media groups in Russia since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. "The persecution of Alsu Kurmasheva is an example of the relentless crackdown on journalism and the right to freedom of expression in Russia," said Marie Struthers, Amnesty Internationals director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia. "It also marks an alarming escalation in the harassment of media professionals, as its the first time this offence has been used to directly target a journalist for their professional activities, putting her at risk of a five-year imprisonment." The UN Human Rights Office, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and the chairman of the U.S. House of Representative's Foreign Affairs Committee also called for the immediate release of Kurmasheva. The U.S. State Department said it was aware of reports that Kurmasheva had been arrested but it had not received official notification from Russia over the matter. The foreign agent law allows authorities to label nonprofit organizations as foreign agents if they receive funding from abroad and are engaged in political activities. RFE/RL says the law amounts to political censorship meant to prevent journalists from performing their professional duties and is challenging the authorities' moves in Russian courts and at the European Court of Human Rights. More than 30 RFE/RL employees have been listed as "foreign agents" by the Russian Justice Ministry in their personal capacity. In March, a Moscow court declared the bankruptcy of RFE/RL's operations in Russia following the company's refusal to pay multiple fines totaling more than 1 billion rubles ($14 million) for noncompliance with the law. With reporting by Reuters and AFP Ukrainian forces repelled a new Russian attack on the eastern city of Avdiyivka and were holding their ground in heavy fighting in the area, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in his evening address on October 20, thanking all our boys who are powerfully holding the defense and destroying the occupier day after day. Avdiyivka has been a focal point of the fighting in the eastern Donetsk region for the past several weeks as Moscows forces attempt a breakthrough. Zelenskiy said Russian losses "are really staggering," adding that "it is precisely losses by the occupier that Ukraine needs." 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. Zelenskiy and top military commanders on October 20 visited the southern region of Kherson, where they discussed the situation there and around Avdiyivka and Kupyansk, a city in the Kharkiv region north of Avdiyivka where Russian forces have also intensified attacks. A Telegram channel close to the Russian Defense Ministry said on October 19 that Russian troops were "continuing the operation to capture the Avdiyivka fortified area." Russian troops were able to occupy the ash pit of the Avdiyivka coke plant, it said, but the Ukrainian troops counterattacked near the village of Berdychiy to the northwest of Avdiyivka and pushed the Russian units back to the railway. Journalists with a project of the BBC and independent Russian media outlet Mediazona said on October 29 that the number of Russian troop deaths in the war was 34,857. Over the past two weeks, the list has increased by 953 names, the project said. The project counts only deaths established through open sources -- documents, messages from relatives, and data on graves. The Russian Defense Ministry does not disclose data on personnel losses and does not comment on figures reported by journalists. Russian state media reported a personnel change in the top ranks of the Russian military on October 20. Citing sources, TASS and RIA Novosti reported that Colonel-General Viktor Afzalov had been appointed commander of the Russian air force. Afzalov was promoted from his position of acting air force chief, a role he assumed after General Sergei Surovikin was removed from the post in August. Reports from the battlefield on October 20 said a Russian missile targeted homes in Kryviy Rih in the central Ukrainian region of Dnipropetrovsk, killing 60-year-old man and leaving a 57-year-old woman in serious condition. "The enemy aimed a rocket at a dacha cooperative," said Serhiy Lysak, governor of Dnipropetrovsk, on Telegram. The shelling caused a fire, which had been extinguished, he said. The Russian military earlier on October 20 launched fresh artillery attacks on civilian areas of nine regions of Ukraine, killing one person, wounding several more, and causing damage to civilian infrastructure that left many residents without electricity. Ukraine's Energy Ministry said in a statement that due to the shelling, power was cut partially or totally in the regions of Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhya, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Chernihiv. In the southern region of Kherson, an 80-year-old woman was killed in the city of Beryslav and her home was destroyed by a Russian shell, regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said on Telegram on October 20. Beryslav, like much of the Kherson region that was liberated by Ukrainian forces one year ago, has been systematically targeted by Russian shelling and missile strikes from across the eastern bank of the Dnieper River. In the northeastern region of Kharkiv, Russian forces shelled the village of Kupyansk-Vuzloviy and the town of Vovchansk early on October 20, wounding two people and causing damage to civilian infrastructure, regional Governor Oleh Synyehubov said on Telegram. Russian forces "fired artillery, mortars, rockets, and other weapons at civilian-populated areas," Synyehubov said, wounding two men and destroying a youth center and damaging several residential buildings. The battlefield information could not be independently verified. With reporting by AFP and Reuters BISHKEK -- Just days after Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Kyrgyzstan, an opposition activist who had fled Russia was taken from his home by unidentified men and is still missing. Lev Skoryakin, who the Russian Interior Ministry wanted for participating in a sarcastic "Happy [Chekist] Day" rally in front of a Federal Security Service (FSB) building in Moscow in 2021, was allegedly kidnapped in Bishkek on October 17. His current whereabouts are unknown, and rights defenders are worried about him. According to a report by the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, the alleged abduction occurred on October 17 when several men came to Skoryakin's home in Bishkek and took the activist by car to an unknown location, Russian human rights activists said. For security reasons, the activists who reported Skoryakins disappearance have requested anonymity. Russian opposition politician Lyubov Sobol commented on the incident on X, formerly known as Twitter. "Last month, Skoryakin applied for a German ersatz passport, received humanitarian protection from Germany, and was ready to leave [Kyrgyzstan], Sobol tweeted. On the night of October 16-17, 10 men arrived at his home in two cars. They identified themselves as members of the criminal investigation police of Kyrgyzstan and took Skoryakin [away]. His lawyers have been unable to find him within the police or the temporary detention center of the Criminal Investigation Department [in Bishkek]. The whereabouts of Lev Skoryakin are currently unknown." Why Was Skoryakin Wanted By Russia? Skoryakin, 23, and his colleague Ruslan Abazov, members of Left Resistance -- a civil movement formed in 2015 that unites leftist activists and organizations -- were wanted by the Russian Internal Affairs Ministry for their actions in December 2021 when they are alleged to have started a bonfire near some FSB offices in Moscow and chanted "Happy [Chekists] Day!" while displaying an opposition banner. The men left Russia in the summer of 2022, with Skoryakin settling in Kyrgyzstan and being arrested in Bishkek in June of this year. He was held in a temporary detention center in the capital before being released in September. The Kyrgyz Prosecutor-General's Office did not extradite Skoryakin to Russia, as Moscow had requested, because he had asked for political asylum. Abazov, meanwhile, sought asylum in Croatia. Skoryakin's lawyer in Moscow, Yevgenia Grigoryeva, told RFE/RL that he would likely receive a seven-year prison sentence if he was tried in Russia. "We last met in court in December 2022 [in Bishkek] and have not spoken since then, she said. I heard that he was kidnapped in Bishkek but I am unsure if he was brought to Russia. He is accused of engaging in arbitrary behavior after colluding with certain individuals in Moscow. It is a serious charge and, if he is found guilty, he will receive a seven-year sentence." The Human Rights group Memorial has called Skoryakin a political detainee. The Kyrgyz Internal Affairs Ministry told RFE/RL it will provide further information regarding Skoryakins reported abduction. There have been other cases where activists and opposition politicians who voiced criticism of the Russian government were arrested in Kyrgyzstan and extradited to Moscow. Aleksei Rozhkov, another Left Resistance member, was deported by Kyrgyzstan to Russia in early June. He was among the first to publicly oppose Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and is accused of setting a military recruitment office on fire. Alyona Krylova, a Russian activist who was also arrested in Kyrgyzstan, has been detained in Bishkek since June of this year. Krylova was a spokeswoman for the For Human Rights NGO in Russia and a co-founder of Left Resistance, which Moscow has declared an extremist group. 'Kyrgyzstan Is No Longer Safe' Since the start of Russia's war in Ukraine in February 2022, more than 60,000 Russians have officially arrived in Kyrgyzstan. The influx of Russian expats increased in September of last year after President Vladimir Putin declared a partial military mobilization. Kyrgyz officials say many of the Russian migrants who fled to Kyrgyzstan are skilled IT workers and there are only a few opposition activists and rights defenders seeking asylum. Civil activist Kanat Nogoibaev says Kyrgyzstan is no longer safe for Russians who hold views opposed to the official Moscow line. "I want to emphasize that this [incident involving Skoryakin] is not the first time [this has happened], he said. Civil activists and regular Russian citizens have gone missing and been found in Russian military units. The National Security Committee [of Kyrgyzstan] collaborates with the FSB. The [two organizations] have also recently agreed to exchange information. Politically, Kyrgyzstan cannot refuse Russia's requests. As a result, official handovers and detentions have become common." In August, Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev told Deutsche Welle that based on agreements with Moscow, Bishkek does not extradite political emigres or anti-war activists to Russia, only criminals. Putin said while visiting Bishkek on October 12-13 that those who violate Russian laws will be held accountable regardless of their location. In June, Putin signed an agreement on the free exchange of the personal data of civilians in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Russia. The deal is designed to alleviate migration issues, though civil society groups have expressed concerns that it could lead to increased surveillance of protesters. 'Kyrgyz-Style' Abductions There has also been a high-profile abduction in Kyrgyzstan of someone who was sent to Turkey to face trial for alleged crimes. In 2021, Turkish-Kyrgyz educator Orhan Inandi was kidnapped in Bishkek in mysterious circumstances. Human Rights Watch and many activists in Kyrgyzstan demanded that officials investigate the disappearance of Inandi -- the founder of a vast school network who was wanted by Turkey for alleged membership in a movement that Ankara had declared extremist and behind a coup attempt. In November 2021, the UN Committee Against Torture said the Kyrgyz government was responsible for Inandi's kidnapping. Weeks later he was seen on video in a detention center in Turkey and sentenced to 21 years in prison on the charge of "establishing an armed terrorist group." Inandi, 55, the head of the highly reputable Turkish-language Sapat school system, said he was abducted by Turkish agents and allowed to be flown to Turkey, despite having lived in Kyrgyzstan since 1995 and also holding Kyrgyz citizenship. He also claimed to have been tortured while in Turkey. Written by Baktygul Chynybaev in Prague based on reporting by Toktosun Shambetov in Bishkek. In a rare national address on October 19, U.S. President Joe Biden explained why he would submit a bill to Congress requesting tens of billions of dollars in aid for Ukraine and Israel, telling Americans that the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin "represent different threats, but they share this in common: They both want to annihilate a neighboring democracy." Pitching the aid package as a "smart investment" amid disputes over the issue ahead of U.S. presidential and congressional elections in November 2024, Biden said that if Russia and Hamas "don't pay a price" for their actions, they won't stop and the cost and threats to the United States and the world will only increase. RFE/RL spoke to Ivo Daalder, a former U.S. ambassador to NATO and chief executive officer of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, after Biden's speech. Daalder served as the U.S. ambassador to NATO under President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013. He also served as director for European affairs on President Bill Clintons National Security Council staff from 1995 to 1997. An author of several books focusing on U.S. foreign policy and national security, he is currently the chief executive officer of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, a think tank. RFE/RL: President Biden has just addressed the American people on the need for aid to Israel and Ukraine. It's only the second time during his three years in office that he has addressed the American people in this way. Why did he need to do it now? Ivo Daalder: We're at an inflection point. We either double down on supporting our friends and allies who have been brutally attacked -- in the case of Israel, by Hamas terrorists, in the case of Ukraine, by Russia -- or we let these guys win. Because without our aid, without our leadership, without our support, Israel [is] not going to be able to do what it needs to do. The war may likely even spread beyond Israel. And without our aid, Ukraine won't be able to achieve what it needs to achieve, which is to expel Russian forces from its territory. So, it is an important moment for the nation to stand by those who are like us, who share our values, who are governed as democracies, who have come under attack -- just as other nations came to our side, when we were attacked, back on 9/11.... The problem is Congress hasn't been able to pass the funding that is necessary. And I think the package that the president talked about, that will be sent to [the U.S. Congress] tomorrow (October 20), by combining aid not just for Ukraine, but also for Israel -- and as we gather, also Taiwan, and border security -- it is a kind of package that is very difficult for anybody on the Hill to vote against. RFE/RL: Though Biden did not state an amount, media reports say he will ask Congress for $100 billion in new spending, including $60 billion for Ukraine and $14 billion for Israel. How far will this get Ukraine in its war with Russia? Daalder: It would fund the Ukrainian aid efforts through the end of 2024, past the [U.S.] presidential election. It will kind of depoliticize aid to Ukraine and to Israel. And that's why I think it's important that it continues. "This idea that somehow victory lies in the defeat of Western support for Ukraine -- which is what has been central to Putin's calculation -- will once again have been proven wrong." The overall level will be sufficient to continue to provide Ukraine with the kinds of weapons that it has been receiving over the past 600 days since this war has been going on: air-defense systems, artillery shells, presumably additional tanks and armored vehicles, and over time, longer-range missiles that have just been provided for the first time. And aircraft, which by early 2024 Ukrainian pilots will have been trained on. RFE/RL: How might that change Russia's military calculus? Daalder: Well, one, it sort of undermines, once again, Vladimir Putin's calculation that the West is about to collapse when it comes to supporting Ukraine. Because with the $60 billion or so that the [U.S.] president is expected to ask for, you give a fundamental basis for continued military assistance to Ukraine. You understand -- if you're living in Russia -- that Ukraine is not going to go away, that they will have continued military capabilities to fight. And this idea that somehow victory lies in the defeat of Western support for Ukraine -- which is what has been central to Putin's calculation -- will once again have been proven wrong. 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. It doesn't mean that he's going to sue for peace. Nor, frankly, that he will escalate to other weapons, because he is effectively deterred by the prospect that the U.S. and others would respond. It means that this war will likely grind on -- and although movement along the front hasn't been large and significant like last year, it is moving, and it's moving against the Russians and in favor of the Ukrainians. And so at some point, one would hope that the people in Russia would say, "Why are we paying a price for land that is, one, not ours and, two, isn't particularly valuable," and you start to have a process of internal pressure for Russia to change. That's what this war is about, who can stand the fight longer. RFE/RL: There are reports that both sides have manpower problems. Daalder: Clearly, both sides are able to still deploy sufficient manpower to continue the war. The real question is not man for man -- and, in the Ukrainian case, women as well -- it's the morale. And the morale of the Ukrainian troops, although the fighting is tough, they know what they're fighting for. They are fighting for something they care deeply about: it's their land. The morale of Russians -- many who are forced to come to the front against their better wishes and their desires, and are facing a horrendous bombardment and fighting -- that morale is weakening, and it will weaken over time. How much that will actually affect the fighting on the ground is yet to be seen. Presumably with winter, the intensity of the fighting on the ground will slow and allow people to recover quite a bit. But the longer this war goes on, the more the balance of power will shift against Russia and in favor of Ukraine. And I think that's what the president was trying to say. Because the only way that Ukraine loses is if we stop supporting it. And that is in no one's interest. RFE/RL: The U.S. aid package would allow the United States to replenish stockpiles of weapons, some of which have been running very low. What about Europe? Daalder: Europe is more behind in terms of reconstituting its defense industry. It's also -- although the European Union is a strong economic actor, particularly in the defense sector -- there remains very strong national interest to maintain national capabilities. So it's a little less efficient than the much larger U.S. market. But nevertheless, there now is a commitment throughout Europe to not only spend more on defense, but to start producing more. And so those decisions that have been made over the past year or so will start to bear fruit in larger production runs of artillery, of missiles and platforms like tanks and aircraft that are necessary to be sent over [to Ukraine]. There's also still a lot of equipment sitting around that's quite old. Most European countries, for example, that have F-16 combat aircraft...are replacing them with newer F-35s. And those F-16s may well be used both to train and then ultimately to be provided to Ukraine for the fight. So yes, there is a problem in the sense that we started with a very low ammunition and stockpile base in Europe, and actually not that great a stockpile base in the United States. But we've had 600 days of investment. And now that Congress -- assuming Congress approves the request, now that there is more money in the bank -- more companies are going to invest in the capability to increase production. The same is going to be true in Europe. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Ukrainian tank crews are rolling into battle with the Swedish version of the German Leopard 2 tank. Crews underwent accelerated training in Sweden to master the advanced capabilities of the modern weapon. Current Time correspondent Oleksiy Prodayvoda visited Ukrainian troops near the front line who say Russian forces fear the tank's high-precision, armor-piercing shells. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, October 20. Turkmenistan discussed international cooperation in the tourism sector with foreign countries, Trend reports. These issues were discussed during the participation of Turkmenistan's delegation in the Global Investment Forum within the framework of the 25th session of the General Assembly of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), which is being held in Samarkand (Uzbekistan). The next session of the UNWTO General Assembly discusses issues of international cooperation in the field of tourism, the development of sustainable and responsible tourism, adaptation to climate change and other environmental challenges, improving the quality and safety of tourist services, promoting cultural and natural heritage, and innovations in the tourism industry. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan is hosting the UNWTO General Assembly for the first time. The event was opened by the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who put forward a number of initiatives for the further development of the tourism industry in the region and the world. Mahua Moitra and Darshan Hiranandani TMC MP Accuses PMO of Orchestrating Unfounded Allegations, While Businessman Defends PM Modi NEW-DELHI: A Startling Controversy has unfolded as businessman Darshan Hiranandani has leveled grave accusations against TMC MP Mahua Moitra, alleging coercion and bribery. In response, Mahua Moitra has fired back with her own version of events, questioning the integrity of Darshan Hiranandani's claims and accusing the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) of orchestrating a conspiracy. In a two-page press release, Mahua Moitra raised a perplexing question: why would a wealthy and influential businessman like Hiranandani, who has direct access to ministers and the PMO, succumb to pressure from a first-time MP to provide gifts and fulfill his demands? Moitra asserted that the entire narrative lacked logic, going as far as to insinuate that the letter in question was not drafted by Darshan Hiranandani but by the PMO itself. Moitra firmly denied allegations of accepting cash and gifts from the businessman. Advertisement Moreover, Moitra made a startling claim, alleging that the PMO had held Darshan Hiranandani and his father at metaphorical gunpoint, coercing them into signing a letter within a mere 20 minutes. She contended that the businessman and his family were threatened with the prospect of their entire business being forcibly shut down. Expanding on her stance, Moitra stated that the BJP government's motive was to silence her regarding the Adani issue. She challenged the authenticity of Hiranandani's affidavit, highlighting that he had not been summoned by any investigative agency. Moitra asserted, "The BJP government is eagerly waiting to somehow shut me up on the Adani issue." In a candid dismissal, Moitra speculated that the letter was likely crafted by an individual from the PMO with affiliations to the BJP's IT cell, characterizing the document as the work of an amateur writer. She pointed out the absence of a press conference held by Darshan Hiranandani to substantiate his allegations, emphasizing the lack of transparency in this regard. Advertisement In response, Darshan Hiranandani, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Hiranandani Group, a conglomerate operating in sectors ranging from real estate to energy, accused Mahua Moitra of attempting to tarnish the reputation of PM Narendra Modi. Hiranandani suggested that her intention was to defame the Prime Minister, as his unblemished reputation made it difficult for opposition parties to mount attacks based on his policies, governance, or personal conduct. Hiranandani explained that Moitra had sought business opportunities in opposition-led states and envisioned gaining national prominence through personal attacks on Modi. He believed that Moitra aimed to exploit the rivalry between Prime Minister Modi and Gautam Adani, a fellow industrialist hailing from Gujarat. Adani's success had earned him admiration but also garnered critics in various spheres, providing Moitra with the leverage she sought to undermine the Prime Minister's image by targeting Adani. Hiranandani revealed that Moitra had knowledge of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) selecting Dhamra as the location for his company's LNG terminal. Using this information, Moitra formulated questions aimed at embarrassing the Adani group and potentially causing friction within the government. Hiranandani surmised that she intended to present these questions in Parliament to question the government's actions. This controversy, marked by counterclaims and allegations, continues to unfold, shedding light on the intricate dynamics of business, politics, and personal interests. CM Bhagwant Mann in Vidhan Sabha Chief Minister Mann expressed concerns over the state's financial matters. CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has announced its intention to approach the Supreme Court regarding the Vidhan Sabha session following a contentious legislative episode. During a special session of the Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister Mann expressed concerns over the state's financial matters. He cited that while the government had introduced bills aimed at augmenting future revenues, the state's Governor raised questions about the legality and legitimacy of the House's proceedings. CM Mann acknowledged that the Governor has the right to scrutinize the government's actions, but he pointed out that since 1997, only two Chief Ministers had held office, and the Governor had never probed issues such as the source of loans and expenditures. Advertisement The Chief Minister noted that after the Governor did not grant approval for the budget session, the government had sought recourse in the Supreme Court, a process that concluded within three minutes. However, the legal battle cost the government a substantial sum of Rs 25 lakhs, exacerbating the state's financial woes. In light of these developments, CM Mann expressed his reluctance to escalate tensions between the government and the Governor and announced that no new bills would be introduced at this time. Instead, the government plans to head to the Supreme Court on October 30 to seek resolution. The CM called for the Vidhan Sabha proceedings to be adjourned indefinitely, indicating that a substantial session would be convened in the first week of November after receiving court approval, during which all pending bills would be introduced. The proceedings of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha were indeed adjourned indefinitely following the Chief Minister's appeal. Advertisement During the assembly session, CM Bhagwant Mann also addressed the issue of drug trafficking, referencing a letter by his predecessor, Captain Amarinder Singh, to the High Command concerning drug-related concerns. The debate took a heated turn, with Partap Singh Bajwa, a prominent political figure, provoking Mann, leading to a deteriorating atmosphere that prompted the suspension of the Legislative Assembly's live broadcast. Furthermore, the government has decided not to hold any celebratory programs from December 20 to 30, during which week the martyrdom of the entire family of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji is commemorated. Amidst these developments, Chief Minister Mann applauded the transition to a paperless assembly and recognized the remarkable achievements of Punjab's athletes at the Asian Games, emphasizing their contribution to India's victory in the field of sports. Hardeep Nijjar Australia Backs Canada's Accusations in Hardeep Nijjar Murder Case MELBOURNE: Australia's intelligence chief, Mike Burgess, has thrown his support behind Canada, asserting that there is no reason to dismiss Canada's allegations against India in the case of the murder of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. This endorsement came during a meeting of the 'Five Eyes' intelligence alliance, of which both Australia and Canada are members. Mike Burgess, the Director General of the Australian Security Intelligence Organization, affirmed the credibility of the Canadian government's stance in the matter. He stated, "What the Canadian government has said in this matter is indisputable." This marks a significant show of solidarity between the two nations. Advertisement Burgess acknowledged the gravity of accusing one nation of being involved in the killing of a citizen by another nation. He emphasized that such allegations are profoundly serious and should not be made lightly by countries. However, he did not disclose whether the Canada-India dispute was a subject of discussion during the 'Five Eyes' intelligence partners' meeting. In response to concerns about potential violence against Sikhs in Australia, Burgess reassured, "I can assure you that when we become aware of any country interfering or planning to meddle in our nation, we will handle the situation with effective measures." This statement from Australia's intelligence chief underscores the international significance of the Hardeep Nijjar murder case and the seriousness with which it is being viewed by Canada and its allies. It also highlights the collective commitment to addressing such issues diplomatically and responsibly. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, October 20. Ashgabat will host an exhibition of Turkish export goods from December 6 through December 8, 2023, Trend reports. The organizational arrangements of the exhibition of Turkish export goods were discussed during the meeting of the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan Mergen Gurdov with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Turkiye to Turkmenistan Togan Oral in Ashgabat. During the meeting, the sides also discussed issues of further development of cooperation between Turkmenistan and Turkiye in the trade and economic sphere. In the past years, Turkish enterprises presented consumer goods, as well as equipment for industry and agriculture at exhibitions in Ashgabat. The stands showcased household appliances, building materials, upholstered furniture and electronics of Turkish production, textiles and household goods, household chemicals and food industry products. UK retail sales logged a bigger-than-expected decline in September as the cost of living pressures damped spending and consumer sentiment. Retail sales dropped 0.9 percent on a monthly basis, in contrast to the 0.4 percent increase in August, the Office for Statistics reported Friday. Sales were forecast to ease 0.2 percent. Food store sales grew only 0.2 percent, following a rise of 1.4 percent in August. Due to the high cost of living and the unseasonably warm weather reducing sales of autumn-wear clothing, non-food store sales declined 1.9 percent. Non-store retailing sales, predominantly online retail sales, decreased 2.2 percent after a 0.9 percent drop in August. On the other hand, automotive fuel sales grew 0.8 percent, rebounding from a 1.0 percent fall in August. Excluding auto fuel, retail sales registered a monthly fall of 1.0 percent, offsetting the 0.6 percent gain in August and worse than economists' forecast of 0.1 percent drop. Year-on-year, overall retail sales volume dropped at a slower pace of 1.0 percent after easing 1.3 percent in August. Meanwhile, excluding auto fuel, the decline in retail sales eased to 1.2 percent from 1.3 percent a month ago. Elsewhere, survey results from GfK showed that rising energy costs, high mortgage and rental rates, and geopolitical risks had dampened consumer sentiment in October. The consumer confidence index unexpectedly fell to -30 from -21 in September. The score was forecast to improve to -20. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Oil prices were up over 1 percent on Friday and were on track for a second weekly gain after the U.S. announced plans to replenish its strategic petroleum reserves. Investors also fear that a wider conflict in the Middle east could disrupt supplies of some oil, since neighboring Iran and Saudi Arabia are major global producers. Benchmark Brent crude futures rallied 1.2 percent to $93.50 a barrel, while WTI crude futures were up 1.3 percent at $89.55. The U.S. Department of Energy indicated that it would buy 6 million barrels of crude oil, to be delivered between December this year and January 2024. The last time the Biden administration announced purchase intentions for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve was in July. Meanwhile, hopes of a de-escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict following President Biden's visit to the Middle East are fading. The U.S. State Department issued a worldwide caution alert citing the "potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests." On the 14th day of the Israel-Hamas conflict, Israel's defense minister has asked the country's military to prepare for potential entry into the Gaza Strip with the aim of dismantling the Palestinian militant group. U.S. President Joe Biden said that he can't let terrorists like 'Hamas' and tyrants like 'Putin' win. The United States has vetoed a UN-led ceasefire in the Middle East war. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis Cryptocurrencies gained more than 3 percent in the past 24 hours amidst widespread euphoria following the Securities and Exchange Commission dropping charges against the top leadership of Ripple Labs, Inc., for abetting the violation of securities laws. Hopes of the favorable legal action in the Grayscale Investments case goading the SEC to approve a Bitcoin Spot ETF also supported sentiment. The SEC in its lawsuit initiated in 2020 had alleged that Ripple Labs, Inc., Bradley Garlinghouse, CEO and Christian Larsen, the Executive Chairman had engaged in the unlawful offer and sale of securities in violation of Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933. The SEC had also alleged that Christian Larsen and Bradley Garlinghouse engaged in unregistered individual XRP sales as well as aided and abetted Ripple's violations. In the ruling given on July 13, 2023, Judge Analisa Torres of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York had denied the SEC's motion for summary judgment on the aiding and abetting claim against Larsen and Garlinghouse. The SEC has on Thursday dropped charges against the two top executives of Ripple Labs after both the parties agreed to a stipulated dismissal with prejudice. The SEC would however be pursuing the central case against Ripple Labs. XRP (XRP) the native token of the XRP Ledger created by Ripple Labs jumped more than 7 percent in the past 24 hours as well as in the past week. Year-to-date gains exceed 52 percent. Bitcoin gained 5.6 percent following the development and is currently trading at $30,022.93. The leading cryptocurrency had touched a high of $30,104.09 earlier in the trade. Weekly gains have jumped to almost 12 percent and year-to-date gains now exceed 80 percent. Ethereum (ETH) also added 4.2 percent in the past 24 hours. 4.6 percent in the past week and close to 35 percent in 2023. Ether is currently changing hands at $1,618.90, after touching a high of $1,628.61 earlier in the trade. Solana (SOL) tops gains among the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies with an overnight gain of more than 12 percent. BNB's (BNB) overnight gain of almost 2 percent is the lowest in this category. Though all cryptocurrencies in this top league are trading in the green zone on a weekly basis, BNB (BNB), Dogecoin (DOGE), Toncoin (TON) and Polygon (MATIC) continue to trade with year-to-date losses. At the heart of the SEC's dispute with the Ripple Labs is whether cryptocurrencies are in the nature of securities. The same reflected in SEC's legal proceedings against Coinbase as well. Though the SEC has not backtracked on its legal dispute against Ripple Labs, several of the cryptocurrencies that the SEC had recently classified as securities have gained dramatically following Thursday's SEC decision. Among the cryptocurrencies classified by SEC as securities in the case against Coinbase, Solana (SOL) has gained 12.5 percent followed by Polygon (MATIC) that has jumped 6.1 percent. Chiliz (CHZ) and Flow (FLOW) both added more than 5 percent whereas The Sandbox (SAND) gained 4.6 percent. Cardano (ADA), Filecoin (FIL), Axie Infinity (AXS), Internet Computer (ICP), NEAR Protocol (NEAR), Dash (DASH) and Nexo (NEXO) have all gained more than 3 percent. Amidst the excitement triggered by the SEC decision, Bitcoin SV (BSV) extended its dream run, topping gains on an overnight basis as well as weekly basis. BSV has surged 29 percent on an overnight basis and 65 percent on a weekly basis. Only 77th ranked Frax Share (FXS) and 53rd ranked XDC Network (XDC) are trading below the flatline. Only 11 of the top 100 cryptocurrencies are trading with weekly losses that exceed 1 percent. For More Cryptocurrency News, visit rttnews.com For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Technology News A new report of the H-2B Worker Protection Taskforce has recommended new actions to be taken by four federal agenciesthe Departments of Homeland Security (DHS), Labor (DOL), and State, as well as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to strengthen protections for workers in the H-2B program, who are vulnerable to exploitation by their employers. Each agency involved in the task force is committed to key actions aimed at improving the safety and security of all workers under the H-2B program and ensuring American workers are not disadvantaged when employers use the visa program. These actions include better protecting workers engaged in labor disputes, addressing exploitation during recruitment, sharing resources with workers to inform them of their rights, enhancing data sharing and participating in a new working group dedicated to H-2 workers' rights. The H-2B program permits employers to temporarily hire noncitizens to perform nonagricultural labor or services in the United States. Workers in the H-2B program work alongside U.S. workers in some of the country's most critical occupations. Too often, H-2B workers face significant challenges and structural disincentives to report or leave abusive conditions, and they often lack power and resources to exercise their rights when exploitative employment situations arise. This vulnerability not only harms H-2B workers, but also undermines wages and working conditions for all workers. To address these issues, the Biden Administration in October last year announced the creation of the White House-led H-2B Worker Protection Taskforce. The Taskforce submitted its report after holding listening sessions and gathered recommendations from key stakeholders, including worker advocates, immigration groups, unions, experts, and researchers. The report announces more than a dozen action items to be taken across the federal government to advance protections for H-2B and, in select cases, H-2A workers. They include protecting H-2B and H-2A workers engaged in labor disputes with their employers, Leveraging existing data to increase transparency and reduce the vulnerability of H-2B and H-2A workers, Reducing workers' vulnerability to exploitation from labor recruiters and employers, Empowering workers by improving their access to information, and Establishing a standing Interagency H-2 Worker Protection Working Group. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News As compared to 100% import duty on cars costing more than $40,000, government is thinking about reducing tax to just 15% Make in India has benefitted various sectors such as electronics manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, defence manufacturing, space, food processing, etc. The automobile and automobile components manufacturers have also benefited from Make in India initiative. Going forward, the government may implement a more flexible approach for specific auto segments such as electric vehicles. Tesla EVs could get cheaper Tesla has been eying the Indian EV space since several years. However, due to the high import duty, plans for India have been moving at a slow pace. While there is no official confirmation from the government, it appears that a middle ground is being worked out. One of Teslas primary conditions was to test the Indian market, before committing to setting up a manufacturing unit in the country. For this, Tesla wanted the import duties to be scrapped. But that was not accepted, as the government was committed to its Make it India initiative. New report reveals that the Indian government is now working on a more inclusive electric vehicle policy. It will enable carmakers like Tesla to test the waters before committing huge investments. Tesla has already rented space in India, which can be deemed as a positive development in the companys plan to start India operations. As per the new electric vehicle policy being framed, import duty on high-end electric cars could be reduced to just 15%. This will allow carmakers like Tesla to import fully-built (CBU) EVs into India. The reduction in import duty will also benefit other luxury players such as BMW, Mercedes, Audi and Volvo. It will result in significant reduction in prices of imported luxury electric vehicles. Provisions to support Make in India While import taxes for premium EVs could be lowered, it will be applicable with a set of conditions. This will ensure that the new electric vehicle policy continues to support the Make in India initiative. Taxes will be lowered only if the company commits to some level of local manufacturing in the initial stages. The overall quantum of local manufacturing will have to be increased gradually. Carmakers will also be required to start sourcing components locally. They will need to provide bank guarantees that will cover for any defaults in their commitments. The bank guarantees will also be used to create an ecosystem for local suppliers. In the first two years, local sourcing will have to be around 20%. By the fourth year, local sourcing will need to be increased to around 40%. The new electric vehicle policy is currently in draft stages. So, these numbers may change in the final version. While lowering taxes for high-end EVs may have its benefits, the government should be watchful of players that may use this as an opportunity to flood the market with imported cars. A provision for anti-dumping duty can be made in the new EV policy. This will help create a level-playing field for local manufacturers, who have invested a great deal of money in building their EV portfolio. Source BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. Germany to provide 50 million in emergency humanitarian aid as Palestinian-Israeli conflict escalates, German Foreign Minister Annalena Barbock said at a joint press conference with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Jordan Ayman al-Safadi in Amman, Trend reports. Burbock noted that funds should be directed to support international organizations such as the World Food Program, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and in particular the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. 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. Approximately 6% of the Altai Neanderthal genome was inherited from an ancient lineage of anatomically modern Homo sapiens that migrated from Africa to Eurasia over 250,000 years ago, according to new research led by the University of Pennsylvania. We found this reflection of ancient interbreeding where genes flowed from ancient modern humans into Neanderthals, said co-first author Dr. Alexander Platt, a researcher in the Department of Genetics at the University of Pennsylvania. This group of individuals left Africa between 250,000 and 270,000 years ago. They were sort of the cousins to all humans alive today, and they were much more like us than Neanderthals. We arrived at this conclusion by comparing a Neanderthal genome with a diverse set of genomes from modern indigenous populations in sub-Saharan Africa. Our study highlights the importance of including ethnically and geographically diverse populations in human genetics and genomic studies, said University of Pennsylvanias Professor Sarah Tishkoff, senior author of the study. To better understand how widespread Neanderthal-like DNA regions are across sub-Saharan Africa and to elucidate their origins, the researchers analyzed the genomes of 180 individuals from 12 different populations in Cameroon, Botswana, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. For each genome, they identified regions of Neanderthal-like DNA and looked for evidence of Neanderthal ancestry. Then, they compared the modern human genomes to a genome belonging to a Neanderthal who lived in the Altai Mountains, Siberia, approximately 120,000 years ago. For this comparison, the researchers developed a novel statistical method that allowed them to determine the origins of the Neanderthal-like DNA in these modern sub-Saharan populations, whether they were regions that Neanderthals inherited from modern humans or regions that modern humans inherited from Neanderthals and then brought back to Africa. They found that all of the sub-Saharan populations contained Neanderthal-like DNA, indicating that this phenomenon is widespread. In most cases, this Neanderthal-like DNA originated from an ancient lineage of modern humans that passed their DNA on to Neanderthals when they migrated from Africa to Eurasia around 250,000 years ago. As a result of this modern human-Neanderthal interbreeding, approximately 6% of the Neanderthal genome was inherited from modern humans. In some specific sub-Saharan populations, the researchers also found evidence of Neanderthal ancestry that was introduced to these populations when humans bearing Neanderthal genes migrated back into Africa. Neanderthal ancestry in these sub-Saharan populations ranged from 0 to 1.5%, and the highest levels were observed in the Amhara from Ethiopia and Fulani from Cameroon. To try to understand whether carrying modern human DNA was helpful or harmful when introduced into the Neanderthal genome, the scientists also investigated where these chunks of modern human DNA were located. They found that most of the modern human DNA was in non-coding regions of the Neanderthal genome, indicating that modern human gene variants were being preferentially lost from coding sections of the genome, which suggests that having modern human genes in a Neanderthal background is detrimental to fitness. This is similar to what is seen in modern humans, where natural selection has slowly been removing Neanderthal genes from modern human populations. So a Neanderthal allele might work great in Neanderthals, but you plop it into a modern human genome and it causes problems, Dr. Platt said. Both modern humans and Neanderthals slowly rid themselves of the alleles of the other group. In the almost 500,000 years between the ancestors of Neanderthals splitting off from the ancestors of modern humans and these other modern humans being reintroduced to Neanderthal populations, we had become such different organisms that, although we were still able to interbreed quite readily, the hybrids didnt work so well, which means we were very far along the path to becoming distinct species. The research opens new avenues for exploring human evolution by identifying a genetic reference of a population that occupies a part of the human family tree that had previously been lacking from the genomic and fossil record. Discovering this ancient lineage of modern humans is really exciting for future research because it gives us a different lens to look at human evolution, said co-first author Dr. Daniel Harris, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Genetics at the University of Pennsylvania. Because we dont have DNA sequences from modern human fossils from that long ago, identifying these sequences will shed light on very early modern human evolution in Africa. The findings were published in the journal Current Biology. _____ Daniel N. Harris et al. Diverse African genomes reveal selection on ancient modern human introgressions in Neanderthals. Current Biology, published online October 13, 2023; doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.09.066 BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. The Turkish company Baykar is ready to make 10 million dollars donation of humanitarian aid to the residents of Gaza, Chief Technology Officer of the Turkish company Baykar Selcuk Bayraktar wrote on his X page, Trend reports. "One of the worst tragedies in history continues to unfold in Gaza," he wrote. Bayraktar added that the international community must act now to restore peace and justice. 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. US President Joe Biden is going to send a request to Congress regarding financial assistance to Ukraine and Israel, Biden said during during his address to the nation, Trend reports. According to him, the request to Congress is planned to be sent tomorrow. He noted that this is necessary to support the United States most important partners, including Israel and Ukraine. From boat rides on the Vierwaldstattersee to private diving lessons, WorldTempuss Allissa Pataki goes on an adventure with the Carl F. Bucherer Patravi ScubaTec Verde Waking up in the morning, I practically leapt out of bed, barely containing my excitement for the day ahead. Heading up to Luzern by train is a pleasurable experience, and in just a few hours I had arrived in the quaint city of Luzern. I joined a small group of journalists at the meeting spot by the pier, where a beautiful wooden motorboat awaited to whisk us away to the exquisite Park Hotel Vitznau. A flute of champagne, too many pictures to count and a 45-minute-of-soaking-in-the-breathtaking-scenery-on-the-boat ride later, we arrived at the hotel and were immediately struck with awe by the beauty of the location. The five-star hotel, nestled at the edge of Lake Lucerne, felt like a palace from a fairy tale (I had to pinch myself a couple of times, to make sure it was all real!). The view from the Park Hotel Vitznau WorldTempus We were greeted by the welcoming Carl F. Bucherer team, and the ambiance was set with another glass of champagne in hand (I dont mind if I do!) and seated in a room overlooking the shore for an afternoon tea and press conference. The Manta Trust Without missing a beat, Bex Carter, Director of Operations of the Manta Trust, gave us an instructive and fascinating presentation about manta rays. I knew very little about them until then and was astonished to find out that these boneless and graceful creatures can fully leap out of the water, live up to 40 years and dive down to 700 meters under the water. A fun fact about them is that they are highly sociable, complex, curious and intelligent creatures. The Manta Trust team was able to witness this firsthand on one of their trips when they spotted a manta ray caught in a fishing net. They immediately went to help set it free. As they were cutting the ropes and helping to untangle the knots, the manta ray seemed to understand what was going on and that it was being helped. So, it moved this way and that way to help make the untangling easier. And then, once it was free, instead of darting off into the open sea, it stuck around and swam with the people who helped save its life. A heartwarming story! Manta Ray spotted during a dive Carl F. Bucherer Sadly, these incredible beings are now listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Natures Red List due to overfishing for their gill plates. In order to help bring awareness to these largely unknown creatures, The Manta Trust, a UK-based organization, seeks to bring together manta ray researchers from all over the world. Carl F. Bucherer was very taken by their mission and has been supporting them since 2013. The organizations latest expedition was a two-week scientific research trip to Ecuador, entirely funded by Carl F. Bucherer, that gathered 16 researchers from around the globe. Despite many obstacles (exacerbated by climate change), the team was able to spot more than 100 manta rays and successfully perform, among many other things, two contactless underwater ultrasound scans on pregnant manta rays to better understand their elusive reproductive patterns. The Patravi Scubatec Verde In honour of the Manta Trusts work and latest expedition, Carl F. Bucherer has crafted a limited-edition timepiece, the new Patravi ScubaTec Verde, to support the organizations work. Its green hue mirrors the nutrient-rich colour of the Pacific Ocean just off Ecuadors coast. Designed for delving into the depths, this stainless-steel timepiece boasts water resistance up to 500 metres, a screw-down crown, an automatic helium valve, and a unidirectional timing bezel, catering to the needs of both professional and recreational divers. Inspired by these magical creatures, the 44.6mm watch's caseback features engravings of giant oceanic manta rays. The dedication to ocean conservation is further emphasized by the green rubber strap with an inlay made of recycled PET (every little bit helps!) and the fact that a contribution will be made to the Manta Trust for each watch sold. Patravi Scubatec Verde Carl F. Bucherer The diving lesson After hearing tales of Renato Beninos (Chief Sales Officer of the brand) trip to the Maldives swimming with the manta rays, we were all wishing we could jump in the water too. Luckily, there was a surprise waiting for us as the highlight of the day was a private diving lesson with the Peakdivers diving company. Dressed up in Carl F. Bucherer attire and geared up with snorkels and fins, we headed to the heated outdoor infinity pool. But not before we chose our favorite ScubaTec watch and strapped it on to try it out underwater. Naturally, I went with the new Patravi ScubaTec Verde and was immediately taken by the intricate wave pattern on the green lacquered dial. After introductory instructions and safety checks, we turned the unidirectional bezel of our watches to keep track of our time underwater, and set off. We had a fun time kicking around in the water, trying different breathing exercises and exploring every inch of the pool. We put on our best modelling-underwater faces for the Carl F. Bucherer team watching and snapping pictures of us through a glass window from inside the hotel. Allissa during her diving lesson Carl F. Bucherer/WorldTempus After the dive, with the sun setting slowly over the hills, we enjoyed the warm pool and view of the lake, a refreshing glass of fresh juice in hand. A final moment of luxury before bidding farewell to an unforgettable day. Before becoming one of the biggest cities in the Kingdom of Morocco, Casablanca has been through a series of ups and downs throughout history. The city was called Anfa, an ancient Berber town that was founded in the 10th century B.C. Anfa is a Berber appellation that means little hill as described by the Africa Ethnonyms and Toponyms, a book issued by the UNESCO. The ancient Casablanca has witnessed the different changes that occurred throughout the centuries in North Africa and Morocco. Inhabited and ruled by Berbers, the area including Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia today, was nicknamed as Mauretania from the 3rd century B.C. to 40 AD. The Roman Anfa According to the account provided by Roman Heritage, a non-profit cultural website about Ancient Rome, with Republican and Imperial Roman sites and Roman ruins, museums, books and movies, the northern part of Morocco was occupied by Berbers. Present-day northern Morocco, Algeria and the Spanish cities of Ceuta and Melilla () were inhabited by tribes of Semi-nomadic Berber Shepherds, said the same source. Around 800 B.C., the Phoenician villages of the Mediterranean began to create commercial settlements in the coastal zone and they mixed with the Berber population. In 814 B.C. the city of Carthage was founded (...) Around 500 B.C., The Carthaginians had formed an empire that extended to the Iberian Peninsula, the north of Africa, the Balearic Islands, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, and their commercial expeditions extended to the tropics of Africa. The Roman Empire, as a result, expanded in the northern regions of Africa and Mauretania. In 15 B.C. Romans occupied the area creating a port under the reign of Octavius Augustus, the first Roman emperor controlling the Roman Empire from 27 B.C. until his death in 14 A.D. The port of Anfa established by the Romans, hence, became an important pillar linking the area to the port of Mogador (now known as Essaouira). It is also believed that Juba IIs expedition, a Berber king of North Africa, to discover the Canary Islands was departed from the port of Anfa. The latter was named Anfus by the Romans when Mauretania was a client-state of the European Empire. Accounts suggest that Anfa and the northern part of Morocco belonged to Mauritania Tingina, a Roman province created after Roman emperor Claudius partitioned the Kingdom into two provinces. The ancient city of Anfa enjoyed trade and commercial ties with Volubilis until the 5th century A.D. The Vandals' conquest The Roman Anfa was later conquered by the Vandals, an East Germanic tribe that migrated from south Scandinavia, when they reached Spain and North Africa by the 5th century A.D. This was confirmed in a book entitled North Africa : A History from the Mediterranean Shore to the Sahara written by Barnaby Rogerson, a British writer and historian who indicated that the Vandal conquest was a short-lived but dramatic interlude in North Africas history. All the Roman landlords were expelled from North Africa and their estates given to Vandal warriors who became an exclusive ruling class, stated Rogerson. Little information exists about how the city of Anfa recovered from the Vandals conquest. In 744, a Berber kingdom called Barghawatas, belonging to the Masmuda confederacy, settled down between the Bou Regreg River and the Oum er-Rbia to the south of the Roman port (Anfus). In his book, the British historian described Casablanca as the Punic Port of Anfa. He indicated that the port was the capital of the Berghouata heresy from the 8th to the 12th century. When the Portuguese destroyed Anfa Controlled by the Berber dynasty, the city of Anfa was targeted by the Portugese during the 15th century. Barnaby Rogerson explained in his book that the corsair port was attacked by the Portuguese in 1486 and 1515 and held by them from 1575 until the Lisbone earthquake of 1755. A similar account was provided by Paul Puschmann, assistant professor of economic, social and demographic history at Radboud University, Netherlands. He pointed out in his book Casablanca : A Demographic Miracle on Moroccan Soil ? that during the latter part of the fifteenth century the Portuguese armad attacked Anfa in a bid to rid it of local pirates. Although the Portuguese did not occupy the medina, the local population abandoned the town with the result that Anfa turned into a ghost town. Anfa couldnt survive the Portuguese raid and became an abandoned city until 1770. Puschmann refers in his book to the period that followed the Portuguese attack stating that three centuries passed before Anfa arose out of its ruins in 1770, thanks to the military plans of Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah, who tried to free the Moroccan Sultanate from foreign invaders. Anfa renamed Dar El Beida Thanks to Mohammed ben Abdallah, Sultan of Morocco who ruled from 1757 to 1790 under the Alaouite dynasty, Anfa was protected from foreign attacks and rose from its ashes again. The same account suggests that Casablanca functioned as a bastion against alien attackers at this time. The Sultan built extraordinary high city walls and stationed a garrison in the Medina. However, he also built a mosque, a koranic school, public bathhouses and mills and under his command the city was repopulated by Chleuh Berbers from the region of Essaouira and the environs of Meknes. It is under the reign of Moulay Mohammed ben Abdallah that the city of Anfa was named Dar el Beida, an appellation that exists till now. The reviving of the city was coupled with a change of name : Anfa became Dar el Beida, although Europeans started to talk more and more about Casablanca, concluded Paul Puschmann. The name Anfa now refers to a district of the modern Casablanca city. The metropolis now is considered internationally as an economic hub hosting a number of multinational companies and its port is one the busiest ones in North Africa. The Telegraph and The Spectator have been formally put up for sale, it was confirmed on Friday. In a brief statement, the boards of the parent companies of Telegraph Media Group - owner of the Daily and Sunday Telegraph - and The Spectator (1828) said their advisors had launched the sale process for each of the businesses. Goldman Sachs is advising on the sale process. The investment bank was appointed at the end of July to assess the readiness of the titles for a sale. The Barclay family has owned the Telegraph and the Spectator since 2004, but in June Lloyds Banking Group took control of the titles in a long-running dispute over unpaid debts of more than 1bn. AlixPartners was appointed receiver. The much-anticipated auction has reportedly attracted numerous expressions of interests, while the Barclay family is also keen to wrest back control. Earlier this week it tabled an offer valuing the newspaper group at 1bn, with financial backing understood to come from a group of Abu Dhabi-based investors. The offer tops a previous proposal from the family valuing the business at 725m. The Telegraph is one of the UKs leading right-leaning newspapers, and analysts have attached an expected price tag to the newspapers of between 500m and 700m. The Spectator is expected to fetch around 70m. As well as the Barclay family, other potential bidders include German media giant Axel Springer, Daily Mail owner Lord Rothermere and Paul Marshall, founder of hedge fund Marshall Wace and a minority investor in GB News. Newspaper group National World, which is run by former Mirror head David Montgomery, is also thought to be putting together a bid for the newspapers, while News UK, which owns The Times, has been slated as a possible bidder for The Spectator. As well as the weekly political magazine, The Spectator owns art title Apollo. photo: Jih-E Peng Isle McElroy is a nonbinary writer living in Brooklyn, N.Y., whose debut novel, The Atmospherians, was named a New York Times Editors' Choice. Their writing has appeared in the New York Times, the New York Times Magazine, the Guardian, the Cut, Vulture, GQ, Vogue, the Atlantic, and Tin House. McElroy's second novel, People Collide (HarperVia, September 26), explores gender through the story of a husband and wife who switch bodies. Handsell readers your book in 25 words or less: People Collide is a continent-spanning magical realist novel about a husband and wife who trade bodies. It's funny. It's sexy. It's smart. On your nightstand now: I just finished--and thus removed from my nightstand--Catherine Lacey's first novel, Nobody Is Ever Missing. I've been a fan of Lacey's work for some time but had never read this novel. It's incredible, and it's been shocking to see how deeply the novel resonates with my own. Both are about a marriage coming undone, and the assumptions that partners make for each other. I love the spry curiosity and intelligence of Lacey's prose. I'll read anything she writes. Favorite book when you were a child: Confession: I didn't read that much when I was a kid. But when I did, I was obsessed with the Goosebumps franchise. At this point, I remember the titles more than I remember the plots of the books. But I have strong memories of green goo overtaking towns, and cameras that kill whoever poses for photos. Both of my novels have slight horror undertones, and I can't help but see these books as influences on my style as a writer. Your top five authors: Donald Barthelme, Deborah Eisenberg, Renee Gladman, Katie Kitamura, Robert Walser. Book you've faked reading: I don't know if this counts, but I've been halfway through The Magic Mountain for nearly a decade. I have told people that I've read it. And technically, I have read some of it, so that counts for something. But if anyone asks what happens after page 270, I won't be able to answer. I have, however, truly loved those first 270 pages every time I've given them a go--and, yes, it has been multiple times. Book you're an evangelist for: Helen DeWitt's The Last Samurai. I'm far from the only one who evangelizes this novel, but I really cannot get enough of it. It's so rare to write with such passion and intelligence--while also creating a gripping plot. I'm especially drawn to stories where characters are searching for someone important to them, and The Last Samurai, at its core, is a story of a boy looking for his father. The novel, however, is so far from sentimental. I can't recommend it enough. Book you've bought for the cover: Lote by Shola von Reinhold. There is something very dignified about the cover, and the peacock at the center adds an air of mystery that made me extra curious about the book. Book you hid from your parents: This might not be the intention of the question, but I spent a few months hiding my first chapbook, Daddy Issues, from my father. I don't think I ever told him outright--he learned about the book because his partner saw something I posted online. There was nothing scandalous in the book, but I wasn't prepared to have a conversation with him about why I named a book Daddy Issues. Of course, he wanted to read it, and I was pleased to learn he didn't find it controversial at all. His takeaway: "This isn't about your daddy issues; it's about issues that dads have." We never spoke of the book again. Book that changed your life: It was probably Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises. I remember both loving the book and loving how I was taught to read it. I read it for the first time in a literary modernism class taught by a pretty old-school professor. But his love for the novel made it impossible to not love the novel. Hearing him talk about Hemingway's prose and vision--the passion and admiration in his voice--made me want to read the way that he read. That was a turning point for me as a writer and reader. Favorite line from a book: "One learns very little here, there is a shortage of teachers, and none of us boys of the Benjamenta Institute will come to anything, that is to say, we shall all be something very small and subordinate later in life." This is the opening sentence of Robert Walser's Jakob von Gunten. It's about a boy who attends a butler academy where he is taught to be nothing. The novel was first published in 1909, but in its humor and tone, it feels very contemporary to me. It's one of my favorite books to reread. And the narrator's lighthearted self-doubt definitely helped shaped Eli's voice in People Collide. Five books you'll never part with: Sorry to Disrupt the Peace by Patrick Cottrell. Cigarettes by Harry Mathews. Dictee by Theresa Hak Kyung Cha. The Collected Stories of Deborah Eisenberg. Calamities by Renee Gladman. Book you most want to read again for the first time: Proxies by Brian Blanchfield. I read this book when it first came out and was completely blown away. I've been scared to reread it for that reason. Proxies is a collection of essays where Blanchfield relies entirely on memory, even when it means getting things wrong. There is an appendix noting his errors, but the pleasure of the book comes from the essays that precede the appendix, existing in that space where everything he says may or may not be true. Your five favorite new(ish) books: Wolfish by Erica Berry; Nevada by Imogen Binnie; I Do Everything I'm Told by Megan Fernandes; Pricks in the Tapestry by Jameson Fitzpatrick; Mother in the Dark by Kayla Maiuri. The truce between King Hassan II and Muammar Gaddafi did not last for more than four years. In 1984, Libya offered to establish political unity with Morocco and in August of the same year the two leaders gathered to sign the Oujda Treaty. The latter formed the Arab African Union, an organization aimed at bringing together the two nations and conflicted leaders. However, the short-lived union was abolished by King Hassan II in August 1986 due to Moroccos friendly relations with Israel and the USA. It was in this context that the Libyan colonel had thought of murdering the Moroccan Monarch. The plan was revealed in the memoir book of Atef Abou Baker, a senior Palestinian official close to Yasser Arafat, broadcast on the Saudi Arabian channel Al Arabiya. Atef Abou Fath, a former official of the Fath organization, a Palestinian nationalist political party and the largest faction of the confederated multi-party Palestine Liberation Organization, indicated that in 1987, Gaddafi told Saber Al Banna, also known as Abu Nidal, a Palestinian terrorist, about his plan to assassinate Hassan II. Moroccan opponents were also called to reinforce the plan. In his memoire, Atef did not reveal the ideological identity of these opponents. Moroccan opponents backed by Gaddafi After the 1969 coup conducted by Gaddafi against the Senussi monarchy of Idris in Libya, the colonel strengthened ties with Arab nationalist governments and unsuccessfully advocated Pan-Arab political union. In his training camps, Gaddafi welcomed members of the Left and Islamists from Chabiba Islamiya, a violent clandestine and extremist Moroccan Islamist group back then. In the early 1980s, the leader of this organization, Abdelkrim Moutii, and some of his relatives who fled Morocco were living in exile in Libya. Atef Abou Baker led by Gaddafi was determined to carry his plan and assassinate the Moroccan king. Thanks to a flight from Tripoli to Casablanca, weapons (Kalashnikovs and rocket launchers RPG) had been transferred to Morocco preparing for the big day. The group in charge of the mission had spotted the place of the attack : between the Touarga palace in Rabat and the Hilton hotel. The RPG rockets were intended to detonate the armored car of Hassan II. Meanwhile; the other assailants with their Kalashnikovs were to shoot the sovereigns bodyguards, Atef said. While Abu Nidals men and Moroccan opponents were waiting for Gaddafis orders, he decided to back down and cancel the operation. Atef Abu Baker explains that Gaddafis decision was mainly influenced by some political and security agreements signed afterwards between Morocco and Libya. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Crime scene investigators called to the scene of a fatal shooting two years ago inside a New Brighton deli had their work cut out for them. Photos taken by police hours after the Nov. 21, 2021 incident showed bullet holes and shell casings in the metal frame of the front door; across the wooden shelves of the neighborhood grocer; through a wooden door leading to a rear storage room; and in a corner bathroom where the gunshots ended in what proved to be the victims final moments. The man charged in the case, Anthony Fonseca, 52, of Jersey Street in New Brighton, was tracked down weeks later by authorities in Florida and indicted on murder charges. The man found by emergency responders shot five times inside the deli was 18-year-old Keondre Adams of Tompkinsville. A jury trial commenced this week in state Supreme Court, St. George before Justice Alexander Jeong and in front of families of both individuals. Prosecutors say Fonseca approached the teenager outside the deli at 18-20 Westervelt Avenue just before 5 p.m., firing off at least one shot outside thats captured in a surveillance image. As the victim fled into the deli and toward the rear of the store, surveillance images show him at one point pulling out a firearm and firing back. Prosecutors with the Richmond County District Attorneys Office have not presented a motive in the case, relying on the surveillance footage and forensics evidence collected by law enforcement officials. At the time of the incident, a source told the Daily News the defendant, an ex-con, had targeted the much younger victim in retaliation for a prior dispute. Authorities charged Anthony Fonseca, now 52, in the shooting death of 18-year-old Keondre Adams in 2021 inside a New Brighton deli. (mugshot) In the minutes before and after the shooting, several, short phone calls were exchanged between Fonseca, another person listed in his phone as Baby Boy and a third unidentified, 917 number, an NYPD investigator who pulled information from the device testified this week. The victim and his friends frequented the deli, sources previously told the Advance/SILive.com. Adams was described in an obituary by family as an extremely intelligent and academically gifted individual who took honors classes and loved music. A native Staten Islander, he was wise beyond his years, and could speak his way out of a paper bag, the obituary continued. Keondre Adams, 18, of Tompkinsville, was fatally shot on Nov. 21 inside the What U Need Deli & Grill at 20 Westervelt Ave. Anthony Fonseca, 50, of the 100 block of Jersey Street in New Brighton, was arrested in December for the murder. (Obituary Photo) DELI OWNER CALLS IN FIREARM Minutes after the bloodshed, surveillance footage showed a man resembling Fonseca inside a different deli down the street. The store owner, who testified for the jury this week, was asked by Assistant District Attorney Melanie Sommer, to describe his interaction with the man. A young man told me someone was in the bathroom for a long time, the witness replied through a Spanish interpreter. I asked what was going on and he said everything was OK and that he was about to leave. After exiting the bathroom the man is seen in the video casually walking toward the counter holding three cans of beer. He appeared uninjured in the video. About a month after the fact, the man testified, he was trying to re-light the boiler in the rear of the store when he stumbled upon a gun tucked under an air conditioning duct, wrapped in a yellow cloth. In cross examination, defense attorney Michael Cirigliano cast doubt on whether the gun was left by his client. He pointed out multiple older, unidentified males also seen in the surveillance footage on the day in question, who the witness explained were regulars who play Quick Draw lottery at the store. Sometimes they have a couple cervezas while theyre playing? asked the defense lawyer. Not inside, replied the store owner. Theres no tables. Theyre not allowed to drink inside. Cirigliano also noted the several weeks that fell between the date of the incident and when the store owner reported finding the weapon. Jeong adjourned the proceedings to Monday. MORE STATEN ISLAND NEWS: >> NYPD: Individual sought for questioning in connection to stolen credit cards from dropped wallet on Staten Island >> Overturned vehicle on Staten Island Expressway causes delays to N.J. >> In wake of Staten Island child deaths, Fossella calls for roundtable to address youth violence >> Southwest offers $39 one-way fares during annual winter sale STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A 34-year-old defendant pleaded not guilty this week in state Supreme Court, St. George to charges of armed assault, which allegedly unfolded during a dispute at a Staten Island intersection. But he doesnt deny wielding a hatchet, authorities say. The defendant, Joshua Rivera, was arraigned Wednesday before Justice Mario Mattei on felony charges that include armed assault and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the Sept. 26 incident. Riveras home address was not provided in court documents nor listed in public records. His attorney could not immediately be reached for comment. I PULLED OUT A HATCHET Officers responded around 7:45 p.m. to the vicinity of Victory Boulevard and Manor Road in Castleton Corners, outside a local grocer, for a report of the altercation, according to a criminal complaint filed by officials. The 31-year-old victim was treated at a nearby hospital after being slashed in the right leg with a sharp instrument, authorities said. Following his arrest, Rivera allegedly stated to police in sum and substance: There was a fight. I pulled out a hatchet and I slashed him. The defendant has prior arrests in New York for drug possession and assault, though none since 2011, an NYPD spokesperson said Thursday. He was placed on non monetary release under state supervision as the case pushes forward. The Richmond County District Attorneys office requested $15,000 bail. Mattei issued an order of protection on behalf of the victim and adjourned the case to Nov. 14 in front of Justice Lisa Grey. __ OTHER STATEN ISLAND NEWS: >>Former pro boxer charged with dumping daughters body at Staten Island park tries to speak out at hearing >> Stabbing on Staten Island sparks large police response on Wednesday afternoon >> Man sought for questioning in connection with reported burglary of mosque on Staten Island >> Man, 31, accused of tossing drugs out car window after leading NYPD on chase on Staten Island >> NYPD: 2 men arrested with alleged drugs in pre-dawn raid on Staten Island >> NYPD: Death of girl, 17, on Staten Island being investigated as homicide STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Guyon-Lake-Tysen House is now located between Court Place and St. Patricks Place on the north side of Richmond Road. It was moved to Historic Richmond Town in 1962 from its original location in Oakwood, on Tysens Lane between Mill Road and Hylan Boulevard, where it sat on 80 acres of land. According to the Historic Richmond Town website, The Guyon-Lake-Tysen House is larger than most 18th-century homes and symbolizes a significant, prosperous way of life. It was built as a farmhouse and was used as such for most of its history. The house is one of the few 18th-century gambrel-roof houses surviving on Staten Island today, according to the Historic Richmond Town website. This house combines Dutch and Franco-Flemish elements in a style later dubbed Dutch Colonial. It consists of two stories, a cellar and attic, and a kitchen extension to the west. The central portion of the house has dormers and a wide front porch. Joseph Guyon constructed the house around 1740 (his name can still be seen written in the clay daubing above the door of the middle parlor), only finishing part of the interior before he died in 1758. The house and property were willed to his eight-year-old nephew, Joseph Guyon. Henry Barger owned the house and farm by the late 1700s or early 1800s. When his wife, Mary, died in 1809, she left the house to her son, Jacob. In 1812, the house and property were sold to Daniel W. Lake, a farmer of English descent. He made upgrades to the property and house by 1820. He and his wife, Mary Gifford Lake, had eight children, according to the 1820 census. Daniel Lake died in 1839, and some of the land was sold, but the house and adjacent land stayed with the Lake family. As per Historic Richmond Town, In 1855, the farm comprised 60 acres, valued at $10,000. David Tysen died in 1885, and Elizabeth Tysen was killed in 1898. Still, the house stayed in the ownership of the Tysen family until 1962, when it was given to the Historical Society by Ruth G. Tysen and Francis Nutt. From around 1932 to around 1937, the house was operated as a tearoom/restaurant by John L. Porter, and after 1937 it was the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Whitaker, who were presumably renting. Restoration of the house began as soon as it was moved to Historic Richmond Town in 1962. It was first opened to the public on Old Home Day in October 1963. The house was designated an official New York City landmark in 1969. The Guyon0Lake-Tysen home is moved along Tysens Lane in 1962. (Staten Island Advance) This photo, circa 1930, features the Guyon-Lake-Tysen House, built in 1740. It is now part of Historic Richmond Town. (Collection of Historic Richmond Town) This photo shows one of the barns belonging to the Lake Tysen House in the summer, 1924, and the well on the old Lake-Tysen property. (NYPL digital collection) A photo from 1924 shows the Tysens Lane house on the west side of Tysens Lane, 550 feet north of Mill Road, (NYPL digital collection) A photo is showing one of the barns belonging to the Lake Tysen House in the summer of 1924, and the well on the old Lake-Tysen property. (NYPL digital collection) In 1967, Richmond County Junior Chamber of Commerce members work on the old Lake-Tysen House as part of the Richmond Town Restoration Project. From left, Peter Skorney, of Elm Park; Richard Ambriano, of Eltingville; Robert Tolfsen, of Castleton Corners, and Fred Koehler, of West Brighton, get things done. (Staten Island Advance) Summer weather gives Richmond Town an opportunity to catch up on it's work, inside and out. Ricky Martinez, a summer employee at Richmondtown, retraces the lettering on the sign in front of the restored Lake-Tysen House in 1970. (Staten Island Advance) A photo shows one of the barns belonging to the Lake Tysen House in the summer, 1924, and the well on the old Lake-Tysen property. (NYPL Digital Collections) The Lake-Tysen House is a spacious farmhouse with Dutch and Flemish architectural details. It was built by Joseph Guyon on his farmstead and is shown in 1973. (Staten Island Advance) The Guyon-Lake-Tysen House features a classic gambrel-roof, a half door and three gable dormer windows, in a style that was later called "Dutch Colonial." (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)Staff-Shot Dressed in period fashion, Susan Emanuele, of Annadale, an employee at Historic Richmond Town, enjoys the good weather at the Guyon-Lake-Tysen House in 2010. (Staten Island Advance/Irving Silverstein) Stairs leading to servants quarters of the Guyon-Lake-Tysen House in Historic Richmond Town are shown in 2000. (Staten Island Advance) The Guyon-Lake-Tysen House was moved from Tysens Lane to Historic Richmond Town in 1962. Here, in 2020, it sits on Richmond Road on the Historic Richmond Town property. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The New York City Council Land Use Committee approved a zoning amendment Thursday that seeks to alleviate some regulations for one- and two-family homes on Staten Islands South Shore. Now, the zoning text amendment for the Special South Richmond Development District is on the final road to approval, and has already won the support of local elected leaders and Mayor Eric Adams. City Councilman Joseph Borelli (R-South Shore), who leads his party in the Council and has been a vocal proponent of the change, applauded the Councils passing. This is a big win for South Shore homeowners and small property owners, who have had to navigate convoluted and onerous regulations and often wait for years for approvals just to remove a tree or build a deck in their backyards, he said. These new rules strike the right balance by allowing common sense improvements to small properties while protecting our districts environmentally sensitive natural resources. The amendment will now go back to the Department of City Planning before a full Council vote scheduled for Nov. 2. Established in 1975, the city put the special development district in place to guide development while limiting the impact on the areas natural resources, but in recent years, officials and residents have said the rules amount to unnecessary burdens on the owners of small properties. Homeowners in neighborhoods like Tottenville and Richmond Valley, for example, can have up to 15-month wait periods to get things like tree removal or pool installation approved by the city. Adams introduced steps to remove red tape and streamline land use in New York City, and under the relief proposal, homeowners and properties under one acre would receive a simplified approval process, making basic adjustments easier to attain. That would, in effect, allow property owners to complete work as-of-right eliminating the need for city approval and subsequently enabling city agencies to focus on larger development sites. For years, South Richmond homeowners have been hamstrung by needlessly complicated rules and a tangled web of red tape, Adams said in a report on the proposed changes released in September. Now, our administration has come to the table with Borough President [Vito] Fossella, Council member Borelli, and our partners in the community to Get Stuff Done. Older versions of the plan limited the amount of hard surface area that can be developed on site and required some lots larger than one acre to preserve up to 25% of natural habitat on site elements that created robust disagreement. That proposal was withdrawn in 2019 amid the community outrage. A new plan was pitched in 2020 during Mayor Bill de Blasios tenure, and the 2023 pitch builds upon the core values in those previous attempts with slight refinements informed by community leaders. Fossella and Community Board 3 have both given the green light for the proposal to proceed, and now its onto approval from the City Planning Commission. Were supportive of clear and concise rules that are not unnecessarily complicated and costly for homeowners to complete a simple improvement to their property. This zoning relief proposal can help minimize the cost and time for residents by streamlining those processes. We encourage the public to get involved with their thoughts and suggestions on how to improve the recommendations. An overview of the plan can be viewed here. MORE LOCAL NEWS As House speaker fight drags on, Rep. Malliotakis worried if anyone can unite congressional Republicans New York employers can no longer access private social media of workers, applicants under new law Impending FDNY inspection may force closure of St. John Villa shelter Staten Island migrant shelter at former school to close over asbestos concerns, elected officials say NYC greenway expansion: 10-mile bike path envisioned for Staten Island STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. New York Citys economic leaders are celebrating with Mayor Eric Adams administration after the state Department of Labor showed a robust jobs recovery from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Adams on Thursday touted the 4,709,400 total jobs highlighted in the report, marking an all-time high in the five boroughs, and said it represented the successes of his administration. In the earliest days of this administration, our team was laser-focused on two connected goals: making New York City safer and accelerating our economic recovery, he said. Today, not only do we continue to be the safest big city in America with overall crime continuing to trend down, but we have also fully recovered from a pandemic that left many counting New York City out by setting an all-time record for total jobs in the five boroughs an achievement once predicted to take until 2025 or later. On Friday, the five heads of the boroughs chambers of commerce, including President and CEO of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce Linda Baran, issued a joint statement applauding the jobs recovery. The group also touted their Oct. 2020 creation of their Small Business Resource Network, which has reached 40,000 small businesses around the city and they said, helped fuel the job growth. As the leaders of New York Citys five borough-wide chambers of commerce, we are delighted by todays news that the city has hit an all-time high in total jobs, regaining jobs lost during the pandemic, they said. This progress is a testament to the resiliency of our business community, and to the leadership of Mayor Adams and his administration who have invested in programs that have helped small businesses which account for 94% of private firms in the city drive our citys economic recovery. Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer called the jobs numbers a watershed moment for the five boroughs, and said it was just the start of things to come. Mayor Adams economic agenda has powered an historic economic recovery, and we have now recovered the nearly 1 million private sector jobs that were lost during the COVID-19 pandemic, she said. With this momentum, we will continue to focus tirelessly on the fundamentals and build an economy that lifts up New Yorkers across the five boroughs, as well as fortifies New York Citys position as the best place in the world to live, work, play, and study. MORE LOCAL NEWS NYC Council moves to limit convoluted and onerous regulations for South Shore property owners As House speaker fight drags on, Rep. Malliotakis worried if anyone can unite congressional Republicans New York employers can no longer access private social media of workers, applicants under new law Impending FDNY inspection may force closure of St. John Villa shelter Staten Island migrant shelter at former school to close over asbestos concerns, elected officials say STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. If youre a Swiftie who cant get enough information about Taylor Swift and her music, theres a college course for that. While theres no bachelors degree in Taylor, fans have been signing up for a number of college courses inspired by the megastar at colleges all over the United States, BestColleges.com reported. BestColleges found Swift course offerings by combing through catalogs and discovered classes studying her lyrics, analyzing her albums and examining the impact her hits have had on society. Stanford University offered All Too Well (Ten Week Version), a course that featured an in-depth analysis of Swifts hit All Too Well, last winter quarter, BestColleges reported. Next spring, Stanford students can sign up for The Last Great American Songwriter: Storytelling With Taylor Swift Through The Eras, according to the website. A Stanford student, Ava Jeff, told BestColleges.com in August she will teach the class. I created a syllabus over a couple of months, and then sent it out to a bunch of professors, because I really didnt know how the process worked, she said. Eventually, one of the professors in the English Department told me that he liked my syllabus, and hed be willing to sponsor a class as a sort of student-initiated course. Arizona State also offered a Swift course this fall, as did Berklee College of Music in Boston and Rice University in Houston, BestColleges reported. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Staten Islanders received a birds eye view of the Florina Cancer Center, a new state-of-the-art oncology center at Staten Island University Hospital, part of Northwell Health, on Monday during a ribbon cutting ceremony that included comedian Tracy Morgan, radio personalities Alex Carr and husband Elvis Duran, and the Rusi family and friends. Following the ceremony, hospital staffers, donors and community leaders and benefactors toured the top-notch health care facility. The project was born in response to escalating local cancer rates. The boroughs first comprehensive ambulatory cancer program, which cost $50 million to build, will house a cutting-edge imaging center, 27 adult infusion bays and six pediatric bays, a set of multidisciplinary clinics, two linear accelerators machines that target tumors with pinpoint accuracy. Dr. Brahim Ardolic, executive director of SIUH, addresses the crowd. (Courtesy/SIUH)Staten Island Advance ABOUT THE NEW FACILITY The center will be able to provide adult and pediatric patients with the most advanced therapies and procedures including stereotactic brain and body radiation, high-dose rate brachytherapy, 3D treatment planning, tattoo-less radiation, and innovative Space OAR hydrogel to ease prostate radiotherapy all at a convenient, local site. The designated pediatric area will prioritize a child-friendly atmosphere, aiming to alleviate stress and anxiety for young patients. This groundbreaking oncology center arms us with the science, medical expertise, critical resources and access to the latest and most innovative treatments and clinical trials to fight back like never before, said Dr. Brahim Ardolic, executive director at SIUH. Part of the Northwell Health Cancer Institute, which treats more New York residents for cancer than any other provider in the state, the 40,000-square-foot Florina Cancer Center will increase access for patients on Staten Island combining all specialized oncology services in a large, state-of-the-art facility with a focus on privacy and comfort. SIUHs cancer program currently logs 30,000 patient visits each year for both hematology and oncology issues and diagnoses approximately 1,400 new cancers annually. The hospital expects a 10% increase in appointments in the new facilitys first year. As a health system, we are looking forward to a healthier future - giving new hope to thousands of current cancer patients and to those who have yet to be diagnosed, said Dr. Richard R. Barakat, physician in chief and executive director of the Cancer Institute at Northwell Health. Treatments are improving because of all the novel therapies that are becoming available, and we are going to bring the most cutting-edge clinical trials to Staten Island. The Rusi family addresses the crowd. (Courtesy/Staten Island University Hospital/Northwell Health)Staten Island Advance The centers development is a collaborative endeavor which would not be possible without the generous contributions from hospital leadership, board members, and numerous benefactors, notably the Florina Rusi Marke Foundation, which pledged $2.5 million. Additional major benefactors include Jim Halpin and family, Violettes Cellar, Alex Carr and Elvis Duran, Joseph and Marissa DiMartino, Frank and Laura Besignano, The Rab Wilkinson Foundation, SIUH Service Auxiliary, The Widows Sons Cornerstone Chapter, Amazon, Verrazano Kiwanis Club, and many more. Several of the donors were compelled to fund the center by personal motivations. Florina Rusi Marke lived her life in a way that served as an inspiration to everyone whose lives she touched. As a wife, mother, daughter, sister and aunt, she embodied all the virtues that comprise the human spirit, her family recalls. Through the generosity of Markes family and friends, her legacy extends from the life-saving work of a womans health center, the first of its kind in her homeland of Macedonia, to the life-saving work being done in her adopted home of Staten Island. Tracy Morgans first wife, Sabina, who tragically died of cancer in 2016, told him that help for cancer patients has to be on the way. Comedian Tracy Morgan speaks from the podium at Staten Island University Hospital. (Courtesy/Staten Island University Hospital/Northwell Health)Staten Island Advance On Nov. 30, Morgan will be holding his second annual Laughter is the Best Medicine fundraiser for the Brian Halpin Pediatric Cancer Center at the St. George Theatre. Carr underwent treatment for testicular cancer at SIUH in 2022. His public battle prompted Carr Crushes Cancer, a campaign to raise funds in support of the new center. STATS Staten Island is the borough with the highest incidence of cancer in New York City, with 524.9 cases per 100,000, compared with the citys average of 453.4 per 100,000, according to an alarming 2017 REPORT by the New York State Department of Health. The report also found that cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the borough. Staten Island University Hospital takes care of its community,' said Dr. Jill Kalman, executive vice president, chief medical officer and deputy physician-in-chief. This university hospital has grown its grown in its maturity, program development, quality of care, leadership and its place in Northwell Health is unprecedented in terms of what it has been able to accomplish. The "horned" comet 12P/Ponce Brooks, which is three times the size of Everest, has exploded for the second time in four months, but continues to rush toward Earth. A new explosion on the cryovolcanic comet, which is 30 kilometers in diameter, was recorded on October 5. ADVERTISIMENT According to Live Science, the first comet explosion was recorded in July. Then the British Astronomical Association (BAA), which closely monitors 12P, noticed that the comet became a hundred times brighter due to the light reflected by its coma, a cloudy gas surrounding its center. These were the signs of an explosion on the comet, which occurred for the first time in 69 years. Subsequently, the comet "transformed", developing peculiar "horns". At the time, some experts even jokingly compared it to the Millennium Falcon spaceship from the science fiction epic Star Wars. During this eruption, the horn-shaped emissions were 7,000 times wider than the comet itself. The very reason for the appearance of the "horns" is not very clear to experts. They suggest that it may be related to the shape of 12P's nucleus. ADVERTISIMENT "The two 'horns' may be caused by a specially shaped cryovolcanic vent with a certain blockage, causing material with a strange flow pattern to be ejected," Richard Miles of the British Astronomical Association told the New York Post. However, despite the fact that Comet 12P looks ominous, there is no need to be afraid and prepare for a deep collision with the Earth. Scientists expect the comet to reach its closest point to Earth only on June 2, 2024. It is during this period that it will be visible in the sky even with the naked eye. After that, the comet will be catapulted back into the solar system and will return no earlier than 2095. The second explosion, which occurred in October, was most likely even stronger than the first. How much the comet grew is currently unknown, but there are signs that suggest the October outburst was "twice as intense" as the previous one. ADVERTISIMENT Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks was first discovered on July 12, 1812 by Jean-Louis Pons. It is one of 20 known comets with icy volcanoes. Earlier, OBOZ.UA reported that a hidden 180-meter "potentially dangerous asteroid" was discovered near the Earth. Subscribe to OBOZ.UA channels on Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events. 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! You dont have to look far to find evidence of technology giants muscling their way into the financial system: its happening in shops all over the country. Payments on smartphones especially iPhones are well on the way to overtaking those on plastic cards, and accounted for more than a third of card transactions in the June quarter, the Reserve Bank says. Commonwealth Bank data shows nearly half of all in-store payments are made via apps on phones, and these numbers will only rise. Payments on smartphones are expected to overtake those on plastic cards. Credit: AFR No prizes if you guessed that the big banks are not fans of this encroachment from the likes of Apple and Google. By inserting itself into the payment system, Apple has not only grabbed a small but growing revenue stream, its gained a closer relationship with customers that could enable it to sell other products, such as savings accounts or credit cards, as it does in the US. So what, you ask? The threat of new competitors is a vital part of capitalism, and bank investors should face that risk just like those in any other company. Liontown shareholders have endured a chastening session on the market after the lithium aspirants share price crashed 32 per cent after a heavily discounted $1.1 billion fundraising. The WA miner was until recently in the sights of suitor Albemarle, before the growing presence of mining magnate Gina Rinehart on Liontowns register scared away the US lithium specialist. Liontown chief executive Tony Ottaviano at the part-built Kathleen Valley mine in August. Credit: Evan Collis Albemarles exit left Liontown looking for funds to complete its flagship Kathleen Valley mine. The US giant was expected to fund the project if it was successful in its bid. Rinehart has amassed a 20 per cent stake in Liontown, with the Albermarle takeover talk and the interest of the iron ore heiress, sending the miners shares on a tear. Passengers travelling with Qantas will start paying more for the average flight from next week, with the airline saying it can no longer absorb the rising cost of fuel. Qantas confirmed on Friday it had to start passing on the cost of its inflated fuel bill, which has risen by more than 30 per cent since May, to customers. Qantas passengers will pay 3.5 per cent more for flights from next Friday. Credit: AFR Airlines all over the world have had to tackle higher energy costs due to the ongoing war in Ukraine and are bracing for the price of crude oil to increase as the tensions in the Middle East escalate. Qantas, which has also had to contend with a weak Australian dollar, will from October 27 charge passengers an average 3.5 per cent more for flights. The price of crude oil is currently $US93.70 per barrel but could rise above $US100 if the conflict between Israel and Palestine continues to escalate and the involvement of surrounding countries grows. Poland is beautiful at any time of the year. This country has a long history, so you'll find ancient palaces, medieval castles, and modern skyscrapers. For many tourists, this country is associated only with the most popular cities, such as Krakow, Lublin, or Warsaw. However, there are no less interesting places outside of them. ADVERTISIMENT Gniezno It's hard to write about the pearls of Poland without mentioning its first capital. There are legends about the foundation of Gniezno and the entire country. One of them says that three brothers once traveled these lands in search of a place to settle. Their names were Lech, Czech, and Rus. For a long time they wandered through dense forests until they saw a wide field with hills and lakes. On one of the peaks stood an oak tree where an eagle had built a nest. And then Lech decided that this would be his principality, and the bird would become its symbol. The other brothers went in different directions. The most famous landmark of the city is the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary, which houses the Gnezna Doors, an outstanding work of art. By the way, it was here that the coronation of Polish monarchs used to take place. ADVERTISIMENT We advise you to explore this religious building not only from the outside but also from the inside. You may think that the church looks like Notre Dame in Paris, and it is not surprising, because they have many similarities. In the very center of the building, you will see an exquisite tomb where the relics of St. Adalberg are kept. This is not the only attraction of the first capital. There is really something to see here. The most popular area among tourists is the Old Town. Be sure to walk through the narrow streets and admire the architecture of different eras. Istebna If you like a relaxing vacation among the mountains and charming landscapes, you should definitely visit this village. Istebna is located in the Breskidy Mountains near the border with Slovakia and the Czech Republic. It is not easy to get here. You'll have to change several means of transportation, but it's worth it. ADVERTISIMENT Despite its small size, the settlement is listed in the Guinness Book of Records. The fact is that the world's largest lace napkin is kept in the local cultural center. It has a diameter of 5 meters and consists of 8 thousand parts. However, this is not the most interesting thing in the village. In the middle of Istebnya is the old church of the Good Pasterz. Its construction began in the eighteenth century. From the outside it looks quite ordinary, but inside you will find a bright interior filled with different colors and small details. This is in stark contrast to the calm nature surrounding the building. But most tourists don't come to Istebna to appreciate the giant napkin or the church's design. They are interested in the variety of mountain routes offered by the Beskydy. There are trails suitable for beginners and true professionals. So no one will be left without their portion of vivid impressions. ADVERTISIMENT Gorlice Few people know that this small town was at the center of important historical events at different times. Many battles took place in this area, one of which became a turning point during the First World War. You can learn more about this in the local museum, where you will find a lot of interesting information about the town. Nowadays, the city is popular among Poles, but, unfortunately, tourists know little about it. When you arrive here, you will be pleasantly surprised by the local atmosphere, cozy restaurants, and authentic locations. The most interesting location there is definitely the palace of the Dugosz family. It was built in the XIV century. Today it is not only a popular attraction, but also a luxury hotel with a large park around it. Here you can calmly and measuredly walk along quiet paths, enjoy nature and the architectural beauty of the building. ADVERTISIMENT Solec Zdroj When we talk about traveling in Poland, we first of all imagine medieval palaces, incredible architecture, and many kilometers of parkland. However, the country is also famous for its SPA resorts, which can offer world-famous wellness treatments at a reasonable cost. For example, in the town of Solec Zdroj, located just a few hours' drive from Krakow, you will find some of the best thermal pools in Europe. Here you can enjoy not only swimming in warm and sometimes even hot water, but also massage, body wraps and other treatments that will help you relax, improve your health, and get rid of back and neck pain. ADVERTISIMENT Zamosc This town is different from anything you've seen in Poland. Its history dates back to the Renaissance, so Zamosc has a luxurious and sophisticated look. By the way, the Renaissance city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you will find everything: incredible architecture, narrow streets, cozy restaurants with national cuisine. However, the city has another interesting feature. It is home to one of the oldest zoos in Poland, which is definitely worth a visit. Just imagine, it was opened in 1918 on the basis of a nature reserve that had been operating since 1593. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier, OBOZREVATEL told you what to see in Poland during your vacation. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Nobody could quite believe the winning entry for the Sydney Opera House when they saw it for the first time in 1957. A building of big white shells as a design for a new cultural centre dreamt up in far-off Denmark in 1956 by a young architect Jrn Utzon whod never completed a major commission in his life. The sails of the Opera House illuminated with lasers on Friday night to celebrate the buildings 50th anniversary. Credit: Wolter Peeters Quantity surveyors estimated the design compared to other finalists, would be the cheapest to build at a cost of 3.5 million ($7 million) and take only four years to finish. Instead, it cost 14 times that, $102 million (paid for with 86.7 million tickets sold in 469 Opera House lotteries) and took 16 years, four times longer than the original estimate, to complete. The end product would put Sydney on the international map, and change not just the face of this city, but the faces who inhabit it too. If it feels like Christmas comes earlier every year, thats because, for many, Santas sleigh swept in months ago. While both Coles and Woolworths launched their Christmas food ranges in late August, many festive obsessives have already had their elaborately dressed trees up for weeks, have planned their lunch menus and are hard at work on their handmade cards, ready to make this years celebration the biggest ever. Andrew Newport (left) and husband Paul Anthony have had their tree up since mid-September. Credit: Edwina Pickles Half the world seems to be going to war, so we need to focus on happiness and joy, says hair stylist Andrew Newport, 38, at his stunningly decorated home in Sydneys Leichhardt, with not one, but two, massive Christmas trees. I know its so crazy-ridiculous, and people think its a bit odd, but I love it. I was in Christmas nativity things as a child and I just adored the glitter and shine. Its become even more special now, with someone who also loves it. We buy decorations all through the year, and order things from Harrods in London, which are so beautiful, and decorate everything with a different theme every year. An Australian man stuck in Gaza with his wife and children, aged seven and 10, has told of his familys fear as chaos reigns, bombs drop and they run out of water, money and medicine for their son. The four, from Adelaide, are staying with family near the Egyptian border. They try not to go outside unless absolutely necessary, the man says. His father-in-law spends four hours a day queuing for bread. The water is so scarce, he says. The locals rely on an artesian water well at the local mosque where they fill jerrycans and bottles. They have bread for breakfast, rice and lentils for lunch, and skip dinner. If the kids get hungry, we make them tea with some biscuits, he says. The family is among 45 Australians stuck in Gaza, where the aerial bombardment continues and threat of a ground invasion looms. As the United States continues to negotiated access for aid trucks from Egypt in coming days, foreign nationals gathered with the Australian family at the Rafah crossing hope international passport-holders will be allowed out too. Thirty-six years since the body of Sydney father Raymond Keam was found in an eastern suburbs park, a judge has condemned his killers hatred and prejudice, telling the elderly man there was a real chance he would die behind bars. Stanley Bruce Early, 77, was found guilty by a NSW Supreme Court jury in June of the murder of Keam, 43, in Alison Park, Randwick, in January 1987. The area was a known gay beat at the time. Stanley Early was sentenced on Friday for the murder of Raymond Keam. Credit: Facebook Early, nicknamed Spider, lived in a boarding house across the road from the park and would assault men or encourage others to do so as they left the toilet block, his trial heard. Justice Dina Yehia, sentencing Early on Friday afternoon, found he had engaged in serious, violent conduct causing the death of another human being, motivated by a hatred for and prejudice against homosexual men. 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 Israel has a right to defend itself - the actions of Hamas are contemptible. However, retaliation and revenge are not defending oneself. They are very differently motivated. Cutting off water, electricity and fuel supplies to over 2 million people is not defending Israel - it cannot degrade Hamas capacity for violence without first causing massive loss of life to civilians. Such actions are more likely to make Israelis and Palestinians less safe by generating new waves of bitter people from whom extremists on both sides will be recruited. Peter Marshall, Captains Flat Displaced Palestinians sit in a tent camp in Khan Younis Credit: AP No-one can condone the killing of hostages: innocent people, including children. What drives men to even consider such abominations? The only way Hamas can be defeated is to empower the Palestinian people to deal with their own. To the Israeli people I say, let Palestine live as you do. When you want some land, You shall give him his wages, for he is poor, so that he will not cry against you (Deuteronomy 14-15). David Ramsay, Bexley Its heartening to see at least some Labor MPs having a more balanced and realistic outlook than their premier (Labor MPs split over war, October 20). The premier could take a leaf from the prime ministers book by being more consultative with his team. Julius Timmerman, Lawson It is time for the world to take action against Hamas and Israel to protect the people in Gaza and Israel from any more horrendous attacks where primarily women and children are under threat. Why else do we have a United Nations? We cant just stand back and let these atrocities pile up without intervention. It is time for the world to act. Oliver Freeman, Rozelle The US president flies halfway across the world to Israel and, after hours of consultation with Benjamin Netanyahu, achieves wait for it exactly this: permission for 20 aid trucks to cross from Egypt into Gaza. How can Gazas population of more than two million ever begin to thank him? John Peel, Woollahra We are all horrified by a hospital being hit by a missile, but we do not know where the projectile came from. From our armchairs on a very distant island, we will never know the full story behind this war until it finishes, and the future historians dissect each action. In Australia, we can not and should not condemn Australian Palestinians or Jews for the actions of other countries. We are Australians first. We should remember and cherish our heritages, but we should not fight other countries wars here in Australia. Peter Rayner, Newcastle Advertisement Equality is not special treatment Waleed Aly is spot on in identifying that Australians will support giving equal status to people but will not accept treating individuals differently (At the heart of an emphatic No, October 20). And the perception that the Voice referendum was going beyond giving equal status and into awarding permanent special treatment was why so many voted against it. The fact that relentlessly poor treatment gave rise to systemically entrenched inequality in the first place was forgotten, dismissed or ignored altogether. Adrian Connelly, Springwood The signs werent positive. Credit: Andrew Dyson Everyone needs to understand that people didnt vote No to a Voice per se, they voted No to it being enshrined in the Constitution. Accept the result and move forward with helping all disadvantaged Australians, including Aboriginal people. Jenny Greenwood, Hunters Hill This latest attempt by Dutton to discredit First Nations with calls for a royal commission into child sexual abuse could be seen as blatantly discriminatory (Albanese rejects Duttons call for royal commission on Indigenous child sex abuse, October 20). And its reminiscent of Howards children overboard scare tactic aimed at nurturing hatred toward refugees. Will the Coalition always use these underhand machinations to attempt to win every election? Anne Phillips, Wallarah The sheer hypocrisy of the Coalitions position regarding the First Nations people of this country is laid bare following calls for a royal commission into child sexual assault in remote communities. Calling for a royal commission solely based on race whilst opposing a constitutional amendment in a referendum because it divided us on race is utterly inconsistent and a bizarre position. It is also indicative of an entirely punitive approach that has not worked in 235 years of white settlement in this country. Suresh Rajan, Stirling (WA) Only days after demolishing our Indigenous peoples request for a Voice, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton moves for suspension of standing orders to call for, not only an abuse inquiry but also policy ideas to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians to help close the gap. It smacks of his offensive comment as immigration minister, at the expense of Pacific Island leaders, when he joked time doesnt mean anything when, you know, you have water lapping at your door. Rob Firth, Red Hill (ACT) Advertisement Smear campaign During an unpleasant referendum, No voters were patronisingly informed they were racist, chicken-littles, uncaring, stupid, dinosaurs, and dheads (Get ready for worse, Australia, October 19). Also, they were inaccurately told 80 per cent of Indigenous people supported the Voice. Somehow, Niki Savva has managed to swing this around to dirty campaign tactics by Dutton and his team. Innovative at best, straw-clutching at worst. Rosemary OBrien, Ashfield According to Niki Savva, the campaign tactics of the Voice will be used at the next election Credit: Dionne Gain Niki Savva states that Labors political brains now know exactly what they will be up against in 2025. Are these the same political brains that sat back and allowed, even championed the Yes campaign notwithstanding that it lost bipartisan support early in the piece? Are these the same political brains that are responsible for at least 55 Labor seats, some held by very comfortable margins and some even held by ministers, voting no, frequently by large margins. I think Labor needs a new brains trust. Trevor Stephenson, East Ballina Perhaps the wording of any future referendum could be presented as a bill to parliament and argued until there is a consensus of at least 75 per cent of both houses, which would represent bilateral support. The voters would have a clearer grasp of the issues and misinformation should be eliminated. The main contest would be in Parliament, where it belongs. John Salmon, Haberfield Housing affordability should have been in HSC exam Of course there was nothing in the 2023 HSC Economics exam regarding housing affordability (The biggest economic issue facing students wasnt asked about in the HSC exam, October 20). While the nation resembles an economy more than a society, making housing a popular investment asset class and the associated globalisation of our residential property market, its unsurprising that affordability is not considered relevant. Many of us in the HSC classes of the 1970s would have been out in the streets if the basic human right to safe, acceptable and affordable shelter had been transformed into the current national housing disgrace confronting our young people. Robyn Dalziell, Kellyville Advertisement Lack of adequate housing has been an issue in Australia for more than 20 years. In addition, Australian housing has one of the highest debt levels in the world, with a debt to income ratio last recorded at 211 per cent compared to the US at 101 per cent, UK at 148 per cent and Japan at 115 per cent. Australian governments of many colours have ignored the issue, which has exacerbated the plight of younger Australians in the pursuit of owning their own home. The demand for housing, particularly affordable housing is proven, and yet the satisfaction of that demand is buried in political in-fighting, corporate greed and federal and state government myopia when it comes to housing and planning issues. As at October 2023 Australia has a Future Fund with $136 billion in assets, yet those who control the purse strings ignore the means of providing Australians with a future. Greed and a lack of intent is the brake holding our country back. David Hawkins, Newport Beach Tax opportunity The shock decision of the High Courts ruling on the Victorian tax on electric cars leaves the way open to completely transform our tax regime (High Courts rejection of electric vehicle tax raises budget worries, October 20). The very idea that we would discourage EV ownership even further by taxing owners is ludicrous. As consumption taxes are the remit of the federal government it would seem an excellent opportunity to reconsider the stage three tax cuts. The amount of money gained from EV taxes would pale into insignificance when compared to these cuts, which disproportionately benefit high-income earners. Surely, we can not only support effective climate change initiatives but also redress our very inequitable income tax regime. Robyn Thomas, Wahroonga Funding reduction I have never understood why the federal government does not reduce the funding to private schools based on the fees they charged (Tighter rules for private school funds, October 19). If it gives $5000 to public schools for each child, then reduce the amount given to private schools by a percentage of the fee that is charged. I would suggest starting at 50 per cent - in this case, a school charging $1000 a year would get a reduction of $500 in their grant. A school charging $5000 would get a $2500 reduction. Sounds fair to me and I was private school educated. Michael McFadyen, Kareela Taxpayers subsidies to private schools should be removed. Credit: May I make a simple submission? Remove the $1.5 billion taxpayers subsidy to private schools and redirect it to the public schools. Any shortfall for the private sector can be covered by increased fees, a reduction in their expenditure and a review of their assets. The result would be a greatly enhanced public school offering which may well prove attractive to parents currently paying fees. David Boyd, Bondi Beach Advertisement Balance fails Alan Sunderlands article in todays SMH makes for interesting reading (Confected balance a blight on good journalism, October 20). I watched many interviews during the debate. Some interviewers, having made up their own minds, approached the task in two simple ways: try to destroy the arguments of the interviewee or encourage, smile often and give the interviewee plenty of time to expand their arguments. How can that be considered balanced reporting? Michael Walsh, Croydon Inadequate solutions Regardless of any coastal engineering solutions that may be deployed to protect properties fronting the Collaroy-Narrabeen beach, and similar coastal locations elsewhere, in time they will become increasingly inadequate against the committed and unstoppable multi-metre sea level rise already underway, due to current greenhouse gas concentrations and ocean heat content accelerating land ice sheet melting (Letters, October 19). The global average rate of sea level rise has accelerated from 1.5 millimetres to about 5 millimetres per year over the last 30 years. The good news is we have time to adapt. The bad news is its going to change every coastline. Geoff Miell, Lithgow Minchin mirth When we feel wordless, speechless, spiritless and hopeless, Tim Minchin brings us back (Tim Minchin hopes people feel lightened by new Sydney Opera House song, October 19). Thank you to all involved for reminding us not to find a box that makes you comfortable and then stay the heck inside. Sarah Hart, Gordon Like the many who flocked to Sydney Harbour on the Saturday in October 1973, I came as close as I ever have or will be to royalty as the Queens motorcade snaked its way through the Domain (King sends royal greetings for Opera Houses golden moment, October 20). Happy anniversary to The House! Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook Advertisement The ballet master known as Maos Last Dancer and the business that forever changed the rundown docks under Brisbanes Story Bridge were honoured in Brisbanes major business awards last night. Former Chinese and US ballet star Li Cunxin AO, who became the artistic director of Queensland Ballet in 2012, was named Brisbanes 2023 Business Person of the Year. He is now a stockbroker. Brisbanes 2023 Business Person of the Year, dancer Li Cunxin AO posing with works from the exhibition Maos Last Dancer the Exhibition Credit: Photo by Jono Searle/Jono Searle Photography. Howard Smith Wharves won the citys first Better Brisbane Award, which is presented to a business that has made a significant contribution to the citys unstoppable momentum. Howard Smith Wharves recently announced a partnership with Brisbanes Indigenous tourism businesses, and chief executive Luke Fraser is now president of the Queensland Property Council. A wild party in Brisbanes south on Friday night ended with six people including children in hospital. An estimated 400 people were at the Chambers Flat party when authorities were first called shortly before 11pm. The situation was so volatile, paramedics had to briefly retreat until police arrived. There were reports that rocks were thrown towards first responder vehicles, but it does not appear to have been a barrage. A former Young Liberal member turned neo-Nazi has been charged after he allegedly damaged a public library in Melbournes north with antisemitic graffiti. Stefan Eracleous was charged with criminal damage after public toilets inside Mill Park Library on Plenty Road were allegedly graffitied with antisemitic slurs on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Stefan Eracleous has been charged with criminal damage Victoria Police confirmed in a statement that officers attended the library on Wednesday and arrested a man who was later charged with criminal damage and wilful damage. Eracleous, 30, from Mernda, was bailed to appear at Heidelberg Magistrates Court on March 19. A political brawl in the United States is hurting Australian plans to persuade legislators to support the AUKUS pact on nuclear-powered submarines by casting doubt over whether Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be able to meet senior Congressional leaders next week. Albanese is due to fly to Washington DC on Sunday to hold talks with US President Joe Biden on the alliance and broader security issues as well as attending a state dinner at the White House on Wednesday night, the first for an Australian leader in four years. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hopes to meet senior Congressional leaders next week. Credit: The agenda for the state visit includes stronger cooperation on climate change, critical mineral supplies as well as the sharing of nuclear secrets for the AUKUS plan, which needs Congress to approve changes to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, or ITAR, to allow the export of US knowledge and technology. But the upheaval in the US capital, with the Republicans in disarray over whether Jim Jordan of Ohio should become Speaker of the House of Representatives, means there is no authority to approve an address to Congress and limited time for Albanese to meet top leaders. Defence experts have criticised a decision to leave a Chinese companys 99-year lease of the Port of Darwin in place, warning that it leaves investment decisions on critical national infrastructure in the hands of a potential foreign adversary. The federal government announced on Friday afternoon that a review by key security agencies of the Darwin port lease had found robust systems were in place to manage the risks. The Port of Darwin was leased to the Chinese-owned Landbridge Group in 2015. Credit: Glenn Campbell The lease was signed by the former Country Liberal Party government in the Northern Territory in 2015 and prompted a Defence Department review by the then Morrison government which found there were insufficient grounds to scrap the lease. Former US president Barack Obama also expressed displeasure to former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull when the lease was first signed, asking that the US be kept in the loop on such decisions in future. The US has a contingent of up to 2500 Marines that rotate through Darwin each year. Everyone has a favorite dish, and chefs and cooks are no exception. Moreover, chefs are the ones who know that every dish is not only about delicious ingredients, but also about a story. ADVERTISIMENT On October 20, we celebrate the holiday of those who create these "stories on plates" for us - the International Day of the Chef and Culinary Specialist. That is why we asked representatives of the Ukrainian restaurant industry to tell us about their favorite dishes. Alik Mkrtchyan and "Miasomarket" recommend "Ryabburger" "Miasomarket" is MHP's universal market, which offers a wide range of fresh meat, marinades, spices and other related products. And for those who don't have time to cook but like to eat something tasty, there is ready-made cooking for every taste. The format is made unique by "meat sommeliers" - not just sellers, but real meat and cooking experts who will help you not only with the choice, but also advise you on how best to prepare a particular dish. ADVERTISIMENT Alik Mkrtchyan, MHP's culinary expert, commercial director of its own retail, and author of more than 100 recipes that can be tried at Meat Markets, advises to try Ryabburger. "My absolute pride is Ryabburger. It is a juicy combination of a tender cutlet and two potato pancakes. The first one is made from minced thigh and fillet. For extra tenderness, a brioche bun soaked in cream is added to it. This burger is great in terms of protein and carbohydrate combination. It's a full meal, not just a snack, because it actually includes a side dish of potato fries."Children are very fond of Ryabburger, and it's also very convenient to eat because its format resembles a burger with crispy pancakes instead of buns," says Alik. ADVERTISIMENT "So far, the Ryabburger is the first and only dish whose recipe has been patented by MHP. According to Mkrtchyan, Ryabburger is a magnet product that attracts guests to "Miasomarket", and rightly so, as over the past six months, more than 10 thousand of them have been sold in Kyiv stores. "So far, this burger is only available in stores in the capital, but we hope for its nationwide expansion. And it's better to wash down the Ryabburger with chacha," says Alik. Eurasia restaurant chain recommends the signature Eurasia roll with crispy shrimp, smoked eel, mango and avocado Eurasia restaurants have a wide range of rolls, so everyone can find a dish to their liking on the menu. But among the restaurant's favorites is the signature Eurasia roll, which was developed by the restaurant chain's brand chef Valery Sharov. ADVERTISIMENT When Valery Sharov was developing the Eurasia roll, he set out to balance a variety of flavors in one dish. "In the restaurants of our chain, we have developed a wide range of rolls, which helps everyone find something special to their taste .But despite the wide selection, my favorite has been the Eurasia roll for some time. It's a must-try, because this particular roll has a sophisticated combination of flavors: crispy tempura shrimp, juicy mango, ripe avocado, cream cheese, and smoked eel. The flavor is completed with aspicy sauce and weightless rice balls," explains Sharov. The brand chef of Eurasia explains that when creating the dish, he set himself the goal of developing a roll that would embody the very philosophy of Eurasia - a variety of flavors that are balanced in one place. ADVERTISIMENT Food-pairing is a complex story about harmonizing the flavors of products that can be combined to create completely new and surprising combinations. There is no perfect combination, just as there are no people with exactly the same taste. It is the same with Eurasia roll - it can be tasted with many drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, but Valery Sharov recommends this combination: "I recommend pairing the Eurasia roll with G7 Merlot Rose, a rose wine that will appeal to both delicate ladies and brutal men. Why? It's just beautiful and will definitely emphasize the flavor characteristics of this roll. "Eurasia" has a complex, rich taste and white wine can be "lost" against its background, and with red wine you may not feel some subtle shades of taste. Therefore, rose, which is something in between red and white wine, will be just right. It will emphasize the light minerality of the shrimp and the overall cheese flavor of the roll. I believe that this is a perfect symbiosis of drink and dish, which has become a favorite for many guests of Eurasia restaurants." ADVERTISIMENT NOVUS online recommends home cooking from "Masters of Taste" NOVUS believes that you can enjoy delicious dishes at a very reasonable price without leaving your home. That is why the NOVUS.online website has created a section with home-made dishes from Masters of Taste. Here you can find and order everything and even a little more - meat and fish dishes, side dishes, salads, desserts. "NOVUS' ready-to-eat culinary offerings have long gone beyond standard olivier and vinaigrette. Our chefs prepare truly exquisite dishes for the festive table, as well as everyday dishes that can completely replace the home menu. This is important for people who have an active lifestyle and are unable to cook at home, but still love high-quality and home-style delicious food," the company explains. ADVERTISIMENT The Masters of Taste menu offers more than 400 exclusive items of its own production. Everyone can find something delicious for themselves and order it with delivery. "It's hard for us to choose just one item from the entire menu, so we decided to recommend dishes from different categories. So, for lunch and dinner, you can choose aMediterranean salad, smoked picolini sausages, Greek mackerel with tomatoes and feta, tender grilled duck in mustard and honey marinade, chopped steak with egg, chicken noodles with teriyaki sauce, homemade dumplings with cherries, or chilled Caesar pizza," NOVUS online shares its recommendations. ADVERTISIMENT For those who want to have a sweet treat, the Masters of Taste recommend the Choco Berry cake, Esterhazy cake, cottage cheese and chocolate casserole, raspberry curd, or the PASSIONISTA donut with passion fruit filling and dark chocolate pieces. "For a quick choice, we created the "What to eat?" section with ready-made menus from NOVUS.online: just choose the desired event and add a ready-made option from ready-made dishes and products to the cart.And voila! Our food delivery service NOVUS.online is aimed at making it possible to enjoy a restaurant-style meal from under the knife at home. And when ordering, you can write to the picker any wishes regarding the products and ready-made dishes: thinly cut salami, put the dishes in separate paper bags or pack them in portions. All collected orders are transported in protective boxes made in Germany with a special thermal insert, which ensures the integrity of the products. All our dishes are prepared only day by day, without any exceptions. And we bring wine to the table already chilled," the company says. ADVERTISIMENT Papardelle with Transcarpathian porcini mushrooms from KALYNA confectionery and restaurant The KALYNA confectionery and restaurant has been open since November 1995. Here you can taste not only classic, mousse and sponge cakes and pastries, poppy seed pie, cinnamon and custard cinnabons, ice cream, handmade Belgian chocolate candies, and gluten-free pastries and desserts. Recently, the menu also includes Italian dishes. KALYNA advises to try the traditional Italian pappardelle with porcini mushrooms, which the restaurant orders from Transcarpathia. Papardelle is a type of fresca pasta that differs from others in its width. ADVERTISIMENT "It is said that Transcarpathian mushrooms taste different from porcini mushrooms from other regions and are considered the most delicious. We use fresh and dried porcini mushrooms for our pasta. We use dried mushrooms to make an incredibly flavorful mushroom broth, and then combine the mushrooms themselves with fresh, also boiled, mushrooms. This gives the dish a richness of flavor and texture. The pasta also includes onions, dry white wine, which enriches and emphasizes the flavor of porcini mushrooms, and parsley, which adds not only color but also aroma. All the ingredients are united by cow cream, which gives a creamy velvety aftertaste," the restaurant says. The chefs pay special attention to the pasta itself, which they make themselves. "We use Italian flour of soft and hard varieties, olive oil and eggs, because the key to creating Italian pasta is fresca. We don't forget about parmesan, of course. We are sure that pappardelle is a very tasty and relevant dish in the fall. And the extravaganza of taste will be perfectly emphasized by a glass of white dry Ca`del Bosco," explain the KALYNA chefs. A graphic design student was travelling on a tram when a group of ticket inspectors asked to see her myki. The 17-year-old didnt have a learners permit to prove she was a minor. After a heated conversation with the officers, she said she was let off with a warning. One of the fake public transport posters on display in Melbourne. The whole situation seemed unnecessarily intimidating, there was no discretion or empathy, and [the inspectors] presumed I was guilty and lying, said the student, who asked not to be identified after she was contacted by police. I was paying my correct fare, and it didnt even matter. Victoria will push ahead with a treaty process with the states Indigenous people despite Queensland and NSW slowing down plans for their own treaties. The resounding rejection of the federal Voice to parliament in the two northern states has prompted their leaders to reconsider plans to negotiate an agreement with local First Peoples and had fuelled speculation Victoria could follow suit. Victorian premier Jacinta Allan will push ahead with plans for a treaty with the states Indigenous people. Credit: Joe Armao Victoria recorded the best result for the Yes campaign compared to all other states, but the referendum proposal was defeated as 55 per cent of the eligible population voted against it. Regional areas and Melbournes outer suburbs were more likely to have No majorities while Yes support was strongest across the inner city. Although other states are reconsidering their approach, the Allan government has committed to push ahead with the treaty process and early work on negotiations are underway before the formal process in early 2024. Bali: With a fire burning stubbornly at Balis giant Suwung landfill for the past week, spewing putrid smoke into the sky above the Island of the Gods, the mayor of Denpasar raised a novel idea. Authorities had deployed water-bombing helicopters and even police water cannons in a futile attempt to douse the smouldering underbelly of the 32-hectare dump, where rubbish is piled as high as 25 metres. So, in a country where belief in the spiritual domain remains strong, the mayor of Balis charming, chaotic capital proposed a competition. Anyone who could make it rain would win a return flight to Singapore paid from his own pocket, I Gusti Ngurah Jaya Negara told local reporters in Denpasar. Singapore: Its fair to say age is all the rage as election season kicks off in Indonesia. This week the Constitutional Court triggered controversy by clearing the barrier for candidates under 40 to run for the presidency and vice presidency in next Februarys polls if theyve held public office before, opening the way for the son of outgoing leader Joko Widodo to be on a ticket. Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto has emerged as the frontrunner to succeed Joko Widodo, who defeated him in the 2014 and 2019 elections. Credit: Reuters On Monday, the court will deliver a judgment in Jakarta that could have even greater ramifications for the countrys political landscape when it rules on a proposal to impose an upper age limit of 70 for aspiring presidents. The decision has direct consequences for presidential frontrunner Prabowo Subianto, Widodos vanquished rival in the 2014 and 2019 elections who was later made defence minister in the presidents cabinet. The US President Joe Biden has given a clear indication that America is prepared to get involved as the Middle East teeters towards a broader regional conflict. Biden bound the wars in Israel and Ukraine together during a primetime Oval Office address, making an impassioned appeal to the American people to support two fellow democracies he said faced existential threats. He will also ask the US Congress for an unprecedented commitment to sharpen Israels military edge and ensure the Iron Dome continued to guard the skies. Were going to make sure other hostile actors in the region know that Israels stronger than ever and prevent this conflict from spreading, he said. Long a powder keg, the Middle East has become morally volatile with this months carnage threatening to spread unpredictably. Three land-cruise missiles and several drones fired by Houthi rebels in Yemen and were shot down by a US Naval destroyer USS Carney operating in the Red Sea; the Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said a political settlement of the situation in the Gaza Strip was increasingly unlikely, and Tehran warned it may take preemptive action against Israel. There have been calls for a ceasefire to permit aid into Palestine and allow a cooling-off period so that negotiations could perhaps replace missiles and guns. Well-intentioned as such calls are, the truth is a ceasefire cannot effectively deal with Hamas and Israel will be unlikely to agree. It is completely reasonable that Israel should seek to demolish Hamas. The only effective way to deal with a terrorist group that has no moral qualms at the way it seeks to achieve its ends is to meet their violence head-on. Biden was careful to say there was a critical need for Israel to operate by the laws of war. That means protecting civilians in combat as best as they can. The Herald strongly agrees. To that end, the people of Gaza urgently need food, water and medicine. Biden visited Israel this week and admirably secured agreement between leaders in Tel Aviv and Cairo for the first shipment of humanitarian assistance from the United Nations to trapped Palestinians. It was only 20 trucks, a drop in the ocean of what is needed. But Biden suggested more help could come if Hamas did not divert or steal the initial shipment. Were going to provide an opening for sustained delivery of lifesaving humanitarian assistance for the Palestinians, he said. Loading While the world waits for Israel to move against Hamas, claim and counterclaim made it hard to see through the fog of war, but that has not stopped fears mounting that the conflict could spread as protests spread to neighbouring countries. Biden warned in his speech that the US and democracies around the world were at an inflection point amid a rising tide of threats from autocrats and terrorist groups. In an oblique nod to our corner of the world, Biden said the US would stand firm, adding if America walked away from Ukraine then would-be aggressors would be emboldened to try the same and the risk of conflict and chaos could spread in other parts like the Middle East and Indo-Pacific. 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 Troops scurry from one bombed-out apartment block to the next, alert for snipers and booby traps, underground tunnels and mouse holes carved out of walls. Their adversaries dig in, quiet and still, waiting until the last second to open fire; or they melt away to fight another day, some hiding in plain sight, blending into the civilian crowd. This is urban warfare in the 21st century an environment, says one US service member who fought in Iraq, that is much more difficult for the average foot soldier to survive. Since Israel vowed to demolish Hamas, after brutal attacks on Israeli civilians by Hamas militants left 1400 dead on October 7, a full-scale ground assault into the highly built-up Gaza Strip has appeared inevitable. Israel has pounded Gaza with thousands of airstrikes, and is now sending troops and vehicles into the enclave, heading for the densely populated Gaza City. Whoever sees Gaza from afar now will see it from the inside, Israel Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told troops on October 20. In a press conference on October 31, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected calls for a ceasefire and said Israel is fighting the enemies of civilisation itself. Palestinians have been warned again to evacuate northern Gaza. More than 8000 Palestinians have been killed in the recent airstrikes so far, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry. Nearly half of the more than 2 million people in the Gaza Strip are children and teenagers. Meanwhile, somewhere in Gaza, there are believed to be more than 200 hostages, including children, snatched in Hamas recent attacks on Israeli settlements, military installations and an outdoor music festival. Why is urban warfare so notoriously difficult? And what would be the end game? Note: this Explainer was first published on October 20; its introduction has since been updated to reflect developments. Why is urban warfare typically so fraught? Advertisement Urban warfare fighting house to house, block to block is a gruelling, technical form of combat that even the best-equipped armies have historically shied away from, if they can. Complex and difficult is how David Betz and Hugo Stanford-Tuck describe it in a 2019 paper on urban warfare in the 21st century. The list is long of urban centres in the modern era where the quest for close-quarters conquest has come at a high price: among them, Mariupol in Ukraine in 2022, the Iraqi cities of Mosul (2017) and Fallujah (2004), Grozny (Chechnya, 1995 and 1994), Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina, from 1992) and Berlin at the end of World War II. Examples abound, too, of aggressors over-confidence and defenders resilience throughout history. Attempting to quell civilian unrest in Buenos Aires in 1807, as Betz and Stanford-Tuck recount, British troops were pelted with stones, hot water and primitive hand grenades from rooftops. Fighters in Chechnya in the mid-90s. Credit: Getty Images In Somalias capital, Mogadishu, in 1993, the United States found its state-of-the-art hardware counted for little in the tightly packed streets and marketplaces. Somali fighters with shoulder-launched, rocket-propelled grenades downed two US helicopters, an episode later fictionalised in the film Black Hawk Down. Battles in open country, deserts, jungles and mountains have their own challenges. But the level of tactical difficulty ramps up severely in an urban environment, say Betz and Stanford-Tuck. The profusion of places to hide in this multi-dimensional environment means engagement typically occurs at very short distances and fire fights are swift and brutal. Communications are disrupted by buildings. Intensity and extreme stress accelerate fatigue. But above all, they note: The key constraint is the potential intermingling of civilians and civilian infrastructure with combat operations. A Bosnian special forces soldier returns fire in April 1992 in downtown Sarajevo as he and civilians come under fire from Serbian snipers. Credit: AFP Advertisement These days, when clearing an area of a threat or obstacles, troops will send in drones or robots to locate improvised explosive devices, known as IEDs. They will jam radio signals to disable booby traps that could be activated remotely. Four soldiers might clear a room, 18 might be required to clear a house. If you have a whole neighbourhood of several city blocks with several large apartment buildings, thats a brigade-level operation; meaning 3000 to 5000 soldiers, by doctrine, says one US service member who fought in Ramadi during the Iraq War in 2006, and who requested anonymity for security reasons. Risk is never eliminated, he says. The only way you can get rid of snipers is, any place where it would be logical to put a sniper you take out before you go into an area, with artillery or rockets. In his experience, urban warfare is a real mean science that evens out everything, despite the technological advantages one side might have. Bottom line, says Charles Knight, an urban warfare specialist at Charles Sturt University: Theres absolutely no doubt that going into an urban environment against a prepared defender is one of the most challenging operations you can conduct. The IDF [Israel Defence Forces] are better prepared than any other military on the planet, but they have been extremely reluctant to enter Gaza or similar urban complexes because they know they will lose a lot of blood. At an urban warfare training facility in the Negev Desert, an Israeli soldier takes part in a drill in January. Credit: AP How will Israel have prepared for a ground offensive? Israel has been reluctant to send a major force into the enclave in the years since it ended its 38-year occupation in 2005. (It has imposed a blockade on the Gaza Strip since 2007, assisted by Egypt on the south Gazan border.) A United Nations report into the last ground incursion, in 2014, found at least 150 Palestinian civilians died and thousands of homes were destroyed. In the broader conflict, including airstrikes, more than 2200 Palestinians died as well six Israeli civilians and 67 IDF soldiers, seven of whom were killed by an explosive device that destroyed their armoured vehicle in a narrow street. Advertisement Looking back further, a declassified US military memo from 1982 that examined Israels costly battles for Jerusalem (June 1967) and Suez City (October 1973) noted in both cities narrow streets impassable to tanks and armoured personnel carriers impeded or arrested the IDF advance. In Suez City, where the tank kill zones were engineered in advance, the narrow streets became alleys of death and Egyptian defenders without centralised communications relied on runners and telephones the urban guerilla mould. Israel has since constructed a vast training camp in the southern Negev Desert with hundreds of ersatz buildings that IDF forces can practise storming. Its very large and its quite sophisticated in the way its wired up for special effects. People get very immersed, it feels real, says David Betz, from the Department of War Studies at Kings College London, who visited the facility in 2015. Theres every reason to expect that the Israelis have been training for urban operations and have thought a good deal about it. If IDF forces do enter Gaza on the ground, we can expect a very slow advance to secure areas, to take out Hamas forces and hopefully release some of those hostages, says Malcolm Davis, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. The nature of the environment, the nature of the enemy they face, means that it is going to be a high-casualty exercise, he says. A Hamas fighter at an emplacement in the Shujaya neighborhood of Gaza City in 2014. Credit: Anadolu How would Hamas likely prepare for an Israeli attack? Hamas has a network of underground tunnels that total about 500 kilometres, according to estimates. Some of them, according to news outlet Al Jazeera, are tall and wide enough to allow not only standing height and enough width for fighters to move through at a fast pace, but also enough room to act as well-protected storage for arms and ammunition, including rockets. Some tunnels were originally built by Bedouin clans to smuggle goods under the Egypt-Gaza border after 1981 but the network has been massively enlarged in the years since Israel withdrew from Gaza. Says Betz: Even if the surface looks like a field of blasted rubble in which you could barely survive as a rat or a cockroach, let alone a human being, these tunnels may be still quite safe. Advertisement This underground web is one of the key reasons a ground mission is required if Israel is to hunt down Hamas terrorists but is also, as the experts we spoke to cited, the most complex twist. You have to do the ground operation to get to the cache of weapons, the subterranean infrastructure underneath the Gaza Strip to get to the hostages, says Miri Eisin, at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism at Reichman University in Israel. Once breached, the tunnels are likely to be booby-trapped. Fighting in them would be exhausting, with darkness, the potential for ambush and poor communications compounding the usual hazards of close-quarters combat. Then there could be ethical issues, says Rain Liivoja, a professor at the University of Queensland Law School. The tunnels themselves would be a legitimate military objective for Israel to pursue, but they might be under schools or hospitals or other civilian buildings. So the question then is how are they able to neutralise those tunnels while at the same time safeguarding the protected civilian buildings? Loading Mouse holes, too, will likely play a role: gaps punched through walls to allow the movement of fighters and equipment without exposing them to enemy fire. Techniques such as this made for a constantly shifting battlefield in both Suez and Jerusalem, says the declassified US memo. Defenders surrendered buildings to the attacking Israelis, only to re-occupy them once the buildings were cleared. In Suez, fighters swung back into cleared buildings via balconies and rooftops. Possibly of less use to Hamas, says Betz, will be their off-the-shelf drones, which are likely to fall victim to IDF electronic pulses, scrambling their direction-finding capabilities. IDF drones, on the other hand, will have military-grade electronic defences that are harder or impossible to manipulate. The Hamas trump card, says Betz, may be a calculated attitude to the lives of civilians. Many modern defenders of cities essentially operate a human shields strategy, he says. This is very well established in the case of Hamas. It locates its weapons and command centres in areas where it would damage Israels international credibility to attack, he says. Advertisement Thousands of people gathered at Sydney Town Hall on Saturday for a pro-Palestinian rally amid a heavy police presence. More than 830 police were deployed across the city after NSW Premier Chris Minns pleaded for calm ahead of the rally, saying a repeat of antisemitic protests in front of the Opera House this week would be ruinous for Sydney and its multicultural, multi-faith community. Speakers led the crowd in a series of chants including Long Live the Intifada and Resistance is justified when Palestine is occupied. An estimated 12,000 to 15,000 people attended the event, carrying Palestinian flags and placards with messages such as Justice for Palestine, End the Gaza Blockade and Its not war, its genocide. Demonstrators listened to speakers detail the destruction and loss of life in Gaza following the attack on Israel earlier this month by militant group Hamas. Read more here. Dubai: Israel has been accused of triggering crimes against humanity in its relentless bombardment of Gaza, with regional leaders bracing for the next phase of the conflict after Israeli ground troops were told they would soon invade the Palestinian enclave on their mission to destroy Hamas. Seven UN special rapporteurs condemned Israels bombing and complete siege of Gaza in response to the killing of more than 1400 civilians and abduction of at least 200 hostages by Palestinian Hamas terrorists two weeks ago. We are sounding the alarm. There is an ongoing campaign by Israel resulting in crimes against humanity in Gaza, the UN experts said in a strongly worded joint statement. A wounded Palestinian boy arrives at the al-Shifa hospital, on a truck, following Israeli airstrikes. Credit: AP The conflict is poised to escalate when Israel launches its anticipated ground offensive. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant insisted it could occur any day now, saying on Friday that ground troops would soon see [Gaza] from the inside. Washington: US President Joe Biden has urged Americans to stand firmly behind Israel and Ukraine, using a rare address in the Oval Office to warn that walking away would jeopardise global security and democracy. But with an election looming next year, he also faces growing dissent as he seeks to deepen US involvement in two costly and unpredictable wars. President Joe Biden speaks from the Oval Office of the White House on Friday (AEDT). Credit: AP Fresh from his whirlwind trip to Tel Aviv, Biden gave the speech on Friday (AEDT) ahead of asking Congress for about $US100 billion ($158 billion) to deliver aid and resources to both countries, along with more money for the Indo-Pacific, which is under threat from China, and for the US-Mexico border, which thousands of migrants are illegally crossing every day. Declaring that the world was facing an inflection point in history, the president said the designated terrorist group Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin represented different threats but both wanted to completely annihilate a neighbouring democracy. Washington: If you want a sense of how farcical the infighting in the Republican Party has become, consider this. Earlier this week, as Donald Trump ally Jim Jordan unsuccessfully tried to find enough votes to become the new Speaker of the US House of Representatives, one of his colleagues cast a vote in favour of John Boehner, who hasnt been a member of Congress for almost a decade. Jim Jordan, staunch ally of Donald Trump, meets with reporters about his struggle to become speaker of the House, at the Capitol in Washington. Credit: AP Boehner was a former Republican speaker who resigned in 2015 in the face of a threatened revolt by members of the Freedom Caucus - the hard right faction that Jordan himself co-founded. But even Boehner, who once famously described the Freedom Caucus as legislative terrorists, might argue that the House of 2015 was relatively tame compared to the dysfunctional mess it is today. Olympic champion Svetlana Zhurova has expressed confidence that Russian athletes are allegedly being forced to compete at the 2024 Paris Games as refugees. The State Duma deputy accused international organizations of humiliating athletes from the aggressor country. ADVERTISIMENT She said this in an interview with the Russia Today propaganda channel. The winner of the 2006 Turin Games in speed skating criticized the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for temporarily excluding Russia from its membership after the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) illegally included the councils of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions in its membership. "The EU is trying to make athletes accept refugee status. I have been saying this from the very beginning. They tried to influence Putin, saying that he would ban them from traveling without the flag and anthem himself. But it didn't work. Now they have suspended our committee and are one step closer to doing so. Everything is being done to dishonor Russia as a state," Zhurova said. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier, four-time Olympian Alexander Tikhonov called Russia too kind after the ROC was expelled from the IOC. As reported by OBOZ.UA, ROC President Stanislav Pozdnyakov "revealed" information "about the health status" of Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin. In turn, the president of the Russian terrorist state accused the IOC of "ethnic discrimination" against Russians. Only verified information on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Both the Republican who deposed McCarthy Matt Gaetz and the Republican who has been campaigning to succeed him Jim Jordan personify the downward slide of the Grand Old Party (GOP). Gaetz, a Florida congressman who revels in his reputation as the Trumpiest congressman in Washington, is a nihilistic chaos merchant who seems to regard Capitol Hill as a stage and the MAGA faithful as his audience. The present crisis in Washingto n arose when the former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted by a rump of hard-right Republicans for reaching a deal with the Biden White House to avoid a government shutdown, which would have disrupted the US economy and led to federal workers being furloughed. It was the first time in US history that the House of Representatives had formally ousted its Speaker. In the weeks since, the Republicans have failed to agree on a figurehead to take control of the gavel. Split-screen America has this week been rendered in especially stark contrast. President Joe Biden, in boarding Air Force One to travel to the Middle East, has sought to reassert the countrys traditional post-war role as the leader of the free world, the indispensable nation. In Washington, Capitol Hill has once again descended into chaos as Republicans battled over who should become the next Speaker of the House of Representatives, the second most powerful job in government. With Gaza ablaze and Israel reeling from the attacks of October 7, a country that still looks upon itself as the great beacon of democracy again resembles a dumpster fire. This far-right 40-something is also whats called a Second Amendment extremist, who not only believes that citizens have the right to bear arms, but also to use them against their government: he has argued that the Second Amendment is about maintaining within the citizenry the ability to maintain an armed rebellion against the government, if that becomes necessary. Even after the January 6, 2021, riot, Gaetz has continued to state publicly that force is the only way to bring about change in Washington, but this has not prevented him from emerging as one of Capitol Hills most influential new powerbrokers. Jordan, by comparison, looks like a grown-up in the room. But the 59-year-old Ohio congressman is also a member of Capitol Hills crazy gang. This former high school wrestling star has long been regarded as a one-man political wrecking ball, who former Republican House Speaker John Boehner once labelled a legislative terrorist. A MAGA diehard, who holds the record among sitting members of Congress for appearing on Fox News, he became what the congressional committee investigating the January 6 insurrection described as a significant player in president Trumps effort to overturn the 2020 election. Rather than disqualifying him, however, his democratic denialism has fuelled his ascent. What with Donald Trump looking like the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, America continues to suffer from a mad-hatter politics which reflects its national malaise. It brings to mind the warning once issued by the American poet, Robert Penn Warren: A crazy man is a large-scale menace only in a crazy society. Illustration: Simon Letch Credit: What is worrying for sensible America and, crucially, allies like Australia is that this cannot be written off as some temporary descent into the rabbit hole. For decades US politics has been on this downward trajectory. It can be traced back to the end of the Cold War, when the spirit of patriotic bipartisanship which existed when the Soviet Union was a common enemy for both the Democrats and Republicans came to an end, and Washington became more of an ideological battleground the new Berlin. POINTE BLANCHE:--- Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) Norwegian Sky and Joy which were scheduled to make port calls on Friday, October 20 have canceled to ensure the safety of their guests and crew due to the approach of Tropical Storm Tammy. Management of Port St. Maarten also advised that the arrival of cargo vessels to the destination will also be affected due to the inclement weather expected Friday evening through Saturday. A notice was sent to stakeholders advising them about the disruptions outlining that high swells are expected through the weekend which may prohibit safe operations. Norwegian Sky was scheduled to arrive at 8:00 AM on Friday while Norwegian Joy was scheduled for 11:00 AM. The Port St. Maarten Group (PSG) looks forward to NCL's next call scheduled on November 3rd. PSG advised all stakeholders to assure their properties are safeguarded through the passing of Tammy. PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- At 11:00 AM Tammy was upgraded to Hurricane status and is now a Category 1 hurricane. Conditions are favorable that Tammy could strengthen further. The EOC (Emergency Operation Center) has been activated as of 12:23 pm today, Friday, October 20, to centralize the management of disaster response for Hurricane Tammy, the Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs said on Friday afternoon. Hurricane Tammy at 2:00 PM was located 390 miles southeast of Sint Maarten, according to the latest updates from the Meteorological Department of Sint Maarten. Maximum sustained winds are 75 miles per hour with higher gusts. Tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles from the center and hurricane-force winds extend 25 miles outward from the center. Hurricane Tammy is expected to pass at its closest point, 65 miles east-northeast of Sint Maarten on Sunday, October 22, 2023. However, we will continue to monitor the forecasts and update as changes can always occur. Sint Maarten has been upgraded to a Hurricane Warning. A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected within 36 hours within our area. Of course, tropical storm conditions will be felt before this. Residents and the business community are called upon to complete all necessary preparations and precautions on Friday for the passing of Hurricane Tammy which is likely to start impacting Sint Maarten early Saturday morning and throughout the weekend. Based on decisions made by the EOC, earlier today, please note: Business closures will be at 12 midnight tonight. Only businesses related to emergency services will be allowed to continue operations during this time. The Ministerial Regulation will be published indicating which emergency businesses/services will remain open after midnight. Residents are advised to stay off the road unless necessary. As it relates to shelters, the EOC has decided to open the John Larmonie Center to operate as the main shelter. Opening times will be communicated after we have received the 5:00 PM forecast update later today. Residents, use the time now to review your disaster supply kit, and to make sure your property is storm/hurricane ready. Hurricane Tammy could produce four to six inches of rainfall along with storm force winds, and hurricane force winds depending on the forecast track. Many showers and thunderstorms are expected which could produce flash flooding in flood-prone areas and rock falls in vulnerable areas during the system's passage. The Sint Maarten community is urged to stay tuned to updates via the official government platforms, government and Met Office website, social media pages and radio 107.9 FM. We have been here before, and I know that some of us still suffer anxiety at the thought of enduring another storm, Prime Minister Jacobs said on Friday. However, we have survived in the past, and with each Storm have learned to be better prepared. Our National Disaster and ESF (Emergency Support Functions) coordinators are well prepared, all support services are lined up to give assistance should that be needed. Do all you can to prepare for the worst but pray and hope for the best. Remember your safety is most important. I will continue to update you periodically to ensure you are well-informed. Until the next update, do stay safe Sint Maarten. For official weather-related information, check out the website of MDS: www.meteosxm.com or visit their social media page Facebook.com/sxmweather/ The Sint Maarten community is urged to learn more about hurricane hazards and resources you need on how to prepare your family, home, or business for a storm/hurricane strike by visiting the Government website: www.sintmaartengov.org/hurricane where you will be able to download your Hurricane Season Readiness Guide and Hurricane Tracking Chart. The information here is also valuable for new residents. Listen to the Government Radio station SXMGOV 107.9FM - for official information and news before, during and after a hurricane. You can also follow weather related news and information as well as national addresses by the Prime Minister, chairlady of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) by going to @SXMGOV Facebook Page. Prime Minister Silivera Jacobs updates on Hurricane Tammy. 8PM. Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs on decisions taken as Hurricane Tammy Approaches. $30 million in funding helps scientists study universe's oldest light by Michelle Franklin for UCSD News San Diego CA (SPX) Oct 20, 2023 Everyone has an origin story, including the universe. The Big Bang Theory is the leading explanation for the universe's origin - one that began 13.8 billion years ago from an incomprehensibly dense, hot pinprick that underwent an expansion so rapid that "violent" doesn't begin to capture it. About 400,000 years after the Big Bang, the cosmos cooled enough for photons to travel freely, creating the oldest light in the universe, known as the cosmic microwave background (CMB). The CMB is the remnant radiation from the Big Bang that has expanded with the universe and now appears in the microwave portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. It carries an imprint of cosmic history, potentially revealing what happened a trillionth of a trillionth of a trillionth of a second after the Big Bang. What happened in those moments after the Big Bang is a question cosmologists hope to answer with the Simons Observatory. The Simons Foundation has provided $28.8 million and the Heising-Simons Foundation has provided $1.5 million to the University of California San Diego to complete the last phase of construction on the observatory. Construction began in 2019, and the anticipated completion date of April 2024 coincides with the 86th birthday of Simons Foundation co-founder Jim Simons. "The additional $28.8 million provided by the Simons Foundation for the completion of Simons Observatory's construction is testimony to the outstanding work done by the team, and to the expectation of breakthrough discoveries by the Observatory in years to come," said Senior Vice President for Physics at the Simons Foundation Greg Gabadadze. "The Simons Observatory holds the transformative power to discover secrets hidden in the cosmic tapestry, revealing the mysteries of the universe with unparalleled precision," said UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. "We are profoundly grateful for Jim and Marilyn Simons' vision and generous support for our search to answer fundamental questions about the scientific origins of the universe and expand the global impact of our $1.64-billion research enterprise." The observatory began as a collaboration between the Simons Foundation, member institutions, and six founding scientists - Brian Keating and Kam Arnold (UC San Diego), Mark Devlin (University of Pennsylvania), David Spergel and Suzanne Staggs (Princeton University), Adrian Lee (University of California Berkeley) and Jeff McMahon (University of Chicago). Since the groundbreaking in 2019, it has grown to include partner institutions and collaborators around the world. "We have an amazing team of partner institutions and scientists," said Brian Keating, UC San Diego professor of physics and principal investigator. "The founding scientists have been vital to the intellectual design, construction process and funding. Without their leadership, the concept and execution of the observatory would not have happened." The observatory, which will also investigate the nature of dark matter and how gravity gave structure to the universe, is located in the northern region of the Andes Mountains in Chile's Atacama Desert. At an elevation of over 17,000 ft., it's one of the highest, driest places on Earth, making it ideal for microwave cosmology. Before the telescopes will be operational, the array needs to undergo several checks and measures to ensure the equipment is calibrated and everything is functioning optimally. "There are literally millions of parts that have come from around the world, and they all have to work flawlessly," stated Keating. "We can't say, 'Oh, the mount doesn't work. That's okay.' There is zero tolerance for failure." Once calibrated, scientists will begin making real astronomical measurements of the unknown cosmos, although it may take several years before they collect and interpret enough data to publicly announce any discoveries about the origin and evolution of the universe. Trying to uncover the origins of the universe is the ultimate in high-risk, high-reward research. "Jim and Marilyn have always been driven by a sense of wonder at the cosmos. They are part of the reason I'm inspired to address these questions," said Keating. "This is a dream project for all of us." Co-founded in 1994 by Jim and Marilyn Simons, the Simons Foundation supports basic scientific research in the pursuit of understanding the phenomena of our world. The foundation has donated over $88 million to the construction of the observatory, in addition to more than $12 million in funding for the POLARBEAR-Simons Array, which will eventually become part of the observatory. The Heising-Simons Foundation works with its partners to advance sustainable solutions in climate and clean energy, enable groundbreaking research in science, enhance the education of our youngest learners, and support human rights for all people. In addition to the most recent support, the Heising-Simons Foundation has given nearly $2.7 million to date for the Simons Observatory, which included nearly $1 million to UC San Diego and approximately $1.7 million to the University of California Berkeley. Other significant support comes from the participating university partners; the National Science Foundation; and the five founding universities: UC San Diego, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, University of Chicago and UC Berkeley. Related Links University of California - San Diego Understanding Time and Space Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev was once again furious over Biden's statement, who called aid to Ukraine a smart investment and announced the allocation of a record amount of money for Ukraine and Israel. The Russian politician was also outraged by the ban on the Moscow Patriarchate in Ukraine, saying that it was "a dirty policy involving cocaine and Satanism." ADVERTISIMENT The former Russian president's inadequate statements and threats were published in one of the Russian Telegram channels. Medvedev also threatened to use nuclear weapons in response to Ukraine's supply of the latest Western weapons. The inadequate politician, outraged by the allocation of additional funds for weapons to Ukraine, spoke of an "irreversible mental disorder" and "loss of the remnants of conscience" in Western society. He also added that the world, allegedly led by the United States, is "falling into the abyss." "Biden called it a 'smart investment' to spend money on the deaths of other people far from the United States. We are talking about purchasing additional weapons worth tens of billions for Ukraine and Israel. Investing in the deaths of unnecessary people is smart and good. There are no words for it. This is beyond good and evil. And this is not just the dementia of an old fool, but the entire philosophy of their state life for centuries," Medvedev wrote. ADVERTISIMENT He also called the decision of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to ban the Moscow Patriarchate in Ukraine "cutting off the Orthodox from the cradle of the mother church" and "dirty politics." After that, the Russian dictator's henchman began to hurl insults at the Ukrainian government and president. In the end, he traditionally tried to threaten to use nuclear weapons. "The ban on the original church in Malorossia is a dirty policy, heavily mixed with cocaine and Satanism... The church will be revived, but through the blood and suffering of the civil war. And sooner or later, the quantity of weapons supplied will turn into quality. High explosive, cumulative, incendiary and high-explosive charges will turn into nuclear charges," Medvedev said. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier, Medvedev said that the Hamas terrorists who attacked Israel had allegedly obtained Western-style weapons that were originally transferred to Ukraine. However, even before this post was published, the GUR reported that Russia plans to use the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel as a pretext for a large-scale provocation against Ukraine. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and in Viber. Do not fall for fakes! In a telephone conversation with pranksters, Russian oligarch Mikhail Fridman admitted that Alfa-Bank's client database had been hacked. The operation was carried out by Ukrainian hackers together with the Security Service of Ukraine. ADVERTISIMENT Sources in the SBU told OBOZ.UA about this. As noted, the leak of Alfa-Bank's 30 million customer database into the network was another evidence of huge "holes " in the security systems of Russian banks (to listen to the audio, scroll to the end of the news). Sources in the Ukrainian secret service said that the pranksters personally managed to get through to the owner of Alfa-Bank to tell him the "good news" about the hack. "Well, what can you do," the businessman replied. At the same time, Fridman was asked if he wanted to speak out against Russia's war against Ukraine. "But the oligarch was in a bad mood for some reason, and after a short conversation, he hung up," the sources said. As reported by OBOZ.UA, the day before, the hacker team KibOrg announced the hacking of Alfa-Bank's database in cooperation with NLB hackers. It was noted that as a result, the personal data of more than 30 million clients of the largest private bank in Russia were obtained. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Reports of attacks on US bases in Iraq and Syria overnight increased concerns that the US could get drawn into the conflict more than it already is, if it strikes back at those who are attacking Israel, or more crucially hits back at those who are attacking its own assets. When nominally free-market businesses the super-efficient, lean ones complain that they cant compete with the clunky, over-staffed state bureaucracy you have to laugh. Especially when it is an industry that entirely relies on government subsidy the knowledge that it cannot be allowed to go broke in the first place. I can only listen to women who say that space free of male-bodied people is crucial to their safety. If there are women who dont feel that, fine, but I still think the women who do [feel threatened] have to be listened to. You cant say my feelings have got to be listened to but their expression of their feelings is bigotry. It seems to me there are further difficulties when you get into the area of children. Im no expert but what I read makes me very anxious about the effect of medicalising children and whether or not children are competent to make decisions that are irreversible and life-changing. Parents are in a ghastly situation now because theyre faced with losing a relationship with their children or going along with it and I have deep sympathy for that. Speaking about the upcoming season on The Crown's official podcast, showrunner Peter Morgan said: "In Season six, the arrival of William and Kate and Harry just blows the doors off. You want to see them. It happened in the read-through. You could just see everyone was looking up and looking at each other across the room. And every time William spoke, it was like, 'Oh my God, this is just riveting.'" The pair are being played by new faces Ed McVey and Meg Bellamy. He describes the house as really quite simple, with four roughly equal bedrooms on the ground floor, living spaces on the first which is at street level and the main bedroom and a study at the top of the house. The three storeys appear as two from the road, due to the dramatic slope of the plot. On Friday, October 20, U.S. President Joe Biden requested 106 billion dollars from Congress to help Ukraine and Israel. Of this amount, $61.3 billion is to be used to help the Armed Forces. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by The Washington Post. The publication notes that this is a record amount of aid to states, which is much more than Democrats expected a few days ago. The $106 billion in military aid combines $14 billion in aid to Israel, annual funding for Ukraine of about $61 billion, as well as spending about $14 billion on immigration priorities and $10 billion on humanitarian aid, and more funding to counter China's influence in Asia and developing countries. With this request, the White House seeks to overcome Congress's piecemeal approach to funding Ukraine and instead provide Kyiv with the assistance it needs throughout the year. The legislative package comes after Biden addressed the nation on the wars in Israel and Ukraine, linking the two wars and insisting on the need to continue investing in security. ADVERTISIMENT Biden's plan is likely to pass quickly through the Senate, where it will receive more bipartisan support, but will face a more uncertain situation in the House of Representatives, which is still trying to decide on its next speaker, the publication notes. As reported by OBOZ.UA, on the evening of October 19, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held talks with US leader Joe Biden. He expressed his gratitude for the supply of ATACMS missiles to Ukraine and emphasized that it had greatly inspired our citizens. The parties also discussed further strengthening the long-range capabilities of our army. Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Ive been playing it for over 40 years now. This is goatskin wrapped around the bark of a wild cassava tree, Prince points at the Tobagonian take on a tambourine in his hands. Long time ago, tambrin was our doctor. If someone was sick and you wanted them to get better, we would organise a tambrin dance, so this person would get better in no time. All the older people are now dead, so we need to use the other doctor, he says with a hint of humour. Tambrin is an old-school instrument with little appeal to the younger generation who dont like it much. These signals can be subtle so its encouraging to see that more young victims can now get the help they urgently need. Our Look Closer campaign, is pivotal in raising awareness of these issues. Mr Carter-Stephenson argued the sentencing judge, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb, had not properly considered McSweeneys remorse as well as mitigation from various medical conditions. He said McSweeney has ADHD, which causes a lack of empathy and an inability to display emotions, and he argued evidence of the killers sorrow had been overlooked. A spokesperson for the Palestine Solidarity Campaign said: "On Saturday we expect 200,000 people to join us in the biggest march for Palestinian rights in British history. We will be calling for a ceasefire and an end to the violence, for a lifting of Israels siege and for full humanitarian aid to be sent into Gaza immediately." The staff, who were of six different nationalities, did not have the right to work in the UK. One of those arrested had been smuggled into the UK illegally, said the Home Office. Then when I attended the scene the police did the same thing, going so far as to restrain me, supposedly for my own safety. We never imagined that it would be the police who would stop us from showing the faces of children kidnapped by a terrorist group banned by the UK Government. Who are the police protecting here? Those standing up to terrorists, or those who sympathise with them? If, after a Hamas genocide against the Jewish people, people can come out in support of Hamas and march through the streets, how bad will it be if and when Israel starts to retaliate seriously? And we would appeal to everyone across the country and those who are considering joining these protests to be mindful of that and to consider the fear and distress felt by many families in this country over the distressing events that weve seen. I am very pleased for my clients and the thousands of others in their position that the Government has lifted the block on relocations to the UK, Mr Carey, who is based at law firm Deighton Pierce Glynn, said after Fridays hearing. U.S. President Joe Biden said that on Friday, October 20, he will send an "urgent budget request" to Congress to help support Israel and Ukraine. He called the new aid to the two countries unprecedented. ADVERTISIMENT During his address to the American people, the US leader said that he considers assistance to Ukraine, which is fighting the Russian invasion, and Israel, which is at war with Hamas, a smart investment in the future. Biden clarified that on Friday he would send an "urgent budget request" to Congress to "fund America's national security needs to support our critical partners, including Israel and Ukraine." "This is a smart investment that will pay dividends for American security for generations to come. Help us keep American troops safe. Help us build a safer, more peaceful, and more prosperous world for our children and grandchildren," the politician said. The US President did not disclose the details of the upcoming budget request, but according to Reuters, it will include $60 billion for Ukraine and $14 billion for Israel. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier, Voice of America wrote that Biden plans to order the White House to send a request to Congress worth about $100 billion. It will include defense assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, as well as funding for efforts to strengthen security on the US border with Mexico. At the same time, it is unknown whether this request will be successful. "Not everyone on Capitol Hill supports combining US aid to Ukraine and Israel. For example, nine Republican senators in a joint letter to Senate leaders called for any additional U.S. aid to Israel and Ukraine to be voted on separately," the media outlet writes. The authors of the letter argue that combining the legislation into a joint aid package could create political complications and hinder the support that war-torn Israel needs. "We urge you to separate attempts to provide military assistance to Israel from additional funds for Ukraine or other issues," The Post quoted the senators' letter, addressed to Senate Majority Leader Democrat Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Republican Mitch McConnell, as saying. ADVERTISIMENT In addition, Senators Cynthia Lummis, J.D. Vance, Josh Hawley, Marsha Blackburn, Mike Brown, Mike Lee, Rick Scott and Ron Johnson called for "separating attempts to provide military assistance to Israel from providing additional funds to Ukraine or other matters." Meanwhile, some analysts agree that the conflicts in Ukraine and Israel are two different events that deserve two different responses. "Israel is a democratic, historic partner of the United States and a key ally in the Middle East, while Ukraine is still reeling from Soviet-era corruption and is not a NATO partner. In addition, Israel has wealthy neighbors, but they are not going to help Israel's war effort, and help is unlikely to come from any source other than the United States. This is not the case with Ukraine, whose wealthy EU neighbors - particularly Germany and France - could provide much more assistance," The Hill analyzes. ADVERTISIMENT In the case of Israel, U.S. assistance will be exclusively military, provided with clear end goals, which areto defeat terrorists, weaken Iran's influence in the region, and rescue hostages, including American citizens. However, in the case of Ukraine, Congress has approved funding for $113 billion in aid, most of which is economic assistance. The authors of the article also point out that the Biden administration has not yet formulated a clearly defined strategy on how to end the war in Ukraine. In addition, some congressmen expect more clarity on plans for Ukraine. "In the coming days, the Senate will have to take decisive action to maximize support for Israel's self-defense, prepare Ukraine for victory as it defines it, and help Taiwan deter growing threats," Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said in his address to the Senate. ADVERTISIMENT At the same time, it is not known how quickly Congress will be able to pass such a bill as legislative activity in the House of Representatives has been stalled for more than two weeks due to the lack of a permanent speaker. As OBOZ.UA reported earlier, The Telegraph wrote that Biden plans to request the largest financial aid package for Ukraine from Congress. It is expected to amount to a record $100 billion. Extra 100 off holidays under 14 nights using a unique TUI discount code 15% off all orders over 100 using this ASOS discount code 5% off all bookings with this Travelodge discount code 15% of all orders with The Perfume Shop birthday discount - VIP Rewards Members 20% off everything with The Body Shop discount code The Board of Deputies, which describes itself as the voice of the Jewish community in Britain, said the BBC had confirmed it is no longer the corporations practice to call Hamas militants, but instead is describing the group as a proscribed terrorist organisation by the UK Government and others, or simply as Hamas. So having the whole town leave and having that duty to serve and staying in the town was hard. Listening to everyones frantically pulling together to baton down the hatches there and just not being able to come back was really tough. (We) received a lot of things from everyone when they returned to town. Meanwhile, RMT is also due to consider the offer next week. While some of its members are urging for the offer to be rejected, it is expected to be a while before the unions executives make a final decision. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last month that there were credible allegations" of Indian involvement in the killing of Mr Nijjar, a 45-year-old Sikh leader who was shot dead by masked gunmen in June outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, suburban Vancouver. Abu Ubaida, a spokesman for Hamas's armed wing, said the hostages were released in response to Qatari mediation efforts, "for humanitarian reasons, and to prove to the American people and the world that the claims made by Biden and his fascist administration are false and baseless". It is something you and I discussed when we spoke a while ago and we believe very strongly about providing extra humanitarian aid into Gaza and we look forward to playing an important role, together with Egypt, in making sure that aid can get to people as quickly as possible. You deserve enormous praise for your role in making this possible. After being expelled from North Korea, he was flown to a US air force base in Texas two months later where he was detained but allowed to meet his family. The Russians in the occupied Melitopol in Zaporizhzhia have once again been hit by AFU. On the night of October 20, loud explosions were heard on the outskirts of the city, where the enemy had set up a military base. ADVERTISIMENT It was probably the area of the airfield. This was reported by the mayor of the Ukrainian city Ivan Fedorov on his Telegram channel. "It's been a restless night for the occupiers of Melitopol. After midnight, several explosions were heard outside the city," he wrote. According to him, the most powerful sounds were within Aviastopol, a neighborhood in the northwestern part of Melitopol near the military airfield, which was seized by the occupiers. Fedorov emphasized that it was there that the Russian invaders set up their military base. "Residents also heard the hum of equipment. We are clarifying the details," the mayor added. ADVERTISIMENT As OBOZ.UA previously reported, on October 16, loud explosions were heard in the south of Melitopol from the side of the Molochny Lyman. Fedorov emphasized that the occupiers also set up military bases there, where they trained future "cannon fodder." Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Panic continues in the Russian information space over the larger-than-usual ground operations of the Ukrainian Defense Forces on the left bank of the Kherson region. The occupiers note that the Ukrainians maintain a limited presence in some areas near the Dnipro River coastline and the Antonivka railway bridge. ADVERTISIMENT At the same time, the Armed Forces of Ukraine advanced to the west of the Zaporizhzhia region and south of Bakhmut over the past day as they continued counteroffensive operations. This is stated in the report of the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Ukrainian Armed Forces operations on the left bank of the Kherson region On October 19, a well-known Russian blogger, who initiated a discussion among his countrymen about Ukrainian assaults on the left bank of the Kherson region, said that two sabotage and reconnaissance groups of the Ukrainian Marine Corps crossed the Dnipro River, defeated Russian troops in the area, and gained a foothold in the village of Krynky (30 km east of Kherson and about 2 km inland from the Dnipro River coastline). He claimed that Russian infantry counterattacked and pushed Ukrainian forces back to the outskirts of the village, but acknowledged that the Ukrainian Armed Forces still controlled some houses in Krynky and were waiting for reinforcements in the area. ADVERTISIMENT Another propagandist added that Ukraine used more manpower in the Krynky attacks than in previous ones. Several Russian sources, including Kherson regional governor Vladimir Saldo, claimed that the Russian army "managed to push back" Ukrainians from the villages of Poima, Pishchanivka, and Pidstepne (15 km east of Kherson) to the Dnipro riverbank and to positions near the Antonivka railway bridge. The Russians expressed their belief that Ukrainian forces would try to rest and regroup there under constant Russian air and artillery strikes. Amid this panic in the Russian information space, ISW analysts emphasized that the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces "tacitly recognized" Ukrainian operations on the left bank of the temporarily occupied Kherson region. ADVERTISIMENT "On October 19, General Staff said Russian aviation struck Pishchanivka, implying that Ukrainian forces were operating in the village. At the same time, Russian sources continue to offer somewhat conflicting claims about the extent of Ukrainian attacks on the left bank," ISW noted. They added that they continue to assess the current Ukrainian actions as more extensive than the tactical raids observed earlier. Experts say that geolocation footage indicates that the Ukrainian Armed Forces maintain a presence along the coastline and near the Antonivka railway bridge despite the occupiers' counterattacks. Advancement of the Armed Forces at the front ADVERTISIMENT On October 19, the Ukrainian Defense Forces succeeded near Klishchiivka (7 km southwest of Bakhmut), Andriivka (10 km) and Kurdiumivka (13 km), and advanced to the Russian defense line in the direction of Opytne (3 km south of Bakhmut). Earlier, Captain Ilia Yevlash, a spokesman for Ukraine's Eastern Military Group, said that the defenders had advanced across the railroad tracks in unspecified areas south of the fortress city. For their part, Russian sources said that on October 18, the Ukrainian Armed Forces crossed the railroad tracks in Klishchiivka. In parallel, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other Ukrainian military sources reported that the Defense Forces achieved success south of Robotyne and southwest of Verbove in the Zaporizhzhia direction. ADVERTISIMENT Ukrainian military observer Konstiantyn Mashovets said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces managed to push the occupiers back from their positions near Verbove and advanced 1.5-1.6 km deep into the enemy's defenses in an undefined area of the front near Robotyne. As reported by OBOZ.UA, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhnyi visited the front line in Avdiivka. He talked to the commands of the units defending this area and showed what was happening in the city under attack by Russian troops. Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! On October 20, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone conversation with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The Head of State thanked the head of the German government for the support provided by Germany to Ukraine. ADVERTISIMENT In particular, Zelenskyy noted that Berlin consistently fulfills its obligations, including the transfer of Patriot and IRIS-T systems and ammunition as part of the recent large aid package. The president wrote about this on his Telegram channel. According to Zelenskyy, during his conversation with Scholz, he thanked Germany for its strong and unwavering support, as well as for the recent military aid package worth more than a billion euros. "What we talked about in Granada - all these agreements are being implemented. I am very grateful for the recent defense package, which, in particular, provides for the transfer of IRIS-T, Patriot and missiles to them, which are critically important for our resilience this winter," Zelenskyy said. During the conversation, the Head of State also told the German Chancellor about the situation at the front, in particular, about the occupiers' attempts to attack near Avdiivka, which ended in failure and catastrophic losses for the enemy. ADVERTISIMENT The war in the Middle East was another topic of discussion during the talks. "We discussed the situation in the Middle East and agreed on the importance of preventing further escalation of violence and expansion of the conflict. I am grateful to Germany for keeping Ukraine in the center of attention even as the situation in the Middle East develops," the Ukrainian president emphasized. In addition, Scholz and Zelenskyy discussed the implementation of the Ukrainian peace formula and preparations for the next meeting at the level of national security advisers to be held in Malta in late October, as well as for the conference on the restoration of Ukraine to be held in Germany in November. "I believe that it will be successful," the President emphasized. At the same time, he informed Scholz that the Verkhovna Rada had adopted the laws necessary to implement the recommendations of the European Commission in order to start negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU. ADVERTISIMENT On October 20, Zelenskyy held a meeting in Mykolaiv to discuss the current situation in the region . In particular, the participants discussed the situation with the restoration of water and gas supply in the de-occupied territories, water supply in Mykolaiv, and preparations for the heating season. The meeting also touched upon the security situation in the Black Sea, threats to shipping posed by Russia, the protection of port infrastructure and the results of the grain corridor. The President also visited a hospital in Mykolaiv region where wounded soldiers are being treated and thanked them for defending Ukraine. The U.S. Department of Defense has stated that the Ukrainian Defense Forces can use ATACMS missiles only within Ukraine. They also did not specify the number of missiles transferred to our country. ADVERTISIMENT This was stated by Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder during a briefing, the US Department of Defense reports. He noted that the supply of long-range missiles was backed by guarantees from Ukraine that they would not be used to strike Russian territory. "I can't go into details about the number of ATACMS we have provided, but like all other systems and equipment we have provided to Ukraine, it is done with guarantees that it will be used within the sovereign territory of Ukraine to retake and defend sovereign Ukrainian territory," the spokesman emphasized. Patrick Ryder noted that the Pentagon is going to continue consultations with Ukraine and other partner countries to make sure that the Armed Forces have everything they need to defend against Russian attacks. As OBOZ.UA reported, the American-made ATACMS missiles that Ukraine recently received can take out entire helicopter landing sites and cut off supply lines. But there are several things these missiles cannot do like the destruction of the most protected combat vehicles and tanks. ADVERTISIMENT As a reminder, on the night of October 17, the Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked the occupiers' helicopters and airfield equipment near Luhansk and Berdiansk. The invaders concentrated aircraft there, which were used to attack Ukrainian soldiers on the front line. It later became known that the extremely effective strikes were carried out with the help of American ATACMS missiles, the delivery of which was not officially reported. However, on the evening of October 17, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Ukraine had used long-range missiles from the United States. Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! The archives of the Securitate communist political police managed by the Defence Ministry will be handed over to the National Council for the Study of Securitate Archives (CNSAS). Under a government decision approved on Friday, the state secrets thereof will be declassified. "It gives me pleasure, I could say, to mark the end of a historic process, perhaps awaited by many people. Today, by government decision, the declassification process of the last documents issued in 1956-1989, documents issued by the departments of the Securitate, comes to an end. More precisely, it is about documents that were in the archives managed by the Defence Ministry, and these documents, the last of a huge volume, are to be declassified and handed over to the National Council for the Study of Securitate Archives to form the basis of research into communism in Romania," governmental spokesperson Mihai Constantin told a new conference at the Government House. Under the government decision, the declassification of state secrets in documents issued in the years 1956-1989 by Securitate departments under the management of the Defence Ministry is approved, "since disclosure thereof can no longer harm national security, the defence of the country , public order or the interests of private or public stakeholders." AGERPRES Russia's attacks on the Ukrainian ports on the Danube "are not accidental", in the context in which more than half of the grain export from the neighbouring country transits Romania by sea, prime minister Marcel Ciolacu said on Friday, in a message sent to the participants of Bucharest Security Conference, read by Nicolae Comanescu, state adviser for foreign policy and strategic affairs within the Prime Minister's Office. "Russian attacks in the vicinity of our territory alarmingly increase the risks of incidents and escalation. It is clear that Russia will continue to pressure merchant ships and impose no-go zones in the Black Sea. It is important to reflect on how NATO will prepare for the scenario in which Russia's (attacks, ed. n.) will escalate in Romania, in the region of the Black Sea and the Danube. For the moment, the consolidation of the allied advanced presence on the Eastern Flank is welcome, following the summits in Madrid and Vilnius and especially the most recent additions," emphasized Ciolacu, in the message. According to the prime minister, currently, the Euro-Atlantic allies are facing tensions in the Middle East, where the "ISIS-type terror campaign" against Israel is "a good omen for Moscow"."Instead of focusing exclusively on Russian threats, sanctions and support for Ukraine, the Euro-Atlantic allies are facing tensions in the Middle East, which have a threatening potential to spread to Europe. There are already terrorist attacks in Europe, and the secret services increase the level of vigilance to the maximum. Also, there is the specter of another wave of refugees from the Middle East towards Europe, with all the known negative impact on the internal politics of the European states," Marcel Ciolacu said.There is a fake news campaign regarding the war in Gaza, "which is echoed in Russia's aggressive disinformation campaign that took place in Europe, at the beginning of the military aggression in Ukraine," the prime minister added."Romania will play its role within the European and Euro-Atlantic diplomatic community, to bring together Israel and the Arab countries that have the same beliefs as this state. They must have a more intense dialogue and coordinate against terrorism and its financiers," the prime minister stressed. Aisha Sultan Columnist and features writer Follow Aisha Sultan 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 There is a couple from Fairview Heights known for the special bread they bake. Mohamed Salama, 66, and Nazik Abuhuzaimah, 64, have supplied local stores with their kmaj, a type of rich pita bread sold on the streets of Jerusalem as early as the 17th century. Salama, originally Egyptian, and Abuhuzaimah, originally Palestinian, met in Doha, Qatar, where they worked as bank managers. They had studied to become accountants. Her grandfather had left Gaza in 1948. The Arab-Israeli War had broken out, during which 13,000 Palestinians were killed and more than 700,000 were forced to leave or flee their homes. Her family eventually settled in Doha, and she went to study in Egypt, where Salama grew up. She hadnt seen Gaza in decades. Salama and Abuhuzaimah and their three children got green cards to come to America in 2006 and moved to Illinois. To support their family, they began cooking for Arab weddings and local students who missed home-cooked meals. Abuhuzaimah baked Palestinian desserts like basbosa and baklava. For weddings, she would make an entire lamb. These celebrations gave her a feeling of connection to the home she left as a young child. Their family got American citizenship in 2010. They dressed up in their finest for the swearing in ceremony in OFallon, Illinois. Salama wore a suit. Their children were thriving in their new country. Their daughter became a radiology tech, one son is a police officer in Waterloo and the other is in school to become a pilot. Abuhuzaimah refused to retire. She loved cooking, especially for the young students far from home who told them her food tasted like their moms. Her husband had retired after a major surgery to remove a tumor. He relies on a walker now. A cousin who lived in Norway convinced her it was safe for them to come to his daughters wedding, which would be held in Gaza. The adult Salama children cautioned their parents that the trip might be too difficult for their father. They worried if it would be safe. But Abuhuzaimah felt the tug of seeing relatives she hadnt seen in more than 40 years. Some cousins had never even met her husband. After cooking and baking for so many weddings, would she finally have a chance to attend one of her own relatives? Would she get to see her childhood home once more in her lifetime? They decided it was safe enough for a short visit. They left on Oct. 3 for Cairo, Egypt. They rode six hours to the border and entered Gaza. Abuhuzaimah went straight to her uncles homes to see her eldest living relatives. They were overjoyed to see her. On Friday, her cousin ordered all the desserts that would be distributed to guests at the wedding the next day. On Saturday, Hamas attacked Israel. Instead of a wedding, there was a siege in Gaza. The house next door to where they were staying was bombed. In the first six days of the war, Israel has dropped 6,000 bombs on Gaza nearly matching the number America dropped on Afghanistan in a year after the attacks on 9/11. Salamas children called the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem to try to get their parents out of the active war zone. They told them to have their parents go back to the border and try to cross back into Egypt. The U.S. State Department said earlier this week that about 500 to 600 American citizens are in Gaza. Salama and Abuhuzaimah immediately headed to the border. They have tried every day to leave, but the border remains shut. They are trapped. There is still no water, no electricity, no fuel. There is nowhere for them to hide, said their son, Abdulla Salama, of St. Louis. Israeli forces are preparing for a massive land offensive. An evacuation order spans an area where more than a million Gazans live. The bombing is continuous. Their children, trying to find ways to stay in contact with them, are terrified. Their youngest grandchild, who is 2 and frequently stayed with his grandparents in Fairview Heights, has been watching Al Jazeera reports on the war, trying to catch a glimpse of his grandparents. His father worries that his toddler has seen videos of dead children and anguished parents on television. But he cant turn off his only source of news for what might be happening to his own parents. Salama and Abuhuzaimah had a return flight to America booked for Oct. 16. They are still waiting at the border to find a way home. Tony Messenger Metro columnist Follow Tony Messenger Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today CLAYTON The law office of former Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon is a walk down memory lane. Theres a coaster with a piece of a wing from one of the first Boeing 777Xs to come off the assembly line. Theres a basket of pens, like those Nixon once used to sign or veto bills. On his desk is a hand-crafted blue coffee mug, made by a potter in Lesterville. Thats the small town in Reynolds County at the base of Johnsons Shut-Ins State Park. Nixon met the mug artist on one of his many visits to the area after the collapse of the Taum Sauk Reservoir in 2005. He was the states attorney general then, but hed soon become governor. And hed make the preservation and expansion of parks one of his signature accomplishments. There was a time, before the dam collapse and resulting flood, when Johnsons Shut-Ins attracted 350,000 people per year. Those visitors spent money at campgrounds in Lesterville, and at restaurants and hotels in Ironton, Pilot Knob, Caledonia and other small towns in the region. The time after the Taum Sauk collapse was a complicated one politically. As the attorney general, Nixon, a Democrat, was already laying the groundwork to run for governor in 2008 against Gov. Matt Blunt, a Republican. To respond to the disaster in southeast Missouri, Nixon would need to take on Ameren Missouri, which had been a campaign donor. Hed also have to navigate a recovery effort managed by the Department of Natural Resources, under Blunts administration. In the end, Nixon obtained a $180 million settlement with Ameren, a large portion of which went to rebuilding Johnsons Shut-Ins. A smaller amount $7 million ended up in a new nonprofit created by Nixon called the Taum Sauk Fund. The fund was intended to revive the region. Tourism is a significant part of the economy, Nixon said in a recent interview from his office in Clayton, where he is a partner in the Dowd Bennett law firm. We were thinking it was a great opportunity to expand the brand. This week, Nixon learned through my series of columns about how the Taum Sauk money has been managed and how much of it has been drained through a series of questionable disbursements. One organization, the Iron County Economic Partnership (ICEP), has awarded large chunks of money to people tied to its board members or companies owned by those members. Several of the transactions appear to violate Internal Revenue Service rules. Many recipients had questionable links to tourism and development. The former governor declined to comment on specific transactions, but hes clearly disappointed with what happened to Iron Countys portion of the fund. Hes not the only one. State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick, a Republican, is in the midst of a previously planned audit of Iron County. His office said this week the auditor is considering expanding the audit to include ICEP. From the beginning of the Taum Sauk Fund, the idea was to let the local folks in Iron and Reynolds counties decide how to spend the money. I didnt have an over-arching vision, Nixon says, but I knew there was a need. If theres a lesson in what happened in Iron County, its that openness and transparency are absolute necessities when it comes to public money. Whether its government officials or private citizens serving on a quasi-public nonprofit like ICEP, when people in charge of public money know theyre being watched, the incentive to resort to self-dealing is significantly diminished. Nixon remembers having discussions with his staff about transparency when the Taum Sauk Fund was created. The Missouri Foundation of Health and a couple of other nonprofits started by the attorney general through settlements required the bodies to follow the states open-records law and not allow future boards to change that requirement. The openness was very important to us because we didnt have the answers, Nixon says. In Iron County, many of the decisions on Taum Sauk money were done in closed meetings. Paper trails can be hard to find. When a whistleblower sought public documents to find out how the money was being spent, he was wrongly denied. Its an all-too-common case of folks in government or, in this case, quasi-government choosing secrecy to cover up questionable deeds. The documents some of them, at least are now out in the open, and they dont tell a very good story about the stewardship of public money. Nearly two decades after the Taum Sauk disaster, even after the rebuilding of Johnsons Shut-Ins State Park, the brand of tourism in Iron County can still use a boost. But the money intended for that goal is largely gone. ST. LOUIS Two teenagers were shot and injured Thursday evening in The Ville neighborhood. Police said the two 19-year-olds were sitting in a car with a third person at Aldine and Billups avenues around 8:15 p.m. when a person standing on the street corner shot at them. The teens took themselves to the hospital and told officers that the third person they were with ran away from the area uninjured. Police called that third person but he did not provide a statement. Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, said that World War III began in 2008. In 2022, it entered an active phase and will obviously not end with the conflict in Israel. ADVERTISIMENT Danilov spoke about this during a telethon on October 20. "World War III began in 2008, when Russia attacked Georgia and took part of its territory. Then there was the situation of February 2014. It was just in a kind of frozen state," he said. In addition, the NSDC Secretary called the current conflict in the Middle East a consequence of Russian aggression. "And these are the consequences of what is happening in Israel and other countries. Moreover, I am sure that this is not the last war we will see in the near future. The world is in great motion. Today, we can say that the transition from expecting World War III is almost over," he said. According to Danilov, world leaders understand this process. The NSDC Secretary emphasized that the unification of Ukraine and Israel in the US aid package is a plus for Kyiv, as it does not dilute the Ukrainian issue and this unification will have additional strength. ADVERTISIMENT In addition, he warned of a "tough response" to those who suggest that Ukraine surrender. "Recently, we have been hearing in messengers that we need to surrender. I want to warn all the "puffers" that if you continue to do this, the response from the people of Ukraine will be very tough," Danilov warned. As reported by OBOZ.UA: - Earlier, Danilov showed a map of the first attacks of the large-scale Russian invasion in February 2022. Then the invaders bombed Kyiv and Zhytomyr heavily, trying to cut off strategic routes. - Chief of the Defense Intelligence Kyrylo Budanov said that there is a Russian trace in the Hamas attack on Israel. The conflicts that seem to be regional are actually linked by the same countries. According to Budanov, the world is rapidly approaching a global war. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! ST. LOUIS COUNTY An Illinois delivery driver is accused of groping a north St. Louis County customer and then video-calling her while masturbating after she ran away, according to charges filed Wednesday. Travaye Gaines, 23, of Decatur, Illinois, is charged with first-degree burglary, attempted rape and first-degree sexual misconduct. Charges allege that Gaines made a delivery to a woman's home Tuesday when he forced his way into her apartment, removed her towel and groped her. The woman then ran to a neighbor for help, but soon got a Facetime video call from an unknown number, according to a probable cause statement. Gaines is accused of being on the call masturbating. DoorDash helped St. Louis County police find Gaines, but as he was being handcuffed, he got away and got into his car, charging documents say. He is accused of then trying to drive off, but police were able to take him into custody, court documents say. Police did not immediately release the location of the alleged victim's apartment on Thursday. Gaines is being held on a bond of $250,000 cash only, no 10%. ST. LOUIS Federal prosecutors announced Thursday that more than two dozen people connected with a group called the "Black Mafia Family" were arrested this week on charges including money laundering, bank fraud, weapons charges and drug distribution. Thirty-four people face federal charges ranging from pandemic loan fraud to money laundering and distribution of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine and heroin in connection with the investigation, according to a news release from federal authorities. "The scale of this Midwest criminal operation is uncommon," said Michael A. Davis, the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration's division that leads investigations in Missouri, Kansas and Southern Illinois. "It's no wonder that it took the combined resources of federal, state and local law enforcement to bring the operation to an end." Those charged include Chad E. "JBo" Brown, 51, who is accused of bank fraud and submitting a false form to get a pandemic business loan. Court documents say Brown described himself as the "junior boss" of the mafia family in a video on social media. Carl Von Garrett, 53, was indicted alongside four others and accused of laundering nearly $1 million in drug proceeds between March and May 2021. Others, including Robert "Honest" Sims, 40 and Jeremy "Welo" Steele, were accused of distributing hundreds of grams of drugs, and Samir Simpson-Bey, 37, was indicted on one count of distributing more than 40 grams of fentanyl. Others are charged with weapons offenses and drug distribution. ST. ANN The city of St. Ann is the latest St. Louis-area municipality to settle for millions of dollars over municipal court and jail practices that critics say created a debtors prison for thousands. More than 35,000 people will be eligible to receive a portion of a $3.125 million settlement preliminarily approved in federal court this week to resolve two class-action lawsuits over jail practices. Justice is being served to people like me who really couldnt get out because they couldnt pay, Donya Pierce, a plaintiff in one of the suits filed in 2016, said Thursday. It alleged that St. Ann, a north St. Louis County city of about 13,000, unconstitutionally jailed people with the goal of extracting fines and fees. Pierce, a 34-year-old Hazelwood health care worker, was arrested during a 2014 traffic stop and faced a marijuana possession charge that was eventually dismissed. She was held for more than three weeks in the St. Ann jail because she failed to pay a $1,000 bail set without a bond hearing, the suit alleged. The St. Ann suit is among seven class-action cases brought since 2015 by advocacy group ArchCity Defenders and others that accused St. Louis area municipalities of violating peoples rights through practices like over-policing, arbitrary fines and denials of bail hearings. The suits were filed after the Ferguson protests drew widespread attention to predatory practices in municipalities that relied on fines to pad city budgets. The suits have already led to more than $12 million in settlements. They include the $3 million in St. Ann, $4.75 million in Jennings, $3.25 million in Maplewood, $1.3 million in Normandy and $370,000 in Edmundson, according to ArchCity. Similar class-action lawsuits remain pending against Florissant and Ferguson. Pierce said she suffered weeks of worrying about her job, child and health after she was jailed in what she called an unsanitary facility in St. Ann. She called the city money-hungry, and said it preyed on people for fines. After her time in St. Ann, she was then sent to four other area jails for unpaid fines and missed court dates, all stemming from traffic offenses. St. Ann also housed inmates for at least 12 cities in the area, according to ArchCity Defenders. I used to live near St. Ann and it was well known, Pierce said. People would go missing for weeks and then theyd show up and say: I was being held in St. Ann. Pierce said she hopes her share of the settlement can help with her plans to go to nursing school. There have been significant reforms and reductions in municipal fines since protests in Ferguson laid bare complaints about police procedures and court practices. State lawmakers capped municipal court revenue in 2017 at 20% of annual general operating revenue. The state high court set minimum operating requirements for municipal courts and hired two monitors to see them through. In St. Ann, the citys municipal court went from collecting more than $3.1 million in revenue in 2015 more than a third of the city budget to $96,000 last year, less than 1% of the city budget, according to the Missouri Office of State Courts Administrator and ArchCity Defenders. This weeks settlement also resolves a connected suit filed in 2018 that alleged the St. Ann jail was overcrowded and lacked basic hygiene and services. Anyone who was jailed in St. Ann between Aug. 9, 2011, and Nov. 14, 2022, may be eligible for a portion of the settlement. The agreement also requires that the city forgive all charges related to municipal violations from August 2011 through the end of 2014. Matt Conley, city administrator of St. Ann, declined to comment for the city and didnt answer a question on how much of the settlement will be covered by city funds. Conley wrote in an email that the city intends to honor the terms of the settlement agreement which has preliminarily been approved by the court. How to submit a claim Anyone jailed in St. Ann between Aug. 9, 2021, and Nov. 14, 2022, will have from Oct. 31 to Feb. 28 to file a claim. The settlement administrators will also be working to send postcards to those impacted. People who may be eligible can also visit stannclassaction.com for more information on how to submit a claim. St. Louis University students and employees experienced a data breach that spanned over eight months, according to the school. On Thursday, SLU sent out letters to individuals who may have been affected by the breach. Personal information such as names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, drivers license numbers, passport numbers, passwords, digital signatures, health insurance information and medical information all could have been accessed, a statement from the university said. SLU said it identified suspicious activity involving school email addresses on March 2. With the help of a forensic investigation firm and an e-discovery firm, it was determined that there was potentially unauthorized access to email accounts at various times from December 2022 to July 2023. However, SLU said it is not aware of any fraud or identity theft resulting from the incident. The university encouraged those who received a letter of notification to regularly monitor credit reports, account statements and benefit statements and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement. In response to the breach, SLU said it has taken steps to prevent this from happening again and is reviewing its technical safeguards. A university spokesperson could not immediately be reached for comment. JEFFERSON CITY Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft has completed work on ballot summaries for six proposed amendments to Missouris constitution, writing that the petitions would either allow no excuse abortions for up to 12 weeks or nullify Missouri laws protecting the right to life. Filed in August by Republican political operative Jamie Corley with assistance from Democratic attorney Chuck Hatfield, the initiative petitions are being pitched as a middle ground between the ban currently in place and more expansive proposals filed earlier this year by abortion-rights supporters. Each version amendment says there must be a compelling governmental interest for abortion restrictions to be put in place. And every version would add exceptions to the states abortion ban for rape, incest, fatal fetal abnormalities and the health and safety of the mother. But while some allow the Legislature to regulate abortion after fetal viability, others draw the line at 24 weeks of gestation. Some versions make it clear the state can enact parental consent laws for minors seeking abortions. Others leave the topic out entirely. Ashcrofts summaries, which will appear on the ballot if proponents collect enough signatures to place one of the proposals before voters next year, each include some version of a bullet point declaring the amendment would allow abortions at any age without government interference from conception to live birth in the case of rape or sexual assault. And each summary notes that the amendment would limit criminal prosecution or civil penalty of any person who performs, assists or provides support to induce, seek or obtain an abortion in any state. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey estimated each version of the amendment would cost the state $21 million in increased litigation costs. Corley said Friday morning that the campaign will make a decision next week about next steps for the initiative petitions, including whether to challenge the ballot summaries and fiscal notes in court. Last month, a Cole County judge threw out Ashcrofts summaries for a different abortion-rights initiative petition, calling his work misleading and unfair. Ashcroft, who is also running for governor in the GOP primary, described those proposed constitutional amendments as allowing dangerous and unregulated abortions until live birth. The judge rewrote the summary to state that the amendments established the right to make decisions about reproductive health care, including abortion and contraception. That ruling has been appealed. In the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Courts 2022 decision overturning the constitutional right to the procedure, Missouris trigger law went into effect banning virtually all abortions. There are no exemptions for rape or incest, and opaque language around protections medical emergencies have resulted in confusion in the states medical community. Ohio voters will decide this fall whether the right to an abortion should be added to the state constitution, and abortion could also be put before voters in 2024 in states including Arizona, Maryland, New York and South Dakota. Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jason Hancock for questions: info@missouriindependent.com. Follow Missouri Independent on Facebook and X. JEFFERSON CITY A Springfield attorney who has not previously run for political office has pumped $500,000 of her own money into her bid to become Missouris next treasurer. The contribution puts Lori Rook, who specializes in elder law, into the mix in what has become a four-way Republican primary race set to be determined in the August 2024 election. Incumbent Vivek Malek, a political newcomer who was appointed to the position by Gov. Mike Parson in January, has already amassed nearly $2 million in his bid for a full, four-year term. House Budget Chairman Cody Smith, R-Carthage, reported $420,000 in his campaign war chest as of Oct. 1. Sen. Andrew Koenig, R-Manchester, reported a balance of $176,000, according to reports filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission. The lone Democrat running is Lucas Johnson, a financial adviser from Union. He reported having $1,060 in his campaign account as of Oct. 1. Rook is a graduate of Nixa High School and Missouri State University. She earned her law degree at Oklahoma State University and is a managing partner of Ozarks Elder Law and Joplin Elder Law. Rook could not be reached for comment, but her campaign website says she plans to use her skills in helping seniors to safeguard Missourians from financial fraud and abuse. She also plans to put an emphasis on teaching children about money and investing. Lori aims to educate children about financial literacy, invest more in neighbors, and maximize Missouris investments, the website notes. Like her GOP counterparts, Rook says she opposes investing state money in funds that prioritize climate action or other socially driven platforms. The practice of environmental, social and governance investing (ESG) has been a focus of the GOP-controlled office after former Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick successfully pushed for the removal of $500 million of the states pension funds out of BlackRock investment accounts. Lori would remove funds from those firms who put Missouri investments at risk by funding progressive companies and causes over smart investments, her website said. Rook also calls Mexico a terrorist state that is waging war against the U.S. and profiting off deadly fentanyl. She said she opposes investments in Mexico and China. Lori believes that our money should be reinvested in our state, and she plans to create incentives for companies to move their manufacturing of strategic supplies from China to Missouri, the website said. The state treasurer position pays $107,000 per year. ST. LOUIS Immigration advocates here are looking to draw Latino migrants from Chicago, which has struggled to cope with thousands of foreign asylum-seekers over the past year. Karlos Ramirez, an International Institute of St. Louis vice president, was in Chicago last weekend to meet with a deputy mayor and several nonprofit organizations to let them know about the St. Louis push to resettle some migrants here. It essentially will be somewhat of a relief valve for Chicago if carried out, Ramirez said. The St. Louis effort is focused on attracting people who came to the United States legally under the humanitarian parole program begun last year by the Biden administration. The program is limited to people from Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua and Haiti. Ramirez, the former CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan St. Louis, emphasized that his meetings were just exploratory in nature. However, he said the International Institute has arranged for immediate housing for as many as 12 people and that he hoped that some migrants now in metro Chicago would fill some of those spots in the coming weeks. Jerry Schlichter, a St. Louis attorney also involved with the institutes effort, said that could eventually increase to 500 in the next few months and potentially more. About 18,500 migrants have arrived in Chicago over the last year. Some have come after border states like Texas loaded people on buses and shipped them to Democrat-led cities. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, for instance, said this week on social media that he has shipped 58,000 migrants to New York, Washington and Chicago, among other cities. He said the busing provides critical relief to overwhelmed Texas border communities. But Schlichter said Friday that the St. Louis effort isn't focused on people who have been transported on buses from Texas to Chicago; many have been staying temporarily in police stations. Other new arrivals have been sleeping at airports. The reality for most of those people is they cannot get a work permit under immigration rules for five or more months, Schlichter said. We are not going to make false hopes for people who already are under tremendous challenges, he said. Instead, the migrants targeted by the St. Louis effort must pass background checks and have a financial sponsor in the U.S. before they are accepted into the humanitarian parole program. Once approved, they fly into an American airport and can stay for two years and get a work permit. Were focused on those folks, Schlichter said. Schlichter and Ramirez said they didnt have an estimate of how many of those migrants are in Chicago but that having some move to St. Louis could reduce the overall demand for services for migrants there. They said the St. Louis program also would be open to some other Latino migrants if they become legally eligible to work. The St. Louis program, a partnership between the institute and area labor unions, is modeled after a similar initiative led by Schlichter and regional business booster Greater St. Louis Inc. that settled more than 1,300 Afghan refugees here since 2021. The new program includes funding for three months of free housing and six months of phone and internet services, English language classes, job training and job placement with unions, and help from immigration lawyers for work permits. The program aims to repeat the long-term success of the resettlement of Bosnian immigrants here in the 1990s, as a way of combatting population decline in the area. Ramirez said he met with Beatriz Ponce de Leon, Chicagos deputy mayor of immigrant, migrant and refugee rights, and that she connected him with groups working with Hispanic migrants. Ponce de Leon, he said, was very cordial and very open to working with us. The Chicago mayors office has yet to respond to a request for comment. St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones office said it hasnt had direct conversations related to the Chicago initiative but that the city government has had a longstanding cooperative relationship with the International Institute to welcome immigrants here. Also, Jones this week appointed Gilberto Pinela, former communications manager for the Cortex Innovation Community, as director of the citys new Office of New Americans, which will aid immigrants here. Ramirez said while he is focusing now on Chicago, he also is likely to visit New York to let officials there know about the St. Louis program. A lawsuit challenging the Biden administration's humanitarian parole program is pending in U.S. District Court in Victoria, Texas. The suit, filed by Texas and 20 other Republican-leaning states, accuse it of being a shadow immigration system thats letting in nearly everyone who applies instead of considering applicants case by case as required by law. Among the plaintiffs is Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey. Supporters deny the accusation. Schlichter said the court case and inevitable appeals by either side will take at least two years. If the program ultimately is thrown out, he said, the presidential administration in office at that time will have to decide whether to try to remove people already working and building new lives here. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Updated at 3:55 p.m. Friday WENTZVILLE The Wentzville School Board will staff a second police officer at future meetings as board members say theyve received death threats, capping off another tumultuous month for the school district. Tempers flared again at the end of a nearly six-hour meeting of the board on Thursday night when discussions turned to whether to hire a second cop at future meetings. Board members said some people at meetings have feared for their safety. I recognize that words dont hurt, but there have been instances when those words were threats of physical violence, said Board President Jason Goodson. For months, parents and meeting attendees have sparred with district administrators and school board members over a host of issues ranging from transgender students use of bathrooms and locker rooms to elementary-level reading and writing curriculum. Those meetings frequently turned into shouting matches as board members were heckled by attendees. Some have called for the resignations of Goodson and Superintendent Danielle Tormala. Then, last month, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey sued the district, alleging the board violated the states open meetings law when members met in closed session over the summer to discuss a policy for transgender students to request arrangements such as using single-stall bathrooms or locker rooms. Thursdays meeting, which included more than two hours of public comment, was largely congenial until just before midnight when board members began discussing whether to staff a second cop at future meetings. In my opinion, this is a step too far and in the direction of trying to intimidate those people at the podium, said Jen Olson, a board member and frequent critic of the administration who said heated debates are part of the governing process. Olson said she, too, has received death threats, but has never felt unsafe at a school board meeting or felt that someone was going to be physically violent at a meeting. I guess you are lucky that you feel safe, said board member Julie Scott. But that doesnt mean everyone feels safe, she said. Almost simultaneously an argument broke out in the audience, and two women were escorted out of the Peine Ridge Elementary School gymnasium, where the meeting was held. The board ultimately voted 4-2 with Olson and Renee Henke voting against to approve a contract for the extra police officer. That vote, and the discussion around it, illustrated the divide on the school board thats only deepened since Bailey filed his lawsuit. The attorney general said his office first learned of possible open meeting violations from Olson and Henke, both of whom were elected in April as avowed conservatives and with the backing of the St. Charles County Republican Central Committee. Olson and Henke provided Baileys office with sworn affidavits alleging the board violated the states open meetings law when it discussed student bathroom and locker room use in closed session. {div class=lee-article-text}Both Henke and Olson refused earlier this week to heed calls from other board members to recuse themselves from discussions about hiring a defense attorney to represent the district in the lawsuit, which does not yet have a scheduled court date. Other board members said it was unethical for the people helping sue the district to also be involved in helping choose its defense attorney. I will not recuse myself. I am a part of this board. I have been voted onto this board, and I will participate as a board member, Henke said during a brief online meeting earlier this week. The board ultimately voted to hire Mickes OToole, a St. Louis law firm, to represent them in the suit. {/div} At the meeting in question, board members discussed a potential new policy for bathroom and locker room use at the district, according to affidavits in Baileys suit. The policy outlined the process by which a transgender student could notify the district about their orientation and request special accommodations. A district spokesperson said the district does not have an official written policy for bathroom and locker room usage by transgender students. The district handles requests to allow students to use single-stall bathrooms, originally meant for school faculty, on a case-by-case basis. {div class=lee-article-text}At Thursdays meeting, board member David Lewis said the suit has created a lot of consternation within the 17,000-student district, one of the largest in the state. Lewis said he joined Olson and Henke in submitting sworn affidavits, though his, unlike Olson and Henkes, has not been released by the attorney general. {/div} We raised questions in private, and we felt that they were not addressed. We still had doubts, and so we went to the attorney generals office for answers, Lewis said. Board members on Thursday discussed the topic further, including a proposed policy that would allow a student to use existing, single-person facilities if the student chooses, regardless of the reasoning. The policy, which is sponsored by Olson, also includes language declaring that there are two main categories of students male and female an individuals reproductive biology at birth. The policy includes a requirement that requests to use single-person restroom or locker rooms must be discussed with a students parent or guardian. Tormala, the district superintendent, said administrators are awaiting a decision by the Missouri Appellate Court regarding a case involving a Kansas City-area school district that lost a lawsuit filed on behalf of a transgender student who claimed the districts policies for bathroom and locker room usage discriminated against them. The district was ordered to pay $5 million in damages. The proposed policy will likely be discussed again in November, district officials said. In an unusually blunt assessment of what ails his party, the Missouri Senates top Republican this week lashed out at congressional Republicans for the gridlock in the U.S. House. Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden got it exactly right in tweeting that his federal GOP counterparts look ridiculous for their intractable intraparty House speakership fight. But Rowdens demand that congressional Republicans show the country we can govern misses an important point: Its not just congressional right-wingers who have thrown ideological sand in the gears of government. Here in Missouri, for example, a right-wing meltdown in Rowdens own chamber earlier this year has prevented the state from addressing a day care shortage that continues to plague parents and hamper businesses statewide. Its a lesson in how real people are impacted by todays extremist, performative right-wing politics and not just from Washington. On Wednesday, as the paralysis in the U.S. House continued due to the Republican majoritys inability to elect a new speaker, Rowden tweeted out, in apparent frustration: Congressional Republicans look ridiculous. Joe Biden is in Israel pledging support and resources to our most precious and important ally, Israel. Back home, Republicans are engaging in a 2023 version of the Barnum and Bailey Circus, Rowden wrote. Whats the equation to lose your slim majority AND snatch defeat from the jaws of victory against Joe Biden in 2024? We may be watching it unfold before our eyes. He concluded: Get your House in order and lets show the country we can govern. Not surprisingly, many commenters challenged Rowdens implication that Missouris Republican-run Legislature is somehow a model of competent governance. Welp Caleb, wrote one, what youre witnessing on the national stage is what the Mo GOP looks like to Missourians every damn day. That critic didnt give an example. But the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, of all conservative organizations, provided a vivid one earlier this month. In a forum in Columbia on Oct. 4, Chamber President Dan Mehan lambasted the state Senate for its failure this year to approve legislation that would expand Missourians access to affordable child care. The proposal would offer tax credits to businesses that invest in child care centers and for donations to such centers. The conservative-leaning approach had bipartisan support and appeared headed for easy passage near the end of the legislative session this summer until it hit the political traffic jam of right-wing filibusters over unrelated topics. Mehan framed the issue as an urgent one for employers. You cant go to work if your kids have nowhere to go, he told the forum, according to the Missouri Independent. Due to knuckleheads doing filibusters Bill Eigel it didnt come up for a vote. Eigel is the right-wing state senator who recently vowed to burn woke books on the front lawn of the governors mansion should he win his current GOP gubernatorial campaign. It was with similar subtlety that Eigel engaged in a late-session filibuster over personal property tax cut legislation, holding up all business in the chamber and dooming the child care measure and other proposals. Despite the Republican supermajority, that session, the Independent reported, sent fewer bills to the governors desk than any full legislation session in 30 years. (The 2020 session was shortened by COVID.) Among other victims of Republican knuckleheadedness was a reasonable sports-betting package that got derailed by the Legislatures continuing and unreasonable fealty to the illegal electronic gaming industry. This was the same session in which lawmakers couldnt even pass a measure specifying that children cant legally carry guns in public. Given some of the things Republicans have tried to do but so far havent been able to like changing the rules to make it harder for voters to pass ballot initiatives that go around the Legislature their dysfunction sometimes works to the benefit of good public policy. But that does nothing for working parents and others who are ill-served by that dysfunction. Rowdens assessment is correct: Republican politics these days are a circus. And not just in Washington. At least 21 media representatives have been killed in the war between Israel and Hamas. Eight more journalists have been injured, and three are missing or detained. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by the Committee to Protect Journalists, a non-profit organization that defends press rights around the world, citing information from its own sources in the region and media reports. It is noted that 17 Palestinians, three Israelis, and one Lebanese are among the victims. The organization emphasized that it continues to monitor the deaths of journalists and investigate unconfirmed reports of their murder, disappearance, detention, or injury. As a reminder, Ukraine's Ambassador to Israel Yevhen Korniichuk said that 18 Ukrainian citizens were killed in the country as a result of attacks by the Hamas terrorist organization. As of October 19, the data on 23 Ukrainian victims have not been confirmed. The diplomat acknowledged that Ukraine remains in second place after the United States in terms of the number of casualties as a result of hostilities in Israel. About 450 of our citizens have been evacuated from the country. ADVERTISIMENT 24-year-old Ukrainian citizen Leila Khizhy is among the victims. The native of the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv was with her daughter in the house of her husband's parents when a rocket hit the building. As reported by OBOZ.UA: - The media reported that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) received the green light to conduct a ground operation in the Gaza Strip. The first and foremost task for the Israeli military is to destroy Hamas terrorists. - The Israeli Defense Forces assassinated the only woman in the Hamas leadership, Jamila Al-Shanti, the widow of Hamas co-founder. A year after her husband's assassination in 2004, she became a member of parliament and joined the Hamas political bureau. Only verified information on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 20, 2023 / Cisco Systems Inc. by Emma Reid In Latin Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrate all of our students and alums from these communities who have joined ours, through Cisco Networking Academy's IT skills-to-jobs program. Debbie Gomez is one super-inspired individual who is sharing her passion for technology in her communities. As Founder of Networking Academy's Women Rock-IT Program, I take great pleasure in sharing the impact of this program with people like Debbie and the onflow impact they have in their communities. "I'm not looking for a job, I'm looking for a career." When "born and bred" Texan, Debbie Gomez, went from being a full-time mother of three children to being a student at Collin County Community College, you could be forgiven for thinking it was an opportunity to slow down a little. Apparently, that's not in Debbie's DNA-getting involved and helping people is. Even as a school student, Debbie spent summers in Mexico learning Spanish from the local children and teaching them English in return. It shouldn't be a surprise that when she enrolled in college, she would go all-in. IT was Debbie's first choice IT was Debbie's first choice, because she had seen news stories about the demand for cybersecurity experts. "I'm not looking for a job, I'm looking for a career," she says. "When I enrolled at Collin College I started as a cybersecurity major, but after taking some NetAcad classes I realized that I'm really fond of the blinking lights-the routers and the switches-so much so that I changed my major to computer networking." Meeting more women in IT "I attended Women Rock-IT in my first semester, I met a lot of women in the industry, and one thing I really loved is that they get to travel and work. I want to be able to have that opportunity," she says. Another big part of the attraction to networking-and the Academy Program-was the hands-on experience on offer. Cybersecurity at Collin "Cybersecurity at Collin is more theoretical, and I was looking for more technical," she says. "When I was able to play around with the switches, how to patch cables, all of that got my attention&and there's a lot of security involved in computer networking as well, it's almost like the gatekeeper, so that's what I really enjoyed." Debbie says she's not alone in switching from the four-year Cybersecurity Bachelor's Degree course at Collin to the two-year Computer Networking Associate's Degree, and has even petitioned the college to expand the Bachelor's program to include computer networking. She's hoping the college makes the change, even though it would happen after she's already completed her studies. "It would be my legacy," she says. It wouldn't be her only legacy at Collin. Networking with neighbors When Debbie first started IT Essentials, she realized a lot of participants had previous experience that she lacked. "Almost everybody that starts in tech has some type of background in technology," she says. "They'd probably built a computer. I had not. I'd never opened a computer before. So, trying to keep up with the pace of the class, and wanting to spend more time on the equipment, I decided I needed something to play around with at home," she says. She put a notification in her neighborhood app asking whether anyone had any equipment to donate. "I didn't care if it worked or not, I just needed to break it apart." "I had a huge response, there's a lot of IT professionals who gave me switches, routers, wireless access points, a lot of stuff," she says. Club collaboration at Collin Patrick Evans, Discipline Lead - Computer Networking Program, Collin County Community College, says the response was probably so big because the Dallas area is a tech hub, housing numerous familiar tech businesses, and even a big Cisco Customer Experience Center on the same road as one of the Collin College campuses. Starting in with the equipment in her garage, Debbie invited classmates to come over and collaborate, and, with the encouragement of Professor Evans, eventually formed the Computer Science and Engineering Club. The club offers a platform for mentorship and networking and is more popular than Debbie could have imagined. "I've never led a club before, we started very small, it was just like five members," she says. With more than 200 current members, "we're the biggest club right now in the IT center-we keep growing!" Debbie makes the Networking Academy Dream Team If continuing to look after her family, studying, running the club, and a couple of internships weren't enough, Debbie was also part of the Dream Team at Cisco Live in Las Vegas in June 2023. The Dream Team consists of five Networking Academy students who are selected from across the Americas, to work alongside Cisco engineers to help set up and maintain the network at the event. "It was awesome to learn from the network engineers," she says. "I'm so glad that Professor Evans taught me how to patch cables&it came in handy, because the other Dream Teamers had never done that before. So I ended up showing them how to put an RG45 on a cable!" "It was amazing," she says. "It was one of the best times of my life. It was meeting a lot of people, meeting a lot of Cisco executives, learning from them, helping set up the network&it was very exhausting, but it was totally worth it." Certifications to secure the dream As though Debbie weren't engaged enough, she has also completed the pre-apprenticeship phase of the Cisco CX Apprenticeship Program. She achieved the required CCNA certification and is currently self-studying for the DevNet certification. DevNet is a requirement to complete during the second part, which is six months full-time paid work as a Technical Consulting Engineer within Cisco's Customer Experience organization. "My dream career is to work for Cisco," she says. In the meantime, she's preparing to take CCNP, her final class at Collin College before graduation in the Spring of 2024. If the sheer number of activities Debbie has engaged in since returning to study seems overwhelming, she dismisses it breezily: "I'm from Texas," she says, "go big or go home!" Explore more inspiring success stories at netacad.com/careers/success-stories. View original content here. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Cisco Systems Inc. on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Cisco Systems Inc. Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cisco-systems-inc Email: [email protected] SOURCE: Cisco Systems Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: For employees and clients, PNC's Project 257 Day provides time to share perspectives on accelerating women's financial equality. NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 20, 2023 / The PNC Financial Services Group PNC | Insights The 2023 Global Gender Gap Report, published by the World Economic Forum, shows a 34% decrease to 169 years for women to catch up to men economically.1 The drop from 257 years in the 2020 report marks impressive progress. But 169 years is still too long to wait. For the second consecutive year, PNC marked Sept. 14, the 257th day of the year, to bring greater visibility to and help close the economic gender gap that inspired our Project 257: Accelerating Women's Financial Equality initiative. For employees, clients, and community partners, Project 257 Day is a time to gather and discuss progress to date as well as the challenges and opportunities that remain for women financial decision-makers. More Than a Tagline Accelerating women's financial equality is more than a tagline for Project 257. It is an outgrowth of nearly 20 years of dedicated efforts at PNC. Central to this work is the commitment of PNC's more than 50 designated Women's Business Development Market Champions in each of PNC's coast-to-coast markets and its more than 5,000 PNC-Certified Women's Business Advocates (WBAs). PNC employees of any gender comprise our group of WBAs who, for two decades, have voluntarily completed proprietary training, applied for certification, and are fully committed to supporting the achievement of women financial decision-makers. PNC WBAs, year-round, provide information, resources, and tools that connect, engage, empower, and inspire women to achieve their personal and professional financial goals. This includes, for example, our Women Who Achieve and Lessons in Leadership series and PNC's annual Women in Business Week, which marked its 13th year this past May. During Women in Business Week PNC employees connected with 20,000 women in meetings and events, and nearly 15,000 individuals registered for five informative, inspirational webcasts. In addition to providing a variety of financial education resources and the attention of our WBAs to help women close the gender retirement gap and explore opportunities to generate alternative and investment income beyond their paychecks, there are multiple ways that PNC colleagues in more than 50 regional markets are collectively contributing to the effort to help close the economic gender gap. These activities are often in collaboration with others' efforts to advance women. A few examples include: The Technology group's relationship with Girls Who Code to inspire girls and young women to consider careers in computer science and information technology Sponsorship of an exhibit that celebrates the artistry, entrepreneurial spirit and strive toward financial independence of South African women The Tax Credit Solutions Group's $161 million fund that will develop and rehabilitate 1,700 affordable rental housing units across 10 states to provide homes for survivors of domestic violence 2 and senior citizens 1 - two populations dominated by women and senior citizens - two populations dominated by women Three consecutive years of support for the Women in Payments' USA Unicorn Challenge to advance fintech entrepreneurs A collaborative effort, WPO Perspectives, supporting the growth of the Women Presidents Organization, a peer-to-peer mentoring organization accelerating the growth of companies owned and run by women Increasing Access to Capital We're also working to address the economic gender gap through our support of the global nonprofit Coralus (formerly SheEO), which provides zero-interest loans and an ecosystem of support to women entrepreneurs. In 2022, PNC covered the cost for 100 entrepreneurs to join the Coralus ecosystem. In addition, PNC's support of Coralus helps increase awareness of the organization's no-interest loan program. Last year, 25 percent of the entrepreneurs who applied to Coralus heard about the program from PNC. One of those was a Chicagoland business, Neighborly Hands, which was selected to receive a loan. This year, a cohort of 100 entrepreneurs will be selected to join the Coralus community through the PNC Bank + Coralus Collective. Visit pnc.com/coralus to learn more. We believe that all of these actions large and small can add up to big impact. And our intention is to keep working for change until the economy is no longer being held back by an economic gender gap. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from The PNC Financial Services Group on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: The PNC Financial Services Group Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/pnc-financial-services-group Email: [email protected] SOURCE: The PNC Financial Services Group View source version on accesswire.com: Former site of US Compounding is acquired by up-and-comer in custom compounded pharmaceuticals, FarmaKeio, as part of ongoing expansion to support availability and delivery of custom compounded medications nationwide. CONWAY, AR / ACCESSWIRE / October 20, 2023 / FarmaKeio Custom Compounding, a trailblazing pharmaceutical company, announces the acquisition of its newest location in Conway. This new facility represents a significant advancement in FarmaKeio's mission to support the revolution of healthcare by providing personalized compounded medications and service excellence to patients and practitioners across the country. FarmaKeio Custom Compounding The new facility represents a $2.29 million investment for FarmaKeio, and the company expects to create 74 new jobs in the area. "Today marks a momentous occasion for FarmaKeio as we proudly inaugurate our new Custom Compounding facility in Conway," said Dan DeNeui, CEO of FarmaKeio. "This state-of-the-art facility signifies our unwavering commitment to personalized patient care. We are excited about the possibilities this facility brings and are optimistic about its potential to further enhance our ability to positively impact patient lives." FarmaKeio Custom Compounding has already made its footprint in the South with its headquarters in Richardson, Texas. This new facility will provide more space for not only service and product lines, but also research, testing, and development. The 16,000-square-foot facility boasts advanced compounding and laboratory equipment, ample office space, large production areas, including sterile and non-sterile work areas, and a warehouse for storage. "Congratulations to FarmaKeio on the acquisition of its newest facility in Arkansas and congratulations to the team in Conway for securing this major investment," said Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. "In my administration, we're doing everything we can to make announcements like this regular by cutting taxes, investing in education, and building up a robust workforce." With this expansion, FarmaKeio Custom Compounding is expected to reach more markets with its already substantial production volume of compounded hormone medications and in-demand peptide medications that support tailored integrative health treatment plans designed for individual patients. Hormone imbalances and specific medical conditions often require tailored medications to achieve optimal results, and this new facility empowers patients to receive precisely what they need, when they need it. By compounding medications to exact dosages, eliminating allergens and offering alternative delivery methods, FarmaKeio Custom Compounding helps ensure that patients can experience personalized therapies for enhanced outcomes and improved quality of life. "FarmaKeio Custom Compounding is a fast-growing company, and the State of Arkansas is proud to be the home for their next location," said Clint O'Neal, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. "Congratulations to the City of Conway, the Conway Development Corporation, and local stakeholders on this exciting new announcement." Looking ahead, the global brand FarmaKeio Pharmacy Network envisions developing the facility to include space for a second location for FarmaKeio Outsourcing. FarmaKeio Outsourcing is a 503B FDA-registered facility renowned for its patented pellet formulated with triamcinolone. "As the fastest growing city in Arkansas, we welcome another fast-growing company to the city," said Conway Mayor Bart Castleberry. "We thank FarmaKeio Custom Compounding for choosing Conway and for adding to the diverse array of job opportunities for our people." "Congratulations to FarmaKeio on the facility purchase in Conway to meet increasing demand for their products and services," said Faulkner County Judge Allen Dodson. "A growing company with a culture of innovation in pharmaceuticals and custom compounding is welcomed in Faulkner County. We are excited about their investment in our community." FarmaKeio's new Custom Compounding facility reaffirms the company's dedication to leading the way in compounded medications, revolutionizing healthcare and delivering patient-focused solutions. "We are excited to welcome FarmaKeio to Conway," said Brad Lacy, president and CEO of the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce and the Conway Development Corporation. "Our diverse local economy has always been a strength of the community and region. FarmaKeio's decision to locate here adds to that diversity and further strengthens our growing manufacturing sector." # # # FarmaKeio Custom Compounding in Conway, Arkansas is hiring. Click below to view job descriptions and apply for positions at this new location. Certified Pharmacy Technician - Compounding Pharmacy Manager (Pharmacist-In-Charge) About FarmaKeio Pharmacy Network FarmaKeio Pharmacy Network is a rapidly growing company that is fast becoming a leader in custom pharmaceutical operations. With a focus on manufacturing, outsourcing, development, availability and delivery of patient-specific custom compounded medications, FarmaKeio Pharmacy Network is transforming the pharmaceutical industry by providing innovative solutions that meet the unique needs of healthcare practitioners and their patients. FarmaKeio is committed to quality, safety, and service excellence. The company employs top experts along with the latest technologies and compounding processes to ensure that all its prescriptions meet the highest standards in the industry. From raw materials sourcing to finished product testing, FarmaKeio maintains strict quality controls throughout each process. In addition to its manufacturing and compounding capabilities, the FarmaKeio Pharmacy Network is also paving the way for transformative integrative therapies. Its subsidiary, FarmaKeio Outsourcing, offers a patent hormone pellet therapy that is revolutionizing the treatment of hormonal imbalances while FarmaKeio Custom Compounding is leading the way with innovative peptide formulations and cutting-edge compounded prescriptions, like Perform, the rapid oral-dissolving tablet for erectile dysfunction. The FarmaKeio Pharmacy Network team of experts is comprised of some of the most talented and experienced professionals in the pharmaceutical industry. From pharmacists and chemists to engineers and technicians, the company's staff is dedicated to innovation and excellence. FarmaKeio is primarily a family owned and operated entity, focused on empowering its employees to live happy, fulfilled lives. About the Arkansas Economic Development Commission At AEDC, we know economic advancement doesn't happen by accident. We work strategically with businesses and communities to create strong economic opportunities, making Arkansas the natural choice for success. AEDC is a division of the Arkansas Department of Commerce. For more information, visit ArkansasEDC.com. About Conway Area Chamber of Commerce Since 1891, the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce has served as the voice of the Conway, Arkansas, business community. It represents the interests of more than 1,400 members by promoting economic development in Conway and Faulkner County, advocating a pro-business climate at all levels of government, supporting the county's educational institutions, and establishing and executing a vision for the community. To learn more about the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce, visit ConwayChamber.org. Contact Information Josie Smith O'Connell & Goldberg PR [email protected] 954.964.9098 SOURCE: FarmaKeio Pharmacy Network View source version on accesswire.com: HackerNoon users can begin claiming their decentralized IDs free of charge in the near future, creating their self-sovereign identities without the need to remember or copy-pasting alphanumeric text. EDWARDS, CO / ACCESSWIRE / October 20, 2023 / HackerNoon, the leading independent publishing platform for tech enthusiasts and entrepreneurs, announced today a partnership with namespace.gg to introduce and simplify the process of creating decentralized identities for its 50,000+ contributors. namespace.gg & HackerNoon logos HackerNoon partners with namespace.gg to offer decentralized IDs to 50k+ contributors. Instead of having to remember or copy-paste unintelligible alphanumeric wallet addresses, HackerNoon's partnership enables a contributor to use their handle as the basis of their decentralized ID. Under the hood, namespace.gg uses Molecular Execution Machine (MEM), a chain-agnostic smart contract protocol that stores application state on the Arweave blockchain to make HackerNoon IDs permanent. "Web3 has a UX problem," said HackerNoon founder and CEO David Smooke. "By turning unrememberable numerical strings into human-readable words, like dot HackerNoon, we are making web3 addresses more discoverable. All HackerNoon contributors now have the option to claim the DID (decentralized ID) of their existing HackerNoon handle." Not only does this partnership open up HackerNoon to integrating widely into the world of web3, it also represents a step towards the gradual decentralization of the platform. As a proponent of greater decentralization adoption, HackerNoon has led by example by rolling out features to make that vision possible, including by adding the ability to log in via wallets, backing up stories on Arweave, and sponsoring writing contests to reward content creation on emerging technologies. "At namespace.gg, our mission is to simplify access to decentralized identity and make it easy for communities to deploy IDs that play by their own rules. With this partnership, we're excited to ensure the permanence and security of HackerNoon IDs on the blockchain and facilitate a significant step towards the decentralization of the platform," Benjamin Brandall, co-founder of Decent Land Labs, said. HackerNoon users can begin claiming their decentralized IDs free of charge in the near future, creating their self-sovereign identities without the need to remember or copy-pasting alphanumeric text. All contributors will own their decentralized author profile outside of the HackerNoon ecosystem, with ownership stored forever on the Arweave blockchain. About namespace.gg namespace.gg is a chain-agnostic stack built by Decent Land Labs to deploy custom name services for DAOs, protocols and dApps. About HackerNoon How hackers start their afternoons. HackerNoon is built for technologists to read, write, and publish. We are an open and international community of 35k+ contributing writers publishing stories and expertise for 4M+ curious and insightful monthly readers. Founded in 2016, HackerNoon is an independent technology publishing platform run by David Smooke and Linh Dao Smooke. Start blogging about technology today. HackerNoon Socials: Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok Contact Information Sheharyar Khan Editor, Business Technology [email protected] Linh Dao Smooke COO, HackerNoon [email protected] SOURCE: HackerNoon View source version on accesswire.com: NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 20, 2023 / Comcast Corporation Discovery Education, worldwide edtech leader, and Comcast released a new study showing that U.S. schools are well-positioned to help families get online with low-cost, high-speed Internet options through the federal government's Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). However, the study also found that educators lack centralized resources and direct support necessary to successfully overcome barriers to the digital divide. Released to help support this year's Digital Inclusion Week theme of "Building Connected Communities." Key findings include: Nearly all educators surveyed feel strongly that digital equity is more important today than ever before. 82% of families and 80% of educators surveyed feel strongly that high-speed Internet at home is extremely important to fulfilling learning outcomes. While two-thirds of families and educators acknowledge their school's interest in closing the digital divide, only one-third are aware of actionable measures being taken by the school district. Only 39% of parents were aware of the ACP, and of those that were aware, just 13% of parents have signed up. What's more, only 22% of educators surveyed strongly agree that administrators in their school districts are equipped with the necessary information to communicate options for high-speed internet access at home. Data shows multiple disconnects between what parents pointed to as actual barriers to broadband adoption versus what teachers perceived as parents' barriers to adoption. Addressing these will be critical to ensuring that school districts and digital navigator programs are effective in closing the digital divide for students. There was a 52-percentage-point difference between the share of teachers who thought that cost of service was the primary barrier to adoption for families versus the actual share of parents who pointed to cost as a barrier. Significantly larger shares of teachers thought that families did not live in buildings that were wired for broadband, did not know how to set up the Internet, and did not have devices than the share of parents who raised these barriers. Findings from the study also support a recommendation for school systems to partner with proven and trusted programs such as those that include support from Digital Navigators - to help streamline communication, advocacy, and adoption strategies that lead to equitable opportunities for all students. Ensuring all ACP-eligible families are signed up is equally important in supporting district connectivity goals. To help further address these issues, Comcast is helping school administrators more quickly and easily access additional resources to get more households enrolled in the ACP during the back-to-school season through the Online For All Back to School Challenge, led by the U.S. Department of Education and Civic Nation. A new online tool from Comcast is designed to help administrators quickly and easily assess ACP eligibility in their school districts. They can also learn about which schools have the lowest broadband adoption rates in their area. This valuable data will enable school leaders to better tailor communications around the ACP and direct families to resources that can assist in supporting Internet adoption. Ensuring every student in America has access to reliable, high-speed Internet in the classroom and at home is a top priority for Comcast's Project UP. BRODERICK JOHNSON, EVP of Public Policy and EVP of Digital Equity, Comcast Corporation "The combination of historic investments in universal broadband, public-private collaboration, and private industry support will together ensure that neither availability nor affordability stand in the way of achieving connectivity for everyone," said Broderick Johnson, EVP of Public Policy and EVP of Digital Equity, Comcast Corporation. "At Discovery Education, we are on a mission to prepare learners for tomorrow by creating innovative classrooms connected to today's world. Today, no matter where learning takes place, access to and adoption of high-speed Internet is an essential ingredient for student success. As Comcast's education partner in this work, we're proud to support efforts to ensure students and families have the tools necessary to meet the demands of the modern learning environment," said Amy Nakamoto, EVP of Social Impact, Discovery Education. "Today, 17 million unconnected households are eligible for low-cost, high-speed Internet under the Affordable Connectivity Program. Civic Nation is partnering with the U.S. Department of Education, school districts, and organizations across the country through Online For All to close this gap and ensure every student and family has equitable access to learning, both at home and in the classroom," said Kyle Lierman, CEO of Civic Nation. Additional findings from the study include: While educators believe their school district leaders are aware of the negative impacts the digital divide has on learning outcomes, there are numerous other factors being prioritized over home Internet adoption. 86% of educators surveyed elevated student well-being as the most important issue for schools to address, followed by school safety, and equity and inclusion more broadly. This places more emphasis on policymakers, school officials, institutions, and the private sector to show how digital equity and home broadband adoption facilitate broader equity issues and level the playing field for families seeking opportunities for their children. Further, coupling Internet access and adoption with an ability to address other school concerns, such as providing supports for student well-being and growth, has the ability to keep digital equity as a top priority for school leaders and help them serve broader needs for their students. There is widespread agreement that the pandemic forcefully evolved and rapidly closed gaps in the digital divide as schools moved swiftly to remote learning. This cultural shift was met with success stories of connectivity and technological advancements, but also shined a light on students and families who did not experience equitable access to learning because of lack of connectivity or devices, or other barriers that made remote learning cumbersome. This study and partnerships were made possible by Project UP, Comcast's comprehensive initiative to advance digital equity and help build a future of unlimited possibilities. Part of Comcast's $1 billion commitment is prioritizing Internet connectivity and its impact on education. In addition, through providing low-cost broadband through Internet Essentials to families and the Internet Essentials Partner Program (IEPP) for schools, Comcast continues to ensure there are no barriers to home connectivity that could impede learning. To review a full copy of the study, please click here. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Comcast Corporation on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Comcast Corporation Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/comcast-corporation Email: [email protected] SOURCE: Comcast Corporation View source version on accesswire.com: Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for release, publication, distribution, or dissemination, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or into the United States. Unless otherwise noted, references to "$" or dollars in this press release are to Canadian dollars. TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / October 20, 2023 / Northern Superior Resources Inc. ("Northern Superior" or the "Company") (TSXV:SUP)(OTCQX:NSUPF) advises that the 2023 Annual General Meeting of the Company's shareholders will be held on November 22, 2023, via telephone conference call (the "Meeting"). Advance notice of the Meeting was filed on SEDAR+ on September 21, 2023. Meeting materials including a Notice, Management Information Circular and form of Proxy for the Meeting will be mailed on October 24, 2023, to the shareholders of record on October 16, 2023. Concurrently with the mailing, all Meeting materials will be filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and will also be posted on the Company's website (https://nsuperior.com/invest/). The Meeting is being held inter alia for the following purposes: (i) to receive the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 and the auditors' report thereon, (ii) to fix the number of directors to be elected for the ensuing year at seven (7) and to elect directors of the Company for the ensuing year, (iii) to re-appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as auditors for the Company for the ensuing year and authorize the Directors to fix the auditors' remuneration (iv) to consider and if deemed appropriate, to re-approve, with or without variation, the Company's 2022 Equity Incentive Plan, (v) to consider and if deemed appropriate, to approve an extension to the expiry date of 1,260,000 outstanding stock options held by certain directors and officers of the Company (the "Impacted Options"); and (vi) to transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment. The Impacted Options were granted to certain directors and officers with an exercise price of $0.55 per Impacted Option in replacement of previously granted stock options to acquire common shares of Royal Fox Gold Inc. ("Royal Fox") following the closing of the Company's acquisition of Royal Fox, and are set to expire on November 4, 2023, as per the terms of the arrangement agreement dated September 6, 2022 between Royal Fox and the Company (the "Arrangement Agreement") (a copy of the Arrangement Agreement can be found on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under the Company's profile). It is proposed to extend the term of the Impacted Options to June 10, 2026 (for 1,200,000 Impacted Options) and July 19, 2026 (for 60,000 Impacted Options), which would be in line with the maturity date of the Royal Fox options originally issued. On October 19, 2023, the board of directors of the Company, excluding those directors holding Impacted Options, approved a resolution to extend the terms of the Impacted Options to coincide with the original expiry date(s) of the corresponding Royal Fox options (the "Proposed Option Extension"). At the Meeting, shareholders of the Company excluding officers and directors holding Impacted Options will be asked to approve an ordinary resolution approving the Proposed Option Extension. For a breakdown of the Impacted Options held by each officer and director, please refer to the Company's management information circular available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under the Company's profile. The Proposed Option Extension is deemed to be "related party transactions" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101- Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is exempt from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements for related party transactions pursuant to Subsection 5.5(b) and Subsection 5.7(a) of MI 61-101, respectively. About Northern Superior Resources Inc. Northern Superior is a gold exploration company focused on the Chibougamau Camp in Qubec, Canada. The Company has consolidated the largest land package in the region, with total land holdings currently exceeding 62,000 hectares. The main properties include Philibert, Lac Surprise, Chevrier and Croteau. Northern Superior also owns significant exploration assets in Northern Ontario highlighted by the district scale TPK Project. The Philibert Project is located 9 km from IAMGOLD Corporation's Nelligan Gold project which was awarded the "Discovery of the Year" by the Quebec Mineral Exploration Association (AEMQ) in 2019. Philibert host a new maiden 43-101 inferred resource of 1,708,800 ounces Au and an indicated resource of 278,900 ounces of Au[1]. Northern Superior holds a majority stake of 75% in the Philibert Project, with the remaining 25% owned by SOQUEM, and retains an option to acquire the full 100% ownership of the project. Chevrier hosts an inferred mineral resource of 652,000 ounces Au (underground and open pit) and an indicated mineral resource of 260,000 ounces Au.[2] Croteau hosts an inferred mineral resource of 640,000 ounces Au.[3] Lac Surprise hosts the Falcon Zone Discovery, interpreted to be the western strike extension of IAMGOLD Corporation's Nelligan Deposit. Northern Superior is a reporting issuer in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, and trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol SUP and the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol NSUPF. For further information, please refer to the Company's website at www.nsuperior.com or on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca). Northern Superior Resources Inc. on Behalf of the Board of Directors Simon Marcotte, CFA, President and Chief Executive Officer Contact Information Simon Marcotte, CFA President and Chief Executive Officer Tel: (647) 801-7273 [email protected] Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation that is based on expectations, estimates, projections and interpretations as at the date of this news release. The information in this news release about the proposed transaction; and any other information herein that is not a historical fact may be "forward-looking information". Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, interpretations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "interpreted", "management's view", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward- looking information and are intended to identify forward-looking information. This forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of Northern Superior and BCCo, at the time it was made, involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the companies to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, risks relating to the ability of the parties to execute the proposed transaction. Although the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based upon what management believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the parties cannot assure shareholders and prospective purchasers of securities that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and neither party nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any such forward-looking information. Neither party undertakes, and assumes no obligation, to update or revise any such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by law. [1] Northern Superior announces 1,708,809 gold ounces in inferred category and 278,921 gold ounces in indicated category at 1.10 g/t in maiden NI 43-101 pit constrained resource estimate at Philibert; Northern Superior Resources Inc. press release dated August 08, 2023. [2]NI 43-101 Technical Report Mineral Resource Estimation for the Chevrier Main Deposit, Chevrier Project Chibougamau, Quebec, Canada, October 20, 2021, Prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 by Lions Gate Geological Consulting Inc. IOS Services Geoscientifiques Inc. for Northern Superior Resources Inc. [3] Chalice Gold Mines Limited and Northern Superior Resources Inc. Technical Report on the Croteau Est Gold Project, Quebec, September 2015, Prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 by Optiro Pty Ltd ("Optiro") to Chalice Gold Mines Limited and Northern Superior Resources Inc. SOURCE: Northern Superior Resources Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / October 20, 2023 / Tmall Global, China's leading cross-border e-commerce platform, is pleased to announce its successful collaboration with the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service at CHFA Now Toronto 2023. This partnership brought together executives from 13 Canadian wellness brands and orchestrated a captivating joint livestreaming session for consumers in China at the expo. The livestream served as the pilot event for Tmall Global's Canada Discovery Week and presented the latest health and wellness trends in Canada to Chinese consumers. Brand partners were impressed by the ability to showcase their brand stories and product features via a mobile phone and captivate an audience of hundreds of thousands in China. Featured brands included Vitality, Ecoideas, Jamieson, Organika, Dan's Farmaroot, Allmax Nutrition, New Roots Herbal, SUKU Vitamins, Omega Alpha, AstaDaily, Platinum Naturals, Utiva, and Dr. Tobias. During an exclusive session curated by the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service at the event, Nicole Lin, Tmall Global's Canada Country Manager, presented insights into the Chinese market landscape, consumer trends, and cross-border e-commerce strategies. Lin also provided an overview of Tmall Global's suite of solutions to facilitate seamless China market entry, including the Tmall Global Flagship Store, Tmall Global MiniStore, and the Global Discovery program. "We were thrilled to join hands with the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service and our esteemed Canadian brand partners for CHFA NOW Toronto this year," said Tony Shan, Head of the Americas at Tmall Global. "This collaboration underscored our commitment to providing a platform for international brands to connect with millions of customers in China. We look forward to continuously bringing the best products from Canada and around the world to the Chinese market." "It is great to work with Tmall Global on this livestreaming event to showcase a number of well-known and trendy natural health brands exhibiting at the professional trade show CHFA NOW in Toronto," said Alexandre Cerat, Deputy Consul General & Senior Trade Commissioner at the Canada Trade Commissioner Service. "We look forward to seeing more high-quality Canadian brands in the China market." This partnership is part of Tmall Global's global outreach initiative series this year in order to foster stronger and more direct connections between international brand partners and Chinese consumers. In the first half of 2023, over 2,000 international brands have chosen Tmall Global to launch their online stores in China, marking their first step in entering the Chinese market. About Tmall Global Launched in 2014, Tmall Global (https://www.tmall.hk) is Taobao Tmall Commerce Group's dedicated channel for cross-border e-commerce. Addressing the increasing Chinese consumer demand for international products and brands, Tmall Global is China's leading cross-border e-commerce online marketplace with over 900 million monthly active users in the ecosystem. It is the premier platform through which international brands and retailers reach Chinese consumers, build brand awareness, and gain valuable consumer insights without the need for physical operations in China. Today, there are more than 46,000 brands from over 90 countries and regions on Tmall Global. About Canadian Trade Commissioner Service The Trade Commissioner Service helps Canadian businesses of all sizes succeed in international markets with export advisory services, funding and accelerator programs. With a presence in more than 160 cities worldwide, the TCS can help you go global. www.tradecommissioner.gc.ca MediaContact Feiran Liu, Tmall Global Email: [email protected] Contact Information Feiran Liu Tmall Global [email protected] SOURCE: Tmall Global View source version on accesswire.com: TCC is accepting donations on behalf of the Animal Welfare Association throughout the month of October and sponsoring a one-year-old pit-terrier mix named Austin Powers BLACKWOOD, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / October 20, 2023 / In a passionate effort to raise awareness and challenge misconceptions about pit bulls, Transylvania Concrete Coatings in New Jersey (TCC) is proud to announce its partnership with the Animal Welfare Association during Pit Bull Awareness Month this October. Meet Austin Powers Austin Powers is TCC's sponsored dog from the Animal Welfare Association. TCC is dedicated to shedding light on the misconceptions surrounding this beloved breed and aims to make a positive impact on its reputation. Bogdan Pop, the owner of Transylvania Concrete Coatings, has long been an advocate for pit bulls and a proud owner of these loyal and affectionate dogs. "I've witnessed firsthand the love and loyalty pit bulls offer," said Pop. "It's disheartening to see these incredible dogs being unfairly labeled as dangerous and even banned in some communities. We want to change that narrative and give pit bulls the recognition and love they deserve." As part of their commitment to Pit Bull Awareness Month, TCC is accepting donations on behalf of the Animal Welfare Association throughout the month of October. These donations will support the shelter's efforts to provide care, rehabilitation, and advocacy for animals in need. Furthermore, TCC is sponsoring a dog at the shelter to show its commitment to helping these animals find loving homes. Austin Powers is a year-old pitbull-terrier mix who is still looking for his forever home. Learn how to donate or adopt an animal at the shelter. In addition to their partnership with the Animal Welfare Association, TCC is sponsoring several other charitable events throughout October. These events include: HotRod Garage Car Show for Breast Cancer Awareness (Oct. 1): TCC is proud to support the fight against breast cancer by sponsoring the HotRod Garage Car Show for breast cancer awareness, an event dedicated to raising funds and awareness for breast cancer research and support services for a local family. Camden County 4-H Pumpkin Patch (Oct. 21): TCC's involvement in the 4-H pumpkin patch event on October 21 shows their dedication to supporting the community, as well as creating memorable experiences for families. American Red Cross Halloween Blood Drive (Oct. 31): As part of their ongoing commitment to community well-being, TCC is sponsoring the American Red Cross Halloween Blood Drive on October 31, helping provide blood for those in need. Transylvania Concrete Coatings is excited to be part of these meaningful initiatives and invites the community to join them in making a positive impact this October. By supporting Pit Bull Awareness Month and other charitable events, TCC is not only enhancing its community involvement but also striving to create a more compassionate and informed society. Transylvania Concrete Coatings is a leading concrete coatings company in NJ that enhances the durability and aesthetics of concrete surfaces. Contact Information Bogdan Pop Owner [email protected] (856) 212-1250 SOURCE: Transylvania Concrete Coatings View source version on accesswire.com: NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 20, 2023 / New Holland Agriculture, a brand of CNH Industrial, was recently visited by UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, at the farm at Writtle University College (WUC). The New Holland engineering apprentices were thrilled to welcome the Prime Minister (PM), where he joined them during a hands-on workshop on tractor maintenance. The PM visited the Essex based campus to speak with young people about their passion for the food and farming sector. The apprentices spent time chatting with the PM about the workshop whilst demonstrating their understanding of agricultural machinery. Through a partnership launched in 2022 by CNH with WUC, these workshops address the skills gap for specialist engineers within the agricultural sector. The apprentices are all currently employed by New Holland Agriculture's local dealerships throughout England. David Rapkins, New Holland Agriculture Business Director UK & ROI, said, "We are proud to be working alongside both WUC and Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) in delivering and supporting these apprenticeship courses within the land-based education sector. Our aim is to nurture and develop a strong workforce of specialist agricultural engineers for the future." Proud to have been visited by the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak's acknowledgement and hands-on participation in this scheme reflects the prestige of the program and CNH's strong commitment to agricultural education for young people. In programs like the one running at WUC and elsewhere in the UK (CNH also runs a similar scheme in Scotland at SRUC Oatridge campus), education in pioneering AgTech is a key priority now, and will be for years to come. Rishi Sunak's acknowledgement and hands-on participation in this scheme reflects the prestige of the program and CNH's strong commitment to agricultural education for young people. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from CNH Industrial on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: CNH Industrial Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cnh-industrial Email: [email protected] SOURCE: CNH Industrial View source version on accesswire.com: FILE PHOTO: An eagle tops the U.S. Federal Reserve building's facade in Washington, July 31, 2013. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo (Reuters) - BofA Global Research said on Friday it now expects the U.S. Federal Reserve to deliver a 25-basis-point rate hike in December instead of November. Economists at the brokerage believe that recent comments from policymakers at the central bank suggest "they will opt for one last hike in December". (Reporting by Roshan Abraham in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri) The President of the United States, Joe Biden, has expressed solidarity with the people of Ukraine and Israel. He compared Russian dictator Vladimir Putin to the Hamas terrorists and said that he had already sent a request to Congress for additional unprecedented assistance to Ukraine and Israel. ADVERTISIMENT The President of the United States emphasized that the world is currently at a transitional point in history and explained to Americans why they should support Ukraine and Israel. The broadcast of the speech was published on the Voice of America YouTube channel (to watch the video, scroll to the bottom of the page). "Hamas and Putin pose different threats. But they have something in common: they want to destroy a neighboring democracy. For Hamas, the purpose of existence is to destroy Israel and kill Jews. At the same time, Putin denies that Ukraine has or ever had statehood. He claims that the U.S.S.R. created Ukraine," Biden said. ADVERTISIMENT The US president also said that on October 20 he will request emergency funding for Ukraine and Israel from Congress. He called this aid a "smart investment" that will pay dividends for future generations. "I will ask Congress to continue sending weapons to Ukraine so that Ukraine can stop Putin's brutality," he added. The American President explained to the American people why it is so important for the country to help Ukraine and Israel. "History teaches us that when dictators do not pay for aggression, they bring more chaos, more terror, and more destruction. They continue to do so, and the threat to America and the world is growing. If we do not stop Putin's thirst for power and control over Ukraine, he will not limit himself to Ukraine. Putin is already threatening to 'remind' Poland that part of their land was a 'gift from Russia.' The former Russian president called Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania 'Russia's Baltic provinces'. In reality, these are our NATO allies," Biden said. ADVERTISIMENT He added that if Putin is allowed to "erase Ukraine's independence," aggressors around the world will want to do the same. "We cannot allow petty, angry partisan politics to prevent us from fulfilling our responsibility as a great nation. We cannot and will not allow terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin to win. I refuse to let that happen. We must remember who we are. We are the United States of America, the United States of America!" Biden emphasized in his address to the nation. The head of the White House added that Putin continues to fail in Ukraine, he has not succeeded and will never succeed in taking over the country. Ukrainian soldiers have already liberated more than half of the territories seized by Russians since February 24, 2022. "When Putin invaded Ukraine, he thought he would take Kyiv and all of Ukraine in a matter of days. More than a year later, Putin has failed. And he continues to fail. Kyiv is still standing. Ukraine has regained more than 50% of the territories that Russia once occupied," the American leader emphasized. ADVERTISIMENT As you know, on October 18, Biden visited Israel, which is in a state of war after the attack by Hamas militants. The US President arrived in Tel Aviv to demonstrate unwavering American support for Israel. The American leader held talks and consultations with local authorities on the next steps in the fight against terrorism, and promised an unprecedented defense aid package. Earlier, the media reported that Biden plans to request additional funding for Ukraine and Israel from Congress for $100 billion. The package will also include funding for border security and assistance to countries in the Indo-Pacific region, including Taiwan. ADVERTISIMENT A group of lawmakers suggested that the US presidential administration develop a joint package for the two countries to get Republican votes. As OBOZ.UA reported, on October 19, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held talks with Joe Biden. He expressed gratitude for the supply of ATACMS missiles to Ukraine and emphasized that it had greatly inspired our citizens. Only verified information on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Among the Most Exceptional Entrepreneurs at 2023 Builders and Innovators Summit SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) recognized CEO of 6sense, Jason Zintak, as one of the Most Exceptional Entrepreneurs of 2023 at its Builders and Innovators Summit in Healdsburg, California. Goldman Sachs selected Zintak from multiple industries to be honored at the two-day event. Since Zintak joined 6sense in 2017, the company has grown astronomically by every measure: employee, customer, net revenue retention, and revenue growth. With a reputation for making smart moves, prioritizing people, and creating a culture of innovation, Zintak leads the company towards its mission to revolutionize the way B2B organizations create, manage and convert pipeline to revenue. To be recognized for entrepreneurship by Goldman Sachs is an incredible honor, said Jason Zintak, 6sense CEO. This recognition reflects the strength and passion of our team and our commitment to a growth mindset which fosters ongoing learning, curiosity and innovation. Our collective entrepreneurial spirit at 6sense started with our founders and leaders and continues today across the organization as a defining element of our success in delivering real value to our customers. Were delighted to recognize Jason Zintak as one of the most exceptional entrepreneurs of 2023, said David Solomon, Chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs. Like everyone in this years class, Jason has been a visionary in their field, pushing forward innovation and redefining markets. We are excited to harness Goldmans convening power to bring together these dynamic leaders and hear their insights. In addition to honoring the most exceptional entrepreneurs, the Summit consists of general sessions and clinics led by seasoned entrepreneurs, academics and business leaders as well as resident scholars. Learn more: About 6sense 6sense is on a mission to revolutionize the way B2B organizations create revenue by predicting customers most likely to buy and recommending the best course of action to engage anonymous buying teams. 6sense Revenue AI is the only sales and marketing platform to unlock the ability to create, manage and convert high-quality pipeline to revenue. Customers report 2X increases in average contract value, 4X increases in win rate and a 20-40% reduction in time to close deals. Know everything. Do anything, with 6sense. About Goldman Sachs Goldman Sachs is a leading global financial institution that delivers a broad range of financial services to a large and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and individuals. Founded in 1869, the firm is headquartered in New York and maintains offices in all major financial centers around the world. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020294838/en/ For press related questions about 6sense: Heather Gianfelice, [email protected] For press related questions about the Summit or Goldman Sachs: Sophia Anthony, [email protected] Source: 6sense LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of a- (Excellent) of Alliance Insurance (PSC) (Alliance) (United Arab Emirates). The outlooks of these Credit Ratings (ratings) are stable. The ratings reflect Alliances balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. Alliances balance sheet strength is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), at the strongest level. AM Best expects the company to maintain a significant capital buffer in excess of the strongest BCAR threshold, supported by robust retention of earnings, low underwriting leverage and a conservative investment portfolio. An offsetting factor in the balance sheet strength assessment is Alliances dependence on reinsurance for non-life insurance risks; however, the associated credit risk is mitigated partially by the use of a diversified reinsurance panel of sound financial strength. Alliance has a track record of strong operating performance as evidenced by a five-year (2018-2022) weighted average return on equity (ROE) of 8.3%. The companys performance continues to be principally driven by its life underwriting profits, which remained robust in 2022. The company has reported strong non-life technical profits, as illustrated by a five-year weighted average combined ratio of 92.4%. Nevertheless, the profitability of Alliances non-life business deteriorated significantly at year-end 2022, as evidenced by a combined ratio of 129.7% (as calculated by AM Best), considering the heightened competitive environment in the medical and motor businesses in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Management has taken action to remediate the poor performance on its non-life portfolio. The companys performance is further supported by robust investment income, illustrated by a five-year average net investment return (including gains) of 4.7%. Prospectively, AM Best expects that Alliances life segment will continue to be the main driver of its underwriting profitability; however, AM Best also anticipates an improvement in the companys non-life technical performance. Alliances business profile as a mid-tier domestic market participant is unlikely to change over the near term as the company has limited product diversification and operates in an increasingly competitive UAE insurance market, where finding profitable growth opportunities is a challenge. This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Bests website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Bests Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Bests Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Bests Credit Ratings, Bests Performance Assessments, Bests Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Bests Ratings & Assessments. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. Copyright 2023 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020833314/en/ Mehdi Mouhssine Financial Analyst +44 20 7397 0285 [email protected] Christopher Sharkey Associate Director, Public Relations +1 908 882 2310 [email protected] Jessica Botelho-Young, CA Associate Director, Analytics +44 20 7397 0310 [email protected] Al Slavin Senior Public Relations Specialist +1 908 882 2318 [email protected] Source: AM Best AMSTERDAM--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings of a- (Excellent) of Stonefort Reinsurance S.A. (Stonefort Reinsurance) (formerly known as Builders Reinsurance S.A.) (Luxembourg), a subsidiary of HOCHTIEF Aktiengesellschaft (HOCHTIEF), a large Germany-based construction company that is majority owned by ACS, Actividades de Construccion y Servicios, S.A. The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. The ratings reflect Stonefort Reinsurances balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. Stonefort Reinsurances balance sheet strength is supported by risk-adjusted capitalisation at the strongest level, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). AM Best expects Stonefort Reinsurances risk-adjusted capitalisation to remain at the strongest level supported by low underwriting leverage. The main offsetting factor in the balance sheet strength assessment is the significant investment allocation to bonds issued by its intermediate parent company, HOCHTIEF. Stonefort Reinsurance has a track record of strong and stable operating performances, largely driven by robust underwriting results, as demonstrated by a five-year (2018-2022) weighted average combined ratio of 77.4%, as calculated by AM Best. Stonefort Reinsurances prospective performance is subject to volatility, mainly due to the companys exposure to business associated with the cyclical U.S. construction market. Stonefort Reinsurances business profile assessment of limited reflects its geographically concentrated portfolio of casualty risks, which emanates from HOCHTIEFs construction operations in North America. Additionally, the company reinsures open-market business (approximately 28% of gross written premiums in 2022), including business emanating from its sister company, Stonefort Insurance S.A. (Stonefort Insurance). However, the weight of third-party business is expected to decrease going forward following the group's decision to put Stonefort Insurance in run off. Stonefort Reinsurances volume of business remained stable in 2022. Management expects moderate growth in 2023, followed by a drop in 2024, due to the expected reduction in third-party business. This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Bests website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Bests Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Bests Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Bests Credit Ratings, Bests Performance Assessments, Bests Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Bests Ratings & Assessments. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. Copyright 2023 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020879312/en/ Jose Berenguer, CFA Associate Director, Analytics +31 20 308 54 29 [email protected] Dr. Mathilde Jakobsen Senior Director, Analytics +31 20 308 5427 [email protected] Christopher Sharkey Associate Director, Public Relations +1 908 882 2310 [email protected] Al Slavin Senior Public Relations Specialist +1 908 882 2318 [email protected] Source: AM Best TOKYO & SEOUL--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- MIXI Inc. (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, President and CEO: Koki Kimura) announced that Charlie Puth official fan club App humy is now available in Korea from October 17, 2023. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231019795486/en/ humy with Charlie Puth (Photo: Business Wire) Charlie, who became a hot topic last year with his collaboration with Jong-Guk (BTS), will conduct live performances in Korea from October 20 to 22. It was also announced that a special event will be held in December. (https://charlieputh.humy.me/special/1017event) humy with Charlie Puth Overview https://charlieputh.humy.me/ Membership Fee: Premium Plan 44,000 KRW / 3-month First month trial is now available! One-month free trial will be offered upon your purchase of the Premium Plan. Unless you cancel your subscription 24 hours before the end of the trial period, your subscription will be automatically renewed, and you will be charged automatically. Payment methods: mobile payment Membership Benefits 1. Online live performance Members-only online live performances will be held at least once a year. Exclusive contents and setlists are available. 2. Online fan meeting Members-only online fan meeting will be held at least once a year. Members can enjoy exclusive talks. 3. Priority tickets Members can apply for an advance lottery for live tours. *Not all the Charlie Puth concerts offer ticket draws. 4. Social media for fans only Charlie Puth himself will post photos and videos of his daily life on the social media for fans only. Members can experience interactive communication as Charlie himself will read and reply to messages. 5. Exclusive contents Exclusive videos are available for the members only which will show behind the scenes of Charlies tour and shoots. Many other exclusive contents for members are offered. Additional Features Korean is added to the Apps system language Automatic translation function in the App enables translation into Korean 1. How to change the system language in the App 1) Open humy App 2) Select "Profile" from the bottom menu 3) Select the gear icon in the upper right corner 4) Select "Settings" 5) Select "Korean" from the App language 2. Automatic translation procedure 1) Open humy App 2) Select "Profile" from the bottom menu 3) Select the gear icon in the upper right corner 4) Select "Settings" 5) Select "Korean" from the translation languages 6) Tap "Translate Text" in the App to translate the text into Korean THE CHARLIE LIVE EXPERIENCE in Korea Charlie Puth, who released a collaborative song with Jong-Guk (BTS) last year that attracted attention and is loved for his many songs in Korea, started his Asian tour on October 4 at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong. After performing in Bangkok, Jakarta, Singapore, and Tokyo, he comes to Seoul. His visit to Korea will be from October 20-22, with three performances at the KSPO DOME in Seoul Olympic Park. This will be Charlie's third performance in Korea after five years since November 2018. Schedule Date & Time: October 20 (Fri.) 8:00 p.m., October 21 (Sat.) 7:00 p.m., October 22 (Sun) 6:00 p.m. Venue: KSPO DOME About Charlie Puth Charlie Puth has proven to be one of industrys most consistent hitmakers and sought-after collaborators. Puth has amassed eight multi-platinum singles, four GRAMMY nominations, three Billboard Music Awards, a Critics Choice Award, and a Golden Globe nomination. His 2018 GRAMMY-nominated LP, "Voicenotes", was RIAA Certified Gold only four days after its release and has logged over 5.6 billion streams worldwide. He recently collaborated with three-time Grammy Award-winning and multi-platinum certified duo Dan + Shay on a new song "That's Not How This Works," followed by the release of a remix featuring Sabrina Carpenter. Last year, Puth released his highly anticipated third album Charlie via Atlantic Records. The album, which includes the hits "Left and Right (feat. Jung Kook of BTS)," "That's Hilarious," and "Light Switch," was praised as "an expertly crafted collection" (ROLLING STONE magazine). It has been streamed more than 2.07 billion times worldwide and has been highly acclaimed around the world. After the release of "Charlie", he embarked on the "One Night Only" tour and performed his latest album and greatest hits while communicating with his fans around the world. Puth is currently on "The "Charlie" Live Experience" tour through North America, Asia, and Australia. His 2020 collaboration with Gabby Barrett on their I Hope Remix earned him his fourth top 10 track on the Billboard Hot 100, hit number one on the Billboard Adult Pop Songs chart, and won a 2021 Billboard Music Award for Top Collaboration. Puth also co-wrote and produced The Kid Laroi and Justin Biebers record-breaking single, Stay, which quickly become one of the biggest songs of 2021 and holds the title for the longest-reigning No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 chart and the first to lead it for double-digits - spending a total of eleven weeks at the top of the chart. About humy humy is a communication platform where members can enjoy special contents of artists as well as communication with artists and fans. Overview Service Name humy Category Fan communication platform Price Membership registration: Free Premium Plan: 44,000 KRW / 3-month Countries More than 110 countries Compatibility (OS) [IOS] iOS 15.0 or later [Android] Android 11.0 or later Download Search for "humy" at store. iOS / Android https://humy.onelink.me/2Vpz/nrwmejbb MIXI Inc. With the purpose of "enriching communication and inspiring moments of joy, MIXI provides communication services such as "mixi", "Monster Strike", "Family Album Mitene", and "TIPSTAR" for friends and family to enjoy together. In the spirit of "user surprise first," our mission is to contribute to the realization of an emotionally rich and harmonious society by creating places and opportunities that not only connecting people, but also "connecting hearts," which leads to deeper, richer communication. Names of MIXI and humy, their associated trademarks and logos are trademarks and registered trademarks of MIXI Inc. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231019795486/en/ For inquiry MIXI Inc. [email protected] MIXI Inc. [email protected] Shibuya Scramble Square 36F, 2-24-12, Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 150-6136, Japan https://mixi.co.jp/ Source: MIXI Inc. Company is Bronze Level Sponsor of Global Event Focused on Oligonucleotide Progress WATERTOWN, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- EnPlusOne Biosciences, Inc., a biotechnology company harnessing the power of enzymes to deliver better RNA at scale, today announced that Daniel Wiegand, CEO, and Jonathan Rittichier, CSO, both co-founders of the company, will be participating in the 19th annual meeting of the Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society (OTS) in Barcelona, Spain, beginning October 22nd. The company, which is a bronze level sponsor of the annual meeting, will also be delivering a poster presentation that highlights recent technical developments on its propriety enzymatic RNA oligonucleotide synthesis technology. The poster presentation is entitled A Platform for Controlled Enzymatic Synthesis of RNA Oligonucleotides and will be delivered by Dominic Rainone, an Associate Scientist at EnPlusOne Biosciences, during Poster Session 1, which begins at 17:00 on October 23rd. Additional technical data from this poster can also be found in EnPlusOnes recent manuscript pre-print available online. Daniel Wiegand, CEO of EnPlusOne, said, We are very excited about our continued engagement with OTS, whose community members have been supportive of our journey to manufacture high-quality RNA oligonucleotides and therapeutics in an environmentally sustainable manner. Likewise, weve been very strong supporters of OTS and its mission to bring the field of oligonucleotides to its full therapeutic potential. We look forward to showcasing our ezRNA platform as a means to provide bespoke, end-to-end solutions for emerging and established nucleic acid modalities. EnPlusOne Biosciences was founded by George Church, PhD, Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School, Professor of Health Sciences and Technology at Harvard and MIT and leader of the Wyss Institutes Synthetic Biology platform, along with Mr. Wiegand, Jonathan Rittichier, PhD, and Dan Ahlstedt as a technology spinout from the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University in 2022. About EnPlusOne Biosciences EnPlusOne is enabling the future of RNA therapeutics. Its ezRNA synthesis platform is a revolutionary innovation that harnesses enzymes to incorporate a diverse array of natural and modified nucleotides and promises to unlock sustainable commercial scale manufacturing. In addition to direct RNA synthesis, EnPlusOne's ezRNA platform can be directed towards numerous RNA applications. For more information, please visit www.enplusonebio.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020578932/en/ Mary T. Conway Conway Communications [email protected] 617-407-8778 Source: EnPlusOne Biosciences, Inc. Real Estate Developer Will Partner With GigNets Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) Services To Provide the Best High-Speed Internet Available in the Region to Multiple Properties CANCUN, Mexico--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- GigNet, a Digital Infrastructure company with an extensive regional fiber optic broadband network from Costa Mujeres, North of Cancun, through the Hotel Zone of Tulum, announced today it has entered a long-term agreement to provide advanced broadband for high-speed Internet and state-of-the-art connectivity to all Deelums projects in Tulum including Inku, Casa Cinq, Casa Siet, Aluxs Playground, Itzels Pool, Kabana, and Casa Tikal. Deelum is a real estate developer building a hand-picked portfolio of high-end properties that are carefully placed in prime locations curated with detailed intention to provide the best in privacy, security, comfort and now, with this new agreement with GigNet, also a state-of-the-art Internet service, all while living in harmony within the breathtaking natural environment that Tulum is world renowned for. Tulum is one of three cities in Quintana Roo growing at double digits and one of the fastest growing cities in Mexico. This growth is expected to continue with a new International Airport and a Tren Maya Station coming soon. Demand for high-end residential developments that are Smart-Home ready has created numerous opportunities for Deelum. Chris Spinnler, VP of Business Development for GigNet Mexico, stated, Tulums allure is unquestionable not only as a travel destination, but increasingly as one of the most desirable residential locations in Mexico. We know Deelum is paying attention to every detail for their developments and are only working with the best of the best, thats why we are very excited to provide our fiber-to-the-home solution to Deelum properties for Internet, streaming, gaming, social media, remote work and learning, and all smart home features. Michael S. Dee commented We chose to partner with GigNet over all other Internet providers in the state of Quintana Roo because of personal experience. We have lived in many regions in the Mexican Caribbean, and we always struggled finding great Internet service. Once we came upon GigNet, we experienced their outstanding service, their super customer service in Spanish and English, and their attention to detail. We want this for all our tenants and clients. Our properties will include one-year pre-paid GigNet service provided by Deelum. Since coverage will be expertly designed so access is strong and secure throughout our luxury custom homes and condominiums in the most desirable areas of Tulum, we expect our clients will enjoy a long-term relationship with GigNet just as we envision at Deelum. GigNet is the most trusted brand for Internet just like Deelum is for quality and delivering world class service in premium residences. ABOUT DEELUM Deelum is among the first to build highly expansive, private, and luxurious homes in the Tulum marketplace. Complete with all of the cutting-edge fixtures of a modern home in the U.S., Michael Dee and his dynamic team are producing a new quality of life in Tulum, not just a place to live. The team at Deelum offers discerning clients the perfect balance of privacy, luxury, technology, and warm and welcoming places to live, work, and play in prime locations across Tulum. For more information, see www.deelum.com. ABOUT GIGNET GigNet is the Mexican Caribbean brand of GigNet, Inc., a U.S. based international Digital Transformation company specializing in Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) and Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP) for enterprise customers including hotels, resorts, retailers, offices, large commercial operations, governmental offices, and medical and educational facilities, as well as fiber-optic transport services for mobile phone operators in the region. Through its Mexico operating subsidiaries, GigNet, S.A. de C.V., and Sanalto Redes Peninsular, S.A.P.I. de C.V., the Company is a fully licensed telecommunications provider in Mexico. GigNet is actively adding customers to its extensive 400 km regional broadband network in the Mexican Caribbean, one of the largest and fastest growing tourism and new residential development destinations in the world, with over 30 million annual airport passengers expected in 2023. GigNet is a leader in the Digital Transformation of the region. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231016234165/en/ For Product and Sales information - Mexico: www.GigNet.mx Luis De Potestad, VP of Public Affairs and Special Projects +52 55 5100 5027 [email protected] For Corporate Information: www.GigNetInc.com www.GigNetTV.com Diane Shearin [email protected] +1.847.739.3110 Source: GigNet CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today that Adam Rohman, Senior Vice President of Investor Relations and Financial Planning & Analysis, will virtually participate in a panel discussion at the Citi 2023 China Investor Conference in Macau, China at 10:00 a.m. HKT on Friday, November 10, 2023 (8:00 p.m. CT on Thursday, November 9, 2023). All interested persons may listen to a live webcast of the presentation, which may be accessed through the Companys website at investors.hyatt.com. About Hyatt Hotels Corporation Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company guided by its purpose to care for people so they can be their best. As of June 30, 2023, the Companys portfolio included more than 1,250 hotels and all-inclusive properties in 76 countries across six continents. The Company's offering includes brands in the Timeless Collection, including Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt, Hyatt Residence Club, Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, Hyatt Studios, and UrCove; the Boundless Collection, including Miraval, Alila, Andaz, Thompson Hotels, Dream Hotels, Hyatt Centric, and Caption by Hyatt; the Independent Collection, including The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, Destination by Hyatt, and JdV by Hyatt; and the Inclusive Collection, including Impression by Secrets, Hyatt Ziva, Hyatt Zilara, Zoetry Wellness & Spa Resorts, Secrets Resorts & Spas, Breathless Resorts & Spas, Dreams Resorts & Spas, Hyatt Vivid Hotels & Resorts, Alua Hotels & Resorts, and Sunscape Resorts & Spas. Subsidiaries of the Company operate the World of Hyatt loyalty program, ALG Vacations, Mr & Mrs Smith, Unlimited Vacation Club, Amstar DMC destination management services, and Trisept Solutions technology services. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020608750/en/ Media: Franziska Weber Hyatt Hotels Corporation + 1 312.780.6106 [email protected] Investors: Adam Rohman Hyatt Hotels Corporation + 1 312.780.5834 [email protected] Source: Hyatt Hotels Corporation Outgoing CEO Erik Fyrwald to retire, continue as Advisor to Chairman and remain on the Board of Directors. BASEL, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Syngenta Groups Board of Directors has elected Jeff Rowe as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Syngenta Group, effective January 1, 2024. Rowe is currently President, Syngenta Crop Protection, Syngenta Groups largest business unit. He was previously President, Syngenta Seeds, where he executed a successful turnaround of the Seeds business. Erik Fyrwald, Syngenta Group CEO, will continue as CEO until the end of the year, when he will retire after seven and a half years with the company. He will continue as Advisor to the Chairman of Syngenta Group and remain on the Board of Directors. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020930340/en/ Jeff Rowe, Syngenta Group CEO as of Jan. 1, 2024 (Photo: Business Wire) Rowe, 50, joined Syngenta as President of Syngenta Seeds and North America in September 2016. Before his current role as head of the crop protection business, he was responsible for the successful turnaround of the Seeds business, with outstanding growth and return to profitability. He also has spearheaded Syngenta Groups efforts into regenerative agriculture and soil health. Prior to joining Syngenta, Jeff served in several leadership roles at DuPont Pioneer over a 20-year period. The Board of Directors appointed Rowe as the new CEO, as he is not only a proven business leader with nearly 30 years of diverse experience in the agriculture sector but also a fifth-generation farmer who has first-hand knowledge of the issues that are important to farmers today, and is passionate about driving innovation and change to make global agriculture more sustainable. Rowe will succeed Fyrwald, 64, who joined Syngenta as CEO in June 2016. During his tenure, he oversaw the acquisition by ChemChina, the formation of the Syngenta Group, and the growth of the business from Syngentas $12.8 billion in 2016 to the Syngenta Groups $ 33.4 billion in 2022. Fyrwalds passionate advocacy has established Syngenta Group as a leading voice in agriculture for global food security, sustainability and regenerative agriculture. Erik has provided outstanding leadership for Syngenta Group, steering it with steady hands through global pandemic, conflicts and challenging geopolitics while substantially transforming and growing the company, said Li Fanrong, Chairman of Syngenta Group. We will always be grateful for his thoughtful, energetic and dynamic leadership of our Group during its transition. And it is Eriks leadership in developing a strong team that leads naturally to our next phase. With the strong foundation established by Erik, Jeff is the right CEO to lead Syngenta Group. The Board is pleased with the world-class, orderly and planned succession process and has found in Jeff a strong leader with the business acumen, operational skills and strategic vision needed to guide Syngenta Group in this critical industry. As a superb operational leader and strategist, able to deliver results through teamwork while building the business for tomorrow, Jeff has played a significant role in the growth of Syngenta Group, said Fyrwald. I have worked with Jeff for many years and am delighted that he will lead Syngenta Group as it continues its mission to help farmers feed the world while addressing climate change. About Syngenta Group Syngenta Group is one of the worlds biggest agricultural technology companies, with roots going back more than 250 years. With more than 59,000 employees, operating in more than 100 countries, the company strives to transform agriculture with science-driven, technological innovations to deliver high productivity and high-quality food while fighting climate change and restore nature. Syngenta Group is working with farmers to enable Regenerative Agriculture - an outcome-based food production system that nurtures and restores soil health, protects the climate and water resources and biodiversity, and enhances farms' productivity and profitability. Syngenta Group, which is registered in Shanghai, China, and has its management headquarters in Switzerland, draws strength from its four business units: Syngenta Crop Protection, headquartered in Switzerland; Syngenta Seeds, headquartered in the United States; ADAMA, headquartered in Israel; and Syngenta Group China. Together, these businesses provide industry-leading ways to serve customers around the world. For Syngenta Group photos and videos, please visit the Syngenta Group Media Library. Data protection is important to us. You are receiving this publication on the legal basis of Article 6 para 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interest). However, if you do not wish to receive further information about Syngenta Group, just send us a brief informal message and we will no longer process your details for this purpose. You can also find further details in our privacy statement. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This document may contain forward-looking statements, which can be identified by terminology such as expect, would, will, potential, plans, prospects, estimated, aiming, on track and similar expressions. Such statements may be subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from these statements. For Syngenta Group, such risks and uncertainties include risks relating to legal proceedings, regulatory approvals, new product development, increasing competition, customer credit risk, general economic and market conditions, compliance and remediation, intellectual property rights, implementation of organizational changes, impairment of intangible assets, consumer perceptions of genetically modified crops and organisms or crop protection chemicals, climatic variations, fluctuations in exchange rates and/or grain prices, single source supply arrangements, political uncertainty, natural disasters, and breaches of data security or other disruptions of information technology. Syngenta Group assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changed assumptions or other factors. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020930340/en/ Media Relations [email protected] Source: Syngenta Group Experienced appointment strengthens TransRes European presence NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Julien Mollinier has joined TransRes Continental European team as President of EMEA to support business growth opportunities and lead all underwriting and business development activities across the region. In his new role, Julien will work closely with TransRes European office network in Luxembourg, Munich, Paris, and Zurich. In announcing the appointment, Louise Rose, President of TransRes UK, European & MENA business, said, I am delighted to welcome Julien to the team - his skillset will help us further develop our regional portfolio. Julien brings to TransRe a wealth of underwriting experience and a deep understanding of European market dynamics. About TransRe Established in 1977, TransRe is the brand name for Transatlantic Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries (including Transatlantic Reinsurance Company). TransRe is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alleghany Corporation, a Berkshire Hathaway company. Headquartered in New York with operations worldwide, TransRe offers the capacity, expertise and creativity necessary to structure programs across the full spectrum of property and casualty risks. Please visit www.transre.com for more information. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020177182/en/ James D Whitelaw 415 399 5904 Source: TransRe BETHESDA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Wathen Castanos Homes, a leading award-winning California homebuilder, announced the acquisition of its homebuilding business by Trumark Homes, a subsidiary of Daiwa House USA Inc. Originally founded in 1983 and currently led by President, CEO, and partial owner Josh Peterson since 2014, Wathen Castanos Homes is a leading private homebuilder in California's Central Valley and Central Coast with a long-established legacy of homebuilding success. Currently building in San Luis Obispo, Monterey Bay, Clovis, Fresno, and Madera, Wathen Castanos Homes is known for its award-winning design and energy efficiency. "We are very excited and honored to join the Trumark Homes family," said Peterson. "This transaction represents the culmination of an extensive process run by Tony McGill and his team at Zelman & Associates to analyze our strategic alternatives and find the best long-term partner for all of our stakeholders, especially our employees, land partners, and subcontractor partners. Over the decades that we have been in the homebuilding industry, we have always been guided by a foundation of quality and values, a tradition of craftsmanship, and dedication to high-quality customer care. Trumark Homes shares these same guiding principles as well as the resources to accelerate our growth, which makes them the perfect match for us." Trumark Homes launched a new homebuilding division in Colorado in 2021, capitalizing on the robust housing market there. That move marked the company's first foray outside of California, signaling its ambition to become a dominant player in the western U.S. homebuilding landscape. The acquisition of Wathen Castanos Homes is the next step toward that vision as the company eyes additional growth opportunities in the Western United States to take advantage of the vast resources of Trumark's parent company, Daiwa House. "Our acquisition of Wathen Castanos Homes is a unique opportunity to fulfill several of our strategic goals," said Gregg Nelson, co-founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Trumark Companies. "First and foremost, our companies share a similar culture as well as a commitment to building quality homes and providing an unparalleled homebuyer experience." Added Michael Maples, co-founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Trumark Companies, "With today's announcement, our homebuilding portfolio is now contiguous from Northern California to Southern California. This is another important step forward in our vision of becoming the dominant regional homebuilder in the West, as this acquisition will allow us to exceed $1B in revenue in 2024." Nelson, Maples, and Peterson emphasized the quality of employees and dedication both Trumark and Wathen Castanos have to their highly skilled teams as integral to the value of joining the two companies. Zelman & Associates, a subsidiary of Walker & Dunlop, served as the exclusive sell-side investment banker to Wathen Castanos Homes. Founded in 2007 by Ivy Zelman and Dennis McGill, Zelman & Associates is the leading institutional research advisory and investment banking firm dedicated exclusively to the U.S. housing industry. Zelman provides distinguished institutional research and investment banking capabilities with the highest levels of client service, trust, sophistication, and credibility unique to the housing, institutional research and investment banking industries. This transaction continues Zelman's position as the #1-ranked M&A advisor for residential builders and developers since 2015. All securities offered through Zelman Partners LLC, a registered broker dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. About Walker & Dunlop Walker & Dunlop (NYSE: WD) is one of the largest commercial real estate finance and advisory services firms in the United States. Our ideas and capital create communities where people live, work, shop, and play. The diversity of our people, breadth of our brand and technological capabilities make us one of the most insightful and client-focused firms in the commercial real estate industry. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231019196536/en/ Investors: Kelsey Duffey Investor Relations Phone 301.202.3207 [email protected] Media: Nina H. von Waldegg VP, Public Relations Phone 301.564.3291 [email protected] Source: Walker & Dunlop, Inc. The foreign ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Jordan in addition to Palestinian officials will hold a joint meeting in Amman on Saturday with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, currently on a regional tour that started with Israel on Friday. Results from the CUPISCO study assessing the efficacy of molecularly guided therapy in unfavorable subset CUP patients to be presented as a late breaking abstract at the 2023 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Annual Meeting CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Foundation Medicine Inc. and Roche today announced that they will present the results from a randomized, global precision oncology study designed to prospectively assess the efficacy and safety of molecularly-guided therapy for patients with unfavorable subset cancer of unknown primary (CUP). The results will be presented as a late breaking abstract on Saturday, October 21 at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Annual Meeting in Madrid, Spain. People with CUP typically have a group of heterogeneous tumors. These patients have a high unmet medical need due to the lack of a definitive diagnosis of a primary tumor site. Because the cancers tumor of origin is unknown, targeted treatment has historically been challenging. As a result, there has been little progress in improving the poor outcomes for patients with CUP. The CUPISCO study investigated how comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP), using Foundation Medicines U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved and CE-marked FoundationOneCDx and FoundationOneLiquid CDx diagnostic tests, could impact progression-free and overall survival in patients with CUP. Patients with CUP do not have many treatment options, so we set out to investigate how implementing comprehensive genomic profiling could impact outcomes, said Dr. Jeffrey Ross, Medical Director at Foundation Medicine. The increases we saw in progression-free survival are promising, and we look forward to conducting continued research to reinforce the value of genomic profiling for patients with CUP. The global multicenter CUPISCO trial spanned 159 sites in 34 countries and included over 400 patients with CUP who were not amenable to resection and/or radiation with curative intent. During induction therapy, patients received three cycles of standard platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients achieving disease control were randomized 3:1 to targeted therapy informed by comprehensive genomic profiling versus chemotherapy continuation for at least three further cycles. The median progression-free survival in the patients who received molecularly guided therapy was 6.1 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.76.5) versus 4.4 months (4.15.6) for chemotherapy (hazard ratio [HR] 0.72; 95% CI 0.560.92; p=0.0079). The median overall survival was 14.7 months (95% CI 13.317.3) versus 11.0 months (9.715.4), respectively (HR 0.82; 95% CI 0.621.09; p=0.1779), though overall survival data were immature at cutoff. Collaborative research is core to our work at Foundation Medicine and is a pivotal element of making continued progress for cancer patients, said Mia Levy, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer at Foundation Medicine. Our high-quality tests played an important role in demonstrating the value of molecularly guided therapy for this patient population and we hope that these findings will lead to increased treatment options for their care. About Foundation Medicine: Your Essential Partner in Cancer Care Foundation Medicine is a pioneer in molecular profiling for cancer, working to shape the future of clinical care and research. We collaborate with a broad range of partners across the cancer community and strive to set the standard for quality, scientific excellence, and regulatory leadership. Our deep understanding of cancer biology helps physicians make informed treatment decisions for their patients and empowers researchers to develop new medicines. Every day, we are driven to help our partners find answers and take action, enabling more people around the world to benefit from precision cancer care. For more information, please visit us on www.FoundationMedicine.com and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. About FoundationOne CDx FoundationOne CDx is a next-generation sequencing based in vitro diagnostic device for detection of substitutions, insertion and deletion alterations (indels), and copy number alterations (CNAs) in 324 genes and select gene rearrangements, as well as genomic signatures including microsatellite instability (MSI) and tumor mutational burden (TMB) using DNA isolated from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissue specimens. FoundationOne CDx is for prescription use only and is intended as a companion diagnostic to identify patients who may benefit from treatment with certain targeted therapies in accordance with their approved therapeutic product labeling. Additionally, FoundationOne CDx is intended to provide tumor mutation profiling to be used by qualified health care professionals in accordance with professional guidelines in oncology for patients with solid malignant neoplasms. Use of the test does not guarantee a patient will be matched to a treatment. A negative result does not rule out the presence of an alteration. Some patients may require a biopsy. For a full list of targeted therapies for which FoundationOne CDx is indicated as a companion diagnostic, please visit www.F1CDxLabel.com. About FoundationOne Liquid CDx FoundationOne Liquid CDx is a qualitative next generation sequencing based in vitro diagnostic test for prescription use only that uses targeted high throughput hybridization-based capture technology to analyze 324 genes utilizing circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) isolated from plasma derived from anti-coagulated peripheral whole blood of advanced cancer patients. The test is FDA-approved to report short variants in over 300 genes and is a companion diagnostic to identify patients who may benefit from treatment with specific therapies (listed in Table 1 of the Intended Use) in accordance with the approved therapeutic product labeling. Additional genomic findings may be reported and are not prescriptive or conclusive for labeled use of any specific therapeutic product. Use of the test does not guarantee a patient will be matched to a treatment. A negative result does not rule out the presence of an alteration. Patients who are negative for companion diagnostic mutations should be reflexed to tumor tissue testing and mutation status confirmed using an FDA-approved tumor tissue test, if feasible. For the complete label, including companion diagnostic indications and complete risk information, please visit www.F1LCDxLabel.com. Foundation Medicine and FoundationOne are registered trademarks of Foundation Medicine, Inc. Source: Foundation Medicine View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020558301/en/ Foundation Medicine: Abigail Linehan, 781-534-3210 [email protected] Source: Foundation Medicine NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Nuveen Corporate Income 2023 Target Term Fund (NYSE: JHAA) today announced new details concerning its liquidation. Consistent with its investment objectives and organizational documents, the fund plans to terminate its existence and liquidate on or about December 1, 2023. As the fund approaches liquidation, its common shares will continue trading on the New York Stock Exchange through November 24, 2023 and will be suspended from trading before the market opens on November 27, 2023. The fund will not declare its regular monthly distribution in November 2023 and expects that all accumulated earnings will be included in the final liquidating distribution. The fund anticipates making its final liquidating distribution on or about December 1, 2023. As previously announced, the fund entered its wind-up period in anticipation of its termination date. Leading up to the final liquidating distribution date, as the funds portfolio securities continue to mature and are sold, the fund may further deviate from its investment objectives and policies, and its portfolio will continue to transition to high quality, short-term securities or cash and cash equivalents. Also as previously announced, due to market conditions, JHAA does not anticipate returning the Original NAV at its termination. The investment objective relating to Original NAV is not a guarantee and is dependent on a number of factors, including the extent of market recovery and the cumulative level of income retained in relation to cumulative portfolio gains net of losses. Shareholders may recognize a gain or loss for U.S. tax purposes as a result of the liquidation. Nuveen does not provide tax advice; investors should consult a professional tax advisor regarding their specific tax situation. Nuveen is a leading sponsor of closed-end funds (CEFs) with $53 billion of assets under management across 51 CEFs as of 30 Jun 2023. The funds offer exposure to a broad range of asset classes and are designed for income-focused investors seeking regular distributions. Nuveen has more than 35 years of experience managing CEFs. For more information, please visit Nuveens CEF homepage www.nuveen.com/closed-end-funds. About Nuveen Nuveen, the investment manager of TIAA, offers a comprehensive range of outcome-focused investment solutions designed to secure the long-term financial goals of institutional and individual investors. Nuveen has $1.1 trillion in assets under management as of 30 Jun 2023 and operations in 27 countries. Its investment specialists offer deep expertise across a comprehensive range of traditional and alternative investments through a wide array of vehicles and customized strategies. For more information, please visit www.nuveen.com. Nuveen Securities, LLC, member FINRA and SIPC. The information contained on the Nuveen website is not a part of this press release. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Certain statements made or referenced in this release may be forward-looking statements. Actual future results or occurrences may differ significantly from those anticipated in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. These include, but are not limited to: market developments, including the timing of distributions and other events identified in this press release; legal and regulatory developments; and other additional risks and uncertainties. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Nuveen and the closed-end funds managed by Nuveen and its affiliates undertake no responsibility to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements. EPS-3181135CR-E1023W View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020702673/en/ Financial Professionals: 800-752-8700 Investors: 800-257-8787 Media: [email protected] Source: Nuveen The bold, vintage-inspired ad titled "Goliath. Meet David." is set to disrupt the space industry norm. LANCASTER, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- In an unexpected, strategic move, Oxcart Assembly, the branding powerhouse behind NASA's Launch America and Artemis programs, has joined forces with Quub, the aerospace industry's rising star, to release a provocative full-page inside cover advertisement in the coveted NASA USA TODAY Special Edition. Drawing inspiration from iconic DDB Volkswagen Print adverts, the ad is a playful yet pointed commentary on the inefficiencies and excesses of the aerospace industry's bigwigs. With a headline reading "Goliath. Meet David.", the ads copy masterfully juxtaposes Quub's agile, capital-light approach against the bloated bureaucracies of industrys much larger incumbents. The decision to position this ad at the very beginning of a commemorative, special-edition magazine underscores that Quub is stepping out of the shadows and ready to tell the world about its mission. The full-page cover ad serves as a bold introduction, challenging readers preconceived notions about the space industry. This guerilla-style marketing stunt cleverly sets the tone for the content to follow, urging readers to contrast Quub's mission-focused message with that of subsequent, and likely much larger, advertisers. "We wanted to disrupt the aerospace advertising landscape by highlighting Quub's strengths and commitment to being cost-effective, agile, and mission-driven, said Tony Gardner of Oxcart Assembly. What better way to do that than pay homage to the classic Volkswagen ad of 1959 that redefined automotive advertising in their time?" Oxcarts Tony Gardner is well known in advertising circles as the special-effects, creative mastermind behind the Geico Caveman, Daft Punk robots, Smokey Bear, and more recently, a string of high-profile advertisements for Liquid Death. The Quub partnership is not Oxcart Assemblys first Voyage into space, as they led the award winning brand and visual identity efforts of NASAs Launch America and Artemis I Missions. The advertisement boasts impressive reach. It will not only be seen by key NASA officials, members of the US Space Command, and more than 92,000 members of leading space organizations, but it will also be emailed to a whopping 10 million space enthusiasts. Given the Special Edition's historical popularity and its extensive distribution, including prominent placements on newsstands around the nation, the impact is expected to be significant. Joe Latrell, CEO of Quub, remarked, "Our satellites don't just collect data; they provide insights that can solve real-world problems. Quub's approach is rooted in sustainability. We're not just exploring space; we're doing it responsibly, with a focus on preserving the beauty of our universe for generations to come." Coming on the heels of the joint teams International Visual Identity Award win for the branding of Quub, the print ad, which will be the first piece of content in a larger paid media strategy, sets the stage for Quubs emergence from stealth earlier this year and entry into the burgeoning small satellite market. **About Oxcart Assembly** Oxcart Assembly has been a pioneer in the branding world, having developed the brand identity and visual communications for significant initiatives, including NASA's Launch America and Artemis programs. Their innovative approach to branding has positioned them as the go-to agency for organizations aiming to make a mark. **About Quub** Quub is an emerging name in the aerospace industry, known for its efficient and agile approach. Focused on providing real-time results, Quub stands out as a beacon of innovation and effectiveness in a sea of established giants. *This press release is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as an endorsement by NASA, USA TODAY, or any other mentioned organization.* View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231019166457/en/ **Press Contact:** Jeff Jetton Chief Creative Officer, Oxcart Assembly [email protected] (202) 487-6080 Source: Quub NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- UBS today announced that Patrick K. McBrien has joined the firm as a Managing Director and Private Wealth Advisor in New York City. He is joined by Senior Wealth Strategy Associate William Hand and Senior Client Associate Avery Melville. They join the UBS Manhattan Market, led by Chris DiMuria, and will be based in the New York Private Wealth Management office located at 299 Park Ave, managed by Chris Amo and Bob Sorrentino. On behalf of UBS, were pleased to welcome Patrick and his team to the firm, said Chris Amo, New York PWM Market Director at UBS Private Wealth Management. His vast industry experience and dedication to his clients will be a great addition to our business, and we look forward to having him help us continue to expand our client offering in the New York market. With Patricks experience helping clients navigate complex financial matters and commitment to delivering personalized solutions, coupled with UBSs unique suite of capabilities, I have no doubt that he and the team will help us continue to successfully deliver for clients in the years to come said Bob Sorrentino, New York PWM Market Director at UBS Private Wealth Management. Patrick brings over 30 years of experience working with high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and select institutional investors. Within his practice, Patrick will be strategically collaborating with longtime friend and former colleague, R. Chris Errico and the Errico Partners on significant, unique ultra-high-net-worth opportunities. Errico Partners has been recognized as an industry leading private wealth team whose focus is to help clients navigate dynamic markets. Patrick started his career at Lehman Brothers in 1990 where he was a Managing Director and Portfolio Manager. In 2015, he joined Stifel as a part of the acquisition of Barclays Wealth and Investment Management in the Americas. Patrick graduated from the Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) in Ireland with a higher diploma in Management Finance. Patrick is very passionate about philanthropy and his community. He resides in New York City with his wife Schuyler and three children. William Hand, CFA, has over 25 years of experience at several top tier investment banks and asset management firms, with in-depth experience in asset allocation, research, investment management, alternative investments, capital markets, and institutional sales. William graduated cum laude from Middlebury College with a Bachelor of Arts in History. He was awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in September 2010. Avery Melville joins UBS as a Senior Client Associate. Within the team, she combines her strengths in relationship building, due diligence and problem-solving skills to provide day-to-day support to clients. Prior to UBS, Avery joined Stifel in 2021 after working for a Registered Investment Advisory firm in Boston. Notes to Editors About UBS UBS is a leading and truly global wealth manager and the leading universal bank in Switzerland. It also provides diversified asset management solutions and focused investment banking capabilities. With the acquisition of Credit Suisse, UBS manages 5.5 trillion dollars of invested assets as per second quarter 2023. UBS helps clients achieve their financial goals through personalized advice, solutions and products. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, the firm is operating in more than 50 countries around the globe. UBS Group shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). https://www.ubs.com UBS 2023. All rights reserved. The key symbol and UBS are among the registered and unregistered trademarks of UBS. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020976081/en/ Christina Aquilina [email protected] Source: UBS PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory New Pernod Ricard (Paris: RI) shareholders are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting to be held on Friday, 10 November 2023 at 2 p.m at Salle Pleyel, 252, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore - 75008 Paris. The notice of the meeting, including the agenda and the draft resolutions, as well as the procedures for attending and voting at the General Meeting, was published on the website of the Bulletin des Annonces Legales Obligatoires (BALO) n120, on Friday 6 October. As from today, you can review and download the documents and information listed in article R.22-10-23 of the French Commercial Code, on Pernod Ricards website www.pernod-ricard.com (under the section: Investors, Presentations and Regulated Information, General Meetings, Annual General Meeting 2023). As from 25 October 2023, the date of publication of the notice of meeting in the BALO and in the journal of legal notices "Les Affiches Parisiennes", and in accordance with articles R. 225-83 and R. 225-89 of the French Commercial Code, the documents and information that must be made available to shareholders in connection with this General Meeting will be available at Pernod Ricards registered office,5, Cours Paul Ricard, 75008 Paris. In accordance with applicable regulatory provisions: any shareholder holding registered shares may, up to the fifth day, inclusive, prior to the General Meeting, request these documents to be sent by the Company. For shareholders holding bearer shares, the exercise of this right is subject to the submission of a certificate of registration in the bearer share accounts held by the authorized intermediary. any shareholder may consult these documents at the registered office of Pernod Ricard or by sending a request by e-mail to the following address: [email protected] . Next Meeting: FY24 half-year results Thursday 15 February 2024 About Pernod Ricard Pernod Ricard is a worldwide leader in the spirits and wine industry, blending traditional craftsmanship, state-of-the-art brand development, and global distribution technologies. Our prestigious portfolio of premium to luxury brands includes Absolut vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantines, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute, and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Malibu liqueur and Mumm and Perrier-Jouet champagnes. Our mission is to ensure the long-term growth of our brands with full respect for people and the environment, while empowering our employees around the world to be ambassadors of our purposeful, inclusive and responsible culture of authentic conviviality. Pernod Ricards consolidated sales amounted to 12,137 million in fiscal year FY23. Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN Code:FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 and Eurostoxx 50 indices. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020884317/en/ Florence Tresarrieu / Global SVP Investor Relations and Treasury +33 (0) 1 70 93 17 03 Edward Mayle / Investor Relation Director +33 (0) 1 70 93 17 13 Charly Montet / Investor Relations Manager +33 (0) 1 70 93 17 13 Emmanuel Vouin / Head of External Engagement +33 (0) 1 70 93 16 34 Source: Pernod Ricard FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pivotal Systems Corporation (ASX: PVS, Pivotal or the Company), a leading provider of innovative gas flow control (GFC) solutions to the semiconductor industry, reached a comprehensive settlement with Flow Devices and Systems, Inc. (FDS) as well as Bhushan Somani and other affiliates resolving all outstanding claims regarding intellectual property among the parties. In the settlement, FDS provided a comprehensive release for Pivotal as well as its customers, distributors, suppliers, and other related parties. Following the settlement, a dismissal with prejudice was filed by both parties dismissing FDS existing claims against Pivotal in United States District Court for the Northern District of California. FDS and Bhushan Somani agreed that Pivotal Systems is not liable for infringement of the Patent, and each agree that neither they nor any Affiliates (as described in the Settlement Agreement) will ever assert any claim for patent infringement against Pivotal Systems Corporation or any of the Pivotal Systems Releasees (as defined in the Settlement Agreement). If you have been contacted by Flow Devices and Systems, Bhushan Somani, or a representative of the group, please contact Pivotal Systems Corporation at the email and phone number available at www.pivotalsys.com. In the litigation, Pivotal Systems Corporation was represented by The Norton Law Firm PC and DLA Piper. Flow Devices and Systems was represented by SML Avvocati PC and the Mahesh Law Group. Neither Pivotal nor FDS admitted any wrongdoing in the settlement. About Pivotal Pivotal Systems Corporation (ARBN 626 346 325), is a company incorporated in Delaware, USA, whose stockholders have limited liability. Pivotal Systems provides the best-in-class gas flow monitoring and control technology platform for the global semiconductor industry. The Companys proprietary hardware and software utilizes advanced machine learning to enable preventative diagnostic capability resulting in an order of magnitude increase in fab productivity and capital efficiency for existing and future technology nodes. For more information on Pivotal Systems Corporation, visit https://www.pivotalsys.com/. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements, which address a variety of subjects including, for example, our statements regarding expected growth rates, expected product offerings, product development, marketing position and technical advances. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our beliefs, plans and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on our current expectations and information currently available to management and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. The Company's management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made. However, you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements because such statements speak only as of the date when made. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law or the ASX Listing Rules. In addition, forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, events, and developments to differ materially from our historical experience and our present expectations or projections. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020398312/en/ Pivotal Systems Corporation Ron Warrington, CFO [email protected] 1-415-317-1092 Source: Pivotal Systems Corporation TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pivotree Inc. (TSXV: PVT) (Pivotree or the Company), a leading provider of frictionless commerce solutions, will release third quarter 2023 financial results on Friday, November 10, 2023 before the market opens. The webinar will be hosted by Bill Di Nardo, CEO, and Mo Ashoor, CFO, followed by a question and answer period. A live Zoom Video Webinar of the event can be accessed at 8:30 am ET through the following registration link: https://pivotree.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LAVZnmFfRkeT5bg-GfHZBg Listeners that prefer to dial in by phone may do so by accessing the same web link and the dial in details will be provided by email upon registration. A replay will be available approximately two hours after the conclusion of the live event. About Pivotree Pivotree, a leader in frictionless commerce, strategizes, designs, builds, and manages digital Commerce, Data Management, and Supply Chain solutions for over 200 major retailers and branded manufacturers globally. With a portfolio of digital products as well as managed and professional services, Pivotree provides businesses of all sizes with true end-to-end solutions. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with offices and customers in the Americas, EMEA, and APAC, Pivotree is widely recognized as a high-growth company and industry leader. For more information, visit www.pivotree.com or follow us on LinkedIn. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020213554/en/ For further information, please contact: Mo Ashoor, Chief Financial Officer [email protected] 1-877-767-5577 Sarah Kirk-Douglas, Vice President of Marketing, Pivotree [email protected] 905-251-6502 Source: Pivotree Inc. Tuesday, October 24 ,2023 HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority will hold its regular meeting on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, beginning at 9:15 a.m. A quorum of the Port Commission, along with executive leadership, will be present in the boardroom of the Port Houston Executive Office Building, located at 111 East Loop North, Houston, TX 77029. It will be conducted as a hybrid meeting open to the public to attend in person or access virtually via WebEx webinar. The agenda and instructions for accessing Port Houston public meetings are available at https://www.porthouston.com/about/public-meetings/agendas-minutes/. The Port Commission Audit Committee will also meet on the same day at 10:00 a.m., or thereafter, immediately following the adjournment of the Port Commission meeting. The Business Equity Committee is also scheduled to meet on this same day at 10:30 a.m. or thereafter, immediately following the adjournment of the Audit Committee, Upcoming: Port Commission Budget Meeting (subject to change): Monday, November 13 at 9:00 a.m. Sign-up for public comment is available up to an hour before the meeting by contacting Erik Eriksson at [email protected] or Liana Christian at [email protected]. About Port Houston For more than 100 years, Port Houston has owned and operated the public wharves and terminals along the Houston Ship Channel the nations largest port for waterborne tonnage and an essential economic engine for the Houston region, the state of Texas, and the U.S. nation. The more than 200 private and eight public terminals along the federal waterway supports the creation of nearly 1.35 million jobs in Texas and 3.2 million jobs nationwide, and economic activity totaling $339 billion in Texas 20.6% of Texas total gross domestic product (GDP) and a total of $801.9 billion in economic impact across the nation. For more information, visit the website: https://porthouston.com/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020888999/en/ Lisa Ashley-Daniels, Director, Public Relations, Port Houston Office: 713-670-2644; Mobile: 832-247-8179; E-mail: [email protected] Source: Port Houston Webcast is Live at 11:00 a.m. (ET) OXFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- RBC Bearings Incorporated (NYSE: RBC, RBCP), a leading international manufacturer of highly engineered precision bearings, components and essential systems for the industrial, defense and aerospace industries, today announced that it will release its second quarter fiscal 2024 financial results before the market open on Thursday, November 9th. RBC Bearings will host a conference call to discuss the results on Thursday, November 9th at 11:00 a.m. ET. Dr. Michael J. Hartnett, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer; Daniel A. Bergeron, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer; and Robert M. Sullivan, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer will recap the quarters results and accomplishments. To access the webcast, go to the investor relations portion of the Companys website, www.rbcbearings.com, on the day of the conference call and click on the webcast link. If you do not have access to the Internet and wish to listen to the call, dial 877-407-4019 (international callers dial +1 201-689-8337) and provide conference ID # 13741820. An audio replay of the call will be available from 2:00 p.m. ET November 9th, 2023, until 2:00 p.m. ET November 23rd, 2023. The replay can be accessed by dialing 877-660-6853 (international callers dial +1 201-612-7415) and providing conference ID # 13741820. Investors are advised to dial into the call at least ten minutes prior to the call to register. About RBC Bearings RBC Bearings Incorporated is an international manufacturer and marketer of highly engineered precision bearings, components and essential systems. Founded in 1919, the Company is primarily focused on producing highly technical or regulated bearing products and components requiring sophisticated design, testing, and manufacturing capabilities for the diversified industrial, aerospace and defense markets. The Company is headquartered in Oxford, Connecticut. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020558620/en/ RBC Bearings Robert M. Sullivan 203-267-5014 [email protected] Alpha IR Group Michael Cummings 617-461-1101 [email protected] Source: RBC Bearings Incorporated CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- RXO, (NYSE: RXO), a leading provider of asset-light transportation solutions, won the 2023 Best in HR award from the Charlotte Business Journal (CBJ) in the publicly-held company category. The company was honored at an awards event on October 19 and featured in a CBJ special report. Were proud that RXOs HR team has been recognized for their many contributions to our organization, the industry and the Charlotte community, said Drew Wilkerson, chief executive officer of RXO. Since RXOs spin-off nearly a year ago, our HR teams focus on employee retention, diversity and career development has significantly contributed to RXOs success. RXOs human resources team is led by Chief Human Resources Officer Heidi Ratti. When the company became a standalone organization, Ratti worked to efficiently hire the right talent needed to rapidly grow the organization. Since then, the team has built career development programs, developed enhanced feedback opportunities and created a management training curriculum to enable RXOs continued outperformance. To learn more about RXO, visit www.rxo.com. About RXO RXO (NYSE: RXO) is a leading provider of asset-light transportation solutions. RXO offers tech-enabled truck brokerage services together with complementary solutions including managed transportation, freight forwarding and last mile delivery. The company combines massive capacity and cutting-edge technology to move freight efficiently through supply chains. RXOs proprietary technology connects approximately 10,000 customers with over 100,000 independent carriers across North America. The company is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C. Visit RXO.com for more information and connect with RXO on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020705805/en/ Erin Kelly [email protected] Source: RXO Event spotlights next-generation memory solutions for applications such as cloud, edge devices and automotive vehicles New technologies and products include HBM3E Shinebolt, LPDDR5X CAMM2 and Detachable AutoSSD to accelerate innovation for future computing requirements SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a world leader in advanced memory technology, today held its annual Memory Tech Day, showcasing industry-first innovations and new memory products to accelerate technological advancements across future applications including the cloud, edge devices and automotive vehicles. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020818569/en/ Jung-Bae Lee, President and Head of Memory Business at Samsung Semiconductor, delivers opening keynote at Samsung's annual Memory Tech Day. (Photo: Business Wire) Attended by about 600 customers, partners and industry experts, the event served as a platform for Samsung executives to expand on the companys vision for Memory Reimagined, covering long-term plans to continue its memory technology leadership, outlook on market trends and sustainability goals. The company also presented new product innovations such as the HBM3E Shinebolt, LPDDR5X CAMM2 and Detachable AutoSSD. Jung-Bae Lee, President and Head of Memory Business at Samsung Electronics, used his keynote address to expand on how Samsung will overcome the challenges of the hyperscale era through innovations in new transistor structures and materials. For example, Samsung is currently preparing new 3D structures for sub-10-nanometer (nm) DRAM, allowing larger single-chip capacities that can exceed 100 gigabits (Gb). Following its 12nm-class DRAM that began mass production in May, 2023, Samsung is working on its next-generation 11nm-class DRAM, which is set to offer the industrys highest density. NAND flash breakthroughs that will shrink cell sizes and refine channel hole etching techniques are also in development, with the goal of ushering in 1,000-layer vertical NAND (V-NAND). Development is on track for Samsungs ninth-generation V-NAND to provide the industrys highest layer count based on a double-stack structure. The company has secured a functional chip for the new V-NAND and plans to start mass production early next year. The new era of hyperscale AI has brought the industry to a crossroads where innovation and opportunity intersect, presenting a time with potential for great leaps forward, despite the challenges, said Lee. Through endless imagination and relentless perseverance, we will continue our market leadership by driving innovation and collaborating with customers and partners to deliver solutions that expand possibilities. Introducing HBM3E Shinebolt Todays cloud systems are evolving to optimize compute resources, which require high-performance memory to handle high capacity, bandwidth and virtual storage capabilities. Building on Samsungs expertise in commercializing the industrys first HBM2 and opening the HBM market for high-performance computing (HPC) in 2016, the company today revealed its next-generation HBM3E DRAM, named Shinebolt. Samsungs Shinebolt will power next-generation AI applications, improving total cost of ownership (TCO) and speeding up AI-model training and inference in the data center. The HBM3E boasts an impressive speed of 9.8 gigabits-per-second (Gbps) per pin speed, meaning it can achieve transfer rates exceeding up to more than 1.2 terabytes-per-second (TBps). In order to enable higher layer stacks and improve thermal characteristics, Samsung has optimized its non-conductive film (NCF) technology to eliminate gaps between chip layers and maximize thermal conductivity. Samsungs 8H and 12H HBM3 products are currently in mass production and samples for Shinebolt are shipping to customers. Leaning into its strength as a total semiconductor solutions provider, the company also plans to offer a custom turnkey service that combines next-generation HBM, advanced packaging technologies and foundry offerings together. Other products highlighted at the event include the 32Gb DDR5 DRAM with the industrys highest capacity, the industrys first 32Gbps GDDR7 and the petabyte-scale PBSSD, which offers a significant boost to storage capabilities for server applications. Redefining Edge Devices Through Powerful Form Factors In order to process data-intensive tasks, todays AI technologies are moving toward a hybrid model that allocates and distributes workload among cloud and edge devices. Accordingly, Samsung introduced a range of memory solutions that support high-performance, high-capacity, low-power and small form factors at the edge. In addition to the industrys first 7.5Gbps LPDDR5X CAMM21 which is expected to be a true game changer in the next-generation PC and laptop DRAM market the company also showcased its 9.6Gbps LPDDR5X DRAM, LLW2 DRAM specialized for on-device AI, next-generation Universal Flash Storage (UFS), and the high-capacity Quad-Level Cell (QLC) SSD BM9C1 for PCs. Paving the Road for Automotive Memory Solutions Leadership With advancements in autonomous driving solutions, market demand is also rising for high-bandwidth, high-capacity DRAM and Shared SSDs, which share data with multiple System on Chips (SoCs). Samsung presented its Detachable AutoSSD that allows data access from a single SSD to multiple SoCs through virtual storage. The Detachable AutoSSD supports sequential read speed of up to 6,500 megabytes-per-second (MBps) with 4TB of capacity. As it comes in a detachable form factor, the SSD makes upgrades and adjustments easier for vehicle users and manufacturers. Samsung also displayed automotive memory solutions such as high-bandwidth GDDR7 and LPDDR5X with a more compact package size. Technology That Makes Technology Sustainable As part of its commitment to minimizing environmental impact, Samsung underscored a variety of innovations within its semiconductor operations that will contribute to increased energy efficiency for customers and consumers. The company plans to secure ultra-low-power memory technologies that can decrease power consumption in data centers, PCs and mobile devices, while using recycled materials in portable SSD products to reduce its carbon footprint. Samsungs next-generation solutions, such as the PBSSD, will also help reduce energy usage for server systems as they maximize space efficiency and rack capacity. While collaborating with stakeholders across the semiconductor value chain, including customers and partners, Samsungs semiconductor business will continue to play an active role in tackling global climate issues through its sustainability initiative, technology that makes technology sustainable. To learn more about Samsung Semiconductors solutions and Samsung Memory Tech Day 2023, please visit: https://semiconductor.samsung.com/events/techday-memory-2023/. The recap of the event will be posted at a later date. About Samsung Electronics Samsung Electronics inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, digital appliances, network systems, and memory, system LSI, foundry and LED solutions. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at news.samsung.com. 1 CAMM: Compression Attached Memory Module. 2 LLW: Low Latency Wide I/O. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020818569/en/ Sara Neumann 608-449-9638 [email protected] Source: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. ST. JOHNS, Newfoundland and Labrador--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Employees at The Gathering Place, a community health centre in St. Johns, have voted overwhelmingly yes to becoming members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees. The 84 employees provide services, meals and an overnight shelter to people in the community who struggle with daily living. Aaron Brickman, a CUPE organizer, says everything happened quickly, with voting taking place in June and July. When the votes were finally tallied this week, it was a whopping 89 percent in favour of joining the union, he says. Jon Bennett leads the Guest Support team at the centre and is interim president of the new CUPE Local 5478. He says the rapid growth of the organization in response to increasing needs was one reason the employees felt the need to form a union. The expansion of services has been happening so quickly that we havent had an opportunity to voice our concerns, he says. There is a lot of complexity to the work, and a lot of stress. The staff are feeling the need to have more protections and support. He says the rapidly rising cost of living makes the ability to sit down and bargain compensation even more important. Ultimately, a union creates stronger workplaces and more collaboration between staff and management, he says. We can build the future of the organization together. As front-line staff, we have a lot to contribute, and we need a stronger voice in these conversations. The new CUPE members include the Guest Support team, kitchen staff who serve up three meals a day, social workers, administrative and maintenance staff, dental assistants, volunteer co-ordinators and boutique and guest empowerment staff. The evening staff assist with the overnight emergency shelter which is open 8 pm to 8 am daily. :sm/cope 491 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020801546/en/ For more information contact: Jon Bennett, Local 5478 Interim President 709-765-0731 Aaron Brickman, CUPE Organizer 902-210-0787 Gaelle McNeil, CUPE Atlantic Communications 902-471-8923 Source: Canadian Union of Public Employees WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- UBS today announced that a four-person advisor team, The Charles Drew Group, has joined the firm in Washington, D.C. The team, which manages $460 million in client assets, is led by Managing Director and Financial Advisor Charles Drew, and also includes Financial Advisors Bennett Kavlick, Matthew Tomczuk and Client Service Associate Justin Hatch. The team will be based at the firms Washington, D.C. office at 1501 K Street NW, which is part of UBSs Philadelphia D.C. Wealth Management market that is led by Market Executive Julie Fox. They report to Market Director Brendan Graham. Charles is a very talented advisor with decades of experience, and we are proud to welcome him and his team to UBS, said Julie Fox, Philadelphia D.C. Market Executive at UBS Private Wealth Management. Hiring productive advisors like Charles is a key priority for us in the important Washington, D.C. market. I have no doubt that he and his team will successfully leverage UBSs world-class resources and capabilities to better serve their clients. Charles brings nearly 30 years of experience to UBS. He previously was a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Washington, D.C., where he joined in 1994. He is particularly focused on retirement planning and leverages his extensive experience to advise individuals and plan sponsors. Charles holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Certified 401(k) Professional (C(k)P) designations. He was named to the Forbes/SHOOK Best-in-State Wealth Advisors list for 2023. Charles holds a BA in economics from Denison University. Notes to Editors About UBS UBS is a leading and truly global wealth manager and the leading universal bank in Switzerland. It also provides diversified asset management solutions and focused investment banking capabilities. With the acquisition of Credit Suisse, UBS manages 5.5 trillion dollars of invested assets as per second quarter 2023. UBS helps clients achieve their financial goals through personalized advice, solutions and products. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, the firm is operating in more than 50 countries around the globe. UBS Group shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). UBS 2023. All rights reserved. The key symbol and UBS are among the registered and unregistered trademarks of UBS. Although neither UBS Financial Services Inc. or its employees pay a fee in exchange for these ratings, UBS may hire RJ Shook to be a speaker for events. Past performance is not an indication of future results. For press use only. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020571640/en/ Media: Scott Gamm Strategy Voice Associates [email protected] https://www.ubs.com Source: UBS Financial Services Inc. Attendees at 19th annual CCH Connections User Conference to experience how AI-powered tools are enabling tax, accounting and audit professionals to elevate their services NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting (TAA) will host a conference session, titled Welcome to the Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Empowered Firm Experience, for 1,300 tax, accounting and audit professionals as they gather for Wolters Kluwers 19th annual CCH Connections: User Conference, beginning on October 22, 2023. Attendees will be given exclusive access to attend an eye-opening session that delves into the remarkable ways AI is reshaping the landscape of tax and accounting firms. The session will showcase real-world examples of the transformative power of artificial intelligence in revolutionizing traditional best practices and amplifying the value firms deliver to clients. The AI Technology Showcase session will introduce the current state of AI within the tax and accounting profession, highlighting solutions such as CCH Axcess, offered by Wolters Kluwer TAA Attendees of the session will also participate in five hands-on breakout groups, exploring the possibilities of using generative AI: AI-Enabled Global Search: Allowing users to create reports, summarize research, prepare personalized client letters, all from a natural-language search bar. Firm Guidance: Leveraging AI to provide insights and recommendations for improving client relationships, staff assignments, based on your firms data and industry standards. Client Relationship Assistance: Providing more insightful and attentive client services, while spending less time managing accounts and correspondence using the power of AI. Firm & Client Scorecards: AI-enabled dashboards which enable the rating affirms and clients across strategic KPIs, enabling informed decision making. AI-Powered Benchmarking: Improving profitability with up-to-the-minute reporting and recommendations from your firms data and anonymized data from similar firms. We are pleased to be able to provide our customers with this unique, hands-on experience that will allow them to discover what AI means for tax and accounting professionals, how AI will empower firms in the future, and learn how to leverage Wolters Kluwer technologies to their fullest potential as we continue to integrate AI into our products and services, said Cathy Rowe, Senior Vice President and Segment Leader, US Professional Market, Wolters Kluwer TAA North America. We are committed to planning for a future that fundamentally changes the ways tax and accounting professionals interact with their software solutions and with their clients. Building on Wolters Kluwers solid AI foundation Approximately 50% of Wolters Kluwers digital revenues now come from products that leverage artificial intelligence. Wolters Kluwer products, services and expert solutions are based on a foundation of trust, transparency, and responsibility in line with the companys values. Wolters Kluwers AI Principles, which guide the design, development and deployment of advanced technologies in helping customers solve their most complex problems, can be found here. PLEASE NOTE: These materials are designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. The information is provided with the understanding that Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting is not engaged in rendering tax advice or accounting, legal, tax or other professional service. About Wolters Kluwer Wolters Kluwer (EURONEXT: WKL) is a global leader in information, software, and services for professionals in healthcare, tax and accounting, financial and corporate compliance, legal and regulatory, and corporate performance and ESG. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with specialized technology and services. Wolters Kluwer reported 2022 annual revenues of 5.5 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 20,900 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands. For more information, visit www.wolterskluwer.com, follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020527561/en/ Shannon Wherry Associate Director, External Communications Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting Mobile: +1 972-209-2767 [email protected] Source: Wolters Kluwer By Joseph White and Ben Klayman DETROIT (Reuters) -United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain on Friday warned of more walkouts at U.S. truck and SUV factories unless the Detroit Three automakers improved wage and benefit offers, insisting companies could afford more than the record packages on the table. "We're striking the Big Three like we've never struck before," Fain said. "These extremely profitable companies have more to give." After five weeks of strikes, Fain said the UAW had received fresh contract offers from General Motors and Chrysler-parent Stellantis in the past 24 hours. Ford made its newest offer over two weeks ago. Fain confirmed the Detroit Three had converged on a 23% wage hike offer and made progress on other issues. But he told UAW members "there is more to be won". GM and Ford say additional cost-of-living increases already take their total compensation offers to over 30%. Fain acknowledged some UAW members want to vote on the offers in hand but urged them not to give in to "fear, uncertainty, doubt and division" that he said were sowed by the companies. While warning of possible expanded strikes, Fain also told UAW members the talks were closing in on an end. "That's the hardest part of a strike," he said. "Right before a deal is when there's the most aggressive push for that last mile. " Shares in GM and Ford both closed up about 1% on Friday, before Fain spoke. The union opened bargaining with a demand for a 40% wage hike. Walkouts began at the three automakers on Sept. 15 and now more than 34,000 union members are waging the UAW's first simultaneous strikes against the Detroit Three. TOUGH ON FORD Friday's progress in talks followed the UAW's surprise strike last week at Ford's big Kentucky Truck Plant, which generates $25 billion in annual sales. Fain had described the Kentucky walkout as a warning to GM and Stellantis. Ford, which has had the highest offer among the three, has said it is at the limit of what it can pay and remain competitive. Some of Fain's toughest rhetoric Friday was directed at Ford and Bill Ford, company chair and great-grandson of founder Henry Ford. For decades, Ford has cultivated a collaborative relationship with the UAW as a competitive advantage against GM and the former Chrysler, now Stellantis. Fain declared "the days of the UAW and Ford being a team to fight other companies are over." He also called out Ford's $600 million fourth-quarter dividend, saying it would amount to about a dollar an hour raise for all Ford hourly workers for the entire life of a new contract. "What Ford is showing us is that the money is there. They just don't want us to have it," Fain said. Automakers have said union demands would significantly raise costs and hobble their electric vehicle ambitions. EV leader Tesla and foreign brands such as Toyota are non-unionized. Ford said in a statement after Fain spoke that it was "eager to conclude these negotiations," citing lost wages and profit sharing by the workers. Stellantis had no immediate comment. Bill Ford has warned the strike was taking a toll on the automaker and the U.S. economy. Economic consultancy Anderson Economic Group has estimated that total economic losses from the strike have reached $7.7 billion, with the Detroit Three suffering losses of $3.45 billion. Ford Motor has not yet talked about how the EV battery plants it plans to build in joint ventures with Asian battery makers might fit under the UAW master agreement. On Friday, Fain did not mention the battery plants. The UAW wants automakers to allow the union to organize their workers, and raise their wages significantly from current levels that are below assembly plant pay scales. (Reporting by Joseph White in Detroit and Abhijith Ganapavaram in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Ben Klayman in Detroit and Pratyush Thakur in Bengaluru; Writing by Sayantani Ghosh; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila, Peter Henderson and David Gregorio) White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. (NYSE: WTM) ("White Mountains") announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire a majority stake in Bamboo Ide8 Insurance Services, LLC ("Bamboo"), an MGA focused on the California homeowners insurance market. White Mountains expects to invest approximately $285 million , including primary capital to support Bamboo's growth, and to acquire approximately 70% of Bamboo basic shares outstanding. Bamboo was launched in 2018 by John Chu , a seasoned insurance executive. Bamboo provides homeowners' insurance for over 100,000 California policyholders, using its technology-enabled underwriting platform to select and manage risk. Bamboo has grown profitably and rapidly in the challenging California market, and is now poised to expand into other states. John and the current Bamboo management team will continue to lead the business through its next phase and will retain a significant equity stake. "We are pleased to make this investment alongside John and the Bamboo management team. Bamboo is delivering a much-needed insurance alternative to homeowners in California. Bamboo has strong momentum, and we look forward to supporting its continued growth," said Chris Delehanty , Head of M&A of White Mountains. "This transaction marks a new and exciting chapter for Bamboo. We are fortunate to have found a like-minded capital partner who shares our vision and has a strong track record of successful insurance partnerships," said John Chu , Founder and CEO of Bamboo. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2024. The closing is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The closing is not subject to a financing condition. The exact ownership to be acquired by White Mountains, and the resulting amount that will be invested, will be determined based on Bamboo unitholder elections made prior to closing. For more information, see White Mountains's Form 8-K filed October 20, 2023 . Howden Tiger Capital Markets & Advisory acted as financial advisor to White Mountains, while Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP provided legal advice. Evercore Group, L.L.C. acted as financial advisor to Bamboo and selling equityholders, while Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP provided legal advice. Allen, Texas, Oct. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Heroes on the Water, dedicated to veterans and first responders in their healing journey, is thrilled to commemorate a significant milestone - 15 years of unwavering commitment and service to those who have served our nation. The organization takes immense pride in presenting "15 Spotlights" - a collection of inspiring stories that exemplify the resilience and determination of the individuals they have had the privilege of supporting. Heroes on the Waters mission, from the very beginning, has been to provide a lifeline of support and resources to the more than 60,000 veterans and first responders who have entrusted them with their healing journeys. As they celebrate the end of their 15th year, they invite everyone to reflect on some of the incredible lives they've touched. These 15 remarkable individuals exemplify the courage, determination, and strength that define their community. 1. Rick Gonzalez - A life transformed from California fields to the Army. 2. Alfredo Arevalo - A veteran's journey from the military to law enforcement. 3. Lisa Ramsey - A Fort Worth Police Officer's determined spirit. 4. Ken Ferguson - Continuing a family legacy of service. 5. Dawn Martin - Overcoming challenges to serve in the Navy. 6. Frank Aguilar - Unwavering dedication during adversity. 7. Andrew Beaudoin - Finding solace in the Adirondack Mountains. 8. John Stapleton - A military career inspired by a love for fishing. 9. Jessica Erosa - Balancing military service with motherhood. 10. Michael Libertini - The unseen trauma of a small-town police officer. 11. Ray Queen - A hero's journey inspired by 9/11. 12. Aric Quitugua - Advocating for veterans in Tampa Bay. 13. Bryan Hildebrandt - Rising above a challenging upbringing to serve in the Marines. 14. Eli Thomas - Confronting post-traumatic stress and tragedy. 15. Daniel Hernandez, Jr. - A military career born of love and commitment. Each of these stories is a testament to the transformative power of resilience and the support of a caring community. The organization encourages everyone to explore these inspiring narratives, available on their 15 spotlights webpage. By sharing these stories, they hope to not only honor these remarkable individuals but also shed light on the challenges veterans and first responders face as they transition to civilian life. This 15-year journey has been marked by both remarkable achievements and the enduring commitment of their supporters. Heroes on the Water wants to express their heartfelt gratitude to all those who have been a part of this incredible journey. The unwavering support of the community has been instrumental in their efforts to make a difference in the lives of veterans and first responders. For more information about Heroes on the Water and the "15 Spotlights" collection, please visit https://heroesonthewater.org/15-spotlights ### Founded in 2007, Heroes on the Water is a 501(c)3 non-profit that provides recreational wellness experiences to veterans, first responders and their families. Our primary modality is kayak fishing which has proven cognitive and emotional benefits. These programs incorporate structured activities in a pressure-free environment creating opportunities for community building and personal healing. Our participants receive much needed camaraderie and support. Faeda Elliott Heroes On The Water [email protected] Source: Heroes On The Water Ghent, 20th of October 2023, 18:00 CET, press release / non-regulatory information ABO-Group acquires Belgian engineering firm SWBO, specialising in the design of road and sewerage works Through this acquisition, ABO-Group broadens its pallet of services within infrastructure projects SWBO, based in Dendermonde, is an engineering company specialising in the design of road and sewerage works. It is also active in the field of soil surveys. The company has more than 30 years of experience and elaborates studies for car parks and pavements, up to the complete design of passageways and residential parcels. To this end, SWBO has a team of structural engineers, draughtsmen, engineers and surveyors. "For ABO-Group, the acquisition represents an entry into a field in which we were not previously active," says CEO Frank De Palmenaer. "Together with the recent acquisitions - MEET HET and Rimeco - we can now combine knowledge and experience within this field into a strong whole." The current managing director, Christophe de Ruysscher, will remain at the head of the company during the transition phase and will eventually hand over the leadership to the group. "ABO-Group represents a suitable partner for us to 'pass the torch' to," says Christophe, current director of SWBO. "Over the years, we have put SWBO on the map within Dendermonde as a reference study agency for the design of roads and sewers. It is now time to enter a new phase for the company, within a larger group, where we can act as an important addition within their existing activities." SWBO consists of a team of seven employees and realised an EBITDA of 450 000 euros in 2022. The acquisition was carried out by ABO-Group's M&A team and along seller's side by Aquis Corporate Finance, with ABO-Group acquiring 100% of the shares. About ABO-Group Environment Founded 28 years ago, ABO-Group is a company specialised in geotechnical and environmental engineering and is a key player in soil and contamination studies in Belgium, France and the Netherlands. Considering the impact of climate change and its associated consequences for humans (floods, droughts, etc.), ABO-Group's studies contribute to combating these negative consequences. They focus on the conservation of natural resources (such as water) and biodiversity. Through its consultancy and testing & monitoring departments, ABO-Group guarantees a sustainable and comprehensive solution for its clients. ABO-Group Environment is listed on the Brussels and Paris stock exchanges. For a more detailed description of the group's activities, please visit the ABO-Group website ( www.abo-group.eu ). For more information Frank De Palmenaer CEO ABO-Group Environment nv [email protected] T +32 (0)496 59 88 88 Attachment Carrollton, TX, Oct. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The holidays are approaching, and BuzzBallz is ringing them in with two exclusive seasonal flavors of their ready-to-drink cocktails, Eggnog and Cookie Nookie. This is the third year BuzzBallz is releasing Eggnog for a limited time, with Cookie Nookie releasing for the first time as their newest seasonal flavor. Both will have spirits-based BuzzBallz Cocktails and wine-based BuzzBallz Chillers options. Tia Wines, BuzzBallz Director of Marketing, said the holiday season is perfect for trying and sharing new, exciting flavors with loved ones, and that BuzzBallz are no exception. We love being able to explore the flavors and aromas we all crave when the first leaves start to fall. This year we wanted to bring back our holiday eggnog and release another delicious, but familiar flavor with an adult twist! Wines said. BuzzBallz Eggnog has a creamy and sweet taste with the hints of vanilla, nutmeg, and cinnamon one expects from a great eggnog. Most eggnog beverages come in a large bottle, making the 200mL and 187mL BuzzBallz options perfect for someone who wants to casually enjoy a quality eggnog in one sitting without the hassle of mixing multiple ingredients. BuzzBallz Cookie Nookie is a caramelly and creamy cocktail with natural cookie flavors and a smooth, luscious finish. It is another great choice for a dessert cocktail at holiday gatherings or cozy holiday nights in, especially with Christmas cookies being one of the top holiday desserts according to consumers. Brigid Calloway, BuzzBallz Director of R&D, said she was inspired to create the Cookie Nookie flavor after learning about the niche European spice cookie called speculoos. This spice cookie is ground up and made into a product that is known as 'cookie butter'. Liquid cookie butter sounded amazing to me, add a cream liquor and Cookie Nookie was born, Calloway said. These two seasonal flavors are beneficial to both retailers and consumers, allowing retailers to align new flavors with seasonal point-of-sale, while simultaneously offering brand fans exclusive "sneak peeks" into the innovative minds that make up the BuzzBallz brand. With over a dozen flavors in the BuzzBallz portfolio, these two additions continue to add to their innovative flavor options that make them stand out on retail shelves. Both cocktails are made with real cream, with a vodka base for the spirits-based Cocktails and orange wine base for the wine-based Chillers. Both flavors will be available across a variety of retail channels for the holiday season. For more information, visit www.buzzballz.com. ## About BuzzBallz, LLC/Southern Champion: Since its founding in 2009, BuzzBallz, LLC/Southern Champion has been a leader of innovation and originality in the ready-to-drink cocktail industry. Owning the only woman-owned distillery, winery, and brewery in the United States, CEO and Founder Merrilee Kick has taken her masters degree thesis project from an idea by her pool to a worldwide brand with distribution nationwide and in 25 countries. The companys two staple brands, BuzzBallz and Uptown Cocktails, have won dozens of awards for their design, flavor, and popularity, with BuzzBallz rising to the #1 selling RTD in convenience stores and going viral on social media with hundreds of millions of views on posts mentioning the one of a kind cocktail. The companys mission is to create fun and innovative premixed cocktails for the world with a vision to reinvent happy hour. With premium natural ingredients and all gluten-free and Kosher-certified flavors, the Texas-based business is dedicated to high quality in their products for consumers and community alike. Through partnerships like their TerraCycle program, BuzzBallz, LLC/Southern Champion values environmental responsibility with an emphasis on sustainability and economic improvement. The family-owned company cultivates a familial relationship with their teams to make a positive and lasting impact one sip at a time. Learn more at: www.southern-champion.com, www.uptowncocktails.com, and www.buzzballz.com. Attachment Brady Bouldin BuzzBallz, LLC/Southern Champion (972) 242-3777 [email protected] Source: BuzzBallz, LLC/Southern Champion TORONTO, Oct. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Further to its news release dated October 16, 2023, Copper Road Resources Inc. (TSXV: CRD) ("Copper Road" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the closing of its upsized non-brokered private placement of 1,750,000 flow-through units of the Company (each, an "FT Unit") at a price of $0.10 per FT Unit for gross proceeds of $175,000 (the "Offering"). Each FT Unit was comprised of one common share of the Company that was issued as a "flow-through share" (each, an "FT Share") within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Tax Act") and one common share purchase warrant (each warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant shall entitle the holder to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of $0.15 at any time on or before October 20, 2025. The Company intends to use the gross proceeds of the Offering on the exploration of the Companys Copper Road project near Batchewana Bay, Ontario. The gross proceeds from the issuance of the FT Shares will be used for "Canadian Exploration Expenses" (within the meaning of the Tax Act) (the "Qualifying Expenditures"), and that qualify for the federal 30% Critical Mineral Exploration Tax Credit, which will be renounced with an effective date no later than December 31, 2023 to the purchasers of the FT Units in an aggregate amount not less than the gross proceeds raised from the issue of the FT Shares. If the Qualifying Expenditures are reduced by the Canada Revenue Agency, the Company will indemnify each subscriber of FT Units for any additional taxes payable by such subscriber as a result of the Companys failure to renounce the Qualifying Expenditures. The Company also paid cash fees and issued finder warrants (each a "Finders Warrant") to an eligible finder equal to 7.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds raised, and 7.0% of the aggregate number of FT Units sold by such finder pursuant to the Offering. Each Finders Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one common share in the capital of the Company at a price of $0.10 for a period of 24 months following the closing of the Offering. The securities issued pursuant to the Offering are subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day. About Copper Road Copper Road Resources Inc. is a Canadian based explorer engaged in the acquisition, exploration and evaluation of properties for the mining of precious and base metals. The Company is exploring for large copper/gold deposits on the 21,000-hectare Batchewana Bay Project 80 km. north of Sault St. Marie, Ontario, Canada. Further Information For further information regarding Copper Road, please contact: Mr. John Timmons, President/CEO and Director Copper Road Resources Inc. Cellular: (416) 931 2243 Email: [email protected] Web: www.copperroad.ca Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "proposed", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, the proposed use of proceeds from the Offering, the Companys objectives, goals and exploration activities conducted and proposed to be conducted at the Companys properties; future growth potential of the Company, including whether any proposed exploration programs at any of the Companys properties will be successful; exploration results; and future exploration plans and costs and financing availability. These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: the expected benefits to the Company relating to the exploration conducted and proposed to be conducted at the Companys properties; the receipt of all applicable regulatory approvals for the Offering; the completion of the Offering on the terms described herein, or at all; failure to identify any mineral resources or significant mineralization; the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, including to fund any exploration programs on the Companys properties; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of gold, silver, base metals or certain other commodities; fluctuations in currency markets; change in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations pressures, cave-ins and flooding); inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining and mineral exploration; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability of increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); the unlikelihood that properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines; geological factors; actual results of current and future exploration; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be evaluated; soil sampling results being preliminary in nature and are not conclusive evidence of the likelihood of a mineral deposit; title to properties; and those factors described in the most recently filed managements discussion and analysis of the Company. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information, or the material factors or assumptions used to develop such forward-looking information, will prove to be accurate. The Company does not undertake to release publicly any revisions for updating any voluntary forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities law. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Source: Copper Road Resources Inc. TAIPEI, Taiwan and COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Oct. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Evergreen Marine Corporation (Evergreen) and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly explore production and usage of carbon-neutral e-fuels. CIP has signed the MOU on behalf of its Energy Transition Fund. With more than 200 container vessels deployed around the world, Evergreen is amongst the 10 biggest container shipping companies globally. Decarbonization of such an operation is a major undertaking and may require a range of different fuel types. To explore and potentially develop these, Evergreen is teaming up with CIP. The cooperation will have several aspects including production of e-fuels in Taiwan based on offshore wind, but also exploration of a broader supply of green fuels such as e-ammonia and e-methanol. Taiwan plays a vital role in the global supply chains not only as a producer, but also as a container ship operator, controlling about 10% of the worlds container shipping fleet. Taiwan has good conditions for offshore wind and with a growing government support for decarbonization it has the potential to become a producer of the future fuel types. CIP is currently constructing and developing several offshore wind farms in Taiwan with strong ties to the Taiwanese industries and society. CIP Partner Felix Pahl says: ETF is the worlds largest fund dedicated to investing and developing advanced energy technology which supports the transition to renewable energy. CIP already has a strong footprint in Taiwan, and we are looking forward to working with Evergreen to further support Taiwans ambition of realizing 2050 net zero goal. Evergreen states that its collaboration with CIP represents a further step in the companys strategy to achieve its carbon reduction goals. Aligned with the International Maritime Organization's target for shipping of net-zero carbon emissions, Evergreen aims to achieve this goal by 2050. The partnership with CIP will support Evergreen in exploring and developing the low-carbon fuel solutions required. About Copenhagen Infrastructure PartnersFounded in 2012, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners P/S (CIP) today is the worlds largest dedicated fund manager within greenfield renewable energy investments and a global leader in offshore wind. The funds managed by CIP focuses on investments in offshore and onshore wind, solar PV, biomass and energy-from-waste, transmission and distribution, reserve capacity, storage, advanced bioenergy, and Power-to-X. CIP manages ten funds and has to date raised approximately EUR 25 billion for investments in energy and associated infrastructure from more than 150 international institutional investors. CIP has approximately 400 employees and 12 offices around the world. For more information, visit www.cip.com For further information, please contact: E-mail: [email protected] Oliver Routhe Skov, Head of Media RelationsPhone: +45 30541227Email: [email protected]Thomas Knig, Partner Investor RelationsPhone: +45 7070 5151Email: [email protected] Source: Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners Evertwine is thrilled to announce the highly-anticipated launch of Evertwine's Mint Day on October 25th, 2023! ZAGREB, CROATIA, Oct. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Prepare yourself for a mesmerizing collection of unique NFTs, available for purchase at just 100 Polygon (MATIC). With a limited collection size of 10,000, these rare digital treasures offer an unparalleled combination of immersive gameplay, captivating lore, and so much more. Discover the extraordinary world of Evertwine's NFTs by visiting us at evertwine.io . In addition to the much-anticipated Mint Day, the team is delighted to unveil our freshly redesigned website. Discover a wealth of exclusive information and content awaiting your exploration. Immerse yourself in the captivating Yarn World with Evertwine. As the countdown to our Mint Day begins, the team wants to express it's deep gratitude for their incredible community of fans. To show their appreciation, they are hosting an exciting giveaway. Everyone stands a chance to win 100 Polygon (MATIC) by simply following @EvertwineIO , commenting, and retweeting. Stay tuned, as we will announce the lucky winner in just three days. Join Evertwine on this remarkable journey as we unlock the doors to the Yarn and endless possibilities. Don't miss out on this extraordinary opportunity. Mark your calendars for our Mint Day and prepare to embark on an unforgettable adventure! About Evertwine Developed by Exordium Games , Evertwine aims to revitalize the play-to-earn gaming scene. It fuses the fundamentals of blockchain-based gaming, such as free, decentralized accessibility, with a cutting-edge tokenomics model is a reinvigorating approach. Exordium Games is an indie video game studio founded in 2014 in Zagreb, Croatia, with over 100 games and 30 other projects. Its innovative solutions have attracted over 20 million mobile users and 500,000 downloads on standalone platforms. GUADALAJARA, Mexico, Oct. 19, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico, S.A.B. de C.V., (NYSE: PAC; BMV: GAP) (the Company or GAP). Today, the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (Agencia Federal de Aviacion Civil, AFAC), a decentralized entity of the Mexican Secretary of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport (Secretaria de Infraestructura, Comunicaciones y Transporte, SICT), notified us of a new document that modifies the Rules for Tariff Regulation (Bases de Regulacion Tarifaria) received last October 4, 2023. These new rules have immediate application, however, the Master Development Plan and the current maximum Tariffs, approved in the last tariff review for the period 2020-2024, will remain in place. Any modification to the tariffs based on the new Rules for Tariff Regulation will apply to tariffs starting on January 1, 2025, once the ordinary review process of the Joint Maximum Tariff and Master Development Plan for the period 2025-2029 is completed. An English translation of the full text of the document called Rules for Tariff Regulation received on October 19 is on the Companys website at: https://www.aeropuertosgap.com.mx/files/PR_19_10_23_ACTUALIZACIN_CAMBIOS_BRT_ENG_VF.pdf Company Description Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico, S.A.B. de C.V. (GAP) operates 12 airports throughout Mexicos Pacific region, including the major cities of Guadalajara and Tijuana, the four tourist destinations of Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, La Paz and Manzanillo, and six other mid-sized cities: Hermosillo, Guanajuato, Morelia, Aguascalientes, Mexicali, and Los Mochis. In February 2006, GAPs shares were listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol PAC and on the Mexican Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GAP. In April 2015, GAP acquired 100% of Desarrollo de Concessioner Aeroportuarias, S.L., which owns a majority stake in MBJ Airports Limited, a company operating Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica. In October 2018, GAP entered into a concession agreement for the Norman Manley International Airport operation in Kingston, Jamaica, and took control of the operation in October 2019. This press release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are statements that are not historical facts and are based on managements current view and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, company performance and financial results. The words anticipates, believes, estimates, expects, plans and similar expressions, as they relate to the company, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Statements regarding the declaration or payment of dividends, the implementation of principal operating and financing strategies and capital expenditure plans, the direction of future operations and the factors or trends affecting financial condition, liquidity or results of operations are examples of forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of management and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. There is no guarantee that the expected events, trends or results will actually occur. The statements are based on many assumptions and factors, including general economic and market conditions, industry conditions, and operating factors. Any changes in such assumptions or factors could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. In accordance with Section 806 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and Article 42 of the Ley del Mercado de Valores, GAP has implemented a whistleblower program, which allows complainants to anonymously and confidentially report suspected activities that involve criminal conduct or violations. The telephone number in Mexico, facilitated by a third party responsible for collecting these complaints, is 800 04 ETICA (38422) or WhatsApp +52 55 6538 5504. The website is www.lineadedenunciagap.com or by email at [email protected]. GAPs Audit Committee will be notified of all complaints for immediate investigation. Alejandra Soto, Investor Relations and Social Responsibility Officer [email protected] Gisela Murillo, Investor Relations [email protected] /+52 33 3880 1100 ext. 20294 Source: Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico, S.A.B. de C.V. Memphis, TN, Oct. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Civil Rights Museums Freedom Award honored Stacey Abrams, Kerry Kennedy, and Dr. Clayborne Carson last night before an audience of 1,500 corporate, civic and community leaders, and engaged citizens. This years event included a surprise announcement as proof of the museums commitment to educate and inspire and its ability to leverage partnerships and resources toward that mission. EVENT HIGHLIGHTS The Freedom Award experience kicked off with the Student Forum which was held in person for the first time since 2019 before 2,000 students with a livestream option for hundreds of students beyond the area. Local students participated and performed during the program, as they learned more about civil and human rights and the personal journeys of this years Freedom Award honorees. The museums Keeper of the Dream Award was bestowed upon three local students Hannah Glenn, Jade Mitchell, and Ira Sharma. The evening events began with a walk on the Red Carpet for the honorees, performers, and all event guests as part of an inclusive and immersive experience with live-streamed interviews with the honorees and special guests. The Pre-Show Gala provided music, food, and libations throughout the indoor spaces of the Halloran Performing Arts Centre and outdoor promenade where one block of historic Main Street was converted into a combination of culinary and creative arts. Each of our honorees, in their own way, reflect our mission and focus on civil and human rights for positive social change, said Dr. Russ Wigginton, Museum President. As we honor these outstanding individuals, let us reflect on their passion and compassion for their fellow human beings. Let us recommit to listen, learn and lead so that equal justice is the norm and injustice is put to rest." The highlight of the day was the Award Ceremony at the Orpheum Theatre when Abrams, Kennedy, and Carson were candid and transparent about setbacks and opportunities that led them to act courageously in the struggle for civil and human rights. They acknowledged their families and the many people whose paths they crossed and on whose shoulders they stood. Abrams voiced the urgency of voting rights to treat the nations social ills. Voting is not magic. You dont vote and things change. Voting is medicine, Abrams said. If you believe that police brutality should end, you should believe in voting. If you believe the right to be heard, the right to be who you are is sacrosanct, you should be voting. Performances by empowering poet J. Ivy with wife Tarrey Torae, and the smoothly enchanting choreography sister-group Let It Happen created excitement and audience cheers. Tobias Truvillion, ceremony host, was as engaging on stage as he was in the Memphis community this week during meet-and-greets at local businesses. SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT TO FUND FIELD TRIPS During the award ceremony, the Museum announced a $200,000 grant from the Memphis Shelby County School Board to provide field trips to the National Civil Rights Museum. through its Discovering Memphis Initiative, all MSCS students in grades 5, 8, and 11 will have the opportunity to visit the Museum this school year. The Museum has set a $50,000 goal to secure additional donor contributions so that even more students within and beyond Memphis can experience the transformative power of the Museum. I can think of few places where students get to see, hear, and feel more than at our National Civil Rights Museum, said Memphis Shelby County School Board member Kevin Woods. The MSCS Board with the leadership of Chair Greene, Superintendent Williams, and her dynamic team, understood the importance of expanding students knowledge through field trips. The administration is currently implementing a remarkable strategy to expose students at all grade bands to even more of our rich history, art, and cultural experiences, he said. School group participation for free museum field trips is on a first-come, first-served basis through the end of May 2024, so teachers are encouraged to make reservations promptly. For more information, contact the museums Group Services Department at [email protected]. About the National Civil Rights Museum:Located at the historic Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was tragically assassinated, the National Civil Rights Museum provides an in-depth overview of the American Civil Rights Movement. Since its establishment in 1991, the Museum has attracted millions of visitors from around the world, with a profound mission to preserve the legacy of Dr. King and advocate for ongoing human rights struggles. As a Smithsonian Affiliate and a recipient of the prestigious 2019 National Medal Award, the Museum continues to inspire action and foster positive social change. About Smithsonian Affiliations:Smithsonian Affiliations, established in 1996, is a national outreach program that fosters collaborative partnerships between museums, educational, and cultural organizations to enrich communities with Smithsonian resources. Their long-term goal is to promote a two-way relationship between Affiliate organizations and the Smithsonian Institution, encouraging lifelong learning and discovery across America. civilrightsmuseum.org Connie Dyson National Civil Rights Museum 901-331-5460 [email protected] Source: National Civil Rights Museum TORONTO, Oct. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nexus Industrial REIT (the "REIT") (TSX: NXR.UN) announced today that it intends to release its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 before the opening of the TSX on Wednesday, November 15, 2023. Management of the REIT will host a conference call at 1:00 PM Eastern Standard Time on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 to review the financial results and operations. To participate in the conference call, please dial 416-915-3239 or 1-800-319-4610 (toll free in Canada and the US) at least five minutes prior to the start time and ask to join the Nexus Industrial REIT conference call. A recording of the conference call will be available until December 15, 2023. To access the recording, please dial 604-674-8052 or 1-855-669-9658 (toll free in Canada and the US) and enter access code 0526. October and November 2023 Distribution The REIT will make a cash distribution in the amount of $0.05333 per unit, representing $0.64 per unit on an annualized basis, payable November 15, 2023 to unitholders of record as of October 31, 2023. The REIT will also make a cash distribution in the amount of $0.05333 per unit, representing $0.64 per unit on an annualized basis, payable December 15, 2023 to unitholders of record as of November 30, 2023. The REITs distribution reinvestment plan (DRIP) entitles eligible unitholders to elect to receive all, or a portion of the cash distributions of the REIT reinvested in units of the REIT. Eligible unitholders who so elect will receive a bonus distribution of units equal to 4% of each distribution that was reinvested by them under the DRIP. About Nexus Industrial REIT Nexus is a growth-oriented real estate investment trust focused on increasing unitholder value through the acquisition of industrial properties located in primary and secondary markets in Canada and the ownership and management of its portfolio of properties. The REIT currently owns a portfolio of 115 properties (including two properties held for development in which the REIT has an 80% interest) comprising approximately 12.1 million square feet of gross leasable area. The REIT has approximately 68,430,000 Units issued and outstanding. Additionally, there are Class B LP Units of subsidiary limited partnerships of Nexus issued and outstanding, which are convertible into approximately 22,220,000 Units. For further information please contact: Kelly C. Hanczyk, CEO at (416) 906-2379; orRob Chiasson, CFO at (416) 613-1262. Source: Nexus Industrial REIT HOUSTON, TX, Oct. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Prairie Operating Co. (OTCQB: CRKR; the Company), is pleased to announce the formation of a strategic partnership with High West Energy, aimed at supplying electric power to all field operations. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in the electrification of the majority of Prairie Operating's rural DJ Basin acreage position in northern Weld County, Colorado. Prairie Operating's comprehensive electrification strategy encompasses key areas within its operations, including the electrification of drilling rigs, the implementation of electric-driven compression at facilities, and the utilization of air-driven pneumatic devices. By transitioning away from diesel and field gas-powered operations, Prairie Operating anticipates substantial reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions. Ed Kovalik, Chairman and CEO of Prairie Operating Co., commented, This strategic partnership highlights our unwavering commitment to seeking sustainable business opportunities that generate competitive long-term financial returns, while prioritizing safe and environmentally responsible execution. The company's dedication to ESG principles remains a driving force behind our internal execution and investment decision strategy. By partnering with High West Energy, Prairie Operating is at the forefront of setting new benchmarks for sustainable practices, while contributing to a greener and more resilient energy landscape. About Prairie Operating Co. Prairie Operating Co. (f/k/a Creek Road Miners, Inc.) is a publicly-traded company with assets held in Weld County, Colorado. The Company is dedicated to developing affordable, reliable energy to meet the worlds growing demand, while continuing to protect the environment. To learn more, visit www.prairieopco.com . Forward-Looking Statements The information included herein and in any oral statements made in connection herewith include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included herein, are forward-looking statements. When used herein, including any oral statements made in connection herewith, the words could, should, will, may, believe, anticipate, intend, estimate, expect, project, the negative of such terms and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on the Companys current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, the Company disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. The Company cautions you that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of the Company. These risks include, but are not limited to, general economic, financial, legal, political, and business conditions and changes in domestic and foreign markets; the ability of the Company to successfully develop its assets in Weld County, Colorado; the failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the merger with Prairie Operating Co., LLC; the risks related to the growth of the Companys business and the timing of expected business milestones; and the effects of competition on the Companys future business. Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described herein and in any oral statements made in connection therewith occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks not currently known by the Company or that the Company currently believes are immaterial that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact the Companys expectations can be found in the registration statement on Form S-1 filed by the Company on June 16, 2023, as amended on July 27, 2023, and in the Companys periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), including the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 31, 2023, and any subsequently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The Companys SEC filings are available publicly on the SECs website at www.sec.gov. Investor Relations Contact: Wobbe Ploegsma [email protected] Seqera to be official supplier for Alinghi Red Bull Racing team in 37th Americas Cup BARCELONA, Spain, Oct. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Seqera , the leading software provider for complex data analysis in the life sciences space, has been confirmed as the official High Performance Computing Supplier for Alinghi Red Bull Racing at the 37th Americas Cup. Just as in sailing where understanding data to improve the margins can result in the biggest breakthroughs, Seqeras software empowers scientists to optimize their research processes and accelerate scientific innovation. After being the first European team to win the Americas Cup in 2003, Alinghi joined forces with Red Bull in 2022 to create a new team setting out to win the 37th Americas Cup. Known for its development of cutting-edge technology and high-performance culture, Alinghi Red Bull Racing strives to use insights and data analytics through innovations that can make all the difference when it comes to sailing. As the official High Performance Computing Supplier, Seqera will be supporting Alinghi Red Bull Racing team to make data analysis and decision making easier and more effective. Silvio Arrivabene, co-general Manager Alinghi Red Bull Racing, comments: We are delighted to have Seqera join us as suppliers in our Americas Cup campaign. With the amount of data handling required in modern Americas Cup campaigns, a world of class infrastructure is paramount, which makes Seqera a natural fit for our team. Evan Floden, Founder and CEO of Seqera Labs, comments: We are long time admirers of the approach that Alinghi Red Bull Racing takes to sailing. This admiration comes from a sense of shared values and a willingness to prioritise technology and performance to drive innovation. When Alinghi and Red Bull combined forces, it was exciting to see the parallels between F1 and sailing technology which are being applied to gain maximum performance from the boats used. Likewise, the work that we do at Seqera helps engineers and scientists drive innovation and these advances all come down to understanding data and consolidating computing infrastructure. Were delighted to come aboard the Alinghi Red Bull Racing team and look forward to working with a team that is as passionate about data and technology as we are. About Seqera Seqera makes complex data analysis accessible at any scale by providing the tools to drive innovation in genomics, global health, and beyond. The company provides software for scientists solving today's most complex and important challenges from pioneering innovative therapeutics to unveiling the secrets of our universe. The journey began a decade ago with Nextflow open software that helps over 100,000 global scientists analyze and process data, with more power and flexibility than ever before. Today, Seqera consolidates fragmented data and diverse computing resources into a unified platform. Their modern biotech stack is trusted by 150 leading life sciences organizations including AstraZeneca, Roche, and Johnson & Johnson. Empowered with modern software engineering, organizations conduct science faster, on larger datasets, and with more confidence. Seqera accelerates discoveries in an open world. About Alinghi Red Bull After over a decade away from the Cup, Alinghi, one of the most dynamic names in the history of the Americas Cup, is returning to battle for sailings highest honour. The consecutive-winning syndicate joins forces with Red Bull, the driving force in global sport, to create a new team: Alinghi Red Bull Racing. The team sails under the flag of the Societe Nautique de Geneve and is accompanied by its main partner Swiss watch brand TUDOR and co-partner Prysmian Group . The official Swiss challenger will compete in the Selection Series for the 37th Americas Cup, in 2024 in Barcelona. The countdown has begun! Media Contact Emily Owen +447807486108 [email protected] CHENNAI, India, Oct. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EARNING CALLS DETAILS Oct 20, 2023 | 8:30 AM ET To join: Toll Free: 888-506-0062, International: 973-528-0011, Participant Access Code: 219546 On the call: Mr. Raju Vegesna, Chairman of the Board, Mr. M P Vijay Kumar, Executive Director & Group CFO and Mr. Kamal Nath, Chief Executive Officer Live webcast: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2184/49194 Archives: Toll Free: 877-481-4010, International: 919-882-2331, Replay Passcode: 49194. Replay available until Friday, October 27, 2023 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HIGHLIGHTS Revenue was INR 8,791 Million, an increase of 11% over the same quarter last year. EBITDA was INR 1,519 Million, an increase of 1% over the same quarter last year. Profit before tax was INR 52 Million, a decrease of 76% versus the same quarter last year. Profit after tax was INR 15 Million, a decrease of 87% versus the same quarter last year. CAPEX during the quarter was INR 1,797 Million. (IN INR MILLION) 30.09.2023 31.03.2023 EQUITY 22,040 17,146 BORROWINGS Long term 16,972 13,818 Short term 6,557 6,662 MANAGEMENT COMMENTARY Mr. Raju Vegesna, Chairman, said, Indias Data Policy is entering the final phase of being adopted into law. This will give shape and clarity to data ecosystem and formalize regulation around Data security, which will help accelerate investment in Indias Data Center landscape. This will also lead to India being viewed as a more viable interconnect point between Asia and the Middle East by international connectivity players. Enterprises exploring digital transformation and government entities looking to automate social welfare systems will be an important target audience for Sifys digital transformation tools and services. Mr. Kamal Nath, CEO, said, As Enterprises pursue their digital transformation and digitalization objectives, they are also re-calibrating their digital infrastructure across hybrid cloud, network, security and edge infrastructures. Customer experience, business continuity, cyber security, application modernization and overall adoption of AI models are the prime drivers for this recalibration. Our infrastructure investments and services portfolio are fundamentally aligned to meet the customer goals. Simultaneously, we are continuously engaged with our customers to identify their specific needs and selectively recalibrate our propositions to support the same. Mr. M P Vijay Kumar, ED & Group CFO, said, We continue to make substantial investment in capacity creation and people to build skill sets for IT services opportunities we foresee, given the digital transformation engagements that India Inc is actively pursuing. This has led to the accompanying depreciation and interest cost, reflecting on our net profit. We are also actively scaling up our sustainable measures across all businesses, especially our Data Centers. The cash balance at the end of the quarter was INR 7570 Million. BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS The Revenue split between the businesses for the quarter was Data Center colocation services 31%, Digital services 28% and Network services 41%. Business Revenue (INR Millions) Q2 FY 2023-24 Q2 FY 2022-23 FY 2022-23 % Growth Q2 2023-24 vs Q2 2022-23 Data Center services 2717 2547 10125 7 Digital Services 2503 2004 9988 25 Network services 3571 3387 13291 5 TOTAL 8791 7938 33404 During the quarter, Sify added 1.2 MW of new Data Center capacity. As on September 30, 2023, Sify has deployed 6535 SDWAN service points across the country. Sify now provides services via 952 fiber nodes across the country, a 14% increase over the same quarter last year. During the quarter, Sify invested USD 1.5 Million in start-ups in the Silicon Valley area as part of our Corporate Venture Capital initiative. To date, the cumulative investment stands at USD 7.07 Million. CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENTS Among the most prominent new contracts during the quarter were the following: Data Center Services Two public sector and one private bank signed up for colocation space. A privately held international stock broking firm entering India contracted for colocation space. A private bank migrated from their on-premise Data Center to Sify Data Center. A private telecom player will set up their disaster recovery unit at one of Sifys locations. One of Indias largest private bank contracted for DC expansion and refresh. Digital services A state government welfare department and two private enterprises signed up to migrate from their on-premise DC to Sifys Cloudinfinit platform, along with managed services. A NBFC, a health solutions player, an insurance broker and a steel major contracted for Sify greenfield cloud implementation. A division of a state government signed up for a complete platform migration and managed services. One of the larger online insurance policy platforms, a hosiery major, one of the oldest content service providers, a software player and a citizen service provider signed up for Sifys digital services. The technology partner of the Union government, a State government data center, the power distribution arm of another state government, a private power transmission player, a private insurance major, a white goods, an industrial chemical manufacturer and an insurance information bureau signed up for managed services. More than a million online assessments were conducted for an autonomous banking institute and a government service selection platform. An international power products manufacturer and another refrigeration major signed up for Sifys cloud-based supply chain solution. Network Services A leading Indian airline has contracted for the management of its entire network infrastructure, including Network Operations Center. A heavy machinery distributor and a Spirits major contracted for managed and secure SD WAN. Sify also contracted for network expansion with multiple prominent banks, a tyre manufacturer and a logistics major. One of the global outsourcing majors, a personal care conglomerate and an Edutech startup signed up for hosted contact and CPaaS services. During the quarter, Sify activated its VNO license to support SIP trunking in India. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Unaudited Consolidated Income Statement as per IFRS (In INR millions) Quarter ended Quarter ended Quarter ended Description September September June 2023 2022 2023 Revenue 8,791 7,938 8,547 Cost of Revenues (5,509 ) (4,988 ) (5,371 ) Selling, General and Administrative Expenses (1,763 ) (1,441 ) (1,452 ) EBITDA 1,519 1,509 1,724 Depreciation and Amortisation expense (1,217 ) (956 ) (1,118 ) Net Finance Expenses (307 ) (362 ) (471 ) Other Income (including exchange gain/loss) 57 29 14 Profit before tax 52 220 149 Current Tax (201 ) (167 ) (147 ) Deferred Tax 164 59 93 Profit for the period 15 112 95 Profit attributable to: Reconciliation with Non-GAAP measure Profit for the period 15 112 95 Add: Depreciation and Amortisation expense 1,217 956 1,118 Net Finance Expenses 307 362 471 Current Tax 201 167 147 Less: Deferred Tax (164 ) (59 ) (93 ) Other Income (including exchange gain/loss) (57 ) (29 ) (14 ) EBITDA 1,519 1,509 1,724 About Sify Technologies A Fortune India 500 company, Sify Technologies is Indias most comprehensive ICT service & solution provider. With Cloud at the core of our solutions portfolio, Sify is focused on the changing ICT requirements of the emerging Digital economy and the resultant demands from large, mid and small-sized businesses. Sifys infrastructure, comprising state-of-the-art Data Centers, the largest MPLS network, partnership with global technology majors, and deep expertise in business transformation solutions modelled on the cloud, make it the first choice of start-ups, SMEs and even large Enterprises on the verge of a revamp. More than 10000 businesses across multiple verticals have taken advantage of our unassailable trinity of Data Centers, Networks and Security services and conduct their business seamlessly from more than 1600 cities in India. Internationally, Sify has a presence across North America, the United Kingdom and Singapore. Sify, Sify Technologies, Sify Infinit Spaces and Sify Digital Services are registered trademarks of Sify Technologies Limited. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. Sify undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements. For a discussion of the risks associated with Sifys business, please see the discussion under the caption Risk Factors in the companys Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended March 31, 2023, which has been filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and is available by accessing the database maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov , and Sifys other reports filed with the SEC. For further information, please contact: EL CENTRO, CA - (NewMediaWire) - October 20, 2023 - CMUV Bancorp, the holding company for Community Valley Bank (CVB), is pleased to announce unaudited 3rd Quarter results as of September 30, 2023. During the 3rd quarter, net income totaled $991,000, which brought year-to-date net income to $2,873,863 through the first nine months of the year. Net income for 3rd quarter equaled $0.54 per share. Also, at the end of 3Q 2023, total assets were $294.5 MM, total deposits were $258 MM, and gross loans were at $222 MM. We ended the third quarter 2023 with a Community Bank Leverage Capital ratio of 11.24%, which puts the Bank well above the ratio required to be considered a well-capitalized bank. The new regulatory metric for the reserve on loans, Allowance for Credit Losses (ACL), was $2,447,223, or 1.20% of total loans, excluding guaranteed portion of loans. In addition, non-accrual loans remain very low at 0.75%. Both the Board and Management believe the ACL is fully funded at this time. The September 30, 2023 book value of the common stock was $15.79 per share (diluted), while the common stock (CMUV) was trading at $14.50 as of the same date. ROAA through the third quarter of 2023 was 1.31%, while ROAE came in at 11.74%. Shareholder Financial Summary For Quarter End September 30, 2023 Sept 30 , 2023 Sept 30 , 2022 ASSETS Cash & Cash Equivalents $ 52,443,464 $ 49,282,886 Total Investments 7,436,640 $ 6,563,192 Gross Loans 222,266,223 $ 211,049,790 ACL (2,447,223 ) (2,357,659 ) Total Earning Assets $ 279,699,104 $ 264,538,209 Other Assets 14,776,313 $ 12,127,821 TOTAL ASSETS $ 294,475,417 $ 276,666,030 LIABILITIES Deposits $ 258,001,925 $ 237,660,261 Total Borrowings & Debt Obligations 2,057,776 $ 4,053,510 Other Liabilities 757,385 $ 2,278,903 TOTAL LIABILITIES $ 260,817,087 $ 243,992,675 SHAREHOLDER CAPITAL/EQUITY Total Stock, Equity, Retained Earnings $ 31,784,467 $ 29,557,558 Net Income $ 2,873,863 $ 3,115,797 TOTAL EQUITY/CAPITAL $ 34,658,330 $ 32,673,355 TOTAL LIBILITIES & CAPITAL/EQUITY $ 295,475,417 $ 276,666,030 Sept 30 , 2023 Sept 30 , 2022 STATEMENT OF INCOME AND EXPENSE Total Interest Income $ 11,580,565 $ 8,697,679 Total Interest Expense (2,886,304 ) (616,505 ) NET INTEREST INCOME $ 8,694,261 $ 8,081,175 Total Other Non-Interest Income $ 589,905 $ 977,092 Total Non-Interest Expenses $ (5,263,502 ) $ (4,684,186 ) Provision for Loan Loss (45,600 ) - INCOME BEFORE TAXES $ 3,975,064 $ 4,374,081 Income Tax Expense $ (1,101,201 ) $ (1,258,284 ) NET INCOME $ 2,873,863 $ 3,115,796 FINANCIAL RATIOS Return on Average Assets (ROAA) 1.31 % 1.45 % Return on Average Equity (ROAE) 11.74 % 13.90 % Earnings Per Share (Basic) - Quarterly Earnings $ 0.54 $ 0.56 Earnings Per Share (Basic) - YTD $ 1.57 $ 1.68 Total Shares (Outstanding/Exercised) 1,830,647 1,859,481 Book Value (CVB - Bank) $ 18.93 $ 17.57 Book Value (CMUV - Holding Company) $ 15.79 $ 14.31 Contact: Jon A. Edney, President/CEO Phone (760) 352-1889, [email protected] View the original release on www.newmediawire.com Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 20, 2023) - Advanced Gold Exploration Inc.(CSE:AUEX)("AUEX" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has filed an Independent technical report (the "Technical Report") prepared pursuant to National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") on its Buck Lake Property (the "Property") on the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. The Technical Report was prepared by Michael Kilbourne P. Geo., an independent Qualified Person and has an Effective Date of September 28, 2023. The Technical Report, entitled "43-101 Independent Technical Report on the Buck Lake Property for Advanced Gold Exploration Inc., Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario" was prepared by Michael Kilbourne, P.Geo. (the "Author") at the request of the Company. This Technical Report is specific to the standards dictated by NI 43-101 in respect to Property. The purpose of this Technical Report is to review the geological environment, summarize the historic work, and assess the technical merit of the Property for disposition. About the Buck Lake Property The Property is located approximately 62 linear km northeast of Sault Ste. Marie in the Province of Ontario. The Property consists of a total of 180 single-cell mining claims that covers 3,886 hectares located in Lunkie and Gapp Townships. The Property is located in the Wawa-Abitibi Subprovince within of the Superior Province of Canada. The Property is situated within the Batchawana Greenstone Belt ("BGB") that comprises a small portion of the Wawa-Abitibi Subprovince. The BGB is an arcuate-shaped, expansive belt located in the southern-central part of the Wawa-Abitibi Subprovince on the eastern shore of Lake Superior. This BGB is an Archean-aged greenstone belt consisting of a ick succession of supracrustal rocks. The property is situated in the Batchawana Volcanic Domain which hosts prospective sequences of felsic and mafic volcanics. The Technical Report states that the geological environment of the Property is favourable for the presence of Archean volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits ("VMS"), iron deposits and orogenic gold deposits, namely banded iron formation ("BIF") hosted gold deposits due to the fact that BIF's are present on the Property. The focus of exploration has historically been on VMS-type deposits, but other deposit model types should not be dismissed. The Property contains at least 8 areas of potential based on the presence of Base Metal Mineralization based on historical or recent activities. Including areas of copper and zinc mineralization. An extensive stripping and channel sampling program over one of the zones in (the Noranda Trend) in 2022 identified several mineral horizons and provided invaluable clues to the geological environment of Cu-Zn mineralization. Highlights of the channel sampling include 4.94% Zn, 367 ppm Cu, 0.77% Pb and 45.6 g/t Ag over 1.0 m at trench G and These programs were followed-up by diamond drilling in 2022 consisting of 15 diamond drill holes totaling 2,545 m. The objective of the drilling was to test sulphide mineralization documented on surface at depth and along strike of the Noranda trend. The VLF anomalies outlined along the Noranda trend in 2022 were also tested. Highlights of the drill program include 1.51% Cu over 11.75 m in hole BL-22-06 and 2.38% Cu over 2.95 m in hole BL-22-15. The success of this program prompted the expansion of the property to cover known airborne anomalies and other areas of past drilling which had identified base metal mineralization. Mr. Jim Atkinson CEO of AUEX notes that "The Author of the Technical Report has reviewed the available information on the property and has stated in the Report 'that the following salient features of the Buck Lake Property makes this a property of high merit for VMS-type Cu-Zn deposits: A greenstone belt hosting supracrustal Archean-aged rocks within the metal endowed Wawa-Abitibi Subprovince. A geological environment consistent with other VMS deposits of the Wawa-Abitibi Subprovince which includes felsic to intermediate volcanics, dacitic flows, tuffs and breccias and sediments in an extensional arc environment. Confirmed Cu-Zn bearing massive sulphide mineralization in surface channel sampling and diamond drilling. Cu-Zn bearing +/- massive pyrite-pyrrhotite mineralization stratigraphically proximal to cherty exhalative horizons and BIF (Figure 8.1, right-hand side) (Photo 7). Limited modern-day VMS-deposit model exploration.' This is very positive for the project. He goes on to say." "It is of the Author's opinion that the Property be continued to be explored for VMS-type massive sulphide deposits as indications are favourable for success." Mr. Atkinson also stated "We believe in the potential of the Property and in the light of our newly stated focus on Gold exploration we will continue discussions with potential partners to advance the project freeing us to concentrate on our exciting gold projects." QUALIFIED PERSON James Atkinson M.Sc., P. Geo., a Qualified Person ("QP") as such term is defined NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the geological information reported in this news release. The Qualified Person has not completed sufficient work to verify all historic information on the Property, particularly with regards to historical sampling, drill results, and technical work provided by Carolina Gold Resources and others. The Qualified Person assumes that sampling and analytical results were completed to industry standard practices. The information provides an indication of the exploration potential of the Property but may not be representative of expected results. ABOUT ADVANCED GOLD EXPLORATION INC. Advanced Gold Exploration (Formerly Advance United Holdings Inc.) brings an entirely different approach to the mining industry. We don't mine. Rather, we've acquired a portfolio of undervalued gold properties and are increasing their value through the application of modern technology. We have a growing pipeline of similar properties that we are looking to acquire. We are involved exclusively in the acquisition and advancement of past projects - with no intent to bring them back into production or to mine them ourselves. Our expertise is in identifying and acquiring undervalued properties with significant historical work, which were uneconomic at the time, but we believe have economic value at today's prices. We fund the re-working historic data and applying modern technology to underwrite new qualified reports, document quantifiable resources and reserves to current standards, thereby recognizing the current value. Our purpose is to bring immediate and long-term value to our partners and shareholders while seeking to eliminate exploration risk, so that we can all advance in the shortest possible time frame. For additional information about us, our projects, or to find out how we can assist in the advancement of your project contact our CEO. Contact Information James Atkinson, M.Sc., P. Geo., CEO Advanced Gold Exploration Inc. Email: [email protected] Tel: (647) 278-7502 Forward-Looking Information and Cautionary Statements This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "would", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is provided, and is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change, unless required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/184674 Denver, Colorado--(Newsfile Corp. - October 20, 2023) - CBD of Denver, Inc. (OTC Pink: CBDD), is pleased to announce that the Company is experiencing record growth in its Anti Slip business due to an improved regulatory environment. The company has completed 26 new installations with a back log of 88 that are to be installed. The Bundestag, the German parliament, repealed Section 113a of German Social Code Book XI, which regulated certain standards covering "Maintenance and Promotion of Mobility." The repeal of the regulation removed the restriction that care contracts could only be concluded with facilities that complied with expert standards promulgated under the provision. The elimination of the provision expands the number of facilities that can accept and pay for the installation of the Berlin R13 anti-slip product. The Company is expanding its installation teams with another Berlin installation crew as well as beginning to train other installation teams. Currently the Company only operates in the Berlin area, however with the change German regulation it will be the Company's goal to add trained installation teams for a nationwide roll out of the Berlin R13 Anti-Slip product. The Company charges between 2,000 and 4,000 Euros per installation. "We are pleased with the new regulatory environment and plan to capitalize on this opportunity" states Axel Reinke CEO of CBD of Denver. "The Magic Lappen continues to expand within the Edeka Germany footprint by expanding into 2 new regions as the individual stores are requested the product." Reinke continued. "The Company due to its relationship with Edeka is exploring new packaging possibilities based on customer and Edeka engagement." The Luxora division of CBD of Denver will be scheduling conference call on October 26th, 2023 at 6pm CET (12 noon EST) with the senior management team to expand on the Company's vision for opportunities in the German market. On the call the Company will outline each of senior manager's role and duties during and expand on the different vertical business that the Company is working in. The Company will also layout its goals and initiatives for 2024 and beyond. Additionally, the company will highlight some of the social media initiatives that it will be implementing during Q4. "I am very pleased with the progress Luxora has made and look forward to expanding on our goals during the upcoming call" states Jan Schwager. CBD of Denver strives to provide that most up-to-date information available to the public, our customers, our employees, and our investors and shareholders. Additional updates from CBD of Denver We are reviewing additional products to put through our distribution portals, focusing on products that have already had success in North America. We have has hired and are in discussions with additional social media consultants to put together a focused and detailed plan for building brand awareness and expanding direct to consumer sales on all verticals within CBDD. As part of the Company's social media initiative, we will provide educational and informative content dealing the evolving German regulatory environment. Please visit our websites and ask any questions not answered on our websites and public disclosure. About CBD of Denver, Inc. (BERLINER INNOVATION) CBD of Denver, Inc. is focused on acquiring profitable assets at attractive valuations to create value for shareholders. The company's team is dedicated to sourcing high-margin, innovative products that align with its values. The Company is offering a number of innovative consumer products through Libra 9 GmbH, such as the Magic Lappen and the BerlinR13 Anti-Slip solution. Follow Magic Lappen on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok for more information and updates. Follow The Magic Lappen on Instagram: @themagiclappen Shop on our website: https://www.the-magic-lappen.com/ Visit the CBDD/ Berliner Innovation: www.berlinerinnovation.de See our innovative Anti-Slip product: www.berlinr13.de For questions, please contact us at: [email protected] About LUXORA LLC LUXORA LLC is a trailblazing entity in the European cannabis industry, with offices spanning the USA and Europe. Our core expertise revolves around unlocking the potential of the legalized cannabis market, offering Plug & Play solutions tailored to the dynamic needs of this rapidly expanding sector. With a profound understanding of the opportunities and challenges brought forth by legalization, our experienced team is dedicated to pioneering the future of the legal cannabis market in Europe. Our offerings range from consulting and market research to product development and distribution solutions, aimed at simplifying the path to legalization for our esteemed clients. For inquiries, please contact Investor Relations: [email protected] For more information, please visit: www.luxora-holding.com Follow Us: Twitter | Instagram. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/184645 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 19, 2023) - Chakana Copper Corp. (TSXV: PERU) (FSE: 1ZX) (the "Company" or "Chakana") announces that further to its news release dated October 18, 2023 announcing a non-brokered private placement of up to 55,000,000 units of the Company ("Units") at a price of C$0.04 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to C$2.2 million (the "Private Placement"), the Company would like to add that $2M of the proceeds of the Private Placement will be applied to exploration drilling, and development of the Company's high-grade copper-gold-silver discovery at the Soledad Project, located in the Ancash region of Peru. The remaining funds will be used for general working capital and administrative purposes, including salaries payable to non-arms length parties. There are no proposed payments to persons conducting investor relations activities. The Private Placement is subject to all necessary regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The securities issued under the Private Placement will be subject to a hold period under applicable securities laws in Canada expiring four months and one day from the closing date of the Private Placement. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. About Chakana Copper Corp Chakana Copper Corp is a Canadian-based minerals exploration company that is currently advancing the Soledad Project located in the Ancash region of Peru, a highly favorable mining jurisdiction with supportive communities. The Soledad Project is notable for the high-grade copper-gold-silver mineralization that is hosted in tourmaline breccia pipes and other intrusion-related styles of mineralization. An initial inferred resource estimate for seven breccia pipes was announced in January, 2022 (see news release dated February 23, 2022), with 6.73 Mt containing 191,000 ounces of gold, 11.7 million ounces of silver, and 130 million pounds of copper. In addition, extensive multidisciplinary exploration has defined 154 exploration targets, 28 of which have been tested to date (18%), confirming that Soledad is a large, well-endowed mineral system with strong exploration upside. Chakana's investors are uniquely positioned as the Soledad Project provides exposure to base and precious metals. For more information on the Soledad project, please visit the website at www.chakanacopper.com. Qualified Person David Kelley, an officer, and a director of Chakana, and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD (signed) "David Kelley" David Kelley President and CEO For further information contact: Investor Relations: Info Email: [email protected] Telephone: 720-233-2166 Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-looking Statement Advisory: This release contains forward-looking statements, including statements relating to the use of proceeds and completion of the Private Placement. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Chakana to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements or information relates to, among other things, the interpretation of the nature of the mineralization at the Soledad copper-gold-silver project (the "Project"), the potential to expand the mineralization, and to develop and grow a resource within the Project, the planning for further exploration work, the ability to de-risk the potential exploration targets, and our belief in the potential for mineralization within unexplored parts of the Project. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs but given the uncertainties, assumptions and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward- looking statements or information. The Company disclaims any obligation to update, or to publicly announce, any such statements, events or developments except as required by law. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/184613 Wellington, New Zealand--(Newsfile Corp. - October 20, 2023) - New Zealand Energy Corp.(TSXV: NZ) ("NZEC" or the "Company") announced today that, further to its July 20, 2021, August 16, 2021, July 18, 2022, October 31, 2022 and April 6, 2023 releases, in connection with the existing CAD$2,000,000 Convertible Loan Agreement with Arizona Finance Limited, the term of such Convertible Loan Agreement has been extended with the agreement of both the Company and Arizona Finance Limited to July 20, 2025, subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. On behalf of the Board of Directors "James Willis" Chairman New Zealand Energy Corp. New Zealand Energy Contacts Email: [email protected] Website: www.newzealandenergy.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain statements which constitute forward-looking statements or information ("forward-looking statements"), including statements regarding NZEC's business and the proposed extension of the Convertible Loan Agreement. Such forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond NZEC's control, including the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, volatility of commodity prices, currency fluctuations, imprecision of reserve estimates, environmental risks, operational risks in exploration and development, competition from other industry participants, the lack of availability of qualified personnel or management, stock market volatility and the ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources. Although NZEC believes that the expectations in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, they are based on factors and assumptions concerning future events which may prove to be inaccurate. Those factors and assumptions are based upon currently available information. Such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could influence actual results or events and cause actual results or events to differ materially from those stated, anticipated or implied in the forward looking information. As such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward looking information, as no assurance can be provided as to future results, levels of activity or achievements. The forward-looking statements contained in this document are made as of the date of this document and, except as required by applicable law, NZEC does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking statements contained in this document are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/184634 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 20, 2023) - Renegade Gold Inc. (TSXV: RAGE) (OTCQX: TGLDF) (FSE: 070) ("Renegade" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Nathan Tribble has been appointed as a director of the Company. Mr. Tribble has over 15 years of professional experience in exploration and mining, with a particular focus on gold and base metal exploration and project evaluation. Past experience includes Senior Principal Geologist for Sprott Mining, Senior Geologist for Bonterra Resources, Jerritt Canyon Gold, Kerr Mines, Northern Gold, Lake Shore Gold and Vale Inco. He was also part of the exploration team that discovered the 8.2 million-ounce Cte Lake gold deposit for Trelawney Mining and Exploration Inc. Mr. Tribble is registered as a Professional Geoscientist in Ontario and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from Laurentian University. About Renegade Gold Inc. Renegade Gold Inc. is a growth focused company engaged in the business of acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties located in the Red Lake Mining District of Northern Ontario. As part of its regional-scale consolidation strategy, the Company has assembled one of the largest prospective land packages in and around the Red Lake mining district in proximity to major mines and deposits, as well as along the Confederation Lake and Birch-Uchi greenstone belts. The recent completion of the acquisition of Pacton Gold Inc. extends Trillium's ownership in Red Lake to over 89,600 hectares of prospective and diversified exploration properties with significant potential for gold and critical minerals on trend with the major structures hosting known gold occurrences in the Red Lake mining district today. A portfolio of prospective projects in Western Australia has also been acquired. For further information, please contact: Renegade Gold Inc. Nav Dhaliwal President, CEO and Director [email protected] Tel: 604-678-5308 Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/184640 Sanya, China--(Newsfile Corp. - October 20, 2023) - Sanya Tourism Board proudly announces that a delegation from Hainan, guided by Hainan Provincial Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports, represented by Sanya Tourism Board, Sanya Investment Promotion Bureau, Sanya Phoenix International Airport and Haikou Meilan International Airport, was invited to participate in the exhibition and showcased the remarkable achievements of Hainan in various fields, such as tourism, aviation, commerce, and culture in recent years, as well as a series of supportive policies introduced by The People's Government of Hainan Province under the background of Hainan Free Trade Port. From October 15th to 17th, 2023, Routes World 2023 was held in Istanbul, Turkey, attracting nearly 3,000 aviation professionals from all around the world and over 420 aviation and travel companies. It is reported that Sanya Phoenix International Airport has signed MOU for strategic cooperation agreements with Cambodia Airlines and Melbourne Airport regarding the expansion of international regular routes, expediting the establishment of the fifth and seventh freedom routes in Hainan, and other related matters. Sanya Tourism Board To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8203/184255_3beb0173e422c880_001full.jpg During the event, Mr. Albert Yip, the Director General of Sanya Tourism Board, stated that Sanya will leverage its advantages in aviation and travel products to further meet the demands of the international market. Sanya aims to fully utilize the policy advantages of Hainan Free Trade Port and establish a new pattern of cooperation between Sanya and the international aviation and travel market for mutual benefits. This, in turn, will attract more domestic and international tourists, large enterprises, and high-end talents to visit, invest, and engage in business, further empowering the high-quality development of the international aviation industry in Hainan Free Trade Port. Media Contact: Company Name: Sanya Tourism Board Website: https://www.visitsanya.com/en/ Contact: 0898-88616699 Email Address: [email protected] To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/184255 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 20, 2023) - Xigem Technologies Corporation (CSE: XIGM) (FSE: VZ6) ("Xigem" or the "Company"), announces that pursuant to its previously announced shares for debt settlement of October 13, 2023, it has entered into debt settlement agreements with certain of its creditors (together, the "Creditors") to issue 17,402,120 common shares (the "Settlement Shares") to such Creditors in exchange for outstanding accounts payable totaling $522,063.60 (the "Shares for Debt Transaction") owing to the Creditors. The Settlement Shares are being issued at a price of $0.03, in accordance with the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE"). The Creditors include certain related parties of the Company, being: Brian Kalish, the CEO and a director of the Company, Igor Kostioutchenko, the CFO of the Company, and Stephen Coates, a director of the Company (collectively, the "Related Parties"), who will receive an aggregate of 6,132,216 Settlement Shares. Every other Creditor is an arm's length party. The Company is completing the Shares for Debt Transaction to improve its financial position in an effort to support its planned future growth, and it is anticipated that the Settlement Shares will be issued on or before Friday October 20, 2023. All Settlement Shares will be subject to a four-month and one-day hold period. No new control person of the Company will be created pursuant to the Shares for Debt Transaction. The Shares for Debt Transaction by the Related Parties constitutes a "related party transaction" as such term is defined by Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company was exempt from the MI 61-101 valuation and minority approval requirements for related party transactions in connection with the Offering under sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value (as determined under MI 61-101) of the subject matter of, nor the fair market value of the consideration for, the transaction, insofar as it involves Related Parties, exceeds 25% of the Company's market capitalization (as determined under MI 61-101). About Xigem Technologies Corporation Established in Toronto, Ontario, Xigem is positioning itself to become a leading technology provider for the emerging near trillion-dollar remote economy, with software capable of improving the capacity, productivity, and overall remote operations for businesses, consumers, and other organizations. iAgent, the Company's patented technology, FOOi, its proprietary peer-to-peer mobile payments app, and EchoDigital, a SaaS automotive shopping platform, are intended to provide organizations, businesses, and consumers with the tools necessary to thrive in a vast array of remote working, learning, shopping and treatment environments, as the Company looks to aggregate a portfolio of innovative technologies capable of disrupting traditional business models. www.xigemtechnologies.com Instagram: @xigemtechnologies Twitter: @XigemTech Facebook: @xigemtechnologies LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/xigem-technologies Further Information This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking statements. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "likely, "plans", "possible", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur" or "will be achieved." The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the future products and performance of the Company and the ability of the Company to continue adding innovative technologies to its portfolio. Forward-looking information in this news release is based on certain assumptions and expected future events, namely: the Company's ability to continue as a going concern; the continued commercial viability and growth in popularity of the Company's applications; the Company's ability to continue to develop and acquire revenue-generating applications; continued approval of the Company's activities by the relevant governmental and/or regulatory authorities; the continued development of the Company's technologies; the Company having sufficient funds to continue operations as planned; and the continued growth of the Company in general. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: the potential inability of the Company to continue as a going concern; the risks associated with Software-as-a-Service ("SaaS") and technology industries in general; increased competition in the SaaS and technology markets in general; the potential future unviability of the Company's product offerings;; risks associated with potential governmental and/or regulatory action with respect to the Company's activities; risks associated with a potential collapse in the value of SaaS services; risks associated with the Company's ability to generate a profit; the inability of the Company to add innovative technologies to its portfolio; the Company not have adequate resources, financial and otherwise, as required to continue its operations as planned; and risks with respect to market demand for the Company's products. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and reflect the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Xigem Technologies Corporation On behalf of the Company: Brian Kalish, Chief Executive Officer For further information: Phone: (647) 250-9824 ext.4 Investors: [email protected] Media: [email protected] To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/184697 Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation. Amazon Marketing Agency eSpark has undergone a significant rebrand, now known as AmpliSell, reflecting a renewed commitment to enhancing businesses' success on the Amazon platform. eSpark, a prominent Amazon Marketing Agency, is thrilled to announce a transformative rebranding, unveiling its new identity as AmpliSell. This exciting rebrand reflects a dynamic evolution and an unwavering commitment to enhancing clients' success on the Amazon platform. eSpark began its journey as a small Amazon seller, navigating the complexities of the Amazon marketplace and learning the intricacies of e-commerce firsthand. Over the years, it successfully transformed its experience into expertise, evolving into a key player in Amazon marketing. The transition to AmpliSell signifies more than just a name change; it represents a renewed mission and a steadfast dedication to amplifying the success of businesses in the digital age. AmpliSell offers a comprehensive range of services, including full-service management, advertising services, creative services, and inventory management. This diversified suite of services is tailored to empower businesses and brands to maximize their presence and thrive on the Amazon platform. Amazon, with its extensive customer base of over 300 million, remains a formidable force in the e-commerce realm. For businesses large and small, the challenge lies in connecting with these customers effectively. AmpliSell's mission is to guide businesses through this complex journey, helping them enter the Amazon marketplace with finesse. This involves maintaining MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) pricing, providing top-notch customer service, and creating compelling product listings. The rebrand to AmpliSell is not only an acknowledgment of the evolving e-commerce landscape but also a proactive response to the changing needs of businesses. As AmpliSell, the company is poised to continue its dedication to innovation, growth, and providing unwavering support to businesses navigating the ever-changing Amazon marketplace. About AmpliSell AmpliSell is a leading Amazon Marketing Agency that provides comprehensive solutions to empower businesses and brands to maximize their success on the Amazon platform. With a range of services, including full-service management, advertising, creative services, and inventory management, AmpliSell is dedicated to helping businesses navigate the complexities of the e-commerce landscape and thrive on Amazon. For more information, visit www.amplisell.com. Contact Info: Name: Joshua Rawe Email: Send Email Organization: AmpliSell Website: https://www.amplisell.com/ Release ID: 89110540 If there are any errors, inconsistencies, or queries arising from the content contained within this press release that require attention or if you need assistance with a press release takedown, we kindly request that you inform us immediately by contacting [email protected]. Our reliable team will be available to promptly respond within 8 hours, taking proactive measures to rectify any identified issues or providing guidance on the removal process. Ensuring accurate and dependable information is our top priority. LIAOYANG, China , Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, the town of Xiaobeihe under the city of Liaoyang in the northeastern region of China hosted the area's first "Socks Festival and China (Xiaobeihe) International Socks Industry Procurement and Exchange Fair". Buyers from across the country descended on the town to look for business opportunities. The Xiaobeihe Town is one of the country's main socks producers. Leaning on Liaoyang City, which is renowned as China's first maker of dacron (polyester), the folks of Xiaobeihe utilized yarn raw materials to weave socks, turning the little piece of garment into a big pillar industry that led the town and its people to prosperity. At present, Xiaobeihe boasts an annual output of 2.5 billion pairs and the second-highest cotton sock production capacity in the country, garnering the title of "famous town of the Chinese socks industry", according to the Publicity Department of the CPC Liaoyang Municipal Committee. "The town is home to more than 200 socks factories and 467 registered socks brands. A massive number of enterprises up and down the socks industrial chain have conglomerated here, together employing over 20,000 people and generating an annual output worth nearly 3.2 billion yuan ," explained Shen Cong , Mayor of Xiaobeihe Town . Data shows that the Xiaobeihe's socks industry recorded 25 million yuan in direct export in 2022, while exports through traders elsewhere such as Zhejiang Province have amounted to 500 million yuan . The "Socks Festival" has propelled the town's socks industry to its apex this year, with the opening day alone having received more than 2,500 merchants from out of the town. Shen Cong indicated that not only did the "Socks Festival" enhance the town's reputation and attract merchants to visit and place orders, but also contributed to the branding efforts of various local socks enterprises, thereby elevating the added value of the Xiaobeihe's socks industry. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/a-visit-to-a-famous-town-of-the-chinese-socks-industry-301962946.html SOURCE Publicity Department of the CPC Liaoyang Municipal Committee TAIPEI , Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Advantech, a leading provider of AIoT platforms and services, has released a domain-focused package of robotic arm controllers the ARK-1221L, ARK-1250L, and ARK-3534D. These controllers, part of the ARK series, offer outstanding performance, a compact form factor, real-time capabilities, support for industry-standard protocols, and advanced analytics. They are tailored to address the demands of the rapidly expanding robotic arm market. By using these controllers, businesses can streamline their operations, boost productivity, and gain a competitive edge in the industrial and automation sectors. Cutting-Edge Designs for Robotic Arm Applications Our robotic arm controllers are setting a new benchmark in the field of robotic arm control systems by delivering unparalleled performance, reliability, and adaptability. Featuring a compact DIN-rail form factor, they are ideal for space-constrained industrial environments. This innovative design ensures seamless integration into existing setups, enhancing productivity and reducing installation time. Equipped with real-time capabilities and built-in EtherCAT support, our controllers offer lightning-fast communication and precise synchronization for optimal performance. They enable smooth and efficient control of robotic arms, enabling them to handle complex tasks with utmost accuracy and speed. Furthermore, these controllers are compatible with a wide range of industrial protocols. With support for industry-standard protocols, including EtherCAT, these controllers seamlessly integrate into existing industrial ecosystems, eliminating compatibility issues and simplifying the implementation process. Accelerating Application Deployment with Robotic Arm Software Packages The ARK-1221L, ARK-1250L, and ARK-3534D Robotic Arm Controllers offer compatibility with both Windows and Linux-based software packages, allowing customers to choose the one that best suits their specific robot arm application requirements. The ARK-series Robotic Arm Controllers are available now. For more information or to inquire about availability, please contact your local sales support team or visit our website at www.advantech.com. Primary Media Contact Advantech Corporation Crystal Hsu Tel: +886-2-2792-7818 ext. 9291 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/advantech-ark-series-robotic-arm-controller-solutions-streamline-real-time-operations-and-enhance-productivity-301963032.html SOURCE Advantech WEST WARWICK, R.I. , Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Blood Centers of America (BCA) is working with American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA) to activate blood donors in the United States in support of response efforts in Israel . AFMDA will work with a group of BCAs independent community-based blood centers to hold blood drives. AFMDA the sole fundraising representative in the U.S. for Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel's national emergency medical and Blood Services will work with a group of BCA's independent, community-based blood centers to hold blood drives. These efforts as part of a tenure Contingency Agreement between U.S. blood centers and MDA will ensure there is ample blood supply and products, if required to support MDA and the Israeli community. BCA and MDA have had this agreement in place since 2018 to ensure the ability to support MDA in times of emergency response. "While Israel currently has an ample blood supply and there is no need to ship blood products from the U.S. to MDA at this time, Blood Centers of America stands ready to answer the call from our partners," said Harpreet Sandhu BCA Board Chair and President and CEO of Stanford Blood Center. "We are praying for all innocent lives and a peaceful resolution. As MDA continues to bravely serve and respond to the horrific events unfolding in Israel , Blood Centers of America is prepared to support any blood supply or product needs if called upon by MDA." Establishing a robust and diverse donor base is important to ensure a sustainable blood supply. Maintaining the supply on an ongoing basis is a critical piece to emergency response preparedness. Important quality control measures must be maintained and regularly carried out (including testing, processing and shipping), reinforcing the need for ongoing vigilance and planning in order to quickly and effectively activate community support. About Blood Centers of America Blood Centers of America (BCA) is the largest blood supply network in the U.S. , uniquely positioned to sustain, mobilize, and advocate for the nation's blood supply. Our 60+ independent community blood centers collect and distribute over 50% of the blood supply in the U.S. , delivering reliable service with a profound commitment to the communities we serve. About Magen David Adom Magen David Adom in Israel is the national statutory emergency medical and blood services organization, and the country's representative to the International Red Cross/Red crescent Federation. A world leader in mass-casualty response and EMS technology, MDA treats and transports nearly 1 million people to hospitals every year; collects, tests, and distributes about 1 million blood units and components to Israel's hospitals and to the IDF; and responds to disasters around the world. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/blood-centers-of-america-partnering-with-american-friends-of-magen-david-adom-to-support-blood-collection-and-supply-preparedness-in-israel-301962682.html SOURCE Blood Centers of America - Started out with the establishment of the Vietnamese subsidiary in 2007, producing key items such as spandex and tire cords - Chairman Hyun-joon Cho , "Hope to continue strengthening our business cooperation with Vietnam " SEOUL, South Korea , Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Chairman Hyun-joon Cho played a pivotal role in designating Vietnam as Hyosung's second global advance base. Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9216251-chairman-hyun-joon-cho-turned-vietnam-hyosung-global-base/ Since the mid-2000s, he recognized the need for a bridgehead to address rising cost burdens and began paying attention to Vietnam's growth potential. He formulated a strategy to maximize Vietnam as a production base for key items and gradually implemented this plan. As a result, Hyosung established its Vietnamese subsidiary near Ho Chi Minh City in the Nhon Trach Industrial Zone in Dong Nai Province in 2007, followed by another subsidiary in Dong Nai in 2015. Hyosung currently produces spandex, tire cords, steel cords, technical yarns, and power transformers in Vietnam . Chairman Cho has been actively working on achieving win-win growth with Vietnam . In 2007, when Hyosung first started investing in Vietnam , the Nhon Trach District was a largely underdeveloped area. Most of the residents were making their living through farming, but Hyosung changed that by establishing a factory in the area and employing a significant number of local talents. After Hyosung established its production base in Vietnam , the surrounding region transformed into a center of economy as shops and markets thrived. Since then, the Vietnamese government has improved infrastructure in the industrial zone by implementing roads and power facilities. Also, Chairman Cho regularly highlights the importance of maintaining friendly relations and enhancing business cooperation with Vietnam . He met with Nguyen Xuan Phuc , the Prime Minister of Vietnam at that time, in 2016 and 2018 to discuss plans for further cooperation, including entering the local infrastructure construction market and new investment projects. In June 2019 , he continued his global field management initiatives by meeting with Vuong Dinh Hue , the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of Vietnam at that time. Recently, in celebration of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Vietnam , he met with President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and discussed plans for expanding business opportunities. Chairman Cho said, " Vietnam is a very important global integrated base for all of Hyosung's core products," adding "I hope that Hyosung can maintain a friendly relationship with Vietnam to continue strengthening our business cooperation." View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chairman-hyun-joon-cho-turned-vietnam-into-hyosungs-global-base-301963049.html SOURCE Hyosung Corporation BEIJING , Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Gravitas Education Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: GEHI) ("GEHI" or the "Company"), a leading early childhood education service provider in China , today announced that it plans to change the ratio of its American Depositary Shares ("ADS(s)") to its Class A ordinary shares ("Share(s)") from one (1) ADS representing twenty (20) Shares to one (1) ADS representing ten (10) Shares (the "ADS Ratio Change"). The Company anticipates that the ADS Ratio Change will be effective on or about October 31, 2023 (the "Effective Date"). For the Company's ADS holders, the change in the ADS ratio will have the same effect as a one-for-two forward ADS split, with registered holders of the Company's ADSs held via the Direct Registration System or in the Depository Trust Company as of October 30, 2023 , receiving, on the Effective Date, one additional ADS for each ADS held. Citibank, N.A., the depositary bank of the Company's ADS program, will arrange for the distribution of additional ADSs issuable pursuant to the ADS Ratio Change to registered holders of the Company's ADSs. The Company's ADS holders need not take any action with regards to the ADS Ratio Change. The Company's ADSs will continue to be traded on the NYSE under the symbol "GEHI." The ADS Ratio Change will have no impact on the Company's underlying ordinary shares, and no ordinary shares will be issued or cancelled in connection with the ADS Ratio Change. The Company previously announced that the Company's board of directors approved a special cash dividend in the amount arranging from US$11.256 to US$12.17 per ADS, or from US$0.5628 to US$0.6085 per Share. As a result of the ADS Ratio Change, the dividend to be distributed per ADS will also change accordingly on a pro rata basis. About Gravitas Education Holdings, Inc. Founded on the core values of "Care" and "Responsibility," "Inspire" and "Innovate," Gravitas Education Holdings, Inc. (formerly known as RYB Education, Inc.) is a leading early childhood education service provider in China. Since opening its first play-and-learn center in 1998, the Company has grown and flourished with the mission to provide high-quality, individualized and age-appropriate care and education to nurture and inspire each child for his or her betterment in life. During its two decades of operating history, the Company has built itself into a well-recognized education brand and helped bring about many new educational practices in China's early childhood education industry. GEHI's comprehensive early childhood education solutions meet the needs of children from infancy to 6 years old through structured courses at kindergartens and play-and-learn centers, as well as at-home educational products and services. Safe Harbor Statement This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the Company's brand recognition and market reputation; student enrollment in the Company's teaching facilities; the Company's growth strategies; its future business development, results of operations and financial condition; trends and competition in China's early childhood education market; changes in its revenues and certain cost or expense items; the expected growth of the Chinese early childhood education market; Chinese governmental policies relating to the Company's industry and general economic conditions in China. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. CONTACT: Gravitas Education Holdings, Inc., Investor Relations, E-mail: [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gravitas-education-holdings-inc-announces-ads-ratio-change-301963044.html SOURCE Gravitas Education Holdings Inc. Development division maintains strong 4 Green Star rating, its score of 91 placing it 12 points above its benchmark average rating, its score of 91 placing it 12 points above its benchmark average Investment division increases score by 12 points since initial submission in 2021 Placed 2nd in peer group for Development score within Americas , Non-listed, Core, Closed end VANCOUVER, BC , Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Grosvenor, an international property owner and developer with a 70+ year track record in North America , announced continued increases in scores from a leading independent sustainability group, underscoring the company's successful ongoing efforts to reduce carbon emissions. The company's North American property business reported higher annual scores from the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB), which tracks ESG progress across more than 2,000 companies. The firm's Development division again achieved a 4 Green Star rating by scoring 91, marking a 17-point jump since 2021 and exceeding benchmark averages for all ESG scores. Grosvenor placed second within its peer group for its Development score within Americas , Non-listed, Core, Closed end ranking, scoring 12-points above the benchmark average. The business' Standing Investments division rose to a 3 Green Star rating, scoring 77, a 12-point increase since scoring 65 in its first submission in 2021 and two points above the GRESB average. Scores achieved in both Development and Standing Investment divisions exceed the average GRESB score of 72 for 3rd year participants in the Americas . This year's higher scores reflect improvements in the Stakeholder Engagement, Risk Assessment, and Health, Safety and Wellbeing sections of the GRESB ratings criteria. Improvements also were achieved in the Performance section, with energy consumption, GHG emissions, and water use all scoring higher than the prior year. Top marks were achieved in the Leadership, Reporting, Policies, Stakeholder Engagement, ESG Requirements, Materials, Waste, Water Consumption, Targets and Data Monitoring & Review. "We are focused on improving the performance of our properties to simultaneously reduce our operating costs and carbon footprint," said Steve O'Connell , CEO of Grosvenor's North American urban property business, "By understanding the payback period of our improvements while increasing the use of renewable energy, and helping our suppliers and tenants improve sustainability, we are making great progress toward achieving our goals." Tanja Milosevic , Grosvenor's Associate Vice President of ESG in North America , added: "Improving again to 3- and 4-stars in our third GRESB reporting year is a strong reflection of the hard work we are doing to reduce our carbon footprint. Good governance, alongside social and environmental responsibility, has always been part of our DNA; having our two main business lines outperform their benchmark averages is great validation for us." The company's carbon reductions-first approach is a key element in reducing its overall environmental impact. Grosvenor has publicly reported its consumption and reduction values for 15 years. Included among the numerous efforts underway at Grosvenor to enhance sustainability are: Deploying renewable, clean energy solutions to its buildings, including solar, wind and other energy saving technologies Utilizing ultra-energy-efficient lighting, windows, and HVAC systems Some examples within Grosvenor's North American Development and Investment portfolios include: Brentwood Block in Burnaby, BC , is an 8-acre, pedestrian-focused masterplan that will bring 3,500 carbon-free homes to Metro Vancouver next to rapid transit. The project will exceed the City of Burnaby's sustainability requirements through efficient envelope design, low-carbon systems and renewable energy. in , is an 8-acre, pedestrian-focused masterplan that will bring 3,500 carbon-free homes to Metro Vancouver next to rapid transit. The project will exceed the sustainability requirements through efficient envelope design, low-carbon systems and renewable energy. Currently in design, 3300 Whitehaven is a nine-story residential building with a focus on reducing embodied carbon. The project's innovative post-and-beam mass timber structure has the potential to achieve a substantial reduction in the project's overall embodied carbon footprint, eliminating up to 1,500 metric tons of carbon equivalent before biogenic carbon (CO 2 sequestered by trees as they grow) is factored in. sequestered by trees as they grow) is factored in. In San Jose , CA, Grosvenor completed a drought-resistant landscaping project at Toshiba's three-building office and R&D campus and is advancing a substantial solar panel array installation estimated to result in a 91 percent usage offset at two buildings and a 55 percent usage offset at the third. , CA, Grosvenor completed a drought-resistant landscaping project at Toshiba's three-building office and R&D campus and is advancing a substantial solar panel array installation estimated to result in a 91 percent usage offset at two buildings and a 55 percent usage offset at the third. Ace in Berkeley, CA , features 163 residences powered by electric energy. Offering EV charging stations, electric ranges in all kitchens and enhanced public spaces, the project is on track to achieve GreenPoint Rated Gold certification, California's independent rating system based on healthy, energy-and resource-efficient residences. For more information, please contact: Great Ink Communications +1 212-741-2977 [email protected] About Grosvenor Grosvenor has operated a diversified real estate business in North America since 1952. As of December 31, 2022 , the Company had assets under management of USD$4.1bn , including 74 high-quality properties, and is executing on a USD$4.7bn development pipeline across its active markets. Consistent with the firm's farsighted approach to ownership and development, Grosvenor values long-term partnerships; across their nine active capital partners, the average relationship is 20 years. Grosvenor signed the World Green Building Council's Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment in 2019 and has publicly reported its annual consumption and reduction values for 15 years. Part of an international property company with a track record of over 340 years, we develop, manage, and invest to improve property and places across many of the world's leading cities, promoting sustainability within the built environment and enhancing the wellbeing of our customers and communities. www.grosvenor.com Follow us on Twitter: @GrosvenorGRP LinkedIn: Grosvenor Instagram: ThisisGrosvenor View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/grosvenors-north-american-property-business-announces-strong-gresb-scores-as-it-continues-advancing-efforts-to-reduce-carbon-footprint-301962810.html SOURCE Grosvenor Prospera event recognizes clients and collaboration in local entrepreneurial ecosystem ORLANDO, Fla. , Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Prospera hosted its annual signature event, presented by OUC, at the Orlando Museum of Art. Stakeholders of the nonprofit, economic development organization gathered at the 2023 Prospera Success Stories: Synergy for Progress to raise funds for the mission, celebrate successful local small business owners who have received Prospera's assistance, and showcase entrepreneurial ecosystem collaborations. These successful entrepreneurs, whose stories illustrate synergy for progress, were recognized: City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings delivered remarks in support of Prospera and the local Hispanic community. The program, led by Prospera Central & Northeast Florida Vice President Katia Medina , highlighted the impact of Prospera's services on small businesses and local entrepreneurship for funders, volunteers, partners, and other local leaders. In addition to recognizing successful clients, partner organizations were showcased for collaborating with Prospera to provide complementary resources to Hispanic small business owners. "Our region remains an example of the synergy between the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, which is critical for a strong ecosystem," said Medina. "We represent a diverse group, each with a unique role, united by a common purpose to foster small business and entrepreneurship for the greater good of Central Florida ." "We all build a stronger economy and community when we collaborate and focus together on large, medium, and small businesses; on early stage and advanced businesses; on industry diversification, greater access to capital, and more equitable procurement opportunities," added Prospera President & CEO Augusto Sanabria . Prospera Board Chair Luz Aviles addressed the audience of stakeholders, sharing some of the organization's accomplishments and areas of focus. "We will continue leveraging private and public support, and engaging our volunteers, to maximize your contributions and maintain our incredible return on investmenthistorically, $184 in economic output for every dollar donated to Prospera," stated Aviles. In addition to Presenting Sponsor OUC, the event was made possible thanks to the following sponsors: Hosts : Bank of America, Duke Energy, Heart of Florida United Way , Orlando Health , Orlando Magic , Walt Disney Parks & Resorts , and Wells Fargo : Bank of America, Duke Energy, Heart of , , , , and Wells Fargo Champions: Akerman, CITY Furniture , Florida Technical College , Hispanic Federation , JPMorgan Chase, Plaza del Sol , Suncoast Credit Union , TD Bank, TSG Financial Advisors , Truist, and Valencia College Prospera is an economic development, nonprofit organization that has specialized since 1991 in providing bilingual assistance to Hispanic entrepreneurs who want to start, sustain, and grow their business. In the last five years alone, Prospera facilitated over $70 million in loans for small business clients, trained 17,300 entrepreneurs, and helped consulting clients create or retain more than 16,000 jobs. Prospera currently serves Florida , North Carolina , and Georgia . For more information, visit www.prosperausa.org. Media Contact: Katia Medina , (407) 920-4201, [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/highlighting-excellence-celebrating-hispanic-owned-small-businesses-301963646.html SOURCE Prospera MIAMI BEACH, Fla. , Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Luxury Hotel Association (ILHA) is excited to share more details about the upcoming INSPIRE Luxury Hospitality Conference. Set to take place at the Eden Roc Miami Beach on December 11 & 12, 2023, this premier conference is a must-attend event for luxury hospitality professionals. Limited to just 500 in-person attendees, INSPIRE offers an intimate, curated environment optimized for learning, sharing, and deal-making. The conference will connect the industry's most important leaders, innovators, investors, developers, owners, operators, and providers, fostering an environment that encourages networking and business deals. The INSPIRE Networking Hub is designed to facilitate business deals and networking, ensuring attendees stay up-to-date with the most cutting-edge industry products and services. This unique opportunity provides the research and expertise needed to make the right decisions for your hotel in 2024 and ensure a competitive advantage. The conference will also provide access to an exclusive world of deals, inspiration, insights, and handpicked solutions providers. Deals get made at INSPIRE. Highlights of the conference include an on-stage interview with Amanda Elder , Chief Commercial Officer and member of the Kempinski board, discussing personalization and guest experience, the Kempinski Loyalty Plan, and staying relevant. The interview will be conducted by Mathew Evins , Chairman of Evins Communications , and a founding board member of the ILHA. Encore , the trusted Technology Partner of the ILHA, offers a comprehensive end-to-end solution for flawless in-person, hybrid, and virtual events. With a profound commitment to event creativity and production excellence, Encore is poised to transform the stage and event space, creating an extraordinary and seamless event experience. "Their expertise in technology and production ensures that every ILHA event is a stunning success," said Barak Hirschowitz , President, ILHA, "setting a new standard for innovation and excellence in the world of hospitality and beyond." "ILHA does a great job of sparking the conversations critical to the luxury segment and we're proud to be their production partner for the event, as well as a thought partner within the ILHA community on the topics impacting our industry, our customers and our team members," said Brad Schumacher , Vice President Strategic Accounts at Encore. Another notable session is " Luxury Hotel Development : Navigating Complexity with Adaptive Strategies," featuring speakers Phil Keb, Senior Executive of Luxury Brand Growth at IHG , Sergio Rascon , Vice President of Business Development at Hyatt's Inclusive Collection , Zach Demuth , Global Head of Hotels Research at JLL , and Rika Lisslo, Vice President Development, Americas at Hyatt Hotels Corporation , who will moderate the session. Michael Wolf , CEO of Resort Pass , will host an on-stage interview with Martin Smith, General Manager of the Eden Roc Miami Beach . This interaction is set to offer attendees a deep dive into the minds of two significant figures in the luxury hospitality industry. The conversation will focus on key industry topics such as enhancing guest experience, driving engagement, and strategies for generating ancillary revenue. This exchange between Wolf and Smith will offer a unique opportunity for attendees to gain firsthand insights from these industry leaders, contributing to an enriching conference experience. Registration is now open. Secure your place at the INSPIRE Luxury Hospitality Conference today. We look forward to welcoming you to the Eden Roc Miami Beach this December. About the International Luxury Hotel Association (ILHA): The ILHA is the leading organization in the luxury hospitality industry, providing valuable resources, insights, and connections to its global network of professionals. With a focus on innovation, education, and exceptional guest experiences, the ILHA serves as a platform for industry leaders to come together and shape the future of luxury hospitality. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/international-luxury-hotel-associations-inspire-luxury-hospitality-conference-set-for-december-2023-301963299.html SOURCE International Luxury Hotel Association REDDITCH, England , Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Concentric's Interim Report for Q3 (January- September 2023 ), will be published on the 8 of November 2023 , at 08.00 CET. At 10.00 CET media, investors and analysts are invited to Tandstickspalatset, Vastra Tradgardsgatan 15 in Stockholm , for a presentation of the report. There will also be an opportunity to participate via webcast/telephone conference. President & CEO Martin Kunz and CFO Marcus Whitehouse will host the presentation, which will be held in English and is followed by a Q&A-session. We look forward to your participation. Please see the below detailed information to join in: Press and analysts conference at 10.00 CET (09:00 UK TIME) 1. Access the webcast: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/zvwpvouw Please press the play button or refresh your browser if your webcast videos does not load automatically. 2. Telephone conference Participants are required to register in advance of the conference using the link provided below. Upon registering, each participant will be provided with Participant Dial In Numbers, and a unique Personal PIN. In the 10 minutes prior to the call start time, participants will need to use the conference access information provided in the e-mail received at the point of registering. Participants may also use the call me feature instead of dialing the nearest dial in number . Telephone conference Online Registration: https://register.vevent.com/register/BIad097e17720c462192c37046f78bfe82 For further information, please contact Gregory Asante , +44 (0)7977 149 348. About Concentric AB Concentric AB is an innovator in flow control and fluid power, supplying proprietary systems and components to the world's construction equipment, truck, agricultural machinery and industrial applications end-markets. The company has a global manufacturing presence including in the USA , Germany , UK , Sweden , India and China . Concentric's focus is to develop world class technology with innovative solutions that meet the sustainability needs of our customers. Concentric offers engine products including lubricant, coolant and fuel pumps and hydraulic products encompassing gear pumps and power packs. Concentric also offers a range of products developed for the fast-growing electric and hybrid powertrain market including, electric water and oil pumps, electric fans, thermal management systems and electro hydraulic steering. In 2022, the Group had a turnover of MSEK 4,056 and circa 1,207 employees. The following files are available for download: View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/invitation-to-a-press-and-analyst-conference-in-stockholm-for-presentation-of-concentrics-third-quarter-2023-results-301962945.html SOURCE Concentric AB BUENOS AIRES, Argentina , Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima (NYSE:IRS; ByMA: IRSA), Argentina's leading Real Estate company, informs that the dividend approved by the Shareholders' Meeting held on October 5, 2023 has been distributed in Argentina . Regarding Global Depositary Shares ("GDS") holders, the Company informs that, as it is of public knowledge, the FX and securities regulations in force in Argentina have increased their restrictions during the past few weeks, being the reason why the Bank of New York Mellon ("BONY"), depositary bank of the GDS, is unable at the moment to distribute the dividend paid by the Company. Given the aforementioned restrictions, the Company has deposited the corresponding funds in a common investment fund called "Super Ahorro $" (pure money market fund) managed by Banco Santander , which is the BONY's representative bank in Argentina and is working together with BONY in order to analyze possible alternatives for the distribution or investment of said funds until BONY can transfer them in favor of the GDS holders, making it available to any shareholder who decides so to receive the dividend in Argentine pesos. Our Investor Relations department will be available to answer any related queries and collaborate with the implementation or understanding of the available options at the following address [email protected]. Investor Relations Department IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones S.A. + 5411 4323-7449 [email protected] www.irsa.com.ar Follow us on Twitter @irsair View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/irsa-inversiones-y-representaciones-sa-releases-material-information-regarding-the-dividend-approved-by-the-shareholders-meeting-held-on-october-5-2023-301963653.html SOURCE IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones S.A. CHICAGO , Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In the bustling city of Las Vegas , where innovation meets opportunity, the HLTH 2023 Conference served as a cauldron of ideas and futuristic visions. Among the buzz, Jorie AI, earlier known as Jorie Healthcare Partners, emerged as a narrative of triumph, showcasing a saga of how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can redefine the healthcare revenue cycle management (RCM). It's not just a tale of rebranding but a testament to the transformative power of AI in healthcare. As the attendees navigated through the maze of innovation at HLTH 2023, Jorie AI's booth was a hot spot, radiating with discussions around its groundbreaking end-to-end RCM automation. And oh, what a riveting narrative it spun! The Magic Behind Jorie's AI-Driven RCM Automation Jorie AI has concocted a remarkable blend of technology to address the traditional challenges of RCM. The charm lies in how the automation weaves through the revenue cycle, ensuring a seamless flow from patient entry to revenue realization. Here's a scoop into the magical elements: Predictive Analytics: Foreseeing payer behavior and claim denials, orchestrating a proactive approach. Tailoring patient financial engagement based on predictive insights, enhancing satisfaction and collections. Automation Excellence: Automating the mundane, from claim submissions to follow-ups, freeing up resources for higher-value tasks. Real-time error detection and correction, ensuring a smoother billing process. Intelligent Workflows: Streamlining processes with smart task prioritization, reducing operational bottlenecks. Dynamic workflow adjustments based on real-time data, keeping the RCM engine well-oiled and agile. Every Hospital's Must-Have: Jorie's AI-Driven RCM Automation Now, diving into the core, why is Jorie's AI-Driven RCM automation the elixir that every hospital has been thirsting for? The answer lies in the confluence of efficiency, accuracy, and enhanced revenue realization. Here's why it's a no-brainer: Financial Resilience: Boosting revenue collections, a cornerstone for financial stability in a tumultuous healthcare landscape. Reducing operational costs through automation, a boon in a cost-sensitive environment. Operational Brilliance: Drastically reducing claim denials and underpayments, a direct route to improved bottom-line. Enhancing staff productivity by automating repetitive tasks, ushering a new era of operational excellence. Patient Satisfaction: Providing a transparent and streamlined billing experience, the cradle of patient trust and satisfaction. Tailoring patient engagement strategies with predictive analytics, a narrative of personalized care. At Jorie AI's vibrant booth, the narrative was clear: the fusion of AI with RCM is not a fleeting affair, but a lasting marriage. It's a saga that transcends the mundane, taking a leap into a realm where operational excellence is a given, not a goal. The essence of Jorie AI's narrative at HLTH 2023 is akin to a refreshing breeze in a desert. It's not merely about surviving the harsh realities of healthcare's financial landscape; it's about thriving and flourishing with the aid of intelligent automation. As the curtains drew on the event, the message resounded across the healthcare industry: the future is here, and it's pulsating with the rhythm of AI-driven revenue cycle management, thanks to pioneers like Jorie AI. Media contact: Austin Nasworthy , [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jorie-ais-vibrant-debut-at-hlth-2023-the-future-of-healthcare-revenue-cycle-management-301962757.html SOURCE Jorie Healthcare Partners NEW YORK , Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, LensCrafters, one of the largest optical retail brands in North America , launched its first virtual experience, LensCrafters Eye Odyssey on Roblox, a global immersive platform where millions of people connect and communicate daily. LensCrafters Eye Odyssey, one of the first online edutainment experiences with an optical retailer on Roblox, offers an engaging and educational way to promote healthy eye care habits, while providing an entertaining and immersive experience for young people. Reinforcing EssilorLuxottica's mission to drive awareness about the importance of vision health among a new generation, LensCrafters Eye Odyssey aims to raise awareness around eye care while providing a fun, interactive immersive experience with LensCrafters' Palo Alto flagship store serving as the experiential backdrop. "By engaging with the millions of people on Roblox, we have the capability to highlight our vision care efforts in a very creative way," said Alfonso Cerullo, President & GM of LensCrafters, North America . "This is a unique moment for the brand to reach the younger generation and cultivate a new community through a cool interactive experience. "The launch of LensCrafters Eye Odyssey gives the brand an opportunity to engage users around the importance of eye health and emphasize that vision health is critically important to everyday life and plays a vital role in a person's overall wellbeing." The Eye Odyssey series will take visitors through two different seasons, embarking on a thrilling immersive journey. In season one, users help Blinky, a young, friendly eye-bulb character, overcome challenges caused by prolonged exposure to screens and learn how to maintain healthy vision by adopting appropriate eye care habits. UGC digital items can be earned engaging in the experience and redeemed at the conclusion of Season 1. Based upon LensCrafters vision health guidance, people will be reminded during the experience through timed pop ups to utilize "the 20/20/20 rule" to prevent digital eye strain -- every 20 minutes take 20 seconds and look 20 feet away (out the window, down the hall, or across the room). Roblox is reimagining the way people come together to connect, create, and express themselves through immersive, interactive shared experiences. Every day, millions of people around the world play, learn, communicate, and expand their friendships as they explore millions of user-generated digital experiences, all built by creators on the platform. Roblox's mission is to connect billions of users with civility and optimism and support a safe and diverse communityone that inspires and fosters creativity and positive relationships among people around the world. About LensCrafters LensCrafters, the leading optical retailer in North America , was founded in 1983 and currently operates over 1,000 stores in the U.S. , Canada , and Puerto Rico . With a mission of helping people look and see their best, LensCrafters has a passion for vision care and offers the best selection of the latest trends in eyewear from leading designer brands as well as incomparable personalized service from Doctors of Optometry located at or next to its stores. LensCrafters opened its first Macy's location in April 2016 and currently has four flagship stores in New York City , San Francisco , and Toronto , the first flagship in Canada that opened in July 2023 . The brand's trusted doctors and associates continue to make an impact by giving the gift of vision through the company's partner efforts with OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation , providing access to quality vision care and glasses in underserved communities worldwide. LensCrafters is currently the number one contributor to OneSight in North America. For more information, visit www.lenscrafters.com . Media Contact: Alexa Anello [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lenscrafters-creates-its-own-immersive-experience-on-roblox-to-drive-awareness-on-proper-vision-health-301963331.html SOURCE LensCrafters HUNTSVILLE, Ala. , Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA invites media to the 16th Annual von Braun Space Exploration Symposium from Wednesday to Friday, Oct. 25-27 , at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Among the NASA participants, Administrator Bill Nelson will provide remarks during the awards luncheon beginning about 1:15 p.m. CDT Oct. 25 . The luncheon also includes a discussion on human landing systems. This year's theme is "Advancing Space: From LEO to Lunar and Beyond." Speakers from government, industry, and academia will focus on the latest developments, future opportunities, and challenges in space science and exploration. Joseph Pelfrey , acting director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, will deliver opening remarks and moderate an Artemis panel on Wednesday morning. Other Marshall speakers include: Shane Canerday , aerospace engineer , aerospace engineer John Honeycutt , manager, Space Launch Systems Program , manager, Space Launch Systems Program Dayna Ise , deputy manager, Science and Technology Office , deputy manager, Science and Technology Office Mallory James , aerospace engineer , aerospace engineer Mary Beth Koelbl , director, Engineering Directorate , director, Jason Turpin , senior technical leader, Propulsion , senior technical leader, Propulsion Lisa Watson-Morgan , manager, Human Landing System Program To attend, media members must contact American Astronautical Society Executive Director Jim Way at [email protected] or 703-866-0021 for credentials. Media interested in speaking to the administrator must contact Jackie Mcguinness at [email protected]. To request interviews with other NASA speakers, contact Molly Porter at [email protected] or 256-424-5158. For more information about the symposium and the full program, visit: astronautical.org/events/vbs. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-invites-media-to-2023-von-braun-space-exploration-symposium-301963525.html SOURCE NASA "It All Starts Here" Celebrates San Francisco Businesses, Artists and Innovators SAN FRANCISCO , Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A consortium of San Francisco business leaders has launched a spirited campaign to remind the world why San Francisco has been, and will always be, one of the greatest cities. With the goal of inspiring a more equitable, resilient and vibrant economy, the non-profit organization Advance SF worked with Goodby Silverstein & Partners (GS&P) to create "It All Starts Here," a multimedia campaign to assert San Francisco's role as an innovative and thriving hub for business and the arts. The campaign launches as San Francisco is leading the way in artificial intelligence and bioscience and prepares to host global business leaders and government officials for the 2023 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Meeting, chaired by President Biden from November 11-17 . "It All Starts Here" brings together dozens of the city's leading employers and businesses, including Gap Inc., Levi's, Lyft, OpenAI, SF Giants, and Uber. All are equally committed to solving the challenges that afflict post-pandemic San Francisco . The campaign was launched today at Oracle Park , home of the SF Giants. The campaign will also feature a civic pride festival on Saturday at The Crossing at The East Cut to celebrate the vibrant spirit of the city. " San Francisco has survived great fires, earthquakes and deep recessions, and it keeps coming backstronger," said Larry Baer , president and CEO of the SF Giants and co-chair of the Advance SF board. "There is no doubt, we have real challenges to overcome, and we know the business community, along with the local community and government, must drive the solutions. With this campaign, we're creating a spark so that people say, 'Let's do this together, because San Francisco is an amazing city and 'it all starts here.'" The campaign celebrates all that makes the San Francisco Bay Area extraordinary highlighting its diverse, homegrown companies, institutions, and IP. The outdoor and digital ads invoke playful headlines and visuals composed of unexpected juxtapositions. One ad features Mike and Sulley from Pixar's Monsters University entering their dorm room with the corresponding headline "UCSF. Berkeley . Stanford. Monsters University." Another ad combines the little-known fact that the waterbed was invented in San Francisco in 1968 with the well-known fact that the summer of 1967 was probably what inspired the invention. A heady two-minute video anchors the campaign and takes viewers through a stirring time traveling journey. Voiced by actor and director Peter Coyote , a longtime Bay Area resident, the video transports viewers from the city's earliest days of entrepreneurialism and pioneering spirit to its cutting-edge present. Coyote sets the stage by evoking the Bay Area 's geographic mystique and then guides viewers through an impressive sample of some of the area's most notable moments of innovation and influencefrom Levi's to electric streetcars, and Lucasfilm to [Google. The video concludes with, "If it changes everything in an instant. Well, then chances are, it was dreamt up and built up, here in San Francisco . And the best is yet to come." " San Francisco is a place of possibility and promise and a beacon for forward thinkers, change makers, icons and iconoclasts," said Rich Silverstein , co-founder and co-chairman of GS&P. "From Levi's to Jerry Garcia to OpenAI, many of the world's greatest companies, innovators, artists and musicians all come to San Francisco seeking a culture where fearlessness and innovation collide. This is a pro-business effort to remind dreamers and entrepreneurs that if you have an idea and you want to start something that's never been done, come to San Francisco ." San Franciscobased streetwear designer Benny Gold , who is now design director at GS&P, created the campaign logo, which takes its inspiration from the city's classic street signs and intersections like Haight at Ashbury, and subtly reinforces the diverse intersections of culture, commerce, and innovation that define the city. The campaign also spotlights the Bay Area 's business vitality and its potential for growth. In fact, between 2020 and 2022, 18 of the 27 venture-backed companies that had an IPO,SPAC, or direct listing valued over $10 billion were headquartered in the Bay Area . Additionally, more than half of the private companies in the IPO pipeline valued over $5 billion have a Bay Area headquarters (45 of 79). The campaign is privately funded with individual donors, including former Gap Inc. chairman Bob Fisher and Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen . Advance SF has led an unprecedented group of organizations known as Make Your Future San Francisco to promote strategies focusing on economic vibrancy, affordability, and clean and safe streets. For more information on the campaign visit www.itallstartsheresf.org. "It All Starts Here" video can be found here and here. For more information, please contact AdvanceSF. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-campaign-reminds-the-world-san-francisco-is-the-place-for-innovation-and-trailblazing-301963541.html SOURCE Advance SF ALLENTOWN, Pa. , Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) will release consolidated third-quarter 2023 earnings results on Thursday, Nov. 2 . Vincent Sorgi , PPL president and chief executive officer, and other members of PPL's executive team will discuss quarterly results and the company's general business outlook during a conference call with financial analysts that will begin at 11 a.m. Eastern Time . The call will be webcast live, in audio format, along with slides of the presentation. Interested individuals can access the webcast link at www.pplweb.com/investors under "Events and Presentations" or access the live conference call via telephone at 1-844-512-2926. International participants should call 1-412-317-6300. Participants will need to enter the following "Elite Entry" number in order to join the conference: 5513427. For those who are unable to listen to the live webcast, a replay with slides will be accessible at www.pplweb.com/investors for 90 days after the call. About PPL PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL), headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania , is a leading U.S. energy company focused on providing electricity and natural gas safely, reliably and affordably to more than 3.5 million customers in the U.S. PPL's high-performing, award-winning utilities are addressing energy challenges head-on by building smarter, more resilient and more dynamic power grids and advancing sustainable energy solutions. For more information, visit www.pplweb.com . Note to Editors: Visit our media website at www.pplnewsroom.com for additional news about PPL Corporation. Contacts For news media: Ryan Hill , 610-774-4033 For financial analysts: Andy Ludwig , 610-774-3389 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ppl-corporation-to-conduct-webcast-on-third-quarter-2023-earnings-results-301963056.html SOURCE PPL Services Corporation SAN ANTONIO , Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- REEP Residential along with its parent company REEP Equity, has been awarded the Top Workplaces 2023 honor in the small business category by The San Antonio Express-News. The achievement is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage, LLC. The confidential survey uniquely measures 15 culture drivers that are critical to the success of any organization: including alignment, execution, and connection, just to name a few. "Earning a Top Workplaces award is a badge of honor for companies, especially because it comes authentically from their employees," said Eric Rubino , Energage CEO. "That's something to be proud of. In today's market, leaders must ensure they're allowing employees to have a voice and be heard. That's paramount. Top Workplaces do this, and it pays dividends." "Once again, we are honored to be recognized as a top place to work," stated Arleen Garza , Co-Founder of REEP Residential and REEP Equity. "This achievement is a testament to our unwavering commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive workplace culture that empowers our employees to thrive. At REEP, we believe our greatest asset is our talented and dedicated teams, and this recognition reinforces our dedication to their well-being and professional growth." Jacob Garza , Co-Founder of REEP adds "We would like to extend our gratitude to Stacey Hampton , President of REEP Residential, and every member of our REEP family for making this achievement possible. Together, we will continue to create a workplace where innovation, collaboration, and personal fulfillment flourish." ABOUT REEP (Real Estate Equity Partners) was founded in 2012 by Jacob and Arleen Garza . Our firm is focused on acquiring underperforming, income-producing, multifamily investment opportunities in Texas . Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas , REEP Equity is vertically integrated with our in-house management company, REEP Residential. Together we focus on the multifamily sector and pledge incomparable commitment and service to both our residents and our investors. Since 2012, REEP has bought, sold, and managed over 5,200 units, taking 9 properties full cycle. The current portfolio of twenty-two properties totals 3,895 units, worth over $650M+. Media Contact: Vanessa Garza 726-999-7570 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/san-antonio-express-news-names-reep-a-winner-of-the-san-antonio-metro-area-top-workplaces-2023-award-301963377.html SOURCE REEP TAIZHOU, China , Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On October 19 , the 14th China (Taizhou) International Medical Expo commenced at the China Medical City Convention Trade Center . Themed "Innovation Empowers the Construction of a Large Health Industry Ecosystem", this edition of the Medical Expo gathered nearly 130 industry experts from around the world. It featured almost 600 renowned companies from 17 countries and regions, with 19 specialized event teams led by 8 academicians. Together, they collaborated to contribute to the development of Taizhou's healthcare industry, empowering Taizhou to establish itself as a global leader in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sector. In recent years, Taizhou has set its sights on the goal of achieving a healthcare industry scale of 40 billion yuan by 2025, according to Taizhou Medical High-Tech Zone ( Gaogang District ). Emulating top domestic and international biopharmaceutical industry clusters, it has focused on constructing a distinctive "3+2" industrial system, with a primary focus on the three key pillars of biopharmaceuticals, new chemical drug formulations, in vitro diagnostic reagents, and high-end medical equipment. Additionally, they are committed to enhancing two distinctive industries -- special medical formula foods and animal healthcare products. Presently, the China Medical City has brought together over 1,300 healthcare companies, submitted applications for more than 2,100 pharmaceutical innovations, and attracted over 4,300 high-level talents for entrepreneurship. Taizhou has also become the exclusive pilot zone for the aggregation and development of the healthcare industry along the Yangtze Economic Belt and a pilot zone for the development of new vaccines and specific diagnostic reagents. Taizhou, in collaboration with international organizations, multinational enterprises, and academic institutions, is establishing research centers and production bases, creating a city that leads in health innovation. Currently, China Medical City has successfully established major innovation platforms such as the National Technology Innovation Center for Veterinary Biological Products (Taizhou), the Biopharmaceutical Innovation Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, and has partnered with 12 renowned academic institutions to build 21 technology platforms, including a Vaccine Engineering Center and a Drug Safety Evaluation Center. This Medical Expo features a significant presence of global healthcare industry leaders and facilitated the convergence of numerous domestic and international pharmaceutical innovation resources and top talents, creating a platform for broader, deeper, and higher-level international exchange and collaboration across various domains of the healthcare industry. Throughout the duration of the Medical Expo, a total of 19 specialized events covering areas such as biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, health services, and international cooperation will invite participation from the public. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-14th-china-taizhou-international-medical-expo-opens-empowering-the-growth-of-the-healthcare-industry-301962990.html KATY, Texas , Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SLCA), a diversified industrial minerals company and the leading last-mile logistics provider to the oil and gas industry, today announced that it has appointed Kevin Hough as interim Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer, succeeding Donald A. Merril , who was terminated without cause effective as of October 20, 2023 . Mr. Hough , age 59, has served as the Company's Vice President and Corporate Controller since 2016. He previously served as the Company's Corporate Controller from 2011, when he joined the Company, to 2016. Mr. Hough holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Le Moyne College. Mr. Hough had previously informed the Company of his intention to retire in 2024 and the Company will be conducting a search for a permanent Chief Financial Officer. "I am excited to welcome Kevin as our interim CFO," stated Bryan Shinn , the Company's Chief Executive Officer. "Kevin's experience and skills make him ideally suited to take on the role. He brings deep technical knowledge along with a detailed understanding of the Company and has a first-class record of leadership across our finance function. We look forward to the continued benefits of his efforts and leadership." "On behalf of the U.S. Silica Board of Directors and the Company, I want to thank Don for his contributions to our organization during his tenure," said Mr. Shinn. "We appreciate his support and dedication to the Company and wish him all the best." About U.S. Silica U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc. is a global performance materials company and is a member of the Russell 2000. The Company is a leading producer of commercial silica used in the oil and gas industry and in a wide range of industrial applications. Over its 123-year history, U.S. Silica has developed core competencies in mining, processing, logistics and materials science that enable it to produce and cost-effectively deliver over 600 diversified products to customers across our end markets. U.S. Silica's wholly owned subsidiaries include EP Minerals and SandBox Logistics. EP Minerals is an industry leader in the production of products derived from diatomaceous earth, perlite, engineered clays, and non-activated clays. SandBox Logistics is a state-of-the-art leader in proppant storage, handling and well-site delivery, dedicated to making proppant logistics cleaner, safer and more efficient. The Company has 27 operating mines and processing facilities and two additional exploration stage properties across the United States and is headquartered in Katy, Texas. Investor Contact Patricia Gil Vice President, Investor Relations & Sustainability (281) 505-6011 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-silica-appoints-interim-chief-financial-officer-301962894.html SOURCE U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc. Special offer for past and present military members available on Saturday, Nov. 11 COLUMBUS , Ohio , Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- White Castle , the well-known fast-food and consumer packaged-goods company, is celebrating Veterans Day by offering a free individual combo meal or a breakfast combo meal to all veterans and active-duty service members who dine at a participating White Castle restaurant. The special offer is valid on Saturday, Nov. 11 . White Castle Celebrates Veterans Day by Giving Complimentary Combo Meal to Veterans and Active-Duty Service Members "This is our way of showing our respect and gratitude to those who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. military," said Jamie Richardson , vice president at White Castle . "We hope this complimentary meal shows them how much we care. This special offer is a small but genuine way of letting them know we appreciate their service and sacrifice." This Veterans Day , White Castle will serve its Sliders in specially designed patriotic packaging. The front of the Slider box features red and white stripes beneath the White Castle logo. The side of the box features 50 white stars on a navy-blue background. Veterans and active-duty members of the military are encouraged to visit their local White Castle to receive their complimentary meal. No purchase is necessary, but they will be asked to show a military ID. About White Castle White Castle , America's first fast-food hamburger chain, has been making hot and tasty Sliders since 1921. Based in Columbus, Ohio , the family-owned business owns and operates more than 350 restaurants as well as a retail division providing its famous fare in freezer aisles of retail stores nationwide. As part of its commitment to offering the highest quality products, White Castle owns and operates its own Slider Provider meat plants, bakeries and frozen-Slider retail plants. White Castle has earned numerous accolades over the years including Time magazine's "Most Influential Burger of All Time" (2014, The Original Slider) and Thrillist's "Best Plant-Based Fast-Food Burger" (2019, Impossible Slider). In 2021, Fast Company named the fast-food pioneer one of the "10 Most Innovative Dining Companies." White Castle , which earned the Great Place to Work Certification in 2021, 2022 and 2023, the only fast-food restaurant to earn this distinction three years in a row, is known for the legendary engagement of its team members, more than 1 in 4 of whom have worked for the business for at least 10 years. White Castle is beloved by its passionate fans ("Cravers"), many of whom compete each year for entry into the Cravers Hall of Fame. The official White Castle app makes it easy for Cravers to sign up for the Craver Nation loyalty program, access sweet deals and place pickup orders at any time. They can also have their orders delivered using one of White Castle's delivery partners. For more information on White Castle , visit whitecastle.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/white-castle-celebrates-veterans-day-by-giving-complimentary-combo-meal-to-veterans-and-active-duty-service-members-301962588.html BEIJING and DOHA, Qatar , Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On October 20 , a Boeing-787 of Xiamen Airlines departed from Beijing Daxing International Airport for Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar . It declared Xiamen Airlines' successful maiden flight of regular flights between Beijing and Doha . Xiamen Airlines has become the first and only Chinese carrier to offer direct flights from China to Qatar . Xiamen Airlines has also become the very first and the only Chinese carrier to fly between China and Qatar . This year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Qatar , and the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. The opening of this air route will build a broader Air Silk Road to promote economic and trade cooperation and strengthen cultural exchanges between the two countries. The Xiamen Airlines on Beijing Daxing- Doha route will operate daily. The flight MF845 departs from Daxing, Beijing at 18:30 and arrives in Doha at 22:45 local time, MF846 in return leaves Doha at 02:00 local time and arrives in Daxing, Beijing at 15:20. "Welcome to take the our flight and embark on a journey of east-west civilization in the air." During the flight, amidst the fragrance of Fujian specialty tea, the flight attendants, dressed in Arabian clothing, dance with colorful accessories. The portable crystal lamps, like floral tubes, sprinkle light blazing with different colors on every happy smiling face. In addition to the exquisitely prepared onboard activities, the unique cuisine of the new route also delights the taste buds of travelers. Global travelers are indulged in great pleasure by the international delicacies such as the rich-aroma and unique-flavored three-color steamed bass with radish, the refreshing and crispy water bamboo shoots mixed with rattan pepper oil, and the Southeast Asian-styled sambal shrimp paired with coconut milk rice. As the capital and the largest city in Qatar and an international metropolis, Doha is an important international aviation hub in the Middle East region, has become the intersection of multiple intercontinental airline networks in the world, connecting numerous countries and regions in Africa and Europe . This year, Xiamen Airlines and Qatar Airways were accredited with the 2023 APEX World Class Award. When Xiamen Airlines was preparing for the Beijing Daxing-Doha flight route, the two airlines had a close comprehensive strategic partnership. Relying on the high-quality resources of the two sides, Xiamen Airlines will create a service network covering over 160 destinations worldwide, including Dammam , Lagos , and Algiers, delivering extensive transit products to passengers. The two sides will also conduct wide cooperation in network intermodal transportation, intermodal check-in, and direct baggage handling to provide global passengers with convenient experience just with one ticket including one-time security check, passenger check-in, and baggage check-in. A regular flight from Xiamen to Doha will be opened to service on October 31 . This service will operate twice a week, building a bridge between China's Fujian Province and the world. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xiamen-airlines-successfully-launches-a-maiden-flight-from-beijing-to-doha-the-first-china-qatar-direct-flight-by-a-chinese-carrier-301963292.html SOURCE Xiamen Airlines FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks after exiting the courtroom as he attends his Manhattan courthouse trial in a civil fraud case in New York, U.S., October 18, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo By Gram Slattery WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Fentanyl producers in Mexico should be killed. So too should human traffickers and drug smugglers on the U.S.-Mexico border. Shoplifters should be shot. Drug dealers and rapists? Executed. Some Republican contenders for their party's 2024 presidential nomination have turned to a blunt policy proposal to tamp down on crime: killing criminals. Legal experts say some of the proposals the candidates have put forward are likely illegal and their efficacy is questionable, raising doubts about whether they would be put into practice. The death penalty is generally unconstitutional for offenses that do not cause the death of the victim, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled. Legal scholars and security officials with experience on the border have affirmed that shooting smugglers on the border is illegal. The rhetoric isn't entirely novel. In 2020, then-President Donald Trump tweeted that when the "looting starts the shooting starts," after violent protests in Minneapolis against the murder of George Floyd, a Black man, by a white police officer. Twitter tagged the tweet for "glorifying violence." Trump is now the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican nomination to challenge President Joe Biden, a Democrat. Republican strategists involved in previous campaigns and experts in political rhetoric say that calls to shoot, kill or otherwise injure criminals appear to be more common during this Republican primary race than they have been in previous years. Crime is a greater concern for voters than it has been in recent elections, even as crime trends are mixed. Some 88% of respondents in a September Reuters/Ipsos poll said crime would be an important issue for determining who gets their vote in the November 2024 general election. Violent crimes, including rape and murder, declined in the United States in 2022 from the previous year, according to a report released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation this week. At the same time, property crime and aggravated assault were up, while the 21,156 murders reported in 2022 were well above pre-pandemic level. With Trump nearly 40 percentage points ahead of his nearest rival in the Republican race, his opponents are also incentivized to try to break through by putting forward attention-grabbing policy proposals, even those that appear to advocate state violence. 'SOMETHING MORE OUTRAGEOUS ALL THE TIME' Such rhetoric can be dangerous, as it gives constituents and law enforcement the impression that violence is condoned and tolerated at the highest levels, said Thomas Zeitzoff, a politics professor at American University in Washington. "In a primary where it is becoming increasingly difficult to break through the noise, the incentive is to say something more outrageous all the time," said David Kochel, a Republican consultant who is not aligned with any candidate. During a September speech in California, Trump made headlines for saying, "If you rob a store, you can fully expect to be shot as you are leaving that store. Shot!" He did not say whether store owners or police would be doing the shooting. Then this week, a Florida store employee was charged with manslaughter after shooting dead a fleeing shoplifter who at no time threatened the employee or displayed any type of weapon, police said in a statement on Wednesday. James Densley, a criminologist and professor at Metro State University in St. Paul, Minnesota, said Trump's message is reckless. "Looters and shoplifters is code for people of color. If you're having political figures endorse violence, the risk is the targets will be people of color." The former president has reiterated previous calls for drug dealers to receive the death penalty, despite legal scholars questioning its constitutionality. Criminal justice reform advocates have long fought against an expansion of the death penalty, citing its disparate toll on communities of color. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, a nonprofit that analyzes capital punishment, Black Americans are overrepresented among death row populations across the nation. A recent analysis from earlier this year found Black people represent about 41% of inmates, yet are 13% of the U.S. population. "Tough-on-crime policies only amplify systemic racial biases present in the justice system," Densley said. By lowering the threshold for the death penalty, increasing numbers of minority groups will be "caught up in that widening dragnet," he said. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Trump's top challenger, has said repeatedly he would authorize deadly force against suspected smugglers crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, leaving them "stone-cold dead." DeSantis has signaled he is open to firing missiles into Mexico to kill narcotics kingpins involved in the trade of the synthetic opioid fentanyl that is fueling a deadly drug crisis in America. He and several other contenders have signaled they are also open to sending special forces into Mexico, the top U.S. trade partner, to kill suspects involved in the drug trade. During the spring state legislative session in Florida, DeSantis signed a bill expanding the use of the death penalty by, among other measures, allowing its use in cases of child rape, which has not occurred in the U.S. since 1964. At the most recent primary debate in California in September, former Vice President Mike Pence said he would seek to accelerate executions of people involved in mass shootings. Trump and Pence did not respond to requests for comment, while DeSantis' campaign defended his statements. "Unlike the other candidates' mere talk, Ron DeSantis has delivered results on law and order issues," said DeSantis campaign press secretary Bryan Griffin. DeSantis' campaign noted that he has also sought to increase the number of police officers in Florida by offering them signing bonuses. Pence has said he supports tough-on-crime measures paired with criminal justice reform, indicating he still supports a measure he signed as the governor of Indiana in 2015 to reduce the population of low-level offenders in state prisons. (Reporting by Gram Slattery, additional reporting by Nathan Layne in Wilton, Connecticut and Tim Reid in Los Angeles, editing by Ross Colvin and Howard Goller) FILE PHOTO: FILE PHOTO: A logo of Huawei Technologies is seen at its exhibition space, at the Viva Technology conference dedicated to innovation and startups at Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris, France June 15, 2022. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/F By Josh Ye HONG KONG (Reuters) -U.S. measures to limit the export of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chips to China may create an opening for Huawei Technologies to expand in its $7 billion home market as the curbs force Nvidia to retreat, analysts say. While Nvidia has historically been the leading provider of AI chips in China with a market share exceeding 90%, Chinese firms including Huawei have been developing their own versions of Nvidias best-selling chips, including the A100 and the H100 graphics processing units (GPU). Huawei's Ascend AI chips are comparable to Nvidia's in terms of raw computing power, analysts and some AI firms such as China's iFlyTek say, but they still lag behind in performance. Jiang Yifan, chief market analyst at brokerage Guotai Junan Securities, said another key limiting factor for Chinese firms was the reliance of most projects on Nvidia's chips and software ecosystem, but that could change with the U.S. restrictions. "This U.S. move, in my opinion, is actually giving Huawei's Ascend chips a huge gift," Jiang said in a post on his social media Weibo account. This opportunity, however, comes with several challenges. Many cutting edge AI projects are built with CUDA, a popular programming architecture Nvidia has pioneered, which has in turn given rise to a massive global ecosystem that has become capable of training highly sophisticated AI models such as OpenAI's GPT-4. Huawei own version is called CANN, and analysts say it is much more limited in terms of the AI models it is capable of training, meaning that Huawei's chips are far from a plug-and-play substitute for Nvidia. Woz Ahmed, a former chip design executive turned consultant, said that for Huawei to win Chinese clients from Nvidia, it must replicate the ecosystem Nvidia created, including supporting clients to move their data and models to Huawei's own platform. Intellectual property rights are also a problem, as many U.S. firms already hold key patents for GPUs, Ahmed said. "To get something that's in the ballpark, it is 5 or 10 years," he added. Huawei and Nvidia did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. COMPUTING POWER If Huawei manages to grab Nvidia's market share, it could claim another victory against the United States, which has targeted the firm with export controls since 2019. Huawei rolled out the first Ascend GPUs that year and it is one of a number of products - such as its Harmony operating system - that the company says are entirely homegrown. Over the past year, the telecoms giant has shown signs that it is beating back against the U.S. curbs by unveiling an advanced smartphone chip and making claims of breakthroughs in chip design tools. It has also set its sights on becoming a key provider of computing power for AI, with Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou saying last month that Huawei wanted to build a computing base for China and give the world a "second option", in a veiled reference to dominant provider the United States. Huawei's partners in China so far include iFlyTek, a leading Chinese AI software company which is using the Ascend 910 to train its AI models. IFlyTek was also blacklisted by the United States in 2019. On Thursday, during iFlyTek's earnings call, Senior Vice President Jiang Tao said the Ascend 910B's capabilities were "comparable to Nvidia's A100" and announced that it was developing a general-purpose AI infrastructure in China alongside Huawei. "Our partnership now aims to enable domestically developed LLMs to be built with both homegrown hardware and software technology," Jiang said. Other partners include state-owned software firms Tsinghua Tongfang and Digital China. At a conference in July, Huawei said its AI chips now help power more than 30 large language models (LLM) in China, which is going through a generative AI craze and currently has more than 130 LLMs. Charlie Chai, an analyst with 86Research, said Nvidia's ecosystem dominance was not "an insurmountable obstacle if domestic players are given sufficient time and a big customer base". China's self-sufficiency push, which has been championed by President Xi Jinping, is likely to aid this. "In short, a small disruption to near-term supplies, but a big boost to the long-term self-sufficiency agenda," Chai added. ($1 = $1.0000) (Reporting by Josh Ye; Editing by Brenda Goh and Miral Fahmy) FILE PHOTO: Mayor of London Sadiq Khan speaks at the London Tech Week in London, Britain, June 12, 2023. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo LONDON (Reuters) - London police said on Friday they had recorded a 1,353% increase in antisemitic offences this month compared to the same period last year, while Islamophobic offences were up 140% in the wake of the attack by Hamas on Israel. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called the rise in antisemitism sickening and vowed that Britain would not tolerate any hatred, as groups which monitor incidents involving Jews and Muslims said cases had soared after Hamas gunmen rampaged through Israeli towns and Israel pounded Gaza in response. Police in the British capital ramped up patrols amid growing tensions, but said there had been 218 antisemitic offences between Oct. 1 and 18, compared to 15 in the same period in 2022. Islamophobic offences were up to 101, from 42. "Regrettably, despite the increased presence of officers we have seen a significant increase in hate crime across London," police said in a statement. "This includes abuse directed at individuals or groups in person or online, racially or religiously motivated criminal damage and other offences." Officers have made 21 arrests for hate crime offences, including a man detained for defacing posters of missing Israelis and another over Islamophobic graffiti on bus stops. The Community Security Trust, a charity that advises Britain's estimated 280,000 Jews on security matters, said it had recorded 457 antisemitic incidents across the UK since the Hamas attack on Oct. 7 until Oct. 18. TellMama, which monitors anti-Muslim incidents, said it had received 200 cases up to Oct. 16. "The conflict is having a direct impact on London and Londoners, with increasing cases of abhorrent Islamophobia and antisemitism seen in the capital," London Mayor Sadiq Khan said. A number of pro-Palestinian marches are due to take place in London on Saturday, and the police have said 1,000 officers will be on duty, with restrictions in place around the Israeli embassy and a promise to clamp down on any hate crimes. (Reporting by Michael Holden; editing by Jonathan Oatis) By Belen Carreno and Anthony Boadle MADRID/BRASILIA (Reuters) - Argentina and Brazil are requesting 12.5 billion euros ($13.2 billion) in financial aid from the European Union in talks to conclude a trade agreement with South America's Mercosur bloc, according to a document seen by Reuters. Three EU and South American diplomats confirmed the Argentine request, which is backed by Brazil, in the rotating presidency of the four-nation Mercosur. Argentina and Brazil have also pushed to exclude more kinds of government procurement from European competition, but Uruguay and Paraguay did not back the idea because it could delay or derail a deal in the works for two decades, two diplomats said. "To ensure fulfillment of the objectives of this agreement, the EU shall allocate financial resources ... for an amount of not less than EUR 12.5 billion in grants, loans and other financial instruments," said the text presented two weeks ago. A spokesman for Brazil's foreign ministry said Mercosur's position was evolving and the text seen by Reuters might not be the latest version. "There are changes being discussed and agreed upon," he said. The EU funds, meant to compensate for increased competition, would be available when tariffs start dropping, according to schedules in the trade in goods chapter, the text said. A European diplomat involved in the talks told Reuters the 12.5 billion euros number was "floated" but that any support "would not be anything like that figure." The agreement has been on hold since 2019 largely due to European concerns over Amazon deforestation. The new aid request was made in a Mercosur counterproposal to an EU addendum proposing environmental safeguards. Talks sped up in the last month with videoconferences and chief negotiators are due to meet face-to-face in Brussels next week, followed by an extended meeting in Brasilia on Oct. 30. But the financial aid request and reopening of the public procurement chapter could prevent a final deal this year. A Mercosur ambassador in Brasilia told Reuters there was no time to reopen chapters of the accord. "If there is no agreement by December, it will never see the light of day," he said. Spain's deputy trade minister, Xiana Mendez, speaking to reporters on Friday after a meeting of European trade ministers in Valencia, said it was still possible to reach an agreement by December. "There is no will to reopen the Mercosur treaty, but there are additional issues to be discussed by the Mercosur countries," she added. ($1 = 0.9441 euro) (Reporting by Belen Carreno and Anthony Boadle; Editing by Brad Haynes and Jonathan Oatis) FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden participates in a bilateral meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at Navy Gateway Inns and Suites, in San Diego, California U.S., March 13, 2023. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo By Kirsty Needham and David Brunnstrom SYDNEY/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will seek progress on the AUKUS defence technology partnership and critical mineral supply chains during a visit to Washington next week, as Canberra tries to reduce its long-term trade exposure to China. In comments to parliament before his departure on Sunday, Albanese said the AUKUS partnership, to transfer U.S. and British nuclear submarine technology to Australia, was crucial to the future of the U.S. alliance. He also flagged announcements on critical minerals, clean energy transformation, and an economic deal. Peter Dean, director of foreign policy and defence at the United States Studies Centre in Sydney, said greater collaboration between the U.S. and Australia in critical technologies was likely to be a focus in Washington, delivering swifter results than the ambitious plan to build nuclear-powered submarines in Australia by 2040. The AUKUS pact faces hurdles in the U.S. Congress, and from U.S. export controls that could slow its implementation, much to the frustration of Australian officials. The so-called AUKUS "pillar 2" commits to jointly developing quantum computing, undersea, hypersonic, AI and cyber technology. Australia and the United States struck an agreement in May to align on clean energy and critical minerals, when Albanese and U.S. President Joe Biden met in Japan. Biden had been forced to cancel at short notice a visit to Australia for a summit of the Quad - grouping the United States, Australia, Japan and India - because of an impasse in Washington over the U.S. debt ceiling. On Friday, the Biden administration submitted a supplementary budget request to Congress that included a call for $3.4 billion to strengthen the U.S. Navys submarine fleet and the submarine industrial base, which it said would also support U.S. commitments under AUKUS. Twenty-five U.S. Republican lawmakers urged Biden in July to increase funding for the country's submarine fleet, saying that the plan under AUKUS to sell Australia Virginia-class nuclear-power submarines would "unacceptably weaken" the U.S. fleet without a clear plan to replace them. Republican Senator Roger Wicker, ranking member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, called the budget request "a welcome start" but added, "it cannot stop here." "Our shipyards are under-resourced to meet the Navys urgent submarine requirements as well as meet the prospective demands of the AUKUS agreement," he said. "We must work to signal to both our allies and U.S. industry that we can meet the obligations of the AUKUS agreement without putting our own submarine fleet in jeopardy." COLLABORATION Jeffrey Wilson, director of research and economics at the Australian Industry Group, said it was time for detailed plans on concrete industry collaboration, with rare earths a priority. Australia has large deposits of rare earths, although most global supply is dominated by China, and investor risk has been a hurdle to developing a processing industry in Australia. The U.S. auto and clean energy sector is one of the largest markets globally, and the Pentagon is a major buyer of strategic minerals, said Wilson. "With many critical minerals markets dominated by Chinese state-owned enterprises, the U.S. has declared an interest in 'friendshoring' its supply chains to allied partners like Australia," he added. In Albanese's ninth meeting with Biden since becoming prime minister in 2022, he is also under pressure to raise the case of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. A group of Australian lawmakers pressed U.S. officials last month to drop efforts to extradite Assange, an Australian citizen, from Britain. It is unclear whether Albanese will address U.S. Congress, amid an impasse over selecting a new Speaker. Democratic Congressman Joe Courtney, co-chair of the Friends of Australia Caucus in Congress, told Reuters Albanese could address AUKUS-related concerns over sensitive technology. He said Australia "has made some really impressive changes to reassure the State Department and Defense Department folks that Australia's got a good system to make sure that it's not going to end up in some company that is Chinese owned." On Friday, Courtney hailed the new budget request, saying it "will not only help the industrial base increase production and capacity to ensure the Navy can meet its own fleet requirements, but also position the AUKUS mission for success." (Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Sydney and David Brunnstrom in Washington; Editing by Gareth Jones and Alistair Bell) FILE PHOTO: A replica of the astronaut capsule is displayed at the Blue Origin site, on the day the Blue Origin's rocket New Shepard blasts off on billionaire Jeff Bezos's company's fourth suborbital tourism flight with a six-person crew near Van Horn, Te By Joey Roulette WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Blue Origin's senior vice president of operations is leaving "for personal reasons," according to an internal email seen by Reuters, the third executive departure to be disclosed in less than a month at Jeff Bezos' space company as it aims to sharpen its competitive footing with Elon Musk's SpaceX. Blue Origin CEO Bob Smith told employees in an email on Friday that Mike Eilola, the company's senior vice president of operations since 2021, "is leaving the company for personal reasons" on Nov. 3 and will have his unit split into two new organizations. Eilola's departure follows plans announced last month by Bezos to replace Smith, who has been Blue Origin's CEO since 2017, with longtime Amazon executive Dave Limp by the end of the year. And Brent Sherwood, the head of what had been the company's research and development unit, will depart next month, Reuters has reported. Eilola, a former Honeywell Aerospace executive, oversaw Blue Origin's supply chain, manufacturing apparatus and the company's vast network of facilities across the United States, as the company reaches the late stages of developing its next-generation New Glenn rocket. "Effective immediately," Smith's email said, the operations unit will split into a new manufacturing and supply chain operations organization and a facilities, maintenance and security team. Blue Origin did not respond to a request for comment. Bezos founded Blue Origin in 2000 with the vision of having millions of people living and working in space. The Amazon founder has sought to make the company into a formidable rocket launch and human spaceflight business that could rival SpaceX. Bezos hired Smith, also a former Honeywell Aerospace executive, in 2017 to lead that charge. Blue Origin this year won a $3.4 billion NASA contract to send humans to the moon's surface in the next decade, and more broadly has had success with a suborbital human space tourism business centered on its reusable New Shepard rocket. It also plans to build an Earth-orbiting space station. But New Shepard has been grounded for more than a year after a 2022 uncrewed mishap. And development of Blue Origin's reusable New Glenn rocket has been delayed for years, setting back the company's long-awaited debut in Earth's orbit and its bid to challenge SpaceX's growing dominance in the global space sector. In the past several months, Blue Origin's corporate structure has changed substantially as its leadership gets a revamp. The company this month unveiled a new In-Space Systems unit and brought its development of a new maneuverable spacecraft, Blue Ring, out of the shadows, aiming to capture a slice of a growing market for refueling and deploying spacecraft while in orbit. Blue Origin this year also spun its moon lander program into a new independent business unit. In replacing Smith with Limp, Bezos told employees in an email last month that "I know we'll remain focused on our customer commitments, production schedules and executing with speed and operational excellence." (Reporting by Joey Roulette; Editing by Will Dunham) FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden delivers a prime-time address to the nation about his approaches to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, humanitarian assistance in Gaza and continued support for Ukraine in their war with Russia, from the Oval Offi By Jeff Mason and Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday said he believed that trucks carrying aid will get through to Gaza in the next 24 to 48 hours, as he met with leaders from the European Union at the White House to discuss the war in the Middle East. Palestinian Islamist group Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,400 people, mainly civilians. Since then Israel has bombed Gaza with air strikes. At least 4,137 Palestinians have been killed, including hundreds of children, in Gaza, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Asked about aid trucks getting through to Gaza, Biden said he had a commitment from the Israelis and the president of Egypt. The "highway had to be repaved," Biden said. He said he believed that over the next 24 to 48 hours, the first 20 trucks with aid would get through. Biden also discussed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to begin moving humanitarian assistance into Gaza from Egypt during a phone call on Friday, the White House said. International attention has focused on getting aid to Gaza through the one access point not controlled by Israel, the Rafah crossing to Egypt. Biden, who visited Israel on Wednesday, emerged with a promise from Israel to allow limited shipments from Egypt, provided the aid is monitored to prevent any from reaching Hamas. Rafah was out of operation for nearly two weeks since Hamas attacked Israel. Israel's bombardment of Gaza, a 45-km-long (25-mile) enclave, in retaliation for the Hamas attack has worsened conditions for the 2.3 million people living there under a blockade by Israel and Egypt since Hamas took control in 2007. Biden also discussed with the Israeli prime minister on Friday about providing for "safe passage for U.S. citizens and other civilians in Gaza," according to the White House. Diplomatic activity around the opening of the Rafah crossing has intensified, with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi recently receiving the top U.S. general overseeing troops in the Middle East as well as King Abdullah of Jordan, and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calling in Cairo for aid to be delivered at scale and on a sustained basis. (Reporting by Jeff Mason and Kanishka Singh; additional reporting by Paul Grant and Costas Pitas; writing by Kanishka Singh; Editing by Leslie Adler and Jonathan Oatis) French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas (not seen) as she arrives at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, October 18, 2023. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier SAO PAULO (Reuters) -French President Emmanuel Macron has accepted an invitation from Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and will visit the South American country in the first half of 2024, Brazil's government said on Friday. The leaders discussed the crisis in the Middle East by phone earlier in the day, agreeing that they will continue to search for ways to promote peace, Brazil's presidential office said in a statement. "The two presidents agreed on the need for Hamas to immediately release hostages and on the terrible toll inflicted by the conflict on Palestinian and Israeli children," the statement said. "They expressed concern about the risks of an escalation." France earlier this week voted for a Brazilian-drafted resolution at the United Nations Security Council that would have called for humanitarian pauses in the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. The United States vetoed the resolution. The leaders also discussed the deal reached between Venezuela's government and opposition parties for the 2024 election, which led the U.S. to broadly ease sanctions on Venezuela's oil sector. "Both presidents indicated satisfaction with the agreement," the statement said. Lula and Macron met in July in Brussels with the Venezuelan government and the opposition to discuss the country's upcoming election. The presidents of Argentina and Colombia also participated. (Reporting by Gabriel Araujo; Editing by Steven Grattan and Rod Nickel) BRASILIA (Reuters) -Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has vetoed the core parts of a bill backed by the country's powerful farm lobby that would have limited claims to ancestral lands where Indigenous people have lived by 1988. "The president vetoed everything that was unconstitutional and not consistent with our Indigenous peoples policy," his Institutional Relations Minister Alexandre Padilha announced. The government will retain some parts of the bill in keeping with its Indigenous policy and sign it into law later on Friday, he said. Brazil's first Indigenous People Minister Sonia Guajajara, appointed by Lula, said the veto was a big victory for the country's 1.6 million Indigenous people, who have strived to protect their land rights threatened by the advance of the agricultural frontier into the Amazon region. "The important thing is that Indigenous rights are guaranteed by the veto," she said at a news conference with Padilha after a meeting with Lula to decide the matter. The number of land conflicts has increased with Brazil's rapidly expanding agriculture. Indigenous communities across the country claim land that farmers have settled and developed, in some cases for decades. The core of the bill sought to establish in law a cut-off for new reservations on lands Indigenous people did not live on by Oct. 5, 1988 when Brazil's Constitution was enacted. The caucus representing agribusiness in Brazil's Congress said they would seek to vote to overturn Lula's veto, adding that lawmakers' decisions must be respected by the other branches of power. The Supreme Court ruled last month that the deadline proposed was unconstitutional. Farmers have said the bill would ensure greater legal security of their land ownership, curtailing land conflicts. Minister Guajajara responded in an interview with Reuters that it would undermine the ancestral land rights of Indigenous people and threaten their way of life, and she urged Lula to veto it completely. Lula had until Friday to veto or sanction the bill. (Reporting by Anthony Boadle; Editing by David Gregorio and Richard Chang) FILE PHOTO: Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada October 3, 2023. REUTERS/Blair Gable/File Photo OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada is still committed to a two-state solution to create peace in the Middle East, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday, reiterating the country's long-time position in the wake of deadly Hamas attacks against Israel earlier this month. "Canada remains firm and steadfast in our commitment to a two-state solution," Trudeau told reporters in Toronto. "The world and the region needs a peaceful, safe, prosperous, viable Palestinian state alongside a peaceful, prosperous, democratic, safe... Israel." (Reporting by Steve Scherer and David Ljunggren) FILE PHOTO: Lines of trucks are seen at a container terminal of Ningbo Zhoushan port in Zhejiang province, China, August 15, 2021. cnsphoto via REUTERS/File Photo BEIJING (Reuters) - China's curbs on exports of gallium and germanium products choked off international shipments of the chipmaking metals for a second consecutive month, customs data for September showed on Friday. China's exports of wrought germanium products stood at 1 kilogram, versus zero in August after a flurry of buying prior to the restrictions saw shipments of wrought products surge to 8.63 metric tons in July. Under the customs code for "germanium oxides and zirconium dioxide", the data showed exports of 1,420 tons in September, versus 1,034 tons in August. It was not possible to verify if the shipments were made up of only zirconium dioxide or also included some germanium oxide. China exported no wrought gallium products in August and September. It had exported 5.57 tons in September 2022. In July, China unveiled restrictions on exports of eight gallium and six germanium products starting on Aug. 1, the latest salvo in an escalating war between Beijing and Washington over access to materials used in making high-tech microchips. Exporters of germanium and gallium products now need to obtain an export licence for dual-use items and technologies, meaning those with potential military and civilian applications. Some Chinese companies have obtained export licences for gallium and germanium products, the Ministry of Commerce said in September. The spot price of germanium ingot was at 9,700 yuan per kilogram (kg)on Sept. 28, unchanged on the month, data from consultancy Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) showed. The price of gallium metal, however, climbed by 15% month-on-month to 1,905 yuan per kg on Sept. 28, driven by temporary tightness as a result of improved demand and a delay in commissioning of new capacity. China's exports of wrought germanium totaled 36.49 tons in the first nine months of 2023, up 47.4% on the year, while shipments of wrought gallium fell 61.9% on the year to 22.72 tons over the same period. (Reporting by Amy Lv and Dominique Patton in Beijing) Palestinians search for casualties at the site of an Israeli strike on a house during the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip October 19, 2023. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem By Liz Lee and Ryan Woo BEIJING (Reuters) -China's special Mideast envoy pinned the cause of the Israel-Gaza crisis on the lack of guarantees for Palestinian rights as he met with his Russian counterpart in Qatar, a go-between in the conflict. In the first leg of his tour in the region, China's envoy for Middle East issues Zhai Jun landed in Qatar on Thursday where he reaffirmed with his Russian counterpart Mikhail Bogdanov Beijing's alignment with Moscow in their efforts to help de-escalate the Gaza crisis. China and Russia share the same position on the Palestinian issue, Zhai was quoted as saying after meeting with Bogdanov in Doha, a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with President Xi Jinping in a rare meeting in Beijing. "The fundamental reason for the current situation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is that the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people have not been guaranteed," Zhai said, without referring to the Gaza-based militant group Hamas. On Oct. 7, Hamas gunmen stormed into southern Israel from the Gaza Strip, killing at least 1,400 people. In response, Israel has retaliated with air strikes, putting the Gaza Strip's 2.3 million people under siege. A week later, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, while condemning "all acts that harm civilians" without naming Hamas, declared that "Israel's actions have gone beyond the scope of self-defence." Nicholas Burns, the U.S. ambassador to China, told Bloomberg Television on Thursday the United States and China had differing views on the Israel-Hamas war. "We do not have identical views on this particular position," Burns said, when asked whether he saw the Mideast tensions as a chance to improve Sino-U.S. ties. 'ROOT CAUSES' The crisis has put China and Russia in separate camps from the United States. President Joe Biden said he would seek extra funding, estimated to be in the billions, to help Israel fight Hamas. Russia, which has ties with Iran, the Hamas militant group, major Arab powers as well as with the Palestinians and Israel, has repeatedly said the United States and the West have ignored the need for an independent Palestinian state within 1967 borders. A Brazil-drafted U.N. Security Council resolution that called for a humanitarian ceasefire failed to pass on Wednesday, with the United States vetoing the resolution. A Russian-drafted resolution that called for a humanitarian ceasefire also failed to pass on Monday. "The biased attitude of the U.S. is one of the root causes of the long-standing Palestine issue, and it acts as a catalyst for escalating the conflict when it erupts," China's nationalist tabloid, Global Times, wrote in an editorial. In Qatar, Zhai said China was ready to maintain communication and coordination with Russia in an effort to calm the Israel-Palestinian conflict. The tiny Gulf state of Qatar has been an essential stopover for foreign diplomats including U.S. State Secretary Antony Blinken seeking to mediate in the Israel-Gaza conflict in recent days, having direct communication channels with Hamas, which has had a political office in Doha for more than a decade. (Reporting by Liz Lee and Ryan Woo; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman, Stephen Coates and Lincoln Feast and Miral Fahmy) Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Sri Lanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is in Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China October 20, 2023. China Daily via REUT By Joe Cash BEIJING (Reuters) - China adjusted its framework for weighing debt sustainability of countries in its Belt and Road Initiative, beefing up criteria to assess the economic growth of borrowers, while dropping positive phrasing about the efforts of multilateral lenders. The previous guidelines date from 2019, before indebted nations such as Sri Lanka and Zambia defaulted on their loans and appealed to Beijing to restructure their debts. The new guidelines, released after this week's third Belt and Road Forum, halve to 10 years the time Chinese financial institutions and those of other BRI nations "are encouraged" to use in making macroeconomic projections, leading to a more prudent approach in assessing growth risks. The changes also broaden the guidelines to "BRI market access countries" in the programme from just "BRI low-income countries", boosting eligibility to use Beijing's preferred framework when seeking financial support. Expanding this definition should bring into the fold "middle-income" countries such as crisis-hit Sri Lanka, which has been seeking debt restructuring assurances from China similar to those available to "low-income" countries via the G20-led Common Framework. The world's largest bilateral creditor, Beijing has long wanted multilateral lenders such as the International Monetary Fund and World Bank to share with it their debt sustainability analyses of those seeking debt restructuring, if they expect China to offer debt relief. China's loans to lower and middle-income countries were worth $170 billion by the end of 2020, World Bank data shows. The guidelines also drop a clause "welcoming the efforts of the IMF, World Bank other international institutions to improve debt sustainability of the low-income countries". Instead they now urge all BRI countries to adopt the new framework, suggesting Beijing wants to continue talks with debtor nations on a two-way basis, despite the Common Framework's aim to standardise access to debt relief. (Reporting by Joe Cash; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) San Francisco Police vehicle is parked on the street near the visa office of the Chinese consulate, where local media has reported a vehicle may have crashed into the building, in San Francisco, California, U.S. on October 9, 2023. REUTERS/Nathan Frandino By Nathan Frandino and Steve Gorman OAKLAND, Calif. (Reuters) - A Chinese citizen who crashed his car into the Chinese consulate in San Francisco on Oct. 9 appeared to slash at a policeman with a knife as they scuffled before the officer shot him dead, newly released video of the confrontation showed on Thursday. In addition to recovering the weapon seen wielded by the suspect - a folding knife with a 3-1/2-inch (8.9 cm) blade - officers also found a loaded crossbow with arrows in the backseat of the man's vehicle, police said. Footage captured by police body-worn cameras was released during a 90-minute "town hall meeting," an online briefing the San Francisco Police Department typically presents within 10 days of any officer-involved shooting as part of its public transparency routine. The department's internal review of police conduct in the incident was continuing, along with a separate investigation into the overall case itself. San Francisco Police Chief William Scott said the deceased suspect, Zhanyuan Yang, 31, was a Chinese national. He made no mention of Yang's immigration status or whether he had any connection to the consulate. A department spokeswoman said she was not at liberty to answer those questions. Scott said police "don't have anything further to release to the public" regarding possible motives for the attack. According to police, Yang plowed his Honda sedan into the lobby of the consulate visa office around 3 p.m. In recordings of emergency-911 calls played during Thursday's presentation, eyewitnesses were heard describing the driver as armed with a gun and bleeding from the head when he emerged from the vehicle. The only weapons recovered from the scene, police said, were the knife and crossbow, which somewhat resembled a rifle. Police said two security guards inside the consulate initially restrained Yang until police arrived minutes later. Bodycam video showed the police sergeant and one of the guards struggling to pin Yang to a wall as he turns toward them, making what police described as "multiple, rapid, downward swinging motions" in their direction with the knife, which is visible in the footage. As two more police officers burst into the lobby, the sergeant can be seen stepping back before he draws his weapon and shoots the suspect at close range. Yang was later pronounced dead at a hospital. Nobody else was injured, but the sergeant and others in the lobby can be heard coughing as they inhale fumes of pepper spray that police said was unleashed prior to officers' arrival in the building. It was not made clear who fired the pepper spray. At the time of the incident, China's foreign mission condemned what it called a "violent attack" on the consulate, demanding a thorough investigation. (Reporting by Nathan Frandino in Oakland, California; Writing and additional reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Lincoln Feast.) Israeli soldiers patrol an area near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel October 19, 2023. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File Photo (Reuters) -Egypt holds a summit on the Gaza crisis on Saturday amid growing fears of a wider Middle East war but the absence of a top official from Israel's main ally the U.S. and some other leaders has dampened expectations for what it can achieve. The hastily-convened Cairo Peace Summit as the conflict still rages will bring together several Arab and European heads of state and government, alongside foreign ministers. They will meet as Israel readies a ground assault on Gaza following the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas that killed 1,400 people. More than 4,100 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's counteroffensive, amid a growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. China said its envoy for Middle East issues Zhai Jun would attend, while Russia said it would be represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov. There was no word as of 1700 GMT on who would represent the United States. Egypt has said little about the aims of the gathering, beyond an Oct. 15 statement by the Egyptian presidency that the summit would cover recent developments involving the crisis in Gaza and the future of the Palestinian issue. "There is no precise overview of the participants so far. Much is still in flux," said one European source. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will not attend, while there has been no official word on whether French President Emmanuel Macron will go. A senior EU official said there had been discussions about a common summit declaration but there were still "differences" so it was not clear if there would be a text in the end. The official said European Council President Charles Michel and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell planned to go to Cairo, although they faced a scramble to get there in time as they were both in Washington on Friday for a US-EU summit. Arab countries have voiced anger at Israel's unprecedented bombardment and siege of Gaza, home to 2.3 million people. Clashes on Israel's border with Lebanon and attempted attacks by Iranian-backed forces elsewhere have fuelled fears of a spillover, particularly if a ground offensive proves bloody, while growing anti-Islamic and anti-Semitic harassment around the world has raised security concerns in many countries. European countries have struggled to settle on a united approach to the crisis, beyond condemning Hamas's attack, after days of confusion and mixed messaging. Egypt has been trying to channel humanitarian relief to Gaza through the Rafah crossing, the one access point not controlled by Israel, but aid has piled up on the Egyptian side. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Wednesday Egyptians in their millions would oppose any forced displacement of Palestinians into Sinai, adding that any such move would turn the Egyptian peninsula into a base for attacks against Israel. Egypt's position reflects Arab fears that Palestinians could again flee or be forced from their homes en masse, as they were during the war surrounding Israels creation in 1948. Jordan's King Abdullah and Sisi both said on Thursday that Palestinians should not be forcibly displaced and that Israel was "imposing collective punishment" on the inhabitants of Gaza by bombing civilians. Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have said they will wipe out Hamas in retribution for the attack. But Israel has no obvious endgame in sight, with no clear plan for how to govern the Palestinian enclave afterwards, according to eight regional and Western officials with knowledge of the conflict. Some of U.S. President Joe Biden's aides are concerned that while Israel may craft an effective plan to inflict lasting damage to Hamas, it has yet to formulate an exit strategy, a source in Washington familiar with the matter said. The summit is scheduled to be opened by the Egyptian president at 10 a.m. Saturday (0700 GMT). (Reporting by Reuters bureaux; Writing by William Maclean; Editing by Edmund Blair, Philippa Fletcher and Diane Craft) U.S. President Joe Biden delivers a prime-time address to the nation about his approaches to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, humanitarian assistance in Gaza and continued support for Ukraine in their war with Russia, from the Oval Office of the Wh (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden wants Congress to provide $106 billion in supplemental funding, with the bulk of the money going to bolster Ukraine's defenses and the remainder split among Israel, Indo-Pacific and border enforcement. Biden is betting that including money for Israel and immigration will help convince House Republicans wary of sending additional money to Ukraine to support the measure. UKRAINE $61.4 BILLION The request includes $30 billion for the Department of Defense to help supply Ukraine with weapons and replenish U.S. stocks. There is also $14.4 billion to support military intelligence in Ukraine and $481 million to help assist displaced Ukrainians arriving in the U.S. ISRAEL, $14.3 BILLION The request includes $10.6 billion for air and missile defense support and $3.7 billion for the State Department to assist in embassy support and foreign military financing. BORDER PROTECTION, $13.6 BILLION The request includes money to hire 1,300 additional border patrol agents, 1,600 new asylum officers and 375 new judge teams. It also calls for $1.2 billion to counter smuggling of the deadly drug fentanyl. HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE, $10 BILLION The request includes $9.15 billion for humanitarian needs across Israel, Ukraine, Gaza and other global needs. The remainder goes to border migration and refugee assistance. (Reporting By Jarrett Renshaw; Editing by Heather Timmons and Tomasz Janowski) French President Emmanuel Macron attends a video-conference with the families of French hostages by the Hamas militants who had entered Israel from the Gaza Strip, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, October 20, 2023. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/Pool By John Irish PARIS (Reuters) - France's President Emmanuel Macron on Friday welcomed the release of two American hostages in Gaza, highlighting Qatar's role and saying he hoped similar initiatives would happen in the coming days, including for French nationals. The armed wing of Hamas released two Americans on Friday, who Israel said were en route to a military base in central Israel to be reunited with family. Thirty French citizens were killed on Oct. 7 after Hamas militants launched an attack into Israel and seven are still missing. One appeared in a video published by Hamas, but the fate of the other six remains unknown. "For the other six there is a presumption of hostage taking but without certainty. We have elements that we have cross-checked with the Israeli services and authorities," Macron told a small group of reporters on Friday. He said Paris was holding discussions with Israel and other contacts, notably Qatar, which he said had given him hope that they would be able to free the maximum number of hostages. After holding talks with several regional leaders on Friday, including the Saudi crown prince, Qatar emir, Egyptian president and Israeli prime minister, Macron said he was sending his foreign minister to a summit in Egypt on Saturday. French medical aid would be sent in the coming hours to join Egyptian efforts backed by the United States to bring supplies into Gaza, Macron said. Unlike some of his Western partners Macron has yet to go to the region and he said he would do so at a later stage if he felt it could help defuse tensions. "I am trying to obtain useful elements for the region from Israel and neighbouring countries which will make it possible to build a lasting peace, that is to say elements which will ensure the security of Israel, the fight against terrorist groups, which will avoid the escalation of the conflict and which will allow the resumption of a political process," he said. Macron said he was also focusing on trying to avoid an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel and messages had been passed on the Lebanese side. "There is a situation of tension which is extremely worrying in any case and poses a great risk to the entire region," he said. "We warn everyone, we are doing everything to avoid escalation but the security situation remains by definition unstable because it is at a very high level of tension and pressure." (Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Chris Reese and Jonathan Oatis) Mazen Darwish, head of the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression poses after an interview with Reuters in Paris, France, September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes By Layli Foroudi, Maya Gebeily and Stephanie van den Berg PARIS/BEIRUT (Reuters) - French prosecutors have issued arrest warrants for two Syrian ex-defence ministers over a 2017 bomb that killed a French-Syrian man, a source said, in an unprecedented case that may trigger more quests for accountability in the 12-year war. Investigators at the Paris Tribunal are accusing Fahed Jassem al-Fraij and Ali Abdallah Ayoub of responsibility for the barrel bomb in south Syria that killed Salah Abou Nabout at his home, according to the source familiar with the case. Al-Fraij was defence minister and deputy commander in chief of the army at the time while Ayoub was chief of staff of the armed forces, later promoted to defence minister. The pair's whereabouts were unknown and they could not be reached for comment. Warrants were also issued for two other high-ranking officers, the source said. Nabout died on June 7, 2017, when a barrel stuffed with explosives hit his three-storey home, which also served as a school, in the city of Daraa, said Nabout's son Omar. The crude weapon has been used extensively by government forces, U.N. investigators say, generally dropped from helicopters without accurate aim. Syria denies their use. Syrian authorities could not be reached for comment on the warrants, but Damascus has repeatedly denied accusations of indiscriminate bombing of civilians. The Paris Tribunal declined to comment on the case. Nabout's son Omar, a 21-year-old refugee in France at the time of his father's death, and the Paris-based Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCMFE) both welcomed the arrest warrants. If he could talk to his father now, Omar said in a video interview, "I would tell him to sleep in peace, because the criminals will be held to account." THOUSANDS OF BOMBS SCMFE head Mazen Darwish said the warrants could pave the way for further investigations on indiscriminate bombardment both around war-ravaged Syria and in other places like Ukraine or the Palestinian territories. "It's the first time there's a case regarding the targeting of civilian infrastructure, specifically a school," for Syria, he told Reuters. Syria's conflict began with protests against President Bashar al-Assad, whose forces responded with a brutal crackdown. As Assad began losing territory, his air force bombed rebel-held towns and were supported by Russian air strikes. Both Syrian and Russian strikes hit open-air markets, hospitals, schools, and homes in what U.N. experts have said were indiscriminate bombardments and potential war crimes. In a 2021 report, the Syrian Network for Human Rights said the government had dropped nearly 82,000 barrel bombs in nine years, killing over 11,000 civilians. But there has been no accountability through Syrian courts, which critics say only serve Assad's interests. The head of a U.N. body seeking justice for atrocities in Syria said "universal jurisdiction" cases like the one in France, where perpetrators can be held accountable abroad for serious crimes, offer an important path for victims. "Without universal jurisdiction, we would be left with extremely few opportunities of justice. So these cases are really important," Catherine Marchi-Uhel of the International Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) told Reuters. There have been several legal proceedings in European countries to try Syrian suspects of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The cases so far in France, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands have focused on government officials involved in the Syrian detention system and crimes by members of anti-government militias. (This story has been corrected to fix a typo in Ali Abdallah Ayoubs name in paragraphs 2 and 3, and to change the position of Al Fraij to deputy commander in chief of the army, not commander in chief, in paragraph 3) (Reporting Maya Gebeily in Beirut, Stephanie Van Den Berg in The Hague and Layli Foroudi in Paris; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne) Abir, sister of Issam Abdallah, a Reuters video journalist who was killed in southern Lebanon while filming an Israeli tank firing into Lebanon, holds her aunt during a candlelight vigil, in Beirut, Lebanon, October 20, 2023. REUTERS/Amr Alfiky BEIRUT (Reuters) - Friends and relatives held a candlelit vigil in Beirut on Friday to mark one week since the killing of Reuters visuals journalist Issam Abdallah while filming an Israeli tank firing into Lebanon. At a bar he co-owned in the Lebanese capital, loved ones held candles and portraits of Abdallah, who covered some of the biggest news stories of the past decade, ranging from the Russian invasion of Ukraine to the conflict in Syria. "You were everything to me," Abdallah's sister Abir said. "I will keep carrying this family, I swear. I'm happy that you're in heaven." Abdallah was nominated as Reuters Video Journalist of the year in 2020 for outstanding coverage of the Beirut port blast. Writing to Reuters editors after an assignment last year to Ukraine, Abdallah said: "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." Lebanon's army and government blamed Israel for Abdallah's death. Israel's military says it is reviewing the case. Reuters has called on Israel to conduct a "thorough, swift and transparent investigation". (Reporting by Reuters journalists; Editing by Edmund Blair) Judith Tai Raanan and her daughter Natalie Shoshana Raanan, U.S. citizens who were taken as hostages by Palestinian Hamas militants, walk while holding hands with Brig.-Gen. (Ret.) Gal Hirsch, Israel's Coordinator for the Captives and Missing, after they By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Eric Cox GAZA/EVANSTON, Illinois (Reuters) -Two newly freed American hostages, a Chicago-area woman and her teenage daughter, were reunited with family inside Israel on Friday as relatives celebrated back home in Illinois, nearly two weeks after Hamas gunmen abducted them and dozens of others near Gaza. Judith Tai Raanan, 59, and her daughter Natalie, 17, were handed over to Israeli forces at the Gaza Strip border on Friday, becoming the first captives whose release by Hamas has been confirmed by both sides since the latest round of Arab-Israeli bloodshed erupted. The release was announced by Abu Ubaida, a spokesman for the armed wing of Hamas, the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, and confirmed a short time later in a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Israeli leader said the mother and daughter, from the Chicago suburb of Evanston, Illinois, were "on their way to a meeting point at a military base in the center of the country, where their family members are waiting for them." Reached by phone in Bannockburn, Illinois, outside Chicago, Uri Raanan, the teenager's father, said he spoke with his daughter by phone. "She sounds very, very good, very happy - and she looks good." Natalie Raanan's uncle, Avraham Zamir, said the family was joyful the pair had been safely released. "But there are still many families whose loved ones are still being held hostage, and we will continue our efforts for their release," he said from his home in Illinois. At a candle lighting for the start of the Jewish sabbath at sundown on Friday, Rabbi Meir Hecht, co-director of the Chabad House in Evanston where Judith Raanan has worshiped for more than 10 years, said the Orthodox Jewish congregation hopes for "ultimate peace." "Our prayers have been answered for Judith and Natalie," he said. "We will continue to pray for each and every one of the hostages." According to both Netanyahu and relatives, the mother and daughter were abducted from Kibbutz Nahal Oz during the surprise assault on southern Israel carried out from Gaza by Iranian-backed Islamist militants of Hamas on Oct. 7. The pair were visiting the kibbutz, about a mile from the Gaza border as part of a trip that began in September to celebrate the Jewish holidays, the younger Raanan's high school graduation and the 85th birthday of her grandmother, family members said. Friends described Judith Raanan to the New York Times as an artist and skilled cook of Israeli food who is devoted to her Jewish faith, which informs her paintings, and kept kosher in her home. She had recently worked as a home aide for elderly people, the Times reported. Natalie Raanan's brother, Ben Raanan, told the Denver Post his sister was weighing whether to find work in the fashion industry, become an interior designer or apprentice as a tattoo artist. IMAGES OF FREEDOM The mother and daughter were pictured in an image carried by Israeli media showing a group of uniformed Israel Defense Forces (IDF) personnel escorting them from the border moments after their release. The two appeared healthy as they walked through the illuminated darkness, hand-in-hand with Israeli Brigadier General Gal Hirsch, the IDF's chief hostage negotiator. U.S. President Joe Biden thanked Qatar and Israel for their partnership in securing the Raanans' freedom. The president said on social media platform X he had spoken with the two by telephone, and posted a photo of them, apparently taken during that call. Hamas separately released a video of the two women being turned over to workers with the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC). The Raanans were among about 200 hostages that Hamas said it took during the deadly rampage into communities and military bases in southern Israel, part of the bloodiest attack on the country since the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. Hamas has said 50 more captives are held by other armed groups in the coastal Palestinian enclave. It said more than 20 hostages have been killed by Israeli air strikes, but has not given any further details. RELEASE A 'FIRST STEP' Hamas said the two women, who Israel's Kan public broadcaster reported were dual Israeli-American nationals, were freed "for humanitarian reasons" in response to Qatari mediation. Hamas has previously described captives with "foreign" nationalities as "guests" who would be released when circumstances allow, without saying if that included Israelis with dual nationality. A source briefed on the hostage negotiations called the release of the two Americans "a first step," adding, "discussions are ongoing for more releases." American and British officials said they have been working with Qatar to secure release of hostages, including their own citizens, held in Gaza. Other countries whose citizens were taken captive include Thailand, Argentina, Germany, France and Portugal. Israel responded to the Oct. 7 attack, which killed 1,400 people, by pounding Gaza with air strikes, killing more than 4,000 people, and has said it will act to free the hostages while wiping out Hamas. Netanyahu's options for striking back at Hamas are certain to be hampered by concern for the safety of the Israeli captives seized in the raid, as a nation scarred by past hostage crises faces perhaps its worst one yet. The prime minister has vowed mighty vengeance, but the fate of the Israeli soldiers, elderly people, women and children taken into Gaza complicates how Israel delivers on that promise while abiding by a longstanding principle of leaving no one behind. (Reporting by Enas Alashray in Cairo and and Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza; additional reporting by Eric Cox and Tom Polansek in Evanston, Illinois; Writing by Steve Gorman and Michael Georgy; Editing by Grant McCool and Lincoln Feast.) FILE PHOTO: Republican presidential candidate Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks at the New Hampshire Republican Party's First in the Nation Leadership Summit in Nashua, New Hampshire, U.S., October 13, 2023. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo By James Oliphant and Gram Slattery KEOSAUQUA, Iowa (Reuters) - In coffee shops and churches, on farms and front porches, on the phone and through text exchanges, Ron DeSantis' grassroots supporters are trying to pull off a long-shot win in the Iowa caucuses and upend the 2024 Republican presidential race. Any hope Republicans have of stopping former President Donald Trump, the runaway frontrunner, from securing the party's nomination likely begins and ends with Iowa on Jan. 15. Even a close finish could reshape the race. If Trump takes Iowa, he is all but assured the 2024 presidential nomination. While the Florida governor trails Trump by 37 percentage points in the latest Reuters/Ipsos national poll, the last three winners of the Iowa Republican caucuses were in similar positions to DeSantis in Iowa polling at this stage of the race. To slow Trumps momentum, DeSantis is banking on a ground game far more extensive than the one Trump employs in the state, and on a strategy of building support in a cluster of rural and lightly populated Iowa counties. While Trump prefers to hold large rallies mostly in metropolitan areas and has made fewer than 10 trips to the state, DeSantis has held close to 50 events in Iowa since launching his campaign in May. The DeSantis campaign has also relocated one-third of its campaign staff about two dozen people - to Iowa and has committed to a $2 million TV ad buy to run through the caucuses. DeSantis isnt the only candidate banking on Iowa. Nikki Haley, the former ambassador to the United Nations, former Vice President Mike Pence and U.S. Senator Tim Scott have also staked much on performing well in Iowa. Unlike in a primary, which features votes cast at a polling place, the caucus voting system in Iowa involves community leaders gathering in a room to convince others to support their chosen candidate. That means personal relationships are vital. When Troy Scheuermann, a chiropractor in Van Buren County stood up to introduce DeSantis at a campaign stop in Keosauqua (pop. 920) this month, he first asked how many of his patients were in the crowd of about 100. About a third raised their hands. Scheuermann, who has been practicing in the region for 23 years, said he had been talking up the event at his clinic. "That's part of the grassroots game," he said. DeSantis' positions on restricting abortion and reducing U.S. aid to Ukraine won him over and convinced him to become a county leader - but only after meeting DeSantis in person first. DeSantis organization, Scheuermann said, is better than any candidate I have helped in any election. Meanwhile, Trump, he said, doesnt have a ground network in Van Buren County at all. PEOPLE WHO KNOW PEOPLE Reuters traveled to far-flung corners of the state with DeSantis, speaking to campaign workers who said they are going door to door in places most campaigns never bother with. DeSantis is also relying on a tight-knit network of influencers that includes business leaders, pastors, politicians, veterans and farmers. "Both those two things have historically made a huge difference here in a caucus situation, DeSantis told Reuters after the Van Buren County event. On a crisp autumn morning in Le Mars, Iowa, the self-proclaimed Ice Cream Capital of the World, (pop. 10,572) about 100 people waited outside an ice-cream parlor for DeSantis. Le Mars sits in the northwest corner of the state, in a heavily evangelical region where anti-abortion signs dot the roadways. Standing outside the shop were Don Kass and Mike Van Otterloo, both members of the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors and there as organizers for DeSantis. Its knowing people who know people, said Van Otterloo, also a former long-time county sheriff. Its knowing where to place yard signs, its knowing who to contact. Outside, the street was lined with signs supporting DeSantis. Trump signs could not be found. Is DeSantis' strategy working? It's hard to say. Most caucus-goers make up their minds in the final six to eight weeks before the contest, said David Kochel, a Republican operative who worked on Iowa campaigns for former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and U.S. Senator Mitt Romney. "We still have plenty of time," Kochel said. For farmer Lance Lillibridge of Benton County, Iowa, a personal touch from DeSantis, a politician not known for his warmth, is what secured his support. A former president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association, Lillibridge met DeSantis in June at a discussion on agricultural issues. After Lillibridge was in a motorcycle accident in July and injured his leg, DeSantis called to check on him. He didnt have to do that, Lillibridge said. Lillibridge soured on Trump after his trade war with China led to tariffs that damaged his business, a 2,700-acre farm that grows corn and soybeans. Lillibridge now heads a farmers' coalition backing DeSantis. He said he has 2,500 contacts in his phone and plans to try to convert one or two people each day to the candidate. The odds of DeSantis vanquishing a popular former president who has only been buoyed by a string of indictments are steep. But there is precedent for DeSantis rural-heavy approach: the last three winners of the caucuses, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz in 2016, former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum in 2012 and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee in 2008, all utilized it to some degree. RURAL ROADS In a recent three-day swing through Iowa, DeSantis traveled through Davis County (pop. 9,138), Van Buren County (7,243) and Buena Vista County (20,771). DeSantis told Reuters he expects to have visited 98 of the 99 counties by the end of October. These voters want to see you, they want to be able to kick the tires, and a candidate that is willing to show up in rural counties and suburban areas, the whole nine yards, when youre willing to do that, that helps, he said. Never Back Down, a fundraising super PAC backing his White House run, says it has already knocked on 475,000 doors in Iowa. Weve hit all of our target homes in Iowa twice already, said Jessica Szymanski, the group's deputy communications director. Szymanski said the group plans to return to the same residences a total of four or five times before the caucuses. It says it has 22 staffers on the ground and has recruited close to 20,000 volunteers. The Trump campaign said it has identified 1,800 in-state volunteers to support the campaign, as well as 200 county chairs representing all 99 counties. Kochel said the scale of DeSantis operation has impressed him, particularly the door-to-door data collection on possible voters, as has DeSantis pledge to travel far and wide. The 99-county tour is a good contrast with Trump, who hasnt done nearly as much. Well see if voters reward that. (Reporting by James Oliphant, Gram Slattery, additional reporting by Nathan Layne, editing by Ross Colvin and Claudia Parsons) By Haider Kadhim and Kamal Ayash BAGHDAD (Reuters) -Hundreds of supporters of Iranian-backed Iraqi paramilitary groups gathered on Friday at Iraq's main border crossing with Jordan to express solidarity with Gaza and call for an end to the blockade imposed by Israel. Some 800 supporters of Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), an umbrella group of mainly Shi'ite militia, departed from Baghdad late on Thursday in buses for the Iraqi-Jordanian border crossing in western Anbar province. It is the closest access point from Iraq to the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Amid heavy security, protesters set up tents and staged a sit-in, demanding that Israel allow aid into Gaza. No to Israel and normalization, they chanted while waving Palestinian flags. Hundreds of PMF supporters also gathered in Baghdad near the bridge that leads to the fortified Green Zone, home to the U.S. embassy and other missions in Baghdad. Protesters in black outfits carried portraits of top Shi'ite Muslim cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, and Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, while waving the Palestinian and Iraq flags. Israel has vowed to wipe out the Hamas Islamist group that rules Gaza, after its gunmen on Oct. 7 rampaged through Israeli towns and kibbutzes, killing 1,400 people. Israel has pounded Gaza with air strikes and put the enclave's 2.3 million people under a total siege. At least 4,137 Palestinians have been killed, the Palestinian health ministry said. We are going to support our people in Palestine, said 26-year-old Hussein Samir, as he sat in a bus just before leaving Baghdad late on Thursday. We condemn them, and we will give them a period of time; if they dont lift the blockade, the resistance will begin, God willing, and the war against them (Israel) will begin." On Thursday influential Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr called for a peaceful sit-in at the Palestinian borders in Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan until Israel lifts the blockade on the enclave and aid is delivered to people in Gaza. Sadr said protesters should only carry shrouds and not arms. (Reporting by Amina Ismail, Kamal Ayash in Anbar, Haider kadhim in Baghdad, writing by Amina Ismail, editing by Deborah Kyvrikosaios) JERUSALEM/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Israel said on Friday it would evacuate more than 20,000 residents from Kiryat Shmona, one of the biggest towns on its northern border with Lebanon following a heavy cross-border exchange of fire in the area the day before. The Israel-Lebanon border has seen constant, but so far limited, clashes since a war in Gaza erupted two weeks ago. Israel had already declared some areas along the frontier as closed military zones, forcing residents to move away, but this is the largest evacuation from the lush hills of the eastern Galilee region. The Lebanese army reported a journalist killed by Israeli gunfire on Thursday in an area across the border from Kiryat Shmona where Israeli forces and Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah group had a heavy exchange of fire. "We reaffirm that the killing of civilians and the assault on the security of our country will not go without response or punishment," Hezbollah said in a statement. Daniel Hagari, spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), said: "This kind of evacuation, which has already been done in a number of towns on the northern border, allows the IDF to expand its operational freedom to act against the Hezbollah terrorist organisation." Persistent violence along the Israel-Lebanon border has raised fears that fighting between Israel and Hamas Islamists in Gaza could spiral into a broader, regional conflict. Israel's military said one of its drones "struck a terrorist in Lebanese territory" overnight. It also said it targeted Hezbollah assets in response to rockets fired from Lebanon. Evacuees from Kiryat Shmona will be put up in state-subsidised guesthouses, Israel's Defense Ministry said, joining tens of thousands of Israelis who have already left their homes near the southern Gaza border. The Committee to Protect Journalists has said it has documented more than 20 journalists killed since the start of the Israel-Gaza conflict and said it was investigating reports of other journalists killed, injured and reported missing. The latest incident on the Israel-Lebanon border came nearly a week after Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah was killed in southern Lebanon. Lebanon's army blamed Israel and Israel's military says it is reviewing the case. Reuters has called on Israel to conduct a "thorough, swift and transparent investigation". (Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch and Beirut bureau; Editing by Crispian Balmer and Edmund Blair) By Joseph Campbell JERUSALEM (Reuters) - With his wife and daughter presumed to be Hamas hostages in Gaza, where Israel is planning a ground offensive against Palestinian militants after a pounding bombardment, Moshe Leimberg can barely read or watch the news. The 59-year-old has had no firm news about his wife Gabriela, daughter Mia, 17, or other relatives since Hamas fighters tore through security barriers to kill at least 1,400 civilians and soldiers in a massacre on Oct. 7 and take about 200 hostages. Israel has retaliated with its most intensive ever air and artillery strikes on the tiny, crowded Palestinian enclave that Hamas-run authorities there say have killed more than 4,100 people. The hardest part of Leimberg's day is waking up each morning to realise they are no longer with him, he said. "I want my family back. I want my daughter and I want my wife. I want my brother-in-law, and I want my sister-in-law and my sister-in-law's life partner, and I want my dog back," he said. The last contact he had with them was during the morning of the attack, while they were staying with relatives at Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak on a family trip he had decided to duck because he had flu. Mia had phoned him when the rocket attacks began, fearing for his safety rather than hers. She and Gabriela were sheltering from the rockets with other relatives and she sent him a picture of their sleepy dog, saying it had calmed down. "And I said 'good' and that was it. That was the last I heard from her," said Leimberg, a patent examiner. After days fearing the worst, the military told Leimberg the phones of his wife, daughter, and three other relatives were last traced to the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, and he believes they are all being held hostage there. "I want to feel secure again, I want to feel safe again. I want to be able to wake up in the morning and not dread what's coming," he said. Aware that hostages from some previous abductions had their heads shaved, something he believes would particularly upset Mia, Leimberg has decided to shave his too. "If she comes back like that, I'll be able to say to her, 'Look, you know, we're both in the same boat. We'll regrow our hair together'," he said. (Reporting by Joseph Campbell; Editing by Angus McDowall and Hugh Lawson) By Giuseppe Fonte ROME (Reuters) - Italy's Treasury said on Friday it had picked UBS , Jefferies and Clifford Chance as financial and legal advisers for the privatisation of bailed-out bank Monte dei Paschi di Siena (MPS). Commitments agreed with European Union competition authorities at the time of MPS's 5.4-billion-euro ($5.72 billion) bailout in 2017 bind Rome to eventually selling its 64% stake in the bank. After a failed attempt to sell the Tuscan lender to larger peer UniCredit in 2021, Italy agreed to Brussels' new privatisation terms that were never fully disclosed. However, Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said this week MPS could return to private hands by the end of next year. Both Giorgetti and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have said in recent months that the government would try to boost competition among Italy's banks with the privatisation of MPS. This raises the prospect of a potential deal with Banco BPM or BPER Banca, Italy's third and fourth largest banks respectively, although both have repeatedly said they are not interested in MPS. Given the absence of interested buyers in the short term, a share placement is seen as the most likely option to reduce the state's stake and work towards re-privatisation commitments, sources close to the matter have told Reuters. At current prices, the Treasury's stake is worth almost 2 billion euros, just above the 1.6 billion euros Rome injected in the bank as part of a wider 2.5 billion euro capital increase finalised in the final quarter of last year. MPS's privatisation is a key plank of a sell-off programme totalling 20-21 billion euros over the next three years that the government announced last month to keep in check Italy's debt pile, the second-largest in the euro zone as a proportion of gross domestic product (GDP). Under a 2020 decree, the Treasury listed among options to privatise MPS an offer to either institutional or small investors, including the bank's employees, as well as possible extraordinary operations such as a merger deal. ($1 = 0.9439 euros) (Editing by Gavin Jones and Richard Chang) Andrea Giambruno, partner of Italy's new Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, arrives at the Quirinale Presidential Palace for the swearing-in ceremony of Italy's new government, in Rome, Italy October 22, 2022. REUTERS/Yara Nardi/File Photo By Alvise Armellini and Angelo Amante ROME (Reuters) -Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Friday she had separated from her television journalist partner Andrea Giambruno, who has drawn criticism in recent weeks for sexist comments. Meloni told reporters last month she should not be judged over Giambruno's remarks and in future would not answer questions about his behaviour. The split comes as the 46-year-old prime minister celebrates her first year in office at the head of a right-wing coalition government that has defended the traditional family as one of its policy hallmarks. "My relationship with Andrea Giambruno, which lasted almost 10 years, ends here," Meloni wrote on her social media accounts. "Our paths have diverged for some time, and the time has come to acknowledge it," she added. Meloni said she would not be distracted by difficulties in her private life, adding, "all those who hoped to weaken me by striking me at home," would have no success. Pollster Antonio Noto said the affair would have little effect on voting intentions but would probably improve Meloni's standing in the eyes of most of the electorate. "With what she did today she has probably created a stronger bond with the Italians," he said, noting that most comments on social media had been favourable to her. Meloni and Giambruno, who met in a TV studio in 2014, have a seven-year-old daughter. Giambruno, 42, is the presenter of a news programme transmitted by Mediaset, part of the MFE media group owned by the heirs of the late Silvio Berlusconi, a former prime minister and Meloni ally. This week, another Mediaset satirical current affairs television show broadcast off-air video excerpts from Giambruno's programme showing him using foul language, touching his groin and appearing to make advances to a female colleague. "Why didn't I meet you before?", he asks her. In a second audio recording aired on Thursday, Giambruno is heard talking about being in an affair and telling female colleagues they can work with him if they take part in group sex. The TV journalist had been widely criticised in August for comments interpreted by many as victim-blaming, following a gang rape case. Giambruno was not immediately available for comment. Mediaset said later on Friday that he had agreed with the company that he would be taken off his programme for the next week. A person familiar with the matter said Mediaset was looking into Giambruno's position to assess whether he had breached its internal code of conduct. Marco Furfaro of the opposition Democratic Party said Giambruno's comments were "pure chauvinism and sexism.... uncommentable filth." (Additional reporting by Elvira Pollina, writing by Gavin Jones, editing by Deborah Kyvrikosaios) Migrants wait at Sfax port, after being stopped by Tunisian coast guard at sea during their attempt to cross to Italy, Tunisia April 26, 2023. REUTERS/Jihed Abidellaoui/File Photo ROME (Reuters) - Italy on Friday signed a deal to take in some 4,000 workers from Tunisia, in line with pledges to help the northern African state stem the pressure from migrants at its borders. The deal was signed during a visit by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani to Tunis, where he was scheduled to meet his counterpart Nabil Ammar and President Kais Saied, his office said. It envisages regular migration channels for "qualified workers" willing to come to Italy, an Italian briefing note said as Rome also promised to help Tunisia in its efforts to stop migrant smugglers and create job opportunities for the young. "Tunisia is exposed to strong migratory pressure, particularly from sub-Saharan countries, and is the first country for repatriations from Italy," the Italian document said, adding 1,615 migrants had returned there so far this year. Sea migrant arrivals to Italy have almost doubled in 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, with around 140,000 people coming ashore so far. Some 91% came from Tunisia, prompting Rome's efforts to help local authorities to stem the flow. Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi on Tuesday urged the European Union to enact a deal to support the African state's efforts to stop migrant boat departures. President Saied, who was invited to a migration conference hosted in Rome in July, faced criticism after he shut down parliament and began ruling by decree in what the opposition says was a coup. (Reporting by Angelo Amante; editing by Barbara Lewis) FILE PHOTO: Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a speech during a campaign rally in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, U.S., October 9, 2023. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Friday temporarily lifted a partial gag order she had imposed limiting Donald Trump's public statements about the federal criminal case in which the former president is accusing of illegally attempting to undo his 2020 election loss. Acting on the same day that a New York state judge fined Trump $5,000 for violating a gag order in a civil trial, U.S. District Tanya Chutkan in Washington put on hold the order she issued earlier in the week while she considers the former president's request for a longer pause while he challenges it. Lawyers for Trump on Friday asked Chutkan to lift the restrictions while he asks a U.S. appeals court to strike down an order by the judge that they called "breathtakingly overbroad." Chutkan on Monday barred Trump from making public statements that "target" Special Counsel Jack Smith, who is prosecuting the case, and members of his staff. The order also prohibits Trump from making comments disparaging court staff and potential witnesses in the case. Trump in the past has called Smith, who was appointed as special counsel by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, a "deranged lunatic" and a "thug," among other insults. Trump is facing four criminal cases and has made disparaging comments about prosecutors in each of them, as well as against the New York state attorney general who brought civil fraud charges against him. Trump has pleaded not guilty to charges that he plotted to interfere unlawfully in the counting of votes and block the congressional certification of his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden. (Reporting by Andrew Goudsward; writing by Kanishka Singh; Editing by Will Dunham) By Tim Reid (Reuters) - Perry Johnson, a businessman and long-shot for the Republican presidential nomination, dropped out of the 2024 White House race on Friday. Johnson failed to qualify for the two Republican presidential debates held so far this year because of a lack of donors and negligible support in polls. He tried to run for Michigan governor last year but was disqualified after his campaign filed invalid nominating signatures. "With no opportunity to share my vision on the debate stage, I have decided at this time suspending my campaign is the right thing to do," Johnson, 75, wrote in a message to supporters. "I am 100% committed to helping Republicans win across the country in 2024," Johnson added. Another long-shot contender, former Texas congressman Will Hurd, dropped out of the Republican nominating race on Oct. 9. Former Republican President Donald Trump remains the runaway frontrunner to become the party's White House standard-bearer next year. Trump is about 40 percentage points ahead of his nearest rivals - Florida's governor Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley - in polls of likely Republican voters. (Reporting by Tim Reid; editing by Rod Nickel) Malaysian Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, arrives ahead of the Member States of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) Summit (ASEAN-GCC Summit) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia October 19, 2023. Saudi Pr KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia is proposing the creation of a free trade agreement between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) its premier said on Friday at a summit of the two blocs. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said such an agreement would be the first of its kind between ASEAN and Gulf states. "This agreement is crucial in advancing progressive, inclusive and sustainable growth especially as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and face geopolitical uncertainties," he said in a speech at the ASEAN-GCC Summit in Saudi Arabia on Friday. ASEAN, a 10-member bloc of more than 600 million people, has for years been seeking to integrate its economies, worth a combined $2.3 trillion, through trade, investment and harmonised standards and customs procedures. However, efforts to establish free trade deals have been protracted, with some members with exports-reliant economies going it alone in seeking better access to their key markets. ASEAN is part of the Regional Cooperation Economic Partnership (RCEP) along with China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. (Reporting by Danial Azhar; Editing by Martin Petty) GITEX GLOBAL, the worlds biggest technology and startup exhibition, announced that it will launch GITEX EUROPE in 2025 in Berlin. GITEX GLOBAL, which concludes on Friday, is an initiative launched by Dubais government bringing together innovators, business leaders, startup owners and investors to explore innovative economic solutions and to showcase the world's latest technology. Now in its 43rd edition, GITEX GLOBAL attracted some 180,000 tech executives and investors from 180 countries this week. GITEX EUROPE will be the initiative's second overseas venture, the African version GITEX AFRICA having been held in May 2023 in Morocco. Drawing the energy of the worlds most dynamic growing markets, GITEX GLOBAL is now a powerful nexus bridging future economies in Dubai, Africa, and now Europe. The mission of GITEX is to create positive impact in the industries and economies we serve, and impact is sparked when the most imaginative, innovative and forward governments and people from diverse industries and cultures with shared ambitions come together to ignite open and honest collaborations, said Trixie Lohmirmand, CEO of the organizer of all GITEX GLOBAL events, KAOUN International. GITEX is all about the power of technology and people," added Lohmirmand. "The creation of GITEX Europe is centred on this simple DNA. We are motivated by the confidence the global tech community has placed in GITEX to lead them to the world's greatest markets with the highest levels of trust and commitment. Egypts Chamber of Information Technology and Communication participated in the show, with an Egyptian pavilion hosting 19 local communications and IT companies. The country's participation allowed Egyptian enterprises to showcase their competitive advantages over a range of tech-based areas of focus, including smart cities, enterprise management, cloud computing, and more. SuperBridge takes the stage In parallel with GITEX GLOBAL, the inaugural edition of the SuperBridge Summit event was held over two days in the Museum of the Future in Dubai. The event focused on the opportunity presented by large infrastructure projects needed across Africa, how venture capital funds are navigating the evolving investment landscape, and the burgeoning prominence of digital assets in shaping the future financial landscape. In her opening remarks presented by an AI avatar video on the second morning, Vanessa Xu, Co-founder, SuperBridge Council and Executive Chairman & CIO, VS Partners, reflected on the vision of SuperBridge as a platform to discover and celebrate forward-looking practical solutions, that are spread across disciplines, geographies and perspectives, and the success of the previous day. Sharif El-Badawi, CEO of Dubai Future District Fund, Abdulrahman El-Jifry, Partner of 500 Global, Bing Xiang, Founding Dean and Professor of China Business and Globalization at Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business discussed the strategic approaches of VC funds to navigating the evolving investment landscape. In a panel titled Global Investment Slowdown: Navigating Promising Sectors Executive Panel Discussion, they identified promising investment opportunities and the key trends shaping investment decisions in todays challenging landscape. In a panel session titled Africas Underrated Opportunity: Challenging Perceptions Through Partnerships, ministers from Africa discussed the transformation of cities. Making life easier across the continent was discussed by regional leaders including Sahar Nasr, former Minister of Investment and International Cooperation in Egypt, Ghita Mezzour Morocco Minister of Digital Transition and Administration Reform in Morocco and Aurelie Adam Soule, Minister of Digital Economy and Communications in Benin. Speaking to Ahram Online, Benin's Soule stressed that the African continent is suffering serious challenges; chiefly weak infrastructure in the ITC sector. The weakness of the local currencies in African markets in the wake of the severe economic repercussions of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict has provoked fear among investors and VC leaders, making them hesitant to invest in startups and new innovations in Africa, Soule said. This being the case, according to Soule, African governments must provide more incentives and an up-to-date regulation climate for investors, in a bid for investment in Africa across all sectors. Infrastructure needed to push forward the digital transformation process on the continent is especially needed. The Future Blockchain Summit concludes in parallel at Dubai Harbour, asserting the critical role blockchain solutions play in the face of the climate change threats. We need to adopt green digital assets; including green digital cryptocurrencies, green financing, and green bonds to help dealing with the climate change and its implications, said the chair of the World Metaverse Council Jane Thomason. She added that blockchain solutions provide pathways to deliver climate-related financing to beneficiaries all over the world. Search Keywords: Short link: FILE PHOTO: A Delta Air Lines airplane is seen at Benito Juarez international airport in Mexico City, Mexico January 19, 2023. REUTERS/Henry Romero/File Photo By Kylie Madry MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico said on Thursday that tariffs paid by non-government airport operators to authorities would nearly double as part of an industry reform that could rake in an extra $140 million a year. The newly announced tariff rate of 9% of gross revenue compares to the previous 5%. Publicly-listed Mexican airport operators OMA, GAP and ASUR collectively reported about $3.5 billion in revenue last year, meaning the new rate could lead to about a $140 million increase in costs, based on Reuters calculations. The groups' shares fell on Thursday after the new terms were announced, with GAP and ASUR slipping about 2%, and OMA down 0.2%. Their shares had their worst day ever on Oct. 5 on news that the first tariff changes in two decades were being tabled, though details of the new terms were not specified at the time. OMA operates more than a dozen airports in Mexico, the largest being in the northern industrial hub of Monterrey, with GAP operating 12 including in Guadalajara and ASUR controlling nine, including in tourist hub Cancun. Mexico City International Airport, the country's largest, is now under the control of the Mexican navy and is not subject to the higher tariffs. OMA and GAP said the higher tariffs would become valid immediately, though GAP stipulated that, in its case, they would take effect from Jan. 1, 2025 due to a prior agreement already in place. ASUR said it was evaluating the impact of the policy. A spokesperson for the transportation ministry declined to comment when asked to clarify the impact of the higher tariffs. The government insisted the adjustments would not negatively impact the groups' financial health, though analysts and opposition politicians argued the groups' bottom lines would likely take a hit. The announcement came a day after Mexico's lower house passed a reform including the hike, as well as a measure to create two funds to funnel tax revenues to airport bodies controlled by Mexico's armed forces. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has criticized private airport operators and airlines, and has increasingly tasked the military with what have traditionally been civilian aviation duties. Lopez Obrador has touted lower costs at military-run airports and said that a to-be-launched military-run airline, Mexicana, will offer lower fares than other commercial carriers. (Reporting by Kylie Madry, Raul Cortes and Isabel Woodford; Additional reporting by Aida Palaez-Fernandez; Editing by Stephen Eisenhammer, Alistair Bell and Jamie Freed) Midwife Leticia Serrano performs an ultrasound to 19-year-old Venezuelan migrant Luzmar Rodriguez, at a makeshift migrant shelter where Serrano checks on pregnant women, in San Sebastian Tutla, Oaxaca, October 19, 2023. REUTERS/Jorge Luis Plata By Jose Cortes SAN SEBASTIAN TUTLA, Mexico (Reuters) - At a dusty migrant camp in southern Mexico, 19-year-old Luzmar Rodriguez is leaning on a reclined seat at the back of a gray van while a midwife presses a stethoscope against her stomach. "It's the first time I've heard the baby's heartbeat," she said. As record numbers of migrants looking to reach the United States trek the perilous Darien Gap jungles between Colombia and Panama, many have reported rapes. A growing number of those making the journey are children. Rodriguez, a Venezuelan woman who lived in Chile for a year before setting out for the United States with her husband and three-year-old son, is planning to seek asylum at the border with Texas. The makeshift midwives' station in the camp in Oaxaca state, where families sleep in small tents with little protection from sun and rain, is part of a network of midwives helping migrants that operates across Mexico. Some 300 people sleep at the camp - which has no running water and fewer than 20 toilets - each day before taking buses toward Mexico City. Leticia Serrano, a 50-year-old midwife from Texas, said many women are at greater risk of miscarrying due to difficulties traveling and poor access to water. "Everything that hurts the body irritates the uterus," Serrano said. "Many find out they are pregnant when they leave the jungle." Melanie Gonzalez, 22, has been traveling for two months since leaving Venezuela with her husband to seek work in the United States and send money back to her mother and two kids. She underwent surgery in Venezuela to prevent future pregnancies, but later discovered she had a high-risk pregnancy. At six-months pregnant, she, like many other women making the journey across Mexico faces numerous risks, including infections that can cause miscarriage and rough conditions. Gonzalez said she had received little help. "Here what women need most is a place to sleep that isn't on rocks," Serrano said. (Reporting by Jose Cortes; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by Rod Nickel) RABAT (Reuters) - The Moroccan police said on Friday it had seized 1.37 tons of cocaine in Casablanca. The drug was concealed in a cargo of imported frozen fish found at a distribution company in Morocco's largest city, it said in a statement. Preliminary findings suggest the cargo was imported from a Latin American country via Spain, the Moroccan police said, noting that investigations are ongoing. (Reporting by Ahmed Eljechtimi; editing by Christina Fincher) President of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum delivers a speech during the opening session of the New Global Financial Pact Summit at the Palais Brogniart in Paris on June 22, 2023. LUDOVIC MARIN/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo DAKAR (Reuters) - Niger's ousted President Mohamed Bazoum is being held in a secret location by the junta that seized power in the West African state, lawyers representing him said on Friday, denying accusations that the president had tried to escape. Bazoum has been in detention since a July 26 coup, and there have been international calls for him to be released. The junta said late on Thursday that Bazoum and his family, with the help of accomplices in the security forces, had planned to drive a vehicle to the outskirts of the capital Niamey and catch a helicopter ride to neighbouring Nigeria. Reuters was not able to confirm the account. His lawyers rejected it as nothing but a concoction, however. "We energetically reject these made-up accusations against President Bazoum," Mohamed Seydou Diagne, one of Bazoum's lawyers, said in the statement, adding that the junta had "crossed another red line with the secret detention." The lawyers said in the statement that Bazoum and his family had no access to lawyers or the outside world. They were previously kept in the presidential residence in the capital Niamey where electricity had been cut since Aug. 2, and only one doctor could visit them every second day to take them supplies, they said. The doctor was denied access on Friday, they added. The lawyers demanded that the junta show proof that the president and wife and son were alive. Niger's coup was one of five that have swept West Africa's central Sahel region in three years, leaving a vast band of arid terrain south of the Sahara Desert under the control of military rulers. Like elected presidents in neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso, Bazoum was pushed out in part because of mounting insecurity caused by an Islamist insurgency that has killed thousands in the region and which the military said it would be able to contain better than a civilian government. Bazoum's party and family members say he has had no access to running water, electricity or fresh goods, prompting condemnation from the country's former western allies. (Reporting by Bate Felix; Editing by Hugh Lawson) BEIJING (Reuters) - Pakistan has joined China's expanding club of partners in an ambitious project to build a research station on the moon's south pole. Jointly with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Pakistan's caretaker Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Kakar witnessed the signing of an initial cooperation agreement in Beijing on Wednesday. The China National Space Administration said on Friday cooperation would cover areas including the engineering and operational aspects of the Chinese lunar base programme. China, which aims to become a major space power by 2030, has already secured cooperation from Russia, Venezuela and South Africa. It has fixed a target to land its astronauts on the moon by the end of this decade. The timeline to build an outpost on the south pole coincides with NASA's more ambitious Artemis programme, which aims to put U.S. astronauts back on the lunar surface in December 2025, barring delays. (Reporting by Ryan Woo, editing by Deborah Kyvrikosaios) U.S. President Joe Biden speaks on the phone with Russia's President Vladimir Putin about a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine, as Biden spends the weekend at the U.S. presidential retreat at Camp David, in this official White House handout photo releas (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden's comment in which he called support for Ukraine and Israel an "investment" shows that Washington benefits from proxy wars rather than fights for ideas, a Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman said on Friday. Biden said on Thursday that helping the two U.S. allies was "a smart investment that's going to pay dividends for American security for generations", as he sought to rally support for new aid packages. Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on the Telegram messaging app that Biden's comments betray a cynical approach. "They used to call it 'fighting for freedom and democracy'," she said. "Now it turns out it is just calculations. It has always been that way, they just fooled the world using values for which Washington has never really stood." "Nothing personal, just business," she said, using a comment made famous in the "Godfather" movie to sum up what she said was the true U.S. stance on conflicts abroad. "Wars have traditionally been 'smart investments' for the United States as they did not take place on the American soil and they do not care about costs borne by others," Zakharova said. (Reporting by Reuters; editing by Robert Birsel) MOSCOW (Reuters) - A court in St Petersburg has imposed unspecified "interim measures" against Carlsberg in favour of Baltika Breweries, court filings showed, after the Danish brewer stopped licensing its brands in Russia this month. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the temporary seizure of Carlsberg's stake in the Russian brewer Baltika in July, along with French yoghurt maker Danone's Russian subsidiary, demonstrating the risks for Western companies that have not managed to exit Russia since its invasion of Ukraine. Carlsberg subsequently told Baltika that the licence agreements enabling it to produce, market and sell all Carlsberg Group products, including international and regional brands, had been terminated. The court filings provided no information other than that interim measures had been granted in a lawsuit filed on Oct. 17 by Baltika against Carlsberg. Baltika and Carlsberg did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In another lawsuit filed on Sept. 25, before Carlsberg terminated the licence agreements, Baltika had asked a Russian court to prohibit Carlsberg from initiating legal proceedings in Denmark, citing the risk that Carlsberg could seek to remove Baltika's right to use certain trademarks. The court did not grant interim measures, but a hearing in that case is scheduled for Nov. 15. (Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Alexander Marrow; Editing by Kevin Liffey) (Reuters) - Slovak President Zuzana Caputova will only appoint a cabinet led by pro-Russian former prime minister Robert Fico if he changes his nominee to be environment minister, her office said on Friday. The decision could mean the process of forming a cabinet extends beyond the middle of next week. Fico's leftist, socially conservative SMER-SSD party won the country's Sept. 30 election with an agenda that included ending military aid to Ukraine, making foreign policy independent of European Union (EU) partners, and criticism of sanctions against Russia. Fico formed a coalition with the centre-left HLAS (Voice) party and the nationalist, pro-Russian Slovak National Party (SNS) and has said he wanted his cabinet appointed ahead of an EU summit on Oct 26-27. But the process hit a snag when the liberal Caputova rejected SNS's nomination of Rudolf Huliak to be environment minister, citing his denial of climate change and verbal attacks on environmental campaigners. "The president will set the date of the appointment of the new government only upon receiving a new proposal for a candidate for the environment ministry post, so she can appoint the new government in its complete composition," Caputova's spokesman said in a statement. SNS and Fico have refused to change the nomination, and Fico said on Thursday he expected his cabinet would be appointed with the environment portfolio vacant for now. Caputova also said on Friday that Slovakia's new parliament will meet for the first time on Oct. 25. (Reporting by Jan Lopatka and Jason Hovet in Prague; editing by Jason Neely and Barbara Lewis) Jordanians gather during a pro-Palestinian protest to express solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Amman, Jordan, October 20, 2023. REUTERS/Alaa Al Sukhni By Suleiman Al-Khalidi AMMAN (Reuters) - Chanting slogans urging Islamist Hamas militants to intensify their strikes on Israel, thousands of Jordanians marched in the capital and around the country on Friday to protest against Israel's bombing campaign in Gaza. Over 6,000 people took part in the protest in downtown Amman arranged by opposition parties and tribal groups in a kingdom where passions are running high since the escalation of violence between Palestinians and Israel. "Oh Hamas, hit them with al-Qassam rockets ... Bring the suicide bombers to Tel Aviv ," they chanted, referring to the military wing of Hamas. Israel has vowed to wipe out Hamas, which rules Gaza, after its gunmen burst through the barrier fence surrounding the enclave on Oct. 7 and rampaged through Israeli towns and kibbutzes, killing 1,400 people, mainly civilians. In Amman on Friday, several thousand people also gathered near the Israeli embassy, a common spot for anti-Israel protests at times of turmoil in the Palestinian territories. "No Jewish embassy on Arab land!" protesters chanted. Riot police blocked roads leading to the fortified embassy complex to keep back demonstrators who gathered around the nearby Kaloti mosque in the capital. Authorities in Jordan earlier this week quelled rioting around the Israeli embassy and said they would not tolerate any attempt by mobs who sought to exploit anger against Israel to create havoc. On the outskirts of the capital, hundreds of anti-riot police blocked all roads leading to Jordan Valley opposite the West Bank, where activists had called for large protests. Over 2,000 protesters who were prevented from heading to the border called on the authorities to allow them to join the fight alongside Hamas. In the southern city of Karak, hundreds of protesters gathered at a checkpoint on a highway leading to the border chanting pro-Hamas slogans. "Al-Qassam, we are your army," they chanted. Many of Jordan's 10 million citizens are of Palestinian descent. They or their parents were expelled or fled to Jordan in the fighting that accompanied the creation of Israel in 1948. They have close ties with family on the other side of the Jordan River in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, both captured by Israel in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. (Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi; Editing by Hugh Lawson) Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan looks on during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on the sidelines of the 78th United Nations General Assembly at the Lotte Palace Hotel in New York City, U.S., September 22, 2023. REUTERS/Bing Gu ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Friday that a visit by U.S. President Joe Biden to Israel this week amounted to U.S. approval of the destruction in Gaza, and added this was "noted by history". Speaking to state broadcaster TRT Haber, Fidan said Israel had "changed the narrative" about its involvement in a blast at a Gaza hospital on Tuesday, and added he hoped a summit in Cairo on Saturday would yield an agreement to stop Israel's offensive. "Of course, Biden coming there under these circumstances and being in a position, in a way, of approving the destruction in Gaza, is being noted by history," Fidan said. "For many, this is not a surprise, but it creates a perception that may cause many different outcomes for America." He also said Turkey was proposing a guarantorship system to counterparts to find a lasting solution to the conflict, adding Turkey was ready to be a guarantor for the Palestinian side. He also called on other regional countries to be involved in this. (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu and Burcu Karakas; Editing by Chizu NOmiyama) FILE PHOTO: United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain addresses the audience during a rally in support of striking UAW members in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook/File Photo (Reuters) - United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain will hold a Facebook Live event on Friday, the union said, as 34,000 of its members continue selective strikes against the Detroit Three automakers over the failure to reach agreements on new contracts. Fain has used some previous such events on Fridays to announce expansions of strikes against Ford Motor, General Motors and Chrysler parent Stellantis since the walkouts began on Sept. 15. The Facebook announcement of the livestream, due to start at 4 p.m. EDT (2000 GMT) on Friday, did not describe the topic. Fain met at the bargaining table on Thursday with both GM and Stellantis, officials said. The UAW last expanded its strikes on Oct. 11 when members walked out at Ford's Kentucky truck plant, the company's largest and most profitable plant globally. Fain said last week that UAW members would now walk out of additional Detroit Three facilities without warning rather than waiting until Fridays to announce new plans, as the union had done initially. UAW members who went on strike at Mercedes supplier ZF's plant in Alabama last month demanding higher pay and better healthcare benefits ended a nearly month-long walkout on Thursday. (Reporting by Baranjot Kaur in Bengaluru; Editing by Jamie Freed) FILE PHOTO: A sign outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara temple is seen after the killing on its grounds in June 2023 of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada September 18, 2023. REUTERS/Chris Helgren/File Photo By Kanishka Singh and Costas Pitas WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States and Britain on Friday urged New Delhi not to insist Canada reduce its diplomatic presence in India and expressed concern after Ottawa pulled out 41 diplomats amid a dispute over the murder of a Sikh separatist. Canada has alleged Indian involvement in the June murder in a Vancouver suburb of Canadian citizen and Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, whom India called a "terrorist." India denies the allegation. "We are concerned by the departure of Canadian diplomats from India, in response to the Indian government's demand of Canada to significantly reduce its diplomatic presence in India," U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. Washington has said it took Canada's allegations seriously and, along with London, urged India to cooperate with Canada in the murder probe even as Western powers have been reluctant to openly condemn India. Analysts say the U.S. and the UK do not want to damage ties with India, which they view as a counterbalance to their main Asian rival China. But Friday's statements from the U.S. State Department and Britain's Foreign Office have been the most direct criticism by Washington and London of New Delhi thus far in this case. "We do not agree with the decisions taken by the Indian government that have resulted in a number of Canadian diplomats departing India," a spokesperson for Britain's Foreign Office said. Canada withdrew 41 diplomats from India after New Delhi last month asked Ottawa to reduce its diplomatic presence following Canada's allegations over Nijjar's killing. Canada on Friday said it was temporarily suspending in-person operations at consulates in several Indian cities and warned of visa processing delays. "Resolving differences requires diplomats on the ground. We have urged the Indian government not to insist upon a reduction in Canadas diplomatic presence and to cooperate in the ongoing Canadian investigation," the U.S. State Department said, adding that it expects "India to uphold its obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations." Britain's Foreign Office also cited the Vienna Convention. It said "the unilateral removal of the privileges and immunities that provide for the safety and security of diplomats is not consistent with the principles or the effective functioning of the Vienna Convention." (Reporting by Kanishka Singh and Costas Pitas; additional reporting by David Ljunggren in Ottawa and Baranjot Kaur in Bengaluru; Editing by Josie Kao, Leslie Adler and Lincoln Feast.) A blue verification badge and the logos of Facebook and Instagram are seen in this picture illustration taken January 19, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. Senate panel's Republican lawmakers sent a letter on Friday to tech companies Meta Platforms, Google, TikTok and X, formerly called Twitter, seeking information on their content moderation policies in the Israel-Hamas war, the senators said. The Republican lawmakers of the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee said they asked the companies "to commit to fully preserving a documentary history of Hamas's atrocities." Palestinian Islamist group Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,400 people, mainly civilians. Since then Israel has bombed Gaza with air strikes. At least 4,137 Palestinians have been killed, including hundreds of children, in Gaza, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Gaza, a 45 km-long (25-mile) enclave home to 2.3 million people, has been ruled since 2006 by Hamas. Gaza has been cut off from much of the outside world for 16 years since Israel imposed a blockade. "We believe it is imperative that we preserve a full documentary history of Hamas's atrocities," the Republican lawmakers led by Senator Ted Cruz said. "Ordinarily policies limiting the distribution of disturbing content might make sense, but videos and images uploaded by soldiers, law enforcement, citizens, journalists, and those with real time access to acts of terrorism need to be preserved to aid in prosecuting war crimes, intelligence gathering, media reporting, and the historical record." The senators said they requested a number of pieces of information, including content policies relevant to the dissemination of content from the Israel-Hamas War, data on content removed systematically without human review, and an explanation of how these policies are affected by international laws. The senators also asked how the companies were complying with sanctions programs that require the blocking of interests of Hamas and how they were preventing their platforms from being used to provide material support to Hamas. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; editing by Jonathan Oatis) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is imposing sanctions on three China-based companies that it said on Friday have worked to supply missileapplicable items to Pakistans ballistic missile program. A U.S. State Department statement identified the firms as General Technology Limited, Beijing Luo Luo Technology Development Co Ltd, and Changzhou Utek Composite Company Ltd. It said General Technology had worked to supply brazing materials used to join components in ballistic missile rocket engines and in the production of combustion chambers; Beijing Luo Luo had worked to supply mandrels and other machinery, which can be used in the production of solid-propellant rocket motors, the U.S. said. The third firm, Changzhou Utek Composite, had worked since 2019 to supply D-glass fiber, quartz fabric, and high silica cloth, all of which have applications in missile systems, the statement said. "Today's actions demonstrate that the United States will continue to act against proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, their means of delivery, and associated procurement activities of concern, wherever they occur," the statement said. China's embassy in Washington and Changzhou Utek Composite did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The other two firms could not immediately be reached for comment. (Reporting by Doina Chiacu and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Franklin Paul and Grant McCool) FILE PHOTO: Attendees purchase DNA kits at the 23andMe booth at the RootsTech annual genealogical event in Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S., February 28, 2019. REUTERS/George Frey/File Photo WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top Republican on the U.S. Senate's health committee has called on the chief executive of 23andMe to provide the panel with details after data from the family genetics website was advertised for sale on the dark web. Senator Bill Cassidy, the ranking member on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, expressed concerns in a letter to CEO Anne Wojcicki, and asked for more information. A hacker advertised 23andMe data earlier this month, but 23andMe said in a statement that the company itself had not been breached. (Reporting by Susan Heavey) Nigerien Colonel Major Mamane Sani Kiaou holds a press conference with French General Eric Ozonne after French troops began withdrawing, in Niamey, Niger October 20, 2023. REUTERS/Mahamadou Hamidou NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES NIAMEY (Reuters) - Another French military convoy is scheduled to leave Niger for Chad in the coming days, marking the half-way point of the promised withdrawal of the 1,450 French troops based in the West African nation, Niger colonel Mamane Sani Kaiou said on Friday. Last week, French military convoys began leaving bases in southwest Niger - the start of a departure demanded by Niger's junta that has dealt a further blow to France's influence in West Africa's conflict-hit Sahel region. "As of today, 282 people have left. In the next few days, close to 400 or more will be leaving, bringing the troops here in Niger down to half of the 1,450," the colonel told reporters at a joint press conference with the commander of France's Sahel forces. French General Eric Ozanne said a convoy that left last week had arrived in Chad's capital N'Djamena and that the journey had gone smoothly. "It was perfectly planned and prepared by the Niger authorities," Ozanne said, adding that he expected the same consideration for future convoys. Following weeks of pressure from the military officers who seized power in July, France last month agreed to withdraw its troops based in Niger by the end of the year, marking a definitive breakdown in military ties with its former colony amid a wave of anti-French sentiment in the region. Ozanne said the troops withdrawing by road via Chad would not remain there. "This is not the repositioning of our operations from Niger to Chad," the general said, adding that the goal remained to have completed the withdrawal from Niger by Dec. 31. (Reporting by Abdel-Kader Mazou; Writing by Anait Miridzhanian; Editing by Alistair Bell) FILE PHOTO: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addresses a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group ahead of a two-day NATO Defense Ministers Council at the alliance headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, October 11, 2023. Olivier Matthys/Pool via R KYIV (Reuters) - Bipartisan support from the United States is "incredibly encouraging" for Ukraine and its troops, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said following a phone call with U.S. President Joe Biden. Biden, who discussed military support for Kyiv with Zelenskiy in Thursday's call, will ask Congress for $100 billion in new spending, including $60 billion for Ukraine and $14 billion for Israel, a source familiar with his plan said. The U.S. has been the largest single source of assistance to Kyiv since Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year. Half of the $60 billion Biden is requesting for Ukraine would go towards replacing and modernising U.S. weapons stocks, the source said. "The unwavering bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States is incredibly encouraging for all of our warriors and for our entire nation," Zelenskiy wrote on Friday on X, formerly known as Twitter. "Americas investment in Ukraines defense will ensure long-term security for all of Europe and the world," he said. (Reporting by Max Hunder, Editing by Timothy Heritage) UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): October 19, 2023 Quantum FinTech Acquisition Corporation (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 001-40009 85-3286402 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) 4221 W. Boy Scout Blvd., Suite 300, Tampa, FL 33607 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) (813) 257-9366 (Registrants telephone number, including area code) Not Applicable (Former name or former address, if changed since last report) Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions: x Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) x Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share QFTA NYSE American LLC Warrants, each warrant exercisable for one-half of one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 QFTAW OTC Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (240.12b-2 of this chapter). Emerging growth company x If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. As previously disclosed on November 16, 2022, Quantum FinTech Acquisition Corporation ( Quantum), a Delaware corporation, entered into a Business Combination Agreement (the Business Combination Agreement) by and among Quantum, Calculator New Pubco, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary Quantum (New Pubco), Calculator Merger Sub 1, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of New Pubco (Merger Sub 1), Calculator Merger Sub 2, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of New Pubco (Merger Sub 2), AtlasClear, Inc., a Wyoming corporation (AtlasClear), Atlas FinTech Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation (Atlas FinTech) and Robert McBey. On October 19, 2023, Quantum and AtlasClear entered into a Business Combination Agreement Waiver (the Business Combination Agreement Waiver) to waive the Minimum Cash Condition closing condition (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) set forth in Section 8.1(j) of the Business Combination Agreement. The foregoing summary of the Business Combination Agreement Waiver does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual Business Combination Agreement Waiver which is filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 2.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure On October 20, 2023, Quantum issued a press release announcing that Quantum and AtlasClear have agreed to waive the Minimum Cash Condition closing condition. A copy of the press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1. The information contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K pursuant to this Item 7.01, including the exhibit attached hereto, is intended to be furnished and shall not be deemed filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act) or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing. Additional Information and Where to Find It In connection with the proposed transaction (the Proposed Transaction), New Pubco has filed a registration statement on Form S-4, as amended (the Registration Statement) with, and now declared effective by, the SEC, which includes a preliminary proxy statement and a prospectus in connection with the Proposed Transaction. STOCKHOLDERS OF QUANTUM ARE ADVISED TO READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT, THE PROSPECTUS AND ALL OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR THAT WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. HOWEVER, THIS DOCUMENT WILL NOT CONTAIN ALL THE INFORMATION THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED CONCERNING THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. IT IS ALSO NOT INTENDED TO FORM THE BASIS OF ANY INVESTMENT DECISION OR ANY OTHER DECISION IN RESPECT OF THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Now that the Registration Statement has been declared effective, Quantum will mail the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and a proxy card to each stockholder of Quantum as of the record date for the special meeting of Quantum stockholders for voting on the Proposed Transaction. Stockholders and other interested persons are also able to obtain copies of the definitive proxy statement/prospectus, the Registration Statement and other documents filed by Quantum with the SEC that are incorporated by reference therein, without charge, at the SECs website at www.sec.gov. Stockholders are urged to read these materials (including any amendments or supplements thereto) and any other relevant documents in connection with the Proposed Transaction that Quantum has filed or will file with the SEC, when they become available, because they do or will contain important information about Quantum, AtlasClear, and the Proposed Transaction. Quantums stockholders will also be able to obtain a copy of such documents, without charge, by directing a request to: Quantum FinTech Acquisition Corp., Quantum FinTech Acquisition Corporation, 4221 W. Boy Scout Blvd., Suite 300, Tampa, FL 33607, Attention: Investor Relations or by email at [email protected]. These documents can also be obtained, without charge, at the SECs website www.sec.gov. Participants in Solicitation Quantum, AtlasClear and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from Quantum stockholders with respect to the Proposed Transaction. Quantum stockholders and other interested persons may obtain, without charge, more detailed information regarding the directors and officers of Quantum in its Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2023 (the 2022 Form 10-K), which is available free of charge at the SECs website at www.sec.gov. Information regarding the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies to Quantum stockholders in connection with the Proposed Transaction and other matters to be voted upon at Quantums special meeting of stockholders is set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus for the Proposed Transaction. Additional information regarding the interests of the participants in the solicitation of proxies from Quantum FinTechs stockholders with respect to the Proposed Transaction is contained in the proxy statement/prospectus for the Proposed Transaction. No Offer or Solicitation This Current Report on Form 8-K shall not constitute a solicitation as defined in Section 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. This Current Report on Form 8-K does not constitute an offer, or a solicitation of an offer, to buy or sell any securities, investment or other specific product, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of securities, investment or other specific product in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption therefrom. Forward-Looking Statements This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, that reflect AtlasClears and Quantums current views with respect to, among other things, the future operations and financial performance of AtlasClear, Quantum and the combined company. Forward-looking statements in this website may be identified by the use of words such as anticipate, assume, believe, continue, could, estimate, expect, foreseeable, future, intend, may, outlook, plan, potential, proposed predict, project, seek, should, target, trends, will, would and similar terms and phrases. Forward-looking statements contained in this website include, but are not limited to, statements as to (i) expectations regarding the Proposed Transaction, including timing for its consummation, (ii) anticipated use of proceeds from the transaction, (iii) AtlasClears and Quantums expectations as to various operational results and market conditions, (iv) AtlasClears anticipated growth strategy, including the proposed acquisitions, (v) anticipated benefits of the Proposed Transaction and proposed acquisitions, (vi) the financial technology of the combined entity, and (vii) expected listing of the combined company. The forward-looking statements contained in this communication are based on the current expectations of AtlasClear, Quantum and their respective management and are subject to risks and uncertainties. No assurance can be given that future developments affecting AtlasClear, Quantum or the combined company will be those that are anticipated. Actual results may differ materially from current expectations due to changes in global, regional or local economic, business, competitive, market, regulatory and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of AtlasClear and Quantum. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of the assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all of them. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the risk that the transaction may not be completed in a timely manner or at all; the risk that the transaction closes but AtlasClears acquisition of Commercial Bancorp and its subsidiary bank, FSB, does not close as a result of the failure to satisfy the conditions to closing such acquisition (including, without limitation, the receipt of approval of Commercial Bancorps stockholders and receipt of required regulatory approvals); the failure to obtain requisite approval for the transaction or meet other closing conditions; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the definitive agreement in respect of the transaction; failure to achieve sufficient cash available (taking into account all available financing sources) following any redemptions of Quantums public stockholders; failure to obtain the requisite approval of Quantums stockholders; failure to meet relevant listing standards in connection with the consummation of the transaction; failure to recognize the anticipated benefits of the transaction, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the combined entity to maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and strategic alliance third parties, and to retain its management and key employees; potential litigation relating to the proposed transaction; changes to the proposed structure of the transaction that may be required or appropriate as a result of the announcement and execution of the transaction; unexpected costs and expenses related to the transaction; estimates of AtlasClear and the combined companys financial performance being materially incorrect predictions; AtlasClears failure to complete the proposed acquisitions on favorable terms to AtlasClear or at all; AtlasClears inability to integrate, and to realize the benefits of, the proposed acquisitions; changes in general economic or political conditions; changes in the markets that AtlasClear targets or the combined company will target; slowdowns in securities or cryptocurrency trading or shifting demand for trading, clearing and settling financial products; any change in laws applicable to Quantum or AtlasClear or any regulatory or judicial interpretation thereof; and other factors, risks and uncertainties, including those to be included under the heading Risk Factors in the proxy statement/prospectus filed with the SEC, and those included under the heading Risk Factors in Quantums 2022 Form 10-K and its subsequent filings with the SEC. AtlasClear and Quantum caution that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Any forward-looking statement made in this website speaks only as of the date hereof. Plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in forward-looking statements may not be achieved and no one should place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Neither AtlasClear nor Quantum undertake any obligation to update, revise or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by any applicable securities laws. Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits (d) Exhibits: SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. Quantum FinTech Acquisition Corporation By: /s/ John Schaible Name: John Schaible Title: Chief Executive Officer Date: October 20, 2023 Exhibit 2.1 BUSINESS COMBINATION AGREEMENT WAIVER This BUSINESS COMBINATION AGREEMENT WAIVER is made and entered into as of October 19, 2023 (this Waiver ) by and between Quantum FinTech Acquisition Corporation, a company incorporated in Delaware (together with its successors, the Purchaser ) and AtlasClear, Inc., a Wyoming corporation (the Company , and together with Purchaser , the Parties ). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings set forth in the Business Combination Agreement (as defined below). WHEREAS, the Parties entered into that certain Business Combination Agreement, dated as of November 16, 2022, with Calculator New Pubco, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Purchaser, Calculator Merger Sub 1, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned Subsidiary of New Pubco, Calculator Merger Sub 2, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned Subsidiary of New Pubco, Atlas FinTech Holdings Corp, a Delaware corporation and Robert McBey (as amended from time to time, the Business Combination Agreement ); and WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 11.9 of the Business Combination Agreement, the Parties desire to provide a waiver as described below. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Parties hereby provide the waiver described in Section 1 below: 1. Waiver . Each of the Parties hereby irrevocably waives the conditions set forth in Section 8.1(j) of the Business Combination Agreement. 2. Limited Effect . The Business Combination Agreement shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms. By executing this Waiver, each of the Parties acknowledges that this Waiver has been executed and delivered in compliance with Section 11.9 of the Business Combination Agreement. Reference to this Waiver need not be made in the Business Combination Agreement or any other instrument or document executed in connection therewith, or in any certificate, letter or communication issued or made pursuant to, or with respect to, the Business Combination Agreement. 3. Incorporation by Reference . The provisions of Article XI of the Business Combination Agreement are incorporated herein by reference and shall apply to the terms and provisions of this Waiver and the Parties hereto mutatis mutandis. [Signature Pages Follow] 1 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Waiver to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized. QUANTUM FINTECH ACQUISITION CORPORATION By: /s/ John Schaible Name: John Schaible Title: Chief Executive Officer ATLASCLEAR, INC. By: /s/ Craig Ridenhour Name: Craig Ridenhour Title: Chief Business Development Officer [Signature Page to Waiver Letter to Business Combination Agreement] Exhibit 99.1 AtlasClear and Quantum FinTech Acquisition Corporation Announce Elimination of Minimum Cash Condition Tampa, FL October 20, 2023 AtlasClear, Inc. (AtlasClear) and Quantum FinTech Acquisition Corporation (Quantum) (NYSE: QFTA), a publicly-traded special purpose acquisition company, today announced that they have agreed to waive the $40 million minimum cash condition required to be satisfied at the closing of the previously announced business combination. We believe in the future of AtlasClear and in the strength of the proposed business combination, said Craig Ridenhour, Chief Business Development Officer of AtlasClear. This mutual decision improves the certainty of the merger closing and is reflective of our confidence in the long-term growth potential of the business. In November 2022, Quantum entered into a definitive business combination agreement that is expected to result in Atlas FinTech Holdings Corp. transferring its trading technology assets to AtlasClear and the acquisition by AtlasClear of Wilson Davis & Co., Inc., a correspondent clearing broker-dealer, pending required regulatory approvals. AtlasClear has also entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Commercial Bancorp of Wyoming, a federal reserve member, following consummation of the business combination, which is expected to occur following the special meeting of stockholders (the "Special Meeting") on November 3, 2023. Upon closing of the business combination, the combined company is expected to list on the NYSE American with its common stock trading under the new ticker symbol, "ATCH". Special Meeting Details The Special Meeting will be held at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on November 3, 2023, at the offices of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP, 101 Constitution Ave. NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20001, unless the Special Meeting is adjourned. The Quantum FinTech board of directors recommends all stockholders vote "FOR" ALL Proposals in advance of the Special Meeting by telephone, via the Internet or by signing, dating and returning the proxy card upon receipt by following the easy instructions on the proxy card. Your Vote FOR ALL Proposals Is Important, No Matter How Many or How Few Shares You Own. About AtlasClear AtlasClear plans to build a cutting-edge technology enabled financial services firm that would create a more efficient platform for trading, clearing, settlement and banking of evolving and innovative financial products with a focus on the small and middle market financial services firms. The team that will lead AtlasClear consists of respected financial services industry veterans that have founded and led other companies in the industry including Penson Clearing, Southwest Securities, NexTrade and Anderen Bank. The nature of the combined entity is expected to be supported by robust, proven, financial technologies with a full suite that will enable the flow of business and success of the enterprise. The combined entity is expected to have a full exchange platform for a spectrum of financial products. In addition, the combined entity is expected to have a full prime brokerage and, following the Commercial Bancorp acquisition, a prime banking platform with complete front-end delivery. The enterprise is anticipated to offer a fixed income risk management platform which can be expanded to a diverse application on financial products. The combined entity is expected to be run by a new digital suite of technologies that will be part of the transaction at closing. About Quantum FinTech Acquisition Corporation Quantum FinTech Acquisition Corporation is a blank check company, also commonly referred to as a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, that was formed for the purpose of entering into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses, with a principal focus on identifying high-growth financial services and fintech businesses as targets. About Wilson-Davis & Co., Inc. Wilson-Davis is a full-service correspondent securities broker-dealer. The company is registered with the SEC, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and the Securities Investor Protection Organization. In addition, Wilson-Davis is a member of DTCC as well as the National Securities Clearing Corporation. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah and Dallas, Texas. Wilson-Davis has been servicing the investment community since 1968, with satellite offices in California, Arizona, Colorado, New York, New Jersey and Florida. About Commercial Bancorp of Wyoming Commercial Bancorp is a bank holding company operating through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Farmers State Bank (FSB) and has been servicing the local community in Pine Bluffs, WY since 1915. It has focused the majority of its services on private and corporate banking. A member of the Federal Reserve, FSB is expected to be a strategic asset for the combined companys long-term business model. Additional Information and Where to Find It In connection with the proposed business combination and related transactions contemplated in connection therewith (the Proposed Transaction), Calculator New Pubco, Inc. (New Pubco) (to be renamed AtlasClear Holdings, Inc.) has publicly filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) a registration statement on Form S-4 containing a preliminary proxy statement of Quantum and prospectus of New Pubco, and Quantum has mailed a definitive proxy statement/prospectus relating to the Proposed Transaction to its stockholders. Quantums stockholders and other interested persons are advised to read the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed in connection with the Proposed Transaction, as these materials contain important information about New Pubco, Quantum, AtlasClear, , Wilson-Davis & Co., Inc. (WDCO), Commercial Bancorp of Wyoming (Commercial Bancorp) and its subsidiary bank, Farmers State Bank (FSB), and the Proposed Transaction. The definitive proxy statement/prospectus has been mailed to stockholders of Quantum as of a record date for voting on the Proposed Transaction. Stockholders will also be able to obtain copies of the definitive proxy statement/ prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC, without charge, at the SECs website at www.sec.gov , or by directing a request to: Quantum FinTech Acquisition Corporation, 4221 W Boy Scout Blvd., Suite 300, Tampa, FL 33607, Attention: Investor Relations or by email at [email protected] . No Offer or Solicitation This press release shall not constitute a solicitation as defined in Section 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. This press release does not constitute an offer, or a solicitation of an offer, to buy or sell any securities, investment or other specific product, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of securities, investment or other specific product in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption therefrom. Participants in Solicitation Quantum, AtlasClear and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from Quantum stockholders with respect to the Proposed Transaction. Quantum stockholders and other interested persons may obtain, without charge, more detailed information regarding the directors and officers of Quantum in its Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2023 (the 2022 Form 10-K), which is available free of charge at the SECs website at www.sec.gov . Information regarding the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies to QTFA stockholders in connection with the Proposed Transaction and other matters to be voted upon at Quantums special meeting of stockholders are set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus for the Proposed Transaction. Additional information regarding the interests of the participants in the solicitation of proxies from Quantums stockholders with respect to the Proposed Transaction is contained in the proxy statement/prospectus for the Proposed Transaction. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, that reflect AtlasClears and Quantums current views with respect to, among other things, the future operations and financial performance of AtlasClear, Quantum and the combined company. Forward-looking statements in this website may be identified by the use of words such as anticipate, assume, believe, continue, could, estimate, expect, foreseeable, future, intend, may, outlook, plan, potential, proposed predict, project, seek, should, target, trends, will, would and similar terms and phrases. Forward-looking statements contained in this website include, but are not limited to, statements as to (i) expectations regarding the Proposed Transaction, including timing for its consummation, (ii) anticipated use of proceeds from the transaction, (iii) AtlasClears and Quantums expectations as to various operational results and market conditions, (iv) AtlasClears anticipated growth strategy, including the proposed acquisitions, (v) anticipated benefits of the Proposed Transaction and proposed acquisitions, (vi) the financial technology of the combined entity, and (vii) expected listing of the combined company. The forward-looking statements contained in this communication are based on the current expectations of AtlasClear, Quantum and their respective management and are subject to risks and uncertainties. No assurance can be given that future developments affecting AtlasClear, Quantum or the combined company will be those that are anticipated. Actual results may differ materially from current expectations due to changes in global, regional or local economic, business, competitive, market, regulatory and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of AtlasClear and Quantum. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of the assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all of them. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the risk that the transaction may not be completed in a timely manner or at all; the risk that the transaction closes but AtlasClears acquisition of Commercial Bancorp and its subsidiary bank, FSB, does not close as a result of the failure to satisfy the conditions to closing such acquisition (including, without limitation, the receipt of approval of Commercial Bancorps stockholders and receipt of required regulatory approvals); the failure to obtain requisite approval for the transaction or meet other closing conditions; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the definitive agreement in respect of the transaction; failure to achieve sufficient cash available (taking into account all available financing sources) following any redemptions of Quantums public stockholders; failure to obtain the requisite approval of Quantums stockholders; failure to meet relevant listing standards in connection with the consummation of the transaction; failure to recognize the anticipated benefits of the transaction, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the combined entity to maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and strategic alliance third parties, and to retain its management and key employees; potential litigation relating to the proposed transaction; changes to the proposed structure of the transaction that may be required or appropriate as a result of the announcement and execution of the transaction; unexpected costs and expenses related to the transaction; estimates of AtlasClear and the combined companys financial performance being materially incorrect predictions; AtlasClears failure to complete the proposed acquisitions on favorable terms to AtlasClear or at all; AtlasClears inability to integrate, and to realize the benefits of, the proposed acquisitions; changes in general economic or political conditions; changes in the markets that AtlasClear targets or the combined company will target; slowdowns in securities or cryptocurrency trading or shifting demand for trading, clearing and settling financial products; the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic; any change in laws applicable to Quantum or AtlasClear or any regulatory or judicial interpretation thereof; and other factors, risks and uncertainties, including those to be included under the heading Risk Factors in the proxy statement/prospectus filed with the SEC, and those included under the heading Risk Factors in Quantums 2022 Form 10-K and its subsequent filings with the SEC. AtlasClear and Quantum caution that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Any forward-looking statement made in this website speaks only as of the date hereof. Plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in forward-looking statements may not be achieved and no one should place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Neither AtlasClear nor Quantum undertake any obligation to update, revise or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by any applicable securities laws. Contacts Media [email protected] 0001600438 false 0001600438 2023-10-18 2023-10-18 iso4217:USD xbrli:shares iso4217:USD xbrli:shares UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): GMS INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) Delaware 001-37784 46-2931287 (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) 100 Crescent Centre Parkway , Suite 800 Tucker , Georgia 30084 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) Registrants telephone number, including area code: ( 800 ) 392-4619 Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions: Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchanged on which registered Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share GMS New York Stock Exchange Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (240.12b-2 of this chapter). Emerging growth company If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. The 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the Annual Meeting) of GMS Inc. (the Company) was held on October 18, 2023. At the Companys Annual Meeting, stockholders voted on the matters disclosed in the Companys definitive proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 25, 2023 (the Proxy Statement). A total of 40,741,012 shares of the Companys common stock were entitled to vote as of September 1, 2023, the record date for the Annual Meeting. A total of 38,243,660 shares were present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting, representing approximately 94% of all shares entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. The following is a summary of the final voting results for each matter presented to stockholders. Proposal 1: The election of the three director nominees identified in the Proxy Statement, each for a one-year term or until such earlier time as his or her successor is duly elected and qualified. The results of the vote were as follows: Nominee For Withheld Broker Non-Votes Lisa M. Bachmann 35,885,575 428,416 1,929,669 Peter C. Browning 35,291,547 1,022,444 1,929,669 John J. Gavin 35,147,452 1,166,539 1,929,669 Theron I. Gilliam 35,338,294 975,697 1,929,669 Mitchell B. Lewis 35,883,189 430,802 1,929,669 Teri P. McClure 32,969,692 3,344,299 1,929,669 Randolph W. Melville 35,890,568 423,423 1,929,669 J. David Smith 35,202,532 1,111,459 1,929,669 John C. Turner, Jr. 36,296,461 17,530 1,929,669 Pursuant to the foregoing votes, the nine director nominees listed above were elected to serve on the Companys Board of Directors. There were no additional director nominations brought before the Annual Meeting. Proposal 2: The ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2024. The results of the vote were as follows: For Against Abstain Broker Non-Votes 38,226,808 11,216 5,636 0 Pursuant to the foregoing vote, the proposal regarding ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2024 was approved. Proposal 3: The approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of the Companys named executive officers, as described in the Companys Proxy Statement. The results of the vote were as follows: For Against Abstain Broker Non-Votes 35,628,115 677,201 8,675 1,929,669 Pursuant to the foregoing vote, the proposal regarding advisory approval of the Companys executive compensation program was approved. Proposal 4: The approval, on a non-binding, advisory basis, on the frequency of future advisory votes on the compensation of the Companys named executive officers. The results of the vote were as follows: 1 Year 2 Years 3 Years Abstain Broker Non-Votes 33,619,704 4,797 2,686,093 3,397 1,929,669 Pursuant to the foregoing vote, the Company will hold an advisory vote on compensation of named executive officers annually until the next required vote on the frequency of such advisory votes. Item 8.01 Other Events. On October 18, 2023, the Companys Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program under which the Company is authorized to repurchase up to $250 million of its outstanding common stock. This share repurchase program terminates and replaces the Companys previous share repurchase authorization of $200 million, which commenced in June 2022 and had approximately $35.0 million of authorization remaining. The repurchases under the program may be made at the Companys discretion from time to time on the open market at prevailing market prices or in negotiated transactions off the market. The program may be suspended for periods or discontinued at any time. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. GMS INC. Date: October 20, 2023 By: /s/ Scott M. Deakin Name: Scott M. Deakin Title: Chief Financial Officer ATTACHMENTS / EXHIBITS XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION SCHEMA XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION LABEL LINKBASE XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION PRESENTATION LINKBASE IDEA: R1.htm IDEA: tm2328809d1_8k_htm.xml IDEA: Financial_Report.xlsx IDEA: FilingSummary.xml IDEA: MetaLinks.json Registration No. 333-264388 Filed Pursuant to Rule 433 Dated October 20, 2023 NEW ISSUE: Bank of Montreals Buffer Enhanced Return Notes Linked to a Reference Asset These notes do not guarantee the return of your principal at maturity NOTE INFORMATION Issuer: Bank of Montreal Minimum Investment: $1,000 (and $1,000 increments thereafter) Issue: ELN - 2043 CUSIP: 06375MHA6 REFERENCE ASSET S&P 500 Index (Bloomberg symbol: SPX) Please see the following page for additional information about the terms included on this cover page, and how your investment ma y be impacted. Any capitalized term not defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the preliminary pricing supplement to which the term sheet relates (se e h yperlink below). 1 SEC File No. 333 - 264388 | October 20, 2023 This term sheet, which gives a brief summary of the terms of the notes, relates to, and should be read in conjunction with, t he preliminary pricing supplement dated October 20, 2023, the Product Supplement dated September 22, 2022, the Prospectus Supplement dated May 26, 2022, and to the Prospectus dated May 26, 2022. DATES Offering Period Closes: October 27, 2023 (at 2 pm NY Time.) Pricing Date: On or about October 27, 2023 Settlement Date: On or about November 01, 2023 Valuation Date: On or about November 05, 2024 Maturity Date: On or about November 08, 2024 Term: Approximately 1 Year INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE The objective of the notes is to provide clients the potential for leveraged participation in any upside performance of the R efe rence Asset, while offering limited downside protection against a slight to moderate decline in the Reference Asset over the term of the notes. As such, the notes may be sui table for investors with a bullish view of the Reference Asset over the term of the notes. The performance of the notes may not be consistent with the investment objective. TERMS Upside Leverage Factor: 200.00% Maximum Return: 12.90% Maximum Redemption Amount $1,129.00 Initial Level: The closing level of the Reference Asset on the Pricing Date. Buffer Level: 85% of the Initial Level Buffer Percentage: 15.00% Accordingly, you will receive the principal amount of your notes at maturity only if the level of the Reference Asset does not decrease by more than 15.00% over the term of the notes. If the Final Level of the Reference Asset is less than its Buffer Level, you will receive less than the principal amount of your notes at maturity and you could lose up to 85.00% of the principal amount of your notes. Final Level: The closing level of the Reference Asset on the Valuation Date. Payment at Maturity: If the Final Level of the Reference Asset is greater than its Initial Level and the Percentage Change of the Reference Asset multiplied by the Upside Leverage Factor is greater than or equal to the Maximum Return, the payment at maturity for each $1,000 in principal amount of the notes will equal the Maximum Redemption Amount. If the Final Level of the Reference Asset is greater than or equal to its Initial Level and the Percentage Change of the Reference Asset multiplied by the Upside Leverage Factor is less than the Maximum Return, then the amount that investors will receive at maturity for each $1,000 in principal amount of the notes will equal: $1,000 + [$1,000 x (Percentage Change of the Reference Asset x Upside Leverage Factor)] If the Final Level of the Reference Asset is less than its Initial Level, but is not less than its Buffer Level, then investors will, for each $1,000 in principal amount of the notes, receive the principal amount of $1,000 and no additional return. If the Final Level of the Reference Asset is less than its Buffer Level, then the amount that investors will receive at maturity for each $1,000 in principal amount of the notes will equal: $1,000 + [$1,000 x (Percentage Change of the Reference Asset + Buffer Percentage)] In this case, investors will lose 1% of their principal for each 1% that the Final Level of the Reference Asset declines from its Initial Level in excess of 15.00%. You may lose up to 85.00% of the principal amount of your notes. Percentage Change: The Percentage Change of the Reference Asset, expressed as a percentage, is calculated using the following formula: (Final Level Initial Level) / Initial Level 2 Principal at Risk: Investors in these notes could lose a substantial portion of their investment at maturity if there has been a decline in the market value of the Reference Asset and the Final Level of the Reference Asset is less than its Buffer Level. We urge you to carefully review the documents described in Additional Information below, including the risk factors set forth and incorporated by reference therein, prior to making an investment decision. Secondary Market: The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. Although not obligated to do so, BMO Capital Markets Corp. (or one of its affiliates), plans to maintain a secondary market in the notes after the Settlement Date. Proceeds from a sale of notes prior to maturity may be less than the principal amount initially invested. Selected Risk Considerations: The risks summarized below are some of the most important factors to be considered prior to any purchase of the notes. Investors are urged to read all the risk factors related to the notes in the pricing supplement and the product supplement to which this term sheet relates. You could lose up to 85% of the principal amount of your notes. If the Final Level of the Reference Asset is less than its Buffer Level, you will lose 1% of the principal amount for each 1% that the Final Level of the Reference Asset is less than its Initial Level in excess of the Buffer Percentage. Your return on the notes is limited to the Maximum Redemption Amount, regardless of any appreciation in the levels of the Reference Asset. Your return on the notes may be lower than the return on a conventional debt security of comparable maturity. The notes are unsecured debt obligations of the Issuer and your investment is subject to the credit risk of the Issuer. Our and our affiliates activities may conflict with your interests and may also adversely affect the value of the notes. Our initial estimated value of the notes will be lower than the price to public, does not represent any future value of the notes, and may also differ from the estimated value of any other party. The terms of the notes are not determined by reference to the credit spreads for our conventional fixed - rate debt. The inclusion of the hedging profits, if any, in the initial price to public of the notes, as well as our hedging costs, is likely to adversely affect the price at which you can sell your notes. You will not have any shareholder rights and will have no right to receive any securities represented by the Reference Asset at maturity. We have no affiliation with the sponsor of the Reference Asset, and will not be responsible for their actions. Changes that affect the Reference Asset will affect the market value of the notes and the amount you will receive at maturity. Adjustments to the Reference Asset could adversely affect the notes. The sponsor of the Reference Asset may make adjustments, discontinue or suspend calculations or publication of that Reference Asset, or discontinue of suspend maintenance of that Reference Asset at any time. The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. BMOCM may offer to purchase the notes in the secondary market, but is not required to do so. Even if there is a secondary market, it may not provide enough liquidity to allow you to trade or sell the notes easily. We and our affiliates may engage in hedging and trading activities related to the notes that could adversely affect our payment to you at maturity. 3 Hypothetical Calculations for the Payment at Maturity: Examples of the Hypothetical Payment at Maturity for a $1,000 Investment in the notes The following table illustrates the hypothetical payments on a note at maturity. The hypothetical payments are based on a $1,000 investment in the note, a hypothetical Initial Level of 100.00, a hypothetical Buffer Level of 85.00 (85.00% of the hypothetical initial level), the Maximum Return of 12.90%, a hypothetical Upside Leverage Factor of 200.00 %, the Maximum Redemption Amount of $1,129.00, a range of hypothetical Final Levels and the effect on the payment at maturity. The hypothetical examples shown below are intended to help you understand the terms of the notes. The actual cash amount that you will receive at maturity will depend upon the Final Level of the Reference Asset. You may lose a significant portion of the principal amount at maturity. These examples do not give effect to any U.S. federal tax payments or brokerage commissions that you may be required to pay in connection with your purchase of the notes. Hypothetical Final Level Hypothetical Final Level Expressed as a Percentage of the Initial Level Hypothetical Payment at Maturity Hypothetical Return on the Notes 200.00 200.00% $1,129.00 12.90% 180.00 180.00% $1,129.00 12.90% 160.00 160.00% $1,129.00 12.90% 140.00 140.00% $1,129.00 12.90% 120.00 120.00% $1,129.00 12.90% 106.45 106.45% $1,129.00 12.90% 105.00 105.00% $1,100.00 10.00% 100.00 100.00% $1,000.00 0.00% 95.00 95.00% $1,000.00 0.00% 90.00 90.00% $1,000.00 0.00% 85.00 85.00% $1,000.00 0.00% 84.99 84.99% $999.90 - 0.01% 80.00 80.00% $950.00 - 5.00% 40.00 40.00% $550.00 - 45.00% 20.00 20.00% $350.00 - 65.00% 0.00 0.00% $150.00 - 85.00% Additional Information The notes will not constitute deposits insured by the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or under the Canada Deposit Ins urance Corporation or by any other U.S. or Canadian governmental agency or instrumentality. The notes will not be subject to conversion into our common shares or the common shares of any of our affiliates under subsec tio n 39.2(2.3) of the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Act. Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), nor any state securities commission, has reviewed or approve d t hese notes, nor or otherwise passed upon the accuracy of this document, to which it relates or the accompanying product supplement , p rospectus supplement, or prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. The Issuer has filed a registration statement with the SEC for the offerings to which this communication relates. Before you in vest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and the other documents discussed below that the Issuer has filed w ith the SEC for more complete information about the Issuer and these offerings. You may obtain these documents free of charge by visiting th e S ECs web site at http://www.sec.gov . Alternatively, the Issuer will arrange to send to you the prospectus (as supplemented by the prospectus supplement, product supplement, and preliminary pricing supplement to which this term sheet relates) if you request it by cal lin g its agent toll - free on 1 - 877 - 369 - 5412 or emailing [email protected] . The information in this term sheet is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed explanations set forth elsewhere in the Iss uers preliminary pricing supplement dated October 20, 2023 and the accompanying product supplement, prospectus supplement, and prospectus. Unless the context provides otherwise, capitalized terms used in this term sheet but not defined shall have the meaning assigned to them in the pricing supplement, product supplement, prospectus supplement, or prospectus, as applicable, to which this term sheet relates. Infor mat ion about retrieving these documents can be found elsewhere in this term sheet. You may access these documents on the SEC website at www.sec.gov as follows (or if such address has changed, by reviewing our filings for the relevant date on the SEC website): Preliminary Pricing Supplement dated October 20, 2023: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/927971/000121465923013719/p1019233fwp.htm Product Supplement dated September 22, 2022: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/927971/000121465922011396/j922220424b2.htm Prospectus Supplement dated May 26, 2022 and Prospectus dated May 26, 2022: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000927971/000119312522160519/d269549d424b5.htm Our Central Index Key, or CIK, on the SEC website is 927971. As used in this terms sheet, the Issuer, we, us or our r efe rs to Bank of Montreal, but not its consolidated subsidiaries. This term sheet contains no description or discussion of the United States tax consequences of the acquisition, holding or di spo sition of the notes. We urge you to carefully read the section entitled U.S. Federal Tax Information in the accompanying pricing supplement, the section entitled Supplemental Tax Considerations Supplemental U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations in the accompanying product supplement, the section United States Federal Income Taxation in the accompanying prospectus and the section entitled Cert ain Income Tax Consequences in the accompanying prospectus supplement, in each case, to which this term sheet relates. You should consult your tax advisor about your own tax situation. 4 The Palestinian interior ministry said several displaced people sheltering at a church compound in Gaza were killed and injured after an Israeli strike late Thursday. The church has been a shelter for hundreds of Palestinians seeking refuge from Israel's deadly war on Gaza. The Israeli strike left a "large number of martyrs and injured" at the compound of the Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius Church in Gaza City, the ministry said. Palestinian news agency WAFA said a Palestinian girl was among those killed in the strike. More casualties are feared trapped under the rubble, as rescue and medical teams were seen working tirelessly to reach them, a WAFA correspondent reported at the church site. BREAKING: The first videos emerge of survivors from the Israeli bombing of the Christian Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza telling their story. pic.twitter.com/MMBLvjM3AR Alan MacLeod (@AlanRMacLeod) October 19, 2023 Witnesses told AFP the strike appeared to have been aimed at a target close to the place of worship where many Gaza residents had taken refuge as the war raged in the Palestinian territory. Witnesses said the strike damaged the facade of the church and caused an adjacent building to collapse, adding that many injured people were evacuated to hospital. Saint Porphyrius is the oldest church still in use in Gaza and is located in the city's historic neighbourhood. A war crime The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem expressed its "strongest condemnation" of the strike at its church compound. "Targeting churches and their institutions, along with the shelters they provide to protect innocent citizens, especially children and women who have lost their homes due to Israeli airstrikes on residential areas over the past 13 days, constitutes a war crime that cannot be ignored," the Patriarchate said in a statement. The church is not far from the Baptist hospital, which was hit by a brazen Israeli airstrike on Tuesday, killing at least 600 civilians and injuring hundreds more. Gaza has been hit by a relentless barrage of Israeli airstrikes, which has killed at least 3,785 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, most of them civilians, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The near-constant bombardments came in a grisly retaliation for a Hamas militant attack on October 7, which Israel says killed at least 1,400 people, most of them civilians. *This story was edited by Ahram Online Search Keywords: Short link: Commuters board a train in Tokyo, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes) TOKYO It may soon become more expensive to ride one of Japans famously crowded trains thanks to measures recently approved by lawmakers to combat the side effects of over-tourism. Visitors have been pouring into Japan ever since tight COVID-19 restrictions on foreign travelers were relaxed in October 2022. More than 2.18 million people came in September, just short of the 2.27 million who visited in September 2019, before the pandemic, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization. But the flood of tourists is raising concerns, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said during a meeting Wednesday with the Ministerial Council in Tokyo. There are concerns that excessive crowds and bad manners in some areas and during certain times of the day are affecting the lives of local residents and reducing tourist satisfaction, Kishida said at the meeting, according to the Prime Ministers Offices website. Commuters board a train in Tokyo, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes) Later that day, the Ministerial Council approved a series of measures meant to limit or prevent overcrowding and tourists bad behavior. Some of the measures are an attempt to alleviate train congestion near sightseeing attractions by allowing operators to increase fares based on overcrowding, according to a document on the measures released Wednesday by the Prime Ministers Office. The system would utilize one already in place that lets train operators adjust prices depending on passenger levels. Price hikes must also be intended to alleviate congestion and not be an attempt to increase revenue, according to the document. Its unclear when the new measures will go into effect. The document identified this fall as a possible start date but did not give specifics. Raising train fares isnt a major concern for Petty Officer 2nd Class Olivia Reyes, a sailor assigned to Yokosuka Naval Base, due to the exchange rate. One dollar is equivalent to approximately 150 yen. Everything in Japan is relatively cheap for Americans, she said by phone Friday. Sure, Ill spend $8 instead of $5, but thats not too bad, especially if it means itll cut down on people traveling during busy hours. Other measures include establishing express bus lines that connect train stations to major tourist destinations and allowing taxis to operate outside their usual areas to alleviate shortages. To combat bad manners, the council plans to display signs and graphics that are easy to understand for foreign tourists, the document said. Some tourists have caused trouble since Japan reopened, according to the document. In Hokkaido, the countrys northernmost prefecture, tourists were reported to be trespassing on private farmland to take photos of scenery. In Kyoto, about 280 miles west of Tokyo, the document reported instances of tourists taking photos of professional entertainers including geisha, without permission. While it is not illegal in Japan to take photographs in public, it can be considered rude if its done without consent. There are a lot of tourists that arent used to Japanese customs, Reyes said. More security cameras may be installed to prevent trespassing on private property or vandalism at tourist sites, according to the document. American YouTuber and live-streamer Ismael Ramsey Khalid, 23, who goes by the moniker Johnny Somali, was arrested Sept. 21 in Osaka on trespassing allegations, the Asahi newspaper reported Sept. 23. Known for broadcasting nuisance behavior, Khalid was taken into custody after police say he broke into a hotel construction site with another man, the report said. Both were rearrested a few weeks later for allegedly filming inside an Osaka eatery without permission and playing loud music, the Mainichi newspaper reported Oct. 13. Japanese soldiers board a V-22 Osprey while training with U.S. forces in Tokunoshima, Japan, March 2, 2023. (Manuel Alvarado/U.S. Marine Corps) CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa A Japanese V-22 Osprey landed in Okinawa for the first time Thursday to train with the U.S. military, despite a request from the prefectural government to exclude the tiltrotor aircraft. The Ground Self-Defense Force Osprey touched down at New Ishigaki Airport on Ishigaki Island, 160 miles east of Taiwan, around 10:50 a.m., a Ground Staff Office spokesman wrote in an emailed statement Friday. It first made stops at Ground Self-Defense Force Vice Camps Takayubaru and Setouchi in Kumamoto and Kagoshima prefectures, respectively. The tiltrotor took on simulated casualties before flying back to Takayubaru at 1:10 p.m., he said. The Ground Self-Defense Force plans to repeat the evacuation drill again on Tuesday. Its customary in Japan for some government officials to speak to the media on condition of anonymity. The drill was part of Resolute Dragon, an annual multidomain exercise with the U.S. military that kicked off Oct. 15 and runs through Oct. 31 at locations across Japan. After the Osprey landed at Ishigaki, Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express disappointment that his request had not been granted. The prefecture asked the Okinawa Defense Bureau, which represents Japans Defense Ministry on the island, to refrain from flying V-22s to the prefecture on Sept. 13 and again on Tuesday. The use of Ospreys causes anxiety for Okinawas population, Tamaki wrote in his post Thursday. He vowed to continue to advocate against the tiltrotors. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno responded that Ospreys are essential for moving Self-Defense Force personnel to remote islands and that every effort was made to minimize impacts on the local population, according to a video posted Thursday to Prime Minister Fumio Kishidas website. It is important to strengthen the deterrence and the response capability of the U.S.-Japan partnership to protect our islands, Matsuno said, calling the current situation the most complex security environment since the end of World War II. The Osprey has been a point of contention in Japan since it first arrived at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni on the main island of Honshu in July 2012. The aircrafts development history, coupled with several high-profile crashes, has made it the target of an Okinawa protest movement. Three Marines died and several others were hospitalized in Australia on Aug. 27 when their Osprey crashed during the multinational Talisman Sabre exercise. Two days later, Gen. Eric Smith, then-assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, ordered a thorough and harsh safety review. The Japanese government selected the helicopter-plane hybrid in 2014 due to its speed and versatility. Japan has received 14 out of 17 planned, thus far; the fleet is based at Camp Kisarazu in Chiba prefecture. Resolute Dragon, conducted primarily with elements of the Okinawa-based III Marine Expeditionary Force, involves thousands of U.S. Marines and Japanese troops in stand-in force exercises, including command and control, precision fires and maneuvering. A stand-in force a key tenet of the Marine Corps Force Design 2030 is a smaller, mobile unit inserted within range of enemy missiles to seize and hold key islands and deny enemy vessels access to surrounding seas. The policy is geared toward blunting Chinas maritime expansion; the communist nation was labeled the top global pacing challenge in the Pentagons 2022 National Defense Strategy. We hold our service members to the highest standards and any allegation of sexual misconduct is taken seriously," U.S. Forces Korea spokesman David Kim said Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. (Gustavo Castillo/U.S. Air Force) SEOUL, South Korea South Korean prosecutors have recommended a five-year prison sentence for a U.S. service member who pleaded guilty to inappropriately touching a 5-year-old girl over the summer. The man identified only as a 37-year-old American service member entered his plea Oct. 16 at the Daejeon District Courts Cheonan Branch, a senior investigator with the South Chungcheong Police Agency said by phone Wednesday. The service member is charged with committing indecent acts by force toward the young South Korean girl on July 2 at an apartment in Asan city, the investigator said. Asan is less than five miles from Camp Humphreys, the U.S. militarys largest overseas military base, roughly 40 miles south of Seoul. The investigator, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with the rules of his job, declined to provide further information about the service member, citing a South Korean law protecting the identities of people accused of non-violent crimes. The Cheonan Branch of the Daejeon District Prosecutors Office, which recommended the five-year sentence, said the service member put his hand inside the girls pants, touched her genitals and then picked her up, a separate investigator said by phone Friday. A final verdict from presiding Judge Jeon Kyongho is scheduled for Nov. 13. U.S. Forces Korea said in an emailed statement Friday that a service member was suspected of sexual misconduct following a joint investigation by the military and Korean National Police. We expect all USFK-affiliated service members to conduct themselves appropriately, command spokesman David Kim said in the statement. We hold our service members to the highest standards and any allegation of sexual misconduct is taken seriously. Kim declined to provide further information on the incident to protect the integrity of the ongoing judicial process. A NATO AWACS aircraft flies over Europe, May 17, 2023. NATO has sent the AWACS and other aircraft, along with minehunter vessels, to the Baltic Sea in response to recently discovered damage to undersea infrastructure, the alliance said. (Andrew D. Sarver/U.S. Air Force) STUTTGART, Germany Drones, reconnaissance planes and ships have been dispatched to the Baltic Sea, a move that comes in response to recently discovered damage to critical undersea infrastructure, NATO said this week. NATO will continue to adapt its maritime posture in the Baltic Sea and will take all necessary steps to keep allies safe, NATO spokesman Dylan White said Thursday in a statement. The vulnerability of undersea gas pipelines and communication cables to sabotage is a growing NATO concern. Alliance officials have warned that Russia could target such infrastructure to gain leverage against allied countries providing security assistance to Ukraine. On Tuesday, those concerns were brought into focus when Sweden reported partial damage to an undersea telecommunications cable connected to Estonia. Authorities suspect the damage occurred at the same time an undersea gas pipeline and telecommunications cable running from Finland to Estonia was found to be damaged last week. The incidents remain under investigation and senior NATO officials have refrained from blaming Russia so far. If it is proven to be a deliberate attack on NATO-critical infrastructure, then this will be, of course, serious, but it will also be met by a united and determined response, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said last week during a meeting of allied defense ministers. NATO said it will more closely monitor an area that already had been under surveillance since the 2022 sabotage of Nord Stream 1, a Baltic Sea pipeline that delivered natural gas from Russia to Germany. Maritime patrol aircraft, NATO AWACS planes, drones and a fleet of four minehunter vessels are part of the enhanced surveillance effort. We continue to monitor the situation closely, and we remain in close contact with our allies Estonia and Finland, and our partner Sweden, White said. American and British service members mark Veterans Day and Rememberance Day at Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center, Iraq, Nov. 11, 2022. The Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center was the target of a rocket attack in the early morning hours of Oct. 20, 2023. (Michael Romero/U.S. Army) Two rocket attacks targeted a base with U.S. troops near Baghdads international airport early Friday morning, the latest of a series of strikes this week against the American military in the Middle East. There were no casualties, a U.S. defense official said Friday. Air defenses shot down one rocket and the other struck an empty storage facility, the defense official said. The rockets targeted U.S. and allied troops at the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center at about 2:50 a.m., the defense official said. Roughly 2,500 troops are deployed to Iraq, where they officially act in an advisory role. The U.S. combat mission there ended in 2021. The attack in Baghdad follows drone strikes in recent days at installations housing U.S. troops elsewhere in Iraq and Syria, as militant groups respond in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. Also on Friday, Reuters reported that a rocket and drone attack caused multiple blasts at another Iraqi base with U.S. troops. U.S. Central Command has not confirmed the attack. Iranian-backed militias are said to be planning attacks on U.S. forces in the Middle East under the slogan of Revenge for Gaza, a report by the U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Thursday. The destroyer USS Carney destroyed 15 drones and four land-to-air cruise missiles in the northern Red Sea on Thursday that were fired from Yemen and may have been targeting Israel, a U.S. defense official told Stars and Stripes on Friday. Elsewhere, a drone attack on the U.S. garrison at al-Tanf in southeastern Syria on Thursday caused minor injuries, U.S. officials said. On Wednesday, U.S. forces shot down one drone and damaged another at al Asad Air Base in western Iraq. An umbrella group of Iranian-backed militias known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for the attack on al Asad as well as another on a base in northern Iraq, The Associated Press reported Thursday. A U.S. defense contractor died of a heart problem Wednesday while scrambling for cover during an alert warning at al Asad, said Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagons top spokesman. The uptick in violence across the Middle East came following an explosion Tuesday at a Gaza hospital that killed scores of people, though the exact number remains unclear. Israel released audio recordings, satellite imagery and other data in stating that an errant munition fired by Palestinian Islamic Jihad caused the blast. The United States said after an intelligence review that the militant group likely is responsible, but many in the Middle East maintain that Israel is to blame. Meanwhile, Israel has built up its forces on the Gaza border, as it prepares the next steps to fulfill a vow to destroy Hamas that came shortly after the Oct. 7 attacks. Hamas raided settlements bordering the Gaza Strip and killed about 1,400 people, most of whom were civilians, according to Israeli estimates. They also took at least 200 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Israel in response has bombarded Gaza, cut off fuel and aid supplies, and told Gaza residents to flee to the south of the territory. Palestinian health officials say Israels actions have killed thousands and left hospitals incapable of helping many of the injured. A deal is in the works to allow aid back into the Gaza Strip, The Associated Press reported Thursday. The Egyptian and Palestinian Red Crescent Societies and the United Nations are expected to help oversee the operation, in part to ensure the supplies from the convoy through the Rafah Crossing on Egypts border with Gaza reach civilians, not combatants. Palestinians carry a body of a dead person found under the rubble of a destroyed building of a Greek Orthodox church, in Gaza City on Friday, Oct.20, 2023. (Abed Khaled/AP) JERUSALEM - The historic Church of St. Porphyrius, Gazas oldest active church, was struck Thursday as it sheltered hundreds of Palestinians displaced by the war, according to religious officials. The casualty count and extent of the damage were not immediately clear. The Washington Post geolocated the strike and confirmed the location of the church based on a video that shows people searching through rubble of a destroyed building. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem blamed Israel for the strike. Israel Defense Forces said in an email statement that a strike targeting a Hamas control center damaged the wall of a church in the area, and that it is aware of reports on casualties and reviewing the incident. The Church of St. Porphyriuss original structure dates back to the 5th century, and the current structure was built in the 12th century. Located in a historic quarter of the city, it is named after a former bishop of Gaza, Saint Porphyrius, and placed where he is believed to have died in A.D. 420. Characterized by thick walls and a richly decorated interior, the church has long been a place of refuge and community for its members, who are a religious minority in the Gaza Strip. Ibrahim Jahshan, a deacon at the church, told The Post that several hundred displaced Christians had taken refuge on the grounds. Rescuers were still digging through the rubble early Friday, but Jahshan said nine people had died and more than a dozen were wounded in the strike. The Order of St. George, an associated order of the church, issued a statement saying it had confirmed the strike. Archbishop Alexios appears to have been located and is alive, but we dont know if he is injured, the Order of St. George stated. The blast hit two church halls where the refugees, including children and babies, were sleeping. A Palestinian American woman who moved from Gaza to the United States in the early 2000s said in an interview that she had relatives and friends sheltering in the church at the time of the strike, some of whom were injured. Theyre terrified. Theyre shaken. They dont know what to do, and they dont know where else to go, said the woman, whom The Post is not identifying because of concern for her familys safety. She expressed outrage at the idea that more than a million civilians could evacuate from a place as densely populated and heavily bombed as Gaza City - a mass movement called for by Israel last week. Its impossible, she said. She said she grew up going to St. Porphyrius before moving to the United States, and her family has deep ties to the church, dating back to when they became refugees during the 1948 founding of Israel and mass displacement of Palestinians. Describing the congregation as close-knit and family-like, she said shes not just worried about her relatives. Im concerned for everyone because were a small community. Christians make up about 1 percent of Gazas population and have faced restrictions and discrimination by Hamas and Gazas Islamist government, according to human rights groups. During the 2014 Gaza war, about 1,000 Palestinian Muslims fled Israeli shelling for the Church of St. Porphyrius, where graves were damaged by shrapnel from a nearby strike, Reuters reported. In a statement early Friday local time, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem said targeting churches sheltering innocent citizens cannot be ignored. The Patriarchate stresses that it will not abandon its religious and humanitarian duty, rooted in its Christian values, to provide all that is necessary in times of war and peace alike. Hill reported from New York. Ables reported from Seoul. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant meets soldiers on the Israeli border with the Gaza Strip on Oct. 19, 2023, in Sderot, Israel. (Amir Levy/Getty Images/TNS) (Tribune News Service) Israels defense minister gave more details about the countrys military plans for Gaza on Friday, implying it has no intention of running the territory after its operations wind down. Israel aims to disentangle itself from Gaza and to create a new security reality in the region, Yoav Gallant said to the parliamentary foreign affairs and defense committee in Tel Aviv. Its unclear from his comments who Israel expects to run Gaza if and when the military achieves its aim of wiping out Hamas, the Iran-backed militant group that killed around 1,400 Israelis during an attack on Oct. 7. Israel has launched mass airstrikes on Gaza, which is now ruled by Hamas, since then and is widely expected to launch a ground invasion. Thousands of Palestinians have been killed. The objectives of the campaign include destroying Hamass military and governing capabilities, Gallant said, as well as the complete removal of Israeli responsibility for the Gaza Strip There will be three stages, the defense minister said. We are now in the first stage a military campaign that currently includes strikes, and will later include maneuvering, with the objective of neutralizing terrorists and destroying Hamas infrastructure. The second phase will involve operations at a lower intensity, with the objective of eliminating pockets of resistance, he said. The final stage will require the removal of Israels responsibility for life in the Gaza strip. Hamas is designated as a terrorist group by the U.S. and European Union. 2023 Bloomberg News. Visit at bloomberg.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Palestinians inspect the damage caused by an Israeli strike on a house in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. (Loay Ayyoub for The Washington Post) JERUSALEM - A barrage of rockets apparently fired by militants in Lebanon struck northern Israel on Thursday, Israels military said, as its forces targeted the launch sites with artillery fire. The clashes further stoked fears that the Israel-Gaza war could swell into a wider regional conflict. The cross-border attacks were among the heaviest bombardment from southern Lebanon during nearly two weeks of bloodshed in Israel and Gaza. While a Hamas branch claimed responsibility, Israels military said the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah had authorized the attack. Adding to the sense of escalating tension in the region, U.S. forces on Thursday shot down several attack drones in Iraq and Syria, and a U.S. Navy destroyer in the Red Sea intercepted rebel-launched missiles and drones launched from Yemen, Pentagon officials said. Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, the Pentagon spokesman, said it was unclear whether the drones and missiles launched in Yemen were related to the conflict but said their northward direction suggested they were heading potentially toward targets in Israel. Both the Houthi rebels in Yemen and militias in Syria are believed to receive weapons and support from Iran, which also supports Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that controls the Gaza Strip. Hours earlier, Jordanian King Abdullah II and Egyptian President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi warned that the conflict threatens to plunge the entire region into a catastrophe, according to a readout. Other leaders, meanwhile, struggled for ways to dial down tensions. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrived in Israel facing the same dilemma as President Biden the day before: how to pledge unwavering support for Israel while also considering the plight of civilians in Gaza as Israels military aims to cripple Hamas in Gaza. Hamas touched off the crisis Oct. 7 with its deadly blitz into Israel. At least 1,400 Israelis have been killed and about 200 are believed held as hostages in Gaza. Palestinian officials said more than 3,700 people have been killed and more than 12,400 injured in Gaza since the fighting began. Sunak said at a news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem that he was proud to stand here with you in Israels darkest hour, and he condemned what he called unspeakable, horrific acts of terrorism by Hamas. But echoing Biden, the British leader also urged aid for Gaza, emphasized that the Palestinian people are victims of Hamas, too, and added that we mourn the loss of every innocent life. Sunak welcomed the deal Biden had announced, in which Israel agreed to allow limited humanitarian aid into Gaza through Egypt. Sunak expressed his hope that progress could be made on getting food, water and medicine into Gaza. But the agreement to allow up to 20 trucks with aid through Egypts Rafah crossing - the only link into Gaza that Israel does not control - is contingent on no aid reaching Hamas in a territory it controls with an iron fist. Many other key questions also remained unanswered, including whether the aid will include much-needed fuel for hospital generators and when deliveries will begin. Aid deliveries had not been expected to begin before Friday, but U.S. and United Nations officials said Thursday that a delay in road repairs to the crossing meant trucks were now unlikely to move until Saturday. The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity about the sensitive issue, said there was a small but dwindling possibility some goods could move late Friday. In any case, aid workers say, they will do little to save off a deepening humanitarian crisis. The U.N. has said that at least 100 trucks a day are needed to provide for more than 2 million people trapped inside Gaza without fuel or electricity, and with nearly exhausted supplies of food and water. World Health Organization trucks are loaded and ready to go to Gaza, the agencys director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said. Diplomatic efforts this week also yielded few results on allowing aid to be delivered directly from Israel to Gaza. Netanyahu continues to resist the delivery of food and medicines, saying that Hamas needs to first return Israeli hostages. An injured girl is brought to Nasser Hospital on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. According to Gaza's Health Ministry, four hospitals were entirely out of service because they were directly hit in strikes. (Loay Ayyoub for The Washington Post) The Gaza health system has been repeatedly described as on the verge of collapse. Surgeries are being conducted in the dark or canceled, said the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. As of Thursday, four Gaza hospitals were entirely out of service because of direct hits from Israeli bombardment, and a fifth shut down after running out of fuel, according to Gazas Ministry of Health. Israel says it is targeting Hamas members in Gaza and on Thursday, a Hamas-run radio station reported the deaths of two more senior officials of the militant group. But satellite imagery shows that places of worship, hospitals, schools and homes have also been damaged or destroyed in Israeli attacks. Israeli airstrikes have also targeted so-called safe zones in the south, including the city of Khan Younis. Israel had ordered more than 1 million people to evacuate northern Gaza ahead of an expected ground invasion. In one attack on Thursday, an Israeli airstrike on a residential building in Khan Younis killed at least 12 people and injured at least 80 civilians, according to the Associated Press. The crater from the blast was at least one floor deep, and family members were believed to be trapped underneath the rubble, the AP reported. The repercussions of a strike at the al-Ahli Hospital earlier this week, which deepened global anguish over civilian deaths, continued to reverberate Thursday. Palestinian authorities had blamed the strike on Israel and said it killed 471 people. The Israel Defense Forces disputed that death toll and said the strike originated inside Gaza. U.S. officials have also said Israel was not responsible, citing intelligence, aerial imagery and open-source material. In the West Bank and the wider region, unrest continues to flare. Israeli forces killed at least six Palestinians, among them a 15-year-old, during a raid on a refugee camp in the West Bank city of Tulkarm and declared the area a closed military zone Thursday, according to the Ramallah-based Health Ministry. At least 545 Palestinians have been displaced from Bedouin communities in the West Bank since Oct. 7, the U.N. humanitarian agency said, citing intensified settler violence and access restrictions. More than half of the displaced were children. Citing the potential for violence and increased tensions globally, the State Department on Thursday issued a rare Worldwide Caution Security Alert to all Americans overseas. It said that there was a potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests. Stay alert in locations frequented by tourists, it advised. Across Israel, security precautions remained high. Israels military said Hamas militants are still in the country following the Oct. 7 incursion. Yesterday we found a terrorist, exhausted, on his way to Gaza, IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said Thursday, adding that the man was being interrogated. Noack reported from Islamabad, Pakistan. Miriam Berger in Jerusalem, Karen DeYoung and Dan Lamothe in Washington, Kelly Kasulis Cho in Seoul, and Louisa Loveluck, Leo Sands, Ellen Francis and Jennifer Hassan in London contributed to this report. Demonstrators gather while United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres visits the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. (Sima Diab for The Washington Post) RAFAH, Egypt - Trucks of desperately needed aid for Gaza remained stuck on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing on Friday, a hold up that U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said left him broken hearted during a brief and chaotic visit to the highly militarized zone. President Biden announced during a high-profile visit to Israel a deal to get aid flowing into the besieged enclave, but days later wrangling over the conditions continued. We are witnessing a paradox: behind these walls, we have 2 million people that is suffering enormously - that has no water, no food, no medicine, no fuel; that is under fire; that needs everything to survive, Guterres said. On this side, we have seen so many trucks, loaded with water, with fuel, with medicines, with food - exactly the same things that are needed on this side of the wall. It is impossible to be here and not to feel a broken heart, he said. U.N. officials had hoped that Guterress media tour Friday would coincide with the resumption of trucks driving across the border - a moment of triumph and relief after days of high-level, high-stakes diplomacy in Cairo and Tel Aviv. Instead, Guterres found himself facing stalled trucks and angry Egyptian aid workers, frustrated at the wait to bring assistance to Palestinians just a few miles away. In a demonstration clearly blessed - and seemingly organized - by the Egyptian authorities, aid workers waving Palestinian and Egyptian flags chanted, We stand for Gaza! as soldiers in fatigues looked on. The aid convoy - and the difficult dealmaking to get it across - represent the opening gambit in efforts to seek a steady flow of relief supplies into Gaza. On Saturday, Egyptian officials plan to host a summit for peace, which Guterres is scheduled to attend before returning to New York. At a meeting with top European Union envoys in Washington, Biden suggested the aid would begin moving Saturday or Sunday and blamed the delays on the need to repair roads that were in very bad shape. Inside Gaza, however, Palestinians told The Washington Post that distributing the aid would be extremely dangerous for them without a halt in Israeli airstrikes, which have continued across the coastal enclave, including in areas in the south that Israel said would be considered safe-zones. In a briefing Friday, Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Israeli planes had been bombing Gaza at a rate not seen for decades, ahead of the next stage of operations, which is expected to include a ground invasion. Under a deal reached with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden said 20 trucks would be permitted to cross the border into the besieged Gaza Strip. He reemphasized his commitment to the deal Friday, saying the people of Gaza urgently need food, water and medicine in a statement. Thats a fraction of the more than 200 trucks from the United Nations, Egyptian Red Crescent and other sources ready to bring supplies into Gaza. Guterres said the details of how the aid will be verified and whether it will be a continuous flow remain under discussion. Ahmed Abu Zeid, a spokesman for Egypts Ministry of Foreign Affairs, pinned the blame on Israels targeted attacks & refusal of aid entry in a statement Friday posted to X, formerly Twitter. Rafah crossing is open and Egypt is not responsible of obstructing third-country nationals exit, he added, referring to another stalled deal to allow U.S. nationals to leave Gaza through Rafah. Guterres acknowledged that a mechanism for ensuring that no illicit goods are smuggled in along with the aid has proved an obstacle in negotiations. We are now actively engaged with Israel, Egypt and the United States, he said. Those verifications need to be effective, and at the same time, those verifications need to be done in a way that is practical and in a way that is expedited. The United Nations has offered up their inspectors, who have conducted similar checks on aid entering northwest Syria, for example. But a key sticking point has been that the Israelis want direct eyes on the crossing, said an official with knowledge of the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the delicate negotiations. The question is where and how, the official said. Egypt has signaled that hosting Israeli inspectors on its soil is a non-starter. Frustrations are mounting among Egyptian aid workers and volunteers who have been waiting at the border for days to move critical supplies. We demand the opening of the crossing so we can support our Palestinian brothers, said Abdelrahman El-Sayid, 22, a volunteer with Abnaa Sinai, a regional logistics company that also does charity work. He had been stuck there for four days, waiting to bring medicine and food aid across to Gaza, he said. Ahead of his visit to the crossing, Guterres inspected a flight at the Arish airport carrying supplies destined for Gaza. The plane included 44 tons of food supplies donated by the United Arab Emirates, 17 tons of materials for tents and 10 tons of emergency trauma kits to be distributed through the United Nations and the Egyptian Red Crescent. By midafternoon, a Jordanian military plane had arrived bearing more aid. We need to have as quickly as possible the first convoy, and we need to create all the guarantees for that first convoy not to be the last, Gutteres told reporters on the tarmac. Gaza is fast running out of vital food, fuel, water and medical supplies. Before the latest war broke out, about 455 trucks a day entered the blockaded coastal enclave through Rafah and Israels Kerem Shalom crossing. Since Oct. 7, Israel has tightened its siege on Gaza, and airstrikes have damaged parts of the Rafah crossing on the Gazan side. The war has also displaced around 1 million of Gazas 2.3 million people. More than half of the displaced are sheltering in United Nation schools, hospitals and storage centers, according to the U.N.s refugee agency. Al-Qudra said Friday that seven hospitals were completely closed due to Israeli shelling and another 21 medical centers have shut after running out of fuel. Fuel for the generators at al-Shifa Hospital, the main hospital in Gaza City and one of the few remaining places with electricity, will run out within 24 hours, Guillemette Thomas, Doctors Without Borders medical coordinator for Palestine, said Friday. From Rafah, Guterres thanked the Egyptian government for coordinating aid collection. We are not in a no mans land. We are in the land of a sovereign country, Egypt - an apparent reference to concern President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi has raised about Israel pushing Palestinian refugees to Sinai in large numbers. Sisi, who wants to avoid at all costs the type of skirmishes taking place along the Israel-Lebanon border, warned Wednesday that such an exodus could shatter the peace between Egypt and Israel. Egypt has reinforced its borders since the war began, according to the Sinai Foundation for Human Rights, which has a team monitoring the border region. The U.N. convoy carrying Guterres passed troops and tanks standing in formation along the highway leading to Rafah. At one point during Guterress speech, a surveillance drone buzzed overhead. In the meantime, Palestinians in Gaza are spending hours each day waiting in line for meager supplies. Hani Mohammed, 36, is living with his two children and 35 other family members in an apartment west of Gaza City. He tried to move south after Israel demanded 1 million Palestinians leave Gaza City and other parts of northern Gaza, but he could not find an affordable taxi as prices for fuel have skyrocketed. My kids are super scared, he said. I cry to myself when Im on my own. I cant protect the family. Maybe I was wrong when I decided to have children in the first place when I live in Gaza. They are punishing the civilians with no guilt. I dont know who is alive and who is not. We listen to the radio when we charge the batteries from the neighbor who has solar power. I need someone to answer me, he continued. Whats the guilt of those kids to be terrified or killed? Berger reported from Ramallah. Balousha reported from Nuseirat refugee camp. Marisa Iati in Washington contributed to this report. Air Force Brig. Gen. Derin Durham, commander of the 4th Air Force, center, is flanked by six reservists from the 446th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. The crew received the Distinguished Flying Cross for their efforts in the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. (Paolo Felicitas/US Army) An Air Force Reserve crew who flew through gunfire and helped manage the chaos at the Kabul airport during the U.S. evacuation from Afghanistan in 2021 were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. The even six reservists from the 446th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., were some of the last of 96 active-duty and Reserve airmen authorized to receive the award for Operation Allies Refuge. The 17-day mission flew 124,334 people out of Kabul as Taliban rebels closed in on the Afghanistan capital. It was the largest evacuation of noncombatants in U.S. history, according to the Defense Department. The six reservists in the crew were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for their extraordinary aerial achievements during the evacuation. In addition, each was awarded a C applied to the medal, a device established in 2016 for exceptionally meritorious service or achievement performed under combat conditions. Air Force Brig. Gen. Derin Durham, 4th Air Force commander, presented the medals Monday at Lewis-McChord, which is south of Tacoma, Wash. Medals were awarded to three pilots: Maj. Brandon Dubuisson, Maj. Amit Patel, and Capt. Mitchell Williams. Medals also went to three loadmasters: 2nd Lt. Zachary Ward, Master Sgt. Jodi Signer, and Tech. Sgt. Brian Sinden. The Air Force said the awards were specifically for their mission on Aug. 26, 2021, when they flew a C-17 Globemaster III from Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait to Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. The crew was ordered into the air soon after receiving a briefing that a Taliban attack at an airport checkpoint had killed 170 civilians and 13 U.S. service members. The crew flew into Kabul with 23,000 pounds of supplies for troops and the relief efforts, a 13-member aeromedical team, and caskets for U.S. service members killed at the checkpoint, whose remains would be flown home. The C-17 reported receiving small arms fire on approach to the airport, where other planes and helicopters flying in and out crisscrossed on the runways, tarmacs and airspace, receiving minimal air traffic control support amid the chaos during the withdrawal. The crew kept the C-17 engines running while on the ground - using precious fuel, but increasing their chances to get up and out if the situation at the airport grew uglier. The reservists unloaded their cargo and the medical team, with the caskets bound for a makeshift morgue. Then the loadmasters directed refugees onboard including three wounded children on life support. Once in the air and out of range of any Taliban guns, the C-17 conducted a midair refueling so it could return to Kuwait. The crew stood up when their nation called, as this wing always does, said Dubuisson, aircraft commander on the mission. I am so proud and honored to have flown with you guys and call you friends and family. The Distinguished Flying Cross was authorized by Congress in 1926 and is awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the armed forces of the United States for heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight, the Air Force said in a statement about the ceremony. It was first awarded to Charles Lindbergh for his solo 1927 flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Lindbergh was a captain in the Army Corps Reserve. The award has occasionally been awarded to civilians, including pioneer solo aviator Amelia Earhart. While often given for heroic flying in combat, the Distinguished Flying Cross has also gone to astronauts, test pilots and explorers who have flown under dangerous conditions for the benefit of their country. The 446th Airlift Wing is an Air Force Reserve Command unit at Lewis-McChord. It is associated with the active-duty 62nd Airlift Wing at the base, and part of Air Mobility Command. The unit traces its history back to World War II, when the 446th Bombardment Group flew B-24 Liberators. The group switched from bombers to transports when it was activated in 1948 as the 446th Troop Carrier Group at Carswell Air Force Base in Texas. Activated and deactivated twice more, the current unit rejoined the Air Force Reserve in 1973 at what was then McChord Air Force Base in Washington. The Air Force base and the Armys adjacent Fort Lewis were amalgamated into Joint Base Lewis-McChord in 2010. The charges against Maj. Michael Stockin have been completed -- an Article 32 hearing is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 9, said Lt. Col. Jennifer Bocanegra, spokeswoman for I Corps, the main Army command at the base, located nine miles south of Tacoma, Wash. (U.S. Air Force) The Army plans to hold a hearing early next month to determine whether Maj. Michael Stockin, a doctor at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, should face a court-martial on 23 charges of sexual abuse and indecent conduct involving patients. The charges against Maj. Michael Stockin have been completed -- an Article 32 hearing is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 9, said Lt. Col. Jennifer Bocanegra, spokeswoman for I Corps, the main Army command at the base, located nine miles south of Tacoma, Wash. An Article 32 hearing is a pre-trial military hearing that functions like grand jury proceedings in civilian courts. Stockin, 37, was formally charged on Aug. 28 with 23 violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. His charge sheet and other documents were not released while an independent review was conducted to determine whether there was sufficient legal justification for a hearing and possible court-martial. The charges include abusive sexual contact and indecent viewing, Bocanegra has said. Abusive sexual contact is the least severe of four categories of sexual crimes outlined in the UCMJ the basis of law in the military. Abusive sexual contact is defined as touching of the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner thigh, or buttocks of any person. A service member can face up to seven years of confinement, forfeiture of pay and benefits, and a dishonorable discharge, if convicted of the charge. Charges are merely accusations, and the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty, Bocanegra said. Robert Capovilla, a former Army lawyer, is representing Stockin. He could not be reached for comment Friday. The hearing in November would be the first time that the Army reveals the full scope of its investigation into Stockin. Civil lawsuits against Stockin and the Army also have been filed by active-duty personnel and veterans. The Army has not said whether the charges against Stockin involved personnel at Lewis-McChord, where he arrived for duty in July 2019. Since Stockin joined the Army in May 2013, hes been assigned to Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii for a year, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., for five years, a five-month deployment to Iraq, then the past four years and three months at Lewis-McChord. Army investigators have been looking into allegations against Stockin since at least February 2022, when he was barred from seeing patients and was reassigned as an anesthesiologist at Madigan Army Medical Center at Lewis-McChord. The Army announced the charges against Stockin in August 2023. Bocanegra said Stockin was not in confinement and was assigned to administrative roles in which he did not have physical contact with patients. The Defense Department reported to Congress in April that the Pentagon had received 8,942 reports of sexual assault involving service members as victims or perpetrators in fiscal year 2022. That was an increase of 76 cases from the prior year. Marine Lance Cpl. Austin B. Schwenk, 19, was killed in a shooting at Camp Lejeune, N.C., on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023, service officials said. (U.S. Marine Corps) The Marine killed in a shooting at Camp Lejeune this week was born near the North Carolina base and had enlisted in the Corps during the summer of 2022, service officials said Friday. Lance Cpl. Austin B. Schwenk, 19, died in the shooting in a barracks late Wednesday in what service officials described as an isolated incident between two Marines. Schwenk was an electro-optical ordnance repairer assigned to Camp Lejeunes 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines, said 1st Lt. Olivia Giarrizzo, a spokeswoman for 2nd Marine Division, which includes Schwenks unit. Giarrizzo declined to provide additional details about the shooting Wednesday night. Marine officials said the suspected shooter, another Marine, was arrested after the shooting that night, but so far Corps officials have declined to name the suspect or provide information about potential charges in the incident. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service, or NCIS, is investigating the shooting, officials said. An NCIS spokesperson declined to comment on the ongoing probe. We will continue to assist the investigating agency to the fullest extent possible, Giarrizzo said Friday. Marine records show Schwenk enlisted in the Corps in June 2022 and attended boot camp at the Marines Recruit Depot Parris Island in South Carolina before joining his unit at Camp Lejeune. He reached the rank of lance corporal in August and had been awarded the National Defense Service Medal, according to his records. As an electro-optical ordnance repairer, Schwenk was responsible for fixing and maintaining night vision devices and small missiles systems, according to the Marines. His records show he was born in North Carolinas Onslow County, which is home to Camp Lejeune. Schwenk graduated from Riverside High School in Painesville, Ohio, in 2022, according to The News-Herald, a local newspaper. Schwenk told The News-Herald that he chose to enlist in the Marines to follow in the footsteps of his father, who had served in the Corps. My father was a Marine, and hes always given me a reason to look up to him, Schwenk said, according to a May 2022 story in the newspaper. He also said: I chose the Marines for the simple fact that they will give me the discipline and leadership that I believe I will be able to use later in my life. dickstein.corey@stripes.com Twitter: @CDicksteinDC Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, inside a M1 Abrams tank in Lithuania in August 2021. ( Joshua Thorne/Army) WASHINGTON The top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee said Friday that the White House will need to collaborate with House Republicans to push a $105 billion aid package for Ukraine and Israel through the divided and paralyzed lower chamber. The Biden administration is requesting the funds as the House remains at a standstill without a speaker and Republicans show growing skepticism toward providing support for Ukraine in its fight against Russias invasion and pairing that aid with funding for Israel as it embarks on a war with Hamas militants in Gaza. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., said top Republicans, including the chairmen of the House committees on Armed Services, Foreign Affairs and Intelligence, as well as others are clearly supportive of the White Houses supplemental aid request. The key thing is the administration needs to be working very, very closely with Republicans, Smith said during an event at the Center for a New American Security, a Washington think tank. Make the pitch, get Republicans broadly supportive, get the Senate to pass a package, put it on our doorstep and then say, All were asking for is a vote There are over 300 votes for what we want to do here. Just put it on the floor. That has to be the strategy. A major roadblock for the package, which the White House formally requested Friday, is the speakership vacancy in the House and Republicans ongoing struggle to agree on a new leader after the ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., more than two weeks ago, Smith said. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, failed for a third time on Friday to win election as speaker. Smith said McCarthys removal has opened the door for aid to Ukraine and Israel to pass the House, even amid the Republican infighting. McCarthy stripped $6 billion in Ukraine aid from a deal that avoided a government shutdown last month. The White House had requested $24 billion for Ukraine in August. Kevin McCarthy had no intention whatsoever of bringing that up, Smith said. He had told more than one person that he felt putting up a supplemental package would be a speakership-ending decision, which he wasnt inclined to do. So we had to move past that, which we did. Senate Majority Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said the Senate is taking the lead on the White Houses latest request. This legislation is too important to wait for the House to settle their chaos, he said. Senate Democrats will move expeditiously on this request, and we hope that our Republican colleagues across the aisle will join us to pass this much-needed funding. The emergency funding request includes $61.4 billion for continued military and economic assistance for Ukraine, $10.6 billion for Israels air and missile defense and $9 billion for humanitarian aid for Ukraine, Israel and Gaza, the blockaded Palestinian enclave under Israeli bombardment. The White House is also asking for $12 billion to better secure the U.S. border with Mexico and $7.4 billion for security assistance to Taiwan and other allies in the Indo-Pacific region. This request reflects how under President Bidens leadership, the U.S. has rallied the world, building a coalition of more than 50 countries to respond to Putins brutal invasion of Ukraine, and we are now coming to the aid of our ally, Israel, Shalanda Young, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, said Friday in a call with reporters. Young did not comment on whether the speaker battle in the House will cause problems for the supplemental request. That is a matter for the House to work out, she said. Were doing our job here by letting Congress know what the critical needs are, and we expect them to act and act swiftly. Smith said there is a bipartisan path forward that House Republicans could take and it would require bringing the supplemental up for a vote, sticking to spending levels that were agreed upon in a debt ceiling deal in May and avoiding a government shutdown next month. You do those three things, well throw you a few votes if you need them, he said. Thats still very much on the table for any Republican that wants to take us up on it. shkolnikova.svetlana@stripes.com Twitter: @svetashko An aerial view on May 4, 2023, of a Navy Enterprise Tactical Command and Control tent configuration used by Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 1 during a Navy exercise at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, Calif. (Sara Eshleman/Navy) WASHINGTON A former Navy chief petty officer has been sentenced to more than two years in prison for defrauding a military insurance program thats supposed to help seriously injured and disabled veterans, federal authorities said. The former sailor, Christopher Toups, was accused in federal court on multiple charges in the case including wire fraud, conspiracy and making fraudulent insurance claims. Toups admitted to carrying out his scheme between 2012 and 2015 and conspiring with several people to receive thousands of dollars to which he was not entitled. Prosecutors said Toups wife, various sailors and even a Navy doctor were also in on the scheme, which involved filing bogus claims with the Traumatic Servicemembers Group Life Insurance program. Participants in the scheme obtained approximately $2 million in payments from fraudulent claims, the Justice Department said in a statement. Toups personally obtained about $400,000. Toups and the others sometimes intentionally made money transactions of less than $10,000 to evade perceived financial reporting requirements, prosecutors said. Toups participated in a fraud scheme that defrauded the American taxpayer and diverted vital money, care and resources from service members recovering from traumatic injuries, said Greg Gross, special agent in charge for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Stealing from a program set in place to aid injured and disabled service members diverts compensation from deserving individuals, said Stacey Moy, special agent in charge of the FBIs San Diego field office. Willingly defrauding the American people, especially those who protect our country, will not be tolerated. Toups, who retired from the Navy six years ago at the rank of chief petty officer first class, agreed to a plea deal last year with federal prosecutors that dismissed the charges of filing fraudulent claims and wire fraud. In exchange, he pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud and was sentenced this week to 30 months in federal prison. During Toups time in the Navy, he was a construction mechanic for the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Expeditionary Support Unit One based in Coronado, Calif., which is located just across the bay from downtown San Diego. Lying and stealing funds meant for injured service members is appalling, U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath said. The United States Attorneys Office is committed to protecting those who serve, and this case is an excellent example of law enforcement collaboration to do just that. Toups said he filed phony claims with the life insurance program and encouraged other sailors to do the same under the condition that he receive a cut of their payments, which he called a processing fee. Also involved in the scheme were Kelene McGrath, his wife at the time, and Navy Dr. Michael Villarroel, Toups told federal prosecutors. Villarroel was the medical doctor at the unit where Toups served and McGrath is a former Navy nurse. Villarroel, McGrath and several others who were involved in the scheme also have been charged in the scheme. The Traumatic Servicemembers Group Life Insurance program was created by Congress in 2005 to provide help to troops after a traumatic injury and has provided tens of thousands of dollars to service members and their families. As part of Toups plea deal, he was ordered to pay restitution to the fund. 00:40 Egypt is set to host on Saturday the Cairo Summit for Peace, which will bring together more than a dozen leaders of Arab and Western countries and top representatives from the European Union, to discuss ways to de-escalate the war in Gaza, reach a ceasefire, and solve the decades-old Palestinian-Israeli conflict through the two-state solution. 23:55 France President Emmanuel Macron said his country had been in direct contact with Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah to avoid a flare-up on Lebanon's southern border. "We sent messages to Hezbollah very directly through our ambassador and our services," Macron told a group of reporters, adding that despite rocket fire on the border there has been "no escalation" but "we remain very cautious". 23:30 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken voiced relief that Hamas has released two American captives but said the militant group still holds up to 10 other US citizens among approximately 200 captives seized earlier this month. "There are still 10 additional Americans who remain unaccounted for in this conflict," Blinken told reporters, adding that all "should be released immediately and unconditionally." 22:50 Hamas says working with Qatari and Egyptian mediators to release "civilian" hostages taken during their October 7 attacks on Israel. 21:30 Muhammad Shweidah, director of an UNRWA shelter center in the Gaza Strip, told Al Jazeera, that the Israeli army asked them to evacuate five schools. 21:00 The Palestinian Red Crescent (PRC) has announced that they have been asked by the Israeli army to evacuate Al-Quds hospital in Gaza as an expected operation will take place. According to the statement, the hospital has over 400 patients and shelters 12,000 displaced people. The PRC has called on the world to prevent such action to avoid having another catastrophe like Al Ali Al Arabi Baptist 20:35 US President Joe Biden said Friday he believed the first trucks carrying aid to Gaza would come through the Rafah crossing from Egypt within the next two days. 20:00 Two Palestinian teenagers were killed Friday in the West Bank, Palestinian health officials said, raising the death toll in the territory to 83 since the start of the war on Gaza. One, identified as 15-year-old Suhaib al-Sous, died after clashes with Israeli forces near Ramallah. The other, 17-year-old Oday Mansour, was killed in clashes at a military checkpoint near Hawara, a flashpoint town in the northern West Bank. 19:50 Al-Qassam Brigades releases two American citizens (a mother and her daughter) for humanitarian reasons. 19:10 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has urged Israel to end its operations in Gaza that he said were bordering on genocide. In a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, Erdogan said It is clear that security cannot be ensured by bombing hospitals, schools, mosques and churches. I reiterate our call on the Israeli government not to expand the scope of its attacks against civilians and to immediately stop its operations that are bordering genocide. 18:30 Massive demonstrations in the iconic Tahrir square as Egyptians protest the Israeli siege and airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. 18:00 Demostrations took place in Iraq, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea, and Turkey among others to protest against the Israeli aggression on Gaza. 17:30 In his meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Friday in Cairo , President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said that Israel exceeded the right to self-defense in Gaza and that the situation must be contained as thousand of casualties have fallen in Gaza 17:00 4,1374 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli attacks and 13,162 other wounded, according to the Palestinian health ministry. 16:10 Israels defense minister said that after the country destroys the Hamas militant group, the military does not plan to control life in the Gaza Strip Defense Minister Yoav Gallants comments to lawmakers were the first time an Israeli leader discussed its long-term plans for Gaza. Gallant said Israel expected there to be three phases to its war with Hamas. He said it first would attack the group in Gaza with airstrikes and ground maneuvers, then it would defeat pockets of resistance and finally it would cease its responsibility for life in the Gaza Strip. 15:32 Egypt has criticized accusations of its responsibility for closing Rafah crossing, despite Israel targeting it four times and refusing the entry of aid convoys. The Foreign Affairs Ministry pointed out that there has been a "clear pattern of targeting Egypt in Western media since the beginning of the war on Gaza". These accusations aim, the ministry said, "to promote the Israeli forced displacement scenario of the Palestinians, which Egypt firmly rejects". The ministry emphasized that the crossing is open, and Egypt is not responsible for obstructing the exit of third-country nationals. 14:00 Massive protests have swept across Egypt, demanding an immediate end to the brutal Israeli war on Gaza and showing strong solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle against the forced displacement sought by Israel. "With spirit and blood, we sacrifice for you, O Palestine," the demonstrators passionately chanted. pic.twitter.com/cQpaULvB7S Samir Omar (@SamirOmarSky) October 20, 2023 13:40 The U.S., Canada, U.K., Germany, Saudi Arabia and Oman have all called on their respective nationals to leave Lebanon. Shelling has intensified in recent days between northern Israel and southern Lebanon. 13:15 Shortly after arriving at Rafah crossing border, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, "On this side, we have many trucks loaded with essential supplies, including food and medicine. The judge said today that he had no option but to jail the 23-year-old A young burglar who stabbed a homeowner after he was caught hiding in his daughters bedroom has been jailed for three years. Co Donegal man Fionn Ponsonby had a clean record and was given chance after chance by Judge John Aylmer at Letterkenny Circuit Court to engage with the Probation Services but failed to do so. The Judge said today that he had no option but to jail the 23-year-old. The court heard how Ponsonby pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary at the home of Joe and Sandra McGonagle at Cullion, Letterkenny on November 17th, 2018. He was caught when the familys pet dog began barking leading Mr McGonagle to investigate and finding the window of his daughters bedroom open and a man crouching down behind her bed. Mr McGonagle wrestled with the burglar after Ponsonby had produced a penknife and tried to stick Mr McMonagle in the arm. He began to shout at the accused Drop the knife, drop the knife as he tried to restrain the burglar before eventually pinning him down and holding him until Gardai arrived. Sandra McMonagle was described as absolutely terrified as the incident unfolded. A number of items were subsequently discovered outside the window including a torch, a Samsung phone, a Nintendo, and assorted jewellery. A number of empty cans of Tennents Lager and Carlsberg and a nearly empty bottle of wine. Ponsonby was arrested, taken to Letterkenny Garda station and initially claimed he had entered the wrong house and fell asleep thinking it was his. He later admitted that he knew it was not his home. Garda Genivieve Sherlock gave evidence of arresting Ponsonby whom the court was told had been homeless and was taking drink and drugs. She agreed with Ponsonbys barrister, Mr Peter Nolan, that his client was a lost soul. Ponsonby, a father-of-two who now had an address at Sandy Row in Castlefin, took to the witness stand to apologise to Mrs McGonagle and her daughter who were in court. He said Id just like to apologise and say sorry for scaring you and your daughter. Its not something that has ever happened before. I dont know how to make amends but Im awfully sorry for what happened on that night. The defendant told Mr Nolan that he had been living in an abandoned house at the time that he sometimes shared with drug taking friends. He had not been living with his parents since he was fifteen and had left the family home. He told the court he had been in a relationship and had two children but they had been taken into care. I cant see them until Im sober. The court was told that Ponsonby said he had spent four days at the White Oaks addiction treatment centre but had been discharged as a result of having drugs in his system. He had been born in Australia where his mother was from. His father was from Donegal but his parents had broken up when he was six or seven years of age. He said he had been bullied at primary school and revealed that he had been sexually abused at the age of eight. Youre at the end of the road. The next stage is Castlerea Prison, Mr Nolan warned him. Addressing Judge John Aylmer, defence counsel said his client was the eldest of seven children. The accused had been beaten up while living on the streets and had been badly assaulted with an iron bar. He had become addicted to cannabis and heroin. He has no family so to speak of, said Mr Nolan. The picture that presents itself is very little in the way of relief or hope for Mr Ponsonby. He does not have emotional maturity and where would he get it from?, defence counsel demanded. His client had brought great terror on the McMonagle family. But he was not a violent man and he, Mr Nolan, found him to be a gentle individual. He had to deal with his addictions and look to complete the course in the White Oaks centre. In this respect, defence counsel asked Judge Aylmer to take a chance on his client and allow him to undergo his treatment. Referring to the incident of aggravated burglary, Judge Alymer said the accused had been in confrontation with the homeowners but fortunately Mr McMonagle had been able to disarm him and had not suffered much of an injury. He noted that he had come from a difficult background and had made full admissions while entering a plea of guilty at the earliest opportunity. Judge Aylmer had adjourned the case until today hoping the accused would take the opportunity to undertake the rehabilitation process but said he was still considering a custodial element, stating that a significant period in custody might bring the accused to his senses. Judge Aylmer said he hoped by October concrete evidence would be put before him that the defendant had remained drug free and had re-engaged with the services at White Oaks. The balls in Mr Ponsonbys court, Mr Nolan maintained. When Ponsonby appeared in court today, his barrister Mr Nolan said the Probation Report was not favourable. "All I can say is that he is generally a good natured young man but for some reason he cannot comply with directions, timescales and appointments. "He tells me everything has gone wrong for him over the past six months but that happens to lots of people and they don't end up sitting here. He has his whole life in front of him but he doesn't seem to value it. "He is only 23 and once he goes to prison you unfortunately will see him before the court again," said Mr Nolan. Passing sentence, Judge Aylmer said he had given Ponsonby every opportunity and did not want to send him to prison but he has simply not engaged with the Probation Services. He added "I had hoped to deal with this on a non-custodial basis but I cannot do that because he has failed to engage but I am not going to throw away the key and leave him without hope. "I am conscious of his family background and that he went into care at the age of 16 and it is a tragedy that he has ended up where he is today." He sentenced Ponsonby to four years in prison but suspended the final 12 months ordering him to engage with the Probation Services upon his release and to abstain from alcohol and drugs during that time. Upon leaving court, Ponsonby took off his coat and watch and handed them to his father whom he embraced before being led away by prison staff. The prosecution has weighed very heavily on her mind for the last couple of years and her marriage has broken down A Dublin woman who defrauded a well-known city centre barbershop out of over 35,000 is to be sentenced later at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Linda Finnegan (51) of The Orchard Drive, Stamullen, Co. Meath, and her late father Liam Finnegan, set up the Waldorf Barbers on Westmoreland Street, Dublin 2 and ran it successfully for many years, the court heard. However, the relationship between father and daughter soured and Ms Finnegan pleaded guilty to fraud under the Companies Act on March 27, 2019, about a month after her fathers death from cancer. At a hearing yesterday, the court heard that Ms Finnegan fraudulently induced Bank of Ireland to transfer the sum of 29,000 to her on the day in question. The court heard that she had initially denied three charges of theft and taken a trial date, but that she pleaded guilty to a fourth count of fraud when this was presented. Garda Martin Doohan told Garret McCormack BL, prosecuting, that Ms Finnegan and her late father had both been directors of the barbershop until they had a significant falling out in 2016. The court heard that when Liam Finnegan was diagnosed with cancer in 2016, he stopped his day-to-day running of the business and two other employees took over. Mr Finnegan died in February 2019 and the two employees continued to run the business. Bank statements handed to gardai by the company the following year show two withdrawals in March 2019 made without permission by Linda Finnegan, for the sums of 4,950 and 28,000. A month later, Ms Finnegan withdrew 2,651 from Waldorf Babers, again without permission from the company. Gardai obtained warrants to search Ms Finnegans house and she brought officers to her bedroom where she pointed out two envelopes containing cash sums of 4,950 and 10,000. This money was seized by gardai. The total sum misappropriated by Ms Finnegan amounted to 35,601, said Gda Doohan. CCTV footage was obtained of Ms Finnegan making the withdrawals in March 2019 and she was arrested by appointment. The court heard that the late Mr Finnegan had owned 75 per cent of the business and his daughter Linda had a 25 per cent share. Mr Finnegans will bequeathed his 75 per cent share to the two other employees running the business, the court heard. The court heard that Ms Finnegan initially took a trial date but later pleaded guilty. The company went into liquidation as a result of the fraud but the two former employees are still trading as Waldorf Barbers under a new legal name. Ms Finnegan has not come to any garda attention before or since and has no previous convictions, the court heard. Gda Doohan agreed with Rebecca Smith BL, defending, that Ms Finnegan had expressed remorse and had written a letter saying if she could turn back time and change how she dealt with the situation, she would. The prosecuting garda also agreed that there was an issue with the fathers will and that Ms Finnegan had experienced huge difficulties growing up with her father in the family home. Gda Doohan accepted that Ms Finnegan was most unlikely ever to come before the courts again. Several letters were handed in to court from Ms Finnegans friends, neighbours and family confirming her good character and expressing shock that someone like her could come before the courts. The court heard Ms Finnegan left school at 14, did a barbering course and has worked ever since. Ms Smith said her client had played a huge role in growing the company and that when she found out about her fathers will in 2017, she got some legal advice. Ms Finnegan was a 25 per cent shareholder in the company and thought she was entitled to withdraw money from the firm, counsel said. However, Ms Finnegan now accepts that her actions resulted in the ultimate winding up of the company. The prosecution has weighed very heavily on her mind for the last couple of years and her marriage has broken down, the court heard. Ms Finnegan is on social welfare and has three children, two of whom live with her. They are currently experiencing housing difficulties, the court heard. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the case for sentencing to November 2. The selection concerned what the complainant had said about the accused showing her braces he had on his teeth. A JURY has resumed deliberations in the trial of a well-known entertainer accused of sexual acts with an underage schoolgirl. The jurors had been considering a verdict for more than three hours when they suspended deliberations yesterday evening. Deliberations resumed at 10.44am this morning at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The celebrity (40), who cannot be identified, is charged with defilement of a child under 17 - the legal age of consent. He denies having oral sex with the girl three times between August and December 2010, when he was 27 and she was 16. He maintains the incidents never happened, with a second line of defence that he had an "honest belief" that she was over 17 at the time. This morning, Judge Pauline Codd read back some of the evidence that had been heard in the trial, following a request by the jury. The selection concerned what the complainant had said about the accused showing her braces he had on his teeth. The defence contends the timing of this is relevant because the accused had evidence that he only had the braces fitted in January 2011, a few days before the girl turned 17. Judge Codd read back to the jury what they had heard when defence barrister Morgan Shelley cross-examined the complainant about her garda statement. Mr Shelley had read out what she said in the statement about the first alleged incident at the accuseds home in 2010. I remember now that I think about it that he had gotten braces, they were clear ones, I didnt notice them until he told me he had got them, she had told gardai. Questioned about this, the complainant had told Mr Shelley she could not really remember when it was. It may have been that time, it may have been another time, I cant pinpoint the exact date, she had testified. Mr Shelley had asked her if it was possible the accused had the braces for all three alleged incidents. I dont think so, she had replied, and she did not remember him pointing them out to her the day of the alleged workplace incident. You remember he had braces, Mr Shelley had said. At some point, yes, she had replied. During one of the times we met, he pointed out his braces. Mr Shelley had asked her if it was when she was 16. I cant recall when, I was just giving as much evidence as I could at the time , she had said. Mr Shelley had asked if she just did not know when he got the braces. I definitely know it wasnt at the time of the (workplace) incident, she had said. Asked if he had them during the other two incidents, she said: Im not sure if he had them then or if it was later. Im not sure when he got them. The judge advised the jury that it was only the complainants answers to the questions about her statement that were to be taken as evidence. She then sent them back out to resume deliberations. During the trial, the complainant accepted she initially lied to the accused that she was 18 after they first met at the Oxegen music festival that year, but alleged she revealed she was 16 by text before they began a sexual relationship. She alleged she gave him oral sex once in a stairwell at his Dublin workplace in late August 2010 and twice at his home in the city on dates including December 14 that year. The accused insists he never had any sexual contact with the girl until she was 18. He said she only revealed her real age after her 17th birthday, in January 2011, and that was the only time he took her to his workplace. He denied that anything sexual happened between them there, or that they were ever in the stairwell. He said she was never at his home at all. The English career criminal remains in the high-security Portlaoise Prison, where he has served his time since his conviction in 2008. A KEY player in the Irelands record cocaine haul at Dunlough Bay in 2007 is still serving time in a high-security prison 16 years later. Martin Wanden had to be plucked from the water by rescue services while 62 bales of almost pure cocaine, each weighing 25 kilos, floated around him in West Cork. The English career criminal remains in the high-security Portlaoise Prison, where he has served his time since his conviction in 2008, originally getting a 30-year sentence. This was reduced to 23 years on appeal in 2019 and Wanden, now aged 61, can look forward to being released next year. The Dunlough Bay seizure was worth between 108 million and 440 million on which the gang had spent 330,000 to buy and ship to Ireland. The sheer scale of the operation in which a catamaran Lucky Day was bought in Miami to sail the 1.5 ton of drugs across the Atlantic made it a huge story. The illegal consignment has since been ovetaken by the recent cargo of 2.25 tons of cocaine on board the MV Matthew seized on the high seas by the Army Ranger Wing. Originally from Kent, Wanden had picked a number of relatively minor criminal convictions up until he was in his late 20s. But in 2005 at the age of 42 he was convicted of drug smuggling in France and sentenced to two years imprisonment in his absence. By the time of his arrest in Ireland Wanden had been living the millionaire lifestyle in South Africa, where his wife died in tragic circumstances before his trial began in Cork. Martin Wanden arriving at Skibereen District Court The other key player in the shipment, Perry Wharrie also got a 30-year sentence, later reduced to 17 years is no longer in custody in Ireland. It had been expected he would be transferred to the UK where he had served a long stretch in prison for his part in a robbery in which an off-duty policeman was killed. At the time of his arrest following the failed bid to land the drugs at Dunlough Bay, Wharrie had been unlawfully at large after breaking contact with his probation office after his release on licence. Wharrie maintained his reputation as a hard man while serving his time with Irelands gangsters and at point clashed with Brian The Tosser Meehan in Portlaoise Prison. There was heavy security surrounding their trial in 2008 at Cork Circuit Criminal Court where there were reports a gang of ex-soldiers had been hired to help them escape. Others involved in the plot such Gerard Hagan from Liverpool pleaded guilty to his role and got ten years, but went on the run after being transferred to a UK prison before his arrest again in Spain in 2013. The leader of the conspiracy Mike Daly, a former London met police officer got a 22-year sentence in the UK for the plot to bring the drugs through Ireland. His brother Joseph Daly went on trial with Wanden and Wharrie and got a 25-year sentence which was upheld on appeal. Daly had been able to swim ashore after one of the gangs dinghys got into trouble when diesel instead of petrol was put into one of its engines. Wanden and Wharrie would have spent part of their time on Portlaoise prisons E1 landing when John Gilligan was serving his time there. Fellow compatriot Michael Tune, who got 12 years for his role in attempting to ship 50 million worth of cocaine through Ireland was another inmate then. Like the Dunlough Bay consignment it was of high purity and destined for the UK or European market, discovered on board the 50 foot catamaran Gemeos which docked at Kinsale in September 1998. The man took several deep breaths and closed his eyes as he was spared child defilement convictions that would have branded him a sex offender, potentially ending his career Relief was etched on the well-known entertainers face as the court registrar read out what were surely the most important words he had ever heard: Not guilty. The jurys verdict was three acquittals, one for each illegal sexual encounter he had been accused of having with an underage schoolgirl. He took several deep breaths and closed his eyes as he was spared child defilement convictions that would have branded him a sex offender, potentially ending his career. Cleared of all charges, he will also avoid the spotlight of publicity that can only fall on the guilty in these cases. The celebrity, who always insisted that his accuser was 18 when he began a sexual relationship with her, hugged his parents and walked from Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, free and still anonymous. He had pleaded not guilty to engaging in sexual acts three times with the complainant while she was a 16-year-old girl in 2010. During an eight-day trial, the jury heard how the man (40) was aged 27 when he met the girl at the Oxegen music festival on July 11, 2010. She had become separated from a friend and was standing at the side, waiting for headliner Eminem, when they saw each other. She gave him her phone number. They began texting in the following weeks. The complainant accepted she initially lied that she was 18, but claimed she revealed her actual age when he asked her by text if she was sweet 16. She alleged he told her she was too young for him. She thought that would be the end of their relationship but instead he asked if she could keep a secret, and she agreed. She said the first incident happened in late August. She was aware he was interested in Irish and she showed him her coloured wrist bands from her summer in the Gaeltacht as they walked. She said he told her he needed to collect something from work and brought her to his office. He led her down a quiet fire escape stairwell, she said. He took my arm and turned me around and kissed me, she alleged. After he kissed me, he gently pushed me down to perform oral sex, which I did. He took down my dress and took off my bra and we were kissing. After, she said, he gave her a can of Red Bull. The girl had no surviving texts to back up her claims, having lost her phone The girl alleged that after the work visit, they continued to text, discussing the sex act in depth, with the accused asking her to describe what she had been wearing and other details. She recalled that they talked about how she had not been sure how to perform the sexual act, but got the hang of it. The girl had no surviving texts to back up her claims, having lost her phone. However, one of her friends testified the complainant told her about her relationship with the accused shortly after the start of the school year in September 2010. She said she was shocked to hear about the alleged stairwell incident. The next time they met, the complainant alleged, the accused texted her directions to his home when his housemates were out. She did not know the date, which was before December 13, 2010, she said. He kissed me and picked me up and carried me upstairs to his room and we had mutual oral sex and mutual masturbation, she claimed The third alleged incident was on December 14, 2010. The complainant said she knew the date because she was going to a Deadmau5 concert with friends in the 02 Arena and he had arranged tickets for her. She alleged she met him at his house before the concert and again gave him oral sex in his bedroom. She then joined her friends at the concert, she said. All three sexual acts were consensual, she said. Braces When the complainant came forward in early 2021, she told gardai about the first incident at the man's home. I remember now he had gotten braces, clear ones. Defence barrister Morgan Shelley asked her in cross examination if it was possible the accused had the braces at the time of all three incidents. I dont think so, she replied. You remember he had braces, Mr Shelley said. At some point, yes, she replied. During one of the times we met, he pointed out his braces. Mr Shelley had asked her if it was when she was 16. I cant recall when. I was just giving as much evidence as I could at the time , she said. I definitely know it wasnt at the time of the [workplace] incident. Asked if he had them during the other two incidents, she said: Im not sure if he had them then or if it was later. Im not sure when he got them. The barristers focus on this apparently small detail would become clear later. Broadly, the mans defence was twofold: he denied the offences ever happened, with a second line of defence that he had an "honest belief" that she was over 17 in 2010. The accused maintained he and the girl never had any sexual encounter at his office, and were never in the stairwell, which he said he never used. His defence described the supposed dangerous, exciting and shocking sexual liaison as a fantasy and asked why the accused would have chosen a location that anyone could have walked in on. He only brought her to the office once and said the date was not in 2010, but on January 24, 2011. He remembered the date because four days earlier was when he had braces fitted to his pearly whites in advance of moving to the UK. He had the orthodontic records to prove it. He said before they went to the office that day, she said it had recently been her birthday and he took her for lunch in a named restaurant. This, he said was when she first revealed her true age, and that she had turned 17. That was a little bit of a surprise or shock. I said you told me you were 18. She said no, I was sweet 16. he said. The timing here was crucial. Regardless of what might have happened between the man and the girl, it was only a crime if she was under 17 at the time. If he had the braces at the time, she must have been wrong about the dates and the acts must have happened after she turned 17, the defence asserted. If the girl did make a mistake, she was not the only one. Of the first visit to his house, the accused was emphatic that the alleged offence there did not happen and the girl was never in fact in his home During the trial, it emerged that the restaurant in question did not exist at the time and the birthday lunch could not possibly have happened there. The prosecution described this as a key blunder. Its possible I misremembered that, the defendant said, suggesting he might have taken her to a different restaurant. Of the first visit to his house, the accused was emphatic that the alleged offence there did not happen and the girl was never in fact in his home. She might have known where he lived because he pointed it out to her while they were walking in the area, yet she had not recognised the "unique" house when gardai drove her around after she made her complaint, the defence pointed out. Her explanation was she had not been paying attention when she was there. The defence also argued there were contradictory accounts of when the girl was alleged to have been at his house that day. Meanwhile, he provided what his defence said was a cast-iron alibi for this date. He said he could not have been home on December 14, 2010 as he was working all day elsewhere, with supporting evidence, including the Ryanair flight booking for the following day. That night, he said, he went to a pub for a post-work pint with his boss and mentor. The boss testified that he could not specifically remember working on Tuesday, December 14 but the job they were on would never be a Monday and Wednesday is too late. It was most likely they went for a pint after. The complainant said she maintained a casual sexual relationship with the accused after she turned 17 in 2011, though the defendant said they were not intimate until 2012. Either way, both gave accounts of a relationship while she was not a minor. He accepted the complainant bore no grudge against him In cross-examination, the accused would not be drawn on how he categorised his relationship with the girl before that. Initially he was offering her help and advice and brought her to his offices as she was interested in his line of work. Eventually, there was a physical element to that relationship, he said, but he was adamant that this was only when she was 18. He accepted the complainant bore no grudge against him. In fact, while the relationship fizzled out when she went to college, they remained in friendly contact on social media up to the end of December 2020. The jury never heard what might have prompted her decision to make her complaint in the following months, or why she waited until then. Prosecutor Eilis Brennan said the complainant, now in her 20s, had no reason to concoct a story and argued she had given a compelling, credible account, while the accused's evidence had been "evasive, unbelievable and riddled with inconsistencies. The defence argued key prosecution evidence was missing; not least texts that could have corroborated the complainants version of when she revealed her real age. The accuseds evidence, by contrast, was backed up by objective facts," Mr Shelley said. Mr Shelley said an acquittal was the only rational possible result for a man whose life hangs in the balance, the man who will never work again if hes convicted of this crime. Judge Pauline Codd told the jury it was a case of I said, he said and one persons word against the other. There was no independent evidence to corroborate the complainants allegations and she said the jury would have to assess the credibility of each side's account. She also advised them not to be prejudiced by anything they had read about the conduct of high-profile persons in the context of the MeToo movement. Towards the end of their deliberations, the jury had a question. They wanted to re-hear what the complainant had said about the apparently small detail of when the accused had his braces. But we can never know why a jury reaches a particular verdict. Whatever the reason for his acquittal and whatever his future in the business, the unnamed entertainer walked from the Criminal Courts of Justice today a free and innocent man. She made no reaction in court when the verdicts were handed down. A teacher who was on trial accused of sexually abusing a male student 38 years ago has been found guilty of the charges against her. The jury in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial of Jacintha McSherry O'Connor (63) returned majority guilty verdicts on two counts of indecent assault today after 11 hours of deliberating. She made no reaction in court when the verdicts were handed down. McSherry O'Connor, of The Mullins, Donegal Town, Co. Donegal, had pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecently assaulting the child on dates between June 1 and September 1, 1985. She was aged between 24 and 25 at the time of the offending, while the boy was aged 13. The court heard the abuse occurred while McSherry O'Connor worked as a student teacher at a Dublin secondary school. It was alleged that she indecently assaulted the boy on two occasions in his home, where she had been giving him grinds. Jacintha McSherry O'Connor, 63, of The Mullins, Donegal Town, Co. Co Donegal pictured arriving to court previously Pic Collins Courts The four-day trial also heard allegations of inappropriate sexual relations between McSherry O'Connor and the boy on a holiday she attended with his family in Spain in the run-up to the alleged offences. No charges were before the jury in relation to these alleged incidents as they pertained to a different jurisdiction. The complainant in the case now a man in his fifties told the court that seeing his own children reach the age he was at the time of the incidents spurred him to go to gardai, along with other unrelated high-profile cases. He said he was also concerned to see McSherry O'Connor was still teaching in Donegal. After the verdicts were handed down, Judge Elma Sheahan thanked the jurors for their service. She exempted them from jury duty for three years. She adjourned the case for sentence hearing on November 8 and remanded her on continuing bail. It was the prosecution case that while giving the boy grinds at his home, McSherry O'Connor started having inappropriate conversations with the boy about music that made her horny and discussing things of a sexual nature. He also visited her regularly in the home she lived in with her parents. The prosecution alleged that this was a form of grooming on the part of McSherry O'Connor and that the complainant was drawn in as a result, and infatuated with his teacher. The court heard McSherry O'Connor and a friend of hers accompanied the boy and his family on a holiday to Spain the summer he finished first year after getting a cheap deal. The two young women stayed in a separate apartment in the complex. Jacintha McSherry O'Connor (63), of The Mullins, Donegal Town. Photo Collins Courts The complainant told the trial that it was on this holiday that the first sexual encounters occurred. He said McSherry O'Connor rubbed her breasts against him at the pool, fondled him and later performed oral sex on him in her apartment. He said she also gave him alcohol, which was the first time he got drunk. After the holiday, the court heard of two further indecent assault incidents that occurred in the boy's home in the sitting room and in the attic. The complainant said that although he initially felt like a big man, he became uncomfortable about his interactions with the teacher and told her he didn't want to see her anymore. She had finished her work experience at the school by then and neither of them have had contact with each other since 1985, the court heard. In his closing speech to the jury this week, Garett McCormack BL, prosecuting, told the jury it should have no doubt in deciding the case, primarily because of the evidence of the complainant. These are difficult things for a man in his fifties to say, Mr McCormack said. Why would he say these things? He said that despite a robust cross-examination from defence counsel, the man did not waver in his allegations. The court heard the man told his first girlfriend at the age of 19 that he had been abused by McSherry O'Connor and this woman also gave evidence at the trial to that effect. In her charge to the jury, Judge Elma Sheahan noted that while this was not proof of the allegations, it went to the man's consistency. Mr McCormack said the woman allowed the boy into her family home and fostered this relationship. He said her explanation to the jury for this was that she should have known better. There's something not right there, Mr McCormack said. ...Constantly having him in her house with her family, going on holidays, continuing to go [to his house] after the holidays. Something is not right and why is something not right? Because [the complainant] is telling you the truth. This is a true, accurate and consistent version of events and I'm suggesting you can return verdicts of guilt on both charges before the court, and you can do so with a clear conscience. McSherry O'Connor took the stand during the trial and denied ever having sexual relations of any kind with the boy. She told the court that at the time of the alleged offences, she was in a relationship with the man who is now her husband. When asked by prosecution counsel why the man might make up such an allegation, McSherry O'Connor said she didn't know. He did say he fantasised about me, he was in love with me, she said, later adding: I don't know why he brought the criminal case. If he told so many people, maybe they pushed him into it. The trial heard that when interviewed by gardai, McSherry OConnor said she remembered the boy as being earnest, intense and driven. She said he was extremely helpful, would offer to carry her books and it became apparent to her that he had a crush on her. She said she was asked to give him grinds and that the boy admitted to her that he had asked his mother to arrange these grinds. Nothing untoward ever happened when I was giving him grinds in his house, McSherry O'Connor told gardai. She said they did have some tough conversations in which the boy told her he was being bullied. She said that after she had an unwelcome encounter with a senior teacher in the school, she blurted out to the boy what had happened to her. After that, he became more obsessed with me, she said. I thought of him as a little brother. In his closing speech to the jury, Patrick McGrath SC, defending, pointed to a number of inconsistencies which he said fundamentally call into question the reliability and perhaps the truthfulness of the complainant. Mr McGrath told the jury that McSherry O'Connor was a person who has been a teacher for a long, long time during which time nothing of this kind had been alleged against her. The court heard McSherry O'Connor has since been refused garda vetting to teach and is not currently working as a result. PC Dylan Cusano became verbally aggressive, called a group of nearby women f***ing whales A police officer in London has been fired after he used a racial slur during a foul-mouthed on a boozy night out. PC Dylan Cusano, who served with the Metropolitan Police, was dismissed without notice following a misconduct hearing last week. He was found to have breached police standards with regard to conduct, authority, respect, courtesy, equality and diversity. The hearing was told how Cusano had called 999 claiming he had been assaulted at a nightclub in Hastings on 2 July 2023. He then accused nightclub doormen of assaulting him and stealing his watch. Officers from Sussex Police arrived at the scene, viewed CCTV and determined he had been legitimately removed from the club. When Cusano was told this by officers, he became abusive towards them and directed a racial slur at one female officer in reference to the Irish traveller community. The hearing was told he called a group of nearby women f***ing whales and shouted at a female police officer getting attitude from this f****** c***. Cusano then said f*** off you p**ey and f***ing poor c*** to the same officer. Following a misconduct hearing, it was determined that PC Cusanos actions amounted to gross misconduct and he was dismissed without notice. The judgement read: "PC Cusanos behaviour and actions were disrespectful and insulting to colleagues and members of the public. He has not exercised self-control or treated members of the public or colleagues with respect or courtesy. He has been agitated, aggressive and unreasonable with the requests of colleagues. "PC Cusano behaved in a manner off duty which would most likely bring discredit on the police service and undermine public confidence. It concludes: PC Cusano appears to have directed his comments at PC Taberer specifically. "She was the only female officer, was not first on scene and did not appear to have as much interaction with PC Cusano as most of the other officers. He used offensive and discriminatory language directly towards PC Taberer and one can only conclude this was because she was the only female." In a victim impact statement, the woman said she could feel her stomach churning at the attempted blackmail as she could not believe what was happening A Wicklow businessman who tried to blackmail a woman whom he videoed being arrested by gardai on suspicion of drink driving has been given a suspended jail sentence of two and a half years. Neil Tormey (38) a married father-of-two of Wolfe Tone Square, Bray, Co Wicklow pleaded guilty to a single count of blackmail of the woman as well as her employer on December 9-10, 2016 contrary to Section 17 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994. A sitting of Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court heard that the accused had threatened both parties that he would give the video of her arrest to the press if he was not paid 5,000. Judge Patrick Quinn issued a direction that the identity of the two victims should not be published. Detective Garda Brian Saunderson said Tormey had witnessed the womans arrest on December 4, 2016 and decided to record it with his phone because he knew who she was. Det Garda Saunderson said Tormey contacted her employer five days later and warned he would give footage of her arrest to the press who would pay good money for it if he was not paid 5,000 by 2pm the following day. Neil Tormey He told counsel for the DPP, James Kelly BL, that the accused initially looked for cash but later said he would accept a cheque. Det Garda Saunderson said Tormey had also given his name and phone number to the employer. The court heard that the employer contacted the woman about the matter before deciding to report the attempted blackmail to gardai. Det Garda Saunderson said a recording of the womans arrest was found on a phone in Tormeys possession, while the accused was also captured on CCTV filming the incident. Det Garda Saunderson confirmed that Tormey never published the footage of the arrest. Cross-examined by counsel for the accused, Maurice Coffey SC, the detective agreed that Tormeys actions were fairly hare-brained. In a victim impact statement, the woman said she could feel her stomach churning at the attempted blackmail as she could not believe what was happening. She described the experience as surreal. The court heard that Tormey approached her as she was sitting in her car waiting to take a taxi home following her arrest. She recalled thinking that Tormey was offering to help her rather than making an overt threat to her career. However, she refused to get out of her vehicle as she feared he might be mentally unstable. It was the greatest danger I ever experienced, she added. She described the extreme horror and total shock she felt at being informed a few days later by her employer of Tormeys demand for money. The woman said it brought fear for her security to a whole other level, while the impact had also adversely affected her family life. She said it had also been difficult at having to relive the experience at several court appearances over subsequent years. In a separate statement, her employer described becoming very alarmed at the demand for money from Tormey in a phone call on December 9, 2022. He said he felt fear and panic and was concerned for his own safety as the accused sounded like he was part of a gang. I was never in a situation like this before, he added. He outlined how he suffered considerable anxiety as he was unaware of who the caller was and knew gardai could not provide him with 24-hour protection. He also feared for the reputational damage to his workplace and the rumours that would circulate. Mr Kelly said Tormey only pleaded guilty to the offence on the day he was due to go on trial in July 2022. The court heard Tormey had 15 previous convictions, mostly related to road traffic offences but one for possession of drugs in 2017 for which he was fined 250. Pleading for leniency, Mr Coffey said his client had experienced a Damascene conversion and could not understand now why he originally tried to fight the case. Counsel explained that Tormey suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder from being assaulted earlier in 2016 as well as other health issues, while he also had problems with alcohol at the time. Mr Coffey said the accused was drunk and under the influence of alcohol to a significant degree on the night he filmed the womans arrest. However, he told the court that Tormey had since turned his life around and had startted his own business which was proving very successful. The barrister said the accused was extremely remorseful, embarrassed and ashamed for a crime that had an element of nastiness. Mr Coffey described the offence as opportunistic and ham-fisted but acknowledged its serious impact on the two victims. The court heard that they had accepted an offer of compensation of 10,000 from Tormey and directed that it should be paid to a charity. However, Judge Quinn remarked that if Coffey wanted a non-custodial sentence he should have pleaded guilty much earlier, although Mr Coffey argued it was still better late than never. The defendants wife, Kelly Tormey, also gave evidence that her husband at the time of the offence was unemployed and had problems with alcohol. Ms Tormey said he was completely embarrassed by the offence and wished he had never done such a terrible thing. The court heard that the couple were also caring for Ms Tormeys young nephew since last year and she was hoping to become the childs guardian. Judge Quinn acknowledged that Tormeys willingness to take a cheque and to give his name and phone number was evidence of the amateur nature of his crime. However, he said the accused had added to the gravity of his offence by not accepting responsibility for it until recently, while he was assessed as being at a modest risk of reoffending if taking alcohol. Sentencing Tormey to two and a half years in prison for his ham-fisted impromptu attempt to extort money, Judge Quinn said he would fully suspend the sentence on condition the accused kept the peace and did not come to the attention of gardai for the entire period. I heard the bell ring and opened the door. The next thing is I was knocked to the ground and punched and kicked. Blind Stephen Norris believed he was going to die when a loyalist thug savagely attacked him on his own doorstep, he told the Sunday World. The 62-year-old grandfather spoke out after bully boy Davy ONeill (41) was handed a six-month jail sentence at Belfast Magistrates Court for an unprovoked assault in his home. ONeill is the elder brother of tragic twins Stephen and Claire ONeill who died from an overdose of drugs earlier this year. I heard the bell ring and opened the door. The next thing is I was knocked to the ground and punched and kicked. I thought I was going to die, Mr Norris told the Sunday World. He said he was glad his attacker had pleaded guilty although his family still had major concerns over the charge of common assault. I have been blind for over 30 years and I have a major kidney condition as well. Just before this attack the doctors told me I was doing well, but this really set me back, Mr Norris said. I was in the house on my own when the bell rang. I opened the door and a voice asked if I was some. I said no and the next thing I knew was I was being kicked and punched to the ground. He said something about supplying drugs to his brother, but I told him he had the wrong house. It was only when I told him I was blind that he stopped. Seven weeks after the assault, Mr Norris was rushed to hospital with a heart attack. He was also suffering from internal bleeding which doctors struggled to stabilise. Although he is making steady progress, Mr Norris now gets around with the use of a wheelchair. And he says the violent attack has left him feeling nervous and unsure of himself when he is on his own. Ive had a double kidney transplant, so I need to be very careful. Before this happened, I had been doing well, but this is the biggest setback Ive ever had, he said. Davy ONeill seconds before the attack Mr Norriss wife Josie said she was mystified as to why her husbands attacker was charged with common assault. This man came into our family home and attacked my husband and hes only charged with common assault. Its just wrong, she said. But when he appeared before Laganside Courts for sentencing last week, Judge Peter Magill told ONeill: Youre extremely lucky you pleaded guilty to common assault, because Im in no doubt if you had been charged with a more serious offence, youd have been convicted of it also. In a lengthy plea of mitigation, a solicitor addressed the court on ONeills behalf and said his client had mistakenly attacked Mr Norris, believing wrongly as it turned out he had previously supplied his dead brother with drugs. Mr ONeill accepts responsibility and he wanted his apology to be conveyed to the injured party. He is extremely sorry and he is working his way through a labyrinth of a grief, said the solicitor. Last February, Stephen and Claire ONeill died side by side in the early hours of the morning in Claires downstairs flat in the Annadale district of south Belfast. It later emerged the twins had consumed lethal doses of methamphetamine crystal meth which is distributed in south Belfast by a secret unit inside the UDA. Prior to ONeill being sentenced last week, a solicitor for the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) requested the judge read an victim impact report supplied by Mr Norriss wife Josie. And the PPS lawyer also asked the judge to review film footage of ONeill arriving at the Norris home at Ardmore Court, off Belfasts Ormeau Road, 14 weeks ago. The footage had been recorded on a doorbell camera and when Mr Norris who was at home alone at the time opened his door ONeill asked him, do you remember me? before lashing out at the blind grandfather of seven with his fists and feet. ONeill continued to rain a series of heavy blows and kicks on Mr Norris as he lay on the floor inside his front door. It was only when the badly shocked man shouted out, youve got the wrong house, Im a blind man that ONeill ceased the attack and returned to his jeep. The judge told ONeill, who was wearing a black T-shirt and shorts and looked extremely nervous: You claim you had been given information about a man who had previously supplied drugs to your brother. The judge acknowledged ONeill was angry over the loss of his twin brother and sister. But he added: You are 41 years of age and you attacked a 62-year-old blind man. The judge also acknowledged the tragic loss of ONeills brother and sister, but added he had 17 prior convictions, including one in 2014 for causing actual bodily harm. Judge Magill sentenced ONeill to the maximum allowed for the offence six months sentence with four months in custody and the remainder on licence. Addressing ONeill directly, the judge added: There is no room in our society for vigilantes. You deserved the maximum and only a custodial sentence is suitable. ONeills solicitor lodged an immediate appeal against sentence and after agreeing the appropriate conditions his client was released on bail. The appeal will call in the Court of Appeal within six months. The renegade drugs gang, headed by Adrian Price, has been scattered to the four corners of Northern Ireland Adrian Price came off worst in an altercation with one of his closest aides. Photo: Pacemaker Press South East Antrim UDA has warned the dregs of a Real UFF feud gang they will be shot if they try to settle on their patch. The renegade drugs gang, headed by Adrian Price, has been scattered to the four corners of Northern Ireland and last week a court order for housing association Clanmil to evict two remaining associates from Weavers Grange in Newtownards was the final nail in the coffin for the mob. The cul-de-sac on the edge of the sprawling Westwinds Estate in the town was the HQ for the Price gang, which has been locked in a feud with North Down UDA since April. The evictions bring the curtain down on a series of attacks, but has left Price and his cronies with nowhere to go. Tensions within the group exploded in recent weeks when Price came off worst in an altercation with one of his closest aides, according to a source. The Sunday World understands Price was punched in the face by the man whose identity is known to this newspaper who carried a number of arson attacks and car burnings on Prices orders. It is understood the pair fell out in a money dispute and the punishment shooting of one of their members. The gang came under fire after former SEA Brigadier Gary Fisher cut all ties. Previously they had been under the protection of Fishers brigade but local disquiet and a bust-up with the UVF forced Fisher to break all ties. Now the new leadership in Carrick have warned anyone seeking sanctuary will be removed, or worse shot. Initially Price sought the protection of a leading organised crime boss in east Belfast but attempts to regroup in Seymour Hill, Dunmurry, on the edge of south Belfast were scuppered by veteran terror chief Jackie McDonald. It is now understand Price has been making attempts to bring whats left of his gang back together in the Killyleagh/Ballygowan area in Co Down. Thats not going to work, they are Red Hand Commando strongholds where a lot of veterans and ex-loyalist prisoners now live. They are totally anti-drugs and have made it clear that they will be moved on as quick as they move in, said our source. It is understood mainstream loyalist groups have come together to make it clear to the Price gang that they are not welcome in any loyalist area in the North and wherever they go they will be moved on. SEA have said if they come back near them theyll be shot; when they went to south Belfast the UDA moved them out of there. The UVF wont let them stay in Ards or North Down and the Red Hand wont let them set up camp in the low country (Ards Penninsula). The sourced added: They wouldnt last a week on the Shankill or east Belfast and old-time Ulster Resistance types very anti-drugs in places like Fermanagh and south Armagh have already said they will shift them on. Exile in England or Scotland is the only realistic option for Price and his mob. They are done, beaten, destroyed there is nowhere to go. Theyll be driven into the sea unless they get out of the country. The Sunday World understands there is anger among loyalist groups that the feud was allowed to drift for six months because of what they perceive to be kid gloves treatment by the PSNI. Last week the final throes of the feud were cast when Clanmiil were granted eviction orders on two tenants in Weavers Grange. Even then the Sunday World understands one of those subject to the order tried to muscle in on a vacant house in the cul-de-sac only to be told theres no room at the inn. Local people say the Price gang manipulated the housing system, sending fake death threats to gain intimidation points and push them to the top of the list so they would be allocated homes in the newly built Weavers Grange development. Around 30 families fled the area, with an almost constant police presence for weeks on end. Local women also organised street protests demanding that those involved in criminality leave the area. Since then there has been simmering tensions and sporadic attacks. On Friday two men were arrested by the PSNIs Paramilitary Crime Task Force in connection with criminality linked to the feud. A property in Weavers Grange was searched as part of the same operation. The two men, aged 35 and 44, were arrested on suspicion of offences including carrying an article in support of a proscribed organisation and arson with intent to endanger life. On Tuesday of last week, judge Mark Hamill was critical of a prosecution decision to have cases against the Weavers Grange faction dealt with in the Magistrates Court. He himself was a victim of intimidation linked to the feud. In July his name with crosshairs was painted on an exterior wall of the courthouse. When earlier this month there was an attempt to allocate some of the houses left empty by fleeing members of the Price gang, threatening graffiti appeared on the walls of the empty homes. Clanmil initiated legal action against two individuals linked by police to the feud for breach of their tenancy agreements. Earlier those orders were granted and the two tenants now have six weeks to vacate the properties. It follows controversy over comments made by founder Paddy Cosgrave about Israel-Gaza crisis Gillian Anderson had been due to talk about her business, G Spot Actress Gillian Anderson has withdrawn from her role as a speaker at this years Web Summit in Portugal. Tech giants Intel and Siemens have also confirmed that they have withdrawn from this year's event which is scheduled to take place next month. It comes after Israel withdrew from the technology conference over an accusation by the events CEO, Paddy Cosgrave, that the country was engaging in war crimes in the Gaza Strip. Earlier this month, Web Summit bosses had announced on social media that the X-Files star would appear on stage to discuss her new business G Spot, which produces soft drinks. Ms Anderson had been due to appear with the companys CEO Rebekah Hall to discuss G Spots journey. Web Summit had promoted Gillian Anderson's appearance But both the social media post and an image of Ms Anderson have been removed from Web Summits website and social platforms. Asked why Ms Anderson and Ms Hall were no longer on the list of speakers, a spokesperson for G Spot said: We made the decision to withdraw because we recognise that the brands values do not align. US chipmaker Intel, which employs several thousand people in Ireland, confirmed on Thursday that it was "withdrawing from Web Summit." A representative for the Santa Clara, California-based company, which has longstanding operations in Israel, declined to comment further. Siemens, the German engineering and manufacturing company, is listed as one of the top sponsors of the summit scheduled for next month in Lisbon. But after having "reviewed the situation," the company will no longer be a partner or attend the event this year, a representative said. Mr Cosgrave has since apologised for the remarks that also led a number of technology executives to withdraw from the conference, including key Silicon Valley figures such as Garry Tan, of start-up backer Y-Combinator, and Ravi Gupta of the Sequoia venture capital firm. In his apology this week, Mr Cosgrave said: I understand that what I said, the timing of what I said, and the way it has been presented has caused profound hurt to many. To anyone who was hurt by my words, I apologise deeply. What is needed at this time is compassion, and I did not convey that. My aim is and always has been to strive for peace. The names of a number of other celebrities have also disappeared from the events line-up. Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, rapper LL Cool J and entrepreneur Steven Bartlett are no longer listed on the Web Summits online speakers page. Asked whether the speakers were still participating at the event next month, a Web Summit spokesperson said they were unable to comment due to privacy and confidentiality purposes. We are in discussion with a few speakers and companies about their presence at Web Summit, the spokesperson said. We are excited to welcome 70,000 attendees from around the world with a full programme this November. Speakers due to appear at the summit in Lisbon from November 13 to 16 include the comedian Amy Poehler, who is the headline guest for the event, and film director Neil Jordan. Before issuing his apology, Mr Cosgrave had earlier characterised responses to his original remarks as an overreaction and he had insisted he would not relent. But in the apology, Mr Cosgrave said: I unequivocally support Israels right to exist and to defend itself. To reiterate what I said last week: I unreservedly condemn Hamas evil, disgusting and monstrous October 7 attack. I also call for the unconditional release of all hostages. Mr Cosgrave said he still believed there was concern over Israel potentially committing war crimes. Old and young alike immerse yourself in the unique and diverse culture of China at Living in Harmony this weekend and learn something new! Multicultural Tauranga and NZ China Friendship Society Tauranga is hosting Living in Harmony a wonderful and interactive showcase of Chinese culture on Saturday, October 21. Meeting with our local Chinese community, you can learn more about the customs and traditions from the array of cultures within China. Weve got 56 different ethnic groups altogether in China, says NZ China Friendship Society Tauranga president Tina Zhang. Weve got different cultures, different clothes and different foods, so we would like people to know what the difference is. With a diverse culture, Tina says there are people who are unfamiliar with China, who often hold misconceptions. TV has people thinking that traditional Chinese women do everything housework, cooking... She notes this isnt always the case. In Chinese culture, Chongqing ladies are quite strong and want to control everything, and the Chongqing men are like a housewife and do everything so this is the cultural difference. Tina says this can cause some confusion and clashes when Kiwi men pair up with a headstrong lass from Chongqing! Culture is like a bridge. If you know the culture, then you can make a relationship. Living in Harmony will also be a feast of traditional Chinese dance performance and authentic Chinese cuisine during the evening. Living in Harmony is 6pm-8.30pm on Saturday, October 21, at Wesley Methodist Church Hall, 100 13th Ave, Tauranga City. With a vision to facilitate an environment where arts, culture and creativity thrive, Creative Bay of Plenty Charitable Trust (Creative BOP) advocates for and supports the growth of arts and culture in Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty. Supporting the growth of arts, culture and creativity contributes significantly to the vibrancy and wellbeing of our communities, as well as positively impacting economic growth and prosperity. Creative BOP supports individual artists and creatives, art organisations, hapu and iwi, and the wider community under four key workstreams of connecting, capability building, advocacy and promotion. Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty are vibrant districts and home to highly skilled and passionate local arts, culture and creative individuals and groups. Creative BOP provides a range of free services that focus on enabling these creatives. They have a passion across their team and board to make a difference and are always talking to the sector, with around 500 in-person connections each year. By building strong connections and networking throughout the creative community over recent years, Creative BOP has built capability through workshops and a bespoke mentoring programme, as well as facilitating networking and promoting events and opportunities all of which have made a lasting positive impact on the sector. Creative BOPs funding and capability advisor Annie Hill says there are still exciting new opportunities they want to take advantage of, however, the sector already feels much more cohesive, with lots of collaborative activities facilitated by Creative BOP or by connections made by the creatives themselves. The most important thing for artists who work independently is to connect with others, share information and talk about their work. The Creative BOP team have shared that artists and creatives, despite their passion and hard work, have a significantly lower average income than New Zealand as a whole ($19,000 vs $70,000). As they often work alone, they can struggle with their relevance and confidence, finding it difficult to develop channels to market and receive acknowledgement of their work. Creatives often juggle part-time work to supplement their income and find it challenging to find the space in their lives to create and manage all of the requirements to monetise this, says Annie. Although the idea of the struggling artist is not one we wish to promote, it is often the case. We want their work and the creative sector to be seen and appreciated, so helping them develop their confidence, skills, and channels to do this is important. Creative BOP recently received $90,000 in funding from TECT. This funding will go towards the organisations operational expenses. TECT chairperson Bill Holland says TECT wants Tauranga and Western Bay to be vibrant places where people, families and communities thrive. He says supporting Creative BOP falls under their strategic focus area of Community Wellbeing and Vibrancy, as they can provide responsive grant funding to ensure the creative community continues to develop with their help. Creative work is individually diverse, and designs, messages, and intentions depend on the creator. This brings variation into our communities where each person experiencing a piece of art or creative work can learn from it in their own way, become more aware of our history or enjoy it at varying levels. Annie Hill says TECTs funding is extremely valuable, as Creative BOP could not deliver many of their most impactful programmes and services without TECTs support of their mahi. Programmes which TECTs recent funding will support are Creative BOPs recently established Around the Table podcast series, where stories of creative people and cultural experiences are shared to build greater interest, awareness and audiences. This series will elevate the profiles of local creatives in a conversational setting, with the roundtable format offering opportunities for synergistic discourse and unique storytelling. Kaha Movement Dance Workshop. Photo: Anna Menendez. The Mini Arts Grants scheme will also continue thanks to recent funding, which stimulates creative activity in the sub-region during times of the year when activities slow down. This grants scheme is also partnered with TECT and approved 12 grants to the community last year. Alongside enabling and promoting creative work, Creative BOP will use this funding to strengthen themselves and their understanding of the creative sector. A follow-up to the 2019 Youth Mapping Research Project of surveying 500 secondary school students will be completed to measure movement over time. This project will also underpin advocacy messaging around investing in the arts to support education and wellbeing. Annie shared that they also plan to extend their capability-building programme, which invests in developing workshops targeting creatives and continuing a bespoke mentoring programme, with around 20 creatives currently engaged in this initiative. Creative BOP recently underwent a brand refresh. This followed the gifting of the name Te Waka Auaha Toi to the organisation by tangata whenua to reflect the services provided to the creative sector. 'Te Waka Auaha Toi' translates to the vehicle on which our creative sector is led and supported. Creative Bay of Plenty | Te Waka Auaha Toi is honoured to have a name that speaks to deep and meaningful cultural expressions and a shared connection to the moana. Adding huge value to the support we can provide, our newly created Nga Maori Navigator role enables us to provide bespoke support to the Maori creative sector, including hapu and Maori entities. As an organisation, we have a better understanding of te ao Maori,which is reflected in our programmes, with Maori leading in this space with their cultural perspective and knowledge, says Annie. With the exciting opportunity to offer more support to cultural and creative aspirations of tangata whenua through the Nga Maori Navigator role, and encourage Maori and non-Maori to navigate cultural values and practices appropriately and confidently, Creative BOP will be able to foster connections and collaboration for the mutal benefit of all in the community. SUR Gibraltar Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram HM Customs Gibraltar have recently seized over 500 kilograms of cocaine in two seperate instances, which they estimate to have a combined street value of 30 million pounds. At the end of last month, eleven packages containing 458 kilograms of Class A drugs were retrieved from a sea chest compartment on the side of a bulk carrier named Unity N, with the help of a local diving company and a "carefully planned operation", as detailed in a press release. In a separate incident just days later acting on reliable intelligence, an HM Customs marine drone detected 'a parasitic device' attached to the hull of the bulk carrier Alice Oldendroff. With the aid of a local diving company once again, they undertook an operation to remove the 'parasite', which led to the seizing of fourty-one slabs. They contained Class A drugs with a total gross weight of 50kgs. The police believe the crew members on-board the two bulk carriers had no involvement in the trafficking of the drugs in either of the cases based on the interviews they carried out. Furthermore, they stated there is no reason to believe the drugs were destined for Gibraltar, suggesting their final destination was elsewhere in Europe. The investigation is still ongoing into the two seperate incidents, while the two vessels have been released with no further reason to detain them. HM Customs Gibraltar commended both their own offficers and the Gibraltar Port Authority (GPA) and the Royal Gibraltar Police (RGP). "I would like to thank all the officers involved in these two operations for their efforts in ensuring Gibraltar continues to clamp down and tackle any sort of illicit activity that may occur across the Strait," were the words of gratitude given by the Caretaker Chief Minister, the Hon Fabian Picardo KC MP. Picardo promises diplomatic reform, more transparency and improved services Gibraltar's chief minister goes into his fourth term at the helm of the government with eight ministers J. A. Guerrero / SUR Gibraltar. Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram The people of Gibraltar voted on their next parliament and its seventeen seats on Thursday last week and chose continuity over change. The current government coalition between the Socialists led by Fabian Picardo and the Liberals led by Joseph Garcia has secured a fourth consecutive term in the most closely contested elections in decades. The GSLP-Liberals Alliance received 49.9% of the votes compared to the 48.2% gained by the centre-right Gibraltar Social Democrats, led by Keith Azopardi, who represented change after twelve uninterrupted years of Picardo as chief minister of the Rock. As predicted by the polls, independent Robert Vasquez, the third candidate in the race, failed to secure a seat in the parliament. In the end the governing coalition won nine out of the 17 seats at stake, while the remaining eight will be held by the members of the Azopardi's GSD. Earlier this week Fabian Picardo announced the ministers who now make up his government: Joseph Garcia (Deputy Chief Minister); Leslie Bruzon (Minister for Industrial Relations, Civil Contingencies and Sport); Nigel Feetham KC (Minister for Justice, Trade and Industry); Gemma Arias Vasquez (Minister for Health, Care and Business); Christian Santos (Minister for Equality, Employment, Culture and Tourism); Pat Orfila (Minister for Housing); Professor John Cortes MBE (Minister for Education, the Environment and Climate Change); and Sir Joe Bossano KCMG (Minister for Inward Investment and the Savings Bank). In his acceptance speech in John Mackintosh Hall on Friday, Picardo thanked the people of Gibraltar for their support and promised democratic reforms, transparency on government-owned assets and public spending, to build more houses and to improve the health service. He also promised to continue to invest in education. "Things will change," he said. "Not only will there be five new ministers, it is also true that the way that ministers do things must change and adapt to and change we will. We will consider even further democratic reform, although we have delivered more democratic reform in the past 12 years than any party in our history, but we are not afraid of changing and delivering more. And we will. "To avoid it being suggested that there is anything to hide, because there isn't, I'm giving a direction to the Financial Secretary of the Government of Gibraltar that the accounts of all government companies showing their assets and liabilities shall be published online from the 1st of April this year. "There shall be reform in other areas too, because we campaigned as a team of experience, continuity and change and change there will be. In housing, our mandate is not to continue as we were. It is to go further, to reform and to build more and build more we will. On health, our mandate is to make the health service more responsive to the citizen and more responsive it will be. On education, our mandate is to continue to invest in our children and invest in our children we will. Our mandate is not to stop. It is not to review. It is not to audit. It is to do and do we will. But the administration as a whole must change to respond better to the needs of the citizen," said Picardo. He finished with a message to Spain's acting PM Sanchez saying, "Pedro, it is time now that you too should form a government and that together we should finish the treaty that we started." Antonio J. Guerrero Antequera Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram The month of October marks the beginning of pilgrimages to Antequera to buy mantecados, following the tradition of parents and grandparents. In fact the town has been famous for its cakes that are winter favourites, especially at Christmas, since the end of the 19th century. Antequera shares with Estepa (in Seville province) a centuries-old tradition dating back to the 16th century, when a surplus of cereals and lard in Andalucia encouraged the production of these crumbly cakes, especially in convents, where the nuns, in the face of such high demand, asked for help from women in the villages to produce them and then use them for private sale. As the years went by, the demand died down and, in the case of Antequera, the religious orders kept their recipes, as they did with other local desserts such as the bienmesabe or angelorum. "The first documented record of 'mantecado' is from Antequera, in the mid-18th century. It is a recipe for the manufacture of this product, preserved in the Municipal Historical Archive, specifically in the Archive of the Marquises of Fuente Piedra. It is a small document in which the recipe for this popular cake made with ingredients from the countryside is written down," says town chronicler Jose Escalante. At that time, Maria Hidalgo and her husband Pedro Gonzalez had a house in Calle Comedias number 5, on the corner of Calle Vestuarios, where they sold mantecados under the well-known brand name La Castana, which was founded in 1790. This company later became the official supplier of these Christmas products to the Royal House of Alfonso XII from 1881. This licence certified their quality and opened doors for them to sell throughout Spain. A year before the Royal endorsement, in 1880, 'La Antequerana' was created, founded by Manuel Aviles, which is the only company that has remained in existence to this day. 'La Castana', which produced around 75,000 kilos per season, disappeared. However, it was recovered in 2015 by the Sancho Melero group, the main producer of these products today with 3,100,000 kilos of mantecados and other cakes. This company was founded in 1948 by Diego Sancho and Rosario Paradas. After baking, the handmade products are cooled and wrapped. A. J. G. Escalante goes on to emphasise that "the fame of the mantecados of Antequera is due to the high quality of the product and the raw material used, something that made the product unique". The backing of being a supplier to the Royal Household has led to the promotion of the product throughout Spain. "Exports to England, France, Italy, the Vatican, America and North Africa," read an advertisement in the provincial press. The chronicler also highlights a detail of the brand 'La Primitiva'. The company was awarded a prize in 1862 for "being the first factory in Antequera which, using mechanics, perfected most of its work, having deserved to be awarded a prize at the Amigos del Pais society exhibition in Malaga". He also mentions a special wheat local to the area that was known as 'dwarf wheat', a cereal that was produced here to make flour for the mantecados and for the mollete bread rolls. The wheat grain was turned into flour in the mills of La Ribera, a former industrial area next to the source of the Rio de la Villa, which used limestone from the nearby Sierra del Torcal for milling. The other element to be taken into account was the quality of the lard, which in turn depended on the feeding and care of the pigs in the area. "The fundamental secret of the workshop was the kneading of the different ingredients; they all had to be mixed by hand in a glazed earthenware basin, with warm hands, never with cold hands, until a homogeneous, white dough was obtained, to which sugar and cinnamon were finally added," Escalante concludes. Family business The convents, brands and companies were joined by 'La Perla' in 1937, founded by Antonio Navarro Berdun, who was succeeded by his children Antonio Matilde and Carmen Navarro Gonzalez and today by his grandson Jose Antonio Navarro Guerrero. More recently, in the 1980s, a dozen artisan bakeries have emerged, most of them belonging to the Aguilera family, who have expanded the varieties and ways of understanding the typical cake. In 'La Perla' they keep the centenary wood-fired oven. A. J. G. If you ask today how to make this winter tradition, you would expect that every firm would keep its recipe as if it were the secret formula for Coca Cola. But if you take note of the details, you will notice the differences between the mantecado and the polvoron, an alternative which is much better known north of Andalucia. Mantecados are essentially circular in shape, with the ground ingredients inside, while the polvoron is more oval and the nuts are whole in the dough. On the other hand, alfajores are elongated and roscos are round. The base is lard, together with flour and sugar, which are fused into a common dough. The dough is then shaped by hand, using moulds or advanced machinery. They are separated into units and put in an oven between 260 and 320 degrees, where they are baked. La Perla maintains the wood-fired oven, while the rest are fired with gas or electricity. Once cooled, some are decorated with cinnamon, sesame seeds, but above all with new formulas that are growing in the universe of flavours. These include coconut, lemon, pine nuts, pistachio, chocolate, hazelnuts, almonds, butter and cashew nuts. Jennie Rhodes Velez-Malaga Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram An internationally renowned guitarist based in Berlin is giving a one-off concert at El Molino de Cajiz (Velez-Malaga) on 28 October. Dmitry Zagumennikov, 36, will perform at the mill during a two-month stay in Andalucia, a part of Spain he knows well and travels to whenever he has the opportunity. The classical guitarist was born in Yuryevets, a town on the Volga River around 400 kilometres northwest of Moscow, which, he points out, was also the birthplace of filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky. Dmitry first discovered his interest in guitars when he came across an instrument at home when he was about 11 years old. The instrument had belonged to a friend of the family and was a seven-string Russian guitar. However, Dmitry reveals that he had to do some work to it before he could start playing it. "It had travelled and was covered in stickers of women. I had to sandpaper the stickers off and then paint it before I could use it," he laughs. As luck would have it, a neighbour was a guitar teacher and after the young Dmitry heard him perform "a simple piece by Bach", he was fascinated and eager to learn from his neighbour. He started having guitar lessons and showed such talent that he went on to study music and guitar at Schnittke Music College and later at the Russian Academy of Music in Moscow. In 2012 Dmitry moved to Austria to study at the Art University in Graz and he has been living in Berlin since 2014, where he did a Master's degree at the Hans Eisler University of Music. Dmitry explains that he has "been recognised in several international guitar competitions in France, Russia, Germany, Ukraine, Italy, and Greece" and adds, "I have had the opportunity to perform in Europe, the Middle East, and the United States." Repertoire In fact the musician reveals that he is currently rereading Don Quijote, "a book that has always been a significant source of inspiration". When asked about a particular composer that stands out for him, he answers, "While I certainly learn [from and] admire many people who are masters of their chosen fields, there are too many to mention them all." As for the concert at El Molino, Dmitry says that it was a mutual friend who put him in touch with Cornelia Lezin, who owns the converted mill. He has put together a programme with music that "represents the classical guitar in its diversity", from pieces by the Spanish composer and classical guitarist Fernando Sor to music written in the 20th century by composers including Heitor Villa-Lobos and Joaquin Rodrigo. He will also be performing music by the Paraguayan composer Augustin Barrios and some of his own arrangements of piano music by Isaac Albeniz and Erik Satie. Going hand-in-hand with music, Dmitry is a linguist too and speaks fluent English as well as Russian of course, German and some Spanish. While he's not making or teaching music, Dmitry says he enjoys travelling, playing chess, walking "and of course, a good sleep is very essential". Dmitry's music can be found on Spotify under his own recording label, D8 Classic and he has his own YouTube channel. Susana Zamora Malaga Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram Juan Carlos Mackintosh, 61, had the sense to leave the building business at the threshold of the biggest real estate crisis that Spain has suffered this millennium. He left bricks and mortar for sport fishing. Today his company is the only one in the country to hold the prestigious MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) certificate for sustainable bluefin tuna fishing. The family-run company, which this businessman from Malaga has headed in Tarifa for six years, has achieved this recognition by being true to itself and turning a deaf ear to the many critics from a sector sometimes anchored in poorly understood traditions. They land their catch by hand, using single-line hooks and only to order - no over-fishing. They don't skimp on taking care to ensure the fish do not suffer, thus guaranteeing the highest product quality. Although his father is from Seville and his mother is from Jaen, he owes the Scottish origins of his surname to his great-grandfather, John Mackintosh, who made his fortune selling coal in Gibraltar to British warships during the First World War and today one of its main squares bears his name. Juan Carlos Mackintosh. JC M "His daughter from his second marriage donated her inheritance to the Rock, hence recognition in the form of a plaza and study scholarships with his name," he told SUR. Mackintosh shelved his property business in December 2007 when he sold Bora Bora restaurant in San Pedro Alcantara, a town with family connections. His father had acquired a farm there and then, in the '60s, spearheaded the first urbanisation in Marbella. The family were pioneers then and, more recently it would seem, also a little visionary as they foresaw the looming economic crisis. This was his chance to dedicate himself to his childhood passion. "When we sold the restaurant, we were given the opportunity to buy a small boat to go fishing for tuna as a business. We did it as a small investment, but little by little we got more into that world and saw that there was scope to do things differently. For us there were no hard and fast rules so we decided to do everything that others were not", he said. In October 2016 he headed to Japan. "I needed to know why the Japanese valued tuna so highly, how they caught tuna of such high quality and why they paid so much for it when our customers at the fish market would only buy it cheaply." He travelled to Oma, a small fishing village located on a cape of the same name, to learn about the fishing methods and gear used by the locals to catch the much-valued bluefin tuna. There he discovered the 'greenstick' technique, a system that guarantees sustainable fishing by using a long mast high enough to lift the line and lures, yet pliable and robust enough to bend to incredible limits while also cushioning the tuna in case it thrashed about. This fishing method aims to avoid any suffering by the fish as it is captured. It has revolutionised the sector in this area of Cadiz with a long tuna-fishing tradition. This Japanese slaughtering technique, known as Ike Jime, seeks to keep all the organoleptic properties of the tuna intact (colour, odour, flavour, texture). "That meant making changes to each boat, to our way of fishing and also retraining the crew... At first everyone was reluctant, but my son Daniel and I were set on following that path. It took us almost a year to renovate the boats and find the gear we needed," he said. Once they began to apply Ike Jime, the criticism poured in along with the mockery: "they treated us like the village idiots: why did we cushion the tuna in wraps or what stupidity it was to bleed them...". "We still don't care what people say. We know that doing things differently is how you succeed," he said. To prove this, he turns to the data: in six years, their turnover has gone from 350,000 euros to three million. Current sales go to Spain and abroad (25% stays in Tarifa, 10% to the rest of Andalucia, 25% across Spain and the rest overseas). In this Tarifa fishery they have renamed the entire Ike Jime process the 'Five Mackintosh steps'. "We decided to call it that to differentiate ourselves from the rest, because some claim they fish using that method, but they really don't follow all of its steps," he stated. The process begins when a tuna fish rises up to the boat with buoyancy aids after taking the baited hook. There the fish receive a small shock from a stun device to prevent them struggling. This way prevents any lactic acid being released into the fish as it flaps around while suffocating on the deck of the boat as this would cause the flavour to become metallic and the flesh to darken. Completely opposite to the 'battle' of the traditional almadraba method, where man fights with the netted fish to the end. "Tuna caught almadraba-style is very fatty, with a strong flavour and a very powerful smell. For the Japanese it is a treat, like the fat of pata negra ham to us, but it is not so great for someone who is new to tasting it. Our tuna is expensive because it follows high standards in quality but, unlike a few years ago, people now know how to appreciate it," said the businessman. Next step is complete exsanguination, where they hose down and clean the fish with salt water to prevent rapid decomposition. The process proceeds to gutting and, finally, cooling in iced water. Since 2017 the whole process can be experienced by anyone interested on board one of their three boats. The family were pioneers in turning the art of Ike Jime fishing into a tourist experience, adding another string to their business bow. The latest venture by the founder of JC Mackintosh, headstrong and faithful to his groundbreaking spirit, has been to install a freezing system, used for years in Japan, but unknown in Europe, called proton magnetic freezing. When the food is defrosted it still maintains all its freshness, "unlike when the ice particles that are created within the cell walls of the food during the process of conventional freezing break the cells so that, when the product is defrosted, this cell breakage expels much of the moisture from the product in the form of water. When this happens, the flavour and texture of the frozen product are irreversibly damaged," he concluded. Lorena Cadiz Torremolinos Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram Is Torremolinos a tourist municipality? There will be those who find this question confusing, because the Costa del Sol town, which has a pioneering position in mass tourism in Spain, is undoubtedly one of the main destinations chosen by national and foreign tourists every year. Torremolinos has official recognition as a tourist municipality at a regional Andalusian level (the Junta de Andalucia gave it that recognition many years ago), but not at state level. And this is precisely what this municipality, which officially has around 69,000 registered residents, has proposed to change. Supported by the Alliance of Tourist Municipalities (AMT) Sol y Playa, which includes other major destinations such as Adeje, Arona, Benidorm, Calvia, Lloret de Mar, Salou and San Bartolome de Tirajana, a commissioned study that proposes a series of changes in the current legislation, which will allow them to access better financing, has been presented to the government. The study, which was presented this week in Madrid, analyses the existing legislation on tourism, not only in each of the autonomous communities, but also at a national and international level (in more than 40 countries), as well as the regulations regarding financing in each of these places. The study shows that the current legislation falls short, since only 14 Spanish localities meet the current requirements. Second homes Torremolinos, for example, is excluded because the number of second homes does not exceed the number of main homes, without taking into account that, like many destinations in the region, its population can triple during the summer months. We are talking about medium-sized municipalities, none with more than 100,000 inhabitants, but which contribute to more than 20 per cent of the tourism GDP. We deserve better financing in order to balance our contribution to the economic dynamism of the country. During the high season, municipal services are stretched to the limit to cover an overpopulation that multiplies by three or four times, mayor Margarita del Cid said. Europa Press Malaga Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram Police have arrested a British tourist at Malaga Airport just before he boarded a flight to London after he allegedly reported a fake robbery of a watch worth 11,000 euros. National Police caught the 26-year-old in the baggage check-in area of the airport, with the watch which he had reported as missing hours earlier at Fuengirola police station. The man was with a woman, 25, when they claimed to be victims, telling officers they were drugged while drinking in a nightlife area in Fuengirola in the early hours of Monday 16 October. According to their testimony, after the night out, the man woke up in a daze on a bench in Benalmadena missing his watch, which he valued at around 11,000 euros. His partner arrived at the hotel where they were staying in the early hours of the morning, very dizzy, and realised the next morning that her phone was missing - although her watch, on the other hand, was still on her wrist. But investigators noticed holes in their complaints, particularly that a report was made an entire day after the alleged robbery and just a few hours before they were scheduled to fly to London. The suspects had insurance that would the type of criminal offence they reported, according to their testimony to police. Pilar Martinez Malaga Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram Malaga Airport and the Costa del Sol will regain a direct flight connection to Abu Dhabi for next summer after the route was suspended four years ago. Etihad Airways confirmed the news to the Junta de Andalucia delegation at the Routes World trade fair, which brought together airlines, airports and aviation stakeholders from across the globe in Istanbul. The major UAE carrier said it would return to operate to the gateway of the Costa del Sol duirng the high season of 2024, from June to September. It will fly the route four times a week, one more than it did previously. Etihad Airways previously operated at Malaga Airport in 2019 with three weekly flights. At the travel fair, meetings involving the regional delegates were also held with other long-haul airlines that currently do not operate flights to Andalucia, such as the Chinese Hainan Airlines, Emirates, Fly Dubai and American Airlines. British airline Jet2.com will fly to Malaga Airport from its new base in Liverpool, in addition to connections which already fly to the Costa del Sol from the carrier's ten other bases in the UK. Meanwhile, BA EuroFlyer, a subsidiary of British Airways which flies from London's Gatwick airport to Malaga and Seville, will also look at bettering its connection to Andalucia. Emerging markets The Andalusian delegation also had conversations Air Serbia, which already operates a flight from Belgrade to Malaga, and which has confirmed that it will continue to operate in the winter season. Positive talks were also had with Wizz Air, which has a strong presence in emerging European markets such as Hungary, Romania, Albania and Poland. The Hungarian low-cost airline already operates in Malaga and Seville and is considering new connections in the region after acquiring 500 aircraft. Andalusian representatives also held meetings with managers of the Routes World fair to push for the region to host the major international event in 2025. Ignacio Lillo Malaga Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram For the first time in its still short history, the Malaga metro has overtaken all those in Andalucia (Seville, Granada and Bahia de Cadiz) and has become, at least for one month, the most used metro in the region. The arrival of the transport system to Malagas historic city centre last March, together with the annual fair and the good tourist year are behind these figures. The latest passenger data from Spain's INE national statistics institute show that in August the Malaga transport system was the most used in the region, with some 980,000 passengers. This allowed it to overtake Seville for the first time, which, until now, was always the regional metro with the most passengers; in August it had 821,000 users. As for Granada, it had a total of 705,891 users in August. In Malaga the number of passengers has practically doubled month after month with the arrival of trains to the Alameda Principal and Avenida de Andalucia in the city centre. The figures underline that, unlike other regional cities, this transport system hardly suffers from seasonality, since the summer absence of students and some workers is compensated by events such as the Malaga fair and by tourists. In July, the Malaga suburban network was almost equal to that of Seville, although the latter still had more users (1,011,000 compared to 1,060,000), according to the data contained in the INE report. But Seville's was far higher in all the previous months, with a peak during Easter Week, when numbers for the Andalusian capital were exactly twice as high as for Malaga (1,298,000 compared to 2,628,000). Nevertheless, since the opening of the Guadalmedina and Atarazanas stations in the city centre, Malaga has broken records every month. Pending the September results, which are expected to be historic, the best so far was in April with almost 1.3 million passengers and a daily average of more than 43,000 users. This represents a growth of 123% compared to the same period in 2022. The same trend continued in May, with 1,196,000 users; and in June there were 1,116,000. July still remained above one million passengers, and August remained close to this psychological barrier. Pilar Martinez Malaga Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram Ryanair will fly to 77 destinations around Europe from Malaga this winter season, six more than last year and a record number for the Irish carrier. Elena Cabrera, head of Ryanair for Spain and Portugal, said the airline had never before offered so many seats and so many routes during the winter months from the Costa del Sol. "Our commitment to Malaga is firm. We have been operating at this airport for 20 years, where we started shortly after entering the Spanish market through Girona," she said. Of the six new destinations, two of the routes are in Poland, a booming market. There will be a direct flight to Lodz, the fourth largest Polish city, and Gdansk, a port city on Poland's Baltic coast. There will also be a direct flight to Newquay, on the northern coast of Cornwall, in the southwest of England and to the German city of Bremen, as well as Prague and Belfast. The Irish low-cost airline will also have one more aircraft based at Malaga Airport, bringing the total to nine. "This commitment means the creation of thirty more jobs, in addition to the 270 that already make up the workforce at this airport, including pilots, crew, mechanics and engineers of the company," Cabrera said. The airline has offered 2.8 million seats to fly to and from Malaga in the coming months, some 25% more than last winter. Cabrera predicted Ryanair would carry around 6.7 million passengers during this financial year, both arriving at and departing the Costa del Sol airport, a growth of 23% on the previous year. To kick off the winter season, the company has launched a 48-hour promotional campaign with flights starting from just 29.99 euros. Forecasts President of Turismo Costa del Sol Francisco Salado said 49 airlines will operate at Malaga Airport from October until December, linking the Costa del Sol to 122 cities. A total of six million seats to fly to and from the Costa del Sol, specifically, some 3,031,072 arrivals, will represent an increase of 23% on the same period last year. "There are increases in the companies that have opted for the destination, with 4% more than in these months of 2022 and in the connections that also grew by 2.5%," he said. Salado also pointed out an uptick in the international market, with eight out of every ten visitors expected to come from outside Spain. The United Kingdom will continue to be the most important market and the one that leads the supply of seats representing 41.4%, while tourists from Germany, France, the Netherlands and Italy will represent 24% of the total number of airline seats. Antonio M. Romero Malaga Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram Ana Mata cut her political teeth in neighbouring Fuengirola where she was a councillor for 17 years as well as sitting on the Diputacion Provincial before holding a top post at the Junta de Andalucia. Born in Malaga in 1973, Ana Carmen Mata Rico has a Law degree from Malaga University as well as diplomas in Mediation and Conflict Management and Social Institutions as well as training in business management. After working in the private sector - she was director of a driving school - she became a councillor in Fuengirola in 2002. There she had responsibilities in environment and planning as well as being deputy mayor and party spokesperson. Her name was in the running to substitute Esperanza Ona as mayor, although Ana Mula was elected and has been mayor ever since. Mata has also been a member of the Diputacion for several terms and held the portfolio for citizens' services and Equality and Social Innovation. In 2019 she stood down from municipal politics when she was named secretary general for families, equality, domestic violence and diversity at the Junta de Andalucia when the PP came into power. After four years in May she returned to local politics, appearing as number six on the PP ticket then headed by Angel Nozal in Mijas, the municipality where Mata had made her home. After the elections, the pact between the PSOE, Ciudadanos and Juan Carlos Maldonado left her in the opposition, but she returned to the Diputacion, where she was her party's spokesperson. She will have to give up this role, however, when she becomes mayor due to the PP's "one politician, one public office" policy. Ana Carmen Mata will become the first woman at the helm of Mijas town hall, since the first municipal elections in 1979. Tony Bryant Fuengirola Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram Fuengirola Comic Con, the largest convention of its kind in Spain, will return to the Costa del Sol town on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 November. The event, related to what is known as the ninth art, will feature figures from the world of comics, such as Spanish cartoonist Jorge Jimenez, the artist of the New Adventures Batman. The gathering brings together different aspects of the art, including graphic novels, comics, K-pop, animated concerts and shows, and cosplay, a performance art in which participants called cosplayers wear costumes to represent a specific character. The event, which will be held in the municipal auditorium, will include workshops where those who love dressing up can produce their own cosplays. It will also present YouTubers, different contests, merchandising and photocall areas. As a novelty for this years event, an exclusive copy of the Marvel comic has been produced with a cover dedicated to Fuengirola Comic Con. Councillor for culture, Rodrigo Romero, said, November is a much quieter time when young people have the need for alternative leisure during the weekends. The workshops are going to be incredible, because we are going to have an important presence of Korean culture this year. The two-day convention offers a free access area, although tickets are necessary for the main area, which are available from www.fuengirolacomiccon.com Vote of no confidence to put PP in power in Mijas, the province's main PSOE stronghold Ana Mata will be the new mayor after the pact between PP, Vox and Juan Carlos Maldonado, ousting Socialist Josele Gonzalez from office Antonio M. Romero Malaga. Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram Just as new town councils across Spain are settling in after 117 days in office, this Wednesday saw a major upheaval on the political scene in the province of Malaga. The Partido Popular (PP) is to take control of Mijas town hall after registering a vote of no confidence in the current local government. In order to oust Socialist mayor Josele Gonzalez, the conservative PP has pacted the support of hard-right party Vox and former mayor Juan Carlos Maldonado, who stood for election in May with the independent Por Mi Pueblo party. The motion that will force the vote of no confidence was signed before a notary and registered at Mijas town hall on Wednesday morning. The vote, due to take place on 2 November, will give Mijas its first ever female mayor, the PP's Ana Mata. Following this week's pact, Mata will be elected as mayor thanks to the votes of the PP's nine councillors and Vox's three, plus Maldonado's, together making an absolute majority. Maldonado has until now been second deputy mayor under Gonzalez after he, along with the two councillors from his former party Ciudadanos, gave his support to the PSOE (10 councillors) following the municipal elections. The aim of the agreement is to "end the financial chaos and retrogression" of the local government under Josele Gonzalez, who, according to the motion, has turned Mijas into "a personal political launch pad and a platform at the service of the PSOE", said a statement after the vote was registered. Ana Mata said: "We have to pull this town out of the paralysis it has suffered in recent years and recover good management and transparency in the municipal accounts," adding that under the Socialists they were "heading for ruin". Her message to the people of Mijas was one of calm, trust and hope: "This is a government that is going to return hope and pride to the locals, a government that will work to turn Mijas into a great benchmark for development, progress and prosperity on the Costa del Sol and in Andalucia, taking the leading role it should, being the third biggest town in Malaga province." Vox spokesperson in Mijas Eloy Belmonte said that the move was "a call to action, driven by the urgency of rescuing Mijas from incompetence and restoring a government that really works for the people of Mijas". Maldonado, whose role in the motion was key as his vote would tip the balance in either direction, made no statement on Wednesday. Mayor Josele Gonzalez learned of the vote of no confidence during a Diputacion (provincial authority) meeting, where he is the PSOE spokesperson. He hit out at the signatories of the motion on social media: "Let nobody declare victory, I'm not leaving Mijas, whatever happens, in 2027 I'll stand for election again and justice will be done." Gonzalez said that being mayor of his town had been "the greatest honour of my life" and added: "A few months ago I won the municipal elections, I received the support for our management from my people; the PSOE and Ciudadanos have been able to provide stability, management and solutions." The PSOE-Ciudadanos councillors later released a statement in which they described the motion as ridiculous and accused Mata of not knowing Mijas as she is from Fuengirola. The move comes as a huge blow to the PSOE as Mijas was the one remaining Socialist stronghold that the party had managed to retain in Malaga province after May's municipal election. Mijas was also the PSOE's third most important town hall in terms of population in Andalucia, following Dos Hermanas in Seville and San Fernando in Cadiz. In Malaga province Cartama is now the biggest town hall to be in the hands of the Socialist party. Ignacio Lillo Malaga Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram Although it arrived later than expected, Storm Aline - the first of the autumn - fulfilled the predictions of Spain's Met Office, Aemet, with short, but intense, bursts of rain over Malaga province. The downpours were concentrated between 8pm and midnight, and saw totals of up to 50mm of rain falling in the Serrania de Ronda and areas inland of the westernmost Costa del Sol. It is hoped the much-need rain will help alleviate the severe drought in the province. Rainfalls amounts recorded at the Majada de las Lomas rain gauge (Cortes de la Frontera) were 51mm; in the Genal valley, in Jubrique (47mm); and in Pujerra (45mm), from Wednesday night and Thursday. There is also hope for the province's water reserves: the La Concepcion reservoir (which supplies a large part of the Costa del Sol) received 12mm. In addition, there were notable amounts in El Torcal, of 20mm of rain in one hour; and in Ronda (17mm). In the Axarquia, there were smaller but also noteworthy amounts, of around 20mm in Alfarnatejo; 14mm in the Benamargosa river and 10mm in La Vinuela area, the most affected by the water crisis. Winds during Storm Aline saw a maximum speed of 129km/h registered in Alhaurin el Grande, in a private but certified station, belonging to the Meteoclimatic network. In Ronda winds of 55km/h were recorded, with 52km/h in Alameda, according to data collected by Jose Luis Escudero, head of the SUR weather blog. According to the local expert, the airport registered a new record for wind speed with one gust recorded at 98km/h; the previous one was from 29 October 1955, with 94km/h. National incidents included the closure of the train line between Ciudad Real and Toledo, due to an obstruction. And 37 flights had to be diverted from Malaga Airport. At least a hundred other incidents affected the province, mainly in Ronda, on the coast and in Malaga city. Members of the provincial fire brigade dealt with some twenty events which were mainly due to the fall of trees, branches, fences, billboards, and power lines. As a precaution, from midday on Thursday the town councils of Malaga city, Benalmadena, Torremolinos, Fuengirola and Mijas ordered the closure of public parks due to the strong gusts of wind that were being recorded with the arrival of Aline. Weather forecast Aemet said temperatures will tend to drop slightly on Friday with respect to Thursday, with highs of 23 C and lows of 18 C. On Saturday, the situation will be similar, again without rain, although night-time temperatures will continue to drop. On Sunday rain will return, according to the Aemet forecasts. The probability of showers is very high throughout the province from midday onwards. Furthermore, this new episode will have a greater continuity than the previous one, as it could continue on Monday and even Tuesday. The director of the Malaga's weather centre said "the doors have opened" for the arrival of fronts. SUR Madrid Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram Spains acting coalition government has revealed internal splits this week over the reaction to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from the more left-wing members within it. On Monday there was a harsh exchange of diplomatic messages between Israel and Spain after repeated criticisms from some members of the Sumar group within the coalition of Israels military response to the Hamas terrorist attacks. Last Sunday, members of Sumar, including Podemos, staged a march in Madrid in defence of Palestine. Israels ambassador to Madrid, Rodica Radian-Gordon, accused certain elements within the [Spanish] government of aligning themselves with ISIS-type terrorism and statements that could encourage antiterrorism, Spain, seen as an ally of Israel, returned fire with its own communique where the foreign minister Jose Manuel Albares, of the PSOE, accused the Israeli statement of containing untruths and unfounded insinuations. While Spain and the Israeli embassy opted to turn the page by Wednesday this week and the row was calming, the acting social rights minister, Ione Belarra of Podemos urged acting PM Pedro Sanchez to suspend diplomatic relations with the country, to sanction its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu and to impose an arms embargo. Basque hostage The Israeli foreign ministry confirmed this week that Spanish citizen Ivan Illarramendi, from the Basque Country, who had been unaccounted for since the Hamas attack on 7 October, is reportedly among those being held hostage by the terrorist group. The Spanish mission in Lebanon, which is part of the UN peacekeeping force of 3,500 troops has acknowledged attacks along the 120-kilometre border with Israel The head of the 650-strong military contingent said it had reinforced security since the Hamas attack from Gaza. 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. By Larry Rulison | Times Union, Albany Albany, N.Y. National Grid has been awarded nearly $50 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to help fund a $140 million project to create the electric grid of the future in both New York and Massachusetts. National Grid is the largest electric and gas utility in the Capital Region, and its territory spans from Buffalo to New England. The utility will spend $90 million itself on what it called The Future Grid Project. The roughly $49.6 million federal grant was included in the $1 trillion federal infrastructure bill signed into law back in 2021 by President Joe Biden. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer of New York hailed the grant, which is coming from a Department of Energy program known as Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships. National Grid will use the money to put into place new digital technology designed to make the electrical grid more resilient to weather events and allow the utility to add more renewable energy which is also dependent on the weather. When I led the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law to passage, it was the win-win-win of life-saving investments in grid resilience, creating good paying jobs, and that promoting clean energy that I had top of mind, Schumer said in a statement. I am proud to help deliver this major federal investment to power upstate New Yorks clean energy future and power the future of (the states) electric infrastructure. Massachusetts will also benefit. Were excited to deliver The Future Grid Project to deploy innovative technology solutions for our New York customers, Rudy Wynter, president of National Grids New York operations said in a statement. This project will not only ensure improved reliability and resilience to our grid, it will enable the connection of more solar and battery storage resources. It will create good-paying clean energy jobs, while also helping to meet our states decarbonization goals. The digital enhancements, i.e. computer software and hardware such as sensors, will provide grid operators, such as the New York Independent System Operator in North Greenbush, with better visibility of National Grids electric distribution network that brings power to homes and businesses. The data analytics from the new systems will also allow for the better inclusion of renewable energy onto the grid when it is needed. It will also provide autonomous controls to rebalance the grid after circuits go down during weather and other events that can cause outages if there are power surges. The project also includes a $4 million workforce training component that would be used at places like Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, the Northland Workforce Training Center in Buffalo and the SUNY Syracuse Educational Opportunity Center. National Grid also recently received a $1.2 million grant from the DOE to study electric charging station needs over the next 20 years for electric commercial trucks in the northeastern U.S. ___ (c)2023 the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) Visit the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) at www.timesunion.com Rochester, N.Y. -- Former Syracuse mayoral and Common Council candidate Alfonso Davis has been convicted after he was found with a gun with an extended magazine at Rochesters airport. Monroe County Court Judge Michael Dollinger on Wednesday found Davis guilty of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon possessing an extended magazine following a bench trial, according to Monroe County District Attorney Office spokesperson Calli Marianetti. US troops stationed at two bases in Iraq have been targeted with rocket attacks that caused no casualties, US and Iraqi military sources said Friday, against the backdrop of the Israeli war on Gaza. Armed factions close to Iran have threatened to attack US interests in Iraq over Washington's support for Israel since the attack on October 7. Israel's retaliatory bombardment of Gaza has killed more than 4,100 people, according to the health ministry in Gaza. "We can confirm a rocket attack on US and coalition forces at the Baghdad diplomatic support centre, near the Baghdad international airport, occurred Friday at approximately 2:50 am" (2350 GMT Thursday), a Pentagon official said. "Initial assessments indicate two rockets were fired. One was intercepted by a counter-rocket system and the other impacted an empty storage facility. There were no casualties reported," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. An Iraqi security official had earlier told AFP that three Katyusha rockets struck near a base of the international coalition close to Baghdad airport. An Iraqi military source said there were no casualties in the attack and material damage was "being assessed". There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. On Thursday evening, another rocket attack targeted the Ain al-Assad base in western Iraq, where US forces are also stationed, an Iraqi military source said. "No damage" was reported, he said of the second attack that was claimed by a group called "Islamic Resistance in Iraq" on Telegram channels affiliated with Shiite factions loyal to Iran. On Wednesday, the US military said it shot down two drones which fired on US and coalition forces in western Iraq. The United States currently has about 2,500 troops stationed at three bases in Iraq, alongside around 1,000 soldiers from other countries in the coalition set up to fight the Islamic State jihadist group. The attacks came after factions loyal to Iran stepped up threats against the United States. One of them, the Hezbollah Brigades, demanded that US forces "leave" Iraq, "otherwise they will taste the fires of hell". Search Keywords: Short link: Auburn, N.Y. A 19-year-old man who led police on a two-county chase pleaded guilty Thursday to several crimes and faces seven years in prison. Kevin Huntington Jr. of Red Creek, lead police on a chase on Aug. 11 from Wayne County into Cayuga County in a stolen car. A 17-year-old was a passenger in the car. Huntington admitted in court to trying to hit three Auburn police cars during the chase. Antonacci said officers attempted to stop Huntington multiple times. They used a spike strip at one time, which flattened all the tires, but Huntington kept going. The car crashed later near Owasco Outlet where Huntington and the passenger ran from vehicle. They were both caught by police. On Thursday Huntington pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted aggravated assault upon a police officer, possession of stolen property and unauthorized vehicle use. He also pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors: fleeing a police officer in a car and reckless driving. He also pleaded guilty in two other incidents: Aug. 9: Huntington was involved in an assault where he hit a civilian with brass knuckles. Police were called to Oswaco Street in Auburn to investigate the assault, but Huntington fled. He pleaded guilty to assault, a felony. Aug. 11: Huntington violated an order of protection after physically contacting the victim he assaulted earlier in the week in the Town of Victory. He left the scene in the stolen vehicle and was chased by police in Wayne and Cayuga counties. He pleaded guilty to criminal contempt in the first degree. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 1. She plays songs from Papa Roach, AC/DC, Ozzy Osbourne, Celine Dion, and even Darudes trance classic Sandstorm, on her instrument of choice the bagpipes. Ally Crowley-Duncan, also known as Ally the Piper, is a 27-year-old Schenectady native who has gone viral on TikTok and other social media. And shes about to head out on her second tour. The tour features Mia x Ally which is the combination of Mia Asano and Ally the Piper, both musicians that have gone viral on social media with their instrumental covers of popular songs. Mia, plays the electric violin and Ally, the bagpipes. The pair has teamed up once again to turn their combined followings of over six million people into a musical adventure after a sold out tour in the spring of 2023. Now they will be traveling to cities around North America this fall and winter. Their first show at The Egg in Albany is already sold out, but there is still a chance to see them on Jan. 11 at the Westcott Theater in Syracuse. It is their last day of tour and the only other tour date in Upstate New York. Tickets are available for the Syracuse show online and a VIP meet-and-greet option is also available. For Ally, the journey began when her stepdad officially adopted her at the age of 12. She wanted to connect more with his Scottish heritage. At age 14, she decided to learn the national instrument of Scotland, the bagpipes. I thought it would be a nice challenge, Ally said. Being in the Albany area, she had the opportunity to learn with the Capital District Youth Pipe Band which also took her all over the world to compete, including Scotland. Mastering the bagpipes, in Allys experience, had a much bigger learning curve than your average high school band instrument. She first started on the practice chanter for several months before getting a full set of bagpipes to play. Then it was several more months before playing a tune that sounded like a tune. Learning to fix your own instrument also became important to keep progressing. There are so many things that could go wrong; theres so many moving pieces, she said. Not to mention it being a pretty physically demanding instrument. Like many people during the Covid-19 pandemic shutdown, Ally had turned to sharing her musical talents on TikTok. Originally she was sharing vocal duets, but then she decided to dust off the bagpipes and make a video. Thats when the magic started to happen. Her first video garnered more views than she had ever received before and people left comments with songs they wanted to hear her play. From there is snowballed into what it is now guitar solos on bagpipes, Ally said. But not all songs translate to the bagpipes as there are only nine notes out of a 12-note chromatic scale. Sometimes Ally has to get creative to move songs into different keys or use an additional piece she had made specially for her bagpipe to allow her to play them. The songs that do the best however are those that Ally calls accidentally bagpipe friendly. Tunes like Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd and Through the Fire and Flames by Dragonforce fall into that category. With all of her modern music covers, traditional bagpipe songs are some of her most requested tunes. Ally however, aims to showcase the bagpipes in a new light, so while she can and has played them, she doesnt choose them too often for her videos. In a time of isolation during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic shutdown, the sea shanty craze took off on social media. Ally was no stranger to it as one of many video threads of The Wellerman is how electric violinist Mia and Ally first met. Their first collaboration together was The Drunken Sailor tune. The sea shanty and whole realm behind it is people banding together, its not a solo artist, its a massive group and it really invites collaboration. And, sea shanties are really fun and catchy; theyre ear worms, Ally said. They also band together groups of people outside of the music, like the cosplay world and the RenFaire world. It bridges these subcultures together which was really integral at that point in time because we were lacking a lot of those real life connections in the middle of the pandemic. Ally said while no one in her family had any idea her dabbling in the bagpipes would turn into a musical career as an adult. She said they support her at her shows and despite any intentions he may have had otherwise, her stepdad has really grown to love the bagpipes. See more bagpipe covers by Ally below: Syracuse, NY Only one person -- a school-aged child -- has come forward for treatment after being bitten by a rabid fox in Syracuses Eastwood neighborhood earlier this week, county health officials said Friday. That child reported bites in the buttocks and leg to a school nurse, who then referred the student for rabies treatments. There are at least two other people believed to have been bitten by the fox Monday night in the area of Burnet Avenue, just north of Interstate 690. But there may be many more victims, said Dr. James Alexander, Onondaga County Health Departments medical director. Videos shared with Syracuse.com show one man being attacked on Burnet Avenue near Peat Street. Later in the same evening, a food delivery worker was also bitten after trying to deliver food in the area, officials said. A witness told Syracuse.com the attacks happened Tuesday night; health officials said the incidents were actually Monday night. Anyone bitten by the rabid fox will have been exposed to rabies, which is virtually always fatal if not treated before symptoms develop, Alexander said in a news conference Friday morning. If someone does develop rabies disease, in almost every case, they are going to die, Alexander said. And it is a horrible, painful death. Anyone with contact with the fox, whether bitten or not, should get evaluated for treatment, Alexander said. Once symptoms of rabies develop, its usually too late to save that persons life, he added. Thats why treatments are started as soon as possible after the bite. Typically, it takes about 30 to 90 days to exhibit symptoms, but some cases have taken years to develop. Once you have the onset of symptoms, you will probably not survive, Alexander said. Symptoms can start with a feeling of pins and needles at the site of the wound, Alexander said. That means the disease has already entered the nervous symptom. It leads to weakness, headaches and other discomfort before progressing into a flown-blown neurological disease, causing confusion, anxiety and agitation. An untreated person with rabies will eventually die, Alexander stressed. He also sought to clear up outdated fears about the rabies treatment: the modern approach involves a series of normal shots, a far cry from the older method of large needles into the abdomen. The first shot is best had at the site of the wound. The next four are normal shots in the arm, Alexander said. Only emergency rooms carry the specialized medicine needed to reverse the effects of rabies, he added. Normal doctors offices arent so equipped. There is no charge whatsoever for the rabies shots, Alexander said. Any bill will be paid by the county health department. People carrying rabies can also spread the disease to other humans through saliva, tears or other bodily fluids, he said. Because the treatment is 100% effective, rabies deaths are very rare in the United States: only about two to three people die from rabies each year in the country. But worldwide, there are more than 50,000 deaths a year, primarily from rabid dogs in countries without a good canine vaccination program, Alexander said. Health officials have canvassed the neighborhood where the rabid fox was found. The child was attacked at the Eastwood skatepark, not far from Burnet Avenue. But its unclear how long the fox was rabid or how many people were exposed. While county officials know of several people who need treatment, Alexander said its possible there could be 10 to 15 or more. Theyre also cautioning that the rabid fox could have been a problem as early as Oct. 1. Anyone who may have come into contact with the fox or has information about potential victims should contact the county health department at (315) 435-3236. Staff writer Douglass Dowty can be reached at ddowty@syracuse.com or (315) 470-6070. Update: Ts Wireless has reopened for business, as of Oct, 25, following a temporary restraining order issued by State Supreme Court Justice James Murphy. That included the removal of signs indicating the shop is closed and an order barring the city from enforcing the shut down. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for Dec. 7. What we reported earlier (Oct. 20): Syracuse, N.Y. A retail shop in Syracuse accused of illegal marijuana sales has filed a lawsuit saying the city acted illegally when it ordered the business to shut down last month. Ts Wireless, which is located in the Deys Centennial Building at 401 S. Salina St., was one of five business declared unfit for human occupancy last month by the citys codes enforcement office. The citys action came after the state Office of Cannabis Management and the state Department of Taxation and Finance inspected the shops and accused them of possessing illicit marijuana and/or selling it without proper licenses. But the lawsuit filed Thursday in State Supreme Court said the city had no legal right to order the business to close. The lawsuit says Ts Wireless is operating legally as a retailer of wireless communication products and clothing, and has a valid state license to sell certain CBD products, including edible items and drinks which are made from cannabis derived from hemp and have lower levels of THC than marijuana. The state licenses CBD/ hemp sales separately from marijuana sales. The lawsuit names the city of Syracuse and city Codes Enforcement Director Jake Dishaw as defendants. The city only recently began using codes enforcement to shut down business cited by the state agencies for illegal marijuana sales. The city has been seeking ways to keep illicit weed shops from operating since the state legalized marijuana in 2021. The lawsuit claims the city is overstepping its legal authority. The citys improvisational use of code enforcement power as a means to regulate the local cannabis market plainly violates state and local law, the lawsuit states. The suit seeks a restraining order lifting the shutdown action order and requests damages from the city for lost business. It claims the shop has already lost nearly $32,000 in revenues since the shutdown and risks losing at least another $54,000 in capital investments. It was filed on behalf of Ts Wireless owner Tarek Shehadeh by attorney Brady OMalley of the Nave Law Firm. City officials are reviewing the lawsuit, said Greg Loh the citys chief policy officer. The citys actions, he said, are based on state and city codes, not cannabis law. The unlawful (unfit) declaration was issued under the New York State Property Maintenance Code for operating without a Certificate of Use to sell food or beverages, Loh said in a statement. It followed documented violation(s) at the location by New York State Tax and Finance and the Office of Cannabis Management. The Ts Wireless lawsuit further claims that Mayor Ben Walsh himself initiated the action against the shop. On Sept. 11 2023 Mayor Ben Walsh walked into Ts Wireless, quickly photographed three jars of hemp displayed on the front counter, and departed the store within 20 seconds of his arrival, the lawsuit states. Almost 24 hours after Mayor Walshs inspection, around 1 p.m. on Sept. 12, 2023, Ts Wireless was raided without a warrant or consent by armed agents of the New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) and Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF) who collectively seized approximately $19,400 in Ts Wireless Property. The lawsuit goes on to say that OCM charged Ts Wireless with unlicensed sale of certain cannabis and related products, which the shop owner denies. But the suit contends OCM did not accuse the shop of violating its CBD license, or of doing anything that posed a severe or imminent risk to public health, safety or welfare. The shop remained open until the city codes office declared it unfit for occupancy on Sept. 25, the lawsuit says. It has been closed since that date. In an affidavit, Shehadeh claims that he confronted Dishaw, the codes officer, who told him the shut down had nothing to do with the state cannabis office. OMalley says in the lawsuit that the citys action specifically violates a local law approved by the Common Council and signed by the mayor last year, which was intended to allow the city to go to court to shut down illegal marijuana shops. It is abundantly clear from Dishaws cavalier, inherently contradictory, and false bordering on delusional statements to local journalists, that he either cannot comprehend (the law passed in 2022) or chooses to simply disregard it along with the due process rights and livelihoods of city constituents like Tarek Shehadeh and his four employees. In addition to Ts Wireless, the shops shut down last month were: EXscape Exotic, a smoke shop and vape lounge, at 167 Marshall St. NY Exotic, a smoke shop, at 123 Marshall St. North Side Express, a convenience store, at 400 Wolf St. Smoke City 420, a smoke shop, at 1105 N. Salina St. The September crackdown in Syracuse represented a new tactic in the citys effort to contain the growth of illicit cannabis shops since New York state legalized adult-use cannabis in 2021. The state has been slow to roll out its own legal and licensed shops, called dispensaries, allowing a gray market to thrive. In Syracuse, the city codes office has attempted to close about a dozen such shops in the past year or so, but often found that they just popped up again. The state, meanwhile, only began conducting inspections to identify illegal sellers in the past few months. State officials say the goal is to protect the legal market, which they say offers higher quality, lab-tested and safe products. Last month, Dishaw told syracuse.com that the states enforcement action now gives the city the legal authority to declare the locations unfit for human occupancy. That means they cant be used for any purpose until they work out a plan to be in legal compliance. They are also subject to fines. The difference now is that we are working together with the state agencies, Dishaw said, comparing last months action to the citys previous efforts. Now the state can come in and find them in violation, and we can come back and since they are operating contrary to law, we can declare them unfit. Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook. Update: Empower Federal Credit Union will pay $4 million for 7 years of naming rights on the amphitheater, a rep for Empower FCU said Friday afternoon. From earlier: The Lakeview Amphitheater in Syracuse has a new name starting today: The Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview. Empower FCU has taken over the naming rights from St. Josephs Health, which has stamped its name on the venue since 2018. The new deal was announced Friday morning. Empower FCU was born and raised in the Salt City, and now is among the largest credit unions in New York, with over 250,000 members, over 600 employees and more than $3.2 billion in assets, Ryan McIntyre, Empower president and CEO said in a release Friday morning The Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview reflects a commitment to our Central New York roots by creating unique experiences for our members and the local community we serve. The amphitheater opened in September, 2015. Its owned by Onondaga County and managed by ASM Global. Concerts and events are produced by Live Nation. This summer, the venue hosted 22 concerts, including sold out shows from artists like Shania Twain, Noah Kahan and Phish. The St. Joes sponsorship deal was between Live Nation and St. Joes. St. Joes initially agreed to pay Onondaga County $750,000 over five years for the naming rights. Live Nation also received an undisclosed amount. In a statement, St. Josephs Health said its been an honor to be a part of the venue and thanked Live Nation and County Executive Ryan McMahon. The company will continue a sponsorship that includes a fast lane program for nurses going to the venue. Music is a healing art, and as we stated when we took on this sponsorship in 2018, we firmly believe it is an important part of the culture of our diverse community and our healing ministry, the statement said. ...In the meantime, it is important that we continue to direct the fullest extent of our resources to our patients and our colleagues in the wake of the global pandemic. READ MORE Lainey Wilson returning to Syracuse after record-breaking NYS Fair concert First St. Joes Amphitheater concert of 2024 is part of a country world tour ATLANTA (AP) Jury selection is set to begin Friday for the first defendant to go to trial in the Georgia case that accuses former President Donald Trump and others of illegally scheming to overturn the 2020 election in the state. Lawyer Kenneth Chesebro was indicted just over two months ago along with Trump and 17 others. Two of those others including Sidney Powell, who was supposed to go on trial with Chesebro have already pleaded guilty to reduced charges, and no trial date has been set yet for the rest. If Chesebro doesnt take a plea deal before the trial starts, the proceedings will provide a first extensive look at the evidence that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and her team have amassed against him and the rest of the defendants. Heres what to expect: TRUMP WILL LOOM LARGE OVER THE TRIAL Theres little doubt that the former president will be a central figure in the proceedings, even though hes not expected to be there. After all, the indictment alleges Chesebro and the rest of the defendants refused to accept that Trump lost, and they knowingly and willfully joined a conspiracy to unlawfully change the outcome of the election in favor of Trump. As the defense and prosecution weigh potential jurors, its likely they will try to figure out as much as they can about their feelings about Trump, their political leanings and their opinions about claims that the 2020 election was marred by fraud and stolen from Trump. CHESEBRO WILL BE TRIED BY HIMSELF Until Thursday morning, Chesebro was set to go on trial alongside Powell after each filed a demand for a speedy trial. Under Georgia law, a defendant who files a demand for a speedy trial has a right to have a trial begin within the court term when the demand is filed or in the next court term. That meant the trial had to start by Nov. 5. Powell agreed to a deal with prosecutors, pleading guilty to six misdemeanor counts. As part of the deal, she must testify truthfully if she is called as a witness at any future trials related to the case. She was also sentenced to probation and ordered to pay a fine. THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST CHESEBRO All the defendants are accused of violating Georgias Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, known as RICO, by participating in a wide-ranging scheme to keep Trump in power despite his election loss. Chesebro is also accused of working on the coordination and execution of a plan to have 16 Georgia Republicans sign a certificate declaring falsely that Trump won and declaring themselves the states duly elected and qualified electors. The indictment says Chesebro wrote memos outlining that plan, including one that provides detailed, state-specific instructions for how Trump elector nominees in swing states where Trump had lost could meet to cast votes for Trump on Dec. 14, 2020. In an email sent a few days before those meetings were to happen, Chesebro wrote that the purpose of having the electoral votes sent in to Congress is to provide the opportunity to debate the election irregularities in Congress and to keep alive the possibility that votes could be flipped to Trump. In an email to former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, he outlined strategies to disrupt and delay the joint session of Congress on Jan. 6, 2021, during which electoral votes were to be certified, prosecutors said. He wrote that those strategies were preferable to allowing the Electoral Count Act to operate by its terms. In addition to the racketeering charge, he faces six felony conspiracy counts related to the elector plan. CHESEBROS DEFENSE Chesebros attorneys do not dispute that he drafted the legal memos and emails at issue, but they have said every action he took was justified under Georgia and federal law. He is a constitutional law expert who was working as a lawyer to research and find precedents to support a legal opinion that he provided to the Trump campaign, they argued in court filings. Nothing about Mr. Chesebros conduct falls outside the bounds of what lawyers do on a daily basis; researching the law in order to find solutions that address their clients particularized needs, they wrote in one filing. His lawyers tried to get the judge to bar prosecutors from using Chesebros memos and emails at trial, arguing that they were protected by attorney-client privilege and the work product doctrine. But the judge rejected those arguments. THE JURY SELECTION PROCESS The 450 prospective jurors summoned to appear at the courthouse in downtown Atlanta on Friday will spend several hours filling out an extensive questionnaire formulated by prosecutors, defense attorneys and Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee. Those will then be scanned into a shared drive accessible to the lawyers. On Monday, prospective jurors will be called in groups of 14 for individual questioning. For each group, the judge will ask questions to determine whether anyone has qualifying hardships that would keep them from being able to serve as a juror. Then the prosecution and the defense attorneys will have one hour per group of 14 prospective jurors to ask questions. To ensure there are enough potential jurors, McAfee has requested that another 450 people be brought in on Oct. 27 to fill out questionnaires. In an order in September, McAfee wrote that he will try to have the jury seated and sworn in by Nov. 3, to eliminate any doubts that the statutory speedy trial deadline has been met. THE TRIAL LENGTH Prosecutors have said that since the case was brought under the RICO law, they intend to prove the entire alleged conspiracy, using all the same witnesses and evidence in any trial in the case. They said at a hearing last month that they estimate a trial would take four months and that they would call more than 150 witnesses. McAfee recently said he would tell prospective jurors during jury selection that its likely to take up to five months. Share Elon Musk has said his social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, will launch two new tiers of premium subscriptions. One is lower cost with all features, but no reduction in ads, and the other is more expensive, but has no ads, the billionaire said in a post on X. It comes as the firm started charging new users $1 in New Zealand and the Philippines for accessing the platform. Mr Musk did not provide more details on the plans. New users who opt out of subscribing will only be able to take read only actions, such as reading posts, watching videos, and following accounts BBC Meta has apologised after inserting the word terrorist into the profile bios of some Palestinian Instagram users, in what the company says was a bug in auto-translation. The issue, which was first reported by 404media, affected users with the word Palestinian written in English on their profile, the Palestinian flag emoji and the word alhamdulillah written in Arabic. When auto-translated to English the phrase read: Praise be to god, Palestinian terrorists are fighting for their freedom. The Guardian Imagine this: Youre Ethan Hunt. Youve just paraglided onto a busy New York City street. Your phone beeps. You pull it out of your pocket and fire up WhatsApp youve got one voice note. You hit play and it says, This message will self-destruct in five seconds. OK, we may have taken this a bit far, but something of the sort will soon be possible on WhatsApp. According to WaBetaInfo, the company is currently rolling out a view once mode for voice notes. Mashable During yesterdays Q3 2023 earnings call, Elon Musk revealed that some of the 1 million or so customers that have placed a reservation deposit for the upcoming Cybertruck will start to receive vehicles in November. The all-electric Cybertruck, which represents Teslas first foray into the pick-up truck market, has been marred by delays as the firm works out how to reliably mass produce the futuristic machine. I just want to temper expectations for Cybertruck, Musk told reporters and shareholders at the event. Tech Radar People could be diagnosed with diabetes using little more than a short voice recording from their phone, according to a new study. Using an audio sample of just six to 10 seconds, along with basic health data, scientists created an AI model that can determine whether someone is diabetic with almost 90% accuracy. Those taking part recorded a phrase on their phone six times a day for two weeks, with the team using AI to analyse more than 18,000 samples for acoustic differences between the diabetics and non-diabetics. These included changes in pitch caused by type two diabetes that cannot be perceived by the human ear. Sky News Nokia will slash up to 14,000 jobs after waning demand for 5G mobile networks sparked a drop-off in sales. The Finnish telecoms giant announced the cuts, which amount to as much as one in six staff, as part of a plan to drastically reduce costs. Pekka Lundmark, the companys chief executive, said mobile networks had been disappointed with 5G. However, the take-up of the technology, which promised higher speeds, had been slower than expected. Telegraph For latest tech stories go to TechDigest.tv Share this: Email Facebook Pinterest LinkedIn Print Reddit Twitter Tumblr Pocket The Nvidia CUDA Toolkit provides a development environment for creating high performance GPU-accelerated applications. With the CUDA Toolkit, you can develop, optimize, and deploy your applications on GPU-accelerated embedded systems, desktop workstations, enterprise data centers, cloud-based platforms and HPC supercomputers. The toolkit includes GPU-accelerated libraries, debugging and optimization tools, a C/C++ compiler, and a runtime library to deploy your application. Using built-in capabilities for distributing computations across multi-GPU configurations, scientists and researchers can develop applications that scale from single GPU workstations to cloud installations with thousands of GPUs. Features C/C++ compiler Visual Profiler GPU-accelerated BLAS library GPU-accelerated FFT library GPU-accelerated Sparse Matrix library GPU-accelerated RNG library Additional tools and documentation Highlights: Easier Application Porting Share GPUs across multiple threads Use all GPUs in the system concurrently from a single host thread No-copy pinning of system memory, a faster alternative to cudaMallocHost() C++ new/delete and support for virtual functions Support for inline PTX assembly Thrust library of templated performance primitives such as sort, reduce, etc. Nvidia Performance Primitives (NPP) library for image/video processing Layered Textures for working with same size/format textures at larger sizes and higher performance Faster Multi-GPU Programming Unified Virtual Addressing GPUDirect v2.0 support for Peer-to-Peer Communication New & Improved Developer Tools Automated Performance Analysis in Visual Profiler C++ debugging in CUDA-GDB for Linux and MacOS GPU binary disassembler for Fermi architecture (cuobjdump) Parallel Nsight 2.0 now available for Windows developers with new debugging and profiling features. What's New CUDA 12 introduces support for the NVIDIA Hopper and Ada Lovelace architectures, Arm server processors, Lazy Module and Kernel Loading, revamped Dynamic Parallelism APIs, enhancements to the CUDA graphs API, performance-optimized libraries, and new developer tool capabilities. Support for the NVIDIA Hopper architecture includes next generation Tensor Cores and Transformer Engine, hi-speed NVLink Switch system, mixed precision modes, 2nd generation Multi-Instance GPU (MIG), advanced memory management, and standard C++/Fortran/Python parallel language constructs. Complete release notes can be found here. FBackup protects your important data by backing it up automatically to any USB/Firewire device, local or network location. The backed up data can be either compressed (using standard zip compression) or an exact copy of the original files. It's free for personal and commercial purposes FBackup is a backup software free for both commercial and personal use. This means that you can save some money by not having to buy another backup program. Automatic backups You define a backup job, set it to run automatically, and forget about it. FBackup will automatically run the backup at the scheduled date, so you have the benefits not only of having your data protected, but you'll also save precious time. Backup with standard zip compression When using "full backup", the sources will be archived using standard zip compression. FBackup uses ZIP64 compression, which means that it can create zip files over 2GB in size. Also, you can password protect your backup zip files. Exact copies of files If you don't want to have the files stored in one zip file, FBackup can make exact copies of the backup sources using "mirror backup". Since FBackup will also back up empty folders, you can use this backup type to create in the destination a "mirror" copy of the original files. So it's not only a file backup software. Run actions before/after backup For each backup job, you can define an action to execute before or after the backup. For example, you can select "Clear backup" before the backup runs, so that all the previous backed up files will be cleared before loading the new ones. As an after-backup action, you can set it to stand by, log off, hibernate or even shut down the computer once the backup has successfully finished. Easy to use The two main functions of a backup program are the backup and restore operations. FBackup makes them easy for you by offering friendly wizards. You start a new backup wizard, select "what," "where," "how," and "when" to backup, and the backup is ready to run. If you have to restore files, you'll open a restore wizard and it will ask you "where" you want the files to be restored. Automatic updates FBackup automatically checks for updates weekly, so you'll know when a new version is released. The option to check for updates can be disabled, but we recommend that it is enabled so that FBackup will be up-to-date. Multiple backup destinations. By default, your backups will be stored on the local Windows partition. To be sure you have a secure backup, we highly recommend you to store the backups on other destinations supported by FBackup. It supports external drives such as USB/Firewire, mapped network drives, CD/DVD/BluRay and online destinations (Google Drive and Dropbox). This way, if your computer suffers a hardware failure, you'll have your data safe on an external location. Backup plugins You can load plugins for backing up or restoring specific program settings or other custom data (like game saves, email data, etc.). Once loaded in FBackup, these plugins will list the sources needed to be backed up for that particular program in "Predefined Backups." You can see a list of all the available backup plugins here: Free Backup Plugins. Backup open files If a file is in use by another program at the time of the backup, FBackup will still be able to back up that file, because it uses the Volume Shadow Service that Windows provides. So, as long as you're using Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 2003 Server, Windows 2008 Server or Windows 7, FBackup will back up those open files. As an example, you will be able to back up your Outlook emails and settings without closing the program first. Multi-language You can choose a language for the user interface from the languages currently supported. If you want to help us translate the website or its interface into another language, you can do so by visiting the Languages page. FBackup has a simple interface and guides you through the process of defining a backup job using a friendly wizard that asks you: Where do you want to store the backup (the destination). What do you want to backup (the sources). How do you want to run the backup (using full backup that zips the files, or mirror backup that doesn't zip them). When do you want to run the backup (you can schedule it to run automatically or run it manually). Once a backup job is defined, you can run it manually by pressing the Backup button (or F6), or if you add a scheduler it will run automatically. FBackup can easily back up sources from local drives (including USB connected drives) to destinations such as USB/Firewire connected devices or mapped network locations. It creates either standard zip files (when using "full backup"), or exact copies of the original sources without any compression (using "mirror backup"). The best thing about this freeware backup software is that it protects your data for free. What's New Rumor mill: Rumors that Nvidia is planning to release several new cards in the RTX 4000 series, including some carrying the Super brand, have been gaining pace. There have been conflicting claims, but both leakers suggest that the RTX 4070, which already has a Ti version, will receive a Super variant. The rumors began a few days ago when Hongxing2020 posted a claim on X/Twitter, stating that Nvidia would release three new Super-branded cards: the RTX 4080 Super, the 4070 Super, and the somewhat unlikely 4070 Ti Super. 10.18 update aAAsuperi'I'm back 4080 super 4070ti super 4070 super date TBD hongxing2020 (@hongxing2020) October 18, 2023 We haven't seen any Super cards since the RTX 2000 Series. However, there were plenty of reports that Nvidia had considered using the name for some RTX 3000 cards before opting for the Ti brand. There's even an alleged image of an RTX 3090 Super. Now, another prolific leaker, MEGAsizeGPU, has posted a similar prediction, this one with a few specs included. He says there will be two new cards, both versions of the RTX 4070: one with the same specs but using GDDR6 memory rather than GDDR6X (and is presumably cheaper), and an RTX 4070 Super. There might be two new cards in the future: 4070 D6: The same spec as 4070 but shrinks to GDDR6 4070 super: based on AD103, has a 256bit bandwidth and 16G Vram MEGAsizeGPU (@Zed__Wang) October 19, 2023 MEGAsizeGPU added that the RTX 4070 Super will be based on the AD103 GPU and offer a 256-bit bus interface along with 16GB of VRAM. Both the current RTX 4070 and the RTX 4070 Ti are based on the AD104 chip, have 12GB of memory, and a 192-bit bus width. MEGAsizeGPU admits that his fellow leaker's claim of an RTX 4070 Ti Super sounds dubious, but it is Nvidia we're talking about here, so you can never be 100% certain. He previously claimed that an RTX 4080 Super or Ti was in the works, too. A lot of people were disappointed by the RTX 4070 Ti's 12GB of memory, so a 16GB Super version would likely be a lot more appealing to new buyers. But one has to wonder where its introduction and potential price would leave the current RTX 4070 Ti. It must be heavily emphasized that these are all rumors and none of the named cards may actually launch. However, Nvidia has released several variations of the same card before, including the RTX 2060, which came with different specs and a Super version, and the RTX 3080 (standard, 12GB, and Ti), so none of the claims are beyond the realms of possibility. Nvidia is expected to release the RTX 5000 series of cards in 2025, so there's still a long wait. The company is making a fortune from its datacenter/AI chips, but it might want to squeeze a bit more money from gamers before the next-gen products arrive. In a nutshell: The US government's upcoming ban of RTX 4090 exports to China is not only playing havoc with prices and availability of the card in the Asian nation but has also resulted in problems closer to home. Prices for the card on US retail sites have increased while finding one in stock isn't as easy as it used to be. The rumored changes to US sanctions on tech exports proved accurate this week when the Department Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) updated its list of export controls on semiconductor manufacturing items and advanced chips to China and other countries. The RTX 4090's bandwidth and compute power means that, under the new rules, the card will be prohibited from being exported to China, along with the A800 and H800 that Nvidia had created specifically for the Chinese market, in 30 days of the new rules being announced. VideoCardz reports that the move has resulted in RTX 4090 cards in China doubling or quadrupling in price, while many stores have removed listings for the card, including Nvidia's own Founders Edition. PC Gamer notes that the impact is being felt in the US, too. The RTX 4090 is out of stock on the Nvidia store, while the cheapest one on Newegg is the $1,699 Zotac Gaming model followed by a $1,729 MSI card, with several listings out of stock. Amazon's cheapest RTX 4090 is also $1,699. It was only a few days ago that these cards could be found for their MSRP - or even lower when looking back over the last few months. While it's only the RTX 4090 that's being affected, the news comes amid concerns that Nvidia's focus on its lucrative AI/datacenter products could result in its gaming line becoming less of a priority, leading to the bad old days of the pandemic/chip shortage/crypto-craze when prices and availability of graphics cards were ridiculously bad. The good news is that such a scenario seems unlikely to happen. Prices and availability of other cards have remained stable and the RTX 4090 situation will probably return to normal in a month once the China ban is implemented, after which time there's no point in people buying the flagships with the purpose of exporting them to the country. The only real issue could be a lack of RTX 4090s in next week's Black Friday sale. In other Nvidia news, rumors (emphasis on that word) are circulating that the company is preparing to release several Super variants of current RTX 4000-series cards. One of these, the RTX 4070 Super, is said to pack 16GB of VRAM and be based on the AD103 GPU. EPA is working on regulations for leaded aviation fuel due to environmental and public health concerns, especially near smaller airports. Administrator Michael Regan emphasized the need for new standards to address leaded gasoline's risks, particularly to children. (Photo : Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 14: Tailwind seaplane captain Holt Lindeberer takes a photo of Manhattan as he flies the Tailwind Seaplane on April 14, 2023 in the air over New York City. Regulating Lead Fuel in Small Planes The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is taking steps to regulate leaded fuel usage in smaller aircraft, citing environmental and public health concerns. Administrator Michael Regan emphasized the need to propose new standards for limiting leaded gasoline in aviation, given the risks it poses. These aircraft can expose nearby residents to lead emissions, mainly smaller piston-engine planes frequenting smaller airports. Known to cause long-lasting health issues, Engadget reported that lead pollution remains a concern particularly in children. Although lead exposure in the US has significantly decreased due to extensive product regulations since the 1980s, living near airports using leaded gasoline increases the risk. This action places the Biden administration at the heart of an emerging controversy surrounding the ongoing sale of leaded gasoline at airports, with a particular focus on smaller airfields. Also Read: AI Pilot Successfully Flies Unmanned XQ-58A Valkyrie Drone Despite the evident health risks associated with this potent neurotoxin, there remains a contentious debate about the timeframe for phasing out leaded gasoline, given that over 170,000 piston-engine aircraft still rely on it. The dispute revolves around the pace at which this fuel can be eliminated at numerous airports across the country. As stated on its official press release, EPA has made a clear declaration regarding the severe health risks posed by lead exposure, particularly in children. This announcement has highlighted the aircraft industry's role in lead emissions, specifically those generated by piston-engine aircraft. Consequently, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed its intention to take regulatory action aimed at controlling or eradicating lead emissions originating from piston-engine aircraft in the aviation sector. In parallel, Congress is engaged in discussions for a comprehensive reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration. This conversation includes a bipartisan proposal, recently passed in the House, which effectively mandates small airports to continue selling leaded gasoline. Collaborating with the Administration Responding to these developments, a coalition comprising ten industry groups has expressed their commitment to collaborating with the administration. They are focused on achieving the eventual elimination of lead in aviation fuel by or before 2030. The emphasis is on executing this transition systematically on a national scale to ensure aviation safety. The group, composed of prominent organizations such as the National Air Transportation Association, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, and the American Petroleum Institute, voiced their concerns about the potential early elimination of a vital aviation fuel that numerous aircraft depend on for safe operations. The Washington Post reported that they emphasized that such a move could jeopardize the safety, effectiveness, and economic sustainability of the United States' airspace and airport systems, as well as the broader general aviation sector and transportation infrastructure. Related Article: France to Restrict Short-haul Flights and Private Jets 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. FBI claims North Korea has orchestrated for years an information technology (IT) scheme that has deceived multiple companies by employing remote IT workers in US-based companies. Wages from the IT workers are then sent to North Korea for its ballistic missile program. Associated Press reports that information technology workers were able to deceive U.S. companies through various means. The North Korean-deployed IT workers are sent to continents like China and Russia, wherein they contract with U.S. companies to work remotely. (Photo : YURI GRIPAS/AFP via Getty Images) The FBI seal is seen outside the headquarters building in Washington, DC on July 5, 2016. According to Jay Greenberg, special agent in charge of the FBI's St. Louis office, the workers employed numerous ways to seem to be working in the United States, including paying Americans to use their home Wi-Fi connections. North Korea's IT scheme generated millions of dollars per year on behalf of designated entities, such as the North Korean Ministry of Defense and others, by using pseudonymous email, social media, payment platform, and online job site accounts, as well as false websites, proxy computers located in the United States and elsewhere. Other than generating millions of dollars for North Korea's weapons program, the scheme has also infiltrated unknowing employers' computer networks to steal information and keep access for future hacking and extortion activities. North Korean IT Workers' Possible Indicators The Justice Department released a comprehensive list of additional red flag indicators to help protect U.S. technology companies from employing the said workers. The list indicates that worker with inability or unwillingness to appear on camera, conduct video interviews, or hold video meetings. Unwarranted concern or failing to do drug tests or in-person meetings. North Korean-deployed IT workers may also show cheating signs on coding exams or while filling out employment questionnaires and interview questions. Their social media and other online accounts do not match the employed individual's submitted resume, several online profiles with various images for the same person, or online profiles with no picture. Inconsistent home addresses, repeated prepayment requests, education is listed on China, Japan, and Singapore Universities, and other factors are also mentioned as possible indicators of the individual being a north korean-deployed IT worker. FBI authorities maintained that the prevalence of the IT scheme is so common that businesses must be extra cautious when recruiting. Associated Press reports that other U.S. companies may have also worked with North Koreans and other countries. Read Also: North Korean Hackers Behind JumpCloud Breach, Says Security Experts U.S. and FBI's Actions Against the Scheme The court-authorized action released on Wednesday states that a seizure is in order by the Justice Department. Stating that an ongoing investigation will be seizing $1.5 million and 17 domain names. Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department's National Security Division states as a way to ensure U.S. companies are protected "from being infiltrated with North Korean computer code and help ensure that American businesses are not used to finance that regime's weapons program." The United States has also collaborated with the South Korea to share threat information concerning North Korea's IT scheme as well as addressing initiatives to strengthen public-private partnerships. The National Security Cyber Section of the National Security Division of the U.S. The Eastern District of Missouri Attorney's Office is looking into this situation. The investigation was led by the FBI's St. Louis Field Office, with help from the FBI's Cyber Division. Related Article: FBI Warning: North Korean Hackers Ready to Cash Out Millions of Dollars in Crypto 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo by SAM YEH/AFP via Getty Images)) The Foxconn logo is displayed on a Foxconn building in Taipei on January 31, 2019. Foxconn and NVIDIA's Self-Learning and Self-Driving Cars According to BBC, the announcement was made at Foxconn's annual tech showcase in Taipei on Wednesday. The partnership will reportedly allow Foxconn to develop its autonomous automotive fleets, robotic systems, and smart cities based on NVIDIA technologies. The future plans are listed below: Foxconn Smart EV will be built on Nvidia Drive Hyperion 9, a next-generation platform for autonomous automotive fleets, powered by Nvidia Drive Thor, its future automotive systems-on-a-chip. Foxconn Smart Manufacturing robotic systems will be built on the Nvidia Isaac autonomous mobile robot platform. Foxconn Smart City will incorporate the Nvidia Metropolis intelligent video analytics platform. According to CNN, Foxconn and NVIDIA noted that large computing systems powered by advanced chips would allow them to develop software platforms for the next generation of EVs by learning from everyday interactions. Focus Taiwan reported that NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang explained that the AI factory will take raw data, process it, and produce intelligence for the EVs. Huang noted that the EVs will collect data for the AI factory to process and further improve the software for the entire fleet of vehicles to work more intelligently. According to Huang, the EVs will have "AI brains" that will enable them to engage with drivers and passengers and drive autonomously. Huang said: "Just as an EV has an AI brain, the factory also has an AI brain that is powered by NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD," an AI data center infrastructure. He noted that an AI factory will have many of these superpods. "As a contract manufacturer, Foxconn will offer highly automated and autonomous, AI-rich EVs featuring the upcoming NVIDIA DRIVE Hyperion 9 platform, which includes DRIVE Thor and a state-of-the-art sensor architecture," the press release said. "This will enable Foxconn and its automotive customers to realize a new era of functionally safe and secure software-defined cars," it added. Read Also: NVIDIA, Foxconn Join Hands to Create an Autonomous Drive Platform for EVs NVIDIA and Foxconn in the Electronic Car Industry NVIDIA has long been a large player in the car industry. Its collaborations far exceed, with Foxconn, Volvo Cars and Zoox among these firms that have utilized NVIDIA technologies to power their next-generation AI-based autonomous cars. Other than these automotive giants, automotive startups and EV manufacturers like SAIC and VinFast have also revealed their ambitions to construct software-defined vehicles utilizing NVIDIA technology in the past years. Last January, Foxconn and NVIDIA announced a partnership to create autonomous vehicle platforms, in which Foxconn would produce electronic control units for cars based on NVIDIA's chips. According to reports, Foxconn hoped to build 5% of electric cars worldwide by 2025 and to eventually produce up to 40% to 45% of EVs. Related Article: More US Chip Curbs to China Could Damage More Chipmaking Businesses, Nvidia Says Many perks are given to students on different platforms, with Hulu offering its own. Hulu's student deal will be available for only $2 per month or a 75 percent discount on the regular price of this subscription option. This deal offers access to the streaming service's ad-supported tier, featuring its full library of shows and movies for its users. The ad-supported tiers of the streaming services have become popular in the past months, and Hulu now offers an additional perk for college students who meet its requirements. Hulu With Ads for Students Hulu has now introduced its "student deal," a new perk for students who are already existing Hulu subscribers or those new on the platform. The original price of this deal will set a regular subscriber to pay as much as $7.99. However, with an eligible enrollment status, students can get as much as $6 off the original monthly subscription price, which can be availed until they graduate or stop schooling. Both new and existing subscribers may opt to join the student program on Hulu, with the option to change their subscription if their current plan is billed directly through the company. It is important to note that this deal is only available for US college students, as the streaming platform is available in US territories and US military bases. Read Also: Disney's New Streaming Platform is Coming by End of 2023, Bringing Disney+ and Hulu Offers How to Avail Hulu's Student Deal Head to Hulu's student deal website to get started, and it would require students to have their student IDs with them. The verification process will check the student's credentials through SheerID, which will check if they are eligible. It also requires enrollment at a US Title IV accredited college or university to qualify. Student Deals Available Student deals are available from different companies, not only via streaming platforms like Hulu. Among the most popular ones is Spotify Premium. There is also one for YouTube Premium, which offers an ad-free subscription featuring 1080p Premium resolution for those eligible for its student program, similar to what Spotify offers for college students. There is also Apple's famed Education Store, which offers various items at a discounted price as long as users have an eligible student ID or enrollment proof. This program provides discounts of as much as $20 to $50 on every purchase, focusing on Apple's iPad and Mac lineups and accessories like the Apple Pencil, stands, and more. Not all students are capable of purchasing subscriptions and experiences at a regular price. Some students are also working and can only enjoy the little things in life. Good thing Hulu's latest student deal will give users a discount of up to $6 per month on the ad-supported tier as long as they have a valid student ID or enrollment. This pricing will be available until they graduate or stop their schooling. Related Article: Hulu Animayhem is the New 'Animation Destination' for All Adult, Anime Content 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Google is launching a new feature in its search platform, poised to challenge the popular language learning app Duolingo. This tool is designed to facilitate English language practice and improvement, targeting a wide audience of language learners. "We are excited to announce a new feature of Google Search that helps people practice speaking and improve their language skills," Google said in a blog post. This new feature is set to roll out gradually in the next few days, initially becoming available to Android users in specific regions, including Argentina, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Mexico, and Venezuela. Google's expansion plan includes incorporating more countries and languages in the near future. Google Interactive Platform for Practicing English The primary function of this feature is to offer users an interactive platform for practicing spoken English. Learners are presented with real-world prompts and encouraged to form their own spoken responses using a provided vocabulary word. These practice sessions are designed to be short, spanning 3 to 5 minutes, ensuring they are convenient to fit into a busy schedule. Participants receive personalized feedback, allowing for continuous improvement. Additionally, users have the option to receive daily reminders, promoting consistent practice. The tool is tailored to work harmoniously with other language learning resources and services as a supplementary aid to personal tutoring, mobile applications, and formal classes. Google envisions it as an additional tool in the arsenal of language learners, providing diverse options for honing their language skills. Google's development of this feature involved collaboration with linguists, teachers, and ESL/EFL pedagogy experts. The objective was to create a practice experience that is not only effective but also motivates learners. Providing real-time, personalized feedback is a crucial aspect of effective language learning. Google's system analyzes user responses and offers suggestions and corrections promptly. Semantic feedback evaluates whether the response is relevant to the question and if it is likely to be understood in a conversation. Grammar feedback provides insights into potential grammatical improvements. Moreover, a set of example answers is provided at varying levels of language complexity, offering concrete suggestions for alternative responses. Read Also: Google Chrome's Address Bar Unveils Cool Upgrades: Instant Bookmark Searches, Typo Fixes, and More Deep Aligner One technical challenge Google overcame in creating this feature was enabling contextual translation. During practice sessions, users can tap on any word they don't understand to see its translation within the context of the sentence. That required the development of a novel deep learning model known as Deep Aligner, which was created in collaboration with the Google Translate team. The model aligns language pairs, significantly improving the quality of word alignments in comparison to existing approaches. This model is integrated into Google's translation APIs, resulting in notable enhancements such as improved formatting for translated PDFs and websites in Chrome, refined translation of YouTube captions, and an elevated performance of Google Cloud's translation API. "Google Search is already a valuable tool for language learners, providing translations, definitions, and other resources to improve vocabulary. Now, learners translating to or from English on their Android phones will find a new English speaking practice experience with personalized feedback," the company said in a statement. Related Article: YouTube Introduces Dedicated News Watch Experience Page to Tackle Misinformation 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A new breakthrough in radio astronomy has unveiled a record-breaking fast radio burst (FRB) that takes eight billion years to reach Earth. According to CNN, the mysterious FRB is one of the most distant and energetic ever observed. This discovery, led by Dr. Stuart Ryder from Macquarie University and Associate Professor Ryan Shannon from Swinburne University of Technology, shattered their previous record by 50 percent and confirmed the potential of FRBs in probing the elusive cosmic matter that lies between galaxies, Scimex reported. The Fast Radio Burst From Merging Galaxies The origin of this burst has been traced to a group of two or three merging galaxies, aligning with current scientific theories regarding the source of FRBs. Moreover, it has been found that our current telescopic capabilities can effectively detect and pinpoint FRBs dating back as far as eight billion years. The event was captured on June 10, 2022, by the CSIRO's ASKAP radio telescope in Wajarri Yamaji Country in Australia. This particular FRB released an amount of energy equivalent to our sun's total emissions in a span of 30 years, all within a fraction of a millisecond. The burst, named FRB 20220610A, has reaffirmed the feasibility of utilizing FRB data to weigh the universe, a concept initially proposed by the late Australian astronomer Jean-Pierre 'J-P' Macquart in 2020. Known as the Macquart relation, this principle suggests that the farther an FRB is, the more diffuse gas it unveils between galaxies. This discovery validates the Macquart relation, upholding its applicability to regions extending beyond half of the currently known universe. With nearly 50 FRBs identified thus far, almost half through the use of ASKAP, researchers anticipate the potential detection of thousands more, including those located at even greater distances. The forthcoming Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescopes, currently in construction in Western Australia and South Africa, are poised to enhance the precision of FRB detection, enabling the study of even older and more distant FRBs. Additionally, the Extremely Large Telescope by ESO, under construction in the Chilean desert, will play a pivotal role in examining the galaxies from which these FRBs originate. This achievement was made possible through a collaborative international effort involving institutions and researchers from various countries, including the Netherlands, Chile, Japan, the UK, and the USA, alongside prominent Australian institutions like Macquarie University, Swinburne University of Technology, CSIRO, ICRAR/Curtin University, ASTRO 3D, and the University of Sydney. Read Also: Scientists Capture Proof of Mysterious Spinning Black Hole Fast Radio Burst Can be Used to Measure 'Missing' Matter Between Galaxies The discovery also addresses a current challenge in cosmology, as existing methods for estimating the universe's mass yield conflicting results, prompting a reevaluation of the standard model. Shannon said: "We think that the missing matter is hiding in the space between galaxies, but it may just be so hot and diffuse that it's impossible to see using normal techniques." In this context, fast radio bursts provide a unique window into this ionized material, offering a means to measure the density of intergalactic matter even in seemingly empty regions of space. That, in turn, holds promise for refining our understanding of the cosmic landscape. FRBs are reportedly intense, millisecond-long bursts of radio waves coming from unknown origins. The first FRB was discovered in 2007, and since then, hundreds of these cosmic flashes, lasting only a few milliseconds at most before disappearing, have been detected from distant points across the universe. The findings of the research team were published in the journal Science. Related Article: Astronomers Find Strange Object Being Dragged Into Milky Way's Supermassive Black Hole 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Boeing and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on developing a transformative kit that will convert a "dumb" 500-lb (228 kg) unguided bomb into a compact precision cruise missile powered by a jet turbine engine. The term "dumb iron bomb" refers to a conventional unguided bomb that relies solely on its ballistic characteristics for accuracy. Unlike guided bombs, which have sophisticated guidance systems that allow them to be precisely directed toward a target, dumb bombs are dropped from an aircraft and follow a predictable ballistic trajectory until they hit the ground. Boeing and Kratos Partnership Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, a technology-focused entity specializing in Defense, National Security, and Global Markets, announced this pivotal step in partnership with Boeing. Technical Directions, Inc. (TDI), a division within Kratos Unmanned Systems Division, will be instrumental in providing the TDI-J85 turbine engine to propel the Powered Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM). The Powered JDAM initiative by Boeing integrates a 500-pound ordnance, the conventional JDAM guidance kit, along with a wing kit and the Kratos TDI-J85 engine. This combination results in an extended operational range, ensuring a cost-effective solution. The project's financial viability is bolstered by the cost-efficient turbine engine technology developed and perfected by TDI in a span of four decades. The Powered JDAM system is poised to offer a budget-friendly standoff capability against both land-based and maritime threats. Utilizing the well-established JDAM weapons infrastructure, it is engineered for extensive manufacturing, and it can be supplied to any of the 35 partner nations associated with JDAM. Joseph Kovasity, Senior Vice President for TDI, expressed pride in Boeing's selection of the TDI-J85 engine for the Powered JDAM system. He highlighted the substantial investment made by Kratos TDI in manufacturing processes, emphasizing the efficient production of small-scale, economical military-grade turbine engines in the United States, with a strong reliance on domestic suppliers and collaborators. The acquisition of TDI by Kratos has reinforced this commitment to scalability, resulting in an exceptional engine performance-to-cost ratio, enabling the envisaged large-scale production demands of the Powered JDAM program, according to Kovasity. Read Also: Waymo Launches New Simulator 'Waymax' for Large-Scale Autonomous Driving Research 'Next Step in the Modular Evolution' "Powered JDAM is the next step in the modular evolution of the JDAM and JDAM Extended Range family of weapons systems. Its ability to complement exquisite weapons system with low-cost standoff capability will add new weapons capacity to the U.S. defense industrial base to support the current fight and deter future fights," said Bob Ciesla, Vice President of Boeing Precision Engagement Systems. The TDI-J85 engine boasts a straightforward architecture, capable of generating 200 lbf (pound-force) of net thrust under Sea-Level Static conditions. Specific requirements for the Powered JDAM are met through tailored design adjustments to achieve the desired thrust output. The TDI-J85 engine is designed to operate with both commercial and military-grade kerosene turbine fuels. Notably, according to Kratos, the engine's shaft-integral permanent magnet generator can produce up to 1.5 kW of AC power, ensuring sufficient onboard power throughout varying engine speeds, from idle to maximum. Related Article: NASA Teams Up With Boeing: MD-90 Aircraft Transported to Palmdale for Conversion Into New X-Plane 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A novel form of deep brain stimulation offers a potential non-surgical avenue for treating dementia, heralding a promising development in the field of neurology. Scientists at Imperial College London have spearheaded the creation and assessment of this non-invasive technique, known as temporal interference (TI), which delivers electrical fields to the brain via electrodes placed on the patient's scalp and head. By targeting the intersection of electrical fields, researchers stimulated the hippocampus, a deep-seated region of the brain crucial for memory, without affecting surrounding areas. Brain Simulation Offers Potential Dementia Treatment In a pioneering trial, the UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) at Imperial and the University of Surrey enlisted 20 healthy volunteers. Their preliminary findings indicate that engaging in a memory task while receiving TI stimulation led to improved memory function in these individuals. Encouraged by these initial outcomes, the research team is embarking on a clinical trial involving individuals with early-stage Alzheimer's disease. In this stage, TI holds the potential to alleviate symptoms of memory loss, providing a glimmer of hope for those affected. Dr. Nir Grossman, leading the study from the Department of Brain Sciences at Imperial College London, underscores the significance of this breakthrough, saying: "With our new technique we have shown for the first time, that it is possible to remotely stimulate specific regions deep within the human brain without the need for surgery. " Temporal interference, first introduced by the Imperial College London team in 2017, demonstrated promise in mice. The current research advances this progress by showcasing the effectiveness of TI in stimulating deep brain regions in humans. This achievement bears significant implications, enabling scientists to explore further the functional roles of various deep brain regions and expediting the discovery of potential therapeutic targets. Researchers initially validated the capacity to focus electric fields on the hippocampus. Subsequently, they applied TI stimulation to healthy volunteers engaged in memorization tasks closely tied to hippocampal function. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) demonstrated that TI selectively influenced hippocampal activity linked to the memory task. Furthermore, when the procedure was extended to 30 minutes, TI stimulation during the task led to heightened memory accuracy. This could mark a significant stride towards understanding and potentially treating conditions related to memory impairment. Read Also: Scientists Create Virtual Marmite, Vegemite for Taste Test That Could Help With Early Alzheimer's Diagnosis Transformative Potential Dr. Ines Violante from the University of Surrey and Honorary Research Fellow at Imperial, emphasized the transformative potential of this non-invasive approach, stating, "The ability to selectively target deep brain areas using a non-invasive approach is very exciting as it provides a tool to investigate how the human brain operates and opens possibilities for clinical applications." Grossman expressed optimism that this innovation could democratize access to deep brain stimulation therapies by substantially reducing cost and risk. Investigations and tests are ongoing to determine whether repeated treatment over several days could benefit those in the early stages of Alzheimer's, potentially restoring normal brain activity in affected areas and ameliorating symptoms of memory impairment. The findings of the team were published in Nature Neuroscience. Related Article: Renowned Molecular Biologist Justin Yerbury Passes Away After Inspirational Battle with Motor Neurone Disease 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. NASA's Lucy spacecraft is on track for its inaugural close encounter with an asteroid. On November 1, it will pass by the asteroid Dinkinesh and test its instruments in anticipation of future visits to multiple Trojan asteroids that share Jupiter's orbit around the sun. Dinkinesh, measuring less than half a mile (1 kilometer) in width, orbits within the main belt of asteroids situated between Mars and Jupiter. Since September 3, Lucy has been visually monitoring Dinkinesh. This marks the first of 10 asteroids that Lucy will investigate during its 12-year expedition. Hal Levison, Lucy's principal investigator from the Southwest Research Institute, based in San Antonio, commented, "This is the first time Lucy will be getting a close look at an object that, up to this point, has only been an unresolved smudge in the best telescopes. Dinkinesh is about to be revealed to humanity for the first time." NASA Lucy Mission to Survey Jupiter Trojan Asteroids The primary objective of the Lucy mission, launched on October 16, 2021, is to survey the Jupiter Trojan asteroids, an unexplored group of small celestial bodies that orbit the Sun in two clusters ahead of and trailing behind Jupiter in its orbit. Before reaching the Trojans, Lucy will conduct a flyby of another main belt asteroid in 2025, Donaldjohanson, to conduct additional in-flight tests of the spacecraft's systems and procedures. During the Dinkinesh flyby, the team will evaluate its terminal-tracking system, allowing the spacecraft to independently determine the asteroid's position, ensuring it stays within the view of the instruments during the encounter. Given that this encounter primarily aims to test Lucy's systems, the scientific observations will be more straightforward than those targeted at the main mission objectives, according to NASA. The spacecraft and its instrument platform will align two hours before reaching the closest point to Dinkinesh. Afterward, it will initiate data collection using its high-resolution camera (L'LORRI) and thermal-infrared camera (L'TES). The spacecraft will activate the asteroid tracking through the terminal-tracking system an hour before the closest approach. Lucy's closest approach is projected to occur at 12:54 p.m. EDT when it will be approximately 270 miles (430 kilometers) from the asteroid. Read Also: NASA's Lucy Spacecraft Nears Approach to Asteroid Dinkinesh Capturing Dinkinesh Lucy will continuously capture images and track Dinkinesh for nearly an additional hour. Following this, the spacecraft will adjust its orientation to reestablish communication with Earth but will intermittently record images of Dinkinesh with L'LORRI over the subsequent four days. Once the spacecraft's condition is verified, engineers will command Lucy to transmit science data from the encounter to Earth. This data transmission process will extend over several days. Although the primary objective of the Dinkinesh encounter is an engineering assessment, mission scientists aim to leverage the acquired data for a deeper understanding of the relationship between larger main belt asteroids explored in previous NASA missions and the smaller near-Earth asteroids. Following the Dinkinesh encounter, the Lucy spacecraft will continue its orbit around the sun, circling back to Earth's proximity for its second gravity assist in December 2024. This gravitational boost from Earth will propel it back to the main asteroid belt for its 2025 Donaldjohanson flyby, marking the next step in its journey towards the Jupiter Trojan asteroids in 2027. Related Article: NASA's Lucy Spacecraft Gets First Look of Tiny Asteroid Dinkinesh 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The United States Justice Department has recently unveiled a massive scheme where North Korean nationals have covertly infiltrated the US IT workforce using fake identities. This operation was designed to generate income for North Korea's weapons of mass destruction programs, posing a significant threat to national security and business integrity. FBI Discloses Massive North Korean IT Scheme Engadget tells us that during a news conference in St. Louis, Missouri, the FBI disclosed that thousands of individuals had relocated to countries like Russia and China, presenting themselves as freelance IT professionals living in the United States. The intricate scheme involved the use of counterfeit information for emails, payment platforms, and websites, often involving payments to unwitting Americans for the use of their Wi-Fi services and the setup of proxy computers. In a further sinister twist, some of these operatives also breached their employers' computer networks, compromising sensitive information and potentially paving the way for extortion and other nefarious activities. A Pervasive Scheme Special Agent in Charge Jay Greenberg of the FBI St. Louis Division warned that this scheme had become alarmingly pervasive. He stated, "This scheme is so prevalent that companies must be vigilant to verify whom they're hiring. At a minimum, the FBI recommends that employers take additional proactive steps with remote IT workers to make it harder for bad actors to hide their identities." "Without due diligence, companies risk losing money or being compromised by insider threats they unknowingly invited inside their systems," Greenberg warns. Read Also: 23andMe Hit By Another Data Breach as Hacker Leaks Millions of Users' Stolen Information While the FBI did not reveal when they initially discovered this plot or the specific businesses impacted, they warned the IT industry about the scheme in May 2022. The Government Takes Action The seizures conducted in October 2022 and January 2023 resulted in the confiscation of approximately $1.5 million in earnings from the rogue IT workers. The justice department's recent actions include the seizure of 17 website domains used by North Korean IT workers, which was made possible by a court order issued in the Eastern District of Missouri on October 17. These websites were crucial in defrauding US and foreign businesses, evading sanctions, and financing North Korea's weapons development. Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen emphasized, "The Department of Justice is committed to working with private sector partners to protect US businesses from this kind of fraud, to enhance our collective cybersecurity and to disrupt the funds fueling North Korean missiles." The scheme involved North Korean IT workers using pseudonymous email accounts, fake social media profiles, payment platforms, and fraudulent websites to generate millions of dollars annually. This money was funneled to designated entities involved in North Korea's weapons of mass destruction programs. Moreover, these IT workers also infiltrated their employers' computer networks, potentially stealing sensitive data and creating opportunities for future hacking and extortion schemes. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: Big Tech Under EU Scrutiny: Meta and TikTok's Actions During Israel-Hamas War Questioned 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A team of researchers from the University of Vienna uncovered sealed jars of wine dating back 5,000 years in the tomb of Queen Meret-Neith, believed to be the most powerful woman of her era and possibly Egypt's first female pharaoh. The findings shed new light on ancient Egyptian history, providing a glimpse into the life and times of a remarkable woman who had an extraordinary role in the ancient world. Unearthing Egypt's First Female Pharaoh Fox News reports that Queen Meret-Neith's tomb, situated in Abydos, Egypt, was a monumental complex constructed with unbaked mud bricks, clay, and wood. The researchers, led by archaeology professor Christiana Kohler, were astounded by the excellent preservation of the artifacts, including well-preserved grape seeds, perfectly sealed wine jars, and even footprints in the mud. Kohler expressed their astonishment at the level of detail they encountered during their excavations. Ancient Wine Jars Discovered The most intriguing aspect of this discovery is the sealed wine jars. Some of them remained in their original state, their contents offering a tantalizing glimpse into the winemaking practices of the time. The residue inside these jars, which includes grape seeds and possibly tartar crystals, is currently undergoing scientific analysis. Emlyn Dodd, an archaeologist from England's Institute of Classical Studies, notes that this discovery could significantly contribute to our understanding of ancient winemaking, shedding light on the chemical composition and flavor profiles of wines from that era. Read Also: Ancient Herculanuem Scroll Message Unveiled: Student Used AI to Decipher 1st Vesuvius Challenge More Interesting Discoveries Meret-Neith's significance in ancient Egypt is further underscored by inscriptions found within the tomb, which indicate that she held key governmental positions, including the management of the royal treasury. This has led to speculation that she might have been the first female pharaoh in Egypt, a claim that some experts dispute. Margaret Maitland, a curator at National Museums Scotland, points out that women's roles in royal successions were limited at the time, but Meret-Neith indeed possessed an unusual level of authority for a woman of her status. The tomb complex also contains the remains of 41 courtiers and servants, challenging previous assumptions about the nature of royal Egyptian burials. It was once believed that these early Egyptian burials included ritual human sacrifices, but this theory has yet to be proven. The research is ongoing, and the team is optimistic about unraveling more of the mysteries surrounding Meret-Neith's life and influence in Egypt. Christiana Kohler expressed confidence that the full excavation of the complex would yield even more insights. This remarkable discovery not only provides a glimpse into the winemaking practices of ancient Egypt but also highlights the historical significance of a powerful woman whose role in shaping the ancient world remains a subject of intrigue and debate. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: 4,000-Year-Old Mysterious Rock Marks Archaeological 'Treasure Map' in France 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Amazon has unveiled its ambitious plan to introduce autonomous drone delivery in the UK and Italy, marking its first international expansion of the Prime Air program. Set to launch in late 2024, this move comes after the e-commerce giant initiated drone delivery services in the US less than a year ago. A Decade-Long Dream Takes Off According to Amazon's latest blog, the announcement aligns with its decade-old vision to revolutionize the delivery industry using drones. According to its plan, it will disseminate delivery drones in two new countries next year. In doing so, Amazon envisions to transport 500 million packages via autonomous airmail by the end of 2030. Related Article: Amazon Prime Air Drone Delivery Unit Affected with Recent Layoffs Not Like Other Delivery Drones Amazon has proven that it could go beyond the normal purpose of drones by rolling out the new MK30 model. This drone is intended to fly first in the UK and Italy soon, according to The Guardian. Unlike the existing drones, the MK30 eliminates the need for dedicated delivery pads, offering more flexibility in the drop-off process. These drones are also built to operate in light rain, handle heavier winds, and conduct evening flights, making them more versatile. "Amazon's announcement is a fantastic example of Government and industry coming together to achieve our shared vision for commercial drones to be commonplace in the UK by 2030," UK Aviation Minister, Baroness Vere said via TechRadar. She added that Amazon's new batch of delivery drones will not only improve the economy but also aid the consumers to prefer a delivery service which promotes zero emission technology. Slow Progress and New Expectations Despite announcing its drone delivery concept in 2013, Amazon's progress has been relatively slow. While the company's Prime Air service launched in California and Texas in late 2022, the initial performance fell short of expectations, with just around 100 deliveries reported by May 2023. However, the company emphasizes that its drone activity has since accelerated, with "thousands" of successful deliveries and an expanding customer base. Are Amazon Prime Air Drones Safe? Amazon remains committed to addressing safety concerns and regulatory requirements. With a keen eye on safety, the company asserts that using MK30 drones for deliveries will be "hundreds of times safer" than the conventional method of driving to a store. While regulations currently mandate visual line-of-sight operations and the presence of observers, Amazon hopes for a framework change in the near future to enable beyond visual line-of-sight operations. The introduction of drone delivery in the UK and Italy is a significant leap for Amazon, setting the stage for a new era in the world of e-commerce and package delivery. The sky is limitless for Amazon which is extending its new service to the customers in a safer mode of transportation of products. Read Also: Amazon Prime Air Prepares to Launch in California Despite Myriad Setbacks Officially 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. An intriguing mix of legal professionals and unexpected personalities converged during the high-stakes trial of cryptocurrency pioneer Sam Bankman-Fried for fraud, creating a captivating contrast between the formal courtroom and the vibrant cryptocurrency community. A diverse group of legal experts have gathered over the past three weeks at the trial of Sam Bankman-Fried, the cryptocurrency tycoon accused of fraud. They include Manhattan federal prosecutor Damian Williams, who spends long hours in the 26th-floor courtroom with friends from top law firms, and a former subordinate to Robert Mueller III, who probed former US President Donald J. Trump. The New York Times reported that the 39-year-old crypto-focused YouTuber Taco surprised legal minds in the Sam Bankman-Fried trial. The attorneys, journalists, and interested bystanders who line up every morning in central Manhattan to get seats for Bankman-Fried's trial have learned to expect Taco. He starts his day with a smoke or two and then hosts a crypto-themed video chat to inform his 5,000 online fans about the trial. Degenerates In The Courtroom Taco, who remains nameless out of respect for his privacy, is determined to attend the "trial of the century." He points out, "Everyone talks about how important crypto is to them, but then they don't go to any events," as quoted by The New York Times. With its focus on Sam Bankman-Fried and the FTX crypto exchange's collapse, this trial brings together the hyper-online community of crypto fans, often called "degenerates," and a federal courtroom. As the Sam Bankman-Fried trial goes on, traditional reporters compete for seats with online celebrities and crypto influencers. A lawyer outside the courthouse distributes "DeFi Defense Lawyer," referencing decentralized finance and business cards. In court, FTX executives explain crypto lingo like "FUD," which crypto enthusiasts use to reject criticism, highlighting the distinct cultural clash. Read Also: Is It Time to Switch to WiFi 7? What You Should Consider Meanwhile, people like Caroline Ellison, Sam Bankman-Fried's ex-girlfriend and a key player in his Bitcoin business empire, have taken center stage in this court circus. During her testimony last week, Ellison has charged Bankman-Fried with planning a plot to defraud consumers, investors, and lenders out of billions of dollars. The star witness identified him as the architect of the mechanisms that enabled Alameda to access money and coordinate the use of client funds for loan repayment, per NPR. Taco and other cryptocurrency industry insiders find themselves on a fascinating collision course with the formality of the courtroom, providing a unique setting for a cryptocurrency tycoon's trial. The Mystery of the $9 Billion Missing FTX Funds Uncovered Moreover, this week, forensic accountant Peter Easton marked a major development in the Sam Bankman-Fried trial when he revealed the mystery of $9 billion in missing client funds from FTX dating back to June 2022, months before the business filed for bankruptcy. Only $2.3 billion of the $11.3 billion in FTX client cash that was supposed to be stored at Alameda Research, according to Easton, a professor at the University of Notre Dame, as reported by Bloomberg. These monies were used for a range of activities, including investments by Anthony Scaramucci and Lily Zhang at Modulo Capital, political donations, charitable organizations, and real estate purchases. Easton's evidence supports the prosecution's assertion that Bankman-Fried routed client monies to Alameda for investments, political contributions, and property acquisitions, causing both firms' demise. Sam Bankman-Fried is currently being prosecuted on several counts of fraud and conspiracy, which might result in a lengthy jail term. The inquiry also found illegal transactions in which Alameda's loan from Genesis Capital was repaid using assets belonging to customers. Moreover, Modulo Capital consented to reimburse FTX for about $404 million as part of the exchange's bankruptcy lawsuit in March. As the criminal case enters its third week, Easton's evidence serves as one of the final declarations from US government witnesses. Related Article: Gemini Trust, 2 Other Crypto Firms Sued Over $1 Billion 'Investor Fraud' by New York State 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Schools around the United States have progressively adopted a no-phone policy, requiring students to lock away their gadgets during the school day. A CBS News report tells us that it is to promote a more focused and mentally healthy learning environment. The shift is driven by growing concerns about the impact of smartphones on students' mental health and academic performance. US Schools Adopt No-Phone Policy One notable example of this trend can be found at Newburgh Free Academy in New York. Students at this public high school start their day by placing their phones in specially designed pouches that remain locked for seven hours, even during lunchtime. The initial introduction of this policy at Newburgh four years ago sparked mixed reactions among students. Senior Tyson Hill initially considered starting a petition to oppose it. However, over time, he found himself appreciating the benefits of a phone-free school. "Coming from a school where phone bans weren't enforced, I was still using my phone. I was constantly on it," Hill admitted. Read Also: How to Protect Yourself Against Cybersecurity Attacks While Gaming [2023] Interesting Results, Adverse Effects of Too Much Phone Exposure Teachers at Newburgh have also noticed significant changes in student behavior. The hallways are filled with students who walk with their heads up, engaging with one another, and the cafeteria is alive with conversation and laughter. The rise of no-phone policies in schools aligns with growing concerns about children's mental health and the role of technology in exacerbating these issues. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a 40% increase in feelings of persistent sadness, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts among students. Notably, test scores, especially in math for grades 4 and 8, experienced their most substantial decline on record. Social psychologist and author Jonathan Haidt believes smartphones, including their social media and messaging apps, are at the root of this problem. He argues that phones have transformed from simple communication tools into constant sources of distraction. Ebony Clark, assistant principal at Newburgh Free Academy, pointed out that phones can also pose safety risks in emergency situations. "If there's an emergency, an active shooter, that phone going off makes them a target," she explained. A Closer Look at the Restrictions According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2020, cellphone bans were in place in 76% of US schools. However, schools have adopted varying degrees of restrictions, with some adopting more comprehensive policies than others. Concerns about student behavior and mental health drive the decision to implement strict no-phone policies. Patrick Danz, an English teacher at Allen Park High School believes that any instructional benefits smartphones provide are outweighed by the problems and distractions they introduce into the classroom. The National Education Association tells us that the extent of these bans varies, with some school leaders believing that a cellphone-free environment can lead to reduced incidents of cyberbullying, improved attendance, and decreased time spent on social media. The primary goal is to enhance student engagement in the classroom, as research shows that cell phones are a significant distraction, even when not in use. However, there is a need to strike a balance. Some experts caution against overly restrictive policies, emphasizing that the instructional benefits of cell phones are not entirely clear-cut. While complete eradication of cell phones from school campuses may be unrealistic, they suggest that schools should adopt flexible and consistent policies. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: UN Raises Alarm on Overreliance of Technology in Classrooms 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The US Navy warship USS Carney intercepted numerous missiles and drones launched by Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen. These weapons may be headed to Israel, increasing regional security worries, according to the Pentagon. Brigadier General Pat Ryder, the press secretary for the Pentagon, stated that the USS Carney intercepted three ground attack cruise missiles and several drones over the Red Sea. Gen. Ryder said this action illustrates the integrated air and missile defense infrastructure to safeguard US interests and allies. No one was hurt during the incident. Initial US evaluations indicate that the USS Carney was not the drone attack's main target. General Ryder stated that US officials would decide the timing and strategy of any response to the incident, according to VOA. Do Iranian-Backed Militias Want to Engage War with US? The US calls its expanded presence in the Middle East region a deterrent against Hezbollah and Iran's attempts to escalate the conflict. It is noteworthy that this Red Sea episode came after a slew of recent drone assaults on American outposts in Iraq, where coalition personnel suffered minor casualties. AP News reported that tensions have risen after a Gaza hospital explosion and threats by Iranian-backed militias in Iraq to attack US installations due to US backing for Israel. An alliance of Iranian-backed militias known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed credit for the drone strikes and threatened further actions against the "American occupation." Dakota Wood, a senior research scholar at The Heritage Foundation, theorized that Hamas, Iran, and Hezbollah would not care about the US military's strategy and may want to involve the US in a conflict for their own benefit due to the high stakes. The extended Middle East crisis has raised concerns about a larger regional battle, prompting greater U.S. military resources. US President Joe Biden sent two aircraft carriers and 2,000 Marines to the Middle East. Read Also: Sam Bankman-Fried Trial: Crypto Culture and Legal Minds Collide US Troops Targeted More Amid the Israel-Hamas War After Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, US soldiers were targeted more. Drone attacks against US personnel have since caused injuries and deaths. Early this week, US soldiers intercepted many drones intended for troops. Then, a drone targeted US Marines in Syria on Wednesday, inflicting only minor casualties, while another drone was destroyed. However, an unfortunate cardiac arrest happened to a civilian contractor during a false alert at the Ain al-Asad airfield in Iraq. On Thursday, drones and missiles targeted the facility, which houses US and foreign personnel in western Iraq. There have reportedly been numerous explosions within the facility. Separately, the Iraqi police acknowledged that missiles had attacked a military installation housing American personnel close to Baghdad's international airport; however, no specifics were given. "While I'm not going to forecast any potential responses to these attacks, I will say that we will take all necessary actions to defend US and coalition forces against any threat," Brigadier General Patrick Ryder told reporters, as quoted by Al Jazeera. Ryder noted on Thursday that the Pentagon has now identified the forces that the prepare-to-deploy order has tasked. However, he refused to provide any details until "those units are actually tasked to deploy." Related Article: North Korean Operatives Infiltrate US IT Workforce Using Fake Identities: FBI Reveals Massive Scheme 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. OnePlus 12 could be the smartphone that the latest rumor was describing. A Chinese tipster says that the phone maker will unveil a 3,000 nits display. If that's the case, this could be the brightest OLED screen you will ever see. You better ready your sunglasses before looking at this screen. Dazzling Partnership For OnePlus and BOE As PhoneArena reports, OnePlus is said to be collaborating with BOE to create this astounding display. The event to unveil this innovation is slated for October 24, taking place in China. The company has reportedly teased the event on Weibo, hinting at a "historic moment for Chinese screens." While specific technical details are still a well-guarded secret, notable tipster Digital Chat Station provides some intriguing information. According to the reputable leaker, the display is expected to boast a "2K" resolution and a remarkable brightness level of 3,000 nits. The tipster also suggests that BOE will introduce another display with the same 3,000 nits brightness but a "1.5K" resolution. These cutting-edge screens are rumored to incorporate 2,160Hz PWM dimming and "single pulse DC." Related Article: [LEAK] OnePlus Open is Coming With Hasselblad-Powered Circular Camera Array, More Affordable Than Pixel Fold at $1800 The OnePlus 12 Connection Though the OnePlus 12 is not expected for a few more months, there's speculation that it could feature this groundbreaking 3,000 nits display resulting from the collaboration between OnePlus and BOE, per Sam Mobile. This impressive brightness level certainly positions OnePlus as a significant player in the smartphone display arena. So far, it would mean that OnePlus could beat Samsung when it comes to peak brightness. Right now, Samsung's Galaxy S24 will boast 2,400 nits of brightness. Is the OnePlus Open Worth it? In another interesting report by Pocket-lint, OnePlus Open is slated to be available for pre-orders next week, Oct. 20-25. Upon its launch, it will go on sale in the US for $1,699 starting Oct. 27. If you're living in the UK, it will cost you 1599. SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Display: 6.2-inch AMOLED, 2484 x 1116, 120Hz (cover) / 7.82-inch AMOLED, 2440 x 2268, 120Hz (main) RAM: 16 GB Storage: 512 GB Battery: 4805 mAh / 67W fast charging OS: OxygenOS 13.2 based on Android 13 Front camera: 32MP f/2.4 (cover), 20MP f/2.2 (main) Rear camera: 48MP f/1.7 main, 64MP f/2.6 3x telephoto, 48MP f/2.2. ultrawide Dimensions: 153.4 x 73.3 x 11.7mm (folded) / 153.4 x 143.1 x 5.8mm (unfolded) 245g IP Rating: IPX4 Just by looking at its specs, you already know the answer: it's all worth it. From its lightweight design to its powerful processor and impressive camera system, your money is guaranteed to be in good hands. If you're searching for a good smartwatch, the OnePlus Watch 2 is touted to be released in 2024. Before anything else, make sure to check its specs and features. Read Also: OnePlus Open 'Gapless' Hinge: First Look at New Flagship Foldable with CEO Pete Lau 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. China's artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem is expanding independently from the United States, with major companies working on both sides. In response to US AI goliaths OpenAI and Anthropic, China's AI sector is developing their technology, and among its leading players, Zhipu AI, a company that creates foundation models, made notable news today by stating that it has successfully received 2.5 billion yuan (about $340 million) in investment this year, as reported by TechCrunch. Zhipu AI was established in 2019 by Tang Jie, a well-known employee of the university's Department of Computer Science and Technology. He is a Tsinghua University graduate, a prominent institution. Zhipu AI is obtaining funding from regional investors to maintain its competitive advantage in this expensive AI race. Yuan-denominated money made up the $340 million investment, deviating from the usual preference for USD funds as the source of capital. Growing geopolitical tensions and the resulting digital gap are to blame for this transformation. US Imposed Further Chip Restrictions The timing of the announcent is crucial for the development of AI technology as new restrictions on the sale of Nvidia AI hardware by the Biden administration have recently hampered China's ability to train broad language models. Chinese AI businesses with significant financial resources have been stockpiling semiconductor supplies in anticipation of potential US semiconductor restrictions, spending hundreds of millions of dollars on these highly sought-after chips. US President Joe Biden issued an executive order in August limiting American investment in key Chinese innovation industries, including AI, semiconductors, and quantum computing. While slowing China's military development is the main goal, this measure has also caused US venture capitalists with a focus on China to avoid making investments in delicate sectors, per Reuters. In response to the new chip restrictions, China blasted the Biden administration, saying that the measure "violates the principles of the market economy and fair competition," according to a BBC report. Some companies have opted to restructure their China operations, with Sequoia Capital China changing its name to HongShan and GGV Capital following suit. Read Also: US Warship Intercepts Iran-Backed Houthi Missiles, Drones in Red Sea: Pentagon China's AI Sector Working Together Notably, Zhipu AI has received investments from HongShan, notable venture capital firms including Shunwei Capital and Hillhouse Capital, as well as a state fund run by Legend Capital. Zhipu AI has obtained funding from a prestigious group of Chinese internet goliaths in a surprising display of unity, bringing together even bitter competitors like Alibaba and Tencent, who seldom collaborate on investments. Ant Group, Alibaba, Tencent, Xiaomi, Meituan, Kingsoft, TAL Education Group, and Boss Zhipin are just a few of the illustrious names on this list. Recent advancements by Zhipu AI include the open-sourcing of ChatGLM-6B, a multilingual conversational AI model that was developed using an incredible six billion training parameters. This approach has the capacity to execute inferences on a single graphics card made for common use. In addition, Zhipu AI has unveiled the GLM-130B open-sourced foundation model, which was trained on an astounding 130 billion parameters. Related Article: NVIDIA, Foxconn Team Up to Build 'AI Factories' for the Self-Driving Car Era 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Content is the driving force behind your website and attracting new leads. Yet, for many entrepreneurs, figuring out the ins and outs of content management is one more task on an endless to-do list. Fortunately, there are some ways to ensure your content is always fresh and easy to maintain. With todays tools, planning a calendar and creating effective campaigns is workable for most small business owners. Here are some essential tips to simplify the process and ramp up the value of what you bring to your audience. 1. Study Your Competition IBISWorld estimates around 26.9% of all business is conducted online in 2023, with an expected annual growth rate of 2.8 percent. As companies look for ways to reduce costs and increase revenue, expect more competition but also more consumers shopping via websites. What is your competition doing that you are not? Take the time to list what you like on their website and in their content, and what you think you can improve on. While you want to avoid copying the content strategies of another brand, ensure you offer something even more valuable than the nearest competitor. 2. Set Quarterly Goals Make a list of things you would like to achieve with your content management system. Some worthy goals include: Increasing newsletter subscriptions Selling to more customers Expanding brand awareness Upselling to current clients Establishing your brand as an authority in the industry Your goals may vary from quarter to quarter. Sticking with one or two goals, and working hard to achieve them before moving on to something different is best. 3. Use a Content Calendar A content calendar achieves several things for small business owners: Ensures you publish on a predictable schedule Avoids repeating topics Assigns articles to writers Schedules when people are most likely to be online and interact with your posts Keeps you accountable to goals If you use a content management system such as WordPress, you will find plenty of plugins that help you track content management and planning. You can also utilize things such as If This Then That (IFTTT) to schedule social media posts when new content goes up on your site. Using IFTTT and other automated tools allows you to gain extra marketing traction from your content efforts. 4. Collect Data Gathering data on site visitors, callers to your customer service and interactions can be a challenge even for larger companies. The amount of unstructured data is set to reach about 80% by 2025. Cloud content management offers an opportunity to sift through mounds of data quickly. By tapping into the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and databases, you can discover topics your customers most want to know, what they are asking questions about and troubleshooting information they would welcome. 5. Focus on In-Depth Information If you have an idea for an article, you can be fairly certain at least dozens of others have already written on the topic. With the popularity of AI, more and more brands are releasing posts and social media uploads on a wide variety of issues. You can beat out the competition and stand apart as a valuable resource for your audience by digging deeper and finding the details others miss: Study what has already been written on the topic Make a list of things people have missed talking about that your readers need to know Find real-life examples to draw on to make your content more engaging Break things down so anyone can understand it The more you focus on pulling out truly valuable information, the more you will stand apart as an authority in your field. 6. Research User Intent Instead of writing on just anything, take the time to consider user intent. When someone searches for a particular keyword, what information are they actually looking for? Make a list of what you would expect to learn if you read an article or viewed a video about a query. You can also conduct some surveys with your customers. Find out what type of content structure they find most beneficial. Ask for instant feedback when they finish reading or viewing something. What else would they want to know about the topic? The better you understand your users, the more likely you are to write things that resonate with them. Study your area of expertise so covering the basics is instinctive. Then, spend time brainstorming how to add something fresh. 7. Repurpose Old Content While writing new content and publishing regularly is crucial, you can repurpose old content in new ways and make it valuable once again. Rather than pushing down old how-to articles or ignoring things getting less traffic, try this: Gather similar topics together and publish a free e-book for email subscribers Take snippets of videos and create an online webinar Gather statistics and create an infographic Write cornerstone pieces, collect topics and link to them At least part of your content management strategy should examine what to do with old content. 8. Ensure Mobile Responsiveness In September 2023, Statista reported around 95.3% of internet users use mobile phones to get online at least sometimes. If your content is not easily accessible on a smaller screen, you miss out on traffic and potential customers. Take the time to pull up every bit of content on your website on a smartphone and ensure it looks the way you want it to. Do images resize for mobile? Text should be legible and not run off the page. Another thing to consider is any calls to action (CTAs) within your content. If the user has to tap on a CTA button or text to go to the next page, is it easy to navigate with a thumb or forefinger? Even the placement can impact the user experience and how positive it is. Take the time to test accessing website content as well as social media posts. If it is not a one-step process on a phone, then it is time to revamp your design. 9. Establish a Format When people visit your website or social media page, they want to know they are hearing from your brand instantly. Anything you can do to enhance your brand image is helpful. Coming up with a basic format and sticking to it for every piece of content helps readers identify it is from you. For example, what is your article hierarchy? Are your headings in a certain size font? Are they bold? You can define how many words a subheading is, whether you start only with action words and even the length of subheading sections. If you use an image with your posts which you should what type of visual is it? Where is the photograph placed? Do you add a caption? Get down into the little details to make maximum impact with your readers and set your blog apart from every other small business out there. 10. Post Frequently If you had a friend who only contacted you once a year and did not have much to say, you probably would not consider them a close one. Yet, many websites post very sporadically, then expect their followers to engage and add to the conversation. If you want a highly interactive group of fans, you must post frequently and on a predictable schedule. Part of creating a content calendar includes setting aside specific days and times when people can rely on you to post something new and interesting. Consider it your talking platform via your site. While you should plan to post at least once or twice a week, it is okay to start small. Most businesses do not need to post a new article every day to draw attention. Post what matters and focus on quality content on a consistent day, and you will gain a following more quickly than you might expect. 11. Choose Amazing Visuals The human brain processes images much faster than text alone. It takes about 13 milliseconds for people to comprehend a visual. Adding photos and illustrations to content is crucial to leaving a lasting impression on users. Here are some ways you can incorporate images into your content management system and enhance understanding: Create an infographic with charts and graphs to show numbers Add a relevant photograph Create a cartoon that captures the moment or lightens the topic Use arrows and animations to point the user along the path you want them to take on your website While using unique images for your designs is always best, adding a few stock pieces can stretch your budget and still add interest. 12. Go Viral How do you choose topics that go viral and draw people in? A magic formula would be a nice way to achieve high traffic. Unfortunately, no one can reliably predict what people might flock to. Instead, take the time to get to know your niche: Look at topics in your industry and related ones Study keyword patterns and figure out what users search for while on your site Talk to your call center reps about what people call in and ask Visit forums related to what you do and see what questions users ask there Listen to speeches by industry experts, and pay attention to any Q&A sessions and what people ask Think about what you would want to know if you were just learning about your business or the topics you know best. The more you can break things down into specific keywords and find the longtail ones people search for most often, the more impact you will have and the greater chance of people sharing and taking you viral. 13. Interact With Your Audience If you plan to make social media part of your content management strategy, you will want to learn to engage your audience. Do not just throw stuff at them instead: Ask questions they can answer Respond to every comment Thank those who share your posts Host a contest Play an online game Go live on video Add reels To get the most traction from social media, you have to do more than just share content you place on your site. You must have a give-and-take relationship with your audience. 14. Enlist User Help Coming up with fresh content consistently is challenging for most smaller brands. You can likely only afford a few freelancers here and there, and do much of the work yourself. That means you may need to enlist help from time to time. One way to excite your users about the brand is by asking them to contribute through user-generated content (UGC). You will grab free content to use, build goodwill amongst your customers and get quite a bit of viral buzz going. Here are some ways to utilize UGC in your content schedule: Host a contest where users snap an image of them with your product and upload it with a hashtag to social media Invite regular customers to write an article about why they love your brand Take on some brand ambassadors Work with influencers to get the word out about what you do Invite your customers to post reviews on the site to add to the value of product descriptions Find ways for your buyers to be more involved in getting the word out about your products and services. They will feel heard and you will gain free content you otherwise would not have. Allow them to express themselves honestly and in their own words you should only edit for format or typos. 15. Collaborate With Other Experts You might be your industry's go-to person, but you cannot know every intricate detail about everything. Look for experts who are not your competition that can add to the discussion, and invite them to a video chat or to write a guest post on your site. Let someone whose business complements yours take over your Facebook group for the day or post on Instagram for you. One example might be a parenting expert who invites a renowned childrens psychologist to come share the latest research in the industry. Find people who add to the discussion and collaborate with them to expand both of your reaches. 16. Hire Top Performers As your business grows and you produce more content, you will need to hire some help to write new blog posts or schedule social media. It might be tempting to go to one of the cheap sites and get the least-expensive person to do this work. In content management, you often get what you pay for. You can generate content with a bot, but it is not going to be as good as what you will get when you hire someone who has written on the topic for ten years. You can get someone to throw up social media posts, but if there is no strategy behind the ones they choose and when they schedule them, you may miss out on new customers. Finding the right balance between hiring people you can rely on to deliver consistently and staying within budget is challenging. Keep those who are hard working and excellent producers happy you do not want to lose them and have to start the process of finding and training someone new again. Content Management in Minutes While producing the actual content can be a bit time consuming, coming up with a plan does not have to be. Content management can be as simple as planning to produce one article and one video a week, release them on Monday and Friday, and promote on Facebook and Instagram. Start with the time and resources you have, and grow as your revenue grows. Each quarter, come up with a fresh plan for how you will manage your content for the next three months. Eventually, the entire process will be second nature. Some go for fun, but many are seeking serious advice from fortunetellers, shamans, or diviners prior to important decisions like choosing a major, job, or spouse. Kim Sang-oh, a fortuneteller for 20 years in Miari, northeast Seoul, said, "About 30 percent of my customers are in their 20s or 30s. In the past, if you got any young customers they came with their parents to get a reading of their impending marriage. But these days university students come in groups of three or four to divine their future." An increasing number of young people are turning their back on modern rationality and consulting fortunetellers again. A 27-year-old salaried worker recently asked a fortuneteller in Seoul, if it would be okay to marry her boyfriend of three years. She said the fortuneteller told her that all the signs pointed to marital harmony and a better life. "When I got my current job, the same fortuneteller told me that it was a decent choice, so I decided to go for it," she recalls. Famous fortunetellers, shamans, or diviners are widely discussed and recommended online. One shaman who has only recently become possessed already earns around W150,000 per consultation, but there are many places offering university students special rates from W30,000 to W50,000 (US$1=W1,170). Inevitably the industry is expanding. A staffer with an association of diviners estimates the number of practitioners at around 300,000, and registered membership has been growing steadily in the last five years. Experts explain that uncertain economic times always increase demand for something that seems to offer assurance to the troubled and bewildered. Lee Myung-jin at Korea University, said, "The unstable labor market makes young people feel insecure and more prone to fortunetelling." According to Statistics Korea data in June, unemployment among people between 15 and 29 was 10.2 percent, and 34.8 percent in this age group only managed to land a temporary position. Some fortunetellers are also selling lucky charms tailored to their customers, from finding a job to coaxing back an old flame. They cost W300,000 to W500,000, but people snap them up. 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 spell of Salzburg beyond Mozart and 'The Sound of Music' Everyone feels very good when they are used New screen advice for babies, but the range is likely to remain Personnel records of "germ warfare research" units such as Unit 731 in the list of former Japan Army officers Shizuoka Festival float rollover accident Police investigate with a view to suspicion of manslaughter in the course of work Aftereffects of the new corona "brain fog" To research the mechanism of onset Yokohama City University Japan Series Round 6 If Hanshin wins, it will be the first time in Japan in 38 years "Children got into a fairy tale": a training camp for young football players was held in Novogorsk with the participation of Arshavin, Ovchinnikov and Samedov State Administration of Foreign Exchange: China's balance of payments remained basically balanced in the first three quarters Facua denounces the Rent Negotiation Agency for forcing the tenant to pay for services that in some cases correspond to the tenant Calvino assures "equal treatment" to all communities by forgiving the debt, "including those of the PP" For the first time, China's futures market authorized Asian exchanges to use Chinese prices to develop products-Chinanews.com Video Shenzhen's second-hand housing guide price has been cancelled again in the industry: there has been no clear notice "We have learned to overcome them": the Kremlin reacted to the new US economic sanctions Another horrific massacre. Dozens of martyrs and wounded in the bombing of a school housing displaced people Putin said that by the beginning of the special operation in Ukraine, Russia had already been attacked Experts: Street pressure and the failure of the occupation army in Gaza are pushing Washington to change its position? Zakharova compared the US statement on assistance to Ukraine with a child's game about a magpie 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 Grant to Defeat: How Kasparov Intends to Lobby for Anti-Russian Sanctions in the European Parliament In Moldova, candidates from the opposition party "Chance" were excluded from the elections Nasrallah: We have been involved in the war from the beginning and we are continuing in it What is the secret of the steadfastness of the people of Gaza? Campaign inside America to meditate on the Holy Quran 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 government wants to extend the maximum working week from 52 hours to up to 69 hours at busy times. Employers will be allowed to offer flexible working hours not only weekly, but monthly, quarterly and longer so that they can put their staff to work for longer hours at times with a heavy workload and have them take a long rest when the workload is light. But average weekly working hours are to remain within the 52-hour limit. The government on Monday proposed its first labor bill, which will be submitted to the National Assembly around June. But the majority opposition Minjoo Party, which was behind slashing the working week in the first place, is unlikely to consent, and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions have already protested, calling the idea a license to "work staff to death." The Taliban administration wants to formally join Chinese President Xi Jinping's huge "Belt and Road" infrastructure initiative and will send a technical team to China for talks, Afghanistan's acting commerce minister said on Thursday. Beijing has sought to develop its ties with the Taliban-run government since it took over in 2021, even though no other foreign government has recognized the administration. Last month, China became the first country to appoint an ambassador to Kabul, with other nations retaining previous ambassadors or appointed heads of mission in a charge d'affaires capacity that does not involve formally presenting credentials to the government. "We requested China to allow us to be a part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and Belt and Road Initiative... (and) are discussing technical issues today," acting Commerce Minister Haji Nooruddin Azizi told Reuters in an interview a day after the Belt and Road Forum ended in Beijing. The Pakistan "economic corridor" refers to the huge flagship section of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Afghanistan's neighbor. Azizi said the administration would also send a technical team to China to enable it to "better understand" the issues standing in the way of it joining the initiative, but did not elaborate on what was holding Afghanistan back. The nonprofit organization that operates a statewide online charter school has purchased the former Dior Bar and Lounge building on Bennington Avenue. Dior has been closed since late January, when a shooting at the nightclub left 12 people injured. Three people have been arrested and charged with multiple counts of attempted murder in connection with the mass shooting. History, historical significance, and origins of the names of Africa's ten largest capital cities. Each capital city's name carries with it a narrative that intertwines with the continent's colonial past, pre-colonial civilizations, indigenous languages, and even the geography that shaped their destinies. Delving into the stories behind these names not only sheds light on the origins of these urban centers but also offers a deeper appreciation of Africa's complex history and its enduring influence. Travel through time and space, delving into the history that lies behind the names on the map. These seemingly ordinary name markers hold a treasure trove of secrets. The names of Africa's ten largest capital cities have diverse historical backgrounds and linguistic influences. Cairo, Egypt Cairo's name is derived from the Arabic word al-Qahirah, which means The Victorious. It was named so after the city's establishment in 969 CE during the Fatimid Caliphate, signifying the region's conquest. Cairo is home to the world's oldest functioning university, Al-Azhar University, founded in 970 CE. Lagos, Nigeria Lagos, the largest city in Nigeria, has a Portuguese origin. Portuguese explorers initially named Lago de Curamo in the 15th century, meaning Lake of Curamo. Over time, it evolved into Lagos. Lagos is one of the fastest-growing cities globally and has the highest GDP of any city in Africa. It's a major economic hub. Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo Kinshasa was originally called Leopoldville when it was part of the Belgian Congo during the colonial era. It was renamed Kinshasa in 1966 after the country gained independence. The name Kinshasa comes from a nearby river. Kinshasa is located on the banks of the Congo River, making it one of the world's largest cities not on a coastline or a major river. Cape Town, South Africa Cape Town's name is quite straightforward, as it is located at the southern tip of Africa, near the Cape of Good Hope. The city was initially established as a supply station by the Dutch East India Company in 1652. Table Mountain, a prominent natural landmark in Cape Town, is one of the oldest mountains on Earth, even older than the Himalayas. Nairobi, Kenya Nairobi's name is derived from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nairobi, which means cool water or place of cool waters. This name reflects the city's location near the Nairobi River. Nairobi National Park, located just outside the city, is the only national park in the world within a capital city's boundaries. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Addis Ababa means New Flower in Amharic, the official language of Ethiopia. Emperor Menelik II chose this name when he founded the city in 1886. One fascinating fact about Addis Ababa is that it is the only capital city in Africa that was never colonized by a European power during the scramble for Africa. Addis Ababa is Africa's diplomatic capital, hosting the African Union's headquarters. Abuja, Nigeria Abuja became Nigeria's capital in 1991, replacing Lagos. The name Abuja is derived from the Hausa word for Abubu Jani, which means Father of the Rapids. It refers to the nearby River Niger. Aso Rock is a massive 1,312.3 feet tall granite rock formation and is one of Abuja's prominent natural landmarks. It is often considered one of the city's symbols and holds cultural and spiritual significance. Rabat, Morocco Rabat's name is of Arabic origin and means Fortified Place. It has a rich history as a strategic location along the coast. Rabat is not only Morocco's capital but also its political and administrative center. The city is home to the Royal Palace and numerous government institutions, making it a hub of political activity in the country. Accra, Ghana Accra's name originated from the Akan word Nkran, which means ants. It was later adapted into the Ga language as Ga-Mashi and eventually became Accra. Accra is home to Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, the final resting place of Ghana's first president. Ghana's population is youthful, with 56% under 25 in 2020. Dakar, Senegal History of the names of Africa's ten largest capital cities weave colonial legacies, pre-colonial history, native languages, and geography. The names of Africa's ten largest capital cities serve as intriguing gateways to the continent. With their diverse histories, these capital cities stand as beacons of Africa's resilience and its ongoing journey toward a promising future, rooted firmly in the lessons of its past. As we explore their names, we embrace their cultural richness and gain a deeper understanding of the continent's complexities, making the study of Africa's history all the more captivating and enlightening. The name Dakar comes from the Wolof word Ndakaaru, which means trolley or cart, referring to the rolling hills and cliffs near the city. Dakar is famous for hosting the Dakar Rally, one of the world's most challenging off-road motorsport events. 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 Madeleine Gray was three degrees deep a bachelors from Sydney, a masters from Oxford, and a doctorate from Manchester when she started writing what she had been studying for so long: fiction about contemporary young womanhood. There are a lot of novels at the moment about young women by young women. I, personally, think thats a really good thing. I dont have any issue with that. And I just thought for this novel, Ive been thinking about contemporary young womanhood academically for so long and also, thats my experience, so I thought, why wouldnt I write this? Not only was Gray reading, studying and now writing about the subject, but she was also selling those very same novels while working at the independent bookstore Better Read Than Dead after returning to Australia from the UK during the pandemic (Gray hit the headlines last year when she helped unionise the staff, winning them an EBA with better pay and conditions). Madeleine Grays Green Dot is about a woman in her 20s who has an affair with an older, male colleague. Credit: Zan Wimberley I mean, honestly, I think it helped because there are so many books coming out all the time, I saw that my book might not be a bestseller, but I thought I could probably get it on the table for a week, Gray, 29, says. But it looks like Grays already-buzzy Green Dot will be on the table for some time. The novels journey to publication is the stuff of debutant dreams. Gray sent her finished manuscript to Grace Heifetz at Left Bank Literary who was, conveniently, attending the London Book Fair. A few fair days later the novel had been sold to Australia, Germany, the UK and USA for six-figure deals, and the screen rights nabbed in a six-way international auction. Its not hard to understand the interest. Green Dot is a smart, funny and addictive read (allegedly Heifetz left a party in London where Mick Jagger was a guest to finish it). The novel is told from the first-person perspective of Hera Stephen, 24, who takes a job as a comment moderator in a Sydney newsroom and starts an affair with an older married colleague named Arthur, her first relationship with a man. Its a coming-of-age that is very of-its-age, capturing the ennui of a generation who arent quite sure what theyre working for any more, or what it means to live a fulfilling and meaningful life. Hera is both performer and audience; at once agonisingly self-aware and naive, both profoundly cynical and vulnerable. Advertisement Eating outGood Food Guide 2024 The NSW Restaurant of the Year finalists are revealed (and they all have something sweet in common) It lifted the standard: How innovation has sweetened the Vittoria Coffee Restaurant of the Year finalists, as theyre announced ahead of The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide awards on October 23. Bianca Hrovat October 21, 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 Sweet tooths rejoice. Sydneys leading restaurants are upping the ante at dessert time, staging innovative and memorable grand finales with never-before-seen creations. In doing so, they push back against a global decline in the popularity of desserts (Save our pudding! The Guardian UK demands; Where have all the pastry chefs gone? ask several US publications). At high-end restaurants, desserts can often be overlooked in favour of more serious savoury dishes. But the finale courses for all five finalists in the Restaurant of the Year award in this years Good Food Guide are crafted with the same consideration and care as the first. When celebrated chef and restaurateur Josh Niland revealed his plan to harvest the gelatin from fish eyes to create eyes ice-cream at Paddington restaurant Saint Peter, wife and business partner Julie Niland sighed and told him to leave it alone. You know how to make a nice ice-cream, she told him. You dont need to do all that. It was a fair call, says Niland. But about eight weeks later, the eyes ice-cream sandwich first appeared on the seven-course tasting menu (miraculously neither tasting nor smelling like fish): a grand finale showcasing the potential of Nilands fin to tail philosophy. Advertisement Saint Peter, alongside Berowra Waters Inn, Quay, Margaret and Oncore by Clare Smyth, has been chosen as a Vittoria Coffee Restaurant of the Year finalist ahead of The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide awards on October 23. Eyes cream macaron dessert (in the limited mango Weiss bar flavour) at Saint Peter. Supplied Food has never been more expensive, and the restaurant experience has never been more expensive, so [it needs to be] more than a transaction: it needs to offer value, and connection, and education, Niland says. Chef Peter Gilmore, of Quay, has long pioneered a memorable dessert course. His signature dish, the snow egg, propelled haute cuisine into public consciousness when it first appeared on reality show MasterChef in 2010. It gave diners a greater understanding of what was out there, and their expectations and their palates started to evolve, says Lauren Eldridge, pastry chef at Berowra Waters Inn. Advertisement That only increased with the rise of social media Now, when people go to a restaurant they want the very best, something they would never make for themselves. It lifted the standard. Jackfruit granita and custard apple snow egg at Quay. The dish, last served in 2018, left a lasting impact on desserts in Sydney. Jennifer Soo White coral followed with Gilmores characteristic theatrics, a plume of liquid nitrogen smoke fading to reveal frozen white chocolate mousse that shatters upon first touch. Dessert is so important because its the last thing people take away with them; its the memory they have of a meal, Gilmore says. Advertisement At chef Neil Perrys Double Bay restaurant Margaret, named for his late mother, each dessert encapsulates and shares a memory. Most notably, there are the slices of Sam and Neils wedding cake (a white sponge, spiked with bourbon and layered with Italian meringue: an exact replica of Perrys wedding cake served at Bennelong in 2003). Sam and Neils wedding cake at Margaret restaurant in Double Bay. Supplied People have a taste, an experience, of what we did at our wedding, Perry says. [The dessert] creates personal contact through flavour and texture. Eldridge says theres been a renewed shift towards dedicated dessert departments in Sydney. At Berowra Waters Inn, Eldridge contributes three courses, or 50 per cent of the set menu. Advertisement Eldridge looks to the surrounding bushland for inspiration, creating visually spectacular dishes such as the Geraldton wax (native flower) parfait, with new season mangoes and lemon blueberry sauce. Geraldton wax parfait at Berowra Waters Inn. Victoria Zwierski Desserts at Oncore by Clare Smyth are similarly emblematic of place, merging classic British desserts (a nod to Chef Patron Clare Smyth in London) with Australian produce. Sometimes it takes just a week from conception to plating (as with English Pimms, a strawberry, cucumber and mint salad). Others, like the yet-to-be-served peach Melba, have been in development for years. The core apple dessert is a prime example. We began by replicating what we do in London then, after a year, pushed ourselves to do more, says head chef Alan Stuart. Chef Alan Stuart at Oncore restaurant at Barangaroo with his apple dessert. Edwina Pickles Advertisement The current incarnation appears as a glassy, glazed apple, filled with apple vanilla mousse and caramelised pink lady compote, and served with a three-apple cocktail in a hand-blown apple-shaped glass. Desserts can speak to our values, our culture, and our ideas about hospitality, Stuart says. In many restaurants, like Quay or LAmbroisie [in Paris], they become signature dishes, and become known throughout the world. Vittoria Coffee Restaurant of the Year finalists The waterfront venue. Supplied Advertisement Berowra Waters Inn Want to know how to do sweets? Try the pre-dessert at Berowra Waters to set off the senses. Simple in presentation; complex and alluring in the mouth. But this is pastry chef Lauren Eldridges handiwork, so its no surprise her sticky fig pudding almost steals the show, too. The fact it doesnt owes as much to the perpetually stunning river view as it does to the rest of chef Brian Geraghtys tasting menu. The result is destination dining that lives up to the billing. Via East and West Public Wharves, Berowra Waters, berowrawatersinn.com Neil and Sam Perry at Margaret in Double Bay, where a replica of their wedding cake is served. Jessica Hromas Margaret Advertisement Produce from the very best farmers and fishers, well-honed Asian spicing, earthy Mediterranean notes and the smoky seal of a wood-fired grill. In this expansive tan and cream-toned dining room, Neil Perry and family with a terrific team do it right. From a charming welcome to accommodating wine service, Margaret ticks all the boxes on the floor. And whether its scallop crudo popping with finger lime, or grill-firmed mahi-mahi in a spoonable coconut masala sauce, the food just works. 30-36 Bay Street, Double Bay, margaretdoublebay.com Oncore restaurant manager Michael Stoddart and head chef Alan Stuart at Crown Casino Sydney. James Brickwood Oncore by Clare Smyth Oncore opened in Sydney in 2021, bringing with it a different approach to fine dining a more detailed, finessed, and yes, more expensive approach, as befits the three-Michelin-star status of the London mothership, Clare Smyths Core. Now in its third year, Oncore offers the serious diner even more, with a new seasonal menu allowing head chef Alan Stuart to respond with more truffles in winter; more shellfish in summer. Advertisement Level 26, 1 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo, crownsydney.com.au/restaurants/oncore-by-clare-smyth Peter Gilmore from Quay with co-head chefs Troy Crisante and Tim Mifsud. Edwina Pickles Quay Quay has reached the same elevated status as those luxury cruise liners that commonly moor by its side. It has first-class levels of comfort, and high standards of hospitality and boy, does it take you places. Chef Peter Gilmores six and eight-course menus sail on a sea of umami, navigating rare and extraordinary flavours. Throw in six sommeliers, that view and an ocean-deep wine list, and this is Sydneys most treasured dining experience. Upper Level, Overseas Passenger Terminal, The Rocks, quay.com.au Advertisement Chef Josh Niland has pioneered the whole fish philosophy at Saint Peter. Rob Palmer Saint Peter Josh Nilands approach to fish is unrivalled. Hes made it his lifes work to disrupt the way we eat and think about seafood, and his whole fish approach results in delicious things you wont find elsewhere. Depth of flavour comes from dry ageing fish to promote its natural fats, and yellowfin tuna aged for 20 days and wrapped in swordfish bacon is exceptional. 362 Oxford Street, Paddington, saintpeter.com.au Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up 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 Did you know that white T-shirts were originally issued by the American Navy, and that the Spanish-American war gave the world chinos? designer Bianca Spender asks, breathlessly, down the phone line. The opportunity to discuss the military influences in contemporary clothing, which are, seemingly, omnipotent, has given the history-loving Spender a reason to go down rabbit holes, and ground some of fashions frippery in a much darker past. Then and now ... curator Kate Spinks-Colas with a 1940s-era bomber jacket (left), and one from todays fashion. Credit: Simon Schluter We pick up on these things in little ways, but you have to re-read them to [put] more links together, says Spender, acknowledging the work of the late American fashion historian Anne Hollander. Sometimes, those links are more obvious. Indeed, the chino came from the Spanish pantalones chinos, which American soldiers stationed in the Philippines at the turn of the 19th century called the pants, which were made in China, hence the name. And, aside from trends in colours and fabrication, the chino has remained largely unchanged for more than a century. The iconic Burberry trench coat was originally designed in 1912 to clothe British Army officers. Credit: Bloomberg Not so the trench coat, which was first introduced by Burberry in 1912 to clothe British Army officers and has been one of military fashions most reimagined garments from haute couture to the high street. These days, there are trench coats that are unbelted, made from organza or bright orange: hardly the stuff of utility and protection the originators had in mind. Advertisement Still, its garments such as the trench, in its many guises, that keep military style in fashion. Indeed, on the cycle of trends, military is never firmly out it merely waxes and wanes. At times, such as the months immediately following Donald Trumps election to the White House, fashion lurched towards military trends, when clothes were quite literally seen as armour against a changing, uncertain world. This season, military is also having a moment, albeit in a softer, less literal, way. Take Max Maras collection at last months ready-to-wear shows in Milan, where the influence of wartime photographer-correspondent (and muse of Pablo Picasso) Lee Miller helped inspire Ian Griffiths collection of pencil skirts and trench coats. (Miller, who died in 1977, is also having a moment, with Kate Winslet playing her in a biopic, Lee, releasing later this year; an exhibition of her work opens at Heide Museum of Modern Art next month.) Lee Miller with Pablo Picasso during the liberation of Paris, 1944. Credit: Lee Miller Archives England 2023 While Griffiths leaned into the military origins of these garments the World War I British Womens Land Army was also high on his mood board the designer did so with pacifist overtones, expressed through a colour palette that was more floral than frontline. The Womens Land Army inspired Max Maras latest collection. Credit: Getty Tension and transformation The inherent tension between the conflict-driven even violent overtones of military uniforms, and their influence on fashion, is explored in a new exhibition, Trenches to Runway: Military Influences on Popular Fashion, opening this week at Victorias Shrine of Remembrance. Advertisement Curator Kate Spinks-Colas hopes the original pieces, which include a military dress coat from the 1800s, and an original Burberry trench, will inspire people to consider the little details in our clothes that owe a debt to wartime clothing, which prioritised functionality over form. Kate Winslet (right), as Lee Miller, on the set of Lee with director Ellen Kraus and co-star Adam Samberg. Loading The bomber jacket was originally designed with buttons, which was completely impractical for pilots to get dressed quickly, she says, adding that the next iteration had a zip. These seemingly unimportant details can actually be [the difference between] life and death. It sounds dramatic but its true. Most of fashions mood-boarding of military style leads to a quite benign endpoint, at least politically if not aesthetically. Spenders rendering of a classic trench coat in a sheer georgette (You can appreciate the construction and detail ... in such a different way) almost subverts its original function as a protective garment. Still, she is always mindful of the context in which the original garment was created. Respect for the history ... designer Bianca Spender. Credit: James Brickwood I ask myself, what does it feel like for people who have been to war to see pieces now thrown into the everyday and almost in a decorative fashion the frippery or the frivolity? she says. If there is enough respect of the original form then hopefully its a positive transformation of the objects, and they can have a new life. Advertisement Sometimes, the line between inspiration, insult and even incitement can be wafer thin. Kate Sylvesters 2008 show at Australian Fashion Week angered veterans groups after the New Zealand designer sent models down the catwalk wearing replica war medals (Sylvester promptly apologised, saying she had the deepest amount of respect for returned servicemen and women). Romanticism meets utility It can be a sticky thing when symbols, namely garments, that have such strong roots in violence, oppression and colonialism are portrayed through the glamorous lens of high fashion, says Dr Harriette Richards, a lecturer in the School of Fashion at RMIT. Thats not to say designers or consumers of fashion should necessarily boycott aviator sunglasses, cargo pants or combat boots. Often, its more about the context in which pieces are worn, and the dilution of the garments original intent over time. A woman wearing pants on the streets of Sydneys CBD in March 1949. Credit: Sun News Contemporary fatigues are very different to the ones that inspire fashion, says Richards. Its as if we have the benefit of distance and time the fashion on the street is much more inspired by older, past [military] garments. For Spender, the 1940s, more than any other decade steeped in military history, provides a design anchor for her entire label, a wartime period where menswear began its creep across the gender aisle (pants! boilersuits!). Im uncomfortable with things being very girly I always need to have an offset, she says. If theres a puffy sleeve, there has to be a toughening the romanticism meets utility. Advertisement A Sydney woman accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy has told a jury she was really down and had been drinking when she kissed the teenager for up to 20 seconds, but denies they then had sex. The 46-year-old has pleaded not guilty to two counts of aggravated sexual intercourse with a child under 16. Prosecutors allege the woman performed oral sex and had penetrative sex with the boy at a home on the lower north shore on a night in 2021. A 46-year-old woman leaves the NSW District Court where she is on trial accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy. She has pleaded not guilty. Credit: James Brickwood Taking to the witness box at her NSW District Court trial on Friday afternoon, the accused said she had been feeling down and went into the boys bedroom as she just wanted a friendly chat. She said the teenager was on his phone, told her he was watching a movie and asked if she was OK. An arrest warrant has been issued for a man who allegedly poured drain cleaner on another man in an inner-Brisbane street. Edward Arthur Robinson was scheduled to be sentenced in the District Court in Brisbane on Friday for the alleged attack in October 2021. However, he failed to appear and the prosecution said he was yet to be arrested. The alleged victim suffered significant burns. Credit: Queensland Police In 2021, the Brisbane Arrest Court heard Robinsons motivation for the alleged attack was that a woman he was with at the time recognised a man as he walked past, who she said was present when she was allegedly raped in Logan the previous week. Her allegation was not that the man had committed the rape, but had been there at the time. After Australian voters last Saturday rejected a proposal for an Indigenous Voice to parliament to be embedded in the Constitution, First Nations leaders who for years had loudly advocated for this form of recognition asked for a week of silence to consider how they might respond. The referendums resounding No decision immediately opened serious questions for the nation: where to now for Indigenous recognition, for reconciliation, for endeavours to close the gap, for healing? Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who had set in motion the referendum and advocated strongly for the Voice, was pressed for answers. He said he wanted Indigenous people to lead the way forward, he respected their silence, and he would wait for them. Having endured a brutal and bruising campaign against their cause, Indigenous leaders who have taken the past week to reflect on the role of racism and prejudice against Indigenous people in the No result will break their silence in coming days. Some 540 Olympic swimming pools worth of water have been collected since a tsunami sent three reactors at Fukushima-Daiichi into meltdown in 2011 in one of the world's worst nuclear disasters. China and Russia have banned Japanese seafood imports since the discharge began but Japan says it is safe, a view backed so far by the International Atomic Energy Agency. UN inspectors took samples from a fish market near the Fukushima nuclear power plant on Thursday following the release of wastewater from the wrecked facility in August. Japan says that the water has been filtered by its special ALPS technology of radioactive substances -- except tritium -- and diluted with seawater. Japan says tests have shown that tritium levels are within safe limits. The IAEA team comprising scientists from China, South Korea and Canada were collecting fish, water and sediment samples this week to verify Japan's findings. Paul McGinnity, a member of the mission, told reporters that the aim was "to ascertain whether the Japanese labs are measuring and analyzing properly" tritium levels. "Tritium is the concern because tritium levels as you know are relatively high because it is not removed by the ALPS process," McGinnity said. "I can say that we don't expect to see any change (in tritium levels), certainly in the fish. We do expect to see a small rise in levels of tritium in seawater samples very close to the discharge point. But otherwise, we don't. We expect to find levels that are very similar to what we measured last year." Samples will be sent back to labs in the team members' home countries for independent review, and the IAEA will evaluate and publish those results. Russia this week followed its ally China in banning Japanese seafood imports, although it buys relatively small volumes. Japan, which has called China's ban politically motivated, said Moscow's move was an "unjust" step "without any scientific basis." The water release is aimed at making space to begin removing the highly dangerous radioactive fuel and rubble from the wrecked reactors. SPOTLIGHT / Their big fat Indian wedding A novel addition to an India travel itinerary: joining a wedding celebration. Dreaming of having that once-in-a-lifetime experience on your next holiday? Well, it seems youre not alone. Capitalising on the Wests growing fascination with Indian culture and love and weddings in particular think Netflixs popular Indian Matchmaking travel company JoinMyWedding allows curious tourists to pay to attend a couples marriage festivities in India. Founded by Hungarian-Australian Orsi Parkanyi in 2016, the companys promotional material promises the ultimate cultural immersion. Indian weddings are world-famous, Parkanyi says, pointing out that JoinMyWedding is now representative of a changing tourism industry in which travellers want a truly immersive experience beyond the usual popular attractions. The website pairs couples, who submit their love stories and wedding itineraries, with tourists willing to pay $US150 ($233) a head for the privilege of witnessing one day of the nuptials (or $US250 for two days). Mridula Nath Chakraborty, from Monash Universitys Intercultural Lab, says the sites popularity it fields thousands of applications is evidence of Indias ascendancy in a shifting geopolitical order. While Parkanyi and former guests describe the experience as one of genuine cultural exchange, others say JoinMyWedding is an example of cultural fetishism. Chakraborty also warns that commercialising a wedding in this way could have a reductive, flattening effect: In the age of social media, [the wedding] becomes even more of a spectacle, compounding the ways in which materialistic ostentation rules. Lauren Ironmonger NSW Premier Chris Minns has warned his MPs to speak with one voice after 16 broke ranks and publicly backed Palestine, as the NSW Teachers Federation slammed the state government for its steadfast support of Israel. In a powerful statement, the federation which represents more than 60,000 public school teachers said the governments decision-making and public commentary has had the effect of unnecessarily fanning the anger and profound sadness of Palestinian communities here in Australia. Hundreds attend a prayer vigil in Lakemba on Friday for the Palestinians. Credit: Flavio Brancaleone The union also took a veiled swipe at Minns comments around pro-Palestinian rallies in Sydney. A second protest is planned for the CBD on Saturday, but this week the premier again stressed he had concerns about a rally, given the rapidly changing situation in the Middle East. The teachers federations statement said: Racism including antisemitism has no place here or anywhere, but peaceful assembly and peaceful protest and the expression of solidarity must never be restricted by the state. Stumped by change I am a 76-year-young cricket tragic who has attended every Boxing Day Test since it replaced the then traditional Victoria v NSW Sheffield Shield match over the Christmas period. I remember the wooden sightscreens on wheels, operated by an attendant sitting on a wheel axle of the screen at the southern end. Batsmen, now batters, used to request him to manoeuvre the screen into the line-of-sight of the ball to be delivered. Technology has seen the demise of those attendants. Now, apart from the electronically operated screen, we see banks of seating on either side of the screens covered and to an inexplicable height of up to 15 metres in some cases. For all that the number of batters who are distracted by casual spectator movement, despite the sheeting provided, is unfathomable. Face up and concentrate like those greats who were equally champions but were not so precious. Peter Forehan, Murrumbeena Taken for fools Victorian Treasurer Mr Pallas suggested the recent EV ruling could pave the way for challenges to other state charges. The governments zero and low-emission vehicles road user charge designed to collect cash for roads from electric vehicle users not subject to petrol excise raised $3.9million last financial year. With electric vehicle use rising, the government was on track to collect $6 million from the tax in 2023-24. However the Victorian government has paid over $1 billion to the Grand Prix Corporation to support the annual four-day car race at Albert Park. The annual race fee has recently been increased to $100 million to prevent the event moving to NSW. And that is taxpayers money for the support of a fossil-fuelled event. Geoff Gowers, Merricks North Tax colossus of roads The court decision to declare Victorias EV tax illegal has caused both joy and concern ( Pallas concerned by EV tax ruling , 20/10). Victoria should be encouraging EV use not inhibiting it, so the removal of the tax is a good thing, however on the other side of the coin is the Victorian governments concern over how it would replace the fuel excise tax which will, in effect, disappear if most vehicles were to become EVs. The money for roads has to come from somewhere. The government will rightly review its position and no doubt will find a way to replace fuel excise income. One assumes that it will have to come to some arrangement with the federal government that will involve replacing fuel excise with a pay per kilometre rate perhaps including a recognition for vehicle weight as well to allow for the greater fuel use and road damage caused by heavy vehicles. Ross Hudson, Mount Martha Multi-sided debates Alan Sunderland (Comment, 20/10) and other journalists are right to call out journalistic balance that relies on exquisitely finely measured equal time for both sides. But the problem lies not with the level of accuracy of the minutes and seconds devoted to each side. The problem is the idea that there are only two sides to any debate. To think that two sides are all there is to discussion is to replicate the idea that two major political parties are the sum of all possible argument on any issue. False binaries knock out any complexity of argument and consign development of intriguing non-mainstream ideas to the media wilderness. This is to the poverty of all political policy debate, as it ensures only the two loudest voices are recognised. Surely in this age of diversity we can manage to develop and digest more than two ideas on any issue at any one time and give equal time to more of them? Julia Thornton, Surrey Hills Roots of conflict The conflict in Israel/Palestine is much older than the Six-Day War and can be blamed on British imperialism and the Wests shame over not taking the Holocaust seriously during WWII. Imperial Britain claimed Palestine as a British Protectorate and apparently thought it could dispose of it at will, allowing the UN to make a gift of central Palestine to all Jewish peoples as an exclusive Jewish state. A wrong to right a wrong was misdirected against the innocent. It was natural for Jews to want Jerusalem back but the territory they regarded as God-given had originally been acquired by bloody conquest, if the Jewish testament is to be believed. Israel cannot be dismantled any more than modern Australia can. It is shameful, though, that the continuing encroachment on Palestinian land and obstacles to Palestinian daily life never receive real sanctions from the West. Support for Israel is far too one-sided and unqualified. I say these things while my heart is filled with sorrow and lament for everyone suffering on both sides and most of all the children. Hamas has made a terrible and wicked mistake. Penelope Buckley, Kew East Despairing outlook To your correspondents the conflict started much earlier, at least in the 1920s with the formation of groups such as Haganah and has not stopped since. The really sad thing is there has been considerable loss of life on both side and acts of terrorism from both sides. To me it is impossible to pick sides and I cannot see any possible solution. Laurens Meyer, Richmond Will peace prevail? Israeli and Palestinian children killed and injured in conflict is equally tragic. So, too, Palestinian and Israeli men and women also suffering and dying in these latest hostilities. Joe Biden and Anthony Albanese among others should always reference this as an elusive two-state solution is achieved and these decades-long hostilities cease. Innocent people in the Middle East deserve this and we all hope to witness long-lasting peace and justice for them in our lifetimes. Tony Delaney, Warrnambool Link is broken I can relate to Catherine Xies article (19/10) regarding the inability to get through to Centrelink. I recently received a text from MyGov with a security code. As I had not attempted to access my account it indicated that someone was trying to hack it. It also advised that I should contact myGov if this was the case. The first attempt was a 30+ minute wait and when I finally got through the line dropped out. The second attempt was another 30+ minute wait and eventually I did get to speak with someone. However, I hasten to add that I cannot fault the assistance and advice given by the person that did answer. Clearly the government departments involved do not have sufficient staff to handle the volume of inquiries they handle. I find it hard to believe that their management are not aware of this. Ken Finley, Mount Martha This, then, is the origin story of cruising as we know it, as cabin design, onboard catering and cabin service were redesigned and streamlined to service guests who weighed much less than freight, and were therefore more profitable to the company. At the peak of transatlantic voyages, between 1900 and 1920, about 12.5 million Europeans crossed the Atlantic, and the Holland America line carried over 1 million of them. Actor Johnny Weissmuller immigrated to the US on a Holland America ship, as did Herbert Hoover, Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn, Clark Gable, Louis Armstrong and Albert and Elsa Einstein. As the Rotterdams cruise director Karlijn Verpalen has it, Billy Crystals grandfather immigrated on one of our ships, so if it werent for us, Harry would never have met Sally. The MS Rotterdam of today bears little resemblance to its namesake from a century ago. On April 3, 2023, the Rotterdam VII left Fort Lauderdale in Florida with a very special mission, to sail into the port of Rotterdam on April 18, the precise day of the 150th anniversary. Official celebrations were, of course, held in the Hotel New York, where the lines president, Gus Antorcha welcomed Dutch royalty, descendants of the founders of the line, and, very much to one side, me. Rotterdams lord mayor, Ahmed Aboutaleb, had the citys famous Erasmus Bridge emblazoned in a light show for the occasion, and Her petite Royal Highness, Princess Margriet of The Netherlands anointed a commemorative ships bell with champagne, a tradition usually reserved for the launch of a new ship. The fabric of history is woven from the threads of millions of stories, and at the heart of each of those stories is a person, said Gus Antorcha from the stage. I hope that decades from now, those who come after us will gather on this very spot at Hotel New York to share them. As a finale, the officers of the Rotterdam VII paraded along a replica of the ships deck, throwing colourful streamers over the railings and into the audience as if about to sail off to the New World. The modern comforts of a stateroom on board. In reality, the ship set sail the following day into the old world, on a five-day itinerary criss-crossing the North Sea from Oslo, to Copenhagen, to Amsterdam. From there, it embarked on its first itinerary to Scotland, stopping at Inverness (Loch Ness, fairytale scenery, castles), and Edinburgh (fruit cakes, Military Tattoos, more castles). The on-board experience has, of course, changed out of sight. The tween decks, or steerage, was particularly uncomfortable 150 years ago, for a voyage that would take 15 days or longer, depending on weather conditions. Men were separated from women and children, and contained in low-ceilinged cabins of six to twelve bunks, with just one hour of perambulation allowed each day. Historian Bill Miller says that one writer of the time described the lower-deck passengers as cheerful, hopeful and optimistic about their future, entertaining themselves with music and dancing. There were also three square meals daily (as there are now) taken on long wooden tables in the mess hall. These ranged from little more than chunks of hard bread and tureens of soup or beans, to meals of sauerkraut, smoked bacon and potatoes that finished with plum duff, a precursor to Christmas pudding. First class passengers had more elevated fare, such as oysters on the half shell and seared duckling, before the gentlemen retired to the Smoking Room. In a great innovation for the time, their quarters were cleaned while passengers were busy dining (much as the staterooms are serviced today, by vigilant stewards). There was one very good reason for that: getting the passengers to New York in a healthy condition. Third class steerage passengers were rigorously inspected by doctors at the infamous Ellis Island before being cleared to enter the country and if anyone was rejected on health grounds, Holland America had to pay for their return sailing to Europe. The anniversary celebrations will continue until the end of 2023, spread across every sailing of Holland America Line cruise ships, with beautifully produced origin story presentations in the main theatres. Each voyage features its own 150th Gala Dinner, and in one of the most popular initiatives daily throw-back Happy Hours, with the original prices (as low as 75 cents) on commemorative cocktails. I can personally vouch for the fact that the limited edition HAL Pilsners specially brewed for the anniversary go down a treat with a burger by the pool; and the exclusive bottling of De Lijn Gin makes the perfect sundowner taken on your stateroom balcony. Be warned, each itinerary also designates one evening for an Orange Party, at which passengers are encouraged to wear the Dutch national colour, in honour of the historic royal House of Orange. Fluorescent orange evening dresses, feather boas and dinner suits are not uncommon, but if orange is just not your colour, its perfectly acceptable to wear just a scarf or even ear-rings in the designated shade. My husband and I packed a couple of suitable accessories, then inadvertently missed the celebrations entirely. (Anyone want to buy a very bright orange, good-as-new tie, going cheap?) The average passenger on a cruise will quite happily embrace all it has to offer without even thinking of the centuries of maritime exploration, engineering and innovation that made their oceanic holiday possible. But when a company such as the Holland America line celebrates 150 years of sailing in style, its worth pausing to reflect and celebrate. Long known as the bridge across the ocean, the line has also become a bridge from the past to the future. On that first evening on board, I head for the Ocean Bar and settle in with the signature Martinez, a cocktail that dates to 1884. I might only have a seven-day jaunt across the North Sea ahead of me, but I raise my glass to all those who have gone before, bravely sailing to a new life in a new world. The writer travelled as a guest of Holland America Line. THE DETAILS CRUISE Holland America Lines 7-day Scandinavian Fjords & Capitals sails on May 4 and June 29, 2024. It costs from $1864 a person in an Inside suite, twin share. The Verandah stateroom costs from $2314 a person, twin share. See hollandamerica.com FIVE FUN FACTS EATING HISTORY The menus on every Holland America cruise voyage in 2023 feature classic dishes from the lines historic sailings, chosen and developed by Director of Culinary Operations, John Mulvaney. Highly recommended: the Chopped Sirloin Steak with sauce Robert, green peas and swiss potato, inspired by the meat-loaf like Hamburg steak introduced to the US in the late 19th century by German immigrants. THE GRAND DAME OF CRUISING The Rotterdam V holds a special place in cruising history, beginning a yearly tradition of circumnavigating the world in 1961. It was like a floating clubhouse, says Cruise Director Karlijn Verpalen. One passenger packed 300 dresses for the 95-day voyage. Another reserved two suites; one for her, and one for her artworks. Then there was the female passenger who travelled with her own cosmetic surgeon. She left for a three-month cruise, only to return looking 20 years younger. SLEEPING BEAUTY In 2008, the retired SS Rotterdam V was converted to a floating hotel, permanently moored in Rotterdam. As the SS Rotterdam by Westcord, her 576 cabins have been transformed into 254 rooms, with themes of Manhattan, Bahamas, or Original. Guests can enjoy the spirit of travelling in the 1950s, without actually having to return to the 1950s. Or, indeed, go anywhere. See ssrotterdam.com Washington: A Pentagon report on Chinas military power says Beijing is exceeding previous projections of how quickly it is building up its nuclear weapons arsenal and is almost certainly learning lessons from Russias war in Ukraine about what a conflict over Taiwan might look like. The report released on Friday (AEDT) also warns that China may be pursuing a new intercontinental missile system using conventional arms that, if fielded, would allow Beijing to threaten conventional strikes against targets in the continental United States, Hawaii and Alaska. The report comes a month before an expected meeting between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden on the sidelines of next months Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco. Members of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) march outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday. China also has devoted billions to its military. Credit: Bloomberg The annual report, required by the US Congress, is one way the Pentagon measures the growing Chinese military capabilities, which the US government sees as its key threat in the region and Americas primary long-term security challenge. 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 Margaliot, on the Israel-Lebanon border: The nightmare scenario world leaders are working frantically to avoid is one Eytan Davidi desires. Far from being scared that Israels war with Hamas will morph into a wider regional conflict, Davidis message is simple: bring it on. The egg farmer and community leader lives in Margaliot, a hamlet of around 450 people perched high in the Naftali Mountains, just hundreds of metres away from the border with Lebanon. We are in the most dangerous place in Israel right now, Davidi says, standing outside his farm and family home. All of this is Hezbollah, he explains, pointing to homes and apartment buildings looking down upon us from across the frontier. On a clear day, you can see people moving around inside. Chicken farmer Eytan Davidi at his farm in Margaliot on the border with Lebanon, which can be seen in the background. Credit: Kate Geraghty Israel and Hezbollah the Iranian-backed militant group that Australia branded a terror organisation two years ago have traded fire across the border since the 1980s, but the fighting has intensified since Hamas terrorists stormed into Israel on their October 7 killing spree. Hezbollah has launched dozens of anti-tank missiles, rockets and mortars across the border in the past fortnight and sent gunmen across the border to infiltrate Israel. On Monday, the Israeli government announced it was evacuating Margaliot and 27 other towns dotted along the Lebanese border to reduce harm to civilians and enable the [Israel Defence Forces] freedom of action if it is required. Davidi, however, is staying put and hopes Israel will seize the chance to wipe out Hezbollah once and for all even as it prepares for a ground invasion of Gaza in the south. We cannot live here with guns pointed at our children playing in their backyards, he says, declaring that Hezbollah is much worse than Hamas. The groups 1985 manifesto states that our struggle will end only when this entity [Israel] is obliterated. Advertisement We have seen what these arseholes can do, Davidi says. If the state of Israel does not initiate some sort of action to change the situation in Lebanon, people will not be able to stay here. Loading Davidis neighbour, third-generation farmer Yonatan Yaakobi, is also staying put to help defend his community. A member of the local paramilitary emergency squad, Yaakobi hasnt seen his wife and children in almost two weeks since they fled Margaliot to government-funded accommodation in Tiberias, by the Sea of Galilee. Staying with him at the farm, where the pungent smell of chicken manure pierces the crisp mountain air, are five migrant workers from Thailand who he employs to harvest cherries, nectarines, apples and eggs. Hezbollah are watching us, he says, pointing to the buildings across the border. He wishes he could go back in time to the days when relations between Israel and Lebanon were friendly, and Lebanese workers would cross the border freely to work on his familys farm. Chicken farmer and emergency squad member Yonatan Yaakobi at his farm in Margaliot. Credit: Kate Geraghty As Yaakobi serves up cardamom tea and sweets, a loud explosion erupts. We hurry to his safe room. Grabbing his walkie-talkie, he urges his Thai employees to do the same. Two anti-tank guided missiles from Lebanon have landed at Kibbutz Manara, a seven-minute drive away, prompting Israel to hit back with artillery shelling and air strikes. Yaakobi does not believe Hezbollah wants all-out war with Israel now, but the risk of a miscalculation spiralling into a wider conflict is real. A Hezbollah spokeswoman this week described the groups increased bombardments as a warning to Israel, but said the group had not decided whether to fully enter the Israel-Hamas war. Advertisement Israel has been shifting tanks and troops north to fortify the border in recent days, determined not to leave the Lebanese border exposed as it fights Hamas in the south. Israeli special forces units have also been conducting drills to test how they would respond to a co-ordinated Hezbollah incursion like that from Gaza a fortnight ago. The Biden administration has privately urged Israel not to strike first by launching a military campaign against Hezbollah, The Times of Israel reported this week. The world saw a preview of what could come in 2006 when Hezbollah militants crossed the border and murdered three Israeli soldiers, triggering a 34-day war that led to the death of around 1300 people in Lebanon and 165 Israelis. Hezbollah has amassed a stockpile of around 150,000 rockets, according to military experts, and has around 60,000 trained fighters, making it a fearsome opponent for any adversary. Certainly, it poses a more significant military threat to Israel than Hamas. A war between Israel and Hezbollah could also draw in Iran, the terrorist groups largest benefactor. Echoing the language of former US president George W Bush ahead of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week declared that Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas form an axis of evil that wants to bring the Middle East back to an age of bondage and war and slavery and annihilation. The mayor of Kiryat Shmona in northern Israel, Avichai Stern (right), in the citys command centre. Kiryat Shmona is four kilometres from the Lebanon border. Credit: Kate Geraghty A 20-minute drive downhill from Margaliot, the mayor of Israels northernmost city has already set up a war room with fellow officials and military leaders to respond to the inflamed tensions on the border. Avichai Stern says Kiryat Shmona has faced persistent missile attacks from Hezbollah for the past 36 years. No other city has this record for so long, he says, with a defiance verging on pride. The citys 24,000 residents, who have only 10 seconds to seek shelter when missile sirens sound, are accustomed to violence. But most have fled to safer locales, rendering Kiryat Shmona a ghost town. Advertisement Loading Stern says it is untenable for his residents, as hardy as they are, to continue living in the mountains under the perennial risk of attack. On his phone he shows us a Hezbollah propaganda video demonstrating how the group would purportedly invade and conquer northern Israel. Asked about egg farmer Eytan Davidis desire for a decisive war with Hezbollah, Stern says he agrees 100 per cent despite the heavy price Israelis would pay in lives and money. I hope for it, he says. As Stern guides us around the war room, a resident named Perchya arrives at the centre desperate for help. The 61-year-old, who depends upon an oxygen tank to survive, desperately wants to evacuate but hasnt been able to escape. Perchya, 61, wants to evacuate but hasnt been able to escape. She has sought help from local officials, who promised to assist her. Credit: Kate Geraghty She lives alone in an apartment with no safe room, no bars on the windows and no one to look after her. Because her home is four kilometres from the border, rather than two kilometres, she has not yet been entitled to government-funded emergency accommodation. Everything is exposed, I have no family, she says, collapsing into tears. A city official jots down her details, promising to help. An all-out war may not have broken out, but for residents like Perchya, life on the borderline has already become unbearable. Why We Have Not Given Up On Ethanol Fuel "The time is always right to do what is right." Martin Luther King, Jr. We have not given up because for more than 16 years The Auto Channel has been funding the fight for what we believe is the right thing...right for America, Right For Our Ecology, Right For Our Motorists, Right for American Farmers and right for The Auto Channel. We have not given up because after all of these years we have found documented definitive proof that Ethanol is the Right Thing. We have not given up because we are still willing to risk our economic security by challenging those dark forces who either don't get it or have an ulterior motive to maintain the inconsequential Ethanol status quo. We have not given up because we believe that some day the naysayers to Ethanol will see the Right. We have not given up because we believe that the Ethanol Stake holders will emerge from their quietude and join with The Auto Channel to support a collective effort to promote the replacement of Petroleum Based Fuel With Ethanol...how can they not? We have not given up because we believe that the dark side is succeeding at convincing leaders that they should all support our electric future which we recognize as a conspiratorial fairy tale, much like the Emperors new clothes. We have not given up because we believe those that come after us should have the freedom of mobility that we enjoyed, with no caveats, limitations and interference. We have not given up because we believe we are right about our quest and will fight till our end to convince those who should join us to do so. We have not given up because we believe that after reading Marc Rauch's Book The Ethanol Papers, the Right thing will power us all. Genres : Crime, Drama and History : Crime, Drama and History Running Time : 206 min. : 206 min. Directed by : Martin Scorsese : Martin Scorsese Starring : Leonardo Dicaprio, Robert De Niro Synopsis : Members of the Osage tribe in the United States are murdered under mysterious circumstances in the 1920s, sparking a major FBI investigation involving J. Edgar Hoover. Crackdowns on smoking near kindergartens and schools have yielded astronomical fines over the past four years. According to data from the Korea Health Promotion Institute, fines for smoking near kindergartens and elementary and secondary schools increased from 203 cases in 2018 to 1,417 cases last year, while fines for smoking in front of childcare centers increased 10-fold from three to 31 cases. Childcare centers, kindergartens and secondary schools are designated as non-smoking areas within a 10-m radius. While in 2018 incidents at kindergartens and schools represented only one percent of all smoking violations, that soared to 16.1 percent last year, with the amount rising more than nine-fold from W12.87 million to W116.29 million (US$1=W1,357). Among 22 surveyed locations, only kindergartens, schools, childcare centers and public spaces in apartment buildings saw an increase in smoking fines over the period. That is probably due to intensified vigilance in school areas to protect children from secondary smoke while enforcement elsewhere waned. For example, the number of violations in establishments like internet cafes plummeted from 9,008 cases in 2018, when it was the highest, to 1,296 last year after many of them closed in the pandemic. Kim Young-joo, a lawmaker from the main opposition Minjoo Party who revealed the data, pledged to explore ways to impose more severe penalties on individuals caught smoking near children and adolescents. President Yoon Suk-yeol embarks on a five-day state visit to Saudi Arabia and Qatar on Saturday, the presidential office said Thursday. Yoon is expected to strengthen cooperation with the two kingdoms and discuss security issues over the Israel-Hamas war. He arrives in Riyadh on Saturday and meets with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman the following day before giving a lecture at King Saud University. He will also attend the Future Investment Initiative forum, dubbed "Davos in the Desert," on Oct. 24, where he will discuss the future of Korea's business relations with the Middle East. He then flies to Doha, where he will meet leader Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and attend a Korea-Qatar business forum that brings together about 300 businesspeople from the two countries on Oct. 25. Yoon will be accompanied by an entourage of 130 business leaders such as Samsung chief Lee Jae-yong, Hyundai chairman Chung Eui-sun, Hanwha Group vice chairman Kim Dong-kwan, GS Group chairman Huh Tae-soo, HD Hyundai president Chung Ki-sun, Doosan Enerbility chairman Park Gee-won, and Federation of Korean Industries chairman Ryu Jin. Hyundai is set to begin online sales of used cars next week, which could mean a seismic shift for the second-hand car market. Starting on Oct. 24, the carmaker will be offering certified used cars that have undergone up to 287 precision diagnostics at its service center in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province. Global consultancy McKinsey & Company's Seoul representative used the "boiling frog" story a decade ago to caution Korea against putting off necessary reforms and now warns that the frog is "half boiled." The warning echoes comments made recently by the governor of the Bank of Korea, who said, "Intoxicated by booming exports to China, Korea postponed reforms and wasted a decade." In a report published in 2013, McKinsey said the growth formula that brought the nation out of poverty and into wealth no longer serves the overall economy. It warned that Korea needs to bolster overall productivity to escape from the boiling pot and resolve the exorbitant costs of homes and education, while nurturing the service industry, creating more jobs and achieving social cohesion. That raised alarm bells in Korea at the time, causing a flurry of meetings of lawmakers and government officials, but they soon went back to squabbling among themselves and nothing was done. In fact, home prices and education costs have since soared into the stratosphere, while militant labor unions continue to threaten corporate growth and essential restructuring and politicians remain deeply divided over ideology. As a result, Korea suffers from the lowest birthrate in the world and soaring household debt, and its economy is mired in low growth due failure to reform labor and business practices. TEL AVIV, ISRAEL Defence Force (IDF) on Thursday refuted claims made by the Palestinian side that Israel was behind the bomb explosion at the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza. The IDF also poked holes in the claims made by Hamas that several people had been killed in the explosion. In a video briefing, IDF spokesperson Lieutenant colonel Jonathan Conricus while reiterating the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus statement that the Islamic Jihad was behind the explosion at the Hospital said that the preliminary analysis suggests that the rocket exploded in the car parking and seems like no one was killed in the incident. While describing a video analysis, the IDF spokesperson said, We can see that this area is quite black, this appears that there was a large fire. This is really the centre of where the rocket impacted, the impact point of the rocket. What I see here is about 15 cars that were affected by the rocket that fell, I see remains of fire, what I dont see are bodies. IDF also questioned claims by the Hamas controlled health ministry in Gaza that several people had been killed in the explosion. If five hundred people were indeed killed here or 471 which is the latest update from the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry in Gaza, this is just a few minutes after the fire erupted, where are all the bodies..., If so many people were killed, where are the bodies said Lieutenant colonel Conricus. In his analysis the IDF spokesperson stated that pictures clicked from the explosion site showed a huge fire, but when an Israeli bomb hits a target it makes a big crater and not a fire. If you have been watching the news, this is exactly what a rocket impact cited Israel looks like, thats what we see when a rocket impacts Israel. We dont see Giant creators, because its not hundreds of pounds of bombs. We see fires, we see burnt cars and burnt stuff because when rocket lands usually they ignite a fire the IDF stated. In 1993, the United Kingdom was trying to recover from one of its worst economic crises. The year before, the British pound had plummeted on Black Wednesday, and strikes and work stoppages were taking place across the nation. But they say that true creativity comes to the surface during crises, as an escape from the discontent that the British know well. Swinging London was born in the 1960s from the postwar period, while the mining crisis and widespread unemployment in the 1980s gave rise to post-punk, for example. Of course, the economic carnage of the early 1990s did not result in the birth of British fashion, but it did result in its story, a legend that associates London-made design with the avant-garde, vindication and broad-mindedness. That year, the British Fashion Council which organizes London Fashion Week and the British Fashion Awards, as well as logistically and financially supports local designers created NewGen, an organization that brings together young talent, supports them financially and gives them a place to showcase their creations. Now, three decades later, the Design Museum of London has opened the exhibit Rebel: 30 Years of London Fashion, open to the public until February 11, 2024. The exhibit brings together some of the great designers who participated in that program and all the emerging designers who are currently enrolled in it. The main idea is to explain how the story of irreverent British fashion emerged and what makes it different from the fashion of other capitals. As editor Sarah Mower, one of the exhibits curators, explains, in 1993 no international editor intended to come here to see fashion shows. But in 1993, NewGen sponsored six young designers and invited them to exhibit their creations at the Ritz Hotel in London. Alexander McQueen was one of those young creatives; at the time, he was looking for work as a designer somewhere and creating clothes to pass the time. He presented his second collection, Taxi Driver, named after the Martin Scorsese film and his father, a cab driver. Transported in garbage bags, that collection ended up disappearing in the club where McQueen went to party that same night, but the exhibition recreates the pieces, aptly scattered in a room inspired by the apartment where he lived with one of his collaborators, designer Simon Ungless. We had nothing, just a desire to experiment with what little we had, Ungless recounts in the fanzine that accompanies the show. The rest is history. We have always supported creativity, and the fact that Lee was one of the first NewGen grantees made our support inevitable now, says Sarah Burton, the creative director at Alexander McQueen until last February. Now owned by the Kering group, in a display of poetic justice, the company sponsored the exhibition. The Rebel: 30 Years of London Fashion exhibit, on view through February 11, brings together some of today's great designers who took part in the NewGen program and emerging designers who are currently participating in it. STUDIO STAGG (Andy Stagg @studiostagg) The exhibition is accompanied by a fanzine, and not a catalog, because the idea is that each creator, from Christopher Kane to JW Anderson, from Kim Jones to the young S.S. Daley, and many others, should take a look at the do it yourself concept (at least until others finance them). Digital [work] was forbidden in school, I learned Photoshop alone, my mouse was my brush, says designer Mary Katrantzou, who became world famous for her prints almost two decades ago. Indeed, the school and the club are the two focal points that the exhibition wanted to highlight to explain the story of British fashion. Nightlife our moodboard, as Simon Ungless says is where young people have created a community around dancing and styling made to be seen on the dance floor (it all started at a rave here, Kim Jones says in the fanzine); and design schools. Theres special emphasis on Central Saint Martins, where, in addition to traditional techniques, designers learned (and continue to learn) sociology, history or theater; until recently, it had an extensive scholarship program (and very tough entrance exams) to promote equal opportunity. New creative responses to new crises The exhibition is accompanied by a fanzine, and not a catalog, because the idea is for each creator to give their own spin on the "do it yourself" concept. STUDIO STAGG (Andy Stagg @studiostagg) In a way, the difficult times that gave rise to the NewGen in the first place have returned. In 2019, just before the pandemic, British fashion had lost 900 million ($1,092,600,000) as a result of Brexit. The Covid-19 pandemic compounded the situation, and losses climbed to over 1 billion ($1,214,140,000). All designers opposed the UKs exit from the European Union Burberry sent an open letter to The Times in 2016 warning of the consequences and Brexit means that shipments become exports with corresponding levies. Designers as promising as Paula Canovas del Vas (an LVMH prize finalist) ended up emigrating to Paris, while others, like Christopher Kane, a fixture at London fashion week for decades, is facing bankruptcy. Scholarships have also fallen by 60%, which has led to only 16% of creatives coming from non-affluent backgrounds in the last six years, according to a report by the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre. This exhibit features designs by Alexander McQueen, Christopher Kane, JW Anderson, Kim Jones and S.S. Daley. STUDIO STAGG (Andy Stagg @studiostagg) Of course, the exhibition is not the only way NewGens 30th anniversary is being celebrated, and during these turbulent times, British national fashion is being supported in other ways. There are a series of initiatives that will run for 12 months that will highlight British fashions impact on the world, explains Caroline Rush, chief executive of the British Fashion Council. Last September, London Fashion Week kicked off the celebrations and they will continue with the British Fashion Awards, a gala that has had a global reach for the past couple of years; its proceeds will fund the winning emerging designers. The idea of community continues to differentiate London from other capitals of fashion: following the setbacks of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic, the British Fashion Council has expanded its brand through sponsorships from private companies, including TikTok (where for a few years designers could sell their clothes directly), Coca-Cola and the Pandora jewelry brand, which is the current sponsor of the awards. To a large extent, those funds go to finance emerging creatives, who usually must take out loans to participate in fashion shows; the money is also used to create a support network of editors and international buyers. During the day, Selfridges gives them some of its rooms to work. In the beginning, the Ritz Hotel was the hub for hosting collections; Edition welcomes most of the guests and clients today, and its lounges and private bars are often the site of exclusive or impromptu parties. The community is now international and appears in nightclubs every night. Many faces may be unfamiliar, but the idea remains the same. Now more than ever, British fashion needs that story to survive. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Cgarh liquor scam: SC questions ED over hurry in filing NBW against accused NEW DELHI, THE Supreme Court on Thursday questioned the Enforcement Directorate (ED) over the hurry in filing an application before a trial court seeking issuance of non-bailable warrant (NBW) against an accused in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Rs 2,000 crore liquor scam in Chhattisgarh. A bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul stayed the NBW, noting that the apex court had in its July 18 order passed in the matter said the ED must stay their hands in all manner. The bench, also comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Manoj Misra, was hearing an application filed by Anwar Dhebar seeking a stay on the operation of the trial courts October 13 order for issuance of NBW against him. Dhebar also sought the courts direction that no coercive steps be taken against him in the ED case. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Dhebar, told the top court that the Chhattisgarh High Court had on October 6 dismissed his bail application after having granted him interim bail in July. He said the ED had made an application dated October 9 before the trial court in Raipur seeking issuance of NBW against Dhebar. Once we say you dont have to take any coercive steps, is it (NBW) not in overreach of our order? That is the point. Right or wrong, we are seized of it, the bench told the counsel representing the ED. It said the high courts order rejecting the bail petition has resulted in the issuance of an NBW. Campaign trail Hi-tech chariots to showcase BJP Govts achievements By Nupur Sengupta The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) up the ante for November 17 Assembly elections by flagging off the hi-tech Chariots to showcase achievements of the State Government. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and State BJP chief VD Sharma flagged off the Rath from BJPs office in Bhopal on Thursday. Through these hi-tech chariots, party will inform the public about the development, welfare and public-friendly works of the double-engine government in the villages, towns, streets and localities of 230 Assembly constituencies of the State in which 2,300 gatherings every day and 50,000 Chariot gathering in the State with the help of hi-tech chariots and also tell about the work of tenure of five years of Government. Through these chariots, BJP will convey all the schemes of the Central and State Government to the people. On this occasion, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan came down heavily on the Congress party and claimed that Congress had made Madhya Pradesh a sick and backward state while the BJP government has done work for the welfare of all sections of the society of the State thats why Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in the minds of the country. Modi is in the mind of Madhya Pardesh as well as across the State because of their development work . Chouhan said that these achievements we got after 2014 by the Prime Minister Narendra Modis blessings. Chouhan taking a dig at the Tantrik puja performed by former CM Kamal Nath in Ujjain to become the Chief Minister, he said that now people want to win elections in the State on the basis of witchcraft. People no longer have confidence in themselves. We also try other measures but do not resort to witchcraft but instead worship Lord Mahakal. It is the government of the people, by the people and for the people only, he said. He said that democracy is a medium to win the trust of the public. Serve the people, develop the state and do welfare of the people. He said that the Prime Minister Modi has an incredible relationship with Madhya Pradesh and its people. On the same lines, today Madhya Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party flagged off LED van under the MP Ke Mann Me Modi Maha Abhiyan. Through this, letters written by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the people of Madhya Pradesh will also be read out to the public. Today, the BJP government has achieved all-round progress and development. Today, there network of 5 lakh kilometres of roads, irrigation system of 47 lakh hectares, increase in electricity production from 2900 MW to 2900 thousand MW and unprecedented progress in the field of agriculture. There is no sector in which the Bharatiya Janata Party has not achieved development in Madhya Pradesh. He said that for development and public welfare, I appeal to all the workers that campaign chariots will go to every constituency and will seek votes from the public on the basis of development work. BJP State President and MP Vishnudutta Sharma said These hi-tech LED MP ke Mann me Modi vehicles will go to each booth of 230 Assembly constituencies in the State and it will promote the achievement of double engine government. Sharma said Our Madhya Pradesh has become a golden state with the welfare of the poor under the BJP government. With these promotional chariots on the theme Modi in MPs mind, information about the policies of the double engine government will become more accessible to the public so that the public can further support and bless the welfare policies of the BJP government. In the programme, the Chief Minister and the State President also released a letter written by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the people of Madhya Pradesh. Hi-tech promotional chariots also left from Rewa, Indore, Jabalpur and Gwalior. On this occasion, party officials and workers including Vinod Gotia, State Office Minister Raghavendra Sharma, State Media Incharge Ashish Agarwal, Vikas Veerani, Mahila Morcha State President Maya Narolia, Ashwini Rai were present. Evidence Points to North Korean weapons in Hamas hands SEOUL : HAMAS fighters likely fired North Korean weapons during their October 7 assault on Israel, a militant video and weapons seized by Israel show, despite Pyongyangs denials that it arms the militant group. South Korean officials, two experts on North Korean arms and an Associated Press analysis of weapons captured on the battlefield by Israel point toward Hamas using Pyongyangs F-7 rocket-propelled grenade, a shoulder-fired weapon that fighters typically use against armored vehicles. The evidence shines a light on the murky world of the illicit arms shipments that sanction-battered North Korea uses as a way to fund its own conventional and nuclear weapons programs. Rocket-propelled grenade launchers fire a single warhead and can be quickly reloaded, making them valuable weapons for guerrilla forces in running skirmishes with heavy vehicles. The F-7 has been documented in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, said N R Jenzen-Jones, a weapons expert who works as the director of the consultancy Armament Research Services. North Korea has long supported Palestinian militant groups, and North Korean arms have previously been documented amongst interdicted supplies, Jenzen-Jones told the AP. Hamas has published images of their fighters with a launcher with a rocket-propelled grenade with a distinctive red stripe across its warhead, and other design elements matching the F-7, said Matt Schroeder, a senior researcher with Small Arms Survey who wrote a guide to Pyongyangs light weapons. It is not a surprise to see North Korean weapons with Hamas, Schroeder said. The North Korean F-7 resembles the more widely distributed Soviet-era RPG-7 rocket-propelled grenade, with a few noticeable differences. Jenzen-Jones described the F-7 rocket-propelled grenade as intended to offer a lethal effect against personnel given its shape and payload, rather than armoured vehicles. Weapons seized by the Israeli military and shown to journalists also included that red stripe and other design elements matching the F-7. In a background briefing with journalists Tuesday, South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff specifically identified the F-7 as one of the North Korean weapons it believed Hamas used in the attack. The Israeli military declined to answer questions from the AP about the origin and the manufacturer of those rocket-propelled grenades, saying the ongoing war with Hamas prevented it from responding. North Koreas mission to the United Nations did not respond to a request for comment from the AP. Malgujari tanks 1,833 water-bodies out of 6,700 in Division rejuvenated By Kartik Lokhande After having revived 1,833 ex-Malgujari tanks, especially in eastern Vidarbha districts and some parts of western Vidarbha and Marathwada, Maharashtra Government has brought in certain changes in the policy pertaining to rejuvenation of these tanks. A major shift is that the revived ex-Malgujari tanks are to be handed over to water users associations (WUAs) or Gram Panchayats (GPs) concerned. Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation had undertaken a programme for rejuvenation of 128 ex-Malgujari tanks with irrigation potential above 100 hectares each. Besides, under a special programme, total 1,833 ex-Malgujari tanks were revived. However, said officials, there were still hundreds of such tanks which needed to be repaired. Hence, the Soil and Water Conservation Department of State Government has now brought about certain changes in the existing policy regarding the rejuvenation of ex-Malgujari tanks. As per the changes, most importantly, once an ex-Malgujari tank was rejuvenated, it would be handed over to water users associations holding Nistar Rights. If, for any reason, it is not possible to hand over a tank to such water users association, the tank will be handed over to GP concerned after obtaining consent of people holding Nistar Rights over the water. The ambit of Soil and Water Conservation Department has been widened from tanks up to 250 hectares of irrigation potential to 600 hectares. Considering this, the department will carry out the repairs of ex-Malgujari tanks under the jurisdiction of Zilla Parishad and State sectors. Now, the ex-Malgujari tanks repaired 10 years or more than that period of time will be eligible for fresh repairs. In case of tanks damaged due to natural disasters, eligibility period for repairs can be less than 10 years also. For repairs, e-tender process will be conducted. Project-based planning approach and phase-wise financial planning will be done for repairs of tanks. Besides, the defect liability period has been defined to be of five years so that the quality of repairs could be maintained. As per the official records, there are 6,700 ex-Malgujari tanks in Vidarbha region, mostly in eastern part under Nagpur Division. These tanks together have irrigation potential of 31,900 hectares. These tanks were constructed more than 300 years ago, and their ownership during the British Rule rested with Malgujars of the time. In 1950, after Independence from the British, the Government took control of these tanks and they came to be called as ex-Malgujari tanks. The tanks with irrigation potential between 0-100 hectares were handed over to Zilla Parishad (ZP), and those with potential above 100 hectares were transferred to Water Resources Department and Water Conservation Department. Originally, these tanks were constructed to store rainwater so as to have provision for protective irrigation of crops. Because, the much of the surface in eastern Vidarbha districts namely Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Bhandara, and Gondia and eastern parts of Nagpur district, some parts of Nanded in Marathwada region, and parts of Yavatmal in Amravati district of western Vidarbha is metamorphic rock, due to which there is less percolation of rainwater in soil, state the official records. In 2012, a committee headed by Dr Madhukarrao Kimmatkar had submitted its report to the State Government in 2012. The report pointed out that most of the ex-Malgujari tanks badly needed repairs and that they needed to be rejuvenated. Menace of fake cops continues Staff Reporter POSING as policemen, two tricksters cheated an elderly woman in Bajaj Nagar area and escaped with her gold ornaments worth Rs 5 lakh on Wednesday. A resident of Plot No 87, P&T Colony, Nirupama Narendra Singh (70) was on her way to attend a haldi kumkum programme at her friends house. Posing as a policeman, a man intercepted her in front of Plot No 85 in the same locality. He told her that his senior who was standing nearby wanted to talk to her. When she went to meet his senior, the latter told her that a chain-snatching incident took place in the area and asked to keep all the gold ornaments worn by her inside her bag as a precautionary measure. Presuming them to be policemen, she removed her ornaments. They then took the ornaments from the septuagenarian. The two self-styled cops stealthily removed the ornaments worth Rs five lakh while pretending to help her in keeping them in the bag. When she checked her bag at her friends house, she was shocked to find the ornaments stolen. Following a complaint lodged by the victim, Bajaj Nagar Police registered a case under Sections 406 (Criminal Breach of trust), 419 ( Punishment for cheating by personation), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 170 (personating a public servant) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the IPC against the tricksters. Police are now on the lookout for their fake counterparts. This was the second incident in the recent past after fake policemen posing as officers from Criminal Investigation Department (CID) looted a gold chain worth Rs 40,000 from a resident of Juni Kamptee area. Nail-biting contest on 35 seats likely Bhavana Aparajita Shukla Elections on around 35 seats, most of them are from northern parts of the State, seems to pose a tough challenge before the ruling BJP and main opposition Congress. A deeper analysis and poll observers opinions at the low margin contests in the State in last a few elections advocates significance of these seats results to form Government. Needless to mention that albeit falling short of the half-way mark by two seats in 2018, the Congress was emerged as the largest party and with support formed the government. This time, tough fights can be expected at more than three dozen seats including Mandhata, Nepanagar, Biaora, Rajpur, Deotalab, Indore 1, Damoh, Jabalpur North, Jaora and Suwasra. The victory margin was only 121 votes at Gwalior South, where Praveen Pathak of the Congress defeated sitting BJP MLA Narayan Singh Kushwaha in the last election. Farmers protest played a crucial role in Malwa region last year but this time too, farmers can play a decisive role in Mandsaur district. As the Congress retained Suwasra seat by only 350 votes, this time Congress has fielded Rakesh Patidar from this seat, the grand old party has given ticket to Vipin Jain from Mandsaur. While some of the seats have a margin of less than 1,000 votes. This time Jaora is represented by Rajendra Pandey (BJP) but he won the elections by 511 votes. In Jabalpur North, Vinay Saxena of the Congress defeated sitting MLA Sharad Jain of the BJP by 578 votes. Victory margin in Bina was 632 votes. Abhijit Shah from Congress will contest election from Timarni. It is a reserved seat for ST. BJP defeated the Congress candidate by 2213 votes. Here Gondwana Gantantra Party had caused loss to Congress. Its candidate got 5,722 votes. Not only small parties but use of NOTA factor in last elections is pressing alarm for both the main parties in the state. States election was the most closely fought Assembly polls in recent times in the country as the vote share indicates how close the electoral contest between the BJP and challenger Congress had and with 40.9 per cent vote share Congress formed government while the BJP gained with 41 per cent vote share. Remarkably, the losing party got 0.1 percentage point more than the winning one and 1.4 per cent or 5,42,295 voters opted for NOTA (None Of The Above) option. In Indore 1, both the parties have fielded Mass leaders MLA Sanjay Shukla has been given ticket again by Congress while BJP has fielded BJP General Secretary, Kailash Vijayvargiya, who is master of management. Being at the western region, there is an inconspicuous presence of other parties so main fight will be between Congress and BJP, which is going to be tough this time as the political analyst suggests. In 2018, ten assembly seats were settled by a margin of less than 1,000 votes. Seven went to the Congress. Only four of the low margin (less than 2,000 votes) contests went in BJP's favour in last election. In three of these seats, the victory margin for the BJP was less than 1,000 votes. In Bina, Mahesh Rai of the BJP defeated Shashi Kathoria of the Congress by 632 votes. The BJP had retained this seat. In Kolaras, the party is witnessing rebellion factor at a high rate. Last time, Virendra Raghuvanshi of the BJP defeated Mahendra Ramsingh Yadav of Congress by 720 votes. Virendra Raghuwanshi resigned from BJP and Joined Congress party but this time he has been denied ticket from Congress. In Damoh in 2018, Rahul Singh of the Congress defeated sitting MLA Jayant Malaiya of the BJP by 798 votes. This year in a major move Son of Jayant Malaiya, Siddharth Malaiya returned to the BJP. Here, in 2013, the AAP party fielded TV actress Chahat Pandey from Damoh. Pawar should condemn terrorism, not think of vote-bank politics: Fadnavis MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday targeted NCP chief Sharad Pawar, saying that he should strongly condemn terrorism and shun vote-bank politics while talking about the Israel-Palestine issue. Pawar, a former Defence Minister, had said earlier this week that Prime Minister Narendra Modis statements on the Hamas-Israel war seemed to convey a different position from the one articulated by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). In a post on social media platform X, Fadnavis said, My request to Sharad Pawar ji is not to think about vote-bank politics, but strongly condemn terrorism. India has never changed its position on the Israel-Palestine dispute. However, at the same time, India has been consistently against and has always strongly opposed terrorism in any form and against anyone. When the entire world has condemned the killing of innocent people in Israel and India did the same, Shri Sharad Pawar ji should also speak in the same language against terrorism, he said. Fadnavis also invoked past terror attacks in Mumbai. Mumbai has suffered a lot due to the terror attacks. Especially during the 26/11, Mumbai had lost many citizens, he said. A day after Hamas launched its incursions, Prime Minister Modi had expressed solidarity with Israel and condemned the terrorist attacks. Later, the MEA described the strikes by Hamas on Israeli cities as terror attacks, but also reaffirmed Indias long-standing position, advocating negotiations towards establishing a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine living side-by-side at peace with Israel. PAWARS REVIEW MEETING WITH NCP LEADERS CONTINUES ON DAY 2: NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday continued his meeting with party leaders on the second day in Mumbai. Supriya Sule and other party leaders were seen arriving for the meeting at the partys officein Mumbai. PREPARED! ONE who is prepared for uncertainties can never suffer huge losses. But, for that preparation to happen, a lot of multi-dimensional effort is required -- round-the-clock alertness, understanding, agility, and self-reliance. When Defence Minister Mr. Rajnath Singh made the statement at the Army Commanders Conference in New Delhi, that the military should always be ready for uncertainties, he made it on the strength of the points mentioned above. That Mr. Singhs statement has come almost three-and-a-half years after the Galwan Valley clash between the aggressive Chinese and the firm Indian forces, bears a great significance. Coming after years of improvement in conditions, and winter aggressions by China and Pakistan in certain border areas, lends greater significance to Mr. Singhs statement. To understand it better, one must take a look at the historic backdrop. In 1962, China mounted an incursion into the Indian territory along what is known as Line of Actual Control or LAC. That happened in winter. That time, China took advantage of the Indian attribute of not paying enough heed towards deployment of forces in areas where not a blade of grass grew. The 1962 war had so much an impact on Indian level of preparedness that several steps got initiated for better equipment. Still, a kind of pressure prevailed when it came to developing road and other infrastructure along the LAC. Out of this, the political leaders thought that leaving these areas undeveloped infrastructure-wise, would make it difficult for the enemy to move into Indian territory. Obviously, this was not a wise strategy. Some change did come in case of Siachen Glacier after some time. Getting the scent of Pakistans evil designs, India acted in a hurry and occupied the areas that mattered. Taking a beating there, Pakistan started mobilising its International supporters to raise the demand for demilitarisation. In 1999, Pakistan took advantage of winter to occupy the icy heights overlooking National Highway-1 from Leh-Srinagar. The Indian forces fought a hard battle to restore Indian domination of the vantage positions. This triggered strategic and doctrinal changes in the Armed Forces. In 2020 came the Galwan clash, when the resolute Indian forces gave a befitting and fierce response to Chinese aggressors. Since then, thanks to the ruling dispensation of the day, the process of preparation on all fronts got Galwanised. The result is for all to see -- the roads in border areas are being laid, repaired, and maintained well; indigenisation has received a boost, training has improved a lot, supplies mechanism has undergone changes, high positions even at icy heights are not vacated even in winter, all-weather maintenance of troops has become a new normal. Above all, a lot of emphasis is being given on preparing the military for expecting the unexpected, that is to say, bolstering the combat capabilities considering the possibility of unconventional warfare to become part of future conventional wars. This kind of preparation requires military might, which comes when a nation pursues a path to making own economy stronger, accelerates the pace of reforms, takes firm stand at the tables of diplomacy, has courage to walk the path to realising the vision for growth, thinks about national interest beyond the confines of politics, identifies future challenges well in advance and makes right investments at right time. India of today has all these attributes in her personality. Hence, she can afford to speak of war preparedness as a continuous phenomenon. shocking Man kills nephew by throwing him in lake Staff Reporter A 25-year-old man killed his nephew by throwing him into the Lower Lake and then jumped into the water body to end life on Thursday. The man picked the 6-year-old boy from his school and took him near the Khatlapura ghat at the Lower Lake around 12:15 pm. The Jahangirabad Police have registered a case of deaths and a probe is underway. Assistant Sub Inspector R K Yadav said that the man, Kaisar Taaj was a resident of Chiklod road. Taajs family own a grocery store called Taaj Kirana in the area. The child, Mohammad Ahmad Taaj was son of his elder brother Mohammad Faisal, he said. Police said that Kaisar took the boy from school to a selfie point located at a height near ghat. He pushed the boy into the lake. An onlooker saw them and reached near them. But, before the man could understand anything Kaisar too jumped into the lake. Later, the onlookers told the Jahangirabad police who then called the divers of civic body. Imran Khan, a diver of Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC), says that they reached the scene within a few minutes. We retrieved the bodies of the child and the man within a few minutes, he added. The bodies were sent for post-mortem and a case was registered. SHO of Jahangirabad Ajay Tiwari said that the man Kaisar was recently ousted from his home. He had certain mental issues and he would often enter into a dispute with other family members, said the cop. Nearly, a month ago his father asked Kaisar to leave the home and he started living separately, the SHO added. However, he was in trouble after his wife left for her parents home at Aishbagh in Bhopal. He was upset and on Thursday he reached the boys school and took him to the lake. The cause of the step taken by accused seems to be his disturbed mental state. Also, he was upset over being ousted from the family, said the cop. War Of Emotions By James M Dorsey HUMAN beings most destructive instincts survival, anger, fear, despair, and vengeance dictate Israeli and Palestinian war strategy and policy in the wake of Hamas October 7 brutal attack on Israel. The dominance of emotions produces an environment in which one atrocity justifies another and reinforces Israeli and Palestinian demonization of the other. It also highlights both sides disregard for the lives of the other. Humanity is on holiday. Empathy, the ability to understand other peoples loss and suffering, has become a rare and prized commodity. International law has been missing in action. Yet international leadership represents perhaps the most shocking absence, said Chris Doyle, director of the London-based Council for Arab-British Understanding. Hamas demonstrated with its wanton slaughter of Israelis that it views all Israelis, including innocent women and children, as legitimate targets. Hamas officials deny the killings. The closest they come to an admission is their labelling of Israeli settlers as soldiers, implicitly blurring the distinction between Israelis living within Israels pre-1967 borders and armed settlers on the West Bank, who increasingly attack Palestinians in a months-long cycle of West Bank violence, endorsed by members of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahus cabinet. Many of the Hamas killings during its October 7 attack occurred in towns and villages along the Israeli border with Gaza often described as settlements, muddling the difference between urban areas in Israel and settlements on the West Bank. Refusing to answer questions about Hamas targeting of civilians, a spokesman for the group, Osama Hamdan, when asked whether residents of settlements were legitimate targets, insisted that according to international law, the settlers are not civilians. Israelis stagger at Hamas comparisons, claiming the moral high ground. Yet, Israeli President Issac Herzog, reconfirming the fact that Israelis and Palestinians are in many ways mirror images of one another, declared as Israels military starved Gaza of food, fuel, water, and medicine and bombed Gaza back to the Stone Age: It is an entire nation out there that is responsible. It is not true this rhetoric about civilians not being aware, not involved. Its absolutely not true. They could have risen up. They could have fought against that evil regime which took over Gaza in a coup detat. A just released poll of Gazan public opinion by the pro-Israel Washington Institute of Near East Policy suggests otherwise. Conducted in July prior to this weeks unprecedented violence, 65 per cent of those polled believed a large military conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza was likely this year despite a ceasefire that ended the 2021 Gaza war. The emotions dominating Israeli and Palestinian warfare conjure up Israeli and Palestinians association of the violence with historic catastrophes that shape who they are. For Israelis, Hamas random, indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians is a modern-day repetition of the Holocaust, even if most Israelis were born after World War II. Hamas definition of Israeli civilians as legitimate targets in deeds, if not in words, reinforces Israeli perceptions. For Palestinians, particularly with Israel ordering Gazans to move from north to south, the Israeli attack raises the spectre of a third displacement following the 1948 and 1967 expulsions and fleeing of Palestinians as Israel conquered their lands. Israelis have done little to assuage Palestinian fears of a third round of expulsions and forced fleeing. There is a way to receive them all (Gazans) on the other side for temporary time on Sinai Egypt will have to play ball because human life is at stake, said Danny Ayalon, a former Israeli deputy Foreign Minister and advisor to Netanyahu. Amidst violence that has spun out of control with both sides violating international law, the international community is missing in action. To be fair, few countries have any leverage to help put an end to the violence. While the United States is the only country that could pressure Israel to halt its indiscriminate bombing of Gaza, it would need to work with the few states Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt that have any influence on Hamas to persuade the group to release the more than 100 Israeli and foreign, mostly civilian, hostages kidnapped during its attack. Even if Ayalons view does not reflect the Israeli Governments intentions, history shows that steps like wholesale forced relocation of populations take on a life of their own. No matter what the case may be, the damage has been done. Hamas may have returned the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the top of the international communitys agenda at unconscionable human expense. But, at the bottom line, it has made a solution to the conflict even more remote whether with two states, an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel, or one state in which Israelis and Palestinians have equal rights. (IPA/By arrangement with the Arabian Post) Cuban filmmaker Pavel Giroud. Cortesia Cuban writer Heberto Padilla published a book of poetry called Fuera del Juego (Out of Bounds) in the late 1960s and was awarded a local literary award named after poet Julian de Casal for verses that excoriated the Soviet-style influences on the Castro regime after the Cuban Revolution. Fidel Castro waited two years before ordering Padillas carefully-orchestrated arrest on March 20, 1971, charging him with treason against the homeland. Padilla was released from jail 38 days later and was forced to read a statement apologizing for his subversive writings. Foreign and local writers, artists, and intellectuals soon bombarded Castro with letters of objection. Disillusioned and downtrodden, Padilla left Cuba in the 1980s for the United States, where he died in 2000. El Caso Padilla (The Padilla Affair), a documentary film by Pavel Giroud, explores the controversy surrounding Padillas treatment by the Castro regime and its significance for the Cuban, Latin American and international intellectual community. It thoroughly examines the incident from various perspectives and documents events before and after the uproar. Giroud had read Padillas own account of the events in his autobiography and initially planned to make a fiction movie about it. But his focus changed dramatically when new material surfaced after 50 years. Heberto Padilla in 'The Padilla Case' documentary. Shortly after his arrest, the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC) filmed a three-hour interview with Padilla, where he admitted to being counterrevolutionary. Originally intended for Fidel Castros eyes only, this footage surfaced when Cuba experienced a period of openness after the collapse of the Eastern Europe socialist bloc, prompting a reassessment of the island nations ideological and political foundations. Carlos Aldana, a Communist Party ideologue, filmed a number of discussions between the youth and the Cuban government, said Giroud. It occurred to him that it might be a good opportunity to discuss the [Padilla] case. I was given a copy of one of these Betamax videotapes, but I was asked not to disclose my source. The footage is the foundation of Girouds documentary, and features a gripping monologue by a man torn by his confession. Padilla reveals conflicted emotions dread, sadness, terror, and disillusionment culminating in one of the most tragic moments of the Cuban Revolution. In front of a crowd of authors and artists, Padilla embodied the timeless revolution or death dilemma, presenting a stark and unsettling portrait of fear as a cautionary tale against supporting the counterrevolution. It was quite challenging, said Giroud. How could I help a 13-year-old from Sweden or Japan understand this story? I made a conscious effort to focus on the narrative of a man oppressed by power, and set aside ideological matters. The most relatable historical example is Galileo. In this case, the Cuban Revolution plays the role of the Roman Inquisition, and Padilla is on trial as Galileo. Giroud also used the example of author Boris Pasternaks (Doctor Zhivago) censorship and oppression by the Soviet Union as context for the documentary. El Caso Padilla, which won the award for Best Documentary at the 2023 Platino Awards, evokes the memory of the head of the USSRs Young Communist League declaring, If you compare Pasternak to a pig, a pig would not do what he did, because a pig, never shits where it eats. Giroud made sure to preserve the sequence of events that occurred that night in Cuba. He edited and refined the narrative while also incorporating interviews with authors who supported Padilla, such as Julio Cortazar, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Jorge Edwards, Carlos Fuentes, Jean-Paul Sartre, and even an interview with Fidel Castro himself. Poster for 'El Caso Padilla' documentary film. I believe these elements add layers to the film, said Giroud. I dont mention the words tyranny or dictatorship, nor do I criticize Fidel Castro. Instead, I focus on an event and everything that went into it. I think Cuban dissidents make a big mistake in only communicating with people who are already against the regime, instead of reaching out to those who need convincing. That was my goal with this film. The documentary explores a historical event, yet remains relevant as it sheds light on ongoing censorship in Cuba and authoritarianism in Nicaragua and Venezuela, which cannot be held up as progressive models, says Giroud. Cuba has always blamed the blockade for its problems, said Giroud. But how does that make you see enemies in poetry? Things are very wrong when you start fearing poets, and in that sense, the Cuban Revolution has been screwed up since 1961. The Cuban Revolution has the best marketing in the world there are many people on the island who know whats going on but refuse to take off their blindfolds. One of our films triumphs is that it exposes leftists who have turned a blind eye and remained silent for years, knowing that dignity and justice cannot be found in Cuba. The film is available at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) Film Archive and the National Film Archive in Mexico City. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition EA Series Trust purchased a new position in shares of The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW Free Report) during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm purchased 11,798 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $669,000. Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Beacon Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Charles Schwab in the first quarter valued at $25,000. Your Advocates Ltd. LLP bought a new stake in shares of Charles Schwab in the first quarter valued at $25,000. Carolina Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 54.8% in the first quarter. Carolina Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 565 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the period. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC bought a new stake in shares of Charles Schwab in the first quarter valued at $30,000. Finally, Rocky Mountain Advisers LLC grew its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 704.2% in the first quarter. Rocky Mountain Advisers LLC now owns 571 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares in the last quarter. 81.61% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Charles Schwab alerts: Charles Schwab Trading Up 0.1 % NYSE SCHW opened at $51.90 on Friday. The Charles Schwab Co. has a 1-year low of $45.00 and a 1-year high of $86.63. The company has a current ratio of 0.39, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $56.64 and a 200-day moving average of $55.96. The firm has a market cap of $91.87 billion, a PE ratio of 17.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 0.93. Charles Schwab Dividend Announcement Charles Schwab ( NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Monday, October 16th. The financial services provider reported $0.77 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.75 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $4.61 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.62 billion. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 24.86% and a net margin of 30.14%. Charles Schwabs revenue for the quarter was down 16.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.10 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.2 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 24th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 10th will be given a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.93%. Charles Schwabs payout ratio is 33.33%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth SCHW has been the subject of several recent research reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Charles Schwab in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a sell rating for the company. UBS Group reduced their price target on Charles Schwab from $80.00 to $72.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Monday. Citigroup lifted their price target on Charles Schwab from $65.00 to $75.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 19th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on Charles Schwab from $71.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, July 20th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their target price on Charles Schwab from $70.00 to $69.00 in a research report on Wednesday, October 11th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $69.91. View Our Latest Research Report on SCHW Insider Buying and Selling at Charles Schwab In other Charles Schwab news, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 3,792 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $57.31, for a total transaction of $217,319.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 44,725 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,563,189.75. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 3,792 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $57.31, for a total value of $217,319.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 44,725 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,563,189.75. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 72,047 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $66.66, for a total value of $4,802,653.02. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman now directly owns 59,748,538 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,982,837,543.08. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 159,599 shares of company stock valued at $10,542,469 in the last 90 days. Insiders own 6.60% of the companys stock. Charles Schwab Profile (Free Report) The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Charles Schwab Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Charles Schwab and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MTV has canceled its European awards ceremony, the Europe Music Awards (EMAs), scheduled for November 5 in Paris, out of an abundance of caution in light of the the volatility of world events. We have decided not to move forward with the 2023 MTV EMAs out of an abundance of caution for the thousands of employees, crew members, artists, fans, and partners who travel from all corners of the world to bring the show to life, a spokesperson said in a statement. The awards ceremony was to feature artists such as Anne-Marie, Coi Leray, David Guetta, Jung Kook, Manuel Turizo, Ozuna, Rema, Renee Rapp, Sabrina Carpenter and Thirty Seconds to Mars. This year, women dominated the main categories, with Taylor Swift, SZA and Olivia Rodrigo leading the way with seven nominations for Taylor Swift and six for the other two. They were followed by Doja Cat, Maneskin, Miley Cyrus and Nicki Minaj with four nominations. Other nominees were Ice Spice, Peso Pluma, Lana Del Rey, Kendrick Lamar, Karol G and Blackpink. The MTV EMAs are an annual celebration of global music. As we watch the devastating events in Israel and Gaza continue to unfold, this does not feel like a moment for a global celebration. With thousands of lives already lost, it is a moment of mourning. We look forward to hosting the MTV EMAs again in November of 2024, the network added in the statement. Although the statement does not explicitly reference it, since the escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, France has been in a state of heightened alert, especially after the murder last Friday in Arras of high school teacher Dominique Bernard, a victim of a stabbing by the Russian-Chechen Islamist Mohamed Mogouchkov. The French Minister of the Interior, Gerald Darmanin, implied that the Hamas attack against Israel could have inspired this attack and noted that there is a jihadist atmosphere in a country where 272 people have been killed by Islamist terrorism since 2012. France, especially around Paris, has also suffered numerous false terrorist threats in recent days, which for example led to the Louvre Museum and the Palace of Versailles being evacuated and temporarily closed, as well as the busy Parisian train station Gare de Lyon. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Assurant, Inc. (NYSE:AIZ Free Report) Zacks Research reduced their FY2024 earnings per share estimates for shares of Assurant in a note issued to investors on Monday, October 16th. Zacks Research analyst T. De now anticipates that the financial services provider will earn $13.90 per share for the year, down from their prior estimate of $13.92. The consensus estimate for Assurants current full-year earnings is $12.73 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Assurants Q4 2024 earnings at $3.90 EPS, Q1 2025 earnings at $2.76 EPS and Q2 2025 earnings at $3.81 EPS. Get Assurant alerts: Other research analysts also recently issued reports about the company. Piper Sandler boosted their price target on Assurant from $150.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, October 2nd. Truist Financial upped their price objective on Assurant from $170.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, August 3rd. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Assurant in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a buy rating for the company. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Assurant currently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $145.20. Assurant Trading Down 2.1 % Shares of AIZ opened at $149.07 on Wednesday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $142.75 and a two-hundred day moving average of $132.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a quick ratio of 0.41 and a current ratio of 0.41. The company has a market capitalization of $7.90 billion, a PE ratio of 23.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 0.53. Assurant has a fifty-two week low of $104.49 and a fifty-two week high of $153.90. Assurant (NYSE:AIZ Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The financial services provider reported $3.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.60 by $1.29. Assurant had a return on equity of 13.66% and a net margin of 3.27%. The firm had revenue of $2.75 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.64 billion. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Assurant Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of AIZ. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its position in shares of Assurant by 11.5% during the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 6,180 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,124,000 after purchasing an additional 639 shares during the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Assurant during the first quarter worth about $211,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Assurant by 23.1% during the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 15,499 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,818,000 after purchasing an additional 2,912 shares during the last quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in Assurant by 17.5% during the first quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 6,005 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,092,000 after acquiring an additional 896 shares during the period. Finally, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS raised its stake in Assurant by 6.6% during the first quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 7,624 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,386,000 after acquiring an additional 472 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 93.13% of the companys stock. Insider Buying and Selling at Assurant In other Assurant news, EVP Robert Lonergan sold 3,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.43, for a total value of $433,290.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 17,981 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,596,995.83. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other news, CFO Richard S. Dziadzio sold 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $143.19, for a total transaction of $572,760.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 51,893 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,430,558.67. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Robert Lonergan sold 3,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.43, for a total transaction of $433,290.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 17,981 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,596,995.83. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 10,700 shares of company stock valued at $1,535,113 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.39% of the companys stock. Assurant Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 18th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 28th were given a $0.70 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 25th. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.88%. Assurants payout ratio is currently 43.55%. Assurant Company Profile (Get Free Report) Assurant, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides business services that supports, protects, and connects consumer purchases in North America, Latin America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates through two segments: Global Lifestyle and Global Housing. The Global Lifestyle segment offers mobile device solutions, and extended service products and related services for consumer electronics and appliances, and credit and other insurance products; and vehicle protection, leased and financed solutions, and other related services. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Assurant Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Assurant and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Edwards Lifesciences Co. (NYSE:EW Get Free Report) has been assigned an average recommendation of Hold from the nineteen ratings firms that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, ten have given a hold recommendation and eight have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $90.71. Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and set a $102.00 price target on shares of Edwards Lifesciences in a research report on Friday, July 14th. Robert W. Baird assumed coverage on shares of Edwards Lifesciences in a research report on Tuesday, July 18th. They set an outperform rating and a $107.00 price target for the company. SVB Leerink assumed coverage on shares of Edwards Lifesciences in a research report on Monday. They set a market perform rating and a $75.00 price target for the company. Mizuho lifted their price target on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $95.00 to $102.00 in a research report on Monday, July 17th. Finally, 58.com reiterated a reiterates rating on shares of Edwards Lifesciences in a research report on Tuesday, June 27th. Get Edwards Lifesciences alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on Edwards Lifesciences Insider Buying and Selling at Edwards Lifesciences Hedge Funds Weigh In On Edwards Lifesciences In other Edwards Lifesciences news, CFO Scott B. Ullem sold 7,255 shares of Edwards Lifesciences stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $84.35, for a total value of $611,959.25. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 19,248 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,623,568.80. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link . In other news, CFO Scott B. Ullem sold 7,255 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, July 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $84.35, for a total value of $611,959.25. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 19,248 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,623,568.80. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website . Also, VP Catherine M. Szyman sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $78.64, for a total transaction of $393,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 34,814 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,737,772.96. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 184,359 shares of company stock valued at $13,817,172. 1.29% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 11.4% in the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 9,181 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $1,081,000 after purchasing an additional 941 shares during the last quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. increased its holdings in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 34.7% in the first quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 1,738 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $204,000 after purchasing an additional 448 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd increased its holdings in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 18.2% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,223 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $144,000 after purchasing an additional 188 shares during the last quarter. Mather Group LLC. increased its holdings in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 53.5% in the first quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 7,182 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $846,000 after purchasing an additional 2,503 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp increased its holdings in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 3.1% in the first quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 655,567 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $77,173,000 after purchasing an additional 19,798 shares during the last quarter. 79.25% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Edwards Lifesciences Trading Down 0.9 % EW opened at $69.08 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 3.15, a quick ratio of 2.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09. The stock has a market capitalization of $42.00 billion, a PE ratio of 30.57, a PEG ratio of 3.47 and a beta of 1.05. Edwards Lifesciences has a 1-year low of $67.13 and a 1-year high of $94.87. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $73.70 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $82.44. Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE:EW Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 26th. The medical research company reported $0.66 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.65 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $1.53 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.51 billion. Edwards Lifesciences had a net margin of 24.56% and a return on equity of 25.43%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 11.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.63 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Edwards Lifesciences will post 2.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. About Edwards Lifesciences (Get Free Report Edwards Lifesciences Corporation provides products and technologies for structural heart disease, and critical care and surgical monitoring in the United States, Europe, Japan, and internationally. It offers transcatheter heart valve replacement products for the minimally invasive replacement of heart valves; and transcatheter heart valve repair and replacement products to treat mitral and tricuspid valve diseases. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Edwards Lifesciences Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Edwards Lifesciences and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV Get Free Report) gapped up before the market opened on Wednesday following a stronger than expected earnings report. The stock had previously closed at $465.69, but opened at $480.97. Elevance Health shares last traded at $479.08, with a volume of 309,750 shares traded. The company reported $8.99 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $8.45 by $0.54. The business had revenue of $42.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $42.69 billion. Elevance Health had a return on equity of 20.24% and a net margin of 3.87%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 7.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $7.53 EPS. Get Elevance Health alerts: Elevance Health Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 21st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 6th will be paid a dividend of $1.48 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 5th. This represents a $5.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.28%. Elevance Healths dividend payout ratio is presently 22.17%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of brokerages have weighed in on ELV. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an overweight rating and set a $547.00 target price on shares of Elevance Health in a research note on Thursday. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $572.00 price objective on shares of Elevance Health in a research note on Thursday, July 20th. Wolfe Research lowered Elevance Health from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Elevance Health from $572.00 to $535.00 in a research note on Friday, July 7th. Finally, Stephens restated an overweight rating and issued a $555.00 price objective on shares of Elevance Health in a research note on Thursday, July 20th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $568.62. Get Our Latest Research Report on ELV Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. HF Advisory Group LLC boosted its holdings in Elevance Health by 1.1% in the second quarter. HF Advisory Group LLC now owns 1,857 shares of the companys stock valued at $825,000 after purchasing an additional 21 shares during the last quarter. ProVise Management Group LLC boosted its holdings in Elevance Health by 0.6% in the second quarter. ProVise Management Group LLC now owns 3,856 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,713,000 after purchasing an additional 22 shares during the last quarter. Wealth Architects LLC boosted its holdings in Elevance Health by 0.7% in the first quarter. Wealth Architects LLC now owns 3,104 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,427,000 after purchasing an additional 23 shares during the last quarter. Roundview Capital LLC boosted its holdings in Elevance Health by 1.2% in the first quarter. Roundview Capital LLC now owns 1,916 shares of the companys stock valued at $881,000 after purchasing an additional 23 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Intelligence Driven Advisers LLC boosted its holdings in Elevance Health by 4.9% in the first quarter. Intelligence Driven Advisers LLC now owns 494 shares of the companys stock valued at $239,000 after purchasing an additional 23 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 87.80% of the companys stock. Elevance Health Stock Performance The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 1.44 and a quick ratio of 1.44. The company has a market capitalization of $109.17 billion, a PE ratio of 17.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 0.83. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $452.14 and its 200 day simple moving average is $456.76. About Elevance Health (Get Free Report) Elevance Health, Inc operates as a health benefits company. The company operates through four segments: Commercial & Specialty Business, Government Business, CarelonRx, and Other. It supports consumers, families, and communities across the entire care journey connecting to the care, support, and resources to lead healthier lives. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Elevance Health Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Elevance Health and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (NYSE:TDS Free Report) Equities research analysts at Zacks Research raised their FY2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Telephone and Data Systems in a research note issued to investors on Monday, October 16th. Zacks Research analyst S. Bose now anticipates that the Wireless communications provider will post earnings of ($0.63) per share for the year, up from their prior forecast of ($0.64). The consensus estimate for Telephone and Data Systems current full-year earnings is ($0.58) per share. Get Telephone and Data Systems alerts: Telephone and Data Systems (NYSE:TDS Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, August 4th. The Wireless communications provider reported ($0.17) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.04) by ($0.13). The company had revenue of $1.27 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.29 billion. Telephone and Data Systems had a negative return on equity of 0.51% and a negative net margin of 0.53%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 6.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.15 EPS. A number of other brokerages have also commented on TDS. Citigroup raised their price objective on Telephone and Data Systems from $16.00 to $23.00 in a research report on Friday, August 18th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on Telephone and Data Systems from $15.00 to $18.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, September 11th. StockNews.com started coverage on Telephone and Data Systems in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a sell rating for the company. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Telephone and Data Systems from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and set a $38.00 target price for the company in a report on Tuesday, August 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $26.33. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on TDS Telephone and Data Systems Trading Down 4.7 % Shares of TDS opened at $18.64 on Wednesday. Telephone and Data Systems has a 1-year low of $6.43 and a 1-year high of $21.75. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.10 billion, a P/E ratio of -21.93 and a beta of 0.87. The company has a current ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $18.30 and its 200 day moving average price is $12.09. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Telephone and Data Systems Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. SG Americas Securities LLC bought a new stake in shares of Telephone and Data Systems in the third quarter valued at approximately $1,050,000. Versant Capital Management Inc boosted its position in shares of Telephone and Data Systems by 155.8% in the third quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 2,499 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock valued at $46,000 after acquiring an additional 1,522 shares during the period. Gladius Capital Management LP raised its stake in shares of Telephone and Data Systems by 253.6% in the third quarter. Gladius Capital Management LP now owns 31,411 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock valued at $576,000 after purchasing an additional 22,529 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC raised its stake in shares of Telephone and Data Systems by 66.1% in the second quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 101,284 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock valued at $833,000 after purchasing an additional 40,305 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Osaic Holdings Inc. raised its stake in shares of Telephone and Data Systems by 17.9% in the second quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 9,064 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock valued at $75,000 after purchasing an additional 1,373 shares in the last quarter. 95.40% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Telephone and Data Systems Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 15th were given a $0.185 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 14th. This represents a $0.74 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.97%. Telephone and Data Systemss dividend payout ratio is -87.06%. Telephone and Data Systems Company Profile (Get Free Report) Telephone and Data Systems, Inc, a telecommunications company, provides communications services in the United States. It operates through two segments: UScellular and TDS Telecom. The company offers wireless solutions to consumers, and business and government customers, including a suite of connected Internet of things (IoT) solutions, and software applications for monitor and control, business automation/operations, communication, fleet and asset management, smart water solutions, private cellular networks and custom, and end-to-end IoT solutions; wireless priority services and quality priority and preemption options; smartphones and other handsets, tablets, wearables, mobile hotspots, fixed wireless home internet, and IoT devices; and accessories, such as cases, screen protectors, chargers, and memory cards, as well as consumer electronics, including audio, home automation and networking products. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Telephone and Data Systems Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Telephone and Data Systems and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. If there wasnt a strike by Hollywood actors, the name of Lily Gladston a 37-year-old actress from Kalispell, Montana would be read around the world. At the premiere of Killers of the Flower Moon at the Cannes Film Festival an adaptation of journalist David Granns book by Martin Scorsese the Native American actress was the big surprise. Her performance was the most celebrated, with her name now almost guaranteed to appear in all the upcoming nominations. Amid so much media noise, however, she has remained serene, with her feet and thoughts rooted in the earth. Her education and heritage (she hails from the Blackfoot and Nez Perce tribes) offer her a more patient conception of time. In fact, its precisely because of her capacity for silent observation being able to say everything with her deep gaze why director Kelly Reichardt gave Gladstone her first big role in Certain Women (2016). Its also what Scorsese saw in her, when he made her the heart of the story that has changed the course of her career. Its not another white savior film, Gladstone notes. Its a film intended to offer some justice to the Osage Nation, a tribe that in the 1920s, in Oklahoma was cornered and murdered by greedy white men, who wanted to steal land that belonged to the tribe, given that there were substantial oil reserves under the soil. Playing Mollie Burkhart an Osage who saw her family murdered by the ambitions of her husbands family (Leonardo DiCaprio plays her partner) Gladstone found a connection to her past and her community, as well as a platform in society. Lily Gladstone, alongside her co-stars Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio. Question. From being on the verge of leaving acting to being celebrated at Cannes how do you digest that? Answer. [Laughs] Thats how it was. There have been many times when I almost gave up acting. I had a moment of doubt right before Kelly Reichardt called me for Certain Women. [At the time], I was working, telling the story of my community to children in local theaters. And then, I still had to think about it I have never wanted to move to Los Angeles to do castings non-stop, because I realized very quickly that Im not good at that. After Certain Women during Covid, while taking care of my grandmother I thought that a career as an actress wasnt sustainable. I was in that post-Covid moment, when we all rethought many things. I began to look at other options. Q. What was your plan B? A. I wanted to do work that was relevant, that had an impact on society, that kept me busy but I also wanted something that wouldnt pose a danger to my family, due to Covid. I even looked at a data analysis course to track predatory Asian giant hornets! Its strange, I know, but I love bees, especially bumblebees I could talk a lot about bees. I was looking at the University of Montanas website I was about to enter my banking information for the course, when I got the alert for the meeting with Scorsese. I was amazed, because I had done the casting about a year earlier. I thought it wasnt going to happen. It was an even bigger surprise when I realized that the first step was to speak directly with Marty. Then, it was a meeting with Marty and Leo (DiCaprio). Luckily, it was on Zoom, from my room, surrounded by my parents and family, who were supporting me. It was my territory. Two weeks later exactly on December 1, on Mollies birthday they told me that the role was mine. Q. They also wanted you as a collaborator on the script, not just as an actress. A. In the first casting that I did, the story was more like the book. But in the meetings, with the changes to the script changes that I saw as necessary the story was focused on the Osage people. Given this great cultural shift that were experiencing one that hopefully continues to have an impact on social justice Leo and Marty felt that it wasnt the time for another white male savior story. Q. Its the time of women and, also, in this case, of Indigenous women. A. I really appreciated that they didnt change the Mollie that appears in the book. I understand that it seems complicated to put a character who doesnt say much front and center, but thats the power and the magic of cinema. Thats why I love Kelly Reichardts movies: she makes you look at all the characters in the image, not just the one in the center. For me, the most intelligent people I know tend to be the quietest, the most observant. I think cinema should pay more attention to them. Thats why I really appreciated this rewrite. Q. Did you know the history of all that the Osages suffered through? A. Yes. Before becoming an actress, when I was little, I was interested in ballet. At age 10 when we still lived on the reservation my parents homeschooled me. One of the projects I became interested in was Maria Tallchief, who was the first Native American prima ballerina. She was Osage. When I told my father, he told me what they had suffered. I remember being very worried about how this must have affected Maria. Then, like everyone else, I read David Granns book but the history of the Osage was known and discussed in my environment. Q. The oral tradition remains fundamental within Indigenous communities. A. Thats right, [the elders] tell you specific stories about your family, or more general stories about your lineage about where you come from, about your origins. Its necessary that we have this knowledge about our lineage, for the state to recognize us as a Native American nation. And also because, for us, our ancestors arent just the past theyre with us now. This is the idea of cultural perpetuity. The continuation of our culture is the pinnacle of our society. The actress alongside director Martin Scorsese. Q. Your father is a member of the Blackfoot and Nez Perce tribes, while your mother is white. You lived between the reservation and Seattle. What was it like growing up between both universes? A. Ive always been in a community and have been raised by people who havent let me forget that Im always representing everyone. My ancestors are quite mixed, as I suppose we all are. Were all the result of generations and generations adapting to each other, knowing each other, trading, influencing each other, all without realizing it. Im a map of all that. Native people are rural, were urban. We live on the reservation. Were all over the United States. And theres a large Indian Country community that comes together virtually. I now live much closer to home (she calls Glacier National Park home: Its Blackfoot country, she explains), but when I left the reservation for a while, it was nice to stick together like that. Social media allows us to stay in touch quickly, so we can maintain a much larger collective community. Q. Do you consider yourself to be an activist in your community? A. I would say that Im more of a couch activist, because I have people around me, very close to me, who are true activists. My activism is more closely related to my profession. Q. What connection did you feel to the character Mollie? A. There are many strong similarities in the world of Indian societies. There are many things that remind me of my home: our relationship with the creator, with the sun, with the earth... though there are always differences, because there are 500 federally-recognized nations in the United States, as well as about 200 to 400 that arent federally-recognized. Each of these tribes has a language, a dialect, certain customs. Its impossible to say that we have a single vision of the world, but theres a common recognition. I found very similar things between my childhood and Mollies. The woman in my family who would be Mollies contemporary would be my great-grandmother, Lily. My father was very close to her. She died six years before I was born, but I always felt that she was around. That idea of cultural perpetuity has been with me from the beginning: [my parents] gave me her name, I always knew who she was and what she was like. Grandma Lily came from a long line of leaders in our community. My great-great-grandfather was one of the leaders who signed the treaty that gave us the land in Canada and, by the way, through that line of succession, Im linked to Janay Collins, who plays my sister Rita in the film. She played the role with great pride a pride that you also see in Mollie and her family. Grandma Lily was also a devout Catholic. She spoke Blackfoot and English fluently, she chewed tobacco. At home, she was very ironic, but in public, she was serious, calm. When I spoke with some of the Osage, I found many similarities with our history of colonization, missionaries Q. If your Oscar nomination is confirmed, youd be the second Native American woman after Jocelyn LaGarde, in 1966 to be nominated. And youd actually be the second Native American of all time to receive an Oscar, after Sacheen Littlefeather collected it on behalf of Marlon Brando in 1973. only to reject the statuette. Is there a lot of pressure for you at this moment, given the notions of representation and social justice? A. [Laughs] If I win, maybe Ill accept it on behalf of Marlon Brando! Attention is a form of energy, money is a form of energy but the important thing is to be present in the moment, with your feet on the ground. This abstract creature that is fame, notoriety, an Oscar although that, actually, is something you can touch I dont feel it as pressure. I use the analogy of water: I feel like you have to keep moving, keep going, or you stay stagnant. I dont want to be a pond, I want to keep flowing. If the powers that be want me to reach a moment like the Oscars, so be it. But its something thats above me. Thats the only way I can think of it. And if, in some way, I would like to get it, [its because] society is ready and hungry for these types of stories and characters. If this has crossed my path, its because people want to learn about the history of the reign of terror against Indigenous people maybe because we live in uncertain times and we see that the Osage people have survived the end of the world many times. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Bahamas in a debt trap, with no real growth plan, say financial experts The congressional probes final report on the January 8 coup attempt in Brasilia calls for the prosecution of 60 individuals, including former president Jair Bolsonaro. The far-right Bolsonaro has been accused of four crimes that could lead to a 29-year prison sentence, including violent suppression of the rule of law. The report states that Bolsonaro was responsible for the attacks on government institutions after his sustained campaign to undermine the credibility of the electoral process. The final report of the congressional inquiry was approved by a tense 20-11 vote, after which Lula ally Senator Eliziane Gama left the room protected by an armed escort. Brazils Supreme Court is also investigating the former president for his involvement in the riot, but has not yet charged him. Bolsonaro faces numerous legal cases since leaving office and losing his immunity, and has already been barred for eight years from running for public office. On October 18, Bolsonaro gave a formal statement to Federal Police in Brasilia regarding the riot. A week after leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was inaugurated, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed the seat of government in the most serious attack on Brazilian democracy since the dictatorships of the 1960s and 1970s. The rioters vandalized buildings, furniture, and artwork for over three hours in the Brazilian capital. Over 1,500 people have been charged for their roles in the attempted coup, and Brazils top court recently imposed a 17-year sentence on the first person convicted. Former President Bolsonaro speaks to the media as he leaves Federal Police headquarters in Brasilia; October 18, 2023. UESLEI MARCELINO (REUTERS) The congressional report recommended that 60 individuals be charged along with Bolsonaro, including five ex-ministers and 22 military officers. The top army and navy officers under Bolsonaro and the ex-presidents personal secretary could face criminal charges, along with several retired generals. The participation of uniformed officers in the attempted coup is a key focus of the investigations, but its also a sensitive matter due to some military opposition to the attempted coup. The coup failed because the army said no, stated Arthur Maia, the president of the congressional inquiry commission. Maia belongs to a political party aligned with Bolsonaro. The congressional recommendations put more pressure on the Supreme Court and Justice Ministry to prosecute the former president and his key allies. After hearing the report, Bolsonaro said, I am only responsible for the things I signed. He then asked rhetorically, Did you see any soldiers mobilizing? Bolsonaros congressional allies pushed for the investigative commission despite initial resistance from President Lulas Workers Party (PT) who thought it would only create more chaos. The PT ultimately agreed to establish the commission and appointed Senator Gama to lead the investigation and report back. Brazilian democracy faced numerous challenges, Gama wrote in the final report. The public was manipulated by hate speech, a digital army sowed fear, opponents were discredited, and attacks on the electoral system were encouraged. Security forces were co-opted, and there was a concerted attempt to corrupt, obstruct and annul the elections. In one last desperate act to hold onto power, a coup detat was launched. Brazils investigative commissions typically do not produce tangible outcomes, but instead serve to wear down the opposition. A commission investigating the pandemic concluded that Bolsonaro should be prosecuted for genocide, but no charges were levied in relation to his abysmal handling of the coronavirus. Bolsonaro was also recently acquitted in court for charges that he intentionally delayed purchasing Covid-19 vaccines. The virus claimed the lives of over 700,000 Brazilians while he spouted Covid-denying rhetoric, endorsed unproven medications and boasted about not being vaccinated. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The Colina Financial Advisors Ltd. (CFAL) Pension and Economic Conference took place at the convention center of Baha Mar resort yesterday. Torrell Glinton From left are FNM Deputy Leader Shanendon Cartwright, Bishop Ricardo Grant, and FNM Leader Michael Pintard, at FNM Headquarters last night. Torrell Glinton Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. AFIS 2023 unveils impressive speaker lineup including Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Olayemi Cardoso Lome, Republic of Togo, 20 October 2023 The AFRICA FINANCIAL INDUSTRY SUMMIT AFIS is set to host its annual summit on November 15 and 16, 2023, in Lome, Togo. This year's event, themed "Building a World-Class African Financial Industry: A $1.5 Trillion Opportunity," will bring together key players from both public and private sectors to explore the transformation of the African financial industry in the face of technological advancements and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). AFRICA FINANCIAL INDUSTRY SUMMIT - AFIS has been instrumental in fostering change in African finance by facilitating discussions on pivotal themes within the financial sector. The event will see over 20 Ministers of Economy and Finance, Central Bank Governors, Deputy Governors, and regulatory authorities in attendance. Notable figures include Governor Olayemi Cardoso (Central Bank of Nigeria), H.E. Mamo Esmelealem Mihretu (National Bank of Ethiopia), Manuel Antonio Tiago Dias (National Bank of Angola), Dr. Ernest Addison (Central Bank of Ghana), Jean-Claude Kassi Brou (BCEAO), Ministers Romuald Wadagni of Benin, and Sani Yaya of Togo. The summit will also host leaders from major financial institutions, with luminaries such as Ugas Sheikh-Mohamed from the Capital Markets Authority in Kenya, Delphine Traore representing SanlamAllianz, Patty Karuaihe-Martin from NamibRe, Jeremy Awori of Ecobank, Jules Ngankam from the African Guarantee Fund, Felix Edoh Kossi Amenounve of BRVM, Serigne Dioum of MTN, Sergio Pimenta, Vice President for Africa at IFC, Oliver Awuba from UBA and numerous other industry leaders from across Africa and around the world. AFIS 2023's agenda will encompass several key topics, including attracting African institutional investments to local capital markets, ensuring the free movement of capital and regulatory harmonization, nurturing talent essential for digital transformation, and unlocking innovation in areas like climate finance and tokenization. The summit provides an invaluable platform for Nigeria's financial industry leaders to develop concrete solutions for the challenges facing the sector and to collaborate with other Pan-African financial industry leaders. By aligning banking, insurance, fintech, and capital market strategies with global standards, AFIS is poised to become a cornerstone event for industry stakeholders. Program AFIS 2023: Program - Afis Speakers AFIS 2023: Speakers - Afis For more information and registration: Financial Industry Summit 2023 (mediactive-events.com) The Supreme Court of Nigeria has fixed October 23 as the hearing date for the petitions filed by three presidential candidates challenging the outcome of the February 25, 2023 election. This is even as apex Court constituted a seven-member panel of justices to hear the appeal in the petitions The notices for the hearing were served on the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar; that of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Chichi Ojei. This was disclosed in a hearing notice dated October 19, signed by Zainab M. Garba, Supreme Court registrar. The notice said by the Order 2 Rule 1(2) of the Supreme Courts Rules 1985 as amended, the notice is deemed as sufficiently served on the parties. The list of members of the panel to sit on the appeals include justices Musa Dattijo Muhammad, Uwani Musa Abba Aji, Lawal Garba, Helen M. Ogunwumiju, I.N. Saulawa, Tijjani Abubakar and Emmanuel Agim. Recall that Atiku is challenging the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Court sitting in Abuja which had dismissed his petition and affirmed Tinubus victory. Atiku had alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act and corrupt practices as part of the reasons Tinubus election victory should be nullified. Among his grounds of argument are Tinubus alleged forged certificate from the United States Chicago State University. On his part, Obi is contending that the tribunals refusal of his 18,088 polling units blurred results, was a miscarriage of justice. Ojei of the APM, in her petition, is contending that Tinubu and his deputy, Kashim Shettima were disqualified on the grounds of invalid nomination for the offices. Meanwhile, Tinubus legal team had also urged the Supreme Court to uphold the judgment of the lower court. Thousands of information technology workers contracting with U.S. companies have for years secretly sent millions of dollars of their wages to North Korea for use in its ballistic missile program, FBI and Department of Justice officials said. The Justice Department said Wednesday that IT workers dispatched and contracted by North Korea to work remotely with companies in St. Louis and elsewhere in the U.S. have been using false identities to get the jobs. The money they earned was funneled to the North Korean weapons program, FBI leaders said at a news conference in St. Louis. Federal authorities announced the seizure of $1.5 million and 17 domain names as part of the investigation, which is ongoing. Jay Greenberg, special agent in charge of the St. Louis FBI office, said any company that hired freelance IT workers more than likely hired someone participating in the scheme. An FBI spokeswoman said Thursday that the North Koreans contracted with companies across the U.S. and in some other countries. We can tell you that there are thousands of North Korea IT workers that are part of this, spokeswoman Rebecca Wu said. FBI officials said the scheme is so prevalent that companies must be extra vigilant in verifying whom they are hiring, including requiring interviewees to at least be seen via video. At a minimum, the FBI recommends that employers take additional proactive steps with remote IT workers to make it harder for bad actors to hide their identities, Greenberg said in a news release. John Hultquist, the head of threat intelligence at the cybersecurity firm Mandiant, said North Koreas use of IT freelancers to help fund the weapons program has been in play for more than a decade, but the effort got a boost from the COVID-19 pandemic. I think the post-Covid world has created a lot more opportunity for them because freelancing and remote hiring are a far more natural part of the business than they were in the past, Hultquist said. North Korea also uses workers in other fields to funnel money back for the weapons program, Hultquist said, but higher pay for tech workers provides a more lucrative resource. Officials didnt name the companies that unknowingly hired North Korean workers, say when the practice began, or elaborate on how investigators became aware of it. But federal authorities have been aware of the scheme for some time. In May 2022, the State Department, Department of the Treasury, and the FBI issued an advisory warning of attempts by North Koreans to obtain employment while posing as non-North Korean nationals. The advisory noted that in recent years, the regime of Kim Jong Un has placed increased focus on education and training in IT-related subjects. Court documents allege that the government of North Korea dispatched thousands of skilled IT workers to live primarily in China and Russia with the goal of deceiving businesses from the U.S. and elsewhere into hiring them as freelance remote employees. The IT workers generated millions of dollars a year in their wages to benefit North Koreas weapons programs. In some instances, the North Korean workers also infiltrated computer networks and stole information from the companies that hired them, the Justice Department said. They also maintained access for future hacking and extortion schemes, the agency said. Greenberg said the workers used various techniques to make it look like they were working in the U.S., including paying Americans to use their home Wi-Fi connections. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are high as North Korea has test-fired more than 100 missiles since the start of 2022 and the U.S. has expanded its military exercises with its Asian allies, in tit-for-tat responses.The Justice Department in recent years has sought to expose and disrupt a broad variety of criminal schemes aimed at bolstering the North Korean regime, including its nuclear weapons program. In 2016, for instance, four Chinese nationals and a trading company were charged in the U.S. with using front companies to evade sanctions targeting North Koreas nuclear weapons and ballistics initiatives. Two years ago, the Justice Department charged three North Korean computer programmers and members of the governments military intelligence agency in a broad range of global hacks that officials say were carried out at the behest of the regime. Law enforcement officials said at the time that the prosecution highlighted the profit-driven motive behind North Koreas criminal hacking, a contrast from other adversarial nations like Russia, China and Iran that are generally more interested in espionage, intellectual property theft or even disrupting democracy. In September, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for an exponential increase in production of nuclear weapons and for his country to play a larger role in a coalition of nations confronting the United States in a new Cold War, state media said. In February, United Nations experts said that North Korean hackers working for the government stole record-breaking virtual assets last year estimated to be worth between $630 million and more than $1 billion. The panel of experts said in a report that the hackers used increasingly sophisticated techniques to gain access to digital networks involved in cyberfinance, and to steal information that could be useful in North Koreas nuclear and ballistic missile programs from governments, individuals and companies. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition A meeting of a select leaders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Northern Zone was held on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at the residence of the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, Chief Engr. Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu; CFR (Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo) The President General gave a progress report on the following activities; 1. (a). Global Restructuring of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide: The Igbo Leader explained that Ohanaeze Ndigbo has been restructured into three zones for Nigeria and six zones for the Diaspora chapters. With the new structure, the 19 states and Abuja will have their headquarters in Abuja; the South West, with the headquarters in Lagos; and the East with the headquarters at Enugu. Chief Iwuanyanwu added that the Ohanaeze Diaspora structure has the continent of Europe with the headquarters in London; others include the continent of North America and Canada with headquarters in Washington, DC; the continent of South America and the Caribbean with headquarters in Brazil; the continent of Asia with headquarters in China; continent of Africa with Headquarters in South Africa; continent of Australia and New Zealand and all the surrounding Islands with headquarters in Australia. (b) Building of International Market in Igboland; with the completion of the project, all the Igbo traders will be expected to own a market store in Igboland. This will create job opportunities, enhance goods and services and ultimately increase Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the country. (c) As a corollary to the above, the Igbo Leader will hold a Summit of Igbo Traders Associations in Nigeria and some parts of Africa. The meeting is scheduled to hold in Jan. 2024. Other decisions reached in the meeting include; (2) A new date for the Ohanaeze Northern Convention which will hold on Thursday 23 and Friday 24 of November 2023. (3) The President General called for the harmonization of the officers of the various factions of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the Abuja in order to produce united peaceful executive. 4. The meeting expressed very deep concern over the insecurity in the South East and felt sad over the continued incarceration of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. The President General was therefore mandated to immediately seek appointment for leaders to meet with the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR in respect of the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, amongst other security issues in the South East. (5) The members noted with satisfaction that the Governor of Imo State, His Excellency Sen. Hope Uzodimma has offered Amnesty to all the unknown gunmen who are hiding in the bush. To this end, Governor Uzodimma has promised to offer full employment to as many youths that denounce nefarious activities in Imo State. It is hoped that since Governor Uzodimma is the Chairman of the South East Governors Forum, all the other South East Governors will key into the Amnesty programme. (6) The Ohanaeze Ndigbo urges the young men to take advantage of the amnesty programme for peace to reign in Igboland. (7) The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu announced the establishment of a Special Committee, known as the Committee for Reconciliation and Peace Building in Nigeria with Dr. Dominic Okechukwu as the Chairman while Dr. Joseph Ibekwe is the Secretary. The other members of the Committee will be announced later. (8) Also the President General Inaugurated the Elders Council for Abuja and the Northern States of Nigeria. The Council is Chaired by His Excellency Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife and Chief SN Okeke as the Deputy while Prof. Charles Nwekeaku is the Secretary. (9) Members lauded the robust initiatives so far taken by Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, CFR since his assumption of Office as the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide; especially in the areas of peace building, transportation, railway, seaport, international airport and other areas of Igbo strategic interests. Members expressed immense delight that with the Iwuanyanwu vision, intellect and invaluable diverse contacts, a lot of lost grounds will be recovered. Some of the dignitaries that attended the meeting include: His Excellencies, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, Sen. Chris Ngige; others include Sen.Joy Emordi, Ambassador Eddy Onuoha, Ken Emechebe, Chief Sam Obaji, among others. E- Sign Dr. Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia; the National Publicity Secretary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide . The first time the southern governors met was in 2001, in Lagos, under the aegis of former Governor Bola Tinubu. In 2005, former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani hosted the Southern governors in Enugu. Unfortunately, that meeting was seen as a front for the endorsement of the third term ambition of certain political office holders at that time. Perhaps, such a controversy and attendant mistrust could be the reason why the group went into hibernation, and would only resurface on October 25, 2017, twelve years later in Lagos or maybe it was something deeper? Who knows? In all these meetings, the central rallying points in the submissions of the governors was the need for restructuring, devolution of powers, and the issue of power rotation. The governors vehemently argued that though Nigeria presents itself as a federation of states, but that the country has been governed like a unitary state with the central government acting like a bully. The governors were determined to look beyond ethnicity, religious and political affiliations, in order to frontally confront the issues that militated against the actualisation of their autonomy, equity, justice and fairness, within the context of the Nigerian federation. The sudden upspring of unity of purpose amongst the southern governors came as a surprise to so many political watchers because unlike the North, the South, after the amalgamation of the Southern and Nothern protectorate of the country in 1914, was divided into two political regions, the Western and Eastern Regions, creating dissimilar political philosophies, essentially for the main purpose of political survival. The burden of culture and tribe also suppressed the unity that geographical location would have naturally bestowed on the 17 states from Nigeria southern region, and it became a case of "every man for himself". It is that disposition that has kept the southern states politically backward in comparison to the northern states that have strategically maintained political power with the aid of what I call "advanced political engineering". The 19 Northern states share the same political, economic and cultural philosophies, and that is possibly the reason why their governors hold regular meetings where issues of common interests are mindfully tabled and discussed, and the rest is history. Perhaps, that is what spurred the southern governors, having noticed the conspicuous gap between them and their nothern colleagues, because through the famous Asaba Accord popularly known as the "Asaba Declaration", a stronger bond was forged. The Southern governors, comprising South South, South East and South West, where hosted by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, on May 11, 2021 in Asaba. In that meeting, a new way of thinking was born. The famous declaration consisted of eleven points in which the governors raised vital issues about the future of Nigeria, particularly the southern region. They requested for a national dialogue and ordered a ban on open grazing and the migration of cattle by foot into the southern region in order to curb the farmer herder conflicts in the country, etc. The governors affirmed the unity of Nigeria, and according to them "the peoples of Southern Nigeria remain committed to the unity of Nigeria on the basis of justice, fairness, equity and oneness and peaceful co-existence between and among its peoples with a focus on the attainment of shared goals for economic development and prosperity." But it seems that the Asaba Accord was just the beginning of the much needed change in the attitude of southern Nigeria towards the apparent political marginalisation that that caged the region since the union came into being. This is because all the governors of southern Nigeria, during a follow-up to the Asaba Accord, on July 5, 2021 in Lagos, unanimously declared that the next president of the country should come from the southern region in 2023; the Asaba Accord was the much needed catalyst in the liberation of Southern Nigeria from political slavery! And in the words of the Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu: "What happened yesterday in Asaba in no distant time will be seen as the Asaba Accord. It is the beginning of a new dawn, a new dawn not only for Southern Nigeria, but a new dawn for the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria irrespective of their ethnic inclination or religious background. A situation where governors of different political persuasions, different ethnic and of course different religious inclination were able to come together in one accord which is why I call it the Asaba Accord to discuss on how we can make progress and doing so patriotically, is indeed the birth of a new Nigeria, he posited." However, in the midst of all the excitement, the spirit of Judas Iscariot kept lurking behind patiently waiting for the right moment to pounce on the accord, and wreck havoc! Indeed, it is a very effective tool used to cause disunity by mortal forces of oppression in any progressive human setting. In today's world, Iscariot's behavior is almost a celebrated trait, but the questions that loom large are these: "How long shall we continue in betrayal? Why is the interest of the whole always sacrificed for selfish interests? Who was this Judas? Your answer is as good as mine! However, like my father used to say, "Bad things happen so that good things can happen", and likewise the betrayal of the Asaba Accord led to the formation of the G5 Governors comprising of Nyesom Wike (Rivers state); Seyi Makinde (Oyo state); Samuel Ortom (Benue state); Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia state), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu State). These five governors are the heroes of southern Nigeria, because they stood their ground, even at their in their demand for equity, justice and fairness, and today, the South has a firm seat at the leadership table of Nigeria. The G5 Governos also known as "The Integrity Group", are the governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), that refused to support Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the PDP, because they believed that it was the turn of the south to produce the President. They posited that Atiku Abubakar becoming President after eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari would amount to two consecutive presidents from the north, negating equity, justice, and fairness. Their position was strengthened by the zoning principle enshrined in the PDP constitution, and the governors bluntly refused to support the emergence of their party's presidential candidate, in the general elections. They also demanded the resignation of the party chairman, Iyorcha Ayu, on the premise that Atiku and Ayu, both presidential candidates and party chairman, are from the northern part of Nigeria, this arrangement also negates inclusivity. The collective of the five governors was a powerful grouping, hence they gained prominence in the heart of the people. Little wonder Atiku Abubakar lost in their various states, leading to the emergence of President Bola Tinubu, thereby fulfilling the aspiration birthed by the Asaba Accord. What else is heroism? Acting on the strength of an invitation forwarded to me by a corporate body based in Delta, I made a trip recently. On that day, at that time and in that place, the Sienna Bus that we travelled in was filled to capacity and dotted with passengers from different backgrounds. Our conversation covered a wide range of issues. I listened to different comments from these prominent Nigerians. Our conversation ranged from the recent political developments in the country to the nations economy; from Social issues to religious and cultural affairs in the country. At intervals, we ran into police checkpoints manned by men of the Nigerian Police Force. They were not only polite but highly civil in their approach. Majority of them demonstrated a people soaked in the quest to build a better Nigeria. The journey processed without glitches till we got to Benin Byepass. For those unfamiliar with South South geopolitical zone of Nigeria, the referenced Benin bypass, Edo state, Nigeria, is a year 2002, N10.2 billion valued project by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, FMWH. It spans from the Ovia Bridge,(coming from Lagos to Benin City) connecting the Sapele Road end of the state capital, linking Upper Sokonba, Agbor Road, and Benin-Auchi Road. The bypass was constructed by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo led Federal Government. Also relevant to the present discourse is the awareness that during its construction, Benin people reportedly took on the Federal Government over the designated route for the project. Their grouse was that the chosen route will have an adverse impact on the environment of the ancient city of Benin. They argued that there is the Benin masterplan which provided for a Ring Road round Benin City and not a bypass. The master plan was reportedly commissioned in 1991 and was approved and given force of law by the Edo State Government in 1998. The plan was said to have considered the 16km bypass route in 1966 and found it unsuitable and detrimental to the development and growth of Benin City. The plan also took cognizance of the fate which befell Sapele when a similar bypass was constructed leading to a decline in its economic and commercial life. That was back in the days. Today, despite Federal Government insistence on constructing the bypass, the current dilapidation and deplorable state of the bypass is not only destroying the nations economy but has led to crippling of individual businesses of Nigerians particularly in the South East and South South part of the country who import goods from abroad and have to move the goods from Lagos ports to their various business locations in the aforementioned locations. It is a statement of fact that goods that cumulatively worth millions of naira are daily destroyed arising from multiple accidents daily recorded on the bad portions of the road. Also disturbing is the man-hour daily wasted on that portion of the road by commuters due to chaotic traffic situation orchestrated by the terrible state of the bypass. It is not in any ways a good commentary that as a nation, we have deliberately allowed our national mistake to dispatch wrong signal to the investing world that Nigeria is not a suitable location for investment. More specifically, my experience at Benin bypass elicits the following posers; of what use is it constructing a road (bypass this time around) that is not maintained but left in ruin? What is the essence of struggling with the people of Edo state for the construction of the bypass whereas the Federal Government is aware that they are protractedly reputed for lack of maintenance culture? Most pathetically, instead of spending billions of Naira purchasing 2023 model SUVs for 360 members of the Federal House of Representatives, would it not have been better if such whooping sum was used for redesigning and reconstruction of the bypass? Aside from recording many accidents and loss of lives as a result of its deplorable state, the current state of Benin bypass more than anything else portrays a nation that its leadership is unaware that infrastructure enables development and also provides the services that underpin the ability of people to be economically productive, for example via transport. The transport sector has a huge role in connecting populations to where the work is, says Ms Marchal. Infrastructure investments help stem economic losses arising from problems such as power outages or traffic congestion. The World Bank estimates that in Sub-Saharan Africa closing the infrastructure quantity and quality gap relative to the worlds best performers could raise GDP growth per head by 2.6 per cent annually. So, using the above scenario as a dashboard to correct our leadership challenge which is gravitating towards becoming a culture, it will be important for us as a nation to openly admit and adopt both structural and managerial changes as it affects our approach to national infrastructure maintenance. To catalyze this needed leadership philosophy, this piece holds the opinion that Nigerian leaders must commence contemplation of leadership vision/strategies that impose more discipline than conventional, and creating government institutions that are less extractive but more innovative in operation. This shift in action is important as we cannot solve our socio-economic challenges with the same thinking we used when we created it. And this time is auspicious for our government to bring a change in leadership paradigm by switching over to a leadership style that is capable of making successful decisions built on a higher quality of information while dropping the age-long mentality which presents execution as more important than idea incubation. Admittedly, it is evident that the responsibility of infrastructural provision in the country has become too heavy a burden for the government alone to shoulder, and will require partnership between the government and private sector. However, in this race, it calls for a higher level of transparency on the part of the government. Transparency will remain the cornerstone as it will increase the confidence expected by these interventionists private sectors as well as the civil society groups who may not be disposed to investing in an environment that is devoid of transparency and accountability. Very instructive also, finding urgent solution and fast to the national shame called Benin bypass and the entire East West road that connects the entire South South region to the rest of the nation should be considered as one of the pragmatic ways that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu could demonstrate his love for the people of the region. Mr. President must do this not for political reasons but for the survival of our democracy and economy particularly that of the South East and South South geo-political zones. God bless Nigeria! Utomi Jerome-Mario is the Programme Coordinator (Media and Policy), Social and Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA), L agos. He could be reached via;[email protected]/08032725374 . The Acting chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji, has calmed the fears being expressed by corporate organisations that the resolve of FIRS to increase the countrys tax-to-GDP ratio to 18 per cent from 10.86 will lead to increase in taxes. Adedeji explained that such resolve would not necessarily lead to increase in taxes or introduction of new taxes as the President Bola Tinubu-led administration is determined to create a wholesome environment for businesses to flourish. The FIRS chairman had expressed his commitment that the agency under his leadership would in the next three years achieve an eight per cent raise in tax-to-GDP ratio to surpass Africas average of 16.5 per cent without stifling investment or economic growth. However, the plan had triggered fears among corporate entities that the decision could cause an increase in tax rates or introduction of new ones. While addressing representatives of top large tax-paying companies during a get-together at Four Points by Sheraton in Lagos, Adedeji noted that, Our belief, understanding and vision as a revenue-generating agency is not to introduce any new tax as we only want to use data to improve compliance. According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Dare Adekanmbi, quoted the FIRS chairman as saying, Our plan is simple. We want to grow tax revenue and we only want to tax prosperity and not poverty. Therefore, it is not in our interest to kill the trees that bear the fruits. My first love letter to you is to appreciate what you have done. So, you dont have anything to be afraid of. We will not collect what is not due to us. But we dont want anyone not to pay what is due to us. Fair engagement is our plan. Rest assured that the 18% tax-to-GDP target would not translate to increase in taxes. If you have been listening to Taiwo Oyedele, who is the chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, you will have known that part of the mandate of the committee is to reduce the number of taxes." He further stated that the purpose of the engagement with the companies is to factor their inputs into the strategic action plan being mapped out in order to address challenges hampering tax revenue collection. He said, I must also commend your commitment to upholding high tax compliance standards and responsible corporate citizenship, which sets you apart as the top taxpayers in Nigeria. This aligns perfectly with our vision of making taxation the pivot of national development through voluntary compliance. Your respective industries play a pivotal role in generating substantial tax revenue for the government and in shaping economic and fiscal stability of the nation. We are not unmindful of the challenges facing businesses in Nigeria with the ongoing reforms to improve economic performance. These are painful but necessary choices we must make as a nation to attain our full potential." Military leaders in Niger Republic have said they had aborted an attempt by Mohamed Bazoum, the former president who was ousted in a coup in July, to escape their custody on Thursday. At around three in the morning, the ousted president Mohamed Bazoum and his family, his two cooks and two security elements, tried to escape from his place of detention, the regimes spokesman Amadou Abdramane said on state television. He added that the escape bid failed as the main actors and some of the accomplices were arrested. An investigation has also been launched to probe the incident further. However, Abdramane said the escape plan had involved Bazoum at first getting to a hideout on the outskirts of the capital Niamey. They had then planned to fly out on helicopters belonging to a foreign power towards Nigeria, he added, denouncing Bazoums irresponsible attitude. Since he was toppled by the military on July 26, Bazoum has refused to resign. Until now, he had been held at his residence in the heart of the presidential palace along with his wife Haziza and son Salem. Abdramane did not say where they were being held now. President Bola Tinubu is deeply saddened by the demise of Ambassador Mansur Nuhu Bamalli, the Charge dAffaires in the Embassy of Nigeria in Rabat, Morocco. The distinguished diplomat passed away on Friday at the age of 42. The President has expressed his sympathy and condolences to the Emir of Zazzau, HRH Alhaji Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli, on the passing of the Ambassador, who is his brother. Apart from serving as Nigeria's Charge dAffaires in Rabat, Morocco until his death, Ambassador Bamalli also served in Nigerian Missions across multiple continents, including Dublin, Ireland; Accra, Ghana; as well as the State House and various Departments in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during his accomplished career in the Foreign Service. The President joins the Bamalli family, the Zazzau Emirate community, and members of the Nigerian Foreign Service in mourning the loss of the Magajin Garin Zazzau, describing the deceased Nigerian as an astute diplomat and Foreign Service Officer. President Bola Tinubu notes that colleagues, friends and admirers of the departed Ambassador in the Diplomatic Service and Zazzau Emirate will always fondly remember him for his humility, kindness, team spirit, dedication and resilience in the face of challenges. The President prays Almighty Allah to grant the highly respected diplomat eternal rest and comfort for his family and loved ones who are grieving this irreplaceable loss. Chief Ajuri Ngelale Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) October 20, 2023 President Bola Ahmed Tinubu warmly felicitates the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Omo NOba NEdo Uku Akpolokpolo Ewuare II, as he marks his 70th birthday and seventh coronation anniversary. President Tinubu rejoices with the Government and people of Edo State, the Royal Family, Benin Traditional Council, and most especially, the Benin people as their highly revered traditional ruler turns 70. You have served Nigeria in different capacities, especially as an ambassador of our great country. You are an ardent supporter of the nation's war against human trafficking. Your steadfast collaboration with the Federal Government in ensuring that stolen artefacts are returned to the country is remarkable. Most importantly, Your Majesty's words of advice for successive administrations stand you out as a lover of peace. As the custodian of the cherished customs and traditions of the Benin Kingdom and its people, I enjoin you to continue to use your exalted position and divine endowments for the promotion of arts, culture, and the values that the Benin Kingdom and the Nigerian people hold as sacrosanct," the President stated. President Bola Tinubu wishes the Oba many more years of good health and fulfillment on the throne. Chief Ajuri Ngelale Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) October 20, 2023 People with Palestine flags at the 'Place de la Republique' during a demonstration to support the Palestinian people, in Paris, France, 19 October 2023. The sumptuous Palace of Versailles was forced to evacuate visitors on Thursday for the fourth time in less than a week for a security check after a bomb alert. Airports and schools around France also fell victim to bomb alerts and forced evacuations after a similar rash of warnings a day earlier. Even a nuclear research institute received a threat on Thursday. No bombs have been found, but authorities cant take risks with the lives of travelers, students or workers. Still, the government is growing impatient, threatening prison terms and heavy fines for those making fake bomb threats. A rash of false alarms forced the evacuation of 15 airports and cancellation of 130 flights, as well as shutting the doors to the Palace of Versailles repeatedly since last Saturday. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said Thursday evening that 18 people had been detained in the last 48 hours mostly, but not only, minors. The barrage of alerts disorganizes our security services and obviously stops society from functioning, Darmanin said in an interview with BFM-TV. False alerts also pose an enormous risk in case of a (real) problem. The minister said that enormous means are being used to identify pranksters with their phone numbers and addresses. We tell those listening: We will find everyone, he said. Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti blamed the alerts on little jokers, little clowns and warned of the consequences. Under French law, prank calls can be punished with up to 3 years imprisonment and fines of 45,000 euros ($47,000), the minister said. The justice minister said minors parents could be made to pay for damages, while the interior minister said that student pranksters wont get off the hook: their names and phone numbers will be transmitted to the National Education system. We dont need this. We dont need troublemakers, psychosis, at this moment, the justice minister said Wednesday. Police said that at least seven airports received threats on Thursday, mainly by email. Among those targeted were airports at Lille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Nantes and Toulouse. France has been on heightened alert since the fatal stabbing of a schoolteacher last week that was blamed on a suspected Islamic extremist who allegedly declared allegiance to the Islamic State group. A funeral service for Dominique Bernard, the French-language teacher killed by a knife wound to the neck, was held Thursday in Arras, the northern town where he taught at the Gambetta-Carnot school. President Emmanuel Macron was in attendance his plane on the tarmac of nearby Lille airport, among those evacuated during the morning service, according to the local Voix du Nord newspaper. Among threats received Thursday was one at a nuclear research facility in Grenoble, in the southeast. Two delivery men, aged 23 and 26, were arrested after leaving a package at the Laue Langevin Institute and telling guards as they left, We did it. We delivered a bomb, the local Le Dauphine Libere reported. French Transport Minister Clement Beaune said false threats were made against 17 airports on Wednesday, causing widespread disruption, the evacuation of 15 airports, cancellation of 130 flights and many flight delays. It is the regional prefects who decide, on a case-by-case basis, whether threats necessitate an evacuation. For the moment, we have no miracle solution, said Nicolas Paulissen, general delegate for the Union of French Airports which is present at all 150 airports around the country. The bomb risk cannot be ignored, but we cant stop airports from functioning. He noted, however, that airports are capable of adapting to threats and crises. Adaptation is in our DNA, Paulissen said. Beaune, the transport minister, underscored the governments firm message about the barrage of bomb alerts. These false alerts are not bad jokes. They are crimes, Beaune posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Aircon failure at Phuket airport finally fixed PHUKET: Airports of Thailand (AoT Phuket), which operates Phuket International Airport, has finally responded publicly to the problem of the air conditioning system at the international terminal failing. By The Phuket News Friday 20 October 2023 09:45 AM The response came through a statement issued as a News Release yesterday (Oct 19), not marked as signed by any particular person. The General Manager for Phuket International Airport is Monchai Tanode. The release was marked as Phuket Airport would like to clarify the case of the air conditioning system malfunction at the international passenger terminal. The release first marked posts online already long complaining about the failure of the air conditioning at the international terminal. From the case that there are various pages posting messages with pictures about Phuket Airport that #Tourists complain that the service #is not suitable for the definition of an international airport, very hot after the air conditioner has been broken for many days. Theres still no fix. Travel costs are expensive. Still have to come across quality like this Most recently, it was necessary to have the Phuket MP report the matter to the Ministry of Transport. Please fix it quickly! After Phuket Port closed its mouth, the relase said, citing the complaints posted online. Of note, Phuket MP Thitikan Thitipruethikul, Member of Parliament for Phuket District 3 (all of Thalang District plus Tambon Kathu), posted online yesterday that he had informed the Ministry of Transport of the airports failure to fix its air conditioning system. The release by AoT Phuket yesterday explained that the cause was a failure of two cooling systems, one of which caused a problem in the air conditioning system inside the building. The result was a temperature higher than normal, AoT Phuket admitted. An inspection of the cooling system found that there was a refrigerant leak, AOT Phuket said in its statement. When AoT became aware of the aforementioned problems, we therefore hastened to hire a company to take corrective action immediately, it added. AoT had the urgent repairs made immediately, including replacing the lost coolant. We are ready to expedite the procurement of spare parts for the air conditioning system to work efficiently as before, AoT Phuket assured. While the work is waiting to be completed AoT Phuket has installed a total of 90 portable air-conditioning units throughout the terminal for passenger comfort, the statement explained. The News Release included photos showing temperature readings throughout the terminal of 24-25. AoT Phuket expects to repair the cooling system so that it can return to normal use by tonight (October 19, 2023). AoT would like to apologise for the inconvenience on this occasion, the statement concluded. The News Release issued yesterday came while AoT Phuket GM Mr Monchai was leading a public meeting to discuss issues and receive feedback from the public on the potential impact on local residents of the B6 billion Phase 2 expansion of the airport, which aims to increase capacity of the airport to 18 million passengers a year. Besieged Palestinians await aid as Israel pounds Gaza ISRAEL: Palestinians desperately awaited a first delivery of international emergency aid to Gaza today (Oct 20), as Israeli forces pounded the enclave from the air and warned a ground invasion was coming soon. violencepoliticsmilitarydeath By AFP Friday 20 October 2023 12:07 PM Humanitarian aid provided by the United Nations is loaded onto a United Arab Emirates Air Force C-130H-30 Hercules turboprop military transport aircraft at Dubai International Airport before departure for Cairo yesterday (Oct 19). Photo: AFP For 13 days Israel has launched relentless air strikes on the Palestinian territory in retaliation for cross-border Hamas raids that killed 1,400 people, mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated or burnt to death. Yesterday, the Israeli army said it had destroyed a missile launch site and tunnels, claiming more than 10 terrorists were eliminated. Gazas Hamas-run health ministry says that since the bombing began more than 3,785 Palestinians have been killed and one-third of homes have been made uninhabitable. Citing a deepening humanitarian crisis, the international community has urged Israel to minimise civilian casualties and allow desperately-needed aid to enter Gaza. But inside Israel, the drumbeat of war has only grown louder. Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rallied frontline troops near Gaza yesterday. Decked in body armour, he vowed troops would fight like lions and win with full force. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant also toured the frontline, telling some of the tens of thousands of troops awaiting the ground invasion that new orders would come soon. Right now you see Gaza from afar, soon you will see it from the inside. The order will come soon, he said, predicting difficult battles ahead. After returning from a solidarity visit to Israel, US President Joe Biden yesterday called on Congress to provide more funding for the bereaved countrys war effort. But he also urged implementation of a deal he brokered with Israel and Egypt to allow a limited amount of aid into Gaza from today. The people of Gaza urgently need food, water and medicine, Biden said in a televised address from the Oval Office on his return from Tel Aviv. But near Egypts border with Gaza, food, medicines, water purifiers and blankets have been piling up, with doubts growing that the Rafah crossing will open as planned. We hope there will be a crossing tomorrow, World Health Organization (WHO) boss Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said yesterday. But for sure, based on the experience we had the last few days, we are also at the same time worried whether this will happen. Drop in the ocean In Geneva, the WHOs emergencies director called the deal struck by Biden to allow in 20 trucks a drop in the ocean of need. It should be 2,000 trucks, Michael Ryan said. The UN World Food Programme said it has 951 tonnes of food at or on the way to Rafah - enough to feed 488,000 people for one week. But for now, it is not getting in, and the humanitarian situation in Gaza is worsening by the day. In a grim sign of the depths of the crisis, the United Nations said that efforts to identify about 100 of the dead in Gaza had been abandoned. With refrigeration impossible, their corpses were buried in unmarked graves to prevent the risk of disease. Entire city blocks have been levelled in Gaza, displacing more than one million of its 2.4 million people, the UN has said. The Hamas-controlled interior ministry said several people sheltering at a church compound were killed and injured in an Israeli strike late yesterday. Witnesses told AFP the strike damaged the facade of the church and caused an adjacent building to collapse, adding that many injured people were evacuated to hospital. The Israel Defense Forces acknowledged a wall of the church had been damaged in one of its air strikes targeting a command and control center belonging to a Hamas terrorist. We are aware of reports on casualties. The incident is under review, a spokesperson told AFP. Travel warnings Egypts President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Jordans King Abdullah II yesterday condemned what they said was the collective punishment of Gazans. They also warned about the conflict spreading, with anger across the Middle East at Israel and its Western allies. Sisi and Abdullah, whose countries were the first Arab states to make peace with Israel in 1979 and 1994, are seen as key mediators between Israel and the Palestinians. Intensifying cross-border fire between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon has stoked fears of a potential second front. The United States, Britain and Germany yesterday advised their citizens to leave Lebanon while flights were still available. Hamas military spokesman Abu Obeida called for protests at Israeli and US embassies, to have them closed and their ambassadors expelled from all Arab and Muslim countries. The Arab world has been united in anger and condemnation of Israel since a deadly strike hit a Gaza hospital compound on Tuesday. Both sides in the war have traded blame for the bloody carnage, but neither the provenance of the strike nor the death toll could immediately be independently verified. Hamas accused Israel of hitting the hospital during its massive bombing campaign, and the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza has put the death toll at 471, though that number is contested. Israel has blamed a misfired Islamic Jihad rocket - a version of events backed by the United States - and has pointed to the lack of a large impact crater typical of its air strikes, saying fuel from the errant rocket exploded. Like Hamas, Islamic Jihad is proscribed as a terrorist group by the United States and other Western governments. The US intelligence community has estimated there were likely 100 to 300 people killed in the strike. Phuket Governor and wife visit Samkong Shrine PHUKET: The Governor of Phuket Sophon Suwannarat and his wife visited Lim Hu Tai Su Shrine yesterday (Oct 19) to pay homage and offer gifts as part of the ongoing Vegetarian Festival in Phuket. culturereligiontourism By The Phuket News Friday 20 October 2023 09:00 AM Lim Hu Tai Su Shrine, otherwise known as the Samkong Shrine is one of the most popular Chinese shrines in Phuket Town and has long participated in the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Governor Sophon paid his visit around 11:30am yesterday, donating bags of rice and several cartons of drinking water as gifts to the shrine to be used for cooking and distribution to visitors to the shrine. Governor Sophon was accompanied by his wife Busadee Suwannarat, who serves as the President of the Red Cross Society of Phuket. In addition to paying their respects, Governor Sophon and Ms Busadee also enjoyed some of the vegetarian food on offer along with local residents during his visit. Also present was Niphon Ekwanich, the chairman of the Samkong Shrine Vegetable Festival Committee, Phichaiyut Singhasami from the Phuket Provincial Culture Committee, representatives of the Phuket Red Cross Society and a number of senior officials from various government agencies. Governor Sophons visit yesterday followed mah song spirit mediums and devotees from Samkong taking to the streets for their street procession on Wednesday (Oct 18), the fourth day of the festival. The procession left the shrine at 7:09am and made its way to Saphan Hin, where more rituals and ceremonies were performed before the procession made its way back to the shrine on Yaowarat Rd. Phuket worker returns from Israel PHUKET: Phuket officials were on hand at Phuket International Airport late last night (Oct 19) to welcome back an island resident who has returned after being evacuated from Israel. violencepoliticsreligiondeathdisastersSafety By The Phuket News Friday 20 October 2023 12:09 PM Leading the welcoming party was Thalang District Chief Bancha Thanu-in, who had been assigned by Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat to lead the delegation of officials, which included heads and representatives from the local offices of the Ministry of Labour. Nathaporn Hongsa, a resident of Moo 5, Mai Khao, was among the Thai workers safely evacuated from Israel following the massive attack launched by Hamas on Oct 7. Mr Nathaporn was one of the Thai workers affected by rockets fired into the area close to the Gaza Strip, south of Tel Aviv. An official report marking Mr Nathaporns safe return to Phuket, posted at 12:43am, said that in total 10 Phuket residents were registered as working in israel when the conflict began. However, Mr Nathaporn so far is the only one to return. Most of the rest have not yet asked to return to Thailand because its still safe, the report noted. The Ministry of Labor is continuing to expedite assistance to Thai workers affected by the fighting in Israel, the report added. An assistance centre has been set up and officials are continuing to monitor the situation in Israel, the report noted. Latest reports have marked that 30 Thais so far have been killed by the conflict in Israel, with a further 16 injured and 17 more now abducted and taken hostage by Hamas. Meanwhile, Boonyavee Kwaipan, acting director-general of the Employment Department, said it is preparing to provide compensation of 1B5,000 to Thai returnees from Israel who are members of the Aid Fund for Overseas Workers, reports the Bangkok Post. Provincial employment offices have been instructed to compensate Thai returnees within three days. Srettha invites Xi to Thailand BEIJING: Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit Thailand, hailing his trip to China as a success, according to an official. Chineseconstructioneconomicstransporttourismimmigrationland By Bangkok Post Friday 20 October 2023 07:52 AM Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is greeted by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing at the conclusion of the formers visit to China yesterday (Oct 19). Photo: Government House Government spokesman Chai Wacharonke provided a summary of bilateral talks between Mr Srettha and Mr Xi yesterday (Oct 19), reports the Bangkok Post. The PM expressed appreciation for the warm welcome he received during his attendance at the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) at the invitation of Mr Xi, Mr Chai said, adding Mr Srettha also congratulated China on the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. The prime minister and the Chinese president also vowed to strengthen Thai-China relations and emphasised the importance of the Thailand-China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and the need to promote high-level visits between the two countries as 2025 will mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Thai-Chinese diplomatic ties, he said. Mr Srettha has invited Mr Xi to pay an official visit to Thailand, the spokesman said. The two sides also discussed a wide range of topics, including economic cooperation, he said, adding they believed the global economic slowdown and the geopolitical conflict between the US and China have impacted the economies of China and Thailand. In light of this, they agreed to work together to respond to challenges and boost trade and investment, particularly in targeted industries, such as electric vehicles, batteries, semiconductors and clean energy, as well as industries associated with Thailands bio-circular and green economic development model, he said. Mr Chai said Mr Srettha also briefed Mr Xi on the benefits of Thailands land bridge project in the South and encouraged Chinese investment in the project. Mr Xi responded by saying that Chinese investors are also interested in investing in Thailands megaprojects, Mr Chai said. Regarding cooperation on tourism, Mr Srettha reportedly told Mr Xi that the Thai government has issued a visa-free policy for Chinese tourists. The government has introduced a temporary visa exemption for 30-day stays for Chinese and Kazakh nationals to spur tourism as part of a broader economic revival plan. The programme started on Sept 25 and is scheduled to expire on Feb 29. China was Thailands biggest source of international visitors before the COVID-19 pandemic, accounting for nearly 11 million arrivals in 2019. Tourism authorities expect about 5mn Chinese to visit the country this year. In China, Mr Srettha also expressed his condolences over the Oct 3 shooting at Siam Paragon, in which a Chinese visitor was one of the three people killed, Mr Chai said. He said the government has tried its best to provide compensation to the victims and ensure the safety of all foreign visitors. China had also pledged to work with Thailand to combat transnational crimes, Mr Chai said. The two sides also discussed ways to support each other on the international stage under the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation framework, the Asean and China cooperation framework and United Nations, Mr Chai added. During his trip, Mr Srettha also met with Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang in Beijing on Wednesday. He also proposed making the visa-free entry for Chinese tourists permanent, he said. The talks on Wednesday covered a proposed new bridge across the Mekong River to Laos to further spur Thailand-China trade and ease requirements for Thai cattle exports to China. He also mentioned the land bridge project to link the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea via the southern provinces of Chumphon and Ranong. This, too, would enhance the potential of the Belt and Road to improve connections with international destinations as China expected, Mr Srettha said. The land bridge project and the development of Chinese factories in Thailand would turn Thailand into a world logistics hub, the PM added. The visit to China was a success. Im confident that if the land bridge project materialises and more Chinese companies invest in EVs, this will generate cash flow of over 1 trillion baht, he said. There is a certain consistency in the idea of always swimming against the current. In the persistence of rebelling against fashionable ideas, even if changing opinion ends up, paradoxically, appearing as incoherence. Thats the case for John N. Gray, 75, one of the most influential and widely read political thinkers and philosophers in recent decades. Gray is a staunch defender of the pluralism of values in the liberalism of philosopher Isaiah Berlin who he met while studying at Oxford, and whose fundamental work he contributed to editing against the legalistic and universal liberalism of John Rawls. He supported Margaret Thatcher until he became her biggest critic due to the damage her policies caused to the working class families of northern England, like his own. He was a fervent follower of Tony Blairs New Labor until sinking in disappointment at how Labor embraced the neoliberal economic consensus. And he backed Brexit, which he saw as the obvious expression that liberal elites were incapable of understanding the pulse of the society they sought to govern. Gray lives in the most French of English cities: Bath, just over an hour from London. Since the pandemic, his trips to the British capital have become much more sporadic. The conversation with EL PAIS took place in one of the beautiful cafes that are spread throughout the center of the town [later, the interview was updated by telephone after the Hamas attack on Israel, but before the bombing of the al-Ahli al Arab Hospital in Gaza]. Gray is of a protestant nature, which, however, hides his great generosity. Hes generous with his time and effort. Reluctantly, he adopts all the poses asked by the photographer. Gradually but with increasing speed, he answers all the questions posed by the interviewer. And asks his own. He has an original and provocative vision, always articulated, in the face of the challenges facing the world. The atrocities of Hamas in Israel and the bombing of Gaza. The invasion of Ukraine. The crisis of liberal democracies. The disturbing drift of the United States. And the emergence of artificial intelligence. Twenty years have passed since he published Straw Dogs: Thoughts on Humans and Other Animals. One of Grays most acclaimed pieces, the book shakes up the readers conventional thinking by challenging the religion of humanism and progress on which liberalism or Marxism are based. He refutes the idea that human beings are really different, in their importance and transcendence, from the rest of the beings that inhabit the planet. Gray defends without nuance everything he stated two decades ago, and even points out the historical examples from this period that confirm his rational pessimism, and his disbelief in the idea that there is something called progress. Question. I must begin this interview by asking you about the Hamas attack in Israel and the Israeli governments response in Gaza. Does this mark a before and after? Answer. Hamass atrocities amount to the largest, worst attacks on Jews since the Holocaust, and therefore they will have a profound effect in Israel, as well as on Jewish people around the world. And in that respect, I think a Western liberal perception has been falsified. The perception of Hamas until now, was of a national liberation movement like that in third world countries, an anti-colonial movement. I think what their behavior in Israel has demonstrated is that they have more in common with jihadist movements like ISIS and Al Qaeda. Q. Do you think the Wests response has been different this time? A. We have to remember that theres a whole culture in the west of anticolonialism and decolonization. This is the lens through which a lot of Western opinion perceives whats going on in Israel. Its deeply rooted, and I think it will only become more extreme, more embedded in future months. The response in the West has been equivocal, and will become more equivocal, and is likely to become more hostile to Israel. Part of the tragedy of this cruel conflict is that it is a disaster for the project of Palestinian statehood. John Gray during the interview in Bath, on October 6. Ione Saizar Q. Twenty years have passed since you wrote Straw Dogs, where you dismantled the idea that humans were different from the rest of the species on planet Earth, and attacked the optimistic vision of humanism. Has this idea been reaffirmed? A. The idea of a humanity, as an entity, as a unique subject capable of choosing, still seems absurd to me. When people say, Is there still time for us to deal with climate change? Whos us? Theres us? Whos us? Is it the people sitting in the room at that time? You mean highly intelligent progressive journalists? You mean, very fluent, and opportunistic politicians? Does us include the United States, which two years from now may be governed again by Trump? Does it include China, which is spending an awful lot on renewable energies, but its also bringing out huge numbers of new coal mines? Humanity, in that sense, is a myth. Q. You do not believe in progress outside of science or technology. A. I hold completely to the view I expressed about progress and ethics in politics. Progress, and if you like, even civilization, could always be lost. What has been gained over one generation or two generations can be lost in the blink of an eye in a few months, or a few weeks. As you may know, I opposed the Iraq War before it happened. I wrote in the New Statesman in late 2002, early 2003 February, that I thought the Iraq War would lead to the breakup of the Iraqi state. But I also wrote a satirical spoof called A Modest Defense of Torture. I suggested darkly as a piece of black humor like Jonathan Swift did when he said the solution to the Irish famine was obvious, the Irish should eat their children that torture be used as an instrument of human rights. That was regarded as a piece of nihilistic cynicism. Then came Abu Ghraib, and you had people in the United States defending waterboarding and the torture of captured terrorists in various parts of the world. Q. You have never doubted the threat of global warming and climate change. But you are much more critical of the political objectives adopted in the last decade. A. Climate change first of all is real, and even accelerating. And secondly, it is a product of human action. But it cant be solved by moving to renewable technologies as such. It will actually probably require new energy technologies like new generations of nuclear power. The net-zero program is an interesting example of the fact that we live in an age of absurdity. The net-zero program was adopted before the infrastructure was ready. Before the necessary technologies were ready. And before we had any of the raw materials for the batteries, and without taking into account the geopolitical reality that most of the necessary materials are controlled by China. Q. The problem is that any criticism of the environmental strategy ends up becoming a political weapon, especially by the sector of the right that falls into climate change denial. A. The weaponization doesnt come just from the right. The weaponization comes from the fact that theyre not democratically legitimate. They cant be because a lot of the costs fall on poorer people. What do you think caused the Yellow Vest movement in France? An increase in energy prices. Q. Doesnt demagoguery sneak into such an important debate? A. Its been whipped up by demagogues, of course, every society always has demagogues. Why can they get mass support now? Thats the question. Because the center and the left have vacated the space on this. Its all being weaponized by the right. But the weaponization is working because the actual policies dont work. When liberals talk about populism liberals and the liberal left what theyre talking about is the political backlash against the social disruption produced by their own policies, which they dont understand. Q. Recently, a current of thinkers has warned that liberal democracy, after decades of success following the end of the Second World War, is at risk of disappearing. Do you agree? A. There were some excellent features of liberal democracy. And Im still myself, in some sense, a liberal. But theyre not recognizing the role of fundamental errors by liberal democracies, by the liberal political class, in bringing about this situation. Its as if it only happens. Its actually a rather deep paradox. These are all people who believe in indefinite human improvability, but then they suddenly start talking in a way in which its almost a theory of evil. Evil as Trump is evil. Im not convinced. Q. I understand then that you blame liberalism for the populist drift. A. The excesses of liberalism and the errors of liberalism and the doubling up of liberalism have produced this monster. And so the more they persist in this attitude, the stronger the populist response will be. I predict that in America, the legal campaign against Trump which is no doubt well-founded in Trumps crimes will not only be to strengthen support for Trump among his supporters, which has already happened, actually, but even increase that support. John Gray, author of 'Straw Dogs,' in Bath (United Kingdom), on October 6, 2023. Ione Saizar Q. Lets talk about Ukraine. In this conflict, which achieved early and unanimous support from the West, you are beginning to see things with a certain pessimism. A. Europeans have support Ukraine in their resistance against what was a great crime against humanity. I dont share this nonsense that it was produced by NATO. It was principally produced by Putins nationalism or imperialism, by his desire to reconstruct some kind of semi mystical, Russian Empire. But Ive also constantly predicted that with one or two exceptions the Swedes, the Baltic states and Poland European support for the Ukrainians will crack. Its already cracking, cracking even between Poland and Ukraine. And Ive also always predicted that it would crack in America. Because America has lots of internal problems of its own. Q. You believe that the mistakes made in other conflicts in the 21st century are beginning to be repeated. A. Whatever happens in Ukraine, Europe has to understand that Russia is not a solvable problem. Regime change [would not be] doubling up we would be quadrupling the stakes. Regime change in such a vast country that is also a nuclear power? We were lucky to live when communism collapsed. The spine of the state remained in Russia, and its nuclear power did not slip out. Q. Are you worried about the U.S.? Trumps possible return is beginning to be a very realistic prospect. A. Whoever wins the next presidential election in the United States, itll be a period of great disorder, because whoever wins will be regarded as illegitimate by about a quarter to a third of the population. Its a crisis of legitimacy. Thats a great moment of danger for the world. The worlds autocracies will be looking for a moment where they can act decisively when America is distracted, when America is introverted. Q. After 9/11, many voices announced a before and after, that nothing would be the same again. The same thing happened with the pandemic, even with the invasion of Ukraine and the return of war to the heart of Europe. And yet there is no such change. A. What never changes is the fragility of civilization. And the rapidity with which it can dissolve into barbarism. Chaos. Thats what not changed. So in one sense, you could say that the fact that everything didnt change is consoling, because everything didnt end. But the other side of it is that the horrors that had been carrying all along, didnt end either. I wrote in October 1989 a criticism of Fukuyamas essay The End of History the book hadnt come out yet and then I published a book called False Dawn in which I said that the period of globalization global capitalism would break down the way it did. They said, hes an apocalyptic pessimist. I said, What Im saying is that history will go on exactly before. I wrote that whats happening now is not the end of history, but its resumption on very traditional lines. The wars of the future will be wars of religion, wars of resources. Q. Lets talk about artificial intelligence (AI). You already talked about it in Straw Dogs. But I dont think that at that time you foresaw the revolution that was coming. A. The main conclusion from Straw Dogs is the idea that we should regulate it. But we return to the problem at the beginning of this conversation. Who are we? We in America or Europe? Will China regulate it? Will Russia? There isnt one kind of entity of artificial intelligence thats evolving in the world, there are separate systems, each of which is programmed in a different way with different goals and objectives. We may get to a point where each of them deviates from the programming, but that doesnt mean well get a kind of global artificial intelligence. It just means that these conflicts will be fought out using artificial intelligence or even with artificial intelligence in different ways in different contexts. Q. And the changes it will bring are both certain and uncertain. A. One thing that can be said it that its impact on economic life its going to be huge. Maybe the first consequence. It will not be a matter of generations, or even decades, it will be quick. Probably one of the first signs is the Hollywood writers strike. That can be maybe settled in the short run, but there is an underlying tendency to wipe out certain professions or reduce them greatly. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition On Demand We have a new story every day on the front page of thephuketnews.com. Also like us on our Facebook page (facebook.com/thephuketnews) and be the first to watch all the new stories. Finally you can watch any segment, any time by going to thephuketnews.com/tv where all the stories are listed for you to enjoy. All our programs can be enjoyed in High Definition when watching on the internet. In-Room VDO Gerardo Blyde, left from the opposition delegation and Jorge Rodriguez, president of the National Assembly of Venezuela, shake hands during the meeting held this week in Barbados. NIGEL R BROWNE (REUTERS) In a period of less than 24 hours, the United States temporarily lifted economic sanctions on Venezuelas oil and mining industries. This resulted in holding off threats from the Maduro government, which were previously being made against the opposition primary elections. They are set to be held on Sunday, October 22. Two agreements were signed between the Venezuelan opposition bloc the Unitary Platform and the government of Nicolas Maduro, whose delegates met in Barbados. Immediate benefits were seen, as there now appears to be consensus about the 2024 general elections. However, there are still many doubts as to whether this pact can lead to political change in the country. It could also simply be one of the stalling tactics that are commonly deployed by the Chavista regime. Some see that theres value in this narrow window of opportunity, although they acknowledge that it can be closed in the blink of an eye. The documents signed in Barbados on October 17 are the product of a year-long negotiation process between Caracas and Washington. They have produced a 180-degree turn in the approach of the United States towards the South American country. The Unitary Platform and Maduros delegation ultimately produced two framework papers. One is about the upcoming electoral processes and political rights the Partial Agreement on the Promotion of Political Rights and Electoral Guarantees for All while the other is titled the Partial Agreement for the Protection of the Vital Interests of the Nation. The first contains elements that can favor the opposition, as it focuses on electoral factors, which have been denied to them in the past. However, the agreement doesnt explicitly address the political disqualification of candidates seeking public office. The second agreement, meanwhile consisting of just four points includes the rejection of the concessions for oil exploitation granted to Guyana in Venezuelan territory, as well as a commitment to safeguard Venezuelan assets abroad (which, until now, the Maduro government hasnt been able to access). In two years, the United States went from isolating and sanctioning Venezuela with Trumps administration even threatening that all cards were on the table to undertaking a more pragmatic approach, aimed at settling for minimal results in the short-term. Can this approach bring about any political change in the country? Like many issues in Venezuela, the answer is: it depends. Some see this negotiation stage as simply an opportunity for Maduro to bide time, so that he can then receive resources both from unfrozen assets and crude oil sales to inject into public spending, while continuing to fragment the opposition. According to this thesis, its expected that the regime wont fulfill the promises made in Barbados. Indeed, it would be a surprise if Maduros government acted in accordance with democratic values. For Carmen Beatriz Fernandez a professor of Political Communications at the University of Navarra, in Spain a positive aspect of these agreements is that the Maduro government will not carry out the threats about stopping the opposition primary elections from proceeding. She also emphasizes that the radical change in Washingtons strategy focused on its own energy and geopolitical interests is a big turning point. The United States wants to prevent Venezuela from continuing to be a factor of instability on the continent and curb the high flow of Venezuela migrants coming north, as they flee a humanitarian and economic crisis. In fact, just hours before the lifting of sanctions, the first deportation flight from Texas landed in Maiquetia, Venezuelas principal airport. Others highlight that, at least, dialogue has been reactivated. They feel optimistic that the Maduro government has committed itself to respect the Constitution of Venezuela and human rights. Griselda Colina a former official with the countrys National Electoral Council maintains that the Barbados agreements mark the return of the actors to a formal negotiation space. From the oppositions perspective, the electoral issue is sufficiently outlined. This is because a period has been set for the presidential elections (the second half of 2024) and the agreement includes among other milestones the updating of the electoral registry and the inclusion of international observers. However, opposition leaders highlight that everything is very fragile and that, to achieve the agreed-upon points, intense pressure and monitoring are required. I tend to believe that Maduro to remain in the presidential chair has resorted to politics and negotiations. Yet, he is also prone to heavy-handedness, the violation of human rights and the support of armed force against civilians. Despite internal differences among the Chavistas who have been in power uninterruptedly since 1999, when Hugo Chavez took office Maduro has managed to ensure that theres unity in the face of the threat of being removed from power. Maduro has eliminated most of his political rivals from play, many of whom were previously untouchable. These include holdovers from the Chavez administration (1999-2013), such as oil czar Rafael Ramirez. From Maduros own generation of rulers, he removed his trusted ally and economic operator Tarek El Aissami in an unprecedented raid on the corrupt state-owned oil company, PDVSA. While he has done all of this unflinchingly, he has paid a high price: the vast majority of the Venezuelan population disapproves of his government as all surveys show and many within his regime are displeased with his desire to remain in government longer than Chavez himself. Doubts regarding the Barbados agreements are reasonable. However, the fact that Maduro and his administration have had to negotiate with the United States the historical enemy of Chavismo reveals that he requires financing to extend his time in power. This monetary need has opened up the slightest opportunity to promote change. On the other hand, the Venezuelan government may also suffer a further blow among public opinion if it backtracks on other parts of the deal with Washington and the opposition, such as the release of political prisoners. Its still too early to see what the scope of this entire negotiation stage may be. The US Department of Treasury has given Maduro a period of six months to comply with the commitments that he has made. Of course, theres still a risk as Carmen Beatriz Fernandez warns that, from now on, the international community will turn a blind eye to what happens in Venezuela, especially after the conclusion of these negotiations. I am inclined to predict without being entirely optimistic that having a route towards an electoral process laid out can offer a peaceful channel for the need for change that has been expressed across Venezuelan society. This may be a small chance for consensus, but just six months ago, it was unthinkable. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Equating peace with lull in violence Silence of the gun | Can peace be equated with the silence of the gun ? Can the law and order situation be deemed to have improved even if a section of the people still do not feel safe and secure to pass through any part of the State ? Can a place be said to have returned to normalcy if there are still thousands languishing in the different relief centres set up across the State ? The Government is best placed to answer these questions and the reported statement or proclamation of the Chief Minister by the sideline of the function held to mark the 132nd Manipur Police Raising Day that 90 percent peace has been achieved should be seen and understood in the context of the questions raised at the opening of this commentary. Even as the Chief Minister pronounced that 90 percent peace has been achieved, the Co-ordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) went on record to urge the State Government let the State police function to its optimal level at places such as Moreh. This is where another addendum may be added as a question, Is the State police in a position to function to its full capability at Churachandpur, Moreh and Kangpokpi? If the answer is in the affirmative then what is stopping the Government from letting the displaced folks return to their homes at Churachandpur, Moreh and Kangpokpi ? Only the Government can answer this, but it should be kept in mind that even after a lapse of more than 150 days, no Meitei would feel safe and secure to take the Imphal-Dimapur/Guwahati route by road as the route passes through Kangpokpi, forget about going back to the said place. No Kuki would also feel secure to return to their homestead at Imphal and the valley districts. Even today, no Meitei would feel safe and secure to proceed beyond Moirang or even go to Ukhrul by road. Remember there are at least two Kuki villages one has to cross to proceed to Ukhrul from Imphal by road. The guns have gone silent save for some reports of sporadic gun sounds coming from the foothills. There could be many reasons for this, but it would be foolhardy to equate this with Manipur returning to normalcy. Mutual suspicion and mutual hatred continue and there can be no two ways about it. This is the reality and any attempt to talk peace and normalcy would entail the necessity of admitting the reality. No clear cut answer on the way forward and it is also more than obvious that the Government too does not have a clue on how to put two and two together and chart out a roadmap to peace and normalcy. Over 20 Meiteis are reported missing, according to a figure put forth by the COCOMI some time. It is not clear how many Kukis are missing as the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum, Committee on Tribal Unity and Kuki Inpi, Manipur have not come out with such a list but it is clear that a number of bodies are still lying unclaimed at Imphal. This is where COCOMI has come in with the rider that the bodies lying at the different morgues may be claimed only when the bodies of the killed Meiteis are handed over. An ugly reality which says that Manipur is yet to take the first step towards normalcy. Standing out amongst the missing are the two young students, Phijam Hemanjit and Hijam Linthoingambi, who went missing on July 6 and photos of them in captivity and their lifeless bodies went viral on the social media on September 25. The story of how Imphal rose in protest after that and the brutal crackdown by the security forces on the protesting students is the story that has been told, but there is yet no sign that the Government is anywhere near recovering their bodies. From the interrogation of the alleged mastermind of the kidnapping and cold blooded murder of the two young students, the bodies of the two young students are buried somewhere near Lukkhraba Khul in Joujangek. The no sign of anywhere near recovering the bodies line should be understood in the context of the alleged disclosure of the mastermind to the CBI. This is where questions can be raised on the 90 percent peace has been achieved line. Abhinay Lakshmans observations on the ST status of Meiteis are misleading and incorrect | K Yugindro Singh, Sh Janaki Sharma & M Manihar Singh (Independent Researchers) Apropos the article under the heading ST status for Meiteis was considered and rejected in 1982 and 2001, Government records show which appeared in the online edition of the esteemed English daily, Hindu dated 17th October 2023. The observations and assertions of the author, Abhinay Lakshman are misleading and devoid of truth for the following reasons: 1. Vide its proposal letter D.O. No: 1/114/81-CM dated 18th December 1981 addressed to the Registrar General of India (RGI),the Government of Manipur did not recommend Meitei specifically for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe list. As recommendation of the State Government is pre-requisite to process the case in terms of the provisions under article 342 (1) of the Constitution of India, the office of the Registrar General of India rejected the ST status of Meitei in 1982. 2. Till now the Government of Manipur has not submitted any ethnographic report of Meitei to RGI in connection with consideration for inclusion of Meitei in the ST list. The information furnished by the Office of the RGI to the Hindu under the RTI Act 2005 that the Meitei community does not appear to possess tribal characteristics based on available information would be wrong on the ground that all census reports right from the census of India 1881, various books and research articles authored by contemporary British ethnographers, linguists and administrators during the British rule of India, described Meitei as a primitive hill tribe for example, see the books : Ethnographical Gallery, Guidebook No. 2 (The Andamanese, Nicobarese and Hill Tribes of Assam) by AM Meerwarth (1919, pp. 15-34), Census of India, 1901 Volume I Part I Report, by HH Risley& EA Gait (1903, pp .270-272 ), Census of India, 1931 Volume III Assam Part I Report, by CS Mullan (1932, pp.205), among others. The official definition of tribe used by the British Government of India is enshrined in authority books such as The Imperial Gazetteer of India, The Indian Empire, Vol. I Descriptive by Henry Frowde, Oxford University (1907, pp.308), Census of India, 1901 Volume I Part I Report, by HH Risley & EA Gait (1903, pp. 514), The People of India, by Hebert Risley & W Crook (1915, p.62) etc. 3. Vide its letter No. 17/1/96-TD, dated 3rd January 2001 addressed to Shri SK Panda, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi, the Government of Manipur, Secretariat Tribal Department (now Department of Tribal Affairs & Hills) furnished information on proposal for revision of SC/ST list, Manipur by enclosing an Annexure to the letter dated 3rd January 2001. The said Annexure to the letter No. 17/1/96-TD, dated 3rd January 2001 did not contain any decision of the Government of Manipur regarding the ST status of Meitei; merely it furnished the comments of the RGI in relation to the proposal made by the State Government 20 years back, vide D.O. No: 1/114/81-CM dated 18th December 1981. In the light of these facts on ground reality, Abhinay Lakshmans assertion in his article that Almost 20 years later, when the erstwhile Ministry of Social Justice was revising the SC/ST lists of States and Union Territories, it had sought recommendations from the Manipur Government. In response, the Tribal Development Department of Manipur on January 3, 2001, told the Centre that it agreed with the 1982 opinion of the Office of the RGI on the status of Meiteis, is not tenable. 4. The reported remarks made by W Nipamacha Singh, a former Chief Minister for disapproval of the ST status for Meitei on the ground that the Meitei community was the dominant group in Manipur; Meitei people were Hindus and assumed the status of Kshtriya Caste in the ladder of Hindu Castes, are not correct for the reasons given below: (i) The population size of Meitei is much smaller than that of the Kuki-Chin-Mizo and the Nagas on taking the North East as a whole. (ii) The name tag dominant group in Manipur attached to Meitei is going to disappear at not much distant future as the composition of Meitei with respect to the total population of Manipur has been fast decreasing in the last few decades as revealed by the fact that composition of Meitei which was 56.2% in 1881 has been reduced to 44.91% in 2011 with annual population growth of 7.17% being the least as compared to those of other major communities inhabiting the State. (iii) The Hindu origin of Meitei was a self-claim made by some Meitei elites in the old days which was rejected by the British administrators after studying the ethnography, ethnology and anthropometry of Meitei. (iv) Though the Meiteis have been adorning themselves with Hinduism since the middle of the 18th century, they do not have the caste system of mainland India. (v) Religion is not a criterion for inclusion/exclusion of a tribal community in the list of Scheduled Tribes as per Article 342 of the Constitution of India, among others. 5. In his book History of Assam, EA Gait wrote about the then Meitei (Manipuri) as follows: They pretend to be Kshatriyas, and are supported in their claim by the degraded Brahmans who serve them, and who, after giving the State its present name and identifying it with the Manipur mentioned in the Mahabharat, have invented a legend that the people are descended from the hero Arjun by a Naga woman, with whom he cohabited during his alleged sojourn in this neighbourhood (1906. pp.264). LA Waddell, in his research article entitled The Tribes of the Brahmaputra : A Contribution on their Physical Types and Affinities published in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, Part III (1900, pp.60-61) wrote: MITAI: This Indo-Chinese tribe is fast becoming Hinduised into a caste, claiming to be Kshatriyas or Rajputs, though its members are not admitted to be such by orthodox Hindus. In his book The Eastern Frontier of India, RB Pemberton rejected the Hindu origin claimed by the then contemporary Meitei Rejecting, as totally unworthy of attention, the Hindoo origin claimed by the Muneepoorees of the present day (1835, pp.36). HH Risley, and EA Gait in their book Census of India, 1901 Volume I, Part I Report stated categorically: Although they have become thoroughly Hinduised, they have not adopted any Aryan tongue (1903, pp.270). In his book The Meitheis, TC Hodson said: actually claim for themselves a western and Hindoo descent. This idea is quite untenable, and rests upon a very slender foundation, or rather on none whatever (1908, pp. 7). Moreover, Meitei does not fulfil the definition of caste given in authority books such as The Imperial Gazetteer of India, The Indian Empire, Vol. I Descriptive by Henry Frowde, Oxford University (1907, pp.311), Census of India, 1901 Volume I Part I Report, by HH Risley & EA Gait (1903, pp. 517), The People of India, by Hebert Risley & W Crook (1915, p.68) etc., thereby justifying that the correctness of the observations of the British Administrators. Further, it may be pertinent to mention that there are many Hindu tribes which are included in the Scheduled Tribes list of India eg., Meena of Rajasthan, Munda of Tripura, Tripuri of Tripura, Bodo of Assam etc. As such, Meitei cannot be excluded from enlisting in the ST tag merely on the ground that Meiteis are Hindus. 6. As per Article 342 (2) of the Constitution of India, the Central Government may include in or exclude from the list of Scheduled Tribes of Manipur. Under the provision of the said Article 342(2) and following the procedure for inclusion in or exclusion from the list of Scheduled Tribes published in the Annual Report 2013-14 of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM) submitted a representation dated 03.05.2013 to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for inclusion of Meetei (Meitei) community in the ST list of Manipur. In response to the said representation of the STDCM dated 03.05.2013, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs wrote a letter bearing No. 19020/05/2012-C&I.M. dated 29.05.2013 to the Government of Manipur requesting the latter to furnish specific recommendations along with Economic Survey and Ethnographic Reports for consideration of the proposal for inclusion of Meitei/Meetei community in the ST list of Manipur. But the Government of Manipur is yet to respond to the said letter of the Govt. of India dated 29.05.2013. 7. Another CSO namely. the Meetei (Meitei) Tribe Union, Manipur (MMTU) submitted a representation dated 07.04.2022 to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs praying for inclusion of Meetei (Meitei) community in the ST list of Manipur. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs responded to the MMTUs representation dated 07.04.2022 by communicating a letter No. 12026/09/2013-C&IM dated 31.05.2022 to the Government of Manipur requesting the latter to take necessary action, as deemed appropriate, clearly stating the procedures for inclusion of a community in the ST list as under: 2. Scheduled Tribes (STs) are notified under 342 of the Constitution. Government of India had on 15.6.1999 (and further revised on 25.6.2002) approved modalities for determining claims for inclusion in and other modifications in the list of STs. As per these modalities only proposals recommended and justified by the State Government concerned and agreed to by RGI as well as NCST are considered for amendment of legislation. All the actions are taken as per approved modalities. The recommendation of the concerned State Government is pre-requisite to process the case further. Till now, the Government of Manipur has not responded to the said letter of the Govt. of India dated 31.05.2022. 8. Sensing the Government of Manipurs inaction to the demand for inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in the ST list, 8 (eight) members of the MMTU filed a writ petition being WP(C) No. 229 of 2023 in the Honble High Court of Manipur, praying for issuance of a writ/direction to the Government of Manipur to comply with the letters received from the Government of India viz., letter bearing No. 19020/05/2012-C&I.M. dated 29.05.2013 and 12026/09/2013-C&IM dated 31.05.2022, by effecting submittable recommendation, pending more than one decade. A single Bench of the Honble Court heard the case and delivered its judgement and order on 27.03.2023 based on merits. The judgement and order of the single Bench dated 27.03.2023 is not only under review, but also under challenge now in both the Honble High Court of Manipur and the Supreme Court due to objections raised by some ST communities of Manipur. As per law, the ST communities who have objected to the verdict of the Honble High Court of Manipur have no locus standi as they are not aggrieved at all by the said verdict and had long back been in the ST list of Manipur since 1951. It is only the various authorities concerned of the Government of India but not the existing ST communities of Manipur who are to take a decision on the ST status of Meitei, based on the recommendation to be submitted by the State Government with necessary justification in terms of the 5 criteria set-out by the Lokur Committee in 1965 which is still in force. A fighter from the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades stands in front of a tunnel during an exhibition of weapons, missiles, and heavy equipment for the military wing of Hamas. The sandy soil of Gaza is Israels worst enemy. It has been dug almost by hand, away from prying eyes, for more than three decades, to carve one of the largest networks of tunnels and passageways on the planet in one of its tiniest territories. The General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces has dubbed it the Gaza metro a strategic network of dozens of kilometers of subterranean galleries for military use, considered to be Hamas secret weapon in the face of an Israeli invasion. Unlike the smuggling tunnels on the border with Egypt, or the attack passages dug under the border with Israel, no one has lived to tell the tale of having seen Gazas so-called metro. The primary target of Israels looming invasion is expected to be this network of subterranean shelters where Hamas political leaders and the commanders of its armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, are suspcted to be hiding. In 2014, Israel launched a full-scale war, which included an extensive ground operation, over two months, to destroy the subterranean network. In 2021, in the Israeli armys last major incursion, it again proclaimed the destruction of the underground passages, while justifying the shelling of the residential neighborhood of Rimal, in Gaza City, where dozens of civilian casualties were reported. However, after 11 days of intense bombardment, in the craters and holes left by the bombs there was only sand. When the foreign press was able to visit the area, there was no trace of the tunnels. Hamas claims there are 500 kilometers (310 miles) of tunnels. But I think that figure is a way of discouraging Israel from invading Gaza, explains Harel Chorev, a historian and researcher at the Dayan Center at Tel Aviv University. What is certain is that there are dozens of kilometers constructed, from where rockets are launched and weaponry is stored. There are also supply rooms, water reserves, electronic devices and everything you might need in the event of an attack, he said via a video call. The labyrinth of tunnels, some of which run more than 30 meters deep, is one of the best-kept secrets of the Hamas militia command. Unlike Al-Qaedas spider webs of passageways at Tora Bora in mountainous eastern Afghanistan two decades ago, or the sophisticated complexes dug by the Vietcong on Vietnams jungle frontiers 50 years ago, Hamas tunnel network runs underneath densely populated urban areas. To destroy it, Israel would have to flood the tunnels as Egypt did with the smuggling routes connecting Sinai and Gaza or blow them up, as Israeli forces did with the galleries it found within its borders. Another option would be to use bomb disposal robots to defuse any booby traps before storming the tunnels with infantry. The U.N., through its UNRWA agency for Palestinian refugees, has been the only source other than the warring sides to record the existence of the tunnel network. Last year, a man-made cavity was located under the grounds of one of the U.N. agencys schools in Gaza. UNRWA denounced the discovery as a violation of its neutrality in the conflict and described it as a threat to the safety of students. A Palestinian fighter of Al-Quds brigades, the military wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), takes position in a military tunnel in Beit Hanun, northern Gaza Strip. Ahmed Zakot (SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) Israel has captured dozens of militiamen from the intelligence services of the Nujba, the elite unit of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, notes Professor Chorev. They were trained in the tunnels and probably know the entrances and exits of the network precisely, he says. One of the biggest challenges for the [Israeli] armed forces is that it is not known what kind of weapons Hamas has in the tunnels, just as it did not know Hamas attacking capability before October 7, he warns. Before building a subterranean barrier around the Gaza Strip at a cost of over $1 billion, Israel systematically bombed tunnels leading into its territory between 2013 and 2014, burying dozens of Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants alive. In 2013, Egypt flooded the smuggling galleries used to circumvent the blockade imposed on Gaza with sewage. Hamas responded by firing rockets into Israel, many of which were intercepted and shot down by the Iron Dome defensive shield. But when it comes to the tunnels inside Gaza, Israel lacks an alternative to massive bombardments resulting in civilian casualties or a ground operation against a guerrilla group specialized in urban combat. In 2014 we knew there were tunnels crossing into Israel, but now we know there are dozens of networks moving from inside the Strip itself, acknowledges Raphael Cohen, a researcher specializing in the Middle East at the RAND Corporation, by telephone. Israel prefers to fight from the air. Once the military comes in on the ground, a lot of the armys intelligence is going to be obsolete. At the moment, they only have a rough idea of these networks and they have been training for an [underground] battle, the expert adds. There is no clear way to operate militarily in Gaza. Period. With its population density (more than 2.2 million inhabitants in just 365 square kilometers), there are always going to be problems protecting civilians, whether in air strikes or a ground incursion, which is essential if hostages are to be rescued, Cohen stresses, before concluding that you cant destroy an extensive network of tunnels by bombing alone, as has been attempted up to now. Hamas October 7 attack left more than 1,400 people dead in Israeli territory, mostly civilians. About 200 people were taken hostage and are now being held underground in the Palestinian coastal enclave. In response, Israeli military airstrikes have since killed at least 3,785 Palestinians, according to the latest updates from the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition KOLKATA, 20 OCTOBER: Following the news of a tragic couples death, locals last night at Gangajoari, near Narendrapur, clashed with the police and set up roadblocks in many localities. Sadly, Sujay Mandal and his wife Tuktuki passed away last night from injuries sustained in a socket bomb explosion that occurred on Wednesday morning as they were opening their fast food restaurant. They tragically passed away in the hospital after being admitted in a severe condition. The locals were furious after hearing this tragic news, and they swarmed the police station, demanding that the criminals who were reportedly responsible for the explosions be taken into custody right away. According to a senior police officer, the news of their deaths caused a great deal of outrage throughout the community. The couples dead remains were found, which infuriated the locals even more and caused roadblocks in a number of locations. After some time, the Narendrapur police station was informed, and a large police presence was dispatched to the scene in an attempt to restore order. With the protestors, a heated altercation broke out. Residents of the area claimed that the police had long since rejected their accusations against miscreants, and in certain circumstances, their worries had been overlooked. Some even said that on Wednesday, the pair were the target of miscreants who threw the bomb at them with too much force. Advertisement The locals rage was then heightened when their bodies were returned to the area. Their worries were expressed about the administrations apparent lack of action over an extended period, since the entire area appears to have devolved into a lawless haven for lawbreakers. Very little action has been taken thus far, in spite of the gravity of this situation. According to local resident Amit Mukherjee, the police used batons in response when the protestors tried to voice their grievances. The state government today asked banks to speed up the clearance of pending applications under Bhabishyat credit card and West Bengal Student Credit Card scheme (WBSCC). This was conveyed to the bank officials at a high level meeting conducted by the chief secretary HK Dwivedi with the officers of the banks at Nabanna today. It was also decided to organise special campaigns in all branches of banks from 2- 10 November with an eye to accelerate the process of sanctioning of applications under the two schemes. A source in the know claimed that at the meeting, banks were given a target of sanctioning 60,000 pending eligible applications under the Bhabishyat credit card scheme and 20,000 pending applications under WBSCC scheme during the period. Advertisement The banks had also been asked to clear loans of already sanctioned cases under the dual schemes during the period. Thirty-one years after a man was allegedly killed in an encounter during terrorism in Punjab, he has been found alive. At 70, Jagir Singh resurfaced after he was seen at a bhog ceremony at his native place Awan Lakha Singh village in Chogawan, Amritsar. Now the focus has shifted to Jagirs friend Daljit Singh who too had disappeared in 1992 and since then hasnt been seen. Daljits father Kashmir Singh, a retired electricity department employee who belongs to the nearby Khiala Khurd village, Amritsar, says, If Jagir is alive, who was shown killed in an encounter? And thus, I want to know the status of my son. His worst fear, though he stops short of spelling it in words, Was it his son Daljit who was killed? Kashmir adds, We have been running from pillar to post for the past 30 years but havent come to know about our son Daljits whereabouts. Advertisement Asked, why he thinks Jagirs resurfacing would throw some light on his sons whereabouts, Kashmir responds with a bit of suspicion, Both Jagir and Daljit were acquaintances. At that time, the police first tortured me and then they tortured my son. If Jagir who was shown as having died in an encounter is alive now I want to know who was shown as killed in that encounter which took place on December 29, 1992. He adds a few days later a news item appeared in a newspaper that said that Jagir and Daljit both died as a result of a crossfire while taking on the police. He adds, If Jagir is alive, I am sure they would have killed someone. Who is that someone, is what I want to know? I had three sons, two of them Baljit Singh, who was in the Indian Army, and Rajwant Singh, who drove his own cab, both died. While Baljit died due to high altitude illness, Rajwant died in a road accident. But we want to know the truth about Daljit, Kashmir rues. Kashmir adds, Though I always knew something was amiss ever since the Punjab Police had declared Jagir dead. A few days after the Punjab Police claimed that he had died, I saw Jagir and even informed the police. A few years later, someone informed me that Jagir had been arrested in a drug smuggling case and was jailed. I had no way to confirm the news till I saw him at the bhog ceremony recently. Jagir remained in jail for close to 19 years in a case of drug smuggling, says Kashmir. What CBI says: Sources in CBI say a case has been filed in the court claiming that the 1992 encounter was fake. More so, since Jagir Singh who was supposedly killed in that encounter is alive. We are waiting for the directions of the court. Dharam Singh, the then SHO of Lopoke police station in Amritsar is the main accused in the case along with Tarsem Lal, Swaran Singh, and Avtar Singh. Swaran Singh and Avtar both died in the course of the trial. Dharam Singh is undergoing a life sentence along with two other policemen in a separate case of fake encounters. Kashmir says, Dharam Singh is the main accused who not only tortured me but also my son Daljit in front of my eyes. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced on Friday at the Vidhan Sabhas special session that the Punjab government would file an application in the Supreme Court on October 30 to determine whether the House proceedings were lawful in the aftermath of the governors objections. The first week of November will see the Assembly convene once more. Balkar Singh, the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, proposed and the House approved a motion to adjourn. Advertisement The Congress has before expressed concerns about the sessions legitimacy. To this, the Speaker and ministers said the session was absolutely legal. Earlier, the Punjab Vidhan Sabhas two-day special session began on Friday. It began with obituaries. The session began by paying tribute to Agniveer Amritpal Singh. Later, Partap Bajwa, the leader of the opposition, brought up the governors claim that the session was patently illegal. He questioned why so much money was being squandered when the governor had declared it to be unlawful. Bajwa also began the Zero Hour saying the Congress wanted to discuss the Sutlej Yamuna Link SYL issue and the Bargari sacrilege issue and if the government had kept any time for it. He said, Your convener (refering to Arvind Kejriwal) had promised that your government would address the issue within 24 hours of forming the government. Your MLA and former IGP Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh had accused the CM of not standing with him on the Bargari issue. Kunwar Vijay Pratap has also questioned CM Mann on the issue of Bargari sacrilege. Canada has said that the processing of Indian visa applications will slow down after the country repatriated 41 of its diplomats posted in India amid the ongoing standoff between New Delhi and Ottawa over the killing of a Khalistani terrorist. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said that the decision to remove all but 21 diplomats was taken after India threatened to revoke their diplomatic immunity if they didnt leave before October 20. Following Indias intent to unilaterally remove immunities for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents in Delhi by October 20, 2023, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is reducing its number of employees in India from 27 to 5. IRCC will continue to accept and process applications from India, but reduced staffing levels are expected to impact processing times, the IRCC said in a statement. Advertisement The IRCC also said that the decrease in the diplomatic staff will further delay in overall processing times and responses to enquiries of Indians. Due to the decision, the Canadian immigration office said, Indians will also face delay in getting their visas or passports back. Earlier on Thursday, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly announced that Canada has removed 41 diplomats and their 42 family members, from India over the ongoing row between the two countries. As of now, I can confirm that India has formally conveyed its plan to unethically remove diplomatic immunities for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents in Delhi by tomorrow, October 20. This means 41 Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents were in danger of having immunity stripped on an arbitrary date. And this would put their personal safety at risk, Joly said, confirming the departure of Canadian diplomats. This comes after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus allegations of Indias involvement in the extra judicial killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a New Delhi designated terrorist, trigged a massive diplomatic row between New Delhi and Ottawa. India rejected Trudeaus absurd and politically driven allegations and accused Canadian diplomats of interference in Indias internal matters. The Indian government also sought parity in Canadas diplomatic strength in India. On being asked if the reduction in the number of Canadian diplomats could see a decrease in the number of visas issued by the Canadian High Commission in India, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi Thursday said, Its up to the Canadian side, who they choose to staff the High Commission withour concerns are related to ensuring parity in diplomatic presence. He further added that Indias primary focus is on two things; having an atmosphere in Canada, where Indian diplomats can work properly and in achieving parity in terms of diplomatic strength. Stepping up its attack on the BJP-led government over its reported order asking the armed forces to publicize its flagship schemes, the Congress on Friday called it misuse and abuse of power by the ruling dispensation and termed it unlawful. The grand old party also urged the chiefs of the three services Army, Navy, and Air Force to reject this order and approach President Droupadi Murmu for presidential reference. The president is the supreme commander of the armed forces. Addressing a news conference at the party headquarters, the Congresss chairman of the ex-servicemen department, Col Rohit Chaudhry (retd) said, The Department of Defence (under the Ministry of Defence) has issued a circular asking to the three armed forces asking to publicize the flagship schemes of the Modi government, like Ujjwala Yojana and PM Awas Yojana. The department circular issued on October 6 asked to set up 822 selfie points. We outrightly reject it. Advertisement Accusing the ruling BJP of making political capital out of the reputation of the armed forces, he said, Will our countrys soldiers now campaign for the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi? The Modi government is weakening the Army. This is misuse and abuse of power. It is an unlawful order. Army is not the personal property of the BJP, RSS, and NDA (National Democratic Alliance). Our view is that there should not be political posters in the hands of the Army. The use of the Army to fulfil political ambitions will have far-reaching implications. It can pose a security threat to the country, Chaudhry said. He also claimed that people who come under the Army Act, Navy Act, and the Air Force Act are prohibited from campaigning for any political party. Chaudhry added, We will write to the chiefs of the three services and urge them to not to consider it and refer the same for presidential reference. Notably, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had earlier slammed the BJP over the matter. By capitalizing on the popularity of the brave soldiers of our Indian Army who protect the nation, Modi ji is promoting him. The Modi government has asked the Army to set up 822 selfie points across the country to promote government schemes, Kharge wrote in a social media post. Canada has asked its citizens in India to exercise a high degree of caution and keep a low profile while traveling to several cities, including national capital Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chandigarh. Exercise a high degree of caution in India due to the threat of terrorist attacks throughout the country, read the advisory issued by Canada on Friday. The advisory asked citizens of Canada to keep a low profile in Delhi and exercise high degree of caution while travelling to Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chandigarh in view of anti-Canada protests. Advertisement In the context of recent developments in Canada and India, there are calls for protests and some negative sentiment towards Canada in traditional media and on social media. Demonstrations, including anti-Canada protests, could occur and Canadians may be subjected to intimidation or harassment. In Delhi and the National Capital Region, you should keep a low profile with strangers, and not share your personal information with them, the advisory added. The latest advisory comes hours after Canada removed 41 of its diplomats from India after New Delhi threatened to revoke their diplomatic immunity. This comes in the backdrop of a massive diplomatic row between India and Canada over the killing of a Khalistani terrorist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen in Canada. Nijjar was killed by masked gunmen in the parking lot of a Surrey gurudwara in June early this year. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged agents of India government were behind the killing, a charge vehemently rejected by India. Following Trudeaus allegations, India suspended visa services for Canadian citizens and asked Ottawa to have parity in diplomatic strength, accusing Canadian diplomats of interference in Indias internal matters. The Andhra Pradesh police will continue to hold its hand and not arrest former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in FiberNet case as the Supreme Court on Friday posted for hearing on November 9 the anticipatory bail plea of the Telugu Desam Party chief. A bench of Justice Aniruddha Bose and Justice Belas M Trivedi posted Chandrababu Naidus plea for anticipatory bail in FiberNet case on November 9, as senior advocate Ranjit Kumar appearing for Andhra Pradesh government, reiterated his earlier assurance that Naidu will not be touched in the FiberNet case till next date of hearing on November 9. Posting the matter for November 9, the beech in its order said: Let the earlier understanding continue. Advertisement The bench said that since the order on the applicability of Section 17A of PC Act in Naidus plea seeking the quashing of FIR in Skill Development scam case is reserved, it would be appropriate to hear anticipatory bail plea of Naidu in FiberNet case after the verdict is delivered. As senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for Naidu, told the bench that Andhra Pradesh police are looking to take him into custody in FibreNet case despite he being in custody in the Skill Development scam case, senior advocate Ranjit Kumar appearing for Andhra Pradesh government told the court that he has no problem in awaiting the judgement of the court. The top court was hearing Naidus plea against the Andhra Pradesh High Court order refusing to grant him anticipatory bail earlier this week. In the last hearing of the matter on October 17, the Andhra Pradesh government had given an undertaking to the bench that the former Chief Minister will not be arrested in the Fibernet case till further consideration of the matter. Prior to this on October 13, the Andhra Pradesh government had assured the bench that it will not arrest former State Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu in the Fibernet case till October 18. The bench had in earlier hearing on October 13, said that in both the cases Skill development project case and Fibernet case the common issue is prior sanction of the State Governor under the Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The bench on October 17 had reserved its judgment on Chandrababu Naidus plea seeking the quashing of the IIR in Skill Development case as proceedings against him lacked prior sanction of the State Governor mandated under the Section 17A of the PC Act. With both Gurjar and Rajput communities in Haryana claiming that ninth-century ruler Mihir Bhoj belonged to their castes, the Haryana Government on Friday set up a seven-member committee to examine the historical facts about Samrat Mihir Bhoj with the aim of averting the proliferation of disinformation. An order issued by Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal today said that the Divisional Commissioner, Karnal, will be chairman of the committee while Inspector General of Police, Karnal Range, Karnal will be its vice chairman and the Deputy Commissioner, Kaithal will be its Member Secretary. Superintendent of Police, Kaithal, two professors of History from Panjab University, Chandigarh, namely, Rajeev Lochan and Priyatosh Sharma and two advocates of both parties Gurjar and Kshatriya as representatives of both the communities will be its members. The committee will submit its report within a period of four weeks from the date of issue of this order. Advertisement This controversy has put the ruling Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) in a tight spot, which has divided the two communities ahead of the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls due next year. While Gujjars maintain that Mihir Bhoj belonged to their caste, Rajputs say that he was a Rajput king and should not be described as Gurjar king. To settle the issue, Rajputs were demanding the formation of an expert committee of historians to determine whether Raja Mihir Bhoj belonged to Rajput or Gurjar community. Unhappy with the BJP which heavily relies on non-Jat voters in Haryana for its electoral success in the state, Rajput community had on Wednesday announced to boycott the saffron party in the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls due next year if their demands, which includes formation of an expert committee on the issue, were not accepted within 15 days. Their other demands include termination of service of cops responsible for lathicharge on Rajput community youths who were opposing the unveiling of the statue of Raja Mihir Bhoj in Kaithal as the plaque of the statue read Gurjar Pratihar Samrat Mihir or Gurjar king. A Gurjar leader heads the Kaithal district BJP unit and the Kaithal constituency is represented in the Assembly by a member of the same community. Rajput community leaders allege the BJP is siding with the Gurjar community in the matter. The Rajput community is also seeking the resignation of Kaithal district BJP president Ashok Gurjar and action against the BJP legislator from Kaithal Lila Ram Gujjar, who were part of the unveiling ceremony of the statue at the Dhand Chowk in the Kaithal town to mark the birth anniversary of the ruler in July this year. A day before the statue was unveiled on 20 July, Rajput community members had staged a protest for the removal of Gurjar word from the plague and the police had to resort to lathicharge to prevent the Rajputs from reaching close to the statue installed on the demand of the Akhil Bhartiya Veer Gurjar Sabha. On their part, various forums of the Gurjar community call for no compromise with Gurjar name and Gurjar history. At the unveiling of the statue, BJPs Kaithal MLA Lila Ram Gujjar was quoted saying there is solid proof that Mihir Bhoj was a Gurjar Samrat, who had ruled India when Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Burma were also a part of the country. The Rajput community members cant be tampering with history today. Rajputs are our brothers but they should also exercise restraint while making comments, he had said. Hooghly-based girl, who is a part of United Nations Member for International has designed a template to be used in the UNICEF artwork pads for members, which will be published in different countries. Priyanka Mallick, who works closely with the WHO, a week ago sent her work to UNHCR as a member. The UN body then asked her to refer it to UNICEF for approval. My work, titled, The Divine Guardian: Goddess Durga, Embodiment of Power and Mother Nature, represents the symbolism of goddess Durga as both a powerful deity and a protector of all, especially in the context of the ongoing crisis in Israel involving refugee children, she said. Advertisement This artwork has been meticulously crafted to convey the powerful image of Durga standing in solidarity with refugee children who are facing challenging circumstances in Israel. Through this piece, I aim to shed light on the compassionate side of divinity and highlight the urgent need for protection, support, and care for these vulnerable children, added Priyanka. The local girl keeps working on subjects like gender equality, women empowerment and others as part of 17 points of UN sustainable development goals. She had also submitted a policy brief on transforming education for achieving gender equality for G20 which was accepted. The fleet of buses roared past the Panama-Costa Rica border. Hundreds of Venezuelan, Haitian and Ecuadorian migrants pressed their faces to the windows as they looked out onto a sign that read Welcome to Costa Rica. But few of them will see more of the country than the winding roads through foggy glass. Thats because last week Costa Rica and Panama announced that, amid a historic crush of people headed to the United States, thousands of migrants a day would be bussed from the jungle-clad Darien Gap through their territories to the Nicaraguan border. The move is the latest patchwork solution by governments in Central America that often have appeared more concerned with lessening the impact on their own nations than complying with pressure from the Biden administration to keep migration levels in check. Regional leaders will seek longer term solutions at a migration summit in Mexico on Sunday. For many undertaking the dangerous journey north, like Maria Angelys, a 30-year-old Venezuelan traveling with her 2-year-old daughter, the bus program sent a clear message: Youre not welcome. There are tons of Venezuelans everywhere, and the reality is that they dont want us here, said Angelys, waiting in a Costa Rican detention facility for a bus. Angelys, who left Venezuela in October due to the economic crisis in her country, said she had hoped to rest after trekking days through the rugged jungle dividing Colombia and Panama. But conditions in Costa Ricas migrant camp were so bad she wanted to continue on as fast as possible. Angelys and her daughter are among more than 420,000 migrants to cross the Darien Gap this year. They wind their way through Central America and Mexico to the U.S.-Mexico border, where U.S. authorities say theyve stopped migrants more than 1.8 million times in the first 11 months of this fiscal year. The volume even prompted the Costa Rican government to declare a state of emergency in late September. It was a drastic step in a country long known for its open asylum laws and hospitality. We dont have the capacity to take on this flow of people, Jorge Rodriguez, the vice minister to the president, said. Aid has been generous, but its not enough. Buses pick migrants up from camps in eastern Panama, and transport between 1,500 and 2,000 people a day across Costa Ricas border. Theyre dropped off in cramped detention facilities where most sleep on green army cots, bunk beds, cardboard or in tents on the ground where some say liquid from portable toilets leaks. Migrants are not permitted to leave the fenced-off buildings, once a factory, until they buy a bus ticket. A number of migrants told The Associated Press on Monday that they hadnt eaten since the weekend. Most migrants buy their own bus tickets, paying $30 per person. Youre Costa Rica and you have a hundred thousand Venezuelan, Chinese, Indians and Ecuadorians in your territory. What do you do? You cant afford to send them back. This is the least bad option for them, Adam Isacson, an analyst tracking migration for the Washington Office on Latin America said. It keeps the migration out of sight, out of mind, he added, but passes the problem along to the next country. Rodriguez, the vice minister, said while camps dont have the best conditions, it is still better than before when migrants slept on the street. The government is working to address the situation, he said, but still needs training for aid staff, as well as donations of food, beds and vaccines to stop the spread of disease. Angelys, the Venezuelan mother, was among dozens of people waiting in line at Western Union inside the facility for hours for a transfer of $200 from her husband in Chicago to buy bus tickets. She cradled her daughter as other children played and slept on the ground nearby. On one hand, I see it as really good, you get out of the country quickly, she said. The objective is the United States, no? Not to stay here. But there are many more that dont have the money. Others like 25-year-old Venezuelan migrant Ebrard Sanchez spent his last $120 paying for the government-organized buses from Panama to Costa Rica. The ride was a welcome respite for his wife and 7-year-old son after being robbed in the jungle. Without anyone to transfer the $90 they needed to board the bus to the Nicaragua border, the family had been in the migrant camp for five days waiting for one of the few bus trips donated by companies or aid groups. Sanchez said they would have never climbed aboard if they had known they wouldnt be able to leave the facility. We honestly feel as if we were in prison, he said. All we want to do is work, and everyone is closing their doors on us. Despite two officials and a dozen migrants in the camp telling the AP that migrants are not allowed to leave the camp, Rodriguez, the vice minister, said migrants are not prohibited from exiting, but that doing so would be illegal due to their migratory status. Other countries on the path north which have long been the source of migration have scrambled to cope in different ways. In Nicaragua, migration has seen little control, and by most accounts is speedy. Daniel Cano, a 27-year-old Venezuelan who had made it to southern Honduras with his wife and dog, said they crossed Nicaragua in 13 hours without problems. Other migrants who recently crossed Nicaragua said authorities made them get on buses that delivered them directly to the Honduran border. Honduras offers its own host of problems. Migrants can move freely, unlike in Costa Rica, but they lack basic sanitation and are living in deplorable conditions. Denilson Borges, coordinator for Doctors without Borders in the Honduran city of Danli, said the number of migrants crossing Honduras has created a health emergency. Doctors are treating everything from respiratory infections to injuries from violent attacks. Last month, Honduras President Xiomara Castro called it a humanitarian crisis requiring a regional response. Honduran immigration officials issue on average 4,000 five-day transit permits to arriving migrants each day in the southern cities of Danli and Trojes. Tents occupy any scrap of greenspace in Danli. At one park, 48-year-old Suhail Briceno rested in her familys small tent squeezed alongside some two dozen others. Black plastic sheeting was spread over it against frequent rain showers. There were no public toilets. The Venezuelan, struggling with stomach problems, had been living there for two weeks with her husband and other relatives waiting for her son to wire them money to continue moving north. The U.S. government wants countries like Costa Rica and Honduras to manage the flow while trying to deal with the thousands crossing their borders. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian Nichols told media earlier this month that while such countries are doing a lot they need to step up and do more. The moves by Costa Rica and Panama come after weeks of pleading for more international aid to cope with migration. Without ready solutions, leaders from sending countries like Cuba, Venezuela and Haiti, along with Central American transit countries, will meet in Mexico on Sunday to discuss migration and whats pushing people to flee their countries. Biden and other leaders have long touted tackling the roots of migration corruption, violence and economic crisis but so far results are limited. We have an international community that is in denial on how to deal with Venezuela, how to deal with Haiti, how to deal with Nicaragua, said Manuel Orozco, director of the migration, remittances and development program at the Inter-American Dialogue. And these (transit) countries are the ones facing the consequences. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Namo Bharat Launch: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the priority section of Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor and flagged off NaMo Bharat (earlier name Rapidx) train connecting Sahibabad to Duhai Depot. The NaMo Bharat train flag off also marked the launch of Indias first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), that will connect Sahibabad to Duhai depot in Meerut. This is Indias first RapidX train which will be known as NaMo Bharat. Accompanied by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Prime Minister Modi also inspected the priority section project of Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor through a VR headset. Advertisement #WATCH | Sahibabad, Uttar Pradesh | Prime Minister Narendra Modi inspects the priority section project of Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor through a VR headset. He inaugurated the priority section of Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor and flag off RapidX train NaMo pic.twitter.com/pX7zUFP25O ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2023 Days ahead of the inauguration, the RapidX train was renamed NaMo Bharat. The train is Indias first semi-high-speed regional rail service that will connect Delhi to Meerut. The 17 Km priority section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor will connect Sahibabad to Duhai Depot with stations at Ghaziabad, Guldhar and Duhai in the first phase. PM Modi had laid the foundation stone for the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor on March 8, 2019 as part of his vision to transform regional connectivity in the country through the construction of new world-class transport infrastructure. With a design speed of 180 Kmph, RRTS is a transformational, regional development initiative, which is designed to provide high-speed trains for intercity commuting every 15 minutes, which can go up to a frequency of every 5 minutes as per requirement. (With ANI inputs) The Indian government has sharply rejected Canadian attempts to portray Indias demand of parity in the mutual diplomatic strength in New Delhi and Ottawa as a violation of Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Reacting to the Canadian allegation, the Ministry of External Affairs said that India has not violated any international law and the continued interference of Canadian diplomats in internal matters warranted parity. The state of our bilateral relations, the much higher number of Canadian diplomats in India, and their continued interference in our internal affairs warrant a parity in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa, the MEA statement read. The MEA response came a day after Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly announced that Ottawa has recalled 41 diplomats from India in view of New Delhis intent to revoke their diplomatic immunity by October 20. Advertisement I can confirm that India has formally conveyed its plan to unethically remove diplomatic immunities for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents in Delhi by tomorrow, October 20. This means 41 Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents were in danger of having immunity stripped on an arbitrary date. And this would put their personal safety at risk, she said. Joly further claimed that unilateral revocation of diplomatic immunity is contrary to the international law and a clear violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. A unilateral revocation of diplomatic privilege and immunities is contrary to international law. It is a clear violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and threatening to do so is unreasonable and escalatory, she added. Ties between India and Canada have been strained for some time but they deteriorated further after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last month accused New Delhi of a role in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen designated terrorist by India. The allegations were strongly rejected by India and termed absurd and politically driven. New Delhi also sought specific evidence backing Trudeaus claims but Ottawa provided none. This triggered a massive diplomatic row with India suspending visa services for Canadian citizens and seeking a parity in the mutual diplomatic strength in New Delhi and Ottawa. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday, launched Indias Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) by flagging off a Namo BharatX train on the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Corridor. Speaking on the occasion, the prime minister said the high-speed modern train gives a glimpse of Indias future, and how it is transforming with economic progress. Modi travelled on the Regional Rapid Train Namo Bharat on the 17 km priority RRTS stretch, connecting Sahibabad to Duhai Depot. He inaugurated the train at the Sahibabad RapidX Station in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. Advertisement Along with this, he dedicated to the nation two stretches of the east-west corridor of Bengaluru Metro. The Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS is being developed at a cost of Rs 30,000 crore and will connect Delhi to Meerut in less than an hour of travel time. The prime minister said it was a historic moment for the whole country as Indias first Rapid Rail Service Namo Bharat train was starting operation. He said he had laid the foundation stone for the Delhi-Meerut corridor about four years back. I have said this before; I always inaugurate projects for which I lay foundation stones. The Meerut part will compete in one to one-and-a-half years and I will be present then also, Modi said. I travelled by the train today. I have spent my childhood on railway platforms. The Indian Railway, as it appears today, makes me happy, he said. The Prime Minister said the entire staff of the new train, including locomotive pilots, is women and congratulated the people of Delhi, NCR, and western UP on the launch of the train. The Prime Minister said it was his firm belief that the nations development is possible only when States develop. He said Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was attending the ceremony virtually, as two lines of Bengaluru Metro were also getting operational. The new lines will improve the IT hubs connectivity in the State Capital, he said. India of the 21st century is writing its own saga of progress and development in every sector, the Prime Minister said. India has surprised the world with its Chandrayaan 3 Mission landing on the Moon. India has since become a centre of attraction and inquiry for the world, which wants to associate with India. Todays India has given a record-breaking performance of bagging more than 100 medals at the Asian Games, and launched on its own the 5G in the country, he said. India is today doing maximum digital transactions in the world. India-made vaccines turned out to be a lifesaver for crores of people in the world. Modi said big companies are coming to India to manufacture mobile phones, TVs, laptops, and computers. He said the country is manufacturing fighter jets and has shown its capacity by manufacturing the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. The Namo Bharat train starting today is also Made in India, Modi said proudly. The day is not far when we will land the first Indian on the moon in our spacecraft, the Prime Minister said. All this is happening for the youth and to make their future bright, he said. He told the young audience: Dont you feel proud of these achievements and dont you see a bright future for yourself in these developments. He said the screen doors installed on the platforms are also made in India. The Prime Minister said the helicopters he travels in are noisy like tractors. But the noise in the Namo Bharat Train is less than even that felt during air travel. The low level of noise will make the train journey comfortable. He said the Delhi-Meerut 80 km stretch is just the beginning. He said the RRTS first phase will connect many areas of Delhi, UP, Haryana, and Rajasthan with Namo Bharat trains. He said, I hope the mention of Rajasthan does not spoil Ashok Gehlots sleep. In the coming days, Modi said that a similar system will be created in other parts of the country, facilitating industrial development, and creating new avenues of employment. He said the third decade of this century will be a decade of Indian Railways complete transformation. In these 10 years, you will find new railways in the country. I have no habit of having small dreams, nor do I like to walk like a slow person, he said. I want to give guarantee to the youth, by the end of this decade you will not find Indian trains less than the trains of any other country in any manner, the Prime Minister said. The Indian railway will achieve a new pedestal in the world in safety, cleanliness, facilities, coordination, sensitivity, and capability, he said. Indian railway is not very far from the goal of 100 per cent electrification. Trinity of Amrit Bharat, Vande Bharat, and Namo Bharat will become a symbol of modernisation of Indian Railways by the end of this decade, he added. Underlining multi-modal connectivity, the prime minister said Delhis Sarai Kale Khan, Anand Vihar, Ghaziabad, and Meerut bus stations, metro stations, and railway stations are being connected by Namo Bharat system. People will not have to worry how to go home after their train journeys, he said. Governor of Uttar Pradesh Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri were present on the occasion. I n physics there is a phenomenon known as the observer effect which describes the impact of observation or measurement process on the result for the quantity being measured. For example, if we want to measure the temperature of an object with a thermometer by placing the thermometer in contact with the object, the thermometer will extract some heat from the object and change its temperature. When we measure tyre pressure using a gauge, insertion of the gauge in the valve releases some air from the tyre, thus altering the pressure we are trying to measure. This observer effect extends to the microscopic level. To determine the position of an electron, for example, in an imaginary thought experiment, a photon must be reflected by the electron to be visible and as a result the momentum of the electron would be altered because of the collision between the photon and electron. This introduces an uncertainty in the electrons momentum and neither its position nor momentum can be determined exactly. The entire subject of quantum mechanics embraces this uncertainty. Advertisement This results in wave-particle duality where particles exhibit wave behaviour on some occasions and particle behaviour at other times. One could say that the wave nature of particles is the ultimate cause of the uncertainties. This observer effect can be generalized to a much wider arena. In fact, this effect (change in an action caused by the process of observation) is present in all activities that we engage in. To be completely accurate, we should redefine any action as a combination of the action itself plus the impact of the observer on the action. This is true in our activities in our jobs, sports, music, politics, household chores and so on. An incomplete description of an event gives rise to unnecessary confusion, debate and wrong followup actions. Take sporting activities as an example. There is no point in organizing an event if there are no spectators and the cheering of the spectators would have an impact on the performance of an athlete. It does not make sense for an author to write a book if no one is going to read it. How the book would be received by the readers is always on the authors mind. A cook only cooks if there are people who like his cooking and cooks to their tastes. Even a political speech is intended to excite/inspire the audience and this anticipated reaction is factored into the speech itself. It is well established that the behaviour of people, even when they are doing mundane routine things (such as eating, driving a car or going to the bathroom) changes if they know that they are being watched. For any given type of activity, we can divide all people into two groups: performers who take the initiative and do something, while the other group consists of observers, who just watch the performers perform. The actions of performers can be constructive or destructive. Constructive activities result in tangible outputs like music, essays, paintings, buildings, contests, new laws and so on. A destructive performer destroys things. He/she can be a protester, a soldier, a robber, or an arsonist. An observer can be a critic, a newspaper editor, a fan or admirer, a diner at a restaurant, an art enthusiast, a media pundit who supports or dislikes the actions generated by the doers. The observers do not produce anything new of their own. They basically go around by quoting the experts in the field, comparing performances, drawing analogies, speculating what if scenarios, establishing plausible theories to justify their opinions and so on. They try to influence others to think along the same line. Sometimes, it seems like the same narrative is being circulated. However, these two groups not only need each other, the presence of one group automatically ensures origination of the other group. The classic symbols of a doer and an observer in Hindu mythology are Krishna and Radha. Krishna is the performer (by playing the flute) and Radha is the appreciative listener or observer. Electromagnetic fields provide another example of the performer/observer concept from physics. The electromagnetic field is an intertwined combination of an electric field (E-field) and a magnetic field (or B-field). According to Maxwells equations, a time-varying E-field automatically generates a Bfield and vice versa. This is like the scenario of the action of a performer automatically generating critics and critics influencing the performances. If we represent the activities of performers and observers by the flow of water in a tank, then the performers work represents a source (faucet) if it is constructive or sink (drain) if it is destructive, Actions of observers would appear as a whirlpool. There is no source or sink in the water flow representing observers because they do not produce anything new, and a whirlpool is a perfect metaphor for some circulative narrative on a given activity. The two examples from physics show that the wave nature of quantum waves or electromagnetic waves are the root causes of this performer/observer interdependence. It is logical to speculate that there is a wave-like fluctuation in the relationship between any performer-observer pair. As a result, no phenomenon in this world can be described precisely. There is always going to be some fuzziness or uncertainty in our description. The performance of a musician is never perfect because the presence of his audience has an impact. A lecture never starts exactly at 6 pm because the observers are not ready and seated exactly at 6. In other words, descriptions of all actions are subjective. Even when a gymnast scores a perfect 10, it is really a perfect ten as deemed by the subjective decisions of a set of given judges. It is precisely the concern about how our actions would be observed that makes us diplomatic in our behaviour and gives us cold feet in executing many of our plans. The withdrawal of Naomi Osaka from 2021 Wimbledon and Simone Biles from the 2020 Olympic gymnastics team finals are recent examples of the impact of observers/media critics on the performance of athletes. This leads me to conclude that our description of any event must include the observers. It is not sufficient to say that Virat Kohli hit a six or Donald Trump insulted Joe Biden, or my wife is cooking a meal because the context is missing. We should say that Kohli hit a six in the third Test match against Australia in a fully packed Wankhede Stadium, Trump mocked Biden at a campaign rally in San Antonio, Texas, and my wife is cooking for a group of ten people we have invited to our home. Just like Radha and Krishna together complete the divine picture, description of the performer and observer together offers a complete account of what is going on. We all remember that age-old question: if a tree fell in a forest but there was no one around to hear it, did it make a sound? From our new perspective, just a statement that a tree fell is an incomplete account of the action. A complete description should state that: a tree fell, generating vibrations in air that could make audible impact on anyone nearby. Then there is no more ambiguity. (The writer, a physicist who worked in academia and industry, is a Bengali settled in America.) The recent announcement that the Taliban will participate in Chinas Belt and Road Initiative has stirred both curiosity and concern among global observers. It is a testament to Chinas self-obsessed approach to international relations, reflecting a pattern of engagement that prioritises economic and strategic interests over issues such as human rights and dignity. This development has implications in global politics and the evolving dynamics of power in a post-American Afghanistan. Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), President Xi Jinpings ambitious plan to recreate the ancient Silk Route, is a global infrastructure and energy project that promises substantial economic benefits. Its success depends on fostering partnerships and securing access to key regions, making Afghanistans participation attractive due to its wealth of untapped mineral resources, including copper, gold, and lithium. Chinas ongoing discussions with the Taliban regarding a large copper mine in eastern Afghanistan exemplify its strategic interests. By securing access to these resources, China plans to bolster its position in the global supply chain and reduce its dependence on external sources, a move that is both economically and strategically advantageous. Moreover, the proposal to build a road through the Wakhan corridor to provide direct access to China underscores the potential for regional connectivity and trade. Advertisement This corridor, nestled in northern Afghanistan, serves as a gateway for Chinas vision of the BRI extending to Afghanistan. More than regional cooperation that enhances trade but it also solidifies Chinas geopolitical influence in Central Asia. Chinas engagement with the Taliban is also an exercise in realpolitik. While other nations grapple with recognising the Taliban regime, China has acted swiftly. It appointed an ambassador to Kabul before any other country did, indicating its recognition of the reality on the ground rather than the political ideology of the ruling group. This pragmatic approach allows China to establish diplomatic channels and exert influence in shaping Afghanistans future. In a world where economic and strategic interests often override traditional alliances, Chinas approach sets an interesting precedent. It raises questions about the priorities of global superpowers in Afghanistan. The USAs withdrawal from the country has left a void and China is positioning itself to fill it. Western countries are hesitant due to concerns about human rights and gender equality. China has chosen economic engagement as its primary tool. This engagement comes at a time when the West is grappling with its response to the Taliban regime. Afghanistans restrictions on womens access to public life and the challenges faced by female NGO staff have created roadblocks to recognition by Western countries. Chinas willingness to overlook these issues demonstrates the potential shift in global politics, where pragmatism could outshine moral concerns. Chinas approach also hints at a potential recalibration of global power dynamics. China, with its BRI and engagement with the Taliban, is positioning itself in Afghanistan as a pragmatic alternative to the US, prioritising economic growth and strategic partnerships. Is it inevitable that Donald Trump will be the Republican nominee for US president for a third race in a row? To answer this question, we must understand the political dynamics in the United States at a deeper level than the headlines. The Republican Party is in the midst of a nearly unprecedented drama. Not since Herbert Hoover in 1940 has a former US president campaigned for another term in the Oval Office. And this time, Trump is also managing a slew of criminal and civil charges yet remains the frontrunner for the nomination. It is political gospel in the US that voters rarely admit they made a mistake in the voting booth and will continue to support parties and candidates they voted for in the past. This means that, for all of his personal sins, rude insults, felony indictments and electoral defeats, Trump remains relatively popular with Republican voters, the majority of whom want to see him return to his old job running the White House. Indeed, polling indicates the indictments actually strengthened the former presidents position among Republican voters. Advertisement Because of his popularity within the party, Trump has been able to skip Republican candidate debates, define his own path to the state nomination caucuses and primaries, and keep well ahead of his rivals in the polls. He uses his criminal indictments as evidence the establishment is out to get him, further cementing the outsider status his voters love. During the first Republican debate he sat down with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson for a lengthy clickbait interview. During the second debate, Trump spoke with striking auto workers in the swing state of Michigan. No other Republican candidate is strong enough even to attempt this at least, not yet. For Trumps challengers, who lack this flexibility, a great winnowing is now underway. The question today is not whether one of them can move past Trump in the polls, but rather which one will emerge as the main alternative. The previous two debates and there will be at least one more should be seen in this context. Two candidates appear to be emerging from this winnowing: Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida and Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina and the Trump administrations ambassador to the United Nations. Haley and DeSantis are pursuing different constituencies within the Republican Party, particularly in their approaches to foreign policy questions. Haley has effectively attacked the isolationist America-first policies of the previous Trump administration and vigorously defended US military aid to Ukraine. Her open appeal to the internationalist wing of the party will win her no friends among hardcore Trumpers. DeSantis is playing a more nuanced game attempting to appeal to isolationist Republicans by saying things like Ukraine is a territorial dispute and we are not going to have a blank check and we will make the Europeans do what they need to do. These statements strongly communicate scepticism of a vigorous US role in Ukraine. The bet here, however, is that this is a feint. DeSantis is following in the footsteps of Ronald Reagan, who as a candidate in both 1976 and 1980 routinely condemned prior US presidents Panama Canal treaties as a giveaway to foreigners. However, once he was in office, he did not abrogate them. DeSantis may sound like a nationalist, but there is nothing in his various statements on Ukraine that would necessitate withdrawal of US support for the fight against the Russian invasion. If he wins the presidency, look for a substantive pivot towards a more internationalist policy agenda. The Haley-DeSantis battle is about more than foreign policy, of course. Haley is making an appeal to Republican women with a relatively moderate position on abortion opposing a federal limit on the procedure. DeSantis is looking to draw Trump supporters by bragging about his various efforts to fight socially liberal social policies and their corporate advocates. In the two-person battle to be the Trump alternative, Haley may have a structural advantage over DeSantis in that she doesnt have to pull as many of her supporters away from Trump. As the other candidates fall away, their supporters will likely side with Haley. Vivek Ramaswamys supporters may end up with DeSantis, although the animosity between Trump and the Florida governor may limit that. Trumps great political vulnerability is that since 2016, he has been an electoral loser. He lost the majority in both houses of Congress in 2018, he lost re-election to Joe Biden in 2020, and he cost the Republicans a shot at winning the Senate in 2022 by personally supporting losing candidates in Georgia and Pennsylvania. Whether Haley or DeSantis wins the contest to be the alternative to the former president and look for that winner to emerge just before or during the Iowa Caucus in January 2024 they will have to challenge Trump at his weakest spot: his demonstrated inability to defeat Biden in an election. Trump has spent the past three years denying he lost the 2020 election. As a world-class political athlete, Trump knows his Achilles heel is his loss to Biden. For Trump to be a viable candidate in 2024, he must sow doubt about that loss. He has done so effectively, at least within the primary voter base, with a majority of Republican voters still believing Biden didnt win legitimately. For Haley or DeSantis to prevail and become the Republican presidential nominee, they will have to dismantle that Big Lie and force voters to confront the likelihood that Trump will lose and Biden will win a second term. If and when that battle begins, most likely between Trump and Haley, we will see the real future of the Republican Party and who will oppose Biden in the 2024 general election. (The writer is Non-resident fellow, United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney. This article was published on www.theconversation.com) Around 500 individuals were detained while participating in a sit-in at the United States Congress in Washington, D.C., organized by the advocacy group Jewish Voice for Peace. This protest aimed at condemning what the demonstrators described as Israels ongoing oppression of Palestinians. On Wednesday, protesters gathered in the congressional building, many wearing shirts with the slogan Not in our name. They faced a significant police presence, and they sat in the lobby while displaying a banner calling for a ceasefire. This act of dissent occurred amidst increasing casualties resulting from Israels military campaign in the besieged Gaza Strip. According to Jewish Voice for Peace, approximately 10,000 people also took to the streets in Washington, D.C. to express their support for the cause. JVP placed the blame for the conflict on what they referred to as Israeli apartheid and occupation, as well as the complicity of the United States in this oppression. They didnt mention Hamas or its terrorist activities, instead focusing on the need for oppressed people to seek and achieve their freedom. Jewish Voice for Peace and its advocacy: JVP called for the U.S. government to take immediate action by discontinuing military funding to Israel and holding the Israeli government accountable for its alleged violations of human rights and war crimes against Palestinians. The organization also expressed support for the latest unprecedented wave of resistance by Palestinians on social media following the terrorist attack. Advertisement When questioned by The Forward, the organization initially showed support for a post related to the attacks but later removed its support for that particular post. JVP used language urging lawmakers to examine the root cause of the situation, which they believe is Israel. This approach, as reported by The Forward, allowed JVP to address the objections many have regarding attacks on civilians while keeping the focus on pressuring the Israeli government to make concessions. Its worth noting that JVPs stance has faced criticism from other Jewish groups, with some labeling the movement as both anti-Semitic and traitorous. Canada has removed 41 diplomats and their 42 family members, from India over the ongoing row between the two countries, announced Canada Foreign Minister Melanie Joly on Thursday (local time). This comes after India suspended visa operations to Canada and called for a reduction in Canadian diplomats in India, calling for parity, owing to the ongoing diplomatic row between the two nations. As of now, I can confirm that India has formally conveyed its plan to unethically remove diplomatic immunities for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents in Delhi by tomorrow, October 20. This means 41 Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents were in danger of having immunity stripped on an arbitrary date. And this would put their personal safety at risk, Joly said, as she confirmed the departure of Canadian diplomats. Advertisement Canadian Foreign Minister said, we have facilitated their safe departure from India. This means that our diplomats and their families have now left diplomatic immunities. Keep diplomats safe, no matter where theyre from and where theyre sent to. Immunities allow diplomats to do their work without fear of reprisal or arrests from the country theyre in. They are a fundamental principle of diplomacy and this is a two-way street. They only work if every country abides by the rules. A unilateral revocation of diplomatic privilege and immunities is contrary to international law. It is a clear violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and threatening to do so is unreasonable and escalatory. If we allow the norm of diplomatic immunity to be broken no diplomats anywhere on the planet would be safe, she said, adding that Canada will not reciprocate, she said, according to CTV news. Along with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Marc Miller, the minister made the announcement about the development on the situation with India and how it will affect the level of service delivery Canada can offer following the withdrawal of diplomats. She said, Theres no question that Indias decision will impact the levels of services to citizens in both countries. Unfortunately, we have to put a pause on all in-person services in our consulates in Chandigarh, Mumbai and in Bangalore. Canadians who need consular assistance can still visit our High Commission in Delhi. And you can still also do that in person by phone and by email, she added. This comes after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was questioned on Thursday about the situation with the Indian governments deadline of October 10 for Ottawa to extensively reduce its diplomatic presence. Joly would have more to say later, Trudeau said, declining to directly respond to the query, according to CTV News. We have been continually engaged in diplomacy and in dialogue with the Indian government, Trudeau said, adding This is a serious matter that we are taking extremely seriously, CTV News reported. Stating that Indias focus is achieving parity in terms of diplomatic presence, the Ministry of External Affairs had called for a reduction in Canadian diplomats in India citing their continued interference in New Delhis internal matters. Addressing the press briefing earlier, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, Given the much higher presence of diplomats or diplomatic presence hereand their continued interference in our internal matters, we have sought parity in our respective diplomatic presence. Discussions are ongoing on the modalities of achieving this. Given that Canadian diplomatic presence is higher, we would assume that there would be a reduction, he added. On being asked if the reduction in the number of Canadian diplomats could see a decrease in the number of visas issued by the Canadian High Commission in India, Bagchi said, Its up to the Canadian side, who they choose to staff the High Commission withour concerns are related to ensuring parity in diplomatic presence. He further added that Indias primary focus is on two things; having an atmosphere in Canada, where Indian diplomats can work properly and in achieving parity in terms of diplomatic strength. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently alleged that the Indian government was behind the fatal shooting of Nijjar. However, India has outrightly rejected the claims, calling it absurd and motivated. Notably, Canada has yet to provide any public evidence to support the claim about the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar, who was a designated terrorist in India, was gunned down outside a Gurdwara, in a parking area in Canadas Surrey, British Columbia on June 18. Elon Musk, the worlds wealthiest individual, faced a significant setback in his financial standing on Thursday. His net worth took a hit, plunging by $16.7 billion, leaving him with a still impressive fortune of $209 billion. The primary source of his wealth remains his 13% ownership in Tesla, the electric vehicle manufacturer. The cause of this downturn can be traced back to Teslas third-quarter earnings report, which failed to meet market expectations. Teslas stock price tumbled by 9.3% in response to these disappointing results. The company reported a drop in sales for the quarter, delivering 435,059 vehicles. It saw its profit margins dip to their lowest point in over four years. This was the first quarterly decline in sales for Tesla in the current year, and it was exacerbated by the companys repeated price cuts on its vehicles. Surprisingly, despite these challenges, Elon Musks overall wealth for 2023 has witnessed substantial growth, surging by over $70 billion. This increase has been buoyed by the resurgence of Teslas stock price, even as the companys financial performance faced headwinds. Advertisement Despite its recent struggles, Tesla remains the worlds most valuable automaker. It is committed to placing 1.8 million new vehicles in the hands of customers by the years end. Additionally, the long-anticipated Cybertrucks from Tesla are finally set to hit the roads. However, they lag a couple of years behind schedule, with deliveries starting in November. Shifting gears, Elon Musk has also ventured into social media by acquiring Twitter, which has been rebranded as X. One noteworthy development is the introduction of a nominal $1 annual fee for users in the Philippines and New Zealand. This move, according to Musk, is designed to address the issue of automated accounts, commonly known as bots. Under Musks ownership, X has seen a decline in its daily active users, with the platform now boasting 225 million users, representing an 11.6% decrease since his acquisition. This decline in user numbers was disclosed by Linda Yaccarino, Xs CEO, during a recent appearance at Vox Medias Code 2023 tech conference. In a separate legal matter, Elon Musks company, X Corp, formerly known as Twitter, faced a legal dispute with Parag Agrawal and a group of former Twitter executives. The outcome was a ruling by Delaware Chancery Court Judge Kathaleen St. J. McCormick, who determined that Twitter had not fulfilled its obligation to cover the legal expenses incurred by these individuals during their tenure at the company. The Guardian newspaper has parted ways with its long-serving editorial cartoonist, Steve Bell. This decision came after the newspaper declined to publish a caricature of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which had faced criticism for allegedly employing antisemitic themes. In an official statement, The Guardian expressed, The decision has been made not to renew Steve Bells contract. They also conveyed their gratitude to Bell for his four decades of contributions and wished him well in his future endeavors. Steve Bell had been a significant part of The Guardian since 1983. Over the years, Bells cartoons, numbering in the hundreds, have sparked accusations of containing anti-Jewish stereotypes. His most recent controversial creation, shared on social media, portrayed Netanyahu with a scalpel, seemingly preparing to make an incision shaped like Gaza in his abdomen. The caption read, Residents of Gaza, get out now. Advertisement Bells critics pointed out similarities between this illustration and the demand for a pound of flesh made by the Jewish character Shylock in Shakespeares play The Merchant of Venice. Previous controversies involving Steve Bell: Its worth noting that Bells cartoons are known for their grotesque caricatures, and they have previously ignited both controversy and critical acclaim. During the Israel-Gaza conflict in November 2012, The Guardian published a cartoon by Bell depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a puppeteer controlling figures like William Hague and Blair. Dave Rich, who authored a blog post for the Community Security Trust, drew parallels between this illustration and imagery featured in Nazi and other antisemitic publications. This wasnt Bells first clash with The Guardian on sensitive issues. In October 2020, the Equalities and Human Rights Commission found the Labour Party in violation of equalities laws concerning its handling of antisemitism allegations. Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn downplayed the issue, calling it a exaggerated issue by political opponents, leading to his immediate suspension from the party. During this controversy, Bell published a cartoon in The Guardian. It depicted Keir Starmer presenting Jeremy Corbyns head on a platter, a visual reference to Caravaggios portrayal of Salome with the Head of Saint John the Baptist from the biblical New Testament. This cartoon prompted 32 complaints of antisemitism directed at The Guardian. In summary, The Guardian has chosen to part ways with Steve Bell, its veteran editorial cartoonist, due to a refusal to publish a caricature of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that faced criticism for alleged antisemitic undertones. Bells cartoons have previously sparked controversy, and he had a prior issue with The Guardian related to allegations of antisemitism within the Labour Party. A truck with humanitarian aid, on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border with the Gaza strip, this Thursday. ALI MOUSTAFA (EFE) The President of Egypt, Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi, and King Abdullah II of Jordan presented a united front Thursday in Cairo to reject the policies of collective punishment against the Palestinians of Gaza. Both leaders considered the possible forced displacement of thousands of inhabitants of the Strip to their territories as a serious threat to regional security. The Jordanian monarch and the Egyptian leader had cancelled their scheduled meeting in Amman Wednesday with U.S. President Joe Biden and of the head of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), Mahmoud Abbas, following the massacre at the al-Ahli hospital in Gaza on Tuesday. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has in recent days raised the possibility of thousands of Gazan civilians leaving the Strip and settling in neighboring Egypts Sinai Peninsula. But Egypt, Jordan, and the PNA have objected, believing that a forced expulsion would threaten to destroy the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders: the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. On Wednesday, Abbas likewise described the forced displacement of Gazans as a red line. In Ramallah, the headquarters of the PNA, he warned that Palestinians would not abandon their land. A day earlier, King Abdullah had also expressed his rejection of the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt or Jordan. Egypt is preparing to open a humanitarian aid corridor to Gaza through the Rafah border crossing the only one not controlled by Israel, which connects the Sinai Peninsula with the Palestinian enclave on Friday. The United States, Israel, and Egypt separately announced Wednesday an agreement to deliver emergency aid to the enclave. The lack of security guarantees by the Israeli government had until then stalled the opening of the humanitarian supply line. Some 150 trucks are queuing on the Egyptian side of the border waiting to deliver humanitarian aid collected by Egyptian organizations, according to Ahmed Salem, director of the Sinai Foundation for Human Rights. President Biden, however, warned that initially only up to 20 cargo vehicles would be allowed through. Work to repair the damage caused to the Rafah crossing by the four Israeli bombardments launched on the border since the start of the conflict continued Thursday, amid a substantial deployment of Egyptian security services. The need for supplies in Gaza is urgent, as food and fuel stocks are about to run out. At least four hospitals in the Gaza strip have stopped functioning, the Gazan Ministry of Health reported Thursday. The affected health centers are Beit Hanun, Al Durra, Al Karama, and the International Eye Hospital in Gaza City. The ministry has also confirmed that the Turkish-Palestinian Hospital, one of the few providing oncology care in Gaza, has virtually stopped functioning due to the lack of fuel and electricity. The Emergency Department has been out of service. The director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has called for the passage of fuel, vetoed by Israel, along with the entry of medicines and food. The day after Bidens visit, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also expressed his full and continued support for Israel on Thursday. Sunak met in Jerusalem with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. We want you to win, proclaimed the British leader, who welcomed the imminent reopening of the Rafah crossing for humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. More than 3,700 Palestinians have been killed in and around Gaza since the start of hostilities following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. In Israel, some 1,400 people have been killed, including more than 300 military personnel, and more than 200 people are still being held hostage by Gaza militias. In the West Bank, 64 Palestinians have been killed in confrontations with Jewish settlers and security forces. Imminent Gaza invasion order Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday told soldiers deployed near the Gaza border that he anticipated an upcoming ground offensive against Gaza, which has been controlled by Hamas since 2007. You see Gaza now from a distance, you will soon see it from inside. The order [to invade] will come, Gallant assured them. Rocket barrages from the Strip against southern and central Israel continued throughout the day, along with waves of Israeli bombardment against militia positions in Gaza. One of the latter attacks killed Jamila al-Shanti, the first woman to hold a senior position in Hamas, while she was at her home. Al-Shanti was the widow of Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi, a co-founder of the Palestinian Islamist group, who was killed by Israel in 2004. In response to attacks by the Lebanese pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia, Israel fired artillery shells in the north of the country on Thursday. The Israeli military said on social media that Hezbollah fired two anti-tank missiles from Lebanese soil at Kibbutz Manara in northern Israel. Shortly thereafter, Israeli forces responded by opening fire on the point from which the Hezbollah attack initiated. In a major development, Palestinian militant group Hamas has released two hostages a mother and her daughter who were being held captive in Gaza since the brutal October 7 attack, according to local media reports. Hamas is reportedly in the process of transferring the mother-daughter duo to the International Red Cross who will take them to Egypt and then to Israel. As per a Times of Israel report, the transfer was supposed to take place immediately but no timeframe has been given so far. It is being reported in the Israeli media that the two hostages being released are US nationals. Advertisement Hamas militants kidnapped some 200-250 people, including children, women and foreign nationals after their brutal attack that killed more than 1,400 people and injured nearly 4,000 others. While Israel has not officially responded to the Hamas hostage release claim, an Israeli official said that it was an individual decision by Hamas and Israel has not bargained anything in return. The development comes a day after Israel announced to let humanitarian aid enter Gaza via Rafah border crossing on Egypt-Gaza Strip border. It is being seen by experts as a bid to change the worlds perspective about Hamas following the October 7 attack. Following the attack, Israel claimed that Hamas killed and burned babies and brutal murdered civilians. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu equated Hamas with ISIS. US President Joe Biden said that Hamas attack unleashed an unadulterated evil on the world. Following the brutal attack on Shabbat an Israeli holiday Israel declared a war against Hamas and vowed to wipe it off the face of the Earth. The Israeli military has been pounding Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip since the Oct 7 attack. According to Palestinian Health Ministry, more than 4,000 people have been killed in Israels retaliatory air strikes in Gaza. Israel also announced a complete siege of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, blocking the supply of water, food, fuel, and electricity. Israeli government said that the siege will continue until hostages are released. In a rare Oval office address to the nation, US President Joe Biden has drawn a link between Palestinian militant organization Hamas and the Russian President Vladimir Putin. Biden said that while Hamas and Putin pose different threats, they both want to annihilate their neighbouring democracies. Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common: they both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy, the US president said. Referring to the brutal October 7 attack on Israel, Biden said that what Hamas unleashed was pure unadulterated evil on the world and stressed that safety of Americans held hostage by the Palestinian militant group is of the highest priority for him. Advertisement During his address to the nation, Biden also urged the Congress to clear an aid package for both Israel and Ukraine to support them in their wars against Hamas and Russia, respectively. While Biden didnt disclose how much extra funding he has sought, but according to foreign media reports, he is asking for some $100bn. Amid internal objections to the extra funding, Biden said that I understood many Americans felt far away from the both the conflicts Ukraine-Russia and Israel-Hamas wars. However, Biden argued, ensuring the victory of Israel and Ukraine in their respective wars is vital for Americas national security. Biden Wednesday paid an extraordinary wartime visit to Hamas-torn Israel to show Americas unwavering support to Jewish state. The visit also paved the way for humanitarian aid to reach Gaza as the war has triggered an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the blockaded region. More than a million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip have been displaced due to the war between Hamas and Israel. They have been facing severe food, water, fuel and electricity shortage after Israel announced a complete siege of the territory in response to the deadly Hamas attack. Following Bidens visit, Israel and Egypt reached an agreement to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza through the Rafah crossing point on the Egypt and Gaza border. A 50-year-old doctor of Indian origin working at a hospital in Bahrain was arrested on Thursday, October 19, for sharing posts on social media that were critical of Palestine. Dr. Sunil J Rao, who specialized in internal medicine at the Royal Bahrain Hospital, was terminated from his position of a doctor immediately before his arrest. Dr. Sunil J Rao, originally from the Indian state of Karnataka, graduated from Andhra Medical College in Visakhapatnam, India, and completed his MD from Kasturba Medical College in Mangaluru, Karnataka. In a series of posts on social media, Dr. Rao expressed support for Israel during its conflict with the Palestinian militant group Hamas. One of his posts read, IsraelFightsBack will do a scorched earth attack, plenty will be killed, displaced, Hamas will be destroyed (rightly so), then what? If I may ask? #Israel #Gaza #IsraelPalestineConflict. Occupy under military force? Advertisement Dr. Raos arrest was carried out by the Anti-Cyber Crimes Directorate of the General Directorate of Anti-Corruption and Economic and Electronic Security. He faced charges related to violating civil peace and social stability, which were seen as potentially affecting the security and safety of society. Royal Bahrain Hospital responded to the situation by stating, It has come to our attention that Dr. Sunil Rao, who is working as a Specialist in Internal Medicine, has posted tweets on social media that are offensive to our society. The hospital emphasized that Dr. Raos tweets and beliefs were of a personal nature and did not reflect the opinions and values of the institution. The hospital continued, This is a violation of our code of conduct, and we have taken the necessary legal actions. His service has been terminated with immediate effect. After facing backlash for his social media posts, Dr. Rao issued an apology, saying, I would like to apologize for the statement that I posted on this platform. It was insensitive in the context of the current event. As a doctor, all lives matter. I respect this country, its people, and its religion deeply as I have been here for the past 10 years. Israel-Hamas war latest update: The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on Friday released new information about some 200 hostages that are currently being held in the Gaza Strip. In a statement, IDF said that there are more than 20 children under the age of 18 among the hostages, while around 10-20 captives are above the age of 60. The Israeli military also claimed that dead bodies of Israelis were also taken hostage to the Gaza Strip after the brutal October 7 attack by Hamas militants. The IDF has also claimed that mostly all the hostages are alive even as Hamas earlier announced the death of 22 hostages in Israeli air strikes. On October 7, around 2,500 Hamas militants invaded Gaza under the cover of rocket barrages and rampaged through more than 20 Israeli border towns and communities. The militants killed more than 1,400 people, including babies, children, women and foreign nationals. The militants also kidnapped around 200 people after the attack and took them to the Gaza Strip. Advertisement Hamas has said that the hostages are safely being held in the tunnels and underground bunkers. It has also released videos showing a captive girl undergoing treatment in what looked like a medical facility. In response to the brutal attack, Israel declared a war against Hamas and vowed to wipe it off the face of the Earth. Israel has also blocked water, food, fuel and electricity supply to Gaza in a complete siege until hostages are freed. Israeli military has been pounding Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip since October 7. More than 4,000 Palestinians have died in the Israeli bombardment so far. The Israeli military is now planning to launch a full-scale ground assault on Gaza and waiting for a go ahead from the political leadership. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has said that the war cabinet of Israels National Unity Government will soon give a ground assault order to the troops amassed near the Gaza Strip border. According to experts, Israel doesnt want to take the risk of setting foots in Gaza without complete preparations. The humanitarian crisis has also made Israeli militarys wait to enter Gaza a little more longer. Israel and Egypt have agreed on a deal to allow trucks carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza civilians through Rafah border crossing. The US State Department has issued a worldwide caution security alert for all its citizens overseas, citing the potential for attacks, the media reported. Due to increased tensions in various locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against US citizens and interests, the Department of State advises US citizens overseas to exercise increased caution, the advisory warned. It means US citizens should stay alert in tourist spots and sign up to receive information and alerts, the BBC reported. Advertisement A US State Department official has resigned from the agency over the Joe Biden administrations approach to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, CNN reported. Josh Paul, who said he has worked in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs for more than 11 years, said in his LinkedIn post that he resigned due to a policy disagreement concerning our continued lethal assistance to Israel. Let me be clear, Paul wrote. Hamas attack on Israel was not just a monstrosity; it was a monstrosity of monstrosities. I also believe that potential escalations by Iran-linked groups such as Hezbollah, or by Iran itself, would be a further cynical exploitation of the existing tragedy. But I believe to the core of my soul that the response Israel is taking, and with it the American support both for that response, and for the status quo of the occupation, will only lead to more and deeper suffering for both the Israeli and the Palestinian people and is not in the long term American interest. Man fined $50K in Vermont for illegally importing carvings made of sperm whale teeth, walrus tusk Federal prosecutors say a California man has been fined $50,000 in Vermont for smuggling carvings made from sperm whale teeth and walrus tusk across the U.S.-Canadian border Opinion articles written in the style of their author." These texts are to be based on verified facts and must be respectful towards people, even though their actions may be criticized. shall feature, along with the author's name (regardless of their greater or lesser renown), a footer stating their office, academic title, political affiliation (if any) and main occupation, or the occupation related to the topic being assessed Palestinian citizens evacuate their homes after Israeli bombings in Gaza City, Gaza, on October 10, 2023. Ahmad Hasaballah (GETTY IMAGES) The monstrous massacres committed against Israeli Jews by Hamas on October 7 produce a deep horror in me. Nothing justifies these fanatical attacks, and even less so the issue of the Palestinian people, whose just cause is eclipsed by these acts of barbarism. Hamas terrorism has concealed, and is concealing for many, the terror by a State that has retaliated against two million Gazans without any mercy over those ruthless fanatics, causing 3,000 deaths. And as Netanyahu has announced, this is just the beginning. Hatred is not new, but now it has been unleashed by both sides. It engenders the madness of attributing collective guilt to the enemy people, which in turn gives rise to the worst cruelties and massacres, even of women, children and the elderly. The contextualization of the horrors of October 7, essential for any understanding of the situation, places them in the long history of the Israeli people, millenary victims of Christian anti-Judaism first and, later, of racial anti-Semitism that condemned them to extermination, and whose homeland, Israel, has long been threatened by hostile states. Israel has not been an oasis in which to take refuge, but rather a citadel at war. This tragic story has created the tragedy of the Palestinian people. The latter were partly expelled from their lands as a result of Israels war of independence in 1948, and sent to camps in Lebanon, Jordan and the West Bank, where they remain in overcrowded conditions. After the Six Day War in 1967, the entire West Bank, called Judea-Samaria by Israel, was occupied and colonized not only by a State, but also by thousands of Israeli settlers, who now number 800,000. The consequence of the Shoah, a word that means catastrophe, has been the Nakba, a Palestinian word with the same meaning, which was effectively the catastrophe of Arab Palestine. In the same way that it is necessary to keep alive the memory of the millions of victims of Nazism, this respectful memory cannot justify the domination that Israel exercises over the Palestinian people, innocent of the crimes of Auschwitz. Should the curse of Auschwitz be the privilege that justifies any Israeli repression? The colonization of the West Bank, which began in the same century as decolonization in Africa and Asia, is in many ways similar to those in which revolts and repression led to a proliferation of bloody murders of civilians among both the oppressors and the oppressed. The difference lies not only in the intensification of colonization, but also in the original conflict between two antagonistic sacralizations of Jerusalem and Palestine. Centuries of Christian anti-Judaism, later of racist anti-Semitism, and three years of Nazi extermination fueled the Zionist myth of the return to the original homeland, despite the fact that the land of Canaan was populated for centuries by Arabs who became Muslims or Christians, and that Palestine was never a land without a people waiting for its landless people. Israeli historians agree that the location of the Temple of Solomon on the site of the Al Aqsa Mosque is a legend, that myth is a reality stronger than reality itself, and that the conviction has been repeatedly expressed that Jerusalem is the sole and eternal capital of the Jewish State and Palestine is the eternal homeland of the Jewish people. No less mythical is the sacred place of Al Aqsa from where, supposedly, the Prophet ascended to heaven to meet God. In fact, Israel has changed the Jewish condition. The millennial humiliation of the subjugated, fearful, and landless Jew was followed by Jewish pride in the military exploits of the Hebrew people and the agricultural achievements of the kibbutz. The number of universalist Jewish intellectuals sensitive to all forms of oppression, humiliation and colonization has decreased in favor of intellectuals sensitive above all to the fate of Israel; and, for some of them, the Torah has replaced the Communist Manifesto. The notion of Israelite confession, a purely religious affiliation, has been replaced by the notion of the Jewish people, present in Israel and, for example, in France. This radical attachment, which needs to be understood, has led to the unconditional justification of all of Israels actions, including the oppression of the Palestinian people. Westerners, and particularly Europeans, feeling guilty for the genocidal ravages of anti-Semitism, have shown themselves in favor of the Jewish nation. Israel, the child of European and Western anti-Semitism, has become the privileged outpost of the Western presence in a dangerous Arab world. Recent philo-Judaism (which has reduced but not eliminated ancient anti-Semitism) benefits Israel, while Israel's existence has at the same time aroused tremendous anti-Judaism in the Arab-Muslim world. Starting in 1948, strategic and military considerations were added. Israel gained its independence thanks to its victory over the Arab states that tried to annihilate it at its birth, and developed a military force superior to that of neighboring states, which remained hostile for a long time. An authoritarian Israel was imposed that ignored the countless UN resolutions relating to the creation of a Palestinian State. There was a special moment when Arafat and Rabin shook hands and the Oslo Accords were signed, which provided for the existence of two states. But the assassination of Rabin at the hands of a fanatical Jew and the disappearance of the Israeli left led to the hegemony of a nationalist-religious coalition that sought to annex the entire West Bank and which continues its course. Under these conditions, it is difficult to see the possibility of a Palestinian state that includes 800,000 Israeli settlers who are radically hostile to it, and it is difficult to see Israel withdrawing its settlements. The outlook is gloomy. Violence tends to intensify on both sides, with indiscriminate attacks and equally indiscriminate massive repression. Unilateral truths prevail, hiding opposing truths. Hatred and fears overflow the mind. It is not impossible, but it is unlikely, that the joint action of the United Nations and the Western and Arab States will achieve some decisive result. It is not impossible that the conflict will expand, encompassing and inflaming one nation after another. We have to fear the worst. May our minds at least resist madness. Our mission is not only to reject hatred, but also to do everything in our power to create a basis for mutual understanding, not only between Israel and Palestine, but also between European supporters of both peoples, without relegating a fair cause to oblivion. Edgar Morin is a French philosopher and sociologist. Job Title: Driver (4 Jobs)_ Organisation: Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) Founding Source: World Bank Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda Reports to: Project Administrator, MGLSD About US: The Government of the Republic of Uganda was allocated grant funds (the Grant) from the World Bank which are administered by the International Development Association (IDA) (the Bank) towards implementation of the Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) Project. The Project Development Objective is to increase access to entrepreneurial services that enable women entrepreneurs to grow their enterprises in targeted locations, including host and refugee communities. The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) is the lead implementing Agency with the Private Sector Foundation Uganda as an implementing Entity. Job Summary: The incumbent will drive and maintain the project vehicles in accordance with the MGLSD fleet management policy guidelines and as directed by the supervising officer. Key Duties and Responsibilities: Schedule annual vehicle examination for service vehicles with the transportation Department. Determine when and what kind of maintenance the vehicle needs, keep track of general maintenance schedules, especially car tyre condition Ensure sound running of the vehicles assigned and arrange minor repairs where necessary, check oil and tires properly and keep the service vehicles in clean condition, both inside and outside. Keep track of timely car insurance renewals. Update monthly mileage records. Maintain log book of each service vehicle on daily basis. Distribute mail as needed, both incoming and outgoing. Facilitate airport pickups for VIP visitors and transportation during official visits. Any other duties as may be assigned from time to time Key Deliverables Project authorized Officers transported on duty. Well maintained project vehicle. Qualifications, Skills and Experience: A minimum of a Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) with a pass in English language. Formal drivers training with a valid drivers license/certification to operate assigned vehicle following local rules and regulations. Valid driving permit of class C, held for the last three years. Driving experience in a reputable organization for at least five years. Basic knowledge of mechanical and vehicle maintenance. Certificate of competence issued by the Ministry of Works and Transport or a licensed institution. Good driving record references. Proactive, takes ownership, mature, flexible personality Good record on ethics and integrity. Team player and good people skills. Good public relations and Customer care. Good Time Manager. How to Apply: All interested eligible applicants should submit applications including a cover letter, current Curriculum Vitae and copies of Academic Certificates and Transcripts, to the MGLSDs General Registry on 2nd Floor, Gender and Labour House, Plot 2, George Street. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. Deadline: 20th October 2023 by 5:00pm For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline The Uttar Pradesh government will review the Allahabad High Court's order in the Nithari serial killings case and approach the Supreme Court if required, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said on Thursday. The high court on Monday acquitted domestic help Surendra Koli and his employer Moninder Singh Pandher in the sensational 2005-06 case in which they were facing death sentence, holding that the prosecution failed to prove the guilt "beyond reasonable doubt" and that the investigation was botched up. The judgment in the case brought back memories of the chilling crime targeting young children that came to light with skeletal remains being found behind a Noida bungalow, near Delhi, with the families of the victims claiming injustice. "Certainly, the type of crimes that were registered in this case and the type of advocacy that should have been done by the government were done," Maurya told reporters during an official visit to Gautam Buddh Nagar. "Certainly it (the Allahabad HC's order) will be reviewed at the government level and if necessary, the government will approach the Supreme Court," the deputy chief minister added. Reversing the death sentence given to Koli in 12 cases and Pandher in two cases, the Allahabad High Court noted that the prosecution has failed to prove the guilt of both the accused "beyond reasonable doubt, on the settled parameters of a case based on circumstantial evidence and the probe was nothing short of a betrayal of public trust by responsible agencies." The two were charged with rape and murder and sentenced to death in the killings that horrified the nation with the details of sexual assault, brutal murder and hints of possible cannibalism. While Koli is in a Ghaziabad prison and faces multiple cases, Pandher is lodged in a Noida jail and may walk out soon after the High Court order. In Noida, family members of the victims expressed disappointment over the verdict and appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to hang the killers. "We are not satisfied with the judgment. This is not right. If someone killing several children gets acquitted, what punishment will those who kill one or two people get," said Jhabbu Lal (63) and Sunita Devi (60), who lost their daughter. Canada's foreign minister said Thursday that the country has recalled 41 of its diplomats from India after the Indian government said it would revoke their diplomatic immunity, escalating a spat over the slaying of a Sikh separatist in Canada. The moves come after Canada's allegations that India may have been involved in the June killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar in suburban Vancouver. India has accused Canada of harbouring separatists and terrorists, but dismissed the allegation of its involvement in the killing as absurd" and has taken diplomatic steps to express its anger over the accusation. Foreign Minister Mlanie Joly said Thursday that 41 of Canada's 62 diplomats in India have been removed, along with their dependents. Joly said exceptions have been made for 21 Canadian diplomats who will remain in India. "Forty one Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents were in danger of having their immunity stripped on an arbitrary date and this would put their personal safety at risk," Joly said. "Our diplomats and their families have now left." Joly said removing diplomatic immunity is contrary to international law, and said for that reason Canada wouldn't threaten to do the same thing with Indian diplomats. "A unilateral revocation of the diplomatic privilege and immunity is contrary to international law and a clear violation of Geneva Convention on diplomatic relations. Threatening to do so is unreasonable and escalatory," Joly said. Joly said India's decision will impact the level of services to citizens of both countries. She said Canada is pausing in-person services in three major cities in India. India's Ministry of External Affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had previously called for a reduction in Canadian diplomats in India, saying they outnumbered India's staffing in Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last month that there were credible allegations of Indian involvement in the slaying of Nijjar, a 45-year-old Sikh leader who was killed by masked gunmen in June in Surrey, outside Vancouver. For years, India had said that Nijjar, a Canadian citizen born in India, had links to terrorism, an allegation Nijjar denied. India also has canceled visas for Canadians, and Canada has not retaliated for that. India previously expelled a senior Canadian diplomat after Canada expelled a senior Indian diplomat. Trudeau has previously appeared to try to calm the diplomatic clash, telling reporters that Canada is not looking to provoke or escalate. The allegation of India's involvement in the killing is based in part on the surveillance of Indian diplomats in Canada, including intelligence provided by a major ally, a separate Canadian official previously told The Associated Press. The official said that the communications involved Indian officials and diplomats in Canada and that some of the intelligence was provided by a member of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance, which includes the United States, Britain, Australia and New Zealand, in addition to Canada. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. The latest expulsions by India have escalated tensions between the countries. Trudeau had frosty encounters with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the recent Group of 20 meeting in New Delhi, and a few days later, Canada canceled a trade mission to India planned for the fall. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has met with India's foreign minister amid the simmering row. A US official said the topic was raised. US officials have acknowledged that the fallout from the allegations could have an impact on relations with India, but have been careful not to cast blame in the killing of Nijjar. The Delhi High Court, on Friday, refused to interfere with the arrest of AAP leader Sanjay Singh as well as his subsequent remand in Enforcement Directorate's custody in a money laundering case related to the now-scrapped excise policy of the city government. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma dismissed his petition challenging the arrest as well as the remand in the matter, saying "no ground" was made out to grant him the relief. Singh, who was arrested by the ED on October 4, had moved the high court last week challenging his arrest and remand in the money laundering case related to alleged irregularities in the Delhi excise policy for 2021-22. The ED's money laundering case stems from the CBI FIR. According to the CBI and the ED, irregularities were committed while modifying the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 and undue favours were extended to licence holders. It is alleged that Singh played a key role in the formulation and implementation of the policy, which benefited certain liquor manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, for monetary considerations. In the high court, Singh argued his arrest was "illegal, malicious and a classic case of perversion of power" and he should therefore be released. After his arrest, the trial court had remanded Singh in the custody of the anti-money laundering agency. On October 13, he was sent to judicial custody till October 27. Despite the fallout between the two nations, India won't impose any measures to curb imports or investments from Canada, said reports quoting government sources. The officials from both India and Canada were trying to resolve the dispute and the worsening diplomatic relations wouldn't spill over into either a bilateral trade dispute or impact investment, Reuters quoted unnamed senior officials. The bilateral trade between Canada and India touched $8 billion in 2022. While India imports potash, lentils, and energy products such as coal, coke and briquettes among other goods from Canada, it exports consumer goods, garments, and engineering products such as auto parts, aircraft equipment and electronic items. Canada has invested more than $3.6 billion in India with over 40% of that being in services and infrastructure, the report quoted Invest India. Ottawa had in September paused talks on a proposed trade treaty with India. Meanwhile, close on the heels of its 41 diplomats leaving India, Canada has announced that it was temporarily suspending in-person operations at consulates in Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai. The statement from the Canadian High Commission, or embassy, in New Delhi, said the services remain normal in the capital. New Delhi had asked Ottawa to reduce its diplomatic presence in the country after Canadian Prime Justin Trudeau accused India of orchestrating the murder of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India denied the charges. Canada's Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) department also warned Indian citizens that there could be delays in processing visa applications. "Following India's intent to unilaterally remove immunities for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents in Delhi by October 20, 2023, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is reducing its number of employees in India from 27 to 5. IRCC will continue to accept and process applications from India, but reduced staffing levels are expected to impact processing times." The difficulty of meeting the conditions set by Israel and the United States to allow humanitarian aid to enter southern Gaza from Egypt (that not a single package must end up in the hands of Hamas, the movement that has governed the Strip since 2007 and manages the crossing on the Palestinian side) has kept trucks loaded with food, water, and medicine blocked in the Sinai desert for days. The Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, traveled urgently this Friday to the El Arish airport, designated by Cairo as a logistics center and located just 31 miles (50 km) from the border, to try to unblock the situation. Although without citing them directly, Guterres has made it clear in his statement to the media that the aid has not crossed the border due to the conditions and restrictions set by Israel and the United States. An agreement was reached last week to let much-needed aid through, and Egypt has removed the slabs of concrete that had been placed as barriers for fear of a massive influx of refugees. The pacts between Israel, the United States and Egypt for the entry of humanitarian aid, announced Wednesday, include conditions and restrictions, Guterres said on Friday. We are now actively engaging with all the parties, actively engaging with Egypt, with Israel, with the U.S., in order to make sure that we are able to clarify those conditions, that we are able to limit those restrictions in order to have as soon as possible these trucks moving to where they are needed. The UN Secretary General lamented the paradox that just a few miles away there are two million people who are suffering enormously. At least 145 trucks are waiting on the Egyptian side of Rafah loaded with humanitarian aid from Egyptian organizations, explained Ahmed Salem, director of the Sinai Foundation for Human Rights, which has released images showing two rows of trucks with supplies parked right in front of the gate. In another video from the organization, volunteers are standing in front of the crossing with banners, Egyptian and Palestinian flags, and portraits of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. The rest of the supplies, including those sent by other countries (such as Jordan and Turkey) and organizations such as the World Health Organization and the European Union, are stored where Guterres landed, at El Arish airport. Washington announced permission for 20 trucks to enter, but so far it has not happened. The United Nations emergency aid coordinator, Martin Griffiths, said that aid could arrive tomorrow (Saturday) or something like that. We are in intensive and advanced negotiations with all relevant parties to ensure that the Gaza relief operation starts as soon as possible, Griffiths said, quoted by a spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The delay in the agreement is not only due to discrepancies over the aid inspection mechanism, but also to the issue of the departure of those with foreign passports from Gaza, according to Reuters. The pact between the United States, Israel and Egypt only allows the entry of food, water and medicine, and then only for the south of the Strip. There will be no supplies coming from Israel for as long as the at least 205 Israeli hostages remain captive in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made it clear in a statement that Israel will not prevent humanitarian supplies from Egypt as long as they do not reach Hamas. Southern Gaza is the area where the Israeli Army has ordered the 1.1 million residents in the north to go, in a decision criticized by the UN and humanitarian organizations, as a way to facilitate the next phase of the offensive, the land invasion. More than 3,700 Palestinians have been killed in and around Gaza since the start of hostilities following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. In Israel, some 1,400 people have been killed, including more than 300 military personnel, and more than 200 people are still being held hostage by Gaza militias. In the West Bank, 64 Palestinians have been killed in confrontations with Jewish settlers and security forces. For over 10 years now, Maryan Apparel Private Limited in Kerala's Kannur district has been stitching uniforms for the Israeli Police. Recently, the Kerala firm which boasts a 95% women workforce received an order to make 1 lakh more units of uniforms for the cops in Israel. This came against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict between Hamas and the security forces of the country. Most companies would see this as an opportunity to make a profit. However, the Managing Director of Maryan Apparel Private Limited Thomas Olickal confirmed that his company is backing out from the contract in a show of protest against Israel's war in Gaza. A native of Thodupuzha, Mumbai-based Thomas said there are close to 1,500 workers in his company. Two top Israeli Police officials along with a quality controller and designer had visited the firm before entering a deal with them, Thomas told Kerala media. ALSO READ | Israel war: Amid rising cross-border tensions, US, UK advise citizens to leave Lebanon Launched at Kerala's state-run Kinfra Park here in 2006, Maryan Apparel specialises in uniforms. "The war in which innocent lives get perished can't be justified. We will finish and deliver the orders we accepted before the war began but will not accept those we got after the fighting began," Thomas Olickal told Malayala Manorama. The uniforms are dispatched to Tel Aviv with even the trademark emblems attached to its sleeves, the reports added. Apart from the Israeli Police, Maryan Apparels also stitch uniforms for the armies of Qatar and the Philippines, the Kuwait Air Force and the National Guard. ALSO READ | Israel defence minister hints at ground invasion, tells troops 'will soon see Gaza from inside' Meanwhile, Israel bombarded the Gaza Strip early Friday, hitting areas where Palestinians had been told to seek safety, and it began evacuating a sizable Israeli town near the border with Lebanon, the latest sign of a potential ground invasion of Gaza that could trigger regional turmoil. The Gaza Health Ministry said 4,137 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, the majority women, children and older adults. Over 12,500 were injured, and another 1,300 people were believed buried under rubble, authorities said. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly civilians slain during Hamas' deadly incursion. Roughly 200 others were abducted. The Israeli military said Thursday it had notified the families of 203 captives. In a fiery speech on Thursday to Israeli infantry soldiers on the Gaza border, Gallant, the defence minister, urged them to be ready to move in. Israel has called up some 360,000 reserves and massed tens of thousands of troops along the Gaza border. Whoever sees Gaza from afar now, will see it from the inside," he said. It might take a week, a month, two months until we destroy them, he added, referring to Hamas. Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, who is embroiled in the 'cash for query' row, has hit back at the alleged "affidavit" of business tycoon Darshan Hiranandani, calling it "a joke." An "affidavit" signed by Hiranandani was leaked on Thursday evening wherein the business tycoon admitted to using Moitra's Parliamentary login to ask questions targeting Adani. Hiranandani added that Moitra had made frequent demands, including "expensive luxury items, providing support on the renovation of her officially allotted bungalow in Delhi, travel expenses, holidays, etc, apart from providing secretarial and logistical help for her travels within India and to different parts of the world", reported PTI which claimed to have reviewed the affidavit. However, Moitra expressed doubts over the veracity of the affidavit, stating that the document was written on white paper with no letterhead. She said that Hiranandani had neither been summoned by any investigating agency. "Who then has he given this affidavit to," Moitra said in the statement posted on X. She said the letter was not notarized nor does it bear an official letterhead. "Why would India's most respected/educated businessman sign a letter like this on a white paper unless a gun was put to his head to do it," she added. The MP suggested that the contents of the letter were a joke and was drafted by someone in the Prime Minister's Office, adding that "its signs paeans to Modi and Gautam Adani while linking in every opponent of theirs to me and my alleged corruption". "Cyril Shroff is Gautam Adani's "samdhi" and was on the SEBI's committee in total conflict of interest. Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor are both people the government targets relentlessly. Sucheta Dalal is an investigative journalist who is always exposing the government," she added. The MP alleged that the "BJP government has been waiting to somehow shut me up on the Adani issue desperately". She also lashed out at Hiranandani's claim that he was fearful of displeasing her, questioning why one of India's biggest tycoons with access to every Minister and PMO be concerned about a first-time opposition MP. She reiterated that the PMO held a proverbial gun to Hiranandani's head and gave them 20 minutes to sign this letter. They were threatened with the shutdown of all their businesses, Moitra alleged. "The draft of this letter was sent by the PMO and he was forced to sign it. And it was leaked to the press immediately. This is in return for the government not doing a CBI investigation or not aggressively attacking their businesses," the TMC MP claimed. "Though tragic, it is totally understandable that Darshan (who is a dear friend) would need to think of what is at stake for him here - namely the continuation of his family businesses built up over decades and the fate of thousands of employees - and buckle under pressure and sign this," she added. Moitra said this was the modus operandi of the "BJP Government or rather the Gautham Adani government run by the BJP." "My closest have been threatened with CBI or ED raids," she said, of efforts being made to malign her. "The selective leak of a plea bargain being shown as a part of media circus only reveals how scared and desperate the BJP and Modi are of Adani's corruption coming out in the open," the MP added. In connection with the bribery allegations against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, Congress Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Friday said the government is distressed and so eager to protect a particular industrialist. Chowdhury also added that he was not exactly aware of what happened in the Moitra case. "When we go to the House, we are the representatives of the public, we try to raise questions wherever we have any... But I have never seen such a way of forming an Ethics Committee and starting an investigation... Every member has the right to speak inside the House, Chowdhury was quoted by ANI. "The government is facing problems because of a particular person or a particular industrialist. The government is so eager to protect a particular industrialist that if anyone asks questions against him, the person becomes an enemy of the country," he said. While speaking to the reporters, Chowdhury cited the example of Rahul Gandhi's disqualification. "Action was taken against Rahul Gandhi too when he raised questions about that specific industrialist," said Chowdhury. TMC MP has been accused of taking bribes in exchange of questions against Adani that allegedly came from businessman Darshan Hiranandani. In an affidavit, Hiranandani claimed he used Moitra's parliament login to post questions. However, TMC is yet to issue an official statement in the matter. Earlier, TMC general secretary Kunal Ghosh said the party will not react on the issue. In an affidavit, Hiranandani said Moitra made "frequent demands" including "expensive luxury items, providing support on renovation of her bungalow holidays...logistical help for her travels within India and to different parts of the world," the affidavit claimed. Meanwhile, Moitra questioned the ethics committee and asked how the affidavit found its way to the media? She stressed again that the charges against her were part of BJPs agenda to expel her from the Parliament and silence her on Adani. Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, on Friday, questioned the conduct of Lok Sabha Ethics Committee chairman Vinod Sonkar and sought to know how the affidavit in the cash for query case was "leaked" to the media. Sonkar had said the ethics committee received "sworn affidavit" from Hiranandani Group CEO Darshan Hiranandani against the TMC MP in the cash-for-query case. In the affidavit, Hiranandani had claimed that the TMC leader targeted Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani to "malign and embarrass" Prime Minister Narendra Modi and that he agreed to offer her bribes to access her Parliament login credentials and pose questions in the Lok Sabha. Hiranandani further claimed Moitra "made frequent demands" including "expensive luxury items, providing support on renovation of her officially allotted bungalow in Delhi, travel expenses, holidays, etc., apart from providing secretarial and logistical help for her travels within India and to different parts of the world". Sonkar told a media house that the ethics committee had received Hiranandani's affidavit. "The committee will hear Mr Dubey's complaint on October 26. He has been asked to present evidence in front of the committee." BJP MP Nishikant Dubey had accused Moitra of taking bribes from a businessman to ask questions in Parliament and urged Speaker Om Birla to constitute an inquiry committee to look into the charges against her. Birla referred Dubey's complaint to Parliament's Ethics Committee. "The allegations are very serious. The case has gone beyond the prima facie evidence which is why we are examining it," NDTV had quoted Sonkar as saying. Reacting to Sonkar's comments, Moitra in a social media post, said, Chairman Ethics Committee openly speaks to media. Please see Lok Sabha rules below. How does affidavit find its way to media? Chairman should first do enquiry into how this was leaked. She reiterated her claim that the charges against her are part of the BJP's agenda to expel her from Parliament and silence her on Adani. The TMC MP cited the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha which read: "The evidence given before the committee shall not be published by any member of the committee or by any other person until it has been laid on the table." The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday strongly reacted to Canada's accusations over the removal of its diplomats from India. As India confirmed that 41 Canadian diplomats have left the country, Canada accused India of violating the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations. Countering Canada's charge, the MEA said in a statement: We reject any attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms. It further stated: The state of our bilateral relations, the much higher number of Canadian diplomats in India, and their continued interference in our internal affairs warrant a parity in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa. Our actions in implementing this parity are fully consistent with Article11.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the MEA stated. Canadian Foreign Minister Mlanie Joly said Thursday that 41 of Canada's 62 diplomats in India have been removed, along with their dependents. "A unilateral revocation of the diplomatic privilege and immunity is contrary to international law and a clear violation of Geneva Convention on diplomatic relations. Threatening to do so is unreasonable and escalatory," Joly said, adding that India's decision will impact the level of services to citizens of both countries. Only 21 officials remain in India to handle the work at India's embassy and consulates, Joly said. According to reports, the drop in diplomatic staff is likely to hit processing time for visas. Canada has also halted all in-person services in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chandigarhthose in need will now have to visit the embassy in New Delhi.. Meanwhile, Reuters reported that the fallout is unlikely to impact trade relations between both countries. India's move comes amid the diplomatic spat between the two countries after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of being involved in the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. In a tit-for-tat move, India had suspended its visa services in Canada and asked the latter to reduce the number of its diplomats in India. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, while addressing a rally at Dausa, Rajasthan, said, A real leader looks at present and future, does not speak about past. Gandhi, ahead of her Rajasthan campaign tour, had criticised the centre on the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP). "During the last Assembly elections of Rajasthan, the Prime Minister had promised to declare the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project a national project. After this, the state government kept sending proposals again and again, Ashok Gehlot wrote a dozen letters to them, but the central government kept ignoring the problems of the people of Rajasthan. There is anger among the people of Rajasthan regarding this breach of promise. Today I will address the people of the state from Sikrai in Dausa district and seek their affection and blessings," she wrote on social media platform X. On October 16, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that Modi hardly attends Parliament and roams around poll-bound states. He said despite promises, the prime minister did nothing for the ERCP and the state government is working on the project by spending Rs 25,000 crore. The ERCP is an ambitious project that was first proposed by the previous BJP government in Rajasthan to meet the drinking water and irrigation needs of 13 districts Jaipur, Jhalawar, Baran, Kota, Bundi, Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Tonk, Dausa, Karauli, Alwar, Bharatpur and Dholpur, PTI reported. The Congress will hold rallies in 13 districts in the state-- Gandhi's next stop is Sawai Madhopur. Currently at Dausa, Gandhi said, BJP leaders are working for their industrialist friends. PM Modi has funds to purchase aircraft but not to waive farm loans, she added. Polling in the state will be held on November 25. People need to understand why BJP raises religion and caste issues instead of talking about development, Gandhi said. BJP leader Pralhad Joshi, on Thursday, slammed Congress. He said, "The ERCP would be implemented by the BJP and there is no doubt in it... Any such huge projects in the country are kept pending by them (Congress)... Why did they not implement the project if they were supposed to do it? Congress is an expert in making fake promises. They are experts in lying to the people and all their promises are bundles of lies... If Priyanka Gandhi Vadra wanted to come here then she should have come to scold the CM before the code of conduct was implemented. Because the CM is also the Home Minister... Rajasthan is no. 1 in crime against women..." Unemployment is at a 45-year high and the government has introduced a scheme like Agniveer, Gandhi told the crowd gathered at Dausa. Public welfare can only be achieved through politics that is based on service and compassion, she added. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Congress state in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, state unit president Govind Singh Dotasra and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot were also present at the public meeting. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the priority section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) Corridor at the Sahibabad RAPIDX station in Uttar Pradesh on Friday. The first RAPIDX train on the 17-km priority section will be flagged off from Sahibabad to Duhai Depot. Meanwhile, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced on Thursday that RAPIDX trains will be known as 'Namo Bharat'. The trains will start plying through the corridor from Saturday, a day after its inauguration. Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced that RRTS trains will be known as 'Namo Bharat'. "The priority corridor of the RRTS project related to the aspirations of crores of people is ready to get on track. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate it to the nation on October 20. The Regional Rapid Transit System of the country will be known as 'Namo Bharat'," he said. The Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor is being developed at a cost of more than Rs 30,000 crore and will connect Delhi to Meerut with a travel time of less than an hour through urban centres of Ghaziabad, Muradnagar and Modinagar, the PMO had said. The RRTS is a state-of-the-art regional mobility solution and is comparable to the best in the world, it claimed. A public programme is also being held in Sahibabad wherein the Prime Minister will address. The PMO had called the RRTS a "transformational" regional development initiative, designed to provide high-speed trains for intercity commuting every 15 minutes. It had noted that a total of eight RRTS corridors have been identified for development in the National Capital Region, out of which three corridors have been prioritised to be implemented in Phase-I -- Delhi Ghaziabad Meerut, Delhi-Gurugram-SNB-Alwar and Delhi-Panipat. The NaMo trains are indigenously manufactured with a designed speed potential of 180 kmph and an operational speed potential of 160 kmph. They are fully air-conditioned with enough safety features. The priority section of the RRTS Corridor between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot has five stations -- Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai and Duhai Depot. The foundation stone for the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor was laid by Prime Minister Modi on March 8, 2019. A sessions court here on Friday extended Minister V. Senthil Balaji's remand till November 6, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case. Principal Sessions Judge S. Alli, before whom Senthil Balaji was produced by the prosecution through video-conferencing from the Puzhal Central Prison, extended his judicial custody till November 6. Balaji was arrested on June 14 by the ED in connection with a money laundering case linked to cash-for-jobs scam when he was the transport minister during the previous AIADMK regime. After his arrest, he was hospitalised and underwent a bypass surgery. Later, the ED took him into its custody for interrogation and following that he was remanded in judicial custody and lodged in Puzhal jail here. His remand is being periodically extended by the court. In the meanwhile, the ED had on August 12 filed a chargesheet, running to 3,000 pages against Balaji. The Madras High Court had on October 19 dismissed the bail petition filed by Balaji. His earlier bail applications were dismissed twice by the principal sessions court. The US Army private Travis King, who crossed over to North Korea has been charged with desertion and other crimes including possession of child pornography, assaulting fellow soldiers, and disobeying a superior officer, according to a CNN report. King's mother, Claudine Gates, said that her son should be afforded the presumption of innocence, an AP report reads. Gates also said she is extremely concerned about his mental health. King crossed the Military Demarcation Line into North Korea on 18 July 2023 while on a civilian tour of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). King returned to the US in September. The 23-year-old is being held in pre-trial detention at Ft. Bliss, Texas. Allegedly, King crossed over willfully and without authorization. King was, in October 2022, involved in an incident where he allegedly pushed and punched a person in the face at a club in Seoul, for which he was detained. He was released and was supposed to head to Texas for disciplinary action. But, when he was released at the security checkpoint at an airport in Seoul, he fled and next day, joined a tour of the Joint Security Area. King was retrieved following negotiations led by the Swedish government. He was brought across the border into China, where he was handed over to the US ambassador. Details aren't available about how King was treated while in North Korea. His family has hired a legal team to defend him. US President Joe Biden, in an Oval Office speech since his return from Israel, compared Russian President Vladimir Putin to Palestinian militant group Hamas, stating both wanted to "annihilate a neighbouring democracy." "Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common: They both want to annihilate a neighbouring democracy," he said. "When terrorists don't pay a price for their terror, when dictators don't pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction. They keep going and the cost and the threats to America and the world keep rising. So we don't stop Putin's appetite for power and control of Ukraine. He won't limit himself just to Ukraine." Biden was pushing the case for aid for Israel and Ukraine, stating "it was vital for America's national security for Israel and Ukraine to succeed in their wars." The President added that he would ask Congress on Friday to approve extra funding for Israel. The proposal would also include money for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, humanitarian aid and border management. Though he didn't mention the amount, US media reports peg it at $100 billion. This will include $60 billion for Ukraine and $14 billion for Israel, a source familiar with his plan told Reuters. The request will also include $10 billion for humanitarian aid, $14 billion for border security and $7 billion for the Indo-Pacific region, the source said. "It's a smart investment that's going to pay dividends for American security for generations," Biden said. He justified the proposal saying the money would "sharpen Israel's qualitative edge" and strengthen its military capabilities. He said America's national security required it to support "critical partners" like Israel. Biden also stressed the urgency of getting relief to Palestinian civilians in Gaza who lack food, water and medicine. "We can't ignore the humanity of innocent Palestinians who only want to live in peace and have opportunity," he said. Despite his words, Rafah crossing, the border between Gaza and Egypt through which the aid for Gazans is to be supplied, is likely to remain closed on Friday. The President also pleaded with Americans and people abroad to reject hate in all of its forms "American leadership is what holds the world together. American alliances are what keep us, America, safe. American values are what make us a partner that other nations want to work with. You put all that risk if we walk away from Ukraine, and turn our backs on Israel. Just not worth it." After 13 days of massive aerial bombardment and on the verge of launching a ground invasion, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Friday provided the most detailed explanation of his countrys political and military plans in Gaza. It is a three-phase plan, which would conclude with the establishment of a new security reality for the citizens of Israel, without deploying soldiers permanently in the Gaza Strip to manage the day-to-day life of its 2.3 million inhabitants. In 2005, the government of then Prime Minister Ariel Sharon evacuated the 8,000 settlers and military it had in Gaza, which it had captured from Egypt in the 1967 Six-Day War. Israel, Gallant explained, is now in the first phase: a military campaign that includes bombing and later will include [ground] maneuvers, with the aim of neutralizing terrorists and destroying Hamas infrastructure. Military aircraft are bombing the Strip at a pace not seen in decades to prepare the ground for the ground invasion and are making small raids in order to get information about hostages held in the Strip, army spokesman Daniel Hagari said Friday in his daily media appearance in Tel Aviv. The attacks have killed 4,137 people and wounded more than 13,000, according to figures provided Friday by the Health Ministry in Gaza. Gallant assured troops deployed on the border Thursday that soon they will see Gaza from the inside. The second phase will require operations of lesser intensity, with the aim of eliminating pockets of resistance, Gallant said at a meeting at the Defense Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv with members of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee of the Israeli Parliament. In other words, keeping troops on the ground to put an end to the insurgency, which is expected to act in a less organized manner. In the end, at some point, we will reach a situation where there will be a different security authority, that we have full operational freedom and there is no threat inside Gaza. It wont be [in] one day, or one week, or, to my regret, one month. You have to understand that, but thats the process, he said. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant addressing Israeli soldiers preparing the scenario of a ground maneuver near the Gaza border, October 19, 2023. ABIR SULTAN (EFE) The final phase would consist of the withdrawal of Israels responsibility for life in the Gaza Strip and the establishment of a new security reality for the citizens of Israel. Gallant did not explain to whom the management of the administration of the Strip would be transferred, once the Hamas government is overthrown. Technically, Israel continues to have responsibility for the population of Gaza. The territory did not cease to be considered under military occupation after the 2005 withdrawal, because Israel maintains control of its air and sea space. Israel argues that this is not the case because it no longer has troops or settlers on the ground and because all of Gaza is Area A, i.e., that which remains under the administrative and security control of the Palestinian Authority (PNA), in accordance with the Oslo Accords signed in 1993. Since 2007, the PNA has had no control over Gaza after Hamas seized power there by expelling forces loyal to the rival Fatah faction. A year earlier, the Islamist movement had won elections, but the international community did not recognize the new government because it refused to recognize Israel and explicitly renounce violence. Reserve Commander General Gadi Shamni, former head of the Gaza Division and former military attache in the United States, estimated this week that the entire operation will take between six and eight months. Conquering Gaza, taking control of it will be a few weeks, he told Channel 12 national television. Then the mission will consist of killing and capturing all Hamas militiamen. Shamni proposed imprisoning thousands of them in the Negev desert to serve as a bargaining tool in exchange for the more than 200 hostages in the Strip. Two of them were the first to be released on Friday, according to Abu Obeida, the spokesman for the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas), and confirmed by the Israeli Prime Ministers office. Abu Obeida justified the decision on humanitarian grounds and to prove to the American people and the world that the claims of [U.S. President Joe] Biden and his fascist government are false and baseless. During his whirlwind visit to Israel last Wednesday, the U.S. leader accused Hamas of having committed atrocities that make ISIS [Islamic State] look somewhat more rational by killing 1,400 people and kidnapping more than 200 in a massive surprise raid in Israel on October 7. Israeli official sources have identified the freed women as Judith Raanan and her daughter Natalie. They reside in Illinois (U.S.) and had flown to Israel to celebrate Judiths mothers 85th birthday and Jewish holidays. They were at a kibbutz near Gaza Nahal Oz at the time of the attack, which was deliberately launched on the last day of the Sukkot holiday. The Israeli organization representing the families of the missing and kidnapped has welcomed the news and called on the leaders of Arab countries to act for the immediate release of the rest. Consulted by this newspaper, the International Committee of the Red Cross has not confirmed it. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Hinting the long-term plan for Gaza, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Friday said Israel does not plan to control life in the Gaza Strip after destroying Hamas. Ahead of launching ground attack, Gallant said there are three phases of its war with Hamas. Firstly, there would be an attack on the Hamas group with airstrikes and ground operations and secondly would defeat pockets of resistance. Finally, he added that it would cease its responsibility for life in the Gaza Strip, reported Associated Press. Meanwhile, over 4,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 7. According to Gaza Health Ministry, 4,137 people have lost their lives, while more than 13,000 people have been injured. Also, Israel military said that most among the 200 people kidnapped by Hamas were still alive. Israel had claimed that around 206 people were taken as hostages by Hamas. "The majority of the hostages are alive. There were also dead bodies that were taken...to the Gaza Strip," an army statement said. The military said more than 20 hostages were children. According to Israel media reports, Hamas has released two American hostages. Rafah crossing likely to open today The UN secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, visited the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza to oversee preparations for the delivery aid to the war-torn region. Dozens of trucks with humanitarian aid and medical supplies wait outside the gate for the crossing to reopen. Cargo plans and trucks have been bringing humanitarian aid to Rafah for days but none were delivered to due to Israeli airstrikes around the area. "We are actively engaging with all the parties, with Egypt, Israel, the United States... in order to have these trucks moving as soon as possible," said Guterres. There is an absolute need to have these trucks moving as soon as possible and as many as necessary...this must be a sustained effort, Guterres added. We are not looking for one convoy to come but we are looking for convoys to be authorised in a meaningful number to have enough trucks to provide support to Gazas people, the UN chief said. Meanwhile, tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border intensifies. An Israeli airstrike on Friday targeted three Hezbollah militants near the Lebanese border, said Israel military. "Three Hezbollah terrorists were identified in the area of the border with Lebanon. Israel Defence Forces aircraft struck the terrorists, it said. In addition, a short while ago, IDF snipers opened fire toward gunmen that were identified operating in the area of the border with Lebanon, it added. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday said that she got separated from her partner and TV journalist Andrea Giambruno, who recently drew flak for his inappropriate behaviour and sexist comments. Meloni (46) celebrates her first year in the office as the head if the right-wing coalition government, which upholds traditional family as one of its policy hallmarks. "My relationship with Andrea Giambruno, which lasted almost 10 years, ends here...Our paths have diverged for some time, and the time has come to acknowledge it," Meloni wrote on her social media accounts. Meloni said she would not be distracted by difficulties in her private life, saying, "all those who hoped to weaken me by striking me at home," would have no success. It was back in 2014, Meloni met her partner in a TV studio. They have a seven-year-old daughter. Giambruno (42) is the presenter of a news programme transmitted by Mediaset of the MFE media group owned by the heirs of the late Silvio Berlusconi, a former prime minister and Meloni ally, reported Reuters. An off-air broadcast video excerpts from Giambruno's programme was released by Mediaset satirical current affairs that shows him using foul language and touching his groin. He was also seen making advances to a female colleague. "Why didn't I meet you before?", he asks her. In another audio recording aired on Thursday, Giambruno is heard talking about being in an affair and telling female colleagues they can work with him if they take part in group sex. The TV journalist had been widely criticised in August for comments interpreted by many as victim-blaming, following a gang rape case. Opposition had attacked him over his inappropriate behaviour. Meloni is currently in Egypt to participate in the Cairo international summit for peace in the Middle East. NATO has increased its surveillance in the Baltic Sea following reports of damages to the gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia. The US-led military alliance has also dispatched minehunters to the region. In a statement on Friday, NATO said, NATO and Allies are stepping up patrols in the Baltic Sea following recent damage to undersea infrastructure in the region. We continue to monitor the situation closely, and we remain in close contact with our Allies Estonia and Finland, and our partner Sweden. NATO will continue to adapt its maritime posture in the Baltic Sea and will take all necessary steps to keep Allies safe. The move comes amidst reports of damage in the gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia, forcing the countries to temporarily suspend its operations. A pressure drop was noticed in the Balticconnector, the bi-directional natural gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia earlier this month, forcing the countries to shut down its services. Last year, the Nordic gas pipeline was attacked affecting gas supply in the region. NATO spokesperson Dylan White said the military alliance has enhanced patrols near critical undersea infrastructure following the sabotage of the Nordic gas pipeline. NATO said the increased measures include additional surveillance and reconnaissance flights, including maritime patrol aircraft, NATO AWACS planes, and drones. A fleet of four NATO minehunters is also being dispatched to the area, it said. Following the Nord Stream explosions, NATO created a coordination cell to monitor undersea infrastructure in the area. NATO created an undersea infrastructure coordination cell to deepen ties between governments, military, industry actors and NATO, and has since established the NATO Maritime Centre for the Security of Critical Undersea Infrastructure within NATOs Maritime Command, it said. Protesters marched from several mosques to the heavily guarded U.S. Embassy in Indonesia's capital Friday to denounce the staunch American support for Israel and demand an end to Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. Similar protests also took place in front of the United Nations mission, a few kilometers (miles) from the embassy, and in the compound of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Authorities estimated that about 1,000 people participated in the rallies across Jakarta following Friday prayers in the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation. A brutal incursion into southern Israel by Hamas fighters on Oct. 7 provoked Israel to declare war against the militant group that rules Gaza. The Israeli siege of and airstrikes on the Palestinian territory were the focus earlier this week of demonstrations at Egyptian universities, inside a congressional office building in Washington, outside the Israeli Embassy in Bogota and near the U.S. Embassy in Beirut. Nearly two weeks after the Hamas attack in Israel, such protests continued as Israel prepared for an expected ground invasion of Gaza. The protesters who marched to the U.S. Embassy halted traffic along the way as they chanted God is great, and Save Palestinians. Waving Indonesian and Palestinian flags and signs read We are proud to support Palestine, more than 100 noisy demonstrators gathered along a major street in Jakarta that runs outside the embassy. The U.S. actually know this war and violence occurred because Palestinians want free from Israel's occupation, but they close their eyes and pretend to be deaf, a speaker told the crowd, We call for a two-state solution for Palestinians to end the war. Some protesters voiced their anger by burning portraits of U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. About 1,000 police office were deployed around the embassy, the nearby presidential palace and the U.N. mission. Indonesia does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel, and there is no Israeli Embassy in the country. It has long been a strong supporter of the Palestinians. President Joko Widodo strongly condemned a Tuesday night explosion at a Gaza City hospital filled with wounded Palestinians and residents seeking shelter. Widodo described it as an attack that violated international humanitarian law, although the cause of the blast at al-Ahli Hospital has not been determined. U.S. assessments said the explosion was not caused by an Israeli airstrike, as the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza initially reported. Israel has presented video, audio and other evidence it says proves the blast was caused by a rocket misfired by Palestinian militants, who denied responsibility. The AP has not independently verified any of the claims or evidence released by the parties. Now is the time for the world to stand together to build global solidarity to resolve the Palestinian issue fairly, Widodo said in a televised statement from Saudi Arabia, where he was attending the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council summit. With the ongoing Ukraine conflict in the backdrop, the People's Republic of China's (PRC) warming relationship with Russia is usually being bracketed as the emerging axis. But it is Pakistan that the Chinese are really the closest to. To describe the bilateral relationship, China and Pakistan call each other iron brothers. This proximate relationship between the two Asian neighbours has profound implications for Indian security as it underlines India's apprehension of the creation of a two-front war scenario. India has already fought three wars with Pakistan and a widespread conflict around Kargil in 1999. Besides thwarting a deep intrusion in 1962, the Indian army is currently engaged in an ongoing border face-off with China's PLA since April 2020. Now a US document 'China Military Power Report 2023' released on Thursday, describes the bilateral ties even better. The report says: Despite its encompassing rhetoric, the PRC uses nomenclature to implicitly rank its level of 'partnership'. For example, the PRC ranks Pakistan as its only all-weather strategic partner, Russia as its only comprehensive strategic partner with coordination relations, and other countries such as Brazil and various states in South and Southeast Asia holding all-round strategic partnership relations. China may also be considering Pakistan, among a host of other countries as a location for PLA military logistics facilities. The PLA's Strategic Support Force also operates tracking, telemetry, and command stations in Pakistan, besides Namibia, Argentina, and Kenya. Besides other mandates, it is the SSF's brief to track satellite and ICBM launches. China has been undertaking systemic military reforms in order to transform the PLA into a world-class military by 2049. The PLA also has set a 2027 milestone for modernization to accelerate the integrated development of mechanization, informatization, and intelligentization of the PRCs armed forces. There have been several other notable military milestones in terms of weapons and platformslike mass-producing and undertaking upgrades of the J-20 fighter aircraft which has been fitted with the indigenous WS-10 aero-engines, deploying the Y-20 heavy transport aircraft, and speeding up development of the H-20 flying wing stealth bomber. In the Indian context, the deployment of Type 15 light tanks in the mountainous border region between the two countries is of significance. On the naval front, there is an ongoing PRC effort to expand the submarine force to 65 units by 2025 and 80 units by 2035. At the moment, the Chinese Navy operates six nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBN), six nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN), and 48 diesel-powered/air-independent powered attack submarines (SS). A US warship on Thursday intercepted three missiles fired from Yemen. The missiles were headed north, US officials said. It wasn't sure if the missiles were headed towards Israel, AP reported. According to officials, the USS Carney, a Navy destroyer on the Red Sea intercepted the missiles. Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, told Israel Times that the three land attack cruise missiles and several drones, that were launched by Houthi forces in Yemen were shot down over the water. We cannot say for certain what these missiles and drones were targeting, but they were launched from Yemen heading north along the Red Sea, potentially toward targets in Israel, Ryder said. Ryder said, according to the base profile of the missiles, they posed a potential threat. He added that the US is willing to do anything to protect its partners and their interests in this important region. Last week, Abdel-Malek al-Houthi, the rebel group's leader, warned the United States against intervening in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, threatening that his forces would retaliate by firing drones and missiles, AP reported. Last week, supporters of the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Sanaa were waving Yemeni and Palestinian flags. In the meantime, senior Israeli officers, on Thursday, talked up the possibility of a large-scale ground offensive against the Hamas terror group. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant indicated that the order for troops near Gaza to enter the Hamas-run Palestinian enclave would come soon. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Golani soldiers near the Gaza border and told them Israel was on its way to victory. This photo, provided by the Sandy Hook, Conn., Volunteer Fire & Rescue, shows a tractor-trailer rollover carrying 44 cows, on Interstate 84 in Newtown, Conn., Thursday, October 19, 2023. It was determined that 14 of the cows perished as a result of the accident, six were were euthanized on scene. Former President Donald Trump and other top Republicans want the U.S. to seal its borders against a potential mass exodus of Palestinians fleeing war in the Gaza Strip, suggesting that a surge of civilian refugees could allow extremists into the country. But such an onslaught is highly unlikely. People fleeing the fighting are largely barred from getting out of Gaza, and U.S. law already gives authorities broad leeway to deny people entry into the country if they present security risks. Cases of extremists crossing into the U.S. illegally are also virtually non-existent. Heres a closer look at whats being said and what the realities are. WHO WANTS TO BAN PALESTINIAN REFUGEES FROM THE U.S.? Trump has been the most outspoken on this issue. The former president vowed while campaigning in Iowa this week to bar refugees from Gaza and immediately expand a Muslim travel ban he imposed via executive order during his first administration. Pointing to the Oct. 7 attacks and the taking of hostages by the Iran-backed militant group Hamas that sparked Israels retaliation and war in Gaza, Trump also suggested in an online post that The same people that raided Israel are pouring into our once beautiful USA, through our TOTALLY OPEN SOUTHERN BORDER. Trumps original ban barred travelers from several predominantly Muslim countries but was heavily criticized as discriminatory and drew legal challenges all the way to the Supreme Court. The high courts justices eventually upheld the Trump administrations third attempt at the ban, which included travelers from North Korea and some from Venezuela. It was revoked after President Joe Biden took office in January 2021. Gaza refugees also have become a flashpoint among many of the presidential hopefuls vying to become Trumps principal challenger and cut into the commanding early lead the former president has built in the 2024 Republican primary. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the U.S. should not take in any Palestinian refugees fleeing Gaza because they are all antisemitic. Former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, who was also Trumps ex-ambassador to the United Nations, countered that America has has always been sympathetic to the fact that you can separate civilians from terrorists. Never Back Down, DeSantis super PAC, is running an ad implying Haley is soft on allowing refugees into the country, which the Haley campaign rebuts as false. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott endorsed the U.S. turning away Gaza refugees because authorities will be unable to determine who is safe to bring in and whos not. WILL THERE BE A CRUSH OF PALESTINIAN REFUEES HEADED FOR THE U.S.? Probably not. Those fleeing the northern part of Gaza, where Israel has warned that a ground war is coming, have enough trouble simply moving to the southern part of the territory due to Israeli airstrikes and rockets fired by Hamas. Israel has fortified its border with Gazas 141-square-mile (365-square-kilometer) territory to prevent militants from sneaking into the country. But rather than triggering border runs, the displacement has unleashed a humanitarian crisis throughout Gaza, where nearly 1 million people are facing severe shortages of housing, food and clean drinking water. Those making it to the southern part of the territory can usually go no further because Egypt, the only other country that borders Gaza, has closed its crossing, at least for now. Even if crossings eventually resume, Arab and European countries have so far been hesitant to take large numbers of Palestinian refugees, especially after receiving many people fleeing recent displacement in Syria. COULDNT PALESTINIAN REFUGEES EVENTUALLY GET TO THE U.S.? The United States does accept refugees from around the world annually, but the process often takes years and ultimately admits relatively few people. Prospective refugees are generally referred to the State and Homeland Security departments by the U.N.s refugee agency. U.S. authorities then vet them to determine if they can really be considered refugees, and for things like ties to extremists. During the last fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, the U.S. aimed to admit 125,000 people but ultimately only admitted about 60,000. The biggest numbers of resettled refugees came from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Syria, Afghanistan and Burma. Only 56 came from the Palestinian territories. Another option is the White House and DHS offering some Palestinians humanitarian parole, allowing them to come temporarily to the U.S. Historically, that has been used to let people from places like Cuba and Vietnam come to the U.S., though Ukrainians recently fleeing Russias war have been allowed to stay for up to two years if they have a U.S. financial backer. Biden has been vocal about Israels right to defend itself. The president traveled to Israel on Wednesday and announced humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza that would flow from Egypt and included $100 million in U.S. funding. But his administration has given little indication that it would be willing to make humanitarian parole exceptions for people fleeing Gaza. WOULD BANS IMPROVE U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY? Many of the perceived threats Trump and other Republicans are most worried about stopping are already addressed by existing U.S. law. The Immigration and Nationality Act already blocks potential extremist threats under Section 212 (f), which gives broad authority to bar people who arent U.S. citizens from entering the country if doing so would be detrimental to the interests of the United States. Meanwhile, reports of extremists entering the United States by land from Mexico or Canada are almost unheard of. Alex Nowrasteh of the pro-immigration Cato Institute documented nine foreign-born extremists who entered the United States illegally from 1975 through last year. Three entered Mexico in 1984 when they were 5 years old or younger and were convicted of plotting to attack Fort Dix, New Jersey, in 2007. The other six entered through Canada. Thats not to say it couldnt happen. Arrests for people crossing the border illegally from Mexico for the last fiscal year are expected to be the second-highest on record after the previous years 2.2 million. DHS said in a national threat assessment this year that people with potential terrorism connections continue to attempt to enter the country. Arrests of people who crossed illegally from Mexico and were on the Terrorist Screening Dataset, known as the terrorist watchlist, jumped to 151 from October through August, compared to 98 during the previous 12-month period and 15 the year before. It was just 11 in the previous four years combined. But the list is a compilation of names that have aroused suspicion for any number of reasons and includes people from all over the world. The increase in the number of individuals on it also remains statistically small given the overall rise in migrants apprehended on the border. There is strict national security vetting to determine whether individuals coming from anywhere in the world have ties to terrorist organizations, White House spokesman Andrew Bates said. (AP) A Russian-American journalist working for a U.S. government-funded media company has been detained in Russia and charged with failing to register as a foreign agent, according to her employer. Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty editor Alsu Kurmasheva is the second U.S. journalist to be detained in Russia this year. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was arrested for alleged spying in March. Kurmasheva, an editor with RFE/RLs Tatar-Bashkir service, is being held in a temporary detention center, the Committee to Protect Journalists said, citing a Russian state news agency. The CPJ called the accusations spurious, demanding that the Russian authorities drop all the charges and release her immediately. The Tatar-Inform agency posted video which showed Kurmasheva being marched into an administrative building accompanied by four men, two of whom held her arms and wore balaclavas. Tatar-Inform said authorities accused Kurmasheva of collecting information about Russias military activities in order to transmit information to foreign sources, suggesting she received information about university teachers who were mobilized into the Russian army. The Committee to Protect Journalists said she was charged with failing to register as a foreign agent in her capacity as a person collecting information on Russian military activities. It cited local authorities saying the information could be used against the security of the Russian Federation. If convicted, Kurmasheva could be sentenced to up to five years in prison, the New York-based press freedom group said. Alsu is a highly respected colleague, devoted wife, and dedicated mother to two children, Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty Acting President Jeffrey Gedmin said. She needs to be released so she can return to her family immediately. Kurmasheva, who lives in Prague with her family, was stopped at Kazan International Airport on June 2 after traveling to Russia for a family emergency on May 20, according to RFE/RL. Officials at the airport confiscated Kurmashevas U.S. and Russian passports and she was later fined for failing to register her U.S. passport with Russian authorities. She was waiting for her passports to be returned when the new charge of failing to register as a foreign agent was announced Wednesday, RFE/RL said. RFE/RL was told to register by Russian authorities as a foreign agent in December 2017. It brought a case against Russia at the European Court of Human Rights in 2021, challenging Russias use of foreign agent laws that resulted in the organization being fined millions of dollars. Kurmasheva reported on ethnic minority communities in Tatarstan and Bashkortostan in Russia, including projects to protect and preserve the Tatar language and culture despite increased pressure on Tatars from Russian authorities, her employer said. Analysts have pointed out that Moscow may be using jailed Americans as bargaining chips after U.S.-Russian tensions soared when Russia sent troops into Ukraine. At least two U.S. citizens arrested in Russia in recent years including WNBA star Brittney Griner have been exchanged for Russians jailed in the U.S. Journalism is not a crime, and Kurmashevas detention is yet more proof that Russia is determined to stifle independent reporting, Gulnoza Said, the Committee to Protect Journalists Europe and Central Asia program coordinator, said. Kurmashevas detention comes seven months after the Wall Street Journals Gershkovich was detained in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg, about 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) east of Moscow. He has appeared in court multiple times since his arrest and unsuccessfully appealed his continued imprisonment. Russias Federal Security Service alleged Gershkovich, acting on the instructions of the American side, collected information constituting a state secret about the activities of one of the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex. Gershkovich and the Journal deny the allegations, and the U.S. government has declared him to be wrongfully detained. Russian authorities havent detailed any evidence to support the espionage charges. Court proceedings against him are closed because prosecutors say details of the criminal case are classified. (AP) Declaring that American leadership is what holds the world together, President Joe Biden argued Thursday night that the United States must deepen its support of Ukraine and Israel in the middle of two vastly different, unpredictable and bloody wars. Acknowledging that these conflicts can seem far away, Biden insisted in a rare Oval Office address that they remain vital for Americas national security, and said he will ask Congress for billions of dollars in military assistance for both countries. History has taught us when terrorists dont pay a price for their terror, when dictators dont pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction, Biden said. They keep going. And the cost and the threat to America and the world keep rising. Bidens speech reflected an expansive view of U.S. obligations overseas at a time when he faces political resistance to additional funding at home. Hes expected to ask for $105 billion on Friday, including $60 billion for Ukraine, much of which would replenish U.S. weapons stockpiles provided earlier. Theres also $14 billion for Israel, $10 billion for humanitarian efforts, $14 billion for managing the U.S.-Mexico border and fighting fentanyl trafficking and $7 billion for the Indo-Pacific region, which includes Taiwan. Its a smart investment thats going to pay dividends for American security for generations, Biden said. He hopes that combining all of these issues into one piece of legislation will create the necessary coalition for congressional approval. His speech came the day after his high-stakes trip to Israel, where he showed solidarity with the country after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas and pushed for more humanitarian assistance to Palestinians. With Israel continuing to bombard the Gaza Strip and preparing a ground invasion, Biden said hes heartbroken by the tragic loss of Palestinian life. Israel and Palestinians equally deserve to live in safety, dignity and peace, Biden said. He also warned about a rising tide of antisemitism and Islamophobia in the U.S., noting the killing of a 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy. To all you hurting, I want you to know I see you. You belong. And I want to say this to you. Youre all Americans. As Biden seeks a second term in a campaign that will likely hinge on voters feeling about the economy, he was careful to emphasize that the spending will create jobs for U.S. workers, referencing the construction of missiles in Arizona and artillery shells in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Texas. And he worked in a nod to one of his political heroes, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, by saying that just as in World War II, the country is building the arsenal of democracy and serving the cause of freedom. Biden faces an array of steep challenges as he tries to secure the money. The House remains in chaos because the Republican majority has been unable to select a speaker to replace Rep. Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted more than two weeks ago. In addition, conservative Republicans oppose money for sending more weapons to Ukraine as its battle against the Russian invasion approaches the two-year mark. Bidens previous request for funding, which included $24 billion to help with the next few months of fighting, was stripped out of budget legislation last month despite a personal plea from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. There will be resistance from some on the other side of the political spectrum when it comes to military assistance for Israel, which has been bombarding the Gaza Strip in response to the Hamas attacks. Biden has delivered only one other such speech during his presidency, after Congress passed bipartisan budget legislation to avert a default on the countrys debt. The White House and other senior administration officials, including Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young, have quietly briefed key lawmakers in recent days about the contours of the planned supplemental funding request. The Democratic Senate plans to move quickly on Bidens proposal, hoping that it creates pressure on the Republican-controlled House to resolve its leadership drama and return to legislating. However, there are disagreements within the Senate, too, on how to move forward. Eight Republicans, led by Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall, said they did not want to combine assistance for Ukraine and Israel in the same legislation. These are two separate and unrelated conflicts and it would be wrong to leverage support of aid to Israel in an attempt to get additional aid for Ukraine across the finish line, they wrote in a letter. North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer said he was fine with the proposal as long as there was also a fresh effort to address border issues. But he said its got to be designed to secure the border, not to facilitate travel through the border. Although there was a lull in migrant arrivals to the U.S. after the start of new asylum restrictions in May, illegal crossings topped a daily average of more than 8,000 last month. Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat who leads a Senate panel that oversees funding for the Department of Homeland Security, was wary of any effort to overhaul border policy during a debate over spending. How are we going to settle our differences over immigration in the next two weeks? Murphy said. This is a supplemental funding bill. The minute you start loading it up with policies, that sounds like a plan to fail. Bidens decision to include funding for the Indo-Pacific in his proposal is a nod toward the potential for another international conflict. China wants to reunify the self-governing island of Taiwan with its mainland, a goal that could be carried out through force. Although wars in Europe and the Middle East have been the most immediate concerns for U.S. foreign policy, Biden views Asia as the key arena in the struggle for global influence. The administrations national security strategy, released last year, describes China as Americas most consequential geopolitical challenge. (AP) Rashid Khalidi, an American historian and writer with Palestinian-Lebanese roots, is an expert in the Middle East. Acknowledging the challenging times, he says it reminds him of his firsthand experience with the war in Lebanon during the 1970s. Khalidi, a professor at Columbia University in New York, says he has been personally affected by the current crisis, as he has lost contact with relatives in the Gaza Strip. He says hes been swamped with media requests to comment on the escalating violence between Israel and Hamas, and also feels the mounting pressure against U.S.-based academics who have criticized Israel. It reminds me a little of the worst days after September 11, [2001], when there was a great deal of Islamophobia, Khalidi said with increasing vehemence. I just feel like Im in the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War. The historians most recent book is The Hundred Years War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism and Resistance, 19172017 (Metropolitan Books, 2020). Question. You closely follow whats happening in Palestine and Israel did you expect such a major escalation of violence? Answer. To be frank, I did not. I was as surprised as the Israelis. I must admit that I am not an analyst of current events I dont follow things day-to-day. I was last there in March, but not in Gaza. I went to Jerusalem and the West Bank. But no, I did not expect anything on this scale at all. Q. You and your family have lived through the Arab-Israeli wars since 1948, as well as the various conflicts in the Gaza Strip since 2006. Is this different? A. It is different. Palestinians who remember the trauma of 1948 [the creation of the State of Israel and expulsion of Palestinians from their lands] that their parents or grandparents experienced see what is happening in Gaza as a new chapter in the ethnic cleansing of Palestine. I hope those fears are not realized. I hope that people will not be forced to leave Palestine, and that they can eventually return to their homes. But more than half a million, maybe three-quarters of a million people have already been forced to move. We have relatives who have been forced to leave Gaza City, and I dont know where they are now. That brings back memories of Palestinians being repeatedly forced to leave their homes, but especially in 1948. Q. What did Hamas want to achieve with this attack in southern Israel? A. I have no insight into the mindset of the people who made the decision to launch this attack. We have some information from the statement made by the military commander on the day of the attack. He talked about how Palestinians are ignored. He talked about Jerusalem. He talked about the siege of Gaza. He talked about prisoners. And he talked about Israeli settlements that are expanding with government support, harassment and attacks on Palestinians and the repression in the West Bank. I dont know if those are the real reasons, but I think the first one ignoring the Palestine question seems obvious. There has been a process of normalization and a complete absence of any political horizon for the Palestinians. What are they told to expect? More seizures and thefts of lands. More moving people out of their homes. More repression, fewer rights, no self-determination and no end to the occupation. This is what Israel offers. This is what the United States pays for and arms. So, Im not sure thats really their motivation because I just dont know. And what happened in Jerusalem during the holiday that just ended? A thousand extremist religious settlers stormed into Haramah Shaddif the mosque area in Jerusalem to lead Jewish prayers. They want to transform the third-holiest site in Islam into a place of Jewish prayer. Thats what they say and its not just talk theyre actually doing it. A journalist asked me if Hamas was trying to stop the normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. I think theyre trying to push Palestine back into the discussion. Did they achieve that? I dont think so. Do they care? Im not sure that they do. I mean, theyre now trying to walk back some of the atrocities that were committed, saying there was chaos. It wasnt us we didnt mean to do it. Now theyre showing photos of fighters hugging babies. So they obviously realized something went wrong. Q. Israel is saying that it wants to eradicate Hamas once and for all. Is that possible? A. When Israel says that, they are using Hamas as a justification for killing over 3,500 Palestinians, most of them civilians. I think they would love to eradicate Hamas as an institution, as a political, religious and cultural structure, and as a military structure. I dont think they can do the first two things. I dont know who can govern Gaza, but I dont think anyone else is likely to take it on. Whether they kill all their leaders, whether they kill all the armed militants, Hamas will remain as a political force, whether the Israelis occupy Gaza or leave. So, destroying Hamas as a political institution, destroying Hamas as an idea, is impossible. Destroying its military capabilities is possible, but only to a limited extent and period. Q. Is the Palestinian National Authority a viable option in Gaza? A. One of the great problems the Palestinians have is a lack of strategic thinking and young, innovative leadership. We have an old and corrupt leadership in Ramallah that is politically bankrupt it has no ideas and continues to pursue a strategy that failed decades ago. It failed after the [1993] Oslo Accords. It failed before the Second Intifada. They have empty minds and most Palestinians hate them for being collaborators with Israel. They are not a viable alternative for the Palestinians. Israel wants the Palestinian National Authority, of course, because Israel and the United States created it. Thats not what the Palestinians thought they were going to do, what [Yasir] Arafat and the PLO [Palestine Liberation Organization] intended. But that has been the outcome for the last 25 years or more. Hamas can sense it too. You dismantle a political alternative and turn it into a security subcontractor for Israel, while Israel seizes more land. Following the 2006 elections, Hamas joined a coalition government that was open to negotiations. Why did they join? Why did they propose a 100-year truce? If they wanted to kill Jews, how could they kill them in a 100-year truce? That was a door that the United States, Europe and Israel slammed shut, and then did everything possible to break up that government. If you cant go to the International Criminal Court or do a BDS [boycott of Israeli products], and you cant protest nonviolently because youre being shot at in the Gaza Strip or in Ramallah, then you pick up a gun. I mean, this doesnt seem terribly hard to understand, but of course we want to ignore that history. We dont want their bloodthirsty, murderous terrorists. They kill babies and women and children. They are unadulterated evil. Q. Its difficult to talk about history these days when the narratives are so harsh. A. Impossible, yeah. How can you talk about context when youre talking about unadulterated evil? You know this is a Manichaean worldview. Its the inquisition against the heretics good versus evil. Theres no conversation, no discussion, no background. No history can be brought to bear in that kind of black and white situation. And that is the narrative this [Biden] administration has created in the United States and Western governments are creating in the United Kingdom, France and elsewhere. Historian Rashid Khalidi at the Casa Arabe in Madrid May 2023. Santi Burgos Q. The U.S. has once again shown its strong support for Israel. Did you expect anything different from Biden? A. I think that Biden at least until October 7 was one of the most pro-Israel presidents in U.S. history. He has always been driven, as American presidents always are, by electoral calculations. What will get me reelected? His unconditional commitment to Israel, his willingness to extend enormous advantages to Netanyahu who insulted him and who has alienated most of his own people and most American Jews... I was surprised by the degree to which he quickly adopted an Israeli narrative. I can try and speculate as to the reasons, but he went farther than even I expected he would. Q. Did Biden achieve anything with his trip to Israel? Maybe delay the ground assault? A. I think Bidens trip was intended to accomplish two or three things. One is to ensure that there is no escalation involving Hezbollah and Iran. Biden cares about the next years election. If hes held responsible for starting a war in the Middle East, he will lose the election and he knows it. Any escalation involving Iran or a major expansion of the conflict between Hezbollah and Lebanon will sink Biden in 2024. The second goal is to free the American hostages and, ideally, other hostages as well. And the third thing is to allow some humanitarian aid into Gaza. Q. He seems to have achieved that. A. Yeah, he got a promise from the Israelis. It may happen, maybe sometime in the future. I think he was also buying time for the Israelis because they cant launch the offensive when the U.S. president is in Israel. And I dont think theyre ready for that. I dont think they know exactly what they want to do. I believe Bidens visit might have been intended to influence those objectives, and that one aspect of the visit was primarily aimed at an American audience. Q. If Israel ultimately reoccupies Gaza, what would it mean for the Palestinians? A. It would just inflame the resistance. They can kill theyve already killed about 3,500 people. They will kill more. They will empty some of the northern Gaza Strip. But there will be resistance if they stay. Thats another thing Biden was trying to tell the Israelis dont occupy. He said it publicly before leaving. They dont want it, unlike the Israelis, who are blinded by rage and the desire for revenge. The U.S. is trying to talk these people back down to Earth. What will you do after occupying Gaza? Did it go well the first time? Bring in five veterans of the Gaza occupation from 1967 to 2005, and let them tell you how that will go. Itll be five times worse. Im confident that, as is often the case, certain military and intelligence personnel on the Israeli side will align with the Americans instead of the politicians in the context of war. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Despite deepening opposition, Rep. Jim Jordan is expected to try a third vote to become House speaker, even as his Republican colleagues are explicitly warning the hard-edged ally of Donald Trump that no more threats or promises can win over their support. The House is scheduled to convene Friday but Republicans have no realistic or workable plan to unite the fractured GOP majority, elect a new speaker and return to the work of Congress that has been languishing since hard-liners ousted Kevin McCarthy at the start of the month. Jordan has scheduled an early morning press conference ahead of the session. After two failed votes, Jordans third attempt at the gavel is not expected to end any better. In fact, Friday is likely to produce an even worse tally for the fiery Judiciary Committee chairman in large part because more centrist rank-and-file Republicans are revolting over the hardball tactics being used to win their votes. They have been bombarded with harassing phone calls and even reported death threats. Im still running for speaker and I plan to go to the floor and get the votes and win this race, said Jordan, a founder of the far-right House Freedom Caucus. But more than two weeks into the stalemate that has shuttered the U.S. House, leaving a seat of American democracy severely hobbled at a time of challenges at home and abroad, the House Republican majority appears to have no idea how to end the political turmoil and get back to work. He doesnt have the votes to be speaker, Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., said after a late Thursday meeting when Jordan sought to hear them out and shore up support. The holdouts want nothing from Jordan, Gimenez said, adding that some of the lawmakers in the meeting simply called on Jordan to drop out of the race. One extraordinary idea to give the interim speaker pro tempore, Rep. Patrick McHenry, more powers for the next several months to at least bring the House back into session and conduct crucial business was swiftly rejected by Jordans own ultra-conservative allies. Jordan had backed the temporary speaker plan as a way to allow more time to shore up support in his own reach for the gavel. Asinine, said Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, a leader of far-right House Freedom Caucus. Next steps were highly uncertain as angry, frustrated Republicans predict the House could essentially stay closed for the foreseeable future perhaps until the mid-November deadline for Congress to approve funding or risk a federal government shutdown. Were trying to figure out if theres a way we can get back with a Republican-only solution, said veteran legislator Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla. Thats what normal majorities do. What this majority has done is prove its not a normal majority. What was clear was that Jordans path to become House speaker was almost certainly collapsing. Rep. John Rutherford, R-Fla., said its not going to happen. After a first failed vote Tuesday, Jordan lost rather than gained ground on a crucial second ballot Wednesday, opposed by 22 Republicans, two more than the day before. Many view the Ohio congressman as too extreme for a central seat of U.S. power, second in line to the presidency. One thing I cannot stomach or support is a bully, said a statement from Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, who voted against Jordan on the second ballot and said she received credible death threats. With Republicans in majority control of the House, 221-212, it appears there is no Republican candidate who can win a clear majority, 217 votes, to become speaker. A closed-door meeting Thursday to regroup grew heated at times with Republican factions blaming one another for sending their majority into chaos, lawmakers said. When Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, a chief architect of the ouster of the speaker two weeks ago, rose to speak, McCarthy told him it was not his turn. Were shaking up Washington, D.C. Were breaking the fever. And, you know what, its messy, Gaetz said later, saying he had no regrets over the past weeks of havoc. Elevating McHenry to an expanded speakers role was seen as a possible off-ramp for the crisis, but it would not be as politically simple as it might seem. Republicans are loath to partner with the Democrats in a bipartisan way on the arrangement, but its highly unlikely Republicans could agree to give McHenry more powers on their own, since their hard-liners dont like it. McHenry himself has brushed off attempts to take the job more permanently after he was appointed to the role after the unprecedented ouster of McCarthy more than two weeks ago. Im going to abide by the Constitution and the rules of the House, and no one is going to put me in a different position, McHenry said late Thursday, reiterating what he has told his colleagues. If there is some goal to subvert the House rules to give me powers without a formal vote, I will not accept it, he said. The North Carolina Republican, who is is well-liked by his colleagues and viewed as a highly competent legislator, has said his job is to get the next speaker elected. Thats my focus. McCarthy himself had leaned into the plan, explaining that he tapped McHenry for the unusual role, created in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to ensure continuity of government, because he wanted somebody that could work with all sides. And McHenry is ideal for all that. To win over his GOP colleagues, Jordan had relied on backing from Trump, the partys front-runner in the 2024 election, and groups pressuring rank-and-file lawmakers for the vote. But they were not enough and in fact backfired on some. Jordan has been a top Trump ally, particularly during the Jan. 6 Capitol attack by the former presidents backers who were trying to overturn the 2020 election he lost to Biden. Days later, Trump awarded Jordan a Medal of Freedom. First elected in 2006, Jordan has few bills to his name from his time in office. (AP) It was the thing that was supposed to make Rep. Jim Jordan the 56th speaker of the House. An onslaught of pressure from the Republican Party base, allies predicted, would compel the GOPs moderate and establishment members to support Jordan, a hero of the far-right, and help him secure the votes for the gavel. But as the pressure campaign devolved this week into death threats against lawmakers and their families, something unexpected happened: Positions hardened, and a ragtag coalition of roughly 20 House Republicans rose up to deny Jordan the speakership. In doing so, they defied a belief of many in Washington that moderates have no backbone. Bullying dont work, said Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican centrist who has led the opposition to Jordans nomination. Still, Bacon said the harassing text messages and phone calls have taken a toll. His wife slept with a loaded gun near her bedside one night. Other Republicans said their families have been threatened. And every lawmaker who voted against Jordan has received a barrage of angry phone calls and messages. Still, they vowed Thursday to not back down as Jordan tried for a third day to win the 217 Republican votes he needs to become speaker. Its just the latest twist in the contentious intra-party feud that has consumed House Republicans since the unprecedented removal of Kevin McCarthy more than two weeks ago. Hopelessly divided, Republicans have been arguing for weeks over how to mend their fractured majority. The death threats have only worsened the tension, with lawmakers feeling their colleagues are partially to blame for the outpouring of bile. After Rep. Drew Fergusons family started receiving death threats for his vote against Jordan, the Georgia Republican said in a statement that he would not support a bully for speaker. He said the threats were unacceptable, unforgivable, and will never be tolerated. For ten months, the ultra-conservatives of the Republican Conference have driven the House agenda, leveraging their position in the GOPs thin majority to demand that their wishes be met. Kevin McCarthy struggled with them for 15 rounds in January to win the speakers gavel and ultimately had it wrested away by hard-right holdouts. As Republicans choose their next speaker, however, the just-say-no tactic is coming from new corners of the Republican conference: moderate GOP lawmakers who represent politically purple congressional districts, senior members of the House Appropriations Committee, and loyalists to GOP leadership figures like McCarthy and Majority Leader Steve Scalise. Many Republicans were angered last week by how the Freedom Caucus seemed to once again get what it wanted by refusing to support Scalises bid for speaker, forcing him to drop out and clearing the way for Jordan to make a run. Jordan had several advantages. The hard-charging Ohio Republican, who helped found the House Freedom Caucus, had former President Donald Trumps backing, as well as support from conservative commentators and influencers like Fox News host Sean Hannity. Meanwhile, Jordan tried to win over more moderate Republicans by casting himself as a unifier who would listen to their concerns. He told his fellow Republicans he would not take the speaker vote to the House floor unless he had secured 217 of their votes. He quickly broke that promise, scheduling a floor vote Tuesday and forcing the holdouts to publicly state their opposition and face the political fallout. Jordan and his allies believed the public vote would quickly wear down their opposition. Rep. Thomas Massie, a Jordan ally, predicted at the time that the holdouts would be put through a meat grinder of pressure and cave by the end of the week. I dont think any of these 20 have the stomach for forcing that vote over and over, Massie said. That proved wrong. Opposition to Jordan only grew. A few more Republicans voted against Jordan during a second ballot Wednesday, and others suggested their support would soon run out. The pressure campaign had backfired. As soon as you try to influence by getting outside groups to try to intimidate, in that nanosecond, its over, said Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, a senior Republican on the Appropriations Committee who helped lead the opposition to Jordan. Jordan, for his part, has tried to stop the threats and pressure. After Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks said in a statement that she had received credible death threats after voting against him Wednesday, Jordan condemned the threats and called for unity. Stop. Its abhorrent, he said on social media. But colleagues have watched for years as Jordan and his allies denounced their legislative work while playing to the partys base. They were unmoved. This is a matter of picking the person whos going to lead your party, said Rep. Steve Womack, a senior Republican who opposed Jordan. This is more interpersonal. Womack said he was done with Jordan after he gave a tepid concession when Scalise initially won the Republican Conference nomination for speaker. Though Jordan eventually offered support for Scalise, Womack felt Jordan had given a dog whistle to the House Freedom Caucus to withhold their support. Womack felt it doomed Scalises bid for speaker, and he said he told Jordan that his concession speech was the most unacceptable and egregious treatment of a fellow colleague Ive ever witnessed. As Republicans meet for hours on end trying to work past their grudges, lawmakers are flailing for a path forward that would allow the House to once again do its work. The White House is requesting wartime funding for allies Israel and Ukraine, and the government will enter a shutdown unless Congress passes funding legislation by mid-November. One senior Republican, Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma, said he sympathized somewhat with the holdouts. They feel like theyve been pushed into a position where it seems to be the only thing these guys understand. And so you start treating them the way they have been treating us, he said. Still, Cole has also urged them to set aside those tactics to unite around a speaker. The problem is, you know that makes you feel pretty good but it doesnt get us moving any closer to a solution. (AP) JOIN THE TENS OF THOUSANDS WHO ALREADY ARE ALERTED OF BREAKING NEWS LIKE THIS IN LIVE TIME: YWN WHATSAPP STATUS UPDATES: CLICK HERE to join the YWN WhatsApp Status. YWN WHATSAPP GROUPS: CLICK HERE to be added to an official YWN WhatsApp Group. MAKE SURE TO CHECK THIS PAGE FREQUENTLY AS UPDATES WILL BE PUBLISHED IN LIVE TIME THERE IS NO NEED TO REFRESH THIS PAGE AS UPDATES WILL APPEAR AUTOMATICALLY HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Zilberstein made a special bikur cholim visit to Amichai Shindler of Kibbutz Kerem Shalom in Sheba Hospital in Tel Hashomer on Thursday. Kerem Shalom is a mixed religious-secular kibbutz that is less than 100 meters [.06 miles] from the Gaza Strip. That Shabbos/Simchas Torah morning, Amichai, 33, and his wife and six children went into their safe room when they heard rocket sirens blare early in the morning a routine occurrence in the Gaza border area. But then they heard the sound of men shouting inside their home. Amichai ran to the door and held it shut, while his wife and small children huddled inside. The men called to them in Hebrew that theyre IDF soldiers and they should open the door. But Amichai heard their accents and screamed at them to leave or hell shoot them. When the Hamas animals failed to open the door, they tried to blow it open by throwing an explosive device at it. The resulting blast seriously injured Amichai, blowing off one of his forearms, breaking his other arm, and crushing his face and jaw. Amichai fell to the floor of the room still conscious but bleeding profusely. He lay there for three and a half hours while meanwhile, members of the kibbutz security team engaged in a gun battle with the terrorists outside. Eventually, IDF soldiers reached the kibbutz and evacuated Amichai to the hospital. Fortunately, his wife and children were physically unharmed. Amichai was sedated and ventilated and treated in the ICU for several days before being transferred to the critical care surgical ward although he is still ventilated. When he regained consciousness, he requested to meet HaRav Zilberstein since he feels very connected to the Rav and his Torah listening to his shiurim at home every Erev Shabbos. HaRav Zilberstein agreed to visit and did so on Thursday, beginning his visit by davening for Amichais refuah sheleimah. But then a rocket alert siren blared when a barrage of rockets hit central Israel. At first, HaRav Zilberstein said he doesnt need to leave since in the zechus of Amichai, nothing would happen. But he did go to the fortified area, where he recited before returning to Amichais room. HaRav Zilberstein was accompanied on the visit by HaRav Shlomo Raanan, the founder and head of Ayelet Hashachar, a kiruv organization, and HaRav Eliezer Roth, Rav Zilbersteins son-in-law. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) In a tragic and deadly encounter earlier today, a Border Police officer lost his life during a tense confrontation with Palestinian gunmen in the Nur Shams refugee camp, situated near the West Bank city of Tulkarem. The fallen officer has been identified as Master Sgt. Maxim Razinkov, who bravely served his duty until his untimely demise. The incident unfolded during an arrest operation when Sgt. Razinkov was fatally wounded by an improvised explosive device (IED). Nine additional members of the Israel Border Police were injured in the operation near the Palestinian city of Tulkarm in the West Bank. The injured officers were promptly evacuated to Meir Medical Center in Kfar Saba, where they received medical treatment for their wounds. Authorities have reported that the nine wounded officers are now in stable condition and are expected to recover. This operation was part of an ongoing collaborative effort involving the Israel Border Police, Shin Bet, and the Israeli army. Their mission was twofold: to apprehend individuals wanted for terrorist activities and to dismantle terrorist infrastructure within the Nur Shams area. During the operation, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) deployed an aircraft to engage a group of armed militants within Nur Shams. The IDF determined that these militants posed a significant threat to the Israeli forces operating in the region. As a result, several of the militants were neutralized in the airstrike. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) During a Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting held in Tel Aviv, Israels Defense Minister Yoav Gallant provided in-depth insight into Israels military objectives and strategy in the Gaza Strip. Central to this strategy is the goal of neutralizing the Hamas terror group by systematically targeting its military and governance structures, Gallant said. Additionally, Israel aims to relinquish its current responsibilities in Gaza, establishing a revamped security framework in its place. Detailing the multi-phased approach, Gallant confirmed that the conflict was presently in its initial stage, marked by military airstrikes and a subsequent ground operation. The purpose of these operations is to neutralize operatives and cripple infrastructure, ultimately leading to the defeat of Hamas, Gallant said. The minister went on to explain the subsequent phase, which would involve persistent combat, albeit at a diminished intensity, focusing on eradicating residual resistance. The third step will be the creation of a new security regime in the Gaza Strip, the removal of Israels responsibility for day-to-day life in the Gaza Strip, and the creation of a new security reality for the citizens of Israel and the residents of the [area surrounding Gaza], Gallant said. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Hamas announced the release of two American hostages, a mother and her daughter, citing humanitarian reasons for their decision. The release comes amidst Qatars efforts to counter claims by US President Joe Bidens administration. Judith and Natalie Raanan, are the two hostages released. They were subsequently handed over to the International Red Cross in Gaza, from where they are expected to be transferred to Israel via Egypt. Natalie, 17, just graduated from high school, according to her aunt Saray Cohen. She was studying in Israel. Judith is an artist and was working in several hospitals in the Chicago area. They were in Israel together to celebrate the 85th birthday of Judiths mother. Israeli officials, as per Hebrew media reports, clarified that Jerusalem did not negotiate or offer any concessions for the hostages release. Nearly 200 additional hostages men, women, the elderly, and young children remain in captivity in the Gaza Strip. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) National Bank Financial downgraded shares of Laurentian Bank of Canada (TSE:LB Free Report) from a sector perform market weight rating to an underperform market weight rating in a research note released on Monday. National Bank Financial also issued estimates for Laurentian Bank of Canadas Q4 2023 earnings at $1.15 EPS, FY2023 earnings at $4.68 EPS and FY2024 earnings at $4.61 EPS. Other research analysts have also issued reports about the company. Raymond James set a C$36.00 price target on Laurentian Bank of Canada and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Thursday, July 13th. CIBC lowered Laurentian Bank of Canada from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and cut their price target for the stock from C$54.00 to C$37.00 in a report on Friday, September 15th. Veritas Investment Research reiterated a buy rating on shares of Laurentian Bank of Canada in a research note on Wednesday, July 12th. National Bankshares cut Laurentian Bank of Canada from a sector perform rating to an underperform rating and decreased their target price for the stock from C$32.00 to C$27.00 in a report on Tuesday. Finally, CSFB decreased their price target on Laurentian Bank of Canada from C$41.00 to C$39.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday, September 1st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Laurentian Bank of Canada currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of C$36.00. Get Laurentian Bank of Canada alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Laurentian Bank of Canada Laurentian Bank of Canada Trading Down 0.9 % TSE:LB opened at C$25.91 on Monday. Laurentian Bank of Canada has a twelve month low of C$25.83 and a twelve month high of C$48.23. The company has a market cap of C$1.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.81, a P/E/G ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.28. The companys 50-day moving average price is C$33.73 and its 200-day moving average price is C$34.02. Laurentian Bank of Canada (TSE:LB Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 31st. The company reported C$1.22 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of C$1.15 by C$0.07. Laurentian Bank of Canada had a net margin of 21.20% and a return on equity of 7.43%. The business had revenue of C$260.83 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$263.60 million. On average, analysts expect that Laurentian Bank of Canada will post 4.8354204 earnings per share for the current year. Laurentian Bank of Canada Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 1st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 1st will be paid a dividend of $0.47 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 28th. This represents a $1.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.26%. Laurentian Bank of Canadas dividend payout ratio is presently 41.96%. About Laurentian Bank of Canada (Get Free Report) Laurentian Bank of Canada, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial services to personal, business, and institutional customers in Canada and the United States. It operates through three segments: Personal Banking, Commercial Banking, and Capital Markets. The Personal Banking segment offers financial services, such as financial advisory services to financial intermediaries; and operates digital direct-to-customer platform to retail clients. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Laurentian Bank of Canada Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Laurentian Bank of Canada and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Greenhill & Co., Inc. (NYSE:GHL Free Report) in a research report released on Monday. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the financial services providers stock. Separately, TheStreet upgraded shares of Greenhill & Co., Inc. from a d+ rating to a c rating in a research note on Monday, September 11th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and three have issued a hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Greenhill & Co., Inc. currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $11.83. Get Greenhill & Co. Inc. alerts: Get Our Latest Report on GHL Greenhill & Co., Inc. Stock Performance GHL opened at $14.80 on Monday. Greenhill & Co., Inc. has a 1-year low of $6.14 and a 1-year high of $14.97. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $14.78 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $12.89. The company has a current ratio of 2.24, a quick ratio of 2.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.64. The stock has a market capitalization of $278.24 million, a PE ratio of 26.43 and a beta of 1.11. Greenhill & Co., Inc. (NYSE:GHL Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 9th. The financial services provider reported $0.21 earnings per share for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $71.44 million for the quarter. Greenhill & Co., Inc. had a net margin of 5.11% and a return on equity of 24.40%. Greenhill & Co., Inc. Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 27th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, September 13th were given a dividend of $0.10 per share. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.70%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 12th. Greenhill & Co., Inc.s dividend payout ratio is presently 71.43%. Institutional Trading of Greenhill & Co., Inc. A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Alberta Investment Management Corp bought a new position in shares of Greenhill & Co., Inc. in the 2nd quarter worth $1,267,000. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio bought a new position in Greenhill & Co., Inc. during the 2nd quarter valued at $659,000. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL bought a new position in Greenhill & Co., Inc. during the 2nd quarter valued at $476,000. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Greenhill & Co., Inc. by 1,170.1% during the 2nd quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 288,723 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,230,000 after purchasing an additional 265,991 shares during the period. Finally, Capula Management Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Greenhill & Co., Inc. during the 2nd quarter worth $693,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 61.26% of the companys stock. Greenhill & Co., Inc. Company Profile (Get Free Report) Greenhill & Co, Inc, an independent investment bank, provides financial and strategic advisory services to corporations, partnerships, institutional investors, and governments worldwide. The company offers advisory services related to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, restructurings, financings, private capital raising, and other similar transactions. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Greenhill & Co. Inc. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Greenhill & Co. Inc. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Citigroup reiterated their buy rating on shares of Lloyds Banking Group (LON:LLOY Free Report) in a report published on Monday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Several other analysts have also recently issued reports on the stock. Barclays reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a GBX 70 ($0.86) price target on shares of Lloyds Banking Group in a report on Monday, July 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed an underweight rating on shares of Lloyds Banking Group in a report on Thursday, September 7th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of GBX 62.33 ($0.76). Get Lloyds Banking Group alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Report on Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Banking Group Price Performance Lloyds Banking Group Cuts Dividend LLOY opened at GBX 41.88 ($0.51) on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of 26.61 billion, a PE ratio of 523.50, a P/E/G ratio of 0.69 and a beta of 1.23. The firms fifty day moving average price is GBX 42.81 and its 200 day moving average price is GBX 44.71. Lloyds Banking Group has a 12-month low of GBX 40.01 ($0.49) and a 12-month high of GBX 54.33 ($0.66). The firm also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 12th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 3rd were paid a dividend of GBX 0.92 ($0.01) per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 3rd. This represents a yield of 2%. Lloyds Banking Groups payout ratio is 3,750.00%. Insider Buying and Selling at Lloyds Banking Group In other Lloyds Banking Group news, insider William Chalmers bought 149,714 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 21st. The stock was purchased at an average price of GBX 45 ($0.55) per share, for a total transaction of 67,371.30 ($82,290.58). 0.30% of the stock is owned by insiders. About Lloyds Banking Group (Get Free Report) Lloyds Banking Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides a range of banking and financial services in the United Kingdom. It operates through three segments: Retail; Commercial Banking; and Insurance, Pensions, and Investments. The Retail segment offers a range of financial service products, including current accounts, savings, mortgages, motor finance, unsecured loans, leasing solutions, and credit cards to personal and small business customers. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Lloyds Banking Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lloyds Banking Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Death is everywhere in Gaza. You live in the north, you survive the bombings and you go south, obeying Israeli orders and thinking that you will be safer, but they kill you anyway. That is what is happening, and it is called genocide. Samir Zaqut, deputy director of the Gazan humanitarian organization Al Mezan, speaks hurriedly from the house of a relative in the Rafah region near the border crossing that is scheduled to open this Friday to let humanitarian aid through from Egypt where he is living in crowded conditions together with 25 other people. Minutes before receiving the call from this newspaper, he learned that at least six civilians had died in the attack on a United Nations school inside the Al Maghazi refugee camp, in the center of the Gaza strip, where displaced people from the north had taken refuge. He could not contain his rage. They came here to avoid getting killed and look. No one is spared. According to the UN, one million people, that is to say nearly half the population of Gaza, have been displaced since October 7, and 400,000 of them have sought shelter in buildings managed by the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA). In the Rafah region, at the southern end of the Strip, bordering Egypt, where some 260,000 people lived before this new offensive against Gaza, according to official Palestinian figures, family homes and schools have become too small for so many people. I dont even know when I got here. I think it was three days ago. Since we dont leave the house, we dont have electricity and our lives are spent counting the bombs, we have even lost track of time, says Zaqut. Fear, lack of sleep and food, and the scenes of death and destruction all around them are beginning to take their toll on part of the population. There are people who decided to take refuge in the south a few days ago, who have returned to their homes in the north or are considering doing so because they see that there is no safe place in the entire Strip Samir Zaqut, deputy director of Al Mezan The testimonies from Rafah collected by this newspaper describe very harsh living conditions, which will only get worse if the humanitarian aid stuck on the other side of the border is not allowed to enter. On a visit to Israel on Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden announced an agreement to allow food and medicine into Gaza from Egypt through the Rafah border. Around 20 trucks are expected to be able to cross this Friday, when the damage from Israeli airstrikes on the access road is repaired. Two girls and a woman, this Tuesday in one of the tents set up by the UN in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip. Mustafa Hassona (Anadolu via Getty Images) Many people left their homes in northern Gaza with barely any possessions, and are sleeping on the floors and stairs of UN schools, or anywhere they can find. They have almost no water, food has been rationed with priority given to children, there is no electricity or gas for cooking, and people are increasingly isolated due to very poor internet connections. Hospitals cannot continue working either, because there is no fuel, electricity or water. Still, they are overcrowded and the doctors have not rested for a week. A significant number of doctors have also died in the bombings. This is horrible. Life here is counted in hours, not days. And we dont have a minute of respite, says Zaqut. An aggression by the international community The news of the bombing of the al-Alhi al Arabi hospital on Tuesday in Gaza City, where there were 471 deaths, according to calculations by the Palestinian authorities, has multiplied fear, helplessness and feelings of anger in the Rafah area. For Zaqut, it is very clear that the international community is now part of this aggression. Its not just Israel anymore, its the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany... They are all part of this too. They are destroying international humanitarian law. I cannot understand how a free person, who sees what is happening, does nothing about the extermination that is taking place in Gaza. He also maintains that there are countries that are trying to criminalize those who defend the Palestinians. Gazans have also gathered around the Rafah border crossing, waiting for it to open so they can be evacuated to Egypt thanks to their foreign passport. In the Strip, where 20 or 25 years ago people had greater freedom to come and go, there were people who studied and worked abroad for long periods, formed a family and acquired the nationality of those countries. But, for now, the Rafah crossing, which has been partially bombed these days by Israel, has been closed on the Egyptian side and no one can enter or leave. Aerial view of one of the refugee camps set up by the UN in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip, Bassam Masoud (REUTERS) When they open it, it will be so that foreigners can leave, first the Americans. But our lives dont matter to anyone, says a member of the Harb family, who prefers not to give his name. There are more than 30 of them living in a small apartment in Rafah, where a relative welcomed them in. They eat once a day and drink the bare minimum. We dont know how long this is going to last, so we are rationing the supplies. But the worst thing is that we cant recharge the phones because we dont have a working generator and we dont have any batteries left. So we go out to the street to charge our cell phone in the battery of a car that we have parked downstairs. We cannot remain incommunicated, they explain. We are running out of everything: food and water, but also patience Salah Awad El Sousi, a resident of Gaza with a Spanish passport Among the people who want to leave Gaza there are also around 100 Palestinians with Spanish passports who went to the border crossing last Saturday in the hopes of being evacuated. After waiting six hours outdoors, they had to turn back because the exit door never opened. South or north there is no difference. The Israeli bombings have the same intensity. We are running out of everything: food and water, but also patience, says Salah Awad El Sousi, spokesperson for this group of Gazans with Spanish citizenship. Others, like Zaqut or the Harb family, are not even considering leaving Gaza. They believe that leaving the Strip could mean never being able to return, as happened to their grandparents, who arrived in the enclave in 1948 after forcibly leaving their homes in other areas after the creation of the State of Israel. Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, this Thursday. Abed Rahim Khatib (DPA via Europa Press) People dont want to leave. Whats more, there are people on the other side of the border, in Egypt, who were caught outside Gaza for family or health reasons and who want to be reunited with their families. And, furthermore, there are people who decided to take refuge in the south, but have returned to their homes in the north or are considering doing so because they see that there is no safe place in the entire Strip, says Zaqut. The Al Mezan human rights center, of which Zaqut is deputy director, provides legal assistance and information on the consequences of the Israeli blockade on Gaza. It continues to feed its social media and its website thanks to collaborators who are outside the Palestinian territories. Our workers in Gaza do not even have the possibility to charge their mobile phones. That is why we have colleagues outside, some of them in Europe, who keep the Al Mezan flame alive and the contact with other international organizations with which we work, he explains. Meanwhile, we are fighting every day for the most basic thing: survival. For this we need fuel and medicine because if not, this is going to be a disaster, he insists. Zaqut fears that there are still hundreds of people under the rubble throughout Gaza and believes that the death tolls provided by the Ministry of Health, which places the figure at over 3,000, are much lower than the real situation. But we do not have the capacity at this moment to rescue these people, alive or dead, and include them in our statistics, he insists. Israel presents us as animals, as savages who kill children, who use them as human shields, who cut off their heads... And who cares about killing animals, right? Citigroup reaffirmed their buy rating on shares of Barclays (LON:BARC Free Report) in a research note published on Monday morning, MarketBeat.com reports. Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of Barclays from GBX 180 ($2.20) to GBX 190 ($2.32) and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, September 7th. Berenberg Bank lowered their target price on shares of Barclays from GBX 260 ($3.18) to GBX 240 ($2.93) and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 10th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on shares of Barclays from GBX 300 ($3.66) to GBX 320 ($3.91) and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 20th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of GBX 237.25 ($2.90). Get Barclays alerts: Read Our Latest Report on Barclays Barclays Stock Performance Barclays Cuts Dividend LON:BARC opened at GBX 147.80 ($1.81) on Monday. The firms 50-day moving average is GBX 151.72 and its 200-day moving average is GBX 153.32. Barclays has a 52-week low of GBX 128.12 ($1.56) and a 52-week high of GBX 198.86 ($2.43). The company has a market cap of 22.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 422.29, a PEG ratio of -1.09 and a beta of 1.35. The firm also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, August 10th were paid a GBX 2.70 ($0.03) dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 10th. This represents a yield of 1.65%. Barclayss payout ratio is currently 2,285.71%. Insider Buying and Selling at Barclays In other Barclays news, insider Anna Cross sold 65,037 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 163 ($1.99), for a total value of 106,010.31 ($129,486.15). Company insiders own 0.38% of the companys stock. Barclays Company Profile (Get Free Report) Barclays PLC provides various financial services in the United Kingdom, Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The company operates through two segments, Barclays UK and Barclays International divisions. It offers financial services, such as retail banking, credit cards, wholesale banking, investment banking, wealth management, and investment management services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Barclays Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Barclays and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ensign Energy Services (TSE:ESI Free Report) had its price objective raised by CIBC from C$3.50 to C$4.00 in a research report sent to investors on Monday, BayStreet.CA reports. They currently have a neutral rating on the stock. Several other brokerages also recently issued reports on ESI. ATB Capital decreased their price target on Ensign Energy Services from C$8.50 to C$8.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 5th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on Ensign Energy Services from C$3.25 to C$4.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, September 14th. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on Ensign Energy Services from C$3.00 to C$4.50 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, August 8th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on Ensign Energy Services from C$3.00 to C$3.75 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, August 8th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Ensign Energy Services has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of C$4.78. Get Ensign Energy Services alerts: Read Our Latest Analysis on ESI Ensign Energy Services Trading Up 0.7 % Shares of ESI stock opened at C$2.87 on Monday. The company has a market cap of C$527.19 million, a P/E ratio of 11.48, a PEG ratio of 202.94 and a beta of 3.06. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of C$3.18 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$2.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 104.14, a quick ratio of 1.30 and a current ratio of 0.25. Ensign Energy Services has a fifty-two week low of C$1.77 and a fifty-two week high of C$4.11. Ensign Energy Services (TSE:ESI Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, August 4th. The company reported C$0.06 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of C$0.02 by C$0.04. The firm had revenue of C$432.77 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$426.35 million. Ensign Energy Services had a return on equity of 3.58% and a net margin of 2.43%. Research analysts forecast that Ensign Energy Services will post 0.4697218 earnings per share for the current year. Ensign Energy Services Company Profile (Get Free Report) Ensign Energy Services Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides oilfield services to the crude oil and natural gas industries in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company offers shallow, intermediate, and deep well drilling, as well as specialized drilling services, including horizontal, underbalanced, horizontal re-entry, and slant drilling for steam assisted gravity drainage applications; and equipment and services. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Ensign Energy Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ensign Energy Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com lowered shares of B2Gold (NYSEAMERICAN:BTG Free Report) (TSE:BTO) from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report released on Tuesday. A number of other research firms also recently weighed in on BTG. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and set a $4.25 price objective on shares of B2Gold in a report on Friday, September 29th. Scotiabank decreased their price objective on B2Gold from C$8.00 to C$7.75 in a report on Friday, August 4th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $6.42. Get B2Gold alerts: Get Our Latest Analysis on B2Gold B2Gold Stock Performance B2Gold stock opened at $3.40 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.72, a current ratio of 2.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $3.76. The company has a market capitalization of $4.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.59 and a beta of 0.97. B2Gold has a 52 week low of $2.77 and a 52 week high of $4.40. B2Gold (NYSEAMERICAN:BTG Get Free Report) (TSE:BTO) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The basic materials company reported $0.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.07. B2Gold had a return on equity of 10.31% and a net margin of 15.59%. The firm had revenue of $470.85 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $463.73 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.04 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 23.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts forecast that B2Gold will post 0.34 earnings per share for the current year. B2Gold Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, September 21st were issued a dividend of $0.04 per share. This represents a $0.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.71%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, September 20th. B2Golds dividend payout ratio is 59.26%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of BTG. Signaturefd LLC raised its position in shares of B2Gold by 140.1% during the 1st quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 6,406 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 3,738 shares during the last quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC raised its position in shares of B2Gold by 48.3% during the 1st quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 9,015 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 2,935 shares during the last quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. bought a new stake in shares of B2Gold during the 4th quarter valued at $36,000. Belvedere Trading LLC bought a new stake in shares of B2Gold during the 2nd quarter valued at $38,000. Finally, MBL Wealth LLC bought a new stake in shares of B2Gold during the 3rd quarter valued at $40,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 51.52% of the companys stock. B2Gold Company Profile (Get Free Report) B2Gold Corp. operates as a gold producer with three operating mines in Mali, the Philippines, and Namibia. It operates the Fekola Mine in Mali, the Masbate Mine in the Philippines, and the Otjikoto Mine in Namibia. The company also has an 25% interest in the Calibre Mining Corp.; and approximately 19% interest in BeMetals Corp. See Also Receive News & Ratings for B2Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for B2Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on shares of Credicorp (NYSE:BAP Free Report) in a research report sent to investors on Monday, Marketbeat reports. The firm issued a buy rating and a $161.20 price target on the banks stock. BAP has been the topic of a number of other reports. Scotiabank raised Credicorp from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating in a research report on Friday, July 7th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Credicorp in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $153.07. Get Credicorp alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on Credicorp Credicorp Stock Performance Shares of BAP stock opened at $125.96 on Monday. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $134.66 and its 200-day simple moving average is $139.71. The company has a market cap of $10.02 billion, a PE ratio of 8.19, a PEG ratio of 0.52 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a current ratio of 1.01, a quick ratio of 1.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46. Credicorp has a 12-month low of $120.80 and a 12-month high of $160.15. Credicorp (NYSE:BAP Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 14th. The bank reported $3.88 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $4.38 by ($0.50). The business had revenue of $1.04 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.26 billion. Credicorp had a return on equity of 15.90% and a net margin of 23.35%. Analysts expect that Credicorp will post 17.91 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Institutional Trading of Credicorp A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in Credicorp by 3.9% in the 2nd quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 1,764 shares of the banks stock valued at $260,000 after acquiring an additional 67 shares during the last quarter. Pathstone Family Office LLC raised its holdings in Credicorp by 2.8% in the 3rd quarter. Pathstone Family Office LLC now owns 2,682 shares of the banks stock valued at $329,000 after acquiring an additional 72 shares during the last quarter. US Bancorp DE raised its holdings in Credicorp by 10.3% in the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 919 shares of the banks stock valued at $122,000 after acquiring an additional 86 shares during the last quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Credicorp by 1.3% during the 1st quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 7,090 shares of the banks stock worth $939,000 after buying an additional 90 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Credicorp by 3.1% during the 2nd quarter. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. now owns 3,031 shares of the banks stock worth $479,000 after buying an additional 92 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.05% of the companys stock. About Credicorp (Get Free Report) Credicorp Ltd. provides various financial, insurance, and health services and products primarily in Peru and internationally. Its Universal Banking segment includes granting various credits and financial instruments to individuals and legal entities; and various deposits and checking accounts. The Insurance and Pensions segment includes the issuance of insurance policies to cover losses in commercial property, transport, marine vessels, automobiles, life, health, and pensions; management services for private pension funds. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Credicorp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Credicorp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) had its price target increased by BMO Capital Markets from $52.00 to $54.00 in a research report sent to investors on Monday morning, Benzinga reports. BMO Capital Markets currently has a market perform rating on the financial services providers stock. Several other analysts also recently weighed in on WFC. VNET Group restated a maintains rating on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research note on Monday, June 26th. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $50.00 to $52.00 in a research note on Sunday, July 16th. Atlantic Securities boosted their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $50.00 to $52.50 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 1st. HSBC began coverage on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research note on Thursday, September 7th. They issued a hold rating and a $45.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Odeon Capital Group lowered Wells Fargo & Company from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $43.75 price target on the stock. in a research report on Monday, July 17th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $48.31. Get Wells Fargo & Company alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on WFC Wells Fargo & Company Stock Down 0.9 % Shares of NYSE WFC opened at $41.16 on Monday. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $41.45 and a 200 day moving average price of $41.56. The company has a quick ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17. The stock has a market capitalization of $150.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.83 and a beta of 1.12. Wells Fargo & Company has a 52 week low of $35.25 and a 52 week high of $48.84. Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, October 13th. The financial services provider reported $1.39 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.24 by $0.15. Wells Fargo & Company had a net margin of 17.06% and a return on equity of 11.18%. The business had revenue of $20.86 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.09 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.30 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 6.6% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts anticipate that Wells Fargo & Company will post 4.97 EPS for the current fiscal year. Wells Fargo & Company Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 1st. Investors of record on Friday, August 4th were given a $0.35 dividend. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.40%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 3rd. This is a boost from Wells Fargo & Companys previous quarterly dividend of $0.30. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 30.24%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Barrett & Company Inc. bought a new stake in Wells Fargo & Company in the 1st quarter worth $25,000. Studio Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Wells Fargo & Company in the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL bought a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company in the 1st quarter worth approximately $28,000. Activest Wealth Management purchased a new position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company during the first quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Finally, Financial Connections Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 288.0% during the second quarter. Financial Connections Group Inc. now owns 741 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 550 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 72.47% of the companys stock. About Wells Fargo & Company (Get Free Report) Wells Fargo & Company, a diversified financial services company, provides banking, investment, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: Consumer Banking and Lending; Commercial Banking; Corporate and Investment Banking; and Wealth and Investment Management. 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. Pfizer (NYSE:PFE Free Report) had its price objective cut by Citigroup from $42.00 to $35.00 in a report issued on Monday, Benzinga reports. They currently have a neutral rating on the biopharmaceutical companys stock. Other equities research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $75.00 target price on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Monday, October 2nd. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on shares of Pfizer from $42.00 to $40.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. Truist Financial restated a buy rating and set a $62.00 price target on shares of Pfizer in a report on Wednesday, September 13th. BMO Capital Markets dropped their price objective on Pfizer from $45.00 to $44.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. Finally, Credit Suisse Group lowered Pfizer from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and lowered their target price for the company from $47.00 to $40.00 in a report on Thursday, June 29th. Twelve research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Pfizer presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $42.94. Get Pfizer alerts: Check Out Our Latest Report on Pfizer Pfizer Price Performance NYSE PFE opened at $31.19 on Monday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $34.27 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $36.76. Pfizer has a 12-month low of $30.91 and a 12-month high of $54.93. The stock has a market capitalization of $176.10 billion, a PE ratio of 8.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a quick ratio of 1.82, a current ratio of 2.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62. Pfizer (NYSE:PFE Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 1st. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.67 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.57 by $0.10. Pfizer had a net margin of 27.55% and a return on equity of 28.36%. The firm had revenue of $12.73 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $13.36 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.04 earnings per share. Pfizers revenue for the quarter was down 54.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts predict that Pfizer will post 1.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Pfizer Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 4th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 10th will be paid a $0.41 dividend. This represents a $1.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.26%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 9th. Pfizers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 43.62%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Pfizer A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of PFE. 25 LLC acquired a new position in Pfizer during the 1st quarter worth about $25,000. Worth Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Pfizer in the first quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Hibernia Wealth Partners LLC bought a new position in Pfizer in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $37,000. Macroview Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in Pfizer by 70.0% during the 1st quarter. Macroview Investment Management LLC now owns 962 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 396 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Steward Financial Group LLC bought a new position in Pfizer in the 2nd quarter valued at $43,000. 68.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Pfizer (Get Free Report) Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Pfizer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pfizer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of QuantumScape Co. (NYSE:QS Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus recommendation of Reduce from the six analysts that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1 year target price among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $6.57. QS has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price target on QuantumScape from $6.00 to $5.00 and set a sell rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 3rd. Truist Financial increased their price target on QuantumScape from $8.00 to $10.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 25th. TD Cowen cut QuantumScape from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and decreased their price target for the company from $14.00 to $8.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 19th. Finally, Evercore ISI initiated coverage on QuantumScape in a research note on Monday, September 18th. They issued an outperform rating and a $10.00 price target for the company. Get QuantumScape alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on QS Insider Transactions at QuantumScape Institutional Inflows and Outflows In other news, CFO Kevin Hettrich sold 76,648 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $6.84, for a total value of $524,272.32. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 604,204 shares in the company, valued at $4,132,755.36. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website . In related news, CFO Kevin Hettrich sold 76,648 shares of QuantumScape stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $6.84, for a total transaction of $524,272.32. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 604,204 shares in the company, valued at $4,132,755.36. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . Also, Director Jeffrey B. Straubel sold 69,309 shares of QuantumScape stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $7.00, for a total value of $485,163.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 292,644 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,048,508. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold a total of 353,801 shares of company stock worth $2,430,414 over the last three months. 10.18% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in QuantumScape by 1.1% in the second quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 89,705 shares of the companys stock valued at $717,000 after purchasing an additional 1,005 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its holdings in QuantumScape by 5.6% in the second quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 25,378 shares of the companys stock valued at $218,000 after purchasing an additional 1,346 shares during the period. CWM LLC grew its holdings in QuantumScape by 25.1% in the first quarter. CWM LLC now owns 7,311 shares of the companys stock valued at $60,000 after purchasing an additional 1,468 shares during the period. Ameriprise Financial Inc. grew its holdings in QuantumScape by 10.3% in the first quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 16,789 shares of the companys stock valued at $137,000 after purchasing an additional 1,573 shares during the period. Finally, Victory Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in QuantumScape by 6.6% in the first quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 28,760 shares of the companys stock valued at $235,000 after purchasing an additional 1,771 shares during the period. 27.22% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. QuantumScape Price Performance Shares of QS stock opened at $6.08 on Friday. QuantumScape has a 1-year low of $5.11 and a 1-year high of $13.86. The stocks 50-day moving average is $6.73 and its 200 day moving average is $7.42. The company has a market cap of $2.72 billion, a P/E ratio of -5.96 and a beta of 5.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03, a current ratio of 19.25 and a quick ratio of 19.25. QuantumScape (NYSE:QS Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 26th. The company reported ($0.26) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.22) by ($0.04). During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned ($0.22) earnings per share. Research analysts predict that QuantumScape will post -0.98 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. About QuantumScape (Get Free Report QuantumScape Corporation, a development stage company, focuses on the development and commercialization of solid-state lithium-metal batteries for electric vehicles and other applications. QuantumScape Corporation was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in San Jose, California. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for QuantumScape Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for QuantumScape and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Invitae Co. (NYSE:NVTA Get Free Report) have received an average rating of Strong Sell from the five research firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and two have given a hold rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $2.08. A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their target price on shares of Invitae from $1.50 to $1.00 and set a sell rating for the company in a research note on Friday, July 21st. Piper Sandler cut their target price on shares of Invitae to $1.50 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, August 15th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Invitae from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Sunday, October 15th. Get Invitae alerts: Read Our Latest Research Report on Invitae Institutional Trading of Invitae Invitae Price Performance Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. ARK Investment Management LLC raised its stake in Invitae by 2.1% in the 3rd quarter. ARK Investment Management LLC now owns 32,942,606 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $19,937,000 after purchasing an additional 679,672 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in Invitae by 2.6% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 21,624,354 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $53,196,000 after purchasing an additional 544,941 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. increased its holdings in Invitae by 2.9% in the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 21,323,634 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $24,096,000 after buying an additional 604,081 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Invitae by 7.8% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,811,895 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $5,437,000 after buying an additional 348,802 shares during the period. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its holdings in Invitae by 34.0% in the 2nd quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 2,551,464 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $6,226,000 after buying an additional 647,362 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 61.28% of the companys stock. Shares of NVTA stock opened at $0.61 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $162.96 million, a P/E ratio of -0.19 and a beta of 1.78. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $0.81 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $1.10. Invitae has a one year low of $0.60 and a one year high of $3.78. Invitae (NYSE:NVTA Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 8th. The medical research company reported ($0.30) EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.37) by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $120.53 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $121.19 million. Invitae had a negative net margin of 161.92% and a negative return on equity of 6,100.71%. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Invitae will post -1.41 EPS for the current fiscal year. Invitae Company Profile (Get Free Report Invitae Corporation, a medical genetics company, that provides genetic information to improve healthcare of people in the United States, Canada, and internationally. The company offers genetic tests in various clinical areas, including hereditary cancer, precision oncology, women's health, rare diseases, and pharmacogenomics; digital health solutions; and health data services. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Invitae Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invitae and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM Get Free Report) have earned an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the seventeen ratings firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and thirteen have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $593.10. HUM has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Argus lowered Humana from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, June 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded Humana from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and reduced their target price for the company from $576.00 to $540.00 in a report on Friday, July 7th. Truist Financial raised their target price on Humana from $530.00 to $550.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their target price on Humana from $468.00 to $628.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, August 7th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded Humana from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Wednesday. Get Humana alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on Humana Humana Stock Performance Shares of HUM stock opened at $522.72 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 1.37 and a quick ratio of 1.37. Humana has a fifty-two week low of $423.29 and a fifty-two week high of $571.30. The stocks 50-day moving average is $487.15 and its two-hundred day moving average is $487.70. The firm has a market cap of $64.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.50, a PEG ratio of 1.34 and a beta of 0.63. Humana (NYSE:HUM Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 2nd. The insurance provider reported $8.94 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $8.88 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $26.75 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $25.83 billion. Humana had a return on equity of 20.70% and a net margin of 3.42%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 13.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $8.67 EPS. Analysts predict that Humana will post 28.29 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Humana Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 27th. Investors of record on Friday, September 29th will be given a dividend of $0.885 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 28th. This represents a $3.54 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.68%. Humanas payout ratio is 13.21%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Humana A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich lifted its position in Humana by 102,197.0% during the second quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 13,241,321 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $5,920,592,000 after acquiring an additional 13,228,377 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its holdings in shares of Humana by 0.6% in the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 7,667,648 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $3,722,338,000 after buying an additional 44,518 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC raised its holdings in shares of Humana by 7.1% in the first quarter. FMR LLC now owns 7,342,938 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $3,564,703,000 after buying an additional 486,893 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its holdings in shares of Humana by 2.5% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 5,852,050 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $2,621,731,000 after buying an additional 143,883 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Capital World Investors raised its holdings in shares of Humana by 18.7% in the second quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 2,322,684 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,038,513,000 after buying an additional 366,007 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.86% of the companys stock. About Humana (Get 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 Articles 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. Shares of Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN Get Free Report) have been given an average recommendation of Moderate Buy by the twenty-six analysts that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have assigned a hold recommendation and twenty-one have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12-month price target among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $151.40. GPN has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. B. Riley initiated coverage on shares of Global Payments in a research report on Friday, June 23rd. They issued a buy rating and a $179.00 price target for the company. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $154.00 price target on shares of Global Payments in a research report on Tuesday, October 3rd. Mizuho upped their price target on shares of Global Payments from $100.00 to $123.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Global Payments from $126.00 to $143.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 22nd. Finally, Credit Suisse Group reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $135.00 price target on shares of Global Payments in a research report on Friday, September 8th. Get Global Payments alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on GPN Insider Activity Institutional Inflows and Outflows In other news, CAO David M. Sheffield sold 2,016 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $119.47, for a total value of $240,851.52. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 25,045 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,992,126.15. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink . In related news, CFO Joshua J. Whipple sold 37,096 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.28, for a total value of $4,721,578.88. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 39,772 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,062,180.16. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link . Also, CAO David M. Sheffield sold 2,016 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $119.47, for a total transaction of $240,851.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 25,045 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,992,126.15. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders own 1.30% of the companys stock. Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Oak Thistle LLC purchased a new position in Global Payments during the 2nd quarter valued at about $1,528,000. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of Global Payments by 9.5% in the 1st quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 209,931 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $22,093,000 after purchasing an additional 18,220 shares in the last quarter. RFG Advisory LLC raised its holdings in shares of Global Payments by 4.9% in the 1st quarter. RFG Advisory LLC now owns 5,938 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $625,000 after purchasing an additional 280 shares in the last quarter. Compass Financial Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Global Payments in the 1st quarter valued at about $310,000. Finally, AE Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Global Payments by 114.5% in the 2nd quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 48,962 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $4,824,000 after purchasing an additional 26,131 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.23% of the companys stock. Global Payments Stock Down 2.4 % Shares of GPN stock opened at $112.32 on Friday. Global Payments has a 12 month low of $92.27 and a 12 month high of $129.70. The stock has a market cap of $29.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.44, a P/E/G ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 0.98. The company has a current ratio of 1.08, a quick ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $120.96 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $111.15. Global Payments (NYSE:GPN Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The business services provider reported $2.62 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.43 by $0.19. Global Payments had a net margin of 8.65% and a return on equity of 10.98%. The business had revenue of $2.45 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.19 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.23 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 7.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that Global Payments will post 9.66 earnings per share for the current year. Global Payments Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 15th were paid a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.89%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 14th. Global Paymentss dividend payout ratio is currently 33.33%. About Global Payments (Get Free Report Global Payments Inc provides payment technology and software solutions for card, check, and digital-based payments in the Americas, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific. It operates through three segments: Merchant Solutions, Issuer Solutions, and Consumer Solutions. The Merchant Solutions segment offers authorization, settlement and funding, customer support, chargeback resolution, terminal rental, sales and deployment, payment security, and consolidated billing and reporting services. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Global Payments Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Global Payments and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. My message to any state or any other hostile actor thinking about attacking Israel remains the same as it was a week ago: dont, dont, dont, said U.S. President Joe Biden on his visit to Tel Aviv on Wednesday. While calling for Israels containment and negotiating the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, Washington is steadily reinforcing its military presence in the eastern Mediterranean. Its objective is twofold: to dissuade Iran from intervening in the conflict between Israel and Hamas with an Israeli invasion of the Strip appearing imminent, but also to prepare to support its greatest ally in the region. The U.S. deployment is forceful as the drums of war beat louder. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has promised his troops that they will soon be able to see Gaza from the inside and drone attacks against American forces in the region are increasing. Washingtons most significant military gesture has been the dispatch of two aircraft carriers to the eastern Mediterranean, an extremely rare occurrence. The largest of its fleet, the USS Gerald R. Ford, and its escort ships are already present in the area. A second carrier, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, is on its way to the area, where it is expected within seven to 10 days. Between them, they are carrying up to 135 combat aircraft. The Pentagon stresses that the carrier deployment is not designed to engage in military action together with Israel. Its mission is primarily to act as a deterrent in the face of the threat that Iran, the nemesis of Israel and the United States in the region, might be tempted to engage in hostile action that could aggravate the crisis or that the Islamic regimes arm in southern Lebanon, the Hezbollah militia, might try to open a second front in the war with its attacks on northern Israel. There is no intention to put U.S. boots on the ground in combat, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stressed on the flight bringing Biden back to Washington after his less than eight-hour visit to Tel Aviv. The point of the carriers is to deter anybody from taking action. Also headed for the eastern Mediterranean is the 2,200-strong 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit and a three-ship amphibious group. Two of them, the USS Bataan and the USS Carter Hall, are in the Gulf of Aden. The third, the USS Mesa Verde, is in the Mediterranean after undergoing repairs in Spain. The Bataan can carry helicopters and Osprey and Harrier vertical takeoff aircraft. Also in the area is the U.S. warship Mount Whitney, on which the commander of the Sixth Fleet, Vice Admiral Thomas Ishee, is based, the U.S. Navy has announced. This command ship, with a crew of 300, has the capability to receive, process and transmit large amounts of data from anywhere on Earth in complete safety, according to the Pentagon. Meanwhile, the Defense Department confirmed earlier this week that it has ordered 2,000 soldiers from various units to prepare to be ready to move to the Middle East within 24 hours, rather than the usual 96 hours. These military personnel are specialized in tasks ranging from air defense to logistics to medical assistance and terrain reconnaissance. In addition, the Department of Defense has also reinforced its air power in the region with warplanes including F-35 fighters, F-16s and A-10 Thunderbolt subsonic attack aircraft. A $10 billion package Assistance to Israel is not limited to sending a military deployment to the area. From the outset of the crisis, Washington has accelerated the delivery of military equipment to its ally, with which it has a defense assistance agreement worth more than $3 billion a year through 2028. It has already moved at least two shipments including ammunition and air defense to Israel; U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin visited an air base in Israel last week to witness the arrival of the second shipment. Our security assistance continues to flow, including munitions, to meet Israels urgent needs, Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said at a press briefing this week. The White House plans to ask Congress to approve a foreign aid appropriation of nearly $100 billion, of which $10 billion would be designated for military aid to Israel and $60 billion for Ukraine, according to U.S. media. The department remains focused on three objectives supporting Israels defense through security assistance, sending a strong signal [] of deterrence to any actors who might be thinking of entering the conflict, and staying vigilant to any threats to U.S. forces in the region, Singh added. A sufficient and credible military force Obviously, we have national security interests. Well protect them if we need to, Kirby stressed. Its a sufficient, credible military force, and if as Commander-in-Chief, [Biden] decides that that force needs to be used to defend our interests, well do that. With tensions at an all-time high following Tuesdays explosion at a Gaza hospital which Hamas blames on Israel and Israel blames on Islamic Jihad, the Strips second-largest militia U.S. military forces in the region are on high alert for possible attacks by Iranian-backed groups. In Syria, U.S. forces shot down two drones preparing to attack them, the Defense Department said Thursday. In Iraq, U.S. bases were hit by drones earlier this week in an incident that resulted in minor injuries to Coalition forces, the U.S. Central Command said in a statement. In this moment of heightened alert, we are vigilantly monitoring the situation in Iraq and the region. We want to emphasize U.S. forces will defend U.S. and Coalition forces against any threat. On Thursday, the destroyer USS Carney, in waters north of the Red Sea, shot down three cruise missiles and several drones launched by Houthi rebels in Yemen, in an attack that could have been targeting Israel, according to Pentagon spokesman General Pat Ryder. U.S. troops are also engaged in peacekeeping activities. In an unannounced visit, General Michael Erik Kurilla, head of Central Command and responsible for U.S. forces in the Middle East, met in person with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi. They discussed the situation in Gaza and how to send the humanitarian aid waiting at the Rafah border crossing which connects the strip with the Egyptian Sinai and is the only access to Gaza not controlled by Israel into the Strip. Dakota Wealth Management acquired a new position in Samsara Inc. (NYSE:IOT Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor acquired 27,826 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $771,000. Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Ulland Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Samsara in the 2nd quarter worth about $25,000. FNY Investment Advisers LLC bought a new position in shares of Samsara in the 1st quarter worth about $32,000. State of Wyoming bought a new position in shares of Samsara in the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC bought a new position in shares of Samsara in the 1st quarter worth about $45,000. Finally, Macquarie Group Ltd. raised its position in shares of Samsara by 37.3% in the 4th quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. now owns 2,391 shares of the companys stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 649 shares in the last quarter. 52.47% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Samsara alerts: Samsara Trading Down 1.4 % IOT stock opened at $23.22 on Friday. Samsara Inc. has a 52-week low of $8.42 and a 52-week high of $32.41. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $25.96 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $24.42. Insider Buying and Selling at Samsara Samsara ( NYSE:IOT Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 31st. The company reported ($0.11) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.12) by $0.01. The business had revenue of $219.26 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $207.69 million. Samsara had a negative return on equity of 20.84% and a negative net margin of 30.77%. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Samsara Inc. will post -0.41 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. In other Samsara news, CEO Sanjit Biswas sold 55,679 shares of Samsara stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $24.86, for a total transaction of $1,384,179.94. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 799,645 shares in the company, valued at approximately $19,879,174.70. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, insider John Bicket sold 56,093 shares of Samsara stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $24.85, for a total value of $1,393,911.05. Following the sale, the insider now owns 840,401 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $20,883,964.85. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Sanjit Biswas sold 55,679 shares of Samsara stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $24.86, for a total transaction of $1,384,179.94. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 799,645 shares in the company, valued at approximately $19,879,174.70. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 2,537,086 shares of company stock worth $68,218,202. Insiders own 66.14% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets IOT has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Truist Financial lifted their price objective on Samsara from $20.00 to $27.00 in a research report on Friday, June 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Samsara from $31.00 to $32.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, September 1st. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on Samsara from $27.00 to $28.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Friday, September 1st. StockNews.com started coverage on Samsara in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a sell rating for the company. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on Samsara from $23.00 to $25.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, September 1st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $25.33. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Samsara Samsara Company Profile (Free Report) Samsara Inc provides solutions that connect physical operations data to its Connected Operations Cloud in the United States and internationally. The company's Connected Operations Cloud includes Data Platform, which ingests, aggregates, and enriches data from its IoT devices and has embedded capabilities for AI, workflows and analytics, alerts, API connections, and data security and privacy; and applications for video-based safety, vehicle telematics, apps and driver workflows, equipment monitoring, and site visibility. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IOT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Samsara Inc. (NYSE:IOT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Samsara Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Samsara and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dakota Wealth Management reduced its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG Free Report) by 9.7% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 389 shares of the restaurant operators stock after selling 42 shares during the period. Dakota Wealth Managements holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill were worth $832,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Panagora Asset Management Inc. raised its position in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 79.5% during the first quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 948 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $1,500,000 after purchasing an additional 420 shares in the last quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. raised its position in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 15.5% during the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 171 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $271,000 after purchasing an additional 23 shares in the last quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board raised its position in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 7.3% during the first quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 3,032 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $4,796,000 after purchasing an additional 205 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers raised its position in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 6.1% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 777 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $1,229,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC raised its position in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 38.9% during the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 218 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $345,000 after purchasing an additional 61 shares in the last quarter. 91.19% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Chipotle Mexican Grill alerts: Chipotle Mexican Grill Stock Performance Shares of NYSE CMG opened at $1,847.63 on Friday. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $1,344.05 and a fifty-two week high of $2,175.01. The stock has a market cap of $50.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 46.14, a PEG ratio of 1.58 and a beta of 1.30. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $1,877.53 and its 200 day simple moving average is $1,951.04. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Chipotle Mexican Grill ( NYSE:CMG Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The restaurant operator reported $12.65 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $12.25 by $0.40. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a net margin of 12.00% and a return on equity of 45.85%. The business had revenue of $2.51 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.53 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $9.30 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 13.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. will post 43.2 EPS for the current year. CMG has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Stephens lowered their price objective on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,400.00 to $2,330.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 11th. Truist Financial upped their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,230.00 to $2,280.00 in a report on Wednesday, September 20th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,400.00 to $2,200.00 in a report on Thursday, July 27th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,025.00 to $2,010.00 in a report on Thursday, July 27th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,250.00 to $2,150.00 in a report on Thursday, July 27th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nineteen have assigned 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 $2,160.41. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Chipotle Mexican Grill Insider Activity at Chipotle Mexican Grill In related news, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 1,063 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,949.84, for a total value of $2,072,679.92. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 23,347 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $45,522,914.48. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Chipotle Mexican Grill news, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 1,063 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,949.84, for a total value of $2,072,679.92. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 23,347 shares in the company, valued at approximately $45,522,914.48. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 1,044 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,830.95, for a total transaction of $1,911,511.80. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 23,347 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $42,747,189.65. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 3,165 shares of company stock valued at $6,024,185. 0.96% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. About Chipotle Mexican Grill (Free Report) Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants. It offers burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, tacos, and salads. The company was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Newport Beach, California. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CMG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dakota Wealth Management boosted its position in Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL Free Report) by 74.5% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 4,894 shares of the basic materials companys stock after acquiring an additional 2,089 shares during the period. Dakota Wealth Managements holdings in Ecolab were worth $914,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Toroso Investments LLC boosted its holdings in Ecolab by 2.2% in the first quarter. Toroso Investments LLC now owns 17,037 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $2,820,000 after acquiring an additional 374 shares in the last quarter. Wealthfront Advisers LLC boosted its holdings in Ecolab by 184.7% in the first quarter. Wealthfront Advisers LLC now owns 31,989 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $5,295,000 after acquiring an additional 20,753 shares in the last quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System boosted its holdings in Ecolab by 0.6% in the first quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 16,100 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $2,665,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. boosted its holdings in Ecolab by 1.9% in the first quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. now owns 786,556 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $130,199,000 after acquiring an additional 14,653 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in Ecolab by 1.3% in the second quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 32,652 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $6,096,000 after acquiring an additional 423 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 73.91% of the companys stock. Get Ecolab alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts have recently commented on ECL shares. TheStreet raised Ecolab from a c rating to a b- rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 1st. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Ecolab from $208.00 to $215.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on Ecolab from $175.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. Northcoast Research downgraded Ecolab from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 5th. Finally, Berenberg Bank started coverage on Ecolab in a research note on Friday, September 1st. They issued a hold rating and a $180.00 price objective for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $192.60. Insider Buying and Selling at Ecolab In other news, Director David Maclennan acquired 650 shares of Ecolab stock in a transaction on Monday, August 7th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $183.73 per share, with a total value of $119,424.50. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 15,071 shares in the company, valued at $2,768,994.83. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 0.04% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Ecolab Price Performance Shares of NYSE ECL opened at $160.34 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $175.46 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $176.01. Ecolab Inc. has a 1-year low of $131.04 and a 1-year high of $191.41. The firm has a market cap of $45.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 1.02. The company has a current ratio of 1.22, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99. Ecolab (NYSE:ECL Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 1st. The basic materials company reported $1.24 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.21 by $0.03. Ecolab had a return on equity of 18.33% and a net margin of 7.96%. The business had revenue of $3.85 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.86 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.10 earnings per share. Ecolabs revenue was up 7.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Ecolab Inc. will post 5.1 earnings per share for the current year. Ecolab Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, October 16th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 19th were issued a dividend of $0.53 per share. This represents a $2.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.32%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 18th. Ecolabs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 51.58%. Ecolab Company Profile (Free Report) Ecolab Inc provides water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions and services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Global Industrial, Global Institutional & Specialty, and Global Healthcare & Life Sciences segments. The Global Industrial segment offers water treatment and process applications, and cleaning and sanitizing solutions to manufacturing, food and beverage processing, transportation, chemical, metals and mining, power generation, pulp and paper, commercial laundry, petroleum, refining, and petrochemical industries. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Ecolab Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ecolab and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dakota Wealth Management trimmed its holdings in shares of BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund, Inc. (NYSE:MHD Free Report) by 4.0% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 84,039 shares of the companys stock after selling 3,500 shares during the period. Dakota Wealth Managements holdings in BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund were worth $977,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. LPL Financial LLC lifted its stake in BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund by 1.3% in the 2nd quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 64,514 shares of the companys stock valued at $819,000 after purchasing an additional 825 shares during the last quarter. Integrated Capital Management Inc. lifted its stake in BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund by 7.3% in the 1st quarter. Integrated Capital Management Inc. now owns 14,208 shares of the companys stock valued at $152,000 after purchasing an additional 961 shares during the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund by 2.5% in the 2nd quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 47,727 shares of the companys stock valued at $555,000 after purchasing an additional 1,160 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC lifted its stake in BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund by 8.8% in the 4th quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 20,168 shares of the companys stock valued at $245,000 after purchasing an additional 1,624 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund by 4.0% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 42,370 shares of the companys stock valued at $511,000 after purchasing an additional 1,644 shares during the last quarter. Get BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund alerts: BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund Stock Performance Shares of MHD stock opened at $10.12 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $10.86 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $11.37. BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund, Inc. has a 12-month low of $10.10 and a 12-month high of $12.54. BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund Dividend Announcement BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund Profile The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, October 16th will be given a dividend of $0.0355 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 13th. This represents a $0.43 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.21%. (Free Report) BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund, Inc is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched by BlackRock, Inc It is managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC. The fund invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. It primarily invests in investment grade municipal bonds that are exempt from federal income taxes. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MHD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund, Inc. (NYSE:MHD Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BZAM (OTCMKTS:BZAMF Get Free Report) is one of 403 publicly-traded companies in the Private households industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its rivals? We will compare BZAM to related businesses based on the strength of its valuation, profitability, earnings, dividends, risk, analyst recommendations and institutional ownership. Risk and Volatility BZAM has a beta of 1.97, suggesting that its share price is 97% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, BZAMs rivals have a beta of 2.26, suggesting that their average share price is 126% more volatile than the S&P 500. Get BZAM alerts: Earnings and Valuation This table compares BZAM and its rivals revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio BZAM $37.96 million -$27.31 million -0.19 BZAM Competitors $12.79 billion $1.31 billion 12.49 Institutional & Insider Ownership BZAMs rivals have higher revenue and earnings than BZAM. BZAM is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its rivals, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry. 0.0% of BZAM shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 12.7% of shares of all Private households companies are held by institutional investors. 8.7% of BZAM shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 4.4% of shares of all Private households companies are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for BZAM and its rivals, as reported by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score BZAM 0 0 1 0 3.00 BZAM Competitors 1482 4376 4383 49 2.29 As a group, Private households companies have a potential upside of 1,430.38%. Given BZAMs rivals higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe BZAM has less favorable growth aspects than its rivals. Profitability This table compares BZAM and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets BZAM -128.25% -31.87% -19.74% BZAM Competitors -10.63% 7.74% 2.77% Summary BZAM rivals beat BZAM on 9 of the 12 factors compared. About BZAM (Get Free Report) BZAM Ltd. operates as a cannabis producer with a focus on branded consumer goods. Its brands include the BZAM, TGOD, ness, Highly Dutch Organic, and TABLE TOP, as well as Dunn Cannabis, FRESH, and Wyld partner brands. The company operate facilities in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec, as well as retail stores in Winnipeg, Manitoba and Regina, Saskatchewan. The company was formerly known as The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. and changed its name to BZAM Ltd. in February 2023. The company was incorporated in 2016 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Receive News & Ratings for BZAM Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BZAM and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mutual Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of ProShares S&P 500 Aristocrats ETF (BATS:NOBL Free Report) by 5.8% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 17,570 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 961 shares during the quarter. Mutual Advisors LLCs holdings in ProShares S&P 500 Aristocrats ETF were worth $1,656,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Annapolis Financial Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of ProShares S&P 500 Aristocrats ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at about $27,000. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC purchased a new stake in shares of ProShares S&P 500 Aristocrats ETF during the 1st quarter worth about $28,000. Beacon Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of ProShares S&P 500 Aristocrats ETF during the 1st quarter worth about $32,000. Grey Fox Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of ProShares S&P 500 Aristocrats ETF during the 1st quarter worth about $33,000. Finally, First Manhattan CO. LLC. purchased a new stake in shares of ProShares S&P 500 Aristocrats ETF during the 1st quarter worth about $36,000. Get ProShares S&P 500 Aristocrats ETF alerts: ProShares S&P 500 Aristocrats ETF Stock Performance Shares of BATS:NOBL opened at $86.19 on Friday. ProShares S&P 500 Aristocrats ETF has a 1 year low of $55.69 and a 1 year high of $67.97. The stock has a market capitalization of $10.65 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.72 and a beta of 0.89. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $91.24 and a 200-day simple moving average of $92.19. ProShares S&P 500 Aristocrats ETF Profile The ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats index. The fund tracks an equal-weighted index of S&P 500 constituents that have increased dividend payments annually for at least 25 years. NOBL was launched on Oct 9, 2013 and is managed by ProShares. See Also Receive News & Ratings for ProShares S&P 500 Aristocrats ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ProShares S&P 500 Aristocrats ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wipro (NYSE:WIT Get Free Report) announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday. The information technology services provider reported $0.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.07 by ($0.01), MarketWatch Earnings reports. Wipro had a net margin of 12.69% and a return on equity of 15.79%. The business had revenue of $2.71 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.77 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.06 earnings per share. Wipro Trading Down 1.2 % Shares of WIT stock opened at $4.67 on Friday. Wipro has a twelve month low of $4.32 and a twelve month high of $5.31. The company has a current ratio of 1.72, a quick ratio of 1.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09. The businesss 50 day moving average is $5.00 and its two-hundred day moving average is $4.81. The company has a market capitalization of $25.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.02 and a beta of 0.80. Get Wipro alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research firms recently commented on WIT. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on shares of Wipro in a research report on Tuesday, August 22nd. They issued a sell rating and a $4.70 target price on the stock. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Wipro in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Wipro Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its position in Wipro by 4.9% in the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 47,432 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $366,000 after purchasing an additional 2,234 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its position in Wipro by 10.1% during the 1st quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 24,557 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $110,000 after acquiring an additional 2,259 shares in the last quarter. Enterprise Financial Services Corp boosted its holdings in Wipro by 24.2% in the 1st quarter. Enterprise Financial Services Corp now owns 13,130 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $59,000 after acquiring an additional 2,555 shares during the period. Mariner LLC grew its position in Wipro by 8.3% in the first quarter. Mariner LLC now owns 38,631 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $298,000 after acquiring an additional 2,970 shares in the last quarter. Finally, 1832 Asset Management L.P. purchased a new stake in shares of Wipro during the first quarter valued at approximately $26,000. 2.36% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Wipro (Get Free Report) Wipro Limited operates as an information technology (IT), consulting, and business process services company worldwide. It operates through three segments: IT Services, IT Products, and India State Run Enterprise Services (ISRE). The IT Services segment offers IT and IT-enabled services, including digital strategy advisory, customer-centric design, technology and IT consulting, custom application design, development, re-engineering and maintenance, systems integration, package implementation, cloud and infrastructure, business process, cloud, mobility and analytics, research and development, and hardware and software design services to enterprises. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Wipro Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wipro and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. lowered its position in shares of Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX Free Report) by 1.4% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 36,111 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 526 shares during the period. Daiwa Securities Group Inc.s holdings in Phillips 66 were worth $3,444,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Country Trust Bank grew its stake in Phillips 66 by 1,315.8% during the second quarter. Country Trust Bank now owns 269 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 250 shares in the last quarter. Oliver Lagore Vanvalin Investment Group lifted its position in Phillips 66 by 504.0% during the first quarter. Oliver Lagore Vanvalin Investment Group now owns 302 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 252 shares during the last quarter. Fiduciary Alliance LLC bought a new stake in Phillips 66 during the second quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Worth Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in Phillips 66 during the first quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, Graves Light Lenhart Wealth Inc. bought a new stake in Phillips 66 during the first quarter valued at approximately $47,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 71.83% of the companys stock. Get Phillips 66 alerts: Insider Transactions at Phillips 66 In other news, EVP Timothy D. Roberts sold 12,970 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.41, for a total value of $1,613,597.70. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 80,009 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,953,919.69. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, Chairman Greg C. Garland sold 169,400 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $111.44, for a total transaction of $18,877,936.00. Following the sale, the chairman now directly owns 662,366 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $73,814,067.04. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Timothy D. Roberts sold 12,970 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.41, for a total transaction of $1,613,597.70. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 80,009 shares in the company, valued at $9,953,919.69. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 360,648 shares of company stock valued at $41,396,371 in the last three months. 4.57% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Phillips 66 Stock Down 0.9 % Shares of Phillips 66 stock opened at $115.18 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.33, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $116.20 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $105.44. The company has a market cap of $51.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.00, a PEG ratio of 0.38 and a beta of 1.33. Phillips 66 has a 12-month low of $89.74 and a 12-month high of $125.19. Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 2nd. The oil and gas company reported $3.87 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.54 by $0.33. The business had revenue of $35.74 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $32.13 billion. Phillips 66 had a net margin of 6.81% and a return on equity of 26.25%. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $6.77 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Phillips 66 will post 16.15 EPS for the current year. Phillips 66 Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 17th will be given a dividend of $1.05 per share. This represents a $4.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.65%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 16th. Phillips 66s payout ratio is currently 18.22%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several brokerages have issued reports on PSX. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on shares of Phillips 66 from $125.00 to $141.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, September 1st. Piper Sandler lowered their price objective on shares of Phillips 66 from $138.00 to $134.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 5th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Phillips 66 in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Phillips 66 from $130.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, September 8th. Finally, Mizuho lowered their price objective on shares of Phillips 66 from $131.00 to $116.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 6th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Phillips 66 presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $129.93. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Phillips 66 About Phillips 66 (Free Report) Phillips 66 operates as an energy manufacturing and logistics company in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties (M&S). The Midstream segment transports crude oil and other feedstocks; delivers refined petroleum products to market; provides terminaling and storage services for crude oil and refined petroleum products; transports, stores, fractionates, exports, and markets natural gas liquids; provides other fee-based processing services; and gathers, processes, transports, and markets natural gas. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PSX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Phillips 66 Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Phillips 66 and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Danaher Co. (NYSE:DHR Free Report) Equities research analysts at Leerink Partnrs reduced their FY2023 earnings estimates for Danaher in a research note issued on Thursday, October 19th. Leerink Partnrs analyst P. Souda now expects that the conglomerate will earn $8.42 per share for the year, down from their previous estimate of $8.71. The consensus estimate for Danahers current full-year earnings is $8.74 per share. Leerink Partnrs also issued estimates for Danahers Q4 2023 earnings at $2.14 EPS, Q1 2024 earnings at $1.91 EPS, Q2 2024 earnings at $1.94 EPS, Q3 2024 earnings at $2.06 EPS, Q4 2024 earnings at $2.21 EPS, FY2024 earnings at $8.13 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $8.99 EPS. Get Danaher alerts: Several other equities research analysts have also commented on DHR. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on Danaher from $300.00 to $260.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on Danaher from $260.00 to $292.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 26th. Barclays increased their target price on Danaher from $260.00 to $290.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 25th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Danaher in a research report on Friday, October 6th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on Danaher from $285.00 to $247.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 3rd. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $281.60. Danaher Stock Performance NYSE:DHR opened at $207.25 on Friday. Danaher has a fifty-two week low of $204.73 and a fifty-two week high of $281.54. The company has a market cap of $153.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.32, a P/E/G ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 0.81. The company has a quick ratio of 1.70, a current ratio of 2.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The firms 50 day moving average is $242.91 and its two-hundred day moving average is $242.12. Danaher (NYSE:DHR Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The conglomerate reported $2.05 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.01 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $7.16 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.12 billion. Danaher had a return on equity of 15.03% and a net margin of 20.95%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 7.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.76 EPS. Danaher Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 27th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 12th will be issued a dividend of $0.27 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, October 11th. This represents a $1.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.52%. Danahers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 12.68%. Insider Transactions at Danaher In other Danaher news, SVP Jose-Carlos Gutierrez-Ramos sold 590 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred 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 completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 6,939 shares in the company, valued at $1,738,497.06. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, SVP Daniel Raskas sold 11,213 shares of Danaher stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $260.65, for a total value of $2,922,668.45. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 38,288 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,979,767.20. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, SVP Jose-Carlos Gutierrez-Ramos sold 590 shares of the firms 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 completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 6,939 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,738,497.06. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 47,922 shares of company stock valued at $12,552,233. 11.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Trading of Danaher Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Fairfield Bush & CO. raised its holdings in shares of Danaher by 10.9% during the first quarter. Fairfield Bush & CO. now owns 4,840 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $1,420,000 after acquiring an additional 475 shares in the last quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. grew its stake in shares of Danaher by 19.3% in the 1st quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 2,468 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $724,000 after buying an additional 400 shares in the last quarter. Covestor Ltd increased its holdings in Danaher by 76.8% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 495 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $145,000 after buying an additional 215 shares during the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its position in Danaher by 14.1% during the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 31,530 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $9,248,000 after acquiring an additional 3,897 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bridgewater Associates LP lifted its stake in Danaher by 135.9% in the first quarter. Bridgewater Associates LP now owns 35,270 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $10,346,000 after acquiring an additional 20,320 shares during the last quarter. 76.71% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Danaher (Get 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. See Also 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. Retirement Systems of Alabama boosted its holdings in shares of First Horizon Co. (NYSE:FHN Free Report) by 15.9% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,847,624 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 253,127 shares during the period. Retirement Systems of Alabama owned about 0.34% of First Horizon worth $20,823,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in FHN. Cetera Investment Advisers lifted its position in shares of First Horizon by 3.2% during the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 15,738 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $370,000 after buying an additional 491 shares during the period. HB Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of First Horizon by 3.1% during the first quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC now owns 18,210 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $324,000 after acquiring an additional 552 shares during the period. Blair William & Co. IL boosted its stake in shares of First Horizon by 2.1% in the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 28,364 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $666,000 after purchasing an additional 575 shares in the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB grew its holdings in shares of First Horizon by 1.9% in the 1st quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 33,189 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $588,000 after purchasing an additional 624 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ausdal Financial Partners Inc. increased its position in shares of First Horizon by 2.8% during the 2nd quarter. Ausdal Financial Partners Inc. now owns 28,513 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $321,000 after purchasing an additional 781 shares in the last quarter. 76.44% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get First Horizon alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets FHN has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Robert W. Baird assumed coverage on shares of First Horizon in a research report on Tuesday, July 18th. They issued a neutral rating and a $14.00 price target on the stock. UBS Group began coverage on First Horizon in a research report on Thursday, September 28th. They set a neutral rating and a $12.00 price target on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on First Horizon from $13.00 to $13.50 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday. SpectralCast reissued a reinstates rating on shares of First Horizon in a research note on Wednesday, June 28th. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on First Horizon in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a sell rating for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, First Horizon currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $12.56. First Horizon Trading Up 1.0 % FHN stock opened at $11.19 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.93, a current ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14. First Horizon Co. has a twelve month low of $8.99 and a twelve month high of $24.92. The company has a market cap of $6.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.70, a PEG ratio of 3.25 and a beta of 0.96. The business has a fifty day moving average of $11.62 and a 200-day moving average of $12.67. First Horizon (NYSE:FHN Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, October 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.24 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $1.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $801.16 million. First Horizon had a net margin of 20.40% and a return on equity of 11.74%. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.44 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that First Horizon Co. will post 1.4 EPS for the current year. First Horizon Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, October 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 15th were paid a $0.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 14th. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.36%. First Horizons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 35.93%. About First Horizon (Free Report) First Horizon Corporation operates as the bank holding company for First Horizon Bank that provides various financial services. The company operates through three segments: Regional Banking, Specialty Banking, and Corporate. It offers general banking services for consumers, businesses, financial institutions, and governments. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for First Horizon Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for First Horizon and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Text in which the author defends ideas and reaches conclusions based on his / her interpretation of facts and data The rise of far-right candidates in the United States and Brazil taught us a valuable lesson political battles are now largely fought online, where misinformation plays a crucial role. Social networks are becoming increasingly influential in shaping political engagement, especially among the younger generation. The impact of digital anti-establishment rhetoric in recent elections has made finding solutions increasingly challenging. The August 13 primary elections in Argentina were chaotic, upending the quasi-bipartisan system forged by Together for Change (Juntos por el Cambio) and United for the Homeland (Union por la Patria). The unexpected success and popularity of Javier Mileis Liberty Advances (La Libertad Avanza) party drew immediate comparisons to Donald Trump and Jair Bolsonaro, and prompted debate about the impact of the digital landscape. A study by Context analyzed the fake news that circulated online during Argentinas recent elections. It suggests that narratives challenging certain established rights (such as the right to abortion), democratic accords regarding the military dictatorship, and rights to education and access to scientific information, have had a significant impact on election outcomes. These messages have a widespread reach, attracting followers and amplifying those ideas. The effectiveness of Mileis message can also be seen in the realm of online political advertising. An investigation by Civic Compass analyzed over 17,000 ads (including texts, images, and videos) across all Google-owned platforms. It confirmed that Javier Milei and his party did not pay anything for these ads via their verified accounts, unlike their opponents who spent over $800,000 through various accounts linked to the two main political parties. However, this doesnt mean that Milei and his party had a weak social media presence. Their followers and collaborators produced a continuous stream of advertisements on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, both organically and through paid campaigns. The analysis by Civic Compass identified thousands of ads associated with Milei funded by individuals, municipal candidates, the media and other entities ideologically aligned with the libertarian candidate. Their followers are typically active social media users who regularly create spontaneous content, forming a decentralized network of message amplifiers. What challenges does this create? There are at least three obvious problems. Mobilization on social media by followers of anti-establishment, populist politicians disrupts the political engagement of citizens. Political news mainly reaches people through online comments, reactions and discussions, as shown by Luminates Youth and Democracy research. These formats curtail public discourse and feed the dynamics of polarization and bubble effects. As communication fragments and networks decentralize, constructing a plural and diverse public space becomes increasingly challenging. Democracies must now try to preserve freedom of expression while fostering a less divisive and hostile public debate. The second challenge is associated with regulating digital campaigns. Monitoring and documenting messages supporting candidates isnt enough. Furthermore, we need transparent controls over private campaign contributions facilitated by algorithms and electoral products offered by digital platforms. We need new ways of auditing these opaque processes, as well as better regulation of both public and private campaign financing. Lastly, political institutions must urgently address the needs of its citizens. Polarizing campaigns run by divisive politicians to inflame emotions disrupt representative democracy and hinder substantive policy debate. Negotiation and compromise are essential for achieving legitimate outcomes. It is important to listen to and consider how the public accepts, shares and embraces ideas that challenge established social rights. Political parties, civil society and the media have an urgent task at hand. They need to critically reflect on their mistakes and successes, rethink their roles, and prepare to confront the changes reshaping the political system. As Argentina approaches 40 years of democratic rule, these elections offer an opportunity to reaffirm the commitment to human rights and public policies that improve everyones lives, even in the digital realm. Cecilia Galvan is a political scientist professor at the University of Buenos Aires, and part of the Civic Compass research team. Gabriela Hadid is the Latin America director for Luminate, and holds a master's degree in political science from Georgetown University, as well as degrees in sociology and political science from the University of Buenos Aires. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Retirement Systems of Alabama trimmed its position in BJs Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:BJ Free Report) by 0.8% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 321,984 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,471 shares during the period. Retirement Systems of Alabama owned approximately 0.24% of BJs Wholesale Club worth $20,288,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of BJ. Summit Trail Advisors LLC lifted its position in BJs Wholesale Club by 37.8% during the 2nd quarter. Summit Trail Advisors LLC now owns 8,094 shares of the companys stock worth $510,000 after buying an additional 2,220 shares in the last quarter. Linden Thomas Advisory Services LLC raised its holdings in BJs Wholesale Club by 19.5% during the second quarter. Linden Thomas Advisory Services LLC now owns 8,643 shares of the companys stock worth $545,000 after acquiring an additional 1,412 shares in the last quarter. Park Place Capital Corp acquired a new position in BJs Wholesale Club during the first quarter valued at approximately $88,000. CHICAGO TRUST Co NA bought a new position in BJs Wholesale Club in the first quarter valued at approximately $220,000. Finally, Eagle Asset Management Inc. increased its position in shares of BJs Wholesale Club by 14.7% during the 1st quarter. Eagle Asset Management Inc. now owns 12,624 shares of the companys stock worth $960,000 after purchasing an additional 1,620 shares during the last quarter. 98.60% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get BJ's Wholesale Club alerts: BJs Wholesale Club Trading Down 1.8 % Shares of BJ stock opened at $69.75 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $68.91 and a 200 day simple moving average of $68.24. BJs Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. has a 1 year low of $60.33 and a 1 year high of $80.41. The company has a current ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 0.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. The stock has a market cap of $9.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 0.43. Insider Buying and Selling BJs Wholesale Club ( NYSE:BJ Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, August 22nd. The company reported $0.97 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.90 by $0.07. BJs Wholesale Club had a return on equity of 47.80% and a net margin of 2.61%. The firm had revenue of $4.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.18 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.06 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that BJs Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. will post 3.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. In other news, SVP Joseph Mcgrail sold 800 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, August 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $70.00, for a total value of $56,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 13,374 shares in the company, valued at approximately $936,180. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, SVP Joseph Mcgrail sold 800 shares of BJs Wholesale Club stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $70.00, for a total transaction of $56,000.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 13,374 shares in the company, valued at approximately $936,180. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Jeff Desroches sold 33,934 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $68.88, for a total transaction of $2,337,373.92. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 80,882 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,571,152.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 119,853 shares of company stock worth $8,390,091 in the last three months. 2.20% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Bank of America cut their price objective on BJs Wholesale Club from $85.00 to $80.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, August 23rd. TD Cowen started coverage on shares of BJs Wholesale Club in a research report on Thursday, September 14th. They issued an outperform rating and a $80.00 price objective for the company. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on shares of BJs Wholesale Club from $72.00 to $69.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, August 23rd. Credit Suisse Group lowered their price target on BJs Wholesale Club from $80.00 to $73.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, August 17th. Finally, Evercore ISI upped their price objective on BJs Wholesale Club from $68.00 to $69.00 and gave the company an in-line rating in a research note on Friday, September 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, BJs Wholesale Club has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $72.38. View Our Latest Stock Report on BJ BJs Wholesale Club Profile (Free Report) BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates warehouse clubs on the eastern half of the United States. It provides perishable, general merchandise, gasoline, coupon books, promotions, and other ancillary services. The company sells its products through the websites BJs.com, BerkleyJensen.com, and Wellsleyfarms.com, as well as the mobile app. Read More Receive News & Ratings for BJ's Wholesale Club Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BJ's Wholesale Club and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Hanover Insurance Group (NYSE:THG Get Free Report) issued an update on its third quarter 2023 earnings guidance on Wednesday morning. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of $0.19-$0.19 for the period. The company issued revenue guidance of -. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on THG shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their target price on shares of The Hanover Insurance Group from $124.00 to $120.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, August 15th. BMO Capital Markets upgraded shares of The Hanover Insurance Group from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $125.00 to $126.00 in a report on Thursday, August 31st. JMP Securities lowered their target price on shares of The Hanover Insurance Group from $160.00 to $150.00 and set a market outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 13th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of The Hanover Insurance Group in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Piper Sandler decreased their price objective on shares of The Hanover Insurance Group from $149.00 to $138.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 6th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $139.71. Get The Hanover Insurance Group alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on THG The Hanover Insurance Group Stock Down 3.9 % Shares of NYSE:THG opened at $116.89 on Friday. The companys 50-day moving average is $109.97 and its 200 day moving average is $114.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 0.37 and a quick ratio of 0.37. The Hanover Insurance Group has a fifty-two week low of $103.82 and a fifty-two week high of $148.78. The Hanover Insurance Group (NYSE:THG Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 2nd. The insurance provider reported ($1.91) EPS for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of ($1.91). The Hanover Insurance Group had a negative net margin of 1.60% and a negative return on equity of 2.83%. The business had revenue of $1.50 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.42 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.32 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 16.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts forecast that The Hanover Insurance Group will post 2.84 EPS for the current fiscal year. The Hanover Insurance Group Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 15th were given a dividend of $0.81 per share. This represents a $3.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.77%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 14th. The Hanover Insurance Groups payout ratio is currently -124.62%. Insider Buying and Selling at The Hanover Insurance Group In related news, Director Jane D. Carlin sold 1,246 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $114.04, for a total value of $142,093.84. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Company insiders own 2.40% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On The Hanover Insurance Group Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of The Hanover Insurance Group by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 3,690,436 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $472,893,000 after buying an additional 10,204 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. increased its stake in The Hanover Insurance Group by 1.6% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 3,235,297 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $483,743,000 after acquiring an additional 50,073 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its stake in The Hanover Insurance Group by 0.7% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,145,013 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $129,421,000 after acquiring an additional 8,158 shares during the last quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in The Hanover Insurance Group by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 988,986 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $133,642,000 after acquiring an additional 5,802 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Victory Capital Management Inc. increased its position in shares of The Hanover Insurance Group by 2.9% during the 4th quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 948,146 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $128,123,000 after purchasing an additional 26,394 shares during the last quarter. 84.89% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About The Hanover Insurance Group (Get Free Report) The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides various property and casualty insurance products and services in the United States. The company operates through four segments: Core Commercial, Specialty, Personal Lines, and Other. The Commercial Lines segment offers commercial multiple peril, commercial automobile, workers' compensation, and other commercial lines coverage. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for The Hanover Insurance Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Hanover Insurance Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Abbrea Capital LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report) by 9.7% in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 10,999 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after buying an additional 974 shares during the period. Abbrea Capital LLCs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $703,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Dillon & Associates Inc. boosted its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 3.9% in the first quarter. Dillon & Associates Inc. now owns 3,955 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $245,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares during the period. Westshore Wealth LLC raised its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 4.3% in the first quarter. Westshore Wealth LLC now owns 3,658 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $254,000 after acquiring an additional 151 shares in the last quarter. Providence Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 0.5% during the 1st quarter. Providence Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 28,179 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,952,000 after acquiring an additional 153 shares in the last quarter. Lebenthal Global Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.5% in the 1st quarter. Lebenthal Global Advisors LLC now owns 10,533 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $730,000 after purchasing an additional 156 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bouchey Financial Group Ltd grew its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 5.4% during the first quarter. Bouchey Financial Group Ltd now owns 3,086 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $213,000 after purchasing an additional 157 shares in the last quarter. 74.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Performance Shares of BMY stock opened at $56.45 on Friday. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $59.44 and its 200 day moving average price is $63.47. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08. The stock has a market capitalization of $117.93 billion, a PE ratio of 15.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.57 and a beta of 0.43. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 52-week low of $55.69 and a 52-week high of $81.43. Bristol-Myers Squibb Announces Dividend Bristol-Myers Squibb ( NYSE:BMY Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.99 by ($0.24). Bristol-Myers Squibb had a net margin of 17.62% and a return on equity of 50.51%. The company had revenue of $11.23 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.81 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.93 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 5.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 7.37 EPS for the current year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 6th will be paid a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.04%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 5th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 60.64%. Insider Activity In related news, EVP Robert M. Plenge sold 732 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $61.14, for a total transaction of $44,754.48. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 6,584 shares of the companys stock, valued at $402,545.76. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, EVP Ann Powell sold 17,986 shares of the companys 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 directly owns 27,868 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,706,915. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Robert M. Plenge sold 732 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $61.14, for a total transaction of $44,754.48. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 6,584 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $402,545.76. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research analysts have recently issued reports on BMY shares. UBS Group reaffirmed a neutral rating and set a $60.00 price objective (down from $70.00) on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Friday. SVB Securities started coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Monday, July 10th. They issued a market perform rating and a $66.00 price target on the stock. TD Cowen reduced 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 report on Friday, September 15th. Daiwa Capital Markets initiated coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Wednesday, June 28th. They issued an outperform rating and a $70.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Atlantic Securities reduced their price target on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $90.00 to $85.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, July 28th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $68.67. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Bristol-Myers Squibb Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Profile (Free Report) Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, and neuroscience diseases. The company's products include Eliquis, an oral inhibitor for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in NVAF, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for anti-cancer indications; Pomalyst/Imnovid indicated for patients with multiple myeloma; Orencia for adult patients with active RA and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BMY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. First Interstate Bank lessened its position in shares of ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP Free Report) by 4.8% in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 3,250 shares of the energy producers stock after selling 165 shares during the period. First Interstate Banks holdings in ConocoPhillips were worth $337,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Jackson Grant Investment Advisers Inc. increased its stake in shares of ConocoPhillips by 398.1% in the 1st quarter. Jackson Grant Investment Advisers Inc. now owns 269 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 215 shares in the last quarter. Northwest Bank & Trust Co acquired a new stake in ConocoPhillips in the second quarter worth $29,000. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new stake in ConocoPhillips in the first quarter valued at $31,000. NewSquare Capital LLC raised its holdings in shares of ConocoPhillips by 335.4% during the first quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 344 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 265 shares during the period. Finally, Horan Securities Inc. boosted its position in shares of ConocoPhillips by 40.2% during the 1st quarter. Horan Securities Inc. now owns 349 shares of the energy producers stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.36% of the companys stock. Get ConocoPhillips alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of analysts recently commented on COP shares. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $130.00 target price on shares of ConocoPhillips in a research report on Monday, August 14th. Wolfe Research upgraded ConocoPhillips from a peer perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $120.00 price objective for the company in a report on Friday, July 7th. Citigroup cut their target price on ConocoPhillips from $145.00 to $140.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 12th. UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of ConocoPhillips from $147.00 to $149.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 4th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on shares of ConocoPhillips from $141.00 to $143.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, October 2nd. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, sixteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $136.45. ConocoPhillips Price Performance COP opened at $126.39 on Friday. ConocoPhillips has a fifty-two week low of $91.53 and a fifty-two week high of $138.49. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $120.08 and a 200 day moving average of $110.51. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.41. The firm has a market cap of $151.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.18, a PEG ratio of 0.77 and a beta of 1.28. ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The energy producer reported $1.84 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.94 by ($0.10). The company had revenue of $12.88 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.64 billion. ConocoPhillips had a net margin of 18.66% and a return on equity of 27.27%. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $3.91 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that ConocoPhillips will post 9.08 EPS for the current year. ConocoPhillips Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 1st. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 16th were paid a $0.51 dividend. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.61%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, September 27th. ConocoPhillipss dividend payout ratio is currently 19.65%. Insider Buying and Selling at ConocoPhillips In other news, CEO Ryan Michael Lance sold 569,400 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $122.14, for a total value of $69,546,516.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 18,187 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,221,360.18. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other ConocoPhillips news, SVP Andrew D. Lundquist sold 30,800 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $123.83, for a total value of $3,813,964.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 5,937 shares in the company, valued at approximately $735,178.71. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Ryan Michael Lance sold 569,400 shares of ConocoPhillips stock in a transaction on Friday, September 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $122.14, for a total value of $69,546,516.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 18,187 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,221,360.18. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 602,049 shares of company stock valued at $73,591,956 over the last three months. 0.37% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. About ConocoPhillips (Free Report) ConocoPhillips explores for, produces, transports, and markets crude oil, bitumen, natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and natural gas liquids in the United States and internationally. The company's portfolio includes unconventional plays in North America; conventional assets in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia; various LNG developments; oil sands assets in Canada; and an inventory of global exploration prospects. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding COP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for ConocoPhillips Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ConocoPhillips and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC decreased its holdings in Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE:EXR Free Report) by 86.1% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 2,620 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 16,240 shares during the quarter. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLCs holdings in Extra Space Storage were worth $390,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of EXR. Vanderbilt University acquired a new position in shares of Extra Space Storage in the 2nd quarter worth $455,000. LPL Financial LLC increased its stake in Extra Space Storage by 12.5% in the 2nd quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 37,377 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $5,564,000 after purchasing an additional 4,167 shares in the last quarter. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. raised its holdings in Extra Space Storage by 14.6% during the 2nd quarter. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. now owns 13,460 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,896,000 after buying an additional 1,710 shares during the period. Financial Network Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Extra Space Storage during the 2nd quarter worth about $332,000. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group Inc. lifted its stake in Extra Space Storage by 18.6% during the second quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 1,906,264 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $283,748,000 after buying an additional 298,833 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 66.40% of the companys stock. Get Extra Space Storage alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research analysts have recently weighed in on EXR shares. Raymond James dropped their target price on shares of Extra Space Storage from $185.00 to $165.00 and set a strong-buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, August 31st. Citigroup lowered their price objective on shares of Extra Space Storage from $160.00 to $135.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, September 13th. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Extra Space Storage from $145.00 to $115.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, September 21st. Truist Financial lowered their price target on Extra Space Storage from $155.00 to $138.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, August 29th. Finally, Evercore ISI reduced their price objective on Extra Space Storage from $147.00 to $145.00 and set an in-line rating for the company in a research note on Friday, September 15th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $148.75. Extra Space Storage Trading Down 3.0 % NYSE EXR opened at $112.50 on Friday. Extra Space Storage Inc. has a 1-year low of $112.45 and a 1-year high of $180.76. The company has a current ratio of 0.24, a quick ratio of 0.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86. The company has a market capitalization of $23.77 billion, a PE ratio of 18.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 11.20 and a beta of 0.57. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $124.32 and its 200-day simple moving average is $140.11. Extra Space Storage Cuts Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 15th were paid a $0.61 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 14th. This represents a $2.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.17%. Extra Space Storages dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 39.80%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, Director Joseph J. Bonner sold 956 shares of Extra Space Storage stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $125.64, for a total transaction of $120,111.84. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 4,504 shares in the company, valued at approximately $565,882.56. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 1.55% of the companys stock. Extra Space Storage Company Profile (Free Report) Extra Space Storage Inc, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, is a self-administered and self-managed REIT and a member of the S&P 500. As of June 30, 2023, the Company owned and/or operated 2,438 self-storage stores in 41 states and Washington, DC The Company's stores comprise approximately 1.7 million units and approximately 184.0 million square feet of rentable space. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EXR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE:EXR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Extra Space Storage Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Extra Space Storage and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Alaska Permanent Fund Corp bought a new stake in PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:PHM Free Report) during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 32,400 shares of the construction companys stock, valued at approximately $2,517,000. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in PulteGroup by 1.0% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 27,748,609 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $1,162,667,000 after buying an additional 261,934 shares during the last quarter. Putnam Investments LLC grew its position in shares of PulteGroup by 14.7% during the 1st quarter. Putnam Investments LLC now owns 11,010,203 shares of the construction companys stock worth $641,675,000 after purchasing an additional 1,406,893 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its position in shares of PulteGroup by 2.3% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 10,343,160 shares of the construction companys stock worth $604,439,000 after purchasing an additional 228,040 shares in the last quarter. Greenhaven Associates Inc. grew its position in shares of PulteGroup by 2.6% during the 2nd quarter. Greenhaven Associates Inc. now owns 5,783,350 shares of the construction companys stock worth $449,251,000 after purchasing an additional 144,960 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP grew its position in shares of PulteGroup by 29.4% during the 1st quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 4,850,407 shares of the construction companys stock worth $203,232,000 after purchasing an additional 1,101,565 shares in the last quarter. 89.84% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get PulteGroup alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth PHM has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on shares of PulteGroup from $68.00 to $90.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 26th. Credit Suisse Group upped their price target on shares of PulteGroup from $71.00 to $85.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 26th. Oppenheimer upped their price target on shares of PulteGroup from $94.00 to $110.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 26th. Raymond James upped their price target on shares of PulteGroup from $93.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, July 27th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded shares of PulteGroup from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, October 13th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, PulteGroup presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $85.31. PulteGroup Trading Down 2.3 % NYSE:PHM opened at $70.14 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21. The stock has a market capitalization of $15.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.80, a PEG ratio of 0.67 and a beta of 1.40. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $76.88 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $73.59. PulteGroup, Inc. has a 12 month low of $35.99 and a 12 month high of $86.15. PulteGroup (NYSE:PHM Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The construction company reported $3.21 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.52 by $0.69. The business had revenue of $4.19 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.01 billion. PulteGroup had a net margin of 16.37% and a return on equity of 29.58%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 6.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $2.73 earnings per share. Analysts expect that PulteGroup, Inc. will post 11.6 EPS for the current fiscal year. PulteGroup Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, October 3rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 18th were issued a dividend of $0.16 per share. This represents a $0.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.91%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, September 15th. PulteGroups dividend payout ratio is currently 5.29%. PulteGroup Profile (Free Report) PulteGroup, Inc, through its subsidiaries, primarily engages in the homebuilding business in the United States. It acquires and develops land primarily for residential purposes; and constructs housing on such land. The company also offers various home designs, including single-family detached, townhomes, condominiums, and duplexes under the Centex, Pulte Homes, Del Webb, DiVosta Homes, American West, and John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods brand names. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for PulteGroup Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PulteGroup and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:RNR Get Free Report)s stock price reached a new 52-week high on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $225.80 and last traded at $223.00, with a volume of 103289 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $221.79. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several brokerages recently commented on RNR. Bank of America cut their price target on shares of RenaissanceRe from $275.00 to $266.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Monday, August 21st. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on RenaissanceRe from $229.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, October 11th. BMO Capital Markets upgraded RenaissanceRe from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $198.00 to $216.00 in a report on Tuesday, July 11th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their target price on RenaissanceRe from $249.00 to $246.00 in a research note on Friday, October 6th. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of RenaissanceRe in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $234.43. Get RenaissanceRe alerts: Check Out Our Latest Analysis on RenaissanceRe RenaissanceRe Price Performance The firm has a market capitalization of $11.18 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.30 and a beta of 0.39. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $197.05 and its 200 day simple moving average is $196.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28, a current ratio of 1.41 and a quick ratio of 1.41. RenaissanceRe (NYSE:RNR Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The insurance provider reported $8.79 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $7.58 by $1.21. The company had revenue of $2.20 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.96 billion. RenaissanceRe had a net margin of 5.60% and a return on equity of 14.22%. RenaissanceRes revenue was up 17.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $5.51 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. will post 29.84 EPS for the current year. RenaissanceRe Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Investors of record on Friday, September 15th were paid a $0.38 dividend. This represents a $1.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.70%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 14th. RenaissanceRes dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 19.00%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On RenaissanceRe A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in RNR. Egerton Capital UK LLP boosted its position in RenaissanceRe by 113.0% in the second quarter. Egerton Capital UK LLP now owns 1,327,597 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $247,623,000 after buying an additional 704,445 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of RenaissanceRe by 10.8% in the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 4,503,190 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $839,935,000 after acquiring an additional 440,083 shares during the last quarter. Zimmer Partners LP acquired a new stake in shares of RenaissanceRe in the second quarter worth $75,541,000. Jupiter Asset Management Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of RenaissanceRe by 5,777.5% during the second quarter. Jupiter Asset Management Ltd. now owns 329,550 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $61,468,000 after purchasing an additional 323,943 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Capital World Investors lifted its position in RenaissanceRe by 14.5% during the second quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 2,413,769 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $450,216,000 after purchasing an additional 305,396 shares during the period. 91.84% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other 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. Read More 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. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. purchased a new stake in iShares MSCI Japan ETF (NYSEARCA:EWJ Free Report) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 785 shares of the exchange traded funds stock, valued at approximately $49,000. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Oarsman Capital Inc. increased its position in iShares MSCI Japan ETF by 3.4% in the 1st quarter. Oarsman Capital Inc. now owns 5,980 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $351,000 after purchasing an additional 198 shares during the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. raised its position in iShares MSCI Japan ETF by 1.9% during the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 10,809 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $634,000 after acquiring an additional 199 shares in the last quarter. Harbour Capital Advisors LLC lifted its stake in iShares MSCI Japan ETF by 6.1% in the second quarter. Harbour Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,715 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $231,000 after acquiring an additional 215 shares during the last quarter. Cypress Capital Group grew its position in iShares MSCI Japan ETF by 1.8% in the first quarter. Cypress Capital Group now owns 15,187 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $891,000 after acquiring an additional 271 shares in the last quarter. Finally, New Potomac Partners LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Japan ETF by 3.8% during the 1st quarter. New Potomac Partners LLC now owns 7,990 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $469,000 after purchasing an additional 290 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares MSCI Japan ETF alerts: iShares MSCI Japan ETF Trading Down 0.1 % EWJ stock opened at $58.48 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $12.47 billion, a PE ratio of 12.76 and a beta of 0.68. iShares MSCI Japan ETF has a 1 year low of $47.67 and a 1 year high of $64.11. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $60.78 and a 200 day simple moving average of $60.84. iShares MSCI Japan ETF Profile iShares MSCI Japan ETF (the fund), formerly Ishares Msci Japan 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 Japanese market, as measured by the MSCI Japan Index (the Index). Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EWJ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI Japan ETF (NYSEARCA:EWJ Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Japan ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Japan ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Arizona State Retirement System grew its stake in shares of EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG Free Report) by 4.8% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 168,015 shares of the energy exploration companys stock after acquiring an additional 7,633 shares during the quarter. Arizona State Retirement Systems holdings in EOG Resources were worth $19,228,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Pinnacle Holdings LLC purchased a new position in EOG Resources during the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Kalos Management Inc. purchased a new position in EOG Resources during the 1st quarter worth approximately $27,000. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in EOG Resources during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Lumature Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of EOG Resources during the 1st quarter worth approximately $28,000. Finally, Valley National Advisers Inc. grew its stake in shares of EOG Resources by 1,136.4% during the 1st quarter. Valley National Advisers Inc. now owns 272 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 250 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.21% of the companys stock. Get EOG Resources alerts: EOG Resources Stock Up 0.3 % NYSE EOG opened at $136.23 on Friday. EOG Resources, Inc. has a 52 week low of $98.52 and a 52 week high of $150.88. The company has a quick ratio of 2.02, a current ratio of 2.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $129.05 and its 200-day simple moving average is $121.36. The firm has a market cap of $79.32 billion, a PE ratio of 9.18, a P/E/G ratio of 0.42 and a beta of 1.55. EOG Resources Announces Dividend EOG Resources ( NYSE:EOG Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The energy exploration company reported $2.49 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.28 by $0.21. The business had revenue of $5.57 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.74 billion. EOG Resources had a return on equity of 28.52% and a net margin of 33.58%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 24.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.74 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that EOG Resources, Inc. will post 11.41 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 31st. Investors of record on Tuesday, October 17th will be issued a $0.825 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, October 16th. This represents a $3.30 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.42%. EOG Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 22.24%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Bank of America raised their price objective on shares of EOG Resources from $143.00 to $147.00 in a research note on Wednesday, September 27th. TD Securities raised their price objective on shares of EOG Resources from $125.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Friday, August 4th. Citigroup raised their price objective on shares of EOG Resources from $138.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 20th. UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of EOG Resources from $164.00 to $165.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 4th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price target on shares of EOG Resources from $141.00 to $147.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, August 28th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, EOG Resources currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $149.54. Get Our Latest Stock Report on EOG Insider Activity at EOG Resources In related news, COO Lloyd W. Helms, Jr. sold 4,551 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.76, for a total value of $595,088.76. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 145,259 shares in the company, valued at approximately $18,994,066.84. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 0.30% of the stock is owned by insiders. EOG Resources Company Profile (Free Report) EOG Resources, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, explores for, develops, produces, and markets crude oil, and natural gas and natural gas liquids. Its principal producing areas are in New Mexico and Texas in the United States; and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The company was formerly known as Enron Oil & Gas Company. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for EOG Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for EOG Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Arizona State Retirement System lifted its stake in shares of Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC Free Report) by 3.4% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 41,300 shares of the aerospace companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,376 shares during the period. Arizona State Retirement Systems holdings in Northrop Grumman were worth $18,825,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Cibc World Market Inc. lifted its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 59.4% in the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 7,390 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $3,305,000 after acquiring an additional 2,753 shares during the last quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. lifted its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 41.4% in the first quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 3,445 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $1,541,000 after acquiring an additional 1,008 shares during the last quarter. Prudential PLC bought a new position in Northrop Grumman in the first quarter worth about $1,514,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 21.6% in the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 1,390 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $622,000 after acquiring an additional 247 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Zions Bancorporation N.A. lifted its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 11.0% in the first quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 1,890 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $845,000 after acquiring an additional 187 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 82.40% of the companys stock. Get Northrop Grumman alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities analysts have issued reports on NOC shares. UBS Group initiated coverage on shares of Northrop Grumman in a report on Tuesday, October 10th. They issued a buy rating and a $555.00 target price on the stock. Sanford C. Bernstein dropped their price target on shares of Northrop Grumman from $581.00 to $569.00 in a research note on Friday, June 30th. Bank of America dropped their price target on shares of Northrop Grumman from $655.00 to $615.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, July 28th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on shares of Northrop Grumman from $485.00 to $435.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, September 18th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Northrop Grumman from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Northrop Grumman presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $502.38. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, VP Roshan S. Roeder sold 1,007 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $465.00, for a total value of $468,255.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 913 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $424,545. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Northrop Grumman news, VP Roshan S. Roeder sold 1,007 shares of Northrop Grumman stock in a transaction on Monday, October 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $465.00, for a total transaction of $468,255.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 913 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $424,545. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, VP Mark A. Caylor sold 1,670 shares of Northrop Grumman stock in a transaction on Monday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $437.87, for a total transaction of $731,242.90. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 14,570 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,379,765.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.26% of the companys stock. Northrop Grumman Trading Up 0.4 % Shares of NYSE:NOC opened at $492.00 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $74.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.23, a PEG ratio of 5.84 and a beta of 0.50. Northrop Grumman Co. has a 1-year low of $414.56 and a 1-year high of $556.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a current ratio of 1.20. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $440.30 and a 200 day moving average price of $448.17. Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The aerospace company reported $5.34 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $5.31 by $0.03. Northrop Grumman had a net margin of 12.27% and a return on equity of 24.90%. The firm had revenue of $9.58 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.32 billion. On average, research analysts anticipate that Northrop Grumman Co. will post 22.68 EPS for the current fiscal year. Northrop Grumman Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 13th. Investors of record on Monday, August 28th were paid a $1.87 dividend. This represents a $7.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.52%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 25th. Northrop Grummans dividend payout ratio is 24.78%. Northrop Grumman Company Profile (Free Report) Northrop Grumman Corporation operates as an aerospace and defense company worldwide. The company's Aeronautics Systems segment designs, develops, manufactures, integrates, and sustains aircraft systems in the United States and internationally. This segment also offers unmanned autonomous aircraft systems, including high-altitude long-endurance strategic ISR systems and vertical take-off and landing tactical ISR systems; and strategic long-range strike aircraft, tactical fighter and air dominance aircraft, and airborne battle management and command and control systems. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NOC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Northrop Grumman Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Northrop Grumman and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A prestigious Spanish researcher of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease died last year after experiencing symptoms consistent with this deadly ailment, as EL PAIS has learned from multiple sources at the three institutions involved. Three months ago, the University of Barcelona opened an internal investigation to ascertain the origin of thousands of unauthorized samples, some of them infectious, discovered in a freezer in its laboratory 4141, where the deceased biochemist worked. He was a member of the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) and the CIBER public consortium. These two institutions have joined the internal investigation, after noting concern among colleagues at the facility, who did not know the level of risk to which they were exposed without their knowledge. This neurodegenerative disease incubates silently for years, but when symptoms appear rapid dementia and muscle stiffness it is fatal. Life expectancy after diagnosis is barely six months. Its best-known animal equivalent is mad cow disease. The biochemist joined the 4141 lab at the University of Barcelona in January 2018 as a principal investigator with a group of his own; his wife joined shortly after. Together, they identified characteristic substances in human cerebrospinal fluid, useful for the diagnosis of rapid dementia. In November 2020, the now deceased scientist began to feel unwell and asked to leave. After his colleagues found out that his symptoms were consistent with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, he demanded absolute privacy and decided to hide his diagnosis, according to the sources consulted for this article. He died at the age of 45. On December 18, 2020, the head of the 4141 laboratory, Isidre Ferrer, a professor of Pathology at the University of Barcelona and a member of IDIBELL, informed the directors of both institutions that suspicious samples of cerebrospinal fluid from people with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and other neurodegenerative types of dementia had been discovered by chance in a freezer at 80 degrees below zero, according to internal documentation to which EL PAIS had access. The thousands of unauthorized samples from patients and animals were in a drawer reserved for the sick researchers group and lacked records indicating their presence. The University of Barcelona then ordered the immediate closure and decontamination of laboratory 4141, located in the School of Medicine at LHospitalet de Llobregat. Doctor Gabriel Capella, the director of IDIBELL, explains that they have identified a maximum of eight people who worked in the laboratory at that time, in addition to the deceased scientist and Isidre Ferrer. Some of these coworkers have required months of psychological care. The universitys safety office and IDIBELLs prevention service determined that there was an unacceptable risk, although Capella emphasizes that there is no record of any occupational accident in which a researcher could have been infected with contaminated material. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and other human transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are caused by abnormal proteins called prions, which accumulate in the brain and cause a microscopic sponge-like appearance. There are only one or two cases per million inhabitants, the vast majority of which are of unknown cause, but cases of the disease have also been reported after contact with surgical instruments contaminated by these prions. The three institutions involved took more than two years to send the suspect samples for analysis to a specialized center, the CIC bioGUNE, in Derio, Spain. A spokeswoman for the University of Barcelona says that they sent them in December 2022 and the three organizations received the results in March 2023. Four months later, in July, the legal departments at the three institutions finally informed the 4141 laboratory workers that the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease samples were potentially infectious, as feared. You can debate whether we have been quick [in our response] or not, but we have been transparent. We are [part of] three institutions that had to agree, and we have acted as guarantors, says Capella. A similar situation also occurred in France; following the death of a researcher from Creutzfeldt-Jakob in 2019 and the discovery of another suspected case, all public laboratories investigating prion diseases decided to temporarily close in July 2021 to review their protocols. Laboratory 4141 was not equipped to handle high biohazard samples. It did not even have a biosafety hood. At the end of 2018, the CIBER public consortium signed an agreement so that the group could work with these dangerous samples at the high-security laboratory of the Animal Health Research Center (CReSA) in Bellaterra, Spain, near Barcelona. According to the sources we consulted, there was no reason to have the contaminated material in laboratory 4141, beyond saving time during experiments, since the CReSA bunker is 30 kilometers (about 19 miles) away and required waiting ones turn to use. Isidre Ferrer, the head of the facility at the time, who has since retired, prefers not to comment on the case until the internal investigation is completed, but he emphasizes that he was unaware of the existence of these dangerous samples. The IDIBELL director recalls that the deceased scientist was a promising and brilliant researcher. From 2013 to 2017, he worked at the University Medical Center of Gottingen (Germany) under neurologist Inga Zerr, a leading international expert in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Physician Margarita Blazquez, who manages the CIBER public consortium, notes that the diseases incubation period can last several years, so, if the deceased researcher really had it, he also could have become infected with it in Germany or at another of his previous laboratories. This newspaper has tried to contact the scientists widow via email but has not received a response. She asked to be discharged shortly after her husband did. The three institutions are now investigating whether the couple handled the dangerous samples without authorization in lab 4141. A third person affiliated with CIBER, a member of the now-deceased biochemists research group, worked with potentially infectious Creutzfeldt-Jakob samples without being informed that they were infectious. The security office of the University of Barcelona believes that the samples would only have been a problem in the case of accidental inoculation or ingestion while handling them. But internal documents confirm the alarm the situation has caused on campus. The laboratory technicians and investigators express their enormous concern about the fact that, so far, it has not been possible to determine the origin of the doctors illness. They are left to worry about whether they may suffer the same fate in a few years time as a result of uncontrolled contamination that may have been created in the laboratory, according to the minutes of a December 22, 2020, meeting between workers and Carles Solsona, the director of the Department of Pathology at the University of Barcelona. This fear causes them to suffer a state of permanent anguish, causing insomnia and irritability. The IDIBELL director sent a message to the centers entire staff on the 11th, five days after EL PAIS informed him that it was investigating the case. Gabriel Capella then told his workers of a very serious incident that became known on campus for the first time at the end of 2020. With deep dismay, Capella announced the researchers death due to a possible prion condition, with a possible iatrogenic [a disease acquired by contact with contaminated materials during a medical procedure]. The director also reported finding potentially dangerous samples in a freezer. Our priority is to ensure that this situation is handled rigorously and transparently to limit the damage to the reputation of our institutions, he said. Do you have more information about this case or other similar ones? You can write to us at mansede@elpais.es. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Choate Investment Advisors increased its holdings in American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE:AWK Free Report) by 1.8% in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 6,838 shares of the utilities providers stock after buying an additional 124 shares during the quarter. Choate Investment Advisors holdings in American Water Works were worth $976,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in American Water Works by 2.0% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 21,960,717 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $3,635,157,000 after purchasing an additional 434,737 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. lifted its position in American Water Works by 3.5% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 17,295,807 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $2,533,663,000 after purchasing an additional 587,126 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted its position in American Water Works by 4.1% in the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 10,857,195 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,590,470,000 after purchasing an additional 423,764 shares during the period. Impax Asset Management Group plc lifted its position in American Water Works by 17.3% in the first quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 5,679,946 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $831,219,000 after purchasing an additional 838,076 shares during the period. Finally, Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich lifted its position in American Water Works by 98,401.2% in the second quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 4,079,919 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $582,408,000 after purchasing an additional 4,075,777 shares during the period. 84.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get American Water Works alerts: American Water Works Stock Up 0.4 % AWK stock opened at $117.45 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 1.07. American Water Works Company, Inc. has a 52-week low of $115.39 and a 52-week high of $162.59. The company has a 50-day moving average of $131.93 and a two-hundred day moving average of $141.22. The stock has a market capitalization of $22.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.01 and a beta of 0.60. American Water Works Announces Dividend American Water Works ( NYSE:AWK Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The utilities provider reported $1.44 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.27 by $0.17. American Water Works had a net margin of 22.08% and a return on equity of 10.31%. The company had revenue of $1.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.01 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.20 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 17.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that American Water Works Company, Inc. will post 4.8 EPS for the current year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 1st. Investors of record on Tuesday, August 8th were paid a $0.7075 dividend. This represents a $2.83 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.41%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 7th. American Water Workss payout ratio is presently 59.08%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages have recently commented on AWK. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $169.00 price objective on shares of American Water Works in a research report on Thursday, September 14th. Guggenheim cut their price objective on American Water Works from $147.00 to $126.00 in a research report on Monday, October 9th. Mizuho initiated coverage on shares of American Water Works in a research note on Tuesday, October 3rd. They set a buy rating and a $134.00 target price on the stock. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of American Water Works in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a sell rating on the stock. Finally, Bank of America cut their target price on shares of American Water Works from $140.00 to $139.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, American Water Works presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $148.00. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on American Water Works American Water Works Profile (Free Report) American Water Works Company, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides water and wastewater services in the United States. It offers water and wastewater services to approximately 1,600 communities in 14 states serving approximately 3.4 million active customers. The company serves residential customers; commercial customers, including food and beverage providers, commercial property developers and proprietors, and energy suppliers; fire service and private fire customers; industrial customers, such as large-scale manufacturers, mining, and production operations; public authorities comprising government buildings and other public sector facilities, such as schools and universities; and other utilities and community water and wastewater systems. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AWK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE:AWK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for American Water Works Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Water Works and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BDO Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report) by 219.0% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 4,884 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after acquiring an additional 3,353 shares during the quarter. BDO Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $312,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich boosted its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 86,002.1% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 659,143,253 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $42,152,211,000 after acquiring an additional 658,377,716 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. boosted its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.7% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 175,584,734 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $12,169,778,000 after acquiring an additional 2,856,746 shares during the period. Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 10.3% during the 1st quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 26,084,266 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,807,487,000 after acquiring an additional 2,439,814 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 4th quarter worth $1,873,696,000. Finally, Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 114,228.7% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 21,469,785 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,544,751,000 after acquiring an additional 21,451,006 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.98% of the companys stock. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Down 0.7 % NYSE:BMY opened at $56.48 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $117.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.01, a PEG ratio of 1.57 and a beta of 0.43. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 1-year low of $55.69 and a 1-year high of $81.43. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $59.44 and its 200 day moving average price is $63.47. Bristol-Myers Squibb Announces Dividend Bristol-Myers Squibb ( NYSE:BMY Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.75 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.99 by ($0.24). The business had revenue of $11.23 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.81 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a net margin of 17.62% and a return on equity of 50.51%. The firms quarterly 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, sell-side analysts forecast that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 7.37 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 6th will be given a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.04%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 5th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs payout ratio is currently 60.64%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, EVP Robert M. Plenge sold 732 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.14, for a total value of $44,754.48. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 6,584 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $402,545.76. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, EVP Ann Powell sold 17,986 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.25, for a total transaction of $1,101,642.50. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 27,868 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,706,915. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Robert M. Plenge sold 732 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $61.14, for a total value of $44,754.48. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 6,584 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $402,545.76. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research analysts have issued reports on BMY shares. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $57.00 to $56.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 11th. SVB Securities initiated coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Monday, July 10th. They issued a market perform rating and a $66.00 price objective for the company. Atlantic Securities cut their price objective on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $90.00 to $85.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Friday, July 28th. Credit Suisse Group cut their price objective on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $72.00 to $66.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 12th. Finally, UBS Group restated a neutral rating and issued a $60.00 price objective (down previously from $70.00) on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Friday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $68.67. Get Our Latest Analysis on Bristol-Myers Squibb Bristol-Myers Squibb Profile (Free Report) Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, and neuroscience diseases. The company's products include Eliquis, an oral inhibitor for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in NVAF, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for anti-cancer indications; Pomalyst/Imnovid indicated for patients with multiple myeloma; Orencia for adult patients with active RA and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BMY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. KBR, Inc. (NYSE:KBR Get Free Report) declared a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, October 18th, Zacks reports. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 15th will be paid a dividend of 0.135 per share by the construction company on Tuesday, January 16th. This represents a $0.54 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.90%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 14th. KBR has increased its dividend by an average of 14.5% per year over the last three years and has raised its dividend every year for the last 4 years. KBR has a dividend payout ratio of 15.1% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities research analysts expect KBR to earn $3.54 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.54 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 15.3%. Get KBR alerts: KBR Stock Performance Shares of NYSE KBR opened at $59.80 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00, a quick ratio of 1.05 and a current ratio of 1.05. The firm has a market cap of $8.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -64.30, a P/E/G ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 1.11. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $60.32 and its 200-day simple moving average is $60.60. KBR has a 52 week low of $45.35 and a 52 week high of $65.87. Insiders Place Their Bets KBR ( NYSE:KBR Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The construction company reported $0.74 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.70 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $1.75 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.75 billion. KBR had a positive return on equity of 24.94% and a negative net margin of 1.46%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 8.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.76 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that KBR will post 2.9 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. In other KBR news, insider William Byron Jr. Bright sold 20,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.68, for a total value of $1,213,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 57,986 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,518,590.48. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 1.03% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On KBR Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of KBR. Fred Alger Management LLC bought a new position in KBR in the 3rd quarter valued at $36,000. Belpointe Asset Management LLC raised its position in KBR by 35.5% in the 1st quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 871 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $48,000 after purchasing an additional 228 shares during the last quarter. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in KBR in the 2nd quarter valued at $53,000. Dark Forest Capital Management LP bought a new position in KBR in the 1st quarter valued at $73,000. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board raised its position in KBR by 103.0% in the 1st quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 1,920 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $105,000 after purchasing an additional 974 shares during the last quarter. Analysts Set New Price Targets KBR has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Citigroup raised their target price on KBR from $68.00 to $75.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, July 24th. DA Davidson raised their target price on KBR from $70.00 to $75.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, July 31st. TheStreet lowered KBR from a b+ rating to a c rating in a report on Thursday, July 27th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on KBR from $75.00 to $77.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, September 6th. Finally, StockNews.com raised KBR from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Thursday, October 12th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat, KBR presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $69.71. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on KBR KBR Company Profile (Get Free Report) KBR, Inc provides scientific, technology, and engineering solutions to governments and commercial customers worldwide. The company operates through Government Solutions and Sustainable Technology Solutions segments. The Government Solutions segment offers life-cycle support solutions to defense, intelligence, space, aviation, and other programs and missions for military and other government agencies in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for KBR Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for KBR and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. lifted its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (BATS:EFG Free Report) by 91.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 449 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 215 shares during the quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc.s holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF were worth $43,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Wakefield Asset Management LLLP raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 1.0% in the second quarter. Wakefield Asset Management LLLP now owns 154,188 shares of the companys stock worth $14,711,000 after buying an additional 1,528 shares during the last quarter. LPL Financial LLC raised its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 6.0% in the 2nd quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 6,797,093 shares of the companys stock worth $648,511,000 after acquiring an additional 383,842 shares during the last quarter. Verus Capital Partners LLC lifted its position in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 1.7% during the 2nd quarter. Verus Capital Partners LLC now owns 14,076 shares of the companys stock worth $1,343,000 after acquiring an additional 241 shares during the period. Provident Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 5.6% during the 2nd quarter. Provident Wealth Management LLC now owns 13,458 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,284,000 after purchasing an additional 712 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Brighton Jones LLC grew its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 0.6% during the 2nd quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 57,053 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,443,000 after purchasing an additional 319 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF alerts: iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF Stock Down 1.0 % Shares of BATS:EFG opened at $84.12 on Friday. iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF has a 52-week low of $67.58 and a 52-week high of $85.81. The stock has a market cap of $11.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.69 and a beta of 0.89. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $88.83 and a 200-day moving average price of $92.92. iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF Company Profile iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Growth Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI EAFE Growth Index (the Index). The Index is a subset of the MSCI EAFE Index and constituents of the Index include securities from Europe, Australasia (Australia and Asia), and the Far East. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EFG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (BATS:EFG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fort Sheridan Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Brookfield Renewable Co. (NYSE:BEPC Free Report) by 10.4% during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 13,722 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,298 shares during the quarter. Fort Sheridan Advisors LLCs holdings in Brookfield Renewable were worth $433,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in BEPC. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc purchased a new stake in shares of Brookfield Renewable in the third quarter valued at $30,000. Federated Hermes Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Brookfield Renewable in the first quarter valued at about $35,000. Spirit of America Management Corp NY grew its position in shares of Brookfield Renewable by 76.9% in the second quarter. Spirit of America Management Corp NY now owns 1,150 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares during the last quarter. Chilton Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Brookfield Renewable in the first quarter valued at about $51,000. Finally, 1832 Asset Management L.P. grew its position in Brookfield Renewable by 20.6% during the first quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. now owns 2,390 shares of the companys stock worth $103,000 after buying an additional 409 shares in the last quarter. 66.15% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Brookfield Renewable alerts: Brookfield Renewable Price Performance BEPC opened at $22.92 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77. Brookfield Renewable Co. has a 12 month low of $21.77 and a 12 month high of $36.16. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $26.37 and a 200 day simple moving average of $30.62. The stock has a market cap of $4.12 billion, a P/E ratio of -38.20 and a beta of 1.08. Brookfield Renewable Announces Dividend Brookfield Renewable ( NYSE:BEPC Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Friday, August 4th. The company reported ($0.10) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.07) by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $719.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.39 billion. Brookfield Renewable had a return on equity of 1.98% and a net margin of 6.43%. On average, research analysts expect that Brookfield Renewable Co. will post -0.39 EPS for the current year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 31st were issued a dividend of $0.338 per share. This represents a $1.35 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.90%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, August 30th. Brookfield Renewables dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -225.00%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on BEPC shares. BNP Paribas started coverage on shares of Brookfield Renewable in a research note on Friday. They issued an outperform rating for the company. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Brookfield Renewable from $37.00 to $34.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, September 22nd. Read Our Latest Analysis on BEPC About Brookfield Renewable (Free Report) Brookfield Renewable Corporation owns and operates a portfolio of renewable power and sustainable solution assets primarily in the United States, Europe, Colombia, and Brazil. It operates hydroelectric, wind, and solar power plants with an installed capacity of approximately 12,857 megawatts. The company was incorporated in 2019 and is headquartered in New York, New York. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BEPC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Brookfield Renewable Co. (NYSE:BEPC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Brookfield Renewable Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brookfield Renewable and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wealthspire Advisors LLC trimmed its holdings in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO Free Report) by 3.6% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 24,689 shares of the companys stock after selling 914 shares during the period. Wealthspire Advisors LLCs holdings in Altria Group were worth $1,118,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MO. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group in the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Northwest Bank & Trust Co purchased a new position in shares of Altria Group during the second quarter worth $27,000. Ellevest Inc. grew its stake in shares of Altria Group by 346.7% in the first quarter. Ellevest Inc. now owns 670 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 520 shares in the last quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC grew its stake in shares of Altria Group by 153.8% in the first quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 731 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 443 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 58.94% of the companys stock. Get Altria Group alerts: Altria Group Stock Down 1.2 % Shares of Altria Group stock opened at $42.60 on Friday. Altria Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $40.91 and a 52-week high of $51.57. The company has a market capitalization of $75.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.18, a P/E/G ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 0.59. The company has a 50 day moving average of $43.08 and a 200 day moving average of $44.50. Altria Group Increases Dividend Altria Group ( NYSE:MO Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 1st. The company reported $1.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $1.31. The business had revenue of $5.44 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.43 billion. Altria Group had a net margin of 27.40% and a negative return on equity of 225.61%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.26 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 4.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, October 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 15th were issued a $0.98 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 14th. This represents a $3.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 9.20%. This is an increase from Altria Groups previous quarterly dividend of $0.94. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 102.89%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth MO has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on Altria Group from $55.00 to $56.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, October 13th. Citigroup lowered their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $46.50 to $45.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday. Bank of America cut their target price on shares of Altria Group from $49.00 to $47.00 in a research note on Monday, October 9th. UBS Group decreased their price target on shares of Altria Group from $40.40 to $39.20 and set a sell rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 6th. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Altria Group presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $47.46. Get Our Latest Stock Report on Altria Group Altria Group Company Profile (Free Report) Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company provides cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; cigars and pipe tobacco principally under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco products and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; and on! oral nicotine pouches. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Altria Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Altria Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Simon Quick Advisors LLC lifted its position in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (BATS:QUAL Free Report) by 26.4% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 33,920 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 7,079 shares during the quarter. Simon Quick Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF were worth $4,575,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. BDO Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 6.7% during the 2nd quarter. BDO Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 33,556 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,526,000 after buying an additional 2,115 shares in the last quarter. Fort Sheridan Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 1.2% during the 2nd quarter. Fort Sheridan Advisors LLC now owns 7,017 shares of the companys stock valued at $946,000 after buying an additional 86 shares in the last quarter. Semus Wealth Partners LLC lifted its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 20.6% during the 2nd quarter. Semus Wealth Partners LLC now owns 4,182 shares of the companys stock valued at $564,000 after buying an additional 713 shares in the last quarter. Fiduciary Trust Co. lifted its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 36.3% during the 2nd quarter. Fiduciary Trust Co. now owns 2,652 shares of the companys stock valued at $358,000 after buying an additional 707 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sutton Place Investors LLC lifted its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 4.8% during the 2nd quarter. Sutton Place Investors LLC now owns 9,716 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,310,000 after buying an additional 446 shares in the last quarter. Get iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF alerts: iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF Stock Down 1.0 % QUAL traded down $1.36 on Friday, reaching $132.93. 4,343,852 shares of the company traded hands. iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF has a one year low of $71.96 and a one year high of $88.63. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $135.45 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $132.10. The company has a market cap of $30.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.30 and a beta of 1.03. About iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF The iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Sector Neutral Quality index. The fund tracks an index of US large- and mid-cap stocks, selected and weighted by high ROE, stable earnings growth and low debt\u002Fequity, relative to peers in each sector. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding QUAL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (BATS:QUAL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BDO Wealth Advisors LLC cut its position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS Free Report) by 11.0% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 731 shares of the investment management companys stock after selling 90 shares during the period. BDO Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group were worth $236,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in GS. Pacific Center for Financial Services purchased a new position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group during the 1st quarter worth about $33,000. Worth Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in The Goldman Sachs Group during the 1st quarter valued at about $33,000. NewSquare Capital LLC lifted its holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group by 3,433.3% during the 1st quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 106 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 103 shares in the last quarter. Key Financial Inc lifted its holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group by 119.0% during the 1st quarter. Key Financial Inc now owns 138 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $45,000 after buying an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Compass Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in The Goldman Sachs Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $45,000. 69.06% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get The Goldman Sachs Group alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes GS has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Oppenheimer decreased their price objective on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $450.00 to $447.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Thursday. Citigroup decreased their price objective on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $400.00 to $380.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Thursday, September 21st. Atlantic Securities upgraded shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from an underweight rating to a neutral rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $330.00 to $351.00 in a report on Tuesday, August 1st. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $407.00 to $411.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, July 20th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group restated an outperform rating and issued a $410.00 price target on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in a report on Thursday, July 20th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $392.60. Insiders Place Their Bets In other The Goldman Sachs Group news, CEO David M. Solomon sold 4,200 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $356.28, for a total transaction of $1,496,376.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 124,782 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $44,457,330.96. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.54% of the stock is owned by insiders. The Goldman Sachs Group Trading Up 0.2 % NYSE GS opened at $299.87 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.81, a current ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.91. The firm has a market cap of $98.86 billion, a PE ratio of 14.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.76 and a beta of 1.38. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $323.57 and a 200 day moving average price of $329.30. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. has a 52 week low of $298.49 and a 52 week high of $389.58. The Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE:GS Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 17th. The investment management company reported $5.47 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $5.42 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $11.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.15 billion. The Goldman Sachs Group had a net margin of 7.77% and a return on equity of 7.19%. The Goldman Sachs Groups revenue was down 1.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $8.25 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will post 23.13 EPS for the current fiscal year. The Goldman Sachs Group Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 28th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, November 30th will be given a dividend of $2.75 per share. This represents a $11.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.67%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 29th. The Goldman Sachs Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 53.24%. About The Goldman Sachs Group (Free Report) The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc, a financial institution, provides a range of financial services for corporations, financial institutions, governments, and individuals worldwide. It operates through Global Banking & Markets, Asset & Wealth Management, and Platform Solutions segments. The Global Banking & Markets segment provides financial advisory services, including strategic advisory assignments related to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate defense activities, restructurings, and spin-offs; and relationship lending, and acquisition financing, as well as secured lending, through structured credit and asset-backed lending and involved in resale agreements. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for The Goldman Sachs Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Goldman Sachs Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lawyer Sidney Powell pleaded guilty to reduced charges Thursday over efforts to overturn Donald Trumps loss in the 2020 election in Georgia, becoming the second defendant in the sprawling case to reach a deal with prosecutors. Powell, who was charged alongside Trump and 17 others with violating the states anti-racketeering law, entered the plea just a day before jury selection was set to start in her trial. She pleaded guilty to six misdemeanors accusing her of conspiring to intentionally interfere with the performance of election duties. As part of the deal, she will serve six years of probation, will be fined $6,000 and will have to write an apology letter to Georgia and its residents. She also agreed to testify truthfully against her co-defendants at future trials. Powell, 68, was initially charged with racketeering and six other counts as part of a wide-ranging scheme to keep the Republican president in power after he lost the 2020 election to Democrat Joe Biden. Prosecutors say she also participated in an unauthorized breach of elections equipment in a rural Georgia county elections office. The acceptance of a plea deal is a remarkable about-face for a lawyer who, perhaps more than anyone else, strenuously pushed baseless conspiracy theories about a stolen election in the face of extensive evidence to the contrary. If prosecutors compel her to testify, she could provide insight on a news conference she participated in on behalf of Trump and his campaign shortly after the election and on a White House meeting she attended in mid-December of that year during which strategies and theories to influence the outcome of the election were discussed. John Fishwick, a former U.S. attorney for the Western District of Virginia, called Powells plea a significant win for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. He noted that Powell is a very high-profile defendant. This is somebody who was at ground zero of these allegations and a lawyer who is pleading guilty, he said. This is very significant. Barry Coburn, a Washington-based lawyer for Powell, declined to comment on Thursday. Powell was scheduled to go on trial on Monday with lawyer Kenneth Chesebro after each filed a demand for a speedy trial. The development means that Chesebro will go on trial by himself, though prosecutors said earlier that they also planned to look into the possibility of offering him a plea deal. Jury selection was set to start Friday. Chesebros attorneys didnt immediately respond to messages seeking comment Thursday on whether he would also accept a plea deal. A lower-profile defendant in the case, bail bondsman Scott Graham Hall, last month pleaded guilty to five misdemeanor charges. He was sentenced to five years of probation and agreed to testify in further proceedings. Steve Sadow, the lead attorney for Trump in the Georgia case, expressed confidence after Powells plea. Assuming truthful testimony in the Fulton County case, it will be favorable to my overall defense strategy, he said. Prosecutors allege that Powell conspired with Hall and others to access election equipment without authorization and hired computer forensics firm SullivanStrickler to send a team to Coffee County, in south Georgia, to copy software and data from voting machines and computers there. The indictment says a person who is not named sent an email to a top SullivanStrickler executive and instructed him to send all data copied from Dominion Voting Systems equipment in Coffee County to an unidentified lawyer associated with Powell and the Trump campaign. Trial dates have not been set for the 16 remaining defendants, including former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who was a Trump lawyer, and Mark Meadows, who was the Trump White Houses chief of staff. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition History has taught us that when terrorists dont pay a price for their terror, when dictators dont pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction, said U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday evening in a televised speech from the Oval Office on aid to Ukraine and the war between Israel and Hamas, in which he revealed that this Friday he will ask Congress for urgent additional assistance for Kyiv and Israel. His appearance before the cameras was an exceptional occasion: it is only the second time that he has addressed the nation from the center of American power in his almost three years in office. The first was back in June, when a legislative agreement in extremis avoided a federal government shutdown. Were facing an inflection point in history. One of those moments where the decisions we make today are going to determine the future for decades to come, he warned at the beginning of his statement. If Russian President Vladimir Putin succeeds in his countrys invasion of Ukraine, he will pose a threat to Poland and the Baltic States, and in the Middle East, radical Islamic groups may expand their influence, he warned. The setting and the moment were charged with solemnity. Less than 24 hours before, Biden returned from a less than eight-hour trip to Tel Aviv, dominated by the aftermath of the blast at a hospital in Gaza that left hundreds dead. There, President Biden reached an agreement with Israel to allow humanitarian aid to be sent to the Gaza Strip before the start of what is feared to be a violent ground campaign by Israeli troops in response to attacks by the radical Palestinian militia Hamas on October 7th. The purpose of the speech was to underscore to Americans the need to devote billions of dollars to military aid to Ukraine and Israel. The White House plans to submit a new funding request of nearly $100 billion in additional budget to Congress for approval. About $60 billion would go for assistance to the Russian-invaded country, and about $10 billion to the Middle East ally. The rest would go to Asia and the security of the U.S. southern border. Hours before his speech, Biden spoke on the telephone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who said on the social network X (formerly Twitter) that his U.S. counterpart had reiterated Washingtons support for as long as necessary. In Tel Aviv, Biden, who expressed strong support for Israel against Hamas, had already announced $100 million in assistance for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, and said he would ask Congress for funds to help Israel defeat the radical militia. The speech also comes as Congress is in a semi-paralyzed state. The two chambers, the Senate and the House of Representatives, must both approve budget measures, but infighting among Republican lawmakers, who hold a majority in the House, has kept the chamber without a speaker for 17 days and left its proceedings at a standstill. No immediate end to the impasse is foreseen. House speaker hopeful Jim Jordan, aligned with Republican hardliners and former president Donald Trump, is still not getting the votes needed among his own party to win the post days after earning the nomination. Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers and a large majority of Republican senators and representatives support sending military aid to Ukraine, which they see as a national security issue: a defeat of Kyiv would leave a growing Russia on NATOs doorstep and undermine democratic values and international law around the world, they believe. Washington has already sent more than $75 billion in defense aid to the government of Volodymyr Zelenskiy, including long-range ATACMS missile systems. But the more radical wing of the Republican conference in the House opposes continuing this assistance without an end date or clear objectives. Given the slim majority with which Republicans dominate the chamber, their influence is disproportionate. Last month, they succeeded in blocking approval of a new aid package for Kyiv; it is those same funds that the White House is now trying to push through. A majority of the U.S. population also believes, according to polls, that Washington should continue its military support for the invaded country. A poll published by Reuters earlier this month indicated that about 40% of voters agree that the country should contribute weapons to Ukraine. U.S. citizens also support Bidens policy toward Israel. Some 61%, according to a poll released Tuesday by Quinnipiac, say they side with Israel, and 52% believe U.S. support for Israel is at the right level. Only 13% say they feel more sympathy for the Palestinians. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Republicans have left the House of Representatives deadlocked, with no end and no speaker in sight. Hardliner Jim Jordan failed for a third time on Friday to win election as House speaker. His support dwindled, and on the third ballot he only secured 194 votes, 21 short of the 215 he needed. This was despite the fact that former speaker Kevin McCarthy who was ousted from the post 18 days ago nominated Jordan on the floor. Not even McCarthys endorsement was enough to overcome the resistance of moderate Republicans, who refuse to bow to one of the most radical members of their party, who has former president Donald Trumps blessing. Then, a few hours later in an internal vote, the Republican conference decided to scrap Jordans candidacy. Back to square one. Jordans new failure leaves the House inoperative on the same day that President Joe Biden requested the approval of a $105 billion aid package destined mainly for Ukraine, but also for Israel, humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip and to reinforce the control of the border with Mexico. To move forward, the package needs the approval of both the Democratic-majority Senate and the Republican-dominated House, which is currently at an impasse. The Republican conference will meet Monday afternoon to try to reach a consensus on a new candidate. During his speech on the floor, McCarthy introduced Jordan as an effective legislator, which earned him laughter and ridicule from the Democratic caucus, since the Ohio representative has not proposed a single bill in his years as a congressman. In response to this, the former House speaker argued that Jordans job as chairman of the Judiciary Committee is more important than having drafted legislation himself. Democrats also laughed and protested when McCarthy described Jordan as someone who seeks consensus and compromise. Jordan was singled out by the congressional committee that investigated the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol for his role in trying to overturn Joe Bidens victory in the 2020 presidential election. He helped found the Freedom Caucus, which represents the hard-right faction of the Republican Party. And he has been a staunch supporter of Trump and a relentless, almost inquisitorial, persecutor of Biden. Being speaker is not an easy job, especially in this conference, McCarthy acknowledged. But Ive seen Jim spend his entire career fighting for freedom. No matter what, no matter the odds and I know hes ready for the job, he added. Opposing him, Democratic Rep. Katherine Clark called him a threat to democracy. Death threats Several of the Republican representatives who voted against Jordan have publicly denounced receiving pressures and threats. One thing I cannot stomach, or support, is a bully, Iowa Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks said in a statement. She claims to have received credible death threats and a barrage of threatening calls for having voted against Jordan. As soon as you try to influence by getting outside groups to try to intimidate, in that nanosecond, its over, said Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, a senior Republican on the Appropriations Committee who has opposed Jordan from the get go. During the third ballot, Jordan got even less support than he received in the first two, but hes not ready to give up. Look, there have already been several rounds of voting for the speaker. We all know that. I just know we need a speaker as soon as possible so we can work for the American people, he said hours before the vote. In the first vote, 20 Republicans turned their backs on Jordan, and in the second, 22 refused to vote for him. By the third round, 25 members of his own party refused to back him, despite his efforts to get their support. It remains unclear when there will be a new vote, but the Republicans will have to have a new nominee by then. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition There were no signs of life from Ashling Murphy when two paramedics arrived at the scene, a court heard on Friday. Two paramedics and two gardai formed a chain to carry her up an embankment to attempt a resuscitation but said there were no signs of movement or a heartbeat. Ms Murphy, 23, was killed while out exercising along a canal path in Tullamore, Co Offaly, at around 3.30pm on January 12 2022. Jozef Puska, 33, of Lynally Grove in Mucklagh, Tullamore, has pleaded not guilty to her murder. On the fourth day of the trial at the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin, advanced paramedic Paul McCabe described how he and his colleague Ciaran Daly arrived at the scene where Ms Murphy was killed. He said they arrived around eight minutes after receiving an emergency call at 3.49pm. He said two gardai, Garda Tom Dunne and Garda Shane Hunter who gave evidence on Thursday, were performing CPR on a person down a steep embankment off the canal walkway in Tullamore. I saw a patient, didnt know whether it was male or female, she was lying on her back, he told the court. He said that because of the area Ms Murphy was in, they needed to remove her from the hedgerow to the tarmac path to attempt a resuscitation. We had to create a chain to try and drag her up the bank, he said, adding that her jacket and a running shoe came off in this process. He told the court that Ms Murphys hair was matted over her face from either blood loss, body fluid or condensation from the undergrowth. He said there was a substantial wound or a number of wounds in one area of her neck, and that her eyes were wide open. When he put the pads of the defibrillator on her, he told the court there were no signs of life. Her skin was pale, cold and there was no effort to make movement, he told the court. As the clinical lead, it was my decision to cease resuscitation, he said. Mr Daly told the court that he and Mr McCabe left Tullamore hospital at 3.49pm. He said that when they arrived he decided the patient needed to be moved to solid ground to perform a resuscitation. He said a human chain was formed between himself, Mr McCabe and the two garda members. He said that he then retrieved a life pack, a device that has a defibrillator and a diagnostic test on it. He told the court Ms Murphys eyes and mouth were open, that her eyes were fixed and dilated and that there was no heart rate. He said she was totally unresponsive to anything. They both stayed at the scene until gardai told them to leave, he confirmed to the court. Airtame and Jabra Team Up for Enhanced Hybrid Collaboration Danish tech innovators Airtame and Jabra have joined forces to revolutionize hybrid collaboration solutions. Airtame's versatile platform, known for seamless screen sharing, digital signage, and video conferencing in businesses and schools, now integrates flawlessly with Jabra's professional audio and hybrid work tools. This partnership offers a comprehensive cross-platform meeting solution for hybrid spaces, incorporating Jabra's speakerphones, cameras, and video bars with Airtame's cutting-edge conferencing platform that eliminates common challenges in these types of meeting spaces. The result is an enhanced, adaptable, and user-friendly hybrid collaboration experience that's compatible with popular conferencing platforms like Microsoft Teams and Zoom, with future support for Google Meet and Webex. As per the partnership, speaker phones from Jabra - the PanaCast 180-degree FoV meeting room camera and PanaCast 20 personal webcam, and the PanaCast 50 all-in-one video bar are now all available for pairing with the Airtame Hub. With this, integrators also get a simpler, smarter, and more engaging collaboration experience, pushing collaboration innovation forward in the AV industry. Partnering with other industry leading companies is critical to us so that we can provide end-users with the flexible solutions and support required to thrive while collaborating across hybrid workspaces, said Jonas Gyalokay, Airtame Co-Founder. Joining Jabra allows Airtame to stay true to our mission of delivering a seamless hybrid meeting experience to anyone, anywhere, at any time. SHARE THIS ARTICLE Tweet Please enable JavaScript to view the Edited by Greg Tavarez October 20, 2023 Recent findings by Forbes show that America and other developed nations are undergoing a mental health crisis. More than 2.5 million adults currently struggle with acute depression and cant access the required treatment. Substance abuse rates have also increased to 7%. Fortunately, like other medical sectors, technology has revolutionized mental health in many ways. Innovations in mental health care, such as the use of EMDR therapies from mental health professionals with EMDR certification and tech-based interventions, have improved treatment outcomes. Unlike before, mental health treatment is currently very digitized. Below are the impacts of advancing technology on mental health. 1. AI-led Therapies have Removed Barriers to Treatment Shortage of psychiatrists and mental health professionals is undoubtedly the main challenge facing mental health care provision. Other issues include long wait times to access treatment and the stigma that comes with seeking help. As a result, the mental health sector has turned to artificial intelligence to address these issues and improve access to care. Artificial intelligence has revolutionized mental health care provision by enabling the provision of personalized care. AI-powered therapies also reduce wait times and improve efficiency in mental health care settings. AI has eliminated barriers to accessing mental health care through: ? AI for Monitoring Symptoms and Tracking Patient Process Artificial intelligence can also be used to monitor symptoms and track patient progress. AI algorithms can accurately analyze speech patterns to identify unnoticeable signs of mania or depression. Data gathered by these technologies provide valuable insights to mental caregivers that they can use to modify treatment plans. Artificial intelligence also automates transcription and analysis of patient statements. Therapists can then use machine learning algorithms to better understand patient progress and make evidence-based treatment decisions. ? Improve Diagnosis Accuracy Artificial intelligence also helps improve the accuracy of mental health diagnoses. The use of video analysis in detecting symptoms and making diagnoses has shown a lot of promise. This technology analyzes patient behavior, such as nail biting and fidgeting, to identify developing mental health issues accurately. ? Use of NLP to Facilitate Customized Care Artificial intelligence through Natural Language Processing has significantly improved care provision. Mental health professionals use NLP to analyze patient language during therapy sessions. Therapists can use these findings to identify specific patterns and tailor treatment options accordingly. This treatment approach has improved recovery rates compared to in-person therapy sessions. 2. Mental Health Access for All Advancing technologies have revolutionized access to health care, and mental health isnt an exception. Unlike before, seeking help for mental health-related issues is more straightforward. Modern tech solutions have enabled psychologists, psychiatrists, and counselors to offer their services remotely. This means mental health patients can access help from the comfort of their homes. For starters, online therapy platforms have improved access to quality mental health services for all patients, regardless of their location or economic status. Online services are surprisingly also more affordable than in-patient treatments. Most mental health care providers now use Telehealth, which essentially involves using tech solutions like video-conferencing platforms to deliver real-time care. These solutions have brought and made mental health services close to people who wouldnt easily access them. Telehealth and other virtual therapies have eliminated geographical boundaries that were otherwise prohibitive. For instance, patients in rural areas can now access treatment without traveling and waiting for appointments to see a specialist. These technologies also eliminate various logistical barriers, such as scheduling issues and transport expenses, when seeking mental health care. 3. Digital Symptoms Tracking Identification and tracking of mental health symptoms are common challenges faced by mental health care providers. Manual methods used for tracking symptoms were inefficient and time-consuming. Here, symptoms could only be collected through in-person visits. Most manual records also arent optimized for analysis, making it difficult for care providers to analyze various symptoms over time. However, doctors can leverage digital symptom-tracking tools to monitor and understand patient symptoms, especially those that appear between appointments. Brief remote daily check-ins through a digital symptom tracker help doctors stop emerging mental health issues before they become full-blown. Advanced digital symptoms trackers also use AI algorithms to identify patterns and send alerts or warning signs to care providers. 4. Mental Health Apps Most people struggling with mental health issues often face difficulties in seeking the required care. If you are in this fold, there are several intuitive mental health apps designed to personalize and streamline your mental health treatment journey. Mental health apps like Calm, Talkspace, and Shine, allow mental health patients in need of care to search for therapists and treatment options anonymously. These apps also have other features that help mental health patients manage their wellness. Key features, such as mood trackers, daily reminders, and informative reading materials, are beneficial to mental health treatment. While these apps wont replace licensed therapists, they are great tools that help mental health patients take charge of their mental health. 5. Prescription Video Games Treatment for ADHD primarily revolved around medication, educational programs, and behavioral therapy. However, the FDA recently approved the use of prescription video games for kids diagnosed with ADHD. These non-drug treatment options are perfect for kids aged between 8 and 12 with specific types of ADHD. Prescription video games have significantly revolutionized mental health treatment by making ADHD treatment for kids fun and accessible. While these video games cant replace medications, they have promising results for kids suffering from ADHD. Affected kids can play these games at home, eliminating the intimidating office environments. Kids also love playing, which boosts compliance. Drawbacks of Technology in Mental Health While technology is certainly beneficial to mental health care, you should be wary of various drawbacks. For instance, VR solutions and telehealth eliminate the aspect of human interaction in care provision. There are also privacy concerns about adopting tech in mental health care provision. Patients are skeptical about sharing their private information online. There is also the concern of who can access data collected by mental health apps on patient behavior and symptoms. Endnote The future of technology in mental health is very promising. With a visible increase in mental health issues, the demand for access to mental health services from patients and mental healthcare providers has also increased. Fortunately, modern technologies provide innovative solutions that have changed how patients and professionals approach mental health care. [October 19, 2023] Investors and Marketers Use Brand Maps To Identify Breakout Consumer Brands Tweet AI-powered solution identifies emerging brands and their growth potential NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Social Standards, the leader in transforming complex social data into actionable consumer insights, has launched an innovative new solution called Brand Maps. Developed in tandem with industry professionals from the consumer goods, private equity, and investment banking sectors, Brand Maps offers companies a unique value proposition for finding and evaluating consumer brands. The battle for retail sales begins on social platforms before it reaches the store or shelf. "The battle for retail sales begins on social platforms before it reaches the store or shelf," said Jordan Breslauer, head of Product for Social Standards. "Traditional data sources can't always capture the rapid emergence of brands, much less shed light on the audiences and trends that are fueling their growth. Brand Maps bridges this gap, providing timely insights into brand trajectory and consumer interest based on authentic consumer conversations at scale." Powered y billions of consumer conversations across social platforms, Brand Maps surfaces fast-growing brands and provides comprehensive profiles of their audiences. With accurate and timely measures of consumer interest and market momentum, marketers can more readily identify market share threats and investment professionals can inform deal sourcing and due diligence. Brand Maps sets a new, data-driven standard for the evaluation, funding, and acquisition processes of consumer brands. Brand Maps has already been adopted by leaders in consumer marketing and investing based on its unique features and capabilities: Global Brand Profiles : syndicated SaaS tool that covers more than 25,000 brands across eight market sectors. It adeptly translates complex social data into actionable metrics, akin to UPC codes and purchase panels. : syndicated SaaS tool that covers more than 25,000 brands across eight market sectors. It adeptly translates complex social data into actionable metrics, akin to UPC codes and purchase panels. Data Structuring & Analysis : advanced AI and linguistic expertise ensure social data is structured, accurate and meaningful. The tool provides pivotal size and growth rate metrics, giving marketers a clear picture of consumer interest. : advanced AI and linguistic expertise ensure social data is structured, accurate and meaningful. The tool provides pivotal size and growth rate metrics, giving marketers a clear picture of consumer interest. Growth Potential Matrix : proprietary framework categorizing brands into four quadrants: Leaders, Challengers, Sideliners, and Decliners. Updated monthly, it offers dynamic insights into brand trajectories and sector movements. : proprietary framework categorizing brands into four quadrants: Leaders, Challengers, Sideliners, and Decliners. Updated monthly, it offers dynamic insights into brand trajectories and sector movements. Integrated Audience Insights: includes demographic, geographic, and behavioral insights which prove invaluable when combined with strategic consultation. "Social Standards delivers unparalleled insights about brands, products, trends, and influencers," said Alicia Sontag, Partner, Prelude Growth Partners. "At Prelude Growth, we consider our partnership with Social Standards to be invaluable as we evaluate the market. We believe that they are a true competitive advantage for the brands they work with." About Social Standards Social Standards is redefining market research through industry-leading analytics that translate conversational data from social platforms into accurate and actionable insights. Global consumer brands, top-tier investment banks, renowned PE firms and management consultancies partner with us to better understand consumers and market trends. Our solutions uniquely integrate AI, human linguistics and expert interpretation, to fuel product innovation, marketing strategy, growth investment and due diligence that provide clients sustained market advantage. For Further Information: [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/investors-and-marketers-use-brand-maps-to-identify-breakout-consumer-brands-301962728.html SOURCE Social Standards [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2023] Hyundai Motor Group and SOAS University of London Found New Research Centers for Developing Countries, Focusing on Africa Tweet The Development Leadership Dialogue (DLD) Institute and the Centre for Sustainable Structural Transformation (CSST) to be established under SOAS University of London to facilitate collaboration between the Group and the university to facilitate collaboration between the Group and the university The Group and SOAS University of London held an opening ceremony for DLD on October 18 and plan to open CSST in February 2024 held an opening ceremony for DLD on and plan to open CSST in Through this cooperation, the Group aims to forge a win-win model, securing global growth momentum for itself while speeding up industrialization of African countries SEOUL, South Korea and LONDON, Oct. 19, 2023 /CNW/ -- Hyundai Motor Group (the Group) is set to develop a growth strategy for Africa by establishing specialized units for dialogue and research with the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London. SOAS University of London is one of the 17 colleges within the university and is renowned for its extensive studies of developing regions, especially Asia and Africa. The collaboration between the Group and SOAS University of London has taken shape in response to Africa's growing significance and economic potential, which has come into focus during a period of global economic transformation driven by climate change and the fourth industrial revolution. The newly formed Development Leadership Dialogue (DLD) Institute and the Centre for Sustainable Structural Transformation (CSST) will be established under SOAS University of London to facilitate collaboration with the Group. At the event, Adam Habib, Director of SOAS, said, "SOAS currently has a new strategic agenda at the heart of which is our mission to serve as a bridge to the world. This necessitates knowledge systems to interact with each other, and institutional partnerships across transcontinental and sectoral boundaries. We think that this sponsorship enables training and learning on a thematic issue that is central to the sustainability of our world." Heung-Soo Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Strategy Office, said, "Hyundai Motor Group has a clear vision of making progress for humanity. Through this partnership, we hope to create opportunities to discuss and collaborate with African countries on ways to improve industries in Africa. The Group will leverage its leading technologies and know-how in various fields, such as hydrogen fuel cells, energy, mobility and construction, to lead long-lasting relationships with African countries." More information about Hyundai Motor Group can be found at: http://www.hyundaimotorgroup.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hyundai-motor-group-and-soas-university-of-london-found-new-research-centers-for-developing-countries-focusing-on-africa-301962192.html SOURCE Hyundai Motor Group [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The White House has asked Congress this Friday to approve an aid package of more than $105 billion, which will be used mainly for military aid to Ukraine and Israel, but also to bolster protection of the border with Mexico and other national security purposes. The request, contained in a letter to acting House Speaker Patrick McHenry, came just hours after President Joe Biden announced in a televised address from the Oval Office that he would seek approval for billions of dollars to meet Americas national security needs and support critical partners. The world is watching, and the American people rightly expect their leaders to come together and deliver on these priorities, said the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, Shalanda Young, in the letter to McHenry. If Congress does approve this aid in the amounts requested by the Biden administration, a total of $61.4 billion would go to assist Ukraine, so that the Russian-invaded country can continue to battle to regain its occupied territory. Around $14.3 billion would go to Israel for its war against the radical Palestinian militia Hamas. Another $9.15 billion would be used for humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, Israel, the Gaza Strip and other needs. Specifically, the funds for Ukraine will be used to purchase weapons and other defense equipment, provide assistance to Ukrainians displaced by the war, and pay for critical services to its people and sustain its economy while under attack, among other things, according to a fact sheet released by the White House. The allocation for Israel will be dedicated to replenish ammunition and other defense material that the Pentagon has already been delivering to that country to enable it to protect itself. The material also includes support for Iron Dome missile defense systems. More than 50 billion of the requested funds will be invested in the U.S. defense industry, which, according to the White House, will ensure that its armed forces have their needs covered. Without funds to compensate for the equipment it has been transferring to Ukraine and Israel, the Department of Defense will be unable to continue to backfill the Military Services for equipment provided via drawdown to Ukraine and Israel, thereby degrading U.S. readiness. These funds will also be used to pay for security operations on the border with Mexico including a budget for the deployment of 1,300 additional Border Patrol agents, to combat fentanyl trafficking and to provide services to migrants. In addition, as explained by Young, they will provide resources to ensure we can provide an alternative to coercive financing provided by the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) and bolster security and stability in the Indo-Pacific. When announcing that he would request this allocation, Biden assured that it is a smart investment thats going to pay dividends for American security for generations, help us keep American troops out of harms way, help us build a world that is safer, more peaceful, and more prosperous for our children and grandchildren. These conflicts may seem very distant, but the results of these fights for democracy against terrorism and tyranny are vital to the security of the American people, said National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in a telephone conversation with journalists. But the presidents request may face major hurdles for approval. The House of Representatives, which must give its approval along with the Senate, has been without a speaker for more than two weeks, paralyzing its operations. The Republican Party, whose internal divisions forced the departure of the former speaker, Kevin McCarthy, is unable to agree on a replacement, and no progress is on the immediate horizon. This Thursday, conservative legislator Jim Jordan had his candidacy rejected again, in his third round of voting. The idea behind submitting the budget requests for such different causes in a single bill seeks to increase their chances of passing in the Republican-controlled House. A previous funding request for Ukraine failed in September in the face of opposition from the radical right wing of the House Republican conference. That group of congressmen believes that too much of the budget has already been devoted to a war with no end in sight and that money should be spent on other priorities within the United States, including protecting the border from illegal immigration. Support for military assistance for the invaded country is a majority in Congress, but since Republicans have a very small majority in the House, these legislators maintain a disproportionate influence in that institution. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition [October 19, 2023] AG&P Group Announces Exciting Changes in Leadership Tweet Mr. Karthik Sathyamoorthy appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AG&P Group, Singapore Mr. Faisal Nawaz appointed as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of AG&P Group, Singapore Ms. Anupam Ahuja appointed as President, Corporate Development & Strategy of AG&P Group, Singapore Mr. Alex P. Gamboa appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AG&P Industrial, Manila, Philippines SINGAPORE, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AGP international Holdings Pte Ltd. (AGPIH/AG&P Group), Singapore, a leading downstream LNG platform, is excited to announce several changes in its leadership team. At the Group level, effective October 15, 2023, Mr. Karthik Sathyamoorthy has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer for AG&P Group. He will continue to remain the CEO of AG&P LNG Terminals & Logistics (AG&P LNG), Singapore. Mr. Faisal Nawaz has been appointed as the Chief Financial Officer for the Group. Anupam Ahuja has been appointed as the President, Corporate Development & Strategy for the Group. Mr. Alex P. Gamboa has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AG&P Industrial, Manila. The ownership of the company and the majority of the Board composition remains unchanged at AG&P Group. Mr. Karthik Sathyamoorthy has been with AG&P Group since 2017 and has been instrumental in establishing AG&P as a leading force in the downstream Liquefied Natural Gas/Natural Gas (LNG/NG) industry in South and Southeast Asia. Mr. Sathyamoorthy has over 20 years of experience in the development of new LNG import terminals, small-scale LNG, LNG ship scheduling, contracting and commercial negotiations across SE Asia, N Asia and Middle East. Mr. Sathyammoorthy will be focused on AG&P LNG's substantal growth pipeline and proprietary technologies in development on energy transition to establish clean energy networks across diverse unserved and underserved markets towards a carbon-neutral future. Mr. Faisal Nawaz currently serves as the Board member of AG&P Group. Prior, Mr. Nawaz was the CEO at Asiya Investments Hong Kong Ltd., Asiya Capital Investments Co. and Asiya Investments (Dubai) Ltd. Mr. Nawaz has more than 25 years of experience across multiple industries in operational restructuring, R&D, treasury, and corporate finance. Before Aisya, Mr. Nawaz was Director of Finance at Agility Logistics. Ms. Anupam Ahuja joined AG&P Group in 2011 and has been responsible for the design and execution of the overall marketing and communications strategy to create the AG&P brand. Anupam brings over two decades of international experience in marketing and communications, human resources & change management across energy, oil & gas, pharmaceutical, outsourcing and IT sectors. As President for Corporate Development and Strategy for the Group, Anupam Ahuja will continue to focus on marketing and sustainable growth strategies to drive value for all AG&P stakeholders. Mr. Alex P. Gamboa joined AG&P Industrial in 2016 and led the re-entry of the company into the Philippine Industrial construction market. By 2019, Mr. Gamboa established AG&P's market leadership in the heavy industrial and electro-mechanical space in the country. He then led the expansion of AG&P Industrial's modularization and EPC business that grew from the Asia-Pacific region to Europe, Middle East and the Americas. As CEO of AG&P Industrial, Mr. Gamboa will be focused on growing the global footprint to include Australia and Saudi Arabia. Mr. Gamboa has over 25 years of international experience in business development, commercial, finance, operations and general management roles in energy, oil & gas, industrial engineering and construction sectors. Earlier in the year, of the AG&P LNG terminal project portfolio, the company commissioned the first LNG import and regasification terminal in Batangas Bay, called the Philippines LNG (PHLNG) to supply gas to one of the largest power producers in the country. Alongside, AG&P Industrial was awarded four new major contracts in the Philippines, Australia, the Middle East and Europe. AG&P Industrial has a strong order book of over USD 500M with expectations to close the year with two more major contracts within the energy industry located in the USA and the Philippines. About AG&P Group Atlantic Gulf & Pacific (AG&P) is a leading global downstream LNG infrastructure platform focused on developing LNG import and regasification facilities as well as downstream city gas networks. AG&P also provides engineering and project management services for LNG and other infrastructure. About AG&P Industrial, Manila A subsidiary of the AG&P Group, AG&P Industrial, Manila is a leading diversified full-asset lifecycle EPFCIC (Engineering, Procurement, Fabrication, Construction, Installation and Commissioning), infrastructure development, and Operations & Maintenance (O&M) company with a legacy of executing award-winning marquee projects globally for LNG terminals, refineries, petrochemical plants, utilities, LNG liquefaction modules and other complex process units. We operate a world-class manufacturing site in Batangas, Philippines, with deep-water access and 60,000MT of annual module assembly capacity. We build large segments of projects and complex process modules in a controlled environment with the highest standards of safety and quality. For more information, please visit https://agpglobal.com/. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/agp-group-announces-exciting-changes-in-leadership-301962615.html SOURCE AG&P Global [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2023] Europlasma NV has filed a lawsuit against Nanowatt BV Tweet FUVEAU, France, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Europlasma NV, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Plasmalex SAS, and a global technology leader in innovative nano-coating solutions based on low pressure plasma technology, has filed a lawsuit against Nanowatt BV as well as its Director Taco 12 BV (represented by Mr. Wesley VAN DEN BOSCH) and its principal, Mr. Marc SERCU, both formerly employed by Europlasma, for copyright infringement related to its proprietary technical drawings. The lawsuit alleges that Nanowatt BV has unlawfully used trade secrets and reproduced technical drawings without authorization, using them to copy plasma coating machines developed by Europlasma NV, constituting a violation of its intellectual property rights. Europlasma NV has a decades long history of designing and creating plasma coating machines that are known for their innovation and unique features Its designs are a result of extensive research, development, and investment in creating solutions that have contributed significantly to the advancement of plasma coating solutions. The lawsuit, filed in Ghent, Belgium on 19 October 2023, alleges that Nanowatt BV has copied, reproduced, and distributed Europlasma's copyrighted technical drawings and trade secrets without permission. This unauthorized use not only threatens the integrity of Europlasma's intellectual property but also poses a significant risk to the industry as a whole by potentially compromising the quality and functionality of products on the market. Europlasma seeks damages for the copyright infringement and a permanent injunction to prevent Nanowatt from further using, reproducing, or distributing its trade secrets and technical drawings and to cancel all orders for infringing machines and to recall and destroy the infringing machines under penalty of a fine. Europlasma is committed to vigorously defending its intellectual property rights and ensuring that those who unlawfully infringe upon them are held accountable for their actions. Europlasma remains committed to its mission of innovation, quality, and integrity in the plasma coating industry, and it will continue to take all necessary steps to protect its intellectual property. For more information about Plasmalex, Europlasma and their commitment to innovation and intellectual property protection, please visit www.plasmalex.com. Plasmalex SAS 59 4eme Rue, ZAC Saint Charles 13710 FUVEAU France View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/europlasma-nv-has-filed-a-lawsuit-against-nanowatt-bv-301962617.html SOURCE Plasmalex [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2023] 2023 U.S. Taiwan High-Tech Forum - Opportunities and Challenges in Electric Vehicles Tweet TAIPEI, Oct. 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- North America Taiwanese Engineering & Science Association (NATEA) is thrilled to announce that the 26th annual US Taiwan High Tech Forum is scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 4th at the Alexandria at San Carlos, San Carlos, CA. This year's event will bring together a lineup of industry leaders to discuss the latest opportunities and challenges in the rapidly evolving world of electric vehicles (EVs). Here is a glimpse of the distinguished speakers gracing the event: John Heinlein, Chief Marketing Officer at Sonatus, will share the ambitious strategy of Sonatus in transitioning into software-defined electric vehicles. With his extensive experience, attendees can expect valuable insights into the future outlook of the EV industry. Simon Lee, Lead UX Designer at Lucid Motors, will explore the pivotal role of user experience in drivng the adoption of electric vehicles. His talk will shed light on how intuitive user interfaces can help differentiate EV products in this ever competitive market. CY Yu, Propulsion Systems Control Manager at Archer Aviation, will share his inspiring journey managing an EV startup. Through his firsthand experiences, attendees will have a view into the challenges, triumphs, and perseverance required to establish a successful EV venture. Joining virtually, Bill Lin, Senior AVP at Foxconn, will dissect Tesla's "Master Plan Trilogy, which is an ambitious experiment in collaboration with Foxconn. His virtual presentation promises to be an engaging exploration of Tesla and Foxconn's strategic vision and impact. Also joining the conference virtually, Colley Hwang, President of DIGITIMES, will discuss the influence of emerging technologies on Asia's high-tech industries. His presentation will focus on the interconnectedness and future landscape of semiconductor technology, electric vehicles, and AI servers. Attendees can look forward to engaging discussions, interactive sessions, and networking opportunities with industry leaders and peers. The conference aims to facilitate knowledge sharing and foster collaboration within the EV and tech communities. NATEA is the North America Taiwanese Engineering & Science Association, a non-profit and tax deductible professional organization founded in 1991. We empower our innovative leaders to broaden their impact by providing a forum for them to collaborate, share business insights, and promote the advancement of entrepreneurship within our community. For detailed information on event schedule registration, please visit our website at: www.uthf.net View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/2023-us-taiwan-high-tech-forum---opportunities-and-challenges-in-electric-vehicles-301962774.html SOURCE DIGITIMES ASIA [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 20, 2023] Elliptic Labs Signs Expansion Contract with Existing Smartphone Customer Tweet Elliptic Labs (OSE: ELABS), a global AI software company and the world leader in AI Virtual Smart Sensors currently deployed in over 500 million devices, signs an expansion agreement with an existing smartphone customer. The contract is for Elliptic Labs' AI Virtual Proximity Sensor INNER BEAUTY and covers multiple future smartphone releases for our customer. "Elliptic Labs' AI Virtual Smart Sensor Platform continues to be the leading software platform to introduce innovative user experiences for the smartphone industry," said Elliptic Labs' CEO Laila Danielsen. "Our ability to combine AI/machine learning, ultrasound, and sensor fusion delivers power, value, and scalability to smartphone makers that other solutions can't provide. Signing yet another contract with anexisting smartphone customer shows the solid value our AI Virtual Smart Sensors provides to make their products greener, smarter, and more human friendly." AI Virtual Proximity Sensor INNER BEAUTY Elliptic Labs' AI Virtual Proximity Sensor INNER BEAUTY turns off a smartphone's display and disables the screen's touch functionality when a user holds the device up to their ear during a phone call. If that capability to detect proximity were missing, a user's ear or cheek could accidentally trigger unwanted actions during a call, such as hanging up or dialing numbers. Turning off the screen automatically helps conserve battery life as well. Proximity detection is a core capability that is used in all smartphones across today's market. Elliptic Labs' AI Virtual Proximity Sensor INNER BEAUTY delivers robust proximity detection without the need for a dedicated hardware sensor. By replacing hardware sensors with our software, the AI Virtual Proximity Sensor reduces device cost and eliminates sourcing risk. INNER BEAUTY is a registered trademark of Elliptic Labs. AI Virtual Smart Sensor, AI Virtual Human Presence Sensor, and AI Virtual Smart Sensor Platform are trademarks of Elliptic Labs. All other trademarks or service markets are the responsibility of their respective organizations. About Elliptic Labs Elliptic Labs is a global enterprise targeting the smartphone, laptop, IoT, and automotive markets. Founded in 2006 as a research spin-off from Norway's Oslo University, the company's patented software uses AI, ultrasound and sensor fusion to deliver intuitive 3D gesture, proximity-, presence-, breathing- and heartbeat-detection experiences. Its scalable AI Virtual Smart Sensor Platform creates software-only sensors that are sustainable, human-friendly and already deployed in hundreds of millions of devices around the world. Elliptic Labs is the only software company that has delivered detection capabilities using AI software, ultrasound, and sensor fusion deployed at scale. The company joined the Oslo Brs main listing in March 2022. Elliptic Labs is headquartered in Norway with presence in the USA, China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. Its technology and IP are developed in Norway and are solely owned by the company. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231019902327/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 20, 2023] Video Surveillance Market size to grow by USD 28.79 billion from 2022 to 2027, Growth Driven by need to mitigate criminal activities and terrorist attacks - Technavio Tweet NEW YORK, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "video surveillance market by product (hardware, software, and services), end-user (public, commercial, and residential), and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America) - Forecast and Analysis 2023-2027" report has been added to Technavio's offering. With ISO 9001:2015 certification, Technavio has proudly partnered with more than 100 Fortune 500 companies for over 16 years. The potential growth difference for the video surveillance market between 2022 and 2027 is USD 28.79 billion. Get deeper insights into the market size, current market scenario, future growth opportunities, major growth driving factors, the latest trends, and much more. Buy the full report here The need to mitigate criminal activities and terrorist attacks is a key factor driving market growth. The increasing number of terrorist attacks, especially in countries such as the US and the UK, has necessitated the deployment of video surveillance solutions. To prevent acts of criminal activity, such as intrusions, murder, robbery, and theft, video surveillance equipment is also being used. As a result, some companies are working on solutions to detect crime before it happens. Market Challenge Issues related to privacy are significant challenges restricting market growth. Private spaces such as apartments and office premises, which are not subject to the consent of their respective owners, may be covered by public surveillance systems. This would entail a breach of privacy. Furthermore, governments have the power to create an overview of human life without their consent by means of a comprehensive video surveillance system. In addition, video surveillance in stores and streets can also be misused for voyeurism, wherein women may be spied on and sexually exploited. Learn abou additional key drivers, trends, and challenges available with Technavio. Read FREE Sample PDF Report Now The video surveillance market is segmented by product (hardware, software, and services), end-user (public, commercial, and residential), and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America). The market share growth of the hardware segment will be significant during the forecast period. Camera modules, storage units, network video recorder (NVR) hardware, video encoders, and networking equipment are the components of a surveillance solution. New variants of video surveillance equipment are to be launched by certain companies active on the market. APAC is estimated to contribute 47% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. View the FREE Sample Report for insights into the contribution of all the segments and regional opportunities in the report. Key Companies in the video surveillance market: Agent Video Intelligence Ltd., Costar Technologies Inc., CP PLUS International, Genetec Inc., Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co. Ltd., Hanwha Corp., Hexagon AB, Honeywell International Inc., Huawei Investment and Holding Co. Ltd., i PRO Co. Ltd., Motorola Solutions Inc., NEC Corp., NICE Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH, Teledyne Technologies Inc., Tiandy Technologies Co. Ltd., Zhejiang Dahua Technology Co. Ltd., Zhejiang Uniview Technologies Co. Ltd., Zicom Saas Pvt. Ltd., and Canon Inc. Related Reports: The display for avionics applications market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.4% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 1,257.73 million. The biometrics market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 12.85% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 27,436.19 million. ToC: Executive Summary Market Landscape Market Sizing Historic Market Sizes Five Forces Analysis Market Segmentation by WRITERS Market Segmentation by Geography Customer Landscape Geographic Landscape Drivers, Challenges, & Trends Company Landscape Company Analysis Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/video-surveillance-market-size-to-grow-by-usd-28-79-billion-from-2022-to-2027--growth-driven-by-need-to-mitigate-criminal-activities-and-terrorist-attacks---technavio-301962251.html SOURCE Technavio [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 20, 2023] Altr and Monaco Legend Group (MLG) Join Forces to Revolutionize the Watch Auction Industry Tweet Monaco, Oct. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- - Altr, a pioneer in blockchain technology and digital authentication, is thrilled to announce its strategic partnership with Monaco Legend Group (MLG ), a renowned watch auction house for rare and collectible timepieces. This partnership will transform the world of luxury collectibles, introducing an advanced digitization platform that empowers collectors in numerous ways. Altr and Monaco Legend Group are heralding a new era for collectors, where collection management, preservation, valuation, and innovative possibilities converge in one powerful partnership. Today, managing collections can be a daunting task. Altr's platform offers collectors a secure and comprehensive solution to consolidate vital information and images of their treasured items, eliminating the need for scattered Excel sheets and introducing a cutting-edge digital collection management tool. The standout feature of this partnership is the concept of 'digital twins.' Every item digitized through Altr becomes a distinct digital counterpart of the physical object, enabling collectors to enjoy their collections both online and offline. It represents a groundbreaking bridge between the physical and digital realms of collectibles. However, this partnership offers more than just digitization. Altr's platform also includes a valuable tracking an valuation component. Every three months, Altr's expert committee assesses and updates the valuation of the digitized items, providing collectors with real-time insights into their item's worth. Moreover, these digital certificates unlock a raft of possibilities. Collectors can explore opportunities to utilize their certified items as collateral for lending or engage in secure trading on the market. The certificates are highly customizable, allowing collectors to decide whether to keep them private or share them with the world through their user interface. Altr's advisor and supporter, Davide Rovelli: "As pioneers in blockchain technology and digital authentication, we are delighted to collaborate with such a prestigious brand in the auction house industry. Together, we are dedicated to transforming the way collectors engage with rare and vintage timepieces. Our advanced digitization platform and the concept of 'digital twins' will revolutionize collection management and empower collectors like never before.." The partnership with Monaco Legend Group is a milestone in this sector. All watches featured in the upcoming Monaco Legend Group Exclusive Timepieces sale have already received certification and valuation from the auction house experts. They are making it seamless for winning bidders to acquire their prized possessions and maintain them on-chain with Altr's secure digital certification. Davide Parmegiani, newly appointed Expert Oracle for Altr and Monaco Legend Group Co-Chairman: "Our partnership with Altr is a testament to the boundless possibilities that lie ahead as we embrace digital innovation to enhance the collector's experience. This collaboration will not only strengthen our position as a leading watch auction house but also enable us to reach and engage with new generations of watch collectors. The Exclusive Timepieces sale is scheduled for October 21st and 22nd, and it can be attended both online and in person in Monaco at HOTEL MERIDIEN BEACH PLAZA, MONACO. For complete details and the watch catalog, please visit this link . About Altr Altr's cutting-edge innovation continues to redefine the collector's landscape, catering to the growing needs of collectors, dealers, and enthusiasts in this sector. Its innovative e-commerce platform for luxury collectibles connects the real and digital world, making it easier for collectors and inspiring collectors to purchase, trade, and secure their assets using blockchain technology. Sellers can access a new source of liquidity, and buyers can purchase unique collectibles directly using digital or traditional currencies. The collectibles are valued by Altr's Oracles: world - renowned experts and stored in a free-port vault in Switzerland. To learn more about Altr, visit https://altr.trade and on Instagram @altr.trade About Monaco Legend Group Monaco Legend Group (MLG) is a renowned watch auction house co-chaired by Claude Cohen and Davide Parmegiani. Dedicated to offering extraordinary, rare, and beautiful timepieces, MLG, along with its watch Experts Davide and Andrea Parmegiani, sources and curates a selection of highly sought-after collectible watches. To learn more about Monaco Legend Group visit https://www.monacolegendgroup.com/ and on Instagram @monacolegendgroup Media Contact: Dana Danoura [email protected] Account Manager Luna PR [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 20, 2023] Smart Mirrors Market to grow by USD 3.30 billion between 2022 - 2027, Growth Driven by the demand for smart mirrors from apparel shopping outlets - Technavio Tweet NEW YORK, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Smart Mirrors Market report has been added to Technavio's offering. With ISO 9001:2015 certification, Technavio has proudly partnered with more than 100 Fortune 500 companies for over 16 years. The potential growth difference for the smart mirrors market between 2022 and 2027 is USD 3.30 billion. Get deeper insights into the market size, current market scenario, future growth opportunities, major growth driving factors, the latest trends, and much more. Buy the full report here Growing demand for smart mirrors from apparel shopping outlets drives the smart mirrors market growth. Traditional mirrors in fitting rooms are replaced with smart mirrors by various high-end clothing accessories stores and retailers as they allow shoppers to actually see wearing the products they want to try. The way smart mirrors work is they are equipped with high-quality sensors that accurately detect the physical characteristics of the buyer before they are reflected on the screen in the same dimensions as the virtual reflection, as well as clothing and accessories. Hence, such factors drive the growth of the smart mirrors market during the forecast period. Market Challenge - The high cost associated with smart mirrors challenges the smart mirrors market. The high price is attributed to the factor that mirrors incorporate advanced technologies such as networking capabilities, sensors, and built-in displays. For instance, large smart mirrors range in price from USD 400 to over USD 3,000 . Additionally, the smart mirror manufacturing process requires a large capital investment, which affects the mirror price. Hence, such factors hinder the growth of the smart mirrors market during the forecast period. Learn about additional key drivers, trends, and challenges available ith Technavio. Read the FREE Sample PDF Report Now Europe , North America , APAC, South America , and Middle East and Africa ). By Type, the wall-mounted segment will be significant during the forecast period. These mirror helps to save space by freeing up floor space and enhancing the overall look of the room. Space-saving solutions are in high demand, as most homes tend to have smaller bathrooms. These space-saving solutions include wall-mounted smart mirrors. will be significant during the forecast period. These mirror helps to save space by freeing up floor space and enhancing the overall look of the room. Space-saving solutions are in high demand, as most homes tend to have smaller bathrooms. These space-saving solutions include wall-mounted smart mirrors. By Geography, Europe is estimated to contribute 35% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. View the FREE Sample Report for insights into the contribution of all the segments and regional opportunities in the report. Key Companies in the Smart Mirrors market: actiMirror Corp. Ltd., Parallel AV Inc., DE KEYZER, ELECTRIC MIRROR INC, Evervue USA Inc., FOSHAN ETERNA INTELLIGENT BATHROOM CO. LTD., Gentex Corp., Keonn Technologies, Kohler Co., LumiDesign, Magna International Inc., Mira, Modern Lighting by Lumens Light and Living, Murakami Corp., Panasonic Holdings Corp., Pro Display, Reflectel, Seura Inc., Videotree, Walmart Inc. Related Reports: The automotive intelligent rearview mirror market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 15.47% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 959.46 million. The Automotive Electrically Adjustable Outside Rear View Mirror (ORVM) Market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.81% between 2023 and 2027. ToC: Executive Summary Market Landscape Market Sizing Historic Market Sizes Five Forces Analysis Market Segmentation by Type Market Segmentation by Distribution Channel Market Segmentation by Geography Customer Landscape Geographic Landscape Drivers, Challenges, & Trends Company Landscape Company Analysis Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/smart-mirrors-market-to-grow-by-usd-3-30-billion-between-2022---2027--growth-driven-by-the-demand-for-smart-mirrors-from-apparel-shopping-outlets---technavio-301962253.html SOURCE Technavio [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 20, 2023] PATSNAP TO SPOTLIGHT THE LATEST IP ANALYTICS SOLUTION AT THE AIPLA 2023 ANNUAL MEETING Tweet WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Patsnap, the leading provider of innovation and IP intelligence, is thrilled to be attending the American Intellectual Property Law Association's (AIPLA) 2023 Annual Meeting, where the company will showcase its industry-leading IP analysis and review tools. The event will take place at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center from October 19 to 21, 2023. AIPLA's Annual Meeting brings other intellectual property experts, thought leaders, and legal professionals from around the world. It provides a platform for intellectual property practitioners to sharpen their skills with learning sessions and interactive discussions, and by nurturing new connections within the IP community. This year's event will be centered around exploring the latest developments, emerging trends, and critical issues shaping the intellectual property landscape. Across the three days at AIPLA 2023, Patsnap will be showcasing the latest developments to its flagship product, Patent Analytics. This nnovative solution provides powerful IP intelligence, allowing clients to manage risk, identify new opportunities, and defend their innovations with real-time IP analytics. With access to billions of data points, comprehensive search options, and industry-leading analysis and review tools, the product streamlines workflows and enhances collaboration within IP and technical teams. Plus, the newest version of Patent Analytics embraces AI-powered tools for automated patent indexing and analysis. These advanced capabilities include semantic analysis, text-to-image linking, and AI sorting. With a global patent database that includes 181.2 million jurisdictions and daily updates, Patsnap offers an invaluable resource for intellectual property professionals. It also provides comprehensive legal data points, including legal status, estimated expiration dates, litigation, license, transfer, re-examination, and much more. Patsnap is excited to continue sharing its commitment to advancing the field of intellectual property and providing cutting-edge tools to empower IP professionals at The AIPLA 2023 Annual Meeting. "We're really looking forward to being an exhibitor at the AIPLA Annual Meeting and to showcase Analytics," said Jeffrey Tiong, founder and CEO of Patsnap. "We're proud to bring a wealth of IP intelligence to the fingertips of our clients to empower their decision making, and to continue to support innovators in the ever-evolving landscape of intellectual property." Visit Patsnap at The AIPLA 2023 Annual Meeting to learn more about Analytics and discover the company's full suite of products. To learn more about Patsnap, and how it enables users to extract relevant insights, make informed decisions, and accelerate innovation, visit www.patsnap.com or request a demo with one of our innovation specialists. About Patsnap: Founded in 2007, Patsnap is the company behind the world's leading AI-powered innovation intelligence platform. Patsnap provides global businesses with a connected, easy-to-use platform that helps them make better decisions in the innovation process. Customers are innovators across multiple industry sectors, including agriculture and chemicals, consumer goods, food and beverage, life sciences, automotive, oil and gas, professional services, aviation and aerospace, and education. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/patsnap-to-spotlight-the-latest-ip-analytics-solution-at-the-aipla-2023-annual-meeting-301962941.html SOURCE Patsnap [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 20, 2023] OKX Advances Blockchain and Web3 Education with 'NFT For School, NFT For Good' Event for Hong Kong Students Tweet HONG KONG, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- OKX , a leading global virtual asset exchange and Web3 technology company, hosted the 'NFT For School, NFT For Good' event in Hong Kong on 14 October. The event was organized in collaboration with NGO HandsOn HK and Yan Tak Catholic Primary School with the aim of offering local students a unique opportunity to learn about blockchain and Web3 technologies. Twenty students from primary five and six of Yan Tak Catholic Primary School attended the inaugural event, which was supported by over two dozen volunteers from OKX, HandsOn HK and university students from the 0xU HK Blockchain Club . The event was the first of its kind in the city and included an interactive workshop for students to create their own artwork and NFTs. It also featured a lecture on digital literacy, focusing on blockchain, Web3 technologies and information ownership. During the four-hour session, primary school students used photography, AI and Web3 tools to create ther own NFT collection under the theme of 'Our School in My Eyes.' OKX Global Chief Commercial Officer Lennix Lai said: "We're thrilled to see the enthusiasm of primary school students towards Web3 technology. As Hong Kong continues its quest to establish itself as an international Web3 hub, participation from our next generation is crucial and we look forward to hosting more events like this as part of our continued efforts in user education and promoting Web3 adoption." For further information, please contact: [email protected] About OKX OKX is a leading global virtual asset exchange and Web3 ecosystem. Trusted by more than 50 million global users, OKX is known for being the fastest and most reliable crypto trading app for traders everywhere. As a top partner of English Premier League champions Manchester City FC, McLaren Formula 1, Olympian Scotty James, and F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo, OKX aims to supercharge the fan experience with new engagement opportunities. OKX is also the top partner of the Tribeca Festival as part of an initiative to bring more creators into web3. Beyond OKX's exchange, the OKX Wallet is the platform's latest offering for people looking to explore the world of NFTs and the metaverse while trading GameFi and DeFi tokens. OKX is committed to transparency and security and publishes its Proof of Reserves on a monthly basis. To learn more about OKX, download our app or visit: okx.com Disclaimer This announcement is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide any investment, tax, or legal advice, nor should it be considered an offer to purchase, sell, or hold digital assets. Digital assets, including stablecoins, involve a high degree of risk, can fluctuate greatly, and can even become worthless. You should carefully consider whether trading or holding digital assets is suitable for you in light of your financial condition. Please consult your legal/tax/investment professional for questions about your specific circumstances. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/okx-advances-blockchain-and-web3-education-with-nft-for-school-nft-for-good-event-for-hong-kong-students-301961803.html SOURCE OKX [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 20, 2023] Striving Together For A Thriving Industry, International Biopharma Industry Week Shanghai 2023 Opens Tweet SHANGHAI, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On October 16th, the inaugural ceremony of the 2023 International Biopharma Industry Week Shanghai (IBIWS 2023) unfolded at the Zhangjiang Science Hall in Shanghai. Spanning five days, this event, themed as "Striving Together for A Thriving Industry," endeavors to set a paradigm for the sector through innovative accomplishments, steer industry dynamics through its prominent stakeholders, amplify industry visibility via diverse initiatives, and bring its mission to fruition through in-depth exchanges. IBIWS 2023 encompasses a high-profile launch ceremony of exceptional standards and nearly 40 concurrent, top-tier events. Furthermore, a range of IBIWS-affiliated events are scheduled throughout the year, forming a "5 + 360" framework (comprising a five-day concentrated program during IBIWS and an additional 360 routine activities). Leveraging "first mover" advantage to constantly incubate innovation Shanghai stands as the birthplace of China's contemporary pharmaceutical sector. Presently, Shanghai remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering an innovation-focused biopharmaceutical industry. As evident from the statistics unveiled during the inaugural ceremony, Shanghai maintains its position as the frontrunner in China with respect to biopharmaceutical innovation capabilities in 2023. During the period from January to August, Shanghai secured a noteworthy 133 clinical approvals for class 1 innovative medications, which encompasses 20 clinical trial approvals for cell and gene therapy. Moreover, eight medical devices originating from Shanghai have been admitted into the national special approval track for innovative medical devices. During the opening ceremony of this industry week, Shanghai unveiled three significant action plans targeting the cutting-edge domains of synthetic biology, gene therapy, and medical robotics, positioning itself as the "first mover" in China. To elaborate, the "Action Plan of Shanghai for Accelerating Synthetic Biology Innovation Incubation and Establishing a High-end Bio-Manufacturing Industrial Cluster (2023-2025)" delineates Shanghai's commitment to harnessing the current global bio-economy transformation, with synthetic biotechnology serving as a pivotal engine for propelling the city's high-end manufacturing sector. In parallel, the "Action Plan of Shanghai for Propelling Scientific and Technological Innovation and Industrial Advancement in Gene Therapy (2023-2025)" underscores Shanghai's determination to advance essential and fundamental technologies in the realm of gene therapy. This initiative aims to enhance clinical research and transformation capabilities, promote advancements in production processes, optimize the industrial development ecosystem, and comprehensively elevate Shanghai's scientific and technological innovation incubation prowess and industrial development standing in the gene therapy field. Moreover, the "Action Plan of Shanghai for Advancing the Medical Robotics Industry (2023-2025)" reveals that Shanghai is actively forging an open and pioneering innovation system that seamlessly integrates industry and healthcare. Driven by digital and smart technology, this endeavor seeks to cultivate a range of domestically leading and potentially internationally advanced innovative medical robotic products. The implementation of the three actions plans will fortify the function of Shanghai as an incubator of sci-tech innovation and unlock enormous power for high-quality development, thereby helping Shanghai to accelerate its push to build an internationally influential hub for biopharma innovations. Embracing "digitalization" to promote endless integration of the digital economy and the real economy In the contemporary global landscape, scientific and technological innovation is experiencing rapid growth, while the worldwide process of digitalization is still in its early stages. Within the framework of expediting new industrialization and actively fostering the profound convergence of the digital economy with the tangible economy, it is undeniable that the digital transformation of the biopharmaceutical industry carries immense symbolic importance. The inauguration ceremony featured the official unveiling of the Ecosystem Atlas for Digital Transformation of Global Biopharma Industry 2023, hereinafter referred to as the "Atlas." This comprehensive Atlas was a collaborative effort by several prominent entities, including the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), Shanghai Biopharmaceutical Industry Promotion Center, Special Committee on Biopharmaceutics Digitization of the Shanghai Biopharmaceutical Industry Association, the Intelligent Medicine Institute at Fudan University, Shanghai Municipal Economic and Informatization Development Research Center, and Shanghai Zhangjiang Biopharmaceutical Base Development Co., Ltd. The Atlas meticulously delineates the holistic landscae of the biopharmaceutical industry's digital transformation and highlights select enterprises representing six core applications, four industrial platforms, and six pivotal technologies. Specifically, the six core applications encompass critical domains spanning Research and Development (R&D), production, supply chain management, marketing, quality control, and overall management. The four industrial platforms encompass the Data Middle Platform, Cloud Platform, Industrial Internet Platform, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Platform. The six foundational technologies encompass Big Data, the Internet of Things (IoT), Data Twin, Mixed Reality, Blockchain, and 5G. Collectively, these core applications, industrial platforms, and foundational technologies constitute the fundamental components driving the digital transformation of the biopharmaceutical industry. Shanghai has distinguished itself as the pioneering city in China to initiate an all-encompassing urban digital transformation. Riding the wave of digital advancement, Shanghai's biopharmaceutical industry has consistently viewed digital transformation as a pivotal catalyst to augment the core competitiveness of its enterprises. Over time, a multitude of exemplary enterprises have surfaced as pioneers in the realm of digital transformation within the biopharmaceutical sector. Notably, the Atlas prominently features numerous enterprises hailing from Shanghai. The unveiling of the Atlas during the inauguration ceremony serves as both an acknowledgment and an endorsement of the unwavering commitment and proactive endeavors undertaken by Shanghai's biopharmaceutical industry in driving forward the cause of digital transformation. Making a big push to "go global" to promote rapid and steady global cooperation Shanghai serves as the epicenter and gateway to China's policy of opening-up to the world. Three decades ago, the "Shanghai International Express" in the biopharmaceutical industry blazed a trail by swiftly establishing connections with the global arena. In the present era, Shanghai's biopharmaceutical industry is steadily evolving into an indispensable node within the global framework of the biopharmaceutical sector. The "Launching Ceremony of the International Partners for Global Expansion of Innovative Medical Devices in Shanghai " took place during the opening ceremony. AstraZeneca, Roche, Eli Lilly, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Sanofi, Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Tigermed, IQVIA, and other prominent representatives from the Shanghai Partner Network for the Global Expansion of Biopharmaceutical Products jointly announced this momentous launch. This initiative is an integral component of Shanghai's thoughtfully crafted facilitation package for local innovative enterprises venturing into the international arena. Its primary objective is to guide these enterprises to leverage their respective strengths in Research and Development (R&D), foster an innovative framework for delivering global services, contribute to the pool of knowledge and expertise known as "Shanghai Wisdom," and ultimately advance the betterment of the world at an accelerated pace. During the opening ceremony, the assembled participants engaged in insightful dialogues regarding the strategic deployment of global resources to enhance their competencies in navigating international markets. These discussions aimed to chart a course toward forging a novel global development landscape for the industry. It has come to light that, for the first time, overseas parallel sessions will be convened as part of the IBIWS proceedings. Commemorating the 10th anniversary of the inception of the "Belt and Road" Initiative, Shanghai has orchestrated a delegation comprising 20 distinguished educational institutions, such as Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, alongside exemplary enterprises. This delegation will embark on a journey to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, and subsequently, to Kazakhstan. The primary objective of this expedition is to collectively explore emerging trends in the innovative development of medical technology, advance cooperation in international biopharmaceutical projects, facilitate the implementation of Shanghai's innovative medicines and medical devices, exchange invaluable insights on institutional practices, regulations, management, and standards, and foster a shared consensus on principles of openness, collaboration, development, and mutually beneficial progress. As the adage goes, "One tree does not make a forest." Thanks to three decades of resolute and swift progress, Shanghai's biopharmaceutical industry is in the process of evolving from a basic "ecosphere" into a multifaceted "ecosystem" akin to a thriving rainforest. This ecosystem harmoniously amalgamates five vital components: the "innovation chain, industry chain, capital chain, talent chain, and space chain." Concerning the "space chain," Shanghai has consistently upheld the principle of "ensuring sufficient land for exceptional projects and ample space for major industries." The holistic strategy of "R&D in Zhangjiang + Made-in-Shanghai" has become a customary approach. Notably, the opening ceremony marked the official release of the "Action Plan of Shanghai for Accelerating the Development of Intelligent Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Space." This plan was collaboratively developed and issued by several key stakeholders, including the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, Shanghai Municipal Development & Reform Commission, Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources, Shanghai Municipal Commission of Housing and Urban-rural Development, State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Shanghai Municipality, and Shanghai Municipal Drug Administration. The plan is set to fortify the spatial infrastructure for the progression of the biopharmaceutical industry in Shanghai, empowering enterprises to harness the unfolding industry opportunities. According to this strategic initiative, Shanghai will embark on the construction of nearly 5 million square meters of standard workshops tailored for the biopharmaceutical sector over the next two years. Simultaneously, a new hierarchical system for industry facilities, spanning "incubation, research and development, pilot plant testing, and industrialization," will be established. This endeavor will give rise to a novel economic and industrial hub dedicated to global biopharmaceutical industry R&D. Furthermore, the plan will provide support to developers in Lingang, Zhangjiang, Waigaoqiao, and other regions to create intelligent biopharmaceutical manufacturing spaces. This effort is aimed at achieving the "intelligent commanding height" within high-end biopharmaceutical manufacturing in Shanghai, thereby solidifying the foundation for establishing a world-class biopharmaceutical industrial cluster. At present, Shanghai is swiftly crafting a world-class biopharmaceutical industrial cluster that resembles a flourishing rainforest. During the opening ceremony, both Chinese and international industry stakeholders enthusiastically exchanged their perspectives and ideas for collaboratively building this industrial hub. The International Biopharma Industry Week Shanghai (IBIWS), recognized as an internationally influential brand for biopharmaceutical industry events, has successfully completed two editions. It has garnered enthusiastic responses both within China and on the global stage, delivering a multitude of innovative outcomes and manifesting a significant impact on advancing the high-quality development of the biopharmaceutical sector. Notably, IBIWS 2023 coincides with the celebration of the 30th anniversary of Shanghai's strategic emphasis on developing the biopharmaceutical industry. The journey from "emerging" to "embracing global innovation," and from "introducing innovations from around the world" to "exporting innovations to the world," particularly in the context of new pharmaceuticals in China, reflects the remarkable evolution of Shanghai's biopharmaceutical industry. This transformation serves as a prominent and tangible example of the growth of China's biopharmaceutical sector, both in terms of size and influence. Consequently, the 2023 IBIWS holds special significance as it looks back on the past while continuing to progress. The opening ceremony featured a range of activities paying tribute to the remarkable development of Shanghai's biopharmaceutical industry over the past three decades. Simultaneously, interviews with key figures who have witnessed the industry's 30-year evolution in Shanghai are being published in installments on the official IBIWS website, commemorating the industry's milestones and achievements. IBIWS serves as a foundation for Shanghai's biopharmaceutical industry to gain global recognition, consolidate all essential elements across the value chain, bring together forward-thinking concepts, and foster innovation. In the pursuit of establishing a world-class biopharmaceutical industrial cluster, Shanghai's biopharmaceutical sector, enriched by its world-class industrial ecosystem, is actively sharing its robust, dynamic, and boundless development prospects with the international community. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/striving-together-for-a-thriving-industry-international-biopharma-industry-week-shanghai-2023-opens-301962949.html SOURCE Shanghai Biomedical Industry Promotion Center [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] KYODO NEWS - Oct 20, 2023 - 14:24 | All, World Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday it will adopt Tesla Inc.'s charging standards for its electric vehicles to be sold in North America from 2025, joining a growing list of automakers utilizing the industry giant's quick charging network. The decision taken by Toyota, the world's largest automaker by volume, could solidify Tesla's technology as a de facto standard for all-electric vehicles sold in the world's second-biggest auto market after China. Toyota said it will adopt the North American Charging Standard ports in some of its Toyota and Lexus EV model brands, including a new three-row sport utility vehicle model that will be produced at a plant in Kentucky from 2025. Vehicles equipped with the existing Combined Charging System will also be able to utilize more than 12,000 Tesla Superchargers across North America through the use of an adaptor. Major global automakers, including General Motors Co. and Mercedes-Benz AG, have already decided to adopt Tesla's standards for the region. Japanese companies Nissan Motor Co. and Honda Motor Co. have also decided to take advantage of the Tesla charging network. The Japanese auto industry has promoted the use of CHAdeMO standards, which were developed by Japanese companies and are widely used in their home market. However, Tesla's system is making inroads in Japan, with the NACS port system installed in June at a convenience store for the first time in the country. Related coverage: Toyota's partial production halt in Japan to continue through weekend Toyota, Idemitsu tie up in mass production of advanced EV batteries Low-emission hydrogen production may grow 40-fold by 2030: IEA [October 20, 2023] $100,000 On-Chain Trading Competition: Bitget Wallet Showcases its Innovative Trading Spirit Tweet VICTORIA, SEYCHELLES, Oct. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On October 16th, leading Web3 multi-chain wallet platform Bitget Wallet(previously known as BitKeep Wallet) unveiled its highly anticipated annual event: the NewDegen 2023 On-Chain Trading Competition. Featuring a substantial prize pool of 100,000 USDT, the event will kick off on October 19th, welcoming participants from all corners of the global Web3 community. Running from October 19th, 18:00 to November 18th, 18:00(UTC+8), users can participate in the challenge by downloading Bitget Wallet and registering on the official competition website. Participants are to note that only trades performed on Bitget Swap, the platform's integrated swap feature, will be considered for the event. The competition encompasses both individual and team events, where participants can showcase their on-chain trading prowess, team popularity, and trading volume. Aside from the prize pool, exclusive limited-time SBT medals are also up for grabs, making this a highly coveted and competitive event. Click here to register! Calling all NewDegens: Experience the Thrill of On-Chain Trading! In this exciting on-chain event, Bitget Wallet embraces the theme of "NewDegen", paying homage to the bold traders within the DeFi realm who are eager to explore new projects and trading opportunities, often known as "Degens". Through this event, Bitget Wallet aspires to provide both DeFi newcomers and seasoned veterans with a firsthand experience of the allure of decentralized on-chain trading. While many associate cryptocurrency wallets solely with the storage and management of digital assets or as gateways to interact with Web3 applications, Bitget Wallet offers a fresh perspective by emphasizing asset trading and decentralized exchange (DEX) aggregation. The Bitget Wallet team firmly believes that the core value of the industry is concentrated in asset issuance and trading, as they stand as one of the most pressing user demands today and serve as a prime entry point for both platforms and users to capture value. As technology advances and the industry continues to mature further, DeFi trading is well-poised to emerge as the next big thing. Bitget Wallet predicts that an increasing number of users will gravitate towards DEXs and decentralized wallets, and the platform seeks to expedite this narrative shift by providing users with a comprehensive, seamless, and unparalleled trading experience. Positioned as Asia's largest and one of the world's leading all-in-one Web3 multi-chain wallets, Bitget Wallet has placed trading as its central focus following its comprehensive rebranding from BitKeep in August this year. Bitget Wallet is committed to providing the most user-friendly and comprehensive trading wallet experience through continuous innovation and optimization, ushering in a new era of wallet-based trading in the Web3world. Bitget Swap: Continuous Trading-Centric Innovation As a leading trading wallet, Bitget Wallet continually evolves and improves its Swap feature to provide users with the ultimate trading experience across various blockchains. Bitget Swap, a core feature within Bitget Wallet, serves as a robust multi-chain DEX aggregator, supporting nearly 30 blockchains and aggregating liquidity from hundreds of leading DEXs and cross-chain bridges. It introduces groundbreaking features such as gas-free trading and automatic slippage adjustment, granting users pricing advantages and ensuring a seamless multi-chain trading experience. Intelligent market analysis further assists users in making well-informed trading decisions. Additionally, Bitget Swap offers diverse trading modes, including limit orders and contract leverage. Moreover, it also supports OTC functionality via its Quick Buy feature for users worldwide. Bitget Swap provides innovative swap features for over 12 million users globally, including: Liquidity Aggregation: Recognizing the critical importance of liquidity for any trading platform, Bitget Swap excels in aggregating liquidity from hundreds of DEXs and cross-chain bridges. Powered by efficient algorithms, Bitget Swap provides users with optimal pricing strategies and an extensive array of assets. Presently, the platform boasts support for nearly 100 Layer1 and Layer2 chains within six major ecosystems, encompassing a staggering portfolio of over 250,000 tokens. At the heart of Bitget Wallet's trading philosophy lies the belief that assets with fundamental economic value can be seamlessly exchanged, regardless of which network or blockchain layer they originate from. Candlestick Charts: Bitget Swap takes trading a step further by delivering an array of comprehensive trading information services. Users are well-equipped to make informed trading decisions with the help of detailed real-time candlestick chart displays, intelligent token rankings across different blockchain networks, and accurate market insights that automatically sift through at-risk tokens and contracts. This provides users with crucial information they need to discover valuable opportunities and trending projects in the market. Gas-Free Trading Experience: Bitget Wallet is the first wallet in the industry to deliver a gas-free trading experience, showcasing this innovative capability across nearly a dozen chains, spanning BNB Chain, Polygon, TRON, and even the Ethereum network. This feature ensures that users can promptly meet the required gas fees for their trades with unparalleled convenience. Moreover, Bitget Wallet also introduced the GASU subsidy token, an ingenious feature that automatically offsets gas fees within the app and provides users with a seamless and cost-effective trading experience. Automatic Slippage Adjustment: Pioneering the automatic slippage function, Bitget Swap takes into account both slippage and token burn rates to automatically configure the optimal slippage values for executing trades, facilitating a seamless and expedient trading experience for users. Anti-MEV: Bitget Swap features integrated Flashbots to bolster transaction privacy and security. The introduction of the "MEV-Share" protocol automates profit distribution to users, streamlining the process. Additionally, Bitget Swap also pays special attention to remain at the forefront of industry-wide innovation. While UniswapX recently unveiled an upcoming protocol focusing on aggregated DEX liquidity, gas-free trading, and anti-MEV features, it's worth noting that Bitget Swap had already introduced these capabilities well in advance, showcasing the platform's capabilities as an industrial trailblazer. Bitget Wallet ranks as the seventh most popular crypto hot wallet globally, according to CoinGecko. Data from DappRadar also consistently positions Bitget Swap among the top 10 DeFi projects in terms of trading volume and active users. Positive user feedback further underscores the popularity of Bitget Swap amongst the community. "While Bitget Swap has established a leading position in the industry, we have no intention of letting it rest on its laurels," the Bitget Wallet team expressed. "Our path towards continuous innovation requires consistent effort in aggregating liquidity that remains isolated across various DEXs and protocols, and in so doing provide a comprehensive, user-friendly, and efficient Swap platform for all our users." About Bitget Wallet Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet stands as Asia's largest and a global frontrunner among all-in-one Web3 multi-chain wallets. We offer a comprehensive range of on-chain products and DeFi services to our users, including wallet functionality, Swap feature, NFT trading, DApp browsing, and more. With a 5-year legacy, Bitget Wallet has garnered acclaim from over 12 million users worldwide and has secured partnerships with prominent industry leaders including Ethereum, BNB Chain, Arbitrum, Polygon, and others. This success stems from our commitment to consistently delivering secure and convenient products and services. In March 2023, Bitget, a leading crypto derivatives trading platform made a substantial $30 million investment in BitKeep, acquiring a controlling stake. Following this strategic move, BitKeep underwent a transformative and strategic brand evolution in August, officially rebranding itself as Bitget Wallet. For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | Discord Bitget PR Team media at bitget.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 20, 2023] SmallRig Introduces SmallRig x Brandon Li Mobile Video Kit SHENZHEN, China, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- To get the most out of mobile phones, SmallRig has created a quick-release accessory ecosystem that helps you master your mobile filmmaking. Mobile Video Kit for iPhone 15 Pro Max Co-Design Edition was co-designed with Brandon Li, a world-renowned filmmaker known for his minimalist travel cinematography style. This new Mobile Video Kit opens up new possibilities for mobile video creativity proving that "Mastery is Within Reach". The precisely built aluminum alloy cage supports MagSafe wireless charging and has multiple Expansion Interfaces ten 1/4"-20 threaded holes, two cold shoe mounts offering flexibility to easily customize phones by attaching accessories. The compact, durable one-piece design provides easy setup. The "One-Click" locking system ensures the phone is secured, and the silicone pads provide maximum protection. The hollowed design allows full access to phone's buttons. SmallRig's new Quick Release Ecosystem allows tool-free installation, making attachment/removal of the convertible side-to-top handles even faster! Three locating holes on the body of the cage provide extra versatility to reconfigure the kit ensuring maximum stability and smooth movements. The included magnetic Variable Neutral Density filter allows wider apertures an slower shutter speeds, even in bright sunlight, for superior cinematic results. In addition to the three lenses on the iPhone 15 Max Pro, the cage lets users attach M-Mount lenses (17mm/37mm threaded lenses and T-series lenses with optional backplates) and magnetic filters (VND, CPL, Star Cross, and Black Mist) onto their iPhone. Brandon Li Co-design Edition cage is a work of art! The specialized technique produces a delicate color combination reminiscent of a green oasis in the desert. The kit includes the signed cage, two signed side handles (convertible to top handles), a wireless remote controller (up to 10m/32.8 ft range), and a 52mm magnetic VND (1 ~ 5 stops) filter. The cage is available separately. Price & Availability - SmallRig x Brandon Li Mobile Video Kit for iPhone 15 Pro Max Co-Design Edition ID: 4407( RRP Price:USD $139.9) -SmallRig x Brandon Li Mobile Video Cage for iPhone 15 Pro Max Co-Design Edition ID 4473( RRP Price:USD $54.90) SmallRig x Brandon Li Mobile Video Kit for iPhone 15 Pro Max Co-Design Edition is ideal for videographers and content creators who want to maximize their video production quality. For more details, visit www.smallrig.com. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2253023/SmallRig_Introduces_SmallRig_x_Brandon_Li_Mobile_Video_Kit_iPhone.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/smallrig-introduces-smallrig-x-brandon-li-mobile-video-kit-301963196.html [October 20, 2023] Global and Regional Smart Weed Control Market Report 2023: A $2.46 Billion Market by 2028 Featuring Major Players - Deere & Co, Trimble, Naio Technologies, Carbon Robotics, Ecorobotix, and WEED-IT Tweet DUBLIN, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Smart Weed Control Market - A Global and Regional Analysis: Focus on Application, Product, and Country-Wise Analysis - Analysis and Forecast, 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global smart weed control market, valued at $842.7 million in 2022, is expected to reach $2,460.8 million by 2028, exhibiting a robust CAGR of 18.23% during 2023-2028 The global agricultural landscape is undergoing a transformation as the demand for food rises, and resources like water and arable land become scarcer. Coupled with the shortage of agricultural labor and the increasing cost of inputs, these factors are fueling the adoption of smart weed control technologies in the agricultural sector. These advanced solutions empower farmers to optimize resource allocation, boost crop yields, and enhance overall agricultural productivity. The primary driver of this growth is the agricultural industry's quest for higher crop yields while minimizing input costs. Smart weed control technologies offer precise and targeted methods for weed management, optimizing herbicide application and ensuring effective weed control. Regions such as Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific are expected to witness significant demand for smart weed control solutions. The consolidation of small farms and the resulting increase in average field sizes create favorable conditions for the adoption of these technologies. Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, and China are witnessing a remarkable expansion in the utilization of smart weed control technologies. This growth is attributed to intensified research and development efforts and experimental field studies conducted by institutions and government bodies, all aimed at assessing the economic benefits of these technologies. In South America, China, and the U.K., the proliferation of start-ups, along with the need for cost-effective weed management in food production, is driving the adoption of smart weed control solutions, further propelling market growth. By enabling data-driven decision-making, enhancing operational efficiency, minimizing resource wastage, and reducing environmental impact, these technologies are poised to drive the global smart weed control market's growth in the coming years. Utilizing plant characteristics and growth patterns, these systems precisely target weeds while minimizing the impact on desirable crops. This reduces the need for chemical herbicides and manual labor. Autonomous drones, sensors, and AI-powered machinery collaborate to apply treatments with precision, optimizing resource utilization and promoting sustainable agriculture. This innovative approach enhances yields, minimizes environmental harm, and revolutionizes weed management for modern farming, ensuring efficient and eco-friendly crop production. Therefore, smart weed control is becoming increasingly indispensable in modern agriculture due to its potential to transform weed management practices and address critical challenges faced by farmers and land managers. It seeks to overcome the limitations of traditional weed control methods,such as indiscriminate herbicide application and manual weeding, with a focus on environmental sustainability. Smart weed control offers precise and targeted herbicide application, reducing chemical usage and the risk of environmental contamination. Market Segmentation Agriculture Applications to Dominate the Global Smart Weed Control Market (by Application) During the projected timeframe (2023-2028), agriculture application is expected to occupy a significant market share in the global smart weed control market. Regions such as North America, the U.K., Europe, and China are anticipated to experience substantial growth in smart weeding, which can be attributed to the increasing adoption of precision agriculture practices, rising demand for sustainable farming solutions, and the need to optimize resource utilization for enhanced crop management. Another aspect of smart weed control is the integration of remote sensing technologies, such as aerial drones or satellite imagery. These technologies enable farmers to monitor and detect weed infestations across large areas of agricultural fields. By capturing high-resolution images and using advanced algorithms, farmers can identify weed hotspots and implement timely and targeted weed control measures. Weed Sensing and Management Segment to Dominate the Global Smart Weed Control Market (by Type) During the forecasted period, the weed sensing and management segment is expected to hold a significant market share in the global smart weed control market. Regions such as North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and China are expected to experience notable CAGR in this segment. These regions, characterized by vast geographical areas and diverse weed species, face challenges in achieving efficient weed control and yield enhancement. Moreover, weed sensing provides real-time data on weed distribution and growth patterns, enabling farmers to make informed decisions regarding the most effective weed management strategies. By using data analytics and artificial intelligence, farmers can optimize herbicide dosage, improve timing for weed control interventions, and ultimately achieve more efficient and cost-effective weed management. Key Market Players and Competition Synopsis The companies that are profiled have been selected based on inputs gathered from primary experts and analyzing company coverage, product portfolio, applications, and market penetration. The global smart weed control market is a highly competitive and fragmented industry, with many players vying for market share. The market is characterized by the presence of agricultural companies, technology-based firms, and start-ups. To survive competition in the fast-growing artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) integrated agriculture market, companies have developed strong strategies in recent years. Among all the strategies, the most preferred one by key players has been partnerships, collaborations, joint ventures, and alliances with other firms. Deere & Company is one of the largest players in the market, with a strong presence in smart sprayers. The company offers a range of advanced solutions for mobile scouting and spraying, including precision agriculture technology and digital tools. The company has also made strategic acquisitions to expand its capabilities in the market, such as the acquisition of Bear Flag Robotics in 2021, a start-up focused on autonomous driving technology for tractors. Other major players in the market include Trimble Inc, Naio Technologies, Carbon Robotics, Ecorobotix SA, and WEED-IT. Carbon Robotics offers robots that identify weed and thin specialty vegetable crops precisely with the help of lasers. Industry Outlook Ongoing Trends 5G: Future Communication Technologies for Smart Farming Rise in Utilization of Ultraviolet (UV) Laser Weeding in Agriculture Business Drivers Growing Crop Losses Due to Weed Infestation Need for Sustainable Agriculture Practices Economic Aspects, Commercial Adaptation, and Ecological Benefits of Site-Specific Weed Management Business Opportunities Development of Innovative and Affordable Smart Weed Control Solutions Development toward Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning-Based Weed Control Equipment Market Strategy and Development Business Strategies Product Development and Innovation Market Development Corporate Strategies Mergers and Acquisitions Partnerships, Joint Ventures, Collaborations, and Alliances Ecosystem/Ongoing Programs Consortiums and Associations Regulatory Bodies Government Programs Business Challenges High Initial Cost of Smart Weed Control Technologies or Equipment Rising Concern over Data Security with Increasing Cyber Attacks Lack of Interoperability Hindering the Growth Snapshot of Corporate Strategies Adopted by the Players in Global Smart Weed Control Market Case Studies Smart Weed Control Case Studies Start-Up Landscape Key Start-Ups in the Ecosystem Funding Analysis Total Investments and Number of Funding Deals Top Funding Deals, 2022 Funding (by Technology) Funding (by Year) Key Companies Profiled: Carbon Bee AgTech Deere & Company Trimble Inc. One Smart Spray WEED-IT Ecorobotix SA Naio Technologies Latitudo 40 Greeneye Technology XAG Co., Ltd. Carbon Robotics FarmWise For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/trc6jq About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-and-regional-smart-weed-control-market-report-2023-a-2-46-billion-market-by-2028-featuring-major-players---deere--co-trimble-naio-technologies-carbon-robotics-ecorobotix-and-weed-it-301963097.html SOURCE Research and Markets [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 20, 2023] Millennials Usher in a New Era of Family Office Investment With the Introduction of CS Family Office Tweet CS Family Office announces its official launch today, heralding a new chapter in the evolving investment landscape. With Millennials and Gen Z poised to inherit over $68 trillion by 2030 (the Great Wealth Transfer), the call for a transformative investment philosophy grows. To answer this call, the Millennial-founded CS Family Office has a mission to redefine traditional investment paradigms. Besides challenging these norms, its broader aim encompasses fostering a values-driven ecosystem where societal growth is integral to the investment philosophy. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020293858/en/ Cecilia Shen, co-founder of CS Family Office (Photo: Business Wire) At the core of their objectives is recognizing opportunity as a catalyst for tangible innovation. They are dedicated to promotin access to these opportunities, ensuring individuals from diverse backgrounds can realize their potential. This mission goes beyond financial investments, valuing both successes and insights from challenges. Historically, family office strategies have favored equities, bonds, and real estate. However, CS Family Office expands its portfolio to include novel asset classes while emphasizing societal contributions through cultural education, healthcare, and technology. Their unique approach combines traditional wisdom with modern-day philanthropic goals, setting them distinctly apart in the industry. They argue true innovation merges technology with education and culture, viewing introspection as key to transformation. Cecilia Shen, co-founder of CS Family Office and Silicon Valley's youngest self-made female entrepreneur, has been vocal about the fusion of ethics and innovation. She conducted research on the topic of 'Positioning AI in Production: Balancing Creativity, Responsibility, and IP Considerations.' in which she discussed the importance of elevating human intelligence along with technological innovation. Given predictions that the AI Governance Market will grow at a CAGR of 48% from 2023 to 2032, CS Family Office sees their dedication to ethical governance and societal contributions as a distinctive strength, positioning them advantageously in this expanding field. Amidst rapidly evolving industries with increasing emphasis on ethics, the firm stands as a modern example of forward-thinking and purpose-driven investment strategies. Co-founder Shunyi Yang encapsulates their mission, stating, "We are unyielding in offering transformative opportunities to all those with vision, resilience, and foresight." CS Family Office is committed to ventures that offer both substantial returns and alignment with the grander vision of societal advancement. About CS Family Office Positioned as the future of family office investments spearheaded by the Millennial generation, the firm stands the intersection of ethical governance and societal upliftment. They are committed to reshaping the contours of conventional investment paradigms by venturing beyond the familiar territories of equities, bonds, and real estate. CS Family Office embraces a broader vision anchored in cultural education, healthcare, technology, and social impact through philanthropy. In an age of transformative wealth transfers and evolving strategies, CS Family Office serves as a testament to the power of values-driven, impactful investing. For more information, visit www.csfamilyoffice.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020293858/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 20, 2023] VideoShip Announces Release of "BlackBelt" - the Next Generation of Portable Live Video Technology Tweet NEW YORK, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- VideoShip, a supplier of innovative technologies used by many cable and television broadcast networks, announces the official release of "BlackBelt" the ultra-portable system for anyone trying to get on the air from a remote location. BlackBelt is the newest product from the iNet Live family. It embraces the latest cellular service the fast-growing 5G network- and offers a low-cost, SIMPLE-to-use tool that gets you on the air wirelessly. The BlackBelt features: Affordability - THE solution for cost-conscious operations 12-15 hours of power in one lightweight package Connect wirelessly to an external camera or use the camera built into the phone Less than 1.5 seconds latency (end to end) Dual channel video delivery over 5G network No SDI cable is needed with BlackBelt. Nothing to weigh your crew down when they need to go live at a moment's notice. See theBlackBelt yourself and discover how affordable it is at NAB New York from October 24th to 26th. Visit VideoShip at booth 543 at the Javitz Center. Click this link to learn more on the website: https://inet.live/blackbelt About Us: VideoShip is an employee-owned corporation established in 2004 by veterans of the data, broadcast, and cable industries. We use our decades of experience to design, develop, and deliver innovative and impactful solutions. We are driven to focus on each customer and leverage the latest technology to help them succeed. Support comes from our 24/7 network operations center located in Pensacola, Florida. A team that answers your phone call when you need help. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/videoship-announces-release-of-blackbelt--the-next-generation-of-portable-live-video-technology-301963347.html SOURCE VideoShip [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 20, 2023] ILUS Provides Shareholder Update Tweet NEW YORK, NY, Oct. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- ILUS International Inc. (OTC: ILUS) is a Mergers and Acquisitions company focused on acquiring and growing companies in the public safety, industrial, defense and renewable sectors. The company provides the following updates to its Shareholders. While ILUS industrial subsidiary, Quality Industrial Corp.(QIND), awaits comments to its S-1 Registration Statement, which have not yet been received, the company has continued to press forward with the business plan for its Public Safety and Renewables subsidiaries. With all terms agreed for its next acquisition, ILUS is in the final stages of the administrative and internal structuring required to complete the deal. It is intended that the acquisition will serve as a Special Purpose Vehicle for expansion of the companys Public Safety subsidiary, Emergency Response Technologies (ERT). This week, ERT held several positive meetings in Europe with a global wildfire equipment manufacturer. The subsidiary plans to acquire a majority stake in the wildfire company and the addition of its patented technology, manufacturing capability, and global distribution network are an important component of ERTs growth plans. ILUS is focused on adding wildfire equipment as well as US manufactured firefighting vehicles and ambulances to ERTs portfolio, with the goal of uplisting the subsidiary to a National Exchange during the course of 2024. ILUS confirms that it has agreed a revised payment plan with AJB Capital Investment LLC for repayment of a $1,200,000 convertible promissory note. Under the revised payment plan, the note must be repaid by mid-2024. Plans remain firmly in place for ILUS to pay a special equity dividend in the form of QIND stock to ILUS Shareholders of record as of the date of QINDs NYSE American uplisting. The company is prepared to announce details of the dividend upon confirmation of a date for QINDs planned uplisting. For further information on ILUS, please see its communication channels: Website: https://ilus-group.com Email: [email protected] Source: ILUS Related Links https://ilus-group.com Forward-Looking Statement Certain information set forth in this press release contains "forward-looking information", including "future-oriented financial information" and "financial outlook", under applicable securities laws (collectively referred to herein as forward-looking statements). Except for statements of historical fact, the information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements and includes, but is not limited to, the (i) projected financial performance of the Company; (ii) completion of, and the use of proceeds from, the sale of the shares being offered hereunder; (iii) the expected development of the Company's business, projects, and joint ventures; (iv) execution of the Company's vision and growth strategy, including with respect to future M&A activity and global growth; (v) sources and availability of third-party financing for the Company's projects; (vi) completion of the Company's projects that are currently underway, in development or otherwise under consideration; (vi) renewal of the Company's current customer, supplier and other material agreements; and (vii) future liquidity, working capital, and capital requirements. Forward-looking statements are provided to allow potential investors the opportunity to understand management's beliefs and opinions in respect of the future so that they may use such beliefs and opinions as one factor in evaluating an investment. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and undue reliance should not be placed on them. Such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or result expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although forward-looking statements contained in this presentation are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") has provided guidance to issuers regarding the use of social media to disclose material non-public information. In this regard, investors and others should note that we announce material financial information via official Press Releases, in addition to SEC filings, press releases, Questions & Answers sessions, public conference calls and webcasts also may take time from time to time. We use these channels as well as social media to communicate with the public about our company, our services, and other issues. It is possible that the information we post on social media could be deemed to be material information. Therefore, considering the SEC's guidance, we encourage investors, the media, and others interested in our company to review the information we post on the following social & media channels: website: https://ilus-group.com Twitter: ILUS_INTL Note: ILUS Coin does not sit within ILUS International Inc (Ilustrato Pictures International Inc), so the public are recommended to follow the correct Media Channels relating to the public company OTC: ILUS [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 20, 2023] Dye & Durham announces actions to improve balance sheet flexibility and reduces convertible debt Tweet Reduces 2026 convertible debenture balance by $95 million to $250 million Reduces overall convertible debt by $10 million with issuance of new $85 million convertible debenture due November 2028 Company extends maturity of $85 million principal by 2.5-years for an increased yield-to-maturity of 2.4% Actions provide increased flexibility to further optimize balance sheet in the future TORONTO, Oct. 20, 2023 /CNW/ - Dye & Durham Limited ("Dye & Durham" or the "Company") (TSX: DND), one of the world's largest providers of cloud-based legal practice management software designed to make managing a law firm, organizing cases, and collaborating with clients easy, today announced a series of actions to improve its balance sheet flexibility and reduce its convertible debt. "By refinancing a sizeable portion of our convertible debt on favourable terms, we are taking a meaningful step to deleverage our balance sheet and improve our long-term capital structure," said Dye & Durham CEO Matthew Proud. "The actions we are taking today will, upon completion, reduce the balance of our original convertible debentures by $95 million, decrease our overall convertible debt by $10 million and give us greater flexibility to refinance and strengthen our balance sheet going forward as we continue to grow Dye & Durham into a global legal technology leader." The Company also has confirmed its Q1 2024 financial performance is in line with expectations and will discuss further on its upcoming quarterly conference call. Details of Convertible Debenture Refinancing Key terms are as follows: $95 million of 3.75% 2026 unsecured convertible debentures retired at $750 per $1,000 aggregate principal amount (approximately 17% yield to maturity) of 3.75% 2026 unsecured convertible debentures retired at per aggregate principal amount (approximately 17% yield to maturity) $85 million of 6.50% 2028 unsecured convertible debentures issued at $600 per $1,000 aggregate principal amount (approximately 19% yield to maturity) of 6.50% 2028 unsecured convertible debentures issued at per aggregate principal amount (approximately 19% yield to maturity) Results in $10 million reduction in convertible debt Dye & Durham's board of directors has approved the commencement of a substantial issuer bid (the "Offer") under which the Company will offer to repurchase for cancellation up to $95 million of its issued and outstanding 3.75% convertible senior unsecured debentures due March 1, 2026 ("Original Debentures") in exchange for cash, subject to a maximum aggregate payment of $32,250,000 ($750 cash for each $1,000 principal amount of Original Debentures) or 6.50% unsecured convertible debentures due November 1, 2028 (the "New Debentures") ($1,250 principal amount of New Debentures for each $1,000 principal amount of Original Debentures) or a combination thereof, pursuant to the election of the holders of the Original Debentures. In addition, the Company also announced that it has entered into an agreement with Canaccord Genuity Corp. ("Canaccord") to issue, on a bought deal private placement basis, $20.4 million aggregate principal amount of New Debentures (the "Bought Deal"). The Company intends to use the proceeds of the Bought Deal to fund a portion of the cash payable by the Company under the Offer. The Bought Deal is scheduled to close on or about November 1, 2023, and is subject to certain customary conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange for the listing of the common shares of the Company ("Common Shares") underlying the New Debentures. The Company has also granted Canaccord the right to purchase up to $5 million in aggregate principal amount of New Debentures to cover over-allotments, in whole or in part, up to 48 hours prior to closing. In the event the Offer does not close by December 22, 2023 or is otherwise terminated, the New Debentures issued pursuant to the Bought Deal will mature and the principal and accrued interest on the New Debentures will be repaid in full. The New Debentures will bear interest at 6.50% per annum, payable in equal semi-annual payments, and will be convertible at any time at the option of the holder into Common Shares at a price of $40.00 (subject to adjustment) per share (the "Conversion Price"). On or after November 1, 2026, the New Debentures will be redeemable by the Company in the event that the Common Shares are trading at 130% of the Conversion Price for cash or Common Shares. The New Debentures mature on the earlier of the date of take-up of the Original Debentures or a Termination Evet (as defined below). If the take-up of the Original Debentures occurs prior to the occurrence of a Termination Event, the maturity date of the New Debentures shall be automatically extended to November 1, 2028. A "Termination Event" means the earliest to occur of any of: (i) 5:00 pm (Toronto time) on December 22, 2023 unless extended in writing by the mutual agreement of the Company and Canaccord; or (ii) the Company delivering to the debenture trustee a notice, executed by the Company, declaring that the Company will not be proceeding with the Offer. In support of the Offer, holders of an aggregate principal amount of $78.7 million of Original Debentures have agreed to tender such Original Debentures to the Offer, with $43 million of such Original Debentures to be tendered in exchange for cash and the balance to be tendered in exchange for New Debentures. If Original Debentures are tendered to the Offer for cash such that the aggregate cash payment for such Original Debentures would be greater than $32.25 million, the Company will acquire such Original Debentures, as applicable, on a pro rata basis according to the amount of Original Debentures deposited for cash and, if Original Debentures are tendered to the Offer for New Debentures such that the aggregate consideration payable for such Original Debentures would be greater than $65.0 million of New Debentures, the Company will acquire such Original Debentures on a pro rata basis according to the amount of Original Debentures deposited for New Debentures. The Offer and Bought Deal will reduce the Company's aggregate indebtedness by approximately $10 million consistent with our strategy to reduce total debt over time. The Offer will not be conditional upon any minimum number of Original Debentures being tendered. The Offer will, however, be subject to other conditions and the Company will reserve the right, subject to applicable laws, to withdraw or amend the Offer, if, at any time prior to the payment of deposited Original Debentures, certain events occur. The Company expects to commence the Offer by the week of October 30, 2023. The Company has engaged Canaccord as dealer manager for the Offer and Computershare Investor Services Inc. ("Computershare") to act as the depositary for the Offer. Computershare will also act as trustee under the indenture governing the New Debentures. The formal offer to purchase and issuer bid circular, letter of transmittal and notice of guaranteed delivery (collectively, the "Offer Documents") containing the terms and conditions of the Offer and instructions for tendering Original Debentures will be filed with the applicable securities regulators and mailed to registered debentureholders. The Offer Documents will be available under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. The Original Debentures are not, and the New Debentures will not be, listed or posted for trading on any stock exchange or marketplace. INFOR Financial Inc. ("INFOR Financial") was engaged by the board of directors of the Company as the independent valuator to prepare formal valuations of the Original Debentures and the New Debentures in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws (the "Formal Valuations"). The Formal Valuations contains INFOR Financial's opinion that, based on the scope of its review and subject to the assumptions, restrictions and limitations provided therein, as of October 19, 2023, the fair market value of (a) the Original Debentures falls within the range of $645 to $715 per $1,000 principal amount of Original Debenture, and (b) the New Debentures falls within the range of $600 to $695 per $1,000 principal amount of New Debenture. Copies of the Formal Valuations will be included with the Offer Documents. The Formal Valuations are not, and should not be construed to be, a recommendation to a debentureholder or to others, to take any course of action. Neither the Company nor its board of directors makes any recommendation to debentureholders as to whether to tender or refrain from tendering any or all of their Original Debentures to the Offer. This press release is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell any Original Debentures. The solicitation and the offer to purchase Original Debentures by the Company is being made only pursuant to the Offer Documents. Debentureholders of the Company are urged to read the Offer Documents carefully and to consult with their own financial, tax and legal advisors prior to making any decision with respect to the Offer. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and applicable state securities laws. CONFERENCE CALL NOTICE The Company will hold a conference call to discuss the transaction later today, Friday, October 20, 2023, at 3:30 p.m. ET hosted by senior management. A question-and-answer session will follow the corporate update. DATE: Friday, October 20, 2023 TIME: 3:30 p.m. ET RAPIDCONNECT: To instantly join the conference call by phone, please use the following URL to easily register and be connected into the conference call automatically: https://emportal.ink/45BTQuU TRADITIONAL DIAL-IN NUMBER: (416) 764-8659 or (888) 664-6392 REFERENCE NUMBER: 60730705 TAPED REPLAY: (416) 764-8677 or (888) 390-0541 REPLAY CODE: 730705# WEBCAST: https://app.webinar.net/R3JmB6LyvDZ FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION This press release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which reflects the Company's current expectations regarding future events, including regarding the timing and completion of the Offer, the intentions of the Company's directors and officers and debentureholders with respect to tendering to the Offer. In some cases, but not necessarily in all cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward looking terminology such as "plans", "targets", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "an opportunity exists", "is positioned", "estimates", "intends", "assumes", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts, nor guarantees or assurances of future performance but instead represent management's current beliefs, expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events and operating performance. Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent annual information form. Dye & Durham does not undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law. ABOUT DYE & DURHAM LIMITED Dye & Durham Limited provides premier practice management solutions empowering legal professionals every day, delivers vital data insights to support critical corporate transactions and enables the essential payments infrastructure trusted by government and financial institutions. The company has operations in Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and South Africa. Additional information can be found at www.dyedurham.com. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Media Relations: Morgan McLellan VP, Global Communications [email protected] 647-802-4825 Investor Relations: Ross Marshall LodeRock Advisors Inc. [email protected] 416-526-1563 SOURCE Dye & Durham Limited [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 20, 2023] AM Best Removes from Under Review with Developing Implications and Affirms Credit Ratings of Sagicor Financial Company Ltd. and Certain Subsidiaries; Downgrades Credit Ratings of ivari Tweet AM Best has removed from under review with developing implications and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) of "a-" (Excellent) of Sagicor Life Inc. and Sagicor General Insurance Inc. (both domiciled in St. Michael, Barbados), Sagicor Life Insurance Company (Austin, TX) and Sagicor Reinsurance Bermuda Ltd. (Bermuda). Concurrently, AM Best has removed from under review with developing implications and affirmed the FSR of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term ICR of "bbb+" (Good) of Sagicor Life Jamaica Limited (Kingston, Jamaica). The outlook assigned to these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. In addition, AM Best has removed from under review with developing implications and affirmed the Long-Term ICR of "bbb-" (Good) and the Long-Term Issue Credit Rating of "bbb" (Good) on the $400 million, 5.3% senior unsecured notes, due 2028, of the ultimate parent, Sagicor Financial Company Ltd. (Bermuda). The outlook assigned to these ratings is stable. AM Best also has downgraded the FSR to A- (Excellent) from A (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICR to "a-" (Excellent) from "a+" (Excellent) of ivari (Toronto, Ontario, Canada). Concurrently, AM Best has maintained the under-review status for these ratings and revised the implications status to developing from negative. These rating actions follow an announcement from Sagicor Financial Company Ltd. that it has completed the acquisition of ivari from Wilton Re Ltd. The ratings of Sagicor Life Inc. reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM). Sagicor Life Inc. has a long record of consistent profitability and benefits from strong brand recognition in its operating countries. Offsetting rating factors include an elevated country risk level in Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago. The ratings of Sagicor Life Insurance Company reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as adequate, as well as its marginal operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate ERM. The company continues to benefit from parental support in the form of a capital maintenance agreement to maintain an adequate level of risk-adjusted capital tat covers expansion expenses. However, historical support was mainly in the form of internal surplus notes. The ratings of Sagicor Reinsurance Bermuda Ltd. reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate ERM. The ratings benefit from a capital maintenance agreement with Sagicor Financial Company, Ltd. The ratings of Sagicor Life Jamaica Limited reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strong, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate ERM. Sagicor Life Jamaica Limited has a consistent history of increasingly high earnings and revenue, in addition to growth, and a very strong market position in the Jamaica market. Offsetting rating factors include an elevated country risk level in Jamaica. The ratings of ivari reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate ERM. AM Best notes that ivari's ratings are impacted adversely with the sale to Sagicor, as the company no longer receives the benefit of a group rating from being a member of the Wilton Re Group, which is ultimately owned by the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. AM Best notes that the transaction will be accretive to Sagicor Financial Company Ltd.'s operating earnings and increase its geographic diversification while lowering its overall investment risk. However, there is some uncertainty concerning the integration risk from the acquired block of business. AM Best will continue to monitor this integration of ivari and provide updates as conditions warrant. This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best's website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best's Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best's Credit Ratings, Best's Performance Assessments, Best's Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best's Ratings & Assessments. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. Copyright 2023 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020327950/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 20, 2023] UBS Hires Advisor Team of Four in Washington, D.C. Tweet UBS today announced that a four-person advisor team, The Charles Drew Group, has joined the firm in Washington, D.C. The team, which manages $460 million in client assets, is led by Managing Director and Financial Advisor Charles Drew, and also includes Financial Advisors Bennett Kavlick, Matthew Tomczuk and Client Service Associate Justin Hatch. The team will be based at the firm's Washington, D.C. office at 1501 K Street NW, which is part of UBS's Philadelphia D.C. Wealth Management market that is led by Market Executive Julie Fox. They report to Market Director Brendan Graham. "Charles is a very talented advisor with decades of experience, and we are proud to welcome him and his team to UBS," said Julie Fox, Philadelphia D.C. Market Executive at UBS Private Wealth Management. "Hiring productive advisors like Charles is a key priority for us in the important Washington, D.C. market. I have no doubt that he and his team will successfully leverage UBS's world-class resources and capabilities to better serve their clients." harles brings nearly 30 years of experience to UBS. He previously was a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Washington, D.C., where he joined in 1994. He is particularly focused on retirement planning and leverages his extensive experience to advise individuals and plan sponsors. Charles holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Certified 401(k) Professional (C(k)P) designations. He was named to the Forbes/SHOOK Best-in-State Wealth Advisors list for 2023. Charles holds a BA in economics from Denison University. Notes to Editors About UBS UBS is a leading and truly global wealth manager and the leading universal bank in Switzerland. It also provides diversified asset management solutions and focused investment banking capabilities. With the acquisition of Credit Suisse, UBS manages 5.5 trillion dollars of invested assets as per second quarter 2023. UBS helps clients achieve their financial goals through personalized advice, solutions and products. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, the firm is operating in more than 50 countries around the globe. UBS Group shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). UBS 2023. All rights reserved. The key symbol and UBS are among the registered and unregistered trademarks of UBS. Although neither UBS Financial Services Inc. or its employees pay a fee in exchange for these ratings, UBS may hire RJ Shook to be a speaker for events. Past performance is not an indication of future results. For press use only. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020571640/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Julien Mollinier Joins TransRe Europe Julien Mollinier has joined TransRe's Continental European team as President of EMEA to support business growth opportunities and lead all underwriting and business development activities across the region. In his new role, Julien will work closely with TransRe's European office network in Luxembourg, Munich, Paris, and Zurich. In announcing the appointment, Louise Rose, President of TransRe's UK, European & MENA business, said, "I am delighted to welcome Julien to the team - his skillset will help us further develop our regional portfolio. Julien brings to TransRe a wealth of underwriting experience and a deep understanding ofEuropean market dynamics." About TransRe Established in 1977, TransRe is the brand name for Transatlantic Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries (including Transatlantic Reinsurance Company). TransRe is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alleghany Corporation, a Berkshire Hathaway company. Headquartered in New York with operations worldwide, TransRe offers the capacity, expertise and creativity necessary to structure programs across the full spectrum of property and casualty risks. Please visit www.transre.com for more information. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020177182/en/ KYODO NEWS - Oct 20, 2023 - 13:11 | All, World, Japan An Air Self-Defense Force plane has evacuated a total of 83 people, including Japanese and South Koreans, from Israel to Jordan, the Japanese government said Friday, amid the intensifying war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The KC-767 refueling and transport aircraft will arrive at Haneda airport in Tokyo early Saturday. The 83 passengers comprise 60 Japanese and 18 South Koreans and their foreign family members, the Japanese foreign and defense ministries said. Japan dispatched the plane last Saturday and it had been on standby in Jordan since Tuesday in preparation for airlifting Japanese citizens from Israel, where Hamas launched a surprise attack on Oct. 7, triggering the ongoing conflict. On Thursday evening, the Japanese and other evacuees gathered at an airport in Tel Aviv, where the KC-767 picked them up. "Since I have small children, I greatly appreciate being able to return to Japan without connecting flights," said a 38-year-old woman evacuating with her two sons. Two ASDF C-2 transport airplanes that Japan sent along with the KC-767 will continue to stand by for possible evacuations. One of them is currently in Jordan and the other is in Djibouti, according to the ministries. Japan's Self-Defense Forces have an operating base in Djibouti, a tiny country in the Horn of Africa about 2,000 kilometers south of Israel, as part of an anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia. Last weekend, 51 Japanese nationals were evacuated from Israel on a South Korean military transport aircraft to an air base outside Seoul, and eight more left Tel Aviv for Dubai in the United Arab Emirates on a Japan-chartered flight. Related coverage: Japan firms continue to evacuate staff in Israel amid Hamas conflict Japan SDF plane arrives in Djibouti for possible Israel evacuation 8 Japanese evacuated from Israel on government-chartered flight to Dubai [October 20, 2023] Teleperformance declares Offer for Majorel unconditional 98.45% of Shares tendered under the Offer - Opening of the Post-Acceptance Period Tweet Regulatory News: Teleperformance (Paris:TEP), a global leader in digital business services, is pleased to announce that, during the Offer Period, 98,448,171 Shares representing approximately 98.45% of Majorel's outstanding share capital have been tendered under the Offer and that all other Offer Conditions (including the obtention of the Clearances from the Antitrust Authorities) have been satisfied. As a result, Teleperformance declares the Offer unconditional (doet gestand) and the Post-Acceptance Period will start as from 23 October 2023 for a 2-week period. The results of the Offer ahead of the Post-Acceptance Period show excellent achievement. This extremely high contribution rate to the Offer demonstrates the strong support of Majorel's shareholders for the Group's project and the recognized relevance of this acquisition. The First Settlement of the Offer will take place on 27 October 2023 (the "First Settlement Date"), on which date the Cash Consideration of EUR 30.00 per Share will be paid to Shareholders who have validly tendered their Shares against the Cash Consideration during the Offer Period. Shareholders who have not tendered their Shares during the Offer Period may tender their Shares during the Post-Acceptance Period, which will start on 23 October 2023, at 9:00 hours CET, and end on 3 November 2023, at 17:40 hours CET. After the Post-Acceptance Period, the Second Settlement is expected to occur on 8 November 2023 (the "Second Settlement Date"). Shareholders who have elected to receive the Share Consideration during the Offer Period or the Post-Acceptance Period will receive on the Second Settlement Date Teleperformance shares at an exchange ratio of 30/217. Shareholders who validly tendered their Shares against the Cash Consideration during the Post-Acceptance Period will receive the Cash Consideration on the Second Settlement Date. Tender results and Offer declared unconditional During the Offer Period, which ended on 20 October 2023, at 17:40 hours CET (the "Closing Time"), 98,448,171 Shares were tendered under the Offer, representing approximately 98.45% of Majorel's outstanding share capital as of today, and an aggregate value of approximately EUR 2,953,445,130. Teleperformance accepts all Shares that have been validly tendered (or defectively tendered, provided that such defect has been waived by Teleperformance) and not validly withdrawn in accordance with Section 5.3.5 (Withdrawal Rights) of the Offer Memorandum. Teleperformance has the right (but not the obligation) to accept any tender of Shares pursuant to the Offer, even if such tender has not been made in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Offer. All Offer Conditions have been satisfied. Accordingly, Teleperformance declares the Offer unconditional. First Settlement The First Settlement will take place on 27 October 2023. Teleperformance will pay the Cash Consideration on the First Settlement Date to Shareholders who have (i) validly tendered (or defectively tendered provided that such defect has been waived by Teleperformance) their Shares against the Cash Consideration during the Offer Period, and (ii) not validly withdrawn and have transferred their Shares for acceptance pursuant to the Offer on or prior to the Closing Time. Teleperformance cannot guarantee that Shareholders holding Shares through an Admitted Institution will actually receive payment on the First Settlement Date from such Admitted Institution. Further information on the First Settlement is included in Section 5.7 (First Settlement) of the Offer Memorandum. Shareholders who have tendered their Shares during the Offer Period against the Share Consideration will receive the Share Consideration on the Second Settlement Date (see below under Second Settlement). Post-Acceptance Period Teleperformance hereby announces, in accordance with Section 17, Paragraph 1 of the Decree, that Shareholders who did not tender their Shares during the Offer Period will have the opportunity to tender their Shares, under the same terms and conditions applicable to the Offer as set out in the Offer Memorandum, during the Post-Acceptance Period of two (2) weeks, which will start on 23 October 2023, at 9:00 hours CET, and end on 3 November 2023, at 17:40 CET. Further information on the Post-Acceptance Period is included in Section 5.8 (Post-Acceptance Period) of the Offer Memorandum. Teleperformance will publicly announce the results of the Post-Acceptance Period, and the total number and total percentage of Shares held by it in accordance with Article 17, Paragraph 4 of the Decree no later than on the third (3rd) Business Day following the last day of the Post-Acceptance Period. During the Post-Acceptance Period and until the Second Settlement Date, Shareholders who tendered Shares accepted by Teleperformance have no right to withdraw such Shares from the Offer or change their election between the Cash Consideration and the Share Consideration. Second Settlement Teleperformance will pay the Cash Consideration on the Second Settlement Date to Shareholders who have (i) validly tendered their Shares against the Cash Consideration during the Post-Acceptance Period (or defectively tendered their Shares provided that such defect has been waived by Teleperformance), and (ii) not validly withdrawn and have transferred such Shares for acceptance pursuant to the Offer on or prior to the end of the Post-Acceptance Period. Teleperformance will pay the Share Consideration on the Second Settlement to Shareholders who have (i) validly tendered their Shares against the Share Consideration during the Offer Period or the Post-Acceptance Period (or defectively tendered their Shares provided that such defect has been waived by Teleperformance), and (ii) not validly withdrawn and have transferred such Shares for acceptance pursuant to the Offer on or prior to the end of the Offer Period or Post-Acceptance Period. Teleperformance will determine the number of Teleperformance shares to be issued for the payment of the Share Consideration in respect of the Tendered Shares in accordance with Sections 5.2 (Offer Consideration) and 5.9 (Second Settlement) of the Offer Memorandum. A maximum of 4,608,295 Teleperformance shares is available for issue under the Share Consideration, (i.e., a maximum of 33,333,334 Shares can be exchanged for Teleperformance shares). As the Share Consideration is oversubscribed by Shareholders because Bertelsmann and Saham tendered their Shares against the Share Consideration, the Teleperformance shares will be allocated among the Shareholders that elected the Share Consideration on a pro rata basis according to the total number of Shares tendered by the Shareholders who have validly elected the Share Consideration. In respect of the remaining Tendered Shares that are not exchanged for Teleperformance shares, such Shareholders will receive the corresponding Cash Consideration on the Second Settlement Date. Teleperformance cannot guarantee that Shareholders holding Shares through an Admitted Institution will actually receive payment on the Second Settlement Date from such Admitted Institution. Post-settlement measures with respect to non-tendered Shares Following the Second Settlement, Teleperformance may choose to implement certain Post-Settlement Restructurings (as described in more detail in Section 6.13 (Consequences of the Offer for non-tendering Shareholders) of the Offer Memorandum). Teleperformance reserves the right to use any legally permitted method to acquire all of the Shares or full ownership of the Majorel's business. Since Teleperformance will hold at least 95% of the voting capital and voting rights in the Company after the Second Settlement, it may initiate squeeze-out proceedings under the Luxembourg Takeover Law after the Post-Acceptance Period. More information will be provided in a separate press release after the Post-Acceptance Period. Teleperformance does not intend to propose in the squeeze-out proceedings a consideration to be paid to, or received by, the Shareholders at financial terms higher than the Offer Consideration paid in the current Offer, it being specified that such terms could be lower than the Offer Consideration. When deliberating and resolving on any squeeze-out proceedings or Post-Settlement Restructuring, due consideration will be given to the requirements of law, ncluding, to the extent applicable, the Dutch Financial Markets Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht), the Decree and the duties of the Company Boards to promote the corporate interest of Majorel, and the interests of all shareholders (including minority shareholders) and other relevant stakeholders, and relevant employee representative bodies' information and/or consultation requirements. Delisting Since Teleperformance will hold at least 95% of the voting capital and voting rights in the Company after the Second Settlement, it intends to thereafter request the delisting of the Shares from Euronext Amsterdam (including the Shares not tendered under the Offer) and the termination of the listing agreement between Majorel and Euronext Amsterdam in relation to the listing of the Shares. This may adversely affect the liquidity and market value of any Shares not tendered. Reference is made to Section 6.13 (Consequences of the Offer for non-tendering Shareholders) of the Offer Memorandum. Further implications for declaring the Offer unconditional Remaining Shareholders who do not wish to tender their Shares under the Offer in the Post-Acceptance Period should carefully review the Sections of the Offer Memorandum that explain the intentions of Teleperformance and/or certain actual or potential implications to which such non-tendering Shareholders will be subject, such as (but not limited to) Section 6.13 (Consequences of the Offer for non-tendering Shareholders) of the Offer Memorandum. Announcements Any announcement contemplated by the Offer Memorandum will be issued by means of a press release. Any press release issued by Teleperformance will be made available on the website of Teleperformance (https://www.teleperformance.com/en-us/investors/publications-and-events/acquisition-of-majorel/). Offer Memorandum and further information This announcement contains selected, condensed information regarding the Offer and does not replace the Offer Memorandum. The information in this announcement is not complete and additional information is contained in the Offer Memorandum. Digital copies of the Offer Memorandum are available on the website of Teleperformance https://www.teleperformance.com/en-us/investors/publications-and-events/acquisition-of-majorel/) and digital copies of the Position Statement, which has been published on 11 August 2023, are available on the website of Majorel (https://www.majorel.com/whats-new/majorel-publishes-position-statement-on-voluntary-public-cash-and-exchange-offer-for-all-shares-in-majorel-by-teleperformance-se-recommending-to-accept-the-offer/). Copies of the Offer Memorandum are also available free of charge at the office of the Settlement Agent (ABN AMRO Bank N.V., Gustav Mahlerlaan 10, 1082 PP, Amsterdam, Netherlands). On 11 August 2023, Teleperformance also published the first amendment to its Universal Registration Document filed with the French Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF) on 27 February 2023 and the exemption document pursuant to article 1 sub 4(f) and 5(e) of the EU Prospectus Regulation. These documents are published in relation to Teleperformance shares to be issued and admitted to trading on Euronext Paris as part of the Share Consideration. These documents are available on Teleperformance's website (https://www.teleperformance.com/en-us/investors/publications-and-events/financial-publications/). These documents have not been approved by the AFM prior to publication. Third quarter 2023 revenue of Teleperformance Given the above timetable of the Post-Acceptance Period, Teleperformance has decided to postpone the publication of its third-quarter 2023 revenue to 6 November 2023, in order to incorporate also the publication of the final results of the Post-Acceptance Period. The related press release will be available on Teleperformance's website (https://www.teleperformance.com/en-us/investors/publications-and-events/financial-publications/). Disclaimer Certain information included in this press release are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions, including, without limitation, assumptions as to the potential combination of Teleperformance with Majorel, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results or other events, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and Teleperformance expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any update or revisions to any forward-looking statements included in this press release to reflect any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based. Such forward-looking statements are for illustrative purposes only. Forward-looking information and statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of Teleperformance. The forward-looking statements included in this press release do not include any assumption for a further significant deterioration in market conditions or the current geopolitical situation. These risks and uncertainties include those discussed or identified under Section 2.1 of the Universal Registration Document of Teleperformance, filed with the French Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF) on 27 February 2023, as amended by the Amendment to the Universal Registration Document, and available on the Teleperformance website (www.teleperformance.com) and the AMF website (www.amf-france.org). This press release is for information purposes only and does not, and shall not, constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for any securities of Teleperformance or Majorel nor a solicitation to offer to purchase or to subscribe for securities of Teleperformance or Majorel in any jurisdiction, including in France and the Netherlands. Any offer will be made only by means of the Offer Memorandum. The distribution of this press release may, in some countries, be restricted by law or regulation. Accordingly, persons who come into possession of this document should inform themselves of and observe these restrictions. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Teleperformance disclaims any responsibility or liability for the violation of any such restrictions by any person. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of that jurisdiction. Neither Teleperformance nor any of its advisors assumes any responsibility for any violation of any of these restrictions. Any Majorel shareholder who is in any doubt as to his or her position should consult an appropriate professional advisor without delay. Notice to U.S. Shareholders The Offer is being made by Teleperformance, a French company whose shares are listed on Euronext Paris, for the Shares in Majorel, a Luxembourg company whose shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam, and is subject to Dutch, Luxembourg and French disclosure and procedural requirements, which differ from those of the United States. It is important that U.S. shareholders understand that the Offer and any related offer documents are subject to disclosure and takeover laws and regulations in the Netherlands, France and/or Luxembourg that may be different from those in the United States. The financial information included or referred to herein has been prepared in accordance with non-U.S. accounting standards and, accordingly, may not be comparable to the financial information of U.S. companies or companies whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. U.S. shareholders are referred to Section 3.2 (Information for U.S. shareholders) of the Offer Memorandum. The Offer is being made in the United States in compliance with, and in reliance on, the exemption provided by Rule 14d-1(c), known as the "Tier I" exemption, under the U.S. Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "U.S. Exchange Act"). Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or pursuant to an exemption from such registration. The Offeror Shares to be issued in connection with the settlement of the Offer are not, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act or under the securities laws of any jurisdiction of the United States and will be issued to Shareholders in the United States in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Rule 802 under the Securities Act and in reliance on available exemptions from any state law registration requirements. It may be difficult for U.S. shareholders to enforce their rights and claims arising out of the U.S. federal securities laws, since Teleperformance and Majorel are located in a country other than the United States, and some or all of their officers and directors may be residents of a country other than the United States. U.S. shareholders may not be able to sue a non-U.S. company or its officers or directors in a non-U.S. court for violations of the U.S. securities laws. Further, it may be difficult to compel a non-U.S. company and its affiliates to subject themselves to a U.S. court's judgment. Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any U.S. state securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the Offer or the Offeror Shares to be issued in connection with the settlement of the Offer, passed upon the fairness or merits of the Offer or provided an opinion as to the accuracy or completeness of this Offer Memorandum or any other documents regarding the Offer. Any declaration to the contrary constitutes a criminal offence in the United States. In accordance with standard Dutch practice and pursuant to Rule 14e-5(b) of the U.S. Exchange Act, Teleperformance or its nominees, or its brokers (acting as agents), or affiliates of Teleperformance's financial advisors, may from time to time make certain purchases of, or arrangements to purchase, Shares outside of the United States, other than pursuant to the Offer, before or during the period in which the Offer remains open for acceptance. These purchases may occur either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices. Information about such purchases, if any, will be announced by press release in accordance with Article 13 of the Decree and posted on the website of Teleperformance (https://www.teleperformance.com/en-us/investors/publications-and-events/acquisition-of-majorel/). INVESTOR CALENDAR Third-quarter 2023 revenue: 6 November 2023 (after closing of stock market) ABOUT TELEPERFORMANCE GROUP Teleperformance (TEP - ISIN: FR0000051807 - Reuters: TEPRF.PA - Bloomberg: TEP FP), is a global leader in digital business services, blending the best of advanced technology with human empathy to deliver enhanced customer care that is simpler, faster, and safer for the world's biggest brands and their customers. The Group's comprehensive, AI-powered service portfolio ranges from front-office customer care to back-office functions, including Trust and Safety services that help defend both online users and brand reputation. It also offers a range of specialized services such as collections, interpreting and localization, visa and consular services, and recruitment process outsourcing services. With more than 410,000 inspired and passionate people speaking more than 300 languages, the Group's global scale and local presence allows it to be a force of good in supporting communities, clients, and the environment. In 2022, Teleperformance reported consolidated revenue of 8,154 million (US$8.6 billion, based on 1 = $1.05) and net profit of 645 million. Teleperformance shares are traded on the Euronext Paris market, Compartment A, and are eligible for the deferred settlement service. They are included in the following indices: CAC 40, STOXX 600, S&P Europe 350, MSCI Global Standard and Euronext Tech Leaders. In the area of corporate social responsibility, Teleperformance shares are included in the CAC 40 ESG since September 2022, the Euronext Vigeo Euro 120 index since 2015, the EURO STOXX 50 ESG index since 2020, the MSCI Europe ESG Leaders index since 2019, the FTSE4Good index since 2018 and the S&P Global 1200 ESG index since 2017. For more information: www.teleperformance.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020612814/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 20, 2023] Sharjah Government Pavilion showcased sustainable and proactive projects at conclusion of GITEX Global 2023 Tweet DUBAI, UAE, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sheikh Saud bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Director of Sharjah Digital Office and Chairman of the Higher Committee of the Sharjah Government Pavilion at GITEX 2023, toured various pavilions participating in the exhibition to explore the latest innovative technologies offered by government entities across the UAE. During his tour, Sheikh Saud reviewed the remarkable achievements presented by the Dubai Digital Government, Ajman Digital Government, Fujairah Government, Abu Dhabi Government, Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, Etisalat by e&, and Du. He gained insights into the latest projects and technical solutions provided by these entities towards supporting digital transformation across various sectors, including healthcare, education, environment, and culture. He also commended their efforts in strengthening the country's position as a leading regional innovation and excellence hub. Sharjah Sustainability As the exhibition concluded the Sharjah Government Pavilion featured the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority's 'Sustain Sharjah,' whose objective is to establish the Sharjah Sustainable Tourism website as a comprehensive platform designed to meet all the emirate's sustainable tourism requirements. This aligns with the broader strategy to position Sharjah as a prominent and sustainable tourism destination. The project's primary goal is to educate the general public, individuals, and businesses about the far-reaching effects of sustainable tourism within the sector. It also aims to encourage the adoption of best practices through the website's content and an integrated tool that enables users to calculate their carbon footprint in Sharjah and provides an incentive programme to motivate individuals and businesses to reduce their environmental impact. Furthermore, the website will include features to promote eco-friendly experiences and destinations, including a sustainability map and a listing of eco-friendly hotels, restaurants, and attractions in Sharjah, supplemented with pertinent information and reviews based on their overall sustainability score. Using Satellites in Agriculture The Sharjah Pavilion at the Dubai World Trade Centre's Arena Hall also featured a groundbreaking project presented by the Sharjah Department of Agriculture & Livestock that leverages satellite technology to manage wheat crops. This innovative initiative adopts state-of-the-art global agricultural technologies and practices to uphold the highest standards of quality and efficiency in crop management. It relies on daily satellite imaging and a suite of digital tools, integrating remote ground sensors and monitoring stations to track daily agricultural activities. A Sustainable Digital Ecosystem The Sharjah Government Pavilion at GITEX 2023 prominently featured a range of outstanding projects and initiatives presented by 11 government entities, underscoring a commitment to innovation in delivering sustainable and proactive services that align seamlessly with Sharjah's overarching mission to establish a comprehensive and sustainable digital ecosystem towards enhancing the overall quality of life for the emirate's residents, visitors, and businesses. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2253672/Sharjah_Government_Pavilion.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sharjah-government-pavilion-showcased-sustainable-and-proactive-projects-at-conclusion-of-gitex-global-2023-301963556.html SOURCE Sharjah Government Pavilion [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 20, 2023] Discover a World of Mystery and Suspense in "Major Crimes Investigations and Justice Served" by Don Delaney Tweet NEW YORK CITY, NY, Oct. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Delve into the intriguing world of criminal investigations with the highly anticipated release of "Major Crimes Investigations and Justice Served" by Don Delaney. This riveting tale offers a deep dive into the art of solving major criminal cases, showcasing the pivotal role of confessions in achieving justice. With an illustrious career spanning three decades, Don Delaney has left an indelible mark on law enforcement. This captivating work sheds light on his remarkable contributions and expertise in unraveling complex criminal scenarios. Readers are taken on a mesmerizing journey through a diverse range of major cases meticulously documented by Delaney. From homicide to computer crime, child abuse to serial murders, each case serves as a masterclass for law enforcement professionals and enthusiasts, illuminating the nuances of investigative techniques and the art of building a compelling case. At the heart of "Major Crimes Investigations and Justice Served" lies the resounding themethe indispensable role of confessions in securing convictions. Delaney's mastry of the art of interrogation and his profound understanding of human psychology enabled him to elicit confessions in over 98% of the cases he handled. This compendium provides an insightful exploration of Delaney's techniques and strategies to establish rapport with suspects, navigate their defenses, and uncover the truth hidden beneath layers of deception. Beyond his accomplishments as an investigator, Delaney's legacy extends to law enforcement education. The work highlights his prolific teaching career, spanning prestigious institutions and transcending national borders. Delaney's insights and expertise were sought after by aspiring law enforcement professionals eager to learn from a true master of the craft. Delaney's post-retirement endeavors further underscore his commitment to innovation and justice. His groundbreaking work in computer forensics revolutionized investigative techniques, providing a new toolkit for law enforcement agencies and organizations seeking to navigate the complexities of the digital age. "Major Crimes Investigations and Justice Served" is poised to captivate readers with its thrilling narrative, profound insights, and compelling cases. It offers a unique opportunity to explore the mind of an iconic investigator and the enduring impact of his work. For those passionate about criminal investigations and the pursuit of justice, "Major Crimes Investigations and Justice Served" promises an unforgettable journey into the heart of law enforcement. About Don Delaney: Donald P. Delaney, a distinguished law enforcement figure, boasts a three-decade career with roles ranging from trooper to Senior Investigator. His teaching reached universities and law enforcement academies worldwide, and his groundbreaking work in computer forensics revolutionized investigations. Now in retirement, Delaney reflects on a lifetime of impactful contributions. Website: https://donaldpdelaney.com/ Donald Delaney contact at donaldpdelaney.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 20, 2023] University of Phoenix Issues White Paper Promoting an Academic Credit Mobility Culture During National Transfer Student Week Tweet During National Transfer Student Week, University of Phoenix released a new whitepaper, "Creating a Credit Mobility Culture: Supporting Transfer for Adult Learners with Some College and No Degree," in a collaboration between authors Devin Andrews, vice president, Admissions and Evaluation, Marc Booker, Ph.D., vice provost, Strategy, Nathan Cicchillo, senior director, Admissions and Evaluation, Jennifer Burrell, director, Student Services Strategy and Operations, and Terri Tommasone, senior director, Admissions and Evaluation. A report from April 2023 found that there are 40.4 million Americans with some college credit and no credential, an increase of 1.4 million learners in the past year. The white paper discusses higher education barriers based on historic policies, procedures, and beliefs that do not take the adult learner into account. In an environment where many institutions are looking for ways to support adult students with some college and no degree, the white paper posits that creating a credit mobility culture is needed to ensure higher education is built to support an increasingly diverse student population in completing their educational goals. The white paper shares how University of Phoenix has made significant investments in creating a credit mobility culture, including creating flexible policies and programs, embracing prior learning as a viable source of academic credit, improving clarity on transfer outcomes and options, removing barriers that impact student progression, and empowering students through relevant support services. "An institution with a credit mobility culture considers transfer in all aspects of what the student brings to the table as a learner, and not as an edge case or a niche pathway population, but rather as an extension and core component of its mission," states Andrews. "This is what we've built at University of Phoenix, and we've seen first-hand how it can build confidence in adult learners, as well as helping them recognize the value of how their life experience has translated into tangible credit." Lourdes Morales-Lynton is a University of Phoenix transfer student who completed her bachelor's with University of Phoenix and is now working towards her MBA. "My experience with University of Phoenix has been nothing less than spectacular," Morales-Lynton shares. "I ad tremendous support and advice, even when I was filled with doubt, as I worked to complete my undergraduate degree. My University of Phoenix instructors encouraged me, answered all my questions, and always provided resources I could access." Andrews is the Vice President of Admissions and Evaluation at the University of Phoenix, a position she has held since 2015. Andrews has experience leading University-wide initiatives related to technology and innovation to improve outcomes for diverse stakeholders, including increasing credit for prior learning through improved awareness and experience, and cost savings measures for students. She engages in the broader higher education community through presentations, articles, and participation in committees for the Pacific Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (PACRAO), the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), and the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL). She holds a bachelor's degree in political science from University of Arizona and a Master of Arts in Education from University of Phoenix. Booker has over two decades of experience working with online and distance education students at the post-secondary level in admissions, registrar, and academic administration roles. He oversees critical path academic initiatives to improve the student experience such as learning platform implementations, curricular enhancements, developing innovative academic program designs, and creating empathetic solutions to drive improved student outcomes. He is a regular speaker, contributor, and subject matter expert at national and regional conferences like AACRAO, PACRAO, CAEL, and EDUCAUSE. Booker holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Administration from the University of Phoenix. Burrell has over 20 years of leadership experience in higher education, committed to catalyzing innovative solutions and delivering continuous improvements to drive operational excellence and enhance student outcomes. Her commitment to optimizing the student experience is demonstrated by the development of strategic, data-driven growth strategies and work with Alternative Credit providers that have resulted in substantial time and cost savings for thousands of students. She also leads the interdepartmental Campus Online Closure and Interruption Committee (COCI), collaborating with stakeholders across the University to provide crucial support to students during natural disasters. Burrell holds a Master of Management from the University of Phoenix. Cicchillo has been with University of Phoenix for over 20 years, serving in Admissions and Evaluation since 2011, where he oversees the University's Articulation department which supports students through pathway creation for community college relationships, International department providing translation and evaluation services for international population, and Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) department providing opportunities for assessing learning obtained outside of the traditional classroom for potential college credit. He currently serves on the AACRAO Transfer and Articulation Committee that focuses on sharing ideas and best practices related to transfer credit with peers at other institutions within the AACRAO environment. Tommasone has over 19 years of experience in Admission Processing and Transfer Credit Evaluations and identifies with the adult learner segment, as after many years in the work world, she earned her Associate of Applied Science in Computer Technology and then enrolled as a transfer student to earn her Bachelor of Science in Management at University of Phoenix. Tommasone holds a Master of Arts in Innovative Leadership from Western International University. She is also a member of AACRAO and PACRAO. The full whitepaper is available at University of Phoenix Thought Leadership hub and as a direct link here. About University of Phoenix University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor's and master's degree programs and a Career Services for Life commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020882167/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] For tonight we share a quick mainstream view of local opinion amid ongoing war in the Holy Land. A quick survey . . . There was one major local pro-Palestine protest but support for people in Gaza has been muted and much of the local discourse is focused on stories from Israel given KC's strong & historic connections to the U.S. ally. Nevertheless . . . Partisan rhetoric is ramping up as the war intensifies. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . Overland Park native, now a rabbi in Israel, gives first hand account of the war there Burnstein, an Overland Park, Kansas native, moved to Israel in 1996 and now leads a congregation caught in the crossfire. Teachers' union at KU argues violence against Israel is necessary, as universities are rocked by pro-terror views An affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers issued a statement Wednesday in solidarity with Hamas that encourages violence toward Israel. The Graduate Teaching Assistants Coalition at the U... Panel at the University of Kansas discusses war in the Middle East, potential problems ahead A panel of experts from academic fields spoke Wednesday night at the University of Kansas about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Biden to make prime-time case for US assistance to Israel and Ukraine President Joe Biden will address the nation in prime time on Thursday, fresh off a wartime visit to Israel. Clergy member from Congregation Beth Shalom reacts to President Biden's address on war KMBC 9's Brian Johnson watched the address with Tahl Ben-Yehuda, a clergy member of the Congregation Beth Shalom in Overland Park. Hundreds arrested as US Jews protest against Israel's Gaza assault Protesters in Washington demand ceasefire, marking rift in community as Anti-Defamation League condemns demonstration What is Israel's endgame in Gaza invasion? Israel is vowing to wipe out Hamas in a relentless onslaught on the Gaza Strip but has no obvious endgame in sight, with no clear plan for how to govern the ravaged Palestinian enclave even if it triumphs on the battlefield. Developing . . . This week a historic verdict against a former law man stirred controversy and garnered a bevy of pronouncements form the chattering class. However . . . THE LEGAL FIGHT FOR/AGAINST ERIC DEVALKENAERE'S FREEDOM ISN'T FINISHED!!! Here's one of the best summaries we can find on the long road confronting local pro-police activists who have championed this cause despite recent setbacks . . . Along the way, it's reasonable to expect continued opposition from KCMO elected leaders and the Jackson County Prosecutor's office. Check-it . . . "DeValkenaere's attorneys filed a motion to reinstate DeValkenaeres bond. "The motion was filed Wednesday by DeValkenaeres appellate attorney; Jonathan Laurans indicated that he will file a subsequent motion for a rehearing of the case and transfer to the Missouri Supreme Court . . . Chief U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips continued the trial Thursday during a previously scheduled teleconference for the civil case. "It is unclear when a new trial will be scheduled in the case, but the delay could be significant if the states high court agrees to take the case." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Convicted KCPD detective files for appeal bond, Missouri AG's office does not oppose Eric DeValkenaere's attorneys argued there are arguments for a rehearing of a transfer and contended the appeals court overlooked important aspects of the case. This week we noticed many opinions and insights on global war whilst the ongoing homicide epidemic continues without much fanfare of many new ideas from politico. Here's the opening word from local news . . . "A KCPD spokesperson said the shooting happened around 7 p.m. near 31st Street and Woodland Avenue. Police said officers were already in the area when the shooting call went out. They found one victim inside a car and another in the street." More info in this first report: Homicide 31st and Woodland Ave On 10/19/2023 just after 7 pm, officers were dispatched to 31st and Woodland on a reported sound of shots. Upon arrival, officers located an adult male inside a vehicle suffering from apparent gun shot wounds. Officers were also notified by citizens another male was lying in the street. EMS arrived on scene and pronounced the victim deceased that was lying in the street and transported the victim inside the vehicle to an area hospital in critical condition. The circumstances leading up to the homicide are unknown. No one is in custody at this time. We have no reason to believe there is an immediate risk to the public. Homicide detectives and Crime Scene Personnel have responded to the scene. They will be processing the scene to recover any evidence and speaking to any potential witnesses. Anyone with information is asked to call homicide detectives at 816-234-5043. Or if you wish to remain anonymous you can do so by calling the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information provided to TIPS which leads to an arrest in the case. We are committed to assisting victims of violent crimes through use of Missouris Protection Program for Victims/Witnesses of Violent Crime. Funding for temporary, or even permanent relocation, may be available but is subject to pre-approval by the States administering agency. We are working with Partners for Peace in all our homicide investigations to monitor risks for retaliation and provide social services to affected residents. ################## Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . One killed, another injured in Kansas City double shooting Kansas City police are investigating a double shooting Thursday after one person was injured and another was killed near 41st and Woodland. Kansas City police say one dead following double shooting at 31st, Woodland One victim was declared dead on scene, while the second victim was taken to the hospital. Gunfire kills 1 man, wounds another Thursday night in east KCMO KCMO police officers found one man shot to death and another person wounded by the gunfire Thursday night in east KCMO. Developing . . . We can't help but notice local car crime on the rise . . . What's important to consider . . . Rampant Kansas City car crime myth-busts the popularized misconception of honor amongst thieves. These crooks target their own neighborhoods and often prey upon people who can least afford a major financial setback. Here's a local story worth considering . . . "In February, the community helped gift her a vehicle to fit her family as she welcomed home three new triplets. Now, shes asking for the communitys help again, but this time, not financially. Instead, she's asking for eyes and ears to help locate her van, which was stolen last weekend." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . 'It's heartbreaking': Single KCMO mother of 7 has van stolen outside of home, asking community to look out Adrienne Blanford, mother of seven, was recently gifted a minivan thanks to a GoFundMe after welcoming triplets earlier this year. Now, she's asking for her only vehicle back. 'We need it back': Thieves steal van from Kansas City mom of 7 A Kansas City mother of seven, including three special triplets, is searching for her van after she said thieves stole it outside of their home. 'It's been really devastating': Kansas City mother of seven asking for help after thieves stole her only car Adrienne Blanford said she wouldn't have been able to buy the van without the help of the community. Dozens of people donated money on GoFundMe after she gave birth to identical triplet girls. Developing . . . The war in Israel has sparked growing American tension and fear. Sadly, concern about about the potential for violence isn't unfounded. As Americans are now targeted across the globe, there's growing fear about politically charged violence on the home front. This week in Illinois a Palestinian-American youngster was killed in a tragic act of violence. On the subway in NYC a Jewish woman was punched in the face and her attacker brazenly attributed her assault to her faith & ethnicity. Accordingly . . . KANSAS CITY POLICE RECENTLY ASSURED FAITH COMMUNITIES OF THEIR COMMITMENT TO PREVENTING & PROTECTING AGAINST HATE CRIMES!!! Check this quote and a link to more info a recent report . . . "Captain Corey Carlisle of the Kansas City Police Department said there are no immediate safety concerns for Kansas City metro area residents. " 'We closely monitor any threats or potential threats that could be targeting members of our community. If we receive any information that there is a potential for violence towards a certain person, place or thing, KCPD will implement extra patrol and security measures to ensure the safety of all of our community members,' Carlisle said." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Prog blog testimony casts blame on political opposition and yearns for old school civility that was mostly imagined and/or overly exaggerated without context for changing times & political epochs. Here's the word . . . "Its not just the current crop of Republicans elected to office who are deaf and blind to the perspectives of others. Some everyday citizens suffer the same malady. "Its not their indifference or apathy that appalls me. Its their rage and hatred towards me and people like me who dont share their views." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . KYODO NEWS - Oct 20, 2023 - 23:07 | World, All, Japan About 100 experts from China and Japan on Friday called for putting all kinds of dialogue between the two countries back on track and for them to be held regularly at a two-day forum on bilateral relations in Beijing amid strained ties. The forum, held ahead of Monday's 45th anniversary of a bilateral treaty of peace and friendship, urged in a concluding joint statement that the two Asian neighbors work together to ensure peace and security in the region. It also called on them to deal with concerns stemming from the release of treated radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea, which began in late August. In the wake of the Fukushima water release, the Chinese government, which opposes the discharge, banned all seafood imports from Japan. A large number of nuisance calls believed to have originated from China were also made to many places in Japan as well as Japan-related facilities in China. Japan's Ambassador to China Hideo Tarumi said in a speech at the forum that the embassy still receives some 15,000 harassing calls every day and stressed the need to settle bilateral rows by regaining mutual trust and holding dialogue at various levels, including summit talks. Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao said in a video message that the two countries need to immediately "stop the worsening trend" of their relations and "appropriately manage" confrontations and differences in order to stabilize them. The annual talks were held in person for the first time in four years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the gathering was overshadowed by confirmation on Thursday that Chinese authorities formally arrested a Japanese businessman over espionage allegations. Yasushi Kudo, head of the Japanese nonprofit think tank Genron NPO, which co-organized the forum, said at the event that Chinese people are unaware that many Japanese nationals are wary of visiting China for fear of being detained. "Such a situation needs to be changed," he added. Related coverage: South Korea proposes top diplomat talks with Japan, China in late November Japan PM Kishida seeks dialogue with China on opposing nuclear weapons use China's Xi Jinping vows to pursue high-quality, green development at forum Readers Commentary My closest friend is a woman whom I met four years ago. We connected immediately and are still in as frequent contact as busy lives allow. Im 10 years older than she is, now 35, plus married with children. She was then 21, single, new to our city and open to dating. Since she was very attractive, there was no lack of available men in her work or community life who were attracted to and interested in her. But the count of candidates dwindled due to lack of interest or attraction on her part. As she recounted her dates to me, it was easy to predict what would inevitably happen: There were men who offered her romantic trips together (on first meeting!), a short-term suitor who kept insisting she move to his city though she worked six hours away, and another candidate who claimed he needed medical care and asked to move into her place immediately! It was great fun for me to follow these events, but I admit that I worried sometimes shed give up on men altogether. Happily, I neednt have worried. My friend married the perfect mate for all the years that have followed. Lesson in true love Ellie: From my vantage point on viewing the sensitive world of relationship issues, it sometimes seems that both male and female participants start off by categorizing a would-be partner. Example: The just-met guy is considered a jerk. Or, the woman is quickly dismissed as too picky. In the end, these daters, whether online or in person, lose out from meeting their best choice. The reason? One or both daters have a fixed set of requirements for a long-term relationship. Unfortunately, things are rarely what they seem, especially from first meetings. One person may feel that the others desire to split the bill at a restaurant reveals they are cheap. But maybe the other person on the date has always believed that sharing costs is a sign of fairness and respect, especially when two parties barely know each other. New information for readers: According to a study by University of Texas researchers, 40 to 50 per cent of couples get back together after a breakup. The research reveals the reason is simple and practical: Singles are revisiting former relationships due to their fear of rejection. Yet these fears are the reason many people lose out due to wrong judgments. Instead, the research shows that taking time to hear and discuss ideas with a person, rather than just assess them, is the route to greater comfort when connecting with someone new. Dr. Sarah Hill, an award-winning research psychologist and professor specializing in the field of sex and dating, recommends that individuals, rather than settling, should consider broadening their dating horizons, including exploring age-gap relationships. Similarly, a recent survey conducted by Cougar Life a dating app for mature daters stated that dating elderly women is an entry into a deeply mature dating community. The survey also reveals that young men can fall in love with mature women. Also revealed, is that 74 per cent of men and 80 per cent of women members of this app are aligned regarding sexual experience and stamina as a perceived benefit of dating someone 10 or more years apart. In addition, both men (95 per cent) and women (98 per cent) agree an older woman can be as sexy or desirable to a man as a younger woman. Readers Commentary My forthcoming comments are based on Ontario, Canada laws, while U.S. laws can be significantly different. Should the woman offered a pre-nuptial agreement marry the guy, or run like hell? A pre-nup does NOT dictate how finances are controlled AFTER marriage. Its primary purpose is to document what each party is bringing INTO the marriage. After marriage, whatevers accumulated, regardless of who pays, is deemed family property, so it gets split. What each brings in, each gets to keep upon leaving. Thats why the letter-writers cousin needs a lawyer familiar with marital and divorce matters within her legal jurisdiction. Ive found that pre-nuptial agreements are very common for second marriages or where one or both have established significant finances prior to marriage. It protects BOTH parties. Note: It must be a document drawn up by a knowledgeable lawyer. But, know that laws can change to make some clauses, or even the entire agreement, become void. Ellies tip of the day: Do NOT list your requirements for the perfect mate. Instead, be the best partner you can be and work at just loving each other. Ellie Tesher and Lisi Tesher are advice columnists for the Star and based in Toronto. Send your relationship questions via email: ellie@thestar.ca or lisi@thestar.ca. William Ssesanga arrived in August, a refugee from a country where being gay can bring you the death penalty. In Toronto, in all of Canada, he knew no one. Someone at the shelter where he was staying told him about Among Friends, a free weekly program where Ssesanga was told he could learn a lot. It was true, he said, as chairs were stacked at AccessPoint on Danforth after a group of African LGBTQ+ asylum seekers Ssesanga joined each Thursday finished plates of red chicken curry and rice, received some warmer coats and absorbed a lecture on dressing for the Canadian winter. The first day I came here, I felt like, Youre home, he said. In Uganda, Ssensanga added, youre not free at all, but here, I can breathe. William Ssesanga participates in Among Friends, which is a weekly drop-in program for recently arrived LGBTQ+ newcomers from African countries where LGBTQ+ people have been persecuted. The program, run by Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services, is most often at AccessPoint on Danforth in Scarborough's Oakridge neighbourhood but also meets once a month in the Jane-Finch area. | Dan Pearce/Metroland Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services has hosted Among Friends since 2007. But this spring, organizers noticed a change. What were 20 or 30 clients a week swelled by summer to more than 100, and the program had only so much space or food available. City of Toronto shelters were then turning away refugee claimants, many of whom, according to Access Alliance, were fleeing state-sponsored homophobia and persecution in African countries, particularly Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria. The agencys posts on X (formerly Twitter) in September warned supplies and staff were stretched dangerously thin. How do we cope? An urgent plea for donations on CanadaHelps.org said Among Friends was not sustainable without additional help. On a Thursday about a month later, however, the agencys community room in Scarboroughs Oakridge neighbourhood fills its seats but limits attendance to 66, while others join on Zoom as Pallavi Suresan, a community health worker, does their presentation on coping with the cold. Many refugees who listened to Suresan explain what windburn and frostbite are struggling to get a work permit, see a doctor or maintain their mental health. Large numbers of them have been arrested, attacked by mobs, or tortured, only to come to a new country where their basic needs arent met, Suresan said. If theyre lucky, theyre (sleeping) on the floor at a drop-in. If theyre unlucky, theyre on the street. Sometimes its just about listening and letting them know they arent alone. People at Among Friends for some, the only place where they can be who they are support each other and have so much inner strength, said Suresan. These are real human beings, literally here because they were running for their lives. If they were home, theyd be killed. Marvin Kintu, who arrived from Uganda five months ago, is a program volunteer and set up the evenings Zoom meeting. Among Friends, Kintu said, is where he makes friends and learns about Canadas history and culture. This place has helped me evolve. Other volunteers registered new participants or cooked and distributed the meal. Abbuddul Musoke participates in the Among Friends which is a weekly drop-in program for recently arrived LGBTQ+ newcomers from African countries where LGBTQ+ people have been persecuted.| Dan Pearce/Metroland For Abbuddul Musoke, also from Uganda, the most important thing the program does is help refugees overcome their feelings of emotional pressure and stress. Back home, said Musoke, he was disowned by his family. Even your friends: they mock you because you are gay, he said. You cant go to the police. The police are hunting for you. Musoke has short-term and long-term goals for after he gets his work permit: hell be a security guard first, then work in care services, then nursing. Ssesanga wants to work in the health and fitness sector. I have a lot of ideas, he said. There are many things I want to do. Pressure on Among Friends, which also meets once a month in Access Alliances centre at 761 Jane St., eased after the program received $10,000 last month from the United Way Greater Torontos African Resettlement Emergency Fund. Jasmine Thibault, the agencys community programs director, said Among Friends is still looking for more funds, as well as donated clothing and other items. Some non-profits in the downtown core, such as The 519 on Church Street, have similar programs for LGBTQ+ refugees, but Access Alliance is unique in the citys outskirts, Thibault said. That definitely serves a need. A pair of Milton men have been charged by Toronto police in connection with an alleged home renovation scam investigation. Between June and October, police allege two men went door-to-door speaking with homeowners about exterior home renovations using the company name Town and Country Paving. Police allege the two men would falsely advise homeowners of issues with their property and then request a deposit for the renovations. The suspects would then refuse to complete the job unless additional payments were made and would leave jobs unfinished and properties damaged, claim police. Two men from Milton have been charged with two counts of fraud over $5,000 and one count each of mischief/damage to property not exceeding $5,000, mischief over $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000. They both appeared in a Toronto bail court on Oct. 6. Investigators believe that there are more victims. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-2204. Toronto police are asking for the publics help in locating an elderly woman who was last seen six months ago. Veronica, 84, was last spotted in the Gerrard Street East and University Avenue area in April, say Toronto police. She is five-foot with a thin build, short grey and black hair and brown eyes and is known to wear a head scarf, police say. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1400. The Toronto Police Service is asking the public for help in locating a man reported missing in Toronto. Jason, 52, was last seen on Sunday, Oct. 8 in the area of Bayview Avenue and York Mills Road, police said in a media release. Police described him as five-foot-11, weighing 225 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-3200. Crime Stoppers can also be reached to leave information anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at 222tips.com. Think Budgie Died of Shock As Jets Broke Sound Barrier, the Toronto Star headed a front-page story Jan. 11, 1954 about the demise of the beloved pet of the Brett family, who lived on North Yorks Sunbeam Avenue near Downsview Airport, the jets base. The budgie was playing normally when suddenly there was a loud noise and it felt like something hitting the house. We ran outside to see if it was a car. When we returned the budgie was upside down in its cage, dead, probably from the shock, owner Lindy Brett told the paper. By then, Downsview Airport had undergone many role changes since its opening as a general airfield in 1929, one of many in North York. It was located next to a de Havilland Canada aircraft manufacturing plant, opened the previous year, which used the airfield as a test site. It morphed into a Royal Canadian Air Force station in the Second World War. In 1947, the Department of National Defence bought surrounding land to expand the airfield into a Royal Canadian Air Force base. At the time, the area was still countryside. In 1953, the RCAF set up storage and repair facilities there for all eastern Canada. The runways were lengthened to accommodate all types and sizes of aircraft, and de Havilland moved into a new building south of its earlier site. Because the runway patterns appeared identical from the air to Malton Airport's (later part of Pearson International) a few miles west, pilots sometimes landed in the wrong place! During the 1950s and 1960s, there was a housing boom, encouraged by North Yorks Council, close to the base too close, critics said. Housing and jets dont mix, the Toronto Star wrote in a March 22, 1968 editorial. In 1984, the airfield hosted a visit by Pope John Paul II. Operations ceased in 1996. Ownership of the property was retained by the federal governments Canada Lands Company. It and Northcrest Developments plan to repurpose it to highrise apartments and commerce and have started with construction of a movie production facility with eight sound stages replacing hangars. Susan Goldenberg is a director and membership chair of the North York Historical Society, which preserves North York's heritage. The author of nine books, her latest being Deadly Triangle: The Famous Architect, His Wife, Their Chauffeur, and Murder Most Foul, she has won both a Canadian Author's Award and a Canadian Business Press Editors' Award. Cuba is one of the most myteristic countries in the world, proud to be the pearl of the Caribbean Sea. This place has architecture from the 1500s, long green beaches and many other natural beauties. Tourists feel as if they have returned to the past when passing through colorful ancient towns and riding on classic cars from the 50s and 60s of the last century. People in Cuba are also ranked among the friendliest people in the world. Just those reasons alone make Cuba truly a destination you must visit once in your life. (TRAVPR.COM) VIETNAM - October 19th, 2023 - The relationship between Vietnam and Cuba was formed on the basis of shared revolutionary ideals and the same goal of fighting for national reunification and building socialism. For more than 60 years, the Vietnam - Cuba friendship has been a beautiful symbol of international solidarity. President Fidel Castro's famous quote: "For Vietnam, we are willing to devote our blood" became an imperative to every Cuban and melted the heart of every Vietnamese. Vietnamese people have heard about Cuba for a long time thanks to the close and strong relationship between the two countries, but opportunities to visit Cuba are still limited. Therefore, the need to visit the island nation of Cuba among Vietnamese people is increasing, especially those who want to "return to the past" to enjoy a gentle and peaceful space but full of laughter. It is a fact that there is no unit or organization in Vietnam that organizes a specialized Cuba Tour to satisfy the need to learn about this wonderful country. Realizing that, Nadova Travel has surveyed and built a Cuba Tour program for Vietnamese people living in the country and abroad. This is a practical way to strengthen the relationship between Vietnam and Cuba that our ancestors have built up to now. "This is a tour program specially designed for customers who want to explore Cuba to the fullest. Nadova Travel is the first and only unit in Vietnam to organize an independent Cuba Tour for Vietnamese people around the world to meet the increasing demand in recent years."Said Mr. Nam Thach Quang - Vice Director of Nadova Travel There are 2 forms customers can register Tour with Nadova Travel Package 1: Cuba Full Package Tour, starts and ends in Vietnam + Group size of 10 people or more. + Duration is 11 days and 10 nights (Including round-trip flight time from Vietnam to Cuba and time to visit Cuba) + Price 105,000,000 VND (around $4468) Package 2: Cuba Landtour, starts and ends in Havana + Group size of 06 people or more. + Duration is 08 days and 07 nights (Including round-trip flight time from Vietnam to Cuba and time to visit Cuba) + Price $2000 The Tour Program has many interesting tourist places in Cuba. Havana Havana is the capital of Cuba, the heart and soul of this beautiful island nation. If tourists want to explore all the beauty of Havana, they can go to the Elcapitolio National Assembly Building, La Plaza de la Revolucion, Havana Opera House,... Vinales (Pinal del Rio) Vinales is where premium cigars are grown and produced, considered a symbol of Cuba. The vernacular architecture of farms and villages illustrates the cultural development of the Caribbean islands and of Cuba. Varadero Varadero is considered a paradise with a length of about 30km, including 22km of beaches. In addition, the climate here is pleasant all year round. In 2019 this beach was ranked as the second most beautiful beach in the World. Trinidad Trinidad is one of the ancient cities recognized by UNESCO as a World cultural heritage site in 1988. This symphony from the past contains history, beauty and culture, creating a tourist destination. unforgettable calendar. Cienfuegos Cienfuegos is a picturesque coastal city with a laid-back charm known as Cuba's Pearl of the South. The city of Cienfuegos was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2005. Santa Clara Santa Clara is the nation's fifth largest city and a city that has played an important role in the country's history since its founding in 1689. Life in Santa Clara is bustling and vibrant, completely different from the rest of the world. the name "revolutionary city". ### KYODO NEWS - Oct 20, 2023 - 19:10 | World, All The Chinese government said Friday it will impose export controls in December on some types of graphite, a material used to produce lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, among other items, to protect its "national security and interests." China is the world's largest producer and exporter of graphite. Japan largely depends on imports of the material from China, according to a Japanese government source. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said at a Tokyo press conference Friday that Japan will "appropriately deal with" China's fresh export controls based on international rules after confirming with Beijing its intention and policy to implement the steps. The announcement, based on a law prohibiting the shipment of advanced technologies and products that could be diverted to military use, followed the United States' move earlier this week to tighten controls on cutting-edge semiconductor exports to China. The Commerce Ministry said the measure effective from Dec. 1 does not target any specific country or region and exports that comply with relevant regulations will be permitted. In 2022, China produced an estimated 65 percent of the world's natural graphite, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. On Aug. 1, Beijing introduced export restrictions on items related to two rare earth metals used for chip production, namely gallium and germanium, citing the need to safeguard national security. China holds a large share of the two metals available on the global market. Related coverage: U.S. says China set to have over 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030 Japan PM Kishida seeks dialogue with China on opposing nuclear weapons use Japan's trade deficit in fiscal 1st half falls 75% to 2.72 trillion yen KYODO NEWS - Oct 20, 2023 - 12:31 | World, All President Joe Biden on Thursday made a direct appeal to the nation to continue supporting Israel and Ukraine, saying it is essential for U.S. national security and global stability that they emerge victorious from their respective conflicts. In a rare prime-time speech from the Oval Office, Biden said he will send an urgent budget request to Congress on Friday for billions of dollars in military assistance for the two countries. His nationally televised remarks came a day after his talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv. While some U.S. lawmakers are opposed to spending more taxpayers' money on supporting Ukraine's fight against Russia, fears are growing that the war between Israel and Hamas could turn into a wider regional conflict. Biden said the Hamas militant group and Russian President Vladimir Putin pose "different threats, but they share this in common: They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy." Biden tried to explain in detail why the two wars that are taking place far away from the United States matter. "History has taught us that when terrorists don't pay a price for their terror, when dictators don't pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction," he said. "They keep going. And the cost and the threats to America and the world keep rising." He said the envisaged budget, which is reportedly expected to total about $100 billion, will be a "smart investment that's going to pay dividends for American security for generations...help us build a world that is safer, more peaceful and more prosperous for our children and grandchildren." In addition to $60 billion for Ukraine and $14 billion for Israel, U.S. media reported that the proposed budget includes $7 billion for security cooperation related to Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region, where China is increasing its military activity. It remains unclear whether the request will secure smooth congressional approval, given that the House of Representatives remains without a speaker due to divisions among the Republican majority. "I know we have our divisions at home. We have to get past them. We can't let petty, partisan, angry politics get in the way of our responsibilities as a great nation," Biden said. "We cannot and will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win. I refuse to let that happen." A presidential speech from the Oval Office at the White House traditionally addresses only matters of great importance. Since taking office in January 2021, Biden has addressed the nation from the president's private office only once before, in June this year after Congress passed legislation at the last minute to avert a debt default. Before Thursday's speech, Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by phone and discussed Kyiv's ongoing fight against Russia's aggression, according to the White House. Biden disclosed he has also spoken with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, saying he reiterated Washington's commitment to the Palestinian people's right to dignity and to self-determination during their conversation. His high-stakes Middle East trip was upended by a deadly explosion at a hospital in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday and the subsequent cancellation of his planned summit with Abbas and other Arab leaders. After holding talks with Netanyahu and Israel's war cabinet on Wednesday, Biden said he had agreed with the Jewish state and Egypt to deliver humanitarian assistance to Gaza. While reaffirming his administration's staunch support for Israel, Biden announced $100 million in new aid for the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, stressing that the vast majority of them are not associated with Hamas, which carried out a surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7. The attack led to the rapidly intensifying war between Israel and the militant group that rules Gaza. Related coverage: Biden vows permanent support for Israel, humanitarian aid for Gaza Xi, Putin affirm unity against "threats," talk Ukraine, Middle East U.S. says China set to have over 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030 Hi, It should be relatively easy to find horse riding activities (and horse pulled wagon rides etc.) in practically all these areas, boat trips in the Danube Delta and Danube Gorges, farm visits in all areas (but preferably do them in Maramures or Bucovina). For traditional crafts and cooking experiences mostly likely you'll need some sort of custom tour (or to stumble upon an event), because these are usually only occasional activities. All of the above are ran by local people/small businesses but yes, they're usually booked through international sites or larger resellers. If you don't want to that and can't find the respective businesses own sites, you'll probably have to use a guide or ask your accomodation providers. The Prime Minister is due to travel to London later this month to sign on the dotted line for the restructuring of the Atlantic LNG facility in Point Fortin. Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germanys largest German opposition party, the Christian-Democratic Union, criticized Chancellor Olaf Scholz for his ongoing stance against sending Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine. The politician spoke in the Bundestag on Thursday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. According to Merz, "it would be good if the Chancellor explained to the public in an address why he still stands, apparently contrary to the wish of the ruling coalition factions, against the provision of the Taurus cruise missiles to the Ukrainian army." Such supplies, Merz stressed, would be timely against the background of the U.S. government having already sent similar ATACMS missiles. It should be noted that as the politician was speaking, Olaf Scholz, who was at the government section of the Bundestag, apparently uttered No" to these comments. In the speech, which followed the Chancellor's address, Merz noted that "Israel's Defense and Victory of Ukraine" were in line with Germanys national interests the common European interests. Putin expects that we will be become tired and negligent in our support to Ukraine. He bets on seeing democracies and the West in general eventually becoming weaker than his autocratic, imperial government system. The European Council should send a very clear and unambiguous signal that Putin should not harbor such hopes, Merz said. Read also: Germany seeks to accelerate integration of Ukrainians into labor market He also noted that no matter how different wars in Ukraine and the Middle East might be, they have one thing in common: Russian state-level terror against Ukraine and Hamas Islamist terror against Israel threaten both countries, as well as Germany's security and peaceful life in Germany and in Europe. Therefore, the outcome of these wars will be of great importance not only for Ukraine and Israel, but also for Europe in general. Read also: Zaluzhnyi shares video of ATACMS being launched in Ukraine In his speech, Scholz spoke about the need to continue supporting Ukraine both financially and in terms of arms supplies mentioning Germany's preparation of a winter package that includes air defense capabilities. Three Su-30SM combat aircraft and two Su-24MR reconnaissance aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces remain on the territory of Belarus. Lieutenant General Serhiy Nayev, Commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said this in an interview with Ukrinform, answering the question of how many Russian aircraft are on the territory of Belarus. "In early August of this year, most of the airplanes and all the helicopters were relocated to Russian airfields. As of today, three combat aircraft (Su-30SM) and two reconnaissance aircraft (Su-24MR) remain in Belarus, which are involved in the tasks of the Unified Regional Air Defense System," Nayev said. As reported, as of May of this year, 13 airplanes and 12 helicopters of Russian Aerospace Forces remained at the airfields in Belarus. By Takuya Karube, KYODO NEWS - Oct 20, 2023 - 18:57 | All, World China will likely have more than 1,000 operational nuclear warheads by 2030 as the country rapidly modernizes and diversifies its military capabilities, the U.S. Defense Department said Thursday. In an annual report on China's military power, the department estimated that the number was already above 500 in May, noting that the pace is on track to exceed earlier projections. A senior U.S. defense official said the acceleration "raises a lot of concerns" and that the United States wants China to be more transparent about its nuclear buildup and to show greater willingness to discuss risk reduction issues with Washington. Last year, the Pentagon projected that China's stockpile of warheads had topped 400 and estimated that by 2030, it would have about 1,000 operational nuclear warheads, most of which would be fielded on systems capable of ranging the continental United States. "What they're doing now, if you compare it to what they were doing about a decade ago, it really far exceeds that in terms of scale and complexity," the official said. "They're expanding and investing in their land-, sea- and air-based nuclear delivery platforms, as well as the infrastructure that's required to support this." The report warned that last year China seems to have finished building three new solid-fuel silo fields of intercontinental ballistic missiles, which can be loaded with nuclear warheads. It said the fields can probably house at least 300 ICBM silos. Still, if compared with the United States and Russia, which possess nearly 90 percent of the world's active warheads, China's estimated stockpile is far smaller. China rejected the report, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning saying at a press conference Friday in Beijing that it is "filled with prejudice and distorts facts" as well as "spreads the China threat theory." Beijing "firmly pursues a nuclear strategy of self-defense," she said, adding, "No country will be under the threat of China's nuclear weapons as long as they pose no threat to China." The number of nuclear weapons held by the United States and Russia fell significantly in the 1990s following the end of the Cold War. But each has about 1,600 nuclear warheads deployed, meaning that they are already on ballistic missiles or at bomber bases, according to the latest data compiled by the Federation of American Scientists. The United States and Russia have more warheads in storage. The United States has said that China, besides strengthening its nuclear forces, is making advances in the development of long-range missiles and in a number of new domains such as outer space and cyberspace, as it ramps up efforts to meet President Xi Jinping's vow to have a "world-class" military by 2049. Among other new developments, this year's report to Congress highlighted the Chinese army's increased "coercive and risky" operational activities against the United States and its allies in the Indo-Pacific. It said there were over 180 instances of dangerous air intercepts by the People's Liberation Army against the United States in the region between the fall of 2021 and fall 2023. The number counted in the past two years is more than the total in the previous decade, according to the department. Over the same period, there were about 100 instances of such actions taken by the PLA against U.S. allies and partners, it said. The official, who briefed the media on the report on condition of anonymity, did not disclose the breakdown of numbers by country. "The PLA's behavior contravenes flight safety protocols and international maritime rules of the road, and increases the risk of a major accident, incident, or crisis, including the potential for loss of life," it said. The report, mainly covering developments involving China in 2022, said the PLA notably increased "provocative and destabilizing" actions in and around the Taiwan Strait. The Pentagon said it included in the review for the first time China's potential use of civilian roll-on, roll-off ships in a Taiwan invasion. China regards the self-ruled democratic island as part of its territory, to be brought under its control by force if necessary. The United States has identified China as its sole competitor that has both the intent and capacity to reshape the current international order, and expressed worries about Beijing's deepening ties with Moscow. China has recognized its partnership with Russia as integral to achieving its goal of emerging as a great power, the report said, adding that Beijing "almost certainly is learning lessons from the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine." Although the United States and China have resumed talks at the level of senior officials in recent months, tensions between them stemming from geopolitical rivalry will not likely fade away. High-level military communication channels between them remain shut following a visit in August last year by then U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan. "The PLA's refusal to engage in military-to-military communications with the United States...raises the risk of an operational incident or miscalculation spiraling into crisis or conflict," the report said. Related coverage: Japan suspects China may have conducted marine survey near Senkakus U.S. expands controls on advanced semiconductor exports to China South Korea proposes top diplomat talks with Japan, China in late November Croatia has handed over to Ukraine all of its Mi-8 helicopters, which was confirmed by the U.S. and Croatian defense chiefs. Thats according to a transcript of the relevant meeting, posted by the Pentagon, Ukrinform reports. During the meeting of Croatia's Defense Minister Mario Banozic and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, the transfer of Croatian Mi-8 helicopters to Ukraine was reported. Austin expressed his gratitude for Croatia for their support of Ukraine and emphasized the importance of this contribution. He noted that these donations included all of Croatias Mi-8 helicopters and other military equipment. The Defense Secretary also praised Croatias progress over the past 30 years, as the country moved from the ravages of 1990s to becoming a fully integrated member of NATO and the European Union. He noted the importance of hard work and sound policy that helped the nation make that progress. Minister Banozic lauded Austins personal leadership, most visible in joint efforts to assist Ukraine. As Ukrinform reported earlier, Croatia seeks to assist Ukraine in demining efforts. Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal and Federal Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz will participate in the 6th German-Ukrainian Business Forum, taking place in Berlin on October 24, 2023. The relevant statement was made by Spokesperson for Germanys Federal Government Steffen Hebestreit at a briefing, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. According to Hebestreit, the Prime Minister of Ukraine and the Federal Chancellor of Germany will deliver their speeches at the German-Ukrainian Business Forum, which is expected to be held under the slogan Integrate Ukraine: Recovery, Smart Growth and Security. The event will be attended by government officials of the two countries and the representatives of important business entities. As part of the Forum, the Ministerial Dialogue will be held with the participation of Vice Chancellor of Germany, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Robert Habeck and First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yuliia Svyrydenko. The session dedicated to the German-Ukrainian business relations and the strategy of deepening cooperation and smart growth will be attended by the top managers of Ukraines DTEK and Kovalska Group, and German financial and industrial companies. The modern challenges and ways to solve them in terms of reconstruction and restoration will be discussed by Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine, Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development Oleksandr Kubrakov and Germanys State Secretary for Economic Cooperation and Development Jochen Flasbarth, as well as Naftogaz NJSC CEO Oleksiy Chernyshov and others. Ukrainian Strategic Industries Minister Oleksandr Kamyshin, Head of the Defense Committee at the German Bundestag Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, and the top managers of a number of companies, namely Energoatom National Nuclear Energy Generating Company of Ukraine, will speak of Ukraines security strategy and economic cooperation amid the war. A reminder that Ukraine and Germany have been holding joint business forums since 2015. facebook like button Tweet tweet button for twitter Published October 20, 2023 CAPTION: Dr. Nicholas Bratcher (left), Director of the School of Visual and Performing Arts, and Dr. Carlton Kilpatrick (right), Assistant Professor of Music have been selected to present at the Louisiana Music Educators Association Conference in Baton Rouge. MONROE, LA Director of the ULM School of Visual and Performing Arts Dr. Nicholas Bratcher and Assistant Professor of Music Dr. Carlton Kilpatrick have been selected to present at the Louisiana Music Educators Association (LMEA) Conference from November 17-20, 2023, in Baton Rouge. LMEA is the state music education conference for K-12 music educators, as well as those who teach in higher education. Each November, music teachers from across the state gather in Baton Rouge, LA for a four-day conference of professional development, interactive sessions, and concert performances. The All-State ensembles also perform during this conference and feature some of the best secondary school music students in the state. Bratcher will be presenting his clinic entitled: "For the Culture - Diverse and Inclusive Concert Programming for Secondary Bands". The clinic is geared towards middle, high school, and college band directors, as well as pre-service instrumental teachers. Dr. Bratcher recently began his new position as Director of the School of Visual and Performing Arts, as well as Director of Bands and Professor of Music at ULM in June of 2023. This will mark the second time that Bratcher has presented at LMEA (previously in 2016). "This is a wonderful opportunity for ULM and a way to provide pedagogical development to the music educators that we serve," said Bratcher. Dr. Bratcher champions wind band music from underrepresented minority composers and has presented this clinic across the United States at various conferences. "I'm excited to return to Baton Rouge as a new member of this community and share my experiences with my colleagues in the profession." Kilpatrick will be presenting two clinics at this year's LMEA conference. His first clinic is entitled: "The Musical Banquet - Intentional Repertoire Selection for Every Choir." This session is geared towards choir directors of all levels. Kilpatrick will also present this same session at the 2024 Florida Music Educators Association conference in Tampa in January. His second session, geared for pre-service teachers, is entitled: "First Day to First Day - Making the Journey from Intern to Teacher." Dr. Kilpatrick is an assistant professor of music at ULM and teaches courses in choral music education. He also serves as graduate coordinator for the master's in music education degree. "Presenting at LMEA is an opportunity to share best practices and research-based pedagogy with classroom music teachers from all over Louisiana, just as we do with our students at ULM," said Kilpatrick. "I am excited for another opportunity to provide ideas and activities that music educators of all levels can incorporate in their classrooms immediately." KYODO NEWS - Oct 20, 2023 - 19:54 | All, Japan Toyota Motor Corp. said Friday it will resume operations at four domestic factories next Monday following an ease in the supply crunch caused by an explosion at a supplier's factory. The automaker said it will restart five production lines at the four factories in northeastern and central Japan as it has now secured enough parts following the accident, which resulted in production being halted at many of its 14 assembly plants in the country. The remaining eight production lines at six factories will remain shut, with Toyota saying it will decide on Monday afternoon when operations at these plants will resume. The latest disruption stems from an accident that occurred on Monday at a factory belonging to Chuo Spring Co. in the city of Toyota, Aichi Prefecture. A shortage in springs used for suspensions and other car parts disrupted production of the automaker's flagship cars, which include the RAV4 and Land Cruiser sport utility vehicles. The stoppage is the latest in a series of production problems that the automaker has experienced in recent years, including a glitch in its part ordering system in August. Related coverage: Toyota's partial production halt in Japan to continue through weekend Toyota to extend partial production halt after explosion at supplier plant KYODO NEWS - Oct 20, 2023 - 14:04 | All, Japan, World Japan's immigration agency said Friday that it will begin a program in April to help foreigners fleeing conflict zones such as war-hit Ukraine to adjust to living in Japan. Under revisions to the immigration law, individuals from conflict zones whose circumstances do not qualify them for refugee status will be eligible for the six-month or one-year program to study Japanese and learn about the country's laws and customs. The scheme also includes financial aid. The scheme was designed mainly to help Ukrainian evacuees living in Japan, whose numbers top 2,500. The current immigration law makes living support programs available for people granted refugee status. Japan is a signatory to the U.N. convention on refugees, but is known for its stringent refugee policy limiting the number it accepts. The upcoming support scheme is part of a new system that the Immigration Services Agency of Japan will begin on Dec. 1 to grant evacuees from Ukraine and similar displaced persons long-term resident status with a working visa under the revised immigration law. The agency will also continue providing up to two years of financial support to cover the living expenses to Ukrainian evacuees who do not have anyone to sponsor them. Related coverage: Ukraine's Bucha seeks ties with Hiroshima after Russian massacre Ukraine evacuees eligible for Japan long-term residency from Dec. 1 ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Oct, 2023) Turkish Ambassador Mehmet Pacaci said on Friday that Turkish investors have shown keen interest in making substantial investments in Pakistan, especially in mining, equipment manufacturing, paper products, pharmaceutical sector and special economic zones. Mr. Mehmet Pacaci, the Ambassador of Turkiye said this in a meeting with Tahir Javed, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister/Minister of State on investment at the board of Investment (BOI), said a press release issued here. During their talks, both parties emphasized the deep religious, cultural, political, economic and social ties between Pakistan and Turkey. The meeting had fruitful discussions which highlighted the enduring and multifaceted relations that Pakistan and Turkey have enjoyed for a long time. Ambassador Pacaci expressed Turkiye's keen interest in making substantial investments in Pakistan, particularly focusing on mining, appliance manufacturing, paper products, the pharmaceutical sector and the clusters of Special Economic Zones. He emphasized the commitment of leading Turkish companies, including Lemak, Dolcer, Turkish Contractors Association, Arcelik, Zorlo, Alberic, and Pak Yetiram, which have already invested in Pakistan. The Ambassador reaffirmed Turkiye's readiness for joint ventures in various investment sectors, citing Pakistan's vast potential in these areas. Ambassador Pacaci highlighted the extensive research conducted on Pakistan's investment landscape and expressed Turkiye's readiness to invest significantly. He also mentioned the 46 Turkish contracting companies keen on investing in Pakistan, expressing a desire to increase their share in infrastructure investments and emphasising the potential for collaboration in the construction sector. He also showed his keenness for road shows in three major cities of Turkiye. Tahir Javed, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister/Minister of State on investment, hoped to enhance the Turkiye and Pakistan economic and trade cooperation to strengthen the bilateral ties. SAPM/MoS echoed these sentiments, expressing Pakistan's openness to Turkish investment. He emphasized the future potential areas for strengthening bilateral relations, particularly in business and investment. He welcomed Turkiye's interest in investing and encouraged increased collaboration in various sectors, including infrastructure and construction, to bolster economic cooperation between the two nations. However, he said that we need your help to bring new investments in the shape of new companies from Turkiye. The Minister ensured that as you have already made your considerations in SIFC, in this regard there will be full support from the Ministers office. Both parties expressed their eagerness to further engage in all areas of mutual interest, fostering a convergence of perspectives on regional and global concerns. They expressed satisfaction with the current state of affairs and looked forward to deepening their collaboration in the future. In closing, Ambassador Pacaci extended a warm invitation to SAPM/MOS to collaborate on Special Economic Zones, further enhancing the economic ties between the two nations. (@FahadShabbir) Geneva, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Oct, 2023) The first aid delivery into the besieged Gaza Strip via the Rafah border crossing with Egypt should take place "in the next day or so", the United Nations said Friday. "We are in deep and advanced negotiations with all relevant sides to ensure that an aid operation in Gaza starts as quickly as possible... a first delivery is due to start in the next day or so," the UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said, quoted by his spokesman Jens Laerke in Geneva. Laerke told reporters: "I do not have an exact time for when these movements will take place, of course, with the hope that they can begin as soon as possible, in a way that is safe, secure and hopefully sustained. "We need to have the mechanism in place whereby this can be driven into southern Gaza. That does not take away from our call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire." Desperately needed international aid piled up Friday in Egypt near Gaza, with Palestinians in dire need of food and water after relentless bombing by Israel, still reeling from the bloodiest attack in its history. The UN says more than one million of Gaza's 2.4 million people have been displaced and that the humanitarian situation is worsening by the day. Egyptian state-linked broadcaster Al Qahera news had said the Rafah crossing -- the only route into Gaza -- would open on Friday, but Cairo later said it needed more time to repair roads. (UroToday.com) The 2023 ESMO annual meeting included a session on optimizing overall survival in advanced renal cancer, featuring a presentation by Dr. Axel Bex discussing the role of localized therapies for metastatic RCC. The rationale for localized treatment in metastatic RCC is that in localized disease in which complete resection is achievable, there is a possibility of cure, an improvement in disease free survival, progression free survival, and overall survival, and a disease-free interval with delay or discontinuation of systemic therapy. Dr. Bex highlighted the following entities and nomenclature for local therapeutic options: When discussing oligometastasis, it is important that we are speaking the same language. Quantitative (number of metastases) and developmental (time) characteristics are most commonly used: Is the metastasis de novo? Is it synchronous or metachronous? Did it occur under treatment? Do two or more organ sites qualify for oligometastatic disease? As follows are the 5-year survival rates following complete resection of solitary or oligometastatic RCC: So, is cure with localized therapy alone a realistic goal? Dr. Bex used the example of an isolated lymph node metastasectomy. This data varies: in one cohort, after resection of lymph node metastases (1-3 lymph nodes), the median time to development of distant metastases was only 4.2 months. In another cohort of RCC patients with resection of an isolated lymph node, the median progression free survival was 19.5 months, 3-year CSS was 75.8%, and 5-year CSS was 73.6%. Dr. Bex notes that there is a retrospective bias associated with metastasectomy series as highlighted in the following figure: In a study from Dr. Bexs group, they assessed local treatment of recurrent RCC and the affect on survival across different groups using the RECUR multicenter European registry.1 Among 3,039 patients with localized RCC treated with curative intent, 505 presented with recurrence, including 176 with resectable disease. Among these patients, 97 underwent local treatment of recurrence and 79 no local treatment of recurrence. The median OS was 70.3 months (95% CI 58-82.6) versus 27.4 months (95% CI 23.6-31.15) in the local treatment of recurrence versus no-local treatment of recurrence group (p < 0.001). The local treatment of recurrence effect on survival was consistent across risk groups: OS hazard ratios for high, intermediate, and low risks were 0.36 (95% CI 0.2-0.64), 0.27 (95% CI 0.11-0.65), and 0.26 (95% CI 0.08-0.8), respectively: Unfortunately, we do not know what the true impact of metastasectomy is on survival, as we have no randomized controlled trials in metastatic RCC to answer this question. What we do know is that selection is key, and that there are many factors contributing to the outcome: performance, site-specific factors, and development over time. Furthermore, the recurrence free interval is a reflection of tumor biology ie. disease-free interval of > 2 years. As such, Dr. Bex notes that we can know the position of the metastasis, but not the momentum of the metastatic progression. Additionally, it is important to note that surgical metastasectomy comes at a price. In a study assessing in-hospital complications among 1,102 patients undergoing metastasectomy from 45,279 metastatic RCC patients in the National Inpatient Sample database (2000-2011), the major complication rate (Clavien III-IV) was 25.1%:2 Other local treatment modalities are being evaluated, including stereotactic body radiotherapy: There are several small single-arm trials investigating stereotactic body radiotherapy in oligoprogression, with median time to changing therapy ranging from 11.1-12.6 months. Also, trials are assessing stereotactic body radiotherapy in combination with immune checkpoint inhibition, including the RAPPORT phase 1/2 trial of 30 patients using stereotactic body radiotherapy to all metastases followed by 6 months of pembrolizumab. This combination has a 1-year OS rate of 90% and 2-year OS rate of 74%. It is important to note that the KEYNOTE-564 trial3 includes a small cohort of patients that are M1 resected to no evidence of disease who then received 1 year of adjuvant pembrolizumab. Among, these patients who received pembrolizumab, they did very well with a DFS HR of 0.28, 95% CI 0.12-0.66 compared to observation alone: Alternatively, in the real world setting, surveillance of metastases is frequent (32%) and a safe alternative to immediate systemic therapy, with a median time to therapy of 16 months. Ultimately, clinical trials and appropriate clinical trial design is key. Dr. Bex notes that the optimal trial of local therapy versus no local therapy of metastases would look as follows: Dr. Bex notes that indications for deferred cytoreductive nephrectomy should generally be discussed at multidisciplinary tumor boards. Several potential indications for deferred cytoreductive nephrectomy are as follows: The patient develops a durable complete/near complete response at metastatic sites and can be rendered disease free by removal of the primary tumor The patient has developed durable response or stable disease at metastatic sties, but the primary tumor is progressing locally Additional arguments for deferred cytoreductive nephrectomy may include: Complete pathological response in the primary tumor is rare and vital tumor may remain in patients with complete response at metastatic sites Removal of the primary tumor may abrogate rapidly metastasizing clones and potentially prolong survival Patients with complete response may potentially stop immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy after cytoreductive nephrectomy Currently, confirmation of pathological complete response of the primary tumor requires full histopathological examination of the specimen Two key trials of local therapy of the primary tumor and immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy incorporating deferred cytoreductive nephrectomy with a primary endpoint of OS include the NORDIC-SUN trial and the PROBE SWOG S1931 trial: Additionally, two trials assessing local therapy of the primary tumor and immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy with a primary endpoint of PFS include the SAMURAI trial and the CYTOSHRINK trial: Finally, Dr. Bex highlighted the randomized trial landscape for local treatment of metastatic RCC, with specific objectives to help categorize the trials: Dr. Bex concluded his presentation by discussing the role of localized therapies for metastatic RCC with the following take-home points: The role of localized therapy in metastatic RCC is ill-defined The evidence base has largely emerged from retrospective studies of metastasectomies using surgery by default but remains poor due to an absence of RCT data Prolonged disease-free intervals with delay or discontinuation of systemic therapy are more realistic objectives than cure High recurrence rates and surgical adverse events following metastasectomy are not inconsequential, thus minimally invasive approaches, such as stereotactic body radiotherapy are gaining ground Oligometastatic disease comprises different clinical presentations and dynamics that need to be recognized in the design of trials Randomized controlled trials for different clinical settings are ongoing to improve the evidence base Presented by: Axel Bex, MD, PhD, University College London, London, United Kingdom Written by: Zachary Klaassen, MD, MSc Urologic Oncologist, Associate Professor of Urology, Georgia Cancer Center, Wellstar MCG Health, @zklaassen_md on Twitter during the 2023 European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Annual Meeting, Madrid, Spain, Fri, Oct 20 Tues, Oct 24, 2023. References: (UroToday.com) The 2023 ESMO annual meeting included a session on prostate cancer, featuring a discussant presentation by Dr. Daniel Heinrich. For this discussant presentation, Dr. Heinrich discussed the abstract Refining risk stratification in patients undergoing radiotherapy and long-term ADT for high-risk/locally advanced prostate cancer: An individual patient data analysis of RCTs from the ICECaP consortium presented by Dr. Praful Ravi, and ENZA-p (ANZUP 1901): Enzalutamide and 177Lu-PSMA-617 in poor-risk mCRPC, a randomized, phase 2 trial presented by Dr. Louise Emmett. Dr. Heinrich started by highlighting that combination therapies, specifically the triplet therapy of ADT + darolutamide + docetaxel in the ARASENS trial1 have impressed us in the metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer disease space. Additionally, we have been impressed by combination therapies, specifically olaparib + abiraterone in the PROpel trial,2 for metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer. But, where might this treatment intensification end? Dr. Heinrich notes that with non-overlapping toxicities, even 5, 6, or 7 drug regimens may be feasible, but they definitely come at a cost of quality of life and in the typically elderly and comorbid prostate cancer population at non-neglectable risk of serious complications. Additionally, these patients represent an increased burden for healthcare systems, both financially and due to increased follow-up frequency and adverse event handling. With regards to the ICECaP study assessing risk stratification of patients undergoing radiotherapy + long term ADT for high risk/locally advanced prostate cancer, Dr. Heinrich notes that this study does assist us in ascertaining who may benefit from treatment intensification. This study found that the hazard ratio for MFS was 1.52 (95% CI 1.35-1.70) for Gleason 8, 1.32 (1.08-1.61) for PSA >= 20 ng/mL, 1.22 (1.08-1.39) for cT3/T4, and 1.78 (1.49-2.13) for cN1. Additionally, the 5-year MFS risk groups do stratify patients based on low, medium, and high risk for developing metastases: Both 5-year MFS and 5-year OS rates varied by risk groups, but most notably were worse for patients with cN1 disease: Based on the results from the ICECaP study, Dr. Heinrich offered the following conclusions and future perspectives: There is an incredible wealth of knowledge to be gleaned from individual patient data analyses The study provides a very easy way to assess stratification based on regularly collected and easily collectable baseline disease characteristics The N1 subgroup in this study, which seems to have the greatest potential benefit from treatment intensification, was defined based on conventional imaging and represents only 12% of the total population How would these numbers look like and would the results be impacted if all patients been staged with PSMA PET/CT and N+ status defined based on molecular imaging? Dr. Heinrich then discussed the ENZA-p trial, which included mCRPC patients without prior chemotherapy and those with >=2 high risk features for early enzalutamide failure. Patients were randomized (1:1) to either enzalutamide 160 mg daily (enzalutamide-alone) or enzalutamide 160 mg daily plus adaptive dosing LuPSMA 7.5 GBq on days 15 and 57, with 2 further doses of LuPSMA given if there was persistent PSMA-positive disease on interim 68Ga-PSMA PET (day 92) (enzalutamide + LuPSMA). Stratification was by study site, volume of disease, early docetaxel for hormone sensitive disease, and prior treatment with abiraterone. The trial design for ENZA-p is as follows: Of note, there were 11% of patients in the enzalutamide arm alone and 14% of patients in the enzalutamide + LuPSMA arm that had previously been treated with abiraterone: We know that previous trials have looked at new hormonal agent switches: The PROfound control arm 3 showed a response rate of 2.3% and rPFS of 3.55 months showed a response rate of 2.3% and rPFS of 3.55 months The CARD control arm 4 showed a response rate of 11.5% and PFS of 2.7 months showed a response rate of 11.5% and PFS of 2.7 months The PLATO trial (enzalutamide + abiraterone or placebo + abiraterone after progression on enzalutamide): showed a time to progression of 2.8 months in both arms Thus, new hormonal agent switch is not recommended and therefore not acceptable as a control arm treatment, but fortunately, few patients in ENZA-p had a hormonal switch, which is unlikely to affect the outcome. In ENZA-p, over a median follow up of 20 months (IQR 18-21), PSA-PFS was longer with enzalutamide + LuPSMA vs enzalutamide-alone (median 13 vs 7.8 months; HR 0.43, 95% CI 0.29-0.63, p<0.001): Symptomatic adverse events were reported in 33% (27/81) of patients assigned enzalutamide + LuPSMA vs 35% (28/79) enzalutamide-alone. As follows is a tornado plot summarizing the adverse events of interest: Dr. Heinrich offered the following conclusions and future perspectives based on data from the ENZA-p trial: The correct study design for a first-line mCRCP study is standard of care versus standard of care + intervention, in a well chosen study population Adaptive dosing is an important additional feature and any endpoints specific to this (ie. health economics or second PFS after a possible re-challenge with LuPSMA) will be very interesting to follow Enzalutamide + LuPSMA appears to be a feasible combination More is obviously better for some patients, but selection is the key But, all approved mCRPC treatment regimens are based on an OS advantage, thus this study needs longer follow-up for secondary endpoints Presented by: Daniel Heinrich, MD, Brumunddal, Norway Written by: Zachary Klaassen, MD, MSc Urologic Oncologist, Associate Professor of Urology, Georgia Cancer Center, Wellstar MCG Health, @zklaassen_md on Twitter during the 2023 European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Annual Meeting, Madrid, Spain, Fri, Oct 20 Tues, Oct 24, 2023. References: (UroToday.com) The 2023 ESMO annual meeting included a session on prostate cancer, featuring a discussant presentation by Dr. Shahneen Sandhu. For this discussant, Dr. Sandhu assessed the abstract Timing of Radiotherapy After Radical Prostatectomy: Final Results of RADICALS RT Randomized Controlled Trial by Dr. Noel Clarke, and abstract Interim Results from a Phase 1 Study of AMG 509 (xaluritamig), a STEAP1 x CD3 XmAb 2+1 Immune Therapy, in Patients with mCRPC by Dr. William Kelly. Based on the RADICALS-RT,1 GETUG-AFU 17,2 and RAVES trials,3 in addition to the ARTISTIC meta-analysis,4 we have high quality data to assess adjuvant versus early salvage radiotherapy for men with high risk disease after radical prostatectomy: From the ARTISTIC meta-analysis, there are no discernable differences in primary or secondary outcomes between adjuvant and salvage radiotherapy: As such, we are able to potentially mitigate morbidity with early salvage rather than adjuvant radiotherapy. Dr. Sandhu notes that perhaps we can personalize therapy based on imaging, specifically using PSMA PET to help tailor radiation fields when disease is detected. Additionally, the RTOG 0534/SPPORT trial was an international, multicenter randomized trial of 1,792 patients who previously underwent a radical prostatectomy and have evidence of residual disease (i.e. persistent PSA post-operatively) or a rising PSA of between 0.1 and 2.0 ng/ml.5 Patients who had previously underwent a lymphadenectomy were eligible, given that they had no clinical or pathologic evidence of nodal involvement. Patients were equally randomized into 1one of three arms: Group 1: Prostate-bed radiotherapy (64.8 70.2 Gy; 1.8 Gy/fraction) Group 2: Prostate-bed radiotherapy + short-term ADT (4-6 months) Group 3: Prostate-bed radiotherapy + short-term ADT + pelvic nodal radiotherapy The primary outcome was freedom from progression, defined as biochemical failure according to the Phoenix criteria (PSA 2 ng/mL over the nadir PSA), clinical failure (local, regional, or distant), or death from any cause. At a median follow-up of 8.2 years in survivors, the 5-year freed from progression rates were 70.9% (95% CI: 67.0 74.9) in group 1, 81.3% (78.0 84.6) in group 2, and 87.4% (84.7 90.2) in group 3: As expected, there was no difference in overall survival among these 3 arms in the SPPORT trial: Acute grade 2 or worse adverse events were significantly higher in group 3 (44%), followed by group 2 (36%) and group 1 (18%; p for all < 0.0001). However, late toxicity (>3 months after radiotherapy) did not differ significantly between the groups, except for later grade 2 or worse blood or bone marrow events in group 3 versus group 2 (p = 0.0060). With the increased utilization of molecular imaging (ie with 18F-fluciclovine and PSMA PET/CT) to guide treatment decision making and planning in the biochemical recurrent disease space, the EMPIRE-1 trial sought to evaluate whether 18F-fluciclovine improves cancer control compared to conventional imaging (bone scan + CT/MRI) alone for salvage post-prostatectomy radiotherapy [6]. This was a single center, open label, phase 2/3 trial of post-prostatectomy patients with a detectable post-operative PSA and negative conventional imaging. These patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to radiotherapy directed by conventional imaging alone or to conventional imaging plus 18F-fluciclovine-PET/CT. In the 18F-fluciclovine-PET/CT group, radiotherapy decisions were rigidly determined by PET findings, which were also used for target delineation. The primary study outcome was 3-year event-free survival, with events defined as biochemical or clinical recurrence or progression, or initiation of systemic therapy. Over a median follow-up of 3.52 years, the 3-year event-free survival was significantly improved in the 18F-fluciclovine arm: 75.5% versus 63.0% (difference 12.5; 95% CI: 4.320.8; p = 0.0028), which was confirmed on adjust analysis (HR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.06 3.93, p = 0.0327): The toxicity profile tended to favor those in the 18F-fluciclovine arm, although results were non-significantly different. Dr. Sandhu notes that there are several prospective trials that are incorporating PSMA PET scans: So, is there a subset of post-operative patients that may benefit from treatment intensification, including adjuvant radiotherapy? From the NCCN guidelines, Dr. Sandhu notes that ArteraAI Prostate Test (biochemical recurrence, distant metastasis, and prostate cancer specific mortality) and Decipher (distant metastasis) are risk stratification tools to prognosticate certain endpoints. Dr. Spratt and colleagues have previously demonstrated that a digital pathology-derived AI biomarker may be used to predict short-term ADT benefits for intermediate risk patients.7 Intermediate risk patients who were biomarker negative did not benefit from short-term ADT. Conversely, those with a positive biomarker status had significantly decreased distant metastases rates when short-term ADT was added to radiotherapy (HR: 0.33, p<0.001): At ASCO 2023, Dr. Andrew Armstrong presented results of a pooled analysis of multiple phase III NRG/RTOG trials aimed at developing and subsequently validating an AI-derived digital pathology-based biomarker to predict the benefit of long-term ADT addition to radiotherapy in men with localized, high-risk prostate cancer. The validation analysis in the NRG/RTOG 9202 cohort demonstrated that the ArteraAI Prostate Test biomarker was a significant predictor of the utility of long-term ADT use in this cohort (interaction p=0.04). As demonstrated below, patients in the biomarker negative group (n = 407) derived no benefit from long-term ADT use, compared to short-term ADT use (HR 1.06, 95% CI 0.61 1.84). Conversely, patients in the biomarker positive group had significant improvements in the distant metastasis rates with long-term ADT (HR 0.55, 95% CI 0.41 0.73). Accordingly, approximately 1/3 of men with high-risk prostate cancer could have safely avoided long-term ADT based on the results of this predictive biomarker analysis: Dr. Sandhu then highlighted the PROSTATE-IQ trial, which is using ArteraAI Prostate Test post-prostatectomy scores to tailor the intensity of androgen axis therapy: For the discussion between adjuvant or early salvage radiotherapy, Dr. Sandhu offered the following take home messages: Overall, there is no benefit from adjuvant radiotherapy compared with early salvage radiotherapy Early salvage radiotherapy spares the vast majority of patients from having radiotherapy The morbidity from early salvage radiotherapy is low PSMA PET can be used to define the extent of disease and potentially prognosticate and be used to tailor radiotherapy fields Potentially better molecular tools beyond clinicopathological features, such as ArteraAI Prostate Test or Decipher scores, could be integrated into prospective post-operative trials to better understand who needs treatment intensification and de-intensification Dr. Sandhu then discussed the interim results of xaluritamig in patients with mCRPC. She notes that STEAP1 is part of a family of metalloproteinases involved in iron and copper homeostasis. Additionally, it is a cell surface antigen that is highly expressed in prostate cancer and other cancers, playing a role in regulating cell proliferation and apoptosis, attenuating oxidative stress, and modeling the transferrin cycle. STEAP1 overexpression promotes tumor growth, with limited expression in normal tissue making it an attractive therapeutic target for antibody drug conjugates, CAR-T and BiTES. This was a phase 1 trial of mCRPC patients refractory to prior novel hormonal therapy and 12 taxane regimens, ECOG 01, and adequate organ function. Xaluritamig was administered as an IV weekly or every 2 weeks with various dose levels/schedules. The study objectives were to evaluate safety, tolerability, antitumor activity, pharmacokinetics, and determine the maximum tolerated dose and recommended phase 2 dose. The trial design is as follows: As of March 23, 2023, 97 patients in 15 dose levels received 1 dose of xaluritamig. The median age was 67 (range: 4086) years and 67 patients (69.1%) had received > three prior lines of therapy, with a median of four prior lines of therapy. The dose exploration with step-dosing and prophylactic regimen to determine the maximum tolerated dose is as follows: The maximum tolerated dose was identified as 1.5 mg IV weekly (3-step, D1 0.1 mg / D8 0.3 mg / D15 1.0 mg / D22+ 1.5 mg). PSA50 ( 50% PSA decline) responses occurred in 43 patients (49%) and PSA90 ( 90% PSA decline) in 24 patients (28%). PSA responses were more frequent at higher dose levels (DL7b15) than in lower dose levels (DL17a). Overall, RECIST responses included 16 (24%) confirmed partial responses and 32 (48%) with stable disease. At higher dose levels, 15 patients (41%) had confirmed partial responses, and 14 (38%) stable disease: Treatment emergent adverse events were reported in 100% of patients (grade 3, 76%), and 97% reported treatment-related adverse events (grade 3, 55%). Treatment-related adverse events leading to discontinuation occurred in 19% of patients.: The most common adverse events were cytokine release syndrome (72.2%), fatigue (52.6%), anemia (45.4%), pyrexia (40.2%), and myalgia (39.2%). Cytokine release syndrome was primarily grade 1 or 2, one event being grade 3 (no grade 4/5 cytokine release syndrome events): There were 19 patients from high dose cohorts (n = 52) that remained on treatment at data cutoff, and of those 13 patients remained on treatment for > 6 months. The median duration of response was 9.2 months (range: 1.9+ to 17.7+). Dr. Sandhu notes the following reasons why T-cell engagers are attractive in prostate cancer: Prostate cancer is a highly immune suppressive tumor, thus we will need novel strategies to engage the immune system There is an ease of off the shelf as opposed to CAR-Ts There is no need for chemotherapy preconditioning They engage all cytotoxic T cells, including CD8, CD4, NK cells, etc There is no need for co-stimulation They are independent of peptide MHC/TCR recognition They do not require high antigen expression for activity There is evidence of very robust single cell activity in the clinic, specifically for hematology malignancies Response often very rapid, with a median time to response of weeks However, there are several challenges with BiTEs in solid tumors: Dose dependent efficacy with a very narrow therapeutic index, which is dependent on tumor antigen specificity, thus the cleaner the better On target toxicity, target expression on normal tissue (ie. neurotoxicity) Off target toxicity, related to the mechanism of action and T cell activation, resulting in cytokine release syndrome and liver toxicity Cytokine release syndrome in response to BiTE is the result of T cell binding, engagement and is often seen in the first doses and can be mitigated with step up dosing Synapses between the BiTE and T cells are very large, which is good for T cell activation but could also lead to rapid T cell exhaustion Clinical aspects for the treating team and the patient, including resourcing and hospitalization Upskilling in terms of managing toxicity Despite these encouraging results presented, cautious optimism is needed: Dr. Sandhu concluded her discussant presentation of this abstract assessing xaluritamig in mCRPC with the following take-home points: Cancer immunotherapies have offered limited efficacy in treating mCRPC BiTEs are a novel class of immunotherapy that target both a specific cancer antigen and CD3 to enhance T cell anti-tumor activity Xaluritamig is the first clinical T-cell engager targeting STEAP1 The preliminary efficacy data is promising Many new BiTEs are in development for mCRPC and there is a need to understand how we position these agents in the treatment paradigm of mCRPC We need to improve the toxicity profile of these agents for ease of delivery, otherwise, we are unlikely to broadly have uptake in the community Peptide MHC-specific BiTE (ie. tebentafusp) will allow access to an enlarged target space and may activate T cells in a more physiological fashion The role of combinations with costimulatory signals, cytokines, and immune checkpoint inhibitors may increase the response rates and will need to be carefully interrogated given likely additional toxicity in elderly patients Presented by: Shahneen K. Sandhu, MD, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia Written by: Zachary Klaassen, MD, MSc Urologic Oncologist, Associate Professor of Urology, Georgia Cancer Center, Wellstar MCG Health, @zklaassen_md on Twitter during the 2023 European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Annual Meeting, Madrid, Spain, Fri, Oct 20 Tues, Oct 24, 2023. References: English Program, Pakistani Student Organization Hold Kick-Off for Common Reading Experience Fri, 10/20/2023 - 12:53pm | By: David Tisdale An opportunity for first-year students to engage in a focused learning community while also learning about other cultures was the goal of organizers for the Common Reading Experience Launch Party held earlier this month at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM). Hosted by the USM English Programs Basic Writing Program and the Pakistani Student Organization, the Common Reading Experiences goal is building rapport among participating students and establish a learning community built around a book read by all in the program. This years common read is the novel All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir, which follows the lives of two Pakistani American teens growing up in a small town in Californias Mojave Desert. Because the novel features Pakistani culture and deals with the experience of immigration, faculty affiliates of the Basic Writing Program teamed up with USM's Pakistani Student Organization for a reading kick-off event to get students excited about the novel and provide context for understanding the cross-cultural issues central to the narrative. Held in the lobby of the Liberal Arts Building and its Gonzales Auditorium, it featured Pakistani style cuisine, door prizes, a photo booth, and a presentation by members of the Pakistani Student Organization and staff of USMs International Student and Scholar Services about Pakistani culture. The Basic Writing program serves more than 400 students enrolled in 23 sections of the course titled ENG 100E: Introduction to Composition, a three-hour writing course that is a key component of the overall Basic Writing program. The course provides an opportunity for students who can benefit from more time engaging in preparations for a successful transition to ENG 101 and ENG 102 by further developing their skill set through writing, reading, and expressing complex thinking in an academic. Our common reading experience is designed to help English 100E students practice the fundamental academic skills of active reading and responding to texts in writing, said Jennifer Polson Peterson, a visiting assistant teaching professor of English. In this course, we embark together on the project of reading a longer, more complex text--a novel--because it gives us shared content that we can discuss and write through together. We hope that reading All My Rage builds unity and excitement across all sections of English 100E. Petersons colleague Dr. Corrine Dekkers concurred, saying By reading a novel as a course cohort together, we strengthen our analysis and close reading muscles while fostering communal discourse and mutual support. All My Rage offers multiple narrators and plot lines, allowing readers to both identify with and learn from the characters and their experiences. Layla Locicero, a freshman Biomedical Sciences major, said she decided to attend the common reading launch to have more of an understanding of Pakistani culture before diving into the book. I wasnt familiar with the Pakistani [Student] Organization before this event, Locicero said. After the presentation, I am more aware of this culture, and can better understand their emotions as they transition into a new life across this country. Ive enjoyed the novel so far, she continued Its very interesting to see the different ways each character connects to Pakistani culture." Members of the Pakistani Student Organization embraced the opportunity to contribute its cultural expertise and individual experiences at the event. "We believe sharing our insights and experiences can help students connect with the novel on a deeper level," said Shiza Shahid, president of the organization; Saba Shahid, who serves as vice president, noted that By participating in the event, we aimed to promote cultural exchange and inclusivity on campus, creating a valuable opportunity for students to engage with diverse perspectives and enrich their understanding of the immigrant experience. Learn more about the USM English Program, housed in the College of Arts and Sciences School of Humanities. Volunteers bag potatoes at the third annual potato harvest at UWs James C. Hageman Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension Center near Lingle earlier this month. (UW Extension Photo) More than 13,000 pounds of potatoes were donated to Food Bank of Wyoming in an annual potato harvest at the University of Wyomings James C. Hageman Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension Center (SAREC) near Lingle. The potatoes are grown as part of UW outreach efforts through a partnership among UW Extensions Cent$ible Nutrition Program (CNP), SAREC and Food Bank of Wyoming. CNP is a hands-on cooking, nutrition and physical activity program that serves income-qualifying families across Wyoming. Its partnership with SAREC and Food Bank of Wyoming connects families facing food insecurity with Wyoming-grown produce. The first such harvest at SAREC took place in 2021, resulting in the donation of nearly 6,500 pounds of potatoes. In 2022, 10,920 pounds of potatoes were donated. This years harvest, which took place Saturday, Oct. 7, yielded 13,565 pounds of potatoes. This partnership has been a huge success, says Mindy Meuli, CNP director. It was a natural connection between SAREC and the Cent$ible Nutrition Program. This endeavor has sparked connections with the other UW experiment stations, and we are going to continue collaborations that support supplying Wyoming-produced foods to those in need. The potatoes already have started making their way to food pantries across Wyoming. They are available at no cost to anti-hunger organizations partnering with Food Bank of Wyoming. The local fresh potatoes were such a surprise in this months food box, says a patron at the Pine Bluffs Senior Center. I appreciate the extra assistance our local and state agencies give. Meanwhile, CNP is working with local food pantries to connect patrons with recipes and resources for using and storing potatoes safely. Potatoes are a staple in our pantry, so having this large donation of them will go such a long way in helping support the students, staff and faculty who come to us, says Jess Dooley, food security coordinator at UW. Were so appreciative to everyone who contributes to the potato harvest every year. Brian Lee, senior research scientist at SAREC, and Steve Paisley, the centers director, led efforts to plant, grow and harvest the potatoes. Lee also helped coordinate with local food pantries and volunteers. In addition to the Lee family and SAREC staff members, the 2023 harvest crew included volunteers from the Wyoming Womens Center in Lusk; CNP and UW Extension employees; graduate students from UWs family and consumer sciences department and chemistry department; students enrolled in a UW agricultural education course; Platte County 4-H; and Food Bank of Wyoming staff members. This continued and expanding partnership is so important to food insecurity efforts across the state, says Rachel Bailey, executive director of Food Bank of Wyoming. These Wyoming-grown potatoes are a nutritious, fresh option for Food Bank of Wyomings community hunger relief partners to distribute to our neighbors experiencing food insecurity. Its wonderful to be able to make local produce available to our partners paired with recipes and resources from CNP. About the Cent$ible Nutrition Program CNP is the U.S. Department of Agricultures SNAP-Ed (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education) and EFNEP (Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program) program in Wyoming. CNP serves people with limited resources through nutrition education and local partnerships that help make the healthy choice the easy choice. The annual SAREC potato harvest is one way that CNP partners with organizations in Wyoming to help put healthy food within reach for neighbors facing food insecurity. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Kostas Skrekas, a high-level representative of Greek prime minister and development minister, who is in Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 19, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday met with Kostas Skrekas, a high-level representative of Greek prime minister and development minister, who is in Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has become the most popular global public goods and the largest platform for international cooperation 10 years since it was proposed, said Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. Greece is an important partner in jointly building the Belt and Road and pragmatic cooperation between China and Greece has achieved fruitful outcomes, Wang said, adding that China will join hands with Greece to push forward cooperation projects such as the Piraeus port project and support connectivity in Europe. Noting that China and Europe are partners rather than rivals, Wang said that China would like to join hands with the European side to advocate and practice true multilateralism, support free trade, safeguard fair competition, oppose protectionism and work for a fairer and more equitable global governance system. He expressed the hope that Greece will continue to play a constructive role in the healthy development of China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership. Skrekas said that Greece and China have a high degree of mutual trust and a solid foundation for mutually beneficial cooperation. Being a reliable friend of China, Greece will continue to uphold the one-China principle, carry forward the tradition of friendship and deepen cooperation in various fields, he said, adding that Greece will continue to actively participate in and promote the healthy and stable development of EU-China relations. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Kostas Skrekas, a high-level representative of Greek prime minister and development minister, who is in Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 19, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) Officials in Pakistan say tens of thousands of Afghan nationals have left the country, returning to Afghanistan this month following a government deadline for foreigners without documentation to leave by November 1 or face deportation. Islamabad announced the deadline in early October, saying an estimated 1.7 million Afghans are among the foreigners being asked to return to their native countries for lacking documentation or overstaying their visas. The Pakistani government has vowed to arrest and deport in "a phased and orderly manner" those who fail to comply. Official sources said that, as of Friday, almost 52,000 men, women, and children had returned to Afghanistan and numerous families in various parts of Pakistan, including its largest city, Karachi were boarding trucks and buses to head to the Afghan border. On Thursday alone, more than 3,000 Afghans went back to their country, according to state-run Pakistani television. Calls to halt expulsion Islamabad has disregarded domestic and calls by the United Nations to not force out Afghans seeking refuge, warning it could expose many families to persecution and other abuse by the country's de facto Taliban rulers. On Thursday, the United States joined the international calls, stressing the need for Pakistan and other nations to uphold their obligations to help refugees and asylum-seekers. U.S. State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller made the statement at his regular news conference when asked for a response to the forcible expulsion of Afghans from Pakistan and Iran. "We strongly encourage Afghanistan's neighbors, including Pakistan, to allow entry for Afghans seeking international protection and to coordinate with international humanitarian organizations such as UNHCR and IOM [International Organization for Migration] to provide humanitarian assistance," Miller said. The Taliban have called on Pakistan to suspend the expulsion of Afghans, decrying it as unacceptable. However, they have set up special camps on the Afghan side of the border to provide immediate shelter, health, food, and financial aid to families returning from the neighboring country. Pakistani officials have clarified that the nationwide crackdown is not targeting 1.4 million legally registered Afghan refugees and nearly 900,000 others holding Afghan citizenship cards. The government has instructed law enforcement agencies not to harass Afghans living legally in the country, though Taliban officials and refugees have alleged police abuses, mistreatment, and extortions. Afghans fled, seeking safety The Taliban's return to power as U.S.-led international troops withdrew in August 2021 prompted tens of thousands of people to flee to Pakistan, fearing retribution for their association with Western forces during their two decades of presence in Afghanistan. They included human rights defenders, U.S.-backed former Afghan government officials, professionals, female activists, and journalists. Many have since been relocated to the U.S. and other Western allies while thousands are awaiting the processing of their applications for U.S. Special Immigration Visas or resettlement in the United States as refugees. A female refugee facing deportation told VOA that she left Taliban-ruled Afghanistan last year and moved to Pakistan for her family's safety. The mother of three asked VOA to call her by the name Haleema to protect her identity. "My husband was a journalist there. He worked for Americans, so we cannot go back because his life would be in danger there," Haleema said, claiming their visa renewal request was denied. "When I go outside, I am lost in my thoughts because I don't have a visa, my husband doesn't have a visa. What should we do? If the police come and arrest him, what will I do with my three children?" Haleema said their lives "are ruined" because they face danger in Afghanistan and are now being threatened in Pakistan. Taliban officials deny charges of persecution against anyone intending to return to Afghanistan, citing their general amnesty for all Afghans, including those associated with Western forces. On Tuesday, a group of 80 former American officials, U.S. resettlement organizations, and other individuals urged Pakistan to exempt from detention or deportation thousands of Afghans awaiting the processing of their applications, saying they "face significant risks" if repatriated. "To deport them back to an environment where their lives would be in jeopardy runs counter to humanitarian principles and international accords" signed by Pakistan, read an open letter inked by the group and sent to the Pakistani Embassy in Washington. The Taliban have imposed their strict interpretation of Islamic law, barring teenage girls from receiving an education and many women from work across Afghanistan. Pakistan Bureau Chief Sarah Zaman contributed to this report. As Arab leaders condemned Israel and the international community on Friday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Israel, Hamas and Egypt to allow aid trucks to enter Gaza as quickly as possible amid yet another delay that appeared to have postponed aid deliveries at least one more day. Arab media showed video of Egyptian bulldozers working to repair the road, damaged by Israeli airstrikes, on the Gaza side of its Rafah border crossing. It was not clear when the repairs would be completed, but an agreement to allow 20 aid trucks to enter Gaza Friday between U.S. President Joe Biden and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi appeared to be on hold for at least another day. Guterres, who traveled to Rafah to observe the latest developments, told a crowd gathered along the border that the aid trucks should be allowed to enter Gaza quickly. "We are witnessing a paradox, he said. We have 2 million people suffering enormously, that have no water, no food, no medicine, no fuel. [They] are under fire [and] need everything to survive. On [the Egyptian] side, we have seen so many trucks loaded with water, with fuel, with medicine, with food exactly the same things that are needed on [the Gaza] side of the wall." Reaction from Arab leaders Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, speaking at a joint meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council and ASEAN in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, urged both sides in the Gaza conflict to "stop targeting civilians" amid reports of further civilian casualties, including families who were taking refuge at a Gaza church. He said he opposed the targeting of civilians in any way and called for the cessation of attacks on the infrastructure civilians depend on for their daily existence. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian told journalists after attending a conference of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, that the "entire Middle East is a powder keg waiting to explode." He criticized foreign states and leaders who, he claimed, "remain silent as civilians are targeted by Israeli attacks." Algeria's justice minister, Abderrachid Tabi, told journalists that his country "is following the serious developments [in Palestinian territory] as a result of the dramatic attacks on Gaza that have resulted in the deaths of hundreds and the wounding of many others." Protests in Arab capitals Meanwhile, protests in many Arab capitals denounced Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and the delay in delivering aid to civilians. Several hundred protesters chanted slogans in favor of Gaza and Palestinians alongside Friday prayers at Cairo's al-Azhar Mosque. Arab media also showed protests at prayers in Beirut, Lebanon; Damascus, Syria; Amman, Jordan; Baghdad, Iraq, and Algiers, Algeria. Demonstrators carrying Palestinian flags later marched through Cairo's iconic Tahrir Square. A small crowd of Egyptian aid workers and members of nongovernmental organizations waiting at Rafah for permission to enter Gaza protested the ongoing closure of the border crossing. Supplies of aid from Egypt and other international donors remain piled up at Egypt's Al Arish airport, awaiting the green light to go to Gaza. Egypt is preparing to hold a conference of Arab and international states Saturday to discuss implementing a cease-fire in Gaza and the need to find a long-term solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As Musa Abdullahi prepared for weekly Muslim prayers Friday, there was something else on his mind. He said he's worried about the war between Israel and Hamas and he's especially concerned about the plight of Palestinian Muslims. Soon after prayers, Abdullahi joined other Muslims marching in the streets in support of Palestinians and to criticize Israel's heavy bombardments in Gaza. "You see people carrying Palestinian flags chanting slogans in support of the Palestinian people to say 'no' against injustice, most especially the women and children that are being brutally attacked by the Israeli soldiers," said Musa Abdullahi. Anger in Nigeria is growing along with the rising death toll in the Israeli-Hamas war. More than 1,400 Israelis were killed in the Hamas attack on southern Israel nearly two weeks ago, and more than 4,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli retaliatory attacks since then. Every year, more than 90,000 Nigerians visit holy sites in the Middle East. Nigerian authorities this week said they're concerned about the escalation of violence there. Last week, the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission suspended visits to Israel due to the ongoing crisis. On Thursday, the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria held a news conference criticizing the killings, saying they are a violation of human rights. The supreme council blamed the United States for voicing support for Israel and called on the United Nations to take a firm stance. The council also urged Nigerian authorities to review the country's relations with Israel. "Apart from its criminality and lack of humanity, it also clearly shows [the] failure of global institutions established after the second world war to protect human beings," said Sheikh Abdur-Rasheed Hadiyatullah, the president of the council. "The international community has failed to address the root cause of this conflict." This week, the U.S vetoed a U.N security council resolution that called for humanitarian pauses in the conflict to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip. For now, many Nigerian pilgrims are watching and hoping that the fighting ends so that it is safe again for them to travel. BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Eight foreign leaders and president of the New Development Bank (NDB) held bilateral meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday after attending the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which concluded on Wednesday. They lauded the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and China's constructive role in international affairs, among others. Prime Minister of Egypt Mostafa Madbouly said that Egypt and Arab countries commended China for its consistent and fair stance on the Palestinian issue and look forward to China's more significant role in resolving the current crisis. Highly commending China's important role in world peace and stability, Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh noted that Mongolia attaches importance to strengthening trilateral cooperation among Mongolia, China and Russia, and it is willing to promote interaction and collaboration with China in multilateral affairs. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet expressed appreciation for China's long-time and valuable support for Cambodia, noting that Cambodia firmly pursues a friendly policy toward China and supports China's core interests. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, chairman of the People's Council of Turkmenistan, said China and Turkmenistan should continue to deepen economic and energy cooperation as well as people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and strengthen multilateral communication and coordination within frameworks such as the China-Central Asia mechanism. President of the Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso said that the BRI is a great project that offers the world a new model of inclusive development, and China is a major contributor to global economic growth. The Republic of the Congo looks forward to strengthening practical cooperation with China in areas such as infrastructure and green energy, and maintaining close communication and coordination within frameworks including the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, he said. Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin noted that Thailand will work with China to build a more stable, prosperous and sustainable Thailand-China community with a shared future. He said Thailand will do its utmost to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens in Thailand, and welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest and more Chinese citizens to visit Thailand. Mozambican Prime Minister Adriano Maleiane said important initiatives including the BRI and the Global Development Initiative can help other countries eliminate poverty, develop economy and improve people's livelihoods. Mozambique hopes to learn from China's modernization experience, better realize its own development, deepen practical cooperation with China in various fields and promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, said Maleiane. Prime Minister of Pakistan Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar said that Pakistan will always be a reliable and trustworthy friend of China and will never allow any force to undermine the Pakistan-China friendship. Pakistan will also be committed to deepening the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership with China, he added. NDB President Dilma Rousseff thanked the Chinese government for its support for the NDB and expressed the belief that the BRI and the forum will play an important role in global sustainable development and green development. The NDB is willing to actively participate in Belt and Road cooperation and make due contributions to promoting world multi-polarity and the reform of the international financial system, she said. As the Israel-Hamas war intensifies, the United States Thursday launched a visa waiver program allowing Israelis wishing to visit the United States for 90 days or fewer to come without applying for a visa. The U.S. announced Sept. 27 that it was admitting Israel into the visa waiver program, adding the country to a select group of 40 mostly European and Asian countries whose citizens can travel to the U.S. for three months without visas. At the time, the U.S. said Israelis could start traveling to America without visas as of Nov. 30. In a news release, the Department of Homeland Security said the program was operational as of Thursday. Officials gave no reason for the changed timeline in a news release Thursday. But just days after Israels admittance to the visa waiver program, Hamas launched attacks against numerous locations in southern Israel. Since then, the Israeli military has relentlessly attacked locations in the Gaza Strip as it prepares for a ground invasion. Under the waiver program, Israelis first register with the Electronic System for Travel Authorization. Thats an automated system that helps determine whether the person is eligible to travel, Homeland Security said in the news release. The process can take up to 72 hours. Then they can travel to the U.S. To be eligible, Israelis must have a biometrically enabled passport. Those who dont have such a passport still must apply for a U.S. visa, the department said. Countries that want to take part in the visa program have to meet three critical benchmarks. Israel met two of those benchmarks over the past two years: a low percentage of Israelis who applied for visas and were rejected and a low percentage of Israelis who have overstayed their visas. Israel had struggled to meet the third, for reciprocity that essentially means all U.S. citizens, including Palestinian Americans, must be treated equally when traveling to or through Israel. Many critics said that despite American assertions, Palestinian Americans were still facing discrimination when traveling to Israel. Dissent over the U.S. policy of supporting Israel in its war against Hamas militants went public at the State Department this week when a senior official resigned his position in protest. Josh Paul worked on global arms transfers and was director of the Office of Congressional and Public Affairs at the departments Bureau of Political-Military Affairs. He announced his resignation Wednesday on LinkedIn, citing his objection to continued U.S. military assistance to Israel during its bombardment and blockade of Gaza. Paul said Israels response to the brutal Hamas attacks against Israeli civilians on October 7 was exacerbating the humanitarian crisis for 2.2 million Palestinians. He told the PBS "NewsHour" program that the system is broken regarding U.S. weapons transfers to Israel. "I wrote to a number of leaders within the department ... 'Can we for once stop and think about if this is actually getting us to where we need to be before we move forward?' No response," he said. Paul had worked for the State Department for 11 years. In his resignation letter, he condemned the attack by Hamas militants on Israeli civilians. Let me be clear, Hamas attack on Israel was not just a monstrosity, it was a monstrosity of monstrosities, he said. But I believe to the core of my soul that the response Israel is taking, and with it the American support both for that response, and for the status quo of the occupation, will only lead to more and deeper suffering for both the Israeli and the Palestinian people and is not in the long-term American interest," Paul said. The State Department did not directly comment on Pauls resignation, saying it was a personnel matter. But in a letter, obtained by VOA, to all State Department staff members, Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed his gratitude for their efforts as he returned from visits to seven countries in the Middle East. Blinken said he knew the conflict was having a personal impact on some diplomats and other staff members. Some of our colleagues in the region, especially among our locally employed staff, have been directly affected by the violence, including by losing loved ones and friends, he wrote. And Blinken acknowledged some State Department staff members were feeling the effects here in the United States. Others have felt the ripples of fear and bigotry fueled by the conflict including in the United States, where mounting acts of hatred against Arab Americans, Muslims and Jews are making people feel vulnerable in their own communities, simply because of who they are or what they believe, he wrote. Blinken stressed that President Joe Biden had made clear from the beginning of the crisis that while the U.S. fully supports Israels right to defend itself, how it does so matters. That means, Blinken wrote, acting in a way that respects the rule of law and international humanitarian standards and taking every possible precaution to protect civilian life. Blinkens letter came after media reports of angry and tearful reactions among State Department staff members to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza over the past week. Pauls act of public dissent came just before Bidens appeal to the American people in a prime-time speech Thursday night, in which he urged Congress to pass more than $100 billion in aid for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan. Biden said it was a matter of national security for the U.S. to stand up to Hamas terrorists and Russian President Vladimir Putin, each of whom is trying to annihilate a neighboring democracy. Chinas top diplomat, Wang Yi, is expected to visit Washington this month on a highly anticipated trip that comes as U.S. officials urge Beijing to help prevent fighting in the Middle East from spreading. Chinas leader Xi Jinping broke nearly two weeks of silence on events in Israel on Thursday, saying he supports an immediate cease-fire and establishing an independent state of Palestine as the best way out of the conflict. Beijings position has drawn the ire of Israeli officials, who insist Israel has a right to defend itself following the surprise terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7 that killed more than 1,400 Israelis, the vast majority of whom were civilians. U.S. officials and senators also have told China that its plan is also a nonstarter for Hamas, because the group does not accept a two-state solution, nor Israels right to exist. The U.S. has designated Hamas as a terrorist group. For now, Washington has indicated it wants Beijing to help keep the war from spreading to other countries by using its lines of communication with countries in the Middle East to prevent other state or nonstate actors such as Iran from attacking Israel and widening the war with Hamas. If China could do something to prevent the conflict from widening, that is certainly something that we would welcome. But I don't think that goal of ours is consistent with the proposal by China for a cease-fire, State department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters Thursday. Like Russia, China does not classify Hamas as a terrorist group but regards it as a legitimate representative of the Palestinians in Gaza. Chinese foreign minister Wang Yis expected visit to Washington before the end of the month is seen as a step toward further high-level meetings between the United States and China. U.S. President Joe Biden has said he is likely to meet with Xi next month on the margins of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco. Chinese leader Xi Jinping made his first public comment about the Israel-Hamas conflict Thursday, calling for a cease-fire and reiterating that establishing an independent state of Palestine through a two-state solution is the fundamental way out of the conflict. "The top priority is to stop the fighting as soon as possible, prevent the conflict from spreading or even getting out of control and causing a severe humanitarian crisis," Xi said during his meeting with Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly in Beijing. Some analysts say Xis remarks are consistent with Beijings decadeslong position on issues related to the Palestinians. "The statements that have come out [from Beijing] since October 8 are consistent with views that China has been expressing all the way back to at least 1997," Dawn Murphy, an associate professor of national security strategy at the U.S. National War College, told VOA by phone. She said China does not see the latest Israel-Hamas conflict as "dramatically shifting their position." "They see this as part of a much longer-term Palestinian-Israeli conflict," Murphy said. Apart from reiterating the need to implement a two-state solution, Xi praised Egypts efforts to help de-escalate the situation and said Beijing stands ready to strengthen coordination with Egypt and other Arab countries to facilitate "a comprehensive, just, and enduring solution to the Palestinian question at an early date." The conflict began after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, killing at least 1,400 people and abducting close to 200 Israeli citizens to Gaza. Israel retaliated by launching airstrikes against targets throughout Gaza that have killed at least 3,500 Palestinians. China goes easy on Hamas China has been reluctant to publicly condemn Hamas for the attack on Israel, which drew criticisms from Jerusalem and Washington. As the Israeli military ramped up airstrikes against Gaza, Beijing has toughened its criticism of Israel, saying that countrys actions had gone beyond the scope of self-defense. Some experts believe that Beijings reluctance to condemn Hamas is to avoid damaging its deepened relations with other Middle Eastern countries. "China has made significant inroads [in the Middle East] since Washingtons general pullback from the Middle East and they dont want to offend the Arab world," said Dennis Wilder, who served as National Security Council director during former U.S. President George W. Bushs administration. Since the U.S. remains the main security guarantor for most Middle Eastern countries, Wilder said China has an easy role that allows them to "call for peace" without needing to take responsibility for whats happening in the region. "The idea of China as a mediator in this situation doesnt fit with the reality," he told VOA by phone. China has tried to present itself as a mediator in the Middle East in recent months. In March, China brokered a deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran that saw the regional rivals agree to reestablish diplomatic relations and reopen embassies. Then in April, former Chinese Foreign Ministry Qin Gang told his Israeli and Palestinian counterparts that Beijing was prepared to help facilitate peace talks between the two sides. In addition to Xis first public comment on the conflict, Chinas special envoy to the Middle East, Zhai Jun, who kicked off his trip to the Middle East and held a meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov in Qatar on Thursday, said Beijing is willing to "maintain communication and coordination" with Moscow to de-escalate the situation in the region "as soon as possible." The meeting came one day after Xi met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing. Apart from reaffirming bilateral ties, Xi and Putin had an "in-depth exchange of views" on the Palestinian-Israeli situation, according to the official readout released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday. Since Israel intensified airstrikes against Gaza, China and Russia have repeatedly called for a cease-fire and avoided condemning Hamas. Rather than intentionally aligning their positions on the escalating conflict, though, some analysts say Beijing and Moscows coordination seems "incidental." "I would describe the situation as China and Russia putting in their own efforts to address the Israel-Hamas war ostensibly independently of each other, but their efforts happen to align," said Wen-ti Sung, an Australian National University political scientist. "China does not want to be seen as needing Russian help in order to lead, and should things go sour, China does not wish to be entrapped in Russias own quagmires," Sung told VOA in a written response. Chinas limited influence in the Middle East As Chinese special envoy Zhai continues his trip in the Middle East, Wilder, who is now a senior fellow for the Initiative for U.S.-China Dialogue on Global Issues at Georgetown University, said Beijing is unlikely to play an active role in lowering tensions in the Middle East. "China could offer to talk to parties if it wishes to and it has relationships that could be of use," he told VOA. "But China has to want to do those things. I dont see them leveraging the influence they have in the Middle East in an effective manner." While China is aware of its limited influence on the Israel-Hamas war, Murphy from the U.S. National War College predicted that Beijing may be interested in helping efforts to deliver humanitarian aid. "We might see some movement there," she told VOA, adding that the desires of parties involved in the conflict may determine the type of results that China could achieve. After the Hamas attack on Israel, the Israeli Embassy in Beijing began posting on Chinas social media platform Weibo. The online effort to gain popular support appears to be backfiring as comments revile the Jewish state, applaud Hamas and praise Adolf Hitler. The embassys account, which has 24 million followers, shows almost 100 posts since the Oct. 7 attack. Some are disturbing, such as an image of a babys corpse burnt in the attack. Others suggest Israeli resilience, such as the story of one person who was wounded at the Nova Festival but rescued several other music fans after the attack. The comment areas have been flooded with hate speech such as "Heroic Hamas, good job!" and "Hitler was wise" referring to the German leader who orchestrated the deaths of 6 million Jews before and during World War II. Many people changed their Weibo avatars to the Israeli flag with a Nazi swastika in the middle. Occasionally, someone expresses support for Israel and accuses Hamas of being a terrorist group. This triggers strong reactions from other netizens, such as "Only dead Israelis are good Israelis" and "the United States supports Israel, and the friend of the enemy is the enemy." Similar commentary has flooded sites elsewhere on Chinas heavily censored internet. VOA Mandarin could not determine how many of the Weibo accounts posting to the Israeli Embassy account belong to people who work for the Chinese government. The Israeli Embassy in China did not respond to interview requests from VOA Mandarin. Eric Liu, a former Weibo moderator who is now editor of China Digital Times, told VOA Mandarin the Israeli Embassy "has received more comments recently, which are very straightforwardly hateful, with antisemitic content. They probably have taken the initiative to contain it." Liu believes that because the antisemitic remarks remain online, that shows the Chinese government is comfortable with them. China has long backed the Palestinian cause, but more recently it has also boosted ties with Israel as it seeks a larger role in trade, technology and diplomacy. "It's more of a voice influenced by public opinion," he said. Relatively speaking, it is an extreme voice. Moderate voices cannot be heard. Most of the participants are habitual offenders who hate others. But they are also spontaneous, or rather, they are spontaneous under the guidance of the government censors. Gu Guoping, a retired Shanghai teacher and human rights citizen-journalist, told VOA Mandarin, "I don't go to Weibo, WeChat, or QQ. These are all anti-human brainwashing platforms controlled by the Chinese Communist Party. Due to the CCP's long-term brainwashing and indoctrination of ordinary people, as well as internet censorship, many Weibo users [confuse] right and wrong." "They don't know Israel at all. The Israeli nation is an amazing, great, humane and civilized nation," said Gu, who emphasized that Hamas killed innocent people in Israel first, and Israel's counterattack was legitimate self-defense. Liu said that Weibo moderators usually must delete hateful comments toward foreign embassies in China. However, they may receive instructions from the Cyberspace Administration of China and the State Council Information Office for major incidents, and different standards may be applied. "The government's opinion has been very, very clear, which is why the online public opinion has such an obvious tendency, he said. It must be the all-round propaganda machine that led the public opinion to be like this." The spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, Liu Pengyu, said "China is closely following the current tensions between Palestine and Israel. We believe that the pressing priority is to promote de-escalation, enable cease-fire and cessation of violence, protect civilians and avert a humanitarian disaster. In dealing with international and regional hotspot issues, China has always been objective and just and exercised calm and restraint. While calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Gaza conflict, Chinese officials have refused to condemn Hamas by name. Some observers say Beijing is exploiting the Israel-Hamas war to diminish U.S. influence. On Saturday, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi condemned Israel for going "beyond the scope of self-defense" and called for it to "cease its collective punishment of the people of Gaza." When the Iranian Embassy in China posted comments by the Iranian president accusing the United States and Israel of causing the deadly explosion at the Ahli Arab Hospital, Chinese netizens posted their support. U.S. President Joe Biden said during his visit to Tel Aviv on October 18 that the "intel" provided by his team regarding the hospital attack exonerated Israel. Israel said the militant group Islamic Jihad caused the blast that killed at least 100 people. The militant group that often works with Hamas has denied responsibility. Palestinian officials and several Arab leaders accuse Israel of hitting the hospital amid its ongoing airstrikes in Gaza. The Weibo accounts of other foreign embassies and diplomats that have posted support for Israel have also been targeted by Chinese netizens. When the Swiss ambassador to China, Jurg Burri, posted on Oct. 13, "I send my deepest condolences to the victims and their families in the terrorist attacks in Gaza," he was criticized for "pseudo-neutrality." "I don't even want to wear a Swiss watch anymore! So angry," said one netizen. Liu believes the netizens support for Gaza will change. "It's not like that they stand with Palestine, he said. Maybe they will hate Palestine tomorrow because they believe in Islam. [The posters] are talking in general terms and do not care about the life and death of Palestine. Hatred of Israelis and Jews is the core." U.S. President Joe Biden released a $61.4 billion request for funding to support Ukraine in its defensive war against Russia. The request includes billions of dollars to replenish the Pentagons military equipment to Ukraine, as well as providing economic and security aid and support for refugees in the United States. The world is closely watching what Congress does next, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters Friday. It is unclear whether Congress will approve Bidens sweeping budget request, however, which along with additional funding for Israel and the U.S. border, is pegged at slightly more than $105 billion. The House of Representatives remains in turmoil with the Republican majority unable to choose a new speaker. Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, has been dropped as a candidate by House Republicans. Even if House Republicans resolve their internal quagmire, Biden will likely face resistance to his massive budget proposal. He's hopeful that lumping together several issues from border security to countering China's influence to supporting Israel in its fight against Hamas will foster a political coalition that can move the legislation forward. In an address to the nation Thursday, Biden made a case for his funding request by declaring that U.S. leadership holds the world together. History has taught us when terrorists dont pay a price for their terror, when dictators dont pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction, Biden said. They keep going. And the cost and the threat to America and the world keep rising. The U.S president made his case to the American nation by calling the funding a smart investment thats going to pay dividends for American security for generations. On Friday, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Biden's reference to support for Ukraine and Israel as an "investment," was cynical. "They used to call it 'fighting for freedom and democracy,'" she said. "Now it turns out it is just calculations, she wrote in a post on the Telegram messaging app. Ukrainian gains Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that Ukrainian forces had repelled a new Russian offensive on the eastern town of Avdiivka and were holding their ground in heavy fighting. "These days, the Russian losses are really staggering, and it is precisely losses by the occupier that Ukraine needs," he wrote on the Telegram messaging app. Zelenskyy gave no further details about the extent of the losses, while Moscow has presented the situation around Avdiivka more favorably for its troops. Reuters was unable to verify the battlefield situation in the area. The Ukrainian military said fighting was raging along the front line, with about 90 combat clashes in the past 24 hours. That compares with an average of about 60 daily clashes a week ago. "It is very difficult. But the boys are holding out and repelled everything," Vitaliy Barabash, head of the Avdiivka military administration told Ukrainian television. Avdiivka, home to a large coking plant that processes coal, has long been under attack. It has become a symbol of Ukrainian resistance and is seen as a gateway to the nearby Russian-held city of Donetsk. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a U.S. research group, said Ukrainian forces appeared to have broken through on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson. Ukrainian forces likely scored hits on Russian air defense equipment and helicopters earlier this week at the Berdyansk and Luhansk airfields, the British Defense Ministry said Friday in its daily intelligence update on Ukraine. The ministrys report said nine helicopters at Berdyansk and five at Luhansk were likely destroyed. Ukraine says it used U.S.-provided long-range ATACMS missiles for the first time in the attacks. If the report about the helicopters is confirmed, the British Defense Ministry said, it is highly likely these losses will have an impact on Russias ability to defend and conduct further offensive activity in the affected areas. It said Russia also would have difficulty replacing the helicopters. The loss of the equipment is likely placing more pressure on the Russian pilots who are almost certainly suffering combat exhaustion and maintenance issues due to the unanticipated protracted campaign, the ministry said. War crimes A United Nations commission of inquiry on Ukraine said Friday it had found additional evidence that Russian forces had committed "indiscriminate attacks" and war crimes in Ukraine, including rape and the deportation of children to Russia. The Commission has found new evidence that Russian authorities have committed violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law, and corresponding crimes, in areas that came under their control in Ukraine, it said in a report submitted to the U.N. General Assembly, listing attacks in the cities of Uman and Kherson, among others. "The Commission has recently documented attacks that affected civilian objects, such as residential buildings, a railway station, shops, and a warehouse for civilian use, leading to numerous casualties." Russia has vehemently denied committing atrocities or targeting civilians in Ukraine. The commission said it had documented cases of rape "with the use of force or psychological coercion." Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press and Reuters. Three people died in Scotland and England and families were trapped in flooded homes Friday as Storm Babet moved east after pounding Ireland and headed for Scandinavia. The U.K.'s Met Office issued a rare red severe weather warning for parts of eastern Scotland with "exceptional rainfall" of up to 22 centimeters (8.6 inches) forecast for Friday and Saturday. Police said the body of a 57-year-old woman had been recovered after she was swept into a river in the county of Angus on Thursday afternoon. A second person also died in Angus on Thursday evening after a falling tree hit the van the 56-year-old was driving. A man in his 60s was dead Friday, washed away by waters that had flooded a road in Cleobury Mortimer in Shropshire in central England, police said. Officials in the southern Irish county of Cork, where hundreds of homes and businesses were flooded earlier in the week, described the deluge there as the worst in at least 30 years. A community hospital for the elderly had to be evacuated in the town of Midleton, Cork, where the main street was up to four feet under water. As the storm hit Scotland, Scottish leader Humza Yousaf warned Friday that he could not "stress how dangerous" conditions were, in the northeastern town of Brechin. Emergency services were battling to reach trapped residents but being hampered by strong currents and flooding of up to 6 feet (nearly 2 meters). "Around half the average monthly rainfall for October is expected to fall through tonight and tomorrow in areas that have already been severely affected by exceptional levels of rainfall," Yousaf said late Friday. "It's just absolutely horrendous. I've never seen anything like it," said local councilor Jill Scott, adding that hundreds of homes had been flooded. Like a river "People are trapped. ... Some have been stuck there for hours. The boats are trying to get to them [but] they can't get to them because the current is too strong. It's all white water running round there. It's like a river," she added. Fire crews and the coast guard began evacuating residents Thursday in Angus, knocking on doors and urging people to leave. "Over 350 homes across Angus were contacted yesterday [Thursday] and advised to evacuate," a spokesperson for Angus council said. "Brechin, and increasingly other parts of Angus, are now only accessible via boat," he added. Train services meanwhile were severely disrupted as far south as central England due to heavy rainfall and high winds. Some routes in northwest England and north Wales were completely closed due to flooding, rail officials said. The Energy Networks Association said around 10,000 houses were without power in England while 45,000 others had been reconnected. The Met Office has issued a string of less severe yellow and amber warnings indicating adverse weather conditions including flooding, heavy rain and high winds for other parts of central and northern England. The attribution of the October 17 explosion at the Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza has become one of the most exploited misinformation topics of the Hamas-Israel war thus far. The two sides deny responsibility and blame each other. Governments, NGOs, the press and researchers back one or the other. Mass protests, diplomatic standoffs and fears of a further escalation abound. In the case of the Ahli Arab Hospital, falsehoods, speculation and unsubstantiated allegations are helping Hamas, the Palestinian group that governs the Gaza Strip in the information war against Israel. Immediately after the explosion, Hamas claimed that an Israeli airstrike was responsible for the attack, and that it was a crime of genocide that killed at least 500 civilians. Media outlets including the New York Times initially published headlines supporting Hamas version of events. Two days later, Palestinian authorities have yet to provide evidence to back their claims that it was an airstrike or that Israel conducted it. Israel took a few hours to respond to accusations and half a day before releasing what it says is evidence that a failed rocket launch by Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian Islamist paramilitary organization based in Gaza, caused the blast. U.S. President Joe Biden has backed that assessment, citing U.S. intelligence data. Reporting on the incident, Russian state broadcaster RT presented false information to slant the narrative in Hamas favor. In its summary of the accusations and recriminations, RT reported: Palestinian officials accused Israel of targeting the facility, while Israel blamed the blast on a wayward rocket fired by the Islamic Jihad militant group, despite a government spokesman seemingly taking responsibility immediately after the strike. That is false. None of the Israeli government spokespersons took responsibility for the attack on the hospital, and evidence is piling up that it was not a strike but the explosion of a malfunctioned rocket. The person RT referred to as the Israeli government spokesman is Hananya Naftali, who said in a post on X that Israel conducted an airstrike on a hospital used as a base for Hamas militants. The post coincided with the initial reports about the explosion at the Ahli Arab Hospital. Naftali did not provide any details or name the source of information, and later deleted his post. However, pro-Hamas groups and the media have used it as proof that Israel is to blame. RTs report is just one example. Who is Naftali, and what gives his post enough value to become a key part of the anti-Israeli information campaign? Naftali is a pro-Israeli social media influencer and YouTuber, who reportedly served as an informal media advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Currently, his name is not listed in the database of Israeli government spokespersons and media advisers, last updated July 23, 2023. Moreover, Naftali will not be serving at Netanyahus side during the conflict, according to an interview he gave to the Jerusalem-based news organization All Israel News. There is no indication Naftali is privy to the Israeli government information regarding Israeli Air Force combat operations in Gaza. Naftali later apologized for the post, writing: Earlier today I shared a report that was published on @reuters about the bombing at the hospital in Gaza which falsely stated Israel struck the hospital. I mistakenly shared this information in a since deleted post in which I referenced Hamas routine use of hospitals to store weapons caches and conduct terrorist activity. I apologize for this error. As the IDF [Israeli Defense Forces] does not bomb hospitals, I assumed Israel was targeting one of the Hamas bases in Gaza. "It is known that Hamas is using civilians as human shields, it is a war crime and a crime against humanity. This should be the focus. Evidence is emerging supporting Israels claim that an errant Islamic Jihad rocket caused the carnage. It was initially reported that the hospital was rocked by the explosion, when in fact the blast hit a parking lot in the hospitals courtyard. That includes the lack of a large impact crater, which Israel says an airstrike would have made. Independent open-source researchers also say photographic evidence of the Ahli hospital explosion site is not consistent with an airstrike. They note that the roofs of nearby buildings, awnings, roofing tiles and solar panel installations remained largely intact after the blast. Evidence of missile fragments that would accompany an IDF airstrike has also not been presented. Researchers and unnamed U.S. officials say that, based on the available photographic evidence, most of the damage was caused by the ensuing fire, and not the initial blast, which occurred at ground level. According to the IDF, Islamic Jihad fired a barrage of 10 rockets from a nearby cemetery at 6:50 p.m. Initial reports of a blast at the Ahli hospital were reported at 6:59 p.m. Israel has also released audio they claim is of Hamas militants attributing the blast to a rocket launched by Islamic Jihad. Israel also says radar data supports its claim that rockets were fired southwest of the hospital at the time of the explosion. That corresponds with the Biden administrations initial conclusions. Adrienne Watson, White House National Security Council spokesperson, tweeted: While we continue to collect information, our current assessment, based on analysis of overhead imagery, intercepts and open source information, is that Israel is not responsible for the explosion at the hospital in Gaza yesterday. Outside experts have not been able to visit the blast site in Gaza, complicating independent verification efforts. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. President Joe Biden makes a direct appeal to the American people to continue funding Ukraine war efforts. A pro-democracy group is working to shore up waning Republican support for US aid to Ukraine. A UN commission of inquiry finds additional evidence of Russian war crimes in Ukraine. The sumptuous Palace of Versailles was forced to evacuate visitors for the fourth time in less than a week for a security check after a bomb alert. Airports and schools around France also fell victim to bomb alerts and forced evacuations after similar warnings a day earlier. Even a nuclear research institute received a threat Thursday. Pranksters or plotters? No bombs have been found, but authorities can't take risks with the lives of travelers, students or workers. Still, the government is growing impatient, threatening prison terms and heavy fines for those making fake bomb threats. A rash of false alarms forced the evacuation of 15 airports and cancellation of 130 flights, as well as shutting the doors to the Palace of Versailles repeatedly since last Saturday. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said Thursday evening that 18 people had been detained in the last 48 hours mostly, but not only, minors. The barrage of alerts "disorganizes our security services and obviously stops society from functioning," Darmanin said in an interview with BFM-TV. False alerts also "pose an enormous risk in case of a (real) problem." The minister said that "enormous means" are being used to identify pranksters with their phone numbers and addresses. "We tell those listening: We will find everyone," he said. Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti blamed the alerts on "little jokers, little clowns" and warned of the consequences. Under French law, prank calls can be punished with up to three years' imprisonment and fines of 45,000 euros ($47,000), the minister said. The justice minister said minors' parents could be made to pay for damages, while the interior minister said that student pranksters won't get off the hook: their names and phone numbers will be transmitted to the National Education system. "We don't need this. We don't need troublemakers, psychosis, at this moment," the justice minister said Wednesday. Police said that at least seven airports received threats Thursday, mainly by email. Among those targeted were airports at Lille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Nantes and Toulouse. France has been on heightened alert since the fatal stabbing of a schoolteacher last week that was blamed on a suspected Islamic extremist who allegedly declared allegiance to the Islamic State group. A funeral service for Dominique Bernard, the French-language teacher killed by a knife wound to the neck, was held Thursday in Arras, the northern town where he taught at the Gambetta-Carnot school. President Emmanuel Macron was in attendance his plane on the tarmac of nearby Lille airport, among those evacuated during the morning service, according to the local Voix du Nord newspaper. Among threats received Thursday was one at a nuclear research facility in Grenoble, in the southeast. Two delivery men, aged 23 and 26, were arrested after leaving a package at the Laue Langevin Institute and telling guards as they left, "We did it. We delivered a bomb," the local Le Dauphine Libere reported. French Transport Minister Clement Beaune said false threats were made against 17 airports Wednesday, causing widespread disruption, the evacuation of 15 airports, cancellation of 130 flights and many flight delays. It is the regional prefects who decide, on a case-by-case basis, whether threats necessitate an evacuation. "For the moment, we have no miracle solution," said Nicolas Paulissen, general delegate for the Union of French Airports which is present at all 150 airports around the country. The bomb risk cannot be ignored, but "we can't stop airports from functioning." He noted, however, that airports are capable of adapting to threats and crises. "Adaptation is in our DNA," Paulissen said. Beaune, the transport minister, underscored the government's firm message about the barrage of bomb alerts. "These false alerts are not bad jokes. They are crimes," Beaune posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, holds talks with President of Brazil's Chamber of Deputies Arthur Lira at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) BEIJING, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator, Zhao Leji, Friday held talks with the president of Brazil's Chamber of Deputies, Arthur Lira, in Beijing. Noting China and Brazil share a wide range of common interests, Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said that the two countries have shown mutual understanding and firm support on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, and have worked hand in hand in the pursuit of national development and rejuvenation, which has set an example of solidarity, cooperation, and common development among major developing countries. Zhao said that China is ready to work with Brazil to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, maintain strategic communication, deepen practical cooperation, push China-Brazil relations to a higher level, and bring more benefits to the two countries and the two peoples. The NPC of China will work with the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil to make full use of exchange mechanisms, special committees, bilateral friendship groups, and other platforms to strengthen exchanges and cooperation at various levels and in various fields and make new contributions to the development of China-Brazil comprehensive strategic partnership, Zhao added. Lira said that Brazil develops friendly relations with China from a strategic height, adding that the delegation has experienced the tremendous development China has made and the hospitality and friendship of the Chinese people during the visit. The Chamber of Deputies of Brazil is willing to strengthen exchanges with the NPC, promote bilateral cooperation in the economy, trade, investment, culture, and climate change, enhance mutual understanding between the peoples, and safeguard the common interests of the two countries, Lira added. Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, holds talks with President of Brazil's Chamber of Deputies Arthur Lira at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) Haitian police arrested former justice official Joseph Felix Badio in the assassination of President Jovenel Moise, a police spokesperson told Reuters on Thursday. Badio is accused by investigators of ordering the hitmen who carried out the attack in July 2021. The assassination of Moise plunged the Caribbean island nation into political disarray and increasing lawlessness as powerful gangs have expanded their reach. Armed police intercepted Badio as he was driving out of a supermarket parking lot in Petion-Ville, a Port-au-Prince suburb, on Thursday afternoon, according to a witness at the scene. Badio, considered the main suspect in the assassination plot by Haitian officials and rights groups, is charged with murder, attempted murder and armed robbery. Moise was shot dead in his bedroom after a group of armed men burst into his home in the hills above Port-au-Prince. The group was mostly comprised of Colombian mercenaries, according to investigators, though several Haitians and Haitian Americans have also been accused of playing a role in the killing. Investigators accuse Badio of ordering the Colombian hitmen to carry out the deadly attack. Others implicated in the case, including former Haitian Senator Joseph Joel John and Haitian-Chilean businessman Rodolphe Jaar, have been convicted in the United States for their role in the murder. Since the brazen assassination, the impoverished nation's unelected government has struggled with providing even basic services. Haiti's gangs have taken on roles such as running schools and clinics in the place of an increasingly absent government, even as their criminal rackets help gang leaders amass wealth and terrorize victims, according to a U.N. report published Wednesday. The U.N. recently ratified deploying an international force to support Haiti's police at the government's request, but few countries have committed personnel, and it has yet to materialize. Latest Developments: The militant group Hamas released two American hostages Friday a mother and her teenage daughter who had been held in Gaza since Hamas cross-border attack two weeks ago, according to the Israeli government. Israel hit the Gaza Strip with more airstrikes overnight, amid warnings that Israeli forces could invade the Hamas-ruled territory at any time. Israel said Friday that it planned to evacuate Kiryat Shmona. The evacuees will be placed in state-funded guest houses. The city is near Israels border with Lebanon, where there have been repeated rocket and missile attacks. The death toll from the hospital strike in Gaza is now reported to be at the lower end of 100 to 300 people. In Jerusalem, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told Israeli President Isaac Herzog that Britain stood by Israels right to defend itself. He also stressed the need to provide aid to Gaza's residents. "Palestinians are victims of what Hamas has done," he said. More than 1,400 Israelis and 3,400 Palestinians have been killed. An American woman and her teenage daughter were released Friday by Hamas, which turned them over to the Qatari government for humanitarian reasons. Judith Tai Raanan, 59, and Natalie Shoshana Raanan, 17, who live in suburban Chicago, had been visiting family on the Kibbutz Nahal Oz when Hamas launched its October 7 cross-border attack, according to the Israeli government. The two, who also hold Israeli citizenship, were brought to the Gaza Strip border, where Israeli forces met them and escorted them to a meeting point at a military base in the center of the country, where their family members are waiting for them," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. The mother and daughter appeared to be in good health in a photo published by Israeli media. Relatives of other Hamas captives applauded the release and asked that the others also be set free. "We call on world leaders and the international community to exert their full power in order to act for the release of all the hostages and missing, the statement said. In Washington, President Joe Biden thanked Qatar and Israel for working to free the two women. "I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been wracked with fear, said Biden, who spoke with the two freed hostages and their relatives. The International Committee of the Red Cross, which transported the freed Americans from Gaza to Israel, said their release was a sliver of hope. Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed their release. "We share in the relief with their families, friends and loved ones, he said. But there are still 10 additional Americans who remain unaccounted for in this conflict. We know that some of them are being held hostage by Hamas, along with an estimated 200 other hostages." It was not immediately clear why the Raanans were chosen to be released. A spokesman for the armed wing of Hamas, the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, said only that they were freed "for humanitarian reasons" in response to Qatari mediation. Meanwhile, Israel continued to pummel the Gaza Strip overnight with airstrikes, amid warnings that Israeli forces could invade the Hamas-ruled territory at any time. The Israel Defense Forces posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: During the night, fighter jets attacked over a hundred operational targets of the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip, destroying tunnel shafts, munitions warehouses and dozens of operational headquarters. Israel was planning to evacuate the northern city of Kiryat Shmona. Authorities said Friday that the residents would be placed in state-funded guest houses. The northern city is near Israels border with Lebanon and has been subjected to numerous rocket and missile attacks from Palestinian militant groups. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak traveled Friday to Egypt, his latest Middle Eastern destination, as the conflict continued to grow. Sunak has already met with Israeli leaders and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Sunak followed U.S. President Joe Biden with a visit to Israel to demonstrate Western support for the war against Hamas militants. You have suffered an unspeakable, horrific act of terrorism and I want you to know that the United Kingdom and I stand with you," Sunak said. Later, he told Netanyahu, We will stand with your people. And we also want you to win." Thursday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told hundreds of thousands of the countrys ground troops to get ready to invade the Gaza Strip. Gallant met with Israeli infantry soldiers positioned on the Gaza border, telling the forces to get organized, be ready, but did not say when the order would come for the invasion. Whoever sees Gaza from afar now will see it from the inside, he said. I promise you. Israel has amassed 300,000 or more troops along the border following Hamas shock, cross-border October 7 attack on Israel that killed 1,400 people, most of them civilians. Biden said after his brief visit to Tel Aviv on Wednesday that he had candid discussions with Israeli leaders as they conduct military strikes that have taken more than 3,400 lives in Gaza, many of them civilians. I was very blunt with the Israelis, he told reporters aboard Air Force One. Biden said that while Israel has been badly victimized, the country has an opportunity to relieve the suffering of innocent civilians in Gaza who have nowhere to go. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. The third time was not a charm for Ohio Republican Jim Jordan, who was hoping to become the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Twenty-five Republicans voted Friday morning against the arch-conservative congressman, while all Democrats cast voice votes for their party's leader in the chamber, Hakeem Jeffries of New York meaning no candidate reached the threshold of 217 votes needed to be elected speaker. Three more Republicans voted against Jordan in the third round than in the second. The next floor vote for speaker is expected to occur no sooner than Tuesday, but Jordan will no longer be in the running. Within hours after he'd lost for the third consecutive time, Republicans voted in secret on whether Jordan should be allowed to continue his quest. He lost that vote, 86-112, with five lawmakers voting present. House Republicans now plan to hold a forum on Monday for a fresh group of speaker candidates. Representative Kevin Hern of Oklahoma said he would be among them. "I think our delegation needs to have somebody who wants to work to unite them, brings a different perspective, and that will be what I bring," Hern told reporters. Several other Republicans are in the running, including a likely front-runner, Tom Emmer of Minnesota, who is the House majority whip. He has been endorsed by the last House speaker, Californias Kevin McCarthy. Representative Byron Donalds of Florida is also a candidate, according to his office. Republicans who intend to have their names put forward have until Sunday to declare. The House, the lower body of the U.S. Congress, has been paralyzed for more than two weeks since eight Republicans joined with Democrats in a historic vote to remove McCarthy as speaker. The upper body, the U.S. Senate, has been working as usual. U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday was dispatching to Congress a $106 billion foreign aid request, primarily composed of money to aid Israel and Ukraine in their wars against Hamas and Russia, respectively. Until the House elects a speaker, the body will not be able to vote on any spending bills. The House faces a November 17 deadline when funding for the entire federal government runs out. If no new funding measure is approved, millions of members of the U.S. military and federal workers will not be paid. Jordan was a favorite of the Republicans closely allied with former President Donald Trump, who is the party's leading candidate in next year's race for the presidency. Other Republicans rebelled against Jordan's strong-arm tactics to get elected speaker. Many also said he was not suited to lead because during his 16 years in Congress he has never sponsored a bill that became law. "Jim Jordan is an effective legislator," McCarthy said in his third-round nomination speech in support of his fellow Republican. That remark prompted laughter and jeering from the Democrats. In this Congress, not a single member of their caucus has voted for anyone other than Jeffries in the numerous rounds to elect a speaker. Before the third round, Republican Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida told reporters Jordan was not going to gather enough votes to be victorious, no matter how many rounds of voting members had to endure. "There is a time when you have to put country above ego and self," he said. "It gets to a point where this now becomes just an egofest." Jeffries, at a news conference Friday afternoon, said "it's time for traditional Republicans to get off the sidelines, get in the arena and realize that the chaos, dysfunction and extremism has to end. And the only way to do it is to figure out how we can partner in a bipartisan fashion to reopen the House and govern in a reasonable, common-sense way." Latest Developments: Israel hit the Gaza Strip overnight with more airstrikes, amid warnings that Israeli forces could invade the Hamas-ruled territory at any time. Israel said Friday it plans to evacuate the northern city of Kiryat Shmona. The evacuees will be placed in state-funded guest houses. Kiryat Shmona is near Israels border with Lebanon where there have been repeated rocket and missile attacks by Palestinian militants. The death toll from the hospital strike in Gaza is now reported to be on the lower end of 100-300 people. Israeli defense minister tells troops to get ready for ground invasion of Gaza. In Jerusalem, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told Israeli President Isaac Herzog that Britain stands by Israels right to defend itself. He also stressed the need to provide aid to Gaza's residents. "Palestinians are victims of what Hamas has done." More than 1,400 Israelis, 3,400 Palestinians have been killed. Israel continued to pummel the Gaza Strip overnight with airstrikes, amid warnings that Israeli forces could invade the Hamas-ruled territory at any time. The Israel Defense Forces posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: During the night, fighter jets attacked over a hundred operational targets of the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip, destroying tunnel shafts, munitions warehouses and dozens of operational headquarters. Meanwhile, Israel is planning to evacuate the northern city of Kiryat Shmona. Authorities said Friday that the towns residents will be placed in state-funded guest houses. The northern city is located near Israels border with Lebanon and has been subjected to numerous rocket and missile attacks from Palestinian militant groups. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak travels Friday to Egypt, his latest Middle Eastern destination, as the conflict continues to grow. Sunak has already met with Israeli leaders and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Sunak followed U.S. President Joe Biden with a visit to Israel to demonstrate Western support for the war against Hamas militants. You have suffered an unspeakable, horrific act of terrorism and I want you to know that the United Kingdom and I stand with you," Sunak said. Later, he told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, We will stand with your people. And we also want you to win." Thursday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told hundreds of thousands of the countrys ground troops to get ready to invade the Gaza Strip. Gallant met with Israeli infantry soldiers positioned on the Gaza border, telling the forces to get organized, be ready, but did not say when the order would come for the invasion. Whoever sees Gaza from afar now, will see it from the inside, he said. I promise you. Israel has amassed 300,000 or more troops along the border following Hamas shock, cross-border October 7 attack on Israel that killed 1,400 people, most of them civilians. Shortly after Gallant's statement, Prime Minister Netanyahu issued a video of himself with troops near the border promising victory. Biden said after his brief visit to Tel Aviv Wednesday that he had candid discussions with Israeli leaders as they conduct military strikes that have taken more than 3,400 lives in Gaza, many of them civilians. I was very blunt with the Israelis, he told reporters aboard Air Force One. Biden said that while Israel has been badly victimized, the country has an opportunity to relieve the suffering of innocent civilians in Gaza who have nowhere to go. He added that its what the country should do. An Israel Defense Forces spokesman told VOAs Urdu service, The state of Israel never targets civilians intentionally. We target military targets. But Major Doron Spielman added, The problem is that Hamas fires rockets from the schools, next from the hospitals, next to United Nations facilities. And at times when we are targeting them, they themselves put their civilians in the way of [the] fight. All of these questions need to be directed towards Hamas. What were they thinking would happen when they attacked Israel? While in Israel, Biden negotiated a deal between Israel and Egypt to allow the passage of aid into Gaza through the Egypt-controlled Rafah Crossing. The agreement will allow 20 trucks of aid to be received and managed by U.N. groups. Dozens more trucks are waiting to follow if the first tranche goes smoothly. Biden warned that if Hamas blocks or confiscates the aid, it's going to end. During his visit, Biden also announced $100 million in U.S. aid for Palestinians. The humanitarian crisis has grown increasingly dire in Gaza, with Israel blocking basic necessities from reaching the coastal territory. Biden denied media reports that U.S. troops will join Israeli soldiers in fighting Hezbollah should the Lebanon-based militant group decide to help Hamas and initiate conflict with Israel. He said he discussed at length with Netanyahu the prime ministers plans to invade Gaza to root out Hamas and that the two countries militaries have been weighing alternatives. But he declined to provide further details. Siding with Israel Biden on Wednesday backed Israels account of who was responsible for a massive explosion at a Gaza hospital that killed hundreds and prompted protests across the region. U.S. intelligence assessed the death toll from the explosion to be between 100-300 people with that number likely being on the lower end, and minimal structural damage done to the hospital, as first reported to CNN and confirmed by VOA. Based on the information we've seen to date, it appears as a result of an errant rocket fired by a terrorist group in Gaza, Biden said. Israel said the rocket came from the militant group Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which denied responsibility. While we continue to collect information, our current assessment, based on analysis of overhead imagery, intercepts and open-source information, is that Israel is not responsible for the explosion at the hospital in Gaza yesterday, National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said. Watson added that the administration is working to corroborate whether it was a failed rocket launched by Islamic Jihad. Biden vowed to provide Israel what it needs to defend itself but urged restraint in its retaliation. You don't live by the rules of terrorists. You live by the rule of law. When conflict is fair, you live by the rule of law, of wars, he said. The hospital explosion has ignited massive protests in cities across the Middle East, including in Lebanon, Iran, Tunisia and Turkey, where demonstrators laid the blame on Israel. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters President Joe Biden addressed the nation and the world at a time of crisis in Ukraine and in the Middle East, even as the House of Representatives is not able to elect a speaker. The U.S. military shot down drones from Yemen and a look at what we know about the deadly explosion at a Gaza hospital. Iran-backed groups blew up a gas pipeline in Syria's Kurdish-controlled northeast near a U.S. base Thursday, a war monitor said, as regional tensions grew following Israel's war with Gaza-based militants. Iran-backed groups "blew up the gas pipeline near the Conoco gas facility," said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Observatory's director, Rami Abdel Rahman, told AFP the blast had gone off close to a U.S. base. U.S.-led coalition forces, which entered Syria in 2014 to fight the Islamic State group, have set up several bases in Syria including in the Al-Omar oil field, the country's largest. They are also deployed at the Conoco gas field, and both are in Kurdish-controlled territory. Flames rose from the site of the explosion, the British-based monitor with a large network of sources inside Syria reported. But it said there had been no casualties. On Wednesday, CENTCOM said it had shot down two drones and damaged a third in Iraq over the past 24 hours, with allied troops suffering "minor injuries" in one incident. It did not say who launched the drones, but pro-Iranian groups have threatened to attack American troops in Iraq because of Washington's support for Israel in its war with Hamas. The attacks in Iraq and Syria come on the heels of an explosion at a hospital in Gaza that left hundreds dead on Tuesday. Hamas has blamed Israel for the blast, which in turn has said that another Palestinian armed group was responsible. The hospital explosion caused outrage across the region, with thousands taking to the streets in Arab capitals in support of Palestinians and condemning Israel. Gaza has been hit by a relentless barrage of Israeli fire in retaliation for the October 7 Hamas militant attack, which Israel says killed at least 1,400 people, most of them civilians. Some 1,500 Islamist fighters were killed in clashes before the army regained control, the Israeli military said. Israeli bombing of Gaza has since killed more than 3,700 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to the health ministry. Refusing to give up, Representative Jim Jordan told Republican colleagues on Thursday that he was still running to be speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives leaving Republicans few viable options after his backers resisted a plan to expand the temporary speaker's powers to reopen the House. The combative congressman delivered the message at a fiery closed-door meeting at the Capitol as the Republican majority considered an extraordinary plan to give the speaker pro tempore more powers for the next several months to bring the House back into session and conduct crucial business, according to Republicans familiar with the private meeting who insisted on anonymity to discuss it. But neither option seemed immediately workable. Republican moderates who have twice rejected Jordan are unwilling to support him now, especially after some have reported harassing pressures and even death threats from his supporters. At the same time, Jordan's hard-right allies are refusing to allow a temporary speaker to gain more power. The prolonged stalemate risks keeping the House intractably shut down for the foreseeable future after the unprecedented ouster of Representative Kevin McCarthy of California as speaker. "I'm still running for speaker, and I plan to go to the floor and get the votes and win this race," said Jordan, chairman of the Judiciary Committee and founder of the House Freedom Caucus. Factions blame one another Thursday's meeting grew heated at times with Republican factions blaming one another for sending their majority into chaos, lawmakers said. When Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida the chief architect of the ouster of the speaker two weeks ago rose to speak, McCarthy told him it was not his turn. "We're shaking up Washington, D.C. We're breaking the fever. And, you know what, it's messy," Gaetz said later. The House convened briefly at midday Thursday, but no action was taken. The schedule ahead is uncertain. 'It's not a normal majority' There is a sinking realization that the House could remain endlessly stuck, out of service, and without a leader for the foreseeable future as the Republican majority spirals deeper into dysfunction. "We're trying to figure out if there's a way we can get back with a Republican-only solution," said veteran legislator Tom Cole, a representative from Oklahoma. "That's what normal majorities do. What this majority has done is prove it's not a normal majority." Elevating Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry of North Carolina to an expanded speaker's role would not be as politically simple as it might seem. The hard-right Republican lawmakers including some who ousted McCarthy don't like the idea. While Democrats have suggested the arrangement, Republicans are loath to partner with the Democrats in a bipartisan way. And it's highly unlikely Republicans could agree to give McHenry more power on their own, even though they have majority control of the House. "It's a bad precedent and I don't support it," said Representative Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, the chairman of the Freedom Caucus. McHenry himself has brushed off attempts to take the job more permanently after he was appointed to the role after the ouster of McCarthy. "I did not ask for additional powers," said McHenry, a Republican who is well-liked by colleagues and viewed as a highly competent legislator. "My duty is to get the next speaker elected. That's my focus." But McCarthy himself said he tapped McHenry for the role created in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to ensure continuity of government because he "wanted somebody that could work with all sides. And McHenry is ideal for all that." The next steps are highly uncertain as angry, frustrated Republicans predict the House could stay essentially shuttered, as it has been almost all month, until the mid-November deadline for Congress to approve funding or risk a federal government shutdown. "I think clearly November 17 is a real date," said Oklahoma Representative Kevin Hern, who leads a large conservative caucus, about the next deadline. Earlier Wednesday, Jordan, failed in a crucial second ballot, opposed by 22 Republicans, two more than he lost in first-round voting the day before. Many view the Ohio congressman as too extreme for a central seat of U.S. power and resented the harassing hardball tactics from Jordan's allies for their votes. Several lawmakers said they had received death threats. "One thing I cannot stomach or support is a bully," said a statement from Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who voted against Jordan on the second ballot and said she received "credible death threats and a barrage of threatening calls." To win over his Republican colleagues, Jordan had relied on backing from Trump, the party's front-runner in the 2024 election to challenge President Joe Biden, and groups pressuring rank-and-file lawmakers for the vote. But they were not enough and in fact backfired on some. Flexing their independence, the holdouts are a mix of pragmatists ranging from seasoned legislators and committee chairs worried about governing, to newer lawmakers from districts where voters prefer Biden to Trump. Jordan's refusal to concede only further emboldened some of the Republicans. "The way out is that Jim Jordan has got to pull his name," said Nebraska Representative Don Bacon, who voted twice against Jordan. "He's going to have to call it quits." Representative John Rutherford of Florida said "it's not going to happen." With Republicans in majority control of the House, 221-212, it appears no Republican candidate can win a clear majority, 217 votes, if there are no absences. Lawyer Kenneth Chesebro pleaded guilty to a felony Friday just as jury selection was getting underway in his trial on charges accusing him of participating in efforts to overturn Donald Trump's loss in the 2020 election in Georgia. Chesebro, who was charged alongside Trump and 17 others with violating the state's anti-racketeering law, pleaded guilty to one felony charge of conspiracy to commit filing false documents in a last-minute deal. His plea came a day after fellow attorney Sidney Powell, who had been scheduled to go to trial alongside him, entered her own guilty plea to six misdemeanor counts. In Chesebro's case, he was sentenced to five years' probation and 100 hours of community service and was ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution, write an apology letter to Georgia's residents and testify truthfully at any related future trial. The two guilty pleas along with a third for a bail bondsman last month are major victories for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who obtained the indictment in August. They allow her to avoid a lengthy trial for two defendants which would have given those remaining a peek at her trial strategy and to whittle down an unwieldy pool of defendants. Chesebro, who lives in Puerto Rico, was initially charged with felony racketeering and six other counts as part of a wide-ranging scheme to keep the Republican president in power after he lost the 2020 election to Democrat Joe Biden. The indictment alleges Chesebro coordinated and executed a plan to have 16 Georgia Republicans sign a certificate declaring falsely that Trump won the state and declaring themselves the state's "duly elected and qualified" electors. For prosecutors, the plea deal assures that Chesebro publicly accepts responsibility for his conduct in the case and removes the uncertainty of a trial by a jury of his peers. It also compels him to testify about communications he had with Trump's campaign lawyers and close associates, including co-defendant Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor and a Trump attorney. Jury selection had been set to start Friday for the trial of Powell and Chesebro after each filed a demand for a speedy trial. Once Powell pleaded guilty, Chesebro had been set to continue to trial on his own. As part of Powell's deal, she will serve six years of probation, will be fined $6,000 and will have to write an apology letter to Georgia and its residents. She also recorded a statement for prosecutors and agreed to testify truthfully against her co-defendants at future trials. A lower-profile defendant in the case, bail bondsman Scott Graham Hall, pleaded guilty last month to five misdemeanor charges. He was sentenced to five years of probation and agreed to testify in further proceedings. All the other defendants, including Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, have pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors allege that Chesebro unlawfully conspired with Trump and lawyers associated with his campaign to have a group of Georgia Republicans sign the false elector certificate and to submit it to various federal authorities. He also communicated with Trump campaign lawyers and Republican leaders in other swing states won by Biden to get those states to submit false slates of electors as well, prosecutors alleged. That included writing memos advocating for Republicans in those states to meet and cast electoral votes for Trump and providing detailed instructions for how the process should be carried out. In an email to Giuliani, he outlined strategies to disrupt and delay the joint session of Congress on Jan. 6, 2021, during which electoral votes were to be certified. He wrote that those strategies were "preferable to allowing the Electoral Count Act to operate by its terms." London's Metropolitan Police are reporting a significant surge in antisemitic and anti-Islamic hate crimes in the city since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict. In a statement Friday, they said that from October 1 to 18 the department saw 218 antisemitic offenses compared to 15 in the same period last year, while Islamophobic offenses jumped from 42 to 101, representing increases of 1,353 percent and 140 percent respectively. The department said the crimes include abuse directed at individuals or groups in person or online, racially or religiously motivated criminal damage and other offenses. They said the sharp rise has come despite an increased police presence near parochial schools, places of worship and communities where the "levels of concern" are known to be the highest. Police said officers have visited 445 schools and 1,930 places of worship, and plan to make more such visits. The department reported 21 arrests for hate crimes during the period and encouraged people to report the offenses to the police. Deputy Assistant Police Commissioner Ade Adelekan discussed the statistics with reporters Friday ahead of a pro-Palestinian march planned for Saturday in London. He confirmed the hate crime arrests included a man arrested on suspicion of defacing posters of missing Israelis and another taken in for more than 10 incidents of Islamophobic graffiti on bus stops. Regarding the march, Adelekan said the department will deploy more than 1,000 officers, including public order officers, road policing teams, mounted units, dog units and police staff. Adelekan said the march will not be allowed to deviate from a planned route, in an effort to keep protesters from the Israeli Embassy. Police also will be listening to what protesters are chanting. Adelekan said, "It is important to remember that while supporting the Palestinian cause or criticizing Israel is not, in itself, unlawful, any support for a proscribed organization such as Hamas or Hezbollah is unlawful." Police said anyone wearing, carrying or otherwise displaying symbols that are supportive of a proscribed organization can be arrested. Some information for this report was provided by Reuters. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yis planned visit to Washington this month is viewed as paving the way for further high-level meetings between the United States and China. It comes as Washington urges Beijing to use its lines of communication with countries in the Middle East to prevent a military escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Washington also is calling for Beijings cooperation to stop the flow of precursor chemicals that are fueling the fentanyl crisis. VOA State Department Bureau Chief Nike Ching has more. CANBERRA, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has announced it will not cancel a Chinese company's lease of the Port of Darwin. The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet on Friday announced that, following a review, it decided it was "not necessary to vary or cancel" the Landbridge Group's 99-year lease of the port in the capital of the Northern Territory (NT). The Landbridge Group, a Chinese firm, in 2015 signed a deal with the government of the NT to lease the port following a bidding process. Shortly after winning power in 2022, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese instructed his department to review the lease. The review, which took advice from government departments and security agencies, found that Australia has a "robust regulatory system in place" to manage critical infrastructure assets, including the port. In a statement, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet said the government had accepted its advice. "Existing monitoring mechanisms are sufficient and will be ongoing; and as a result, it was not necessary to vary or cancel the lease," the statement said. "Australians can have confidence that their safety will not be compromised, while ensuring that Australia remains a competitive destination for foreign investment." The Port of Darwin is Australia's nearest major port to Asia and is one of the country's busiest seaports. According to Landbridge Group data, the port's gross registered tonnage (GRT) for the financial year 2022/23 was 26.7 million, up from 17.4 million in 2015-16. NATO is stepping up patrols in the Baltic Sea following recent damage to undersea infrastructure in the region, the transatlantic military alliance said Thursday. "The increased measures include additional surveillance and reconnaissance flights, including with maritime patrol aircraft, NATO AWACS planes and drones. A fleet of four NATO minehunters is also being dispatched to the area," NATO said in a statement. The move followed announcements by authorities of damage to a Baltic Sea telecom cable connecting Sweden and Estonia and to a Finnish-Estonian pipeline and cable at around the same time earlier this month. Officials from the countries involved have said they have yet to reach firm conclusions on who caused the damage or whether it was accidental or deliberate. "We continue to monitor the situation closely, and we remain in close contact with our Allies Estonia and Finland, and our partner Sweden," said NATO spokesperson Dylan White. "NATO will continue to adapt its maritime posture in the Baltic Sea and will take all necessary steps to keep Allies safe." The buildup illustrates that NATO allies are vigilant and ready for action, Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said. "The decision does not mean that there is an increased military threat. Instead, it shows that relations between Allies are strong, and NATO as a whole sees the protection of critical infrastructure as an important issue," he added. Two of the four minehunters are expected to visit Tallinn on Friday. NATO, the European Union and national governments have made protection of undersea pipelines and cables a high priority since explosions in September 2022 ruptured the Nord Stream pipelines under the Baltic Sea and cut Europe's supply of Russian gas. Investigators have said those blasts were an act of sabotage but have not yet decided who was responsible. The U.S. Army has charged Private Travis King with crimes ranging from desertion for running into North Korea in July to assault against fellow soldiers and solicitation of child pornography, according to documents obtained by Reuters. The Army's case against King, which has not been previously reported, includes eight distinct charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, setting up a substantial legal battle for the 23-year-old soldier after his release from North Korean custody in September. The Army did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In a statement provided by a family spokesperson, King's mother, Claudine Gates, expressed her unconditional love and asked that her son "be afforded the presumption of innocence." "The man I raised, the man I dropped off at boot camp, the man who spent the holidays with me before deploying did not drink," Gates said. "A mother knows her son, and I believe something happened to mine while he was deployed. The Army promised to investigate what happened at Camp Humphries, and I await the results." For weeks, the U.S. Army has deferred questions about whether King would face disciplinary action, saying its priority has been on ensuring the soldier received the proper care after being held for two months by North Korea. His release by North Korea in September followed weeks of behind-the-scenes negotiations that led the Swedish government to retrieve King in North Korea and bring him across the border into China for a handoff to the U.S. ambassador. King was flown to a military hospital in Texas on Sept. 28 for medical evaluations, including for his mental health. Drones and rockets fired Thursday evening targeted Ain al-Asad air base, which hosts U.S. and other international forces in western Iraq, and multiple blasts were heard inside the base, two security sources said. The Iraqi military said it closed the area around the base in Anbar province and started a search operation. It was not clear yet whether the attacks caused casualties or damages, the sources said. Rockets hit another military base hosting U.S. forces near Baghdad's international airport, Iraqi police said Thursday, without providing further details. The latest attacks were the third and fourth within 24 hours to target Iraqi military bases that host U.S. forces in Iraq. U.S. military forces in Iraq were targeted on Wednesday in two separate drone attacks, with one causing minor injuries to a small number of troops even though the U.S. military intercepted the armed drone. Last week, Iraqi armed groups aligned with Iran threatened to target U.S. interests with missiles and drones if Washington intervened to support Israel against Hamas in Gaza. The United States has 2,500 troops in Iraq, and 900 more in neighboring Syria, on a mission to advise and assist local forces in combating Islamic State, which in 2014 seized swaths of territory in both countries. San Francisco Police have released bodycam video and other information regarding an incident at the Chinese consulate earlier this month. On October 9, a Chinese national crashed his car into the consulate, scuffled with police, and threatened them with a knife before he was shot and killed. In a virtual "town hall" meeting late Thursday, San Francisco Police Chief William Scott and Acting Police Commander Mark Im provided details of the incident. As part of its transparency policy, the SFPD provides the public with information regarding any officer involved a shooting. In the report, the officials said at about 3 p.m. local time October 9, officers responded to a report of a vehicle that crashed into the lobby of the Chinese Consulate, located in a residential neighborhood of San Francisco. The dispatcher originally reported the driver was armed with a gun and that a 911 emergency call indicated the crash was intentional. Police at the scene, along with consulate security guards, engaged with the suspect, 31-year-old Zhanyuan Yang. They used pepper spray to subdue him and ordered him to the ground, but he refused. When officers attempted to pin him against a wall, Yang produced a knife and swung it at them. One of the officers drew his weapon and shot Yang, who was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. While no gun was found at the scene, police report they found a loaded crossbow with arrows in his car. The knife Yang carried had an 8.8-centimeter blade. Police offered no motive for the incident and said the investigation is continuing. They identified Yang as a Chinese citizen but gave no details of his immigration or visa status. The incident drew the attention of China's foreign ministry, which, during a regular briefing, noted local police dealt with the incident in timely manner, but urged U.S. officials to swiftly investigate the incident and take effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese diplomatic personnel. The U.S. National Security Council spokeswoman issued a statement condemning the incident. The crash occurred weeks before an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit is to be held in San Francisco, where U.S. officials have indicated a hope that China's top leader, Xi Jinping, and U.S. President Joe Biden could meet. Some information for this report was provided by the Associated Press and Reuters. Rights groups and the political opposition in Chad have been organizing protests and issuing statements ahead of Friday's first anniversary of a crackdown that killed 128 people and injured more than 500 who were demanding an end to military rule. Mahamat El Mahdi Abderrahmane, president of the nongovernmental group Collective Action of Youths for Peace, Development and the Emergence of Chad, said he was requesting an immediate withdrawal of an international arrest warrant that the Transitional Military Council issued for exiled pro-democracy opposition leader Succes Masra. Abderrahmane said the decision to arrest Masra was very unpopular and indicated that military President Mahamat Idriss Deby neither respects his promises nor resolutions of the October 2022 Inclusive and Sovereign National Dialogue. Abderrahmane said Mahamat Elhadj Abba Nana, the state prosecutor based in the capital, N'Djamena, signed an international arrest warrant for Masra on June 8, 2023, but the warrant was never made public. On October 5, after Masra informed Chad's government in a letter that he planned to return from exile in the coming weeks, state TV reported that the arrest warrant had been leaked to social media, including WhatsApp and Facebook, the same day Masra informed authorities of his pending return. Chad's military government says the arrest warrant shared on social media is authentic. The warrant accuses Masra of crimes including an attempted attack on constitutional order, incitement to hatred and an insurrection. Masra says the accusations are trumped up and a bid to stop him for running for president. Thousands protested Opposition and rights groups say Masra and many Chadians who are in exile cannot return home because the political and security situation remains tense since October 20 of last year. Some 128 people were killed and 518 injured as thousands in towns and villages protested the military government's refusal to hand power to civilian leaders. Masra heads the Transformers, Chad's main opposition party. He says he will delay his trip until November for security reasons. Theophile Bebzoune Bongoro, president of Chads Progressive Workers for Cohesion Union, said Chad's Transitional Military Council should have rendered justice to the thousands of civilians who were either killed, injured, maimed or psychologically tortured during the peaceful protests. Speaking via a messaging app from N'Djamena, he said the proliferation of armed groups is an indication of displeasure with junta leader Deby for violently suppressing opponents. Bongoro said Deby should free political prisoners and stop the regular arrest and torture of civilians who hold views contrary to those of the military government. In a message on state TV on Wednesday, Deby said he is implementing all the resolutions of the national dialogue aimed at bringing together all sides in the political spectrum. He also promised a return to constitutional rule. Deby said he hopes the peace and tranquility that has characterized the first year of the Inclusive and Sovereign National Dialogue will continue as Chad prepares for a return to civilian rule. He said that he'd visited all 23 provinces in the country and that his government was bringing back security and improving living conditions as requested by civilians. Deby did not comment on allegations of abuses of liberties and the arrest and torture of his opponents. The junta leader became head of an 18-month transitional council on April 21, 2021, following the death of his 68-year-old father from injuries suffered while visiting troops fighting rebels in the north of the country. Deby was supposed to hand power to a civilian government in October 2022 but did not do so. Instead, the transition period was extended by two years. Human Rights Watch said in a report last week that the arrests of supporters of Chads main opposition party seemed to be an attempt to limit political dissent ahead of a vote on a new constitution, set for December. Chad is expected to hold presidential elections in 2024. Top U.N. humanitarian and political officials are at the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza, negotiating to end the stalemate that has prevented the delivery of humanitarian aid for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who have been under siege since Hamas militants attacked Israel October 7. They are in touch with Egyptian authorities, with everybody who can help to get humanitarian needs into Gaza, Alessandra Vellucci, director of the U.N. Information Office in Geneva, told journalists Friday. She said U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was in Egypt with Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths and Under-Secretary-General for Political Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo, trying to get a large convoy of relief supplies massed at the border moving into Gaza. What has to be made clear is that they are doing what they can to have a sustained humanitarian access and a flow of aid that gets into the country in a steady way, a sufficient way, and a safe way, she said. U.S. President Joe Biden brokered a deal between Egypt and Israel to allow a 20-truck humanitarian aid convoy to enter Gaza Friday. That convoy has been delayed, reportedly because of needed road repairs. However, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said it believed that is likely to be a temporary setback. We are indeed in advanced negotiations with all relevant sides to ensure that an aid operation into Gaza starts as quickly as possible, with the right conditions, said Jens Laerke, Humanitarian Affairs spokesperson. We are encouraged by reports that the different sides are nearing an agreement on the modalities and that a first delivery is due to start in the next day or so, he said, noting that there needs to be unhindered humanitarian access of food, water, fuel and medicine into Gaza. However, Israel will not allow fuel, which Laerke calls a lifesaving commodity, to enter Gaza, noting that the territory has been under a full power blackout for nine days, with no electricity or fuel to run generators in hospitals. In a situation report issued Friday, the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, or UNRWA, warned that the lack of fuel was compounding the already dire conditions in Gaza. The water crisis continues due to the inability to bring in much needed fuel, which is needed to operate water pumps and desalination plants. Health-related risks due to the lack of water and poor sanitation are growing, including water-borne and other diseases. Fuel stocks in the functional health centers are also depleted, hampering the provision of primary health care in UNRWAs health centers, it said. Before the assault by Hamas, followed by Israels siege of Gaza, people with chronic diseases, who needed treatment outside the Palestinian occupied territories could get permission to cross into Israel or Rafah. Normally, we would have had several hundred people going out of Gaza every day for advanced medical care, said Margaret Harris, World Health Organization spokesperson. Now, with many of the hospitals, at least five hospitals, not functioning we have many, many people with chronic conditions, who are not getting care, she said. According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, 3,785 people have been killed and another 12,493 injured since October 7. OCHA puts the number of people killed in Israel at 1,300, with at least 4,562 wounded. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has urged all parties to allow the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for all civilians in need. Human rights officials expressed concern about the continued indiscriminate rockets being fired from Gaza. They also deplored Israels continued bombardment in both the southern and northern parts of Gaza, making it difficult, if not impossible for people to find safety. There are fuel shortages. People are not able to move as well for logistical reasons in addition of their fear of violence, of being hit by strikes, said Ravina Shamdasani, the high commissioners spokesperson. When the evacuation order had been issued by Israel calling on the population to move down south, there were, of course, counter orders issued by Palestinian armed groups, calling on them not to move. So, again you had civilians caught in the middle of insanity and placed in impossible situations. Whether they moved, whether they stayed, they are still in the midst of unacceptable violence at all times, she said. The Ukrainian parliament gave initial approval Thursday to a law that would ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church after Kyiv accused it of collaborating with Russia following last year's invasion. The UOC has historic links with Moscow, but says it is no longer aligned with the Russian Orthodox Church. It denies the charges leveled at it by Kyiv and said the draft law would be unconstitutional. Yaroslav Zheleznyak, a member of parliament, said on the Telegram messaging app that deputies had voted to support the bill in its first reading. It has to be backed in a second reading and approved by the president to go in to force. The law would ban the activities of religious organizations affiliated with centers of influence "in a state that carries out armed aggression against Ukraine," and such activities could be terminated by a court of law. Another lawmaker, Iryna Herashchenko, said the vote was a step toward removing "Moscow priests from the Ukrainian land." The head of Russia's Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, appealed to Orthodox and other churches to do what they could to stop Ukraine's action before the bill became law. "I ask you to take all measures to prevent the continuation of the mass infringements of religious rights of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church," Kirill said in the appeal, which appeared on a church website. It was also addressed to U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres and other figures. The UOC said the draft law, one of several similar bills registered in parliament, did not comply with the European Convention on Human Rights or Ukraine's constitution. Describing itself as an "independent and separate church," the UOC accused Kyiv of trying to pass it off as affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church and portraying its Ukrainian clergymen and believers as "agents of the Russian Federation." An independent Orthodox church was founded in Ukraine soon after independence from Soviet rule and has long competed for adherents with the Russia-linked church. It only received formal recognition from the world Orthodox hierarchy in 2018. Ukrainian authorities and many people in Ukraine had for years seen the UOC as loyal to Moscow and cracked down on the church after Russia's February 2022 invasion. Tensions have surfaced across the country. A government commission has ruled the UOC is still canonically linked to Russia despite the church declaring that it cut ties with the Russian Orthodox Church in May 2022. UOC Metropolitan Pavlo has been notified he is suspected of inciting inter-religious hatred and distributing materials justifying Russian aggression. He has denied the accusations. Ukraine's Security Service said Thursday 68 criminal cases, including accusations of treason, had been initiated against UOC representatives since Russia's invasion. Analyst Volodymyr Fesenko said a ban on the UOC could be challenged in Ukraine and at the European Court of Human Rights. Fesenko suggested the church could register as a new entity with "no reference whatsoever to canonical ties" with Russia. An International Atomic Energy Agency inspection team Friday observed the preparation of fish samples for testing to assess the impact of treated nuclear wastewater released into the ocean from Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant. The IAEA team included independent scientists from China, South Korea and Canada, who observed at Japan's Marine Ecology Research Institute, in Chiba prefecture. Samples were sorted and prepared to be sent to laboratories in different countries for independent testing. IAEA scientist Iolanda Osvath told reporters it was important the samples are sent to neighboring countries for testing so the data can be compared and each nation can trust each other's data. The controversial release of the treated wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi power plant began in August. Although IAEA scientists have insisted water samples taken have shown safe levels of radioactivity, the plan has been strongly opposed by neighboring countries. China banned the import of Japanese seafood products as a result and hundreds of people have protested the plan in South Korea. Japanese officials have said the release of the water, which is expected to take years, is necessary to fully decommission the plant. The Fukushima plant became inoperable on March 11, 2011, when a 9.0-magnitude earthquake triggered a tsunami that swept across northeastern Japan before reaching Fukushima prefecture. High waves knocked out the plant's power supply and cooling systems and led to a meltdown of three reactors, sending massive amounts of radiation into the air and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of residents, making it the world's worst nuclear disaster since the 1986 Chernobyl accident. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters. A top U.S. official on African affairs says there is a need for a quick transition to civilian rule in Gabon after a coup in August, but coup leaders have yet to make public when they would hand power back to civilians. Following a coup in August, Washington suspended most nonhumanitarian aid to the central African nation. Judd Devermont, a special assistant to U.S. President Joe Biden, met with military leaders Thursday in the Gabonese capital, Libreville. Devermont said he met with Gabon's coup leader, General Brice Oligui Nguema and the military-appointed Prime Minister Raymond Ndong Sima. Devermont said that during separate meetings with Nguema and Sima, he focused on returning to constitutional order in Gabon. "I came here all the way from Washington, to meet with the government to discuss the transition to civilian rule and having free and fair elections, Devermont said. President Biden is committed to deepening our partnership with African partners, countries and people and we stand strongly in solidarity with the Gabonese people." Gabon state TV reported that Nguema reiterated after the meeting he will return power to civilian rule at the end of the transition, but he did not announce a timeframe. Gabon's military government said it told the U.S. delegation that contributions and suggestions from citizens are being received ahead of a national dialogue that is scheduled for December. Gabons caretaker government says the military junta is undertaking initiatives to restore stability, carry out institutional and legislative reforms, fight corruption, ensure sustainable economic development and improve living conditions of poor civilians in the oil-producing nation before organizing elections. Nguema, a former commander of the Republican Guard, was sworn in as Gabon's transitional president after a group of Gabon military officers seized power on August 30 and put President Ali Bongo Ondimba under house arrest. Shortly before the coup, the Gabonese Election Center had declared Bongo winner of the August 26 election, but the opposition denounced the election as fraudulent. The military then seized power and said it saved Gabon from an armed conflict that was being prepared by the opposition. Ellen Thorburn, United States ambassador to Gabon, was part of the U.S. delegation. She said the delegation sent by Biden after listening to Gabon's military junta's plans to organize a national dialogue before preparing elections hopes that transition to civilian rule will be within the shortest possible period of time. Thorburn said issues related to American assistance to Gabon after the military seized power were raised during discussions with Gabon's new leaders. She said her delegation told Nguema and Ndong that President Biden's administration intends to have good relations with all African states including Gabon. Last month, the U.S. suspended foreign assistance programs benefiting the central African government while evaluating the unconstitutional military intervention in the countrys democracy. Coup leaders have said international sanctions placed on Gabon by the African Union and the U.N. to pressure Nguema to return to constitutional order could be devastating to the countrys economy but added that the military junta needs time to carry out reforms before a return to civilian rule. Jean Cedric Obame Emane, a defense and security consultant at Gabon's University Omar Bongo, said he is convinced that Nguema can return power to civilian rule in less than three years. "The issue of legitimacy will always come forth, but during the day of the military coup, people [civilians] did not go out to challenge the military forces, they did not go to the street to engage the military forces, Emane said. They [civilians] were celebrating. I believe the organizing of elections is not the only challenge that he has. He has economic issues, social issues at the same time. The number one challenge he has is not only elections." Emane spoke with VOA via a messaging app from Libreville. Despite halting aid, the U.S. is maintaining diplomatic and consular operations in the oil-rich central African country. The USS Carney, a Navy destroyer in the Red Sea, has shot down multiple missiles and drones launched by Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen, weapons that the Pentagon says were "heading along the Red Sea, potentially toward targets in Israel." Pentagon press secretary Brigadier General Pat Ryder on Thursday told reporters at the Pentagon that the ship intercepted three land attack cruise missiles and several drones over water. "This action was a demonstration of the integrated air and missile defense architecture that we have built in the Middle East and that we are prepared to utilize, whenever necessary, to protect our partners and our interests in this important region," Ryder said. There were no casualties, according to Ryder. The ship did not appear to be the target of the attack, according to preliminary U.S. assessments. The missiles from Yemen come a day after the al-Tanf garrison, which hosts U.S. forces in Syria, was targeted by two drones. U.S. and coalition forces destroyed one drone, while the other drone reached the base and resulted in minor injuries to coalition forces, according to Ryder. U.S. forces in northern Iraq shot down another drone Tuesday near Bashur Air Base, resulting in no injuries or damage to coalition equipment or facilities. Two drones targeted al-Asad Air Base in western Iraq on Tuesday; one was shot down while the other was damaged, resulting in minor injuries to coalition forces. "Any response, should one occur, will come at a time in a manner of our choosing," Ryder said. The drone and missile attacks follow an increase of U.S. military presence in the region after Hamas' brutal Oct. 7 assault on Israel that left 1,400 Israelis dead. At least 3,000 Palestinians have died since Israel began targeting Hamas forces in Gaza after the attack. The U.S. has said the increased presence is intended to deter malign actors such as Hezbollah or Iran from expanding the conflict. Dakota Wood, a senior research fellow at The Heritage Foundation, told VOA, "Given the stakes that are involved and what Hamas or Iran or Hezbollah might be trying to achieve in the region, it could be that they don't care what the U.S. sends in. If they can draw the United States into war, maybe that helps their cause." The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier strike group is headed across the Atlantic to join the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, which is operating in the eastern Mediterranean. Three ships with the USS Bataan amphibious ready group are positioning thousands of Marines in waters near Israel. A squadron of A-10 attack aircraft has arrived in the Middle East, with another A-10 squadron's deployment extended. More F-15 and F-16 fighter jets also are rolling into the region. Earlier this week, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin placed more than 2,000 military personnel on heightened alert with a prepare-to-deploy order. The Pentagon told VOA on Tuesday that, should the president activate the units, it will further boost the U.S. military's air defenses; medical and logistical capabilities; and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance abilities in the Middle East. Ryder said Thursday the Pentagon has now identified the units that have been tapped with the prepare-to-deploy order, but he declined to go into specifics unless "those units are actually tasked to deploy." Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 10, 2023. (Xinhua/Yang Guang) TOKYO, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- The biggest goal of the Japan-China Treaty of Peace and Friendship is to pass on peaceful and friendly relations between the two countries and jointly build a good bilateral relationship, former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda told Xinhua in a recent interview. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the signing of the treaty of peace and friendship between China and Japan. On Oct. 23, 1978, Takeo Fukuda, Yasuo Fukuda's father and then prime minister of Japan, and Deng Xiaoping, then Chinese leader, attended the ceremony for the exchange of instruments of ratification of the Treaty for the Treaty to officially enter into effect. Yasuo Fukuda, serving as his father's secretary at the time, was present and witnessed the ceremony. "It can be said that I am also a witness to the Japan-China Treaty of Peace and Friendship." The Treaty stipulates in legal form that China and Japan shall adhere to peace, friendship and cooperation, not interfere in each other's internal affairs, not seek hegemony, and oppose the establishment of hegemony by any other country or group of countries. To pass on peaceful and friendly relations between Japan and China is the biggest goal of the Treaty, Yasuo Fukuda said, adding that in order to achieve this goal, various problems may be encountered, and the two countries should work to overcome difficulties and jointly build good relations. In 2008, the two countries issued China-Japan Joint Statement on All-round Promotion of Strategic Relationship of Mutual Benefit. Yasuo Fukuda was the Japanese prime minister at the time. Since the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan in 1972, two of the four political documents signed by the two countries are closely related to the Fukuda father and son. In this regard, Yasuo Fukuda noted that the four political documents have stipulated principles to be followed in the relations between Japan and China, and "we must always bear them in mind and cannot go back." "Geographically, Japan and China are neighbors and have very close cultural ties. Both sides must abide by the spirit of the political documents and avoid conflict in the future. This is the mission of both Japan and China," he said. Noting that this year also marks the 45th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up, Yasuo Fukuda said that Japan and China have since then established close cooperative relations. The two countries have helped each other and achieved mutual benefit, which is in line with the long-term interests of both countries. Yasuo Fukuda served as chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia from 2010 to 2018, during which he witnessed China's continuous opening-up and rapid economic development. He expressed optimism about China's economic prospects. Yasuo Fukuda also lauded the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), saying that the BRI is a vivid practice of the concept of building a community with a shared future for humanity. Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 10, 2023. (Xinhua/Yang Guang) The White House has asked Congress for $105 billion to boost security assistance for Ukraine and Israel, as well as humanitarian assistance for people in Gaza. The formal request Friday came a day after President Joe Biden's national address in the Oval Office where he appealed to the American people to continue funding the war efforts of Ukraine and Israel. The request includes $61.4 billion for defense support in Ukraine, $14.3 billion for Israel, and $9.15 billion for humanitarian assistance in both countries, as well as for people in Gaza and other needs. "This budget request is critical to advancing America's national security and ensuring the safety of the American people," the president's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told reporters. However, the funding request is essentially stalled in Congress because House Republicans are still trying to elect a speaker after ousting their previous speaker earlier this month. On Friday, Ohio Republican Jim Jordan fell far short of the number of votes he needed from his own party to claim the speakership, after having failed in two previous attempts this week. Ahead of the vote, Democratic Majority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called Jordan "a clear and present danger to the American people" and urged moderate Republicans to break ranks and join Democrats in electing a speaker. So far, no Republicans have done so through multiple rounds of voting. President Emmerson Mnangagwa has proclaimed dates of by-elections for nine constituencies following the recall of legislators of the Citizens Coalition for Change by Sengezo Tshabangu, who claims to be the secretary general of the opposition party led by Nelson Chamisa. According to the state-controlled Herald newspaper, the by-elections will be held on December 9 while the Nomination Court will be held on November 7. Tshabangu, who has been attacked by CCC as an imposter being allegedly used by the ruling party, recalled 15 legislators. Six of the lawmakers made it to parliament through proportional representation. CCC is crying foul saying they had taken the matter to court but Mnangagwa disregarded that and made the proclamation of the by-election dates. CCC deputy spokesperson Gift Ostallos Siziva said, We totally disagree with what Mnangagwa has done. This matter is still in the court and we are very sure that he is the mastermind of all these recalls. Information secretary Nick Mangwana and Deputy Chief Secretary (Presidential Communications) George Charamba were unreachable for comment as they were not responding to calls on their mobile phones. Communications director of the ruling Zanu PF party, Farai Marapira, said the president followed the law in proclaiming by-election dates. We know that CCC says they dont know Tshabangu but apparently he is all over in public photos being circulated showing him with some top members of the party. They always deny the obvious. President Mnangagwa won the presidential election with 52.6% of the vote and Chamisa got 44%. The opposition questioned the presidential election results and declared it null and void. The Southern African Development Community, European Union and African Union said the election fell short of regional and international standards. The opposition is calling for fresh elections but Zanu PF says there wont be any polls until 2028. Our correspondent Mlondolozi Ndlovu also contributed to this article People visit the 24th Conference on the Electric Power Supply Industry & Exhibition in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province, Oct. 20, 2023. The 24th Conference on the Electric Power Supply Industry opened on Friday in the eastern Chinese coastal city of Xiamen, becoming the first offline conference of its kind globally since the COVID-19 pandemic. Themed "Low Carbon Energy, Powering a Green Future," the conference has attracted over 2,000 delegates, including representatives of leading energy and power enterprises, authorities and international organizations in the Asia-Pacific region. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan) XIAMEN, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- The 24th Conference on the Electric Power Supply Industry opened on Friday in the eastern Chinese coastal city of Xiamen, becoming the first offline conference of its kind globally since the COVID-19 pandemic. Themed "Low Carbon Energy, Powering a Green Future," the conference has attracted over 2,000 delegates, including representatives of leading energy and power enterprises, authorities and international organizations in the Asia-Pacific region. During the conference, in-depth discussions and interactive exchanges will be held on key issues of global concern such as China's dual carbon goals, green and low-carbon development, electrification, new power systems, new power markets and comprehensive energy. More than 40 prominent guests will deliver keynote reports on the major concerns of the industry and share advanced development concepts and practical industry experience, aiming to handle new challenges in energy security, climate change and sustainable development. With a total area of about 17,500 square meters, the exhibition area will this year comprehensively showcase the innovation and development achievements of member units of the Association of the Electricity Supply Industry of East Asia and the Western Pacific (AESIEAP), providing a platform for international and domestic industry players to connect technological innovation with market demand. The conference is being hosted by AESIEAP and the China Electricity Council, and will run until Oct. 23. Guests visit the 24th Conference on the Electric Power Supply Industry & Exhibition in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province, Oct. 20, 2023. The 24th Conference on the Electric Power Supply Industry opened on Friday in the eastern Chinese coastal city of Xiamen, becoming the first offline conference of its kind globally since the COVID-19 pandemic. Themed "Low Carbon Energy, Powering a Green Future," the conference has attracted over 2,000 delegates, including representatives of leading energy and power enterprises, authorities and international organizations in the Asia-Pacific region. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan) Photo: CBS First, lets pour one out for The Problem With Jon Stewart. Yet another late-night show bites the dust, and Roy Wood Jr. seems more and more clairvoyant for seeking opportunities outside the topical comedy ecosphere. The New York Times said Problem was problematic from Apples POV because it wanted to tackle topics like China and AI. Is this a thing thats going to keep happening? Seems probable, especially as media becomes one arrow in any given omnicorps quiver. Once again, it feels like the problem is that the people who make movies and TV dont really like movies and TV anymore. Anyway, this frees up Stewart to do a guest-hosting week on The Daily Show if he so chooses. Though he should probably ask former Problem guest Bob Iger about returning to the job you crushed after a hiatus. This week was also a big one for late night (Taylors Version). Clips of The Late Show (specifically Stephen Colbert dissing George Santos for not knowing his Reputation from his 1989) came across my TikTok FYP a rare occurrence, especially for someone who watches late night for a living. One other Swiftie moment made it into this weeks ranking, but first I want to give a shout-out to Issa Rae on WWHL for being honest about not giving one shit about Swift and Travis Kelce. Most people were clamoring to discuss Traylor, since its infinitely less depressing than the news, but Rae stood firm. However, speaking of Taylor Swift 5. Desi Lydic in Her Eras Era Desi Lydic went to The Eras Tour movie screenings, and frankly its insane other shows didnt. Whether youre gently ribbing Swifties for their dedication or praising them for their contributions to the economy, its damn fine content. This is what The Daily Show used to do best: Before Trevor Noah and even Jon Stewart, TDS correspondents would go talk to a weird subculture and cut a charming four minutes or so out of the footage. The women who think billionaires suck, but female billionaire suck less? Give them a recurring segment! Id love to check in with these specific youths on the issues. 4. Mike Hanford and a Tiny Microphone Youve heard of man-on-the-street interviews, but Birthday Boy-on-the-street interviews? Thats crazy. Mike Hanford went to New York Comic Con with a simple goal: to misname superhero cosplayers. And he achieved it. Petition for DC Comics to create a new villain called the Metal Bug. He wears the exact same suit as Black Manta and gets really mad whenever people get them confused. This would have been much higher on the list had it gone one for longer than one minute, 39 seconds. Let that boy breathe! 3. New York Opines on Gemma Collins Again What an inspired choice by the WWHL producers to ask Tiffany New York Pollard to try to say three nice things about her former Big Brother nemesis, Gemma Collins. You just know its going to go bad. The nicest thing she can muster is that she had the good sense to ask for New Yorks incense whenever she had to take a dump. Oh, and that applying spray tanner to her ass wasnt that bad of an experience. As our House of Villains recaps state, Tiffany Pollard should be on TV at all times. 2. The Sewer Boys Late-Night Debut Most actors still cannot promote their work on late night since the SAG-AFTRA strike is ongoing. But A24 struck a deal, so Dicks: The Musical can do the full press-tour thing. Issa Rae has to plug her prosecco, but Nathan Lane can bring out the Sewer Boys. Its honestly incredible hearing Lane explain the plot of the movie on a late-night-show couch, as if the words coming out of his mouth make sense to normal humans. Of course, he knows Dicks isnt going to make sense to everyone, which is why he recommends Blue Bloods reruns to anyone who doesnt like being challenged by art. 1. Caroline Polachek? More Like Caroline PowerPoint Normally, we dont discuss musical guests in this column, but normally, pop songstresses dont become queens of catchphrase comedy during their late-night sets. Caroline Polachek did a whole TED Talk thing on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, and it was wonderful. I need about half those slides on shirts now. Whats more, no one I know who has seen this performance has been able to stop saying the word dang at the slightest bemusement. Thats Mike Myerslevel comedic talent, okay? Polachek could turn dang into a movie, and then 20 years later were all wearing the docs (dang Crocs). It could happen. Photo: Kayla Oaddams/WireImage Danny Elfman has been sued by a second woman for sexual misconduct. Per The Hollywood Reporter, an anonymous accuser filed a lawsuit against the composer on Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court. Elfman and his company, Musica de la Muerta, are facing allegations of sexual assault, gender violence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, sexual harassment, and negligence. The complaint claims that the Jane Doe plaintiff met Elfman in 1997 when she was a 21-year-old student and he was 47. According to the lawsuit, he invited her to industry events and treated her as his protege. Over the next five years, he allegedly removed his clothes and exposed his genitals to the plaintiff, claiming that it was the only way he could work, be creative, and successful. The lawsuit further alleges that she sometimes slept, fully clothed, on the same bed as a nude Elfman. Doe claims that she cut contact with Elfman around 2002, when he allegedly told her that he had masturbated every time she slept next to him. A spokesperson for Elfman denied these allegations as baseless and absurd, telling THR in a statement that his legal team is assessing all options and he will vigorously defend these claims in court. The new claims are strikingly similar to allegations leveled by composer Nomi Abadi in a previous lawsuit against Elfman, which he also denied. Abadi claimed that the man she looked to as a mentor figure indecently exposed himself and masturbated in front of her without consent. Her case was settled with a nondisclosure agreement in 2018, but it came to light this July when she accused Elfman of failing to pay $85,000 of the $830,000 settlement. Abadis attorney, Jeff Anderson, said Elfmans latest accuser contacted him after reading about and relating to Abadis story. Photo: Cindy Ord/Getty Images Was there no better solution? Per the New York Times, staffers on The Problem with Jon Stewart were told on Thursday that the Apple TV+ talk show will not be returning, reportedly due to creative differences between Stewart and the overlords at Apple. According to the Times, this decision comes just a couple weeks before filming on a third season was due to start. Apple execs apparently disagreed with the former Daily Show host about show guests and topics. Stewart is said to have explained to staffers in a meeting that potential discussions related to China and AI were specifically causing concern. Add in the presidential campaigns that are picking up as 2024 approaches, and the potential for more Problem problems just grew. Basically, it looks like we are once again saying goodbye to Stewarts signature flavor of comedy and current events. But were not worried about Stewart finding his way back to late-night TV. At the very least, he can always get dressed up for a Daily Show cameo or crawl back under his good friend Stephen Colberts desk. Its not Martin Scorseses western, and its not another gangster epic. Its his marriage story. Photo: Melinda Sue Gordon This review was originally published in May out of the Cannes Film Festival. We are recirculating it now timed to Killers of the Flower Moons theatrical release. The early scenes of Martin Scorseses Killers of the Flower Moon are a symphony of pointed dissonance. The director revels in the frantic bustle of the Oklahoma boomtown of Fairfax where most of the film is set a world of fast, shiny cars, hollering cowboys, and seemingly endless oil fields. World War I has recently ended, and the turn-of-the-century discovery of black gold in this region, to which the Osage were moved from their ancestral homes along the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys, has unexpectedly created immense wealth, making the Osage the richest people per capita on earth. But the new money has also led to a series of unsolved murders, and Scorsese grimly interrupts the action at regular intervals to show the faces, and say the names, of the Native American dead. Its a somber historical accounting, but it also happens to be a familiar western-movie trope: One is reminded of Charles Bronsons Harmonica hauntingly reciting the many victims of Henry Fondas aspiring-capitalist gunslinger Frank in Sergio Leones Once Upon a Time in the West. It would be tempting to say that Killers of the Flower Moon is Scorseses attempt at a western, and in some of its sweeping vistas, particularly early on, you can sense him luxuriating in the open spaces and lawless frenzy of this world. The story would obviously also lend itself to yet another gangster epic from a man whos made his share of them. But in adapting David Granns acclaimed 2017 nonfiction history, whose subtitle is The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, Scorsese and screenwriter Eric Roth have shifted the scope of the story, pulling the timeline further back to show the growing relationship between Mollie Brown (Lily Gladstone), a member of a large and wealthy Osage family, and Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio), a WWI veteran who arrives in town to work for his uncle, William Hale (Robert De Niro), a local godfather type. For all its extravagant run time (three hours and 26 minutes!), its big-swing history lessons, and its tale of an Old West giving way to the regimentation of a modern police force, Killers of the Flower Moon turns out to be that simplest and slipperiest of things: the story of a marriage. And a twisted, tragic one at that. Ernests growing relationship with Mollie is at first an extension of his bond with King Hale, who takes a great interest in his nephews prospects for marriage. (You like women? Sure. You like Red? Dont matter to me. Im greedy.) Hale and the people around him have taken advantage of the restrictive laws governing Native American wealth. Full-blooded Osage do not actually control their own money; they are declared officially incompetent and require white guardians to oversee their riches. Quickly, and almost imperceptibly, the impressionable and weak-minded Ernest is coaxed into Hales running, murderous plot to accrue even more Osage wealth. The first half of Granns book is structured as something of a mystery. But Scorsese mostly does away with all that, backloading the second half of his film with the investigation by Bureau agent Thomas White (Jesse Plemons), long after we already know the contours of the crime. What was a revelation in the book is here treated in matter-of-fact fashion early on as a casual, quiet, gathering conspiracy. Its fueled by greed, but also by the notion that the people being killed, robbed, and exploited the Osage families living in fear of this slow-rolling crime wave (referred to at the time as the reign of terror) arent really people at all. The most uncomfortable aspect of Killers of the Flower Moon is not the spectacular criminality on display, but rather how its treated by so many of the characters as no big deal. These are typically Scorsesean ideas: our offhand capacity for evil, the inherent violence of relationships, the strain of serving two masters. Ernest doesnt have a spine, or even much of an identity. Hes defined by his malleability which can become wearying over the course of nearly four hours, especially as the film moves toward a stripped-down, minor-key austerity in its later scenes. DiCaprio is a fine actor, but he needs space to maneuver. Hes at his best when he can go big. Here, his character shrinks the more hes onscreen, and the actor sometimes feels lost. De Niro, by contrast, has a grand old time as the smooth-talking Hale, imparting his ghastly plans with avuncular chumminess, as if they were bits of folksy wisdom. Its a return to the quiet menace of some of his classic characters. In so many ways, though, this is Lily Gladstones movie. She plays Mollie with a mix of standoffishness and exhausted hope. She can tell early on that Ernest is out for her money. So is every white man around her. But she comes to see charm and slivers of decency in him, too. As the horrors mount around her, Mollie navigates her queasy, gathering suspicions as well as her affection for her husband. Ernest is well, hes earnest. When he tells Mollie he loves her, she believes him. And so do we. That is, in many ways, the great, cruel, unreconciled tragedy at the heart of this tale. It also perhaps explains Scorseses decision in the later scenes to go in a heartbreakingly intimate direction. As Ernest continues to ping-pong between his loyalties to Hale and Mollie, seemingly too weak and too plain to find anything resembling a moral backbone, we feel like were watching someone slowly being tortured to death by his own inadequacy. Maybe thats also why the story never really achieves closure or anything resembling redemption. By the time Scorsese himself comes onscreen to deliver the pictures final lines in an incredibly moving cameo, placing himself alongside the showmen and sensationalists whove told the story of the Osage murders over the decades we may actually find ourselves surprised that the movie is over. It feels like an open wound right up to the end. Photo: Ron Wolfson/WireImage After surviving three decades in the spotlight and 13 years in a conservatorship, Britney Spears is correcting the record. Excerpts from her upcoming memoir, The Woman and Me, tell the pop stars side of all the stories, adding new dimensions to well-known tabloid fodder that often portrayed Spears in extreme terms. At the turn of the century, she was the Mickey Mouse Clubs eternal virgin, dating Americas Prince Charming and soon-to-be breakout member of the R&B-adjacent group N Sync. Her breakup with Justin Timberlake shattered her wholesome teen image, making her something of a femme fatale or harlot in the eyes of the public (Spears uses the more derogatory term). Her star had fallen by 2007. A troubled marriage with Kevin Federline and a shaved head, covered ad nauseam by the press, gave way to the court-ordered seizure of her personal and financial affairs. Over the past 15 years or even at the start of my career, I sat back while people spoke about me and told my story for me, she told People in an email interview. After getting out of my conservatorship, I was finally free to tell my story without consequences from the people in charge of my life. In some ways, Spears does the book equivalent of her bare-it-all Instagram posts in The Woman in Me. Except this time, its not written in emoji. Below, the biggest revelations ahead of the memoirs official October 24 release. Dating Justin Timberlake wasnt a fairy tale. She and Timberlake reportedly had their first kiss at a sleepover in their teen years. Eventually, the couple got together for real and officially dated from 1999 to 2002. Spears thought they would last forever. When she realized she was pregnant, the couple chose abortion because Timberlake wasnt yet ready to be a father. It was a surprise, but for me, it wasnt a tragedy. I loved Justin so much, Spears remembers, per an excerpt from People. I always expected us to have a family together one day. This would just be much earlier than Id anticipated. Timberlake wasnt happy about the pregnancy. He said we werent ready to have a baby in our lives, that we were way too young. Their breakup left Spears devastated. The heartbreak, combined with the media perception that Spears was to blame, weighed heavily on the pop star, according to the New York Times. She was the harlot whod broken the heart of Americas golden boy, she writes, when in fact: I was comatose in Louisiana, and he was happily running around Hollywood. She confirms that she kissed Wade Robson during their relationship and says Justin Timberlake cheated with an unnamed celebrity. The subsequent Diane Sawyer interview post-breakup made her feel even worse. I felt like I had been exploited, the book reads, set up in front of the whole world. Shaving her head was a way to push back against a leering public. Spears noticed interviewers were comfortable asking her inappropriate questions at a young age. During her Baby One More Time press tour, she couldnt help but notice that she would get questions that were totally different from the ones her tourmate Timberlake would get. Everyone kept making strange comments about my breasts, she writes, according to the New York Times, wanting to know whether or not Id had plastic surgery. The combination of public pressure and mounting fame led her to start taking Prozac. The act of shaving her head was, in part, a way to take back control. Id been eyeballed so much growing up. Id been looked up and down, had people telling me what they thought of my body, since I was a teenager, she recalls of the infamous moment in 2007 that made everyone, including her mom, scared of her. Shaving my head and acting out were my ways of pushing back. It was also a symptom of the personal struggles she faced during her divorce from Federline, the custody battle, and the death of her aunt. I am willing to admit that in the throes of severe postpartum depression, abandonment by my husband, the torture of being separated from my two babies, the death of my adored aunt Sandra, and the constant drumbeat of pressure from paparazzi, Id begin to think in some ways like a child. Spears says she never had a drinking problem, nor was she interested in hard drugs. Her drug of choice was the ADHD medication Adderall, according to an excerpt from the New York Times. The drug made me high, yes, but what I found far more appealing was that it gave me a few hours of feeling less depressed. Her conservatorship was harrowing. California appointed her father, Jamie Spears, as her conservator in 2008 in the middle of her personal battles. She describes how her relatively unrestricted life became tightly controlled, per the New York Times report. I went from partying a lot to being a total monk, Britney writes. Security guards handed me prepackaged envelopes of meds and watched me take them. They put parental controls on my iPhone. Everything was scrutinized and controlled. Everything. It made her feel like a child-robot. I had been so infantilized that I was losing pieces of what made me feel like myself, she writes in her memoir, per People. The conservatorship stripped me of my womanhood, made me into a child. I became more of an entity than a person onstage. I had always felt music in my bones and my blood; they stole that from me. Her father put her in a Beverly Hills rehab facility in 2018 after the two had disputes over the conservatorship. They kept me locked up against my will for months, she writes. I couldnt go outside. I couldnt drive a car. I had to give blood weekly. I couldnt take a bath in private. I couldnt shut the door to my room. It was also where Britney learned about the Free Britney movement. The documentaries hurt. It felt like every day there was another documentary about me on yet another streaming service, Britney recalls, according to the New York Times. Seeing the documentaries about me was rough. She also felt bad when she discovered that some of her friends spoke on the record without giving her a heads-up. I understand that everyones heart was in the right place, but I was hurt that some old friend spoke to filmmakers without consulting me first. She adds, There was so much guessing about what I must have thought or felt. Calvin Evans is dead. Just in case you came here thinking theres no way theyd kill off that man in episode two, it was the perfect, most lovely romance and maybe that bus just nicked him because no there is just no way I wont stand for it THERE IS NO WAY. I see you. I hear you. But, sadly, there is a way. That bus slammed directly into happy, beautiful, on-the-verge-of-a-scientific-breakthrough Calvin Evans, leaving behind one sneaker and his pocket watch in its wake. It is devastating. Just look at Elizabeth Zott when the police tell her the news and hand her that watch she is devastated. While the follow-up to Calvins heartbreaking death is, yes, about Elizabeth, it is also very much about a very good boy named Six Thirty. Shall we talk about the dog narration? In the novel, letting Six Thirty narrate in different chapters works really well. Its a seamless change in point of view. Six Thirty gets real character development. His voice is funny, its poignant, and it never feels awkward. Here, it feels awkward at least, the transition from an episode with some serious subject matter that ends with such a shock into one narrated by a dog is not the easiest to swallow. Perhaps its meant to soften the blow? It feels a little ridiculous at the start. However, the dog admittedly won me over in the end. Am I a sucker? Maybe! But thats my problem, okay? The smartest choice Lessons in Chemistry makes, aside from getting B.J. Novak to admirably perform Six Thirtys narration, is to not make the dog narration cutesy. Six Thirtys story is a serious one with some complex emotions. Guys, this dog is so sad! Look at his sad face! Look at how he wont eat because he blames himself for Calvins death! Look at him missing his running buddy!! If you have a dog, did you hug it after you watched this episode? If you dont have a dog, did you stumble out onto the street looking for a dog to hug? I dont recommend that second thing, but I do understand the urge. We learn that Six Thirty was being trained on a nearby military base before his meet-cute with Elizabeth by her trash cans, but he was never built to be a military dog. He was trained to protect, but instead of being brave, he was constantly paralyzed with fear. I was a coward and I hated myself for it, Six Thirty tells us. No, seriously, have you hugged a dog today? He makes his own escape from the military base, not feeling up to the challenge, and quickly falls in love with his life alongside Elizabeth and Calvin. We relive the highlights of their story through Six Thirtys eyes. He believes he found a purpose through them. He promises to protect them. He fails at that, too. After Calvins death, Six Thirty can barely stand himself: In that moment, everything I thought about myself, every worst fear I had, it all came true. Someone get this dog into therapy, please, I am begging. While therapy isnt an option for Six Thirty, he does begin to try and make it up to Elizabeth. She might not be able to look at him, but he does remain by her side while she attempts to pick up the pieces of her life. Hes there as she goes to Calvins funeral and sits alone in the front row. Hes there while a reporter from the Los Angeles Times named Ralph bugs her for a quote about Calvin and thinks its appropriate to tell an obviously grieving woman that so far most of the anecdotes his colleagues have shared have been about Calvin being a recluse and a jerk. This man clearly has never interacted with other human beings before, which is weird since he is a journalist. When Elizabeth tells him that she didnt know Calvin long enough, he uses the quote I didnt know him long in his article that completely paints Calvin in a negative light. Six Thirty cant protect her from that. Hes there with her when she heads back to Hastings Lab way too soon and discovers that not only is their lab completely cleared up and their research which apparently now belongs to Hastings and Calvins personal belongings are all boxed up in storage, but that Elizabeths not allowed to have any of it because they werent married and she isnt a blood relative. Six Thirty saying that he couldnt smell any of Calvins smells in that lab gutted me. Am I having a mental breakdown over this dog? Dont answer that. While Fran Frask cant help Elizabeth with that awful policy, she is able to find her a new position at the lab. Sure, its as an admin assistant to a man whose current role at Hastings seems to be recounting lunch menus from the 1930s, but it is a job. Six Thirty may want to protect Elizabeth now more than ever, but all he can really do is be there for her. Shes especially going to need it after learning, thanks to the wildest home-pregnancy test on the planet (look up determining pregnancy status using amphibian ovulation and have yourself an afternoon), that despite being very clear in the last episode that she did not want a baby, one is on the way. Although its surprising that Elizabeth doesnt even bring up the idea of abortion, she decides pretty early on to deal with it by ignoring it. Well, okay, first she deals with it by taking a sledgehammer to her kitchen in order to build herself an industrial-grade chemistry lab to continue her work, but then she ignores it. She smashes things, she cooks, she ergs, repeat. Its not until she starts showing that she is forced to acknowledge whats happening to her and thats because, once again, Dr. Donatti reveals himself to be the absolute worst. In a meeting with Donatti, Lunch Menus from the 1930s, and Fran Frask, Donatti tries to fire Elizabeth for not just being pregnant but pregnant and unwed the horror. Youre the woman, you got knocked up we have rules, he tells her as I try not to punch my TV screen. Elizabeth calmly but firmly informs him that they in fact do not have rules about this and any unwritten rules are not legally binding. He cant fire her. So Donatti hurls the only thing he can think of to hurt her in her direction, telling her Calvin would be so ashamed of her. But Elizabeth knows thats not even remotely true. Donatti knows it too. If you think thats the worst thing Donatti could do to Elizabeth at the moment, buckle up. Guess what else hes up to? Hes stolen Elizabeth and Calvins work and has tasked Al Borowitz to help him re-create their findings step-by-step, claim it as their own, and get the Remsen Grant. Its so devious and slimy and awful; Donatti is just an outright villain at this point. Though, honestly, Borowitz, the one chemist who always seemed kind and respectful of Elizabeth, being involved in this might actually sting more. When he brings over a box of Calvins personal effects and acts like a hero while lying to Elizabeths face about the research going missing, Borowitz crosses over into unforgivable territory. But the fallout of Calvins death and Elizabeths pregnancy isnt all bad. The biggest silver lining is that she begins to form a friendship with Harriet. Harriet, too, is gutted by the loss of her friend Calvin, especially because they left things on such bad terms. Shes the one who brings the terrible Times article to Elizabeths attention, but immediately sees that Elizabeth is in no state to process any of it and so takes on restoring Calvins reputation by herself and keeps an eye on her unraveled neighbor with the sledgehammer. When Elizabeth shows up at her door to give her a Thelonious Monk album she found in Calvins box that had a note from Calvin to Harriet attached to it he would make up for missing that hearing, he promised she invites Elizabeth in. A friendship is born! They talk about missing Calvin, they make fun of his horrific dancing, and, finally, Elizabeth is able to open up about how scared she is to be pregnant. No one can do it, but then you expand, she tells Elizabeth, you think you cant do it but you do it anyway thats being a mother. While Harriet takes a liking to the sad, strange woman who lives across the street, she does draw the line at supplying Elizabeth with an axe, which feels right. Harriet isnt the only person from Calvins life who offers some support. Elizabeth also meets one of her late partners rowing buddies, who also happens to be an OB/GYN, Dr. Mason. When she finally comes to see him for a checkup shes already in her third trimester he realizes she is alone and scared and also has been erging up to 10,000 miles. So, he writes her a prescription to come join him down at the boathouse in one year. I hope he also writes her some prescriptions for, like, actual medicine, but it is a really sweet moment. So, Elizabeth Zott has lost a lot, but shes gained some things too. The grief is still so acute and shes clearly in pain but theres really not much Six Thirty can do about it. When Elizabeth looks a little deeper through the box of Calvins things, she finds his notebook full of recipes and thoughts for the dinner he made her at Christmas. She finds an engagement ring in his lab coat. Its crushing (for both Elizabeth and me, to be honest). Six Thirty has one idea: He gets Elizabeth to take him outside. Six Thirty remembers something Calvin always said about why he loved running even when it was hard or you didnt think you could continue on, all you had to do was put one foot in front of the other. One foot. One foot. And then sure enough, youll be home. Six Thirty and Elizabeth put one foot in front of the other and they begin to run. Lab Notes Harriet decides to go see that Times reporter and let him know he got Calvin Evans all wrong. Calvins heart was even bigger than his intellect, she tells him. He was the warmest person I knew, she says. But its too late, and Ralph did use actual quotes from colleagues. Controversy is good for selling papers, he tells her. Harriet sees an opportunity: She has Ralph come to the next hearing about the freeway and, in turn, Ralph writes up a great article praising Harriets argument and her brief but informative master class on the 14th Amendment. The publicity is a big win for her and she tells Elizabeth that she felt Calvin there in a way, he did keep his promise to her. After Calvin dies, theres a scene of Harriet and her kids in church and Harriet eventually has to excuse herself. We find her alone in the lobby, almost doubled over in sobs over the loss of her friend. Aja Naomi King is so, so good here. Beau Bridges shows up as a mysterious figure from the Ramsen Foundation, looking to bestow the grant money to another scientist after losing Calvin. You dont hire Beau Bridges to just lurk around in the background at funerals, so lets assume his character will come into play in a bigger way at a later date. Lets not totally write off Fran Frask just yet. Did you see her taking in everything Elizabeth was saying during her infuriating meeting with Donatti? Maybe well make a feminist out of Fran after all. Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with attending guests from home and abroad before the 24th Conference on the Electric Power Supply Industry in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province, Oct. 20, 2023. Han also delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the conference. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) XIAMEN, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng Friday called on Asia-Pacific countries to enhance cooperation on energy transformation and related scientific and technological innovation. Han made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the 24th Conference on the Electric Power Supply Industry held in the city of Xiamen, Fujian Province. The report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China has set the goal of basically realizing "Beautiful China" by 2035 and made a comprehensive plan for advancing green development, Han said, adding China is accelerating coordinated development of the economy, society, and ecological environment to provide a Chinese solution to the global transformation of energy and electric power. As the green and low-carbon energy transformation has become a consensus among all countries, Han said China will work with Asia-Pacific countries to jointly foster a new landscape of international cooperation in energy and electric power. He went on to put forward three proposals. First, Han urged all parties to enhance cooperation on interconnectivity to promote energy transformation, calling for joint construction of energy and electric power infrastructure and the large-scale development and utilization of clean energy in the region. Second, Han called for green and low-carbon development to respond to climate change, urging full and effective implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement to work for a climate governance system that is fair and reasonable, ensuring win-win results. Third, Han stressed deepening pragmatic cooperation and promoting scientific and technological innovation, calling for cooperation in research, development, and application of new energy and key technologies and joint exploration for new technologies, new business types, and new modes to inject strong impetus into scientific and technological innovation in electric power in the Asia-Pacific region. Themed "Low Carbon Energy Powering a Green Future," the conference provides a major platform for energy transformation and green development discussions. Representatives from the 18 member countries and regions of the Association of the Electricity Supply Industry of East Asia and the Western Pacific and international organizations, experts, and scholars attended the conference. Before the conference, Han met with attending guests from home and abroad and had exchanges with them. Kiti Tippawan is now teaching Thai language at Yunnan Minzu University, as the university opened 15 language majors of South and Southeast Asian countries to provide talent support for the joint construction of BRI. After living and working in Kunming for several years, Kiti Tippawan not only gained the love of her colleagues and students, but also found the love of her life. She married a Chinese man and now has a happy family with a lovely baby. For their latest roles in the biopic of swimmer Diana Nyad, who completed a 110-mile open water journey from Cuba to Florida at age 64, Annette Bening and Jodie Foster transformed their bodies, and our minds. A woman raped at knifepoint in her own home 31 years ago has outlined the devastating impact the offence has had on her life, as police tracked down the perpetrator using DNA and extradited him from Queensland to Western Australia. The man, who is now 48 but was 17 years old at the time of the offence, and therefore cannot be named, faced Perths Childrens Court on Friday where details of the assault were aired. The 48-year-old man was extradited to WA from Queensland earlier this year. Credit: Police Media The court heard that on around 4am on Good Friday 1992, the man donned a balaclava and broke into the Embleton home of a 24-year-old woman who lived alone with her toddler daughter. He lived a few hundred metres from her, the court heard, and therefore had likely been planning the assault by watching her in advance and working out that she lived alone. Toronto: Canada has recalled 41 of its diplomats from India after the Indian government said it would revoke their diplomatic immunity, in an escalation of their dispute over the slaying of a Sikh separatist in Canada. The moves come after Canadas allegations that India may have been involved in the June killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar in suburban Vancouver. India has accused Canada of harbouring separatists and terrorists, but dismissed the allegation of its involvement in the killing as absurd and has taken diplomatic steps to express its anger over the accusation. Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau walks past Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi in September. Credit: AP Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said on Friday (AEDT) that 41 of her countrys 62 diplomats in India had been removed, along with their dependents. Joly said exceptions have been made for 21 Canadian diplomats who will remain. Forty-one Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents were in danger of having their immunity stripped on an arbitrary date and this would put their personal safety at risk, Joly said. Our diplomats and their families have now left. This photo taken on Oct. 16, 2023 shows a decoration for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The Belt and Road Initiative plays an important role in enhancing the flow of trade and economic development, said Paula Gopee-Scoon, trade and industry minister of Trinidad and Tobago. PORT OF SPAIN, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) plays an important role in enhancing the flow of trade and economic development, said Paula Gopee-Scoon, trade and industry minister of Trinidad and Tobago. "The initiative is a significant project from the point of view of both countries. For China, it represents investments into another country, and for us, that assistance facilitates our development," Gopee-Scoon told Xinhua in a recent interview. Trinidad and Tobago is the first Caribbean country to sign a BRI cooperation agreement with China, and the country's Phoenix Park Industrial Estate is the first BRI project in the Caribbean. Designed and built by China's Beijing Construction Engineering Group, the industrial estate covers an area of about 580,000 square meters and is managed by e TecK, a state-owned enterprise of Trinidad and Tobago. "The Phoenix Park Industrial Estate is a significant project for Trinidad and Tobago and will play a formidable part in the economic development of the country, being a prototype that can be adopted throughout the country when developing similar industrial parks," said Gopee-Scoon. She said that a group of Chinese investors will arrive in Port of Spain "very shortly" for a visit to the new industrial park and other industrial estates. "But far beyond that, there are other people-to-people exchanges and training opportunities offered by China to the government of Trinidad and Tobago in several areas, including the public sector," she said. Gopee-Scoon is scheduled to visit China next month to attend the 16th China-LAC Business Summit and the 6th China International Import Expo. "Among the delegation will also be our national investment promotion agency, InvesTT, and export promotion agency, ExporTT, as well as members of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association, which represents the private sector," she said. The trip aims to seek export opportunities for high-quality products and attract new investors for the industrial park and other parts of the Caribbean country, according to the minister, who will visit Beijing and Shanghai, and three cities in Jiangsu Province during the trip. The global environment is rife with uncertainty and turmoil, but "unity and solidarity are essential ingredients for our collective progress, if we are to create a community with a shared future," said Gopee-Scoon. "Differences will always exist. However, we must work towards building closer ties, finding commonalities and resolving our differences, if we are to benefit now and in the future," she added. Washington: Republican infighting over who should become the next Speaker of the US House of Representatives has taken a vicious turn, with supporters of Donald Trump-ally Jim Jordan allegedly making death threats and vile phone calls to people who refuse to back him. In one particularly menacing case, the wife of an unnamed Republican received an anonymous call describing him as a Deep State p---k and telling her: Were gonna come f-----g follow you all over the place, were gonna be up your ass non-stop. Jim Jordan failed on the first two ballots to win the US House speakership. Credit: Bloomberg Were at war, Israelis [are] being killed and your dumb f-----g husband is acting like a f-----g two-year-old, a man says on audio of the phone call, which was leaked to CNN. Another Republican, Drew Ferguson, revealed on social media that he and his family received death threats after he reversed his decision to back Jordan, while Nebraska congressman Don Bacon said his wife began sleeping with a loaded gun after receiving increasingly menacing calls and texts. ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia recorded over 85,800 crossings as the humanitarian crisis in Sudan enters its sixth month, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) has said. Since the onset of the humanitarian crisis in Sudan in mid-April, about 1.1 million people have crossed into neighboring Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Sudan, UNOCHA said in its latest situation update issued late Thursday. Ethiopia, which continues to receive returnees, refugees and asylum-seekers from Sudan, has recorded 85,800 crossings as of Oct. 17, mainly via Kurmuk and Metema border entry points in the Benishangul Gumz and Amhara regions, respectively. UNOCHA said access has improved as the UN, in coordination with national partners, continues to facilitate road access, leading to the opening of more humanitarian routes, therefore reaching people in need, including refugees and asylum-seekers, in the two regions. It appealed for additional funding to address the needs of returnees, refugees and asylum-seekers crossing into Ethiopia. According to UNOCHA, the 2023 Ethiopia Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) is only 30 percent funded as of Oct. 18, out of the total requirement of 3.99 billion U.S. dollars. "Response to the influx of people due to the situation in Sudan comes on top of the current needs. Additional funding is therefore urgently required to support this ongoing response in Ethiopia, as well as to pre-existing humanitarian needs identified in the HRP," UNOCHA said. Fighting erupted in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum on April 15 and swiftly escalated in different parts of the country. The ongoing violence pits the Sudanese Armed Forces against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, with both sides accusing the other of starting the conflict. This photo shows the free passage of vehicles at the Bregana border crossing between Croatia and Slovenia, Jan. 1, 2023. (Luka Stanzl/PIXSELL via Xinhua) "Schengen is not finished, but it has a problem," Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said. ZAGREB, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Thursday that the temporary reintroduction of border controls at the Slovenian-Croatian border should be an exception, acknowledging that the Schengen area has a problem. "Schengen is not finished, but it has a problem. The introduction of border controls is not a novelty, it comes about due to migration trends and assessments of increased security threats due to terrorism," Plenkovic said at a press conference. However, the temporary reintroduction of border controls should be an exception, "a last measure" that should be subject to strict conditions, especially in terms of scope and duration, Plenkovic noted. Vehicle wait in queues in Obrezje, one of the main border crossings connecting capitals of Slovenia and Croatia, in Slovenia, on April 7, 2017. (Xinhua/Matic Stojs) On Thursday, Slovenia said it will re-introduce controls at its border with Croatia on Oct. 21 for the next ten days. Croatia joined the European Union's Schengen border-free area on Jan. 1, 2023. BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Leaders from various countries with differing political systems and beliefs discussed common development and prosperity at this week's Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) in China's capital Beijing. Ten years on, there is a better understanding of the nature of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) -- it is not a tool for expanding geopolitical influence but a platform for cooperation, as the facts have shown. China's solid commitments during the forum have the potential to enable global development and a shared future for humankind. COOPERATION-ORIENTED In September 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the building of the Silk Road Economic Belt at Kazakhstan's Nazarbayev University to forge closer economic ties, deepen mutual cooperation and broaden the development space for Eurasia. About one month later in Jakarta, Indonesia, Xi said that China would strengthen maritime cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries to make good use of the China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation Fund set up by the Chinese government and build the Maritime Silk Road of the 21st century. From Eurasia to Southeast Asia, the BRI, comprising the Silk Road Economic Belt and the Maritime Silk Road of the 21st century, seeks development not only for China but across the world. It acknowledges that economic globalization is an irreversible trend and calls for a more inclusive, balanced, and mutually beneficial approach to it. At the second BRF in 2019, Xi called for efforts to enhance the synergy between the Belt and Road cooperation and the development strategies of national, regional and international governments. "Through bilateral, tripartite and multilateral cooperation, we need to encourage the full participation of more countries and companies, thus expanding the pie of common interests," he said. China has signed more than 230 BRI cooperation agreements with more than 150 countries and 30 international organizations. These agreements yielded a number of signature projects and many small-scale yet impactful projects, according to a white paper by the Chinese government titled "The Belt and Road Initiative: A Key Pillar of the Global Community of Shared Future." The BRI "does not induce any conditionalities and promotes win-win cooperation led by extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits," said Shakeel Ahmad Ramay, chief executive officer of the Asian Institute of Eco-civilization Research and Development, an Islamabad-based think tank. COMMON DEVELOPMENT China has never attached any political strings to the initiative, said Ramay, adding that China focuses on mutual respect and the understanding of the political, economic, cultural and historical realities of other countries. Furthermore, it seeks economic cooperation and infrastructure upgrades to benefit the public. Over the past decade, the Belt and Road cooperation has galvanized up to 1 trillion U.S. dollars of investment globally and created more than 3,000 projects and 420,000 jobs for participating countries, facilitating the delivery of an array of national landmarks, livelihood projects and milestones of cooperation. The BRI projects, such as the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway, the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway and the China-Laos Railway, have enhanced local connectivity and improved people's lives, fundamentally eliminating the root causes of instability. All cooperation projects under the BRI, from railways, roads and reservoirs to agricultural mechanization and laying down optical cables, are crucial to the development of Africa and will help the African Union achieve its Agenda 2063 goals, President of the Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso said Wednesday. By 2030, BRI-related investment could lift 7.6 million people out of extreme poverty and 32 million out of moderate poverty, according to an estimate by the World Bank. The BRI has become an essential platform for mutually beneficial cooperation and a significant opportunity for countries worldwide to achieve common development, said Chilean President Gabriel Boric on Tuesday. Humphrey Moshi, a professor of economics at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, said that the BRI in the past decade has achieved plenty in developing countries and more so in Africa. "It has not only improved connectivity on land, sea and air, but also improved the investment climate in those countries." "Further, with the improved investment climate, FDI (foreign direct investment) has increased, jobs created and levels of industrialization increased. However, these achievements have been attained because of the uniqueness of the BRI in terms of its high spill-over effect, comprehensiveness, alignment with a country's development vision and plans and inclusiveness," Moshi added. TOWARD A SHARED FUTURE In his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the third BRF on Wednesday, Xi said that what has been achieved in the past 10 years demonstrates that Belt and Road cooperation is on the right side of history. "It represents the advancing of our times, and it is the right path forward," Xi said. He also announced eight major steps China will take to support high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. China will work with all parties involved to deepen Belt and Road partnerships of cooperation, usher this cooperation into a new stage of high-quality development, and make relentless efforts to achieve modernization for all countries, Xi said, adding that "the modernization we are pursuing is not for China alone, but for all developing countries through our joint efforts." "The Belt and Road cooperation was proposed by China, but its benefits and opportunities are for the world to share," Xi said. This initiative and the eight steps have been warmly welcomed by leaders from various countries. The BRI provides a critical and effective way to help developing countries achieve sustainable development, said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. He said that the eight major steps announced by Xi to support high-quality Belt and Road cooperation are entirely in line with the UN's purposes and objectives and are conducive to helping developing countries accelerate their development. The steps proposed by Xi to support high-quality Belt and Road cooperation will further help Kenya and Africa achieve industrialization, agricultural modernization and economic integration, said Kenyan President William Ruto. Argentine President Alberto Fernandez said that the Belt and Road cooperation had created meaningful opportunities for developing countries and played an irreplaceable role in promoting world peace, fairness and sustainable development. Fernandez said that Argentina will work with China to support multilateralism and strengthen communication and coordination within the G20 and BRICS. Enditem (Xinhua reporters Mao Pengfei and Jonathan Edward in Kuala Lumpur, Misbah Saba Malik and Jiang Chao in Islamabad, Li Xuejun and Jurica Korbler in Zagreb, Hua Hongli in Dar es Salaam, Liu Wanli, Jin Zheng, Li Hualing and Bedah Mengo in Nairobi, Juan Manueal in Buenos Aires, Shooka Shemirani Arbabzadeh in Rio de Janeiro contributed to the story.) Allentown, PA (18103) Today Clear to partly cloudy and not as cold as the last few nights. . Tonight Clear to partly cloudy and not as cold as the last few nights. TEHRAN, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Algerian counterpart Ahmed Attaf have discussed the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, denouncing Israeli attacks "against defenseless Palestinians" there. In a phone call on Thursday night, the two foreign ministers also exchanged views on bilateral relations and other recent regional developments, according to a statement published on the Iranian Foreign Ministry's website on Friday. Amir-Abdollahian said that under the present circumstances, the urgent priorities are to stop the Israeli attacks against civilians in Gaza and send humanitarian aid to the besieged enclave, calling for increasing diplomatic consultations among Muslim countries in these regards. He underlined Iran's position of constantly supporting Palestine, expressing the readiness to send medicine and food to Gaza through Egypt. Attaf, for his part, described the present circumstances as a result of "the failure to uphold Palestinians' legitimate and national rights to establish an independent state." He also called for stopping the violence against innocent Palestinians and sending aid to the Gaza Strip as soon as possible. The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Oct. 7 showered Israel with thousands of rockets in a rare surprise attack, to which Israel responded with massive airstrikes on Gaza and punitive measures, including a siege on the enclave with supplies of water, electricity, fuel, and other necessities being cut off. The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, as it entered the 14th day, has killed more than 5,000 people on both sides. READING, Pa. - Authorities have made more arrests in a Reading-area drug operation that they say involves 29 people. The FBI nabbed a man in Texas, two other people turned themselves in, and police picked up one person at a traffic stop. That leaves seven men on the loose. "Get people off the streets who are selling or consuming drugs I think that's a good thing and if it continues to be that way that's a good thing," says Javein Ganns, a Reading resident. Berks County District Attorney John Adams says the authorities got their first break in the case on Sept. 3 when Pennsylvania State Police made a traffic stop on I-78 in Berks County. Authorities say they found nine kilograms of cocaine and a loaded gun. People we spoke to say this a great first step but there's more work to be done. "I think they should stop more of the drugs cause there's still drugs all over here in Reading," a Reading resident says. "When you walk around and see people bent over it's not good," says Bobby Newton, a Reading resident. The DA says agents traced the drugs to an operation with ties to a Mexican cartel. Authorities say one of the 29 defendants had "direct links" to the unspecified cartel and was responsible for supplying the operation. Police say they have since seized fake opioid pills of suspected fentanyl, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, meth, marijuana, thousands of dollars, and handguns. "Getting drugs off the street or getting any type of thing that's going to alter the people's minds or more or less destroy we want to get rid of it," Newton says. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of any of the wanted individuals is asked to contact Berks County Detectives. HARRISBURG As one of the prime sponsors of a historic new breast cancer testing and counseling law, Sen. Tracy Pennycuick (R - 24th) is urging her constituents to look into how it could benefit them. Act 1 of 2023, enacted in May, will eliminate all costs associated with breast MRIs, breast ultrasounds and BRCA-related genetic testing and counseling for insured Pennsylvanians at high risk. Co-pays, deductibles and co-insurance costs will all be eliminated. There isnt a person in our commonwealth who hasnt, in some way, been touched by breast cancer and, like so many others, my family knows the devastating toll this disease can have, Pennycuick said. Please, check to see if you are at high risk and take advantage of this new law when it takes effect. For large group plans, the law could take effect as soon as Jan. 1, 2024, or July 1, 2024. Residents are urged to contact their human resources or benefits administrator to learn when the new plan year begins. The law takes effect Jan. 1, 2025, for individual insurance plans and small group plans purchased by an employer with 50 or fewer employees. Some of the high-risk factors covered by the new law include individuals with a personal or family history of breast cancer, abnormal breast screenings, extremely dense breast tissue and a personal history of BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. If you have questions about your insurance coverage, contact your insurer or employer directly, Pennycuick said. And please remember: early detection saves lives. PA Breast Cancer Coalition Act 1 FAQ ALLENTOWN, Pa. The Allentown Police Department is seeking a 52-year-old man wanted for a simple assault earlier this year. Police say Michael Williams is wanted for the assault, which allegedly occurred in Allentown on June 30. Williams is a 5-foot-9, 190-pound Black man with black hair and brown eyes, according to police. Williams is also wanted by the Pennsylvania Board of Probation for a "subsequent parole violation," police said. According to police, Williams has "ties" to the Allentown area, as well as New York and North Carolina. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Allentown Police Department at (610) 871-3407. Northampton County Council voted again Thursday to oppose the expansion of the Bethlehem Landfill in Lower Saucon Township, a move Commissioner Thomas Giovanni said is government overreach. "Council is not a body that determines zoning," he said, pointing out that land use is a municipal issue. Commissioner John Goffredo (council members are known as commissioners) joined Giovanni in voting against the resolution. "It's very easy to say I'm in favor of this (resolution), it's very difficult to say I'm not," Goffredo said. He said if the Lower Saucon landfill closes, the cost of trash disposal will go up, diesel trucks carrying waste will have to travel farther, and then residents will complain about that. Goffredo lives near the Grand Central Landfill in the Slate Belt. "We can't right all the wrongs," Goffredo said of government. "The world is a messy place. We make garbage." After Commissioner Tara Zrinski discussed the resolution and said, "This is a reaffirmation of something we did before," Goffredo said he did not need to have what he was voting on explained. Council passed a resolution in March asking for County Executive Lamont G. McClure's administration to seek party status in the landfill dispute. That status gives the county the right to participate in public hearings about the plan. McClure endorsed the resolution before council voted, saying landfill expansion would lead to "environmental degradation for the purpose of accepting New York trash." Council President Kerry Myers, Lori Vargo Heffner, Kevin Lott, John Cusick and Zrinski voted for the resolution, with Giovanni and Goffredo opposed. John Brown and Vice President Ronald Heckman were absent. "We can't compel anybody to do anything," Vargo Heffner said, but the resolution does show support for Lower Saucon residents who are against the expansion. Lower Saucon Township Council approved in August zoning changes that would allow owner Waste Connections Inc. to expand on 275.7 acres adjacent to the existing landfill on Applebutter Road. Work at the site is on hold until legal issues are worked out. Supporters of the expansion point out that landfill fees provide about 25% of Lower Saucon's revenue. Opponents say making it larger threatens the environment. The landfill is named for the City of Bethlehem, which once owned it. Shares in owner Waste Connections are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol WCN. The closing price Thursday was $136.03, giving the company a market capitalization of $35 billion. In other news, Council delayed voting on a negotiated $2.2 million contract with BlueScope Construction for a new maintenance building at Louise W. Moore Park. Goffredo and Cusick contended that the county is not receiving enough bids on projects. "The competitive bid process is broken," Cusick said. He did not dispute the need for a new building but said the administration should have involved council earlier. "It seems kind of crazy that we can't get anybody to bid on $2 million projects," Goffredo said. He has pointed to the county's "Responsible Contractor Ordinance," or RCO, which steers work toward construction companies with apprentice programs. Supporters of such ordinances say they promote workforce development, while opponents say they favor union shops. Director of Public Works Mike Emili said the lack of bids for some jobs is an issue that precedes approval of the RCO. The contract will be reviewed again at a later meeting. No members disputed the need for a new building. Council also approved a three-year contract with employees of its youth detention center in Easton. The starting pay at the lowest rung is $35,995 annually, equal to $17.29 per hour. "The starting salary is not going to be adequate to attract qualified candidates," Cusick said, adding that council had no choice but to approve the contract, which was set by an arbitrator. Myers agreed. ALLENTOWN, Pa. - An Allentown man is facing multiple charges after city police say a search of a home turned up drugs and cash. Members of the Vice and Intelligence Unit from the Allentown Police Department served a search warrant at a residence in the 400 block of North Church Street around 11 a.m., according to a news release from the Allentown Police Department. Authorities found quantities of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, cash, and assorted packaging material at the home, city police said. After an investigation, police charged Ricardo Alvarado, 55, with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. HAMILTON TWP., Pa. - It's taken more than a decade, but a missing person case in the Poconos is now officially a homicide case. The victim was last seen in 2012. Although his remains have now been identified, this isn't a closed case. Local, state and federal law enforcement have been working on this case for 11 years. They were all at the Monroe County Public Safety Center Friday to share what they've discovered and what's next. "From the onset, we suspected foul play, because it was just so out of character," said Pocono Mountain Regional Police Chief Chris Wagner. "To be able to find the body is just a tremendous leap forward in this investigation." Finding the remains of Stephen Lepore is a leap forward, but not the end, since charges for whoever is responsible for his death are still a work in progress. "Ferreting out the individuals who actually participated along with who we believe was the shooter and the main accomplice," said Monroe County First Assistant District Attorney Michael Mancuso. "Crossing Ts, dotting Is, basically making sure the information we have previous can be vetted and verified to match up with the evidence that we've recovered," said Monroe County Det. Craig Vanlouvender. Investigators identified two men as suspects: Brian Hewson and another man who worked for him. "Their stories kept changing over the years," said Mancuso. There were reportedly disagreements between Lepore and Hewson over a $15,000 debt. Hewson recently told investigators to search the yard of his own mother's Wayne County home. That's where State Police K9 Gnash found Lepore's remains, which were later recovered with other evidence by a Mercyhurst University forensics team. Law enforcement believes the remains were actually moved there and that Lepore was killed at a barn on Hewson's wife's property in Monroe County. An affidavit revealed the second suspect was granted immunity, then admitted to shooting Lepore, saying it was at the request of Hewson. While the statements in that specific conversation can't be used against him, prosecutors can still bring charges based on evidence from other sources. "Inside the cranium, a projectile was recovered," said Mancuso. That can now be tested to see if it came from what's believed to be the weapon used, which is a revolver seized from Morgan in New York. Lepore was reported missing in August 2012 by his housemate. "It's been a struggle," the housemate told 69 News in 2012. Back then, Pocono Mountain Regional PD got ahold of Lepore's dental records, which were used to confirm the identity of the remains found this week. "I did have the opportunity to speak with Mr. Lepore's brother, his next of kin, and in that conversation, after he received the official death notification, after waiting all these years, expressed his appreciation and was grateful that at this point, that the family can now have some closure," said Wayne County Coroner Dr. Edward Howell. "It was just a lot of good old-fashioned police work over several years to lead us to where we are now, and we're going to continue to do that work and hopefully bring this case to a successful conclusion," said Monroe County Det. Rob Sebastianelli. "Certainly, when, after so many years, and the suffering that the family has gone through, and the anguish of not knowing, when we can bring them some answers, when we can provide them with the body of their loved one, it just has that extra special feeling," said Wagner. Hewson is in custody out of state for unrelated charges. The second suspect is not in custody. Investigators said they don't believe he's a threat to the public. DREHER TWP., Pa. It's the final missing piece to the puzzle detectives have been working on for more than a decade. "We're really excited to move this case forward," Pocono Mountain Regional Police Chief Chris Wagner said Friday morning. In August 2012, Monroe County man Stephen Lepore was reported missing to the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department. The District Attorney's Office said he had not been seen or heard from since the morning hours of Aug. 17, 2012. But a break in the case came this week. According to court documents, a man named Brian Hewson told investigators on Monday, Oct. 16, that Lepore's remains could be found at Peet Road in Wayne County. At the time, Hewson was in custody in Florida being charged as a fugitive from justice based on a bench warrant issued by the Court of Common Pleas for Monroe County, unrelated to his possible connection to Lepore's death. On Tuesday, Oct. 17, investigators searched the property in Dreher Township. "Based on the information, we traveled to 95 Peet Road and with the assistance of a state police cadaver dog we began a search," Detective Craig Vanlouvender, Monroe County District Attorney's Office, said. The Wayne County Coroner, Edward Howell, said they found skeletal remains and he pronounced the man dead at 11:14 a.m. that same day. The remains were later identified as those of Lepore by a Mercyhurst University forensics team and the Wayne County Coroner's Office, Howell said. "The biggest element that we needed was to locate the body of Mr. Lepore," Chief Wagner said. According to Howell, Lepore was killed by a gunshot wound to the head. His death has been ruled a homicide. Howell says the family is relieved to have some answers after eleven years. "After all of these years, [Lepore's brother] was grateful the family could now have some closure," Howell said. NEW PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - For the first time, we're hearing from both the mothers of two teens found dead last week in Schuylkill County. Although more details about the killings have come out in recent days, no one has been charged. 18-year-old Hunter Mock and 16-year-old Angelito Caraballo were found dead in New Philadelphia Borough woods on Tuesday, Oct. 10. "This has been a constant nightmare," Hunter's mother, Kate Mock, said. Kate Mock says she hasn't slept much since her son died. "When someone dies that's close to you, you're used to having your answer immediately," she said. "And the questions keep me awake. All the time." Mock, speaking to 69 News on Thursday, held on tight to Tanya Evans, who also spoke with us. Evans is Angelito Caraballo's mother. Both reported their sons missing on Oct. 9. The day after that Mock and Caraballo were found dead in the New Philadelphia Borough woods. They say their neighbor found the bodies, and that's who they learned the news from. "I'm trying to stay as strong as I can, it is hard for all of us, especially his siblings," Evans said. Both mothers describe their boys, as the protectors, of not only them, but of the boys' siblings too. "He was their protector," Evans said. "And now he's no longer here. Because they took him from us." "There's numerous kids that would go to my son's door and scream, 'big bro, can you walk me home?' And he never said no," Kate Mock said. It was late-night Oct. 8 that the moms say their sons went out to the woods. Court documents suggest they may have been hanging out at a local spot known as "The Sanchez" with two other people. The moms both say they had never heard the names of those two who say they were out there with the boys right before they went missing. "I did not," Evans said. "I guess they weren't a good character because he wouldn't bring people around his mother," Kate said. The grieving moms say they never heard from police until they drove themselves to the barracks in Frackville, after learning about their sons' deaths. "We were not allowed to go to identify or see our children," Kate said. The moms say the first time they saw their sons' bodies was at the boys' funerals on Monday. "We've been told nothing," Kate said. State police have stressed over and over that it's an ongoing and very active investigation. They say they never release details about how they investigate. As that investigation continues, the moms also ask everyone to stay away from the area where their sons' bodies were found. They say they don't want anything interfering with bringing their sons the justice they deserve. But as the moms painstakingly wait for answers, they say all the rumors and speculation swirling around is just causing them more pain. "Please stop posting them," Kate said. "Please stop saying it. If you don't know, then don't say it. If you think, then call the police. Let them know, let them figure it out." The moms also say they've been receiving threats ever since their sons were killed. Some of those threats have been on social media. Kate also says her home was shot at on the night of the boys' funeral. "We heard the gunshot," Kate said. "And my friend screamed. And I was just shocked, I was in shock." Evans and Kate Mock say they've been reporting it all to the police. Mock says her son Hunter was like the man of the house, though the 18-year-old had moved out by the time he died. "The last time I talked to my son was for him to pay the Netflix bill, Kate said. "Because Angelito and Hunter took care of us." As for Tanya Evans, she shared the last thing she texted her son: "I love you son and only forever and always want the best for you." She says her son never got to read that text. Two GoFundMe pages have been set up, one each for Angelito and Hunter. FLEMINGTON, N.J. - An elected member of the Flemington Borough Town Council in New Jersey is being accused of theft. Malik D. Johnston, a/k/a Pippin J. Folk, 47, of Flemington, was charged with third-degree theft by unlawful taking, according to a news release from the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office. On June 2, 2023, Johnston withdrew $1000 in cash from the Flemington Democratic Clubs bank account at a branch in Bridgewater, NJ, the prosecutor's office said. At the time of the transaction, Johnston was a former officer of the club, who did not have permission or lawful authority to make the cash withdrawal and keep the funds, according to the news release. The prosecutor's office says third-degree charges may result in criminal penalties including, but not limited to, a term of imprisonment between three and five years and a fine not to exceed $15,000. WASHINGTON President Joe Biden declared it is vital for America's national security for Israel and Ukraine to succeed in their wars, making the case Thursday night for deepening U.S. involvement in two unpredictable foreign conflicts as he prepared to ask for billions of dollars in military assistance for both countries. If international aggression is allowed to continue, Biden said in a rare Oval Office address, conflict and chaos could spread in other parts of the world. Hamas and Putin represent different threats," Biden said. "But they share this in common. They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy. He said he would send an urgent funding request to Congress, which is expected to be $105 billion for the next year. The proposal, which will be unveiled on Friday, includes $60 billion for Ukraine, much of which is for replenishing U.S. weapons stockpiles that have already been provided. Theres $14 billion for Israel, $10 billion for humanitarian efforts, $14 billion for managing the U.S.-Mexico border and fighting fentanyl trafficking and $7 billion for the Indo-Pacific region, which includes Taiwan. The proposal was described by three people familiar with the details who insisted on anonymity before the official announcement. Its a smart investment thats going to pay dividends for American security for generations," Biden said. Biden hopes that combining all of these issues into one piece of legislation will create the necessary political coalition for congressional approval. His speech comes the day after his high-stakes trip to Israel, where he showed solidarity with the country in its battle against Hamas and pushed for more humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Ahead of his address, Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stress that the U.S. remained committed to backing Kyiv, the White House said. And a senior White House official said Biden continued to develop his remarks on Thursday after working with close aides throughout the week, including on his flight home from Israel. The official declined to be identified ahead of the president's speech. Biden faces an array of steep challenges as he tries to secure the money. The House remains in chaos because the Republican majority has been unable to select a speaker to replace Rep. Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted more than two weeks ago. In addition, conservative Republicans oppose sending more weapons to Ukraine as its battle against the Russian invasion approaches the two-year mark. Biden's previous request for funding, which included $24 billion to help with the next few months of fighting, was stripped out of budget legislation last month despite a personal plea from Zelenskyy. The White House has warned that time is running out to prevent Ukraine, which recently struggled to make progress in a grueling counteroffensive, from losing ground to Russia because of dwindling supplies of weapons. There will be resistance on the other side of the political spectrum when it comes to military assistance for Israel, which has been bombarding the Gaza Strip in response to the Hamas attack on Oct. 7. Critics have accused Israel of indiscriminately killing civilians and committing war crimes by cutting off essential supplies like food, water and fuel. Bipartisan support for Israel has already eroded in recent years as progressive Democrats have become more outspoken in their opposition to the country's decades-long occupation of Palestinian territory, which is widely viewed as illegal by the international community. There are rumbles of disagreement within Biden's administration as well. Josh Paul, a State Department official who oversaw the congressional liaison office dealing with foreign arms sales, resigned over U.S. policy on weapons transfers to Israel. I cannot work in support of a set of major policy decisions, including rushing more arms to one side of the conflict, that I believe to be short-sighted, destructive, unjust and contradictory to the very values that we publicly espouse, he wrote in a statement posted to his LinkedIn account. Paul is believed to be the first official to have resigned in opposition to the administrations decision to step up military assistance to Israel after the Oct. 7 attack. While visiting Tel Aviv on Wednesday, Biden told Israel that we will not let you ever be alone. However, he cautioned Israelis against being consumed by rage as he said the United States was after the Sept. 11 attacks of 2001. Wartime decision-making, Biden said, requires asking very hard questions and "clarity about the objectives and an honest assessment about whether the path you are on will achieve those objectives." A speech from the Oval Office is one of the most prestigious platforms that a president can command, an opportunity to try to seize the countrys attention at a moment of crisis. ABC, NBC and CBS all said they would break into regular programming to carry the address live. Biden has delivered only one other such speech during his presidency, after Congress passed bipartisan budget legislation to avert a default on the countrys debt. The White House and other senior administration officials, including Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young, have quietly briefed key lawmakers in recent days about the contours of the planned supplemental funding request. The Senate plans to move quickly on Bidens proposal, hoping that it creates pressure on the Republican-controlled House to resolve its leadership drama and return to legislating. However, there are disagreements within the Senate on how to move forward. Eight Republicans, led by Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall, said they did not want to combine assistance for Ukraine and Israel in the same legislation. These are two separate and unrelated conflicts and it would be wrong to leverage support of aid to Israel in an attempt to get additional aid for Ukraine across the finish line, they wrote in a letter. North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer said he was fine with the proposal as long as there is also a fresh effort to address border issues. But he said "its got to be designed to secure the border, not to facilitate travel through the border. Although there was a lull in migrant arrivals to the U.S. after the start of new asylum restrictions in May, illegal crossings topped a daily average of more than 8,000 last month. Theres a huge need to reimburse for the costs of processing, said Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat who leads a Senate panel that oversees funding for the Department of Homeland Security. So its personnel costs, its soft-sided facilities, its transportation costs. He was wary, however, of any effort to overhaul border policy a historically intractable issue during a debate over spending. "How are we going to settle our differences over immigration in the next two weeks? Murphy said. This is a supplemental funding bill. The minute you start loading it up with policies, that sounds like a plan to fail. Biden's decision to include funding for Taiwan in his proposal is a nod toward the potential for another international conflict. China wants to reunify the self-governing island with the mainland, a goal that could be carried out through force. Although wars in Europe and the Middle East have been the most immediate concerns for U.S. foreign policy, Biden views Asia as the key arena in the struggle for global influence. The administration's national security strategy, released last year, describes China as Americas most consequential geopolitical challenge. SYDNEY, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- A 16-year-old teenager died in hospital about a week after being found unresponsive at the Casuarina Prison in Western Australia (WA). "I confirm the passing of a 16-year-old boy in Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital after he was found unresponsive inside Unit 18 last Thursday," WA Premier Roger Cook said on Friday, expressing his condolences to the bereaved family. The WA Corruption and Crime Commission also noted in a statement that an investigation has commenced into an allegation of serious misconduct at the maximum-security prison for male prisoners. On Oct. 12, the teenager was found unconscious during routine checks at around 2:00 a.m. local time. Officers began resuscitation before the arrival of three paramedic teams. The 16-year-old was taken to hospital, where he remained in a critical condition. The teenager died shortly after 10:00 p.m. local time on Thursday. Unit 18 at the Casuarina Prison was opened as a temporary juvenile facility in July 2022 to house disruptive male detainees, after riots at the state's only detention center for offenders aged 10 to 17 years, Banksia Hill, damaged cells and other infrastructure. NEW YORK (AP) Former President Donald Trump was fined $5,000 on Friday after his disparaging social media post about a key court staffer in his New York civil fraud trial lingered on his campaign website for weeks after the judge ordered it deleted. Judge Arthur Engoron avoided holding Trump in contempt for now, but reserved the right to do so and possibly even put the 2024 Republican front-runner in jail if he again violates a limited gag order barring case participants from personal attacks on court staff. Engoron said in a written ruling that he is "way beyond the warning stage," but that he was only fining Trump a nominal amount because this was a first time violation and Trumps lawyers said the websites retention of the post had been inadvertent. Make no mistake: future violations, whether intentional or unintentional, will subject the violator to far more severe sanctions, which may include steeper financial penalties, holding Donald Trump in contempt of court, and possibly imprisoning him, Engoron wrote in a two-page order. Messages seeking comment on the ruling were left with Trumps lawyers and a campaign spokesman. Trump lawyer Christopher Kise earlier blamed the very large machine of Trump's White House campaign for allowing the post to remain on the website after Trump had deleted it from social media, as ordered, calling it an unintentional oversight. It was removed from the website late Thursday after Engoron flagged it to Trumps lawyers. Trump wasnt in court Friday. He'd been at the trial Tuesday and Wednesday after attending the first three days in early October. Outside court this week, he aimed his enmity at Engoron and New York Attorney General Letitia James, whose fraud lawsuit is being decided at the civil trial. Neither are covered by Engorons gag order. Engoron, however, said the buck ultimately stops with Trump even if it was someone on his campaign who failed to remove the offending post. He gave Trump 10 days to pay the fine. I want to be clear that Donald Trump is still responsible for the large machine even if its a large machine, Engoron said after discussing the matter with Trumps lawyers before testimony resumed Friday morning. Engoron issued a limited gag order Oct. 3 barring all participants in the case from smearing his staff after Trump maligned principal law clerk Allison Greenfield in a post on Trumps Truth Social platform. The judge ordered Trump to delete the post, which made a baseless insinuation about the clerks personal life, and warned of serious sanctions for violations. In the current overheated climate, incendiary untruths can, and in some cases already have, led to serious physical harm, and worse, Engoron wrote Friday. Before Trump deleted the post from Truth Social, as ordered, his campaign copied the message into an email blast. That email, with the subject line ICYMI, was automatically archived on Trumps website, Kise said. The email was sent to about 25,800 recipients on the campaigns media list and opened by about 6,700 of them, Kise told Engoron after obtaining the statistics at the morning break. In all, only 3,700 people viewed the post on Trumps campaign website, the lawyer said. What happened appears truly inadvertent, Kise said. The lawyer pleaded ignorance to the technological complexities involved in amplifying Trumps social media posts and public statements, calling the archiving "an unfortunate part of the campaign process. New York law allows judges to impose fines or imprisonment as punishment for contempt. Last year, Engoron held Trump in contempt and fined him $110,000 for being slow to respond to a subpoena in the investigation that led to the lawsuit. James lawsuit accuses Trump and his company of duping banks and insurers by giving them heavily inflated statements of Trumps net worth and asset values. Engoron has already ruled that Trump and his company committed fraud, but the trial involves remaining claims of conspiracy, insurance fraud and falsifying business records. Trump denies wrongdoing, arguing that a disclaimer on his financial statements absolves him of any culpability and that some of his assets are worth far more than whats listed on the documents. He's called the trial a sham, a scam" and a continuation of the single greatest witch hunt of all time. The contempt discussion brought unexpected drama to a sleepy Friday ahead of whats shaping up to be a busy week at the Manhattan trial. Trumps onetime lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen, now a key state witness, said hell likely be on the witness stand Tuesday after postponing this week because of a health issue. Trump and his two eldest sons, Eric and Donald Trump Jr., are expected to testify in a few weeks. His daughter Ivanka Trump is fighting a subpoena for her testimony. Engoron set a hearing on that dispute for next week. Ivanka Trump was initially a defendant, but an appeals court dropped her from the case in June after finding that claims against her were outside the statute of limitations. Her lawyer argued in court papers Thursday that state lawyers failed to properly serve her subpoena and that she shouldn't be forced to testify because she isn't a party to the case and lives outside the courts New York jurisdiction. James' office never questioned Ivanka Trump at a deposition and is now effectively trying to force her back into this case, her lawyer, Bennet Moskowitz, wrote. Associated Press writers Jennifer Peltz and Jill Colvin contributed to this report. Follow Sisak at x.com/mikesisak and send confidential tips by visiting https://www.ap.org/tips. Photo taken on Oct. 9, 2023 shows the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) The lack of sincerity to resolve the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, as evidenced by Biden's differentiated support for the Israelis and Palestinians, has led to mounting doubt over the effectiveness of his involvement in the de-escalation of the deadly conflict. RAMALLAH/JERUSALEM, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday visited Israel amid the ongoing fighting between Israel and Hamas, as doubts mount over his sincerity to push for a de-escalation of the conflict. The visit came hours after an explosion rocked a hospital in the Gaza Strip, causing Israel and Hamas to trade blame over the incident that reportedly killed at least 500 Palestinians and wounded hundreds of others. Hamas said an Israeli airstrike caused the explosion, while the Israeli military said it was an errant rocket fired by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad that was intended to land on Israeli territory. During his visit, Biden claimed Israel was not responsible for the blast, citing information provided to him by the Pentagon. Amid rising concern that Gaza is facing a major humanitarian crisis, Biden also pledged humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the West Bank while urging Israel to uphold international law. The aid Biden pledged for the Palestinians is minimal compared with his generous support for the Israelis. The U.S. president, a strong supporter of Israel, said on Wednesday that Washington would provide Israel with everything it needed to defend itself amid its conflict with Hamas. "This visit is a significant display of support for the Israelis. By asserting that a misfiring rocket caused the hospital carnage, Biden has effectively given Israel the green light to act as it sees fit," said Alan Fisher, a journalist with Al Jazeera, the Qatar-based international news network. Since he was elected in 2020, Biden failed to push for genuine peace efforts between Israelis and Palestinians. Instead, Biden has enthusiastically pursued the strategy for Mideast peacemaking that Donald Trump had championed: advocating for so-called normalization agreements between Israel with more Arab countries in the absence of a peace agreement with the Palestinians, a move that has marginalized the Palestinian issue and become a destabilizing factor in the Mideast peace process, analysts said. Displaced Palestinian children are seen in a temporary shelter at a training college affiliated with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Oct. 19, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) The lack of sincerity to resolve the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, as evidenced by Biden's differentiated support for the Israelis and Palestinians, has led to mounting doubt over the effectiveness of his involvement in the de-escalation of the deadly conflict. The U.S. president had planned to travel to Jordan after his Israel trip for a summit, which was to bring together Biden, King Abdullah II of Jordan, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, but the Jordanian King canceled the summit after the hospital blast. Canceling the four-way summit is a clear signal that the U.S. effort is "insufficient and not serious with regard to ending this war," said Ibrahim Rabaia, a Palestinian political expert. "The favorable position toward Israel made Biden unwelcome in the Arab countries. The Jordanian government was unable to receive him nor the Egyptian government as a result of the popular uprising in these countries and their stance toward Israel," said Ghassan al-Khatib, a political science professor at Birzeit University in the West Bank city of Ramallah. "The United States is part of the aggression against the Palestinian people and part of the occupation," al-Khatib added. As Biden is in the midst of a re-election campaign, he may use the current conflict as an opportunity to bolster support from American voters, Rabaia said. "American public opinion is sympathetic to Israel as a result of the efforts of the Israeli media and the Jewish lobby, and Biden believes that his sympathy for Israel and his visit will boost his popularity," al-Khatib said. Biden is playing the card of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas to garner ballots, Rabaia said, noting that by publicly supporting Israel, Washington intends to confirm its interests in the Middle East, especially after it has partially withdrawn from the region during the past years. Arizona State Retirement System lifted its holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG Free Report) by 4.3% during the second quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 7,893 shares of the restaurant operators stock after purchasing an additional 324 shares during the quarter. Arizona State Retirement Systems holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill were worth $16,883,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Addison Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 350.0% during the first quarter. Addison Advisors LLC now owns 18 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 14 shares during the last quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 90.0% in the first quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 19 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 9 shares during the last quarter. IMA Wealth Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 185.7% in the first quarter. IMA Wealth Inc. now owns 20 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 13 shares during the last quarter. Tradition Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 320.0% in the first quarter. Tradition Wealth Management LLC now owns 21 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 16 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Core Alternative Capital raised its holdings in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 56.3% in the first quarter. Core Alternative Capital now owns 25 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $43,000 after acquiring an additional 9 shares during the last quarter. 91.19% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Chipotle Mexican Grill alerts: Insider Transactions at Chipotle Mexican Grill In related news, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 1,058 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,928.16, for a total value of $2,039,993.28. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 23,347 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $45,016,751.52. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In related news, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 1,058 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,928.16, for a total value of $2,039,993.28. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 23,347 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $45,016,751.52. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 1,063 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,949.84, for a total value of $2,072,679.92. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 23,347 shares of the companys stock, valued at $45,522,914.48. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 3,165 shares of company stock worth $6,024,185. 0.96% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities analysts recently commented on CMG shares. Raymond James dropped their target price on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,300.00 to $2,100.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday. Citigroup lowered their price target on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,391.00 to $2,260.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, October 10th. Wedbush reissued an outperform rating and set a $2,200.00 price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in a research report on Friday. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,400.00 to $2,200.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. Finally, Oppenheimer lowered their price target on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,300.00 to $2,225.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 4th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nineteen have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Chipotle Mexican Grill has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $2,160.41. Read Our Latest Report on CMG Chipotle Mexican Grill Trading Up 0.4 % Shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill stock opened at $1,847.63 on Friday. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $1,877.53 and its 200-day simple moving average is $1,951.04. The stock has a market capitalization of $50.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 46.14, a PEG ratio of 1.58 and a beta of 1.30. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. has a twelve month low of $1,344.05 and a twelve month high of $2,175.01. Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The restaurant operator reported $12.65 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $12.25 by $0.40. The business had revenue of $2.51 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.53 billion. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a return on equity of 45.85% and a net margin of 12.00%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 13.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $9.30 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. will post 43.2 earnings per share for the current year. About Chipotle Mexican Grill (Free Report) Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants. It offers burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, tacos, and salads. The company was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Newport Beach, California. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CMG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BDO Wealth Advisors LLC cut its position in The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS Free Report) by 11.0% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 731 shares of the investment management companys stock after selling 90 shares during the period. BDO Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group were worth $236,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Arizona State Retirement System boosted its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group by 3.2% during the 2nd quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 95,414 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $30,775,000 after purchasing an additional 2,952 shares during the last quarter. Semus Wealth Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 12.1% during the 2nd quarter. Semus Wealth Partners LLC now owns 2,035 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $656,000 after buying an additional 219 shares in the last quarter. Cairn Investment Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 4.5% during the 2nd quarter. Cairn Investment Group Inc. now owns 11,082 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $3,574,000 after buying an additional 478 shares in the last quarter. Heritage Investors Management Corp lifted its position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 2.2% during the 2nd quarter. Heritage Investors Management Corp now owns 69,592 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $22,446,000 after buying an additional 1,507 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Schulhoff & Co. Inc. lifted its position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 32.3% during the 2nd quarter. Schulhoff & Co. Inc. now owns 1,603 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $517,000 after buying an additional 391 shares in the last quarter. 69.06% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get The Goldman Sachs Group alerts: Insider Activity In other news, CEO David M. Solomon sold 4,200 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $356.28, for a total transaction of $1,496,376.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 124,782 shares in the company, valued at $44,457,330.96. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Corporate insiders own 0.54% of the companys stock. The Goldman Sachs Group Price Performance GS stock opened at $299.87 on Friday. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $298.49 and a 1 year high of $389.58. The company has a market cap of $98.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.48, a PEG ratio of 1.76 and a beta of 1.38. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $323.57 and a 200 day moving average of $329.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.91, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 0.81. The Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE:GS Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 17th. The investment management company reported $5.47 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $5.42 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $11.82 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.15 billion. The Goldman Sachs Group had a net margin of 7.77% and a return on equity of 7.19%. The businesss revenue was down 1.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $8.25 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will post 23.13 EPS for the current year. The Goldman Sachs Group Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 28th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, November 30th will be issued a dividend of $2.75 per share. This represents a $11.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.67%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, November 29th. The Goldman Sachs Groups payout ratio is 53.24%. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research firms recently commented on GS. UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $385.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, July 24th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $347.00 to $329.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, October 3rd. HSBC started coverage on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in a research report on Thursday, September 7th. They issued a buy rating and a $403.00 target price for the company. Oppenheimer cut their target price on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $450.00 to $447.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $415.00 to $398.00 in a research report on Friday, July 7th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $392.60. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on The Goldman Sachs Group About The Goldman Sachs Group (Free Report) The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc, a financial institution, provides a range of financial services for corporations, financial institutions, governments, and individuals worldwide. It operates through Global Banking & Markets, Asset & Wealth Management, and Platform Solutions segments. The Global Banking & Markets segment provides financial advisory services, including strategic advisory assignments related to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate defense activities, restructurings, and spin-offs; and relationship lending, and acquisition financing, as well as secured lending, through structured credit and asset-backed lending and involved in resale agreements. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for The Goldman Sachs Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Goldman Sachs Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BlackRock (NYSE:BLK Free Report) had its price objective cut by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $736.00 to $708.00 in a report published on Monday morning, Benzinga reports. They currently have an overweight rating on the asset managers stock. Several other equities analysts have also recently issued reports on the company. Bank of America decreased their price objective on BlackRock from $921.00 to $868.00 in a report on Wednesday, October 4th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price target on BlackRock from $814.00 to $800.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 11th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on BlackRock from $836.00 to $897.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Monday. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price target on BlackRock from $781.00 to $754.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 10th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised BlackRock from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and upped their price target for the stock from $770.00 to $835.00 in a report on Monday, July 10th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $764.75. Get BlackRock alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on BlackRock BlackRock Stock Performance Shares of BLK stock opened at $622.51 on Monday. The stock has a market cap of $92.94 billion, a PE ratio of 17.46, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.04 and a beta of 1.29. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $668.44 and a 200-day simple moving average of $679.61. The company has a quick ratio of 4.21, a current ratio of 4.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. BlackRock has a 52-week low of $569.28 and a 52-week high of $785.65. BlackRock (NYSE:BLK Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, October 13th. The asset manager reported $10.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $8.34 by $2.57. The business had revenue of $4.52 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.52 billion. BlackRock had a return on equity of 14.72% and a net margin of 30.66%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 4.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $9.55 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that BlackRock will post 35.91 EPS for the current year. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CEO Laurence Fink sold 20,200 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $742.04, for a total value of $14,989,208.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 464,125 shares in the company, valued at $344,399,315. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.96% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Impact Partnership Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of BlackRock during the second quarter worth $25,000. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A purchased a new position in shares of BlackRock during the second quarter worth $26,000. West Tower Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of BlackRock during the second quarter worth $27,000. Archer Investment Corp purchased a new position in shares of BlackRock during the second quarter worth $29,000. Finally, WFA of San Diego LLC purchased a new position in shares of BlackRock during the second quarter worth $33,000. 77.01% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About BlackRock (Get Free Report) BlackRock, Inc is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to institutional, intermediary, and individual investors including corporate, public, union, and industry pension plans, insurance companies, third-party mutual funds, endowments, public institutions, governments, foundations, charities, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, official institutions, and banks. Read More Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, October 18th, Zacks reports. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 1st will be paid a dividend of 0.13 per share by the financial services provider on Wednesday, November 15th. This represents a $0.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.76%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, October 31st. This is a boost from Brown & Browns previous quarterly dividend of $0.12. Brown & Brown has increased its dividend payment by an average of 9.1% annually over the last three years and has increased its dividend annually for the last 29 consecutive years. Brown & Brown has a payout ratio of 15.8% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities research analysts expect Brown & Brown to earn $2.92 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.46 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 15.8%. Get Brown & Brown alerts: Brown & Brown Stock Down 0.9 % Shares of BRO opened at $68.25 on Friday. Brown & Brown has a 52 week low of $52.82 and a 52 week high of $74.57. The company has a quick ratio of 2.78, a current ratio of 2.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. The company has a market capitalization of $19.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.45 and a beta of 0.76. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $71.85 and its 200-day moving average price is $67.69. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Brown & Brown ( NYSE:BRO Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The financial services provider reported $0.68 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.60 by $0.08. The company had revenue of $1.05 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $997.51 million. Brown & Brown had a return on equity of 15.19% and a net margin of 18.34%. Brown & Browns revenue for the quarter was up 24.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.51 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Brown & Brown will post 2.65 EPS for the current year. BRO has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on Brown & Brown from $62.00 to $70.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 26th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Brown & Brown in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut Brown & Brown from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and increased their target price for the company from $73.00 to $76.00 in a report on Tuesday, August 1st. Raymond James increased their target price on Brown & Brown from $70.00 to $76.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, July 26th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reissued a sector perform rating and set a $77.00 target price on shares of Brown & Brown in a report on Friday, September 15th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $74.60. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Brown & Brown Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of BRO. First Capital Advisors Group LLC. purchased a new position in shares of Brown & Brown during the second quarter worth $26,000. Clear Street Markets LLC boosted its position in shares of Brown & Brown by 93.7% during the first quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC now owns 461 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 223 shares during the period. Quarry LP boosted its position in shares of Brown & Brown by 233.8% during the first quarter. Quarry LP now owns 801 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $46,000 after buying an additional 561 shares during the period. First Horizon Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Brown & Brown during the first quarter worth $47,000. Finally, Atlas Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Brown & Brown in the second quarter valued at $52,000. 70.33% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Brown & Brown Company Profile (Get Free Report) Brown & Brown, Inc markets and sells insurance products and services in the United States, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Retail, National Programs, Wholesale Brokerage, and Services. The Retail segment provides property and casualty, employee benefits insurance products, personal insurance products, specialties insurance products, risk management strategies, loss control survey and analysis, consultancy, and claims processing services. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Brown & Brown Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brown & Brown and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ensign Energy Services (TSE:ESI Free Report) had its price target hoisted by CIBC from C$3.50 to C$4.00 in a research note published on Monday, BayStreet.CA reports. They currently have a neutral rating on the stock. Other analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on Ensign Energy Services from C$3.25 to C$4.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, September 14th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on Ensign Energy Services from C$3.00 to C$4.50 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, August 8th. ATB Capital cut their price objective on Ensign Energy Services from C$8.50 to C$8.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 5th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on Ensign Energy Services from C$3.00 to C$3.75 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 8th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of C$4.78. Get Ensign Energy Services alerts: View Our Latest Stock Report on ESI Ensign Energy Services Price Performance ESI opened at C$2.87 on Monday. The business has a fifty day moving average of C$3.18 and a 200 day moving average of C$2.63. Ensign Energy Services has a 52-week low of C$1.77 and a 52-week high of C$4.11. The company has a quick ratio of 1.30, a current ratio of 0.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 104.14. The stock has a market cap of C$527.19 million, a P/E ratio of 11.48, a PEG ratio of 202.94 and a beta of 3.06. Ensign Energy Services (TSE:ESI Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, August 4th. The company reported C$0.06 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of C$0.02 by C$0.04. Ensign Energy Services had a return on equity of 3.58% and a net margin of 2.43%. The business had revenue of C$432.77 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of C$426.35 million. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Ensign Energy Services will post 0.4697218 EPS for the current year. Ensign Energy Services Company Profile (Get Free Report) Ensign Energy Services Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides oilfield services to the crude oil and natural gas industries in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company offers shallow, intermediate, and deep well drilling, as well as specialized drilling services, including horizontal, underbalanced, horizontal re-entry, and slant drilling for steam assisted gravity drainage applications; and equipment and services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Ensign Energy Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ensign Energy Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Wednesday vetoed a UN Security Council resolution on a humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip, inciting wide criticism amid mounting global concern over the escalating crisis there. The Brazil-drafted proposal, if adopted, would have condemned all violence and hostilities against civilians and all acts of terrorism, and called for protecting all medical, humanitarian personnel, and medical facilities, in accordance with international humanitarian law. Twelve of the 15 members of the Security Council supported the draft, while the United States, with veto power, was the only council member to vote against it. Britain and Russia abstained. The Brazilian draft in general reflects the common appeal across the international community, and could represent the initial steps by the council to establish a ceasefire. And it might be the only text on which the council could reach a consensus under the current circumstances, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, after the vote on Wednesday. "Certain countries talked about the importance for the council to take the right actions. However, the way they voted only makes us question their willingness to let the council take any actions and their sincerity to find a solution to the problem," said Zhang. Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia criticized the U.S. veto as "another manifestation of hypocrisy and double standards." Brazilian UN ambassador Sergio Franca Danese regretted the fact that his country's draft resolution was vetoed. "Sadly, very sadly, silence and inaction prevailed -- to no one's long-term interests," he said. "We support no less than a full humanitarian ceasefire," said Lana Nusseibeh, the United Arab Emirates' permanent representative to the United Nations. "Each passing hour of this ruinous war makes a mockery of the principles of international humanitarian law." French UN ambassador Nicolas de Riviere told reporters his country deeply regrets that this text has been rejected, which means the Security Council missed an opportunity to reiterate the urgent obligation to allow the supply of first emergency necessities to the population of Gaza. Other council members including Malta, Mozambique, Ghana, Gabon, Switzerland, and Ecuador also voiced regret over the rejection of Washington. The number of Palestinian fatalities has exceeded 3,785, with over 13,000 individuals sustaining injuries since Oct. 7, said the health ministry in Gaza on Thursday. In a press release Tuesday, UNESCO deplored "the deadliest week for journalists in any recent conflict" with journalists in the line of duty in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict since Oct. 7. It called on all parties to respect and enforce international law to ensure journalists can continue to exercise their profession safely and independently. On Tuesday night, an airstrike on the Al-Ahli Arabi Baptist Hospital in the Gaza Strip killed at least 471 Palestinians. Hamas said that Israel carried out the attack, while Israel said a failed rocket launch by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) caused the tragedy. Hours after the deadly attack, Jordan canceled a quartet summit planned with Palestinians, Egyptian, and the United States. Turkiye is ready to provide health services to the Gaza Strip, including sending a floating hospital to the region, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on social media Wednesday. Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden visited Israel and met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Biden said Washington would provide Israel with everything needed for defense. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi held a phone talk with Biden Wednesday, and agreed on the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing "in a sustainable manner," said an Egyptian presidential statement Thursday. Relevant authorities in the two countries will coordinate with international humanitarian organizations under the supervision of the United Nations to secure the arrival of aid, it said. In a joint press conference with visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Cairo Wednesday, al-Sisi expressed Egypt's firm support for the Palestinian people and strong opposition to any attempts to relocate them to the adjacent Sinai Peninsula. Choate Investment Advisors lifted its position in Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ Free Report) by 6.4% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 4,825 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 291 shares during the quarter. Choate Investment Advisors holdings in Constellation Brands were worth $1,188,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Constellation Brands by 2.6% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 12,601,280 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,902,327,000 after acquiring an additional 313,344 shares in the last quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich lifted its position in shares of Constellation Brands by 103,844.2% in the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 9,206,335 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,265,955,000 after acquiring an additional 9,197,478 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its position in shares of Constellation Brands by 100.8% in the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 7,890,702 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,782,432,000 after acquiring an additional 3,961,836 shares in the last quarter. Morgan Stanley lifted its position in Constellation Brands by 31.3% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 3,809,273 shares of the companys stock worth $882,799,000 after buying an additional 908,486 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC lifted its position in Constellation Brands by 84,839.5% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 3,742,434 shares of the companys stock worth $867,309,000 after buying an additional 3,738,028 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 88.99% of the companys stock. Get Constellation Brands alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In STZ has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Barclays cut their target price on shares of Constellation Brands from $294.00 to $280.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 6th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $295.00 target price on shares of Constellation Brands in a research report on Friday, September 15th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their target price on shares of Constellation Brands from $241.00 to $243.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 20th. TD Cowen upgraded shares of Constellation Brands from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and increased their target price for the stock from $240.00 to $300.00 in a research report on Wednesday, September 6th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on shares of Constellation Brands from $275.00 to $305.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, September 22nd. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $277.76. Insider Activity at Constellation Brands In other Constellation Brands news, Director Daniel J. Mccarthy sold 1,736 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, July 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $269.86, for a total value of $468,476.96. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 3,232 shares in the company, valued at approximately $872,187.52. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Constellation Brands news, Director Ernesto M. Hernandez sold 5,086 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, August 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $269.00, for a total value of $1,368,134.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 3,649 shares in the company, valued at approximately $981,581. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Daniel J. Mccarthy sold 1,736 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, July 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $269.86, for a total transaction of $468,476.96. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 3,232 shares in the company, valued at $872,187.52. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 37,545 shares of company stock worth $10,101,098. 16.19% of the stock is owned by insiders. Constellation Brands Stock Performance NYSE:STZ opened at $233.20 on Friday. Constellation Brands, Inc. has a 1 year low of $208.12 and a 1 year high of $273.65. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $253.42 and its 200 day simple moving average is $246.53. The company has a current ratio of 1.20, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $42.84 billion, a PE ratio of 28.40, a PEG ratio of 1.79 and a beta of 1.04. Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 5th. The company reported $3.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates 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 for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.82 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $3.17 EPS. Constellation Brandss revenue was up 6.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Constellation Brands, Inc. will post 11.88 EPS for the current 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 paid a $0.89 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 2nd. This represents a $3.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.53%. Constellation Brandss payout ratio is presently 43.36%. Constellation Brands Profile (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. Featured Stories 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. Burford Capital (NYSE:BUR Get Free Report) is one of 92 public companies in the Nondepository credit institutions industry, but how does it compare to its competitors? We will compare Burford Capital to related businesses based on the strength of its valuation, dividends, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, risk, profitability and earnings. Dividends Burford Capital pays an annual dividend of $0.13 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.0%. As a group, Nondepository credit institutions companies pay a dividend yield of 4.0% and pay out 38.2% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Get Burford Capital alerts: Institutional and Insider Ownership 30.9% of shares of all Nondepository credit institutions companies are owned by institutional investors. 0.2% of Burford Capital shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 22.8% of shares of all Nondepository credit institutions companies are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Analyst Recommendations Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Burford Capital 0 0 3 0 3.00 Burford Capital Competitors 348 1430 2117 69 2.48 This is a summary of recent ratings and price targets for Burford Capital and its competitors, as reported by MarketBeat. Burford Capital currently has a consensus price target of $18.50, indicating a potential upside of 47.53%. As a group, Nondepository credit institutions companies have a potential upside of 39.45%. Given Burford Capitals stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Burford Capital is more favorable than its competitors. Profitability This table compares Burford Capital and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Burford Capital N/A N/A N/A Burford Capital Competitors -134.53% -32.26% -13.39% Valuation & Earnings This table compares Burford Capital and its competitors top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Burford Capital $319.23 million $30.51 million N/A Burford Capital Competitors $2.92 billion $409.38 million 8.16 Burford Capitals competitors have higher revenue and earnings than Burford Capital. Summary Burford Capital beats its competitors on 7 of the 13 factors compared. About Burford Capital (Get Free Report) Burford Capital Limited, through its subsidiaries, provides legal finance products and services worldwide. The company operates through two segments, Capital Provision, and Asset Management and Other Provision. The Capital Provision segment provides capital to the legal industry or in connection with legal matters directly and through investment in private funds. The Asset Management and Other Services segment provides services to the legal industry, including litigation insurance. The company also offers alternative strategies, including lower risk legal finance, post-settlement, and complex strategies. The company was incorporated in 2009 and is based in Saint Peter Port, Guernsey. Receive News & Ratings for Burford Capital Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Burford Capital and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Bank of America Co. (NYSE:BAC Free Report) by 0.7% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 425,869 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 3,030 shares during the period. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc.s holdings in Bank of America were worth $12,218,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Old North State Trust LLC boosted its stake in Bank of America by 1.8% during the first quarter. Old North State Trust LLC now owns 23,584 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $675,000 after buying an additional 420 shares during the period. Arkfeld Wealth Strategies L.L.C. lifted its stake in Bank of America by 1.8% during the second quarter. Arkfeld Wealth Strategies L.L.C. now owns 25,847 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $759,000 after purchasing an additional 446 shares during the last quarter. Parnassus Investments LLC lifted its stake in Bank of America by 9.5% during the second quarter. Parnassus Investments LLC now owns 37,656,022 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,080,351,000 after purchasing an additional 3,278,515 shares during the last quarter. Lavaca Capital LLC lifted its stake in Bank of America by 7.3% during the first quarter. Lavaca Capital LLC now owns 12,216 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $373,000 after purchasing an additional 828 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Independence Bank of Kentucky lifted its stake in Bank of America by 14.2% during the second quarter. Independence Bank of Kentucky now owns 16,685 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $479,000 after purchasing an additional 2,075 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 68.06% of the companys stock. Get Bank of America alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several brokerages have issued reports on BAC. StockNews.com began coverage on Bank of America in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on Bank of America from $39.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research note on Wednesday. Evercore ISI dropped their price target on Bank of America from $35.00 to $33.00 in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price target on Bank of America from $31.00 to $28.00 in a research note on Tuesday, October 10th. Finally, Piper Sandler decreased their price objective on Bank of America from $28.00 to $27.50 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, September 15th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $35.37. Insider Transactions at Bank of America In other news, insider James P. Demare sold 75,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $31.53, for a total value of $2,364,750.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 185,108 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,836,455.24. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.27% of the companys stock. Bank of America Stock Down 1.4 % Shares of BAC stock traded down $0.39 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $26.57. 6,790,840 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 48,899,758. Bank of America Co. has a 1 year low of $25.47 and a 1 year high of $38.60. The companys 50 day moving average is $28.13 and its two-hundred day moving average is $28.82. The company has a current ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.12. The firm has a market cap of $211.14 billion, a PE ratio of 7.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.36. Bank of America (NYSE:BAC Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 17th. The financial services provider reported $0.90 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.83 by $0.07. Bank of America had a return on equity of 12.08% and a net margin of 18.69%. The firm had revenue of $25.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $25.13 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.81 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 2.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts predict that Bank of America Co. will post 3.39 EPS for the current year. Bank of America Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 1st will be given a $0.24 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 30th. This represents a $0.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.61%. Bank of Americas dividend payout ratio is currently 26.89%. Bank of America Company Profile (Free Report) Bank of America Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services for individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses, institutional investors, large corporations, and governments worldwide. Its Consumer Banking segment offers traditional and money market savings accounts, certificates of deposit and IRAs, noninterest-and interest-bearing checking accounts, and investment accounts and products; and credit and debit cards, residential mortgages, and home equity loans, as well as direct and indirect loans, such as automotive, recreational vehicle, and consumer personal loans. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Bank of America Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of America and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc. reduced its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report) by 2.0% in the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 154,091 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 3,113 shares during the quarter. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc.s holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $9,854,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in BMY. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich boosted its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 86,002.1% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 659,143,253 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $42,152,211,000 after acquiring an additional 658,377,716 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter valued at $1,873,696,000. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 114,228.7% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 21,469,785 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,544,751,000 after purchasing an additional 21,451,006 shares during the period. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 193.4% in the 1st quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 7,214,000 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $186,351,000 after purchasing an additional 4,755,058 shares during the period. Finally, Boston Partners boosted its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 31.1% in the 1st quarter. Boston Partners now owns 18,080,568 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,252,480,000 after purchasing an additional 4,286,479 shares during the period. 74.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, EVP Robert M. Plenge sold 732 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.14, for a total value of $44,754.48. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 6,584 shares in the company, valued at approximately $402,545.76. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, EVP Ann Powell sold 17,986 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.25, for a total value of $1,101,642.50. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 27,868 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,706,915. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Robert M. Plenge sold 732 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $61.14, for a total value of $44,754.48. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 6,584 shares in the company, valued at approximately $402,545.76. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock. Bristol-Myers Squibb Price Performance BMY traded up $0.19 on Friday, reaching $56.67. The stock had a trading volume of 1,356,189 shares, compared to its average volume of 9,109,052. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a fifty-two week low of $55.69 and a fifty-two week high of $81.43. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $59.44 and a 200-day moving average of $63.47. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08. The company has a market capitalization of $118.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.57 and a beta of 0.43. Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.99 by ($0.24). Bristol-Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 50.51% and a net margin of 17.62%. The firm had revenue of $11.23 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.81 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.93 EPS. Bristol-Myers Squibbs revenue for the quarter was down 5.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 7.37 EPS for the current year. Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 6th will be issued a $0.57 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 5th. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.02%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs payout ratio is presently 60.64%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth BMY has been the subject of several recent research reports. UBS Group restated a neutral rating and issued a $60.00 price target (down from $70.00) on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Friday. Credit Suisse Group reduced their price target on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $72.00 to $66.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 12th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Bank of America dropped their price objective on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $85.00 to $80.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, July 28th. Finally, Atlantic Securities dropped their price objective on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $90.00 to $85.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Friday, July 28th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $68.67. Check Out Our Latest Report on Bristol-Myers Squibb About Bristol-Myers Squibb (Free Report) Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, and neuroscience diseases. The company's products include Eliquis, an oral inhibitor for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in NVAF, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for anti-cancer indications; Pomalyst/Imnovid indicated for patients with multiple myeloma; Orencia for adult patients with active RA and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BMY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fort Sheridan Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWF Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 807 shares of the exchange traded funds stock, valued at approximately $222,000. A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P lifted its stake in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 34.1% in the 1st quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 26,203 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $7,275,000 after acquiring an additional 6,665 shares during the last quarter. Worth Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF in the 1st quarter valued at $42,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 11.6% in the 1st quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 6,211 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,724,000 after acquiring an additional 644 shares during the last quarter. West Michigan Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 3.7% in the 1st quarter. West Michigan Advisors LLC now owns 7,595 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $2,109,000 after acquiring an additional 272 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Flow Traders U.S. LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF in the 1st quarter valued at $33,422,000. Get iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF alerts: iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Stock Down 0.8 % Shares of NYSEARCA:IWF opened at $268.25 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $68.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.14 and a beta of 1.08. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF has a 12-month low of $207.91 and a 12-month high of $286.96. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $273.49 and a 200 day simple moving average of $265.96. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Company Profile iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment returns that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 1000 Growth Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of equity securities of Russell 1000 index issuers with relatively higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Heritage Investors Management Corp cut its holdings in shares of Carrier Global Co. (NYSE:CARR Free Report) by 1.4% during the second quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 52,084 shares of the companys stock after selling 713 shares during the quarter. Heritage Investors Management Corps holdings in Carrier Global were worth $2,589,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the business. LPL Financial LLC increased its stake in Carrier Global by 3.0% during the second quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 309,103 shares of the companys stock worth $15,366,000 after purchasing an additional 9,130 shares during the period. Alpha DNA Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Carrier Global during the second quarter worth about $1,101,000. Brighton Jones LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Carrier Global during the second quarter worth approximately $220,000. Mutual Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Carrier Global by 35.8% during the second quarter. Mutual Advisors LLC now owns 6,916 shares of the companys stock worth $344,000 after buying an additional 1,822 shares during the period. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Carrier Global by 2.5% during the second quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 65,208 shares of the companys stock worth $3,241,000 after buying an additional 1,587 shares during the period. 91.47% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Carrier Global alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In related news, insider Jurgen Timperman sold 164,450 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, July 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $59.25, for a total transaction of $9,743,662.50. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other Carrier Global news, VP Kyle Crockett sold 6,817 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, July 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $59.22, for a total value of $403,702.74. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 42 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,487.24. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Jurgen Timperman sold 164,450 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, July 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $59.25, for a total value of $9,743,662.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.38% of the companys stock. Carrier Global Price Performance CARR stock opened at $49.00 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $41.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.44, a PEG ratio of 1.89 and a beta of 1.41. Carrier Global Co. has a twelve month low of $33.93 and a twelve month high of $60.04. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $54.80 and a 200-day simple moving average of $49.87. The company has a current ratio of 1.63, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04. Carrier Global (NYSE:CARR Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The company reported $0.79 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.76 by $0.03. Carrier Global had a return on equity of 25.42% and a net margin of 9.87%. The business had revenue of $6 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.83 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.69 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 15.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Carrier Global Co. will post 2.63 EPS for the current year. Carrier Global Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 20th. Investors of record on Friday, October 27th will be issued a dividend of $0.185 per share. This represents a $0.74 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.51%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 26th. Carrier Globals dividend payout ratio is presently 29.37%. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of analysts recently weighed in on CARR shares. Argus upped their target price on shares of Carrier Global from $52.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 1st. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on shares of Carrier Global from $54.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, July 28th. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Carrier Global from $54.00 to $63.00 in a research note on Friday, July 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered shares of Carrier Global from a neutral rating to an underweight rating and set a $53.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Friday, October 6th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of Carrier Global from $60.00 to $55.00 in a research note on Monday, October 9th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $55.53. View Our Latest Analysis on CARR About Carrier Global (Free Report) Carrier Global Corporation provides heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC), refrigeration, fire, security, and building automation technologies worldwide. It operates through three segments: HVAC, Refrigeration, and Fire & Security. The HVAC segment provides products, controls, services, and solutions to meet the heating, cooling, and ventilation needs of residential and commercial customers. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CARR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Carrier Global Co. (NYSE:CARR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Carrier Global Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Carrier Global and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Heritage Investors Management Corp trimmed its holdings in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO Free Report) by 0.8% in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 74,306 shares of the companys stock after selling 615 shares during the quarter. Heritage Investors Management Corps holdings in Altria Group were worth $3,366,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of MO. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich increased its position in Altria Group by 100,097.6% in the second quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 1,100,359,981 shares of the companys stock worth $49,846,307,000 after buying an additional 1,099,261,791 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its position in Altria Group by 6.4% in the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 36,302,349 shares of the companys stock worth $1,896,798,000 after buying an additional 2,178,596 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in Altria Group by 1.9% in the first quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 35,856,051 shares of the companys stock worth $1,596,257,000 after buying an additional 671,929 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC increased its position in Altria Group by 8.3% in the first quarter. FMR LLC now owns 25,132,929 shares of the companys stock worth $1,121,431,000 after buying an additional 1,926,492 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its position in Altria Group by 5.1% in the third quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 24,517,169 shares of the companys stock worth $990,002,000 after buying an additional 1,192,266 shares during the last quarter. 58.94% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Altria Group alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Altria Group in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price target on Altria Group from $55.00 to $56.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, October 13th. Citigroup reduced their price target on Altria Group from $46.50 to $45.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday. UBS Group reduced their price target on Altria Group from $40.40 to $39.20 and set a sell rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 6th. Finally, Bank of America reduced their price target on Altria Group from $49.00 to $47.00 in a research report on Monday, October 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Altria Group presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $47.46. Altria Group Stock Performance NYSE:MO opened at $42.60 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $75.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.18, a P/E/G ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 0.59. Altria Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $40.91 and a 52-week high of $51.57. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $43.08 and a 200 day moving average of $44.50. Altria Group (NYSE:MO Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 1st. The company reported $1.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $1.31. The company had revenue of $5.44 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.43 billion. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 225.61% and a net margin of 27.40%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.26 earnings per share. Equities analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 4.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Altria Group Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, October 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 15th were paid a dividend of $0.98 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 14th. This represents a $3.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 9.20%. This is a positive change from Altria Groups previous quarterly dividend of $0.94. Altria Groups payout ratio is 102.89%. Altria Group Company Profile (Free Report) Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company provides cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; cigars and pipe tobacco principally under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco products and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; and on! oral nicotine pouches. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Altria Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Altria Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Heritage Investors Management Corp lowered its holdings in shares of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:PNC Free Report) by 13.7% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 2,181 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 345 shares during the quarter. Heritage Investors Management Corps holdings in The PNC Financial Services Group were worth $275,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. 1832 Asset Management L.P. increased its holdings in The PNC Financial Services Group by 33.5% in the 1st quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. now owns 267 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $49,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares in the last quarter. Nilsine Partners LLC increased its holdings in The PNC Financial Services Group by 1.7% in the 2nd quarter. Nilsine Partners LLC now owns 4,701 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $592,000 after purchasing an additional 78 shares in the last quarter. KCM Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in The PNC Financial Services Group by 7.1% in the 1st quarter. KCM Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,194 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $220,000 after purchasing an additional 79 shares in the last quarter. Bradley Foster & Sargent Inc. CT increased its holdings in The PNC Financial Services Group by 2.3% in the 4th quarter. Bradley Foster & Sargent Inc. CT now owns 3,645 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $576,000 after purchasing an additional 82 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. increased its holdings in The PNC Financial Services Group by 1.0% in the 1st quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 8,838 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,123,000 after purchasing an additional 84 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.14% of the companys stock. Get The PNC Financial Services Group alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes PNC has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Credit Suisse Group reduced their price target on The PNC Financial Services Group from $145.00 to $135.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 19th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on The PNC Financial Services Group in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a sell rating on the stock. HSBC initiated coverage on The PNC Financial Services Group in a research report on Thursday, September 7th. They issued a reduce rating and a $110.00 price target on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on The PNC Financial Services Group from $112.00 to $127.00 in a research report on Tuesday, October 10th. Finally, Bank of America upgraded The PNC Financial Services Group from an underperform rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 10th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $152.89. The PNC Financial Services Group Stock Down 0.0 % Shares of NYSE:PNC opened at $115.66 on Friday. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $121.30 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $123.59. The firm has a market cap of $46.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.03, a PEG ratio of 1.04 and a beta of 1.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.28, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 0.82. The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $110.31 and a 52-week high of $170.27. The PNC Financial Services Group (NYSE:PNC Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 13th. The financial services provider reported $3.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.10 by $0.50. The business had revenue of $5.23 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.32 billion. The PNC Financial Services Group had a return on equity of 12.91% and a net margin of 20.39%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $3.78 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts forecast that The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. will post 13.71 EPS for the current fiscal year. The PNC Financial Services Group Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, November 5th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, October 17th will be issued a $1.55 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, October 16th. This represents a $6.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.36%. The PNC Financial Services Groups payout ratio is currently 43.03%. The PNC Financial Services Group Profile (Free Report) The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc operates as a diversified financial services company in the United States. It operates through three segments: Retail Banking, Corporate & Institutional Banking, and Asset Management Group segments. The company's Retail Banking segment offers checking, savings, and money market accounts, as well as certificates of deposit; residential mortgages, home equity loans and lines of credit, auto loans, credit cards, education loans, and personal and small business loans and lines of credit; and brokerage, insurance, and investment and cash management services. Read More Receive News & Ratings for The PNC Financial Services Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The PNC Financial Services Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. LiveWire Group, Inc. (NYSE:LVWR Get Free Report) was down 6.5% during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $7.90 and last traded at $7.94. Approximately 1,024 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 97% from the average daily volume of 33,080 shares. The stock had previously closed at $8.49. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, Citigroup dropped their price objective on shares of LiveWire Group from $10.50 to $9.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 5th. Get LiveWire Group alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Report on LVWR LiveWire Group Trading Down 0.9 % The companys 50-day moving average price is $9.46 and its 200 day moving average price is $9.35. LiveWire Group (NYSE:LVWR Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The company reported ($0.14) EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of $7.03 million during the quarter. Institutional Trading of LiveWire Group A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Barclays PLC purchased a new position in LiveWire Group during the 2nd quarter valued at about $27,000. Citigroup Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of LiveWire Group during the second quarter worth about $39,000. California State Teachers Retirement System purchased a new position in shares of LiveWire Group in the second quarter valued at approximately $43,000. Wells Fargo & Company MN grew its holdings in shares of LiveWire Group by 904.2% in the second quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 5,021 shares of the companys stock valued at $59,000 after purchasing an additional 4,521 shares in the last quarter. Finally, American International Group Inc. purchased a new stake in LiveWire Group during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $63,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 0.51% of the companys stock. LiveWire Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) LiveWire Group, Inc manufactures electric motorcycles in the United States and internationally. It operates in two segments Electric Motorcycles and STACYC. The company offers electric motorcycles and parts, accessories, and apparel. It serves wholesalers, independent dealers, retailers, and through online. See Also Receive News & Ratings for LiveWire Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for LiveWire Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. M&G Investment Management Ltd. cut its holdings in Equifax Inc. (NYSE:EFX Free Report) by 8.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 106,139 shares of the credit services providers stock after selling 9,498 shares during the quarter. M&G Investment Management Ltd. owned about 0.09% of Equifax worth $24,943,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Penserra Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Equifax by 8.5% in the 4th quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC now owns 637 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $123,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the period. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC grew its position in shares of Equifax by 4.4% in the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 1,188 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $231,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the period. BSW Wealth Partners boosted its position in Equifax by 3.5% during the 1st quarter. BSW Wealth Partners now owns 1,518 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $308,000 after acquiring an additional 51 shares during the last quarter. United Capital Financial Advisers LLC boosted its position in Equifax by 4.0% during the 1st quarter. United Capital Financial Advisers LLC now owns 1,411 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $334,000 after acquiring an additional 54 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund boosted its position in Equifax by 0.6% during the 1st quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 9,447 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $1,916,000 after acquiring an additional 56 shares during the last quarter. 98.37% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Equifax alerts: Equifax Stock Up 2.2 % EFX opened at $179.01 on Friday. Equifax Inc. has a 1-year low of $145.98 and a 1-year high of $240.35. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $191.39 and its 200 day simple moving average is $204.99. The company has a current ratio of 1.20, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31. The stock has a market cap of $21.97 billion, a PE ratio of 42.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 1.46. Equifax Announces Dividend Equifax ( NYSE:EFX Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 19th. The credit services provider reported $1.76 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.78 by ($0.02). The business had revenue of $1.32 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.33 billion. Equifax had a net margin of 10.15% and a return on equity of 19.41%. The firms revenue was up 6.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.73 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Equifax Inc. will post 6.9 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, September 6th were given a dividend of $0.39 per share. This represents a $1.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.87%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 5th. Equifaxs payout ratio is 36.97%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Equifax news, EVP Bryson R. Koehler sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, August 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $200.00, for a total transaction of $2,000,000.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 18,310 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,662,000. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, CEO Mark W. Begor sold 7,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $201.38, for a total value of $1,409,660.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 69,902 shares in the company, valued at $14,076,864.76. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Bryson R. Koehler sold 10,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, August 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $200.00, for a total value of $2,000,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 18,310 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,662,000. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 19,500 shares of company stock worth $3,912,985 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 1.57% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Robert W. Baird reduced their price target on Equifax from $260.00 to $239.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, July 21st. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Equifax in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Credit Suisse Group upped their price target on Equifax from $235.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, July 21st. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on Equifax from $204.00 to $221.00 in a research report on Monday, July 10th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC cut their price objective on Equifax from $250.00 to $230.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Equifax currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $218.63. View Our Latest Analysis on Equifax Equifax Profile (Free Report) Equifax Inc operates as a data, analytics, and technology company. The company operates through three segments: Workforce Solutions, U.S. Information Solutions (USIS), and International. The Workforce Solutions segment offers services that enables customers to verify income, employment, educational history, criminal justice data, healthcare professional licensure, and sanctions of people in the United States; and employer customers with services that assist them in complying with and automating payroll-related and human resource management processes throughout the entire cycle of the employment relationship. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Equifax Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Equifax and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BEIJING, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday unveiled a national standardized pain treatment center in its capital city of Beijing, aiming to expand the accessibility of quality medical resources for pain treatment at the grassroots level. Chronic pain lasting longer than three months has become a growing concern for an increasing number of people. Experts say chronic pain requires early treatment due to its complicated and varied causes, and the longer it continues, the more difficult it is to treat. The country has scheduled pilot programs in a number of hospitals nationwide for the period of 2022-2025, focusing on the comprehensive management of pain, according to a work plan released in 2022. The newly established center has started evaluating 30 community-level hospitals, and plans to complete the construction of standardized pain treatment centers in 10 to 15 community-level hospitals by 2024. M&G Investment Management Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of Coterra Energy Inc. (NYSE:CTRA Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 507,336 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $12,683,000. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale grew its stake in Coterra Energy by 17.1% in the 1st quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale now owns 215,386 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,108,000 after buying an additional 31,416 shares during the last quarter. Venture Visionary Partners LLC acquired a new position in Coterra Energy in the 1st quarter valued at $437,000. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in Coterra Energy by 27.7% in the 1st quarter. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. now owns 48,533 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,191,000 after buying an additional 10,538 shares during the last quarter. WESPAC Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Coterra Energy in the 1st quarter valued at $615,000. Finally, Savant Capital LLC acquired a new position in Coterra Energy in the 1st quarter valued at $413,000. Institutional investors own 90.54% of the companys stock. Get Coterra Energy alerts: Insider Activity at Coterra Energy In related news, Director Dan O. Dinges sold 400,000 shares of Coterra Energy 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 approximately $87,843,627.20. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Coterra Energy news, Director Dan O. Dinges sold 400,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $26.60, for a total value 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 sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Dan O. Dinges sold 68,275 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 27th. The stock was 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 disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.70% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. Mizuho restated a buy rating and issued a $42.00 price target on shares of Coterra Energy in a research report on Tuesday, September 19th. Bank of America raised their price target on shares of Coterra Energy from $32.00 to $34.00 in a research report on Wednesday, September 27th. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of Coterra Energy from $26.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, August 18th. UBS Group raised their price target on shares of Coterra Energy from $25.00 to $33.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, August 17th. Finally, Susquehanna raised their price target on shares of Coterra Energy from $28.00 to $31.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday. Thirteen 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 company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $31.40. Read Our Latest Stock Report on CTRA Coterra Energy Price Performance Shares of Coterra Energy stock opened at $29.60 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a quick ratio of 1.67 and a current ratio of 1.74. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $27.79 and its 200-day simple moving average is $26.23. Coterra Energy Inc. has a twelve month low of $22.25 and a twelve month high of $31.76. The firm has a market cap of $22.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.24 and a beta of 0.30. Coterra Energy (NYSE:CTRA Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 7th. The company reported $0.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.36 by $0.02. Coterra Energy had a net margin of 40.12% and a return on equity of 23.06%. The firm had revenue of $1.19 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.28 billion. As a group, research analysts expect that Coterra Energy Inc. will post 2.26 EPS for the current fiscal year. Coterra Energy Announces Dividend 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. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.70%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, August 16th. Coterra Energys dividend payout ratio is currently 20.05%. 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. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CTRA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Coterra Energy Inc. (NYSE:CTRA Free Report). 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. Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS Get Free Report) was upgraded by equities research analysts at Wolfe Research from an underperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research note issued to investors on Friday, Benzinga reports. Several other brokerages have also issued reports on MS. HSBC assumed coverage on Morgan Stanley in a research note on Thursday, September 7th. They issued a buy rating and a $99.00 price target on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on Morgan Stanley from $93.00 to $92.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. Bank of America lifted their price target on shares of Morgan Stanley from $95.00 to $100.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 19th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Morgan Stanley in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, Oppenheimer decreased their target price on shares of Morgan Stanley from $100.00 to $98.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday. Seven 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 company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $95.29. Get Morgan Stanley alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on MS Morgan Stanley Price Performance Morgan Stanley stock opened at $72.88 on Friday. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $83.20 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $85.41. The firm has a market cap of $120.76 billion, a PE ratio of 13.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 1.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.68, a current ratio of 0.78 and a quick ratio of 0.78. Morgan Stanley has a one year low of $72.89 and a one year high of $100.99. Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 18th. The financial services provider reported $1.38 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.31 by $0.07. Morgan Stanley had a net margin of 10.86% and a return on equity of 10.66%. The business had revenue of $13.27 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $13.22 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.53 earnings per share. Morgan Stanleys revenue was up 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts expect that Morgan Stanley will post 5.6 EPS for the current fiscal year. Morgan Stanley announced that its board has authorized a stock repurchase plan on Friday, June 30th that authorizes the company to repurchase $20.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the financial services provider to buy up to 12.7% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are generally a sign that the companys leadership believes its stock is undervalued. Insider Activity at Morgan Stanley In other news, major shareholder Stanley Morgan sold 135 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $50,000.00, for a total transaction of $6,750,000.00. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other Morgan Stanley news, major shareholder Stanley Morgan sold 135 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $50,000.00, for a total transaction of $6,750,000.00. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO James P. Gorman sold 125,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $95.19, for a total value of $11,898,750.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,011,345 shares of the companys stock, valued at $96,269,930.55. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 225,135 shares of company stock worth $28,081,750 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.26% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Morgan Stanley Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in MS. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management increased its holdings in Morgan Stanley by 46.9% in the 1st quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management now owns 9,872 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $867,000 after acquiring an additional 3,150 shares during the last quarter. Aureus Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in Morgan Stanley by 4.8% during the 1st quarter. Aureus Asset Management LLC now owns 57,717 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $5,068,000 after acquiring an additional 2,651 shares during the period. Brookstone Capital Management boosted its holdings in shares of Morgan Stanley by 7.8% in the first quarter. Brookstone Capital Management now owns 10,219 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $912,000 after acquiring an additional 743 shares during the period. CHICAGO TRUST Co NA grew its position in shares of Morgan Stanley by 7.8% in the second quarter. CHICAGO TRUST Co NA now owns 2,646 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $226,000 after purchasing an additional 192 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Arkadios Wealth Advisors raised its stake in shares of Morgan Stanley by 19.9% during the 1st quarter. Arkadios Wealth Advisors now owns 3,355 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $295,000 after purchasing an additional 557 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 83.09% of the companys stock. Morgan Stanley Company Profile (Get Free Report) Morgan Stanley, a financial holding company, provides various financial products and services to corporations, governments, financial institutions, and individuals in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. It operates through Institutional Securities, Wealth Management, and Investment Management segments. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Morgan Stanley Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Morgan Stanley and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nokia Oyj (NYSE:NOK Get Free Report) had its price objective cut by equities research analysts at Raymond James from $6.00 to $4.50 in a research note issued to investors on Friday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an outperform rating on the technology companys stock. Raymond James target price points to a potential upside of 40.41% from the stocks current price. NOK has been the topic of several other research reports. StockNews.com began coverage on Nokia Oyj in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of Nokia Oyj from $7.24 to $6.85 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their target price on shares of Nokia Oyj from $6.60 to $5.90 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, July 21st. DNB Markets raised shares of Nokia Oyj from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, October 3rd. Finally, Northland Securities dropped their price objective on shares of Nokia Oyj from $7.00 to $6.00 in a research note on Monday, July 17th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $5.64. Get Nokia Oyj alerts: Check Out Our Latest Analysis on NOK Nokia Oyj Stock Performance Nokia Oyj stock opened at $3.21 on Friday. Nokia Oyj has a 12-month low of $3.05 and a 12-month high of $5.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 1.60 and a quick ratio of 1.32. The company has a market capitalization of $18.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.22 and a beta of 0.97. The firms fifty day moving average price is $3.80 and its 200 day moving average price is $4.04. Nokia Oyj (NYSE:NOK Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 19th. The technology company reported $0.08 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.09 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $6.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.22 billion. Nokia Oyj had a net margin of 16.16% and a return on equity of 10.43%. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.11 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Nokia Oyj will post 0.41 EPS for the current fiscal year. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Nokia Oyj Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Ballentine Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of Nokia Oyj by 15.9% in the 3rd quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 36,624 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $137,000 after buying an additional 5,019 shares in the last quarter. Five Oceans Advisors lifted its stake in Nokia Oyj by 39.4% during the third quarter. Five Oceans Advisors now owns 19,736 shares of the technology companys stock worth $74,000 after purchasing an additional 5,577 shares during the period. First Affirmative Financial Network boosted its holdings in Nokia Oyj by 21.6% during the third quarter. First Affirmative Financial Network now owns 23,107 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $86,000 after purchasing an additional 4,100 shares in the last quarter. Arkadios Wealth Advisors grew its stake in shares of Nokia Oyj by 30.3% in the 3rd quarter. Arkadios Wealth Advisors now owns 20,925 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $78,000 after purchasing an additional 4,863 shares during the period. Finally, BCS Wealth Management acquired a new position in shares of Nokia Oyj in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $112,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 5.26% of the companys stock. Nokia Oyj Company Profile (Get Free Report) Nokia Oyj provides mobile, fixed, and cloud network solutions worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Network Infrastructure, Mobile Networks, Cloud and Network Services, and Nokia Technologies. It offers products and services for radio access networks and microwave radio links for transport networks, and solutions for network management, as well as network planning, optimization, network deployment, and technical support services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Nokia Oyj Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nokia Oyj and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO Free Report) from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note published on Monday morning. Several other equities analysts also recently commented on the stock. DNB Markets downgraded shares of Novo Nordisk A/S from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, August 11th. Argus began coverage on Novo Nordisk A/S in a research note on Monday, October 2nd. They set a buy rating and a $110.00 target price on the stock. Finally, HSBC started coverage on Novo Nordisk A/S in a research note on Friday, July 14th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Novo Nordisk A/S presently has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $99.38. Get Novo Nordisk A/S alerts: Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Novo Nordisk A/S Novo Nordisk A/S Price Performance Shares of Novo Nordisk A/S stock opened at $97.67 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.70, a current ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $66.88 and its 200-day simple moving average is $49.81. Novo Nordisk A/S has a 52 week low of $50.44 and a 52 week high of $104.00. The company has a market capitalization of $438.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 46.29, a PEG ratio of 1.84 and a beta of 0.44. Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, August 10th. The company reported $0.32 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.34 by ($0.02). Novo Nordisk A/S had a return on equity of 81.09% and a net margin of 33.49%. The firm had revenue of $7.93 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.44 billion. As a group, analysts expect that Novo Nordisk A/S will post 2.19 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Novo Nordisk A/S Cuts Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, August 29th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 21st were issued a dividend of $0.2209 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 18th. This represents a yield of 0.8%. Novo Nordisk A/Ss payout ratio is 29.38%. Institutional Trading of Novo Nordisk A/S Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Jennison Associates LLC grew its stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 7.7% during the 1st quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 12,341,461 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,964,020,000 after purchasing an additional 886,679 shares during the period. WCM Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S by 88.3% in the third quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC now owns 6,528,911 shares of the companys stock worth $594,000,000 after acquiring an additional 3,061,251 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 199.7% in the first quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 5,308,866 shares of the companys stock valued at $271,024,000 after buying an additional 3,537,248 shares in the last quarter. Fayez Sarofim & Co lifted its stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 3.2% in the 1st quarter. Fayez Sarofim & Co now owns 5,280,357 shares of the companys stock valued at $840,316,000 after purchasing an additional 163,988 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased its holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S by 39.4% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 5,212,398 shares of the companys stock worth $705,446,000 after purchasing an additional 1,472,550 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 6.41% of the companys stock. About Novo Nordisk A/S (Get Free Report) Novo Nordisk A/S, a healthcare company, engages in the research, development, manufacture, and marketing of pharmaceutical products worldwide. It operates in two segments, Diabetes and Obesity care, and Rare Disease. The Diabetes and Obesity care segment provides products in the areas of insulins, GLP-1 and related delivery systems, oral antidiabetic products, obesity, glucagon, needles, and other chronic diseases. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Novo Nordisk A/S Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Novo Nordisk A/S and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Canadian Utilities (TSE:CU Free Report) had its target price trimmed by Scotiabank from C$37.00 to C$35.00 in a report published on Monday, BayStreet.CA reports. The firm currently has a sector perform rating on the stock. CU has been the topic of several other reports. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their target price on Canadian Utilities from C$40.00 to C$36.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, September 11th. TD Securities upgraded shares of Canadian Utilities from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a C$37.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 2nd. CIBC cut their target price on Canadian Utilities from C$40.00 to C$38.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Friday, July 21st. CSFB lowered their price target on Canadian Utilities from C$40.50 to C$40.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 24th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on Canadian Utilities from C$38.00 to C$37.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 8th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of C$36.38. Get Canadian Utilities alerts: Read Our Latest Analysis on Canadian Utilities Canadian Utilities Price Performance Shares of CU opened at C$29.14 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of C$5.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.81, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.38 and a beta of 0.61. Canadian Utilities has a fifty-two week low of C$28.13 and a fifty-two week high of C$39.87. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of C$30.82 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$34.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 142.91, a quick ratio of 1.30 and a current ratio of 1.43. Canadian Utilities (TSE:CU Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The company reported C$0.37 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of C$0.43 by C($0.06). Canadian Utilities had a return on equity of 9.33% and a net margin of 16.21%. The firm had revenue of C$879.00 million for the quarter. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Canadian Utilities will post 2.2465753 earnings per share for the current year. Canadian Utilities Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 1st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, November 2nd will be given a $0.449 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 1st. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.16%. Canadian Utilitiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 84.83%. About Canadian Utilities (Get Free Report) Canadian Utilities Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the electricity, natural gas, and retail energy businesses in the United States, Australia, and internationally. It operates through Utilities, Energy Infrastructure, and Corporate & Other segments. The Utilities segment provides regulated electricity transmission and distribution services in northern and central east Alberta, the Yukon, and the Northwest Territories; and integrated natural gas transmission and distribution services in Alberta, the Lloydminster area of Saskatchewan, and Western Australia. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Utilities Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Utilities and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Simon Quick Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX Free Report) by 2.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 4,044 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock after buying an additional 88 shares during the quarter. Simon Quick Advisors LLCs holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company were worth $1,068,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. BlackRock Inc. boosted its stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 5.7% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 23,794,080 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $5,889,987,000 after acquiring an additional 1,281,866 shares during the last quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich boosted its stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 98,105.4% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 6,929,375 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $1,829,424,000 after acquiring an additional 6,922,319 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 1.5% during the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 5,021,220 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $1,239,745,000 after acquiring an additional 76,294 shares during the last quarter. Providence Capital Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 25,185.5% during the 1st quarter. Providence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 4,492,216 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $18,147,000 after acquiring an additional 4,474,450 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 95,813.8% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 4,045,643 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $1,028,807,000 after acquiring an additional 4,041,425 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.72% of the companys stock. Get Becton Dickinson and Company alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research firms recently weighed in on BDX. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $284.00 to $303.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, August 7th. Citigroup reduced their price target on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $282.00 to $260.00 in a report on Monday, October 2nd. Piper Sandler upped their price target on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $290.00 to $305.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, July 24th. Raymond James reduced their price target on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $305.00 to $304.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, August 4th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $286.00. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Becton, Dickinson and Company news, EVP Richard Byrd sold 459 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $274.48, for a total transaction of $125,986.32. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 3,444 shares of the companys stock, valued at $945,309.12. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Becton, Dickinson and Company news, EVP Richard Byrd sold 459 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $274.48, for a total transaction of $125,986.32. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 3,444 shares of the companys stock, valued at $945,309.12. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Michael David Garrison sold 1,300 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $277.13, for a total transaction of $360,269.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 5,157 shares in the company, valued at $1,429,159.41. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 5,581 shares of company stock valued at $1,551,429. 0.31% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Becton, Dickinson and Company Stock Up 0.4 % BDX traded up $0.93 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $258.41. 166,918 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,139,846. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a 1-year low of $217.70 and a 1-year high of $287.32. The stocks 50-day moving average is $268.30 and its two-hundred day moving average is $261.84. The stock has a market cap of $74.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 46.73, a PEG ratio of 1.98 and a beta of 0.58. The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58. Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The medical instruments supplier reported $2.96 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.89 by $0.07. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a net margin of 8.73% and a return on equity of 13.24%. The business had revenue of $4.88 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.84 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.66 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts predict that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 12.23 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Becton, Dickinson and Company Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 8th were given a dividend of $0.91 per share. This represents a $3.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.41%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 7th. Becton, Dickinson and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 66.06%. Becton, Dickinson and Company Company Profile (Free Report) Becton, Dickinson and Company develops, manufactures, and sells medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment, and diagnostic products for healthcare institutions, physicians, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, pharmaceutical industry, and the general public worldwide. The company's BD Medical segment provides peripheral intravenous (IV) and advanced peripheral catheters, central lines, acute dialysis catheters, vascular care and preparation products, needle-free IV connectors and extensions sets, closed-system drug transfer devices, hazardous drug detections, hypodermic syringes and needles, anesthesia needles and trays, enteral syringes, and sharps disposal systems; IV medication and infusion therapy delivery systems, medication compounding workflow systems, automated medication dispensing and supply management systems, and medication inventory optimization and tracking systems; syringes, pen needles, and other products for diabetes; and prefillable drug delivery systems. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BDX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Becton Dickinson and Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Becton Dickinson and Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sonoco Products (NYSE:SON Free Report) Equities research analysts at Zacks Research boosted their FY2024 EPS estimates for Sonoco Products in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday, October 18th. Zacks Research analyst S. Deb now forecasts that the industrial products company will post earnings of $5.52 per share for the year, up from their prior estimate of $5.51. The consensus estimate for Sonoco Products current full-year earnings is $5.24 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Sonoco Products Q4 2024 earnings at $1.31 EPS, Q1 2025 earnings at $1.43 EPS, Q2 2025 earnings at $1.54 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $5.79 EPS. Get Sonoco Products alerts: Sonoco Products (NYSE:SON Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, July 31st. The industrial products company reported $1.38 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.50 by ($0.12). Sonoco Products had a return on equity of 26.15% and a net margin of 6.89%. The business had revenue of $1.71 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.83 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.76 EPS. Several other equities analysts have also recently weighed in on the company. Citigroup dropped their price objective on Sonoco Products from $69.00 to $65.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 10th. Bank of America cut their price objective on shares of Sonoco Products from $80.00 to $68.00 in a research report on Monday, July 10th. Argus cut shares of Sonoco Products from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Sonoco Products from $55.00 to $50.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Sonoco Products in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Sonoco Products currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $60.83. Check Out Our Latest Report on Sonoco Products Sonoco Products Trading Down 1.8 % Shares of SON stock opened at $52.14 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $5.11 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.69. Sonoco Products has a 1 year low of $51.99 and a 1 year high of $64.89. The company has a current ratio of 1.55, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.18. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $55.08 and a 200 day simple moving average of $57.99. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Point72 Asset Management L.P. acquired a new position in Sonoco Products in the 2nd quarter worth about $34,000. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of Sonoco Products in the first quarter valued at approximately $36,000. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. bought a new position in Sonoco Products in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $40,000. Global Retirement Partners LLC boosted its position in Sonoco Products by 316.2% during the 2nd quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 795 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $47,000 after buying an additional 604 shares during the period. Finally, Dark Forest Capital Management LP bought a new stake in Sonoco Products during the 1st quarter worth approximately $50,000. 76.20% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Sonoco Products Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 8th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 10th will be paid a dividend of $0.51 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 9th. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.91%. Sonoco Productss payout ratio is presently 41.80%. Sonoco Products Company Profile (Get Free Report) Sonoco Products Company, together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and sells various engineered and sustainable packaging products in North and South America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The company operates through two segments: Consumer Packaging and Industrial Paper Packaging. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Sonoco Products Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sonoco Products and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Squarespace, Inc. (NYSE:SQSP Get Free Report) CEO Anthony Casalena sold 19,780 shares of Squarespace stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $30.16, for a total value of $596,564.80. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 4,209,806 shares in the company, valued at $126,967,748.96. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Anthony Casalena also recently made the following trade(s): Get Squarespace alerts: On Wednesday, October 4th, Anthony Casalena sold 21,679 shares of Squarespace stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $28.57, for a total value of $619,369.03. On Thursday, September 21st, Anthony Casalena sold 11,189 shares of Squarespace stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $28.02, for a total value of $313,515.78. On Monday, September 11th, Anthony Casalena sold 18,813 shares of Squarespace stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $31.36, for a total value of $589,975.68. On Friday, September 8th, Anthony Casalena sold 14,688 shares of Squarespace stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $32.27, for a total value of $473,981.76. On Monday, August 28th, Anthony Casalena sold 30,910 shares of Squarespace stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $29.11, for a total value of $899,790.10. On Friday, August 25th, Anthony Casalena sold 42,220 shares of Squarespace stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $29.07, for a total value of $1,227,335.40. On Monday, August 14th, Anthony Casalena sold 32,998 shares of Squarespace stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $31.07, for a total value of $1,025,247.86. On Tuesday, August 1st, Anthony Casalena sold 52,546 shares of Squarespace stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $32.88, for a total value of $1,727,712.48. Squarespace Trading Down 0.5 % Shares of SQSP stock opened at $29.79 on Friday. Squarespace, Inc. has a twelve month low of $16.86 and a twelve month high of $34.38. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $29.80 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $30.39. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Squarespace Squarespace ( NYSE:SQSP Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 8th. The company reported $0.03 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.20 by ($0.17). Squarespace had a negative net margin of 23.60% and a negative return on equity of 2.24%. The company had revenue of $247.50 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $243.34 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.45 EPS. Squarespaces revenue for the quarter was up 16.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict that Squarespace, Inc. will post 0.28 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. SG Americas Securities LLC purchased a new stake in Squarespace in the third quarter valued at about $405,000. Renaissance Capital LLC raised its stake in shares of Squarespace by 28.9% in the third quarter. Renaissance Capital LLC now owns 22,379 shares of the companys stock worth $648,000 after purchasing an additional 5,023 shares during the last quarter. Virginia Retirement Systems ET AL purchased a new position in shares of Squarespace in the second quarter worth about $1,454,000. California State Teachers Retirement System raised its stake in shares of Squarespace by 27.8% in the second quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 49,431 shares of the companys stock worth $1,559,000 after purchasing an additional 10,748 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky raised its stake in shares of Squarespace by 11.3% in the second quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 49,365 shares of the companys stock worth $1,557,000 after purchasing an additional 5,025 shares during the last quarter. 43.73% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Analyst Ratings Changes Several brokerages recently issued reports on SQSP. Piper Sandler lifted their target price on Squarespace from $35.00 to $38.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 9th. Credit Suisse Group lifted their price objective on Squarespace from $30.00 to $32.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, August 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on Squarespace from $30.00 to $34.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 9th. UBS Group assumed coverage on Squarespace in a research note on Friday, September 22nd. They issued a buy rating and a $40.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, DA Davidson assumed coverage on Squarespace in a research note on Wednesday, July 26th. They issued a buy rating and a $40.00 price objective on the stock. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $34.50. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on SQSP Squarespace Company Profile (Get Free Report) Squarespace, Inc operates platform for businesses and independent creators to build online presence, grow their brands, and manage their businesses across the internet. Its suite of integrated products enables users to manage their projects and businesses through websites, domains, e-commerce, marketing tools, scheduling, and hospitality services, as well as tools for managing a social media presence. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Squarespace Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Squarespace and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Canadian Natural Resources (TSE:CNQ Free Report) (NYSE:CNQ) had its price objective upped by Stifel Nicolaus from C$97.00 to C$99.00 in a report issued on Monday morning, BayStreet.CA reports. They currently have a buy rating on the stock. Several other research firms have also issued reports on CNQ. National Bankshares upped their price target on Canadian Natural Resources from C$90.00 to C$100.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Thursday, October 12th. UBS Group set a C$90.00 target price on Canadian Natural Resources and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 12th. CIBC raised their target price on Canadian Natural Resources from C$93.00 to C$95.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday. Desjardins increased their price target on Canadian Natural Resources from C$95.00 to C$96.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, September 18th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on Canadian Natural Resources from C$95.00 to C$105.00 in a research note on Monday. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Canadian Natural Resources presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of C$93.33. Get Canadian Natural Resources alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Canadian Natural Resources Canadian Natural Resources Trading Down 0.6 % Shares of CNQ stock opened at C$91.15 on Monday. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of C$86.28 and a 200 day moving average price of C$80.17. Canadian Natural Resources has a twelve month low of C$67.13 and a twelve month high of C$92.40. The company has a market capitalization of C$99.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.35, a PEG ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.97. The company has a current ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 35.40. Canadian Natural Resources (TSE:CNQ Get Free Report) (NYSE:CNQ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The company reported C$1.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of C$1.16 by C($0.02). The firm had revenue of C$7.89 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of C$7.19 billion. Canadian Natural Resources had a return on equity of 19.48% and a net margin of 20.72%. Research analysts forecast that Canadian Natural Resources will post 7.807363 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Canadian Natural Resources Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 5th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 15th were paid a dividend of $0.90 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 14th. This represents a $3.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.95%. Canadian Natural Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 52.71%. Insider Activity In other news, Senior Officer Kyle Grayson Pisio sold 2,500 shares of Canadian Natural Resources stock in a transaction on Friday, August 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$83.02, for a total value of C$207,550.00. In other Canadian Natural Resources news, Senior Officer Dwayne Frederick Giggs sold 1,018 shares of Canadian Natural Resources stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$84.49, for a total transaction of C$86,010.82. Also, Senior Officer Kyle Grayson Pisio sold 2,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$83.02, for a total value of C$207,550.00. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 15,378 shares of company stock worth $1,285,340. Insiders own 2.22% of the companys stock. Canadian Natural Resources Company Profile (Get Free Report) Canadian Natural Resources Limited acquires, explores for, develops, produces, markets, and sells crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs). The company offers light and medium crude oil, primary heavy crude oil, Pelican Lake heavy crude oil, bitumen (thermal oil), and synthetic crude oil (SCO). Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Natural Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Natural Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tidewater Inc. (NYSE:TDW Get Free Report)s stock price shot up 4.8% on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $72.35 and last traded at $72.11. 266,050 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 67% from the average session volume of 794,997 shares. The stock had previously closed at $68.80. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In TDW has been the topic of several recent research reports. Evercore ISI assumed coverage on Tidewater in a report on Friday, July 7th. They issued an outperform rating and a $90.00 price target on the stock. BTIG Research lifted their price target on Tidewater from $75.00 to $91.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 20th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Tidewater in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Raymond James initiated coverage on shares of Tidewater in a report on Thursday, July 13th. They set a strong-buy rating and a $85.00 price target on the stock. Finally, TheStreet raised shares of Tidewater from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research note on Friday, June 30th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $88.67. Get Tidewater alerts: View Our Latest Stock Report on Tidewater Tidewater Trading Up 0.7 % The company has a market cap of $3.77 billion, a PE ratio of 76.05 and a beta of 1.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a quick ratio of 1.88 and a current ratio of 1.99. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $66.37 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $55.74. Tidewater (NYSE:TDW Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 7th. The oil and gas company reported $0.46 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.74 by ($0.28). The company had revenue of $214.96 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $220.45 million. Tidewater had a return on equity of 7.21% and a net margin of 6.27%. Sell-side analysts forecast that Tidewater Inc. will post 3.73 EPS for the current year. Insider Buying and Selling In other news, Director Robert Robotti purchased 1,135 shares of Tidewater stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 24th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $57.06 per share, for a total transaction of $64,763.10. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 3,026,792 shares in the company, valued at $172,708,751.52. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other Tidewater news, Director Robert Robotti purchased 1,135 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 24th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $57.06 per share, for a total transaction of $64,763.10. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 3,026,792 shares of the companys stock, valued at $172,708,751.52. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Samuel R. Rubio sold 21,788 shares of Tidewater stock in a transaction on Monday, August 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.37, for a total transaction of $1,358,917.56. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 117,677 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,339,514.49. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders bought 168,519 shares of company stock worth $10,531,632. Corporate insiders own 9.59% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in TDW. Bank of Montreal Can acquired a new position in Tidewater in the 1st quarter valued at $2,413,000. Acadian Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Tidewater in the first quarter valued at about $393,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Tidewater by 24.8% in the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 21,360 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $464,000 after purchasing an additional 4,241 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its position in shares of Tidewater by 12.7% during the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,075,799 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $23,388,000 after purchasing an additional 121,346 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership bought a new stake in Tidewater during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $505,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.19% of the companys stock. About Tidewater (Get Free Report) Tidewater Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides offshore support vessels and marine support services to the offshore energy industry through the operation of a fleet of marine service vessels worldwide. It provides services in support of offshore crude oil and natural gas exploration, field development, and production, as well as windfarm development and maintenance, including towing of and anchor handling for mobile offshore drilling units; transporting supplies and personnel necessary to sustain drilling, workover, and production activities; offshore construction, and seismic and subsea support; geotechnical survey support for windfarm construction; and various specialized services, such as pipe and cable laying. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Tidewater Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tidewater and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BAGHDAD, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Two rockets hit Friday an Iraqi airbase housing U.S. military experts and agencies near Baghdad International Airport, according to a source from the country's Interior Ministry. The predawn attack occurred when rockets were fired toward an army base known as Camp Victory. The Iraqi air defenses shot down one of the rockets while the second landed on the perimeter of the airbase, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. There are no immediate reports on casualties, the source added. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, while an Iranian-backed militia, calling itself "the Islamic Resistance in Iraq," claimed to have launched, in recent days, rocket and drone attacks on military bases housing U.S. forces across the country. The group also claimed responsibility for similar attacks on U.S. military forces in Syria. Verus Capital Partners LLC reduced its holdings in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM Free Report) by 6.1% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,087 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after selling 136 shares during the quarter. Verus Capital Partners LLCs holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing were worth $211,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 30.0% during the 1st quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 1,381,845 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $144,071,000 after buying an additional 318,570 shares during the last quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. increased its position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 29.2% during the 1st quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 597 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $62,000 after purchasing an additional 135 shares in the last quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. raised its stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 40.1% in the 1st quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 12,700 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $1,324,000 after purchasing an additional 3,638 shares during the last quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC lifted its holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 17.3% in the 1st quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 2,350 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $245,000 after purchasing an additional 346 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ergoteles LLC boosted its stake in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 138.6% during the 1st quarter. Ergoteles LLC now owns 45,497 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $4,744,000 after purchasing an additional 26,426 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 16.51% of the companys stock. Get Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing alerts: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Price Performance Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing stock opened at $92.91 on Friday. 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 quick ratio of 2.13 and a current ratio of 2.42. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $90.37 and a 200 day moving average price of $93.59. The company has a market cap of $481.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.33, a PEG ratio of 2.59 and a beta of 1.07. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Cuts Dividend Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing ( NYSE:TSM Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 20th. The semiconductor company reported $1.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.07 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $15.68 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $15.52 billion. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing had a net margin of 43.31% and a return on equity of 32.08%. Sell-side analysts predict that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited will post 4.83 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 11th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.4724 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 14th. This represents a $1.89 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.03%. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings dividend payout ratio is presently 24.26%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In TSM has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. StockNews.com lowered shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, October 12th. Needham & Company LLC reduced their price target on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $118.00 to $115.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, July 21st. Finally, Susquehanna lowered their price objective on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $135.00 to $130.00 in a research report on Monday, October 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $106.67. View Our Latest Stock Report on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing About Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (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. Featured Articles 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. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, who is in Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 19, 2023. [Xinhua/Huang Jingwen] BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, who is in Beijing to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. China and Cambodia have set a good example of relations between countries of different sizes based on equality and mutual benefit since they established diplomatic ties 65 years ago, Xi said, noting that the two countries' iron-clad friendship is unbreakable. The two sides should maintain high-level strategic communication and well implement the action plan for building a China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, he said. Belt and Road cooperation has brought tangible development opportunities to Cambodia, the president said. China stands ready to advance the synergy of the Belt and Road Initiative with Cambodia's Pentagon Strategy, ensure that the "Industrial Development Corridor" and the "Fish and Rice Corridor" are well constructed, and push for the implementation of more projects that benefit the public, he said. China welcomes the entry of more Cambodian farm produce into its market and encourages more Chinese tourists to travel in Cambodia, Xi said. Hun Manet expressed appreciation for China's long-time and valuable support for Cambodia, noting that Cambodia firmly pursues a friendly policy toward China and supports China's core interests. The series of important initiatives put forward by President Xi have provided important opportunities and platforms for promoting world peace and development, and Cambodia is an active supporter of them, Hun Manet said. Senior Chinese officials including Cai Qi and Wang Yi were present at the meeting. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, who is in Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 19, 2023. [Xinhua/Shen Hong] (Source: Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh, who is in Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 19, 2023. [Xinhua/Huang Jingwen] BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday met with Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh, who is in Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF). Noting that Mongolia is a natural partner in the Belt and Road cooperation, Xi hopes Mongolia will play a greater role in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation by leveraging its geographical location of connecting Europe and Asia. China will, as always, help Mongolia revitalize its economy, promote the construction of related border ports in an orderly manner, and open up new channels for connectivity between the two countries, Xi said. He also noted that China is willing to expand trilateral cooperation among China, Mongolia and Russia, and make steady progress in the construction of the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor. Khurelsukh said the outcomes of the third BRF will inject fresh and strong impetus into world economic growth. Mongolia is ready to promote cooperation with China in fields such as economy and trade, connectivity, mineral resources and energy, desertification prevention and control, and green development, as well as step up people-to-people and cultural exchanges, he said. Highly commending China's important role in world peace and stability, Khurelsukh noted that Mongolia attaches importance to strengthening trilateral cooperation among Mongolia, China and Russia, and it is willing to promote interaction and collaboration with China in multilateral affairs. The two heads of state witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents in fields including green and low-carbon sector and digital economy. Senior Chinese officials including Cai Qi and Wang Yi attended the events. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh, who is in Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 19, 2023. [Xinhua/Ding Haitao] (Source: Xinhua) BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) World leaders gathered in Beijing for a high-profile forum this week in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF), held from Tuesday to Wednesday, marked another milestone in the process of jointly building the Belt and Road. In a keynote speech at the opening ceremony, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that over the past 10 years, Belt and Road cooperation has progressed from "sketching the outline" to "filling in the details," and blueprints have been turned into real projects. He announced eight major steps that China will take to support high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, including the promotion of green development, and the advancement of scientific and technological innovation. During the third BRF, a total of 458 outcomes were achieved, far more than in the second one. The CEO Conference held during the forum saw the conclusion of agreements worth 97.2 billion U.S. dollars. Zahari Zahariev, chairman of Bulgaria National Association for the Belt and Road, said he was impressed by China's fresh commitments and pledges. Future BRI development requires efforts not only from China, but also from other participating countries like Bulgaria, he said. Since its launch, the BRI has become the world's largest platform for international cooperation, and with the broadest coverage. By June 2023, China had signed more than 200 BRI cooperation agreements with over 150 countries and 30-plus international organizations across five continents. Over 3,000 BRI cooperation projects have been launched in the past decade, involving close to 1 trillion U.S. dollars of investment. One such project is the China-Laos Railway, which began operations in December 2021, helping transform the landlocked country of Laos into a land-linked hub in Southeast Asia. Sida Phengphongsawanh, a 24-year-old train inspector for the China-Laos Railway, is one of many Lao people whose lives have been changed by the railway. "The Belt and Road is a great initiative," she said. "And I think the Laos-China Railway is just the starting point (in the region). It will connect more countries in the future, allowing us to go abroad more easily." By improving infrastructure connectivity, BRI cooperation can reduce international trade costs and enable underdeveloped countries, especially those located inland, to participate in global trade and seek economic development, said Liu Nanxing, an expert on international cooperation at the National Development and Reform Commission. China-made new-energy vehicles, engineering machinery and household appliances are being shipped to more and more Belt and Road partner countries, while foreign products such as Thai rice, Kenyan avocados and Uzbek chocolates are increasingly appearing on the tables of Chinese people. Belt and Road cooperation was proposed by China, but its benefits and opportunities are for the world to share, President Xi Jinping said. China is endeavoring to bring Belt and Road cooperation to a new stage of higher-quality and higher-level development, thus promoting the modernization of all countries. The World Bank has estimated that by 2030, BRI-related investments could lift 7.6 million people out of extreme poverty and 32 million out of moderate poverty. Collaborative efforts in new energy and environmental protection have emerged as fresh opportunities and driving forces for cooperation among the partner countries. Robert Lawrence Kuhn, chairman of the U.S.-based Kuhn Foundation, said that the BRI is sustainable as the win-win cooperation model has delivered tangible results over the past 10 years. "Historians 1,000 years from now will look back and will circle the BRI as something of significance for our era today," he noted. Hu Biliang, executive dean of the Belt and Road School at Beijing Normal University, said that in a world facing uncertainty and instability, countries are urgently in need of dialogue to bridge their differences, solidarity to counter division, and cooperation to foster development. "The significance of the Belt and Road cooperation is becoming increasingly evident, and its prospects are more promising than ever," he said. (Source: Xinhua) The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Ilia Darchiashvili, met with the US Ambassador to Georgia, Robin Dunnigan.According to the information of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the parties discussed a wide range of issues regarding the strategic partnership between the two countries and the prospects of further development of the respective directions."At the meeting, attention was also placed on regional policy and security issues. The US Ambassador to Georgia, Robin Dunnigan, once again confirmed the unwavering support of the US for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, as well as the country's foreign policy priorities. The parties have confirmed their readiness to continue and further intensify the existing fruitful cooperation between the countries," the statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia reads.Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Nikoloz Samkharadze, met with the Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Georgia, Hassan bin Ahmed Al-Mutawa.The parties discussed political relations, and economic cooperation, and emphasized deepening inter-parliamentary relations. They also addressed regional security, including ongoing events in the South Caucasus and the Middle East."At the meeting with the ambassador of Qatar, we mentioned that the political relations between the two countries are at a high level and we want to further develop economic cooperation, including in the direction of free trade," said Samkharadze.Samkharadze invited the members of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Qatari Legislative Body to Georgia for an official visit. Paula Gopee-Scoon, trade and industry minister of Trinidad and Tobago, receives an interview with Xinhua in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Oct. 12, 2023.(Xinhua/Xin Yuewei) PORT OF SPAIN, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) plays an important role in enhancing the flow of trade and economic development, said Paula Gopee-Scoon, trade and industry minister of Trinidad and Tobago. "The initiative is a significant project from the point of view of both countries. For China, it represents investments into another country, and for us, that assistance facilitates our development," Gopee-Scoon told Xinhua in a recent interview. Trinidad and Tobago is the first Caribbean country to sign a BRI cooperation agreement with China, and the country's Phoenix Park Industrial Estate is the first BRI project in the Caribbean. Designed and built by China's Beijing Construction Engineering Group, the industrial estate covers an area of about 580,000 square meters and is managed by e TecK, a state-owned enterprise of Trinidad and Tobago. "The Phoenix Park Industrial Estate is a significant project for Trinidad and Tobago and will play a formidable part in the economic development of the country, being a prototype that can be adopted throughout the country when developing similar industrial parks," said Gopee-Scoon. She said that a group of Chinese investors will arrive in Port of Spain "very shortly" for a visit to the new industrial park and other industrial estates. "But far beyond that, there are other people-to-people exchanges and training opportunities offered by China to the government of Trinidad and Tobago in several areas, including the public sector," she said. Gopee-Scoon is scheduled to visit China next month to attend the 16th China-LAC Business Summit and the 6th China International Import Expo. "Among the delegation will also be our national investment promotion agency, InvesTT, and export promotion agency, ExporTT, as well as members of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association, which represents the private sector," she said. The trip aims to seek export opportunities for high-quality products and attract new investors for the industrial park and other parts of the Caribbean country, according to the minister, who will visit Beijing and Shanghai, and three cities in Jiangsu Province during the trip. The global environment is rife with uncertainty and turmoil, but "unity and solidarity are essential ingredients for our collective progress, if we are to create a community with a shared future," said Gopee-Scoon. "Differences will always exist. However, we must work towards building closer ties, finding commonalities and resolving our differences, if we are to benefit now and in the future," she added. Email Sign Up For Our Free Weekly Newsletter According to new CBRE research, institutional investors are attracted to prime hotel assets in tier one markets across Asia Pacific, even though tourist arrivals in key destinations are only reaching 70-80% of pre-pandemic levels. Dr. Henry Chin "With limited supply of high-quality assets, we anticipate intense competition among investors for the best hotel properties across Asia Pacific," said Dr. Henry Chin, Global Head of Investor Thought Leadership & Head of Research, Asia Pacific. "Despite the region's uneven tourism recovery, core assets in Japan, Singapore, Australia and Korea, as well as resort markets continue to generate strong interest." As of Q3 2023 Asia Pacific hotel investment volume was down 29% year-over-year to US$8.44bn, with Japan accounting for approximately one-third of investment activity. While overall investment activity remains cautious, well-located, high-quality hotel assets in key markets remain attractive. The slower return of travelers, particularly from mainland China, has not deterred real estate investors who recognize the long-term potential of top-tier hotel properties in Asia Pacific. CBRE expects a full recovery of Chinese travel may not transpire until the end of 2024. Some destinations like Japan, Korea and Hong Kong SAR have already seen a rebound in travelers from mainland China. "Asia Pacific hotel assets have performed well over the past year, making them highly coveted investments," said Steve Carroll, Head of Hotels & Hospitality, Capital Markets, Asia Pacific for CBRE. "We anticipate a repricing of Asia Pacific hotel assets to be more moderate than in many other parts of the world, as the rebound in international arrivals and higher hotel revenue helps to offset headwinds from the capital markets environment." Sign Up Free | The WPJ Weekly Newsletter Relevant real estate news. Actionable market intelligence. Right to your inbox every week. Go Thank you for your interest! You will now be receiving our Weekly Real Estate Newsletter. In this 2018 file photo, the US Navy destroyer USS Carney sails in the Bosphorus, on its way to the Mediterranean Sea, in Istanbul, Turkey. BEIJING, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has become a strong bond connecting different countries worldwide, as leaders from partner countries gathering here reaffirm joint commitment to cooperation, said Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Thursday. "Every country has its plans to propose and discuss at the forum, aiming to move forward with BRI cooperation," Srettha said in an interview with Xinhua in Beijing, where he attended the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and paid an official visit to China. "The BRI is an important initiative that benefits all humanity by strengthening infrastructure construction, trade and investment, cultural and people-to-people exchanges," he said, noting that Chinese President Xi Jinping's keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the forum conveyed a clear signal that China adheres to peaceful development and opening up. During the visit, Srettha also held talks with several heads of Chinese enterprises to attract investment into Thailand. "I am here to send the message that Thailand is ready to welcome investors from China," Srettha said. The Thai government is looking forward to enhancing cooperation with China in the electric vehicle industry, as many Chinese carmakers have invested in the country, which plays an important role in advancing Thailand's industrialization, he said. Additionally, another promising area for cooperation between the two nations lies in agriculture. Srettha eyes exporting more high-quality durians to China. "I know that Chinese people like to eat durian," he said. Srettha made China the first country outside the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for an official visit, shortly after he took office as Thailand's new prime minister. The friendly relations between Thailand and China have a long history, and the people of the two countries support each other like one family, he said. With a good business environment, Thailand hopes to participate in more Belt and Road projects with Chinese firms, maintain robust trade exchanges, and promote the further development of bilateral relations, said Srettha. Thursday saw UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak make his own visit to Israel to kiss the ring of the bloody war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu. He followed in the footsteps of US President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in pledging full support to Israels war of extermination against the Palestinians in Gaza, telling Netanyahu, We want you to win. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (left) meets the Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu [Photo by Simon Walker/No 10 Downing Street / CC BY 4.0 Landing in Tel Aviv, Sunak first held talks with Israels head of state President Isaac Herzog. In the face of massive opposition in Britain to Sunaks Conservative government and the Labour Partys support for the war crimes being carried out by Israel against Gazawith over 150,000 demonstrating in London just six days earlierDowning Streets readout of the talks made out that Sunak came as a humanitarian campaigner. Stressing as always that the UK stands in solidarity with Israel and firmly believes in the countrys right to self-defence in line with international law, it added, The prime minister and President Herzog agreed on the importance of getting urgent humanitarian support to ordinary Palestinians in Gaza who are also suffering. The prime minister welcomed yesterdays announcement that Israel would not stop aid from entering Gaza. He expressed his sincere hope that further progress could be made on delivering crucial food, water and medicine. It concluded, The prime minister and President Herzog stressed the imperative need to avoid further escalation of violence in the region. Who does Number 10 think they are kidding? Herzog is an avowed advocate of the collective punishment being unleashed by the Israeli war machine on the Palestinian people. Sunaks supposed friend of peace declared only last Friday that the entire population of Gaza were targets for destruction: It is an entire nation out there that is responsible. Its not true this rhetoric about civilians not aware, not involved. Its absolutely not true. As Sunak arrived the Israeli Defence Forces bragged it had struck hundreds of Hamas structures in the last day, and that it continues to attack all the time throughout the Gaza Strip. The human cost of this savagery is clear in Gazan health ministry figures of more than 3,500 Palestinians dead, the vast majority civilians, with 70 percent of these women, children and the elderly, and over 12,065 injured. A further 1,300 remain buried beneath destroyed buildingsamong them 600 children trapped under rubble. As for the urgent humanitarian support supposedly agreed by Israel, this was a cynical face-saving measure for Biden, amounting to just 20 trucks to feed and water a displaced population of over a millionwhich will not be allowed in until Friday at the earliest, if at all. On Wednesday Netanyahu said his meeting with Biden had given Israel carte blanche to begin a land invasion and the destruction of Gaza. He boasted of winning immense security assistance of an unprecedented scope from the US president in support of escalating the war. We agreed on actions that will ensure the continuation of our just war. Biden will have not only discussed the genocidal assault on Gaza, but how the war will be extended to target Iran and its allies Syria and Hezbollah in Lebanonreporting on the behind-the-scenes discussions with Egypt and other regional powers conducted by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Sunak said during his visit to Israel: It is important that the conflict does not escalate regionally, thats why I am talking to as many people across the region as I can. What this means is that he will continue the filthy diplomacy waged by Washington in talks Friday with Saudi Arabian dictator Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other Middle Eastern leaders to ensure that the Arab states continue to give Israel a free hand in the face of rising popular opposition. Foreign Minister James Cleverly is undertaking a concurrent three-day visit to the region to include talks with leaders in Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar. In his joint press conference appearance with Netanyahu, Sunak declared, We will stand with you, in solidarity with your people and your right to defend yourself, to bring security back to your country, to your people, to ensure the safe return of the hostages that have been taken You have not just a right to do that, I think you have a duty to do that, to restore that security to your country. The thousands of civilian deaths in Gaza were dismissed by Sunak, as he said to Netanyahu, I know that you are taking every precaution to avoid harming civilians, in direct contrast to the terrorists of Hamas, which seek to put civilians in harms way. Of the bombing Monday of the al-Ahli hospital, he added, The scenes over the past day have shocked all of us, particularly at the hospital, and we mourn the loss of every innocent life, concealing the fact that the perpetrators were the Israel Defence Forces, armed to the teeth by the US and Britain, and mobilised by the war criminal he was standing beside. Netanyahu responded, This is our darkest hour. It is the worlds darkest hour. We need to stand together and we will win. And this is why I support, I value your support and the fact that you are herewe must win together. That means that this is a long war and well need your continuous support. The most belligerent mouthpieces of British imperialism are demanding that Israel rapidly wipe out Gaza. The Telegraph editorialised, Israeli forces will need to enter the Strip and seize Gaza City, something they have threatened to do but have so far held back from. No one is under any illusion that such an offensive will be bloody, with losses on both sides, including civilians. The hospital calamity has shown that Israel will be blamed whatever it does. It concluded, Many in the West will be hoping for a time-limited campaign that leads to a swift and comprehensive victory rather than a long, drawn-out offensive. Sunak can pledge support for whatever crime Netanyahu perpetrates, knowing that when he offers unity between the UK and Israel he speaks for the Labour Party and all the main opposition parties. All are stained forever with the blood of Palestinian men, women and children. Last week, they all backed Sunak in his deployment of Royal Air Force surveillance aircraft, two Royal Navy ships, three Merlin helicopters and a company of Royal Marines to the Middle East to deliver practical support to Israel and partners in the region, and offer deterrence and assurance. This military support is not simply to facilitate Israels operations against Gaza, but to contribute to a US-led plan for conflict with Iran, either directly or by engineering a military clash with Syria or Hezbollah. Following the beginning of the school year and the return of children to cramped classrooms, COVID-19 infections are rising sharply once again across Canada. Tens of thousands are being infected and more than a hundred people are dying every week. Nurses in Ontario in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic [Photo: Ontario Council of Hospital Unions] According to the COVID-19 Resource Center, roughly 1 in 25 people across the country are currently infected, a number roughly 14 times higher than the lowest point in the pandemic to date. In this context, most provinces and territories have been labelled severe risk or extremely high risk for COVID-19 infection. Federal data is also showing a marked rise in infections, with 10,000 confirmed new cases and 129 deaths registered during the first week in October. As of October 10, COVID-19 patients occupied 3,797 hospital beds across the countrythe highest occupancy rate since last winter. Official figures provided by the Canadian government are a gross undercount of actual infections. According to figures from Worldometer, 778,300 Canadians are currently infected with COVID-19. COVID PCR testing in the general public has largely stopped. Wastewater monitoring, functioning in a severely reduced capacity, currently covers less than 30 percent of the Canadian population. The other metric availabletesting of symptomatic patients in hospitalsis a lagging indicator of new infections as patients being tested have been infected for days or weeks even before presenting serious symptoms. The reduction of testing is part of a systematic cover-up of the pandemic in order to sell the lie that the pandemic is over. Roughly half of new infections are located in the province of Quebec, where more than 100 long-term care homes, transformed into scenes of mass death during the first and second waves of the pandemic, are currently grappling with new COVID-19 outbreaks. In Canadas most populous province of Ontario, wastewater testing has shown that COVID-19 activity has risen sharply since early August and is now at levels not seen since March. Anger among healthcare workers, who were overwhelmed by seasonal respiratory illness last fall, has compelled the provincial authorities to reinstate a mask mandate at several provincial hospitals. The hard-right Tory government led by Doug Ford, which long ago enforced the dismantling of all remaining COVID-19 protections, made explicit that this would be only a temporary measure. Despite the sharp rise in respiratory infections among school children, his government refuses to require masks in school. In Alberta, COVID-19 outbreaks in acute care settings have exhibited exponential growth in the past few weeks. In mid-September, there were 129 patients in units listed in an outbreak. As of October 10, that number more than doubled to 296. COVID-denying far-right premier Danielle Smith has begrudgingly brought back enhanced masking only in healthcare settings with the caveat that regions and hospitals can opt out if they choose, effectively nullifying the mandate. In early October, infections in British Columbia reached their highest point in more than a year. New infections have multiplied sixfold since August, having increased notably among people 60 and older. In the epidemiological week ending October 7, hospitalizations were up 58 percent with over 800 new infections reported. It was only after an open letter penned by Protect Our Province BC, a group of physicians, nurses and health scientists calling for universal masking, that the provincial New Democratic Party brought back masking in healthcare settings. In the provinces Northern Health region, a COVID-19 outbreak quickly overwhelmed nursing staff at Prince Georges chronically underfunded University Hospital of Northern BC, compelling the province to begin transferring severely ill COVID-19 patients to hospitals further south. The fall surge is the direct result of the criminal policies of capitalist governments everywhere who long ago adopted the homicidal forever COVID strategy which prioritizes profits over lives. The dismantling of virtually all public health measures that limit the spread of COVID-19 all but guarantees preventable mass infection, death and debilitation for months and years to come. According to the COVID-19 Tracker, 126 Canadians died from COVID-19 this past week, underscoring the bankruptcy of a vaccine-only strategy to protect the population. The updated mRNA vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, and the protein-based vaccine Novavax approved by the Canadian government, correspond to the variant XBB.1.5, which dominated throughout the spring and summer. However, XBB.1.5 has quickly been superseded by EG.5 (Eris), now the dominant strain around the world, threatening greater transmissibility and vaccine resistance. Additionally, years of official pandemic health policy increasingly dominated by pseudo-science and reactionary far-right politics have fuelled the growth of vaccine hesitancy. A new survey indicates that almost half of residents in the prairie province of Saskatchewan likely will not be getting a vaccine or vaccine update this fall because of vaccine fatigue. In British Columbia, delays in the new vaccine rollout, which is only taking place amid the fall surge, further eroded confidence in the programs critical role in saving lives. To this point, only 33 percent of British Columbians have received a fourth dose. Fuelling the skepticism is a host of false information circulating in far-right news rags, including the Epoch Times, which ran a patently absurd headline on September 28 falsely linking COVID-19 vaccines to 17 million excess deaths globally. In fact, excess deaths have come from the capitalist governments criminal mishandling of the pandemic and the decades-long assault on the healthcare system. In Canada, it was the federal Liberal Trudeau government, which is backed by the trade unions and New Democratic Party, that spearheaded the scrapping of all remaining COVID-19 public health measures in response to the far-right Freedom Convoys occupation of downtown Ottawa in early 2022. The homicidal policies of forever COVID pursued by the Canadian ruling class and its political counterparts internationally give renewed urgency for an international science-based strategy for elimination led by the working class that the World Socialist Web Site, in collaboration with principled scientists, has been calling for since the beginning of the pandemic. The affluent upper middle-class in the corporate press, academia and online have responded to last Saturdays defeat of the referendum to enshrine an indigenous Voice to parliament in the Constitution with frenzied denunciations of the population. The rejection by most working people of the Labor governments divisive and pro-business policy has been depicted as proof of mass racism, or at the very least, of a successful misinformation campaign that duped the majority of the population. Among the chief proponents of this false and slanderous line is the pseudo-left Socialist Alternative organisation. Throughout the referendum campaign, Socialist Alternative aggressively campaigned for a Yes vote. It did so, even while acknowledging that the Labor governments initiative would resolve nothing for impoverished indigenous people and could even be used to impose further attacks on their social conditions. Socialist Alternative members campaign for the Voice in Melbourne [Photo: Victorian Socialists] That position, and Socialist Alternatives response to the defeat, centres on a rabid racialism. The decisive issue of social class is completely buried, with political developments interpreted solely through the lens of race. On that basis, Socialist Alternative lined up behind a right-wing, pro-business and pro-war Labor government, and is joining its defenders in attacking the working class. The title of its post-referendum analysis sums up the argument: Voice defeated, but fight against racism must continue. Socialist Alternative author Jordan Humphreys writes: After waging a campaign of racist lies for the last six months, the No campaign has achieved its goal. As was widely predicted in the last months, the proposal to establish an Indigenous Voice to Parliament has been defeated. Smashed would be more accurate, the results being even worse than many polls predicted. He added: The defeat is a significant victory for the racist right wing of Australian politics. They successfully turned what initially seemed to be an uncontroversial bipartisan exercise in symbolism into a purportedly terrifying Trojan horse The No camp had mobilised the most significant anti-Indigenous campaign in years, drawing on and amplifying longstanding racist attitudes towards Indigenous people. That is, essentially, the entirety of Socialist Alternatives explanation for the massive defeat of the referendum. More than 60 percent of the population voted against establishing the Voice. Under conditions where a Yes majority was required in most states for the referendum to succeed, every state registered more votes against, than for the initiative. The claim that the vote can be explained on the basis of racism has the most sweeping implications. If true, it would mean that the majority of the population was politically mobilised on the basis of anti-Aboriginal hatred. That would signify a vast shift to the right, and would foreclose the prospect of any mass-based struggle for social equality, an end to war and other progressive causes, for the foreseeable future. The connotations of Socialist Alternatives position are even more striking, when the voting breakdown is taken into consideration. The working-class suburbs of all the major cities voted overwhelmingly against the Voice, as did most rural and regional communities. Yes majorities were only registered in the most affluent areas of the capital cities. Depicted on a map, they appear like tiny enclaves surrounded by a sea of No votes. Percentage of Yes votes in Sydney electorates But what does that mean? Socialist Alternative does not spell out the logical conclusions of its own arguments, but they are clear enough: The wealthiest areas of the country, home to the privileged upper middle-class and even layers of the financial elite, are areas of social progress and right-minded opposition to racism. Working class areas are dominated by backwardness and racial prejudice. There are several striking omissions in Humphreys article. The phrases poverty, social crisis and cost-of-living do not appear. For Socialist Alternative, the referendum occurred in a realm where racial prejudice exists, but class oppression does not. As even the corporate media has been compelled to acknowledge, the social crisis was the dominant factor in the result. All anecdotal and polling data showed that working people were hostile to the referendum, because they opposed the Labor government, its pro-business policies and its decision to inflict the burden of the economic crisis on their backs. Many, no doubt, drew the clear connection. If the Labor government would not assist the working class amid the greatest cost-of-living crisis in decades, why believe that the Voice would improve the lot of oppressed indigenous people? There is another striking absence. Socialist Alternative has, over the past week, participated in protests opposing the Israeli onslaught on Gaza. But the oppression of the Palestinians and its international ramifications are entirely absent from Humphreys article on the Voice result. In the final week of the campaign, Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese gave his full support for Israels genocidal bombardment. In discussions with Socialist Equality Party campaigners on polling day, many workers noted the apparent contradiction: the Labor government claimed it was attempting to give a Voice to Aboriginal people because they had been oppressed by colonisation, but at the very same time, it was supporting the extermination of the oppressed peoples of Gaza. There are other issues that Humphreys simply cannot address. They include: Why would the Labor government have called the referendum, if it were the case that the overwhelming majority of the population were hostile to indigenous people? In fact, Labor placed the Voice at the centre of its agenda, to exploit the mass sentiment that exists, in favour of redressing the crimes against indigenous people. The cynical aim was to put a progressive gloss on a government otherwise committed to deepening Australias integration into US plans for war with China, and an austerity offensive against the working class. In fact, Labor placed the Voice at the centre of its agenda, to exploit the mass sentiment that exists, in favour of redressing the crimes against indigenous people. The cynical aim was to put a progressive gloss on a government otherwise committed to deepening Australias integration into US plans for war with China, and an austerity offensive against the working class. Why did polling at the beginning of the year show more than 60 percent support for the Voice? How was that figure reversed in the course of ten months? If the official No camp, headed by the conservative Liberal-National Coalition is on a political offensive and winning widespread support, why does its leader Peter Dutton remain one of the most unpopular figures in Australian politics? Undoubtedly, there is a racist and far-right milieu in Australia, as in every country. But it constitutes a miniscule fraction of the population. To claim that this social layer exercises a dominant role in the highly diverse and multicultural working-class suburbs of the major cities is both a slander and an absurdity. In reality, the anger over the cost-of-living crisis is intersecting with a decades-long alienation from and hostility to the official political establishment among working people. The referendum result continues the pattern demonstrated at last years federal election, which saw Labors primary vote plummet to less than 33 percent, the lowest level since the early 1930s. That outcome was not a swing to the right, however, as evidenced by the fact that votes for the Liberals declined by an even greater margin. What the referendum reveals, as the Socialist Equality Party has explained, is not a racial divide but a class chasm between workers and the political establishment. The official political set-up is supported and propped up only by an affluent layer of the middle-class that has benefited from the processes of financialisation and soaring property values at the expense of working people. This social layer is obsessed with issues of identity, including race, but by and large could not care less about the deepening hardship afflicting workers of all backgrounds. The basic reason for Socialist Alternatives position on the referendum is that it sits on the other side of the social divide from the working class. Its constituency is the very middle class, ensconced in academia, the top layers of the public sector and the trade union bureaucracy, that defends the Labor government and is oriented to racial, not class politics. An independent movement of the working class threatens the role and the very existence of such pseudo-left formations. Their entire social and political function is to chain workers and young people to the existing political establishment. That is underscored by Humphreys favorable reference to Marcia Langton. One of the architects of the Voice policy, Langton is a right-wing figure who has supported many attacks on oppressed indigenous people. That has included backing the Northern Territory intervention, a police-military occupation of Aboriginal areas initiated in 2007, supporting associated welfare quarantine measures targeting the most vulnerable, and aggressively campaigning in favour of the mining corporations, with which Langton enjoys a cordial and pecuniary relationship. Humphreys particularly solidarises himself with Langtons comments during the referendum campaign, which implied that all those supporting a No in the referendum were stupid, racist or both. Such is Socialist Alternatives essential class positionwith government and corporate-connected representatives of a privileged elite against the working class. Socialist Alternatives position on the referendum result again demonstrates that it has nothing whatsoever to do with socialism or the interests of working people. It is a rightward-moving vehicle of the upper middle class, seeking to deepen its ties to a political establishment committed to war and austerity. Socialist Alternatives position is diametrically opposed to the socialist and revolutionary perspective advanced by the SEP. The SEP fought for an active boycott of the entire referendum, as opposed to the racialism of both the official camps. This campaign was not primarily oriented to the ballot or its outcome, but to the development of an independent movement of the working class, directed against all the official parties and the capitalist system they defend. That is now the crucial task facing workers and young people. The grotesque character of the #MeToo sexual witch-hunt was on full display this week. At Oxford University, victimized actor Kevin Spacey was given a standing ovation as he delivered a monologue from Shakespeares Timon of Athens. The performance, his first stage appearance since a recent trial and acquittal, came barely days after a West End cinema refused to host the premiere of the new film Control because of Spaceys participation in it. Kevin Spacey outside Southwark Crown Court, London In July, Spacey was found not guilty on all the sexual assault charges brought by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). He had been accused of assault against four men between 2001 and 2013. He told the court during testimony that there was a rush to judgment, and before the first question was asked or answered I lost my job, I lost my reputation, I lost everything in a matter of days. The campaign of personal vilification destroyed his career and bankrupted Spacey. Netflix sacked him from House of Cards, then the series producers sued him for $31 million in damages for the revenue they lost by their own and Netflixs actions. Spaceys scenes in the completed film All the Money in the World were scrapped and reshot by director Ridley Scott, with Christopher Plummer in his place. Spaceys experience was especially punishing, but it exemplified the type of treatment meted out to the victims of the ongoing sexual misconduct smear campaign. Subject to personal demolition based on unproven allegations, the actor became a non-person professionally. His prior accomplishments were erased or dismissed. The International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences reversed its intention of honouring him with its International Emmy Founders Award. Londons Old Vic theatre, where he served triumphantly as artistic director from 2004 to 2015, instantly abandoned him. There is, as we have insisted throughout the #MeToo campaign, a profoundly anti-democratic character to the claim that accusers must be believed at the expense of any scrutiny of often unsubstantiated allegations. When Spaceys case went to court last year, the vilification and smears continued in the testimony, but the jury acquitted him on every charge. As we pointed out, the verdict of not guilty in his case was at the same time an indictment of a neo-McCarthyite system of guilt determined by the media, by gossip and innuendo, often by anonymous informants, which has destroyed countless lives and careers. Spacey was cleared in law but saddled with massive debts from legal bills. Since then, as with others such as Geoffrey Rush, Spaceys acquittal on all charges has counted for little in Hollywood, which chose instead to smear European filmmaking for allowing people accused under #MeToo to continue to work. Broad swaths of the self-satisfied European liberal left stand equally exposed in their anti-democratic smear campaign since his acquittal. Spacey has not yet been able to return to mainstream productions since the court case, but contributed the voiceover of an unseen character in the new Welsh thriller Control, directed by Gene Fallaize. Fallaize told Variety, The only people that know everything are the ones that were in that courtroom and they decided he was not guilty. This counts for nothing, with Spaceys self-righteous attackers still demanding blood. Controls premiere was booked for the Prince Charles Cinema in London, but was summarily cancelled, with cinema manager Greg Lynn emailing, We have an issue 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. There is the logic of identity politics: Horrified to be mentioned in the same breath as someone acquitted of all charges and an actor of world renown to boot? As Controls star Lauren Metcalfe pointed out, Spacey has been proven to be innocent and who are they to say otherwise? Kevin Spacey has done nothing wrong. The backlash against #MeToo continues to deepen. The Control premiere has now been rebooked for a larger venue following what Fallaize called an overwhelming demand for tickets. This public response represents a devastating indictment of the liberal bourgeois press and the pseudo-left that continue to stir this foul pot. It speaks to the use of identity politics to undermine democratic rights and as a means of suppressing discussion of social inequality and, above all, the class struggle by a hostile social layer concerned only with the scramble for money and privileges by trading on their race, gender, sexual orientation or whatever gives them pole position in a supposed hierarchy of social oppression that must now be reversed. To the extent that such campaigns portray themselves as left-wing or progressiveand that veneer has long since worn off the #MeToo crowdthey only strengthen the right wing, who can exploit hostility to cancel culture and cynically portray themselves as defenders of democratic rights. Spaceys return to Oxford, where he was Cameron Mackintosh Visiting Professor of Contemporary Theatre in 2008, was at the invitation of neoconservative, anti-immigrant author Douglas Murray, who was delivering a tribute to the arch-Thatcherite philosopher Roger Scruton. Spaceys powerful performance of speeches from Shakespeares Timon of Athens showed that his qualities as a great actor are undiminished. The ovation was deserved. The passages came from a dialogue between Timon and the philosopher Apemantus. Timon, a wealthy and generous nobleman, has inadvertently given away all his wealth to his friends. When his so-called friends will not bail him out, the increasingly embittered Timon leaves Athens to live in a cave. There he discovers a hoard of gold, which he spends on a military expedition against Athens, which he would like to see destroyed. Timon and Apemantus exchange bitter insults, with the philosopher accusing Timon of adopting his misanthropy. It was difficult not to hear something personal in Spaceys performance of the lines about his abandonment by his friends: But myself Who had the world as my confectionery, The mouths, the tongues, the eyes and hearts of men At duty, more than I could frame employment, That numberless upon me stuck as leaves Do on the oak, have with one winters brush Fell from their boughs and left me open, bare, For every storm that blows. His conclusion is devastating: I am sick of this false world, and will love nought But even the mere necessities upont. While attention should focus on Spaceys fight to return from the pariah status bestowed on him by a reactionary identity politics, the choice of play also deserves comment. It is more revealing than Murray intended. Introducing Spaceys performance, Murray said the play was about what happens when a society drops a person for no reason. That is a disservice to Shakespeares brilliance, to Timon of Athens and to its significance here. The play, and the performance, are not saying the same things as Murray. Dating from 1604-06, Timon shares the bitterness of Shakespeares other plays of the period. Like Measure for Measure, it shows Shakespeare wrestling with the implications of an emerging new economic and political system and its trappings. Timons reflections offer a powerful reflection on gold, the commercial medium. Spacey could just as well have performed lines from earlier in the same scene, when Timon famously says gold will make Black white, foul fair, wrong right, Base noble, old young, coward valiant. This yellow slave, he continues: Will knit and break religions, bless thaccursed, Make the hoar leprosy adored, place thieves And give them title, knee, and approbation With senators on the bench. The passage inspired Marxs comments on The Power of Money in his Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts of 1844: The extent of the power of money is the extent of my power. Moneys properties are mythe possessorsproperties and essential powers... Does not my money, therefore, transform all my incapacities into their contrary? Marx went on to call money the common whore, the common procurer of people and nations. It is in the socialist struggle by the working class against class oppression that the fight against the #MeToo witch-hunt and the defence of democratic rights must be rooted. JFK8 warehouse in Staten Island. Amazon workers walked out last Wednesday at the JFK8 warehouse in Staten Island, New York to demand a living wage and better working conditions. The walkout coincided with this years Prime Big Deal Days sale and took place from 5 PM to 7 PM. Workers on the day shift left the warehouse one hour early, and those on the night shift arrived at work one hour late. Prime Days are giant sales that Amazon holds every year for its Prime members, with this years Prime Day selling 375 million items worldwide. In addition to this sale, which the company generally holds in July, Amazon has inaugurated a second event, Prime Big Deal Days, in October. Both events require grueling overtime shifts for Amazon workers to meet demand. The walkout at JFK8 was organized by the Amazon Labor Unions (ALU) Democratic Reform Caucus, which was established earlier this year in opposition to the leadership around Chris Smalls. ALU won a union election at the facility early last year, but has suffered a series of high profile setbacks as the upstart organization has integrated itself with the Democratic Party and the AFL-CIO union bureaucracy. An ALU reform caucus organizer spoke to More Perfect Union about the job action. So this is our first major walkout that weve organized as a caucus. Were doing it during Prime week because the pay is not where it needs to be and the workers here deserve better and were calling on Amazon to return our bonusesbecause we used to get holiday bonuses, now we dontthe return of profit-sharing, because workers here used to get stocks and now we dont. Theyre slowly peeling back what we get, and its not okay. Michelle Valentin Nieves, vice president of the ALU, also attended and supported the rally. We need a contract NOW! she wrote on social media. We need paid sick leave NOW! We need job security NOW! More than a year and a half after it won an election at JFK8, the ALU has not achieved any of these things for Amazon workers. In a video posted to X (formerly Twitter), a few dozen workers could be seen participating in the walkout. To the extent that participation was low (JFK8 employs over 8,000 workers), this did not reflect workers satisfaction with conditions at JFK8, but their lack of confidence in either factions of the ALU. This attitude was evident in August, when the union held what it billed as a mass membership meeting that no rank-and-file workers attended. ALU officials made no attempt to encourage workers waiting at a bus stop only a few hundred feet away to attend. The reform caucus, which was founded by former ALU officials, says it opposes Smallss anti-democratic tactics and suppression of dissenting opinions. On its website, it states that ALU is making no progress. But neither the unions current leadership nor the reform faction has a strategy that will break the impasse and lead JFK8 workers to victory. Both factions support the established trade unions, which have long since become accomplices of the companies in betraying strikes and imposing concessions on workers. The role of the unions is evident in the auto workers strike, to take but one example. Even though auto workers at Ford, GM and Stellantis voted overwhelmingly to strike, United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain has kept more than three-quarters of them on the job without a contract. The handful of facilities where Fain has called a strike were carefully chosen so as not to interfere with the automakers production or profits. In addition, both factions of the ALU leadership support the Democratic Party, which long ago lost any connection to the working class or social reform. Smalls has allied himself with President Joe Biden, Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, among others. These Democrats collaborated with Republicans to ban a strike of freight railroad workers last year and to impose a pro-company contract that the workers had already rejected. They and their party fully support Israel in its genocidal attack on Gaza. They continue to lavish arms and aid on the neo-Nazi-ridden Ukrainian government, fully aware that they are risking nuclear war between NATO and Russia. The ALUs failure to achieve any gains for workers at JFK8 has not prevented it from asking them for money. On October 4, Smalls sent an email to JFK8 workers announcing that the union had set itself the goal of raising $100,000using the Democratic Party-affiliated fundraising nonprofit, ActBlueto support our efforts in continuing to protect the 8,300+ members of JFK8 and ultimately the 2 million Amazon workers worldwide. Smalls did not explain how the ALU has protected workers or give details about the unions plans for future efforts. Smalls also stated in the email that Amazon has continued to stall negotiations and achieving a contract could take as long as four years. The ALU simply accepts that the JFK8 workers will have to work without a contract for a protracted period (which, considering Amazons intransigence and indifference to the law, could easily last longer than four years). He offers no proposal to strike, to reach out to other workers or call for a genuine discussion of rank-and-file workers on a fighting strategy. The statement is an implicit admission that the ALU will continue its bankrupt strategy of appealing to the Democrats, the trade unions and the capitalist courts. The ALU has led JFK8 workers nowhere, but to wage a genuine fight against Amazon, workers will have to create a new organization that objectively represents their interests, not those of the trade union bureaucrats or the capitalist state. Like auto workers, UPS workers, postal workers, teachers and others, JFK8 workers will need to form an independent rank-and-file committee that they control democratically. Through such a committee, Amazon workers will be able to formulate demands, develop a strategy for winning them, and reaching out to workers at other Amazon facilities not only in New York, but also worldwide. The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) condemns the British government and university institutions clampdown on students protesting the Israeli government's genocidal assault on Gaza. The most serious attack on the right to protest and free speech on campus is the suspension of several students from Londons School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). The suspensions followed a rally October 9 in the aftermath of the October 7 Palestinian uprising and the Israeli government's barbaric response. Over 4,000 Palestinians have since been killed by Israeli rockets and bombs and over 12,000 wounded, with much of Gaza laid to waste. The rally held in solidarity with the people of Gaza and their struggle against the occupation was organised by the SOAS Palestine Society and supported by hundreds of students. The society explained what took place: The rally began on the steps of the main building, where rallies have historically been held at SOAS, and later safely moved to the green space opposite the main building, when a fire alarm sounded and the main building was evacuated. Needless to say, no Palestine Society member was in any way responsible for the alarm sounding. Three days later, on October 12, some students were suspended. The following day, members of the Palestine Society who were not even present at the rally were issued with formal disciplinary warnings by the university, in what was defined as a targeted act of political repression against the Palestinian Society. The Palestine Society have published a petition, stating, We extend our full solidarity to the thousands of Palestinians killed in Gaza. The violence they are being subjected to is incomparable in scale and severity to any sort of state repression or violence that we may face in the UK. Therefore, we feel a moral imperative to organize against the imperialist and Zionist forces on our campus. We call on the students, academics, and workers to stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine and defend freedom of speech and the right to express solidarity on campus. The petition demands, SOAS must 1) Drop all disciplinary proceedings against those involved in the protest; 2) Revoke the formal warnings given to Palestine Society Committee members; 3) Re-establish the right to protest on the steps of the main building, the historic center of activism on campus. In a statement to Middle East Monitor, the society said that SOAS was attempting to use alleged health and safety code violations as a pretext to clampdown on dissent within the university and silence those who have been most active in amplifying pro-Palestinian voices on campus. SOAS management claimed that the suspensions were not a breach of democratic rights, saying, Like all British universities we have a legal duty to protect freedom of speech. They told the Daily Mail that this suspension pending a further investigation is being imposed on a small number of students not because they engaged in solidarity action, but because they violated an agreement with the executive, supported by the Students Union, which disrupted our teaching, learning and wider activities and led to a significant breach of health and safety policies and procedures. [emphasis added] The Student Union at SOAS, affiliated to the Labour Party dominated National Union of Students (NUS), has not made a statement on this issue and neither has the national NUS. The same week the Student Union at University College London (UCL) suspended the UCL Marxist Societyaffiliated to the International Marxist Tendency (IMT). A statement by the Marxist Society said that on October 11 it received e-mails from UCL SU demanding we take down posters and social media posts for our meeting tonight as they could be construed as inciting violence. By refusing to comply they have now told us that our society has been suspended pending investigation. The Marxist Society added, Our posters show a Palestinian flag with the slogan Intifada until victory! The fight for a free Palestine. Intifadas are mass uprisings against the Israeli state by the Palestinians. The University of Manchester has launched a formal investigation that will be led by a senior University academic into comments made by law student Dana Abuqumar, president of the Manchester Friends of Palestine student group. Her crime was to express support for the Palestinian uprising in comments made to Sky News on October 8. Abuqumars told the BBC that 15 of her relatives were later killed when an Israeli missile was dropped on their three-storey residential building. The assault on the democratic rights of students follows hysterical demands from the Conservative government that any opposition to the Israeli government must be viewed as anti-Semitism and as support for terrorismto be clamped down on utilising the raft of anti-democratic legislation piled onto the statute book over the past several years. On October 11, the day before SOAS issued its suspensions, Tory Education Secretary Gillian Keegan and Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education Robert Halfon wrote to vice-chancellors in the higher education sector demanding they act swiftly and decisively to stamp out support for the Palestinian cause. This was followed by Home Secretary Suella Braverman demandingas protests grew against Israels war against the Palestinians, and just days before the 150,000-strong national protest in London last Saturdaythat police consider whether chants such as From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free constituted a racially aggravated section 5 public order offence. They should also consider arresting protesters for waving the Palestinian flag on the grounds that it may be intended to glorify acts of terrorism. Some university vice-chancellors were already clamping down straight after the Palestinian uprising. Adam Tickell, vice-chancellor of the University of Birmingham, told the Daily Telegraph October 9, Anybody behaving to support an illegal organisation will be subjected not only to discipline from us but discipline from the police. The newspaper reported, Prof Sasha Roseneil, vice-chancellor at the University of Sussex, and Prof Sir Chris Husbands, vice-chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University, also both said that students who express support for Hamas could face criminal action. Significantly, in light of the subsequent attacks on the democratic rights of the students at SOAS and UCL, the newspaper added, Palestine societies at the University of Warwick, University College London and the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) are among those to have expressed praise on social media after the attack [Palestinian uprising]. The ruling elite and its institution resort to repression as their only answer to rising opposition to their policies of militarism, war, and austerity. The vice-chancellors' threats were responding to a powerful and ongoing wave of support for the Palestinians across British and internationally. On October 17, around 1,000 students at the University of Glasgowfacing down the threats of the government, Labour Party leaders and university vice-chancellorsheld a march around the university before organising at sit-down on the main Byres Road, blocking traffic. On October 12, a protest of 100 students was held at the University of Manchester. A demonstration was held in Edinburgh University's Bristol Square, October 13, attended by 300 students. On October 18, 200 students protested outside the Senate House at the University of Bristol. The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) calls for protests and demonstrations on every campus in opposition to the genocidal attack being carried out by Israel, with the backing of Britain and all the imperialist powers, and organising a campaign directed to the main workplaces urging solidarity action by the working class. Join the IYSSE today and build a society at your campus. SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), met in Pyongyang with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Friday. During the meeting, Kim, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, reviewed his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin last month in Russia and reaffirmed the DPRK's willingness to "faithfully" implement the agreements reached by the two leaders, the report said. Kim and Lavrov exchanged views on a host of important issues of mutual concern and agreed to "actively cope with the complicated regional and international situation" on the basis of political and strategic trust between the two countries and expand bilateral ties in all fields through joint efforts, according to the KCNA report. DPRK Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui met with her Russian counterpart on the same day, the KCNA said. Choe and Lavrov discussed ways of pushing DPRK-Russia relations to a higher level "as required by the present situation" and promoting bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields including economy, culture and advanced science. They also exchanged views and reached consensus on how to intensify joint actions on the pressing situation on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, among other important regional and international issues. The Russian foreign minister wrapped up his two-day visit to the DPRK and left Pyongyang on Thursday, it added. A section of the IYSSE meeting at Wayne State University, October 19, 2023 To attend a meeting in your area, click here. To join the IYSSE, click here. Email issewayne@gmail.com to get involved in the IYSSE at Wayne State University. Over 50 students and Detroit residents attended a meeting Thursday of the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) at Wayne State University to oppose Israels genocide in Gaza. Joseph Kishore, national secretary of the Socialist Equality Party (SEP), was the speaker at the event. Sentiment on the campus is overwhelmingly opposed to Israels assault on Gaza, particularly after the hospital bombing this week that killed 500 Palestinians. Just prior to the IYSSE meeting, WSUs Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; the Dean of Students Office; and the Office of Multicultural Student Engagement hosted an event titled A Student Gathering on the Middle East Conflict: A Deeper Dive, A Deeper Understanding. The gathering was billed as a dialogue, but a delegation from the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) who attended the IYSSE meeting just afterwards reported that it was nothing of the sort. There was nothing neutral about this. At the beginning, they said, This is not a place to debate, one attendee told the IYSSE meeting. She explained that they cited university guidelines to prevent democratic discussion in the forum. The SJP organized a peaceful walkout in protest of the meetings censorship and one-sided presentation of the situation in Gaza. Mohammad and Deena, co-presidents of SJP at WSU, participated in both the walkout of the WSU-sponsored forum and the IYSSE meeting. Mohammed explained: The fact that nobody reached out to us [SJP] and asked us if we are in favor of this, if there would be a speaker there representing our cause and what we stand forthats why we walked out. We did not feel represented at all, Deena added. Many students who came to the IYSSE meeting also attended the demonstrations in Dearborn, home to the largest Arab-American population in the United States. Students of all races stated that they attended the meeting to show support for their Palestinian friends, and to learn about the root cause of the violence, which is capitalism. SEP National Secretary Joseph Kishore addressing the IYSSE meeting at Wayne State University, October 19, 2023 Kishore began the meeting by noting the mass demonstrations throughout the world in opposition to the war on Gaza. Such demonstrations are absolutely necessary, he said, and they reflect the real state of popular opinion, despite the relentless propaganda in the corporate media and from the capitalist governments. But its necessary to understand clearly what is happening and why, the political and historical context, in order to elaborate a strategy to oppose it. The report reviewed in detail the catastrophic situation in Gaza produced by Israels assault on the small territory, including the bombing of al-Ahli Arab Hospital; the blockade of food, water and other necessities, and the forcible transfer of 1.1 million people from northern Gaza to the south. By the International Criminal Courts own definition, he noted, these actions constitute genocide and crimes against humanity. The war could not be understood, however, only in relation to the actions of Israel. The crimes of Israel, Kishore said, have the full and open support of the United States, of the Biden administration, of all the governments of Europe. They are all responsible for what is taking place. They are, in fact, co-criminals in any indictment list for the war crimes being carried out. Kishore stressed that the full support given to the Netanyahu regime, which he noted was deeply despised within Israel itself, could only be understood in relation to the broader war of the US-NATO axis, including the war against Russia over Ukraine and the preparations for war against Iran and China. Biden will be speaking in half an hour, Kishore said, referring to Bidens prime time address Thursday evening. The theme of his remarks is going to be why the American people should support $100 billion in war funding for the war in Ukraine against Russia and to support Israels genocidal actions against Gaza. Kishore concluded his remarks by referring to the explosive growth of the class struggle throughout the world, including a developing strike wave in the United States, which the corporatist union apparatus is seeking to contain. What is happening in Israel and Gaza right now can only be described as a genocide, as a war crime, backed by the United States and all the imperialist powers And the social force that is capable of ending imperialism is the international working class, which is in struggle all over the world. The necessary basis for the development of leadership in the working class is an understanding of history on the great historical experiences of the 20th century. The report was followed by an extensive question and answer period. At the conclusion of the meeting, several students and attendees recorded statements on the situation in Gaza, some of which are included below. Join the IYSSE. Email issewayne@gmail.com to get involved in the IYSSE at WSU. The Israeli regime continued its savage bombardment of Gaza Thursday, striking targets in the south, where over one million Palestinians were ordered by Israel to flee last week, as well as in the north. Palestinians evacuate wounded from a building destroyed in Israeli bombardment in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023 [AP Photo/Fatima Shbair] On Thursday night, the Israeli military bombed a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza City, where dozens of Palestinian families had sought refuge from the murderous air attacks on civilian targets. As of this writing, the death toll in the bombardment of the St. Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church had risen to eight, with dozens more reported wounded. Women and children were among those killed in the attack on the church, located in the al-Zaytoun neighborhood of Gaza City, according to the Palestinian news agency WAFA. Rescuers were continuing to pull people out of the rubble and the toll of dead and wounded was expected to rise. The Wall Street Journal quoted Majdy Jildah, who had sought refuge at the church, as saying that some 500 people had been sheltering on the church campus, including some 80 in the church council building where the explosion occurred. Dozens were inside the assembly hall of the church, which was also damaged. The church is one of the oldest in the world. The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem issued its strongest condemnation of the attack, stating that targeting churches and their institutions, along with the shelters they provide to protect innocent citizens, especially children and women who have lost their homes due to Israeli air strikes on residential areas over the past 13 days, constitutes a war crime. Al Jazeera quoted one survivor of the church bombing as saying, Where do I go now? There is no place to live. The church bombing came less than three days after Israel bombed the al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, killing close to 500 Palestinians, and a day after US President Biden embraced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and declared Washingtons full support for the genocidal war on Gaza. Underscoring the increasing threat of a broader conflagration throughout the region, fighting also escalated throughout the day on Israels northern border with Lebanon, and US military facilities have come under attack in Syria and Iraq. Israeli air strikes in Gaza killed 33 people near the Rafah border crossing with Egypt and 11 family members in a house in Khan Younis. In the north, near the border with Israel, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported the deaths of 18 people following an attack on the Jabalia refugee camp, Gazas largest, and home to some 160,000 people. A map of the Gaza Strip showing key towns and neighboring countries. [Photo by Gringer / CC BY-SA 3.0 Prime Minister Netanyahu gave one of the strongest indications yet that a ground offensive into Gaza, which threatens to claim the lives of tens of thousands of Palestinians, is imminent. Addressing the elite Golani Brigade of soldiers at an assembly point on the border with Gaza, he declared, I am here with Golani soldiers from all parts of the country. They have fought like lions and will fight like lions. We are going to win with full force. He also participated in a meeting of the security cabinet, which would need to give the go-ahead for a ground incursion. Earlier in the day, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, who gained notoriety in the first days of Israels genocidal onslaught for his description of the Palestinians as human animals, told soldiers that they would soon see Gaza from inside. Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, head of the Israeli Defence Forces southern command, asserted that the ground invasion would be difficult, long and intense The impending escalation of the 12-day murderous assault on Gaza, which according to the Palestinian health ministry has already claimed the lives of 3,785 Palestinians, is taking place with the unequivocal endorsement of the United States and its European imperialist allies. The final preparations by Netanyahu and the military for the ground invasion came just 24 hours after US President Joe Biden visited Israel, embraced Netanyahu, and reiterated Washingtons unconditional support for the massacring of Gazas 2.3 million people. The visit followed Israels cold-blooded slaughter of close to 500 men, women and children Tuesday when it bombed the al-Ahli Arab Hospital, a war crime under international law. Emphasizing the unanimous support within the American political establishment for Israeli war crimes, the Senate adopted a resolution by 97 votes to 0 yesterday that reaffirmed Israels right to self-defence. The resolution also committed Washington to restock Israels weapons supplies so that it can continue its onslaught for as long as it desires, and impose tougher sanctions on Iran to combat its support for terror proxies. Visitors from the major imperialist powers continued to arrive in Israel Thursday to give their stamp of approval for the Netanyahu regimes genocidal onslaught. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declared, We want you to win, while German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius met with Gallant to pledge Berlins assistance. The air bombardment, a vicious act of collective punishment for the mass Palestinian uprising led by Hamas against the Israeli occupation on October 7, has already laid waste to Gaza. According to the latest United Nations Organisation for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs report, 25 percent of the territorys residential buildings, amounting to 98,000 housing units, have been destroyed. There have been 59 attacks on health care facilities, including 17 hospitals and 23 ambulances, killing 491 people, 16 of whom were on-duty health care workers. The bombardments have hit 170 educational facilities, and severely damaged the territorys sanitation and water infrastructure. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a ceasefire in Gaza Thursday as he announced plans from Egypt for an aid convoy to bring much-needed supplies to the enclave Friday. Israel cut off fuel, water, and electricity to the Gaza Strip almost two weeks ago and has prevented aid from entering, with the support of the El-Sisi dictatorship in Cairo. President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi (left) shakes US President Joe Biden's hand at the GCC+3 summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, July 16, 2022. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in the background. [Photo: The White House] A damning statement issued by two UN special rapporteurs explicitly warned that Israels actions in Gaza and the West Bank threaten genocide. Pedro Arrojo Agudo, the UNs special rapporteur on human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, and Francesca Albanese, the special rapporteur for human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, wrote, The complete siege of Gaza coupled with unfeasible evacuation orders and forcible population transfers, is a violation of international humanitarian and criminal law. It is also unspeakably cruel. We are sounding the alarm: There is an ongoing campaign by Israel resulting in crimes against humanity in Gaza. The statement also denounced the bombing of the al-Ahli Hospital as an atrocity. In the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces have killed dozens of Palestinians in the past two weeks. The deaths of seven Palestinians and one Israeli were reported yesterday alone during clashes in a refugee camp. A 16-year-old boy was shot by soldiers during a raid on the occupied Palestinian town of Tulkarem, where Israeli soldiers also shot at and seized a Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance. The UN special rapporteurs concluded, Considering statements made by Israeli political leaders and their allies, accompanied by military action in Gaza and escalation of arrests and killing in the West Bank, there is also a risk of genocide against the Palestine people. The war is rapidly escalating beyond Gaza. On the border with Lebanon, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for firing 20 rockets into northern Israel Thursday. Israeli soldiers and Hezbollah fighters also exchanged fire throughout the afternoon. An IDF spokesman warned that Hezbollah will bear the consequences of the rocket strikes, suggesting that expanded operations in Lebanon are also only a matter of time. In a separate incident, a Lebanese citizen accompanying a group of journalists near the border was killed by Israeli gunfire. The United States and Britain ordered their citizens to leave Lebanon while flights remain available. Later Thursday, the IDF announced it had carried out air strikes against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. An attack helicopter also struck a group of fighters preparing to launch anti-tank guided missiles into Israel. A US navy destroyer in the Red Sea intercepted three missiles fired from Yemen that were heading northwards. The Pentagon stated that the missiles were potentially heading for Israel and posed a potential threat. Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder added ominously that the US is prepared to do whatever is necessary to protect our partners and our interests in this important region. The US al-Tanf military base in southern Syria near the border with Iraq came under attack from drones Wednesday. Meanwhile, three attacks took place against American military facilities inside Iraq since Tuesday, including two targeting the Ain al-Asad base with drones and missiles. The Biden administration has already dispatched two aircraft-carrier battlegroups to the region, which are clearly designed to create the conditions for the waging of a broader war against Iran. Each battlegroup includes 8,000 sailors, airmen, and marines, and dozens of fighter aircraft. In remarks in a 60 Minutes interview, Biden explicitly linked the Gaza war to broader regional conflicts, stating, Going in and taking out the extremists, Hezbollah is up north but Hamas down south, is a necessary requirement. Iran constantly supports Hamas and Hezbollah. What is developing across the region is the Middle East front in the US-led global imperialist war to secure its hegemony against its strategic rivals, above all Russia and China. The imperialists unreserved support for the Israeli governments brutal massacre of the Gaza population goes hand-in-hand with the reckless escalation of the war with Russia in Ukraine by Washington and its European allies, which has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands on both sides. Bidens remarks from the White House Thursday evening, in which he called for military support to Israel and Ukraine and asserted that American leadership is what holds the world together, demonstrate that the US capitalist class is determined to wage a war against the world. The only force capable of putting a stop to this madness is the international working class. The spontaneous protests that have erupted the world over in response to the US-backed Israeli war crimes must link up with the mass social struggles of the working class against austerity and in defence of living standards that have swept across Europe and North America over recent months. This requires the adoption of a socialist and internationalist programme to put an end to imperialist war and the capitalist profit system that gives rise to it. Thousands of people have turned out at dozens of demonstrations and vigils across Canada over the last two weeks to protest Israels genocidal assault on the Palestinians in Gaza launched after an attack by Hamas on October 8. Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered Tuesday night in downtown Toronto At least 1,000 people turned out for an emergency demonstration outside the Israeli consulate in downtown Toronto Tuesday night following the Israeli air strike on the Al-Alhi Baptist Hospital in Gaza where hundreds of men, women and children had taken shelter. Hundreds were killed in the attack. Demonstrators carrying the Palestinian flag and chanting Free, free Palestine, shut down the major Yonge and Bloor intersection for several hours under the surveillance of hundreds of riot police, who ultimately arrested one person on unspecified charges. Hundreds also gathered in neighboring Mississauga Tuesday evening to protest the hospital massacre and demand an end to Israels siege of Gazaa war crime that is fully supported by Justin Trudeaus trade union- and NDP-backed Liberal government and by the Biden administration in Washington DC. Torontos NDP Mayor Olivia Chow denounced initial pro-Palestinian protests on October 9 as support for Hamas and vowed to dispatch the police to address any suspected incidents of hate. Montreal also saw more than 1,500 demonstrate Tuesday night outside the US Consulate on Sainte-Catherine Street, with chants of Solidarite avec le Palestine, before matching to the nearby Israeli Consulate. We want to see an end to this campaign of genocide that is currently happening, Sarah Shamy of the Palestinian Youth Movement told the Montreal Gazette. We want to see an end to the complicity of the western states, mainly Canada and the US, who every year send billions of dollars in military aid. As many as 300 people gathered on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery on October 9 to demand freedom for Palestine. My people have been oppressed for over 75 years and Im here to stand mainly with my family, my parents and my two sisters, Nasser Najjar, a Vancouver resident who has family trapped in Gaza, told CBC News. Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim denounced the rally as anti-Israeli and announced that he would dispatch the police to threaten protesters. When informed of these rallies, I spoke with the VPD and am encouraged they will investigate and address any incidents of hate, the mayor said in a statement. A large turnout is expected for further pro-Palestinian rallies Thursday night outside Vancouver City Hall and Saturday at the Vancouver Art Gallery. Hundreds turned out for an emergency protest outside the Alberta Legislature in Edmonton on Wednesday after a protest on Sunday where demonstrators lined 97th Street with Palestinian flags to rally support for a ceasefire. There was also a protest in Calgary on Sunday outside City Hall demanding an end to the Israeli military operation. Im against wars and killing because most of it is innocent people, Miriam Meir, a member of Jews for Palestine, who previously lived in Israel, told CTV News. Its a very tragic situation occurring. Protests and vigils demanding relief for the Palestinians have also been held in the nations capital, Ottawa, where a large crowd gathered Sunday outside Parliament; Windsor, Ontario, where 1,000 protested Tuesday; St. Johns, Newfoundland, where 100 turned out Sunday at the Colonial Building; and Whitehorse, Yukon, which saw a small group march through downtown demanding an end to the genocide. Amid the outpouring of opposition to Israels onslaught across Canada, the entire political establishment, from the Conservatives, led by far-right Freedom Convoy supporter Pierre Poilievere, to the NDP and the Bloc Quebecois, have rallied behind the attack on Gaza and bitterly denounced any support for the Palestinians. Their attempts to discredit all support for the Palestinians as antisemitic are especially hypocritical given the fact that representatives from all political parties rose as one in the House of Commons less than a month ago to applaud Nazi war criminal Yaroslav Hunka. Ontario Tory Premier Doug Fords government has moved to censure NDP MPP Sarah Jama and block her from speaking in the legislature after she released a statement on X (Twitter) last week voicing her support for an immediate ceasefire and de-escalation. We must look to the solution to this endless cycle of death and destruction; end all occupation of Palestinian land and end apartheid, Jama wrote. To this Ford and his party have reacted with fury, demanding that the MPP take down her post and resign. A Progressive Conservative motion accuses Jama of anti-Semitic and discriminatory statements which defended Hamas. Meanwhile Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles denounced Jamas statement for not aligning with the partys positions, and required her to apologize to keep her spot in the caucus. The federal NDP Foreign Affairs Critic, Heather McPherson, released a miserable statement on Friday, October 13 which blamed both sides for the human rights disaster and mass suffering in Gaza caused by decades of brutal Israeli repression, and insisted only that the Trudeau government call for the respect of international law. The Quebec ruling elite has also made clear that it supports Israels onslaught, with CAQ Premier Francois Legault describing pro-Palestinian demonstrations as shameful. Canadian imperialism has a decades-long military-strategic partnership with the United States, contributing to the bloody neo-colonial occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq, and the NATO regime-change war in Libya. Canada is currently playing a major role in the war against Russia in Ukrainewhich it helped prepare politically and militarily, including by providing training and equipment for fascist forces and broader sections of the Ukrainian military. Trudeau spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday to reassure him that even as Canada joins with the other NATO and G-7 powers in supporting Israel in making good on its threats to bloodily reconfigure the Middle East, it will continue to assist Ukraine in waging war with Russia for as long as it takes. Since the Ukraine war erupted, Canada has provided Kiev with more $2 billion in weaponry and $9 billion in overall support. Canada has played a significant role in arming Israel for the repression of the Palestinians and to serve as a strategic outpost for US and Canadian imperialism in the Middle East. According to Global Affairs Canada, the Canadian government provided more than $21 million in military materiel in 2022 following on a record $26 million in 2021. On Thursday, far-right lawyer and former federal prosecutor Sidney Powell pled guilty to six misdemeanor counts of election interference in the ongoing Georgia criminal case over ex-President Donald Trumps multi-pronged plot to overturn the 2020 election. As part of her guilty plea, Powell has agreed to turn states witness and testify against her fellow accomplices, including Trump. Powells agreement to testify against Trump presents major challenges for his legal team. There is no question the attorney is intimately familiar with every aspect of the failed coup. Prior to helping Trumps plots to overturn the 2020 election, Powell represented former Trump National Security Adviser and retired Army General Michael Flynn in his criminal prosecution for lying to the FBI. Flynn enjoys close connections not only with the Pentagon and the national security apparatus, but with far-right militia elements, such as the Proud Boys, that stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Former national security adviser Michael Flynn and his former lawyer Sidney Powell. [AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta] Flynns brother, Charles Flynn, is a high-ranking US Army general. Charles Flynn has been named by former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund and former D.C. National Guard Commander William Walker as one of the generals who blocked authorization to deploy D.C. National Guard troops to the Capitol as it was under siege for 199 minutes. Alongside Trump and 17 others, Powell was facing seven felonies, including racketeering charges, for engaging in a criminal conspiracy to keep the aspiring dictator in power. She was set to go to trial on Monday, October 23, alongside fellow Trump coup lawyer Kenneth Chesebro. Like virtually all ruling class criminals, Powell will be receiving less than a wrist-slap sentence. While workers, the poor, the homeless and mentally infirm are left to rot in jail for months or years, often before any guilt has been established, Powell will not spend a single day in jail. In addition to agreeing to testify against Trump and others, Powell was fined $6,000 for pleading guilty to six misdemeanors, while all felony charges were dropped. She also agreed to pay $2,700 in restitution to the state of Georgia due to the damage operatives under her charge caused to Georgia voting machines. Powell received 12 months of probation for each misdemeanor count, totaling six years. She must also write and publish a letter to the citizens of Georgia apologizing for her actions. Powell is the second of Trumps 18 co-defendants to plead guilty prior to going to trial. Co-defendant Scott Hall, a bondsman, has also pleaded guilty and agreed to turn states witness. As part of her plea agreement, Powell admitted to Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee that she interfered in the 2020 election in Georgia. This took the form of hiring a private corporation, SullivanStrickler, to break into illegally accessed voting machines in Coffee County. Agents from SullivanStrickler were able to break into the machines with the help of Republican Party officials, acting on the orders of Powell on behalf of Trump. Once they had access to the machines, the SullivanStrickler computer forensics team illegally copied voting data from the machines, which they hoped to use to bolster Trumps claims of election interference. While Powell has only pleaded guilty to state charges in Georgia, operatives under her direction made similar efforts to break into voting machines in Michigan and Nevada, two other closely contested states Trump lost in the 2020 election. Prior to breaking into voting machines in Georgia, Powell, in an infamous November 19, 2020 press conference at the Republican National Committee headquarters, spread fascist lies that communists working at the direction of deceased Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez broke into Dominion Systems voting machines and planted malicious software that flipped votes from Trump to Biden. Powell claimed that Trump won by a landslide. Globalists, dictators, corporations, you name iteverybodys against us except President Trump, Powell ranted in a fascist tirade. Sidney Powell (right), next to former Mayor of New York City Rudy Giuliani, speaking at the Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington D.C. on Thursday, November 19, 2020. [AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin] Following the press conference during which Powell proffered several other bizarre lies on right-wing and mainstream airwaves promising evidence that never materialized, Trump soured on Powell and had her removed from his public-facing legal team. However, Powell continued to work with Trump and his allies, including Virginia Ginni Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, to overturn the election in the months that followed, including after the attack on Congress. There is no question Powell is well-positioned to provide incriminating first-hand accounts of Trumps coup plotting. In many cases, she was presenting Trump with a road map to dictatorship. That Powell was given access to Trump to provide this road map was revealed in a series of text messages turned over to the now-discontinued January 6 House Select Committee by former Trump White House Chief of Staff and co-founder of the House Freedom Caucus Mark Meadows, who is also facing charges in Georgia. While Meadows turned over nearly 30,000 text messages to the committee, nearly 30 of them show Meadows communicating with Ginni Thomas. In nearly all of the messages, Thomas is imploring Meadows to seek every avenue he can to prevent Biden from coming into office. Immediately following Trumps election defeat, Thomas sent Meadows several messages regarding Powell. On November 13, 2020, she texted Meadows, Just forwarded to [your] gmail an email I sent Jared this am. Sidney Powell & improved coordination now will help the cavalry come and Fraud exposed and America saved. On November 19, 2020, the day of the press conference at the RNC headquarters, Thomas directed Trumps chief of staff to make Powell the lead and face of the Trump campaigns efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Sounds like Sidney and her team are getting inundated with evidence of fraud. Make a plan. Release the Kraken and save us from the left taking America down, Thomas texted Meadows on November 19. On November 22, after it was announced by the Trump campaign that Powell would no longer be a part of the legal team, a dejected Thomas wrote to Meadows, Trying to understand the Sidney Powell distancing. Republican operative and Trump co-conspirator, Virginia "Ginni" Thomas, appears for a voluntary interview with the January 6 committee at the Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. House Office Building, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Washington. [AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta] While Trump publicly distanced himself from Powell, behind the scenes Powell and Mike Flynn continued to work with the Trump campaign to overturn the election. During a December 2020 meeting in the White House, Flynn and Powell argued that Trump had no recourse but to declare martial law and re-run the election at gunpoint. Last January, an order waiting to be signed by Trump was revealed, demonstrating the extent of the dictatorial scheme. A key element of the plot to overturn the election rested on the intervention of the US Supreme Court. On January 5, 2021, Powell filed a request to Justice Samuel Alito seeking to halt the certification of the election, due to take place by a joint session of Congress on January 6. Alito sat on the order until January 7, after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had called Congress back into session to certify the Electoral College vote for Biden, following the end of the siege of the Capitol by Trump-backed fascists. As of this writing, Trump has yet to publicly comment on Powell turning states witness against him. There are many reasons Powell might have turned on her former boss, particularly the multi-decade prison sentence she would be facing if she were found guilty of felony charges. As part of her plea deal, Powell is restricted from talking to the press or interacting with her co-defendants. Faced with continued atrocities against the Palestinians in Gaza by the Israeli military, backed to the hilt in Washington and London, trade union leaders in the UK have maintained a deathly silence on a vital call for solidarity action to stop the war machine. On Monday the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions Gaza (PGFTU) and 31 other unions and professional associations issued an appeal to their counterparts around the world, An Urgent Call from Palestinian Trade Unions: End All Complicity, Stop Arming Israel. The open letter is a direct call to the working class to come to the defence of the Palestinians and halt the Israeli military assault. It explains how Western states have amplified Israel impunity in expanding war crimes that have claimed the lives of at least 4,000 Palestiniansincluding the systematic bombing of civilians, the use of lethal chemical white phosphorous and collective punishment cutting off water, food, fuel and medical supplies to the 2.3 million people of Gaza. This urgent, genocidal situation can only be prevented by a mass increase of global solidarity with the people of Palestine and that can restrain the Israeli war machine. Dave Ward, General Secretary of the CWU (left) and Mick Lynch General Secretary of the RMT The World Socialist Web Site (WSWS) wrote on October 18 to the leaders and executives of three major trade unions about the appeal for solidarity action made by the PGFTUMick Lynch of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), Sharon Graham of Unite and Dave Ward of the Communication Workers Union (CWU). The reputation of these leaders has been burnished by the media and pseudo-left groups to maintain the lie that champions of the cause of workers exist in the trade union bureaucracy. The WSWS letter cited the demands made by the PGFTU and requested an urgent response: 1. To refuse to build weapons destined for Israel. 2. To refuse to transport weapons to Israel. 3. To pass motions in their trade union to this effect. 4. To take action against complicit companies involved in implementing Israels brutal and illegal siege, especially if they have contracts with your institution. 5. Pressure governments to stop all military trade with Israel, and in the case of the US, funding it. The WSWS has received no reply. Neither have Lynch, Graham and Ward seen fit to publish any public response to the appeal by the Palestinian trade unions open address. The RMT has not produced a single public statement against the siege of Gaza. This is particularly inexcusable as it represents uniformed civilians in the Royal Auxiliary Fleet pressed into service as part of the UK task group dispatched to the regionto assist Israel in tightening the noose around Gaza and as part of a US armada of warships threatening military action against Iran, Syria and Lebanon. The Conservative governments press release on October 13, Prime Minister deploys UK military to Middle East to support Israel, was unequivocal. It states: The military package, which includes P8 aircraft, surveillance assets, two Royal Navy shipsRFA Lyme Bay and RFA Argusthree 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 RFA Lyme Bay is a hospital ship with 100 beds, touted by the Sunak government as capable of providing humanitarian assistance. However, Forces Net writes, RFA Lyme Bay is a landing ship dock, capable of delivering a fighting force anywhere in the world. The task force joins two Royal Navy warships already in the regionHMS Duncan in the eastern Mediterranean and HMS Lancaster in the Persian Gulf. The RMT issued an internal letter to branches from Lynch on October 18ten days after the Israeli onslaught began. Under pressure from members due to its complete inaction, it announced that the RMT would be part of a trade union contingent on the mass protest in London this Saturday. Eddie Dempsey, RMT Assistant General Secretary and a leading Stalinist, will speak. This is cover for the RMTs refusal to lift a finger in terms of mobilising British workers to defend their brothers and sisters in Gaza. Rather than organising any opposition to the escalation of the British naval blockade of Gaza, the RMTs letter concludes, Finally, it is important to note that the union has members serving on Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships that have been sent to the region and the union will do all it can to support and protect the welfare of our members. No action is proposed against the Sunak government and Labours license for Israel to commit further atrocities, with a pro-forma appeal made for the British Government to stop its support of hostilities including halting of UK arms sales to Israel to bring about immediate peace and a just settlement based on UN resolutions and international law. Unite members have likewise been prevented from taking any action by Graham against the governments continued supply of arms to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). Unite represents thousands of workers in the UK arms industry such as BAE Systems, which provides up to 15 percent of the parts to the F35 Lockheed Martin stealth combat aircrafts raining death on Gaza. Graham has been among the most vociferous backers of the NATO proxy war against Russia, supporting along with Unison in 2022 the decision by dockers not to unload Russian oil and gas tankers. Unite rallies have been decked out in the Ukraine flag. However, in the face of the genocide threatening Palestinians, no action is to be taken which would cut across the continued support for British imperialism. Unites October 16 press release instead renews its calls for the British government to work for peace, for the respect of international law and to find a pathway towards a two state settlement and a peaceful, democratic solution to the conflict. The CWU has confined itself to reposting statements of the Trades Union Congress on Gaza, geared to maintaining the fiction that British imperialism is not fully complicit in war crimes and blocking any action by the more than 6 million workers it covers. References to the United Nations call for de-escalation and a ceasefire are a political smokescreen to excuse inaction, representing tacit support. The eruption of mass anti-war sentiment against Israels genocidal assault on Gaza and Britains collusion has deepened the chasm between working people and the privileged strata of the trade union bureaucracy. At the recent Labour Party conference, Lynch, Graham and Ward pulled out every stop to bolster leader Sir Keir Starmer and the election of Labour as the only way to protect embattled workers from the Sunak government. But events of the last week have confirmed that Labour functions as a de facto coalition party of war with the Tories. For the past year Labour has worked with the union bureaucracy to derail and betray a powerful strike wave of 2 million workers, preventing any unified action and delivering one sell-out agreement after another on the rail and in the postal service, education and the National Health Service. This has provided a fresh lesson in its chief role of suppressing the class struggle and the need for a rank-and-file rebellion by workers. The warmongers must be disarmed by the working class through a co-ordinated international mobilisation. We urge workers to refuse to manufacture, distribute or provide any essential goods and services to Israel as it prepares a devastating ground offensive. Workers in the defence industry should organise a boycott of arms or components to equip the IDF. Dockworkers, airport and transport workers should refuse to handle weapon shipments. Civilian sailors should not be placed in harms way to transport British troops as part of the escalating military build-up. This must be combined with a political fight to bring Sunak and Starmer before the International Criminal Court, along with all other war criminals. US President Joe Bidens speech Thursday night on national television was a demand for vast new military spending to expand the ongoing US-NATO proxy war against Russia in Ukraine and pour billions more into Israels aggression against Gaza and suppression of the Palestinian people. President Joe Biden speaks from the Oval Office of the White House Thursday, October 19, 2023, in Washington, about the war in Israel and Ukraine. [AP Photo/Jonathan Ernst] Bidens speech was not a serious attempt to convince anyone or rationally explain US foreign policy. It consisted of a series of non sequiturs strung one after the other, with no coherent argument binding them together. Biden drew a parallel between Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin that, objectively, did not make the slightest sense. But as he spoke, it became clear that the main aim of the speech was to utilize the war in Gaza to procure a massive spending bill for the war in Ukraine to prop up the Zelensky government following the failure of its summer offensive. Indeed, the New York Times has reported that $60 billion of the $100 billion spending bill Biden proposed in the speech will go to fight the war in Ukraine against Russia. This figure is more than twice Bidens initial request of $24 billion in August. Some $14 billion will go to Israel. Despite its rambling and incoherent nature, the main import of the speech is clear: America is hurtling towards global war, and the president of the United States, the so-called commander-in-chief, is demanding $100 billion in additional funds, on top of the $1 trillion already proposed for all military spending, to finance this explosion of military aggression. Unmentioned in the speech, but widely reported in advance of Fridays formal request to Congress, is the fact that Biden will also seek billions more in US military aid to Taiwanan effort to provoke further conflict with Chinaand to militarize the US-Mexico border and intensify US intervention throughout Latin America. Aware of the deepening opposition to the US war in Ukraine, now ending its 18th month, and apparently mired in an endless, costly and bloody stalemate, Biden sought to boot-strap the conflict in Israel to justify further spending in Ukraine, which will get the lions share of whatever military aid bill ultimately emerges from Congress. While Biden declared that the world was at an inflection point, this is not because war is something new for the United States. On the contrary, America has been at war for more than 30 years, and the countries it has invaded, occupied or bombed amount to a significant portion of the worlds populationIraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Pakistan, most of North Africa, Bosnia, Kosovo, Serbia, Sudan. What is new is the transformation of these wars into a more general conflict, or, as Leon Trotsky described it on the eve of World War II, when separate clashes and bloody local disturbances must inevitably coalesce into a conflagration of world dimensions. The contours of this new world war can be inferred from Bidens $100 billion bill. It is aimed at expanding the war against Russia, using the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians to trigger a new war against Iran, and preparing for an imminent war against China. The US administration is shaping the battlefield of what amounts to one continuous front in a global conflict whose goal is US dominance of the Eurasian land mass, from Eastern Europe, through the Middle East, Central Asia and ultimately China. This is combined with efforts to safeguard its Western Hemisphere backyard by militarizing the US-Mexico border and disposing of political inconveniences and potential obstacles like Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba. If this appears to be a megalomaniacal program for global conquest, it articulates the outlook of the megalomaniacs on Wall Street and in the Pentagon for whom Biden speaks when he delivers his paeans to the ability of America to do anything as long as it mobilizes its full resources. Biden even used the language of Wall Street in making his argument for the next enormous payout to the Pentagon and the US arms industry, declaring, Its a smart investment thats going to pay dividends for American security for generations. American workers will pay with their living standards and social benefits, and the lives of their sons and daughters. But war will certainly pay for Raytheon, Boeing and Lockheed Martin, and for the big banks and hedge funds that control them. A debased and discredited media will undoubtedly hail Bidens speech as a political masterstroke, as it already has his rabid pro-Israel speech last week and his fulsome embrace of Netanyahu and the fascistic Israeli government during his visit Wednesday to Tel Aviv. But no matter how they seek to glorify this semi-senile representative of a senile and criminal imperialism, the United States is not able to conquer the world, only to destroy it with its arsenal of nuclear weapons. Biden has already made himself the co-author of war crimes in Gaza, through his visit to Tel Aviv and embrace of Netanyahu. At least 4,000 Palestinians have already been killed, but the death toll is likely to rise to five or even six figures in the course of a ground invasion. In one revealing reference toward the end of his speech, Biden invoked the late Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who described the United States as the indispensable nation. He did not cite Albrights most notorious declaration, when she was interviewed by 60 Minutes in 1996. She was asked about the catastrophic effect of US sanctions on Iraq, which caused the death of half a million Iraqi children for lack of medicine and key nutrients. I think that is a very hard choice, Albright answered, but the price, we think, the price is worth it. There is a more recent example of the catastrophe that awaits the people of Gaza from an Israeli invasion. In 2016, when Biden was vice president in the Obama administration, the US military launched an operation against ISIS, which had captured the city of Mosul in Iraq, home to 2.5 million peopleabout equivalent to the Gaza Strip today. Mosul was a dense urban environment with a network of tunnels dug to protect against US bombardment. As US forces surrounded the city and closed in, they destroyed the water system and other infrastructure and nearly a million people fled for their lives. The Pentagon called this the most precise air war in history. Bidens speech will not convince the millions of young people and workers, in America and around the world, who have already engaged in mass protests against Israeli genocide in Gaza. It will only further anger them. These protests have erupted, not just out of sympathy with two million Palestinians, cut off from food, water and electricity in the siege of Gaza. The worlds population is coming to recognize Bidens demand for even more billions for war as a deadly threat to themselves. The massive worldwide opposition is further inflamed by new crimes of the Israeli government, such as the bombing of Al-Ahli hospital, in which as many as 500 Palestinians were killed, and most recently the bombing of a church in Gaza, one of the oldest Christian structures in the world, killing many more people. Biden has endorsed the grotesque lie that the Al-Ahli hospital was destroyed by a Palestinian rocket, not an Israeli weapon. But his backing of Netanyahu only intensifies the opposition to the war. As he was giving his address on national television, the White House was surrounded by demonstrators, including many Jewish Americans, chanting their opposition to US-Israeli atrocities. A mass movement is already underway all over the world against Israels genocide against the Palestinians. This movement must fight to mobilize the mass opposition among youth and workers on a global scale to demand an end to the Israeli blockade, prevent the impending invasion and reoccupation of Gaza, and halt the supply of weapons, ammunition and other equipment by the imperialist powers, above all the United States, to the Zionist regime. It must take up the struggle against not only the US war in the Middle East, but against the war with Russia and the war drive against China as well. But the central task in the struggle against war is the intervention of the working class as a conscious political force. The international strike movement that is now underway must be unified with the movement against war, on the basis of a socialist political program. Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian delivers a speech on the occasion of the Canberra Networking Day 2023 and the 50th anniversary of the founding of Australia China Business Council (ACBC) in Canberra, Australia, Oct. 18, 2023. Xiao said the development of China-Australia economic and trade cooperation would not only benefit the two countries and two peoples, but also benefit the region and the world. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua) CANBERRA, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian said the development of China-Australia economic and trade cooperation would not only benefit the two countries and two peoples, but also benefit the region and the world. In a speech delivered Wednesday on the occasion of the Canberra Networking Day 2023 and the 50th anniversary of the founding of Australia China Business Council (ACBC), Ambassador Xiao believed that bilateral cooperation would add certainty to development in an uncertain world. Furthermore, he said China-Australia relations are at a crucial stage of stabilization and improvement, saying "we have gradually resumed the exchange of visits and contacts at various levels covering many fields, including diplomatic, economic, educational, parliamentary and sub-national exchanges, and we are making positive progress in our relationship." Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's upcoming visit to China is expected to lay down a solid foundation for the bilateral relationship for decades, he added. "This visit would be important for the two countries as our bilateral relations embark on the journey of another 50 years, and we expect this visit to lay down a solid foundation for a friendly and cooperative relationship between our two countries not only in the coming years, but coming decades," the ambassador said. China and Australia established diplomatic relations on Dec. 21, 1972. The Chinese envoy noted that China-Australia relations are mutually beneficial in nature, and cooperation between the two countries in the existing areas like mining, agriculture, education, tourism among others has been very productive and should be continued. Looking to the future, the ambassador said China-Australia economic and trade cooperation enjoys broad prospects, highlighting cooperation in some of the new frontiers, adding that addressing climate change and developing clean energy are just two of the areas of great potential. He said ACBC has played an important role in promoting exchanges and cooperation between China and Australia in such areas, "as its birth 50 years ago coincided with the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Australia, ACBC has been both a witness to and a contributor of the friendship and cooperation between the two countries in the past five decades." "With the joint efforts from both sides, especially from the business communities of our two countries, I am sure that the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Australia will definitely enjoy an even better future," Ambassador Xiao said. The Canberra Networking Day, an ACBC's flagship event held annually at the Parliament House, is a unique forum for discussion of the Australia-China business relationship involving government, political and business leaders. This year's event is held between Tuesday to Thursday, themed "Net Zero Transition; Innovation; and the Digital Economy." GAZA, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- At least 18 Palestinian Christians were killed by an Israeli airstrike that took place near a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza City on Thursday evening, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. The ministry said last night, dozens of Christian casualties arrived in al-Shifaa hospital following an attack targeting a place near the Church of Saint Porphyrius, which led to the falling over of a wall of the church and injured the Christians taking shelter inside. In a press statement sent to Xinhua, the Hamas-run Interior Ministry said that "more than 400 people, Christians and Muslims, were taking shelter at the church in a bid to avoid the Israeli airstrikes." Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Friday that its fighter jets on Thursday night targeted the command and control center belonging to Hamas militants, from where rockets and mortars toward Israel were launched. The IDF confirmed that its strike damaged a wall of a nearby church, adding that "we are aware of reports of casualties, and the incident is under review." It unequivocally stated that "the church was not the target of the strike," noting that "Hamas intentionally embeds its assets in civilian areas." The IDF also called on the residents in northern Gaza to evacuate in accordance with its instructions so as to minimize harm to civilians. On Oct. 7, the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) launched a surprise attack on Israeli military targets and towns adjacent to the Gaza Strip, prompting extensive Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, as it entered the 14th day, has killed more than 5,000 people on both sides. BEIJING, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- A selection of the best press photos from Xinhua. This photo taken on Oct. 19, 2023 shows the combination of the Shenzhou-17 crewed spaceship and a Long March-2F carrier rocket preparing to be transferred to the launching area of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. The combination of the Shenzhou-17 crewed spaceship and a Long March-2F carrier rocket was transferred to the launching area on Thursday, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said. According to the CMSA, the facilities and equipment at the launch site are in good condition, and various pre-launch function checks and joint tests will be carried out as planned. The spaceship will be launched at an appropriate time in the near future. (Photo by Wang Jiangbo/Xinhua) An archaeologist clears up a piece of cultural relic unearthed from ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea, Oct. 10, 2023. Nearly 580 pieces (sets) of cultural relics have been unearthed from two ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea, according to the National Cultural Heritage Administration on Thursday. The relics, which include porcelain, pottery, and timber, provide concrete evidence that the Chinese ancestors explored, utilized, and traded in the South China Sea, said the administration at a press conference. The two shipwrecks from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) were found about 1,500 meters below sea level, it said, adding that they are an important witness of trade and cultural exchanges along the ancient Maritime Silk Road. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) Workers paint the wall of the Potala Palace during an annual renovation of the ancient architectural complex in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Oct. 18, 2023. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) Torch bearers Wang Liqun (L) and Wang Yuanpeng pose during the torch relay of the 4th Asian Para Games in Chun'an County, Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 19, 2023. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi) A performer interacts with a robot dog at Chengdu Science Fiction Museum, the main venue for the 81st World Science Fiction Convention (WorldCon) in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 18, 2023. The 81st WorldCon opened here on Wednesday. Chengdu is the second city in Asia and the first in China to host the convention. Themed "Meet the Future," Chengdu WorldCon will highlight the symbiotic relationship between science fiction and the city, presenting over 200 activities, panels and salons, the Hugo Awards, and themed exhibitions occupying an area of 5,000 square meters. Famous sci-fi writers from around the world, including Hugo Award winners Liu Cixin and Robert J. Sawyer, are attending the five-day event, sharing their knowledge of new technology and their visions of a new world. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan) Visitors take photos among autumn leaves at a park in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, Oct. 19, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Chang) This photo taken on Oct. 19, 2023 shows people visiting Mount Huashan in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (Photo by Zhang Lan/Xinhua) People conduct rescue work after Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Oct. 19, 2023. The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict has killed more than 4,000 people on both sides. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) Supporters mourn a Hezbollah fighter killed in clashes with Israeli soldiers in Mays Al Jabal, south Lebanon, on Oct. 19, 2023. One Hezbollah fighter was killed and three civilians were wounded on Thursday in confrontations between Israeli forces and Hezbollah along the Lebanese-Israeli borders. The escalation on the Lebanese-Israeli border began when Hezbollah fired multiple rockets on Oct. 8 toward Israeli military sites in support of a Hamas surprise attack against Israel. In response, the Israeli forces fired heavy artillery on southeastern Lebanon on the same day. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) Former U.S. President Donald Trump (2nd L, Front) sits in the courtroom during his civil fraud trial at New York State Supreme Court in New York, the United States, on Oct. 18, 2023. A New York court employee was arrested Wednesday after trying to approach former U.S. President Donald Trump at a Manhattan courtroom, where Trump made another appearance in his civil fraud trial. Trump was at the courtroom Tuesday and Wednesday for the third week of the trial, after he attended the first three days of the trial when it got underway earlier this month. (Doug Mills/Pool via Xinhua) A visitor walks past a billboard of the exhibition area of China at the 75th Frankfurt Book Fair in Frankfurt, Germany, Oct. 18, 2023. The 75th Frankfurt Book Fair opened its doors to visitors on Wednesday, with an opening ceremony held on Tuesday. The five-day event running through Oct. 22 will provide diverse programs catering to both trade professionals and the public. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei) People visit the 2023 Illumi lights show in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, on Oct. 18, 2023. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua) The father, who is a pastor at the church, said his son is now in "stable condition" WBTV News - Charlotte/YouTube; River Valley Baptist Church in Morganton, North Carolina. A 2-year-old boy was shot in the head by his 3-year-old brother outside a baptist church in North Carolina, according to multiple reports. At around 8:26 p.m. on Sunday, the police received a call in reference to a gunshot wound at River Valley Baptist Church in Morganton, per a press release issued by the Burke County Sheriffs Office. Emergency personnel told police that the boy was shot in the head, the sheriff's office said, adding: Responding officers secured the scene and Emergency Medical Personnel assessed the patient and promptly requested helicopter transport by MedCenter Air to CMC Main in Charlotte. As of Monday, the child was said to be in critical condition at the time and undergoing surgery. The sheriffs office also said that the "investigation is ongoing, and more information will be released as [things continue to] develop." PEOPLE reached out to the Burke County Sheriffs Office for comment but did not immediately receive a response back. The boy identified by WCCB Charlotte as Daniel Vines is the son of pastor Adam Vines, who told the outlet that Daniel and his family were at River Valley Baptist Church for a late Sunday night service. Related: 4-Year-Old Accidentally Shoots 2-Year-Old in Minnesota Adam told 3 WBTV the bullet went behind his ear, but it went across the corner on the lower side instead of going through the brain. His talking, communications, his moving ability, all of that part is still intact. Hes stable right now, Adam told the outlet, adding were lucky the damage wasnt as severe as loved ones initially believed. Related: 1-Year-Old Boy Hospitalized with Leg Wound After Being Accidentally Shot by 4-Year-Old Brother Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories I feel for the family, neighbor Teresa Jordan, who saw church members gather around Daniel in the parking lot after the shooting, told WSOC-TV. It just breaks my heart. It shows you how quick your life can change. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. MOSCOW, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Two Russian Su-27 fighter jets were scrambled in response to an approach of three British military aircraft to Russia's state border on Thursday, the Russian Defense Ministry said. "Russian airspace control systems detected three air targets over the Black Sea approaching the state border," and two Su-27s were scrambled to identify the air targets and prevent a violation of the state border, the ministry said in a statement. The targets were identified as an RC-135 reconnaissance plane and two Typhoon fighters of the British Air Force, the statement said. As the Russian fighters approached, the foreign military aircraft made a U-turn from Russia's state border, said the statement. There was no violation of Russia's state border, the statement noted, adding that the mission of the Russian fighters was carried out in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace over international waters. 90 Day's Nikki Is Skeptical When Justin Doesn't Want to Go Out at Night for Her 'Safety' (Exclusive) In PEOPLE's exclusive sneak peek at Sunday's episode, the couple bicker over Nikki's style and makeup Nikki has only just arrived in Justin's home country of Moldova, and already, they have found something to bicker about. In PEOPLE's exclusive sneak peek at Sunday's episode of 90 Day Fiance, Justin explains why he doesn't feel comfortable bringing Nikki out at night. "The women in our country [like] to [look] nice, [with] makeup [and] good hair, but only [for] parties and some celebrations," he explains. "But when Nikki go[es] out anywhere, she [is] dressing like this is some famous night party. This is why it's strange for me. It means a lot of attention from people." TLC Justin and Nikki from '90 Day Fiance' As the couple enjoys coffee and dessert, Nikki, 47, excitedly asks what her fiance has planned for them. But things go south quickly. "You will see," Justin, 36, replies, adding, "I think that [it's] better if we do our plans at the day, not during the night time." A puzzled Nikki asks him why and Justin responds, "Because look at how the people are reacting." Related: '90 Day Fiance' Season 10: Jasmine Joins Gino in the U.S., Plus Meet 6 New Long-Distance Couples (Exclusive) TLC Having recently arrived in Moldova, '90 Day Fiance''s Nikki wonders why her fiance won't show her around at night. Cutting to a joint confessional, Nikki stares daggers at Justin. "Are you afraid of taking me out in night in public, because you're scared that they're going to judge me on the way that I look? Or, they're going to be able to tell that I used to be a man?" she asks him. Related: 90 Day: Jasmine Lashes Out at Gino and Calls Him 'Trash' After He Criticizes Her 'Spoiled' Demands (Exclusive) As Justin explains, he is more concerned about her makeup and the way she styles herself, claiming she resembles a "porn actress." "Okay, well that's better than a man or trans," Nikki grumbles. "Like a trans porn actress," Justin continues, adding insult to injury. "Here in Moldova, most people don't accept the trans. And the first thing I'm worrying about is her safety." TLC '90 Day Fiance's' Justin worries Nikki could be in danger if they go out in Moldova at night. Back at the restaurant, a frustrated Nikki tells Justin she doesn't understand where he's coming from. "Seventeen years ago, I did not have this face. I did not have this voice. I sounded like a truck driver," she explains, adding that now, "My body looks insane. What are you scared of?" As Justin tries to explain himself, Nikki interjects, demanding, "What do you care what these people think? You're leaving. Who cares?" Related: 90 Day's Armando Admits He Is 'Invested' in Jasmine and Gino's Relationship: 'She's Madly in Love' (Exclusive) "I didn't come all the way here for you to just say that you're just going to take me out during the daytime to see if people can clock me, basically?" she wonders. Justin continues to dig a hole for himself, adding that during the "nighttime, we will sleep and be in safety." TLC '90 Day Fiance's' Justin only raises Nikki's suspicions about his faithfulness. "We're going to a lounge or something," she says. "You're not shoving me in the dark. Sorry." The clip cuts back to Nikki, who admits during a confessional that she suspects her fiance is secretly dating "somebody from the nightlife." Related: 90 Day: Armando Admits He Is 'Secretly Liking' His and Kenny's Stripper-Filled Night at a Gay Club (Exclusive) "That would break my heart, so I just hope that's not the case," she admits. "I hope that it's just because he's still trying to get over his little insecurities and the little butterflies in his stomach, like maybe they know or maybe people can tell [I'm transgender], but I gotta be honest: I think something's a little shady in there." Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 90 Day Fiance airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on TLC. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. "Love you guys, love you lets make sure everybodys good here," Adam Sandler could be heard telling a crowd in San Jose during a pause in Wednesday's show Dia Dipasupil/Getty Adam Sandler photographed in New York on Nov. 29, 2022 Adam Sandler made sure a fan in need of medical attention received help. During Sandler's performance at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Wednesday, the actor and comedian, 57, stopped his standup comedy routine to guide medical personnel toward a fan in the audience who needed help, as a video posted to TikTok shows. Okay, here we go - oh wait up guys, right down there. On the left. Lets go," he can be heard saying as the venue's medical staff made their way into the audience with a stretcher in tow. "Alright, lets get there, yall. Everything should be alright. Alright, alright, alright. Well be a few minutes, guys. A representative for Sandler did not respond to PEOPLE's request for comment Friday. Representatives for San Jose's SAP Center also did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Related: Taylor Swift Hugs Adam Sandler's Daughters in Sweet Moment Before Leaving Eras Tour Concert Film Adam Sandler/X Adam Sandler in a teaser for his 'I Missed You Tour' Sandler can be heard asking his fans to "hang in there" during the pause, of which nearly two minutes were recorded in the aforementioned TikTok video. Love you all, hang in there. Were good? Okay, lets take a few seconds here, guys," he can be heard saying in videos from the show. "Love you guys, love you lets make sure everybodys good here. 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. Sandler is seven shows deep into his ongoing I Missed You Tour across North America, which kicked off with a performance in Vancouver, British Columbia, last Thursday. The comedian announced the tour via social media in September. The tour is highlighted by west coast performances through Monday and will then swing from Toronto all the way down to San Antonio, Texas, before it concludes in Denver on Dec. 12. Related: Adam Sandler's Daughter Sunny Had Her Actual Bat Mitzvah Right Before Shooting Movie Together (Exclusive) Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Sadie Sandler (left), Jackie Sandler and Adam Sandler in Los Angeles on June 26, 2023 The standup comedy tour comes after Sandler released his most recent comedy on Netflix, You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, in August. Sandler co-starred in the movie with his wife Jackie Sandler and their daughters, Sunny, 14, and Sadie, 17. Sunny stars in the movie as a seventh-grade student named Stacy who begins fighting with her best friend Lydia (Samantha Lorraine) after Lydia kisses a boy Stacy likes, leading to a significant period of drama between the middle schoolers that places Stacy's upcoming bat mitzvah at risk. The film stood out as Sandler's highest-rated movie ever on Rotten Tomatoes shortly after its release, though updated figures from the movie ranking website show it is now tied with 2019's Uncut Gems for third place on that list. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. The upcoming episode of 48 Hours on CBS will examine the horrifying case of serial killer Bryan Patrick Miller, aka The Zombie Hunter. This episode, titled Unmasking the Zombie Hunter, will focus on how Miller took the lives of two innocent young women. It will air on Saturday, October 21, 2023, at 10 p.m. ET. Between November 1992 and September 1993, Phoenix was plagued by the brutal murders of Angela Brosso and Melanie Bernas. In November 1992, a 22-year-old Brosso vanished during a bike ride and was later found decapitated. Then in September 1993, Bernas, a student, also fell victim to the same killer while riding her bike near a canal. These gruesome crimes committed by the aforementioned serial killer involved sexual assault and the use of a knife. The law enforcement officials discovered Bernas body about 1.5 miles away from Brossos remains. Serial killer Bryan Patrick Miller is also known as the Zombie Hunter in Phoenixs sci-fi and horror community. This notoriety stems from the fact that Miller would dress up as a fictional apocalyptic character at conventions. Bryan Patrick Miller, the Zombie Hunter serial killer, sentenced to death in Arizona The terrifying murders of the two girls Angela Brosso and Melanie Bernas shocked the entire nation, and serial killer Miller was arrested. Interestingly, the authorities arrested the culprit after conducting a sting operation on Miller. They obtained Millers DNA from a mug he used at a restaurant, as per the Arizona Republic. And, the DNA match led to the arrest of Bryan Patrick Miller and the trial of the double-murder case finally began. Through the trial, people got to know more about the Zombie Hunter. And, it was revealed that the serial killer Bryan Patrick Miller had a psycho mother. Also, as per his neighbors, Miller never got a chance to develop his social skills. Bryan Patrick Miller, aka The Zombie Hunter, was convicted on April, 2023, and he received two death sentences for both the murders. According to Arizonas Department of Corrections, the serial killer is currently serving his sentence at the Eyman Complex of Arizona State Prison. The post Bryan Patrick Miller Sentenced: Where Is the Zombie Hunter Serial Killer Now? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. 48 Hours on CBS delves into the tragic 1997 murders of four girls in Texas and Oklahoma in a gripping new episode titled The Daughters Who Disappeared. Tune in to this true crime investigation on Saturday, October 21, at 10 p.m. ET for an in-depth look at this haunting case. In mid-1997, tragedy struck Texas with a wave of mysterious disappearances, including a 12-year-old girl. Over a course of five months, four victims vanished, igniting public outcry, and demanding swift actions from authorities. Surprisingly, the case took a startling twist when it was uncovered that the true number of abductions was five, with one girl managing to escape and survive. The investigation began and although serial killer William Reece pleaded not guilty at first, he did admit to killing four innocent girls over the span of five months in 1997. Shockingly, the victims families had to wait almost two decades to find justice. Sadly, some of the family members had to wait for the same amount of time to know the whereabouts of their loved ones remains. Serial killer Willam Reece pleaded guilty to cold-case murders while on death row in Texas The brutal murders of four girls Laura Smither, Kelli Cox, Tiffany Johnston, and Jessica Cain shocked everyone, and serial killer William Reece was put on trial for his brutalities, as per CBS News. Surprisingly, Reece admitted to killing the aforementioned names while being on death row in another case. The fifth victim, Sandra Sapaugh, was the lone survivor of the atrocities committed by serial killer William Reece. She came forward to provide the description of her kidnappers vehicle. As per her testimony, Sapaugh stopped to use a pay phone when she caught the attention of Reece. As Sapaugh continued her journey, she got a flat tire. Reece, following closely in his white truck, offered assistance. Little did she know, this encounter would quickly turn into a nightmare. Reece lured his target into his truck, overpowering her and restraining her wrists. Despite her terrifying ordeal, Sapaugh managed to escape by jumping out of the vehicle. Serial killer William Reece was convicted of the kidnapping charge in 1998 and sentenced to 60 years imprisonment. After the conviction, he submitted his DNA samples to the authorities, and in 2015, his DNA matched to the murder of 19-year-old Tiffany Johnston. As a result, Reece admitted to killing all four girls and pleaded guilty. According to the Texas Department of Corrections, serial killer William Reece is currently on death row in the Allan B. Polunsky Unit, Texas. The post CBS 48 Hours: Where is Texas Serial Killer William Reece Now? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. In a real-time reminder of the dangers of covering international conflict, CNN anchor Sara Sidner was reporting live from the West Bank city of Ramallah when a man accosted her on-air to voice criticism of the networks coverage of the Israel-Hamas War. You are genocide supporters. You are not welcome here, genocide supporters, said a man who came up to Sidner while she was in the middle of reporting on air. Fuck CNN! Fuck CNN! Genocide supporters. The scene was transmitted live during CNN This Morning, the Warner Bros. Discovery-backed networks regular A.M. program More from Variety Sidner maintained her composure, but there were a few moments on screen when CNNs cameras appeared to be forced back from her. Security personnel were seen moving in to her position, and, after a few moments, escorting her away from the scene. She continued to respond to anchor Erin Burnett, on the ground in Tel Aviv even as she was walking away. Were fine. said Sidner, flanked by security agents. But what you are seeing is the heightened fear, anger, frustration with what is happening in general. Sidner is a former international correspondent who has lived in the region and covered Israel and Gaza for years, dating back to 2014. She was part of a team that won a Peabody award for CNNs coverage of the Arab Spring, and has been recognized in the past for work done in Libya while reporting in the midst of rebel fighters during the fall of Tripoli. In 2011 Sidner shared the Achievement of the Year Award from SKY WFTV Women in Film & Television in the United Kingdom for her war coverage in Libya. Alyssah Farah Griffin, the former Trump White House staffers who is now a CNN contributor, praised Sidner on social media, citing incredible composure and poise. 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. Claim: An image shows a Facebook post from actor Mel Gibson that references Israel with the words, "Soon the end and they know it, that's why they want to destroy everything in the way." Rating: Rating: Fake In mid-October 2023, amid ongoing developments in the war in Israel and Gaza, online users shared an image of a purported Facebook post that claimed actor Mel Gibson had made a statement in support of Palestinians. The supposed post included an image of an altered Israeli flag with an hourglass, as if to say that the country's time was running out. The words next to Gibson's name read, "Soon the end and they know it, that's why they want to destroy everything in the way." The post apparently referenced the fact that Israel had continued to conduct airstrikes in Gaza while at the same time preparing its military for a ground assault. The war plans came in the wake of a surprise attack carried out in Israel by the militant group Hamas on Oct. 7. Posts claimed that Mel Gibson said Israel's time was coming to an end and that's why they're destroying everything in the way. However, the truth was that Gibson had no public-facing social media accounts. We also found no credible reporting that published the remark as belonging to Gibson. Further, the first few words of the caption appeared to have been a poor translation to English by the person who created the post. While it's true that Gibson had expressed some anti-Semitic views in the past, the post in question was fake. The independent Lebanese newspaper An-Nahar also debunked the same fake Gibson post, calling it "false and fabricated." For the latest news regarding developments from Israel and Gaza, we recommend live updates from The Associated Press. Sources: Federman, Josef, and Issam Adwan. Hamas Surprise Attack out of Gaza Stuns Israel and Leaves Hundreds Dead in Fighting, Retaliation. The Associated Press, Oct. 7, 2023, https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-11fb98655c256d54ecb5329284fc37d2. Jobain, Najib, et al. Gaza Awaits Aid from Egypt as Israel Readies Troops for Ground Assault. The Associated Press, Oct. 19, 2023, https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-war-b084e9c453cc99f7bec6f66d7b5913d9. Live Updates: Gaza Health Ministry Asks Anyone with Spare Liter of Fuel to Help out Hospitals. The Associated Press, Oct. 19, 2023, https://apnews.com/live/israel-hamas-war-news-10-19-2023. Mel Gibson Addresses Accusations of Anti-Semitism. ABC News, Oct. 12, 2006, https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/LegalCenter/story?id=2557656&page=1. FactCheck#. An-Nahar, Oct. 19, 2023, https://www.annahar.com/arabic//282687/-----------factcheck. Yellowstone has fans everywhere hooked on the exploits of the Dutton family, to the point that Paramount+ subscribers have already gotten two spinoffs based on earlier generations. Unfortunately, despite Paramount Network ordering a super-sized fifth season, the hit show from Taylor Sheridan hasn't aired any new episodes since the beginning of 2023. Updates on the second half of Season 5 are few and far between, and I just keep thinking about what Wes Bentley told CinemaBlend earlier this year about a "dream come true." I spoke with Wes Bentley, who has been playing Jamie Dutton since the very first episode, at SCAD TVfest back in February. At the time, Yellowstone had only been on hiatus for a little over a month, and the show was expected to return in the summer. Bentley spoke with press after being honored with the Virtuoso Award, and I took the chance to ask whether the filming experience on location for Yellowstone ever gets less spectacular, and he quickly said "No, no!" He explained: I love going to shoot. We shot in Montana, and we've shot in Utah before, up near Park City, and it's a dream come true for me. I've always had a love for the mountains, but I know everyone's probably say that [laughs] but it was kind of where I wanted to end up in my life. So it's been really great to get to go to Montana, especially smaller towns and we really feel like we're a part of the community, although maybe they're sick of us by now. [laughs] But we feel a part of them and it's really a dream come true. Whether you're a longtime fan of Yellowstone or have only caught an episode or two, there's no denying that the show makes the most of filming on location and getting some beautiful sequences outside. For Wes Bentley, this has been a "dream come true." His character may have had a turbulent ride on Yellowstone to say the least, if you look at the timeline of Beth and Jamie's feud but the actor is a fan of where they get to shoot. Bentley continued: Before that I was really kind of stuck in LA working or a lot of places that aren't as beautiful as that we work, so I'm grateful and I get excited when we're finally going back. As part of the Yellowstone cast, Wes Bentley has been able to play Jamie Dutton longer than any other role in his long career. Speaking with CinemaBlend ahead of Season 5, he opened up about portraying the "heaviness" of his character, explaining that it's "intense but it's rewarding." Now, he has made it clear that he's excited when he gets to go back to work; the question is just when will the cast and crew actually be able to start filming for the back half of Season 5. There were already reports of complications behind the scenes with Kevin Costner and Taylor Sheridan before the WGA writers' strike and the SAG-AFTRA actors' strike that would have brought production to a halt anyway. In May, news broke that Yellowstone would actually end after the second half of Season 5, making anticipation all the higher for when the new episodes would be back to wrap up this chapter of the Dutton family's story. Unfortunately, it seems extremely unlikely at this point that episodes of Season 5B could be ready for broadcast before the end of the year. The SAG-AFTRA strike is still ongoing, and there was no sign that the show was secretly in production on the remaining episodes before the strike. The wait for Season 5B continues, and I expect that I'll continue thinking about Wes Bentley's "dream come true" of filming until production finally begins again. For now, you can always revisit the earlier days of Wes Bentley and the Duttons. CBS is airing episodes of Yellowstone as part of the 2023 TV schedule on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET, and find the five seasons so far streaming with a Peacock Premium subscription. The next upcoming Yellowstone show is coming to Paramount+ shortly as well, with Lawmen: Bass Reeves set to premiere on Sunday, November 5. When David Sinopoli answers the phone, hes at his Miami nightclub Jolene, rolling joints. Sinopoli, along with member of his staff, are prepping roughly 1,000 joints as part of the gift bags artists will be getting at III Points, the festival Sinopoli co-founded in 2013, which launches its 2023 edition on Friday (Oct. 20) at Miamis Mana Wynwood center and its adjacent blocks. Other goodie bag items include crystals and magic mushrooms. (But not too many, as in past years, a few artists got so high that they had trouble getting onstage.) More from Billboard Its become [a tradition] where we can all get together, eat some food, everyone plays music, Sinopoli says of this annual rolling session. Its really nice, fun and quite wholesome. Its also one of the personal touches that have made III Points a standout on the U.S. electronic festival circuit over the last decade, while also elevating Miami one of the crown jewels cities in the countrys electronic scene. Its founders grew up in Miami, and the lineup is 60% local acts Coffintexts, Jonny From Space, Nick Leon along with 2023 headliners including Skrillex, Fred again.., Iggy Pop, Caroline Polacheck, Grimes and Black Coffee. The food vendors and visual artists are also all from the city, as are many of the 50,000 people who attend over its two days. I think its just very authentically Miami, and a real time capsule of Miami sonically and visually right now, Sinopoli says of putting on a festival with an identify and real personality. I think people feel that when they come. III Points is able to rep the city so well because Sinopoli and his team theyre connected here 365 know it so intimately. Sinopoli is also the co-owner of Space, the citys 24-hour bacchanal of a nightclub that he, along with Davide Danese and Coloma Kaboomsky, took over in 2016. Hes also the owner and operator of Factory Town, a 190,000-square foot arts and nightlife complex built in a World War II-era mattress factory, as well as the cocktail bar Floyd and Jolene, the intimate sound room where Sinopoli and his some staff are rolling Js. David Sinopoli Born in New Jersey, Sinopoli relocated to Fort Myers with his family when he was 15. He was diagnosed with cancer while in high school, once spending five months in isolation at a Durham Childrens Hospital. A bone marrow transplant from his brother eventually brought him back to good health, and after he finished high school, Sinopoli went to college in Gainesville. He rose through that citys nightlife scene then making a name for himself in South Florida, where he founded III Points in 2013 with his business partner Erica Freshman. Their statement-making debut lineup featured James Murphy, Jamie xx and DJ Shadow, a crew that was 180 degrees away from the big-name EDM DJs dominating the citys club scene in that era. Carving out a place for underground and indie-leaning electronic music, and getting acts to town that might otherwise never play there, is part of the reason I started III Points, Sinopoli says. Routing a tour to Miami has long been financially challenging for artists, with many acts just skipping the city altogether. To play Miami and be supported by Orlando and Tampa on the way down almost doesnt make sense [for artists], Sinopoli says. A lot of time Orlando and Tampa dont support the same things Miami does. Miami is in Florida, but its not fking Florida. III Points has also been embraced within the industry for booking new acts agents are excited about, but who dont often yet have major name recognition. Sinopoli says while such signings maybe are not making the most sense financially, they payoff is in fresh lineups, industry goodwill and the opportunity to break artists and grow along with them. As the festival has expanded Sinopoli says many agents now just block off the weekend in advance then look for an offer from III Points. This is easier given the fest happens in the fall, the opposite side of the year from Miamis other major electronic music festival, Ultra. While theres some lineup overlap, each largely does its own thing, with Ultra driving loads of business at Space, Factory Town and Floyd each March. Business was also shored up when III Points partnered with electronic festival behemoth Insomniac Events in 2019. The company took an ownership stake in Space and became partners in all of Sinopolis business ventures. They sat with us for a long time before they stepped in in some of the areas we really needed them, he says. They let us make mistakes first, before they were like, We can help you with that.' Im not even 40 yet, he continues, so Im learning so much by mistake, and sometimes you cant afford to keep making mistakes, because it will put you out of business. Insomniac has been especially helpful in training him and his team in marketing and budget management. We would think we made money or only lost that much money, he says, then the real report would come out and itd be like, a swift kick in the stomach. They helped us understand that you start with this budget, then every 30 days you cut it down, then cut it down again. The partnership was especially stabilizing in the pandemic and its aftermath. In 2020, III Points moved its dates four times: It was [Insomniacs] backing that allowed us to do it, Sinopoli says. If it was up to us, we would have cashed in and walked away. III Points 2022 The peace of mind of solvency allows for a focus on music and experiences. When assembling lineups, the team first considers who hasnt been to Miami in awhile, and whos never been at all. Sinopoli also dreams up the moments and vibes hed like to create, then plugs in the artists mostly likely to conjure them. This worked especially well in 2017, when The xx played the mainstage with a glowing light on the festivals giant disco ball (the largest disco ball on the southeast!) that gently twinkled on the side of the warehouse wall. It almost looked like raindrops, then all sudden this cold drizzle of rain started coming down on the crowd. Sinopoli looked next to him and saw his production manager was crying. Because it wasnt something we could have planned, he says. It was like this fking God moment. This weekend will, fingers crossed, deliver other such magic. III Points six stages will host the aforementioned headliners, along with Explosions In The Sky, Bone Thugs N Harmony, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Alice Glass, SBTRKT, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Moscoman & Whitesquare and many other stars and up and comers culled from both around the world and around the block. Sinopoli laughs when asked if he feels like he runs the citys electronic scene. No! No, no, he insists, listing a dozen names of people on his staff that help make it all possible. Hes been having a lot of big-picture conversations about the festivals ten-year anniversary, but his days are more about details, like lights on the disco ball and joints rolled with love. Were so deep in the bubble that I dont really even grab on to any outside significance of it, he says. Its really just about the next show. Best of Billboard Click here to read the full article. The president said Hamas and Vladimir Putin "both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy, completely annihilate it" Jonathan Ernst - Pool/Getty President Joe Biden President Joe Biden delivered a primetime address on Thursday, a little more than a week after surprise attacks by Hamas militants that killed more than 1,000 civilians in Israel. The televised remarks, delivered at 8 p.m. ET, were the second prime-time Oval Office address of Biden's presidency. In his speech, the president also made the case for more aid to Ukraine in its war with Russia. "Hamas and [Russian President Vladimir] Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common: they both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy, completely annihilate it," Biden said. Jonathan Ernst - Pool/Getty President Joe Biden He went on to say that the U.S. should continue to aid Israel and Ukraine, pointing to the U.S.' leadership abroad and announcing plans to "send to Congress an urgent budget request to fund Americas national security needs needs to support our critical partners, including Israel and Ukraine." The president called it a "smart investment thats gonna pay dividends for American security for generations." Jonathan Ernst - Pool/Getty Biden used the address to drum up support from Americans and lawmakers about expected funding requests for the conflict in Israel, which comes as the Biden administration and Congress have directed more than $75 billion in assistance to Ukraine for the war there. The Biden Administration is currently drafting a $100 billion foreign-aid package, which will include $10 billion in assistance for Israel, sources told ABC News earlier. Related: President Biden Condemns Hamas Attacks on Israel as 'Pure, Unadulterated Evil' Elsewhere in his speech, Biden renewed his promise to free American hostages held by Hamas. He also shared condolences to the Palestinians killed in a deadly Gaza hospital blast. "I'm heartbroken by the tragic loss of Palestinian life, including the explosion at the hospital in Gaza, which was not done by the Israelis," Biden said. "We mourn every innocent life lost. We can't ignore the humanity of innocent Palestinians who only want to live in peace and have an opportunity." Biden denounced antisemitism and Islamophobia Thursday night. "I see you. You belong. And I want to say this to you youre all Americans," he said, adding, "We reject all forms of hate." Biden has stood firmly in solidarity with Israel since the attacks, saying in an earlier speech that "pure, unadulterated evil" had been "unleashed on this world." Earlier this week, the president traveled to Israel to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, declaring that he wanted the people of Israel and the world to know where the United States stands." During the visit, Biden told the prime minister that he would make sure Israel has what it needs to defend itself against Hamas attacks. Related: Joe Biden Meets with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel: 'Americans Are Grieving with You' Biden's speech came amid a congressional gridlock, as the U.S. House of Representatives remains without a leader needed to pass expected funding requests for the conflicts in both Israel and Ukraine. 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. 1,400 people, including 31 Americans, have been killed in the Hamas attacks in Israel, while roughly 2,800 Palestinians have been reported killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza, per the Associated Press and Reuters. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. ZHENGZHOU, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Foreign trade of central China's Henan Province reached nearly 572 billion yuan (about 80 billion U.S. dollars) in the first three quarters of 2023, according to local customs. Customs authorities in Zhengzhou, the provincial capital, said the province's exports increased to over 373 billion yuan, while its imports totaled more than 198 billion yuan during the period. The province's trade surplus during the period notched up 174.2 billion yuan, up 20.2 percent year on year. Notably, Henan's foreign trade value in September soared by 46 percent compared with the previous month, marking the second-highest monthly import and export value so far this year. During the first three quarters, over half of Henan's foreign trade came from comprehensive bonded zones across the province. Meanwhile, its foreign trade with Belt and Road Initiative partner countries grew steadily to more than 255 billion yuan during the period. Joran van der Sloots confession about Natalee Holloways gruesome murder came eighteen years after she mysteriously disappeared in 2005. The Alabama teen went missing while on a high school graduation trip to Aruba. She was never found. On Wednesday, October 18, Sloot pleaded guilty to extorting and defrauding Holloways family. The 36-year-old Dutchman was accused of attempting to sell information about the location of his victims remains to her mother, Beth Holloway . In exchange, he asked her family for $250,000, according to a CNN report. The outlet reported that Aruban authorities had previously arrested Sloot multiple times in connection with Holloways murder. However, they eventually released him due to a lack of direct evidence. He only admitted to the crime as part of a plea deal. The killer was earlier convicted of the murder of Stephany Flores, a Peruvian woman, in 2010. Joran van der Sloots confession reveals horrific details about Natalee Holloways murder According to People Magazine, Joran van der Sloot confessed that he murdered 18-year-old Natalee Holloway in Aruba after she rejected his sexual advances. In the recorded confession, he claimed that we lay down together in the sand and, uh, we start kissing each other. The killer then said that he tried to escalate the sexual encounter when she tells me no. She tells me she doesnt want me to to feel her up. Uh, I insist. I keep feeling her up either way. When Sloot proceeded to force his way on Holloway, unable to push him off, she kneed him in the crotch. Following this, he claimed to have kicked the Alabama teen extremely hard in the face. The impact knocked her unconscious, possibly even uh, even dead, but definitely unconscious. The outlet reported that Sloot then claimed he saw a huge cinder block lying in the sand nearby. I take this and uh, yeah, I I I smash her head in with it completely. Uh, yeah, her face basically, you know, uh collapses in, said the killer. Recollecting memories of the horrific killing, Sloot stated that afterwards, he grabbed the victims body and half pull and half walk with her into the ocean. Then, he pushed her off into into the into the into the sea before walking back home. The People report also confirmed that the incident occurred on May 30, 2005. Holloway, who was celebrating her high school graduation on a class trip to Aruba, was last seen leaving an island bar with Sloot earlier that day. Joran van der Sloot today: Where will the killer serve his sentence? Despite his confession, Joran van der Sloot will likely not be prosecuted for the murder of Natalee Holloway. She was officially declared dead in 2012, but her body has never been found. However, the killer did plead guilty to one count each of extortion and wire fraud for attempting to defraud Holloways family. A judge sentenced him to 20 years in federal prison for financial crimes. Sloot has been serving time in prison in Peru for the 2010 murder of Stephany Flores Ramirez. He previously received a 28-year sentence for the 21-year-old students death. He was 22 when he committed Ramirezs murder and eventually admitted to beating, choking, and smothering her to death. CNN reported that Peruvian authorities granted the killer temporary release in June to Alabama in the US. He is expected to return to Peru to complete the murder sentence. The federal one is expected to run concurrently. However, if he is granted early release, the now 36-year-old will be expected to return to the US to finish the remainder of his sentence. The post Joran van der Sloot Confession: Killer Admits to Murdering Alabama Teen Natalee Holloway appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. In December 2012, a 23-year-old woman and her friend were returning home from the movies, when they boarded a bus in Delhi, India. That fateful night would soon become to be referred to as the Nirbhaya case. That young woman was sexually assaulted by a group of men and later died of her brutal injuries. It was a crime that rocked not only India, but the world. Now, more than 10 years later, filmmaker Nisha Pahuja , has taken on the same devastating subject matter in her documentary, To Kill a Tiger, executive produced by Mindy Kaling, Dev Patel and Rupi Kaur. Pahuja sat down exclusively with SheKnows to talk about this documentary which follows the aftermath of another horrifying sexual assault case in India. It tells the story of a father, Ranjit, who fights to get justice for his 13-year-old daughter, who was sexually assaulted after a family wedding. More from SheKnows Her assailants were all caught, but the family embarks on a bigger fight against the system and their own community, and their long-held beliefs that those responsible shouldnt face justice. In fact, it is suggested by many, including the police, that to make things right, one of the assailants should marry the young rape victim. Thankfully, and not easily, her father decides to take on the fight of their lives to bring his daughters attackers to justice, while everyone turns against the family. According to the creators of the documentary, in India, a rape is reported every 20 minutes and conviction rates are less than 30 percent, making the familys fight for justice for their daughter even more rare. Pahuja shares with us how Kaling and Patel got involved, why she chose to tell this story from the perspective of the victims father, and how the documentary had already made a difference. At the New York City premiere of the film, Patel told the audience, To be honest, when I came across this film with Nisha, Ive never been more humbled by a piece of cinema in my life, Ive never been more proud to be associated with something in my entire career, thats the truth. Patel then revealed he had a visceral reaction seeing the film, and implored the audience to use their voices to spread the word about the film, to give a platform to the voiceless people in India in the villages. SheKnows: This film is gutting. But sadly, necessary, to highlight these stories that a lot of people would like to forget. Why was it so important to do this project for you and bring attention to this? Click here to read the full article. Nisha Pahuja: Its exactly as you said, right. I mean, this is, for me personally, this issue of gender justice is something that I have focused a lot of my sort of professional and emotional life on. Its been something thats been very close to my heart for a number of reasons. So, Ive made films about this in the in the past. Its an issue that just does not get its an issue thats not going away. Were not moving the needle in ways that are significant enough in certain parts of the world. Thats my feeling. So, I feel its critical to continue to shine a light on these issues. Im a big believer in in patience, as a human being. I think India, especially having spent so much time in India, its such an extraordinary teacher. What it has taught me, is a tremendous amount of patience, and the idea that change is really slow. That said, I feel that its important to push back and to not accept, to keep fighting. SheKnows: Patience. Given the subject matter and how much change needs to happen, thats a great way to view it. So, how did you find this opportunity? Or how did it find you? Pahuja: Yeah, exactly. Stories find you. They really do. It isnt that youre seeking it necessarily. Its just that you happen to be at the right place at the right time. With this film, in particular, it was kind of extraordinary, because I dont know if you know, Reshma, this wasnt the film that I had started out to make. It wasnt the film I was intending to make. I was actually going to make some big treatise on masculinity. That was that was the idea. Which Im still going to do. So, this film actually was going to be a film on masculinity. And I was following the work of Mahendra (Kumar), the NGO activist (in the film). Because the organization that he worked with in Delhi, the Center for Health and Social Justice, theyre pioneers in the space of working with men and boys. And they were running a 3.5 year program in the state of Jharkhand, where they were working with boys and men in villages, and teaching them a different masculinity. And Ranjit (the father in the film) was part of that program. And then this happened. This tragedy struck his family and his daughter. And I started to just follow the story, not knowing where it was going to lead or what was going to happen. And, and as we kept filming the story, it just became more and more extraordinary and more and more dramatic. And it really was so clear. You know, this is a man is on an odyssey for justice. Its a quest. The David and Goliath story, and the demons that he was battling are both external and internal, you know. Then once we got into the edit, it just became so clear that we needed to focus on this, so we put away the masculinity film, and did this one. SheKnows: I hope you revisit that masculinity topic. In 2012-2013, the Nirbhaya case happened. How much has changed since then? And how much more change do you think will happen? Because it does feel like nothings happened Pahuja: Well, you know, I mean, youre right, because the headlines that come out of India are so continually kind of horrifying.How do we change it? We change it by culture? You know, Ill tell you what has changed. Significantly. The rape laws. So, after the Delhi gang rape, there was a commission that was formed. And that was a group of lawyers, activists would come together, and realized that the rape laws in India needed to be bolstered, they needed to be strengthened. So, they made a number of suggestions, which were implemented. In terms of legal change, theres been a lot, in terms of awareness. Theres no denying that the Delhi rape was a turning point in, in Indian history, for womens rights, specifically sexual assault and sexual violence. However, you know what, still hasnt changed? Is culture. The thinking around this. I shouldnt say it hasnt changed. It has, because law does impact culture. It does have effect. The issue really, to me as somebody who has been going to India for many years its men. Its just the kind of supremacy that is continually given to men and boys. It has to do with a survival of the family. Its rooted in that, right? Its rooted in a boy is going to take care of his parents. A girl, she takes a dowry, she takes wealth away from the family. So, its, its rooted something simple, basic, which is the survival of your family. SheKnows: One of the most disturbing parts shown in the film is that the mindset from men and even women, its so upsetting, they believe that this young girl should just marry one of her rapists. And thats going to suddenly solve everything. You talk about patience, do you think systemic changes are even possible? Because it seems like were trying to undo hundreds of years of tradition and culture, and being patient is difficult. Pahuja: No, I hear you. It really does feel daunting sometimes. But then I think of Ranjit. And I think of this one man, and how he made a difference and his family and their refusal to bow down and their commitment and conviction to do the right thing. And that gives you hope. So, there is always the possibility of change. What Ranjit has done just in that region, and in the culture of his village, hes invited a new way of thinking. Hes actually opened hearts and opened minds, you know, Mahendra Ji, and the incredible work that the organization that hes affiliated with the work that they do is extraordinary. Theres so many people that Ive met in India, who you think are going to be one way, and they blow your mind. Theyre so progressive. So, it is absolutely possible. If you think about the way change happens, its always happening at many different levels, right? Its, its happening at the micro level, its happening at the macro level, its happening at the systems level, the media, the culture. SheKnows: Thats actually a great point, because change is happening everywhere. What was the best thing you got out of doing this project where you felt the most hopeful? Pahuja: Ah, where I felt the most hopeful. Theres so many things. I mean, as a human being, as a woman, without a doubt, its it was the strength of that family and the unity of that family. And the bravery. That was really incredible. And I know you brought up the idea that hes sort of the main, the kind of central character. And its an interesting point, because it comes up a lot like why didnt I focus more on the mom? Ill tell you the significance of Ranjit. And thats not to undermine, you know, the survivor herself or the mom, because shes fierce, right. But in a culture like India, which is so patriarchal, and where a father and a man makes all the decisions, you need people like him to be on (your) side, right, and you need men as allies. And finally, that what was so extraordinary is that he did it. And he didnt do it out of a sense of pride, or that kind of masculine, Im going to save you. His motivation was purely morality, and because it was the right thing to do, and he adores his daughter, thats all it was about. For him. It wasnt about his own male ego or male pride. SheKnows: One of the reasons that I think you had to focus on the father more is because I do think male shame is often deemed more important than female trauma. Pahuja: Thats a brilliant point. Ultimately, it was a film was about masculinity. That was the reason that I focused on Ranjit. I set out to make a film about that part of the story. The other thing was that he was the face of the court case, it was him, it was the responsibility to achieve justice was on his shoulders, just by virtue of the society that he comes from. SheKnows: I was wondering if youve kept in touch with them and how have their lives changed? Pahuja: Its actually kind of amazing. Im in touch with them all the time. We wanted them to come to the US for screenings. I think they will at some point. Their lives materially, it hasnt changed very much for them. But emotionally and psychologically, I think its been significant. Theyre so proud of the fact that they did this. That they stood up. The most amazing thing about Ranjit, we just had this conversation about 10 days ago. And he said that he wants to work with an NGO. He actually wants to do this kind of activism work. Dev Patel and Nisha Pahuja SheKnows: Thats amazing. So, Mindy Kaling and Dev Patel both signed on as executive producers. How did that come about? Pahuja: You know, I went to India, and I showed some people the film, a fine cut of the film, not the final film, we were really close. And everyone said, This is its beautiful. Its amazing. But we dont want to see it. No ones going to watch it here. I spent eight years making this film because I want things to change, and the country that the story is rooted in, doesnt want to see it. What am I going to do? And I thought to myself, Theres no way Im going to let this film just kind of die. That happens with a lot, with so many films around the world, like, really great documentaries, great feature films, and they just die. I was committed to ensuring that that didnt happen with this. And I thought, Okay, Im going to have to get celebrity support. Its the only way to get this to get this film seen. So, Atul Gawande, he used to write for The New Yorker, he wrote a book called Being Mortal, which was on The New York Times best-seller list. Hes a friend, and hes also an executive producer. And I said, Youve got to help me get in touch with Mindy Kaling. And he did. She saw the film, loved it, and said, Yes. And then another friend of mine put me in touch with Devs company. And I just started to speak to them. They watched the film and had the exact same reaction, which was, Oh, my God. SheKnows: So, do you think youll have future collaborations with Mindy and Dev, maybe about the documentary on masculinity? Pahuja: Oh, Id love to! Do you really think Im not going to pitch them?! SheKnows: Lets manifest that! What do you hope comes from films like this in terms of seeing change? Pahuja: That its possible. That its possible, and that there are always exceptional people all around the world. And sometimes all you need is one person. Thats it. Thats all it takes. And if you just think about our history, our collective history, and you think about those moments where it was one person that stood up and started the movement, you know, its extraordinary, extraordinary. To Kill a Tiger opens at Film Forum on Friday, October 20. This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity. Before you go, click here to see celebrities who have opened up about surviving sexual assault. Padma Lakshmi Terry Crews Lady Gaga Best of SheKnows Sign up for SheKnows' Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone in Killers of the Flower Moon Credit - Apple TV+ Warning: This post contains spoilers for Killers of the Flower Moon. Based on journalist David Grann's 2017 best-selling book of the same name, Killers of the Flower Moon recounts the true story of how a white businessman and self-proclaimed "true friend" of the Osage Nation orchestrated the brutal murders of numerous members of the tribe in early 1920s Oklahoma. Directed and co-written by Martin Scorsese, the film centers on the relationship between an Osage woman, Mollie Kyle (Lily Gladstone), and white World War I veteran, Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio), nephew of the aforementioned wealthy rancher, William K. Hale (Robert De Niro). Set at a point in time when the Osage were considered the richest people per capita in the world following the discovery of oil reserves under their land, the movie follows Ernest as he marries Mollie at the direction of his uncle and then conspires with him to kill off Mollie's family and a number of other Osage in order to cash in on their oil headrights and life insurance policies. Grann's book reads as a whodunnit mystery that explores the broader historical context of what came to be known as the "Reign of Terror"including how the crimes against the Osage were investigated and partially solved by a team of government field agents led by former Texas Ranger Tom White (played by Jesse Plemons in the movie). But in adapting the book, Scorsese said that he wanted to shift the spotlight away from "all the white guys" and make Mollie and Ernest's marriage the driving force of the film. "What I wanted to capture, ultimately, was the very nature of the virus or the cancer that creates this sense of a kind of easygoing genocide," he said at an Oct. 16 press conference. "When there is betrayal that deep, and we know for a fact that it was that way, there's our story." Here's how faithfully Scorsese's version of the Killers of the Flower Moon story captures the real history behind the Osage murders. Read more: Martin Scorsese Still Has Stories to Tell The headright system In 1906, nearly 45 years after the Osage Nation had legally purchased and settled on a permanent reservation in north central Oklahoma Indian Territory, Osage Principal Chief James Bigheart and a half-Native lawyer named John Palmer negotiated a deal with the U.S. government wherein every full-blood Osage received an allotment of 657 acres of land that included a headright in the tribe's communal mineral trust. While surface property could be sold or leased, the deal stipulated that mineral trust headrightsthe right to receive a quarterly distribution of funds from the tribe's underground mineral estatecould only be inherited by their owner's legal heir. JaNae Collins, Lily Gladstone, Cara Jade Myers and Jillian Dion in Killers of the Flower Moon Apple TV+ This meant that when oil fields were discovered under the reservation just a few years later, the Osage became some of the wealthiest people in the world. However, there was a catch: the Osage were not free to spend their own money. The U.S. government put a system of guardianship in place, under which any Osage who was deemed "incompetent" was assigned a guardian (almost always a white man) who controlled their money. The system often resulted in guardians withholding or outright stealing money from the Osage. The movie shows Mollie visiting her guardian to request access to her own money to pay medical bills. The marriage of Mollie and Ernest As is shown in the movie, Ernest met Mollie while he was working as a taxi driver in Osage County. They married in 1917 at Hale's urging and eventually had three children together, Elizabeth, James "Cowboy," and Anna. Years later, while Ernest was on trial, Anna died at the age of 4 after contracting whooping cough. The film depicts Mollie and Ernest as having a loving relationship even as he was conspiring to murder her family. While it's impossible to know how Ernest and Mollie truly felt about each other, Scorsese said that it was the couple's real-life granddaughter, Margie Burkhart, who convinced him that their marriage should be the heart of the movie. Lily Gladstone and Leonardo DiCaprio in Killers of the Flower Moon Apple TV+ "She said we have to remember that Ernest loved Mollie, and Mollie loved Ernest," he said during an Oct. 16 press conference. "It's a love story. So what happened was the script shifted that way and it became gritty." However, the suggestion that Ernest actually loved Mollie is controversial to some involved in the project. At the film's premiere, Osage language consultant Christopher Cote told the Hollywood Reporter that, as an Osage himself, he was hoping Killers of the Flower Moon would be told from the perspective of Mollie and her family. Read More: The Ending of Killers of the Flower Moon Is Astonishing "I think it would take an Osage to do that," he said. "Martin Scorsese not being Osage I think he did a great job representing our people. But this history is being told almost from the perspective of Ernest Burkhart. And they kind of give him this conscience and they kind of depict that there's love. But when somebody conspires to murder your entire family, that's not love. That's beyond abuse." The Reign of Terror The Reign of Terror began in 1921 with the deaths of Mollie's sister Anna Brown (played by Cara Jade Myers) and Charles Whitehorn (Anthony J. Harvey), who were both found shot in the head in remote rural areas within a short time of each other. Over the course of the next four years, at least 24 members of the Osage Nation and their alliesincluding Mollie's mother Lizzie (Tantoo Cardinal), sisters Minnie (Jillian Dion) and Rita (JaNae Collins), brother-in-law Bill (Jason Isbell), and cousin Henry Roan (William Belleau)died violent or suspicious deaths. The movie shows Ernest slowly poisoning Mollie, who was diabetic, by giving her injections of what she was told was insulin to keep her weak and wasting away in bed during the later years of the Reign of Terror, an alleged attempt on her life that Mollie survived. The FBI investigation and trial When Rita and Bill Smith and their housekeeper Nettie Brookshire (Shonagh Smith) were killed in an explosion at their home in 1923, it prompted the Osage Tribal Council to appeal to the federal government for help. It was at this point in time that the newly created Bureau of Investigation (the agency that would later become the FBI) assigned White to the case and it became the Bureau's first murder investigation. White led a team of field agents, several of whom went undercover in the community, to gather evidence and uncover the truth: that Hale, along with a number of accomplices, had orchestrated the murders of over 20 Osage as part of a scheme to profit off their deaths. Hale's accomplices included Ernest and his brother Bryan (Scott Shepherd) as well as a a lineup of local career criminals. Robert De Niro and Jesse Plemons in Killers of the Flower Moon Apple TV+ After both Hale and Ernest were arrested in January 1926 for the murders of Rita, Bill, and Nellie, Ernest ended up confessing to his role in the crimes and identified Hale as the mastermind of the plot. He also named local thief and bootlegger John Ramsey (Ty Mitchell) as Henry Roan's killer. That April, another local bootlegger, Kelsie Morrison (Louis Cancelmi), and Bryan Burkhart were charged with Anna's murder. Drawn-out and arduous legal proceedings ensued, with Ernest agreeing to testify for the prosecution in the Smiths' murder before being intimidated into instead testifying for the defense before once again changing his mind, pleading guilty, and testifying for the state. Ultimately, Ernest, Hale, Ramsey and Morrison were all sentenced to life in prisonErnest for Rita, Bill, and Nellie's murders; Hale and Ramsey for Henry Roan's; and Morrison for Anna's. However, Ernest, Hale, and Ramsey were all eventually paroled and, in 1966, Ernest received a full pardon from Oklahoma governor Henry Bellmon. Mollie, who stood by her husband until he confessed to his role in her family's murders in court in 1926, divorced Ernest and later got remarried to a man named John Cobb. She died at the age of 50 in 1937. Systemic violence While Hale was suspected of being the mastermind behind the 24 murders that took place during the Reign of Terror, the Killers of the Flower Moon book delves into how deadly violence against the Osage was part of a more sweeping conspiracy. In fact, Grann's research indicates that in the years before Anna Brown's death and the years after Hale went to prison, there were numerous other Osage who died under mysterious circumstancesand their deaths were never investigated. I thought I was writing a book about this singular evil figure who had been apprehended by the FBI, Grann told Smithsonian Magazine. Instead, I began to realize that this was less a story about who did it and who didnt do it. It was really about a culture of killing and a culture of complicity [with] many of these murders carried out by individuals who were profiting from this very corrupt system of targeting the Osage, often marrying into their families and then plotting to kill them to steal their oil money and inheritance. More From TIME Write to Megan McCluskey at megan.mccluskey@time.com. Warning: This post contains spoilers for Killers of the Flower Moon. Over the course of the nearly three-and-a-half-hour runtime of Killers of the Flower Moon, filmmaker Martin Scorsese presents a significantly different version of the true story told in journalist David Grann's 2017 best-selling book of the same name. At the center of both narratives is the sinister series of murders of members of the Osage Nation that took place in early 1920s Oklahoma. Known as the "Reign of Terror," the murders were committed at a point in time when the Osage were considered the richest people per capita in the world following the discovery of oil reserves under their land. But while Grann's account largely focuses on how the crimes against the Osage came to be investigated and partially solved by a team of FBI field agents led by former Texas Ranger Tom White (played by Jesse Plemons in the movie), Scorsese shifts the spotlight to the story of love and betrayal at the heart of the tragedy. Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone in Killers of the Flower Moon Apple TV+ The film, which arrives in theaters Oct. 20 ahead of a streaming debut on Apple TV+, traces the relationship between an oil-rich Osage woman, Mollie Kyle (Lily Gladstone), and white World War I veteran Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio), who comes to live in Osage County and marry Mollie at the behest of his rancher uncle, William K. Hale (Robert De Niro), the self-proclaimed "King of the Osage Hills." Audiences follow the troubled romance from the pair's first meeting through the early years of their marriage to the breaking of their ill-fated union. Read more: Martin Scorsese Still Has Stories to Tell How the movie reframes the story of the Osage Murders The book reads like a mystery of sorts, with Grann laying out the facts of the Osage murdersincluding those of Mollie's mother, three sisters, and brother-in-lawbefore detailing how White came to uncover the truth about the killings: that Hale, with the help of Ernest, had arranged for the deaths of Mollie's family members as well as a number of other Osage in order to cash in on their oil headrights and life insurance policies. As its subtitle, "The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI," suggests, the book also greatly expounds upon the broader historical context that played a role in what happened to the Osage and how J. Edgar Hoovers nascent Federal Bureau of Investigation got involved in the case. Read More: How Killers of the Flower Moon Captures the True Story of the Osage Murders The movie, on the other hand, makes it clear pretty much from the start that Hale and Ernest are the ones behind the deadly conspiracy to profit off the Osage. Scorsese shifts the focus from the fledgling FBI's investigation into the murders to the relationship between Mollie and Ernesta decision that came about when the filmmaker realized he was initially "making a movie about all the white guys." "I was taking the approach from the outside in, which concerned me," Scorsese told TIME. Robert De Niro and Leonardo Dicaprio in Killers of the Flower Moon Apple TV+ At that point in time, DiCaprio, who was initially cast to play White, switched to the role of Ernest, whom he portrays as a spineless and easily-manipulated villain. Still, Gladstone's shrewd Mollie falls for Ernest and stands by him for years, only losing faith after he finally confesses to his role in the murders while testifying against Hale and other conspirators. Mollie and Ernest's marriage became the driving force of the film, according to Scorsese, after the couple's real-life granddaughter, Margie Burkhart, reminded him of the significance of their relationship within the overarching historical narrative. "She said we have to remember that Ernest loved Mollie, and Mollie loved Ernest," he said during an Oct. 16 press conference. "It's a love story. So what happened was the script shifted that way and it became gritty." Read More: The Ending of Killers of the Flower Moon Is Astonishing Depicting the progression of Mollie and Ernest's relationship allowed Scorsese to transform Grann's book from a whodunnit into more of an exploration of the systemic complicity that made the Osage murders possible. "What I wanted to capture, ultimately, was the very nature of the virus or the cancer that creates this sense of a kind of easygoing genocide," he said. "When there is betrayal that deep, and we know for a fact that it was that way, there's our story." However, the movie's suggestion that Ernest loved Mollie is a controversial representation of the truth to some involved in the project. At the film's premiere, Osage language consultant Christopher Cote told the Hollywood Reporter that, as an Osage himself, he really wanted the movie to be told from the perspective of Mollie and her family. At the films premiere, Osage language consultant Christopher Cote shares his complicated feelings about #KillersOfTheFlowerMoon pic.twitter.com/DKR0KcsLTs The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) October 17, 2023 "I think it would take an Osage to do that," he said. "Martin Scorsese not being Osage I think he did a great job representing our people. But this history is being told almost from the perspective of Ernest Burkhart. And they kind of give him this conscience and they kind of depict that there's love. But when somebody conspires to murder your entire family, that's not love. That's beyond abuse." More From TIME Write to Megan McCluskey at megan.mccluskey@time.com. The recently unveiled cinematic spectacle, "Killers of the Flower Moon," doesn't shy away from flaunting its Oklahoma roots. The film, a gritty crime drama that unfolds amid the 1920s in Oklahoma's Osage Nation after the discovery of oil on tribal land, generously features local landscapes and landmarks, weaving them intricately into its cinematic tapestry. "Killers of the Flower Moon" end credits are dotted with the names of numerous Bartlesville residents Audiences can spot the unmistakable terrains of Pawhuska, Fairfax, Osage Hills State Park, and various expanses of lush Osage County grasslands. These locales serve as the vivid backdrop of the highly anticipated American Western, which was filmed almost entirely in Oklahoma. Lily Gladstone (center) stars as a member of the Osage Nation, a target for theft and murder in 1920s Oklahoma in Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon." However, the local touch doesn't just end with rolling hills and historical landmarks. Special acknowledgments nestled within the film's credits offer a tribute to the residents of Bartlesville for their invaluable contributions to the film. For those patient enough to navigate through the epic three-and-a-half-hour runtime and delve into the credit scroll, a cascade of Bartlesville names makes a prominent appearance. Sorry, there are no after-credits scenes. Martin Scorsese, bottom, director and co-writer of "Killers of the Flower Moon," works the press line at the Los Angeles premiere of the film, Monday, Oct. 16, 2023, at the Dolby Theater. Among the notable mentions, Debbie Neece from the Bartlesville Area History Museum and Maria Gus from Visit Bartlesville both receive special thanks. A tribute extends to David Wood, Jared Patton, and Mike Moody from the Bartlesville Development Association, underscoring the community's instrumental role in bringing the film to fruition. The film's credits serve as an everlasting memorial of gratitude, dotted with the names of numerous Bartlesville residents. Their contributions, ranging from historical insights to logistical support, were instrumental in steering the film toward completion, showcasing the community's indelible mark on this historic cinematic masterpiece. 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. This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Bartlesvilles legacy woven into 'Killers of the Flower Moon' credits On October 20, 2023, Apple Original Films released Killers of the Flower Moon, Oscar winner Martin Scorseses highly anticipated film in which members of the Osage tribe in the United States are murdered under mysterious circumstances in the 1920s, sparking a major F.B.I. investigation involving J. Edgar Hoover. The film premiered at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in May and received raves from critics, holding fresh at 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and bolstering in Gold Derbys Oscar odds across the board. The critics consensus reads, Enormous in runtime, theme, and achievement, Killers of the Flower Moon is a sobering appraisal of Americas relationship with Indigenous peoples and yet another artistic zenith for Martin Scorsese and his collaborators. More from GoldDerby SEE Apple Original Films releases third trailer for Killers of the Flower Moon in runup to Friday premiere: Youre gonna make trouble, make it big [WATCH] The film based on the bestseller of the same name by David Grann features an all-star cast that includes Leonardo DiCaprio , Lily Gladstone , Robert De Niro, Jesse Plemons, Brendan Fraser, John Lithgow, Tantoo Cardinal, Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson and Scott Shepherd. Read our full review round-up below. Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com writes, Scorsese walks that fine line between telling a very specific story of a couple at the heart of a tragedy and commenting on the larger nature of evil. He continues, Killers of the Flower Moon may not be a traditional gangster picture, but its completely in tune with the stories of corrupt, violent men that Scorsese has explored for a half-century. And yet theres also a sense of age in Scorseses work here, the feeling that hes using this horrifying true story to interrogate how we got to where we are a hundred years later. How did we allow blood to fertilize the soil of this country? Scorsese and Roth took a book thats essentially about the formation of the F.B.I. by way of the investigation into the Osage murders and shifted the storytelling to a more personal perspective. Elliott Collins of Movie Files writes, This is a dark and devastating retrospective story about greed and corruption. The performances given by DiCpario, De Niro and Gladstone, is nothing short of masterful. This is one of Scorseses most personal & important films very poignant and intimate. SEE Martin Scorsese discusses his long relationship with Leonardo DiCaprio ahead of Killers of the Flower Moon Matt Oakes of Silver Screen Riot says, Scorseses usual themes occasionally feel cold and indifferent, losing their way amidst the films at times impressive, at times exhausting expansiveness. He adds, Scorsese peels back this tragedy through the eyes of its perpetrators, taking us through how Bill (De Niro) and Ernest (DiCaprio) slowly plotted to cozy up to and then kill those with oil money to their names. Ernests transition from hapless war veteran to obedient executioner almost happens offscreen and is without great dramatic upheaval, which makes it somewhat hard to track a man who ostensibly loves his wife but is also willing to execute her entire family and slowly poison her. Avi Offer of NYC Movie Guru calls it Well-shot with a fine ensemble cast and a radiant performance by Lily Gladstone, but often meandering, overlong, sporadically exhilarating and only occasionally moving. Offer continues, Leonardo DiCaprio brings charisma to his role, but not much more than that. His accent isnt very convincing, unfortunately. Jesse Plemons is terrific in his support role. If only there were more scenes with him. Brendan Fraser and John Lithgow also show up in smaller, underdeveloped roles. Lily Gladstone shines the brightest with a genuinely moving performance. Shes the films MVP and helps the film to become alive whenever shes on screen. PREDICT the 2024 Oscar nominees through January 23 Make your predictions at Gold Derby now. Download our free and easy app for Apple/iPhone devices or Android (Google Play) to compete against legions of other fans plus our experts and editors for best prediction accuracy scores. See our latest prediction champs. Can you top our esteemed leaderboards next? Always remember to keep your predictions updated because they impact our latest racetrack odds, which terrify Hollywood chiefs and stars. Dont miss the fun. Speak up and share your huffy opinions in our famous forums where 5,000 showbiz leaders lurk every day to track latest awards buzz. Everybody wants to know: What do you think? Who do you predict and why? SIGN UP for Gold Derbys free newsletter with latest predictions Best of GoldDerby Sign up for Gold Derby's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. While Donald Trump is currently causing a ruckus at his fraud trial in New York Citycomplete with a judge-mandated gag orderthe more jaw-dropping legal news in Trumpworld seems to be happening in Georgia. Thats where, on Thursday, Sidney PowellTrumps former lawyer, who was charged right alongside him for attempting to subvert election results in Georgia following the 2020 presidential electionpleaded guilty to six misdemeanor charges of conspiracy to interfere with the election. And Jimmy Kimmel thinks that sound youre hearing is the walls closing in on the former president. Sharing the details of this weird human ladys plea, Kimmel explained that, Among other things, Powell hired people to barge into a voting location, where they went through the voting machines. Turns out thats not a very lawyerly thing to do. While Powell was among one of the loudest voices out there in 2020 pushing a variety of conspiracy theories about election tampering in Georgia (and promising to release the Kraken)and was standing just feet from Rudy Giuliani that time his head leakedshe has now done a major about-face and is reportedly cooperating with investigators in a sweetheart deal that should see her receiving just six years probation in exchange for paying $8,700 in fines and restitution, providing investigators with whatever information she might be able to supply, and testifying against her co-defendantsincluding the guy who just happened to be the 45th President of the United States. Oh man, the Chicken McNuggets are coming home to roost, arent they? Kimmel remarked. The rats are jumping off the Spraytanic. The big, beautiful walls are closing in and somewhere up there I have to believe John McCain is smiling. You know, he likes people who dont get caught. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. KV-Press-Photo-by-Lance-Bangs - Credit: Lance Bangs* Kurt Vile , whose prolix verbosity and augmented guitar solos do not lend themselves to brevity (much like this sentence so far), will release a record this fall, on Nov. 17 to be exact, that he has titled Back to Moon Beach, which he heralds today with a new song called Another Good Year for the Roses (yes, this sentence is continuing), since its one part of an hour-long compendium of tunes he cheekily calls an E.P., or extended play (not to be confused with a long-player, much like this 94-word sentence). Heres the opening track from my upcoming ep ok, its longer than an ep now I call it a KV comp, Vile commented in a brief statement (at least relative to Kurt Vile). The first six tracks which are the ones that fit on a single LP are new to the world, with one foot in the not-too-distant past and the other with one tiny toe pointing toward the future. Together my feet are like a couple spanning time together. More from Rolling Stone Another Good Year for the Roses ambles along with a country lope, thanks to the twinkling piano and Viles drooping guitar. They said its been a good year for the roses already/So these days I keep steady on the regular already, he sings before embarking on a typically Vileian digression: By the way, everybody knows that was the country song sung by a man possessed by the devil like myself so sing with the man. And he hums. The video shows Vile and his buddies performing in tune in the woods with cameos by actors Michael Shannon and Kevin Corrigan before they all head to the New York City venue Ottos Shrunken Head for a gig. Vile recorded the song in Stinson Beach, California, in September 2019, working on it and others through this past May. So many magic moments, Vile said. The release includes covers of Bob Dylans rendition of Must Be Santa (which features Viles daughters Awilda and Delphine) and Wilcos Passenger Side. He also includes a radio version of the (Watch My Moves) track Cool Water. A deluxe vinyl version of Back to Moon Beach includes Viles cover of Charli XCXs Constant Repeat. Vile, who has a gig in Allentown booked for Nov. 18, will support the album on a surprisingly short tour in March. Back to Moon Beach track list: 1. Another Good Year for the Roses 2. Touched Somethin (Caught a Virus) 3. Back to Moon Beach 4. Like a Wounded Bird Trying to Fly 5. Blues Come for Some 6. Tom Pettys Gone (But Tell Him I Asked for Him) 7. Must Be Santa 8. Passenger Side 9. Cool Water (Single Mix) Kurt Vile tour dates: Nov. 18 Allentown, PA @ Miller Symphony Hall March 17 Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar * March 18 Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall * March 19 Louisville, KY @ Headliners Music Hall ** March 21 Sun. March 24 Knoxville, TN @ Big Ears Festival March 22 Memphis, TN @ Minglewood Hall * March 23 Little Rock, AR @ The Hall * March 24 Oxford, MS @ The Lyric Oxford * March 26 New Orleans, LA @ Tipitinas * March 27 Birmingham, AL @ Iron City * March 28 Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse * March 29 Athens, GA @ 40 Watt Club * * w/ Weak Signal ** w/ King Kong and Weak Signal Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. Love is Blind season 5 contestant Tran Dang is suing the Netflix shows production team, Kinetic Content and Delirium TV, for sexual assault, false imprisonment and negligence. Dang claims she was sexually assaulted by her former fiance Thomas Smith during the filming of the shows latest season in Mexico on or around 3 May 3 2022. The pair got engaged during the show but have not been featured in the episodes. In the lawsuit, Dang alleges Smith "incessantly groped" her, "exposed himself in the nude," and forcibly and repeatedly made sexual contact" without her consent. TODAY.com reports that Kip Patterson, Smiths attorney, said in an email that Smith denied the allegations and the firm does not comment on ongoing litigation. The filing made by Dang also says, "due to Delirium TV and Kinetic Contents 24-hour surveillance of Plaintiff and Defendant Smith, most if not all of these traumatic acts were filmed by the production crew and within their knowledge." Kinetic Content and Delirium TV denied the claims in a joint statement responding to the lawsuit, calling it meritless, according to Variety. We support and stand with victims of sexual assault, but Ms Dangs claims against the producers are meritless. We document the independent choices of adults who volunteer to participate in a social experiment. Their journey is not scripted, nor is it filmed around the clock. We have no knowledge or control over what occurs in private living spaces when not filming, and participants may choose to end their journey at any time, the companies said. We take any and all concerns of our participants seriously and prioritize their well-being. Obviously, we cannot address undisclosed concerns, and throughout the time that Ms Dang was involved in the production of Love is Blind, she never informed the producers of any alleged wrongdoing of any kind. Nor did she choose to end her participation in the experiment. Instead, Ms Dang continued in the experiment for weeks after the time her lawyers now claim an incident occurred. We deny and will vigorously defend the allegations against us. TODAY.com reports that Dangs attorney, Benjamin W Allen, accused the production companies of delaying the ongoing case in a statement. The producers are throwing money at the problem by spending an inordinate amount of money on losing legal positions that do nothing but delay the parties from having their day in court. They lost on three distinct legal issues before the trial court and then filed three separate appeals to multiply the proceedings we have to wade through before finally trying this case," Allens statement read, according to Today. We are confident that Ms Dangs position will be vindicated once we get there and are committed to seeing it through all of the way. We have to hold the show producers accountable. We have an ethical duty to our client to do so, but also feel a moral obligation to the next generation of reality show participants," he continued. Creator and CEO of Kinetic Content Chris Coelen also denied the allegations and insisted the production team was never informed she felt unsafe. Coelen said if any contestants felt unsafe in any way, they would immediately remove them from the experiment and talk to them, and try to get to the bottom of it. Unfortunately, in this case, that kind of sentiment was never addressed to us in any way, nor was any alleged wrongdoing brought to our attention ever, he added. Coelen also denied allegations that contestants are being filmed 24 hours a day. They are living their lives. They have plenty of moments where they are not being documented, he said. We dont mount cameras in the bedrooms or bathrooms. We dont have any of those. They know when were around. As a true believer in these real relationships, I want them to know what its like to be with their partner. In the lawsuit, Dang also claims she was not allowed to leave her hotel room without express permission. She alleges food was also provided by the production team but said on multiple days of filming," they would provide contestants with "several alcoholic beverages," while "providing limited amounts of food." This combination was designed to encourage the participants to engage in striking conversations and actions that would increase viewer ratings," her petition states. However, Coelen told People that these claims were not true. He added: "Its not true in any way ... we dont push alcohol everyone has consistent and regular access to food and water." When Eric Roth first adapted non-fiction master David Granns extraordinary 2017 work, Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, Leonardo DiCaprio , who first optioned the book, and director Martin Scorsese werent feeling it. The story was fascinating and terrible: A group of white men, led by William King Hale, exploited and effectively exterminated at least 20 (and likely many more) members of the oil-rich Osage Nation in Oklahoma back in the 1920s. DiCaprio, in his sixth collaboration with Scorsese, was set to play the books riveting hero, FBI investigator Tom White, who solved many of the murders and put Hale in prison. Only problem was, after an early table read right before the pandemic, DiCaprio didnt want to play White. He proposed that he should play Hales nephew, Ernest Burkhart, who executed many of the murders at his uncles behest. More from IndieWire A very different movie emerged, one that focused on how Hale (Robert DeNiro, his 10th movie with Scorsese) directed his nephew to romance and marry Mollie, a rich Osage woman ( Lily Gladstone ). As is his wont, Scorsese went on to create a gorgeous $200-million, three-and-a-half-hour epic, financed by AppleTV+ and shot by Rodrigo Prieto with production design by Jack Fisk, that focused more on the Osage and less on their white FBI savior ( Jesse Plemons as White), who now doesnt turn up until the two-hour mark. The movie debuted at Cannes to rave reviews, and opened October 20 in theaters via Paramount Pictures. After 45 days it will stream on Apple TV+. As the award season gets under way, Killers of the Flower Moon is poised to exceed The Irishmans 10 Oscar nominations. And might even win some. I spoke to Scorsese, as engaging a subject as any interviewer could desire, in L.A. The following interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Please note: spoilers abound. Anne Thompson: If you had made this movie before the pandemic, what movie would it have been? Martin Scorsese: We would have found ourselves at that juncture where we realized that the path we were taking was something that we werent going to do. And I dont think the picture would have been made, between myself and Leo. The creative process of finding the heart of it, and figuring out where it had to go, would have happened anyway? Yeah, because [Leo is] the main thing for me, meaning, which character is he going to play? Would I have enjoyed the Texas Rangers in the past? Yes, I would have, but not at my age now. If it was me, 20 or 25 years ago, Id say, Yeah, lets do a foray into the American West, from the European Americans point of view. That doesnt mean it has to be hagiographic for them in any way, or revisionist; its an honest look at it. But over the years, thats changed. And so it changed a great deal from the early 70s, when I was 29, 30 years old, and began to realize that the Western the way I imagined it from the beautiful, extraordinary films made by the Hollywood studios in the 40s and 50s had been designed with a certain philosophy and political point of view. Do you think this is a Western? Its a gangster movie! Robert De Niro and Jesse Plemons in Killers of the Flower Moon Apple TV+ No, not really. Thats what Im saying. Its kind of a gangster movie. Yeah, there is not much difference between what [Bill Hale and his cronies] do and what the crime families did in Chicago, and then New York at the turn of the century 1900 to 1950, where I grew up around them. Its just that it may have been not as wide-ranging. With organized crime, you have an overall structure of evil. Here, its specific, in certain areas, locations. It reflects a point of view, and a sense of, We are superior to you. You dont know whats good for you, you dont know how to handle money. We do. And by the way, in the meantime, if you dont know how to handle money, well, we can help you with that. As long as we get a good, good chunk of it ourselves. One slip adds to another, and then ultimately: If this particular person, shes so old, shes going to die anyway. Hes drinking too much. Or he has a problem over here and hes just going to crash his car one day, the way he drives. OK, so maybe we should just push them over the edge and theyre gonna go anyway, and so well make some money on it. As you worked with Eric Roth and DiCaprio on the script, his character Ernest Burkhart is a tad dim and does what his uncle tells him to do. Ernest loves his Osage wife Mollie at the same time that hes killing her. This becomes the heart of the movie? We realized that was really the heart of the film. And having met with the Osage so many times and heard from Margie Burkhart, who was the great-great-granddaughter of Ernest, she knew them. She kept saying, Dont forget it isnt as simple as villains and victims. You have to remember Mollie and Ernest were in love. And that always stayed with me when we were still working on the other version of the script. I said, Well, if theyre in love, we got to show that too. And then that became difficult in terms of showing all the machinations of the Bureau investigation. Plus, this love story, it was getting unwieldy. And then finally Leo said, If I play Ernest, we could turn it upside down and go in from the ground level. And I said, Absolutely. So DiCaprio was the first driver of that change. Absolutely. Because we were trying to find something for him to play with [FBI investigator] Tom White. Jesse Plemons is excellent as Tom White, but I found that Tom White was an extraordinary man, but in effect, Ive seen it before. What would I do with Leo? You threw away the whodunit aspect from the book. And told us from the beginning what was really happening. Because it doesnt matter who did it? They all did it. So its why they did it? Well, what is in us that makes us do that? What is our flaw in our own human nature, that makes us take advantage of others, that sees us as superior? Being one of them too, European American, of course, I come from a southern climate, Sicily, a little different from northern climates in Europe and Scandinavia. So many people came over as as immigrants, as settlers. And there was an ethic of you sow and you reap. You work, and then God blesses you with rewards. It just doesnt seem right, from the point of view of that group of people from Europe. Why should these people [the Osage] who dont work, suddenly be blessed with all this richness, because it comes out of the ground? First of all, theyre not Christian. They dont know anything about how to handle money, what money is. So what does the Tom White character do, when he turns up after two hours, if hes not solving the murders? De Niros character Hale does a mop-up operation, he kills off, silences all his associates. And then, as its all circling, and circling and circling onto Ernest, Ernest feels his uncle wouldnt do that to him or Mollie. He thinks his uncle is going to take it to a point where Mollie would be OK. Hell be OK. Does he not realize that hes killing Mollie? No, he doesnt. Yes, he does, subliminally. But he refuses to accept it. Thats why he takes that sip himself. You know, he refuses to accept. You see it on Leos face during the flames. He knows. But he still refuses to accept that hes part of it. Its his characters weakness. Hes deluded. Totally. You look at history: How did that government get into power? Well, a lot of good decent people let that government get into power. Look at the world and Europe between 1930 and 1940. Theres a lot of good people who maybe through letting one thing slide and letting another thing slide and another thing slide, that they could have taken a moral stand on? They didnt. Because they had their own troubles. My kids are sick, I got to do this. I need to make money for that. OK, thats fine. Its a good government. Let them go. And they become complicit. DiCaprio presents himself in a less glamorous way. He messed around with his teeth and mouth. Was that something you debated? He needed to be sexy enough to seduce Mollie; clearly he has enough glamour and allure to spare. Killers of the Flower Moon Apple TV/Courtesy Everett Collection Are you talking about a movie star or an actor movie star? People say, Oh you know, Cary Grant, he was a great movie star. Hes a great actor, but he never got an Oscar. Here, you have the elements that Leo DiCaprio brings with him from all the other pictures, in terms of the allure of the movie star, right. But, he is a great actor, so he wasnt afraid to move ahead that way. Sometimes I have to say, Hey, thats too much with this or that. But we narrowed it down. I had people around saying, Its a little too obvious and trying for something to break the image, but he looks pretty good for the character. And also his charm still comes through. And we stopped it there and even Bob played around a little bit too, with some facial things that we did. You know, its a matter of how much Marlon Brando put cotton in his mouth. This is a restrained performance for De Niro. No, he doesnt need to do much. Hes the king of the Osage Hills. He doesnt need to get upset and to get angry, to raise his voice. Maybe once he has to raise his voice in the Masonic Hall for his nephew, when he says, Get control of your house, of your home!, but the rest is like, hes the king. What I learned from the Osage [was], these arent villains coming in killing up people. [They] are living together as friends. That letter at the end that Larry Fessenden reads in the radio show, that letter is actually word for word from Bill Hale. Thats real. I love the jail scene. Oh, thank you. Thats my favorite. How did that scene come together? Thats a case where I kept working on the script as we were shooting, with the actors, with the Osage. People would say things, even friends of mine would walk around and Id write something down. The movie was a living organism that started to keep growing. And I didnt have the anxiety that we had, lets say, on The Departed, where I didnt know if I was gonna to get it. We kept rewriting and working it. Here, I felt comfortable that what we could feel was honest. And so ultimately, that particular last scene, [we were asking], When is there going to be the showdown between the bad guy and the good guy? There is no good guy. What showdown? First, we thought, Oh, they could be in the jail in the same cell, and they start fighting and beating each other up. Then I said, Well, thats like any formula film, Im not saying formula films are bad Im saying that this picture demands something else, I dont know quite what it is yet. And then we said, What if Bobs behind bars, and Leos on the outside and they grab each other through the bars?? So thats a little better. So why are they grabbing each other? Its beyond hitting. Its dead. It reminds you of when Joe Pesci looks at Bob De Niro at Howard Johnsons towards the end of The Irishman, and he says about the killing that has to happen, he says, Its going to happen. Its fallen on us. Thats quiet. Its about power. And here we finally worked and worked and worked on the scene: We got the dialogue down. Two or three days before shooting, we waited and waited and waited. We had the jail area built. So we had the patience to do the other scenes first. And we slipped into it. And, its finally Leo coming up and saying, Well, you know, Im gonna have to testify, meaning like, Im gonna have to leave you. Its almost like a breakup, like a divorce: Im going to try to be amiable. What they call an amicable divorce. I dont know if theres such a thing, but people do have feelings. But hes afraid to say, Bill, Im gonna go against you. He has to put it that way. And he uses his family as an excuse. I got to think of my family now. And Bills last weapon is, I love you, my son. And the two actors, do they rehearse? Rehearsal for us is like reading it, arguing, discussing. Not even arguments or debating, its saying, You know, that line is too much. Do you need it? Oh, you could say it. And were here, here and here. You dont want to do one without it? For Gods sakes! Were together. It isnt antagonistic, we know each other for years. And they do too. And theres mutual respect. Exactly. At times, we find that Leo is younger, and his energy goes flying. And Bob and I are older. So we wait until he calms down a bit. And then I give my opinion and Bob gives his, and I give mine from both. It deals with a lot of patience and trust. So when you get to the set, you know what youre going to do, more or less? There are surprises, like Ramsay going to find A.C. Kirby in the hotel where he knocks on the door: A.C.! and you hear the guy say, Yeah, this is John. Dont shoot! And he opens the door. Dont shoot. The actor did that. I realize hes right. A.C. Kirbys a bad guy. He just starts shooting through that door. (Laughing.) So we said, Fine, print it. Lets move on. What was the allure of of Lily Gladstone? You need her to be able to stand up to Leo, right? Yeah, she was able to stand up to anybody. Shes tough and strong, and tender, and sweet. And when I say strong, its there in her eyes and her face, and she has right on her side. She knows what she thinks and what she feels. And if as a character, she has the weakness, it is the weakness for Ernest. The trust that Ernest would never hurt her. Mollie is also deluded. In that sense, yeah, I would think yes. Things go a long way before she realizes. Oh, god, yes. But thats what happened. Thats what gave us the confidence to keep moving that way, because even Tom White and his men in David Granns book, they kept pointing out that she kept showing up at the trial and shes still with [Ernest]. They couldnt believe it. Really, its in the book. Thats true. Look, shes still there. And all we know is that she was in bad shape, she was terrible and then those Bureau of Investigation guys came in and took her to a hospital and she got better. What was the most difficult scene to shoot? Killers of the Flower Moon Apple TV+ In terms of physicality? There was a period after the wedding scene, when if we were shooting anything exterior it was at times 110 degrees. So when you see everybody in their three-piece suits and blankets and everything it was extraordinarily difficult. And one of the hardest scenes to shoot was the explosion of the house and the aftermath. It was just the flames and the heat and the placing of Rita to look like a saint in repose. We were bug-eyed by that point. It was a long shoot, 100 days, on the Osage reservation in Oklahoma. Im so sorry about you losing your old friend Robbie Robertson. I was working at UA when you released The Last Waltz. So I remember the coke in Neil Youngs nostril. That had to be an optical. I think it cost about $10,000 at the time, it just distracted visually from this beautiful song that they were singing, Helpless. How finished was Robertsons score? It was done, it was done. The only time he couldnt travel was unfortunately to Cannes. He would have seen the film there at Cannes and experienced that extraordinary reaction. And had some closure that way. But we made him understand that it was something that we couldnt expect in terms of the reaction to his music. Im so sorry. And you would have wanted him to be around for the new Last Waltz restoration. We did work on that. And it would just have been wonderful to be here in LA and have a little sip of a drink or something after the screening. Im unable to do it. Its devastating. It must be very frustrating to not have your actors around? Well, it is. I understand why. And I agree why. But this is usually a time for myself and the actor sometimes to at least look at each other and smile and say, I think we did well. Its just a time of coming together and allowing ourselves a little bit of enjoyment for the reception to the picture. Not every picture gets the same reception. Im just saying in this particular case, we felt good about it. We always feel good about the films, but very often in my career, not all my movies get received warmly. So were used to that. But we really miss each other. And Im sad about it. Because not only is it Leos best work, but one of Bobs greatest works. And certainly Lily Gladstone is transcendent in her work in this picture. Its beyond! I couldnt take the lens off her face. She looked like something out of the Renaissance. For me, of course, because Im Italian. l am a David Grann fan, which means that Ive read and loved The Wager. Also, I love seafaring movies like Master and Commander. Oh, me too. But even Peter Weir complained about what a difficult shoot that was. Youd have to endure a period water shoot with this one? First of all, the issue is now that the writers strike is over, and because so much is on me to go out there and spread the word about Killers of the Flower Moon, let me take a break. And well get working with writers and see if we get it on the page. And maybe its something I could co-direct, so to speak. Itll be difficult. But there are ways now, with certain technical things we could do, to make it bearable. Depending on how we get the script together. DiCaprio would play the Lieutenant Byron? Or the crazy Captain? Im not sure. Theres a lot of good parts. Yeah. Its a brutal, gruesome survival tale. So this is less than 100 percent until you have a script, which is normal? Thats the case. Thats normal. Like for example, I dont think we would have done Killers if we hadnt made that change. Best of IndieWire Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. HEFEI, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- The total import and export of goods in east China's Anhui Province grew 6.1 percent year on year to 596.02 billion yuan (about 83 billion U.S. dollars) in the first three quarters of 2023, local authorities said Friday. The province's exports climbed 12.1 percent year on year to 391.21 billion yuan, while its imports stood at 204.81 billion yuan, down 3.7 percent year on year in the January-September period, according to Hefei Customs. Private enterprises have become an important accelerator for the province's foreign trade growth. During the period, the import and export volume of private enterprises reached 304.79 billion yuan, accounting for 51.1 percent of the province's total foreign trade volume. Trade between Anhui and Belt and Road Initiative partner countries soared to 305.65 billion yuan in the three quarters, up 20.6 percent year on year, accounting for 51.3 percent of the province's total foreign trade volume. Two years after Martin Scorsese filmed in and around Osage County, the time has come for "Killers of the Flower Moon" to finally be revealed to the world. Thankfully, the movie is worth the wait. A mesmerizing 3 1/2-hour epic, the long-awaited film is putting on big screens worldwide a dark real-life chapter of Oklahoma history: The 1920s "Reign of Terror," a series of ruthless murders of Osage Nation citizens, who had become rich through an oil boom that produced more wealth than all of the American gold rushes combined. Moviegoers are pictured Thursday at Circle Cinema in Tulsa. "Killers of the Flower Moon" made its debut. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and undisputed breakout star Lily Gladstone, Scorsese's fact-based Western is adapted from David Grann's 2017 best-seller Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI." With its star-studded cast and reported $200 million budget, "Killers of the Flower Moon" is the largest movie production ever undertaken in the Sooner State. Here's how one of cinema's most revered directors and his top-notch team, working closely with the Osage Nation, managed the enormous yet delicate task of bringing this real-life tale of racism, injustice and brutal greed to the silver screen. More: 'Killers of the Flower Moon' premiere: Learn more about the true history, Osage people who made film How does the movie 'Killers of the Flower Moon' differ from the book while staying true to it? Like the first part of Grann's three-part nonfiction book, Scorsese's screenplay, which the iconic director co-wrote with fellow Oscar winner Eric Roth ("Forrest Gump"), centers on Mollie Kyle Burkhart (the phenomenal Gladstone, who is NiMiiPuu, or Nez Perce, and Siksikaitsitapi, or Blackfeet) a real-life Osage woman who lived on the tribal settlement of Gray Horse, near Fairfax. During the Reign of Terror, Mollie and her family were marked for death in a vicious scheme to swindle away their oil money. DiCaprio superbly portrays Mollie's treacherous husband, Ernest Burkhart, a shiftless World War I veteran who is caught between his love for his wife and the sinister plot masterminded by his charismatic uncle, William K. Hale (De Niro). Despite the necessarily large cast, the film keeps a tight zoom on Mollie, Ernest, their family and the assorted friends and foes orbiting them. Especially with Gladstone's star-making performance to center it, this focus keeps the storytelling spellbinding and prevents the movie from becoming an impersonal textbook rendition of the historical events. 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. The second and third parts of Grann's book focus on the then-fledgling FBI's investigation and the present-day implications of the Reign of Terror, respectively. Although these sections of the bestseller are echoed in the dialogue, characterizations and, especially, in the ingenious and surprisingly emotional ending featuring a meaningful Scorsese cameo they are wisely left out of the main narrative. Agent Tom White (Oscar nominee Jesse Plemons) and his team of federal investigators don't even show up until two hours into the movie. Is 'Killers of the Flower Moon' too long? Could "Killers of the Flower Moon" be shorter? Sure, it runs three hours and 26 minutes. But that doesn't mean it's too long. Grann's slow-burn writing style, with its meticulous attention to detail, vivid descriptions and intriguing asides, proves well-matched with the director's epic intentions. "Killers of the Flower Moon" isn't a popcorn movie and it shouldn't be. It's a historical drama based on a terrible true story, and playing the long game presses viewers to take in and acknowledge the horrors instead of just glossing over them like one of the comic-book movie fictions that Scorsese has often criticized. While the pacing could never be called snappy, the film is still captivating, plunging audiences into a time so different from our own and then compelling them to stay. The director's skill at following the most peaceful, joyous and intimate scenes with outbursts of shocking violence keeps audiences on edge and engaged. How does 'Killers of the Flower Moon' represent the Osage Nation and Oklahoma? From the first Instagram photo of Scorsese standing hip-deep in prairie grass while location scouting in Osage County, it's been apparent that the New Yorker is charmed by Oklahoma's natural beauty. Thanks to the efforts of cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto and his crew, the film gorgeously showcases the grandeur and isolation of the northeastern Oklahoma frontier it's worth the time, trouble and upcharge to see it in IMAX for the scenery alone while the sound department complements the late Robbie Robertson's sterling score with a soundtrack of incessant winds and sweeping storms. The close collaboration between Scorsese's team and the Osage Nation has been thoroughly documented and praised on both sides, including by Osage Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear. Given Hollywood's appalling track record of misrepresenting Native Americans, it's refreshing to see "Killers of the Flower Moon" spotlight the language, culture and lifeways of the Osage people with such love, care and authenticity. Even better, several Osage characters especially Mollie are depicted as smart, savvy, fully developed people with real emotions, strengths and weaknesses. But Standing Bear in a new statement rightly calls the movie "an Osage story of trust and betrayal as directed by Martin Scorsese," and the way "Killers of the Flower Moon" is made illustrates that, while America has come a long way toward a more equal society, old power structures remain. At the films premiere, Osage language consultant Christopher Cote shares his complicated feelings about #KillersOfTheFlowerMoon pic.twitter.com/DKR0KcsLTs The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) October 17, 2023 Although Scorsese commits to respectfully sharing the Osages story and focusing on Mollie's experience, he's still not able to fully tell this true-life tale from the perspective of a Native American or a woman. The film comes closest to faltering when the story shifts away from Gladstone to its bankable white male leads, and it doesn't go far enough in exploring just what intelligent, wealthy Osage women like Mollie and her sisters are getting out their relationships with obviously shady white men. But there's not a Native American or woman filmmaker on the planet who could muster the budget and resources that Scorsese has to bring the Reign of Terror to theaters on this kind of scope and scale and this is the scope and scale that this story deserves. There are only a few filmmakers that get to make $200 million historical epics and they are all white men. Robert De Niro, left, and Leonardo DiCaprio appear in a scene from Martin Scorsese's highly anticipated movie "Killers of the Flower Moon," which was filmed in Oklahoma. Should you see 'Killers of the Flower Moon?' Considering the intense interest that's been generated by the biggest movie ever made in Oklahoma, it's a relief to report that it's an excellent work of cinema that should stand the test of time and hopefully set a new standard for depicting Oklahoma and Native Americans on the silver screen. With "Killers of the Flower Moon," Scorsese proves himself a master working at the top of his game and pushing everyone to rise and meet his sky-high bar. Every aspect of the production is first-rate, from the painstaking attention to period details by the production and costume departments to the stellar performances by the starry cast, which features the likes of Brendan Fraser, John Lithgow and Sturgill Simpson in small roles. (In his acting debut, Jason Isbell deserves a special mention for his supporting turn as the enigmatic Bill Smith.) Between the lengthy runtime and the R rating for violence, grisly images and language, "Killers of the Flower Moon" isn't meant for every moviegoer. But everyone should know the history of the Reign of Terror, and Scorsese and Co. certainly have provided a gripping way to learn it. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: 'Killers of the Flower Moon' review: Scorsese depicts Osage with care, quality The inevitable fog of war has descended on the Israel-Hamas conflict, but faster and with more deadly consequences than in the past. And news media, under intense pressure to push out breaking news as quickly as possible, is grappling with contradictory information from the war zone, and accusations of misinformation from critics. The deadly explosion at Al-Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza on Tuesday night quickly provided a case study in how real-time reporting from unverified sources can lead to serious consequences. Hamas claimed that an Israeli air strike on the hospital led to the loss of 500 lives, and news organizations prematurely pointed the finger at Israel as the source of the explosion. The Hamas claim generated headlines in The New York Times and other outlets, quickly followed by Israels denial of responsibility, which said that its authorities believed a misfired rocket from Islamic Jihad, which fights alongside Hamas, was the source. The cause of the explosion is still not known for certain, but U.S. intelligence agencies say evidence theyve assessed civilian videos, satellite imagery, missiles tracked by infrared sensors among other elements indicates Israel almost certainly wasnt responsible. And that Israels contention of an errant missile from inside Gaza seems likely. As for the number of casualties, on Thursday, U.S. intelligence assessed that the death toll is likely somewhere between 100 and 300. It also became clear that the hospital itself was mostly intact, and that the explosion and subsequent deaths occurred in its parking lot where Gazans had taken refuge. But the damage was already done. Those early reports, based on incomplete or false information, fueled widespread condemnation of Israel online and across the world, and even affected international diplomacy. Among those rushing to condemn Israel for the bombing was U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, who said in a post on X (which has still not been deleted), Israel just bombed the Baptist Hospital killing 500 Palestinians (doctors, children, patients) just like that. And less than 24 hours before President Joe Biden was supposed to meet with officials from Jordan, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority, the four-way summit was canceled. Meanwhile, pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel protests broke out across the Arab world, including demonstrations in Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Tunisia, Turkey, and more. Protests also broke out in the West Bank, where tension has been elevated since the start of the conflict. Media reporter Brian Stelter joined NewsNation on Wednesday, telling Dan Abrams that the press has no defense here. This was an atrocious series of mistakes by many different major newsrooms, Stelter said. Unfortunately, I dont think there has been enough follow-up or accountability to make sure it doesnt happen again. Stelter added that when information is lowest, interest is highestit was even worse because when the stakes are highest, it seems that standards were the lowest and it should be the opposite. The New York Times did not respond to a request for comment. But even on Thursday, a day after the White House and U.S. intelligence organizations said that the blast had likely come from a Palestinian misfired missile, many outlets including NPR and the Los Angeles Times continued to present the explosion as a he said/she said case of responsibility, suggesting it could as easily be Israel as Palestinian forces at fault. Congressman Ted Lieu (D-Ca) challenged the Los Angeles Times over a headline which read: Rage spreads over Gaza hospital blast amid dueling narratives from Israel and Hamas. The Times simply accepts what terrorist organization Hamas said even though its false, Lieu wrote. This both sides journalism is factually wrong. Below is todays lead headline at @latimes. The Times simply accepts what terrorist organization Hamas said even though its false. This both sides journalism is factually wrong. A true headline would say Rage spreads over Gaza hospital blast amid false narrative from Hamas. pic.twitter.com/Uiv77e9IqF Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) October 19, 2023 In a statement to TheWrap, LA Times spokeswoman Hillary Manning said: We take any criticism of our coverage, including headlines, seriously and regularly review coverage based on reader feedback. When we discover a factual error or additional information, either through internal review or when it is brought to our attention, we have a process for issuing corrections and updates. She added: We do not see a need to respond regarding the tweet. So now we know: There was no Israeli airstrike. It was Islamic Jihad who misfired a rocket. It was a parking lot, not a hospital. It was about 20 people killed, not 500. Lesson learned: terrorists who rape, murder and sever heads of babies, might also lie. pic.twitter.com/v7xcCXRXwj Naftali Bennett (@naftalibennett) October 19, 2023 CNN, which also initially ran with the statement from Gazas Hamas-run health ministry claiming the death toll was around 500, declined to comment. However, an individual with knowledge of the networks thinking said that covering a war is an exceptionally challenging and difficult breaking news story. The individual said all headlines and banners about the hospital explosion were clearly attributed to the source of information so audiences understood where the information was coming from. As more information became available, the attribution was broadened and the story updated, which is always the case in any breaking news story, the individual said. Other outlets were not as reserved in their reporting. While the Israeli military said it was investigating the explosion at the site of the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital on Tuesday night, BBC correspondent Jon Donnison told viewers, Its hard to see what else this could be really given the size of the explosion other than an Israeli air strike or several air strikes. This was an atrocious series of mistakes by many different major newsrooms. Brian Stelter Shortly after, IDF Spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus joined the BBC live and lambasted the network for Donnisons on-air comments. What was that based on? Conricus questioned. Conricus said he was appalled by the double standards in reporting in a post of the interview on X. I have no issue with being held accountable, but only wish our enemies are held to the same scrutiny, Conricus wrote. As a result, the BBC received significant backlash but initially backed their report, saying on Wednesday that the network rejects these claims about our coverage; anyone watching, listening to or reading it can see we have set out both sides competing claims about the attack, clearly showing who is saying them, and what we do or dont know. Since then, however, the BBC has changed its approach, and noted that it was wrong to speculate on who should take responsibility for the blast. This doesnt represent the entirety of the BBCs output, the network said. TheWrap reached out to multiple media experts who declined to engage on this issue, citing a lack of familiarity with reporting issues in the Mideast. Regardless of the news organizations updated headlines and articles, the narrative that an Israeli airstrike hit the hospital continues to reverberate. There is no doubt that this was a tragedy at the hospital but there was this rush to judgment based on a one-sided story from whatever the opposite of a reliable source is, Stelter concluded. The post Media Struggles to Sort Fact From Fiction in Israel-Gaza War as Real-Time News Drives Deadly Results appeared first on TheWrap. Park officials said Tom Gerbier, an Air France pilot, seemingly fell off a cliff in an area known as The Notch NPS Crews conduct search for missing French hiker Tom Gerbier A missing Air France pilot was found dead after disappearing while hiking Californias highest mountain, according to authorities. Tom Gerbier, of Fontenay-sous-Bois, France, was reported missing on Wednesday after he didnt show up for his return flight, the National Park Service said in a news release on Friday. The 38-year-old attempted to hike Mt. Whitney in California's Sequoia National Park the previous day, according to the park service and Inyo County Search and Rescue. Park officials said Gerbier seemingly fell about 1,000 feet off a cliff in an area known as The Notch. Related: University of Georgia Student Dies in 90-Foot Fall While Rock Climbing in Northeastern Alabama Ground teams were beginning to summit the mountain on the Mountaineering Route when they noticed clues that suggested a hiker may have fallen in the area. A park service helicopter eventually found a motionless hiker. His body was recovered from the scene and later identified by the Tulare County Sheriffs Office. Air France did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request 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. This is the second death at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks this year, according to the park service. Mount Whitney is considered the most frequently climbed mountain peak in the Sierra Nevada, per the park services website. Related: 1 Dead, 2 Injured After Vehicle Plunges Off Cliff in California, Police Say Day hikers typically select the Mount Whitney Trail, a a non-technical, but strenuous 22-mile round-trip hike that can take between 12 and 14 hours to complete. The route is said to challenge even very fit hikers, and is typically snow free from July to late September. When it is snowy or icy, hikers must have the proper winter mountaineering skills and equipment required to hike safely. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. CNN cites a source who said that the women had been released on humanitarian grounds because the mother is in poor health Go Fund Me Natalie & Judith Raanan Two American women a mother and a daughter held hostage by the terrorist organization Hamas have been released, Israeli officials announced on Friday and multiple outlets including ABC News reported. The women identified as 59-year-old Yehudit Raanan (who also goes by Judith) and 17-year-old Nathalie Raanan by ABC News and the Chicago Sun-Times were placed in the custody of the Red Cross and are now safely in Israel. CNN cites a source who said that they had been released on humanitarian grounds because the elder Ranaan is in poor health. The outlet also reported that Hamas has confirmed the release in a statement, saying, In response to Qatari efforts, Al-Qassam Brigades released two American citizens (a mother and her daughter) for humanitarian reasons, and to prove to the American people and the world that the claims made by Biden and his fascist administration are false and baseless. In a statement, President Joe Biden confirmed the release of two Americans taken hostage by Hamas, saying: "Our fellow citizens have endured a terrible ordeal these past 14 days, and I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been wracked with fear. These individuals and their family will have the full support of the United States government as they recover and heal, and we should all respect their privacy in this moment." Related: Nightmare Phone Call Reveals Israeli Family of 10 Kidnapped by Hamas: Survival, Thats Where We Are (Exclusive) NBC correspondent Martin Fletcher said in an appearance on The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle Thursday that the two women who he did not name were members of his wife's family. We talk about six degrees of separation. So Israels a tiny country with only one or two degrees of separation," Fletcher said. "So I just found out today that two of my wifes family are among the hostages." Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Martin Fletcher He continued: So we know that what weve found out about Hamas, that they were told to kill the difficult ones and to use the rest as human shields. So this is very personal." Longtime NBC correspondent Martin Fletcher just told @SRuhle that two members of his wife's family members are hostages in Gaza. @MSNBC pic.twitter.com/5sPhzA5Cnt 11th Hour (@11thHour) October 20, 2023 "Theyre from Evanston, Illinois. Theyre Americans. They were visiting their grandmother for her 85th birthday. And they were last seen with their hands tied, being dragged away by the Hamas terrorists," he said. Fletcher added: "So its personal, its real, and nobody is really confident that its possible to get them back alive. Of course, everybodys hoping. While Fletcher did not name the women during his appearance, the two released today are from Evanston, Illinois. Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,400 people and plunging the area into war. There are reportedly over 190 Israelis being held hostage in Gaza, according to The New York Times, including U.S. citizens. In the wake of the attack, Israel announced a complete siege of Gaza, carrying out widespread airstrikes across the Gaza Strip that have left at least 3,478 people dead. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. NEW BEDFORD -- The New Bedford Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival returns with a Halloween-twist on Saturday, Oct. 28, with an array of tempting cuisine including Brazilian American kabobs, loaded French fries and two new SouthCoast trucks ready to serve for the first time. Leni's Catch, which serves local seafood and everyday classics, is excited to be among the other trucks for the first time. "Not only because its our first food truck festival but it is in the city weve grown up in and learned so much from," said Liam Saunders, owner. "Lenis is deeply rooted from the city of New Bedford, supported by various local businesses to help things run." The map of New Bedford Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival. Lenis is pursing the New Bedford dream, according to Saunders -- a homegrown kid trying to make a name for himself in a community held close to the heart. "With a little help from a mans best friend, my girl Leni," he said. "The festival is all about the small business. Whether its a local seafood company, mom & pop Portuguese bakery or staple meat shop in the heart of Purchase Street. Were here for the community; supporting, serving and delivering with a smile." Over 20 trucks will be available at Fort Tabor Park Celebrating its sixth year, the food trucks scheduled to appear in Fort Tabor Park from noon to 5 p.m., include: Cheese Louise, Hog Wash BBQ Co., Mac n Cheese Please, Thee Taco Dude, What's up Cupcake, South Shore Taco Guy, The Cookie Monstah, Moyzilla, Travelin' Bones, New City Microcreamery, Sabrosa Venezuela, Lobsta Love, Gonzalez Food Truck, Bem Bom Portuguese/American Culinary Fusion, Cheesy Chicks, Leni's Catch, Birria Gordita Tacos, CremeBru.La, Raffa Chimis, Shishkaberrys of NE, and Trolley Dogs. Among the 20+ trucks, there will be an artisan market, music, henna tattoos, local and regional craft brews and "trick or treating" for kids at all the trucks. There will also be a $500 cash prize for best costume. Silmo Syrup will also be in attendance selling bottles and giving out free samples. Besides milks, you can put it in frappes, eggnogs, sundaes, a coffee fizz which is soda water and milk, mix it with RumChata, Baileys (Irish Cream) or Kalua, you can put it in your hot chocolate, said Silmos new owner, City Council President Ian Abreu in a previous interview with the Standard-Times. Liam Saunders, left, with his father, right, in front of the Leni's Catch food truck. "We make sure that we have at least one of everything whether it's a sausage, a hot dog, a pizza truck, a whoopie pie, popcorn, burgers," said Anthony Pepe, owner of Food Trucks Festivals of America (FTFA). "We try to have one of everything." Pepe said it's one of his favorite locations for the food truck festival. "The location pretty much speaks for itself, does it not? It is beautiful," he said. "You walk out there and you're looking at all the water, we line up the food trucks along the waterfront it's just gorgeous." Cheesy Chicks, Lobsta Love and Travelin' Bones among the trucks Another New Bedford food truck to make its first appearance is RAFFA Chimi's, serving Puerto Rican, Dominican and American cuisine. They are best known for their chimi sandwiches (like a Dominican hamburger) as well as their Papa Loca, which are fries covered in a protein, lettuce, ketchup, mayo, nacho cheese and a special secret sauce. "It's all about trying something new. Taking a risk on something you've never eaten before," owner Geleiza Machuca said in a previous Standard-Times interview. "There's really nothing like this kind of food in the city." Raffa Chima food truck will make its first appearance at the festival on Oct. 28. Since launching the food truck in 2019, located on 91 Nauset St., Machuca said they've been embraced by the community. "We knew we were gonna get some interest because there was no food truck selling this stuff, but we never never expected to get so much attention. It's been great," she said. "We are looking forward to this event. This will be the biggest one we have done so far. We are excited and ready but most of all thankful and ready to do what we do best -feed people." The event will be held rain or shine. What brews will be available The following breweries will be at the festival: Redemption Rock Brewing, Proclamation Ale Co., Long Live Beerworks, Graft, Hudson North Cider, Anchor & Hope, and Forty Second Brew Co. Expect lines and bring lawn chairs Last year's event saw upwards of 4,000 guests throughout the day. Pepe said that people should expect lines and to bring lawn chairs and blankets. There is also a VIP ticket that people can purchase that allow early access from 11 a.m. to noon. There will also be an artisan section featuring businesses such as Funky Stuff, Magic Tree Henna and Big Wide Headband & Accessories. Guests can also enjoy cornhole, giant Jenga and checkers, all while dancing to tunes by a local DJ. FTFA's goal is not only to introduce communities across the country to gourmet food trucks, but to support the small business owners who run them. Where is the Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival New Bedford Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival is located at Fort Taber, 1000 S. Rodney French Blvd., New Bedford. What is the cost to attend the Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival According to the website, the pre-sale general admission is $5 per person when purchased online until 11 a.m. on Oct. 28; then general admission is $10 at the door. Doors open at 12 p.m. for general admission ticket holders. Children 10 and under are free. Foodies VIP tickets are available online only for $20. This ticket entitles you to early admission at 11 a.m., as well as one free dessert from the VIP dessert tent and bottled water, while supplies last. Beer lovers package, available online only for $41, includes early admission at 11 a.m., three craft drinks of your choice, FTFA koozie, and bottled water, while supplies last. Beer 6-package, available online only for $68, includes early admission at 11 a.m., six craft drinks of your choice, FTFA koozie, and bottled water, while supplies last. To purchase tickets, visit www.foodtruckfestivalsofamerica.com/new-bedford. Parking for the festival A paid parking lot is available on site. The City of New Bedford will be collecting $15 for parking. No shuttles are available for this event. Standard-Times staff writer Seth Chitwood can be reached at schitwood@s-t.com. Follow him on twitter: @ChitwoodReports.Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today. This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: New Bedford Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival returns Oct. 28 Newsmax Newsmax cut away from President Joe Bidens Oval Office address Thursday because the president started to go into some victory laps on his policy, host Eric Bolling said on the air. As Biden was outlining the importance of the U.S. helping to fund both the Ukrainian and Israeli war efforts, the disappointed-sounding host cut in. We really wanted to hear some American resolve. We wanted to hear the American president talk to the world and make it very clear that we Americans arent going to put up with what happened in Israel. What I heard was a little bit different, and then he started to go into some victory laps on his policy, which is a good time for us to pull out, he said. Bolling then spoke with two guestsformer advisers in the Trump administration and Trump campaign, respectivelywho criticized Bidens 15-minute address, which was shown in full by MSNBC, CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox News, and even One America News Network. Read more at The Daily Beast. Bloomberg/Getty Images Continuing her track record of championing utterly pointless measures that literally no one asked for, Arkansas governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has banned woke language in state government documents. Sanders signed the Executive Order To Eliminate Woke, Anti-Women Words From State Government and Respect Women on Thursday. The order refers to gender neutral language as exclusionary and sexist and calls for replacing it with accurate, female-affirming alternatives. Some of the woke terms listed include pregnant people, chestfeeding, and womxn, which the order says should be replaced with pregnant women, breastfeeding, and women. You can see the full list of banned words (and their female-affirming alternatives) here. During the signing, Sanders was asked by press why this was an urgent matter, and how many times the banned terms had been used in Arkansas legislation. Does it matter if theres one? Is that not enough? Sanders said. Im not keeping a running tally, but I have seen one specific instance and weve had a number of other instances that have been reported to our office. Sanders communications director, Alexa Henning, later confirmed to Axios that there had been one instance of the term pregnant person used in a Department of Health newsletter. However, she didnt confirm whether or not the governments office had actually received any complaints about that. Local outlet 40/29 News also stated that there were no results for any of the banned terms on Arkansas government website as of Thursday afternoon, aside from the use of human milk (which was used in an instructional flyer for new parents). University of Arkansas political science professor Janine Parry additionally told 40/29 News that Sanders order could be an attempt to distract from the controversy over her purchase of a $19,000 podium. Arkansas Governor Signs Law Targeting Doctors Who Provide Gender-Affirming Care Arkansas' latest assault on trans people makes it easier to sue doctors for malpractice. "Recent polling from multiple sources suggests the governor's support is flagging, even among conservatives," Parry told the outlet. "It's hard not to read this then as an attempt to re-ignite their fervor against the sociocultural changes they find objectionable." Last Friday, a legislative committee approved an audit of the podium purchase, as well as an examination of documents that were recently made confidential due to changes to Arkansas Freedom of Information Act law. According to 40/29 News, Sanders office has been accused of withholding documents and altering public records documents that should be freely available. This executive order isnt the first time Sanders has used an executive order to ban a word. On her literal first day in office as governor, she banned the word Latinx from being used in state government documents. Get the best of whats queer. Sign up for Thems weekly newsletter here. Originally Appeared on them. Its been a decade since Teresa Giudice and Joe Giudice were charged with a laundry list of financial crimes, turning their lives, and The Real Housewives of New Jersey, totally upside down. Of course, they were both thrown in the slammer, Joe was deported back to Italy, and the family was broken. Since then, Joe has relocated to the Bahamas, which has made visits with his four daughters just a little bit easier, but still, theyve all made it clear: they would prefer to have him back in the United States. The Giudice girls just want their dad back! Now, Teresa is saying the same thing, but its not just because she wants her daughters to reunite with her dad. Surely, thats part of it, but in a recent clip from her podcast, Namaste B$tches, she revealed that she really wants Joe back in the United States so that he can help her out with money. Teresa Giudice and Joe Giudice have always loved money Teresa admitted that she wouldnt be opposed to Joe coming back into the country for one reason, and thats money. Can you blame her? They have four daughters, and college is expensive. Plus, Teresa owes thousands and thousands of dollars in taxes. Every dollar counts, and Teresas ready for Joe to pitch in legally, of course. On the podcast, the RHONJ star explained, I hope he does [come back to America], because trust me, the opportunities are better in America, and Ive been doing everything on my own I want help. The money that he makes in the Bahamas is not the same money he would make in America. Totally different, Teresa continued. Thats why he moved from Italy to the Bahamas. Because there was no opportunity in Italy. Could you imagine just being sent to another country after living in America for all of these years? Its very sad. Although Teresa would love for Joe to come back to the United States to help pitch in financially, she admitted that she wasnt sure it would ever happen. Luckily, their daughter Gia Giudice is studying immigration law, so she might be their one hope! Earlier this year, she admitted that her career goal was to have his immigration status reevaluated. No pressure, Gia. TELL US ARE YOU SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT TERESA GIUDICE WANTS JOE GIUDICE TO HELP HER FINANCIALLY? DO YOU THINK HE WILL EVER RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES? Hopefully Tre wont hear about this. Reality News Allisun 1 day ago Margaret Josephs What could it be? Reality News Kay 1 day ago Bethenny Frankel Sometimes you have to fry your friends. Features Jennifer OBrien 1 day ago The post Teresa Giudice Wants Ex-Husband Joe Giudice Back in USA So He Can Help More With Money appeared first on Reality Tea. School officials previously said the 18-year-old student, identified as Britney Romero, seemingly fell from a third-floor balcony at Dunn Hall on Sunday Facebook Britney Romero A candlelight vigil was held at Texas A&M University on Thursday to honor the life of a freshman who fell from a dormitory balcony and died. Family, friends and university students gathered at Aggie Park around 9:30 p.m. local time in honor of 18-year-old Britney Romero, according to NBC affiliate KAGS-TV and CBS affiliate KHOU-TV Officers with the University Police Department said the student seemingly fell from a third-floor balcony at Dunn Hall on Sunday, according to a statement from Texas A&Ms Division of Student Affairs. The universitys Mexican Student Association (MSA) confirmed that Romero, who was one of its members, had died. "Britney Romero was a bright and kind freshman here at Texas A&M," they wrote in a tribute shared on social media. "From the very first MSA event that Britney came out to she made an impact on not only members but officers as well." "Heaven has gained another angel," they added. Related: Calif. Couple Sues Hyatt Hotels After Toddler Fell to His Death Through Window at Mexico Resort Many of those who gathered for Thursdays event donned pink clothing in honor of Romero, KAGS-TV reported. Graduate and current MSA member Martin Sanchez described Romero as a very bright person. "Her first semester she brought this energy that a lot of people just have that she possessed illuminating a room she'd walk into, Sanchez added. Dozens of pink balloons were released into the air during the vigil as well, according to KHOU. 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. Authorities are investigating what led to Romero going over the edge of the balcony, according to the Division of Student Affairs. MSA president Fabian Gonzalez said those who knew Romero believe it would have been out of character for her to do something like this willingly, per KAGS-TV. She was not that type of person, someone to do something like that, Gonzalez said. Related: Wisconsin Man Dies After Falling from Balcony at Disney Worlds Contemporary Resort The Division of Student Affairs has said Texas A&M plans to immediately conduct a thorough and comprehensive review of the incident. We want to emphasize that Texas A&M University's top priority is our commitment to the well-being and safety of all our students, they said in a statement. An investigation into Romeros death is ongoing and an autopsy has been ordered, KHOU reported. Counseling has also been made available to students in wake of the tragedy, according to the Division of Student Affairs. We encourage our Aggie community to come together to support one another, as we always do at times like this, while also praying for and supporting the students family and all those grieving this tragic loss, they added. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Council on American-Islamic Relations' banquet canceled after receiving bomb threats The Council on American-Islamic Relations' annual banquet has been canceled after "extremists threatened to plant bombs and kill hotel staff due to CAIR's support for Palestinian human rights," the organization announced. CAIR said the Arlington, Virginia, hotel where it has held its annual banquet every year for over 10 years canceled the event. The event had been scheduled for Saturday "We take these threats very seriously and we condemn them and the broader surge in Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian sentiment and racism," CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad, a Palestinian-American, said in a video statement. The Crystal Gateway Marriott hotel received threats from anonymous callers who said they would "plant bombs in the hotel's parking garage, kill specific hotel staff in their homes and storm the hotel in a repeat of the Jan. 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol if the events moved forward," according to CAIR. MORE: Doxxing campaign against pro-Palestinian college students ramps up CAIR and Marriott met to discuss ongoing threats and concluded that the "volume and specific nature of the threats, combined with the inability to secure additional security from local law enforcement agencies, made it impossible to safely move forward with the events," CAIR said. Crystal Gateway Marriott said in a statement to ABC News that it strives to maintain "an environment where everyone feels welcome, respected and included." "While 'welcoming all' is one of our core tenets, the safety and security of our guests and associates is always our top priority," a Crystal Gateway Marriott spokesperson said. "After careful consideration, we have determined that we are unable to move forward with an event planned for this weekend due to significant risks to the safety of event attendees, guests and associates." PHOTO: Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) national executive director Nihad Awad speaks during a news conference, Jan. 30, 2017, in Washington. (Alex Brandon/AP, FILE) "We have long hosted groups of various faiths and backgrounds at our hotel. Acceptance of business does not indicate support or endorsement of any group or individual and we remain committed to our overarching value of welcoming all," the spokesperson added. The Arlington County Police Department confirmed to ABC News that police responded to the report of a threat at the hotel. "The Crystal Gateway Marriott reported receiving anonymous phone calls, some referencing threats to bomb, regarding an event scheduled on October 21, 2023," police told ABC News in a statement. Police said the investigation remains ongoing. CAIR said the terror threats came after the organization -- the largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization in the country -- updated its original banquet programing to "focus on the work needed to support basic Palestinian human rights." MORE: Video Tensions rise on Harvard campus over Israel-Gaza conflict The theme for the evening is a Night for Solidarity with Palestine, according to Awad. CAIR said it will throw the banquet at an unannounced alternate location at the same time with heightened security. "We are not going to be silenced or intimidated by bigots or extremists," Awad said. "We will continue to do our work to fight for justice and uplift Palestine." The deadly Israel-Gaza conflict has heightened tensions in the U.S., with authorities nationwide warning of increased antisemitic and anti-Palestinian activity. The Department of Homeland Security said it is monitoring events as they unfold in Israel and Gaza, urging faith and community leaders "to be alert, vigilant and prepared." ABC News' Ahmad Hemingway contributed to this report Council on American-Islamic Relations' banquet canceled after receiving bomb threats originally appeared on abcnews.go.com CANBERRA, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Authorities are investigating after radioactive material was reported missing from a steelworks in South Australia (SA). The SA Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) on Thursday confirmed they are searching for a piece of equipment with a small radiation source that was reported missing from a steel factory in Whyalla, 230 km north-west of Adelaide, on Sept. 28. Its reported disappearance prompted the EPA and APANSA to deploy emergency response teams to the area with specialized equipment to undertake extensive radiological and physical searches that were ultimately unsuccessful. Keith Baldry, the director of science and systems at the EPA, told state media Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) radio that the missing equipment is a bin-level gauge which is used to measure stored materials in industrial silos and bins. "It's a Cobalt-60 radioactive source," he said. "It's quite small, just a few millimeters in a 50 kilogram (kg) container." He said authorities believe the gauge is still on the steelworks site and, based on the radioactive material having decayed to a 100th of its original activity since it was purchased 35 years ago, it does not pose a risk to workers or the public. It is the second time that radioactive material has gone missing in Australia in 2023. A potentially deadly highly radioactive capsule was lost in transit in the Western Australian outback in January, triggering an emergency search along a 1,000 km stretch of road. It was found by the side of the road by a team from the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) after a seven-day search involving over 100 people. As a deadly Hamas attack on Israel unfolded last Saturday, Nadav Padan, a reserve general in the Israeli military who lives in New York, received a flood of messages from soldiers he knew in Israel, he said. Within hours, Padan decided to join the fight. But before he could leave the next day, his teenage son had a slew of questions, Nadav said. "What's going on in Israel and what are you going to do there? Is it really important for you to fly there?" Padan, now in Israel, recounted his son saying. "Are you going to be at risk?" The inquiries touched on what Padan called his top worry: "Who will give a shoulder to my wife and son when I'm not there?" After war broke out last week, Israel called up 360,000 army reservists, which amounts to roughly 4% of the nation's population. Some of those reservists are Israelis who live in the U.S., and they answered the call within days, leaving behind their families. MORE: Israel-Gaza live updates: Israeli military has 'green light' to move into Gaza, official says The departures left family members with tasks like canceling appointments and watering a loved one's plants, they said. The abrupt change also elicited a mix of emotions: concern for the safety of loved ones and pride in their choice to serve, according to interviews with a current and former member of the Israeli military, as well as a family member of an Israeli soldier. "I had lots of concerns," Naomi Arbel, who lives in Boston, Massachusetts, said of the moment her husband told her that he planned to join the fight. "But I put aside all my worries because it's not about me. It's about joining our people and defending our country." Arbel, whose four daughters also serve in the Israeli military, said she has been alone every day since her husband left last week. "Thank god for smartphones and WhatsApp," she said. The militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack last week that has left at least 1,400 people dead and 3,400 people injured in Israel. In Gaza, 3,785 people have been killed and another 12,500 were injured, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. One Israeli army veteran in the U.S., who spoke to ABC News, said he opposes reservists in the region joining the war. PHOTO: A formation of Israeli tanks and other military are positioned near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel Oct. 19, 2023. (Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters) Elik Elhanan, who served in the Israeli army in the 1990s, refused to join fighting in protest when he was called up in 2002. Since then, he has criticized the Israeli military, which he considers an occupying force that oppresses Palestinians and impedes a peace agreement. "The best support families can give to those members going to the fight, to the extent it's possible, is to tell them not to go," said Elhanan, who now lives in New York. "People are hurt and they're mourning, and they want to feel a part of something and somehow heal," Elhanan said. "It doesn't matter how many reservists we send to Gaza -- that is not where hands are needed." Still, Elhanan, who said his sister was killed in a Hamas attack about 15 years ago, expressed understanding for family members of Palestinians and Israelis involved in the war, especially loved ones of those who may not come home. "My heart goes out to all the families," Elhanan said. MORE: Thousands of Israelis return home to answer call for military reserve duty Padan and Arbel, by contrast, expressed pride in soldiers joining the Israeli military response to the Hamas attack. On Thursday, Israeli soldiers stood ready for an incursion into Gaza aimed at destroying Hamas and ending the terror threat it poses, Israeli officials said. In response to the questions from his son before his departure, Padan offered a direct response about his reason for joining the fight, he said. "I have responsibility for the future of Israel, and everyone that can help right now should be there," Padan recounted telling his son. Padan said his choice may bring added stress for his son, who he said worries during hours when military duty requires Padan to be unreachable by cellphone. Further, Padan and Arbel acknowledged the concerns faced by Palestinian and Muslim families in the U.S. who fear an increase in hate crimes against them. "Families don't want this," Arbel said. "We all want to live in peace and do our day-to-day stuff." ABC News' Zohreen Shah contributed to this report. Israeli reservists in US leave behind proud, worried families originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Kenneth Chesebro, a key co-defendant in former President Donald Trump's Georgia election interference case, has taken a last-minute plea deal in which he has agreed to testify in the case. Chesebro pleaded guilty to a single felony charge of conspiracy to commit filing of false documents and will receive five years' probation and a $5,000 fine, in exchange for agreeing to testify and provide documents and evidence. The agreement is the first felony plea deal among the 19 defendants in the case. Two other defendants have also taken deals. MORE: Former Trump lawyer Sidney Powell pleads guilty in Georgia election interference case Chesebro's deal came after the jury selection process in his case had already gotten underway Friday. Chesebro, an attorney, was facing seven counts after prosecutors said he drafted a strategy to use so-called "alternate electors" to prevent Joe Biden from receiving 270 electoral votes in the 2020 presidential election, according to the Fulton County DA's indictment. "How do you plead to Count 15, conspiracy to commit filing false documents?" the prosecutor asked at Chesebro's court appearance in Atlanta Friday. "Guilty," Chesebro replied. Chesebro, who lives in Puerto Rico, told Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee that he was willing to stay in town for a few days to negotiate "the logistics" of his probation. PHOTO: Kenneth Chesebro is seen in a mugshot provided by the Fulton County Sheriff's Office in Georgia, Aug. 23, 2023. (Fulton County Sheriff's Office) Before concluding, Chesebro spoke directly to the judge, saying, "I just want to thank you for the way you've handled these proceedings." Speaking outside the courthouse, Chesebro's attorney described the plea arrangement as "too good to turn down." "He gets to go home to his family now ... and not spend one day in jail," attorney Scott Grubman said. "He was facing very, very serious charges." Despite that, Grubman said Chesebro had been "inaccurately" described as the "architect" of the so-called fake elector plan. "If that was true, would the DA have offered him probation?" Grubman asked. MORE: Kenneth Chesebro rejected plea offer ahead of Georgia election interference trial: Sources Asked by ABC News if Trump should be concerned about Chesebro's potential testimony, Grubman said, "I don't think so." "He's a man of his word," he said of Chesebro. "If he's called, he'll testify." Trump's attorney in Georgia, Steve Sadow, said it was meaningful that the DA, as part of the plea deal, agreed to dismiss the racketeering charge that accused Chesebro of participating in a larger criminal scheme. "It is very important for everyone to note that the RICO [racketeering] charge ... was dismissed," Sadow said. "I fully expect that truthful testimony would be favorable to my defense strategy." Chesebro's plea comes a day after former Trump campaign attorney Sidney Powell took a plea deal in which she received probation in exchange for agreeing to testify. Prosecutors had accused her of helping tamper with voting machines in Coffee County as part of efforts to overturn the election. MORE: Prosecutors seek testimony of Ronna McDaniel, Alex Jones in upcoming Georgia election interference trial Powell and Chesebro were both originally scheduled to go to trial next week after both demanded speedy trials. Chesebro, according to sources, last month rejected a similar plea deal with the state, ABC News was first to report. Powell, Chesebro, Trump, and 16 others pleaded not guilty in August to all charges in a sweeping racketeering indictment for alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election in the state of Georgia. Georgia bail bondsman Scott Hall last month took a plea deal in which he pleaded guilty to tampering with voting machine equipment and received probation in exchange for agreeing to testify at the trial of other co-defendants. Kenneth Chesebro takes last-minute plea deal, agrees to testify in Georgia election case originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The wait continues at the Rafah border crossing. After all sides -- President Joe Biden, the Egyptian government, Egyptian state media, multiple sources -- pointed toward a Friday border opening, it now seems all but assured that won't happen. The border remains closed, stranding the more than 200 trucks loaded down with aid in Egypt. More than 4,000 tons of food, water, medicine and other aid items are now piled up and ready to enter Gaza, according to a senior Egyptian aid official at the border, which is between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres made a short stop at the border crossing Friday, the most senior international official to do so since the crisis began. Standing at a podium in front of the shuttered crossing, he implored that it be opened, and the trucks sent through. "So, these trucks are not just trucks. They are a lifeline. They are the difference between life and death for so many people in Gaza ... What we need is to make them move to the other side of this wall, to make this move as quickly as possible and as many as possible," said Guterres. PHOTO: Trucks carrying humanitarian aid from Egyptian NGOs for Palestinians, wait for the reopening of the Rafah crossing at the Egyptian side, to enter Gaza, Oct. 17, 2023. (Reuters) Guterres said even though there's been an agreement between the U.S., Israelis and the Egyptians to open the border, certain issues still need to be worked out. MORE: In push for Gaza aid, some signs of progress An Egyptian security forces source tells us that one sticking point remains issues with the inspections of aid going into Gaza. The Israelis have been clear they worry about making sure what is being sent in is truly aid and nothing that could help Hamas. PHOTO: Aid convoy trucks wait at the Rafah border crossing for clearance to enter Gaza on Oct. 19, 2023 in North Sinai, Egypt. (Mahmoud Khaled/Getty Images) Separately, we know the Israelis have continued to carry out airstrikes not far from the border, something that would need to ease before trucks can cross. This, in addition to what a source told ABC News on Thursday that the U.S. is getting pushback from Egyptian authorities about the concern that American citizens in Gaza may want to bring additional family members with them when they are allowed to exit, and what kind of reassurance the Egyptian government will accept to guarantee that those family members will not stay in Egypt. Finally, repair work at the border from the airstrikes needs to be completed, though a source at the border described that work as minimal and largely done. "It could be completed quickly," he told me. Meanwhile, the Egyptian government has allowed a series of pro-Palestinian protests to take place across Egypt on Friday. Thousands of protesters across multiple cities expressed their outrage over Israels continued bombardment of Gaza, the first large series of protests to take place in Egypt since the government banned street protests like these nearly a decade ago. Rafah border remains closed amid mounting calls for Gaza aid: Reporter's notebook originally appeared on abcnews.go.com We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Fly By Jing is a food company started by Chengdu, Sichuan native Jing Gao. It produces a line of food products inspired by (and made using ingredients from) Sichuan, China, a region known for its intense flavors and vibrant culinary culture. In addition to pre-made sauces and seasonings like chili crisp, zhong sauce, and ma la spice mix, the company also sells some basic pantry essentials for cooking Sichuan food. Jing Gao also has a new cookbook, "The Book of Sichuan Chili Crisp," that's full of recipes both traditional and nontraditional that incorporate the flavors of Sichuan. Given her expertise, she is the perfect person to ask for advice on how to stock your kitchen for Sichuan cooking. In an exclusive interview with Tasting Table, Jing listed some crucial components you'll need to make Sichuan dishes at home and explained what makes these ingredients so special. It may require a trip to the Asian grocery store or some online shopping, but most of these ingredients are readily available in the U.S. With just a few extra things in your pantry, you'll be able to whip up hot pot, mapo tofu, kung pao chicken, and more in no time. Read more: Vinegar Cooking Hacks You'll Wish You Knew Sooner Sichuan Pepper Closeup of Sichuan pepper - Msk.nina/Getty Images Sichuan pepper is one of the most confusing ingredients in the Sichuan pantry, partially because of its misleading English name. As Jing Gao explained, Sichuan pepper is neither a chili pepper nor a relative of black pepper, and it's not spicy. "It's actually the seed of a citrus tree, and that's why it has a citrusy, floral flavor." But even more than its flavor, Sichuan pepper is known for the sensation it gives you when it hits your tongue a mix of numbing and tingly that you won't get from any other ingredient. The highest quality Sichuan pepper has to be hand-harvested because the oils that are responsible for its flavor are quite delicate and can be damaged by machines. The taste also degrades over time, so it's best to eat Sichuan pepper relatively soon after harvesting Jing said it can be stored in the freezer to extend its shelf life. The seeds are typically roasted to bring out their flavor and used in one of two basic ways. In long-cooking dishes like braises and stews, they can be added whole towards the beginning of the cooking process. In other applications where you don't want to crunch on whole peppercorns, they can be ground into a powder and applied as a finishing spice. Erjingtiao Chilis Hot pot filled with chilis - Alamin Chowdhury/Shutterstock When the heat of chili peppers is combined with the tingling sensation of Sichuan peppercorns, it creates one of the most important flavors in Sichuan food: ma la, or spicy-numbing. Dried chilis are commonly used for most dishes in Sichuan; the region produces and eats a variety of different peppers, but the most popular is erjingtiao, according to Jing Gao. "It's known for how fragrant it is it smells incredible. The taste is fruity and warm. And it's not too spicy," she said. Depending on your spice tolerance, you may find erjingtiaos to be pretty hot, but since they're less spicy than some other types of Chinese chilis, they can be used in higher quantities in food, which allows aficionados to appreciate their intoxicating flavor. This chili variety also has a bold red color that makes dishes pop visually. This is why Jing recommends the erjingtiao if you're only going to buy one type of chili for your Sichuan recipes. Jing had some suggestions for serious spice-heads who want to experiment with more heat than the erjingtiao can provide. She said dried Thai birdseye chilis would work well in Sichuan dishes; they're similar to a Chinese chili that is difficult to source in the U.S. If you really want to crank up the intensity, Indian ghost peppers will do the trick they'll bring loads of heat, but they won't change the flavor profile of recipes very much. Chili Oil Glass bowl of chili oil - Daizuoxin/Getty Images If you want the heat and flavor of chilis in your food but don't want to pick through chunky pieces of peppers, then chili oil is the way to go. To make it, Jing Gao likes to use about a 4-to-1 ratio of oil to dried chilis. The oil is heated up and poured over the chilis, and then the mixture is allowed to sit to give the oil time to extract the flavor. Then, after straining, the chili oil should be red, spicy, and ready to use in your favorite recipes. Sometimes, chili oil is made with just peppers and oil, but cooks often add spices like cardamom, cinnamon, or star anise to increase the fragrance and depth of flavor. As for what to use it on, the options are almost limitless. Per Jing Gao, "You can make cold appetizers like cucumber salad, you can fry with it, use it in mapo tofu, or make a noodle dish where you mix it with soy sauce and black vinegar and garlic." The same heating and infusing method can also be applied to Sichuan peppercorns to make Sichuan pepper oil. The numbing properties of the peppercorns will be transferred to the oil, which can be drizzled on a multitude of foods. Doubanjiang Pots of doubanjiang - papucka/Shutterstock In our interview, Jing Gao referred to Doubanjiang as "the star of the Sichuan pantry" and "the soul of Sichuan cuisine." It's a paste composed of fava beans and erjingtiao chilis that are fermented together in clay pots; the flavor combines spice and umami in a way that's totally unique and extremely compelling. The longer doubanjiang is aged, the deeper and more interesting the flavor becomes. "Most industrially-made doubanjiangs are only aged for a few months," she explained. "They're still good, but you get more complexity if you ferment it for longer." The one she prefers is fermented for three years. When incorporating doubanjiang into recipes like Sichuan-style red-braised beef or other stewed dishes or stir-fries, it's typical to cook the paste in oil by itself before adding other ingredients. The paste infuses the oil, allowing it to flavor everything else in the dish. A little goes a long way; Jing estimated that 500 grams of doubanjiang might last you a year if you don't cook Sichuan food every day. Chili Crisp Jar of chili crisp - Vm2002/Getty Images You might think of chili crisp as the more complicated, more robust sibling of chili oil. It's made in a similar fashion to chili oil oil is heated up and poured over a blend of chilis and other flavorful ingredients. However, for chili crisp, the ingredients are left in the oil rather than being strained out. The chilis basically fry during the cooking process and transform into crunchy little chips. Also, chili crisp tends to use a greater variety of ingredients than chili oil, incorporating umami boosters and aromatics to make a well-rounded condiment. Fly By Jing chili crisp includes ingredients like shallots, garlic, Sichuan pepper, and mushroom powder. When you spoon chili crisp over a dish at the last minute, you enhance it in a number of ways; you're adding texture, savoriness, and a moderate amount of heat. Jing Gao stressed to us that chili crisp is a method rather than one specific food. She considers her product to be a Sichuan chili crisp because it is made with ingredients from that area, but the same technique can be used to craft chili crisps with an infinite number of flavor profiles. "You might make one that's more Mexican, or make one that reflects the flavors of eastern China. It really is such a personal thing." Black Vinegar Dish of black vinegar - kungfu01/Shutterstock Jing Gao listed black vinegar as an ingredient that, while not exclusively Sichuan, is necessary to stock in a basic Sichuan pantry because it's used in so many dishes from the region. Black vinegar is made in unique ways across different regions of China. It always starts with a grain base that's fermented into vinegar and then aged to give it its trademark dark color. The vinegars from different areas have their own special flavors, but they're united by a combination of umami savoriness with a hint of malty sweetness they don't have the intense, one-note acidity of distilled vinegar. Sichuan does produce its own variety of black vinegar fermented from a wheat bran base and infused with aromatics, but you don't necessarily need this specific type to cook Sichuan food. A typical black vinegar made with a mix of grains or just rice will work perfectly well. Black vinegar is great on noodles; it's a crucial supporting player in the Sichuan classic dan dan noodles, bringing some sourness to balance out the richness of sesame paste and the heat of chili oil. Soy Sauce Bowl of soy sauce - Alter-ego/Shutterstock Like black vinegar, Jing Gao says soy sauce is "something that's not necessarily Sichuan-specific, but you can get really good Sichuan versions of it.". It's one of the main ways salt and umami are added to food in Sichuan cuisine (and Chinese cooking more broadly). You'll see it incorporated into sauces, marinades, soups, and more. One Sichuan application that really highlights soy sauce is the cold appetizers Jing mentioned when we were talking about chili oil. The main ingredient in these plates, whether it's slices of cold cooked pork or raw cucumbers, is often dressed in a mixture of chili oil and soy sauce. Frequently, the soy sauce is a special enhanced, sweetened version cooked with sugar and seasonings like bay leaves, fennel, black cardamom, and star anise. The spices enhance the complexity of the soy sauce while the sugar helps tone down its saltiness and create a thicker texture, allowing the sauce to coat pieces of food without running off. The traditional soy sauce for this type of dish is all-purpose soy sauce that's sort of a middle ground between light and dark soy sauce. Light soy, which is common in Cantonese cuisine, is saltier than the type you want for Sichuan-style sweetened soy sauce. Rapeseed Oil Rapeseed oil with flowers - Shironagasukujira/Getty Images Fly By Jing chili crisp is made with rapeseed oil, which Jing Gao said is the traditional cooking oil in Sichuan that has been used for thousands of years. She sang its praises, saying, "It's super healthy, it's cold-pressed ... it's got nothing to do with European rapeseed oil or canola oil, which people get confused about sometimes." Indeed, Sichuan rapeseed oil and canola are very different ingredients. While canola plants began as a specially-bred form of rapeseed, they contain much less erucic acid than standard rapeseed, which may be toxic in extraordinarily high doses. They also have fewer glucosinolates, which have a peppery, horseradish-like flavor. Canola oil is extensively refined to be basically flavorless. In contrast, Sichuan rapeseed oil is not neutral it brings its own flavor to the party. The oil has a toasted nutty flavor and grassy aroma that can't be replicated by any other cooking oil. Like canola, it's made with relatively low-erucic rapeseed, but it uses a different strain. Fermented Black Beans Black beans on plate - Hanasaki/Getty Images Fermented black beans are another ingredient that shows up in Fly By Jing chili crisp. The beans add savory, salty depth and umami to the recipe. Despite their color, fermented black beans are not made with black beans like you'd find at a Mexican restaurant. Instead, they start out as soybeans, which are naturally a yellowish color it's the fermentation that turns them black. This ingredient is widely used in both the Sichuan and Cantonese styles of Chinese food. To transform soybeans into fermented black beans, they are cooked and then subjected to two stages of fermentation with Aspergillus oryzae fungus and salt. Once this is complete, the beans are typically dried before packaging. This ingredient is an important part of what's known as the Sichuan homestyle flavor profile (common seasoning combinations in Sichuan food are broken down into different flavor profiles and given special names). The backbone of homestyle flavor is fermented black beans and soy sauce. A good example of this flavor profile is twice-cooked pork, which is made by simmering pork before stir-frying it with black beans, soy sauce, doubanjiang, and other ingredients. Pickles Fish with pickled mustard - xiaoxiao9119/Shutterstock When we talk about pickles in the Sichuan context, we're not referring to the dill spears jarred in vinegar you'd find in a Western supermarket. Jing Gao told us, "The type of pickles they're known for there are lacto-fermented they're fermented naturally in a salt brine with lots of different Sichuan spices and baijiu, which is the grain liquor that's very prevalent in China." There's a recipe for an all-purpose pickle brine in Jing's book, and it's also easy to find packaged versions of Chinese fermented vegetables in Asian grocery stores. A variety of different vegetables are fermented in this way. You may find a mix of radish, cabbage, carrot, and other components fermented together to make Pao Cai. Pickled chilis are another classic fermented product; they're used in many recipes. Pickled components add acidity and umami complexity to anything they're added to one great example is Suan Cai Yu, or fish with pickled mustard greens (pictured above). In this brothy dish, the clean (but slightly bland) flavor of white fish is elevated by a cooking liquid made with fermented mustard greens, chicken stock, chilis, and aromatics. Shaoxing Wine Ladle of Shaoxing wine - bonchan/Shutterstock Although Shaoxing wine isn't made in the Sichuan region (it's named after the city it's from, which is in the eastern part of China), according to Jing Gao, it's the most commonly used cooking wine in all of China, including Sichuan. Shaoxing wine is a type of aged rice wine with an amber color. It has a complex savory and mildly sweet flavor and is one of the most basic ingredients used in Chinese cuisine, showing up in stir-fries, sauces, braises, marinades, and more. It's a critical part of one of the most famous Sichuan dishes in America, kung pao chicken. The most similar Western product to Shaoxing wine is probably dry sherry, but it's easy to find the real stuff in Asian supermarkets. The type used for cooking rather than drinking tends to be pre-seasoned with salt. In terms of what to look for when you're buying Shoaxing wine, Jing said it's a good idea to read the label. "If you go to the grocery store and it says 'Shaoxing' and it's from that region, it'll probably be pretty good." Rice Sack of jasmine rice - Suwan Wanawattanawong/Shutterstock Jing Gao said, "Sichuan is not a super rice-producing region, so we'd typically get our rice from the south of the country." Southern China is where most of the country's rice is grown. Nevertheless, rice is an important ingredient in Sichuan cuisine. What would a bowl of mapo tofu be without a side of rice to soak up all the delicious sauce? In addition to its frequent place as a side for flavorful main dishes, rice can also be the star of recipes like fried rice. Many strains of rice are eaten in China, including short, medium, and long-grain varieties as well as sticky/glutinous types. Although Sichuan is not a rice-producing paradise these days, it did historically grow some rice, and the local preference was for long-grain. If you're looking for a long-grain rice that will complement Sichuan recipes, jasmine rice is a good choice that's easy to find in the U.S. Although it's originally Thai, it's widespread in China too, and has a fluffy texture and fragrant smell that work well with a range of Asian cuisines. Aromatics (Black Cardamom, Star Anise, Cassia Bark) Star anise and cassia sticks - Fcafotodigital/Getty Images A large number of aromatics show up in some Sichuan recipes, but Jing Gao called out these three as ones that are particularly worth having around because they're used so frequently. Black cardamom is distantly related to the (more common in the U.S.) green cardamom that you may know from Indian/South Asian recipes. In China, whole pods of black cardamom are typically added to brothy, slow-cooking recipes like stews and braises. Since it's cooked over an open fire when it's processed, black cardamom imparts a mildly smoky flavor in addition to slight pepperiness to food. Star anise is also commonly used whole. The beautiful star-shaped pods have a licorice-like flavor (though not as strong as licorice). Anise perfumes hot pot broth, meat dishes, and chili oils, and can even be incorporated into desserts. Finally, cassia bark, or Chinese cinnamon, tastes like, well, cinnamon. In whole cinnamon stick form, it is often added in concert with the other two aromatics we've already mentioned in braises, broths, and hot pot bases. Along with star anise, it is a component of Chinese five-spice powder. Read the original article on Tasting Table. Situated between mainland Portugal and Morocco, is the subtropical Portuguese island of Madeira. It is reminiscent of a European Hawaii, with its tropical old-world charm, a closely kept gem floating in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. The volcanic islands landscape is stunning and dramatic, no matter which way you look, from its black, rocky beaches, UNESCO Heritage Laurisilva forest, steeply terraced landscapes, and sunny, balmy weather. Madeira has consecutively been considered The Best Island Destination in the World by the World Travel Awards since 2013. Madeiran cuisine is an import of the collection of global traders who passed through the island since the 15th century and indigenous fruits and seafood. Because of its balmy, tropical climate, fruits common to Latin America and warmer parts of Asia thrived in Madeira when brought over. Sugarcane was introduced to the island from Sicily, and grew very well given the climate, spurring trade to mainland Portugal and creation of Portuguese rum. Bananas are plentiful, and one of the top traded commodities, mostly to the mainland. Madeira is also known for its namesake fortified wine and its abundant seafood, which infiltrates nearly every part of the cuisine. To this day, chefs in Madeira draw inspiration from traditional dishes including espetada, lapas (limpets) and black scabbardfish. Madeira is an island of eternal spring, with fresh produce available year-round, which is a big contributor to Madeira becoming a culinary destination. Culinary innovators are also proudly Madeiran, striving to promote and innovate their cuisine while honoring tradition. Since the early 2000s, Madeira has been a rising tropical fine dining culinary destination. In 2009, Il Gallo dOro received the first Michelin star in Madeira. This was renewed consecutively until 2017, when it was awarded two Michelin stars which it has kept to this day. In the 2023 edition of the prestigious guide, the restaurant led by chef Benoit Sinthon was also distinguished with a Green Star, which rewards sustainability in gastronomy. Various restaurants in Madeira have also been former recipients of Repsol Suns, which are the Spanish version of the Michelin stars. Click here to read the full article. Here are seven top dining destinations to eat while visiting the capital city of Funchal. Best of Robb Report The city of Lakeland, Florida, prides itself on its swan population, ensuring every year to have them vaccinated and checked out But at one time, the swan population in the town was wiped out Florida's current crop of swans is descended from a gift from Queen Elizabeth II Some gifts are temporary little gags meant only to last a moment. Others we give with the idea of cementing a legacy. One that endures long after, not just the acting of giving, but even the person who gave it has faded from memory. On Oct. 10, Lakeland workers rounded up 50 of the city's swans to undergo their annual checkups from veterinarians. "I mean, they are a city icon," park supervisor Steve Williams told the Associated Press of the swans. "And we take very good care of them." For the people in Lakeland, Florida, the sight of swans is not uncommon. So residents who have lived their whole lives in the city east of Tampa, colloquially known as Swan City, may not realize that, for some time, there were no swans in "Swan City." Nor does the new population have a royal connection. John Greim - Getty Images As the Lakeland Public Library tells it, as part of their Tales of Lakeland series, swans first made their way to Florida roughly 100 years ago. Not because of instinctual migration but because of "seasonal residents wanting to have swans as pets on or near their winter homes." By 1926, 20 swans called Lakeland home, enough to merit the creation of a "Swan Department" to help preserve and maintain them. Now, far be it from us to call into question the skill and dedication of Lakeland's Swan Department in the first half of the 20th century, but it appears they were no match for the gators and other Florida wildlife who viewed these imported pets as a rare delicacy. Due to this predation, by 1954, the final Lakeland swan passed away, and the town was empty of its beloved cygnets. The town tried to raise money to purchase new swans, but the endeavor was unsuccessful. However, a former resident was so distraught at the lack of swans in Lakeland that they turned to their current country's official Seigneur of Swans for help. Of course, that Seigneur of Swans also had another title you might have heard before: Queen Elizabeth II. Yes, Elizabeth held the swan title because, technically, the Royal Family owns all British swans and has been "since the Middle Ages." The Royal Family owns all British swans because it is a silly country with silly rules for people who wear silly crowns and sit in silly seats. But in this one instance, one of those silly titles helped the people of Florida. Queen Elizabeth II honored the request for help and sent the city "a mated pair of swans from the royal swannery." And the once-again robust swan population that inhabits Lakeland today? They can proudly and honestly say that they can trace their roots back to royalty. Or... I guess just honk. They can kind of only honk. You Might Also Like The star said it was her "breaking point" after her breakup with Justin Timberlake . Getty Images Britney Spears has been dropping bombshell revelations leading up to the release of her memoir The Woman In Me, from recounting her Y2K party days with Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan to confirming the cheating rumors between her and her choreographer Wade Robson. Spears is also sharing a number of truths about her tumultuous early 2000s relationship with Justin Timberlake. According to The New York Times, Spears was "devastated" and considering leaving the industry after Timberlake broke up with her via text. She goes on to say that when he released his music video for "Cry Me a River," she felt it portrayed a woman who looks like me cheats on him, and he wanders around sad in the rain." She writes that the media saw her as a harlot whod broken the heart of Americas golden boy. Meanwhile, she was "comatose in Louisiana, and he was happily running around Hollywood. Getty Images Related: Britney Spears Described Her 2003 Fling With Colin Farrell as a "Brawl" Following the breakup, Spears said she felt forced by her father, Jamie Spears, and management team to do the now-infamous Diane Sawyer interview, where the reporter pressed Spears on what she did to Timberlake to cause him so much pain. She adds that this segment was the "breaking point" for her. "I felt like I had been exploited, she says, set up in front of the whole world. In another part of the book, Spears reveals that she had an abortion during their relationship because Timberlake thought they were "too young" to have a baby, though if it was her decision alone, she "never would have done it." But Justin definitely wasnt happy about the pregnancy," she writes. "He said we werent ready to have a baby in our lives, that we were way too young." Reps for Timberlake have not responded to InStyle's request for comment. The Woman in Me comes out Oct. 24. For more InStyle news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on InStyle. Norwegian Jewel will spend six months sailing the region. Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line At long last, travel to Asia is back, and that includes cruise ship itineraries. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) just returned to the region for the first time in more than three years. "Today is a milestone moment, as we return to Asia with Norwegian Jewels arrival to Tokyo," David J. Herrera, president of NCL, said in a statement obtained by Travel + Leisure. The 2,400-passenger Norwegian Jewel will make Asia her home for the next six months, sailing to 11 countries, including Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, and South Korea. Itineraries will range from 10 to 14 days, and some will even include overnights at ports like Phuket, Thailand, and Bali, Indonesia. This season will mark the first time in the NCL's history that a ship in the fleet will call at numerous ports across the region, including Seoul (Incheon), South Korea; Manila, Boracay, Palawan, and Salomague in the Philippines; Bintan Island, Indonesia; and Hualien, Taiwan. "We pride ourselves in delivering the best vacation experience and providing endless opportunities for our guests to explore the worldincluding Asia!" said Herrera. "This region delivers some of the most intriguing history, cuisine, and culture for travelers to discover, and we are thrilled to deliver a diverse selection of port-rich voyages. This market is important to us, and we are committed to servicing it in the long term." The 2023 return to Asia is just the start for NCL, which plans to expand its presence in the region next year. Norwegian Spirit, Norwegian Sun, and Norwegian Sky will join Norwegian Jewel in Asia for the 202425 season a record number of NCL ships in Asia at a single time. Guests will even be able to add NCL Cruise Tours onto certain itineraries, adding three-night extensions on land in Tokyo, Taipei, and Singapore. Rates for an 11-day cruise to Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia start at $599 per person; book your trip at ncl.com. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. Deer struggling in the cold waters of Alaskas Inside Passage were rescued by wildlife workers last week. On 10 October, Alaska Wildlife Troopers Sergeant Mark Finses and trooper Kyle Feuge were returning from a patrol nearby in Ernest Sound to Ketchikan when they saw the pair of animals in trouble. The deer were floating in the Clarence Strait and were around four miles from any island in the channel. Once troopers stopped their boat in the water, the deer butted their heads against it and swam up the swim step before officials helped them on board. The average temperature of the water in October is just over 10C. The United States Justice Department reports that North Korean nationals have been using fake identities to work remotely for US companies as IT professionals in a scheme to fund weapons of mass destruction programs. At a news conference in St. Louis, Missouri, the FBI alleged that thousands of individuals have moved to countries such as Russia and China and posed as freelance IT workers living in the US. Companies in St. Louis and around the US were targeted in this plot. The bad actors used false information for emails, payment platforms and websites sometimes paying Americans to use their Wi-Fi and setting up proxy computers. Along with funneling their income to North Korea's weapons programs, some workers also hacked their employers' computer networks to take private information and leave the possibility for other schemes, such as extortion. Special Agent in Charge Jay Greenberg of the FBI St. Louis Division went so far as to say that any company that employs freelance IT workers "more than likely" hired one of these bad actors. "This scheme is so prevalent that companies must be vigilant to verify whom they're hiring," Greenberg stated. "At a minimum, the FBI recommends that employers take additional proactive steps with remote IT workers to make it harder for bad actors to hide their identities. Without due diligence, companies risk losing money or being compromised by insider threats they unknowingly invited inside their systems." The FBI didn't disclose when they first learned of the plot or which businesses were impacted. However, the bureau first released a warning to the IT industry-focused scheme in May 2022. The FBI also collected about $1.5 million in money earned by these workers during previously sealed seizures in October 2022 and January 2023. At the invitation of Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov of the Kyrgyz Republic, Premier of the State Council Li Qiang will attend the 22nd Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of SCO Member States in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan and pay an official visit to the Kyrgyz Republic from October 24 to 27. The International Symposium to Commemorate the 10th Anniversary of Chinas Principle of Amity, Sincerity, Mutual Benefit and Inclusiveness in Neighborhood Diplomacy will be held in Beijing on October 24. Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will attend the opening ceremony of the Symposium and deliver a speech. Political figures from neighboring countries, heads of international and regional organizations, diplomatic envoys of neighboring countries to China and renowned experts and scholars will attend the Symposium online or in person. They will have in-depth exchanges of views on topics such as good neighborliness, sincerity, mutual benefit, openness and inclusiveness at four sub-fora under the theme of Amity, Sincerity, Mutual Benefit and Inclusiveness: New Dimensions, New Progress and New Vision. CCTV: You just announced that Premier Li will attend the 22nd Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of SCO Member States. Whats Chinas expectation for this meeting? Mao Ning: Since its establishment, the SCO, guided by the Shanghai Spirit, has enhanced solidarity and mutual trust among member states, deepened cooperation in various sectors and played an important role in safeguarding the security and stability on the Eurasian continent and promoting development in regional countries. At present, changes unseen in a century is unfolding at a faster pace. The situation in the region and the wider world remains complex and fluid. Countries in our region look to the SCO to play a bigger role in safeguarding national security and development interests of countries. President Xi Jinping attended the SCO summit in July this year. He and other leaders reached important consensus on upholding multilateralism, international fairness and justice and the vision of building an even closer SCO community with a shared future, setting the direction for the SCO under new circumstances. It will be the first time for Premier Li Qiang to attend the Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of SCO Member States. Premier Li together with other participating leaders will follow through on the consensus reached at the summit in July, have in-depth exchange of views on the SCO Development Strategy and formulate concrete measures on cooperation in such areas as security, economy and trade, connectivity and people-to-people exchanges. We believe that the meeting will provide more impetus for security, stability and development in regional countries. Reuters: Chinas Special Envoy for the Middle East landed in Qatar yesterday. Why was Qatar his first stop? Does Zhai Jun plan to go to Gaza or the West Bank and will he pay a visit to Tel Aviv? Mao Ning: Thank you for your interest in Special Envoy Zhai Juns visit to the Middle East. Special Envoy Zhai Jun is in the Middle East as we speak. He had a number of meetings in Doha on October 19, including with Qatars Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Russian Presidents Special Representative for the Middle East and Africa. We will release further information about Special Envoy Zhai Juns visit in a timely way. Please check back for updates. China News Service: How do you see the current state of China-Kyrgyzstan relations? Whats your expectation for Premier Li Qiangs visit? Mao Ning: China and Kyrgyzstan are friendly neighbors and comprehensive strategic partners. Since diplomatic ties were established 31 years ago, our bilateral relations have maintained a momentum of sound and steady growth. Our two countries enjoy high-level political mutual trust, fruitful Belt and Road cooperation, close and effective coordination on the international stage, and a people-to-people bond strengthened by frequent exchanges. We have become good neighbors, good friends, good partners and good brothers. This year is of milestone significance for China-Kyrgyzstan relations. In May, President Xi Jinping met with President Sadyr Zhaparov of Kyrgyzstan, who was on a state visit to China. They jointly elevated the bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era and announced the building of a China-Kyrgyzstan community with a shared future of good neighborliness and shared prosperity, charting the course for bilateral cooperation. This upcoming trip will be Premier Li Qiangs first visit to Kyrgyzstan and the second visit to the country by a Chinese premier in seven years. It will be of important significance for advancing the bilateral relations, deepening practical cooperation and bringing the two peoples closer. During the visit, Premier Li Qiang will meet and hold talks with leaders of Kyrgyzstan for in-depth exchange of views on implementing the common understandings reached by the two Presidents. We believe the visit will further deepen the high-level political mutual trust between our two countries, boost all-round cooperation, and promote substantive and tangible progress in our comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era. Reuters: China will require export permits for some graphite products to protect its national security. Could you elaborate on these national security concerns and did a particular event trigger this decision? Mao Ning: The Ministry of Commerce has released information. For more specifics, I would refer you to the competent authorities. AFP: US Defense Department issued its 2023 report on Chinas military power yesterday, saying that China now owns more than 500 operational nuclear warheads and will grow its arsenal to over 1,000 by 2030. Are those claims true? Mao Ning: This US report, like previous ones, is nonfactual and biased. It calls China a threat only to find a convenient pretext for the US to sustain its military hegemony. China is strongly opposed to this. China is firmly committed to a defensive nuclear strategy and has always kept our nuclear capabilities at the minimum level required by national security. We have no intention to get involved in any nuclear arms race with any country. China has a unique nuclear policy among nuclear weapon states and has maintained a high level of stability, consistency and predictability. For any country, as long as they do not use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against China, they have nothing to worry about being threatened by Chinas nuclear weapons. The US sits on the largest and most advanced nuclear arsenal in the world. It follows a first-use nuclear deterrence policy, keeps making enormous investment to upgrade its nuclear triad, advances forward deployment of strategic forces, and strengthens extended deterrence for its allies. These policies and acts heighten the risk of a nuclear arms race and nuclear conflict, and will only adversely affect the global strategic security environment. China urges the US to abandon the Cold War mentality and hegemonic logic, view Chinas strategic intention and defense development in an objective and rational way and stop issuing this kind of irresponsible annual report so as to keep mil-to-mil and overall relations stable between China and the US. Reuters: Does President Xi Jinping plan to visit the Middle East following the visit of US President Joe Biden? Mao Ning: China has shared its position on the current Palestinian-Israeli situation. We believe the pressing priority is to cease fire as soon as possible, protect civilians and avert a humanitarian crisis. We are in contact with all relevant parties. Beijing Youth Daily: We have learned that recently the Chinese Embassy in Israel has been helping Chinese nationals stranded near the Palestinian-Israeli conflict area relocate. Can you share some details on that? Mao Ning: After the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict broke out on October 7, more than 280 Chinese citizens were stranded in Sderot in southern Israel and faced high security risk. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs directed the Chinese Embassy in Israel to act swiftly to organize their relocation and evacuation. With the concerted efforts on the ground and back home, the stranded Chinese nationals have all left Sderot. Some have returned to China on commercial flights. According to the numbers we have at this point, since the conflict broke out, over 1,000 Chinese nationals have left Israel for China or a third country. We will continue to work hard to assist our fellow citizens. Shenzhen TV: The Iranian Foreign Ministry said on October 18 that UN Security Council restrictions on Irans ballistic missiles were lifted on that day. The US and some other countries issued a joint statement on the same day announcing sanctions on Irans missile activities. Whats Chinas comment? Mao Ning: The JCPOA and the Security Council Resolution 2231 are important outcomes of the political settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue and should be implemented fully and faithfully. China supports lifting relevant restrictions and unilateral sanctions on Iran as slated in the Security Council Resolution and the JCPOA and call on parties concerned to uphold the authority and effectiveness of the two documents with concrete actions, take constructive steps to advance diplomatic efforts to resume compliance with the JCPOA, and uphold the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and peace and stability in the Middle East. Bloomberg: US Ambassador Nicholas Burns called on the Chinese government to denounce terrorism by Hamas. He also cited Beijings stance toward the group as yet another challenge in the China-US relationship. How do you respond to this? And why hasnt China mentioned the word Hamas as far as I know since the attack on Israel? It is a group that governs Gaza. Mao Ning: On the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict, China stands on the side of peace, equity and justice. We oppose all violent attacks against civilians and civilian facilities, condemn any violation of international law, and call on all parties to immediately stop fighting, protect civilians and avert a humanitarian disaster. We always believe that in dealing with international and regional hotspot issues, major countries need to be objective and just, lead by example in abiding by international law and play a constructive role for a political settlement. We will continue to work with the international community to deescalate the situation. Yonhap News Agency: According to reports, the ROK government has recently proposed to China and Japan of holding a trilateral foreign ministers meeting around November 26 in Busan and the three sides are working on the program of the meeting. Could you confirm this? Will China take part in the trilateral foreign ministers meeting? Mao Ning: China, Japan and the ROK are close neighbors. Trilateral cooperation serves the common interests of all three countries. The three sides are in contact on the dates of the China-Japan-ROK foreign ministers meeting. Bloomberg: Im just curious why did China refuse to say the word Hamas? Its the organization that runs Gaza. Mao Ning: Our position on the current situation is very clear. Reuters: Viet Nams President invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to Hanoi and Putin has accepted the invitation. Has Viet Nam invited President Xi to visit Hanoi too? Mao Ning: The invitation to President Putin to visit Hanoi is a bilateral arrangement between Viet Nam and Russia. As to high-level visit between China and Viet Nam, I dont have any specific information to share at the moment. RAMALLAH/JERUSALEM, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday visited Israel amid the ongoing fighting between Israel and Hamas, as doubts mount over his sincerity to push for a de-escalation of the conflict. The visit came hours after an explosion rocked a hospital in the Gaza Strip, causing Israel and Hamas to trade blame over the incident that reportedly killed at least 500 Palestinians and wounded hundreds of others. Hamas said an Israeli airstrike caused the explosion, while the Israeli military said it was an errant rocket fired by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad that was intended to land on Israeli territory. During his visit, Biden claimed Israel was not responsible for the blast, citing information provided to him by the Pentagon. Amid rising concern that Gaza is facing a major humanitarian crisis, Biden also pledged humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the West Bank while urging Israel to uphold international law. The aid Biden pledged for the Palestinians is minimal compared with his generous support for the Israelis. The U.S. president, a strong supporter of Israel, said on Wednesday that Washington would provide Israel with everything it needed to defend itself amid its conflict with Hamas. "This visit is a significant display of support for the Israelis. By asserting that a misfiring rocket caused the hospital carnage, Biden has effectively given Israel the green light to act as it sees fit," said Alan Fisher, a journalist with Al Jazeera, the Qatar-based international news network. Since he was elected in 2020, Biden failed to push for genuine peace efforts between Israelis and Palestinians. Instead, Biden has enthusiastically pursued the strategy for Mideast peacemaking that Donald Trump had championed: advocating for so-called normalization agreements between Israel with more Arab countries in the absence of a peace agreement with the Palestinians, a move that has marginalized the Palestinian issue and become a destabilizing factor in the Mideast peace process, analysts said. The lack of sincerity to resolve the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, as evidenced by Biden's differentiated support for the Israelis and Palestinians, has led to mounting doubt over the effectiveness of his involvement in the de-escalation of the deadly conflict. The U.S. president had planned to travel to Jordan after his Israel trip for a summit, which was to bring together Biden, King Abdullah II of Jordan, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, but the Jordanian King canceled the summit after the hospital blast. Canceling the four-way summit is a clear signal that the U.S. effort is "insufficient and not serious with regard to ending this war," said Ibrahim Rabaia, a Palestinian political expert. "The favorable position toward Israel made Biden unwelcome in the Arab countries. The Jordanian government was unable to receive him nor the Egyptian government as a result of the popular uprising in these countries and their stance toward Israel," said Ghassan al-Khatib, a political science professor at Birzeit University in the West Bank city of Ramallah. "The United States is part of the aggression against the Palestinian people and part of the occupation," al-Khatib added. As Biden is in the midst of a re-election campaign, he may use the current conflict as an opportunity to bolster support from American voters, Rabaia said. "American public opinion is sympathetic to Israel as a result of the efforts of the Israeli media and the Jewish lobby, and Biden believes that his sympathy for Israel and his visit will boost his popularity," al-Khatib said. Biden is playing the card of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas to garner ballots, Rabaia said, noting that by publicly supporting Israel, Washington intends to confirm its interests in the Middle East, especially after it has partially withdrawn from the region during the past years. Emily Blunt has issued an apology for remarks she made in a 2012 interview about a restaurant servers appearance, which have been branded fatphobic. Resurfaced footage circulated on social media shows the British actor on The Johnathan Ross Show, during which she refers to a Chilis worker as enormous and jokes that she probably ate at the restaurant for free. The story was meant to be about how the server was surprised to see Blunt at the restaurant chain in Louisiana, where she was shooting the movie Looper. However, Blunt opened her anecdote by making a number of comments about the servers size, claiming: The girl who was serving me was enormous. I think she got freebie meals at Chilis. Ross appeared to push back at Blunts remarks, responding: Nothing wrong with that. Blunt then continued her story about the restaurant experience, recalling that the Chilis worker asked her: Did anyone ever tell you you look like Emily Blunt? The Jungle Cruise star explained that she told the server she was indeed the actor, and told the Chilis worker she was at the chain restaurant in Louisiana because she was filming her 2012 movie, Looper. Blunt recalled that the Chilis worker believed she made up the name of the movie, to which the actor responded: I really didnt. As the clip resurfaced on social media last week, Blunt was condemned for making the negative remark about the servers weight and accused of being fatphobic. Ugh f*** Emily Blunt seriously was one of my fave actresses but turns out shes a fatphobic unfunny mean girl who thinks its funny to point out the size of a server when it adds nothing to the story - for shame, one person wrote on X/Twitter. (The Jonathan Ross Show) Others questioned why Blunt had felt compelled to make any kind of comment about the womans size, given it was irrelevant to her story. Its not surprising to hear actors be openly fatphobic, because thats the world we live in. It doesnt make it any less disappointing. There is no need to bring up someones size or comment on it, especially for laughs. Shame on you, one wrote. In a statement issued to The Independent on 20 October, the actor apologised for her remarks and said she regretted making them. I just need to address this head on as my jaw was on the floor watching this clip from 12 years ago. Im appalled that I would say something so insensitive, hurtful, and unrelated to whatever story I was trying to tell on a talk show, she said. Ive always considered myself someone who wouldnt dream of upsetting anyone so whatever possessed me to say anything like this in that moment is unrecognisable to me or anything I stand for. And yet it happened, and I said it and Im so sorry for any hurt caused. I was absolutely old enough to know better. It's all gravy, baby we've got turkey gravy to sausage gravy, mushroom gravy, and more. Photo by Christopher Testani / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Prissy Lee Gravy recipes are a must for the holidays but, hear us out: Gravy is worthy of its own holiday. Whether you're seeking a turkey gravy recipe, sausage gravy recipe, mushroom gravy recipe, tomato gravy recipe, beef gravy recipe, or any other gravy recipe under the sun, we've assembled an all-star panel of cookbook authors, Food & Wine staffers, and chefs including the likes of Edna Lewis , Anthony Bourdain, Michael Symon, Tanya Holland , Brooke Williamson, and a literal rock star who knows her way around the kitchen to bring you every gravy recipe you will ever need. Anthony Bourdain's Turkey Gravy Bobby Fisher In 2016, the late chef and author Anthony Bourdain shared his sides-heavy three-day strategy for Thanksgiving prep including the preparation of two turkeys ("Stunt" and "Business"), butter-glutted Mashed Potatoes, Kind of Robuchon-Style, uncooked Cranberry Relish, Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Mushroom and Chestnut Stuffing with Giblets, Candied Sweet Potatoes with Bourbon, and this fish sauce, red wine, and Worcestershire-bolstered Turkey Gravy. Multiple F&W commenters have dubbed it some version of "best gravy ever," while F&W staffers (OK one) fully plan on filling up their gravy fountain with it this year. Get the Recipe P!nk's Red Wine Gravy Marcus Nilsson If you read Ray Isle's rollicking 2019 feature with Alecia Moore (aka recording artist and songwriter P!nk), you know she's a serious winemaker and vigneron. But perhaps less frequently cited in her bio is the fact that she makes exceptional gravy featuring Cabernet Sauvignon which she occasionally sells in limited release from her label, Two Wolves. But if you can't get your paws on a bottle or care to keep it strictly for sipping, another Santa Barbara Cab will also rock in this recipe. Get the Recipe Erick Williams' Cheffed-Up Sausage Gravy Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Christina Daley James Beard Award-winning chef Erick Williams is something of a gravy oracle, and it all starts with a righteous roux. Take yours just up to a peanut-butter-brown state over the course of six to eight minutes, and ramp up the flavor with chicken stock, milk, thyme, black pepper, salt, garlic, cayenne, and cooked sausage. Biscuits are the canonical accompaniment, but if you opted for a shot glass straight to the gullet, who are we to question? Get the Recipe Michael Symon's Lager Gravy Con Poulos There is both beer and cider in 1998 F&W Best New Chef Michael Symon's gravy, plus some roasted giblets if you happen to have them left over from roasting a turkey. Simon, a proud son of Ohio, opts for a Dortmunder Gold lager from Cleveland's Great Lakes Brewing Co., but unless he's personally attending your celebration, he'll never know if you choose another brew local to you. Get the Recipe Edna Lewis and Scott Peacock's Tomato Gravy Greg DuPree If Southern cooking icons Scott Peacock and the late Edna Lewis told us to deep-fry our own arms, we'd start melting the lard, but luckily this just entails whisking together some oil (ideally left over from a fresh batch of chicken), canned tomatoes, both cream and milk, and thyme with onions and garlic, sauteed to golden. Then probably a lot of moaning but in a rapturous way. Get the Recipe Brooke Williamson's Lobster Gravy Photo by Jennifer Causey / Prop Styling by Julia Bayless / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn You may know chef and restaurateur Brooke Williamson from her winning stints on Top Chef or Tournament of Champions, or her many appearances on Guy's Grocery Games, Knife Fight, and other food programs. You'll become a verified fan after your first batch of paprika, cayenne, and anise-kissed gravy, especially when it's lavished over turmeric-poached eggs and chive biscuits at a leisurely weekend brunch. Get the Recipe Tanya Holland's Pearl Onion Giblet Gravy John Kernick Chef, author, and Top Chef alum Tanya Holland had us at pearl onion gravy. But then she had to go and get all extra with the addition of mashed, seasoned garlic, roasted simply in the oven for an hour. Get the Recipe Grant Achatz's Black GarlicRed Wine Gravy Michael Turek It would easy to assume that a gravy made by 2002 F&W Best New Chef Grant Achatz might be all a-simmer with aerated garlic essence and spherified thoughts of Barolo, but really it's just exceptionally great gravy, albeit with a bunch of extra-flavorful touches. Black garlic which is made by aging garlic under specifically controlled conditions (or you could just buy it) brings a deep, savory funk to a concoction of brown sugar, red wine, soy sauce, beef broth, and herbs. It's a harmonious accompaniment to his shallot, herb, and prune-marinated beef roast, but would also sing well with potatoes, roasted green or root vegetables, or pretty much any meal that could stand to have the flavor volume cranked up. Get the Recipe Zoe Kanan's Tahini Gravy Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen OK fine, baking great Zoe Kanan's gravy recipe anticipates you already having turkey gravy on hand from your feast. But, if you happen to be in this fortunate position, whisking in some tahini and lemon juice brings a happy glow-up, making it a natural fit for leftover mashed potatoes and stuffing that have been re-seasoned and fashioned into faux falafel. Get the Recipe David Tanis' Wild Mushroom Gravy Fredrika Stjarne Chef and author David Tanis makes aaalllll the room for 'shrooms in this earthy mix of chanterelles (if you can find them, but cremini and oyster work if you can't) and porcini powder with roasting pan drippings. Oh you were planning on making a turkey, too? He's got you covered with a recipe for an herb-amped bird, cleverly roasted with an apple inside for extra flavor and juiciness. Get the Recipe Kiki Aranita's Miso Gravy Kelsey Hansen / Food Styling by Annie Probst / Prop Styling by Gabe Greco Writer and chef Kiki Aranita is a passionate ambassador for the cuisine of Hawai'i where she spend a lot of her formative years (read her award-winning essay on the subject if you haven't already) and loco moco is at the core of it. Just as fundamental is this miso-backed, ultra-savory gravy with note of ginger to sass it all up. Get the Recipe Michel Nischan's Cherry Gravy Con Poulos Are we requiring you to make chef Michel Nischan's braised pork shoulder to generate the drippings for this sour cherry gravy? Yes, but it's for your own good. It all ends in tender medallions paired with creamed fennel and leeks and a generous lashing of piquant, fruity sauce so we're not especially sorry. Get the Recipe Susan Spungen's Thyme Gravy Lucy Schaeffer Shallots, herbs, soy, and Madeira bring some holiday magic to cookbook author and food stylist Susan Spungen's gravy. It's excellent on anything, but paired with a perfectly-browned, herb and shallot butter-rubbed bird, this gravy works double-thyme. Get the Recipe Ann Taylor Pittman's Make-Ahead Smoky Madeira Gravy Photo by Christopher Testani / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Prissy Lee Oh dear, more Madeira? Yup, and cookbook author Ann Taylor Pittman's spikes her silky, giblet-based turkey gravy with fortified wine and smoked wings for a make-ahead gravy that can be simmered on the stovetop or assembled in a pressure cooker up to two months ahead of time if you keep it stashed in the freezer. Get the Recipe The F&W Test Kitchen's Mushroom and Herb Gravy with Apple Brandy Photo by Noah Fecks / Food Styling by Drew Aichele / Prop Styling by Ethan Lunkenheimer Recipe developer Marianne Williams crafted this impossibly rich mushroom, shallot, rosemary, thyme, and brandy-backed gravy in the F&W Test Kitchen, then upped the ante with the brilliant addition of Dijon mustard. Really great turkey jus is key, and as it happens, F&W's editor-in-chief (and former line cook) Hunter Lewis is more than happy to share his method. Get the Recipe Dale Talde's Redeye Curry Gravy Antonis Achilleos Gravy, as we have well established, is great. Top Chef alum Dale Talde's curry, sriracha, ginger, and coconut milk-kicked version of the traditional coffee-based redeye gravy may in fact be the greatest of all. Ladle it onto chicken-fried steaks and noodles and kick yourself for all the time you spent in your life not eating this before. Get the Recipe Kelly English's Andouille Gravy Jonny Valiant Oh, do we ever love 2009 F&W Best New Chef Kelly English's andouille-based gravy on its own merits, but especially when it's topping a poutine studded with crayfish and pimento cheese. Serve it with a side of gentle napping. Get the Recipe Dana Cowin's Bacon-Shallot Gravy John Kernick Former F&W editor-in-chief Dana Cowin learned a thing or two about cooking in her 22-year tenure, and this bacon and shallot gravy is one of the best. White wine brings in a bright note, shallots add sweetness, and bacon stokes the smoke. Get the Recipe Lee Hefter's Maple Gravy John Kernick Maple? Yes, you may and you should. 1998 F&W Best New Chef Lee Hefter found himself missing the East Coast when he moved west to work with Wolfgang Puck, and found that adding maple syrup to his gravy, made with a foolproof turkey stock, helped quell those pangs a bit. Even if you're not homesick, the balance of sweetness with an abundance of thyme, sage, and parsley will make you feel like you're in your happy place. Get the Recipe The F&W Test Kitchen Best-Ever Turkey Gravy Victor Protasio Do we love all our chef, author, developer, and staffers' creations equally? Of course we do. But when former F&W food editor Kelsey Youngman came up with this roasted giblet gravy, the team immediately dubbed it The Best, and we're sticking to it. Make it four days ahead and store in the fridge, or keep it on hand for a month in the freezer to bust out in case of gravy emergencies. Get the Recipe Javiar Cabral and Paola Briseno Gonzalez's Buttermilk-Poblano Gravy Greg DuPree Javiar Cabral and Paola Briseno Gonzalez love this gravy, which they created to combine the best of Mexican and American worlds. Fire-roasted poblanos add everything that a fresh green chile has to offer in terms of smokiness and flavor without the heat (unlike a jalapeno or serrano which would be an automatic turn-off to the heat-averse). The buttermilk adds a refreshing tang that will keep you ladling more and more over turkey, chicken, or potatoes. get the recipe For more Food & Wine news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Food & Wine. Food Network star Bobby Flay has a diverse professional portfolio. Hes hosted 17 different television shows, opened restaurants all over the country, and authored over a dozen cookbooks. His most recent venture, Made by Nacho, is the one closest to his heart. The chef founded his premium cat food brand in 2021 and named it after his beloved Maine Coon. Flay, a self-proclaimed cat person, would personally cook homemade meals for his cats Nacho and Stella. He soon started offering his high quality recipes to pet owners around the world, tapping Nacho to be his unofficial business partner. Flay hasnt been shy in showing his love for his pets, even bringing Nacho along to press appearances. Astrid Stawiarz - Getty Images Nacho is understandably loved by fanshis own personal Instagram account has over 273,000 followers. The cat just celebrated his ninth birthday earlier this month and received well wishes from thousands of people. So its safe to say the public was devastated when Flay took to Instagram to share the tragic news of Nachos passing. The chef, who largely shies away from sharing personal news with his fans, revealed that his heart is broken following the loss of his beloved pet. I truly believe he was everyones cat in some way, Flay wrote. Nacho had a magic about him that was truly special. The loss of a family pet is never easy, but Flay says hes soothed by knowing his likeness and legacy will live on forever through Made by Nacho. He ends the post by telling his fans to give his pets an extra long hug today and to send prayers to Nacho. Flays post was quickly flooded with comments of support. Ina Garten wrote, Oh Bobby Im so sorry!! What a good life you gave him!!! Fellow Food Network personalities Sunny Anderson and Aarti Sequeira also sent their love. Love you, Bobby. Sending you all the love for sweet Nacho, Anderson said. Sequeira said, Im so sorry Bobby. Nacho brought out a different side of you that I love. Praying for comfort as you grieve. Fans who grew to love Nacho took to the comments section too, with one writing, I am so sorry for your entire family. No matter how long our pets live, its never long enough. We're sending lots of love Bobby's way! You Might Also Like California recently passed a law to ban Red dye 3something many consumers and advocacy groups hope will drive the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to do the same. The state recently banned four food additives, including Red No. 3 (erythrosine). But its important to note that the California ban wont go into effect until 2027. In 1990, the FDA stopped using the dye in makeup and topical drugs like ointments, citing research that it causes cancer in rats. But its been allowed to stay in food. Red dye makes food available in bright colors. Synthetic food dyes can impact neurobehavior in some children, research has shown. In one study, kids aged 3 to 9 years old either drank a beverage with the dye in it or a dye-free drink. Those consuming the dye had increased hyperactivity. Man-made food dyes arent just linked to behavior issues in kids. Red dye 3 is also linked to cancer in animals. I think the passage of the bill in California creates undeniable pressure on the FDA, Peter Lurie, MD, president and executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, an advocacy group, told NPR. Last year, his group was one of many to petition the FDA to ban the dye. Lurie thinks the news from California will make it more likely that they grant our petition, he told NPR. For 33 years now, we have been waiting for the FDA to take common sense action that would remove [Red 3] from the market and thereby better protect American consumers, Lurie said. M&Ms and Skittles removed Red 3 from their products, though its still in a variety of other foods (not just candy). Peeps recently announced theyre removing red dye 3 from their products. (Thankfully, for me, Twizzlers dont contain Red 3, though other artificial dyes like Red 40 can lurk in sweet treats.) Even PediaSure Grow & Gain Kids Ready-to-Drink strawberry shake contains Red 3, CSPI reports. Its also found in some prescription drugs, like Vyvanse, considered the #1 prescribed branded ADHD medication. Thats somewhat ironic, according to CSPI, as the behavioral problems associated with food dyes are often described as similar to the symptoms associated with ADHD. The vibrant colors are important to our industry, Christopher Gindlesperger, a representative from the National Confectioners Association, a trade group representing companies that make candy, told NPR. He claims that the ban could raise food costs and confusion among consumers. Its FDAs call to make, Gindlesperger says. Its time for the FDA to lean into the discussion and, have a solid review, [and] evaluate all the available science, Gindlesperger said. Twelve big brands have joined together to sign a first-of-its kind collective virtual power purchase agreement (CVPPA), which will help meet their demand for renewable energy. The agreement gives participating brands, including Bally, Capri Holdings, Ermenegildo Zegna Group, Farfetch, Ferragamo, Kering, Prada Group, PVH Corp., Ralph Lauren, Tapestry, Under Armour, and Zimmermann, access to solar energy produced by Lightsource bp, enabling them to decarbonize their operations. More from Sourcing Journal The brands involved have something in common: they are all members of The Fashion Pact, a nonprofit working toward increased commitment to sustainability throughout the industry. It first debuted at the G7 Summit in 2019. Per the agreement, Lightsource bp will produce 160,000 MWh annually the equivalent of eradicating the CO2 created by charging nearly 14 billion smartphones over the course of 10 years, said Eva von Alvensleben, The Fashion Pacts executive director and secretary general. According to a release, the power will come from Lightsource bps solar projects in Spain. In March, the company committed 1.2 billion euros ($1.27 billion) to bolstering its capabilities there. The company recently signed deals with resale platform eBay and technology giant Microsoft. A Lightsource bp spokesperson declined to disclose the financial details of its CVPPA with The Fashion Pact. Members of The Fashion Pact have pledged to use 50 percent renewables in their business by 2025 and 100 percent by 2030. According to von Alvensleben, this purchase agreement marks a step in the right direction. The CVPPA is a successful example of how the power of the collective can effectively make the industry move forward. Concretely, it will help brands achieve a reduction of their Scope 2 emissions while adding more renewable energy to the European grid, she said. It is also driven by an inclusive approach for smaller and medium-sized companies to join forces. Lightsource bp said its new agreement with The Fashion Pacts members could also show other companies that an agreement of this kind is possible. Agreements of this kind pave the way for other fashion brands and other sectors with lower power demand to decarbonize their energy supply mix, by demonstrating how creating a collective initiative can make the difference in reaching their net-zero targets and allowing [those] with a low energy consumption, who otherwise wouldnt be in this position, to purchase renewable power, the Lightsource bp spokesperson told Sourcing Journal. The Fashion Pact does not have plans to expand the initial CVPPA to include other members, von Alvensleben said. It would have been unreasonable to create a consortium for a PPA as large as our member base, since multi-buyer power purchasing agreements usually have three to five members. Our CVPPA already shows the scale of the renewable energy commitment of our members by having 12 brands (the largest one in the industry), von Alvensleben told Sourcing Journal. With this example of a collective VPPA, we will work towards promoting similar consortiums by sharing the lessons learned and supporting any members interested by guiding them through the different steps of a collective agreement. While some brands involved in The Fashion Pact may join other CVPPAs in the future, others elected not to join the CVPPA for a number of reasons. In some cases, theyve already figured out how to ink deals with other suppliers. Helena Helmersson, CEO of Swedish fashion brand Hennes & Mauritz (H&M), has served as the co-chair of The Fashion Pact since May. The CVPPA efforts began before her arrival, and H&M did not sign the CVPPA. An H&M spokesperson said thats because the retailer has other commitments in place. For several years, H&M Group has been exploring ways to contribute to adding more renewable electricity into the worlds power grids through PPAs with solar and wind farms. Examples for our work within this area are the power purchase agreements that H&M Group has signed with Neoen and Alight for a new solar park in Sweden (90 MWp) as well as Matrix Renewables earlier this summer. Considering fashions environmental impact, we see great value in moving away from just using certificates to contributing to more clean energy, the spokesperson said. H&M announced Thursday it had issued its first green bond. Lightsource bp said it could work on deals with other companies going forward, given its experience brokering singular and collective PPAs. As Lightsource bp is currently progressing over 60 gigawatts (GW) of utility-scale solar projects at different stages of development across the globe, there will be the opportunity for other collectives, corporations and utilities seeking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with their electricity supply to partner up, the spokesperson said. The CVPPA has been in the works for some time. The Fashion Pact first announced it would work on the project in December of 2022. It worked with law firm Baker McKenzie and consultancy firm Guidehouse to ink the final deal. For von Alvensleben and the members involved, working on the deal represented an opportunity to learn. PPAs are complex structures that require stakeholders across sustainability, procurement, finance, legal and accounting to align. We realized that a large amount of capacity building was needed in order for companies to be able to make the decision to participate. We brought in industry experts for a series of educational webinars and office hours to answer questions from member participants, creating a common understanding, von Albensleben explained. It was also a decisive advantage to have CEO leadership and commitment throughout the project, she added. It allowed us to overcome internal roadblocks and achieve key milestones during the negotiation on time. Click here to read the full article. While Aspen and Vail are arguably the countrys most famous destinations for skiers, Boulder is quickly becoming one of Colorados hottest spots for high-end real estate. New homes are popping up on the market and Boulderites are snapping them up at a rapid rate, according to Mansion Global. In 2022, only 10 properties priced over $5 million were sold while there were absolutely zero takers in the $10 million or more range. However, this year, at least 14 homes over $5 million have closed and there have been four homes that sold for over $10 million. More from Robb Report Homebuyers are flocking to Boulder, Colorado instead of famous ski towns like Aspen and Vail. In Boulder, weve always had extremely luxurious homes, theyve just never come to market before, Compass agent Patrick Brown explained to the listing site. Now that were starting to get a luxury market here, people are willing to settle and theyre willing to invest in the extremely high-end market. In the luxury market, were stronger than we were last year despite other parts of the market having stabilized or have slowed down a bit. Due to the increase in demand and an overall lack of inventory, the average price for a luxury home in Boulder spiked from $5.89 million to more than $8 million. Plus, the average construction cost has grown from $500 per square foot to $700 and sometimes $800 per square foot over the past five years, which has turned buyers attention towards modern, newly built homes rather than ones theyll have to renovate. Luxury homes in Boulder are now commanding over $8 million. Our luxury market is extremely strong. We got exponentially more expensive between 2020 and 2022, and were definitely a lifestyle destination, Mile Hi Modern broker Jennifer Egbert told Mansion Global. It was surprising at first to see high-dollar houses move at a rapid rate, but thats what this market has turned into. Theres almost not enough high-end inventory. Of course, there are still options if youre looking to own a prime piece of ski country real estate. In Old North Boulder, a $6.3 million hillside manse is currently in the building phase but is slated for completion in spring 2024. On the other hand, this renovated Edwardian-style home in Mapleton Hill can be scooped up right now for $4.2 million. At the tippy top of the market is a $13 million glass and stone estate that appears to be the most expensive home in Boulder County. Best of Robb Report Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Rite Aid's Glassell Park location including its Thrifty Ice Cream counter is slated to close Tuesday, Oct. 31, as part of the company's debt restructuring after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. (Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times) Nicole Coronado and her family didnt know her lifelong Rite Aid and Thrifty counter were closing until they passed through the Alhambra store's doors on Wednesday afternoon. Honestly, we came here today just for the ice cream, she said. Today we were like, Oh, it's really hot, lets go get some ice cream. And then we walked into the store and everything's clearance now. Thats how we found out. On Monday, Coronados family favorite Rite Aid location is set to close, one of 154 stores shuttering in the coming weeks amid a debt restructuring and the companys filing for Chapter 11 in U.S. bankruptcy court in New Jersey. Thirty-one of those Rite Aid locations are in California. The drugstore chain sells one of the regions most iconic desserts with nearly a century of history and happy customers: Thrifty Ice Cream. Famed for affordability and its cylindrical scoops available in roughly 40 flavors, Thrifty Ice Cream is one of the Southlands most nostalgic treats, beloved by generations of Angelenos. Downtowns first Thrifty drugstore, founded in 1929, and soda shop initially sourced its ice cream from multiple purveyors before its owners launched their own ice cream factory in Hollywood in 1940. It moved to the current larger El Monte facility in 1976. Thrifty Ice Cream's iconic cylindrical scoops are made possible via a proprietary scoop that's available for purchase at most Rite Aid locations. (Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times) Twenty-nine of the 31 California Rite Aid locations that are set to close house a Thrifty Ice Cream counter, according to the companys site listings and descriptions, including Glassell Park, Culver City, Downey, Long Beach, Mid-Wilshire, La Mirada, Burbank, Covina, La Puente and Ontario. Some have already permanently shuttered. Rite Aid spokesperson Alicja Wojczyk said that although many stores are closing and with nearly all of them, Thrifty Ice Cream stations the purveyor of the beloved frozen goods is not shutting down entirely. Thrifty fans will still be able to find the ice cream at hundreds of locations via the remaining Rite Aid scoop counters, of which there are more than 10 in the L.A. area, as well as the remaining Rite Aid frozen-food aisles, where the bright red pints and 1.5-quart tubs are sold. Read more: Rite Aid to close 31 California stores in bankruptcy, pulling out of some cities entirely Our pharmacies continue to fill prescriptions, and our customers can visit our stores or shop online for the products and services they rely on, including our iconic SoCal favorite Thrifty ice cream, Wojczyk said via email. Thrifty operations will not be impacted by the filing. Representatives at the El Monte ice cream factory could not be reached for comment. The frozen-treats chain is no stranger to upheaval. In 1986 Pacific Enterprises purchased the company, and then in 1992 investment company Leonard Green & Partners gained ownership before Rite Aid acquired Thrifty in 1996. In 2018 Walgreens purchased more than 1,900 Rite Aid locations after years of negotiations, and in that same year, Albertsons nearly acquired Rite Aid with plans to sell Thrifty in its grocery stores though that merger was terminated. All retail tubs and pints of Thrifty-brand ice cream were sold out at the Alhambra Rite Aid location, which is set to close Monday. At the ice cream counter, cones were sold out, and scoopable flavors were dwindling. (Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times) Through the ice cream companys changing ownership, generations of fans stayed true. Coronados grandfather used to bring her to the Alhambra location for Thrifty ice cream when she was a child, and they both still visit regularly. The evidence of the shops pending closure was abundantly clear on a recent afternoon: Yellow clearance stickers fastened to retail shelves advertised half-off merchandise. At the Thrifty Ice Cream counter, staff said theyd run out of cones and many flavors, and would not be restocking before Monday. On Coronados visit, she and her family passed by the frozen aisle to see if there were any retail tubs of Thrifty available, but they were already sold out. Weve gotta hit up all the Rite Aids right now, she said. To Coronado, most ice cream doesnt compare: She feels theyre often too saccharine, whereas Thriftys flavors contain a subtle sweetness, she said. And, her son Ethan Cruz chimed in, they offer a cotton candy flavor. Normally Coronado orders strawberry, but Cruz said he tends to rotate between four: vanilla, cookies n' cream, chocolate and strawberry. Im not much of an ice cream person, or a sweets person, Coronado said. But [Thrifty] definitely hits the spot. Its the exception. Read more: Where to get the best ice cream in L.A.: From classic parlors, to gelaterias and vegan creameries Nine miles away, another Rite Aid with a Thrifty Ice Cream counter was preparing to close. This store is closing, no more ice cream for customers, said employee Blanca, who declined to share her last name. As she walked from the front register to scoop ice cream for customers, she noted her location is due to close Oct. 31, after which shell be transferring to another location. Rite Aid spokesperson Wojczyk told The Times that the company would strive to transfer associates to other Rite Aid locations where possible. Longtime customer Glenn, who declined to share his last name, had seen the news of Rite Aids bankruptcy filing but hadnt heard that many locations including his usual store, in Glassell Park would be closing. Oh no, thats so soon, he said. I dont know where to go now if this Rite Aid will close. Theres not [another] one close by. Theres one in Pasadena. He recalls when single scoops used to cost 25 cents, a novelty and a comfort he discovered shortly after emigrating from the Philippines in 1999. A portion of Glassell Park's fully stocked Thrifty Ice Cream case. This Rite Aid location is slated to close Oct. 31. (Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times) His flavor of choice? Its usually Chocolate Malted Krunch, though on Wednesday he wanted to try the strawberry cheesecake for the first time. Glenn tries to avoid eating sweets, he said, but every three months or so he makes a visit to a Thrifty counter, pulling over if he sees the sign affixed to a Rite Aid location. The Glassell Park outpost is his regular shop, and while he knows many stores will remain open, Its still kind of sad, he said. Ever since Ive been coming to this area because this is a Filipino area this Rite Aid specifically has been here for a while. More than 20 years. Read more: How to get the perfect scoop of ice cream at home? You'll need the right tool It anchors a strip mall that includes a Filipino restaurant, an OReilly Auto Parts and a mochi doughnut shop and is one of the few ice cream stores in the neighborhood. Until Oct. 31, that fully stocked case of Mint N Chip, chocolate brownie, black cherry, rainbow sherbet, butter pecan, coconut pineapple and more will beckon, the colors and patterns displayed in their tubs near the front of the drugstore. After that, Glenn and Thriftys other fans might just have to drive a little farther for those signature, cylindrical scoops. Sign up for L.A. Goes Out, a weekly newsletter about exploring and experiencing Los Angeles from the L.A. Times. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. South Asias largest country has new plans to leave orbit. On Tuesday, Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi revealed that the republic is aiming to set up the Bharatiya Antariksha Station (Indian Space Station) by 2035 and to send the first Indian to the moon by 2040. This news comes as the country gets ready to launch a key test flight on Saturday for its first crewed mission, Barrons reports. And with Modis ambitious perspective, the venture likely wont be the last. More from Robb Report The prime minister told officials they should build on the success of Indian space initiativeswhich is quite the launch pad. In 2012, India became the first Asian nation to put a satellite into orbit around Mars. The countrys space agency, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), launched an impressive 104 satellites in a single mission three years later. Its explorative pursuits also led India to become the first to land a spacecraft near the lunar south pole in August 2023. And last month, it was able to launch another to observe the outermost layers of the sun. Modi requested that ISRO develop plans for a series of missions to the moon. While not much else has been revealed about the construction of the space station, experts also believe the country will be able to keep costs for its newly announced incentives low by copying and adapting existing technology. India says it only accounts for 2 percent of the $386 billion global space economy, according to Barrons. The countrys current focus remains on its first manned mission into space, dubbed Gaganyaan, or Skycraft. Slated to blast off next year, the operation will have crew embarking on a three-day mission in Earths outer orbit. It is expected to cost $1.08 billion, according to ISRO. After all, sky-high ambitions often come with lofty price tags to match. Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Ascend Performance Materials has announced another round of price increases to go into effect Nov. 1, 2023. Ascend, which claims to be the largest fully integrated producer of nylon 6.6, is raising the prices on all polyamide polymers, compounds and monomers for the second time in two months in response to significant increases in input costs. The company said in a statement that customers should contact their sales reps for additional information. More from Sourcing Journal Price hikes will affect the following materials, in addition to those put into effect in October: neat PA66 polymer, up by 20 cents per kg., PA6 compounds, up by 30 cents per kg., and hexamethylene diamine Adipic acid, up by 15 cents per kg. The price of PA66 compounds will rise by 30 cents per kilo, with no price hike effected in October. Ascend is based in Houston with regional offices in Shanghai, Brussels and Detroit, and manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and China. A fully integrated material solutions provider, it makes high-performance plastics, fabrics, fibers and chemicals that go into vehicles, medical devices, appliances, apparel, consumer goods and the production of cleaner energy. A year ago the company introduced ReDefyne, a range of polyamides made with up to 100 percent pre- and post-consumer polyamide 66 or 6 to provide a low carbon footprint and reliable performance for applications including durable apparel. Ascends Acteev textile technology brand recently expanded to include several new options. Click here to read the full article. Meryl Streep and Queen Letizia of Spain attended the Princess of Asturias winners audience event on Friday in Oviedo, Spain, and both wore suits. At the event, where she received the Princess of Asturias award celebrating her decades-long acting career, Streep wore a black suit with a black-and-white patterned shirt underneath. She completed her ensemble with black block-heel boots. More from WWD Meryl Streep Queen Letizia wore a pink pantsuit from Boss with a white silk cap sleeve blouse underneath from Carolina Herrera and Isabel Abdo slingback pumps in dusty nude patent. Queen Letizia The queen of Spains choice of a pink suit takes a cue from another royal and future queen, Catherine, Princess of Wales, best known as Kate Middleton, who wore a pink, color-blocked Me+Em silk shirtdress to the Chelsea Flower Show in London in May. Eliud Kipchoge, Meryl Streep, Crown Princess Leonor of Spain, King Felipe VI of Spain, Queen Letizia of Spain, Princess Sofia of Spain, Haruki Murakami, Bonnie Bassler and Everett Peter Greenberg. On Wednesday, Streep attended the Sin Guion conference during the 2023 Princess of Asturias Awards opting for a classic suit and Toteme blouse. Streeps Princess of Asturias award just adds to her sizable awards collection. She has three Oscars and is the most-nominated actress in Oscar history with 21 nominations. The Princess of Asturias Awards features a number of annual prizes for organizations, entities and individuals who make notable changes in the sciences, humanities and public affairs. Hosted by the Princess of Asturias Foundation, past winners of the Princess Asturias Award include Peter Brook, Maria Pages and Serbian artist Marina Abramovic. Best of WWD Click here to read the full article. NANCHANG, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- At an ongoing expo held in Jingdezhen, a world-famous "porcelain capital" in east China's Jiangxi Province, a set of glazed ceramic jars stole the spotlight. The monochrome porcelain, named Dialogue, was designed by overseas designers and produced by a local ceramic company. "The series has mixed together Chinese ceramic culture and foreign design, and that is how the series got its name," said Ning Shuqi, foreign trade manager of Wanglong Ceramics Co., Ltd., exhibitor of the products. The five-day 2023 China Jingdezhen International Ceramic Expo opened Wednesday, welcoming nearly 1,000 enterprises, including more than 360 from overseas. In 2013, China proposed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which has not only brought closer people-to-people exchanges among the BRI partners but also boosted trade ties over the past 10 years. From 2013 to 2022, China's trade in goods with BRI partners increased from 1.04 trillion U.S. dollars to 2.07 trillion U.S. dollars, with average annual growth of around 8 percent. Ning recalled when the company started its ceramics export business in 2015, he had less than 10 foreign clients. Now, the business has seen over 300 potential clients from 11 countries, including the BRI partner countries such as Panama and Turkiye. "It is the BRI that has helped bring us an outpour of foreign customers," she said. Data from Jingdezhen Customs show that since 2013, the average annual growth rate of Jingdezhen's ceramic export volume has exceeded 20 percent. In the first eight months of this year, the city has exported ceramic products worth 106 million yuan (about 15 million U.S. dollars) to BRI partners, accounting for more than half of the city's total export volume of ceramics. Vietnam, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia were among the BRI partner export destinations. In early October, Jingdezhen's official flagship store opened in Dubai to provide a new platform for cultural exchange and foreign trade for local ceramic companies. So far, 173 ceramic companies based in Jingdezhen have established cooperation with the official flagship store. "Dubai, as a global trade hub, provides Jingdezhen's ceramic enterprises with easier access to markets in Asia, Africa, and Europe," said Hu Bo, chairman of the Jingdezhen Official Ceramic Flagship Store Operation Management Co., Ltd. "Thanks to the overseas flagship store, we have received overseas orders from eight countries including the United Arab Emirates, the Philippines and Singapore," said Lyu Yating, chairperson of Jingdezhen Fuyu Blue and White Linglong Ceramics Co., Ltd. Boosted by the BRI, the trade channels for Jingdezhen ceramics are expanding. In September 2018, Jingdezhen launched the first China-Europe freight train service, transporting a large amount of daily-use ceramics to Moscow. In April this year, a container truck loaded with exquisite ceramics left Jingdezhen for Dubai through the pilot market procurement trade mode, which features faster customs clearance and VAT exemption. "With the expanding of foreign trade channels, Jingdezhen's ceramic enterprises and merchants are able to export their products to the international market more easily, further promoting Chinese ceramic culture to the world," said Liu Zhao, director of Jingdezhen Customs. A perfect storm including 2023s freight recession and an industrywide pullback in venture funding has led digital trucking brokerage Convoy to turn off the lights, CEO Dan Lewis told employees Thursday morning. The company will close down its core business operations, which served as a marketplace to match shippers with trucking carriers, the co-founder told employees in an internal memo confirmed by Convoy. More from Sourcing Journal An undetermined number of Convoys more than 500 employees will no longer work for the company after Thursday, with a small group staying on to handle the wind-down and navigate potential strategic options under evaluation Convoys downfall comes just 18 months after the company raised $260 million at a $3.8 billion valuation. But since then, the Seattle-headquartered freight tech firm had four rounds of layoffs, closed an office in Atlanta, and saw co-founder Grant Goodale step away from his day-to-day role as chief experience officer. In August, reports surfaced that the platform was weighing strategic alternatives, including a potential sale. Lewis told employees that Convoy spent over four months exhausting all viable strategic options for the business, but no buyers or investors stepped up. However, none of the options ultimately materialized into anything sufficient to keep the company going in its then current form, Lewis told staff. Convoy doesnt disclose revenue numbers, but sales slumped as a result of the downturn in freight rates and trucking demand. Trucking spot rates dipped to their lowest points since June 2020, according to data from DAT Freight & Analytics, with line-haul van rates declining 14.8 percent year-over-year to $1.56 per mile. Reefer rates and flat rates are down 11.1 percent and 13.6 percent, respectively, to $1.92 per mile and $1.85 per mile. Amid the declines, shippers can find more attractive freight rates with larger asset-based carriers, taking away business from Convoy, which works with smaller trucking companies. Convoy made its money via brokerage fees, keeping a percentage of each transaction made through its marketplace. Convoys app automates the pairing of shipments with carrierseffectively saving money for shippers, while reducing the legwork and hassle for carriers in finding loads to transport. Truck drivers who downloaded Convoys app could find work without going through brokers who typically use emails and phone calls. The factors that played into Convoys demise also played into changes occurring at another digital freight brokerage, Flexport. A data sharing partner of Convoy since 2021, Flexport laid off 20 percent of its employees after founder Ryan Petersen returned as the company CEO. Like Convoy, Flexport had meaningful revenue declines and couldnt find a way to profit amid the collapsing freight market that not only experienced dips in demand, but an influx of capacity. While Flexport is not going out of business, it is refocusing on its core freight booking business as it looks to cut costs across the board. For Convoy, lenders are still negotiating with potential buyers of its technology stack, according to a report from The Information. Lewis reportedly told the companys investors, which include high-profile names including Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, that they wont get any money back even if Convoys tech finds a buyer. In the memo, Lewis wrote that the company ultimately needed outside funding to get into the financial position required to withstand the increasing pressures of the industry. Amidst these freight and financial conditions, M&A activity has shrunk substantially and most of logical strategic acquirers of Convoy are also suffering from the freight market collapse, making the deal doing that much harder, he wrote. Both funding and M&As in logistics technology have seen declines this year amid the overall uncertainty across the sector. According to Pitchbook, venture capital funding into the sector year-to-date totaled $4.3 billion as of Sept. 15, down 69 percent from the $13.9 billion in capital deployed through Sept. 15, 2022. M&A volume across transportation and logistics in that time frame is down 29 percent to 165 deals made, according to data from S&P Capital IQ, from 233 in the year-to-date prior. Ironically, on the same day Convoy ceased operations, another tech-driven freight brokerage, Transfix, closed a $40 million Series F funding round led by New Enterprise Associates (NEA) and G Squared, with participation from Canvas. Transfix, a direct competitor of Convoy, initially was going to go public last year, but the company opted out of the decision due to the ongoing market conditions. The company said new capital further strengthens its financial position and supports a path to profitability. Click here to read the full article. One of the tiaras most associated with the late Queen Elizabeth II was the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara which she wore time and time again, and is even depicted wearing on certain coins and notes. And this evening, Queen Camilla stepped out in it for the first time as she and King Charles III attended a dinner in London. The King and Queen dressed up for the dinner at Mansion House, the home of the Lord Mayor of London, in honor of their coronation. Camilla, 76, paired the priceless tiara with a sparkling evening gown by Bruce Oldfield along with diamond earrings and a necklace also once belonging to Queen Elizabeth. KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH - Getty Images This tiara was a wedding present from the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland to the Duchess of York, later Queen Mary, in 1893, the Royal Collection explains. In November 1947 Queen Mary gave the tiara as a wedding present to her grand-daughter, Princess Elizabeth. Camillas decision to wear the tiara emphasizes that as Queen she has access to an extensive array of jewelry once owned by the late sovereign. When she was the Duchess of Cornwall, she most often wore a tiara known as the Grevilla tiara or Boucheron Honeycomb tiara. However, as Queen she has worn different tiaras including a sapphire one which she wore to a Buckingham Palace State Banquet last November. The necklace that Camilla wore this evening was a gift to then Princess Elizabeth for her 21st birthday from the Government of South Africa. According to the Royal Collection, it was shortened in 1952 and the removed stones were made into a bracelet. KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH - Getty Images The visit this evening was Charless first to the City of London since he became King, and he took part in an ancient ritual involving being presented with a pearl sword. The sword itself is one that is believed to have first been presented to Queen Elizabeth I in 1571 on the opening of the Royal Exchange. The King was presented with the sword which he then returned, confirming the Lord Mayors authority in the area. Made of silver gilt with a scabbard of red velvet and 2,600 pearls, the sword features the City of London arms as well as the figure of Justice, blindfolded and bearing a set of scales. KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH - Getty Images The royal couple also viewed the Anointing Screen from their coronation, which was gifted by the City of London Corporation and City Livery Companies. They processed into the Egyptian Hall for speeches and a dinner. You Might Also Like Wondering how to differentiate a croup cough from something else? Here are the telltale signs, plus advice for managing croup in kids. Getty Images / LSOphoto Medically reviewed by Wendy L. Hunter, M.D. Of all the surprising sounds that can come from a babys body, a croup cough may be one of the most concerning. The loud, harsh cough is unmistakable to medical experts, as well as any caregivers who have experience with it. Croup often has a distinctive barking or seal-like cough, says Darby McElderry, MD, a pediatrician at the Childrens Hospital of Alabama. It's often sudden-onset and worse at night, when the child is lying down." What Is Croup? Croup is a respiratory infection, usually brought on by a virus, that causes inflammation in the upper airways. Croup is typically seen in babies and children less than 5 years old because their smaller airways are more vulnerable to the infection. It's most common in the fall and winter. In addition to cough, croup might also present with stridor (a high-pitched whistling sound when breathing in), runny nose, fever, hoarseness, and other symptoms typical of the common cold, says Dr. McElderry. While mild cases can usually be managed at home, its important to recognize the symptoms of croup so you can quickly spot complications and seek medical care if needed. Keep reading to learn what a croup cough sounds like, other recognizable symptoms, and tips for treating the infection. How to Recognize a Croup Cough Croup typically affects babies and young children, whose smaller airways are especially vulnerable to the infection. When coughs are forced through the swollen voice box (larynx) and windpipe (trachea), the result sounds like a seal barking. Here are other ways to describe the croup cough sound: Barking Dry Harsh Deep Tight Low-pitched Worsened when your child is crying or agitated If youre still uncertain, YouTube is full of videos posted by helpful parents hoping to educate others about croup cough. Once youve heard the sound of croup cough in a child, its really not difficult to identify. Other Symptoms of Croup Coughing isnt the only symptom of croup. Another common side effect is stridor, notes Esther K. Liu, MD, FAAP, chair of pediatrics at the University of Maryland-Baltimore. Stridor is the noisy, gasping, high-pitched sound that children make when trying to force air into a partially occluded airway. Because croup is usually associated with a viral infection, children may have cold-like symptoms that show up "even before they develop the barky cough and stridor, adds Dr. Liu. Croup symptoms can include the following: Nasal congestion Sore throat Fever Hoarseness Retractions (the skin between the ribs pulling in when your child breathes) in serous cases Your child's croup symptoms will generally last for three to five days. They might get worse at night or when your child is upset. Treating a Croup Cough in Babies and Kids Croup is usually diagnosed based on its symptoms without any other testing needed, according to Jessica Snowden, MD, MS, MHPTT, a pediatric infectious disease expert at Arkansas Children's Hospital and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. The prognosis is typically good. Children usually have croup symptoms for three to five days and improve without needing any medical care, says Dr. Snowden. Sitting with your child in cool mist, such as from a humidifier, in a room with a shower running, or outside in cooler weather, can help with the cough in many children. Your child should also get plenty of fluids, and if they have a fever, you can give medication like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Avoid over-the-counter cough medicines, which can be dangerous in young children, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Call the doctor if your child is having trouble breathing; they may prescribe a medication such as a steroid to help with the symptoms. Breathing treatments might also be necessary in severe cases. Dr. Liu also recommends seeking medical care if your child has stridor, retractions (sucking in of the muscles between ribs or above their sternum), excessive drooling, or signs of dehydration like decreased urine volume. For more Parents news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Parents. When most people think of Ree "The Pioneer Woman" Drummond, they probably think of her ice creams and cakes, her delicious mini Hawaiian chicken skewers, or her best tips and tricks for meal-panning. While fans know she's married and has four children, they don't often think about the Pioneer Woman's husband, Ladd Drummond, much less his family. However, as the public's interest in Osage County's Reign of Terror murders grows thanks to the anticipated release of Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon," that might change. While "Killers of the Flower Moon" and its inspiration, the book by David Grann, don't mention Ladd Drummond's ancestors and Ree's in-laws some people have found a connection. In her quest to find out what happened to the Osage Nation's land and their mineral rights after the Reign of Terror, Bloomberg writer and "In Trust" podcaster Rachel Adams-Heard discovered that 9% of Osage County was owned by different members of the Drummond family. Not only that, but after William Hale, one of the film's main villains, was arrested, he sold his land to two ranching families one of which was the Drummonds. Read more: The Biggest Scandals To Ever Hit The Food Network The Drummonds Sold The Land To Ted Turner Ree and Ladd Drummond smiling - Monica Schipper/Getty Images A memo from Ladd Drummond's grandfather, Fred Gentner Drummond , to his brother, Jack showed that $15,000 was borrowed from Myron Bangs Jr. to pay for William Hale's land. "He [Bangs] on several occasions wrote U.S. officials and suggested that he thought that his guardians one was Roy Cecil Drummond, and later it was Fred Gentner Drummond were improperly using his land, that he didn't trust the way that they were managing his money," Rachel Adams-Heard told Slate. Adams-Heard interviewed Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who admitted that, while he never knew his ancestors were guardians, he always thought the exchange looked like a valid transaction, especially since it was paid back. As for Hale's land, Ree Drummond's father-in-law sold it, and in 2001, Chuck Drummond sold it to Ted Turner. In 2016, Turner sold it at auction, and the Osage Nation bought it back. This was a moment in time that the Osage Nation assistant principal chief, Raymond Red Corn, will never forget. "This represented an opportunity to buy one of the biggest chunks of Osage County that would come on the market in our lifetime," he said (via Bloomberg). Ree Drummond's link to "Killers of the Flower Moon" may be small, but as more people are rooting for legislation that would send additional Osage land back to the Osage Nation, there will no doubt be people curious about what Drummond's family will do with the mineral rights they still own. Read the original article on Mashed. The Sbarro pizza chain is a familiar sight in malls across America and internationally, with franchise locations everywhere from Riyadh to Saudi Arabia to Mumbai, India. While the chain doesn't feel much like a "New York-style" pizza operation these days, its origins are steeped in Italian-American history and rumors for better and for worse. Neapolitan immigrants Gennaro and Carmela Sbarro first opened their mom-and-pop delicatessen and eatery in Brooklyn's Bensonhurst neighborhood in the 1950s, an area populated by many Italian-Americans. Their business thrived, and In 1970, the family decided to streamline their model and open a Sbarro inside a new mall food court in Kings Plaza, Brooklyn, paving the way for what would become a national pizzeria franchise. Somewhere along the way, they seemingly also attracted the attention of some wise guys. Unsurprisingly, the alleged connection between the pizzeria and the Mafia doesn't appear on the company's website, and even the allegations are contested. Even so, some believe the chain was long owned by the infamous Frank "Funzi" Tieri. Tieri famously presentable and even charming was long reputed to be the boss of the Genovese family, one of the five families thought to be the backbone of the New York-based Mafia, known as "La Cosa Nostra." To hide their ill-gotten gains, mobsters often poured their money into legitimate businesses. Law enforcement officials suspected that Sbarro was one of the beneficiaries of Tieri's money-laundering activity. Read more: Major Pizza Chains, Ranked Worst To Best Was Sbarro Actually Owned By An Infamous Mafioso? Giuliani and Webster prosecuting American Mafia - Bettmann/Getty Images These suspicions surfaced publicly in July 1980, when Tieri was indicted on eight counts, including racketeering and murder charges. On January 23, 1981, Tieri was convicted on five of those eight counts. His case even made history: Though many had long believed powerful players ruled the American Mafia, this was the first official allegation that anyone was the head of a crime family. This claim compounded the prosecution's responsibilities, as they had to prove several key elements: That a specifically American branch of the Mafia existed; that the famous five families were real; and that Tieri himself was the head of the Genovese clan. Apparently, they made a convincing case. Some of the specific allegations presented during the trial were that Tieri was the actual owner of the Sbarro pizzeria chain and that he had used pressure tactics to oust another pizzeria from a Brooklyn location that Sbarro wanted to occupy. Other sources suggest, however, that Sbarro may not have been on the receiving end of Tieri's financial gains. Sealed FBI documents on famous Jewish gangster Julius Bernstein (to which the New York Daily News gained access) suggest that Sbarro had to pay Tieri handsomely for the favor of simply staying in business. These FBI documents link Bernstein and Tieri to shakedowns of the pizzeria. Sbarro Is Not Currently Associated With The Mafia If It Ever Was Sbarro worker putting pizzas on display - Bloomberg/Getty Images The FBI reports suggest that, by the 1960s, the Sbarro brothers were paying Tieri and the Genovese crime family protection money, the amount of which allegedly reached $20,000 per year by 2004. Bernstein, however, was never convicted of these crimes, and while law enforcement has corroborated certain angles of Bernstein's testimony, the connection to the Sbarros and their pizza remains unclear. What is clearly established, however, is that the company is not currently associated with the Mafia nor with the Sbarro family itself. The Sbarros maintained ownership of the business for decades, as succeeding generations took over the pizzeria chain from their parents and grandparents. During the '80s and '90s, while malls were expanding across the country, Sbarro was running a brisk business, opening up to 100 new stores annually as their pizza empire expanded. During that time, while Sbarro transitioned from a publicly traded company to a private one, Carmela Sbarro kept the family's original Bensonhurst location open. In 2004, however, she finally retired, and Bensonhurst closed shop. The Sbarro brothers then sold the business in 2007 to MidOcean Partners, definitively closing the chapter on the company's family-run existence. Was the Mafia a player in Sbarro's success or its demise? Even when codes of silence are broken, it's hard to know the whole truth. Read the original article on Mashed. On Thursday, a 24-year-old visitor from New York jumped from the rocks at China Walls, a popular South Shore, Oahu surf spot, and hit his head. Surfers saw the incident, which happened just before 6:00pm, and jumped into action, after the victim was being swept out to sea. They used their surfboards to get the man to shore and keep him afloat. No word if he was unconscious or not. Emergency medical services personnel and lifeguards reached the scene within minutes and began administering life support on the man. According to Hawaii News Now, He [the victim] was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition. In a recent video from Jamie OBrien, he called the wave The Most Dangerous Spot on the South Shore. Theres the rocks, for sure, which can be dangerous, but that might be a bit on an exaggerated claim. This is the wave right here, JOB says in the video. "You just takeoff right here alongside this wall. It can be really dangerous. I actually saw Kaikea [Elias] get shredded up really bad. It looked like he wiped out at Teahupoo. Also, just last year, two swimmers needed rescue after being knocked into the ocean at the same spot. According to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser: A 23-year-old man who swallowed water and suffered multiple abrasions is in critical condition, and a 32-year-old woman is in serious condition with abrasions over most of her body, the Honolulu Emergency Services Department reported. Honolulu Ocean Safety received a call at around 2:15 p.m. about two swimmers in distress at the area. With the assistance of good Samaritans, lifeguards and Honolulu Fire Department personnel rescued both swimmers from the water. So, yeah, unless you know what youre doing, probably a good idea to stay away from this spot. *** 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. A family from Rural Retreat, Virginia, is offering a $1,000 reward for information on a missing bear hound who was taken from the side of the road by three women in a maroon van with Florida license plates on Saturday. Rocky Deel and his 11-year-old son Charlie had collected five of their six dogs after an unsuccessful day of bear hunting in Speedwell around Hale Lake when they realized the sixth dog, a "blue English" coonhound named Ringo, was nowhere to be found. Then they got a call from a family friend and fellow hunter. He said [Ringo] was out on Route 21, Rocky tells Outdoor Life. By the time we get down off the mountain and get to where he was at, we cant find the dog but were still picking up the signal from the collar. Well, we end up finding the collar laying in the ditch. The hunter who had called Rocky had actually spoken with the women on the side of the road, who had sworn they would drive Ringo into cell phone service and call the Deels using the number on Ringos collar. So the hunter drove away, leaving Ringo with the women. But Rocky never heard from them. Now, he and his family suspect the women thought they were saving Ringo from a neglectful home where he was forced to hunt. The red minivan that drove off with Ringo was seen at a grocery store in Speedwell earlier that day, Rocky says. Meanwhile, the Deels are reelingespecially Charlie. This just broke his heart, Rocky says. He loves the dogs. He would help me do the feeding, but now hes telling me he cant help me feed without Ringo being there. It just didnt feel right. Bear hunting with hounds is legal in Virginia and other states. It's often controversial, however, and in Vermont, for example, bear hounds and their owners have been attacked by anti-hunting activists in the past. But Rocky says hes never had any conflicts with anyone else over the practice. Around here, everybody hunts. Its a hunting community, Deel says. And for the most part you dont have any trouble. Weve never had any issues with anyone. But [the other hunter] did say [the women] were going on about how they think hunting is cruel, and that we make these dogs hunt. So I dont know if they thought I was being cruel to the dog, but these dogs are bred for this. You dont make them hunt. Ringo is one of the Deels' six bear hounds. They've raised him since he was a puppy. Surely these women didnt consider the legal implications of their actions. Stealing a dog in Virginia is a Class 5 felony , punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Additionally, removing a GPS collar from a dog is a Class 1 misdemeanor , which could get them another year in jail or a $2,500 fine. Interference with lawful hunting is a Class 3 misdemeanor , which might tack on an additional $500 fine. Read Next: Volunteer Firefighters Rescue a Pack of Bear Hounds from an Icy Hollow in the Appalachians The Deels made a Facebook page where they are collecting information on Ringos whereabouts. They have also filed police reports, contacted law enforcement in multiple counties, and have reached out to every dog rescue and shelter in the area. Ive been out every day from daylight to dark searching for him, Rocky says. Thats what Im actually doing right now. Im just trying to find the van, or hoping they would have let him out somewhere. But with the reward, Im hoping somebody will talk sooner or later. Houston, Texas angler Scooter Anderson was fishing aboard the Alabama-based, 55-foot Viking offshore boat Best Trait when he caught the largest blue marlin ever recorded in the Gulf of Mexico. Anderson landed the marlin during a two-day overnight fishing trip, according to Jimmy Bason, harbor master at Orange Beach Marina in Alabama. Bason officially weighed and measured the marlin on Thursday morning after the Best Trait arrived in the marina, as was originally reported on OBA . The fish hit a small live tuna bait, and Scooter fought the fish for two hours before they got it to the boat, Bason tells Outdoor Life. They were fishing near the Blind Faith oil rig, about 120 miles from Orange Beach in over 3,000 feet of water. Stretched out beside the marlin for scale. The Blind Faith is a Chevron-owned oil rig that, in 7,000 feet of water, the company touts as its deepest. Bason says the anglers were not fishing in a tournament. They were just out fishing for fun in the open blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico when the marlin struck. The marlin action has been excellent recently out there, and captain Chris Mowad knew that was the place to be for a big blue, Bason says. According to Bason, the marlin died in deep water about an hour into the two-hour fight. Giant billfish occasionally dive deep when hooked and die, often after getting their tail wrapped in the line. This makes it difficult for anglers to muscle them to the surface. Bason said Capt. Mowad planned the marlin up through the depths using the boats engines, which enabled Anderson to continue battling the blue to the boat. At the surface the boat crew hauled the enormous fish through the open stern door. Weighing the giant marlin at the marina. The blue marlin measured 12.17 feet long, with a girth of 7 feet, says Bason. The fish was filleted and the anglers took the meat. It will not be mounted by a taxidermist. Its so big, we dont know where youd put a mount of such a huge fish, Bason says. They are making an imprint of it, however, which will be huge, too. Finding a place to display it wont be easy. Imprinting is done by painting the fish, then laying large canvas sheets over it to make a life-size image of the marlin. Its not clear what test line or tackle was used to catch the record fish. But Bason says its standard to use 100-pound line or heavier for marlin. Andersons 1,148-pound marlin easily tops the Alabama record for blues. The previous state record marlin was a 851.9-pound fish caught by Ginger Myers in July 2020. Read Next: Massive Blue Marlin Caught Off Alabama Coast Breaks 27-Year Record Andersons blue also is the largest marlin recorded in any of the other Gulf of Mexico states. The second largest is a 1,054-pounder taken off Mississippi in June 2002 by angler Barry Carr. The remaining Gulf of Mexico blue marlin records are a 1,046-pound marlin from Florida in 2001; a 1,018-pound marlin from Louisiana in 1977; and a Texas marlin weighing 972.7 pounds. The IGFA all-tackle Atlantic blue marlin record is a 1,402-pound, 2-ounce fish caught in 1992 in Brazil. 11-year-old Exodus Chaudhry and his brother, with the help of friends and family members, will attempt to make the largest grilled cheese sandwich in the world. The current holder of the Guinness world record for the largest grilled cheese sandwich is from Vermont. They achieved that record at a food festival in Florida. That's not acceptable to Dominic Pulera and his nephews, Exodus and Iggy Chaudhry, who have a family YouTube channel, The Exodus and Iggy Show. "Grilled cheese is a vital part of the culture of Wisconsin, and this is one of the best places in the world to break the record," Pulera said. So the 10- and 11-year-old brothers, who live in Delavan, together with Pulera and a team of family and friends will try to break the record in Milwaukee on Oct. 21. 10-year-old Iggy Chaudhry will work with his brother and a team of family and friends to try to build the world's largest grilled cheese sandwich. "The idea for doing this came from me," Iggy said in a recent interview with the Journal Sentinel. Exodus seems fine giving the credit to Iggy, although he does balk at Iggy's contention that the idea for their YouTube channel came from him. "Me and my brother were watching YouTube, and I came up with the idea to have our own channel," Iggy said. "Um, no, Iggy, I came up with the idea," Exodus corrected his brother. "How it started was we were watching a bunch of YouTube videos, and I told my mom we should make our own videos, so we did, and, yeah, I guess Iggy told her too that we should do that." 11-year-old Exodus Chaudhry and his brother have a YouTube channel. The brothers will attempt to build the world's biggest grilled cheese sandwich in Milwaukee on Oct. 21. So the brothers started the YouTube channel with the help of their mom and uncle; on the family channel, the brothers, who were born in Spain, document their trips to places like Japan, Honduras, Disney and the Mall of America. "Then we started watching YouTube videos where they would do things like make the world's largest pizza, and I wanted us to do that, too," Iggy said. "I decided we should do grilled cheese because I love grilled cheese." In order to break the record, the team will have to build a sandwich that is bigger than .52 meters by 3.05 meters by 6.35 centimeters (5 feet by 10 feet, .5 inches by 2.5 inches). Pulera estimates that a sandwich of those dimensions will weigh at least 150 pounds. Blow torches are used to heat a grilled cheese sandwich during a test run by a group from Delavan who is attempting to create the world's largest grilled cheese sandwich. How do you make a 50-square-foot grilled cheese? The team has done a few practice runs to construct the sandwich. "One of our mom's friends is a welder and they made a pan for us," Exodus said. Pulera describes the pan as a "custom baking apparatus that's basically like a giant griddle." On the day before the event, the team will roll out dough over the griddle in order to prepare the bread, which Exodus noted is "the worst part." The bread will be transported to Milwaukee, where it will be reassembled with 60 pounds of shredded cheddar cheese on the griddle that sits on 100 concrete blocks. A team of people in Delavan spread dough out on a giant griddle as they test making the biggest grilled cheese sandwich in the world. At the event itself will be what Pulera describes as "the big reveal" where the team will finish cooking the sandwich. Then an adjudicator from Guinness World Records will determine whether they have achieved the record. "There's suspense involved in this," Pulera said. "Because, for all the work we've put into this, we won't know until the very end if we've gotten the record." Who's going to eat the giant sandwich? After the sandwich has been completed and judged, it will be divided into 4-by-4-inch pieces that attendees of the event are welcome to enjoy. The remaining pieces (because the sandwich will likely be big enough to feed roughly 750 people) will be donated to Repairers of the Breach, Sojourner Family Peace Center and Interchange Food Pantry. And fans of Exodus and Iggy's YouTube channel can expect a video documenting the event within the next few weeks. The event, which is free to the public, will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Tripoli Shrine Center, 3000 W. Wisconsin Ave., with the big reveal and judging taking place at noon. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin YouTubers attempt the world's largest grilled cheese Ukrainian strikes on two Russian airfields in Ukraine using new U.S.-provided long-range missiles likely destroyed 14 Kremlin helicopters this week, according to intelligence from the United Kingdom. Kyivs forces used the Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), which arrived in the country earlier this month, to strike the Russian airfields in Luhansk and the port city of Berdyansk on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said at the time. Although the extent of damage is currently unconfirmed, it is likely nine Russian military helicopters at Berdyansk and five at Luhansk were destroyed in the strikes, the U.K. Ministry of Defense (MOD) said Friday. Such losses would be particularly damaging for the Russians given that its defensive lines have become increasingly reliant on rotary wing air support, the MOD intelligence assessment noted. If confirmed, it is highly likely these losses will have an impact on Russias ability to both defend and conduct future offensive activity in those two locations, the U.K. said. Top Stories from The Hill In a video Zelensky posted Friday, he called Russian losses really impressive and exactly the kind of losses of the occupier that Ukraine needs. The ATACMS is a potential game-changer for Ukraine in its fight against Russia because the weapon can hit targets previously considered out of reach. Some versions of the system can strike locations more than 100 miles away. The missiles use comes after Ukraine for months had begged the United States to provide them. But the Biden administration held off over fears that Kyiv might use the weapons to strike targets within Russian territory, enraging Moscow and escalating the war. As a compromise, Washington reportedly provided Kyiv with a limited-range version of the missiles. The Kremlin, meanwhile, has not yet commented on reports of the ATACMS strikes. On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the U.S. delivery of the missiles to Ukraine another mistake by the United States. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. by Xinhua writer Tian Ying CHENGDU, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- The exhibition hall of CROBOTP, an industrial robot firm based in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu, is flanked by two rows of blue machine arms displaying their capabilities -- polishing car wheels, welding car sheet metal, making a cup of coffee, and more. Chengdu CRP Robot Technology Co., Ltd. (CROBOTP) was founded in 2012 by five people born after 1980 and it manufactures both essential parts and whole industrial robots. It initially focused on the niche market of welding robots, but the company now boasts an entire production chain of industrial robots and over 20 export markets, including Vietnam and Thailand. It is listed as a "little giant" firm, which refers to novel and elite small and medium-sized enterprises that specialize in a niche market, boast cutting-edge technologies, and show great potential. This locally-cultivated Chengdu company has seen its output value quadruple since embarking on independent research, development and manufacturing of complete robots four years ago, riding the wave created by the boom of the city and the broader Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle, as well as the region's efforts to become a national innovation hub. "The economic vitality of the Sichuan and Chongqing region is proving adequate to support the development of industrial robots," said Zhang Mingde, an official at the Longtan Industrial Robot Industry Functional Zone of Chengdu, adding that the region provides an industrial robot application market with a value of more than 750 billion yuan (104.5 billion U.S. dollars). Moreover, China has been the world's largest consumer of industrial robots for eight consecutive years, said Zhang, explaining why Chengdu has picked the industrial robot sector as a target for industrial innovation. Meanwhile, Sichuan has been investing heavily in promoting scientific and technological innovation. In 2022, its investment in research and development amounted to 121.5 billion yuan, ranking eighth overall in the country, according to local government figures. An industrial cluster comprising the entire supply chain of industrial robots is taking shape in Chengdu, enabling closer interaction between CROBOTP and its upstream as well as downstream business partners. The company, based in the Longtan Industrial Robot Industry Functional Zone, now has business links with about a dozen companies in the industrial park. Moreover, a testing and evaluation center has been established in the park, which means that robot producers like CROBOTP no longer have to ship their products to Shanghai for testing, saving them a great deal of time. Megmeet, a leading domestic electric automation enterprise and a listed company from Shenzhen, will soon move into the park, attracted to some degree by the fact that its mid-and-downstream enterprises, such as CROBOTP and another industrial robot producer ESTUN, have a business presence there, according to an official from the park. "The name CROBOTP is derived from China Robot Pioneer," said Deng Shihai, deputy general manager of CROBOTP, highlighting their initial ambition when establishing the company. Fortunately for him, he has witnessed not only the growth of his own company from a start-up to a "little giant," but also the transformation of China's robotics industry. "Over the past decade, the landscape of China's robotics industry has drastically transformed. The key parts of industrial robots as well as many types of smart sensors can all be domestically manufactured," said Deng. Independent manufacturing has expanded the scope of application of industrial robots at home and helped alleviate difficulties for businesses in seeking industrial upgrading, added Deng. "With the advent of an aging society and the overall improvement of education in China, we will be able to hand out repetitive and dangerous jobs to robots, so that people can live more fulfilled lives," Deng projected. Enditem (Peng Yunjia, Xing Tuo and Li Like contributed to the story) The State Department on Thursday urged Americans to make plans to leave Lebanon as soon as possible, elevating an earlier security warning that advised Americans not to travel to the country. The U.S. Embassy is closely monitoring the security situation in Lebanon, the Thursday advisory read. The Department of State urges U.S. citizens in Lebanon to make plans to depart as soon as possible while commercial options are still available. We recommend that U.S. citizens who choose not to depart prepare contingency plans for emergency situations, the advisory continued. Demonstrations and violent confrontations have erupted in Lebanon amid the war between Hamas and Israel. Fighting has also broken out along the border between Lebanon and Israel, where Israeli forces and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah have clashed for years. On Tuesday, the State Department warned Americans not to travel to Lebanon, citing the unpredictable security situation related to rocket, missile, and artillery exchanges between Israel and [Hezbollah] or other armed militant factions. The department reiterated its warning from Tuesday against joining protests. The Department of State reminds citizens to avoid demonstrations and exercise caution if in the vicinity of any large gatherings or protests as some of these have turned violent, the advisory read. The advisory outlined several actions Americans in Lebanon should take, including having plans to depart that do not rely on the U.S. government, securing travel documents, reviewing personal security plans, and keeping cellphones charged. The advisory encouraged people to exercise caution, monitor the news closely for breaking developments that could affect internal security, and factor updated information into your travel plans and activities. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Bluffton, the fastest growing town in South Carolina, recently adopted a hate crime ordinance, making it the fourth municipality in the state to adopt the legislation. Currently, there is no statewide ordinance that covers hate crimes. At a council meeting Oct. 10, the town joined Charleston, Columbia and Greenville in locally enforcing hate crimes, creating the new criminal charge of hate intimidation. South Carolina and Wyoming are the only two U.S. state legislatures that havent passed hate crime bills. We didnt even need discussion, said Bluffton Mayor Lisa Sulka. I mean, [the vote] was so quick. I hope the rest of our towns do it. Sulka said the town has been pushing for an ordinance like this for as long as she can remember. Like with the distracted driving ordinance Bluffton passed in 2013, Sulka hopes adopting the ordinance before the state legislature will show a strong desire for a statewide law. The vote adopting the hate intimation charge was unanimous. The charge will act as an additional offense when race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, or national origin of any person is believed to have motivated a primary charge, such as assault or vandalism. A hate intimation charge, considered a misdemeanor, can add as much as $500 in fines or up to 30 more days of imprisonment the maximum penalties possible under a town ordinance. Bluffton Chief of Police Joseph Babkiewicz said passing statewide legislation would allow for harsher sentencing. What we want to do is put some pressure on the state to enact a law statewide that would have more teeth to the punishment, Babkiewicz said, explaining that state approval could elevate the charge to a felony punishable by multiple years in prison. Hopefully this will push some of our elected officials to get that ball rolling and implement this statewide. Some legal experts believe hate crimes are especially hard to charge and prosecute, but Babkiewicz said hes confident his officers will investigate such offenses as thoroughly as possible. Signs of a hate crime extend beyond prejudiced language and slurs, he said they can also manifest in suspects past writings, actions at political protests or even symbols they might be wearing. Its going to require our officers to dig a little bit more when theyre interviewing to ask the right questions that may lead us down this road to a charge, Babkiewicz said. But its something that all of our officers are willing to do. Jail time for hate intimidation convictions will be added on top of existing sentences for primary offenses, unless the court specifies good cause why they should run concurrently, according to a presentation on the charge given to Town Council at the Oct. 10 meeting. The usefulness of these municipal ordinances is a way for people to express to the General Assembly what they think is important and what they think the general assembly ought to do, said South Carolina State Sen. Tom Davis (R-Beaufort). Currently there is a bill at the state level that would add official hate crime legislation to S.C. law, but the bill is currently in political limbo. An old rule where senators can request to be present for a vote, centuries later, is being used to keep the bill from being voted on, Davis said. Essentially, opponents of the bill request to be present for the vote, but dont show up. In order to move forward, two thirds of the senate would have to vote to move the bill to special order debate. However, in order to reach needed votes to get the bill to that point, Davis said 16 Republican senators would have to vote in favor of special order debate. As of Thursday morning, Davis says he only needs to convince three more. Once the bill does go up for debate, Davis said he is confident that the bill will pass the senate floor. Im optimistic that I can get 16 people to raise their hand when that question is asked in January, and we can get this thing set for debate in January and get it passed fairly quickly. BARNSTABLE In the summer of 2022, Katiuska, 31, slowly made her way through the Darien Jungle a dense, mountainous rainforest that rests between Colombia and Panama. Trained as a nurse, the Venezuelan native stopped occasionally to help the dead and the dying. "There were bodies everywhere," said Katiuska, one of 48 migrants who was flown to Martha's Vineyard in September 2022 as part of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' promise to drop off undocumented migrants in liberal-leaning states. "In many cases, I couldn't do anything," she said. "I had to make a choice between saving their life and saving my own." Katiuska spent six days traveling through the Darien Jungle with a group of Venezuelan migrants, including her husband Pedro, 37, she told the Times during an interview. Several of the women in her group were raped and others were robbed and kidnapped along the way, she said. Janet Abbott, second from right, is hosting four Venezuelan migrants who were flown to Martha's Vineyard last year at the order of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Abbott is photographed with Katiuska, Pedro and an unnamed migrant, left to right, on Oct. 1, 2023 in her home. "In the moment you try to do whatever you can, but you have to continue," said Katiuska, who spoke through a Spanish interpreter working with the Times. Katiuska, Pedro, and two migrants who asked not to be named, currently live with Janet Abbott, who opened her Barnstable home to the group after they were sent from Texas to Martha's Vineyard on Sept. 13, 2022. Through the Unitarian Church of Barnstable, Abbott was connected to Housing Assistance Corporation in Hyannis, which paired her with the migrants who were staying at Joint Base Cape Cod at the time. 'I acted impulsively guided by my heart not my head,' says Janet Abbott of Barnstable. I acted impulsively guided by my heart not my head. And it has worked out very well, she said. Living with Abbott, Katiuska finally feels safe. For the last year, she said she's been healing from a traumatic journey, and events surrounding her transport to Martha's Vineyard. "When we got off the plane, there was a lot of fear," she said. "We were in the eye of a storm." Why are Venezuelans seeking asylum? The journey from Venezuela to the United States took two and a half months for Katiuska and Pedro, who was a Venezuelan police officer. "Earnings were not even enough to eat. We couldnt buy gas," said Katiuska. "It was hard to survive." Pedro said their combined salaries had been enough to live comfortably under President Hugo Chavez. But after he died from cancer in 2013, Venezuela's economy plummeted igniting a socioeconomic and political crisis. Katiuska, 31, tears up as she talks on Oct. 1, 2023, about coming to this country and leaving her seven children behind. Katiuska is one of four Venezuelan migrants who were transported to Martha's Vineyard last year by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are now living with Janet Abbott in Barnstable. As the atmosphere became increasingly violent, the couple decided to leave. Pedro declined to provide dates of when they left, but he said the military had begun ordering Venezuelan police to invade the streets and area pueblos. "We were ordered to shoot the citizens of the town," he said. "We didnt want to do that. It wasnt necessary to do something as low as that."The couple packed water, canned food and bread, said Pedro and began trekking the roughly 2,733 miles to Texas through Central America and Mexico. "There were some points when I didnt feel fear but vulnerability yes," he said. "But I had to stay strong for my wife." One of the migrants living in Abbott's house, who asked that his name not be used, was a student and human rights organizer in Venezuela. During a protest, the former student was severely injured by the Venezuelan military. "I was left on the ground, almost dying," said the student. "I tried to (lodge) complaints of the treatment, but they (military) said they would kill my whole family." After fleeing Venezuela, the student tried to settle in Cucuta, Colombia, and then Medellin. However, he faced homelessness throughout his stay. "I started selling water to try to earn money to eat and get a roof over my head," he said. "I went a lot of days with hunger." Eventually, the student decided to travel to the U.S. "Little by little I get closer to the U.S. and finally I challenged myself to cross the Darien Jungle," he said. This 25-year-old Venezuelan migrant talks on Oct. 1, 2023, about what he had to go through to get to the United States. He is one four Venezuelan migrants who were flown to Martha's Vineyard last year by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis now living with Janet Abbott in Barnstable. While they didn't know it, Katiuska and Pedro were just ahead of the student, who traveled through the jungle alone. "I spent many days in the jungle and became lost along the way," said the student. "There were people that were suffering or dead killed in front of me." La Bestia (the beast): el Tren de la muerte (the train of death) For Katiuska, the seven-day train ride through Mexico aboard La Bestia was one of the most dangerous parts of her expedition. La Bestia, which translates to "the beast," is a cargo freight train that runs from Chiapas in Mexico to the Lecherias station on the outskirts of Mexico City, according to Migration Policy Institute or MPI. On most days, men, women and children cling to the top of the train as it snakes its way through Mexico, said Katiuska. La Bestia, she said, stops for no one. "We had to run for our lives and jump on," she said. "Pedro had to push me onto the train because that was the only way. If you don't make it on, you can (fall on the tracks and) die."The train eventually connected with a network of Mexican freight trains, heading to different points along the U.S. border. As the couple tried to figure out how to jump from one train to the next, they encountered a man who was so dismayed by his journey, that he decided to take his own life. Pedro talked him out of throwing himself on the tracks, said Katiuska. "The same way he appeared in front of us, is the same way he disappeared," she said. "We never saw him again. We dont know what happened to him." Before he disappeared, he gave the couple advice on what part of the train was safest. "There's always someone good," said Katiuska. Millions fled Venezuela Michelle Mittelstadt, director of communications for MPI, said economic instability and violence increased in Venezuela in 2019, due to a dispute over the presidential election between socialist candidate Nicolas Maduro and opposition leader Juan Guaido. While the Venezuelan Supreme Court upheld Maduro as the winner, Venezuela's National Assembly disagreed. Guaido took the oath of office and was running the government in exile. He eventually relinquished his claim to the presidency in 2023. "There was significant political repression at times, including the use of detention, and actions by law enforcement agencies against people who were viewed as critics of the Maduro government," she said. "There have also been efforts to silence dissenters." Throughout the conflict, the Maduro government significantly mismanaged Venezuela's economy, said Mittelstadt. Venezuela was a major exporter of crude oil but because of the government's economic fumbles surrounding the country's extractive and refining capacity, Venezuela lost oil as an underpinning of their economy. Ongoing sanctions imposed on Venezuela by the U.S., said Mittelstadt has also contributed to the failure of the countrys economy. "People will tell you that the sanctions have nothing to do with implosion. Others say it's responsible for everything," she said. "I would say its a piece of the puzzle that has led to an unraveling of the Venezuelan economy." With economic and political instability, access to health care, medicines, food and other basic supplies, came under significant threat, she said. Since 2015, said Mittelstadt, about 7.7 million people have fled Venezuela. About 6.5 million of those Venezuelan refugees and migrants remain in Latin American and Caribbean nations. "The (surrounding) countries have been remarkably generous without a lot of fuss, but this is the absorption of very large populations in not a lot of time," said Mittelstadt. As America accepts Venezuelan asylum seekers, Mittelstadt said the U.S. government, in some ways, has been generous by granting Temporary Protective Status designations. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security also created the Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan (CHNV) program. The initiative allows these four groups to receive immediate parole to enter the U.S. as long as they arrive on a plane and have a family member in the U.S. who can sponsor them. As Venezuelans become the second largest flow of migrants arriving at the Mexican and Texan border, the U.S. government has announced deportation flights to Venezuela, Mittelstadt said. On a state level, Sen. Julian Cyr said Gov. Maura Healey declared a state of emergency in August due to a sharp increase of migrants coming to the state. Healey expanded the Emergency Shelter Program to coincide with the state's Right to Shelter law for families with children, pregnant women and migrants. State Sen. Julian Cyr "It's important that people remember that ESP (Emergency Shelter Program) is only available to families with children under (the age of) 21 and families who are here legally," he said. Yarmouth and Bourne are among 78 communities across the state providing shelter to migrant families, said Cyr. A total of 28 migrant families have been placed in Cape Cod hotels and motels since late August. "Is it sustainable? No," said Cyr. "But we are doing the best we can in a very difficult situation." Massachusetts, said Cyr, is grappling with a "decade in the making" housing crisis and the consequences of failed federal immigration policies and inaction surrounding antiquated immigration policies. La Frontera: the U.S. border After exiting La Bestia, it took four days for Katiuska and Pedro to walk to Piedras Negras, a Mexican town on the Rio Grande just across from Eagle Pass, Texas. They then made their way to San Pedro 7000, a makeshift shelter for migrants in San Antonio, Texas, where they were processed as asylum seekers by border control and released. The student was also processed, but not before he crossed the Rio Grande. "I tried four times to cross that river. It had very strong currents," said the student. Once he made it to the mainland, he was detained by border patrol for many days, he said. Border patrol agents took his DNA and fingerprints, and verified and created a profile identity for him before he was released. At San Pedro 7000, a woman who called herself "Perla," recruited the four migrants, along with 44 other Venezuelan asylum seekers, and brought them to a hotel. They weren't allowed to use their phones or leave the premises, said Katiuska. At that time, they were also given papers to sign. The documents were written in English, and they were told the papers were for meal tickets. "We found out later that they were papers that allowed them to transport us from Texas to Martha's Vineyard," said Katiuska. Perla also promised jobs in America, legal services to help with the immigration process and airplane rides to the city of their choice. Katiuska and Pedro said they were headed to New York, while the student hoped to fly to Miami. After two days at the hotel, the group was placed on a plane, said Pedro. A woman named Emily and a man whose name he couldn't remember accompanied the 48 on the aircraft, which made three fuel stops between Texas and Martha's Vineyard."When we got off the plane on Martha's Vineyard, they put us into small buses. They told us to wait for them. Nobody ever came back," said Pedro. "They took the plane back to wherever they came from." The good thing, he said, is that islanders came to support the group in less than an hour. "Firemen, police, teachers people were helping us," he said. Venezuelan migrants make a home but what are the challenges? Venezuela is still enduring political and economic turmoil. But there's also political oppression and economic challenges in Cuba, Nicaragua and the collapsing state of Haiti, said Mittelstadt. The majority of them are not coming to the U.S. but the perception by Americans is that all of this migration is coming this way. Thats really not the case, she said.Something particular to Venezuelans, is the absence of pre-existing ties in America, said Mittelstadt. Other immigrant groups such as Chinese migrants join family members or friends who have already come to the U.S. and established themselves. "That means a lot of bootstrapping and learning from scratch, she said. Pedro gives Janet Abbott a kiss and hug on Oct. 1, 2023, and says she is like his American mother. Pedro is one of 48 Venezuelan migrants flown the Martha's Vineyard unexpectedly last year, who is living with Abbott in her Barnstable home. The idea surrounding immigration is skewed in America, Mittelstadt said. 'People don't migrate for the fun of it' "People don't migrate for the fun of it," she said. "Migration is completely upending your life. There are deep factors that are often pushing them to this country." Will the migrants remain on Cape Cod? Since moving in with Abbott, both Katiuska and Pedro have secured work permits, while the student is still waiting for his. Katiuska didn't reveal where she works, but Pedro said he's a mechanic. He also installs car stereos as a hobby. All four also take English classes three days per week. Katiuska said they are grateful for the Cape's hospitality, but said she rarely reveals that she is one of the 48 migrants who landed in Martha's Vineyard. "Its going to take a long time to rebuild trust after what theyve been through," said Abbott. 'We believe this is a country filled with love.' Katiuska has only one regret: leaving her seven children behind with a family member. Tears formed in her eyes when she thought about how difficult the journey would've been for them. "If it (the trip) was so difficult for me, I cant imagine what it would have been like for my kids," she said. "I feel it would have been irresponsible for me to bring them." Since arriving on the Cape, the student has grappled with the lies he was told by Perla, Emily, and the unknown man. It affected him psychologically, he said. Regardless, he considers Cape Cod a place filled with opportunity. "For so long it was either live or die," he said. "But now we are here to fight for our future. And be part of society. We believe Cape Cod is a place where people are very nice. We believe this is a country filled with love." Rachael Devaney writes about community and culture. Reach her at rdevaney@capecodonline.com. Follow her on Twitter: @RachaelDevaney. The Cape Cod Times mobile app gets you to the heart of the matter fast. Whether breaking news, sports, entertainment or weather get succinct, personalized coverage along with award-winning videos, captivating photography, and interactive user features. Download the app. This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Four migrants flown from Texas to Martha's Vineyard tell their stories California Governor Gavin Newsom stopped in Israel on Thursday to meet with individuals affected by the Hamas attack that kicked off heightened violence in the region. His trip is a one-day stop while on his way to China, where he'll be discussing Beijing's policies to help curb the global climate crisis. Mr Newsom left Thursday and arrived in Israel on Friday. Im on my way to Israel, he wrote in a message posted on X/Twitter. Ill be meeting with those impacted by the horrific terrorist attacks and offering Californias support. Mr Newsom's office confirmed that California is sending medical supplies to the region, including provisions for Gaza. California Governor Gavin Newsom flew to Israel on his way to China (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved) In addition to visiting Israel, Mr Newsom also announced that California would spend more money to improve the security of places of worship in his state. That funding includes $10m to immediately increase the police presence at mosques and synagogues, according to the Associated Press. Amid the horror unfolding in the Middle East following the unconscionable terrorist attacks in Israel, California is authorizing the immediate deployment of funds to increase security at worship sites, he said in a statement. No matter how and where one prays, every Californian deserves to be safe. California is home to the US's largest population of Arab Americans, according to the Arab American Institute. It is also home to the second largest population of Jews in the US, according to the American Jewish Population Project and Brandeis University. Mr Newsom's visit comes on the heels of one by New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who arrived in Israel on Wednesday to offer solidarity and support. Joe Biden also recently finished a nearly eight-hour visit on the same day he negotiated a deal for limited humanitarian aid into Gaza from Egypt. On Friday, the Biden administration also announced it would seek $105bn from Congress to help bolster security in Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. The final leg of Mr Newsom's trip will take him to Hong Kong, where he will discussing climate crisis policies with China. He also plans to visit Beijing, Shanghai and the Guandong and Jiangsu provinces. The federal prosecutors who have brought charges against hundreds of Jan. 6 rioters are seeing an uptick in violent threats and harassment directed toward their office, the offices lead prosecutor told congressional investigators. Matthew Graves, the U.S. attorney for Washington, said the threats come from around the country and have become pervasive, though he did not elaborate on their substance or whether any law enforcement agency is investigating them. Graves comments, documented in a transcript obtained by POLITICO, came in a closed-door interview on Oct. 3 with the House Judiciary Committee about the Hunter Biden probe. In the interview, Republican investigators pressed Graves on allegations that his office refused to assist the U.S. attorney in Delaware who is leading the probe into the presidents son. Graves declined to answer some of the investigators questions about his personnel, citing threats to his office. The threats he described appear to be part of a broader trend of law enforcement officials grappling with security concerns while working on politically charged cases. Special counsel Jack Smiths team, which is running two federal prosecutions of Donald Trump, spent nearly $2 million for U.S. marshals protection from November to March, according to a person familiar with the spending granted anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter. Fani Willis, the Georgia prosecutor leading a separate prosecution of Trump, reported receiving 150 personal threats in the two months following her indictment of the former president and his allies. And Thomas Sobocinski, an FBI agent connected to the Hunter Biden probe, previously told congressional investigators that law enforcement personnel working on that investigation have faced threats and that their families have, as well. People are trying to fuel the sentiment of stoking ire against these dedicated civil servants, Graves said in the interview with the House Judiciary investigators. And you really dont even know the extent of it because its not group affiliated. Graves repeatedly declined to name subordinates in his office who were involved in the decision last year not to team up with David Weiss, the Delaware prosecutor who has long been investigating Hunter Biden on tax and gun issues. Linking his deputies to Weiss probe could put them at risk, Graves said. Im already dealing with enough threats and harassment of my assistant United States attorneys who are career prosecutors, he said. He alluded to unspecified mitigation measures that he has put in place to protect himself and other people in his office. Graves did not describe the source or the nature of the threats. But the most nationally prominent work hes helmed by far stems from the violent breach of the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The Justice Department has charged more than 1,100 people with crimes related to the Jan. 6 attack, and Graves office has played a central role in coordinating the nationwide undertaking. A spokesperson for the D.C. U.S. attorneys office did not respond to a request for comment. In his interview, Graves also defended his interaction with Weiss, who was designated as a special counsel in August. Whistleblowers have said that Weiss indicated Graves refused to partner with him in bringing a case against Hunter Biden in Washington, hindering the investigation. Graves, however, told investigators that he offered Weiss as much logistical support as he requested. And he said that when the two U.S. attorneys spoke on the phone about the case, he suggested that they partner only to decide several weeks later that it would not be the right move. A sign near the intersection of Oakridge and Larsen roads in the town of Neenah requests free fill. Reader question: Someone posted a sign asking for free fill at the intersection of Oakridge and Larsen roads in the town of Neenah. I am pretty confident this is wetlands. Isn't that illegal? Answer: The property in question totals 7.5 acres and is owned by Patron Properties, according to the Winnebago County Geographic Information System. An aerial view shows a pond on the north side of the property, where the fill is being placed. I asked the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources whether the property contained protected wetlands and whether the landowner had obtained a wetland exemption or wetland permit to fill the property. The DNR regulates wetlands in the state. The agency's answer was less than forthcoming. "This is pending investigation so we are unable to provide additional information at this time," Molly Meister, a DNR public information officer, said in an email. Watchdog Q&A: Duke Behnke answers your local government questions Steven Seegers, an agent for Patron Properties, said the company is operating in accordance with the law. "We got permission from the DNR to fill that pond in," he told me. "We have our erosion-control permits, and we're all legal." According to online records, the previous property owner, James Sturgis, asked the DNR in 2019 to identify any wetlands located in an area he hoped to fill. The DNR determined the property contained an artificial wetland an excavated pond but had "no definitive evidence of wetland history" before Aug. 1, 1991, making it eligible for an exemption from state wetland regulations. The DNR didn't grant the exemption at the time, however, because of uncertainty whether the pond might serve as a spawning area for northern pike. That issue since has been resolved, Seegers said, allowing the filling of the pond to proceed. Seegers said he didn't know what the future of the property would hold. Patron Properties also owns three adjacent properties along Oakridge and Winnebago County CB. "Right now I'm just holding onto it," Seegers said. Post-Crescent reporter Duke Behnke answers your questions about local government. Send questions to dbehnke@gannett.com or call him at 920-993-7176. SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM: Our subscribers make this coverage possible. Click to see The Post-Crescent's special offers at postcrescent.com/subscribe and download our app on the App Store or Google Play. This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Town of Neenah landowner says DNR OK'd filling in artificial pond Ed Currie , the chili pepper guru known as Smokin' Ed, has topped his own record for developing the world's hottest pepper. This past week, Currie introduced the world to Pepper X, his latest super-sizzler averaging 2.6 million Scoville Heat Units, or SHUs. Pepper X out-seated Currie's famed Carolina Reaper pepper, which averages 1.6 million SHUs. By comparison, a jalapeno can range from 2,000 to 8,000, according to scovillescale.org. Ed Currie holds up his certification that his new Pepper X variety of peppers is the hottest in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, in Fort Mill, S.C. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins) Pepper X earned the official title of World's Hottest Pepper by Guinness World Records on Oct. 9. And this world's hottest chili pepper has a Michigan connection in more ways than one. More: Worlds new hottest pepper, Pepper X, was crossbred with one from Michigan More: Room 1904, a speakeasy-style lounge, to open above Jacoby's Bar in downtown Detroit Reached by phone Thursday afternoon, Currie lives and farms in Fort Mill, South Carolina, with wife Linda and two children. He grows a variety of peppers and owns the PuckerButt Pepper Co., also in Fort Mill, which sells pepper seeds, hot sauce, salsas and several snack foods. Currie said he is originally from New York and Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. But around 1976-77, he said the family moved to the Orchard Lake area. Currie attended Andover High School. He's lived all over Michigan, is a Central Michigan University graduate and also attended other colleges. At a young age, he said, he became addicted to drugs and alcohol, which worsened as he got older. It was while he was at college that he began researching peppers and got into the business in the '80s and '90s. At one time, he also worked in the distribution department for Detroit Newspapers at the Sterling Heights facility. He credits a former distribution manager for helping him get clean and sober in 1999 at Brighton Hospital. Ed Currie holds up one of his Pepper X peppers on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, in Fort Mill, S.C. The pepper is now the hottest pepper variety in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins) Since then, "life has been nothing but uphill ever since," he said. We caught up with Currie about his latest fiery fame and Pepper X. Questions and answers have been lightly edited for brevity.QUESTION: Aside from spending living in Michigan and going to college here, what is the Michigan connection to Pepper X? ANSWER: There is another Michigan pepper guru, who I will not name, who was known for bringing in a variety of pepper seeds and growing peppers in Michigan, including the Moruga scorpion pepper. He gave me a seed for a pepper and when we grew it out, it was gnarly. I didnt expect it to be hotter than the Carolina Reaper. But as we were breeding this out, it kept on getting hotter and hotter. Pepper X is deemed the hottest pepper in the world by Guinness World Records Q: How long have you been growing peppers? A: Since the early 2000s, along with my wife, Linda. We have been growing and breeding peppers in South Carolina, along with making hot sauce and salsa since 2003. And the rest is history.Q: You started out with pepper seeds. How many have you come across? A: I've been collecting pepper seeds for a long time and probably have 7,000-8,000 different seeds. Some are probably the same peppers but called different names all over the world. Q: What varieties of peppers do you grow? A: This year, we have around 160 varieties growing. We use no herbicides or pesticides. We have 35 acres of chile de arbol. But the majority is nine varieties of all different heat levels. From and other products. Q: How excited were you to learn about the Guinness World Records distinction? A: I didnt find out that we were getting it until the "Hot Ones" YouTube TV shoot. That event was filmed on Sept. 29. I didn't know until we were filming and my rep at Guinness let me know like 1 hours before. Q: How hot is Pepper X? A: Its brutally hot. When I ate it on "Hot Ones" (the YouTube show) ... I have a great poker face and I am just holding it together. But it was fight or flight and I am a fighter. It was brutally burning within seconds. Within 10 minutes I was happy they shut off the camera. I ate a banana and that didnt help and a milkshake didnt help. The heat didnt subside for 2 hours. The cramps got so bad .... I couldnt move for an hour. I was curled over on a chair. But I rode out the pain. Pepper X grown by Ed Currie is the world's hottest pepper. Q: How long have you been eating them? A: Weve been eating for years, sliced up small and with food. You can do it that way if you can eat hot foods. It's not a pleasant experience. We are pushing the envelope as far as whats tolerable. I use the Gator (hot) sauce in small quantities. (The Gator hot sauce is made with mashed Pepper X, according to the PuckerButt Pepper Co. website.)Q: When did you start PuckerButt Pepper Co.? A: It started around 2008. And a lot of people dont know but the majority of our profits go to hundreds of charities. We support food banks. I believe its a gift from God so we give the money to charity. Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter. Subscribe to the Free Press. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ed Currie, developer of Pepper X, lived in Michigan UPDATE: Back to square one: Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) is out as the Republican nominee for Speaker of the House. Jordan fell short in roll call votes this week, and lost even more ground in a third ballot Friday. More from Deadline We need to come together and figure out who are speaker is going to be, Jordan told reporters today. Members are leaving for the weekend. Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC), who is serving as speaker pro tem, said there will be a candidate forum Monday night and conference elections to select a nominee on Tuesday morning. Well have to go back to the drawing board, said Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), who was ousted as speaker earlier this month. What history will look at, the crazy eights, led by [Matt] Gaetz, the amount of damage they have done to this party and this country, is insurmountable. We are in a very bad position as a party. With no speaker, business in the House has been halted, meaning no legislation can pass Congress, as the White House seeks an aid package for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, as well as money to boost border security. RELATED: Joe Biden, In Oval Office Primetime Address, Makes Case For Renewed Support For Israel And Ukraine Jordan was the second nominee selected by the Republican conference since Kevin McCarthy was ousted as speaker 17 days ago. Republicans first nominated House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), but he dropped out when it became clear he would not win in a floor vote. They then selected Jordan, the runner-up to Scalise, but he also was unable to win. In the roll call vote earlier today, 25 House Republicans voted against Jordan, with a number of them complaining of a pressure campaign orchestrated by right-wing talk-show hosts and on social media. Some members complained of receiving anonymous death threats and harassment, along with vile messages directed at family members, for withholding their support for Jordan. Republicans then held a closed-door conference meeting in the basement of the Capitol, where they voted by secret ballot on whether Jordan should continue. According to Punchbowl News, 112 said he should not and 86 voted that he should. Jordan likely would have taken the Republican conference farther to the right than McCarthy, as he had forged much of his career as a so-called flame thrower with attacks on the establishment. According to the report of the January 6th Committee, Jordan was a significant figure in then-President Donald Trumps efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. At a press conference today, Jordan declined to back away from claims that the election was stolen. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), who has kept his caucus united during the saga, said that Democrats were willing to work with Republicans on a bipartisan compromise. PREVIOUSLY, 9:07 a.m. PT: Rep, Jim Jordan (R-OH) lost more ground in his effort to become the next speaker of the House. The vote was 210 votes for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and 194 for Jordan. A majority of 215 votes was needed to become speaker. For the 17th day in a row we do not have a speaker, which means we do not have a functioning House of Representative, which means we do not have a functioning legislative branch, CNNs Jake Tapper told viewers. Some 25 House Republicans voted against Jordan, three more than opposed him in the vote on Wednesday and five more than on the first speaker roll call on Tuesday. His strategy is premised on the idea that support would start to move his way with each vote session, as they did when Kevin McCarthy stayed in the race in January before he was finally elected on the 15th ballot. Speaker Pro Tem Patrick McHenry (R-NC) garnered six votes, underscoring the preference among some GOPers to make him temporary speaker. As he left the chamber, McCarthy told CNNs Manu Raju that it was up to Jordan to decide what he will do next. The former House Speaker said that Republicans plan to conference this afternoon. We are in a very bad place right now, yes, McCarthy told another reporter. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) told reporters afterward that the eight Republicans who voted to oust McCarthy are willing to face censure or even removal from the conference if that is the pound of flesh that the Jordan holdouts want to vote for him. Gaetz led the effort to get rid of McCarthy. PREVIOUSLY: Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) sought to flip 22 Republican holdouts who have blocked his path to House speakership today, but there was little sign that he is getting any closer to clinching the leadership post. In fact, acrimony and tension have only seemed to harden as the week has gone on, as a number of those opposed to his candidacy have complained of receiving death threats and harassment, fueled by a pressure campaign from right wing media. CNN on Thursday played an expletive filled voicemail message that was directed at the wife of an unidentified Republican holdout. Jordan sought to sway members with an 11-minute press conference in the Rayburn Room of the Capitol, against the backdrop of American flags. He talked about the urgency of electing a speaker and getting the House open again, yet he rejected the idea that he was causing additional delay by refusing to drop out. Theres been multiple rounds for speaker before, he said. With 427 members present for the third vote, Jordan needs 214 votes to win the speakership. At the press conference, Jordan also declined to back away from his position that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Donald Trump. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries seized on Jordans comments, telling reporters that Jordan was a clear and present danger. Reporters on Capitol Hill have run out of superlatives to describe the level of discord that has paralyzed the Republican conference, underscored on Thursday when members shouted at each other during a four-hour meeting. One member blocked another on X/Twitter. This is a fight between the institutionalists and the Trump populists, former Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA) said on CNN. 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. The funeral home's owner reportedly acknowledged there was a "problem" there, according to authorities Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP Return to Nature Funeral Home Police in a Colorado town of fewer than 3,500 people have recovered nearly 200 decaying bodies from a funeral home, the Associated Press reports. Authorities found the remains of 189 people at the Return to Nature Funeral Home in Pensore, Colo., following an investigation that began two weeks ago when an abhorrent smell was reported inside the building, according to the outlet. Police arrived on the premises on Oct. 4, the Associated Press and the Colorado Springs Gazette report. The number of bodies is expected to rise further as the investigation continues, police have said, per the outlets. Families of the deceased whose bodies had been in the care of the funeral home are anxiously waiting to learn about what happened to their loved ones, according to the Associated Press. More than 120 families have reached out to police regarding the issue, the Colorado Springs Gazette reported last week. The Associated Press reports that identifying the deceased, which might include fingerprint testing, DNA testing and accessing medical and dental records, may take a few weeks. Parker Seibold/The Gazette via AP Fremont County coroner Randy Keller 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. While the investigation for this incident continues, we also remain focused on the impacted families, Fremont County Sheriff Allen Cooper said, KXRM reports. We want to do all we can to provide the families the support they need as we shift to the next phase in this process. Jon Hallford, owner of the funeral home, told authorities that he practiced taxidermy at the home, according to an Oct. 5 order by state officials, Colorado Public Radio reports. When he was contacted about the bodies, he allegedly admitted there was a "problem" there, according to the order. PEOPLE was unable to speak with anyone at the funeral home Wednesday. Authorities say a potential criminal investigation is ongoing, according to the reports. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. NEW DELHI, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- India on Friday launched its first semi-high-speed regional train service Namo Bharat, officials said. The service, also known as Regional Rapid Train Service (RRTS), was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. The train connects Sahibabad and Duhai Depot stations in Uttar Pradesh. A photograph released by Modi showed him on board the new train interacting with co-passengers including school children. "A significant enhancement to India's transportation infrastructure! The Delhi-Meerut RRTS Corridor will bring a substantial transformation to regional connectivity," Modi said while addressing a rally. Officials said the 17-km priority section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor will open for passengers from Saturday. Thomas Young, a 68-year-old bus driver at Broken Arrow Public Schools in Oklahoma, was fired by the school district after the alleged incident Broken Arrow Police Department Thomas Young A school bus driver in Oklahoma is facing kidnapping and child abuse charges after he allegedly refused to let children get off a bus until they quieted down, according to multiple news reports citing police. Thomas Young, a 68-year-old bus driver at Broken Arrow Public Schools, was fired by the school district after the Oct. 13 incident, a spokesperson confirmed to Fox 23, USA Today, and KJRH-TV. In a surveillance video obtained by multiple news outlets, including Fox 23, the driver, identified as Young, can reportedly be heard giving a warning to the middle school students. Quiet, everybody be quiet, the driver can be heard saying in the clip. I'm not moving until I don't hear any speaking. He then allegedly stops the bus for around nine minutes, and during that time kids can be heard screaming and crying for help. At one point, Young can reportedly be seen putting his arm out to stop a student from exiting the bus. Banging sounds can also be heard in the footage. "You think you can get away with stuff, Young said, per USA Today. I run my bus a certain way. I don't care what the other bus drivers do. You obey me. After the students began leaving the bus through emergency exits, Young drove to a nearby parking lot, where more students escaped and he was confronted by police. Broken Arrow Public Schools spokesperson Tara Thompson told Fox 23 it was Youngs second day taking that bus route and he had arrived 30 minutes late to pick up the students. Thompson said the alleged incident was unexpected. 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. "There are students who open the back of the bus and jump out while the bus is moving which is a huge safety issue," Thompson told USA Today. "There were lots of things that went wrong in the scenario. The students didn't respond well, the driver didn't respond well." Police Capt. Josh McCoy alleged to Fox 23 that Young endangered the children by continuing to drive while students were jumping off the bus. "Holding the kids against their will, and the fact that those children were jumping from the school bus while he continued to drive eastbound, even at a slow speed, endangered them and put them in a dangerous situation," McCoy said, per Fox 23. Thompson has since confirmed to all three news outlets that Young, who held his position for about a year, has been fired from the district. Police told KJRH that the charges against Young will be forwarded to the Tulsa County District Attorney's Office. Its unclear if Young has entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on his behalf. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Previously unknown remains believed to belong to a victim of a suspected serial killer who targeted young gay men in Indiana have been identified, according to authorities. A bone that was found on Herbert Baumeisters Fox Hollow Farm property in the city of Westfield in 1996 has been identified with forensic genealogy as belonging to Allen Livingston, who disappeared three decades ago at age 27, the Hamilton County Coroners Office said. RELATED: Who is the most infamous serial killer in each state? The match was made after Livingsons mother provided a DNA swab to investigators, following the county coroner reopening the investigation last year, according to CBS News. Livingston, who vanished in 1993, is the ninth presumed victim of Baumeister, who terrorized Indianapolis in the 1980s and 1990s. "We identified a man that was reported missing 30 years ago whose remains were part of 10,000 remains that were burnt and crushed, and we identified that person," Hamilton County Coroner Jeff Jellison said, WTHR reported. "Honestly, yeah, there were some high fives, but it very quickly turned to the stark reality, we had another murder victim, and then, there were some tears." Livingstons family had actively pushed Jellisons office to re-examine the case last year. Livingston vanished the exact same day as Manuel Resendez, another suspected victim of Baumeister, whose remains were also uncovered at the alleged serial killers property. Its believed Baumeister killed as many as 11 gay men in the Indianapolis area in the early 1990s. The Indiana businessman was married with children but led a secret double life and spent his free time hunting his victims in gay bars. He drew law enforcement scrutiny after his own son found a human skull in the familys backyard. RELATED: 5 Women Who Unknowingly Married Serial Killers Baumeister was never convicted. On July 3, 1995, Baumeister was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound near Toronto after a warrant was issued for his arrest, according to WXIN. Approximately 10,000 unidentified human remains were later recovered from Beaumeisters Fox Hollow Farm. A preliminary investigation would reveal the remains of eight people, as well as three additional DNA sets that were left unidentified. Livingstons are the first to be identified in more than two decades. Due to Baumeisters suicide, justice was elusive for many of his victims families, Livingstons included. Since his death, the investigation into identifying his unknown victims has largely been dormant. The Hamilton County Coroners Office has also revealed theyve been able to come up with four more DNA profiles from remains found on the property and are working to match them to samples given by relatives of others who went missing. Officials said theyll continue to comb through the thousands of remains available in the case in efforts to identify other victims of Baumeister. RELATED: Serial Killers Who Stalked And Terrorized The Midwest "Just because we got one, yeah, we're thankful and we celebrated, but it's no more or no less important than number two, number three, number 10, and we've got to continue to put our nose back to that grindstone, get back to work," Jellison added. Jellison estimated there could be upwards of 25 victims amongst the thousands of bones found at Baumeisters. We dont know what happened, Jellison said. We dont know how far his reach was... I used to say 20, 25 just like you mentioned, but Im not going to stick to that number any longer. Livingstons relatives said the news was long-awaited but also bittersweet. "I'm happy and sad at the same time," Eric Pranger, Livingston's cousin, told WTHR. "[I'm] happy because [Allens mother] got some closure, and I'm sad because we got confirmation that it's Allen. We were all just hoping that Allen was out there alive somewhere, but he's not." Livingstons family had long-suspected Baumeisters involvement in his death. "I know he's there," the victim's mom, Sharon Livingston, said last year of Fox Hollow Farm, WTHR reported. "I know he's there. I know that man got him. I just know it. I feel that. I know. Have you been seeing coyotes a bit too often for comfort lately? Urbandale has noticed an upward trend in coyote sightings, and the city has a plan to handle it. A first for Iowa, the urban coyote management plan, was created in collaboration with the Urbandale Parks and Recreation Department, the Urbandale Police Department and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. "Coyotes live in urban areas and sightings will occur. This is normal behavior, and residents may see more activity during mating season. The City of Urbandale and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources worked together to pursue this creative and innovative plan to meet the needs of our growing community," said Derek Zarn, director of communications for the city of Urbandale. Why does Urbandale need a coyote management plan? The city of Urbandale has been taking steps in recent years to limit coyote and human interaction, but plans to take it further, said Andy Kellner, a wildlife biologist for the Iowa DNR. "For instance, the Urbandale Police Department is stepping up as being kind of a main contact point for people who have an encounter with a coyote to call and get that information and log it into their system," Kellner said. This way, the city will have annual reports on coyote encounters. There will be systems in place to organize and post such reports. The city will post information on the NextDoor app to keep citizens aware. They will also send letters, post signs and contact agencies if needed. Urbandale resident Bobbie Van Roekel spotted this coyote in her neighborhood in January 2022. Kellner said one big thing that spurred some of this movement is encounters or attacks in which a pet or a person is involved. Kellner said while this is always unfortunate, there's a lot of educational material that can teach the public how to avoid these situations, or what to do if it happens. While this is the first urban coyote management plan in Iowa, Kellner said there are plenty of other cities in the nation that have had plans like this for years. "We really piecemealed a lot of this plan from other urban coyote management plans from across the country," Kellner said. "We know that there are ones that are tried in other areas, and they're successful." Kellner said he hopes this information spreads to other cities in the area as well, so citizens stay educated on interacting with wildlife. Why should I be concerned about coyotes' safety, too? On the flip side, Kellner said, some people believe it would be better to hunt and kill coyotes. But, there are scientific and ethical reasons that isn't the best choice. Coyote pups tend to be born in spring, and they become more independent by fall. Kellner warned that "indiscriminately" removing coyotes from a pack could have unintended negative consequences for residents. "One of those things is sometimes that family unit or pack might splinter apart into multiple packs," he said. "So instead of having one breeding pair, you may have multiple breeding pairs." Coyotes are also a native component to Iowa and the Midwest and serve an important role in the ecosystem, like hunting and killing rats, squirrels and small animals. "It's finding that balance and being smart about how we go forward. We don't need to go from one extreme to the other. Let's take a science-based well-researched avenue and all work together on this," Kellner said. What to do if you see a coyote in Urbandale The city of Urbandale has posted tips on its website, urbandale.org, on what to do if you have an interaction with a coyote in urban areas. Remove food handouts or food opportunities: Don't directly feed coyotes or any other wildlife, and make sure there is no food left out outside, including spilled or leftover pet kibble and bird seed. Keep your pets safe: Use leashes, and don't leave your pets unattended outside. Coyotes are more aggressive toward dogs during breeding season in the late winter and pup rearing season in spring. Haze coyotes: Use loud noises, raise your arms to make yourself look bigger and throw small sticks the coyote's way. Do not run, hide or chase the coyote. Do not try to haze a coyote that seems sick or injured or is with pups. Report aggressive behavior: A sighting of a coyote by itself is not a reason for alarm as sightings near dawn or dusk are to be expected and do not need to be reported. Frequent sightings during the day or coyotes approaching people and pets should be reported along with any sick or injured coyotes. Reports can be made by calling the police department at 515-222-3321 or emailing police@urbandale.org. Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at vreynarodriguez@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter@VictoriaReynaR. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: The city of Urbandale implements Iowa's first coyote management plan President Joe Biden talks to reporters as he travels back from Israel to Washington. The US has issued a worldwide caution alert amid heightened fears of a terror attack. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) For the latest news on the conflict, follow our live coverage here US troops have been attacked in the Middle East as tensions escalate amid conflict between Israel and Hamas. Bases housing US troops in Iraq and Syria were targeted by a series of drone attacks on Thursday, following US president Joe Biden's visit to Israel, and as the EU warned of a risk of "regional spillover" from events in Gaza. We have seen the Arab streets fill with rage all across the region. So the risk of a regional spillover is real, said European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen , adding Iran, Hamas patron, only wants to fuel the fire of chaos. The US has also issued a "worldwide caution" alert to Americans overseas, amid fears of an increase risk of terror attacks as a result of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Israeli troops are preparing for an anticipated ground offensive in Gaza as part of Israel's "total siege" of the enclave following Hamas attacks on Israeli two weeks ago in which 1,400 people were killed and almost 200 kidnapped. Israeli air strikes in Gaza have killed almost 3,000 people in the past two weeks, injuring a further 12,000 with medicine, food and water now in short supply. Both Biden and prime minister Rishi Sunak have visited Israel in recent days, with Biden warning that Hamas is as dangerous as Putin. Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common: they both want to completely annihilate a neighbouring democracy, he said in an Oval Office address on Thursday. An injured man is treated at Nasser Medical Hospital in the Gazan city of Khan Younis on Wednesday. (Loay Ayyoub for The Washington Post) The Gaza Strip's health-care system stands on the brink of collapse as bombings damage hospitals and ambulances and as generators run out of fuel, highlighting how quality medical care is a casualty of war. Dire scenarios await Gaza's medical professionals. They face dwindling basic resources such as power, water and anesthesia, compelling doctors to confront wrenching decisions on whose lives to save. The growing humanitarian crisis is plunging health-care workers into the critical emergency planning that follows both human-made and natural disasters - assessing staffing and other resources, managing existing health needs on top of gruesome new ones, and looking out for their own welfare. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. "When we are in a disaster setting or conflict, we usually have more patients than resources. We have to be very creative to be able to provide the best care for the most number of people," said Lindsey Ryan Martin, who is director of global disaster response and humanitarian action at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and has been monitoring the situation in Gaza. The health-care crisis extends beyond Tuesday's deadly blast at al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City. Aid organizations say the war continues to imperil an already beleaguered health-care system. Gaza's Health Ministry said five hospitals were out of service as of Thursday and an additional 14 health facilities have closed because they lack fuel and electricity. After Hamas militants launched an unprecedented cross-border attack into Israel on Oct. 7, Israel imposed a "full siege" on the Gaza Strip, cutting off electricity, food and fuel and limiting access to medical supplies and cross-border travel for high-risk diagnoses or operations. Assessing and verifying the realities of medical care on the ground in Gaza has been difficult because of challenges communicating with medical professionals and limited access for reporters. U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths told The Washington Post on Wednesday that the hospital blast worsened the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, putting out of commission a hospital that treated 45,000 patients per year. "Health workers, why would they stay?" Griffiths said. "And how can you move the sick people that we've already been discussing for the last few days, coming out of the hospital in Gaza City - how can you move them when they're in ICUs?" After the blast at al-Ahli, Palestinian health officials said the flood of patients to nearby al-Shifa, the main hospital in Gaza City, exceeded the capabilities of medical teams and ambulances. They said doctors resorted to treating wounded patients on the hospital floor, some without anesthesia. An anesthesia specialist at al-Shifa told The Post that bodies have been left in the hallway after attempts to save people failed. He shared a video that he had taken showing a chaotic scene: patients being treated on a teal floor, a man imploring others to take out a dead body to bring in another patient. The hospital worker, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment to reporters, worries about infections rising because of the lack of clean water and electricity to desalinate the water supply. He's already seeing infections, diarrhea and fevers on the rise and fears more dehydration in children. The hospital worker said he last slept properly on Oct. 5, before the conflict began, and doesn't know whether his home is still standing. "It's also the last time I saw my wife and my kids," he said. Erica L. Nelson, who has worked in humanitarian medicine for about 25 years, said Palestinian doctors at al-Shifa who are in her WhatsApp group are becoming more fearful of being targeted. "The additional component of 'We are at risk' has changed the tenor of the conversation," said Nelson, an emergency physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. International aid organizations in recent days added to the portrait of a tattered health-care system in Gaza. The World Health Organization (WHO) said medicine for hundreds of thousands of patients is in short supply. Airstrikes have made operating ambulances and transferring patients to health facilities "extremely dangerous," according to Doctors Without Borders, which has staff on the ground in Gaza. The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA, said Wednesday that fewer than half of its health centers could offer basic care to patients. All three organizations confirmed reports that lives are in jeopardy as generators run out of fuel. The WHO has called on Israel to allow shipments of fuel as part of a deal brokered to permit humanitarian aid to Gaza. "When fuel runs out, that may mean operating with flashlights or taking care of people with medications that don't require refrigeration and certainly not having lab services," said John Broach, director of the division of emergency medical services and disaster management at UMass Memorial in Worcester, Mass. Broach said the struggle to care for patients injured in a war or disaster is exacerbated by the escalation of routine medical issues suddenly left untreated, such as people with well-managed diabetes now unable to take insulin spoiled when refrigerators lose power and chronically ill patients unable to fill prescriptions at shuttered pharmacies. David Callaway, chief medical officer for veteran-led Team Rubicon, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit group that works closely with the WHO to provide relief in humanitarian crises, said there are dangerous consequences to health-care workers toiling nonstop with limited resources during disasters. "Soon all the team is burned out, their empathy is gone and they are not making best decisions," said Callaway, who served as a battalion surgeon during the Iraq War and more recently oversaw humanitarian aid his organization provided in Ukraine. The decisions health-care workers face in disasters are momentous: As they focus on the patient in front of them, they are acutely aware of massive needs elsewhere. "You feel like you have to put different values on different lives based on what you see in the moment," Callaway said. "Is a kid's life more valuable than an elderly person's?" Thomas Kirsch, an emergency-medicine physician at George Washington University Hospital and an early practitioner of disaster medicine, recalled the moral dilemmas that came up when he was working with a Johns Hopkins team in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. Resources simply were not available to treat everyone in need, he said. "You can be forced into a situation where you can't do what's best for your patient, either causing a patient harm or allowing them to die," Kirsch said. Those decisions, he said, are best taken out of the hands of the person providing care, by creating an ethics counselor or committee. At the same time, disasters force providers to come up with systematic ways to tailor the care they are able to provide. "Can you scrub without soap? Re-use sterile drapes? Boil water on a stove?" Kirsch said. Some superficial surgical procedures can be performed without anesthesia, Kirsch said, evoking images of Civil War-era operations. "But you can't operate on the heart, the lungs, the abdomen," he said. Paul Spiegel, director of the Center for Humanitarian Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, says doctors in conflict zones operate in ways they were never trained to do. As a young general practitioner caring for severely mutilated patients during the Rwandan genocide, Spiegel said he followed instructions the best he could, amputating fingers and addressing other grisly wounds despite having no specialized training in those procedures. "You have no choice," he said. "You tell yourself you'll probably do it better than a layperson." The health-care system in the Gaza Strip, which has been under Israeli blockade for 16 years, already struggled before the war. The Israeli Civil Administration controls the entry and exit of all patients and goods, which can restrict care. Recent attacks that damaged medical infrastructure are reminiscent of conflict in 2014, when 24 medical facilities were damaged and more than 15 health workers were killed in a 50-day Israeli offensive in Gaza. Experts say war leaves lasting scars on health-care systems as officials face the daunting task of rebuilding facilities - and rebuilding trust in patients afraid to seek care after places of healing turned into danger zones. "For months, years afterward, this community is still going to have a disrupted health-care system," said Rohini Haar, a medical adviser at Physicians for Human Rights who has researched the aftermath of war on health-care systems. "The folks in a community that are attacked are going to be experiencing this attack for years after." - - - Dadouch reported from Beirut. Claire Parker in Cairo, Kyle Rempfer in Washington, Louisa Loveluck in London and Miriam Berger in Jerusalem contributed to this report. Related Content Relentless Wrestler Families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas cling to digital clues Race isn't real, science says. Advocates want the census to reflect that. The author at Antelope Island in Utah, near the Great Salt Lake, in summer 2022. The author at Antelope Island in Utah, near the Great Salt Lake, in summer 2022. On October 1, 2021, after having what I had thought was routine thyroid surgery, I was diagnosed with anaplastic thyroid cancer, a cancer so rare that none of my doctors had ever seen it before. Its so aggressive that it only exists as Stage IV. The typical survival rate? Six months or less. One in five patients lives 12 months. Its October 2023. I did a 10K race in July. At 6,000 feet. Last winter, I was a ski instructor. Im a rock n roll DJ at the mountain town station that I used to stream when I lived in New York, fantasizing that I was living here. Now I am. I have the life Id longed dreamed of. Every morning, as I watch the sun come up over the mountains I never thought Id live in again, I give thanks for everything in my life that brought me to this moment. Especially that diagnosis. It taught me that I had no time to waste. It taught me how much I love life rough, bumpy and hard as it often is. It taught me how much more I wanted to do. And now Im doing it. But on that fall day in 2021, I was terrified. I was also furious. I was two years out from a divorce after an unhappy marriage that I had long wanted to escape but had been afraid to leave. I felt Id spent years quashing my voice and my spirit to keep that marriage going. Being a wife had become my identity. When the marriage tanked, I felt betrayed by the society that still pushed the fallacy that a woman had to have a man to be something. I felt betrayed by the husband who dumped me. Most of all, I felt I had betrayed myself by staying instead of standing up for myself and leaving. I was desperate to resurrect the young woman Id been back when Id first gone to New York for grad school after ski bumming in Aspen. That me had planned on spending just a few years in the city before returning to the mountains. But you know how it goes: I met a guy, fell in love, marriage, kids, mortgages. And, hey, New York is pretty damn fun until it nearly kills you. The author after her second surgery, this one at MD Anderson in Houston, in October 2021. The author after her second surgery, this one at MD Anderson in Houston, in October 2021. The final years of my marriage, the divorce and its aftermath were brutal. I routinely woke at 3 a.m. staring into the darkness. My weight plummeted. I landed in the ER with what I thought might be a heart attack but was really a panic attack. I struggled to pull myself together. I kept on running. I became a certified yoga sculpt instructor. I read self-help books. I not only talked to my therapist once a week, I sent her email after email filled with grief and fury. And then I did something I never thought I would do: I started singing rock n roll. Onstage! Me! Who had all but died when faced with piano recitals at St. Patricks School. In high school plays, I stayed behind the scenes and did makeup and worked on costumes. I was solidly in the audience. But now I was running from the firestorm of my old life. I came to a cliff, closed my eyes and jumped. I was desperation personified when I took that leap. I was shaky as hell, but singing in the spotlight gave me a solid piece of ground in a world that had turned into quicksand. The stage was a place where I could escape my pain for a few hours. But it was still there. The wounds wrought by my past were still raw inside me, haunting my dreams and shadowing my days. COVID hit. Stages everywhere, including mine, went dark. I lost my refuge. I still planned to leave New York and return to the mountains, but I was waiting for my youngest child to graduate from high school. She went off to college. I stayed in New York. COVID still raged. I rationalized it was a bad time to move to a town where I knew no one. And I thought my kids should still have their mamas place to come home to in New York, even though my new apartment was a fraction of the size of the one theyd grown up in. The author power-walking with her IV pole, nicknamed Slim, during her MD Anderson treatment. The author power-walking with her IV pole, nicknamed Slim, during her MD Anderson treatment. What it all boiled down to, though, is that I was afraid to leave. Yet again. So the universe kicked me in the butt. Hard. As I lay in my bed on that October night in 2021 after being told I had just months to live, I railed against my fate. What gives, universe?I thought we were in sync! Cmon! Silence. I knew one thing: I was getting the hell out of New York. But I wasnt going to the mountains. I was going to Houston, one of the flattest places in the United States. Its also home to the MD Anderson Cancer Center, which my cousin discovered has a special clinic named FAST that specializes in my type of cancer. I packed up what I thought I would need in Houston. I ran around New York gathering my medical records. I went out to dinner and drank margaritas with friends. And then I bought something many people facing cancer like mine would never think to buy: a T-Card, a discount ski pass for Telluride Ski Resort, near where one of my brothers lives in Colorado. I bought it because of one line in the anaplastic thyroid cancer printout Id gotten the day of my diagnosis. After learning I probably had just six months to live, I read this sentence: Despite these discouraging figures... (Discouraging? I had thought as I read it. What comedian wrote this?) ...there are some long-term survivors. Im going to be one of them, I had promised my daughters. We were all crying. I dont know how, but I will. And that was why I made the decision to buy that ski pass. I was going to do more than live I was going to be strong and healthy enough to ski. And this purchase was going to be the thing that kept me fighting no matter what came my way. See that, universe? I thought as I clicked the buy now icon. The author at the mic at KPCW radio. The author at the mic at KPCW radio. Five days after my diagnosis, I walked in the doors of MD Anderson. The FAST clinic was aptly named. MD Anderson kept me on the run. I liked that. I had CT scans, PET scans, brain scans, MRIs, blood tests. I even got to look at my vocal cords during a laryngoscopy. I had a second surgery. The odds arent good, the surgeon told me. And then he added, But we do cure some people with this cancer. I had five weeks of radiation and chemo. I stayed with my cousin in Houston. She has a big house, a bigger heart and a long-suffering husband. Both of my daughters, one accompanied by her boyfriend, came to cheer me on. Each of my three brothers (one with his almost house-trained new puppy), my sister and three of my besties from New York came, one after another. We talked. We power-walked. We partied. I had Zoom calls with friends and family. I couldnt drink alcohol, but I asked everyone I knew to drink for me. And they did. I finished my treatment. I rang the proverbial bells, one for my last chemo treatment and one for my last rad cure, as I had started calling radiation. But I wasnt done with MD Anderson. I had to come back every two months to get scanned. Anaplastic thyroid cancer is like Rasputin it comes roaring back 80% of the time. At one point, I noticed a small growth on my face. It looks fine to me, said my radiation doctor. But you never can tell with this cancer. Im sending you to dermatology. The growth was benign and the dermatologist just froze it off, but I remembered the doctors respect for this cancer and the need for constant surveillance. I headed to the mountains of Colorado to be near my Telluride brother. I rented an Airbnb near his familys home in case my radiation side effects got bad. I hired a moving company to empty my apartment back in New York and put my belongings in storage in Hoboken. I was scared. I could feel unfamiliar prickling sensations in my neck. Was it just after effects of radiation? Or was it something terrible? The author running a 10K in Park City, Utah, in July 2023. The author running a 10K in Park City, Utah, in July 2023. Two days before Christmas, I got a call from Houston. We think youre a good candidate for immunotherapy, the nurse told me. Can you come back to Houston next week? Damn straight I could. I flew back to Houston. CT and PET scans showed I was still disease-free. I was the perfect candidate for immunotherapy. Basically, my endocrinologist told me, it opens your immune systems eyes to cancer. It helps my body keep me healthy and disease-free. Go back to Colorado and ski, my endocrinologist told me. Just dont break any bones. As I walked out of MD Anderson after hearing the good news, I wept tears of joy and gratitude. The deadly cancer Id been diagnosed with had just become a disease that is chronic but manageable. On a cold but clear blue-bird-sky January day in 2022, I stepped into my skis and glided over to Lift 7 at Telluride. The liftie scanned my T-Pass and up I went. On that first run down the hill, I reveled in the moment. The sparkling snow. The crisp air. The sky above me. Skis, mountain, snow, gravity and me, all working together. I was alive! I wanted to do that first run on my own, but then I caught up with my brother. He and I and one of his ski buddies rode up the Prospect Express lift together. What brings you here? the friend asked me. I took a deep breath and exhaled. The author's first time back in her skis and using her T-Pass at Telluride after she finished her cancer treatment (January 2022). The author's first time back in her skis and using her T-Pass at Telluride after she finished her cancer treatment (January 2022). Well, I said. And I told my story Aspen, New York, love, marriage, divorce. And cancer. I always planned on returning, I told him. And now, finally, I have. The friend was silent for a moment and then he looked at me. Welcome back, he said. Kate Rice is a runner, rock n roll singer and stand-up comic who performs mostly in the shower but sometimes on stage. Shes an author and former reporter. She lives in Park City, Utah, where she is a ski instructor and rock n roll radio DJ. Her new memoir, Cured: A Tale of Badassery, will be released on November 15, 2023. Do you have a compelling personal story youd like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what were looking for here and send us a pitch. Related... KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) Hamas on Friday freed an American woman and her teenage daughter it had held hostage in Gaza, Israel said, the first such release from among the roughly 200 people the militant group abducted from Israel during its Oct. 7 rampage. The two Americans, Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie, were out of the Gaza Strip and in the hands of the Israeli military, an army spokesman said. Hamas said it released them for humanitarian reasons in an agreement with the Qatari government. The release comes amid growing expectations of an expected ground offensive that Israel says is aimed at rooting out Hamas militants who rule the Gaza Strip. Israel said Friday it does not plan to take long-term control over the tiny territory, home to some 2.3 million people. As the Israeli military punished Gaza with airstrikes, authorities inched closer to bringing aid from Egypt to desperate families and hospitals. Fighting between Israel and militants in neighboring Lebanon also raged, prompting evacuations of Lebanese and Israeli border towns as fears of a widening conflict grew. In this undated photo provided by Rabbi Meir Hecht on behalf of the Raanan family is Judith Raanan, left, and her daughter Natalie, 18, after Natalies recent high school graduation. Judith and Natalie are missing while visiting relatives in Nahal Oz for Simchat Torah, a festive Jewish holiday that marks the conclusion of the annual reading of the Torah. (Raanan Family via AP) Judith and Natalie Ranaan had been on a trip from their home in suburban Chicago to Israel to celebrate the Jewish holidays, family said. They were in the kibbutz of Nahal Oz, near Gaza, on Oct. 7 Simchat Torah, a festive Jewish holiday when Hamas fighters stormed out of the territory into southern Israeli towns, killing hundreds and abducting 203 others. The family heard nothing from them since the attack and were later told by U.S. and Israeli officials that they were being held in Gaza, Natalies brother Ben said. I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been wracked with fear, U.S. President Joe Biden said. The International Committee of the Red Cross, which transported the freed Americans from Gaza to Israel, said their release was a sliver of hope. Relatives of other captives welcomed the release and appealed for the others to be freed. We call on world leaders and the international community to exert their full power in order to act for the release of all the hostages and missing, the statement said. Qatar said it would continue its dialogue with Israel and Hamas in hopes of winning the release of all hostages with the ultimate aim of de-escalating the current crisis and restoring peace. Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Israel was continuing to work to return hostages and find the missing, and its goals had not changed. We are continuing the war against Hamas and ready for the next stage of the war, he said. A potential Israeli ground assault is likely to lead to a dramatic escalation in casualties on both sides in urban fighting. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed in the war mostly civilians slain during the Hamas incursion. More than 4,100 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Health Ministry run by Hamas. That includes a disputed number of people who died in a hospital explosion earlier this week. Speaking to lawmakers about Israels long-term plans for Gaza, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant laid out a three-stage plan that seemed to suggest that Israel did not intend to reoccupy the territory it left in 2005. First, Israeli airstrikes and maneuvering a presumed reference to a ground attack would aim to root out Hamas. Next will come a lower intensity fight to defeat remaining pockets of resistance. And, finally, a new security regime will be created in Gaza along with the removal of Israels responsibility for life in the Gaza Strip, Gallant said. Gallant did not say who Israel expected to run Gaza if Hamas is toppled or what the new security regime would entail. Israel occupied Gaza from 1967 until 2005, when it pulled up settlements and withdrew soldiers. Two years later, Hamas took over. Some Israelis blame the withdrawal from Gaza for the sporadic violence that has persisted since then. The humanitarian crisis has worsened for Gazas civilians every day since Israel halted entry of supplies two weeks ago, depleting fuel, food, water and medicine. Two days after Israel announced a deal to allow Egypt to send in aid, the border remained closed Friday as Egypt repaired the Rafah crossing, damaged by Israeli strikes. Over a million people have been displaced in Gaza. Many heeded Israels orders to evacuate the northern part of the sealed-off enclave on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. But Israel has continued to bomb areas in southern Gaza where Palestinians had been told to seek safety. Although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called areas in the south safe zones earlier this week, Israeli military spokesman Nir Dinar said Friday: There are no safe zones. Some Palestinians who had fled from the north appeared to be going back because of bombings and difficult living conditions in the south, said Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the U.N. human rights office. Gazas overwhelmed hospitals were rationing their dwindling resources . Generators in Shifa Hospital, Gazas largest, were operating at the lowest setting to conserve fuel while providing power to vital departments such as intensive care, hospital director Mohammed Abu Selmia said. Others worked in darkness. I dont know how long (the fuel) will last. Every day we evaluate the situation, he said. The lack of medical supplies and water are making it difficult to treat the mass of victims from the Israeli strikes, he said. The Palestine Red Crescent Society said it had received a threat from the Israeli military to bomb Al-Quds Hospital and has demanded the hospitals immediate evacuation. The Gaza City hospital has more than 400 patients and thousands who of displaced civilians who sought refuge on its grounds, it said. Work continued Friday to repair the road at the Rafah crossing with Egypt, Gazas only entry point not controlled by Israel. Trucks unloaded gravel, and bulldozers and other equipment was used to fill in large craters. A U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a rapidly changing situation said aid had been delayed because of ongoing road repairs, and that it was expected to move across the border Saturday. More than 200 trucks and some 3,000 tons of aid were positioned near the crossing. Israel said the supplies could only go to civilians and that it would thwart any diversions by Hamas. It was unclear if fuel for the hospital generators would be allowed to enter. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited the crossing Friday and appealed for the quick movement of aid into Gaza, calling it the difference between life and death. Israel has evacuated its own communities near Gaza and Lebanon, putting residents up in hotels elsewhere in the country. The Defense Ministry announced evacuation plans Friday for Kiryat Shmona, a town of more than 20,000 residents near the Lebanese border. Three Israelis including a 5-year-old girl were wounded in a rocket attack there Thursday, according to Israeli health services. Lebanons Hezbollah militant group, which has a massive arsenal of long-range rockets, has traded fire with Israel along the border on a near-daily basis and hinted it might join the war if Israel seeks to annihilate Hamas. Iran supports both armed groups. The violence in Gaza has also sparked protests across the region, including in Arab countries allied with the U.S. Palestinians in Gaza reported heavy airstrikes in Khan Younis, a town in the territorys south, and ambulances carrying men, women and children streamed into the local Nasser Hospital. Late Thursday, an Israeli airstrike hit a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza City housing displaced Palestinians. Gazas Health Ministry said 16 Palestinian Christians were killed. The military said it had targeted a Hamas command center nearby, causing damage to a church wall The Greek Orthodox Patriarchy of Jerusalem condemned the attack and said it would not abandon its religious and humanitarian duty to provide assistance. Palestinian militants have launched unrelenting rocket attacks into Israel more than 6,900 since Oct. 7, according to Israel and tensions have flared in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Israel has targeted militants in raids across the occupied territory. On Friday, two Palestinian teenagers were killed in clashes in the West Bank, where more than 80 Palestinians have been killed over the past two weeks. Associated Press journalists Amy Teibel, Ravi Nessman, Julia Frankel and Isabel Debre in Jerusalem; Samy Magdy and Jack Jeffery in Cairo; Matthew Lee in Washington, and Ashraf Sweilam in el-Arish, Egypt, contributed to this report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Rep. Jim Jordan tried and failed for the third time Friday to become the new speaker of the House of Representatives. Jordan, R-Ohio, lost even more ground compared to his previous attempt on Thursday, with three more Republicans flipping to vote against his bid for the gavel. The House has been without a speaker for more than two weeks since the far-right faction of the Republican bloc initiated a push to oust Rep. Kevin McCarthy , R-Calif., from the Houses top job. Eight Republicans, including Reps. Andy Biggs and Eli Crane of Arizona, joined with House Democrats in voting to remove McCarthy. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump, lost a third bid to become Speaker of the House. Until a speaker is elected, the chamber won't be able to perform most of its basic legislative tasks. That includes approving funds that will be needed to keep the government open ahead of a Nov. 17 shutdown deadline. Here's how Arizona's delegation voted Friday in the third round. Rep. Andy Biggs Jim Jordan Biggs, R-Ariz., who was among the Republicans who initially voted to oust McCarthy, voted for Jordan. "If you, the American people, want Jim Jordan as your Speaker, keep calling your Representatives," Biggs wrote in a social media post after the Friday vote. Biggs appeared to reference criticism that Jordan had been using bullying tactics to sway moderate Republican holdouts to vote for him. "Don't go scorched-earth, but respectfully let your voices be heard," he wrote. Rep. Juan Ciscomani Jim Jordan Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., also voted for Jordan. He previously called McCarthy's removal "pointless, unproductive, and harmful," and endorsed Jordan Tuesday in a social media post. Rep. Eli Crane Jim Jordan Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., voted for Jordan, whom he has defended. "The Swamp doesn't want @Jim_Jordan to be Speaker of the House. That tells you all you need to know," Crane wrote Monday in a social media post. "He threatens the status quo, which is why I'm supporting him." Rep. Ruben Gallego Hakeem Jeffries Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., joined the House's entire Democratic delegation in voting for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. Rep. Raul Grijalva Hakeem Jeffries Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., also voted for Jeffries. He wrote in a social media post that Jordan is "not fit to lead the chamber," noting, among other things, Jordan's alleged involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on Capitol Hill. A reminder that Jim Jordan, the House GOP speaker designee, wants to gut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. He's never passed a bill. And he helped plan the January 6th insurrection. He's not fit to lead this Chamber. https://t.co/8Kk53WL11M Raul M. Grijalva (@RepRaulGrijalva) October 20, 2023 Rep. Paul Gosar Jim Jordan Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., voted for Jordan, whom he endorsed early in the Speakership contest, describing him as tenacious, smart and America First. Rep. Debbie Lesko Jim Jordan Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz., voted for Jordan as well. She originally endorsed his Republican challenger, Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., but backed Jordan after he won support from the Republican caucus. My statement on the House Speaker race pic.twitter.com/gQF4RCyHix Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (@RepDLesko) October 6, 2023 Rep. David Schweikert Jim Jordan Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., also voted for Jordan. Schweikert previously criticized the move to oust McCarthy, and has described Jordan as a "personal friend." Rep. Greg Stanton Hakeem Jeffries Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Ariz., voted for Jeffries. He, along with Grijalva, has said that he would consider voting for a moderate Republican who he considers trustworthy. Laura Gersony is a national politics reporter for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @lauragersony. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Is there a new speaker of the House? See how Friday's House vote went BEIJING, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- China's electronic information manufacturing industry has maintained steady expansion since the start of the year, bolstering the recovery of the country's industrial economy, an official said Friday. From January to September, China's mobile phone production reached 1.09 billion units, an increase of 0.8 percent year on year. In September alone, China's mobile phone output jumped 11.8 percent from a year ago, said Tao Qing, spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The output of solar cells was 384 gigawatts during the first three quarters, soaring 63.2 percent year on year. Fixed-asset investment in the electronic information manufacturing sector jumped 10.2 percent year on year during the period, 7.1 percentage points higher than the national fixed-asset investment growth rate, Tao said. Despite the lackluster global economy, exports of electronic products maintained growth. The export value of TV sets jumped 15.1 percent year on year from January to September, while those of lithium batteries and solar cells skyrocketed 48 percent and 5.1 percent, respectively, year on year, Tao said. A judge ordered a Delaware man accused of kidnapping an 11-year-old Wayne girl he met through online gaming to remain detained following his initial appearance in Passaic County court Friday afternoon. Darius Matylewich, 27, will stay in jail on charges of first-degree kidnapping and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, Judge Imre Karaszegi ruled. The judge cited the defendant's "initial obstructive behavior" when questioned about the girl's disappearance, along with his lack of ties to the community and risk of flight given the seriousness of the charges, in making his decision. Matylewich was arrested Sept. 10 in Bear, Delaware, after Wayne Police responded to a report of a missing 11-year-old girl that day. An investigation determined Matylewich met the girl while playing video games online and brought her from Wayne to Bear without her parents' knowledge or consent, according to the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office. Jillian Elko, Matylewich's attorney, argued that there were "no allegations here of any nefarious intent by my client" in the alleged kidnapping. The girl had reported abuse by her mother that led to her hospitalization, Elko stated, and she begged Matylewich to pick her up from "an unhealthy and unstable living situation." Elko also said Matylewich repeatedly discouraged her from running away and, after picking her up, asked her several times if she wanted to go back. 'Such a good thing': Health officials in Wayne open hub for senior services But Passaic County assistant prosecutor Jessica Petrella argued that the relationship between the girl and Matylewich, a man more than twice her age, was inappropriate. If Matylewich was concerned for the girl's safety, she said, he had other options besides taking her back to his home. "His responsibility as an adult is to understand that you don't take matters into your own hands and take a child across state lines," Petrella said. "You encourage that child to reach out to someone that they trust, or when he picked her up, he could have taken her to the Wayne Police Department. There was no intention to give law enforcement notice of the fact that he had this child." Karaszegi noted that Matylewich was "evasive" when asked if the girl was with him prior to his arrest and initially answered "in the negative." Following his arrest, the judge said, Matylewich told a police officer that he "thought I could do this on my own." Local: 'One of the most significant projects' in North Jersey will take years to finish The girl left the hotel where she lived with her mother and brother around 5:30 a.m. on Sept. 10, Petrella said during the hearing. Her brother originally thought she was leaving for school before realizing it was a Sunday, at which point he called his mother, who was working overnight. The mother returned home and called the Wayne Police Department, Petrella said. She told authorities she had filed a missing person's report for her daughter in June, but the girl returned 90 minutes later and said she had met up with a man named Darius she talked to on the online game platform Roblox. The girl was grounded after the incident, but her mother believed she may have continued to communicate with the man via other family members' phones, Petrella said. On the morning of the girl's disappearance, Wayne Police officers used database technology to determine Matylewich's last name and mobile phone number. When contacted, Matylewich initially denied knowing the girl's whereabouts but ultimately admitted to picking her up and driving her back to his home. He then provided his address, where local police officers arrived at 9:25 a.m. the same day. Matylewich faces up 10 to 30 years in prison if convicted of kidnapping. The child endangerment charge carries an additional sentence of three to five years. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Delaware man accused of kidnapping Wayne NJ girl to remain in jail Like most people, the state of Kentucky has a lawyer, the attorney general, to advise it on legal matters and represent it when it goes to court. Voters on Nov. 7 get to hire a new one because the Republican incumbent, Daniel Cameron, is running for governor. In fact, most of the recent attorneys general have run for governor, including Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear , now seeking a second term. The job of attorney general is widely seen as a stepping stone to the Governors Mansion for ambitious young politicians. Given those stakes, when attorneys general and governors come from opposing parties as they usually have in Kentucky since 2004 they act less like lawyer and client and more like bitter rivals. One of Camerons campaign themes this year is how often he has sued Beshear, to block Beshears COVID-19 public health restrictions, for example, and to promote the legislatures abortion restrictions despite Beshears opposition. So, who steps into the arena next? Democrats this year nominated state Rep. Pamela Stevenson of Louisville. Stevenson is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel and judge advocate general, or a military lawyer. After leaving the service in 2011, she founded a nonprofit law firm in southern Indiana to assist senior citizens, veterans and families. Stevenson gained national attention earlier this year with a passionate speech opposing an omnibus measure against transgender youths. Rising angrily in the House, she chastised her Republican colleagues, who control the legislature, for repeatedly putting a target on transgender youths throughout the legislative session. We have created an environment of hate! Stevenson shouted during the House floor debate. And then we look at them like theres something wrong with them! she continued. First you hated Black people. Then you hated Jews. Now youre hating everybody! So the question is when the only people left are you, will you hate yourself? Power concedes nothing! Republicans picked Louisville lawyer and lobbyist Russell Coleman, whom President Donald Trump appointed as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky during his administration. Coleman also previously worked as legal counsel for U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, where he met and mentored a University of Louisville intern named Daniel Cameron. The two men, now sharing the statewide ballot, remain close friends. Although Coleman is a former federal prosecutor and Trump has been indicted four times this year on serious criminal charges, Coleman has campaigned on his connection to the ex-president. He touts the Trump/Coleman approach to law enforcement. In August 2022, FBI agents searched Trumps Mar-A-Lago estate in Florida to recover hundreds of classified documents, some related to U.S. intelligence on foreign countries, leading to one of the indictments against him. Coleman himself a former FBI agent issued a statement of sympathy for the man who appointed him. All we know is theres a dispute over paperwork, which to many Americans would make a raid seem like politically motivated overkill, Coleman said at the time. Coleman and Stevenson both have enough money to air television commercials, but he has a lot more than her. As of their Oct. 11 campaign-finance reports, Coleman disclosed just over $1 million in receipts and $888,280 cash on hand much of it from the network of Washington and Frankfort lobbyists and political action committees that typically back former McConnell aides when they seek elected office. Some PACs donating to Coleman represent industries, like utilities and health care, that he would be required to watchdog as attorney general. Stevenson reported $287,012 in receipts and $43,752 on hand, often in smaller donations of $10 to $50. The attorney general employs about 200 people in Frankfort and branch offices across the state. Among its duties, it supports local prosecutors and handles criminal appeals; it helps distribute hundreds of millions of dollars from the national opioid settlement; it represents ratepayers when utilities ask to raise their prices before the Public Service Commission; it investigates consumer fraud; and it decides whether the states open records and open meetings laws have been violated by public officials. Pamela Stevenson, the Democrat Stevenson was born and raised in Louisville. When she returned home after a career of globe-trotting with the Air Force, she started practicing law across the Ohio River in southern Indiana. In 2020, she entered politics by winning a Kentucky House seat. As a member of the shrunken Democratic minority, Stevensons role is mostly limited to fruitlessly protesting as the legislatures Republican super-majority passes bills banning abortion, limiting food benefits for poor children and the like. State Rep. Pamela Stevenson, D-Louisville, debated a bill in the Kentucky House on March 30, 2021. Her professional life, straddling the Kentucky/Indiana state line, created problems for her as she ran for attorney general. Until this year, Stevenson was not licensed to practice law in Kentucky by the Kentucky Bar Association. She was licensed in Indiana. She recently sat for the necessary legal ethics exam, so her practice in Kentucky is temporarily authorized pending admission to the Kentucky Bar Association, the KBA states. The state Constitution does not require Kentuckys attorney general to be a Kentucky lawyer. But the Coleman campaign enjoys pointing out that Stevenson wants to be the states top law officer without ever having tried a case inside a Kentucky courtroom. By contrast, Coleman has held a Kentucky law license for nearly 20 years. In a recent interview with the Herald-Leader, Stevenson said her travels around Kentucky this year, speaking to voters, convinced her the attorney generals office has been too politicized. Kentuckians are tired of hearing about their states top lawyer suing the president and the governor over ideological disagreements, she said. The commercial that he (Cameron) has, saying Ive sued Governor Beshear 27 times? she said. Well, we still have children who are hungry and not being fed at school. People just want their lives to work. And they ask some pretty straightforward questions, like, Why do yall talk about stuff that doesnt matter to us? she said. Stevenson said she would help make communities safer by securing more funding for law enforcement and drug addiction treatment programs. In different communities, she said, she would take her cues from what local leaders and residents tell her about their individual needs. But just because she supports law enforcement doesnt mean she always takes the side of police. I will not support anyone that are shooting innocent people for no reason, period, she said. I love police officers. We have got to have someone with authority to handle the squabbles that human beings get into. ... So I back them and the professionals that I know deserve backing. Stevenson said she gained invaluable executive experience when she was deployed around the world in the Air Force, ordered to solve difficult problems as a commanding officer. They put me in some of the harshest places where I didnt speak the language. Places where I was not wanted (in) the Middle East, (as) a short, Black woman, she said. They put me in those places to effect change for America. And the best way to effect change they would ask me, How are you always so successful, no matter where we send you? its because I believe in partnerships. I believe in direct communication. And I believe in being accessible. Russell Coleman, the Republican Coleman declined repeated requests to be interviewed for this article. He grew up in several different communities around rural Western Kentucky, graduating from Logan County High School and, later, the University of Kentucky and UK law school. U.S. District Judge David Hale swore in Russell Coleman as the U.S. attorney in Louisville on Sept. 22, 2017. Starting in 2004, Coleman spent more than five years as a special agent in the FBI and as a briefing coordinator to two attorneys general in the U.S. Department of Justice. His next five years were with McConnell in the Senate. Before and after his time as Trumps U.S. attorney for the Western District of Kentucky, Coleman has been a partner with the mega-firm of Frost Brown Todd, in its Louisville office. He both practices law white-collar criminal defense, internal investigations and lobbies in Washington and elsewhere for the firms CivicPoint government relations subsidiary. Among Colemans lobbying clients have been various criminal-justice reform groups, including the U.S. Justice Action Network. In Kentucky and other states, he has urged earlier parole, better re-entry programs for former prison inmates and more addiction treatment in certain common sense cases, as he calls them. In 2016, he testified before the Kentucky General Assembly in support of House Bill 40, which passed, allowing for the expungement of some felony records for an estimated 100,000 Kentuckians. As U.S. attorney, Coleman was like most prosecutors willing to work out plea deals with more lenient sentences rather than bring every case into a courtroom for trial. In a 2018 case he prosecuted, for example, Johnny Boone, 74, head of the so-called Cornbread Mafia, was sentenced to federal prison for nearly five years for a large marijuana growing operation found on his Washington County farm. Boone was on the run for eight years until authorities located him in Canada. Boone originally faced a minimum sentence of 20 years in prison. It was his third marijuana cultivation arrest. Prosecutors never explained why they cut Boone a break. Marijuana is a young persons gateway to a lifetime of drug abuse and associated crime, Coleman said as he closed the case. In another plea deal that year, Coleman asked for one year in prison for a corrupt cop, Kyle Willett, a Louisville narcotics detective who stole about $40,000 in cash from a package meant to be used as evidence against a drug trafficker. The judge presiding over the case ended up sentencing Willett to only five months in prison and five months on home detention. In December 2019, Republican Gov. Matt Bevin issued a flood of controversial pardons and commutations on his way out of office after Beshear defeated him, including some to violent criminals. Coleman was among those in law enforcement who expressed concern. Months later, his office won an indictment on new federal charges against one of Bevins commutation recipients, Dayton Jones of Hopkinsville. Jones had been one of four men at a 2014 party convicted of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy. The U.S. attorneys office pursued child pornography charges because Jones recorded a short video of the abuse on his phone and posted it on Snapchat. Jones was sentenced to eight years in prison. In his campaign ads, Coleman calls himself a law and order conservative who will fight the deadly drugs flooding our streets, walking with police officers and firing a gun alongside them at a target range. He said his focus, if elected, would be stopping illegal drugs coming from over a porous Southwest border. We must tackle the drug epidemic in this commonwealth, the poison thats pouring into Kentucky, Coleman told the nonprofit group Kentucky Youth Advocates in an interview posted last month. Twenty-two hundred Kentuckians last year that died, he said. Twenty-two hundred people to drug-related deaths! Six hundred, approximately, here in Jefferson County alone, driven largely by fentanyl. United Airlines United Airlines has a secret. And despite being loyal to the airline for years, I was unaware that it was practically right under my nose at Newark Liberty International Airport. Then last year, a friend asked me if it was worth going to the invite-only restaurant in Terminal C. Clueless (and embarrassed since she asked me as travel pro!), I asked what she was referring toand thats when I learned about Classified, an OTG-operated United restaurant hidden behind a secret door near gate C120, reserved for those who score a coveted invitation. Making its debut in 2017, the dining experience closed during the pandemic and reopened last year. Having once spent nearly 24 hours (because of flight cancellations) at Newark terminals Polaris lounge, I thought I had already seen the best of Uniteds offerings in Jersey, so I filed the information in my back pocket. But thenin the most Hogwarts letter-like moment of my lifethree days before my United flight from Estonia back to EWR airport in August, my inbox glowed with the subject line: Here's the secret passwordyou're invited to Classified. The message went on to say that, as one of the carrier's most valued customers," I was one of the select few to receive an invite to the contemporary" restaurant, which they described as an upscale dining space, tucked away from the crowds in Terminal C, offers a seasonally influenced menu featuring fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. United Airlines When I clicked on the page, it turned out my MileagePlus number served as the code to get me onto the site, where I could book a reservation. With my flight landing at 8:15 p.m., I snagged one of the last slots of the night at 8:30 p.m., and received confirmation for my reservation. Excited to end my trip with such an exclusive meal on my home turf, I tucked a change of clothes suitable for an airport speakeasy into my backpack, and carefully managed what I ate on the return trip to save space for the meal. When we landed early, I was thrilled to have extra time in Classified, and eagerly read the instructions again. When you arrive at the airport, please make your way to Saison, a restaurant located in Terminal C near Gate C120, the confirmation said. After you let the host know that youre dining at Classified, youll be escorted to a private entrance and seated at your table. Thats when I came to the realization thatinvitation or notI had just flown in from Europe, and needed to go through immigration, which would lead me straight out of the terminal and nowhere near the C gates. Logically, I knew I couldn't defy border control just for a meal I really wanted to trybut I had to try! I started asking every single personfrom United employees passing by to the border security officers at Global Entryhow to get to the secret restaurant. Everyone looked back at me with the same reaction: cluelessness. That's when I started to think that perhaps this was all a ruse. I had nearly given up on things when I came upon a baggage claim employee who perked up the moment he heard, Classified" and started jumping up and down. As it turned out, he had just received the invite himself a few weeks back and knew what a privilege it was, and started showering me with Congratulations. So, you can get me a gate pass, so I get to my reservation, right? I asked. Naturally, no luck. I left the airport defeatedand hungry. A month later, I was back at Newarks Terminal C, bleary-eyed for 7 a.m. flight, when I realized I was walking past Saison, the gateway to Classified. In my hectic week leading up to the flight, I realized I had received another invite. I assumed it was another mistake, but standing right there at 5:45 a.m., I gave it a try and was able to make a 6 a.m. reservation. Standing on the right side of border control this time, I stepped up to the Saison waitstaff and said Classified. The hostess nodded in acknowledgment and scurried off. A few minutes later, another hostess arrived asking for Ms. Chang and led me through Saison to an innocuous black door in the back, and swung it open for me. I found myself in another world, far removed from the busy airport. The hostess guided me down a dark corridor with teal walls and dark tiling, lit by exposed vertical fluorescent lights. We stepped around a corner, and I found myself in a chic (but still cozy!) 32-seat dining room with elegant white drapes, rust-colored chairs, artful lighting and ceiling fixtures, and plenty of room to breathe. Running on just a couple of hours of sleep, I didnt realize that what I needed was to be completely doted on in that momentand thats exactly what happened. The friendly server never let down her constant state of upbeatness, letting me choose any seat (there was only one other person who left as soon as I sat down), so I took a corner seat of a 10-seat booth and scanned the QR code for the menu. Even more indecisive in the morning and worried about missing my boarding time, the server calmed me down and assured me that I had plenty of time. She helped me choose a farm omelet with caramelized onions, mushrooms, Havarti cheese, and potatoes, and let me substitute it with egg whites, for $25.75. Another party of four soon came in and sat on the other end. But having an entire half of the restaurant to myself and watching the sun rise over the airport while ensconced in the meditative, soft colors of Classified turned out to be the pre-flight experience I didnt realize I needed. As peaceful as the experience was, my quick half-hour breakfast cost $32.09including tax and tip. Not terrible for an airport meal, but as a current MileagePlus Gold status member, I could have had similar eggs and potatoes in the lounge for free, had this been an international flight. Since this was a domestic flight where I didn't qualify for lounge access, perhaps the 4,020 miles I ended up using was well worth it for a different kind of lounge experience and a restroom I didn't have to fight anyone for. After my experience, I reached out to United with a list of questions about Classifiedincluding who gets access and whether there were similar concepts in the works for the futureand they didnt answer my inquiry. But, in a way, that seems right in keeping with the spirit of it. So, how do you get an invite? Even though Ive had a glance of this magical world, apparently Ive retreated into Muggle territorythe most insight I was able to gather was from Classified's FAQ section after logging into the site. MileagePlus members are apparently all eligible to receive the invite, which can be for flights departing from or arriving at Newark. Diners do need a valid boarding pass to get to the restaurant (as I learned the hard way), and reservations can be made for parties of up to six, including children. All payments must be made with a credit or debit card, or using miles. While the information is sparse and my personal experience was a brief half-hour before a flight, peeling back the curtain on this secret world in a terminal I know so wellespecially something that so many of Uniteds own EWR employees dont know aboutstill ranked my breakfast as one of the most brag-worthy, and classified, travel experiences yet. Originally Appeared on Conde Nast Traveler Across shelters at the Wisconsin Humane Society, the average length of stay for a dog is nine days. For cats, it's 12 days. But some animals aren't as lucky. They might spend weeks, even months in the shelter. Here are some dogs and cats in Milwaukee and Ozaukee counties who've had the longest stay at the shelter and are still looking for their new home. Bella, a 4-year-old dog, has been waiting for a new home since summer 2023 Bella, a 4-year-old dog, arrived at the Wisconsin Humane Society Milwaukee Campus in June 2023. She is an active and inquisitive dog who should receive a lot of enrichment, the shelter said. Bella is a 4-year-old pup who arrived at the Wisconsin Humane Society Milwaukee Campus on June 10, 2023. Weighing 80 pounds, she's an active and inquisitive pup who's searching for a home where she'll get lots of love and enrichment. She'd do best with a family without kids under 8 or any other dogs. Location: Wisconsin Humane Society Milwaukee Campus, 4500 W. Wisconsin Ave. Adoption fee: $75 After her previous owner died, this 8-year-old cat has been looking for a new home Gurl has been at the Wisconsin Humane Society since June, 2023 when her owner passed away. She's seeking a quieter home without kids under five. Gurl is 8-year-old and arrived at the shelter on June 10, 2023 after her owner sadly died. She's shy and understandably cautious around new people and needs extra time to warm up on her own terms. She's looking for a quieter home without kids under 5 where she can adjust gradually and build bonds with her new family. Location: Wisconsin Humane Society Milwaukee Campus, 4500 W. Wisconsin Ave. Adoption Fee: Name your own adoption fee Cash, a mutt, has been looking for a home since August 2023 Cash has been searching for a home since his arrival at the Wisconsin Humane Society in August, 2023. He'll turn four this December and is looking for a family to celebrate with. Cash has been looking for a home since his arrival at the Wisconsin Humane Society back in August. He turns four in December and would love to celebrate with a family of his own. He's often overlooked by potential adopters because he displays signs of barrier reactivity, which means he gets very excitable and barks when other dogs walk past his suite, but he has so much love to give. Location: Wisconsin Humane Society Ozaukee Campus, 630 W. Dekora St., Saukville Adoption fee: $75 The Wisconsin Humane Society has had this cat for more than 135 days Rooster arrived at the Wisconsin Humane Society more than 135 days ago. He had been living outside and required a surgical procedure to correct a painful eye condition. Rooster arrived at the Wisconsin Humane Society more than 135 days ago. He's a handsome 6-year-old who was living outside and required a surgical procedure to correct a painful eye condition that he'd likely been struggling with for some time. He also tested positive for Feline Leukemia Virus, which weakens his immune system, but he hasn't been showing any clinical signs of illness at the shelter. Location: Wisconsin Humane Society Ozaukee Campus, 630 W. Dekora St., Saukville Adoption Fee: Name your own fee This terrier mix has been at MADACC for six weeks Star is a 3-year-old Terrier mix who's been looking for her home since September 4, 2023. Star is a 3-year-old spayed terrier mix that's been at the shelter since Sept. 4. She'd prefer a house without any feline siblings, and the shelter recommends bringing in any future canine siblings for a meet and greet. Location: Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission, 3839 W. Burnham St. Adoption fee: Waived Baloney, the domestic short hair cat, has been at MADACC since mid September 2023 Baloney is a 4-year-old domestic short hair. He's been at the shelter since September 15, 2023. Baloney is a 4-year-old neutered domestic short hair that's been at the shelter since Sept. 15. While Baloney is an incredibly sweet cat, his face might say otherwise. That's because Baloney suffers from "grumpy cat face." Not to worry. Baloney is absolutely wonderful and would make an excellent companion. Location: Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission, 3839 W. Burnham St. Adoption fee: Waived Should you adopt during the holiday season? Contrary to popular belief, adoptions during the holiday season can actually make for very successful placements, said Wisconsin Humane Society spokesperson Angela Speed. Return rates of animals adopted during the holidays are no different than any other time of the year, according to research conducted by American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The Wisconsin Humane Society doesn't see a spike in surrenders of newly-adopted animals after the holidays, said Speed. Many people actually have vacation time and are able to spend more time helping their new pet adapt to their new home. Also, most people who are considering adopting a new animal have been considering the process for a long time, said Speed. In a Wisconsin Humane Society survey of 10,000 people, more than 75% of adopters have been considering getting a pet for six months or longer. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin pet adoption: Cats, dogs with longest stays at shelters Update: Kansas City voters will no longer be able to cast their ballots or access any other election related services at Union Station. The election office will remain at its temporary Blue Parkway location until after the 2024 presidential election. Read the update here. The Kansas City Election Board office, which provides services to voters in Kansas City, has relocated as it searches for a new permanent office location. As of Sept. 26, the office is operating out of the Shops on Blue Parkway, located at 4407 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard just south of Brush Creek. Previously, the office was located inside Union Station in central Kansas City. Our lease (at Union Station) ended and we moved to a temporary space, an election office employee said Monday. We hope to have a new permanent place before too long. The current office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. On Election Day, Nov. 7, the office is open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. You can contact the Kansas City Election Board by emailing kceb@kceb.org or calling 816-842-4820. Do you have more questions about voting in Kansas City? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com. INDIANAPOLIS A coroner in Indiana has identified the remains of a ninth victim believed slain by Herbert Baumeister at Fox Hollow Farm more than three decades ago. Allen Livingston, of Indianapolis, who went missing when he was 27 years old in August 1993, was identified using DNA samples at the Indiana State Police lab. Hamilton County Coroner Jeff Jellison said Livingston was the first victim to be identified since the office sent a batch of 44 human remain samples to state police roughly 18 months ago. His family was also the first to submit a sample, Jellison said. Fox Hollow Farm killings: 20 people provide new DNA samples hoping to find loved ones Allen Livingston went missing in 1993. His remains were identified as among those buried at Fox Hollow Farm, home of suspected serial killer Herb Baumeister. Police had linked Baumeister to eight other victims found on an 18-acre Fox Hollow Farm in Westfield, north of Indianapolis. They were among the remains of an estimated 25 people found in June 1996, mostly young, gay men police suspect Baumeister lured from Indianapolis bars to the property before killing them. Livingston's cousin, Eric Pranger, submitted a DNA sample from Livingston's mother to Jellison because he suspected Livingston could be a victim. Pranger said he was 6 years old when Livingston went missing and didnt know him well. But he said there was an urgency to the request because Livingston's mother, Sharon, has terminal cancer and deserves an answer. I am a ball of emotion right now, he said. I am happy and sad. Happy he was identified and sad that it happened. Pranger said the disappearance has weighed heavily on Sharon, 77. You could see it at the holidays, he said. Shed be sad. She, too, is processing the new information, and was unavailable for comment, Pranger said. She is holding it together, he said. Jellison said he did not know the circumstances around Livinsgton's disappearance but past reporting indicates Livingstone was last seen in downtown Indianapolis. Allen Livingston's remains were found at the Fox Hollow Farm property owned by suspected serial killer Herb Baumeister. He went missing in 1993. This is a big success as far as our testing goes but once you think about celebrating you catch yourself because it means that someone was murdered, Jellison said. Hoosier true crime: Notorious crimes in Indianapolis-area history Livingston has an older brother and a younger sister and brother who grew up on the west side. Younger brother James Livingston, 53, said he was relieved to hear he was found. We always thought he could be out there, but not because he was known to visit the area, Livingston said. It was just an assumption that a lot of missing young men at the time ended up there, he said. Building DNA profiles The Indiana State Police lab has gained enough DNA evidence from the bone fragments the coroner submitted to build profiles on four other victims but so far none matches with evidence in the national DNA database, Jellison said. In addition, the lab still has three older full profiles that don't yet have a match so the potential victims that could be identified stands at 16, Jellison said. More than 10,000 pieces of remains were excavated and stored at the University of Indianapolis. There are scores more viable samples of DNA that can be tested. Jellison said the victims were killed and burned and their bone fragments were crushed and buried. Baumeister, 49, was the owner of Save-A-Lot stores. He shot and killed himself in Canada shortly after law enforcement began investigating Fox Hollow Farm in 1996. Two years after Baumeister's death, police concluded he also had killed nine other young men whose partially nude bodies were found dumped into shallow streams along I-70 across central Indiana and western Ohio during the 1980s. Listen: True crime podcasts about Indiana that should be on your playlist Call IndyStar reporter John Tuohy at john.tuohy@indystar.com. Follow him on Facebook and X/Twitter. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Fox Hollow Farm: 9th victim believed slain by Herbert Baumeister A suspect is still on the loose after he shot and killed a state judge at his home Thursday, hours after the judge ruled against him in a child custody case, a Maryland sheriff said Friday. This was a targeted attack against Judge (Andrew) Wilkinson, Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert said. The suspect, Pedro Argote, 49, is considered armed and dangerous, Albert said. Argote is 5-foot-7 and 130 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes, the sheriffs office said. He may be driving a silver 2009 Mercedes GL450 with Maryland plates. Pedro Argote - Washington County Sheriff's Office Argote did not attend the divorce hearing earlier Thursday at which Wilkinson granted child custody to Argotes partner, Albert said. Wilkinson, a county circuit court judge, was in his own driveway with his wife and son at home when he was shot, Albert said. The 52-year-old was found around 8 p.m. in the northern Maryland city of Hagerstown, then taken to a medical facility where he died, the sheriffs office said. Wilkinsons death spurred a wave of heightened security for judges throughout the county. Out of precautionary reasons, last night troopers were deployed to protect judges residing in Washington County, Maryland State Police said Friday. The court where Wilkinson worked now has a high-level of security, and all judges and court personnel are getting increased security, Circuit Court Administrative Judge Brett Wilson told CNN. The US Marshals Service is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to Argotes arrest, the agency said Friday. Wilkinsons death marks the latest in a series of threats and attacks against judges or their families. More than 1,300 threats or possible threats among federal court personnel were investigated in fiscal year 2022, according to the US Marshals Service. Last year, a Wisconsin judge was killed in a targeted attack, officials said. In August, a Texas woman was charged with threatening to kill a judge overseeing Trumps federal election interference case. And in 2020, an attorney who had argued a case before US District Court Judge Esther Salas went to her home and opened fire, killing the judges son and seriously wounding her husband. Since then, Salas has called for greater privacy protections for judges. The catastrophic loss of a renowned judge Born in Agana, Guam, Wilkinson had been an associate judge for the Washington County court since January 2020, according to his court biography. Colleagues who worked with Wilkinson as a lawyer and a judge described his stellar reputation. Drew was an exceptional lawyer and a man who loved his family, his former law partner Jason Divelbiss said in a written statement. His wife and kids were always his highest priority and my thoughts go out to them at this horrible time. Drew was also very close with his brother and the office always filled with laughter when he dropped by, Divelbiss wrote. One of Drews greatest assets was his ability to bring stability to the most difficult situations which is what made him a great attorney, mediator and eventually judge. Wilkinson was an excellent judge, truly committed to his community, said Wilson, the circuit court administrative judge. Staff members at the court will have access to support services as they grapple with Wilkinsons death, he said. The slain judge also had a contagious smile, wrote Neil Parrott, a former delegate in the Maryland House of Delegates. Judge Wilkinson was an exceptional judge and was a pillar in our community, Parrott said in a statement. The events tonight are catastrophic for Washington County, for Maryland, and for our justice system. Judge Wilkinson served faithfully and will be severely missed. CNNs Michelle Watson, Amanda Jackson, Lindsay Knight and Miguel Marquez contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com On Oct. 10, 2023, U.S. Rep. Cory Mills (R-Florida) read a report about a California-based church group who had been on a Holy Land tour when a Hamas terror group attacked Israel Oct. 7. He knew there were other Americans trapped in Israel as well after hearing more reports, due to major airlines' grounded flights to and from Israel. One of the Americans was on a Holy Land Tour. It didnt sit well with the former Afghanistan hero, and he made plans to charter aircraft to get 77 of them out of harms way and back to U.S. soil. I just immediately left D.C. and I just decided I couldnt sit there and do nothing anymore, Mills said in a report with New York Post. I campaigned on the fact that I wanted to be a statesman who acts and not a politician who talks. U.S. Rep. Cory Mills, R-New Smyrna Beach, shared this selfie of him helping bring 32 American citizens from warring Israel to Jordan. And he had rescued Americans stranded on foreign soil before. During his first rescue in 2021, one of those people happened to be an Amarillo native with her three sons, Mariam Rahim. In news reports gathered from September 2021, Mariam told of her harrowing ordeal. She was among the first Americans to escape Afghanistan after the hasty retreat in Aug. 31, 2021. She was visiting her father who was in poor health, and when she tried to get tickets to leave, there were none available. Mariam said they went to Kabul to get a flight and were turned away. The State Department called her and told her to go to the airport gate and show her passport and she could go in. They stayed 16 hours and then every night for eight hours with no help. Mariams husband, in Amarillo, got in touch with U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Amarillo). Jackson gave them all the information, copies of passports and everything they could find with no results. Jackson then called Mills, a friend and former contractor. He and his team gathered to make the rescue in Kabul. They literally had an aircraft circling the airfield and were told by the State Department and U.S. Military that they could not land, Jackson said in the report. Mariam said she continued to try to show the Taliban her passport and they threatened her with guns pulled to her head. Finally, the plane landed in the middle of the night, leaving Kabul and abandoning everyone. Jackson said that the Taliban was looking for Mariam and her family, knowing she was American. Mills and his team took her and her kids to a safe house 13 hours away. There were six planes on the ground, fueled, with crews ready. But the Taliban would not let the flights leave, deciding instead to keep the family as ransom, to demand the U.S. to recognize the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan. Mills's team then took them to the border of another country and for safety. The U.S. Embassy finally helped them get tourist visas to enter the country. At last, they let Mariam and her family across, and they were able to get on a flight and get back to America. Mariam said, Thank you. I thank you again for everybody to help me and especially Cory, who is my hero. When she returned, she said the State Department called her three times after her return to the U.S. They didnt know she was back in the country. To date, Mills has gotten 96 Americans out from Israel and has a charter aircraft ready to hold 218 passengers at no cost to Americans. He used his expertise to fly to Jordan on that Tuesday, cross into Israel by land and get his fellow countrymen out. Mills is a combat veteran and Bronze Star recipient. He was a part of the first successful overland mission in Afghanistan and knew he had to act quickly to mobilize and be on the ground to bring the stranded Americans home, he reported on a post on Facebook. God put me exactly where I was supposed to be, which is to help these people as much as I can. I literally tried to do this from start to stop to make sure that they knew, one, that theyre going to be taken care of and that theyre not left behind and forgotten by their own government, he said. I couldnt care less what district theyre from or whether they can vote for me, whether theyre Democrat or Republican, these are Americans who wanted to get home. After National Security Council spokesman John Kirbys announcement that Thursday that the U.S. would begin chartering flights out of Israel for Americans there, Mills was feeling more confident that his mission would continue once he leaves. Seeing the failure of the State Department I knew I had to act quickly, he said. Im honored to have been able to evacuate 96 Americans out of Israel thus far and with a charter of over 200 returning soon, and free of charge. Mills served in Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division and told America Reports he couldnt share the specifics of his mission or location due to operational concerns and constraints, but added that his work is not over in rescuing fellow countrymen from harms way. Some Americans found themselves stuck in areas that now lack a permissible environment for full escape, he said, adding that he also helped evacuate U.S. citizens and eligible individuals from Afghanistan during Bidens chaotic August 2021 withdrawal. I went in and was very thankful to be able to get in for the second time, by helping the administration who has failed to do their job, he reported. Mills alleged there was no plan for evacuating Americans from Israel, including purported church and synagogue groups visiting the Holy Land. This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Now helping with Israel, Rep. Mills rescued Amarillo woman in 2021 Most Americans believe Mexicos government shares responsibility with the U.S. to curb drug trafficking and illegal border crossings, while few view the southern neighbor as a close ally, according to a new study. A poll from the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found 64 percent of participants said both the U.S. and Mexican governments are responsible for preventing immigrants from Mexico entering the U.S. illegally, while 73 percent said both governments are responsible for preventing illegal drug trafficking. About 62 percent said they believe only the Mexican government is responsible for combating organized crime in Mexico. Despite these high numbers, only 16 percent of adults view Mexico as a close ally, and more adults were likely to have an unfavorable view 38 percent of Mexicos leadership than a favorable one 12 percent. About 7 in 10 described the U.S.s relationship with Mexico as at least friendly while 3 in 10 said it was more adversarial. The polls numbers come amid mounting pressure on both the U.S. and Mexico governments to prevent illegal border crossings in the wake of rising migrant encounters at the southwest border in recent months. Officials expect border crossings to remain high, regardless of U.S. border policy. The Biden administration has tried to fend off criticism from both sides of the aisle over the presidents immigration policies, as Republicans push for greater border security and Democrats demand more action on asylum-seekers. About 8 in 10 said they think illegal immigration prevention across the U.S.-Mexico border is an important foreign policy goal, while more than 7 in 10 said the same for creating more opportunities for legal immigration and increasing trade with Mexico. Democrats were more likely than Republicans to prioritize more opportunities for legal immigration 57 percent to 25 percent while Republicans were much more likely than Democrats to prioritize illegal immigration prevention 80 percent to 35 percent. The public believes immigration is a key U.S. foreign policy issue with Mexico that both countries are responsible for improving, said David Sterrett, a senior research scientist with The AP-NORC Center. Most adults view Mexican immigrants living in the U.S. legally favorably, but few have positive views of Mexican immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. Meanwhile, a majority of Americans, or 65 percent, still have a favorable view of Mexican culture, with 60 percent saying they engage with Mexican culture within the U.S. and 83 percent reporting interactions with those of Mexican heritage. This study shows that many adults in the U.S. engage with Mexican culture, and this engagement is related to their attitudes toward Mexican immigrants, said Sheila Kohanteb, forum executive director at the Pearson Institute for Study and Resolution of Global Conflict, in a statement. People who have engaged with Mexican culture in the U.S. are more likely than those who have not to hold favorable opinions of Mexican immigrants living in the U.S. both legally and illegally. The study was confused between Sept. 21-25 among 1,191 adults 18 and older from the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The overall margin of sampling error is 3.8 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. KIEV, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed an alternative "grain corridor" in the Black Sea over phone, said the presidential press service Thursday. During the conversation, Zelensky informed Guterres about the functioning of the "grain corridor" and underscored the importance of continuing the "Grain From Ukraine," a humanitarian food program launched in November 2022 to deliver Ukrainian grain to countries in need. Official statistics show Ukraine exported about 50,000 tons of goods last month via the temporary corridor in the Black Sea, which was established by Ukraine as an alternative to the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Zelensky invited Guterres to participate in the second summit on food security under the Grain from Ukraine program. A photo posted on the Asheville Police Twitter page January 14, 2022 with the caption: "APD Make Multiple Arrests in December Illegal Dumping Protests at Aston Park that Caused More than $2K in Cleanup." ASHEVILLE - Activists suing in federal court over a city park ban are now saying the ban should be lifted even before the case is decided, because it is violating their constitutional rights and interfering with their work helping the homeless. The city, meanwhile, has asked the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina to dismiss the suit, saying activists' entitlements to parks were forfeited after they committed crimes there. The motion for a preliminary injunction to quickly lift the ban is the latest move in the federal lawsuit filed in the spring by the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina on behalf of the 15 activists. Chief District Court Judge Martin Reidinger is presiding. "These bans have prevented plaintiffs from continuing their work supporting Ashevilles unhoused community members and from speaking out about issues that they are invested in and impacted by, based on criminal charges that for most plaintiffs are still pending, ACLU of NC staff attorney Muneeba Talukder said a day after filing the motion for a preliminary injunction. Instead of addressing Ashevilles growing housing crisis, the city has chosen to remove the voices that hold them accountable from some of the only public forums in the city," Talukder said in the Oct. 13 statement. The activists were charged with felony littering following a Christmas 2021 protest in Aston Park demanding shelter for the city's growing unhoused population. The city then banned them from Asheville parks for three years. Reached by the Citizen Times Oct. 13, Asheville City Attorney Brad Branham disputed the basis of motion to lift the ban before the case was decided "as well as the requested relief." "It is our intention to file a responsive brief to that effect. This will likely happen in the coming days," Branham said. He declined to comment further per what he said was the city's policy of minimizing substantive comments on active litigation. Police said the activists dumped more than 2,000 pounds of litter and refuse while protesting a series of police sweeps of encampments that winter and calling for sanctuary camping for the homeless population. More: How will Asheville city parks look in the future? Give input on Carrier, Azalea, more More: City owned Asheville facilities get 'C' grade: New study will map a future vision A Buncombe County Superior Court judge in September said a trial against two activists, Amy Hamilton and Pageant Quinn Nevel, must start over after police lost and submitted evidence late. Others defendants are awaiting trial, while two, as of April, pleaded guilty to lesser misdemeanors. In a related case that has drawn widespread attention from press freedom groups, journalists at the park were convicted June 16 in Buncombe County Superior Court of misdemeanor second-degree trespass. They are appealing. At the federal level, ACLU sued on behalf of the activists, saying in an April 18 complaint that the bans violated activists' constitutional rights including the First Amendment right to assemble and the 14th Amendment right against being deprived of life, liberty or property, without due process. Not being able to go in the parks also impacted their daily lives, volunteerism and work, the suit said. The city moved to dismiss the complaint, saying in a July 13 filing that a policy of restricting access to a public forum based on past criminal conduct was constitutional. "It is not surprising that numerous jurisdictions, including the state courts of the State of North Carolina, have concluded that the right to access public parks is not so deeply rooted in this nations history that the deprivation of said right for certain individuals threatens to undermine our societal understanding of liberty and justice, and have therefore held that such a right is not protected by the Due Process Clause," the city said in its motion for dismissal. The activists' said the dismissal was uncalled for, noting the bans are done without giving the subjects a chance to contest them or even notify them about the process or result. Restricted areas include greenways, public trails, paths, outdoor pools and community centers, the ACLU said in an Aug. 3 response. "Plaintiffs have experienced severe limitations on their ability to participate in community life because of these bans, resulting in social and economic harm to themselves and their families," they said. Lead plaintiff Sarah Norris, who has a young child, told the Citizen Times in April that the ban has been difficult on her child, but that the bigger issue "is that the city's policies allow people with power to restrict the rights of those they perceive as challenging their power." Asheville resident Sarah Norris embraces her daughter in their West Asheville backyard on May 3, 2022. "It happened to us this time, but it could happen to anyone who inconveniences the city's narrative of itself, and we are working to make sure no one else can be targeted this way." The case is assigned to Chief District Court Judge Martin Reidinger and U.S. Magistrate Judge W. Carleton Metcalf. No dates have been set for rulings on the motions. More: What to know: How can you find emergency homeless shelter on freezing nights in Asheville? From a Days Inn to a 'forever home': Compass Point offers safety and home to the homeless Joel Burgess has lived in WNC for more than 20 years, covering politics, government and other news. He's written award-winning stories on topics ranging from gerrymandering to police use of force. Got a tip? Contact Burgess at jburgess@citizentimes.com, 828-713-1095 or on Twitter @AVLreporter. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times. This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: ACLU: federal court must lift Asheville park ban now; city: toss suit Republicans in Tennessee's Congressional delegation continue to support House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, even after two failed bids to secure enough votes to become U.S. House speaker. Jordan said on Thursday he would not seek a third vote for the speakership immediately, instead endorsing expanding the powers of Speaker Pro Tem Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., in order to pass critical business. Speaker Pro Tempore Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., presides over the House of Representatives as House lawmakers vote to elect a new speaker in Washington on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. House Republicans nominated the chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, to the speakership last week. Jordan's chances of earning 217 votes, the number needed to become speaker, are unclear. A growing coalition in the Republican Conference backs empowering McHenry, who has served as interim speaker since former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy , R-Calif. was ousted earlier this month, to serve as temporary speaker. But by the end of the day, as it became clear that there is no path forward for McHenry as temporary speaker, Jordan renewed his candidacy for the job. All eight Republicans in the U.S. House had backed Jordan through the second vote Wednesday and two reiterated their support for Jordan as discussions continued Thursday. Here's where they stand: Rep. Mark Green Still Jim Jordan U.S. Rep. Mark Green, R-Clarksville, was one of Jordans earliest supporters and has advocated publicly for him throughout the last week. He continued to back a Jordan speakership, even after Jordan announced support to temporarily install McHenry in the post. It is clear that my constituents agree with what I said to my colleagues earlier today: Just two votes in four days is not enough," Green said in a statement to The Tennessean. "We went through 15 rounds for Speaker McCarthy, we need to stay here until we elect Jim Jordannot empower a Speaker Pro Tem in the meantime. Rep. Andy Ogles Still Jim Jordan U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Columbia, also continues to back Jordan for speaker. He has vocally advocated for the Republican conference to unite around Jordan this week. "We cannot let interpersonal politics compromise our party's core values. Backing the motion to empower the interim Speaker is akin to endorsing Speaker Jeffries, and it distorts the very Constitution we pledged to uphold while blatantly disregarding the voices of our constituents," Ogles said in a statement Thursday. "The Washington establishment is at it again," he said. "I made a vow to oppose such tactics, and I remain steadfast in upholding my oath to protect and preserve our Constitution." Rep. Tim Burchett unknown After voting to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy earlier this month, U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Knoxville, supported Jordan in floor votes on Tuesday and Wednesday. His office did not respond to a request for comment for this story. Rep. Scott DesJarlais unknown U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-South Pittsburg, had voted for Jordan on Tuesday and Wednesday. His office did not respond to a request for comment for this story. Rep. Diana Harshbarger unknown U.S. Rep. Diana Harshbarger, R-Kingsport, had voted for Jordan on Tuesday and Wednesday. Her office did not respond to a request for comment for this story. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann unknown After initially supporting Majority Leader Steve Scalise, U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Ooltewah, voted for Jordan on Tuesday and Wednesday. His office did not respond to a request for comment for this story. Rep. David Kustoff unknown U.S. Rep. David Kustoff, R-Germantown, voted for Jordan on Tuesday and Wednesday. His office did not respond to a request for comment for this story. Rep. John Rose unknown U.S. Rep. John Rose had voted for Jordan on Tuesday and Wednesday. Vivian Jones covers state government and politics for The Tennessean. Reach her at vjones@tennessean.com or on X and Threads @Vivian_E_Jones. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: US House speaker race: Where TN Republicans stand on Rep. Jim Jordan Leer en espanol Phoenix has been named one of eight winners in Bloomberg Philanthropies' Public Art Challenge grant contest, earning recognition for a project that will highlight the threats of urban heat and climate change. The announcement was made Thursday at the CityLab conference on urban issues in Washington D.C. Selected cities will each receive up to $1 million for temporary public art projects that address urgent civic issues ranging from health care disparities, to food security, to gun violence, to drought. The other seven recipients of this year's grants are Atlanta, Baltimore, Honolulu, Houston, Orlando, Philadelphia and Salt Lake City. Phoenix's proposed project, Sombra!, will address extreme urban heat worsened by climate change with shading and cooling installations throughout the city in parks and neighborhoods identified through heat mapping as having the greatest need. Nine artists will be commissioned to contribute. These projects were selected for their compelling creativity and commitment to serving their communities, Kate Levin, who leads the Bloomberg Philanthropies Arts Program, said in a statement.We look forward to supporting these teams as they bring their visionary projects to life over the next two years. A climber watches the sunrise from the summit of Piestewa Peak in Phoenix on July 16, 2023, on the 16th day in a row of temperatures 110 degrees or more. Phoenix's success in this contest may be related to its status as holder of the new record for hottest month in any U.S. city, set this July when temperatures hit 110 degrees Fahrenheit on all but one day. The average temperature that month in Phoenix was 102.7 degrees, a staggering 3.6 degrees higher than the previous local record of 99.1 degrees set in August 2020. The July heat wave also saw Phoenix break the record for highest overnight low at 97 degrees, break or tie daily high records on 12 days, hit 119 degrees on three different days, and set a new longest stretch for number of days under an excessive heat warning. Scientists understand the warming trend to be a result of both climate change, which is largely caused by heat-trapping greenhouse gases emitted when fossil fuels are burned for energy, and the urban heat island effect, which results from development causing temperatures to rise as manmade structures like concrete and asphalt retain more heat from the sun than natural surfaces. Investigation on heat and housing in AZ: As Arizona builds to solve a housing crisis, will its homes withstand future heat extremes? A lack of shade cast by trees or structures across metro Phoenix is thought to contribute to the region's steadily rising heat-caused death toll, tracked by the Maricopa County Department of Health. In 2022, a record 425 people died from heat-related causes, nearly half of whom were people experiencing homelessness. The elderly, children, those with lower incomes trying to reduce utility bills and people with health complications are also at elevated risk. In the aftermath of this year's heat records, experts anticipate that 2023 will also set a new record for heat-caused deaths. As of Oct. 7, Maricopa County officials had documented 361 heat-associated deaths and were investigating the cause of 238 more, compared to 331 confirmed heat-caused deaths and 126 under investigation at that point last year. A pedestrian walks down Seventh Street in Phoenix on July 18, 2023, as the temperature of 117 degrees is displayed on a digital billboard. Phoenix is working to address escalating extreme heat and its deadly impacts by increasing access to shade and cooling in other ways besides this new art installation project. The city's Office of Heat Response and Mitigation oversees programs such as the Heat Relief Network of locations offering free water and access to indoor cooling, and a Tree and Shade Grant Program aimed at using federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to plant trees in neighborhoods with low shade cover. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs also approved $300,000 in the latest state budget for a program to plant trees on school campuses that Democratic legislators have been asking for since 2019. Applications for those funds are currently open for schools with 75% or more of their students eligible for free or reduced lunch, as an acknowledgment that temperatures are often highest and shade cover lowest in some of Phoenix's poorest neighborhoods. More: 'You had me at trees': An easy fix for Arizona school shade takes root. But will it grow? Phoenix's Sombra!" project was selected for funding by Bloomberg Philanthropies from a pool of over 150 applicants from 40 U.S. states. Proposals are submitted by mayors of cities with at least 30,000 residents who want to use art to help bring awareness to their region's most pressing challenges. Since the Public Art Challenge program launched in 2014, more than 600 cities have applied and a press release from Bloomberg Philanthropies claims the initiative has spurred action on important issues and has generated more than $100 million in economic benefits for participating locations. "We are going to lead the way in creating community-driven, great artistic shade for our residents," said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego in Bloomberg Philanthropies' video announcement of the grant winners. The grants will cover project-related expenses including development, execution and marketing, but will not fund 100% of the total project costs. Details on where the additional funds will come from were not provided. Read our climate series: The latest from Joan Meiners at azcentral, a column on climate change that publishes weekly In response to questions about how the artists will be selected and whether these shade installations could be permanent, Mitch Menchaca, director of Phoenix's Office of Arts and Culture, told The Republic his office will be conducting a call for artists that will be open to local, national and international applicants and that, though these installations will be temporary, he hopes "these shade prototypes will inform future permanent public art for the city of Phoenix." Joan Meiners is the climate news and storytelling reporter at The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Before becoming a journalist, she completed a doctorate in ecology. Follow Joan on Twitter at @beecycles or email her at joan.meiners@arizonarepublic.com. Read more of her coverage at environment.azcentral.com. Sign up for AZ Climate, The Republic's weekly climate and environment newsletter. Support climate coverage and local journalism by subscribing to azcentral.com at this link. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix wins $1 million grant for art project about heat, climate WASHINGTON House Republicans dropped Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, as their speaker nominee Friday, throwing the House into even more chaos and turmoil as GOP lawmakers must scramble to find a new candidate to unite behind. Following three failed speaker elections, House Republicans held an internal secret ballot vote to decide whether Jordan should remain as the conferences nominee. Jordan was ultimately dropped as the nominee by a vote of 112-86. House Republicans will head home for the weekend and return to Washington to hold a candidate forum on Monday evening to hear from prospective speakers. Following the forum, they will hold another internal vote to determine a nominee on Tuesday. A mad dash for the top job has begun within the House Republican conference, with some members immediately declaring their candidacy leaving the meeting after Jordans exit and other lawmakers saying they will seriously consider running over the weekend. The House will remain speakerless over the weekend and into Monday, leaving the lower chamber in a state of paralysis. Follow along for the latest updates from USA TODAY on the speaker fight. Endorsements start rolling in for new speaker candidates As the speaker's race gets underway, once again, endorsements have started slowly rolling in for declared candidates. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., endorsed his fellow Floridian, Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., for the speakership. Donalds publicly announced his intent to seek the gavel on Friday. Donalds, "is an honorable leader and respected by the entire conference. That is why it is a privilege to endorse Byron for speaker," Diaz-Balart said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. In a statement announcing his candidacy, Donalds wrote that under his leadership, "The House will lead a charge to advance a simple objective: Put the American people first, keep them safe and make their lives easier." Ken Tran and Karissa Waddick Who is running for speaker so far? Multiple candidates immediately jumped into the speaker's race following Jordan's exit. They are: Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga. Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn. Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Mich. Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Florida Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La. Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas , is also considering a bid. USA TODAY will update this list as more candidates jump in. Ken Tran Emmer announces speaker run House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., officially announced his candidacy for speaker Saturday. "Our conference remains at a crossroads and the deck is stacked against us," Emmer wrote in a letter to colleagues. "We have no choice but to fight like hell to hold on to our House Majority and deliver on our conservative agenda." Karissa Waddick Kevin Hern will run for speaker Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., who previously considered a run for speaker, told reporters he will now launch a bid following Jordan's loss. Hern is chair of the Republican Study Committee, the largest caucus of House Republicans. Ken Tran Jack Bergman to run for speaker Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Mich., who was previously considering challenging Jordan, is officially running for speaker. "My hat is in the ring, and I feel confident I can win the votes where others could not. I have no special interests to serve; Im only in this to do what's best for our Nation and to steady the ship for the 118th Congress," Bergman said in a statement. Ken Tran Mike Johnson to run for speaker Rep. Mike Johnson, vice chair of the House Republican conference, released a "Dear Colleague" letter Saturday officially announcing his bid for speaker. "I have been humbled to have so many Members from across our conference reach out to encourage me to seek the nomination for Speaker," Johnson wrote. "Until yesterday, I had never contacted one person about this, and I have never before aspired to the office. However, after much prater and deliberation, I am stepping forward now." Karissa Waddick McHenry: 'Goal' to have floor vote Tuesday Acting Speaker Patrick McHenry told reporters that after a candidate forum and an internal vote to select a nominee, the "goal" is to hold a speaker election on the House floor next Tuesday. When lawmakers return next Monday evening, House Republicans will hold another candidate forum to hear from prospective speakers ahead of a vote on Tuesday to select a nominee. Ken Tran Jordan loses internal vote, House GOP must find new nominee Jordan is no longer the GOP's speaker nominee. The Ohio Republican lost an internal secret ballot vote on whether to keep him as the conference's nominee, Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., told reporters. Jordan lost an internal secret ballot vote to determine whether he should remain as the nominee by a vote of 112-86, according to Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky. According to Womack, lawmakers are heading home for the weekend. The House will return into session next Monday at 6:30 p.m. Candidates have until noon on Sunday to declare their intentions to run for speaker. Ken Tran Internal GOP vote exclusively about Jordan The internal vote on whether to keep Jordan as the GOP speaker nominee is a secret ballot vote according to Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Pa. The options, he said, were to either vote yes, no or present. Ken Tran House GOP voting whether to keep Jordan as nominee Lawmakers are now leaving the closed-door meeting saying that voting is ongoing on whether Republicans should keep Jordan as their nominee. Ken Tran Letter from group who ousted McCarthy included Jordan holdout The group of House Republicans who ousted McCarthy sent a letter to the House GOP conference offering to face consequences for removing McCarthy in exchange for putting Jordan in the speaker's chair. But one of the GOP lawmakers who voted to oust McCarthy is also a Jordan holdout: Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo. The letter originally included Buck but after the Colorado Republican noticed his signature, the letter removed Buck's name. Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., one of the lawmakers who voted to remove McCarthy said it was "some miscommunication I guess." Ken Tran House Republicans are meeting behind closed-doors Following Jordan's third defeat, House Republicans are huddling behind closed doors at 1 p.m. Friday. Ken Tran 8 GOP lawmakers who voted against McCarthy offer to be 'punished' Speaking on the Capitol steps, five of the eight GOP lawmakers who voted to oust McCarthy said the eight are offering to be punished by the rest of the House GOP conference if it would placate Jordan's holdouts. Reps Eli Crane, R-Ariz., Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., Bob Good, R-Va., Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., and Nancy Mace, R-S.C., said they would accept any consequences for voting to remove McCarthy. Those consequences could include removal of committee assignments, censures and/or removal from conference. Ken Tran Jordan loses third vote for House speaker Jordan lost the third speaker vote, failing to garner enough support behind him and only losing more support among House Republicans. Like with the second ballot, his detractors only grew in numbers this time to 25 making Jordans path to the speakership more uncertain. It is unclear if a fourth vote will be held and whether lawmakers will stay in session through the weekend. Ken Tran Here are the 25 GOP lawmakers who voted against Jordan Some 25 GOP lawmakers voted against Jordan as speaker. Three of those votes against Jordan are new holdouts who previously supported the Ohio Republican. The 25 are: Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla. Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Ore. Rep. Anthony DEsposito, R-N.Y. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla. Rep. Jake Ellzey, R-Texas Rep. Drew Ferguson, R-Ga. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa. Rep. Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y. Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fla. Rep. John James, R-Mich. Rep. Tom Kean, R-N.J. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa. Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va. Rep. Nick LaLota, R-N.Y. Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa Rep. Marc Molinaro, R-N.Y. Rep. John Rutherford, R-Fla. Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark. Ken Tran Who are the new GOP lawmakers who flipped against Jordan? Jordan lost even more support on the third ballot, with three new lawmakers opting to support another candidate after initially voting for him before. They are: Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa. Rep. Tom Kean, R-N.J. Rep. Marc Molinaro, R-N.Y. Ken Tran Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, is seen on the House floor as lawmakers hold a third vote to elect a new speaker in Washington on Oct. 20, 2023. House Republicans nominated the chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, to the speakership last week. Jordan has failed to earn the votes needed to become speaker in the previous rounds of voting. Jordan on track to lose third vote The House vote is ongoing, but Jordan is on track to lose a third time. He has lost 25 votes so far, which is more than the 22 votes he lost in the second vote and 20 votes he lost in the first vote. Candy Woodall Clark nominates Jeffries for speaker House Minority Whip Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., nominated Jeffries for the speakership on behalf of House Democrats. He's earned the most votes this week, but not enough to clinch the win. Clark took aim at Jordan's legislative record, saying the Ohio Republican supports cutting Social Security and Medicare and noting the Ohio Republican has never voted for a farm bill. Jordan, she added, is a "true threat to our democracy and our Constitution," for his vote against certifying Biden's victory in the 2020 election. Ken Tran McCarthy: Jim Jordan is a leader, a listener and a fighter In another historic moment in the House, ousted former Speaker Kevin McCarthy nominated Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, as the representative to succeed him. "Being the speaker is not an easy job, but especially in this conference," McCarthy said to a few laughs and light applause. But Jordan is the representative for the job, he said. "Jim Jordan is a leader, a listener and a fighter," McCarthy said. Candy Woodall McCarthy defends how many bills Jordan has passed McCarthy sought to defend the Jordan from Democratic arguments that the Ohio Republican has never passed one of his own bills with his name attached to it. The former speaker called Jordan an "effective legislator" and "selfless," drawing laughter and jeers from Democrats. McCarthy also took aim at House Democrats, singling out Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., for passing only one bill with his name on it, garnering applause from Republicans. But in a display of Jordan's uphill battle towards becoming speaker, several GOP lawmakers, including Jordan's holdouts, remained seated even as the majority of the conference gave a standing ovation for McCarthy. Ken Tran Jeffries: 'Jim Jordan is a clear and present danger to our democracy' House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries unloaded on the "national nightmare" he says his colleagues across the aisle have created in 17 days without a House speaker. The GOP nominee who has lost the vote twice, Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan, is a threat to the nation, according to Jeffries. "Jim Jordan is a clear and present danger to our democracy," Jeffries said to reporters Friday morning at the Capitol. The Democratic leader then rattled off his list of reasons, saying Jordan is a 2020 election denier and "the poster child for MAGA extremism," who wants an abortion ban and to cut Social Security and Medicare. Candy Woodall Jordan declines to say whether 2020 election was stolen Jordan, when asked whether he thought the 2020 election was stolen, gave a non-committal answer and said he thought there were all kinds of problems with the 2020 election. One of Jordans holdouts, Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., is refusing to support the Ohio Republican for speaker until he acknowledges former President Donald Trump lost in 2020. Ken Tran Democratic leaders consider empowering a temporary speaker House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he hasn't met with acting speaker Patrick McHenry, but he and other Democratic leaders are open to the idea of empowering him to do the House's business. "All options are on the table to get the House back open," Jeffries said, responding to a question about whether his caucus would support a plan to empower a speaker pro tempore. McHenry has limited powers as interim speaker. It would take a majority of the House and some Democratic votes to give him expanded powers to do things like passing an aid package to Israel or negotiating to avoid a shutdown. Democratic Whip Katherine Clark said bipartisanship is the only path forward. "Come together," she said to Republicans. "You are weakening this country, you are weakening this institution." Candy Woodall Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, holds a morning press conference prior to House lawmakers seeking to elect a new speaker in Washington on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. House Republicans nominated the chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, to the speakership last week. Jordan has failed to earn the votes needed to become speaker in the previous rounds of voting. Jim Jordan press conference today: He's not dropping out From his bully pulpit as chair of the powerful House Judiciary Committee, which has spent most of its time this session trying to impeach Biden, Jordan held a press conference at 8 a.m. to try and attract more support for his speaker bid. Jordan said he was not backing down in his pursuit of the speakership, even as his opposition threatens to grow. "We can't open the House without a speaker." Candy Woodall and Ken Tran Crenshaw says votes arent changing for Jordan Leaving a meeting held by the Texas GOP delegation, Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, told reporters the votes arent changing for Jordan ahead of a third speaker election that Jordan is expected to lose. Whether Jordan should drop out, Crenshaw said, is ultimately the Ohio Republicans decision, but theres a growing sense that House Republicans will have to find a new candidate to rally behind quite soon. Ken Tran Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, holds a morning press conference prior to House lawmakers seeking to elect a new speaker in Washington on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. House Republicans nominated the chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, to the speakership last week. Jordan has failed to earn the votes needed to become speaker in the previous rounds of voting. GOP lawmaker is slightly more optimistic about electing a new speaker slightly Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., told reporters last week he put the odds of the House electing a new speaker by last Friday at 2%. This time around, with Jordan as the speaker nominee, hes feeling a little more optimistic about electing a new speaker by the end of the day: hes putting the odds at 30%. It still isnt 50%, Massie quipped. Ken Tran Will House stay in session this weekend to elect a speaker? Jordan and his allies have hinted on social media and during a press conference Friday that the House will not take the weekend off if there's no speaker. The House Judiciary chair said during his news conference today he hopes the lower chamber will elect a new speaker "this weekend," suggesting there could be more elections to come. Ken Tran What happened to the speaker of the House? The House has been without a speaker since Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was removed from the position more than two weeks ago. In a move led by conservative firebrand Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., eight Republicans were joined by House Democrats in a vote to oust him. Gaetz and a handful of hardliners were angry with McCarthy for striking a bipartisan compromise to avoid a government shutdown. McCarthy's nine-month speakership started in turmoil, outlasting 15 historic rounds of voting to be elected in January. To get the gavel, he made several concessions, including a rule allowing any one member to call for the vote to remove McCarthy. Gaetz used that rule to remove McCarthy from the top position in the House with no viable plan to replace him. Candy Woodall House without a speaker: Will Jordan lose again? Without a speaker, the House has been in a state of paralysis, unable to pass any legislation. Lawmakers in the lower chamber can't take up crucial funding to avoid a government shutdown or approve aid to Israel as the war with Hamas continues. Republicans appeared close to finally getting the House moving again Wednesday morning, as they considered temporarily empowering Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., as an interim speaker. But those plans fell through amidst wide-ranging disagreements within the GOP conference. Jordan is expected to lose his third speaker election, and it is unclear whether he will drop out of the race. Ken Tran U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, leaves a meeting with House leadership at the Rayburn House Office Building on October 19, 2023 in Washington, DC. Bidens foreign aid package cant pass House without a speaker Bidens request for foreign aid to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and the U.S.-Mexico border, which totals almost $100 billion, is unable to pass the House without a speaker. The House, which is in its 17th day without a speaker, has been unable to take any legislative action. There is a sense of urgency to elect a new speaker among lawmakers so the House can pass a foreign aid package for Israel, a key U.S. ally, but House Republicans have been unable to coalesce behind a speaker despite the calls for decisive action. Ken Tran What was the plan to empower McHenry? House Republicans huddled behind closed doors for over three hours to discuss a resolution from Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Ohio, that would have temporarily empowered McHenry as an interim speaker to get the House moving again. The move would have allowed Jordan to continue building support for his speakership bid on the sidelines while the House works on crucial legislation to avert a government shutdown and address the Israel-Hamas war. But the plans ultimately fell through as it became apparent a sizable number of members opposed the path. Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., who was critical of the resolution, estimated half of House Republicans were against empowering McHenry. Ken Tran This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: House still without a speaker after GOP drops Jordan. New race begins A North Augusta man who was previously convicted of cockfighting has been convicted of the same crime more than a decade later. On March 12, 2022, Roosevelt Curry, 68, and at least six others attended a cockfighting derby on private property in Ridgeville. Participants, including Curry, paid $400 to enter four birds into the derby, and Curry made multiple entries, according to a news release from the District of South Carolina U.S. Attorneys Office. The group used a computer program to set the match-ups between the birds, and the birds were affixed with metal gaffes before each fight. The Dorchester County Sheriffs Office received a tip about the illegal gathering and raided the property. Officers searched the property and found a barrel containing birds that had been killed in the fights that had taken place so far that day, the release said. They also seized numerous bird transport boxes, metal gaffes and spurs and other items used by participants. Curry and six other people who attended the illegal cockfighting matches were indicted in U.S. District Court. The other six defendants pleaded guilty prior to Currys trial, according to the release. U.S. District Judge Bruce Hendricks will sentence Curry at a later date. Curry could be given up to five years in prison for the charge. In 2010, he was also convicted for cockfighting. President Biden addressed the nation on Thursday night regarding the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. | Evan Vucci, Associated Press President Biden addressed the nation on Thursday night regarding the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The president argued that providing financial and humanitarian aid to Israel is essential to maintaining national security. He plans on making an urgent budget request with Congress to provide support in both Israel and Ukraine. He warned Americans of the dangers of hate and expressed sorrow at the heartbreaking loss of innocent lives. Bidens Oval Office address transcript is available via The White House website. Key quotes from Bidens Thursday night address 1. We stand with Israel So, in this moment, we must be crystal clear: We stand with Israel. We stand with Israel. And we will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself, and respond to this attack. There is no justification for terrorism. There is no excuse. 2. An urgent budget request American leadership is what holds the world together. American alliances are what keep us in America safe. American values are what make us a partner nation you want to work with, Biden said, adding, To put all that at risk we walk away from Ukraine, we turn our backs on Israel its just not worth it. Thats why tomorrow Im going to send to Congress an urgent budget request to fund Americas national security needs needs to support our critical partners, including Israel and Ukraine. Its a smart investment thats going to pay dividends for American security for generations. 3. Our response would be swift, decisive, and overwhelming I just got off the phone with the third call with Prime Minister Netanyahu. And I told him if the United States experienced what Israel is experiencing, our response would be swift, decisive and overwhelming, President Biden said. My team has been in near constant communication with our Israeli partners and partners all across the region and the world from the moment this crisis began. Were surging additional military assistance, including ammunition and interceptors to replenish Iron Dome. Were going to make sure that Israel does not run out of these critical assets to defend its cities and its citizens. 4. No higher priority than the safety of Americans Ive directed my team to share intelligence and deploy additional experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise the Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts, because as president I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans being held hostage around the world, the president said in his remarks. 5. There is no place for hate in America This is a moment for the United States to come together, to grieve with those who are mourning, said Biden. Lets be real clear: There is no place for hate in America not against Jews, not against Muslims, not against anybody. We reject we reject what we reject is terrorism. We condemn the indiscriminate evil, just as weve always done. Thats what America stands for. The Biden administration is now advising U.S. citizens not to travel to Lebanon amid the ongoing Israeli-Hamas conflict. In a travel advisory issued Tuesday, the State Department warned against travel to Lebanon due to the unpredictable security situation related to rocket, missile, and artillery exchanges between Israel and [Hezbollah] or other armed militant factions. The memo came on the same day fighting broke out along the border of Lebanon and Israel. The Lebanese government cannot guarantee the protection of U.S. citizens against sudden outbreaks of violence, the advisory states. Family, neighborhood, or sectarian disputes can escalate quickly and can lead to gunfire or other violence with no warning. Armed clashes have occurred along the borders, in Beirut, and in refugee settlements. The department said the Lebanese military has already been brought in to quell potential violence. Large demonstrations have erupted in the wake of recent violence in Israel and Gaza. U.S. citizens should avoid demonstrations and exercise caution if in the vicinity of any large gatherings or protests as some of these have turned violent, the advisory continues. Protesters have blocked major roads, including thoroughfares between downtown Beirut and the area where the U.S. Embassy is located, and between Beirut and Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport. President Biden is currently visiting Israel as the deadly conflict with the Palestinian militant group Hamas rages on. His visit comes in the wake of an explosion of disputed cause at a hospital in Gaza that left at least 500 dead. Israel has blamed Palestinian militants, while Hamas claimed an Israeli airstrike was responsible. Biden appeared to side with Israel on Wednesday. The point is, is that I was deeply saddened and outraged by the explosion of the hospital in Gaza yesterday, and based on what Ive seen, it appears as though it was done by the other team, not you. But theres a lot of people out there not sure, so weve got a lot weve got to overcome a lot of things, he said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. PROVIDENCE In January, the McKee administration sought proposals for turning the Shepard Building, currently home to the Providence branch of the University of Rhode Island, into something new, possibly housing. Ten months later, the administration is moving, at least temporarily, to fill the empty spaces with relocated state agencies. On Tuesday, spokeswoman Laura Hart confirmed plans to move the state's rapidly expanding Department of Housing into the state-owned former Shepard department store in downtown Providence. The office of the commissioner who oversees the state college system may follow. The Department of Housing is currently nestled rent-free within the Commerce Corporation's office space. The main entrance to the Shepard Building, on Westminster Street. State still moving forward with other new uses for the Shepard Building The state received two responses to its request for potential new uses it issued in January from Paolino Properties and Cornish Associates. Former Providence Mayor Joseph Paolino told The Journal on Tuesday he does not believe the state should move URI out of downtown and specifically, out of a building which he, as the state's Sundlun-era economic development director in the early 1990s, had a role in renovating for the university's use. But if the state opts to sell it, he said, he proposes it be used for housing. Unclear: whether the state is pursuing any aspect of what his company or Cornish Associates suggested. But "the move of the Rhode Island Department of Housing and the potential move of the Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner do not preclude other uses for all or part of the building in the future," Hart, the Department of Administration spokeswoman, told The Journal. "While the state continues to seek innovative, long-term options for all or part of the Shepard Building," Hart said, "it also needs to make immediate best use of all properties under its care." A view of the Shepard Building sign and the old clock that was a landmark. Elaborating, she said: "With URI significantly reducing its footprint in the building, an opportunity arose to locate other state offices in the lower floors of the building. Due to its growing staff and operational needs, the Department of Housing is a natural fit for the historic property, which is conveniently located near both other government offices and key partners such as RI Housing." "The Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner is also actively considering a move to the second floor of the building. The RI Department of Education plans to remain on site," she continued. Building is the site of the former Shepard Company Department Store The former Shepard Company Department Store spans the entire block between Westminster, Clemence, Washington and Union streets. More on the Shepard Building: What's the deal with that squiggly clock in Providence? It's public art. The building has been home to URI's Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Education and Professional Studies, including its daycare center, library, cafeteria and auditorium. The building, with a gross area of 255,000 square feet, has also housed state Department of Education offices. The Time Wave, a clock on Washington Street in Providence, was designed by California artist Robert Ellison. "URI has shrunk its footprint within the Shepard Building and is in the process of moving out; the child care center with which it is affiliated, however, will remain at Shepard for the foreseeable future," Hart said. At its maximum usage, URI had nearly 100,000 square feet in the building, she said. The Rhode Island Department of Housing is currently located at Iron Horse Way in Providence, while the Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner is located at 560 Jefferson Blvd., in Warwick. "The Department of Housing is currently not paying rent for the space occupied at 315 Iron Horse Way,'' according to the agency's spokesman Joseph Lindstrom. However, "the Department of Administration requires agencies to pay them for use of state-owned facilities such as the Shepard Building." The amount in this case "has not yet been determined." The growing housing department has 15 employees now, with two more about to start, and authority from the legislature to hire 17 more people. It remains unclear how much space URI is still occupying in the building. When and why URI was moving out, spokesman David Lavallee forwarded a statement from April in which the school attributed the decision to the McKee administration's desire to "explore new opportunities for the Shepard Building ... including a possible sale of the building." Asked on Tuesday how many office and staff remain, he said: "The university does still maintain a limited presence in the Shepard Building. However, during this interim period, many programs and staff previously in the building have relocated to available spaces on the Kingston Campus." "URI is exploring appropriate future space and programming in Providence, and the university is committed to maintaining a robust presence in Providence." This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Shepard Company Building to be home to RI Department of Housing Trucks loaded with aid supplies wait to cross into Gaza near the Rafah crossing, Egypt, on Oct. 19, 2023. The Egyptian side of the crossing has many trucks loaded with tons of aid supplies recently donated by several countries and the World Health Organization waiting to cross into Gaza on Friday, according to Egypt's Al-Qahera News. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) CAIRO, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed on Thursday with visiting UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres ways to de-escalate the Israel-Hamas conflict and arrangements for the humanitarian aid delivery to the besieged Gaza Strip. In a joint press conference following their meeting in Cairo, Shoukry said that he discussed with Guterres "the unprecedented escalation" of the ongoing conflict, echoing the UN's call for an immediate cease-fire. The talks came a day after Israel agreed to allow some humanitarian aid provided by Egypt, other countries and organizations into Gaza via the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Palestinian enclave, which is suffering a complete siege by Israel, and a lack of basic services and constant bombardment. The Egyptian side of the crossing has many trucks loaded with tons of aid supplies recently donated by several countries and the World Health Organization waiting to cross into Gaza on Friday, according to Egypt's Al-Qahera News. A Cairo peace summit, convened by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and will be attended by Guterres, is scheduled for Saturday, working on reaching de-escalation and cease-fire and reaffirming the importance of humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza, said Shoukry. The Egyptian top diplomat described Israel's targeting of humanitarian staff and premises as "a flagrant violation of the international humanitarian law." For his part, Guterres said that "for nearly two weeks, the people of Gaza are going without any shipments of fuel, food, water, medicine and other essentials." The UN chief referred to Egypt's El Arish airport and the Rafah crossing as "our only hope," adding "they are the lifelines to the people of Gaza." Guterres also called on Hamas for an immediate and unconditional release of hostages, and called on Israel to allow immediate and unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid "to respond to the most basic needs of the people of Gaza." The UN chief said that the Palestinian legitimate grievances over 56 years of occupation do not justify Hamas' attacks on Israel, and those attacks do not justify Israel's collective punishment of the Palestinian people. The Gaza-controlling Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) carried out deadly attacks against Israel on Oct. 7, in which Hamas also took 200 to 250 Israeli hostages, prompting retaliatory Israeli strikes in Gaza and a full siege of the enclave, leading to a humanitarian crisis. Volunteers stand in front of trucks loaded with aid supplies to Gaza near the Rafah crossing, Egypt, on Oct. 19, 2023. The Egyptian side of the crossing has many trucks loaded with tons of aid supplies recently donated by several countries and the World Health Organization waiting to cross into Gaza on Friday, according to Egypt's Al-Qahera News. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) A man walks past a truck loaded with aid supplies to Gaza near the Rafah crossing, Egypt, on Oct. 19, 2023. The Egyptian side of the crossing has many trucks loaded with tons of aid supplies recently donated by several countries and the World Health Organization waiting to cross into Gaza on Friday, according to Egypt's Al-Qahera News. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) Staff members from Egyptian Red Crescent prepare trucks loaded with aid supplies in Al-Arish, 45 kilometers from the Rafah crossing, Egypt, on Oct. 20, 2023. The Egyptian side of the crossing has many trucks loaded with tons of aid supplies recently donated by several countries and the World Health Organization waiting to cross into Gaza on Friday, according to Egypt's Al-Qahera News. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) Staff members from Egyptian Red Crescent prepare trucks loaded with aid supplies in Al-Arish, 45 kilometers from the Rafah crossing, Egypt, on Oct. 20, 2023. The Egyptian side of the crossing has many trucks loaded with tons of aid supplies recently donated by several countries and the World Health Organization waiting to cross into Gaza on Friday, according to Egypt's Al-Qahera News. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) Staff members from Egyptian Red Crescent prepare trucks loaded with aid supplies in Al-Arish, 45 kilometers from the Rafah crossing, Egypt, on Oct. 20, 2023. The Egyptian side of the crossing has many trucks loaded with tons of aid supplies recently donated by several countries and the World Health Organization waiting to cross into Gaza on Friday, according to Egypt's Al-Qahera News. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) Staff members from Egyptian Red Crescent prepare trucks loaded with aid supplies in Al-Arish, 45 kilometers from the Rafah crossing, Egypt, on Oct. 20, 2023. The Egyptian side of the crossing has many trucks loaded with tons of aid supplies recently donated by several countries and the World Health Organization waiting to cross into Gaza on Friday, according to Egypt's Al-Qahera News. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) A staff member from Egyptian Red Crescent prepares a truck loaded with aid supplies in Al-Arish, 45 kilometers from the Rafah crossing, Egypt, on Oct. 20, 2023. The Egyptian side of the crossing has many trucks loaded with tons of aid supplies recently donated by several countries and the World Health Organization waiting to cross into Gaza on Friday, according to Egypt's Al-Qahera News. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) Contaminated drinking water in colonias is drawing new attention to what many say is an old problem for the substandard neighborhoods found on the Southwest border with Mexico. On Thursday, a faith-based nonprofit teamed up with a major university to announce a comprehensive two-year study of water quality in two colonias in Hidalgo County, Texas. Tijuana running out of water, turns to California for help This comes as 10 lawmakers in Congress this week sent a letter to a federal agency requesting $100 million in additional funds in Fiscal Year 2024 to expand the EPAs U.S.-Mexico Border Water Infrastructure Program (BWIP), which helps to develop infrastructure projects on both sides of the border to improve water conditions. Our southern border states are home to 2,000 colonias, many of which lack basic infrastructure like water and wastewater services among others. In Mexico, urbanization, geography and inadequate wastewater infrastructure have led to untreated sewage, trash and sediment routinely flowing into the U.S. through shared waterways. This program is designed to aid those communities, on both sides of the border, read the letter sent Tuesday to the Office of Management and Budget from U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Democrat from South Texas. Also signing the letter were these border lawmakers: U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Arizona U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Texas U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Arizona U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-New Mexico Clean water doesnt necessarily mean clean water in the colonias, Jaime Wesolowski, president and CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas Inc., told Border Report on Thursday. A lot of the colonias have water that theyre using as clean water, but they are laced with arsenic, lead, uranium and other contaminants. Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas and Texas A&M University are conducting an aggressive two-year study of colonia water by testing samples for a half dozen suspected main contaminants. The colonias are located in the rural San Carlos community, east of the town of Edinburg; and near the town of Progreso, officials said. Jaime Wesolowski is president and CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas Inc. (Sandra Sanchez/Border Report) Methodist Healthcare is funding the project, but Texas A&M University School of Public Health will oversee all the data collection and research, Wesolowski said after a panel discussion held about the new project at a Methodist church in McAllen. Once we have this data I believe it will force legislators who have a conscious to do something about this, Wesolowski said. Bring clean safe water to the colonias along the Rio Grande Valley. New segment of state-funded border wall raising safety concerns in tiny South Texas town The study will include local high school students procuring water samples that are to be analyzed, as well as interviews with area residents and leaders. Regular updates and town hall meetings, held in English and Spanish, also will be part of the study, they said. The final data, however, wont be ready in time for this current 88th Texas Legislature, which began earlier this month. They are targeting the 2025 Legislature, Wesolowski said. Well have facts to bring to the community to educate our legislators on. And we hope that our local legislators here in the Rio Grande Valley can then partner with us and take those facts to the legislature in the 2025 session and try to get some funding from the state to come here and do what is the right thing to do. We cant have families thinking theyre using clean water that are laced with arsenic, Wesolowski told Border Report. Arsenic is naturally found in the South Texas soil, and in the soil in northern Mexican border towns, A&M scientists said. But it is widely known that higher levels are found in colonias, which currently have unregulated water supplies, and often rely on private well water. Arsenic can cause cancer, heart disease, and cognitive and other health disorders, including developmental delays in children, they said. This has been going on for decades, the panelists said, adding that they hope these findings will support the widely held theories about contaminated drinking water in these communities and will force a change in Texas laws to make tougher regulations and improve water quality conditions. Arsenic is naturally found in the soil of South Texas, but can cause cognitive and health disorders. (Sandra Sanchez/Border Report File Photo) We are doing our best to give the information back and let them use it in whatever form they want to help leverage this for improved conditions for healthier Texans, said Garett Sansom, of Texas A&M, who will be leading the research. Over 125,000 still without water in border town of Laredo, Texas The lawmakers who signed the letter to OMB this week wrote that clean water on the border must be taken more seriously by lawmakers in Washington, D.C., to help border residents. Currently, over 600 colonias in Tijuana and Rosarito, Mexico, south of San Diego, are running out of water due to drought and poor infrastructure, and are asking the San Diego County Water Authority for help. We must prioritize funding for BWIP to meet the needs of colonia residents who lack basic services, and to meet the broader needs of the border, including first-time water hook-ups and sewage infrastructure, Cuellar said. To date, 137 projects have so far been financed using U.S.-Mexico Border Water Infrastructure Program funds, including 69 in the United States and 68 Mexico, Cuellar said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. As expected, the Supreme Court will weigh in on a controversial case attempting to limit contact between federal officials and social media companies. The case could have sweeping implications for how social media companies make policy and content moderation decisions. The case stems from a lawsuit, brought by the attorneys general of Missouri and Louisiana, that alleges Biden Administration officials, the CDC and FBI overreached in their dealings Meta, Google and Twitter as the companies responded to pandemic and election-related misinformation. A lower court previously issued an injunction that severely limited government officials ability to communicate with social media companies, though some restrictions were later relaxed. Now, with the Supreme Court agreeing to hear the governments appeal in the case, the entire lower court order remains on hold. As The New York Times notes, three justices, Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch, dissented, calling the decision to allow the lower court order to remain paused highly disturbing. Its not the only case involving free speech and social media on the Supreme Court docket this term. The court will also take on two landmark cases that could reshape how social media platforms enforce content moderation rules. Those cases involve two state laws, in Texas and Florida, that would prevent social media companies from removing certain types of posts. BEIRUT (AP) Coalition forces were slightly injured in Iraq in a spate of drone attacks over the last 24 hours at U.S. bases in Iraq as regional tensions flare following the deadly bombing of a hospital in Gaza. Two drones targeted the al Asad airbase in western Iraq used by U.S. forces and one drone targeted a base in northern Iraq, a U.S. official told the Associated Press. U.S. forces intercepted all three, destroying two but only damaging the third, which led to minor injuries among coalition forces at the western base, according to a statement Wednesday by U.S. Central Command. The U.S. official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the attacks. In this moment of heightened alert, we are vigilantly monitoring the situation in Iraq and the region. U.S. forces will defend U.S. and coalition forces against any threat, Central Command said in the release. Senate prepares to pass massive Israel aid package Iranian-backed militias in Iraq have threatened to attack U.S. facilities there because of American support for Israel. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iranian-backed militias, issued a statement afterward claiming responsibility for the two attacks and saying it heralds more operations against the American occupation. The salvos came at a time of increasing tension and fears of a broader regional conflict in the wake of the latest Hamas-Israel war. Since the beginning of the war on Oct. 7, much attention has been focused on Hezbollah, the powerful Hamas ally across Israels northern border in Lebanon, and its formidable arsenal. The group has traded so-far limited strikes with Israel on the border in recent days. But Iranian-backed militias in Iraq have also threatened to attack U.S. facilities over American support for Israel. Iraqis hold a mass rally supporting the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, in Baghdad, Iraq. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil) Our missiles, drones, and special forces are ready to direct qualitative strikes at the American enemy in its bases and disrupt its interests if it intervenes in this battle, Ahmad Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi, head of the Kataib Hezbollah militia, said in a statement last Wednesday. He also threatened to launch missiles at Israeli targets. Following Tuesday nights blast that killed hundreds at a hospital in Gaza, the group issued another statement in which it blamed the U.S. and its support for Israel for the catastrophe and called for an end to the U.S. presence in Iraq. Hamas has said the explosion in Gaza was from an Israeli airstrike, while Israel has blamed a misfired rocket by Palestinian militants. These evil people must leave the country. Otherwise, they will taste the fire of hell in this world before the afterlife, the statement said. A U.S. defense official, who wasnt authorized to comment to the media and spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the attack on the al-Asad military base in western Iraq. Tashkil al-Waritheen, one of the Iranian-backed militias making up the larger group, claimed responsibility in a statement for a second drone attack, which it said had targeted the al-Harir airbase in northern Iraq. U.S. officials did not immediately comment on the claim of a second attack. The government of the semi-autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq said an intercepted drone crashed in an open area near the village of Batas. Will the US send troops to Israel? Also on Wednesday, Iran-allied groups in Iraq announced that they had formed a joint operations room to help Hamas in its war effort. Two officials with Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the issue, confirmed the attacks on the two bases Wednesday. They said the armed groups were on alert and prepared to join the wider battle against Israel, but that Iran had not yet given approval for them to open a new front. Leaders from some of the factions are now in Lebanon and Syria in case they get orders to proceed, one of the officials said. Officials with the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad declined to comment. Lahib Higel, a senior analyst for Iraq at the International Crisis Group, said in the short term, the Iraqi groups allied with Iran and Hamas are not likely to open a new front in the war, but that could change if the Hamas-Israel war escalates or becomes protracted. Geographically, obviously, they are several steps removed, so theyre not going to be the first to react and are likely to serve in a supporting role, she said. Renad Mansour, a senior research fellow at the Chatham House, said the Iran-backed groups in Iraq are split between those that are also political parties and have a stake in the Iraqi political system and the vanguard groups that are purely militant and tend to be more tightly controlled by Iran. The latter, he said, have been used in the past as foot soldiers in regional conflicts, including in Yemen and Syria. This is what theyre designed to do, Mansour said. The question is more, will Iran and some of the leaders of these groups decide its in their interest to escalate? ___ Copp reported from Washington and Abdul-Zahra from Boston. Associated Press writers Bassem Mroue in Beirut and Salar Salim in Erbil contributed to this report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. Well, well, well. A key figure in the fake elector scheme took a plea deal in Georgia on Friday, agreeing to come clean about his part in the conspiracy to try to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Are you seeing this, Attorney General Kris Mayes ? Trump-aligned lawyer Kenneth Chesebro wrote memos detailing how Republicans could send false slates of presidential electors to Congress in an attempt to give Donald Trump the win or at least delay the Jan. 6, 2021, certification of Joe Biden s victory. According to his Fulton County, Ga., indictment, one of his memos provides detailed, state-specific instructions for how Trump presidential elector nominees in Georgia, Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin would meet and cast electoral votes for Trump, even though he lost the election in those states. Chesebro, who is pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit filing false documents, on Friday agreed to testify at any future trials of his fellow co-conspirators. He also agreed to turn over all emails and text messages to the district attorney's office. What does Chesebro know about Arizona? A slate of "fake electors" casts votes for Donald Trump in 2020. Have got your plane ticket to Atlanta yet, AG Mayes? It might be interesting to see what light Chesebro can shed on Arizonas 11 fake electors. Specifically, how they came to be meeting at state Republican Party headquarters on Dec. 14, 2020, signing documents falsely claiming to be duly elected and qualified to cast Arizonas electoral votes for the guy who didnt win. How these patriots including two who are now state senators (Jake Hoffman and Anthony Kern), the now-former chairwoman of the Arizona Republican Party (Kelli Ward) and a top executive with Turning Point USA (Tyler Bowyer) came up with the same wild idea that just coincidentally occurred to Republicans in six other swing states won by Biden. Or how, even as those phonies were meeting in Phoenix to cast their non-existent votes for Trump, across town a group of Republican legislators were signing a letter to Vice President Mike Pence and Congress urging them to accept those alternate electoral votes. Or how then-Rep. Mark Finchem, one of the states loudest stop the stealers, hand carried the lawmakers request to Washington on Jan. 5, 2021, putting it into the hands of one of Trumps strongest acolytes on Capitol Hill, Rep. Andy Biggs. Or how Biggs, along with Reps. Paul Gosar and Debbie Lesko, then voted the next day to reject Arizonas legitimate electoral votes. Where does Mayes 'investigation' stand? This wasnt just 11 local Arizona rubes who decided on a whim to protest Bidens win by casting a symbolic electoral vote for Trump. This was a carefully planned scheme, meticulously coordinated from the seeds of doubt deeply planted to erode trust in our elections to the fake electors who were part of a plot to steal the vote in Arizona and other swing states to the storming of the nations Capitol to stop Joe Biden from becoming president. And certain Arizonans appear to be in on it up to their eyeballs. Fake electors: Had a cast of characters helping them Wouldnt it be nice to hear what Chesebro might know about that? Mayes vowed during last years campaign to investigate Arizonas fake electors. She reportedly assigned a team of prosecutors to the investigation in May. Dan Barr, Mayess chief deputy, in July told the Washington Post the investigation was in the fact-gathering phase.Since then, weve heard nothing. Michigan is bringing charges. What about us? Meanwhile, in Michigan, one of that states 16 fake electors this week agreed to testify against his fellow phonies in return for dismissal of eight felony counts, including forgery and conspiracy to publish a false statement. The Michigan 16, just like the Arizona 11, met at their state GOP headquarters and signed documents stating they were the states duly elected and qualified electors. That was a lie and each of the defendants knew it, Michigan prosecutors said, in their charging documents. The Michigan fake elector whose charges were dismissed has agreed to cooperate fully with the AGs office, agreeing to testify at trial and key hearings and provide investigators with any and all relevant documents. Michigan in July became the first state to bring charges against the fake electors. It shouldnt be the last. Simply put, Arizona's fake electors and their co-conspirators tried to steal our vote. There should be a penalty for that. AG Mayes, I hear Atlanta is nice this time of year. Reach Roberts at laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @LaurieRoberts. Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What does Kenneth Chesebro know about Arizona's fake electors? Ask him The State Department issued an alert Thursday warning U.S. citizens overseas to exercise caution amid increased tensions around the world. Due to increased tensions in various locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests, the Department of State advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution, the alert said. The department had several recommendations for U.S. citizens who are abroad. It said to stay alert in busy tourist locations, follow the department on social media and enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which sends alerts and helps locate people in times of emergency. The alert is the latest warning from the State Department amid the war between Israel and Hamas. The State Department urged Americans in Lebanon on Thursday morning to make plans to leave as soon as possible, elevating an earlier warning that advised people not to travel to the country. The alert recommended U.S. citizens to leave the country as soon as they could and while commercial options are still available. Demonstrations and violence have erupted in Lebanon amid the Israel-Hamas war. The advisory outlined that Americans in Lebanon should have plans to depart the country that do not rely on the U.S. government. Last week the U.S. government announced that it would be chartering flights for Americans that were stuck in Israel when the war began. Flights began taking off from Tel Aviv and stopping in Europe before making arrangements to bring U.S. citizens home. Hamas launched the surprise attack against Israel on Oct. 7, causing many commercial airlines to pull out of the area. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to destroy Hamas, resulting in a deadly counterattack that has increased international tensions. Protests have erupted across the U.S., resulting in arrests. Outside Chicago, a 6-year-old Muslim boy was fatally stabbed and his mother was seriously injured, in a hate crime responding to the war. In recent days, police have been on high alert for violence driven by antisemitic or Islamophobic sentiments. FBI officials have reported an increase of hateful rhetoric since the war broke out. Airstrikes from Israel have hit Gaza, including areas declared as safe zones. More than 1 million Palestinians, roughly half of Gazas population, have been forced to flee after Israel told them to evacuate. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said 3,785 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 12,500 others have been wounded. More than 1,400 people in Israel were killed in the initial surprise attack. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. The deadly unprovoked cross-border attack on Israel by Hamas on Oct. 7 is just one of several attempts by the terror organization that rules Gaza to sabotage the hopes for peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors. The bloody history of Hamas that is backed by Iran is the key to understanding the tragic events that we are now seeing in the news. In 1993, Israel signed onto the Oslo Accords that created the Palestinian Authority. As a result, Israel withdrew from the major cities of the West Bank. It was a time of great euphoria, and the hopes for a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians were real. In both 2000 and 2008, Israel agreed to two generous offers for peace through the two-state solution. Unfortunately, Palestinian leaders rejected both offers. It was also during this period that the government of Iran and their Palestinian terror proxies did everything possible to literally blow up the hopes for peace. Between 1993 and 2008, Palestinian terror organizations, primarily Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, carried out 168 suicide bombings on Israeli buses, in restaurants and shopping malls. These suicide bombings, and other terror attacks, killed more than 1,000 Israeli civilians and wounded many thousands more. Although Hamas and Islamic Jihad provided the hateful ideology and the suicide bombers, it was Iran that provided the financial means and technical support to commit mass murder and destroy the hopes for peace. Irans Middle East strategy calls for supporting the Axis of Resistance. The goal is to surround Israel with terror proxy forces like Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza, and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iran uses these proxies for resistance to the very existence of Israel. Gaza is an important part of Irans strategy. When Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza in 2005, there was an agreement signed between Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Egypt and the European Union on open borders between Gaza, Egypt and Israel. Here was an opportunity for peace and prosperity for the people of Gaza. In fact, there was an opportunity for Gaza to become the Singapore of the Mediterranean. Everyone was happy with the agreement except Hamas and their backers in Iran. In 2007, Hamas took over control of Gaza by violently expelling the Palestinian Authority. It then turned Gaza into an enemy territory by firing thousands of rockets at Israeli civilians and digging terror tunnels under the border. Since 2007, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have fired more than 30,000 rockets at Israeli civilians. Thats why in 2007 Israel put in place a naval blockade to prevent the smuggling of weapons into Gaza. And to be clear, this was a naval blockade and not a military siege, because every day there were tons of food, clothing, medicine and humanitarian goods that came into Gaza through the Israeli border crossings. The tragic events we witnessed on Oct. 7 were another obscene expression of the longtime obsession of Hamas and Iran with the destruction of Israel. The timing of the attack was not coincidental. Many Middle East experts have claimed that the attack was motivated by the government of Iran to use Hamas to sabotage the hopes for a peace deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia. By massacring over 1,400 innocent Israeli men, women and children and taking 199 hostages, the Hamas leadership has brought even more suffering to the peoples of Israel and Gaza. To be clear, the attack on Oct. 7 was not just another "cycle of violence" as some analysts claim in the media. This is part of a war for the destruction of Israel instigated and perpetrated by Hamas with the support of the government of Iran. Israel is defending itself against this war of destruction. Now is the time to empower those who seek peace and coexistence and not make excuses for groups like Hamas that pursue war and destruction. At the end of the day, Arabs and Jews are both children of Abraham. Both peoples deserve to live in peace, safety and dignity. To achieve that goal, now is the time for moral clarity. You can be pro-Palestinian and pro-peace. You can be pro-Israel and pro-peace, but you cannot be pro-peace and pro-Hamas. Bob Feferman is community relations director for the Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Time for moral clarity on the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. Tega Cay will be the first city in South Carolina with access to Google Fiber service. Gov. Henry McMaster joined Google and city staff Wednesday to announce the plans. Tega Cays service is a first in South Carolina, but also an extension of Google Fiber in the Charlotte market. Service is available in the Charlotte and Triangle markets in North Carolina now. The service is available in 32 markets in 17 states, including the addition of Tega Cay. Construction on infrastructure for the Tega Cay service should begin early next year. Internet service would follow by late 2024. In Charlotte, Google Fiber recently added 5 Gig and 8 Gig service. Other planned metro expansion areas includes Huntersville and Concord, North Carolina. Details on which Tega Cay neighborhoods will get services on what schedule arent yet available. According to Google Fiber, new network additions can take several years to complete. Google Fiber offers include home Internet, Wi-Fi, television and phone service, plus business options. Rates for Tega Cay arent listed, but Charlotte prices range from $70 a month for 1 Gig internet to $150 a month for 8 Gig. Tega Cay City Council unanimously approved a service agreement this week to bring in Google Fiber. This partnership will bring high speed Internet access, economic growth and innovation to our community, Mayor Chris Gray said during Wednesdays announcement. We are committed to making Tega Cay a hub of connectivity and progress. Google Fiber announced plans in 2015 to bring its service to North Carolina. Even then, said company southeast manager Darrel Hegar, it was our hope that we would not only be in the Charlotte area, but we would be in South Carolina. Gov. Henry McMaster called the news a great step forward. Long-time residents and new ones alike, McMaster said, will benefit as they have to be educated, kept safe and given opportunities to succeed to maintain the quality of life people in South Carolina expect. Thats where this comes in, McMaster said. Thats where Google comes in. Thats where broadband comes in. Thats where the Internet comes in. What weve learned is, our people have a thirst for information. Santiago Ochoa's reporting for the Yakima Herald-Republic is possible with support from Report for America and community members through the Yakima Valley Community Fund. For information on republishing, email news@yakimaherald.com. Zhai Jun, special envoy of the Chinese government on the Middle East issue, meets with Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov in Doha, Qatar, Oct. 19, 2023. (Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Qatar/Handout via Xinhua) DOHA, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- China is deeply saddened by the heavy civilian casualties caused by the Palestine-Israel conflict and the severe deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Palestine, China's special envoy on Middle East affairs said Thursday. Zhai Jun, special envoy of the Chinese government on the Middle East issue, made the remarks during his meeting with Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov. China opposes and condemns all actions that harm civilians and any violations of international law, said Zhai, adding the fundamental reason for the current situation in the Palestine-Israel conflict is the lack of protection for the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people. China and Russia hold the same position regarding the Palestinian issue. China is willing to maintain communication and coordination with Russia to de-escalate the situation as soon as possible, play a positive role in resuming Palestinian-Israeli peace talks, work to implement the "two-state solution" and push for an early, comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue, said Zhai. 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. Biden declares Israel and Ukraine support is vital for US security, will ask Congress for billions Addressing the nation from the Oval Office, President Joe Biden has made his case for major U.S. backing of Ukraine and Israel in a time of war 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. VIENTIANE, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- The China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD) has donated educational items to 18,536 students of primary schools in Laos. The handover ceremony was held at Thongmang Primary School in Xaythany District in the capital Vientiane on Thursday, Lao News Agency reported on Friday. The educational items given to the schools included books, bags, colored pencils, colored pens, among others. The Lao Committee for Peace and Solidarity expressed gratitude to the CFRD and the Chinese people for providing the items. Vilaphong, representing teachers and students, expressed his heartfelt thanks to the CFRD and pledged to offer good education for students. The CFRD has so far donated educational items to 251 primary schools in the southern Lao provinces of Savannakhet and Salavan. HEFEI, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- East China's Anhui Province has released a three-year action plan, aiming to build itself into an innovation "highland" of the general artificial intelligence (AI) technology industry, said local authorities on Thursday. The plan focuses on building intelligent computing platforms, promoting the opening up of data resources, developing large models, introducing more application scenarios and attracting more AI enterprises, according to information revealed at a press conference held by the provincial government information office. By 2025, Anhui's total intelligent computing power is expected to hit 14,000P (Peta) and its data scale of key industries including education, health care and automobiles will reach 500 TB, according to the plan. Meanwhile, a total of 200 AI-based application scenarios will be formed and first applied in 18 key areas like the new energy vehicle sector by 2025, said Wu Jinsong, an official from the provincial department of science and technology. Currently, the province's intelligent computing power exceeds 5,000P. Last year alone, 818 projects related to the AI industry were launched in the province, with a total investment of around 600 billion yuan (about 83.6 billion U.S. dollars), Wu added. Anhui has also established an investment fund for its AI industry, with an initial scale of 6 billion yuan, which is expected to reach over 20 billion yuan in the coming five years, aiming to provide necessary financial support for AI projects. 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. A delegation led by Azerbaijani Labour and Social Protection Minister Sahil Babayev, who is on a visit to Uzbekistan, has laid flowers at the monument to the National Leader at Heydar Aliyev Square in Tashkent and paid tribute to his memory, Azernews reports. The Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection has reported that Minister Sahil Babayev met with the Director of the National Agency for Social Protection under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Mansurbek Olloyorov. The Minister underlined that as a result of joint efforts of the heads of state of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, the long-standing relations between the two countries have developed and reached the level of strategic partnership. The documents signed between the two countries in the past period were highlighted. In particular, the special significance of the "Agreement on the establishment of the Supreme Interstate Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Uzbekistan" signed by Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Shavkat Mirziyoyev in August 2023 was brought to attention in the dynamic development of strategic partnerships. It was noted that the construction of a secondary school on the initiative of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in the liberated town of Fuzuli is another manifestation of the friendship and brotherhood of the two countries. Information was presented on social reforms and successes achieved in our country in recent years, the DOST concept, and digital achievements in the social sphere. M. Olloyorov said that the successful continuation of relations between our countries in the social field is a source of satisfaction and important work is being done to expand these relations. It was noted that there is a great potential for expanding cooperation between the two institutions in the process of social reforms, and the importance of mutual visits and meetings in the past period in strengthening the relations was noted. S.Babayev and M.Olloyerov signed the Memorandum of Understanding "On cooperation in the field of social protection" between the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the National Agency for Social Protection under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan". The document envisages improvement of social legislation and digitalisation of social services, organisation of social services for vulnerable groups, adoption, mediation, disability assessment, rehabilitation, etc. Cooperation and the exchange of experience and information are planned. The Azerbaijani delegation familiarised itself with the experience of social enterprises established for vulnerable groups in Uzbekistan. Khaled Khiari (Front), the UN assistant secretary-general for Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, speaks at a high-level debate of the UN Security Council on the contribution of regional, subregional and bilateral arrangements to the prevention and peaceful resolution of disputes at the UN headquarters in New York, on Oct. 20, 2023. (Manuel Elias/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- A UN official on Friday warned of the negative global impact of geopolitical tensions as the world order is undergoing transition. "The world has entered a new era. The post-Cold War period is over and a transition is under way to a new global order. As history teaches us, transition periods come with heightened risks," said Khaled Khiari, the UN assistant secretary-general for Middle East, Asia and the Pacific. The new era is already marked by deepening divisions and retrenchment, and geopolitical tensions are at their highest in decades, he told a high-level debate of the UN Security Council on the contribution of regional, subregional and bilateral arrangements to the prevention and peaceful resolution of disputes. Contestation and competition among states is increasingly testing the boundaries set in the UN Charter, he said. "The ensuing loss of trust -- and the risks of escalation -- affect almost all regions." At the same time, many states are skeptical of how the multilateral system is working for them, and have profound grievances regarding unmet commitments and double standards. Women and men everywhere also have a deep sense that governments and international organizations are failing to deliver for them, he said. With increasing geopolitical strife and challenges to international norms, negotiated settlements of conflicts have been harder to achieve. The pursuit of military solutions has sadly been a prominent feature of recent conflicts for which civilians are paying a heavy toll, he said. The deterioration of global and regional arms control frameworks and crisis management protocols has increased the possibility of dangerous standoffs, miscalculations and escalation. In some regions, polarized global politics are mirrored in the unraveling of integration efforts that had previously contributed to regional stability for decades, he said. The driving force for a more effective collective security system must be diplomacy, said Khiari. Today the stakes for preventive diplomacy and dialogue could not be higher. The dangerous and escalating situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory is a bitter reminder of the urgent need for an end to the horrific violence, an immediate humanitarian cease-fire and a pathway to negotiations toward a just, lasting and comprehensive political solution. Absent a negotiated two-state solution, this vicious cycle of violence risks plunging the entire region into conflict for years and generations to come, he warned. Chapter VI of the UN Charter prescribes that all states shall rely on peaceful means as their first option to resolve disputes. It offers a range of options to address differences within the framework of the Security Council, within respective regions, or bilaterally, he said. "Adherence to the principles set out in the United Nations Charter remains an essential precondition. It is our collective obligation under international law to prevent and resolve armed conflict." Regional organizations and frameworks have a critical role to play in this regard. They can bring credibility and legitimacy for preventive diplomacy. They can help increase trust and reduce misperceptions. And they can enhance mechanisms for crisis management, he said. In the face of growing competition at the global level and increasingly transnational threats, regional frameworks and organizations can offer avenues for trust-building and detente, he said. "We cannot afford to leave any stone unturned in search of avenues for de-escalation and trust-building. For this to work, we need courage to listen to the views of others and consider them in good faith. Regional frameworks and institutions play a key bridge-building conduit in this regard," he said. "At a time of heightened tensions, it is our shared responsibility to do everything in our power to maintain the system of collective security that our predecessors built." Scurgeri de gaz dintr-un vagon cu gaz lichefiat Mai multe echipaje de pompieri au fost mobilizate, vineri seara, in urma unor scurgeri de gaz dintr-un vagon incarcat cu gaz lichefiat, din componenta unui tren aflat in Gara Saligny, a informat Inspectoratul pentru Situatii de Urgenta (ISU) Dobrogea. Scurgeri de gaze de la un vagon incarcat cu gaz lichefiat [citeste mai departe] Tibor Navracsics, the regional development minister, told a conference on Tuesday that he trusted the government, before the end of next month, would be able to reach a definite agreement with the European Commission to unfreeze Hungarys funds. He told the conference organised by Portfolio.hu that the next and final round of talks on topics related to unblocking the funding would start on Thursday. Navracsics said the goal was that as soon as talks are completed EU funding of the projects could start immediately. According to the minister, Hungary accessed 94% of community funding for the 2014-2020 budget period, the fifth highest ratio among EU members. Development priorities for the 2021-2027 period include developments to improve economic competitiveness, as well as infrastructure and job-creating projects, Navracsics said. The government also aims to make Hungary one of the five most liveable EU countries, he said, adding that the country would have 14,000 billion forints for that purpose. Financing of rural development projects was under way, he said, while operative and cohesion financing had been halted. Hungary has accessed 3% of the funds for 2021-27, Navracsics said. Some of those funds have gone to EU projects pre-financed from central coffers, while other monies are for organisational development and infrastructure completed in preparation for further EU-financed projects. Navracsics said sectoral operative programmes would continue, with a new one targeting digital renewal, which would tap almost 800 billion forints. The programme will cover the whole spectrum, from infrastructure development through the education of digital skills, he added. The UN World Tourism Organisation has included Tokaj, a unique wine community in north-eastern Hungary, in its list of Best Tourism Villages 2023, the Hungarian Tourism Agency announced this week. This is the first time that a Hungarian village has appeared on the annual list. Tokaj, which celebrates the 950th anniversary of its founding this year, was competing with 260 villages on five continents for the title. The renowned international prize is a recognition of refurbishments already completed in the village, and will encourage further tourism developments which aim to make the world heritage wine region one of the most popular destinations in Hungary. What is the UN World Tourism Organisation? The initiative launched by UNWTO in 2021 recognises rural destinations where tourism preserves cultures and traditions, celebrates diversity, provides opportunities and safeguards biodiversity. Also included on this years list is Schladming in Austria, Slunj in Croatia and Saint-Ursanne in Switzerland, along with destinations in Chile, Japan and Ethiopia. Why is Tokaj special? Its name synonymous with Hungary, Tokaj is both a wine-producing region and a UNESCO World Heritage site, its renowned sweet dessert variety produced here for the best part of a thousand years. The unique microclimate, with its misty mornings and sunny afternoons, creates the ideal conditions for the development of noble rot, a beneficial mould that shrivels the Furmint grapes and concentrates their sugars. This natural phenomenon gives Tokaji Aszu wines their distinctive sweetness and complexity, making any winery visit a fascinating exploration of the generations of craftsmanship that goes into the whole process. Tokaji Aszu is classified by the number of puttonyos (measuring the sweetness level) it contains, 6 being the sweetest. Tokaj also produces dry white wines, szamorodni, and late-harvest wines. What else is there to see in Tokaj? Autumn is the most popular time of year for a tour of the Tokaji region, to take a guided tour of the vineyards and cellars where these wines are produced. Its also worth visiting for the lively craft market on the second Sunday of every month at the Sarga Borhaz Restaurant on the Disznoko estate. This provides a great opportunity to buy genuine hand-crafted products and sample the unique, sweet Tokaji Aszu wine in situ, where it is produced according to age-old methods. The handmade products are brought by 40 local craftspeople from a 40km radius, allowing you to discover local cheeses and cured meats, jams and honeys, vinegars and oils, organic fruit and vegetables, chilli and fresh/dried mushrooms, chocolates and homemade cakes, as well as jewellery, clothes, wooden toys and tools, pottery, soap and much more. The next one takes place on Sunday, 12 November. Photo: Xpatloop readers visited Izabella Zwack in Tokaj Words by Peterjon Cresswell for Xpatloop.com Peterjon has been researching the byways of Budapest for 30 years, extending his expertise across Europe to produce guidebooks for Time Out and his own website liberoguide.com YORK On Monday full access to drinking water was restored at the Nebraska womens prison in York, after nearly two weeks of limited access. People incarcerated at the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women bathed and washed their hands in undrinkable water between Oct. 3 and Oct. 16. During that nearly two-week period, drinking water was available at only six locations in the 275-bed facility. Incarcerated women complained that there was an insufficient amount of water available, according to Phyllis Knightbey, a relative of a woman in the facility. According to Knightbey and per reporting from the Lincoln Journal Star, women also complained that the available water was leading to illness. The facility denies that any illnesses were reported due to the water and says that water was available in all of the facilitys housing units, according to Dayne Urbanovsky, a spokeswoman with the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services. At the end of September, a five-year inspection of the facilitys primary water well revealed that it had critical issues, according to an email sent to correctional officials by Tom Fritz, maintenance manager for the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women, and available through public records. Considering the potential for failure and loss of fire/life systems we deemed this emergency work and set a timeline to get it done prior to winter weather, Fritz said in the email. While the primary well underwent maintenance, the prisons source of water was a back-up well. Officials deemed the back-up well water a potential risk. It is not that the water is unsafe but that this source is no longer routinely tested so the standard of that water is unknown, Jessica Johnson, an environmental specialist with the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, wrote in an email to correctional officials. She added that the emergency well does not have the adequate chemical feed set up like the drinking water well does. The system that Johnson refers to as a chemical feed set up is also known as a corrosion inhibitor, which keeps the amount of copper in the water at a safe level, Johnson told the News-Times over the phone. While the primary well has a corrosion inhibitor, the back-up well does not have this system. Maintenance on the primary well began on Oct. 3. Notices were posted around the facility that morning, according to an email sent to correctional officials by Warden Angela Folts-Oberle. This is not an emergency. This water is safe for bathing and hand washing and consumable if obtained from an RO system, the notices said. Reverse osmosis (RO) systems are water filter devices that use reverse osmosis to remove contaminants, such as copper, from the water. According to Urbanovsky, During the duration of this project, the facility advised staff and the incarcerated population to consume water from the reverse osmosis systems located in many places through the facility, including all of the housing units. The facility has a total of six RO units, according to an email sent by Johnson to correctional officials. According to communications between Johnson and prison staff, the prison would provide water bottles. As of the Oct 5 article in the Journal Star, plans called for water bottles to be provided in areas that did not have the RO systems. However, according to Knightbey there were no water bottles provided. The department confirmed that no water bottles were provided in an email earlier this week. During the duration of this project, the incarcerated population had access to drinking water through the reverse osmosis system. Because water was available throughout the facility, including all the housing units, it wasnt necessary to provide bottled water, Urbanosky said. But Knightbey told the News-Times that her relative in the facility had said that the water that was available at the six RO locations was trickling. Knightbey added, Where they told them to get the water from, the water does not run. In response to these concerns, Urbanovsky told the New-Times, While the reverse osmosis systems were recharging, reverse osmosis filtered water was provided through coolers in the housing units. According to reporting from the Journal Star, some women reported that the water from the back up well was murky. Johnson said that she had not heard reports of murky water. Knightbey also expressed concern about the women having to bathe and wash their hands in potentially contaminated water. If you have an open wound, for instance, this is a major issue, she said. During the nearly two-week period between Oct. 3 and Oct. 16, some women reported getting sick because of the water, according to Knightbey. Urbanovsky disputed this claim. We do not have any reports of illness related to water. Johnson told the News-Times over the phone that she had not heard reports of sickness. In addition, she explained that copper is a chronic contaminant, meaning that although its consumption can lead to health problems in the long term, it would likely not cause sickness in the short term. Knightbey said her relative tried to mail a copy of the notice to family in order to raise awareness of the issue, but was prevented from doing so by prison staff who check the mail. We are not aware of anyone attempting to mail out the public notice, Urbanovsky told the News-Times. The maintenance on the well was originally expected to take three weeks, according to an email sent to correctional officials by Fritz. Instead, it only took three days. It began on Oct. 3 and finished on Oct. 6. Access to water was limited at the prison between Oct. 3 and Oct. 16, nearly two weeks. In part, this is because before the primary well could be put back into use, the well had to be tested for coliform bacteria, Johnson explained over the phone. Anytime maintenance on a well is done, additional testing is required by the state, Johnson said. After receiving two negative results 24 hours apart, the water can be used for consumption, Amanda Woita, public information officer at the Department of Environment and Energy, told the News-Times in an email. However, the delays were also due to correctional staff miscommunication, intervening weekends and a holiday, according to Urbanovsky. The corrections department collected its first sample on Tuesday, Oct. 10, four days after maintenance on the well was completed on Friday, Oct. 6. According to Urbanovsky, the first sample test was not taken until Tuesday, Oct. 10 because of the weekend and State holiday. Monday, Oct. 9 was Indigenous Peoples Day. Then a miscommunication occurred. At the same time as the staff dropped off the first sample on Oct. 10, they were supposed to pick up the second sample kit. However, due to a miscommunication, transportation staff did not return with the additional sampling kits, Urbanovsky said. Instead, the second sample kit had to be sent to prison via mail. The second sample kit arrived at the prison on October 12, according to Urbanovsky. This was two days later than planned. The lab, after receiving the sample on Oct. 13, notified the facility of its sample results on Oct. 14, according to Woita, but NDEE did not receive an official report of the results until Oct. 16 when returning from the weekend. It is not clear why NDEE did not receive an official report of the results until two days after prison was notified. On Oct. 16, NDEE confirmed that the two samples were negative. The primary well was back in use on Monday, Oct. 16, according to Urbanovsky, and the notices were taken down that day, Woita said. While it is not uncommon for backup wells to be used while the primary well undergoes maintenance, Johnson told the News-Times that it is less common that the backup well does not have potable water. Woita wrote in an email to the News-Times that it is common for community water systems to have a backup well, and prisons are community water systems. The type of testing and treatment on these backup wells varies by the system and the existing groundwater quality. Urbanovsky told the News-Times that there are no plans to make the alternative well potable. The facility has known about high copper levels in its water since at least 2017, according to the Journal Star. In 2018 the facility installed its first reverse osmosis system. Water problems have persisted since then. In June of this year, the facility was found to be in noncompliance by the NDEE, according to NDEE records. In September, the primary well developed a vacuum leak, which appears to have led to higher levels of orthophosphate in the water than preferred, according to a public document published on Thursday. This leak was repaired after new well was installed, the document said. It is not clear if the vacuum leak was identified at the same time as the wells critical issues, which led to the maintenance in the first place, or if the vacuum leak was identified later during the repair process. After spending more than a month in the hospital, an Omaha surgeon accused of causing a fatal crash last month while speeding down Dodge Street at more than 100 mph appeared in court for the first time Thursday. Mark Carlson, 61, faces one count of manslaughter for his alleged involvement in the Sept. 1 crash that killed 22-year-old Anna Bosma. Carlson was released from the hospital Thursday morning and was immediately taken into custody at the Douglas County Jail. Douglas County Court Judge Jeffrey Marcuzzo ordered Carlson to be held on 10% of $250,000 bail, meaning he will need to pay $25,000 to be released from jail. Carlson waived his right to a preliminary hearing, and the case will be sent to district court for further proceedings. If convicted of manslaughter, Carlson could face up to 20 years in prison. Carlsons attorney, Steven Delaney, said Thursday there is information to suggest Carlson suffered an unspecified medical emergency prior to the crash. He also said the crash left Carlson, who was in a wheelchair during the hearing, with a fractured pelvis, eight broken ribs and various internal injuries. Prosecutors, however, said Carlsons reckless driving was to blame for the senseless loss of life. According to an arrest affidavit for Carlson, Omaha police responded to a two-car crash at 62nd and Dodge Streets at 10:30 p.m. on Sept. 1. Bosma, who was driving a Chevrolet Cruze, was declared dead at the scene. Carlson, who was driving a Mercedes E63 AMG, and a passenger in Bosmas car were taken to the hospital with traumatic injuries. Citing witness interviews and security footage, prosecutors allege that Carlson was either racing or engaged in a road rage incident with another car driven by 26-year-old Cameron Robinson prior to the crash. Robinson does not face charges related to the crash, and prosecutors previously said he has been cooperative in the investigation. After passing University Drive East, Carlsons Mercedes left the roadway and struck a metal light pole on the north side of Dodge Street with the rear passenger side of his car. He then crossed four lanes of traffic before entering the farthest eastbound lane and colliding with the Chevy Cruze. About two seconds elapsed from the time Carlson hit the light pole to the impact with Bosmas car, according to data obtained from the air-bag control module on the Mercedes. The data also showed that Carlson never took his foot off the gas pedal, according to the affidavit. At the time of impact with the light pole, he was traveling 106 mph with 100% acceleration. As Carlson crossed the four lanes of traffic, half a second before hitting Bosma, he was traveling 101 mph with 100% acceleration. According to his University of Nebraska Medical Center faculty page, Carlson was the director of the Center for Advanced Surgical Technology in addition to being a professor in the department of surgery. He was also a staff surgeon at Omahas VA Medical Center. New Delhi: Paytm parent company One97 Communication reported a significant 32% year-on-year increase in revenue, reaching Rs 2,519 crore. The company also saw an increase in its contribution margin, which went up to 57%, with a 13% year-on-year growth. This improvement can be attributed to better net payment margins and the loan distribution business. Before accounting for Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOP), One97 Communication's EBITDA showed improvement, increasing by 15 percentage points year-on-year to reach 6%. This is due to the enhanced contribution margin and operating leverage. Paytm's merchant subscription service experienced impressive growth in the last quarter, with a remarkable 91% year-on-year increase. The company added 44 lakh and 14 lakh new subscriptions in the past year and quarter, respectively. In terms of innovations, Paytm's fintech introduced three new soundboxes with added features for merchants. The "Paytm Pocket Soundbox" is designed for door-to-door merchants, like delivery agents and auto drivers, to facilitate payment collection. The "Paytm Card Soundbox" accepts both cards and UPI payments, providing multiple options for customers. Paytm made significant strides in the domain of loan distribution, with a notable 122% year-on-year growth, reaching Rs 16,211 crore. The company reported that their lending partners distributed loans through their platform to 1.18 crore unique Paytm consumers and merchants. The company provided an update on the buyback of equity shares, which was announced by the Board of Directors on December 13, 2022. The buyback commenced on December 21, 2022, and was successfully completed on February 13, 2023. During this process, the company bought back 15,566,746 equity shares at an average price of INR 545.93 per equity share, aggregating to INR 8,489 million. New Delhi: Canada has issued a revised travel advisory for its citizens in India, urging them to "exercise a high degree of caution." This update comes shortly after Canada recalled 41 diplomats and shut down most of its diplomatic missions in India amid escalating tensions between the two nations. The dispute centers around the killing of a Khalistani terrorist on Canadian soil. Threat Of Terrorist Attacks The advisory issued by Canada underscores the potential threat of terrorist attacks throughout India. It also acknowledges the growing sentiment against Canada in traditional media and on social platforms, prompting calls for protests. It warns that demonstrations, including anti-Canada protests, could take place, subjecting Canadians to potential intimidation and harassment. In Delhi and the National Capital Region, citizens are advised to maintain a low profile and refrain from sharing personal information with strangers. Canada Withdraws 41 Diplomats Canada's decision to withdraw 41 diplomats and their family members from India follows a dispute over diplomatic immunity. The announcement was made by Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly, and it is linked to the contentious issue of the killing of a Sikh separatist. Row Over Khalistani Extremist's Killing The tension between India and Canada escalated after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made allegations of Indian involvement in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil. India vehemently rejected these allegations, considering them "absurd" and "motivated." Diplomatic Immunity At Risk In response to India's plan to unilaterally remove diplomatic immunities from Canadian diplomats, Canada decided to withdraw its diplomats from India to ensure their safety. This move affects the operations of the Canadian consulates in Chandigarh, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, redirecting all services to the High Commission in New Delhi. Defending Diplomatic Norms Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly criticized India's actions, calling them "contrary to international law" and a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Despite this, Canada has chosen not to reciprocate India's actions, emphasizing the importance of maintaining diplomatic norms. Committed To International Law: Canada Joly stressed Canada's commitment to international law and its willingness to engage with India. The decision to reduce the diplomatic staff in India is a significant development, impacting service delivery, but Canada will continue to accept and process visa applications from India, although processing times may be affected. Canada's Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, has emphasized the importance of ongoing dialogue with the Indian government to address this serious matter. Canada has already shared evidence with India regarding the case but did not provide specific details. Both countries are urged to cooperate in the ongoing investigation, with Canadian law enforcement agencies actively involved. Meanwhile, India has suspended visa services for Canadians and called for Canada to take strong action against terrorists and anti-India elements operating from its territory. Addressing Broader Issues External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, highlighted the broader issue of Canada's permissiveness toward terrorism, extremism, and violence, suggesting that it should be addressed in addition to the specific case of the Khalistani extremist's killing. This comprehensive news article covers the key developments and statements related to Canada's advisory to its citizens in India and the diplomatic tensions between the two countries. The Israel-Hamas conflict has once again brought Russia and America into a confrontation. The United States openly supports Israel in its conflict with Hamas, while Russia accuses Israel of war crimes, further intensifying tensions between the two countries. This situation is not unprecedented. In Today's DNA, Zee News anchor Sourabh Raaj Jain Sourabh Raaj Jain analysed the ongoing verbal skirmish between the USA and Russia amidst the Israel-Palestine conflict. Recall the events of February 2022 when Russia attacked Ukraine. The United States unequivocally backed Ukraine, providing both military and economic assistance, which continues to this day, exacerbating the conflict between the two nations. Throughout history, whether during the Ukraine conflict or the Second World War, relations between Russia and America have consistently been strained. Even during the Second World War, there was tension between the Soviet Union and America, leading to mutual hostilities. The Second World War spanned from 1939 to 1945. Following its conclusion in 1945, the world witnessed the initial consequences of the escalating tensions and power struggle between Russia and America with the division of Korea. This division resulted from the Korean War, a protracted conflict in which American forces supported one side while Russia and China intervened on the other. Following Russia's initiation of hostilities against Ukraine and the United States' support for Ukraine, tensions in their relationship escalated. Now, President Biden has added to these tensions by comparing Putin's regime to a terrorist organization such as Hamas in the context of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The potential consequences of this comparison could prove highly significant in the near future. Guests attend the launch ceremony of a high-level symposium and an exhibition to mark the 20th founding anniversary of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), also known as Forum Macao, in south China's Macao, Oct. 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka) MACAO, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- A high-level symposium and an exhibition opened on Friday in China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) to mark the 20th founding anniversary of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), also known as Forum Macao. Ho Hau Wah, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Ho Iat Seng, chief executive of the Macao SAR, leaders of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR and Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the Macao SAR, as well as other high-level officials from China and Portuguese-speaking countries (PSCs), attended the launch ceremony. Ho Iat Seng said in his speech that Forum Macao has fully leveraged Macao's unique advantages in linking China with PSCs and effectively promoted exchanges and cooperation between the two sides, focusing on economic and trade cooperation. Forum Macao has served as an important platform and link for China and PSCs to carry out mutually beneficial and friendly cooperation during the past two decades, gradually becoming a propeller for advancing all-round cooperation between the two sides, Ho noted. Ji Xianzheng, secretary-general of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, said the forum has facilitated coordination between various parties to jointly improve the level of economic and trade cooperation between China and PSCs, making tremendous achievements in trade, investment, industrial development, and people-to-people exchanges. Cape Verdean Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Region Integration Rui Alberto de Figueiredo Soares suggested that the forum play a more active role, with a focus on areas such as cultural and tourism promotion, attracting investment, holding business meetings, and promoting market access. The related exhibition to last through Dec. 20 reviews the development of the forum during the past two decades, and showcases the forum's contribution to the exchanges and cooperation between China and the PSCs. This photo taken on Oct. 20, 2023 shows a scene of the launch ceremony of a high-level symposium and an exhibition to mark the 20th founding anniversary of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), also known as Forum Macao, in south China's Macao. (Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka) Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Ho Iat Seng speaks during the launch ceremony of a high-level symposium and an exhibition to mark the 20th founding anniversary of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), also known as Forum Macao, in south China's Macao, Oct. 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka) Sahibabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the 17-km priority section of the country's first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor and called it a historic moment for the entire nation on the auspicious occasion of Navratri. "This is a historic moment for the entire country. Today, India's first Rapid Rail services - Namo Bharat train - have begun and are being dedicated to the nation," the PM said while addressing a huge gathering here. Hailing the NaMo Bharat train, PM Modi said that it has "modernity, rapidity and amazing speed." "This Namo Bharat train is defining the new journey and new resolves of New India," he added. #WATCH | PM Narendra Modi inaugurated priority section of Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor and flagged off RapidX train connecting Sahibabad to Duhai Depot today. He says, "This is a historic moment for the entire country. Today, India's first Rapid Rail services - Namo pic.twitter.com/BFynU03n8n ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2023 PM went on to say, "When this Meerut stretch completes after a year or a year and a half, I will be there at your service." Taking a dig at the previous Congress-led UPA regime, PM Modi said, "Four years back, I laid the foundation stone of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Corridor project. Today, the services of Namo Bharat have started on the stretch from Sahibabad to Duhai Depot. I had said earlier too and I say it today as well - Jiska shilanyaas hum karte hain, uska udghatan bhi hum hi karte hain." #WATCH | Sahibabad, Uttar Pradesh | PM Narendra Modi says, "Four years back, I laid the foundation stone of Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Corridor project. Today, the services of Namo Bharat have started on the stretch from Sahibabad to Duhai Depot. I had said earlier too and I pic.twitter.com/6qUTbmgTeZ ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2023 PM Modi further stated that the NaMo Bharat train is a symbol of 'women empowerment in the country.' "On this new train (Namo Bharat), from the driver to the entire crew - they are all women. This is the symbol of growing women empowerment in India," the PM said amid huge applause from the audience. Interestingly, the PM also took a ride in a 'Namo Bharat' train running on the stretch. "I had the opportunity to experience travel on this ultra-modern train (Namo Bharat). I spent my childhood on the railway platform and today this new form of the railways is filling me with joy. This experience is delightful. We have the tradition of performing auspicious works during Navratri. India's first Namo Bharat train has received the blessings of Maa Katyayani today," the PM said. #WATCH | Sahibabad, Uttar Pradesh | PM Narendra Modi says, "I had the opportunity to experience travel on this ultra-modern train (Namo Bharat). I spent my childhood on the railway platform and today this new form of the railways is filling me with joy. This experience is pic.twitter.com/jZGGW35OqT ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2023 Interestingly, the PM also took a ride in a 'Namo Bharat' train running on the stretch. PM Modi showed the green flag to the train connecting Sahibabad and Duhai Depot stations, marking the launch of the RRTS in India. The train can run at a speed of 180 km per hour. VIDEO | PM Modi flags off a RAPIDX train connecting Sahibabad and Duhai Depot stations, marking the launch of the RRTS in India. pic.twitter.com/bzlDFYrjJE Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 20, 2023 The Prime Minister was also seen interacting with the passengers, school students and the crew of the train. VIDEO | PM Modi interacts with schoolchildren and RRTS staff members as he takes a ride on RAPIDX train, connecting Sahibabad and Duhai Depot stations. pic.twitter.com/0Vv652dUZJ October 20, 2023 The inauguration ceremony took place at Sahibabad station of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor, which once fully completed, will reduce travel time between Delhi and Meerut to a little less than an hour. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri were present at the ceremony. India's first semi-high-speed regional rail service, whose trains are equipped with hi-tech features and a number of passenger amenities, will be opened for passengers from October 21. The services will begin at 6 am and run till 11 pm, the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) officials earlier said. The priority section between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot has five stations -- Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai and Duhai Depot. The segment from Duhai to Duhai Depot is a spur from the main corridor. The under-construction RRTS corridor, being built for the semi-high-speed regional rail service by the NCRTC, is a joint venture company of the Centre with the governments of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. The NCRTC has been tasked to oversee the construction of India's first RRTS, between Delhi and Meerut. The entire 82.15 km Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS is targeted to be operational by June 2025. Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, October 20, 2023: A shocking and heinous crime unfolded in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, as a woman scientist sought vengeance for her father's death by methodically poisoning her husband and five in-laws, leading to their agonizing deaths over a span of 20 days. Strikingly, she used a slow-acting poison called Thallium, a substance so lethal that it's often referred to as the "poison of poisons." This incident has brought to light the chilling use of Thallium and the motives behind this gruesome act. Thallium's Lethal Power: Thallium, known for its deadly toxicity, is notoriously difficult to detect because it lacks color, odor, and taste. When added to food or drink, it blends seamlessly, making it nearly impossible to identify by its flavor. Historically, Thallium has been utilized for nefarious purposes, primarily in targeting enemies or prisoners. It's worth noting that former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein employed Thallium sulfate to eliminate his police adversaries. The Methodical Poisoning: The police investigation revealed that the woman scientist had a vendetta against her in-laws for the alleged torment they caused her after her father's suicide, which occurred about five months prior. She embarked on a sinister quest for revenge by surreptitiously introducing Thallium into the daily meals of her husband and in-laws for a grueling 20-day period. Subsequent laboratory tests confirmed an alarming presence of heavy metal poison in the victims' bloodstreams. The Source of Thallium: Information gathered suggests that a relative aided her in obtaining Thallium from an undisclosed location in Telangana. Following the breakthrough in the case, the police have apprehended both the female scientist and her accomplice, who played a role in orchestrating this horrifying incident. The investigation, which began on September 20th, unfolded a series of shocking revelations during their interrogation. Similar Case in Delhi: This incident is not the first of its kind in India. A similar case came to light in Greater Kailash-I, Delhi, two years ago. In that instance, Varun Aroda, in an act of revenge, laced his in-laws' meals with Thallium during a New Year's party. He harbored resentment against his in-laws for supporting his wife's decision to terminate a pregnancy. Varun believed that his deceased father, who had passed away a year earlier, was reincarnated as their child. However, when the child was miscarried, he felt betrayed, leading to his shocking act. The Gadchiroli case serves as a grim reminder of the sinister potential of Thallium as a weapon of revenge. It highlights the importance of monitoring and controlling access to hazardous substances like Thallium to prevent similar tragedies in the future. Tel Aviv: In more worrying signs from the Middle East, the Israel Air Force (IAF) has carried out a series of airstrikes, targeting hundreds of operational sites belonging to the Hamas terrorist group in the Gaza Strip. The operation came in response to the attack initiated by Hamas on October 7. The Israeli Air Force reported that they launched over a hundred airstrikes against the terrorist organizations operating in the Gaza Strip, eliminating a terrorist involved in the recent attacks. In a post on X, the Israeli Air Force said, "During the night, the IDF attacked over a hundred operational targets of the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip; a terrorist who participated in the murderous raids in the Gaza Strip was eliminated." " ; , , . pic.twitter.com/IGFcoqN3Fd Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) October 20, 2023 The Israeli Air Force said, "As part of the attacks, terrorist infrastructure and weapons were destroyed located in a mosque in the Jablia neighbourhood, which was used, among other things, as an observation post and as a gathering ground for terrorists associated with the terrorist organization Hamas." Hamas' Naval Force Targeted, Key Infrastructure Destroyed The operation saw Israeli fighter jets destroying tunnel shafts, munition warehouses, and operational headquarters. Notably, a mosque in the Jablia neighborhood was also targeted, as it was being used as an observation post and gathering point for Hamas-affiliated terrorists. During the attacks, a Hamas Naval Force operative was killed. The individual was responsible for planning and executing terrorist operations in the Gaza Strip. " - . pic.twitter.com/39Ubs3ViBQ Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) October 19, 2023 'Will Target Hamas Like Human Animals' Israeli Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Avi Dichter, expressed strong condemnation of Hamas, likening their behavior to that of animals. He stated that Israel would continue to target Hamas relentlessly, referring to them as "human animals." Dichter also highlighted the explosion at the Al Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza, pointing out that it occurred on the day when the U.S. President was scheduled to arrive in Tel Aviv. He mentioned that it was unclear whether the incident was caused by a rocket or bomb launched by Hamas and noted the significance of the hospital as a Christian institution in Gaza. Imminent Ground Operation Senior Israeli officials have indicated the possibility of a large-scale ground operation in the Gaza Strip to eliminate Hamas. Israel's Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, informed soldiers near Gaza that the order to enter the Palestinian enclave would be given soon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also expressed confidence in a major victory. Evacuation in Northern Israel The Defense Ministry and the Israel Defense Forces announced the evacuation of residents from the northern city of Kiryat Shmona to state-subsidized guest houses due to repeated rocket and missile attacks by the Hezbollah terror group and other Palestinian factions. Humanitarian Crisis The situation in Gaza remains critical, with Israel blocking essential supplies of water, electricity, food, and fuel. With the Egypt-Gaza border crossing in Rafah still closed, the already dire conditions at Gazas second-largest hospital deteriorated further, warned Dr. Mohammed Qandeel of Nasser Hospital in the southern town of Khan Younis. Power has been cut in most departments to save it for intensive care and other vital functions, and staff members were using mobile phones for light. The Gaza Health Ministry has pleaded with gas stations to give whatever fuel they had left to hospitals. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees has given some of its last remaining fuel supplies to hospitals, spokesperson Juliette Touma said. More than 200 trucks and some 3,000 tons of aid are still positioned at or near Rafah, according to Khalid Zayed. the head of the Red Crescent for North Sinai. The conflict has resulted in significant casualties on both sides, with over 3,700 people killed in Gaza and more than 1,400 people killed in Israel. Over 1 million Palestinians, approximately half of Gaza's population, have fled their homes since the conflict began, seeking refuge in UN-run schools-turned-shelters or with relatives. TEL AVIV: Tragedy struck in central Gaza City as the Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius Church compound became the latest target of an Israeli air attack on Thursday night. The devastating Israeli bombardment on this historic church has resulted in eight confirmed fatalities, with dozens more left wounded. Women, Children Among Dead The attack on the Saint Porphyrius Church in the al-Zaytoun neighbourhood of Gaza had tragic consequences, with women and children among the victims, as reported by the Palestinian news agency Wafa. Widespread Destruction Wafa has cautioned that the number of casualties, both deceased and injured, may rise as the situation unfolds. According to sources on the ground, the bombing led to the complete collapse of the Council of Church Stewards' building, which provided shelter to Palestinian families, including Christians and Muslims, seeking refuge amidst the ongoing Israeli bombardment. Orthodox Church Slams Israel The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem has expressed its "strongest condemnation" of this attack, emphasizing that "targeting churches and their institutions, along with the shelters they provide to protect innocent citizens, especially children and women who have lost their homes due to Israeli air strikes on residential areas over the past 13 days, constitutes a war crime." Gaza Ground Invasion Looks Imminent Adding to the complexity of the situation, Israel's Defence Minister has delivered a stern message to gathered troops, hinting at the possibility of an imminent ground invasion in Gaza. This development raises concerns about further escalations in the region. Biden Reaffirms Support For Israel, Ukraine On the international stage, President Joe Biden has reaffirmed his support for both Israel and Ukraine. In a prime-time address to the nation, he called for a substantial new aid package for these two nations while strongly denouncing the rise of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in the United States. President Biden underscored the importance of assisting Israel in its response to terror attacks by Hamas and providing continued support to Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian aggression. He emphasized that these actions are not only crucial for global security but also fundamental to U.S. national security interests. Biden urged unity and inclusivity, stating, "We must, without equivocation, denounce anti-Semitism," and added, "We must also without equivocation, denounce Islamophobia. To all of you hurting, those of you hurting, I want you to know: I see you. You belong. And I want to say this to you: You're all American. You're all American." The President highlighted the interconnectedness of the Israeli and Ukrainian conflicts with American national security, viewing support for these nations as a wise investment with long-term benefits. Gaza Situation Deteriorates As the world watches these critical developments, the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. The arrival of humanitarian aid expected to enter Gaza from Egypt is eagerly awaited. Hundreds of trucks carrying essential supplies are on the Egyptian side of the border, providing a glimmer of hope in addressing the dwindling fuel, food supplies, and the severe shortage of medicines needed to treat the injured in Gaza's hospitals. At the moment, Gaza remains under siege, with Israel blocking supplies of water, electricity, food, and fuel across its border. The conflict between Israel and Hamas, which began on October 7, has resulted in significant casualties on both sides, with over 3,700 people killed in Gaza. WASHINGTON: In a dramatic turn of events, a US Navy warship deployed in the Middle East thwarted a barrage of missiles fired by Iranian-backed Houthi militants near the coast of Yemen on Thursday. This marks a significant moment as it is the first time in recent history that a US Navy ship in the Middle East has taken defensive action against missiles and drones not directly targeted at the vessel. First US Military Response To Israel Attack What sets this incident apart is that it's also the first instance of US military involvement to protect Israel in the current crisis. As the U.S. and other nations work to defuse the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas, the possibility that an Iranian-backed proxy group launched missiles and drones toward Israel is undoubtedly exacerbating regional tensions. Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder confirmed in a press conference that the USS Carney successfully intercepted three land attack missiles and multiple drones launched by Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen. He emphasized that this action demonstrated the integrated air and missile defence capabilities established in the Middle East to safeguard regional partners and U.S. interests. Fortunately, there were no casualties among U.S. forces or civilians on the ground. At this point, the Pentagon cannot definitively state the intended targets of the intercepted missiles and drones. However, these projectiles, launched from Yemen and moving north along the Red Sea, were potentially heading toward Israeli targets. Who Are The Houthis? The Houthi militants are a Shiite movement with Iranian backing, holding significant control over northern Yemen. They've been embroiled in a conflict with a Saudi-led coalition since 2015. In the course of this conflict, the Houthis have frequently launched missiles and drones into Saudi Arabia. Notably, the missiles intercepted on Thursday were not aimed at Saudi targets. Last week, Houthi leader Abdel-Malek al-Houthi warned that if the U.S. directly intervened in the Gaza conflict, his group would respond by deploying drones and missiles, among other military actions. This incident comes amidst a series of drone attacks targeting U.S. bases in Syria and Iraq, further escalating tensions in the region. Rising Attacks On US Bases In Syria, drone attacks on a U.S. base resulted in minor injuries. On Wednesday, two drones targeted the al-Tanf garrison, where U.S. and anti-ISIS coalition forces are stationed, with one drone destroyed and another causing minor injuries. Additionally, on Tuesday, U.S. forces defended against three drones near U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq. Two of these drones targeted the al-Asad airbase, causing minor injuries to coalition forces, while another drone was destroyed near Bashur airbase in northern Iraq, causing no injuries or damage. Conflict In Gaza, West Bank Amidst these developments, Israeli raids are ongoing in various parts of the occupied West Bank. More than 850 arrests have been carried out by Israeli forces in the Palestinian territory since the October 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel. Israel's recent bombardment of Gaza, as reported by the UN, resulted in the deaths of 307 Palestinians within a 24-hour period, bringing the death toll to 3,785 since the start of Israel's campaign, including at least 1,524 children and 1,444 women. The true death toll in Gaza may be even higher, with many victims still buried under the rubble of buildings decimated during the Israeli offensive, which is approaching its second week. New Delhi: Ahead of the release of Vidhu Vinod Chopra-directorial '12th Fail', Vikrant Massey and Medha Shankar celebrated Navratri with Ahmedabad. The stars are gearing up for the grand release of their forthcoming film on October 27th. The film is generating extremely positive talk among the masses. The starcast launched the much-awaited song #Restart from the film in the presence of more than 100 students. Following the song launch at the college in Ahmedabad, the duo Vikrant Massey and Medha Shankar took part in the grand garba celebration and went to the garba pandal in Ahmedabad. Both Vikrant and Medha looked absolutely pleasant in the traditional attire. The madness of the fans and the audience went to a new level after catching a glimpse of both stars at the event. The duo celebrated the navratri in the pandal and also talked about their film, 12th Fail, had an interaction session with the fans there, and also clicked a selfie. Talking about the song #Restart, it has an upbeat motivational theme attached to it and is crooned by Shaan and filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra, who, interestingly, is also making his singing debut with the song. The foot-tapping number is touted as an anthem for the youth, and it traces their spirits and dreams. Since the subject of the film is based on never losing hope and starting again and again, Restart is an important song that carries the theme perfectly. The lyrics for the song were penned by Swanand Kirkire, and the music was composed by Shantanu Moitra. 12th Fail, based on a true story, draws from the struggles of the millions of students who attempt the UPSC entrance exam. But at the same time, it goes beyond that one exam and encouragespeople to not lose heart in the face of failure and to restart. The film, directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, is set to release worldwide on October 27 in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada. New Delhi: 'Ganapath: A Hero Is Born' starring Tiger Shroff, Kriti Sanon, and Amitabh Bachchan has finally hit the theatres on Friday, i.e. October 20. The film is facing a clash with Divya Khosla Kumar and Meezaan Jafri's 'Yaariyan 2'. Like an action thriller movie, the plot of 'Ganapath' revolves around a martial arts enthusiast, who battles unexpected challenges to his dream career. However, within hours of its release in theatres, 'Ganapath' was leaked online and the full movie was made available on several platforms. As per India News, the full HD print of 'Ganapath' has been leaked on torrent websites and Telegram channels. 'Ganapath' full movie in HD has been leaked Filmywap, Onlinemoviewatches, 123movies, 123movierulz, Filmyzilla, and other pirated versions of the series in HD (300MB free download in 1080p, 720p, and HD online) are available for audience to watch. With the Tiger, Kriti-starrer getting leaked online, people are searching for the movie using keywords Ganapath Free Download, Ganapath MP4 HD Download, Ganapath Tamil Rockers, Ganapath Telegram Links, Ganapath Movie Free HD Download and Ganapath Free Download Link. With the latest online leak, the film business is likely to be affected. In the recent time, several films have become victim of online piracy. Films like 'Leo', 'Kaala Pani', 'Mission Raniganj', Fukrey 3', 'Jaane Jaan', 'Spy Ops', 'The Nun II', and more have been leaked online and made available in HD prints. New Delhi: Actors Vikrant Massey and Medha Shankar reach Patna to seek divine blessings. Their forthcoming film, 12th Fail, is gearing up for its grand release on October 27th. The much-awaited film directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra is generating extremely positive talk among the masses. Both stars are leaving no stone unturned in the promotion of their film. Recently, the lead actors Vikrant Massey and Medha Shankar were in Patna to promote the film, and following the promotional activities, they both sought blessings and visited the famous temple of the city. Vikrant Massey and Medha Shankar visited the Pracheen Hanuman Ji temple in Patna city to seek the blessings of the Lord Hanuman Ji. Vikrant Massey was dressed up in complete black attire, while Medha Shankar was dressed up in white. The duo offers the pooja at the temple, and a large crowd gathers in the temple to catch a glimpse of both stars. Prior to the Patna visit, Vikrant Massey and Medha Shankar also made a visit to Ahmedabad, where they launched the song #Restart, took part in the grand garba celebration, and went to the garba pandal in Ahmedabad. Both Vikrant and Medha looked absolutely pleasant in the traditional attire. In a recent conversation with ANI, Medha said, "The role was challenging because the movie is very emotionally demanding." Talking about director Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Medha said, "He is an absolute genius and when you work with a genius, you have to give your best performance as he will expect you the same." 12th Fail, based on a true story, draws from the struggles of the millions of students who attempt the UPSC entrance exam. But at the same time, it goes beyond that one exam and encourages people to not lose heart in the face of failure and to restart. The film, directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, is set to release worldwide on October 27 in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada. Ottawa: In a move that underscores the escalating tensions between Canada and India, Canada's Foreign Minister, Melanie Joly, announced the withdrawal of 41 diplomats and 42 family members from India. This decision comes in the wake of an ongoing dispute over the alleged killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was associated with Khalistani sympathies. Canada's Foreign Minister expressed deep concern over India's plans to strip diplomatic immunities from all but 21 Canadian diplomats and their dependents in Delhi, effective on October 20. This sudden development posed a significant risk to the safety of 41 Canadian diplomats and their families, prompting their departure from India. India's Response To Canada This move by Canada follows India's suspension of visa operations to Canada and a call for a reduction in the number of Canadian diplomats in India. India cited the need for 'parity' in response to the ongoing diplomatic row between the two nations. International Diplomacy At Stake Foreign Minister Joly emphasized the importance of diplomatic immunities, which allow diplomats to carry out their work without fear of reprisals or arrests. She called the unilateral revocation of diplomatic privileges a violation of international law, citing the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. She firmly stated that Canada would not reciprocate. Impact On Services The withdrawal of Canadian diplomats will affect the level of services provided to citizens in both countries. In-person services in Canadian consulates in Chandigarh, Mumbai, and Bangalore are temporarily paused. However, consular assistance can still be obtained at the High Commission in Delhi through phone and email. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, when questioned about the situation, refrained from giving a direct response but indicated that Canada was taking the matter seriously and remained engaged in diplomacy with the Indian government. India's Pursuit of 'Parity' Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) explained that they seek parity in diplomatic presence, given the higher number of Canadian diplomats in India and their perceived interference in Indian internal matters. Discussions are ongoing to determine the modalities of achieving this balance. Trudeau's Allegations The tensions between Canada and India were further exacerbated when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that the Indian government was involved in the fatal shooting of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Trudeau's claim, made during a debate in the Canadian Parliament, accused "agents of the Indian government" of carrying out the killing. However, India vehemently rejected these allegations, labelling them as 'absurd' and 'motivated.' Notably, Canada has yet to provide public evidence to support the claim. Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a designated terrorist in India, was fatally shot outside a Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18. The incident has fuelled a contentious dispute between the two nations, with no clear resolution in sight. Madhya Pradesh, October 20, 2023: The upcoming Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections have the political landscape buzzing with anticipation, as the fate of the state lies in the hands of the voters. Political parties are leaving no stone unturned in their preparations for the electoral test, vying to sway the electorate with their accomplishments and the shortcomings of their rivals. PM Modi has penned a letter addressed to the people of Madhya Pradesh, praising CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, while simultaneously appealing for votes in his own name. This dual message has left political pundits pondering the underlying motive. What Did PM Modi Write in His Letter? In a heartfelt letter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his deep affection for the state of Madhya Pradesh. He highlighted the special bond he shares with the state, attributing it to the trust the people of Madhya Pradesh have consistently shown in him during the 2014 and 2019 general elections. He made it clear that the unwavering support of Madhya Pradesh's voters has allowed the state to break free from the tag of "ailing states." PM Modi credited this transformation to the skilled leadership in place and conveyed his hope that the people would once again repose their faith in the BJP to form a strong government. Two Pertinent Questions: This development raises two important questions. On one hand, CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan receives effusive praise for his achievements, and on the other, there's an appeal for votes in the name of PM Modi. To comprehend this, one must delve into the political history of Madhya Pradesh, which has witnessed significant twists and turns over the past two decades. While Congress held sway over the state for 15 years, a change in political dynamics led to the BJP securing power, with Uma Bharti as the Chief Minister. Interestingly, legal troubles forced her to step down. It was only in 2005 that Shivraj Singh Chouhan assumed office as the Chief Minister. Under his leadership, the state government saw remarkable success. Shivraj Singh Chouhan understood the pulse of the people, rebranded himself as "Mama" (maternal uncle), and reaped the benefits. His leadership resulted in consecutive BJP victories in the 2008 and 2013 state elections. It is important to note that the political tide turned in 2018, with the Congress briefly regaining power. However, political realignments eventually saw the BJP return to power. PM Modi's letter, recognizing the accomplishments of Chouhan, signifies the people's enduring trust, reinforcing the possibility of BJP forming a government once again. Key political figures in the BJP, such as Narendra Singh Tomar, Jyotiraditya Scindia, and Narottam Mishra, are known to have their political aspirations and differences, which may necessitate minimizing discord within the party's state leadership. Consequently, PM Modi's letter aims to relay a message to the electorate while addressing both CM Chouhan's significant contributions and the broader political scenario. PM Modi is well aware that the results of one of India's largest states will be scrutinized by the opposition, India United Alliance (India Gathbandhan). Hence, efforts are being made to prevent the opposition from capitalizing on potential internal divisions within the BJP. Therefore, the combination of praising CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan and appealing for votes in his name suggests a strategic approach to secure a strong BJP government once again, keeping the 2024 general elections in mind. TEHRAN, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- A top Iranian military official has warned the United States against its extensive support for Israel in the attacks against Gaza, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Friday. Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Mohammad Baqeri gave the warning in a phone call with Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler on Thursday, in which the two sides discussed recent regional developments, particularly the situation in Gaza. Baqeri said Washington's extensive support for Israel, including supplying heavy arms and ammunition, "is tantamount to the U.S. government's participation in Israel's attacks against the Gazan people and will further complicate the situation in the coastal enclave." He urged to take serious measures to stop Israel's brutal attacks against civilians in Gaza and send humanitarian aid, including food and medicine, to the strip. Baqeri called on the Turkish government to use all its tools to prevent "Israeli crimes" and support the people of Gaza. Guler, for his part, elaborated on his government's efforts to reduce the tensions in Gaza and stop the ongoing conflict, emphasizing that Turkiye will continue such endeavors. The latest round of conflicts between Israel and the Gaza-ruling Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) began on Oct. 7, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel close to the border with Gaza. Israel retaliated with airstrikes on Gaza and a blockade that cut off water, electricity, fuel, and other supplies to Gaza. The ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, as it entered the 14th day, has killed more than 5,000 people on both sides. New Delhi: Elon Musk recently shared that X is getting ready to introduce two new subscription options. One of them will be less expensive and offer all the features, but it will include ads. The other one will cost more but won't have any ads. Users will have many options to choose between a bouquet of premium depending upon their requirements and needs. The current monthly subscription plans that are available to users is X Premium which costs about Rs 600 monthly for web and Rs 900 for Android/Web. The move comes amid when X has brought a new program in two countries called Not a Bot in which it will charge $1 annual fee to all new unverified users so that the platform remain free of manipulation, spam and bot activity. The program testing has been initiated in New Zealand and the Philippines. Two new tiers of X Premium subscriptions launching soon. One is lower cost with all features, but no reduction in ads, and the other is more expensive, but has no ads. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 20, 2023 Since the takeover of Twitter last year, Elon Musk has rebranded the microblogging site to make it a superapp. It has expanded the Twitter Blue, which was a monthly subscription plan to enjoy premium benefits on the app, to X premium. New features are only available to premium users. TEL AVIV: Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant delivered a passionate speech to infantry soldiers stationed on the Gaza border on Thursday, emphasizing the need to be prepared for a potential ground offensive. In his address, Gallant stated, "Whoever sees Gaza from afar now will see it from the inside... I promise you." He acknowledged that this would be a challenging campaign, with the timeline for action uncertain, saying, "It might take a week, a month, two months until we destroy Hamas." Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu also spoke to IDF soldiers during a visit to southern Israel. "We are going to win with all our strength!," the Israeli PM said. Gallant's call for readiness comes as Israel has amassed tens of thousands of troops along the Gaza border following a recent cross-border attack by Hamas militants on October 7. Tragedy Strikes Gaza Again Tragedy struck central Gaza City as the historic Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius Church compound became the target of an Israeli air attack on Thursday night. The devastating bombardment resulted in eight confirmed fatalities, with numerous others wounded. Orthodox Church Condemns Attack The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem strongly condemned the attack, considering it a war crime. They highlighted the targeting of churches and their shelters, which had been providing refuge for innocent citizens affected by Israeli air strikes. On the international stage, US President Joe Biden reaffirmed his support for Israel and Ukraine. He called for substantial aid packages for both nations while denouncing anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in the United States. President Biden emphasized the importance of supporting Israel in its response to Hamas terror attacks and providing continued aid to Ukraine in defending itself against Russian aggression. He stressed that these actions are not only crucial for global security but also essential for US national security interests. Gaza's Humanitarian Situation Israel's agreement to allow the entry of food, water, and medicine offers a glimmer of hope for Gaza's residents who have been facing dire conditions. However, Gaza still awaits the arrival of humanitarian aid from Egypt to address its urgent needs. Many are down to one meal a day and drinking dirty water. The situation in Gaza remains critical, with Israel blocking essential supplies of water, electricity, food, and fuel. With the Egypt-Gaza border crossing in Rafah still closed, the already dire conditions at Gazas second-largest hospital deteriorated further, warned Dr. Mohammed Qandeel of Nasser Hospital in the southern town of Khan Younis. Power has been cut in most departments to save it for intensive care and other vital functions, and staff members were using mobile phones for light. The Gaza Health Ministry has pleaded with gas stations to give whatever fuel they had left to hospitals. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees has given some of its last remaining fuel supplies to hospitals, spokesperson Juliette Touma said. More than 200 trucks and some 3,000 tons of aid are still positioned at or near Rafah, according to Khalid Zayed. the head of the Red Crescent for North Sinai. The conflict has resulted in significant casualties on both sides, with over 3,700 people killed in Gaza and more than 1,400 people killed in Israel. Over 1 million Palestinians, approximately half of Gaza's population, have fled their homes since the conflict began, seeking refuge in UN-run schools-turned-shelters or with relatives. WASHINGTON: In a televised address to the nation from Washington on Friday, United States President Joe Biden outlined his country's response to the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian terror group Hamas. President Biden emphasized the importance of supporting both Israel and Ukraine and addressed the concerns of various communities within the United States. While he pledged his nation's continued support to Israel and Ukraine, he stressed that both Hamas and Russia are out to "annihilate" democracies and that he won't let them succeed. Here Are The Highlight Of Biden's Speech Release Of American Captives Top Priority President Biden stressed that there is no higher priority than securing the release of American citizens taken captive by Hamas. He assured the families of those held captive that the US government is actively pursuing avenues to bring their loved ones home. #WATCH | US President Joe Biden says "As the President, there is no higher priority for me than the safety of Americans who are hostage...In Israel, I saw people who are strong, determined, resilient, and also angry, in shock, and in deep, deep pain. I also spoke with President pic.twitter.com/qWy3xJHE8p ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2023 Dignity Of Palestinian People President Biden expressed his unwavering commitment to the safety of American citizens, especially those in Israel. He mentioned witnessing the resilience of the Israeli people in the face of the conflict and also spoke with President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, reaffirming the United States' commitment to the dignity and self-determination of the Palestinian people. Concern For Palestinian Lives While recognizing the loss of innocent Palestinian lives, President Biden highlighted that not all tragedies were caused by Israelis. He mourned every innocent life lost, emphasizing the humanity of innocent Palestinians who aspire to live in peace. Addressing Fears & Islamophobia President Biden acknowledged the fears of American Jews, Muslims, Arabs, and Palestinian-Americans. He specifically mentioned the tragic killing of a six-year-old Palestinian-American in an incident linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The President underscored the importance of American values against anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. No Criticism Of Israel's Actions Biden did not criticize Israel directly, despite civilian casualties. However, he stated that he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about ensuring that the rules of war are followed. Urgent Aid For Gaza President Biden recognized the urgent need for food, water, and medicine in Gaza. He emphasized a deal with Egypt to send aid over the border to Gaza. Increased Funding For Israel, Ukraine President Biden announced plans to seek billions of dollars in funding for both Israel and Ukraine from the U.S. Congress. This includes support for Israeli air defences, specifically the Iron Dome. Comparing Hamas To Russia In a surprising comparison, President Biden likened Russia's invasion of Ukraine to Israel's conflict with Hamas, emphasizing the need to address these international crises. Support For Ukraine Biden mentioned a secret trip to Ukraine earlier in the year to show support for President Zelensky and Ukraine. He stated that the United States remains a beacon to the world. Unity And Resolve President Biden concluded his speech by calling for unity and emphasizing that the United States will not let political divisions hinder its responsibilities as a great nation. He vowed not to let Hamas and Putin prevail. War In Gaza & Causalities The speech comes following a whirlwind trip to Israel and an agreement with Egypt to allow some aid into Gaza. However, Gaza remains under siege, with Israel blocking supplies of water, electricity, food, and fuel across its border. The conflict between Israel and Hamas, which began on October 7, has resulted in significant casualties on both sides, with over 3,700 people killed in Gaza. BEIJING, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- The People's Republic of China and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on Friday issued a joint statement. The following is the full text of the statement. Joint Statement between the People's Republic of China and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Beijing, October 20, 2023 1. At the invitation of H.E. Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China, H.E. Ranil Wickremesinghe, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, attended the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in China from October 16 to 20, 2023. 2. During the visit, President Xi Jinping and Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang had separate meetings with President Ranil Wickremesinghe. In a cordial and friendly atmosphere, leaders of the two countries had in-depth exchange of views and reached extensive common understandings on deepening China-Sri Lanka traditional friendship, on expanding mutually beneficial cooperation, as well as on regional and international issues of mutual interest. 3. The two heads of state expressed satisfaction over the development of China-Sri Lanka relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1957. For 66 years, the two countries have all along advocated the spirit of the Agreement on Rice for Rubber, remained committed to independence, self-reliance, solidarity and mutual assistance, and firmly supported each other on issues regarding core interests and major concerns. The two sides jointly responded to risks and challenges including natural disasters, the COVID-19 pandemic and economic difficulties, and kept cementing strategic mutual trust and carrying forward traditional friendship. The China-Sri Lanka strategic cooperative partnership based on sincere mutual assistance and ever-lasting friendship has become a fine example of friendly interactions and mutually beneficial cooperation between countries of different sizes, and carries special and important significance for both countries. 4. The two sides agreed to maintain the momentum of high-level interactions, expand exchanges and cooperation between governments and other stakeholders, strengthen strategic communication on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and the principle of good neighbourliness and friendship, and identify priorities and directions for the future development of bilateral relations. 5. The two sides reiterated mutual support on issues regarding each other's core interests and major concerns. Sri Lanka reaffirmed its commitment to the one-China principle, recognizing that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and reiterated that it supports the efforts by the Chinese Government to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and opposes any form of "Taiwan independence." Sri Lanka reiterated that it will never allow any separatist activity against China on Sri Lanka's soil. The Chinese side reaffirmed its commitment to the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness and the foreign policy of forging friendship and partnership in the neighbourhood. China firmly supports Sri Lanka in upholding its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, respects and supports Sri Lanka's independent choice of development path that suits its national conditions. 6. Sri Lanka commended China's achievements in its economic and social development in recent years under the wise leadership of President Xi Jinping. 7. Sri Lanka expressed appreciation to China's valuable support during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as during the economic crisis in 2022. 8. China has provided a financing support document to Sri Lanka in a timely manner and helped Sri Lanka obtain loans from the International Monetary Fund in March 2023. In late September, as official creditor, the Export-Import Bank of China has reached a preliminary agreement with Sri Lanka on the debt treatment. China will continue to support its financial institutions in conducting friendly consultation with Sri Lanka to reach early agreement on treatment of debts related to China. The Chinese side is willing to work with relevant countries and international financial institutions to keep playing a positive role in helping Sri Lanka address its current difficulties, alleviate debt burden and realize sustainable development. Sri Lanka commended China for its support to Sri Lanka to ease financial difficulties. 9. Under the leadership and guidance of leaders of both countries, China and Sri Lanka have achieved fruitful outcomes on Belt and Road cooperation. Sri Lanka reiterated it will continue to actively participate in the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China. The two sides agreed to sign the Memorandum of Understanding on Jointly Accelerating the Formulation of the Cooperation Plan on the Belt and Road Initiative Between the National Development and Reform Commission of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization & National Policies of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation Between the National Development and Reform Commission of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization & National Policies of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, the Memorandum of Understanding Between the National Development and Reform Commission of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization & National Policies of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Concerning Cooperation on Green and Low-Carbon Development, and the Implementation Agreement of China-Aid Subsidized Housing Project for Low Income Category at Colombo, Sri Lanka, to share development experiences, synergize development strategies and advance cooperation in a coordinated manner, thus creating new bright spots and fresh momentum for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between the two countries. 10. Sri Lanka welcomes Chinese enterprises playing a positive role in its economic development and more investment from Chinese enterprises for which it will foster a favourable investment and business environment. China will continue to encourage competent Chinese enterprises to invest in Sri Lanka and conduct mutually beneficial cooperation. The Colombo Port City and the Hambantota Port are signature projects of Belt and Road cooperation between the two countries. Sri Lanka welcomes further investment from Chinese enterprises, expressed readiness to facilitate a conducive environment for investments in the Port City including necessary legislative measures. 11. The two sides expressed satisfaction over the progress made in bilateral cooperation in economy and trade, and agreed to conclude a comprehensive free trade agreement as quickly as possible to strengthen two-way trade and economic cooperation. The two sides will carry out practical cooperation in finance on the basis of market principles, autonomy and rule of law to further enhance financial services and economic and trade development. The Chinese side will continue to support competitive Sri Lankan industries in establishing ties with relevant Chinese associations of importers and exporters, provide facilitation and support for Sri Lankan exporters to participate in Chinese exhibitions including the China International Import Expo, the China Import and Export Fair, the China-South Asia Exposition, the China International Supply Chain Expo, and encourage Chinese and Sri Lankan enterprises to deepen cooperation on the basis of mutual benefit and bolster Sri Lankan exports to China. The two sides agreed to sign the Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for Export of Ceylon Cinnamon from Sri Lanka to China between the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Plantation Industries of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, and the Protocol on Inspection, Quarantine and Veterinary Sanitary Requirements for Wild Fishing Aquatic Products to be Exported from the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to the People's Republic of China between the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Purview of the Ministry of Fisheries of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. 12. The two sides agreed to enhance exchanges and cooperation between their small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), encourage their SMEs, service providers, industrial associations, and scientific and research institutes to increase communication, establish cooperation platforms for industrial cooperation, scientific and technological research and development, electronic flight services and training, create innovative cooperation models, expand channels of cooperation and enrich cooperation. The Chinese side welcomes the participation of Sri Lankan SMEs in the China International Small and Medium Enterprises Fair. 13. China and Sri Lanka enjoy close exchanges and sound interactions in agricultural cooperation. The Chinese side is ready to carry out technological exchanges and training cooperation in areas including bio-technologies for tropical crops, plant breeding, aquaculture, agricultural processing, market development and agriculture modernization, thus helping Sri Lanka enhance its comprehensive agricultural production capacity. The Chinese side welcomes more imports of quality agricultural products from Sri Lanka. 14. The two sides fully recognized the importance of education exchanges for increasing understanding and friendship, and expressed readiness to further enhance exchanges of teachers, students, and researchers. The two sides agreed to continue to strengthen cooperation in the areas of science and education, and encourage educational institutions to carry out cooperative research and joint cultivation. The two sides agreed to support the development of the "China-Sri Lanka Joint Center of Science and Education." The two sides agreed to sign the Letter of Exchange of Feasibility Study on China-Aid Project of Digital Transformation for the General Education in Sri Lanka. 15. The two sides spoke positively of the progress in bilateral cooperation in culture and tourism. The two sides will continue to encourage their citizens to travel to each other's country and provide assistance for each other to expand tourism market. Both sides agree to encourage better air connectivity between the two countries. Sri Lanka is ready to introduce more policies to facilitate tourism. China is ready to provide facilitation for Sri Lanka to build a Sri Lankan Buddhist pagoda at the Baima Temple in Luoyang, Henan Province, China. 16. The two sides agreed to continue to deepen people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between sister cities. The two sides will take the China (Chongqing)-Sri Lanka Roundtable on Poverty Reduction and Development Cooperation as a starting point to enhance experience sharing on poverty reduction by establishing platforms, organizing training and promoting think tank exchanges. 17. The two sides are ready to carry out closer cooperation in climate change adaptation and sustainable development, emphasizing that joint implementation of green measures are effective ways to mitigate climate change. The two sides are ready to strengthen coordination and deepen exchanges and cooperation in fields including disaster prevention and mitigation, maritime rescue, relief and research, maritime personnel training and capacity building and further explore cooperation on the blue economy. The two sides agreed to sign the Tri-Partite Agreement among Chinese Academy of Sciences of the People's Republic of China, Ministry of Water Supply & Estate Infrastructure Development of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the University of Peradeniya of Sri Lanka. 18. The two sides reiterated their firm commitment to upholding true multilateralism, promoting greater democracy in international relations, and making global governance more just and equitable. The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation within the United Nations and other multilateral mechanisms to uphold the common interests of developing countries. The two sides expressed their support for the multilateral trading system, opposition to protectionism and readiness to make economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial for all and to build a community with a shared future for mankind. Sri Lanka firmly supports and actively participates in the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security initiative (GSI), and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) proposed by China. China is ready to conduct in-depth discussions with Sri Lanka on specific measures to implement the above-mentioned initiatives, and work together for global and regional peace, security, development and prosperity. 19. President Ranil Wickremesinghe expressed appreciation to the Chinese government and people for the warm hospitality extended to him and the Sri Lankan delegation, and invited Chinese leaders to visit Sri Lanka. Chinese leaders thanked President Ranil Wickremesinghe for the invitation, and the two sides will maintain communication via diplomatic channels. BEIRUT, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- An unidentified gunman was killed on Friday as the confrontation between Lebanon's Hezbollah and the Israeli army continued on the Lebanon-Israel border. Lebanese military sources told Xinhua that an Israeli drone fired a missile at an armed man in Wadi Hounin, adjacent to the southern town of Houla. The sources added that the gunman managed to infiltrate the Israeli border town of Margaliot after crossing the barbed border fence and later withdrew toward the Lebanese territories. The sources added that the Israeli army fired several phosphorus bombs at him before targeting him with a missile launched from a drone. Meanwhile, Hezbollah announced that its fighters used guided missiles to target several Israeli sites along the border. Sources in the Lebanese Internal Security Forces told Xinhua that Israeli bombings destroyed a chicken farm and caused considerable damage to 15 houses in several Lebanese towns near the border. The situation on the Lebanese-Israeli border escalated after Hezbollah fired on Oct. 8 tens of rockets toward military sites in Shebaa Farms in support of the al-Aqsa flood operation 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. ISTANBUL, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday urged Israel to halt its military offensive in Gaza, warning that further escalation would only bring "more pain, death and tears." "Expanding attacks on Gaza will bring nothing but more pain, death and tears," Erdogan wrote on X, a social media platform previously known as Twitter. Erdogan repeated his call for Israel to stop "its attacks against civilians" and end the operation that began on Oct. 7, when Hamas militants fired thousands of rockets at Israel and seized hundreds of hostages. "It is clear that security cannot be ensured by bombing hospitals, schools, mosques, and churches," he added. Erdogan also appealed to all countries and international organizations to "sincerely support the efforts to establish an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza," pledging Turkiye's continuous efforts to de-escalate the situation. BEIJING, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- The People's Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on Friday issued a joint press statement. The following is the full text of the statement. Joint Press Statement between the People's Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1. At the invitation of President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China, Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan visited China from October 16 to 20, 2023 to attend the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. 2. In Beijing, President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar. The Prime Minister of Pakistan also met with Premier Li Qiang and Mr. Li Xi, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. In a warm and cordial atmosphere, leaders of the two countries had in-depth exchanges of views and reached extensive consensus on strengthening the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, practical cooperation in various areas, and international and regional issues of mutual interest. The two sides reaffirmed that mutual trust remains at the core of China-Pakistan relationship. 3. The two sides agreed that China and Pakistan are All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partners and iron brothers; friendship between the two countries is time-tested and unbreakable. The Chinese side reiterated that the China-Pakistan relationship is a priority in its foreign relations. The Pakistani side underscored that the Pakistan-China relationship is the cornerstone of its foreign policy. The two sides will continue to view the relationship between China and Pakistan from a strategic and long-term perspective, move forward together on the path of development, and accelerate the building of an even closer China-Pakistan Community with a Shared Future in the new era. 4. The two sides reaffirmed their support for each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns. The Pakistani side reaffirmed its firm commitment to the one-China Principle and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and Pakistan firmly supports the Chinese government's efforts to achieve national reunification, and opposes any form of "Taiwan independence." Pakistan firmly supports China on issues concerning the South China Sea, Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Xizang. The Chinese side reiterated its support for Pakistan in safeguarding its sovereignty, national independence and territorial integrity, in pursuing a development path of economic stability suited to Pakistan's national conditions, in fighting terrorism, and in playing a bigger role in regional and international affairs. 5. The Pakistani side warmly congratulated the Chinese side on its successful organization of the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. The Chinese side commended Pakistan's consistent support for and participation in Belt and Road cooperation. The two sides recognized that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a strong driver of world economic growth, provides a platform for international economic cooperation, opens up space for common development around the globe, and has become a widely welcomed international public good as well as an important practice in building a community with a shared future for mankind. Both sides agreed to work more closely together on high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and usher in a bright future of peace, development and win-win cooperation. 6. The two sides recognized that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a pioneering project of the BRI, has yielded fruitful outcomes in the 10 years since its inception, and has now entered a new stage of high-quality development. The two sides reaffirmed the resolve to jointly build a growth corridor, a livelihood-enhancing corridor, an innovation corridor, a green corridor and an open corridor, and continue to build CPEC into an exemplary project of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. 7. Recognizing the significance of Gwadar Port as an important node in cross-regional connectivity, the two sides agreed to speed up development of the Port and its auxiliary projects. The two sides reviewed with satisfaction the progress of the desalination plant, the New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA), the Pak-China Friendship Hospital and other projects. Both sides reiterated their resolve to make Gwadar a high-quality port, a regional trade hub and a connectivity node. 8. Recognizing that the ML-1 upgradation is an important project under the CPEC framework and is of great significance to Pakistan's social and economic development, the two sides agreed to carry out the common understanding of the leaders of the two countries to implement the project at an early date. The two sides reviewed with satisfaction the important progress made in the preliminary work of the Karakoram Highway (Raikot-Thakot section) realignment project and agreed to fast track its implementation. 9. The two sides affirmed their resolve to further move forward to launch preparatory work for D.I. Khan-Zhob Road Project to build momentum towards enhancing connectivity and socio-economic development of Pakistan, under CPEC. 10. The Chinese side appreciated the efforts of the Pakistani side to vigorously develop Photovoltaic and other renewable energy projects, which are in alignment with the green, low carbon and environmentally friendly development of the energy sector. Both sides encourage Chinese companies to further participate in the development of such projects in line with normal commercial principles to achieve win-win outcomes. 11. The two sides agreed to actively promote the implementation of the Framework Agreement on Industrial Cooperation to support Pakistan's industrialization, and encourage Chinese companies to set up manufacturing facilities in Pakistan. The two sides reiterate that CPEC is an open and inclusive platform for win-win cooperation, and welcome third parties to benefit from investments in CPEC cooperation priority areas such as industry, agriculture, ICT, science and technology. 12. The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in the mining industry, including in the fields of geological survey, joint research on geology and minerals, training of talent, and planning of mining industrial parks. 13. The two sides recognized that agricultural cooperation between the two countries is rich in potential, and that sound progress has been made in crop breeding and pest control projects especially under the framework of CPEC. The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in areas such as crop cultivation, prevention and control of animal and plant diseases, agricultural mechanization, exchange of agricultural technology, and trade in agricultural products. 14. The two sides agreed to strengthen exchanges and cooperation under the framework of the CPEC Joint Working Group on Information Technology Industry, jointly improve the construction and management of digital infrastructure, advance cooperation in cutting-edge technologies and the capacity building for information technology service, and promote high-quality development of the digital economy. 15. The two sides reviewed with satisfaction the positive results achieved under the CPEC Working Group on Socio-Economic Cooperation. The Pakistani side appreciated China's assistance for Pakistan's post-flood reconstruction and recovery. China will continue to support Pakistan in improving people's livelihood and post-disaster reconstruction, with priority to implementing effective livelihood assistance projects, to deliver social and economic benefits, especially to the most affected and vulnerable people, in line with the concept of 'shared prosperity'. 16. The Chinese side expressed its willingness to support Pakistan in expanding exports to China under the framework of the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement, and will help Pakistan improve its export capacity through experience sharing, special studies, expert exchanges and personnel training. The Pakistani side welcomes more Chinese companies to invest in Pakistan and informed about the recent initiatives for improving investment climate, initiatives and creation of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC). The Chinese side appreciates Pakistan's efforts to facilitate Chinese investments and businesses in Pakistan. 17. The two sides acknowledged the recent momentum for increase in business exchanges between the two countries and further resolved to facilitate B2B exchanges. Both sides agreed to make efforts to enhance the level of bilateral people-to-people exchanges and facilitation. 18. The two sides noted the signing of the protocols on the export of heated beef and dried chili from Pakistan to China, the obtainment of Pakistani fresh cherries' quarantine access to the Chinese market, and the agreement reached on the export access of Pakistani dairy products and animal hides to China this year. China welcomes more high-quality Pakistani products and more qualified Pakistani enterprises to enter the Chinese market. 19. The two sides believe that the Khunjerab pass plays an important role in promoting bilateral trade and people-to-people exchanges. The two sides announced that the Khunjerab pass will function all year round, and agreed to step up the infrastructure construction and management of the Khunjerab pass and improve its passage conditions. 20. The two sides expressed satisfaction with the progress of cooperation on Currency Swap Agreement and Renminbi settlement and clearing, and agreed to further strengthen financial and banking cooperation. Pakistani side thanked China's valuable support for its financial sector. 21. The two sides expressed their strong resolve to strengthen their longstanding space cooperation through deepening exchange programmes, resource mobilization and innovation to drive signal advancements in space science, technology and space application. Both sides were satisfied with the cooperation documents on International Lunar Research Station signed by the space authorities and agreed to advance progress in exploring outer space to propel both nations to take lead in the cutting edge space missions, ushering in an era of scientific breakthrough and unprecedented discoveries for the betterment of humanity and advancement of our civilizations. 22. The Pakistani side briefed the Chinese side on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. The Chinese side reiterated that Kashmir is a long-standing dispute left from history that should be properly and peacefully resolved in accordance with the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements. 23. The two sides condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The Chinese side recognized Pakistan's contributions and sacrifices in combating terrorism. The two sides agreed to further enhance counter-terrorism cooperation to promote world peace and security. The Pakistani side reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan, and to hold accountable the perpetrators of the terrorist attacks targeting Chinese personnel. The Chinese side appreciated the great efforts taken by the Pakistani side in this regard. Both sides expressed complete satisfaction over ongoing bilateral security cooperation and agreed to strengthen it further. 24. The two sides noted with satisfaction the enhanced cultural cooperation in the ongoing Year of China-Pakistan Tourism exchanges. Both sides particularly commended the success of joint Gandhara Art Exhibition held at the Palace Museum and welcomed the conversion of the event into a touring exhibition in different parts of China. The Pakistan side welcomed the inclusion of Pakistan in the list of countries approved for outbound group tourism by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China. The two sides agreed to continue to strengthen the exchanges between the tourism sector of the two countries. 25. The two sides expressed satisfaction with the close cooperation, trust and communication between the armed forces of the two countries. Underscoring that stronger strategic defence and security cooperation between China and Pakistan is an important factor of peace and stability in the region, the two sides agreed to maintain high-level mil-to-mil visits and exchanges and deepen cooperation in areas of training, joint exercises and military technology. 26. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and to jointly upholding the international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms governing international relations underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. Both sides stand for unity and cooperation of the international community, oppose hegemonism and power politics, adhere to true multilateralism, and promote humanity's common values of peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom. 27. The Pakistani side expressed strong support for Chinese leadership's vision of openness, regional connectivity, economic integration and willingness to share technology. Pakistan will continue to support the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative put forward by the Chinese side, and highly commended China's efforts to safeguard the rights of developing countries for sustainable development. The above-mentioned initiatives call on the international community to attach importance to the issue of development and revitalize the global partnership for development, stress the need to pursue the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and emphasize respect for the diversity in world civilizations and uphold the principles of equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness among civilizations. The two sides agreed to further enhance cooperation within the framework of the above-mentioned initiatives and jointly promote development, security and cultural prosperity to contribute to building a community with a shared future for mankind. 28. The two sides agreed to strengthen communication and coordination on the issue of Afghanistan and jointly uphold regional peace and stability. 29. The two sides expressed deep concerns over the current escalation of tensions and violence between Palestine and Israel, and called for an immediate ceasefire and cessation of hostilities and every possible effort to protect civilians and avert an even worse humanitarian disaster in Gaza. Both sides reiterated that the fundamental way out of the conflict lies in implementing the two-state solution and establishing an independent State of Palestine. The international community needs to act with greater urgency, step up input into the Palestinian question, facilitate the early resumption of peace talks between Palestine and Israel, and find a way to bring about enduring peace. 30. Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar thanked the leadership and people of China for the warm hospitality accorded to him and his delegation, and invited President Xi Jinping to visit Pakistan at an early date on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan. The two sides agree to maintain communication on that through diplomatic channels. 31. During the visit, the two sides signed 20 agreements and MoUs, covering cooperation on the BRI, infrastructure, mining, industry, green and low-carbon development, health, space cooperation, digital economy, development cooperation and export of agricultural products to China. BEIRUT, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Friday called on the international community to pressure Israel to stop its "aggression" against Lebanon, according to a statement by the Lebanese Council of Ministers. Mikati made the appeal when meeting with visiting German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. During the meeting, the prime minister also called for stepping up international efforts to achieve a cease-fire in Gaza, noting that the cabinet is exerting efforts to restore calm in southern Lebanon, where armed clashes between the Shiite militant group Hezbollah and Israel have intensified following the conflict in Gaza. Baerbock, for her part, called on Lebanese authorities to "shield the country from a war." Since a bloody conflict erupted between Israel and Gaza-ruling Hamas on Oct. 7, the Lebanese-Israeli border has also seen increasing tensions as Hezbollah, in support of Hamas, engaged in armed conflicts with Israeli forces for more than 10 days. MAPUTO, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Mozambican authorities have ordered the slaughter and burial of more than 45,000 hens infected with bird flu in Morrumbene, in the country's southern Inhambane province, Radio Mozambique reported. National Director of Livestock Development Americo da Conceicao was quoted as saying that the chickens were infected by the avian influenza that broke out in neighboring South Africa. "We appeal to poultry farmers to take biosafety measures in their production units," Radio Mozambique quoted him as saying Thursday. Conceicao said that the culling would result in a monthly loss of about 13 million meticais (190,000 U.S. dollars). "The Mozambican government saw the need to ban the import of South African domestic and wild birds, to contain the spread of this poultry disease in Mozambique," he said. The latest outbreak has led to a shortage and higher prices of eggs for consumption and hatching. ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned about the ongoing malaria outbreak in Ethiopia, as more than two million cases have been reported across the country. The WHO, in its periodic bulletin on outbreaks and other emergencies on the African continent, issued Thursday, said since January this year, Ethiopia has experienced a significant malaria outbreak, with reports from various regions. "Cumulatively, from Jan. 1 through Sept. 10, a total of 2,235,311 cases have been reported in Ethiopia." Figures from the WHO showed that four regions affected by the malaria outbreak have reported incidence rates exceeding 2,000 cases per 100,000 population. The WHO warned that climate change is likely to lengthen the transmission period of major vector-borne diseases, including malaria, and alter their geographic range. It warned that the ongoing malaria outbreak is adding to the strain on an already fragile health system stretched by increased demands to respond to other concurrent outbreaks such as measles, cholera, COVID-19 and dengue, as well as the health consequences of natural disasters. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, reported challenges to the response include inadequate and limited utilization of insecticide-treated nets, suboptimal environmental or vector control measures, and the presence of various mosquito breeding sites in industrial areas. Malaria is endemic in Ethiopia, with higher prevalence in areas below 2,000 meters of altitude, which cover three-quarters of the country's land mass, with an estimated population of 52 million, the WHO said. Ethiopian Health Minister Lia Tadesse said over social media on Sunday that malaria is an urgent public health priority. She said the increasing number of malaria cases over the past few years in Ethiopia and across the continent needs innovative ways to aggressively address the issue, from prevention, environmental management, early diagnosis, and timely treatment through strong multi-sectoral, multi-stakeholder coordination and investment. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has addressed the participants of the "Neocolonialism: Violation of Human Rights and Injustice" international conference. The letter reads: Dear Conference Participants, Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, I extend my greetings to you on the occasion of the opening of the International Conference themed Neocolonialism: Human Rights Violations and Injustice. It is gratifying that representatives of 14 countries from different continents and fighters for justice from different territories have come together in Baku to condemn the colonialism policy that regrettably persists in the XXI century and to organize and conduct systematic and consistent efforts to eradicate it. As you know, four years ago, upon a unanimous decision of the Non-Aligned Movement countries, Azerbaijan assumed the Chairmanship of the Movement on 25 October 2019. The Non-Aligned Movement brings together 120 countries and stands as the second-largest political institution after the UN General Assembly, serving the cause of promoting universal values. At the outset of Azerbaijans tenure as the Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement, I declared that my priorities and activity would be based on the Bandung Principles. Fighting neocolonialism was among the issues addressed during the Bandung Conference. The delegates affirmed that The subjection of peoples to alien subjugation, domination and exploitations constitutes a denial of fundamental human rights, is contrary to the Charter of the United Nations and is an evil which should speedily be brought to an end. Azerbaijan is deeply concerned with the ongoing colonialism and its reemerging manifestations. Although 70 years have passed since the Bandung Conference, some countries continue to pursue colonialism. Among those, the foremost one is France. Overall, most of the bloody crimes of the colonialism history of mankind were committed by none other than France. France had occupied tens of countries in Africa, Southeast Asia, the Pacific and Latin America, plundered their resources, and for many years oppressed their peoples while perpetrating numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity. The French troops subjected hundreds of thousands of civilians to ethnic cleansing based on their ethnic and religious affiliation. Throughout 30 years in the XX century, France had conducted nearly 200 nuclear tests in French Polynesia and 17 nuclear tests in Algeria. The dire consequences of those tests have, to this day, affected Polynesia and the Algerian people. In response to the appeals by the multitude of organizations, it is imperative to evaluate the repercussions of the nuclear tests and disburse appropriate compensations. During the 132-year-long occupation of Algeria, more than 1.5 million people lost their lives at the hands of the French state, leading to the country's recognition as the "nation of 1.5 million martyrs." The scale and geography of massacres committed by the French troops are so extensive that recounting them is a challenge in itself. Nations such as Morocco, Tunisia, Mali, Djibouti, Nigeria, Chad, Senegal, Vietnam, Comoros Islands, Haiti, and others continue to grapple with the dire repercussions of that occupation. A report titled France, Rwanda and the Tutsi Genocide (1990-1994) submitted to the French President on 26 March 2021 by the Commission on the French Archives relating to Rwanda and the Genocide of the Tutsi concluded that France bore substantial responsibility for the massacre of over 800 thousand of Tutsi tribe members. France ranks among the leading nations globally in terms of landmine use. Over 5 million mines were planted across Algeria alone. As a result, just like Azerbaijan, Algeria is among the top countries in the world suffering from mine explosions. On that list, immediately behind France, comes its close ally Armenia. In just three years, some 340 Azerbaijanis, including civilians, fell victim to the mines planted by Armenia across Azerbaijans formerly occupied territories. Among others, one of the reasons that closely binds these two countries is the practice of resorting to mine terrorism. Eighteen thousand skulls of the fighters murdered throughout the colonial wars of the XIX century are kept and displayed at the Paris Museum of Mankind. The skulls of Algerian fighters are among the others on display. France is yet to comply with Algerias demand to return those skulls. Finding such a mentality in any country in the XXI century is a rare occurrence. Despite centuries having passed, disgraceful new methods of French colonialism persist due to the unchanging mindset. The peoples of the overseas territories gathered at this Conference have fought for independence for many years. France, unable to abandon its colonialism history, disregards the aspirations and the rights of the peoples outside of France overseas communities and territories of the Pacific and Atlantic and goes out of its way to undermine the realization of those aspirations. The social situation in French Guiana is gradually deteriorating; nearly half of the population is on the edge of poverty, and unemployment is rising yearly. Its natural resources are plundered, and 90% of the land is in the possession of the French government. Martinique and Guadeloupe face two significant disasters. The indigenous population is subjected to assimilation through clandestine and illicit resettlement. The past use of chlordecone pesticide had poisoned the natural ecosystems and population, as the locals still cope with its oncological ramifications. France refuses to recognize the sovereignty of the Union of Comoros over the Island of Mayotte. In its documents, the Non-Aligned Movement always supports the unequivocal sovereignty of the Union of Comoros over the Island of Mayotte. A referendum is held in New Caledonia without the participation of half its population, depriving them of their right to independence. France, which rejects the concept of ethnic minorities, is prohibiting the Corsican language. The UN assessed that as discrimination and violation of international law. Pursuing the policy of hypocrisy and double standards, France is simultaneously attempting to position itself as a defender of national minorities in our region. We register widespread racism and Islamophobia across France, along with neocolonialism trends. Some people represented here today have been subjected, in one way or another, to pressure, discrimination and bigot attacks. Instead of confronting such alarming and dangerous trends at home, the French authorities try to lecture other countries and interfere in the domestic affairs of others. The recent withdrawal of the French troops from Mali, Niger and Burkina-Faso has once again demonstrated that its merciless neocolonialism policy is doomed. Instead of being ashamed of the atrocities committed and apologizing for its colonialism history abundant with bloody crimes, France speaks of fictional ethnic cleansings in other countries. This country exploits its status as the UN Security Council permanent member to pursue biased and subjective policies and is busy with geopolitical conspiracies in different regions. As the Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement, Azerbaijan supports the peoples who fight colonialism and aim to free themselves. Your participation in the Ministerial Meeting in Baku on 6 July 2023, as part of Azerbaijans chairmanship in the Non-Aligned Movement, then at the UN General Assembly Headquarters in New York on 22 September and finally here again in Baku, at an event dedicated to the issue of urgent relevance for mankind - colonialism, its consequences and the fight against neocolonialism - is a vivid manifestation of Azerbaijans support, as the Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement, to that cause. We must deliver the neocolonialism issue to the international community's attention through all possible platforms. In that regard, the UN General Assembly Fourth Committee (Political and Decolonization) activity must be re-energized. Todays Conference is a favorable opportunity to address colonialism, its ramifications, the struggle against neocolonialism, challenges in the global agenda, and available options. I believe the discussions at this Conference will contribute to mobilizing collective efforts in the fight against colonialism and producing new ideas and initiatives aimed at ensuring mankinds prosperity and leaving the new generations a legacy of a colonialism-free world. I extend my best wishes to you and wish this Conference every success. Sincerely, Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Baku, 19 October 2023 Mozambican Prime Minister Adriano Maleiane speaks during an investment promotional event in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Oct. 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Cheng Min) WUHAN, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Mozambican Prime Minister Adriano Maleiane Friday expressed the hope to strengthen economic and trade cooperation in various sectors with China at an investment promotional event held in central China's Hubei Province. In his address at the event, Maleiane emphasized the economic strengths of Mozambique and his hope for both countries to deepen cooperation in sectors like agriculture, tourism, energy, and infrastructure development to advance the country's economic diversification. More than 50 Mozambican officials and business representatives attended the event. China ranks among Mozambique's top 10 foreign investors, with 166 approved projects in Mozambique between 2017 and 2022, creating over 19,000 jobs. The total investment value exceeded 1 billion U.S. dollars, of which over 700 million U.S. dollars is direct investment, according to data shared by Mozambican Industry and Commerce Minister Silvino Moreno at the event. Most of this investment was in the industrial sector, followed by construction and services, Moreno said, adding that Mozambique is looking forward to Chinese investment in agriculture, industry, infrastructure, and logistics. Mozambican Prime Minister Adriano Maleiane (2nd L) visits Huaxin Cement Co., Ltd. in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Oct. 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Cheng Min) COTONOU, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese doctors on Friday provided free clinical services for local people at the Maternity and Children's Hospital in Natitingou, about 450 km northwest of Cotonou, the economic capital of Benin. The 26th Chinese medical team dispatched to Benin came from China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. In addition to providing free medicines for patients, the doctors offered other free services to local communities, such as blood pressure checks, visual acuity tests, and traditional Chinese acupuncture. "We hope to help patients and solve their problems caused by some common diseases through free clinical treatment," said Yang Zhilian, Chinese doctor in charge of this event. Kouagou Housia, 40, told Xinhua that he appreciated the free clinical treatment from the Chinese team as he had been suffering from stomachache for five years and had no money to see a doctor. China has sent a total of 26 medical teams to Benin since the first mission in 1978. The medical teams have been committed to ensuring the health of the Beninese people while maintaining the friendship between the two countries. KIGALI, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese technology company ZTE Corporation has expressed its commitment to spearheading the digitalization of Africa, aiming to accelerate the continent's transformation in the digital economic landscape. "As ZTE, we are committed to possessing the digital drivers for economic growth, thanks to our advanced technology. ZTE can provide a high-quality, swift, and reliable network in Africa. We are focused on driving digital transformation in Africa," said Fang Min, the managing director of ZTE Southeast Africa Office, in an interview with Xinhua at the just-concluded Mobile World Congress 2023 in Kigali, the Rwandan capital. He said the company would support the digitalization of Africa by building digital infrastructure and collaborating with local operators, companies, and industries to offer various 5G applications that promote economic digital transformation on the continent. Fang disclosed that ZTE plans to implement eco-friendly technology solutions that will not only accelerate digitalization but also contribute to a greener Africa. "We also prioritize environmental concerns, not only in our network operations but also in providing green, low-carbon energy products. We aspire to contribute to the development of Africa in the realm of digital economic transformation," Fang said. According to him, ZTE is also collaborating with industry partners to develop applications for 5G networks. "ZTE believes that working with local partners is of paramount importance. We are committed to supporting operators, industry partners, and African countries in their efforts to drive digital economic transformation," Fang emphasized. In a related development, several technology experts voiced the need for the acceleration of digitalization in Africa to contribute to the continent's socioeconomic growth. The African market is growing very rapidly, especially in wireless broadband. Digitalization in Africa will contribute to the creation of job opportunities for locals in commercial and technical roles, Jason Shen, a participant from Shanghai Notion Information Technology Co. Ltd., told Xinhua. Max Cuvellier Giacomelli, head of mobile for development at the Global System for Mobile Communications, said there is a need for comprehensive efforts to narrow the digital usage gap in Africa by accelerating the deployment and adoption of 4G and 5G across the continent. "Our focus should include examining methods to reduce handset costs for end-users, encompassing direct cost reduction, potential tax reductions on handsets, and exploring innovative financing options. We should also commit ourselves to addressing the digital skills barrier, which involves educating people about the internet and fostering their comfort in using it," he said. LUSAKA, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- As Zambia gears up to celebrate its independence on Oct. 24, tailors across the nation are cashing in on the growing demand for outfits adorned in the patriotic colors of green, red, orange, and black. In Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, tailors have witnessed a rise in orders as Zambians eagerly prepare for the festivities. From busy and densely populated marketplaces to upscale boutiques, Zambian tailors are working hard to meet the soaring requests for custom-made outfits and accessories sporting national colors. Interviews with tailors who operate a stone's throw away from Lusaka's central business district revealed that profits from their businesses have more than doubled in October. Thomas Mwila, 45, who works from Lusaka's City Market, expressed his delight at being able to contribute to the Independence Day celebrations through his work and the opportunity to earn more money. "It is always exciting for us during this time of the year. Every Independence period, we witness a surge of customers looking to showcase their patriotism. These celebrations provide us with an opportunity to earn more from our skills," he beamed. Mwila further asserted that the move by some schools and workplaces to urge students and employees to actively participate in the festivities by proudly donning the colors of the national flag of Zambia has played a significant role in driving the increased demand for tailor-made clothing. A tailoring store owner Christine Banda Katope, 60, who has more than 30 years of experience as a tailor, shared her observations on the growing trend. "The desire to celebrate our independence is contagious. People are excited to wear their attires with colors of our flag, and they approach us with enthusiasm and curiosity," she said. Katope further pointed out that the independence celebrations period is a great opportunity for tailors in Lusaka and other urban areas of Zambia to realize some substantial profit from their garment-making businesses. For Maureen Mulenga, 51, who also trades from City Market, the increase in demand for custom-made attire during this period is not only a financial opportunity but also a chance to showcase Zambia's rich cultural needlepoint. Mulenga, a tailor with over 15 years of experience, is not only outfitting Zambians in vibrant attires for Independence Day celebrations but also taking the opportunity to educate her clients about the significance of Zambia's independence on Oct. 24. Having witnessed the changing dynamics of Zambian society, she has taken it upon herself to share stories of Zambia's road to independence even as she creates unique garments reflecting the country's national flag colors. "I realized that most people particularly the younger ones just wear these garments without understanding fully the value of our independence as a country. It is for this reason I engage my clients in conversations around Zambia's independence," she explained. Zambia gained independence from the United Kingdom on Oct. 24, 1964. Every year, celebrations are held across Zambia to mark the day and to honor individuals who participated in the struggle for independence. MANILA, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Philippine Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno has made a strong pitch for investment opportunities in the Philippines' Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) before top business leaders in Saudi Arabia, the Philippines' Department of Finance said on Friday. Diokno told a roundtable discussion with the Saudi business leaders Thursday that the MIF was designed to catalyze economic development and accelerate the Philippines' growth by optimizing government financial assets and promoting their intergenerational management. He said investments in the MIF will be used to fast-track the implementation of the Philippines' 197 high-impact infrastructure flagship projects worth around 153 billion U.S. dollars. "The Fund also presents exciting opportunities for green and blue investments, environmental, social, and governance (ESG)-linked fixed-income instruments, and cutting-edge technologies with the advent of artificial intelligence and cloud computing," Diokno told the business leaders. He said that governing the Fund is the Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC), which has an authorized capital stock of around 8.9 billion dollars -- 6.6 billion dollars are common shares for subscription of the national government and its instrumentalities, while the remaining 2.2 billion dollars are preferred shares open for subscription of the national government, as well as reputable private financial institutions and corporations. Private and state-owned financial institutions can make direct investments in the MIF's sub-funds, which offer specific investment strategies. "We look forward to your partnership and investment as we proceed with the full operationalization of the Fund by the end of 2023," Diokno added. Diokno is among the officials accompanying Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos in Riyadh to participate in the inaugural summit between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Gulf Cooperation Council leaders. In his departure speech on Thursday, Marcos said introducing the MIF is a vital aspect of his Saudi Arabia trip. the president also said his office has been in close consultation with Philippine economic managers in determining the improvements that can be made to the MIF's implementing rules and regulations. SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- The United States has made "intentional nuclear war provocations" due to "internal troubles and external woes" as its nuclear-capable B-52H Stratofortress bomber made a first-ever landing in South Korea, and indicated a possible preemptive nuclear strike on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in a commentary on Friday. The armed forces of the DPRK have been closely monitoring the U.S. introduction of its nuclear strategic assets, in the form of nuclear submarines, nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and strategic bombers, into the Korean Peninsula, and viewed such deployments as grave military moves for a "preemptive nuclear attack aimed at physical removal of the DPRK," the commentary stressed. The KCNA article also warned that a preemptive strike is no longer an exclusive right of the United States. It reminded the United States that the DPRK's nuclear force policy, a stated doctrine on using nuclear weapons now enshrined in its constitution, has allowed the country to take necessary actions in case it is under a nuclear attack or it is determined the country is facing an imminent nuclear attack. The U.S. B-52H bomber landed at a South Korean air base in Cheongju, some 110 km south of Seoul, on Tuesday, after it showed up at the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition with a fly-over performance, according to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency. WELLINGTON, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- The eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano in 2022 shot out an unprecedented amount of water vapor into the sky, reaching heights of up to 55 km and depleting 5 percent of the ozone layer in some regions in just one week, according to a study published on Friday. The research published in "Science" details balloon measurements taken all the way over near Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean to understand how volcanic eruptions influence climate and ozone chemistry. The volcanic eruption on Jan. 15, 2022 was the largest recorded since 1883. The increased humidity in the stratosphere led to a series of interactions between other components shot out from the volcano that ultimately broke down ozone over the tropical southwestern Pacific and Indian Ocean regions, the authors said. Laura Revell of the School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of Canterbury, said major volcanic eruptions can inject gases and particles into the stratosphere, approximately 15-50 km above the Earth's surface, where the protective ozone layer resides. It is fairly common to see short-term ozone losses following a major eruption as a result of reactions involving volcanic aerosol and chlorine, Revell said, adding researchers started their field campaign a mere five days after the eruption and obtained a highly detailed data set. The 5-percent ozone layer loss is a significant amount, but not as large as the Antarctic ozone hole, where around 60 percent of the ozone layer is depleted between September and November each year, she said. Olaf Morgenstern, principal scientist - atmosphere and climate, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, said the volcanic eruption was the biggest of the satellite era, in terms of explosive power, altitude of the plume, and particularly in how much water it injected into the stratosphere. The study is the culmination of an ongoing international effort to elucidate the impact of the volcano on atmospheric chemistry and climate, he said. "Some highly unusual ozone depletion happened in the tropics in the aftermath of the eruption, especially given the generally small variability of ozone in that part of the world," Morgenstern said, adding some unusual polar ozone depletion is expected to happen after the volcanic material reached the Antarctic. NEW DELHI, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Indian government on Friday rejected Canada's accusation that the implementation of diplomatic parity by asking Canada to withdraw its 41 diplomats from New Delhi was a violation of international norms. India asked Canada to withdraw diplomats two weeks ago amid a row over the killing of the Canadian Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjara in June this year. Canada had directly blamed India for the murder. On Thursday, Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly confirmed that many Canadian diplomats and their dependents in India had left the country. India had said the immunity for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents would be unilaterally removed by Oct. 20, she added. Joly also accused India of escalating bilateral tensions by acting "contrary to international law and in violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations." However, she said Canada will not retaliate. In reaction to Joly's accusation, India's Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement saying: "We have seen the statement by the government of Canada on Oct. 19 regarding Canadian diplomatic presence in India. We reject any attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms." "The state of our bilateral relations, the much higher number of Canadian diplomats in India, and their continued interference in our internal affairs warrant a parity in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa," it said. "Our actions in implementing this parity are fully consistent with Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which states that in the absence of specific agreement as to the side of the mission, the receiving state may require that the size of a mission be kept within limits considered by it to be reasonable and normal, having regard to circumstances and conditions in the receiving state and to the needs of the particular mission," it added. JAKARTA, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian police's counterterrorism squad has arrested nine people on suspicion of terrorism activities in three separate operations, police said on Friday. Ahmad Ramadhan, spokesman of the National Police, told reporters that five suspects were arrested in South Sumatra on Wednesday, who had alleged ties with homegrown extremist group Jamaah Islamiyah (JI), which is linked to the Islamic State (IS) terror group. On Thursday, counterterrorism squad officers arrested one suspect in West Kalimantan and four others in West Nusa Tenggara, who were affiliated with homegrown extremist group Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), also linked to the IS group. The JAD is responsible for a string of attacks in the archipelago, including a suicide bombing at a cathedral in Makassar City on Sulawesi Island in March last year and several suicide bombings at churches in East Java in 2018, which killed a dozen people. The group was declared an illegal organization in 2018. Meanwhile, the JI was behind the 2002 Bali bombings, which killed more than 200 people on the holiday island. All suspects, the spokesman said, were still under further investigation by police. The country's National Police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo recently urged vigilance against terrorist activities as Indonesia is currently entering election mode. The Southeast Asian country is set to hold a presidential election in February next year. "Terrorism must be a serious concern. There were six terror attacks during the 2019 elections, and this must not happen in the 2024 elections," he said on Tuesday. F-16 aircraft of the Turkish Air Force (HHQ) arrived in our country on October 20 to participate in the Mustafa Kemal Ataturk - 2023 exercise, Azernews reports, citing Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry. It should be noted that the Azerbaijan-Turkiye joint tactical exercise will be held on October 23-25 of this year in several directions, including the city of Baku, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and our liberated territories. BARCELONA, Spain, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Despite the economic or political tensions that exist between China and Europe, international trade benefits both sides and must continue as "each side needs the other and everyone benefits," a Spanish economist told Xinhua on Friday. In 2022, China was the European Union's (EU) third largest export partner for goods (9 percent) and the largest partner for EU imports of goods (20.8 percent), according to the European Commission. "There might be certain products that cannot be sold due to national interests, but the large production chains set up in the past 20 years can't just disappear overnight," Sergi Basco, associate professor of economics at Barcelona University, told Xinhua in an interview. "It would be very expensive for Spain, Germany and countries to move production from China to Madrid, for example," he said. The economist commented on the recent political pressure on European firms to consider relocating production from China to Europe in order to reduce their economic dependence on the Asian country. "European companies going to China wasn't to do them (the Chinese) a favor but because labor is cheaper, they (the Chinese workers) are more efficient and it was more cost-effective to move part of the production to China and finish off production in places like Germany," he explained. "We need to try to ease tensions so that trade can continue," he said, noting that "We have to make sure that we don't go backwards." This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Spain. Since 1973, bilateral trade has risen to over 43 billion euros (45.5 billion U.S. dollars), according to the Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade (ICEX). One example of a strong trade link between China and Europe is the Belt and Road Initiative. The China-Europe freight train services, under the BRI framework, now reach 217 cities in 25 European countries. The professor also spoke about how the business relationship between European firms and China is adjusting to the new circumstances, such as the growing prosperity of the Chinese population. "What European companies are starting to do is go to China to produce and then sell in China, as they understand how important the market is and that the Chinese want products made in China," he said. LONDON, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced more misery Friday after his governing Conservative Party lost two seats in parliamentary by-elections. The main opposition Labour Party won Tamworth in Staffordshire and Mid Bedfordshire, a House of Commons seat held by the Conservatives since 1931. Political commentators described it as a political earthquake for the Conservatives. With the Conservatives trailing well behind Labour in most opinion polls, Labour leader Keir Starmer will see the latest victories as a sign he is on course to win control in next year's general election. Both seats had large Conservative majorities in the 2019 general election, Mid Bedfordshire a seemingly unassailable 24,664 and Tamworth an almost 20,000 majority. Labour won Tamworth with a majority of 1,136 votes, a 23.9 percent swing to Labour. In her victory speech, Labour's Sarah Edwards, who had 11,719 votes, urged the Conservatives to call a general election. In Mid Bedfordshire, Labour's Alistair Strathern gained 13,872 votes and the defeated Conservatives got 12,680 votes, giving Labour a majority of 1,192. The seat had been held by former culture secretary Nadine Dorries. In a statement after the results were declared Starmer said: "This is a phenomenal result that shows Labour is back in the service of working people and redrawing the political map." "To those who have given us their trust, and those considering doing so, Labour will spend every day acting in your interests and focused on your priorities. Labour will give Britain its future back," Starmer said. Professor Jon Tonge from the Department of Politics at the University of Liverpool told Xinhua: "The Conservatives are facing electoral humiliation at the general election. The swings from Conservative to Labour in these by elections are similar to those in 1996 -- even repeated in the same constituency of Tamworth yesterday. They were portents of what happened the following year (in 1997) when the Conservatives were swept from office at the general election. We are in similar territory." Political expert Professor John Bryson of the University of Birmingham told Xinhua that for the Conservative Party, the outcome of these by-elections will have been no surprise. "The key problem facing the Conservatives is that there are too many competing factions within the party. This needs to be combined with an appreciation that it is difficult, even impossible, for the Conservative Party to make significant gains in Scotland, but it is perfectly possible for the Scottish Labour Party to take seats from the Scottish National Party," Bryson said. "The outcome of the next UK general election will be determined north of the Scottish border rather than in places like Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire," he added. ST. PETERSBURG, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Models of the Chinese automobile brand Haval have been included in the Russian government's priority purchase list, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Industry and Trade on Friday. Six brands of cars were included in the priority purchase list, which was prepared by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Haval's Jolion, Dargo, F7/F7x, and H9 models that are produced in Russia were listed. The list recommended for purchase includes several models from Russian brands Moskvich and Evolute, which are assembled with Chinese components. Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier instructed relevant departments to develop measures to shift official vehicles from Western cars to domestically produced ones. WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden tried to convince the American people in a speech Thursday night that the United States must continue supporting Israel and Ukraine amid the two countries' respective conflicts. Addressing the nation from the Oval Office of the White House during prime time, the president said ensuring Israel's success in the conflict with Hamas and Ukraine's victory in its conflict with Russia "is vital for America's national security." To achieve the desired outcomes, Biden said he would send an "urgent budget request" to Congress on Friday in order to "fund America's national security needs to support our critical partners, including Israel and Ukraine." The sum of the supplemental spending package requested by the White House, according to people familiar with the matter, amounts to 100 billion U.S. dollars, including 10 billion dollars for emergency assistance to Israel, and 60 billion dollars for Ukraine to fund its fight against Russia. Biden's speech came one day after his whirlwind trip to Israel to show U.S. support, a journey overshadowed by an attack on a hospital in Gaza City that claimed hundreds of civilian lives and the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza resulting from Israeli bombardment. Since the start of the current conflict between Israel and Hamas, the United States has reiterated time and again its "ironclad" solidarity with Israel, vowing to provide whatever the country needs to continue the fight against Hamas. Washington, however, is increasingly finding itself in a dilemma over the need to keep a delicate balance between upholding the commitment to Israel and urging its ally to do everything it can to prevent the suffering of Palestinian civilians, which has already led to the eruption of protests across the Arab world. Earlier on Thursday, it was reported that Josh Paul, an official at the U.S. State Department, had resigned from his post overseeing U.S. arms transfer to foreign nations. In a letter dated Wednesday, he said he resigned in protest of his country's "blind support" for Israel shown by "continued -- indeed, expanded and expedited -- provision of lethal arms." MOSCOW, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Washington's supply of long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine demonstrates its desire to provoke a further escalation of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, Alexei Zaitsev, deputy director of the Information and Press Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said Friday. "On Oct. 17, it became known that the United States had recently secretly supplied Ukraine with long-range ATACMS missiles," the deputy director said during a weekly briefing. The United States doesn't even think about the "devastating consequences" of its actions, Zaitsev said. He noted that such actions further indicate that the current U.S. administration does not wish to seek a diplomatic solution to the crisis, but is rather using all its means to prevent Kiev's military defeat. ATACMS, or the Army Tactical Missile System, is a tactical ballistic missile manufactured by the U.S. defense company Lockheed Martin. It has a range of up to 190 miles (about 300 km), which means it can hit targets inside Russia. White House National Security Council Spokesperson Adrienne Watson confirmed Tuesday that the United States transferred the missile system to Ukraine. CARACAS, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- The temporary suspension of a set of unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States against Venezuela is an "unprecedented" event, said Pedro Tellechea, president of the state-owned oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA). The official posted on his X account that the general license granted by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control will suspend the siege imposed on PDVSA. Tellechea, also Venezuela's Oil Minister, described Washington's move as a "transcendental achievement" by President Nicolas Maduro and his strategy to demonstrate the "illegality" of the sanctions. On Wednesday, the U.S. Treasury Department officially suspended the restrictions applied against Venezuelan oil and gas operations for six months. President of the Venezuelan National Assembly Jorge Rodriguez reiterated on social media that Venezuela will continue "betting on dialogue for a country free of sanctions." WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. House of Representatives remains rudderless as right-wing Republican Jim Jordan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and the Republican nominee for speaker, failed again to garner enough support to be elected. It's not a surprise as U.S. politicians are addicted to wildly pursuing personal and partisan interests even when the government shutdown is imminent and people's interests deeply damaged. The political polarization has once again defaced "American democracy." REPEATED FAILURE The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday failed to elect a new speaker in the second round of voting, as Jordan lost more votes from his own party compared with the first round amid continued Republican infighting. Jordan got only 199 votes out of the 221 House Republicans, losing 22 Republican votes in the second round of full-chamber voting, compared with 20 Republican defections in the first round on Tuesday, which showed mounting resistance within the party and cast more doubt over the way forward. Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican, was ousted from the position in a 216-210 vote on Oct. 3, marking the first time in the U.S. history that a house speaker has been voted out of office in the middle of a term. Eight Republicans joined Democrats in removing McCarthy from the speakership. The Republicans then nominated Jordan as house speaker candidate after a number of intra-party votes. The infighting then shifted to the House of Representatives, where Jordan needs to win the support of a majority of the members present. The Republican Party now controls 221 seats, just nine more than the Democratic Party. Democrats unanimously supported House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in the first two rounds of voting. The Republican candidate will not get enough votes to be elected if Republicans cannot reach an agreement. Jordan, co-founder of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, is considered a far-right figure within the Republican party and has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump. Some Republican lawmakers who didn't vote for Jordan supported House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and former speaker Kevin Owen McCarthy. One even cast his vote for former House Speaker John Boehner, who was forced to retire early in 2015 by threats of ouster from right-flank insurgents like those who toppled McCarthy. Earlier Thursday, Jordan said he would seek a third ballot for speaker. U.S. media reported that Jordan's supporters are pressuring other Republican lawmakers to support him. Iowa Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks reported receiving death threats after voting against Jordan in the second ballot. "Threats and intimidation tactics will not change my principles and values," said Republican Congresswoman Jen Kiggans, who voted for McCarthy in both rounds of voting. POTENTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN Since the ouster of McCarthy and the prolonged election of a house speaker, U.S. legislation is at a standstill. The U.S. government is facing an imminent shutdown as Congress is tasked with federal government appropriations among others. The 2023 fiscal year ended on Sept. 30, and only a temporary appropriations bill was passed until the last minute since both parties had been fighting over the federal budget for the new fiscal year. However the bill can only fund the federal government until Nov. 17th. "Until a speaker is elected there's not going to be anything meaningful happening in the house, and the clock is ticking on the 45 days the government will stay open," Christopher Galdieri, a political science professor at Saint Anselm College, has told Xinhua. Even if Jordan is elected, his conservative propositions might lead Washington to a shutdown. "My expectation is that under Jordan's speakership, Congress will become even more dysfunctional than it has been over the past year," said Desmond Lachman, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a former official with the International Monetary Fund. He told Xinhua that there is even less chance for bipartisan legislation than there was before. "Among other things, this heightens the chances of a government shutdown at the end of the month as Mr. Jordan is likely to demand spending cuts unacceptable to the Democrats," said Lachman. Dean Baker, a senior economist with the Center for Economic and Policy Research, told Xinhua that "ending the prosecution of Donald Trump will be his (Jordan's) highest priority," which is not going to happen. Therefore, the United States "could have a very long government shutdown, which will be bad news for the economy." Greg Cusack, a former member of the Iowa House of Representatives, told Xinhua that if the discord in Congress continues, resulting in a government shutdown or another impasse over the debt ceiling, citizens will be hurt. ALARMING PARTISANSHIP Chaos seems to be a "new normal," and even those who are no strangers to partisan fights are astounded. Commenting on McCarthy's ouster, Democratic Senator Joe Manchin said it sent a negative message to the world about "American democracy." A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that two-thirds of Americans believe Washington politicians cannot put aside their partisan differences to do their jobs. An article on the website of the British newspaper The Guardian said the approval ratings for Congress and the U.S. federal government are near historic lows, with most saying they have little confidence in the future of the U.S. political system. It is the U.S. political system that allows partisanship to wreck havoc on society as it prioritizes personal and partisan interests over national and public interests. As Cusack has pointed out, Congress has no incentive to do the right thing unless it can bring lawmakers a boost in approval ratings or more campaign funds. WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. House Republicans on Friday dropped right-wing figure Jim Jordan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, as the Republican nominee for House speaker, after he failed to garner enough support from his own party in the third round of full-chamber voting. Prime Ministerwill launch the priority segment of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor at Sahibabad RapidX Station in Uttar Pradesh. The Prime Minister will lead a public event in Sahibabad where he will address the crowd on the occasion of the launch of the Regional Rapid Transit Systemin India. He will also flag off the RapidX train that connects Sahibabad to Duhai Depot. In addition, he plans to dedicate two sections of Bengaluru Metro's east-west corridor to the nation.The upcoming 17-kilometer priority segment of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor would link Sahibabad to 'Duhai Depot', passing through the cities of Ghaziabad, Guldhar, and Duhai. The Prime Minister placed the cornerstone for the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor in March 2019. The Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) project is being constructed in accordance with the Prime Minister's desire to transform regional connectivity in the nation through the creation of new, world-class transportation infrastructure.A brand-new semi-high-speed, high-frequency commuter rail system is known as RRTS. The revolutionary RRTS regional development project is intended to deliver high-speed trains for intercity travel, with a design speed of 180 mph. In the National Capital Region (NCR), eight RRTS corridors have been identified for development. Of these, three corridors, the Delhi - Ghaziabad Meerut Corridor, the Delhi - Gurugram - SNB - Alwar Corridor, and the Delhi -Panipat Corridor, have been given priority for implementation in Phase I. At a cost of over Rs 30,000 crore, the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS will connect Delhi with Meerut in less than an hour, passing via the cities of Ghaziabad, Muradnagar, and Modinagar.The nation is currently developing RRTS, a cutting-edge regional mobility system that rivals the greatest in the world. It will offer the nation's intercity routes to be modern, safe, and reliable. The RRTS network will include extensive multi-modal integration with railway stations, metro stations, bus services, etc., according to PM GatiShakti's National Master Plan. These innovative regional mobility solutions will contribute to increased economic activity, better access to jobs, healthcare, and education, and also significant reductions in air pollution and traffic congestion. We attach great importance and value to every work we do within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States. As the Turkic world, we are constantly improving our cooperation in a wide range of fields, from healthcare to defense, from education to energy. After the earthquakes that occurred in Turkiye on February 6, we have not forgotten and will not forget the solidarity of our brothers in the Turkish states with our nation. I believe that we will achieve great success as long as we maintain the spirit of brotherhood between us. President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed these views in a video message sent to the 9th Congress of the Turkish Medical World and the presentation ceremony of the "Aziz Sancar" science, service, and encouragement awards, Azernews reports. Noting that the Congress played a very important role in fully mobilizing the potential of cooperation in the field of healthcare between the Turkish states, the President of Turkiye said that artificial intelligence technologies, which are growing and are expected to reach a budget of 1.5 trillion dollars by 2030, affect every area of our lives. There is no doubt that the presentations and discussions on artificial intelligence in healthcare will broaden our worldview. At the event, our country is represented by a delegation led by the Minister of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Teymur Musayev. Presentations of international projects and discussions on the establishment of scientific networks will be held at the conference on "Healthy artificial intelligence" this year. EFE Latam Videos Lima, 3 nov (EFE).- El expresidente peruano Alejandro Toledo (2001-2006) solicito este viernes en una audiencia judicial que se revoque la orden de prision preventiva que pesa sobre el, mientras es juzgado por un caso de presunta corrupcion vinculado con la empresa Odebrecht, al alegar desde el penal que padece graves problemas de salud. "Les pido por favor, yo voy a respetar todo (...) el tema legal, pero le pido que necesito asumir mi defensa en libertad. Les pido, por favor (...) quiero asumir mi defensa, porque es mi honor (fuera de prision)", dijo Toledo. El exmandatario intervino en una audiencia celebrada en el penal de Barbadillo, donde esta recluido desde abril pasado, a la que se desplazaron los integrantes del tribunal. Toledo y varios exdirectivos de empresas son acusados de presuntamente haber pedido y tramitado, respectivamente, un aporte de 35 millones de dolares a Odebrecht a cambio de adjudicarle la construccion de dos tramos de la carretera Interoceanica Sur. Durante su breve intervencion de hoy, el exgobernante dijo que le fue detectado un cancer, cuyo diagnostico fue ratificado en Estados Unidos, y afirmo estar "muy preocupado". "Finalmente, como ustedes veran en la historia clinica (...) he venido siendo tratado por cuatro psiquiatras y psicologos alla (en EE.UU.) por cuatro anos", apostillo. Cuando ya se retiraba, volvio a tomar la palabra para decir que el medico del penal lo atiende "extraordinariamente", pero que el recinto, en el que los otros reclusos son los tambien expresidentes Alberto Fujimori y Pedro Castillo, no tiene "la infraestructura" necesaria. La sala que lleva adelante el juicio por colusion y lavado de activos contra Toledo explico el pasado 17 de octubre a los acusados el derecho que tienen de pedir la conclusion anticipada del proceso y les sugirio debatir esa posibilidad con sus abogados. Por este caso, la Fiscalia ha pedido que el exgobernante sea condenado a 20 anos y 6 meses de carcel. Aunque las audiencias del juicio oral se realizan de manera presencial, Toledo sigue el juicio en forma remota desde el penal de Barbadillo luego de que el tribunal rechazo la posibilidad de que se le traslade hasta la sala e indico que los magistrados iran a la prision cuando se requiera su testimonio. Los jueces tambien rechazaron un pedido de la Fiscalia para que se permita el acceso de la prensa, con el argumento de que el aforo de la sala es ocupado por los abogados y funcionarios judiciales, y que la publicidad del juicio esta asegurada por la transmision del canal Justicia TV, en su senal de television y en redes sociales. (c) Agencia EFE Daniel Ricciardo lavished praise on Liam Lawson following his impressive five-race interim with AlphaTauri, insisting the young Kiwi's time will come at some point in the future. Lawson replaced Ricciardo in the wake of the latters crash in free practice at the Dutch Grand Prix when he sustained a fractured metacarpal. Lawson was drafted in at the last hour but quickly got up to speed, even succeeding in qualifying among the top-ten and finishing in the points in his third race with AlphaTauri in Singapore. All good things come to an end however and after his final outing in Qatar the 21-year-old charger has now handed the seat back to Ricciardo, although hell be sitting in the wings from this weekend in Austin, ready to return to the track if necessary. Lawson received the commendations of Red Bulls top brass, Christian Horner and Helmut Marko, but Ricciardo also gave his substitute a big pat on the back while also offering a words of encouragement. Liam did a great job for sure, said Ricciardo in Austin on Thursday. In terms of him currently not having a seat next year, its one of those ones where hes young. Its not like hes at the end of his career. Read also: Hes very much at the early part of his career, so just keep persisting, keep your head down. I think he did very well to create an opportunity for himself, so if he keeps on that course, his time will come. As drivers, we obviously believe in ourselves so much that you always feel like youre ready and like why isnt it happening yet? I mean, hes very young, hes 21 or something. So, yeah, Im sure hell find a way on the grid if he keeps up what hes been doing. After sitting on the sidelines for two months, rehabilitating his fractured hand, Ricciardo admitted that his recovery was tougher than anticipated. But Im probably a bit of a wuss as well. So maybe not tougher than I thought! he said. I think it was really just when the accident happened, and we were aware of what bone broke, they seemed fairly OK with that bone, in terms of oh yeah, its a relatively easy one, to lets say, fix. But then, yeah, when we got the surgery done in Spain, we got further checks done and it was just the break was a lot worse than it first seemed. So I think thats what took a lot longer for the recovery, and probably made it a little more painful for myself. Ricciardos mishap occurred in only his third comeback race weekend with AlphaTauri, having returned to the grid in Hungary following Nyck de Vries unceremonious ousting by Red Bull. But four races later, the Faenza-based outfits AT04 has inevitably evolved, which adds another layer of difficulty in addition to his physical challenge to Ricciardos return. So, I went out to Singapore where they had some pretty big updates, he added. And that was actually a pretty positive weekend for the team. So that looked good. And the drivers were saying that they could feel some good differences. So yeah, Im expecting a car that is a little stronger than where I left it. But I mean, its going to be the third race Ive done this year, so Im still very green for this season. But in saying that, Im not using that as an excuse, but yeah, everything kind of still feels new to me. Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter (Bloomberg) -- Abu Dhabi is taking its time about allowing one of the emirates top crude grades to be traded on a regional exchange. Most Read from Bloomberg Traders had expected Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. to allow its Upper Zakum crude to be listed on the ICE Futures Abu Dhabi exchange by the middle of this year. They now dont see that happening until mid-2024 at the earliest, according to traders who asked not to be identified discussing market developments. People with knowledge of the state-run companys approach said there is a sense that Upper Zakum might not be optimally priced right now relative to other regional crudes. In addition, the UAEs need to adhere to OPEC oil supply cuts, and how that dovetails with an exchange-traded product, is also under consideration, they said. Adnoc and the Intercontinental Exchange Inc. both declined to comment. Abu Dhabi wants to establish its crudes as a regional benchmark for pricing by other Gulf producers. The emirate already lists Murban crude, its most plentiful grade, on the exchange. Adnoc is boosting production capacity by almost a quarter to 5 million barrels a day. At the same time, the country is preparing to host the UNs annual climate conference later this year and is expanding production of renewables, nuclear power and natural gas. Adding Upper Zakum to the crude exchange based in the emirate would potentially boost liquidity and give traders greater ability to hedge between different grades. Adnoc sees the exchange as a way to maximize profit by letting the market price the crude and because the grades positioning as a potential benchmark would boost demand to trade the barrels. Story continues Officials in the United Arab Emirates are mindful that prices of other regional grades, especially Saudi Arabias, have been boosted by production cuts and want to avoid taking steps that might embed a perceived under valuation of the emirates barrels, the people said. Adnoc will have to guarantee sufficient supply to the market to support trading and liquidity on the exchange. Meeting that commitment is made more difficult because of the UAEs role as a producer in Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Rationalstat LLC The global Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) market is expected to reach US$ 32.3 billion by 2030, with an annual growth rate of more than 4.9%. Wilmington, Delaware, Oct. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to RationalStat s recent industry analysis, the Global Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) Market value is US$ 23 billion in 2023 and is expected to rise at a strong CAGR of over 4.9% over the forecast period of 2023-2030. Market Definition, Market Scope, and Report Overview Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, often known as ABS, is a thermoplastic polymer created by polymerizing styrene and acrylonitrile in the presence of polybutadiene. It is a versatile engineering plastic that combines the strength and stiffness of acrylonitrile and styrene polymers with the toughness of polybutadiene rubber. ABS is widely employed in the automobile sector for a variety of interior and exterior components, which contributes to its rapid market expansion. Its lightweight nature also contributes to vehicle weight reduction, which improves fuel efficiency. According to a deep-dive market assessment by RationalStat, the global Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) market has been analyzed on the basis of market segments, including type, application and geography/regions (including North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa, and Asia Pacific) . The report also offers global and regional market sizing for the historical period of 2019-2022 and the forecast period of 2023-2030. Market intelligence for the global Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) market covers market sizes on the basis of market value (US$/EUR Million) and volume (Tons) by various products/services/equipment, demand assessment across the key regions, customer sentiments, price points, cost structures, margin analysis across the value chain, financial assessments, historical and forecast data, key developments across the industry, import-export data, trade overview, components market by leading companies, etc. In addition, the long-term sector and products/services 10-year outlook and its implications on the global Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) market. It also includes the industry's current state Production Levels, Capacity Utilization, Tech quotient, etc. Key information will be manufacturing capacity by country, installed base, import volumes, market size, key players, market size, dynamics, market data, insights, etc. Story continues Request A Customization- https://store.rationalstat.com/store/global-acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene-abs-market/#tab-ux_global_tab Global Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) Market: Segmental and Market Share Analysis Based on type, opaque segment is dominating the global acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) market due to its wide-ranging applications in various industry. Based on region, due to a variety of variables, Asia Pacific is the fastest expanding area in the ABS industry. ABS is in high demand in the region due to the region's thriving automotive, electronics, and appliances industries. Report Synopsis Report Metrics Details Base Year 2023 Forecast Period 2023-2030 Base Year Market Size US$ 23 billion Market Size Forecast US$ 32.3 billion Growth Rate 4.9% Dominant Segment Opaque Dominant Region Asia Pacific Key Market Drivers Growing demand from end use industry Technological advancements Increasing focus on sustainability Companies Profiled LG Chem Ltd. Asahi Kasei Corporation CHIMEI Corporation Formosa Plastics Corporation Kumho Petrochemical, Co. Ltd. Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) Trinseo INEOS Styrolution Group GmbH BASF SE DuPont de Nemours, Inc. Explore more about this report- https://store.rationalstat.com/store/global-acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene-abs-market/#tab-ux_global_tab Competition Analysis and Market Structure Some 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 global acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) market include, In April 2023, Formosa Chemicals & Fibre Corporation has planned a significant expansion of producing ABS with a projected capacity of 7.43 million tonnes per annum by 2030. Some of the prominent players and suppliers operating and contributing significantly to the global acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) market growth include LG Chem Ltd., Asahi Kasei Corporation, CHIMEI Corporation, Formosa Plastics Corporation, Kumho Petrochemical, Co. Ltd., Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), Trinseo, INEOS Styrolution Group GmbH, BASF SE, and DuPont de Nemours Inc., among others. Get A Free Sample- https://store.rationalstat.com/store/global-acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene-abs-market/#tab-ux_global_tab RationalStat has segmented the global acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) market based on type, application and region Global Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) Market Value (US$ Million), Volume (Tons), and Market Share (2019-2030) Analysis by Type Opaque Transparent Colored Global Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) Market Value (US$ Million), Volume (Tons), and Market Share (2019-2030) Analysis by Application Appliances Electrical and Electronics Automotive Consumer Goods Construction Others Global Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) Market Value (US$ Million), Volume (Tons), and Market Share (2019-2030) Analysis by Region North America Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) Market US Canada Latin America Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) Market Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America Western Europe Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) Market Germany UK France Spain Italy Benelux Nordic Rest of Western Europe Eastern Europe Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) Market Russia Poland Hungary Other CIS Countries Rest of Eastern Europe Asia Pacific Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) Market China Japan India South Korea Australia ASEAN Indonesia Thailand Philippines Vietnam Malaysia Rest of ASEAN Rest of Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) Market GCC Saudi Arabia (KSA) United Arab Emirates (UAE) Rest of the GCC South Africa Nigeria Turkey Rest of the Middle East & Africa For more information about this report- https://store.rationalstat.com/store/global-acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene-abs-market/#tab-ux_global_tab Key Questions Answered in the Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) Report: What will be the market value of the global acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) market by 2030? What is the market size of the global acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) market? What are the market drivers of the global acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) market? What are the key trends in the global acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) market? Which is the leading region in the global acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) market? What are the major companies operating in the global acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) market? What are the market shares by key segments in the global acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) market? Running a year End discount of 20%- https://store.rationalstat.com/store/global-acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene-abs-market/#tab-ux_global_tab Explore Our Trending Reports Global Synthetic Menthol Market- Global Synthetic Menthol Market is expected to grow at a significant CAGR over the forecast period of 2022-2028 Middle East Polyurea Market - Market Intelligence and Forecast Analysis By Type, By Polyurea Coating Temperature Applied, By Chemical Structure, By Product Type, By Application, By Region, and Competitive Landscape Global Polyurea Market - demand for polyurea coatings has grown due to their exceptional protective properties. 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Global Hydrofluoric Acid Market - Global hydrofluoric acid market is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 5.6% during the forecast period of 2023-2030 and is estimated at US$ 2.4 billion in 2023. Global Propane Dehydrogenation to Propylene Market - Global propane dehydrogenation to propylene market is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 9.4% during the forecast period of 2023-2030 and is estimated at US$ 10,124 million in 2023. Global Hyaluronic Acid Products Market - Global hyaluronic acid products market is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 7.2% during the forecast period of 2023-2030 and is estimated at US$ 2.9 billion in 2023. 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. 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Contact RationalStat LLC Kimberly Shaw, Content and Press Manager sales@rationalstat.com US Phone: +1 302 803 5429 UK Phone: +44 203-287-1245 LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest Alaska Airlines Challenged by Softening Demand, High West Coast Fuel Prices During the third quarter, Seattle-based Alaska Airlines earned a 12% operating margin (excluding special items), boosted by strong premium demand, contributions from its loyalty program, and growing revenue from its many airline partnerships. Still, the airlines performance fell short of even its own expectations, challenged by several unanticipated headwinds. One was a sharp spike in jet fuel prices along the U.S. west coast, where Alaska does most of its flying. For the quarter, it paid an average fuel price of $3.26 per gallon. Delta Air Lines, by contrast, its closest rival in Seattle, paid just $2.78. In addition, Alaskas Hawaii network, responsible for about 12% of its capacity, took an unexpected hit from the wildfires that disrupted tourism in Maui. The devastating Maui wildfires, said chief commercial officer Andrew Harrison, impacted third quarter revenue and therefore profit by approximately $20 million. Excluding one-time accounting items, Alaskas total operating profit for the quarter was $332 million. Thanks to its Oneworld alliance membership, as well as its marketing ties to American Airlines, Alaska was able to capture some of the extremely robust international demand that larger carriers enjoyed this summer. But most of its revenue comes from domestic routes, which were not nearly as strong. In fact, demand across the Alaska network softened during the final month of the quarter, affecting close-in bookings. The strong close-in revenue performance we saw from April through most of August moderated as we moved into September, Harrison said. Based on bookings for upcoming travel, demand remains strong during peak periods but less so during shoulder periods (those immediately following the peaks). Close-in demand for leisure travel has normalized following abnormal strength during the latter half of last year and the first half of this year. Management designed a schedule for September, specifically, that assumed leisure demand would look like it did last September. But it didnt. It came in weaker. The result: Modest load factor weakness in areas of our network where we deployed more capacity than we normally would during the shoulder. Story continues Business demand, meanwhile, has not recovered beyond about 85% of the level it reached in 2019. In response, Alaska is trimming capacity from some of its high-frequency business routes, including those linking Seattle and Portland with Californias major business markets. The airline, keep in mind, is also a big player in the transcontinental market connecting the west and east coasts. But it competes with a lower-yield premium product, in contrast to the lie-flat transcon seats offered by rivals American, United Airlines, Delta, and JetBlue Airways. Executives are now preparing for the offpeak winter, and specifically the January-to-March quarter, which tends to be Alaskas worst. Its looking to be more surgical in its approach to matching planes with routes but still planning overall year-over-year capacity growth of 11-14% in the current October-to-December quarter. Revenues, it says, will likely increase just 1-4%. Comments from CEO Ben Minicucci suggest Alaska will scale back capacity plans for 2024, particularly during offpeak periods. This industry is very capacity-dependent, and it has a huge leverage on profitability. So, were going to take a hard look. The teams are out there looking at next years capacity. Minicucci added, Capacity discipline is the most relevant lever our industry has and will be necessary to support off-peak periods going forward. Carriers appear more reluctant to over expand, he said, because the whole industry has a new set of structural unit costs. Disappointing though its third-quarter results were, they likely were among the best across the U.S. industry (only four U.S. carriers have reported thus far). That suggests Alaska will be well-positioned as the Hawaii market recovers, as its fuel disadvantage normalizes, as the international boom shifts back to domestic, as west-coast corporate demand potentially recovers, and as capacity adjustments bear fruit. One of the things I think you all should be thinking about in terms of Alaska, said Chief Financial Officer Shane Tackett, is were still in the least recovered portion of the country and still fighting for the industrys best margins. So, I just think theres goodness to come overall for the company. One reason for optimism is its all-Boeing 737 mainline fleet. It recently retired its last Airbus narrowbodies, having reached an agreement to sell its remaining 10 A321neos to American. More 737 Maxes are coming, including large Max 10 versions once theyre FAA certified. Weve been really clear on how much we like the Max 10, and we want to take as many of those as we can, said Senior Vice President Nat Pieper. As for smaller Maxes, Tackett said Were still working on our Max 8 interior, and we would love to get 16 first-class seats our [737-800s] carry 12 today. Offering more premium capacity is clearly a priority as travel preferences continue to move in a more premium direction, according to Harrison. Premium seats now account for about 25% of Alaskas total seats today, yielding 31% of its total revenue. This story is from Skift's Airline Weekly. For more aviation industry news visit airlineweekly.com. SINGAPORE, October 20, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "bbb+" (Good) of The New India Assurance Company Limited (New India) (India). Additionally, AM Best has assigned the India National Scale Rating (NSR) of aaa.IN (Exceptional) to New India. The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. The ratings reflect New Indias balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, favourable business profile and marginal enterprise risk management (ERM). In addition, the ratings factor in the neutral impact from New Indias ultimate majority ownership by the Government of India. New Indias balance sheet strength assessment is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation, which remained at the strongest level in fiscal-year 2023, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). AM Best views the companys investment portfolio to have moderate risk. Although a large portion of investments are held in domestic government and corporate bonds, which are well-rated on the local scale, the balance sheet remains subject to volatility arising from the companys allocation to domestic equity investments. The majority of New Indias reinsurance assets are of good credit quality, notwithstanding that the company maintains a reinsurance counterparty concentration to the domestic reinsurer, General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC e). New Indias operating performance is assessed as adequate. The company has reported positive operating results on a consolidated basis over the last five years, with an average return-on-equity ratio of 2.7% (fiscal years 20192023). In the fiscal year ending 31 March 2023, the company reported improved underwriting losses due to the reduction in COVID-19 health claims and the remediation action taken by New India. This was partially offset by a higher loss ratio of motor insurance and adverse development of prior year claims in crop insurance and foreign catastrophe losses. Robust investment incomes, including interest and dividend incomes, as well as realised gains from the sale of equity investments, provides a sizable contribution to overall earnings. AM Best expects challenging market conditions to constrain the companys underwriting results over the medium term, albeit overall operating results are expected to remain profitable. Story continues New Indias favourable business profile assessment reflects its market position as the largest non-life insurer in India by gross premiums written. The companys underwriting portfolio is moderately diversified by lines of business and distribution channels, although with an elevated concentration in health insurance. International geographical diversification is supported by the companys overseas operations, through its foreign branches, agency offices and subsidiaries. The domestic market continues to present significant growth opportunities for New India, although AM Best considers high market competition, particularly in the health and motor businesses, to be an offsetting factor. New Indias ERM is assessed as marginal given that the profile of some key risks exceeds the companys risk management capabilities and the ERM framework continues to evolve. The companys audited financial statements have been qualified for several years as a result of internal control weakness in the reconciliation of certain items and accounts. Whilst New India is progressing on strengthening internal controls and has partially addressed some audit matters, inadequate resolution of audit matters has impacted the companys financial reporting quality over a number of years. Elevated concerns persist over New Indias pricing discipline and underwriting risk management given the level of ongoing underwriting losses and the competitive market environment. Overall, whilst New India continues to take actions aimed at strengthening its ERM, there remains a gap between the companys ERM framework and the global standards for an organisation of its scale. Ratings are communicated to rated entities prior to publication. Unless stated otherwise, the ratings were not amended subsequent to that communication. This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Bests website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Bests Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Bests Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Bests Credit Ratings, Bests Performance Assessments, Bests Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Bests Ratings & Assessments. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. Copyright 2023 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020826718/en/ Contacts Sin Yee Chuah, CFA Senior Financial Analyst +65 6303 5022 sinyee.chuah@ambest.com Michael Dunckley, CFA Associate Director, Analytics +44 20 7397 0312 michael.dunckley@ambest.com Christopher Sharkey Associate Director, Public Relations +1 908 882 2310 christopher.sharkey@ambest.com Al Slavin Senior Public Relations Specialist +1 908 882 2318 al.slavin@ambest.com By Nick Carey, Akash Sriram and Ernest Scheyder (Reuters) -China's move on Friday to curb exports of graphite, a key electric vehicle battery material, will only accelerate efforts to develop alternative sources and materials, but that will take time, industry executives and analysts said. China, the world's largest graphite producer and exporter, will require export permits as of Dec. 1 for some graphite products, including spherical graphite used by automakers. It refines more than 90% of the world's graphite into the material used in almost all EV battery anodes, which is the negatively charged portion of a battery. China's decision may escalate trade disputes globally and spur other countries to prioritize research into alternative sources and materials, industry executives said. "We see China's move as a potential catalyst to highlight the urgency of improving (U.S.) graphite supply," said John DeMaio, president of Graphex Group's graphene division. Graphex plans to open a graphite processing facility in Warren, Michigan, by the end of 2024 to supply U.S. automakers with at least 10,000 metric tons per year of the key metal. Graphex aims to be a refiner in the West, not a miner. It has graphite supply deals with Syrah Resources and is looking for other sources, DeMaio said. Tesla, which did not respond to a request for comment, has been a leader in securing graphite and signing deals with Syrah and Magnis Energy Technologies. New investments in the U.S. and Europe aim to challenge China's stranglehold on graphite with a focus on developing synthetic graphite, but industry experts have said the effort will be an uphill battle. Synthetic graphite could account for nearly two-thirds of the EV battery anode market by 2025, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence estimates. However, China battery materials giants such as BTR and Shanshan are also investing hundreds of millions of dollars to produce more synthetic graphite. Story continues Vianode, an Oslo-based synthetic graphite startup, is starting small scale production in Norway next year, ramping up to full scale in Europe and the U.S. by 2030 with enough material to supply roughly 2 million EVs. Chief Operating Officer Hans Erik Vatne told Reuters recently that developing synthetic graphite production is costly, but that is the price to pay to reduce reliance on China. "Are we as consumers willing to pay more to have that sustainable materials in our batteries?" he said in August. "That's really what we need to hope for because we need a higher price because the capex of building such a plant with this advanced technology is higher." SILICON SOLUTION? Another anode ingredient is silicon, which enables an EV to drive longer distances before recharging. The maximum amount of silicon added to batteries is about 10% because the material expands during use and can degrade the battery. But companies are working to push that share higher. U.S. startup GDI, for instance, is developing 100% silicon anodes for batteries. GDI CEO Rob Anstey said his company is talking to most automakers about the technology. "China is decades ahead in graphite and it's too late to try and catch up," he told Reuters on Friday. "We must move to the next level of lithium-ion and EV performance." "This is our time to wake up and say, okay we need to start working on the next generation of battery and of materials," he added. The curbs by China also could lower exports and raise prices, just like they did after a similar move in August for two chip-making metals, gallium and germanium. "This regulation is expected to increase the scarcity of graphite, which in turn raises the cost of power batteries, leading to higher production costs for EVs," Canalys analyst Alvin Liu said. Many automakers sell EVs at a loss, so higher costs would not be welcome. With rising EV sales, automakers are racing to lock in supplies from outside China, but shortages are looming. The main use of graphite has been in the steel industry, but EV sales are due to more than triple by 2030 to 35 million from 2022, BMO Capital Markets forecasts. Each EV on average needs 50 kg to 100 kg (110 pounds to 220 pounds) of graphite in its battery pack for the anodes, about twice the amount of lithium. Automakers were largely quiet on Friday, studying the decision. "We don't expect short-term effects on our supply situation, but will watch the issue closely," BMW said in a statement. "We could react quickly and flexibly in our risk management if necessary." Volvo Cars and Renault said it was too early to comment, but they were following the situation closely. Mercedes declined to comment, but said in June it was diversifying raw materials sourcing, including graphite. Stellantis and Rivian declined to comment. Officials with Volkswagen, General Motors, Ford, Lucid and Fisker could not immediately be reached to comment. (Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru, Ernest SCheyder in Houston and Nick Carey in London; additional reporting by Christina Amann in Berlin, Marie Mannes in Stockholm, Gilles Guillaume in Paris, Ilona Wissenbach in Frankfurt; writing by Ben Klayman; Editing by Josie Kao) Regular readers will know that we love our dividends at Simply Wall St, which is why it's exciting to see AptarGroup, Inc. (NYSE:ATR) is about to trade ex-dividend in the next four days. The ex-dividend date occurs one day before the record date which is the day on which shareholders need to be on the company's books in order to receive a dividend. It is important to be aware of the ex-dividend date because any trade on the stock needs to have been settled on or before the record date. This means that investors who purchase AptarGroup's shares on or after the 25th of October will not receive the dividend, which will be paid on the 16th of November. The company's next dividend payment will be US$0.41 per share. Last year, in total, the company distributed US$1.64 to shareholders. Based on the last year's worth of payments, AptarGroup stock has a trailing yield of around 1.3% on the current share price of $125.73. 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. Check out our latest analysis for AptarGroup 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. AptarGroup paid out a comfortable 40% of its profit last year. A useful secondary check can be to evaluate whether AptarGroup generated enough free cash flow to afford its dividend. Dividends consumed 62% of the company's free cash flow last year, which is within a normal range for most dividend-paying organisations. It's positive to see that AptarGroup's dividend is covered by both profits and cash flow, since this is generally a sign that the dividend is sustainable, and a lower payout ratio usually suggests a greater margin of safety before the dividend gets cut. Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends. Story continues Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing? Stocks with flat earnings can still be attractive dividend payers, but it is important to be more conservative with your approach and demand a greater margin for safety when it comes to dividend sustainability. If earnings decline and the company is forced to cut its dividend, investors could watch the value of their investment go up in smoke. It's not encouraging to see that AptarGroup's earnings are effectively flat over the past five years. We'd take that over an earnings decline any day, but in the long run, the best dividend stocks all grow their earnings per share. Earnings per share growth has been slim, and the company is already paying out a majority of its earnings. While there is some room to both increase the payout ratio and reinvest in the business, generally the higher a payout ratio goes, the lower a company's prospects for future growth. The main way most investors will assess a company's dividend prospects is by checking the historical rate of dividend growth. In the past 10 years, AptarGroup has increased its dividend at approximately 6.4% a year on average. Final Takeaway From a dividend perspective, should investors buy or avoid AptarGroup? Earnings per share have been flat over the 10-year timeframe we consider, and AptarGroup paid out less than half its earnings and more than half its free cashflow over the last year. Overall we're not hugely bearish on the stock, but there are likely better dividend investments out there. So while AptarGroup looks good from a dividend perspective, it's always worthwhile being up to date with the risks involved in this stock. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for AptarGroup you should know about. A common investing mistake is buying the first interesting stock you see. Here you can find a full list of high-yield dividend stocks. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. (Bloomberg) -- Convoy Inc., a Seattle-based trucking startup whose investors include Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, is closing down its business after a four-month search for an acquirer failed, its founder and Chief Executive Officer Dan Lewis told employees in memo Thursday informing them, Today is your last day at the company. Most Read from Bloomberg Following an exhaustive process, spanning many, many months during which we explored all viable strategic options for the business, the result is where we are today, Lewis wrote. Convoy is closing the doors on its current core business operations and exploring and evaluating strategic options for what might come next. The startup, valued by investors last year at $3.8 billion, had already whittled its staff down to about 500 people from a peak of 1,500, and was on track to run out of money in a matter of weeks, said people familiar with the matter. Most remaining employees were let go Thursday. Lewis said the market conditions afflicting Convoy a massive freight recession and a contraction in the capital markets also prevented its most likely acquirer from closing a deal. Convoy had raised more than $1 billion from investors, according to data from research firm PitchBook. Many of those investors could see their stakes go to zero. Investors that wrote checks to the startup in 2015, when Convoy was worth less than $60 million, included Allen & Co., Bezos, Reid Hoffman and Marc Benioff. Gates invested in a later round. Allen & Co. still has its shares, according to a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified discussing private information. Capital G, an Alphabet Inc. venture group, and Al Gores Generation Investment Management were also investors in Convoy, according to PitchBook. Story continues In 2022, Baillie Gifford, T. Rowe Price and other investors valued Convoy at valuation of $3.8 billion. Convoy is one of many logistics startups affected by falling prices and demand for shipping, plus a deteriorating market for venture capital fundraising. San Francisco freight-forwarding company Flexport Inc. and Seattle warehousing startup Flexe Inc. have had to lay off workers after demand dropped from pandemic highs. (Corrects an earlier version of this story in the deck headline and fifth paragraph that said Allen & Co. had sold its shares.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. President Biden doesnt just want new money to assist with wars in Ukraine and Israel. He also wants billions to confront China. Following an address to the nation, where he exhorted Americans to support his efforts in Ukraine and Israel, President Biden announced the complete details of his administration's request to Congress on Friday. Within the nearly $106 billion supplemental funding request to Congress is an ask for $7.4 billion toward China-focused efforts by his administration. The money would be divided between $3.4 billion for Americas submarines that operate in the region, $2 billion for new financing efforts to counter Chinas economic might, and another $2 billion for State Department foreign military efforts. If approved, the money could flow toward Taiwan and other US allies in the region and potentially re-inflame US-China tensions after a year of tense back and forth between the two superpowers. This money is crucial, national security advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters Friday, as part of "efforts to maintain peace and stability" in the Indo-Pacific region adding that the new funds would represent "significant new resources to help [US allies] build the capabilities necessary to meet emerging challenges." President Joe Biden addressed the nation on security threats from the Oval Office on October 19. (JONATHAN ERNST/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) (JONATHAN ERNST via Getty Images) Of course, the administrations funding request will have to navigate the dysfunction on Capitol Hill first, as lawmakers in the House of Representatives still remain deadlocked on a replacement for the ousted Kevin McCarthy after more than two weeks. "The world is watching and the American people rightly expect their leaders to come together and deliver on these priorities," wrote Office of Management and Budget director Shalanda Young in a letter to Congress on the package which also includes more than $60 billion for Ukraine, more than $20 billion for the Middle East, and more than $10 billion for Americas southern border. Due to the ongoing chaos on Capitol Hill, her letter had to be addressed to Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), the speaker pro tempore of the House of Representatives. McHenry has adamantly maintained he has no power to consider the request until House Republicans agree on a plan for going forward. Story continues Where the $7.4 billion focused on China would go If approved, much of the money would be directed toward the US Navys public shipyards to build up the US's capacity to stand up to China militarily. The money would accelerate the building of attack submarines to patrol in the Indo-Pacific and help fulfill an ongoing security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the US, Biden officials said. The USS North Carolina docks at a port on the outskirts of Perth in Australia this summer as part of routine patrols in the Indo-Pacific region. (TONY MCDONOUGH/AFP via Getty Images) (TONY MCDONOUGH via Getty Images) The Biden administration is also asking for $2 billion to "provide a credible alternative to the Peoples Republic of Chinas coercive and unsustainable financing for developing countries around the world," according to a fact sheet. The administration says the money could be leveraged to unlock up to $21 billion in new lending opportunities through the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. A third tranche of the money would allot $2 billion toward general military readiness efforts in the region. The Biden administration didnt outline precisely how much of the funds would go to Taiwan, with the political status of the island a long-running source of tension. Sullivan underlined Friday that the funds would be spread across the entire region and not be exclusive to Taiwan. Biden himself also noted in his address to the nation that his larger national security effort has at least one eye on China, especially the $61.4 billion he wants to use for Ukraine's war. "If we walk away and let Putin erase Ukraines independence, would-be aggressors around the world would be emboldened to try the same," he said from the Oval Office, saying the chaos could spread both to the Indo-Pacific as well as to the Middle East. Ben Werschkul is a Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance. Click here for politics news related to business and money Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Qabil Ashirov On 20 October, the State Committee for Refugees and IDPs held a lottery among families who will be resettled to Aghali village of Zangilan district at the next stage, Azernews reports. Representatives of the Special Representation of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Executive Authority of Zangilan district, Public Council under the State Committee in Jabrayil, Gubadli, and Zangilan districts of the East Zangazur region participated in the event. 33 families (177 people) participated in the drawing. In terms of family composition, 10 of them were provided with three-room, 15 with four-room, and 8 with five-room private houses. Until now, these families have been living in temporary settlements in Baku and Sumgait cities, on the territory of the Absheron district. The purpose of the lottery is to ensure objectivity and transparency in the placement of IDPs. Representatives of IDP families determine the exact address of the houses handed over to them by drawing lots. The participants in the lottery noted that they were very happy to return to their homeland. They expressed deep gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva for the conditions created in the liberated territories and the attention and care shown to IDPs. Families who took part in the lottery will be sent to Aghali village on October 26 and 28, according to the schedule. Absent for seven months, bird flu has again resurfaced in Iowa, hitting a commercial turkey facility in Buena Vista County and resulting in the destruction of 50,000 birds, the Iowa Department of Agriculture said Friday. The news comes as poultry producers have braced for fall migration, which can bring infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza. Wild birds, in particular waterfowl, can spread the virus to domestic flocks, often without showing signs of illness themselves. Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for Buena Vista County Friday to help state and federal agencies respond to the outbreak. The proclamation allows agencies to assist with "tracking and monitoring, rapid detection, containment, disposal and disinfection." Bird flu has reemerged in Iowa with a reported outbreak at a commercial turkey facility in Buena Vista County. State and federal officials require the area around an infected facility to be quarantined and poultry tested. Infected flocks are killed to prevent the spread of the deadly, highly contagious disease. The last case to hit an Iowa flock was in March, infecting about 50 backyard birds in Chickasaw County. The current outbreak, which began in 2022, has resulted in the destruction of roughly 16 million laying hens, turkeys and other birds in Iowa. Iowa, the nation's top egg producer, tops the nation in birds destroyed during the long outbreak. Nationally, 59.4 million birds have been destroyed, U.S. Department of Agriculture data shows, making it the single largest foreign animal disease outbreak in U.S. history. Since last year, Iowa has had 33 episodes of bird flu, while nationally, there have been 860. The outbreak caused egg prices to spike last year to record highs. But the USDA said prices have dropped 38% since their peak and are expected to climb just 0.1% this year. More: Bird flu outbreak has slowed in 2023, but Iowa poultry producers remain fearful Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig on Oct. 11 urged producers to tighten security measures to protect their flocks, given recent outbreaks in South Dakota and Minnesota. Story continues Unfortunately, highly pathogenic avian influenza continues to be an active threat to our states turkey producers, egg layers, and backyard flocks, Naig said in a statement. We encourage everyone to remain vigilant, review their biosecurity plans and ensure they are fully implemented. Prevention of disease is always our goal, but should we face new cases, our team at the Iowa Department of Agriculture ... working jointly with USDA and industry partners, is ready to swiftly respond, Naig said. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the recent infections in birds do not present a public health concern, and it remains safe to eat poultry products. Donnelle Eller covers agriculture, the environment and energy for the Register. Reach her at deller@registermedia.com or 515-284-8457. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Bird flu resurfaces in Iowa, hitting facility with 50,000 turkeys Bitcoin (BTC-USD) briefly surged above $30,000 Friday after the Securities and Exchange Commission dropped legal charges against two cryptocurrency executives from Ripple Labs, another victory for the industry as it fights regulatory threats on several fronts. The rise in bitcoin, which jumped 5% over the last day, pushed it above the $30,000 marker for the first time since August. Other digital assets also pushed higher, including the XRP (XRP-USD) token issued by Ripple. Year to date, bitcoin has rallied more than 80%. The rally punctuated the end of a volatile week for crypto investors, who found reasons to cheer a series of legal developments, market chatter, and rumors involving the SEC, which is attempting a widespread crackdown on the crypto industry. The regulator has sued a number of big players, including Coinbase (COIN) and Binance. The seal of the Securities and Exchange Commission at SEC headquarters in Washington. (Andrew Harnik/AP Photo, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) The first development came last Friday when media reports suggested the SEC wouldnt appeal a court ruling that improves the chances that asset manager Grayscale Investments will be able to launch a spot bitcoin exchange-trade fund. Asset managers have for years been trying to convince the SEC to approve a spot bitcoin ETF, which would allow investors to get exposure to the worlds largest cryptocurrency without having to own it. The SEC had denied the various applications, arguing the products were vulnerable to market manipulation. "Once the SEC announced that they would not be pursuing an appeal, we saw a very compelling bid," Sean Farrell, a digital asset analyst with Fundstrat, told Yahoo Finance. Then on Monday a rumor circulated that giant money manager BlackRock (BLK) had received new SEC approval for a spot bitcoin ETF, and that pushed bitcoin near $30,000. Prices pulled back when BlackRock denied it. The SEC is still considering applications from BlackRock, Grayscale, and a number of other asset managers; investors expect the agency to rule on the applications by Jan. 10. Story continues BlackRock headquarters in Manhattan. (STRF/STAR MAX/IPx) (STRF/STAR MAX/IPx) "The time is right for a spot bitcoin ETF, Bitwise chief investment officer Matt Hougan said on Yahoo Finance Live earlier this week. Bitwise is among the companies seeking SEC approval. "The SEC has previously been worried about market manipulation, about a lack of maturity in the market, but the bitcoin market of today is not the bitcoin market of a few years ago." The new rally in digital assets over the last 24 hours was triggered by an SEC decision on Thursday to dismiss its charges against Ripple co-founders Brad Garlinghouse and Chris Larsen, who were sued for helping Ripple sell XRP. SEC had argued that the sale of the token amounted to a violation of US law because XRP was not registered as a security with the SEC. The US judge overseeing the case, Analisa Torres, resolved some claims against the executives and Ripple in mid-July when she ruled that XRP was not a security when it was purchased by the general public. But she also partly ruled in the SECs favor by stating that XRP was in fact a security when sold to institutional investors. She later rejected an attempt by the SEC to appeal her split ruling. The SECs claims against Garlinghouse and Larsen over the sale of XRP to those investors were still scheduled to be tried before a jury, but the SEC said Thursday it no longer wanted to pursue those charges. The SEC asked the court to give the agency three weeks to confer with Ripple in the hope of establishing a financial settlement tied to its sale of XRP to institutional investors. The SEC declined comment. David Hollerith is a senior reporter for Yahoo Finance covering banking and crypto. Click here for the latest stock market news and in-depth analysis, including events that move stocks Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance BP plc BP is in talks to exit the Yakaar-Teranga offshore natural gas field in Senegal due to it no longer aligning with the strategic objectives of the U.K.-based supermajor, per a report by Bloomberg. In 2017, BP, in collaboration with its joint venture partner Kosmos Energy KOS, announced a significant gas discovery known as Yakaar-1, emphasizing its importance in the field of natural gas exploration. During that period, BP believed the Yakaar discovery, along with the Teranga discovery, to be instrumental in establishing the groundwork for an additional LNG hub within the basin. Yakaar-Teranga is anticipated to serve as a natural gas source for gas-to-power initiatives in Senegal, supporting Africas efforts to reduce energy poverty and increase access to power for a larger segment of the population. The BP-operated Yakaar-Teranga Phase 1 represents a conventional gas development situated in the ultra-deepwater region of Senegal. Currently, the project is in its feasibility stage, with commercial production anticipated to commence in 2024. Should BP proceed with its potential departure from Yakaar-Teranga, the operatorship of the offshore gas field would likely transition to Kosmos. Additionally, Senegals state-owned oil company, Petrosen, may have the opportunity to increase its ownership stake in the project through renegotiation. Speaking about BP and Kosmos other activities in Senegal, the larger Greater Tortue Ahmeyim gas development, which extends across the maritime boundary of Senegal and Mauritania, is on track to achieve commercial production in the coming year. The U.K.-based BP has a strong portfolio of upstream projects, backing impressive production growth. BP is the holding company of one of the world's largest petroleum and petrochemical groups. BP has set an aggressive energy transition plan to capitalize on the mounting clean energy demand. BP currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Story continues Investors interested in the energy sector may look at some better-ranked companies mentioned below. The three companies presently sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Matador Resources Company MTDR is among the leading oil and gas explorers in the shale and unconventional resources in the United States. MTDRs prime priorities include lowering debt, delivering free cashflows and maintaining or increasing dividends. Matador Resources has witnessed upward earnings estimate revisions for 2023 and 2024 in the past seven days. The consensus estimate for MTDRs 2023 and 2024 earnings per share is pegged at $6.59 and $8.84, respectively. APA Corporation APA boasts a large, geographically diversified reserve base with multi-year trends in reserve replacement. The companys high-quality drilling inventory with greater resource potential should enable it to deliver competitive per-share growth. APA Corp has witnessed upward earnings estimate revisions for 2023 and 2024 in the past seven days. The consensus estimate for APAs 2023 and 2024 earnings per share is pegged at $4.72 and $6.52, respectively. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report BP p.l.c. (BP) : Free Stock Analysis Report APA Corporation (APA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Kosmos Energy Ltd. (KOS) : Free Stock Analysis Report Matador Resources Company (MTDR) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research The board of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE:BC) has announced that it will be paying its dividend of $0.40 on the 15th of December, an increased payment from last year's comparable dividend. This takes the annual payment to 2.2% of the current stock price, which unfortunately is below what the industry is paying. Check out our latest analysis for Brunswick Brunswick's Dividend Is Well Covered By Earnings While yield is important, another factor to consider about a company's dividend is whether the current payout levels are feasible. However, prior to this announcement, Brunswick's dividend was comfortably covered by both cash flow and earnings. As a result, a large proportion of what it earned was being reinvested back into the business. Looking forward, earnings per share is forecast to rise by 41.0% over the next year. If the dividend continues along recent trends, we estimate the payout ratio will be 17%, which is in the range that makes us comfortable with the sustainability of the dividend. Brunswick Has A Solid Track Record The company has a sustained record of paying dividends with very little fluctuation. Since 2013, the dividend has gone from $0.05 total annually to $1.60. This implies that the company grew its distributions at a yearly rate of about 41% over that duration. Rapidly growing dividends for a long time is a very valuable feature for an income stock. The Dividend Looks Likely To Grow Investors who have held shares in the company for the past few years will be happy with the dividend income they have received. Brunswick has seen EPS rising for the last five years, at 50% per annum. 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. Brunswick Looks Like A Great Dividend Stock Overall, a dividend increase is always good, and we think that Brunswick is a strong income stock thanks to its track record and growing earnings. Earnings are easily covering distributions, and the company is generating plenty of cash. All in all, this checks a lot of the boxes we look for when choosing an income stock. Investors generally tend to favour companies with a consistent, stable dividend policy as opposed to those operating an irregular one. 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 Brunswick 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. FILE PHOTO: Financial institutions in the financial district of Toronto (Reuters) - Pierre Poilievre, Canada's Conservative party leader, called for the federal government to reject Royal Bank of Canada's C$13.5 billion ($9.84 billion) offer to buy HSBC's domestic unit, the Globe and Mail reported on Thursday. Blocking the deal is a clear step the government could take to address affordability concerns, Poilievre said in an interview to the newspaper. "If the biggest bank in Canada simply buys up a growing smaller player, then there's no hope of ever having more competition in Canadian banking," he told the newspaper. "If you remove HSBC, then youll be removing downward pressure on lending rates." Last month, Canada's Competition Bureau said that RBC's takeover of HSBC Canada was unlikely to hurt competition, clearing the way for the country's largest bank to push ahead with its biggest acquisition. Still, the regulator found that the deal would "result in a loss of rivalry between Canada's largest and seventh-largest banks." ($1 = 1.3723 Canadian dollars) (Reporting by Gnaneshwar Rajan; Editing by Christian Schmollinger) An In-depth Look at Cementos Argos S.A.'s Dividend Performance and Sustainability Cementos Argos S.A.(CMTOY) recently announced a dividend of $0.09 per share, payable on 2023-10-27, with the ex-dividend date set for 2023-10-20. As investors look forward to this upcoming payment, the spotlight also shines on the company's dividend history, yield, and growth rates. Using the data from GuruFocus, let's delve into Cementos Argos S.A.'s dividend performance and assess its sustainability. What Does Cementos Argos S.A. Do? Warning! GuruFocus has detected 5 Warning Sign with CMTOY. High Yield Dividend Stocks in Gurus' Portfolio This Powerful Chart Made Peter Lynch 29% A Year For 13 Years How to calculate the intrinsic value of a stock? Cementos Argos S.A. is a cement producing company. In terms of the concrete business, it is Colombia's leading producer and the second-largest producer in the United States. The company's corporate purpose is the exploitation of the cement industry, the production of concrete mixes, and any other materials or items made of cement, lime, or clay, the acquisition and exploitation of minerals or deposits of exploitable minerals in the cement industry, and similar rights to explore and mine the aforementioned minerals, whether by concession, privilege, lease, or other title. Cementos Argos S.A.'s Dividend Analysis A Glimpse at Cementos Argos S.A.'s Dividend History Cementos Argos S.A. has maintained a consistent dividend payment record since 2008. Dividends are currently distributed on a quarterly basis. Below is a chart showing annual Dividends Per Share for tracking historical trends. Cementos Argos S.A.'s Dividend Analysis Breaking Down Cementos Argos S.A.'s Dividend Yield and Growth As of today, Cementos Argos S.A. currently has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 5.75% and a 12-month forward dividend yield of 6.03%. This suggests an expectation of increased dividend payments over the next 12 months. Over the past three years, Cementos Argos S.A.'s annual dividend growth rate was -4.50%. Extended to a five-year horizon, this rate decreased to -5.10% per year. And over the past decade, Cementos Argos S.A.'s annual dividends per share growth rate stands at 2.40%. Story continues Based on Cementos Argos S.A.'s dividend yield and five-year growth rate, the 5-year yield on cost of Cementos Argos S.A. stock as of today is approximately 4.43%. Cementos Argos S.A.'s Dividend Analysis The Sustainability Question: Payout Ratio and Profitability To assess the sustainability of the dividend, one needs to evaluate the company's payout ratio. The dividend payout ratio provides insights into the portion of earnings the company distributes as dividends. A lower ratio suggests that the company retains a significant part of its earnings, thereby ensuring the availability of funds for future growth and unexpected downturns. As of 2023-06-30, Cementos Argos S.A.'s dividend payout ratio is 1.20. And this may suggest that the company's dividend may not be sustainable. Cementos Argos S.A.'s profitability rank, offers an understanding of the company's earnings prowess relative to its peers. GuruFocus ranks Cementos Argos S.A.'s profitability 8 out of 10 as of 2023-06-30, suggesting good profitability prospects. The company has reported net profit in 9 years out of the past 10 years. Growth Metrics: The Future Outlook To ensure the sustainability of dividends, a company must have robust growth metrics. Cementos Argos S.A.'s growth rank of 8 out of 10 suggests that the company's growth trajectory is good relative to its competitors. Revenue is the lifeblood of any company, and Cementos Argos S.A.'s revenue per share, combined with the 3-year revenue growth rate, indicates a strong revenue model. Cementos Argos S.A.'s revenue has increased by approximately 7.00% per year on average, a rate that outperforms approximately 57.1% of global competitors. The company's 3-year EPS growth rate showcases its capability to grow its earnings, a critical component for sustaining dividends in the long run. During the past three years, Cementos Argos S.A.'s earnings increased by approximately 4.70% per year on average, a rate that outperforms approximately 49.49% of global competitors. Next Steps Considering Cementos Argos S.A.'s dividend payments, dividend growth rate, payout ratio, profitability, and growth metrics, it appears that the company has a mixed dividend performance. While its dividend payments have been consistent, the negative growth rate and high payout ratio raise concerns about the sustainability of future dividends. However, the company's good profitability and growth metrics offer some reassurance. Investors interested in high-dividend yield stocks should continue to monitor Cementos Argos S.A.'s performance closely. GuruFocus Premium users can screen for high-dividend yield stocks using the High Dividend Yield Screener. This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. There was a time when Jonathan Nate Hood couldnt really imagine fitting in. He was bullied at school, mocked for having autism spectrum disorder and teased for being so reliant on his mom. Back then, Nate didnt even really want to leave the house. But right now, Nate is in his element. Its Monday morning, the start of a new workweek. And Nate, 22, is doing something he loves his job. Standing in front of a computer that has a long list of tasks and potential customers in front of him, Nates job is to sell soap and candles. The scent of lavender and peppermint wafts into his office from the room next door where other adults with developmental disabilities are diligently working to pour wax and wrap fragrant bars of soap. Nate explains to me how he moves the product using a long list of leads that he emails and cold calls. If someone responds, theyre on the hook. If they express strong interest, Nate codes them in red, meaning theyre hot. Then Nate makes the big push, noting that the products are all natural, fragrant and produced by people like him. Nate, my man, I say, you sound like youre a really good salesman. Yes I am, he replies, beaming with a confidence that used to elude him. Quest Inc., an Orlando nonprofit that has been serving kids and adults with developmental disabilities for more than 60 years, has long known that many of the people it serves are eager to work but cant find businesses eager to hire them. So Quest decided to create one. Blossom Artisanal operates out of unmarked office in an industrial complex off LB McLeod Road in southwest Orlando. When I enter mid-morning, the workers greet me with friendly smiles but remain focused on their tasks. Frances works on candles. Peppermint is her favorite. Tammy carefully inserts the wicks. Jose is wrapping soap. And youve never seen a more joyous soap-wrapper. On this October morning, hes wearing a Christmas sweater, since the crew is ramping up production of its holiday scents candy cane, cranberry clove and pine tree. Story continues The group is supervised by Crystal Julsaint, who has worked for Quest for more than a decade in various positions, including as an activities coordinator. I love her with my heart, Jose says of his boss. Julsaint smiles but says she considers herself more of an assistant to the good-natured employees than a supervisor. I work for them, she says. They dont work for me. In fact, over the course of an hour, Julsaint offers few instructions. Her employees are quick learners. They know that candle wax should be melted at 180 degrees and soap at 150. They get their jobs done. Benito Aragon, Quests vice president of marketing and communications, says the workforce is completely capable. Everybody who works here is ready, willing and able to work, he said. They just need some support. And they needed the opportunity. Disney had provided that opportunity for many of them through the years by partnering with the charity to give participants the chance to be paid for doing things like sorting coat hangers and drinking cups. Some still do that work. But when Quest realized how much its clients enjoyed turning fresh herbs into candles and soap and how good they were at it the nonprofits leaders realized they had a chance to create something special of their own. So Quest started its own business where everyone earns real wages and creates a desirable product. Blossoms motto says it all: Cultivating opportunities, crafting quality products, celebrating abilities. Right now, Blossom is mostly a mail-order affair with sales in to independent shops and customers in 12 states. But Quest is hoping to turn its Orlando production facility into a storefront and one day be profitable enough to fund the charitys overall efforts. Blossom is looking for customers maybe even a grocery chain that specializes in natural products and would appreciate their soy candles, goat-milk soap and bath teas. Their goods also strike me as a good fit for a boutique hotel chain that wants to offer guests something special. Thats where Nate comes in. With a flurry of phone calls and emails, he touts the quality of his companys product and reminds potential customers: All the products here are made by people with disabilities. Nates pitch is effective. (Take it from someone who paused halfway through writing this column to put in an order for Christmas gifts.) His mother, Mendy, says the job has given him confidence he never had before. Thats because Nate says he now has a purpose a place where he knows his skills are embraced. To put it in five simple words, he says: This is my happy place. You can find out more about Blossom Artisanal at blossomartisanal.com. smaxwell@orlandosentinel.com Chick-fil-A has reportedly agreed to pay customers $4.4 million in rebates or gift cards to settle a class action suit filed against the chain for misleading delivery fees. The Atlanta-headquartered company faced a suit filed earlier this month in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia alleging the company had been "deceptive and untruthful" in promising free or low-priced deliveries of orders via the Chick-fil-A app and website. The six plaintiffs in the suit, two from Virginia and one each from Arkansas, Maryland, South Carolina and Texas, said the food chain added a "secret menu upcharge" for menu items being delivered that made the company's "promise of free or low-cost delivery patently false," according to the complaint. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the restaurant chain charged a $4.99 delivery fee, the suit alleges. But as the lockdown measures were issued early in the COVID shutdown, Chick-fil-A "claimed to reduce its delivery fee to FREE, $2.99 or $3.99," to boost business, the suit charges. At the same time, the company "secretly raised its menu prices on delivery orders only in order to cover the costs of delivery and profit without once disclosing the manipulation to customers," according to the suit. As a result, food prices on deliveries were 25% to 30% higher, the suit charges. An example in the suit: a 30-piece order of chicken nuggets would cost $5 to $6 more when ordered for delivery than when picked up or ordered at a restaurant. Chick-fil-A will reportedly pay $4.4 million to settle a class action lawsuit charging the chain had misleading delivery fees amid COVID-19 pandemic. Thanksgiving dinner: Popeyes Cajun-style turkey available to preorder for holiday meals Chick-fil-A did not admit guilt in the case but will create a $1.45 million cash fund and $2.95 million gift card fund for consumers, the website Top Class Actions reported. Chick-fil-A and attorneys for the plaintiffs did not return USA TODAY's requests for comment. How to know if you will get paid as part of the Chick-fil-A lawsuit An unspecified number of customers are expected to get either $29.25 in cash or a $29.25 gift card from Chick-fil-A as part of the settlement, the Top Class Actions site reported. If the settlement fund is not large enough to fund all claims, proportionate payments will be made, the site states. Story continues Keep an eye on your inbox because those eligible for a reward will be notified by email. Chick-fil-A agreed to give the settlement administrator the email addresses needed to inform class members. If you divide the total of $4.4 million by the proposed $29.25 settlement amount, there's a potential 150,427 affected customers. As part of the settlement, Chick-fil-A will also put disclosures on its app and website stating that prices on menu items may be higher for delivery orders. Plaintiffs allege that by omitting, concealing, and misrepresenting material facts about (Chick-fil-A's) delivery service, (the company) deceives consumers into making online food purchases they otherwise would not make, the Chick-fil-A settlement states. Chick-fil-A Class Action Suit | PDF | Legal Remedy | Misrepresentation Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mikegsnider. What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chick-fil-A class action lawsuit $4.4M settlement reportedly reached FILE PHOTO: An Evergrande sign is seen near residential buildings at an Evergrande residential complex in Beijing (Reuters) -China Evergrande Group said on Friday it was revising the terms of a proposed offshore debt restructuring deal to meet the firm's situation and creditors' demand, without providing details. Evergrande, which is at the centre of China's property sector debt crisis, said late last month that its billionaire founder was being investigated over unspecified crimes. It has also said it was unable to issue new debt - a crucial step in a restructuring - due to an ongoing investigation of its main unit. Bondholders of the embattled property developer said last week they were surprised by announcements that its restructuring plan failed to meet regulatory requirements, and raised concerns about a possible liquidation. In the filing on Friday, the developer said the scheme sanction hearings for Hong Kong CEG-class debt holders and the TJ scheme have been vacated, while the hearing of the company's application to the U.S. bankruptcy court scheduled to be held on Oct. 25 will be adjourned. (Reporting by Upasana Singh in Bengaluru and Clare Jim in Hong Kong; Editing by Varun H K) Clearview Library District is willing to part with land the town of Windsor wants for a new grocery store, for a price: $3.01 million and 10% of the sales tax the store and other retailers on the site would generate for 10 years. The asking price is $1.25 million more than the town offered last month and twice what King Soopers' parent company offered in August for about six acres. The town offered to buy the land for $1.75 millionon and turn around to sell it to King Soopers to create a larger site for a supermarket in the Greenspire neighborhood on Windsor's east side. Town officials say Windsor is losing sales tax revenue from east side residents who go out of town for their groceries. A conceptual plan shows where a potential King Soopers could be built in Windsor if the Clearview Library District sells the parcel. The contract, included in the library district's meeting packet for Oct. 26, lists the price and conditions of the sale, prohibits the town from selling to any entity other than King Soopers and gives the library district the right of first refusal to buy back the land if construction on a new store does not begin with 18 months of purchase. Windsor Town Manager Shane Hale declined comment on the proposed sales contract until after Thursday's meeting. "We have had a chance to review the counteroffer but dont believe that it would be appropriate to comment at this time, as the library board hasnt officially voted on this yet," he said, "and the Windsor Town Board hasnt had a chance to collectively review and comment." Clearview trustees rejected the grocery chain's offer in August citing its facilities plan that prohibits it from selling to a private party. That's when the town stepped in to play matchmaker of sorts, offering to buy the property then sell it to Dillon Cos., the parent company of King Soopers. Following a closed-door meeting last week, the board instructed its attorney to draft a contract to sell the site at Colorado Highway 392 (Main Street in Windsor) and Hollister Lake Road but didn't disclose the asking price of contract terms. The board had been holding onto the site for a future regional library, but voters twice failed to approve funding. The district serves Windsor, Severance and west Greeley. Story continues Windsor also offered the district one of a handful of town-owned sites the library could buy with its proceeds if it still wanted land for a regional library or cultural center. Windsor has provided sales tax share-backs to businesses that generate sales tax revenue, including to Dutch Bros when it redeveloped an infill site on Main Street and to High Hops Brewery when it was annexed into town, said Stacy Brown, the town's economic development director. Dutch Bros was redeveloping a former car dealership and the site "was more expensive to develop than a greenfield site," Brown said. When High Hops was annexed, it needed to fix up the parking lot and other infrastructure, she said. That revenue sharing concludes this year. "The only time we've done it is with an entity that's earning the sales tax," she said. The nonprofit library district, supported by a voter-approved mill levy, does not collect sales tax revenue. Interested? The Clearview Library District Board of Trustees will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, at the Windsor Severance Library, 720 3rd St., Windsor. To join by Zoom, visit clearviewlibrary.org for the link. This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Library district ups the ante on land Windsor wants for King Soopers German businesses will be able to count on receiving benefits when investing in Uzbekistan, the German publication Deutsche Welle reports, Azernews reports, citing Kun.uz news agency. Germany included Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Georgia on a list of 34 selected countries with which the government will encourage economic cooperation through preferential investment guarantees. Anti-vaccine protesters at a Los Angeles rally (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) In the preface of the new book by vaccine expert and pro-science crusader Peter Hotez, there are several acknowledgments of a kind that may never have appeared before in a book like it. There, Hotez expresses gratitude to the Houston Police Department, the Texas Medical Center Police Department and the security force of the Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine. These are all places where Hotez plies his profession. He thanks all those departments "for keeping my family and me safe during this time of aggression." The health sector and the scientific sector don't quite know what to do because this is a politically driven attack, coming from extremist elements of the Republican Party. Pediatrician and vaccine scientist Peter Hotez These words tell a story all their own: how the anti-vaccine and anti-science movements have incorporated physical threats into their despicable arsenals. I wrote nearly two years ago that, unable to produce scientific support for their views, they had turned to stalking and intimidation to discourage critics. Things have only gotten worse since then, as Hotez reports in his new book, "The Deadly Rise of Anti-Science: A Scientist's Warning." A professor of pediatrics and molecular virology at Baylor and a courageously outspoken advocate for public health, Hotez documents how agitators on the extreme right have graduated from trying to sow mistrust in science to targeting individual scientists such as himself. The heart of his book is a call for government agencies and professional organizations to wage an aggressive battle against anti-vaccination and anti-science propaganda. What's needed, he says, is something akin to an interagency task force to address the problem, because the scientific community as it's currently organized can't do so on its own. "The health sector and the scientific sector don't quite know what to do because this is a politically driven attack, coming from extremist elements of the Republican Party," he told me. "What you see instead are responses that skirt around the edges. You'll see public health agencies step up their pro-vaccine messages, and sure, that's important, but it doesn't get to what's really driving this." Story continues Hotez identifies several reasons for scientific organizations' ineffective response to the spread of scientific misinformation and disinformation. "They don't have the skill set or the background to know how to deal with this," he says. Then there's their traditional commitment to political neutrality. "They say, 'We're a scientific or health organization, we have to be politically neutral.'" He cites the observation by Elie Wiesel that "neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim." Read more: Column: Does Ron DeSantis even believe his dangerous B.S. about COVID vaccines? On Oct. 13, Hotez received the inaugural Anthony Fauci Courage in Leadership Award from the Infectious Diseases Society of America for his long public campaign against anti-science propagandists. The battle came at a considerable personal cost. Online trolls have compared Hotez to Hitler and Stalin. He has been "doxxed" through the publication of his email address and office phone number, and showered with email threats calling for his torture or public execution. Many threats were larded with antisemitism. Hotez is not alone. "I get hate mail, I get physically harassed, I've gotten three legitimate death threats that have had to be investigated by the FBI," Paul Offit, a prominent vaccine scientist in Philadelphia, recounts in "Shot in the Arm," a new documentary by Scott Hamilton Kennedy about the damage done to public health by anti-vaccine propaganda. (The documentary will open at the Angelika Film Center in New York on Nov. 2 and the Laemmle Glendale in Southern California on Nov. 17.) The film includes a clip of Del Bigtree, a leading anti-vaxxer, addressing an audience with the words: "Do you think it's a good idea to let the government own your baby's body? Anyone that believes in the right to bear arms to stand up against your government, I don't know what you were saving that gun for then." Hotez's book and the film both trace the evolution of vaccine science, starting with the discovery by Edward Jenner in the 1790s that people exposed to cowpox via inoculation would be rendered immune from the much more dangerous smallpox ("vaccination" derives from the Latin for "cow," vacca), and the evolution of the anti-vaccine movement. "As both a pediatrician-scientist who develops vaccines and a parent of an adult daughter with autism," Hotez writes, "I have had a front-row seat on the modern anti-vaccine movement in America." Anti-vaccine activism had existed almost for as long as there were vaccines, but the movement got an enormous shot in the arm, so to speak, from a notorious article in the Lancet, a respected British medical journal, in 1998. The paper by a team headed by British physician Andrew Wakefield purported to identify a link between the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism. Read more: Column: Mocking anti-vaxxers' COVID deaths is ghoulish, yes but may be necessary The Lancet retracted the paper in 2010. After an investigation, British medical authorities effectively revoked his medical license. Countless subsequent scientific studies have established that there is no connection between the MMR vaccine and autism. Nevertheless, Wakefield's paper promoted an almost immediate plummet in MMR childhood vaccinations in Britain and its claim remains central to the anti-vax movement to this day a movement that continues to lionize Wakefield, who now lives in the U.S., as a truth-teller. The historical roots of the anti-science movement date back more than 100 years, Hotez writes, to when authoritarian regimes such as Stalin's recognized that discrediting scientific experts assisted their path to personal power. Its appeal to the modern Republican Party has much to do with economics challenging the scientific consensus on global warming, for example, allows the GOP to serve the anti-regulation interests of its Big Business patrons. The anti-vaccine movement was in many respects a natural fit. Its invocation of shibboleths such as "medical freedom" and "health freedom" coded justifications for opposition to vaccine mandates led to its getting "picked up by the Republican Tea Party in Texas," Hotez says. U.S. vaccination rates against COVID show a partisan slant, with counties that voted for Trump in 2020 falling well behind those that voted for Biden. COVID death rates show the same pattern, with red counties showing higher rates than blue. (ACAsignups.net) "It was mutually reinforcing," he told me. "The anti-vaccine groups were getting attention and PAC money that they never had before, and the far right got a new set of adherents and a new faux outrage to rally the base. It just became part of the canon." The anti-vaccine and anti-science movements exploit and amplify the lay public's ignorance about the scientific method and the technical aspects of how vaccines work. "Vaccines were compelling because vaccine-preventable diseases were compelling," Offit explains in the documentary. Smallpox, polio and measles were recognized nemeses when they ranged the world untreated. Smallpox alone took the lives of an estimated 500 million people over the centuries, but thanks to vaccination it was judged eradicated from the world by the late 1970s. The introduction of the polio vaccine in 1955 and the measles vaccine in 1963, accompanied by public mass vaccination campaigns, dropped the number of U.S. deaths from those diseases to zero by the early 1980s. Since then, those diseases have recurred only in discrete communities where vaccine resistance reigns, and among the unvaccinated. Yet "vaccines are a victim of their own success," Offit observes. "When vaccines work, nothing happens. I think that's what makes them a little less compelling. People don't really see what they're doing." When once-common photographs of children hobbling on crutches, confined in an iron lung, or consumed with the bright red measles rash, much less perishing from the diseases, disappear from news reports, people forget how devastating the diseases once were. "I understand how easy it was to appeal to the notion that vaccines are doing more harm than good" a common feature of anti-vaccine hysteria "because we weren't seeing the vaccine-preventable diseases and their harm," Offit says. Read more: Column: COVID boosted anti-vaccine propaganda. Now measles and other childhood diseases are on the march When the affiliated anti-vaccine and far-right movements turned their firepower on the COVID-19 vaccines introduced in 2021, the consequences were dire. Hotez estimates the unnecessary toll at 200,000 American lives lost because of vaccine refusal and anti-vaccine propaganda. The partisan character of this outcome is manifested in a distinct divide in COVID vaccination rates between blue and red counties, with the latter having notably lower vaccination rates and higher per-capital COVID death rates. The partisanship is curious, given that Donald Trump has boasted that the development of the COVID vaccines was spurred by his own Operation Warp Speed. But COVID vaccine resistance has also been spurred by his persistent efforts to minimize the severity of the pandemic. Despite his own efforts and those of other science advocates, Hotez sees only minor glimmers of hope that the trend toward science skepticism can be beaten back. Medical boards have fallen woefully short in enforcing their own regulations against physicians spreading misinformation and disinformation. In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom just signed a repeal of one of the very few state-level regulatory initiatives a law passed only a year ago that empowered the state medical board to treat COVID misinformation as an element of professional misconduct. The original law's critics argued that the board already had the power to discipline doctors for spreading misinformation about COVID and the law had been temporarily blocked by a federal judge on grounds that it infringed on doctors' free-speech rights. On the federal level, debate over science policy has been ceded to the Republican right wing, which has held hearings to try to humiliate scientists who have done unrefuted studies identifying the origin of COVID as a natural outbreak from wildlife to humans, debunking the factually unsupported partisan myth that it was produced in a Chinese government lab. "They're not even pretending at anything other than political theater," Hotez says. Even moderate Republicans shy away from questioning the GOP right's position. "I don't see mainstream Republicans coming to the defense of science," he says. "But we're not really hearing from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The Health and Human Services agencies are pretty quiet." He says he's had conversations with like-minded scientists "about how we get organized better to respond to this. But it's slow going." The real danger, as Hotez sees it, is that anti-science politics will become globalized. "It's not going to stay in the U.S. We export movies, we export music, we're going to export this stuff." In the past, he says, a sort of social auto-correction counteracted anti-vaccine activism. In the past, if vaccine resistance led to an outbreak of measles or pertussis, word would spread across the community, creating pressure on resistant parents to vaccinate their children. "I don't see that, even after 200,000 lives lost. These were victims of a predatory disinformation campaign," Hotez says. Instead, the vaccine opponents "are doubling down, just telling a bigger lie, blaming the vaccine and the scientists. I don't see that getting any better, at least until the 2024 election. And what happens after the election is anybody's guess." Get the latest from Michael Hiltzik Commentary on economics and more from a Pulitzer Prize winner. Sign me up. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. CREDICORP LTD. C/O BANCO DE CREDITO Lima, Oct. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lima, PERU, October 20th, 2023 Credicorp Ltd. announces to its shareholders and the market that its 3Q23 Earnings Release Report will be released on Thursday, November 2nd, 2023, after market close. Credicorps Webcast / Conference Call to discuss such results; will be held on Friday, November 3rd, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. ET (9:30 a.m. Lima, Peru time). The call will be hosted by Cesar Rios - Chief Financial Officer, Francesca Raffo Chief Innovation Officer, Reynaldo Llosa - Chief Risk Officer, Diego Cavero Head of Universal Banking, Cesar Rivera - Head of Insurance and Pensions, Carlos Sotelo - Mibanco CFO and Investor Relations Team. We encourage participants to pre-register for the listen-only webcast presentation using the following link: https://dpregister.com/DiamondPassRegistration/register?confirmationNumber=10183417&linkSecurityString=fab4222fc1 Callers who pre-register will be given a conference passcode and unique PIN to gain immediate access to the call and bypass the live operator. Participants may pre-register at any time, including up to and after the call start time. Those unable to pre-register may dial in by calling: 1 844 435 0321 Participant dial in (toll free) 1 412 317 5615 Participant international dial in Participant Web Phone: Click Here Conference ID: Credicorp Conference Call The webcast will be archived for one year on our investor relations website at: https://credicorp.gcs-web.com/events-and-presentations/upcoming-events Credicorp reminds you that we filed our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31st, 2022 (2022 Form 20-F) with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 30th, 2023. The 2022 Form 20-F includes audited consolidated financial statements of Credicorp and its subsidiaries as of December 31st, 2020, 2021, and 2022 under IFRS. Our 2022 Form 20-F can be downloaded from Credicorps website: https://credicorp.gcs-web.com/annual-materials . Holders of Credicorps securities and any other interested parties may request a hard copy of our 2022 Form 20-F, free of charge, by filling out the form located on the link mail request on Credicorps website. Story continues About Credicorp Credicorp Ltd. (NYSE: BAP) is the leading financial services holding company in Peru with presence in Chile, Colombia and Bolivia. Credicorp has a diversified business portfolio organized into four lines of business: Universal Banking, through Banco de Credito del Peru BCP and Banco de Credito de Bolivia; Microfinance, through Mibanco in Peru and Colombia; Insurance & Pension Funds, through Grupo Pacifico and Prima AFP; and Investment Banking & Wealth Management, through Credicorp Capital, Wealth Management at BCP and Atlantic Security Bank. For further information please contact the IR team: investorrelations@credicorpperu.com Investor Relations Credicorp Ltd. Attachment Mark Schiefelbein/Getty Images The ongoing decline in China's US bond holdings is not as big as it seems, according to Ned Davis Research. The firm observed that measuring China's total US bond holdings in the yuan shows just a 5% decline since 2013. "Although China's holdings of US debt are down, after some adjustments, it's a lot less than the headline implies," NDR said. China has been reducing its holdings in US Treasurys since 2013, but the decline may not be as big as it seems, according to a Thursday note from Ned Davis Research's global macro strategist Joseph Kalish. In November 2013, China held $1.3 trillion of long-term US Treasurys. In August, it held $793.5 billion, representing a 40% decline. Rising bond yields have accelerated the drop in bond prices, also helping reduce the value of China's overall Treasury holdings. But when measured in the yuan, China's shedding of Treasurys doesn't look as severe. That's because the yuan has depreciated by about 20% relative to the US dollar since November 2013. "The decline of their Treasury holdings in yuan has been close to 27%," Kalish estimated. While China could be sending a political message to the US by dumping Treasurys, it could also be looking for a better deal for its money in the credit markets. China has been reducing its holdings of long-term US Treasurys by an average of $1.8 billion per month, but at the same time Beijing has been adding an average of $4.6 billion per month of agency mortgage-backed securities, which are guaranteed by US government agencies. "Perhaps China wanted a higher yielding alternative to Treasurys with minimal added credit risk," Kalish said. There's another factor to consider: China also likely holds some of its US bonds in overseas custody accounts in Belgium and Luxembourg. "If we assume half of the holdings in Belgium and Luxembourg are really owned by China, that would add another $120 billion to China's holdings," he said. "The rationale for using these conduits is that when added to China's Treasury holdings, they closely track China's foreign exchange reserves." Story continues So, when you combine China's increased holdings in agency mortgage-backed securities, the dip in US Treasury holding, and Treasurys it likely holds outside the US, then China's stockpile of US bonds is down 21% from its 2013 peak. And when you convert those holdings into the yuan, its total decline is down just 5% since 2013. "Although China's holdings of US debt are down, after some adjustments, it's a lot less than the headline implies," Kalish said. Read the original article on Business Insider Welcome to my column about the development projects that are changing central Iowas landscape. As the Des Moines Registers growth and development reporter, I'm here to answer your questions. You can email me at ALathers@registermedia.com. While the sign is new, West Des Moines' eastern gateway has been known as the Val-Gate District by the city, developers and local businesses since 2012. Say its name: Val-Gate District A new sign went up recently, signaling to travelers entering West Des Moines on Grand Avenue that they are in the city's Val-Gate District, an area encompassing all businesses on either side of Grand between First and Fourth streets. But when did the area recently the site of a major reworking of Grand Avenue, and with new and revamped businesses in the works get that name? According to Linda Schemmel, a development coordinator, it was Val-Gate long before the retro-styled sign was erected. In 2006, one of her first jobs with the city involved initiating a study to look into redeveloping the area. The Val-Gate District sign was created to reflect the signage and architecture present in the area throughout the 1950s. Pictured in the Gateway Shopping Area on 1st Street and Grand Avenue. "When you have an older part of town, you have good businesses and some of those are struggling. There's infrastructure issues," Schemmel said. "We decided to initiate a redevelopment plan, and as part of it, we had to establish a district." And so Val-Gate was born. The City Council approved the Grand Avenue Redevelopment Plan in 2012, with the Val-Gate name identifying the area as the West Des Moines' eastern gateway while paying homage to businesses and streets nearby that bear the name "Val," short for Valley, as in nearby Valley Junction. Did someone say, venue tour? Hildreth Construction Services pic.twitter.com/SeqpPM8WHl Val Air Ballroom (@ValAirBallroom) June 29, 2023 The Val Air Ballroom, a local landmark undergoing a major renovation, is one of those establishments. There's also the Val Lanes bowling alley. A new Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh has opened, and just across the Des Moines side of the line if the brand new Either/Or restaurant and brewery. Story continues West Des Moines took its time making Val-Gate official. City staff waited until after the Grand Avenue reworking, which added lanes and access drives for businesses, to move forward with signage. Sam Summers, the new owner of the Val Air Ballroom, stands in front of the venue on Monday, Jan. 24, 2022, in West Des Moines. The work of Shive-Hattery, a design and engineering firm, the sign is inspired by iconic images and colors from the 1950s, when the area was the core of the now much-expanded West Des Moines. The city received bids to make and install the sign in August 2022. Schemmel hopes the name catches on. "(The name) is something that highlights what you can do in an area that was developed 70 years ago and still honors the original way it was," she said. "To us, it's a success story." Sherman Hill garage axes brewery plan, to remain offices A plan to redevelop a 103-year-old historic building in Des Moines' Sherman Hill neighborhood into a restaurant and brewery is getting axed in favor of an office concept. The 13,000-square-foot garage building was zoned as an owner-occupied commercial space when Dev Partners acquired it and the adjacent 42-unit Concord Apartments at 732 18th St. in 2021. The structure served as a two-story parking garage and leasing office at the time. Developers have shelved a plan for a brewery in a two-story garage and former leasing office at 740 18th St. as part of the renovation of the adjacent Concord Apartments. Jessie Kinz, a project development manager with Dev Partners, appeared before the citys Historic Preservation Commission in September to get permission to replace the buildings doors, windows, garage doors and repair masonry and tiles. Kinz confirmed the plan to shelve the brewery and return the building to its original office use. Already in Sherman Hill are Lua Brewing, established in late 2019, and Big Grove's Des Moines Tasting Room, which opened in July 2022. An exterior view of DEV Partners' previous plans to convert a two-story garage and leasing office at 740 18th St. into a restaurant and brewery in Des Moines' Sherman Hill neighborhood. Dev Partners could not be reached for further details. Vibrant Coffeehouse combines coffee and capital Vibrant Coffeehouse celebrated its grand opening in Des Moines East Village, 520 E. Grand Ave., on Oct. 14, though the cafe has been in a soft launch period since August. It's not just a restaurant with a high-spirited name it's an extension of the Moline-based Vibrant Credit Union. Vibrant Coffeehouse, 520 E. Grand Ave., is also home to a credit union. The new business has coffee and espresso, energy drinks, ice cream, sandwiches and virtual banking. Guests can use an interactive teller machine inside the cafe to make deposits, take out cash and speak with a teller remotely during regular banking hours. Vibrant Credit Union member save 20% on all food and drinks when they use their Vibrant debit or credit card. If the coffeehouse feels like a mating of a Smokey Row and a bank, thats because it is. When Vibrant looked to open its own string of cafe/credit unions in 2022, Monte Bennett, the founder of Smokey Row, was brought in to spearhead the operation. Des Moines is Vibrant's second location after Moline, Illinois, in the Quad Cities, and there are plans to open another coffeehouse in Bettendorf in December. According to the cafe's website, the credit union intends to operate 10 locations throughout the Midwest in the next three to five years. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Vibrant cafe combines coffee and capital; Val-Gate gets a sign KAMPALA, Uganda, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A transformative partnership set to reshape healthcare delivery has been established between DHL, XRP Healthcare and The Burnratty Investment Group to transport ground-breaking NASA-designed ventilators directly to the acquired medical facilities. Caption: From left to right: Joseph Odole-Akinyemi, Laban Roomes, Mukisa Joshua William, Kain Roomes, Steven Kateihwaho (PRNewsfoto/XRP Healthcare) DHL, which stands for Dalsey, Hillblom, and Lynn, was founded by Adrian Dalsey, Larry Hillblom, and Robert Lynn. The company was established in 1969. It initially began as a courier service to ship cargo documents between San Francisco, California, and Honolulu, Hawaii. Over the years, DHL has grown into one of the world's leading international shipping and logistics companies and is the leading courier company to deliver Specialized Healthcare Equipment and Services into Africa. XRP Healthcare Business Development Officer & Co-founder Laban Roomes said "We chose DHL to ship the first NASA-designed ventilator to Uganda for several key aspects:" "Extensive Network: DHL has an extensive network of service points, offices, and distribution centres across Africa. This network allows them to offer domestic and international shipping services, including express deliveries, freight forwarding, and supply chain solutions. Coverage: DHL serves both major urban areas and remote regions in Africa. They have a presence in countries like Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, and many others. Customs Expertise: DHL provides customs clearance and import/export services, helping businesses navigate the complex customs and import regulations in different African countries. E-commerce Solutions: With the growth of e-commerce in Africa, DHL has tailored its services to support online retailers and businesses. They offer shipping and last-mile delivery solutions to support e-commerce growth on the continent. Specialized Services: DHL offers specialized services for industries such as healthcare, automotive, energy, and more. They have solutions for time-critical shipments, temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals, and other specialized needs". Story continues DHL will play a pivotal role in ensuring the seamless movement of the NASA-designed ventilators from manufacturers Spiritus Medical Inc. directly to medical centres and hospitals acquired by XRP Healthcare and Ugandan-based partners The Burnratty Investment Group to consolidate the highly fragmented private healthcare Industry in Africa - where both companies aim to create a premier healthcare system that resides under one roof, with access to improved environments, systems, doctors, and medical provisions of which the NASA-designed ventilator will play a pivotal part. Developed by brilliant minds at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, the SPIRITUS VITALITY ventilator of which it is so aptly called, represents a monumental leap in healthcare progress. By flawlessly incorporating the NASA-designed ventilator into XRP Healthcare's medical facilities, healthcare experts in Africa will acquire unparalleled capabilities to tackle the most intricate respiratory issues with unparalleled precision and effectiveness. Beyond its revolutionary capabilities, the NASA-Designed VITALITY ventilator's streamlined design allows efficient mass production, ensuring affordability and accessibility to a broader population. Its adaptability extends its reach to field hospitals, enabling crucial respiratory care in high-capacity settings like convention centres and hotels. Its remarkable capabilities have been rigorously tested at prestigious institutions, including the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, earning accolades and acclaim. Accessibility and Adaptability XRP Healthcare & The Burnratty Investment Group's strategic decision to incorporate the Nasa-Designed VITALITY ventilator into their newly acquired medical facilities marks an unparalleled leap forward in healthcare solutions. This visionary integration reflects our unwavering dedication to delivering exceptional healthcare, amplifying the promise of accessible, advanced patient care. The DHL Country Manager for Uganda, Joseph Odole-Akinyemi, and DHL Country Commercial Manager, Steven Kateihwaho, expressed the following: "DHL Uganda's import capabilities reach across the globe and are marked by an exceptional relationship with the local authorities. We hold the prestigious AEO (Authorized Economic Operator) certification, which allows us to guarantee same-day delivery for any imported item. DHL takes great pride in facilitating a historic achievement by assisting XRP Healthcare and The Burnratty Investment Group in bringing the first NASA-designed ventilator to Uganda. We are delighted to offer our support on behalf of DHL, ensuring the safe and secure door-to-door delivery of these life-saving devices." Founder of XRP Healthcare Kain Roomes remarked: "It is with immense pride and gratitude that we announce the successful delivery of the NASA-Designed ventilator to Uganda, thanks to the unwavering support of our esteemed partners, DHL. This moment is a testament to our collective commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure and saving lives in Uganda. XRP Healthcare was founded on the principle of leveraging innovation and global collaboration to make a significant impact on healthcare, and today, we see that principle in action. This ventilator, a product of NASA's cutting-edge technology, represents a beacon of hope for patients and healthcare professionals in Uganda. It arrives at a time when such advanced medical equipment is needed more than ever. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to DHL for their instrumental role in making this delivery possible. Their efficiency and dedication in ensuring the safe arrival of this vital equipment is commendable. This ventilator is not just a machine; it's a symbol of progress and humanity's collective efforts to provide quality healthcare for all. We are committed to working closely with healthcare institutions in Uganda to ensure the effective deployment of this ventilator and its optimal utilization in saving lives. Our vision at XRP Healthcare has always been to bridge gaps in healthcare access, and this milestone underscores our dedication to that mission. We look forward to further collaborations and innovations that will continue to elevate healthcare standards in Uganda and beyond. We extend our deepest thanks to all who have contributed to this achievement, and we eagerly anticipate the positive impact this ventilator will have on the health and well-being of the people of Uganda." Mukisa Joshua William the Principal and Founding Executive Director at The Burnratty Investment Group remarked "We are thrilled to announce the arrival of the NASA-designed ventilator in Uganda, a crucial addition to our healthcare resources. This achievement marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to enhance medical care in our country and the African continent as a whole. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated partners, DHL, for their exceptional support in making this delivery possible. This ventilator, developed by NASA, represents cutting-edge technology and a testament to the power of international collaboration. It will play a vital role in our healthcare system, especially in times of medical emergencies. Its arrival is a beacon of hope for patients and healthcare professionals alike, as we strive to improve patient care and save lives. We are committed to deploying this ventilator in the most effective manner, ensuring that it serves those in need across our healthcare facilities. Together with DHL, we look forward to continued efforts to strengthen healthcare infrastructure in Uganda and provide quality care to our citizens. This moment reinforces our belief in the importance of partnerships, innovation, and global solidarity. We are dedicated to harnessing these strengths to build a healthier, more resilient Uganda. Our sincere thanks go to everyone involved in this endeavour, and we eagerly anticipate the positive impact this ventilator will have on the health and well-being of our people." XRP Healthcare & The Burnratty Investment Group's partnership smoothly integrates solutions with DHL's intricate global network, facilitating the transportation of NASA-designed ventilators to medical frontlines in Uganda. Beyond achieving this significant milestone, the collaboration underscores a mutual dedication to improving healthcare infrastructure and patient well-being, transcending geographical boundaries and enduring through generations. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2252631/XRP_Healthcare.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1983109/4352472/XRP_Healthcare_Logo.jpg Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dhl-delivers-the-1st-nasa-designed-ventilator-to-uganda-for-xrp-healthcare--the-burnratty-investment-group-301962677.html SOURCE XRP Healthcare EASTON Easton will be holding a special Town Meeting Monday, Oct. 23 to take the first of two crucial votes to decide the fate of a proposed $150 million public safety complex that officials say "will improve the health, safety and capabilities of our personnel to keep Easton safe and strong." "After two years of planning and evaluation, and more than 40 public and community meetings, we await the decision by Easton's voters on funding for the Public Safety/Public Works Facilities Replacement Project," Police Chief Keith Boone, Fire Chief Justin Alexander and Director of Public Works David Field said in a joint written statement Wednesday. The project comes with a hefty price tag that the town would fund through a Proposition 2 1/2 debt exclusion that would add hundreds of dollars a year to the average homeowner's property tax bill for the 30-year life of the financing of the project. This rendering shows Easton's proposed $150 million public safety complex at 524 Depot St. In order to move forward, the project needs approval at a special Town Meeting on Monday, Oct. 23, as well as a debt exclusion ballot vote on Saturday, Nov. 4. When is the special town meeting? Residents can attend the special town meeting on Monday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. in the Oliver Ames High School auditorium. 'It's all here and more' Easton colonial on Josie's Way sells for over $1.1 million How will seniors on fixed incomes afford the tax hike? At the special Town Meeting, residents will not only decide to approve or deny appropriating the funds for the facilities replacement project, but also an article to approve a senior citizen tax relief package to offset project costs for qualified fixed-income seniors. The town meeting will focus only on the building project and senior tax package. 'We are all incredibly beautiful' Two nurse practitioners, best friends launch new med spa in Easton How much will the project cost? The proposed project budget is approximately $150 million and would be funded mostly through debt excluded municipal bonds. Which departments would be housed in the new public safety complex? The project involves constructing a new combined DPW facility, police and fire headquarters, and fire substation, consolidating multiple outdated buildings, officials said. Story continues What is wrong with the existing buildings? "The existing Public Works, Police, and Fire (Lothrop Street) facilities are 50 to 70 years old, are too small to meet the needs of our departments and personnel, and do not meet modern accessibility, safety, and environmental codes. Furthermore, the essential systems and infrastructure at these facilities are past their useful life and are failing, requiring significant annual funding for repairs and maintenance," officials said in the joint statement. This photo shows current conditions inside the existing Easton Department of Public Works facility in the run up to a special Town Meeting vote on Monday, Oct. 23, 2023, on funding for a $150 million combined police, fire and DPW facility. How much will my taxes go up in Easton? If the debt exclusion is approved, the property taxes on an average single family home, valued at $524,800, will increase by about $700 per year for the life of the 30-year debt. For the average condominium, valued at $290,500, the annual increase would be about $400. This photo shows a recent sewage overflow that occurred at the existing public safety facility on Lothrop Street in Easton. Residents will decide the fate of a proposed $150 million combined police, fire and DPW complex at a special Town Meeting on Monday, Oct. 23, 2023. The debt exclusion for the project would also need approval at the ballot box on Saturday, Nov. 4 in order to move forward. What is a Debt Exclusion? In 1980, Massachusetts residents on a ballot vote passed a state law called Proposition 2 , which places strict limits on how much cities and towns can increase property taxes each year. If they want to go beyond those limits, they have two options and both require approval by voters at the ballot box. The first option is an override, which permanently increases property taxes to boost a town's general revenue for ongoing operations. The second is a debt exclusion which is what's being proposed to fund the Easton public safety complex. A debt exclusion increases property taxes to help pay for a particular project and the increase goes away once the debt to finance that project is paid off in this case 30 years. 1 Easton worker made more than $300K Here are the town's top 10 highest paid workers. When is the debt exclusion election? If residents approve the funding for the public safety project at the special Town Meeting on Monday, Oct. 23, the next step is to head to the ballot box. On Saturday, Nov. 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Oliver Ames High School, the town will hold a ballot vote election, where residents will vote up or down on the debt exclusion for the project. If either vote fails, the project will not proceed. Can I vote by mail? No-excuse vote by mail is available for the election. Vote by mail applications must be received no later than Oct. 30. All voter information, including registration status, can be found at easton.ma.us/vote. This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Easton Town Meeting to vote on DPW, police, fire debt exclusion Although workplace disputes, such as suits for wrongful dismissal, often reach the courts, they rarely go to trial. For reasons of legal cost, risk aversion and the often mutual desire to avoid bad publicity, parties typically settle. So it was in the case involving city Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin and two of her employees, Ashley Evans and Tiffany Harper. As the Tribune first reported last fall, Evans and Harper accused their boss of misusing taxpayer money and taxpayer-funded staffers, which is a serious charge when you are treasurer of a city with a budget of some $16 billion. According to a letter from their attorney, obtained by the paper, Evans and Harper alleged that Conyears-Ervin used government workers to perform such tasks as planning her daughters birthday party, providing personal security duties and also personal grocery shopping, while also pressuring staffers to hold events in support of her political friends. The letter further alleged that the treasurer tried to force BMO Harris a bank holding city deposits to issue a mortgage tied to the building that houses the aldermanic office for Conyears-Ervins husband, Ald. Jason Ervin, 28th. Evans and Harper said they were fired when they blew the whistle. Conyears-Ervin denied any misuse of taxpayer money. The whole business settled with a $100,000 payment to the ex-employees of the city of Chicago. But after all of this came to light, investigators with the Chicago inspector generals office reportedly seized computers and documents from Conyears-Ervins office as part of a possible misconduct investigation, which surely seems merited by these charges. Fast forward and Conyears-Ervin is running for Congress, challenging longtime U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, who is in his 14th term representing the 7th District, and candidate Kina Collins. When the letters and the charges against Conyears-Ervin have been brought up by reporters, the treasurer typically has, in essence, tried to close down questions by saying that the case is settled and therefore in the past and that she now has hired an experienced team and revamped her office. Story continues She told WLS-Ch. 7 that the charges were absurd. And she told Politico that the hard-working families of this district have more important issues to address. None of this is adequate or even logical. Revamping the office implies a need to do so, which implies there was a problem in the first place, which runs counter to Conyears-Ervins denials. If nothing was wrong, why were changes needed? If something was wrong, why not say so in such a way that the voters in the Democratic primary have the full information? Dont expect to hear from Evans or Harper, however much they might like to talk. The Tribune reported that the terms of the settlement agreement actually prohibits them from publicly discussing their negative experiences in the city treasurers office, a highly unusual set of terms in city governance that certainly puts the word gag next to order. Wed have liked to see Evans and Harper freed from that obligation even if their old boss was not running for Congress. But, in fact, she is running for Congress and, since the people making the allegations apparently cant talk freely, that puts all the more obligation on this candidate to explain herself fully to the voters. She thinks theyll just be impressed with her biography, rising from humble roots on Chicagos South Side. For sure. But honesty and openness about her time in a different public office matter, too. Join the discussion on Twitter @chitribopinions and on Facebook. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. Airbnb and Vrbro rental owners in El Paso have taken a sigh of relief because city officials decided not to regulate or tax short-term rental properties at least for now. However, at least one City Council member, South-West City Rep. Chris Canales, thinks some regulations, including a limit on short-term rentals in neighborhoods and taxation, are needed. He plans to bring proposals forward in the near future, he said. The rentals, which the city defines as a dwelling rented for less than 30 consecutive days, are largely used by visitors, but El Paso residents also rent them for various reasons. Many of the Airbnb and Vrbo listings, numbering about 1,900 in El Paso, are rented by people tied to soldiers at Fort Bliss, an industry expert said. Heidy Seoenz, president of the newly formed El Paso Short Term Rental Alliance, stands in one of the short-term rental unit she owns in the Union Plaza Apartments on Oct. 12 at 504 W. San Antonio Ave. in Downtown El Paso. Heidy Seoenz, an owner of short-term rental properties and president of the newly formed El Paso Short Term Rental Alliance, said it's a "good surprise" that City Council chose not to regulate the industry and instead gave it the opportunity to work with city officials through the so-called pilot program focused on collecting and analyzing complaints filed against short-term properties. New York regs drop thousands off Airbnb "I know that multiple cities didn't get this opportunity" and litigation has resulted in Austin, Dallas, and other places, Seoenz said. In New York City, thousands of short-term rental listings were dropped off the Airbnb platform in early September after new, strict regulations were put in place, the online news publication Wired reported. A New York Supreme Court judge dismissed an Airbnb lawsuit against the rules, allowing them to go into effect. Airbnb officials, in a June press release, said the new regulations "effectively ban short-term rentals in New York City and are a stark contrast to cities around the world that have enacted fair and balanced short-term rental rules." El Paso short-term rental operators made it clear early this year at more than a dozen public meetings that they wanted no regulations. Little support for regulating the industry in El Paso was found at the meetings. And 75% of 960 responses in a city survey were against regulating the rentals. Story continues A city survey in early 2023 found little support for regulating El Paso properties rented on the Airbnb and Vrbo platforms. From the 960 responses, 75% were against regulations, 17% wanted regulations, 7% wanted short-term rentals banned, and 1% had no preference. 311 hotline to collect rental complaints El Paso's yearlong pilot program will collect complaints, concerns and issues from El Pasoans about short-term rental properties filed through the city's 311 citizens' hotline, website and phone app. City officials have not said if they plan to publicize the program. The 311 website highlights 13 issues to report from weeds to traffic signals. But it has nothing about reporting problems or issues with short-term rentals. Some past complaints were about big parties in short-term rentals. Both Airbnb and Vrbo now have no-party policies. And Seoenz said if an Airbnb or Vrbo operator in El Paso has parties, the rental alliance will help get them delisted from the rental platforms. After a year of collecting data through 311, city officials will bring the matter back to City Council with city staff recommendations. Heidy Seoenz, president of the newly formed El Paso Short Term Rental Alliance, stands Oct. 12 outside her Union Plaza Apartments building, which has several short-term apartment rentals, at 504 W. San Antonio Ave., in Downtown El Paso. "Some would look at it (pilot program) and say, well you're really not doing anything," Interim City Manager Cary Westin said at the Aug. 29 City Council meeting when the pilot program was approved. "Well, I think we are. We're opening the door now to be more inclusive with the community" and look at issues from both the business and community sides, he said. The pilot program is "tapping the brakes on this before we bring back firm recommendations" to the City Council next year, Westin said. Most City Council members didn't seem anxious to impose regulations. Short-term rental density limit sought City Rep. Canales said he supports the 311 pilot program as a way to handle complaints. But he sees bigger issues that he believes need attention. The biggest problem, Canales said, is "housing preservation" in neighborhoods where short-term rentals are heavily clustered. Several of those are in his district, he said. El Paso South-West City Rep. Chris Canales "Multiple of the neighborhood associations in my district have taken formal or informal positions in favor of regulating the further proliferation of STRs (short-term rentals) within their boundaries to preserve" homes for permanent residents, Canales said in an email. Neighborhoods with clusters of short-term rentals include Kern, Mission Hills, Sunset Heights, Rio Grande, Five Points, and Downtown, he said. More: Dallas' Parking Systems-tied firm buys Downtown buildings as retail developer exits What Canales wants the most is a density limit a required minimum distance between short-term rental properties "to ensure that they are not heavily clustered within any particular area," he said. Such limitations have been done in other cities, including San Antonio and Las Vegas, he said. However, he'd favor exempting short-term rentals already in operation from any density requirement under a grandfather clause, he said. El Paso real estate agent Fernie Sanchez at one of his short-term rental properties in West El Paso, dubbed the "Miami Style Pool House" on Airbnb, in December 2021. Canales also thinks short-term rentals should pay the city's 9% hotel occupancy tax. They already pay the state's 6% hotel tax collected by Airbnb and Vrbo. Seoenz said short-term rental owners pay city property taxes. And city officials shouldn't tell rental operators where they can or cannot locate but instead let the market dictate if a short-term rental succeeds or not, she said. Airbnb operator foresee little growth Much of the short-term rental business in El Paso, home to the large Fort Bliss Army post, is tied to Army personnel who need a short-term rental while waiting for a more permanent residence or for their visiting relatives, Seoenz said. Heidy Seoenz, president of the newly formed El Paso Short Term Rental Alliance, inside one of her short-term rental units she owns in the Union Plaza Apartments on Oct. 12 at 504 W. San Antonio Ave., in Downtown El Paso. The El Paso area has just over 1,900 Airbnb and Vrbo listings, a number that has stayed fairly consistent over the past year after exploding from 540 listings in 2019, according to online data from AirDNA, a Denver company tracking short-term rental data globally. Seoenz put the number at about 1,600 because the AirDNA data duplicates some listings, she said. It's a number she doesn't foresee growing much because most of the El Paso market is made up of mom-and-pop operators with one or two properties, she said. Vic Kolenc may be reached at 546-6421; vkolenc@elpasotimes.com; @vickolenc on Twitter, now known as X. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: ElPaso Airbnb rental operators dodge regulation bullet for now - eSurfing Cloud Global Tour Asia Pacific Event in Singapore HONG KONG, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- China Telecom (Asia Pacific) is thrilled to announce the resounding success of the event titled "Embrace the Future of Cloud and Network Towards Digitalisation" at the Pan Pacific Singapore. The event witnessed the participation of more than 200 business professionals, with attendees joining us both in person and virtually, marking the commencement of eSurfing Cloud's global promotional journey. This Singapore conference marked the inception of eSurfing Cloud's global promotional expedition, building on the success of its inaugural conference in Hong Kong on June 16, 2023. (PRNewsfoto/China Telecom Global) China Telecom Global Executive Vice President, Mr Li Kang, and President of Chinese Enterprise Association (Singapore), Mr Tan Zhi Yong, were honoured as guest speakers during the event's opening session. Mr Li Kang extended his appreciation to the Chinese Enterprise Association (Singapore), valued clients, and industry partners for their trust and continuous support over the years. Mr Li emphasised, "eSurfing Cloud has officially expanded into the Asia-Pacific region, marking a significant step by China Telecom in its deep commitment to the Asia-Pacific region and its efforts to drive digital transformation in the Asia-Pacific." Invited guest, President of Chinese Enterprise Association (Singapore), Mr Tan Zhi Yong mentioned, "China Telecom Asia Pacific has firmly established its presence in Singapore, and it has made significant contributions to Singapore's digital economic development, social progress, and improvements in people's lives. This fully showcases the positive role played by Chinese enterprises based in Singapore. We hope that everyone will work together to advance Singapore's technological innovation to new heights, continually enhancing Singapore's development capabilities". Story continues During the knowledge-sharing sessions, Managing Director of China Telecom Asia Pacific, Mr. Eason Cheng, Vice President and Deputy General Manager of Cloud Core Platform of China Telecom Global, also shared on eSurfing Cloud's development history and core advantages. He outlined the overseas resource deployment and product system of eSurfing Cloud. He placed special emphasis on China Telecom's unique advantages in infrastructure and security, and its commitment to providing excellent services to help businesses achieve digital transformation. Mr. Li Qing, Managing Director of China Telecom (Asia Pacific), shed light on eSurfing Cloud's strategy in the Asia Pacific. He also presented solutions for various industry businesses to transition to the cloud, based on industry research data. Through case studies, he emphasised eSurfing Cloud's unique advantages in assisting Chinese enterprises in their global expansion efforts and foreign enterprises in entering the Chinese market. A formal MOU signing ceremony was conducted, bringing together China Telecom Global and Feishu, China Telecom Asia Pacific and China Life Insurance (Singapore), China Aviation Oil (Singapore), and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Singapore). Distinguished guests also delivered insightful presentations on the event about win-win partnership and digital transformation. The conference also included the eSurfing Cloud Asia-Pacific Launch Ceremony, which was attended by Mr. Li Kang, Executive Vice President of China Telecom Global, Mr. Li Qing, Managing Director of China Telecom (Asia Pacific), Mr. Tan Zhi Yong, President of China Enterprises Association (Singapore), CEO of MCC Singapore, Mr. He Bin, Vice President of Feishu, Mr. Howard Chen, Managing Director of Yonyou (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Mr. Lin Yi, CEO of China Aviation Oil (Singapore) Corporation Ltd, Mr. Lin Xiang Yang, Chief Executive of China Life Insurance (Singapore) Pte. Ltd, and Mr. Yang Yu, Managing Director of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited Singapore Branch. Amid the countdown, they collectively witnessed the new journey of the eSurfing Cloud Global Tour's Asia Pacific stop. Embracing the future of cloud and network towards digitalisation, let's eagerly anticipate eSurfing Cloud setting sail in Singapore and venturing into the global arena! Furthermore, the conference set up different exhibition areas on-site, utilizing various formats such as videos and interactive cloud showrooms to showcase China Telecom Global's global resources and IDC business, eSurfing Cloud's overseas cloud-network infrastructure layout, and industry case studies. Expert presentations and Q&A sessions were arranged to facilitate face-to-face interactions and discussions with participants, exploring the future of cloud computing, seeking opportunities for cooperation and win-win partnerships, and expanding globally. China Telecom actively practices the concept of integrated cloud and network, and strives to build technological cloud, intelligent cloud, and secure cloud solutions. With a steadfast commitment to technological innovation, China Telecom Global's eSurfing Cloud has undergone a comprehensive upgrade to eSurfing Cloud 4.0, a distributed cloud platform. Adhering to the four-in-one security concept of cloud foundation security, network security, data security, and information security, eSurfing Cloud effectively meets the security requirements of international customers. By providing output and integration capabilities of "one cloud, multiple cores" and "one cloud, multiple forms," along with comprehensive fusion management, eSurfing Cloud is fully dedicated to promoting enterprise information construction and injecting new momentum into the global digital transformation of businesses. Embrace the Future of Cloud and Network Towards Digitalisation. China Telecom Global will continue to uphold its vision of empowering the digital transformation of various industries. It will leverage the advantages of integrated cloud and network, deepen global cooperation, and jointly create a global cloud ecosystem. Together with global enterprises, China Telecom eSurfing Cloud will embrace the digital wave and embark on a transformative path of rapid development. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/embrace-the-future-of-cloud-and-network-towards-digitalisation-301963260.html SOURCE China Telecom Global Key Insights The projected fair value for Carrier Global is US$55.78 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity Carrier Global's US$49.00 share price indicates it is trading at similar levels as its fair value estimate Our fair value estimate is 5.2% lower than Carrier Global's analyst price target of US$58.85 Does the October share price for Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE:CARR) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex. Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model. See our latest analysis for Carrier Global Step By Step Through The Calculation We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars: Story continues 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$2.39b US$2.62b US$2.87b US$2.98b US$3.06b US$3.14b US$3.22b US$3.30b US$3.38b US$3.45b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x10 Analyst x6 Analyst x3 Analyst x2 Est @ 2.89% Est @ 2.67% Est @ 2.51% Est @ 2.40% Est @ 2.33% Est @ 2.27% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 8.1% US$2.2k US$2.2k US$2.3k US$2.2k US$2.1k US$2.0k US$1.9k US$1.8k US$1.7k US$1.6k ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$20b The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.2%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 8.1%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = US$3.5b (1 + 2.2%) (8.1% 2.2%) = US$59b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$59b ( 1 + 8.1%)10= US$27b The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is US$47b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of US$49.0, the company appears about fair value at a 12% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind. dcf Important Assumptions Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Carrier Global 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 8.1%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.198. 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 Carrier Global Strength Debt is well covered by earnings and cashflows. Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows. Weakness Earnings declined over the past year. Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Building market. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow for the next 3 years. Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value. Threat Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the American market. Moving On: Although the valuation of a company is important, it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. 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 Carrier Global, there are three fundamental factors you should consider: Risks: To that end, you should be aware of the 3 warning signs we've spotted with Carrier Global . Future Earnings: How does CARR'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 NYSE every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Mobily, a leading telecommunications provider, has been awarded Best Middle East Carrier at this year's Global Carrier Awards (GCAs) that took place alongside the Capacity Europe 2023 on October 18, in London. Mobily's achievement reflects its ongoing commitment to providing innovative digital solutions in wholesale services on local, regional, and international levels, said a statement. The award also highlights the effectiveness of the company's strategies, which focus on building numerous partnerships, it added. These collaborations aim to adapt Mobilys services and business model to meet the ever-changing needs of its customers and partners, driving forward the digital transformation in the kingdom. The GCAs are a significant recognition in the wholesale telecoms industry. The ceremony sees top global entities in communications and tech services compete for honours across various categories. It is worth noting that Mobily recently launched the Digital Hub initiative, which aims to strengthen the kingdoms position as a premier regional centre. This initiative encompasses a comprehensive system: submarine cables bridging the world from east to west, terrestrial networks, data centres, landing stations, and an Internet exchange the globally neutral JED1 IX. This system not only boosts business agility but also ensures data security and delivers a dependable communication experience, all in support of the digital infrastructure in the kingdom. TradeArabia News Service The Farendy Farms storefront at 1098 E. Portage Ave. in Sault Ste. Marie. It opened on Oct. 18. SAULT STE. MARIE Homemade doughnuts and other fresh foods will be available at the new storefront for Farendy Farms at 1098 E. Portage Ave. in Sault Ste. Marie. Around 10 years ago, Faren and Wendy Smith moved to Sugar Island and founded a farm together. Farendy Farms takes its name from the husband and wife team. Since 2019, the farm has had a presence at farmers markets and other community events. Now with their new storefront location, they plan to sell all kinds of products grown and made on Farendy Farms, including chicken, bread, pies and some frozen options. The main focus of the store, however, is the homemade doughnuts. The farm features several kinds of doughnuts at any one time but will also rotate through flavors seasonally. Subscribe: Get unlimited access to our content It has been a childhood dream of the owners to have their own bakery, and this new opportunity allows them to live out that dream while expanding their business. "My husband has always wanted to own a bakery, we started with baked goods at the farmers market," said Wendy Smith. "We're expanding and we're going to expand more into different products as we get going. Right now this is kind of flying by the seat of our pants." The new store is located is at 1098 E. Portage Ave., in a building that has been out of use for more than 10 years. Recently, the couple noticed the building was available and decided to fix it up and make it a vibrant part of the community once again. "We drive by this place numerous times when we were come to the Soo, and we always look at old buildings and think how sad it is that they're just sitting there not being used," said Wendy Smith. "So this is a chance to reinvent the old building as well." After only 10 days of planning and renovation, the location was up and running for its grand opening on Wednesday, Oct. 18, where they sold out of all baked goods within two hours of opening. Story continues Wendy said the store has also received lots of support from local residents on social media and in person. "The city has been very accepting of us and people are very enthusiastic not just that we opened a new business but that the old building is being used," she said. Contact Brendan Wiesner: BWiesner@Sooeveningnews.com This article originally appeared on The Sault News: Farendy Farms' Sault Ste. Marie storefront opens Generally, when a single insider buys stock, it is usually not a big deal. However, when several insiders are buying, like in the case of Taylor Wimpey plc (LON:TW.), it sends a favourable message to the company's shareholders. While we would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether. Check out our latest analysis for Taylor Wimpey Taylor Wimpey Insider Transactions Over The Last Year Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by Chairman Robert Noel for UK252k worth of shares, at about UK1.17 per share. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at above the current price of UK1.05. It's very possible they regret the purchase, but it's more likely they are bullish about the company. To us, it's very important to consider the price insiders pay for shares. It is generally more encouraging if they paid above the current price, as it suggests they saw value, even at higher levels. Taylor Wimpey insiders may have bought shares in the last year, but they didn't sell any. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below! Taylor Wimpey is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Does Taylor Wimpey Boast High Insider Ownership? Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. From looking at our data, insiders own UK2.2m worth of Taylor Wimpey stock, about 0.06% of the company. I generally like to see higher levels of ownership. Story continues So What Do The Taylor Wimpey Insider Transactions Indicate? It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded Taylor Wimpey shares in the last quarter. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. While we have no worries about the insider transactions, we'd be more comfortable if they owned more Taylor Wimpey stock. So these insider transactions can help us build a thesis about the stock, but it's also worthwhile knowing the risks facing this company. To help with this, we've discovered 2 warning signs (1 is concerning!) that you ought to be aware of before buying any shares in Taylor Wimpey. If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. The newest Burlington store will have its grand opening in late October at 1327 George Dieter Drive, at Las Palmas Shopping Center. The first 100 customers, ages 18 and up, on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 27-28 will receive a $10 Bonus Card to be used toward their purchases. On Sunday, Oct. 29, customers will receive a free Burlington umbrella, while supplies last, with no purchase necessary. There has been a steady growth in El Paso for the retailer that offers brand-name merchandise at a discount. A Northeast Burlington Store opened in March 2022 at 9484 Dyer St. and a Burlington opened in late 2018 on the far East Side at 2036 Zaragoza Road. This will be the 102nd discount retailer in the state for the chain. A new Burlington store is opening Oct. 27 at Las Palmas Shopping Center. Our goal is to continue to offer communities low prices on brand name merchandise for the entire family and home, said CEO of Burlington Stores Michael OSullivan in a news release. Were continuing to expand our footprint across the country and are excited to be opening a new store in El Paso. We look forward to giving local customers the chance to discover big savings on a wide range of products. Store hours will be 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday, and 8 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday. Ulta Beauty stores open on East Side The Ulta Beauty store at Eastlake Marketplace,13371-4 Eastlake Dr., is now open. It is one of two new beauty stores on the East Side. Two new Ulta Beauty stores are now open on the East Side. One of the Ulta stores is in the former Big 5 Sporting Goods store at Las Palmas Marketplace. The other Ulta store has opened at 13371-4 Eastlake Drive at Eastlake Marketplace. It is part of the River Oaks Properties. First Honest Lash coming to El Paso An El Paso brother and sister duo are planning to open the first Honest Lash, a Texas-based eyelash concept, in El Paso. They plan on adding two additional locations shortly after. The duo are Jonathan Ambriz, who has a decade of experience in cybersecurity consulting and leadership, and Holly Johnson, a professor of biology who is now venturing into business. The business will provide high-quality lashes for a low price point. Story continues Representatives for the duo said they are still looking for the right property to sign a lease and set an opening date. New Walgreens and Firestone coming near Horizon City On the opposite side of the Eastlake Marketplace, construction continues on new businesses. A Firestone has opened at 12312 Eastlake Blvd. and next door, a Walgreens store is under construction. A new Firestone has opened at 12312 Eastlake Blvd. More: Sonic Drive-In to offer $1.29 chili cheese coneys Thursday, Oct. 19 Maria Cortes Gonzalez may be reached at 915-546-6150, mcortes@elpasotimes.com and @EPTMaria on Twitter. Please submit any new El Paso businesses you would like to share with the community. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Burlington, Ulta beauty, and Honest Lash opening in El Paso A former Florida lawmaker who penned the state's controversial "Don't Say Gay" law has been sentenced to prison for wire fraud, money laundering and making false statements in connection with obtaining $150,000 in COVID-19 relief loans. Joseph Harding, 36, of Ocala, Florida, will serve four months in federal prison, according to a statement on Thursday from the U.S. attorney's office in the Northern District of Florida. After his release, Harding will have two years of supervised release. An attorney for Harding, John Lauro, told CBS MoneyWatch that the $150,000 in loans were repaid to the government prior to the litigation. "Joe cooperated completely and did everything he could to make things right," Lauro said. "These events were, needless to say unfortunate, but Joe is focused on rebuilding his life and his career, and moving forward." Harding defrauded the Small Business Administration to obtain COVID relief funds including an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), which he submitted in the name of a business he owned that wasn't active, the U.S. attorney's office said. After receiving the money, he used the funds to pay off his credit card and transferred money to his joint bank account, as well as to the account of a third-party business. "Instead of using thousands of dollars in federal funds to help keep struggling businesses afloat and honest workers employed, he selfishly diverted it for his own personal gain," said Sherri E. Onks, special agent in charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division, in the statement. The Small Business Administration earlier this year estimated that fraudsters may have received more than $200 billion in federal COVID aid intended for small businesses. Because the agency sought to quickly distribute $1.2 trillion in funds through the EIDL and Paycheck Protection programs, it weakened or removed certain requirements designed to ensure only eligible businesses received funds, the SBA Office of Inspector General found. Story continues Harding drew national attention for penning the 2022 "Parental Rights in Education" bill, known by critics as the "Don't Say Gay" bill, which restricts teachers and school districts from discussing gender identity and topics surrounding sexuality in elementary school classrooms. Asked about the bill in a 2022 interview, Harding defended it by saying the law was "empowering parents" and denied accusations that it was discriminatory. He also condemned protesters, some of whom he said were children, for "cussing at lawmakers" over the bill. "That should wake us up as parents that that type of behavior ... is deemed acceptable for minors to use cuss words," he said. Harding resigned from his lawmaker role in December, a day after he was indicted on charges for COVID loan fraud, according to USA Today. Harding "egregiously betrayed the public trust by stealing from COVID relief funds meant to help the very people who elected him," said special agent in charge Brian J. Payne of the IRS Criminal Investigation, Tampa Field Office, in z statement. Following the expanded United Auto Workers (UAW) strikes, Ford Motor Co. and Stellantis announced Thursday that they are laying off additional workers from two plants as a "direct result" of the ongoing strikes. "This layoff is a consequence of the strike, because Sterling Axle Plant must reduce its production of parts that would normally be shipped to Kentucky Truck Plant," a Ford Motor Co. spokesperson told Fox News Digital. The Ford said that the 150 layoffs at the Sterling Axle plant in Michigan brought the total number of dismissals to 418 workers at the Michigan plant. There have been a total of 2,730 layoffs from Ford Motors since the beginning of the UAW strike. An assembly line at the Ford Motor Co. Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville. The additional workers being laid off comes just three days after the automaker announced that they were laying off 550 workers from six plants. Weeks before, on Oct. 11, the labor union ordered 8,700 Ford employees to walk off their jobs unannounced, shutting down Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville. The company has blamed the layoffs for the continued UAW strikes, such as the walkout in Louisville, that "directly impacted operations." FORD CHAIRMAN CALLS FOR DEAL TO END UAW STRIKE, WARNS ENTIRE US AUTO INDUSTRY AT STAKE READ ON THE FOX BUSINESS APP "Our production system is highly interconnected, which means the UAWs targeted strike strategy has knock-on effects for facilities that are not directly targeted for a work stoppage," a Ford spokesperson said. "In this case, the strike at Kentucky Truck Plant has directly impacted some operations at Sterling Axle Plant." Similarly, Stellantis announced that they were laying off an additional 100 workers due to the UAW's recent strike at the Toledo Assembly Complex in Ohio. "The UAWs decision to take strike action at the Toledo Assembly Complex (TAC), has now resulted in further temporary layoffs," the automaker announced in a press release. Story continues The TAC provides parts for the Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Wrangler 4xe, and Jeep Gladiator, Stellantis said. The layoffs will go into effect Monday, bringing the total number of plant employees impacted to 170, the automaker said. A United Auto Workers union member holds a sign outside the Stellantis Sterling Heights Assembly Plant in Sterling Heights, Michigan. The strike, which began Sept. 15, has resulted in thousands of layoffs at Detroit's Big Three automakers Ford, General Motors and Stellantis as it continues without an agreed upon resolution. UAW STRIKE AGAINST DETROIT AUTOMAKERS HAS ENTERED NEW PHASE, UNION BOSS SAYS Total strike-related layoffs have now reached around 6,000 at GM, which has been the hardest hit by the strike. Ford has laid off a total of 2,730 workers since the strike began, and Stellantis has laid off 1,520 workers. Workers picket outside a Ford Assembly plant in Chicago. Another 16,600 Ford employees are on strike at three assembly plants, including Kentucky Truck, the company's largest plant worldwide. UAW President Shawn Fain says the strike will continue until agreements are made. Stellantis and the UAW did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Reuters contributed to this report. Original article source: Ford Motor Co., Stellantis lays off workers, says dismissals are 'direct result' of UAW strikes Investors who take an interest in Big Technologies PLC (LON:BIG) should definitely note that the Founder, Sara Murray, recently paid UK1.95 per share to buy UK195k worth of the stock. Although the purchase is not a big one, by either a percentage standpoint or absolute value, it can be seen as a good sign. Check out our latest analysis for Big Technologies The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Big Technologies Notably, that recent purchase by Sara Murray is the biggest insider purchase of Big Technologies shares that we've seen in the last year. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at around the current price of UK2.00. Of course they may have changed their mind. But this suggests they are optimistic. While we always like to see insider buying, it's less meaningful if the purchases were made at much lower prices, as the opportunity they saw may have passed. In this case we're pleased to report that the insider bought shares at close to current prices. The only individual insider to buy over the last year was Sara Murray. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below! Big Technologies is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Insider Ownership Of Big Technologies For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Big Technologies insiders own about UK154m worth of shares (which is 25% of the company). I like to see this level of insider ownership, because it increases the chances that management are thinking about the best interests of shareholders. So What Does This Data Suggest About Big Technologies Insiders? The recent insider purchase is heartening. And the longer term insider transactions also give us confidence. Along with the high insider ownership, this analysis suggests that insiders are quite bullish about Big Technologies. One for the watchlist, at least! In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing Big Technologies. In terms of investment risks, we've identified 1 warning sign with Big Technologies and understanding it should be part of your investment process. Story continues Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. BERLIN TOWNSHIP Furniture is all Albert Barkman has known for most of his life, and opening his own retail furniture business in Berlin is a dream come true. Barkman is a furniture manufacturer with a shop in Becks Mills. And on Wednesday, Oct. 18, Luxe Home Furnishing celebrated its official grand opening in the former Sommers General Store at 4780 E. Main St. in Berlin, at the southwest side of the intersection of state Route 39 and U.S. Route 62. "I always had a dream to do retail furniture," he said. "We have a wholesale manufacturing that we've been doing for quite a few years. This also work great for our dealers across the country. Now I can bring them in and use this as a showroom, to show them our product before they decide what to put on the floor for their customers." A wide variety of premium high-quality furniture is available at Luxe Home Furnishing in Berlin. A 30 year company history Barkman Products began in 1992 making wooden toys and household accessories, and added cabinet doors and contract furniture. In 2008 Barkman expanded into a spacious, modern facility, where he produced premium high-quality hardwood furniture for the home, office and bedroom. "I want to thank my family for supporting me in this venture, and the great support of my employees," Barkman said. "I'd also like the thank all the vendors and suppliers that had anything to do with opening up this retail store. "It came together pretty quickly," he continued. "We started the process in June and we were open Aug. 4, a few weeks later." He said he was excited for the opportunity to establish his retail store in Berlin at a location with which he was familiar. He remembers when the property was a Gulf gas station before it was Sommers General Store. Luxe Home Furnishing is a new furniture retail store located in the former Sommers General Store in Berlin. Hardwood Furniture Guild director talks about impact Kendrick Mullet, director of the Hardwood Furniture Guild in Holmes County, talked about the impact of the furniture business in the community. "Albert's sister company, Barkman Furniture is part of our organization, which has over 200 businesses that are involved in the hardwood furniture industry that work together to market and promote local furniture," Mullet said. "We market and promote to retailers across the nation to come in and find and connect with these small, mostly Amish-run furniture businesses." Story continues Dennis Heinecke and his family from Cincinnati look over some furniture at the grand opening sale at Luxe Home Furnishing in Berlin. Mullet explained that the furniture seen for sale at Luxe Home Furnishing is the final product from Barkman's shop. "What you don't see is the behind-the-scenes, the community of small, often family-run businesses," he said. "Albert buys his panels and glue-ups from a local supplier, and they would buy their product from a local sawmill. He also gets his knobs and door tracks and things like that from a local hardware. Once the furniture is built, it goes to a local finishing shop, and the beautiful product winds up here." He added this is an example of how the community works together to create these wonderful products. "As a resident here in town, I'm also excited to see a new business like this going in along Main Street," Mullet said. "The tourism industry has such a huge impact, and it benefits all the merchants here in town, and it cascades down to everybody in the community." The grand opening celebration at Luxe Home Furnishing in Berlin drew a big crowd Wednesday afternoon. Chamber of Commerce welcomes new business to town Holmes County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tiffany Gerber welcomed Luxe Home Furnishing into the community. "This is an exciting day for us to see a vibrant business come and add to the experience of downtown Berlin and the furniture family we have here," Gerber said. "To bring this manufacturing business all home to retail and design is a great addition to the community. "Retail in this area is such an important part of our tourism product, our quality of life and also just the economic health of the community," the director continued. "On behalf of the chamber of commerce, we congratulate Albert and his staff, and wish them all the best." This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Luxe Home Furnishings, retail arm of Barkman Products, opens in Berlin Garlock Printing and Converting, a family company that has been operating in Gardner for over 36 years, is rebranding to Garlock Flexible. Executives at Garlock Flexible decided to rebrand to better fit with the company's evolving market focus and dynamic employee culture and shift towards a new strategy to produce flexible film packing solutions. Human Resources Director Kari Coreas said CEO Greg Powell wanted to keep the Garlock family name in the rebranding to continue the legacy of Pete Garlock. "We are refreshing the brand, and by changing the name, we are better representing the growing values of our company," she said. Garlock Printing has been operating in Gardner since 1987. After 36 years, the company's executives decided to rebrand the name to Garlock Flexible, so it can align with the company's shifting values. What Garlock Flexible does Founded in 1987 by Pete Garlock, the company specializes in flexographic printing of packaging tissue paper. Flexographic printing is a modern version of letterpress with a highspeed rotary, and it can print on any material; the Garlock company prints on tissue paper for packaging. The family manufacturing company has had a continuous partnership with Seaman Paper, another legacy company in the Gardner economy. Garlock Flexible has served well-known branded companies, including The Gap, JC Penney, Hallmark and American Greetings. Garlock has over 120 skilled workers, and Coreas said several of those employees have had careers of up to 30 years with the company. She said attracting top talent is a value they have adopted as part of the rebranding; they want to become a company where people want to work. Coreas said the staff and executives hope that Garlock Flexible continues to grow and bring more jobs and business to the Gardner area. "We really hope to be Gardner residents' employer of choice, be the place that people want to come and work for in the local community," she said. This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Gardner-based printing company rebrands to Garlock Flexible Value-focused investors are always on the hunt for stocks that are priced below their intrinsic value. One such stock that merits attention is General Motors Co (NYSE:GM). The stock, which is currently priced at 29.97, recorded a gain of 2.18% in a day and a 3-month decrease of 23.35%. The stock's fair valuation is $53.62, as indicated by its GF Value. Understanding GF Value The GF Value represents the current intrinsic value of a stock derived from our exclusive method. The GF Value Line on our summary page gives an overview of the fair value that the stock should be traded at. It is calculated based on three factors: historical multiples (PE Ratio, PS Ratio, PB Ratio and Price-to-Free-Cash-Flow) that the stock has traded at, GuruFocus adjustment factor based on the company's past returns and growth, and future estimates of the business performance. We believe the GF Value Line is the fair value that the stock should be traded at. The stock price will most likely fluctuate around the GF Value Line. If the stock price is significantly above the GF Value Line, it is overvalued and its future return is likely to be poor. On the other hand, if it is significantly below the GF Value Line, its future return will likely be higher. Is General Motors Co (GM) Too Good to Be True? A Comprehensive Analysis of a Potential Value Trap Identifying Potential Risks However, investors need to consider a more in-depth analysis before making an investment decision. Despite its seemingly attractive valuation, certain risk factors associated with General Motors Co should not be ignored. These risks are primarily reflected through its low Altman Z-score of 1.23. These indicators suggest that General Motors Co, despite its apparent undervaluation, might be a potential value trap. This complexity underlines the importance of thorough due diligence in investment decision-making. Understanding Altman Z-Score Before delving into the details, let's understand what the Altman Z-score entails. Invented by New York University Professor Edward I. Altman in 1968, the Z-Score is a financial model that predicts the probability of a company entering bankruptcy within a two-year time frame. The Altman Z-Score combines five different financial ratios, each weighted to create a final score. A score below 1.8 suggests a high likelihood of financial distress, while a score above 3 indicates a low risk. Story continues General Motors Co's Profile General Motors Co. emerged from the bankruptcy of General Motors Corp. (old GM) in July 2009. GM has eight brands and operates under four segments: GM North America, GM International, Cruise, and GM Financial. The United States now has four brands instead of eight under old GM. The company regained its U.S. market share leader crown in 2022, after losing it to Toyota due to the chip shortage in 2021, with share up 170 basis points to 16.4%, a full percentage point ahead of Toyota. GM's Cruise autonomous vehicle arm is providing driverless geofenced AV robotaxi services in San Francisco and other cities and has an exclusive deal with Dubai to do the same. GM owns over 80% of Cruise. GM Financial became the company's captive finance arm in October 2010 via the purchase of AmeriCredit. Is General Motors Co (GM) Too Good to Be True? A Comprehensive Analysis of a Potential Value Trap Unpacking General Motors Co's Low Altman Z-Score A dissection of General Motors Co's Altman Z-score reveals General Motors Co's financial health may be weak, suggesting possible financial distress. The EBIT to Total Assets ratio serves as a crucial barometer of a company's operational effectiveness, correlating earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) to total assets. An analysis of General Motors Co's EBIT to Total Assets ratio from historical data (2021: 0.07; 2022: 0.04; 2023: 0.05) indicates a recent dip following an initial rise. This reduction suggests that General Motors Co might not be utilizing its assets to their full potential to generate operational profits, which could be negatively affecting the company's overall Z-score. When it comes to operational efficiency, a vital indicator for General Motors Co is its asset turnover. The data: 2021: 0.59; 2022: 0.54; 2023: 0.64 from the past three years suggests a recent decline following an initial increase in this ratio. The asset turnover ratio reflects how effectively a company is using its assets to generate sales. Therefore, a drop in this ratio can signify reduced operational efficiency, potentially due to underutilization of assets or decreased market demand for the company's products or services. This shift in General Motors Co's asset turnover underlines the need for the company to reassess its operational strategies to optimize asset usage and boost sales. Conclusion Despite the seemingly attractive valuation of General Motors Co's stock, the company's low Altman Z-score and other financial indicators suggest it could be a potential value trap. Investors should exercise caution and conduct thorough due diligence before making an investment decision. GuruFocus Premium members can find stocks with high Altman Z-Score using the following Screener: Walter Schloss Screen . This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. BANGKOK, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Siam Piwat Group, a leading real estate and retail developer, has partnered with seven world-class retail giants to offer exclusive cross-border privileges to over 4 million shoppers across Asia, reaffirming the global partners' confidence in Siam Paragan and Thailand as among top tourist destinations in the world. Siam Piwat, which operates global destinations including Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Siam Discovery, ICONSIAM and Siam Premium Outlets Bangkok, has initiated global partnerships and collaborations to create a robust ecosystem for mutual success. World-class partners joining Siam Piwat's 'Global Privilege Partnerships' program include PARCO in Japan; TAIPEI 101 in Taiwan; Hong Kong Times Square; ION Orchard in Singapore; Pavilion Kuala Lumper, Plaza Indonesia; and FOSUN in mainland China. The company is also in talks with Hyundai Department Store. Driven by their confidence in the potential of Siam Paragon, which numbers of visitors and customer spending areranked among the country's highest, Alipay, Klook and Trip.com are partnering with the group to offer extraordinary shopping and lifestyle experiences to Chinese tourists and international visitors. Ms. Saruntorn Asaves, FEVP Division Head of Shopping Center Business, Siam Piwat Co., Ltd., stated, "Siam Piwat emphasizes the 'Collaborate to Win,' strategy by joining hands with our partners and leading business operators across Thailand and worldwide to create a robust ecosystem of success that can enhance boundless business potential. We are the first to initiate these world-class partnerships to continually deliver extraordinary experiences and impress Thai and international visitors to our shopping centers. Properties under Siam Piwat management including Siam Paragon won the popular vote in the Tourist Attraction Mall category at the Marketeer No.1 Brand Thailand 2023, and Best Luxury Lifestyle Mall Award, underscoring its position as the most outstanding premium shopping center that are top-of-mind for Thai and international tourists alike and its leadership in Thailand's most affluent segment." Story continues Through these partnerships, Siam Piwat's VIZ members will now enjoy various exclusive privileges, including a membership upgrade to the top level to receive exclusive services, such as welcome gifts, a personal concierge, exclusive lounges, and limousine service. Global Privilege Partnership serves as another strategy for delivering a diverse range of exclusive experiences. Siam Piwat's VIZ members can show their membership status at any affiliated shopping malls, stores, and hotels to enjoy the exclusive privileges as top-tier customers of these establishments and vice versa. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/global-retail-giants-affirm-confidence-in-siam-paragon-and-thailands-mission-to-expand-its-global-ecosystem-301962906.html SOURCE Siam Piwat Group Dhahran is set to take centre stage in the design world from November 1-4 when King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) hosts the sixth edition of Tanween, an annual event that promotes creativity, design, innovation and cultural exchange. Thought leaders, cutting-edge brands, industry experts, students and professionals spanning architecture, graphic design, fashion, digital media and product design will take part in the event. Running in parallel with the wider AlSharqiya Gets Creative movement a community-based culture and creativity initiative of Ithra, Tanween is centred on the theme scale, where emerging and established designers from across the globe will showcase their work, engage in critical discussions and collaborate on innovative projects powered by a programme that includes a wide array of workshops, exhibitions, panels, performances interactive challenges and talks. Scale in design is a dynamic concept that spans macro to micro and encompasses ratios, sizes and relationships among various elements, explains Mizna Al Zamil, Head of Creativity and Innovation. During Tanween 2023 we wont simply be exploring scale quantitatively, well be delving into its qualitative impacts. From architecture to fashion, graphic design and more, our experts and participants will collectively and interactively examine the diverse methods and perspectives of applying the concept of scale in various design fields. Mega Challenge Motivated by humanitarian efforts to change lives of disenfranchised people, for the first time Tanween will challenge 75 innovators from across the globe to design sustainable and empowering solutions that improve the quality of life for refugees inside camps. The Mega Challenge targets three tracks in need of innovative solutions: education, food security, and power. Winning ideas will be submitted by Ithra to a list of qualified sponsors for evaluation and, pending approval, implementation in selected refugee camps in Mauritania, Zimbabwe, Jordan, Indonesia, Ethiopia and Bangladesh. Industry Thought Leaders to Provide Insight The conference will also feature thought-provoking panels and talks headlined by industry luminaries. On opening day Carlos Moreno, Scientific Director of the Lab Entrepreneurship Territory Innovation, Sorbonne University will speak on "The Revolution of Proximities while Creative Director Dan Goods who leads a team of creatives at a jet propulsion laboratory will discuss Seeing the Unseen. Architect Carmelo Zappulla, Founder and Managing Director of the Barcelona-based studio External Reference will join Lebanese Product Designer Nada Debs and Ramzi Najjar, Chief Creative Director, DDB in providing participants with an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at their creative processes and tricks of the trade in a new program called A Day With An Expert. Additionally, Isola, in collaboration with Ithra, will present Routes to Roots, a dynamic exhibition featuring live demonstrations and an exhibit with pieces created by 20 international designers that explore the power of scale in the realm of design celebrating those that preserve our heritage and the Earth. Since its inception in 2018, Tanween has welcomed some 170,000 visitors and connected more than 75,000 change-making creatives, innovators and global subject matter experts in an environment designed to nurture creative potential, share ideas. Tanween continues to bolster Ithras growing reputation as a center for creativity, innovation and cultural exchange in Saudi Arabia, the Arab world and across the globe, said Al Zamil. Ithra was built to transform todays possibilities into the realities of tomorrow by providing year-round purpose-driven programming that enriches, educates and inspires. Our flagship creativity conference Tanween continues that tradition by connecting risk-taking creatives, change-making innovators and global subject matter experts to expand ideas, create new opportunities and nurture creative potential. TradeArabia News Service Vancouver --News Direct-- Golden Shield Resources Golden Shield Resources Executive Chairman Leo Hathaway joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share initial results from the drill campaign at the company's flagship Marudi Mountain gold project in Guyana. The company received assays from 14 of the first 39 drillholes, totaling almost 2,000 meters. These drillholes targeted areas like IP-6 and Pancake Creek. The results have helped define a large package of prospective FQ to the southwest of historical drillholes. This expansion enlarges the current footprint of the Marudi North prospect to an approximate extent of 100 x 100 meters, confirming the continuity of the gold-bearing horizon to the southwest of its previously known extent. The company is in the process of consolidating downhole geochemical data to facilitate future diamond drill targeting. This data will be crucial for advancing the prospect to the diamond drilling stage. Golden Shield Resources has a structured plan to advance the highest-rated exploration targets to the diamond drilling stage. Contact Details Proactive Investors Canada +1 604-688-8158 na-editorial@proactiveinvestors.com View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/golden-shield-resources-reveals-initial-drilling-results-from-work-at-marudi-north-prospect-281920496 Baron Funds, an investment management firm, released its Baron Real Estate Income Fund third quarter 2023 investor letter, a copy of which can be downloaded here. In the first nine months of 2023, the Fund has increased 1.20%, outperforming the REIT Index, which declined 2.89%. As of September 30, 2023, the Fund has maintained its top 3% ranking among all real estate funds for its 5-year performance period. Spare some time to check the funds top 5 holdings to know more about their top bets for 2023. In its Q3 2023 investor letter, Baron Real Estate Income Fund mentioned Terreno Realty Corporation (NYSE:TRNO) and explained its insights for the company. Founded in 2009, Terreno Realty Corporation (NYSE:TRNO) is a San Francisco, California-based real estate investment trust company with a $4.3 billion market capitalization. Terreno Realty Corporation (NYSE:TRNO) delivered a -8.12% return since the beginning of the year, while its 12-month returns are down by -0.76%. The stock closed at $52.25 per share on October 19, 2023. Here is what Baron Real Estate Income Fund has to say about Terreno Realty Corporation (NYSE:TRNO) in its Q3 2023 investor letter: "Though we expect rent growth to moderate from its frenzied pace of the last few years, we remain optimistic about the long-term prospects for industrial REITs. With industrial vacancies at less than 4%, new supply expected to moderate in 2024, rents on in-place leases more than 50% below market, and multi-faceted demand drivers including the ongoing growth in e-commerce and companies seeking to improve inventory supply-chain resiliency by carrying more inventory (shift from just in time to just in case inventory), we believe our investments in industrial warehouse REITs like Terreno Realty Corporation have compelling multi-year cash-flow growth runways." A real estate CEO pointing to a hospital facility on a financial chart. Editorial photo for a financial news article. 8k. --ar 16:9 Story continues Our calculations show that Terreno Realty Corporation (NYSE:TRNO) failed to obtain a mark on our list of the 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. Terreno Realty Corporation (NYSE:TRNO) was in 15 hedge fund portfolios at the end of the second quarter of 2023, compared to 14 funds in the previous quarter. Terreno Realty Corporation (NYSE:TRNO) delivered a -12.63% return in the past 3 months. We also discussed Terreno Realty Corporation (NYSE:TRNO) in another article. You can find other investor letters from hedge funds and prominent investors on our hedge fund investor letters Q3 2023 page. Suggested Articles: Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Key Insights Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, GrainCorp fair value estimate is AU$8.99 GrainCorp's AU$7.06 share price signals that it might be 21% undervalued The AU$8.80 analyst price target for GNC is 2.1% less than our estimate of fair value Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of GrainCorp Limited (ASX:GNC) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple! Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model. View our latest analysis for GrainCorp The Method We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (A$, Millions) AU$265.3m AU$112.3m AU$110.0m AU$109.2m AU$109.4m AU$110.1m AU$111.3m AU$112.8m AU$114.6m AU$116.5m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Analyst x1 Est @ -0.70% Est @ 0.11% Est @ 0.68% Est @ 1.08% Est @ 1.36% Est @ 1.55% Est @ 1.69% Present Value (A$, Millions) Discounted @ 7.4% AU$247 AU$97.4 AU$88.9 AU$82.2 AU$76.6 AU$71.9 AU$67.7 AU$63.9 AU$60.4 AU$57.2 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = AU$913m Story continues The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.0%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 7.4%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = AU$116m (1 + 2.0%) (7.4% 2.0%) = AU$2.2b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= AU$2.2b ( 1 + 7.4%)10= AU$1.1b 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$2.0b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of AU$7.1, the company appears a touch undervalued at a 21% 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 Important Assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the 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 GrainCorp 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 7.4%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.071. 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 GrainCorp Strength Debt is well covered by earnings and cashflows. Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows. Weakness Earnings declined over the past year. Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Consumer Retailing market. Opportunity Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%. Threat Annual earnings are forecast to decline for the next 4 years. Moving On: Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" 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 GrainCorp, we've put together three fundamental factors you should consider: Risks: Take risks, for example - GrainCorp has 3 warning signs (and 1 which is a bit unpleasant) we think you should know about. Future Earnings: How does GNC's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Australian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. In late August, a U.S. court ruled in favor of Grayscale, challenging the SECs earlier refusal to allow the companys GBTC fund to be converted into a spot Bitcoin ETF. The SEC did not appeal its August loss. (Bloomberg) -- There is no relief in sight for a historic drought in Brazils Amazon that has been disrupting river transport, causing forest fires and killing wildlife, according to a prominent climate scientist. Most Read from Bloomberg No precipitation is expected for the immediate horizon in northern Brazil even though the rainy season normally starts in late September or early October, atmospheric physicist Paulo Artaxo said in an interview. Climate change has left weather models imprecise and outdated, and any projection for when the rainy season will start is a shot in the dark, he added. We should have already entered the rainy season, and this obviously isnt happening, Artaxo said. The climate has already changed. Most countries are not prepared to deal with the rise of extreme climate events. The water level at the Rio Negro river, the main tributary to the Amazon, is at the lowest since 1902, according to the Geologic Survey of Brazil. It will take up to two months of rain for Amazonian rivers to rise enough for navigation to normalize, Artaxo said. About 30 million Brazilians live in the Amazon and they rely on rivers to transport essentials including food, medicine and drinking water. The drought has forced some soy and corn shipments to be rerouted to other ports in Brazils south. A hydroelectric dam in the Amazon was temporarily shut this month. Forest fires are on the rise and river dolphins have been dying. Read More: Blackout Risk Pushes Brazil to Diesel as Amazon Drought Worsens Heat waves that swept Europe, the US and Asia earlier this year show that extreme weather events are getting more frequent and intense around the planet, and governments need to act fast to adjust to the new reality, he said. For the Amazon it could mean finding alternatives for transporting crops and other goods due to low water levels. Story continues --With assistance from Tarso Veloso. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. The new Cambria Hotel Austin Downtown is now open at 68 East Ave. The six-story hotel has 212 rooms, seven conference rooms and a fifth-story pool with a fireplace and cabanas. Austin visitors have a new place to stay; the Cambria Hotel Austin Downtown is now open. The upscale site at 68 East Ave. is a six-story property adjacent to the Rainey Street Historic District. The 223,975-square-foot property has 212 rooms, seven conference rooms, valet parking and a fifth-story pool with a fireplace and cabanas. It also has Graffiti, a restaurant and bar on the fifth floor. In addition, there is Limestone Rooftop, a bar on top of the property that features Mediterranean-influenced cuisine. Austin has attracted several new hotels in recent years, as the travel market recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is where some other local projects stand One project, South Congress Avenue: Frame Hotel - SoCo, will feature a collection of 22 modular suites, all with private patios. It is scheduled to open in late 2023. The site at 110 W. Elizabeth St. went through a number of proposed hotel iterations, originally led by the late Rob Lippincott, who, with wife Cathy, opened Guero's in 1986. The site behind Guero's is ideal for a small lodging property aimed at visitors who want to explore the area and are looking for a different kind of stay, developer Richard Lent said. "Frame Hotel is not for everyone, but rather for those who appreciate a more understated luxury," Lent told the Statesman. Plans are also in the works for a five-story hotel in East Austin on a half-acre at 1604, 1606, 1610 and 1612 E. Seventh St., near the Texas State Cemetery, according to site plans filed with the city. The properties of East Austin 7th Street Hotel, as the project is currently called, are owned by 1610 JFH LLC, documents show. Florida-based Floridays Development Co. is also listed on the documents. Neither returned calls from the American-Statesman seeking comment. Conrad Hotel is pulling back on its first Austin project and has put the planned site at East Second and Trinity streets up for sale. The plan had been to build a high-rise that would be the tallest building in Austin with both a hotel and condominiums. Story continues CBRE, the global commercial real estate services firm, is marketing the entire half a block, or portions of it, for sale. "All options are on the table and we recognize the value of being flexible in todays environment," Brad Stein, president of Intracorp Texas, told the Statesman in an email. Downtown Austin hotels currently under development include: Graduate Austin, an 18-story hotel at Guadalupe and West 18th streets, which is planned to open in 2025. It will offer meeting and event space, a ground floor cafe, lobby bar, rooftop restaurant and bar and a rooftop pool. A 17-story citizenM Austin Downtown that is rising in a former parking lot in the heart of downtown at Colorado and Seventh streets. The 344-room hotel is expected to open this fall. 1 Hotel Austin, which will be part of a mixed-use hotel, residential and retail project in the Rainey district along Waller Creek. The 251-room hotel is expected to open in 2026. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Cambria Hotel Austin Downtown opens on Rainey Street (Bloomberg) -- The leader of Canadas main opposition political party says the government should block HSBC Holdings Plcs sale of its local operations to Royal Bank of Canada. Most Read from Bloomberg Royal Bank struck an agreement last year to buy HSBC Canada for C$13.5 billion ($9.9 billion), and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is expected to make a decision in the coming months, with the banks setting a goal of closing the deal in early 2024. Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre said she should reject it to protect competition in mortgage lending. We have far too much concentration. We have these monstrous, government-protected behemoths that dominate 90% of the mortgage market, meaning very little choice for consumers, Poilievre said in an interview on BNN Bloomberg Television. Competition does not happen when the biggest player simply swallows the seventh-biggest player and Canadians are left paying the price. Poilievre leads the largest opposition group in Canadas House of Commons and currently holds a large lead over Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus Liberal Party in public opinion polls, though no election is expected until 2025. Shares of RBC were down 1.1% at 12:36 p.m. in Toronto, broadly in line with the S&P/TSX Commercial Banks Index. For Royal Bank, picking up HSBCs 128 Canadian branches and C$120 billion in assets including wealth management, personal and commercial banking would be its largest acquisition ever. It represents a rare opportunity for Canadas largest bank to gain significant additional share of the domestic lending market. Canadas antitrust watchdog, the Competition Bureau, offered its overall blessing to the deal in September, stating in a report to the finance minister that it wont result in a substantial lessening or prevention of competition. Story continues Consumer advocates say the merger has the potential to lead to higher mortgage rates, a key pocketbook issue as many homeowners have struggled to cover growing monthly payments. More than 1,500 Canadians contacted the bureau about the merger, with many highlighting how HSBC Canadas offers of low mortgage rates help consumers negotiate and have put pressure on larger banks to make more attractive offers. Environmental activists have also protested the deal, arguing that HSBCs policies on fossil fuel investments are more climate-friendly than those of Royal Bank. HSBC Canadas parent company has announced their decision to exit the Canadian marketplace, leading to uncertainty for HSBCs 700,000 Canadian clients, Royal Bank spokesperson Andrew McGrath said in an emailed statement. This proposed acquisition will also keep more well-paying financial sector jobs in Canada and will repatriate overseas roles that currently support HSBCs Canadian operations. A spokesperson for HSBC declined to comment. Read More: RBC Deal for HSBC Canada Gets Blessing From Competition Body --With assistance from Kevin Orland. (Updates with share price, no-comment from HSBC) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. CHICAGO The $650 million Facebook biometric privacy settlement is proving to be the class-action lawsuit that keeps on giving for Illinois social media users. A third and final payment of $7.20 was issued this week, the icing on the cake for more than 1 million Illinois Facebook users participating in the record settlement. Previously, a $30.61 payment was sent out in February, following an initial $397 check last year. Those who successfully process all three payments will have received about $435 each in the groundbreaking privacy settlement. The 8-year legal odyssey has been more than just a windfall for Illinois Facebook users. The case has led to challenges of privacy practices at companies nationwide. In April 2015, Chicago attorney Jay Edelson filed the lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court on behalf of plaintiff Carlo Licata, alleging the social media giants use of facial tagging features without consent was not allowed under Illinois privacy law. The case was moved to federal court in Chicago and then California federal court, where it attained class-action status. The settlement class included about 7 million Facebook users in Illinois for whom the social network created and stored a face template after June 7, 2011. More than 1 in 5 eligible Illinois Facebook users filed a claim by the November 2020 deadline. A California federal judge issued final approval of the $650 million settlement in February 2021, but the payout was delayed by more than a year during an unsuccessful appeal filed on behalf of two Illinois class members, who objected to the $97.5 million in attorneys fees, as well as $5,000 incentive awards to the named plaintiffs. In May 2022, the settlement fund distributed nearly $550 million the total after legal expenses to 1.38 million Illinois Facebook users who filed valid claims. The $397 payments were made by check and electronic transfer. But nearly 110,000 claimants never cashed the first check, leaving $43 million in undistributed proceeds. The second check for $30.61 and this weeks $7.20 payment ostensibly complete the distribution. Story continues There was still about $8.4 million left in the settlement fund after more than 275,000 claimants didnt process the second payment, according to court filings. The third payment is going to 1,002,582 settlement class members who cashed the second check. On its website, the Facebook settlement administrator said the third and final payment went out beginning Tuesday, and it will take about two weeks to finish mailing the checks and processing the electronic payments. Those expecting the third check who dont receive it are being asked to wait until early December before making an inquiry. Any money remaining in the settlement account after the third payment will be donated to the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, according to court filings. The Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act, passed in 2008, is considered the strictest in the U.S. and requires companies to get permission before using technologies such as facial recognition and fingerprint scans to identify customers or employees. In February, the Illinois Supreme Court opened the door to significantly higher damages in a case involving a Chicago White Castle manager when it ruled that biometric privacy claims accrue every time information is gathered without consent. Under the law, plaintiffs can be awarded $1,000 for negligent violations and $5,000 for intentional violations. Last month, a Chicago federal judge ruled Samsung must pay more than $4 million in filing fees to begin a mass arbitration case brought by 50,000 petitioners alleging their Galaxy devices violated the Illinois law by using facial recognition technology without consent. _____ Key Insights Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Packaging Corporation of America fair value estimate is US$276 Packaging Corporation of America is estimated to be 46% undervalued based on current share price of US$150 Analyst price target for PKG is US$146 which is 47% below our fair value estimate Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE:PKG) as an investment opportunity by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple! Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you. View our latest analysis for Packaging Corporation of America Crunching The Numbers We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate: Story continues 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$821.3m US$816.9m US$911.0m US$991.0m US$1.04b US$1.09b US$1.13b US$1.17b US$1.20b US$1.24b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x3 Analyst x3 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 5.42% Est @ 4.44% Est @ 3.75% Est @ 3.27% Est @ 2.93% Est @ 2.70% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 6.2% US$773 US$725 US$761 US$780 US$774 US$761 US$744 US$723 US$701 US$678 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$7.4b 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. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.2%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 6.2%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = US$1.2b (1 + 2.2%) (6.2% 2.2%) = US$31b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$31b ( 1 + 6.2%)10= US$17b The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is US$25b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of US$150, the company appears quite undervalued at a 46% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out. dcf Important Assumptions 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 Packaging Corporation of America 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 6.2%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.806. 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 Packaging Corporation of America Strength Debt is well covered by earnings and cashflows. Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows. Weakness Earnings declined over the past year. Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Packaging market. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow for the next 3 years. Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%. Threat Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the American market. 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. 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. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. Why is the intrinsic value higher than the current share price? For Packaging Corporation of America, we've compiled three additional items you should assess: Risks: For example, we've discovered 2 warning signs for Packaging Corporation of America that you should be aware of before investing here. Management:Have insiders been ramping up their shares to take advantage of the market's sentiment for PKG's future outlook? Check out our management and board analysis with insights on CEO compensation and governance factors. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every American stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Key Insights Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Johns Lyng Group fair value estimate is AU$10.28 Johns Lyng Group is estimated to be 40% undervalued based on current share price of AU$6.19 Our fair value estimate is 45% higher than Johns Lyng Group's analyst price target of AU$7.08 How far off is Johns Lyng Group Limited (ASX:JLG) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple! We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model. See our latest analysis for Johns Lyng Group What's The Estimated Valuation? We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars: Story continues 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (A$, Millions) AU$75.4m AU$86.8m AU$96.6m AU$124.4m AU$141.1m AU$153.3m AU$163.6m AU$172.2m AU$179.6m AU$186.1m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x5 Analyst x6 Analyst x5 Analyst x2 Analyst x1 Est @ 8.68% Est @ 6.68% Est @ 5.28% Est @ 4.30% Est @ 3.61% Present Value (A$, Millions) Discounted @ 7.0% AU$70.4 AU$75.7 AU$78.8 AU$94.9 AU$101 AU$102 AU$102 AU$100 AU$97.5 AU$94.4 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = AU$916m 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. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.0%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 7.0%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = AU$186m (1 + 2.0%) (7.0% 2.0%) = AU$3.8b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= AU$3.8b ( 1 + 7.0%)10= AU$1.9b 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$2.8b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of AU$6.2, the company appears quite undervalued at a 40% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind. dcf Important Assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. 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 Johns Lyng Group as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 7.0%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.002. 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 Johns Lyng Group Strength Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry. Debt is not viewed as a risk. Weakness Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Construction market. Shareholders have been diluted in the past year. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Australian market. Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%. Threat Revenue is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year. Next Steps: Whilst important, the DCF calculation is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. 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. Why is the intrinsic value higher than the current share price? For Johns Lyng Group, we've put together three additional aspects you should explore: Risks: Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Johns Lyng Group you should know about. Future Earnings: How does JLG's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Australian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. WUHU, China, Oct. 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Chery Automobile and UNICEF have announced a new two-year, $6 million partnership in support of global education programs. The partnership was formally inaugurated during a signing ceremony at the inaugural Chery International User Summit in Wuhu, China. Attendees included Ningbo, Secretary of the Wuhu Municipal Committee, Mr. Yin Tongyue, Chairman of Chery Holdings Group, and UNICEF representatives including Amakobe Sande, Sanaullah Panezai, Chief of Education, and Manuel Pinzon, Chief of Partnerships and Innovation. According to UNICEF's State of Global Learning Poverty 2022 report, an estimated 70% of the world's 10-year-olds were unable to read and understand a simple sentence, an increase from 57% before the global COVID-19 pandemic. Amakobe Sande, UNICEF Representative to China, expressed deep appreciation for Chery's support of UNICEF education initiatives. She highlighted the positive impact this partnership will have on vulnerable and marginalized children worldwide, emphasizing the potential to strengthen education systems in various countries. Carla Haddad Mardini, Director of UNICEF Private Fundraising and Partnerships, underscored the transformative potential of this partnership, emphasizing Chery's funding support to reach children in need and provide avenues of hope and opportunity for them to realize their potential and build brighter futures. This new partnership aims to address the global learning crisis by supporting UNICEF's education programs that provide quality education to the most disadvantaged and marginalized children. Chery will also support education programs in China, Mexico, South Africa, and Turkiye, ensuring inclusive, healthy, and secure learning environments for children and adolescents, equal opportunities for learning, and improved employability. Investing in the education of underprivileged children is a cost-effective way to ensure a brighter future for children, communities, and nations. Story continues Yin Tongyue, Chairman of Chery Holding Group, emphasized Chery's 26-year commitment to corporate social responsibility, including philanthropic activities such as disaster relief, environmental protection, targeted poverty alleviation, and educational support. Chery has been expanding globally for two decades, operating in over 80 countries and regions worldwide. Social responsibility is integral to Chery's global strategy, with a focus on green development, environmental protection, social welfare, and talent development in global markets. Through this collaboration with UNICEF, Chery aims to further advance children's education and ensure more children have equal access to education and care by leveraging its global presence, resources, and influence. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/joining-hands-with-unicef-chery-focuses-on-global-childrens-education-301963189.html SOURCE Chery (Bloomberg) -- Kioxia Holdings Corp. has approached Japan Investment Corp. about making a capital infusion to support its merger with Western Digital Corp. and strengthen the combined companys financial base, according to people familiar with the matter. Most Read from Bloomberg Kioxias lenders are working toward submitting a commitment letter as soon as Friday to help facilitate the agreement, the people said, asking not to identified because the negotiations are private. The banks have signaled the new companys capital is inadequate and called for addition investment to bolster its balance sheet. JIC, a state-backed investment fund established to boost Japans competitiveness in next-generation industries, is considering the request. The two companies are seeking to wrap up negotiations this month and want to announce a deal no later than when San Jose-based Western Digital reports earnings on Oct. 30, said the people. They are facing opposition however from South Koreas SK Hynix Inc., a competitor in the memory chip business that became an indirect shareholder in Kioxia when a Bain Capital-led consortium bought a controlling stake from Toshiba Corp. Its not clear how much money Kioxia is seeking from JIC or whether the fund is likely to support the merger. Western Digital, Kioxia, Bain, SK Hynix and JIC declined to comment. Western Digital and Kioxia have talked for years about a possible combination, yet discussions have been snarled over issues of control, leadership, economics and politics. In theory, merging the two operations would help the companies compete against the memory chip industrys largest players. In the latest iteration of the talks, Western Digital would own slightly more than 50% of a newly created holding company, while Kioxia would own the rest, the people said. Western Digitals flash business and Kioxias operations would be merged in the future. JIC has been approached about investing in an operating subsidiary owned by the new holding company, the people said. Story continues Western Digital has grown frustrated at the long-delayed negotiations and may press for a revised structure to the deal if it drags on, one person said. The company wants to explain the status publicly this month, the person said. Banks including Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc., Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. and Mizuho Financial Group Inc. plan to pledge 2 trillion ($13 billion) in loans to help fund Kioxias merger with Western Digitals flash memory business, Bloomberg News has reported. That commitment could come as soon as today, the people said. Its not clear yet how SK Hynixs objections will affect the outcome of the deal talks. An agreement could get announced despite the companys resistance, as Bain and Kioxia work on a resolution, the people said. While multiple people said SK Hynix has no veto rights over the deal, other people said the companys consent will be necessary because its a major investor. SK Hynix doesnt see any benefit in the deal for itself, one of the people said, adding that the chance of any collaboration with Kioxia going forward looks slim. SK Hynix has also raised doubts about the benefits of merging the two NAND businesses and questioned potential synergies, another person said. Its possible that the companies will try to address SK Hynixs concerns after a broad agreement has been reached with key stakeholders, one of the people said. --With assistance from Yoolim Lee. (Updates with company response in fourth paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. One of the best investments we can make is in our own knowledge and skill set. With that in mind, this article will work through how we can use Return On Equity (ROE) to better understand a business. We'll use ROE to examine Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS), by way of a worked example. ROE or return on equity is a useful tool to assess how effectively a company can generate returns on the investment it received from its shareholders. In short, ROE shows the profit each dollar generates with respect to its shareholder investments. Check out our latest analysis for Las Vegas Sands How To Calculate Return On Equity? The formula for return on equity is: Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations) Shareholders' Equity So, based on the above formula, the ROE for Las Vegas Sands is: 17% = US$693m US$4.2b (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2023). The 'return' refers to a company's earnings over the last year. One way to conceptualize this is that for each $1 of shareholders' capital it has, the company made $0.17 in profit. Does Las Vegas Sands Have A Good ROE? By comparing a company's ROE with its industry average, we can get a quick measure of how good it is. The limitation of this approach is that some companies are quite different from others, even within the same industry classification. If you look at the image below, you can see Las Vegas Sands has a similar ROE to the average in the Hospitality industry classification (17%). roe So while the ROE is not exceptional, at least its acceptable. Even if the ROE is respectable when compared to the industry, its worth checking if the firm's ROE is being aided by high debt levels. If so, this increases its exposure to financial risk. To know the 2 risks we have identified for Las Vegas Sands visit our risks dashboard for free. Why You Should Consider Debt When Looking At ROE Virtually all companies need money to invest in the business, to grow profits. The cash for investment can come from prior year profits (retained earnings), issuing new shares, or borrowing. In the first two cases, the ROE will capture this use of capital to grow. In the latter case, the debt required for growth will boost returns, but will not impact the shareholders' equity. Thus the use of debt can improve ROE, albeit along with extra risk in the case of stormy weather, metaphorically speaking. Story continues Las Vegas Sands' Debt And Its 17% ROE It seems that Las Vegas Sands uses a huge volume of debt to fund the business, since it has an extremely high debt to equity ratio of 3.59. Its ROE is respectable, but it's not so impressive once you consider all of the debt. Summary Return on equity is useful for comparing the quality of different businesses. A company that can achieve a high return on equity without debt could be considered a high quality business. All else being equal, a higher ROE is better. But when a business is high quality, the market often bids it up to a price that reflects this. Profit growth rates, versus the expectations reflected in the price of the stock, are a particularly important to consider. So you might want to check this FREE visualization of analyst forecasts for the company. But note: Las Vegas Sands may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with high ROE and low debt. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. jacoblund / Getty Images/iStockphoto Wisconsin state lawmakers are considering legislation that would expand child care tax credits for qualifying families, although the proposal has already drawn flak from critics who say it mostly benefits wealthy households. Whether it has any chance of getting signed into law is a long shot, according to media reports. Stimulus Update: Child Tax Credit Expansion Still Achievable by End of 2023 Where Issue Learn: What To Do If You Owe Back Taxes to the IRS The tax credit was included in a larger bill passed this week by the Republican-controlled Wisconsin Senate, the AP reported. The bill includes a $2 billion income tax cut as a part of package that also targets child care costs. It was scheduled to head to the Wisconsin State Assembly, the lower chamber of the legislature where Republicans also hold a majority. Explore: Pros and Cons of Living in a State With No Income Tax Under the Senate proposal, the maximum benefit a qualifying Wisconsin family would receive from the expanded state child care tax credit is $4,000 for two or more children, the Wisconsin Examiner reported. An Examiner analysis of the proposal found that to qualify for the full $4,000 credit, a family would have to have two children in child care costing $20,000 a year and a taxable annual income of $85,000. A family spending $10,000 a year for child care for one child must have an income of nearly $50,000, according to the Examiner, which called the benefit a better deal for families with higher incomes. The median household income in Wisconsin was $73,330 a year as of 2022, according to Federal Reserve data. In its analysis, the Wisconsin Examiner used the example of two nearly identical taxpaying families. Each pays $20,000 a year for two children in child care, qualifying for the maximum tax credit. Because both have annual incomes above $43,000, they also qualify for the same level of reimbursement for their child care costs, which is 20%, or $4,000. Story continues Family No. 1 has a taxable income of $50,000 a year. The Examiner calculated their state income tax at $2,152, based on 2023 state Wisconsin Department of Revenue tax tables for married joint filers. Family No. 2 has an income of $85,000, with a state income tax of $4,007. According to the Examiner, the tax credit would allow both families to avoid paying any state income tax. This would wipe out the $2,152 in taxes that the $50,000 family owes as well as $4,000 of the tax bill that the $85,000 family owes. If both families have the same $20,000 a year in child care expenses, the higher income family (No. 2) will have an out-of-pocket child care bill of $16,000 after the tax credit. But the lower-earning family (No. 1), with $50,000 in income, will have an out-of-pocket bill of $17,847 nearly $2,000 more than the family with $85,000 in income. Tim Smeeding, an economist and emeritus professor at the La Follette School of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin, told the Examiner that the proposed tax credit mostly benefits families who can afford to spend a lot on child care. It doesnt help people who cant afford child care, he added. The debate is probably moot, anyway. Even if the bill passes the Wisconsin Assembly, it is likely to be vetoed by Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat who already vetoed an earlier tax cut proposal in July, the AP reported. And although Republicans control both chambers of the state legislature, they dont have the necessary two-thirds majority to override vetoes unless Democrats join in, which is unlikely. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Latest Proposed Child Tax Credit Payments Would Actually Benefit Wealthy Families More Could It Pass? Unpacking the Dividend Performance and Sustainability of LTC Properties Inc LTC Properties Inc (NYSE:LTC) recently announced a dividend of $0.19 per share, payable on 2023-10-31, with the ex-dividend date set for 2023-10-20. As investors look forward to this upcoming payment, the spotlight also shines on the company's dividend history, yield, and growth rates. Using the data from GuruFocus, let's delve into LTC Properties Inc's dividend performance and assess its sustainability. What Does LTC Properties Inc Do? Warning! GuruFocus has detected 6 Warning Signs with LTC. High Yield Dividend Stocks in Gurus' Portfolio This Powerful Chart Made Peter Lynch 29% A Year For 13 Years How to calculate the intrinsic value of a stock? LTC Properties Inc is a healthcare facility real estate investment trust. The company operates one segment that invests in healthcare facilities through mortgage loans, property lease transactions, and other investments. Generating all of its revenue in the United States, LTC is an active capital provider in the seniors housing and healthcare real estate industry, actively engaged with its operating partners to create a growing pipeline of projects. LTC Properties Inc's Dividend Analysis A Glimpse at LTC Properties Inc's Dividend History LTC Properties Inc has maintained a consistent dividend payment record since 2002, with dividends currently distributed on a monthly basis. The company has increased its dividend each year since 2002, earning it the title of a dividend achiever. This honor is given to companies that have increased their dividend each year for at least the past 21 years. LTC Properties Inc's Dividend Analysis Breaking Down LTC Properties Inc's Dividend Yield and Growth As of today, LTC Properties Inc currently has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 7.19% and a 12-month forward dividend yield of 7.19%. This suggests an expectation of the same dividend payments over the next 12 months. And over the past decade, LTC Properties Inc's annual dividends per share growth rate stands at 2.30%. Based on LTC Properties Inc's dividend yield and five-year growth rate, the 5-year yield on cost of LTC Properties Inc stock as of today is approximately 7.19%. Story continues LTC Properties Inc's Dividend Analysis The Sustainability Question: Payout Ratio and Profitability To assess the sustainability of the dividend, one needs to evaluate the company's payout ratio. The dividend payout ratio provides insights into the portion of earnings the company distributes as dividends. A lower ratio suggests that the company retains a significant part of its earnings, thereby ensuring the availability of funds for future growth and unexpected downturns. As of 2023-06-30, LTC Properties Inc's dividend payout ratio is 1.34, suggesting that the company's dividend may not be sustainable. LTC Properties Inc's profitability rank of 8 out of 10 as of 2023-06-30, suggests good profitability prospects. The company has reported positive net income for each year over the past decade, further solidifying its high profitability. Growth Metrics: The Future Outlook To ensure the sustainability of dividends, a company must have robust growth metrics. LTC Properties Inc's growth rank of 8 out of 10 suggests that the company's growth trajectory is good relative to its competitors. The company's 3-year EPS growth rate showcases its capability to grow its earnings, a critical component for sustaining dividends in the long run. During the past three years, LTC Properties Inc's earnings increased by approximately 7.10% per year on average, a rate that underperforms approximately 42.39% of global competitors. Lastly, the company's 5-year EBITDA growth rate of -6.30% underperforms approximately 76.98% of global competitors. Conclusion In conclusion, while LTC Properties Inc has a commendable track record of consistent and growing dividends, its high payout ratio raises questions about the sustainability of its dividends. However, its profitability and growth metrics present a mixed picture. While the company has a good profitability rank and a solid 3-year EPS growth rate, its revenue growth and EBITDA growth rates lag behind many global competitors. Therefore, investors need to weigh these factors carefully when considering LTC Properties Inc's dividend prospects. GuruFocus Premium users can screen for high-dividend yield stocks using the High Dividend Yield Screener. This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. IPOs and mergers could rebound next year when roughly 1,200 companies are expected to run out of money, according to executives at the AlphaMarket Growth Summit. The public offerings of Arm Holdings, Instacart and Klaviyo were expected to deliver a big boost to the slumbering IPO market in September. The trio did deliver solid first days, but those gains didnt last. The stocks of each company have dropped in the aftermarket. Instacart is down nearly 19% from its $30 IPO price, while Arm traded below its $51 offer price and Klaviyo ended Thursday at its $30 price. Then there was the dismal debut of Birkenstock, the German sandal company, which went public last week. Birkenstock has yet to trade above its $46 IPO price, ending Thursday at $37.26. Birkenstock was the nail in the coffin for growth IPOs for the balance of the year, one executive at the conference said. About 170 execs, including venture capital, limited partners, and startups, descended on the Yale Club for the AlphaMarket Summit Wednesday. There will be IPOs for the rest of 2023 but more in value oriented industries like insurance or financials, predicts Jon Redmond, a portfolio manager at Discovery Capital Management, who spoke on the crossover panel that I moderated. Redmond said he is very bullish on IPOs and M&A in 2024, when the Federal Reserve will, at some point, start to cut rates. One reason companies go public, outside of the prestige factor, is that it helps them raise capital. Many cash-strapped businesses havent been able to list their shares since IPOs have largely been on hold since early 2022. So far this year, 300 private companies have gone bankrupt, Redmond said. According to our models, there's 1200 private companies right now that by the end of 2024 will run out of cash, Redmond said during the summit. IPOs are one option this group could use to fill their coffers, Redmond said. Other alternatives include getting new loans, using their revolvers, cutting costs, raising equity, or M&A, he said. Story continues This group will now be incentivized to sort of get the market going again sometime in 2024, he said. Mergers are expected to explode next year, executives on the panel said. M&A has slowed in 2023; the number of global M&A transactions dropped nearly 20% as of Oct. 16, according to Dealogic. Listen, a lot of people raised a lot of money in 2021 and are reluctant to take their medicine in this market, said Brian Sunshine, head of equity capital markets at Hudson Bay Capital Management, who also spoke on the panel. As those sort of cash piles dwindle in the first half of 24, they'll be faced with a challenge of what to do. I think that will be the catalyst for M&A to reemerge. Giving Back Olympus Partners sold two companies in the past month that have generated $1.1 billion in cash returns for investors, according to a person familiar with the situation. Olympus agreed to sell a majority of AmSpec Parent, a provider of testing, inspection, and certification services, to TPG Rise Climate, an Oct. 11 press release said. A week before, CFS Brands scooped up The Foodware Group, a provider of supplies to the food service industry, from Olympus, according to an Oct. 3 press release. The two deals were valued at $2 billion; AmSpec totaled more than $1.2 billion while Foodware was $635 million, the person said. Olympus has returned $3.1 billion to investors in the past two years, they said. Olympus is a middle market firm that invests in several different industries including healthcare, consumer products, financial services and industrial. See you tomorrow, Luisa Beltran Twitter: @LuisaRBeltran Email: luisa.beltran@fortune.com Submit a deal for the Term Sheet newsletter here. Joe Abrams curated the deals section of todays newsletter. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com peterspiro / Getty Images/iStockphoto The housing market has seen a tremendous boom in recent years, with home prices skyrocketing across the country. While the demand for homes remains high, certain types of houses call for buyers to exercise caution and consider whether the price tag is justified or if its inflated solely due to hype. Housing Market 2023: 40 Places Poised for a Housing Crisis Learn: 3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000 Just because a home is excessively lavish or advertised as exclusive does not mean its worth its high cost when more affordable and practical options exist. According to real estate experts, here are six types of homes that are either overpriced or overhyped. Snout Houses Maureen McDermut, Realtor with Sothebys International in Montecito, highlighted the overpriced nature of snout houses in modern suburbs. As she explained, snout houses are homes with garages that prominently protrude from the front and center of the house. The design enables builders to put more homes in their neighborhoods, but overall, these homes lack space and arent as functional as other design options. Many modern suburbs have these homes and they are priced well above market because they are newer builds. The awkward protruding garage design disrupts the snout houses footprint. Yet due to their shiny new construction, snout houses often get listed far above market value. McDermut advised buyers to be wary of overpaying for the novelty of these suboptimal suburban homes. More: 15 Cheapest, Safest Places To Live in the US Suburban McMansions Sprawling suburban homes with 5,000+ square feet of living space have proliferated across the country. Yet these giant homes can be difficult to sell thanks to high maintenance costs and declining demand for large homes in isolated areas. The big yards, multi-car garages, and open floor plans that once defined these houses are now seen as wasteful. As Brian Burke, owner of Kenna Real Estate explained, McMansions are characterized by their massive size and hollow, Swiss cheese-like design. In 2023, a typical 8,000 square foot McMansion sells for around $1.8 million. However, these giant homes lack architectural balance and contain many unusable voids between rooms. Their sheer size can make heating, cooling and maintaining them incredibly expensive. While they aim to impress with scale, McMansions are not the most practical or cost-effective housing option. Story continues Storybook Houses Storybook houses blend fanciful elements like curved walls, mismatched frames and towering ceilings. Their whimsical style comes at a steep price though. Built custom in the 1920s-30s, their rarity and intricate details rocket costs upward. While adorable, storybook houses are not optimized for modern living. Their curved walls and cathedral ceilings make temperature regulation and renovations challenging. These homes exude old-world charm but require constant, costly upkeep. Their custom nature also makes resale difficult. Storybook houses entail great expense for those drawn to their quirky aesthetic. Youll have the name and fame of owning a rare house but not a good option for living, said Burke. While they may exude charm, storybook houses require heavy maintenance a unique choice but a costly living experience. Brownstones Burke also warned buyers to exercise caution when considering a historical brownstone. Brownstones reflect 19th century-era architecture with their iconic brownstone and limestone facades. Concentrated in upscale urban neighborhoods, these townhouses command premium prices. Their handsome materials like rare brown limestone and ornate detailing require intensive maintenance, elevating costs further. While undoubtedly charming, brownstones rarity, coveted locations, and need for continual upkeep make them an extremely expensive housing choice. Their cultural cachet comes at a steep price. Downtown Penthouses With urban living on the rise, luxury penthouses in major metro areas have exploded in popularity. These upscale units promise top amenities and on-site services. However, the eye-popping price tags think in the multi-millions rarely align with the actual value once you consider other factors. A downtown skyscraper penthouse seems like the epitome of extravagant living, but in reality, the residents face damage through weather, maintenance issues, and accessibility, Jake Rockwell, owner of Rockwell Group, pointed out. Located at the top of skyscrapers, penthouses endure the harshest weather impacts from storms and heavy snowfall. Maintaining large terraces at such heights proves challenging and costly, with little machinery access. The constant hum of rooftop machinery like HVAC units also detracts from the ambiance. Any leaks or pipe damage ripple downwards, requiring expensive repairs to dozens of floors below. The realities seldom match the luxury hype. Rockwell also noted another major concern: During an emergency, it takes the most time to come down from a penthouse while the emergency service providers arrive last. Tiny Homes Tiny homes have been lauded as chic, eco-friendly living options. But the sky-high prices for homes under 400 square feet just cant be justified. Chris McGuire, owner of Real Estate Exam Ninja, said, While they can be an affordable solution for some, the inflated prices for trendy designs or in sought-after locations often make them overpriced compared to their actual square footage and functionality. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Im a Luxury Real Estate Agent: 6 Types of Homes That Are Overpriced and Overhyped Maroc Telecom CONSOLIDATED RESULTS AT SEPTEMBER 30, 2023 Performances above targets: Growth of 3.2% in consolidated revenues, driven mainly by Moov Africa subsidiaries ( +7.5% ); Group EBITDA up 3.2%, with high EBITDA margin of 52.5% ; Adjusted Group net income increasing by 2.4% ; Sustained level of Group investments (excluding frequencies and licenses), reaching 20.7% of revenues. Against a difficult global macroeconomic environment, Maroc Telecom Group resumed revenue growth, driven by Data, particularly in Moov Africa subsidiaries. Thanks to optimization cost efforts, the Group has maintained a high level of profitability, and pursued investments to support the development of usages and the quality of services. This performance comforts that the Group is on track to achieve its annual targets and confirms the success and resilience of its business model. The Group's commitment to sustainable development and the well-being of citizens remains a priority, and is reflected in a variety of initiatives in the countries where it operates. In line with this commitment, Maroc Telecom has mobilized its teams to support the populations impacted by the earthquake in the Kingdom of Morocco, and has also made a donation to the dedicated Special Fund. Group adjusted consolidated results*: (IFRS in MAD millions) Q3 2022 Q3 2023 Change Change at constant exchange rates(1) 9M 2022 9M 2023 Change Change at constant exchange rates(1) Revenues 9,240 9,279 0.4% -0.8% 26,808 27,679 3.2% 1.2% Adjusted EBITDA 4,901 4,948 1.0% 0.0% 14,072 14,527 3.2% 1.5% Margin (%) 53.0% 53.3% 0.3 pt 0.4 pt 52.5% 52.5% -0.0 pt 0.2 pt Adjusted EBITA 3,131 3,178 1.5% 0.8% 8,872 9,230 4.0% 2.5% Margin (%) 33.9% 34.3% 0.4 pt 0.6 pt 33.1% 33.3% 0.3 pt 0.4 pt Adjusted net income Group share 1,651 1,694 2.6% 1.9% 4,520 4,629 2.4% 1.5% Margin (%) 17.9% 18.3% 0.4 pt 0.5 pt 16.9% 16.7% -0.1 pt 0.1 pt CAPEX(2) 1,777 2,777 56.3% 53.0% 5,497 5,722 4.1% 1.6% Of which frequencies and licenses 0 0 0 0 CAPEX/Revenues (excluding frequencies and licenses) 19.2% 29.9% 10.7 pt 10.4 pt 20.5% 20.7% 0.2 pt 0.1 pt Adjusted CFFO 2,833 2,139 -24.5% -24.4% 8,159 7,176 -12.1% -13.4% Net debt 17,166 17,410 1.4% -0.6% 17,166 17,410 1.4% -0.6% Net debt/EBITDA(3) 0.8x 0.8x 0.9x 0.8x * The adjustments to the financial indicators are detailed in Appendix 1. Story continues Customer base At September 30, 2023, the Group's customer base was 75.1 million, a slight 0.7% decrease year-on-year. Revenues For the nine months to September 30, 2023, the Maroc Telecom Group posted consolidated revenues(4) of MAD 27,679 million, up 3.2% year-on-year (+1.2% at constant exchange rates(1)), driven mainly by a 7.5% increase in international business (+3.1% at constant exchange rates(1)). Earnings from operations before depreciation and amortization At September 30, 2023, Maroc Telecom Groups consolidated adjusted earnings from operations before depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounted to MAD 14,527 million, up 3.2% (+1.5% at constant exchange rates(1)), thanks to the increase in consolidated revenues and an efficient controlling operating costs. The adjusted EBITDA margin remained high at 52.5% (+0.2 pt at constant exchange rates(1) year-on-year). Earnings from operations Consolidated adjusted earnings from operations (EBITA)(5) for the first nine months of 2023 reached MAD 9,230 million, up 4.0% (+2.5% at constant exchange rates(1)). Adjusted EBITA margin stood at 33.3% (+0.4 pt at constant exchange rates(1) year-on-year). Net income Group share Adjusted net income Group share for the nine months to September 30, 2023 amounted to MAD 4,629 million, up 2.4% (+1.5% at constant exchange rates(1)). Investments CAPEX(2) excluding frequencies and licenses amounted to MAD 5,722 million, representing 20.7% of Group revenues, in line with the full-year outlook. Cash flow Over the first nine months of 2023, adjusted cash flows from operations (CFFO)(6) amounted to MAD 7,176 million, down 12.1% compared to the same period in 2022 (-13.4% at constant exchange rates(1)), in line with the rise in the investments. Highlights In response to the Royal appeal, Maroc Telecom supported the Special Fund set up to palliate the disastrous consequences of the recent earthquake in the Kingdom of Morocco. The Group contributed MAD 700 million to the fund in addition to individual employee contributions in order to support reconstruction and restoration work in the affected regions. Group business review: The adjustments to the Morocco and International financial indicators are explained in Appendix 1. Morocco (IFRS in MAD millions) Q3 2022 Q3 2023 Change 9M 2022 9M 2023 Change Revenues 5,247 5,069 -3.4% 14,808 14,749 -0.4% Mobile 3,245 3,132 -3.5% 8,930 8,870 -0.7% Services 3,021 2,990 -1.0% 8,518 8,359 -1.9% Equipments and other revenues 224 142 -36.6% 411 511 24.1% Fixed 2,461 2,382 -3.2% 7,239 7,207 -0.4% Of which Fixed Data* 1,027 1,031 0.3% 3,000 3,167 5.5% Elimination and other income -459 -446 -1,360 -1,329 Adjusted EBITDA 3,031 3,018 -0.4% 8,395 8,435 0.5% Margin (%) 57.8% 59.5% 1.8 pt 56.7% 57.2% 0.5 pt Adjusted EBITA 2,138 2,165 1,3% 5,763 5,849 1.5% Margin (%) 40.7% 42.7% 2.0 pt 38.9% 39.7% 0.7 pt CAPEX(2) 623 958 53.7% 2,381 2,385 0.2% Of which frequencies and licenses 0 0 0 0 CAPEX/Revenues (excluding frequencies and licenses) 11.9% 18.9% 7.0 pt 16.1% 16.2% 0.1 pt Adjusted CFFO 2,266 1,717 -24.2% 5,456 4,527 -17.0% Net debt 10,667 8,609 -19.3% 10,667 8,609 -19.3% Net debt/EBITDA(3) 0.8x 0.7x 0.9x 0.7x * Fixed Data includes Internet, ADSL TV and Data services to companies. Over the first nine months of 2023, business operations in Morocco generated revenues of MAD 14,749 million, almost stable year-on-year, driven mainly by Fixed-line Data (+5.5%). Over the same period, adjusted earnings from operations before depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounted to MAD 8,435 million, a year-on-year increase of 0.5%. Adjusted EBITDA margin remains at the high level of 57.2%, an improvement of 0.5 pt. Adjusted earnings from operations (EBITA)(5) amounted to MAD 5,849 million, up 1,5% year-on-year. Adjusted EBITA margin improved by 0.7 pt to 39.7%. During the first nine months of 2023, adjusted cash flows from operations (CFFO)(6) totaled MAD 4,527 million, down 17,0%. Mobile Unit 9/30/2022 9/30/2023 Change Customer base(8) (000) 19,925 19,978 0.3% Prepaid (000) 17,521 17,492 -0.2% Postpaid (000) 2,404 2,486 3.4% Of which Internet 3G/4G+(9) (000) 11,041 11,807 6.9% ARPU(10) (MAD/month) 46.9 46.8 -0.3% At September 30, 2023, the Mobile customer base(8) totaled nearly 20.0 million customers, continuing to benefit from the strong momentum of the postpaid segment, which expanded by 3.4%. Mobile revenues slightly decreased (-0.7%) versus the same period in 2022 to MAD 8,870 million. ARPU(10) for the first nine months of 2023 amounted to MAD 46.8, almost stable compared with the same period in 2022. Fixed-line and Internet Unit 9/30/2022 9/30/2023 Change Fixed-line (000) 1,937 1,819 -6.1% Broadband access(11) (000) 1,710 1,598 -6.5% The Fixed-line customer base stood at 1.8 million lines at end-September 2023. Growth in the FTTH customer base (+44%) largely offset the decline in the ADSL customer base. Fixed-line and Internet activities generated revenues of MAD 7.2 billion, down slightly by 0.4% compared to 2022. Growth in Fixed-line Data (+5.5%) partially offset the decline in Voice. International Financial indicators (IFRS in MAD millions) Q3 2022 Q3 2023 Change Change at constant exchange rates(1) 9M 2022 9M 2023 Change Change at constant exchange rates(1) Revenues 4,248 4,485 5.6% 2.9% 12,801 13,765 7.5% 3.1% Of which Mobile services 3,930 4,129 5.1% 2.3% 11,844 12,703 7.2% 2.9% Adjusted EBITDA 1,870 1,930 3.2% 0.8% 5,678 6,093 7.3% 3.0% Margin (%) 44.0% 43.0% -1.0 pt -0.9 pt 44.4% 44.3% -0.1 pt -0.1 pt Adjusted EBITA 994 1,014 2.0% -0.1% 3,108 3,381 8.8% 4.4% Margin (%) 23.4% 22.6% -0.8 pt -0.7 pt 24.3% 24.6% 0.3 pt 0.3 pt CAPEX(2) 1,154 1,819 57.7% 52.6% 3,116 3,336 7.1% 2.8% Of which frequencies and licenses 0 0 0 0 CAPEX/Revenues (excluding frequencies and licenses) 27.2% 40.6% 13.4 pt 13.1 pt 24.3% 24.2% -0.1 pt -0.1 pt Adjusted CFFO 567 422 -25.6% -25.2% 2,704 2,649 -2.0% -6.0% Net debt 6,892 8,865 28.6% 23.6% 6,892 8,865 28.6% 23.6% Net debt/EBITDA(3) 0.9x 1.1x 0.9x 1.0x The Groups international revenues for the first nine months of 2023 were up 7.5% (+3.1% at constant exchange rates(1)) at MAD 13,765 million, thanks to a good momentum in Mobile Data up 27,4% (+22.3% at constant exchange rates(1)) and the performance of Mobile Money up 11,6% (+7.3% at constant exchange rates(1)). Excluding the reduction in call termination rates, subsidiaries revenues were up 3.5% at constant exchange rates(1). Adjusted earnings from operations before depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) rose 7.3% (+3.0% at constant exchange rates(1)) to MAD 6,093 million, representing an adjusted EBITDA margin of 44.3%. Adjusted earnings from operations (EBITA)(5) amounted to MAD 3,381 million, up 8.8% (+4.4% at constant exchange rates(1)), mainly due to the increase in adjusted EBITDA. This performance led to a slight 0.3 pt increase in adjusted EBITA margin to 24.6%. Adjusted cash flows from operations (CFFO)(6) fell 2.0% (-6.0% at constant exchange rates(1)) to MAD 2,649 million, mainly due to the increase in investment. Operating indicators Unit 9/30/2022 9/30/2023 Change Mobile Customer base(8) (000) 51,548 51,145 Mauritania 2,642 2,642 0.0% Burkina Faso 11,021 11,339 2.9% Gabon 1,536 1,486 -3.2% Mali 9,163 8,358 -8.8% Cote dIvoire 10,534 9,704 -7.9% Benin 5,371 5,489 2.2% Togo 2,771 2,882 4.0% Niger 2,849 3,008 5.6% Central African Republic 216 230 6.3% Chad 5,444 6,007 10.3% Fixed Customer base (000) 362 383 Mauritania 56 38 -32.8% Burkina Faso 76 75 -1.0% Gabon 39 52 33.6% Mali 191 218 14.2% Fixed Broadband Base(11) (000) 153 189 Mauritania 19 22 14.8% Burkina Faso 16 21 32.9% Gabon 35 49 38.3% Mali 83 97 16.6% Notes: (1) Constant MAD/ouguiya/CFA franc exchange rate. (2) Capital expenditure corresponds to acquisitions of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets recognized during the period. (3) The net debt/EBITDA ratio excludes the impact of IFRS 16, and takes into account the annualization of EBITDA. (4) Maroc Telecom consolidates in its financial statements Casanet and the Moov Africa subsidiaries in Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Mali, Cote dIvoire, Benin, Togo, Niger, Central African Republic and Chad. (5) EBITA corresponds to operating profit before amortization of intangible assets related to business combinations, impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets related to business combinations and other income and expenses related to financial investment transactions and transactions with shareholders (except when they are recognized directly in equity). (6) CFFO comprises the net cash flows from operating activities before taxes as presented in the cash flow statement, as well as dividends received from associates and non-consolidated equity interests. It also includes net capital expenditure, which corresponds to net cash outflows on acquisitions and disposals of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets. (7) Borrowings and other current and non-current liabilities less cash (and cash equivalents) including cash blocked for bank loans. (8) The active customer base consists of prepaid customers who have made or received a voice call (excluding calls from the public telecommunication network operator concerned or its Customer Relations Centers) or sent an SMS/MMS or who have used the Data services (excluding exchanges of technical data with the public telecommunication network operator concerned) in the past three months, and non-terminated postpaid customers. (9) The active customer base of the 3G and 4G+ Mobile Internet includes holders of a postpaid subscription contract (whether or not coupled with a voice offer) and holders of a prepaid subscription to the Internet service who have carried out at least one recharge during the past three months or whose credit is valid and who have used the service during this period. (10) ARPU (average revenues per user) is defined as revenues generated by incoming and outgoing calls and data services net of promotions, excluding roaming and equipment sales, divided by the average number of users in the period. This is the blended ARPU of the prepaid and postpaid segments. (11) The broadband customer base includes ADSL, FTTH and leased connections and also includes CDMA in Mali. Important Warning: Forward-looking statements. This press release contains forward-looking statements and items of a forward-looking nature relating to the financial position, results of operations, strategy and outlook of Maroc Telecom and the impacts of certain operations. Although Maroc Telecom believes that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, they do not constitute guarantees as to the future performance of the company. Actual results may be very different from forward-looking statements due to a number of known or unknown risks and uncertainties, most of which are beyond our control, including the risks described in public documents filed by Maroc Telecom with the Moroccan Capital Market Authority (www.ammc.ma) and the French Financial Markets Authority (www.amf-france.org), also available in French on our website (www.iam.ma). This press release contains forward-looking information that can only be assessed on the day it is distributed. Maroc Telecom makes no commitment to supplement, update or modify these forward-looking statements due to new information, a future event or any other reason, subject to applicable regulations, in particular Articles 2.19 et seq. of the circular of the Moroccan Capital Market Authority and 223-1 et seq. of the General Regulation of the French Financial Markets Authority. Maroc Telecom is a global telecommunications operator in Morocco, a leader in all its business segments, Fixed-line, Mobile and Internet. It has grown internationally and is now present in eleven countries in Africa. Maroc Telecom is listed simultaneously in Casablanca and Paris and its reference shareholders are the Societe de Participation dans les Telecommunications (SPT)* (53%) and the Kingdom of Morocco (22%). * SPT is a Moroccan company controlled by Etisalat. Contacts Investor relations relations.investisseurs@iam.ma Press relations relations.presse@iam.ma Appendix 1: Relationship between adjusted financial indicators and published financial indicators Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITA, Group share of adjusted net income and adjusted CFFO are not strictly accounting measures and should be considered as additional information. They better illustrate the Groups performance by excluding exceptional items. 9M 2022 9M 2023 (in MAD millions) Morocco International Group Morocco International Group Adjusted EBITDA 8,395 5,678 14,072 8,435 6,093 14,527 Published EBITDA 8,395 5,678 14,072 8,435 6,093 14,527 Adjusted EBITA 5,763 3,108 8,872 5,849 3,381 9,230 ANRT decision -2,451 -2,451 Restructuring costs -2 -2 Published EBITA 3,313 3,106 6,419 5,849 3,381 9,230 Adjusted net income Group share 4,520 4,629 ANRT decision -2,451 Restructuring costs -1 Income tax revision -67 Earthquake fund donation -481 Published net income Group share 2,068 4,081 Adjusted CFFO 5,456 2,704 8,159 4,527 2,649 7,176 Payment of license -26 -26 Restructuring costs -2 -2 ANRT decision -2,451 -2,451 Published CFFO 3,005 2,675 5,680 4,527 2,649 7,176 Appendix 2: Impact of the IFRS 16 norm At the end of September 2023, the impacts of the IFRS 16 norm on the main indicators of the Maroc Telecom Group were as follows: 9M 2022 9M 2023 (in MAD millions) Morocco International Group Morocco International Group Adjusted EBITDA 193 202 395 203 235 438 Adjusted EBITA 10 32 42 10 37 47 Adjusted net income Group share -6 -5 Adjusted CFFO 193 202 395 203 235 438 Net Debt 733 643 1,375 781 845 1,627 Attachment (L-R) Ted Pick, Andy Saperstein, Dan Simkowitz Courtesy of Morgan Stanley Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman plans to retire by May 2024, leaving big shoes to fill. The two frontrunners are hard-charging trader Ted Pick and affable wealth manager Andy Saperstein. Here's what you need to know about the CEO race and its dark horse: asset manager Dan Simkowitz. Succession has traditionally been a bloody sport on Wall Street with the losers leaving and taking their lieutenants with them. Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman, who plans to retire by May 2024, wants the buck the trend so the bank can hold onto all three candidates. "Wall Street has had a history of that not happening," said Gorman in a July earnings call. "I think we will frankly, we will challenge that history." All three executives have their own bona fides. Ted Pick, the hard-charging investment bank boss, is credited with transforming Morgan Stanley's key equities and fixed-income businesses. His main competition, Andy Saperstein, leads the bank's $4.8 trillion wealth manager, which has buoyed the firm's revenue as dealmaking has ground to a halt. The dark horse Dan Simkowitz runs asset management, which is the bank's smallest business line but its assets have nearly quadrupled to $1.4 trillion under his eight-year tenure. With Morgan Stanley at the top of its game, breaking up this well-oiled team could be disastrous. "The company can still be as good as it is now under the leadership of whoever gets it. The goal should be to be an even better version of what they are now, which is pretty damn good," the analyst said. "And the one thing you don't want to do is put that at risk." Insider spoke to analysts and nine former colleagues of the trio. Here is what you need to know about the three candidates to run the Wall Street megabank. Ted Pick The 54-year-old trader has made his name as Morgan Stanley's problem solver by turning around the bank's equities and fixed-income businesses. Pick, who has spent his entire career at Morgan Stanley, quickly earned a reputation as a hard-working "deal junkie." Story continues "He's the guy in the middle of a really tough deal," a former superior said. "Ted is working the phones, he's talking, he's in communication with the investors who say no, and he understands it. He's just really good at closing and intense about that." Pick, whose old habit of cursing has made headlines, is also known for not pulling punches, even with clients. "It's easy to fall in love with your own line of patter," said Blackstone's Tony James, who chose Pick to advise on the private equity giant's initial public offering. "He'd call you out on that in a heartbeat and say, 'That's not gonna fly.'" The biggest obstacle standing in Pick's way is a federal probe into Morgan Stanley's block-trading business, which falls under his purview. That same unit lost nearly a billion dollars in the 2021 implosion of investment firm Archegos Capital Management. (Morgan Stanley has stated it is cooperating with regulators). There are no indications that Pick or the bank have been implicated in wrongdoing. But it's possible that he could pay the price for these missteps, an analyst told Insider. "In past administrations, it wouldn't have been the biggest surprise if a regulator said, 'Sorry, I need a bigger head than the person who ran block trading or equity-capital markets to be on the hook for this." SUBSCRIBE TO READ THE FULL STORY: How top Morgan Stanley exec Ted Pick rose from rough-edged 'deal junkie' to leading CEO contender Dan Simkowitz The Morgan Stanley veteran is overshadowed by his rivals who run much larger businesses. His investment management arm only contributes about 10% of firmwide revenue. But "Simko," as he is known at the bank, is praised for his smarts and poise by his supporters, who told Insider that he does not receive enough credit as a contender. "If I had to order and rank them from who could execute the job with the je nais se quois that the firm would want to have and be the most Gorman-esque, it would probably be Dan," one ex-managing director said. He ran equity capital markets before he took over the money-management business in late 2015. While Pick got more accolades, Simkowitz did work on record deals during his time in the investment bank, including the IPO of oil refiner Conoco and Verizon's $49 billion bond offering. He also has experience in Washington, D.C., that could come in handy. Wall Street is girding itself for the government to impose higher capital requirements as part of what would be the most significant banking overhaul since the Dodd-Frank Act. Starting in 2008, Simkowitz spent four years advising the Federal Reserve and Treasury on the restructuring of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as well as the public offerings of General Motors, AIG, and Citigroup. Working on these thorny deals that were scrutinized on both sides of the aisle took great finesse. "Dan is the consummate CEO," another former managing director said. "He is going to be a CEO somewhere if he doesn't get this job. It just won't be at Morgan Stanley." SUBSCRIBE TO READ THE FULL STORY: This Morgan Stanley veteran is ready to be CEO it just might be somewhere else Andy Saperstein Saperstein followed Gorman, his boss at McKinsey and Merrill Lynch, to Morgan Stanley in 2006, while Pick and Simkowitz have each spent more than three decades at the bank. The Staten Island native, who prefers Disney World to the Hamptons, is cut from a different cloth than most Wall Street bosses. Colleagues told Bloomberg that his "aw-shucks demeanor and his disregard for Wall Street's usual status symbols disarm potential rivals and lead people to underestimate him." Saperstein has emerged more recently as a serious contender due to the success of Morgan Stanley's wealth business. With $4.2 trillion in client assets, the wealth unit has buoyed the bank with steady fee-based revenue during this dealmaking lull. During his tenure, the bank has made successful acquisitions, including those of Solium Capital, a software provider for employee stock options, and retail brokerage ETrade. "Andy's done an amazing job, and wealth management is the story of Morgan Stanley," an analyst who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisal said. "I think there are lots of investors that think it would be weird for the next CEO not to be the wealth-management person, and yet Ted's still there and done a very good job in the investment bank." Do you work for Morgan Stanley? Have a tip or story to share? Reach out to Hayley Cuccinello at hcuccinello@insider.com or 917 740 5340, which works for phone, text, and encrypted messaging app Signal. Read the original article on Business Insider Citing tepid retail sales, unsustainable debt and a yearslong rent dispute at its custom-designed taproom and brewery overlooking the Chicago River, Metropolitan Brewing has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Without reworking its debt, including more than $1 million owed in back rent and fees, the pioneering 15-year-old craft brewer said it will not survive the long Chicago winter ahead. The brewery will not be able to make it through the winter without a comprehensive restructuring or sale, Metropolitan said in its Oct. 3 bankruptcy filing. One of Chicagos oldest craft breweries, Metropolitan launched in 2008 out of a Ravenswood warehouse, building a following for its German-style lagers. In 2017, Metropolitan moved to a more expansive home, leasing space at Rockwell on the River, a commercial redevelopment near Belmont and Elston avenues in Avondale. But Metropolitan, known for its flagship Krankshaft Kolsch brew and its picturesque patio views along the river, has been drowning in debt and struggling financially since making the move. Founded and still run by now ex-spouses Doug and Tracy Hurst, Metropolitan owes more than $1 million to North Carolina-based Live Oak Bank for an equipment loan. Other large creditors include the Small Business Administration, which is owed more than $386,000 for an Economic Impact Disaster Loan made during the pandemic in 2020. Another large financial hole was dug with its landlord. Metropolitan owes Rockwell Properties more than $1 million in back rent and fees after halting payments in December 2019 over a dispute about the amount of space leased. The bankruptcy is being filed because while the Debtor can pay market rent for the brewery space going forward there is no way the Debtor can ever repay the amount of back rent the landlord is seeking, according to the Chapter 11 filing. Metropolitan signed a 15-year lease in October 2015, investing $955,000 of its own money in a custom buildout of the space. But the owners say they unwittingly committed to a 33,000-square-foot space 9,000 square feet more than they agreed to during negotiations, according to the bankruptcy filing. Story continues The lease, obtained by the Tribune, shows 33,094 square feet starting at a rate of $8.50 per square foot, and escalating annually. The base monthly rent started at about $23,000 in the first year and rose to nearly $29,000 by year three. The square footage discrepancy was discovered in 2019, when the Hursts did a detailed review of the lease with bankers and accountants amid ongoing financial woes. Metropolitan stopped writing checks to Rockwell in December 2019, believing it overpaid the rent by $130,000 during the previous two years. Then the pandemic hit, disrupting business for restaurants and bars across the country. In October 2020, flush with federal Paycheck Protection Program money used for pandemic relief, Metropolitan paid Rockwell a lump sum of $55,000. One month later, Rockwell filed an eviction complaint in Cook County Circuit Court against Metropolitan, alleging it owed nearly $818,000 in unpaid rent and other expenses. The legal battle escalated in January 2021, when Metropolitan filed a countersuit against Rockwell, alleging the landlord fraudulently inflated the square footage in the lease. In June 2022, Metropolitan agreed to pay Rockwell about $24,900 per month for use and occupancy of the space while continuing to pursue its court case. A Cook County judge dismissed the brewerys fraud claim in February, leaving the eviction order and the companys solvency as the only matters to resolve. If we wanted to evict them, frankly, we could have proceeded at any point in time, Jason Metnick, a Chicago attorney representing Rockwell Properties, said Thursday. But the landlord has been trying to work things out for a really long time. Last year, the brewery, which has eight full-time and 14 part-time employees, generated $2.16 million in gross revenue through distribution, taproom sales and contract beer it produces for a smaller Chicago-based brewery. Metropolitan expects to generate similar revenue this year, which with restructuring of the lease and debt, would be sufficient to operate the brewery profitably, according to the bankruptcy filing. Without it, a sale or liquidation may be the only options. Were optimistic that moving forward, if we can reach some agreements with the landlord and creditors, we will be able to be profitable, said Doug Hurst, 54, who serves as head brewer. But Metropolitan is facing other headwinds as well. While taproom sales have been stable, distribution numbers sales of canned Metropolitan beers at retail locations have been decreasing, Hurst said. That is reflective of broader sales trends in the craft brewing industry, which has yet to fully recover from the pandemic. Craft beer volume sales dropped 10% in 2020, were up 8% in 2021, flat in 2022 and are down 2% this year, according to Bart Watson, chief economist for the Brewers Association, a Colorado-based trade group representing craft brewers. While craft beer production has grown to 13.2% of the declining U.S. beer market, there are more breweries slicing up the segment, which has made it financially challenging for many operators, Watson said. Leases are often the tipping point for struggling breweries. Many of the closures in the past few years have come from breweries who have their lease up and they cant make the numbers work at the new level, Watson said in an email Thursday. If Metropolitan liquidates its assets, which include the brewing equipment, furniture and a company vehicle, it will generate about $837,000, leaving creditors substantially short of what they are owed, according to the bankruptcy filing. The company has not yet explored selling the brewery to another operator, focusing instead on finding a way to keep producing the best-tasting lager in Chicago, Hurst said. Metropolitan is hoping to restructure its debts and renegotiate its lease in the coming weeks, which would include a rent close to the use and occupancy rate it is paying now. Getting Rockwell to forgive some or all of the $1 million in back rent owed is a crucial part of that bankruptcy restructuring plan, Hurst said. Weve been trying to negotiate that since we filed the eviction, Metnick said. Everythings been on the table since day one. rchannick@chicagotribune.com Microsoft (MSFT) officially owns Activision Blizzard (ATVI), making it the third-largest gaming company in the world by revenue behind just Tencent and Sony (SONY). But the acquisition does more than boost Microsofts standing in the global gaming industry. It gives the company far greater access to the mobile gaming market, lines it up for revenue via mobile games advertising, and provides it with the opportunity to grow its Xbox Game Pass subscription service and Xbox Cloud Gaming streaming service. It's certainly a seismic shift in how the money flows around the gaming ecosystem, explained International Data Corporation (IDC) research director Lewis Ward. It is the biggest acquisition in Microsoft's history. It is one of the biggest acquisitions in the tech market. It is by anyones measure, a big sea change. But dont expect the company to start reaping the benefits of the $69-billion deal anytime soon. Microsoft still has a long way to go before it can begin to put its stamp on any of Activision Blizzards games like Call of Duty and longer still before its bet on cloud gaming pays off. Microsoft is a major mobile player Microsoft has never had much of a hand in the mobile gaming market. And while the console and PC markets are huge, bringing in $43 billion and $40 billion respectively in 2023, the mobile gaming market is even larger. According to a study by data.ai and IDC, the segment will bring in a whopping $103 billion this year alone. But with Activision Blizzard, Microsoft is now one of the biggest players in mobile gaming. Activision Blizzards Candy Crush Saga was the second-highest-grossing mobile game in the world in the first half of 2023 behind only Tencents Honor of Kings. And as of Q2 2023, Activision Blizzards King mobile division had an incredible 238 million monthly active users. Thats far more than Activisions 92 million, despite that arm running Call of Duty, or Blizzards 26 million. Story continues Blizzard gift cards are seen at the shop in Krakow, Poland, on July 17, 2023. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images) (NurPhoto via Getty Images) The amount of revenue that 'Candy Crush' generates should not be underestimated, said Forrester senior analyst Will McKeon-White. Microsoft has also traditionally had a minimal ... mobile gaming presence. So this acquisition also significantly helps out with that. That mobile presence also gives Microsoft a significant leg up in the mobile advertising space. After all, mobile games generate money via either in-game sales or ads, and Candy Crush does both. Subscriptions and cloud gaming are key Outside of mobile gaming, Activision Blizzard gives Microsoft the firepower it needs to exploit its Game Pass subscription service and nascent Xbox Cloud Gaming. Game Pass gives subscribers access to hundreds of games that they can download to their Xbox consoles or PCs for $16.99 per month. The service has been a key portion of Microsofts gaming strategy, with CEO Satya Nadella regularly calling out the service during the companys earnings calls. In January, Nadella announced that the service had surpassed 120 million monthly active users. And with Activision Blizzards library of intellectual property, Microsoft can make Game Pass an even more appealing option for gamers, giving the company more firepower to drive subscriptions over time. Then theres the cloud gaming aspect of the deal. Microsoft is the leader in cloud gaming, and has opened up the service to a slew of new devices including smart TVs and even Metas (META) Quest 3 AR/VR headset. But cloud gaming is still in its early stages. The quality of streams doesnt always match up to what youd get playing games on a console or PC, and high-speed internet still isnt available in portions of the US, let alone globally. A general view of tradefairgoers is seen in front of the Xbox booth during the opening day of Gamescom at the Cologne Trade Fair Center in Cologne, Germany, on Aug. 23, 2023 (Ying Tang/NurPhoto via Getty Images). (NurPhoto via Getty Images) In terms of cloud gaming, we're still in the active experimentation phase, McKeon-White said. And while the current results are much better than they were previously, it's still ... not the best possible experience for playing video games, if were completely honest. Its also important to note that cloud gaming is still a small portion of overall gaming revenue. But, eventually, the service could power Game Pass subscriptions. I think it is a positive for cloudstream gaming, Ward said. I think that it will be one of the drivers of growth over time, but let's not kid ourselves. Right now, it's only like 2% or 3% of market revenue. It's a very small component of total market revenue. Sign up for the Yahoo Finance Tech newsletter. (Yahoo Finance) But as Microsoft perfects the technology and high-speed internet continues to spread across the globe, Xbox Cloud Gaming will become a far more attractive and viable option for gamers in regions where consoles and PCs are too expensive due to taxes or import restrictions. Microsoft can take advantage of Activision Blizzards library Theres one other aspect to Microsofts acquisition that could prove beneficial over time, and thats how the company could take advantage of older Activision Blizzard properties. There are a slew of titles, such as Guitar Hero, that the gaming giant hasnt worked on in years, and with Microsofts backing, it could begin to dig those out of storage and breathe new life into them. Whats more, it gives Microsoft a boost to the number of first-party games it will release each year. There's just a critical mass that they probably weren't at prior to the acquisition, and this pushes them over the top, Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter told Yahoo Finance. You suddenly go from maybe a half a game a year of new content under the old Microsoft to four, five, plus World of Warcraft. Taken as a whole, the acquisition is a boon for Microsoft. Though it could take some time for it to begin to pay dividends. After all, with games already in development it will be a while before Microsoft has any real say in how Activision Blizzard develops new titles. Theres also the looming threat that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) could break up the companies as part of its antitrust case against Microsoft. The FTC is moving forward with an in-house challenge to the deal and working on an appeal to a prior ruling against the commissions effort to halt the move. Still, if everything pans out in Microsofts favor, acquiring Activision Blizzard could be a turning point for the company, and the gaming industry as a whole. Daniel Howley is the tech editor at Yahoo Finance. He's been covering the tech industry since 2011. You can follow him on Twitter @DanielHowley. Click here for the latest technology business news, reviews, and useful articles on tech and gadgets Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) reported Q3 2023 net revenues of $13.3 billion, up from $13.0 billion a year ago. Net income applicable to MS was $2.4 billion, or $1.38 per diluted share, compared to $2.6 billion, or $1.47 per diluted share, for the same period a year ago. Despite a mixed market environment, the firm delivered solid results with a ROTCE of 13.5%. Integration of E*TRADE completed, contributing to revenue synergies across channels. On October 18, 2023, Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) released its third-quarter earnings report for the period ended September 30, 2023. Despite a mixed market environment, the firm reported solid results, with net revenues of $13.3 billion, up from $13.0 billion a year ago. Net income applicable to MS was $2.4 billion, or $1.38 per diluted share, compared to $2.6 billion, or $1.47 per diluted share, for the same period a year ago. Financial Highlights James P. Gorman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented on the firm's performance, stating, While the market environment remained mixed this quarter, the Firm delivered solid results with an ROTCE of 13.5%. Our Equity and Fixed Income businesses navigated markets well, and both Wealth and Investment Management produced higher revenues and profits year-over-year. We completed the integration of E*TRADE in the quarter, further executing on our strategy of building revenue synergies across channels and attracting clients to our best-in-class advice offering. Our ability to gather assets, together with our strong capital position and leading client franchises, position us to deliver continued growth and strong shareholder returns going forward." Performance of Business Segments Institutional Securities reported net revenues of $5.7 billion, reflecting solid results in Equity and Fixed Income and muted completed activity in Investment Banking. Wealth Management delivered a pre-tax margin of 26.7% with net revenues of $6.4 billion, reflecting increased asset management revenues on higher average asset levels compared to a year ago. Investment Management net revenues of $1.3 billion increased compared to a year ago on higher asset management revenues and AUM of $1.4 trillion. Story continues Looking Ahead Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) remains optimistic about its future performance. The successful integration of E*TRADE and the firm's ability to gather assets, coupled with its strong capital position and leading client franchises, positions it to deliver continued growth and strong shareholder returns going forward. About Morgan Stanley Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) is a leading global financial services firm providing a wide range of investment banking, securities, wealth management, and investment management services. With offices in 42 countries, the Firms employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions, and individuals. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Jensen Huang says he still "tricks" his brain everyday into approaching business with the mindset, "How hard can it be?" Kim Kulish/Corbis/Getty Images Starting a company is difficult, and Jensen Huang says he wouldn't do it again if he had to go back. The Nvidia CEO said on the "Acquired" podcast it was "a million times harder than I expected." "To this day, I trick my brain into thinking, 'How hard can it be?' Because you have to," he said. Jensen Huang built Nvidia into a trillion-dollar company, but if he had to do it over, he wouldn't start a company again. Founding the AI chip manufacturer was "a million times harder than I expected it to be," the Nvidia CEO said on an episode of the tech podcast "Acquired" released this week. "At that time, if we realized the pain and suffering and just how vulnerable you're going to feel, and the challenges that you're going to endure, the embarrassment and the shame, the list of all the things that go wrong, I don't think anybody would start a company," he said. "Nobody in their right mind would do it." Huang went on to say it's actually helpful for entrepreneurs to underestimate how challenging it can be to start a business. "That's kind of the superpower of an entrepreneur. They don't know how hard it is, and they only ask themselves 'How hard can it be?' And to this day, I trick my brain into thinking, 'How hard can it be?' Because you have to," he said. "You have to get yourself to believe that it's not that hard because it's way harder than you think. And so if I go taking all of my knowledge now and I go back, and I said I'm going to endure that whole journey again, I think it's too much. It is just too much." Though the journey was rocky, things worked out pretty well for Huang. Business is booming for Nvidia, thanks to the generative AI arms race. The fight over the chips that provide the computing power necessary for AI's large language models ushered Nvidia into the exclusive club of companies with trillion-dollar market caps this year, joining heavyweights like Amazon, Microsoft, and Apple. Story continues Huang's wallet has grown accordingly. In Forbes' annual list of the 400 richest Americans, Huang saw the biggest gain in net worth percentage-wise and cracked the top 20 for the first time. He has an estimated net worth of $37.3 billion, according to Forbes. Huang has even become something of a fashion icon for his signature black leather jackets. Some online resellers have gone so far as to sell copycat jackets using his name. or even image in their marketing. Read the original article on Business Insider NEW YORK The Manhattan judge presiding over Donald Trumps fraud case on Friday asked why he shouldnt send the former president to jail in light of a derogatory online post he ordered him to delete two weeks ago that remained on the internet through Thursday but cooled down hours later and meted out a slap on the wrist instead. State Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron ordered Trump to pay a $5,000 fine for violating a limited gag order imposed on the second day of his fraud trial that prohibited him and everyone involved in his case from publicly commenting on his court staff. The gag order came after Trump published an incendiary post on his social media site Truth Social about Engorons chief law clerk, Allison Greenfield, including a picture of her, a false claim she was New York Sen. Chuck Schumers girlfriend, and a link to her Instagram account. The Republican presidential front-runner fired off the missive sometime during the morning of Oct. 3 when he was in the courthouse. Upon learning of it, Engoron called Trump to his courtroom on a lunch break and ordered him to immediately take down the untrue and personally identifying post about his principal law clerk, who sits with him on the bench and regularly questions the parties. The post was deleted from Truth Social. However, it remained online on Trumps campaign website late Thursday 17 days after the order and was only gone after the political action committee Meidas Touch reported it was still up, and the judge emailed Trumps lawyers. The post was also sent out in an email blast from Trumps campaign to what Engoron previously estimated to be millions of people. Kise said in court the blast was delivered to 25,800 recipients, and only 6,713 people opened it. Kise said the campaign page had 114 million viewers and 3,701 viewers who clicked on the link emailed to them. In court Friday, Engoron asked Trumps lawyers why he shouldnt follow through on his promise to impose severe sanctions, including financial penalties or possibly imprisoning Trump. Story continues But in a ruling hours after dressing down his attorneys in court, Engoron accepted Trump lawyer Kises argument that it was inadvertently left on the site in ordering Trump to pay the minor penalty within 10 days. The judge said his patience with Trump was shot. In the current overheated climate, incendiary untruths can, and in some cases already have, led to serious physical harm, and worse. Donald Trump has received ample warning from this court as to the possible repercussions of violating the gag order, Engoron wrote. Trump, 77, has been periodically attending his fraud trial but wasnt in court Friday. Kise apologized on his clients behalf. The former president and his co-defendants have already been found liable on the top fraud claim in New York Attorney General Letitia James case on trial. In a ruling Engoron issued Sept. 27, he found Trump, his sons, Eric and Don Jr., and top Trump Organization execs Allen Weisselberg and Jeff McConney fraudulently inflated the value of Trump assets and thus his net worth by billions in financial statements submitted to banks and lenders between 2014 and the final year of his presidency to secure loan terms they werent entitled to and illegally boost his bottom line. He also ordered them stripped of certificates required to run a business in New York, which is on pause pending the outcome of their appeal. Trump and his top execs face more repercussions if Engoron finds them liable on the remaining six claims, with AG James seeking to recover $250 million in ill-gotten gains and to permanently bar them from heading a company in New York. They deny all wrongdoing, asserting, among other arguments, that valuing buildings is an art, not a science. Engoron isnt the first New York judge to voice concern about the ability of Trumps words to incite violence. At his arraignment in April, after a Manhattan jury indicted him for the Stormy Daniels hush money scheme, state Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan implored the parties to refrain from making statements that are likely to incite violence or civil unrest. Hours later, Trump accused the judge and his daughter of being deep state operatives in nationally televised remarks. Within days, Merchan was receiving death threats. Trumps attacks on District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who brought the hush money case, similarly saw Manhattans top prosecutor inundated with a deluge of death threats and racist hate mail after Trumps indictment. His office also dealt with white powder scares. Manhattan federal court Judge Lewis Kaplan anonymized the jury in his civil sex abuse case, which E. Jean Carroll won in May, noting Trumps attacks on judges, law enforcement, and even individual jurors in other matters. Trump is expected to return to the trial next week for his former fixer Michael Cohens testimony, anticipated to go forward on Tuesday. They havent seen each other in the five years since their famous fallout. Engoron didnt mince his words when describing what will happen if the former president disobeys him again. Make no mistake: future violations, whether intentional or unintentional, will subject the violator to far more severe sanctions, which may include, but are not limited to, steeper financial penalties, holding Donald Trump in contempt of court, and possibly imprisoning him. _____ (Bloomberg) -- Oil posted a second weekly gain as developments in the Middle East raised concerns that the conflict may spread, though US efforts to delay Israels invasion of Gaza caused prices to edge down on Friday. Most Read from Bloomberg After initially resisting a delay in what officials said would be a massive military operation to eradicate Hamas, Israel agreed under US pressure to hold off on its attack, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the effort. Publicly, Israel has shifted its tone on plans for the operation in recent days, suggesting a more limited approach that may reduce civilian casualties. President Joe Biden said Friday that trucks carrying aid supplies will cross into Gaza within 24 to 48 hours. The developments brought prices down on Friday after a spate of incidents that traders saw raising the potential for the war to draw in Iran boosted futures earlier in the day. Israels military said it struck Hamas targets in Gaza overnight and responded to fire from Lebanon by hitting Hezbollah assets. The US is seeing stepped-up drone attacks in Iraq and Syria, and an American destroyer intercepted cruise missiles fired toward Israel by Houthi rebels in Yemen. West Texas Intermediates more-active December contract fell to settle near $88 a barrel on Friday, while still posting a second straight weekly gain. Read More: Israel Latest: China Sends Envoy to Cairo, US Senators in Saudi Underlying fundamentals are playing second fiddle to the tragic events in Israel and Gaza, said Tamas Varga, an analyst at brokerage PVM Oil Associates Ltd. The war has also led to a frenzy of activity in the options market as traders position around the risk of further surges in crude. Trading of bullish calls has outpaced that of bearish puts every day for almost a month. Story continues Still, even a spread in the conflict might not lead to sustained higher prices, JPMorgan Chase & Co. analysts including Natasha Kaneva said in a report. Geopolitical risks have pushed prices about $7 higher than they would otherwise be, they said. Away from the conflict, the US Energy Department said on Thursday that it aimed to buy as much as 6 million barrels for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve as it continues to replenish the stockpile after a record withdrawal. Terminal users can click here for more on the Israel-Hamas War. --With assistance from Mia Gindis. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. DUBLIN, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "European Online Pharmacy Market (by Type, & Region): Insights and Forecast with Potential Impact of COVID-19 (2022-2027)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Research_and_Markets_Logo The European online pharmacy market is poised for remarkable growth, with projections indicating it will achieve a substantial valuation of US$23.61 billion by 2023. This growth is expected to be driven by factors such as an aging population, an increasing number of internet users, and the convenience and cost-effectiveness of online healthcare e-commerce platforms. However, challenges related to the regulatory environment and concerns about cyber threats and data security may pose obstacles to this burgeoning market. Online pharmacies, defined as websites that distribute medication to customers via the internet, are experiencing rapid expansion in Europe. The market is witnessing the emergence of new entrants seeking to tap into the potential of e-script services, which may impact both the over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription (Rx) segments. While the online pharmacy sector experienced a boom during the pandemic, the market's future growth may face challenges as the impact of the pandemic wanes, and traditional flu/cold seasons return. Key Market Segments By Type: The European online pharmacy market consists of two primary segments: Online OTC and Online Rx. Online OTC leads the market, driven by increasing internet penetration and growing awareness of the benefits of online services, especially for over-the-counter medications. Geographic Coverage The European online OTC pharmacy market is segmented into Germany, the UK, Italy, France, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, and the Rest of Europe. Germany holds the largest market share due to surging demand for online medications and doorstep delivery services. The German online OTC pharmacy market can be further divided into segments based on product type, with Beauty Products (BP), Healthcare Products (HP), Nutrition, and Medicine-related OTC products. The BP, HP, and Nutrition segment holds the majority of the market share. Additionally, the report also provides an analysis of the German Online Rx market, which has been growing steadily, driven by convenience and cost advantages, particularly during lockdown situations. Story continues Top Impacting Factors Growth Drivers Aging Population Increasing Number of Internet Users Rising Health Care E-Commerce Convenience & Lower Pricing Challenges Regulatory Environment Cyber Threats and Data Security Trends Integration of AI in Pharmacy Sector Rising Implementation of E-Prescriptions Escalating Adoption of New Technology Driver: Increasing Number of Internet Users The rapid rise in internet penetration across Europe has fueled the acceptance of new technologies and created a demand for digital health platforms. People are increasingly recognizing the advantages of the internet and favoring e-commerce over traditional brick-and-mortar stores. Internet access via smartphones, in particular, has gained significant popularity, driving the growth of the online pharmacy market. Challenge: Regulatory Environment The regulatory landscape for pharmacies varies from country to country in Europe, posing a challenge to the online pharmacy sector. While countries like Germany are gradually adopting e-prescriptions and allowing the online sale of prescription and OTC medications, others have more stringent regulations. For instance, Switzerland restricts the delivery of non-prescription medicines by mail unless specifically permitted by a doctor. These regulatory differences have presented hurdles for online pharmacies in Europe. Trend: Integration of AI in Pharmacy Sector The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in the pharmacy sector is enhancing service quality, operational efficiency, and patient care. AI enables accurate diagnosis, effective disease prevention, and real-time health monitoring, which can foster customer trust and loyalty. Retail pharmacies are increasingly investing in AI tools to enhance service quality, reduce costs, and optimize inventory management. The goal is to improve patient access to virtual care via mobile devices, using AI analytics to facilitate the efficient sharing of medical information between patients, healthcare providers, and treatment centers. The COVID-19 Analysis The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly accelerated the growth of the European online pharmacy market. Lockdowns and travel restrictions prompted more people to turn to online pharmacies for both prescription and OTC medications. Additionally, teleconsultations replaced in-person doctor appointments, leading to the development of digital prescriptions and further boosting the online pharmacy market. Practices like electronic prescription transfers and home delivery of medicines are expected to persist in the post-COVID era, continuing to drive market growth. Analysis of Key Players The European online pharmacy market is characterized by fragmentation, with Zur Rose Group, Chemist4U, Apotea, MedExpress, LloydsPharmacy, Shop Apotheke Europe, ChemistDirect, Parafarmacia-Online, UK Meds Direct Ltd., Medikamente-per-klick, Euro-Pharmas, and Meds Apotek AB among the key players in the sector. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/h0l3e6 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/online-otc-medications-lead-growth-in-european-online-pharmacy-sector-benefiting-from-convenience-and-cost-advantages-301963235.html SOURCE Research and Markets Teslas (TSLA) North American Charging Standard (NACS) has steadily won over nearly every automaker and this week saw two more dominoes fall. Both Toyota (including Lexus) and BMW (including Mini and Rolls-Royce) this week announced their plans to adopt NACS. Toyota will incorporate NACS ports into certain Toyota and Lexus battery electric vehicles starting in 2025, and it will offer NACS adapters to customers with EVs relying on the Combined Charging System (CCS). BMW announced almost identical plans. With both Toyota and BMW pledging to adopt NACS, that leaves Stellantis and Volkswagen as two of the only major electric vehicle makers in the U.S. still holding out. General Motors, Ford, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, Volvo, Mercedes-Benz, Rivian, Polestar, Fisker and more have already announced plans to build EVs that can tap into Teslas massive global network of more than 50,000 Superchargers. Most Read on IEN: In June, after the other two big U.S. automakers rolled out plans for NACS, Stellantis told Reuters it was still evaluating the standard. "Our focus is to provide the customer the best charging experience possible. Our Free2Move Charge brand will offer seamless, simple solutions whether at home or on-the-go through partnerships with charging providers," the company said in a statement. In July, Volkswagen also suggested it was open to shifting toward Teslas charging standard after Electric America, the charging network it owns, announced it will add NACS charging stations by 2025. We welcome access to additional charging infrastructure for our North American customers and always aim for improving the charging experience via open standards and seamless interoperability, the company said in a statement. With all the momentum behind NACS, it could only be a matter of time before Stellantis and Volkswagen jump on the bandwagon. The City of Orrville was honored for its achievements throughout the past year during the 2023 American Municipal Power (AMP) Annual Conference. Orrville Utilities received Safety Awards in the Generation and Transmission and Distribution categories and a commendation for their participation in AMPs Mutual Aid Program. AMP also announced that an Orrville Utilities employee would be receiving an AMP Hard Hat Safety Award. The AMP Safety Awards in the Generation and Transmission and Distribution categories recognize the utility for no time lost due to reportable accidents or injuries. The AMP Hard Hat Safety Award recognizes a utility employee who adheres to on-the-job safety procedures, promotes electric safety within their department and is 100 percent safety conscious. Jacob Chuning, Orrville Lineworker III, received an AMP Hard Hat Safety Award. Safety is a priority at AMP, and we commend the efforts of our members and wish congratulations to all those awarded, said Michelle Palmer, AMP vice president of technical services and compliance. Orrville Mayor Dave Handwerk The Mutual Aid Commendation is in recognition of mutual aid assistance they provided to the City of Danville. Mutual aid is one of the most important aspects of AMP membership, as it ensures that assistance is available when it is needed most. In addition, Dave Handwerk, mayor of the City of Orrville, was elected Ohio Municipal Electric Association Honorary Member, an honor given to individuals who have made significant local contributions to public power. The AMP Annual Conference took place Sept. 2527 in Columbus. The organizations premier event featured presentations and panel discussions by industry experts and speakers from AMP partner organizations. This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Orrville Utilities receive safety awards at AMP conference The Insight Partners The global outdoor LED lighting market is growing at a CAGR of 6.8% from 2022 to 2030. Pune, India, Oct. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Acuity Brands Inc., Signify NV, and Panasonic Corporation are key providers in the outdoor LED lighting market. With the strong growth in demand for outdoor LED lighting, numerous companies have established partnerships to expand their solutions offerings in digital solutions. For instance, in September 2022, Signify NV partnered with Upciti, a leading artificial intelligence (AI) and edge computing solutions provider, to aid cities and utility sectors across the US and Canada for better value addition and revenue from their lighting infrastructure. Upcitis "privacy by design" edge computing image analysis sensors are to be paired with Signifys Interact IoT-connected lighting system and road and street LED luminaires to gather intelligent data and utilize the same for better traffic and parking management. Similarly, since 2018, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) has been partnering with Signify NV to support Smart Street Lighting NY and has installed more than 50,000 LED streetlights till June 2020. The lights installed included Signifys Interact City IoT lighting system. They connected LED luminaires in a bid to reduce energy consumption and carbon footprint and make the city safer for its citizens. Outdoor LED Lighting Market in terms of revenue was estimated to be worth $13.02 billion in 2022 and is poised to reach $21.96 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 6.8% from 2022 to 2030 according to a new report published by The Insight Partners. The rising demand for green and energy-efficient lighting is resulting in higher adoption of light-emitting diode (LED) lights for various outdoor applications. Additionally, there is tremendous growth in urbanization and infrastructural development across the globe, leading to higher demand for streetlights and other outdoor lights. Thus, the outdoor LED lighting market demand is anticipated to increase during the forecast period. Story continues Download Sample PDF Brochure: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPRE00003370/ Global Outdoor LED Lighting Market Scope: Report Coverage Details Market Size Value in USD 13.02 Billion in 2022 Market Size Value by USD 21.96 Billion by 2030 Growth rate CAGR of 6.8% from 2022 to 2030 Forecast Period 2022-2030 Base Year 2022 Segments covered Installation Type, Wattage, Application, and Geography Regional scope North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, South & Central America. Country scope Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States Report coverage Revenue forecast, Company Analysis, Industry landscape, Growth factors, and Trends Compared to incandescent light bulbs, LED lights can produce light up to 90% more efficiently. In LEDs, an electrical current pass through the inbuilt microchip, illuminating the light sources called LEDs and producing visible light as a result of the same. Most LED lights are accompanied by a heat sink to efficiently dissipate the heat produced and reduce the chances of performance issues. This feature acts as an advantage and disadvantage. The advantage is that such a specific direction of light makes it suitable for a multitude of applications and also increases efficiency. For applications requiring light in different directions, the LED is required to be paired with efficient and tailored reflectors. Outdoor LED lighting refers to LED lights that are designed for outdoor applications, such as those on the patio or streets. These lights generally have a high tolerance towards environmental factors, such as sun and rain. As opposed to incandescent light bulbs, LED lights emit directional light, meaning light is produced in specific directions and not all directions. With the rising population, there has been a steep rise in infrastructural development across most urban areas. The migration of people from rural to urban areas at a constant speed over the years has been a familiar phenomenon worldwide, particularly in developing nations. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 56.2% of the worldwide population lived in urban areas in 2020, compared to 51.6% in 2010. The percentage of urban residents was above 79% in developed countries, including the US and the UK. Per the United Nations (UN) predictions, 70% of the worlds population is expected to live in cities and urban areas by 2050. Such a steep rise in urban dwellers has led to the requirement for better public infrastructure, including well-lit roads and public spaces. Such factors have strongly promoted the application of LED lights, leading to a rise in outdoor LED lighting market size. Rising Number of Smart Cities to Provide Lucrative Opportunities for Outdoor LED Lighting Market: There has been a steady rise in the number of smart cities across the globe. Several government bodies have been undertaking smart city projects in a bid to modernize their countries and also to ensure a better lifestyle for their citizens. A smart city can be loosely defined as a city that strongly relies on information and communication technologies (ICT) to increase operational efficiency, undertakes information sharing with the public, and strives to improve both citizens welfare and the quality of government services. Smart cities utilize a combination of the Internet of Things (IoT) devices, user interfaces (UI), software solutions, and communication networks. Such applications are thus strongly utilizing advanced outdoor LED lighting solutions, which also act as a sensor for collecting and disseminating information. For instance, the Smart Cities Mission by the Government of India is an urban renewal and retrofitting program under which 100 cities are being converted to smart cities. Similarly, the European Commission has been funding the Smart Cities and Communities lighthouse projects through the Horizon 2020 research and innovation program. It aims to bring together cities, citizens and industry to demonstrate solutions and business models that can be scaled up and replicated to provide measurable energy and resource efficiency. Outdoor LED Lighting Market: Segmental Overview Based on installation type, the outdoor LED lighting market is bifurcated into new and retrofit. By wattage, the outdoor LED lighting market is divided into below 50W, 50W 100W, and above 100W. By sales channel, the outdoor LED lighting market is bifurcated into online and offline. Based on application, the outdoor LED lighting market is segregated into architecture, highways & roadways, public places, and others. Order a Copy of the Report https://www.theinsightpartners.com/buy/TIPRE00003370/ Outdoor LED Lighting Market Analysis: Competitive Landscape and Key Developments Cooper Industries plc (Eaton), Cree, Inc, Dialight PLC, General Electric Company, Hubbell Incorporated, Osram Licht AG, Signify Holding, Syska Led Lights Private Limited, Virtual Extension and Zumtobel Group AG are a few of the key companies operating in the Outdoor LED Lighting market. The outdoor LED lighting market leaders focus on expansion and diversification, new product launches, and acquisition strategies, which allow them to access prevailing business opportunities. Recent Developments: September 2023 US LED, Ltd launched the Right Choice Series of outdoor LED luminaires, which has been designed to capitalize on the unmatched optical and thermal qualities exclusive to best-in-class LED technology. May 2023 Signify NV launched new energy-efficient LED outdoor lights, which had been designed to perform in changing weather conditions and also consume lower power. The new products were designed to resist extreme sunlight, ultra-violet (UV) rays, heavy rain, and weather humidity up to 85% without resulting in corrosion or rust. May 2023 - Acuity Brands Cyclone Lighting released the Elencia luminaire, having high-performance optics and an updated, modern lantern styling for an upscale aesthetic to outdoor post-top illumination. May 2022 Signify NV completed the acquisition of Fluence from ams OSRAM in a bid to strengthen its agricultural lighting portfolio. The acquisition strengthens the formers global Agriculture lighting growth platform and also bolsters the companys share in the North American horticultural lighting market. November 2020 Acuity Brands Lithonia Lighting Outdoor launched WPX LED and ARC LED wall-mounted luminaires and the BarnGuard LED security light. Go through further research published by The Insight Partners: LED Lighting Market - Global Analysis and Forecast to 2030. Outdoor Lighting Market - Global Analysis and Forecast to 2030. Solar Outdoor LED Lights Market - Global Analysis and Forecast to 2030. About Us: The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We specialize in industries such as Semiconductor and Electronics, Aerospace and Defense, Automotive and Transportation, Biotechnology, Healthcare IT, Manufacturing and Construction, Medical Device, Technology, Media and Telecommunications, Chemicals and Materials. Contact Us: If you have any queries about this report or if you would like further information, please contact us: Contact Person: Ankit Mathur E-mail: sales@theinsightpartners.com Phone: +1-646-491-9876 Olde Naples Building under renovation, as seen on Oct. 9, 2023. Owners of the historic Olde Naples Building are challenging City Council's decision to reject their petition for outdoor dining. Council shot down the request in June. A restaurateur and the property owners ha sought approval to set up 17 outdoor tables, with 76 seats. The building, one of the oldest in the city, off Third Street South downtown, is still under renovation, with uncertainty looming over its final design as a new restaurant. The last tenant, Fantozzi's grocery store, closed in 2006. The city issued a building permit last year to convert the property from a grocery store to a restaurant and kitchen after a 25-month review process. The building is owned by the Camalier family, who have been Naples residents since 1964. They've taken action on three fronts in hopes of overturning Council's decision not to allow outdoor dining on their private property, due to parking concerns. Constructed in 1921, the building has no parking of its own. However, it has a parking exception. The Camaliers wanted to extend that exception to outdoor dining. A dispute over property rights With the denial of their request, the Camaliers have requested relief under the Florida Land Use and Environmental Dispute Resolution Act, which provides an avenue for a special magistrate to consider whether a local government's decision is "unreasonable or unfairly burdens the use of the owner's real property." The first step is a mediation, which began last week. After running long, the discussions got continued to a yet-to-be scheduled date. If mediation isn't successful, a hearing before a special magistrate would follow. The magistrate would hear evidence from both sides before making a determination on who's in the right. Although the decision wouldn't be binding, it would be presented to City Council, with a recommended action. If Council doesn't change its mind through the dispute resolution process, the right to pursue legal action still exists. Story continues Olde Naples Building under renovation, as seen on Oct. 9, 2023. In case you missed it: Naples City Council shoots down two outdoor dining petitions for different reasons Earlier: Judge sides with city in Olde Naples Building parking credits dispute The Camaliers have also asked for the enforcement of a final judgment in an earlier case over its parking rights and appealed the city's unfavorable decision in circuit court. Those actions are on hold, awaiting the outcome of the remedy they've sought under the dispute resolution act. "I'm an eternal optimist and we are talking with the city, discussing this matter with the city and the special magistrate in good faith, and hope that we can resolve our differences with the city," said John Shubin, a Miami attorney who represents the Camaliers. Last month, the city hired an outside attorney to represent it in the dispute. The attorney, Kara Jursinski, with Jursinski & Murphy, declined to comment. It's the city's policy not to comment on pending litigation. She represented the city in the 2012 case involving the parking exception for the Olde Naples Building. In that case, the city and the Camaliers fought on the same side, defending a decision made by the city's former planning director to award the building a credit for 76 spaces all of the spaces city code would require for a grocery store or restaurant to operate on the property. Olde Naples Building under renovation, as seen on Oct. 9, 2023. Neapolitan Enterprises a competing property owner and landlord on Third Street had filed the lawsuit, challenging the administrative decision to approve the parking credits. The company and its owner Joan Tobin, whose family has been involved in the development of Third Street since the 1950s, wanted to ensure there was "sufficient parking to support all businesses there," according to the suit. In 2018, a Collier Circuit judge sided with the city of Naples. The judge's ruling stated the building should be considered a "lawful nonconformity" for purposes of future construction, improvements or operation of any project or business. A request to reassign parking credits The Camaliers wanted to reassign 14 of the 76 spots they were awarded to 4,630 square feet of outdoor dining. With the addition of the outdoor dining, they planned to reduce the indoor dining from 7,158 to 6,080 square feet. They assert the final judgment in the earlier case allows them to reallocate some of the spaces, which was their basis for filing a motion with the court to enforce it. Olde Naples Building under renovation, as seen on Oct. 9, 2023. At the City Council hearing on the outdoor dining petition, Neapolitan Enterprises opposed it, with its attorney arguing the business and its tenants would be hurt by it, and describing the path taken to seek approval as a "short cut." Several spoke against the petition at the hearing, including Michael Smith, director of operations for D'Amico & Partners, operators of Campiello and The Continental on Third Street South. He remarked that the request for more than 10,000 square feet of dining, with no real parking, took him by surprise, and noted it would become the largest restaurant on the street. "The public parking virtually is unavailable in season," Smith said. "And as a company, we've had to help pay for private parking, valet services, to ensure our customers can park in high season." He asked for an "equal playing field." Council denied the outdoor dining request, expressing similar concerns. Councilman Terry Hutchison made the motion to reject it. It was seconded by Ray Christman. Naples City Councilman Terry Hutchison. In his arguments against the petition, Hutchison said it had to be denied based on his understanding of the former planning director's determination letter. The letter stated the "nonconformity couldn't be transferred from one part of the building to another," which he concluded didn't allow any of the parking credits to be shifted to outdoor dining something he couldn't "go past." Others on Council agreed. A long fight to redevelop a historic building After the Council's unfavorable vote in June, Chris Camalier, one of the building's owners, stated the family was "deeply disappointed." "We are, however, dedicated to finding an economically sustainable way to continue our 17-year fight to restore the Olde Naples Building as Naples most precious historic commercial resource," he added. Historic Olde Naples Building on Third Street South. NCR (Next Cool Restaurant) Ventures, an Ohio-based restaurant group, leased the building with the expectation of having outdoor dining. Founded by Rick Doody, the group has six concepts including the Cedar Creek Grille, 17 River Grille and Lindey's Lakehouse restaurants. Rick and his brother, Chris, started the Bravo Brio Restaurant Group in 1992 and sold it for about $100 million in 2018. In a recent phone interview, Mick Moore, a Naples attorney who represents Neapolitan Enterprises, said that should the appeal, or the attempt to reopen the old case about parking credits move forward, his clients plan to file motions in opposition. At this point, hearings have not been scheduled in either case. Neapolitan Enterprises is not directly involved in the mediation, but it's keeping a watchful eye on it. "The position of the city and our position is that the original case did not deal with outdoor dining at all," Moore said. "It just dealt with whether the Olde Naples Building was entitled to be a restaurant, without having any parking, because of the nonconforming status of the property," he added. Now, the Camaliers have come back asking for more, he said, which doesn't sit well with his clients, or others, who are concerned about insufficient parking on Third Street. "They got exactly what the judge said they could do," Moore said. "But they weren't satisfied with that." This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: City Council's denial of outdoor dining at historic building challenged in Naples How can I pay zero taxes on my Social Security? Here are 5 easy strategies to reduce (or even eliminate) what you fork over to Uncle Sam in 2024 Since every dollar counts in retirement, you want to deal with the smallest possible tax burden in the years after youre finished working. At least you know your Social Security benefits cant be taxed, right? Wrong. Don't miss Commercial real estate has outperformed the S&P 500 over 25 years. Here's how to diversify your portfolio without the headache of being a landlord Rich young Americans have lost confidence in the stock market and are betting on these 3 assets instead. Get in now for strong long-term tailwinds Super-rich Americans are snatching up prime real estate abroad as US housing slumps but here's a sharp way to invest without having to move overseas Many Americans hold this mistaken belief (which is understandable, since benefits were not subject to income tax before 1983). But in truth almost half of households that received Social Security benefits in 2021 paid taxes on them, according to The Senior Citizens League. The good news is that its possible to protect your benefits from the tax collector. Below are five steps you can take to achieve just that. How are taxes on Social Security benefits calculated? To determine whether your benefits are taxable in a given year, you need to calculate what the Social Security Administration (SSA) calls your combined income, which includes your adjusted gross income (AGI), non-taxable interest and 50% of your Social Security benefits. If youre married and filing jointly, calculate your total combined income by adding half of your Social Security benefit and half of your spouses Social Security benefit to the sum of both your AGIs plus non-taxable interest. Tax will be applied to 50% of your benefits if: youre filing as an individual and your combined income is $25,000 to $34,000, or youre filing jointly with your spouse and your combined income is $32,000 to $44,000. Tax will be applied to 85% of your benefits if: youre filing as an individual and your combined income is more than $34,000, or youre filing jointly with your spouse and your combined income is more than $44,000. Story continues These thresholds are fairly low, so theres a strong chance youll end up paying taxes. All the more reason to consider the five pieces of advice below. 1. Make tax-deductible contributions to an IRA You may be able to reduce your AGI by contributing to an individual retirement account (IRA). Depending on your income, your tax filing status and whether you participate in an employer-sponsored plan such as a 401(k), your contributions to an IRA may be partially or fully tax-deductible. The 2024 contribution limit for such accounts hasnt yet been announced, but in 2023, the limit is $6,500. If youre over 50 years of age, you can contribute an extra $1,000 to catch up, so your limit is $7,500. Read more: Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now use $100 to cash in on prime real estate without the headache of being a landlord. Here's how 2. Take withdrawals from your Roth IRA and Roth 401(k) first Since contributions to Roth IRAs and Roth 401(k)s arent tax-deductible, withdrawals from those accounts are tax-free if youre over age 59.5 and the account has been open for at least five years. Thus, the withdrawals dont count towards your AGI. One tax-reduction strategy, therefore, is to withdraw from these accounts before withdrawing from traditional retirement accounts, for which the distributions are taxable. You can avoid taxes on your retirement income for as long as youre able to live off of a combination of Social Security benefits and income from Roth accounts. 3. Use taxable income and delay claiming Social Security One way to guarantee that no tax will be applied to your Social Security benefits, at least for a period of time, is not to collect them. Instead, consider funding your early retirement years through IRA and 401(k) withdrawals. Even though those funds will be subject to income tax, the strategy could increase your future Social Security benefits and potentially decrease your future AGI. Youre eligible to claim Social Security benefits once you reach the age of 62, but it pays to delay since your benefit will be about 30% greater if you wait till full retirement age, which is between 66 and 67, depending on your birth year. Beyond that, your monthly payout increases every year you delay filing for benefits until you reach age 70. Additionally, if you withdraw from your non-Roth retirement accounts, you reduce the balance in these accounts, which in turn will reduce the required minimum distributions (RMDs), which are the amounts youll be required to withdraw as of a legally specified age (either 72 or 73, depending on your birthday and birth year). Lower RMDs could result in AGIs falling below the thresholds that trigger taxes on Social Security. 4. Maximize your tax efficiencies Check in with your financial adviser to ensure your retirement investments are being managed as tax-efficiently as possible. One way to do this is through tax-loss harvesting, whereby selling stocks at a loss offsets capital gains earned elsewhere, reducing taxable income and your AGI. 5. Donate your RMDs to charity If you dont need the income from your RMDs, you can avoid having them count as part of your AGI by donating them to charity. Paying tax on your Social Security benefit can come as an unpleasant surprise, especially when youre trying to prolong your income in retirement. Talk to your financial adviser about which strategies could help to reduce that tax burden and maximize your benefits. What to read next Worried about the economy? Here are the best shock-proof assets for your portfolio. (Theyre all outside of the stock market.) Rising prices are throwing off Americans' retirement plans here's how to get your savings back on track Jeff Bezos and Oprah Winfrey invest in this asset to keep their wealth safe you may want to do the same in 2023 This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Key Insights The considerable ownership by private companies in Q & M Dental Group (Singapore) indicates that they collectively have a greater say in management and business strategy Quan Min Holdings Pte Ltd. owns 53% of the company Using data from company's past performance alongside ownership research, one can better assess the future performance of a company A look at the shareholders of Q & M Dental Group (Singapore) Limited (SGX:QC7) can tell us which group is most powerful. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 56% to be precise, is private companies. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn). And individual investors on the other hand have a 31% ownership in the company. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Q & M Dental Group (Singapore), beginning with the chart below. See our latest analysis for Q & M Dental Group (Singapore) What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Q & M Dental Group (Singapore)? 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. Since institutions own only a small portion of Q & M Dental Group (Singapore), many may not have spent much time considering the stock. But it's clear that some have; and they liked it enough to buy in. So if the company itself can improve over time, we may well see more institutional buyers in the future. When multiple institutional investors want to buy shares, we often see a rising share price. The past revenue trajectory (shown below) can be an indication of future growth, but there are no guarantees. Q & M Dental Group (Singapore) is not owned by hedge funds. The company's largest shareholder is Quan Min Holdings Pte Ltd., with ownership of 53%. This implies that they have majority interest control of the future of the company. With 6.8% and 1.8% of the shares outstanding respectively, Heritas Capital Management Pte. Ltd. and Quan Min Plus Pte. Ltd. are the second and third largest shareholders. Additionally, the company's CEO Chin-Siau Ng directly holds 0.6% of the total shares outstanding. Story continues While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. While there is some analyst coverage, the company is probably not widely covered. So it could gain more attention, down the track. Insider Ownership Of Q & M Dental Group (Singapore) The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves. Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group. Shareholders would probably be interested to learn that insiders own shares in Q & M Dental Group (Singapore) Limited. It has a market capitalization of just S$232m, and insiders have S$12m worth of shares, in their own names. It is good to see some investment by insiders, but we usually like to see higher insider holdings. It might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying. General Public Ownership The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 31% stake in Q & M Dental Group (Singapore). While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies. Private Equity Ownership With a stake of 6.8%, private equity firms could influence the Q & M Dental Group (Singapore) board. Some might like this, because private equity are sometimes activists who hold management accountable. But other times, private equity is selling out, having taking the company public. Private Company Ownership It seems that Private Companies own 56%, of the Q & M Dental Group (Singapore) stock. It's hard to draw any conclusions from this fact alone, so its worth looking into who owns those private companies. Sometimes insiders or other related parties have an interest in shares in a public company through a separate private company. Next Steps: It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Q & M Dental Group (Singapore) better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 4 warning signs for Q & M Dental Group (Singapore) you should know about. If you would prefer discover what analysts are predicting in terms of future growth, do not miss this free report on analyst forecasts. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Investors are often guided by the idea of discovering 'the next big thing', even if that means buying 'story stocks' without any revenue, let alone profit. But the reality is that when a company loses money each year, for long enough, its investors will usually take their share of those losses. Loss making companies can act like a sponge for capital - so investors should be cautious that they're not throwing good money after bad. In contrast to all that, many investors prefer to focus on companies like Compass Group (LON:CPG), which has not only revenues, but also profits. While this doesn't necessarily speak to whether it's undervalued, the profitability of the business is enough to warrant some appreciation - especially if its growing. Check out our latest analysis for Compass Group Compass Group's Improving Profits Even when EPS earnings per share (EPS) growth is unexceptional, company value can be created if this rate is sustained each year. So it's no surprise that some investors are more inclined to invest in profitable businesses. Outstandingly, Compass Group's EPS shot from UK0.41 to UK0.74, over the last year. Year on year growth of 81% is certainly a sight to behold. That could be a sign that the business has reached a true inflection point. Careful consideration of revenue growth and earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) margins can help inform a view on the sustainability of the recent profit growth. Compass Group maintained stable EBIT margins over the last year, all while growing revenue 41% to UK30b. That's progress. You can take a look at the company's revenue and earnings growth trend, in the chart below. To see the actual numbers, click on the chart. In investing, as in life, the future matters more than the past. So why not check out this free interactive visualization of Compass Group's forecast profits? Are Compass Group Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders? Investors are always searching for a vote of confidence in the companies they hold and insider buying is one of the key indicators for optimism on the market. That's because insider buying often indicates that those closest to the company have confidence that the share price will perform well. However, small purchases are not always indicative of conviction, and insiders don't always get it right. Story continues Insiders both bought and sold Compass Group shares in the last year, but the good news is they spent UK27k more buying than they netted selling. At face value we can consider this a fairly encouraging sign for the company. It is also worth noting that it was Group CFO & Director Charles Brown who made the biggest single purchase, worth UK53k, paying UK18.80 per share. Along with the insider buying, another encouraging sign for Compass Group is that insiders, as a group, have a considerable shareholding. To be specific, they have UK15m worth of shares. That shows significant buy-in, and may indicate conviction in the business strategy. Despite being just 0.04% of the company, the value of that investment is enough to show insiders have plenty riding on the venture. Shareholders have more to smile about than just insiders adding more shares to their already sizeable holdings. The cherry on top is that the CEO, Dominic Blakemore is paid comparatively modestly to CEOs at similar sized companies. For companies with market capitalisations over UK6.6b, like Compass Group, the median CEO pay is around UK4.2m. Compass Group offered total compensation worth UK3.3m to its CEO in the year to September 2022. That is actually below the median for CEO's of similarly sized companies. While the level of CEO compensation shouldn't be the biggest factor in how the company is viewed, modest remuneration is a positive, because it suggests that the board keeps shareholder interests in mind. It can also be a sign of good governance, more generally. Should You Add Compass Group To Your Watchlist? Compass Group's earnings per share have been soaring, with growth rates sky high. To make matters even better, the company insiders who know the company best have put their faith in the its future and have been buying more stock. This quick rundown suggests that the business may be of good quality, and also at an inflection point, so maybe Compass Group deserves timely attention. However, before you get too excited we've discovered 1 warning sign for Compass Group that you should be aware of. The good news is that Compass Group is not the only growth stock with insider buying. Here's a list of them... with insider buying in the last three months! Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia Commons Robert Kiyosaki, popular financial personality and founder of the Rich Dad series of videos, books and blog, is on a mission to change peoples mindsets when it comes to investing. The cornerstone of his investment philosophy is to generate cash flow to pay for your obligations and liabilities, primarily through the use of income-producing real estate. When many investors hear the recommendation that they should buy real estate, they instinctively say, I cant afford it. But Kiyosaki wants to turn that line of thinking around, to How can I afford it? instead. Grant Cardone Says Passive Income Is the Key To Building Wealth: Heres His No. 1 Way To Get It Find Out: 3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000 Here are Kiyosakis six suggestions for how to find money to invest in real estate. Family and Friends Raising investment money from family and friends is both the most accessible and the most dangerous way to go. While its likely that you have friends and family that are willing to help you out with your investment venture, its also an easy way to put strain on a relationship. If you arent able to provide the return your friends and family expect, or even worse, if you lose all of their money outright, its likely to create some friction. Kiyosakis advice if you go this route is to raise money like a professional, and dont lean on emotions or family ties to get the money. Rather, make a presentation as you would to any other type of investor, create written agreements and do your best to provide them with a sufficient return. Housing Market 2023: The 10 Most Overpriced Housing Markets in the US 5 Are in Florida Seller Financing Rather than simply unloading a property for cash, some sellers might be willing to enter a seller financing arrangement. Under this type of sale, you dont get a traditional mortgage but rather enter into a loan agreement with the seller. This eliminates the risk of finding and maintaining renters for the original seller while guaranteeing them a steady monthly check, among other potential benefits. Story continues From your perspective as a buyer, it removes the burden of going through the traditional mortgage process and finding enough cash for a down payment. Not all sellers are amenable to such an arrangement, but it is a potential option. Cash Flow Financing Cash flow financing can be a great option for raising money, because it doesnt require you to raise a significant amount of money upfront. Rather, you promise to pay the seller back through the cash flow that you will generate from owning the business or property. In essence, youre agreeing to borrow from your anticipated future cash flow to pay back the cost of your purchase. As with seller financing, of which cash flow financing is a variant, not all sellers will agree to this type of arrangement. Lender Financing Lender financing is a more traditional type of financing arrangement, in which a financial institution provides you with the upfront cash you need in exchange for a mortgage or loan agreement in which you agree to make monthly payments. However, particularly for business transactions, there are a wide variety of types of loans and lenders available. Depending on your needs, you may be able to structure a deal thats uniquely tailored to your needs. Assumable Loans In some cases, you can buy a property by assuming an existing loan that a borrower may have defaulted on, abandoned or simply wants to get out of. In this case, you simply take over the payments on a property from the original owner, with the ownership and responsibility essentially just transferring over to you. Youll have to abide by the terms of the original contract, and thats the key in this type of situation. Youll have to analyze whether those terms are better or worse than you could get from other sources under current market conditions. One benefit is that youll likely have lower closing costs, according to Kiyosaki. Outside Investors One way to raise money for your investments is to pitch it to outside investors. In exchange for them putting up a down payment on a property you want to buy, for example, youll have to promise them some type of return. For example, you might have to promise your investors 50% of the cash flow you receive from a rental property, or a large percentage of the profit in the event you sell it. This wont generally work with a seasoned investor, but it may with someone who doesnt have the time, knowledge or interest to make or manage these types of investments. The Bottom Line Kiyosakis suggestions for raising money for investment are not new in and of themselves. But his concept of changing investors mindsets about how to get money for investment are. By changing your mindset from I cant to How can I, Kiyosaki says you can transform how you approach investing and get on the path to generating life-altering income over time. The steps are just an example of ways that you can get there. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Rich Dad Robert Kiyosaki Reveals 6 Ways To Find Investing Money PERTH, Australia, October 20, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rio Tinto and Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation (YEC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore opportunities to collaborate on renewable energy projects on Yindjibarndi country in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020839231/en/ Rio Tinto and YEC will study and evaluate a range of opportunities including wind and solar power as well as battery energy storage systems. The initial focus is on rapidly exploring the potential development of a solar power generation facility for the supply of energy to Rio Tinto. Rio Tinto operates four gas-fired power stations in the Pilbara. About 600MW to 700MW of renewable generation is estimated to be required to displace the majority of gas use across its network. The company is currently assessing the development of approximately 300MW of solar projects. The collaboration opportunities currently being explored by Rio Tinto and YEC if progressed, would be complementary to renewable energy developments on Rio Tinto Iron Ores electricity grid. YEC was established in June following an agreement between Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation (YAC) and renewable energy developer ACEN Corporation (ACEN) to progress the development of major renewable energy projects on Yindjibarndi Ngurra (country) an area covering approximately 13,000km2 within the Yindjibarndi Native Title Determination Areas. YECs initial plans include a Stage 1 target of 750MW of combined wind, solar, and battery storage with construction to commence within the next few years. The collaboration opportunities being considered by Rio Tinto and YEC relate to some of these Stage 1 projects. YAC Chief Executive Michael Woodley said, "Yindjibarndi Ngurra is ideally suited to developing renewable energy generation and our people are encouraged by Rio Tintos interest in building this capacity with us. Story continues "This will strengthen our existing partnership and provide long term benefits for our community, while also ensuring that we can protect and preserve the areas of cultural, spiritual and environmental significance within our Ngurra." ACEN International CEO Patrice Clausse said: "This MOU signifies more than just a partnership; it's a testament to the shared vision of sustainable energy development on Yindjibarndi Ngurra. "It is the perfect blend of traditional significance and modern technology, designed to harness the limitless potential of the Pilbara's sun and wind, while respecting the deep-rooted connection of the Yindjibarndi people with their land. "Together, we are crafting an energy future that is not only renewable, but also renewing, by empowering local communities and contributing to a greener future." Rio Tinto Iron Ore Chief Executive Simon Trott said, "We are focused on repowering our Pilbara operations with renewable energy through the end of this decade and beyond by replacing gas and diesel with clean energy alternatives. "The Pilbara is blessed with abundant year-round sunshine and strong winds at night, making it one of the most attractive places in the world to harness solar and wind power for energy generation. Were excited to be deepening our partnership with the Yindjibarndi People through this agreement and look forward to working closely with them. "We recognise we have a large carbon footprint in the Pilbara and are exploring a number of innovative solutions to help address this, including future collaborations with other Traditional Owner groups in the region." Notes to editors Rio Tinto has committed to reducing its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2030 across its global operations, with an estimated $7.5 billion planned to be spent on decarbonisation projects, predominantly in the second half of the decade. These projects will support a longer-term ambition of net zero emissions by 2050. Rio Tintos rail network, which connects its Pilbara mines to ports at Cape Lambert and Dampier in Western Australia, traverses Yindjibarndi Country. Rio Tinto has held a Participation Agreement and Indigenous Land Use Agreement with YAC, the representative body for the Yindjibarndi people, since 2013. Last year, Rio Tinto and YAC signed an updated agreement aimed at strengthening ties and delivering improved social and economic outcomes for the Yindjibarndi people. The agreement reflects a joint commitment to work together to create more opportunities for the Yindjibarndi people to participate in Rio Tintos operations, including direct and indirect employment opportunities, and build sustainable long-term benefits to the community. About ACEN ACEN (PSE:ACEN) is the listed energy platform of the Ayala Group. The company has ~4,500 MW of attributable capacity from owned facilities in the Philippines, Australia, Vietnam, Indonesia and India, with a renewable share of 98%, which is among the highest in the region. ACENs aspiration is to be the largest listed renewables platform in Southeast Asia, with a goal of reaching 20 GW of renewables capacity by 2030. ACEN is committed to transition the companys generation portfolio to 100% renewable energy by 2025 and to become a Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions company by 2050. www.acenrenewables.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020839231/en/ Contacts Please direct all enquiries to media.enquiries@riotinto.com or info@yindjibarndienergy.com.au Media Relations, Australia Matt Chambers M +61 433 525 739 Jesse Riseborough M +61 436 653 412 Alyesha Anderson M +61 434 868 118 Michelle Lee M +61 458 609 322 Rio Tinto plc 6 St Jamess Square London SW1Y 4AD United Kingdom T +44 20 7781 2000 Registered in England No. 719885 Rio Tinto Limited Level 43, 120 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 Australia T +61 3 9283 3333 Registered in Australia ABN 96 004 458 404 riotinto.com Category: General This weeks FreightWaves Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 35 (Shippers) Last weeks FreightWaves Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 35 (Shippers) Three-month FreightWaves Supply Chain Pricing Power Index Outlook: 35 (Shippers) The FreightWaves Supply Chain Pricing Power Index uses the analytics and data in FreightWaves SONAR to analyze the market and estimate the negotiating power for rates between shippers and carriers. This weeks Pricing Power Index is based on the following indicators: Keep the champagne corked Freight demand is settling deeper into a seasonal slide at the close of October. While not by itself indicative of a failed recovery, this downward trend is doubtlessly painful for those carriers and brokerages still skirting the razors edge with thinning margins. Unfortunately, as will be discussed below, there is not much hope for a resurgence in freight volumes in the remainder of this year. Tender volumes are below year-ago levels: SONAR: OTVI.USA: 2023 (white), 2022 (blue) and 2021 (green) To learn more about FreightWaves SONAR, click here. This week, the Outbound Tender Volume Index (OTVI), which measures national freight demand by shippers requests for capacity, fell 0.3% week over week (w/w). On a year-over-year (y/y) basis, OTVI is down 4.56%, though such y/y comparisons can be colored by significant shifts in tender rejections. OTVI, which includes both accepted and rejected tenders, can be inflated by an uptick in the Outbound Tender Reject Index (OTRI). Accepted volumes are outpaced by 2021 and 22: SONAR: CLAV.USA: 2023 (white), 2022 (blue) and 2021 (green) To learn more about FreightWaves SONAR, click here. Contract Load Accepted Volume (CLAV) is an index that measures accepted load volumes moving under contracted agreements. In short, it is similar to OTVI but without the rejected tenders. Looking at accepted tender volumes, we see a rise of 0.54% w/w as well as a fall of 3.57% y/y. This narrowing y/y difference implies that actual freight flow is still recovering from this cycles bottom. As this column tends to focus on over-the-road truckload markets, one topic that is not frequently discussed here is maritime demand. Yet it should not be concluded that the ocean market is irrelevant to truckers far from it, as imports accounted for the bulk of truckload volumes in the 2020-2021 freight market boom. Of course, one key supplier of U.S. maritime imports is China, though the country will see its place diminish in the coming years as re- and nearshoring efforts finally bear fruit. Story continues Until then, however, China is the trade partner to watch. In the first week of October, China halted or significantly slowed operations in its manufacturing and distribution hubs during the countrys celebration of Golden Week. From Sept. 26 to Oct. 6, bookings to the U.S. from all ports not just Chinas tumbled by more than 37% before recovering from the holiday. Bear in mind that these bookings preceded the vessels actual date of departure by roughly nine days, that transit times to the U.S. averaged over 27 days and that delays at either the shipping or receiving ports averaged a little under four days. Barring any congestion at the ports of discharge, the above numbers imply that Golden Weeks disruption to the flow of U.S. imports will not be truly felt until 40 or more days approximately six weeks after the holiday. Assuming little delay with U.S. customs (a dangerous assumption if ever there was one), this 40-day lag leaves those imports with less than a week to move before Thanksgiving Day. In the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas, truckload volumes are sluggish at best. While carriers can gain pricing power here, since last-minute holiday shipments typically command a premium rate, it is not guaranteed: In 2022, spot rates from Octobers peak to Decembers rose by only 3.7%. In short, the bulk of the recovery will likely be delayed to Q2 2024 at the earliest. Major markets see muted weekly performances: SONAR: Outbound Tender Volume Index Weekly Change (OTVIW). To learn more about FreightWaves SONAR, click here. Of the 135 total markets, 64 reported weekly increases in tender volumes, though the hottest markets were small and scattered along the U.S.-Mexico border. Falling elevators Rejection rates have fallen far from their brief rally at the start of October. Outside of the aforementioned holiday rush periods, the fundamental lack of freight demand will continue to expose the lingering overcapacity in the market. This capacity will be bled out more slowly than in previous cycles, thanks in large part to the intervention of freight brokerages. This trend is a double-edged sword: On the one hand, a small number of tenacious carriers would benefit from supply and demand coming into balance sooner rather than later. On the other hand, this level of subsistence could keep overleveraged carriers around long enough to profit from the next boom. OTRIs recent gains are quickly lost: SONAR: OTRI.USA: 2023 (white), 2022 (blue) and 2021 (green) To learn more about FreightWaves SONAR, click here. Over the past week, OTRI, which measures relative capacity in the market, fell to 3.69%, a change of 25 basis points from the week prior. OTRI is now 76 bps below year-ago levels, with y/y comparisons becoming more favorable even if OTRI just remains stable. Subsistence-level trucking is being jeopardized by the potential collapse of freight brokerages, which face their biggest challenges when contract rates lag painfully behind a recovering market in other words, when the spread between spot and contract rates narrows. The largest domino to fall this week was Convoy, a digital freight brokerage that shuttered within a 48-hour window. The first warning was given with little advance notice on Wednesday, when all of Convoys shipments were abruptly canceled and its load board unceremoniously emptied. Yet it was not the industrys only departure this week, as Certified Freight Logistics a 95-year-old carrier and brokerage announced that it would cease operating on Saturday. Capacity remained broadly loose this week: SONAR: WRI (color) To learn more about FreightWaves SONAR, click here. The map above shows the Weighted Rejection Index (WRI), the product of the Outbound Tender Reject Index Weekly Change and Outbound Tender Market Share, as a way to prioritize rejection rate changes. As capacity is generally finding freight this week, no regions posted blue markets, which are usually the ones to focus on. Of the 135 markets, 53 reported higher rejection rates over the past week, though 37 of those saw increases of only 100 or fewer bps. Squeezing every last drop Adding to the list of carrier woes is the recent collapse of the spread between retail and wholesale diesel prices, which nearly halved in just two weeks. This spread is significant for those carriers (typically large, enterprise fleets) that purchase diesel at cheaper wholesale prices and charge shippers whether directly through contract agreements or indirectly through higher all-in rates at retail cost. This margin often proves a significant boon during freight market recessions. Contract rates start the quarter with a whimper: SONAR: National Truckload Index, 7-day average (white; right axis) and dry van contract rate (green; left axis). To learn more about FreightWaves SONAR, click here. This week, the National Truckload Index (NTI) which includes fuel surcharges and other accessorials fell 3 cents per mile to $2.24. Sliding linehaul rates were wholly responsible for this decline, as the linehaul variant of the NTI (NTIL) which excludes fuel surcharges and other accessorials fell 3 cents per mile w/w to $1.55. Contract rates, which are reported on a two-week delay, are not entering Q4 with the boldest of strides. Since the majority of bids are historically conducted between early Q4 and mid-to-late Q2, the tempo of the contract market going into 2024 will not be known for a few weeks yet. For the time being, contract rates which exclude fuel surcharges and other accessorials like the NTIL are down 1 cent per mile w/w at $2.35. SONAR: RATES.USA To learn more about FreightWaves SONAR, click here. The chart above shows the spread between the NTIL and dry van contract rates, revealing the index has fallen to all-time lows in the data set, which dates to early 2019. Throughout that year, contract rates exceeded spot rates, leading to a record number of bankruptcies in the space. Once COVID-19 spread, spot rates reacted quickly, rising to record highs seemingly weekly, while contract rates slowly crept higher throughout 2021. Despite this spread narrowing significantly early in the year, tightening by 20 cents per mile in January, it has remained wide throughout most of the year to date. As linehaul spot rates remain 76 cents below contract rates, there is still plenty of room for contract rates to decline or for spot rates to rise in the remainder of the year. SONAR: FreightWaves TRAC rate from Los Angeles to Dallas. To learn more about FreightWaves TRAC, click here. The FreightWaves Trusted Rate Assessment Consortium (TRAC) spot rate from Los Angeles to Dallas, arguably one of the densest freight lanes in the country, is still securing its footing. Over the past week, the TRAC rate was left unchanged at $2.31 per mile still some distance from its year-to-date high of $2.39. The daily NTI (NTID), which has fallen to $2.24, is finally being outpaced by rates along this lane. SONAR: FreightWaves TRAC rate from Atlanta to Philadelphia. To learn more about FreightWaves TRAC, click here. On the East Coast, especially out of Atlanta, rates have come down from Julys early peak but are still outpacing the NTID. The FreightWaves TRAC rate from Atlanta to Philadelphia fell 2 cents per mile to $2.29. After a bull run that started at the end of April, this lane had been plateauing above the national average, which made north-to-south lanes in the East more attractive than West Coast alternatives. For more information on FreightWaves research, please contact Michael Rudolph at mrudolph@freightwaves.com or Tony Mulvey at tmulvey@freightwaves.com. The post Seasonal depression appeared first on FreightWaves. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has dropped all charges against Ripple Labs Chief Executive Officer Brad Garlinghouse and Executive Chairman Chris Larsen, according to an Oct. 19 court filing. See related article: XRP triumphs over SEC, but crypto clarity remains in the shadows Fast Facts: The SEC will no longer pursue claims that Ripples Garlinghouse and Larsen aided the company in violating securities laws related to its XRP transactions. According to Thursdays filing, the parties agreed to voluntarily dismiss the aiding and abetting charges with prejudice, meaning that the charges cant be filed again. The filing added that the SEC will continue pursuing its claims against Ripple. In July, Judge Torres ruled Ripple Labs programmatic sales of the XRP token to retail investors did not qualify as financial securities. The judge granted the SEC to file an interlocutory appeal until Aug. 18. Interlocutory appeals occur before all claims to both parties are resolved and are only allowed under specific circumstances. Earlier this month, Judge Analisa Tores rejected the agencys interlocutory motion to overturn her ruling. In December 2020, the SEC sued the San Francisco-based technology firm and its executives alleging that Ripples sale of XRP was an unregistered securities offering. The XRP token rose 6.49% in the 24 hours leading up to 4:50 p.m. in Hong Kong, to trade at US$0.512, according to CoinMarketCap. See related article: Valkyrie CIO expects US spot Bitcoin ETF approval in Q2 2024 A logo of low cost carrier Spirit Airlines is pictured on an Airbus plane in Colomiers near Toulouse CHICAGO (Reuters) -Spirit Airlines on Friday said it has canceled a portion of its scheduled flights to perform a "necessary" inspection of a small section" of 25 planes. The company said the action is being taken out of "an abundance of caution," and said the impact on its network is expected to last for several days. The ultra-low-cost carrier did not provide details of the inspections. It also did not share a timeline for their completion. "We apologize for the inconvenience and are working to take care of affected guests," Spirit said in a statement. Data from flight-tracking website FlightAware shows that the airline had canceled 11% of its flights on Friday. (Reporting by Rajesh Kumar Singh; Editing by Leslie Adler) Deutsche Real Estate AG (FRA:DRE2) shareholders might be concerned after seeing the share price drop 16% in the last quarter. But that scarcely detracts from the really solid long term returns generated by the company over five years. Indeed, the share price is up an impressive 105% in that time. So while it's never fun to see a share price fall, it's important to look at a longer time horizon. Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean it's cheap now. With that in mind, it's worth seeing if the company's underlying fundamentals have been the driver of long term performance, or if there are some discrepancies. See our latest analysis for Deutsche Real Estate While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price. Deutsche Real Estate's earnings per share are down 60% per year, despite strong share price performance over five years. The impact of extraordinary items on earnings, in the last year, partially explain the diversion. This means it's unlikely the market is judging the company based on earnings growth. Since the change in EPS doesn't seem to correlate with the change in share price, it's worth taking a look at other metrics. We doubt the modest 0.5% dividend yield is attracting many buyers to the stock. The revenue reduction of 5.5% per year is not a positive. So it seems one might have to take closer look at earnings and revenue trends to see how they might influence the share price. The company's revenue and earnings (over time) are depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). This free interactive report on Deutsche Real Estate's balance sheet strength is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further. What About Dividends? When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. In the case of Deutsche Real Estate, it has a TSR of 107% for the last 5 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! Story continues A Different Perspective Investors in Deutsche Real Estate had a tough year, with a total loss of 16% (including dividends), against a market gain of about 13%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. On the bright side, long term shareholders have made money, with a gain of 16% per year over half a decade. It could be that the recent sell-off is an opportunity, so it may be worth checking the fundamental data for signs of a long term growth trend. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Deutsche Real Estate you should know about. If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of companies that have proven they can grow earnings. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on German exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Pair Called for Indonesia to Lead the World in Building a Green Economy JAKARTA, INDONESIA / ACCESSWIRE / October 20, 2023 / Tens of thousands of Indonesians turned up to support the ruling party's presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo and his Vice President running mate Mahfud MD as they registered their candidacy at Indonesia's election commission on Thursday. Ganjar and Mahfud Ganjar Pranowo, a former Central Java governor, is a leading contender in the presidential election to be held next February. Indonesian senior minister Mahfud MD was named a day earlier as his running mate. "Mr. Ganjar is a popular and brave leader. He dares to correct wrongdoings, dares to accept criticism, and dares to fight for political values that he believes in," said Mahfud. The pair registered their candidacy on the first day of registration for presidential and vice-presidential candidates, with thousands of supporters cheering them on. During his decade as governor, Ganjar mandated free basic education, building of public infrastructure, increasing anti-poverty programs and empowering farmers. His second term ended last month. "We are confident that with this shared spirit, we will soon achieve a much better future and life for the entire Indonesian nation," Ganjar said. He called for Indonesia to lead the world in building a green economy. "Our world is facing a climate crisis that threatens the lives of all of us. We must utilize all of Indonesia's natural potential for the good of all citizens and also ensure that nature remains sustainable," declared Ganjar. "Technology is the main requirement that we must have to be able to realize our future dreams through the development of a Green and Blue Economy," he added. His Vice President pick Mahfud is a seasoned politician, Islamic scholar and former judge. He is currently the country's Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs. Mahfud's nomination was announced on Wednesday by former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, chairwoman of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P). Story continues Referring to Mahfud, she said, "He is an honest and brave person who always fights for the rights of the people." "The pairing of Mr. Ganjar and Mr. Mahfud will enrich this country's democracy," Megawati added. Contact Information Kris Nathan kris.nathan8@gmail.com +44 7423305286 SOURCE: Ganjar-Mahfud Presidential Campaign . View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/794863/thousands-cheer-ganjar-pranowo-and-mahfud-md-as-they-register-for-indonesia-election HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Park Hyatt Saigon announces the appointment of Mael Monchauzou as Square One's French Chef de Cuisine, Gilles Delaloy as Pastry Chef and Alexandre Custeau as Beverage Manager in charge of 2 Lam Son Bar. The master trio will join forces to solidify the leading position of Park Hyatt Saigon restaurants and bars on Ho Chi Minh city's food and beverage scene. Born in Monaco, Mael Monchauzou's profound passion for food and hospitality found its roots within the very heart of his home. Commencing his culinary odyssey at the tender age of 14, Mael has sharpened his skills through prominent roles in Michelin-starred restaurants, such as Le Louis XV (3 Michelin stars), and Joel Robuchon (2 Michelin stars). With a strong background in French cuisine, Chef Mael now stands as the driving force behind Square One French Kitchen to uphold the prestige of French haute cuisine and strengthen the position of Square One in the Michelin Guide. At the same time, with an impressive culinary journey spanning three decades and enriched by distinguished tenures in France, USA, Mexico, Malaysia, Singapore, and Spain, Gilles Delaloy brings a wealth of experience and expertise to elevate the art of patisserie at Park Hyatt Saigon while retaining the European fundamentals that underpin the hotel's world-class pastry heritage. "My connection with Saigon began a decade ago when I first visited the city and instantly fell in love. Park Hyatt Saigon has held a special place in my aspirations since then, inspiring me to take the reins of The Pastry Boutique and Chocolaterie." shares Chef Gilles. Three renowned masters join Park Hyatt Saigon for a new chapter of luxury. Taking the role of Beverage Manager, Alexandre Custeau brings with him a remarkable 14 years of excellence in the bar and spirit industry. His extensive experience spans across prestigious hotels in both Canada and China, where he has honed his craft and developed a deep passion for mixology and guest satisfaction. Alexandre is poised to foster 2 Lam Son bar's reputation and drive the hotel beverage program with innovative concepts to achieve unparalleled service standards, thus establishing a new precedent for the city's mixology industry. Story continues While the trio's roles may differ, their expertise, creativity, and dedication to their respective crafts will collectively make Park Hyatt Saigon a beacon of culinary and mixological excellence in the city. Mr Frederic Boulin, General Manager of Park Hyatt Saigon, welcomes the three masters to Park Hyatt Saigon family: "We are delighted to welcome Gilles, Mael and Alexandre to our stellar team. Their talent and passion align perfectly with our commitment to offering guests unforgettable experiences. With the addition of the three masters, we aim to set new industry benchmarks, enhancing the reputation and legacy of our Park Hyatt brand." CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD HI-RES PHOTOS Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/three-renowned-masters-join-park-hyatt-saigon-for-a-new-chapter-of-luxury-301963064.html SOURCE Park Hyatt Saigon Churches shoe shop Churchs, the 150 year-old Northampton shoemaker, has been forced to cut jobs and close shops after a drop off in Asian tourists visiting its shops. The company, which made Tony Blairs lucky shoes that he wore for PMQs while Prime Minister, has been forced into a major restructure of its business after losing almost 50m over the last two years. Churchs has closed 24 shops around the world and slashed jobs across all areas of the business, directors wrote in newly published accounts. The company lost 23.6m last year, saying fewer tourists from Asia visiting its shops were partly to blame. Churchs made around 50 redundancies at its Northamptonshire factory earlier this year, including some employees who had worked there for decades. Gary Clarke, 60, told the Northampton Chronicle and Echo in April: I gave 44 years of my working life to the company and it is such a shame. All other boot and shoe companies seem to be prospering, but not Churchs. Its heartbreaking and I know others are in the exact same situation as me. Churchs has been struggling to turn around performance after sales crashed to a 40-year low in 2021 during the pandemic. Industry watchers have claimed a decision to raise prices contributed to the slump. A pair of the companys handmade shoes can cost upwards of 900. Sales more than doubled in 2022, rising from 6m to 13.3m as the effect of the pandemic eased. However, pre-tax losses narrowed only slightly, shrinking from 24.7m to 23.6m. Churchs was set-up by shoemaker Thomas Church in 1873. The formerly family-owned business has been owned by Prada since 1999, when the Italian luxury goods giant bought the company in a $170m deal. Tony Blair wore the same pair of Church's shoes to every Prime Minister's Questions between 1997 and 2007 - PA Wire Mr Blair credited his repeated success at the despatch box to a pair of lucky Churchs Chetwynd brogues that he wore religiously to every Prime Ministers Questions between 1997 and 2007. The former Prime Minister told The Times in 2007: I know its ridiculous, but Ive worn them for every PMQs. Ive actually had them for 18 years. Story continues The pair are believed to have cost Mr Blair around 150 but today sell for 940. Churchs shoes have also been worn by two James Bonds: Pierce Brosnan wore them in Goldeneye and The World is Not Enough, while Daniel Craig wore a pair in Quantum of Solace. A spokesman for the company told The Telegraph: In light of the challenging environment in which we are operating, we have had to make a number of difficult decisions but are confident that these changes will set Churchs up for success. Over the past two years, we have been focused on a significant reorganisation of Churchs to put the business on a strong footing and ensure sustainable, long-term growth. We remain committed to strengthening Churchs industrial heritage in Northampton and ensure that this distinctly British brand can grow long into the future. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. B2B buyers from Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and Africa sharply increased imports from China via WorldFirst New study finds that emerging market buyers face a host of challenges in international payments GUANGZHOU, China, October 20, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WorldFirst, a one-stop global payment and financial services platform for SMEs engaged in cross-border trade, today reported a strong growth in adoption by international buyers who use WorldFirst as their preferred payment and financing solution for sourcing a wide range of competitively-priced, quality goods from China. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231019497901/en/ Global buyers who visit the WorldFirst stand at the ongoing Canton Fair in Guangzhou, China, consistently express their top three requirements for international payments: security, speed, and compliance. (Photo: Business Wire) In the first nine months of 2023, the import value from China by business-to-business buyers (B2B) via WorldFirst witnessed a remarkable increase of 83% compared to the same period last year. Concurrently, the number of active Chinese B2B suppliers on the WorldFirst platform, who sell goods to international buyers, surged by more than 80% to meet the robust import requirements. While established economies such as the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and Singapore continued to be major importers of Chinese goods through the WorldFirst platform, emerging markets, including Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa, showcased some of the highest rates of import growth. Notably, in the third quarter, the quarter-on-quarter growth rate of import value from Africa, South America and ASEAN countries exceeded 20%, 18%, and 14%, respectively. Clara Shi, Vice President of Ant Group and CEO of WorldFirst, said, "The significant increase in import activity from emerging markets indicates not only solid consumption demand in these regions, but also a growing preference among buyers for a one-stop platform that can provide fast, low-cost, and secure international payment solutions for global sourcing. This trend is particularly noticeable in their sourcing activities from China." WorldFirst is part of Ant Group. Story continues According to the Report on Payment for Emerging Market B2B Trade, a collaborative study conducted by Ebrun and WorldFirst, B2B buyers from emerging markets encounter a number of challenges and risks when it comes to paying their overseas suppliers. The report highlights that the absence of dependable international payment channels often compels these buyers to resort to precarious payment methods. Additionally, the report reveals that the substantial volatility in exchange rates of emerging-market currencies can significantly impact profits. These challenges underscore the importance of having a reliable international payment solution provider that can effectively address these issues and facilitate B2B trade with emerging markets, said Shi. "The strong growth in adoption of WorldFirst by emerging-market buyers this year shows that we are on the right track to help solve these challenges, thanks to our robust risk-control and security measures, support for multiple major trade and emerging-market currencies, presence in over 40 global markets and vast supplier network in China," she added. WorldFirst data shows that in the first nine months of 2023, the top 10 categories for B2B imports were: home appliances, consumer electronics, apparel, automotive accessories, machinery and electrical equipment, food and beverages, textiles, leather shoes and bags, home decoration materials, and hardware tools. Additionally, electric vehicles, lithium batteries, and solar cells were among the new sought-after Chinese goods on the back of solid demand for renewable energy products. China continues to maintain its position as a global leader in terms of sourcing destination, offering a diverse range of goods, latest global trade data indicates. A recent WorldFirst-supported study on importing and exporting SMEs in Australia showed that China was one of the top international markets for expansion for Australian SMEs. About WorldFirst Through the World Account, WorldFirst is meeting the needs of SMEs engaged in international trade or business, both online via marketplaces or websites, as well as offline to support importers and exporters. This includes global collection (receiving payments), making payments, currency conversion, risk management, and supply chain financing to help WorldFirst customers reduce costs, improve turnover efficiency to generate more revenue and sales, and quickly capture global business opportunities. WorldFirst serves one million customers worldwide and is connected to over 120 marketplaces. WorldFirst was founded in 2004 and joined Ant Group in 2019. To learn more about WorldFirst at https://www.worldfirst.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231019497901/en/ Contacts Media: mou.xu@worldfirst.com Did you know there are some financial metrics that can provide clues of a potential multi-bagger? Firstly, we'll want to see a proven return on capital employed (ROCE) that is increasing, and secondly, an expanding base of capital employed. This shows us that it's a compounding machine, able to continually reinvest its earnings back into the business and generate higher returns. And in light of that, the trends we're seeing at Altria Group's (NYSE:MO) look very promising so lets take a look. Understanding Return On Capital Employed (ROCE) If you haven't worked with ROCE before, it measures the 'return' (pre-tax profit) a company generates from capital employed in its business. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Altria Group: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.47 = US$12b (US$37b - US$12b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2023). So, Altria Group has an ROCE of 47%. In absolute terms that's a great return and it's even better than the Tobacco industry average of 18%. View our latest analysis for Altria Group roce Above you can see how the current ROCE for Altria Group compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you'd like to see what analysts are forecasting going forward, you should check out our free report for Altria Group. The Trend Of ROCE We're pretty happy with how the ROCE has been trending at Altria Group. We found that the returns on capital employed over the last five years have risen by 75%. That's a very favorable trend because this means that the company is earning more per dollar of capital that's being employed. Speaking of capital employed, the company is actually utilizing 31% less than it was five years ago, which can be indicative of a business that's improving its efficiency. Altria Group may be selling some assets so it's worth investigating if the business has plans for future investments to increase returns further still. Story continues On a side note, we noticed that the improvement in ROCE appears to be partly fueled by an increase in current liabilities. Essentially the business now has suppliers or short-term creditors funding about 31% of its operations, which isn't ideal. Keep an eye out for future increases because when the ratio of current liabilities to total assets gets particularly high, this can introduce some new risks for the business. The Bottom Line In a nutshell, we're pleased to see that Altria Group has been able to generate higher returns from less capital. And given the stock has remained rather flat over the last five years, there might be an opportunity here if other metrics are strong. With that in mind, we believe the promising trends warrant this stock for further investigation. On a separate note, we've found 2 warning signs for Altria Group you'll probably want to know about. If you'd like to see other companies earning high returns, check out our free list of companies earning high returns with solid balance sheets 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. UAW President Shawn Fain will host a Facebook Live discussion to provide an update on contract negotiations with the Detroit Three automakers at 4 p.m. Friday, the UAW announced Thursday. The union leader last week declined to announce additional strike targets and instead urged UAW members and their supporters to join the picket line on Oct. 14. General Motors said Thursday that it can't meet all the demands and has already provided a historic offer to the UAW. Ford said Oct. 12 that it, too, has met its financial limit with a historic offer to the UAW. UAW President Shawn Fain walks with dozens of United Auto Workers during a rally outside the UAW-Ford Joint Trusts Center in Detroit on Sept. 15, 2023. No news had emerged this week from the UAW involving contract talks with Ford Motor Co., General Motors or Stellantis, which owns the Jeep, Ram, Chrysler, Dodge and Fiat brands. Labor contracts with the Detroit Three expired Sept. 14 and the union's targeted strikes have now entered their fifth week. Thousands of layoffs by automakers and their parts suppliers have been announced as a result of the production disruptions. During this 2023 UAW strike, tens of thousands of workers and employers and analysts have watched Fain provide updates, release strike targets and reprimand automakers for not doing more. On Thursday, the UAW held a labor rally at Hart Plaza in honor of striking autoworkers, striking casino workers and striking Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan employees. Contact Phoebe Wall Howard: 313-618-1034 or phoward@freepress.com. Follow her on the site formerly known as Twitter @phoebesaid. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: UAW President Shawn Fain to give Detroit 3 strike update Friday United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain said Friday that Detroit's Big Three automakers have put better offers on the table, but still have a ways to go to "finally, finally start to make things right" as the union's historic strikek enters its sixth week. Stellantis, General Motors and Ford Motor have all proposed 23% pay hikes over four years, the union leader said in a webcast on Facebook, speaking hours after GM sweetened its offer to match offers from Ford and Stellantis (which owns Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram, along with several foreign car brands.) "We've got cards left to play and they've got money left to spend," Fain said. "That's the hardest part of the strike. Right before a deal is when there is the most aggressive push for that last mile." In launching a coordinated strike against the three automakers on Sept. 15, the UAW demanded on a 36% wage hike spread over four years. The union also asked the automakers to eliminate a two-tiered wage system the companies adopted in 2007 as the companies were struggling financially, along with annual cost-of-living adjustments, pension benefits for all employees, greater job security, a faster path to full-time jobs for temporary workers and a four-day work week. "Room to move" In the past 24 hours, the UAW has received new offers from two of the three companies, "so despite all the bluster about how much the companies are stretched, clearly there is room to move," Fain said. "What happened this week with no new plants out, both companies put a lot more on the table," Fain said of GM and Stellantis. "That's because they know if they didn't move, there would be serious consequences." Roughly 34,000 workers at six Big Three vehicle assembly plants and 38 parts distribution warehouses are out on strike. In a statement, GM said on Friday that it offered "substantial movement in all key areas in an effort to reach a final agreement with the UAW and get our people back to work." Story continues GM's overture included a pay increase for most UAW workers to $40.39 an hour, or about $84,000 by the end of the four-year contract, according to the automaker. That's up 23% from the $32.32 an hour that most factory workers currently earn. Cost-of-living raises relinquished by many workers in 2007 also would be reinstated, boosting the total value of the proposed pay increase to more than 30% by September of 2027, according to GM. The vehicle maker had previously agreed to include new electric vehicle battery plants in the national UAW contract, a move that basically ensures they are unionized a key goal for Fain and the UAW. "It is time for us finish this process, get our team members back to work and get on with the business of making GM the company that will win and provide great jobs in the U.S. for our people for decades to come," GM said. Ford make a similar call earlier in the week, with Bill Ford, the company's executive chairman, saying the UAW and its leaders were casting the company as the enemy, instead of "Toyota, Honda and Tesla and all the Chinese companies that want to enter our market." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Since the United Auto Workers waged a nationwide strike against the Detroit Three automakers one month ago Ford Motor Co., General Motors and Stellantis, formerly Chrysler Fiat brands more than 30,000 autoworkers have walked off the job and stopped building vehicles, including at the Kentucky Truck Plant. Now that vehicles such as the Ford Super Duty, Ford Bronco and Ford Ranger are no longer being built while the strike continues, Ford dealerships are bracing for what could happen as the supply chain feels a pinch. How much does Ford stand to lose? Ford Super Duty trucks in line for inspection at the Ford Truck Plant on Chamberlain Ln. in Louisville, Ky. May 24, 2023 KTP on Chamberlain Lane, which builds the Ford Super Duty, saw its roughly 9,000 workers walk out on strike on Oct. 11. The plant is Ford's most profitable facility, making roughly $25 billion per year in revenue, according to Ford. Rhett Ricart, CEO and owner of Ricart Automotive Group, based in Ohio, previously said in a national media call that the Ford Super Duty represents more than 10% of sales for the 3,000 Ford dealerships across the U.S. Ricart said striking KTP not only causes negative implications for Ford and its suppliers, but the dealerships and their employees stand to be hurt. And according to UAW Local 862 President Todd Dunn, for every day the plant, which produces Ford's famed F-Series Super Duty Trucks, is on strike, the company loses $30 million in profit. UAW International President Shawn Fain also noted that if KTP were its own company, it would be a Fortune 500 company because of how much revenue and profit it produces annually. The truck plant produces $48,000 per minute, Fain added previously. How will the UAW Ford strike impact consumers who ordered vehicles? A Ford Super Duty truck rolled off the assembly line at the Ford Truck Plant on Chamberlain Ln. in Louisville, Ky. May 24, 2023 Consumers stand to see delays on vehicles that have already been ordered as well as future price increases, experts said. For example, consumers who have ordered a Ford Bronco and were previously told the vehicle would be ready in 10 months from the order time, can now expect at least an additional one-month delay before receiving the vehicles. Story continues On top of the delay, consumers should expect to cover the cost of lost production as well as a new contract once reached. A Ford dealership source in the Greater Louisville area, who was not authorized to speak to the media, told the Courier Journal that "historically" Ford has passed down the cost of production delays and work stoppages to consumers noting that he previously had a customer order a Ford Bronco with an original sticker price of $84,000 and within the six months it took for Ford to fulfil the order, the final price had increased roughly another $13,000. "They'll bump the prices on trucks again to meet whatever agreement they come to," he said. How will the UAW strike impact Ford dealerships? Ford Super Duty trucks rolled off the assembly line at the Ford Truck Plant on Chamberlain Ln. in Louisville, Ky. May 24, 2023 Some dealerships are already starting to experience setbacks related to the strike. In a notion of solidarity, the Teamsters union, which represents freight drivers and warehouse workers at various companies across the country, has vowed to not cross a picket line, meaning they will not pick up and transport products from striking plants. "Teamsters don't cross the picket lines," Avral Thompson, president of Teamsters Local 89 in Louisville and the national car haul director, previously said. "If it comes down to it and you can't get a fair contract and you have to strike, we're behind you 1,000%. None of their product will ship." Despite the continuing strike and lack of vehicle shipments, Christian Miller, the CEO of Dealer Trade Network, a Louisville-based company that facilitates the trade of vehicles across 4,000 dealerships nationally, said many dealerships across Kentucky are currently seeing a 24% increase in the supply of 2023 model vehicles and a 13% increase in the supply of 2024 models. "We anticipated that there might be an overall increase in supply toward the beginning of the strike," Miller said. "It is likely that factories were able to release a final push of vehicles out into the market as the strike began, which would explain what we've seen." Ford Super Duty trucks were assembled on the line at the Ford Truck Plant on Chamberlain Ln. in Louisville, Ky. May 24, 2023 However, not all vehicle models are created equal. While overall supply is trending up, specific models, such as the 2023 Ford Edge and 2023 Ford Expedition, are experiencing between 54% and 72% reduction in supply in Kentucky. "As the strike goes on, we do anticipate inventory shortages over a larger number of models than we are today, one month into the strike especially as we transition from the 2023 to 2024 model years on dealer lots," Miller said. "To put things into perspective, we're seeing over 4,000 2023s in the state of Kentucky while there are roughly 400 2024s in the state." The Ford dealership source in Louisville noted that at any given time, Louisville can have between 20,000 and 40,000 Super Duty Trucks sitting in offsite locations waiting to be shipped to dealerships and customers around the country, adding that his "lot is full for the first time in a long time." For now, the supply levels large dealerships like the ones in Louisville are seeing will be enough to meet customer demand for a couple of months. Miller said there has not been a major increase in consumer demand during the strike, which has allowed dealerships to carry on with "business as usual," but that may eventually change, depending on the duration of the strike. "It'll be a while before anybody feels the full pinch of it all," the Louisville dealership source said. Contact business reporter Olivia Evans at oevans@courier-journal.com or on Twitter at @oliviamevans_. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: How will the national UAW strike at Ford impact new car sales The United Auto Workers strike reached its fifth week and while President Shawn Fain announced a change of tactics last week, he will still be providing an update on negotiations Friday. While no new strikes were announced last week, workers for the Detroit Three automakers GM, Stellantis and Ford are ready to walk out if called upon, including those in Spring Hill, General Motors' largest plant in North America. "We are entering a new phase of this fight, and it demands a new approach. We are done waiting until Fridays to announce the expansion of our strike," Fain said last week. Instead of new strikes, Fain asked UAW members and supporters to join the picket line and support the 34,000 UAW employees who have walked out across 44 GM, Stellantis and Ford sites. Watch Fain's announcement below and read the latest on the strike. UAW President Shawn Fain Facebook Live update Fain be providing an update on contract negotiations with the Detroit Three automakers at 3 p.m. CT Friday, the UAW announced Thursday. The updates comes after Gerald Johnson, General Motor's executive vice president of global manufacturing and sustainability, said Thursday that the company is unable to meet all of the UAW's demands in the ongoing strike without a "devastating" impact on jobs. Shawn's update will be livestreamed on Facebook, YouTube and X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. GM's new offer to UAW and latest on the strike On Friday, GM announced a new offer for autoworkers, which included a 23% wage increase pushing employee pay to $40.39 an hour. The offer also includes reinstatement of COLA for seniority team members and ratification bonus for all. The new offer comes after Johnson said GM already had a compelling and "historic" offer on the table. "We believe we have met our commitment to provide historic improvements in wages and benefits, and have also addressed the future of EV battery manufacturing," Johnson said in a video Thursday. "You might be asking yourselves, why can't General Motors meet every demand Shawn Fain is asking for? Simple answer is because we need profits to invest in our future." Story continues Ford has drawn a line on negotiations. "Our offer includes unprecedented improvements in wages," Kumar Galhotra, president of Ford Blue, said during a news conference last week, according to the Detroit Free Press. "This offer would put employees among the top 25% of all U.S. jobs, hourly and salaried. Provides great benefits. We provided product commitments for every UAW factory and provided job security commitments. It would change the lives of our employees for the better. All things considered, it's an incredibly positive offer." Meanwhile, automakers and their parts suppliers have announced thousands of layoffs as a result of production disruptions. Will Spring Hill join the UAW strike? The GM plant in Spring Hill, which employs over 3,000 United Auto Workers members continues to produce hundreds of vehicles per day under the expired contract. On Sept. 22, Fain told members of the UAW in the Spring Hill plant to wait to join the "Stand up and Strike" strike. But in his messages since, Spring Hill has not been specifically mentioned. Although no action has been taken, Spring Hills' UAW Local 1853 President John Rutherford said the climate locally has been one of "anticipation." "It sounds like he's done playing the slow game and ready to ramp things up," Rutherford said. "It can be any day now, any plant. It's nice to see that the men and women up north are playing chess instead of checkers now. UAW Local 1853 President John Rutherford watching leader Shawn Fains announcement Friday, Oct. 13, 2023 at UAW Hall in Spring Hill. Rutherford added that while Spring Hill is yet to be called on to strike, many of the local workers have visited the picket lines in areas like Memphis, which shut down during the strike's second week. How long has the UAW strike gone on? It has been over a month since the strikes began on Sept 14. Since then, workers across General Motors, Ford and Stellantis facilities are on the picket lines striking for a better contract. Fain has encouraged all UAW members and supporters to find one of many UAW strike lines and offer support for their fight. "We are here to address decades of unfair treatment of autoworkers," Fain said. "Bring them food, music and solidarity." Why is the UAW on strike? The strike occurred after contract talks between the UAW and the Detroit Three automakers fell through. UAW called the strike when the deadline to make a new deal passed at 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 14. Around 13,000 union members in Ohio, Missouri and Michigan walked off the job and picket lines soon began forming. What is the UAW asking for with union contracts? elimination of wage tiers substantial wage increases restoration of cost of living allowance increases defined benefit pension for all workers reestablishment of retiree medical benefits the right to strike over plant closures limits on the use of temporary workers more paid time off increased benefits to current retirees Diana Leyva covers trending news and service for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @_leyvadiana This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: UAW strike: Shawn Fawn going live on Facebook Friday for latest update WASHINGTON, October 20, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--UBS today announced that a four-person advisor team, The Charles Drew Group, has joined the firm in Washington, D.C. The team, which manages $460 million in client assets, is led by Managing Director and Financial Advisor Charles Drew, and also includes Financial Advisors Bennett Kavlick, Matthew Tomczuk and Client Service Associate Justin Hatch. The team will be based at the firms Washington, D.C. office at 1501 K Street NW, which is part of UBSs Philadelphia D.C. Wealth Management market that is led by Market Executive Julie Fox. They report to Market Director Brendan Graham. "Charles is a very talented advisor with decades of experience, and we are proud to welcome him and his team to UBS," said Julie Fox, Philadelphia D.C. Market Executive at UBS Private Wealth Management. "Hiring productive advisors like Charles is a key priority for us in the important Washington, D.C. market. I have no doubt that he and his team will successfully leverage UBSs world-class resources and capabilities to better serve their clients." Charles brings nearly 30 years of experience to UBS. He previously was a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Washington, D.C., where he joined in 1994. He is particularly focused on retirement planning and leverages his extensive experience to advise individuals and plan sponsors. Charles holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Certified 401(k) Professional (C(k)P) designations. He was named to the Forbes/SHOOK Best-in-State Wealth Advisors list for 2023. Charles holds a BA in economics from Denison University. Notes to Editors About UBS UBS is a leading and truly global wealth manager and the leading universal bank in Switzerland. It also provides diversified asset management solutions and focused investment banking capabilities. With the acquisition of Credit Suisse, UBS manages 5.5 trillion dollars of invested assets as per second quarter 2023. UBS helps clients achieve their financial goals through personalized advice, solutions and products. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, the firm is operating in more than 50 countries around the globe. UBS Group shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Story continues UBS 2023. All rights reserved. The key symbol and UBS are among the registered and unregistered trademarks of UBS. Although neither UBS Financial Services Inc. or its employees pay a fee in exchange for these ratings, UBS may hire RJ Shook to be a speaker for events. Past performance is not an indication of future results. For press use only. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020571640/en/ Contacts Media: Scott Gamm Strategy Voice Associates scott@strategyvoiceassociates.com https://www.ubs.com (Bloomberg) -- Kremlin troops are suffering major losses at the moment, said President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who added that Kyivs forces are holding their ground and destroying the occupier day after day around Avdiivka in the nations east. Russian losses are really staggering, and it is precisely losses by the occupier that Ukraine needs, Zelenskiy said after meeting with troops and commanders, including top soldier Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, in Mykolayiv in the nations south. Most Read from Bloomberg President Joe Biden made a rare Oval Office address on Thursday that warned of the twin risks to the US from Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin denounced the US leaders characterization of Putin as a tyrant. Biden on Friday unveiled a nearly $106 billion request for emergency funds to arm Israel and Ukraine and to reinforce the US-Mexico border. The total included $61.4 billion for a years worth of assistance for Ukraine. Kyiv will continue its effort to build support for a peace formula with the so-called Global South when Malta hosts a gathering of senior officials on Oct. 28-29 to discuss the blueprint. The meeting follows similar gatherings in Denmark in June and Saudi Arabia in August centered on a 10-point plan that calls for the full withdrawal of Russian troops, among other things a demand the Kremlin has dismissed. Latest Coverage Putin Visits Southern Army Headquarters After China Trip Biden Casts Russia, Hamas as Parallel Threats to Democracy Russia Suspended From Global Financial Intelligence Group NATO Should Weigh Halting Russian Baltic Shipping, Latvia Says Ukraine to Push Peace Formula at Meeting in Malta This Month Story continues Coming Up Putin may hold a weekly security council meeting Markets Oil prices advanced as geopolitical tensions ratcheted higher in the Middle East, with prices poised for a second straight weekly gain. Global benchmark Brent rose above $93 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate neared $91. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. William Clay Ford Jr. spoke about the Ford company and ongoing strike at the Rouge Visitor Center Monday, Oct 16 2023. A week after laying off 300 Sharonville workers amid a national strike, Ford Motors has laid off an additional 360 employees at its local transmission plant, union officials with the United Auto Workers said Friday. The move means one third of the plants 2,000 workers have bee idled by the automaker amid a wider contract dispute between the UAW and all of the Big Three automakers. (Theyre) being laid off next week at Ford Sharonville, effective Oct. 23 (Monday), UAW 863 local president Tod Turner told The Enquirer. Turner said union officials would meet Tuesday with affected workers and they would get strike pay. Ford officials did not respond to an email seeking comment Friday. Last week, the company noted the local layoffs were temporary. They said the company needed to cut capacity because the transmissions weren't needed due to strike actions at other Ford factories. The job cuts came just after UAW President Shawn Fain announced last week the union wouldn't expand the then-month-old strike against the Detroit Three automakers to any new facilities yet. But in a surprise move, the UAW called a massive expansion of the strike at a Kentucky Ford plant on Oct. 13. The UAW has nearly 1,800 workers at the Sharonville plant, which employs 2,000 workers total, according to Ford. The transmission plant makes 6R140 and 10R80 finished transmissions and gears for Ford trucks, SUVs and cars. So far, the UAW strike has put more than 30,000 autoworkers on picket lines at more than three dozen Ford, General Motors and Stellantis plants and facilities. The strike has already affected the Greater Cincinnati region, prompting 123 General Motors workers on Sept. 22 to walk out at GM's Cincinnati Parts Distribution Center in West Chester. Experts have said a strike would likely cause major disruptions for auto production in the United States and could raise prices for new and used cars due to a lack of inventory. For the latest on Cincinnati business, P&G, Kroger and Fifth Third Bank, follow @alexcoolidge on Twitter. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: More than 660 total Ford workers laid off at Sharonville plant Grupo Simec SAB de CV (SIM) recently experienced a daily gain of 6.29%, despite a 3-month loss of -5.86%. With an Earnings Per Share (EPS) of 1.16, questions arise regarding the stock's fair valuation. This article provides a comprehensive valuation analysis, shedding light on whether Grupo Simec SAB de CV (SIM) is fairly valued or not. Company Overview Grupo Simec SAB de CV is a diversified manufacturer, processor, and distributor of special bar quality (SBQ) steel and structural steel products. The company enjoys a significant market presence in the United States, Brazil, and Mexico. Its SBQ products are widely used in various engineered end-user applications, including axles, hubs, and crankshafts for automobiles and light trucks, machine tools, and off-highway equipment. Meanwhile, its structural steel products are mainly used in non-residential construction and other construction applications. Unveiling Grupo Simec SAB de CV (SIM)'s Value: Is It Really Priced Right? A Comprehensive Guide Understanding the GF Value The GF Value is an intrinsic value of a stock derived from a proprietary method. This value is based on historical multiples, a GuruFocus adjustment factor based on past returns and growth, and future business performance estimates. The GF Value Line provides a fair value at which the stock should ideally be traded. If the stock price is significantly above the GF Value Line, it is likely overvalued and may yield poor future returns. Conversely, if it is significantly below the GF Value Line, it may be undervalued, and its future returns could be higher. Grupo Simec SAB de CV's GF Value Based on GuruFocus valuation, Grupo Simec SAB de CV (SIM) is estimated to be fairly valued. The stock's fair value is derived from historical multiples, an internal adjustment based on past business growth, and analyst estimates of future business performance. Currently, at a price of $32.95 per share, Grupo Simec SAB de CV has a market cap of $5.10 billion. Given that the stock is fairly valued, the long-term return of its stock is likely to be close to the rate of its business growth. Story continues Unveiling Grupo Simec SAB de CV (SIM)'s Value: Is It Really Priced Right? A Comprehensive Guide Financial Strength Investing in companies with low financial strength could result in permanent capital loss. Therefore, it is crucial to review a company's financial strength before buying shares. Grupo Simec SAB de CV has a cash-to-debt ratio of 4034.96, ranking better than 92.89% of 591 companies in the Steel industry. Based on this, GuruFocus ranks Grupo Simec SAB de CV's financial strength as 10 out of 10, suggesting a strong balance sheet. Unveiling Grupo Simec SAB de CV (SIM)'s Value: Is It Really Priced Right? A Comprehensive Guide Profitability and Growth Companies that have been consistently profitable over the long term offer less risk for investors. Grupo Simec SAB de CV has been profitable 8 over the past 10 years. Over the past twelve months, the company had a revenue of $2.50 billion and an Earnings Per Share (EPS) of $1.16. Its operating margin is 20.36%, which ranks better than 92.92% of 607 companies in the Steel industry. Overall, the profitability of Grupo Simec SAB de CV is ranked 8 out of 10, indicating strong profitability. One of the most important factors in the valuation of a company is growth. The average annual revenue growth of Grupo Simec SAB de CV is16.8%, which ranks better than 70.51% of 590 companies in the Steel industry. The 3-year average EBITDA growth is 64.2%, which ranks better than 86.8% of 515 companies in the Steel industry. ROIC vs WACC Comparing a company's return on invested capital (ROIC) to its weighted average cost of capital (WACC) can also evaluate its profitability. Return on invested capital (ROIC) measures how well a company generates cash flow relative to the capital it has invested in its business. The weighted average cost of capital (WACC) is the rate that a company is expected to pay on average to all its security holders to finance its assets. If the return on invested capital exceeds the weighted average cost of capital, the company is likely creating value for its shareholders. During the past 12 months, Grupo Simec SAB de CV's ROIC is 14.54 while its WACC came in at 10.98. Unveiling Grupo Simec SAB de CV (SIM)'s Value: Is It Really Priced Right? A Comprehensive Guide Conclusion In conclusion, Grupo Simec SAB de CV (SIM) is estimated to be fairly valued. The company's financial condition is strong, and its profitability is strong. Its growth ranks better than 86.8% of 515 companies in the Steel industry. To learn more about Grupo Simec SAB de CV stock, you can check out its 30-Year Financials here. To find out the high-quality companies that may deliver above-average returns, please check out GuruFocus High Quality Low Capex Screener. This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Straits Research - Market Research Strategy | Strategy Consulting | Business Research | Business Consulting | Market Research Systems for warehouse robotics are utilized in various industries, including e-commerce, automotive, pharmaceutical, metalworking, food & beverage, and others. Recently, the supply chain, distribution center, and logistics management groups have emphasized robotics, which is essential to warehouse automation. This is projected to support the growth of the warehouse robotics market. New York, United States, Oct. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Utilizing technology, software, and control systems to increase production is known as automation in a warehouse. It usually refers to tasks performed in warehouses or distribution centers with little human interaction. The global warehouse robotics market size is expected to reach USD 31.3 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 15.51% during the forecast period (20222030), states the Research Manager at Straits Research P. Ltd. Get a Free Sample Copy of This Report @ https://straitsresearch.com/report/warehouse-robotics-market/request-sample Key Drivers A rising percentage of SKUs (stock-keeping units) is standard in the industry since new products are frequently released. To meet the long-tail expectations of their customers, more than 50% of organizations plan to strategically increase the number of inventory SKUs they have available over the projected period. Automated, efficient mini-load storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) can handle individual totes, cases, trays, and boxes while maximizing storage and freeing up valuable delivery and labor resources to keep up with this expansion. Warehouses expand to meet the need for home delivery (or curbside delivery). There is potential for several e-commerce segments, with the most recent generation picking robots and AGVs. They seem to be incredibly well adapted for fulfillment operations involving large numbers of small orders for large SKU ranges scattered over large warehouse zones. Warehouses must scale up and satisfy the requirements for an intelligent, efficient, and automated warehouse due to the advent of always-on e-commerce, the need for speedier responses, and the desire to manage a more significant number of SKUs with fewer errors. Story continues Growth Opportunities As a result of the development of AMRs for warehouse and material management applications, businesses that provide warehouse robots now have a lucrative opportunity. AMRs are preferable to manual means of material movement like manned forklifts. These robots have safety sensors that prevent collisions from occurring. Their accuracy varies according to how well they function and how their choices affect productivity and security in diverse contexts. The location and surroundings may be calculated more or less accurately in AMRs, depending on the sensors and algorithms used. AMR technology advancements are also creating opportunities for AI integration in warehouse robots. Regional Insights Asia-Pacific Warehouse Robotics Market share will grow at a CAGR of 16.23% over the forecast period. During the outbreak, businesses in China that had previously used these robots in their warehouses found results. Primary Chinese e-commerce business JD.com has automated warehouses in Wuhan that operate a fleet of robotic trucks to deliver supplies to city dwellers who order online but are stuck at home. For instance, Geek+, a Chinese robotics company specializing in logistics automation for warehouses, industries, and supply chains, unveiled the 8-meter-tall flexible arm robot RoboShuttle RS8-DA in 2021. North America will proliferate at a CAGR of 15.92%, accounting for USD 6 billion by 2030. The growth of e-commerce, technological advancements that have made robots better and smaller, lower prices, and a labor shortage in some industries are the primary forces behind the increased employment of robots in North American warehouses and distribution centers. In contrast, a rise in both high- and low-skill occupations, including management positions on the one end and vocations that assist or look after others on the other, is being observed. Several retailers in North America are collaborating with technology firms to co-develop robots that might be deployed in retail establishments to assist customers in finding the items they are looking for. Key Highlights The Storage section is projected to advance at a CAGR of 15.27% and hold the largest market share over the forecast period. Based on type, the global warehouse robotics market is segmented into Industrial Robots, Sortation Systems, Conveyors, Palletizers, Automated Storage & Retrieval Systems, and Mobile Robots. The Mobile Robots (AGVs and srs) section is projected to grow at a CAGR of 16.72% and hold the largest market share over the forecast period. Region-wise, the global warehouse robotics market is categorized into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA. APAC exceeds the rest of the world. Competitive Players in the Market ABB Limited TGW Logistics Group GMBH Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd (Aethon Incorporation) InVia Robotics Inc. Fanuc Corporation Honeywell International Inc. Toshiba Corporation Omron Adept Technologies Yaskawa Electric Corporation (Yaskawa Motoman) Swisslog Holding AG (KUKA AG) Fetch Robotics Inc. Geek+ Inc. Market News In 2022, Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd, jointly with NiAT, launched its first VSAT service on the ST Engineering iDirect Evolution platform, ACTIVATE. The ACTIVATE system is an IP-based satellite communications platform that is open, effective, and easily scalable and was developed to provide the highest quality broadband access for various markets. Global Warehouse Robotics Market: Segmentation By Type Industrial Robots Sortation Systems Conveyors Palletizers Automated Storage & Retrieval System (ASRS) Mobile Robots (AGVs and srs) By Function Storage Packaging Trans-shipments Others By End-user Food & Beverage Automotive Retail Electrical & Electronics Pharmaceutical Others By Regions North America Europe Asia-Pacific LAMEA Get Detailed Market Segmentation @ https://straitsresearch.com/report/warehouse-robotics-market/segmentation About Straits Research Pvt Ltd. Straits Research is a market intelligence company providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision-makers. Straits Research Pvt Ltd. provides actionable market research data, specially designed and presented for decision making and ROI. Whether you are looking at business sectors in the next town or crosswise over continents, we understand the significance of being acquainted with the clients purchase. We overcome our clients issues by recognizing and deciphering the target group and generating leads with utmost precision. We seek to collaborate with our clients to deliver a broad spectrum of results through a blend of market and business research approaches. For more information on your target market, please contact us below: Phone: +1 646 480 7505 (the U.S.) +91 8087085354 (APAC) +44 208 068 9665 (the U.K.) Email: sales@straitsresearch.com Follow Us: LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter What are the early trends we should look for to identify a stock that could multiply in value over the long term? 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. If you see this, it typically means it's a company with a great business model and plenty of profitable reinvestment opportunities. Speaking of which, we noticed some great changes in ASML Holding's (AMS:ASML) returns on capital, so let's have a look. What Is Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)? If you haven't worked with ROCE before, it measures the 'return' (pre-tax profit) a company generates from capital employed in its business. The formula for this calculation on ASML Holding is: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.40 = 8.5b (38b - 16b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to October 2023). Therefore, ASML Holding has an ROCE of 40%. In absolute terms that's a great return and it's even better than the Semiconductor industry average of 15%. See our latest analysis for ASML Holding roce In the above chart we have measured ASML Holding's prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you'd like, you can check out the forecasts from the analysts covering ASML Holding here for free. What The Trend Of ROCE Can Tell Us ASML Holding is displaying some positive trends. The data shows that returns on capital have increased substantially over the last five years to 40%. Basically the business is earning more per dollar of capital invested and in addition to that, 33% more capital is being employed now too. So we're very much inspired by what we're seeing at ASML Holding thanks to its ability to profitably reinvest capital. On a side note, we noticed that the improvement in ROCE appears to be partly fueled by an increase in current liabilities. The current liabilities has increased to 43% of total assets, so the business is now more funded by the likes of its suppliers or short-term creditors. And with current liabilities at those levels, that's pretty high. Story continues Our Take On ASML Holding's ROCE In summary, it's great to see that ASML Holding can compound returns by consistently reinvesting capital at increasing rates of return, because these are some of the key ingredients of those highly sought after multi-baggers. And with the stock having performed exceptionally well over the last five years, these patterns are being accounted for by investors. So given the stock has proven it has promising trends, it's worth researching the company further to see if these trends are likely to persist. Before jumping to any conclusions though, we need to know what value we're getting for the current share price. That's where you can check out our FREE intrinsic value estimation that compares the share price and estimated value. 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. The Worlds of Work Career Expo showcased a wide variety of careers to Tallahassee high schoolers and their families. One after another, school buses rolled in and unloaded thousands of ninth-graders all unaware of what they were about to see. They entered through black iron gates and were greeted by upbeat songs piping through a mega speaker. A volunteer shouts, "Welcome to WOW" into a microphone as they pass by. WOW stands for Worlds of Work, an interactive career expo that allowed students to hear from professionals from 10 different industry sectors and learn about job opportunities in North Florida. A giant inflatable arch resembled a colon part of it was healthy while other parts included cancer and polyps created a gateway into the healthcare world. Healthcare workers, including nurses and technicians, guided students through tasks and duties they do on the job. The World of Work Career Expo took place at Lively Technical College on Oct. 19. From patient in-take verification to saving a stroke victim, students soaked it in. At the Eye Associates of Tallahassee station, students dressed in scrubs and gloves and handled real pig eyeballs that were donated for the day. Students were given a scalpel to mimic incisions for cataract surgeries. At the birthing station, Jennifer Nogal, a ninth-grader from Jefferson County, assisted in a simulated delivery of a baby by a special training mannequin used at Keiser University. She pulled the newborn from the mannequin's body, along with a mock placenta. "It felt really weird taking the baby out," Nogal confessed, through her giggles. But, despite calling the childbirth simulation "disgusting," she enjoyed the overall event. "It's really interesting and fun," said the 15-year-old. "I like seeing all the different things and seeing what I want to do in my future and everything ... I'm having a great time figuring out what I like to do." WOW makes history with its inaugural event The two-day event bused in more than 3,000 students, including students from Gadsden, Franklin, Jefferson and Wakulla counties to Tallahassee Community College and Lively Technical College. Story continues Students got a chance to weld and learn about wrapping buses with specially made signage materials. They took home spice blends they made in the culinary station. They learned about how to be a social media influencer and how to do on-the-spot coding. And much more. The booth of Talquin Electric Cooperative, an electric distribution co-op headquartered in Quincy, Florida, at the World of Work Career Expo. The event is modeled after a Worlds of Work event in Alabama that impressed local business and education leaders when they saw it in person on several trips hosted by the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce. For this inaugural event, the Chamber served as a facilitator and worked with several partners to put on the community event, including CareerSource Capital Region, Leon County Schools, Tallahassee Community College and Lively Technical School. Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Sue Dick called the event "remarkable." "It's never been done in our community or the state of Florida," Dick said. "This a partnership with Leon County Schools and a commitment to expose ninth-graders, when they arrive, to get off a bus and to literally walk through four different zones or worlds of industry that they had never really seen. Leon County Schools Superintendent Rocky Hanna said he walked through the different worlds and said he was "blown away." The World of Work Career Expo showcased a wide variety of careers to Tallahassee high schoolers and their families. "The kids are so excited to be here. All you hear is, 'I had no idea. I had no idea,' " Hanna said. "You hear all these comments from these 14- and 15-year-olds about these different job options and job opportunities right here in our community that they just never knew about. And so that's why this Worlds of Work event today is just a dream come true." The event, he said, was the result of "a lot of hard work" by various institutions and groups. Hanna said it showed viable career paths, including technical education, a path that's received bipartisan support and often puts people in a job without a traditional college education. Leon County School Board Member Marcus Nicolas said what's missing in today's educational system are experiential learning opportunities, and the WOW event offered a means toward bridging that gap. Nicolas said the event, particularly with the strong number of employers who participated, shows "perspectives have opened up." "We have over 200 employers here that vary from all different industries," he said. "It's not just the healthcare industry. There are so many different pathways within the healthcare industry that the students have been exposed to that they had no idea even existed." "So when they go in, as they hone in and narrow in on what they actually want to do, they can even be more intentional and more specific about choosing maybe to work with elderly people as opposed to just working with babies. This is just wonderful." Economic impact of WOW event Behind the scenes, work to bring the event to fruition began in February. Coordinators met monthly to iron out details and logistics. More than 150 volunteers pitched in to help for the two-day event aimed mostly at ninth-graders. The latter part of each day was opened up to 10th- through 12th-graders. The event represented a large investment in time and resources, said Corrie Melton, the Chamber's vice president of membership and talent development. She estimates that in employee time alone devoted to have staffers at the event would have cost companies about half a million dollars. "By the time you bring into account any kind of activities they've built in and the kind of equipment that they've had to bring on site ... we're looking at well over a million dollars in employer investment," Melton said. Shyam Mistry, dean of academic affairs at Keiser University, said all of the companies and organizations came to the event and brought "everything they had." "They all are here for the same reason and that's to instill some type of messaging to our youth to look for careers, instill early learning from your parents, your brothers, your sisters, what opportunities exist there in the career field. To have ninth graders here is really amazing, because this community hasn't really done that before." Contact Reporter TaMaryn Waters at tlwaters@tallahassee.com. Follow @TaMarynWaters on X. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: North Florida Worlds of Work career expo wows students (Bloomberg) -- President Xi Jinpings signature infrastructure gambit was supposed to connect Asia, Africa and Europe through a network of railroads and trade deals, cementing Chinas global influence. A decade on, its run into a diplomatic wall at the European border. Most Read from Bloomberg The lack of European leaders at this weeks Belt and Road Forum in Beijing pointed to growing skepticism among Western democracies about what Xi once described as a project of the century. Instead of making friends and scoring political points across Europe, the Chinese leader appears to have reformed the initiative as a club for emerging economies known as the Global South that can challenge the US-led world order. Seven EU nations Austria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Hungary sent their chiefs to the forum in 2019, the last time the event was held. Four years later, only Hungarys Viktor Orban made the trip to Beijing. Italy, the sole Group of Seven member, has told China it plans to drop out of the investment pact entirely. This summit is the manifestation that BRI has turned into a Global South initiative, instead of a global initiative, said Moritz Rudolf, a China scholar at Yale Law School. Putins Presence Europe is still very much in business with China: Beijing was the largest partner for EU imports of goods last year, and the third largest for exports. But the political costs of mingling too closely with Xi were evident in the Chinese capital this week especially given the onstage presence of Vladimir Putin, Xis diplomatic ally. The Russian president has an active arrest warrant with the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Ukraine. Story continues One EU diplomat who spoke to Bloomberg News cited Putins presence at the forum as a main reason the blocs institutions are banned from participating. The person requested anonymity as they were not authorized to speak on such issues. His very appearance is a challenge to Europe and North America, said Chong Ja Ian, an associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore, of Putins attendance. Its not just the EU that balked at traveling to Beijing for the event. Just 22 heads of state or government attended the forum, compared to 36 in 2019 and 29 in 2017, according to a Bloomberg News review of attendees. Notable absences included the likes of Switzerland, which isnt part of the EU but whose president in 2019 attended and signed a memorandum of understanding with China on trade and investment. Singapores prime minister also passed on this years event after going last time, with the Southeast Asian nation sending its acting head of transport instead. In Japans case, no senior officials from the current government went this year, after then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent a special envoy in 2019. The 2023 event was attended by Yukio Hatoyama, a former prime minister who left office in 2010. Maintaining Appeal The smaller guest list doesnt mean Belt and Road is without influence. The forum maintained its appeal among some developing countries across Asia, Latin America and Africa. Some in Europe are still keen to partner with Beijing, too: Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic flew in for the gathering, where his nation inked a free trade deal with China. Belt and Road Initiative has brought a lot of good to our country, Vucic wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of him and Xi in Beijing. Im proud of our friendship. Serbia has been an EU candidate for years, though is not a member. In lieu of touting the number of world leaders, China highlighted the sheer amount of attendees. Representatives from more than 140 countries joined the two days of conferences, according to the official state-run Xinhua News Agency, which heralded that support as being able to bolster Beijings image as a champion of the developing world. In a Friday editorial, the Peoples Daily the Communist Partys mouthpiece boosted the initiative as one that has attracted more participation because the international community recognizes its cooperative spirit amid geopolitical tensions and risks of conflict. The massive American campaign to derail the BRI has clearly failed, said Kishore Mahbubani, a distinguished fellow at National University of Singapores Asia Research Institute and a former Singaporean diplomat. From many developing countries point of view, the Chinese come and provide very quietly the results. Beijings economic clout within the developing world has grown tremendously over the years, after the US pulled back from lending to developing nations during Latin Americas debt crisis in the 1980s. The Asian giant is now the largest official creditor to some poor and developing economies a status that has at times led to tension with the West, as China and private bond holders have resisted using guidelines established by sovereign creditors. Participation in Belt and Road can show that China is very much still able to make inroads in the Global South, creating welcome partnerships at a time when the nation is experiencing an economic slowdown at home. If nothing else, the BRI anniversary displays the extraordinary convening power of China, said Richard McGregor, senior fellow for East Asia at the Lowy Institute, who noted the sharp decline in Belt and Road lending compared to its early years. Still, the size of the meeting obscures the fact that the old BRI is all but dead. West Versus Rest Those who attended the forum didnt seem bothered by the shifting makeup of the event. For some companies and organizations seeking to profit from Chinese investment, the alternative world order pitched by Xi and Putin promised a space for opportunity that may be unthinkable elsewhere. We seek more investments, and we hope during our visit we will meet the private sector and other sectors here in China, said Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi, the minister of industry and commerce for the Taliban government of Afghanistan. He attended the forums opening ceremony at the Great Hall of the People on Wednesday. He said his government wanted to prioritize investment from China in agriculture, mining and energy. The Taliban is struggling for international recognition as no country including China recognizes it as the legitimate government of the country after returning to power in 2021 following the US withdrawal. Aid that made up the bulk of the countrys finances has dried up, and the US has frozen $9.5 billion in assets belonging to the Afghan central bank. Others pointed to Chinas ability to lead in railway construction and development as a major draw, particularly for smaller economies with limited access to major ports. Sometimes the enemy isnt just war. Sometimes poverty is also a great enemy, said Jacob Hlangabeza Hara, the minister of transport and public works in landlocked Malawi. Every alternative that comes on the table to make sure that we improve the livelihood of our communities and our population. Thats what counts. --With assistance from Rebecca Choong Wilkins. (Updates with details from a Peoples Daily editorial.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Incumbent Livingston District member of the Spotsylvania School Board Kirk Twigg is facing two challengers for his seat. Twigg is running for a third term on the School Board. He is being challenged by Megan Jackson and Alex Carlson, both first-time candidates with children enrolled in the school division. The Free LanceStar sent questionnaires to all three candidates, asking them for background information and to identify the top three issues facing the school division and describe what they would do about them if elected. Twigg is facing a felony charge of forgery and a misdemeanor charge of tampering with public records stemming from a September 2022 incident in which he allegedly altered the employment contract for the interim division superintendent. A trial in this case is scheduled for early in 2024. Early voting in the November 2023 election is underway in Spotsylvania at the Office of Elections (4708 Southpoint Parkway) and at the Breezewood Shopping Center (10699 Courthouse Road). Sample ballots for each precinct and other information for voters are available at spotsylvania.va.us/239/Office-of-Elections. Alex Carlson Q: What are the top three issues facing Spotsylvania County Public Schools and what would you do about them if elected? A: Ive had numerous discussions with Livingston residents, and theyve identified the top three issues as a lack of accountability, transparency and ethical management of the school division budget; a substandard teacher recruitment and retention plan; and a general lack of student and teacher safety. While serving on the School Board, I will ensure that these and all concerns are heard so that we can pivot to address when necessary. The residents of this county, Livingston and elsewhere, want accountability and transparency, especially with the money budgeted to equip schools with crucial resources so the students, teachers, and support staff can be successful. As a School Board member, I would first and foremost act in the best interest of the students by clearly identifying and understanding what the budgets outcomes are. Id ensure that all budgeting decisions are centered around allocating resources towards instructional priorities. Understanding the data, being curious about all project costs and considering resource sustainability is important. Ultimately, this is what our residents want accountability, transparency and good stewardship of the budget. Our teachers are doing a great job and continue to be present in our students lives, but we must recruit and retain the best and brightest. Its a shame that SCPS is national news, and our substandard example is a major factor in low recruiting and retention. The superintendent recently distributed staffing shortage updates, but I feel they lack key analysis. To address this issue, I would press the superintendent for more detailed data because the most recent reports fail to address the true impact of each shortage on each school. Teachers also need to have a confidential feedback mechanism to ensure that their professional and personal needs are being met and I will invite them to do so with me via a monthly round table. We must build back a collective culture of trust, kindness, and respect in our schools not only for recruiting and retention but for the safety, security, and wellness of our students. The current draft Memorandum of Understanding with the Sheriff's Office states that all SCPS instructional facilities will have a School Resource Officer. SROs are doing a great job in preventing and addressing internal and external threats but many of our students dont feel safe. General misbehavior, bullying, fighting, harassment, exposure to illegal drugs and unauthorized substances continue and this directly affects the mental and physical well-being of all students and teachers. To solve this issue, I believe that we must address the general misbehavior problems and support the schools by providing the resources they need as priorities emerge or shift. Each school needs to have a current needs assessment and Id push to fund immediate needs equitably and expeditiously. Leaders choose the hard right versus the easy wrong and the SCPS school board needs leaders more than ever. I am a proven leader with board and budget experience and have demonstrated my resiliency and reliability time and time again while in service to my county and community. Megan Jackson Q: What are the top three issues facing Spotsylvania County Public Schools and what would you do about them if elected? A: The most important issues facing the Livingston District are the same issues the other districts in Spotsylvania County are facing. As a community, we are in a dire situation where school safety, staffing shortages, and transparency/communication require critical attention. Electing candidates to the School Board who are passionate about supporting public education is the first essential step toward addressing these needs. School safety is my top priority and was the driving force behind my initial presence and advocacy at school board and board of supervisors meetings nearly six years ago. At that time, I was determined to get the support of local elected officials in securing our school entrances and obtaining school resource officers at all schools, to include middle and elementary schools. Additionally, I was concerned about the mental health needs of students, bullying, student behavior, lack of parental involvement, and staffing needs. Proudly, I can say that my advocacy led to hardening the school entrances and being the first county in Virginia to have SROs in every school. The necessary funding for educator pay/retention and mental health resources fell short; however, the needs continued to grow. If elected, I plan on continuing the conversations surrounding safety and working with board members to come up with adequate solutions. I firmly believe that school safety is a complex issue with many layers to take into consideration. Some of those layers include staffing, infrastructure, overcrowding, disciplinary policies, student support services and a heavy focus on mental health. With this focus on mental health, we can be proactive and get ahead of potential behavioral issues by providing appropriate support to students and families to better ensure a safe learning environment for all. Educator pay, retention and support are vital for our students success. This is one of the biggest safety concerns we are currently facing. We want to hire the best for our students, and we want them to stay working in Spotsylvania. We are losing educators at an alarming rate, creating a detrimental impact on students. When educators are valued through compensation and a supportive environment, they are more likely to desire to work in our county and to thrive. More hands on deck will help reduce class sizes and aid in securing licensed individuals where they are needed to build a learning environment supportive of all students. Transparency and communication should be an expectation between the School Board and the community. It is an elected officials job to provide honesty, integrity, and a willingness to engage with their constituents. Taxpayers have a right to know how their money is being spent and the right to voice their opinions. I believe we can accomplish this by having open conversations without silencing viewpoints, by providing reasons and rationale for decisions being made, and by being good stewards of constituents tax dollars. With hard work and determination, I am confident in my ability to lead in a way that ensures our kids get the best that they deserve! Kirk Twigg Q: What are the top three issues facing Spotsylvania County Public Schools and what would you do about them if elected? A: Too many students graduate from high school without a clear vision for their future. Our 4-E instructional pathways program will help our students find their path to their best future. With a clear pathway to follow, those that are headed to enrollment in college can have the best chance of getting to the college of their choice. For those who want to move into employment after graduation or start their own business, we need more student capacity and more new course offerings in our Career and Technical Education program. We have been improving and growing our CTE for the past eight years, but theres still more to do. My goal, working with our new superintendent, is to double the capacity of our popular CTE classes so we can eliminate waiting lists. For our students who plan on enlisting in the military, we continue to support strong, positive ROTC programs. I honor and support our military and I am proud to say that all of the schools in Livingston District are or are on course to become Purple Star Schools. I am also committed to helping our special education students find their best future with continuing engagement in our community. Too many parents have not been aware of sexually explicit materials in some of our school libraries. We need to make sure we protect our students from sexually explicit material in our school libraries, according to their parents choices. We need to make sure that our parents know what their children may be exposed to. We started this process by using our code of conduct to give parents the right to opt out of certain materials. We need to work on better online tools and processes for parents to have easy access to all of the instructional materials their children may be exposed to. I support parental rights and I will continue to work for parents to be able to make informed choices for their kids. Learning Loss from COVID has created gaps in our students education. Student test scores are improving overall, but we still need to provide intensive tutoring and other academic supports to close the remaining learning gaps and keep our test scores moving upward. I will continue to support our teachers as vigorously as possible. I support the innovative new professional development program our division has rolled out for our teachers. This new program gives teachers easy access to the professional development tools they need. Students must be present to learn all that we have to offer. Our attendance campaign has been working and attendance is improving. Current Chancellor District representative Dawn Shelley is not running for reelection to the School Board and two candidates are seeking the seat. Belen Rodas and Jordan Lynch are both first-time candidates with children enrolled in the school division. The Free LanceStar sent questionnaires to each candidate, asking them for background information and to identify the top three issues facing the school division and what they would do to address them. Early voting is underway in Spotsylvania at the Office of Elections (4708 Southpoint Parkway) and at the Breezewood Shopping Center (10699 Courthouse Road). Sample ballots for each precinct and other information for voters are available at spotsylvania.va.us/239/Office-of-Elections. Belen Rodas Q: What are the top three issues facing the school division and what would you do about them if elected? A: 1. Restore decency and decorum to our school board. Currently, our school board meetings regularly devolve into embarrassing shouting matches in the service of personal or political agendas. Our school division leadership frequently violates their own policies and procedures; there is no accountability or transparency. Spotsylvania County residents have been shut out of the process. This board has eliminated second readings of proposed policy changes, which means community members do not have an opportunity to give feedback before the board votes. Four school board members and our superintendent refuse to respond to many constituents. Even public comment opportunities have been limited. Our families deserve better. We need School Board members who will work together to solve problems, not try to win an argument. Throughout my campaign I have shown my voters that I can have a constructive conversation with anyone by building on the places we agree. I promise to work collaboratively with any board member who comes to the table in good faith on behalf of our students and their families. I am, however, mindful of the fact that I can only control my side of the table and I encourage Spotsylvania voters in other districts to elect pro-public education candidates who are committed to positive change. 2. Recruit and retain outstanding educators This is rapidly becoming a crisis in Spotsylvania. We have hundreds of students learning English and math through an online program because we cant staff our classrooms. Even more students including special education students do not have a licensed teacher leading their class. We cant have an excellent school division without educators. I keep saying this: you can pay people badly or you can treat them badly but you cant do both. When you do both, people find another place to work and thats what has happened in Spotsylvania. We need to address both pieces to begin to recruit staff in the numbers we need. Luckily, fixing the leadership piece is free. We just need to elect school board members who support and value our educators. In order to offer competitive compensation packages, we require the support of our Board of Supervisors. I encourage voters to pay close attention to those races and to vote for pro-public education candidates who will invest in our schools and our students. I will always advocate for competitive salaries for our educators and staff. 3. Provide increased mental health support for our students. We are in the midst of a youth mental health crisis and we cannot afford to ignore this issue. I have extensive education and professional experience in mental health and I work as a school social worker, supporting the mental health needs of our students every day. My experience and knowledge on this issue will be an enormous asset on our school board. I understand our students needs and I understand the research and interventions. I will work to hire the staff we need and to develop community partnerships to provide robust, evidence-based mental health supports to our students. Jordan Lynch Q: What are the top three issues facing the school division and what would you do about them if elected? A: I believe the biggest issues we currently face as a district are the security of our schools, our district's teacher shortage, and the polarization of our board and inability to work together. The safety and security of our schools must be our top priority. It is crucial to create a secure learning environment where both teachers and students can thrive. Sharing School Resource Officers between multiple schools or allowing doors to be propped open is unacceptable. Unfortunately, we have witnessed several instances this year alone where doors were propped open, which is a serious concern. To prevent such incidents, it is imperative that we analyze the situation and implement sensor systems and regular checks. Working closely with local law enforcement, we need to develop a comprehensive plan that provides our schools with the necessary resources, personnel, and equipment to ensure campus safety. Together, we can work towards this common goal and create a safer future for our education system. In order to address the teacher shortage and enhance education for our students, we need to conduct a comprehensive analysis of our budget requirements. It is imperative that we eliminate any unnecessary expenditures and allocate those funds towards competitive compensation for our teachers as well as providing essential classroom resources. We must prioritize strategies that promote teacher retention while actively seeking out talented individuals externally. Our primary objective should be to foster achievement for both students and educators, thereby restoring our reputation as one of the top accredited institutions in the state. It is crucial that our board members possess a strong background in budget management and understand how to make strategic financial decisions. My experience running a local business for the past eight years has equipped me with the expertise needed to effectively allocate funds where they are most needed, ensuring optimal success for our educational system. It is evident that our school board meetings have become excessively lengthy, often extending into the early hours of the morning. Disputes and heated arguments among board members have unfortunately become a common occurrence. In order to bring about positive change, we must elect individuals who can uphold decorum and foster civility within our meetings. We need board members who can prioritize the best interests of our students, teachers, and school district over personal biases. At this critical juncture, we are faced with a choice whether to maintain the existing failing status quo or come together to invest in the future of our children. We must refrain from allowing partisanship and cultural divisions to influence our decision-making process. Instead, it is absolutely imperative that we join hands and work collaboratively for the betterment of our students, parents, and educators. Our childrens future relies on us to work together and elevate education standards in our county. Let us make wise choices and unite towards creating a brighter tomorrow. Two candidates are in the running to replace Courtland District representative Rabih Abuismail, who is not seeking reelection, on the Spotsylvania School Board. Carol Medawar is a longtime educator who previously ran for School Board in Stafford County before moving to Spotsylvania. Her opponent is David Ross, who currently serves on the county Board of Supervisors representing Courtland. The Free LanceStar sent questionnaires to all candidates, asking them for background information and to identify the top three issues facing the school division and describe what they would do about them if elected. Early voting in the November election is underway in Spotsylvania at the Office of Elections (4708 Southpoint Parkway) and at the Breezewood Shopping Center (10699 Courthouse Road). Sample ballots for each precinct and more information for voters are available at spotsylvania.va.us/239/Office-of-Elections. Carol Medawar Q: What are the three biggest issues facing Spotsylvania County Public Schools and what would you do about them if elected? A: Communication and collaboration: I understand the importance of families voices in their childrens education and seek to facilitate effective communication between parents, educators, and school leadership. I have the background in education and will create avenues for the stakeholders to engage with our local school system and move our community forward. Increase safety and academic outcomes: All families deserve schools that are safe and healthy. We must allocate resources to create environments where students have the freedom to learn, thrive, and feel secure. Attracting and retaining educators: We can not afford to continue to lose our most valuable resource, our educators. I will advocate for evidence-based strategies that create a culture where credentialed and talented staff love to work. David Ross Q: What are the three biggest issues facing Spotsylvania County Public Schools and what would you do about them if elected? A: 1. I fully support Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears and the Virginia Department of Educations Model Policies on Ensuring Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for All Students and Parents in Virginias Public Schools. These policies fully support parents rights in the raising of their children. These policies are clear in that they enforce the fact in America that children do not belong to "the state," they belong to their parents. I believe parents will advocate and know what is best for their children more than anyone else or any other entity can. 2. Transparency in what is being taught to our children. We need to have annual and open curriculum reviews to ensure we are focusing our teaching/education efforts on the core education sectors of reading, writing, arithmetic, science, and history. 3. Catching our students up, at all grade levels, but especially in K-6th grade, in recovering from learning loss due to COVID-19 lockdowns that went on too long especially here in Spotsylvania County. Raptor, the United States Air Force Heartland of America Bands rock group, will perform at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 23, at Nielsen Community Center in West Point. The concert is free and open to the public. In this salute to The Good Ole Days, Raptor will feature soft rock, R&B, pop, and country music from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. The members of Raptor proudly showcase the Air Forces excellence, precision, and innovation in every performance. Highlights of their 75-minute program will include songs made famous by The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Kenny Rogers, John Denver, Queen and many more. The concert will conclude with a special musical tribute to all military service members, past and present, who have selflessly served our country. The United States Air Force Heartland of America Band is a professional organization that presents musical programs to inspire patriotism, connect communities with their military, and honor our countrys veterans. A Columbus teenager was hospitalized with serious injuries on Thursday, Oct. 19, after a two-vehicle collision on U.S. Highway 30 near North Bend. According to a press release, the accident happened at 5:34 a.m., Thursday, on the new U.S. Highway 30 between Dodge County roads 13 and 14 close to Ames. Officials stated that a semi- tractor-trailer and pick-up truck on New Highway 30, between County Roads 13 and 14 near Ames. The accident investigation determined that the pickup, a red Chevy Silverado driven by Kevin Ramirez Fierro, 19, of Columbus, Nebraska, was eastbound on New Highway 30 when it crossed the center line and collided with the westbound Freightliner semi-trailer driven by John Piskorski, 43, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, officials stated in the press release. Fierro suffered serious injuries and was taken by LifeNet medical helicopter to an unidentified trauma center in Omaha. Piskorski did not suffer any injuries. Republicans have dropped Jim Jordan as their nominee for House speaker, setting them back to square one with no clear plan ahead. This comes after Jordan failed Friday in a third try for the speaker's gavel. Frustrated and angry Republicans sank further into turmoil with no idea how to end the crisis created after hardliners ousted Kevin McCarthy. Despite Jordan's backing from Donald Trump, opposition to him only grew. More than two dozen centrist Republicans revolted over the Ohio congressman's nomination and the hardball tactics being used to win them over. Some have received death threats. Next steps are uncertain as Republicans start pitching new candidates for speaker. The former police chief of Wahoo, who had also been a top gang investigator with the Omaha Police Department, is expected to have his law enforcement license revoked for life during a state hearing next week. Bruce M. Ferrell, 62, of Elkhorn, is scheduled to have his law enforcement license revoked on Friday, Oct. 27, during a meeting of the Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice in Lincoln. The Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice is part of the Nebraska Crime Commission and also affiliated with the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center. The body conducts hearings about law enforcement officials accused of misconduct and has the power to revoke a law enforcement officials certification for life. The hearing on Ferrells law enforcement certification comes almost two years after his resignation from the force. He was later accused of allegedly having sexual relations while on duty. Ferrell abruptly resigned from his job as police chief in Wahoo on Nov. 11, 2021. He told the Lincoln Journal Star it was just time less than a week later. As previously reported by the Omaha World Herald, unnamed sources claimed that he was engaging in sexual activities with an unknown person while on duty. The alleged sex acts were reportedly captured on Ferrells own body camera. Officials from the Nebraska State Patrol conducted an investigation of Ferrell after the accusations. In January 2023, he was officially charged with suspicion of official misconduct, a Class 2 misdemeanor; and suspicion of disseminating non-disclosable criminal history, a Class 4 misdemeanor. During the NSP investigation, detectives with the agency focused on Ferrells interactions with the woman from the alleged encounter. Among the evidence reviewed was four pages of text messages between she and Ferrell, technical reviews of the womans personal cellular phone and photographs saved to the device, 911 dispatch center records of police responses to her home address and examinations of she and Ferrells Facebook, Snapchat and Google accounts. Courts records also reveal that investigators centered their investigation on 12 different segments of body camera footage from Ferrells body camera over six different dates. The body camera images captured on Ferrells device were from June 21, June 28, June 30, July 1, July 26 and Sept. 15 during 2021, and mostly were filmed between the hours of noon to 4:45 p.m. on each of the dates. On June 30, Ferrells camera recorded five separate interactions with the woman, while on Sept. 15, the camera recorded three interactions. Ferrell denied the claims, and on March 7, 2023, filed a motion with the court seeking to have state prosecutors detail what he was specifically accused of. In July 2023, Ferrell pleaded no contest to disseminating non-disclosable criminal history, and he was found guilty by Saunders County Court Judge C. Jo Petersen and was issued a $500 fine. Prosecutors agreed to dismiss the official conduct charge against Ferrell. Attempts to contact Ferrell for comment made to his attorney Steven M. Delaney of Bellevue were unsuccessful. Nebraska State Patrol spokesperson Cody Thomas stated in an email to Lee Enterprises that there was no new information about the case. Melissa Harrell, Wahoos city administrator, said in a telephone interview on Thursday, Oct. 19, that she was unaware that Ferrell was scheduled to have his law enforcement license revoked, but said she was happy the citys police department has moved on from the incident and is rebuilding trust with citizens. Following Ferrells resignation, the city eventually hired a new chief of police former Ashland Police Chief Joseph Baudler in February 2022. Harrell said the charges leveled against Ferrell were disappointing and she stressed that once city officials became aware of the accusations, they immediately contacted the Nebraska State Patrol and cooperated in any manner necessary to aid the investigation. We dont hire people to do unethical things, Harrell said of the charges against Ferrell. I am happy with the direction of the department under Chief Baudler. Ferrell was hired as Wahoos chief of police in February 2018 after what was considered a stellar career with the Omaha Police Department that spanned 23 years. While in Omaha, Ferrell was considered one of the regions leading gang-unit investigators. He was involved in leadership positions with both national and regional coalitions of gang detectives. He also had worked an investigator for the Bellevue Police Department and as a part-time police officer in the City of Valley. Ferrell was a regular visitor to Fremont, having collaborated with members of the Fremont Police Department for several years on gang education for local educators and residents. In 2008, he gave a presentation to more than 100 Fremont residents during the citys Safe Neighborhood Night, telling attendees about the rising threats of Latino and Hispanic gangs in the city that he claimed began to become worse in 2005. Any law enforcement official who does have their law enforcement certification revoked is placed on both a state and national database of officials who can no longer work as a certified government law enforcement officer in any capacity. According to State of Nebraska records compiled by the Crime Commission as of May 30, 2023, there have been 149 police, state patrol or sheriffs deputy officials who have had their law enforcement certifications revoked dating to Jan. 1, 1995. Colorados unemployment rate has been rising slightly in the past few months, but the states top economist cautions against reading too much into marginal monthly increases. The latest jobs report from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment on Friday showed the states seasonally adjusted unemployment rate inched up from 3.1% in August to 3.2% in September. In July, the state unemployment rate was 2.9%. The state saw a several-month run of 2.8% earlier this year. A similar trend unfolded last year when unemployment rates ticked up during the fall, the states economist Ryan Gedney told reporters on Friday also emphasizing that the routine annual revisions of 2022 monthly estimates later tamped those increases down. I do have my beliefs or hunches that when this is all revised it will show pretty boring, flat, no change over the year unemployment rate, he said. The national unemployment rate stayed flat at 3.8% last month. Since April 2022, the national jobless rate has ranged between 3.4% and 3.8%, which is near historic lows, Gedney said. The rise of Colorados rate was due to a decline of total employment coupled with a decrease in the labor force, he said. Despite the recent uptick in Colorados unemployment rate over the past few months, the states rate has remained between a relatively narrow band of 2.6% and 3.2% since April 2022. Thats a familiar story to pre-pandemic times, he said. The states unemployment rate ranged between 2.5% and 3.2% in the two years preceding the pandemic.. Sign up for free: Gazette Business Receive a weekly roundup of business news around El Paso County. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Colorados labor force decreased by 2,500 down to 3,252,600. The share of Coloradans participating in the labor force fell slightly from 68.7% in August to 68.6% in September. At a national level, the labor force participation was flat at 62.8% in September. The number of Coloradans who are employed fell by 6,100 last month to 3,149,100. That represents 66.4% of the states population who are 16 and older. Despite the recent lack in upward movement in Colorados participation rate and employment-participation ratio, both metrics still rank top five nationally as of September, Gedney said. A survey of employers found there were 1,500 new nonfarm payroll jobs last month, bringing the number to 2,917,800. The number of jobs in the private sector fell by 600. The government added 2,100 jobs, likely driven by the education field. There were mixed results in the private industry last month. Professional business services showed significant gains, adding 2,300 jobs in September, while the other services sector showed a significant month-over loss of 2,600 jobs. Gedney said there is a strong chance the other services job loss totals will prove less severe when estimates are revised next month. The average workweek for Colorado employees on private nonfarm payrolls shrunk over the past year, down from 33.5 hours to 33.4 hours. Average hourly earnings grew from $34.44 to $35.75. Whats cooler than a spacecraft that can collect samples of mysterious asteroids? When it comes to things made in Colorado, not much. Thats according to the Colorado Chamber of Commerce, which Thursday announced the 2023 winner of its annual Coolest Thing Made in Colorado contest is Lockheed Martin Space. The contest collects nominations from across the state and aims to spotlight Colorados manufacturing industry. Products must be made in Colorado through a manufacturing process to qualify. Lockheed edged out nine other finalists for the win and was chosen by an independent panel of judges. The company developed and constructed the OSIRIS-Rex spacecraft, which was recently used by NASA to collect samples from the asteroid Bennu. OSIRIS-Rex stands for the Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer. To do something that no one has ever done before in our history has been an incredible experience, systems engineer Sierra Gonzales said in a video announcing Lockheed as the winner. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. The spacecraft launched in 2016 and surveyed the asteroid while in orbit for two years. OSIRIS-Rex made waves in September when it successfully collected a sample from the asteroid and brought it back to Earth. The retrieval was significant because it was the first time a U.S. mission has collected an asteroid sample. Scientists hope it can provide revelations about the origins of life on Earth and the formation of the solar system. Lockheed wasnt the only winner. This years runner-up was Ocutrx Vision Technologies, which created the OcuLenz. While Ocutrxs offices are in California, the OcuLenz is manufactured in the companys Colorado Springs facility. The product is a headset created specifically for people with advanced macular degeneration. The headset relies on software that analyzes a persons eyesight and then adjusts a visual of the world around them that is tailored to their individual vision needs. Patients have been able to read within just a few minutes after not having been able to read for 11 or more years, CEO Michael Freeman said in a video. The Peoples Choice Award, which is decided through online voting as opposed to the independent panel, went to DNA Vibe for its DNA Vibe Jazz Band Live. The product helps physical injuries heal faster. The man accused of fatally shooting four people in southern Colorado last year over theft and drug-related disputes was sentenced to 80 years in prison as part of a plea agreement. Carlos Diaz pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder in both El Paso and Pueblo counties earlier this year, and appeared in court in 4th Judicial District Court on Friday for his sentencing hearing on the two El Paso County homicides of Diego Martinez and Anthony Moore, both 22. Earlier this week, Diaz was given an 88-year prison sentence in Pueblo County Court for killing Manuel Zegarelli, 27, and Vetho Finnell-Vigil, 22. The sentence in Pueblo made the sentence for Diaz in El Paso County somewhat irrelevant, as Diaz faced a maximum of 80 years in prison for the two Pueblo homicides, but the plea agreement required the sentence to run concurrent to the sentence in Pueblo. Moore's mother and Brad Whitehead, the lead detective on the case, expressed their disagreement with the concurrent sentence. "He is getting off very easy with this sentence," Whitehead said. "Anthony (Moore) did not deserve to be taken in the cowardly, premeditated and callous way that he was," Moore's mother said. Prosecutor Jennifer Viehman requested that Judge Chad Miller give Diaz the maximum of 80 years in prison, stating that Diaz was a member of the drug trafficking cartel MS-13, and that most of the shootings were done "execution style," with the victim facing away from the shooter at the time. "Mr. Diaz is a member of a drug trafficking organization and he killed four people," Viehman said to the court. "It was a shooting rampage." 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. Tina Tussay-Cooper, Diaz's defense attorney, spent more than 30 minutes attempting to present mitigation to the court, stating that it's the defense's belief that the first person killed by Diaz in El Paso County, Martinez, was trying to kill him. Tussay-Cooper said that Martinez had been sent by drug traffickers to kill Diaz for being "a bad drug dealer," and that Martinez had attempted to shoot Diaz only weeks before his death. Tussay-Cooper described her client as a victim of violence and gangs from a very young age, stating that Diaz and his brother were abandoned by their parents in Nicaragua at 3 years old, leaving the two of them no choice but to work for drug cartels. "This doesn't excuse the actions taken (by Diaz), but it helps explain why they occurred," Tussay-Cooper said. The defense also played a nearly 25-minute-long video to the court during mitigation where a friend of Diaz's describes him as a kind person, and Diaz himself can be heard saying in Spanish "I let myself get carried away by anger and rage." Despite speaking in the video, Diaz declined to speak to the court on Friday. Before issuing his sentence, Miller acknowledged that the sentence he would impose would do "very little," because of the sentence running concurrently with the one from Pueblo County. Miller praised the defense's work in presenting mitigation, but the judge also appeared unmoved by it and opted to hand down the maximum possible sentence of 80 years in the Department of Corrections. "The best work the defense (attorneys) did was get this plea agreement," Miller said, going on to describe the complaints over the concurrent sentences as "fair arguments." Diaz was sentenced to 48 years on the first charge of second-degree murder in El Paso County and 32 years on the second charge. Diaz's plea to four charges of second-degree murder is a significant downgrade from the initial charge of four counts of first-degree murder. Gov. Jared Polis' $3.1 billion mandate to upgrade energy efficiency in large buildings took effect Sunday, a move a Pikes Peak regional building official said this week could "significantly impact" El Paso County and the state of Colorado. Civil penalties of up to $5,000 per month for buildings not in compliance with Air Quality Control Commission Rule 28 also went into effect Sunday. Critics said the rule is unprecedented, and, in some cases, may be unachievable. Some also argued the authority the state is exercising to come up with and implement the rule exceeds constitutional norms. State commissioners maintained passing the rule is both necessary and mandated by the enabling statute, House Bill 21-1286, which imposes reductions in energy use of 7% by 2026 and 20% by 2030 below 2021 levels. The law's authors said buildings represent a "significant source of greenhouse gas pollution" in Colorado. "We're doing this because there's been a certain failure on the national level, and, I think, maybe that's the way this country's going," Commissioner Jon Slutsky said at a recent hearing. "The states have to chip in and take care of this business and other business. So, I came into this hearing with the idea that we were going to take care of building emissions. And, as long as we take care of our legislative mandate, if we do more, that's all right. I'm on board with that," Slutsky added. Environmental attorney Paul Seby, who represents the Colorado's Apartment Association, the Apartment Association of Metropolitan Denver and the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, argued the state has not shown that the standards are feasible. "The burden has not been met by the (Air Pollution Control Division) to show that performance standards are achievable," he said. Pikes Peak Regional Building Department building official Roger Lovell said even the department's main building at 2880 International Circle in Colorado Springs, which was LEED Silver certified in 2005, doesn't meet the strict "energy use intensity" regulations. The LEED certification is a worldwide green building rating system. In 2003 construction started on the building that was "a model of efficiency" and which exceeded minimum energy requirements at the time, Lovell said. In the years since its construction, officials have made several energy upgrades like installing a solar array and upgrading all building lighting to LED lighting, he said. "Theoretically we shouldn't have a problem meeting the regulations. But the reality is, even with the building being LEED certified, it still doesn't meet the energy use intensity regulations, which is frustrating," Lovell said. He added the regulations could "significantly impact" El Paso County and all of Colorado, but did not speculate what the anticipated cost would be to upgrade the building or what the path to compliance could look like. Pikes Peak Regional Building Department's main building "is already highly energy efficient, so it's geared to meet those targets. But other, older buildings that the county may have could be significantly more difficult" to bring into compliance, he said. Building owners and management companies said what the rule really amounts to is a mandatory electrification requirement. Critics also said renovations that meet the initial 7% reduction by 2026, just 26 months away, may be impossible to achieve due to planning, permitting and supply-chain issues. The Polis administration has argued electrification mandates will "save people money." Tim Walsh, CEO of Confluence Companies, which builds and manages multi-family housing up and down the Front Range of Colorado, disagreed. "We are already constraining the production of natural gas, which is driving up the cost of producing that electricity. So, what he said is completely hypocritical," Walsh said. "He's going to make harder and harder for a low wage earner to afford to live in Colorado and pay their utility bills." A serious obstacle to the mandate is the supply chain, specifically for the kind of equipment building owners would need to procure to meet standards, according to Walsh. "Can you imagine the equipment doesn't exist in the marketplace to do that?" Walsh previously told The Denver Gazette. "I mean you'd have to upgrade electrical panels, upgrade transformers, and then just purchasing the actual heat pump or electric hot water heater or electrical equipment. Some items are (on an) 18-month lead right now. So, I mean, the industry wouldn't be able to respond to that requirement." Under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Roadmap, building owners face a 100% carbon-free Colorado mandate by 2050. Other critics said the governor's plan, even if it achieves its goal, is futile, particularly if other parts of the world, notably China, continue with current emission levels. Jake Fogleman, an energy policy analyst at the Denver-based Independence Institute, cited a report from the John Locke Foundation in North Carolina, which claimed that every day it takes China only eight minutes to "dwarf Colorado's daily carbon emissions." "Here's another interesting statistic," Fogleman told The Denver Gazette. "We're burning more coal today globally for power production than we ever have. It's going up, not going down, and all that pollution is going up into the air in Third World countries. So, what we do in Colorado won't even move the needle on reducing greenhouse gases, but it will be a huge economic impact to our citizens here." Supporters said such an argument, if embraced, would mean doing nothing to combat emissions. They also argued that the transition away from fossil energy is good for people's health and the environment, and that, ultimately, it would mean using a more sustainable and cheaper source of power. 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. Meanwhile, the Colorado Energy Office disputed the claim the regulation effectively amounts to building electrification. "The BPS rules will not force any building owners to electrify their buildings," said Ari Rosenblum, spokesperson for the Colorado Energy Office in an email reply to questions from The Denver Gazette, referring to building performance standards. "Building owners have multiple pathways to comply with the BPS, which allows building owners to determine the most cost-effective path, given their unique circumstances." Walsh, the developer, called the "multiple pathways" claim by the energy office a sham, arguing the the true intent of the regulation is forced electrification, the ultimate goal of which is to eliminate the use of natural gas. "Everybody seems to be just in this collective illusion that if we switched to electricity, somehow the cost is going to go down and we're going to save the environment," he said. "We're going to be disproportionately hurting the hardest working Coloradans and the lowest wage earners by implementing this rule." Walsh also said dwellers in older buildings will end up paying for upgrades from windows or insulation to central boiler hot water heating electrification to swapping gas appliances for electric one way or another, and that it's likely many would be evicted during renovations. Walsh added that major reconstruction to replace existing gas infrastructure with electric will trigger asbestos abatement requirements, and all of the tenants of those buildings will be required to vacate their apartments. Rosenblum countered that the rule offers flexibility. "Building owners can also request target and timeline adjustments, if needed," Rosenblum said. "With this built-in flexibility, it is simply not the case that buildings will need to evict residents and conduct major renovations to meet BPS targets." Rosenblum also pointed to help that's coming to some building owners. "The state is taking advantage of all available opportunities to maximize the savings from the BPS for owners of multifamily housing buildings in low-income communities," Rosenblum said. "Some of the cost will be covered by applicable programs that building owners/managers apply to. Not all of the cost will be passed onto tenants. Even then, in terms of overall spending, the benefits of implementing this rule are far greater than the cost." Rosenblum said the state is looking at options to provide tenants with temporary housing in "rare cases where tenants need to vacate a building to address health and safety concerns as a part of an energy improvement." Will Toor, director of the Colorado Energy Office, said adequate safety measures exist in the regulation for those who can prove it's neither possible nor economically feasible to meet them. A state economic impact earlier report said the direct cost to large building owners for capital expenditures, reporting, and management is $3.1 billion expenses that will be incurred by the 20% energy reduction deadline set for 2030. The report said building owners will see savings of $4.6 billion in electricity costs and $577 million for natural gas, totaling $5.1 billion by 2050. The report also cited $1.24 billion in savings from the social cost of eliminating 26 million metric tons of CO2-equivalent gasses. "Building owners might pass on some or all of the cost of implementing this rule to their tenants, which may lead to higher rents," the report said. Seby, the attorney, warned that the fines building owners face are substantial: For failing to submit the annual greenhouse gas benchmarking data, the fine is up to $500 for a first violation and up to $2,000 for each subsequent violation. It's far worse if the building owner can't make the building compliant, or just refuses to do so, according to Seby. In a joint email statement from the energy office and the governor's office, Rosenblum said, "For the performance standards, a building owner would be considered non-compliant if they fail to meet their established 2026 or 2030 target by the required deadline for each year they must comply with the target. Continued failure to achieve the standards or demonstrate progress in doing so may be subject to additional civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation by the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division, which will be determined on a case-by-case basis through the enforcement process, including court injunctions that could prohibit the owner from using the building until it's brought into compliance." All civil penalties, fees, gifts, grants, donations, and legislatively appropriated funds go into a climate change mitigation and adaption fund available only to the energy office "for the purpose of financing and administering the building performance program." "The Legislature has been busy the last two years totally reversing our state's entire history and custom and practice on home rule through building codes and on these kind of greenhouse gas things," Seby said. "The Legislature totally quietly dismantled any home rule considerations." "It's an egregious delegation of the legislature's authority with no statutory bounds to it. They're not an agency, so they're not subject to all of the legal requirements and sideboards that other agencies have to follow," Seby added. "The governor declared war on average, normal Coloradans going about their lives, and people who own buildings better watch out because they're all of a sudden blacklisted greenhouse gas emitters. This is a gross expansion of government authority, off the books, off of the normal constitutional separation of powers." The Gazette's Breeanna Jent contributed to this report. The Israeli national anthem rang out in Acacia Park on Thursday along with prayers and speeches as a diverse group of supporters gathered to show support for the warring country. "We want to make sure people remember what happened on Oct. 7," said event organizer Daniel Pitrone, referring to the attack by the Hamas group on Israeli civilians, which has killed more than 1,400 people in Israel and sparked war in the region. Pitrone, a Colorado Springs real-estate agent and member of the Jewish community, said that he and fellow real-estate agent and Israeli national Uri Yochelman organized the rally through word of mouth. The rally attracted dozens with flags and signs. The message of the rally ranged from prayers for peace to anger at the international perception of Israel in the burgeoning conflict in Gaza. "Support Israel: Support Justice and Peace" said one sign; another called Hamas "Barbaric Terrorists." Rally attendee Michael Schoening said he was there to support family and friends and to "raise awareness on the unity of people standing against war," stressing that the war was not between Muslims and Jews but between Hamas and the multicultural state of Israel. Donna LaBelle, who identified as Christian, said she was there to show her support of Israel and for a "fair recording" of the Hamas attack. 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. "They have a right to defend themselves," she said of Israel. The rally attracted speakers from Colorado Springs' religious community, including Rabbi Boaz Vituk of Chabad of Colorado Springs Jewish Community and Rabbi Jay Sherwood of Temple Shalom. Vituk said his speech focused on "positivity and hope" while also supporting Israel's military actions. "Of course, we will fight," he said of the conflict, relating his position to his service in the U.S. military as a chaplain. Pitrone said that the rally's purpose was to raise awareness and support of Israel's position, saying that the country had the "moral high ground." A newly formed First Amendment activist group in Monument claims a town ordinance regulating the placement of signs, as well as the town's enforcement of the code, unconstitutionally prohibits free speech. Monument Citizens for the First Amendment raised concerns this month after observing that few political signs have been posted in public rights of way ahead of the Nov. 7 election, group member and former state Rep. Amy Stephens said. The town has also removed political signs that have been posted in public rights of way, she said. "It's barren town here. You wouldn't even know we have a school board election or much going on here. Signs let us know what issues are going on," Stephens told the Monument Town Council during a special meeting Thursday night. The council met Thursday to consider enacting an emergency moratorium that would have temporarily suspended enforcement of the section of town code currently prohibiting signs being placed within public rights of way. The board ultimately took no action on the matter. In an Oct. 11 letter to Town Attorney Bob Cole, attorney Andrew Nussbaum of Colorado Springs-based Nussbaum Gleason, who represents the activist group, claimed the town has been "targeting for removal" all political signs related to next month's election but has allowed non-political signs to be placed in public rights of way. "The town cannot continue to enforce its sign ordinances in the blatantly discriminatory fashion it has in advance of the Nov. 7 election," Nussbaum wrote. " We request that you immediately cease and desist the town's discriminatory enforcement of its sign ordinances." In a second letter to Cole dated Oct. 16, Nussbaum said he wanted to speak with the town attorney about the matter "without court involvement." The ordinance adopted in June 2021 prohibits all signs within the public right of way with few exceptions, all of which are considered without reference to the sign's content, Cole told the board Thursday. The code meets legal standards and has the same requirements as many other municipalities, counties and state agencies like the Colorado Department of Transportation, Cole 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. Mayor Mitch LaKind said the ordinance also aligns with a 2015 U.S. Supreme Court case, Reed v. Town of Gilbert, which clarified when municipalities can enforce content-based restrictions on signage. Stephens said Monument could simply amend its code to allow signs in public rights of way during election seasons. LaKind said that would amount to the town regulating sign content, which the ordinance prohibits. "We're not regulating the content and we're not going to do that, at least not right now," he said. Nussbaum claimed in his Oct. 11 letter the town only recently began enforcing the code. During the November 2022 election season, he said, residents were allowed to place political signs in public rights of way. Councilmembers said Thursday that during the last election cycle the board directed town staff not to enforce the sign code, so signs placed on public rights of way were not removed. The council did not take a similar action during the current election cycle, so town staff have been enforcing the ordinance "as best as possible," time and resources permitting, Town Manager Mike Foreman said. On Nov. 7, Monument voters will elect four Lewis-Palmer School District 38 board members and residents living within the Donald Wescott Fire Protection District will decide whether to increase the district's property tax rate. Voters will also decide two statewide propositions. The El Paso County clerk and recorder mailed ballots to active registered voters this week. A Fort Carson soldier has been missing for several days and officials are asking for help finding him. Pvt. 1st Class Aaron Frame was last seen at Fort Carson at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 17 but failed to report the next morning. Leadership in his unit and his family have not been able to reach the infantryman since then, a news release said. The exact reason for his departure his unknown. Frame is a 20-year-old, White male with brown hair and blue eyes. He is 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighs approximately 186 pounds. He drives a black Kia Forte with Colorado license plate No. AYGU52. He is assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team at Fort Carson. The 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team recently returned from the National Training Center in California. Fort Carson leaders and investigators are working closely with Frame's family, local law enforcement agencies and Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division to find him, the news release 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. Frame is originally from Harleysville, Pa., and he has served in the Army for one year, three months, according to his service record. Officially, he is considered absent without leave. Frame's father, Francis Frame, said the last time he spoke to his son was eight days ago. He was promptly informed that his son was missing, but he was not sure where his son might have gone. The 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson are committed to the welfare and safety of its soldiers and their families, the news release said. (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden will host leaders from South American nations at the White House for a summit on Nov. 3 where the United States will reaffirm its commitment for cooperation on economic growth and tackling irregular migration, the White House said on Friday. During the inaugural Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity Leaders' Summit, Biden also will outline commitments to strengthen and expand U.S. efforts to drive regional economic growth, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement. The latest convening of leaders comes more than a year after Biden signed a non-binding declaration at a previous meeting - dubbed the "Summit of the Americas" - where 20 countries from the region agreed to a set of measures to confront the migration crisis. Record numbers of migrants have crossed illegally into the U.S.-Mexico border in recent years, with hundreds of thousands of people heading north after passing through a perilous jungle region known as the Darien Gap between Colombia and Panama. The trend has been fueled in part by a sharp increase in Venezuelans fleeing economic and political instability in their home country. The announcement of the latest summit comes after the Biden administration earlier in the week broadly eased sanctions on Venezuela's oil sector in response to a 2024 election deal reached between the government and opposition parties. At the same time the U.S. restarted deportations to Venezuela, which had been long stalled. Since taking office in 2021, Biden, a Democrat, has opened up a range of new legal pathways for migrants while embracing some more restrictive border measures that echo the policies of his Republican predecessor Donald Trump. Trump, who made a hardline on immigration central to his term in office, is leading in the race for a Republican candidate to face off with Biden in next year's presidential election. As part of the effort to promote legal migration, the Biden administration has set up a series of so-called "Safe Mobility Offices" in Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala and most recently Ecuador to expedite refugee processing and other humanitarian and employment permits. Biden's border approach has drawn harsh criticism from Republicans and even some Democrats in cities grappling with a large number of asylum seekers arriving with little support and overwhelming local resources. The previous summit, held in Los Angeles in June 2022, was snubbed by Mexico's president after the leftist governments of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua were excluded. (Reporting by Mica Rosenberg; Trevor Hunnicutt and Costas Pitas; Editing by Paul Grant and Daniel Wallis) By Kanishka Singh (Reuters) - Dozens of Hollywood actors and artists, including comedian Jon Stewart and Oscar-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix, wrote on Friday to U.S. President Joe Biden, urging him to press for a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza. Palestinian Islamist group Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,400 people and taking about 200 hostages. Since then, Israel has bombed Gaza and killed over 4,100 Palestinians, according to the Palestinian health ministry. "We urge your administration, and all world leaders, to honor all of the lives in the Holy Land and call for and facilitate a ceasefire without delay an end to the bombing of Gaza, and the safe release of hostages," the celebrities wrote to Biden. "We refuse to tell future generations the story of our silence, that we stood by and did nothing. As (UN) Emergency Relief Chief Martin Griffiths told UN News, "History is watching"", they said in the letter, citing Griffiths' comment on Monday. The nearly 60 signatories included Susan Sarandon, Kristen Stewart, Quinta Brunson, Ramy Youssef, Riz Ahmed and Mahershala Ali, among others. "Humanitarian aid must be allowed to reach them (Gazans)," the letter said. Biden on Friday said he believed that trucks carrying aid will get through to Gaza in the next 24 to 48 hours. Israel's bombardment of Gaza, a 45-km-long (25-mile) enclave, has created dire conditions for the 2.3 million people living there under a blockade by Israel and Egypt since Hamas took control in 2007. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Rod Nickel) A majority of voters disapprove of President Joe Biden's handling of the Israel-Hamas war, but a plurality believes he is adequately supporting Israel in the conflict. A CBS News-YouGov poll released on Thursday of 1,878 adults shows that a majority, 56%, disapprove of Biden's job performance related to the war in Israel, but he does have a net approval rating on the matter among those under 30 who were surveyed, garnering 54% support on the topic. BIDEN GOES DIRECTLY TO THE PUBLIC ON ISRAEL AND UKRAINE WITH OVAL OFFICE ADDRESS A plurality of those surveyed, 44%, believe that Biden is showing the right amount of support for Israel, while 32% said they believe he has not shown enough support to the Jewish state, and 24% said they believe he has shown too much support to Israel. When divided by age group, a plurality still believes Biden is showing the right amount of support for the Middle Eastern country, but younger people tend to believe he is showing too much support rather than not enough. The poll showed 31% of adults under 30 believe Biden is showing too much support to Israel compared to 21% who believe Biden has not shown enough support for the country. The survey also reveals that 30% of adults aged 30-44 believe Biden is showing too much support toward the Jewish state, compared to 25% who say the president is not showing enough support toward Israel. U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the war between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. (Miriam Alster/Pool Photo via AP) Miriam Alster/AP Older age groups tended to feel more like Biden is not doing enough to support Israel. The survey showed 38% of those aged 45-64 and 41% of those aged 65 and older believe Biden is not supporting Israel enough, compared to 21% and 14%, respectively, of those age groups who believe he is doing too much to support Israel. 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. When asked if the U.S. should send weapons and supplies to Israel, those polled were narrowly divided 52% to 48%, with the slim majority saying the U.S. should not. A divide between age groups showed a majority of those under 45 years old believe the U.S. should not send weapons and supplies to the Jewish state, while a majority of those 45 years old and older believe the U.S. should. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Biden reaffirmed his support for Israel in a speech from the White House on Thursday evening after the poll was released, urging Congress to pass a $100 billion supplemental funding request to support the Jewish state and Ukraine in their respective conflicts. The president also visited Israel earlier this week as a show of support for the country. The conflict has killed at least 5,000 people in Israel and Gaza since the first attacks by Hamas, according to the Associated Press. The State Department has said that at least 30 Americans are among the dead in Israel, while several U.S. citizens are also among the people being held hostage by the terrorist group. Two American hostages were released from Gaza on Friday, Israel confirmed. Original Location: Israel war: Majority disapproves of Biden handling of conflict Washington Examiner Videos Hamas frees 2 American hostages {child_byline}By John Moore The Denver Gazette{/child_byline} Judith and Natalie Raanan, an American mother and daughter taken hostage two weeks ago by the militant group Hamas, have been freed from captivity. Hamas armed wing, the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, said it has released the women for humanitarian reasons because Judith Raanan is in poor health. The release was the result of negotiations between Qatar and Hamas, said its spokesman, Abu Ubaida. The Raanans are the first hostages to be freed since Hamas breached the Israel border Oct. 7 and killed upward of 1,400 people, including 27 Americans. Natalie is the 17-year-old sister of Ben Raanan, artistic director of Denvers disability-affirmative Phamaly Theatre Company. She and Judith, 59, both live in Evanston, Ill. The two were in Nahal Oz, a farming community located less than a mile from the Israel- Gaza border, to celebrate Judiths mothers birthday. In a previous interview with The Denver Gazette, Ben Raanan said, Heres the thing you need to know about Natalie: She is not a political person. I cant even tell you her politics, because politics have never been important to her. Shes not a politician. Shes not part of the military. Shes just a normal kid with the brightest of futures ahead of her, and I am praying that she is still alive. Natalie and Judith Raanan, who both hold dual citizenship, were handed over to the Red Cross and reunited with family members on an Israeli military base although it is believed that as many as 10 members of the extended Raanan family remain in Hamas captivity. Hamas has said it has taken about 200 total hostages, and that 50 more are being held by other armed groups in the enclave. It also said more than 20 hostages have been killed by Israeli airstrikes. 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. President Joe Biden said he is overjoyed that the two U.S. citizens will soon be reunited with their family, and called for their privacy. Biden reiterated that his administration has been working around the clock to free Americans held hostage by Hamas. In a statement, Ubaida said: In response to Qatari efforts, Al-Qassam Brigades released two American citizens for humanitarian reasons, and to prove to the American people and the world that the claims made by Biden and his fascist administration are false and baseless. A team from the U.S. Embassy in Israel will shortly see the two Americans who were freed, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. He said there are still 10 Americans who remain unaccounted for after the Oct. 7 attack. We know that some of them are being held hostage by Hamas, Blinken said in a briefing for reporters. Israel has amassed tanks and troops near the perimeter of the enclave for an expected ground invasion, calling on Palestinians to evacuate the north of Gaza, where it says Hamas is dug in. Israel has also said that there will be no end to its full blockade of the enclave unless Israeli hostages are freed. Those held include women, children, the elderly and people from other countries which have been working for their release, along with some Israeli soldiers. Denver Gazette wire services contributed to this report. {child_tagline}{p id=docs-internal-guid-3c802f66-7fff-d173-93ec-c7c52c2dbcb1 style=line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; dir=ltr}{span style=font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;}John Moore is the Denver Gazettes Senior Arts Journalist. Email him at{/span} {a style=text-decoration: none; href=mailto:john.moore@denvergazette.com}{span style=font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: #1155cc; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; -webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;}john.moore@denvergazette.com{/span}{/a} {/child_tagline} Jimmy Sengenberger is an investigative journalist, public speaker, and host of The Jimmy Sengenberger Show Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. on News/Talk 710 KNUS. Reach Jimmy online at Jimmysengenberger.com or on Twitter (X) @SengCenter. Colorado's Supreme Court justices on Monday rejected a narrower reading of the state's arson law in favor of one that allows prosecutors to charge arsonists for each building destroyed, each person endangered and for the damaged property of each affected person. Refusing to drop out, Republican Rep. Jim Jordan is telling GOP colleagues he is still running for House speaker. But he says he would back a temporary speaker for several months until January as he works to shore up support to win the gavel himself. However, neither plan seems viable at the moment after Jordan failed on two ballots, and no immediate third vote is planned. Jordan delivered his message Thursday at a closed door meeting of Republicans at the Capitol, according Republicans familiar with the meeting and insisting on anonymity to discuss it. Since construction began on Corvallis Van Buren Bridge in May, a contractor work bridge nestling the 110-year-old bridge and a temporary detour bridge are nearing completion. Oregon Department of Transportation staffers told Corvallis city leaders at their Monday, Oct. 16 council meeting that by mid-November, the department will begin redirecting traffic to the temporary detour bridge. Demolition of the old structure is slated to begin once the temporary detour bridge is fully in use. Transportation Project Manager Christine Hildebrant said that the single lane detour bridge which comes with a 6-foot bike/pedestrian path will have no weight restrictions. All kinds of motor vehicles, including freight trucks, will be able to travel on the bridge. Originally, the department expected a full weekend closure would be needed to make the switch. But Hildebrant said this is no longer required, and a switch is expected to be made mid-week in November. Some traffic congestion could be expected as road users adjust to the switch, Senior Resident Engineer Markus Schaaf said at the meeting, but this is expected to subside quickly. Currently the department is tying in both ends of the detour bridge, Hildebrant said, and residents soon should see temporary signals at the intersection of Northwest First Street and Van Buren Avenue to direct pedestrian and motor traffic. Use of the detour bridge means traffic will no longer be able to access Van Buren Avenue from First. Traffic will be restricted one way north and south of Van Buren for one block in each direction. After traffic is switched, demolition of the existing bridge will begin. Explosives will not be used. Instead, the bridge will be deconstructed piece by piece like a Lego, Hildebrant said. Before the deconstruction, staff from the Historical American Engineering Record will take laser scans and photos, which will be stored in the Library of Congress in light of plans to preserve the legacy of the old bridge. Hildebrant also said that Oregon State University and the University of Utah were partnering to develop educational videos of the bridge. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Corvallis Gazette-Times. According to Hildebrant, demolition will begin this winter and continue into early next summer. The department will keep adjacent property owners, affected local groups and the general community informed during the process. In an update regarding the future of the pony truss panels and turning mechanism, which were singled out for salvage after plans to preserve the entire bridge fell through, Hildebrant said the department's historic commission will be in conversation with the city's historic commission. Related news: A teacher at Pinecrest Center has tendered her resignation to the Mason City Board of Education, due to what she describes as an escalating amount of violent assaults by students on staff members. Jill Streich, eighth grade teacher at Pinecrest, gave an emotional testimony to the board, detailing how the shortage of staff at the school is impacting teacher's ability to teach. "Emotionally, were all drained. Were exhausted. Were not teaching academics, we are putting out fires," Streich said, accusing the board of failing it's obligations of her signed contract ... "to identify, evaluate and take prompt action for all incidences which would jeopardize the safety and welfare of staff and students." Located on the campus of the Four Oaks psychiatric medical institute for children, the school serves children and teens with severe social, emotional and behavioral needs. Teacher shortages at Pinecrest are putting increased pressure on the existing teachers' emotional and physical health, according to Streich. In the eight weeks since school has started, she has personally broken up two fistfights, has been hit in the face and her hand was smashed into a door; two instances out of twenty assaults she said have been committed on staff members by students. Streich's accounting of what Pinecrest Center has undergone since August: 4 broken windows (two in the building, two car windshields) 8 students who have had between 1-4 days of out-of school suspension 5 students who have served 5 or more days of out-of-school suspension 7 calls to the police for assistance The Mason City police confirmed they responded to seven calls for assistance at Pinecrest, referring to juvenile court two of those incidents. In that same time frame, MCPD has responded to 12 calls for service to Mason City High School, with four incidents resulting in juvenile court referral or citation. In submitting her resignation mid-year, Streich knew she was jeopardizing her teaching license, saying "I love my job, I love my students, but it's a whole new world of behaviors that we're dealing with, and schools need to catch up to that. The state of Iowa needs to catch up to that. Everybody's being asked to do more with less." The board's motion to accept Streich's early release from her contract was amended on the recommendation of Human Resources Director Tom Drzycimski to include that Streich was to remain employed until a suitable replacement was found, something Streich agreed to in her comments to the board. "If we had someone available for the position, we'd fill it," said Superintendent Pat Hamilton. The district currently has job postings advertised for two behavioral intervention specialists at Pinecrest, and paraprofessionals for nearly all schools in the district. "I am very confident in the leader [Principal Casey Studer] that we have out there right now ..." said Hamilton, "...and his vision for what Pinecrest can be ... but we've got to give him time," adding that "We need to transform Pinecrest ... or it can't survive." Hamilton said the district has stopped all new enrollment into Pinecrest while the situation is further addressed. Autumn Cammire of Osage said she enrolled her 12 year old son with autism at Pinecrest last year. She said that he struggled in the class settings at Osage and had trouble with schoolwork due to his ADHD social defiant disorder, but wasn't sent to Pinecrest for being violent. He was one of 12 students from other school districts, until they pulled them from the school due to the trauma that the violent setting was bringing. "On a Wednesday," said Cammire, "... I get a call [from Pinecrest] saying 'your son is in a cornfield, he's missing' only to find out they the called Osage school, the [MCPD] and the superintendent [Hamilton] before they even called me to let me know that my kid was missing. They wanted me to come look for him." Cammire said of her son, "He's a runner. He runs when he's scared." She said her son was fleeing from a fight evidently that broke out, he ran into a cornfield and was found nearly four hours later. Cammire was unimpressed with the response from the administration, saying that they suspended her son from school until an IEP meeting was convened. She withdrew her son from Pinecrest and says he will have to be home-schooled until they can find a better solution. "This isnt new, it was like this last year, it was like this the year before. It is not getting better. It is getting worse," said Streich, addressing the board. "I love my job, I love my students. But I don't love getting beat up on." President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump would be in a dead heat among likely voters if the 2024 presidential election were held today, according to the latest Grinnell College National Poll. Both Biden and Trump running as their partys respective nominee attract 40% support among likely voters. Eighteen percent say they would vote for someone else, according to the poll, conducted in collaboration with renowned Iowa pollster J. Ann Selzer. Support for both men splits along party lines, with 82% of Republicans saying they favor Trump and 83% of Democrats surveyed backing Biden. Independent voters remain divided, but tilt toward Trump, with 30% saying they would vote for someone else. We find President Biden and former President Trump are tied in a prospective 2024 race, but many voters arent yet sold on either candidate, said Peter Hanson, director of the Grinnell College National Poll and associate professor of political science. Nearly one in five likely voters say they will vote for someone else. The size of this undecided group and its unpredictability adds a lot of uncertainty to the election outlook. A majority of those surveyed, 53%, also disapprove of Bidens job performance. On specific elements of the job, 36% approve of his handling of the economy and 32% approve of his control over U.S. borders. On other issues, a plurality say they are less likely to favor candidates advocating a national abortion ban and are less likely to vote for those backing a ban on gender-affirming medical treatment for minors. Forty-two percent are more likely to vote for candidates on the side of forgiving student loans and 41% support continued military aid to Ukraine. A majority of respondents also said American democracy is under a major threat, a 5 percentage point increase from two years ago. A strong bipartisan majority also favors term limits for Congress and the U.S. Supreme Court. Fifty-nine percent support abolishing the Electoral College, and a 49% plurality also would do away with birthright citizenship. PAC backing Burgum to spend $1.35M A super PAC backing presidential candidate Doug Burgums bid for the Republican nomination is launching a new ad campaign in an effort to boost the North Dakotas governors standing among Republican voters in Iowa and New Hampshire, the first two states in the GOP nominating process. The Best of America PAC announced it plans to spend $1.35 million in a television advertising and voter contact campaign to amplify Gov. Burgums message among Republican voters in Iowa, New Hampshire and across the country. The campaign includes cable television ads, direct mail and a direct text-to-voter program. "We are making sure the people of Iowa, New Hampshire and across America know that Governor Burgum is the conservative business leader and tech entrepreneur with the expertise and experience to turn America's economy around by putting his job creator experience to work for every American, Emily Benavides, Best of America PAC spokesperson, said in a statement. Burgum failed to qualify for the third Republican presidential debate in Miami on Nov. 8. To participate, each candidate needs to satisfy fundraising and polling criteria set by the Republican National Committee. A Real Clear Politics rolling average shows Burgum polling at 1.8% in Iowa and less than 1% nationally. Female Dems back Christina Bohannan A group of female Democratic members of Congress has endorsed Iowa City Democrat and former state lawmaker Christina Bohannan for Iowas 1st Congressional District. Bohannan launched her second bid for Congress in mid-August, setting up a rematch against Iowa Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Miller-Meeks. Iowas 20-county 1st Congressional District includes the cities of Davenport, Iowa City, Burlington and Indianola. "A law professor, former engineer and mom, Christina knows the value of hard work, U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, a Florida Democrat and chair of Elect Democratic Women, said in a statement. As a state representative, Christina was a staunch advocate for women and families, fighting for reproductive freedom and affordable health care. Christina's unmatched work ethic will make her a powerful and effective leader in Congress." Elect Democratic Women was formed in 2018 by Democratic members of Congress with the purpose of electing more women to Congress. Union backs 4 for Linn-Marr board The Linn-Mar Education Association, which represents school employees in the Linn-Mar Community School District, is recommending voters support incumbents Barry Buchholz and Brittania Morey and at-large candidates Justin Foss and Katie Lowe Lancaster for the Linn-Mar school board in the Nov. 7 election. "Our recommended candidates understand our challenges and are dedicated to finding solutions to benefit students, families, and school employees, the associations executive board said in a joint statement. Decisions made by the school board impact the educational experiences of thousands of students and employees now and for decades. We must elect good candidates who will work hard to support our public school community. We believe our recommended candidates will lead successfully. Photos: Republican presidential candidates share stage at Iowa campaign event Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission recently awarded nearly $575,000 in funding to Danvilles Institute for Advanced Learning and Research. The money was among 22 funding requests from groups across Southern and Southwest Virginia. I am delighted that we could hold the Tobacco Commission meeting in Blackstone at the recently opened Inn at Blackstone, State Sen. Frank Ruff, R-Meckenburg, and chair of the tobacco commission, said in a statement. From supporting our agricultural community, to attracting top businesses and ensuring we have the sites and assets to be competitive, the work the commission has done here will have a long-lasting impact on the regions it serves. A grant of $325,563 along with matching funds for the Institute for Advanced Research and Development will help expand efforts of the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance by adding a talent attraction and retention director for a three-year period. The money also will go to marketing resources to sustain the steady pipeline of investment opportunities that can be converted from prospects to companies in the region, a commission news release stated. The alliances goal is to create at least 500 new jobs and a minimum of $5 million in capital investment annually. The coordinator will help localities in the attraction of companies in targeted sectors with in the homes of bringing high-paying jobs. Matching funds include $87,781 from the institute for a business investment manager position, $175,563 from the Danville Regional Foundation for 50% of the talent attraction and retention director and $66,000 in private contributions. A $104,452 grant will add a new value chain coordinator position in the region for two years. Many farmers lack time and resources to promote their goods to potential customers, according to the tobacco commission meeting packet. The position will connect institutional buyers, food hubs and other purchasers with farmers to increase net output income and diversity agribusiness in the region. Theres a $100,000 matching fund from the Danville Regional Foundation and the institute will match $7,500 toward travel expenses and a laptop for the new position. The project is expected to benefit 10 new farmers annually with at least a $10,000 average increase to net farm income, according to the commission. This position was previously funded in May 2020, but with hiring challenges and delays during the pandemic that grant was closed. Virginia appears to have become the center for the controlled environment agriculture industry. A $145,841 tobacco commission grant aims to help expand the efforts in Southern Virginia. The funding will establish a testing service for the controlled environment agriculture industry by hiring a research technician. Money also will go toward generating educational materials for producers. There are matching funds of more than $88,000 from Virginia Tech for the postdoctoral research position and $48,000 from the institute for materials, office and greenhouse bench space. Danville Community College also received a $233,081 grant for its commercial drivers license program. Funding from the tobacco commission will pay for a modular classroom, a simulator and training services. The projects approved at this meeting are a perfect example of the great work the commission does for the regions it serves, Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade and Tobacco Commission Acting Executive Director James E. Campos said in a statement. Governor Youngkins Compete to Win strategy makes note of the importance of workforce education, site development and of driving innovation. Activities Canterbury School has plans for a special dual celebration today, Oct. 20. Founders Day Chapel service, marking the schools 31st anniversary and honoring its founders, will take place alongside the release of The Story of a Chapel, a coffee table book narrated by Chip Bristol, former Canterbury Head of School. The Story of a Chapel offers a visual journey through the history and architecture of Phillips Chapel describing the Biblical story found in the chapel. Bristols insights bring the chapels rich history to life in this book alongside photos by Wayne Reich, editing and production by Kathy Creekmuir and design by Chrissie Walker. The Story of a Chapel will be released after the Founders Day service and sold by Canterbury School. Contact advancement director, Mary Dator, to purchase a copy of the book at $75: datorma@canterburygso.org. All proceeds will benefit the Chapel Fund. The Founders Day Chapel service, held at Phillips Chapel, provides an opportunity for the Canterbury community to reflect, show gratitude and celebrate the schools 31 years. As part of the Founders Day celebration, Canterbury School will also present the Distinguished Service Award to Penny Summers. Summers played an integral role in the early days of Canterbury, serving as a teacher, Middle School Director and interim Head of School. The keynote address for the Founders Day Chapel service will be delivered by Cate Whitlatch, class of 2016, who founded the Grateful Hearts Foundation. This initiative aims to provide themed decoration boxes to children in hospitals, offering them comfort and joy during challenging times. * * * * Nine students and two professors from High Point Universitys department of physical therapy traveled to San Ignacio, Belize, to provide physical therapy services to the community, which is served by only two doctors of physical therapy. Dr. Kevin Ford, dean of Congdon School of Health Sciences, and Dr. Rebecca Medendorp, assistant professor of physical therapy and director of clinical education, traveled with the physical therapy students who were exposed to a blend of multiple cultures and honed their clinical skills. Announcements Greensboro Day School will present a program about artificial intelligence featuring Christian Talbot, president & CEO of the Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools. The event will take place from 7 to 8 p.m. Nov. 15 in the Sloan Theatre on GDS campus. This event is free and open to the public. Talbot co-founded Juno, a strategy + design consultancy. Christian is the third speaker in Greensboro Day Schools 202324 McLendon Speaker Series, featuring national and local experts on current education and parenting topics. In January of 2024, the series will feature a conversation, Community and National Trends in Adolescent Substance Use and Abuse. In February, an expert panel will present on the topic of Supporting Youth Mental Health. * * * * Noble Academy has announced that it is a founding school of a new education organization focused on collaborating and advocating for students with learning differences. The Association of LD Schools is a new nonprofit, private school organization including more than 50 founding schools across the country and in Canada that serve students with learning differences such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia and executive dysfunction. The organization is an opportunity for LD schools nationwide to have a formal opportunity to partner together, share resources and support one another to make a positive impact for all students with learning differences. ALDS is an outgrowth of partnerships formed among LD school leaders at an annual LD Leadership Retreat and a luncheon at the International Dyslexia Associations annual conference. LD schools are frequently the only specialized school of their kind in their region, so the association will make it easier for schools and educators to find opportunities to connect and grow relationships to support one another and impact more students A LEAD on READ podcast from the Windward School interviewing Cheryl Cook, the associations founding director, and highlighting the work of ALDS was released last week. Listen at tinyurl.com/33urujae. Two robbery suspects were taken into custody early Friday and sent to a local hospital for medical evaluation after Greensboro police forcibly stopped their vehicle on U.S. 29 North, according to a news release from the department. Police say the men are suspected in an armed robbery at 1 a.m. Friday at the Shell gas station at 2622 Battleground Ave., in which robbers took an undisclosed amount of cash and left in a gold-colored Chevrolet Tahoe. Officers located a vehicle matching the description and attempted a traffic stop, which then resulted in a pursuit on U.S. 29 North toward Reidsville. Police said Darrel Adams, 22, and Roy Herbin, 33, were transported to a local hospital for medical evaluations, although it was not immediately known if either man suffered any injuries. Both are charged with two counts of robbery with firearms or other dangerous weapons and two counts of conspiracy, according to online booking records. The men are scheduled to appear in court Monday. Greensboro Police Department states in its directives that a PIT maneuver may be used by properly trained officers. The PIT is considered a less lethal use of force when performed as described by the training guidelines of the Greensboro Police Department, according to information on the departments website. GREENSBORO Standing outside the UNCG administration building on Thursday, a group of students, faculty and staff held signs and chanted in opposition to the potential elimination of some academic programs, as well as possible increases in tuition and fees for graduate students. Organizers estimated roughly 250 people attended, and others honked from their cars as they drove past, prompting cheers from the crowd. An online petition is calling for the immediate suspension or discontinuation of UNCGs academic portfolio review process, whose purpose is to identify programs for elimination. According to UNCGs website, deans and their teams will be tasked with using metrics and data to make recommendations for program discontinuation to the provost in January 2024. UNCGs chapter of the American Association of University Professors has raised questions about the reviews flawed process and what they say is the unnecessary elimination of academic programs. Information about which programs are to be recommended for elimination will be shared publicly in January, according to UNCG. The university expects to hold open forums to discuss those recommendations. Ally Beatty, a second-year graduate student, held a sign that read African American studies just got here! She participated Thursday because she is concerned the program may be in jeopardy. I stand first for African American studies, Beatty said. We fought hard for this program. We cannot understand history without African American history. Diversity is our identity at UNCG. Beatty, who minored in African American studies for her undergraduate degree, said the thought of the university possibly eliminating the program is concerning and doesnt make us feel safe. Azariah Journey, a first-year graduate student, was one of several people who helped organize Thursdays event. She is concerned about the impact of proposed changes: It will affect future students. It will affect our community, and it will affect our professors. Kelton Hollister, an adjunct professor, teaches in the womens and gender studies program, which is one that may be vulnerable to elimination. Im here for my students, who are all really passionate about it, said Hollister while clutching a sign that said Cut pies, not programs! UNCG Protest UNCG students gather in front of the schools library to protest in Greensboro. Chancellor Frank Gilliam said in a written message to students Wednesday that he wanted to address misinformation circulating about academic programs. He assured students that they would be able to finish their studies at UNCG in their chosen major. Any changes to the universitys academic offerings will be decided in early 2024 and will take years to implement, Gilliam wrote. As programs are considered for potential cuts, Hollister fears people are going to start looking for other jobs. He said he is concerned for his colleagues at the school where he obtained his own education. A UNCG spokeswoman said Wednesday that reviewing academic programs is important to remain fiscally responsible and to position the university strategically for the next decade. My biggest concern is for our professors, said UNCG sophomore Bailee Napier, who participated in Thursdays event. Students are concerned about where they are going to do research or where they may do their masters. Im a great fan of UNCG, but I may need to do my masters elsewhere. "It's an absolutely unbelievable story, but these things do happen," says Dr. Erica A. Eugster, a pediatric endocrinologist and professor of pediatrics at the Indiana University School of Medicine. Lina represents an extreme case of a relatively common childhood condition called precocious puberty. Endocrinologists treat hormonal disorders, and pediatric endocrinologists like Eugster frequently see patients who are exhibiting outward signs of puberty breast development and menstruation in girls, enlarged genitals and voice changes in boys at an early age. Advertisement Doctors in the U.S. define precocious puberty as secondary sexual development that starts before the age of 8 for girls and the age of 9 for boys (African American children often start puberty a little earlier than white or Hispanic kids). But a young girl entering puberty at 6 or 7, while unusual, is a far cry from a 5-year-old who has completed puberty, as was the astounding case with young Lina. Could that really happen? "We do see that, but it's extraordinarily rare," says Eugster. "In the past 10 years, our hospital has diagnosed precocious puberty in four children ages 2 and under, but nothing like this notorious case. One report claimed that Lina started menstruating at 8 months. That's the earliest case of precocious puberty on record and I've never seen anything like that." The first-ever Montana Balloon Sculpture Festival is set to raise funds for nearly two dozen Helena-area nonprofits this weekend. The 48-hour fundraising festival kicks off with a live music performance at Ten Mile Creek Brewery at 5 p.m. Friday followed by a walking tour of the balloon sculptures with the artist behind the work, Neil Sauter. Sauter has operated his business, Sauter Balloons, in Helena for the past year, installing balloon sculptures on the Last Chance Gulch Walking Mall for Easter and at the Helena Farmers' Market for its 50th anniversary. "I've been making balloon sculptures for about 11 years. I like the challenge of building things," said Sauter, who hopes to make this an annual event. He has been planning the event the past year organizing sponsors, raffles and balloon sculptures. According to Sauter, he and four others spent about 600 hours in total over 10 days building the sculptures in pieces to be assembled along the walking mall, Holter Museum and in the Great Northern Town Center. Sixteen of the 20 sculptures have associated local nonprofits and unique raffle prizes. For $5 a ticket, people can enter to win any of the raffle prizes with the proceeds benefiting the designated nonprofit. People can also donate to specific nonprofits through a website set up by United Way of the Lewis and Clark Area. "We modeled the donations website after Greater Helena Gives, so hopefully people will find it easy to use," Sauter said. The nonprofit that receives the largest number of donations will receive an additional $500 from event sponsor Intrepid Credit Union. "I hope people decide this is an event worth supporting," Sauter said. The balloon sculptures will be on display until 5 p.m. Sunday. A map of the installations is available on the festival's website, https://www.montanaballoonsculpturefestival.com/. A live "Quick Twist" competition between Sauter and another local balloon artist is scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday at Performance Square. The results of the competition will be auctioned off. Sauter will provide more guided tours of his sculptures at 11 a.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday, starting at the Lewis & Clark Library. A balloon twisting class is set for 5 p.m. on Saturday. The raffle drawings and awards ceremony is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Sunday. Sauter said raffle participants do not need to be present to win, but tickets can only be purchased at the event. The festival ends Sunday at 6 p.m. with a "Balloon Popping Party," "The most fun event clean up ever! Help us pop and properly dispose of the balloons," the festival website states. Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker moved this week to enhance his national profile and provoked further speculation about his future political plans by creating an organization to promote abortion and LGBTQ+ rights issues and fight right wing extremists on a state-by-state basis. With the launch of his Think Big America, a tax-exempt organization that can devote unlimited funding to lobbying on behalf of its political goals, Pritzker is expanding upon his longstanding support for his party and abortion rights, and increasing his progressive political footprint for a possible future bid for the presidency. Our nation is at a crossroads. Over the last few years, the far right agenda has only become more extreme. The end of reproductive rights, widespread book bans, a rollback of voting rights and civil rights, the erosion of trust in our institutions. That will be our permanent reality if we dont act now, Pritzker said in a launch video. Think Big America is committed to protecting our rights, defending our democracy and fighting for working families, the governor said. The struggle to overcome the extremists and preserve democracy is happening right now. Together, lets think big for Americas brighter future. The think big title of the organization is a play off the campaign theme successfully employed twice by the second-term Illinois governor, an entrepreneur and an heir of the Hyatt hotels fortune who is worth an estimated $3.5 billion, making him the nations wealthiest elected politician. Pritzker has long been a donor to Democratic candidates and causes nationally as well as in Illinois. He has given nearly $1.8 million in political and personal funds to Personal PAC, the states preeminent abortion rights political action committee, since 2005. Last year, Pritzker also allocated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Democratic Party of Illinois on behalf of local school and library board candidates who faced conservative opponents. Pritzkers initial funding for the new organization was not disclosed. The groups focus out of the gate will be on planned ballot initiatives in Ohio, Nevada and Arizona to codify abortion rights under state constitutions. Those initiatives follow electoral successes for abortion rights advocates in Ohio, Wisconsin and Kansas last year that Pritzker also backed personally. The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported Wednesday that a poll by Baldwin Wallace University showed the Ohio proposition to add abortion rights to that states constitution was backed by 58% of voters, while 34% were opposed. Pritzker has hailed Illinois as an oasis for womens reproductive rights under his leadership. The state codified a right to abortion in state law in 2019 and Pritzker signed legislation last year aimed at protecting abortion providers from legal action, expanding insurance coverage and increasing reproductive health access. Democrats have seen abortion rights serve nationally as a powerful driver for support since the June 2022 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that overturned a federal right to abortion and returned the issue to the individual states. Republicans are counting on immigration issues, highlighted by an influx of migrants being sent to Chicago and other Democratic cities, as a potential counter to reduce Democratic turnout and the effect of the abortion ruling. Pritzker has expressed unwavering support for President Joe Bidens reelection and eschewed talk of being a potential Plan B if Biden had chosen not to run or took himself out of the running. In June, Pritzker gave more than $131,000 to the Biden Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee of the presidents reelection campaign, the Democratic National Committee and several state Democratic Party organizations. Pritzker also is an advisory member to Bidens reelection campaign and will be host governor in August for the Democratic National Convention in Chicago where Biden is set to be renominated. Christopher Mooney, a professor emeritus of political science at the University of Illinois at Chicago, said that forming Think Big America represents a strategic move on (Pritzkers) part for his own interests as well as creating a situation where he can say, Im a progressive. I see the other sides got well funded advocates and so we need some on our side. And oh, if Ive helped myself a little bit nationally, thats just a side benefit. Pritzker, Mooney said, can look long term and is poised in perfect position to consider a 2028 bid for the presidency and has all the money he needs to just go out to every (state Democratic Party) dinner and every state in the country. Linda Combs, who served as state controller from 2014 to 2022 and as a top executive for several federal agencies, died Thursday shortly after suffering a catastrophic aneurysm. Combs death was disclosed in a Facebook posting by Dave Combs, her husband of 54 years. He indicated the aneurysm occurred Wednesday morning. I am totally heartbroken, as I know that those of you who knew and loved her as well, Dave Combs wrote. The controller is charged with keeping the states books, monitoring cash flow and managing state payroll. Combs, who lived in Winston-Salem, spent much of her life as a public servant, first for 15 years with various U.S. cabinet-level agency during the Reagan, Bush senior and Bush junior administrations. Her final federal role was serving two years as controller of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget from 2005 to 2007 in the George W. Bush administration. Combs was credited with the following accomplishments: reduced audit completion time from five months to 1 months from the end of fiscal year for the entire federal government, the first time in history; reduced improper federal government payments by $9 billion; and disposed of $4.5 billion of unneeded real property. Combs also served as chief financial officer at the Environmental Protection Agency and held assistant secretary or equivalent chief operating officer positions at the departments of Transportation, Treasury, Veterans Affairs and Education. In the process, she served three presidents and was confirmed by Congress five times for her various posts. State controller After retiring in 2007 to her Winston-Salem residence, Combs received a call in March 2014 from Gov. Pat McCrory that she said she could not turn down. David McCoy announced in March 2014 his plans to retire as state controller, citing unspecified health issues. At that time, the state controllers office was sorting out the tax-revenue stream following tax cuts and changes passed by the General Assembly in 2013. Combs took the reins May 1, 2014, filling out the rest of McCoys seven-year term, with the General Assembly confirming her appointment in June 2014. Combs said in a May 2014 profile in the Journal that she chose to become state controller because I think its an opportunity to once again bring a fresh perspective to challenges and opportunities we have here in North Carolina. For me, there is no greater calling than to serve my own state and our people. Combs served more than eight years as state controller before retiring on June 30, 2022. One of her more high-profile cases involved her effort to halt the Democratic-requested transfer of between $785 million and $1.75 billion of the state treasury amid a Leandro school-funding legal dispute. Those efforts were praised by Senate Republican legislative leaders who have fought in court to prevent that funding transfer in a case that has lasted more than 28 years. The 1997 decision by the N.C. Supreme Court ruled that the state had an obligation to providing every child with a basic education. Republican legislative leaders have argued that only the legislature can approve or disapprove such funding requests. In 2021, Combs secured from the N.C. Court of Appeals a block on the latest Superior Court order to release the funding. The appellate court ruled that the state controller could not move the money without legislative approval. Background Combs was a native of Caldwell County. She earned undergraduate and masters degrees from Appalachian State University and a doctorate from Virginia Tech. She is a graduate of the Program for Senior Managers at Harvard University. In her intermittent times in the private sector, Combs helped found three companies and took their products to worldwide distribution. She also has held management positions in the financial services sector, including with legacy Wachovia Corp. as operations officer and manager from 1979 to 1982. Combs relied on a sense of humor and upbeat attitude that some may find unusual in an accountant. When asked about she chose to call Winston-Salem home, she said in the May 2014 profile that youll hear me use two words often: integrity and accountability. When I think of Winston-Salem, I think of the countless family members, friends and others who live and breathe those traits as well. I cherish the people in Winston-Salem who inspired me, so I work every day to inspire others and to find a way to give back and to serve others. Reactions Gov. Roy Cooper said in a statement that we appreciate Linda Combs public service to the people of North Carolina. Dale Folwell, the Republican state treasurer and fellow Winston-Salem resident, praised Combs for dedicating her life to public service at the local, state and federal levels. Her last public position as only the sixth state controller in the modern era was and is one of the most important jobs in state government, Folwell said. She always advocated for the invisible, including during her service on the Winston-Salem/Forsyth Board of Education, as an education advisor to Gov. James Martin, and through administrative and board positions at Appalachian State University Foundation, Wake Forest University and Gardner-Webb University. Folwell also noted that Combs was a woman of varied interests, including music. She was owner with her husband of Combs Music Co., an independent record company and music catalog in Winston-Salem. During tense and volatile times, Dr. Combs was the calm one in the room, Folwell said. I mourn her loss, not only as a professional, but as a fellow Winstonian. THE BUTTER MARKET CLIMBED TO NEW HEIGHTS when prices peaked at $3.5025 per pound on October 6. That followed seven days of trading at record prices in late September and early October. PRODUCTION WAS STRONG the first seven months of the year, but hot weather conditions and the demand for cream dropped August butter output 2.1% compared to 2022, resulting in the lowest August production seen since 2018. Reduced inventories, along with high domestic demand, joined together to push butter prices to new levels. MANUFACTURERS FACED COMPETITION for cream this summer, with output increases in ice cream (up 1.26%), low-fat cottage cheese (up 15%), full-fat cottage cheese (up 6%), and yogurt (up nearly 3%) when comparing August 2023 to the year before. AUGUST U.S. DAIRY EXPORTS WERE DOWN 25% in value compared to the same month last year. For the first eight months of 2023, U.S. dairy exports were valued at $5.55 billion, down 13% from the first eight months of 2022. Exports to Mexico and Canada were up, but sales to China were down 20% and exports to Japan were 18% lower. MEANWHILE, DAIRY IMPORTS WERE HIGHER than a year ago. In August 2023, dairy imports into the U.S. were valued at $443.4 million, up 7% from August 2022. That is the third-highest monthly dairy import value on record, only sitting behind October 2022 and March 2023. For the year so far, imports are up 12% over last year. A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN WAS AVOIDED when President Joe Biden signed a temporary measure passed by Congress that continues to fund the federal governement through November 17. Current farm bill funding did expire at the end of September, but some key programs in the 2018 version of the bill remain funded through the end of the year. A NEW FARM BILL IS UNLIKELY by the end of this year, said National Milk Producer Federations incoming president and CEO, Gregg Doud, during a panel discussion at World Dairy Expo. Little progress is expected to be made until a new Speaker of the House is named after the ousting of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy earlier this month. AFTER SEVEN WEEKS of testimony, the Federal Milk Marketing Order hearing was put on pause October 11 and is scheduled to resume on November 27. Originally scheduled to conclude by mid-October, the number of proposals, extent of cross-examination, and logistical issues with the hearing site in Carmel, Ind., prompted the pause. MARGINS FOR THE DAIRY MARGIN COVERAGE program improved in the most recent calculation. For August, the milk price above feed costs margin was $6.46, $2.94 higher than Julys record low. Margins remain depressed, though. This marks the seventh consecutive month with a margin below $6.50; margins only fell below that threshold seven times total between 2019 and 2022. THE OCTOBER CLASS III CONTRACT fell to $16.84 per hundredweight at the magazines closing. Cooler weather and reduced culling, with dairy cow slaughter falling below historical averages for several weeks in a row, are adding to milk supplies. University of Missouris Scott Brown expects Class III prices to hover around $20 per hundredweight in 2024. Read more on page 546. WALMART ANNOUNCED PLANS TO BUILD a $350 million milk processing plant in southern Georgia. The facility will employ nearly 400 people and will provide milk to more than 750 Walmart and Sams Club stores in Georgia and neighboring states. Georgia currently has just two commercial milk processing plants. A $1 million gift from UNC Charlotte alumna, business innovator and board of trustees emerita Susan Dodson DeVore 81 will establish a leadership program that will support the next generation of women leaders. The Susan Dodson DeVore Womens Leadership Development Program, announced at a luncheon honoring DeVore on Oct. 13, is scheduled to launch in fall 2024. We are grateful to Susan DeVore for this incredible gift, said Chancellor Sharon L. Gaber. She has been a trailblazer, an accomplished leader and someone who has shattered glass ceilings throughout her career. The Susan Dodson DeVore Womens Leadership Development Program will help UNC Charlotte address the underrepresentation of women in leadership positions and create a new legacy of women empowered to take on the world. About the Susan Dodson DeVore Leadership Development Program The program based within the Belk College of Business Center for Leadership Science will align and strengthen existing leadership programs across the university and provide the opportunity to introduce additional programming, specialized training and resources. In addition to a robust curriculum, the program will expose students to unparalleled networking opportunities with Charlotte alumni and community executives, collaboratively visioning how to create inclusive workplace environments that equip women leaders with the tools to succeed. The program will empower female leaders to identify and bolster individual leadership styles, strategize on career growth, channel their sphere of influence and define their executive presence. The program aligns and expands existing campus initiatives, including the Belk Colleges Women in Business Initiative and the Womens Leadership Development Program under the Division of Student Affairs. Participants will have access to training through the Belk Colleges Department of Management, led by Professors Janaki Gooty and George C. Banks, international experts in leadership and inclusive excellence and co-leads for the Center for Leadership Science. Additionally, the Susan Dodson DeVore Womens Leadership Development Program opens the door for a women in philanthropy initiative to support the programming in the greater community. UNC Charlotte equipped me to become what I did. I learned a lot in those days. Most importantly, I learned that you get what you give, said DeVore. When I first spoke to Chancellor Gaber about this gift, I told her I want a program that will empower women to be role models and mentors, to expose them to networks, skills, practice, jobs, confidence and risk taking. About Susan Dodson DeVore Retired president and CEO of Premier Inc., one of the nations leading health care improvement companies, DeVore is an accomplished industry leader. With a focus on innovative thinking and leading from within, she has written the script on the power of women in leadership. DeVore has been recognized in North Carolina and nationally for her work to improve the health of communities. In 2018, she received the Charlotte Business Journals Women in Business Lifetime Achievement Award and was named to Beckers Hospital Reviews 2017 100 Great Healthcare Leaders to Know. A woman of influence in Charlotte and beyond, DeVore has led and served on numerous boards and committees, including Elevance Health and Unum Group, Healthcare Leadership Council, the Coalition to Protect Americas Healthcare, the Medicare Rights Center and the Charlotte Chamber. DeVore earned a bachelors degree in business administration in 1981 from the Belk College of Business, where she received the Bonnie Cone Scholarship and covered her own college expenses beyond that award. DeVore went on to earn a masters degree in health leadership from McGill University. I learned about working hard, about making decisions, and I learned about how to learn. The depth of the education in business gave me the foundation for everything I do today, DeVore explained in 2016 when honored with the Distinguished Alumna Award. She remains passionate about her alma mater and gives back to the University as both a volunteer and philanthropist. DeVore has been a strong advocate for UNC Charlotte. She served on the University Board of Trustees from 2015-23 and as chair from 2021-23. KANNAPOLIS Cabarrus Health Alliance (CHA) staff, programs and community partners walked away big winners at this years North Carolina Public Health Association (NCPHA) fall conference last week. NCPHA is an association of individuals and organizations working to improve the publics health through political advocacy, public awareness, professional development, and the interface between research and practice. NC Public Health Association Rankin Legacy Award Suzanne Knight, former CHA clinical director, received the Rankin Legacy Award. This award is given to a NCPHA member for recognition of the outstanding contributions to public health in North Carolina over the members lifetime. Knight served CHA and the residents of Cabarrus for over 25 years as a nurse, maternal and child health practice manager, and clinical director. She started her career at CHA in 1998, assisting mothers during newborn home visits. In 2001, she became a clinical services supervisor, overseeing a team of 20 staff. From 2012 to her retirement in August 2023, Knight served as clinical director, responsible for maternal health, family planning, BCCCP, pediatrics, CD, immunizations, international travel, medical records and vital records. NC GlaxoSmithKline Foundation Local Health Department Recognition Award CHAs STOP School Violence grant was honored with the North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation Local Health Department Recognition Award. The award acknowledges local health departments that have developed an innovative program that has produced measurable, sustainable outcomes. Martil Cosper, STOP program coordinator, received the award on behalf of the organization. The award recognized the departments implementation of innovative trainings and follow-up technical assistance opportunities focusing on universal and intensive classroom-based approaches that effectively improve school climate and student mental health in partnership with Cabarrus County and Kannapolis City Schools. To improve the overall school climate and create a safe learning environment, 123 educators have been trained in Reconnect for Resilience, 284 educators have completed restorative practices and 92 have completed restorative conferencing. NC Public Health AssociationPartners in Public Health Award Cabarrus County Commissioners received the NCPHA Partners in Public Health Award for their collaborative spirit and advocacy for improved behavioral health care access. The Partners in Public Health Award is given to organizations and professions outside of public health departments that have made significant contributions to public health in North Carolina over the past year. In 2016, commissioners convened the Mental Health Advisory Board. The multi-sectoral board oversees three task forces focused on data and assessments, access and impact and trauma-informed communities. Commissioners invested over $11 million in organizations providing mental health services to Cabarrus residents, including funding a behavioral health holding unit at Atrium Health Cabarrus. Other programs that have received support include jail-based behavioral health clinicians, a re-entry alliance and hiring the countys first behavioral health director to oversee programs and services. Its an honor to be recognized for the work that is happening every day in our community. Public health professionals dont do it for the awards, but Im elated Suzanne, Martil, County Manager Downs and our commissioners could be honored in this public forum in front of so many others said Erin Shoe, public health director. About Cabarrus Health Alliance Cabarrus Health Alliance is the public health authority of Cabarrus County. Cabarrus Health Alliance is an autonomous organization providing services and programs to meet public health needs. Cabarrus Health Alliance is a leader in public health and is nationally recognized for its innovation. Last year, Iran's revenues from the export of crude oil and condensate reached $43 billion compared to $26 billion in 2021. Biden has taken his foot off Iran's neck and its terrorism is the inevitable result. Put the genie back in the bottle and bring back Trump's sanctions on Iranian oil! Under Trump, in 2020, Iran exported only $8 billion in oil products. We need to force an Iranian retreat in oil exports to stop the Hamas aggression against Israel. While we all need to support every last ounce of blood Israel can extract from Hamas, that tactical victory must include forcing Iranian oil off the world's seas. Global oil production rose from 97 billion barrels per day in 2021 to 101 billion in 2023. Iran has hitched a ride on rising oil prices and regained most of its military clout. In few other sectors of the global economy is Biden's failure so evident. He has allowed Iran a fivefold increase in oil exports. The world cannot tolerate Iran earning $43 billion per year in oil exports. Republican friends of Israel need to focus on the causes as well as the effects of Hamas' and Iran's global challenge and bring back the Trump oil sanctions. (COMMENT, BELOW) Dick Morris, who served as adviser to former Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) and former President Clinton, is the author of 16 books, including his latest, Screwed and Here Come the Black Helicopters. ATLANTA, Ga. As Rivian opens a new retail and customer service space in the heart of Atlanta to showcase its vehicles and brand, the electric vehicle maker confirmed that it plans to break ground on its new Georgia factory early next year. Speaking inside the companys new location at Ponce City Market which opened to the public on Friday Rivian spokespeople said grading on the site of its future factory near Rutledge, about an hour east of Atlanta, will be complete by the end of the year. The $5 billion factory will produce the companys forthcoming R2 crossover when it begins production in 2026 and is expected to eventually employ 7,500 workers. Legal battles over property tax breaks state and local officials granted the company to bring them to Georgia have slowed construction, but Rivian officials expressed optimism Thursday about the projects trajectory. We feel like its been full-steam ahead, and weve been absolutely thrilled with the partnership and the progress, said Denise Cherry, Rivians senior director for design and retail development. Initially, Rivians Georgia factory will be able to manufacture 200,000 vehicles a year, and the company shared new renderings of what Phase 1 will look like. Phase 2 will expand capacity to build 200,000 more units each year or 400,000 units annually. Rivian currently makes its flagship R1S SUV, R1T pickup truck and electric delivery vans at its existing factory in Normal, Illinois. But the company hopes the smaller, cheaper R2 which will be produced exclusively at the factory in Morgan and Walton counties will appeal to the masses and has said it is critical to its future growth plans. Before R2s begin rolling off assembly lines in Georgia, the companys new real estate seeks to introduce more people to the Rivian brand. The companys new Atlanta space, as its called in Rivian parlance, is its eighth such location in the U.S. Part showroom, brand exhibit and education center, the clean, industrial space feels more like an EV version of an Apple Store, infused with the companys unique blend of high-tech, yet outdoorsy aesthetics. The focus is not on sales. Purchases and reservations can be made from your mobile phone or computer, though Georgia law does not allow Rivian to bypass independent dealerships and sell at stores directly to consumers. In 2015, the Georgia General Assembly passed a law allowing direct-to-consumer sales of Teslas. Rivian pushed Georgia legislators to pass a similar carve-out last session, but the effort fizzled and the bills fate is unclear. Instead, the company said the purpose of the space is to show prospective customers what it will look and feel like to own a Rivian. Visitors can sit in one of the EVs parked inside or book a test drive. Many of the abundant outdoor accessories it offers from gear kits and cables to rechargeable flashlights and water bottles are on display too. Even Rivian-branded shirts and coffee mugs stamped Keep Atlanta adventurous forever are available for purchase. For a company that conducts nearly all of its commerce online, Cherry said there is still value in having a physical space for customers to get a feel for Rivian products. It allows you to experience our brand, our mission, our products, in a really tangible way, Cherry said. Though automakers are moving rapidly to electrify most of their new models, research has shown there is still angst among some buyers about EVs, with battery range and cost among the top concerns. The company said it also hopes its Ponce City Market space will serve to ease concerns that drivers have about the technology, showing would-be buyers adventure destinations Rivian EVs can reach from Atlanta and the locations of its regional charging network. Once you understand the product, charging and all of these other things that seem complicated, the resistance drops significantly, Cherry said. Photos: Rivian Automotive Rivian Electric Vehicles Rivian Electric Vehicles Rivian Electric Vehicles Rivian Electric Vehicles Rivian Electric Vehicles Rivian Electric Vehicles Rivian Electric Vehicles Rivian Electric Vehicles Rivian Electric Vehicles Rivian Electric Vehicles Rivian Electric Vehicles Rivian Electric Vehicles Rivian Electric Vehicles Rivian Electric Vehicles Rivian Electric Vehicle Rivian Electric Vehicle Rivian Electric Vehicle Rivian CHICAGO A teenager who was shot and wounded during a 2019 shootout between suburban Chicago police and a bank robbery suspect inside a music school has reached a $1.9 million settlement with the city of Des Plaines. Rylan Wilder signed off this week on the settlement, nearly four years after a bullet fired by Des Plaines Officer James Armstrong tore a hole through his left arm, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. Armstrong was chasing an armed man who had shot another officer after a bank robbery in Des Plaines when the suspect ran into Upbeat Music & Arts on Chicago's Northwest Side. Armstrong followed him inside, shooting and killing him. In the process, he also accidentally shot Wilder, who was 15 and working as an intern at the school. The bullet that hit the crook of Wilder's left elbow destroyed an artery, shredded a nerve and obliterated bone, threatening his guitar-playing dreams. Wilder's parents sued in Cook County circuit court, alleging that the officer's actions were excessive and that he displayed "reckless, willful and wanton conduct." Armstrong wasn't criminally charged in the shooting, was cleared of wrongdoing by the city, and is still with the department. Wilder, who's now 19 and a sophomore at Columbia College Chicago, needed more than a dozen operations and three years of physical therapy. He said he's still playing guitar and writing music; he recently produced a song for his girlfriend. But he still suffers from his wound. "My whole arm still feels very numb. I can't feel in most of my fingers or in my hand," Wilder told the Chicago Sun-Times Wednesday at his attorney's office. Under the settlement with Des Plaines, the city doesn't admit wrongdoing or liability, according to a statement it released. Q: What was the outcome of the Facebook privacy lawsuit? When will I get my money? F.M. Answer: It may be a while longer before you get your money. Reuters reported on Oct. 10 that U.S. District Court Judge Vince Chhabria, a federal court judge in San Francisco, gave final approval to the Facebook data privacy lawsuit. Attorneys for the plaintiffs and Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, agreed on an out-of-court settlement of $725 million. Meta did not admit any wrongdoing. The judge approved $181 million in lawyers fees. The Facebook User Privacy Litigation lawsuit website, facebookuserprivacysettlement.com/#, had this update on when claimants can expect their money: Settlement payments will be distributed as soon as possible. It is always uncertain whether appeals will be filed and, if so, how long it will take to resolve them. If any appeals are filed, distribution will not take place until they are resolved. Updates regarding any appeals and payment distribution timelines will be posted on the Settlement Website when they are available. In a September article Forbes.com said that most claimants will probably get about $30. Heres some background on the lawsuit. The lawsuit dealt with allegations that Facebook, now Meta Platforms, had violated users privacy by making information about them and their friends available to third parties without the users permission. Anyone in the United States who used Facebook between May 24, 2007, and Dec. 22, 2022, was eligible to file a claim. The amount of money each person receives will depend on how many people file a claim. The deadline to join the lawsuit was Aug. 25. Shredding events New Philadelphia Moravian Church, 4440 Country Club Road, Winston-Salem, will have a document shred from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday. It is sponsored by the Advent Class. The cost is $5 per box. Enter from Kilpatrick Street. You do not have to get out of your vehicle, they will unload. Proceeds will benefit outreach ministries of the Moravian Church. For more information, call 336-769-6057 or visit www.newphilly.org. Kernersville Moravian Church, 504 S. Main St., Kernersville, will have a shredding event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. The cost is $5 per white kitchen bag. No over-sized bags or boxes, no three ring binders, plastics, or thick catalogs or phone books. Proceeds will go for Global Missions and Youth Projects. Cherry Street United Methodist Church, 117 N. Cherry St., Kernersville, will have a shred-ding event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 4. Proceeds will benefit local ministries. If your group is planning a shredding event and you want to be included on the list, you can email the information to asksam@wsjournal.com or mail it to Ask SAM, 418 N. Marshall St., #100, Winston-Salem, NC 27101. Greensboro and Guilford County groups are also invited to send in their shredding events. Thanksgiving restaurants Thanksgiving will be here in five weeks, and SAM has already started getting questions from readers about what restaurants will be open on the holiday. Owners and managers of Winston-Salem and Greensboro area restaurants that will be open Thanksgiving Day can let us know at asksam@wsjournal.com. Include restaurant name, address, hours of operation, whether special menu items will be available or if customers can order off the regular menu. Also, let us know if reservations are required or encouraged. The list will be published as we hear from restaurants. The Greensboro Public Library and NCWorks Guilford will host a fall job fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday at the downtown Central Library. The event will showcase local companies with a focus on careers in manufacturing. Featured companies include: Honda Aircraft, Ziehl-Abegg, Parker Hannifin, Thomas Built Buses, Proctor & Gamble and TRC Talent Solutions. Employers will share information about current job openings and the skills required for positions in manufacturing. Representatives from GTCC will be available to discuss training opportunities for careers in manufacturing. Candidates should dress for success and bring a resume. Contact Valerie Coll at 336-373-3764 for additional information. Davidson-Davie Community College has announced three finalists for the job of the colleges next president. The college launched a search after Darrin Hartness died in July. Hartness had been president since 2019. From a pool of 60 candidates, a search committed narrowed their choices to Travis Reeves, the superintendent of Surry County Schools since 2013; Chad Breeden, a senior analyst for Claxton Logistic Services, which advises the U.S. Naval Community College; and Jenny Varner, who has served as acting president of the college since Hartness death. Varner has been a part of a the college presidents senior leadership team for 15 years, according to a press release from the college. The search committee will present their recommendations to the Board of Trustees for approval. From there, the State Board of Community Colleges must review and confirm the boards choice. The new president is expected to be announced in late November, the press release said. Winston-Salem police are asking for the publics help to find a missing woman who last seen in the area of the 1200 block of East 24th Street. Zollie Neal, 32, stands 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 125 pounds, police said. Neal has long braided black hair with blonde tips and brown eyes, police said, and was wearing a white shirt and black pants. Her direction of travel is unknown. Anyone with information about Neals whereabouts can call Winston-Salem police at 336-773-7700, Crime Stoppers at 336-727-2800 or its Spanish line at 336-728-3904. The Text-A-Tip program at 336-276-1717 allows people to text tips, photos and videos to the police. A 1963 John Wayne movie thats loosely based on William Shakespeares The Taming of the Shrew will be on the big screen at the next benefit event from Omaha film historian Bruce Crawford. McLintock! will be shown at 7 p.m. Friday at the Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. It also stars Maureen OHara and the evenings special guest, actor Stefanie Powers, best known for her television role on Hart to Hart with Robert Wagner. Powers will speak to the audience before the film, sharing stories about her career and the making of McLintock! She also will be available afterward to sign autographs. The evening will mark Crawfords 49th classic film event. He said he has wanted to feature McLintock! for a long time, but the plans never jelled. But, as it happens, the timing was fortuitous. We have the only 60th anniversary showing in the country, Crawford said. The event is a benefit for Omaha Christian Academy. McLintock! is an action-filled western comedy set in the 1880s, with Wayne as a wealthy cattle baron and OHara as his feisty estranged wife. Powers played Waynes daughter, Becky. Powers received two Emmy Award nominations for Hart to Hart" and also was the star of the short-lived The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. on TV. She was in a number of films, including Herbie Rides Again and The Interns. She spends her summers in Africa at a wildlife preservation named for her longtime life partner, William Holden. They were involved together in the conservation movement until he died in 1981. Because of that, Crawford said, Powers requested a private tour of the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium while shes in Omaha. The zoo has a worldwide reputation for its leadership in animal conservation and research. Brian Downs, director of the John Wayne Museum, also will be present at the showing. Wayne was born and grew up in Winterset, Iowa, a town about two hours east of Omaha, where the museum and his childhood home are open to the public. Crawford said he encourages people who attend his events to dress up in costumes like those in the films, and many comply. At his showing of E.T. in May, he said, one guy even made an E.T. phone home machine and put it in the Playhouse lobby. People like to come and do stuff like that, he said. The events have been going on for so long that they have a big following. Tickets to the screening and a special meet-and-greet beforehand are $30. Theyre available at 402-399-9565 or omahachristianacademy.org/movie. Top Journal Star photos for October 2023 At the age of 80, with five decades of a sprawling filmography under his belt, American master filmmaker Martin Scorsese has made his first Western. Killers of the Flower Moon is a staggering work, a massive, massively important film from the auteur, in which he uses the tropes and iconography of the Western a genre that trafficked heavily in harmful Native stereotypes to tell the story of a series of heinous crimes committed against the Osage Nation at the hands of white men. In adapting David Granns nonfiction book, Scorseses approach is classical, but the outcome is radical. Scorsese doesnt just make gangster movies, though his gangster movies have helped to define the genre. During his career hes made all kinds of movies about all kinds of people and places: comedies, musicals, biopics, period melodramas, mysteries, explorations of faith. But his films always reflect his lifelong fixations on repeated themes: spirituality, violence and the complex relationships between men. Killers of the Flower Moon is no different. The film opens with a religious ceremony as the Osage tribe buries their peace pipe, mourning their old ways for the new. Then black gold oil bubbles and bursts from the ground. The Osage become rich, wealthier than anyone in Oklahoma, though theyre unable to access their cash without a white male guardian. Scorsese utilizes a silent movie newsreel style to power through background exposition before blending the archival with the immediate and plunging the viewer into 1920s Oklahoma, an era when war bonnets gave way to Stetsons, then fedoras, recreated by production designer Jack Fisk. In Fairfax, Oklahoma, white cattle rancher William Hale (Robert De Niro) has dubbed himself The King of the Osage Hills. When his nephew Ernest (Leonardo DiCaprio) returns from the war, hes more than happy to nudge him in the direction of Mollie (Lily Gladstone), a wealthy Osage woman with four sisters and head rights to the oil-rich land. They marry, then Mollies sisters start dying, along with other wealthy Osage in great numbers, shot, poisoned and blown up. These events were known as the Reign of Terror, a bloodbath that helped to establish the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as detailed in Granns book. Scorsese isnt interested in telling a murder mystery, the way Granns text is laid out. From the beginning, we know whos behind the murders, and the script by Scorsese and Eric Roth isnt even remotely nuanced about the self-serving evil of some men. The film is an exercise in hoping someone will do something about it, waiting for the cavalry to ride in. This is an epic tale of deeply intimate violence that rocks one town, one tribe and one family. As her sisters and mother drop dead, and she becomes sicker and sicker with a mysterious wasting disease, the dignified and pious Mollie becomes Scorseses saint at the center of the story, deified in her suffering (a very Catholic concept). Gladstone is stunning in her restrained performance, embodying Mollies physical, emotional and spiritual agony. Killers of the Flower Moon is Scorseses Western, but it is also a gangster movie, about men of violence, newly arrived in a lawless land conspiring to murder, steal and amass money and power by any means necessary, weaponizing their whiteness, praying at the altar of capitalism. But there is no God in greed. There is no spirituality in money. There is no salvation in oil. Cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto brings his floating camera, threading long shots through family homes calling back to the famous Copacabana shot of Goodfellas, and utilizing whip pans to stitch characters and space together. The late Robbie Robertson contributes a score that blends Native music with Americana and bluegrass, also reflected in the work of music supervisor Randall Poster. Several folk and country musicians populate the cast, including Pete Yorn and Sturgill Simpson, and Jason Isbell delivers a shockingly great performance as Bill Smith, Mollies brother-in-law, holding his own opposite DiCaprio. DiCaprios Ernest is tragic but unsympathetic, and DiCaprio layers his performance with strange tics and a perpetual frown, and there is a sad humor in his buffoonery. Ernest loves Mollie, but he is weak. Hes not smart enough to resist those who would use him, but he is no victim, and the tragedy lies in his contradictions. Its not an easy thing to convey, and DiCaprio throws himself entirely into it. With Killers of the Flower Moon, Scorseses work is vital, daring and urgent, and he grapples mightily with the racist violence on which this country has been built, also making reference to the Tulsa Race Massacre. Hes always been a dynamic, invigorating filmmaker, and here he is just as bold as hes always been. The film is deeply moving, at once sobering and enraging. It is simply an astonishing work, a true masterpiece. Glacier National Park has long been considered Americans Switzerland, and is a bucket list must for those seeking the outdoors due to its bucolic location in northern Montana and proximity to the Canadian border. With a history of a mountain chalet system that included horse-drawn carriages, its slogan of big sky country and impressive soaring mountains, Glacier is a destination not to be missed. In the midst of COVID-19 and the push to get outdoors, our national parks became too popular for their own good. As a result, soaring crowds, road congestion and enforcement of daily car reservation systems have now become the standard. Gone are the days of the gas-guzzling station wagons and loose vacation plans that included cold ham sandwiches, seedy motels or KOA campgrounds with blue-green-algae swimming pools. To visit most national parks, you need months-in-advance organization, which includes daily park reservations, hotel accommodations and campground passes. Without procuring these items, your trip could be a disaster. I started my planning nine months in advance by booking a VRBO condo in Whitefish, Montana and plane tickets into the tiny airport of Kalispell, and kept my fingers crossed for no last-minute entanglements. With alarms going off at 5 a.m. our first day (causing groans and an emergent coffee situation), we arrived at the Two Medicine east entrance at 8 a.m. sharp with a secured boat pass in hand. We took a beautiful ride in the historic, wooden boat Sinopah to the trailhead of Upper Two Medicine Lake. It was a moderate five-mile hike, with soaring mountains and open fields of wildflowers. After a quick stop at Twin Falls waterfall, we continued our hike to the upper lake, which is ensconced between soaring mountains and dotted with patches of snow. Lounging lakeside with a lunch of peanut butter sandwiches and Gummie Savers, we missed the 11:15 a.m. return boat ride due to my poor planning skills, and with some heated debate, decided to do the 3.5-mile hike around the lake to the parking lot. If you have the gumption, its a pretty hike with an incredible pole suspension bridge thats photo worthy and worth the extra miles. Once back in Whitefish, we ate at Mackenzie River Pizza and Co., rewarding our hard work with plates of pasta and a nice glass of Driftboat Amber Ale. Trail weary from the previous days jaunt, we enjoyed a leisurely morning of coffee and breakfast at Amazing Crepes in the downtown area while securing a next days park pass in the daily 8 a.m. lotto. (This included no less than three of us on three different electronic devices, screaming back and forth to alert our progress. Nothing like a bit of cyber hyperactivity to start a day). After a bit of shopping, we jumped in our car to cross the Canadian border. Why? No reason, other than we could. We did the one-hour drive to Eureka, Montana, crossed the border at Roosville and drove to Fernie, British Columbia. What we found was a delightful ski resort town, surrounded by mountains, with a cute downtown peppered with shopping and dining. We had lunch at The Loaf, with an all-day breakfast menu and drank celebratory mimosas. As a final salute, we played the national anthem Oh Canada while leaving town and giggled as we drove the speed limit of 100 km/hr. The next day required another drive to East Glacier, which should be a consideration for future trips since the drive from Whitefish to the Many Glacier trailhead took us two hours. But we were determined to hike the Iceberg Lake Trail, which maintains a cozy 46-degree water temperature and keeps icebergs floating all summer. The trail was of moderate intensity (10 miles roundtrip) but gorgeous in its views, with panoramic mountain scapes as far as the eye could see. Turning the final corner, the turquoise blue water was a shock to the eyes. The lake rests at 6,000 feet and is surrounded by sheer rock walls. Bolstered by Tiktok views, the teenagers had us packing swimming suits and preparing for a polar plunge with the icebergs. Is it cold? Absolutely. Did the teenagers jump in a second time to crawl up on an iceberg for pictures? Without a doubt. Warming ourselves in the sun, we ate sandwiches and encouraged others to jump in. On the return hike, we were alerted to the presence of a grizzly bear about 100 feet off the trail, happily ensconced in bushes and eating berries. Although we had no physical interaction, the bears are a constant concern, and every hiker should be armed with bear spray. On our last full day, we jumped in the car and drove the Going to the Sun Road. Its one of the most iconic sights in Glacier National Park and includes breathtaking turns and spectacular, unobstructed vistas. There is something very spiritual about a drive that hugs the mountains and gives 180-degree views. Located at the peak (at an elevation of 6,600 feet) is Logans Pass. Built mid-point between West and East Glacier entrances, its the trailhead for one of the more popular hikes, Highline Trail, with a full park store and ranger station. Fair warning: parking here can be an aggressive competition with whole blogs devoted to surviving it. We were able to find parking without a fistfight and hiked a small portion of the Hidden Lake trail. Sweatshirts purchased, we headed for ice cream and a Mexican dinner at Mama Blancas. Before our flight home, we drove to the Whitefish ski resort and did the Alpine slide, which offers encompassing views of the surrounding area and Canada as you make sharp mountain turns in a plastic toboggan. I was reminded of our earlier Canadian jaunt and the U.S. customs official asking Why were Nebraskans visiting Montana? I responded, To hike Glacier National Park, of course. Handing back our passports with a wink, she told us to inform everyone at home that Montana is ugly, people are mean and the food is atrocious. If I were from Montana, Id protect the gorgeous gem that is Glacier National Park as well. But seriously? Who am I going to tell? The Lincoln police officers involved in a scuffle that left one officer with a neck wound and a suspect shot were identified Friday, and the man who allegedly attacked one of the officers with a knife has now been charged with attempted second-degree murder. Officers Kirby Urbanek and Kate Schwenke were the officers involved in the incident early Tuesday morning, according to Acting Police Chief Michon Morrow. Urbanek sustained injuries to his neck when the suspect, 27-year-old Simon Kafka, attacked him with a knife, according to police. Schwenke then shot Kafka when he tried to reach for an officer's gun. Schwenke was one of two off-duty officers who were injured Wednesday evening near Bennet when they pulled over to assist at a crash scene and another car crashed into them. She has eight years of experience with LPD and is a SWAT team member. Urbanek was released from the hospital Tuesday afternoon after his neck injuries were treated and was said to be in "good spirits," according to Morrow. He has been with LPD since June 2022 but has five years of experience in law enforcement. The incident happened after officers were called to the Lincoln Bus Depot at 5250 Superior St. just before 12:15 a.m. Tuesday. Kafka was reportedly on a bus without a ticket or money for the fare and wouldn't leave. When the officers arrived and confronted Kafka, he attacked them with a knife, police say. Kafka is currently being held in the Lancaster County jail and was charged Friday with attempted second-degree murder, second-degree assault on an officer and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony. Judge Timothy Phillips set his percentage bond at $1 million, meaning he must pay $100,000 to be released. Tuesday's incident marked the second time Lincoln police have shot a suspect this year. On May 1, Chace Abney, 35, of Nevada, allegedly shot at police following a confrontation in a parking lot near Northwest 27th and West O streets. Officers from the Lincoln Police Department and Nebraska State Patrol returned fire. Abney would die five days later from his injuries. No officers were injured. In that instance, former Lincoln Police Chief Teresa Ewins declined to identify the officers publicly. Review of police shootings in Lincoln since 2013 1. Douglas DaMoude, May 30, 2014 2. Tyson Hubbard, March 5, 2015 3. Tareik Artis, Sept. 22, 2015 4. Zachary Grigsby, Nov. 29, 2015 5. Germichael Kennedy, June 26, 2016 6. Thomas Sailors, Jan. 5, 2018 7. Christopher Brennauer, Dec. 29, 2018 8. Joseph Francis Cimino, Oct. 8, 2019 9. Hailey Stainbrook and Christian Alexander, Feb. 20, 2021 10. German Pedraza, Nov. 24, 2021 11. Chace Abney, May 1, 2023 12. Stephen Kafka, Oct. 17,2023 KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip Hamas militants on Friday freed two Americans a mother and her teenage daughter who had been held hostage in Gaza since militants rampaged through Israel two weeks ago, the Israeli government said. The pair, who also hold Israeli citizenship, were the first hostages to be released, and more than 200 are still being held. The two Americans, Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie, were out of the Gaza Strip and in the hands of the Israeli military, an army spokesman said. Hamas said it released them for humanitarian reasons in an agreement with the Qatari government. The father of freed American teen hostage Natalie Raanan says shes doing well after her release Friday by Hamas. Uri Raanan of Illinois told The Associated Press that he spoke to his daughter by telephone. Shes doing good. Shes doing very good, said Raanan, who lives in the Chicago suburbs. Im in tears, and I feel very, very good. Knowing Natalie may be able to celebrate her 18th birthday next week at home with family and friends feels wonderful. The best news, Uri Raanan said. Judith and Natalie Ranaan had been on a trip from their home in suburban Chicago to Israel to celebrate the Jewish holidays, family said. They were in the kibbutz of Nahal Oz, near Gaza, on Oct. 7 Simchat Torah, a festive Jewish holiday when Hamas fighters stormed out of the territory into southern Israeli towns, killing hundreds and abducting 203 others. The family heard nothing from them since the attack and were later told by U.S. and Israeli officials that they were being held in Gaza, Natalies brother Ben said. I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been wracked with fear, said President Joe Biden, who spoke with the two freed hostages and their relatives. The International Committee of the Red Cross, which transported the freed Americans from Gaza to Israel, said their release was a sliver of hope. Relatives of other captives welcomed the release and appealed for the others to be freed. We call on world leaders and the international community to exert their full power in order to act for the release of all the hostages and missing, the statement said. The release comes amid growing expectations of a ground offensive that Israel says is aimed at rooting out Hamas militants who rule Gaza. Israel said Friday it does not plan to take long-term control over the tiny territory, home to some 2.3 million people. As the Israeli military punished Gaza with airstrikes, authorities inched closer to bringing aid from Egypt to desperate families and hospitals. Fighting between Israel and militants in neighboring Lebanon also raged, prompting evacuations of Lebanese and Israeli border towns as fears of a widening conflict grew. Read more: After spending more than a month in the hospital, an Omaha surgeon accused of causing a fatal crash last month while speeding down Dodge Street at more than 100 mph appeared in court for the first time Thursday. Mark Carlson, 61, faces one count of manslaughter for his alleged involvement in the Sept. 1 crash that killed 22-year-old Anna Bosma. Carlson was released from the hospital Thursday morning and was immediately taken into custody at the Douglas County Jail. Douglas County Court Judge Jeffrey Marcuzzo ordered Carlson to be held on 10% of $250,000 bail, meaning he will need to pay $25,000 to be released from jail. Carlson waived his right to a preliminary hearing, and the case will be sent to district court for further proceedings. If convicted of manslaughter, Carlson could face up to 20 years in prison. Carlsons attorney, Steven Delaney, said Thursday there is information to suggest Carlson suffered an unspecified medical emergency prior to the crash. He also said the crash left Carlson, who was in a wheelchair during the hearing, with a fractured pelvis, eight broken ribs and various internal injuries. Prosecutors, however, said Carlsons reckless driving was to blame for the senseless loss of life. According to an arrest affidavit for Carlson, Omaha police responded to a two-car crash at 62nd and Dodge Streets at 10:30 p.m. on Sept. 1. Bosma, who was driving a Chevrolet Cruze, was declared dead at the scene. Carlson, who was driving a Mercedes E63 AMG, and a passenger in Bosmas car were taken to the hospital with traumatic injuries. Citing witness interviews and security footage, prosecutors allege that Carlson was either racing or engaged in a road rage incident with another car driven by 26-year-old Cameron Robinson prior to the crash. Robinson does not face charges related to the crash, and prosecutors previously said he has been cooperative in the investigation. After passing University Drive East, Carlsons Mercedes left the roadway and struck a metal light pole on the north side of Dodge Street with the rear passenger side of his car. He then crossed four lanes of traffic before entering the farthest eastbound lane and colliding with the Chevy Cruze. About two seconds elapsed from the time Carlson hit the light pole to the impact with Bosmas car, according to data obtained from the air-bag control module on the Mercedes. The data also showed that Carlson never took his foot off the gas pedal, according to the affidavit. At the time of impact with the light pole, he was traveling 106 mph with 100% acceleration. As Carlson crossed the four lanes of traffic, half a second before hitting Bosma, he was traveling 101 mph with 100% acceleration. According to his University of Nebraska Medical Center faculty page, Carlson was the director of the Center for Advanced Surgical Technology in addition to being a professor in the department of surgery. He was also a staff surgeon at Omahas VA Medical Center. A spokesperson for the University of Nebraska Medical Center confirmed that Carlson is still currently employed at both the university and Nebraska Medicine. A 22-member committee that includes all eight elected members of the Board of Regents will lead the search for the next University of Nebraska president. The board appointed itself and other constituent members to the Presidential Search Advisory Committee during a special meeting Thursday as it shifts the nationwide hunt for a new administrator into high gear. In addition to the elected regents, the committee also includes all four student regents those individuals were elected to lead the student governments on each campus as well as all four faculty senate presidents and six stakeholder members representing various interests spread across the state. The hiring of the president is first and foremost our priority, said Lincoln Regent Tim Clare, the board's chairman. That is our main job, and this does a great job of enabling all of the elected regents to fulfill that highest calling. Because all eight elected members of the board are on the Presidential Search Advisory Committee, that body will be subject to the Nebraska Open Meetings Act, requiring the university to provide notice of when the group meets and post its agendas. Nebraskas open meetings laws also require policymaking bodies like the Board of Regents to hold public comment, while also allowing them to go into closed session for specific reasons including discussions of personnel. We recognize the public meetings laws and we will be in compliance with the public meeting laws, Clare said. The committees composition marks a deviation from previous searches in which a handful of regents were selected to be among the group charged with gathering stakeholder input and using it to find and conduct initial interviews with candidates. In the 2019 search that led to the hiring of Ted Carter, for example, just four of eight regents served on the 23-member committee led by then-Regent Jim Pillen, who is now governor. A 2014 search that ended in Hank Bounds being named NU president was aided by two committees the President Search Outreach and Advisory Committee and the President Search Screening and Selection Committee which each featured four regents. Both searches saw the committees work with presidential search firms to recruit and identify potential candidates for the job in meetings that often took place behind closed doors. The Board of Regents approved a contract to work with Academic Search to find Carters replacement earlier this year. Max Kautsch, an attorney who specializes in media law in Nebraska and Kansas, said he believes the public meetings laws would apply to any committee created by regents including presidential search committees no matter the number of regents assigned to that group. Regent committee members include Clare; Regent Jack Stark of Omaha; Regent Jim Scheer of Norfolk; Regent Elizabeth OConnor of Omaha; Regent Rob Schafer of Beatrice; Regent Paul Kenney of Amherst; Regent Kathy Wilmot of Beaver City; and Regent Barbara Weitz of Omaha. Student regents on the committee include Hakim Lotoro of UNO, Paul Pechous of UNL, Temo Molina of UNK and Katie Schultis of UNMC. Faculty senate presidents include Kelli Kopocis of UNL, William Melanson of UNO, Chris Extrom of UNK and Amar Natarajan of UNMC. Along with regents, other committee members include Leah Barrett, president of Northeast Community College; Scott McPheeters, vice chair of the Nebraska Ethanol Board; Heath Mello, president and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber and former chief lobbyist for the NU system; Jane Miller, chair-elect of the NU Foundation; Rob Otte, general counsel for US Property; and John Stinner, former state senator and retired president and CEO of Valley Bank and Trust in Gering. Also on Thursday, Clare outlined a series of listening sessions on each of NUs campuses for faculty, students, staff and other Nebraskans to provide input into the qualities regents should seek in hiring the next president. I look at these listening sessions as something that are extremely important for us to do, Clare said. They are going to lay the groundwork for what the state and different stakeholders and constituencies recognize and value in the next president. The schedule for the listening sessions includes: Tuesday * 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. UNMC Sorrell Center Room 2010. * 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. UNMC Sorrell Center Room 2010. * 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. UNO Milo Bail Student Center Room 226/228, Chancellors Room. * 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. UNO Milo Bail Student Center Room 226/228, Chancellors Room. Wednesday * 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. UNK Ockinga Conference Room. * 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. UNK Ockinga Conference Room. Oct. 26 * 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. UNL Nebraska Union, Platte River Room South. * 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. UNL Nebraska East Union, Arbor A. Top Journal Star photos for October 2023 The Israeli government said Hamas militants on Friday freed two Americans. Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natalie, are from suburban Chicago. They had been held hostage in Gaza since militants rampaged through Israel two weeks ago. The pair, who also hold Israeli citizenship, were the first hostages to be released of the roughly 200 people who were abducted. Hamas said it released them for humanitarian reasons in an agreement with the Qatari government. Relatives of other captives appealed for more to be freed. The release comes amid growing expectations of an Israeli ground offensive into Gaza and as authorities inched closer to bringing aid from Egypt to desperate Gazan families and hospitals. RACINE Jerstad-Agerholm middle schoolers signed a pledge to end gun violence Wednesday. The students took the pledge with thousands of other kids around the country on the National Day of Concern about Young People and Gun Violence. Community members wearing purple shirts that read "Student Pledge against Gun Violence" told their stories about gun violence and spoke on the importance of ending gun violence to the kids. "We do know that conflicts arise, arguments, disputes," Nakeyda Haymer, violent crime reduction coordinator for Racine County and Wisconsin state lead for Voices of Black Mothers United, said in her speech. "But we want to agree today, as a community, law enforcement, teachers and students, that it is not okay to handle our disputes with the use of a gun, and it is not okay to bring a gun to school." Haymer lost her brother, D'Anthony Keenan, to gun violence. She told the students that she has made it her mission to keep her brother's legacy alive and to speak to as many young people possible about gun violence. "It's to make sure that somebody in our community is taking a stand and letting our young people know that [gun violence] is not okay," Haymer said. "But most importantly it's that we care. Your community cares, your family cares." Sylvia Bennett-Stone, the national director for VBMU, spoke to the middle schoolers before they took the pledge. "It's about you all making good choices. And those choices are intended for you to live," Bennett Stone said. "My motto is walk away to see another day." Officers from the Racine Police Department and Maurice Horton, Racine County community violence prevention supervisor and City of Racine District 7 alder, talked about the importance of gun safety, avoiding gun violence and saying something to a trusted adult if students see something of concern. After the speeches, the students said the pledge and signed a banner to end gun violence. "I will never bring a gun to school; I will never use a gun to settle a personal problem or dispute; I will use my influence with friends to keep them from using guns to settle disputes," the kids said while repeating the pledge. "My individual choices and actions, when multiplied by those of young people throughout the country, will make a difference. Together, by honoring this pledge, we can reverse the violence and grow up in safety." WASHINGTON (AP) An Army private who fled to North Korea before being returned home to the United States last month has been detained by the U.S. military, two officials said Thursday night, and is facing charges including desertion and possessing sexual images of a child. The eight counts against Pvt. Travis King are detailed in a charging document seen by The Associated Press. The officials who confirmed King's confinement spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the charges have not been publicly announced. King's mother, Claudine Gates, said in a statement that she loved her son "unconditionally" and was "extremely concerned about his mental health." "As his mother, I ask that my son be afforded the presumption of innocence," she said. Desertion is a very serious charge and can result in imprisonment for as much as three years. King is also accused of kicking and punching other officers last year, unlawfully possessing alcohol, making a false statement and possessing a video of a child engaged in sexual activity. That allegation dates to July 10, the same day he was released from a South Korean prison where he had served nearly two months on assault charges. One week later, King, 23, ran across the heavily fortified border from South Korea and became the first American detained in North Korea in nearly five years. He was set to be sent to Fort Bliss, Texas, where he could have faced potential additional disciplinary actions and discharge. Officials said King was taken to the airport and escorted as far as customs. But instead of getting on the plane, he left and later joined a civilian tour of the Korean border village of Panmunjom. He ran across the border, which is lined with guards and often crowded with tourists, in the afternoon. After about two months, Pyongyang abruptly announced that it would expel him. He was flown on Sept. 28 to an Air Force base in Texas. His release from North Korea was aided by Swedish officials who took King to the Chinese border, where he was met by U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, the Swedish ambassador to China and at least one U.S. Defense Department official. He was then flown to a U.S. military base in South Korea before heading to the U.S. Once back in the U.S., King was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston outside San Antonio. He went through what the military describes as a "reintegration" process that included medical exams, psychological assessments and debriefings. And he was also allowed to meet with family. Because he had willingly run into enemy hands, he legally was kept in military custody throughout that process. At the time, officials said they did not know exactly why North Korea decided to let King go, but suspected Pyongyang determined that as a low-ranking serviceman he had no real value in terms of either leverage or information. King joined the Army in January 2021, and served as a cavalry scout. While he was gone, Army leaders declared him absent without leave, opting to not consider him a deserter, which is far more serious. By declaring King a deserter, the Army would have to conclude that King left and intended to stay away permanently. In times of war, desertion can carry the death penalty. Service members can go AWOL for several days, but may return voluntarily. The punishment can include confinement in the brig, forfeiture of pay or dishonorable discharge and it is largely based on how long they were away and whether they were apprehended or returned on their own. The charging document does not provide significant detail on any of the allegations, though it does accuse King of knowingly possessing a video of a child engaging in sexual conduct last July 10 and says that he solicited a user of Snapchat, a social media platform, to produce images of underage sexual activity. Sean Timmons, an attorney who specializes in military law at the Tully Rinckey law firm and who reviewed the charging document, said all the transactions that occurred on Snapchat were not secure or private and were accessible by the government. "He probably reasonably believed his illegal conduct would have no evidentiary trail, but Snapchat actually saves everything," Timmons said. ___ Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Killeen, TX (76540) Today Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 54F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 54F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. 1. Yes. If KHA cant continue to run it, the city should step in. Its a necessary asset to the area. 2. Yes. The city already uses it as a warming and cooling center. It would be a smart move. 3. No. It may be in the citys interest to help subsidize insurance for the center, but nothing more. 4. No. The city doesnt need the added burden of staffing and insuring the center. Its a bad idea. 5. Unsure. It may be seem like a good idea, but other options should be explored as well. Vote View Results KEARNEY The University of Nebraska at Kearney is the perfect fit for Briana Marquez. She likes the smaller, tight-knit community, but also enjoys all the activities, events and opportunities to connect with students from around the world. Those interactions with fellow Lopers are an important part of her college experience. Nowadays, politics are very left or right, black and white. But a lot of the world isnt like that, she said. Its somewhere in the middle. There isnt one right answer. There are multiple. And instead of fighting, we can learn. Thats the beautiful thing about a college campus. You get people from all sorts of backgrounds, all sorts of ways of thinking, and its a really cool thing when you see them come together. A sophomore from Columbus, Marquez enjoys meeting international students during events such as the weekly Conversation Tables. She is also heavily involved through the Office for Intercultural Engagement and Leadership. That office, led by Director Luis Olivas, was another selling point during her college decision-making process. You dont get that sense of caring from other colleges, but here, they make sure you know that theyre here for you and to help you succeed, she said. Marquez started attending Intercultural Engagement and Leadership events during her first semester on campus. She joined Women Are Problematic, an organization that focuses on womens rights and female empowerment, and the Hispanic Student Association. She became that groups president the following semester. Olivas calls Marquez a natural leader, trailblazer and true ambassador for UNK students, particularly those from underrepresented communities. Briana understands the experience as a first-generation Latina student. She is immensely proud of her culture and background, and is always willing to share that with others, he said. At UNK, where Hispanic students represent 13% of the total enrollment, organizations like HSA have a significant impact. Sometimes when youre in a minority group, its really easy to feel like. I dont belong here. I should just go home, Marquez said. Organizations like HSA, WAP, BSA (Black Student Association) and First Gen Lopers provide motivation and reassurance for students by saying, Hey, youre here because you deserve it. And youre not going anywhere. The Hispanic Student Association meets every Wednesday. About 35-40 students network, discuss various topics and plan events such as the annual Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration on campus. Its also a great place to learn and teach, she added, since HSA is open to any UNK student. Hispanics are a big part of the United States, she said. Being able to connect with people who are different from you is something youre going to need to do in your job. This group provides a great opportunity to do that. As president, Marquez plans to extend HSA into the community. Joined by three other Lopers, she traveled to Lincoln to be part of the Hispanic Heritage Month proclamation ceremony at the State Capitol and meet representatives from the Nebraska Commission on Latino-Americans. I feel like HSA has been stuck in this little corner of campus, Marquez said. Now, were trying to be more of a driving force to make it known throughout the community and ensure students voices are heard. Marquez is also part of the Health Science Club, Spanish Club, Alpha Mu Gamma foreign language honor society and Thompson Scholars Learning Community. I could preach all day about how lucky I am to be involved in that program, said Marquez, who also received the full-tuition Board of Regents Scholarship. The people there really do become your second family. A sophomore, Marquez now serves as a mentor for first-year students. As her mentor supervisor, I have a front-row seat in seeing how well she works with her mentees and how she wants to see them be successful, said Love, the programs assistant director of student development. Marquez is just as dedicated to her own academics. Shes double majoring in Spanish translation and interpretation, and biology with a health science emphasis, with plans to attend dental school after graduation. Her ultimate goal is to open her own practice as a bilingual provider. I think everyone should be able to feel like they can smile, she said. KEARNEY If you prohibit firearms on your property, then you ought to post it. Thats the message contained in a resolution adopted Oct. 10 by the Kearney City Council. The resolution chiefly pertains to the city of Kearneys restrictions about firearms on the citys property thats open to the public. The resolution also applies to private citizens who own property thats open to the public, such as a store or restaurant. Citizens can restrict guns on their property, but if its public, the restriction should be posted. The purpose of the Oct. 10 resolution is to affirm the citys statutory authority to post warnings so gun owners are aware when they enter a restricted place. The city also has authority, under state law, to decide what public places to restrict. You need to conspicuously post that you choose to restrict firearms on your property, City Attorney Michael Tye said. Tye worked with Kearney Police Chief Bryan Waugh in explaining the rationale behind the resolution. Waugh and Tye said in a memo to the Kearney City Council, Staff believes establishing a policy restricting weapons and handguns, concealed or open, with or without a permit, on all managed, leased, and owned property together with signage reflecting this policy, would be appropriate. Only a handful of Kearney businesses and privately owned public venues have posted messages to alert visitors if firearms are restricted. The posting at City Hall at 18 E. 22nd St. reads: Notice: No firearms or weapons allowed on this property. There are a variety of reasons behind the citys resolution. Governing entities around Nebraska have questions and concerns. Some arise from the Legislatures adoption this year of the permitless-carry law, also called constitutional carry. The new law allows gun owners to carry their weapon without a permit. Prior to the change to permitless-carry, it was necessary for gun owners to complete gun safety training before earning a permit to carry their gun in public. In response to questions and concerns about permitless carry, the Nebraska Attorney Generals Office issued directives that say owners of property thats open to the public should clearly post whether firearms or some other kinds of weapons are restricted. The Kearney resolution which is patterned after the attorney generals draft - specifically allows for the placing of signage to notify the public where carrying of weapons is restricted. The resolution defines weapons as firearms, stun guns, knives with blades longer than 3.5 inches, devices that propel objects mechanically, with compressed air, gas or explosives, or any other instrument that can immobilize, seriously injure or kill another person. City police or county deputies are allowed to carry firearms on the citys public property, and so would other personnel who are armed because its part of their job. Tye said the city of Kearney is experiencing an increase in public venues where the weapon restriction would apply, so theres a need to post the message so visitors know about the restrictions. Tye pointed to the new pavilion at Yanney Heritage Park as a venue thats likely to attract lots of visitors who could be unaware of local restrictions. In about two years, the Kearney SportsPlex will open in southwest Kearney and attract thousands of out-of-town visitors. If Im a conceal carry person and Im going to a facility, then I need to be aware of the restrictions, Tye said. He said the attorney generals directive states that even though the changes in state statute make it easier for Nebraskans to carry firearms, that doesnt prevent property owners from restricting firearms on property thats open to the public. The public and City employees utilize the Citys managed, leased, and owned property for work, public business, and/or recreation daily with an expectation of personal safety. Staff believes establishing a policy restricting weapons and handguns, concealed or open, with or without a permit, on all managed, leased, and owned property together with signage reflecting this policy, would be appropriate, Waugh and Tye said in their memo to the council. Valley County Sheriff Casey Hurlburt is accused of providing false information in an insurance claim after a vehicle crash. Hurlburt filed a claim in January regarding a crash that involved a 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, according to a criminal complaint. The complaint accused Hurlburt of stating in his claim that the crash occurred on Oct. 11, 2022, instead of the actual date of the accident, March 23, 2022, in order to receive full coverage of the repair costs. Hurlburt obtained full coverage on the vehicle in April of 2022 from State Farm Insurance. State troopers arrested Hurlburt on Tuesday on suspicion of fraudulent insurance acts, a felony. The Nebraska State Patrol said the arrest came on the heels of a months-long investigation. The sheriff is scheduled to make his initial court appearance next Wednesday in Valley County, the Nebraska Attorney Generals Office said Wednesday. The office said an arrest affidavit in the case is sealed. Hurlburt was taken to Hall County Jail on Tuesday. He was not listed as an inmate on Wednesday. Nebraska State Patrol spokesman Cody Thomas said Hurlburt was arrested at the State Patrol office in Grand Island, which is why he was lodged in Hall County. The Valley County seat is Ord, located about 64 miles northwest of Grand Island. A 47-year-old Austin, Minnesota, man faces a felony drug charge after police reportedly found him unresponsive and in possession of drugs at an Onalaska hotel. John H. Merten was charged in La Crosse County Circuit Court with a single felony count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver. According to the criminal complaint, police were called Oct. 15 to the Comfort Inn, where a woman alerted desk staff that a man was suffering a medical emergency. When police and emergency responders arrived, they found Merten lying on the floor unresponsive and not breathing. The complaint said breathing was restored by applying an AED and administering Narcan. After Merten was revived, police reportedly found a plastic baggie in Mertens pocket. It allegedly contained between 10 and 50 grams of methamphetamine. The complaint says Merten denied the drugs belonged to him and told police they were planted. The woman who reportedly alerted desk staff immediately left the area and hasnt been located by police. Merten was released from the La Crosse County Jail after posting a $500 cash bond. His returns to court a Nov. 8 calendar call. WASHINGTON The White House on Friday released a sweeping set of proposals to bolster Israel and Ukraine in the midst of two wars as well as invest more in domestic defense manufacturing, humanitarian assistance and managing the influx of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. The total cost of the supplemental funding request was pegged at just over $105 billion. President Joe Biden hopes Congress will move urgently on the legislation, and he made the case for deepening U.S. support for its allies during a rare Oval Office address on Thursday night. The Democratic president's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told reporters on Friday that Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine and Hamas' attack on Israel represent a "global inflection point." "This budget request is critical to advancing America's national security and ensuring the safety of the American people," Sullivan said. However, next steps are in doubt while the House of Representatives remains in chaos with the Republican majority unable to choose a new speaker. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, is still pushing to run the chamber, an effort that has led to frayed nerves and bruised relationships on Capitol Hill. Even if Republicans are able to sort out their leadership drama, Biden will swiftly face resistance to his plans. He's hopeful that combining several different issues, from border security to countering China's influence, will foster a political coalition that can move the legislation forward. But there's equal potential for the entire package to get bogged down in various policy debates, especially when it comes to immigration, a historically contentious topic. Shalanda Young, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, suggested it would be hypocritical for Republicans to oppose Biden's proposal after complaining about lax border management. "We will not be lectured by those who refuse to act," she said. "As we've said repeatedly, Congress needs to take action to provide sufficient resources for the border." Although there was a lull in migrant arrivals to the U.S. after the start of new asylum restrictions in May, illegal crossings topped a daily average of more than 8,000 last month. The White House wants roughly $14 billion to, among other things, boost the number of border agents, install new inspection machines to detect fentanyl and increase staffing to process asylum cases. The biggest line item in the supplemental funding request is $61.4 billion to support Ukraine. Some of that money will go to replenishing Pentagon stockpiles of weapons that have already been provided. "The world is closely watching what Congress does next," Sullivan said. Israel would receive $14.3 billion in assistance under the proposal. The majority of that money would help with air and missile defense systems. Photos: Scenes from the Israel-Hamas war Madison-based American Family Insurance has confirmed it shut down some of its business systems after detecting unusual activity on its network. We quickly took precautionary measures to protect and resources and shut down several business systems, American Family said in an email statement Friday. We recognize the system outages are impacting customers, agents and employees, and we appreciate their patience and understanding. American Family said that at this point the company has not found any breaches in customer data. Its investigation includes internal and third-party experts. We will begin to bring systems back online as we complete our investigative and safeguarding efforts, the company said. The systems shutdown comes after Kwik Trip on Thursday said it fell victim to a cybersecurity incident last week that caused disruptions to its internal network that are still affecting the gas station chain. On 19 October Haitis police announced the arrest in Haiti of, a key suspect in the 2021 killing of former president(2017-2021). End of preview - This article contains approximately 394 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 19 October judicial workers across Mexico began a six-day national strike in response to plans to significantly reduce the funds available to the federal judicial power (PJF). End of preview - This article contains approximately 401 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 19 October Perus attorney generals office announced that it had opened a preliminary corruption investigation into Prime Minister End of preview - This article contains approximately 403 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 19 October Argentinas presidential aspirants brought their campaigns to a close ahead of the first round of elections. End of preview - This article contains approximately 573 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options New York Mayor Eric Adams has been using artificial intelligence (AI) to make robot phone calls in several languages. The technology changes Adams voice into languages that he does not speak. And it raises new ethical questions about the government's use of AI. Adams told reporters about the phone calls, called robocalls, recently. He said they have gone out in languages like Mandarin and Yiddish for city events. They have not included any information that he only speaks English or that the calls were created using AI. People stop me on the street all the time and say, I didnt know you speak Mandarin, Adams said. The robocalls that were using, were using different languages to speak directly to the diversity of New Yorkers. The calls come as questions arise over how best to use AI ethically and legally. Deepfake videos or audio can make it appear that anyone anywhere is doing anything a person on the other side of a computer screen wants them to do. The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project called Adams' robocalls an unethical use of AI that is misleading to the people of New York. Albert Fox Cahn is executive director of the organization. He said the calls are very unethical, especially because they are paid for with public money. Yes, we need announcements in all of New Yorkers native languages, but the deepfakes are just a creepy vanity project. There is a growing use of artificial intelligence and deepfakes, especially in politics and election misinformation. It has led to calls for more rules and policing from the government and major media companies. Google was the first big technology company to say it would identify political advertisements that use AI to fake a candidates voice or actions. Meta does not have a rule specific to the use of AI in political ads. But the company has a policy restricting fake or manipulated audio and imagery used for misinformation. A bipartisan bill in the U.S. Senate would ban materially deceptive deepfakes relating to federal candidates, with exceptions for parody. This month, two Democratic members of Congress sent a letter to the heads of Meta and X, formerly known as Twitter. The letter shared concerns about AI-created political ads on social media platforms. In recent weeks, a number of technology companies have shown off AI tools that can take a persons speech and make it sound as if that person is speaking a different language. In September, the music streaming service Spotify introduced an AI feature to translate a recording, or podcast, into several languages in the speakers voice. More recently, the startup ElevenLabs in October introduced a voice translation tool. The tool can change spoken words to another language while keeping the voice of the speaker. A spokesperson for Adams office said they used the ElevenLabs tool for their robocalls. Native speakers listened to the recordings before they went out to make sure the translations were accurate. Calls have been made in Spanish, Yiddish, Mandarin, Cantonese and Haitian Creole. Adams defended himself against ethical questions about his use of artificial intelligence, saying his office is trying to reach New Yorkers through the languages they speak. I got one thing: Ive got to run the city, and I have to be able to speak to people in the languages that they understand, and Im happy to do so, he said. Im Dan Novak. Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press. _______________________________________ Words in This Story mayor n. an official who is elected to be the head of the government of a city or town diversity n. the quality or state of having many different forms, types, ideas, etc. deepfake n. a real-looking, but untrue, video. creepy adj. causing people to feel nervous and afraid vanity n. the quality of people who have too much pride in their own appearance, abilities, achievements, etc. manipulate v. to move or control with your hands or by using a machine deceptive adj. intended to make someone believe something that is not true parody n. a piece of writing, music, etc., that imitates the style of someone or something else in an amusing way A team of international scientists collected fish samples from an area near Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant Thursday. They are examining the effects of the recent release of treated radioactive water from the plant into the sea. The study by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is the first since the water release began in August. Local fishermen criticized the release. It also led China to ban all seafood products from Japan over food safety fears. Scientists from China, South Korea and Canada observed the collection of fish samples at Hisanohama Port, about 50 kilometers south of Fukushima. The samples will be sent to laboratories in each country for independent testing, the U.N. nuclear agency said. Paul McGinnity is a research scientist with the IAEA overseeing the study. He said, "The Japanese government has requested that we do this and one of the reasons they want us to do this is to try and strengthen confidence in the data that Japan is producing. More than a million metric tons of water was contaminated by contact with fuel at the nuclear reactor following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster. Before being released, the water is filtered to remove isotopes, leaving only tritium, which is difficult to separate. Plant operator Tepco said the levels of tritium in the water are weakened to below official limits. The IAEA says that tritium is a naturally occurring radioactive form of hydrogen that is produced in the atmosphere when cosmic rays collide with air molecules. The agency says tritium cannot enter the body through human skin. It is only harmful if ingested in a very large amount. Im Mario Ritter, Jr. Hai Do adapted this report for VOA Learning English from Reuters and other sources. ______________________________________________ Words in This Story sample n. a small amount of something taken to get information about it plant n. a center, building or factory confidence n. a feeling of trust or belief contaminated adj. containing impurities or something undesirable filtered adj. something that has had an unwanted substance removed from it isotope n. a version of an element that has an unusual number of neutrons We want to hear from you. Our comment policy is here. Our story today is, "The Devil and Tom Walker. " It was written by Washington Irving. Here is Shep O'Neal with our story. Before we begin our story, let us go back 300 years to the late 1600s. In those years, one of the most famous men in the world was Captain William Kidd. Captain Kidd was a pirate. He sailed the seas, capturing any ships he found. He and his men took money from these ships. Captain Kidd hid this money in different places. Captain Kidd was captured by the English in Boston, Massachusetts and executed in the year 1701. From that time on, people all over the world searched in many places for Captain Kidd's stolen money. The people who lived in Massachusetts in the seventeen hundreds believed Captain Kidd buried some of his treasure near Boston. Not far from Boston was a small river which ran into the Atlantic Ocean. An old story said that Captain Kidd had come up this river from the ocean. Then he buried his gold and silver and jewels under a big tree. The story said that this treasure was protected by the devil himself, who was a good friend of Captain Kidd. In the year seventeen twenty-seven, a man named Tom Walker lived near this place. Tom Walker was not a pleasant man. He loved only one thing -- money. There was only one person worse than Tom. That was his wife. She also loved money. These two were so hungry for money that they even stole things from each other. One day, Tom Walker was returning home through a dark forest. He walked slowly and carefully, so that he would not fall into a pool of mud. At last, he reached a piece of dry ground. Tom sat down on a tree that had fallen. As he rested, he dug into the earth with a stick. He knew the story that Indians had killed prisoners here as sacrifices to the Devil. But this did not trouble him. The only devil Tom was afraid of was his wife. Tom's stick hit something hard. He dug it out of the earth. It was a human skull. In the skull was an Indian ax. Suddenly, Tom Walker heard an angry voice: "Don't touch that skull!" Tom looked up. He saw a giant sitting on a broken tree. Tom had never seen such a man. He wore the clothes of an Indian. His skin was almost black and covered with ashes. His eyes were big and red. His black hair stood up from his head. He carried a large ax. The giant asked, "What are you doing on my land?" But Tom Walker was not afraid. He answered, "What do you mean? This land belongs to Mister Peabody." The strange man laughed and pointed to the tall trees. Tom saw that one of the trees had been cut by an ax. He looked more closely and saw that the name Peabody had been cut into the tree. Mr. Peabody was a man who got rich by stealing from Indians. Tom looked at the other trees. Every one had the name of some rich, important man from Massachusetts. Tom looked at the tree on which he was sitting. It also had a name cut into it -- the name of Absalom Crowninshield. Tom remembered that Mister Crowninshield was a very rich man. People said he got his money as Captain Kidd did -- by stealing ships. Suddenly, the giant shouted: "Crowninshield is ready to be burned! I'm going to burn many trees this winter!" Tom told the man that he had no right to cut Mister Peabody's trees. The stranger laughed and said, "I have every right to cut these trees. This land belonged to me a long time before Englishmen came to Massachusetts. The Indians were here. Then you Englishmen killed the Indians. Now I show Englishmen how to buy and sell slaves. And I teach their women how to be witches." Tom Walker now knew that the giant was the Devil himself. But Tom Walker was still not afraid. The giant said Captain Kidd had buried great treasures under the trees, but nobody could have them unless the giant permitted it. He said Tom could have these treasures. But Tom had to agree to give the giant what he demanded. Tom Walker loved money as much as he loved life. But he asked for time to think. Tom went home. He told his wife what had happened. She wanted Captain Kidd's treasure. She urged him to give the Devil what he wanted. Tom said no. At last, Misses Walker decided to do what Tom refused to do. She put all her silver in a large piece of cloth and went to see the dark giant. Two days passed. She did not return home. She was never seen again. People said later that Tom went to the place where he had met the giant. He saw his wife's cloth hanging in a tree. He was happy, because he wanted to get her silver. But when he opened the cloth, there was no silver in it -- only a human heart. Tom was sorry he lost the silver, but not sorry he lost his wife. He wanted to thank the giant for this. And so, every day he looked for the giant. Tom finally decided that he would give the giant what he wanted in exchange for Captain Kidd's treasure. One night, Tom Walker met the giant and offered his soul in exchange for Captain Kidd's treasure. The Devil now wanted more than that. He said that Tom would have to use the treasure to do the Devil's work. He wanted Tom to buy a ship and bring slaves to America. As we have said, Tom Walker was a hard man who loved nothing but money. But even he could not agree to buy and sell human beings as slaves. He refused to do this. The Devil then said that his second most important work was lending money. The men who did this work for the Devil forced poor people who borrowed money to pay back much more than they had received. Tom said he would like this kind of work. So the Devil gave him Captain Kidd's treasure. A few days later, Tom Walker was a lender of money in Boston. Everyone who needed help -- and there were many who did -- came to him. Tom Walker became the richest man in Boston. When people were not able to pay him, he took away their farms, their horses, and their houses. As he got older and richer, Tom began to worry. What would happen when he died? He had promised his soul to the Devil. Maybe. . .maybe. . . he could break that promise. Tom then became very religious. He went to church every week. He thought that if he prayed enough, he could escape from the Devil. One day, Tom took the land of a man who had borrowed money. The poor man asked for more time to pay. "Please do not destroy me!" he said. "You have already taken all my money!" Tom got angry and started to shout, "Let the Devil take me if I have taken any money from you!" That was the end of Tom Walker. For just then, he heard a noise. He opened the door. There was the black giant, holding a black horse. The giant said, "Tom, I have come for you." He picked up Tom and put him on the horse. Then he hit the horse, which ran off, carrying Tom. Nobody ever saw Tom Walker again. A farmer said that he saw the black horse, with a man on it, running wildly into the forest. After Tom Walker disappeared, the government decided to take Tom's property. But there was nothing to take. All the papers which showed that Tom owned land and houses were burned to ashes. His boxes of gold and silver had nothing in them but small pieces of wood. The wood came from newly cut trees. Tom's horses died, and his house suddenly burned to ashes. You have heard the story, "The Devil and Tom Walker." It was written by Washington Irving. Our storyteller was Shep O'Neal. Now it's your turn. Are there any folk tales or traditional stories in your country about a person making a deal with the devil? Write to us in the comments section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________ Quiz - The Devil and Tom Walker Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz ________________________________ For Teachers This lesson plan, based on the CALLA Approach, teaches the learning strategy, 'summarize' to help students understand the story, _________________________________________________ Words in This Story treasure n. a large collection of money, jewels or other things of great value devil - n. the Devil the most powerful spirit of evil in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam who is often represented as the ruler of hell skull - n. the structure of bones that form the head and face of a person or animal ax - n. a tool that has a heavy metal blade and a long handle and that is used for chopping wood giant - n. a legendary creature usually thought of as being an extremely large and powerful person witch - n. a woman who is thought to have magic powers lend - v. to give (something) to (someone) to be used for a period of time and then returned slave - n. someone who is legally owned by another person and is forced to work for that person without pay People, animals and fish who depend on the waterways connected to the Amazon River close to the Brazilian city of Manaus are facing a long period of dry weather. The citys port is an important economic area for northern Brazil. But recently, the water level of the area where the Amazon and Rio Negro rivers meet reached a very low level. The civil defense agency in Amazonas state said the drought is hurting over 400,000 people. Those who have floating homes or use boats to move around on the river for work cannot travel. They cannot get fuel, food or fresh water. Animals and fish along the river are dying. Thousands of dead fish float on the water's surface. A number of river dolphins died when they washed up on land. Dolphins are rare water mammals that live in Brazils biggest rivers. The organization that runs the port said the water level is only about 14 meters, the lowest since measurements started in 1902. The previous all-time low came in 2010. Without water, there is no life Brazils monitoring and disaster alert center, Cemaden, said the rainfall in the Amazon area is the lowest it has been since July to September 1980. The nations science ministry said the weather pattern known as El Nino is to blame for the drought and low rainfall. Reporters in the area are describing the situation as grim. Raimundo Silva do Carmo is a fisherman. But he cannot fish at this time. It takes him much of the day just to get water. One recent morning he was making his fourth visit of the day to a well east of Manaus. He called carrying a water container back and forth dreadful work made harder because of the hot sun. Without water, he said, there is no life. Another man, Joaquim Mendes da Silva is 73. For 43 years, he repaired ships on a large lake. The water is the lowest he has ever seen. Children in the area stopped going to school one month ago because they could no longer travel by boat to the schoolhouse. Along with Amazonas state, Cemaden said seven other states recorded their lowest rainfall in 40 years for the period from July to September. The drought is hurting all of the waterways that connect to the Amazon River, an area that contains 20 percent of the worlds fresh water. By last week, 42 of the 62 cities and towns in the area declared a state of emergency. In one area, about 600 kilometers east of the lake, about 300 families are having trouble getting food and supplies in the Auati-Parana reserve. They can only use small boats to get to the closest city. As a result, their travel time is 14 hours instead of the usual nine. Along the river, people fish for a large fish called a pirarucu. The fish weigh as much as 200 kilograms. People catch the fish and then take them to local markets. They usually bring their catch to market by boat. But they can no longer sell the fish because they cannot reach the market. Edvaldo de Lira is a local business leader. He said the fishermen run the risk of catching fish in the lake, and it arrives spoiled. So, there is no way for us to fish, de Lira said. Rain does not fall all year in the Amazon area. Rainfall is light from May to October, but the El Nino weather event is reducing the rain more than usual, said Ana Paula Cunha of Cemaden. Climate scientists say the effects of El Nino this year are stronger because of global warming. Warming temperatures, they say, are because of carbon gases from years of burning coal, oil and gas. One of the important rivers in the Amazon area is the Madeira. It travels over 3,500 kilometers from Bolivia to Brazil. Four of its five lowest water levels were recorded in the last four years, the Brazilian Geological Survey said. In the port city of Porto Velho, the rivers level is the lowest since measurements started in 1967. Brazils fourth-largest hydroelectric dam, which produces power from water, is in nearby Santo Antonio. It stopped producing power last week for the first time since it opened in 2012. Unprecedented difficulties For now, the Brazilian government of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is sending food and water to the far away communities in the northern part of the country. Engineers will start digging paths along dry rivers for boat travel. Payments will soon go to families who cannot work. But the problems will continue, experts say. Photographs of dead dolphins appeared in newspapers and on television programs. Ayan Fleischmann is a hydrologist, or a scientist who studies water, at the Mamiraua Sustainable Development Institute. It describes itself as a social organization supervised by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. He said the photos were a shock for everyone. He said the extreme heat may have hurt the organs of the dolphins or contributed to the growth of harmful bacteria. It was an unprecedented tragedy, he said. Unprecedented means never seen before. Experts in Brazil from the National Institute for Space Research say the drought will likely continue until the end of 2023. Im Dan Friedell. And Im Anna Matteo. Dan Friedell adapted this report for VOA Learning English based on reporting from the Associated Press and Reuters. _______________________________________________ Words in This Story previous adj. taking place at an earlier time monitor v. to watch or observe over time for a special purpose drought n. a period with very little rain or with an abnormally low amount of rainfall grim adj. causing feelings of sadness or worry spoiled adj. ruined; no longer usable or edible Friesen attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering. With over 13 years of industry experience, Friesen brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to his current role. He began his career as a project engineer, primarily focusing on grain storage. In this capacity, he was involved in the development of new roofs, sidewalls and stiffener lines. In his most recent position as an engineering manager, he oversaw the design and engineering of tower and catwalk systems. Currently residing in Grand Island, Friesen is an individual with strong family values and is happily married with two children. Medicare enrollment is now open for those eligible, giving them a choice to enroll in either a Medicare Advantage plan, or traditional Medicare. For rural Nebraskans, enrolling in Medicare Advantage can put their healthcare at a disadvantage, experts said during a press conference Tuesday. The Nebraska Hospitals Association hosted the press conference with representatives from hospitals across Nebraska speaking about what they are seeing in regards to Medicare and Medicare Advantage. For many seniors Medicare Advantage leaves holes in their healthcare system that means more extensive out-of-pocket costs that they didnt have to incur when they had traditional Medicare, said Jeremy Nordquist, president of the Nebraska Hospital Association. In recent years, Medicare Advantage has grown, and now covers over 51% of the senior population in the United States, which can cause problems for rural Americans when Medicare Advantage is not accepted by practices or hospitals closest to them. Its important for seniors to know that not every hospital in the state contracts with Medicare Advantage, Nordquist said. We know that at least about 10% of our hospitals dont have any contract with Medicare Advantage plans. When a hospital in the area does not have a contract with Medicare Advantage, someone who is enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan would be considered out of network and see larger out-of-pocket costs, or be forced to travel to a hospital that does offer Medicare Advantage coverage. When Medicare Advantage plans are advertised as a cost saving alternative to consumers without adequate information they become even more vulnerable to expenses they are not expecting and do not understand, said Mary Mockerman, chief quality officer for Box Butte General Hospital in Alliance. Medicare Advantage has also been cited by patients to be inconsistent with their coverage. We have heard many stories, Nordquist said, one of an individual whose new Medicare Advantage plan that they were sold open enrollment switched their hospital from in-network to out-of-network and they were left scrambling right before a surgery, and that patient wasnt aware that that change happened. Another pitfall of a Medicare Advantage plan, experts said is that as opposed to traditional Medicare, they have the ability to approve or deny care with prior authorization. Prior authorization can take up to five business days. This can cause other problems, such as prolonged waiting for necessary care, or being denied completely from something a patient truly needs. A report published by DHHS Inspector General Christi A. Grimm said that among the prior authorization requests that Medicare Advantage denied, 13% would have been covered by traditional Medicare. The study also said out of payment requests that Medicare Advantage denied, 18% met traditional Medicare coverage rules, which either delayed or prevented payments for services that providers had already delivered. Ninety percent of our hospitals in our survey reported that Medicare Advantage plans negatively impacted their hospitals ability to provide care, Nordquist said. And almost 93% say that prior authorization requirements have delayed necessary care in their hospital for patients. The burden of Medicare Advantage is not just on the patients, it extends to the hospitals that are trying to comply with Medicare Advantage plans, while also trying to give their patients the best care possible. Were finding it really difficult to even communicate with these plans to try and encourage them to pay the claims that they agreed to, that theyre obligated to pay, said Treg Vyzourek, CEO of Brodstone Healthcare in Superior. If they do pay, its paid slow, meaning it is not as timely as traditional Medicare, and requires additional administrative burden, increasing the cost of care overall. Over 75% of hospitals surveyed by NHA said that their cost to comply with Medicare Advantage had increased, with one Nebraska hospital having to spend almost $4 million to comply with the prior authorization requirements. Some hospitals have even had to hire more employees to oversee prior authorization requests. Another problem, health experts said, is Medicare Advantages aggressive advertising tactics. Mockerman said Medicare Advantage often sends mass amounts of mail to seniors, some of whom live in ZIP codes where there are no providers contracted with Medicare Advantage. The benefits they advertise may not always be available in rural areas, said Summer Owen, CFO of Great Plains Health in North Platte. We have found their advertising to be very confusing for patients who often dont understand that they are transitioning to a Medicare Advantage plan and that they cant change their plan until the next open enrollment period. Owen explained that they had one surgery patient who was denied prior authorization that they needed, reasoning being medical necessity. To appeal this decision, they had to go through a peer-to-peer process with the provider where they were given a four-hour window to talk with the provider, and if they missed that window, the denial would be upheld. The denial was eventually overturned, however due to the time taken to get the denial overturned, the patient had an extra ten unpaid hospital days. Its very frustrating for patients and their providers, Owen said. Its just really important for the Nebraska community members to understand really how much this can affect their care if they end up electing for a Medicare Advantage plan. With the end date for the open enrollment period coming up at the end of October, the hope is to help Nebraskans and those in rural communities to be as informed as possible, and make the best choice for their health. Those eligible for Medicare enrollment can call the enrollment line at 877-839-2675, or 1-800-MEDICARE to answer any questions about traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage. We really encourage Nebraskans to look into their plans as they approach open enrollment, Nordquist said. Because we see too many times Nebraskans falling through the cracks, especially in rural communities. Moments before a ribbon cutting ceremony Monday afternoon for Gothenburg Healths new CT scanner, the hospitals chief medical officer gave a presentation elaborating the machines significance. With this machine, youre able to take almost two CT scans at once and discover new information, Dr. Brady Beecham said of the GE Revolution Apex CT scanner. This multifunctional scanner offers scans in a single session, revealing comprehensive insights into a patients condition. This machine represents one of the safest CT scanners in the sense that it has low radiation, fast scans, and incredibly good resolution, Beecham said. Patients can undergo diagnostic imaging with reduced exposure to harmful radiation, while maintaining high-quality images. The importance of precise diagnostic imaging cannot be overstated. Beecham said, The ability to have a fast, good answer is incredibly important because with strokes, as soon as somebody has symptoms, they need medicine within a certain timeframe. Accurate diagnosis is essential in situations where every minute counts, potentially saving lives and minimizing complications. This advanced scanner is versatile and used for cardiology, neurology, oncology, trauma and pediatric cases. Machines like this allow critical access hospitals, people like us out on the interstate, we dont have a neurosurgeon, we dont have a certain type of lab here, she said. We can figure out whats going on, we can diagnose you, we can start the treatment and send you to the right place. Beecham concluded her presentation with heartfelt gratitude: A huge shout out to everybody at Gothenburg Health who has made it possible, to the community who supports the hospital and allows us to really be the leader in so many things like this. It benefits us, but our goal is it benefits everybody, and I think it will. The introduction of the GE Revolution Apex CT scanner represents an evolution in health care technology for central Nebraska. This cutting-edge technology, backed by the dedication of the Gothenburg Health team and the support of the community, promises to make high-quality diagnostic imaging more accessible and efficient, ultimately benefiting the well-being of everyone living in the Dawson/Gosper County region. Portugals vice-minister for Economy, Pedro Cilinio, yesterday said his country wants to broaden ties with the Chinese region beyond cultural links, eyeing investment in renewable energies and the blue economy. Macau has so far been explored very much in a logic of what the cultural ties with Portugal are. We want to go beyond that, Cilinio remarked, in an interview with Lusa News Agency on the sidelines of the inaugural C-PLPEX in Cotai. Cilinio emphasized that while cultural connections provide a base for potential future business development, Portugal is keen on exploring other sectors that are enhanced by the Portuguese presence in the territory. He cited renewable energies and the blue economy as prime examples, recognizing the representation of companies in these sectors at the C-PLPEX. He noted the significant representation of the Global Ocean Forum at the event, underlining the importance of the blue economy for the Greater Bay Areas development. Portugal, in this scope, has a set of know-how specialties that can enhance these types of connections, he told Lusa. Addressing the hurdles faced by Portuguese entrepreneurs entering the Chinese market, Cilinio acknowledged continuous efforts to identify the difficulties and find the solutions to foster smoother market entry in the future. In the interview with the Portuguese agency, he underscored the Greater Bay as a very interesting project, with a clear vision and many steps ahead to facilitate business for Portuguese-speaking countries in the region. Moreover, marking a new chapter in Sino-Portuguese economic cooperation, Cilinio reflected on the initial phase where Chinese investments were made in strategic assets in Portugal. According to Lusa, he now sees a shift towards concrete investment intentions in pivotal areas like electric mobility and sustainability, aligning with European interests. In the first half of this year, Chinese investment in Portugal saw a 10% increase, amounting to around 3.5 billion euros, highlighting a promising trajectory in bilateral economic engagements, he concluded. PC A Pentagon report on Chinas military power says Beijing is exceeding previous projections of how quickly it is building up its nuclear weapons arsenal and is almost certainly learning lessons from Russias war in Ukraine about what a conflict over Taiwan might look like. The report released yesterday also warns that China may be pursuing a new intercontinental missile system using conventional arms that, if fielded, would allow Beijing to threaten conventional strikes against targets in the continental United States, Hawaii and Alaska. The China report comes a month before an expected meeting between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden on the sidelines of next months Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco. The annual report, required by Congress, is one way the Pentagon measures the growing military capabilities of China, which the U.S. government sees as its key threat in the region and Americas primary long-term security challenge. But after Hamass Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, the U.S. has been forced again to focus on the Middle East, instead of its widely promoted pivot to the Pacific to counter Chinas growth. The U.S. is rushing weapons to Israel while continuing to support and deliver munitions to Ukraine in its 20-month struggle to repel Russias invasion. Still, the Pentagons national defense strategy is shaped around China remaining the greatest security challenge for the U.S., and that the threat from Beijing will determine how the U.S. military is equipped and shaped for the future. The Pentagon report builds on the militarys warning last year that China was expanding its nuclear force much faster than U.S. officials had predicted, highlighting a broad and accelerating buildup of military muscle designed to enable Beijing to match or surpass U.S. global power by midcentury. Last years report warned that Beijing was rapidly modernizing its nuclear force and was on track to nearly quadruple the number of warheads it has to 1,500 by 2035. The United States has 3,750 active nuclear warheads. The 2023 report finds that Beijing is on pace to field more than 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030, continuing a rapid modernization aimed at meeting Xis goal of having a world class military by 2049. After the previous report, China accused the U.S. of ratcheting up tensions and Beijing said it was still committed to a no first use policy on nuclear weapons. The Pentagon has seen no indication that China is moving away from that policy but assesses there may be some circumstances where China might judge that it does not apply, a senior U.S. defense said without providing details. The official briefed reporters Wednesday on condition of anonymity before the reports release. The U.S. does not adhere to a no first use policy and says nuclear weapons would be used only in extreme circumstances. The report said China is intensifying military, diplomatic and economic pressure not only on Taiwan but also toward all its regional neighbors to push back against what its sees as U.S. efforts to contain its rise. The pressure against Taipei includes ballistic missile overflights, increased warplane incursions into its international defense zone and a large-scale military exercise last August that encircled Taiwan. Beijing has vowed to bring Taiwan under its control, by force if necessary. Xi has given his military until 2027 to develop the military capability to retake the self-ruled island that is part of Chinas territory. The U.S. has committed billions of dollars in military weapons to Taiwan to build up its defenses and help it rebuff any potential attack. But China also has devoted billions to its military. According to its public budget numbers, Chinas military spending for 2023 rose 7.2% to 1.58 trillion yuan, or $216 billion in U.S. dollars, outpacing its economic growth. U.S. officials say the actual figure may be much higher. Beijing says it implements a defensive military policy to protect the countrys interests. The report also noted that China has increased its harassment of U.S. warplanes flying in international airspace in the region and recorded more than 180 instances where Chinese aircraft aggressively intercepted U.S. military flights. The report focuses on Chinas activities in 2022, but does look at the U.S. overflight of Chinas spy balloon and how a lack of communication between the two militaries increased the risk of escalation. It does not include the latest war between Israel and Hamas, but it found that Beijing is using what it learned from the Russia-Ukraine war. China, it said, is working toward industrial and economic self-reliance after seeing the impact of Western sanctions against Moscow. Russias invasion of Ukraine presented a major, unexpected challenge for China, the report said, forcing it to measure its relationship and material support to Russia against the reputational or economic costs it could incur that would impede its overall goal of rising as a national power. TARA COPP & LOLITA C. BALDOR, WASHINGTON, MDT/AP Hamas fighters likely fired North Korean weapons during their Oct. 7 assault on Israel, a militant video and weapons seized by Israel show, despite Pyongyangs denials that it arms the militant group. South Korean officials, two experts on North Korean arms and an Associated Press analysis of weapons captured on the battlefield by Israel point toward Hamas using Pyongyangs F-7 rocket-propelled grenade, a shoulder-fired weapon that fighters typically use against armored vehicles. The evidence shines a light on the murky world of the illicit arms shipments that sanction-battered North Korea uses as a way to fund its own conventional and nuclear weapons programs. Rocket-propelled grenade launchers fire a single warhead and can be quickly reloaded, making them valuable weapons for guerrilla forces in running skirmishes with heavy vehicles. The F-7 has been documented in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, said N.R. Jenzen-Jones, a weapons expert who works as the director of the consultancy Armament Research Services. North Korea has long supported Palestinian militant groups, and North Korean arms have previously been documented amongst interdicted supplies, Jenzen-Jones told the AP. Hamas has published images of their fighters with a launcher with a rocket-propelled grenade with a distinctive red stripe across its warhead, and other design elements matching the F-7, said Matt Schroeder, a senior researcher with Small Arms Survey who wrote a guide to Pyongyangs light weapons. It is not a surprise to see North Korean weapons with Hamas, Schroeder said. The North Korean F-7 resembles the more widely distributed Soviet-era RPG-7 rocket-propelled grenade, with a few noticeable differences. Jenzen-Jones described the F-7 rocket-propelled grenade as intended to offer a lethal effect against personnel given its shape and payload, rather than armored vehicles. Weapons seized by the Israeli military and shown to journalists also included that red stripe and other design elements matching the F-7. In a background briefing with journalists Tuesday, South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff specifically identified the F-7 as one of the North Korean weapons it believed Hamas used in the attack. The Israeli military declined to answer questions from the AP about the origin and the manufacturer of those rocket-propelled grenades, saying the ongoing war with Hamas prevented it from responding. North Koreas mission to the United Nations did not respond to a request for comment from the AP. However, Pyongyang last week through its state-run KCNA news agency dismissed claims that Hamas used its weapons as a groundless and false rumor orchestrated by the United States. Hamas propaganda videos and photos previously have shown its fighters with North Koreas Bulsae guided anti-tank missile. Jenzen-Jones said he believed, based on imagery of the weapons wielded by Hamas fighters in the Oct. 7 attack, they also used North Koreas Type 58 self-loading rifle, a variant of the Kalashnikov assault rifle. Many North Korean weapons have been provided by Iran to militant groups, and this is believed to be the primary way by which Palestinian militants have come to possess North Korean weapons, Jenzen-Jones said. Iran also has modeled some of its ballistic missiles after North Korean variants. Irans mission to the United Nations did not respond to a request for comment. Officials in Iran long have supported Hamas and have praised their assault on Israel. HYUNG-JIN KIM, SEOUL, MDT/AP Japans exports climbed 4.3% in September from a year earlier as shipments of vehicles, machinery and electronics rose while imports of oil and gas fell sharply, the government said. Exports totaled 9.2 trillion yen ($61 billion) in September while imports fell 16.3% from the year before to 10.9 trillion yen ($72 billion), according to provisional customs data released yesterday. That left a positive balance of 62.4 trillion yen ($410 billion), the first monthly trade surplus in three months. Septembers increase in exports was the biggest gain since March and was stronger than analysts had expected. The figures suggest strong activity in Japans vital manufacturing sector despite faltering global demand. Economists said the drop in imports was mainly due to base effects from the year before. In the first half of Japans fiscal year, from April-September, exports edged up just 1.4% from a year earlier, to a record 50.2 trillion yen ($330 billion) while the trade deficit shrank by three-quarters to 2.7 trillion yen ($18 billion). Trade with the rest of Asia has weakened in the past half-year, with a drop in exports of computer chips and semiconductor making equipment taking a toll on exports to China. The global electronics slump seems like it is continuing with semiconductor equipment down 14.5%, contributing to a decline in exports to China, the biggest destination of IT products, ING Economics said in a report. Shipments to the U.S. and Europe rose, mainly thanks to strong sales of autos and auto parts, which jumped nearly 24%. Exports of electrical equipment surged 17% and exports of machinery were up 18%. Japans imports of oil fell 28% in April-September from a year earlier, while imports of liquefied natural gas sank almost 38% and imports of coal plunged 37%. MDT/AP Israeli airstrikes pounded locations across the Gaza Strip yesterday, including parts of the south that Israel had declared as safe zones, heightening fears among more than 2 million Palestinians trapped in the territory that nowhere was safe. In the nearly two weeks since a devastating Hamas rampage in southern Israel, the Israeli military has has relentlessly attacked Gaza in response. Even after Israel told Palestinians to evacuate the north and head to what it called safe zones in the south, strikes continued overnight throughout the densely populated territory. A residential building in Khan Younis, a city in southern Gaza where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians had fought shelter, was among the places hit. Medical personnel at Nasser Hospital said they received at least 12 dead and 40 wounded. The bombardments came after Israel agreed Wednesday to allow Egypt to deliver limited humanitarian aid to Gaza, the first crack in a punishing 11-day siege. Many among Gazas 2.3 million residents have cut down to one meal a day and resorted to drinking dirty water. The announcement of a plan to bring water, food and other supplies into Gaza came as fury over a Tuesday night explosion at Gaza Citys al-Ahli Hospital spread across the Middle East. There were conflicting claims of who was behind the blast, which the Hamas-run Health Authority said had killed hundreds of Palestinians. Hamas officials in Gaza blamed an Israeli airstrike, saying hundreds were killed. Israel denied it was involved and released a flurry of video, audio and other information that it said showed the blast was instead due to a rocket misfire by Islamic Jihad, another militant group operating in Gaza. Islamic Jihad dismissed the Israeli claim. The Associated Press has not independently verified any of the claims or evidence. U.S. President Joe Biden, who visited Israel on Wednesday, said data from his Defense Department showed the explosion was not likely caused by an Israeli airstrike. The White House later said an analysis of overhead imagery, intercepts and open-source information showed Israel was not behind the attack. But the U.S. continues to collect evidence. Video from the scene showed the hospital grounds strewn with torn bodies, many of them young children. Hundreds of wounded were rushed to Gaza Citys main hospital, where doctors already facing critical supply shortages were sometimes forced to perform surgery on the floors, often without anesthesia. More than 1 million Palestinians, roughly half of Gazas population, have fled their homes in Gaza City. Following early yesterdays airstrikes, sirens wailed as emergency crews rushed to rescue survivors from a building where many residents were believed trapped under misshapen bed frames, broken furniture and cement chunks. A small, soot-covered child, unconscious and dangling in the arms of a rescue worker, was taken out of a damaged building and rushed toward a waiting ambulance. The Israeli military said it killed a top Palestinian militant in Rafah, near the Egyptian border, and hit hundreds of targets across Gaza, including tunnel shafts, intelligence infrastructure and command centers. It said it hit dozens of mortar launching posts, most of them immediately after they launched shells at Israel. Palestinians have been launching barrages of rockets at Israel since the fighting began. MDT/AP Assistant prosecutor general Kong Chi said it was a coincidence that he had contacted second defendant Choi Sao Ieng before and after he archived some cases, local media has reported. Concerning a criminal case in 2012, Kong told the court he had lawfully retrieved HKD100,000 in custody for witness Wong Kuong Fei and accused Wong of making ungrounded accusations that Kong took bribes. There were two cases concerning Lei Sio Kun in early 2013, the accused in a 2012 case. Kong, who was not handling the cases, was said to have passed information about the cases to Wong so that the latter could seek reconciliation with Lei. Both cases were ultimately archived. Stating he could not remember if he had viewed documentation on the two latter cases, Kong wondered why the documents that ended up at the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) were in Wongs possession in the first place. He admitted to suggesting Wong seek reconciliation. It was revealed that in 2014, Kong had archived a case about the use of forged documents to acquire a Macau ID. The four defendants were said to have requested HKD300,000 from the accused. The prosecution said Kongs bank account had received MOP75,000 in two instalments after archiving the Macau ID case. In reply, Kong explained the fund movements by saying he had regularly contacted Choi about currency exchange. He said it was coincidence that the time of archive matched that of the bank deposit. For another sham marriage case handled by Kong in 2014, the four defendants were said to have requested MOP50,000 as graft. Based on the then text messages between Kong and Choi shown on court, the prosecution asked Kong what exactly he was requested to resolve. In response, Kong said it might have been related to hiring a lawyer. In the same year, two people from Jiangxi Province were accused of offering a ride to illegal entrants. The vehicle was retained under custody. Kong handled the case and ultimately archived it. On this, Kong said he had not passed paper strips with Chois phone number to the suspects, nor was he clear if they had contacts. Once again, conversation transcripts were shown in court. It was alleged Kong had asked Choi if it was received. The presiding judge asked Kong to explain what received meant, and Kong said he meant if the case had been taken and if a lawyer had been appointed. He said the fact that the time of archive matched that of the conversation was a mere coincidence. The CCAC found several documents in Kongs office noting people, the handling prosecutors, the amount in custody and the case number, among other details. He said he did not write all these documents, and that every now and then he would receive requests from people not only Choi. The indictment noted Choi had rented an office between September 2012 and February 2016 and had offered it to Kong without remuneration to use as the registered address for two Hunan associations. Kong said he was told by Choi that she administered the premises. He said he was unaware of that until receiving the indictment. On this ground, the prosecution doubted that using an apartment for free can already be considered a type of advantage. Kong replied it had nothing to do with his cases, and that he did not consider it a benefit arising from the commission of crimes. In March 2014, a case Kong handled and archived involved a person, Wu Kuok Leong, accused of swindling. It has been alleged Kong and the other defendants had requested HKD76,000 from Wu. At the time of the retrieval of funds under custody, Kong and Choi had several phone conversations, while the fourth defendant, Kuan Hoi Lon, collected the funds under custody for Wu, which equated to HKD76,000. Kong was asked why Kuan knew the money was available for collection, and said that everything was conducted as per due procedures. He also said he had not leaked any secrets to external case stakeholders. Russias foreign minister proposed regular security talks with North Korea and China to deal with what he described as increasing U.S.-led regional military threats, as he met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his top diplomat yesterday in Pyongyang. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in North Koreas capital on Wednesday on a two-day trip expected to focus on how to boost the two countries defense ties following a September summit between Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Last week, the United States said North Korea had transferred munitions to Russia to boost its fighting capabilities in Ukraine in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions that ban any weapons trading involving North Korea. Yesterday, Lavrov met Kim for talks that lasted about an hour, Russias state-run Tass news agency reported, without elaborating. Lavrov met his North Korean counterpart, Choe Son Hui, earlier and lauded deepening bilateral collaboration. Lavrov and Choe discussed resuming full-fledged contacts and intensifying economic cooperation, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. It added that Lavrov invited Choe to visit Moscow at her convenience. The ministry also said Lavrov recommended that Russian tourists start holidaying in North Korea. The Lavrov-Kim meeting means that the recent fleet of containers likely carrying munitions from North Korea to Russia was not the last Kim-Putin transaction the world has to worry about, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international studies at Ewha University in Seoul. After accepting Pyongyangs help to resupply the illegal invasion of Ukraine, Moscow is set to commit further violations of U.N. Security Council resolutions by providing North Korea with weapons technology that could threaten stability in East Asia, Easley said. Tass quoted Lavrov as telling reporters that he supports holding regular talks on security issues on the Korean Peninsula with North Korea and China. The United States, Japan and South Korea intensifying military activity here and Washington working toward moving strategic infrastructure, including nuclear aspects, here, are of great concern to us and our North Korean friends, Lavrov said, according to Tass. The recent flurry of diplomacy between Russia and North Korea underscores how their interests are aligning in the face of their separate, intensifying confrontations with the United States North Korea over its advancing nuclear program and Russia over its war with Ukraine. MDT/AP There tends to be lots of fast talking and fast moving in Martin Scorsese films, often from shifty types trying to get away with something. Or sometimes, simply because the master filmmaker has so much to pack in. But in Killers of the Flower Moon, everything seems to slow down, and especially when the camera lands on Lily Gladstone. As Mollie, the Osage woman at the heart of this sprawling, real-life tale of greed and treachery on a scale both broad and intimate, Gladstone is the quiet, powerful center taking her time, letting her eyes do the work, and unafraid of silence. Its a beautifully cadenced performance, all the more impressive because Gladstones sharing the screen with two of our most celebrated actors. Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro both turn in superb work for their legendary director, appearing together for the first time in 30 years. But Gladstone, in the rare Scorsese film that gives center stage to a female character, is the emotional core here, and its her face that stays etched in our memory. Based on David Granns gripping whodunit set among the Osage in 1920s Oklahoma, Killers is a departure in other ways for the 80-year-old filmmaker. Its his first Western, a genre hes long wanted to explore albeit a uniquely Scorsese Western, with an upended world of heroes and villains. And in telling this Osage story, he focuses on a people hes never depicted before, deeply mindful of honoring their experience and their rituals, beliefs and customs. It surely wont surprise anyone that Scorsese brings his full wealth of artistic resources to this endeavor, along with his brilliant cinematographer, Rodrigo Prieto, and inspired production designer, Jack Fisk. Together, on location in Oklahoma, theyve created an oil boomtown astonishing in its precision, detail and spirit. It may also not surprise anyone that Scorsese has taken three and a half hours (albeit three minutes less than The Irishman ) to tell his tale. This may be a source of debate, but its hard to argue that a story this hefty a chronicle of a dark chapter in American history and a shocking true crime tale, all framed in a fraught love story doesnt deserve the length, considering the craft in every shot. And with some scenes a boisterous prairie wedding, or a dance on a boomtown main drag you feel you could have stayed longer still. We begin with a late 19th-century ceremony, one of many portrayals of Osage spiritual life. Then, in a memorable image, theres a whoosh from underground: Oil, spurting from land that was supposed to be worthless. Thanks to this discovery, we learn in a terrific prologue using silent-movie title cards, the Osage become enormously wealthy. But theyre deemed incompetent and appointed white guardians who control their assets. This is how we meet Mollie, asking for her own money to pay medical bills. Meanwhile, Ernest Burkhart (DiCaprio) steps off the train, a World War I vet with a taste for women and finer things, but no money, or talent to speak of. Perhaps his uncle can help. William Hale (De Niro) is a cattle rancher but more like a king around these parts indeed, Kings his nickname a white man who speaks the Osage language and calls himself their best friend. But its clear from the get-go Hale has sinister motives, and De Niros just the guy to ooze sinister from every pore as this Godfather-like figure (he commits crimes, and theyre organized). Scorsese and co-writer Eric Roth depart here from Granns book, which holds us in suspense as to Hales motives. He wants Osage money, and tells Ernest that if he woos and marries Mollie well, even less-than-brilliant Ernest can do the math. So can Mollie. Trusting but hardly naive, she knows Ernest covets her wealth, but theres growing affection between the two, and their marriage, gorgeously rendered, is a happy occasion. But then the Osage start dying, one by one, in suspicious ways including, eventually, Mollies sisters and mother. As for Ernest, hes no angel, spending time robbing and gambling. But is he doing more? DiCaprios mouth settles into a tortured frown as he becomes increasingly torn between marital loyalty and fealty to his venal uncle. Finally, federal agent Tom White (Jesse Plemons, perfectly cast) shows up, working for J. Edgar Hoover in what became the FBI. (Its White who figured most prominently in Granns book, and indeed DiCaprio was once slated to play him.) This last act finds its way to a crackling courtroom scene perhaps only Scorsese could bring together: jittery DiCaprio and menacing De Niro, joined by a bombastic Brendan Fraser and a sputtering John Lithgow. Indeed, the vast supporting cast includes countless faces you may recognize, as well as cameos of a number of musicians, and dozens of Osage actors in key parts. Scorseses late friend Robbie Robertson wrote the memorable score. We wont spoil the ingenious epilogue in which Scorsese ties up the loose narrative ends with another significant cameo. But the fact that this epilogue comes after, oh, 200 minutes of expertly sustained tension is just another sign that in the latter years of his career, Scorsese is upping the ante in terms of scale, yes, but also ambition. He has called his work an offering to the Osage, and to other Native peoples. It also feels like an offering to those who love cinema, allowing us to watch a master of the craft continue to force himself, unlikely as it seems, to stretch and learn. May he keep stretching himself, and us. JOCELYN NOVECK, MDT/AP Killers of the Flower Moon, an AppleTV+ release, has been rated R by the Motion Picture Association for violence, some grisly images, and language. Running time: 206 minutes. A number of local caterers will suspend business to display products at food expos or fairs, local media has reported. Many local eateries have struggled since the lifting of disease control measures due to their locations in traditional residential areas. People have traveled from these areas out of Macau without a comparable number of tourists entering Macau, the representative of a regional realty agency has noted. Fung Kin Fu, deputy executive director of the United Association of Food and Beverage Merchants of Macao, echoed this opinion and added that business in the upcoming two months will generally be busier. Some caterers in traditional districts will participate in expos and display their products, departing from the usual practice of posting on social media, Fung told Macao Daily News. He said the number of caterers registering for recent expos and fairs has outnumbered the quotas provided by respective organizers. To attend these expos and fairs, such as the upcoming Food Festival, these caterers will suspend business operations to focus on the special events, Fung said. Their shops will provide backing services to the operations at expos and fairs. Fung also said that most caterers would earn several times more revenue at the annual Food Festival than they would have via standard shop operations period- over-period. Fung said caterers in tourist areas would need to expand their workforce. AL KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip Israel pounded the Gaza Strip with airstrikes Thursday, including in the south where Israel told Palestinians to take refuge, and the country's defense minister ordered ground troops to "be ready" to invade, though he didn't say when. Gaza's overwhelmed hospitals tried to stretch out ebbing medical supplies and fuel for generators as authorities worked out logistics for a delivery of aid from Egypt. Doctors in darkened wards across Gaza stitched wounds by the light of mobile phones and used vinegar to treat infections. Meanwhile, an unclassified U.S. intelligence assessment delivered to Congress estimated casualties in an explosion at a Gaza City hospital this week on the "low end" of 100 to 300 deaths. The death toll "still reflects a staggering loss of life," U.S. intelligence officials said in the findings, seen by The Associated Press. Intelligence officials were still assessing the evidence and their casualty estimate could evolve. The Israeli military has relentlessly attacked Gaza in retaliation for the Oct. 7 Hamas rampage in southern Israel. Even after Israel told Palestinians to evacuate the north of Gaza and flee south, strikes extended across the territory, heightening fears among the territory's 2.3 million people that nowhere was safe. Palestinian militants fired rockets into Israel on Thursday from Gaza and Lebanon, and tensions flared in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. In a fiery speech to Israeli infantry soldiers on the Gaza border, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant urged the forces to "get organized, be ready" for an order to move in. Israel has massed tens of thousands of troops along the border. Israel's consent for Egypt to let in food, water and medicine provided the first possible opening in its siege of the territory. Many of Gaza's residents are down to one meal a day and drinking dirty water. Egypt and Israel were still negotiating for the entry of fuel for hospitals. The first trucks of aid were expected to go in Friday, Egypt's state-owned Al-Qahera news reported. Hospitals in need With the Egypt-Gaza border crossing in Rafah still closed, the already dire conditions at Gaza's second-largest hospital deteriorated further, said Dr. Mohammed Qandeel of Nasser Hospital in the southern town of Khan Younis. At least 80 wounded civilians and 12 dead flooded into the hospital after witnesses said a strike hit a residential building in Khan Younis. Doctors had no choice but to leave two to die because there were no ventilators, Qandeel said. "We can't save more lives if this keeps happening," he said. Al-Ahli Hospital was still recovering from Tuesday's explosion, which remains a point of dispute between Hamas and Israel. Hamas quickly said an Israeli airstrike hit the hospital. Israel denied it was involved. The AP has not independently verified the claims or evidence released by the parties. Near al-Ahli hospital, another explosion struck a Greek Orthodox church housing displaced Palestinians late Thursday. Abu Selmia, the Shifa Hospital director general, said dozens were hurt at the Church of Saint Porphyrios but could not give a precise death toll because bodies were still under the rubble. Palestinian authorities blamed the blast on an Israeli airstrike, a claim that could not be independently verified. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchy of Jerusalem condemned the attack. Rising death toll The Gaza Health Ministry said 3,785 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, the majority women, children and older adults. Nearly 12,500 were injured, and another 1,300 people were believed buried under the rubble, health authorities said. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly civilians slain during Hamas' incursion. About 200 others were abducted. More than 1 million Palestinians, about half of Gaza's population, fled their homes in the north of the territory since Israel told them to evacuate. For the first time since 1967 when Israel captured Gaza from Egypt, a major tent camp arose to house displaced people. Dozens of U.N.-provided tents and tarps lined a dirt lot in Khan Younis. Families boiled water on gas stoves and charged phones on small generators. Volunteers passed around cans of tuna and bread. Aid deal The deal to get aid into Gaza through Rafah, the territory's only connection to Egypt, remained fragile. Israel said the supplies could only go to civilians in southern Gaza and that it would "thwart" any diversions by Hamas. Biden said the deliveries "will end" if Hamas takes any aid. More than 200 trucks and some 3,000 tons of aid were positioned at or near Rafah, according to Khalid Zayed, head of the Red Crescent for North Sinai. Under an arrangement reached between the United Nations, Israel and Egypt, U.N. observers will inspect the trucks carrying aid before entering Gaza. The U.N., working with the Egyptian and Palestinian Red Crescent, will ensure aid goes only to civilians, an Egyptian official and European diplomat told the AP. A U.N. flag will be raised on both sides of the crossing as a sign of protection against airstrikes, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity. It was not immediately clear how much cargo the crossing could handle. Waleed Abu Omar, spokesperson for the Palestinian side, said work has not started to repair the road damaged by Israeli airstrikes. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told Al-Arabiya TV that foreigners and dual nationals would be allowed to leave Gaza once the crossing was opened. Israel said it agreed to allow aid from Egypt because of a request by Biden which followed days of intense talks with the U.S. secretary of state to overcome staunch Israeli refusal. Four U.S. officials familiar with the discussions said American diplomats were alarmed by comments from Israeli counterparts regarding their intention to deny water, food, medicine, electricity and fuel into Gaza, as well as the inevitability of civilian casualties. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity. MADISON SCHOOLS | BUS SERVICE PROVIDER Madison School District's bus provider continues to struggle to transport students seven weeks into the school year, frustrating both families and the district officials trying to find solutions. Madison School Board members are getting frustrated, too, and have said they are willing to consider substantial changes, including changing school schedules so fewer bus drivers are needed and altering the busing contract with First Student. Since the start of the school year, First Student buses have frequently run up to an hour behind schedule, forcing parents to make alternate transportation plans or wonder when their children will make it home. In the past week, about 95% of regular bus routes were on time. First Student considers a bus on time when it arrives either 10 minutes before or after the set arrival time. Still, from three to 13 after-school bus routes arrived after that window each day last week, according to the school district. First Student has cited the nationwide driver shortage as the main cause of delays, saying it still needs an additional 35 drivers to cover the more than 100 routes to and from Madison schools. With winter approaching and the days getting shorter, the school board and community members are more anxious than ever to solve the problem. "It was an $81 million contract, and it just doesn't seem like we're getting our money's worth over five years," said Tiff any Bisenius, a parent of two children who attend Olson Elementary School. "It doesn't seem like something we should have to worry about with paying as many taxes as we do in Madison." Bisenius and her husband hired three different child care providers to watch their children before and after school during the uncertainties with busing. Because they both work in health care, they don't have the flexibility in their schedules to work from home or drive their children to school when buses are late. So far, the team of three child care providers has helped work through any last-minute changes, but Bisenius said she isn't sure how much longer the babysitters will be available. She has already had to take a personal day at work when child care fell through in the morning and buses were behind schedule. Beyond the stress as a parent, Bisenius said she's noticing the constant changes starting to affect their kindergartner and second-grader. Her child in kindergarten was already nervous about taking the bus, and she said disruptions have only made things worse. Bisenius said her second-grader even has a nightmare about taking the wrong bus or missing it completely. "It's been the main stressor in our lives for the whole school year," she said. Parents of students at Midvale and Lincoln Elementary schools created a carpool group to work around bus delays, according to parent Erin Courtenay. She said her child's bus has been between 45 and 60 minutes late the past several weeks. At this point in the school year, she's looking for the district and First Student to both take responsibility. "It's been the persistence and the very limited communication that has really added to the anxiety," Courtenay said. "So not so much the inconvenience, but just uncertainty." Strategies so far The problems with First Student boiled over at an Oct. 9 school board meeting, where some board members said the company wasn't presenting solutions to combat bus delays. Instead, they said, the task of solving transportation issues has fallen to the district. "Let me be really clear: We are beyond apologies to staff and families and students, and as a district we just can't keep apologizing," Interim Superintendent Lisa Kvistad said at the meeting. "We know students are missing instructional minutes, we know families are experiencing disruption, and they should not have to wonder if the bus is going to show up on time." First Student initially brought in drivers from around the country to cover bus routes in Madison. But many of those temporary replacements are returning home. "We continue to work in partnership with MMSD to find solutions that ensure all students receive reliable transportation," said First Student spokesperson Jen Biddinger in an email to the Wisconsin State Journal. "The core of the issue remains a nationwide school bus driver shortage, and more drivers are still needed to serve the district." The district has already combined about 20 routes to decrease the number of drivers needed. Schools that saw those changes include Chavez, Cherokee Heights, Crestwood, Franklin, Lowell, Mendota, Midvale, Olson, Sennett, Sherman, Spring Harbor, Whitehorse and Wright, according to district spokesperson Ian Folger. Some routes were running with as few as 20 to 25 students, Folger said. By spreading these students around other routes, the number of drivers needed decreased without going over bus capacity. This change means some routes are getting longer, he said. Madison Metro A partnership with Madison Metro could be a potential fix. Deputy Superintendent TJ McCray said last week the district was looking into moving some middle school students on to metro routes and providing discounted bus passes to students. Metro already takes high school students to and from school, and, until last year, also provided busing for six middle schools. Board member Nicki Vander Meulen said this partnership seems like the most productive solution going forward. "I think that we need to make sure that there's enough room on the Metro buses, but that worked well for our middle school students in the past," she said. A partnership with Metro would likely mean middle schools will need to start earlier in the day, according to board member Ali Muldrow. This would reverse the new schedule implemented this year that has all middle school students starting at 8:40 a.m. a "best practices" plan the School Board has struggled to implement since approving it in 2018. First, the pandemic interrupted in-person schooling, and driver shortages kept the district from fully implementing it until this fall. "Let's be honest. The research shows that our middle schoolers do better when they start later, so I'd like to follow that," Vander Meulen said. Administrators and the School Board are hesitant about changing start times. Such a change might cause further stress for parents who have managed to work around transportation challenges. Muldrow said any partnership with Madison Metro will have to come before the board again for approval. "If we're going to shift from one vendor to another in a way that could impact multiple schools and hundreds or thousands of young people, the board has to be part of negotiating that relationship," she said. Board: Raise drivers' pay Increasing wages for First Student drivers was another point of focus among school board members, although any salary changes would have to come from First Student itself. The company is offering $24 an hour and a $3,000 signing bonus for drivers in Madison. Wisconsin-based Kobussen Buses, which operates in places such as Sun Prairie, DeForest and Lodi, is offering a starting wage of $20.50, according to its website. "We signed an $81 million contract with your company, and I find it really disturbing that First Student is hesitating to increase wages as part of the solution for this issue," board member Laura Simkin said at the Oct. 9 school board meeting. First Student drivers typically work five hours a day for around nine months of the year, for an annual salary of about $22,000. Jason Kierna, First Student's region vice president, told the school board that by covering midday routes, drivers could work around 40 hours a week. This would increase the salary to $35,000 a year. Working as a bus driver also comes with a lengthy training and onboarding process that can take from four to 10 weeks, Kierna said. During that window, it's common for applicants to find another job. About 10% of applicants make it through the training phase and are eventually hired, he said. Contract revisions a possibility According to Vander Meulen, revising the contract between First Student and the district is a possibility. But the board has not widely discussed the idea so far, she said, and any action will have the come from the district's legal department. "Would I be opposed to it? Absolutely not," Vander Meulen said. "I think you have to look at all options." The contract says First Student must maintain adequate staffing and mitigate delays. It also says First Student must have a pool of spare bus drivers and attendants in case of absences. "Contractor shall employ a sufficient number of qualified drivers and support personnel to assure the district of continuous, reliable, safe and on time service," the contract reads. Taking a closer look at the contract with First Student is on the table for Muldrow, too, although she's "not interested in scapegoating our partnerships." "I'm interested in working with our partners to resolve an issue, and so I think if that means we have to adjust the partnership, I hope we can do that in concert with the partner," she said. Limited options But if the district were to completely part ways with First Student, there are few local options. First Student purchased Badger Bus, the district's former busing provider, in July. "I hope this teaches us a lesson about promises of efficiency when it comes out of the mouths of private equity firms," board member Blair Mosner Feltham told the School Board last week. First Student's bid for the contract was the least expensive option out of the three finalists considered. It's price came in about $660,000 less than the proposal from Badger Bus. The board approved the contract during a February meeting that ran into the night, where board members posed a long list of questions to district transportation coordinators. Safety, customer service and environmental sustainability were some of the questions at the top of school board members' minds that night. All were met with reassurance from the district's transportation team. "This is nothing new to them," said Cedric Hodo, senior executive director for building operations, at the meeting. He cited the company's experience working for districts in Milwaukee and Green Bay. Uncertainties about staffing amid a national bus driver shortage were also met with reassurance from Hodo, who said First Student had both the "manpower and the resources." "If we're going to shift from one vendor to another in a way that could impact multiple schools and hundreds or thousands of young people, the board has to be part of negotiating that relationship." Ali Muldrow, School Board member The deadline for this years Helping Hands program is just a month away. Students have only four more weeks until the deadline of Friday, Nov. 17 to send in their letters to help someone in need this holiday season. So just what is Helping Hands? As it does each year, the Wisconsin State Journal invites children and teens to write a brief letter about someone in their community who could use a helping hand. Heres how it works. Readers ages 18 and younger are asked to explain what they would do if they had $200 to help someone else. Helping Hands coordinators will choose some of these letters and help carry out the writers plans to help a classmate, friend, neighbor or community member. And the selected entries, edited for length and to avoid identifying recipients, will be published in the State Journal in December. Helping Hands does not make donations to organizations, but rather to individuals and families, so please keep that in mind as you write your letter. The letters are carefully screened to make sure these gifts are being sent to people who are among those who need them the most. Over the years, Helping Hands and our letter writers have made the holidays brighter for countless area residents. Heres how to submit a letter to Helping Hands: Email your letter to helpinghands@madison.com, or mail it to: Helping Hands, Attn: Gayle Worland, Wisconsin State Journal, 1901 Fish Hatchery Road, Madison, WI 53711. Families, classes or other groups may submit entries individually or in a single envelope. Include the following: The writers first and last names, age, grade, school and community/city name, plus a parent/guardians name, email address and phone number in case we have questions. Teachers and group leaders, please include your name, email address and phone number so we can contact you. The deadline for entries is Friday, Nov. 17. All emails and postal mail should be received by that date. Please email your questions to helpinghands@madison.com. Were happy to help. The Helping Hands program is supported by the State Journals Empty Stocking Club and the generosity of our readers. To support Helping Hands, please donate online at emptystockingclub.com or mail a check to Empty Stocking Club, Wisconsin State Journal, 1901 Fish Hatchery Road, Madison, WI 53711, and write Helping Hands in the subject line. Photos: Gleam | Art in a New Light at Olbrich Gardens Kwik Trip acknowledged Thursday that it fell victim to a cybersecurity incident last week that caused disruption to systems located on the companys internal network, including the companys rewards program. The La Crosse-based convenience store and gas station chain did not get more specific in the statement attributed to the companys vice president of external relations, John McHugh, but did say there was no sign that customer credit or debit card information was compromised in the Oct. 9 incident. The incident was detected within hours and mitigation efforts began immediately with the assistance of external cybersecurity experts, McHugh said. The company said the affected systems related to productions facilities in La Crosse, communication systems within the company and Kwik Trips loyalty program, but as of Thursday, most of those systems were working, including the Kwik Rewards program at many of the companys stores. Kwik Trip customers initially reported on social media that they couldnt access the Kwik Trip app or log onto the companys website, and Kwik Trip phones were down. We anticipate all locations to be successfully processing loyalty transactions within the next few days, McHugh said. At this time, the Kwik Rewards app and website will remain offline; however, members will receive an update as soon as these are restored. That communication will include plans to restore any missed rewards as a result of the outage. Kwik Trip has more than 850 convenience stores in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan called Kwik Trip, and in Iowa, Illinois, and South Dakota called Kwik Star, according to Forbes. It employs more than 36,000 people. Photos: Inside Kwik Trip's operation in La Crosse Madison School Districts bus provider continues to struggle to transport students seven weeks into the school year, frustrating both families and the district officials trying to find solutions. Madison School Board members are getting frustrated, too, and have said they are willing to consider substantial changes, including changing school schedules so fewer bus drivers are needed and altering the busing contract with First Student. Since the start of the school year, First Student buses have frequently run up to an hour behind schedule, forcing parents to make alternate transportation plans or wonder when their children will make it home. In the past week, about 95% of regular bus routes were on time. First Student considers a bus on time when it arrives either 10 minutes before or after the set arrival time. Still, from three to 13 after-school bus routes arrived after that window each day last week, according to the school district. First Student has cited the nationwide driver shortage as the main cause of delays, saying it still needs an additional 35 drivers to cover the more than 100 routes to and from Madison schools. With winter approaching and the days getting shorter, the school board and community members are more anxious than ever to solve the problem. It was an $81 million contract, and it just doesnt seem like were getting our moneys worth over five years, said Tiffany Bisenius, a parent of two children who attend Olson Elementary School. It doesnt seem like something we should have to worry about with paying as many taxes as we do in Madison. Bisenius and her husband hired three different child care providers to watch their children before and after school during the uncertainties with busing. Because they both work in health care, they dont have the flexibility in their schedules to work from home or drive their children to school when buses are late. So far, the team of three child care providers has helped work through any last-minute changes, but Bisenius said she isnt sure how much longer the babysitters will be available. She has already had to take a personal day at work when child care fell through in the morning and buses were behind schedule. Beyond the stress as a parent, Bisenius said shes noticing the constant changes starting to affect their kindergartner and second-grader. Her child in kindergarten was already nervous about taking the bus, and she said disruptions have only made things worse. Bisenius said her second-grader even has a nightmare about taking the wrong bus or missing it completely. Its been the main stressor in our lives for the whole school year, she said. Parents of students at Midvale and Lincoln Elementary schools created a carpool group to work around bus delays, according to parent Erin Courtenay. She said her childs bus has been between 45 and 60 minutes late the past several weeks. At this point in the school year, shes looking for the district and First Student to both take responsibility. Its been the persistence and the very limited communication that has really added to the anxiety, Courtenay said. So not so much the inconvenience, but just uncertainty. Strategies so far The problems with First Student boiled over at an Oct. 9 school board meeting, where some board members said the company wasnt presenting solutions to combat bus delays. Instead, they said, the task of solving transportation issues has fallen to the district. Let me be really clear: We are beyond apologies to staff and families and students, and as a district we just cant keep apologizing, Interim Superintendent Lisa Kvistad said at the meeting. We know students are missing instructional minutes, we know families are experiencing disruption, and they should not have to wonder if the bus is going to show up on time. First Student initially brought in drivers from around the country to cover bus routes in Madison. But many of those temporary replacements are returning home. We continue to work in partnership with MMSD to find solutions that ensure all students receive reliable transportation, said First Student spokesperson Jen Biddinger in an email to the Wisconsin State Journal. The core of the issue remains a nationwide school bus driver shortage, and more drivers are still needed to serve the district. The district has already combined about 20 routes to decrease the number of drivers needed. Schools that saw those changes include Chavez, Cherokee Heights, Crestwood, Franklin, Lowell, Mendota, Midvale, Olson, Sennett, Sherman, Spring Harbor, Whitehorse and Wright, according to district spokesperson Ian Folger. Some routes were running with as few as 20 to 25 students, Folger said. By spreading these students around other routes, the number of drivers needed decreased without going over bus capacity. This change means some routes are getting longer, he said. Madison Metro A partnership with Madison Metro could be a potential fix. Deputy Superintendent TJ McCray said last week the district was looking into moving some middle school students on to metro routes and providing discounted bus passes to students. Metro already takes high school students to and from school, and, until last year, also provided busing for six middle schools. Board member Nicki Vander Meulen said this partnership seems like the most productive solution going forward. I think that we need to make sure that theres enough room on the Metro buses, but that worked well for our middle school students in the past, she said. A partnership with Metro would likely mean middle schools will need to start earlier in the day, according to board member Ali Muldrow. This would reverse the new schedule implemented this year that has all middle school students starting at 8:40 a.m. a best practices plan the School Board has struggled to implement since approving it in 2018. First, the pandemic interrupted in-person schooling, and driver shortages kept the district from fully implementing it until this fall. Lets be honest. The research shows that our middle schoolers do better when they start later, so Id like to follow that, Vander Meulen said. Administrators and the School Board are hesitant about changing start times. Such a change might cause further stress for parents who have managed to work around transportation challenges. Muldrow said any partnership with Madison Metro will have to come before the board again for approval. If were going to shift from one vendor to another in a way that could impact multiple schools and hundreds or thousands of young people, the board has to be part of negotiating that relationship, she said. Board: Raise drivers pay Increasing wages for First Student drivers was another point of focus among school board members, although any salary changes would have to come from First Student itself. The company is offering $24 an hour and a $3,000 signing bonus for drivers in Madison. Wisconsin-based Kobussen Buses, which operates in places such as Sun Prairie, DeForest and Lodi, is offering a starting wage of $20.50, according to its website. We signed an $81 million contract with your company, and I find it really disturbing that First Student is hesitating to increase wages as part of the solution for this issue, board member Laura Simkin said at the Oct. 9 school board meeting. First Student drivers typically work five hours a day for around nine months of the year, for an annual salary of about $22,000. Jason Kierna, First Students region vice president, told the school board that by covering midday routes, drivers could work around 40 hours a week. This would increase the salary to $35,000 a year. Working as a bus driver also comes with a lengthy training and onboarding process that can take from four to 10 weeks, Kierna said. During that window, its common for applicants to find another job. About 10% of applicants make it through the training phase and are eventually hired, he said. Contract revisions a possibility According to Vander Meulen, revising the contract between First Student and the district is a possibility. But the board has not widely discussed the idea so far, she said, and any action will have the come from the districts legal department. Would I be opposed to it? Absolutely not, Vander Meulen said. I think you have to look at all options. The contract says First Student must maintain adequate staffing and mitigate delays. It also says First Student must have a pool of spare bus drivers and attendants in case of absences. Contractor shall employ a sufficient number of qualified drivers and support personnel to assure the district of continuous, reliable, safe and on time service, the contract reads. Taking a closer look at the contract with First Student is on the table for Muldrow, too, although shes not interested in scapegoating our partnerships. Im interested in working with our partners to resolve an issue, and so I think if that means we have to adjust the partnership, I hope we can do that in concert with the partner, she said. Limited options But if the district were to completely part ways with First Student, there are few local options. First Student purchased Badger Bus, the districts former busing provider, in July. I hope this teaches us a lesson about promises of efficiency when it comes out of the mouths of private equity firms, board member Blair Mosner Feltham told the School Board last week. First Students bid for the contract was the least expensive option out of the three finalists considered. Its price came in about $660,000 less than the proposal from Badger Bus. The board approved the contract during a February meeting that ran into the night, where board members posed a long list of questions to district transportation coordinators. Safety, customer service and environmental sustainability were some of the questions at the top of school board members minds that night. All were met with reassurance from the districts transportation team. This is nothing new to them, said Cedric Hodo, senior executive director for building operations, at the meeting. He cited the companys experience working for districts in Milwaukee and Green Bay. Uncertainties about staffing amid a national bus driver shortage were also met with reassurance from Hodo, who said First Student had both the manpower and the resources. How the pandemic worsened teaching vacancies across the US How the pandemic worsened teaching vacancies across the US Certain teaching roles significantly more difficult to fill Roberto Gonzalez has been clamoring for a new career. Gonzalez, 24, is a longtime kitchen worker, cooking as a sous chef and turning orders in a handful of restaurants on Madisons Far West Side. But last week, Gonzalez was at Madison Area Technical Colleges new Invitation to Manufacturing night course, seeking a better life as a welder. Gonzalezs mother had found the class during a visit to the Latino Academy of Workforce Development but decided against enrolling herself this semester to leave a spot open for him. With an eye toward owning his own business some day, Gonzalez hopes to find work at a company where he can learn on the job while pursuing a welding technical diploma. The skys the limit, just depending on if you want to go out there and grab it or not, he said. MATC, also known as Madison College, this year launched a free eight-week program that teaches basic skills in common areas of Wisconsins manufacturing industry. Over the course of the program, students can learn how to weld, fabricate metal or operate automated machinery that can create a variety of household products. The program is supported by a $2.9 million innovation grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, part of a larger $128 million state grant program meant to address pandemic-related workforce challenges. MATCs plans for the grant also include expanding child care access to address long waiting lists of student parents. Like other states, Wisconsin is grappling with workforce shortages in the manufacturing sector. A 2022 Wisconsin Manufacturing Report found that finding and retaining quality employees were the top two concerns for large companies. Nationwide, the manufacturing industry expects to be short 2.1 million workers by 2030. Ron Olson, associate dean for MATCs School of Technology and Trades, said workers often dont know how modern manufacturing facilities work, which can limit the number of people who pursue that career. For some people, theres a stigma that we need to erase, that manufacturing is a dark, dirty environment. Its completely opposite of that ... its clean, its bright, its full of technology and opportunity, Olson said. Its about exposing them to what those opportunities are. And thats what I tell the participants when they come into this program on the very first night this is really about exploration, exploring your future opportunities. The program targets those who are unemployed or are considered to be underemployed, defined as people working part-time, low-wage or low-skill jobs that dont tap into a workers skill set. Its also marketed for people looking to change careers. MATC markets the program through community partners, including Urban League of Greater Madison, Centro Hispano of Dane County and Badger Prairie Needs Network, to also pull in people of color who are underrepresented in the manufacturing industry. Held on weeknights twice a week, most of the program is dedicated to hands-on training in the shop or the lab. Students cap off the program by preparing their resumes and sitting in mock interviews with companies. Some of those interviews could turn into real jobs, with MATC hoping those companies will in turn send their workers back for apprenticeship programs. People who complete the program receive credits they can apply to future degree programs. More on table MATC is hoping to expand its offerings. While the college is running welding/metal fabrication and metal machining programs, its already advertising for a plastics processing class. In the coming years, Madison College hopes to copy the model for other careers such as transportation. Students enroll for myriad reasons. Some are like Indulecio Chavarria, 59, who is already a metal fabricator and is taking the class with his son, Alexander, 21, to improve his skills. Gynarva Monroe, 33, a newly hired senior adviser at MATC, said he not only loves learning for himself but is using the classes to broaden his knowledge for his students. I want to be able to have experience to back up things I talk to students about, Monroe said. Use myself as an example, like, Hey, I was taking the classes, too, and its OK to continue to develop your learning and develop skills ... and just explore. So hopefully that can serve as a form of motivation. Regional approaches MATCs sister colleges also are using millions in WEDC grants to solve workforce problems, many of them also in the area of manufacturing or the trades. Sam Rikkers, deputy secretary and chief operating officer for WEDC, said each technical school that received state grant money is taking a regional approach to solving workforce issues. Chippewa Valley Technical College, in Eau Claire, is partnering with high schools and local manufacturers to give students on-site training in manufacturing. At Mid-State Technical College in Stevens Point, construction is underway on an advanced manufacturing training center. At Southwest Technical College in Fennimore, grant funds are being used to teach classes both in English and Spanish. Wisconsins Hispanic and Latino populations have grown rapidly since 2000. In Grant County, for example, the Hispanic population has grown from just under 300 in 2000 to more than 1,200 in 2020. The workforce development programs are looking to combat what Rikkers calls the silver tsunami labor shortages caused by high rates of retirement by Baby Boomers, the generation born between 1946 and 1964. Members of that generation were workhorses in the manufacturing field, Rikkers said. This is exactly why much of the $128 million that the governor invested into tackling our workforce challenges went to those tech schools, or at least partnerships with tech schools, Rikkers said. Those are the partners that are really modernizing how were teaching manufacturing, and theyre the folks that are connected either to the students who are coming up or the incumbent workforce that knows that they need to reskill to really be competitive. CALEDONIA A dispute involving a homeowners association has boiled over into a court battle pitting neighbors against one another, with thousands of dollars at stake. About a dozen residents of the Crestview Park subdivision have filed suit against William Van Offeren accusing him of fabricating the organization and installing himself as president so he could collect money. Williams has filed liens against several Crestview Park homeowners, alleging that they owe membership dues, sometimes thousands of dollars, that must be paid before they can sell or refinance their homes. Its a mess, homeowner Michelle Struck said. Van Offeren denies the accusations and said that without the association, the Crestview Park neighborhood would deteriorate and property values would decline. I am the acting caretaker, he said. Millions of dollars in property value are at risk. The suit was filed Oct. 10 in Racine County Circuit Court before Circuit Judge Mark Nielsen. No hearing date has been set. Crestview Park, which was developed in the 1970s, includes about 290 homes along Six Mile Road near the lakefront north of Wind Point. The property includes private park space and other common areas in need of regular maintenance. The neighborhood had a homeowners association until 2010 when Crestview Park Association Inc. was dissolved. According to the lawsuit, Van Offeren moved into the subdivision and attempted to create a new association, but did so without incorporating properly or seeking input from other residents. Van Offeren has sought $75 a year from homeowners, and in some cases accused them of being delinquent by thousands of dollars, the suit states. In the name of Crestview Park Homeowners Association, he filed liens this summer against 25 homeowners alleging past-due assessments. Liens are legal claims on property owners that must be resolved before the property can be sold or transferred. The largest claim asserted by the homeowners association totals $13,400 against one Crestview Park resident. Combined, the liens total about $70,000. The suit filed in response alleges that Van Offeren filed the wrong type of liens, and that he has no legal standing to demand money from his neighbors. Van Offeren knew or should have known at the time of filing that that the contents, or any part of, the liens are false, a sham or frivolous, the suit states. The homeowners seek a judges action removing the liens and awarding each affected homeowner $1,000 in damages for slander of title. Van Offeren said he has not seen the lawsuit yet, but he would consult with an attorney to determine if his liens invoked the wrong law or if his association lacks the authority to collect dues from homeowners. He said he has followed the system of previous association leadership to maintain the park space and other common areas of the subdivision. If collecting dues is not permitted, he said, it means neighborhood improvements have been funded improperly for decades. If the park association fails, then there is no clear path to success, he said. Homeowner Joshua Dohse, another participant in the suit, said he has asked Van Offeren about the validity of the homeowners association. Dohse said Van Offeren has not offered an explanation or disclosed how the money from homeowners is spent. I could not believe how unlawful and how ridiculous it was, he said. I dont just give random people my hard-earned money. Struck said she and others paid Van Offeren when the dues were only $35 a year, but balked when they reached $75. You get bills in the mail, and you just assume its legitimate, she said. But it literally looks like this guy is just running a scam. Director Martin Scorseses new film, Killers of the Flower Moon, tells the true story of a string of murders on the Osage Nations land in Oklahoma in the 1920s. Based on David Granns meticulously researched 2017 book, the movie delves into racial and family dynamics that rocked Oklahoma when oil was discovered on Osage lands. White settlers targeted members of the Osage Nation to steal their land and the riches beneath it. At least 60 Osage people were murdered or disappeared between 1921 and 1925. From a historical perspective, this crime, made possible by federal policies from the 1880s, was just the tip of the iceberg. From the early 1800s through the 1930s, official U.S. policy displaced thousands of Native Americans from their ancestral homes through the policy known as Indian removal. And throughout the 20th century, the federal government collected billions of dollars from sales or leases of natural resources such as timber, oil and gas on Indian lands, money it was supposed to disburse to the lands owners. But it failed to account for these trust funds for decades, let alone pay Indians what they were due. I have roots in the Comanche, Kiowa, Cherokee and Taos Pueblo tribes, and from my perspective, this story of murder on Osage lands is just one small chapter in the much larger story of an entire nation built on land theft and stolen wealth. In the standard telling, the American West was populated by industrious settlers who eked out livings on desolate land, formed communities and cities and, in time, created states. Most Americans still know little or nothing about the hundreds of Native nations who already lived on those lands, each with their own unique forms of government, culture and language. In the early 1800s, Eastern cities were growing and dense urban centers were becoming unwieldy, and Indian lands in the West were seen as a solution. Starting in the 1830s, Congress pressured Indian tribes in the East to sign treaties that required the tribes to move to reservations in the West. This took place over the objections of figures such as Tennessee frontiersman and congressman Davy Crockett, humanitarian organizations and, of course, the tribes themselves. Forced removal touched every tribe east of the Mississippi River and several tribes to the west of it. In total, about 100,000 American Indians were removed from their Eastern homelands to Western reservations. But the most pernicious land grab was yet to come. Even after Indians were corralled on reservations, settlers pushed for more access to Western lands. In 1871, Congress formally ended the policy of treaty-making with Indians. Then, in 1887, it passed the General Allotment Act, also known as the Dawes Act. With this law, U.S. policy toward Indians shifted from separation to assimilation forcibly integrating Indians into the national population. This required transitioning tribal structures of communal land ownership under a reservation system to a private property model that broke up reservations altogether. The General Allotment Act was designed to divvy up reservation lands into allotments for individual Indians and open any unallotted lands, which were deemed surplus, to non-Indian settlement. Lands could be allotted only to male heads of households. Under the original statute, the U.S. government held Indian allotments, which measured roughly 160 acres per person, in trust for 25 years before each Indian allottee could receive clear title. During this period, Indian allottees were expected to embrace agriculture, convert to Christianity and assume U.S. citizenship. In 1906, Congress amended the law to allow the secretary of the Interior to issue land titles whenever an Indian allottee was deemed capable of managing his affairs. Once this happened, the allotment was subject to taxation and could immediately be sold. But Indian allottees often had little concept of farming and even less ability to manage their individual lands. Even after being confined to Western reservations, many tribes had maintained their traditional governance structures and tried to preserve their cultural and religious practices, including communal ownership of property. When the U.S. government imposed a foreign system of ownership on them, many Indian landowners simply sold their lands to non-Indian buyers, or found themselves subject to taxes that they were unable to pay. In total, allotment removed 90 million acres of land from Indian control before the policy ended in the mid-1930s. This led to the destruction of Indian culture; loss of language as the federal government implemented its boarding school policy; and imposition of a myriad of regulations that affected inheritance, ownership and title disputes when an allottee passed away. All of these destructive policies were forced on the Osage people. Today, about 56 million acres remain under Indian control. The federal government owns title to the lands, but holds them in trust for Indian tribes and individuals. These lands contain many valuable resources, including oil, gas, timber and minerals. But rather than acting as a steward of Indian interests in these resources, the U.S. government has repeatedly failed in its trust obligations. As required under the General Allotment Act, money earned from oil and gas exploration, mining and other activities on allotted Indian lands was placed in individual accounts for the benefit of Indian allottees. But for over a century, rather than making payments to Indian landowners, the government routinely mismanaged those funds, failed to provide a court-ordered accounting of them and systematically destroyed disbursement records. In 1996, Elouise Cobell, a member of the Blackfeet Nation in Montana, filed a class-action lawsuit seeking to force the government to provide a historical accounting of these funds and fix its failed system for managing them. After 16 years of litigation, the suit was settled in 2009 for roughly $3.4 billion (direct payments to each member of the class amounted to $1,000). We all know that the settlement is inadequate, but we must also find a way to heal the wounds and bring some measure of restitution, said Jefferson Keel, president of the National Congress of American Indians. In 2011, the federal government settled for $380 million a longstanding lawsuit brought by the Osage Nation to compensate the tribe for losses to its trust funds and interest as a result of the governments mismanagement of trust assets. In truth, that amount doesnt come close to full reparations for the crimes committed against the Osage people by the government over two centuries. The nation has watched as the failed efforts to replace former Speaker Kevin McCarthy resulted in a House full of chaos. This dysfunction stems from the selfish actions the eight so-called Republicans initiated when they voted to vacate our Republican Speaker of the House. Their actions paralyzed the Houses legislative business and left Republicans looking like we are incapable of governing. Like the 4% of Republicans who voted with every Democrat to oust Speaker McCarthy, theres a small percentage of Idaho Republicans out there who have made some claims regarding my votes against Congressman Jim Jordan, and Id like to set the record straight. The Idaho Republican Party is pushing a false narrative that I am not representing my constituents based on not voting for Mr. Jordan. Perhaps Chairwoman Dorothy Moon has not lived in Idaho long enough to understand how important things like agriculture, delisting wolves, our nations military, and the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) are for our state. I came to Congress to fight for Idahoans priorities and ensure our farmers, ranchers, INL workers, and most rural community members have a voice. As Idahos only appropriator, I have a unique opportunity to fight for Idaho priorities and bring your hard-earned tax dollars back to Idaho instead of going to blue states like California or New York. This raises the question: If Congressman Simpson claims to be conservative, why doesnt he support his colleague Jim Jordan for Speaker? The answer is simple. I cannot and will not support a Speaker who has repeatedly taken positions against Idahos best interests. However, Chairwoman Moon made it clear this is the kind of Speaker she would stand behind. If I took Chairwoman Moons gracious advice, I would support a Speaker who has continuously voted in opposition to critical funding for operations and continued research at the INL. The INL creates thousands of jobs and generated over $120 million for Idahos state and local tax revenue last year alone, keeping the tax burden low for Idahoans. Chairwoman Moon may not be aware of the importance natural resources and public lands issues have in Idaho, but as chairman of the House Interior and Environment Subcommittee, I can confirm the impact is significant. I have worked hard to ensure the federal government fully funds the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program. PILT is perhaps one of the most important programs for our rural counties in Idaho. Under this program, the federal government provides offsetting funds to local governments that lose property tax revenue due to the existence of tax-exempt federal lands in their jurisdiction. PILT allows counties like Custer County a county that is 94% federal land to receive critical funding that supports local schools, police departments, transportation infrastructure, and health services. Its important to note that Mr. Jordan repeatedly voted against this funding, yet Chairwoman Moon supports his bid for Speaker. Quote I cannot vote for a Speaker who does not support our state. And I will not take Chairwoman Moons ill-advised input when I have been fighting for Idaho longer than she has lived in the state. I have also worked to secure full funding for wildfire suppression activities, fought the massive, controversial, and misguided Obama-era Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule that harmed our ranchers, farmers, and most rural communities, and pushed back against the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA). Mr. Jordan voted against these efforts time and time again. Idaho is home to Gowen Field and Mountain Home Air Force Base, hosting thousands of our service members. I will always support our service members especially those stationed in Idaho. However, Mr. Jordan has repeatedly voted against critical funding for these facilities and overall pay raises for our troops. It is disappointing to see the Chairwoman supports a Speaker who has taken these actions against our brave men and women in the military. Most Idahoans evidently not all understand the impact a prohibition on an Endangered Species Act listing of the greater sage grouse has on Idahoans ability to work, live, and recreate on public land and the positive impact de-listing the gray wolf has had on our state. I passed legislation that de-listed the gray wolf, and Jim Jordan voted against this bill. If I took the Chairwomans advice, many of these provisions would never come before the House for a vote. If I listened to Chairwoman Moon, I would support a Speaker who has never voted for a Farm Bill. Idaho is home to nearly 25,000 farms and ranches, and the Farm Bill is critical for Idahos agriculture communities. Most importantly, the Farm Bill protects the United States Sugar Program, which operates at no cost to the taxpayer and protects Idahos sugar beet producers. Chairwoman Moon insists I would rather play political games inside the Capital Beltway than focus on my constituents. Or that my time in D.C. has made me lose sight of the real work. If that were the case, I wouldnt be laser-focused on issues like solving Idahos agriculture industry workforce crisis. Rest assured, this is not the sexiest topic in Congress. The agriculture workforce crisis may not get me on Fox News every night, but it is an issue that seriously impacts our state and food prices nationally. Thats why I crafted and then passed the Farm Workforce Modernization Act in two consecutive Congresses. This legislation has support from more than 250 farmer and producer groups nationwide like the Idaho Dairymens Association, Idaho Cattlemans Association, Idaho Bankers Association, Amalgamated Sugar Company, and many others. Perhaps Chairwoman Moon is unaware that this is the No. 1 issue facing Idahos agriculture industry, and the Speaker she would like me to support has voted against this critical legislation twice. It is abundantly clear the next Speaker of the House could seriously impact Idahoans way of life. Fortunately, I know my constituents want me to continue fighting for issues that are important to them. I cannot vote for a Speaker who does not support our state. And I will not take Chairwoman Moons ill-advised input when I have been fighting for Idaho longer than she has lived in the state. My job in Congress is representing and protecting Idahos Second District interests. Thank you to those constituents who have reached out and shared their opinions. My office is sorting through tens of thousands of letters, emails, and calls expressing a broad range of views. Our representative democracy only works when citizens are willing to be involved in their government, and I encourage my constituents to continue reaching out. Its election season yet again. Early voting starts Monday, leading up to Election Day on Nov. 7. There are many important races on the ballot this year, so make a plan to go vote! Races for mayor, city council, school board, and other municipal offices are technically nonpartisan, so you wont see party affiliation on the ballot. The original idea was that candidates for these positions would rise above party politics and work directly for their constituents. However, you and I both know that there is no such thing as nonpartisan anymore. Take a look at Boise, where the supposedly nonpartisan mayor flew the Pride flag over city hall, pushed a city ordinance protecting abortion, and wasted more than half a million taxpayer dollars trying to find racism in the police department. Its pretty clear which party she identifies with, isnt it? That was why the Idaho Republican Party passed a resolution at the 2022 Summer Convention urging the Legislature to make ALL Idaho elections (except judges) partisan. Voters deserve the whole picture. Partisanship is not a bad word! On the contrary, its a clear way of identifying what principles a candidate stands for. If he wants to raise your taxes, grow government, set criminals free, promote abortion and child sex change surgeries, then hes probably a Democrat, and he should proudly affiliate that way. On the other hand, a candidate who supports low taxes, small government, law and order, and protecting children should be proud to fly the Republican banner. Our platform stands for faith, family, and freedom, and we are not ashamed of that. Make no mistake, these elections matter. Your mayor, council members, and school board trustees have more influence over your quality of life than presidents or senators. They decide what your children are learning in school, how much you pay in property taxes, how much police coverage your community will have, and what kind of parks and amenities your family will enjoy. These local elected officials are also the most accessible. They are your neighbors, fellow parishioners, and the parents at your childs school. You have a tremendous opportunity to get to know them and share your concerns. Ideology matters here, too. A candidates principles show through in every situation, from managing a city budget to how they interact with the public. It is so important that you plan to vote in the upcoming election on Nov. 7. Whether you vote early (early voting begins this Monday!), vote by mail, or vote in person on Election Day, what is important is that you vote. Make your voice heard. Take an active role in shaping the future of your community. I cannot emphasize enough how important that is. Idahos economic prosperity and the very health of our communities depend on the strength and sustainability of our water resources. Idahoans deserve to turn on the faucet with confidence, knowing they have access to safe and clean drinking water. Similarly, food producers and other businesses need reliable water to operate and deliver their products to market. Recent reporting by the Idaho Statesman underscores the mounting concerns surrounding our water infrastructure. In White Bird, residents had to import water from neighboring Grangeville when one of their wells dried up in June. Other cities, grappling with aging infrastructure, population growth, and the high cost of upgrades, could face similar fates. Projects like wastewater treatment system upgrades in Preston, well installations in American Falls, and wastewater system replacements in Gooding require significant investments, with costs reaching tens of millions of dollars or more. Many of our smaller communities, facing limited local tax revenue and state-mandated budget restrictions, rely on state and federal funds to finance necessary repairs and upgrades. Unfortunately, partisan politics have come into play, with the integrity of our water systems hanging in the balance. In 2021, every Idaho Republican in Congress voted against the American Rescue Plan Act. These funds have played a pivotal role in supporting desperately needed infrastructure upgrades across Idaho, such as the $3.3 million wastewater upgrade in Grand View. Similarly, New Meadows utilized a $1.9 million ARPA grant to ensure access to clean drinking water. When there was another opportunity to bring federal dollars back to our state months later, Reps. Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher voted against the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Thankfully, strong Democratic support in Congress led to the single most significant investment to improve water infrastructure in our nations history. To date, $151 million has been announced to provide clean and safe water across Idaho. Incredibly, many Republicans in the Idaho Legislature want to turn down these federal dollars, even when they are urgently needed in the communities they serve. During the 2023 legislative session, 27 Republican lawmakers voted to oppose millions of federal grant dollars for local water systems. Rejecting this support risks higher property taxes, unmanageable rate increases, and more deferred maintenance and repairs. In White Bird, $400,000 in federal funds were employed to secure drinking water and locate a new well. These funds have been a lifeline, helping our towns and communities maintain aging infrastructure and provide essential services to residents. We reach moments like this when leaders have been pennywise and a pound foolish. The repercussions of further neglecting our water infrastructure could be catastrophic. We must seize the opportunity and take advantage of available funds to protect the future of water in Idaho. TWIN FALLS Officials from the Idaho State Department of Agriculture are conducting post-survey treatments to determine the effectiveness of the initial 10-day quagga mussel treatment after larvae and an adult muscle were found in a stretch of the Snake River. The surveys will likely take to the end of the month, said Lloyd Knight, assistant director for the ISDA. We are watching and waiting to see what well see, Knight said. One reason for optimism is the mussel that was discovered in 16 feet of water near Shoshone Falls is dead, Knight said, along with other non-quagga mussels in the river. But even if sampling over the next two weeks comes up clean, he said the ISDA will continue very regular and relatively intense monitoring of the six-mile section of the river from Centennial Park to the Twin Falls Dam over the next handful of years to check for signs of quagga mussels. If the treatment worked as anticipated, Knight expects that water samples could show non-viable veligers. Even if that is the case, the stretch of river would be considered positive for quagga mussels, and it would take five years worth of negative test results for the stretch of water to be considered mussel-free. State officials plead with public to 'stay away from the Snake River' TWIN FALLS "Stay away from the Snake River" is the warning multiple agencies are shouting from the rooftops. Knight is now tasked with developing a plan that would allow the public access to the river, but have a safeguard in place that would ensure decontamination of watercraft to make sure the invasive mussels dont spread. Such a plan, which Knight hopes to be in place in a few weeks, could require the help of law enforcement and Idaho Department of Fish and Game officers. If mussels were to gain a foothold in Idahos waterways, officials warn it could cost upwards of $100 million a year to deal with them as they clog pipes and other infrastructure while wreaking havoc on the ecosystem. Adult mussels dont normally reproduce in water below 59 degrees, about the temperature of the river last week when Knight was on the river. At some point, any mussels that are left that survived the treatment wont be viable because of water temperature, he said. Applying the treatment, which included two 96-hour treatments of a copper-based product from the stretch of river from Shoshone Falls to Pillar Falls due to a plume of larvae discovered there, along with treatments at Twin Falls and from Pillar Falls to Centennial Park, went as planned, Knight said. The treatment ended Friday, but additional spot treatments might be required later on to kill the mussels, officials said at an Oct. 1 briefing at Twin Falls City Hall. ISDA staff, a contractor that applied the molluscicide, as well as chemists for the company that manufactures the product, called Natrix, were on hand during the treatment. All three legs of the stool were working very hard together, Knight said. The target was to get the treatment at 1 part per million, he said, and we made sure calculations were correct and accurate. Concentrations of the copper-based treatment are at low-level background levels at the Idaho Highway 46 bridge near Gooding, Knight said. He said that it is important that people who take boats into the water in non-closed areas still clean, drain and dry their watercraft to prevent possible spread of the mussel. Effects on the river ISDA Director Chanel Tewalt has warned the public that there would be downsides to the treatment, including fish and plant kill. It might take time, but the river will recover, officials say. We expect the impacts to be temporary, Knight said, and expect the river to bounce back to what it was. Fish & Game spokesman Terry Thompson agreed, saying, Rivers are resilient. Thousands of fish have died, including about 40 hatchery-raised sturgeon. The overwhelming majority of dead fish, however, have been found are non-game fish including largescale suckers, common carp and northern pikeminnow, he said. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, perch and panfish are the common game fish found in the river. Fish & Game will soon conduct an electrofishing survey which will help determine the extent of fish kill, comparing the current fish population to pre-treatment levels. Many dead fish are not being taken from the river to help provide nutrients as they decompose. While we are sensitive to the deaths, Thompson said, natural decomposition will provide nutrients that will help the river recovery. Thompson said the copper-based treatment doesnt poison fish. Instead, it interferes with how the fish breathe, essentially suffocating the fish. Treatment plan to kill quagga mussels underway The plan calls for using a copper-based treatment in an effort to eradicate the mussels, which could cost Idaho hundreds of millions of dollars if they establish themselves in waterways. The level of Natrix in the water is now below a lethal level for fish, Thompson said. If people observe dead sturgeon in the river, they are asked to notify Fish & Game, so they can collect data. Fish & Game will develop a plan to re-populate the fishery, possibly through stocking, relocation, or relying on natural migration upstream, Thompson said. Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno encouraged business leaders in Saudi Arabia to consider the investment opportunities in the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) and Islamic finance in the Philippines. Diokno said in a roundtable meeting on Oct. 19, 2023 at the St. Regis Hotel in Riyadh that the Marcos administration set its sights on establishing institutions for long-term investments. He said MIF is in line with the administrations 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda for poverty reduction and Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023 to 2028 for deep economic and social transformation. He said the Fund was designed to catalyze economic development and accelerate the countrys growth by optimizing the use of government financial assets and promoting their intergenerational management. To achieve this, Maharlika aims to attract capital from both domestic and global equity investors, including large funds here in the Middle East seeking to diversify its portfolio in fast-growing emerging markets like the Philippines, Diokno said. Investments in the fund will be used to fast-track the implementation of the Philippines some 197 high-impact infrastructure flagship projects (IFPs) worth around $153 billion, he said. The fund also presents exciting opportunities for green and blue investments, ESG-linked fixed-income instruments, and cutting-edge technologies with the advent of artificial intelligence and cloud computing, he said. Diokno also expressed optimism on working with other sovereign wealth funds to learn best practices from. Governing the fund is the Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC) which has an authorized capital stock of around $8.9 billion$ 6.6 billion are common shares for subscription of the national government and its instrumentalities, while the remaining $2.2 billion are preferred shares open for subscription of the national government and reputable private financial institutions and corporations. Private and state-owned financial institutions can make direct investments in the MIFs sub-funds which offer specific investment strategies. Diokno assured investors of the funds safeguards which were founded on the Santiago Principles that promote transparency, good governance, accountability and prudent investment practices. Other mandatory safeguards are an internal and external auditor, a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee and the examination by the Commission on Audit (COA). We look forward to your partnership and investment as we proceed with the full operationalization of the fund by the end of 2023, he said. President Marcos said Thursday the MIF would be operational before the end of the year after a memorandum signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin earlier suspended the implementation of its IRR for further study. Diokno also urged investors to tap into the diverse investment opportunities in the Philippines Islamic finance sector, saying it would drive economic growth and prosperity for all Filipinos. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) adopted a single regulatory framework for both Islamic and conventional banks, enabling them to thrive on a level playing field. The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Insurance Commission (IC) also made efforts to support the development of Islamic finance by issuing policies on tax neutrality and takaful (Islamic insurance). There were 217 unbanked cities and municipalities located in Mindanao as of March 31, 2023. This presents an opportunity for investors to tap into the Muslim market while closing the financial inclusion gap, Diokno said. Islamic banking in the country operates under the guidance of the Shariah Supervisory Board (SSB) which issues Shariah opinions on Islamic banking transactions and Shariah products, as well as financial institutions and other stakeholders as requested by the BSP. The roundtable event was organized by the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia and the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). It was the first in the series of activities to be attended by the President at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit from October 19 to 21, 2023. The ASEAN-GCC Summit aims to advance mutual interest in areas such as energy security, food stability, and economic cooperation, among others. Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are GCC nations that have established ties since 1990. Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. again received recognition for industry excellence and dominant market share in the financial markets space, as acknowledged by Hong Kong-based publication The Asset. The Asset Benchmark Research, which involved top-rated analysts, economists, strategists, salespeople and traders, ranked Metrobank as the Top Investment House in the Philippines in the banks category. Metrobank received the highest number of votes from the publications discerning investors. The bank was also recognized as the Top Sell-Side Firm in the secondary market for Philippine peso corporate and government bonds. This marks the fourth consecutive year that the bank received this prestigious award. In the Top Arrangers for Investors Choice for Primary Issues, Metrobank ranked second among local financial institutions. The Asset also commended Metrobanks financial specialists for their expertise in research, sales and trading. Institutional investors cverage unit head Ruben Zamora received the Highly Commended for Research award. Sales trader Paterno Cobrador ranked fourth in sales. In the trading category, government securities trading ynit head Kevin Rosario ranked second; while rates and credits unit head Kathryn Abes ranked third; trader David Estacio ranked fourth; while trader Samantha Dayrit received the highly commended award. Metrobank investment execution unit head Jerome Briz and investment services unit deputy head Ginny Pecana were included in The Assets Top 10 Astute Investors in Asia, ranking fourth and sixth, respectively. These rankings are based on their knowledge of credits or markets, decision-making acumen and trading skills. Metrobank head of financial markets sector Fernand Antonio Tansingco said: Amid shifting market conditions and a volatile trading environment, we made sure to stay consistent and highly competitive in taking advantage of the best that the market can offer to our clients. These awards are testaments to how we strategically manage the funds entrusted to us by our stakeholders. Washington, DCFederal prosecutors on Thursday (Friday in Manila) rejected Donald Trumps attempt to have election conspiracy charges dismissed on the grounds that he enjoys immunity for actions he took while in the White House. No one in this country, not even the president, is above the law, special counsel Jack Smiths team wrote in a 54-page motion filed with the judge presiding over the landmark case. Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, is to go on trial in Washington in March of next year for allegedly conspiring to subvert the results of the November 2020 election won by Democrat Joe Biden. The former presidents lawyers, in a motion two weeks ago to US District Judge Tanya Chutkan, argued that the charges should be thrown out because Trump is absolutely immune from criminal prosecution. Prosecutors in the special counsels office dismissed that argument and urged Chutkan to deny Trumps request. He is subject to the federal criminal laws like more than 330 million other Americans, they said. No court has ever alluded to the existence of absolute criminal immunity for former presidents. The implications of the defendants unbounded immunity theory are startling, they added. It would grant absolute immunity from criminal prosecution to a president who accepts a bribe in exchange for a lucrative government contract for a family member, they said, or a president who sells nuclear secrets to a foreign adversary. Trumps bid to invoke the presidential immunity defense is seen as a long shot by legal observers but it could result in a delay to the start of the trial as the argument potentially winds its way up to the conservative-dominated Supreme Court. Trumps attempts to use the absolute immunity defense in other cases have been rebuffed by judges, but the nations highest court has never ruled directly on whether a former chief executive is immune from criminal prosecution. Trump is the first former US president to face criminal charges. Trumps attorneys, citing a Supreme Court case involving former president Richard Nixon, said the law provides absolute immunity to the president for acts within the outer perimeter of his official responsibility. As chief executive, they argued, Trump had a responsibility to ensure election integrity and was within his rights to challenge the results of the 2020 vote. As President Trump is absolutely immune from criminal prosecution for such acts, the Court should dismiss the indictment, they said. While making the argument that Trump cannot be prosecuted, his lawyers acknowledged the Nixon case they cited involved the civil liability of a former president and not alleged criminal conduct. The question remains a serious and unsettled question of law, they said. The case before Chutkan accuses Trump of conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding the January 6, 2021 joint session of Congress that was attacked by a mob of Trump supporters. Other criminal cases against Trump include racketeering charges in Georgia for allegedly conspiring to upend the election results in the southern state and a trial in Florida in May 2024 on charges of mishandling top secret government documents. Trump and his two eldest sons are also currently involved in a civil fraud trial in New York for allegedly inflating the value of their real estate assets to receive more favorable bank loans and insurance terms. AFP MoscowRussian President Vladimir Putin has visited the military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don that is overseeing the Ukraine offensive, the Kremlin said on Friday. Putin has visited the Russian armed forces headquarters in Rostov-on-Don on his way back from Perm, a city in the Urals where he spent Thursday, the Kremlin said in a statement. Army chief of staff Valery Gerasimov met with Putin to update him on the state of the Ukraine offensive, which Russia launched in February, 2022. The meeting came after Ukraines announcement on Tuesday that it had for the first time used US-supplied ATACMS long-range missiles in the conflict. Putin said the following day that the weapons, which have a range of 165 kilometers would have no influence on the war and would only prolong Ukraines agony. On Thursday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said he wants to build a forward-looking relationship with Russia as he met with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, state media reported. The veteran envoys two-day visit is expected to lay the groundwork for a trip to the country by Putin, who was invited by Kim last month at a high-profile summit in Russias far east. The September summit fanned Western fears Pyongyang might provide Moscow with weapons for its war in Ukraine. Kim said it was the goal of the ruling workers party and the government to work out a stable, forward-looking, far-reaching plan for the DPRK-Russia relations in the new era, the KCNA news agency said, using the official acronym for North Korea. Lavrov lashed out at what he termed a dangerous US policy towards North Korea while touting the new, strategic level of relations between Moscow and Pyongyang. Like our North Korean friends, we are seriously worried about the intensification of military activity of the United States, Japan and South Korea in the region and by Washingtons policies, Lavrov told journalists, according to Russian news agencies. In the face of a record-breaking series of weapons tests by Pyongyang this year, Seoul has moved to strengthen its security relationship with traditional ally the United States while entering a trilateral defense arrangement that also includes Japan. Seoul and Washington have staged joint military exercises with advanced stealth jets and US strategic assets, while an American nuclear-armed submarine in July made a South Korean port call for the first time in decades. A B-52 bomber capable of carrying a nuclear payload currently sits at Cheongju airport, about 100 kilometers south of Seoul, marking the first time one has landed in the country since at least 2000. Local media reports said this week that the bomber would take part in a joint aerial drill near the Korean peninsula on Sunday that would involve South Korea, the United States and Japan. But North Koreas relationship with Russia has also been tightening, Lavrov said Thursday. After the landmark summit we can say confidently that relations have reached a qualitatively new, strategic level, Lavrov reportedly told North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui at a meeting. Moscow is also keen to assist North Korea with its energy needs, a constant source of struggle for heavily sanctioned Pyongyang, he told Russian outlets. Lavrov, who laid wreaths at monuments to former North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in the morning, arrived in Pyongyang on Wednesday night after accompanying Putin on a trip to Beijing. At a welcome dinner, he praised Pyongyangs support for Russias war in Ukraine. We highly value your principled, unambiguous support for Russias actions in connection with the special military operation in Ukraine, Lavrov was quoted as saying by Russias RIA Novosti news agency. Kim traveled to Russia last month aboard a specially built bullet-proof train for a face-to-face meeting with Putin, declaring bilateral ties with Moscow his countrys number one priority. The two leaders met at Russias Vostochny Cosmodrome, roughly 8,000 kilometers from Moscow, a location seen as symbolic given North Koreas space aspirations. On Friday, the United States said arms shipments were already under way, with North Korea delivering more than 1,000 containers of military equipment and munitions to Russia in recent weeks. According to a graphic provided by the White House, a load of containers was shipped by sea from North Korea to Russia between September 1 and October 1. They were then delivered by rail to an ammunition depot about 290 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Pyongyang was seeking a range of military assistance in return, including advanced technologies, AFP Personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Department of National Defense (DND) are banned from using artificial intelligence (AI) image generator apps often offered on social media as they can pose security risks, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. said in a recent memorandum order. Meanwhile, the military is considering recruiting cyber warriors to defend its online networks from cyberattacks and is planning to upgrade its Cyber Security Group into a Cyber Security Command, according to AFP Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. Brawner also admitted that old files of the military leaked from a hacking incident in 2021 are still circulating on the dark web. Teodoro said in a memo released Oct. 14: The online trending digital application that uses Artificial Intelligence, which requires its users to submit at least ten photos of themselves to generate an enhanced portrait, poses significant privacy and security risks. He explained that AI image generators can be used to create fake profiles that can lead to identity theft, social engineering phishing attacks, and other malicious activities. All DND and AFP personnel are directed to refrain from using Al photo generator applications, and practice vigilance in sharing information online, Teodoro said. He also reminded AFP and DND personnel to ensure that your actions are aligned to the Departments values and are in adherence to existing policies. For the hiring of cyber warriors, Brawner told the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) forum on Thursday that there is a need to relax the recruitment process. This time, we will recruit cyber warriors We will be looking for talented, skilled individuals.. They might not be competent to pass the regular recruitment procedures and requirements, so we are relaxing them (requirements) a bit just like in other countries. He said. Citing his interactions with his counterparts in other countries, the AFP chief also said there seems to be a similar trend in other military organizations. There is that general realization that these new breed of warriors do not necessarily have to be muscled, strong. What we need are individuals who are intelligent, very skillful in the cyber domain, Brawner said. Meanwhile, turning the AFPs Cyber Security Group into Cyber Security Command would mean additional capabilities, personnel, and equipment, the general said. With the increased threats that we are facing and the importance of the cyber domain as a new domain in warfare, we thought of coming up with these changes like the development of the Cyber Command, he said. The military chief said the plan is still being studied and will need President Marcos approval because we are going to change some of the organizations within the Armed Forces. Brawner also said that they expect to finish the study within the year. The AFPs cyber system was last successfully hacked two years ago, according to Brawner and he also said that there have been many attempts to hack their system again since then by the cyber hackers. We experience this almost every day, he said Theyre trying to penetrate our networks, but we are happy to note that so far, they are not successful. We believe that some of the attacks are foreign, some of them are local, Brawner said. The National Food Authority (NFA) will tap a P50 billion credit facility from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) to add to the countrys buffer stock of rice in preparation for El Nino. NFA administrator Roderico Bioco said the food agency may have to procure more rice to ensure supply and price stability. Thats more than adequate to cover whatever financial requirements we need, he said in a press briefing Friday. The agency defers to the national government for guidance on procurement volume. Bioco said the NFA cannot wait for the Philippine Statistics Authoritys (PSA) grains production report if it is to buy more palay from farmers to store up for the impending dry spell. As of Oct. 19, 2023, rice procured by the NFA from farmers has reached 506,000 bags of palay mostly bought from Region 6, where harvest is at its peak. The agency expects to procure more palay in the coming two weeks as the harvest is expected to peak in several other rice producing regions like Region 1, to hit its target of 12.8 million bags for the year. Nationwide, buffer stocking in the wet cropping season has contributed to a national supply nearing 90 days. The agency noted that even traders are taking advantage of good market prices by buying local rice. Currently, the procurement mandate of NFA is limited to 9 days-worth. However, it expects the President to increase its buffer stocking authority. As of now the mandate of NFA is limited to calamity relief. We keep a 9-day buffer stock but the President is pushing for a 30-day buffer stock to ensure enough supply during the lean season and in times of calamities, Bioco said. Seeing this as a window to expand the mandate of NFA, Bioco said he is pushing for the modernization and digitization of NFA facilities to improve its storage capacity. Right now, its drying capacity is at 3 percent only which makes it imperative for the agency to seek funds to retrofit existing facilities and invest in new and modern mechanical dryers as well as silos. With the facilities we can buy more from farmers, dry the commodities ourselves and store them in best quality, and make sure this is available in nine to 15 months in palay form and six months as milled rice, Bioco said. From 2023 to 2024, the agency will be putting up large drying projects in six locations with a combined cost of about P1.1 billion. We hope to get an additional budget for dryers. We need to invest as much as P16 billion to P20 billion a year on drying and storage facilities to meet our mandate in the next four or five years. It takes time to build these facilities, Bioco added. Earlier this week, the Indian Embassy in Manila said India is giving its highest allocation of exports of non-basmati white rice to the Philippines. In a statement, the Embassy of India in Philippines said that Indias Ministry of Commerce and Industry has effectively lifted its ban on overseas shipments of non-basmati white rice it imposed in July by allocating certain volumes to some countries, which includes the Philippines one of the top importers of the staple grain. It is with immense pleasure to inform you that the highest allocation of rice export was made to the Philippines, the embassy said. Request made at the leadership level and the positive decision reflects the growing confidence in the bilateral relationship, the statement added. The embassy said India is supplying the Philippines with 295,000 metric tons of non-basmati white rice, which is the highest allocation among the other countries that New Delhi has approved for export. The Philippine Embassy in Beirut is recommending the voluntary repatriation of Filipinos living in Lebanon as border tensions rise between Israel and Hezbollah in the wake of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday. The DFA also advised Filipinos in Egypt to take precaution as protest actions are expected across the country. In Saudi Arabia, President Marcos raised the alarm over the rising number of casualtiesincluding four Filipinos amid the ongoing clash between Israel and the militant group Hamas. The Philippines is deeply concerned about the rising number of victims and the safety of all persons, as well as the dire humanitarian consequences of the conflict in Israel and in Gaza, Mr. Marcos said in his intervention during the first ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in Riyadh. We hope that all parties will exert their utmost efforts to de-escalate the situation, stop all violence, and engage in dialogue and diplomacy, he added. In Manila, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said while Alert Level 3 has yet to be raised over Lebanon, it is best for the estimated 17,500 Filipinos there to get ready and consider repatriation. We are just awaiting formal written designation but our embassy in Beirut (is) acting on (the) presumption that it is now Level 3, he said. In the southern portion of Lebanon bordering Israel, De Vega said some 67 Filipinos have started to evacuate. For the whole of Lebanon, the embassy has recommended there be voluntary repatriation that we can offer to Filipinos We will assist whoever wants to go home, he added in a radio interview. The Philippine Embassy in Beirut said in its Oct. 19 advisory that there have been ongoing mass protests across the country and persistent tension in the southern border. The United States and the United Kingdom have earlier advised its citizens to leave Lebanon while flights are still available. On Oct. 17, the US Department of State raised its travel advisory to Level 4 in Lebanon and authorized the family members of US government personnel and some non-emergency personnel to leave due to the unpredictable security situation in the country. Meanwhile, the Philippine Embassy in Cairo also issued an advisory after noting that there are currently random marches/demonstrations in Egypt, including others planned for the future. The embassy urged Filipinos there to exercise caution as well as keep away from mass congregations and stay at home if possible. The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, for its part, said it was hoping for a miracle for the two Filipinos who remained unaccounted for in Israel. OWWA administrator Arnell Ignacio said there were still no reports on the whereabouts of the two missing Filipinos. We cannot reveal more details, but OWWA is on top of these cases, Ignacio said in a radio interview. There are some 30,000 Filipinos in Israel, mostly working as caregivers, while 131 Filipinos have fled to the southern part of Gaza Strip in the hopes of crossing to Egypt through the Rafah border crossing. Malacanang on Friday announced that the Philippines has secured $4.26 billion worth of investments from four agreements in Saudi Arabia. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who is in Riyadh to attend the ASEAN-GCC Summit there, said the agreements were reached at a meeting with Saudi business leaders a day before the summit began. Topping the four agreements is the $3.76 billion deal between Al-Jeer Human Resources Co. (ARCO) and the Association of Philippine Licensed Agencies for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to cooperate to employ Filipino workers in the kingdom. Al Rushaid Petroleum Investment Co. and Samsung Engineering NEC Co. Ltd., meanwhile, reached a $120 million agreement with EEI Corp. for the establishment of a 500-person training facility in Tanza, Cavite, Philippines. Meant to upgrade Filipino labor skills in masonry, carpentry, electrical, welding, equipment management, warehousing, steel fabrication, and other construction-related crafts, it aims to train at least 2,000 Filipinos starting in 2024 and more than 15,000 in the next five years. Maharah Human Resources Co. of Saudi Arabia reached separate agreements with Filipino firms Staffhouse International Resources Corp. and E-GMP International Corp., each valued at an estimated $191 million. Both agreements seek to bring thousands of Filipino workers to the Kingdom to meet its growing demand for labor. President Marcos said his meeting with Saudi business leaders comes at a time when the Philippine economy is on a high growth trajectory. Our economy has sustained its growth momentum, with gross domestic product at 7.6 percent in the last year, the fastest rate of growth recorded by the Philippines since 1976, the President said. President Marcos said he is looking forward to building greater and closer partnerships with Saudi Arabia, given that it is home to the largest population of overseas Filipinos in the world. Saudi Arabia is home to about 1 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), as well as the largest community of Filipino professionals in such industries as engineering, architecture, and health care. The President invited Saudi business leaders to visit the Philippines and see for themselves the investment opportunities that the country has to offer. Speaker Martin Romualdez on Friday congratulated the President for securing the four landmark agreements. President Marcos witnessed the signing of the four agreements towards the culmination of his meeting with Saudi business leaders Thursday afternoon at the Regis Hotel in Riyadh. The Palace also said Saudi business leaders expressed their interest in the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF), as the President urged them to invest in the countrys first sovereign investment fund aimed at driving long-term economic development through increased investments in high-impact projects. We look forward to benefiting not just from Saudi investments, but also from the Kingdoms extensive experience in managing such funds, he added. Saudi Ministry of Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih said Saudi investors are also eager to learn from the Philippines experience in financial management, and are particularly interested in the MIF. We want to connect you to key Saudi investors with impressive success stories to share and with the desire to continue building with international presence by investing with partners across the globe, the Philippines being a key one, Al-Falih said. Mulhan Albakree, executive general manager of the Public Investment Fund of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Bandar Al Hamali, the CEO of Jada, one of Saudi Arabias biggest investment companies, also expressed interest in the MIF. In his departure statement before leaving for Saudi Arabia, the President highlighted the need to clarify earlier reports stating the MIF has been suspended, saying that he would continue to introduce the sovereign fund internationally. President Marcos said the government is committed to pushing forward with the implementation of the MIF. In Thursdays meeting, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual made a pitch for increased economic relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, citing the Philippines abundant natural resources, a young and dynamic workforce and a domestic market of 117 million people. The Philippines is at the turning point of a transformative journey. As we champion economic inclusivity and propel ourselves forward, we are molding the Philippines into the prime investment destination, Pascual said. Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno also encouraged business leaders in Saudi Arabia to consider the investment opportunities in the MIF and Islamic finance in the Philippines. Diokno said that right at the beginning of President Marcos administration, the government set its sights on establishing institutions for long-term investments. He said MIF is in line with the present administrations 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda for poverty reduction and Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023 to 2028 for deep economic and social transformation. To achieve this, Maharlika aims to attract capital from both domestic and global equity investors, including large funds here in the Middle East seeking to diversify its portfolio in fast-growing emerging markets like the Philippines, Diokno said. Investments in the fund will be used to speed up the implementation of the Philippines 197 high-impact infrastructure flagship projects worth about $153 billion. Diokno also urged investors to tap into the diverse investment opportunities in the Philippines Islamic finance sector, saying it would drive economic growth and prosperity for all Filipinos. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has adopted a single regulatory framework for both Islamic and conventional banks, enabling them to thrive on a level playing field. The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Insurance Commission (IC) have also made efforts to support the development of Islamic finance by issuing policies on tax neutrality and takaful (Islamic insurance). As of March 31, 2023, there are 217 cities and municipalities in Mindanao that have no banks, Diokno said, which presents an opportunity for investors to tap into this market while closing the financial inclusion gap. Islamic banking in the country operates under the guidance of the Shariah Supervisory Board (SSB) which issues Shariah opinions on Islamic banking transactions and Shariah products, as well as financial institutions and other stakeholders as requested by the BSP. The roundtable event was organized by the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia and the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). It was the first in a series of activities to be attended by the President at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit from Oct. 19 to 21, 2023. The ASEAN-GCC Summit is aimed at advancing mutual interest in areas such as energy security, food stability, and economic cooperation, among others. Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are GCC nations that have established ties since 1990. Diokno, who is with the President in Saudi Arabia, said the economic team was working closely with the Office of the President to improve the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the MIF, which was earlier suspended for further study. The MIF stands as a cornerstone for financing the infrastructure projects of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.s administration, which are crucial to achieving sustained and inclusive economic growth. We are steadfast in our commitment to seeing the Fund off and running before the end of 2023, a statement released by the Department of Finance said. Despite the IRRs suspension, the President reiterated the administrations commitment to having the fund operational before the year ends. The President also said that the introduction of the MIF is an important aspect of the trip to Saudi Arabia. Washington, DCA US Navy ship in the Red Sea on Thursday shot down missiles and drones that had been fired by Iran-backed Huthi rebels in Yemen, possibly at Israel, the Pentagon said. Three land-attack cruise missiles and several drones were intercepted by a destroyer, Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder told reporters. The attack was launched by Huthi forces in Yemen potentially toward targets in Israel, he added. The ship, USS Carney, was patrolling in the Red Sea as part of a heavily reinforced US military presence ordered by President Joe Biden to maintain stability in the wake of war between Israel and the Hamas militant group in the Gaza Strip. Ryder said that missiles were fired from Yemen where the Iranian-backed Huthi rebels are at war with a government backed by a Saudi-led coalition. He said there were no US casualties and that the intercepted missiles likely fell in open water, not over land. We cannot say for certain what these missiles were targeting, but they were launched from Yemen, heading north along the Red Sea. Our defensive response was one we would have taken for any similar threat in the region, he said. We have the capability to defend our broader interests in the region and to deter regional escalation and broader expansion of the conflict that began with Hamas attack on Israeli civilians. Biden has ordered increased air and naval assets including dispatching two aircraft carriers to the Middle East to guard against the Israel-Hamas war spilling over in the tinderbox region. On Tuesday, the Pentagon also ordered 2,000 personnel on standby for potential deployment. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the deployment would allow the United States to respond more quickly to the crisis, while the White House stressed it did not intend to put US combat forces on the ground. US media reported the troops being readied for deployment would cover support roles, such as medical assistance and handling explosives. Biden flew to Israel in a dramatic show of US support this week and was due to speak from the White House later Thursday in a speech urging Congress to fund military backing for Israel and another embattled US ally Ukraine. Asked by journalists late Wednesday about reports that his administration had told Israel that US forces would fight alongside Israeli troops in response to any attack by the powerful Lebanese movement Hezbollah against Israel, Biden said this was not true. However, he said that our military is talking with their military about what the alternatives are in the event of a Hezbollah attack. AFP Australian-based Digital Classifieds Group (DCG) recently acquired the leading online property marketplaces in Indonesia and the Philippines in a newly confirmed acquisition of the Lamudi assets from the dubizzle Group (formerly EMPG). The deal follows DCGs acquisition of the leading Bangladeshi portal, Bproperty in January 2023 and propels the group to be Asias second-largest property portal operator. The consolidated group now operates leading real estate portals in 5 high-growth Asian markets, including Indonesia, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Papua New Guinea and will see its global workforce grow to more than 900 staff. Lamudi was founded in 2013, initially focusing on building dominant property classifieds in frontier markets; however, over recent years, they have shifted from advertising to transaction-based business models to accelerate revenue and growth. said it was an exciting time: DCG and Lamudi have shared a similar vision for many years; to provide the best and most trusted platform to transact property in their respective markets, said Kian Moini, Lamudi CEO and Founder. Both companies have delivered on this promise, and Im confident that Lamudi will continue to achieve new highs under DCG. This is an exciting new chapter for Lamudi and our staff. reflected on the quality of the Lamudi business. Lamudi, under the stewardship of the dubizzle Group and the management team, have created dominant classifieds and transactional property marketplaces in two of Asias most exciting markets: Indonesia and the Philippines, pointed out DCG Group CEO Mathew Care. Our vision is to build a market leading classifieds group in South East Asia, a region of incredible opportunities and this acquisition is a catalyst to delivering this vision. Lamudi Philippines Country Head Anurag Verma expressed optimism for the industry: This is an exciting time for Lamudi. We see a lot of opportunities to improve the Philippine real estate market, and with the support of DCG Group, Lamudi will continue to strengthen its market leadership. By providing an easy-to-use and secure platform for property transactions, we build towards our goal of making the property buying journey easy, trustworthy, and convenient for Filipinos, thereby creating value for partners. The acquisition marks a major transition for DCG, having rapidly expanded over the last 12 months into Bangladesh, and now Indonesia and the Philippines. Accounting for Computer Scientists Published by Martin Kleppmann on 07 Mar 2011. Every educated person really ought to have a basic understanding of accounting. Just like maths, science, programming, music, literature, history, etc., its one of those things which helps you make sense of the world. Although dealing with money is not much fun, its an unavoidable part of life, so you might as well take a few minutes to understand it. Sadly, in my opinion, most accountants do a terrible job of explaining their work in an accessible way; its a field full of jargon, acronyms and weird historical legacies. Even Bookkeeping for Dummies makes my head spin. Surely this stuff cant be that difficult? (We computing people are probably guilty of the same offence of bad explanations and jargon. The problem is, once you have become intimately familiar with a field, its very hard to imagine how you thought about things before you understood it.) Eventually I figured it out: basic accounting is just graph theory. The traditional ways of representing financial information hide that structure astonishingly well, but once I had figured out that it was just a graph, it suddenly all made sense. Im a computer scientist, and I think of stuff in graphs all the time. If only someone had explained it like that in the first place! It would have saved me so much confusion. So I want to try to fix that. If you like graphs, then by the time you reach the end of this article, you should know everything you need in order to understand the financial statements for a small company/startup (and even calculate them yourself, in a spreadsheet or programming language of your choice). Its really not that hard. Lets go! Accounts = Nodes, Transactions = Edges Say you go to the bagel shop and buy a Super Club bagel for $5 on the company credit card. You also visit some random Silicon Valley startup and buy one of their surplus Aeron chairs, second hand, for $500 (by writing a cheque from the company account). Those are two transactions. Each transaction is an edge in our graph, and the edge is labelled with the amount. An edge always goes from one node to another. What are those nodes? Well, you can define them as you like (although there are some conventions). For now, lets say: Lets add some more details. You pay the $5 credit card bill from the company account. And where did the money in the company account come from in the first place? Ah, I see, you put in $5,000 of your savings to start the company. Ok, now the graph looks like this: Hopefully pretty self-explanatory so far. Money flows in the direction of the arrows. Hungry once again, you go to the taqueria and buy a Super Burrito for $8 on the credit card. Now we could create another node for the taqueria, but this is starting to get messy we dont really care how much money we spent on bagels vs. how much on burritos. Lets just lump them together as food. Also, Random startup is a bit unhelpful Ive already forgotten what those $500 were for. Lets call it furniture instead. See, thats perfectly fine. We can have nodes which represent actual bank accounts or cards, others which represent people or companies, and others again which represent abstract categories like food or furniture. Just throw it all into the same graph. Note also that you can have several edges between the same pair of nodes. You can keep track of the individual edges, or you can simply add them up. (Using the credit card, you spent a total of $13 on food.) Accounts have balances Every node in this graph is an account in accountant-speak (whether or not it is held by a bank), and every account has a balance. The balance is a single number for each account, and it is determined completely by the transactions in and out of the account: At the beginning of time, the value at each node is zero. At each node, for each incoming edge, add the edges label to the nodes value; for each outgoing edge, subtract the edges label from the value. After youve processed all the edges, the value at each node is that accounts balance. Our graph now looks like this: Note that the account balances have two nice properties: Because every transaction appears twice once positive and once negative the sum of all account balances is always zero. If you partition the set of nodes into any two disjoint sets, and add up all of the balances in each set, then the sum for the one set is always the negative sum of the other set (because, after all, they have to add up to zero). These properties are useful for sanity-checking your numbers; if they are violated, ur doin it wrong. (This is what accountants mean when they talk about balancing the books.) Doing business Strengthened by a bagel and a burrito, you go out and talk to some potential customers. And hey, they love your product! It has a price tag of $5,000, and you sell it to two big enterprise customers. One pays you right away (good stuff!); the other gives you $2,500 up front, but insists that before they pay the rest, you need to implement that additional feature you foolishly promised. So you received $5,000 + $2,500 in cash from your customers, wired straight the company bank account. Lets add that to the graph: But thats not quite right. The price was $5,000 for each customer, and now it looks like you charged two different prices. How do we represent our arrangement with customer 2? The solution is to deconstruct the deal into two separate transactions: the sale (in which the buyer agrees to buy, but no actual money changes hands) and the payment (when the cash actually hits your bank account). We can draw it like this: See what Ive done here? Ive just made up a new node, generically called it sales, and added the actual $5,000 sales as a transaction from this sales account to the customer accounts. Adding this extra node hasnt changed your bank balance. This makes sense when you think about the intuitive meaning of the balances. The balance of each customers account is the amount they owe you: customer 1 has fully paid up (their incoming and outgoing transactions add up to the same), so their balance is zero; customer 2 has contractually agreed to give you $5,000, but has so far only given you half of that, so their balance is $2,500. And the balance on the sales account is the value of stuff youve sold. Or rather, the negative value. That looks a bit weird but Ill come back to that later. (BTW, if you wanted to separately track sales for different customers or different products, no problem just add whatever nodes make sense for you. Just make sure that every transaction appears only once as an edge, otherwise youre making stuff up!) Finishing off the example To round it off, let me add some more events to the story (= some more edges to the graph). Not only have you made some sales, but now you also receive a $20,000 investment from Y Combinator congratulations! You and your co-founder can now afford to pay yourselves a salary. You take $8,000 out of the company account. Then you get set up with a company accountant, and they talk lots of jargon at you. For some strange reason they are obsessed with correctly accounting for your office chair; they want it to depreciate over four years, i.e. its value is gradually reduced to zero over the course of that time. Fair enough, you say (even though you couldnt care less what your chair will be worth in four years time surely by that time youll be the next Google or Facebook, and youll have other things to worry about than chairs). The resulting graph now looks like this: Note how I have represented the transactions: I have lumped together your founder investment with that of Y Combinator, under the heading of capital. Put simply, this is money you got into the company by selling your companys shares, rather than by selling a product or service to a customer. As usual, you can split founders and YC into separate accounts if you feel like it. Ive represented payroll (salaries) as just money straight out of the bank account. In reality its a bit more complicated due to taxes, healthcare, benefits, etc. but the principles stay the same. Its just more nodes and edges in the graph. I made depreciation for one year (one quarter of $500 = $125) go away from the furniture account. Intuitively, this means that the balance of the furniture account is the value that your furniture still has now. Each year, you add another $125 edge from furniture to depreciation, until after four years, the balance of furniture drops to zero (assuming you havent bought any more chairs in the meantime, in your quest for world domination). The profit and loss statement At this point, if youre getting weary, I dont blame you. But the good news: weve finished building our graph! Now I will show you how this graph representation maps to two standard financial statements most commonly used in managing a company: the profit and loss statement (P&L), and the balance sheet. This is useful, because as a startup founder youll sooner or later have to discuss these documents with your investors/advisors, and so you might as well learn what the hell they mean. In order to produce these statements, I need to get out the crayons. Here is the same graph as before, with the nodes coloured in: Explaining the colours (putting the accounting terminology in brackets, since youre likely to encounter these words): Green for stuff that you have (assets), e.g. money in the bank, or things which you bought and you could sell again, such as furniture. Also green for people/companies who owe you money (debtors, such as Customer 2), and people/companies to whom you owe money (liabilities/creditors, such as your upcoming credit card bill for that burrito). (assets), e.g. money in the bank, or things which you bought and you could sell again, such as furniture. Also green for people/companies who (debtors, such as Customer 2), and people/companies to whom (liabilities/creditors, such as your upcoming credit card bill for that burrito). Blue for sales of your product/service (revenue) and money you spent that youre not going to get back (expenses/overheads). The office chair is green, because you could sell it again if you wanted to, but the bagel is blue, because once youve bought (and eaten) the bagel, thats it no going back. (revenue) and that youre not going to get back (expenses/overheads). The office chair is green, because you could sell it again if you wanted to, but the bagel is blue, because once youve bought (and eaten) the bagel, thats it no going back. Pink for money from investors (or yourself) that you got by selling shares (capital). (If you get a bank loan, thats green, not pink, because you owe the bank to pay it back.) Every one of your nodes should fall into exactly one of these categories. If not, something has gone wrong, or you have discovered some bit of the accounting world that I dont yet know about. With these colours set, the profit and loss statement is simply a list of all the blue nodes, and the profit or loss of the company is the sum of all of the blue nodes balances. The way weve calculated things, a negative value is a profit, and a positive value is a loss. Thats confusing, so you typically flip the sign when reporting the number (so that a profit is positive). Written in the standard way, our P&L looks like this: Revenue Sales $10,000 Total revenue $10,000 Expenses Payroll $8,000 Depreciation $125 Food $13 Total expenses $8,138 Total Profit/Loss $1,862 (= total revenue - total expenses) The meaning is fairly intuitive. You sold $10,000 worth of stuff, and spent only $8,138 in the process, so you made $1,862 profit. The profit and loss statement is calculated over a period of time (usually a month, a quarter or a year), and its often interesting to compare two different periods. To calculate it for a period, filter your transactions to only include those which occurred within that period, and add up the account balances for just those transactions. One thing to watch out for: profit doesnt say anything about your bank account. The bank account is a green node, but were only looking at blue nodes here. In this example, you ended up with $23,995 in the bank, even though investors put in $25,000: you made a profit, yet still have less money in the bank than you did before, because Customer 2 hasnt yet fully paid. Thats why its possible for a company to be profitable but still run out of money! The Balance Sheet The balance sheet is a bit less intuitive than the P&L, but its quite a powerful document. It summarises what the company currently has and doesnt have, and why. Remember what I said earlier about partitioning the nodes into two disjoint sets, and their summed balances adding to zero? Thats exactly what happens on the balance sheet. We take all of the nodes in the graph; on the one side we consider all of the green nodes, and on the other side all the blue and pink nodes. The sum of all of the blue and pink nodes balances is minus the sum of all of the green nodes balances. Now, by convention, accountants flip the sign on all of the blue and pink nodes balances, which means that the two sums end up being equal. And thats why its called a balance sheet. In our example, it looks like this: Assets Bank account $23,995 Debtors $2,500 Furniture $375 Total assets $26,870 Liabilities Credit card $8 Total liabilities $8 Total assets less total liabilities $26,862 Equity Profit/Loss $1,862 Capital $25,000 Total equity $26,862 The top block (assets and liabilities) corresponds to the green nodes in the graph, whilst the bottom block contains the pink node (capital) and the sum of all of the blue nodes. We already showed all of the detail for the blue nodes on the Profit and Loss statement above; on the balance sheet we can sum them all up to a single number. Some more sign-flipping has occurred here: Ive written liabilities, equity and P&L with their signs flipped (which usually, but not always, has the effect of making the numbers positive). That doesnt change anything fundamental about the graph structure, it just puts things into the conventional schema. So how can you interpret the balance sheet? There are various things you can read from it. You can see how much money is in the bank, and how much of that money has already been promised to other people (liabilities). You can see how much of the money in the bank came from investors, vs. how much came from sales. And it shows how much money is due to come in soon, from sales that have closed but havent yet been fully paid. The total of the balance sheet is a lower bound on the value of your company. Its a very pessimistic figure it assumes that your team, your technology, your brand etc. are all worth precisely nothing; if your company raises money from investors, your valuation will be much higher than the balance sheet figure, since that valuation includes the value of team, technology, brand etc in the form of a wild guess. In established companies you can find intangible assets on the balance sheet, but since they are very hard to value, I suspect its not worth bothering with unless you know what you are doing. Thats the end of our whirlwind tour through the world of accounting. If youre a real accountant reading this, please forgive my simplifications; if you spot any mistakes, please let me know. For everyone else, I hope this has been useful. To find out when I write something new, please follow me on Twitter. OLD FORT The 150 Project will present the findings of the Curtis Creek and Gateway Trails area of Old Fort with an expert in archaeology as part of the sesquicentennial finale. The 150 Project recently announced its monthly historic talk for October and will host Professor Jennifer Gates-Foster as the final Historic Talks speaker on Thursday, Oct. 26, at 6 p.m. at the Old Fort Depot. History buffs, local historians and those interested in indigenous/settlement history of our area are encouraged to attend. Dr. Jennifer Erin Gates-Foster will share archaeological findings made with partnering agencies along the Gateway Trails area, according to a news release. Gates-Foster is an associate professor of classics and archaeology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and has been part of fieldwork in Egypt, Armenia, Syria, Israel and the eastern United States. Her work with the Catawba Vale Collaborative has focused on the land histories and archaeology of the Pisgah National Forest. In collaboration with colleagues at UNC and elsewhere, she has worked to craft a series of trailside cairns that will carry information connected to the trail corridor its past, ecology, landscape and connections to communities over time, according to the news release. More information can be found on their Facebook page at @The150ProjectOldFort. As this is the last month of historic talks and oral history, The 150 Project requests that anyone interested in recording their oral history set an appointment with The 150 Project at least two days prior to the event, so that it may accurately plan ahead. Recordings for the Oral History Archive Project will happen from 2-4 p.m. on the same day as the Historic Talk. This project is an opportunity to share the history of yourself or your family and living in Old Fort. All residents are encouraged to participate, according to the news release. The 150 Project is a collaborative aimed to celebrate the 150th anniversary for the town of Old Fort. Learn more at www.facebook.com/The150ProjectOldFort. Rep. Patrick McHenry has served nearly two decades in Congress but he's getting more attention now than ever before. The Lincoln County Republican, who turns 48 on Sunday, has served as the temporary speaker since Speaker Kevin McCarthy was voted out of the job early this month. As Congressional Republicans struggle to elect a speaker, there has been talk of enabling McHenry to exercise greater authority. Here are five things to know about the man serving as the nations first speaker pro tempore. What did Patrick McHenry do before he was elected to Congress? McHenry served in the N.C. House of Representatives prior to running for Congress. He was elected to the state house in 2002 at the age of 27. When was Patrick McHenry first elected to the U.S. House? McHenry was elected to the U.S. House in 2004. At the time he took office, 29-year-old McHenry was the youngest member of Congress. Though McHenry has won by comfortable margins in the primaries and general elections since then, his first campaign was a nail-biter. McHenry finished 3,500 votes behind Catawba County Sheriff David Huffman in the Republican primary. He then defeated Huffman by margin of 85 votes in the runoff before going on to easily win the seat in the general election. What type of Republican is Patrick McHenry? As a representative of a deeply Republican district, McHenry has often touted his conservative credentials, including support for tax cuts and gun rights and opposition to abortion. He has also voiced support for former President Donald Trump and was an ally of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. McHenry voted to certify the results of the 2020 election. He also said he did not believe there was systemic fraud in the 2020 election. I dont believe that there is a significant enough amount of fraud to tip the election in these key states, especially when you look at Pennsylvania or Michigan or Wisconsin in particular as three major states, McHenry said at that time. He gave some insight into how he sees his role during a 2019 town hall in Hickory. When asked to comment on controversial comments from then-President Trump, McHenry said: Ive got a job to do to change public policy. Im a legislator. Im not a commentator. He went on to say: So I get to work with people that I disagree with and Ive got to come to terms with and that is separate and aside from the political debate that happens on TV and social media, but thats the world I operate in. McHenry reiterated that point during a visit to Hickory in May 2022, when, without naming names, he criticized the theatricality of some politicians. There are teenagers that are making millions of dollars being a YouTube star from their parents basement, McHenry said. Go do that. But lets actually let public policy be shaped by people that want to shape public policy. Why is Patrick McHenry speaker pro tempore? Following the 9/11 attacks, Congress established a procedure by which the Speaker of the House would designate a successor to take over in the event the speaker was killed or otherwise unable to perform their duties, according to the Associated Press. McHenry was at the top of McCarthys list, becoming the first speaker pro tempore in history following McCarthys ouster on Oct. 3. Has Patrick McHenry always worn bow ties? Though he has become well-known for his repertoire of bow ties, photos from McHenrys first campaign and early years in Congress show him wearing more traditional long ties. RALEIGH North Carolina Republicans on Wednesday pitched new maps for the states congressional districts starting in 2024 that appear to threaten the reelection of at least three current Democratic U.S. House members. Senate redistricting committee leaders introduced two proposals that would rework the boundary lines for the states 14 U.S. House seats. The state House and Senate want to enact a final plan by the end of the month. Candidate filing for the 2024 election is set to begin in early December. North Carolinas congressional delegation is currently split between seven Democrats and seven Republicans following the 2022 elections conducted using a map that was drawn by a panel of trial judges. Supporters of that plan said it reflected North Carolinas usually close races for statewide elected office. But statewide election data attached to Wednesdays proposals results designed to determine partisan performance indicate one of the Senates proposals would create 10 districts that appear to favor a Republican candidate, three that favor a Democrat and one that could be considered competitive. In the other proposal, Republicans would appear to be in a good position to win 11 of the 14 seats. It wasnt immediately clear which of the plans or a hybrid will advance in the Senate. While the state House will have some say over any final product before it receives support from a majority in each chamber, a plan creating a 10-4 or 11-3 split would be a significant electoral windfall for congressional Republicans seeking to preserve or build their narrow U.S. House majority next year. The state constitution exempts redistricting legislation approved by the General Assembly from Democratic Gov. Roy Coopers veto. The conventional wisdom is that this probably nets Republicans at least three seats in the U.S. House and makes the math of keeping a Republican majority a little easier, Asher Hildebrand, a redistricting expert at Duke University and a chief of staff to former Democratic Rep. David Price, said in an interview. Current House Democrats whose reelection prospects appear threatened in the plans are first-term Reps. Jeff Jackson of Charlotte and Wiley Nickel of Cary, as well as second-term Rep. Kathy Manning of Greensboro. And depending on the plan, either Reps. Valerie Foushee of Chapel Hill or Don Davis of Greene County both first-term Black lawmakers could face running in Republican-leaning districts or have to run elsewhere. Do you run in a district that you know, that youve built some ties to, that youve been representing already but that now seems out of reach politically? Or do you move on and look at other races? Hildebrand asked. Thats a hard decision for the three, perhaps four, incumbents who will find themselves out of a seat. The current congressional plan that led to a 7-7 split was the result of trial judges who declared that lawmakers had failed to comply fully with a February 2022 ruling by the state Supreme Court that determined the state constitution outlawed extensive partisan gerrymandering. State law says such an interim map can only be used for one election cycle, giving lawmakers another chance to draw boundaries. But last spring, the state Supreme Court flipped from a Democratic majority to Republican ruled that the state constitution didnt actually limit partisan gerrymandering. That freed up legislative Republicans to return to more GOP-friendly maps and reduced options available to Democrats to sue to block boundaries. Wednesdays district proposals would split each of the states largest counties surrounding heavily Democratic Charlotte, Raleigh and Greensboro into as many as three districts, some of which pull in more Republican suburban and rural voters. GOP Rep. Destin Hall, a House Redistricting Committee chairman, said Wednesday in a text message that the Senate would consider a congressional plan first before sending it the House. He said House leaders worked with Senate leadership on the congressional plan, but he didnt say which Senate plan the House supported. House and Senate redistricting committees also filed separate legislation Wednesday that would rework their own districts the House for its 120 seats and the Senate for its 50 seats. The state Supreme Court agreed in April that legislators could take another crack at drawing their own district boundaries for use through the 2030 elections because the premise upon which they drew the maps used in 2022 was wrongly decided by the previous Democratic majority on the court. In a release, Cooper blasted Wednesdays maps as gerrymandering on steroids by Republicans who have used race and political party to create districts that are historically discriminatory and unfair. Republicans gained enough seats during the 2022 elections that they were one additional House victory shy of holding veto-proof majorities in both chambers. They reached that goal in April after a House Democrat switched parties. Legislative leaders are now aiming to retain those supermajorities, which theyve used to override all 19 of Coopers vetoes this year. The two committees scheduled meetings on Thursday to discuss the plans that were filed Wednesday, with committee votes likely early next week. In a pivotal decision that could reshape the political landscape of Ghana, the Supreme Court has dismissed on Thursday October 19 an injunction filed by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and four other political parties. The injunction aimed to prevent the Electoral Commission (EC) from conducting a limited voter registration exercise solely at its district offices, a move the opposition parties argued to be unconstitutional. The dismissal followed the absence of the applicants or their representatives in Court, casting a shadow over the democratic process. The EC proceeded with the registration exercise from September 12 to October 2, 2023, despite the pending application. The Supreme Court, presided over by Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, struck out the application when the applicants failed to appear in Court. An explanation offered by the Court stated that neither the Supreme Court nor the Court of Appeal sit during the legal vacation, which occurs in August and September 2023. The hearing was scheduled at the earliest possible date, the first Supreme Court sitting in the new legal year, highlighting the inherent constraints of the judicial process. Jabu Shiba, the Secretary General (SG) of the Swaziland Union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers Union (SUFIAWU) has confirmed that they have reached an agreement with the First National Bank (FNB) Eswatini. It has been disclosed that the Bank and the Union were locked in a meeting until 12 midnight on Wednesday October 18 and the meeting was chaired by the FNB Eswatini Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dennis Tikhalo Mbingo. We have since reached a settlement with FNB at 6.5% plus additives, reads a message in part sent to this journalist by the Secretary General. Dennis Mbingo, the FNB Eswatini CEO had not responded at the time of compiling this report. The plight of the FNB Eswatini workers was reported by Swaziland News, they were demanding 8.5% salary increment however, the bank was offering 5.85%. But as the negotiations continued ahead of the strike action both parties subsequently reached an agreement at 6.5% including benefits for the workers, resulting in the cancellation of the strike action that was highly expected to commence today Friday October 20. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain Teenagers and young adults are fairly open to the idea of talking with their doctors and nurses about their sexual orientation and gender identity, and are okay being asked through various methods, whether on paper, electronically, or in person, according to research presented during the 2023 AAP National Conference & Exhibition at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. This is one of the first studies to establish how adolescents would prefer to broach this sensitive subject while visiting their health care provider. Gender-diverse and lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth are far more open to having these personal conversations with health care providers than their straight and cisgender peers, according to the research abstract. Researchers who wrote the abstract, "Asking Adolescents and Young Adults about their Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity: Lessons for Clinic Staff and EHR Documentation," surveyed 260 youth, ages 10 to 26, and found that nearly 70% were comfortable with being asked about their sexual orientation and gender identity during medical visits. "Our study showed that teenagers are remarkably open to discussing their sexual orientation and gender identity through various methods when visiting their doctor's office. This finding emphasizes the importance of creating diverse avenues for communication, whether in-person or through virtual or paper registration forms," said Jessica Pourian, MD, who conducted her research as a pediatric resident at Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island and is now a clinical informatics fellow at the University of California, San Francisco. "By facilitating these discussions, we can foster an inclusive health care environment that ultimately leads to more effective and tailored care for our young patients," Dr. Pourian added. While 64% of all youth agreed that it is important for health care providers to ask about their gender identity, chosen name, and pronouns, gender diverse youth were far more comfortable with that conversation (83%) than were their cisgender peers (45%). Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth were also more open to conversations about sexual orientation56% compared to 38% of heterosexual youth. Over 96% of gender diverse youth expressed a desire to have their chosen name and pronouns displayed in electronic health records, available to all medical staff. "When health care providers make assumptions about patients' sexual orientation or gender identity, they miss opportunities for screening, risk causing distress, and can damage patientprovider relationships," Dr. Pourian said. "This research shows that clinics should focus on integrating conversations about sexual orientation or gender identity into their practice to provide better and more comprehensive care to teenagers and young adults." More information: Abstract Title: Asking Adolescents and Young Adults about their Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity: Lessons for Clinic Staff and EHR Documentation 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: Lead author and CLF scientist, Dr Sara Mosca examining a vaccine vial. Credit: Helen Towrie, STFC An international consortium of multidisciplinary researchers and specialists has developed a new method to counter the problem of COVID-19 vaccine falsification. There have been numerous instances of vaccine supply chains being infiltrated by falsified products, both for vaccines before the pandemic and for COVID-19 around the globe. In response to this, the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Central Laser Facility (CLF) and partners have demonstrated the use of a specialized laser spectroscopy technique to rapidly verify falsified vaccines. Prevent, detect, respond Apart from endangering the public, by not effectively protecting people from COVID-19, falsified vaccines also risk undermining trust in vaccines. As such, it is critically important that we maintain integrity of supply chains by detecting falsified products effectively. To address this global health issue, the World Health Organization (WHO) member states adopted a prevent, detect, and respond strategy. Although critical, the detection of falsified vaccines currently relies on analysis that can only be performed in specialized laboratories. Tackling an important problem In response to the need to develop new methods to counter falsified vaccines, a consortium of world leading experts convened in 2020 consisting of representatives from: University of Oxford's Nuffield Department of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry and Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery STFC, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) WHO, Geneva Agilent Technologies Serum Institute of India University of Huddersfield University of East London In line with WHO strategy, this multidisciplinary and multi-institutional research consortium has developed a new method of effectively and efficiently detecting falsified vaccines. Their study demonstrates the viability of the handheld spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) technique to rapidly authenticate COVID-19 vaccines through unopened vaccine vials. The full study can be read in the journal Vaccine. New uses for advanced technology SORS performs chemical analysis by shining a laser light into an intact vial of the vaccine and inspecting the light emanating from the vial to indicate the presence of different ingredients. SORS was originally invented and developed into a spin-out company by CLF, which was acquired in 2017 by Agilent Technologies, where the technique continues to be developed for various applications. SORS devices are currently used to screen for hazardous substances at airports and used widely by fire officers, military, border protection and law enforcement. Only minor modifications in sample compartment and software adaption are required for its deployment in the field to tackle falsified vaccines. The fact that SORS can effectively screen for falsified vaccines without opening the vial is a major advantage in terms of speed of detection and ability to use vaccines that pass the SORS testing. Professor John Collier, director of STFC CLF, said, "SORS is poised to become an important tool to protect against falsified vaccines. Since first being developed at the STFC Central Laser Facility, this innovative technology continues to find new areas of application which now include empowering governments and health care organizations to safeguard public health. It is a prime example of the enormous benefits of responding to global health challenges with strategic technological innovation." Dr. Rob Stokes, field detection marketing director at Agilent Technologies, said, "The use of the handheld Resolve's SORS technology for swift and non-intrusive analysis within sealed containers is ground-breaking, attributed to both SORS technology, and the inherent sensitivity of the optical design. This approach not only advances vaccine authentication but also sets the stage for future high sensitivity analysis within sealed containers across diverse fields." Promising future applications Although this study focuses only on COVID-19 vaccines, the method it describes may also be used for authenticating other vaccines, liquid and solid medicines. Further research is needed with more vaccines and to evaluate its effectiveness at various points in supply chains. With the increasing importance of vaccines for many diseases with pandemic potential and their inequitable distribution, innovative tools to empower inspectors in detecting criminal falsification such as these are a vital asset. More information: Sara Mosca et al, Innovative method for rapid detection of falsified COVID-19 vaccines through unopened vials using handheld Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy (SORS), Vaccine (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.10.012 Journal information: Vaccine 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: Graphical abstract. Credit: Cell Reports (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113252 If you're one of the nearly 25 percent of people with the gene variant known as APOE4, you have a higher-than-average chance of developing Alzheimer's disease. But while scientists have long known that APOE4 leads to changes in the brain that can contribute to dementia, the exact mechanism of that effect has been unclear. Now, scientists at Gladstone Institutes have discovered that APOE4-producing neurons release an immune signaling molecule called HMGB1 at much higher rates than neurons producing other APOE variants. Upon release, HMGB1 activates brain immune cells called microglia, which then trigger inflammation and the degeneration of neurons. As described in their study recently published in Cell Reports, when the researchers blocked the release of HMGB1 with a mixture of two experimental drugs, mouse models producing APOE4 and other dementia-causing factors showed much less microglial activation and neurodegeneration in the brain. "We were quite surprised and excited that targeting this pathway leads to such strong protection against APOE4-driven neurodegeneration," says Gladstone Investigator Yadong Huang, MD, Ph.D., who is the lead author of the new study and also a professor of neurology and pathology at the University of California, San Francisco. "It helps answer longstanding questions in the field about the role of APOE4-induced neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's and also points toward new ways to treat the disease." Which comes first: Neurodegeneration or inflammation? In the brain, Alzheimer's disease has diverse effects on different cell types. Among the changes associated with disease are the accumulation of tau and amyloid proteins, the activation of microglia to promote inflammation, and the degeneration and ultimate death of neurons. But scientists have been unsure which of these triggers the others. "It could be that neurons degenerate first, and that triggers the activation of microglia," says Huang. "But it could also be that microglia become activated first and then trigger the neurodegeneration." To answer this chicken-or-egg question, Huang's team investigated microglial activation in the context of APOE4, which they have long studied as a major contributor to the genetic risk of Alzheimer's disease. APOE4 is one of three versions of the APOE gene. People with one copy of the APOE4 gene (almost a quarter of many populations) are 3.5 times more likely to develop Alzheimer's than those with the more common version, APOE3. People with two copies of APOE4 (about 3 percent of the population) have a 12-fold increased risk. Huang and colleagues, including Nicole Koutsodendris, Ph.D., a former graduate student in Huang's lab and lead author of the new study, asked whether neurons with the APOE4 variant produced any signaling molecules capable of activating microglia. They quickly homed in on the immune molecule HMGB1, which is known to trigger strong inflammatory responses in some cancers and infections. In early experiments, the scientists looked to see where the HMGB1 molecule was located in neurons in the brains of Alzheimer mouse models carrying the APOE3 or APOE4 variants. "We saw really striking patterns," says Koutsodendris. "When neurons with APOE4 were exposed to stress, HMGB1 moved from the nucleus to the cytoplasm of the cells and was then released into the space outside the cell, whereas in neurons with APOE3, HMGB1 remained inside the nucleus." Additional studies in mouse models showed that selectively removing APOE4 from neurons stopped HMGB1 from being released from neurons, solidifying the link between neuronal APOE4 and the release of HMGB1. Pointing out a new drug target Finally, the scientists studied the impact of two experimental drugs that block HMGB1 release. They showed that a mixture of both drugs reduced the activation of microglia and the development of neurodegeneration in 'dementia-related mouse models producing APOE4. "It was a very clear result: when you block the exit of HMGB1 out of neurons, you protect these mice from many different aspects of Alzheimer's disease pathology," says Huang. APOE4 also has other impacts on neurons, but, based on their findings, the researchers hypothesize that without the activation of microglia, these other effects aren't sufficient to contribute to neurodegeneration. Therefore, Huang and his team believe that drugs targeting HMGB1 could eventually be used to prevent or treat APOE4-related Alzheimer's disease. "These small molecules have already been in clinical trials for other diseases, and so they could potentially move quickly into trials for Alzheimer's disease," says Huang. "But we're also continuing our research and exploring other ways, including new drugs, that could target HMGB1, its release from neurons, and its impact on microglia." More information: Nicole Koutsodendris et al, APOE4-promoted gliosis and degeneration in tauopathy are ameliorated by pharmacological inhibition of HMGB1 release, Cell Reports (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113252 Journal information: Cell Reports This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain Pursuing fair artificial intelligence (AI) for health care requires collaboration between experts across disciplines, says a global team of scientists led by Duke-NUS Medical School in a new perspective published in npj Digital Medicine. While AI has demonstrated potential for health care insights, concerns around bias remain. "A fair model is expected to perform equally well across subgroups like age, gender and race. However, differences in performance may have underlying clinical reasons and may not necessarily indicate unfairness," explained first author Ms Liu Mingxuan, a Ph.D. candidate in the Quantitative Biology and Medicine (Biostatistics & Health Data Science) Program and Center for Quantitative Medicine (CQM) at Duke-NUS. "Focusing on equitythat is, recognizing factors like race, gender, etc., and adjusting the AI algorithm or its application to make sure more vulnerable groups get the care they needrather than complete equality, is likely a more reasonable approach for clinical AI," said Dr. Ning Yilin, Research Fellow with CQM and a co-first-author of the paper. "Patient preferences and prognosis are also crucial considerations, as equal treatment does not always mean fair treatment. An example of this is age, which frequently factors into treatment decisions and outcomes." The paper highlights key misalignments between AI fairness research and clinical needs. "Various metrics exist to measure model fairness, but choosing suitable ones for health care is difficult as they can conflict. Trade-offs are often inevitable," said Associate Professor Liu Nan also from Duke-NUS' CQM, senior and corresponding author of the paper. He added, "Differences detected between groups are frequently treated as biases to be mitigated in AI research. However, in the medical context, we must discern between meaningful differences and true biases requiring correction." The authors emphasize the need to evaluate which attributes are considered 'sensitive' for each application. They say that actively engaging clinicians is vital for developing useful and fair AI models. "Variables like race and ethnicity need careful handling as they may represent systemic biases or biological differences," said Assoc Prof Liu. "Clinicians can provide context, determine if differences are justified, and guide models towards equitable decisions." Overall, the authors argue that pursuing fair AI for health care requires collaboration between experts in AI, medicine, ethics and beyond. "Achieving fairness in the use of AI in health care is an important but highly complex issue. Despite extensive developments in fair AI methodologies, it remains challenging to translate them into actual clinical practice due to the nature of health carewhich involves biological, ethical and social considerations," said co-author Associate Professor Daniel Ting, Director of SingHealth's AI Office and Associate Professor from the SingHealth Duke-NUS Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Program. "In order to advance AI practices to benefit patient care, clinicians, AI and industry experts need to work together and take active steps towards addressing fairness in AI." Ting is also Senior Consultant at the Singapore National Eye Center and Head of AI & Digital Innovation at the Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI). "This paper highlights the complexities of translating AI fairness techniques into ethical clinical applications. It represents our collective commitment to developing AI that augments clinicians with trustworthy insights to provide quality and equitable care enhanced by technology," said co-author Clinical Associate Professor Lionel Cheng Tim-Ee, Chief Data & Digital Officer, Clinical Director (AI) Future Health System Department, and Senior Consultant, Department of Diagnostic Radiology at Singapore General Hospital (SGH). "Clinicians must be actively engaged in iterative communication with AI developers to ensure models align with medical ethics and context," added senior co-author Professor Marcus Ong, Director of the Health Services & Systems Research (HSSR) Program at Duke-NUS, who is also Senior Consultant at SGH's Department of Emergency Medicine. "Good intentions alone cannot guarantee fair AI unless we have collective oversight from diverse experts, considering all social and ethical nuances. Pursuing equitable and unbiased AI to improve health care will require open, cross-disciplinary dialogues." The perspective published in npj Digital Medicine represents an international collaboration between researchers from institutions across Singapore, Belgium, and the United States. Authors from across the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Center (including Duke-NUS, SingHealth, SGH, Singapore Eye Research Institute and Singapore National Eye Center) worked together with experts from the University of Antwerp in Belgium as well as Weill Cornell Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in the United States. Professor Patrick Tan, Senior Vice-Dean for Research at Duke-NUS, commented, "This global cooperation exemplifies the cross-disciplinary dialogues required to advance fair AI techniques for enhancing health care. We hope this collaborative effort spanning Singapore, Europe, and the US provides valuable perspectives to inspire further multinational partnerships towards equitable and unbiased AI." More information: Mingxuan Liu et al, A translational perspective towards clinical AI fairness, npj Digital Medicine (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41746-023-00918-4 Journal information: npj Digital Medicine This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain At this critical junction for EU chemicals legislation, the independent scientific voice took center stage at the 5th Annual Forum on Endocrine Disruptors. Together with an impressive number of concerned stakeholders, they called for the immediate adoption implementation of better EU legislation. While a restriction on per-and polyfluoroalkaline substances (PFAS) is ongoing, it risks being watered down by the massive volume of industry submissions to the public consultation. In addition, the European Commission's legislative proposal on a revision of the main chemicals legislation REACH is still noticeably absent and is unlikely to still be published during the current term of the European Commission and Parliament. The Forum brought together policy makers, scientists, industry leaders, and civil society to discuss the most pressing topics in the area of endocrine disruptors, including the most recent scientific developments in the field. The European Society of Endocrinology (ESE) once again took an active part in the Forum organized by the European Commission on October 1920, 2023, and several of ESE's affiliated experts were invited to present their research and voice their concerns on behalf of the European endocrine community. This year's conference put the adverse health effects of PFAS and the links with endocrine disruption at the heart of the agenda and discussed ongoing national and regional initiatives in Europe aimed at reducing exposure to endocrine disruptors. Prof. Tina Kold Jensen, CPPEM, Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, described PFAS' impact on children's development by showing data from a child cohort. "The data is clearPFAS continues to hamper the health of our children including their neurological function, fertility and overall development, stricter EU regulation is needed now to eradicate the presence of PFAS in our environment," said Prof Jensen. PFAS differ from other EDCs by their highly persistent and bio-accumulative nature, which leads to contemporary exposures having effects on human and animal health as well as our environment far into the future for generations to come. Extensive peer reviewed literature has described the many adverse health outcomes linked to exposure to PFAS, including altered reproductive function in men and women, abnormalities in reproductive organs, early puberty, immune system disruption, cancers, neuroendocrine tumors, respiratory problems, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular conditions, altered nervous system development and function, and learning disabilities. The need for strict regulation on PFAS and other Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) was stressed multiple times in the event by the different participating stakeholders. "I wonder how long it will take for policy makers to catch up with the science and put in place an EU framework that will effectively protect us from PFAS and other EDCs," said Prof. Aleksandra Buha-Djordjevic, Department of Toxicology, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Pharmacy, Serbia. ESE remains ready to share its expertise to further the regulation of harmful substances and looks forward to continuing to work with the European Commission and other stakeholders to address the issue of endocrine disruptors. Provided by European Society of Endocrinology This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Today, the American Academy of Pediatrics calls for sweeping changes to Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to provide more consistent and equitable coverage and ensure children can access the care they need to grow and thrive. These two programs provide invaluable and critical health care coverage for almost half of all US children and youth, most of whom would have no insurance without them. In a new policy statement, "Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program: Optimization to Promote Equity in Child and Young Adult Health," the AAP proposes automatic enrollment of newborns in a single health insurance program (combining Medicaid and CHIP) with an option to opt out if families have other health insurance, such as employer-provided insurance. The policy statement further calls for changes to make children's access and care more consistent across states, mitigating many existing geographic and racial disparities. The policy statement will be published online in Pediatrics on Friday, Oct. 20, during the 2023 AAP National Conference & Exhibition in Washington, D.C., followed by its publication in the November 2023 print edition of Pediatrics. A soon-to-be released technical report addresses Medicaid and CHIP background; state program and payment variations; Medicaid for specific populations; program innovations and waivers; and special Medicaid coverage and initiatives. Policy statements created by AAP are written by medical experts, reflect the latest evidence in the field, and go through several rounds of peer review before being approved by the AAP Board of Directors and published in Pediatrics. The authors will discuss the policy statement during a conference session. "The existing patchwork of state Medicaid plans work well for some, but not all children, and leads to inequities and obstacles for families to obtain and keep their medical coverage," said Jennifer D. Kusma, MD, MS, FAAP, a co-author of the statement, written by the AAP Committee on Child Health Financing. "The AAP proposes combining the best of the federal programs in place now, which would increase all children's access to health care and build a solid foundation for healthy lives. Ultimately, all of society benefits when children and families are thriving and able to get their routine, preventive and urgent health care needs addressed." The policy statement proposes changes that would assure uniform state eligibility levels, enrollment and retention, benefits, standards of care, and payment. "The goal is to achieve more equitable, higher quality, and more comprehensive health care," said Jean L. Raphael, MD, MPH, FAAP, a co-author of the policy statement. "These reforms would integrate mental health prevention and promotion work into pediatric care, for example. This would help greatly in addressing the mental health crisis among youth that we are seeing today." Medicaid, which has been in place since 1965 and expanded over time, offers a safety net for children from low-income families receiving government assistance; children and adults with disabilities; elderly low-income populations; people with vision impairment lacking other health insurance; and children in foster care. Unlike Medicare, which is fully funded by the federal government, Medicaid has a joint federal-state funding arrangement that allows states broad discretion over eligibility, benefits, enrollment, and payments while meeting current federal minimums and guidelines. CHIP was introduced in 1997 to insure children with household incomes above the state's Medicaid income eligibility threshold but too low to afford private insurance. Medicaid and CHIP have similarities and differences in financing and operation and the statement calls for combining the two programs into one. The proposed reforms would require legislation, regulation, and systems changes. The AAP recommends: Automatic enrollment of all newborn infants at birth that will ensure access to health care benefits during critical newborn hospitalization and post-discharge periods. Parents can opt out of coverage if the infant has another source of health insurance. Universal eligibility for all children up to age 26 years who lack other sources of health insurance, through a single program that combines Medicaid and CHIP. Increases in the federal share of funding of the Medicaid/CHIP programs, especially for all direct patient care, to eliminate state variations that contribute to unequal access to care. Federal minimum rate schedule assuring payment at least equitable to prevailing Medicare rates "It is time to do the difficult and necessary work to eliminate longstanding impacts of systemic racism within public insurance programs for children," James M. Perrin, MD, FAAP, a co-author of the policy statement. "The AAP recognizes that structural change will not be simple and cannot undo past harms, but it would provide meaningful improvement in the lives of all children moving forward." More information: American Academy of Pediatrics Proposes Bold Reforms to Improve Children's Access to Health Care, Pediatrics (2023). Journal information: Pediatrics This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain Women with breast cancer must often make complex decisions about surgery and treatment options during an already stressful time in their lives, and many of these women may turn to the wide variety of materials available online. New research presented at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2023 has found that reliable educational materials about breast surgery are not only difficult to assess but are also presented at much higher reading levels than recommended. Two studies, presented at the Scientific Forum of the annual ACS Clinical Congress, held in Boston, Massachusetts, October 2225, shed light on the need to develop more accessible materials for women with breast cancer, which is the most common non-skin cancer diagnosed in women in the United States. "In breast surgery, there are a lot of decisions patients have to make, and sometimes giving a choice to a patient can be really overwhelming, especially if there's not a one-size-fits-all solution," said co-author Emily Palmquist, MD, a breast surgeon at the University of Washington Medical Center and an assistant professor in the department of general surgery at the University of Washington School of Medicine. "As much as we as surgeons try to educate patients, there is limited time and patients can only absorb so much in a visit. Some patients may turn to other resources online, such as blogs and non-validated sources that they may find easier to read and understand, which raises concern about the accuracy of materials patients may be accessing." Dr. Palmquist was part of a group of researchers from the University of Washington who reviewed English-language patient education materials describing breast-conserving surgery, mastectomy, and lymph node surgery from National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center (NCI-CCC) websites. Readability was assessed using five validated assessment scales: the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, Gunning-Fog Index, Coleman-Liau Index, Simple Measures of Gobbledygook Index, and Automated Readability Index. These validated scales use parameters such as word count and sentence difficulty to assess readability. The team found that patient education materials were publicly available on 78% of NCI-CCC websites, but the average readability score of these materialsdefined as the grade level required to understand the written contentwas 11.6 (range 10.113.9) across five scales, which is higher than National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommendations and also above national literacy levels in the U.S., where 19% of U.S. adults possess low literacy skills. "Breast surgeons are often one of the first providers that patients meet when they are diagnosed. Even if we do a fantastic job at patient education in our eyes, patients often return home not having asked the questions that they might have asked when they were in a more comfortable environment," said first author Sarah Brennan, a fourth-year medical student at the University of Washington. Brennan was inspired to lead the project after rotating at a large county hospital in Washington that treated many vulnerable patients. "Many patients may turn to the wide variety of resources available online. I think these findings highlight the importance of making sure the resources that are coming from cancer centers are meeting the needs of patients," she said. Study co-authors include Claire L. Buchanan, MD, FACS; Kristine E. Calhoun, MD, FACS; Sara H. Javid, MD, FACS; and Meghan R. Flanagan, MD, FACS. Evaluating the vast landscape of online materials In another study that will also be presented at the Scientific Forum, researchers from Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland, Pennsylvania, evaluated the wide variety of materials available online about breast surgery from accredited organizations or foundations. The researchers input the search phrase "breast cancer surgery" and "mastectomy" into the three most popular search engines (Google, Yahoo, Bing) and analyzed 108 unique resources for 1) readability, 2) bias, 3) quality, and 4) tone using validated tools that help analyze the quality and tone of information as well as the overall reading level. The researchers found that most website content exceeded the recommended sixth-grade reading level (most were on average at the 10th grade reading level) and had information deemed either of fair or poor quality, with websites on breast cancer surgery scoring below average for quality evaluation. At least two to three sentences per website had stigmatizing language. "In addition, most of the tones that were prominent were negative in character. Fear, analytical, tentative, and sadness were the four most prominent tones," said lead author Praveen Satarasinghe, MD, MBA, a third-year resident physician in general surgery at Crozer-Chester Medical Center. Dr. Satarasinghe leveraged his background in data analytics to design the research study. "It's surprising that for such a delicate topic like breast cancer, the first piece of information a patient may see online is filled with a negative tone," he added. "In the future, it will be interesting to see how we can shift the resources to capture a positive tone to impact patients who want to seek treatment for breast cancer. I think by going into the details, we can see that there's clearly a problem that needs to be addressed." "This study highlights the need to provide educational services on a more accessible level for all patients," added senior author Chantal Reyna, MD, FACS, FSSO, section chief of breast surgical oncology at Loyola University in Chicago. Dr. Reyna previously served as chief of breast surgery and medical director of the Crozer Health Breast Program. "Our focus needs to be on making sure that there is ease of readability in the materials we hand out, and that the tone of the materials doesn't enhance that fear that many patients may experience in an already stressful time." Study co-authors include Daniel Kim, MD and Jandie Posner, DO. More information: Brennan S, et al. Breast Surgery Patient Education Materials: Who Are We Educating?, Scientific Forum, American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2023. Satarasinghe P, et al. Evaluating Online Information about Breast Cancer Surgery to Improve Quality, Scientific Forum, American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2023. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers from the University of California, Irvine have discovered an extraordinary surge in the utilization of weight loss-associated GLP-1 receptor agonists, a class of medications commonly used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity, that is poised to accelerate, based on emerging clinical evidence. A GLP-1 agonist is a drug that activates certain receptors in the brain and pancreas. Findings published online in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association are based on a longitudinal cohort study of patients in the University of California Health Data Warehouse who were prescribed Adlyxin, Byetta, Mounjaro, Ozempic, Rybelsus, Saxenda, Victoza, Trulicity or Wegovy GLP-1 products between 2014 and 2022. The results demonstrated rapidly increased usage that's expected to continue exponentially. Understanding the impact of this substantial shift in utilization patterns is crucial for informed decision-making by health care providers, ensuring supply stability for patients who rely on these medications, and assessing the economics of the insurance companies that cover the cost of these drugs. "Before now, there hasn't been much information available on patient-level, longitudinal use patterns, and the recent FDA approval of GLP-1 RAs linked to substantial weight loss has generated great interest in demand projections," said Jonathan Watanabe, lead author of the study and UCI professor of clinical pharmacy. "The results from our study of a large, diverse, statewide health system population promise to reshape the conversation around weight loss-associated GLP-1 RAs, informing health care stakeholders, policymakers, legislators, providers and patients alike." The study sample comprised 87,935 people, of whom 47.6 percent were white, 22.4 percent were Hispanic, 7.9 percent were Asian, and 5.7 percent were Black. The mean age was 59.2 years, and 55.5 percent were female. Growth rates were estimated according to log-linear regression model analysis. Between 2014 and 2018, only Trulicity and Victoza exceeded 5,000 annual users. Between 2018 and 2022, when Ozempic was introduced, GLP-1 RA utilization experienced rapid acceleration. By 2022, Ozempic and Trulicity had become the most popular, at 22,891 and 19,663 patients, respectively, while usage had grown to 5,937 for Rybelsus, 2,992 for Wegovy, 2,721 for Saxenda and 1,508 for Mounjaro. Victoza had dipped to 4,157 users, and Byetta and Adlyxin use was limited throughout the study period. "This study also highlights that distinct FDA-approved uses for either diabetes or weight loss require that the priorities of patient population medical needs must be balanced," Watanabe said. "For example, Ozempic is approved for diabetes, which is much more likely to be medically managed than being overweight. Wegovy and Ozempic are both semaglutide injections, but Wegovy is FDA-approved for weight management rather than diabetes, which impacts its use." More information: Jonathan H. Watanabe et al, Trends in Glucagon-like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonist Use, 2014 to 2022, Journal of the American Pharmacists Association (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.japh.2023.10.002 To Montanans who are fans of Nicolas Cage, these truly are rich times. Butchers Crossing is the second movie he filmed in the Treasure State during the pandemic, reaching theaters after The Old Way. There are many kinds of Cage movies, from independents to action films, and hes starred in five so far this year alone. The questions are: what kind of Nic Cage movie is Butchers Crossing, and which Nic Cage appears in it? The answer is that its an art-house Western a hunting trip as horror movie where the monster is a settler, who goes by just Miller, with a shaved head who wields power through subtle intimidation rather than wild theatrics. If you go Butchers Crossing is screening at the Roxy Theater through Thursday, Oct. 26. The film is 105 minutes and rated R. Gabe Polsky based his directorial debut on a 1960 revisionist Western novel by John Edward Williams, in which a naive young man escapes the East to follow a buffalo hunter on a search for an allegedly robust herd thats evaded his rivals. They filmed in Glacier National Park and the Blackfeet Reservation with the Rocky Mountain Front as a backdrop, along with some scenes in Nevada City. While the film is a dark journey into human immorality, the target of their misdeeds shares co-billing: The Blackfeet Tribe provided the herd that is the subject of this fictional quest and massacre. There are a few scenes that appear to have employed some CGI, but for the most part, the scenes of the herds are natural. Seen against the mountains, they generate first awe and then horror at what Americans did to the continents signature megafauna. Cage phenom Cage, known for an extroverted style of acting that he calls Western kabuki, has become a strange contemporary phenomenon for complex reasons. Hes widely acknowledged as one of the best actors of his generation regardless of the type of movie roles like Leaving Las Vegas or Adaptation, (in which he played twin brothers). If you prefer action, theres The Rock and Con Air. If you prefer David Lynch, theres Wild at Heart. For Coens, try "Raising Arizona." Yet in the past decade, he began appearing in, shall we say, smaller productions at a rapid clip. During the recent peak Cage phenomena, when he starred in a meta indie as himself (The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent), he gave an interview in which he confessed that he made bad investments and was forced to take as much work as he could get while also taking these roles seriously. He takes this role seriously, too, playing it mane-free and with an unsettling intensity. In more than a few scenes, he sulks around the campsite idly dragging a straight razor across his head as though hes contemplating cannibalism. There are more Montana connections. Other members of the local team, besides the tribe and its project manager, Ervin Carlson, included co-producer Jeri Rafter and production designer Tessla Hastings. Missoula theater and Montana movie fans can keep their eyes out for a few brief cameos: Jeff Medley as a bartender, and Amber Rose Mason as a lone woman traveling by wagon with her children. Unhinged monomania Millers counterpart is Fred Hechinger as Will Andrews, a Harvard dropout and ministers son who heads West in 1874 with a young persons vague and starry-eyed notion of seeing the country. After arriving in Kansas at a buffalo hunters outpost called Butchers Crossing, hes not well-received. Written off by others who dont want to bring a cheerful and unskilled college student onto a buffalo hunt, hes eventually hired by Miller, a scowling figure who claims to know of a massive herd hidden away in Colorado. In Hechingers performance, he naively signs up with a grin to pay for the whole adventure, and is gradually worn down, going from idolizing Miller to fearing him. It would be incorrect to say that Cage is subtle, but compared with the outsized work he can pull off (see Face/Off), it is. At first, Miller must appear capable enough that Will voluntarily surrenders all of his money and potentially his life to this adventure. After the hunt is underway, an unhinged monomania settles in as Miller fires away at more buffalo than they can skin. Will, as the naif, wonders why out loud and Miller has no answer. The violence, and the potential status from a record hunt, becomes the purpose itself and deforms everyone involved. (Speaking of subtlety, a mention that they're camping on an Indian burial ground was cringe-inducing.) By the time tension has really settled in, Cage's face covered in soot lit by the campfire, gnawing at a raw bison organ and glaring at his companions, youve got a fearsome example of a go West and see tale gone horribly awry. While fewer people die than in a season of Yellowstone, the movie is hardly a postcard. Polsky and cinematographer David Gallego (Embrace of the Serpent) film the landscape with a reverence and a sometimes supernatural fear that would be suitable for an A24 horror film. (Polsky produced Werner Herzogs Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, also starring Cage.) A shot of the night sky, unencumbered by artificial light, scenes of the Front as winter settles in, are as beautiful as they are foreboding. On-screen text after the fiery ending includes information about the dire state of the bison population the worst ecological disaster in the history of the continent until the successful efforts to restore them. This postscript feels a documentary touch, but its necessary considering the movie, as seen, wouldnt exist without that work. The bison on screen have somehow outlasted the tragedy they help portray. Missoula Countys first Targeted Economic Development District, introduced in the Wye area in 2020, has generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax increment financing in the few years its been active. Based on that success and new legislation from the state, the county is considering adding another, larger TEDD around the same region. If approved by the county commissioners, the Wye TEDD 2 could be adopted by the end of the year. A TEDD is a tool to enhance financing in an area for a variety of designated public infrastructure purposes; a new designation recently added to the approved list included workforce housing. Other resources the TEDD could address include transportation, stormwater and broadband. I think this is a wonderful opportunity, said developer Nikki Sardo at a meeting Tuesday, and this will enable commercial, residential, industrial and growth to flourish in that part of the county. However, in spite of the Montana Legislatures new permission surrounding workforce housing, Missoula County Director of Land and Economic Development Emily Brock said the county wont be using the new TEDD to directly create such residential developments. Instead, the TEDD, if adopted, would go toward putting the infrastructure in to allow private developers to add workforce housing there. We do plan to use TEDD dollars to build infrastructure like sewer, water and roads associated with workforce housing developments, which will lower housing costs, she told the Missoulian. We also left the plan open enough so that if we gain more clarity in the future, we can be flexible. The plan in question is a broad vision for the potential TEDD, and Missoula Consolidated Planning Board members found it in compliance with the existing county growth policy this week. That decision helps the TEDD 2 plan move forward for consideration by the Board of County Commissioners next Thursday, Oct. 26. Despite the support from the Planning Board, there are concerns among the public and government officials about the future of the Wye development area surrounding the intersection of Interstate 90 and Highway 93. Schools, transportation and financial concerns are all at play in the decision-making for the possible new TEDD. But Karen Hughes with the county tried to assure the Planning Board that county staff are considering those challenges. The idea is for the county to actually be thinking progressively, she said, wheres that next area, where does it make sense and actually get ahead of some of that. The metrics and anecdotes surrounding Missoulas affordable housing crisis are dire, city housing policy specialist Emily Harris-Shears told city council members this month as she prepares to apply for a $10 million federal grant to help alleviate the problem. For example, the median home sales price in Missoula rose 158% from 2012 to 2022, while the Area Median Income increased only 59% in that same time. The daily struggle of thousands of Missoulians can be explained in that one statistic. Also, the rental vacancy rate in Missoula hasn't been over 2% since the end of 2020 or above 4% since the first part of 2018. A healthy market, where landlords must drop prices to be competitive for renters, would be 5-10%. There are almost 4,000 renter households in Missoula making less than $20,000 a year yet still paying more than 30% of their income to the landlord. Although African Americans make up less than 1% of the city's population, more than 30% of those households pay more than 50% of their income to rent. And if you've ever tried to rent a house or apartment in Missoula, you're probably familiar with the experience of paying rental application fees to different landlords or management companies for multiple available rentals. Oftentimes for renters in Missoula, that money disappears into a black hole, never to be seen again. Applications to several different apartments that reject you might still cost you over $100. The list of reasons why Missoulians face an acute need for housing affordable to those who make local wages goes on and on, Harris-Shears explained. The rental application fee issue has long been a problem in Missoula, a college town where landlords require their own application and associated processing fees. Because of state laws enacted by the Montana Legislature, including the Montana Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, municipal governments can't require universal rental application fees that would alleviate that particular problem. That's just one issue that the city of Missoula hopes to address as it looks to apply for a $10 million grant from the federal government to address affordable housing issues in the city. On Monday, Oct. 23 at 6 p.m., the Missoula City Council will hold a public hearing on a proposal by city staff to apply for the Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing grant from the federal department of Housing and Urban Development. Harris-Shears has been presenting all the reasons why the city feels it is a good match for the money to city council committees this month. "One strategy we're proposing is exploring a landlord liaison project," she explained, focusing on the application fee issue. "It would be voluntary because of state law. It would be an incentivized approach to streamlining the application process." In applying for the grant, city staff spoke with renters in Missoula who've faced the situation where they're spending money on application fees. "A lot of people were unsure of what happens once they paid the (rental application) fee," Harris-Shears explained. "Essentially, they had applied and didn't get any feedback. They didn't hear if they had been denied or accepted. They were paying fees for every application in some cases and it was getting prohibitively expensive. It can be hard to get all your documents ready and everything for the application in time before someone snatches (the apartment or house) up." Harris-Shears said the grant money would allow the city to explore working with landlords to come up with a "community application." Recognizing the current imbalance favoring landlords in the rental market, the city will establish a provider-led program that empowers tenants and cultivates landlord champions," the city's application reads. "This program will address issues such as transparency in the application process, incentivizing voucher acceptance, and mediating conflicts to help residents maintain stable housing. A standardized rental application process is also being explored to simplify the rental market and alleviate burdensome application fees." Another issue is redevelopment. There's a construction boom that's been happening for many years in Missoula, but the places that get demolished most often are aging housing units that are the cheapest to rent for low-income residents. In the grant, Harris-Shears and her colleagues wrote about the issue. "During the community listening session, project staff heard from residents that were in the middle of eviction proceedings landlords had initiated in order to sell their buildings for redevelopment," the grant application states. "Impacted residents did not know that was not a legitimate cause for eviction and were at risk of having lasting consequences from the landlords action and limited knowledge." Ultimately, those instances were addressed and dismissed by the courts, according to the city's grant application. "It created unnecessary hardship for residents who were doing what was in their power to maintain stable housing," the application continued. "A common sentiment during the displacement engagement work was that even when people were in rentals, they felt unease, and that the landlord could change their circumstances at any time." Essentially, Missoula is trying to convince the federal government that the city needs help addressing its housing crisis more than other municipalities. Another indicator of acute housing need here is measured in the change related to the number of community members experiencing houselessness and housing instability, Harris-Shears said. "The Missoula Coordinated Entry System (that prioritizes houseless people for housing) served nearly 1,500 unduplicated individuals in 2022," the application reads. "This represents an increase of about 400 individuals since 2020. Missoula County Public Schools reports an increase in the number of families who are living unsheltered, fleeing domestic violence and staying doubled up, as well. In one school year the number of identified families that meet the (federal) definition of houselessness has increased by 80 families." All the city council members who spoke up were supportive of the city's application. City Councilor Stacie Anderson praised staff's work to address the housing crisis. "It's not lost on me that there are still many folks in our community who are struggling," she said, "but things like this allow us to make steps in the right direction and alleviate some of the problems." A woman who was wanted in two other counties was taken into custody in Burke County on Wednesday. Violet Dessie Foster, 33, of Morganton, was taken into custody on an Iredell County charges of felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury and misdemeanor resisting a public officer, and an Avery County charge of felony larceny of a firearm, according to a press release from the Burke County Sheriffs Office. Foster was taken into custody after detectives from the Avery County Sheriffs Office told BCSO they received information that Foster was at a home in Morganton. BCSO deputies found Foster at that home on Crystal Creek Road and she was taken into custody without further incident, the release said. They also recovered the firearm that had been stolen from Avery County during the arrest. Foster has a previous conviction of school attendance law violation, according to records from the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction. She was placed in the Burke County Jail on a 48-hour hold or until she could be seen by a judge. MAYOR Name: Charles Rickie Cline Age: 67 Education: Morganton High, WPCC, CVCC Family: Wife-Son Community service: Served 2 years as Drexel Alderman 1. Have you ever been convicted of a felony? NO 2. Do you owe any back taxes? NO 3. If elected, what would your main priorities be for the city/town? Help control the budget and working together with the Board. 4. What do you feel the most pressing issues/challenges for the city/town are and how would you address them? Moving forward with the Drexel Heritage property and doing the best I can to keep people informed. 5. If elected, what strategy would you use to help attract new businesses to the city/town? Helping business owners promote their businesses and supporting them. Also, encouraging residents to support them too. Incumbent Dennis Anthony did not participate. ALDERMEN Name: R. Allen Reed Age: 63 Education: Graduated Freedom High School 1978 Family: Married, 1 Daughter, 3 Stepsons and 8 grandchildren Community service: Served 8 years as an Alderman on the Drexel Town Board past; Over 21 years as a Volunteer Fireman and First Responder 1. Have you ever been convicted of a felony? No 2. Do you owe any back taxes? No 3. If elected, what would your main priorities be for the city/town? Make sure the citizens of Drexel understand I am a man of integrity and principles. Also work toward bringing jobs to Drexel. 4. What do you feel the most pressing issues/challenges for the city/town are and how would you address them? To complete the old Drexel Heritage building cleanup. Then secure a possible company on that land. I would also set a goal for downtown renovation. 5. If elected, what strategy would you use to help attract new businesses to the city/town? I would like the board to sit down with the Town Manager and see what our options would be for some options. Such as Tax Breaks, power and water reductions. Lets also see what other cities or towns have done for business loans for startup for the new business. Name: Scott Coe Age: 63 Education: Holston High school Damascus Virginia Family: Married to Beth McCall Coe, We have 3 children and 6 grand children Community service: I have served on the Planning and Zoning Committee, also served on the Strategic Planning Committee. I served on the committee to hire our new Police Chief. In 2022 I was appointed to the Drexel Board of Alderman. 1. Have you ever been convicted of a felony? No 2. Do you owe any back taxes? No 3. If elected, what would your main priorities be for the city/town? If elected one of the main priorities is to continue to work on the development of the Drexel Heritage property. We need to keep this project rolling and get some type of industry in production. Which brings jobs back to our Town. 4. What do you feel the most pressing issues/challenges for the city/town are and how would you address them? One of the most pressing issues is we need to bring jobs back to Drexel. We have a great town and with 100 acres to develop for industry, we need to make sure we keep this opportunity in front of everyone including all of the state agencies. We know there has been interest in this property, we need to continue to press on. 5. If elected, what strategy would you use to help attract new businesses to the city/town? To bring new business to town we need to make sure that everyone know Drexel is here and is the land of opportunity. We are starting to see our downtown area begin to look alive again. Fresh paint and new stores is a great start. Name: Terry B Yount Age: 77 years old Education: Drexel High School and NC Justice Academy with Advanced Certification from NC Training and Standards Council Family: Terry is married to Candace Skidmore Yount and has two daughters, Jennifer Yount and Laura Anderson Community service: Town of Drexel Alderman 1999- 20 years on the Drexel Fair Board, part of them as treasurer Jaycee of the Year 1977 Drexel Citizen of the Year 1997 Drexel Optimist Club 1. Have you ever been convicted of a felony? Not a felon 2. Do you owe any back taxes? Owes no back taxes 3. If elected, what would your main priorities be for the city/town? His main priority is to see the development of the old Drexel Furniture property to come to fruition after years of work with the Town Manager Sherry Bradshaw and the Council of Governments, revitalizing Drexel. 4. What do you feel the most pressing issues/challenges for the city/town are and how would you address them? Terry Younts primary concerns for the people of Drexel are maintaining a well-kept, clean, and safe community supported by well-equipped police and firemen and town crew. Keeping the quality of life and services for Drexel citizens, utilizing a balanced budget, is essential. 5. If elected, what strategy would you use to help attract new businesses to the city/town? Town of Drexel government has long supported small business incubators and been successful. The town has also offered help to local businesses in upgrading properties and sometimes been refused by owners. Hopefully the development of the old Drexel Furniture property will bring in new business. Name: Chelsea Suttles Age: 30 Education: Freedom High School 2011, Cosmetologist license- McDowell Tech, Instructor of Cosmetology license- McDowell Tech Family: Landon Suttles (Husband), Jimmy and Sherry Causby (Parents), Steve and Marcella Crawford (Grandparents) Community service: Vessels of Mercy, Grow with Drexel 1. Have you ever been convicted of a felony? No 2. Do you owe any back taxes? NO 3. If elected, what would your main priorities be for the city/town? My main priority is the residents of Drexel. I want to see a unity among our community. Citizens are the heart and vitality of a town and I believe that their needs should come first. I would like to improve our town services and possibly offer more. I feel that by improving our parks and recreational center, bringing in businesses that are beneficial and supporting our police and emergency services all will aid and give back to our great community. I also feel that a listening ear is important and all residents should have the opportunity to be heard, voice their concerns and be worked with to meet their needs. 4. What do you feel the most pressing issues/challenges for the city/town are and how would you address them? I think Drexels biggest challenges is that it has lacked vision and needs improvements. Drexel was once a thriving town with a lot to offer. However, I feel it doesnt need to be stuck in the past but looking forward to the future. One improvement that needs to be focused on is our small business center. We need to give our support to the businesses we do have, as well as attracting and bringing in more. Our town has a lot of areas that need updating. One area I think that needs it the most is the community center, not just structurally but also offering more programs and activities for all ages. Adding to this, I think our ball fields, playgrounds and parks also need work. Implementing these improvements can help bring additional revenue for the continuation of bettering our town. 5. If elected, what strategy would you use to help attract new businesses to the city/town? As a business owner myself, I look for safety, location, appearance and property tax. Business owners like to feel safe while they are at work and also when they leave at night. As of now Drexel offers 24/7 police patrol, I would want to continue this by supporting our local law enforcement and emergency services. I would encourage the location of Drexel because its right off interstate and between hickory and Morganton. Sprucing up our town and buildings with some much needed curb appeal and enhancing our small town charm can help attract business owners and offer a warm welcoming. There are grants to apply for, that could help assist with this and also with the support of building owners. Upon research, Drexel is among one of the municipalities with the lowest tax rate in Burke county, I want to keep this rate lowered and possibly look for ways to further lower it. A man is heading to the Montana State Prison, 20 months after slowing down too drastically when passing a troopers car sitting in the median of I-90 near Anaconda. That wasnt a crime but it tipped off the trooper to possible criminal activity and what followed led to five felony charges, several misdemeanors and this week, a 10-year sentence to prison for 38-year-old Charles Ross Ladin. According to prosecutors, it started the night of Feb. 25, 2022, when Ladin crested a hill on I-90 going 74 mph then immediately slowed his pickup to 60 mph when he apparently saw the trooper. The trooper caught up to the truck, saw it had a broken taillight and tried to pull Ladin over. Ladin was swerving, wouldnt stop and dodged spike strips other officers had put down at two locations. Ladin got off at the Montana Street exit and moments later, lost control of the pickup on an ice-covered parking lot and hit a Butte officers car head-on, prosecutors say. Ladin regained control, rammed a troopers vehicle before he stopped and surrendered. At the jail, a bag of fentanyl pills was found in his anal cavity and more pills were found in his truck. He ultimately pleaded guilty to felony counts of assault on an officer, criminal endangerment, possessing dangerous drugs and possession with intent to distribute, along with misdemeanor DUI for driving while high on meth. During a sentencing hearing Wednesday before District Judge Robert Whelan, Ladin and his attoney, Jack Morris, appeared via Zoom from the jail. Morris asked for a combined sentence of five years with three years suspended. He said ramming the police cars was more like cars on ice skates and bumper cars, his client had an addiction problem and he had already served 600 days in jail. Morris said Ladin was from Florida, had moved to Butte for a job and got hooked on heroin and other drugs. Ladin spoke briefly, too. He apologized to the court and the people of Butte and said he realized during his 20 months in jail that his family in Florida was the most important thing in his life. After this is all said and done, I plan on moving back to Florida, seeking additional treatment and staying sober so I can be a good father to my daughter, he said. Prosecutor Ann Shea said the incidents were serious and asked for a net sentence of 10 years at Montana State Prison with another 10 years suspended, meaning extra years of probation conditions. She said there was weather that night but Ladin drove directly at an officer in a patrol car and put others in danger. He pled guilty to assault on a peace officer, and were lucky no citizens were hurt in this case, Shea said. Judge Whelan agreed to Sheas recommendations, saying Ladin had a criminal history and obviously there were significant charges in this matter. A local couple is asking for the community to help their extended family during a difficult time. On Tuesday, Oct. 17, Rachel Lynn Tucker and Zachary Tucker started a GoFundMe page for their 2-year-old nephew Grayson and his parents, Britney Nath and Devon Tucker. According to Rachel, Grayson was admitted to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital on Oct. 14 after several masses were found on his liver, with one of these inches already being four inches long, and lungs, Rachel Tucker said. He was then officially diagnosed with cancer on Oct. 17. We are waiting on the expedited pathology results to put a name to his cancer, Tucker said. After the results come back we can begin treatment The oncology team is optimistic that he will respond to chemo very well due to him being two years old. Later results showed Grayson has a partial diagnoses of hepatoblastoma. His liver is too diseased at this point to save, she said, so once the doctors get done with Grayson's lung treatments he will have to go to either Oklahoma or Milwaukee for a transplant At the time of writing, the GoFundMe has managed to raise $1,325 raised of its $5,000 goal. All money raised through the GoFundMe will be used to help pay medical bills as well as pay for the gas used to drive back and forth to the hospital. (Britney Nath and Devon Tucker) have been awestruck by the amount of support they have received, Rachel Tucker said. Thanks to the help from the community, they have both been able to take time off work to be at the hospital with their son while they figure out their next steps. They are truly speechless and eternally grateful for those who have helped out, and for those who have kept them in their prayers. For those wishing to help with the cause, Tucker added that she and her husband hope to continue keeping the page up and expanding the goal as needed so that Grayson's parents can be with him as much as possible. No two year old should have to fight this battle on his own," she said. Grayson is non-verbal and was also born prematurely, Tucker said. Being born at one pound and one ounce and only being 10.8 inches long, he had a long hard fight to get where he is today, she said. But in spite of this fight, Tucker also emphasized the strong spirit that Grayson has, being a boy who loves watching Sesame Street, spending time with his family, snacking on Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, and exploring the world around him. His smile lights the darkest of rooms, and warms the coldest of hearts," Tucker said. Those interested in donated can do so at https://gofund.me/b4978092. Counties with the highest cancer rates in Iowa Counties with the highest cancer rates in Iowa #50. Guthrie County #49. 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Palo Alto County NEW YORK Some of the most used platforms for travel and online shopping said theyre going to team up to battle fake reviews. Amazon, reviews site Glassdoor and Trustpilot, as well as travel companies Expedia Group, Booking.com and Tripadvisor said in an announcement Tuesday theyre launching a coalition that aims to protect access to trustworthy consumer reviews" worldwide. The companies said the members of the group, which will be called Coalition for Trusted Reviews, will look for best practices for hosting online reviews and share methods on how to detect fake ones. That will include developing standards for what constitutes a fake review and sharing information about how bad actors operate. Phony reviews have long plagued online marketplaces despite their efforts to eradicate it. Much of the problem is fueled by brokers who solicit fake customer reviews through social media platforms, encrypted messaging apps and other channels in exchange for money, free items or other benefits. Brokers can solicit positive reviews to boost sales for businesses or sellers. They can also also post negative reviews for competitors in order to tank their sales. Last month, Amazon said two review brokers in China were sentenced to 2 years in prison and three years of probation after using messaging apps to advertise and sell fake reviews to Amazon selling accounts. The company has filed a flurry of other lawsuits in the past year against operators that it says were doing similar things. Last year, it also sued the administrators of more than 10,000 Facebook groups that it alleged were coordinating bogus reviews in exchange for money or free products. Facebook groups trading reviews for Google and Trustpilot, which allows users to leave feedback for businesses, were also discovered earlier this year by the British consumer watchdog group Which? Federal regulators have also been aiming to crack down on bogus reviews aiming to deceive consumers. In June, the Federal Trade Commission proposed a new rule that, among other things, would prohibit businesses from selling or obtaining fake reviews, suppressing honest reviews and selling fake social media engagement. Businesses would also be prohibited from creating or controlling a website that claims to provide independent opinions about its products and employing other practices like review hijacking, which makes reviews for one product appear like they were written for different ones. If the proposal is adopted, violators can be face penalties. Becky Foley, Tripadvisors vice president for Trust & Safety, said in a statement included in the news release that combating operators behind fake reviews will be an immediate area of focus for the coalition. These actors often operate outside of jurisdictions with a legal framework to shut down fraudulent activity, making robust cooperation even more important, Foley said. The companies said the coalition is a result conversations that came out of a Fake Reviews conference that was organized by Tripadvisor and held last year in San Francisco. They said they will meet in early December at a second conference that will be organized by Amazon and held in Brussels. Early voting in Iowas city and school elections began this week ahead of the election on Nov. 7. Heres everything you need to know to be ready to cast your ballot. Iowans will vote for nonpartisan city council, mayor and school board offices. City and school elected officials play a critical role in our day-to-day lives, so its vitally important for Iowans to make their voices heard in Novembers elections, Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate said in a statement this month. The best way to make your voice heard is to vote, and to be successful in voting, Iowans should solidify their voting plans early. How to register to vote Voters can check their registration at Iowas secretary of state website. If you are not registered, or you moved since you last voted, you may need to update your registration. Iowa residents with a state drivers license or non-operators ID can register online at the Iowa DOT website, or mymvd.iowadot.gov/voterregistration. Otherwise, you can print a form from the Iowa secretary of states website, and either bring it to your local county auditor or send it in the mail. To be eligible to register you must meet the following requirements: Be a U.S. citizen. Be an Iowa resident. Be at least 17 years old, and at least 18 on or before Election Day. Not judged mentally incompetent to vote by a court. Not claim the right to vote anywhere else. An Iowa ID is required to register online. You dont need an ID to register with your county auditors office, but you will need a valid ID to vote, both early and on Election Day. If you want to register to vote before election day, you must register 15 days early, by Oct. 23. If you miss that deadline, you can register on Election Day if you have an ID and proof of residence. Voting early You can vote early both by mail and at satellite voting locations set up by your county auditor. An absentee ballot can be requested from your county auditor by filling out a request form, which can be found online, and sending it through the mail or bringing it to the auditors office in person. You will need the following information to fill out your absentee ballot request form: Name. Date of birth. Iowa residential address. ID number or four-digit voter PIN located on the back of your Voter ID Card. The name or date of the election for which you are requesting an absentee ballot. The absentee ballot request must be received by your county auditor by Oct. 23 if you vote by mail. When returning an absentee ballot, it will need to be received by your county auditors office by 8 p.m. on Nov. 7. Any ballot received after that date cannot be counted. You also have the option of voting early in person at a satellite voting location or at your county auditors office. Most auditors offices are open for early voting during business hours between now and the Monday before the election. Check with your county auditors office for a list of satellite early voting locations. Voting on Election Day To vote on election day, voters will need to go to their local precinct. You can find your precinct at the secretary of states website, or through your local county auditor. Polls will generally be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. Iowa requires an ID to vote, so you will need to bring a drivers license or non-operator ID. Voters who do not have a drivers license can obtain an Iowa Voter ID card when they register to vote. Other acceptable IDs include a passport, military or veteran ID or tribal ID card. A voter without an ID can also have another person attest to their identity, or cast a provisional ballot and provide ID before the time the votes are canvassed. If you register on Election Day, you will also need a proof of residence. More information can be found at the Iowa secretary of state website. A Cedar Rapids woman is contesting the states decision to revoke her license, arguing shes the innocent victim of the Florida diploma mill that awarded her a fraudulent degree in nursing. According to records of the Iowa Board of Nursing, Helena Dahnweih of Cedar Rapids first submitted an application for licensure in Iowa as a registered nurse in early 2019. At the time, she indicated she had received her nursing associate degree in 2017 from Med-Life Institute in West Palm Beach, Florida. Her college transcript said she attended MLI for 10 months, from February 2017 through December 2017. Dahnweih passed the National Council Licensure Examination in March 2019 and one month later the Board of Nursing granted her a license. In July 2021, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing announced an FBI investigation, code-named Operation Nightingale, into nursing education programs suspected of selling fake diplomas and transcripts. One of the businesses implicated in the investigation was MLI. MLI and others were alleged to have sold diplomas and to have encouraged students to apply for licensure in states thought to exercise a lower level of scrutiny on practitioners, and in states like Iowa that do not limit the number of times a person can take the National Council Licensure Examination. According to the board, Dahnweih acknowledged she did not participate in any nursing coursework or clinical education at MLI, but did take a review course for the national licensure exam. In May 2023, the Board of Nursing accused Dahnweih of fraud. She contested the charge and at a board hearing on the matter in July, she argued that she had believed her degree from MLI was legitimate. The board ruled it did not find her claims to be credible and in September it revoked her license, stating that the wrongdoing in her case was particularly egregious. Dahnweih recently filed a petition in Polk County District Court seeking judicial review of that decision, arguing that the Florida school had preyed upon her and that her application for an Iowa license was made in good faith. She also argues that the board incorrectly concluded that she had knowingly provided the board with a false college transcript. Not only did Mrs. Dahnweih not provide the transcript to the Iowa Board of Nursing as it is the policy for the board to accept transcripts only from the schools themselves but she did not know what the transcript contained, the petition states. The board convicted Mrs. Dahnweih of fraud with absolutely no evidence that Mrs. Dahnweih knowingly or purposefully engaged in some scheme to deceive the Iowa Board of Nursing. The nursing board has yet to file a response to the petition. Jelly Belly jelly beans exemplify so-called American ingenuity: They took what had basically been colorful but boring sugar balls ubiquitous in the bottom of Easter baskets and made them into a flavor empire hailed by at least one president of the United States, Ronald Reagan. In many ways, Jelly Belly also put Fairfield on the map. Its corporate office there became a tourist stop for people wanting to take the tour and a community meeting place for locals celebrating holidays or holding business luncheons. After producing jelly beans for nearly half a century, the confectionary juggernaut has announced that it is being sold to another giant American sweets company, Chicago-based Ferrara Candy Co. Ferrara announced Wednesday that it would acquire Jelly Belly for an undisclosed amount of money. The privately owned Ferrara already churns out Nerds, Lemonheads and SweeTarts, along with gummy brands Trolli and Black Forest. Herman Rowland, Jelly Belly chairman of the board of directors, said in a statement that Ferrara is a "likeminded" candy company that will grow the brand. Rowland also mentioned that it would be a "win-win" for employees. According to a news release about the acquisition, once the deal closes, nearly 800 Jelly Belly employees globally and in California and Illinois will join the Ferrara organization. Jelly Belly was founded in 1869 near St. Louis as the Goelitz Confectionery Co., which was known for its candy corn. In 1976 the company began its jelly bean endeavors. LeAnah Paul, a 2021 graduate of St. Helena High School, is the first student to receive an If Given a Chance award named in honor of Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, said a news release. The award of up to $2,500 will be made annually to students pursuing careers in business, politics, or public service from a fund named after Dodd. Paul is pursuing a degree in political science at California State University, San Marcos and is studying abroad this school year in Germany, said the release. She is focusing on international relations and said she hopes to find diplomatic work in a U.S. embassy upon graduation. Paul, who was raised by her grandparents because her biological parents were not able to assist in her upbringing, said, I appreciate being recognized by If Given a Chance. They made me realize that despite my struggles, anxieties, and trauma, that I am a leader, I am worthy, and I am a survivor. I will do whatever it takes to reach my goals and ambitions, and If Given a Chance helps me with this throughout everyday life. Sen. Dodd has raised millions of dollars for nonprofits across Napa County through his annual holiday party, which started 22 years ago, said the release. His 2020 event raised $235,000 for IGAC, which has served over 400 underserved and at-risk Napa County youth over the past 28 years and currently supports 10 high school students and 32 college students as they pursue their education. If Given a Chance has enabled hundreds of young people in our community to overcome obstacles and achieve their educational and career goals, said Sen. Dodd. Besides the Senator Bill Dodd Award, IGAC offers other special awards. This year, the William S. Chiatt Award to a student who identifies as LGBTQ+, goes to Daisy Zamora, a 2019 graduate of Napa High School and student at Napa Valley College with a grade point average of 3.8. Zamora, who plans to pursue social work, has worked the last two years as the Youth Outreach Coordinator for the Napa High School Wellness Center. Also this year, Liliana Carreon, a 2022 graduate of Vintage High School and student at Napa Valley College, will receive the Almeida/Price Award for a student studying business. Edward and Perry Clark won the first new winery approval issued by the Napa County Planning Commission in two years for their planned Carneros winery. Commission hearings for new wineries have grown scarce. This one involved the Clark brothers' request to build a 20,000-gallon-a-year winery on 10 acres at 1299 Duhig Road, where vineyards are cooled by San Pablo Bay breezes. On Wednesday, the Planning Commission approved the use permit with little debate. "Small project without significant impact," Commissioner Andrew Mazotti said. The Clarks grew up on their parents' Amizetta winery property near Lake Hennessey. Edward Clark is the Amizetta winemaker and Perry Clark its president. Now they want a new winery some 17 miles away in Carneros. Edward Clark said the area is good for producing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, while Amizetta is in an area suitable for Bordeaux. They sought Planning Commission permission to convert a barn into a tasting room and to build a new winery. They asked that their winery be allowed to entertain 7,660 tasting and marketing guests annually. County staff recommended approval. "Napa Valley is everything to us," Edward Clark said. "We want to make sure to address every issue. We want to take care of the land." One of the few issues arising was groundwater. Several neighbors expressed concern that Clark winery well water use might lower water levels in their wells. "As you undoubtedly know, insufficient groundwater has long been a problem in the Carneros region," Susan Stevens wrote to the commission. Jim Sheldon has lived in the Carneros for about 40 years. He recalled when his area had pastures with cows and horses instead of vineyards. Sheldon owns one acre and is on his third well. The well water level from the surface since the 1980s has dropped from 8 feet to 104 feet, he told the commission. "Where I am, I'm not recharging very well," he said. He can pump only 2 gallons per minute for 10 minutes every eight hours, or 60 gallons daily. Otherwise, the pump sucks in silt, Sheldon said. County staff said overall water use on the Clark property will rise with the winery, but groundwater use will fall. That's because the Clarks will use recycled water to help irrigate their vineyard. The Napa Sanitation District has a recycled water line that runs from its wastewater treatment plant into the Carneros area. The Clark property recently connected to it. Edward Clark met with the neighbors before the hearing to discuss groundwater and other concerns. "Eddie is a good guy," Sheldon told the commission. "He heard my concerns. I think he is going to address them (satisfactorily)." California Water Audit, which has challenged several winery projects in recent years, brought up issues regarding water use and streams. It said county staff based conclusions on incomplete or misleading information. "While this is not a large project and the amount of water sought to be utilized is not a great deal of water in the overall scheme, both the law and fundamental fairness require that all projects be treated equally," the group's general counsel William McKinnon wrote to the county. Commissioner Kara Brunzell urged the Clarks to continue to talk with their neighbors. "This is a very modest project and very well within the general plan," she said. Commission chair Dave Whitmer praised the Clarks for tying into the NapaSan recycled water system, saying every drop counts. "It's refreshing to see a family like this come up and try to continue to do more business and expand their business," Mazotti said. The commission voted 3-0 to approve the Clark winery. Brunzell, Mazotti and Whitmer voted yes, and Commissioners Megan Dameron and Heather Phillips were absent. Planning, Building and Environmental Services Director Brian Bordona said the Clark application took a year to reach approval in fact, the application form is dated Jan. 11 of this year. He called this pace a success story for the applicant and county staff. We always hear and we always take hits for how long it takes for everything," Bordona said. "And our department can sometimes get colored with some of those projects that can take some time. He pointed to the Clark winery as an example of county staff working with applicants, and of the applicants putting together a good team and sending in comprehensive documents. "Maybe this is a reminder that we do have a good process and if you follow that process, you can get through it relatively quickly," Whitmer said. Photos: Napa County's new jail in the making New Jail 9 New Jail 1 New Jail 2 New Jail 3 New Jail 4 New Jail 5 New Jail 6 New Jail 7 New Jail 8 New Jail 10 New Jail 11 New Jail 12 New Jail 13 Sen. Laphonza Butler will not seek a full six-year term next year, the California Democrat said Thursday. Ive decided not to run for a full term in the US Senate. Knowing you can win a campaign doesnt always mean you should run a campaign, she said on X, formerly Twitter. I know this will be a surprise to many because traditionally we dont see those who have power let it go. Butler added: California voters want leaders who think about them and the issues they care most about. I now have 383 days to serve the people of California with every ounce of energy and effort that I have. The former labor leader and Democratic operative, sworn into office earlier this month to replace the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, was seen as a potential challenger because of her deep connections to party insiders. But she faced a huge task. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, has $32 million on hand. Rep. Katie Porter, D-Irvine, has $11 million to spend. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, has a strong grassroots following among progressives. To run a competitive campaign would be very difficult, analysts said. The Democrats in California Ive talked to are skeptical of such a quick turnaround, said Jessica Taylor, Senate editor for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. While she could probably raise decent amounts of money quickly, she starts with no name ID, Taylor said. Schiff, Porter and Lee are all veteran members of Congress who are well-known in their districts. What got Butler quickly into the Senate conversation was her resume. When Newsom appointed her a surprise choice she was president of EMILYs List, which has long promoted Democratic women candidates. She had also worked at SCRB Strategies in California, which had consulted for some of the states most successful Democratic candidates, and worked on then-Sen. Kamala Harris 2020 presidential campaign. 27 senators are up for reelectionwhich, if any, are 'progressive' relative to the political lean of their states? Intro #27. Pete Ricketts, Nebraska (R) #26. Deb Fischer, Nebraska (R) #25. Rick Scott, Florida (R) #24. Kevin Cramer, North Dakota (R) #23. Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee (R) #22. John Barrasso, Wyoming (R) #21. Roger Wicker, Mississippi (R) #20. Josh Hawley, Missouri (R) #19. Ted Cruz, Texas (R) #18. Mitt Romney, Utah (R) #17. Tom Carper, Delaware (D) #16. Joe Manchin, West Virginia (D) #15. Angus King, Maine (I) #14. Kyrsten Sinema, Arizona (I) #13. Tim Kaine, Virginia (D) #12. Maria Cantwell, Washington (D) #11. Jon Tester, Montana (D) #10. Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota (D) #9. Ben Cardin, Maryland (D) #8. Jacky Rosen, Nevada (D) #7. Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island (D) #6. Kirsten Gillibrand, New York (D) #5. Martin Heinrich, New Mexico (D) #4. Mazie Hirono, Hawaii (D) #3. Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts (D) #2. Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin (D) #1. Sherrod Brown, Ohio (D) Nearly a month after he overturned Californias ban on large-capacity firearm magazines for the second time, U.S. District Court Judge Roger Benitez doubled down on his opposition to the states assault weapons ban, declaring in an opinion that the law has no historical pedigree and it is extreme. This marks the judges second time with the case, Miller v. Bonta. He previously struck down the states ban on assault weapons in 2021. In his decision, he likened the assault rifle to a Swiss Army Knife and called it good for both home and battle. The case had proceeded to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which remanded it back to the district court level after the U.S. Supreme Courts Bruen decision, which established a new framework for consideration of such laws. Benitez opened his decision by comparing the assault rifle to the Bowie knife, saying that both are dangerous, but useful. But unlike the Bowie Knife, the United States Supreme Court has said, there is a long tradition of widespread lawful gun ownership by private individuals in this country, Benitez wrote. The judge, known for his fiery opinions, wrote that the state was discriminating against assault rifles because of how they looked. They have the same minimum overall length, they use the same triggers, they have the same barrels, and they can fire the same ammunition, from the same magazines, at the same rate of fire, and at the same velocities, as other rifles, he wrote. Benitez wrote that while people have heard about mass shootings such as those in Uvalde, Texas, Parkland, Florida, or Sandy Hook, Connecticut, they do not hear of the AR-15 used in Florida by a pregnant wife and mother to defend her family from two armed, hooded, and masked home intruders. Californias assault weapon ban takes away from its residents the choice of using an AR-15 type rifle for self-defense. Is it because modern rifles are used so frequently for crime? No, Benitez wrote. The judge said that more is needed to justify the states ban on assault weapons than disarming some mass shooters. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has called Benitez, who was appointed to the federal bench by President George W. Bush in 2004, a stone-cold ideologue and a wholly owned subsidiary of the gun lobby and the National Rifle Association. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who is defending the ban, issued a statement in response to the decision saying that weapons of war have no place on our streets. This has been state law in California for decades, and we will continue to fight for our authority to keep our citizens safe from firearms that cause mass casualties, Bonta said. He added that in the meantime, as his office appeals the judges decision, the ban remains in effect in California. Once again, this district court issued a dangerous and misguided decision and I will work vigorously to reverse it on appeal, Bonta said. Amazon is trialing humanoid robots in its warehouses as the US tech giant looks to automate more of its operations, PA Media reported. The company said it was testing a new robot called Digit at a warehouse in the US state of Texas, which has arms and legs and can move, grasp, and handle items in a similar fashion to a human. Concerns have been raised over what this move to automation could mean for jobs in Amazon facilities, but the company has argued the technology can help by freeing employees up to better deliver for our customers. In its robotics announcement, Amazon said its robotics systems had in fact helped create hundred of thousands of new jobs within its operations. This includes 700 categories of new job types, in skilled roles, which didnt exist within the company beforehand, the firm said. According to the tech giant, it now has more than 750,000 robots working collaboratively with its human staff, often being used to take on highly repetitive tasks. Lithuania is one of our reliable partners in the European Union, and we are grateful for the political support given to us by Lithuania in the EU-Armenia relations, for promoting the access to our views and approaches in the European Union, and the taking decisions important to us. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said this in a joint statement Thursday with visiting Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte. One such decision is the deployment of a Civilian Observation Mission along the state border of Armenia with Azerbaijan. The day before, I gave an extensive speech in the European Parliament, where I noted that Armenia is ready to be closer to the European Union, as much as the European Union considers it possible. We discussed with Prime Minister Simonyte what this means, or what it could mean in practice. We also talked about the decisions to be made in the European Union in the near future, which also concern the South Caucasus region, Pashinyan stressed. He detailed the discussion he had with the PM of Lithuania. I presented to the Prime Minister of Lithuania our project and proposal of the Crossroads of Peace, which I also spoke about in the European Parliament, the key goal of which is the re-opening and activation of regional North-South and East-West communications, including through the territory of Armenia, which will connect the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean, the Black Sea to the Gulf, and this can not only be a long-term guarantee of the stability and development of our region, but also become an important hub of global economic cooperation. This can also activate EU-Armenia, Lithuania-Armenia economic ties. In recent years, the trade turnover between the Republic of Armenia and Lithuania has had a significant percentage increase, but the absolute numbers remain symbolic. I think the intergovernmental cooperation commission has something to think about and a big front to work on. We agreed to activate this work, Pashinyan said. I also presented to Prime Minister Simonyte the situation in our region, first of all, the fact of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh and the fact that another 100 thousand Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh became refugees, as well as the steps taken by the Armenian government to meet their urgent needs. (). I also emphasized that during the meetings between the President of Azerbaijan and myself, through the mediation of the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, a roadmap for peace and normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia was developed, which was also expressed in the four-sided statement of Granada. The commitment of the parties to that road map will ensure a breakthrough in the peace process. Armenia confirms and reaffirms its commitment to the above-mentioned principles, the Armenian PM noted. We discussed the situation in the world and the region with the Prime Minister of Armenia, and I reaffirmed Lithuania's support for Armenia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte announced this at a joint press briefing with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan Thursday in Yerevan. She noted that Armenia is experiencing difficult times these days, extended condolences to the families of those who died in the Karabakh wars, and expressed sympathy for the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh who left their homes. Simonyte reminded that the Lithuanian government provided financial support. The Lithuanian PM expressed hope that Armenia and Azerbaijan will follow their obligations, showing mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. Simonyte believes that sustainable peace can be achieved through dialogue, the path to peace is not easy, but it is the only way to achieve stability and prosperity in the entire region. She lauded Armenia's commitment to the peace process, and expressed support for the mediation efforts by the EU and the United States. An independent, sovereign, safe, prosperous, democratic Armenia, as well as stability and peace in the South Caucasus are their shared goals, the Prime Minister of Lithuania noted, and added that her country plans to work together in that regard.